AFTERMATH OF BANK ROBBERY : Soldiers take over Auchi

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61758

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

FG sacks BPE D-G, Onagoruwa •P 12

Why unemployment will increase — Sanusi •P. 12

A F T E R M AT H O F B A N K R O B B E R Y :

Soldiers take over Auchi zRobbers kill 3 soldiers, 15 civilians zN3.5m carted; Banks, markets shut zGunmen kill five policemen in Borno DESTROYED IN AUCHI ROBBERY ATTACK

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, SIMON EBEGBULEM & NDAHI MARAMA

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ENIN CITY — SOLDIERS, last night, seized Auchi in Edo State where robbers, Monday night, used dynamites to blast four banks. At the end of the robbers' raid, 15 people, including three soldiers, were shot dead while the robbers went away with N3.5 million.

The blood-letting was replayed in Borno State Continues on page 5

Two-tier nation •P.17

DEAR BUNMI •P.38 An ATM at GTBank.

Wreckage of a Police patrol van.

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

Mr & Mrs

A bus belonging to Bob Izua Transports.

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Some offices of a Police station. PHOTOS: SAHARA REPORTERS.

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4 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

Three soldiers, 15 civilians killed Continues from page 1 where five policemen were killed and telecommunication masts in the state destroyed.

Medical Director of Auchi Central Hospital, Dr. Jude Omoregie, confirmed that three dead soldiers were brought to the hospital, Monday night. The soldiers, said to have run into the robbers, were killed before they invaded the banks.

The civilians, however, died through stray bullets in different parts of Auchi.

Among the four banks attacked, it was learnt that the robbers succeeded in gaining entrance into only one of them because some of the staff of the bank were still on duty.

It was said that about N3.5 million was stolen by the robbers.

It was also learnt that the police put up a resistance which infuriated the robbers who went back to bomb a police station.

bus and immediately headed to the Auchi Divisional Police Headquarters and the Police Area Command in Auchi, where they blew up the buildings with dynamites and bombs.

Several vehicles including police patrol vans, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) within the Area Command and Auchi Division office were set ablaze. The robbers who were alleged to have come from a neighbouring state, Vanguard was told, might have been in the town for one week planning the attack.

Perpetrators must not go unpunished —Otaru of Auchi

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plans of the criminals in the bud and ensure adequate patrols to frustrate plots by the criminals to cause mayhem in the society.

On the Auchi incident, Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, said following the IGP’s directive, a man hunt had been launched for the criminals who perpetrated the act, noting that with some leads already in police custody, the criminals will be fished out soon.

He said: “The Police is on their trail. The IGP is not taking that attack lightly and he has given the marching orders that the culprits must be fished out. It is our belief that the CP and his men will track them to their hideouts and apprehend them as soon as possible.”

We’re taught to try to live life without regret.

But if you want to be fully functional and fully human and fully humane, I think you need to learn to live, not without regret, but with it— Kathryn Schulz.

ccording to him, “the police must be well funded because from what we have seen today, these people came with sophisticated weapons and it will be difficult for the police to match them. The state government has done so much to assist security agencies but we believe that the Federal Government has the wherewithal to equip the police force better.

“What happened is unacceptable and we must not allow this carnage to happen again. Those who did this to our people must not go unpunished and I want to appeal to security agencies to help in apprehending these people.

The state government will play its part in ensuring that they pay for their sins.”

The Acting Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad, who spoke to newsmen, said the police were yet to ascertain the number of deaths, adding that everything was being done to bring the perpetrators to book.

The robbers were said to

This may seem really evolutionary thinking but Kathryn Schulz seems to make a clear understanding on the premise about having regret in life. We experience regrets when we think that our present situation could be better or happier if we had done something different in the past. So in other words, regret requires two things. It requires, first of all, that we had to make a decision in the first place. And second of all, it requires imagination. We need to be able to imagine going back and making a different choice, and then we need to be able to spool this imaginary record forward and imagine how things would be playing out in our present.

Research findings show that the things we regret most in life: Number one by far, education. 33 percent of all of our regrets pertain to decisions we made about education. We wish we’d gotten more of it. Others very high on our list of regrets include career, romance, parenting, various decisions and choices about our sense of self.

To really move forward in life, we need to learn to love the flawed, imperfect things that we create and to forgive ourselves for creating them. Regret doesn’t remind us that we did badly. It reminds us that we know we can do better.

CONDOLENCE VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (left) receiving Mr. Jide Kosoko, Bob-Manuel Udokwu (3rd right); Onyeka Onwenu (4th right) and others during a condolence visit on the President over his brother's death by a delegation of Nollywood actors, producers and marketers at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Robbers bomb police stations

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he robbers, numbering about 50, according to eye witnesses, were said to have stormed the area in three Camry cars and a

Soldiers take over Auchi

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eanwhile, soldiers at the early hours of yesterday, took over the entire Auchi town, making it impossible for vehicles heading towards Abuja and the South-East to ply the road. It took the intervention of the state government before the ever busy Auchi-Abuja road was opened.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu; the state Director of the State Security Service and the

LIFEWORDS LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

BY PASTOR ITUAH

What is the value of a man. Try not to become a man of success, but rather become a man of value. – Albert Einstein. When you have value you become valuable.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Hurdi Muhammad, visited Auchi yesterday, where the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, appealed to the Federal Government to beef up security in his domain.

Odubu who described the attack as shocking due to the damages recorded, stressed the need for the Federal Government to equip the police with sophisticated weapons to check the activities of robbers.

have commenced their attack in areas where they knew soldiers will provide resistance and in an attempt to ensure that they stopped soldiers from coming out, many civilian casualties were recorded when they riddled many homes with bullets.

Three new generation banks along Poly Road and one at Igbe road were attacked. Meanwhile, the Police Area Commander, Mr. David Jimwan, told newsmen that though police buildings were destroyed, the robbers did not succeed in breaking into the police armoury adding that his men succeeded in repelling the firing power of the robbers during the attack.

IG orders CP to fish out culprits

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eanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered investigations into how the robbers moved such heavy and dangerous explosives to perpetrate the act without police patrols intercepting or confronting them.

Consequently, it was gathered that the IGP had given the Edo State Police Commissioner a time frame within which to fish out the culprits.

It was learnt that the IGP took the step because only a fortnight ago, he summoned all Command Police Commissioners from the 36 states to Abuja and warned them to be at alert 24 hours a day as the yuletide period would bring with it, criminal and robbery attacks on banks while kidnapping for ransom might increase.

He consequently advised them to come up with new strategies to nip

Gunmen kill 5 policemen in Borno, destroy telecom masts

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n a related development, gunmen suspected to be terrorists, yesterday laid ambush to Rann, the Headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State killing five policemen,

using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The gunmen who invaded the town on motorcycles also succeeded in attacking the official residence of the Caretaker Council Chairman, Central Primary School, Government Lodge and destroyed the GSM telecommunication masts belonging to MTN, Glo, and Airtel.

Some of the Policemen killed during that attack, according to investigation, were Corporal Emmanuel Kwaya, Ishaku Sam, Yahaya Mohammed, and two others whose names were not disclosed, while one sustained bullet wounds. The gunmen also carted away three AK 47 rifles from the station.

Last Sunday, some yetto-be-identified gunmen also invaded a popular beer joint (Artillery) Bayan Railway Quarters, few metres from the demolished enclave of the Boko Haram leader, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, where they shot dead two customers, a woman beer seller and another woman who later died as a result of excess bleeding before she was rushed to the hospital.

The Kala Balge incident, our correspondent gathered, took place at about 3 a.m on Tuesday at Rann town of Kala-Balge when most of the residents were still asleep.

A top security officer who does not want his name mentioned said some unidentified gunmen on motorcycles invaded Kala Balge town and attacked Police Divisional Office of Kala Balge, Boarding Primary School, local government chairman’s official residence, government lodge and three telecommunication masts belonging to MTN, GLO and Airtel.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

AIRPORTS: Reps give Aviation Ministry pass mark

BY KENNETH EHIGIA-

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President Goodluck Jonathan (middle), Vice President Namadi Sambo (4th right), Treasurer-General of South African ruling African National Congress, ANC, Dr. Mathews Phosa (4th left), Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur (3rd left) and others, after an audience the President granted both political leaders at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Why we can't reveal Jonathan's assets declaration form —CCB zGives VP, Ministers, Govs clean bill of health

BY IKECHUKWU

NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—THE Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, yesterday, adduced reasons why it refused to expose the assets declaration form that was filed and submitted before it by President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that its action was anchored on the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

CCB Chairman, Mr. Sam Saba, while espousing the position of the Bureau during a Ministerial Press briefing it conducted in Abuja yesterday, disclosed that though several Civil Society Organisations and individuals, previously attempted to invoke the Freedom of Information, FOI, Act with a view to accessing President Jonathan’s form, “ we cannot do that.”

Saba, who maintained that the FOI Act was in conflict with the 1999 constitution so far as disclosure of submitted assets declaration forms of politically exposed persons are concerned, stressed that, “ rather than contemplating on the removal of the Bureau from the Constitution, the National Assembly should enact an Act pre-

scribing the terms and conditions under which the Bureau could make assets declared by public officers available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria as provided for in paragraph 3(c) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

Specifically, the aforementioned section, gave CCB the power to, “retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.”

Meanwhile, the CCB, while reeling out the number of cases it said were successfully prosecuted within the year under review and those pending before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, said none of the top political office holders in the country defaulted.

“Neither the President, the Vice President, Governors or any of the Ministers defaulted. In fact, they had all declared their assets before they even assumed office and we have their assets declaration forms.

“In the year under review, assets declared by Ministers, State Gover-

nors, Deputy Governors, Secretaries to State Governments, Commissioners and other top government functionaries of state governments were verified by the Federal Commissioners in charge of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Also, verification of assets declared by Local Government Chairmen, Councilors and Supervisors of the 774 local governments in the country are on-ongoing. This is carried out through conference and field verifications.”

It said those earmarked

for prosecution were mostly civil servants, adding that, “the Bureau prosecuted 172 public officers from Kwara and Kogi States for defaulting in declaring their assets as required in paragraph 11 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

“The Bureau has further filed charges on breach of the Code of Conduct against nine officers from various organizations before the CCT. It is also drafting charges against Public officers who have defaulted in declaring their

assets from the following states and organizations; Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Nasarawa, Rivers, Nigeria Customs Service, Vehicle Inspection Office and Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Meantime, the Bureau yesterday, said one of the greatest challenges it was facing, includes unwillingness of the public to provide it with critical information by way of petitions, whistle-blowing, as well as the problems of inadequate funding and manpower.

BUJA—THE House of Representatives yesterday expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on airports being re-modelled by the Aviation Ministry across the country.

Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who spoke at the 2013 budget defence by Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, said that after committee’s tour of all the airports undergoing re-modelling in the country, it was satisfied with the quality and pace of work.

Onyejeocha, who expressed satisfaction at the ministry ’s 2012 budget performance, said: “The Aviation Ministry surpassed other ministries in terms of capital budget implementation for the 2012 fiscal year.

“The transformation of our airport terminals by the minister is phenomenal and highly commendable. We want to thank the Minister for taking the bull by the horns in the rehabilitation of airport infrastructure across the country, especially the toilets which are now a delight to all airport users.”

Onyejeocha called for the early and improved implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act, which she believed will be passed into law by the National Assembly before the end of the year.

JAJI BOMBINGS: Defence hqtrs sets up board of inquiry

BY KINGSLEY

OMONOBI BUJA—BARELY 24 hours after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika ordered the institution of a board of inquiry to investigate the bombings at the Military Protestant Church in Jaji that killed 15 people and injured scores, the Defence headquarters has ordered another investigative panel to carry out a separate investigation.

It will be recalled that the Armed Forces Com-

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mand and Staff College, has both Army and Defence headquarters institutions co-located in premises including the Army’s Infantry Centre and School, The Counter-Terrorism Training Centre and the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Training Centre among others.

For DHQ, the AFCSC which is the institution for the training of middle level manpower for the armed forces including the Army Wing, Navy Wing and Airforce Wing,

fall directly under the supervision of the Defence headquarters.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim who was in Jaji to inspect the St Andrew's Military Protestant Church that was bombed on Sunday, November 25 2012 commiserated with the families of those affected in the unfortunate incident before addressing the Principal Staff Officers of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College and Infantry Centre and School.

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He said a Board of Inquiry has been set up by the Chief of Defence Staff to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident.

Meanwhile, Vanguard has gathered that the entire officers and soldiers of both the Infantry Centre and School as well as the Command and Staff College are gripped with fear following the belief of the Army Chief, General Ihejirika and the CDS that negligence on the part of some officers led to the attack which should have been prevented.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—7

2013 budget: Northern Senators dare Ministers over imbalance in allocation zVow to make it difficult for Ministers

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AS Minis ters and heads of Departments appear before the Senate Committees for the defence of the 2013 budget, northern Senators have warned the Ministers not to expect a smooth passage of the budget over what they described as imbalance in the preparation

of the budget.

Rising from a meeting at the Senate Hearing Room 1, White House, the Senators vowed to ensure that the Ministers corrected the problem where other zones had more allocation than the zones in the north.

At the meeting, a source told Vanguard that the Northern Senators were equally wor-

ried over the spate of insecurity in some parts of the north which is actually affecting their economy against the backdrop that people from other parts of Nigeria no longer carried out businesses in places like Kano, Mauduguri, Damataru, Bauchi, Jos, among others for fear of being killed.

The source told Van-

guard that on the issue of imbalance in the 2013 budget, the Northern Senators have complained that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has pushed almost all the juicy projects to the South West, just as the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochepe who hails from Plateau was alleged to

have pushed all the Dams to her North Central leaving the North East and others to suffer.

Speaking with Vanguard on the outcome of the meeting, former governor of Yobe State and Senator representing Yobe East, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, however, complained over marginalisation of some zones in the North especially the North East, adding that the Ministers were the problem of this country.

Senator Ibrahim who is also the Senate Committee Chairman on Housing, however, complained that North East has only a Minister of State, adding, ‘’a minister of State is only a glorified Permanent Secretary with no much role to play. Ministers are the problem, they caused the

imbalance in the budget; Minister of Agriculture pushed projects to the South West, Minister of Water Resources also pushed dams to her zone; leaving other zones to suffer. They will meet us, we have a final say on the budget and we must ensure that the imbalances are corrected.

We are ready to deal with them, we must not be cheated, so those were the issues we discussed at the meeting.”

Vanguard also gathered that the northern senators reviewed the just concluded zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution with a view to harmonizing a common position ahead of the presentation of the report to the Senate for discussions.

Jonathan approves 2 nominees for National Order of Merit Award

A RETREAT: From left: Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, and Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Arunma Oteh, during the 2nd Annual Capital Market Retreat in Warri, Delta State, yesterday.

BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the conferment of Nigerian National Order of Merit Award on two distinguished Nigerians for 2012.

A statement, yesterday, in Abuja, signed by Mr Adamu Mu‘azu, Secretary, Nigerian National Merit Award,named the

Why there 'll be drop in interest rate —CBN zBemoans high cost of governance

BY EMMAARUBI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE ARRI—THE Gov ernor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said, yesterday, in Warri, Delta State that there will be a drop in interest rate just as he bemoaned the high cost of governance in the country.

Sanusi therefore advised the Federal Government to cut half of its present workforce if a sustainable economy is to be achieved.

The CBN Governor gave the advice during his presentation at the 2nd Annual Capital Market Committee

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retreat held in Warri.

Sanusi noted that the country cannot build its economy if 70 percent of its revenue is used for the payment of salaries and entitlements as the situation is at present.

