Why we're yet to move against NNPC - BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62458

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

NASS LEADERSHIP CRISES: More trouble as Senate, House of Reps resume today 8

N150

WAEC to withhold results in 19 states over govts' N4bn debt 10

Why we're yet to move against NNPC—BUHARI

By Emma Ujah & Michael Eboh

•Says we’ll appoint only patriotic, decent Nigerians as ministers —THE A FB Ue JdAyesterday, e r a l •Laments that Nigeria loses huge funds through swapping programme Government, attributed the delay in •Slams Air Force for poor role in war against insurgency moving against the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to efforts being made to establish the magnitude of fraud and inefficiencies in the corporation and in the oil and gas industry over the last couple of years.

Speaking in an interview on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA’s, ‘Good Morning Nigeria,’ programme,

Continues on Page 5

$1.5bn petrochemical plant: Gov. Emmanuel commends Jim Ovia 54

Mr & Mrs BUHARI MEETS APC REPS—From left: Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; SSA Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu and the National Chairman, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun during the meeting between the Presidency and APC Caucus in the House of Representatives at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

UNDERDEVELOPMENT:

Community draws battle line with Akwa-Ibom govt C M Y K

Se eI ns ide

COLUMNISTS:

Obama's recurring •P.39 nightmare

Re: Na only Fulani waka come •P.17

2 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

C M Y K

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C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; the author, Mr Musa Babayo; Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor, Mr Festus Okoye and chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the unveiling of a book: The Economic Diplomacy and Nigeria's Foreign Policy, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Why we're yet to move against account.

NNPC — BUHARI “I do not think the Continues from page 1 President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that the government was already working with some individuals that are helping it to track the destination of stolen crude oil and the accounts the proceeds were paid into.

He also reassured during the interview that only patriotic, decent and experienced Nigerians would be appointed as ministers in his government even as he lamented the state of the Air Force, which according to him could not support ground troops in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists due to lack of serviceable equipment.

He said: “Frankly, I read the stories too that I intend to break up the NNPC. I think the best way to go

about it is to establish the fact of the magnitude of the inefficient way the NNPC conducted itself.

When we do that we will be on a higher moral ground to carry out w h a t e v e r recommendations that have been made to us.”

He maintained that the NNPC has lost track of the number of accounts it had, adding that the government was discreetly working with some Nigerians to ensure that perpetrators of fraud in the oil and gas sector were brought to book.

“We have to maintain high confidentiality so that we do not put at risk some of the Nigerians that are helping us to trace some of the destinations of this stolen crude and then the accounts where they are being paid into instead of the Federal Government

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The more you believe in your own ability to success. The more likely it is that you will —Shaw Achor

E

MPIRICALLY, we know success does not lead to happiness. Is everyone with a job happy? Is every rich person happy? Then step one is to stop thinking that finding a job, getting a promotion, etc. is the only thing that can bring happiness. Success does not mean happiness. Check out any celebrity magazine to look for examples to disabuse you of thinking that being beautiful, successful or rich will make you happy.

Second, realize that happiness is a work ethic.

Happiness is not a mystery. You have to train your brain to be positive just like you work out your body.

We not only need to work happy, we need to work at being happy.

Try an experiment right now what is called the 21 Day Challenge. 1. Write down three new things you are grateful for each day. Research shows this will significantly improve your optimism even 6 months later, and raises your success rates significantly. 2.

Write for 2 minutes a day describing one positive experience you had over the past 24 hours. This is a strategy to help transform you from a task-based thinker, to a meaning based thinker who scans the world for meaning instead of endless to-dos.

This dramatically increases work happiness. 3.

Exercise for at least 10 minutes a day. This trains your brain to believe your behaviour matters, which causes a cascade of success throughout the rest of the day. Lastly, pray mediate and contemplate.

NNPC knows how many accounts are outside there, which payments are being made for Nigerian crude which is really an outright theft.

The money we want to intercept which have been going on for a number of years, a lot of Nigerians will not comprehend,” he explained.

Offshore processing agreements

Buhari lamented the fact that the crude oil swap programme and offshore processing agreements, OPA, have over the years been used to defraud the country, stating also that a number of operators in the oil and gas industry displayed lack of conscience and love for the country.

He said: “These individuals have refineries all over the world. The swapping is tied into a major killing ground for corrupt officials with an average evil to loot the country’s crude, work out how much they

can bring back to us, and we pay for the transportation and for the refining.

‘The swapping programme is such a dishonest way through which Nigeria is consistently losing on daily basis, millions of dollars. I think the people who have been operating in the industry, a lot of them have displayed lack of conscience and patriotism, and only God knows the amount of damage their actions have inflicted on Nigeria.”

He expressed optimism that the United States and other European countries are willing to cooperate with Nigeria in repatriating funds that are proceeds of corruption and stolen crude.

However, he stated that the Federal Government is working to ensure that it complied with the laws of these countries and provide them with the needed documents that will help expedite the repatriation.

He said: “These countries are willing. I have also said that we have to comply with their system; that we have to get the documents, especially the shipping documents, and how we load from our terminals, their destinations. It is important to note that some of them change the crude and the destinations in the high seas and then change the account it needs to be paid into.

Instead of the Federal Government account, they are paid into individual accounts.

“The cooperation we need is that once we get hold of the shipping documents and we are lucky to trace them out to the countries where they sold the crude and which account it goes into and we submit the evidence in terms of loading, in terms of payments being paid into accounts other than the Federal Government

account.

“Once we do that, we are very willing to make sure that those accounts are frozen and the money repatriated to Nigeria. It is not an easy process, but I assure you that we are working very hard. We cannot say that we wait until everything is intact before we let you know.

Whatever we are able to get in the following months or a couple of months, we will bring it out for Nigerians to know, with facts in our hands and prosecution started against those who perpetrated the unpatriotic action against Nigeria for so many years.”

Appointment of ministers

On the appointment of ministers, President Buhari reassured that only patriotic, decent and experienced Nigerians would be appointed as ministers in his government.

He said: “From what I have seen so far, we need really patriotic Nigerians — Nigerians that can work very hard, knowledgeable, experienced and committed Nigerians to be in charge of ministries.

“A lot of the institutions of Nigeria — important institutions were

compromised. Everybody was for himself and God for all of us; it’s most unfortunate.

“We have the people, educated people, experienced people but everybody seemed to be working for himself — how much he could get as quickly as possible.

“We have to look for technocrats and we have to look for politicians and certainly we have to look for decent people in these classes to give them the responsibility of being in charge of ministries and important parastatals (agencies).”

Air Force

Lamenting the state of the Air Force, Buhari said, “Our case is lack of capacity and effective Air Force. We don’t have trained personnel. The Air Force is virtually nonexistent. The fixed-wing aircraft are not very serviceable.

The helicopters are not serviceable and they are too few.

We need the Air Force to conduct reconnaissance and support the ground troops. The arrangement made by the former government will soon expire. We have made this clear to the Americans and we have made it clear to G7 and we need their cooperation.”

Nigeria’s foreign debt rises to $10.3bn …as revenue increases to N485.9 billion in June

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor & Peter Egwuatu

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AGOS—NIGERIA’S external debt stock as at second quarter 2015 stood at about USD10.3 billion, over 10 per cent increase, against USD9.5bn recorded in the first quarter of the year, just as the Federal Government revenue rose to N485.95 billion, up from May figure of N324.7 billion.

A release, yesterday, by the Debt Management Office (DMO) of the Federal Government, however, shows an unchanged position in the domestic debt stock at

N8.39 trillion against N8.31 trillion in the first quarter.

The breakdown of the external debt stock shows a significant rise in the indebtedness to multilateral institutions (World Bank and African Development Bank Groups) which stood at USD7.23 billion from USD6.54 billion in the first quarter while Bilateral debt stock (owed to countries and or their financial institutions) stood at USD1.58 billion, up from USD1.42 billion.

At USD6.19 billion, the indebtedness to the World Bank Group accounts for the bulk of the debt owed

multilateral institutions, increasing from USD5.73 billion, while the African Development Bank Group was owed USD1.04 billion, up from USD810 million.

Further breakdown of the external debt shows that the bulk of Bilateral debt stock was owed to Exim Bank of China amounting to N1.39 billion while the balance of USD194 million Bilateral debt was owed to France, Japan and Germany in aggregate.

The breakdown of the domestic debt stock shows that the bulk is in Federal Government Bond amounting to N5.3 trillion, accounting 63.1 per cent while Nigerian

Treasury Bill (NTB) was N2.8 trillion or 33.6 per cent and the balance of N271 billion was in Treasury Bond.

Meanwhile the Federal Ministry of Finance said yesterday that gross government revenues rose for the second consecutive month in June to 485.95 billion Naira, up 33 percent against May figures.

International oil prices rose at the end of April and benchmark Brent futures were sustained at above US$60 a barrel before falling again below that mark a barrel in July.

Nigeria depends on oil sales for about 70 percent of its government revenues.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Kidnappers kill hostage, collect N.5m ransom zPolice exhume victim's remains

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— POLICE in Rivers State have arrested a three-man kidnap gang that killed their victim and still collected N500,000 from the family after promising to release him.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who disclosed this at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said the gang abducted their victim, identified as Friday Ozogo, about three weeks ago, killed him and buried his remains in a shallow grave around Choba Waterfront.

He said after killing their victim, the kidnappers continued to pester the family for ransom, adding that the family had to invite the police to step into the matter after they had paid N500,000 as ransom and the hostage was still not released.

The commissioner said the kidnappers led the police to where they buried the hostage, adding that the corpse had been exhumed for autopsy.

Rescue toddler from traffickers

He said his men also recovered a seven-monthold baby girl who was stolen at Diobu area of Port Harcourt and sold for N200,000 to a family in Owerri, Imo State.

He further advised parents to have their eyes on their children always, even as he lashed out at those behind child trafficking in the state.

He said: “It is quite shameful that these youths are involved in the stealing of babies and selling them for peanuts. Parents should be more careful with their children’s custody and safety.”

The police chief ordered special operations in some parts of the state to wipe out cultism in areas including Eleme, Ubima, and Emohua local government areas and appealed for cooperation from residents to rid the state of crime.

Man beheaded over N200 debt in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI—A middleaged man (names withheld), was weekend allegedly beheaded by one Ogo Nwaji at Amanato, Onicha Igboeze, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over a debt of N200.

The community was thrown into a state of shock and disbelief when it discovered the headless body of the deceased along the road in the community.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was beheaded at night when he was returning home from a popular drinking joint.

A source close to a security outfit in the area revealed that what led to the incident was an irreconcilable differences between the deceased and his assailant over a debt of N200.

It was learned that Ogo Nwaji allegedly confronted the deceased where they were drinking a local gin and requested that the deceased

pay him the N200 debt he owed him.

A witness said the deceased denied owing his killer, which apparently led to an exchange of abusive words and threats by both parties.

It was, however, learned that Ogo Nwaji during the outburst, threatened to kill the deceased even as the deceased equally replied that nobody could kill him.

Vanguard further gathered that Ogo Nwaji, who left the scene angrily, got to his

residence, brought out a sharp cutlass, waylaid his victim at night and cut off his head as he was returning from the drinking joint.

Following the unfortunate demise of the deceased, a source hinted that the vigilante group in the community was immediately alerted and Ogo Nwaji was arrested, paraded and handed over to the police for prosecution.

The suspect has confessed to the act.

16-yr-old apprentice kills 4-yr-old boy for human parts

By Esther Onyegbula

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In Surulere, Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

One dead, 3 injured in Lagos explosion

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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RAGEDY struck yesterday in Lagos as a sudden explosion at Golden Penny Flour Mill, Eric Moore Road, Surulere, left two people dead.

It was learned that the incident occurred when one of the company's boilers suddenly exploded and killed a 35-yearold staff, identified as Mr. Folorunsho Odunayo.

Vanguard gathered that three other unidentified persons, who sustained injuries in the explosion, were immediately taken to hospital.

Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, who confirmed the incident, said: “We received a distress call at about 10:55a.m. and quickly dispatched our men.

“The fire men from SariIganmu, who were immediately deployed to the scene, met the man lying face down. There was no trace of fire from the scene.

“We were told that one of the boilers in the factory exploded.

“Probably the boiler might have generated excessive heat before it exploded. We have handed over the corpse to the police from Apapa, while further investigation is ongoing.”

AGOS—THE quiet community of Ijanikin Otto has been thrown into mourning, following the murder of a four-year-old boy, identified as Ibrahim Jamiu Hassan, by a teenager, who reside in the same compound with the victim.

Vanguard learned that the toddler was allegedly killed yesterday morning behind Anglican Primary School, Deeper Life Bus Stop, by a furniture apprentice, named Tajudeen, aged 16 years.

The suspect, who initially said nobody asked him to get the human parts, later confessed that one Osan, who lives behind Oto Awori palace, sent him to get human parts.

Meanwhile, mother of the deceased is currently in labour at an undisclosed hospital, about to put to bed.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident yesterday, a team of policemen, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ijanikin Divisional Police headquarters, Robinson Egagare, were seen evacuating the remains of the slain boy.

‘I removed his kidneys, intestines’

The suspect, Tajudeen, who is

in police custody, said: “We lived at 7, Jewugbadun Street at Okoko before we moved to Mosalashi Street in Ijanikin, sometime last year.

“Sincerely, Ibrahim did not offend me, neither did his parents. I have known him since we moved into this area. I play with him and buy him biscuits and sweets.

“I am an apprentice with a local furniture workshop in the neighbourhood. I removed his kidney and intestines and abandoned them at a nearby bush before I was arrested.

“I have not committed this kind of crime before. It was Osan that sent me to help him get human parts. It was this morning (yesterday) that I lured Ibrahim to Anglican Primary School, where I used a knife to kill him.”

When contacted, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Patricia Amadin, said on receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Ijanikin went to the scene of the incident and removed the corpse of the deceased, who was in a pool of blood.

He added that the corpse was later deposited at a mortuary and the suspect arrested as investigation was ongoing.

Two charged with theft

By Opeyemi Lepe

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AGOS—A 27-year-old man, John Chukwu, and one other Chinonso Eze 26, were yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged theft of generator set and piston ring.

The defendants, who have no fixed address, are facing a two count charge of conspiracy and stealing, preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Olu Ojaokomo, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence on January 24, at about 4:27p.m. in Apapa area

of Lagos, stealing a set of piston rings and power generator, property of Coscharis Company Limited.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under Sections 409 and 15 (3) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

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

The magistrate, Mr. T. Abolarinwa, granted the defendants N50,000 bail each, with one responsible surety each.

He adjourned the matter till August 8 for mention.

Tajudeen.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—7

20-month-old baby disappears during naming in Ogun zResidents discover ritualists' den

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U T A — C O N F U S I O N enveloped Inukosegba area of Akorede Estate, Mile II in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, following the mysterious disappearance of a 20-monthold toddler, Opeyemi Ogundele, during a naming ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

The disappearance of the child later resulted in the discovery of a suspected ritualists’ den in the area.

Vanguard gathered that the naming ceremony had to be aborted when the mother of the baby screamed over her missing baby boy.

It was also discovered that the suspected ritualists’ den is located opposite the house, where the aborted naming ceremony was scheduled to have taken place.

When Vanguard got to the scene, the owner of the threebedroom bungalow with two detached rooms housing a ritualists’ den, which emitted putrid stench of decomposed human flesh, Chief Olasile Ifayemi, an Ifa priest and the Jagunmolu Elegun of Egba, was said to have taken to his heels.

Angry residents stormed the area and vandalised the building, claiming that severed human hands, a woman’s breast and intestines, and fetish objects were discovered inside the suspected ritualists’ den.

The place became a Mecca of sort as many of the youths at the scene displayed on their mobile phones photographs of the human parts allegedly recovered from the building.

Discovered in suspected ritualits' den

The human parts were reportedly taken away by the police for forensic test.

Clothes, bras, pants and other apparels said to belong to women who might have been killed and used for rituals, and masquerade regalia, were also found inside the building.

Also found inside the den were children’s clothes, bags and women make-up kits said to belong to victims.

Fetish objects, including a human effigy made of wood, padlocks wrapped in black and white threads and assorted charms as well as other ritual items were also found in the den.

A detachment of armed policemen and men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad were stationed around the building.

Names of persons such as

By Ifeanyi Okolie

Seun, Damilola, Bose, Dupe, Esther and Toyin were written with white chalk on the outer wall of the two rooms housing a shrine.

Local clay pots containing some fetish substance were placed in front of each of the names written on the wall of the shrine.

Some residents alleged that the names were those of the persons who might have fallen victims to the alleged ritualists.

Angry youths threatened to set the building ablaze.

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Mother's story

Narrating her ordeal, mother of the missing toddler, Elizabeth Ogundele, explained that she had gone to the area on Sunday along with her child to attend her niece’s naming ceremony, but later discovered amid preparations for the event that her son had mysteriously disappeared.

The distraught 26-year-old mother said she had gone to celebrate the birth of a newborn baby with her brother, Olusola Osunleke, who resides in the area when the incident occurred.

She said: “I was helping my brother’s wife get ready for the ceremony when I noticed that my son had disappeared.

“I searched for him everywhere inside and around the house, because some tenants said they saw him earlier playing football. But all our efforts proved abortive as he was nowhere to be found.

“I then ran outside the house into the streets, still searching and that was when I encountered two persons at Chief Ifayemi’s house.

“I asked if they had seen my son, they denied and started giggling. So, I left them and continued to search for him.”

Ogundele stated that it was during the search for her missing son that the alleged

Police recover 13 vehicles from Lagos car thief

Baby Opeyemi Ogundele and his mother. ritualists’ den was discovered.

The mother of the toddler alleged that she “strongly” suspected the two occupants she met earlier, from who she had inquired the boy ’s whereabouts.

Shedding tears, she pleaded with police and Nigerians to help her find her child, who would be one year and eight months tomorrow, to save her from her current agony.

Police story

While confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajeed Ali, however,

said there was no link between the disappearance of the toddler and the discovery of the alleged ritualists’ den.

Ali assured that the police had commenced investigations on the matter and would make its findings public.

He said: “Actually, the twoyear-old boy was kidnapped yesterday but the site that was discovered has no relationship with the boy and other human parts that were found at the site.

“Already, we have commenced investigation on the matter and we will let you know what really happened when we finish our investigations.”

32-year-old robbery suspect, Paul, who specialises in removing vehicles from parks around Lagos and Ogun states, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, at Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.

The suspect, who was arrested along with three others, Ezeala, the alleged receiver of the stolen vehicles, Ade and Kasali, was alleged to have been a notorious robber who had been on the police wanted list for a long time.

Police sources disclosed that 13 vehicles, including four Toyota Camry, two Volkswagen Vento Salon cars, two Golfs and four Volkswagen buses, were recovered from the suspect.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Paul as an unrepentant robber, who had been arrested previously and charged to court over the same offence.

The source explained that the suspect was arrested in 2013 by SARS operatives attached to Lagos State Police Command, adding that four vehicles were recovered from him.

The source said: “He was charged to court at the completion of investigation, but he was granted bail and he returned to crime.

“Seven months later, he was re-arrested by SARS operatives at Ogun State Police Command and five cars recovered from him.

“The police in Ogun arraigned him in court; he was remanded at Oba Prison, where he spend about six month and was released in October 2014.”

... as police pick up abandoned day-old baby in Ilorin

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—RESIDENTS at Adelodun Road,GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State, gathered in total bewilderment yesterday morning, milling around a day-old baby boy neatly packed inside a carton and abandoned by the road side.

One of the sympathisers later put a call to the state Police Command to rescue the baby boy, who was yelling and writhing in pains.

Vanguard reliably gathered that a patrol team of A-Division

police team was instantly sent by the command to evacuate the baby from the spot and was taken straight to the Civil Service Clinic for medical attention.

Vanguard also gathered from one of the officers, who craved anonymity, that the mother abandoned the baby boy early yesterday morning before anyone could notice her.

He said: “The baby was abandoned this morning (yesterday) at that spot. A good Samaritan called the distress number of the

Nigerian Police, Kwara State Command and a team from ADivision was sent to rescue the baby.

“When our officers got there, the new-born baby was found neatly packed inside the carton. And we took him to the office and then to the Civil Service Clinic in Ilorin here, where he was given medical attention.”

Vanguard also gathered from hospital sources that the baby is in good condition and ready to be handed over to the Social Welfare Department of

the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Already, at press time, officials of the department were at the clinic to receive the abandoned baby.

One of the nurses, who pleaded anonymity in an interview with Vanguard, expressed sadness over the incident.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

NASS LEADERSHIP CRISIS:

Uncertainty as Senate, House resume today zBuhari justifies reluctance to interfere

By Emmanuel Aziken, Emman Ovuakporie, Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — THE prospect of peaceful resumption in the two chambers of the National Assembly today was, yesterday, being clouded by uncertainty despite trouble shooting efforts that were still in the works at press time last night.

It was feared last night that should the peace efforts fail, the brawl that smeared the last sitting of the House of Representatives last month could replay itself and spread to the Senate on the resumption of the two chambers today.

The fears were upon the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to decisively reconcile the two camps of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the House at a meeting he summoned, yesterday evening. Before the failed meeting by the President which ended last night without a breakthrough, meetings by APC governors to reconcile the party’s brawling camps in the Senate also failed to produce a major result.

Ahead of the meeting with the President in the villa, yesterday, the Yakubu Dogaraled leadership of the House issued a stern warning of possible sanctions against trouble makers who may decide to run riot in the chambers today. The ad-hoc committee on Code of Conduct warned that any member that exhibits any act capable of disrupting the sitting would face severe sanctions.

The meeting with Buhari

At the meeting in the villa, the President appealed to the two camps led by Speaker Dogara and Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was defeated in the leadership contest, to sheathe their swords and project the interests of the party. He pleaded with the members to heed the party’s positions on the issues, a stance that was immediately lapped up by Gbajabiamila, who is being projected by his camp to become the House Leader.

That quest is, however, opposed by the mainstream of the House led by Dogara on the claim that it would infringe on the principle of federal character given that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Yusuf Lasun is also from the same Southwest zone as Gbajabiamila.

Coming out from the meeting, some members apparently divided in their interests wore looks of anxiety.

Those who spoke said that

peace during plenary, Committee meetings or other legislative functions of the House.

“The House will deal decisively with any member who violates the rules, disrupts plenary, or is found wanting of misconduct and other sundry offences.

“Members are admonished to demonstrate high standards of ethics consistent with the important role of Lawmaking and the 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda, which places emphasis on the wellbeing of the Nigerian people.

We should all be guided accordingly.”

Buhari justifies reluctance to interfere

MEETING: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (left) and leader of group in the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila during the meeting between the Presidency and All Progressives Congress, APC, caucus in the House of Representatives at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. the President asked the House leadership to toe the party’s line in appointing principal officers.

However, Dogara and Gbajabimaila told State House correspondents that they were optimistic the problem would be resolved soon.

It's a family affair — Gbaja

The first to speak was Gbajabiamila, who said that the meeting was a family affair.

“We had a family meeting.

We spoke heart to heart. The President was very forthright.

It was basically on party supremacy. I believe that by the end of the day, before the end of this night, you guys will know the outcome. We are still talking. But I think this is the first time everybody is coming together in a cordial atmosphere as one family. I think we are almost at the point where all of these will be behind us.”

We'll pull through — Oyegun

Also speaking, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said that hopes were bright that the party would pull through.

“Everything is up. You can see I am smiling. You will be very surprised. A lot was achieved in 20 minutes. You can see the Speaker of the House standing firmly by me.

In another three, four hours, we will have good news for the nation. It is never too late to strengthen the past”, he said.

I stand by the party — Dogara

In his comment, Dogara said he had always stood by the party.

“I have always been by the party. There has never been a time that I never stood firmly by the party. So, like my chairman has explained, sooner or later we will have good news for Nigerians,” he said.

Following the meeting in the Villa, the President asked Oyegun to iron out the issues with the two camps. That meeting was yet to commence at press time.

Sources in the Dogara camp buoyed by the increasing strength of the group upon the depletion of the Gbajabiamila group pledged that the limit the group would offer to Gbajabiamila would be a juicy committee position and not the House Leader, he and his group have demanded.

However, following the villa meeting, the Dogara camp resolved to concede two of the principal officer positions, House Leader and Chief Whip to the Gbajabiamila group, while the Dogara camp would do with the deputy leader and deputy chief whip. A source in the Dogara camp said that the group had offered the position of House Leader to Alhassan Dogowa from Kano State and Chief Whip to Pally Iriase from Edo State.

The deputy leader position is to be filled by Buba Jibrin from Kogi State and deputy chief whip by Chike Okafor

from Imo State.

The statement of caution against violence on the floor signed by Rep. Aminu Shehu Shagari, Chairman, House Ad-hoc Committee on Code of Conduct, explained that the committee had been mandated to act as Standing Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Cautions against violence

The statement read in part: “The Adhoc Committee on Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives hereby welcomes members from their working recess.

“Members may wish to note that the committee has been saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the functions of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

“As we resume plenary on Tuesday 28, July 2015 (today), the committee wishes to call on all members to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. The committee will no longer tolerate any unruly behaviour by any member of the House no matter how highly placed.

“Members who have grievances are advised to explore peaceful avenues of seeking redress instead of resorting to violence on the floor of the House or the precincts of the National Assembly.

“There are adequate sanctions in place to penalise any member who may want to disrupt the

Earlier, yesterday morning, the President had justified his reluctance to interfere in the crisis in the National Assembly on the basis of separation of powers.

The prospects of peace were also clouded in the Senate which has also been rocked by internal schism following the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President.

Sources disclosed that the troubleshooting efforts of Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State also failed to reconcile the two APC factions in the Senate respectively led

by Saraki and Senator Ahmad Lawan.

C'ttee efforts derailed

A source disclosed that the Oshiomhole–Bagudu committee efforts were derailed after separate meetings with the two camps termed the Senate Unity Forum (SUF) loyal to Lawan and the Like Minds loyal to Saraki failed to produce peace.

The SUF, according to sources, was adamant that Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu should step down as Senate President.

The Like Mind senators, it was also gathered, were also planning their offensive through a scheme to suspend six members of the Lawan group from the Senate at today ’s session. The basis of their suspension, it was being speculated, was upon their alleged sponsorship of a petition to the police alleging forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, which is said to be an infringement of Senate standing orders against the externalisation of the internal affairs of the Senate.

The Lawan led group, on the other hand, is also said to be mobilising to counteract any plan to suspend any one of their members at today’s sitting.

Meanwhile, as a way of nipping the crisis in the bud, the Oshiomhole-Bagudu committee, it was gathered, had recommended that the Senate leadership should offer juicy committee positions to the Lawan group as a way of mollifying the angst of its members.

Following their interactions, the two governors, yesterday, briefed the President in the presidential villa on the outcome of their intervention.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—9

FG to probe N4trn contractual debts under Jonathan zSpecial task force may be raised to verify amount

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

BUJA — HOW did the 28 federal ministries, their departments and agencies under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan incur a whopping N4 trillion contractual debt? Who issued the jobs and did they pass through due process and if so, did the contractors complete the assigned jobs?

These and more are the duties which a special task force to be raised by the Federal Government is to undertake before the debt could be classified as Federal Government liability and settled by the new administration.

The N4 trillion debt, which is nearly the country’s budget for one year, was handed over by the previous government to the present administration as part of the hand-over note given to the Transition Committee raised by President Muhammadu Buhari.

But after looking at the debt profile and not being able to establish its authenticity, the Transition Committee headed

by Alhaji Ahmed Joda, has made a strong recommendation to President Buhari to raise a ministerial task force to probe how the huge debts were incurred in the first place.

The committee in its report sighted by Vanguard last night, noted: “The handover note from the previous administration showed an aggregate contractor liability of N4 trillion as at April 2015.

“It is imperative that the administration establishes an inter-ministerial task force to review all outstanding contracts and associated liabilities across all ministries, departments and agencies.

“The mandate of the task force is to confirm the existence of the liabilities and authenticate the accuracy of the information provided in the handover notes.

“The government should only recognise the liabilities verified and confirmed by the task force.”

The Joda committee said it could not rely on the handover note it received from the Jonathan administration because of the fact that the specific dates when the contracts were awarded were not provided, thereby raising suspicion about their genuineness.

It noted: “A detailed list of

contractors was not provided and therefore, some balances may be double counted, thereby, making contracts funded through debt to be captured by the Ministry of Finance and the contracting ministry.

“No documentation was provided to confirm if the projects were executed to agreed specifications while some contracts may have been cancelled or terminated,” the report noted.

with N1.2 trillion followed by Ministry of Finance with a debt of N467.7 billion while the Ministry of Niger Delta trailed with N389.2 million.

Other debtor ministries are: Power, N370 billion; Works, N296 billion; Transport, N289 billion and FCT, N194 billion.

Others are: Land and Housing, N151 billion; Aviation, N138 billion; Water Resources, N111 billion; National Sports Commission, N104 billion; Environment, N51 billion; Police Affairs, N36 billion and Health, N36 billion.

Breakdown of President Buhari had said in the huge debts A breakdown of the huge Washington last week that he debts shows that the Ministry would only take off after of Education topped the list clearing the rot that has

seriously affected governance in Nigeria.

Buhari said it would be wrong to allow his administration to run on the existing platform which had been seriously tainted by corruption, thereby drawing back the system.

But the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticised the Buhari administration for being slow and taking Nigeria backwards by not appointing ministers and other key government officials several months after assuming office.

The party said the APC government did not have a clear idea of what to do, thereby trying to buy time to waddle through.

VISIT: President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right); former Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Sir Shridath Ramphal (3rd right); candidate, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Ronald Sanders (2nd left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Paul Lolo (right) and Publisher, Africa Today, Mr. Kayode Soyinka (left) during a visit to the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT: Buhari was quoted out of context —Presidency

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA — THE Presidency, yesterday, denied claims that President Muhammadu Buhari had said that his government would accord preferential treatment to the zones that contributed to his electoral victory.

While dismissing the allegations, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the President was quoted out of context.

His words: ‘’That was a social media commentary. Whoever said that was just making a social media commentary which is not regulated in accordance with journalism ethics. What the President meant to say was that the world of politics is seen as a reward system by which people expect to derive maximum support from giving maximum support and he meant to say that he is a different kind of leader and will govern in the interest of all.

“He repeated his famous quote that I belong to everybody and I belong to no one. He said he will be fair to all irrespective of how they voted and went on to say that the constitution of the country makes it compulsory for every government to be fair to all.

“In our constitution, everyone and every part of the country is protected. That was what he meant to say. So, that line was taken out of the context in which the statement was made."

Nigerians want answers to questions not insults, PDP tells APC

A

By Henry Umoru

BUJA — THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again taken a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying that as a party in government, it must provide answers to questions instead of dodging and insulting the opposition.

According to PDP, instead of looking for escape routes, the APC must be fast enough to provide answers to burning national issues that border on what it termed government’s lack of transparency, abuse of power, dwindling economy, escalating insecurity and apparent failure of governance since it assumed power at the centre on May 29, 2015.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that with APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

resorting to insults, the ruling party wants to divert attention of Nigerians from issues, adding that it further confirms the insincerity and emptiness of the APC even as a party in power.

Metuh said: “Going through the hurried response by the APC, it is clearly noted that the party did not address any of the issues raised by the PDP in its widely reported press conference on Sunday.

“The APC failed to address the issue of the recent organized public harassment and humiliation against the immediate past First Lady and wife of the former President, Dame Patience Jonathan, at the Port Harcourt airport obviously organized and orchestrated by the Director of Protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Husseini, who cited ‘order from above’ in his direct threats and insults to the former First Lady on phone.

“Furthermore, the nation is still waiting for the APC and the

Presidency to address the issue of the divisive and tendentious statement by President Buhari who declared to the world that he would run a discriminatory government based on voting pattern in the last general elections, in clear violation of his oath of office and the provisions of the constitution.

“Nigerians are still waiting for explanations on the embarrassments that characterized the President’s US visit, which instead of bringing gains, yielded only disagreements, accusations and exchanges between the Presidency and their American hosts.

“The Presidency and the APC are yet to address the issue of the disgraceful treatment meted out on some Nigerian bankers and captains of industry by the President during the visit as well as the absence of an economic team in an important meeting with US officials thereby robbing

the nation of the benefits of the discussions.

“Nigerians are still waiting for answers on the issue of resort to sole administratorship by the President in managing the affairs of the nation without proper recourse to statutory arms and organs of government as stipulated by the constitution.

"They are still waiting for explanations for the lack of policy direction that has left the nation’s economy in tatters with continued fall of the naira and agonizing loss in the capital market which has lost over N1.1 trillion in the last two months.

“The citizens are still awaiting for clarifications on the important issue of the $2.1 billion loan the Presidency is taking from the World Bank for purposes yet unknown to the public and relevant arms of government.

They want explanations on what the loan is for, what the terms are and who decides on how the money will be spent."

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Buhari to meet Biya over Boko Haram

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will travel to neighbouring Cameroon tomorrow to consult with his counterpart Paul Biya on Boko Haram’s insurgency, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina has said.

“President Buhari is going to Cameroon on Wednesday. He will hold talks with President Biya on arrival and the issue of Boko Haram will be central in their discussion,” he told newsmen yesterday.

“The visit is part of the consultation on the Boko Haram insurgency. He was to have gone on the visit in June but for the invitation to Germany by the G7,” Adesina said of Buhari’s participation last month in the Germanhosted summit of leading industrialised nation s— his first major international meeting as Nigerian president.

Since his inauguration on May 29, Buhari has visited Chad and Niger, two neighbouring countries jointly fighting Boko Haram along with Nigeria.

“The one-day visit to Cameroon aims to build a strong regional alliance to confront Boko Haram,” another presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said.

He declined to give details on the deployment of regional troops, but insisted it “will still be at the end of this month.”

The long-awaited Multi-National Joint Task Force, which was due to have been operational in November, has its headquarters in the Chadian capital N’Djamena.

WAEC to withhold results in 19 states over govts' N4bn debt

By Dayo Adesulu

L

AGOS—The West Africa Examinations Council, WAEC has threatened to

withhold the results of thousands of students from 19 states who participated in the May/June 2015 WASSCE over non-payment of candidates’ registration fees by

their state governments.

Speaking at its national office Yaba, earlier yesterday, the Head of National Office, HNO, Mr Charles Eguridu said: “The

INAUGURATION: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (left) congratulating the Amirul Hajj and Chairman, Special Ad-hoc committee for the 2015 Hajj, Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef (right), after his inauguration while the Perm Sec, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Grace Oladimeji watches during the inauguration at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

TENURE ELONGATION: Lagos Assembly summons HOS

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Ebun Sessou

L

AGOS—THE Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, summoned the state Head of Service, HOS, Mrs. Folashade Jaji to appear today, over an alleged elongation of tenure of members of the state’s Judicial Service Commission, JSC. This was the house’s reaction to a letter sent to it by members of the commission.

According to the house, the continuation in office by members of the commission was in flagrant disregard of the provisions of Section 199 of the 1999 Constitution, which states

that tenure of office of public officers should end automatically as at when due.

