NNPC not broke, despite huge debts—KACHIKWU

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62502

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

HAJJ STAMPEDE: Nigerian death toll rises to 20; survivor narrates ordeal

NNPC not broke, despite huge debts

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—KACHIKWU

•Loses N200bn from PPMC; N30bn from refineries yearly •Says Corporation also owes $6bn in cash calls •Saving $150m/month from contracts cancellation

By Clara Nwachukwu

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AGOS—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said, weekend, that despite losing N230billion annually from marketing and refining operations, the Corporation was not broke. It also disclosed that it owes over $6billion in cash call arrears.

NNPC insisted that there was no way the Corporation can be broke, given its assets base and equity holding in the petroleum industry.

The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu,

Continues on Page 5

Nigeria deeply divided along religious, ethnic lines —Osinbajo 46

Mr & Mrs

CHECKING OUT—Migrants and refugees, mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone, after being rescued at sea, wait to receive food on the German navy frigate ship Werra, yesterday. Photos: AFP.

COLUMNISTS:

MINISTERS LIST, OTHERS:

If the youth be Waiting for presidency and corrupted, the •P.19 national harmony Buhari’s •P.20 Nation is finished •P.36 ‘noisemakers'

Oyegun summons emergency meeting of APC's NWC 9

Collegiate

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POCKET CARTOON

INDEPENDENCE—From left; Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Tanimu Aduda; former head of the Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan; APC National Chairman, John Oyegun; Speaker, House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo during Independence Anniversary Inter-denominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

NNPC not broke, despite huge debts —KACHIKWU Continues from Page 1 who reassured of the Corporation’s solvency in Lagos, during a question and answer session with journalists, said what was wrong with the establishment was cash flow management.

Specifically, while admitting that the Corporation owes about $6billion in Joint Venture, JV cash call obligations, he also disclosed that NNPC was losing annually over N200 billion through the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC and additional N10billion from each of the nation’s refineries. This brings the yearly losses to more than N230billion.

Kachikwu, who was responding to the constant speculations that NNPC is broke, and as the

main purse of the Federal Government that by extension, Nigeria too is broke, maintained that such assertions are not true.

NNPC not broke

He said: “No, I don’t think we are broke. We can never be broke because our assets base is so strong. You know that about 60 per cent of 1.2million barrels of oil a day, plus another almost 100 per cent ownership of NPDC assets; oil on ground not even allocated and gas resources, we really could never be broke. It is a cash flow issue as opposed to asset resource. We are not broke, we’re going to manage our cash flow better, we are going to see what falls in to enable us

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO HE world is full of super intelligent people who made little or nothing from their lives simply because they lacked belief in themselves. To do, you must believe you can. It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Follow three rules; Respect yourself, Respect others, and take responsibility for your actions— Dalai Lama

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AKING full responsibility for one’s life is the key to living a life of absolute freedom. It means to stop blaming others, the unreasonable demanding employer, ungrateful children, unpredictable weather; irritating spouse, unreliable friend, unreliable government, unfavorable circumstances, and even the feeling that life’s not fair on us.

Blaming everybody else is great until you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. Instead, realize that you are the creator of your own life story.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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YOUNG man expecting a visit from his girlfriend, hears the footsteps of ghosts

to inject money into the economy and do the things that we need to do.

We are going to be more efficient.”

Explaining the pile up of the Joint Venture, JV cash call arrears of about $6billion, Kachikwu said: “The $6billion arose from very many factors; one is for PSCs (Production Sharing Contracts). There you don’t have these issues, but for the JVs, you have them because every year the Assembly comes out and says, you need $4billion and they give you $1.5billion. So the gaps have been accumulating over time and that is the arrears, and when those gaps came, we did not get aggressive with trying to look for alternative funding to cover those gaps.

"At some point we became even so suspicious of these alternative funding. How much are we really making from them? And so they preferred to hold back. But if we were addressing it from year to year, those gaps really shouldn’t be there. What is key is ensuring that whatever it is that you can alternatively fund has a real time value addition to national income stream.

So we are not broke, we are just going to manage our systems better.”

The NNPC boss also said managing the system better characterises the ongoing reform of the Corporation, which is already yielding positive results with huge savings of about $150million monthly through contract cancellations.

Contract cancellations yield $150m

Kachikwu said that the

contract cancellations was not about calling a dog a bad name in order to kill it, but ones that fell short of procedures and did not have the best yield.

According to him, “If a contract does not give a good financial yield for the country and for the company, I cancel it. It is not to say that the individual who is operating that contract is bad. What it simply calls for is you open it up and ask others to give you an alternative.

If an individual comes up and he is the best alternative, so be it.

“So the first bullish effort that we did was to cancel all the former contracts we felt had challenges or issues. That is not to say that the contracting parties were bad. Again, I pay less emphasis on individuals and institutions. I pay more attention on processes and outcomes. It is not for me to say a company is bad or good. I am not a judge.

“If you look at the contracts we have cancelled, we have saved an average of $150 million a month, just that some of those contracts were cancelled and were being given new models, even for the interim period. In December, obviously we are going to have the crude bids. We are going to have the coastal bids.

We are going to have the OPA bids. They will be thrown out to the entire world. Hopefully, we end up with a sequence of results that will only save money, improve efficiency and be seen as transparent.”

Reiterating the essence of systems transparency, Kachikwu noted that NNPC, had hitherto been perceived as being very opaque, and as such needed to do away with such negative perceptions and open up its operations to public scrutiny.

In his opinion, “If NNPC must get back its credibility; it must be on the altar of transparency,” adding, “it is an entitlement of the country.

It is not a privilege for people to know how their oil money is obtained, how contracts are done, how the income is spent.

NNPC, not being a private company, we must be very open.”

PPMC losses

Kachikwu disclosed that to improve systemic efficiency, the PPMC is being unbundled into three companies because as it is, the marketing company records the highest losses in the NNPC system.

According to him: “My greatest loss historical from the system that I have seen is PPMC; we’re losing about

N200+billion a year. So PPMC contributes 87% of my loss factor. So any CEO must sit down and say, if I want to be profitable, all I need to do is to yank off PPMC and say I don’t want that business. But if we sit down with PPMC, we will see that part of what is coming from pipeline vandalism, subsidy, obviously from lack of efficiency, assets that have become dilapidated, all kinds of stuff. But, of the elements is also fraud. No doubt about it.”

Against this background, he continued: “First, you take the pipelines, and like I said, we are creating a pipeline company. It’s going to function like a pipeline ownership company like any other in the world. So it is in their interest to be profitable and to make the pipelines work. While security is a key issue, security is only one of the impediments that we are going to solve.

We will obviously move people to focus on that away from the head office.

“Then you will have a storage company, there are lots of indigenous operators who are doing throughput today, and they survive by their throughput arrangement.

So why should I not run probably one of the depots that is maybe the largest facility in the country profitably? So there is a company that is focusing on that. And if I need to do a joint venture, in terms of having a storage on the deep sea port somewhere, so I don’t have to be lighting vessels and paying demurrage, then I need to do that. Again, the storage company will focus on that.

“Then there is the marketing company, I give you an example, AGO that is produced by one of the refineries was locked up in the refinery for so long because somebody had fixed a price for the AGO during the time when AGO hadn’t become deregulated that was very high.

"So we had a very expensive AGO sitting in the tanks, and people

were bringing AGO cheaper to sell, and we just left it there. I don’t think it requires a Ph.D. in Harvard to know that you need to reduce the price and sell the damn stuff and move on.”

Refining losses

Kachikwu further said that management has also been the biggest problem with the nation’s refineries, as they were not being run as profitable business models but on sentiments, which is resulting in huge losses.

Notwithstanding that the engineers at the refineries are doing a yeoman’s job by running facilities of over 30 years, without proper maintenance and spare parts, which he described as a “ miracle,” the NNPC boss insisted that the refinery models were faulty.

He said: “The reality is, if you give me 450,000 barrels of allocation, the models must be straight forward. I go out and process them and get a better yield and the government makes profit out of that yield and I keep back what I will use to run the refineries. It is a straight forward deal.

“But the model we have been running is you throw in the barrels, either for reasons of pipeline issues or for reasons of aging facilities in the refineries, I throw in a $40 barrel oil and get $50 result. You are dead before you start, because you are already unprofitable.

“As at last Monday, my records showed that we are losing about N10 billion annually for each of those refineries. That is why we need to move from the areas of emotion to the areas of the business.

“Sometimes people say that I am a lot of business, instead of social services, no, not as a Corporation.

The day NNPC is called NNPC Social Services, then I would not have to have this conversation.

But if it is called a Corporation, it means that the country expects them to make a yield, make profit and manage the company profitably so that people can benefit.

6 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

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Festival turns sour at Ikorodu over plumber's death As mob sets cars, building ablaze L

By Bose Adelaja

AGOS—THE annual OjudeOba festival at Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State has turned sour, following last Saturday ’s gruesome murder of a 26-yearold plumber identified as Semiu Sanni, who was stabbed on the occasion.

He later died at about midnight Sunday on the way to Ikorodu General Hospital and his body has been deposited in the morgue.

The incident occurred at about 7.05pm at Omoleye area of Ogijo.

Following his death, the Oluwo of Ogijo, Chief Mufutau Oduntan, and his immediate family members have been displaced as two cars, a building and personal effects belonging to the family had been set ablaze by a mob.

According to eye witnesses’ account, the late Semiu, an alleged cultist, reportedly made love advances at the chief ’s

daughter, which the father did not take kindly to.

Chief Oduntan was said to have warned the deceased to steer clear of his daughter or face his wrath.

An argument was said to have ensued between both parties which also extended to their friends.

While the Ojude-Oba was ongoing, Vanguard gathered that the chief met the deceased’s

father, Mr Sakurai Sanni, popularly called “Arewa’, asking him to stop his son from having an affair with his daughter.

Not quite long after the warning, Semiu was said to have been attacked by members of a rival group who stabbed him severally on the neck after which he was left in the pool of his own blood.

His friends and family members were said to have rushed to his aid by taking him to a private

hospital where he was rejected but died on the way to Ikorodu General Hospital.

It was learned that as soon as theincidentoccurredonSaturday,amob stormed the chief’s residence, setting his two cars ablaze.

As if this was not enough, they were said to have returned yesterday, chasing the chief and his immediate family members out and set their property ablaze.

Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police spokesman, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects had gone into hiding.

"The DPO has been mandated to fish them out," he said.

6 die in Sokoto boat accident S

OKOTO—SIX persons have been confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred on Saturday in a river in Bengaji District of Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Confirming the deaths in a statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto yesterday, Alhaji Mika’ilu Sabo-Yabo, the Assistant Information Officer of the local

government, said that the six persons died after the boat they were travelling in capsized.

According to the statement, four other passengers of the ill-fated boat survived with minor injuries.

The statement further explained that the boat broke into two while in motion before it capsized, killing six of the passengers, who were from Kissa, Gadara and

Kalangu villages.

“Nobody can tell me what really happened as at now, but further investigations would reveal the real cause of the mishap.

“The deceased have since been buried according to Islamic rites, while the injured persons are responding to treatment at the hospital,“ the statement said.

52-year-old cobbler hangs self in Ondo A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—A 52-year-old cobbler, Tope Ogunmodede, has committed suicide by hanging himself in Akure, the Ondo State capital, weekend.

Report said the deceased, who had been having a mental health challenge, took his own life out of frustration at Lafe area of Akure.

Vanguard gathered that the family of Tope had been battling with his health challenges for 32 years.

He was supposed to have gone for his routine medical check up last Thursday but had to be shifted to today because of the Eid-elKabir holiday.

The deceased, who had been staying on the same room with the mother because of his health challenge, was reportedly left at home alone on the day he committed suicide.

Vanguard gathered that the mother, identified as Comfort, left the house for an urgent personal engagement only to return hours later to behold the dangling body of his son.

The mother was said to have been suspicious that something bad had happened when she got back home and failed to meet his sick son in his usual seat.

Eyewitness account said the mother searched the rooms in the house until she saw his dangling body in one of the rooms.

She was said to have raised alarm which attracted the attention of neighbours who came over to help her bring down the corpse from its dangling position.

A family member told Vanguard that so much money had been expended on the psychiatric patient by the family to no avail.

He described the death of Tope

as very painful and unfortunate, after so much money had been spent on the ailment.

Contacted, Police spokesman in the state, Wole Ogodo,

confirmed that police detectives had visited the scene of the incident and taken photographs of the deceased.

Ogodo, who said that no foul play was suspected, added that the corpse had been deposited at Akure Specialist Hospital.

LET US CARRY HER: Officials of Nigeria Red-Cross carrying a lady that collapsed at the 40th anniversary of 27-28 convocation of University of Jos, in Jos Plateau State. Photo: NAN

‘Kidnappers behind murder of couple in Enugu' crime without removing any man and ran back to inform her

By Emeka Mamah

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NUGU—MR Marcel Ossai Aba who was slaughtered with his wife, Jacinta, at Amaja in Enugu Ezike about eight days ago might have been killed by kidnappers.

Aba was sleeping with his wife and three children penultimate week when some unknown persons woke him up and broke his head with a cutlass.

The assailants later went into his wife’s room and removed her one-year-old daughter who she was breast feeding before severing her head.

The assailants left the scene of

material or property.

However, investigations by Vanguard revealed that Aba and his wife were killed after an abducted man from Anambra State was rescued by the police in a bush near his house.

Those who spoke on the condition of anonymity at Amaja, informed Vanguard that an unidentified man whose mouth was covered with a black cloth, was seen in a bush which separates the village from Amaja with Adupi in Benue State, Aba lived at the border with his family.

It was gathered that another woman had found the abducted

husband who consequently alerted members of the vigilante group in the area.

The members of the vigilante were also said to have alerted the nearest police station in the area, which sent detectives to free the kidnap victim.

It was gathered that the abductors of the unidentified victim usually visited him between 2 am and 3.30 am each day to feed him.

However, sources said that when the kidnappers visited the area where they hid their victim in the bush, they were disappointed that the people living nearby alerted the police men who untied their victim and went to the nearby house to kill the couple.

Apprentice abducts boss' son 4 days after resumption

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By Evelyn Usman

AGOS—A 25-year-old apprentice, identified simply as Ayomide, has allegedly kidnapped his boss’s two-year-old son in the densely populated Ajegunle area of Lagos barely four days after resumption.

The abducted boy, David Sunday Ushie, was reportedly kept in the apprentice’s care by his mother, Mrs Ushie, in her fashion designing shop located on Saludi street, along Boundary road on September 17, 2015.

But apprehension set in when on arrival, her son and the apprentice were no where to be found. Concerted efforts made to reach Ayomide on the phone proved abortive .

The distraught mother could not speak with this reporter when contacted but her father, Mr Ogar Anyogor, explained that no call had been made to the family to demand for ransom for the release of his grandson.

Vanguard gathered that the case had been reported at Ajeromi Police division, where the man who stood as surety to Ayomide had been arrested.

Anyagor said: “Its been 10 days since the disappearance of my grandson. His mother is devastated. She has not had her bath since David was kidnapped. The cloth she is putting on now was the one she wore on the day David was kidnappedbyAyomide. ‘’NobodyknowswhereAyomide lives. He was introduced to my daughter by someone she had knownforlong.Ayomideonlypaid N5,000 of the amount requested. ‘’He had not even bought the drinks and other things needed before he would begin his apprenticeship. He promised to bring them on Friday, September 18,2015,unknowntomydaughter that he had a sinister motive up his sleeves.

Police sources, however, hinted that effort was still on to track Ayomideandrescuethekidnapped toddler

The missing David

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

HAJJ STAMPEDE: Nigerian death toll rises to 20

By Luka Binniyat & Agaju Madugba, with agency report

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HE number of Nigerian pilgrims that lost their lives in the stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia, last Thursday, has risen to 20 from the initial six.

There were fears, yesterday, that the death toll may rise further as more states are still searching for their ‘missing’ pilgrims. Taraba, Sokoto and Gombe states have announced the loss of some pilgrims from their states.

Already, two justices of the Court of Appeal, Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega, brother of former INEC Chairman, Profesor Attahiru Jega, and Justice Musa Hassan Alkali, and front line journalist and columnist, Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf, among others have been confirmed dead.

The Amirul Hajj of Taraba State, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim, and two of his wives are also among the dead.

Sokoto State lost nine pilgrims in the stampede. Also, a staff of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, (name withheld), also died in the crush.

Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board confirmed the death of the state’s Amirul Hajj for the 2015 pilgrimage, Alhaji Ibrahim, the First Class ruler of Zing.

Chairman of the board, Alhaji Hamman-Adama Tukur, confirmed the incident.

Tukur explained that the emir died on Thursday during the stampede, adding that the body of the late traditional ruler was buried in Makkah on Friday.

He disclosed that many indigenes of Taraba are still missing, while a few others, whose names he did not mention, but who sustained injuries, are receiving treatment in Saudi hospitals.

Dahiru Shittu, survivor, narrates ordeal Says we stepped on weaker pilgrims to survive Survivors took clothes off corpses to cover nakedness Zakzaky wants death penalty for perpetrators It’s one tragedy too many—Sultan

Zakzaky's demand

Scenes of the disaster.

In a statement in Sokoto, the government said that its officials, led by the Amirul Hajj and leader of its delegation, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, who was still in Saudi Arabia, confirmed the tragedy.

It said that the team was still working round the clock to identify many of the pilgrims from the state who were injured.

According to the statement signed by Imam Imam, Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Media and Public Affairs, the injured are receiving treatment in hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

The search Confirmations

Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, Chief Press Secretary to Taraba Governor, also confirmed the death of the monarch.

He, however, said consultation was still ongoing between the state government and the Zing Traditional Council, before a formal pronouncement would be made.

The Zing Traditional Council has also confirmed that the Emir died along with two of his four wives during the stampede.

The Tafidan Zing, Gurama Bawa, who confirmed the death of the wives, said the late emir was aged 62 and had been on the throne for 19 years. He left behind, two wives and 13 children.

Similarly, Sokoto State Government announced that nine pilgrims from the state were among those who lost their lives in the disaster.

authorities of the number of casualties from the country.

However, Sokoto State has confirmed that at least nine of its pilgrims were killed in the stampede while Taraba has confirmed three.

Saudi officials said at least 769 people were killed in the stampede, while over 900 people were injured.

Lamenting his present state, Mr. Shittu said he “ was completely traumatized. I thought it was the end of the world.

“That did not discourage me from wanting to come back for Hajj again, because this is part of the test of faith.”

In the same vein, the Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Usman Gurama, told newsmen in Mina, Saudi Arabia, weekend, that the pilgrims could not be located since Thursday.

He said that members of the medical team had been checking hospitals and mortuaries with a view to locating them or their remains.

He, however, said that for now, it had not been confirmed whether they were among those who died as a result of Thursday’s incident One of the survivors, Alhaji Dahiru Shittu, yesterday, narrated how he narrowly survived the incident.

Shittu, one of the over 60,000 Nigerians attending this year’s pilgrimage, was among the thousands of people gathered in Mina for the devil

stoning rite, part of the hajj activities, when the stampede occurred.

Survivor's story

“We were trapped between narrow lanes with iron wall of tents on both sides of the road,” he told PREMIUM TIMES in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

“There was no way out, so people started scaling fences into tents of Algeria and other Arab countries,” he added.

Mr. Shittu, from Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, added that “my friend and I, who was completely exhausted from the previous long distance trekking from Arafat to Muztalifa where we spent the night and set out that morning to Jamra, had no option than to step on other weaker pilgrims to survive.

“You will see relations, mothers and parents abandoning their children and the aged. I was, however, helped by an Arab man to scale the fence into a tent.

“Many male and female pilgrims, dead or alive, were seen naked. We that survived had to scavenge for Ihram (white cloth) of corpses to cover our nakedness.

“Those of us who were alive were gasping for breath in an exhausting struggle, some of whom were later offered ice block by volunteers.

“An Ethiopian pilgrim abandoned his mother who became a ‘ladder’ for those who scaled fences to survive.

Many others too were crushed to death in such a manner.”

Royal family fingered

The pilgrim lamented that poor security contributed to the tragedy, saying there was not enough “security around or any rescue team.”

There have been reports that the closure of two essential gates, reportedly at the instance of the Saudi Royal family who were receiving some visitors, was a major cause of the stampede, a fact Shittu said: “If the gates of those tents from both sides of the road had opened, the death toll would have been very minimal “The Arabs closed the gates and continued to hit the hands of any pilgrim with a metal as they attempted to scale their fences.”

The survivor, who suffered an injury on his leg, lamented the inadequate medical attention received by some survivors, saying “I did not receive any medical attention from either the Saudi, NAHCON (Nigerian officials) or Kaduna authorities despite my complaints.”

He said he saw corpses of many Nigerians from Lagos and Sokoto, whom he identified from their uniform.

He said: “There was a woman, who was carrying a baby and I am not sure if she will survive because there were so many bodies piled on top of her and the baby.”

No official figure

No official figure has been announced by Nigerian

Prominent Muslim cleric and leader of Nigeria’s Muslim Shi’ite movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, says the alleged perpetrators of the recent stampede tragedy in Saudi Arabia should face the death penalty.

Zakzaky spoke, weekend, when members of the Media Forum of the Islamic Movement paid him Sallah homage at his residence at Gyellesu, Zaria.

Zakzaky ’s pronouncement comes on the heels of a condolence message by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, urging all Muslims to remain focused and firm in Islam in spite of the Saudi incident.

Zakzaky noted that management of Hajj operations ought to be the responsibility of the Muslim world and not the exclusive right of the Saudi royal family alone.

According to him, “the Al-Saud family cannot be trusted, when its hands are soaked with Muslims’ blood in countries such as Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq and Syria.

“The Al-Saud prince, whose convoy caused the tragedy and is complicit in the crime, should be punished by death as they caused the death of thousands of innocent pilgrims.’’

Sultan

The Sultan, who reacted to the stampede tragedy in a statement by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, described the incident as one tragedy too many.

The statement, signed by the JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said that “with humility and total submission to Allah the Exalted, the Sultan of Sokoto condoles the Muslim Ummah over the Jamarat stampede tragedy, which led to the death of several pilgrims, while completing the rites of Hajj in one of the sites of worship in Saudi Arabia. This is one tragedy too many.

“JNI shares the pains and worries of victims' families and urge them to persevere and put their trust in Allah.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015—9

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—STRONG indications emerged, yesterday, that the Senate will receive the ministerial list from President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow or Wednesday.

Ahead of the submission of the Ministerial list by President Buhari, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, for today.

According to a source, besides discussing the proposed ministerial list, the party leadership will brainstorm on the multiple crises rocking it.

Some of the issues to be discussed include the management of the party ’s success, the power rift between the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, among others.

The source noted that the crises in APC, especially the management of the party ’s success at the March 28 presidential and National Assembly and the April 11 governorship elections was becoming a big headache for members, just as members are

MINISTERIAL LIST:

Odigie-Oyegun summons emergency NWC meeting

worried that the crisis was affecting the smooth running of governance with Nigerians being at the receiving ends.

Atiku, Tinubu, Akande

Speaking with journalists yesterday, a top member of the party's NWC noted that apart from the crisis, the meeting will also dwell on the ministerial list that has put the party against President Buhari, who seems not to be interested in consulting officials of the party in the appointment of the members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and the power rift between the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande and the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.

According to the NWC member, the crisis between the chieftains of APC has stalled the inauguration of the party's Board of Trustees, BoT, as well as holding of the National

Executive Committee, NEC, meeting.

and watch the Vice President and being treated as a puppet.

Agenda

Listed for discussion at today's meeting, the source said, would be the power rift between Osinbajo and elRufai, who is perceived as the ‘unofficial Vice President’.

It was gathered that el–Rufai made an uncomplimentary remark on the Vice President, to which Osinbajo was said to have protested and eventually walked out of the said meeting in the presence of President Buhari.

It was also gathered that prior to his storming out of the meeting, the angered Osinbajo told Buhari: “I am an elected Vice President and would not sit down here and allow a governor to insult me.”

According to the NWC member, the leadership of APC was not comfortable with this development and was determined not to sit down

... of Tinubu, Saraki

Also to be discussed at the meeting is the seeming feud between APC national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The chieftain said: “Why must there be preferential treatment and separate rules?

Whereas, Tinubu was acquitted for non- compliance with section 3 (D), the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, is insisting on Dr. Abubakar Saraki standing trial for an issue that the former Lagos State governor was acquitted and the suit struck out.”

Also to be discussed is the media war between Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and the former governor of Bayelsa state, Timi Sylva.

CONVOCATION:From right— Representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Julius Okojie; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; and Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Jos, UNIJOS, Chief Don Etiebet, at the institution's 40th anniversary and the combined 27th and 28th convocation, Saturday.

TERRORISTS' ATTACK: Security agencies take over Lokoja

By Kingsley Fanwo

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OLLOWING last Friday’s attack on the office of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Kogi State by gunmen believed to be terrorists, security has beefed up around the Zone 8 Area of Lokoja.

The DSS, Zone 8 of the Nigerian Police and the State House of Assembly are all located in the area.

Officers and men from the Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja, have been drafted to ensure adequate security, while mobile policemen have also been drafted to cordon off the area.

The combined team, comprising officers and men from the Army, Navy, Police and C M Y K

DSS, was noticed patrolling the road and adjoining roads.

Sources said the security arrangement was to forestall a repeat attack by the suspected insurgents.

The sensitivity of the attack may have forced the security apparatus in the state to wrap the issues surrounding the attack in official secrecy.

The DSS is not giving information on the attack as they claimed to have been gagged from speaking to the press by the Directorate headquarters in Abuja.

However, a highly placed source in security circles in the state told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that the silence on the attack was

Trial of treasury looters begins soon —BUHARI

in the best interest of the nation.