The CBN boss also called for a compressed and less costly system of government that would reduce overhead expenditures to free up capital for infrastructure development. He said that at the moment 70 percent of Federal Government’s revenue goes for payment of salaries and entitlement of civil servants, leaving 30 percent for development of 167million

Nigerians which means that for every naira government earns, 70kobo is consumed by civil servants.

“You have to fire half of the civil service because the revenue government has is supposed to be for 167million Nigerians. Any society where government spends 70 per cent of its revenue on its civil service has a problem. It is unsustainable,” Sanusi stated.

Sanusi bemoaned the over bloated legislature when he said: “The country does no t need over 100 senators, about 400 members of the House of Representatives to make laws.”

He contended that if the

expenses of lawmakers, civil services and executive arm of government are summed up, Nigerians will find out that the revenue has been consumed by government, lawmakers and civil servants.

He described as ‘wastage’ of funds the maintenance of 774 local government council chairmen with aides, councillors and other appendages of the third tier of government. “Do we need 774 LGAs, do we need 36 states some of which are unviable? Do we need 774 local governments, why not just remove them and have only state governments?”

The CBN boss maintained that the Federal Government should totally re-

move petrol subsidy and suggested that those who stole subsidy funds must be brought to book. “People have the right to demand transparency. If you want to remove subsidy you have to show what happened to those who stole.” he added.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his remark however disagreed with the CBN governor on the call for staff reduction in the federal and state civil services, noting that the government is already grappling with problem of mass unemployment, and that a cut in workforce will surely worsen the employment situation.

nominees as Prof.

Samuel Ohaegbulam, a pioneer in the field of Neuro-surgery in Nigeria and Prof.

Emmanuel Yoloye, an expert in Education Psychology, Chemistry and Science Education.

The statement said the duo would be decorated with the NNOM Award on December 6 by the President at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa.

According to the statement, the duo have passed through the litmus test of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award.

It said in line with the Transformation Agenda of the present administration and to enhance further research works, each recipient would be given a cash award prize of N10 million.

It added that the recipients would also be entitled to a medal and certificate.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the NNOMA had been conferred on only 60 Nigerians from all walks of life since its inception in 1979.

8 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—9

grants him custody of the children, he would be able to provide for them and that his wife of 28 years could go back to her parents because “that is how it is done.”

The court President, however, said that he foresaw problem for Igboayaka, as he didn’t seem to be responsible.

He added that the wife will not leave his house, until he provided her another accommodation, having wasted her life for the past 25 years.

He also said that he will not get judgment from the court, until he adequately takes care of his wife and also puts the children in school. The matter was adjourned till January 29, 2013, for further hearing.

Man wants dissolved...

From left: Arch. Namadi Sambo, Gov Raji Fashola of Lagos with wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola and Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, at the opening ceremony of 18th National Sport Festival - Eko 2012 - in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Lagos families in court over infidelity allegations

By ONOZURE DANIA

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ying nuptial knot is a great day for both man and woman. It is also a day for taking vows to protect and cherish each other and to remain faithful to themselves; after which they would both say: “I do” at close intervals.

The vows are even linked to God, that “what God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

However in Lagos, as in other places, infidelity allegations are fast tearing many marriages apart.

And Customary courts have turned to battle grounds for those seeking to untie the nuptial knot.

At customary court, Ojo A Grade A customary court, sitting

at Ojo, is currently saddled with determining what happens to a 28 year old marriage, which the husband, 52year old James Igboayaka, wants dissolved on the alleged ground of infidelity by his estranged wife, Ngozi, 47.

Igboayaka, who gave evidence, before the customary court President, Bola Giwa, yesterday, said that he cohabited with his wife since 1984 before he formally paid her bride price three years ago.

He dragged his wife to court based on assumption of infidelity, saying although he had not caught his wife red-handed, that he saw her with her male friends, who stay in the same house with him, up to 8p.m.

He also said that his wife, had even ordered one of them to slap him, the husband, if he asked him any questions.

He told the court that whenever he queried his wife while with her male friends, she would turn it to a fight.

According to him, the wife did not have any regard for him.

Igboayaka, who said that they were blessed with seven children, told court that, “my children misbehave to the extent, that they don’t care if am in the house or not. They just do whatever they liked,” adding, “they cannot even fetch water for me to take my bath, not to talk of washing my dirty clothes.”

Daughter remanded for contempt

While he was giving evidence, his oldest child, who is a 26 year old woman, told him, in front of the court, that he should tell the court the truth and should not lie. But the court President, Giwa, took serious objection to the intervention, asking that the daughter be thrown outside and locked up in the court premises, for contempt.

However, the hearing continued.

Igboayaka, who was visibly shaken, while giving evidence, said that there was no more love and care in the marriage and that his life was being threatened, as his wife had predicted when he will die, but that he could not remember the date.

According to him, he married his wife, when she was barely 19 years old in 1984, adding that he did not see anything that attracted him to marry her, except for the urge of getting married and that it was his parents that got his wife for him.

He further added that when his first daughter finished secondary school, he bought her JAMB form, so that she could further her education, but after the exam, he didn’t know if she passed or not, as she refused to give him a specific answer, of whether she passed or not.

"Even after the mother took her away from home and the reverend father of our church asked her to bring her back, I still asked her what she wanted to do with her life because as a woman, if she didn’t go to school, she should be able to learn a trade.

When asked why four of his children, were not in school, he said he was still struggling to make money so he can send them to school. He added that if the court dissolves the marriage and

mar riage

Also a 37 year old businessman dragged his wife before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Agege, Lagos, seeking the dissolution of their five year old marriage, also over infidelity.

The petitioner, Tope Fasanmi, who gave evidence before Agege customary court, also accused his wife, Zainab, 32, of assault, brutality of house-maids, lack of respect and threat to life.

He told the court that their relationship, which was blessed with one child, aged five, became sour in 2007 when his wife failed to show up at their marriage registry.

“My wife is wayward, she doesn’t respect me or my family and she had threatened to kill me with a knife during one of our usual quarrels.

“The first two years of our marriage, I was the one cooking in the house; she doesn’t cook, neither does she know how to take care of the house.

“Also, any time we are fighting, which is normally caused by her, she always tells me that I am not the one she should have married but her banker friend, “ he said.

Fasanmi, who lives at 8, Metal Box Road., Ogba, also told the court that his parents in-law were the ones teleguiding his wife.

'My wife's divorcees'

friends

are

“Anytime I plan with my wife, I always receive phone calls from her dad on what my wife and I discussed and at times, my father in-law always stopped my plans, which I didn’t like.

“All my wife’s friends are divorcees, and all my efforts to stop her from keeping them have proved abortive as I could not control her.

“My wife was too harsh to all the house-maids we have had; she used to beat them any how and I hate maltreating people, especially the less privileged. ‘’I got to know from her text messages that she was having an extra-marital affair with someone and it was through that message that I got to know that her mum was aware of the illicit relationship.”

However, Zainab, a trader who lives at No. 2, Igbowu St; Mushin, told the court that her husband wanted to leave her because she had stopped giving him money for his business.

“I have been with him through thick and thin; I have been an honest wife, faithful and always ready to listen to him.

“My husband has not been fair to me, he met me a virgin and no man had ever slept with me except him.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Ogun Police parade 400 level student, 23 other suspects

.Denies arresting Hamzat’s killers

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — A400 level Sociology Student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Azeez Salami, 27, was among the 24 suspects paraded by the Ogun State Police Command yesterday for armed robbery, burglary, car theft, murder and obtaining money under false pretence.

Addressing newsmen at Eleweran headquarters of the Command, the Commissioner of Po l i c e , I k h e m e f u n a Okoye said the suspects were those arrested in the state within this month alone.

He said that Salami had been on the wanted list of Police in a murder case which, according to him, was still under investigation, before he was arrested with one cut-to-size single barrel gun in his hide-out in Ago Iwoye.

According to the CP, preliminary investigation showed that, Salami was

the second-in-command of the ‘Eiye Confraternity ’ in the institution.

Reacting, Salami said he was a member of secret cult “Eiye Confraternity, but, denied being an armed robber .

Okoye, however, said that the killers of former Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Alhaji Oluwatoyin Hamsat, were yet to be arrested.

The police boss further stated that, the command has recorded success in crime control in the outgoing month.

From left:Dr. Uju Ogubunka, Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria,CIBN; Dr. Salami Pius Otaru, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State; Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN; Dr. Augustus O. Oke, Ag. Rector, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke and Mr. Shwalwal Ishaya Dala, Deputy Rector, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi, at the execution of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Polytechic, Nasarawa State, Osun State College of Technology, Esa- Oke and Plateau State Polytechic, Barkin - Ladi, organised by CIBN, at Banker House Lagos Photo:Diran Oshe

Osun Speaker’s wife’s alleged kidnappers remanded

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — An O s o g b o Magistrate court yesterday ordered six alleged kidnappers to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly kidnapping Mrs. Muibat

Salaam, the wife of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly.

The six suspects; Chukwududi Okereke, Ogbole Ochijile Elijah, Okonkwo Lucky, Chukwuma Osifo, Kaikine Mahan and Uwadiunor Philip allegedly kidnapped

Mrs. Salaam on of October 9, 2012 at Ejigbo,hometownof the Speaker.

The suspects were later arrested in Ogun State through the combined efforts of men of the Ogun State Police Command and the vigilante group in the

TRIBUNAL: Controversy trails Mimiko counsel’s appearance

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — THE controversy over the eligibility of one of the counsels to Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the Election Petition Tribunal, Dr. Olumide Ayeni who is a Senior Special Adviser to Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun continued yesterday as Ayeni said that he would not be intimidated by anybody.

A group with the name Ondo State Professional Integrity Forum had kicked against Ayeni representing Governor Mimiko at the tribunal, saying it is an act of disloyalty and against the interest of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, government he currently works for.

The group described Ayeni’s action as “unethical and a breach of the rules of professional conduct by taking the brief of the governor despite his position as the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Amosun on

Legal Matters.

They insisted that the move is an antic to distract and divide ACN members.

But in his reaction, Dr Ayeni said as a lawyer of over 24 years he is aware of the rules guiding his professional conduct and has not run foul of it. He described the outburst as empty and unfounded.

Ayeni said the report is not only shocking but annoying and a clear attempt to surreptitiously drag him away from his legitimate undertaking.

“I was appointed as an honorary legal adviser to Governor Amosun as a person; I hold no public or political appointment in Ogun State.

“The faceless group are only out to smear my reputation and integrity.

I have not done anything that can debar me from representing Governor Mimiko at the tribunal.

I do not belong to ACN or Labour Party; I am only doing my duties as a legal luminary.

town Police prosecutor, Mr. Elisha Olusgun told the court that the accused persons conspired together to kidnap Mrs. Salaam, saying they have through the action committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun State 2003”.

Mr. Olusegun added that the accused persons also committed an

offence contrary to and punishable under Section 364(2) of the Criminal Code Cap.34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State 2003 for allegedly possessing firearms.

Counsels to the accused persons, Barrister Bode Babalola, F. O. Nwosu and Nnena Ngwu urged the court to grant the accused persons bail, but the presiding Magistrate Habibat Basiru refused and adjourned the case till December 28, 2012.

UNIOSUN gets new Governing Council

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — A new G o v e r n i n g Council of the University of Osun, UNIOSUN, headed by a renowned law scholar, Professor Gabriel Olawoyin was yesterday inaugurated

by Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, who charged the new board to re-position the university for better performance.

Speaking in his office yesterday during the inauguration, Aregbesola tasked the new council to unify the university for academic and administrative convenience.

The seven-man governing council also include Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun; Prof.

Gabriel Adegboyega; Prof. Obafemi Ajibola; Dr. Abeke Omotosho; Sir Demola Aladekomo and Mr. Remi Olowude.

KICC holds convention

K

ingdom Life Christian Centre (KLCC), Ibadan, yesterday commenced its 2012 Horeb Annual Convention with the theme, 'Created for His Glory'.

According to the host Pastor, Matthew Olubusuyi, the convention being held at the Solution Ground, Opposite Wema Bank, New Ife Expressway, Ibadan, is aimed at

transforming lives and making men fulfil the will of God for their lives.

The thanksgiving service is scheduled for Sunday, December 2, 2012, at the church convention ground.

The General Overseer of the church, Rev.& Pastor (Mrs.) Matthew Olubusuyi, among other ministers of God, are expected to minister at the event.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 11

A-Ibom dep gov tasks communities on protection of govt facilities

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OMMUNITIES in Akwa Ibom State have been told to protect government facilities in their areas against vandalisation.

The deputy governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, stated this during a solidarity visit on her by the people of Ikot Edeghe village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.

She said the administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio had, over the

DONATION: From left: Mrs. Juliet Zifawei, SSA to Bayelsa State Governor on Girl Child Education; Mr. Williams Alamene, Commissioner for Special Duties, Bayelsa State and Nnamdi Opara, Head, Marketing, Sundry Foods Limited, during the presentation of relief materials to flood victims in Bayelsa State

by Kilimanjaro.

Aginighan wants management of 13% derivation fund vested in Presidency

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

Dickson suspends four civil servants P over alleged fraudulent acts ...warns against partisan politics

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—HARD times await recalcitrant workers in Bayelsa State civil service, as Governor Seriake Dickson has ordered the immediate suspension of four civil servants over alleged fraudulent acts and insubordination.

Their offences, as disclosed by the governor during an interactive session with the workers in Yemagoa, ranged from employment racketeering, indiscriminate allotment and allocation of land against the masterplan of the City Council Development Authority and acts of insubordination.

Expressing the readiness of his administra-

tion to partner workers in the state, the governor said his administration would not condone truancy, lateness to work and financial impropriety on the part of workers.

The governor said anybody caught mismanaging public funds would be dealt with in accordance with the law, adding that his administration had been able to gather reports on the al-

leged fraud perpetrated by some workers in the state civil service.

He said: “We want to get more. We are not only going to take them out of the system, the prison will be ready very soon for them.

“Those who commit payroll fraud, their cup will be full soon. But on a serious note, the Head of Service should help us. We want to see how

Delta LG caretaker c'ttees: Uduaghan blasts ACN

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday,

charged the leadership of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state not to waste their time challenging the setting up of local govern-

Litigation over ALSCON hinders host communities' devt bassador to Russia, obBY TONY NYONG

U

YO—LEGAL prac titioners have expressed regret that legal tussle over the privatisation of the Aluminium Smelter Plant in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, has hampered the development of the host communities.

It will be recalled that the Supreme Court on July 7, ruled that BFI Group, the NigerianAmerican consortium that emerged the preferred

we can reduce the huge wage bill.”

On the alleged participation of workers in partisan politics, the governor advised that any worker, who wants to take part in active politics should resign his/her appointment in accordance with the civil service edict, threatening that anybody that fails to heed the advice would be shown the way out of office.

bidder for ALSCON in 2004, but was disqualified in controversial circumstances by BPE, was the valid winner of the bid.

The judgment had stripped UC Rusal, a Russian aluminum group that took over the plant in 2006 with a bid of $250 million, of the asset.

The lawyers, who expressed the views in separate interviews, observed that the plant had operated below its capacity.

Chief Assam Assam, SAN and Nigerian Am-

served that the privatization of the plant was shrouded in controversy.

He said the Russian core investors were reluctant to inject fresh capital due to the uncertainties surrounding the privatization bid process.

He said: “The bid for the ALSCON plant was shrouded in controversy from day one. Was it BFIG that won? Was it Rusal that won from day one? So whatever investments you could have made wholeheartedly."

ment caretaker committees in court, but to rather focus on the coming council elections.