Reacting to the letter, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said the Head of Service must be invited to educate the House on the due process that was followed in renewing the tenure of the members of the commission.

He said the executive arm of government has not written the House to counter its position that the commission should be dissolved as its tenure has ended.

“The Head of Service should be invited tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28 to the House on the issue.

It would also serve as a signal to other agencies that once their tenure ends, they should leave office automatically,” he said.

EFCC arraigns vessel crew members over bunkering

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the crew members on board a vessel, MV Peace before Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged massive involvement in oil bunkering to

Ambode assures of improved welfare for pilgrims zMissing Gawat's wife made ad-hoc c'ttee member

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, with weekly orientation programme in all the Local Government Areas which Agency Reports

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State, yesterday, assured of his administration’s readiness to improve the welfare of pilgrims from the state while on spiritual journey to the holy land.

The governor gave the assurance at the Lagos House, Ikeja, during the inauguration of the Amirul Hajj and Adhoc Committee for Hajj 2015.

“My administration shall ensure an improvement in the welfare of Lagos pilgrims in the holy land. I have approved the immediate commencement of a decentralized

affected states should off-set the registration fees of their candidates as soon as possible, as we cannot guarantee that the results of their candidates for the May/June 2015 WASSCE will be released alongside others.”

According to him, a total of 19 states in the country are owing the Council due to the entry fees for states government-sponsored candidates for the May/June 2015 WASSCE. He decried the nonchalant attitude of the states towards payment of the debt which amount to N4 billion, adding that effort by WAEC to make them pay the money proved abortive, hence WAEC has resolved to make it public.

However, Eguridu declined to name the indebted states but urged them to pay up within the next two weeks.

“Many of the states of the federation, as part of their education policy, pay the registration fees of candidates for the WASSCE, particularly in the public schools.

“This is quite commendable as it afforded many indigent students the opportunity to sit for examinations and relieved many poor parents of this financial burden.

“As I speak to you now, we are cash-strapped as a result of the delay in off-setting the registration fees owed the Council by some states. As a result, we are finding it difficult to meet our financial obligations, particularly to our supervisors,

commenced on Saturday 25th July and it is aimed at developing the right attitude and character worthy of ambassadors of Lagos State in the holy land.”

In his response, the Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem, expressed appreciation to the governor, promising that he and his team would not let the state down.

Other members of the committee include Mr. Danmole AbdulHameed Ademola, Dr. Paramole Abdul Kabir, Alhaja Gawat Fatimat Folashade, wife of the popular NTA presenter who went missing last year, and others.

the tune of 200 metric tons of petroleum product.

The crew members, including the captain of the vessel, James Abatan were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris on a three-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum product.

Those arraigned include Wasiu Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johson Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Oba Saheed and Rasheed Adio.

In count one, EFCC alleged that the accused on or about April 4, 2015 conspired among themselves to commit the crime by dealing in petroleum product without appropriate licence.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (1) (6) (17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In count two, the accused allegedly dealt in 200 metric tons of petroleum product without appropriate licence contrary to Section (1) (1) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In count three, the accused were said to have stored 200 metric tons of petroleum product in MV Peace without lawful authority.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 11

AREGBESOLA: Tension as probe of Judge’s

petition begins

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—THERE is tension in Osun State as the House of Assembly is set to probe Justice Folahanmi Oloyede’s petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

This is causing both the ruling All Progressives Congress and

...Buhari shielding gov, group alleges

the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to engage in hot verbal attacks over today’s appearance of Justice Folahanmi Oloyede before the state House of Assembly to defend her petition before the investigation committee set up by the House.

Justice Oloyede had, in her petition, asked the House to

commence impeachment proceedings of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori over alleged mismanagement of the state resources.

Meantime, the APC yesterday directed that its supporters, who have no business at the state House of Assembly should not go

VISIT: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (middle); his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga (left); new Group Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc., Peter Hoddinott (2nd left), Head, Geocycle Africa, Pierre Delcroix (right) and Managing Director, Peju Babejo (2nd right), during the visit of the Lafarge team to the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday.

APC accuses Fayose of clamping down on opposition leaders

T

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has raised an alarm over alleged clampdown on its leaders and supporters by Governor Ayo Fayose, saying the hounding of its leaders into jail is a fulfilment of the governor’s declaration at his inauguration ceremony last year to run APC leaders out of the state.

A statement by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo

Olatubosun, said the alarm became imperative in the face of persistent framing of APC members arrested on trumped-up charges that saw them ending up in jail.

Reacting to the arrest of Rotimi Olambiwonnu last night, he said: “Governor Fayose at his inauguration ceremony last October publicly declared a oneminute silence for the death of APC in the state, promising to send the party

Obasanjo seeks support for Police

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — F O R M E R Presiident Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed to Nigerians to support Nigeria Police in order to ensure safety and sanity in the country.

Obasanjo said this yesterday, shortly after he held a meeting with the new Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Abdulmajeed Ali at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo maintained that though Nigerians have different views about the Nigeria Police, such should not be allowed to becloud their relevance and

significance in the society.

He said: “Police play critical role in securing the country, though Nigerians have different opinion about the image of the police due to their relationship with policemen in the country.

“The masses should not allow their experience with the police becloud their important responsibilities in the society.”

He however, linked the rate of crime in Ogun State to its geographical location, stressing that most criminals from the neighbouring states, especially Lagos have relocated to the state being at the central point.

members out of town.

“True to his declaration, no fewer than 10 leaders of our party have been hounded out of town while two are in jail over trumpedup charges even as teachers that were perceived as having sympathy for APC were transferred to the remote areas of the state while the governor is still after Fayemi’s officials to seize their cars even when the matter is in court.''

there as Justice Oloyede appears before the assembly panel today.

The party also alleged that the PDP was “planning a demonstration to usher in Justice Olamide Oloyede into the House.”

The APC in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, said: “We have it on good information that the PDP is planning to use the opportunity to cause mayhem as they had always planned.

“We call on the security agencies, to again be on alert so that evil minded people will not breach the peace.”

The party has also called on all its cadre and mobilisers to ensure that none of their supporters venture around the premises of the state assembly.

But reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement

by Prince Diran Odeyemi, said: “PDP members won’t go there tomorrow. And we have told all our members to avoid the premises of the House of Assembly as much as possible.

“But our security sources have

informed us that 40 members of the notorious group called State Boys, who will be dressed in PDP colours that will be led by a man called Carlos will ambush Justice Oloyede and attack her near the gate of the House of Assembly.

“We are saying this to the entire world now. Though we don’t believe in the committee working on the allegations against Mr. Aregbesola but as law abiding party, PDP will not be involved in any unlawful act.”

‘Buhari shielding gov'

A human rights group, Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State CSCEOS, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of allegedly shielding Governor Rauf Aregbesola from investigation by the anti-graft bodies over allegation of criminal financial mismanagement of the state funds leveled against him by Justice Oloyede Folahanmi.

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, chairman of the group, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi, wondered why both Governor Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titi LaoyeTomori are yet to be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission ICPC, nearly two

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Uduaghan decries misappropriation of Delta Line funds

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Vincent Uduaghan has decried what he described as high level of gross indiscipline and misappropriation of funds in the state transport company.

Uduaghan who was on a familiarization visit to Delta Line Transport Company headquarters in Asaba also expressed displeasure over what he described as lack of commitment and negligence to duties by the workers.

The transport commissioner stated that the visit was to have first hand knowledge of the situation on ground, adding that the report he received so far on the company was appalling.

He said that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government was determined to turn the transport company

round for better service delivery and reminded the staff that any act inimical to the company would at the long run rub off on them as

the company is their major source of livelihood.

Uduaghan lamented that the entrance into the company has become a park for private

commercial vehicles, which according to him was unacceptable, as he charged the workers to turn a new leaf so as to move the establishment forward.

FESTIVAL: His Royal Highness, Oba Okhishimede Idogu III, the Olokpe of Okpe (middle), flanked by Queen Eki Eshimokhai (left) and Queen Dada Eshimokhai, during the annual New Yam festival in Okpe Kingdom, Delta State.

Ignore reports of new Urhobo king —OTOTA

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—THE people of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom in War ri South Local Government Area, Delta State, have described the reported crowning of a new Orosuen (King) for the kingdom as “false and completely at variance” with the selection process for a new king for the vacant stool.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, at the palace of the Orosuen with the traditional council, women and youths present, Otota (Prime Minister) and Regent of the Kingdom, Chief Wilson Eboh, said that the declaration of Chief Kesiena Okumagba as new Orosuen as reported on July 21, was a desecration of the traditional stool and borne out of desperation.

Chief Eboh said: “We are deeply disturbed by the tension generated by said report. For a person to be qualified to ascend the Orosuen throne, he must be selected by the kingmakers and presented to

the traditional council and not to be chosen by the gods as the said Chief Okumagba claimed.

“It is either he is ignorant or deliberately wants to create an atmosphere of chaos and possibly mislead members of the public with the help of the media. Efforts are being made to address

both the criminal and civil aspects of same by the traditional council of Okere Urhobo Kingdom.”

According to the regent, but for lingering litigations over the vacant stool, a new Orosuen would have emerged within three months of the passage of Chief Benjamin Okumagba, the last Orosuen

PIPELINE EXPLOSION: Why I was detained,

by Okowa's aide

U

By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—SPECIAL Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youth and Community Development (Delta Central), Mr. Monday Owhesiri, has described his detention at the 222 Battalion headquarters, Agbarha-Otor over Thursday ’s morning pipeline explosion at Ighwrenene community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the

state as unfortunate and a frame-up by oil vandals in the area.

Owhesiri in a chat with Vanguard, said that owing to his fight and zero tolerance for vandalism of oil pipelines and facilities belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN in Ughelli and environs, he was framed-up by vandals and arrested in a bid to pave way for their operations in the area.

Speaking on circumstances that led to his arrest, he said: “I was

S-South APC youth leaders want Buhari to appoint SA on Amnesty programme

B

By Simon Egbebulem

ENIN CITY—YOUTH leaders of the All progressives Congress, APC, in the South South, yesterday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a Special Adviser to head the Amnesty office so as to avoid unnecessary tension in the Niger Delta region.

who joined his ancestors in 2012.

He said that the traditional council had in a letter dated May 13, 2015 warned Chief Okumagba against acts of impersonating the Orosuen of the kingdom when the council first learned of his moves.

The APC youths who agreed with the reasons adduced by the leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, that the reason for the tension in the Niger Delta was as a result of the failure by the Federal Government to pay the bills of the beneficiaries of the Amnesty

Programme who are in different schools abroad, urged the Federal Government to act fast so as to douse the tension in the region.

The APC youths in a statement

by Idoko Kabeni, said: “We decided to make this appeal to our President who we are aware is making efforts to clean up the system bastardized by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP."

in my apartment on Thursday morning when some military officers and youths came to me that my attention was needed at the 222 Battalion headquarters.

“Immediately I arrived, I was handcuffed, chained and locked up in the guard room like a common criminal without being interrogated till the next morning (Friday) when the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt. Col. Mathew Oyekola told me that the two suspects earlier arrested in connection with the explosion, had exonerated me of any link with the incident.”

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, has paraded two suspects allegedly involved in the explosion.

Briefing newsmen at the 222 Battalion headquarters, Agbarha-Otor, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Isa Ado, gave the names of the suspects as Dennis Oneya and Emmanuel Joseph of Uduere and Afiesere communities respectively.

Owie asks Buhari to seek counsel on NDDC board

By Emmanuel Aziken

B

ENIN—ERSTWHILE Senate chief whip, Senator Roland Owie, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take guidance from the Federal Ministry of Justice on the longevity of the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Affirming that the board of the commission cannot be dissolved midstream, Senator Owie in a statement said that the commission had become a statutory body having been established by an act of parliament.

He said: “I wish to state that NDDC can’t be dissolved by a presidential fiat. The NDDC is a commission that was established by an act of Parliament by the Fourth National Assembly in 2000 and could not have been listed in the 1999 Constitution.”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in his reaction told Vanguard, yesterday that that the General Service Officer, GSO, in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGFwouldgiveaclarificationon the issue.

CP makes case for vigilance groups

U

By Tom Moses

YO—AS part of efforts to clamp down on criminal elements, out-going Commissioner of Police in Akwa-Ibom State, Mr. Gabriel Achon, has enjoined community leaders to establish vigilante groups and strengthen community policing in their domains.

Achon at a parley in Uyo, the headquarters of the Akwa-Ibom State Police Command, said that the recommendation had become imperative because no armed robber or criminal would carry out a successful operation in an area without an insider collaboration or the criminals themselves residing in that area.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—13

Flood wreaks havoc in Asaba, homes, offices submerged zWe're on top of the situation —DELTA GOVT

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—FLOOD, yesterday, submerged some parts of Asaba, the capital of Delta State, sacking workers and some residents from their offices and homes.

The flood which followed a heavy down pour which started at 6a.m., and continued till evening, cut off some streets, including parts of OkpanamIbusa Road, Junior Staff Quarters Road, Jesus Saves Road, office complex of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, and Women Affairs Primary School .

The flood which some residents described as unfriendly, submerged some of the offices at the SUBEB complex after one of fence collapsed, thereby exposing it to intruders.

Our correspondent who drove round some parts of the capital city, observed that the situation prevented some workers and school children from going to work and school. Some

residents who spoke to Vanguard, called on the state government to take urgent steps to address the perennial flood in Asaba and its environs.

Messrs Emenike Odili, John Ikechukwu and Justina Mordi, who spoke separately, said one

of the major problems facing the Asaba capital city was the problem of flood, adding that residents of Okpanam and its environs could hardly come out or go back to their homes once it rains.

Meanwhile, the state

Commissioner for Environment, Chief John Nani who said that the state government was on top the situation, added that steps were already being taken towards addressing the problem.

RIVERS POLL: INEC, Wike lose bid

to stop hearing on APC's petition

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has failed to persuade the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja to discontinue further hearing on the petition against him by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate in the April 11, 2015, governorship election in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

The Justice Muazu Pindigaled tribunal in its ruling, dismissed separate preliminary objections challenging its jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition outside Rivers State.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, first challenged the constitutionality of the tribunal sitting in Abuja, both Wike and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also filed their objections.

Arguing through its lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, INEC maintained that the action of the tribunal in relocating its sitting to Abuja was in gross violation of section 285(2) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

It contended that going by the aforementioned section of the constitution under which the tribunal was established, “a tribunal sitting in Abuja cannot qualify as a tribunal established in Rivers State.”

INEC also argued that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, lacked the powers to voluntarily relocate the tribunal to Abuja when a state of emergency has not been declared in Rivers State.

Both Governor Wike and the PDP supported the position of

INEC, arguing that in line with the provisions of the constitution, the proceedings of the tribunal in Abuja amounted to nullity.

Wike further contended that Peterside was not validly nominated by the APC to contest the Rivers State governorship election.

He argued that under section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, as amended, the APC ought to have given INEC 21 days notice before it held the primary election that produced Peterside as its candidate.

However, the petitioners (APC and Peterside), prayed the tribunal to dismiss all the preliminary objections for want of merit.

Counsel to the petitioners, Chief Akinlolu Olujunmi, SAN, maintained that the tribunal was legally empowered to sit in Abuja.

Delivering ruling on the matter, the Justice Pindgaled panel held that its sitting in Abuja has legal validity.

Dismissing the objections to its jurisdiction as grossly lacking in merit and substance, the tribunal, said it has not violated any provision of the law since the relocation to Abuja was based on security reasons.

Reactions trail interogation of Rivers REC, Gesila Khan

By Jimitota Onoyume & Gbenga Oke

P

ORT HARCOURT— REACTIONS have continued to trail last week's invitation and interrogation of Dame Gesila Khan, the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Rivers State by Department of State Services, DSS, over an alleged N700 million found in her account.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state hailed same, while Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, expressed worry over the development.

Rivers State APC is insisting that Khan must explain to Nigerians where she got the alleged N700 million found in her account.

But GDI through its Secretary, Mr Samuel Wonosike in Port Harcourt, said it was unfortunate that the DSS was being used to meddle in the ongoing gornorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.

Wonosike said some members of the tribunal were also allegedly invited and harassed by the security body, adding that the move was part of a grand design do compromise the tribunal.

He added that God who made Nyesom Wike governor of the state will ensure that those trying to manipulate the tribunal did not succeed.

14 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—15

Flood takes over Asaba and Sapele in Delta State

Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State capital, ravaged by flood, yesterday.

Photos: Nath Onojake

Junior Staff Quarters Road, Asaba.

Women Affairs Primary School, Asaba.

Jesus Saves Road, Asaba.

Homes overtaken by flood at Akintola Road close to New Road Junction, Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, overtaken by flood due to an early morning heavy downpour, yesterday.

SSS Road, Asaba.

Sapele Police Area Command.

Part of Okpe Road overtaken by flood.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

ENUGU:

Information boss moves to reactivate ministry

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Udeohele Ikechukwu, has charged information officers in the state to be more responsive to information gathering and dissemination to boost government activities and programmes.

The commissioner while speaking in a maiden meeting with the staff in the ministry noted that when communication gap is created in the polity,rumour-mill takes over.

He added that effective information dissemination of government activities will help elicit feedback from the public, which he said,is imperative in governance.

He observed that Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a grass-root man and cares for the down trodden, adding that his administration had carried out humanitarian actions and developmental programmes within some weeks in office.

Haruna Jauro assumes duty as Acting DG of NIMASA

M

R. HARUNA Baba Jauro has taken over from Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi as the Acting Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The handover ceremony took place in the Agency, yesterday.

While pledging his unreserved loyalty to the Acting DG, Mr. Obi enjoined staff of the Agency to support Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, assuring that the excellent working relationship between him and the new Acting DG will continue in order to lift the agency to greater heights.

Responding, Mr. Haruna Jauro expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve the nation in his new capacity. He thanked the staff of NIMASA for their commitment to duty and craved the cooperation of all for the realization of the mandate of the Agency.

“I want to thank all staff of NIMASA for the commitment to the objectives of this Agency and crave your cooperation so that together, we can actualize the objectives of the Agency,” the Acting DG said.

STRIKE: Govt offices shut in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—ALL Imo State Government offices were shut yesterday, following the industrial action ordered by the leadership of

all labour unions operating in the state.

The aggrieved workers downed tools over the planned slashing of their monthly wages and allowances by the state government.

The staff of ministries that are

most affected by the salary slash include Health, Agriculture, Judiciary, House of Assembly and House of Assembly Service Commission;while investigations revealed that members of the National

LISTING: From Left, Mr. Tolu Osinibi,Executive Director, First City Monument Bank Capital Market Limted; Mr. Ladi Balogun, Group Managing Director/CEO, FCMB Limited; Mr. Bayo Adeyemo, Member, FMDQ Board listings & Quotation Committee, and Mr. Bola Onadele, Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC, during the listing of the N26.0 billion FCMB SPV Bond on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau

ABIA: Judiciary workers end industrial action

By Anayo Okoli & Ugochukwu Alaribe

J

UDICIARY STAFF Union of Nigeria ,JUSUN, Abia State, has called off its 62-day old the industrial action.

JUSUN had embarked on industrial action to protest inability of the state to pay their salaries, using the CONJUSS salary structure.

In a telephone interview, Chairman of JUSUN in the state, Lambert Chibuike Onuoha said that the union decided to call off the strike after Abia state government paid their May and June salaries using the CONJUSS. He confirmed that JUSUN has directed her members to resume work and promised to monitor compliance across the state.

Onuoha added that the state government has also promised to pay the arrears of salaries owed workers from January till date.

Reacting to the development, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu congratulated members of the Judiciary Staff Union for suspending the strike and their efforts to resume work.

Ikpeazu in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Godwin Adindu, said the judiciary workers showed good understanding with the state government and demonstrated the spirit of patriotism by responding to the incentive of the government towards the workers.

The governor stated that since the state government has commenced compliance with the agreement reached with the union in June, there was no reason the union should

continue the strike .

Ikpeazu described the judiciary as a very crucial arm of government, stressing that the government cannot function effectively without the support and contributions of the judiciary.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration towards the welfare of Abia workers and promised to maintain a cordial relationship between the government and the different groups of workers’ union.

Anambra tackles erosion

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA—ANAMBRA State government has entered into partnership with NEW Marp to tackle erosion in 177 communities of the state.

Infrastructure levy consultant apologizes to Abia youths

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—THE originator of the Abia State infrastructure levy, Professor Ugochukwu Aliche, who worked for the government of Orji Kalu as a consultant, has apologized to Abia youths for failing them.

Aliche said the fund was created to revive ailing industries and agricultural establishments, and create jobs for youths in the state but regretted that his plans were dashed by greedy governments.

He said that when purposedriven educated youths are idle, they could think of how to give themselves jobs that the society would not like which had resulted in vices like kidnapping.

Aliche, who disclosed this in an interview in Aba, said he was residing in England at the time he was approached to design a programme to help stabilize government financially and he agreed to do it to help his state.

“But unfortunately, due to the way and manner this fund’s proceeds were looted, Aba textile

Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, also joined the strike in sympathy.

Although the labour leaders have reduced the originally planned indefinite industrial action to five days warning strike, they however warned that they would be constrained to transform it into an indefinite strike, if government fails to pay their salaries.

Meanwhile, the state government has, in a press statement signed by the Governor ’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, described the five-day warning strike as uncalled for and not justifiable.

“The five-day warning strike is uncalled for. It is not justifiable especially when it is on record that the Rescue Mission Government in the state had never owed workers before now”, the CPS said.

He stated that part of the agreement government entered with labour leaders was that where the bailout fund was not sufficient, the labour leaders and the government would meet to take decision on the next step to take.

“It is against the backdrop of these agreements that the state government feels disappointed with the five-day warning strike, which the workers in the state have embarked upon now because the truth of the matter is that the bailout fund has not come. We had earlier made such clarification and the situation is still like that”, Onwuemeodo said.

Continuing, the CPS reasoned that “the labour leaders would have done their investigation to see whether the government was saying the truth or not, with the issue of the bailout fund”.

mills, modern ceramics in Umuahia, Golden Guinea Breweries, Abia Palm project and other industries remain moribund," Professor Aliche, who has published over 4,800 books said.

Prof Aliche said: “It seems that the last 16 years of democracy in Abia State had been a total tragedy. Therefore, I apologise seriously to the youths whose parents and guardians contributed to the fund and yet the future of their children was not considered by past governments.”

Addressing newsmen in her office, the Commissioner for Environment, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili said the state government has already paid its counterpart fund.

“The Anambra state government under the leadership of Dr Willie Obiano is committed to tackling the erosion problem that has been disturbing erosion prone areas in the State."

She said the SINEC engineers would be in the state next month, saying that the governor would engage four more engineers to fast track the tackling of the erosion problem.

Nwaebili said some of the communities that would be first attended to included Nanka, Agulu and Enugu-ukwu.

According to her, the ministry has plans to open up the drainages on all the roads, adding that the ministry was embarking on environmental impact assessment for both individuals and Government .

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 17

Re: Na only Fulani waka come H

illary Okoronkwo

Dear Yinka, Thank you for transporting the grand recollections, hopes and outlook that we shared during our days in what we knew as the greatest citadel of learning in Africa. In search for greener pastures, shortly after we left Obafemi Awolowo University, I stumbled on a closely held secret. Our academic curriculum was enormously designed by and after the University of Michigan.

In this riposte to your well thought out and brilliant analysis, I rise to sustain the issues by taking a slightly unusual perspective. Before I do so, I need a few words to take us back to a few occurrences that should augment this exchange.

Many changes have taken place Over two decades ago from our days as residents of rooms 241 and 242 in the 3rd floor of a Fajuyi Adekunle Hall in Ife, a lot seems to have taken place and yet the memories remain fresh. As an officer of the Student Union, you were entitled to an accommodation in the medical block and as 2nd year student; I was a happy and privileged executive guest of Wole and Gbolade.

The official student term at the time was a “Squatter” but you may not know except I told you. The memory and image of you jamming Fela’s “beast of no nation” and showing off your smooth afro beat dance moves remains indelible.

While some things have remained unchanged, many changes have taken place: ·A huge decline in the quality of education as you noted ·New and weird kind of student union activism ·Massive decay and decline in infrastructures in the entire country ·Unlike before, Ghana and South Africa have superior tertiary education for Nigerian students ·Disturbing decline in the quality of the fourth estate of government And then some things have remained the same: C M Y K

Rather than dismiss my views as that of an irrational, dissonant and irresponsible youth, he identified a teachable moment and invited me to a meeting in his house in Ikenne. I took the first available date that he offered and embarked on the arduous trip to Ikenne from Ibadan. I was 22 years old at the time. I had no idea what to expect but against all odds no matter what they may be, his explanation was very important to me.

Arriving at his home on the first available date, he was waiting for his inquisitive eminent visitor. Dr. Solarin

·Our supreme and frightening reliance on oil ·The Otta farmer remains relevant, a sure sign of how diffident we are ·The expectation and hope for a responsible government remains doubtful ·As expected corruption and bribery in public and private institutions as a way of life

Voids to be filled As our homeland wobbles into the next two decades, I cannot help but ask who if any individual or groups have filled or intent to fill the very important voids left by the exit of the following selected titans and idols of mine. ·Dr. Tai Solarin ·Chief Ajibola James Ige ·Fela Anikulapo Kuti ·Chief Gani Gawehinmi ·Beko Ransome Kuti ·Alhaji Lam Adesina

Nigeria, a complicated society Map of Nigeria

Yinka, I believe that our dreams have to be bigger than each of us in order for us to sustain the force to make them come true. As a people we have come too far but have been very unfortunate not to have leaders who see the Nigerian project as a dream bigger than them.

The Nigeria of President Mohammadu Buhari’s dream has to be bigger than him.

Dissenting voices

I am not and have never been an advocate of turn by turn government.

The guarantors of this system of managing Nigeria cannot point to one successful evidence that it does indeed deliver as intended other than to benefit a few who are connected to the appointees

action and started vetting his potential cabinet appointees.

One of such people was Hillary Clinton with whom he fought a very long and bitter primary election. She was invited to Chicago and later became his Secretary of State.

The same was true of Larry Summers, his treasury secretary and other key cabinet appointees.

When President Buhari started announcing the names of his aides, it was a bit unsettling to notice that they were from the northern part of Nigeria except Femi Adesina.

It is a common practice for leaders elected or appointed to surround themselves with people that they feel comfortable with. President George Bush appointed people who were his classmates and political associates of his family at the very early stages of his presidency. They were all members of the Republicans but he made sure they were not all Caucasians from the South. The appointments were very insensitive on the part of President Buhari even as we all know he will be making subsequent ones that should reflect the federal character.

In order to actualise this dream, he has to invite and tolerate dissenting voices no matter how annoying they may seem. It will be a grave mistake not to do so because they provide a fresh stance and help in a strange way to validate assumptions.

I was a regular reader of Dr. Tai Solarin’s weekly prolific writings in the Nigerian Tribune. At a point in time, I found out through other sources that he travelled to Sokoto in company of Bashorun MKO Abiola to visit former President Shehu Shagari. The report did not disclose the purpose of the visit. I felt betrayed that a man who preached against the excesses of the elites could be a double agent. I wrote a harsh but very decisive dispatch of ethical criticism to him demanding explanations and possibly apologies.

updated me on his lifestyle with a quick tour of his house.

He told me that Chief Abiola personally came to his house and repeatedly requested that he should accompany him on the trip to commiserate with the former President who lost four of his sons in an accident. He inquired about my academic pursuit and listened with captivated attention. I was overwhelmed with his love, humility and dedication to mankind.

I visited him one more time before “checking out” of the country. The impression he made on me will live with me for the rest of my life. It amazed me how Solarin who fiercely challenged military authorities and languished frequently in jail for forcefully speaking truth to power would be so humble and found it necessary to convince a young man without a strong social or regular media presence.

Buhari's slow pace Since President Buhari assumed office, many Nigerians have been frustrated by the slow pace in assembling his cabinet. He recently told a Washington DC audience that at this stage in Obama’s presidency, his cabinet was not nearly complete. The truth is that a few days after Obama became President-elect; he swung into

If the earth was flat and mankind was perfect, it should not matter where elected officials and political appointments come from.

Nigeria is a complicated society and it does send the wrong significance that the leaders of the three arms of government are all northerners.

I am not and have never been an advocate of turn by turn government. The guarantors of this system of managing Nigeria cannot point to one successful evidence that it does indeed deliver as intended other than to benefit a few who are connected to the appointees.

The immediate past coordinating minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is from Umuahia in Abia State which is about an hour away from my village. There is no known shred of evidence that her coordinating activities were felt in any affirmative way in Abia State.

This arrangement is diffident, disused, counterproductive and prejudiced. In continuing this discourse, I have every objective to offer more insight as to how we can de-emphasise this policy. We copied the American system of government but strangely enough forgot to modify the key implementation piece to align to our unique environment and circumstances.

Until then, “Na only Fulani waka come?’

Please kontinue!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 HUMAN rights are guaranteed in our constitution. That explains why countries all over the world ratified different conventions and treaties on the issue. These include the United Nations Charter on Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. Nigeria is a signatory to most of these laws. Virtually all of them have been domesticated.

These rights are guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria [As Amended]. They include: the right to life, right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty, right to fair hearing, right to private and family life, right to freedom from discrimination and right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.

However, there are clamours in some quarters to treat women’s rights as human right. It was one of the positions aggregated by women lawyers and rights

Enhancing The Rights Of Women crusaders at a seminer in Lagos recently. The gathering, which the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Session on Legal Practice (SLP) facilitated, focused on the reality of women’s rights in Nigeria.

The call stemmed from degrading and sub-human experiences women are being subjected to domestically. These include wifebattering, anti-widow practices and disinheritance of women in some cultures.

A champion of this clarion call, the wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, ar-

gued that women’s rights should be observed just like other rights. Failure to do this, she noted, would amount to running on one leg. In the words of Tanzania’s former president, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the two legs on which any nation should stand and walk or run are her 'manhood and womanhood.

We believe that the rights of women should no longer be toyed with. President Barack Obama, in his recent visit to Kenya, drummed in the imperative of doing away with archaic practices that dehu-

manise women in Africa, and stressed the need for greater inclusion of women in every aspect of development for greater impact.

The NBA and women lawyers’ groups, as well as social advocacy outfits should continue to push the frontiers of reforms to eliminate practices that are repugnant and no longer relevant to society. More efforts should be invested in pro bono services for women whose rights have been violated, especially those who cannot afford the cost of legal representation.

Reform of outdated legislation is important if we are to eradicate harmful practices. We, therefore, applaud the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the enforcement of women’s right to inheritance. It is a major salutary and liberating verdict.

We must proceed to strengthen other existing laws that frown at the infraction of the rights of women in order to give them their rightful place in modern society.

OPINION Ogbonnaya Onu and the reward of perseverance

By Collins Obibi

I

F and when President Mohammadu Buhari decides to appoint somebody from the South East to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as is been speculated in many quarters or to any other key position, the first and best choice is Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. His academic qualification, pedigree and wealth of experience stand him out. He is among the best the zone can produce and has tremendous capacity to deliver on any assignment.

Onu has beyond these shown character and has creditably acquitted himself since he came to political limelight first as governor of old Abia State in 1992.

He is easily the face of any semblance of opposition the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ever faced in the South East in the past 16 years and a familiar face at the national level. Using lectures, seminars, speeches and talks at different occasions, he sustained the attack on the then ruling party, until the tide changed.

Onu has since 1998 kept faith with the opposition beginning with the All People’s Party, the All Nigeria people’s Party and the recent amalgam - the All Progressive Party (APC) which has been engineered and efficiently marketed to

become the ruling party. He has therefore paid his dues and therefore awaits a crown.

To really understand Onu and appreciate the gift of God in him, if he is schemed out of the first slots in the much awaited appointments people may see it as injustice and scream, but the Onu I know is most likely going to take it with equanimity and maintain his peace and stability. He is not likely going to roughen shoulders but will persevere and keep faith with the party and its principals just as he has been doing since 1998.His commitment to lofty ideals and beliefs and implicit trust and confidence in God is absolute. This is a positive character trait and indeed a display of

Onu has contributed in building the opposition in the past 16 years, yet the times call for more work, zeal and sincerity of purpose, perhaps a good reminder to those who see appointments differently

strength, even when scholars of the Machiavellian institute may disagree.

How many of the present day jostlers and their godfathers are so endowed?

Scheming or jostling for positions is the game of politicians and this is aggravated by the delay by the administration in making the appointments even when the elections had been won over four months ago. As expected, names are been thrown up from different parts of the zone and many kings and king makers have emerged including name droppers who forget easily that Nigerians know the tendencies and idiosyncrasies of the Katsina State born general who has shown some signs of conversion to a democrat.

There is hardly any position Onu can be appointed to by the present administration which he probably would not have occupied if he had flirted with the PDP since being edged out by the All People’s Party as presidential candidate in the 1999 elections. He chose to remain and build the opposition.

And for 16 years, he persevered making sacrifices which he once lamented about.

As he put in one forum, it is very challenging in our clime to be in a nonruling-party at the federal and state levels for a long time. In his words, “I must tell you, I have always believed that we should not have a one party system in the country and that is why I never changed and it is very difficult to be in the opposition particularly if you

have risen to a certain level. It is extremely difficult, particularly if you are in the opposition in your state and at the federal level.”

How he survived and visibly so these tortuous years should serve as a case study for political scientists.

Onu has contributed in building the opposition in the past 16 years, yet the times call for more work, zeal and sincerity of purpose, perhaps a good reminder to those who see appointments differently. He has the requisite pedigree and sagacity to deliver at the topmost level of governance anywhere in the world. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. He taught at the University of Port Harcourt as the pioneer Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering among other positions in the university. He was the first executive governor of Abia State from February 1992 to December 1993 an office he brought tremendous charisma to.

The same words Onu used to respond to my question in 1999 while appealing for votes in his home state are still apt today: “I will appeal to the people of Ebonyi State to do all within their power to look at those who are trying to represent them and judge them on their values, experience and temperament”

*Mr. Obibi, a journalist, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015— —19

Let justice reign

By Sunny Ikhioya

A

SCHOOL of thought wants to see the old Muhammed Buhari – with swagger and a hardliner against indiscipline and corruption. Another school wants a more pliable and democratic Buhari, the politician-cunning, witty and evasive. We are happy that, from what we have seen so far, he has remained the middle course.

There is no path that Buhari embarks upon that will not attract criticism from the people. The best for him therefore, is to work according to his conscience first, followed by the interest and benefits to the nation.

Feelers from the United States, where Buhari is currently as I write this piece indicate that he is not ready to spare any ‘sacred cow’. Asked by the reporter during a CNN programme if he would sanction the guilty ones, if they were members of his party or associates, he said: "I just have to, there is not going to be any party member or personality that can escape justice”. Also along similiar lines is the Vanguard headline of Wednesday 22nd July, 2015; “we’ll arrest former ministers for looting, oil theft- Buhari”.