He said initial investigations have revealed that the attackers were insurgents who wanted to rescue some of their members held in DSS facilities in Lokoja.

However, there are conflicting reports on the number of casualties recorded during the dastardly attack.

While the Kogi State Police Command claimed only one security agent was lost to the attack, it is unclear whether any DSS operative died during the gun battle that raged for more than two hours.

The source said: “I can tell you categorically that insurgents were behind the

attack. They are already running short of men as a result of the onslaught against them in the NorthEast.

“They actually came to free their men who were in DSS cells in Kogi. I learned they actually freed some men.”

Kogi has continued to be in the spotlight of terror attacks following attacks on the Kotonkarfe Prisons and the Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene, within the past two years.

Normalcy is, however, gradually returning to the Confluence City in the aftermath of the attack, but residents are still apprehensive.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

N

EW YORK—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said, yesterday, in New York, United States of America, that the prosecution of those suspected to have looted the Nigerian treasury will begin soon.

The President also restated his determination to fully sanitize the oil industry and make it totally free of corruption and shady deals.

President Buhari spoke at a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations.

He recalled that he had to reorganize the corporation by appointing a new management, saying it was one first necessary step to take.

President Buhari also expressed gratitude to the Chinese President for the country’s assistance to Nigeria in curbing crude oil theft, even as he applauded China’s interception of shiploads of crude oil stolen from Nigeria.

He said: “We know your stand on corruption, and we are grateful. Your continued cooperation in curbing oil theft from Nigeria will be appreciated.”

President Buhari also hinted that the Nigerian military had been retrained and re-equipped under his administration, stressing that this was responsible for the steady gains the military has recorded against Boko Haram.

Also speaking, President Jinping told President Buhari that China, which is already handling many projects in Nigeria in areas like railway, airports, agriculture, and in the Mambilla hydro-power project, among others, will increase its investment in the country’s agricultural sector to support the achievement of domestic food security.

He also promised further Chinese investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, and more support for human capital development.

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Ambode vows to improve on Fashola’s urban renewal

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A G O S — GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, weekend assured Lagosians that he would fulfil his electoral promises, especially in the area of infrastructural renewal.

The governor, who spoke at the 2015 Ojude Oba Epe Festival held at the Epe Recreation Ground, Epe, said the infrastructural renewal drive of the previous administration in the state will receive adequate attention in his government.

“One of the things that we did promise during the campaign is that we would continue with the infrastructural development of my predecessor and at the same time improve on it and that’s what we’ve started with areas where we feel that there are immediate palliatives that we can give, we have done that but more importantly, is for us to improve on the network in which Mr. Babatunde Fashola had actually laid down”, he said.

Governor Ambode said he used the first three months of his administration to set up an institutional framework, assuring that going forward, Lagosians will begin to witness development across the state.

“I have no choice, I have to do it for all Lagosians, that’s what I am committed to do, I have said I am going to be selfless about service and that’s what I am going to do and you will see it.

What I have done in the last three months is to set up the institutional framework and If you want to build a house, you have to lay the foundation, you will now see what I’ll be doing in the next three and half years, just watch and you would see it”, he said.

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IGP visits Awolowos, say kidnapping cases over-rated As Pastor Adeboye wants women to emulate HID

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — T H E Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, yesterday in Ikenne, Ogun State, said kidnapping cases in the country are over-rated by citizens.

Arase, who spoke shortly after paying condolence visit to the Awolowo family over the death of their matriarch,HID Awolowo, said statistics show that kidnapping in Nigeria was still within manageable level compared to what is happening in other countries.

He explained that Nigerians

dwell more on negative aspect than successes recorded so far on the menace.

He however, assured that the Nigeria Police Force would do its best to reduce the rising cases of kidnapping across the country.

He said; “Let me debunk the impression that there has been tremendous increase in the issue of kidnapping in Nigeria.

Kidnapping has been there and we are doing our best to stem the tide.

“Comparative figure outside Nigeria shows that ours is still within manageable level.

Whenever it happens, we are able to arrest them and deal with them.

“Criminals can’t overwhelm Nigerians. Definitely, it will not happen under leadership. We should not get apprehensive about this. I can assure Nigerians that we are on top of the situation and will make sure that we have a secure environment.”

In his condolence, Arase described the late Awolowo as a definition of everything that a woman is supposed to be.

“She stood by Papa Awolowo all through his life and even when he passed on. She protected his ideals and was there for the children. She ensured that the family remain united, that is why everyone is

celebrating her. She is a woman of virtue.”

He assured the family that the police would deplore his men and officers for a successful funeral activities of their matriarch.

Also, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who paid a condolence, described Mama Awolowo as one of the greatest women Nigeria had ever produced.

He said “We thank God, she started well and departed well.

We pray that all women will emulate her. By the grace of God, we will all end well.”

Lagos assures of solution to Oshodi-Apapa road gridlock

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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VISIT: From left; Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief Yetunde Onanuga; the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and Rev. Tola Awolowo Oyediran, during the condolence visit of the Governor to the Awolowos at Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State...yesterday.

BAILOUT: APC to drag Fayose before EFCC, ICPC over diversion plans governor that pensioners’ talks of the Ekiti APC.

By Rotimi Olaleye

A

DO-EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has threatened to drag Governor Ayodele Fayose before the antigraft agencies, should he divert the N9.6 billion bail-out by the Federal Government meant for the payment of salary arrears and other entitlements.

The party alleged that the recent announcement by the

entitlements and other categories of workers were not captured in the bail-out cash was an attempt to divert the money to other uses.

The APC, in a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, warned that Ekiti people would resist the governor’s plan to divert the money to other wasteful use.

In response, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor vowed not to react to the APC allegation.

According to him, “We will not react to or elevate frivolous

“This week when the Ekiti workers are paid the August and September 2014 salaries and the deductions owed them, the Ekiti APC will be put to shame because Ekiti people will hate them more.

However, the APC said Governor Fayose's failure to declare the breakdown of the bailout publicly will lead to employing the instrumentality of the FOI Law to demand for same at the Central Bank and DMO. “We also put the CBN, DMO, EFCC and ICPC on notice to monitor the governor in the disbursement of the fund to ensure compliance and apply sanctions when necessary,” he said, adding that the action becomes necessary to curb diversion of the money.

Olatunbosun, urged the governor to publicly declare the break-down of the bailout for transparent disbursement to right quarters.

AGOS State Government has assured of free flow of traffic across the metropolis, particularly solving the perennial traffic gridlock on the OshodiApapa express-way.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, stated this yesterday, through the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sina Thorpe, when Vanguard raised question of possible return of trucks and tankers along the road after the holidays.

Before the break, drivers of articulated vehicles and tankers flouted the state Road Traffic Law as they parked indiscriminately on the road causing total traffic jam.

Motorists were stranded while commuters had to trek long distances to their destination.

Workers in some of the companies located in the area had to sleep over in their offices.

When contacted, spokesman for the transportation ministry, explained that there are several factors affecting the Apapa axis and they requir patience on the part of motorists and residents as everything was being done to find a lasting solution to the gridlock.

According to him; ”Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had earlier set-up a committee to look into perennial traffic gridlock as well as incessant fatal accidents by articulated vehicles with a view to proffering lasting solution.

“The committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Tunji Bello, had since submitted its findings to the governor for appropriate action.”

Whenu said the state government was already finetuning strategy to tackle the menace once and for all but it required everyone's patience as permanent solution was under-way.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 11

5 dead, 17 rescued from Ikorodu boat mishap – LASG

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Bose Adelaja

By Prince Osuagwu

O

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AGOS State government yesterday said five of the 20 passengers and two crew members of a commercial boat belonging to the Bayeku Ferry Association travelling from Oke Ira Nla, Ajah to Bayeku in Ikorodu who were earlier rushed to a hospital, died while 17 others were rescued alive.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, L ASWA, Mrs Abisola Kamson.

She said upon receiving the notification of the accident, the authority ’s water guards were immediately deployed to the scene to assist in rescue efforts.

Kamson said she later led a delegation of state officials including the Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Community Affairs, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, and the Baale of Baiyeku, Chief Saheed Aleje Ajibode to the site of the incident.

She confirmed that all passengers on board were wearing life jackets.

The L ASWA boss said preliminary investigation by the Authority revealed that aside the mechanical fault that

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Some Oodua Group of Companies directors waiting to sign the condolence register during a condolence visit to the Awolowos family in Ikenne over the death of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo over the weekend. Photo by Dare Fasube. developed when the steering cable connected to the engine propeller cut, the captain of the boat was possibly also overspeeding, adding that he is presently being questioned by the Marine Police.

“The Lagos State Government in its drive to promote a multi-modal transport system, especially the movement of passengers, goods and services on its waterways will under no circumstances compromise

safety standards and the protection of lives and property. As such we restate our commitment to the promotion of all safety measures and ensure that all operators comply with all safety standards in line with global best practices”, she said.

A survivor, Yusuf Adekoya told Vanguard that the 20 passengers were mandated to wear life jackets but the boat was not in a good condition.

‘’Before we left Oke-Ira jetty, the engine could not start and the operator battled so much with it for about ten minutes.

On noticing this, we advised him to change the boat but he assured us of safety.

On starting the engine, he sped off but minutes into the journey, the engine stopped working and this increased our apprehension and we started asking questions but he reluctantly broke the news that the engine was hooked.

Dickson at Ojude-Oba, says APC can’t stop his re-election

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—BAYELSA State governor, Seriake Dickson, has said the All Progressives Congress, APC, does not have the political will to pose a threat to his re-election bid in the December 5 governorship election in the state.

Dickson, was accompanied by ex-Bayelsa governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, at the 2015 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, where he was special guest.

The governor, while fielding questions from newsmen, said the APC only engaged in propaganda against his administration in the run-up to the poll.

He urged people of the state and other Nigerians to discountenance the criticisms and allegations against his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the APC chieftains.

“For all of us in Bayelsa, we know there is no challenge, contest nor threat of any kind. All you have heard or read about us is propaganda. There is no APC in Bayelsa to threaten us,” he stated.

On the Ojude Oba festival, C M Y K

Consol to impact Nigeria’s ICT sector with Mellanox deal

Dickson, who said that his late mother hailed from Ijebu-Ode, commended the people for huge investment in promotion of cultural heritage.

The governor advised parents to always teach their children about culture and tradition, saying such would help in fostering development and nationbuilding.

His words: “I’m not here today for politics, I’m here to honour our father and also to celebrate with my friends and others in the regberegbes, particularly my own group, the Jagunmolus, and all the people of our country from far and near.

“I am very delighted with the colourful cultural display that I have seen here today. This is what we have been preaching back then, we want our children to know about our tradition and culture and to make them know that our tradition still has dignity.“ Dignitaries at the event included the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga; former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, Senator Lekan Mustapha, and Hon. Adesegun Adekoya.

Others are Afenifere chieftain,

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, business mogul, Otunba Subomi Balogun; National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Waheed Odusile, state Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Adekunle, and chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga, who was represented by the company ’s Business Director, Ayo Ogunranti.

The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, said the Ijebu people are proud of their roots and cultural heritage, adding that they would not relent in making significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.

Ogun to immortalise HID Awolowo — AMOSUN

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, has pledged to immortalise the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo for her contributions to the state.

Amosun, who has just returned from pilgrimage, visited the

Ikenne home of the Awolowos to pay his condolence to the family, said the state will honour mama for her to be remembered by many generations yet unborn .

While speaking at the Efunyela Hall, Amosun said “Mama was the last of the hegemony of human capital available to Ogun State and beyond; a good mother; a devoted, dedicated, supportive and loyal wife.

“Certainly, the rank of our first generation mothers and wives have been finally depleted.

“We will participate fully in the burial. It is our show, though Mama transcends the shores of Ogun State and the Western Nigeria. Unarguably, Mama will be mourned all over Nigeria for obvious reasons. But what can we say; as I said earlier, it must happen one day; it has happened. ''

NE of Nigeria’s contact centre operators, Consol, has said that the recent partnership deal it signed with an American based end to end infiniband and Ethernet solutions provider, Mellanox would strengthen the Nigerian IT sector.

Managing Director of the company Mr Abiodun Adeoye, said that the agreement would strengthen the activities of his customers directly and indirectly impact on the quality of Nigeria’s ICT sector.

According to Adeoye, “We are a local ICT company providing solutions ranging from contact centre to others which help Organisations achieve maximum growth.

In our desire to strengthen Organisations which will in turn add to the aggregate economy we look for partners that can can bring their expertise and join forces with ours in order to make our customers stronger in what they do.

This is the search that led us into discovering Mellanox technologies which helps Organisations accelerate growth and outperform their targets”.

He said that the Sunnyvale, California based companyit has 2000 employees worldwide.

Meanwhile, Mellanox says it looks for areas where its services would be of great value and the sub Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria became such a place due to exponential data growth.

Head, sales Europe Middle East and Africa, Mr Ronen Bass, said his company provides network design for high performance computers, data centre optimization including Ethernet data centres, L2vs L3, power, performance and latency.

Osun APC hails Fasanmi at 90

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FENIFERE chieftain,, Pa Ayo Fasanmi has moved from the rank of octogenarian to nonagenarian as he turned 90 yesterday.

According to Osun State All Progressives Congress, APC: “This is no mean achievement.

It is one that most people wish for, but very few ever attain. To live this long is eloquent testimony to the extra-ordinary life-style that bestows longevity; one that is uncommon in 21st century existence.”

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

We're not part of Dickson's endorsement for 2nd term —BAYELSA PPA

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — PROGRESSIVE Peoples Alliance, PPA, in Bayelsa State, has dissociated itself from the endorsement of Governor Seriake Dickson of the state for a second term, by 13 political parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, saying it was not consulted.

The political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, KOWA, Accord Party, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, United Nigeria People’s Party, UNPP, Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, the Independent Democrat, ID, and six others, had last week announced that the endorsement of Governor Dickson was based on verifiable performance in the area of security, i n f r a s t r u c t u r e development and empowerment.

The Treasurer of IPAC and state chairman of New Nigerian Peoples Democratic Party, NNPDP, Inko Namatebe, had declared on behalf of others that the political parties adopted Dickson

because of his sterling leadership qualities and that with Dickson securing a second tenure, the state would remain in safe hands.

But the state chairman of PPA, Alex Peretu, said though the PPA was a member of IPAC and the CNPP, adding that the party was never part of any meeting of political parties where it was decided that the second term aspiration of the state governor be endorsed.

In the statement issued in Yenagoa, Peretu, said: “The attention of the state chapter has been drawn to a publication in some national dailies purportedly stating that PPA was among the 13 political parties that endorsed Governor Dickson for a second term bid. The party would like to dissociate itself from the purported endorsement of the governor as we were not consulted before the decision was taken

by the leaders of IPAC. “Even though we do have an excellent working relationship with the governor and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, that does not amount to an endorsement. We, therefore, use this medium to admonish our loyal party members to disregard and ignore the publication because it does not express the intention of the party in any form."

FESTIVAL: From left: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha former governor Bayelsa State, during the 2015 Ojude Oba festival celebration held at the Awujale palace ground, Ijebu-Ode, yesterday. Photo: Wunmi Akinola.

DELTA FLOOD: Govt yet to intervene, 21 days after

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—MORE than 21 days after a Delta State government burrow pit overshot its bounds and wreaked havoc on residents of Aribogha Street and environs at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, the state government is yet to come to the rescue of victims.

When Vanguard visited the area, weekend, it was gathered that the burrow pit was still overflowing with more houses facing the danger of collapsing.

The rampaging flood from the burrow pit collapsed a wing of Mekaval Hotel and also submerged several houses in the locality.

“It is true that the deputy governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuato, visited, but he did not go to the burrow pit to see the problem nor did he inspect the houses to see the damage to our property.

He only saw the collapsed Mekaval Hotel wing,” one C M Y K

of the residents said, yesterday.

According to him, “The truth is that we are yet to see any intervention by the state government or intervention agency 21 days after the incident. This is very sad. The residents are therefore, calling on Delta State Government to open an Internally Displaced People, IDP camp for them.

Our fate is worse than that of

residents on the bank of River Niger who were hit by flood sometime ago.”

Another resident, Kingsley Ogbome, said: “We wrote the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Commissioner for Environment on September 14, drawing their attention to our plight. We have also written to have audience with the governor but we are yet to hear from him. Now, the flood

level is increasing after 21 days and may be there till December. More buildings are in danger of collapse.

Government should set in motion a process to drain the burrow pit through Jakpa Road to Ekpan River and also clear natural waterways from Jesus is Lord Street to JK Kennedy school and Regal clinic gutter to Ekpan river,” he asserted.

Rivers spends N1.4bn on foreign scholarships

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State government has said it spent N1.4 billion on school fees for students of the state origin on scholarship abroad.

Deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo, disclosed this yesterday at St Paul’s Anglican Church, during a service to commemorate the nation’s 55th independence anniversary.

The deputy governor

assured that Governor Nyesom Wike was determined to see that the foreign students completed their programmes.

She said: “His Excellency has spent N1.4 billion so far on overseas scholarships and just last Thursday, he released N491 million to make sure that every child of Rivers State schooling abroad received money. We will continue to help the children irrespective of how they got there.”

Earlier, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and

Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Anglican Communion, Most Rev Ignatius Kattey, enjoined leaders at all levels to provide quality leadership to Nigerians and called for improved security situation in the country.

Chairman, Rivers State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair to all sections of the country.

NIGERIA AT 55: Okowa urges love, prayers

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—AHEAD of the 55th independence anniversary of the country, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, called for prayers, love, sacrifice and partnership among Nigerians to move the nation forward.

Okowa made the call at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the country ’s 55th independence anniversary celebration held at St. Peter ’s Anglican Church, Bishop’s Court, Asaba.

While noting that Nigerians needed to pray for the nation and make the necessary sacrifice in order for the nation to grow, he insisted: “Both leaders and the led have a role to play in ensuring the nations greatness. ‘’We need to pray for our nation and play our individual roles to move the nation forward. We must play our part and not just criticise those in authority.

If this nation must move forward, we have to partner among ourselves, both as a nation and as individuals.

It is only through prayers and partnership with God that we can move faster. ”

Gunmen abduct former vice chairman of Delta LG

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—FORMER vice chairman of Patani local government area, Delta State, Mr. Paul Oge, was on Friday abducted by gunmen and whisked away to an unknown location.

Though details of his abduction were still sketchy at press time, a senior member of Ughelli Vigilante Group confirmed the abduction, adding that the victim was abducted along Isoko Road, close to Uloho Avenue junction.

When Vanguard visited the Ughelli residence of the Oges over the weekend, sympathizers were seen trooping in to condole with the family as they awaited further news on his abduction.

The abduction of Paul Oge is coming on the heels of the kidnap of Mama Elizabeth YouDouwei, mother of the current Patani Local Government Council chairman who was abducted by gunmen from her Abari residence at Patani.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 13

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14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

OJUDE-OBA FES TIV AL, IJEBU ODE, OGUN SSTTATE, SSA ATURD AY. PPhot hot os bbyy W unmi Akinola.

FESTIV TIVAL, TURDA hotos Wunmi

From left: The Founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Olasubomi Balogun; From right; Princess Khadijat Kubarat Edionseri; Erelu Tola Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Osifeso; Otunba Lekan Osifeso and Alhaji Abayomi Odutola.

Adetona and Senator Daisy Danjuma.

From left; Alhaji Rasaki Okoya; his wife, Folashade Okoya and Justice Mr Ayo Ogunranti, Globalcom Business Director presenting 2nd prize to Egbe Gbobaniyi Obinrin Olori.

George Oguntade (retd) and wife, Chief (Mrs) Oguntade.

50TH BIR THD AY OF CHIEF (MRS) AISHA TTOS OS AN AAGBEREBI GBEREBI IN IK OYI, LA GOS. PPhot hot os bbyy Sola Oy elese.

BIRTHD THDA OSAN IKO LAGOS. hotos Oyelese.

From left; Mr Akpoebi Agberebi (husband); Former Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Chief (Mrs) Aisha Tosan Agberebi From left; Mr Onochie Anibeze, Editor, Saturday Vanguard; Mrs Enaze Okonedo; (celebrant) and Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase.

Mr Akpoebi Agberebi, husband of the celebrant; Chief (Mrs) Aisha Tosan Agberebi (celebrant); Mrs Cynthia Koyi (celebrant's daugther), Mr Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police; Mr Victor Omaghomi and Chief Sonny Okpurhe cutting the cake.

(LEFT): From left; Anita Omofonma, Chief Mrs Agberebi, Mrs Cynthia Koyi and Mr David Omofonma

From left; Miss Bode Modupe; Mr Agberebi; Mr Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspaper and Chief Mrs Agberebi.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 15

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16—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

ABIA: PDP

BoT member, 100, 000 others join

By Ugochukwu APC Alaribe

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BA—A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Ukasanya has led over 100, 000 members of the party to defect to the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Abia State.

Others who were received into the party at the occasion include Senator Chris Adighije, Senator Onyeka Okoroafor, Dr. Maxwell Adindu, Eze Chikamnayo and Princewill Ukaegbu, among others.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the defection in Umuahia, Ukasanya who is the pioneer chairman of the PDP in the state, said their decision to join the APC was prompted by the need to follow what he described as the change at the centre and commended the party for receiving them.

Obiano showers praises on Obi at stakeholders’ meeting ...regrets feud with him

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THERE were surprises in Awka, weekend, when Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State showered praises on his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, describing him as a great leader

who laid, solid foundation for the state.

Both have not been enjoying cordial relationship since Obi handed over to Obiano on March 17, 2014 with their foot soldiers attacking each other in the social media.

But in a speech he delivered at the first stakeholders meeting organized by his administration, Obiano said he regretted the misunderstanding he has been having with Obi. He said: “When we took over the reins of leadership one and a half years ago, we realized

VISIT: Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, receiving his predecessor, Senator Theodore Orji to his office as Senator Ike Ekweremadu (left), Deputy Senate President watches, during their courtesy visit to the governor, in Umuahia.

NON-PAYMENT OF PENSION: South East pensioners seek FG's intervention

By Peter Okutu

A

B A K A L I K I — S O U T H East zone of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has called on the Federal Government to intervene over the non-payment of their over fifteen years pension and gratuities by some of the governors within the zone.

This was contained in a six point communique issued by the union at the end of its zonal meeting, weekend, in Abakaliki.

The communique, which was signed by the standing zonal chairman, Prince Clement Igwe and the zonal secretary, Evangelist Livinus Ashiegbu condemned the pension situation in the South East, saying: “the governments are woefully unfriendly and insensitive to plight of pensioners.

“Based on this development, the South East forum is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the predicaments of pensioners in the zone,”the communique stated.

The pensioners further called on the Federal Government to pronounce a policy on the fate of both state and federal pensions and gratuities of those who retired from July 2007.

The union urged the FG to compel state governments who have not implemented the Contributory Pension Act of 2004 to execute the scheme immediately.

Giving the situation report about pensioners in Abia, the state secretary, Elder Onwunmere Arungwa noted that pensioners who retired in 1999 and subsequent years (15yrs) were yet to receive their gratuities.

He said that the situation was the same with the monthly pension scheme which was in arrears of several months.

“It is unfortunate that some pensioners in Abia still receive less than N1,000 a month due to non implementation of the various pension increases,”he said.

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that my predecessor had done a lot of work in the aspect of setting the fundamentals or what I call the enablers.

“He had laid a good foundation with the return of mission schools to their original owners and provided necessary funding for sustainable development in education. He had made bold interventions in mission hospitals and did a lot of work in primary health care delivery.

“We found that he had laid a good foundation for us to build on and justify my campaign promise of continuity .We remain grateful to him and his team for their great work for Anambra State. I think we should put our hands together for Peter Obi and his team.”

Obiano, however, said that despite the achievements of his predecessor, it was obvious that no human society was perfect which, he noted, was not surprising that he still inherited a state that was unsure of itself and a state that lived in fear of violent armed robbers, kidnappers and other violent crimes .and expressed joy that he has been able to put in place structures that had given the people confidence to live.

In what he said was to give account of his stewardship since taking over power, the governor said: “I have always believed that democracy and accountability are like siamese twins – you cannot have one and leave out the other.

I have always believed that accountability is the essence of democracy; it provides democracy the moral weight to exist as the best model of governance known to mankind.

“I must thank my beloved Ndi Anambra for the huge support they have given us in the past one and a half years. I must also thank the critics of my administration for providing the sharp edges that have helped us to keep our eyes on the ball; reminding us that governance is a social contract between the state and its citizens and that the power we exercise truly belongs to the people".

“I must also thank our great party, APGA, for the overwhelming support that we have enjoyed.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 17

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18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 AS the frenzy over the decision

by JP Morgan to phase out Nigeria from its Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) effective from October 30, 2015 begins to die down we draw attention to the need to adopt measures that would extricate Nigeria’s economy from whims of foreign investors.

The GBI/EM index gives international credibility to economies for foreign investments. Nigeria was admitted in 2012 with JP Morgan suggesting then that the inclusion would translate into inflows of about USD1.5 billion. But by August the 2015 total investments were worth USD2.8 billion, indicating huge foreign investment interest in the Nigerian market.

Sadly, however, in January this year, JP Morgan placed Nigeria on Index Watch signaling a withdrawal of interest in reaction to measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which they claim to have impeded the ability of foreign in-

JP Morgan: a wake-up call vestors to access the foreign exchange market.

In response, the CBN, Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and Debt Management Office (DMO) issued a joint statement saying, in a nutshell, that their overriding concern is for Nigeria and the interest of Nigerians and would only continue to take economic decisions that will impact positively on the lives of all Nigerians.

We hereby identify with and support our government institutions in their efforts to protect the Nigerian economy in the face of seeming threats to our domestic economic interests. In as

much as Nigeria desires and needs foreign investment inflows, it is important to begin to appraise the type of foreign investment that should be encouraged.