Political Adviser to the governor, Chief Ighoyota Amori, who spoke with Vanguard, in Asaba, said: “There is no need for any court action by ACN. The local government elections would soon be held. The caretaker committee is a transition as we cannot allow vacuum. It is not illegal as it is a creation of the state House of Assembly properly backed by law.

“ACN should start preparing for elections instead of wasting time in litigation as all ACN governments in old Western region have been running their councils with caretaker committees.

The pot should not call the kettle back.”

years, strived to ensure equitable distribution of facilities across the state.

Lady Ebe noted that since assumption of office, Chief Akpabio, has brought what she described as infrastructural renaissance which had made Akwa Ibom a destination of choice.

She advised communities which have not been touched to be patient as efforts were being put in place to develop all parts of the state.

ORT HARCOURT— As the National Assembly moves to review the 1999 Constitution, the lawmakers have been told to remove the control and management of the 13 per cent derivation fund on natural resources from state governors.

Former Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of Niger

Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, who made the call in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the National Assembly should set up a body under the Presidency to manage the funds and make provision for same in the constitution.

He expressed the hope that this way, communities where natural resources such as oil and others are generated from, would see the benefit of the allocation.

Ex-Delta Varsity V-C donates to flood victims in Delta

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GHELLI—WOR RIED by the scarcity of food that may arise after the recent flood which destroyed farmlands and other property in some parts of the country, former Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof.

Abednigo Ekoko, yesterday, donated trailer load of cassava stems to Uzere community, Isoko

South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Presenting the items to the community women leader at the town hall, Ekoko, said the donation was to assist the farmers to re-plant after the flood, which wreaked havoc on their farmlands has started receding, adding that he was committed to the survival of the farmers.

Tompolo Foundation to be launched in Delta tomorrow

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ARRI—THE re cently established Tompolo Foundation, which had made donations of education materials to schools and relief materials to internally displaced persons in Delta State will be officially launched on Thursday in Effurun.

Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, Executive Secretary, Tompolo Foundation, in a statement, said the launch would witness representatives from the Presidency, government functionaries and Nigerian Maritime Administration and

Safety Agency, NIMASA. He noted that the foundation had donated education materials to schools in Warri South- West Local Government Area as a pilot project but with the launch, several schools would be given complete school uniforms, bags, sandals, text books, note books, recreational materials and writing materials. He said the launch would signal the official commencement of a long list of activities aimed at meeting the educational needs of pupils and students in Delta State.

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

FG sacks Onagoruwa, DG BPE

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU & PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU, with Agency Report

T

IGBO DAY: From left: Mr. Pascal Dozie, Chairman, Diamond Bank Plc; Prof. Anya O. Anya, former CEO, NESG, discussing with President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos State and Diaspora, Chief Oliver Akubueze, Mmiri Ndigbo at the Igbo Day celebration in Lagos .

Why unemployment'll increase —Sanusi

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—GOV ERNOR of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, noted that the unemployment in the country will continue to rise because of the increase in the number graduates from the country’s institutions of higher learning every year without corresponding job openings.

Mallam Sanusi stated this in Calabar, Cross River State, in a lecture titled Employment Skills, Values, Opportunities and Challenges of University Graduating Students at the annual University of Calabar lecture series.

He noted that with the expanding opportunities for university education in Nigeria, which are without corresponding increase in job openings, the unemployment situation in Nigeria can only get worse.

Increase

“From five Universities in the '60s, the number has increased to over 100 and about 96 polytechnics and 47 monotechnics as at 2012. Concomitantly, students enrolment has also been increasing significantly.

In 2006 and 2007, the total enrolment in higher institutions in Nigeria stood at 12.37 million and 1.98 respectively,”

he said.

He said that acquisition of knowledge had replaced the possession of natural resources in driving development equation world over and that any country that lagged behind in knowledge acquisition could not make commensurate progress compared to other countries.

Sanusi explained that changing trends in the global economy were knowledge based and driven by advances in

information and communication technology, which had significantly raised the stakes in the labour market.

Knowledge

“Knowledge has become an important factor propelling growth in the world economy today and as a matter of fact, natural resources are increasingly becoming less important in the development equation.”

He said that employers demand for graduates,

who are not only technically knowledgeable in their chosen fields but have what he called complementary life skills to deliver the highest possible value to organisations.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. James Epoke, on his part, said the University had embraced the Power Intervention Programme of the CBN and called for assistance from the apex bank.

HE Federal Government has relieved the Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, Mrs. Bolanle Onagoruwa, of her appointment with immediate effect.

In a two paragraph statement by the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, to the Vice President, Umar Sani, she was ordered to hand over to the most senior director in the Bureau, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, who is to hold the position in an acting capacity.

Indeed, Onagoruwa’s exit from the Bureau did not really come as a surprise, in view of the noticeable strained relationship between her and her boss, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is also the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, which supervises the BPE.

Vanguard gathered that the VP constantly disapproved of her actions, and always compelled her to toe the line, notwithstanding the fact that every process of the privatisation programme has to be approved by him.

Furthermore, it was also gathered that the atmosphere at the Bureau’s office in Abuja, was that of resignation, not only because of the anticipated exit of Onagoruwa, who had also had a rough ride with the legislators recently over her activities in the Bureau, but also because of the constant sudden exit of such leaders from office.

The sacking of the Director General, DG of the BPE is nothing new, as since the privatization agency was set up in 1999, only Ms Irene Chigbue, was allowed to complete a four-year term.

Continues on Page 42

Delta LG boss warns against indiscriminate dumping of refuse

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—CARE TAKER Committee Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Friday Akpoyibo, has warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the council.

Akpoyibo, who gave the warning in a chat with newsmen, insisted that

stiffer penalties awaited anyone found indulging in indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the council.

Noting that an environmental sanitation committee had been set up by the council to effectively monitor the sanitary situation of the council, he said members of the committee were expected to give weekly report to the council.

that “it cannot lead to an output that can transform the controversial and wasteful system currently in practice.”

While noting that members of the National and state assemblies were elected by Nigerians through delegated sovereignty, the group submitted that “full sovereignty resides in the people permanently and legislators, no matter how high-minded, could not be expected to preside over the termination of their own previleges.

And because legislators are agents of the people, who are their principal, they cannot claim to represent the people better than they can represent themselves.”

The group explained that a referendum at the end of the constitutional process would enhance the quality and legitimacy of the final document as “the fundamental law of the land rather than detract from it," the body said adding that it would then truly be the constitution of ‘We the people’. and not ‘We the agents or representatives of the people.”

U

NUPENG pickets Shell, Chevron offices O Subject constitutional review to referendum —CGN C IL workers picket ed the offices of Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Nigeria Limited, yesterday, over potential plans to cut jobs amid union demands for temporary employees to be given permanent appointments.

An official of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Tokunbo Korodo, said: “The offices of Shell and Chevron in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Warri have been blocked by our members. No worker is allowed into the premises.”

He said that the picketing of the two firms, which began Monday, would continue “until the management heeds

our demands to scrap their anti-labour practices.”

Korodo said the union's action had affected only administrative operations in the two companies.

Shell, in a statement, denied allegations of anti-union policies and said that affected workers were being compensated.

It said: "We are currently divesting from a number of our assets in Western Niger Delta as agreed by joint venture partners and approved by the Federal Government.

“This is part of a portfolio realignment exercise that will also help to grow indigenous capacity in the oil and gas industry,” it added.

Chevron officials were not immediately available for comment.

ITIZENS Govern ance Network, CGN, has said there was need to subject the ongoing constitutional review process to a referendum of acceptance by Nigerians to confer legitimacy on the constitution.

In a statement, CGN argued that the current process is skewed in favour of those in government for the review to reflect the aspirations and consensus derivable from the broad section of Nigerian citizens adding

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 13

One killed, others trapped as building collapses in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—ONE person was confirmed dead while an undisclosed number of artisans were reportedly trapped when a threestorey building collapsed at about 9pm Sunday night, in Owerri, Imo State.

Vanguard investigations revealed that some of the workers engaged by the landlord and contractor of the ill-fated house were resting in the building when it crumbled.

It was also gathered that the dead man, Mr. Joseph Bassey Ekandem,

Opi Nsukka rape: Enugu House urges Police to prosecute culprits

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—ENUGU State House of Assembly, yesterday, received the report of the ad-hoc committee on incessant rape of old/elderly women at Opi, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, with a call on the police to re-arrest the alleged rapists earlier released on bail in order to prosecute them for the crime.

The lawmakers also asked the traditional ruler of Ogbozalla Opi community, Igwe F. A. Ogbuabor, to immediately dissolve his cabinet and reconstitute a fresh one.

Pa Moneke laid to rest

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HE remains of late Pa Hyacinth Moneke, father of Vanguard External Solicitor, Mr. Gab Moneke, were committed to mother earth Friday November 23.

A Catholic, sportsman and retired headmaster, Pa Moneke was aged 77 and hailed from Awka in Anambra State. He is survived by 7 sons and one daughter amongst whom are Gab Moneke Esq., Dr. Ignatius Moneke, Rev. Fr. DamianMery Moneke, Francis Moneke Esq and Miss Anthonia Moneke.

a 28-year-old carpenter was an only child of his parents who hailed from Cross Rivers State.

Speaking to Vanguard at the scene of the gory incident, the Executive Secretary of Imo State Emergency Management Agency, ISEMA, Mrs. Uche Ezeonyeasi, expressed shock that the landlord and his contractor upon hearing about the incident, visited the scene and simply locked the gate and vanished into the thin air.

Ezeonyeasi said there was nothing to show that the landlord or his contractor reported the incident to the police, State Security Service, SSS or ISEMA. She lamented that because the state government did not have the needed equipment to handle such a disaster, its only option was to engage the services of contracting firms to assist in the rescue operation.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa

Baba Bolanta, who appeared short of words, simply said: “We will go after the landlord and his contractor. They must give account of what happened here.”

At the time of going to press, a combined team of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, police, army, State Security Service, Red Cross and sympathizers were still busy digging through the rubbles in search of other workers.

Diabetes, major cause of poverty —Odeniyi

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE, NWOPOKE MICHAEL & EZEAMANIE CHINENYE

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DON, Dr. Ifedayo Odeniyi, yesterday identified diabetes as a major cause of poverty and a barrier to economic development, urging the Federal Government to grant waivers on importation of drugs for its treatment.

Odeniyi, who is of the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Uni-

versity of Lagos, said about 8.6 million people were living with diabetes worldwide.

Speaking on the theme, Diabetes: The emerging Threat to Human Race, at Lagoon Hospital Friends' 16th annual lecture in Lagos, Odeniyi called for more education on diabetes, noting that diabetes was a global health disaster with critical connections.

He also described diabetes as a neglected cause of maternal hospitality and a household burden.

14—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

FACILITY TOUR OF VANGUARD'S NEW PRESS Advertisers were at Vanguard premises on a facility tour of the new press, yesterday.

PHOTOS: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor, & Biodun Ogunleye.

From right— Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers; Pastor Charles Daodu; Elder Emmanuel Obuh; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House, and Mr. Sunday Awevia, Operations Manager, Vanguard.

LEFT: The new press.

From right— Mr. Sunday Awevia, Mr. Ndubuisi Ukonu, Mr. Promise Odeh, Mr. Wale Mesioye, Head, Cement & Allied Business, and Mr. Folorunsho Bolanle of Campbell Communications.

From left— Pastor Patrick Oyemike, Elder Emmanuel Obuh and Mr. Temisan Amuka-Pemu, Circulation Manager, all of Vanguard.

From right— Mr. Samson Akunna, Mr. Victor Omoregie, Manager, Corporate Affairs, and Mr. Amorighoye Miller, CSO, all of Vanguard.

From left— Mr. Ndubuisi Ukonu, Mr. Promise Odeh, Mr. Hugo Odiogor, Foreign Affairs Editor, and Mr. Bosun Oladejo, Acting Production Manager, all of Vanguard.

From left— Mr. Emma Aziken, Political Editor, Vanguard; Mr. Dafe Ivwurie and Mr. Kayode Mathew, News Editor, Vanguard.

From right— Mr. Wale Mesioye. Head, Cement and Allied Business; Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager; Ms Akachi Ikonne, Construction and Commerce; Ms Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller; Mr. Samuel Iroegbulam, Accountant; and Mr. Moses Ewa, Acting Treasury Officer, all of Vanguard Newspapers.

Mr. Abayomi Joseph, Press Manager (left) and Mr. Badmus Jelili, Electrical Engineer, both of Vanguard.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—15

FACILITY TOUR OF VANGUARD'S NEW PRESS

From left— Mr. Omomeda Ashofo, Head, Strategy and Implementation; Ms. Amaka Jacob, both of Capital Media; and Mr. Austin Osokpor, Media Activities Societales Ecobank.

From left— Mr. Emiko Aruofor, MD/CEO, Pulsar Advertising; Mr. Tunji Olugbodi, MD, Verdant Zeal, and Mr. Eki Adzufeh, Business Director, Mediashare.

Mr. Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers (left), and Mr. Mohammed Ciroma, Divisional Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Keystone Bank.

From right— Alhaji Remi Sunmola, Patron; Mr. Korede Fashola, both of Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria, NIDAN; Mr. Ndubuisi Ukonu, ED, Media, Big Ben Communications, and Mr. Promise Odeh, Snr Manager, Carat Media Perspectives.

Pastor Ighodalo delivering his sermon.

From left— Mr. Anaba; Mr. Tunji Olugbodi, MD, Verdant Zeal; Mr. Hassan Balogun, Deputy Administration Manager; Mr. Fred Odueme, AGM, Brands; Mr. Dafe Ivwurie and Ms. Alero Atsimene, all of Vanguard.

From left— Mr. Saheed Lawal of Blue Bird Communications; Mr. Victor Gotevbe, Administration Manager, and Mr. Joseph Abayomi, both of Vanguard.

Mr. Prince Osuagwu and Mr. Nkwocha, both of Vanguard.

16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Abdullahi advocates media, Customs partnership

BY IFENYINWA OBI

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OMPTROLLERGeneral of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, yesterday, cautioned his men against snubbing the media, noting that same would work against accurate reporting of the activities of the service.

Speaking at the ongoing 2012 ComptrollerGeneral’s Annual Conference of the Customs in Katsina, Katsina State, Dikko condemned some Customs Area Controllers, CACs, who, he noted, hardly pick their calls, much less respond to inquires by journalists.

He added that these CACs had “become tin gods,” because as soon as they assume their positions, they treat the media with disdain.

“There are some Area Controllers who do not pick my calls, not to talk of journalists',” he said.

Dikko wondered why

these CACs shied away from journalists, suggesting that the CACs should inaugurate monthly or bi-monthly fora to brief the media on activities of their respective commands and eliminate room for inaccuracies in news reports.

President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, who spoke on CustomsMedia Partnership: Building Synergy Towards National Development, commended the website run by the Customs.

He said it was informative and educative, adding that the initiative spoke well of what the Customs was doing and showed that it had come of age.

Adefaye said: “The Customs have done well by partnering the media, which has in turn made the media to cover the activities of Customs well.”

Casualties of Plateau shooting rise to 10

BY TAYE OBATERU, PHILIP EKIGWE & COMFORT ALIFIA

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OS—THE death toll from Monday night's shooting at a drinking spot at Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State rose to 10, yesterday, as two of those hospitalised later died.

The increase in the number of deaths worsened the tension generated by the killings in the area as people from the village, yesterday, took over the Jos-Abuja highway to protest the attack.

This is even as the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned the continued killing of innocent Northerners following ethnic and religious disputes and asked for a change of heart by those concerned.

National Publicity Sec-

retary of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, who spoke for the association, lamented the recent upsurge in retaliatory killings in Barkin Ladi.