According to the report “Federal government was examining pieces of evidence that would

lead to the arrest and prosecution of some former ministers and other government officials for looting and stealing of Nigeria’s crude oil.” So the die is cast. It is the practice of Nigerian leaders to declare policy statements when they are in foreign lands and President Mohammadu Buhari has not disappointed in this instance. The only problem is, after they are done with the speeches and return home, everything returns to normalbusiness as usual. Will Buhari be different? I hope so.

We are still waiting for the ministerial list and many people have attributed the delay to his desire to ensure that only clean men make up his cabinet, we hope that by the time the list is released, it will reflect the cause for delay. Previous governments have promised to tackle corruption in the past, why have they not succeeded? They did not succeed because they were unable to confront the monster of big politicians and businessmen who helped to put them in power. Will it be right for one to spend billions of naira to bring you into office and after you get in there, you jettison the one who has helped to put you there? That is the question.

James Onanefe Ibori despite his perceived dye in the wool hands in corruption was accepted into the kitchen cabinet of late

President Umaru Yar'adua.

Another question that arises from this is, must elected officials pay back political debts, whether they are of corrupt or legitimate sources? Is it right for a political aspirant to encourage slush funds in his campaign, knowing that the source of the fund is corrupt?

If President Buhari says that he will go after corrupt people from both the APC and other parties, irrespective of their contributions to his election success, will he be doing the right thing?

It has come to a stage where this nation must confront this monster once and for all times, it is not an easy fight. The current Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi once said that: “if you want to

If President Buhari says that he will go after corrupt people from both the APC and other parties, irrespective of their contributions to his election success, will he be doing the right thing?

Religious bias, nepotism inimical to good governance

By Godwin Etakibuebu

F

OR those who keenly observed the formative process of the All Progressive Congress,APC about two years ago; courtesy of President Goodluck Jonathan’s liberalised democratic posture and his godly creation of Professor Attahiru Jega Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, the truth of where the APC would take Nigeria to was not lost on them. This class of keen observers were not equally misled to believing that Major General Muhammadu Buhari, suspected of emerging as the flag bearer of the party then, was the messiah Nigeria was waiting for. To this group, it was obvious that the foundation of the APC; designed along religious terrain, was dangerous enough to sustain an equitable Nigeria.

Again, this class of observers looked at the names and religious background of those nominated for interim leadership of the APC, at the time of registration with the INEC, and recognised the anomaly that the formation was made up of about eighty per cent Muslims to twenty per cent Christians. Having won the general elections and been inaugurated as a government on 29th May, 2015, the fear of these keen observers about APC’s antics of nonrespect for balancing of religious factor in appointment of Public officers in the Nigerian system has become “acceptable classroom handbook”. In the same way geographical respect between the North and the South in placement of appointments within the same Nigerian Federation has also become a very great casualty. These good norms that hitherto held a “diversified country in unity”are already thrown to the dogs, either at the Presidency or even at the Nigerian Peoples’ Parliament – the National Assembly.

C M Y K

What does this portray for this great country? Wait a moment please. Do we really need some spiritual soothsayers or ball gazers to tell us where we shall be heading to if we continue with this “what can they do” or “let the heaven fall if it wants to fall” attitude? While still on the fear of what this political nonchalant attitude of the APC and its presidency might cost Nigeria in the long-run, permit me to reflect on the wise saying of two of the founding fathers of the enterprise called Nigeria - Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello, both of blessed memory. While the great Zik of Africa advised that “we should forget our difference [in Nigeria] and forge ahead” when the foundation of this great country was being laid among the founding fathers in one of their meetings, the great Sultan of Sokoto disagreed wisely with Azikiwe by positing instead, “let us understand our differences so that we will be able to know how to live together.” Huh! What words of wisdom, engraved on stones, shall these ever remain?

We have been able to come this far as one country because of the simple fact of

The only “qualification” that brought him back from retirement into active service, after retiring at the mandatory age of sixty years, is because “he is an indigene of Daura town” the same town of President Buhari

fight corruption in this country, corruption will fight back at you.” Can President Buhari fight back against corruption? Will he fight his own with the selective justice of a President Obasanjo or the passivity of a Goodluck Jonathan? When Obasanjo was in power, Senator Buruji Kashamu had access to the presidential villa but when things got sour between them, Kashamu became another person to Obasanjo, will Buhari’s treatment of his friends be like that?

It is a very difficult choice and one that can be carried only by an honest leader, with no ambition for primitive wealth accumulation for himself, family and cronies. It requires a focused and very disciplined leader, a leader that loves Nigeria as a country first, ready to put the country above all considerations, that is the type of leader that can make this corruption monster to disappear.

Looking at the APC party and some perceived corrupt people in its leadership; will President Buhari call their bluff? It is a huge choice that comes with heavy responsibilities. Will Buhari be able to fight back if push gets to a shove situation? Buhari is perceived to be Mr. Clean, untainted by any form of corrupt scandal and on that basis he was elected and sworn into office on May 29, 2015 but Buhari cannot do it alone. There is a saying that ‘one bad apple corrupts the whole bunch’. How

understanding our differences, which spread across cultural heritage, imbalance in educational pursuant [in the beginning], political development, religious differences and many other anomalies, into the acceptance of turning these diversities to the strength of bearing each other [North and South] frailties in accordance to the wisdom of Sir Ahmadu Bello. Part of this wisdom is the recognition that a Northern President in Nigeria attracts automatically a Southern VicePresident and verse-visa. In the same wisdom, if one [either North or South] is a Christian, the other must be Muslim.

This golden wisdom, inherited from one of the founding fathers, adequately explained above, had only been jettisoned twice in the history of governance in Nigeria. In fact, it is once since the second one came moribund at birth so it did not live and both were military concoctions.

The first being when this same Muhammadu Buhari, then a serving Major General of the Nigerian Army abandoned his constitutional military duty to over-throw a democratically elected government of Shehu Shagari on December 31st 1983. He did not only breach the Nigerian constitution; which he ought to be charged for treason and executed, if the coup had failed, just like his unlucky sojourners in the likes of Major Generals IB Bissala, Mamman Vatsa [a very brilliant and erudite poet] Colonel Buka Suka Dimka and scores of others, he threw away with all impunity the wisdom of balancing religious and North/South factors in governance in Nigeria. Major General Muhammadu Buhari picked General Tunde Idiagbon, a co-Muslim as his next in command – Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Tunde Idiagbon, from Ilorin in Kwara State actually was of nomadic Funali race, with his ancestral father migrating from Daura in Katsina State – the same place of origin with Buhari. Anyone in doubt of this can go to the Emir Palace in Ilorin to confirm the authenticity of this revelation.

I need not pay too much attention to the Moshood Abiiola and his running

will he be able to achieve his goals with corrupt people around him?

That is why we must empower and refurbish our established institutions; all of them should be able to run at full auto pilot without the influence of personalities. People should not wait for Buhari before doing their job and when they do, it must not be for media publicity blitz alone but to dispense real justice.

All of them;- the Police, EFCC, ICPC, judiciary, army and various military and paramilitary commands, indeed, all government ministries and agencies.

Recently, we have noticed so much noise regarding the arraignment of high profile citizens, in court for corrupt practices, how long will this last?

Are these actions aimed at impressing President Buhari or just playing to the gallery? Will these high profile cases be diligently pursued to its conclusion? We wait and see.

It is a wave of arrests, detention and prosecution, let justice flow like the spring of flowing waters, let every hand that has corruptly soiled itself in the country’s affairs be brought to justice. Let every Nigerian be involved in this cleansing of the nation by supporting Buhari to weed out the undesirables.

For President Buhari, he has started the race, one's only hope is that he finishes strong. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

mate, Babagana Kingibe Muslim/ Muslim presidential ticket of 1993, another attempt in jettisoning the wisdom of comfortable co-existence put together by Sir Ahmadu Bello, by another military “evil genius” [as he called himself]; General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Thank God, that attempt ‘died’ on arrival with the winner [first ever declared freest election in Nigeria] incarcerated in prison by the same military government until he was terminally wasted, presumably by the same military rascals.

Now APC and Buhari have reintroduced the malady of not balancing the two main religions [Christian/Muslim] into administration of government in Nigeria. In addition, President Buhari now is painstakingly adding NEPOTISM to it, not minding that the first military coup in Nigeria headed by the vibrant Major Kaduna Nzogwu, charged the overthrown civilian government of, among other things; NEPOTISM. Or how will you describe the President's appointment, made so far? Only one out of twelve appointments (Femi Adesina) is from the South, all the remaining are from Northern Nigeria. Even there is a greater dimension that might sink the ship of the nation faster by the time you add the appointment of Lawal Musa Daura as Director-General of the State Security Services [SSS] to the remaining maladies for some simple reasons. Lawal Daura was born on August 5, 1953, joined the DSS, worked, retired from the Service at the age of sixty years in 2013 and recalled back from retirement to head the same SSS on July 2, 2015. The only “qualification” that brought him back from retirement into active service, after retiring at the mandatory age of sixty years, is because “he is an indigene of Daura town” the same town of President Buhari. I submit in begging Mr. President and this APC Government to take it easy for Nigeria survival’s sake please. *Mr. Etakibuebu, a commentator on national affairs, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 —

VISIT: From left: Dr. Nyomudim Esan, Medical Director, Garki Hospital; Dr. Felix Ogbera, Ag. Head, Monitoring and Compliance, ICRC; Mr. William Monday, Principal Infrastructure Officer, ICRC; Mrs. Irene Anaenye, Head, Department of Nursing, Garki Hospital; and Mr. Aminu Diko, Director General, ICRC, during an inspection visit to Garki General Hospital by the ICRC team.

Analysts laud CBN, warn against Naira devaluation

By Michael Eboh

F

INANCIAL analysts have applauded the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s not to devalue the naira , warning that devaluation should not be used as a primary policy tool for the attainment of macroeconomic equilibrium.

Speaking at the 12th Mandatory Seminar/Induction ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria, CIFCN, Mr. Peter Amah of the Department of Finance, University of Lagos,

stated that devaluation of the country’s currency cannot be relied upon as a tool to grow the economy, adding that it cannot help in stimulating local production of goods and douse the demand for import.

According to him, any devaluation now will create condition for calls for further devaluation in the future, especially given the state of constant

Devaluation may only serve some non-core purposes in the mean time

parative advantage and those of high national priority,” he said. Also speaking, Professor Mike Nwaubani, President/ Chairman, Governing Council, CIFCN, lamented the rising incidences of corruption and financial recklessness, stating that the Institute has resolved to partner with the relevant government and private organisations to address these social ills.

He said CIFCN has entered into a partnership with the Federal Government to entrench probity, accountability and transparency among financial professionals in the country and in every sectors of the economy.

Speaking on the institute, Nwaubani stated that in spite of its short period of existence, the CIFCN had made giant strides and had been engaged in a number of initiatives that had helped in creating a positive image for the Institute.

He said, “We have tried to collaborate with various organisations, both in the private and public sectors. Such collaboration is already on with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values. We are almost on the verge of consummating another with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. “In the last induction, we prepared and sent to the CBN, the Institute’s inputs to its Competency framework on the area we believe it is relevant.”

Semenitari’s exit aimed at enhancing growth — Unity Bank

T

he recent resignation of the Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc, Henry James Semenitari, was a pre-emptive move by 0.20 $121.75 the board of directors to position the bank on $3,194. 00 -47.00 a growth path.

This is after a $11.23 -0.28 s u c c e s s f u l recapitalisation and re-branding exercise $54.56 that saw the bank 0.71 evolve into a profitable and customer-focused 47.97 -0.31 financial services CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING company.

A banking source DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 told Vanguard that POUNDS 306.3088 307.0902 307.8716 EURO 214.4632 215.0103 215.5574 Semenitari, who FRANC 203.8482 204.3682 204.8882 resigned last week, YEN 1.5798 1.5838 1.5878 would be replaced by CFA 0.3095 0.3195 0.3295 someone from within WAUA 272.9157 273.6119 274.3081 who meets all the RENMINBI 31.5631 31.6441 31.7251 RIYAL 52.2625 52.3958 52.5291 CBN’s requirements.

SDR 273.0084 273.7049 274.4013 “The board made a preKRONA 28.6646 28.7377 28.8109 emptive move based on the future direction CBN Exchange Rate as at 27/ 07 /15

C M Y K

tension between official and parallel foreign exchange

markets.

He said, “Devaluation may only serve some non-core purposes in the mean time being consequential price and income effect namely that, it will re-flate the naira revenue and fund the skewed budget system to feed into fiscal exuberance which only has nominal effect on the economy.”

“Nigerians may need to work harder to settle indebtedness, pay bills to foreigners and sustain production and employment overseas. Accordingly, the costs to devaluation would appear to overwhelm the benefits contemporaneously.”

Instead, Amah advised the monetary authorities to consider other alternatives, such as adopting an exchange rate targeting approach through the use of a managed float system, which does not rely on the moves of speculators in determining exchange rate.

He further called on the CBN to strengthen the use of trade and exchange control measures to curb illicit and unproductive imports, and encourage diversification in the production of domestic and tradable goods.

“Such measures include imposition of tariffs and outright ban on a select group of goods in such a manner that protect local businesses without hurting global trade.

“Accordingly, this protection and incentives should be extended to producers of goods for which the country has com-

21

By Yinka Kolawole of the company after a successful stint as MD by Semenitari with strong support of the board and executive management,” the source stated.

It was also gathered that the bank’s board has employed the services of audit and consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to improve processes and strategies in the banks SME, Agriculture and rural development sectors.

The bank’s board led by Thomas Etuh (Chairman) and Aminu Babangida (Vice Chairman) has an average professional banking experience of 24 years each, to drive growth and continued improvement in services to customers while upholding the principle of

responsible banking practices.

The NDIC 2014 annual report recently released gave a clean bill of health to Unity Bank along with other banks in the country. The bank concluded a right issues and private placement of N39.224 billion in 2014, which was largely oversubscribed. The bank last week reported net income rose 11 percent to N8.23 billion in the half year 2015 period, despite the tight money and tough macro environment. Its fee and commission income increased by 23 percent to N4.66 billion to offset the dip in interest income in 2015 from the earlier period. Total assets increased by 4 percent to N429.6 billion, while cash and cash equivalents stood at 23.46 billion as at June 30, 2015.

The banking sector is struggling with a 40 percent slump in oil prices in the past year and the depreciation of the currency by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The CBN also decided to set a unified cash reserve ratio for public- and private-sector funds at 31 percent to improve the transmission of monetary policy.

Unity Bank came into existence from one of the largest mergers in Nigeria’s banking history. The bank has developed competences in investment, corporate and retail banking, since commencing operations in January 2006 following the merger of nine financial institutions.

It has 256 business offices and cash centres spread across the 36 states of the federation.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Beta Glass recorded better performance in the first quarter of 2015 as net income increased by 24 percent to N425.71 million, from N343.55 million in the same period of the corresponding year (Q1) 2014

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

BY PETER EGWUATU Pfizer Products Plc led the bunch of gainers last week on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE as twenty eight equities appreciated in price during the period, higher than thirteen stocks of the penultimate week.

Specifically, Pfizer Products topped 10 most actively traded stocks in terms of price gains as it rose by 19.69 per cent or N0.25 per share to close last week at N1.52 per share from N1.27 per share of the penultimate week.

Other gainers in the top ten include: Beta Glass Company Plc, Caverton Offshore Support GRP Plc, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, Transnational Flour Mill Plc, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Oando Plc, 7up Bottling Company, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc and Sterling Bank Plc. Meanwhile, Pfizer Products Plc overall first quarter 2015 result shows that revenues dropped by 4 per cent to $10.864 billion from $11.353 billion in 2014; Adjusted income declined by 13 per cent to $3.196 billion from $3.665 billion ; Adjusted diluted Earnings Per Share, EPS dropped by 11 per cent to $0.51 from $0.57; Reported net income increased by 2 per cent to $2.376 billion as against $ 2.329 billion in 2014; Reported diluted EPS surged by 6 per cent to $ 0.38 from $ 0.36 in 2014.

Trailing behind Pfizer Products is Beta Glass Company Plc, which appreciated by 15.50 per cent or N5.30 per share to close at N39.50 per share from N34.20 per share. Beta Glass recorded better performance in the first quarter of 2015 as net income increased by 24 percent to N425.71 million, from N343.55 million in the same period of the corresponding year (Q1) 2014.Sales increased by a mere 3 percent to N4.04 billion as consumer spent more on transportation, due to fuel hike, hence weakening the purchasing power of the people.

Cost of sales (COS) ratio increased to 79.20 percent in 2015 as against 77.90 percent as devaluation of the naira and cessation of power, spiked production costs of companies operating in Africa’s largest economy and oil producer, Nigeria. Cost of sales reduced by 5 percent to N3.20 billion.

Following Beta Glass on the top ten gainers chart is Caverton Offshore Support GRP Plc as it rose by 14.91 per cent or N0.55 per share to close at N4.24 per share from N3.69 per share. Analysis shows that Caverton Offshore Support Group unaudited first quarter, Q1 2015 shows that revenue stood at N5.6 billion, a 6 per cent increase over Q1 2014. Operating profit was 9 per cent higher than previous period, highlighting improving operational efficiency.

Other performance indicator show that revenue went up 6 per cent to N5.9billion; Gross profit rose by 7 per cent over Q1, 2014, Earnings Before Interest, Tax and Depreciation Allowance, EBITDA went up 23 per cent to N1.2billion over Q1 2014; Net Profit up 3 per cent to N10 8million as against N104 million in Q1, 2014; Earnings Per Share , EPS was 3 kobo as against 3 kobo in Q1, 2014.

INVESTOR' ,

Biometric Verification Number: Reality and benefits

By Babajide Komolafe

W

HAT is this Biometric Verification Number (BVN) all about? What are the benefits to bank customers and the economy?

These are the questions agitating the minds of many Nigerians, which were also expressed in some of the responses to the series on, “BVN: facts behind the extension”.

The first reality about the BVN is that it is a response to the problem of identity crisis in the banking industry. For many reasons, banks are mandated to "Know Your

In Nigeria any document can be easily procured or faked such that people can claim identities that are different from who they are

From left, Sam Aneke, Regional Manager, Lagos Central, Diamond Bank Plc; Ebere Nwaolikpe, Western Union Representative, Adenike Adewusi; Winner; Aishah Ahmad Head Retail Directorate; and Robert Giles, Head, Transaction and e-Banking at the Western Union 20th Anniversary Promo Gift Presentation Ceremony held in Lagos rece

MARKET NEWS

Diamond Bank’s capital adequacy ratio surges to 18.6% Exchange, NSE , weekend, and

By Peter Egwuatu

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc occupied the fourth position on the gainers ‘chart, rising by 10.71 per cent or N0.30 per share to close at N3.10 per share from N2.80 per share.

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc posted a less than impressive quarterly result, towing the recent industry line as evident by recent releases in the sector. Contrary to the company’s usual double digit yearly and quarterly growth, the recently released result for the quarter showed 8.28 per cent decline in revenue Year-on Year (YoY). Revenue in Q1 2015 result showed a decline of 0.69 per cent with NGN13.191billion, Revenue, Q2 showed 3.51 per cent decline with revenue at N26.871billion and this Q3 result also declined by 8.28 per cent (YoY) to peg revenue at NGN37.636.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, Transcorp Plc took fifth position on the chart , rising by 8.49 per cent or N0.18 per share to close at N2.30 per share from N2.12 per share of the penultimate week. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc financial results for its first quarter ended 31 March 2015 shows that Group Profit Before Tax (PBT) stood at N2.57billion, while the company made a profit before tax of N761.35 million compared to the Loss before Tax of N573.95 million in 2013.

Customers" (KYC). They are expected to know where the customer lives, what he does etc.

Among other things, the aim of this KYC requirement is to ensure that fraudsters do not use the services of banks to perpetrate criminal activities like money laundering, Advance Fee Fraud (419) etc.

Because Nigeria does not have an established identity data base, like the social security number in the United States, it became increasingly difficult for banks to really know the true identity of their customers. More so, in Nigeria, any document

I

N spite of the tough operating business environment, Diamond Bank Plc has recorded 18.6 per cent growth in capital adequacy ratio for the half year, (H1) results, ended June 30, 2015.

This is in excess of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN minimum requirement of 15 per cent for the industry. Accordingly, the bank posted a 6 per cent Year on Year, YoY growth in gross revenue from N96.8billion in H1 2014 to N103.0billion in the six months period ended June 30, 2015.According to the bank’s unaudited H1 results released to the Nigerian Stock

Our innovative, customer friendly services and retail banking strategy are showing positive results and will enable us to sustain low cost of funds

made available to newsmen in Lagos, its Profit After Tax of N12.2 billion was lower than its 2014 position of N13.8billion; Profit Before Tax, PBT and Profit After Tax declined by 15 per cent and 13 per cent y/y to N5.8billion and N5.1bn respectively. The decline on both lines was driven by a 62 per cent y/y spike in loan loss provisions to N6.6billin and, to a lesser extent, a 9 per cent y/y rise in Operating Expenses, OPEX. Speaking from the Bank’s Corporate Head Office in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, said that the Bank’s continued success in spite of regulatory headwinds, is hinged on implementing strategies that promote sustainable growth and profitability in the long term.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 —23

can be easily procured or faked such that people can claim identities that are different from who they are. As a result there has been instances where the same person opens bank accounts in different banks with different names. Sometimes, the intention is not to commit fraud, while a lot of times, the various accounts are opened and used for illegal or unethical purposes. For example, people with such accounts have used them to breach foreign exchange regulations, as well as borrow from the various banks with such loans never to be repaid. The inability to effectively ascertain the identity of bank customers has been exploited to perpetrate various criminalities and malpractice by organisations, bank customers, bankers, resulting in huge losses for the banks, their customers and the economy.

The Biometric Verification Number (BVN) was conceived to

The idea is very simple. Capture the finger prints and picture of every bank customer and save these information with a number, which can then be issued to the customer, and can be used to verify his/her identity

According to the bank’s CEO “Our innovative, customer friendly services and retail banking strategy are showing positive results and will enable us to sustain low cost of funds.

In the quarters ahead, we will focus on driving non-interest income, as we continue to explore opportunities to grow our market share responsibly. We shall expand customer relationships, enhanced by our elaborate channels and excellent service delivery” The Group continues to deploy new technologies and digital applications to drive financial inclusion and convenient banking amidst a decline in the pace of economic activities and weak economic fundamentals.

Although loans to customers increased by N2.6 billion, customer deposits, however, declined from N1.5 trillion to N1.4

address this identification challenge. The idea is very simple.

Capture the finger prints and picture of every bank customer and save the information with a number, which can then be issued to the customer, and can be used to verify his/her identity.

As the biometric (fingerprints and facial features) of each customer is captured and a number, called Biometric Verification Number (BVN), is attached.

These are stored in a BVN database created by the banking industry in the custody of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS).

So, if somebody walks into any bank, and says, “I am Mr. XYZ, living in ABC town”, all the bank needs to do to verify the information is to request for BVN of that person, enter it into the BVN database in order to call up the identity (biometrics and other information) registered with the BVN. The other option, especially if the person says he or she does not have a BVN, is for the bank to capture the biometrics of the person, use it to conduct a search on the BVN database, to ascertain if indeed the person is telling the truth.

Thus, the first benefit and importance of the BVN is that it helps banks to ascertain the identity of any customer. Consequently, the use of fictitious names and fake documents to open bank accounts for criminal purposes will be greatly reduced. But there are other benefits. To be continued next week (Send comments and enquiries to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com

trillion, reflecting the impact of the bank’s deliberate decision to improve the efficiency of its funding structure, and effect of implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Bank’s focus remains on retail banking and providing convenient and easy banking to the micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSME) segment. The bank has, however, continued to grow its corporate and mid-tier business segments. According to the CEO, the concept of value chain management helps us to provide end-to-end solution to the distributors of our corporate clients and ultimately improve value for both us and the customers.

,

'S FORUM

The road map she came with to the capital market was able to impact on the market, she did so many creative things in the market and example is the shareholders academy

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Shareholders laud Oteh’s appointment

By Providence Obuh

F

ORMER Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Arunmah Oteh, penultimate week, was appointed as Vice President/ Treasurer of the World Bank. Prior to joining SEC, Oteh was Group Vice President, Corporate Services, African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Shareholders express joy on the new appointment, saying that she is creative and confident.

Alh. Gbadebo Olatokunbo, Shareholders’ Activist: said, “My sincere and happy moment in congratulating you on the occasion of your appointment to the position of “Vice President /Treasurer of the World Bank.”

•Ms. Arunmah Oteh l also use this occasion to give thanks to the Almighty God for rewarding you abundantly in the ria’s personnel. I am using this presence of some of the stakeholdmedium to advise Oteh not to relent in ers in the Capital-Market who her new job but aspire to greater were not comfortable with my positions in the future. support for your person., more "This appointment indicates that pleasant news and good positions hard work pays. l urge Nigerians to are still coming your ways. emulate Oteh and stand for the truth "Once again, accept my congratuat all costs". lations and always give thanks to God; for His support and protecMr. Taiwo Oderinde, Chairman tions, "l wish you progress in your Proactive Shareholders Association new endeavour at the World Bank". of Nigeria: Within the shareholders leaderThe last time some of us came ship, they used to say the woman together, we found that the woman happens to be my girl friend. They had something to offer. When you look refused to see her genuineness at her, she stands for what is right and patriotism because they were and she is upright in her dealings. not as disciplined as she and that The road map she came with to the is why the National Assembly capital market was able could not just to impact on the market, stand her. You she did so many creative see the dignity things in the market and with which They refuse to see her example is the shareshe work. She holders academy. I is creative and genuineness and believe she has played confident, that patriotism because they her part in the market alone has put are not as disciplined as when she was the DG anybody who SEC and we are able to is not confiher see that today. For her dent enough new appointment into away from her. the World Bank, she is a We are so woman of vision and I corrupt in this believe she would be country that able to do her best in that anybody who capacity as VP and she tries to do has been playing roles in the financial anything right they will attempt to institutions before, even before her destroy that person at all cost and appointment into SEC. So I believe it has been working for them but I she is a woman that will make Nigeria know very soon God will take us proud based on that assignment and I out of all that. wish her all the best and pray for her "The appointment showed that not to let Nigeria down based on past the International community antecedents, God will help her. recognised the qualities of Nige-

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Nigeria’s Q1 crude export dips by $5.66bn N

By Michael Eboh

IGERIA’S crude oil and gas exports dipped by $5.66 billion, about N1.13 trillion to $13.3 billion in the first quarter of 2015, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The CBN, in its External Sector Development Report for the first quarter of 2015, stated that crude oil and gas exports component declined from $18.96 billion and $20.85 billion in the fourth and first quarter of 2014 respectively to $13.30 billion.

The drop, notwithstanding, the CBN disclosed that crude oil and gas export accounted for 92.9 per cent of aggregate exports in the review period.

The CBN further said that total external trade depreciated by 17.1 per cent from its fourth quarter 2014 figure to $26.74 billion in the first quarter of 2015.

The report blamed the dip in the value of external trade on the decline in crude oil receipts occasioned by fall in oil prices at the international market from an average of $70.00 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2014 to $54.50 in the first quarter 2015.

The CBN said: “Crude oil and gas exports component declined from $18.96 billion and $20.85 billion in fourth quarter 2014 and first quarter 2014 respectively to $13.30 billion and accounted for 92.9 per cent of aggregate exports in the review period.

E

.

Crude oil

“Non-oil exports which recorded $1.02 billion rose marginally by 2.0 per cent but declined by 8.9 per cent, respectively, when compared with the levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014.

“Oil sector imports declined by 38.1 and 24.4 per cent while non-oil component declined by 12.9 and 3.8 per cent, respectively when compared with fourth quarter 2014 and first quarter 2014. Non-oil imports remained dominant, accounting for 83.7 per cent of total, while oil sector imports accounted for the balance.”

Also, the country spent $2.021 billion, about N404.2 billion, on the importation of crude oil and gas in the quarter under review, dropping by 38.31 per cent from $3.276 billion, about N655.2 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Foreign investment

The report further said that foreign investment inflow into the Nigerian oil and gas sector rose sharply from $46,459 in the fourth quarter of 2014 to $9.47 million, about N1.89 billion in the first quarter of 2015.

Also, foreign capital inflow into the drilling sector rose slightly by 0.43 per cent from $1.004 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014 to $1.01 million in the first quarter of 2015.

The CBN said, “The inflow of fresh capital into the economy totaled $2.67 billion in first quarter 2015, representing declines of 40.5 and 31.6 per cent in comparison with the level in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014.

China to supply 700MW turbine for Zungeru Hydro

By Michael Eboh, with agency reports

C

HINA National Electric Engineering, CNEEC, has signed a €50 million contract, about N11 billion, with Alstom Hydro China, to supply four 175 megawatts, MW, Francis turbine-generator sets and related equipment for installation at the $1.3 billion, 700 MW Zungeru hydropower plant.

According to a statement by Alstom, the contract will see it supplying electro-mechanical equipment and technical services for the power plant which is still under construction.

The company will also undertake the equipment design, manufacturing, and supervision to the installation, commissioning, testing as well as site services as part of the contract.

Commenting on the development, Senior Vice

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Price slump: Eni to sell onshore assets in Nigeria

President, Hydro, Alstom Renewable Energies, Yves Rannou, said: “Zungeru is one of several hydro projects that are part of Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Master Plan.

“Winning this project is another fruitful result from a strong and long-term cooperation with our Chinese partners.”

Expected to be the country’s largest hydropower project upon completion, the Zungeru power plant is being developed

by CNEEC in partnership with Sinohydro.

Being built on the middle and upper reaches of River Kaduna near Zungeru, in Niger State, the project is also expected to contribute to the social and economic growth in the region.

The Federal Government and China had in 2013 signed the agreement for the hydroelectric power project, as part of efforts to boost mutual cooperation between both countries, and

also as parts of measures to improve Nigeria’s power generating capacity.

The Federal Government had said that the contract was to be executed through a loan facility by the EximBank of China, with preferential conditions.

Eximbank would bear 75 per cent of the cost of the project while a counterpart funding balance of $309 million had been made available by Nigeria.

Winning this project is another fruitful result from a strong and long-term cooperation with our Chinese partners

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Deng Boqing, signed the agreement on behalf of China, while Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, signed on behalf of Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala had said that the project would create thousands of jobs during the construction phase both directly and indirectly, adding that a lot of Nigerian technicians, engineers and artisans and others will be employed during the construction phase.

Also speaking, Boqing stated that the project will contribute greatly to Nigeria’s economic growth and efforts to meet growing power demand as the country ushers in a new period of industrialisation and urbanisation.

The project is hinged on the Nigeria Renewable Energy Master Plan, which is intended to boost renewable energy.

NI SpA, Italy’s largest oil company, is considering selling part or all of its onshore Nigerian operations as it seeks to divest peripheral businesses amid a drop in oil prices, people familiar with the matter said.

Eni has asked advisers to look at options for the assets, which include interests in oil and natural-gas fields in the West African country, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

Depending on what Eni decides to sell, the transaction may grow from $2 billion to $5 billion, the people said. It could also decide to keep the operations, they said.

A representative for the company declined to comment.

Oil companies, including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Chevron Corp., are selling fields as they scale back Nigerian operations following unrest, violence and the theft of crude in the Niger Delta.

The country’s daily output of about 2 million barrels, Mbbl, of oil makes it Africa’s largest producer.

Eni CEO, Claudio Descalzi, has announced plans to sell assets worth 8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) in 2015-2018, including shares in subsidiaries Galp Energia SGPS and Snam SpA. He also proposed a 17% cut in investment over the same four years compared to previous plans to adjust to lower prices.

Eni’s wholly owned subsidiary in the country, Nigerian Agip Oil Co., operates under a jointventure agreement with Nigeria’s state oil company, NNPC and ConocoPhillips, which had also divested its Nigerian assets. NAOC also operates two onshore exploration licenses.

The company said in July that 12 people died and three were injured in an explosion during repair work at its crude oil pipeline in Nigeria.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 —25

‘Dwindling oil price is an incentive to upstream investors’ Stories by Ediri Ejoh

P

ETROLEUM engineers have argued that the dwindling global oil price has been identified as an incentive to investors in upstream sector of the country oil and gas industry.

The Council Chairman, Society for Petroleum Engineers, SPE, Mr. Emeka Ene, made this known in an interaction with journalists ahead of the 39th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, NAICE, billed to hold between August 4 and 6, 2015, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The SPE boss said that the challenges’ facing the sector is an opportunity for the various investors within the oil and gas value chain, as any investment done at this period is specifically meant to serve for long term purpose.

Such investment is estimated to last for roughly 10 years and above or the entire life of a particular reservoir.

He said: “the dwindling oil price is an opportunity to further increase the amount of oil that is being drilled out

of the oil blocks across the country.

Such huge production and investment decision is tied to a long term return. Therefore, in the case of Nigeria, which is a conglomerate of different oil blocks, strategic objectives are needed to be made by investors in down cycle, in order to reap in the up cycle.

“The great economic decision that could be taken

by any investors is to buy low and sell high. It is when the prices are low that an investor needs to buy the barrels. However when the prices are high you start selling.”

On challenges facing investors to access funding, he argued that “While it is difficult to source for funds from the local financial sector due to CBN’s regulation, the

owners of the oil blocks must harness other means of raising funds. They need to get partners and ensure liberal terms to attract investors.

If you have a partner during the low cycle, when the price goes higher everybody benefits.

“We have to understand that the industry has evolved. In the past we had buyers already waiting for our product. But

BRIEFING:From left: Events Manager, SPE Nigeria Council, lnnocent Ohimor, Chairman,

Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE Nigeria Council, Emeka Ene, Chairman of Sponsorship Committee of NAICE 2015, Debo Fagbami, during a briefing on the forth coming 39th edition of Society for Petroleum Engineers, SPE, Nigeria Annual lnternational Conference & Exhibition ( NAICE 2015 ) in Lagos.

today, the US imports zero crude from Nigeria, and they are set to export their barrels. We must understand that the market dynamics have changed. The challenge the country has is not that they have problem to sell their barrels, but there is a glut for sweet oil which is what we have because of the type of product our refineries accept.”

He stressed that Nigeria needs to work out partnerships with other countries with hard crude like Venezuela, who depend on light crude likes ours to blend their crude for the production in their refineries.

“Industry analysts have forecast that by 2016 that the gap between supply and demand would narrow, which means that the benefactors would be those who currently have sufficient reserves. Excess reserve today offers huge benefit tomorrow,” he added.

Consequently, Ene urged the Federal Government to engage major operators in discussing ways of solving the various quagmires within the oil and gas sector.

He further said: “It is important to note that government cannot function in isolation of the operators in the industry; this is because these people are the ones who have seen the ups and downs of the sector.

Mineral resources must not be pegged on forex earning — —Don

T

HE inability of the country’s natural resources to be adequately harnessed for socioeconomic growth has been attributed to the continued believe by government that raw mineral resources are primarily meant to generate foreign exchange earnings.

This assertion was made last week by Prof. Wumi Iledare, an internationally renowned petroleum economist, at the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, NMGS, Annual Lecture, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

Iledare, in a presentation titled; ‘‘Roles of Solid Mineral to National Development,” discussed the strategic option available in growing the solid mineral industry as a driver of the economy.