Measures taken in the recent past had included a removal of foreign investment restrictions opening the door to the unprecedented volume of foreign portfolio investments (FPI’s). But these FPI’s move out quickly at the slightest presentation of risk. Just within 10 days of the JP Morgan announcement about USD1.2 billion worth of FPI’s has left the Nigerian financial market and the exit is continuing.

They can actually pull out

everything in one week or less.

Stocks on the Morgan Stanley and Barclays Indices are now volatile.

Financial institutions with large investments in bonds could record huge market losses in the near term.

The Nigerian economic and monetary authorities should therefore restructure the economy to present stronger incentives for the longer term FDI’s, build domestic factors of production and bridge the deficits in critical infrastructure.

They should take measures to stimulate the comatose real sectors, domestic investment and reduce the cost of doing business by influencing interest rates downwards.

Additional focus should be on controlling inflation and maintaining a steady foreign exchange regime.

Our JP Morgan delisting could be a blessing in disguise to the economy depending on the federal government’s response to it.

OPINION Selective probe or not, let the music play on

By Godwin Etakibuebu

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WILL go straight to the point without any preamble. Allegations abound against President Muhammadu Buhari [PMB] that he is selective in his war against corruption.

It is being alleged that his war to “kill” corruption is targeted against members of the People Democratic Party [PDP] alone and that he is not lifting a finger against members of the All Progressive Party [APC]. Beyond the selective attack on the opposition party members and every member of the previous government under President Jonathan, Buhari’s accusers also detest his type of Gestapo system of arrest and investigation.

These are two different types of allegation. I shall only treat the first allegation, albeit selective probing as there are not sufficient evidences on ground for now to justify the existing of the second allegation - Gestapo policing.

In my candid opinion anyway, l cannot see anything bad if eighty to ninety per cent of those being questioned presently on allegations that border on the Nigerian economy are members of the immediate past government; a government the PDP anchored. In law of prosecution facts and facts only, are needed to secure convictions in courts of law. In addition, it is another fact of life that if you are buying any property, be it house, land or even machineries, it is the owner, the seller or representative of either of them, conducting you round the property or the machineries that must answer your questions concerning the true state of the items being purchased. This is because the seller or its representative is

under legal obligation to answer all questions emanating from the buyer because the former stands as the last person manning the exit point of the property or machinery in question.

The PDP took political custodian [mantle] of Nigeria from the military administration in 1999 and remained in power, un-broken for sixteen years, till 2015 when it was sacked by the APC government. Though l must admit here, just for the purpose of emphasising a point, that l am at loss to know who, between the APC and PMB, really sacked the PDP in the last general election.

This little dilemma of mine is as result of “latest epistles” written and published by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media Affairs; Mallam Garba Shehu, where he claimed that what Buhari promised Nigerians during the pre-election aggressive campaigns and what APC said are two different things. What the Senior Media Assistant is now saying is that Nigerians should not expect Buhari to fulfil any promise made by APC; the political party that offered him [Buhari] the platform with which he ran and secured the presidency.

The interpretation of Garba Shehu in addition to many other interpretations, emanating from “latter day self-appointed spokesmen” of Buhari and APC, in the likes of Comrade Adams Oshiomole; governor of Edo State, a former human rights defender, Barrister Festus Keyamo, is becoming my

The problem for PMB shall be his inability to commit all to jail

predicament as to the real identity of who sacked PDP during the April 2015 general election. Is it PMB or APC? Let us press on with today’s discuss as answer to above knotty question may come for discussion on another day.

PDP was the last occupier and controller of the Estate called Nigeria and for this reason; it is compulsory and necessary that the party with its operators in these past sixteen years give account of its stewardship while its occupation of the estate lasted. It is a normal logic for the PDP to do so willingly and happily. Or else, how will PMB leave behind Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP team that handed over briefs about the state of the nation to him and start asking others [outside the PDP] questions. Buhari shall be standing wisdom head down if he fails to ask the last runners of the Nigerian economy some salient questions. It is the opinion of wisdom, which l tend to agree with, that the probe of the Nigerian economy is starting from the right place – PDP, and to regard this as selective probing will be conclusion in absurdity.

There are too many other reasons why we should not jump into conclusion on allegation of “selective probing”. One, it is an established fact that corruption has “killed” Nigeria. The only thing that remains for corruption to do is to give Nigeria “a befitting national and international burial”. That itself was on its way if a “Buhari” of any type did not come on time. Two, it is a proven historical fact that every successive government in Nigeria has “bettered” its predecessor in terms of corruption. Name them one by one, from the first Republic to the present, they are all the same. This is inclusive of the military

regimes that supposedly “came to correct and remove corruption” in the words of a one-time Chief of Army Staff; Major General David Akpode Ejoor.

If we are lucky enough to see a Muhammadu Buhari with an APC that is ready to cure us of this age-long corruptionheadache, let us swallow it without minding where the drug [APC] manufacturer started from. While agreeing for the time being to start the battle anyhow, either selectively or electively, we should be looking out for the “engagement and disengagement treatment rule” that shall be meted to the personae dramatis involved in the act. If we shine our eyes well enough we may be able to catch PMB hands down here, because the Muhammadu Buhari l have studied closely for the past thirty two years; from being General Officer Commanding the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos to becoming Military Head of State [1983 – 1985] through operating the special Petroleum Trust Fund in the era of late General Sani Abacha, can be demystified and very easily too. Muhammadu Buhari is capable of pursuing a progressive and stubborn probe agenda and he is equally capable of sending all those found guilty to prison, if convicted by the courts. The problem for PMB shall be his inability to commit all those governors plus other big wigs that decamped from PDP to form the APC at the twilight of the day to the same process of aggressive battle of “jailing all corrupt Nigerian politicians”. This is where the man may unwittingly allow the revolution he started to swallow him up. He shall get there and the allegation then shall grow beyond “selective probing.”

*Mr. Etakibuebu, a commentator on public affairs, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015—19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

If the youth be corrupted, the Nation is finished

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XACTLY a week ago, I was privileged to be a moderator at the National Students Retreat held at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The occasion which included Student – Lecturer interaction, was organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Amilcar Cabral Ideological School (ACIS) The occasion gave me an opportunity to reflect on our youths and our future. My belief is that a nation should live for its youths because they are its future. It is the youths that can guarantee its tomorrow. The youths are the backbone. They are its vibrancy. It is from the vibrant voices of its youth, a nation can constantly review its positions, policies and direction.

It is youthful ideas that propel a people. If the ideas be wrong, it is left for the older generation to gently point this out and redirect the energy of the younger generation. The youths are the bloodline of a people. When people talk of youthful blood, it is the required blood to re-new a people.

But when the youths merely echo the songs of the past;

especially when those songs are badly composed and awfully rendered, then the nation has a problem. A nation cannot advance if its youths are compromised. If the youth be morally and socially bankrupt, what future has their nation? If youths are corrupt or corrupted like virus, how can the nation develop? If the aspirations of the youth is to slip into the shoes of a bankrupt elite, what future can the country have? If Nigeria is to be great, as it should be, there must be youths willing to make sacrifices.

My generation of student leaders refused to accept the state of the nation as given.

Many of us refused to accept the status quo. We faced formidable challenges. Some were expelled and never re-admitted like one of my co-moderators at the Retreat, Dr. Shola Olorunyomi who was President of the University of Ilorin Students Union. This was also the fate of fine patriots like my late comrades, Jibrin Bala Muhammad and Abdulrahman Black who were expelled by the Ahmadu Bello University. This was also the

fate of the founding President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Dr. Tenimu Kurfi.

But these can be said to be lucky, as some were killed during various struggles for better, accessible and affordable education, and a better country.

One of the two lead speakers at the Retreat, Lanre Arogundade who was NANS President 198385, went to the Ife post office one day unaware he was being trailed by security forces. He was kidnapped, but despite such harrowing experience, his spirit remained unbroken.

My generation of students might not have succeeded in changing our country for the better but it is not for want of determined efforts. And after over three decades of activism, some of us are not about to give up. As bad as things were, as unrelenting as the ruling elite are, It was my generation that ran the civil society bodies, beginning with the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) through the Committee for the

When the youths merely echo the songs of the past; especially when those songs are badly composed and awfully rendered, then the nation has a problem

Delta State, poverty and sustainable job creation

By Chukwuma Nwaonicha

J

OB creation is the notion that jobs are created in response to some sort of event or situation, for example; great depression - an economic slump (a period of poor performance or inactivity in an economy, market or industry, a recession, signaling a slowdown of business activity) or high level of unemployment.

Conceptually, job creation is the proactive opposite of unemployment. In a practical sense, organisation or industry only hires more workers when necessary to satisfy demand for its products or services.

Therefore, industrial or manufacturing based organisations are very crucial in the State to achieve meaningful and sustainable job creation. In the developing world, improved jobs and livelihoods are an indispensable means to eradicate poverty and establish a virtuous circle of expanding and inclusive economic growth.

Inclusive economic growth, if sustained over time, is the only way to tackle poverty across the State. Destitution or absolute poverty is obvious in the State/Nation and it is caused by the deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes money, food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter and health care among others, and it can be reduced through meaningful and sustainable job creation.

As noted, sustainable development leads to sustainable job creation and it is a process for meeting human development goals while sustaining the ability of natural systems to continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend.

Sustainable development is a process that envisions a desirable future state for human C M Y

societies in which living conditions and resource use continue to meet human needs without undermining the integrity, stability and beauty of natural biotic.

Poverty eradication, productive employment and decent work for all, social integration and protection are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. The enabling environment to promote this need to be created at all levels of Government in the State. There are widespread deficits of available decent work opportunities and lack of labour market conditions and especially for young women and men in the State. It is imperative for the State Government to address the challenges of youth employment by developing and implementing strategies and policies that provide young people in the State decent and productive work.

Persistent poverty, increasing income inequality and slow job growth – further exacerbated by financial and economic crises and climate change – are critical constraints on economic and social progress. Promoting inclusive job-rich growth is a central challenge for all countries today.

With global unemployment at historically high levels due to population increase and the use of modern technology, there has never been a greater need to put employment at the

Deltans should invest their resources in Delta State in order to accelerate sustainable social and economic developments

Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) to the pro- people organisations that we have today. With the assistance of our elders like Alao Aka-Bashorun and Beko Ransom-Kuti, we established and ran the Campaign for Democracy (CD) which organised the prodemocracy protests that eventually forced the military out of power. My generation of activists can proudly report that although we might not have succeeded in our goals to build a better country, but at least, we gave our nation some hope, and are primarily responsible for the democratic politics we run today, even if it be corrupted by the elite.

But why were we so committed and dedicated? We were products of the pro-people ideas that ran through the gamut of our tertiary institutions. We did not accept our situation as given. We probed and asked questions. More importantly, we read and debated, and based on consensus, took action.

But most importantly, we organised!

There is no substitute for organisation. Our minority elite rule and impose their ideas and politics on the rest of the population because they organise and are organised. They have formal and informal clubs, associations and political parties.

They also have capital and international outreach. With these they rule, and we are ruled.

In my student days, we had various organisations that consciously met to discuss, debate, develop ideas and play active part in student unionism.

Why has there been a degeneracy in which student leaders have become megaphones for bankrupt ideas and elite? Why have they become crowds-for-hire? It is primarily because the old

centre of economic and social policies. Even among those who work, the extent of poverty underscores the need for a far greater number of productive and decent jobs. The effect of high rate of unemployment has been linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, pirating, vandalising pipelines and other social vices in the State.

Youths have to shun these illegal activities, which create instability. Instability in any society has always been very dangerous to the economy and to the peace and stability of the society and Delta State will not be an exception.

The strategy for promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment includes but is not limited to the following: skills development policies to increase the employability of workers, the competitiveness of enterprises and the inclusiveness of growth, coordinated and coherent policies to generate inclusive jobrich growth, and policies and programmes to promote sustainable enterprises and entrepreneurship. There is need to enhance employment and income opportunities for all, especially for women and men living in poverty and, in this regard, I support the State efforts to provide new job opportunities to the poor in both rural and urban areas, including support to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Tackling poverty through meaningful and sustainable job creation can be achieved in the State/Nation through the following; (1) individual efforts, (2) capacity building, (3) infrastructural development in which quality education and stable energy supply is a must (it should be noted that no stable electricity supply no meaningful job creation), (4) infrastructural maintenance programme, (5) provision of quality technical and vocational education, (6) provision of quality information and communication technology (ICT) education, (7) effective use of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), (8) manufacturing based

student discussion groups have mainly been replaced by cults, socially degenerate clubs, regional associations and religious groups, all claiming superiority over others.

In rebuilding, their Movement, students do not have to start afresh because they have a legacy to build on. Most importantly, they have a guiding book, a manifesto on which to mobilise and run their unions. It is called the NIGERIAN STUDENTS CHARTER OF DEMANDS. The Charter was written and debated across campuses before its adoption by the Third NANS Convention at BUK, in December, 1982.

Although this CHARTER was adopted thirty three years ago, and in need of a review to update some details, the core ideas it contains do not need updating.

These include regarding education as a right and a demand that the content of education be relevant to the people. The document also demanded prompt payment of salaries and improved condition of service for teachers, provision of sporting facilities in all schools, abolition of all fees, including WAEC fees. It also called for the democratisation of education including the representation of students in all school decisionmaking bodies and abolition of discrimination between university and polytechnic students and graduates. The 33year old Charter demanded an end to “ a subservient foreign policy” support for all liberation movements, and “a home created for the struggling Palestinians” My submission is that the youths need such binding policy documents so they can be useful to themselves, the country, and the future.

economy in which stable energy supply is a must, (9) tourism business, (10) adequate funding (capital including microcredit schemes) and (11) efficient agricultural development system among others. In addition, meaningful and sustainable job creation is affected by political stability, good governance, rule of law that is based on universal principles, government incentives, private enterprise, land reform, youth empowerment programmes and quality of labour force among others. In addition, to create meaningful jobs in the State, Deltans should invest their resources in Delta State in order to accelerate sustainable social and economic developments of the State. As the saying goes: we should put our money where our mouths are.

(1) Individual efforts are very crucial to meaningful job creation. In this day and age, finding a job is increasingly difficult.

If you can’t find a job for yourself, why not create it, and create jobs for others. Success in individual efforts in creating job require business knowledge, good planning, hard work, smart ideas, funding or capital, self discipline, patience and luck among others.

Be persistent.

(2) Capacity Building: Capacity building is a process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organisations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in the fast-changing world.

It is an organization’s ability to achieve its mission effectively and to sustain itself over the long term. It is also refers to the skills and capabilities of individuals. It is person’s ability to define and realize his/ her goals or to do his/her job more effectively. The State should encourage capacity building initiatives across organizations in the State for meaningful To be continued. *Dr. Nwaonicha, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

20—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

I

T is three days to the end of September 2015, the magic month within which President Muhammadu Buhari promised to appoint his ministers. It is expected that in spite of his foot-dragging and reluctance, he will publish the names of the nominees before Friday this week. We saw him display the same foot-dragging and reluctance in fulfilling his pledge to make his assets declaration public “within the first 100 days”. After sending his spokesmen to deny he ever made such a pledge, he and his Vice President unveiled th their assets on the 87 day, though Buhari did not allow us to know in concrete terms how much he is worth.

Mind you, that he unveils his ministerial nominees does not mean they will start work soon. In fact, it is not certain when the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will become functional. The president’s open disdain for the offices of ministers of the federal republic shows he won’t care a hoot how long it takes for them to fully come on board. The president and some leaders of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are seen to be spearheading the rift with the leadership of the Senate, the very body constitutionally empowered to approve his ministerial nominees. If the president were eager to have his cabinet in place as soon as possible, he would have stayed true to his earlier undertaking to work with whoever emerged as the leaders of the Federal Legislature.

Since Buhari took over four months ago, he has fallen in love with Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the Federal Civil Service; the very nest of corruption.

No political appointee can take a dime out of government coffers without the collusion of civil servants. According to him in an interview with a French television station while visiting France recently, these dutiful civil servants are the ones “doing the work” everyday.

Ministers, he added, are mere “noisemakers”. Left to him, he will prefer to work with the civil servants and dispense with ministers.

Some Nigerians have applauded him for this outburst, saying he was “brutally frank” while some even said he displayed “courage” in calling ministers dirty names. Unfortunately for him and them, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, at Section 147, directs the president to appoint ministers from each state of the federation. Section 148 spells out the functions of the ministers and makes it clear that he must meet them regularly.

Ministers and civil servants have their

Waiting for Buhari’s ‘noisemakers' jobs clear cut out for them by law. None can take the place of the other. It is strange that a man who ruled this country thirty years ago as a military officer and had no problem with appointing and working with ministers is now displaying open hostility to those offices. During his military days, he suspended the constitution. He was thus not bound by any law to appoint ministers yet he did without being prompted. But now that the constitution binds to appoint ministers, why is Buhari bellicose and spitting fire?

Before we offer our insights into that, let us make it clear that ministers are very important in every regime, irrespective of the type of government in place. Apart from the efforts of the Nigerian constitution to make it a mechanism to carry every state in the federation along even by a regime that heavily tends to monolithic sectionalism such as Buhari’s, they are there as agents of the president

Buhari may well be building a very strong personal power base, sidetracking the vehicle that brought him to power and using his personal disciples and the federal bureaucracy to run a civilian dictatorship

and his ruling party within the machinery of governance.

The party (APC) campaigned based on a set of manifestoes and promises and the electorate gave their majority votes to it instead of renewing PDP’s mandate.

Buhari is expected by the constitution to appoint qualified APC members from all parts of the country to mann his cabinet as ministers. Though most people often clamour for “technocrats” (rather than “politicians”) to be given ministerial jobs, Section 147(5) of the constitution says such nominees must be qualified to be members of the House of Reps, which means they must be card-carrying members of political parties.

The implication of these are obvious: the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by the President with the Vice President as the vice Chairman is a body made up of elected and appointed members of (largely) the ruling party. If ministers are “noisemakers”, then so is the president. It is the same constitution that insists that the president and his deputy must be politicians that also affirms that ministers must be party members. The job of ministers is to act as the political heads of the ministries and drive the president’s (and ruling party’s) domestic and foreign policies, programmes and visions. They are also to advise the president and carry out any instructions he may dish out to them in their respective ministries.

Civil servants, on the other hand, are permanent staff of the state whose job is to carry out instructions issued by the political heads of their ministries and departments in line with the strict rules of the civil service. They are forbidden to belong to political parties or betray allegiance to any political group. This makes it possible for them to serve under the regime of any president and political

OPINION Saraki: The unfolding drama

By Michael Egbejumi-David

Y

OU know that saying: ‘Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it?’ Well, current Senate President, Bukola Saraki is experiencing that feeling at the moment.

I say ‘current Senate President’ because the way things are going, the fine chap might not be presiding over the Senate too much longer.

How did things get to this sorry pass? There was (is) a change agenda in the firmament but Saraki got the wrong script. First, he put himself up for the presidency of the Senate against the expressed wish of his current Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). But that wasn’t his main crime. What the APC found most objectionable was that Saraki used the enemy – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – to accomplish that feat. He had gone too far.

Additionally, there is real fear in some high quarters of what Saraki and his co-conspirators in the PDP could do if they put their minds to it. Unwittingly, we have been pitched the politics of one-up-manship and blackmail.

Only a careless President and a crazy ruling political Party will leave its future and fortunes to chance giving the situation in the Senate. So the APC has been obsessively doing one thing after the other to protect its flank.

Act one, scene one, was to drag Saraki’s wife to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in July to answer some nebulous charge of fraud and corruption.

That case is still pending. Scene two. The government

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began formal investigations of various Saraki’s businesses. This, similarly, is ongoing. Then one Kennedy Izuagbe, a former director of Societe Generale Bank and the Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, a Saraki company, was declared wanted by the EFCC. The latest scene is unfolding now at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The APC has only gone and exhumed a presumably tainted thirteen year old Asset Declaration Form and hung it inelegantly around Saraki’s neck. Of all the ex-governors in Nigeria and more than a decade after the fact, it’s only been discovered that Saraki may have falsely declared his assets. We have seen this script before: In October 2011, right in the middle of his transformation into a proper Asiwaju, the PDP and Jonathan dragged Tinubu to the same CCT, placed and displayed him in a newly built, finely polished witness cage. It was a clumsy attempt to stop Tinubu from becoming the bona fide godfather of Southwest politics.

It didn’t work then.

Now? Who knows. Unfortunately for Saraki, and contrary to most legal expectations, the Court of Appeal dealt him a quasi fatal blow.

It unceremoniously told But Saraki is a Saraki to go and tango with fighter, a the CCT. It is one dance too survivor. He many. Saraki is being systematically overwhelmed wouldn’t have by his own Party. got to where he Act two would follow is today if he shortly enough. You can bet your lunch money that there wasn’t

party that wins election.

So, why is Buhari suddenly reluctant to appoint ministers when he showed no such trait as a military ruler? The answer could be discerned from the way he has approached governance so far. In constituting his “kitchen cabinet” or the “inner circle”; people whose jobs demand that they see him every day (Service Chiefs, personal advisers, assistants, heads of sensitive federal institution that control revenue and the economy, elections, and the security of state) Buhari picked only people he knows and “trusts”. These people have tended to be mainly from his own part of the country. He calls them the “long suffering” loyalists who worked for him even when there was no hope of success.

He has also, in the past four months, courted and secured the direct loyalties of top federal bureaucrats, a potentially dangerous aspect that could predispose them to political influences of the president. These are the people he now feels “comfortable” to work with.

What about his fellow APC leaders; those who jumped on the bandwagon in the past eighteen months during which the merger took place? What about the “new” PDP which swelled their ranks, thus tilting victory to him? He felt “comfortable” receiving the “rogues” and “saints” among them; accepting their billions in campaign funding, smiling for the cameras while they dressed him in borrowed robes to entice voters. He swam in their hyperbolic propaganda.

Everything they brought to help him win he collected; no one who came forward, and nothing they brought was considered too “dirty”.

As soon as he achieves his objective of becoming an elected president he reverts to his old mode of seeing “politicians” as “dirty” people, forgetting that he is now one of them; has been since 2003.

Buhari may well be building a very strong personal power base, sidetracking the vehicle that brought him to power and using his personal disciples and the federal bureaucracy to run a civilian dictatorship. Even when the ministers come, they may find themselves mere figureheads and passengers in Buhari’s government. The fact that a crowd of illregarded ministers (“noisemakers”) is brought in might not douse the regional dominance and agenda (rather than party agenda) that have been unfolding.

It might well be a fostering of the “97%/ 5%” formula that makes Buhari a president who belongs to some Nigerians and not to the others.

would be something else. We all know the routine: if any government decides to go after you, they’ll find something. It could be that time when you snuck your girlfriend into the back of the Science block for some dry and inconclusive kiss. Anything!

So you can see where things are headed for brother Saraki. It goes without saying that no one wants a Senate President who is entangled in a criminal trial – even his colleagues at the Senate would draw the line at that.

Impeachment could be a real possibility if this hot potato is not handled with delicate care. Resignation is another dreadful possibility. All the options available to Saraki appear to be ugly ones. All that energy and guile of sleeping and hiding out in his car at the National Assembly parking lot are bringing him a different set of results today.

As these things go, Saraki’s pool of friends and supporters is drying out fast. Monies, in Dollars, no less, are being alleged to have come from APC strongmen to induce Senators to abandon him. This flies directly in the face of President Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda.

But ‘change’ is at stake here and Saraki is apparently not a part of it. The worse bit is that Saraki is in danger of seeing his 2019 presidential dream crumble even before the referee blows the whistle. This is the nature of Nigerian reptilian politics.

But Saraki is a fighter, a survivor. He wouldn’t have got to where he is today if he wasn’t. He cut his teeth in ultra-conservative Nigerian politics eons ago. Surely he would push back against the daunting forces arrayed against him? A tragic-comedy of ambition and raw power unfolds. Get your popcorn...

•Dr. Egbejumi-David, a medical practioneer wrote from London.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

AHEAD OCTOBER 31 DEADLINE:

32m account holders yet to register for BVN Apathy worries CBN

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that 32 million active bank accounts have yet to be enrolled on the Biometric Verification Number (BVN).

In a statement in Abuja weekend, Alhaji Mu’azu Ibrahim, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, said CBN

was concerned by the number of account owners yet to enrol, considering that the exercise would end by October 31.

CBN in collaboration with all banks in Nigeria on February 14, 2014, launched the BVN, which is a centralised biometric identification system for the banking industry.

It aims at addressing issues of identity theft and fraud and will help to discover blacklisted customers,

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

reduce queues in banking halls and standardise efficiency of banking operations.

The CBN also said the BVN would encourage banks to grant loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and students in the country.

“One of the most potent arguments advanced by banks for not extending enough credit to prospective credit

Continues on page 22

RECEPTION - President Muhammadu Buhari being received by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, while others watched as the President arrived for the 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York, weekend. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida C M Y K

CBN sets aside N2.02trn for intervention schemes

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entral Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said it has so far set aside the sum of N2.02 trillion as intervention funds for operators in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy to access.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by the bank’s Ag Director, Development Finance, Dr. Olaitan Adeola, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ forum titled: “Accelerating Enterprise competitiveness and growth in Nigeria: Building capacity for sustainable development’ in Lagos. The forum was organised by African Management Services Company, AMSCO. He said that from the past administration to date, policy instruments such as schemes, guarantees, rebates, establishment of development finance institutions, DFIs, and capacity building have been used to intervene in the nation’s economy.