The protesters barricaded the road for several hours, preventing vehicular movement and holding up travellers on both sides, while denouncing the shooting at the drinking joint by unknown gunmen.

They alleged that the attack was carried out by uniformed men, who came in a Hilux van similar to those used by members of the Special Task Force, STF, maintaining security in the state.

Court orders re-arrest of pharmacist over Cynthia's murder

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE, NWOPOKE MICHAEL & EZEAMANIE CHINENYE

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Yaba Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, ordered the re-arrest of one of the pharmacists, Orji Osita, suspected of alleged involvement in the murder of Miss Cynthia Osokogu, who was murdered in a hotel at Festac town, Lagos on July 22.

The pharmacists and his colleague, Maduakor Chukwunonso, were released from custody last Wednesday on the order of a High Court sequel to a ruling delivered by Jus-

tice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

The Judge ordered their release based on a DPP advice dated November 1, issued by the Ministry of Justice, and an affidavit of response filed by a counsel from the ministry exonerating the two pharmacists and two others from blame over Cynthia’s death.

However, there was a mild drama in court, yesterday, between the prosecution and the defence teams, leading to arguments over the new advice, dated November 16 from the same office of the DPP, which in turn

found Osita culpable.

The moment the case was called, presiding Magistrate P. A. Adekomaya disclosed that there was a new advice from the DPP’s table, which indicted one of the pharmacists, Osita, while Maduakor Chukwunonso, Gideon Okechukwu and Ezeaka Chinonso, earlier freed in the November1 advice, were unconditionally discharged and acquitted.

He subsequently ordered the re-arrest of the third defendant (Orji Osita).

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012— government under the current political dispensation, it is safe to assume that this will be the final position at the end of the review. They should, and will encounter fierce resistance from state legislators, but their current political and financial clout should help them survive with a few token concessions.

After all, at the end of it all, this will be a matter settled between governors, state legislators, and federal legislators. The presidency is likely to stay out of this one.

“Until a rotten tooth is removed, one must chew car efully."- Nigerian proverb.

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Two-tier nation values, institutions and practices and enhance citizen-state relations. The third perspective is the one the Governor does not like: a federal system with its current excess baggage, and states and local councils which by default or design, severely compromise each other ’s capacities to function better.

In simple terms, if Governor Amaechi says it now, it should come to pass: no amendments will succeed which seek to make local councils autonomous. It is also trite to argue that governors will not even hear of any proposals which give geo-political zones some legal recognition, and presumably some responsibilities. Governors who want local councils abolished so that only states and the (newly-improved, slimmer) federal government will exist will not welcome any other structure, under whatever guise. Governors must also know that they are unlikely to get the local councils abolished as thirdlevel federating units. There is too much interest in going the other way; and if they won’t let them function independently, it will be difficult to see how they will be allowed to abolish local councils.

Survival of status-quo

S

o it is very likely that the statusquo will survive the reviews, unless the all-powerful governors have more cards up their sleeves than Nigerians realise. It is difficult to see what motivation President Jonathan (who is the other party in the matter with interest and clout) will have to say on the governors' take on local councils’ autonomy. Chances are that if the governors do not like it, the National Assembly and the President are unlikely to push or win against them on this issue. And this is the reason Governor Amaechi’s comments on other areas also needs to be noted. He makes the case against legislating financial autonomy for state legislatures, another issue with popular support. Again, at the heart of this issue is the manner Governors exercise determining control over

BY CHARLES ONUNAIJU

I

NSPITE of the euphoria that swept across Africa at the re-election of US President, Mr. Barack Obama, an African-American, Africa in Mr. Obama’s second term, just as in his first term, will not get any significant engagement or attention from Washington, except in its universal obsession with counter-terrorism and other security-related concerns. Following his re-election last week, President Barack Obama's foreign policy priority appears clearly to be the Asia pacific, even the poorer bit of the extensive region. He has announced a historic visit to Mymmar, former Burma, where the entrenched military establishment is cautiously crafting a transition to civil rule.

Mr. Obama will be the first US President to visit the country. The strategy seemed a well-laid out Washington outline to contain China in its backyard in the overall obsession of the United States to remain the pre-eminent power in the region, an aspiration contested by the shifting balance of power in the region and even beyond.

The euphoria that gripped Africa in respect of Mr. Obama’s re-election is obviously and plainly emotional and Mr. Obama has never expressed such emotions

C M Y K

Fight for more responsibility

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Gov. Amaechi, chairman governors' forum democratic institutions which are intended to function with genuine autonomy from them.

The popular clamour is for some sort of legislation which should guarantee state legislatures first line, direct

ut the presidency will dig in for a bruising fight if the governors take up the fight for more responsibility and more resources from the federal level, which they may. And they have many good cases here, as the governor explained. Federal government has too much responsibility which it discharges badly, or leaves to states to discharge. So it has power, but sheds responsibility. States do much of their own, and would do much of what the federal government does better. So they want both responsibility and power. And the resources that go with them.

There are valid reasons why the allocation of responsibilities and resources need to be revisited to improve the manner our federal system works. But these issues are not likely to reflect popular positions. They are likely to be settled in horse-trading or opportunistic negotiations that are likely to leave the federal structure pretty much as it is. The irony may be lost on governors when they ask for additional powers and resources from the federal government, and then

,

OVERNOR of Rivers State and chairman of the Governors Forum, Rotimi Amaechi provided a useful glimpse into the thinking of some Governors on some of the key issues being discussed for constitutional amendments. Governor Amaechi is a very influential governor, so his words should be accorded serious consideration. He is governor of one of the richest states at the heart of the Niger Delta with strong views on resource allocation. This means that what he says about sharing resources among and between federating units should carry some weight. He is chairman of the Governors Forum, a powerful group that has the final say on most matters to do with the economy and politics of the land.

Governor Amaechi wants to see a two-tier federal system, involving only federal and state governments. He made the case that far from granting autonomy to local governments for which there is popular clamour, local government should be abolished as a federating unit. The Governor reportedly said emphatically that Governors will not support “this talk of autonomy for local government”.

This position of the Governor is revealing, and represents a refreshing candour from a powerful man. Now the nation knows that Governors (and logically, state legislators) will shoot down proposals to amend the constitution and give Local Government Councils full financial and administrative autonomy, no matter what the nation thinks. Many Nigerians believe that a serious error was made by the authors of our constitution who made all necessary provisions for democratically – elected local councils as third tiers, and they then introduced crippling controls over their full functions in Section 7 of the Constitution. The hope now is that this error, if that is what it was, should be addressed by the current review exercise. Nigerians now have another interesting scenario to deal with. This scenario solves the problem of the absence of autonomy by local councils by abolishing them altogether. It also adds another interesting perspective to the debate over the nature and structure of our federal system. One of such perspectives in fact argues that States should be abolished, and geopolitical zones as presently constituted should be accorded legal status as federating regions with wide autonomy, and each of the six may decide whether they want local councils or subregional structures, and may create them as they wish. The more popular clamour is for full autonomy for local councils, principally to encourage the growth and development of democratic

Nigerians who look forward to some substantive amendments to our constitution should pay attention to what governors want out of it ; even if their chairman is flying kites at this stage, it is likely that governors are planning either of two outcomes: A radically restructured federal system that gives states a lot more power and resources; or the preservation of the status quo

,

access into resources which are sufficient to shield them from restrictive influences of state executive arms. The governor argues that there should be a political, rather than a legal solution to this problem, and it can be solved in a manner which both allows the judiciary and legislature at state levels to do their work unhindered, and the executive to continue to perform the task of the principal allocator of funds.

If governors feel that neither the constitution nor public opinion should prescribe how they fund other arms of

continuously deny the right of citizens to elect and hold accountable, locallevel governance structures with potentials to improve lives. Nigerians who look forward to some substantive amendments to our constitution should pay attention to what governors want out of it. Even if their chairman is flying kites at this stage, it is likely that governors are planning either of two outcomes: A radically restructured federal system that gives states a lot more power and resources; or the preservation of the status quo.

OPINION

Obama’s Washington and Africa for his far-flung kith and kin, and if he has haboured any at all, has managed to suppress it.

Mr. Obama might be engaged in Africa but after his tenure in Washington, like his other predecessors who believed that Africa is more worthy of humanitarian than of any policy engagement. It will not be a surprise that after his tenure in Washington, Obama and his wonderful family would take to wandering across Africa, hugging babies with swollen tummies and even set up a foundation to tackle one of Africa’s numerous malaise. Like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and even George W. Bush, Africa would come into Mr. Obama's focus after he has left the White House. This is not entirely his fault. The American President is the most powerful man in the world. But he is also a hostage of a ruthless and faceless but powerful political machine, aggregating an array of vicious special interest groups who actually decides in what direction Washington would go. Sometimes, the irrational policy of Washington as to which war to fight next and in what corner of the world or the next regime to undermine

or topple, is not actually the function of a deficit of commonsense or logic by any sitting President, but due to the unavoidable pressure of the Washington machine.

President Obama won his recent re-election by more numerous votes than was predicted by pundits. His finely crafted rhetoric resonated across America and struck deep to their sentiments of a fairer society, especially among vulnerable groups: Hispanics, Latinos Africa-Americans, White women and young people. In spite of what seemed like a bitter fight over different visions for the change of America between President Obama and his Republican challenger, Mr. Mitt Romney, what actually was in contention was the different strategies or approaches to preserve the status quo, while containing its harshest excesses. President Obama’s modest signature legislative triumph in the last four years, the health care insurance, which barely covered half of all Americans was a target of bitter recrimination by the Republican contender, who did not also spare the President for the bailout of Chrysler and General Motors.

Continues on pg.18

Mr. Onunaiju, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 KATSINA State is not among the country’s rich States because instead of exploring its vast agricultural resources, it depends on monthly centrally allocated resources to run its affairs, like other States.

The burdens are weighty, 34 local government councils – four times Bayelsa’s eight –a work force of 58,390, and accumulated salary arrears of N11 billion, not counting current obligations.

Just three months ago, the government said it lacked resources to clear the arrears.

A committee Governor Ibrahim Shema set up came up with details of the State’s dire straits. Dr. Samaila Iro who headed the committee said the monthly subventions most of the 34 councils get cannot pay their salary bills.

Among those owed salaries are junior workers, whose pay is barely enough to sustain them. The situation is so bad the state government is negotiating workers’ understanding.

One of the foremost lamenters of the State’s dreary finances is its Finance Commissioner Alhaji Lawal Jari. Last Friday, Jari announced 100 per cent salary increase for chief executives of

Richer At The Poor’s Expense government’s agencies and boards. The news was important enough for him to address a press conference.

Did Katsina State have a windfall to necessitate the expenditure? There was no windfall. Where is it getting the money to lavish on the top echelon of government service that always looks after itself? Why the sudden largesse when it is still unable to pay the arrears?

Jari said government would in addition to the largesse pay 35 per cent of the chief executives’ annual salaries as furniture allowance. The increment is effective January 2012.

Beneficiaries of the increment are five Managing Directors, nine General

Managers and 14 Executive Directors, in the state service. These 28 people are the most unlikely to need any cushioning from the harsh economy. They are mainly political appointees.

Jari urged them “to intensify effort toward effective service delivery and delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizenry.”

What dividends of democracy would the people get from government that cannot pay workers? What dividends would come to the people of Katsina from government that thinks of itself first and last? Where would government get resources to execute basic projects that would benefit the people?

The government was silent on the fate of its other 58,362 workers who are owed arrears of the new minimum wage. They are teachers, and civil servants in parastatals, boards, the state and local government service.

How would Katsina State justify the waste in the midst of a floundering economy that should inform more prudent use of its allocation? Governor Shema should remember he swore to serve the people not starve them to conserve resources for his political acolytes.

OPINION

BY CHARLES ONUNAIJU Continued from pg 17

G

IVEN the dire stress of the American economy, Washington’s foreign policy would be dominated in the next four years by the traditional geo-strategic and political concerns but also increasingly by economic consideration, especially with the flow of capital. Africa is of less geo-strategic and political concern as far as there are no competing ideological or political currents that threaten the hegemony or ideological dominance of Western liberalism.

China’s economic and commercial penetration to Africa does not offer any slightest hint of ideological contestation with the Western hegemony. The political ramification of China’s penetration in Africa would at best provide a bargaining strength, which the spineless political elite are yet to take up. So, in spite of Africa’s obvious marginalization in Washington’s policy engagement, the continent would remain safely tucked away in America’s sphere of influence.

Africa’s rich mineral resources may matter very little in American economy, currently in post-industrial stage. In fact, President Barack Obama has pledged to seek alternative energy sources that would further marginalize the modest presence of Africa in America’s economic

C M Y K

Obama’s Washington and Africa (2) life. The fact of Africa’s marginal impact in any US economy recovery plan is the objective condition of the uncomplimentary economic structure of the two sides. Therefore Africa, in the next four years of Obama presidency, would continue as in the past, to evoke Washington's moral indignation at the crass and excesses of its venal political elite, the cyclic misfortunes of its state institutions and the consequent destitutions and misery of its vulnerable populations. The modest role of Africa in any US or the larger Western economic recovery would continue to feature raw cash flight through the operations of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, exploiting the bankruptcy of the political elite. In this regard, the Washington and other Western moral outrage at the deepening socio-economic and political atrophy in Africa would remain a largely ideological rhetoric without any commitment to substantive reform, a term currently in serious abuse in most of Africa by the ruling elites and their Western principles.

In fact, Washington does not choose regions or countries to engage out of benevolence or other such considerations. Countries and regions

work their way into Washington’s geopolitical and strategic calculations through enabling relevance acquired through a meticulous growth of national power and influence. The choice of President Obama to go to Mymmar after his recent re-election is based on the calculation of the relevance of the country, straddled between India and China, two major US strategic competitors in the region. To balance off Beijing’s massive economic penetration in the country and marginalize its rising political influence obviously top Washington’s reasons for a historic presidential visit.

A

frica received its most serious policy attention from the United States during the period of the cold war.

According to Henry Kissinger, the veteran of US foreign and security affairs, the cause of majority rule in apartheid South Africa was largely of minor concern to voluble liberals in America, but became something of America’s policy concern after the former Soviet Union and other Warsaw states of the socialist block has made it a fundamental policy, which also struck enormous chord to the rest of Africa. Without the influence of the former Soviet Union and the socialist

block, Washington would certainly have sat comfortably with the racist regime in South Africa and its rampaging policy of political exclusion and social ostracization of Africans. In effect, as now as it was then, Washington’s moral rhetoric is considerably way off from policy engagement and both are mutually exclusive in the effect they are supposed to have. However, Africa’s relevance in the today’s world is not necessarily a function of US policy engagement or otherwise, and even the world itself has grown beyond the mere calculation of one power, even if it is a ‘hyper power ’ as the former French foreign minister, Mr. Vederine, characterized the United States.

In spite of Africa’s phenomenal lethargy, the continent has immense possibilities and opportunities, providing it with a vantage and strategic attention, which clearly the rest of the world is determine to explore.

Despite the emotion that has welled up in most of Africa on the re-election of president Obama, any expectations of such reciprocals from Obama’s Washington would be supremely naïve.

Concluded *Mr. Onunaiju, a journalist , wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012— —19

, W

HAT'S left of their relationship when a political son takes on his father in public and tries to show he is not what he claims to be after all? Wahala!