He also highlighted the challenges facing the mineral resources sector, and cautioned that the country’s policy should not be driven solely for foreign exchange earnings.

The University don also argued that no economy can survive when all the resources it needed to produce locally are exported, and urged the government to focus on ensuring that the raw

materials are also utilised and consumed locally.

He further noted that other major commercial mineral resources available across the country’s landscape have not been fully developed in commercial quantity, because the Constitution vests the propriety right of all mineral resources in the country on the Federal Government.

According to him this right empowers the government to solely decide on which aspect of the resources to be developed at the expense of others.

He said: “Nigeria needs to develop a strong rule of law which would help to accomplish the development of the solid minerals sector having being hit with the revenue decline and poor development owing to dependency on the oil and gas sector.”

Although the solid minerals industry in Nigeria is ranked among the top ten, he also warned that care must be taken to ensure that the prospect of value addition and developing of the mineral industry is not developed the same way as the oil and gas industry.

Highlighting some of the challenges facing the growth of the country ’s natural resources, the Professor said all

the mineral resources can be developed in commercial quantity.

He however charged that priority must be given to few resources that can displace the oil and gas sector for effective growth, while warning the government to avoid the perception that foreign exchange earnings are attributes of growth and development.

According to him, “The expansion of the oil and gas

Nigeria needs to develop a strong rule of law which would help to accomplish the development of the solid minerals sector having being hit with the revenue decline and poor development

sector has undermined other major minerals. Privatisation of the mineral industry most follows due process. The solid minerals must be developed because the country ’s oil reserves are on the decline. It is high time to formulate policy to diversify the economy. The competition for oil and gas is growing in Africa; almost all the countries in the continent have discovered oil and gas. It is time to reposition Enugu State as coals city hub.”

He however urged the industry players to collaborate with the government to formulate the right policies, as there is a need to provide government with prerequisite human resources, training and intellectual structures needed to drive the industry.

He called for the training of mining engineer, mineral processing engineer and other economic managers to sustain the industry growth, and urged government to develop the various infrastructures to cater for the mining sites and locations across the country.

He charged the government to ensure that the professionals within the solid minerals sector are properly appointed to head the sector, while the operators must ensure that they are adequately involved in the

formulation of fiscal policies to drive the sector.

He lamented that the existing fiscal regime is too harsh for investors to invest in the country, adding that such a regime must promote effectiveness, efficiency and stable fiscal terms to facilitate foreign direct investment.

“The administration of President Mohammadu Buhari must be committed to the passage of the 2007 Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act, which promotes the regulatory framework, favourable fiscal regime, health safety and a solid institutional framework. The extractive industry must be situated in such a manner as to ensure that it maximizes the welfare of the people and not the elites. The process for the issuance of certificate to the operators of the mineral resources must follow due competitive biddings and not discretionary means which characterised the oil and gas sector,” he said.

He further charged the present administration to effectively interpret its policy direction, noting that despite the growth recorded in the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, which makes Nigeria the biggest economy in West Africa; the country has only recorded about five percent growth, without a commensurate economic growth.

26— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

NCDMB commissions $4m Bell Oil & Gas facility T

HE Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe, has commissioned the Bell Oil & Gas glassfibre spooling facility, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which is reputed to be the first of its kind in Africa.

The facility, worth about $4million, manufactures pipes with diverse bends and angles, delivering liquids to various outlets at different temperatures and pressures, which cannot be manufactured in conventional pipe mills.

Spools, which are forms of Glassfibre Reinforced Epoxy, GRE pipes, are believed to be resistant to corrosion because they do not have metal composition and can handle pressure up to 3500 pound per square inch (psi) and temperatures of up to 121 degrees centigrade.

Speaking recently at the commissioning, Kentebe commended Bell Oil & Gas for the investment, which came on the back of the Board’s Nigerian Content Equipment Component Manufacturing and Certification, NCEC programme under the pioneer Executive Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa.

He described the NCEC initiative as laudable; pledging that under his leadership the Board will continue to implement the framework and other programmes geared towards encouraging

S

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Power station

investments and establishment of facilities in Nigeria.

Speaking further, he noted that such facilities contribute to the Board’s vision to use Nigerian Content as a vehicle to industrialise Nigeria, and create employment and training opportunities for qualified Nigerians.

He stressed that the strategic focus of the Board is to create shop floors that will train and empower Nigerians in all sectors of the industry. He added that NCDMB will continue to promote hands-on training opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, marine, subsea, drilling and well services and all other activities across the value chain.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Bell Oil & Gas, Mr. Kayode Thomas, said the company blazed the trail in the installation of GRE pipes in Nigeria since 2004 on Shell’s Bonga floating production, storage and offloading, FPSO platform.

He announced plans by the company to take on complex projects, become certified to train and certify other trainers and make Nigeria the West African hub for GRE pipes.

He said the company ’s motive is to add value incountry, create employment, contribute to its host communities and further demonstrate that Nigerians

can do big things in the industry.

He expressed regret that some operating and service companies still take jobs abroad even when capacity resided in-country, adding that such firms will need to change or be compelled to do so.

In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer of Bell Oil & Gas, Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe, explained that the company’s investments had changed the scenario where all spools required in Nigeria were made in factories abroad, thereby exporting jobs and draining foreign exchange.

Robert Gordon varsity launches institute in Nigeria

By Ediri Ejoh

R

OBERT Gordon University, RGU, Aberdeen, an institution with roots established 260 years ago, has formally launched its Oil and Gas Institute in Nigeria.

The official launch of the institute took place recently at the British Deputy High Commission, Lagos.

During the visit to Nigeria, the Director of RGU’s Oil and Gas Institute, Prof. Paul de Leeuw, met other RGU representatives as well as a number of funding bodies and prospective students.

He described the key priorities for the new Institute to include providing world class excellence, industry insights, teaching and research etc.

According to de Leeuw: “RGU is committed to building on our strong links with Nigeria, which represents the university’s largest international student population, particularly as the country looks to develop the next generation of oil and gas professionals to explore its significant deep water potential.

SADC targets 2019 for electricity surplus, cost-reflective tariffs

“Oil and gas will continue to play a key role in meeting our primary energy needs and will do so for decades to come.

“Most of these demands will be met from oil and gas reservoirs currently not on stream yet, such as deep water Nigeria, and a whole spectrum of professionals – from lawyers to engineers, computer specialists to industry leaders – will be required to make the most of this potential.

“RGU has a great track record of delivering this for the North Sea and other similar basins around the world and we feel we have a key role to play in Nigeria as well.”

The university’s Oil and Gas Institute aims to become a worldclass centre of excellence, building on the thinking, creativity, experience and facilities which have been built up through more than four decades of engagement with the North Sea oil and gas.

The institute has received a £3.6 million donation from the Wood Foundation, a philanthropic foundation set up by Sir Ian Wood and his immediate family, to support its aims, as well as a

further £4.1 million funding from RGU. “We want to ensure a strong dialogue with oil and gas stakeholders in Nigeria to ensure that we can respond to their particular needs,” de Leeuw said.

The university’s Oil and Gas Institute aims to become a world-class centre of excellence, building on the thinking, creativity, experience and facilities

“Given its strong industry links, its location in Europe’s oil and gas capital and enviable graduate employment record, RGU is uniquely placed to do this and we look forward to continuing to develop our oil and gas offering as we move forward,” he added.

Also speaking during the programme, Chris Maskell, the Director of UK Trade & Investment in Nigeria, said that “UKTI enthusiastically supports RGU’s new Oil and Gas Institute and sees it as an important enabler to deepen the relationship between Nigeria and the UK.” The Oil and Gas Institute is designed to provide a one-stop shop for industry and other stakeholders to access RGU’s oil and gas expertise, with four main areas of focus including drilling and wells excellence; operations e x c e l l e n c e ; decommissioning excellence; and business excellence.

OUTHERN African D e v e l o p m e n t Community, SADC, Energy Ministers have called on member countries to produce roadmaps for transitioning their electricity supply industries towards cost-reflective tariffs by 2019 in an effort to improve the sustainability of the sector and create the basis for greater investment in new generation capacity by State utilities and independent power producers (IPPs).

Only Namibia and Tanzania in the larger 15-country regional bloc had successfully achieved cost-reflectivity, despite an earlier aspiration for all member States to meet the objective by 2013.

SADC Secretariat infrastructure and services director Remmy Makumbe said it was still possible that not all countries would meet the new deadline, owing to the fact that the transition would be politically fraught and “painful”, particularly because many citizens could still not afford economic energy prices.

Nevertheless, Ministers who gathered for the thirty-fourth meeting of SADC Energy Ministers in Johannesburg this week reaffirmed their commitment to the goal, which was viewed as critical to improving the sustainability of utilities, reducing costly subsidies and a prerequisite for IPP investment.

SADC still had an electricity supply shortfall of around 8 200 MW, but Zimbabwe Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge, the current chairperson of the SADC Energy Ministers group, said some 24 000 MW was currently being added, which should ensure regional “sufficiency” by 2019.

The figure excluded the 4 800 MW that could be derived from Inga 3, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was viewed as the precursor to a far larger hydropower development on the Congo river, which was estimated to have an ultimate capacity of over 40 000 MW. The Inga project emerged as a key feature of the Johannesburg meeting, with South Africa reportedly calling for greater participation in the development of the project from other SADC countries.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—27

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Contractors allegedly capture Akpasima, Akwa-Ibom deity PAGE 6

AGRIC DEVT: Rice farmers accuse Bayelsa govt of empty talk PAGES 3

VOL. 1: NO. 59

TUESD AY, JUL 15 TUESDA JULYY 28, 20 201

UNDERDEVELOPMENT:

Community draws battle line with Akwa-Ibom govt *Serves it notice to vacate land acquired over a decade without usage *Villagers repair rickety road themselves, no electricity, pipe-borne water *Govt has taken inventory, will soon address problem- Aniekan Umanah

•Devastated by erosion

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

By TOM MOSES

I

KOT ODUOT –THE people of Ikot Oduot community, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, are at loggerheads with the State Government for allegedly abandoning its constitutional responsibility of providing basic amenities to the people.

They are pained that there was no calculated effort by government to develop the community, located about five kilometres from Uyo, the state capital, and which was part of former Uyo local government until creation of the state in 1987.

Sack notice Chagrined by the crass

neglect, the people have angrily asked the state government, which appropriated 100 hectares of land from them, about a decade ago, without it putting to use until date, to quit the land.

The community head, EteIdung Obong Asuquo Akpan Obot, told Niger Delta

...no vehicle, not even a bicycle can take the risk of passing through this road to any of the other communities

Voice, “Government should quit the property and allow us to cultivate and harvest the product, instead of herdsmen attacking us on our own land because government abandoned it after collecting it from us.”

Particularly distressing to the villagers are the ramshackle road and gully erosion that has devastated the town. The Nung Oku-Ikot-Oduot-Ikot-Ebere Otu road, less than five kilometres from the Ibom Plaza in Calabar, was motorable eight years ago, but today, the communities on the stretch have been cut off from other parts of the state.

The community head was wordless on why government neglected the road. He recalled that in the then Governor Victor Attah’s administration, the Ikot Oduot, Ebere Otu, Ikot Oko and Afaha Udo Eyop communities wrote three

•Youth Leader of Ikot Oduot, Pastor Udosen Udosen

different letters of appeal to the state government to fix the road, but their letters were not even replied, instead, that administration went to construct the Nung Udoe road and abandoned them to their fate.

Severed from other communities “As far as that road is concerned, no government has showed any interest in it. We sometimes use community efforts to do the road; some donating sand, some stones, while some would hire tractors or pay for labour.

“Now, as it is, not even Keke can pass through the road. We

are cut- off from the rest of the communities and the world.

We are separated from our brothers and sisters in the adjourning communities”, he complained.

Ete-Idung Akpan Obot lamented that in spite of the fact that Ikot Oduot and Ikot Ebere Otu are the producers of palm fruits, palm oil and kernel consumed not only in Akwa-Ibom, but also in the neighbouring states, government has not thought of fixing the road for easy transportation of farm produce to the markets.

Aside agricultural produce, the patriarch said the community was a chief producer of high quality sand and granites used for buildings and road construction, and as such, had been generating heavy revenue for government. He added that it was surprising that the same government would allow the destruction of such an economically viable road. …appeals to Gov Udom Emmanuel His words, “We thank God that a new administration is in place now, we are, therefore, pleading with Governor Udom Emmanuel to come and fix this road so that we can have access to our neighbouring communities and for our farmers to be able to convey their produce to the market again.”

On the 10 hectares land, he said the state government appropriated the community’s land about a decade ago without allowing the people access to the land, yet it was doing anything on the land.

“We are in dire straight because the land is useless to us. The land is at the mercy of cattle herdsmen, who sometimes attack us.

NDV reporter mistaken for govt official Youth leader of Ikot-Oduot, Pastor Udosen Udosen, who earlier mistook the Niger Delta Voice reporter for a government official, who came possibly to assess the ecological challenges and the needs of the people of the village, expressed gratitude that government has finally come to their rescue, only to realize later that the visitor was a media representative.

“As you could see, since when you arrived here, no vehicle, not even a bicycle could take the risk of passing through this road to any of the other communities beyond that place the vehicle took you to. The only source of mobility we have is by trekking.

Total neglect “There is total absence of government in this community.

Continues on Page 7

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

SACRILEGE:

Govt demolishes house with 130-yr family patriarch’s corpse lying in state •Officials refused all entreaties not to bulldoze house- Chief Etim Asuquo, Family head •About 5,000 illegal structures destroyed; residents wail •We weren’t callous, we gave notice – GOVT

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

BY TOM MOSES

N

NUNG UDO AKPABIOOFFICIALS of the Akwa-Ibom State Government went askew, weekend, when against appeals by grieving villagers, they directed bulldozers to flatten a house at Nnung Udo Akpabio community, Uruan Local Government Area of the state, where the remains of 130-yearold patriarch of the Asuquo family were lying in state.

At several communities in Uyo, Friday, it was also wailing galore by residents, as government demolished at least 5,000 illegal structures in local government areas within the Uyo Capital City Development Area, on the orders of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Family head of Nnung Udo Akpabio, Chief Etim Asuquo, Niger Delta Voice, hollered, “Before our very presence, our home of 30 years was pulled

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

down on top of the corpse of my late father. The soldiers and policemen shunned all entreaties for people to be allowed to remove their personal belongings, including the corpse of my 130year-old father whose obsequies and other preparations are on.”

He also complained that the demolition exercise was discriminatory, especially in the villages at the periphery of the Ibom Airport Road, wondering why they employed selective approach in the exercise.

“Many of the buildings are not demolished yet, they are close to the road”, he said, alleging that those who got wind of the demolition exercise earlier had bribed the security operatives with as much as N10 million.

Complaints galore Notwithstanding the farreaching intention of the governor as advanced by his media aides, the demolition exercise left many people disconsolate by the exercise. Some considered a direct war against the lessprivileged ones, who could not develop their houses and business outfits beyond the conditions that government met them because of their financial status.

The people decried the hurried and seemingly uncaring manner in which the government demolished their structures and rendered them homeless in their homeland. The demolition squad took most of them unawares that they could not salvage their property.

In Atai Obio Offot, Uyo local government area, citizens lamented that if Governor Udom had the sympathy of the people at heart, he could have first arranged a relocation programme for them, rather than suddenly coming to demolish their houses and leaving them without roof over their heads.

Also in Ekpene Ukim, an agrarian community in Uruan local government area of the state, bulldozers brought down

lamented that on his return from work on the fateful day to see their home in ruins.

He estimated the cost of his property to be N100 million and called on government to resettle him and the other affected people and threatened to go to court if the Akwa-Ibom state government failed to address their plight.

Widow cries for help Also affected is one Ana Bassey Udo, a 40-year-old widow, who said government destroyed her home in spite that the same government gave approval for erection of the house.

“I am a widow. I used to sell salt and the proceeds are what I gathered without any help to build the place since my husband died.

Esther Okokon Akpan, a mother of seven children, said government brought down her home with bulldozers and begged for compensation and resettlement.

Speaking, the deputy village Head of Ekpene Ukim, Chief Umoh Ekwere, said the Village Council would hold a general assembly to evaluate the action by government.

Govt alerted owners of illegal structure Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Ekerete Udo, who responded on behalf of the state government, said structures demolished were illegal even as he insisted that government forewarned the owners to evacuate their property before the final demolition.

“Though I am yet to get full details, I am told those structures were not only illegal but located at strategic government development areas and the owners had long been warned to vacate them. So, the exercise did not take them unawares,” he asserted.

residential houses and shops in the community and the people’s belonging worth millions of naira destroyed.

They came without warningResidents “They came unannounced, accompanied by gun- wielding mobile policemen and soldiers and before we could take out any

of our belongings, bulldozers had reduced our homes to rubbles”, the shocked residents lamented.

One of the natives of Ekpene Ukim, Chief Etim Udo Eko, lamented that government bulldozers reduced his 30- yearold residence to rubble.

Another victim, a father of six children, Mr. Ubong Akan,

We merely performed our duties- Police The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Akwa Ibom Police Command, Cordelia Nwawe, debunked the allegation of police intimidation and supervision of the demolition exercise, saying her colleagues were just there to carry out their duties of maintenance of law and order to prevent hoodlums from hijacking it.

3 Julius Berger workers donate education aids to kindergarten pupils DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI WARRI – THREE employees of Julius Berger Services have donated study aids to assist teaching of kindergarten children at the Ogiame Primary School, Warri.

Niger Delta Voice was informed that the workers, supported by the company, committed part of the benefits they received for award of excellence from their employer under the Health Safety and Environment, HSE, assessment exercise to the project.

The donors are the headman, mechanic, Olaide Oniyide, fuel clerk, Edoni Orugboh and artisan, Victor Owolaja.

Senior HSE officer at the firm,

•Donors and beneficiaries share joy of the event and a video player from their Smith Nwachukwu, explained, benefits in social responsibility “Every quarter in a year, we to the school.” give these awards. This first High point of the occasion was quarter, the awardees agreed the presentation of the items to and we, the company, support the jubilant pupils and their them to give out a power teachers, who expressed joy generator, flat screen television over the gesture.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 3

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By EMEM IDIO YENAGOA- RICE farmers in Bayelsa State have tonguelashed the State Government for allegedly paying lip service to agricultural development in the state in spite of the potentials that abound in the sector.

Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, in the state, Sir Ezekiel Ogbianko, boasted that if bankrolled, rice farmers in the state could feed 15 African countries.

He said the association’s mega commercial rice farm situated in 40,000 hectares of land has the capacity of absorbing 250,000 unemployed graduates and undergraduates when it finally comes on stream.

Ogbianko, who spoke at the first harvest from RIFAN’s 100 hectares demonstration farm located along the TombiaAmassoma road, urged the state government support commercial agriculture in the state to generate employment and boost foreign exchange for government.

He said government was not enough in the agricultural sector, saying, “RIFAN acquired 40,00 0 hectares of land spread in all the local government areas of the state.

RIFAN is going into commercial rice farming. Out of the 40,000 hectares, we are cultivating 100 hectares for demonstration. We were able to get about 800 bags in our first harvest. Now we are awaiting another harvest in three months time. Our rice farm is a private -sector driven, it is a mega project.”

His words, “The Bayelsa state government does not place value on agriculture; they only pay lip service to agriculture. The governor may have good intentions but the people working with him and his advisers may not be competent. If the state government is desirous of engaging in commercial agriculture, they must collaborate with the private sector because government alone cannot commercialize agriculture. Government approach and private sector approach to business are not the same.”

Feeding 15 African countries “With our 40,000 hectares we can feed 15 African countries. In fact, when we begin full production starting from November, we are expecting to employ about 250,000 workers, both graduate and non-graduates.

If we can engage over 250,000 workers, we would have succeeded in reducing the burden of unemployment in the state.

“We want to demonstrate to the state government in practical terms that commercial rice cultivation and production has the capacity to absorb youths and take them off the streets.

100 hectares rice farm located along Tombia-Amassoma Road, Bayelsa state

AGRIC DEVT:

Rice farmers accuse Bayelsa govt of empty talk *We can feed 15 W-African countries – Ogbianko, RIFAN chairman *Our rice farm can provide jobs for 250,000 workers if…

There it is imperative that the state government should support the private sector, especially in the agricultural sector to generate employment opportunities for the masses,” he said.

Challenges “With the high pace of technology, we need funds to

Another major challenge is lack of land. Although, we have 40,000 hectares already, but it is not enough, we need more for expansion

•Bayelsa rice farmers during their first harvest at the rice farm

meet the merging new trends in rice cultivation and production. More so, because of the terrain of Bayelsa, which is largely virgin lands, we need funds to acquire and lease tractors to bulldoze the virgin lands for cultivation.

“We are appealing to the state government to help us in clearing and opening up the virgin forest for us.

“Another major challenge is lack of land. Although, we have 40,000 hectares already, but it is not enough, we need more for expansion.

“We are also appealing to our traditional rulers and community leaders to give out communal lands to us for use for some years,” Ogbianko said.

Kidnappers resurface, trigger fear in C-River *Abduct pastors, businesspersons, women and children *Police launch offensive; Gov Ayade advocates death penalty

By EMMANUEL UNAH CALABAR- FOR some time, it came across that the Police had run profit-making kidnappers out of the big business in Cross River State, but the hair-raising operations of the gangsters, in the last few months, have made nonsense of the computation and put the residents in mortal apprehension.

A new wave of fear has gripped inhabitants of the state following the hit and miss manner police deal with the worrisome development. Within the last five months, human snatchers have taken over persons, including pastors, hostage in the state.

A senior police officer confided in Niger Delta Voice that the police in Cross River and other states of the region were not well equipped to tackle the upsurge.

“The kidnappers are ahead of the police in this game and except the state government comes to the assistance of the police by finding out the problem from the Commissioners of Police and tackling them, I am afraid, kidnapping will even escalate in

the state. These are not security challenges one will mention in the newspaper because the kidnappers themselves read what you write,” he said.

His words, “If the governors wait for the NPF and the Inspector General of Police to equip various State Police Commands with these facilities, that will be waiting until eternity because there is no financial support for it.

Moreover, the Federal Government, which is contending with Boko Haram at the moment, thinks that state governments should shoulder such responsibility if they consider peace a priority in their areas.”

From available information, the kingpins of the kidnap gangs, who have a network of informants and accomplices within the police, know about the security challenges and cash in on it to spread their reign of terror.

Their escapades look like a tale by moonlight. For instance, on Saturday, June 13, Seyi Adekunle, Pastor of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners’ Chapel, opposite Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar Cross River State, was

in the sanctuary praying with some of his pastors preparatory for the next day’s service when gunmen stormed the house of worship, snatched him into an SUV and sped off. Just like that.

While one of the gunmen, who invaded the church, camouflaged himself, others came unmasked. It was until 48 hours after the kidnappers whisked away the oracle of God that they contacted the church through his phone demanding ransom of N80 million After prolonged negotiations spanning three days, an undisclosed amount of money exchanged hands and he was set free six days after.

The kidnapping of Pastor Adekunle

and collection of ransom from his church is one out of what has become a regular trait lately in the state. To call a spade a spade, the police are losing the battle in both states.

•Pastor Seyi Adekunle

Continues on Page 8

From tourists’ haven to abductors’ hideaway Progressively more, Calabar, capital of Cross River State capital, reputed to be the most peaceful and crime-free city in the country and distinctively tagged ‘Tourists’ destination’, is turning to kidnappers’ den. The recurrent kidnap cases together with other criminal activities are making residents to question if this is still the Calabar they used to relish its ambiance of peace and calm all year round.

Between the months of February and July 2015, there were over 15 reported kidnap cases in the state with majority of them taking place in Calabar.

Fascinatingly, none of the kidnap cases ended tragically except that of Pastor Ubi, an Assemblies of God clergy, who was kidnapped in Usumutong and beheaded ostensibly over land squabble between Usumutong and their Bahomono kinsmen,

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

RIVERS...

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

I

By DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

BAA – PROMIENT sons of Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, were at each other’s throats, weekend, over the dastard killings and siege to the community by rebellious cultists.

A well- respected leader in the community, Chief Princewill Nwakanma, accused some desperate and greedy contenders for the town’s stool, who hired cultists to prosecute his ambition.

Another citizen, Mr. Fyneman Ohaka, debunked his claim, saying that pointing fingers at him and his group were the people that sponsor cultists in the town.

An activist in the area, Comrade Dr. Chris Mbata, also joined issues with Ohaka, maintaining that They used Island cult to destabilize Ibaa Nwakanma said the deadly contest started soon after the demise of the former monarch, Eze J. J. Ohaka, Nyewe Ali Uvuahu (Ibaa and Obelle).

“After the death of Eze JJ Ohaka (JP) in 2006, according to Ibaa constitution, Omusunu, a section of Ibaa, is to produce the next king, as the stool is not hereditary.

When this search began, some persons hijacked the process using a cult group.

“When they were resisted for violating the constitution of Ibaa, they used the Island cult group to mastermind extrajudicial killings in the community and this forced well-meaning elders, chiefs and opinion leaders to desert the community for safety.

For over 7 years now the chiefs have not returned,” he asserted.

His words, “In course of these killings, the Ogbakor Ikwerre, led

By Chief S O Agbaru summoned Ibaa people. The chiefs pointed accusing fingers at the group.

He said the crisis escalated when the group of power mongers after realizing their

Ibaa leaders trade words over invasion of community by cultists *Princewill Nwakanma points fingers at greedy power seekers *Fynman Ohaka deflates allegation, says way out is invoking juju *Dr. Chris Mbata links crisis to chieftaincy tussle

juju.”

Nwakanma continued, “The Island boys did not conceal their demand for the revocation of the juju. They said the group should pay them their money instead of invoking juju. The boys reported this to the former chairman, Emohua local government, who invited chiefs, CDC members and others, but some of them refused to attend.”

“Because of the neglect, the boys exposed the secret deals of the group, they revealed how they were hired to chase away prominent persons, including me and because I am ever ready to expose them, they have destroyed my house and are trying to assassinate me,” he added.

ambition failed to settle an agreed fee of N100 million with the cult boys.

Rebellion by cultists Nwakama said police arrested the boys and hell was let loose on the community after they were released on bail.

His words, “When the boys returned, they were not happy that their master and his cohorts had betrayed them the second time. They killed Maxwell Orji, a member of Ibaa vigilance committee.”

“While police was on investigation into the killers of Maxwell Orji, elders and chiefs in the group invoked juju in Ibaa land to kill those who murdered Orji. The boys asked them Ovua and his cohorts to revoke the

KINGSHIP BATTLE: Tension in Ibaa again, as aspirants flee community RIVERS...

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME PORT HARCOURT- THE battle over who becomes the paramount ruler of Ibaa community has taken a fresh twist, as some prominent indigenes have fled the town for fear of their lives.

Two contenders to the stool, Eze Princewill Nwakanma and Eze Kingsley Iyenke in a joint press briefing in Port Harcourt accused a prominent member of the community of having allegedly recruited suspected cultists to harass and intimidate members of the community.

They alleged that cultists, who

have made lives unbearable for many residents destroyed their homes in the community.

They said like some endangered indigenes, they too have not been able to step into the community, for some time, noting that they were in hiding in Port Harcourt.

Iyenke recalled that suspected cultists murdered his brother, Samuel Iyenke, who had a master’s degree in analytical chemistry from a university in the United States of America when he visited the community.

Continuing, they said the homicide section at the Force headquarters, Abuja, had waded into the crisis in the community, but expressed worries with the way some persons in the unit were handling the matter.

They pleaded with the Inspector General of Police, Mr

Solomon Arase, to reassign the matter to any other unit because of alleged compromised attitude of some persons in the homicide section.

The duo, who said they want peace to reign in the community, alleged that some PDP and APC politicians have politicized the contest for the kingship stool, which became vacant in 2006 after the demise of the occupant.

According to them, a top politician from Bayelsa state introduced politics into the contest because he was close to one of the contenders.

“He came here on some occasions to say that Presidency was interested in who become our paramount ruler. The community was shocked because we do not

understand how somebody from another state will come and meddle into our community affair, this action created problem,” they said.

When Niger Delta Voice contacted the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Chris Ezike, on the matter, he said the area was flash point, which the command was giving special attention.

“I already have a template for the entire area. A cultist is a cultist, a criminal is a cri-minal no matter whom or where it is coming from. Ibaa is a flash point. When we talk about fringes of Port Harcourt that we are focusing on, Ibaa is part of it. The problem of kidnapping, robbery and crimes generally are collec-tively being addressed,” he said.

Ohaka spits fire Reacting to these allegations, Mr. Fyneman Ohaka, a citizen of Ibaa, who spoke for Chief Sampson Ovua, told Niger Delta Voice that the allegation that he and his allies were the masterminds of the crisis rocking Ibaa community was frivolous and lacks merit.

He reacted, “These accusations have no fact and they are such made by someone, who is drowning. I am saying so because I have made many publications accusing them of releasing these boys from detention. If I am their sponsor, why did I not release them when about 42 of them were detained?

“They granted the boys bail.

They have not exonerated themselves from the fact that they worked out the release of those boys. As I talk now, the police want some of those making the allegation. They should face the police and leave me alone,” he asserted.

“When Mr. Maxwell Orji was shot, the community made a proclamation that anyone, who is involved in the killing of the man should come out, one of them prompted the boys to burn down our houses for invoking juju in the land.”

“I have been defending the community against cultism, which is while I championed amnesty in the community for the boys to embrace peace, but they were the ones who said the boys should not surrender.

We owe nobody anything “We do not owe the boys, owing them for what? They are the ones who commissioned the boys to say that we owe them. I am a politician; I have contested severally in elections. Why will I involve in killing? When the boys invaded the community, they killed Chief Ovua’s younger brother, he disclosed.

Ohaka asserted, “I am calling them to go the traditional way, for us to take oath for these entire allegations. If they are not afraid of God, juju will kill them.”

Why we turned down the peace panel He added, “Yes we refused to

Continues on Page 8

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 5

BY TOM MOSES KOT ODUOT- RECENTLY, there was confusion at Ikot Oduot community, Ibesikpo clan in Akwa Ibom State, over speculation that contractors handling a drainage contract in the state have captured Akpasima deity, the ancestral god of the clan.

Traditional worshipers sought clarification but none was forthcoming, creating palpable tension in the area.

The village head of Ikot Oduot, Ete-Idung Obong Asuquo Akpan Obot, in this interview with Niger Delta Voice, clears the air on the controversy. Excerpts: I

There are different endowments in the communities, what makes your village unique?

We have deities. Our parents worshipped those deities as people prefer to call it, but our fathers worshipped the deities as their God. We call God, Abasi.

Abasi means something that exists forever and here we have ‘Idim Ababa’ meaning everlasting spring. That spring does not dry up, it is at Ikot Ikere or where you call Nung Oku Akpasima. The proper name is Ikot Ikere. It is located down the road.

So, during that period, our fathers worshipped God or the deities as people now prefer to call it very sincerely, very conscientiously and they believed it could act for them and it did act for them because of the belief and faith in that power.

Now, we say we are Christians whereas we are not down- toearth Christians because we still go back to worship what the Christians call deity. Christians call it deity; they say it is not good, that it is mermaid, Ndem and all that, but what does Ndem mean?

Ndem means something that has the greatest power or something whose power is unlimited and beyond comprehension. Therefore, our fathers worshipped Ndem, which is still God but we the Christians say we want to worship the God of the Bible.

That God of the Bible was still our fathers’ God because He, it is that was in Jerusalem as when Ikot Oduot was here. Therefore, our fathers worshipped that same God, but since the white people brought the Bible and our religion is oral, we now think the God of the Bible is better, whereas they are the same God that our fathers worshipped.

Our fathers obeyed the laws of their God more than the Christians obey the laws of the God they are worshipping and at

•Ete Idung Asuquo Obot

Contractors allegedly capture Akpasima, Akwa-Ibom deity *They caught a big fish, not our deity— Obong Asuquo, monarch that time, there was not much killing of people; we did not know of kidnapping. Kidnapping is a new voca-bulary in our language and we cannot actually interpret it in our language. It is one word in English but before you interpret it in Ibibio, you have to make a sentence because our fathers did not have that type of evil.

Therefore, the Christians are not worshipping the God they think they worship; they worship with their mouths and not with their hearts. Our fathers worshipped the God that we have with their hearts.

How true is the rumour that contractors working on drainage site in the state captured Akpasima, a revered deity by your people?

(Laughter) I have heard it but I do not think it is true because

nobody invited me and I was at home in this village. Therefore, I do not think they captured Akpasima. Akpasima should not have been there. He did not live there and could never have lived there. May be, they caught a big fish, not Akpasima, the great deity of the Ibesikpo people.

I understand that when they were bulldozing the stream, the white people saw fishes and asked where the fishes came

from and those who were there told them the fishes came from a spring and may be, they never knew that fishes could be found in springs. When I was a little boy, we used to fish from Obot Idim down to Idim Akpasima and we used to catch some fishes.

Are you against or in support of libation by traditional rulers?

Liberation had been there

There are certain times when we want to play that drum and my father does not want me playing that drum, he will come in the dream and warm me and if you had insisted on playing that drum, something bad would have come to you

before we came. You see, when you want to inherit a piece of land, your father showed you this land was owned by his father or grandfather, great-grand father, he counts the names of his grandparents up to the name of your village. That is where you come from. All those names are your gods because you respect those people who owned the land right from inception and their chain of inheritors.

Now, when you want to acquire the land that your father gave you from his grandfather, sometimes, somebody may come to dispute that land with you, you will tell that person, my father gave me this land because it is my family’s land and being your family’s land, mentioning the names of your grandparents gives you right to that land. When you plant on that land and harvest, you will remember that it was your great-grandfather, who owned that land and you inherited it because you are his offspring.

Therefore, whenever you want to talk about that land, you will thank your great-grand parents, who owned the land and preserved it for the family and say, God bless those people. That is libation. That prayer is libation.

That talk about the ancients is libation. I do not see anything wrong in somebody thanking his parents. May be you want to go to your father’s compound and you see bread and you buy it and put in your car and give to your father if he is alive or your mother if she is alive. That is thanks giving. Therefore, libation is our native way of giving thanks to our God and our parents. Our God is our God, our parents are our parents and these two sets of beings give us what we have.

You see, I cannot sit on this throne; I cannot inherit this throne without my greatgrandparents having been village heads of Ikot Oduot. If I had come to the throne by greed, you may not have come to know me because I will have no back up.

Nobody would support me. Our parents are still alive even though dead because even though dead, they still hear.

You sometimes have dreams about your father if he had died or your mother if she had died.

There are certain times when we want to play that drum and my father does not want me playing that drum, he will come in the dream and warm me and if you had insisted on playing that drum, something bad would have come to you, which is the reason your father came and warned you.

Therefore, he is not dead; he is still alive in our traditional religion. I am sitting on a traditional stool, so, I have to worship the traditional religion.