Emefiele noted that CBN’s commitment under each instrument type runs into billions of Naira under various schemes such as Commercial Agricultural Credit Schemes, CACs which amounts to N200 billion, Power and Aviation Intervention Fund, PAIF, N300 billion, Micro Small Medium Enterprise Development Fund, MSMEDF, N220 billion, Real Sector Support Facility, RSSF N300 billion and Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility, NEMSF N213 billion through revolving credit facilities totaling N1.233 trillion.

He said other Funds set aside for operators to access include multi-

Continues on page 22

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Cover

NAIRA DEVALUATION:

Traders on the wrong side criticising Nigeria —MOODY

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor

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PRESENTATION - From left: Member Board of Directors, Kwara Commercial Micro Finance Bank (KCMB), Alex Okoh; Chairman KCMB, Demola Banu; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; Member Board of Directors, Femi Ajibade; member (KCMB), Soji Oyawoye and Managing Director KCMB, Abayomi Ajayi during the presentation Cheque of Year 2014 Government's dividends in KCMB at Government House, Ilorin.

BVN: 32m bank account holders yet to register Continues from page 22 customers in Nigeria has been the absence of credible identity system. Thus, it was agreed that the scheme would make access to credit easier for low income earners in the society,” the Apex bank said.

The CBN had initially put the deadline of BVN registration at June 30 but postponed it to Oct. 31 because of low enrolment.

According to the statement, after 18 month of the exercise, empirical evidence shows that a good number of bank customers are reluctant and have not taken the exercise seriously.

“The emerging statistical trend of the BVN registration exercise shows that there are about 52 million active bank accounts in various banks.

Out of this, total enrolment stands at about 20 million, out of which about 14 million accounts have been found linked to the BVN as at September, 2015. The question now is whether bank customers have been taking advantage of the extension to complete their BVN registration and also ensure that their various bank accounts have been linked to the BVN,” it stated.

The statement revealed that after the initial rush from June ending to July, there had been a steady decline in new BVN enrolment figures for August and September.

It stated that the development indicated that many bank account holders had continued to show apathy instead of taking advantage of the extension period to complete the C M Y K

registration.

“Bank customers are urged to take advantage of the remaining time to complete the registration. This is so as to avoid the commotion and melee experienced at various banking halls in the month of June. The CBN has made it clear that there would not be further extension after the October 31, 2015 deadline,” the statement said.

It said this meant that customers without the BVN-

linked accounts might risk being restricted from normal operations of their accounts or access to their bank account balancesthat for about 52 million active bank accounts in various banks, total enrolment stood at about 20 million, out of which, about 14 million accounts have been found linked to the BVN as at September, 2015,” the source said.

CBN sets aside N2.02trn Continues from page 22 pronged financing under NISRAL, which included risk sharing, insurance and technical assistance facilities as well as holistic bank rating and bank incentives mechanisms, which amounts to N75 billion. The N203 billion guarantee funds under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund, ACGSF. In addition, he stated that the amount so far disbursed include the N203 billion Small Medium Enterprise Credit Guarantee Scheme, SMECGS programmes through a revolving credit facilities.

He said that the government added another N2 billion of interest rebate funds under the revolving Interest Draw Back, IDB of the ACGSF and single digit interest rates in many other schemes. According to him, CBN has directed the establishment of agricultural desks at all deposit money banks, DMBs, licensing and supervision of operations of microfinance banks, MFBs, collateral registry to register security interests in all kinds of assets to ease collateral constraint and expansion of foreign exchange exclusion list to promote domestic production.

On his part, Mr. Paul Melherbe, stated that there are three key issues that require special attention for Nigeria to meet its private sector development agenda. These he listed as including a change of focus from youth education to youth entrepreneurship, increased interventions that promote gender empowerment and directly developing SMEs with limited skills. “Most Africans SMEs are faced with growth challenges because there is a dependency on large companies or cooperates to educate them. Our business landscape can only improve if we don’t wait but rather place our lens on collaborations to develop human capital at SME level, matching the right skills with right jobs, training the management of those businesses and helping them access capital to reinvent themselves, this is our core focus at AMSCO,” said Malherbe.

s financial egg heads across the globe are preparing to meet in Lima for this year’s IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings, the Banker Magazine took a pre-IMF review of the Nigeria economy with Jean-Francois Tremblay, Associate Managing Director, Moody's. The Banker Magazine is a subsidiary of Financial Times of London.

Here are his views.

There has been disappointing GDP numbers for the second quarter of this year for Nigeria. Just how tough things are now for the Nigerian economy?

The Nigerian economy is in a tough spot right now. The low oil price environment is obviously hitting oil exporters themselves, but also the government is quite dependent on oil revenue. In addition to having this primary level sort of impact, there is another kind that arises from the very policies that government is putting in place to deal with the situation.

More particularly here, comes in mind, the devaluation of the naira and invariably in that context, investors have lower confidence, there is delayed investment, consumption is lower, the banks are lending less and all of these are contributing to the reinforcing of the dynamics.

But for the time being, we think that there will be low economic growth, loan growth at the banks a little while, the banks will still go through a rough patch. But in the longer term, towards the end of 2016 and further out, I think that the situation will stabilise as low naira will typically help export.

What is your take on the way the Central Bank of Nigeria has approached the naira irrespective of falling oil prices?

Nigeria does not have the luxury that some oil exporters in the Gulf, for instance, have. Gulf oil exporters have very large wealth fund committed for the year which they can use to keep up spending.

Nigeria has relatively moderate reserves, with no fiscal buffer to speak of; therefore it opted to use currency devaluation to manage the situation. While it does that effectively and protect its own asset composition, but of course, there are traders who always found themselves on the wrong side of the process who criticised the situation in this case with the depreciation of the naira, inflation that is high, interest rate that is being kept fairly high to contain further inflationary pressures on households and consumption.

To what extent has Nigerian banks been hit by the falling oil prices and what kind of opportunity do you think are still there moving forward?

The direct exposure of the banks to the oil industry is not our major concern right now. We have to keep in mind that while the government remains dependent on oil industry for 80 to 85 per cent of its revenue, the banks’ exposures are much smaller. The loan books of Nigerian banks are relatively small when compared to the size of the balance sheet and very large amount of government securities which it offers and which they get decent returns on. The fact that government’s measures are geared towards protecting government owned assets has some positives because the banks are exposed to government as well. With respect to their exposures to the oil industry, we have some disabilities on who they are exposed to. But we get some comfort in the very fact that they lent mostly to some very large oil companies that have more financial flexibility than the others.

We are more concerned about smaller portion that maybe represents 3 or 4 per cent of the loan books of the banks where the loans are smaller and in weaker firms. When we look at the type of buffers that the banks have, we think that it’s a bankable exposure.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 23

On August 31, 2015 in this column, we warned the nation that in the absence of a fiscal policy, the economy is heading toward recession. Last Tuesday, the CBN Monetary Policy Committee warned also that the economy is sliding toward recession. As of today, the President is yet to appoint ministers and the waiting game continues. This is what we said on August 31.

As crude oil prices lower threatening to dip below $40 a barrel for the first time since the dived financial crisis of 2008, and notching their longest losing streak since 1986, economies around the world are catching cold.

Investors across the world are losing their investments in stock and property owners are also suffering losses as a result of depreciation in currencies.

With deepening gloom over international currency market demand growth from the alone can do in a day in the and the widening gap world’s second-biggest oil economic and political arena. between the parallel market user, and expectations for a It is sad that the gains all and the inter-bank rate may significant build-up in surplus Nigerian financial markets had compel the monetary oil stocks this year, most oil from the election outcome authorities to adjust the traders are unwilling to have proved to be short-lived. exchange rate to N210 to the stabilize crude oil prices. The The naira which appreciated dollar before long. The market seems to be stuck in a immediately after the elections previous two devaluations has suffered reversal, the have eroded consumer relentless downward trend.

The collapse of oil price is same with the capital market. spending, impoverished As at today, the global hazy Nigerians more and increased already taking its toll on the Nigerian economy. As it clouds and the impatience of the cost of production in the stands, there is no light at the some investors with the new country. This has started to end of the tunnel yet. President have brought about have adverse effects on the Nigeria’s situation is further a market reversal in Nigeria’s economy. Figures released by worsened by the current financial markets and the the National Bureau of government's delay in economy. Looking at the way Statistics last Thursday attest appointing ministers and things are, it is worrisome that to this. forming a government. This the 2016 budget will be difficult The data indicated that the has left an economic vacuum to put together. Nigeria’s as there seems to be no policy policy-makers do not expect to be rescued by a strong pickdirection at the moment.

The vacuum created by lack up in the oil price any soon. of fiscal policy has left the Oversupply in the market, Central Bank of Nigeria with China worries and the Iran no option than to attempt to deal militate against a recovery combine monetary and fiscal before 2017.

So it is apparent that the policies in an attempt to direct 2016 budget has to be lean and the economy. The lack of Nigerians should not expect apparent policy direction of the present government has left a any major improvement in lot of decisions hanging. their welfare in the immediate Investors are playing a wait- term. Already, some quarters the international and-see game; some have in pulled out their funds in the community are calling for a capital and bond markets. third devaluation of the naira.

Because there are no But the CBN/MPC at the ministers, all activities are in moment, is not disposed to doing so, rather, it favours a the presidency.

This in itself has one managed rate, and may well implication, delay in decision- introduce more administrative making in government circles measures for this purpose.

Ongoing happenings in the as there is little the President

Nigerian economy heading for recession

The data indicated that the economy is going down the slope and if corrective measures are not applied soon, by the end of the year, it will enter into recession

economy is going down the slope and if corrective measures are not applied soon, by the end of the year, it will enter into recession. In the second quarter of 2015, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.35 per cent in real terms. This was lower by 1.61 per cent from growth recorded in the preceding quarter. It is also lower by 4.19 per cent from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014.

During the quarter, aggregate GDP stood at N22.859 trillion at basic prices.

Compared to the second quarter of 2014 value of N21.7348 trillion, nominal GDP was 5.17 per cent higher.

Nominal GDP growth was also higher relative to growth recorded in first quarter of 2015 by 0.85 per cent. The Nigerian economy can be more clearly understood according to the oil and non-oil sector classifications. During the period under review, oil production stood at 2.05 million barrels per day; 5.9 per cent lower than production in first three months of 2015.

Oil production was also lower relative to the corresponding quarter in 2014 by 7.3 per cent when output was recorded at 2.21mbpd. Growth in the nonoil sector was largely driven by the activities of trade, crop

production, construction and telecommunications. The nonoil sector grew by 3.46 per cent in real terms between April and June of 2015. This was 2.13 per cent lower than that of January to March of 2015 and 3.26 per cent lower than the corresponding quarter in 2014.

In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 90.20 per cent to the nation’s GDP, marginally higher from shares recorded in first three months of 2015 (89.55%) and that of April to June of 2014 (89.24%) The economy, to those who understand trends and cross data analysis, needs attention and appropriate policy measures to fix it. This seemingly directionless government had better rise to the occasion or the gains of rebasing the economy will be lost.

Looking at the way the economy is drifting, and no decisive action is being taken on the fiscal side, very soon, workers will begin agitation for wage increase, prices will go up, cost of living will rise further. The cost and the burden on the general welfare of the Nigerian people will be such that it will spark off general protests that will be common place in 2016 and beyond. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

Business & Economy

Firm out with new funding deal for SMEs

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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new initiative to boost the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises and prospective entrepreneurs has been launched by HESGES Synergy Nigeria Limited, a business development and investment network that operates on a crowd funding template.

According to Barr Gboyega Adetunji, who is the Managing Director of the company, “The aim is to bring people of like minds together to create an unbreakable network that

helps each one of them to achieve their individual goals and objectives. Basically, we create a financial pool that helps members to fulfil their dreams. What individuals cannot achieve on their own and with their resources, they will be able to achieve leveraging on the strength of the group.”

Adetunji, a lawyer, says however that the business model is not an investment scheme as it is known in Nigeria but a venture capital whereby subscribers with worthwhile business ideas but with no funds to execute are supported to get their ideas

off their ground. “Our business at HS therefore is to bring different people together to form a network where each individual subscriber to the network will be paying a token amount every month. As a result, the network will fund any member who needs funds to execute a new business idea or grow an existing business,” he said.

“The key thing here is that we don’t give subscribers the funds as a loan, but rather as a Venture Capital in which case HESGES Synergy will be a part of the business for a particular number of years

dependent on the type of business. We will help form, groom, and develop the business.” He further said that the gains of individual subscribers differ. “For instance, if a subscriber pays N1, 000 every month, that sums up to N12, 000 in a year.

With this, if he has a business to fund, we fund it and our level of involvement is limitless. Other gains and entitlements of subscribers include discount purchases at our stores and partner stores; an end of the year package and something to celebrate the festivities with that is worth a substantial part of the yearly

subscription.”

With a vision to become the foremost single individual network brand with the most number of subscribers, and helping or impacting the highest number of people in realizing their dreams and attaining financial independence not just in Nigeria but Africa as a whole, Adetunji says HESGES Synergy is however not an alternative to banks and other financial institutions; “HS is a superpartner in progress for all categories of persons.

24— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Service delivery sets Heritage Bank apart from other banks

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor

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ast week Heritage Bank board and management had an interactive session with the media. Here are excerpts from conversations at the event..

Your reaction to likely impact and immediate effect of Treasury Single Account (TSA) as being directed by Central Bank of Nigeria, how do you think banks can navigate through that challenge?

Our thought of TSA given the government position is essentially that you do not want government borrowing government’s money hence government is trying to ensuring that it is not borrowing anyhow money and it can account for all the money it got. TSA in itself is not a bad a idea, banks naturally are a bit reluctant in pulling it back because they need to unwind some transactions that are wrap around them.

The implication would be that banks need to do a lot of thinking to grow their deposit base, do lot of thinking to be able to transfer the money and yet stay afloat. Banks thought will always be to see if the withdrawn amount, the CRR tied to it would be reviewed downword.

Effect, when naturally that amount of money as largely published, is pulled out of the system and the systems have some shocks, and the financial system also has a way of balancing such out and we believe that such balancing will happen in the next few days and whatever negative effect, I think the government also should also mindful that the system did not collapse and the central bank governor said so recently, I am in line with him that they are mindful and we are watching.

When do you have intention of coming to the market and need to be listed on the capital market?

Naturally, banks will want to come to the market but when the conditions are right, we are looking at the conditions and once they are right, we will be advised by the board to proceed to the market.

Raising of capital especially economic capital is something that every bank keeps an eye on and we want to be sure that we are in tune with what economy capital is in the capital market.

What Heritage Bank stands for?

In Heritage Bank, we pride ourselves in the field in such a way that we want to be innovative and; we cannot be like any other bank, the fact is that we cannot came in at the time that we did and still behave like any other bank, we would have died.

We have been creative, innovative and we will continue on that threshold.

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Chairman of Heritage Bank, Akinsola Akinfemiwa (left) and Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo We pride ourselves as being the service bank and we are not apologetic about it, we are a service company that is the way we see ourselves, a service company in the business of offering financial services.

I guess we already had some nomination by some of the beneficiary’s organisation and that we are trying to be watchful, we will rather want to be a bank to be known for helping SMES, opening up a banking space in terms of retail. Above all helping people to transfer their wealth after they have created and preserved it to the next generation.

Heritage bank getting to other areas of the country particularly in the South-East and other part of the country.

With what we have done, we are virtually in every part of the country with the numbers we have in SouthEast, we are generally thinking of how do we cope.

It is not fashionable to have bricks and mortal everywhere and that is why we are innovative in terms of the channels that we deployed the way we deployed them.

The branches as a stand alone are actually a platform for distribution channels for us and it will help us to actually push agency banking, help us push our financial inclusion strategies, they are indeed the things we are looking forwards to and we have our presence in South-East and in the north.

Would Heritage Bank buy all the Subsidiaries?

Yes, all the subsidiaries that were not sold by AMCON, I did not know the ones that they sold, I know all the ones that we saw when we came in and all were part of what we bought when we came in.

However by Central Bank regulations, if we are not going to be a Holding Company we have to spine them out. There is a time frame for us to do this, we will keep within these guidelines and sell them out as when due.

Naira devaluation For me, no matter how much we are scared of naira dollar rates or inflation, we need an economy that is stimulated to do things, the oil price has gone down and our revenue is at a level that it has never been before. This is a very good time for us to organise ourselves to push things into the system that would make the economy to work, manufacturing, power, all of these things must work for banks to continue to be banks. And it is an economy that is driven by government whether we like it or not, the biggest contracts come from the government, revenue come from oil for government, so the banks depends on government money is not something that is unusual in this environment. My view is that it is a very good time for banks to be assisted based on the fact that a lot of money have been pulled out of the system.

We pride ourselves as being the service bank and we are not apologetic about it, we are a service company.

That is the way we see ourselves

I know Heritage bank to have passion for SMEs, what are your loan books like and what percentage of your loan book is dedicated to SMEs, tell me what you are doing concerning the agric sector and your projections for 2016, especially on lending to SMEs and agric?

Indeed we came in and discussed robustly on the need for SMEs to be our focus and the reasons are not far fetched, we believe that SMEs are the actual point for development in the country at large and having conversation that would make everybody begin to look towards that sector was important. For our loan books, before I push certain numbers out, I will need clarifications from our regulators but I can give the percentages. Our SMEs loan book as at today is about 18 per cent in value and in number is about 43 per cent, for agric is about 8 per cent in value and in number is about four per cent.

We intend to grow that number to be in the reverse where 60 per cent of our portfolio is in that market, but is a gradual process and we believe that by next year, given the board supports. We have clearly indicated that we have to go to the board, that is our focus, we need approval for a certain amount of money to be able to do this, that amount need to increase and if they do that, essentially, we might be hitting about 55 per cent in value and nearly 70 per cent in that space in terms of number, probably we can also grow our agric desk for which we are very focused.

Quite a number of partners have been giving us support in order to achieve 12 per cent market in our portfolio.

We started a loan book at zero, if today our loan book is over N100 billion, it gives us a sense of where that could be even in agric that is about N50 billion would tell you

what that would be. We do not want to aggressively go into loan book at this time, SMEs cuts across the whole economy, in oil and gas the numbers are much different, when it comes to those in the service sector, where a 3or 5 million would be enough and SME in the oil and gas would be about 50 million.

We have noticed a lot of banks going back to universal banking, there is a shift in the system, having been in the system for a long time, I want to know your thoughts as regards return to universal banking? Where do you have the greatest niche in the banking industry in terms of the area you want the banking public to say this is the area where this bank is heading, is it in SMEs, oil and gas, the moribund or real estate. We want to really know the drive of heritage bank?

On Universal banking, we have not gone back and no bank has actually gone back to universal banking.

Essentially, we still remain commercial banks with different autorisations. But for some of us that are in the developmental phase where you are now transiting from one organisation to a merged organisation arrangement, of cause there are some legacy issues where those who have subsidiaries find it difficult to spin them off, you are not allowed to spend further capital on them so you cannot say you are running them essentially, you are mix merging them into transition and during that transition period, you can call yourself a universal bank that you are not. My personal thoughts on universal banking, competence is important and then commercial banks can stay in the commercial banking space, there are merchant bank that are technically fit to carry out merchant banking activities.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 25

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26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 27

Banking & Finance

Bankers committee reiterates importance of MSMEs to economic growth

AWARD - From left: Chairman/CEO, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, and a member of the Managing Board of the World Economic Forum, Mr. Murat Sonmez, at the recent award to Waltersmith in China.

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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he Bankers’ Committee has reiterated the strategic importance of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) to the growth of the nation’s economy. This was stated at a workshop in Abuja on the N220 billion Micro, Small &

Medium Enterprise Development Fund organised by the Bankers’ Committee’s sub-committee on Economic Development, Sustainability & Gender in collaboration with the CBN. In his opening remarks, Director, Development Finance Department, CBN, Dr. Mudasiru Olaitan said, the essence of the workshop is to get the Deposit Money

Banks (DMBs) to key into the strategic plan of the apex bank for the MSMEs. “MSMEs are the engine room for economic growth, vehicle for job creation, tools for poverty alleviation and wealth creation for any country ’s economy, so there is need to support them to grow so that the economy can grow,” Olaitan added.

Sterling Bank announces MSME Academy to drive access to finance

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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terling Bank Plc has introduced the Sterling Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise, MSME Academy as part of measures to address funding challenges for MSMEs in Nigeria.

The bank said the initiative which is also part of its value-added offering for its SUPA Business Account holders will commence with a pilot session in Lagos on 30th of September. According to the bank, “This is in furtherance of its commitment to enriching lives by focusing on the unique needs of its entrepreneurial customers; and giving teeth to private sector involvement in the development of small businesses and the Nigerian economy at large.”

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative to newsmen at a press conference in Lagos, Executive Director, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, said: “The overall problem we are trying to deal with here is that everybody is talking about SMEs and people still think that if you throw money at SMEs, everything will be fine. But we know that is not true. The problem of SMEs is not money. We believe that if you fix all the other problems, C M Y K

people will actually come at you with money.

This is because, people have money and they are actually looking to get returns on their money.

“The problem is we cannot give them opportunities that they can see transparently and say this will give me a return or I can trust the processes that are leading to these results. In some instances, people will show you business profits and say they are making 20 per cent profit but they cannot show the process that led to this profitability so that it can be comfortably repeated. In most instances, people don’t even have any records. All you see if you are lucky are products and services but from a business perspective they are not able to show you the business. So the problem is big and the pressure is on the banks to somehow fix a problem that is not a financial problem with money. And so we feel that we have to get to the bottom of the problem (through capacity building) or else we just throw money that will be lost.”

Also speaking, the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola said, “The Sterling MSME Academy is aimed at capacity building for existing and emerging MSMEs to enable them build viable businesses and position them to access funds for expansion."

In his presentation, the Assistant Director, MSME Development Fund, CBN Mr. Tobin Jonathan, said the workshop was organised to cross-fertilise ideas and bridge the knowledge gap on the MSME sector by the lending institutions and to also correct the wrong perception of the risky nature of the sector.

According to him “The rejection rate of MSME applications by commercial banks is very high. We are aware that, this is necessitated by the banks’ aversion to risk due to lack of entrepreneurial skills and poor governance structures of most MSMEs, hence the necessity of the workshop to enlighten the bankers and encourage them more on the need to partner with us to grow the sector.”

In his own presentation titled “Movable Collateral, Registry Reforms and MSME Financing in Nigeria”, Dr. Olasupo Musa of the Monitoring & Evaluation department, National Collateral Registry said, CBN is collaborating with International Finance Corporation (IFC) to establish a National Collateral Registry to stabilise MSME financing and also boost the confidence of Nigerian banks in playing active roles in financing the real sector in Nigeria, most especially the MSME sector.

According to him, the MSME sector is an important catalyst for economic growth and financing the sector needs serious attention.

Globally, collateral for MSME is moving away from fixed assets to movable assets, hence the need to establish a collateral registry for the finance industry. We are excited to partner with IFC on this initiative”, Musa said.

Mr. Peter Bamkole, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University, in his paper, challenged banks to embrace MSME financing through stimulation and that they must be seen as intermediators by creating marked access. According to him, banks should assist big businesses connect the dots with the MSMEs. In his words, “major impediments to MSME growth in Nigeria include; absence of enabling environment, inconsistent government policies and lack of access to finance.

Deposit money banks are positioned to demystify all the challenges associated with MSME financing through innovative lending that seek to address ‘No Collateral’ and the use of business development service providers to handhold the entrepreneurs and also serve as their advisors.”

Savings Campaign: Diamond Bank rewards 10 undergraduates with N1.2m

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e n N i g e r i a n undergraduates studying in various tertiary institutions in the country have been rewarded by Diamond Bank Plc with N1.2 million for owning and operating a customized savings account that exposes students in higher institutions to the huge benefits that savings and financial prudence offers in competitive adult life.

The winners emerged through an online electronic draw, which was conducted recently among the thousands of students and youth corps members who opened and operates S t u d e n t -Wi t h - A - G o a l (SWAG) account with the Bank since the campaign for PocketMoney4AYear kicked off. The draws were witnessed by journalists, students from various higher institutions in the country and selected Youth Corps members serving in Lagos State. Each of the winners will receive N10,000 (ten thousand naira only) PocketMoney4AYear and can draw the cash monthly at any Diamond Bank branch.

According to the Bank, the SWAG proposition is a customized bank account that fits into and enhances the lifestyle needs, culture of learning and freedom of the student and youth corps member that has a goal for the future.

Chinenye Nwosu, Product Manager, Diamond S.W.A.G, stated that the initiative is designed to ensure that all account holders have a guaranteed sum deposited in their accounts every month, stressing that PocketMoney4AYear is a lifestyle based savings account targeted at students of tertiary institutions and corps members under the Diamond S.W.A.G proposition.

She said: “Diamond S.W.A.G is a Diamond Bank initiative aimed at easing the burden that catering to this category of young adults has on parents. It also inculcates financial literacy in winners and account holders. The PocketMoney4AYear is an extension of the Save & Win Campaign started some years back and the extension is essentially because Diamond Bank wants to be there with its customers from the cradle into adulthood.”

To qualify for the draws, account holders need to have a minimum balance of three thousand naira during the quarter.

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Corporate Report

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angote Cement C o m p a n y has rebuilt strength in profit performance in the current year after a profit drop last year. Against a drop of 21% in profit in the preceding year, the cement manufacturing company may raise after tax by over 40% in 2015 based on the current growth rate.

The drop in profit in 2014 was due to inability to grow sales revenue – which was only 1.7% up at N391.64 billion. This year sales revenue is accelerating and this has spurred profit performance as well. Three favourable developments explain the improved profit outlook for the company this year- accelerating sales revenue, a moderation in cost of sales and a shift from a net interest expenses to a net interest income.