That appears to me to be the direction things are going with President Goodluck Jonathan’s criticism of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s handling of the Odi and Zaki Biam episodes in the early months of the latter’s administration. Nigerians will recall OBJ’s put-down of the Jonathan government’s weak and inept response to the activities of the faceless terrorist group operating in the North as the reason the terrorist group has remained impregnable in its areas of operation. The statement came in Warri at an event marking the fortieth year calling to pastoral ministry of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Oritsejafor who is President of the Christian Association of Nigeria has himself come under criticism of late for joining the exclusive league, not just of pastors but Nigerians who own private jets.

With the floodgate of used cars wide open into the country every Nigerian who gets on the road with whatever brand of the foreign

jalopies that ply our roads consider themselves a success story. It’s becoming truly difficult to tell the local pretenders to the crown of success apart from the real inheritors of Solomon’s splendour.

Possessing a private jet may be the new way of separating birds from mere butterflies. But it was at the ceremonies marking Pastor Oritsejafor’s call to God’s work that Obasanjo took on his boy, our President, Jonathan. Jonathan probably smarting from the putdown of his former boss and political godfather and benefactor didn’t have long to wait. He found his chance to reply during the president chat he had just days after the Warri event. The presidential media chat, as an opportunity for the President to speak on issues directly affecting Nigerians who can call directly into the programme, is a tradition begun

by Obasanjo, which might suggest President Jonathan still works under Obasanjo’s shadow, contrary to what his response to the former president’s statement might suggest.

Obasanjo’s claim was that failure to respond, immediately and decisively, allowing the sore

,

of the insurgents’ activities to fester gave the cowardly groups the initiative to power on and take control of the situation of things.

Obasanjo compared Jonathan’s response to his own response during the Odi and Zaki Biam incidents when so-called militants waylaid and killed security personnel sent to keep peace in the two towns. Obasanjo then had insisted on the community concerned producing his soldiers.

When this didn’t happen, he sent in troops who levelled the towns.

What actually transpired is now the stuff of legends which cannot be fully verified. But what many remember about those episodes was the heavy-handed response of the soldiers who went to take control of security in the towns.

What needs to be factored into the action of the soldiers that went to theses places then was raw anger on their part and what they must have thought was their duty to avenge the brutal murder of their colleagues who were literally butchered and their bodies put on display in the fashion of a ram meant for ritual sacrifice.

H

uman rights groups have since condemned the response of the authorities as being excessively harsh. But what cannot

God’s private Jets

A

ND it came to pass, that the congregation of the Lord in the Word of Life Bible Church took count of the 40 years marked by the wonderful things that Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, had done through his humble servant, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in their lives and they were ashamed that they had treated the anointed servant of the Lord very poorly.They had left him to the indignity of travelling by car and commercial air travel to his many deliverance missions in near and far places even when his fellow Daddy Overseers owned private jets. And being deeply shamed, they said unto themselves, Behold, in this year of our Lord, our father in Christ shall mark the 40th year of the “unique anointing upon his life” that has “brought salvation, deliverance, revival, healing and outstanding miracles to millions across the world as God’s power is demonstrated with signs and wonders.”

Now, therefore, let us hasten and do unto him according to the riches with which the Lord has blessed us; let us buy for him a private jet. And in this, we shall do as our brethren in the Living Faith Ministries did unto Bishop David Oyedepo, and in the Redeemed Christian Church of God unto Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and in the Redeemed Evangelical Mission unto Bishop Mike Okonkwo, and in Christ Embassy Church unto Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Then shall we present the aircraft as a gift to our Papa Ayo, that he may fly without hindrance, delay or discomfort to the farthest reaches of the world, where the people walk in darkness and do not know God, and have not confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal saviour, for behold, the kingdom of God is at hand. Yea, let us do this mighty thing in the sight of the Lord that we may cease to be the laughing stock of our brethren in Christ who say of us, Surely, their God is

C M Y K

a poor God! Wherefore do they preach prosperity? Oh, their God is a poor God indeed!

And it came to pass that on the 10th day of November in the year of the Lord, which also is the anniversary of his birth, the congregants presented unto their pastor, Papa Ayo, who also is the spiritual leader of Christians in all of Nigeria, aBombadier 601 Aircraft, the cost of which is about $5 million. And the same was done in the presence of the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who knows a thing or two about not one but a fleet of jets and their constant replenishment. And the President, whom Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, appointed over his people in the unpromised land of Nigeria, gave testimony of the servant of the Lord in words that I understand thus, Verily I say unto you, Papa Ayo is the uniquely anointed son of God in whom He is well pleased. Hear and honour him with every material thing of which your hands and the blessing they have received are capable; but which, in his own words, went thus, “I can say without any equivocation that Oritsejafor, from the very humble beginning in 1972, has moved from strength to strength. … he is a Christian visionary leader who preaches the words (sic) of God clearly and eloquently as a good shepherd …He has earned his respect among his peers and this explains why he is holding the two very important positions in Christendom in Nigeria as the President of CAN, and President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.”

And the congregants made a great shout, such as could have felled the walls of Jericho, and there was dancing and merriment and the offering of praise to Jehovah who had brought this great deed to pass, according to his riches and glory, that the world may know that he is Lord and there is none like

be denied is that the military response was very decisive in showing who was in controlgovernment or the so-called militants. In addition, nobody can accuse Obasanjo of vacillation. He was focussed once he decided on what step to take.

That is more than one can say for President Jonathan when the terrorists in the North regrouped and began their campaign of anarchy about two years ago. What was obvious to everyone then was the feeble, even confused, response of Abuja. In spite of suggestions in the media that the President should take action, he remained indecisive. He lacked the will to take the steps that he ought to takein short he failed to seize the moment and thereby lost momentum to the terrorists. This, for me, is the point Obasanjo was making with his latest comment.

Of course, at the resurgence of the terrorists’ campaign, President Jonathan had just survived the gruelling months of hanging in limbo, time when some people tried to deny him his rightful position as president following the passing of President Yar’Adua.

Shortly after, he won an election that was disputed by Muhammadu Buhari whose supporters went on rampage in different parts of the North. Clearly, Jonathan was under siege and it was understandable why he didn’t act with the clear-headedness that the times called for, especially against a major opposition that appear to rely on regional support. However, he lingered too long on his fear.

He remained weak and tentative even after he had been re-elected.

Nearly two years after the election that brought him to power, Jonathan continues to act like when he was Deputy Governor in Bayelsa. And in his response to Obasanjo’s criticism, he said the

him.

Since Pastor Oritsejaforloudly entered the Jet-set Club,many Nigerians disturbed by the phenomenon of unabashed embrace of a hedonism usually associated with the heathen have begun to ask

,

Can Jonathan take on Obasanjo?

Nobody can accuse Obasanjo of vacillation; he was focussed once he decided on what step to take; that is more than one can say for Jonathan

The Pharisee-pastors and congregants defending crass materialism think they answer their critics by claiming that the jets belong to the church, and not to the Daddy Overseers

,

questions about what a true life of the spirit entails. And the fruits of the prosperity gospel that has overawed a nation steeped in grinding poverty have now begun to set on edge the teeth of a few in the fold. Pastor TundeBakare of the Latter Rain Assembly, for instance,does not believe that without private jets the gospel suffers. And I agree.

After all, Mary Slessor did not sail from Scotland to Calabar in a private ocean liner.

B

akare sees not soul-winning but soulweaning, the separation of churchgoers, majority of them poor, from their means of keeping body and soul together.

He sees thieves inpriests’ clothing and would

Odi and Zaki-Biam episodes marked low point in governancegovernment failed in achieving its purpose. Jonathan claimed he saw the corpses of children and old women, not militants when he visited the sacked town.

But does this explain why Jonathan has been blowing hot and cold as to what to do to address terrorist activities in the North? One moment he talks about government’s readiness to talk with the terrorists and the next moment he realises that the terrorists are in fact faceless. Of course, I see no point in talking to faceless groups of mindless murderers and anarchists without any coherent agenda. Any talk with one today and another criminal group rises tomorrow to claim it’s the authentic faction that needs to be appeased. There is no harm in dialogue but with whom would government hold such talk in the case of the terrorists in the North? In the recent encounter between HAMAS and the Israelis, there was no doubt about who to hold the talk that brought about the ceasefire with. Who would Abuja be talking to here?

As for Jonathan sending Obasanjo a backhander, one hopes he is really ready to be his own man.

One law of power says a protégé must try not to outshine the master.

I think that applies to a protégé who knows where he is headed.

But for one who blows in the direction of the wind, it may be too early to confront his benefactor.

Jonathan has not acted with purpose on the security situation in the North and other parts. When criticised as Obasanjo just did, the least he could do is to make it openly clear that he is open to suggestions that would help him.

Trying to sound clever will not help his case.

have them imprisoned and then cast into the hottest part of hell on judgement day.

But not so some of his brethren whose doctrine of prosperity has long done away with the key tenet of sacrifice. So we have heard the defenders of high-flying predator capitalists in cassock and collar, and very often in pin-striped suits, say that a pastor is deserving of his reward. Here on earth.

“There is nothing wrong for a preacher to own (sic) a jet. If people in the secular world can acquire jets for chief executive officers of big private enterprises, there is nothing wrong in giving gifts to a man of God of Pastor Oritsejafor’s standing. … He deserves what he has been given,” says one Reverend El-Buba, General Overseer of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International, Jos, clearly anticipating his own jet, the one he would fly to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, China, North Korea and even Judaist Israel as part of his All Nations for Christ mission.

And, of course, there is nothing wrong with comparing self-proclaimed men of God and churches to CEOs and business enterprises!

The Pharisee-pastors and congregants defending crass materialism think they answer their critics by claiming that the jets belong to the church, and not to the Daddy Overseers. The only problem is the damning evidence of bondage to Mammon; of the manic setting up of treasures here on earth: palatial mansions, jewelry, fleets of luxury cars (even including stretch limousines).

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

How I escaped assassination in my palace, by Oba Adeosun

Debate of the masses

Help, Nigeria in trouble!

By DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

A

POPULAR maxim has it that the rich also cry. The reality of this recently played itself out in Ogun State as a traditional ruler, the AgaOlowo in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Abdulrasheed Adeosun, narrowly escaped death when he was attacked by a gang of suspected assassins which stormed his palace in the wee hours penultimate Sunday.

Narrating his scary experience, the embattled Oba said he had to escape through the back door of his palace barefooted and without his royal paraphernelia.

Thereafter, he trekked about 32 kilometres in the bush to safety. The Oba’s near-death experience can only but convince all and sundry that even *Embattled Oba Abdulrasheed Adeosun...narrowly escaped death when hoodtraditional rulers in Ogun lums invaded his palace State are no longer immune to the problems of insecurity ravaging the gateway state. we would not fold our arms and allow our ancestral The Oba while speaking with Vanguard Metro, gifts to be taken away from us. They have told us VM, said he now finds it difficult to sleep since that they will use both the apparatus of government the incident as a result of fear of possible return of as well as intimidation and coercion to cause crisis the unknown gunmen who he believed were hellin the village. That’s why we are praying the state bent to sack him and take over the village. And for Governor, Ibikunle Amosun to come to our aid.” this, he is appealling to the state government and The embattled the State Police Command to save him from those he monarch said he had reported the incident at the alleged were after his life.

Police station in Itori, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the State. According to him, “there is a grand plan to banish me and my people in Aga-Olowo village by some people who claimed to be owners of the land on which the village is founded”.

,

There is a grand plan to banish me and my people in AgaOlowo village by some people who claimed to be owners of the land on which the village is founded

,

The Alaga of Aga-Olowo said some people were desperately after his life and had concluded plans to eliminate him over the stool and the land he is occupying. “I am alive by His grace. I would have been dead by now. My assailants were sent by someone who is desperate to occupy the royal seat that does not belong to him. I am the rightful occupant of the seat because I was legally appointed as Baale of the village by the late Olowu of Owu, Oba Olawale Adisa Odeleye before I was upgraded by the state government,” he said.

He appealed to the state government to protect him and his subjects from his opponents, who he fears are waiting to unleash terror on him and his village. “They have promised to unleash terror on my village just to create disaffection among the peaceful inhabitants of Aga-Olowo,” he said .

Also speaking with VM,the head of the Atere family,which produced Oba Adeosun, Chief Sodeinde Sanusi, while asking the state government to intervene, said: “We are law-abiding citizens, but

Accusing fingers He, however, pointed accusing fingers at the Officer-in-Charge of the anti-robbery unit in the state Police Headquarters, one SUPOL Fola Ogunkoya as well as the former Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Wale Lawal, for allegedly supporting the hoodlums. He said: “We are appealing to government to help us out. I would have been killed if I had been not vigilant. A former Olu of Itori and his cohorts are the ones terrorizing us in AgaOlowo and its environs”.

Reacting to the allegation, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi denied the alleged involvement of the police in the matter. He said that the monarch brought some thugs to the area during the celebration of a land matter judgement that went in their favour which prompted police to invite him for interrogation.

He said: “ It is a lie; the man was invited by police for bringing thugs to the area and was granted a bail on self recognition. The matter has been transfered to Zone 2,in Lagos . I don’t know more about it”.

BY EBELE ORAKPO

HAT? We are “Wfinished security-

wise. If these Boko Haramites can be bold enough to attack a military outfit, then there is no more hope for us mere mortals,” commented Moses as the newscaster finished talking about the Sunday morning bombing of a church in Jaji military cantonment, Kaduna State.

“But why would anyone be shocked at the news?

Are you just realising that now? Welcome to 21st Century Nigeria!

This is the reality on ground,” said Austin.

“Of course, they are becoming bolder by the day because nothing has happened to those caught. Their ultimate target is Aso Rock,” stated Tony.

“Hmm, the day they get into Aso Rock, then we will know that we are completely finished,” said Uche.

“Are you not completely finished already? As long as these people are being pampered and the President keeps telling us they cannot use force against them because they are his brothers and sisters, nothing will change,” said Tobi.

“So what exactly do you want the man to do? If you were in his shoes, what will you do?” asked Moses.

“Oh pleeeease! We’ve heard this over and over again. Is he not the chief security officer of the nation? What is he doing with all the power invested in him? Like someone rightly said, we use AK-47 rifle to chase mosquitoes. For Christ’s sake, use the power vested in you by the Constitution. Be bold and have the willpower to say enough is enough! Take charge!” cried Austin.

“The man is afraid for his life. As he rightly said, even Aso Rock has been infiltrated by these elements,” noted Tobi.

“So what! What has he done about it? These people are not spirits,

they are flesh and blood, they have relatives, live in communities, have political, traditional and religious leaders, and so they are well known,” retorted Nike.

“He should speak the language they understand and that is Absolute, Deadly, Unapologetic Force. Look at what happened in the Middle East. Hamas killed three Israelis and Israelis killed 150 of them. I have never seen a country where the president does not have enough confidence in his security personnel. This is the only country where Independence Day celebration had been done in low key simply because a small group of people threatened the government and people!

I mean, it’s not done!

Can you imagine this happening in any other country? It’s a big shame!

So those guys are greater and mightier than the entire nation and its military might?” asked He Matt angrily. continued: “That is why, up till tomorrow, no matter what anyone may say against Obasanjo, he was a fearless leader who knew what it means to be a leader. If he had not handled Odi the way he did, today the story would have been different.”

“So you support what he did? That was inhuman!” stated Tolu.

Replied Matt: “Yes, but drastic times call for drastic measures. So you feel the way they are handling the Boko Haram issue is the best?”