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

PODIUM… Things fall apart in UPU, Urhobo socio-cultural group

By EMMA AMAIZE, BRISIBE PEREZ and GODWIN OGHRE

UGHELLI – URHOBO Progressive Union, UPU, the apex socio-cultural body of Urhobo ethnic nationality in Delta State is embroiled in crisis, which is threatening to tear the leadership of the organization apart.

Deputy President General of the ethnic association, Chief Austin Uloho, secretary, Chief Albert Akpomudje, treasurer, Chief Mike Ederewhevbe and six other members of the executive allegedly accused the President General, Chief Joe Omene of financial impropriety, which they conveyed to him in a letter dated May 12.

Those against Omene are no longer holding meeting as customary at his Mosogar residence in Ethiope-West Local Government Area. In fact, there are plans to oust him from office.

Omene’s alleged sins They alleged that Omene collected N25 million from the Presidency under former President Goodluck Jonathan to organize a rally for his reelection bid and before then, he also brought the sum of $100,000, which he said was sent to executive members and other organs of the union to mobilize them and assist in Mr. President’s (former President Goodluck Jonathan) bid.

“Apart from the above sums, executive members are not privy to the sum of N1.2billion allegedly given to UPU executive by the Presidency,” they said.

Furthermore, the executive members said their president general collected $1 million dollars on behalf of the union from the Delta state government in the build up to the 2015 general elections and tasked him to submit his Zenith and Eco banks account statements, as well as his domiciliary account for inquiry.

“Having been inundated with several newspaper publications alleging that the union executives were given huge sums of money for the election of President Goodluck Jonathan, wild as the allegations are, it is robbing on the good names of the executive members, who were not privy to the alleged money given the executive by the Presidency,” they stated in the letter.

Omene in his response dated May 20, said, “I have painstakingly perused through the length and breadth of the said letter and I wish to categorically state here that same is nothing short of being politically motivated, a calculated attempt and/ploy to bring my respected person and office into disrepute.”

He asserted in the 16-page letter, addressed to the deputy president general that “all the allegations therein contained are baseless, frivolous and unfounded.”

Okenini, Emecho puncture allegations One of the officials, who pointed finger at Omene confirmed that he had responded to the allegations, but pointed out that he failed to address the charges levelled against him and

*Uloho, others, accuse Omene, president general of embezzlement *Accusations‘re baseless, they’re mischief makers – Okenini, Emecho *Omene defends self, declares my hands‘re clean

Then President, Goodluck Jonathan, flanked by UPU representatives and some government officials during their visit to the president

•UPU PG Chief Joe Omene

•Mike Ederewhevbe, •Chief Austin Uloho, UPU Deputy UPU Treasurer President General

executive members have indicted him.

National publicity secretary, Chief M.T. Okenini JP, disagreed with his colleague, saying, “What you read online were very malicious allegations against our respected president general. We formalized the allegation to him so that he could clear the air.”

“We have since carried out thorough and exhaustive investigation and found out that this wild and baseless allegations cannot be substantiated.

“Most UPU Exco members that signed that document have dissociated themselves from that document because of emerging facts and truth. All patriotic sons and daughters of Urhobo nation and the general public should completely ignore this stale and moribund document from mischief maker,” he said.

Another UPU official, Chief D Emecho, who corroborated Okenini, said, “I think it is a mere show of rascality by some rascals that have a hidden agenda. I completely condemn their actions in its entirety. With this, I have dissociated my support in any kind and also advised the disgruntled group to tow a path of honour and obedience to

Worthy of note is the fact that not until I came with the said $100,000, nobody was aware I went to Abuja for that purpose, hence I could have easily converted that money to myself

constituted authority led by Chief Joe Omene.”

Omene thunders back … alleged $100,000 from Presidency Omene, who replied to each of the allegations in his letter mentioned how a presidential aide invited him to Abuja and gave him for $100,000 wrapped in a nylon paper for mobilization of UPU branches even though governors of various PDP states were to sponsor election campaign in their respective states.

“His words, on my return the next day, I called an emergency meeting and briefed executive members about the money and also about the funding of Mr. President’s election campaign by the PDP governors and not the Presidency,” he asserted.

Omene said the executive members resolved that the money be shared, explaining how two top officials insisted on the exclusion of Chief Joshua Asah from the sharing formula because of pro-Buhari sentiment, which he never supported.

Recalling that he was the one that made a case for inclusion of youths, women and kingdom president-generals, Omene said the balance $500 was appropriated by an executive member.

“Worthy of note is the fact that not until I came with the said $100,000, nobody was aware I went to Abuja for that purpose, hence I could have easily converted that money to myself if I had wanted to, but that was

•Albert Akpomudje, UPU Secretary

not the case. As a conscientious, honest, dedicated and committed servant-leader, I did the needful for the overall benefit of UPU,” he asserted. $1,000,000 gift to UPU UPU president general said it was scandalous for loyalists of a former governorship aspirant in the executive to post on facebook that the former governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan gave him $1,000,000 for the union. His words “Let it be known that I travelled with Chief Joshua Asah and we met with Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan at the Honourable Minister’s house, we both left the governor for the same hotel together. So he is also in a position to say if such money was given out or not since he is also a signatory to your said letter, his answer will further strengthen the fact and truth.”

N25m donation from Abuja He said the money did not come from the Presidency as alleged, but from a patriotic Urhobo indigene, who wanted Urhobo nation to establish relevance. According to him, “The said money was meant for the youths (Ighelles) but because I appealed for the executive members to be beneficiaries too, so that they can equally endorse Mr. President and Chief Great Ogboru, N10 million was added.”

Omene said he showed Chief Uloho and treasurer the bank alert when the money was paid.

He explained the disbursement thus: N5 million to the Ivies

through Chief Uloho; N9 million to the Ighelles and N1 million to the Ighelles and the women respectively through Chief Grace Usirare; N5 million shared by the executive members; and N5 million set aside for Uvwiamuge declaration and publicity.

He said a member of the executive in the habit of clandestinely chastising him for always declaring publicly the money given to the union was among those that turned round to accuse him of fraud.

PurportedN1.2bn swindle “This is an allegation that is not supported with any evidence, direct or otherwise, it is beyond reasonable logic and defies common sense. The simple question is how was this unimaginable sum conveyed and/or transferred, given the volatile security situation that abounds generally and financial regulations these days in the banking industry. It is impracticably unrealistic. Given, there are a handful of respectable learned men among executive members; they should be able to reason beyond others in this regard.

“I am surprised that executive members claimed that they are not privy to the collection of funds meant for the UPU when some executive members are signatories to the UPU account and refused my being a signatory to the said account, which though absurd, I still let same go for the interest of peace. I never complained,” he said.

Jacob’s hand, Esau’s voice The president general, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said in the desperation of the executive members, who concocted the allegations against him to perfect the script of their sponsor, they had already asked him to stop presiding over UPU meetings, even when a neutral investigative body/and or panel of inquiry had not looked into the issues therein.

“As you know, you cannot be a judge in your own case, neither can you place something on nothing and expect to stand, hence the need for the neutral panel and the supply of sufficient evidence supporting the spurious allegations by executive members.

“It is just a handful of our executive members that are bent on causing division in the UPU for their own selfish interest; let us not allow this happen.

“Conclusively, it is my advice that executive members should not allow themselves to be used as handmade apparels and/or be misguided and inspired with the idea that just because a particular politician failed his election bid, the president general of UPU must be removed by any means necessary. Suffice to say, it is not healthy for the growth and development of UPU,” he asserted.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 7

•L-R Chief Temieno Ugbuedon, Pa Ewomi-Ewaraghau Esu and Elder D. Edukogho, all of the Omadino council of elders during the endorsing of Dr. Robinson Eyekosi-Uwatse

•Pa Ewomi-Ewaraghau Esu giving blessings to Dr. Robinson Eyekosi-Uwatse during his endorsement by the Omadino council of elders

•Mr. Austin Oniyesan

Apprehension in Omadino community over IRDC position *Oniyesan is threatening my life - Dr. Eyekosi-Uwatse *I do not threaten people- Oniyesan

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By PEREZ BRISIBE

O

M A D I N O PALPABLE tension is brewing in the sleepy Omadino community, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, over who emerges as the community’s representative on the Itsekiri Regional Development Council, IRDC. One of the candidates, Dr. Robinson Eyekosi-Uwatse, has raised the alarm that a leader in the community wants to kill him over his bid.

In a letter to the Assistant Inspector General of Policce,

AIG, Zone 5, Dr. EyekosiUwatse alleged that since his nomination and endorsement by the Omadino Council of Elders, he said, “For the past couple of days, I have not been sleeping in my house.

Recently, over six gunmen stormed my apartment.

Luckily for me, I was not at home but was informed by my wife that they ransacked everywhere within and around my house under the guise of looking for me.”

Sit- tight attitude of Oniyesan Dr. Eyekosi-Uwatse said the tenure of the representative of Omadino in IRDC, Mr. Austin Oniyesan’s tenure had expired, but he does not want

to vacate office. His words, “Having been in office for nine years as against a threeyear single tenure, the Omadino community met and decided that the Oniyesanled executive must leave office with new persons nominated to represent the community.”

“It is based on this that my life is being threatened and as a law- abiding citizen, I am using this opportunity to appeal to the state government to look into the matter because I am afraid for my life,” he added.

We’ll leave office soon as IRDC blows whistle- Oniyesan Contacted, Mr. Oniyesan called for calm among the parties. He said, “Having served in the council for nine years, we know that our tenure

has expired, but I am appealing to everyone to remain calm till IRDC writes the community that the tenure of its executives on the council has expired, after which new representatives will be inaugurated and we will leave office.”

Speaking on the modalities for nomination of representatives on the council, he said, “Though I was nominated by the same Omadino Council of Elders in 2006, the Omadino community Trustee founded sometime in 2012 is the body empowered to make nominations into the council in line with IRDC constitution, as amended.”

“It states that only the trustee of every community can nominate candidates to the council. As for the allegation of threat to life, I do not threaten people, besides, I am a leader in my community and I do not see any reason to threaten my kinsman.”

Eyekosi-Uwatse is the one causing tension He said the problem in the community now was that Dr. Robinson Eyekosi-Uwatse had unilaterally declared himself as chairman of the community and its

Community draws battle line with Akwa-Ibom govt Continues from Page 1

There is no access road, no electricity, no pipe-borne water and no school.

The only primary school in this community is located close to Ikot Ebere Otu. Our children trek through this long and tedious journey of muddy track to school. They do not just trek the long distance, they go with containers of water to wash their legs upon getting to school,” he said.

“Besides, we suffer a lot to get to Uyo when we have the need to do so and consequently, many of our brothers and sisters have deserted the village to live in Uyo and some other places because of the difficult life situation we are subjected to here. There is nothing here to promote healthy living,” Udosen lamented.

Help is on the way- Umanah In a chat with NDV, the Akwa-Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the state

•Devastated by erosion

government had already taken inventory of all the dilapidated roads and erosion menace sites across the state and would soon address them.

“Government is quite aware of the Ikot Oduot, Ikot Ebere Otu erosion challenges and has set machinery in place to tackle the problem, so also other erosionproblem areas in the state. If you go to the Ikono/Ini axis and towards Ibakachi, there is a major threat there. There is a threat also at Ibiono, there is a threat at Abak and even in Uyo. “These things are natural disasters and you could see the intervention that government started even at Brooks Street and other places. It is a natural thing, you cannot stop nature from dong its work, you can only work to ensure that the society is better for everyone and that is what government is doing,” Umanah declared.

•Dr. Robinson Eyekosi-Uwatse representative in the IRDC. Oniyesan said the announcement caused by Eyekosi-Uwatse was in bad taste and some members of the community lodged a report with the police, which made policemen to visit his residence.

According to him, “Nobody sent gunmen to his house, those who went there are policemen. As leaders, we are doing everything possible to douse tension in our community. You can see from what I have told you that I am not a sit-tight leader.

Council of Elders kicks Meanwhile, the Olare-Aja Ti Omadino, Pa EwomiEwaraghau Esu, who is a member of the Omadino Council of Elders, has urged the IRDC to disregard the plot

by Prof Gabriel Yomere, to bring back Oniyesan for a fourth term.

Omadino, not IRDC‘ll nominate representativeAyirimi Emami IRDC chairman, Chief Ayirimi Emami acknowledged that the council received a letter from Omadino community, but said his tenure had expired. He said was getting ready to handover as soon as the disagreement in his community, Ugborodo, was resolved.

Chief Emami, however, said the council had no role to play in who becomes the representative of Omadino community in IRDC, saying it was strictly within the power of the community to select a person and inform the council.

He said the matter should not be a newspaper affair and urged the Omadino community to sort out the matter internally.

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Flood sack lowland residents from homes in Yenagoa BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA YENAGOA- HUNDREDS of residents residing in lowland areas lacking functional drainage system at Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State and environ, have been sacked from their homes by flood.

Whenever the clouds set in, they have their hearts in their mouths because of the attendant deluge. This was the sad reality, last Thursday.

The rampaging flood swamped many offices and business premises, including the imposing Bayelsa NUJ secretariat complex in Yenagoa. Operators of the NUJ restaurant and bar were forced to stop operation, as they struggled to salvage their properties.

Though the rainy season is yet to reach its peak, the experience of the last week has heightened fear of difficult times ahead for those residing in low land areas.

NHSA listing amplifies fear Also, the listing of the state as one of the 13 states to brace up for another unusual flood, this year, by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NHSA, has further reinforced the fears of the troubled residents, many of whom are yet to recover from the devastating flood of 2012, which left about 85 per cent of communities submerged.

Some concerned residents have started putting in place measures to wade off the water by sand filling their premises, clearing blocked drains and creating channels for easy passage of water in their neighbourhood.

Others de-roof their homes and raise the structure before sand filling the premises again.“This is desperate times that

•Flooded NUJ bar to the drains along the road where such exists.

•Flooded NUJ office require desperate solution. We have to help ourselves by clearing the surrounding drains if we are to avert a repeat of last week experience. If that downpour had occurred in the night, it would have been a terrible experience for many families. Thank God it happened during the day,” Elaye Collins told Niger Delta Voice.

Investigation revealed that

aside the near absence of functional drainage system in the capital city, which is partly responsible for the flood menace; most of the buildings foundations are low.

Most of the land developers instead of raising the foundation of their building a little above the road choose to leave them low due to cost of sand filling with the result that water cannot flow

Govt deploys bulldozers, swamp bogies to clear canals Interestingly, government has deployed bulldozers and swamp bogies to clear the canals that littered the state capital to remove household waste in the drains and canals/creeks.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barrister Esueme Dan-Kikile, told Niger Delta Voice that though the clearing of the blocked drainage was a temporary measure to check the flood, “government’s long term plan is to create a drainage master plan to tackle the perennial flood

menace in the state.”

He said, “Government has taken some proactive steps including approval for the removal of silt in all blocked drainage. This is to enable free flow of water from primary drains to the various canals/creeks.”

“Second is the advice to all residents to dispose off their waste properly instead of throwing waste into drains that cause blockade.

“Third, government will put slab on major drainage that will prevent silting of the drains. Our long term plan is to create a drainage master plan with experts to finally lay the issue of flooding to rest in Bayelsa,” he added.

Ibaa leaders trade words over invasion of community by cultists Continues from Page 4 attend the panel because they cannot be judge in their own case. The council boss who constituted that panel is an APC man, and that party in Ibaa is responsible of all the killings. If the clergymen were the ones that set up the panel, we would have attended; APC is the reason for Ibaa crisis.

APC chieftains have been working with those boys.”

“When the boys were released, two persons in their camp took them to visit one of the strong APC men in Emohua.

When I called the man, he said he never knew the boys were cultists. He said he was a politician who should receive anyone who comes to his home.”

Way forward Ohaka said, “Juju is the only means through which peace can be restored in Ibaa. I will do what I did before by going to Ekpeye community to bring juju, which

made Chief Nyenke as well as Nwakanma to run away. I think traditional means is the only way for peace. All the communities that still depend on the traditional way of settlement have peace. Court and Police are not helping the issue in Ibaa.”

“Chieftaincy is not the cause of the problem in Ibaa community. It is purely political.

Chieftaincy is not even the cause of cultism in Ibaa, as it has been even before the death of the former Highness.”

Mbata disagrees with Ohaka An APC leader in Ibaa community, who is also an activist in the area, Comrade Dr Chris Mbata (JP), while responding to the claims

by Ohaka, said, “I think Fyneman Ohaka and his cohorts in PDP are having a kind of inferiority complex.

“They are just looking for a way of pulling down the image of the party in the community and that is why they are claiming that the crisis is sponsored by APC. Let me ask him, who bought guns into Ibaa in 2008?”

“I can say it anytime and anywhere that the crisis is because of the chieftaincy struggle in the community. I do not belong to any faction.

I do not belong to any secret cult. I have never given money in whatever reason to encourage cultism in the community.”

“I did not go to the prison to see those boys.

What Mr. Fyneman Ohaka said is fabricated, I am a notable figure in the state, so it should be on record if I have ever visited them. I think they are joking.

“We heard that some boys were arrested by the police and detained in SARS. I did not go to SARS to negotiate their release. SARS do not even know me. The boys were remanded in the prison custody and the matter went to court and to DPP for advice. When the matter went to DPP, nobody went to prosecute them; even the Fyneman Ohaka himself could not go there to prosecute the boys. Therefore, the court granted them bail because it was a mere allegation as I heard. I did not sign anybody’s bail bond.”

Kidnappers resurface, trigger fear in C-River Continues from Page 3 Ediba.

The motivation for the kidnaps is presumably pecuniary reasons and once they achieve the purpose, they release the victim and hatch a plan to abduct another victim. What the police have not been able to establish is if the kidnappers are operating in one group or separate teams.

However, there are separate and coordinated cells with different kingpins.

Identical modus operandi One of the unforgettable escapades was in February when kidnappers abducted the proprietor of Udensco Filling Station, located along Eta Agba Road, Obong Udeh, and took him to an unknown hideout. The family coughed out some millions of naira before he regained freedom.

A source told Niger Delta Voice that after leaving his office on February 7 evening, Udeh

was driving towards his residence at Eta Agbo Layout when he noticed in the rear mirror of his SUV that a vehicle was giving him close marking.

“When he saw that the car behind him was too close for comfort, he suspected that something was wrong and by the time he got to his gate, he could not crash through it for fear of damaging the newly acquired Prado Jeep. So he decided to bolt out and run towards the next house, but he could not go far before the men got hold of him and forced him into the booth of their car and drove off,” he said.

Within the same period, they kidnapped another oil merchant, Chief Agbor at Ikotenim, the eastern axis of the city and an unrevealed payoff obtained under duress from him before he was set free.

Raw treatment for a politician In March, at the peak of the 2015 electoral campaigns,

kidnappers abducted the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate, Chief Dominic Aqua Edem, from his Essien Street home in Calabar South and ferried into the creeks. They kept him for one week and freed him only after eating up a huge chunk of his campaign funds.

Next, the goons stormed the famous Watt Market and abducted Obong Obio, a popular trader in the market. They held him incommunicado in the creeks until they wrested some cash from his family.

Obudu invasion In May, the criminals went up north to the dusty city of Obudu where seemingly for the first time in the narration of crimes perpetuated in the city, they abducted an executive and proprietor of Sunday and Andoya Aluminum Company, Mr. Sunday Anagwe.

They seized the man at about 12.00 am on May 12 at his

residence located behind Government Primary School, Udigie, along Ranch Road, Obudu, and whisked him to an unidentified destination. His abductors initially demanded N10 million from his wife but after some long-drawn-out haggling, they got the sum of N1.5million before he was let off the hook.

Return to Calabar In July, there have been several abductions, one in Obudu and another in Calabar. In Obudu, the hoodlums penultimate Tuesday at about 2.00 am, seized Mr Godwin Anyating, the Chief Librarian of the Federal College of Education Obudu and after five days, they set him free after his wife, Felicia, a lecturer in the same school, allegedly coughed out N1 million.

After spending the N1.5 million collected from the Obudu executive, the kidnappers returned to Calabar in June where they abducted, Pastor Seyi

Adekunle.

The recent case is that of the kidnap of a six -year old boy, Monday Master Eyo Anatigha, son of Michael Anatigha , proprietor of Faith Nursery and Primary School, Anantigha, who was abducted as he alighted from the vehicle that took him to school that morning.

A young man who had been idling around the school entrance grabbed him as soon as he came down from the car and raced towards the creeks and a speedboat emerged from nowhere, took the boy and his captor and sped away.

Ayade seeks death penalty Governor Ben Ayade, worried by the high rate of kidnappings, last week, sent a Bill to the State House of Assembly to seek death penalty for convicted kidnappers and authority for the state to confiscate property belonging to the convicted kidnappers and other criminals.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—33

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34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—35

NAFDAC staff urged on work ethics

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HE National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, workers have been urged to desist from placement of personal interest above national considerations.

A public affairs analyst, Mr. Martins Ikhilae, who made the assertion in Lagos, contended that the dynamic leadership style and focus of NAFDAC’s chief executive should be emulated by the agency’s workforce rather than engaging in retrogressive practices borne from personal considerations.

Ikhilae noted that job rotation through intraagency staff postings or

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redeployment, was a standard administrative practice embraced by well meaning chief executives

bent on bringing effectiveness and efficiency to bear in their organisations, stressing that NAFDAC’s postings should,

therefore, not be a subject of controversies. He said that stagnation of personnel was capable of contaminating a nation’s socio-political and

economic progress as it often breads corruption, redundancy, diminishing returns, laziness,inferiority complex, pride and unpatriotic acts.

36— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Land reforms, key to success of Buhari’s effort to revamp economy —Adediji MR. Bode Adediji is a past President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV. He is also the Group Executive Chairman of Bode Adediji Partnership and Kontinetal Developers (Nig) Ltd. In this exclusive interview with Vanguard Homes & Property, Adediji who bared his mind on a number of topical issues affecting the built environment, posits that land reform is central to any effort President Muhammadu Buhari is making to revamp Nigeria’s ailing economy. Excerpts

By Jude Njoku

H

OW to reduce the over 17 million housing defi-

cit I have been an advocate of necessity for a country like Nigeria to take a holistic approach to providing solutions to the unfortunate housing problems that the country is faced with.

You are correct that Nigeria has almost 17 million housing deficit and growing.

But from time to time, what I have seen from one regime to the other is the practice of tokenism and politicization of efforts to combat rather than the same government reaching out to people who have knowledge and the capacity to roll out series of solutions that can at least ameliorate these problems at the shortest possible time.

Knowledge and training An example is simply this: No Government has ever put the right calibre of Minister in Housing.

These are gentlemen and women who have their onions but in terms of practical experience, knowledge and training, they don’t possess what it takes.

Even when the former Minister of Finance was talking about 15 million dollar mortgage solution to be rolled out by the World Bank, I laughed because you are clapping for an effort which represents a drop in the ocean.

First of all, it is important for Nigeria to understand that unless we tackle housing problems, all other problems we are experiencing -corruption, lack of capacity, the crippling of the economy like manufacturing will continue because what it takes to actually solve these problems is beyond money.

For instance, the amendment of the Land Use Act has been buried with members of the National Assembly for years now without any pressure group persuading or coercing them to do the needful. Imagine the National Assembly at the twilight of their last adjournment C M Y K

to pass over 40 bills into law and the one that is crucial to this nation -the Land Use Act, they forgot. So, who is fooling who?

What I can say from that is that anything that can change the lives of the general society but which they don’t see any direct benefit, will not occupy the front burner of their programmes and actions. Otherwise, I expect any regime that is very patriotic and endowed to sort out this issue of the Land Use Act within six months of its tenure.

I can go on and on to let you know that it is the fundamental of lack of awareness of the crucial role of the housing sector, property sector and production sector all combined, that has contributed to the kind of abyss which we have now and look deep down and bring out structured solutions that can solve them politically, government will continue to talk about providing houses and the housing gap will continue to escalate.

Visit to Obasanjo as NIESV President and how he convinced estate surveyors to support the Act Nobody has ever convinced anybody that the Land Use Decree leading to the Land Use Act as you have it now, is not problematic. What I see right now is that the amendment that needs to be introduced have all

Infiltration into estate agency, project management and valuation by quacks and other professionals Worldwide, the profession of Estate Surveying and Valuation has its highly respected and well defined areas of core competence which I will summarise as follows: Valuation and Appraisal, Project Management, Facilities and Property Management, Building Development and Investment and general advisory services. If you look back in Nigeria about 20 30 years ago, these core competences were areas of domain for the crop of estate surveyors and valuers at that period.

Highrise developments

Mr Bode Adediji been packaged. To get it effected, has been the albatross.

Areas of the Act that need amendment The Land Use Act by the way it is written and is being implemented is an epitome of bureaucracy. Let me tell you, frankly speaking, you and I want to exchange contract to sell our property anywhere in the civilised world, it is done in a matter of seconds. Why would it take a Governor ten years to issue Certificate of Occupancy, C of O? Why? Why would I want to borrow money and finance my industry and the Governor’s consent is required in an assignment that strictly between two individuals. Why would you have to subject all your documentation to paper work? In England today, you as a journalist, the history of your mortgage house, right from

when it was built dating back to the 17th century is already captured electronically. So, if you want to sell tomorrow, people know what you bought it ten years ago, who sold it to you, what instrument was used to do that and so the issue of fraud and manipulation are completely eliminated. Those are the key issue and they are not easy for a primary school guy to understand what majority of members of the National Assembly fail to appreciate.

Land reforms and housing sector Land reform is not only key to housing sector now, the way I would like to even surprise you is that land reform is key to the success of any other programme that the Buhari administration may have to revamp the economy.

But within the last couple of years, the practice of Estate Agency which involves letting of properties, sale and so on, has been hijacked by quacks, lawyers and members of other non-related professional bodies. If you look at Project Management, a large number of the highrise developments in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja before, estate surveyors and valuers were involved from the angle of project management.

They have now lost tract of that core competences to engineers, architects and quantity surveyors.

That is not even a bad reflection because in all fairness, members of these allied professions -architects, quantity surveyors and engineers have what it takes by training and experience to actually play important roles in project management. But the reason why estate surveyors and valuers have been involved from day one is because, in the construction process, you don’t really allow or encourage a single professional to take on much responsibility in a given project without experiencing conflicts.

To be concluded

Builders hold AGM in Ibadan

By Kingsley Adegboye

Land reform is key to the success of any other programme that the Buhari administration may have to revamp the economy

S

KILLS development and entrepreneurship in the construction industry ” would be the theme of the 45th Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB tagged Oluyole 2015.

The theme which is aimed at creating more awareness in National Vocational Qualification Framework, an initiative of National Board for Technical Education, will hold between August, 3-7 in

Ibadan, Oyo State.

A statement signed by NIOB president, Mr. Tunde Lasabi said this year’s AGM will also focus on craftsmen and artisan training, construction skills development, policy issues in Nigerian economy and business skills development among construction professionals.

“The 45th AGM/ Conference is set in an international context, to provide opportunity for peer review in global best practices. As builders, our foremost concern is that the

construction of buildings will not be left in the hands of quacks but that builders in Nigeria will continue to play their role effectively as the critical link in production management”, the statement noted.

He described the theme as timely considering the enormous responsibilities attached to the actualization of the roles of the Nigerian Institute of Building as an awarding body status by National Board for Technical Education.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 —37

Unending traffic jam at Berliet as deep potholes take over expressway

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HERE seems to be no solution to the perennial traffic gridlock at Berliet Bus Stop on the everbusy Oshodi/Apapa Expressway due to the deplorable condition of some portions of the dual carriageway.

These portions of the expressway, have garnered notoriety for traffic slow motion as a result of deep potholes and ditches that are the common features of this part of the highway.

The situation becomes very terrible whenever it rains. The traffic snarl caused by these bad spots some times stretches from Ijesha to Ilasamaja, causing motorists and commuters to go through hell as they spend several hours trying to meander through the bad spots.

The situation keeps recurring every rainy season despite palliative measures by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA to salvage it.

In its characteristic manner of intervention during rainy season, FERMA penultimate week, dropped materials such as boulders, stone base and granite at the affected portions of the road. Vanguard Homes & Property however observed at the weekend that these materials which were supplied to carry out palliative repairs before the Sallah public holidays, were yet to be utilised, despite the clement weather these days.

It was further observed that while the boulders have become a nuisance on the

If you provide me the money for the job today, the work will commence immediately

A bad portion at Berliet along Oshodi-Apapa epressway. Photo Joe Akintola, Photo Editor dual carriageway, the heaps of granite have started disappearing into the ground as heavy duty trucks pass over them in an effort to meander through the frightening ditches. In actual fact, some materials have been flattened by heavy duty trucks that one hardly notices that they were once heaps of materials meant to carry out repair works on the expressway.

But the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, which is responsible

for maintenance of federal roads in the country, has denied neglecting this side of the expressway. According to the agency, routine maintenance is being carried out generally on the dual carriageway whenever the need arises.

Fuming, the FERMA Engineer in charge of Lagos 2 West which comprises Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Mr. Afolabi Oladele, wondered why Vanguard homes & Property failed to commend his office for fixing

Ogun plans to replicate shopping mall in senatorial zones

By Jude Njoku

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HE Ogun State Government has unveiled plans to replicate the type of big shopping malls already constructed in the Ogun Central Senatorial District in the two remaining senatorial zones in a bid to boost commerce and encourage self employment in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Kayode Ademolake, an engineer who disclosed this in a press statement, explained that the shopping mall at Shapon Market in Abeokuta South Local Government Area has been completed while those in Isale Igbehin, Itoku and Omida markets, all located within Ogun Central Senatorial District have reached advanced stages.

The government, he said, has also successfully graded and compacted with culverts a total of 1,235.20 kilometres of rural roads spread across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

The statement which was signed by the ministry's image

maker, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso said government’s decision to start the construction of the shopping malls in Abeokuta was borne out of the fact that markets located within the Ogun Central Senatorial Districts were demolished to give the rights of way for the “Ogun Standard” roads.

He said “these big shopping malls that we have in Abeokuta

will be replicated in the two remaining senatorial districts.

You know our governor as a man that believes in equality and fairness. Government decided to have these pioneer shopping malls in the state capital because many markets were demolished to give the rights of way for the construction of the road while no markets were demolish in the other two senatorial districts.

That not withstanding, government will replicate the shopping malls in the remaining districts. Shapon shopping mall has been completed”.

Ademolake pointed out that the allocation of the already completed shopping mall has been delayed because government wanted to ensure fairness in the allocation.

Airport Road and Dopemu along the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway and many other roads in the state, but was only interested in the areas he had not fixed.

Attributing the delay to logistics, Oladele said “if you provide me the money for the job today, the work will commence immediately. You are saying that the materials have been lying on the road for about two weeks. It is not true. You are exaggerating.

We dropped those materials a day to Sallah, and what makes you think the work cannot commence today?”.

The FERMA official said that his Agency has been intervening on the expressway even before the idea of reconstructing the entire stretch of the Oshodi/ Apapa Expressway was conceived.

He said the reason the portions had not been worked on, was because of water on the spots, explaining that whatever is done during the rainy season, will be washed away.

FERMA set to rehabilitate Kano-Katsina road

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

HE Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has promised to rehabilitate the Kano-Katsina road which has deteriorated due to persistent rains that washed off two bridges and a culvert along the road The Managing Director of the Agency, Gabriel Amuchi, an engineer, who was on inspection tour of the affected areas assured that resources would soon be provided to rehabilitate the roads which

passes through Kankia, Dutsinma and Safana Local Government Areas in Katsina State.

“Kankia, Safana and Dutsinma are important agricultural zones in Katsina State which is why the maintenance of the roads have become not only important but necessary for farmers in the area to transport their agricultural produce to either Katsina or Kano State,” Amuchi said.

“From Kankia to Safana, there is a bad culvert which the residents had complained to the

authority severally about in in the last three years but nothing was done. Homes around the area have been reduced to rubbles due to constant erosion emanating beneath the culvert.

The velocity of the water here is very high and a heavy rainfall may completely bring down the road,” an engineer attached to the Agency said.

The FERMA boss said the embankment on the Tashan Bala bridge along KatsinaKano road, which was built by FERMA a year ago to replace the broken culverts hitherto

existing there, was caused by storm water which is threatening the bridge, hence the decision to visit the site.

In another development, FERMA said it would convert trailer parks in the country into commercial hubs.

Already the agency has acquired the Mararaba-Jos trailer park and civil works have been done. Amuchi hoped to partner with the private sector to actualise this dream. He wants the private sector to provide facilities like filling stations, shops, recreation areas and workshops.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—39

The logic and significance of El Rufai’s call: ‘Kill NNPC or NNPC will kill Nigeria'

By Femi Aborisade

O

N Monday, July 13, 2015, at two separate events, two elected prominent, influential and powerful public officers, one a Governor, the other a national legislator, made similar policy advocacy on fundamental aspects of the economy, which could determine the direction of civil societygovernment relationship in the coming period. They are the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

Riding on the wave of anticorruption concerns, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in his lecture at a Wole Soyinka Centre event, advocated the scrapping of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, arguing that “if you don’t kill NNPC, it will kill Nigeria”. He justified his call by making reference to the undeniably monumental corruption in the NNPC. He revealed that “the NNPC only remitted about 58 per cent of the monies earned between 2012 and the first half of 2015. A company with the audacity to retain 42 per cent of a country’s money has become a veritable parallel republic!”

Parallel republic This means that, as he rightly pointed out, the NNPC alone retained more money than what the Federal Government, the Federal Capital Territory and the State Governments put together shared from the revenue accruing to the NNPC. However, it is important to understand the ultimate goal of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, from the standpoint of implications for national development. His concerns appear not to be limited to tackling corruption. It appears Governor El Rufai has, in fact, given up hope that corruption can ever be fought successfully in Nigeria. Rather than insisting that the Federal Government under President Buhari should set in motion the process of bringing to justice all former top administrators, Ministers and Directors who had played a role in looting NNPC, Governor El Rufai merely lamented that “No one has been successfully prosecuted for this scam.” Rather than distinguishing the role of all past top looting-managers of the NNPC (such as Ministers) from the role of ordinary workers, Governor El Rufai put the burden of corruption in the NNPC on the entire workforce of “less than 1,000 employees of the corporation” who as he put it, are “feasting” on the collective wealth.

The ultimate goal of Governor

El Rufai tends to be the privatization of NNPC and removal of fuel subsidy.

According to online newspaper reports, El Rufai argued that “with his experience as a former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, it was possible to destroy a bad organization and turn it into a good firm”. Thus, according to El Rufai, “the country s h o u l d demonstrate a new purpose by slaying three huge dragons” which he identified as “fixation with p u b l i c ownership”, “oil subsidy” and the NNPC. He was reported to have argued, that “oil subsidy regime had neither grown the Nigerian people nor guaranteed stability of refined products’ supplies”.

If the call by Governor El Rufai that the NNPC should be “killed” because of its intractable corruption should be followed to a logical conclusion, it amounts to saying that because corruption permeates all levels of government in Nigeria, from the Federal to the Local Governments, including the legislature, then, all the tiers of government should be “killed”; the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government should all be dissolved. That would ultimately mean that there would be no office called the office of the Governor of Kaduna State, which El Rufai occupies today.