The company closed second quarter operations in June with a sales revenue of N242.21 billion, which is an increase of 20.7% year-onyear. It is expected to close the 2015 operations with a turnover in the region of N450 billion. This will be an accelerated growth compared with a flat growth of 1.7% in the preceding year.

After tax profit amounted to N121.81 billion for Dangote Cement at the end of the second quarter, an increase of 27.6% year-on-year. Full year projection indicates an increase of over 40% in net profit for the company in 2015. It posted a net profit of N159.5 billion at the end of 2014. A new peak in profit is therefore expected from the company this year. Its peak profit so far is the N201.20 billion it reported in 2013.

Compared with last year when cost of sales grew ahead of sales revenue, cost of sales has moderated as at the end of June. Cost of sales grew by 14.9% compared with the growth of 20.7% in sales revenue, which has improved gross profit margin from 63.5% at the end of 2014 to 65.1% at the end of June.

Another major positive development on the income statement this year is a change from a net interest expenses position last year to a net interest income at the end of the second quarter. A shift from a net interest cost of N2.41 billion at the end of 2014 to a net interest income of N6.32 billion in the second quarter has boosted the bottom line significantly in the current year.

These developments have provided a new strength for the company this year in terms of ability to convert revenue into profit. Net profit margin

Dangote Cement: A new strength in profit

By Mike Uzor

•Dangote has improved from 45.7% in the same period last year and from 40.7% at the end of 2014 to 50.3% at the end of the second quarter. Accelerating revenue and moderating cost are the summary of the operating story of Dangote Cement so far this year.

The company’s short-term debts grew by almost 60% to N176.44 billion within the six months of the year, which caused a tripling of finance costs to N24.38 billion yearon-year at the end of the second quarter. However a robust increase in cash resources enabled the company to grow interest

during the review period.

The company earned N7.22 per share at the end of the second quarter, up from N5.63 in the same period last year.

The full year earnings per share expectation is above N13 for Dangote Cement in 2015 against N9.42 in 2014.

FBN Holdings: rising cost constrains profit capacity FBN Holdings raised gross earnings by 28% year-on-year at the end of June but could not convert the increased earnings into profit. Two major cost increases accounted for this - loan loss charges and interest expenses. Profit grew by just 7.7%, which

The company closed second quarter operations in June with a sales revenue of N242.21 billion, which is an increase of 20.7% year-on-year. It is expected to close the 2015 operations with a turnover in the region of N450 billion. income ahead of interest expenses.

Cash and bank balances rose by 151% over the closing figure last year to N51.63 billion at the end of June. This follows a rise of 23.7% in net cash flow generated from operating activities to N179.8 billion against declines in net cash used for both investing and financing activities

leaves the company with full year prospects of a profit decline.

Non-interest income spurred revenue growth during the period with exceptional growth in income from investments and net gains on foreign exchange trading as well as other operating income. The bank requires a step up in revenue

growth in the second half without which earnings growth will most likely slow down considerably this year.

The bank posted an after tax profit of N40.06 billion at the end of June, an increase of 7.7% year- on-year. Profit growth is expected to slow down in the second half and the full year prospects indicate a likely drop in profit for FBN Holdings in 2015. The company had grown after tax profit by 13.7% in 2014 to N82.84 billion. A decline in profit in the current year will mean a rise and fall pattern for FBN Holdings since 2013 when the bank’s profit went down by 6.7%.

Gross earnings amounted to N271.82 billion at the end of the second quarter, an increase of 28% in year-onyear. Based on the growth rate in the second quarter, gross income is expected to stand in the region of 547 billion for FBN Holdings at the end of 2015. Revenue growth is expected to slow down from the growth rate of 21.3% in the preceding year.

The moderate increase in profit against a strong growth in revenue is explained by rising cost. All the bank’s three main expense lines are on the rise but loan loss expenses and interest cost appear to be out of the control of management.

Loan loss provisions grew by 239% year-on-year in the second quarter to N22.58 billion, which is already quite close to the N25.94 billion impairment charge the bank

made in all of last year. The proportion of gross earnings claimed by impairment charge rose sharply from 3.1% to 8.3% over the review period. Up to 11% of interest income was applied as impairment charges for credit losses against 4% in the same period last year.

Interest expenses also rose by 47.1% to N73.10 billion in the second quarter, far ahead of the 24.8% growth in interest income. Interest cost therefore claimed an increased share of gross earnings of the bank from 23.4% in the same period last year to 26.9% at the end of June this year. Interest expenses and impairment charges claimed virtually all the increase in interest income during the period.

The contribution of feebased earnings to gross earnings increased from 22.4% in the same period last year to 24.3% this year. This provided the strength for the moderate improvement in profit. Customer deposits increased marginally by 2.5% to N3,126.16 billion compared with the growth of 47.1% in interest expenses. This means the average cost of deposits increased during the review period.

The third major cost element – operating expenses moderated relative to gross earnings at an increase of 15.1% to N118.40 billion at the end of the second quarter. With a more rapid growth in gross income, the bank was able to reduce operating cost margin from 48.4% to 43.6%.

This provided the little cost saving that permitted the moderate increase in profit.

The bank lost profit margin, as costs grew generally faster than revenue during the period. Net profit margin declined from 17.5% in June last year to 14.7% this year.

This is equally below the 17.2% net profit margin the bank generated at the end of 2014. Loss of profit margin follows the rapid growths in loan loss provisions and interest expenses.

FBN Holdings closed the second quarter operations with a net loan portfolio of over N2.08 trillion, which is a decline from the closing figure of N2.19 trillion for 2014.

Its investment portfolio amounted to over N795 billion at the end of the second quarter.

The bank earned N1.10 per share at the end of the second quarter, which is a decline from N1.14 in the same period last year. Earnings per share is likely to decline from the N2.55 the bank recorded at the end of 2014.

*Uzor is a financial analyst

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 29

Corporate Report

30—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Corporate Finance

Chams appoints Williams as new CEO

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hams Plc has announced the appointment of Olufemi Williams as the company ’s new Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Williams joined Chams about 25 years ago because he saw how clearly Chams was redefining the emerging computer hardware and maintenance sector, providing solutions hitherto sought overseas by multinational corporations.

Williams has been a key member of Chams’ executive and leadership team since 2001 and took over from Demola Aladekomo, the founding Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer.

Aladekomo led the firm with distinction for 30 years, nurturing Chams from a computer hardware maintenance firm into Nigeria’s leading authority in identity transaction systems.

Williams’ appointment took effect September 18, 2015.

Prior to his appointment, Williams, was the Deputy Managing Director of the wholly indigenous technology firm.

Announcing Williams’ appointment, Very Reverend Ayo Richards, Chairman, Chams Plc, said: “Olufemi Williams is an exceptional leader. Since he joined Chams, where he has worked in various capacities, Williams has been extraordinary. His welldeserved appointment to the role of Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer affirms orderly leadership transition in the company which aligns with the board’s ratified succession plan which emphasises promoting capable internal candidates to leadership positions.”

Commenting on Williams’ appointment, outgoing CEO, Demola Aladekomo said “Williams is a brilliant colleague who has distinguished himself over the years as a highly talented, inspiring and energetic leader with positive attitude. I am personally delighted to be handing over the reins to such an outstanding leader.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Williams said: “I am honoured and excited to have been selected to lead Chams Plc. We are a company that has evolved over the years because of our pioneering works in technology sector in the Nigerian market, with our strong capability and winning strategies enabling us to grow strongly. Consolidating on our achievement is a challenge I accept with confidence and determination.

VISIT - From left: Head, Main Board, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr Tony Ibeziako; Executive Director, Business Development, Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Lanre Jaiyeola; Company Secretary, Mrs Yemisi Busari; Head, Premium Board, NSE, Mr Oluwafemi Onifade and Head, Product Management, Mr Oladipo Omotoso, during Honeywell's visit to the NSE in Lagos.

Banking stocks to recover on MPC decision —Ezcellon Capital STORIES BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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he decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cut the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of the deposit money banks to 25 per cent and retain the benchmark rate at 13 per cent will result in recovery in the NSE Banking index, Ezcellon Capital, an investment banking firm, said in a report.

The firm said in the report titled, “MPC Brief: Changing Policy Scope: From Restrictive to Accommodative Policy Drive” that the decision is an indication that the era of restrictive monetary policy may be over and the CBN may have commenced the path of accommodative monetary policies to support growth and employment in the economy.

It said: “Commercial banks are no doubt the biggest winners of the committee’s decision as it should unlock liquidity for the banking industry which could be channelled towards credit creation.

“From our estimates, total banking industry deposits was circa N17.6 trillion as at the end of August 2015. This implies that the 6.0 per cent reduction in CRR would likely reduce the amount being sterilised by the CBN from N5.5 trillion to N4.5 trillion, thus injecting additional N1.0 trillion into the banking industry.

“Also, the equities market, especially the Banking subindex, should respond positively in the immediate,

and erase some of its year-todate losses. Year-to-date, the NSE All Share index and Banking sector index have both shed 11.8 per cent and 8.8 per cent of their 2015

opening value respectively.”

“However, with an average loan to deposit ratio of 70.0 per cent for tier one banks as at half year 2015, which implies limited room for credit

creation, a significant portion (N642.0 billion given that tier one banks control about 60.8 per cent of total industry deposits as at June 2015) of the additional released funds may be injected/invested in government securities for the remainder of the year.

“This could undermine the growth and employment generation objectives the MPC seeks to achieve via the CRR reduction. Nonetheless, yields on government bonds and treasury bills may trend southwards in the short to medium term if banks channel the additional funds to the fixed income market,” it further stated.

Continuing, the report said, “Whilst the policy pronouncement by the MPC may have seemed positive, the potential downside of this move may be on the stability of prices in the economy, especially the Naira.

“We believe unlocking additional liquidity in a period where the CBN seeks to maintain exchange rate stability and curtail inflationary pressures may be counter-intuitive, as this could likely add to the pressure on the domestic currency and by extension, increase the general price level in the country.

This would typically worsen real income of the average consumer and by extension, consumption and growth in the economy.”

Investors shun secondary bonds market as NSE records zero deal I

nvestors last week shunned the secondary bonds market with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recording zero transaction on any of the bonds listed in the market.

This is against a total of 3,750 units valued at N3.299 million transacted the previous week in four deals.

According to Mr. David Adonri, Managing Director, Highcap Securities Limited, there has been declining interest in financial assets, especially bonds, both on the NSE and OTC market since the delisting of Nigeria by JP Morgan from its GBI-EM index series.

He explained that current state of the Nigerian economy and restrictions on free movement of cash in and out of the country has dampened foreign investors confidence and drive for fixed income instruments.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 850.095 million shares worth N9.060 billion in 9,414 deals were traded by investors on the floor of the Exchange within the week in contrast to a total of 1.384 billion shares valued at N13.862 billion that exchanged hands in 17,984 deals.

The financial services sector buoyed activity on the NSE, accounting for 726.294 million shares valued at N6.058 billion traded in 5,086 deals; thus contributing 85.44 per cent and 66.87 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The consumer goods sector followed with a turnover of 38.681 million shares worth N1.790 billion in 1,895 deals. The third place was occupied by the conglomerates industry with 37.874 million shares worth N224.698 billion in 538 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Zenith International Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Sterling Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 334.012 million shares worth N3.674 billion in 1,472 deals, contributing 39.29 per cent and 40.56 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 11,454 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N449,180.74 executed in 13 deals compared to a total of 1,189 units valued at N1.282 million transacted the previous week in 24 deals.

The NSE All-Share Index and market capitalization appreciated by 0.69 per cent to close at 30,543.17 and N10.497 trillion respectively. Similarly, all the Indices finished higher during the week with the exception of the NSE Banking and NSE Pension Indices that shed 0.66 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

29 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 56 equities of the preceding week, while 36 equities depreciated in price, higher than 22 equities of the preceding week.

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“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana, 1863-1952. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS).

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 31

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he nonsensical debate about Buhari’s first hundred days was, as usual, based on party lines and very superficial. To be candid, nothing is more ridiculous than our fixation on judging newly elected officials on their first hundred, out of one thousand, four hundred and sixty one days.

Even a local government council chairman, could not have mastered all the aspects of his new assignment in that time.

Governors and presidents need more time.

But, our collective stupidity, ably supported by my colleagues in the media, had got us hooked on the hundred days assessment. It is mostly a waste of everybody’s time.

I was happy to be watching a television programme when Buhari was in Ghana on the day. Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesman was reached and among other things he tried to play down the importance of the hundred days. Sanity at last.

It must however be pointed out that Adesina, in the SUN Newspaper, was not so generous with Yar’Adua and Jonathan regarding hundred days. The entire thing induces two sets of truth benders – those for the official (President or Governor) and those against. Invariably, government’s supporters claim 'giant strides'; while the opposition asserts that 'nothing was done.' So far in 2015 we have been treated to the same serving of malarkey.

That said, there is one matter about which there should be no dispute. Every year, the President, through his Federal Minister of Finance, is expected to have

What happened to the 2016 budget? sent the draft of the coming year’s appropriation bill to the National Assembly by October.

With Ministers not yet appointed, questions need to be asked about who is preparing the 2016 Budget which should be with the NASS before the year ends. A lot of ink and saliva had been

To those who might foolishly argue that delay does not matter because the President knows what he is doing, the answer is: the President is not an economist

wasted arguing whether it was all right to delay the appointment of Ministers.

That argument is baseless unless we answer the question: what will be the consequences of acting quickly or delaying?

Because our decisions and actions always entail consequences, one certain outcome of the delay in appointing a Minister of Finance is the fact that whoever is eventually appointed will have very little time to craft a coherent budget which will aim to achieve the right mixture of fiscal and monetary policies. This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of being aware that time frames exist for certain things to be done – otherwise there will be penalties to pay in the future.

Before members of the President’s Halleluyah chorus team start defending the indefensible, let me remind them that part of our economic calamities in the last 16 years can be attributed to late presentation and passage of budgets. The 2015 budget was not passed until late April.

One third of the fiscal year had elapsed before the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, knew how much they

were authorised to spend.

Thus, we were operating the budget for eight months instead of 12.

By contrast, budgets under military administrations were delivered on New Year's eve by the Head of State. A week, or so after, the Federal Minister of Finance would brief captains of industry, the global community and the media about the details including the regime of taxes, levies and tariffs designed to make the budget work. The last time Nigerians were treated to such a session was when Dr Okonjo-Iweala was Minister of Finance under Obasanjo. Since then, late presentation and passage on the budget, each year, had eliminated the Minister of Finance’s briefing. How much effectiveness we have lost as a result of this is incalculable.

Yet, this is the same path we are treading at the moment.

To those who might foolishly argue that delay does not matter because the President knows what he is doing, the answer is: the President is not an economist. He cannot possibly know everything.

That is why patriotic citizens must draw his attention to the things he should know; instead of the praise singers who assume he is infallible.

The sanctity of the budget cycle is one of those things

about which a President can do little. He has no choice about organising the Executive branch of government to prepare and send the following year ’s budget to the NASS for amendments and approval.

Ideally, the entire cycle should be completed by December 31 of that year because the year starts on January 1. That Yar ’Adua and Jonathan delayed should be no excuse for Buhari to do the same. The change mantra must include doing the right things at the right time – not any time the President pleases. The imperative of timeliness must be obeyed; otherwise we end up with another weak government.

For those who might want a reason for the urgency, let me provide one out of several.

The Federal budget is a huge document running to almost 1,000 pages sometimes with appendices covering a thousand more. Each of those pages contains figures about proposed expenditure which must be seriously interrogated by the legislators; otherwise they could be approving fraud.

And, it is not a novel which can be read quickly.

Presidents, in the past, had bamboozled us by sending the budget in late and then stampeding the NASS to hastily pass a budget they had no time to study. This cannot continue…

MICRO-FINANCE Small business owners groan under economic downturn STORIES BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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mall business owners have lamented the negative effect of economic downturn on their businesses especially as it affects profitability.

Also, some of the business owners who spoke with FV, said that they are reluctant to access loans from Micro finance Banks (MfBs) due to low patronage occasioned by the downturn and the high interest rate associated with accessing loan.

The survey further shows that some of these traders are yet to understand microfinance operations, considering various experiences where most of the business owners said they cannot borrow, but would rather manage their little capital to expand their businesses.

According to the small business owners: a beverage trader at the popular Adebayo Market, Ketu, identified as Iya Sule, said that the small business owners face the challenge of high interest rate with the banks, saying, “I am not denying the fact

that MfBs have not really tried with the financial aid they render to SMEs, I am a beneficiary of such aid, but due to the bad state of the economy, no patronage, everything seems very dry.

It is a delicate period for our kind of business, and if the

interest rate is too high, then we would only depend on our little profit which can barely sustain our business.”

A Cosmetics trader added, “MfBs are doing a wonderful job for SMEs compared to commercial banks that request for collateral too high for the SMEs to provide,

I patronize MfBs and I have never regretted my actions, am only depressed a little because the nature of the economy now is very terrible and I don’t even have the required profit to go and purchase a loan with interest rate that I can not pay-up within the stipulated time.”

On the other hand, a Fabrics trader, Suru market, Orile Iganmu, Mr. Ikem Ugwu, was indifferent about MfBs, stating, “I don’t go to micro-finance banks because I don’t need their loan. I prefer saving my money personally and using it for the growth of my business.

Brian Munro: Distributors profit from glucose investment B

rian Munro Limited and its distributors across the country have started reaping the gains of the company ’s investment in glucose manufacturing plant.

This was disclosed by National Sales Manager, Mr. Paul Omekwe, during the presentation of a brand new Toyota jeep, tricycle and air conditioner to distributors of Munro Glucose at OkeArin market, Lagos Island.

According to Omekwe, “We relaunched this product precisely three years ago and from then, a lot of things have changed. There have been a lot of patronages from our customers because they see it is of quality. The investment is huge and we have started seeing the results of our investments because our customers are happy. That

is one of the major achievements of the company.

“The essence of today’s event was to reward our esteemed distributors who have partnered with us. We believe they have worked hard and we have to reward them.

That is the reason for today ’s event, basically to reward our customers.”

He continued, “Last Tuesday, we were at Ibadan, where we presented a brand new car and other numerous gifts to all our distributors; andrd we are also going to Aba on October 3 , where we will be

rewarding our eastern distributors and we are going to give out five brand new cars and a bus to our distributors and other prizes, and like I said before, every customer is a winner.”

Fielding question on the challenges of market penetration, he replied “In any

business, there are challenges; in any challenge we have, we see an opportunity; that is why we have the edge because we are not weigh down by challenges. We are focused; we have a vision and challenges make us thicker, makes us to sit down and plan well and the result is what we are seeing today.”

The Toyota private jeep, star prize winner, Mr. Isaac Udeh, MD/CEO, MacZico Nigeria Limited, said: “I have been selling Munro glucose for two years. They have a very quality product at affordable price.

I’m really glad because this was the highest awards I ever won as a distributor. It will motivate me to do more because I can see that I am doing business with the right people. I will work harder to retain my No.1 position nationwide.”

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 33

34— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Homes & Housing The Nigerian housing sector, in all its component areas, requires active government participation as a firm enabler and not just a regulator

UK mortgage lending hits 5 year high

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et mortgage lending in UK hit a five-year high as Britons made the most of record-low interest rates before an expected rise next year, even as British banks approved the highest number of mortgages in 18 months in August.

The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said its members approved 46,473 home loans in August, the highest number since February 2014. That was up from 46,315 in July and 40,454 a year ago. Net mortgage lending was 1.955 billion pounds ($2.98 billion) in cash terms, up from 1.701 billion in July and a level last exceeded in August 2010. “People are putting their money into bricks and mortar while interest rates are low and the timing of a likely rate rise remains uncertain,” BBA chief economist, Richard Woolhouse said.

Bank to pay $32m for mortgage discrimination

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o r t g a g e discrimination against black and Hispanic communities has led to a proposed $32.75 million settlement between Hudson City Savings Bank and the federal government.

The New Jersey-based lender located branches, chose mortgage brokers and marketed loans that discouraged borrowers in predominantly minority communities, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Justice Department said Thursday.

Those specific practices show that Hudson City violated federal law by structuring its business to avoid providing credit based on race and national origin, said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the District of New Jersey.

If the court overseeing the case approves the settlement, Hudson City would need to pay $25 million for a loan subsidy program to increase access to mortgages in black and Hispanic neighbourhoods. It would also owe $2.25 million for community programs and outreach and $5.5 million in penalties.

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•Mini housing

Varsity don advocates enactment of Housing Act

By YINKA KOLAWOLE

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university don, Prof.

Timothy Nubi, has called for the enactment of a Housing Act in Nigeria that will guarantee access to decent housing for all Nigerians, similar to the Universal Basic Education that ensures every Nigerian child has access to primary and secondary education.

Nubi who is an expert on housing and urban regeneration and a Senior Lecturer in Department of Estate Management at the University of Lagos made the call at an inaugural lecture in Lagos.

“About 60 percent of the present population of the country lack adequate housing. Current housing deficit is about 16 million units. Housing inadequacy is felt more by the less privileged groups (low income earners, the displaced, youth, elderly, physically challenged), even the middle class have started to feel the pain of the acute housing shortage. The current deficiency, in addition to projected demography trends, points to the need for several million housing units to be built across the country in the coming years.

“The Nigerian housing sector, in all its component areas, requires active government participation as a firm enabler and not just a regulator. It is a necessity of government to give every Nigerian whatever they need to make sure that no Nigerian sleeps under the bridge like a dog. It is something that when it becomes a law, it will no

longer be an obligation but a rule of the government. The Act will specify the age at which you can get your own house and the quality of housing, among other things and should be the basis for a law that every house in Nigeria must meet certain specifications and every worker must have access to housing. Now, there are people who take the government to court that they didn’t do a particular thing, when there are laws and the government is not obeying it, because you know it is a law

then you can take the government to court. People are taking the government to court concerning the violation of the Electoral Act, because there is a law; politicians can take the government to court, so also in the medical profession. When there is a law, the people can find something to fight with; but when everything is policy, it becomes optional for the government to implement,” he stated The university don advocated that all the existing policies on housing and land

administration should be harmonised into the proposed law. “We have a building code, which should be an important part of the Act; the building code has not become law, but it should be made an important component of the Act.” He also noted the need for the creation of a workable mortgage system to tackle the difficulty of housing provision in the country. He said the plan should engage the public sector as against the current system that has left housing in the hands of the private sectors. He also charged government to make consistent housing policies based on elements drawn from the developed countries, whose policies have produced massive, positive outcomes, since the early 1930s when such countries have put in place effective mortgage plans.

How to increase curb appeal of your home

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urb appeal refers to the general attractiveness of a property when viewed from the exterior. It is a term often used by realtors in the evaluation and/or sale of a property. Curb appeal is crucial in property valuation, and many simple things can easily increase the curb appeal of a piece of property.

Repaint or replace gates, fences: Changing the look of the outside of your home with cosmetic maintenance measures like painting or refurbishing faulty items is one of the easiest ways to ensure the curb appeal of your home or property is at its peak. Most of the time, even the most expensive property can seem cheap and unattractive when broken or rotting material are the first thing one sees in its aesthetic.

Also, once flaws are fixed colour and other decorations help to give the property a little infusion of the owner’s personality.

Clean, cover all exposed or dirty gutters: This is a major issue in Nigeria with putrid gutters and drainage systems existing undisturbed side by side with tastefully constructed mansions. Nothing screams ‘neglect’ more than an uncovered or dirty gutter. Ensuring that the drainage outlets around your property are clog-free and properly sealed should be a priority to avoid downgrading the general neighbourhood

aesthetic. Ideally all open drainages should be tiled over and kept out of sight of passersby.

Create an instant garden: There are many roadside florists along the major roads in the country who sell potted plants in bloom. A few of these at the exterior of your home come together to form a blossoming garden with only a fraction of the effort, and provide colorful, affordable curb appeal. Also, the plants can be arranged in different patterns to create a dynamic landscape.

Create a planting bed: Planting beds are those areas usually on the sides of the walkways of the exterior of the property that are not exactly gardens but are sectioned off for plants and greenery. Just like the instant garden, a planting bed will also benefit from purchases from the roadside florist or gardener. Also, because planting beds frame the property and complement it, accentuating the edge of the beds using stones, bricks, or gravel mix is a great idea. Also vary the colour and size of the plants within the bed for effect.

Build a walkway or driveway: Sometimes the only thing needed to spruce up your home dramatically might be a creatively designed walkway or driveway. A walkway makes your home feel warm and inviting and a driveway makes the property look grand. *Courtesy Lamudi Nigeria

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 35

E-Commerce

Convenience remains major driver of SMEs into e-commerce —Research STORIES BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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survey conducted by online marketplace, Kaymu.com has revealed that convenience remains the number one driver of most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into ecommerce in Nigeria.

The survey which showed that 59 per cent of SME owners in Nigeria are between the ages of 25 and 34 indicated that convenience, cost effectiveness and improved productivity facilitated through e-commerce remains key attractions for SMEs seeking to leverage the internet to boost their businesses.

The report showed 31 per cent citing convenience for delving into e-commerce while 21.5 per cent and 18.9 per cent cited cost effectiveness and better productivity respectively as key reasons for venturing into e-commerce.

The survey also indicated that mobile phones, electronic gadgets, fashion, jewellery and watches remain top three products sold on the internet.

The survey which also indicated that 30.7 per cent

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of most SMEs online sell on Kaymu marketplace also noted that when it comes to electronic payments, MasterCard, Visa and Paypal remain the preferred choice for most SME ecommerce platforms as integrated epayment channels while Facebook remains the most popular social media platform

among SME operators online.

This survey, though limited in scope, is an important step that sheds light on the adoption of ecommerce by SMEs in Nigeria.