Said TJ: “What good will improved electricity supply, good roads, health care and agriculture do when there is no security? I must be sure that I can safely go out and sell my wares without fear of being killed. So security is of utmost importance. It is not out of place to spend so much on security. Can you imagine how much the US Government spent on making sure they silenced Usama Bin Laden and his cohorts?”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 21

139.5

-2.65

2,535.00

-27.00

19.16

0.02

111.05

-0.33

87.85

-0.43

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.76 247.8946 200.7082 166.5698 1.8862 0.2831 235.327 24.8573 41.266 26.8998 236.0864

155.26 248.6955 201.3567 167.108 1.8923 0.2931 236.0873 24.9381 41.3994 26.9867 236.8491

SELLING 155.76 249.4964 202.0051 167.6461 1.8984 0.3031 236.8476 25.0189 41.5327 27.0736 237.6119

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/11/20127

From left: Prof. Wapmuk Longmass Sambo, DG, Industrial Training Fund(ITF); Abiola Popoola, President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management(CIPM), Sunday Korode, Vice-President, Sunday Adeyemi, Registrar/CEO and Dr. Godwin Omene, erstwhile MD/CEO of NDDC at CIPM's 16th Annual Public Lecture in Lagos.

Cashless policy should go nationwide in Jan—Lagos lawmakers

BY EBUN SESSOU

L

AGOS State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the extension of the cashless policy to other parts of the country by January 1st 2013.

The resolution was passed by the House at plenary on Monday sequel to a motion moved by Hon. Gbolahan Yisahau (Eti-Osa 11) on the need to strengthen and stabilize the economy.

The House said “The cashless policy should be deployed across the entire nation by 1st of January 2013 and all other teething problems observed in the operation of the policy should be taken care of immediately”.

The House also called on operators in the telecommunications to provide adequate and functional infrastructure to support the cashless policy on their networks.

The House said it took the resolutions based on its observation that the cashless policy was aimed at providing more efficient banking services and improving the effectiveness of the monetary policy in managing inflation and economic growth.

Mr. Segun Olulade representing Epe

Constituency II wondered the effectiveness of the policy in his Epe Constituency where there has never been constant electricity supply. In her part, Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho also corroborated this and regretted that the policy though, had good intention of discouraging culture of

carrying huge sum of money around, yet the decay in the national infrastructure which is evident in our erratic power supply is a big problem that needs urgent attention.

They also on the called on the National Assembly through its Committee on Banking and Currency to

direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to adopt immediate measures that would strengthen monetary policy and adjust interest rate in the country.

The lawmakers said it is imperative to adjust the interest rate in a manner that will improve and stabilize

banks’ financial resources to enhance credit portfolio to small and medium scale enterprises in order to assist in correcting the imbalance in balanced of trade and payment. The House also called on the apex bank to reduce interest rate on treasury bills to discourage banks from lending the money to government.

It also expressed worry that if the high interest rate is not reverted there will be continuous discouragement amongst Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) thereby increasing unemployment rate in the country.

New electricity tariff killing small businesses — NASME

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

he new electricity tariff, known as, Multi-YearTariff Order (MYTO) II is killing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector, says National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

This was one of the findings of a survey initiated by the Association to assess the impact of the new electricity tariff on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

“SMEs in the manufacturing sector have been the hardest hit by the MYTO II tariff. They have experienced increases ranging from 70 per cent to 440 per cent in their monthly electricity tariff. On average, manufacturing SMEs across

the country have experienced an increase of 188.6 per cent in electricity tariff since the introduction of MYTO II”, the Association said.

The findings of the survey were presented by Executive Secretary, NASME, Mr Eke Ubiji during a one-day Policy Dialogue with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the effect of the MYTO II policy on MSMEs in Nigeria.

He said the survey was initiated by NAMSE following several complaints received from members about the high cost implication of the new tariff.

He said the survey, which was conducted by NOI, took place from November 6th to 12th 2012 in the six geopolitical zones in the country with field work conducted in

Cross-River, Bauchi, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos states and Abuja.

A total of 138 businesses were interviewed and 127 interviews were completed, 45 per cent of the completed interviews were NASME members, while 55 per cent were non- NASME members but SMEs as well as being members of other business membership organisations (BMOs) such as Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and State Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

Ubiji noted that the importance of MSMEs cannot be over emphasized, saying that findings from the survey shows that BMO members have a very negative

perception about the MYTO II tariff and its introduction.

“Also more businesses have increased their average spend on electricity from between 10 per cent to 20 per cent of total operating costs before June 2012 and from 20 per cent to 30 per cent of total operating costs after June 2012. There has also been an increase from 11 per cent to 18 per cent on the average spend on electricity as a percentage of their operating cost since June 2012.

Based on the findings of the sur vey, the Association recommended : The creation of separate classifications specifically for MSMEs both under the commercial (C) and industrial (D); The fixed charge is completely eliminated and all charges become variable based on consumption;

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Merchant Banking licence: FSDH targets expansion, increased services

BY MICHAEL EBOH

F

IRST Securities Discount House Limited (FSDH) said it has concluded arrangements to expand its frontiers and offer a broader range of services to its clients thereby, deepening its client relationships, in line with the recent approval it secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to commence merchant banking operations.

According to a statement by Mr. Rilwan Belo-Osagie, Managing Director, FSDH, the company has obtained the final approval from the CBN to commence merchant banking operations in Nigeria, meaning with the approval, the company will convert from operating as a discount house to a merchant bank, with a new name FSDH Merchant Bank Limited.

He said FSDH is particularly grateful to the CBN, in respect of this approval and believes that it is a strong indication of the apex bank’s belief in the company ’s capabilities.

Belo-Osagie further stated that the company is excited by this development as it will enable the company to offer a broader range of services to its clients thereby, deepening its client relationships and expanding its frontiers.

According to him, whilst the company does not underestimate the challenges that it will face, it is however confident that with its corporate culture of customer orientation, high performance, image building, collaboration and learning, all obstacles that may come its way can be surmounted.

He said, “In continuation of the company’s tradition as a pioneer in the finance industry, FSDH has become one of the first merchant banks to be awarded a licence in Nigeria since the repeal of Universal Banking by CBN in 2010.

US stocks fall amid talks on fiscal cliff, Greek aid

U

.S. stocks fell Monday, following the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index’s biggest weekly gain since June, as lawmakers prepared to debate the socalled fiscal cliff and euro-area finance ministers discuss Greek aid.

Michael Shaoul, chairman of Marketfield Asset Management, talks about investment strategy and global markets. He speaks with Tom Keene and Sara Eisen on Bloomberg Television's "Surveillance."

Eight of 10 groups in the S&P 500 slid. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) slumped 1.6 percent after providing a profit forecast below analysts’ estimates. DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. lost 5.6 percent as “Rise of the Guardians” opened in fourth place in cinemas over the Thanksgiving weekend. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) rallied 0.9 percent while Macy’s Inc. (M) slumped 3.8 percent as retailers extended deals into Cyber Monday.

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From left: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni at the listing of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in Lagos.

FBN Holdings assures shareholders on value creation •lists entire shares on NSE NKIRUKANNOROM &ABIGAIL FRANK

T

HE Chief Executive Officer of FBN Holdings, Mallam Bello Machido, has assured investors of the company ’s commitment to continuously deliver unmatched value for stakeholders Machido, who gave the assurance, while addressing stockbrokers and management of NSE at the listing of FBN Holdings the fully paid-up share capital of 32.63 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, said the bank had conceived the idea of migrating to holding company structure about a year ahead of the Central Bank Nigeria’s directive in 2010.

Maccido explained that with the holding company structure, investors would enjoy enhanced service delivery, performance and profitability, stressing, “We have created an operating model that will drive service excellence and profitably; grow the

group’s presence in commercial banking and non-banking financial services in order to achieve the aspiration to be the dominant financial services group in SubSaharan Africa within the next five years,” he said.

He further explained that it was anticipated that the holco structure

GSK eyes N15.4bn Nigerian expansion

BY WILLIAM JIMOH WITH AGENCY REPORT

G

LAXOSMITHKLINE Plc said it planned to expand investment in its Nigerian subsidiary by N15.4 billion ($98 million) agreed deal, mirroring a similar move in India.

This would increase its holding in GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc to 80 percent from 46.4 percent,

NSE updates Bloomberg indices’ base value

T

would increase the bank’s competitiveness, improve synergy, as well as improve coordination in various activities of the group.

He stated that with the migration, supervision of the subsidiaries would be closer, while there would also be enhanced monitoring of their various activities.

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, updated the base value of the five Bloomberg NSE indices on November 25, 2012.

The indices are: The Consumer Goods, NSE 30, Banking, The Oil and Gas and The Insurance index. The revised base values of the indices were applied only recently, rather than the scheduled periods due to a process glitch.

The Head of Market Operations at The NSE, Mr. IkponmwosaObaseki, said that a revised process and appropriate checks are now in place to avoid a recurrence.

Obaseki also made it clear that the revision has no effect on the All Share Index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange which mirrors the aggregate change in value of all stocks listed on The Exchange.

The Nigerian bourse began publishing The Bloomberg NSE 30 Index in February 2009 with index values available from January 1, 2007. On July 1, 2008, the NSE developed four other sectoral indices with a base value of 1,000 points, designed to provide investable benchmarks to capture the performance of specific sectors.

leaving it with the minimum 20 percent public shareholding required for a company to maintain a listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The company said it would offer N48 per a share for the additional holding, which represents 28 percent premium to the price at which the stock closed on Friday.

GSK Nigeria sells a wide range of consumer healthcare products, including the painkiller Panadol, Sensodyne toothpaste, and the nutritional drinks Horlicks and Lucozade.

The Nigerian unit also sells some pharmaceutical products but 70 percent of the revenue is from consumer healthcare brands.

GSK earlier announced it was raising its stake in India’s GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd to 75 percent from 43.2 percent, in a deal worth some $940 million.

Both transactions will increase the British drugmaker ’s exposure to emerging markets and nonprescription products - a key objective of CEO Andrew Witty, who wants to reduce the group’s reliance on “ white pills in Western markets.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—23

DIARY Select ICT events zCeBIT Bilisim Eurasia 2012.

Holds 29 Nov2 Dec 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

zMiddle East Telco World Summit 2012. Holds 4-5 Dec 2012 in Dubai, UAE. zOpportunities in the Evolving Cloud Dynamics. Holds 45 December 2012 @ Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE. zDigital TV Summit 2012. Holds 4th – 5th December 2012 in London UK.

New inventions shaping life and living

New airconditioner repels mosquitoes

Worry over low local content in ICT at eNigeria summit

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

A new Anti-Mosquito Air Conditioner able to cool the air and repel mosquitos was specifically tailored for the African market, where it could help to save lives.

The air conditioner uses ultrasonic wave technology to repel mosquitos, and was able to repel 82 percent of female Anopheles mosquitos in a 24-hour period.

The device features the Tropical Compressor, which is designed for hot climates, and includes a Super Automatic Voltage Switcher to help protect the compressor from the frequent power blackouts and surges common in the region.

I N S I D E C M Y K

Options for growing local content in ICT

D

EVELOPING lo cal content and leveraging information technology potentials for higher productivity, good governance and global competitiveness are some of the major issues that dominated discussions at the just concluded sixth edition of eNigeria 2012 Conference and Exhibition held in Abuja.

For many discussants, the issues could not have come at a better time than now that Nigeria earnestly desires to develop and be among the top 20 economies in the world by year 2020. Ministers of Communications Technology, Youth Development and Women Affairs were

among those who attended the event with the theme :ICT Local Content Development in Nigeria.

In her address, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said that the role of IT in increasing productivity cannot be over emphasised, hence

,

,

Preview

z eNIGERIA: From left: DG, NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, CT Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and Emeka Ezekwesili, a Director at NITDA during the just concluded e-Nigeria forum held in Abuja.

the need to grow the local content developers.

She noted that the ICT sector had contributed 5.83% to the nation's GDP in the first quarter of 2012.

This, she said, made the sector the fourth highest contributor to the GDP. According to her, the Nigerian ICT sector was growing at a rate of 30%, mak-

There is an over dependence on foreign importation of software and hardware and this has led to diminished opportunity for domestic economic empowerment and contributed to limited capacity building within the context of ICT

ing it the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy and employed over two million people during the time under review, but added that a closer look at these figures paints a potentially worrisome picture of Nigeria with huge potentials and opportunities to become globally competitive in the ICT sector.

The minister who expressed displeasure with the level of value added to local content, said her ministry is gathering necessary data that would enable it work out strategies that would to improve on the present state of development attained in local content drive.

“While we do not have detailed empirical evidence, we are currently working on gathering

BuyRight Africa to Breast cancer risk unveil employhigher in women who ees' digital credit put cell phones in bras scheme

and collating data, it is clear to us that local content in the ICT industry is sub-optimal.

“ICT local content remains grossly under developed in Nigeria and through many reasons are adduced for this including the high cost of production and scarcity of expertise. The fact remains that there is an over dependence on foreign importation of software and hardware and this has led to diminished opportunity for domestic economic empowerment and contributed to limited capacity building within the context of ICT,” she pointed out.

Given the quantum of hardware devices and software applications imported into and used within Nigeria, Mrs Johnson observed that there had been a considerable drain on Nigeria’s foreign exchange, stressing that there was urgent need to boost domestic participation in the ICT industry by incentivising local hardware and software companies to increase local content.

To boost development of local content with a view of making them globally competitive, she said it is critically important to encourage and nurture local companies especially those involved in the sub-sectors with the greatest potentials for growth, job creation and wealth creation, software development, value added services, devices assembly, sales and distribution.

“This is a very big domestic market with tremendous potential, we therefore need the participation of existing and new international ICT companies as partners, investors and competitors that will bring their formidable research and innovation capacities to bear in the domestic market, invest in key areas of the industry, partner with local firms to build capacity and competence and provide the competitive environment to ensure that we develop an industry Continues on page 30

Battle over NigComSat bill shifts to Senate

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER 28, 2012

F

OR Nigerian wom en, and even men, who hang their cell phones in pouches around the neck, with the phone resting in the middle of the chest between the breasts, this might be instructive. — EDITOR.

Options for growing local content in ICT

I

N our recent histo “fake” as they once were, ry, especially since but “Aba-made” remains return to democrat- “fake” till tomorrow! ic civil rule, certain catch What am I saying? words, phrases, and slo- Through our preference gans have assumed front for imported products, burner usage especially the local content of other when public officials nations have become spew forth rhetoric about global products, comwhat the problem is with manding respect in the Nigeria, and how to world’s export markets solve them. to the detriment of our One of the most com- own. If we had continmon of such phrases in ued to buy Aba-made the political arena is products, I am sure Ni“moving the nation geria would not find herforward,”but the users of self in the economic dolthis phrase seldom pause drums she is in now. to look and see whether In the ICT arena, the we are moving at all, or same issues hold sway. in which direction — for- Banks, insurance, oil ward, backwards, or and gas and other secsideways, tors of the like crabs. inIf we are to economy, In induscluding govtry, the cur- raise the level ernments rent one is and the ICT “local con- of local consector itself t e n t ” , tent in the ICT are consumwhich asers of foreign s u m e d sector, it must ICT prodprominent begin with a ucts, despite usage, first promises deliberate, in the oil and poteni n d u s t r y, conscious and tials of indigand came enous startabout as a sustained paups. Enter result of any governtronage of the desire ment office, indigenous to make and what you N i g e r i a ICT products see staring and Nigeriyou in the ans acquire face are forthe neceseign ICT sary technological know- brands sitting prettily on how to industrialize. Lo- desks of officials, while cal content came after our OEMs struggle to “technology transfer ”, stay afloat. If we are to yet another phrase which raise the level of local did not get us anywhere, content in the ICT secas no country in the tor, it must begin with a world was willing to deliberate, conscious transfer its technology to and sustained patronage us. Looked at deeply, it of indigenous ICT prodwould seem that “local ucts. In the national incontent”might get us terest, we may need where we want to go fast- some coercion (legislaer, only if we strategise tion, incentive, etc).I am properly with it. sure we have enough For years, we have con- software developers in sumed, and are still con- this country whose servsuming electronic prod- ices can sustain various ucts from Singapore, Tai- levels of operation in all wan, Malaysia, China the sectors of the econoand other tiger econo- my. If banks, for instance, mies of South-east Asia. opt to use local software At a time in this country, for their businesses, they fake, or sub-standard obviously would be savelectronic products are ing the country billions dubbed “Taiwan”, while in forex, while simultalocal equivalents are neously growing local snobbishly rejected as expertise.