This analogy reflects the depth, or lack of any depth, in the call

by El Rufai for the abolition of NNPC on the account of pervasive corruption.

El Rufai is, however, not alone in the recent advocacy for removal of fuel subsidy. Apart from the promptings by spokespersons of world imperialism, the US Government, the APC Transition

The critical concern is for how long would President Buhari be able to resist the powerful pro-subsidy removal forces in the APC?

Committee, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has added his voice in support of the prosubsidy removal advocates. No dissenting voice has been heard from his colleagues, either in the House of Representatives or the Senate. They appear more preoccupied with who occupies the leadership positions in the

Nigeria

National Assembly to be concerned with policy debates.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has been busy researching and advising on “the most legal way to do it so that subsidy can go permanently”. Hon. Dogara’s concerns are not about how to bring relief to the masses of our country but about how the “stomach infrastructure” of dealers in the oil industry can be strengthened through fuel subsidy removal. On the same Monday, July 13, 2015, when Governor El-Rufai made his call for the abolition of the NNPC, Hon. Dogara was equally advising a delegation of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to mount pressure on the Executive arm of the Federal Government to inaugurate the price control board under the Price Control Act, which could, in exercise of its powers, remove petroleum products from the list of items whose pricing is subject to regulation. Alternatively, the IPMAN, according to Dogara’s advice, could pressurize the National Assembly to either repeal or amend the Price Control Act by removing petroleum products from the list of items whose pricing is subject to regulatory control. The IPMAN delegation had sought the support of Mr Speaker for the “approval of government to engage in the swapping of crude oil for refined products” under a pricing regime in which petroleum products are not subject to regulated pricing.

The critical concern is for how long would President Buhari be able to resist the powerful prosubsidy removal forces in the APC? President Buhari has good reasons to continue to resist fuel subsidy removal.

Obama’s recurring nightmare

Y

OU wouldn’t be off the mark to conclude that President Barack Obama’s greatest nightmare is what to do to preserve his signature law, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), from being overturned by Republican legislators with their majority in Congress; or that he dreads losing momentum in the economic near-miracle he has achieved in America; or how to ensure that a fellow Democrat succeeds him in office. None of these is true.

Just before he left for his African tour last week, he gave an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, where he candidly talked about his recurring nightmare and wished he had the power to do something meaningful about it.

This is how the president presented his lamentation: “You (BBC reporter) mentioned the issue of guns, that is an area where if you ask me where has been the one area where I feel that I’ve been most frustrated and most stymied it is the fact that the United States of America is the one advanced nation on earth in which we do not have sufficient common-sense, gun-safety laws.

Even in the face of repeated mass killings.”

Repeated mass killings Then, the president must have startled his interviewee with this straight-talk: “And you know, if you look at the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism, it’s less than 100. If you look at the number that have been killed by gun violence, it’s in the tens of thousands. And for us not to be able to resolve that issue has been something that is distressing.”

The stark irony of the situation is that a few hours after the BBC interview was aired, John Russel Houser, a 59-year-old man, staged the latest mass shooting in the US history of gun violence.

He took his gun to the Grand 16 movie theatre in Lafayette, Louisiana, shot and killed two women, and injured about 11 others before taking his own life when he realized that the police had cordoned off his escape route. According to the police, Houser had legally bought his gun at a pawn shop despite the fact that he had a history of mental problems. His innocent victims died as they were watching a movie titled “Trainwreck.”

Back to Obama’s interview. Is it not astounding that the president of the nation at the forefront of the fight against international terrorism said this about his country: that since 9/

11 in 2001, a lot more Americans have been killed by their guntoting compatriots through domestic gun violence than by terrorists, including ISIS and alQaeda, whose espoused mission is to kill Americans. Another irony is that as these deaths through local gun violence increase, Americans are quick to be issued with “travel advisory” warnings not to visit some countries where the number of people who are killed by socalled terrorists is nowhere near the number of the people killed by domestic terrorists in the country that issued such travel warning.

If you think that President Obama may be exaggerating the incidents of gun-related violence in the US, try this web site: http:/ /www.gunviolencearchive.org/.

According to statistics published in that web site for 2015 (January to July), the US has already witnessed 28,128 gun-related incidents in seven months. A total of 7,212 people have died in such incidents.

Issue of gun violence The injury list has 14,507 people. Among the dead and injured are 1,809 young people, ages zero to 17. The number of mass shootings is 182.

Why this issue of gun violence and apparent lack of control measures remains intractable is that gun ownership is rooted in the US constitution. Its 2nd Amendment stipulates that: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This provision has been interpreted in many ways.

In 2008, the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of individuals owning guns for personal use. But because the case that led to the ruling involved the District of Columbia, a federal territory, there was confusion as to whether or not the ruling protected people all over the US. In July 2010, the same Supreme Court ruled that the right to bear arms applied to the state and local levels as well.

Here then lies the dilemma.

Americans cherish their constitutional rights. So, it would be difficult to get a constitutional amendment that will overturn the right to bear arms. On the other hand, each time a mass shooting incident occurs, there is always a national outrage about gun violence and the need to do something about it. But, sooner than later, the issue suffers a relapse. It appears Obama would leave office, still haunted by the spectre of gun violence in his beloved country.

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

XE, most advanced, refined, sports Jaguar saloon — Maduka T

HE President/CEO of Coscharis Motors, Dr. Cosmas Maduka has decscribed the new Jaguar XE as the most advanced, efficient and refined sports saloon car that Jaguar ever produced. The Coscharis boss stated this during the launch of the new Jaguar XE saloon car at the Eko Hotels Lagos.

"While it is quite unusual to launch a vehicle this way in this market, we must remark that the Jaguar car we are launching today is also an unusual vehicle. A special pick out of the pack with the latest Jaguar innovation, technology, powertrain and design that cuts across gender, he said" According to him, "this is the first time Jaguar has really considered the ladies as well while retaining the power, grace and agility in its boldline,.

“We are very proud to say that only a Jaguar promises a distinct combination of performance and seduction to give you a unique, utterly rewarding driving experience; advanced power-trains with roaring exhaust soundtrack; sublime agility and instinctive steering; with innovative technology and craftsmanship both exterior and interior wise.

With so many first, the new Jaguar XE is the most advanced, efficient and refined sports saloon car that Jaguar has ever produced. The latest in an illustrious bloodline.

Instantly recognisable as a Jaguar, it feels like a Jaguar, it drives like a Jaguar –XE is a Jaguar to its core.

The Jaguar XE is designed as an extraordinary every day vehicle that combines the legendary Jaguar sporting character with systems that empower the driver as well as enhancing the driving experience. The beauty is that the rear seat passenger(s) is not left out.

Imagine a reclinable rear seat!

It is the first of a new generation of cars to be launched on Jaguar’s stateof-the-art, all new Aluminium Intensive Architecture; the lightweight aluminium construction creates an incredibly strong body.

According to the Coscharis boss, who was represented by the Group

General Manager, Marketing, Mr, Abiona Babarinde, “We are positioning Jaguar XE as the leading and preferred

sales directed at hard working and ambitious young male and female executives and entrepreneurs in their late

Elizade’s driver’s seminar for safety, longer vehicle life — Ade Ojo T

HE Managing Director of Elizade Motors, Mr. Ademola Ade Ojo, has said that the annual driver’s seminar organised by his company was aimed at imbibing safety culture in the drivers and prolonging the life of their customer’s vehicles.

The Financial Director, Mr. Abel Ajayi, who

From left: GM, JLR Aftersales, Praveen Kumar; Group GM, Aftersales & Parts, Coscharis Motors, Vincent Chiedu; Distribution Executive, MTN, Tsola Barrow; GM, Marketing & Corporate Services, Coscharis Motors, Abiona Babarinde and Former Commissioner, Science & Technology, Lagos State, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje during the launch of the new Jaguar XE, at the Tech+ 2015 in Lagos.

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premium compact sports saloon within the next two years. Consequently, the focus is to project it as a fleet variant and our retail

20s and mid 40s.”

Continuing, he said, “We have come to know that Jaguar customers are people who want to be different. The Jaguar XE amplifies this.

It immediately catches the eye, standing out from the completion because of its upscale proportions, which makes it look crouching and ready to pounce on the road.

The Jaguar XE comes in five models which include the XE R-Sport (2.0L), XE Supercharged (3.0L), XE Pure (2.0L), XE Prestige (2.0l) and XE Portfolio (2.0L).

Maduka explained that pricing was crucial to achieving our set target within the next two years.

The reassurance is that the Jaguar XE unlike the other compact sport saloon in its segment is premium but affordable. Like every other Jaguar model range, it offers value for every naira spent.

represented the Managing Director at the oneday seminar held at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja stated that the company invested millions of naira in the training programme as over 250 drivers took part in the seminar, which is an annual event in the company’s calendar.

He said: "It is something in the millions. We regard it as an investment as it will help to prolong the life of our customers' vehicles too at a time like this, when prices of automobiles had gone up due to high duties and depreciation of the naira against major currencies."

The Managing Director who pointed out that maintenance was key at this period due to high price of automobiles, noted that even sales of new automobiles had dropped.

He added that the modern day automobiles needed careful handling compared to vehicles built 20 years ago.

To this end, he said, that the training had become

necessary given the fact that “we are having new generation of drivers and customers, who desire to be trained on the latest technologies and defensive driving techniques on the road to ensure longer life span of the vehicles and safety of drivers and passengers."

In her remark, the Toyota Nigeria representative at the occasion, Yinka Adedire, commended Elizade Motors for the seminar, which she said would go a long way in guaranteeing better behaviour of drivers on the road and proper handling of the customers' cars, which are huge investments.

She said: “The drivers are the ones that take care of the cars and when they are well informed about the cars, through a programme like this, it goes a long way in helping them act better on the road.

When the drivers take good care of the cars, we get less complains at TNL.” She however, noted that

Toyota Nigeria is mindful of what Elizade was doing, which she said had usually help them to remain number one among Toyota Nigeria dealers.

“These are some of the yardsticks which Elizade uses to win TNL awards every year. We are impressed with it,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has doffed its hat for the company for helping in the training of the drivers which it said would help in encouraging accident reduction.

At the occasion, Lagos Sector Commander of FRSC, who was represented by the Deputy Route Commander, Oluwaseun Alogun spoke on the techniques of defensive driving. He identified over speeding as the major cause of accident accounting for about 32 per cent of road accident. To this end, he said that the corps will soon be introduced to check the menace.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 41

By Theodore Opara

Ambode lauds return of Peugeot

C-Class: Taking efficiency, dynamics to next level T

HOUGH the Mercedes C-Class is unarguably, one of the most powerful cars in its segment, yet Mercedes-Benz is not relenting in making it better. The new C-Class has become the yardstick for measuring luxury, safety and general performance in its class.

It is therefore, no news that the Mercedes-Benz CClass delivers impressive driving dynamics and takes aesthetic motion to a new level, thereby setting standards for the medium size category on many fronts. Its great load capacity, sensuously clear design, sporty interior and high class appeal, represent a clear lifestyle of elegance and ultimate refinement.

The C-Class has a breathtakingly beautiful face with an aerodynamic design for even more efficient motoring. It is also equipped with new suspension technology and many innovative system options.

The German brand continues to push for more fresh and youthful interior designs. The vehicle’s character has clear design and high quality interior. It has been designed on a costconscious fence with the Mercedes-Benz family, balancing enough luxury to justify the three pointed star with the affordability to make it the most popular model in the range. The front section defined by design and equipment line – including classic 3D radiator grille or sporty design with central star –

features large air intakes and sharply defined headlamp contours (day and night) to present the selfassured classic face of the new C-Class Saloon.

The strong visual impact of the C-Class Saloon exterior is continued in the interior. High-quality finish and materials, cultured sports styling, a tasteful colour scheme and intelligent details, create an atmosphere of easy poise and assurance. The brand had used premium materials for the door panelling and the instrument panel, which add to the overall unmistakable feeling of modern luxury.

The efficient and high performance engineering incorporated in this car delivers a higher level of driving pleasure. In the petrol range, the output of the en-

try-level C 180 is 115 kW/ 156 hp with a maximum torque of 4.5 percent from 220 to 250 Newton metres, and an output of 135Kw/184 hp with a torque peak of 300 Newton metres from 28100 rpm for the C 200.

The engines considerably improve the performance and fuel consumption of the four-cyclinder models.

The C- Class model incorporates a raft of further measures that help reduce the impact on the environment

When accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h, the C 200 is 0.5 seconds faster than its predecessor.

The C- Class model incorporates a raft of further measures that help reduce the impact on the environment. The petrol engine measures such as the combination of exhaust gas turbo charging with direct injection and an enhanced combustion process reduce both fuel consumption and emissions.

The C-Class has Artico man-made leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, keyless Go starting function, 7G-tronic Plus Cruise Control, three-mode ambient interior lighting, Audio 20 CD with touch pad and a multi-function screen that incorporates satellite navigator, Bluetooth audio and phone connections and digital radio.

THE Lagos state Governor, AkinwumiAmbode on Wednesday lauded the initiatives of PAN Nigeria Limited, saying it was a delight to see Peugeot vehicles back in the race again after so many years of dormancy, attributing it to the rare leadership role the management of the auto company had provided in the company’s resuscitation.

Ambode made these assertions when a delegation of PAN’s management, headed by the Managing Director, Ibrahim Boyi paid a courtesy call on the governor at Government House, Alausa ,Ikeja.

The governor, who expressed gratitude to the delegation for the visit, said the new automotive policy introduced last year by the federal government seemed to be gaining traction as PAN seemed to have keyed into its vision, belief and optimism of the new order and is breaking new marketing grounds with the new face of Peugeot assembled locally and on parade at the governor’s office.

“It is a sign of good and exciting things to come to Nigerians and the company that has been inactive for a while. I really appreciate your patriotic zeal in resuscitating the moribund assembly plant, which I learnt is the only comprehensive car assembling plant for now in Nigeria.” He assured of his administration’s readiness to partner PAN Nigeria Limited in terms of patronage (of cars) and in training the youths on vocational and technical skills to reduce unemployment; and therefore required that a blueprint of training from PAN Learning Center, be sent to him for consideration.

Earlier in his speech, the Managing Director, PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his team.He explained that the visit was to congratulate the governor for his well-deserved victory at the polls and hailed the good people of Lagos State for making a wise and informed choice in electing a loyal, focused and thoughtful personality as their governor.

“We have listened to the governor and we are happy of his promises. He is a great man and we as a team expect positive outcome of this visit to the governor and we are taking him by his word.”

Mr. Boyi who also took time to reel out the history of PAN, its status then and now in the Nigeria’s auto market, stated that it was painful to see the company that was thriving as the leading indigenous auto company both in terms of sales and employment opportunities, now strives to make regain its position.

The implication of which according to the him, led to privatization and so many job cuts from the initial over 4,000 workforce in the early 80s, to about three hundred now in its payroll.

Vehicles displayed at the governor’s office include the Peugeot 508, 3008, 301 and 4008.

Boulos, Suzuki bring safety, cleanliness to Lekki beach

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S part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Boulos Enterprises Ltd, and Suzuki Motors Corporation of Japan recently embarked on beach cleaning exercise at the Orimedun Palm Beach, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

The event provided an opportunity for dealers, users of Boulos products and general public to clean up the sea shore by picking up all forms of dirts and debris around the beach.

According to Mrs. Titi Olodun who explained that the event was an annual event by her compa-

ny in conjunction with Suzuki Corporation Japan, it was their way of canvassing for a clean and healthy environment.

“As part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility aimed at improving the safety of the ecological system as well as reducing environmental pollution harmful to human existence, this initiatives has been organised by Boulos and Suzuki Motor Corporation Japan,” she said.

Continuing, she said, Suzuki marine always aimed to provide excitement and satisfaction and give our customers a great

day on the water, in a clean and healthy environment.”

The clean up exercise, she further explained, was in conjunction with their dealers, users, staff, fishing communities and the general public located around the waterside where people enjoy boating and fishing.

For this year’s activity, she said it coincided with Suzuki’s 50th anniversary.

Meanwhile, a statement

by Boulos said that the campaign was also aimed at ensuring the safety of the ecological system and reducing all forms of envi-

ronmental pollution harmful to human existence.

The Managing Director of Boulos Enterprises, Mr. Julian Hardy, in a statement said the company felt the need to continue to contribute to the wellbeing of the society, particularly its host communities, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He also spoke on a number of products just introduced by the company to the Nigerian market, including the four-stroke outboard engine, which he noted as suitable to the company’s climatic and water condi-

tions.

Hardy said the old twostroke engine had been phased out due to its pollution, but regretted that it was still being smuggled into the country.

The new four-stroke, he said, came with a lot of benefits such as fuel efficiency, no pollution and less noise.

He said that the clean up programme was meant to enlighten fishermen, market men, women and school children on the need to keep the environment clean at all times.

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42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

cases are expected per year in Nigeria, and with a stroke prevalence of 1.14 per 1,000 population, the average cost of care for the condition in government hospitals is about N12.1 billion ($55.08 million) while the cost of private care is N100.98 billion($459 million).

“The cost calculations are different because in public hospitals you spend less and they may not do as many investigations as in the private hospitals. Overall, the difference is almost 700 to 5,000, that is a ratio of 1:7.

Health promotion: He said the import of the current development is that government should improve facilities in its hospitals so that more patients are managed. Government should also put more energy and effort into promoting good health so health promotion is the key, so that we have to spend less on looking after stroke patients.

THIS WEEK July 28, 2015 World Hepatitis Day, highlights the urgent need for countries to enhance action to prevent viral hepatitis infection and to ensure that people infected are diagnosed and offered treatment.

July 29, 2015

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

July 30, 2015 Webinar on Building Climate Resileint Cities, innovative challenges to overcome common challenges.

Science World

With smartphones, the blind can now ‘see’

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OMPUTER scientists are developing a new adaptive mobile technology that could enable visually-impaired people to ‘see’ through their smartphone or tablet. The team of specialists in computer vision and machine learning is based at the University of Lincoln, UK and has been funded by a Google Faculty Research Award.

The ‘Smart Vision System’ is to be embeded in mobile devices to help people with sight problems navigate unfamiliar indoor environments. It will be based on preliminary work done by the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems on assistive technologies.

The team plans to use colour and depth sensor technology inside new smartphones and tablets to enable 3D mapping and localisation, navigation and object recognition.

The research team includes an expert on machine perception and humancentered robotics from Lincoln’s School of Computer Science, Dr. Nicola Bellotto; a specialist in machine learning and quality of life technologies, Dr. Oscar Martinez Mozos, and an expert in mobile robotics and machine perception, Dr Grzegorz Cielniak.

Continues on Page 44

STROKE MANAGEMENT: Better facilities are desirable in public hospitals.

Don urges govt to make stroke mgt affordable

By Sola Ogundipe

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PROFESSOR of Medicine (Neurology) at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Adesola Ogunniyi, has called on the Federal government to make the management of stroke affordable and accessible to Nigerians by putting in place adequate facilities in public hospitals.

Ogunniyi, who is also a Consultant Physician/Neurologist at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, said the huge economic burden of stroke in Nigeria could be checked if more patients are effectively managed in government hospitals.

Speaking in Lagos last week during the 8th Pfizer Cardiovascular Summit, with theme "All About Stroke'' organised by Pfizer, he remarked that it was essential for stroke patients to have access to proper stroke management inpublic hospitals in order to reduce the burden of the condition on the patient and on the country.

At the forum, designed as an educational platform for healthcare practitioners to engage in a robust discussion on latest trends in Cardiovascular Diseases, Ogunniyi, in a paper entitled "Burden of Stroke in Nigeria", remarked that ideally treatment of stroke shoud be carried out in the government hospital because it would be a lot cheaper and would not be subject to vagaries of the market.

“Stroke is more a disease of older people but we see it in younger people. As people age they have preposition to develop it. Everybody should know their health status. They should have checks done regularly and should avoid the risks that could lead to stroke.”

Ogunniyi said stroke should be avoided because between onefifth and one-third of those who develop stroke eventually die, so it is a labour loss to the nation because people who should be economically productive are succumbing.

disability adjusted life years which further compounds burdens in terms of indirect cost on the sufferers' and care givers' productivity."

Quoting a study entitled: "Cost Burden of Post Stroke Condition in Nigeria: A Pilot Study", he said the average cost of care within the first 36 weeks of treatment in government hospitals amounted to N95,100.00 ($600), while in private hospitals, the average cost is N767,900.00 ($4,860).

Still quoting from the study, he observed that with a prevalence 193,800 cases, 91,800 new stroke

Huge burden "Stroke is currently a major burden in Nigeria in terms of number of cases, the associated disability and economic costs. As the population ages, the burden will increase.

"Managing stroke constitutes a huge direct cost burden unaffordable by an average Nigerian stroke sufferer. The implication is that lack of means for rehabilitative care may result in

Managing stroke constitutes a huge direct cost burden unaffordable by an average Nigerian stroke sufferer

HEARING LOSS IN NEWBORNS:

FG urged to set up screening facilities Page 43

Stroke patients He said Nigeria must take a cue from health promotion through education, blood pressure control, dietary restrictions and physical activities, which are all proven measures designed to reduce stroke incidence.

Global perspective: In his presentation titled: “Cardiovascular Management of Stroke - A Global Perspective”, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Fransisco, Prof. David Waters, described stroke as one of the two biggest causes of death and cause of disability.

“The important message is that stroke can be prevented. If people control their blood pressure, cholesterol and do everything to minimise their other risk factors, the risk of stroke will go down.

“It is a shame if you have someone that is relatively productive and is not too old but as a result of a massive stroke becomes disabled because this is something that can be prevented,” Waters remarked.

In a statement, Marketing Director for Pfizer West and East Africa, Mr. Winston Ailemoh said: "Pfizer will continue to invest in Nigeria to support initiatives that can help save lives. The Cardiovascular Summit in its 8th Edition is one of such long term investment. We are committed to also continually support the practice of medical specialists like Cardiologists and Neurologists."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—43

Experts task govt on screening newborns for hearing loss

By Chioma Obinna

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to establish a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, UNHS, programme that would ensure that newborns are subjected to screening for all parameters of human function ability, particularly to ascertain the child's hearing status.

Making the call in Lagos, a group of speech pathologists and audiologists worried over the rising incidences of hearing loss despite improvements witnessed in medical education.

They called for establishment and adoption of screening programmes in all hospitals across the country to facilitate detection of hearing loss in children and undertake necessary intervention to correct the malady early in life.

In his views, President of the Speech Pathologists and Audiologists Association in Nigeria, SPAAN, Prof. Julius Abiola Ademokoya, noted that in the US where UNHS is already adopted, the programme has made it possible to detect very early and proffer necessary interventions for newborns who have hearing loss.

SCREENING: Setting up of universal hearing screening in hospitals and audiological centres to screen children, youths and adults enables early detection and treatment of progressive hearing loss or acquired hearing loss.

He said outcomes of the programme showed that when children with profound hearing loss are provided with early interventions, they can develop speech as possible and be placed

in regular schools for future education instead of special schools. “Audiological Centres should also be set up to screen youths and adults for those who have progressive hearing loss or acquired hearing loss.

"Such Centres should be maintained by qualified audiologists and stocked with appropriate audiologic facilities.

There should also be subsidy for hearing aids, cochlear, implants among others. The cost of

Ovaltine, DHL nourish IDPs in Yola

By Gabriel Olawale

I

N the bid to meet the nutritional needs of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Yola, Adamawa State, Twinings Ovaltine Nigeria Limited and DHL Express Nigeria, last week unveiled a strategic joint partnership to donate and transport Ovaltine beverages to inhabitants of the Yola Camp.

Speaking at a joint media briefing in Lagos to validate this

commitment, General Manager, Twinings Ovaltine Nigeria Limited, Mr. Enrico Liggeri, said the two organisations are leveraging the partnership to amplify their Corporate Social Responsibility commitment in Nigeria.

Liggeri said his company was particularly touched by the displaced persons' need for highly nutritious food most especially children, nursing mothers and the aged to remain healthy as

government at all levels continue to facilitate their permanent resettlement. ''This gesture by Ovaltine and DHL Express is all about responding to the humanitarian need of the displaced persons at this critical moment of their life.

We feel their pain and the need to be provided with nutritious food so they can remain healthy and be able to live active an life in spite of their current predicament'', he said.

DONATION: From left: General Manager, Twinings Ovaltine Nigeria, Mr Enrico Liggeri; Marketing Manager for Ovaltine, Mrs. Kemi Saliu; Managing Director, DHL Express Nigeria, Mr. Randy Buday and National President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Dr. Valerie Obot during the handing over of Ovaltine beverages to DHL Express for delivery to IDP Camps in Yola, Adamawa State.

Further, Ligerri explained that under the partnership, Ovaltine is providing the free products while DHL Express provides the air and road transportation free of charge, from Lagos to Yola.

"I urge more Nigerians and corporate organisations to demonstrate their disposition to human kindness and compassion by coming forward in assisting the displaced persons.

“They need our comfort, they need our succor. They have found themselves in a situation they did not plan; the best we can do in this circumstance is to offer them a shoulder to lean on."

Corroborating his view, the Managing Director DHL Express Nigeria, Mr. Randy Buday, said, "DHL Nigeria is pleased to support the initiative by Ovaltine to bring nourishment to the displaced persons. This is in line with our corporate strategy and we are committed to making a difference in the communities within which we operate. As the largest express logistics company in Nigeria, we are in a very fortunate position to be able to partner with Twinnings Ovaltine and we trust that our contribution will make a tangible difference to the people in the IDP Camp in Yola."

Representative, MWAN, Dr. Valerie Obot commended the management teams of the two companies for identifying with the victims and providing them nourishment.

Once a child is born and before leaving the hospital, all parameters of human function ability must be checked so any fault can be resolved immediately

purchasing them is expensive and many who cannot afford them have resigned to their fate," he added.

Speaking, Dr Simeon Afolabi who said wrong medication and accidents are common causes of hearing loss while calling for proper public education to reduce the incidence. "The hearing programme is effective in developed countries, but we haven't established anything in Nigeria. We need to have new born hearing screening programmes so that we can have access to a newborn hearing status, and this will reduce the incidence of hearing loss.

"It will help to institute early intervention for children with hearing loss and we can easily integrate them into the society if it's discovered early.

Hearing detection Corroborating their views, Social Secretary, Speech Pathologists and Audiologists Association in Nigeria, SPAAN, Dr Ayo Osisanya called for a universal hearing screening in hospitals.

"Once a child is born in the hospital, before leaving the hospital, all parameters of human function ability must be checked and to see if there is any fault along the line so that it will be resolved immediately.

“There is a procedure of early hearing detection and intervention. If any hearing loss and communication difficulty is discovered early, it will be resolved at that prime level. And will not grow. That will help our children to enjoy the communication world because in the human communication what we know is hearing and talking,” he added.

The Public Relations Officer, SPAAN, and Chairman, Planning Committee, Grace Bamigboye, aid peculiarities that could cause hearing loss may be hereditary or environmental. "Continuous noise, even in the churches and mosques could expose people hearing loss; people who work in industries are at risk. Noise has to do with frequency of exposure while a bomb blast or gunshot noise can destroy the ears immediately,” she warned.

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY: SOGHIN urges Nigerians to get tested

By Sola Ogundipe

I

N commemoration of this year’s World Hepatitis Day today, a day set aside by the World Health Organisation to direct attention to the burden of chronic viral hepatitis worldwide, the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, SOGHIN, has urged all Nigerians to get screened for the disorder.

In a statement, Publicity Secretary, SOGHIN, Dr. Uchenna Ijemo said every Nigeria should pay attention to efforts to control the disease.

“We are advocating a two-point key strategy – to promote prevention and show support for hepatitis-positive persons.

“SOGHIN urges Nigerians to pay attention to key preventive messages including knowing the risks including unsafe blood, unsafe injections, sharing of sharps including drug injection equipment can all result in hepatitis.”

Further, Ijemo said all Nigerians should demand safe injections.

“About two million people contact hepatitis from unsafe injections. Using sterile single use disposable syringes can prevent these infections.

“Approximately 8 billion injections are given unnecessarily globally and unnecessary injections increase the risks.”

Ijemo stated that all children and adults should be vaccinated. “ A safe and effective vaccine can be given and this protects from hepatitis B for life.”

Calling upon the populace to get tested, and seek treatment, he said effective treatment options exist for hepatitis B and cure for hepatitis C. “It is important to talk to your doctor about testing you for hepatitis virus infection, irrespective of your health status and about receiving a vaccine to prevent hepatitis B if you test negative for the virus.

“All pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis with a view to protecting the yet-unborn baby,” he advised.

To prevent hepatitis infecting, he said paying attention to specific lifestyle habits wwould be helpful.

These include avoiding the sharing of personal items, such as razors or toothbrushes.

“Do not share needles or other drug equipment (such as straws for snorting drugs); clean blood spills with dilute household bleach and avoid getting tattoos, body piercings and circumcision with poorly sterilized instruments.

“Avoid unsafe and unnecessary injections and transfusion of unscreened blood and other blood products. Also avoid casual and unprotected sexual intercourse Ijemo said SOGHIN wants Nigerians to be aware that viral hepatitis is eminently preventable and by embracing the preventive strategies outlined.

“We can control this disease in our country and reduce its burden on our society. This way also we can prevent the personal misery and suffering that chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer bestow on affected individuals,” he noted.

The blind can see Continued from Page 42

SUMMIT: From left, Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano and Wife of Deputy Governor, Abia State, Lady Vivian Udeoko Chukwu, at the Mothers’ Summit held last week at Women Development Centre, Awka.

Bellotto, says the new technology aims to create a system with ‘human-in-theloop’ that provides good localisation relevant to visually impaired users and, most importantly, that understands how people observe and recognise particular features of their environment.

Her team plans to include a userfriendly interface to be built to relay information to the user of the smartphone, through sound, vibration, or the spoken word.

The Smart Vision System won’t literally allow visually impaired people to see, but it will allow them to conveniently visualise their surroundings without making contact with anything in their environment.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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AM 60 years old. I normally suffer from weak erection but after you recommended Magic Mike for me, I am able to now perform again with stronger erections. But I still want a cure– Baba Kehinde Baba your erection problem is not like malaria. You don’t have a disease. Your erectile dysfunction is as a result of old age and it does not have a cure because there is no cure for old age. As men get older, our body functions begin to grow weaker and we lose the ability to do things like young people. Erectile dysfunction is part of getting older just like arthritis, body weakness, loss of stamina; hypertension, poor eye sight and diminished bone density are all part of getting older. As we get older, our veins shrink, thereby limiting the flow of blood to the penis. This restriction of blood is what causes weak or no erection.

So keep taking your Magic Mike tablets. It is very powerful and one capsule can work for up to three days so you don’t have to take it daily – Uche I will like to find out what product will be most helpful and cost effective for someone who ejaculates too early and a lady who cannot climax and also gets tired easily – Obinna You can wear a penis sleeve during intercourse or you can apply a delay cream to prevent premature ejaculation. I recommend the Cock Xtender Penis Sleeve. It will enable you last longer, make your penis look bigger and stimulate your partner for quicker orgasms. But if you want to use the delay cream, then go for Stay Hard Delay Cream or Prolonging Delay Cream. Both products are very effective desensitisers and are easy to use. And for your woman, first she needs a libido supplement and an energy booster. Get her Total Diva supplement for Women.

She will also need an orgasm gel like the Encounter Orgasm Gel and a good vibrator. A combination of all of these novelties will solve your problems – Uche I want to enlarge my penis but I cannot take drugs. What else can you recommend? Chuks

Chuks you can use a penis pump. It will enlarge your penis alright but the enlargement is faster and bigger when you combine the pump with a supplement or enlargement Cream. So you can get an enlargement cream like Maximus or Mr Thick and use it together with your pump – Uche Please I want to order another realistic vibrator but I don’t want a whiteone and it does not have to vibrate. I want a black man’s thing – Nonye Okay you mean you want a non-vibrating dong? Yes there are two new dongs you can choose from. There is the Hard Man Realistic Dong and it is dark brown like our skin colour, very realistic and 8.5 inch long. Option two is the Espresso Dong. It is African, realistic as well and 7 inches long – Uche I received the Max Load supplement I ordered and I am very impressed. One week into using it, I have noticed a sizeable increase in my semen when I ejaculate. I also feel different and happier when I climax. But you say it cannot help with fertility as well? Peter Peter Max Load increases semen quantity and sexual enjoyment only. If you want something for fertility, then look for Fertil Aid or Repro Aid supplement – Uche Hello sir. I bought and used the couple’s vibrator and I was impressed. Please for how long am I supposed to wear it? Thank you – James Dear James you can wear The Couple’s Vibrator for up to twenty minutes to ensure normal circulation of blood within the body. Within these twenty minutes, your erections will remain firm even after ejaculation so you can have sex for longer. And for your partner, she will just feel and enjoy the vibrating sensation for as long as she desires. There is no time limit for her – Uche Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com-Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—45

Fresh oil spill hits Bayelsa communities Y

By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—A fresh oil spill from the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC’s OssiamaOgboinbiri and OgboinbiriTebidaba pipelines has impacted the environment of KemeEbiama,Okpotuwari and Ondewari communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The spill, the second in four months in the area, was reported on July 14, 2015 by the locals and is believed to have been caused by equipment failure.

It was gathered that the spill has spread to Gbaraun and Lobia communities in the council, aided by the terrain and the already rising flood levels in the environment.

Several incidences of spill had been recorded in the area, while the last occurred on April 23, 2015.

A native of Ondewari and Project Officer, Ondewari Health, Education and Environmental Project, OHEEP, Tontiemote Yeiyei, said: “Incidentally, that spot was only the soft spot where the crude oil found its way to the surface; the main ruptured spot on the body of the oil bearing pipe was a little bit away from where the crude oil was gushing out from the ground.”

He said that a team of Agip technicians had visited the spill site on July 21 to carry out

clamping and repairs of the damaged point on the pipe promising to return the following day.

“Those of us present saw that even though the aqua-rap was still on the body of the pipe, the crude oil was escaping from the pipe,” he added.

But a fire outbreak was reported on Wednesday July 22

as “a familiar” thick column of dark smoke was rising from the current spill impacted environment.

It was, however, gathered that the identities of those who set the site ablaze could not be ascertained.

The group, Environmental Rights Action ERA, Fiends of the Earth Nigeria, FoEN, Bayelsa

Field Coordinator, Alagoa Morris who was in the area called on Agip to promptly follow-up repairs with clean-up of the environment.

“Bayelsa State Government, through the state Ministry of Environment should take positive steps to protect the interest of all impacted communities,” he said.

RECEPTION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Mr Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police, at a reception for the IGP by the Ora Ekpen Development Association in Sabongida Ora, Edo State.

Buhari laying ambush for N-Delta, says Ijaw group

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—THE Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, yesterday, pointed fingers at President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that with his body language and actions so far, he was laying ambush for NigerDeltans.

Mr Austin Ozobo, leader of IPDI, added that Niger-Deltans would vehemently resist the attempt to subjugate them.