As at the second quarter of 2014, small and medium scale businesses online was at best unknown. The most

MAX.ng seeks to reinvent e-commerce logistics from traditional courier new as it has been proven in the US, Europe and Asia”

BY NAOMI UZOR

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etro Africa Xpress, MAX.ng, has said that it is set to reinvent ecommerce logistics and lastmile fulfilment in Africa.

In a parley with pressmen, at the launching of MAX.ng, the founders of MAX.ng, Adetayo Bamiduro and Chinedu Azodoh, said MAX’s objective is to move products rapidly within Africa’s commercial hubs on behalf of consumers, merchants and corporate bodies..

According to the founders, MAX commenced operations in Lagos in August 2015 and currently provides express deliveries to leading ecommerce companies, corporations, online merchants and everyday individuals within Lagos.

They disclosed that MAX.ng has received recognition and awards from the World Economic Forum, the MasterCard Foundation and the Harvard Kennedy School for its innovative operating model and its focus on inclusive growth.

“Like any disruptive model, MAX takes a clean break

C M Y K

Apple names top 25 apps hit by malware in first major attack

operators by leveraging Automated Dispatch Technology and a crowd sourced network of what it calls ‘Delivery Champions’ to provide accelerated deliveries within cities. The approach MAX is adapting for the Nigerian market is truly radical but not entirely

Azodoh said.

He said one of the unique selling points of MAX is a proprietary technology platform that connects these ‘Delivery Champions’ with delivery requests in real-time, making it possible to pick-up and deliver products to customers within 3 hours.

common e-commerce applications used by most SMEs included but not limited to the use of e-mails for communication purposes and a simple website for basic product information – information contained are usually outdated as most of these websites are hardly updated.

Findings revealed, among others, that lack of and total absence of a regulatory framework on e-commerce security, as well as technical skills, and basic infrastructures are some of the barriers to electronic commerce adoption. This however, provides a constructive insight to governments as well as other stakeholders on the need to give e-commerce a place in all aspects of e-commerce activities.

Konga, Glo partner to reward customers

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igeria’s online mall, Konga.com and Globacom have announced a new partnership to reward customers of the two companies.

The partnership tagged: ‘Glo with Happiness’ campaign, will deliver a myriad of amazing deals to customers of the two companies over the coming weeks.

The campaign will kick off with a ‘Recharge and Win’ promo in which all subscribers on the Globacom network stand to enjoy discounts off their first purchases on Konga. To win in the promo, Globacom subscribers simply need to recharge their phones with airtime of N1, 000 or more and they will get a discount code immediately,

which gives them N1, 000 off their first order on konga.com.

Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni said the company entered into the partnership with Konga to extend its reach to the online community in tandem with its tradition of bringing its products and services closer to all its subscribers.

“We are in a connected era where people relish the convenience of placing orders for products and services of their choice from the comfort of their immediate environment. This is the additional value the partnership with Konga will offer Globacom subscribers,” said Israni.

He added that Globacom will continue to invest huge

resources in supporting, developing and maintaining any profound information and communications technology initiative. “Our desire is to ensure that our subscribers continue to enjoy quality and affordable data and voice offerings with greater and unfettered access to our products and services through both the conventional retail channels and online retail outlets. That is the robust platform the partnership with Konga.com has offered,” he said.

In his remarks, the Marketing Vice President for Konga.com, Mr. Gabriel GabUmoden said, “This partnership will allow us deliver even more on our promise of unbeatable value to our teeming customers.

pple Inc said the WeChat messaging app and car-hailing app DiDi Taxi were among the 25 most popular apps found to be infected with malicious software, the first-ever largescale attack on its App Store.

Apple last week said it was cleaning up its App Store after several cybersecurity firms reported that unknown hackers had embedded a malware, dubbed XcodeGhost, in hundreds, possibly thousands, of Chinese apps.

“We have no information to suggest that the malware has been used to do anything malicious,” Apple said in its XcodeGhost Q&A Web page.

The company did not previously disclose which apps had been affected, although many had been identified by third parties.

Infected apps include Baidu Inc’s Baidu Music app, the 58 Classified-Job, Used Cars, Rent, and a music app from Internet portal NetEase Inc. Tencent Holdings Ltd is the owner of WeChat.

This is the first reported case of large number of malicious software programs making their way past Apple’s stringent app review process.

EU launches inquiry into web companies’ online behaviour

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he

European

Commission last week launched an inquiry into the behaviour of online companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon to try to gauge whether there is a need to regulate the web.

The public consultation seeks answers on a broad range of issues, from the contractual restrictions online groups may impose on other businesses, for example, companies seeking to display ads, to how proactive they should be in removing illegal content online.

It is not clear whether the inquiry will lead to any regulation of the Internet in the European Union, but it provides more evidence that mainly U.S. tech companies are coming under increasing scrutiny in Europe for issues ranging from their privacy practices to taxation.

“Platforms are part of a thriving digital economy but questions are also raised about their transparency and use of content,”

36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

Collegiate presidency and national harmony

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here can be no end in the foreseeable future to a do-or-die fight for the presidency of our nation.

The unbridled struggle for the position of top dog has generally been motivated by the attraction of the prospect of almost absolute power over our lives and our nation’s resources, particularly the proceeds from the oil wells of the Niger Delta. Indeed, if income derived from oil is removed from the federal purse, federal government may have to manage on less than 30% of its annual budgets.

Indeed, the underbelly of the arbitrarily created 36 states and 774 local governments would also be exposed, as most of these would literarily collapse without what some people have described as ‘blood money’ from the Niger Delta.

“It is likely that if only modest resources and power devolved to the centre for the exercise of its exclusive responsibilities, there would be less attraction to capture the Presidency at all cost for one’s political club.

“Our political godfathers in their wisdom attempted to bring some sanity to the acrimony, insecurity and instability generated by the struggle for the lucrative centre with the concept of rotating presidency along the North and South axis or less rigidly, amongst the six generally accepted geopolitical zones.

However, this solution has not brought with it much comfort because of the implication that our current constitutional provision for a maximum of two – four year terms could mean that each geopolitical zone would produce a president every 48 years (that

is, assuming that each geopolitical zone’s president enjoys his full eight years in charge of the nation’s treasury).

“In the above political dilemma, particularly where the plunder of resources take precedence over service and wealth creation, all of us Nigerians have become the victims of the greed of a parasitic political class – invariably championed by both pure and veiled autocratic leadership for the greater part of over four decades.

Indeed, the greatest threat to our contrived democracy is dictatorship! If we are to have peace and stability in this country, our constitution should ensure that the best available presidential materials from each geopolitical zone at any one time have unfettered access to contest for and attain the highest post in the land. We should also adopt a constitution that ensures that no one person remains in power long enough to become so formidable as to successfully engineer term elongation and perpetuate a dictatorship.

“The National Assembly, demonstrated great courage in throwing out Obasanjo’s third term bid, and they appropriately received the commendation of all patriotic Nigerians, but discerning Nigerians have warned against complacency. If the rate of poverty deepens and injustice and disrespect for the rule of law by the executive remain unchecked, we can still end up with a National Assembly wholly made up of surrogates as witnessed in some states, vis-à-vis the godfather syndrome, in the

recent past. Ultimately, we could transmute to a constitutional dictatorship and our people would have fallen into real bondage as the dark days of insecurity, instability and one-man-rule would be with us once again!

“So, how can we prevent such an ugly scenario in our nation’s political life and avoid the grip of the irrepressible ethnic/regional aspirations for the Presidency? In this regard, some eminent Nigerians have argued that the first requirement for a just, stable and egalitarian nation should be the adoption of a truly federal constitution where the centre devolves more of its powers to the states/regions as the engines of growth so that the states/ regions freely exploit their internal human and mineral resources and pay appropriate dues to federal government at the centre. It is argued that such a structure would motivate each region to

On the level of states and local governments, the same collegiate system of administration comprising ethnic nationalities can also be put in place to ensure cohesion and harmoniously carry along the majority of the communities in each state

dictatorship so that Nigerians can afford to sleep with both eyes closed! Furthermore, the abiding desire of geopolitical groups to see their own person up there would be realized as each region would perpetually have a member in the collegiate presidency.

Nigeria would also be able to enjoy the advantage of the contribution of more eminently qualified and socially committed presidential materials in each six-year term of office. With such a model, the collegiate presidency would play as a team of stars to achieve their party’s manifesto rather than a lone star in the firmament.

“On the level of states and local governments, the same collegiate system of administration comprising ethnic nationalities can also be put in place to ensure cohesion and harmoniously carry along the majority of the communities in each state.

However, very cogent arguments can also be made for the abolition of the rather wasteful and unviable 36 states structure with oppressively huge operational costs that make little or no contribution to the well-being of most Nigerians while providing opportunities for more political adventurers to line their pockets. The choice is ours to make; do we want to live in apprehension and sustain acrimony in our body polity or do we truly want to break the chains of our bondage and release our true potential as a nation?”

This article was first published in June 2006 but is reproduced to commemorate the 55th anniversary of Nigerian’s Independence this week.

look inwards and develop its own God-given resources to the best of their ability, rather than wait for monthly handouts from government.

All regions would be actively engaged in putting their citizens to work and commercially exploit their God given resources and create additional wealth with attendant improvement in social welfare.

“In addition, we may also consider the adoption of a sixyear collegiate presidency to douse the tension and attrition created by the usual battles to install an all powerful one man presidency and the incessant clamour and grandstanding by each geopolitical group for their turn each time an incumbent’s tenure comes to an end.

Under this arrangement, each political party would field a team comprising six candidates selected from each of the six geopolitical zones for the post of President to prosecute its party ’s manifesto. Every member of the victorious collegiate will serve as president for only one year while the other five members of the collegiate would serve as vice presidents with direct oversight responsibilities for a discrete set of ministries and/or parastals. Similarly, the Vice Presidents would also be rotated annually from one set of ministries to the other, so that in a six-year term, each member of the collegiate would have served for one year in every segment of federal administration with one year as defacto President.

“Thus, it will be impossible for one person to consolidate a hold on the seat of power and remain long enough to eventually constitute a

SAVE THE NAIRA, SAVE NIGERIANS.

Business & Economy NNPC may sell refineries that don't meet rehabilitation ultimatum — GMD

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it may sell refineries that fail to work optimally by the expiration of the 90-day ultimatum for their rehabilitation.

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the NNPC Group Managing Director, disclosed this at an interactive session with news men in Lagos. Kachikwu said “by the end of December when the 90-day ultimatum will expire, any refinery that does not work optimally will be sold.

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“I am determined to make a difference during my tenure.

We are losing N2.2 trillion monthly to refinery inefficiency. As at today, the average refining performance is 30 per cent.

“If by December, the refineries don’t work, I will export crude allocation and import refined petroleum products until we fix the refineries. Right now, the Port Harcourt refinery is showing signs that it will meet the December deadline.

However, I am not saying

Warri and Kaduna refineries will not meet the deadline, but I hope they all make it, so that we can continue to utilise our crude allocation to boost domestic refining.”

Kachikwu expressed the hope that the NNPC cash call arrears, which stood at N1.1 trillion, would be settled by the end of December 2015.

“By December, I hope to settle all the cash call arrears and grow Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) to where it is supposed to be,” he said.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha Nkiruka Nnorom CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter Capital Market Reporter

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 37

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38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 , 2015—39

Okowa not preparing for rerun —TIDI

By Tare Youdewei

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CONFERENCE: From left: Bishop Tudor Bismark of Jabula New Life Ministries, Zimbabwe; Pastor Wale Adefarasin of Guiding Light Assembly, Lagos and Host, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, at House on The Rock Church for the Spirit Life Conference in Lagos.

SABA—Michael Tidi, Special Assistant on News Media to Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has insisted that contrary to the online submissions of National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, Sherrif Mulade, “Governor Okowa is not preparing for any envisaged governorship rerun election but is entirely focused on delivering on his mandate

to the satisfaction of all Deltans for the next four years preparatory to 2019.”

In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Asaba, Tidi submitted that “Governor Okowa’s one and only concern both now and going forward is the welfare of all Deltans by diligently implementing his S.M.A.R.T. agenda of wealth creation and holistic development in tandem with the Prosperity for all Deltans mantra of this administration.”

According to Tidi, “Comrade Mulade’s allegation that the administration has been making secret appointments is completely laughable. In the first place no appointment can be secret as every appointment is easily verifiable.”

Tidi further asserted that “Mulade’s insinuation of ethnic coloration of his phantom secret appointments” are without basis, wondering, about the statistics Mulade had relied on for “his completely wild allegations.”

O'tega most qualified to be minister from Delta —ONOKPASA

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ARRI—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Jesutega Onokpasa, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Delta APC gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor as the Minister from Delta.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, yesterday, Onokpasa, who described Emerhor as a gentleman of “inestimable insight and exceptional goodwill” also, asserted that it was Emerhor who first championed the cause of change in Delta and brought diehard Buhari supporters into the APC in the state, including my humble self.'”

Insisting that Emerhor, having never held any post in government before is therefore a true technocrat without any blemish, Onokpasa opined that Emerhor “is most qualified to be a minister according to any standard of measurement.”

He said: “I implore Mr. President not to abandon the few of us who bravely stood to be counted on his side, sticking out our necks for the APC and indeed risking our livesforhiscandidacyintheNiger Delta. All through the struggle, our one and only true motivator, mobiliser,inspirerandundisputed leader was O’tega who made us realize that as genuine Nigerian patriots, opposing former President Jonathan and supporting Buhari is not inconsistent with our status as true Niger Deltans.”

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40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015—41

Vanguard CLASSIFIED E Y E K O S I— I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Eyekosi Emmanuella Bawo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bawo E m m a n u e l l a Momolayemi. All former documents remain valid. General public and whom it may concern should please take note.

S O WA N D E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss O y i n k a n s o l a Oluwafunmilola Sowande, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O y i n k a n s o l a Oluwafunmilola Fagbemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ALATIMIBO-ERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Johnny Alatimibo-Ere Cassandra, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogelebor Aladebi Cassandra Johnny. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUNREMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Ogunremi Mabel Biola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amoo Mabel Biola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEFUNMILAYO— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adefunmilayo Blessing Oluwasore, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aigbadon Blessing Oluwasore. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BABAJIDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Babajide Olawunmi Seun, now wish to be known and addressed as ToluAdeniran Olawunmi Seun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKPAGHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekpagha Elohor Anita, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aligbo Elohor Anita.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Addition of Name ZACCHAEUS—I, formerly known and addressed as Rhoda Adebayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rhoda Adebayo Zacchaeus. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL 79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA. CALL 08035449960, 08035449960 MURPHY'S PLAZA 2 7 , S A N U S I F A F U N WA S T R E E T, VICTORIA ISLAND. CALL 08038092373, 08033163424

FOR ENQUIRIES CALL ADVERT HOTLINE: 01- 4544821 C M Y K

Ex-Ogun, CRS govs, others grace Somolu's funeral

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ORMER governors of Ogun and Cross River states, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Liyel Imoke, as well as the former managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr Funsho Kupolokun and former Minister of Works, Mr Adeseye Ogunseye were among the many personalities who thronged the Williams Memorial Methodist Church, AgoIjaiye, Ebutte-Metta, Lagos for the funeral ceremony of Engr, Foluseke Somolu who died recently at the age of 69 years and was buried at The Vault, Ikoyi, Lagos last Thursday, September.

The funeral service which commenced at 11.10 am witnessed a mammoth crowd of family members, friends, colleagues of the late Engineer with a thought provoking service conducted by The Very Reverend Ade Ademulua, The Presbyter and Minister in charge of the church. In his Homily, Reverend Ademulua called on all mortals to prepare for a day when they will close their eyes in death and join their heavenly father in heaven.

He extolled the virtues of late Engr. Somolu, whom he described as a very serious christian, both in his work and deed.

Earlier,the three day funeral programme had witnessed an evening of tribute for late former President of Nigeria Society of Engineers, organized by the Nigerian Engineers at the University of Lagos staff school. It was a session where his colleagues and friends poured endless encomiums on him for his good deeds in elevating the business of engineering in the country. This session held on Tuesday, September 22.

There was also a service of songs on Wednesday, where eulogies were poured on the late engineer, whom many described as a hard working and focused man, and most importantly, a silent philanthropist. He was known to have impacted on so many lives.

Engr. Somolu, an electrical engineer of note spent 27 years at the now defunct NEPA and also served as SSA to Presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua.

He was in the NEPA Technical Committee before he was elevated to the position of SSA. He was survived by his wife Mrs. Tokunbo Somolu, children and grandchildren

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 , 2015

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT 70TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK, US

From left: Director General UNIDO, Mr. Li; President President Muhammadu Buhari addressing delegates during the special meeting on Muhammadu Buhari; ADB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and the Operationalization of the 2030 Agenda for Africa's Industrialization as a side event representative of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Peter Lansky, on of the 70th United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters, New York. Photos: the occasion.

Abayomi Adeshida.

From left: Hon. Alhassan Doguwa; Former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi; Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof.

From left: Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Joy Ogwu; Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, and All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Sharon Ikeazor after attending a Prof. John Idoko; President Muhammadu Buhari; Executive Director Special Session of the United Nations on Women and Gender Equality as one of UNFPA, Pro. Babatunde Osotimehin and the Executive Director, the side events of the 70th UN General Assembly.

UNAIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe, during a side meeting on HIV/AIDS.

ASSET DECLARATION: Kwara monarchs caution

FG against persecution NLC didn't tell Saraki to resign—WABBA

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By Henry Umoru

BUJA—KWARA State Traditional Rulers have thrown their weight behind their own, Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki, in his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over false declaration of assets. This is just as the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC has denied asking Saraki to resign.

The monarchs argued that it was obvious the Senate President was being persecuted, even as they pledged to continue to pray for him Reacting to the ongoing trial of the Senate President, the traditional rulers at the weekend warned the present administration against politics of persecution.

In a statement yesterday by Saraki’s media office, the monarchs also reminded the Muhammadu Buhari led administration that Nigerians who voted for the All Progressives C M Y K

Congress, APC, in the last election, voted for change and not for political harassment of perceived opponents.

Emir of Ilorin speaks

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, spoke when he led top Kwara traditional chiefs on a solidarity visit to Saraki’s residence in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

Sulu-Gambari urged Nigerians to be wary of bad elements bent on dividing the country on account of political vendetta.

The Chairman, Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, stated that since nobody can claim perfection, the resort to hurling political enemies before the courts over spurious charges is harmful.

Sulu-Gambari said: “We are here for good reasons and to bring the goodwill of the Council of Chiefs, representing all the chiefs and traditional rulers of Kwara State. We came here to join our son (Bukola Saraki) with whom

we are much pleased.

“We are ready to support him. We are here to see him on the various constitutional challenges, we would not call them problems, may God not make them problems for us.

“It doesn’t take long for a 10-year old child to realize that our dear son, our precious son is being persecuted. The politics of persecution is not the right change for Nigeria.

“We want changes, we want it to be clean. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. If you want equity, you yourself must do equity. There is a situation where you must come with clean hands, there is situation where you must do equity to ask for equity.

“We know there are several stages of challenges before our leader (Saraki) in Kwara State, such that nobody in Nigeria can ever be clean enough. But do we want to upset the whole Nigeria community because we want beautiful change? Time and

posterity will tell.

“But we want to appeal to men of goodwill that politics should not be with bitterness.

Politics should be about the unity of this country.

“We have come so far, we have tried many forms of political structures. The one before us now, which God has given the APC, the APC has been given strait-jacket power of this country. We want to appeal for their understanding to keep what God has given them jealously from those who are ready to dismantle them.

“This is where Kwara State has been given a chance to be part of the government of this country. We intend to retain it, we don’t want anything to preclude us.

“Therefore, you are a test case for the whole country, and if I say test case, I believe men of understanding will understand what I mean. We should not

fail, and you will not fail. We will continue to pray for you”, the Emir of Ilorin said.

Responding, the Senate President informed the Monarchs that he was being persecuted rather than prosecuted over alleged false assets declaration.

He however thanked the royal fathers for identifying with him over his current travails, saying he will overcome.

NLC didn’t tell Saraki to resign—Wabba

Also, the leadership of the organised labour has denied the report credited to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false asset declaration should resign.

The factional President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told newsmen in Abuja, Sunday, that the NLC, though fighting corruption, believed in the rule of law.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 43

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44—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

ANNIVERSARY: From left;Revd Matthew Siyanbade, Senior Pastor, Livingspring Baptist Church; Mrs. Biyi Tunji-Olugbodi, receiving award on behalf of Dr Tunji Olugbodi from Mr Michael Awolade, at the 14th anniversary of Livingspring Baptist Church, at Rehobothland Lakeview Phase 2, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos yesterday.Photo: Akeem Salau.

From left; Mr Michael Awolade; Revd Matthew Siyanbade, Senior Pastor, Livingspring Baptist Church; Mrs. Biyi Tunji-Olugbodi, representing chairman of the occasion, Dr Tunji Olugbodi; Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN) and Dr Segun Akeredolu, at the occasion.

5YRS AFTER: A-Ibom gov orders restoration of electricity to LG

By Tom Moses

O

KOBO—GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, weekend, ordered the immediate restoration of electricity to Okobo Local Government Area of the state that had been without power in the past five years.

This came as he flagged-off the construction of Uyo-OkoboOron dual-carriage road project.

The governor decried the situation where the people of Okobo had been languishing in darkness for the past five years and said the situation was unacceptable.

Addressing the people of Uyo-Okobo-Oron, Governor Emmanuel said the project was in fulfilment of his campaign promises of opening up the hinterland for development.

“The road which links Uyo, Okobo, Oron and the East West Road to the coastal communities is strategic to the socio-economic development of the state,” he said.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to the development of the coastal areas to boost the economic activities in the state when the Ibom Deep Seaport becomes operational, he noted that discussion was ongoing with a Holland-based firm for the development of Oron beach.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, said the construction of the road which will cover 31.4 kilometers, would be executed by a multi-national firm.

The commissioner, however, explained that the road construction, which incorporates three bridges

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among others, would be executed in two phases and completed in 36 months.

Also speaking, the Transition Committee Chairman of Okobo Local Government Council, Mr. Attah Okon, said Okobo

people were proud to be associated with the governor in his bid to re-link Uyo with Oron through Okobo.

He commended Governor Emmanuel’s initiative and pledged the cooperation of the people to enhance the

success of the road construction.

Paramount Ruler, Owong Andem Ibok, former Minister of Housing, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Edo govt escor t driver arrested over attempted break-in

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—SECURITY operatives attached to Edo State Government House, weekend, arrested one of the escort drivers attached to the convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole who attempted to break into the Accounts section at midnight.

The said escort driver, a police officer, was arrested with welding machines and other equipment with which he tried to break into the vault.

However, luck ran out on him as one of the security men attached to Government House heard a loud noise from that section and ran to the scene.

The security officer who saw

the thief with his torch, was shocked when he saw the face of the suspect to be that of the escort driver.

To even exhibit his determination to succeed in his mission, the suspect was said to have pleaded with the man who caught him to join him in the operation, promising to share the spoils equitably.

Vanguard learned that his comment infuriated the security man who caught him and subsequently alerted other security men who cordoned off the premises to prevent the suspect from escaping.

It was gathered that when the suspect realized that the game was up, he tried to scale the

fence but was apprehended by the vigilant security operatives at Government House and was handed over to police at Aideyan Police Station in Benin.

When contacted, Edo State Police Command spokesman, DSP Stephen Onwuchei, confirmed the incident, saying: “There was a report of such nature which is at investigation level.

“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, to take over the investigation. As I speak with you, the DC State CID should be at Government House to visit the scene of crime.”

Michael and Cecilia Ibru Varsity opens formally

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ICHAEL and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, has been formerly opened with officials of Delta State Government, Nigerian and foreign academicians, legal luminaries, politicians, civil servants, parents and potential students in attendance.

Notable academicians associated with the university are the Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo; the

Chairman, Board of Trustees, Prof. Onigu Otite; ProChancellor, Joop Berkout; the Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Uvie Tobore Igun.

Delta State Government delegation was led by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Festus Ovie Agas, and Joyce Overah, the Commissioner for Science and Technology.

Co-founder of the university, Dr. Cecilia Ibru, while speaking

at the event, said theuniversity, was established to reduce poverty by raising well rounded graduates who would be builders of any society in which they find themselves.

She said: “The focus of the university will be on well rounded development of the individual member of the university community without discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion.”

Driver of killer truck in Calabar was drunk —WITNESSES

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—DETAILS emerged on Saturday of the fatal accident that occurred at Okurikang, near Calabar, which claimed the lives of eight persons last Friday, as the driver was said to have been drunk before getting on the wheels.

Eyewitnesses told to Vanguard that the driver of the articulated truck that crushed two vehicles leading to the death of the eight people was drunk and drove recklessly, even when he knew he was approaching a bad spot on the road.

According to eyewitnesses, Iquo and Edet, who are fruit sellers at the accident spot, a truck going from the Calabar end of the road toward Uyo had broken down at the bad spot the previous night, causing traffic snarl on both sides of the road the next morning.

“Vehicles had lined up and were moving slowly to nnavigate through the bad spot since the bad truck was in the middle of the road and suddenly, this truck coming from Aba was on top speed and when he saw that there were vehicles on the bad spot, he applied brakes but the speed was too much and he lost control of the vehicle and it crashed into two vehicles and swept them into the valley,” Iquo, one of the eyewitnesses, said She said when the truck swept the two vehicles, a mini bus and a Volkswagen Elantra, into the gully, the driver came out, reeking alcohol.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015—45

Kabba, Obangede general hospitals regain specialist status

By Kingsley Fanwo

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COMMISSIONING: From left— Secretary to Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold; Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulwahab; Asiwaju of Oke-Ode, Alhaji Kola Yusuf; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Durosinlohun Atiku; Elesha of Oke-Ode, Oba Abdulkadir Adelodun, and Deputy Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhameed, at the commissioning of Oke-Ode Central Mosque, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Saturday.