“Aba-made.”

The Buy-Nigeria direcThen we continued tive issued by President buying imported prod- Goodluck Jonatham just ucts, sub-standard as before last year ’s electhey were then, and in tions should provide an the process, through our equable platform continued patronage, through which local conthey assumed the requi- tent can be raised in the site production profi- ICT sector. All we need ciency. Nowadays, prod- is a little more zeal, less ucts from Taiwan are no greed, and more focus on longer regarded as the national need.

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A disturbing trend is becoming apparent in young women. Those who keep their cell phones in their bras seem to be at a higher risk for breast cancer than women who do not. KTVU spoke with breast surgeons who claim they are seeing a disturbing trend in a link between breast cancer and cell phones.

How big a risk KTVU spoke with two women who kept cell phones in their bras for five years or more. Both women developed breast cancer in the same place the cell phone rested against their skin. I have breast cancer, but I never kept my cell phone in my bra; I don't know anyone who does.

Breast surgeons Dr. John West and Dr. Lisa Bailey, say that there is most likely a link and are warning people to be careful. Both claim there is an increase in male breast cancer from men who keep cell phones in their shirt pockets. The World Health Organiza-

Breast cancer risk higher in women who put cell phones in bras pants pockets. No links to cancer in the hip bones or genital cancers are attributed to cell phones, so why breast tissue? Maybe breast tissue is more sensitive to changes than the tissue in our thighs and backsides.

tion (WHO) agrees with them. If you are keeping your cell phone in your bra or shirt pocket, this is something to pay attention to.

Why just a breast cancer link The wireless companies are denying any link between their products and an increase in cancer. They may have a point. Many people, men and women, keep cell phones in their

Cause for concern Judy Peres quotes Dr. John Samet, overall chair of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, (IARC) in her article "WHO Classification Sparks Debate Over Cell Phone Safety" as saying, "there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk." Dr. Samet is also the chair of preventative medicine at the University of Southern California.

WHO classifies cell phones as potentially carcinogenic. The IARC lists it as a class 2B. This means that the phones might cause cancer but there is no concrete evidence to show that this is true. More research is needed.

Maybe it is just a coincidence, but what if they are right? Could keeping a cell phone in your bra give you breast cancer? As a breast cancer patient still going through treatment, I would not want to risk it. My cell phone did not give me breast cancer, but there are other women who say their phones did. zLynda Altman of Yahoo! News who wrote this story, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2011. She writes a series for Yahoo! Shine called "My Battle With Breast Cancer."

BuyRight Africa to unveil employees' digital credit scheme

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

A

S part of its drive to offer Nigerian Nigerian Employees with opportunity to own ICT and electronics appliances, Buyright Africa has announced plan for the formal unveiling of its digital Digital Welfare scheme (NEDWS) next month in Abuja.

The NEDWS allows Nigerian employees in both the public and private sectors to buy ICT equipment like computers, smart phones, printers, scanners , projectors , UPS and home appliances like tvs, refrigerators, deep freezers, microwave, electricity generating sets of any brand of their choice from Buyright Africa with the convenience of paying over a period of 6 months at zero interest rate.

According to the Managing Director of Buyright Africa, Mr. Mukoro Emomine, the idea of NEDWS was informed by the desire to build financial and moral integrity in the Nigerian employee of the 21st century towards the development of a viable credit based society.

Mr. Mukoro said the focus is to encourage employees to enjoy a minimum standard of living while working hard to improve productivity and

L4LN: From left: Chief Emeka Anyaoku, ex-Commonwealth Secretary-general, Deputy Bristish High Commissioner, Peter West and Lagos State Commission, Mabadeje Adebiyi Fatai at the the launch of L4L Clubhouse initiative in Lagos last week. reduce fraud at their work places.

“We have been test running this credit scheme for over 7 months and have over 7,500 certified employees who have benefitted from it. We are considering how long it take a young graduate who just secured a job on a salary of N75,000 per month to save and buy a new laptop or TV. This is one of the questions this scheme is structured to answer and has been answering; it is one of the problems of our growing society. ‘‘As different governments and the private sector struggle to survive globally, NEDWS is meant to empower employed citi-

zens to extend quality living to their households.

This is the trend in the civilized world but here companies and individuals are afraid to extend credit facilities to employees without asking for an arm and a leg including the burden of completing complicated forms. The Nigerian Employees Digital Welfare Scheme, NEDWS, is a complete departure from that tortuous Past,’’ said Emomine..

Staff of these certified institutions will only complete simple Application forms, issue their post dated cheques and the ICT equipment or Household Appliances of their choice will be delivered to them with no hassles.

Employees of companies, institutions or government not yet certified shall also enjoy the scheme but may be guaranteed by their Management or Co-operatives.

According to him, NEDWS does not require any form of Bank guarantees and is not working with any bank and is interest free. All items offered on this scheme are global brands and Applicants are free to choose any brand they like.

Also, at the launch, Chairman of Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh will speak on his upcoming book entitled “The Truth and Nothing But The Truth About Third World Entrepreneurs.’’

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28— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 29

Today’s Fixtures

Man U v West Ham:

Chelsea v Fulham

Mikel fears Benitez

Ferguson wary of West Ham

M

anchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes West Ham United counterpart Sam Allardyce is “underrated” within soccer.

The two sides clash in the English Premier League at Old Trafford tonight “Big Sam went to Upton Park a year and a bit ago and the cynics said he’s not a West Ham manager as he doesn’t play football,” Ferguson told the club’s website.

“What was his mandate? To

get them up into the Premier League as quickly as possible and he got them up within a year. Tell me someone else who could’ve done that.”

Having had unhappy spells in charge of Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers after eight years at Bolton Wanderers, Allardyce took West Ham straight back up to the Premier League from the Championship (second division) last term.

Swansea v West Brom:

Osaze’s club eye consolidation

S

wansea host West Brom tonight at the Liberty Stadium with the highflying visitors hopeful to climb further up the Premier League table The Baggies continued their superb start to the season with a 4-2 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The weekend’s result left Steve Clarke’s men third in the standings, and a win in Wales could see them tie for second depending on Manchester City’s outcome at Wigan.

Meanwhile, the ninthplaced Swans will look to get back to winning ways after they had to settle for a point against Liverpool last time out.

In team news, Jonas Olsson is an injury doubt for Albion after the centre-back suffered a calf injury in the clash against the Black Cats.

The Baggies will also assess Youssouf Mulumbu, the

S

“He’s also had to rebuild the team and get two or three players out because of their salaries,” Ferguson adde.

“He’s very underrated, it’s as simple as that.

“There’s a sort of impression about him being a certain type of manager. It’s not really fair and I’m pleased he’s back in the Premier League.”

Wigan v Man City:

midfielder having missed the trip to Wearside with a hamstring injury.

Ben Foster is again sidelined with the former England goalkeeper set to undergo surgery for his ongoing groin problem.

For Michael Laudrup’s charges, Danny Graham will again miss out through illness, but Luke Moore has shaken off the same virus.

Jonathan de Guzman (hamstring) is a doubt.

anchester City will be looking for improved away form when they meet with Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Wednesday night.

Sunday ’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea means the Blues go into this game in second position on the table, a point behind Manchester United.

Roberto Mancini’s form on the road this season has been patchy, managing draws away to Fulham, Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham. City go into the game without injured full-backs Gael Clichy and Micah Richards, while Jack Rodwell remains sidelined. Vincent Kompany is expected to play despite struggling a knee injury.

Wigan, who have lost their last five games to City and have not scored once in the process, go into the match on the back of a 3-2 win over Reading. The Latics are currently in 15th position.

v

Fulham

8:45pm

Everton

v

Arsenal

8:45pm

Southampton

v

Norwich

8:45pm

Stoke

v

Newcastle

8:45pm

Swansea

v

West Brom

8:45pm

Tottenham

v

Liverpool

8:45pm

Man. United

v

West Ham

9pm

Wigan

v

Man. City

9pm

Chelsea suffer Falcao’s setback

uper Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel could be the first victim of Rafa Benitez’s Chelsea reign.

The midfielder may be axed from the side for tonight’s match against Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

As Benitez aims to produce more opportunities for under pressure £50million striker Fernando Torres, Mikel could pay the price for his lack of creativity.

The Spaniard wants to reshape his side and believes that Mikel is too defensive in his position in front of the back four.

Mikel was missing from the key preparations for Chelsea’s derby with Fulham and could now be replaced

by Oriel Romeu, who came on for him on Sunday.

Chelsea’s game against Fulham is a rather one-sided derby in that the Blues are far less excited about it than the Cottagers.

But Benitez insists his team will take to the game with the right attitude.

‘I have some information. I know a derby’s a derby.

Maybe it’s not the biggest rivalry for us, but we have a lot of respect for Fulham,’ he said.

‘We know it’s a derby but not the biggest rival for us.’

City seek away win

M

axe

Chelsea

Guardiola to consult Ferguson over Man U

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Chelsea’s hopes of signing Radamel Falcao this January have received a further setback.

The Stamford Bridge side had reportedly negotiated a £35million deal with Atletico Madrid for the outstanding Colombian striker.

But Falcao, who can also count Manchester City among his many admirers, distanced himself from a winter move last week and now his agent appears to have ruled out an imminent switch to the Premier League.

Atletico legend Paulo Futre, according to reports in Marca, has been told by agent Jorge Mendes: “It is impossible that Falcao will leave in the January market.”

The report claims that Futre

and Mendes dicussed Falcao’s future at the weekend after reports the star striker could be leaving.

Cruyff urges Barca to snub Neymar

ep Guardiola is ready for talks with Sir Alex Ferguson over his plans at Manchester United.

The People says Roman Abramovich must convince Guardiola to give up his Manchester -United dream to make him Chelsea’s next full-time boss.

United are Guardiola’s first choice in England – Italian giants Milan are in the running – as he has -reservations about the way Abramovich runs Chelsea.

And Guardiola may well sound out whether -United manager Ferguson will retire at the end of the season before accepting an offer.

B

Man U close in on Ogbonna

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anchester United are keeping tabs on Torino defender Angelo

Ogbonna.

The Mirror says United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is chasing Torino’s Italian international centre half Ogbonna to bolster his leaky defence.

Fergie’s spies have watched the

24-year-old’s last two games in Serie A, with the Premier League leaders looking at potential new faces in central defence because of concerns about their current crop at the position.

Ogbonna, who is of Nigerian descent, has emerged as one of the best defenders in Italy after coming up the hard way with Torino during their time outside the top flight.

arcelona legend Johan Cruyff believes the Catalans do not need Santos sensation Neymar as they already have plenty of offensive options.

The Brazil international is one of the most sought after players in the world, and Barcelona are continually being linked with a move for the 20-year-old.

Nevertheless, Cruyff feels that Barca would be wasting their money on attacking reinforcements as they already score plenty of goals.

“The one department where Barcelona don’t lack anything is scoring goals. So if you ask

me whether they need Neymar, I’m going to have to say ‘ no’,” Cruyff told Catalunya Radio.

“Just look at the amount of goals they score. They already have good options up front.”

Neymar is under contract with Santos until the middle of 2014.

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 28 2012

Worry over low local content in ICT at eNigeria summit Continues from Page 23 that may have local antecedents but is also world class and globally competitive,” the minister stated.

Earlier in his opening address, the Director General of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye said that the aim of the programme was to seek collaboration among stakeholders on how to leverage on the potentials of IT for productivity, good governance, global competetiveness and sustainable socio-economic development in Nigeria.

He also said that the programme was designed to offer IT awareness, develop appreciable framework and seeting goals for best practices in order to encourage appreciable positioning of Nigeria in the global information society.

According to Prof. Angaye, previous editions of the programme had contributed to the level of development and deployment of IT sector in the country, leading to improvement in the federal public service with It cad-

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re and department some ministries and departments and agencies.

“Our desire is to se a Nigeria that we will all be proud of in terms of technologically driven services and contribute effectively to the growth of our GDP. The era of mono economy should become a thing of the past. Government alone cannot achieve this hence, we have all been invited to come together and brainstorm in the way forward,” he added.

The representatives of the Vice President, Mr. Baba Jubril said it was the responsibility of all to make Nigerian dream come through, using IT as a tool.

“What Nigerians need is opportunity to transform the country. To transform this country, we need the pool of talent, tolerance and technology. It becomes the responsibility of all to make this a reality so that we can move from poverty to wealth.

In her Keynote address, the former Vice President, African Region, World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwe-

sili said the only thing that would advance the Nigerian ICT sector, which should be encouraged by every stakeholder for it to succeed.

In the measurement of economic growth, she said that Nigeria going to grow a little above 6% this year, saying that the issue of economy is what every serious government must concern itself about.

She said that the world had transited into the era of knowledge and urged drivers of knowledge to assist Nigeria to grow her economy productivity, saying that the issue of poverty is what Nigeria as a developing country must pursue with vigor to enable the citizenry improve on their standard of living, adding that effort should be focused to technology to bring the desired growth.

“It is time to begin to think of how to leverage this revolution. It happened in the telecom sector because there was effort of policy. Before it can happen, it has to be preceded by sound policies,” she said, insisting that the

fundamental factor is sound policies.

For her, the role of the private sector has to be properly defined for them to fully play their role in the economy.

Other elements she enumerated as key factors that would drive the economy include: sound institutions, rule of law, public and private sector investment and building of intellectual capital, which according to her will soon counter oil and gas as well as other mineral deposit that turned Nigeria into a mono economy state.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of the House Committee, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, deplored the level of It penetration in the country and assured on the support of legislatures to ensuring speedy passage of cyber security bill currently before the law makers.

“Soon we will hold public hearing on cyber security in Abuja and Lagos. We should do more on ICT, e-governance and computer utilization in all sectors,” he said.

In another goodwill message, the President of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr. Lanre Ajayi said ‘’ This event gives us great opportunity to refresh and retrace from our mistakes and be able to move forward.”

He charged participants to ponder on what value the event would add to software, hardware and local content development, which are expected to drive the eco-

nomic growth.

Also speaking, President of Nigeria Computer Registration Council, Mr. Tunde Ezichi said local content is one thing that is lacking as far as internet is concerned.

“We are so busy downloading others without uploading, hence, our thinking skewed towards the thinking of others. We should be bothered on what we are uploading.

That is why the theme is germane towards the direction.

Main One, Phase 3 link up on broadband

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

T

WO top indigenous telcos,Main One Cable Company and Phase3 Telecom, have formed a business pact to increase broadband Internet penetration in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

Main One owns and operates West Africa’s first privately-owned undersea communication cable that runs from Europe to Africa with landing points along the West African coast including Nigeria and Ghana, while Phase3 Telecom is a national long distance operator and West Africa’s first privately owned aerial fibre optic

cable deployed on highvoltage electricity power lines.

Under the partnership, the firms will be offering Nigerians high capacity broadband Internet services at affordable costs using Phase3 Telecom’s extensive aerial fibre network and Main One’s huge bandwidth deployed through its undersea cable.