He said: “Ex-agitators should be paid their over three months amnesty stipends and training arrears, which the Federal Government is owing them to avoid endangering innocent lives of Niger Deltans and save the reign of unwanted and avoidable bombs and shellings on slight provocation by ex-agitators.

“The delay and non compliance in payment of amnesty stipends and training arrears by the Federal Government in the past three months has forced many exmilitants receiving skill acquisition trainings in foreign countries to be stranded as they have started deserting their training centres.

“The region is now in apprehensive situation as exmilitants have started feeling witch-hunted by the attitude of the Federal Government and such is a threat to the existing peace in C M Y K

the region and capable of endangering innocent lives in the region.

Ozobo said that Buhari was deliberately treating matters that concern the region with disdain

because he wants Niger Deltans to fall into his premeditated trap.

NEPC, NCAC advocate creation of craft devt centres

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BUJA—THE Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC and the National Council of Arts and Culture, NCAC, have advocated the establishment of craft development and skills acquisition centres across the country to attract significant patronage of Nigeria’s arts and craft in the international market.

Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, while receiving in his office the Director-General of

National Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Dayo Keshi, pointed out that if Nigeria was to create global brands like the Chinese did with their cuisine and Americans with the film industry, efforts should be made to establish designated Nigerian Heritage Cities that would promote Nigerian products and cuisine in countries, where Nigeria has of huge population.

“Given the huge population of Nigerians in some major cities such as Johannesburg in South Africa, London, Atlanta Georgia

and Houston Texas in the United States, the council intends to promote the creation of Nigerian towns in these cities to facilitate the export of local products and foods by Nigerian entrepreneurs,” he added.

Responding, Mrs. Keshi said that in order to showcase the value of Nigeria’s creative and cultural industry, NCAC was willing to partner NEPC to promote the potentials of the country beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Okowa'll deliver prosperity to Deltans—FORUM

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA Elite Forum, a socio-political group in Delta State, has expressed confidence that the state governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa will deliver prosperity to the people of the state through his prosperity agenda.

The forum in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Ogheneovo

Onoharigho, urged the people of the state to give the state government the needed cooperation to enable it deliver on its mandate.

While commending the state governor, for appointing Mr Festus Agas as Secretary to the State Government, SSG and Mr Godwin Adode as his Special Assistant (Sports), the forum

described the choice of the duo as a square pegs in a square holes.

Noting that Agas has the required experience to function as the SSG, having been in the legislative and executive arms of government in the past, the forum expressed confidence that the SSG will discharge his duties for the benefit of all Deltans.

Eleghe festival to hold next year

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ARRI—THE OlareAja (head) of Okere, the oldest community in Warri Metropolis, Chief Ogieboro Esisi has said that the historical Eleghe Festival of Okere, which holds every 25 years as part of Awankere Festival will hold from February to March 2016, noting that but for some challenges, the Eleghe Festival would have been held this year.

The Olare-Aja at the Okere Market Square in Warri, Delta State during the grand finale (last market) of the 518th edition of the annual Awankere Festival otherwise known as Okere Juju, while commending MTN Nigeria, the Ajuwaoyiboyanmi of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami and some members of the political class for supporting the festival over the years, appealed for continued support, noting that it would go a long way to preserve the rich culturalheritageofOkerepeople.

Public Relations Officer of Okerecommunity,Mr.David Oki in his remark explained that the popular Eleghe Festival which holdsevery25years,wasreduced to every 20 years and now has been further reduced to 10 years.

Sen Uroghide assures on 8th Senate

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By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—AS the senate reconvenes for business this week, the Senator representing Edo South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Matthew Uroghide, has expressed optimism about the competence of the leadership of the Senate to deliver the necessary impetus for its success.

Urhoghide who spoke with journalists in Benin, yesterday, said that Senators particularly those on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are men of integrity and outstanding politicians, who are determined to work assiduously to maintain the dignity of the legislative arm of government.

He insisted that based on the long standing experience of the PDP in political engineering, he will join his other colleagues in the Senate to provide robust and pro-active contributions that Nigerians would be proud of.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—47

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48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

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COMPUTER SOCIETY: From left— Professor Sola Aderounmu, newly-elected President, Nigerian Computer Society, NCS; Professor David Adewumi, immediate past President of NCS, and Sir Demola Aladekomo, a past President of NCS, during the just-concluded NCS international conference and annual general meeting in Akure, Ondo State.

AWARD: From left— Olori Iyabo Akinruntan, wife of Olugbo of Ugboland; Oba Olateru Akinruntan, Olugbo of Ugboland; Chief Abiodun Ali, President, Ajorosun Club; Senator Lekan Balogun, Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, presenting award of entrepreneurship to Olugbo of Ugboland at the Omo Ajorosun day in Ibadan. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

VISIT: Dr. Chris Eke, Pastor, Word and Spirit Assembly (middle in suit) and the Great Ambassadors, during their visit to Kirikiri Maximun Prison, to mark Dr. Eke's 40th birthday.

NAICE 2015: From left— Debo Fagbami, Chairman, Sponsorship Committee, Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE, Nigeria Annual lnternational Conference & Exhibition, NAICE, 2015; Emeka Ene, Chairman, SPE, Nigeria Council, and lnnocent Ohimor, Event Manager, SPE Nigeria Council, during a briefing on the forthcoming 39th edition of SPE's NAICE, in Lagos.

INSTALLATION: From left— Mrs. Oluyemisi Alatise, Vice President, International Inner Wheel; Mrs. Olayinka Ayanwale, Chairman, Inner Wheel, District 911, Nigeria; Mrs. Joe Ebo, immediate past Chairman; Mrs. Osenike Ajadi, immediate past National Representative, Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria, and Mrs. Phebean Alade, National Representative/President, Inner Wheel in Nigeria, at the installation of Mrs. Olayinka Ayanwale as the 32nd District Chairman in Lagos.

TECH PLUS: From left— Mrs. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, GM, Enterprise Marketing MTN; Mr. Michael Ikpoki, MD, MTN Nigeria; Mrs. Nike Animashaun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sciences and Technology, and Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, CEO, Connect Marketing, Owner of Tech+, during the opening of Tech Plus Conference and Exhibition, at Eko Hotel, Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

IDEAL CHRISTIAN: From left— Pastor Gift Uwubanmwen, Mrs Lizzy Imuzeze, Deaconess Jessica Uwubanmwen and Mr. Charles Imuzeze, at the launch of a book, The Ideal Christain, by Deaconess Uwubanmwen at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Goodnews Centre, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

FUND RAISING: From left— Mr. Lauretta Koyi, Ven. & Mrs Tunde Owoyele, Vicar of Archdeacon, Festac Archdeaconry, host; Rt. Revd. Dr & Mrs James Odedeji, Diocesan Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West; Otunba Kole Olatunji, Chairman, Fund Raising Committee of Church of the Pentecost Building; Chief Sola Ijitimehin, Chairman of ceremony and Rt. Revd (Professor) Dapo Asaju, Bishop, Theologian Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communionu, during the N150 million Dinner with Lord Fund Raising Fellowship by Church of the Pentecost, Festac Archdeaconry, Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 49

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50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Ernest Onyekwelu Chukwu, 1960-2015 TRIBUTE

By Ike Uko & Vincent Nwodo

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Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (middle) watching with keen interest, as members of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Abuja and Ijaw Students Union, UNIABUJA, display placards bearing different inscriptions, when they paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja to declare their support for his second term bid.

AWARD: From left, Managing Director, Nigerian Army Small Scale Industrial Unit on drugs manufacturing and other materials, Lt.-Col. Azce Awazie presenting the award of “Best Quality Inverter in Africa for 2015” to the Business Head for Luminous Inverters, Mr. Rajneesh Gupta at the 2015 African Quality Achievement Awards, AQAA held in Lagos

HIEF Ernest Onyekwelu Chukwu, a notable businessman and Enugu politician, passed on at Emene, Enugu State, Saturday, June 19, 2015.

Born June 5, 1960, at Ikom, Cross River State, to late Chief Simeon Nwodo Chukwu and Mrs. Josephine Chukwu of Umuigbo, Amurri Town, the late chieftain shuttled between the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria, for studies and profitable

Ernest Chukwu ventures. These forays gave him new insight that became his guiding principles for politics and business. His late father was popular in College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu circles, having served till retirement in the public service of East Central State.

Ernest Chukwu began his educational career at Golf Course Primary School, Aba, Abia State, and attended Ihie High School, Mbawsi, also in Aba in 1974 and St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Emene, Enugu, in 1979. He served briefly in the accounting department of the Enugu Local Government Council before travelling to the U.S. for further studies in 1980.

With a first degree in marketing from the Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1984, he worked as graduate assistant in the same institution before enrolling for his Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Back home, he launched an import business, dealing mainly in clippers and tiles between 1989 and 1992.

He taught at the University of Belize in Central America in 1993. He contested the primaries to run for the chairmanship of his Nkanu West LGA. His overriding interest was to deliver governance to the ordinary people the way he saw it done in America, where he had his higher education.

In the course of his campaigns, he succeeded in proving the point that politics should be about building bridges and getting those on the outside in, and not the popular, ‘winner takes all’ practice that was, and still is, prevalent in the country’s political space.

After the political experiment, he returned to teach at the Institute of Strategic Marketing in Lagos until 2009 when he relocated to Enugu, but still shuttled between Lagos and Enugu for his car business. Chukwu who was buried, weekend, is survived by his wife, Ann, and a daughter, Precious.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—51

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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HE hope that today ’s resumption of the House of Representatives would proceed on a peaceful note was hinged on a positive outcome from last night’s meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC caucus in the House. That meeting was yet to commence as at press time yesterday.

After earlier separate meetings with Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his rival, Femi Gbajabiamila, President Muhammadu Buhari was last night expected to have the first formal joint meeting with the members of the two camps of the party in the House. The outcome of that meeting which was yet to commence as at press time would inevitably determine what will happen at the formal resumption of the legislative body today.

It is the first time that the president would have met the two tendencies in the House together since the leadership contest that eventually saw Dogara trounce Gbajabiamila on June 9.

Perhaps in adherence to his pledge of non partisanship, Buhari had demurred from openly intervening into the matter. However, suspicion of the president’s partisan leaning was always an issue especially given the frontal role of Nasiru Zango Daura, the man who represents the president’s Daura federal constituency, as spokesman of the Gbajabiamila group. Besides Daura, many members of the Katsina delegation to the House of Representatives were almost all in the Gbajabiamila camp until recently.

Latitude for maneouvre At yesterday’s meeting the president was expected to play the leader’s role in quieting the mutterings of both camps. His intervention may have become crucial given the bad image the crisis in the two houses of the National Assembly has given his party.

However, the president’s latitude for manoeuvre are as almost everyone knows limited, given the ascendancy of the Dogara camp in the House. As at press time, the Gbajabiamila camp was bleeding as reality dawned on many supporters of Gbajabiamila that Dogara’s position as speaker had remained unassailable and many of them in furtherance of their own political interests were now coming to pay loyalty to the speaker.

However, Dogara’s own charismatic charm, especially his offer of four of the principal positions to the Gbajabiamila camp turned into a political masterstroke that helped to weaken the strength of his rival.

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•Buhari: President of Nigeria

Buhari’s legislative lumps WHATEVER it is that President Muhammadu Buhari has as his legislative agenda is challenged by the unending crisis in his party’s caucus in the Senate and House of Representatives. His opportunity to truly belong to all and owned by nobody is knocking at the door.

That offer, which precluded Gbajabiamila as House Leader on the assertion that the Gbajabiamila’s Southwest geopolitical zone already produced the deputy speaker, helped to fragment the unity of his opponents.

The president was expected to build on that yesterday towards ensuring that today’s session of the House does not degenerate to another round of violence in the chamber.

Violence in the chamber In the Senate, matters are a little more difficult given the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the deputy president of the Senate. The president, according to many sources is peeved by the development and it is not surprising that he is not meeting with the two camps of the APC caucus in the Senate.

The president’s room for

agitation is, however, even more limited given the elevated position of the Senate in guiding his legislative agenda.

That reality was echoed in the police investigations into the alleged forgery of the 2015 Standing Rule of the Senate. The claim by some APC senators opposed to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President, according to the police report, could either be a criminal development or an internal affair of the Senate.

Many senators are, however, bent on keeping their issues internal and would not want to expose their affairs to public ridicule.

The assertion by the Senate Clerk, Mr. Ben Efeturi in his deposition to the police team that the evolvement of the 2015 Senate Standing Order followed the same way that was used in bringing to life the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Standing Rules should be of some interest to the president.

This is especially so given Mr.

Efeturi’s standing as one of the most experienced legislative experts in the country. Mr.

Efeturi whose experience spans from the Second Republic National Assembly was at the commencement of the Fourth Republic the Clerk of the Senate Committee on Business and Rules, following which he became the deputy clerk of the Senate.

The assertion by the Senate Clerk, Mr. Ben President's Efeturi in his interest deposition to the Given his experience in the police team that the birthing of all the past Standing Rules his deposition to the police evolvement of the investigating team should arouse 2015 Senate Standing the president’s interest.

The president’s perceived Order followed the angst against the emergence of same way that was Senator Ekweremadu as deputy president of the Senate could be used in bringing to understandable given the fact life the 2003, 2007 that Ekweremadu belongs to the and 2011 Standing PDP and is driving the momentum for the reinvention of Rules should be of the party. However, President some interest to the Buhari it is argued had claimed president Continues on page 52

52—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

THE House is expected to resume plenary today and it is a guesswork whether trouble would unfold

HOUSE: Ticking trouble

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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OME of the protagonists in the leadership crisis which has polarised the House into two factions had in a media briefing assured that the warring factions in the squabble have decided to embrace peace and had adopted the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara’s sharing formula of keeping to the spirit of federal character.

The spokesman of the Consolidation Group, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had at a press conference last Saturday said as much that the two factions have decided to embrace peace for the interest of the country.

“In the interest of peace, unity and harmony in the House, Speaker Dogara reached out extensively to individuals and groups and committed lot of energy and time toward finding an amicable solution to the nagging issue.

“This became extremely necessary in order to actualise the needed peace and unity in the House so as to commence work for the Nigerian People and provide support for our President, Muhammadu Buhari.”

What seemed like truth to his words was backed by the presence of some henchmen of the Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila led Loyalist Group at the press briefing that day.

Among those present were Mohammed Monguno, Pally Iriase and Ado Doguwa who had played prominent roles in the Gbajabiamila led group.

Their presence was actually in line with the steadfast efforts of Speaker Dogara’s efforts in bridge building which had seen him offer princely positions in the House leadership to the Gbajabiamila group. However, his efforts were not totally received by the group on the fact that Dogara in his offer insisted on the adoption of federal character in the distribution of the four offices he offered to the Gbajabiamila group, a condition

•Dogara: Speaker, House of Reps that the latter is unwilling to abide with as it would vitiate the projection of Gbajabiamila for the position of House Leader.

Dogara in insisting on the application on federal character had said that the four other offices of Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Whip should be shared to the Northwest, North-Central, Southeast and South-South, being that he, Dogara is from the Northeast and his deputy Yusuf Lashun is from the Southwest.

But as Gbajabiamila is from the Southwest the conditions offered

by Dogara became a sticking point.

However, a number of members who were formerly aligned to Gbajabiamila have recently begun to have a rethink with assertions that the speaker’s offer was rational. That point has helped to deplete the ranks of the Gbajabiamila group.

The efforts of the speaker nonetheless, the Gbajabiamila group responded on Sunday with their assertion that they

Buhari’s legislative lumps Continues from page 51 that he would work with anyone as presiding officer of the National Assembly.

If the emergence of Ekweremadu is a fait accompli, the president it is argued, should move forward to embrace the National Assembly leadership as partners in progress otherwise he stands the position of damaging his own legislative agenda.

Former presidents including President Olusegun Obasanjo had to stomach personal hurts in C M Y K

dealing with National Assembly leaders and members. Obasanjo was even at one time forced to feed Speaker Ghali Naaba in 2002 with a cake!

It is tempting to believe that by unbending that President Buhari may be caving in to the demons of the past that stifled the country’s development. He certainly does not need to do that and is well advised that the issues of today are only teething signs as more challenges may indeed be ahead.

The efforts of the speaker nonetheless, the Gbajabiamila group responded on Sunday with their assertion that they remained adamant on their demands

remained adamant on their demands.

Rep. Nasiru Sani Daura speaking on behalf of the group at a press briefing said that nothing was resolved even as he acknowledged that some members of his camp have been lured by the Dogara camp.

Daura noted that in the elections of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, there was ‘an unsanctioned and unholy alliance’ between the members of the opposition parties in the House and the ‘39 disloyal members’ of the APC in the House that allegedly connived to produce the Dogara Speakership.

“To have a genuine agreement that is not tainted by the PDP, the Dogara group will have to first of all cut off the umbilical cord between them and the PDP and secondly engage in candid reconciliatory discussions with our group as a whole through our approved members under the leadership of Hon. Femi

•Gbajabiamila: Wants compensation?

Gbajabiamila.

“We know that this unholy agreement between the disloyal Dogara group and the PDP entail the deployment of PDP members and the disloyal APC group in strategic positions in the Structures and Committees of The House.

“The purpose of this strategic deployment is to enable the PDP to indirectly dictate the pace and activities of the National Assembly to the detriment of our party’s goals and objectives.

Indicative of the weakening of the group, some of the principal actors in the Loyalists Camp like Mohammed Monguno, Pally Iriase and Ado Doguwa among others were conspicuously absent in the briefing.

Their absence appears to be a confirmation of the crack within the ranks of the camp even when some of them including Iriase, Doguwa, Monguno attended the Saturday briefing where they announced the resolution of the crisis and their acceptance of the Dogara sharing formula.

Among those hopeful of a peaceful outing tomorrow is Rep. Philip Shuaibu representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State on the platform of APC. The former majority leader in Edo State House of Assembly and former President of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, told Vanguard that the factions in the crisis have decided to be flexible for the sake of peace.

“I can assure you that before we resume, the House crisis would have been resolved and we will be coming out strong and resuming in the House in one spirit and in unity to move the parliament forward in supporting

the change agenda that we voted for in the last election.

“I can confidentially tell you that the issues will be resolved before Tuesday and we will be laughing into the parliament together.”

Collaborating him, Rep. Kolawole Babatunde representing Akoko Southeast and Southwest of Ondo State “I am sure by Tuesday when we will be resuming plenary again, the whole problem would have been resolved.”

Rep. Afe Olowookete, APC, Akure North/South Federal Constituency also told Vanguard, “We should be expecting a House that is resuming for business, a House that is resuming to set in motion the process of effecting change that we are expecting and Nigerians should be expecting a House that will now be discussing issues , focusing on issues that will better their lot and bring succour to the suffering Nigerians.

“The crisis you talk about is something that is surmountable and I believe that we will get over it, the whole issue will just be put behind us. I believe that one is not enough to hold us down and not being able to achieve all that I have mentioned. I am confident that the whole thing will be solved and we are already solving the crisis.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari was last night set to intervene into the crisis at a meeting between the two sides. The outcome of the meeting would be a major decider on how today’s sitting of the House would be. The meeting was yet to commence as at press time yesterday.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—53

Unfinished sorting in Senate

Non ranking senator

•Saraki: Senate President

By Henry Umoru

various zonal caucuses, did not announce the occupant for the position of Senate Majority Whip which must be filled.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is expected to submit the list of its nominees for the principal offices. The positions

A

S the Senate resumes plenary today, the lawmakers would be facing so many unresolved contentious issues that require decisive approach.

The legislators had on June 25, suddenly gone on break as a result of the crisis that trailed the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

It was a recess that was seen as a move to save the upper chamber of the National Assembly, NASS, from being consumed by the imbroglio.

Senate's plenary Saraki in his defence, explained that the break was to enable the two ad- hoc committees on Finances and Legislative Agenda to effectively carry out their assignments.

“The adjournment of Senate’s plenary to July 21, 2015, was meant to give the Senate Ad-Hoc Committees on Legislative Agenda and Review of the Senate’s Finances time to conclude their work and submit their reports,’’ Saraki had said.

to be occupied by the PDP lawmakers are: The Senate Minority leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Senate Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

In its familiar zoning pattern, the party had zoned the respective offices between the south and north, with the South South poised to produce the Senate Minority Leader, while the North Central is to produce the Senate Minority Whip.

The offices of the Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Whip were given to the North East and South West accordingly.

How the South-South would resolve resolve the rumblings arising from who occupies the position of the Minority leader, is likely to be contentious following alleged moves to jettison the Senate Standing Orders.

Already, the party caucus in the Senate is enmeshed in crises on the matter as a result of the ambition of Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is seen as not qualified to occupy the position as a non ranking senator.

It was gathered that the zone had settled for the immediate past Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator James Manager for the position of Minority leader, but Akpabio’s entrance in the race has altered the calculation.

•Lawan: Interested in being Senate President With the commencement of the business of lawmaking, the lawmakers would have an uphill task resolving the impasse generated by the emergence of Sen Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President.

Indeed, the developments that had taken place during the recess hardly suggested that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is ready to recognise Ekweremadu’s position especially following the reported release of the investigative report on the alleged altering of the Senate Standing Order.

The fight between The Like Minds, a group loyal to Saraki and Unity Forum, Senator Ahmad Lawan’s support base may continue given the fact that none of the groups appear ready make concessions.

Before the break, Saraki had announced Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate Majority Leader; Senator Ibn Na’Allah as Senate Deputy Majority Leader and Senator Francis Alimikhena, Edo North as the Deputy Majority Whip.

Saraki, who merely announced the three principal officers following their nominations by senators of their

Indeed, the developments that had taken place during the recess hardly suggested that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is ready to recognise Ekweremadu’s position especially following the reported release of the investigative report

Northern lawmakers also resolved to present Senator Philip Aduda as Minority Whip while Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Taraba South is being considered for the position of Deputy Minority Leader.

There is the likelihood of seeing senators loyal to Lawan reject the new rule which shares the 57 standing committees equally among the six geo-political zones irrespective of party affiliations.

It is felt that having the committees shared equally among the PDP and the APC is in compliance with Order 3 (4) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended.

The law states that “The appointment of Senators as chairmen and members of committees shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the six geo-political zones of the country and there shall be no predominance of senators from a few geopolitical zones” The committees to be constituted in line with Standing Orders 2015 as amended. include; Committee on Selection, Committee on Rules and Business; Senate Services; Public Accounts Committee and Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

SERAP sues JAMB, UNILAG over admission cut-off marks

By By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—AS controversies rage over the conduct of post joint admission matriculation examination methods adopted by federal Universities in Nigeria, a civil society group, SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB and the University of Lagos to check its alleged outrageous cutoff marks decisions.

SERAP is praying the court to stop JAMB, UNILAG and others from implementing the admission process decision in the motion it instituted before a Federal High Court siting in Lagos.

SERAP and three students affected by the admission cut-off marks decision are contending that “the provisions of Section 5(1)(c)(iii) of the JAMB Act” provides that the preferences of candidates in terms of the university they choose to attend are sacrosanct.

Other applicants in the suit are: Adeola Hammed Ayobami; Abass Ololade; and Abass Ajibola. The Respondents in the suit apart from JAMB and UNILAG are: the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

They said: “The letter and spirit of the provisions is to ensure that a contrary or adverse decision by

individual university cannot override decision made pursuant to the provisions of Section (5)1)(c)(iii).”

The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that the decision by the Respondents to increase the cut-off point to 250 after stating publicly that it would be 180 interferes with the choices and preferences of the 2nd-4th Applicants and several other candidates across the country, therefore directly violates Section

5(1)(c)(iii) of the JAMB Act Cap 193 of the Laws of the Federation.

They also prayed the court to declare that the cut-off point of 180 set by the 1st Respondent (JAMB) cannot be varied by any university in the country including the 4th Respondent (UNILAG) herein as to do so would offend the provisions of Section 5(1)(c)(iii) of the JAMB Act Cap 193 of the Laws of the Federation.

Beside they sought for a

declaration that the decision by the Respondents to increase the cut-off point to 250 after stating publicly that it would be 180, “interferes with the choices and preferences of the 2nd-4th Applicants and several other candidates across the country and therefore directly violates Sections 34 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which respectively guarantee to everyone the right to the dignity of human person and the right to receive and impact ideas.”

FLIGHT OPERATIONS: Head, Flight Operations, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, Capt. Samuel Asare, Accountable Manager, Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, and Aviation Safety Inspector, GCAA, Mrs. Dorothy Tackie, during the validation of Foreign AOC inspection of Dana Air by GCAA in preparation for the commencement of Dana’s regional flight operations to Accra, Ghana, at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday .

$1.5 BN PETROCHEMICAL PLANT: Gov Udom Emmanuel

commends Jim Ovia U YO—GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has commended the initiative of Mr. Jim Ovia, the Chairman of Quantum Petrochemicals Company Limited for establishing a $1.5 billion methanol plant in Ibeno local government area of the state.

Governor Udom Emmanuel, who addressed newsmen in Uyo, said: “We want to thank Mr. Ovia, the Chairman of Quantum Petrochemicals Limited for making this huge investment in our state. When completed, this plant will generate employment opportunity for thousands of our people and help in the industrialization drive of my administration.

“Mr. Ovia is a man of impeccable character, who believes in the endless possibilities of this nation to rise to the dreams of our founding father as a prosperous nation with opportunity for growth and advancement open to all who

dream and aspire. We are honoured to have him invest in our state.”

He also said that the state government had put everything in place for the take-off of the plant. “We have done the environmental impact assessment, the Certificate of Occupancy (Cof-O) has been issued and site has been cleared and ready for work to start. Once the gas purchase agreement with

Exxon Mobile is finalized, work will commence immediately,” he said.

It will be recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had on August 14 last year, performed the ground breaking ceremony in Ibeno for the construction of $1.5 billion petrochemical and gas plant.

At the event, Mr. Ovia who spoke on the effect the plant would have in the state and

the nation in general said: “Petrochemicals are vital to our everyday life- the plastic bottles that allow us to drink sanitary water, the clothes that we wear, the fertilizer that are used to grow crops, the tyres on our cars that brought us here today, the shovel that we will use to break the ground today; the pharmaceuticals we take every day to enjoy a healthy life, are all derivatives of the petrochemicals of some form.”

AMCON to publish list of loan defaulters

By Ahmed Ibrahim with Agency reports

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AGOS—The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, in line with Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directive has vowed to publish the names of banks’ loans defaulters if the loans remained unpaid.

In a statement released on Monday by AMCON’s management, it warned that if the loans remained unpaid, it will take steps to recover the

debts including by legal means, while warning debtors not to assume it will forgive their indebtedness.

It will be recalled that the CBN, in April directed banks to give bad debtors three months to pay their debts, otherwise they would be named in the media and barred from taking part in Nigerian currency and government debt markets. It also asked bad debtors to present restructuring plans.

AMCON was set up in 2010 to absorb non-performing loans in exchange for government bonds, after the Central Bank injected $4 billion to rescue nine banks from collapse six years ago.

The Central Bank has since set an upper limit of five per cent for non-performing loan ratio for the industry. Before the 2009 bailout, nonperforming loans ratio stood in double digits.

StarTimes boss to talk digital migration in Nigeria

By Prince Osuagwu

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AGOS—AHEAD of its five years in Nigeria, President of Digital television service provider, StarTimes Group, Mr. Pang XinXing, is billed to arrive the country this week to participate in the interactive public discourse to further enlighten Nigerians on the subject of digital migration The digital broadcast service provider will be celebrating what it regarded as five successful years of delighting Nigerian households with quality and affordable Pay TV offerings on the July 30, 2015 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Thebrandbeganfulloperation in Nigeria in 2010 and says since then, it has kept growing stronger and bigger with subscribers rising from zero to millions.

EKPAN COMMUNITY:

Allegations against Delta SSG untrue —IFFIE

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KPAN—FORMER Community Laison Officer, CLO, in the Ekpan Community of Delta State, Chief Napoleon Iffie has described as untrue, the allegation of partisanship leveled against the Secretary to the Delta State Government, SSG, by the Unuevworo of Ekpan, Chief Newton Agbofodoh.

Reacting to a recent media report, Iffie alleged that the report was designed by Agbafodoh to undermine, constituted authorities, adding that it emerged because Agbafodoh constantly arrogates to himself, the sole voice to be heard in Ekpan Community.

The former CLO traced the CLO crisis in Ekpan Community to 2011, when he (Iffie) was made CLO to Julius Berger Plc, pointing that some people were pissed by his appointment then.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015—55

FAAN defends concessioning of airport facilities

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HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday said its concession of protocol and passenger assistance services at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to a private company will increase the revenue generation of the organisation.

The authority said with the move, it expected monthly revenue to rise from the present N6 million to N9 million. Meanwhile, the private company, Thales Global Solutions, has commenced talks with the management of FAAN on take over process.

The company had two weeks ago held a meeting with the management of FAAN, where it proposed how it intended to manage the protocol and passenger assistance services from the international wing of the airport and the General Aviation Terminal, GAT. This is just as it was gathered that those working against the decision are workers, who are not comfortable with the decision, which will is expected to stop fraud.

Adesina, Wada, Kwankwaso, others for HOG awards

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HE new President of African Development Bank, AfDB, and former Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso will be honoured at the fifth edition of Hall of Grace, HOG, award next month in Lagos.

Managing Custodian of HOG, Mr. Rupert Ojenuwa, said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, special guest of honour, would deliver a paper on Growing Nigeria’s Democracy: Our Collective Responsibility, while Mrs. Wilma Aguele, MD/CEO of Wilbahi, would also give a lecture on Maximazing Potentials in Agricultural Sector.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Pastor Ituah Igodalo, Yaw, among others, will also be honoured.

Man, 38, defiles 2-yr-old girl

By Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—A 38-year-old man, identified as Kehinde Layode, was yesterday remanded in prison custody by an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defiling a two-yearold girl.

The defendant was remanded by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye after he was arraigned on a one-count charge of rape and defilement.

According to the prosecution, the offence contradicts Section 258 of the Criminal Act Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Mr. Akin George, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that the suspect defiled

the infant on January 12, 2013, at 22 Bakare Street, Igando area of Lagos State.

The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

Mrs. Mercy Ofaghae, the victim’s mother, told the court that the accused was a close neighbour.

She said: “The incident happened on January 12, three weeks after my husband travelled abroad.

“My daughter was having a temperature, so I called my neighbour and friend, Mrs. Layode, wife of the accused, who brought paracetamol for the girl and advised me to bathe her.”

She said the drug did not

work, so she left to buy another, while the suspect’s wife left for the salon. On getting back, she said it took about an hour before he opened the door, saying he was taking his bath.

She said on getting home, she took off her child’s clothes to bath her and discovered sperm in her pants. She raised alarm and neighbours gathered.

She said doctors confirmed the child had been defiled.

The accused was granted N250,000 bail and was walking about freely when the matter was first taken to the family court. But yesterday, the judge ordered that he be remanded.

SANITATION: From left— Engr. Hakeem Ogunbambi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment; Engr. Ayodeji Adenekan, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services; Dr. Idiat Adebule, Lagos State Deputy Governor, and Mrs. Folashade Jaji, Head of Service, monitoring the monthly environmental sanitation at Ojo, Lagos State.

Beggars to el-Rufai: Reverse ban

or we 'll bring down your govt

By Luka Binniyat

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ADUNA—BEGGARS in Kaduna State, yesterday, said they used proceeds from begging to help make Nasir el-Rufai governor, and promised to bring down his government should he insist on stopping their means of livelihood without providing them any alternative.

The beggars, who addressed the press in Kaduna through the leadership of Kaduna State Beggars Association, said if they knew that el-Rufai would stop them from begging and

not care about their welfare afterwards, they would never have voted for him.

Mallam Yahaya Makaho, a visually-challenged person who spoke on behalf of the group, said: “I want to swear on my honour that I personally used my proceeds from begging to canvass support for el-Rufai.

“I used my money to mobilise for his support both on the streets and where I usually teach my students.

And I am not alone in my group that made that sacrifice.

“We decided to support el-

Badaru launches goat farming loan scheme for Jigawa widows

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UTSE—GOVERNOR Muhammed Badaru of Jigawa State has launched a goat breeding and rearing micro-credit programme for widows in Gwaram Local Government.

In a statement by the Special Assistant on a Media

to the Governor, Alhaji Bello Zaki in Dutse, he said the scheme would provide three goats, including a male and two female per widow, while 20 people would benefit from each of the 287 wards in the 27 local government areas of the state.

Rufai because we were tired of his predecessor, who was not interested in our survival.

“It would appear that we made a mistake. The new governor wants to bring us down. He does not want us to live. He has chased us off the streets and has made no alternative arrangement for our survival.

“Some of us here have between three and four wives and many children.

“We are asking the governor to rescind this decision now or find ways to meet our basic needs. If he refuses to heed this demand, we shall make sure we bring down his government.

“We are not going to pray that he dies, even if he wishes us so. We are not going to say that he should be impeached, because we voted him to power.

“What we will do is to hand him over to the Almighty God, and we know He will remove him. We are servants of God, and He always hears our cry.”

Families of slain Kaduna policemen get N300,000

By Agaju Madugba

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A D U N A — OPERATION Yaki, Kaduna State security outfit, has given N100,000 each to families of three policemen who died in the line of duty.

Inspectors Israel Obey, Solomon Garba and Aminu Mohammed were crushed to death by a trailer while on duty at Kaduna Trade Fair complex during the APC governorship primaries in November 2014.

Making the cash presentation to the next of kin of the deceased at a ceremony in Kaduna yesterday, Coordinator of Operation Yaki, Col. Yakubu Yusuf (retd.), explained that the money was part of measures to cushion the effects for the families who lost their bread winners.

According to Yusuf, the families will also benefit from life insurance entitlements which the next of kins are expected to redeem.

Late Inspector Israel Obey had his wife, Deborah, as next of kin, Aminu Mohammed had his son, Yusuf, as next of kin, while Solomon Garba picked his daughter, Deborah.

Topleaders holds lecture

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I G E R I A N To p l e a d e r s International Magazine will hold its annual lecture and award in October in Abuja.

In a statement in Lagos, the quarterly magazine which will celebrate its 10th Year Anniversary in Abuja, Director of Public Communications, Mrs. Mercy Ajayi, said that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State would deliver a lecture on Good Governance, Antidote to Sustainable Democracy, Accountability and Transparency.

The statement said the Chairman of the occasion is His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Audu Nizazo III, Etsu Kwali, FCT, to be supported by Dr. Lambert Badiri, a prominent Niger Delta business mogul.

56 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Mexico’s search for missing students finds 129 other bodies T

HE search for 43 miss ing college students in the southern state of Guerrero has turned up at least 60 clandestine graves and 129 bodies over several months, Mexico’s attorney general’s office said.

None of the remains has been connected to the youths, who disappeared after a clash with police in the city of Iguala on Sept.

26, and authorities do not believe any will be.

Prosecutors say the students were turned over to a drug gang that killed them and incinerated their bodies. That investigation has resulted in six confirmed deaths in Iguala, a municipality of 120,000 people 200 kilometers (160 miles) south of Mexico City.

The case has focused attention on the huge number of people who have gone missing in Guerrero and other Mexican states where drug violence is widespread.