Buhari tasks tertiary institutions on fight against corruption

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has urged tertiary institutions in the country to join hands with him in the fight against corruption, so youths could imbibe the virtues of truth, honesty and trust before completing their studies.

President Buhari also charged universities in the country to introduce courses that would teach moral and leadership roles to serve as standard for fighting corruption, adding that doing that would ensure perfect governance structures at all levels.

He further charged vice chancellors of public and private universities as well as heads of other higher institutions to key into his administration’s policy of ensuring high standard in tertiary institutions.

The President gave the charge in Jos, Plateau State, during the combined 27th and 28th convocation of the University of Jos, which also coincided with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the university.

The President was represented by the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof.

Julius Okojie.

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20 feared dead in fresh Borno village attack

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—NO fewer than 20 people were killed, while several others were injured as members of Boko Haram terrorists’ sect, Saturday night, invaded Malari and other communities in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

However, Borno State Police Commissioner, Mr. Opadokun Aderemi, said in a text message to Vanguard that only nine people were killed, while 10 others were seriously injured.

Malari village is South-East of, and about 35 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, and had suffered series of deadly attacks in the recent past.

A resident of the area, Mustapha Abubakar, who fled to Maiduguri, said the insurgents, who came on motorcycles and Toyota Hilux vehicles on Saturday night, shot at anybody they came across.

He said: “We fled into the bush and after they left, we returned to pick some of our belongings. I counted 20 corpses; some were slaughtered, while others had gunshot wounds. The corpses were all over the streets of the village.

“Government has to do something, otherwise they will continue to kill innocent citizens. Every surrounding village, which are not far from Maiduguri, had been taken over by the insurgents, as most of them are residing around the area.”

Confirming the attack, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Opadokun Aderemi, said: “Today, September 27, at about 2a.m., suspected Boko Haram

terrorists attacked Malari village, Konduga Local Government Area.

“Nine persons were reported killed, while 10 were injured.

The village is not far from Alau Dam that supplies water to

Maiduguri and its environs.

“The injured are being treated at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Security is already beefed up to forestall a recurrence, as investigation progresses.”

Why 5 Jigawa emirs were barred from Sallah durbar

By Tina Akannam

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UTSE—FIVE first class Emirs of Jigawa State were, weekend, barred from traditional Sallah Durbar (horse riding), known as Hawan Sallah, by the state government due to current security challenges in the North-East .

Vanguard gathered that the emirs of Hadejia, Kazaure, Gumel, Ringim and Dutse only attended Eid-el Kabir prayers with their subordinates and hundreds of Muslims faithful in their domain and went back to their palaces.

The Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Husaini Adamu, went to

the mosque for the first time in a car instead of a horse, and left for Daura after prayers, where he paid Sallah homage on President Muhammadu Buhari.

Vanguard gathered reliably that the Emirs were informed officially two weeks before Sallah through the state special service directory that the usual durbar had been cancelled throughout the state for security reasons.

When contacted, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Sani Gabas, said he would not comment on it since it was a security issue.

Benue budgets N6.4bn for primary schools' infrastructure

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—BENUE State government would commit N6.4 billion to provide and improve dilapidated infrastructure in primary schools across the state before the end of the year.

Governor Samuel Ortom made this known while playing host to officials of Benue State chapter of the

Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, in Makurdi, weekend.

He said: “The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has provided a grant of N3.2 billion for that purpose, while I have already included the same amount as counterpart fund in the N5.6 billion approved by the state Assembly for payment of counterpart funds across board.”

ESIDENTS of Kabba and Obangede in Kogi West and Central senatorial districts, respectively, have hailed the return of their general hospitals to specialist status by Governor Idris Wada.

According to them, the decision will ensure firstclass medical services are given to the people.

It would be recalled that the two hospitals lost their specialist status during the tenure of Prince Abubakar Audu, in what many regarded as political victimization.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, signed by Emmanuel Boro, the governor said he decided to return the hospitals' specialist status to make them perform optimally.

The statement assured the people of g o v e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to meeting their health needs, saying efforts were on to ensure the supply of equipment for the hospitals to function optimally.

When fully equipped, the two hospitals are expected to major in surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, radiology, sonography and laboratory medicine.

The governor also directed that appropriate manpower be engaged and deployed to the specialist hospitals.

Reacting to the gesture of government on Kabba Specialist Hospital, the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Traditional Council, HRM Oba Michael Olabayo, hailed the initiative as a “historic move that will help to deliver excellent healthcare services not only to the people of Kabba, but also the entire Okun nation.”

Also speaking to Vanguard, a former Medical Director of the old Kabba Specialist Hospital, Dr. Abayomi Medubi, said government's decision was in the best interest of the people.

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

NIGERIA AT 55: Country deeply divided along religious, ethnic lines —OSINBAJO A

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

BUJA—THE Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has advised Nigerians to pay less attention to the things that divide the country and concentrate on those things that unite them.

He gave the advice yesterday in Abuja in his remarks at the 55th I n d e p e n d e n c e A n n i v e r s a r y

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Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, with the theme Making Nigeria Function as a Family.

Osinbanjo expressed dismay that Nigeria had for long been divided on tribal and religious lines.

Quoting from the scripture, he warned that a kingdom divided against itself would be desolate noting that Nigeria’s unity was important and critical for the

advancement of the society.

He said that from his travels around the country, especially to insurgencystricken states, he discovered that Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps were populated by children and adults maimed by bombs.

He called on Nigerians to rise against insurgency, saying, "the bomb of a terrorist does not ask if you are a Christian or a Moslem when it detonates.

“I have seen the dead, I have seen the wounded and I have seen the sick. Most of them are victims of terrorist acts. The truth of the matter is that of all those I have seen, and they are in their hundreds in IDP camps, majority of them are Muslims and Christians.

“When a bomb goes off in Potiskum, in Gombe or in the market place, it doesn’t ask, are you a Christian or are you a Muslim? It never

asks whether you are Igbo or Hausa. No, the bomb of terrorists does not ask those questions.

“This is why it is important as Muslim or Christian leaders to understand that we must rise as Nigerians, as human beings, against terrorism and against every form of prejudice that continues to threaten our existence,” he said.

The VP said it was the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that in their utterances and actions, they focus on the things that bind the country together.

He thanked the Christian community for praying for the nation and its leaders, saying, “Christians hold the ace for peace.

He added: “It is the gospel of love that will heal this nation and the world.”

Osinbajo noted that in spite of the present challenges facing the country, the solution lay in the love the people shared.

He expressed sympathy with the families that lost their beloved ones in Saudi Arabia and prayed God to grant the souls eternal rest.

Osinbajo noted that the figure five depicts grace while 55 refers to a year of abundant grace for the nation and prayed that the nation should receive grace of undeserved favour and blessings.

Delivering a message on the theme of the service, the Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan, Joseph Bagobiri, described Nigeria as “a land of promise, milk and honey.”

He urged the citizens to cherish the endowments God had given them, noting that Nigerians should practice true religion about God and not of killings and rape.

The cleric criticised the lukewarm attitude of Islamic clerics and leaders in condemning terrorist acts in the North and called on them to stand firm in rejecting it.

Bagobiri said Nigeria was at the crossroad of not being able to harness its potential and advised that the country would grow if the resolutions of the national conference were implemented.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 —47

‘God weeps’ at child sex abuse — Pope P OPE Francis has met and prayed with a small group of victims of child sexual abuse in the US, saying “God weeps” for their suffering.

The Pope told the five survivors, an unknown number of whom had been abused by priests, that clergy and bishops would be held accountable when they abuse or fail to protect children.

Many abuse survivors are angry at how the Vatican has dealt with allegations.

The Roman Catholic Church in the US has been embroiled in child sex scandals.

US dioceses have made

The Pope met trainee priests at a seminary outside Philadelphia

huge compensation payouts to victims.

The Pope met the five victims, all now adults who had suffered sexual abuse as children, on Sunday morning at a seminary in Pennsylvania, his spokesman said.

The group - three women and two men - had been abused by clergy, family members or teachers, Father Federico Lombardi said in a statement.

Each was accompanied by a family member, he added.

Protest in Congo over tenure elongation

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HOUSANDS of peo ple have staged a mass demonstration in Congo’s capital Brazzaville to protest against plans by veteran ruler Denis Sassou Nguesso to try to extend his rule.

Sunday’s rally was the biggest since Sassou Nguesso returned to power in 1997, with protesters stretching for almost a kilometre along a main boulevard in the city centre.

If a planned referendum is approved on changes to allow Sassou Nguesso to run again - dubbed a “constitutional coup” by the

opposition - he would be eligible to contest elections next year.

Sassou Ngeusso, a former rebel leader, an-

nounced on Tuesday plans for the referendum on the constitutional changes but gave no dates for the vote.

Congolese protesters are demanding that Denis Sassou Nguesso not extend his presidential term [AP]

Burkina Faso disbands unit behind ISIS: Iraq, to share intelligence with failed coup Russia, Iran, Syria hostage in a failed coup missed the minister in

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RAQ says it has reached a deal to share intelligence with Russia, Iran and Syria in the fight against ISIS militants.

The announcement on Saturday from the Iraqi military cited “the increasing concern from Russia about thousands of Rus-

sian terrorists committing criminal acts within ISIS.” The news comes amid U.S. concerns about Russia’s recent military buildup in Syria and would appear to confirm American suspicions of some

kind of cooperation between Baghdad and Moscow.

A U.S.-led coalition has been carrying out an aerial bombing campaign against ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria since last year.

Overthrowing Assad’ll lead to failed state — Putin

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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has warned that any attempts to overthrow the government in Syria could lead to a failed state like Iraq or Libya.

Putin’s comments on Sunday come as the world’s leaders meet at the

United Nations General Assembly in New York Speaking on the US network CBS, Putin said that “Syrians and only Syrians” should be able to decide the fate of their country.

“There’s no other solution to the Syrian crisis other

than strengthening the effective government structures and rendering them help in fighting terrorism, but at the same time urging them to engage in positive dialogue with the rational opposition and conduct reform,” Putin said.

Germany faces far-right radicalisation over refugees tion on the street of right-

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ERMANY’s domes tic intelligence chief warned on Sunday of a radicalisation of rightwing groups amid a record influx of migrants, including refugees, as

xenophobic rallies and clashes shook several towns at the weekend.

“What we’re seeing in connection with the refugee crisis is a mobilisa-

wing extremists, but also of some left-wing extremists” who oppose them, said Hans-Georg Maassen on Deutschlandfunk public radio.

US Consulate General, House on the Rock to premier Hollywood thriller

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HE House on the Rock Church and the United States Consulate General, have concluded plans to hold the premier of a Hollywood thriller titled: Captive.

Captive is a story of faith, redemption, and survival, based on the true story of a hostage using Rick Warren’s best-selling book, A Purpose Driven Life, to find her own path to redemption and persuade her captor to find his.

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British-Nigerian actor and Golden Globe Award nominee David Oyelowo, who recently portrayed Martin Luther King, Jnr. in the film Selma, and American actress Kate Mara who acted in the House of Cards, The Fantastic Four among others.

The event which aims at awakening a purpose-driven life for all Nigerians, would hold on October 1, 2015 in Lagos at the Rock Cathedral.

The movie has been deployed effectively by House on The Rock to promote orderliness, tranquility and purposeful leadership in Nigeria.

Recall that the church, in partnership with the United States Embassy successfully premiered Selma during the country’s general elections earlier in the year, and was attended by over 5000 attendees including celebrities and government officials among others.

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URKINA Faso’s cabi net has dissolved the elite presidential guard unit that took the interim president and prime minister

just weeks before elections, according to a series of decrees read on state television.

The government also dis-

Deadly violence erupts in CAR over killing of Muslim NO FEWER than 21 people have been killed and 100 wounded in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic as Muslims attacked a mainly-Christian neighbourhood, medical officials and witnesses have said.

Saturday’s attack came after a Muslim man was killed and his body was found dumped in the street, witnesses and a Muslim group spokesman, Ousmane Abakar, told news agencies.

Two years of violence, which erupted after Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority-Christian country in 2013, has killed thousands of people

and forced hundreds of thousands to leave their homes.

The fighting divided the country when Muslims were chased from the south.

There had not been any attacks in Bangui, which is secured by French and UN soldiers, for months until a grenade attack earlier in September.

Kenya releases ship containing weapons

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Norwegian-flagged ship that was held in Kenya for more than a week over undeclared weapons belonging to the United Nations has been released, the

Somalia: Parliament drops impeachment motion against president

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OMALIA’s parlia mentary speaker has withdrawn an impeachment motion brought against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud the latest crisis to threaten the country’s stability as it struggles to rebound from two decades of chaos and war.

Somali lawmakers last month filed the motion against Mohamud, accusing him of abuse of office and “betraying the country”. Mohamud has

charge of security and created a commission to identify those responsible for the coup attempt.

The cabinet meeting was the first since President Michel Kafando was restored to power on Wednesday.

“Judicial prosecutions will immediately be engaged against the authors and accomplices,” state television RTB announced, according to the Reuters news agency.

The country’s attorney general also said it was moving to freeze the assets of those involved in the coup, the Associated Press news agency reported.

said he is committed to holding elections before his term runs out in August 2016.

International envoys have urged a rapid resolution to the crisis.

“We have dropped the motion against the president,” parliament’s speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari said late on Friday, adding he had convened a meeting on Oct.7 to try to resolve the issues raised in the motion.

owners of the vessel said.

Kenyan authorities boarded the ship at the port of Mombasa on Sept. 17 and uncovered undeclared weapons in a U.N. shipment destined for peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The U.N. defended the shipment.

“Höegh Transporter has finally been released from detention in Mombasa, Kenya, and has continued her ocean voyage,” Hoegh Autoliners, the Norwegian owner of the ship, said in a statement issued on Saturday.

The U.N. said the arms were inside armored personnel carriers destined for its Indian peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

48—VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

•Braithwaite

Buhari still paying lip service to anti-graft war — BRAITHWAITE •Saraki’s arraignment before CCT will die a natural death •Why Awolowo, Aminu Kano’s alliance did not fly in 1979 •I didn’t betray Awolowo in 1983 by running against him •Nigeria not yet free of military opportunism SECOND Republic Politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite is not happy over the deep rot in the polity occasioned by mindless graft especially among the leadership class. This was the reason he made eradication of corruption (clearing rats, mosquitoes and cockroaches) the fulcrum of his presidential campaign in 1983 when he ran on the platform of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) which he founded. Currently, Braithwaite says President Muhammadu Buhari has not started fighting corruption despite claims to the contrary. He said the arraignment of Senate President Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is a misstep that will make Saraki a free man soon in spite of the criminal charges slammed against him. Braithwaite, who has been practising law since 1961, in this interview at his Victoria Island, Lagos home, fears that Nigeria is not completely free of military opportunism and its influence in the polity. Going down memory lane, he disclosed why Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Malam Aminu Kano could form an alliance in 1979 and why he ran against Awolowo in 1983 in spite of their closeness.

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By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor

IS take on Chief HID Awolowo’s death I see Mama’s passing not as a sad event at all. At 99, approximately 100, it is not a bad news. Having said that I know Mama HID very well more than the public. The public saw her with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) government. Papa and Mama Awolowo were very close to me. They were regular visitors here. The late Wole (Pa Awolowo’s son) used to visit me.

On virtues Nigerians should learn from HID Awolowo She was a hard working woman who supported her husband through thick and thin. As Pa Awolowo himself described her, she was a jewel of an inestimable value.

There are a lot of lessons that Nigerians should learn from her. In terms of womanhood, she was not like those opportunistic wives of military officers, who had one stupid project or the other, calling themselves first ladies. We never heard her being called First Lady of Western Region or anything and she never comported herself that way.

On what informed his closeness to the Awolowo family It was primarily from Law. When he was in trouble before the trump-up charge, I was a great supporter of him when they were doing the Coker Inquiry. This, unfortunately, has been the bane of Nigerian politics. If you have courage that they don’t expect you to have, they will set up some form of inquiries tilted against you. That

was why I started supporting Chief Awolowo to his own surprise. He said to me and my mother: ‘how could a young man like Tunji stick out his neck for a man they considered finished?’’

You were part of the legal team before he went to prison...

Yes, even before they formally charged him when he was going through the Coker inquiry with his trusted friends like old Maja and Chief Shonibare. They were the three principal targets.

On Chief Olu Falae’s kidnap by Fulani herdsmen and freedom, last week It is a sad news. That in this day and age, a public figure of Falae’s standing, an upright man, a hard working one-time technocrat could just be whisked away like that in broad day light is a sad indictment of the present government.

Serious indictment If a man like Falae could be beaten and whisked away like that, it is a serious indictment which Nigerians will have to take seriously especially the entire South.

Why the entire South?

Can you imagine people from the South, traders or something doing that in the North?

Of course not. How can Fulani herdsmen from the North carry a prominent figure like that?

Then, lesser figures are not safe. I don’t know if they paid ransom or not. It would be worse if they paid ransom. It is downright criminality, it should be punished. I am not happy about

ransom being paid to criminals.

Kidnapping should not carry jail sentence of less than 20 years.

You were close to Pa Awolowo. Why did you run against him in the 1983 presidential election?

I ran against him not because we fell out. I gave the reason to a journalist recently but he did not get it. I was approached by people from the Middle Belt, late JS Tarka’s people came here. They knew I was very close to Chief Awolowo. That was in 1978, when General Olusegun Obasanjo's military regime was preparing to handover and called for the formation of political parties.

Before then, some young northern fellows, one of them was Dasuki, I think Ibrahim was his first name, he was a middle level civil servant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Ikoyi when late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was the permanent secretary. It was Awoniyi that I knew very well.

In my professional capacity, I used to go there. I had many corporate clients and the issue of business permit and expatriate quota was a major part of any corporate lawyer. For instance, I registered Julius Berger in this country.

So, to get expatriate quota for my foreign clients, I would go to see Awoniyi because his ministry handled such things at Alagbon, Ikoyi here because they had not created Abuja. This young Dasuki was the one who would process it. He got to know me and he used to visit me when I was living at South/West Ikoyi. This Dasuki was

Continues on page 49

It is a sad news; that in this day and age, a public figure of Falae’s standing, an upright man, a hard working one-time technocrat could just be whisked away like that in broad day light

Kidnapping should not carry jail sentence of less than 20 years

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015—49

Mama HID Awolowo still sent such th message at my 70 birthday through a lawyer, Awoniyi, who worked in Awolowo’s chambers. So, there was no question of betrayal. Pa Awolowo felt he should go with his old friends in AG. I was not in AG. His assessment of P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari administration so far I spoke on a TV programme where people asked me questions on the latest appointments that he made – chief of staff, secretary to the government of the federation, etc, whether they were not slanted to the North.

t n e m n g i a r r a s ’ i k a r a S a e i d l l ' T C before C th a e d l a r u t na AITE — BRAITHW

Continues from page 48 one of the young Turks for Malam Aminu Kano in the North. And I was close to Chief Awolowo.

So we started talking. They knew my politics, I was writing articles attacking northern hegemony. Still they came to me. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Mohammed Gusau were also part of the young Turks for Aminu Kano.

And I was for Awolowo together with Alao AkaBashorun, Olu Onagoruwa, etc. I was the leader of the young Turks for Awolowo. So, when the military said they wanted to return the nation to politics, the two sides said why can’t Awolowo and Aminu Kano team up to lead the country?

These boys asked if I could introduce them to Chief Awolowo. I was the person who took Babangida and Dasuki to Parklane, Apapa where Pa Awolowo lived and introduced them. The plan was Awolowo as the president and Aminu Kano as the vice president should work together for the 1979 election.

Meanwhile, Tarka, the United Middle belt Democratic Congress (UMBC) people who were associates of the Action group (AG) in the First republic approached me and said: ‘Dr Braithwaite, this return to civil rule is fraught with danger.’

Return to civil rule I said, ‘how’? They said they had been victims of oppression for many years in the North, and that was why they teamed up with the AG in the First Republic but it did not help them much. I was reporting what they said to Chief Awolowo every time they came. He too found it interesting and he said, ‘all right, continue to listen to them.’

They wrote papers and I was delivering everything to him. I was not convinced at first and I was reporting to Awolowo. Meanwhile, Chief Awolowo’s inner core of the AG was forming the UPN. He didn’t keep me out of such meetings. Then after some time, Chief Awolowo said, ‘Tunji, be careful that these people were not out to rip you off.

The people convinced me that if this country would realise its economic and political potential, the next dispensation must be revolutionary. They said, these military boys must be watched. The people from the Middle belt knew the military boys, some of them were also living in Kano.

They said, ‘Tunji, we want a young fearless person like you, a lawyer to form a distinct party.’

They turned out to be right. They said they knew the military boys that the boys were deceiving the Nigerian public. I told Pa Awolowo. He asked what I meant. I said there were many things that needed to be changed in the Nigerian Constitution. He said that would be too dangerous to them (AG), that they would see us.

Pa Awolowo was the only one whose outlook came relatively closer to what those boys wanted.

Then we had a number of young university lecturers of socialist bent. Pa Awolowo could not go half as revolutionary as we wanted. When he said he could not, we formed the Nigerian Advance Party (NAP). Our complexion was made clear, that we wanted revolution. We will

•Braithwaite sweep out the corrupt element. We will probe.

That was where clearing the rats and cockroaches came into it. We said we will deal with the military and all the people who had been involved.

That was why the military registered the First republic parties in their new names. They registered UPN, which was AG. They registered Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), which was the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).

They registered National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which was the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). They also registered Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). In 1979, they did not register us deliberately even though the PRP came to me the night before and said they were sure that NAP had met all registration requirements. Aminu Kano and SG Ikoku came to this house and said, ‘you are likely to be registered, should we form an alliance?’ I said, ‘yes’ because they were the nearest to us.

NAP was finally registered in 1983, what happened?

We had gone to civilian rule then. Before the handover, the military asked us to dismantle our operations. We said no. they harassed us but we did not dismantle. We had structures because from 1978 to 1983 we did not stop operation. We were going through the entire universities and polytechnics. We were pretty strong and given our socialist and revolutionary bent, they had no choice than to register us in 1983.

We were going strong. And we knew that something would happen to that regime. In fact, President Shehu Shagari sent Alhaji Umaru Dikko to me to say that the information was that if he was declared the president after the election, the military would intervene. And that he was advised that if he invited NAP, PRP and the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) there was a possibility that the military would not intervene.

I met him one-on-one at the State House. We declined. There were a few offers made to us.

We declined. Given our socialist revolutionary bent we were not ready to form an alliance with these bourgeois neo-colonialist groupings.

Didn’t Awolowo feel betrayed?

He was not betrayed at all. In fact, what he said was that he did not know that I was that serious a politician. He thought our relationship was based on law because I was passing briefs to him. He said he did not realise I wanted to do politics that he only saw me as a man for justice, human rights activism.

I can’t tell you many things, they will appear in my book but certainly, he did not feel betrayed.

I don’t want to disclose this yet. Pa Awolowo regretted that I was not in the UPN because he said some of those who were governors were not as useful to him as Tunji would have been.

Latest appointments I said may be so but I have other insight to the latest appointments because I know Buhari very well and he knows me. I said forget about the northern slant and look at other more significant things. The date of the announcement of those appointments was significant. The announcement was made on August 27, which was the anniversary of the Babangida coup that toppled Buhari in 1985.

I said people should think about that. Why would he make such pivotal announcement on such an anniversary? People should think. We should not take things on face value. So, it is clear to me that, Buhari for the moment, is not thinking about North and South. My analysis is that Buhari is thinking of the military. He wants to do something about the Nigerian military. If you looked at his latest appointments, two of the appointments were his former military colleagues. It shows that Nigeria is not yet out of the woods when it comes to military opportunism and he wants to clear his backyard first.

Much noise, no action against graft We have heard a lot of noise being made about attacking corruption. What has he done about attacking corruption four months after he was sworn in? The fact that we are having better electricity supply and the refineries are working cannot be what he has done.

His body language, may be. But what we got all this time is military news. To me, he wants to make sure that military opportunists, military looters, who are still very much around in the control and administration of this country directly or through their proxies are adequately handled.

How many people have been charged for corruption? Nobody. One military fellow, Sambo Dasuki, the former NSA has been taken to a Magistrates’ Court. Put your two and two together if you are a thinker.

What about Senate President Bukola Saraki being taken to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT? That is what I am saying. Saraki’s arraignment before the CCT will die a natural death. The charges that I heard read against Saraki were criminal, why take him to the CCT, which is like a bull dog without teeth? The CCT has not got criminal power.

Where should Saraki have been taken to?

He should have been taken to a court with criminal power to send people to jail if found guilty. The CCT cannot jail. You will find that this circus show will die a natural death.

The announcement was made on August 27, which was the anniversary of the Babangida coup that toppled Buhari in 1985, I said people should think about that

Pa Awolowo was the only one whose outlook came relatively closer to what those boys wanted, then we had a number of young university lecturers of socialist bent

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Robbery, car snatching gang smashed in Enugu

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—NSUKKA Division,of Enugu Police command has dismantled an armed robbery,car snatching syndicate who has been terrorising residents of Nsukka and its environs.

Ring leader of the gang,Solomon Ugwuoke, 32, who is married and has four children was arrested at Agbani,Nguru Nsukka on September 23, during a foiled car snatching attempt.

It was gathered that the suspect and an accomplice, identified as Remy, had laid siege at the victim’s residence, waiting for him to return home with his Toyota Highlander jeep with registration number LND 405 DG Model 2004.

As the victim approached to open his gate, they accosted him at gun point and stole the jeep.