The number of bodies and graves found from October to May could possibly be higher than in its report, the attorney general’s office said, because its response to a freedom-of-information request from The Associated Press covers only those instances in which its mass grave specialists became involved.

More than 20,000 people are listed as missing across Mexico, and there are many declared to have “disappeared’’ in

A child stands before a memorial made up of empty chairs bearing images of 43 missing students, set up to mark the nine-month anniversary of their disappearance, in Mexico City, yesterday.

Guerrero, a state that is a major opium producer and the battleground among several cartels warring over territory and drug-smuggling routes. The government has said there is no evidence the 43 students were involved in the drug

trade and that they were mistaken for a rival gang.

Many people are questioning the government’s version of what happened to the students, including parents and the National Human Rights Commission, which last week is-

Amnesty under attack over sex work policy

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NE of the world’s leading humanrights organizations has come under fire for its proposal to oppose criminalizing the buying or selling of sex between consenting adults.

Amnesty International says its proposed policy “is based on the human rights principle that consensual sexual conduct between adults—which

excludes acts that involve coercion, deception, threats, or violence—is entitled to protection from state interference”.

It cites many examples in which criminalization increases risks to sex workers. They include two studies that showed “most instances of harassment, assault, rape, kidnapping, and murder of street-based sex workers in Vancouver

US: Millions exploited by vast fortunes of human trafficking

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HE U.S. State Depart ment says widespread human trafficking is helping fuel vast fortunes on the world economy, leaving millions of people exploited by unscrupulous labor overseers and sex traders “in virtually every country of the world.”

In its annual human rights report, the State Department called the exploitation “modern slavery,” brutalizing girls and women into prostitution and forcing men, women and children into lowwage jobs across the globe, if they are even paid at all for their work.

“Human trafficking has no boundaries and respects no laws,” the report said. “It exists in formal

sued a report outlining at least 30 omissions in the investigation that would help determine the youths’ fate. Some were very basic investigation procedures that were never performed.

and informal labor markets of both lawful and illicit industries, affecting skilled and unskilled workers from a spectrum of educational backgrounds.”

Speaking shortly after

the release of the report, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said: “Traffickers are both ruthless and relentless....Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable.”

and New York City were not reported to police”.

“This policy does not change Amnesty International’s longstanding position that trafficking into forced prostitution should be criminalised as a matter of international law,” the proposed policy states.

“Amnesty International considers children involved in commercial sex acts to be victims of sexual exploitation, entitled to support, reparations, and remedies, in line with international human rights law.”

The organization’s response to the purchase and sale of consensual adult sex has prompted a letter of protest from more than 400 groups and individuals.

Ex-president known as father of Indian missile program dies

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ORMER Indian President A.P.J. Kalam, who was known as the father of the country ’s military missile program, died Monday after collapsing while delivering a lecture, a top state official said. He was 83.

President from 2002-2007, Kalam was a scientist and science administrator for four decades before that,

mainly at the state-run Defense Research and Development Organization and the Indian Space Research Organization. He played a key organizational and technical role in India’s nuclear programme.

Kalam fell sick Monday while addressing the students of the Indian Institute of Management in

the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong, said B. Warjri, chief secretary of the state. He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead after doctors could not revive him, Warjri said.

The federal government would declare national mourning for seven days for him, said federal Home Secretary L.C. Goyal.

US, Turkey Work to Clear Islamic State from Northern Syria

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HE U.S. said Monday it is working with Turkey on an attack plan to clear Islamic State insurgents from northern Syria, a campaign that would escalate Ankara’s involvement in the fight against militants in the region.

A U.S. official told news agencies that the goal is to create an “Islamic State-free zone” to “ensure greater security along Turkey ’s border with Syria.” But the official said the joint U.S.-Turkey military operation would not include the imposition of a no-fly zone in the region, a longstanding Turkish demand.

The U.S. fears that creation of a no-fly zone to halt Syrian government air raids in the region would draw American forces further into the four-year fight several groups are waging to overthrow Syrian President Bashar alAssad.

After months of reluctance, Turkey last week launched attacks on militant targets across its border into Syria after a suicide attack in Turkey killed 32 people and a car bomb two Turkish soldiers.

Ankara also agreed for the first time to let the U.S. use its Incirlik air base for airstrikes on the insurgents, sharply cutting the distance for U.S. fighter jets that had been traveling from Iraqi air fields for attacks on Islamic State targets in northern Syria.

However, Turkey’s aerial attack to push Islamic State fighters out of its long boundary with Syria is likely to complicate fighting on the ground, where Syrian Kurds are among the most effective forces battling extremists in Syria and Iraq. But Ankara fears they could boost a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey.

21 killed at Afghan wedding

A

shootout at a wed ding late Sunday in northern Afghanistan’s Baghlan province left 21 people dead and several wounded.

“The clash broke out after a relative of a provincial police official was assassinated during the wedding party,” Colonel Gulistan Qasani, the police chief of Dih Salah, told the Associated Press.

The police chief said hostilities between the two groups involved in the gunfight had been

simmering for many years.

Qasani estimated 400 people had come to a private home for the wedding festivities.

Officials said most of the dead were wedding guests between the ages of 14 to 60.

Authorities said the bride and groom were safe.

Lavish weddings have become common since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, in contrast with the Taliban’s time in power, when musical revelry and dancing were banned.

At least 100 Afghan police defect to Taliban

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T least 100 Afghan police and border officers have defected to the Taliban in the largest mass surrender since the United States and NATO forces ended their combat mission at the end of last year.

The Afghan security forces surrendered late Saturday after clashing with Taliban fighters for three days at the Tirgaran base in Badakhshan province, in the remote northeastern part of the country.

The local police commander was among those who defected, turning over the base’s weapons and ammuni-

tion.

The head of the provincial council, Abdullah Naji Nazari, said, “No reinforcements were sent to help the police at the base for the past three days when they were under the attack and finally they had no option: They had to join the Taliban.”

About 20 Taliban fighters and 10 government security personnel were killed in the fighting.

The defections underlined the challenges facing the Afghan security forces, whose casualties have risen in the face of increased insurgent attacks.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 57

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

• UNILAG-protest

JAMB: Controversy trails UNILAG’s cut off mark

By Dayo Adesulu & Ikenna Asomba

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TTEMPTS by authorities of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, and the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, JAMB, to change the official cut-off point of JAMB from between 180 and 200 to 250 was greeted with protests by some candidates billed to participate in the school’s 2015/2016 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (postUTME).

According to UNILAG management, registration for the screening will hold between July 21 and August 7, even as the screening test will hold between August 12 and 13.

Vanguard gathered that some candidates who were accompanied to the university to register for the screening, were shocked to learn that the cut-off point usually placed at 200 over the years was increased to 250.

This irked the aggrieved candidates and their parents as they embarked on a peaceful protest in front of the university’s main gate.

The protesters were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “Go back to

the JAMB 180 cut-off mark,” “We insist that the 250 cut-off mark is unacceptable,” “Our children must not be disqualified from participating in the post-UTME screening,” among others.

However, the Registrar of UNILAG, Dr Taiwo Ipaye, said that of the 32, 000 candidates that applied for admission into the university, only 9,000 were eligible for screening.

Some parents who brought their wards to the campus for the post-UTME registration, expressed disappointment over their children’s exclusion from JAMB’s list of shortlisted candidates.

Shortlisted candidates Vanguard gathered that the decision to increase the cut-off point to 250, especially in federal universities, considered as most sought after by candidates, was to reduce the army of candidates who chose them as their most preferred institution during the last UTME screening test.

Aside from UNILAG, other federal universities said to have increased their cut-off point from 200 to 250 are Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Osun

State, University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, University of Illorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, and University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Enugu State.

But when contacted by Vanguard, Vice Chancellor, UI, Professor Isaac Adewole, said: “Our JAMB cut-off point to qualify candidates for post-UTME in University of Ibadan is still 200.

We will use that in conjunction with the post-UTME scores of candidates to give them admission into our school.”

Parents kick: Reacting, one of the parents, Dr. Ben Emone,

If there was to be any change, we should have been sensitized well ahead of time, and not just waking up one morning to change the rule of the game. All I am saying is that my son must write this post- UTME or nobody will

expressed dissatisfaction at the sudden change in procedure by the university and JAMB, noting that though his son made UNILAG his first choice, and scored 260 in the UTME, he noted that the tradition of the university had been to peg its cut-off mark at 200.

He said: “I will not take this whole thing they are trying to explain because my son passed the UTME convincingly. ‘’If there was to be any change, we should have been sensitized well ahead of time, and not just waking up one morning to change the rule of the game. All I am saying is that my son must write this post- UTME or nobody will.”

Also speaking, President, Association of Tutorial School Operators, ATSO, Dotun Sodunke, blamed the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, for the alleged sudden change in cutoff for five federal schools, adding that it was insensitive to the plights of parents and their children.

Sodunke said that the JAMB registrar was wrong to have introduced such last minute decision after he had announced to the public that the cut-off mark for admissions into the universities was 180.

He said the issues would have turned out differently if the registrar had gone an extra mile to carry the general public along in board’s policy making.

The ATSO President said: “I think Prof. Ojerinde has some questions to answer on this whole issue. There must be something he is not telling the public. ‘’Ojerinde must stop running JAMB as if it is his personal business empire. How can Ojerinde impose such high and unacceptable cutoff marks for five notable public universities in Nigeria under the guise of catchment, to qualify for post UTME, and you expect us not to protest?

“The worst case scenario, at least, ought to have been the normal 200 marks and above which universities like UNILAG and others were known for. If there must be anything new, it should be introduced next year after due consultations with all critical stakeholders, and get the public adequately sensitised. ‘’ For now, all we want is for all the candidates who have the cutoff mark of 200 and above to be allowed to sit for the post-UTME. “Failure to do this, we shall take our protest to Ikorodu expressway tomorrow (today) and barricade the highway. After that, we shall also shut-down the road leading into Lagos Island on Friday. Also, we shall go to court over this sudden inhuman policy,” Sodunke threatened.

The controversial new policy Meanwhile, it will be recalled that Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, had announced the adoption of a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Matriculation Examinations, UTME, are reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates than their capacities.

The decision for the new policy was taking during its 2015 combined policy meeting, held on July 14 in Abuja.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, who explained the benefit of the new policy, said: “The policy will help needy universities with lower number of candidates than their capacities have more candidates to admit.

“It will assist JAMB candidates have better chances for admission in the universities they are reassigned to, contrary to situations where they would await admission in the universities of their first choices until the admission closes. They usually end up forfeiting admission in that session.”

VI

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 59

When CCECC workers went on rampage

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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NTIL last week, many youths in Lagos were desirous of working with the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation, CCECC, considering the multibillion naira contracts awarded to them by the Federal and state governments.

But the demonstrations by staff and casual workers of the construction corporation last week, exposed the alleged unconditional retrenchment of 500 workers and maltreatment melted to the workers by their employer.

The protest train which halted activities in the state started from the office of the construction company at the construction site at Majidun, Ikorodu on May 07, 2015.

Not satisfied by the response given by the officer at Majidun yard, the workers again hit the street in a renewed vigour protesting to the Headquarters of the construction company in Orile-Iganmu.

While the workers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja downed tool, refusing to continue work for their Chinese employer, rather staged a protest to alert Nigerian of their plight.

Another major construction work affected by the striking workers was the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which was been expanded into 10-lanes and the Blue Line of the Light rail. Also affected was the finishing touches on the expanded Ikorodu road awarded at N29 billion to CCECC.

Construction company At the head office of the construction company, the protesters barricaded the entrance of the company located within the National Theatre to protest their sack by the CCECC management.

They alleged that the Corporation was about unburdening them to a sister Chinese company, China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) without paying necessary workers packages to the new company.

They argued that CCECC has systemically laid off over 3,000 workers on flimsy excuses.

Mr. Simon Uje, one of the workers said that they were aggrieved for been sacked without notice by the company.

According to him, “Today we resumed for duty only to be told that our services are no longer needed.

“A worker will resume and work by 8 a.m. and close at 12 p.m. and the person will be sacked without pay and no prior information. This is sad,” Uje said.

•CCECC protest Another worker, Mr Rufus Adebayo said that they worked every day for a month without an off day and received between N30,000 and N35,000.

He added “The workers have no free day. Some of us have worked with the company for four to five years but there is no condition of service and no letter of appointment.

Another, Mr Bello Yusuf, said that the workers do not have basic welfare package such as a health scheme to protect them because

of the hazards of the job.

Yusuf said that monthly, N600 was being deducted from their salary as union due, but the workers’ rights are not well represented.

Effort by the protesters to get the attention of the management proved abortive. Due to this, the protesters defied the scorching Sun, and stormed the Office of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode but he had left for Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT for a meeting with

the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The workers, in a protest letter

A worker will resume and work by 8 a.m. and close at 12 p.m. and the person will be sacked without pay and no prior information. This is sad

to the governor lamented that larger percent of them had been employed by the company for the past five years but were laid off without any form of payment.

Govt reacts Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos Governor, Olukunle Ojo said the state government would call the protesters for a meeting next week, assuring that their entitlement would surely be paid.

Ik or odu 2.5 acres of land: Our case, b ed family Ikor orodu byy af afffect ected

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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EACTING to the order of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode directing the take over of over 250 acres of land in Gberigbe area of Ikorodu, the affected family, Oyega and Oyegbemiga of Gbodo Village, at the weekend declared that they are the customary and legal owners of the more than 250 acres land in dispute.

The family lawyer, Mr. Tunji Busari, debunked the allegation that those in possession of the disputed land are “land grabbers”, adding that Oyega and Oyegbemiga Family is the ancestral owners of the parcel.

Governor Ambode had ordered the Lagos State Task force on Environment and Special Offence unit to recover the 250 acres of land allegedly taken over by a notorious land grabber .

The governor said the land was given to Shoreman Agro for farming in the early 80’s by the State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative to encourage farming and boost food production in the state alleging that it was violently taken over by one Lamina popularly called Sir Kay, who was accused of selling the land after pulling down over 12,000 palm trees in the farm.

The family, in a petition dated July 22, noted that the Oyega and Oyegbemiga Family is the ancestral owner of the parcel of the said land.

According to the petition, the lawyer said the family had been enjoying undisputed ownership of the land for

some years now.

He said; “The family ownership was further affirmed by the Supreme Court judgement No. SC/83/1971 stemming from the judgement of a High Court of Lagos State in Suit No. Ik/1A/ 68 between Aina Oga and others and Oyega and Oyegbemiga family and that the family have been enjoying ownership without objection from any quarters and the family which it did to the exclusion of any other family nor government interference.

“To our clients surprise, despite the Supreme Court judgement and the survey plan duly lodged with the Lagos State Government, our client on Wednesday, July, 22nd 2015 read in the media that the Lagos State Government intends to recover our client’s land despite the said

It is noteworthy that there was never a time the land under reference was given to any family by our client through the Ministry of Agriculture and if there is any such development, our client demands for relevant document perfecting such transactions in the face of the Supreme Court Judgement

Supreme Court judgement and adjudging our clients as land grabbers.

“It is noteworthy that there was never a time the land under reference was given to any family by our client through the Ministry of Agriculture and if there is any such development, our client demands for relevant document perfecting such transactions in the face of the Supreme Court Judgement. There was never a time the Ministry of Agriculture challenged either our client or any other family aside Aina Oga & Ors. who lost gallantly in the Supreme Court to Oyega and Oyegbemiga Family.”

The lawyer claimed that the land had been developed by the individuals who purchased from the family and it is the Lagos State Government that issued Certificate of Occupancy and individual survey to such individuals.

He therefore cautioned that the Governor should not be deceived by those he referred to as “people with ulterior motive,” adding that the Governor and the Taskforce should know that this is the democratic dispensation and should avoid being used by the individuals. Therefore, we categorically state that Oyega and Oyegbemiga Descendant Family are not land grabbers but indigenous members of Lagos State under the leadership mantle of Governor Akinwuni Ambode.

Busari claimed the family “have various documents to back their claims whenever the need arises and whenever they are called upon to showcase such document to prove their genuine claims as beneficial owner of the said land before appropriate authority any time.

60— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Govt halts construction of mega petrol station in Aba

By Eric Ugbor

APGA cautions Abia govt over N30bn loan

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—ALL Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Abia State chapter, has cautioned the state government against

taking a proposed N30 billion from a commercial bank, saying the loan was sought in bad fate.

In a statement by the party’s state publicity secretary, Madu Chikwendu , APGA said it was giving the caution because the

loan if obtained would endanger the socio-political and economic well-being of the state.

Abia State House of Assembly, last week, passed a resolution authorizing the state government to obtain a loan of N30 billion from

A

BA—THE Special Adviser to the Abia state Governor on Aba Urban Renewal, Dr Solomon Ogunji has halted the construction of a mega patrol station on Elizabeth Avenue in Aba GRA. Ogunji who spoke with newsmen at the site during an inspection of the site said the building was contravening the building code of the state.

“We are going to break down the house because it is built in such a place where it will discharge water into another compound. As I am talking to you now, the building is sealed. I expect them to come to my office to show the plan of the building and who authorized them to build it there.

“I came here for a problem but while inspecting the site, I discovered that another problem had developed.

The structure in question is not well placed and it is too close to the other house. Moreover, I found that the building under construction is to house a gas plant and mega petrol station in the centre of Aba. So,I asked them to stop work immediately”, he said.

The structure was found to have truly defied building code in Abia state, It would be brought down by next week.

From left,, Rev. Wilson Badejo, fromer General Overseer, Foursquare Church; Dr Osaren Emokpae, Chairman, Havilah Open Door Limited; Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Managing Director, LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, and Air Vice Marshal Joe Ehigie, (retd), Chairman of the Ocassion, during the 15th Anniversary and Lecture of Havilah Open Door Limited, at Renaissance Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, last Friday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

O

N I T S H A — AUTHORITIES of Labour Party, LP, in Anambra state have enjoined Governor Willie Obiano to make judicious use of the N75 billion he allegedly inherited as cash and investments from his predecessor, former Governor Peter Obi by fixing dilapidating infrastructures in the state, particularly at this heart of rainy season.

State Chairman of the party, Chief Luke Ezeanokwasa, who made the call in a statement issued, yesterday, in Awka, said they were aware that Obi left N75 billion in cash and investments at the state coffers before he handed over the mantle of leadership to Obiano, yet gully erosions and floods are threatening buildings

Assembly failed to adhere to laid down legislative process and procedure.

While advising the state government to first of all prudently utilize her statutory allocation and Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, to improve the lots of the people, APGA questioned the rationale in obtaining further loan when the state was already indebted to financial institutions.

According to the party: “The move to borrow from the bank is suspicious, considering the fact that government just announced a grant of $200 million from the African Development Bank, ADB. “It sounds very laughable for the government to anchor its wouldbe source of loan repayment on IGR from Aba when touts are still in charge of revenue collection, coupled with the stagnation of the economy of the city caused by the PDP government.”

The party warned that if government refuses to retrace her steps with regard to the loan, it would take decisive measures within the ambit of the law to protect the interest of the people of the state.

PDP senators discard ranking to endorse Akpabio as their leader •Ogor's House Leader

By Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Joseph Erunke & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

LL BUT one of the 17 South-South senators who belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, endorsed Senator Godswil Akpabio, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State as the next Minority Leader of the Senate.

The enthronement of Senator

Akpabio was despite the Senate ranking rule that relegated Akpabio a first term senator from the elevated position.

The South-South caucus of the House, however, stuck to the ranking tradition and elected Rep. Leo Ogor, the ranking member from the zone as the Minority Leader of the House, which was also zoned to the South-South zone.

Order 2 of the Senate Standing Orders stipulates that in the election of presiding and other

Anambra Labour Party advises Obiano on Obi’s N75bn savings

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

a commercial bank which they said, would fast-track development of the state.

APGA said that the intent and strategy for seeking the loan was highly questionable and antipeople as the State House of

in various parts of the state, to the extent that many no longer drive into their compounds as roads have become impassable.

According to Ezeanokwasa: “As a party whose mandate lies with the ordinary masses of our country and in particular Anambra state which is the exact jurisdiction of my stewardship, even the popular Keke NAPEP and commercial motorcycles no longer ply many roads and those who have vehicles have parked them and resorted to trekking to the nearest safe places to board vehicles to their various destinations any time they want to go out.”

He mentioned some of the streets mostly affected by the flood as Rebecca Nwobu, Evans Ebbe Close, Comrade Obi Ochije Close and Annunciation Road all in Awka , adding, “some operators of shopping mauls in the areas

have abandoned them because they need boat to ferry across once it rains and flood often enter their shops destroying their goods.

“The government of Anambra State should as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the residents of the state, through the Ministry of Environment. Our party frowns that after increased illegal and multiple taxes orchestrated by agents masquerading as government revenue collectors in various parts of the state, the government in the state could not clean the perennial drainage channels and construct new ones in places where they are needed to avert flooding problem.”

But in a reaction, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Uju Nworgu told newsmen on phone that all the allegations against the state government were false.

officers ranking shall be determined in the following order: (i) Senators returning based on number of times reelected; (ii) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; (iii) Senators elected as Senators for the first time.”

Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that the election of Akpabio was upon intensive lobbying of SouthSouth senators in the last two weeks.

The final deal to endorse Akpabio was said to have been sealed at a meeting of the South East caucus of the Senate at the home of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday.

It was understood that the enlarged PDP Senate caucus was billed to meet later yesterday night to ratify the entire Minority positions.

A source told Vanguard that Akpabio got the position because of his last position as the immediate past Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and he was seen as a veritable personality that can lead the party’s revival.

Two ranking senators from the South-South, Senators James Manager and George Thompson Sekibo had to step aside for Akpabio to be named.

It was learnt that Manager was persuaded to step aside by the PDP on the fact that Ogor from his senatorial district was set to emerge the House Minority Leader.

It was also gathered that Senator Philip Aduda, PDP, FCT

would be announced as the Senate Minority Whip; Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Taraba South was also being earmarked for the position of Senate Deputy Minority Leader and Senator Biodun Olujinmi, Ekiti South as Deputy Minority Whip.

Others nominated for the other principal offices in the House, yesterday, were Rep. Yakubu Umar Barde from Kaduna State as Minority Whip, Rep. Binta Bello from Gombe State as Deputy Minority Whip, while Rep. Chukwuka Onyema from Anambra State is projected to be Deputy Minority Whip.

Vanguard gathered that the principal officers, who are all of the PDP, were announced by the chairman of the PDP media and public affairs committee, Rep Rima Shawulu (PDP, Taraba) after a marathon meeting at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

The meeting, which began, yesterday afternoon, ended at about 6.30p.m.

A lawmaker, who was at the meeting, and spoke under the condition of anonymity, said “though we had our election some weeks past, the principal officers were confirmed today (yesterday) and they were officially announced by Rep. Rima Shawulu.

“We are, therefore, appealing to the APC to put its House in order so that full legislative activities will kick off in the House,” the member stated.

All those appointed minority principal officers were ranking members of the House.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 61

Keshi’s suit: NFF confirms notice

Oliseh picks U-23 stars for Tanzania clash W

IN or lose in Congo on Sunday, several Nigeria U23 stars are already part of the plans of new Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.

The U23 stars include Italy-based Stanley Amuzie, FC Taraba skipper Usman M o h a m m e d , Oghenekaro Etebo from War ri Wolves and Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari.

Left-back Amuzie, who only recently moved to Italian Serie A side Sampdoria, posted an e y e - c a t c h i n g performance when the U23s beat Congo 2-1 in Port Harcourt earlier this month.

He was solid in

defence and showed class going forward to join the attack.

“Even before Amuzie was mentioned to him, Oliseh already has the player on his list,” said a top source.

Usman Mohammed, Etebo and Sokari will most certainly be called to a training camp for home-based stars later in August.

And should they then impress, they will be on the squad for a 2017 AFCON qualifier in Tanzania.

“The home-based Eagles camp in August will afford the players from the league to prove they are good enough for the main Super Eagles squad. Those who prove this will be on the flight to Tanzania,” a top team official revealed.

U-23 star, Oghenekero (l) on Oliseh's radar

Eaglets undergo MRI test

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

S part of efforts to ensure that the national U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets is free of every trace of age falsification and excel at the forthcoming FIFA U17 championship taking place in Chile in October, the Nigeria Football Federation last week

•Amuneke

decided to carry out a mandatory Magnetic resonate Imaging (MRI) test on all the players already in camp.

A reliable source at the federation who pleaded anonymity told Sports Vanguard in Abuja that the decision may not be unconnected to the poor outing of the team at the African version of the tournament which was staged in Niger earlier in the year.

The Emmanuel Amuneke tutored side against all expectations only managed to pick one of the continental tickets to the world cup after the team lost out on the trophy zone. The result had caused a lot of criticism but our source argued that the team did well to qualify for the world cup because the

Oliseh

Continues from BP clarifications saying, “Of course these applies to field players because goalkeepers are a different breed as we call them.”

He continued: “And there could be some exception for players who are excelling in the second division”.

He said the basis for their decision is, “the players in the first division are used to a C M Y K

certain level, tempo and competition standards because of what the first division entails.

“And because of that, we need the best who are already used to playing at this tempo to serve and play for Nigeria.

“Also players that are already in the national fold – from the U-17 to the U-23 are also exempted from the first division rules,” he said.

late MRI test forced many first team players out of the championship.

“The NFF is being proactive this time ahead of the world cup and I think that is the right step to take because unknown to many people, before the last African championship in Niger, the MRI test caught up with most of the players who were in camp and that forced Amuneke to do a fire brigade approach to recruit more player for that championship.

D

OLPHINS Basketball club of Lagos at the weekend, out-dunked the defending champions, First Bank of Lagos 77-72 in the final of the 11th Zenith bank Women Basketball Championship held at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos. The champions carted home the Zenith Bank giant trophy as well as pocketed the N1.2m star prize.

First Bank team, (The Elephant Girls’) that couldn’t withstand the fireworks of the

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed they have received a letter from lawyers of sacked Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi demanding for a billion Naira compensation from the NFF for defamation.

A top NFF official, who did not want his name in print, confirmed to AfricanFootball.com:”We have received the notification.

“But we did not get it directly. We got it from the National Sports Commission.

“I don’t think it’s something we should be discussing, but I can confirm that we have

•Keshi received the letter addressed to us through the National Sports Commission.”

Last week, it was reported that Keshi had dragged the NFF to court for “ wrongful dismissal and defamation”.

Zenith Bank promises better female Basketball League Dolphins Queens got N1M for placing second plus the silver trophy attached.

The third position went to former champions, First Deepwater that out dunked the Police Queens 53-43 in the losers final. The winner of the third place match got N .5m.

Dolphins who are financed by Wale Aboderin also remained undefeated throughout

the championship, starting from the first and second phases held in Abuja and Ilorin.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Peter Amangbo has commended all the teams that took part at this year ’s championship, promising that the 12th edition which comes up next year will be bigger and better this year ’s.

Athletes

Continues from BP Nigeria championships, which begins tomorrow.

Some of the foreign based athletes had made their observations known to the AFN concerning the tracks, which they claimed was difficult to produce a good performance on. But the AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama said the Warri Stadium tracks remain one of the best in the country and the meet, which is a trial selection for the World Championships next month in China and the All Africa Games billed for September in Congo will remain there.

“I am not aware of any

plan to move the trials to Sapele, Warri is still the venue.

“The tracks at the Warri Stadium is one of the best in the country. It is more convenient for us to hold all the events in Warri,” Nesiama.

The athletes worry is down to the fact that the AFN has raised the bar for them. They are required to make the A standard of the world championships to book a place to Beijing. At the Warri Relays most of the athletes failed to hit the mark.

“It was down to jet lag.

We expect them to put up a good performance in the trials,” added Nesiama.

GMD/CEO Zenith Bank, Peter Amangbo (r) President NBBF, Tijani Umar pose with captain of Dolphins Basketball club holding the trophy

Le Roy

Continues from BP RioOlympics.

They are midfielders Philzgérarld Mbaka, Hardy Binguila, Charlevy Mabiala, Yohan Andzouana and Julsy Boukama Kaya and striker SyvèreGanvoulaMboussy.

Attacking midfielder from

French club AJ Auxerre Binguila is already an establishedfullinternationalfor hiscountry.

Congomovedintoatraining campinPointeNoireyesterday.

The game is scheduled for Pointe Noire at 16h30 CAT on Sunday.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

Ramos agrees new Real deal S

ERGIO Ramos’ trans fer to Manchester United could now be off.

The Ramos saga looks set to drag on all summer long, and there is a new twist in the ongoing speculation.

Despite persistent reports linking the Spaniard with a move to Old Trafford, it’s claimed that the centre-back is set to be

offered a new contract by Los Blancos president Florentino Perez.

It’s said that Perez will arrange a meeting and urge the club’s vice-captain to put pen-to-paper on a contract extension at the Santiago Bernabeu.

One way or the other, Ramos certainly looks set for a wage increase in the coming weeks.

PSG deny 120m euro Ronaldo bid

P

•Ramos

Mourinho tips Hazard to succeed Terry as captain J

OSE Mourinho be lieves Eden Hazard has the leadership skills to be a candidate for the Chelsea captaincy in the future.

Hazard has become Chelsea’s biggest star and played a major role in the club winning the Premier League and Capital One Cup last season.

“On the pitch he leads. He is not afraid to take responsibility. He is not afraid to get the team in a dark situation and bring blue sky again for the team. He is not afraid of this.

“He is a guy with great discipline. He is not the kind of guy you see setting bad examples and

so on.

“So I think he can be a leader. His ambition is coming, he is also the vice-captain of the Belgian national team. He is in his fourth season at Chelsea so he didn’t arrive yesterday.

“Eden is coming with big status now and was voted one of the top ten players in Europe last year.

“In my opinion he should be in the top three not in the top ten.

Let’s see what is going to happen but we have these people. But let’s say John and Branislav are our captains and the others are ready to come.”

•Hazard

J

OSEP Maria Bartomeu is confident that Barcelona have what it takes to become the first club in the Champions League era to retain the European cup.

No team since the inception of the Champions League in 1992 has successfully defended the trophy “We know it’s difficult, but we must try to win everything,” he told Barca TV. “We’ve assembled a team capable of winning

N

•Reynar

C M Y K

•Ronaldo

Barca can defend CL —Bartomeu

Neymar: I want to play in Rio Olympics and Copa América EYMAR has declared that he has informed Barcelona of his desire to take part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and in the Copa América Centenario.

“I want to take part in the Olympic Games in Rio and also in the Copa América”, the player declared in an interview with Globo television’s ‘Esporte Espectacular’.

Asked about the Ballon d’Or, Neymar said “To be one of the three best would be something really big. To be with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would be an honour in itself ”

ARIS Saint-Germain have denied “totally false” reports of a €120m bid for Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speculation in the Arabic-speaking media on Sunday claimed that PSG had a world-record offer for the 30-year-old rejected by Los Blancos, but the French giants have since made it clear that no such proposal was delivered to the player’s club.

“It’s totally false,” a PSG spokesperson told Marca.

Despite UEFA lifting the Ligue 1 holders’ Financial Fair Play restrictions, Ronaldo is not understood to be in their transfer plans, with only his former Madrid teammate Angel Di Maria presently on the agenda.

Drogba joins MLS train F

ORMER Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed for Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact.

The 37-year-old left Stamford Bridge this summer after playing

381 games and winning four Premier League titles across two spells with the London club.

Montreal president Joey Saputo said the signing made it “one of the biggest days in club

history. It’s an honour to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact. From the first conversation I had with him, I felt that he really wanted to play in Montreal. His arrival will be beneficial in every aspect.”

six trophies, and I think it’s a goal within our reach.

Hopefully we can defend the Champions League, something that no-one has done. We have a team capable of doing so”.

Szczesny wears Roma's scarf

W

OJCIECH Szczes ny has arrived in style ahead of his loan move from Arsenal to Roma.

Landing at Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino airport the Polish keeper already ingratiated himself to his new supporters, holding up an AS Roma scarf as he left the building, before draping it across his shoulders.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015

All Nigeria championships: Warri stadium worry athletes

Oliseh makes ‘U’ turn •Says 2nd Div goalkeepers, “exceptional players” welcomed to Super Eagles

N

EW Super Eagles coach, Sunday Olisey, has amended his earlier stance that only Nigerians who play in first division clubs will be welcomed to the team.

Lower division goalkeepers will be allowed to play for Nigeria, Oliseh said Monday.

The coach’s remarks at his unveiling that “first division players are the

BY BEN EFE

A

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria has ruled out moving the All Nigeria Championships to Sapele, after athletes groaned over harsh conditions at the Warri Township Stadium track facility venue of the All Continues on Page 61

•Oliseh

C

•Egwero

-- Page 62

weeks ago without these players, but they will now be available for the return leg, which they only need to win 1-0 to advance to the tournament proper, which will serve as qualifier for the 2016

Continues on Page 61

Continues on Page 61

Ramos agrees new Real deal

Le Roy calls 6 pros for Nigeria clash ONGO will now have six foreignbased professionals who were previously not released by their clubs for Sunday ’s crunch CAF U23 Championship qualifier against Nigeria in Pointe Noire.

Congo lost the first leg in Port Harcourt 2-1 two

ones that we find eligible to serve our country” has since been criticised by many who say the policy is not workable in Nigeria’s peculiar circumstances.

In a new video uploaded to YouTube on Monday, Oliseh said the coaching crew believes that only the best is good for the Super Eagles.

But he made further

Keshi's suit: NFF confirms notice -- Page 61 •Le Roy

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Staunch (4) 4 Obscure (3) 6 Pant (4) 9 Illuminated (3) 10 Backed (8) 11 So be it (4) 14 Equality (3) 16 Sordid (5) 19 Liberated (8) 21 Bar (5) 23 Opposition (8) 24 Begin (5) 27 Edge (3) 31 Locate (4) 33 Copied (8) 34 Golf-peg (3) 35 Prophet (4) 36 Untruth (3) 37 Marquee (4)

DOWN 2 Pour (4) 3 Encounter (4) 4 Sick (8) 5 Manufactured (4 6 Clearing (5) 7 Objective (3) 8 Vapour (5) 12 Angry (5) 13 Animal (5) 14 Friend (3) 15 Spree (5) 17 Correct (5) 18 Coupled (5) 20 Precise (8) 22 Tear (3) 25 Commonplace (5) 26 Jockey (5) 28 Tablet (4) 29 Divide (4) 30 Observed (4) 32 Born (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Repeal 5, Torrid 8, Assassin 9, Mean 10, Pep 12, Sober15, Wet 17, Asp 18, Ate 19, Imp 20, Evict 21, Dog 22, Era 23, Egg 24, Ear 26, Raged 29, Err 33, Ogle 34, Permeate 35, Propel 36, Lotion.

DOWN: 2, Ensue 3, Edam 4, Lasso 5, Tense 6, Ramp 7, Irate 10, Price 11, Paper 12, Spear 13, Bring 14, Rated 15, Wedge 16, Tiger 25, Auger 27, Appal 28, Enrol 30, Ratio 31, Seep 32, Test.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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