According to Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu,DSP, who confirmed the incident in a statement to newsmen, the suspect had earlier been arrested by the operatives of Nsukka Division on account of unlawful possession of fire arms in which he was later arraigned in court.

Amaraizu said,”the suspect in the company of his cohort whom

he gave his name as Remy, laid siege at the entrance gate waiting for the victim to return home with his highlander jeep with registration number LND 405 DG model 2004.

“As the victim approached to

open his gate, they held him at gun-point and stole the jeep. Remy was to take the stolen vehicle that night to a place called 33 near Onitsha where Remy is said to have contacted an instant buyer.

“It was on his way to Ontisha en

route Adani-Nsukka Road that he was nabbed by the operatives of Anaku Division of Anambra command that same night following information relayed to various operatives.”

PRESENTATION: Winner of the 8th MTN Project Fame, Jeff Akoh (middle), flanked by MTN Nigeria CEO, Michael lkpoki (right), and General manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard lweanoge, during the presentation of N5 million and SUV car to Akoh, at the closing ceremony of the 8th MTN Project, in Lagos, weekend.

Ohanaeze youth council calls for release of MASSOB members held by police

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—OHANAEZE Youths Council has appealed to President Mohammudu Buhari to order the immediate release of all members of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra [MASSOB] being detained by the police in parts of the South East states, saying that the group is only agitating against the marginalization of Ndigbo in a non-violent manner.

The President of the Ohaneze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro who made the appeal, also urged President Buhari to include MASSOB in the list of groups the Federal Government is dialoguing with.

According to him, "if the Federal Government was contemplating to dialogue with Boko Haram, a dreaded violent group that unleashed severe havoc on the nation, why can’t it also dialogue with MASSOB, a non-violent group that agitates against the marginalization of their people?"

Isiguzoro however disagreed with the secession agenda of MASSOB, saying that it is better for Ndigbo to remain in Nigeria and fight against their marginalization than separating

to form Biafra.

The Ohaneze Youth President who briefed journalists in Umuahia, weekend, on 2015 Igbo Youths Day scheduled to hold today in Umuahia, explained that Igbo would fair better if they remain in Nigeria than seceding.

He said that with 2019 around the corner when an Igbo man is expected to have a shot at the

nation’s number one position, the wound of the people would be seen to be healing.

He urged the Federal Government to release all the members of the group being detained in various police commands in the South East, since government is planning to negotiate with Boko Haram and grant amnesty to other militants.

Why can’t it extend the amnesty

to MASSOB, whose members are non-violent?

On the 2015 Igbo Youth celebration proper, the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Lawrence Dozie, who was at the briefing with Isiguzoro, explained that the occasion would used to canvass for greater unity of Ndigbo.

8 masked cultists terrorising communities in Ogbaru arrested

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

L

UCK YESTERDAY ran out on eight out of about 30 masked cultists who have been terrorising the residents of Obumseli, Nwuga, Ogbolu, Abagana and Ijeh streets, located at the Niger Bridge Head approach, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Acting on a tip off, men of the Atani Police Division and members of the five communities' vigilante group swung into action and arrested the cultists who were said to have become thorns in the fleshof the residents of the area, and handed them over to the police.

The chairman of the community vigilance group, Mr Ejike Onwa, disclosed this during the inauguration of the five communities vigilante outfit led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, Mr Emmanuel Ogbuanya.

Mr. Onwa said “we no longer have rest here because cultists have taken over this area. Once it's 6.30pm, you see people running inside their houses because of fear of these culists numbering about 30 that attack the people mindlessly.

“It is because of these cultists that the five streets of Obumseli, Nwuga, Ogbolu, Abagana and Ijeh came together and formed their vigilante outfit to fight them

and it has been yielding dividends as eight of them were arrested and handed over to the police,” he said.

Mr Onwa who was flanked by his secretary, Mr Henry Okafor,further disclosed that the cultists who attack the residents with guns, machetes, knives, charms, clubs and axes have confessed to be members of red carpet, black axe and trigger boys cult groups.

Speaking during the inauguration of the vigilante service, the Councilor representing the Ward, Hon. Chike Arinze disclosed that he was attacked by the cultists and some of his attackers were promptly arrested”.

FERMA boss wants Imo communities to clean drainages

By Chinonso Alozie

T

HE DIRECTOR of Public Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Godson Amos wants communities in Imo state to assist the government in the cleaning of minor drainage system in their localities.

He spoke during the inspection of federal roads at Awo-Idemili in Orsu Local Government Area.

Amos said that if communities could make it their duty to properly clean drainage systems in their areas, the damage on their roads would be minimized, adding that the abandonment of these drainages had become not only critical but also disturbing to the agency.

His words, “I say this because when the drainage is silted up, water will not over-flow, thereby making the flood to wash out the road. So communities should take care of roads that passed through their areas."

IMSG embargoes promotion of civil servants

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE problems of civil servants in Imo State, multiplied at the weekend as Governor Rochas Okorocha announced immediate embargo on promotions.

Okorocha, who made the announcement, weekend, in Owerri, while addressing labour leaders, also decreed that there was no going back on his administration’s plan to concession nearly 30 government parastatals.

Apart from the lingering unpaid salaries and allowances owed workers, the current position of the state government, according to Vanguard checks, has started fueling palpable anger and apprehension among the famished workforce.

Owing to “the dwindling resources of the state,” Okorocha insisted that the identified parastatals, which includes the health sector, “must be handed over to private investors to make them viable.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 —51

52— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 GEMINI: BEHIND-the-scene-activities are sources of avoidable trouble especially before mid-morning period when influence of the moon’s fluctuation will last. Avoid inordinate ambition.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

R

IGHT from ages man has continued to look for ways of clothing his nakedness. Nakedness does LEO: EARLY morning blues will affect many people not just mean not around you meaning that not everybody-morning period wearing clothes especially along your career/business lines. alone. It includes covVIRGO: MAKE sure you perfectly understand what you ering our evil deeds, CANCER: IT’S important you don’t allow your thought for and/or about the future derail your plans for the present so that success will not elude you. Romantic attractions along your career/business lines may become stronger sooner than you think.

are doing within your working arena before mid-morning period or else costly mistakes would be made. Be tolerant.

LIBRA: TOMORROW You are advised to leave some important decisions and/or action till tomorrow when the heaven will smile at you. Your love life is favoured.

God is watching wicked acts, ways and sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today.

When we commit heinous crime, we run for

TERROR MUDA

cover under the stone, under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught.

We live a lie. We forget that air bear wit-

in “Scavenger Elite”

ness to our cruel act; the sun by our shadow takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

Beware, God is watching. Your sins will find you out.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO: TOMORROW will prove more challenging.

Thus, if there are things you should do now, you better don’t contemplate procrastination as you are likely to be stretched full lenght tomorrow. Watch with you tell others early in the morning.

SAGITTARIUS: AS the moon fluctuates early in the morning some people may promise more than they can actually deliver. And if you take them for granted, you would be disappointed.

CAPRICORN: CERTAINLY some people will get on your nerves yet you must not over-react at least because of the immediate future. Truly thus is the wrong time to gamble with love.

AQUARIUS: THE Moon fluctuates as it moves out of your star . That is why you will need to guard against confusion likely to be caused by others.

PISCES: THE Moon position influences you to become aggressive the way is capable of bringing unnecessary argument and avoidable confusion. To before warned is to be fore armed.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: EARLY morning blues will affect many people today (yourself inclusive) but luckily for you, things will go according to your plans. And you will need to be more careful with money.

TUARUS: THE Moon fluctuates early in the morning.

And if care is not taken you would promise more than you can actually deliver to the resentment of others. Yet, you’ll win.

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

What are my chances?

Dear Joshua, KINDLY analyse my star and tell me about myself especially my luck. I want to know about my love life, social life and how to become successful in life. I have seen people who are close to me became big success without much struggle from them. Would my own be like them too?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Jamiu, Ilorin Dear Jamiu, You are different to those you said came by success: in your own case you will need to work hard and earn success.

It is important you watch and take practical precaution about inability to hold on to your gains for long. Some times unexpected assistance use to come your way at 11th hour.

Your being friendly with the influential personalities especially WOMEN will help your finance greatly speculative (and) venture is not the best for you.

Your magnetic personality makes it difficult for members of your opposite sex to the betterment of your love life.

Luckily for you, you know how not to allow your rugged/rigid personality to harm your love life; you are a sweet lover, although can be argumentative some times. Love happiness indicated for you.

If you can analyse both your environment and social situation, you will have more to gain from social activities more than it’s attendant pressure.

You will need to drop unnecessary rebellious approach when dealing with your social life; although what looks like radical approach can earn you a few number of friends who may not be in position to assist you.

Many people love your gentle approach and will be willing to assist you especially the more influential personalities. Once again women can be helpful here If you expect easy success, you would be frustrated because Saturn-the planet of delay, frustration but greater reward after much struggles, was with the sun (basic-self-hood) when you were born. Thus it will not allow easy success. And at the same time will not deny you whatever you deserve.

The same Saturn will reward you with RECOGNITION WOMEN, children and younger people can enhance your prospects. Colours RED, WHITE and pink are good for you.

Sleeping North/South axes with your head to the North is good for you.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 53

FIFA investigates Blatter, Platini F

IFA president Sepp Blatter and European football chief Michel Platini are facing an investigation

by Fifa’s ethics committee.

The move comes after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against Blatter, 79.

He is accused of signing a contract “unfavourable” to football’s governing body and making a “disloyal payment” to Uefa president Platini, 60.

Blatter denies wrongdoing and his lawyer says he is cooperating fully.

The ethics committee is looking into the circumstances of a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.35m) that Platini received in 2011 for work said to have been carried out more than nine years previously, reported the Press Association.

Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Blatter on Friday.

Platini - who worked as Blatter’s technical advisor between 1999 and 2002 was interviewed as a witness by officers from the attorney general’s office.

N

•Blatter (l) and Platini

No regret over red card — Ambrose S

UPER Eagles defender Efe Ambrose has said he does not regret being sent off to ensure his Scottish club Celtic did not lose at home against Hearts at the weekend.

Celtic fans hailed Ambrose’s selflessness when his last-ditch tackle stopped goal-bound Hearts Sam Nicholson from doing damage in

Young Continues from B/P progress in the League Cup, Young says silverware is firmly within their sights in 2015-16.

“We came into the season saying we wanted to fight for the title,” Young told MUTV. “A club like United wants to fight for everything we’re involved in – the league, the Champions League and both the cup competitions. We want to get ourselves back to winning silverware.

“We’re doing well in the league but there is a long way to go, so we just take each game as it comes.”

Young came off the bench to set up Juan Mata’s goal in the win over Sunderland but he started the victory over Ipswich at left-back, in place of the injured Luke Shaw.

And the former Aston Villa man says he is perfectly happy to replace Shaw in a more defensive role while the 20-year-old recovers

C M Y K

Oliseh invited Iwobi for Siasia – Dikko

from a double leg fracture.

“I’m a versatile player who can play there as well as on the wing,” he said. “I played there during the week in the cup and if the manager calls upon me to play there again I’ll go out there and give 110 per cent as I always do.

“I feel comfortable at left-back and playing wing-back. It’s a different role for me compared to left wing or left midfield, there’s more of the defensive side to think about but I’m capable of doing that.”

Shaw posted a photograph on his official Instagram page showing him back on his feet with the aid of crutches after surgery on his injury, and Young says the exSouthampton star is positive about his recovery.

“Everyone has been in touch with him. I have personally spoken to him quite a bit,” added the 30-year-old.

the dying minutes of a goalless home draw with Hearts on Saturday.

The Nigeria international said he did not have any other option than to cause a professional foul and subsequently be sent off.

“I was happy to help my team get something from the game,” he said.

“I was the last man and so I had no choice but to make the tackle and save us from losing the game in the very last minute.”

Champions Celtic are now second on the table with Hearts closely behind in third place.

Ambrose also came up against his national teammate Juwon Oshaniwa, who was solid in the Hearts defence.

“It was nice to be together again and play on the same pitch but I always prefer when we are playing together in the same team than playing on opposing sides,” said the Celtic ace.

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) 2nd vice president Shehu Dikko has clarified the rationale behind the invitation of Arsenal U21 star Alex Iwobi to the Super Eagles for a series of the friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon next month.

Iwobi, 19, has been handed a late invitation by Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh.

Shehu Dikko, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria league, has now disclosed Sunday Oliseh did so for U23 coach Samson Siasia, who needs the youngster for the U23s and he must therefore play at full international stage for Nigeria to make that happen.

“The call-up to Iwobi is simple a footballing as well technical one and for the good of the country. Iwobi has declared intention to represent Nigeria and he is good enough to

Udoji Continues from B/P Wikki have 51 points from 31 games.

Udoji took shine off the strikers as he opened the scoring with a welltaken goal in the 43rd minute for his first-ever goal for Enyimba.

He went on to seal the victory with the second goal when he converted a spot kick in the 52nd minute after Peter Onyekachi was brought down inside six-yard box.

In the 16th minute,

Continues from B/P

Adeniji lifts Sunshine OTSHOT Tunde Adeniji was Sunshine Stars hero on Sunday when they defeated Abia Warriors 1-0 in a Week 31 game of the Nigeria league to revive their fading championship hopes.

Sunshine now back in contention for the title with 53 points from 31 games and move to third place.

Adeniji scored in the 58th minute to break the deadlock.

•Iwobi

Paul Godwin in Wikki’s goal saved Markson Ojobo’s free kick.

Musa Najere got injured and was replaced with Kingsley Sokari in the 65th minute.

Wikki’s Harrison Madu was red carded after a second booking.

Femi Thomas in goal for Enyimba was on holidays for most of the game as Wikki were defensive and hardly created any chance to shoot at goal.

D’Tigress

•Ambrose

H

represent Nigeria at U23 level. However, as he has played for England at the junior level he cannot play for Nigeria again at the junior level as FIFA would only approve his change of nationality if he plays for the main Super Eagles,” wrote Shehu Dikko on his Facebook page.

“Therefore, his call-up now is to get his nationality change sorted and thus make him available to play for the Nigeria U23 if selected.

He has now scored 14 goals to be joint leading scorer with Nasarawa United’s Esosa Igbinoba, who fired blanks on Friday’s clash at Akwa United.

Adeniji wasted a glorious chance to score as early as the eighth minute.

Prince Aggreh failed to score twice even when he was presented with begging chances in the 31st and 63rd minutes.

third quarter with a 7340 lead.

Nigeria took total control of the game, and it became more evident in the painted area where they outrebounded Guinea 6330.

Helen Ogunjimi came off the bench to make 15 of her game-high 19 points from beyond the arc.

Guinea arrived Yaounde with a nineplayer roster, and keeping Peruch-Niang on floor for the entire first

three quarters indicated the struggles they face in the competition. While Nigeria, who led the entire contest, climbed to third-place in group B with a 2-1 mark, Guinea conceded their third defeat in as many games.

Eventually PeruchiNiang summed up Guinea aspirations in the competition: “I have told the girls not to worry about the score. Those teams Senegal and Nigeria are way too ahead of us. But we still have to get better and learn from our mistakes.”

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Falconets too good for Congo N

IGERIA’S Women under-20 team, the Falconets, on Sunday defeated DR Congo 2-1 away in the Africa leg first leg, second round qualifiers for the 2016 Fifa Under-20 Women World Cup. Two quick goals in the first half from Chinaza Uchendu in the sixth minute and Chiwendu Ihezou in the 12th minute gave Nigeria a comfortable lead as the Falconets took control of the game.

DR Congo were able to pull a goal back just before half time as the second period failed to produce any goals in an entertaining game.

Nigeria had eliminated Liberia 14-1 on aggregate in the first round and will look to complete the job against DR Congo in the return leg in Nigeria.

Coach Peter Dedevbo

•Falconets sing victory song will hope to get his girls into the main qualifying round, which is yet to be decided by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Falconets were silver medalists at the last edition in Canada

in 2014 where an Asisat Oshoala inspired side reached the final but were beaten 1-0 by Germany.

The 2016 event will be hosted by Papua New Guinea.

Rangers deserve victory — Amapakabo

E

•Amapakabo

NUGU Rangers head coach Imama Amapakabo has said his side deserved the hard fought victory against Kwara United..

The Flying Antelopes came from behind to win 2-1 against the Harmony Boys in the Nigerian top flight match day 31 clash on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The llorin outfit got the match opener through striker Segun Alebiosu while the Coal City side scored two quick second half goals off the feet of duo Chisom Egbuchulam and Bobby Clement to claim the three points at stake.

Amapakabo said three points were crucial though his side could have ended the clash with a higher goal margin.

“Yes, coming from behind to win match is almost becoming a tradition but I think what matters at the end of the day is the three points which we have in our kitty.

“We knew right from start that it won’t be easy against a relegation bound team and Kwara United gave the encounter their everything.

“Of course, as a coach it will be unfair to say we were not the better side on match day after my boys came from behind to earn a deserved victory.''

FC Taraba unlucky, says Nduka

F

FC Taraba head coach Ndubuisi Nduka has said his side were unlucky in the score draw against El Kanemi Warriors.

Taraba were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Maiduguri-based side in Sunday ’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 31 clash at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo.

Striker Ibrahim Sanusi scored the opening goal in the third minute of the encounter while attacking midfielder Emmanuel Agali levelled score for his side in the 82nd minute.

Nduka said his players gave the match their very C M Y K

best and deserved to have gone home with the three points at stake.

“Today (Sunday) was not our day as the players gave the match everything to pocket the three points but ended up with a point.

“We even lost a penalty in the 47th minute, that’s how unlucky we were in the clash against El Kanemi Warriors.

“We dominated play especially in the second half of the match only for El Kanemi Warriors to rally to score a late equaliser.

“I think El Kanemi Warriors were lucky to have run away with a point in a game they were 100

percent outplayed.

“We will keep on with the survival fight till the last day. We have seven matches left on the calendar and we believe something dramatic could still happen in those seven matches.''

•Nduka

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 — 55

Table-toppers Man United worth backing M

ANCHESTER United can be backed at 5/1 to win the Premier League – and they represent a value punt after Manchester City and Chelsea slipped up.

Now as short as 4/1, United cruised to a 3-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford, but it was Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle and Tottenham’s shock 4-1 win over Man City which moved United to the shortest price they have been all season.

Louis van Gaal’s men, who were 5/1 shots before the season started, had drifted out to 13/2 ahead of the Old Trafford showdown with doomed Sunderland, but goals from Memphis Depay, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata made short work of Dick Advocaat’s men.

United have now moved menacingly to the top of the table and look worth having an interest in – having not yet clicked into top gear.

The Reds certainly have

the credentials to mount at title-winning bid – they have won the league five times in the last nine years – and that statistic alone should see them shorter than the current quotes. Also, in Van Gaal they have a manager, who is at least mildly competent, and they have not gone three years without winning the title for 10 years.

CELEBRATION ... Manchester United players celebrates at Old Trafford

Enrique: Losing Messi changes Barcelona’s style F

C Barcelona suffered a big set back this weekend when they lost superstar

player Lionel Messi to a torn knee ligament, it is an injury that will keep him out of action for two

RYSTAL Palace manager Alan Pardew praised his wide players after his side moved up to sixth in the Premier League with a 10 win at Watford.

The decisive moment of an even game arrived after 71 minutes, when Wilfried Zaha was brought down just inside the area and Yohan Cabaye fired the penalty high into the net.

EPL Man Utd Man City West Ham Arsenal Tottenham Serie A Inter Milan Torino Fiorentina Sassuolo Lazio Ligue 1 PSG St Etienne Rennes Reims

Pardew told the BBC: “The wide guys made the breakthough and it was actually Wilfried Zaha, a substitute, that did that.

“I have three great options but only two can play. It was nice that Wilf had a good reaction — we trust him.

“The penalty was a very good decision. The ball was just outside the box but the challenge was inside.

It was dispatched by Yohan Cabaye — although Dwight Gayle was meant to be taking it, so that surprised me.

“But Cabaye’s got the experience and confidence to do it at any level.”

Earlier this week, Pardew said he believed Zaha’s unsuccessful spell at Manchester United had set the player’s career back.

P 7 7 7 7 7

W 5 5 4 4 3

D 1 0 1 1 3

L 1 2 2 2 1

F 12 13 15 10 9

A 5 6 9 7 5

GD 7 7 6 3 4

Pts 16 15 13 13 12

P 5 6 5 6 5

W 5 4 4 3 4

D 0 1 0 3 0

L 0 1 1 0 2

F 6 11 7 9 8

A 1 6 3 6 11

GD 5 5 4 3 -3

Pts 15 13 12 12 12

P 8 7 8 8

W 6 5 4 4

D 2 1 3 3

L 0 1 1 1

F 12 10 12 11

A 4 5 7 6

GD 13 5 5 5

Pts 20 16 15 15

C

RYSTAL Palace moved up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League table as Yohan Cabaye’s second-half penalty gave them a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage

Zaha C M Y K

style of play though.

“It is always sad when a player is injured. In the case of Messi it is not necessary for me to say what we all know that he is very important to the team,” Enrique said, via Sky Sports.

“Without Messi we lose a lot of things from our style of play that we will now have to rearrange collectively but I have no doubt

that we will overcome this.”

Enrique backtracked and said that while it will change things, the team will be fine.

“This team will cope fine and will deal with this,” he said. “It is capable of doing so well because it has personality and courage.

It can be seen as a test and a stimulus.”

Cabaye fires Palace past Hornets

IN PAINS — Lionel Messi

Pardew praises Zaha after Watford win

C

months.

To the casual fan, losing Lionel Messi could seem like a minor deterrent to a season considering the talent on the roster. Barcelona still has plenty of talent and goal scoring threats in Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique says the Messi injury changes the team’s identity and

Road.

Cabaye converted from the spot on 71 minutes for the only goal of the game after Allan Nyom was adjudged to have fouled Wilfried Zaha on the edge of the penalty area to seal

all three points for Palace.

Alan Pardew’s side have now won nine of their twelve away games since he returned to the club.

Watford were unbeaten at Vicarage Road in the league so far this season and the defeat sees them drop to thirteenth in the table below Norwich on goals scored.

Palace enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and could have been ahead on 12 minutes when Brede Hangeland got on the end of a whipped Cabaye freekick from the left, but Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes produced a superb pointblank save to keep out the USA international’s header.

The Hornets offered little in attack for much of the first half and it wasn’t until after the break that they finally threatened the Palace goal.

After Almen Abdi had been brought down by Joe Ledley, Joe Jurado sent his free-kick against the crossbar from 25 yards with Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy a mere spectator.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

United want the quadruple — Young

A

SHLEY Young says Manchester United are determined to challenge for every trophy this season after

Afrobasket Women Championship:

D’Tigress blow out Guinea 100 - 47 N

ON TARGET: D'Tigress foward, Adaora Elonu shoots during the match against Guinea yesterday.

IGERIA didn’t really break a sweat blowing out lowly Guinea in Sunday’s only game of AfroBasket Women 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Although coach Scott Nnaji sat out team leading scorer Olayinka Sanni, Nigeria easily recorded an easy 100-47 victory.

Joyce Ekworomadu inspired five other Nigerians, who scored 12 points or more, while Nadia Peruch-Niang paced Guinea with 17 points and 7 rebounds.

Guinea made 3 shots from beyond the arc in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just 13 points, but it was a matter of time as Nigeria went on to close the Continues on Pg 53

they moved top of the Premier League.

Louis van Gaal’s side dispatched Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday to move above Manchester City in the table, following their 4-1 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

With United back in the Champions League this season and having seen off Ipswich Town to

•Van Gaal

Continues on Pg 53

Udoji’s double extends Enyimba’s lead

E

NYIMBA captain Chinedu Udoji scored his first set of goals for Enyimba in a Week 31 game as they beat title chasers Wikki Tourists 2-0 in Aba on Sunday.

Enyimba remain top of the league table with 58 points from 31 games,

•Udoji

Continues on Pg 53

Results NPL Enugu Enyimba Ifeanyi Ubah Kano Lobi Sunshine

2 2 1 1 0 1

Kwara Wikki Giwa Warri Shooting Abia Warriors

1 0 1 1 0 0

EPL Watford

0

Crystal Palace

1

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Cease (4) 4 Delved (3) 6 Impetuous (4) 8 Account (6) 9 Inn (6) 10 Beer (3) 12 Moving (5) 14 Demand (5) 15 Compact (5) 18 Cancel (6) 20 Rubber (6) 24 Species (5) 26 Temptress (5) 28 Donated (5) 30 Elderly (3) 32 Crown (6) 33 Beast (6) 34 Recognised (4) 35 Brown (3) 36 Always (4)

DOWN 2 Lock (5) 3 Undertake (7) 4 Facts (4) 5 Entrance (4) 6 Emulate (5) 7 Submissive (7) 11 Garland (3) 12 Help (3) 13 Decay (3) 16 Limb (3) 17 Lair (3) 19 Issue (7) 21 Mat (3) 22 Stupid (7) 23 Manage (3) 25 Fish (3) 27 Bequeath (5) 29 Avoid (5) 30 Exclude (4) 31 Daybreak (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Unite 7, Grope 8, Minim 10, Saved 12, Lie 13, Beset 15, Resolve 17, Elated 19, Bat 20, Ravaged 23, Send 25, Drop 26, Trinket 30, Ant 31, Dilate 34, Trained 37, Rider 38, Own 39, Divan 40, Holed 41, Dense 42, Steed.

DOWN: 1, Creel 2, Upset 3, Neater 4, Tier 5, Piloted 6, Sieve 9, Nil 11, Debated 13, Beast 14, Saint 16, Sag 18, Daunted 21, Dread 22, Upper 24, Drained 27, Inn 28, Trade 29, Brook 32, Lined 33, Tense 35, Awl 36, Dirt.

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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