CEO of Phase3 Telecom, Stanley Jegede said, “When two smart companies work together, they create smarter results. Today, the impact of Information and Communications Technologies on gloContinues on Page 31

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—31

Battle over NigComSat bill shifts to Senate

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

I

F the calculations of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Company limited, NigComSat, is to be relied upon, the senate may soon pass the Nigcomsat corporation bill to become an Act. The bill which became primary subject of a joint senate committee public hearing in Abuja recently, generated heated debate, divergent and discordant voices, with some of government ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Communications technology, Sci-

ence and tech, National Space and Research Development Agency, Nasrda, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Galaxy Backbone among others praying that the bill be killed.

Their arguments were that the bill will pitch NigComSat against NASRDA, create double space agencies, encourage duplication of duties among two government functionaries and much more, that the preparation of the bill eroded due processes and procedures of government policies.

In fact almost all the

government establishments that made presentations to the joint senate committee hearing, argued that to the extent that the bill allegedly arrogated to NigComSat the powers of being a player and z Rufai regulator in the satellite space at the same time, passing it into law would give the satellite company undue powers that would make nonsense of government’s sector

liberalization achievements.

They prayed that instead of passing the bill, NigComSat should be privatized since the powers it sought in the bill are the same that NASRDA already has.

However in response, the Chief Executive Officer of NigComSat, Engr Ahmed Rufai, expressed shock at how little many of the oppositions of the bill from government agencies, knew of global satellite business, issues and practices.

“Contrary to the fears expressed in certain quarters, I want to reiterate that NigComSat is neither a space agency nor a regulator and I am not aware of any clause in the clean bill from the House, that gives NigComSat such powers."

Again, Rufai also contended that picking on the issue of competition with NASRDA as a point to kill the bill was also laughable going by the functions of NASRDA as a clear research and development agency of the Nigerian satellite industry while his company deals exclusively with buying and selling (marketing) of satellites.

Going through a long history of world satellite activities, apparently to educate oppositions of the bill, Rufai said “the most interesting thing is that we are not living in an isolated world.

It has a fleet of 54 satellites.

“Again, the USA Military has six geostationary satellites called MILSTAR which allow all military formations to coded communications. President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria {ISPON} Dr. Chris Uwaje, who was also invited by the Senate to make presentations on the bill, spoke extensively on the international best practices where space agencies exist side by side with commercial satellite companies. Uwaje said that “the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, NASA, existed before Intelsat. If we evaluate the success sto-

ries of Communications Satellite Operators like Intelsat, Eutelsat, Pan Am Sat, ArabSat, Sinosat among others, it will mean lack of focus on the part of Nigeria not to empower NigComSat which is truly Nigeria’s answer to these models,” he adduced.

The public hearing at the instance of Senate Joint Committee on Science Technology and Communications, which kicked off at about 2.30 pm last Tuesday, began with a barrage of criticisms against the bill. Although, Communication Technology Minister, Omobola Johnson and Henshaw opposed the bill, both spoke from different perspectives, while Johnson complained that the bill had no role for the Minister and so NigComSat should be privatized , Henshaw simply laid claims to ownership of NigComSat by National Space Research and Development Agency {NASRDA} where NigComSat emanated from.

Representing the EVC of NCC, Executive Director of the commission, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi opposed the bill on the grounds that if approved, NigComSat was likely to usurp NCC position as a regulator. Director General of NASRDA, Mr. Mohammed Seidu claimed ownership of NigComSat, describing it as a department and consequently opposed the bill because two satellites agencies could not exist side by side.

Meanwhile, even as Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Mr Gerald Ilukwe itemized both policy flaws, regulatory and security implications of passing the bill as presented, he also suggested that if the senate could clean the ambiguities in the bill that appeared to conflict with other existing laws, there was nothing wrong in passing it into law.

Main One, Phase 3 link up on broadband Continues from Page 30 balization has increased dramatically, and impacted positively on the developmental process in Africa.

We believe that a robust and reliable open access network will constitute a platform for efficient eGovernment, eVoting, eCommerce, ePayment, eBanking, eLearning and media applications, thereby increasing sustainable human, political, economic and social development.

“That is why the Nigerian government emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholders’ partnerships for broadband development in the country and, C M Y K

thereby, achieving universal access. Phase3 Telecom’s partnership will contribute to broadband capacity building in West Africa.”

CEO of Main One, Ms. Funke Opeke, said the determination of Main One to make its broadband Internet services ubiquitous and available to many more Nigerians, was the basis for the agreement between the two companies. She assured Nigerians that together with Phase3 Telecom, the fibre infrastructure of both companies will broaden the reach of broadband Internet connectivity.

32—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 28, 2012

Nigerian, US educators urge competences in science

BY VERA ANYAGAFU

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A the just concluded eNigeria forum held in Abuja, participants at t5he event rose up from the conference saying that unless local content was introduced in the Nigerian educational in the curriculum, the country may not develop the expected information and communication technology (ICT) sector to meet global standard and best practice.

The objective of the conference will include proffering appropriate strategies to enhance Nigerian content in IT products and services; developing requisite framework for empowering indigenous IT entrepreneurs in order to contribute to Nigeria’s GDP; developing framework for providing critical employment through outsourcing and other digital opportunity windows, among others.

In a communique signed by the National Information Technology development Agency, (NITDA) Prof. Cleopas Anagaye informed that the educational institutions to be affected by this will include primary, sec-

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eNigeria forum urges local content COLLABORATING to reaffirm the importance of science and in education curriculum technology Nigeria and

ondary and tertiary institutions. Besides, he said that local ICT companies have to be encouraged to compete internationally through various proactive measures, such as reduction in the importation of software and hardware into the country.

The stakeholders, at the conference with the theme: "Local Content in ICT Development in Nigeria", according to the communique also estimated that by 2013, IT investment in the country would have hit $25 billion, which will be a significant leap from the initial investment worth $200 million, representing 18 percent contribution to the nation's economic growth, noting that the sector was growing at an increasing rate and remained the 4th largest contributor to the nation's Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Accordingly, the forum, according to NITDA DG, recommended, "NITDA should focus on intense research towards achiev-

ing the vision of local content, while the theme of this year ’s e-Nigeria should be sustained in subsequent editions until 50 percent local content is achieved in the sector.

"There is a need for government to include local IT manufacturers in its international trade missions, in order to expose our local manufacturers and stakeholders to the best practices in the areas of service, software, knowledge, and innovation.

"Stakeholders shall identify an ICT Champion and a lobby group to advance the growth of ICT. "Government should upgrade NITDA to a National Information Technology Development Commission (NITDC) to ensure adequate regulation of the IT sector.

"NITDA should develop a multilingual web portal in Nigerian Languages, including development of special IT programmes for our teeming youths to

meaningfully engage them.

"Government shall continuously facilitate the establishment of knowledge-based clusters (ICT Incubation Centres) in a strategic imperative to enhance the standard and quality of local content implementation processes.

"All stakeholders shall collaborate to develop ICT local content in Nigeria. Creative and innovative thinking should be encouraged at all levels of the education system."

Angaye noted.

While stating that NITDA should commence the development of a concise ICT local content policy in collaboration with stakeholders, the conference urged the agency to strengthen its partnership with other relevant stakeholders, such as Ministries of Education, Finance, Agriculture, Health, Trade and Investment for effective ICT development in achieving their mandates.

United States educators in a roundtable discussion at the US Consulate general Lagos held recently encouraged Nigerian students to become more inclined in sciences so as to help save the Nigeria economy.

The brainstorming sessions, under the title ‘Grooming the next generation of Scientists in Nigeria’, brought together Professor Oye IbidapoObe, former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Dr. John P. Boright, Exeutive Director of International Affairs of the U.S national Academies, Professor Adenike Osofisan, Nigeria’s first female professor of Computer Sciencea, respectively analyzed sciences as the key to economic recovery.

Describing science as the only solution to a progressive economy, Professor Osofisan advocated the need for science teachers to do more of practical than theoretical, so as to enable better future scientists, stating

that, “ A vast majority of Nigeria science teachers, do not take the pains of making their student pass through all the technical aspect of the whole process, thereby producing scientists who are no where to be reckoned with in the society”. Adding that, “ Technical skills sharpen for functional education and for this to be achievable, government and the whole school system must play innumerable role to producing the next generation of scientists that will help grow the society and the country as a whole.

Teaching sciences in a well equipped environment is the basic, but whereby there are limited resources, tap into the internet i-labs to perform the experiments. Do not start with the attitude of ‘it is not possible’, because that will undermine the whole processes.”

On his part, the U.S speaker Dr. John, enumerated various strategies that are determining factors to achievable next generation of scientists in Nigeria, one of which he noted, is provision of free and open inquiry, paramount to advance global development.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 33

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

Fidelity Bank rewards promo winners with cars, cash, others

W

ITH about 39.2 million or 46.3 per cent of Nigeria’s population still experiencing financial exclusion, getting more people to embrace the nation’s financial products and services has become a major priority for regulators in the banking sector.

To this end, the regulators are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that financial inclusion for majority of Nigerians is achieved going forward.

Financial inclusion is a strategy aimed at bringing the unbanked or disadvantaged public into the banking system by ensuring the availability of financial services at affordable costs. In other words, financial inclusion is the process of ensuring access to appropriate financial products and services needed by vulnerable groups (weaker sections and low income groups) at an affordable cost in a fair and transparent manner by mainstream institutional players.

It will be recalled that the CBN at the Maya Declaration, committed to develop a National Financial Inclusion Strategy, NFIS, with the aim of reducing the percentage of financially excluded adults from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 20 per cent by the year 2020.

In pursuit of the above commitment, some policy priorities were identified which included amongst others, establishing consumer protection department, drafting consumer protection framework, as well as developing a financial literacy framework, The national strategy was launched on October 23, 2012.

It is in line with this commitment that the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, gathered together business editors and financial correspondents in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital penultimate week to build their capacity on the roles of the NDIC

•Umar Ibrahim, MD, NDIC

Low level financial inclusion and NDIC’s drive to edge it up Mrs. Bolaji Ibunoluwa of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said that the impact of financial products and services on the lives of consumers are profound and significant however, growing sophistication in such products and services as well as the competitive environment in which the service providers operate has subjected consumers to their mercy

,

in promoting financial inclusion.

Speaking on ‘Role of deposit insurance in promoting financial inclusion,’ Bashir Umar, Director Special Insured Institutions Department of NDIC, said that there is high level of financial exclusion with about 39.2 million representing 46.3 per cent of Nigeria’s population that are financially excluded, and while 23.8 million adults are saving at home, billions of naira circulate through the informal sector.

The ratio of bank branch to total population is 1:24,224 persons.

According to Umar, financially excluded persons are mainly the rural dwellers, persons who had bitter experiences in banking services and some other disadvantaged groups.

He said that deposit insurance systems as one of the financial safety nets, play a critical role not only in promoting public confidence in financial systems but in protecting unsophisticated and small depositors.

Link between deposit insurance and financial inclusion, according to Umar, is therefore both direct and indirect. Relevance of deposit insurance gets more pronounced as households’ needs to be assured of the safety of their hard earned savings, hence financial inclusion, financial stability and deposit insurance are inter-related and mutually supportive, Umar said.

Umar however cited barriers to financial inclusion to include, poor income, hurdles to customers’ physical access, inadequate infrastructure, lack of adequate financial literacy, affordability, eligibility, security and transparency of service providers.

I

protection regime would enhance consumer confidence in the financial products/ services offered by the financial institutions thereby resulting in high levels of participation and stability in the system. All these would ensure the attainment of financial inclusion strategy with an impact on the real economy, she said.

For Rotimi Ogunleye who spoke on the topic ‘Conceptual

Deposit insurance systems as one of the financial safety nets play a critical role not only in promoting public confidence in financial systems but in protecting unsophisticated and small depositors

because of the latter’s limited knowledge. According to her, this is a peculiar issue in developing countries, especially in Nigeria, where information flow from the service providers to the consumers is at the discretion of the former, coupled with the fact that the global financial crisis also brought to the fore the need for consumer protection especially in areas of education/enlightenment.

Ibunoluwa said that robust consumer protection is a critical aspect of financial services regulation. A robust consumer

,

issues in E-banking, agent banking, mobile payment system and financial inclusion,’ main barriers to financial inclusion include income, physical access, financial literacy, affordability, eligibility, peculiar challenges in Nigeria, current Know Your Customer, KYC, regulation and the lack of adequate identification systems are challenges to increasing financial inclusion for clients.

For the providers of financial services, Ogunleye identified lack of enforcement of existing regulations and the steep

distribution channel costs as main challenges to financial inclusion. However, on ways to improve financial inclusion in Nigeria, Ogunleye said that the nation should maintain macro-economic stability; products/services innovation and development (enhanced mobile payment system, microinsurance); growth in channels: branches, ATMs, POS, agents; client lines which includes adopting a riskedbased approaches to KYC instead of relying on uniform KYC requirements; consumer protection; financial literacy (central pillar to the enhancement of financial inclusion) as well as giving priority to those elements of financial infrastructure that are essential to increasing the use of financial services.

For Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of NDIC, Mr. Umaru Ibrahim, a measure that could be adopted in promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria is the promotion of all women microfinance institution.

Evidence from other countries, for example Kenya, according to Ibrahim, has shown that such institutions have the potential to promote easy access to credit amongst rural poor women, especially at the group level and could also be used to mobilise large quantum of savings among these group of people.

N line with its promise, winners in the recently held draws of the ongoing Fidelity Bank Plc’s 25th anniversary promo have been rewarded with cars, cash and other items.

Customers that emerged winners who spoke with journalists, were full of praise for the bank, even as they lauded the transparency of the promo.

Mr Chukwunonso Vincent Ozor, who was present to receive his prize and four other star prize winners, who emerged in the promo went home with a Hyundai Accent car each.

According to Ozor, “I want to use this opportunity to tell other customers of the bank that the promo is real. I believe that other bank customers would continue to bank with Fidelity and those not doing so will join because this is real. This is my fourth year of banking with Fidelity, their services are efficient.”

Also, the winner of N1 million, Mr. Nwanjoku Chima said: “I have never seen what I am seeing here today before. This is real. I am very grateful to Fidelity Bank. I thank the bank because it kept to its words. I know many people out there don’t believe in such promo, but I advise that they give it a try. If they give it a try, they will know that it is real.”

The other star prize winners include Mr. Mohammed Isa Shemsu, whose account is resident in Kachia Road branch of the bank; Miss Benita Onwuneme, a 23 year old student of Madonna University who operates a savings account in Calabar branch of the bank, and Miss Odo Ngozika Blessing whose account is domiciled in Nsukka, as well as Mr. Saidu Sanusi who operates an account with the bank’s branch in Zaria.

Group Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, had said the ongoing promo is not a money-making venture for the bank, but is the bank’s own way of giving back a little to those who have supported the organisation in its 25 years of operation in the country.

The promo draw was monitored by representatives of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

T

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, said it is set to fill the admission gap created by higher institutions in the country when the College of Insurance and Management becomes fully operational.

Speaking to Vanguard in Lagos, Director General of the Institute, Mr. Adepegba Adegboyega, said that the College of Insurance and Management will be a window of opportunity for individuals who have difficulty entering higher institutions.

Adepegba said “We have discovered through research that Nigerian universities cannot admit 15 per cent of those who qualify to be given admission. We have seen a window of opportunity in the admission gap. If somebody cannot go into the university directly instead of writing the examination year-in-year-out, the individual can start a programme we designed for school leavers. With five credits including English and Mathematics, an individual can enroll for the programme that will run for nine months and obtain a certificate that would cover the first stage of the professional exam of the institute. Once that is done, the student would start with exemptions of six subjects from 12 subjects. We are starting the college with the school leavers’ programme.”

Adepegba also said that there are various levels in the college and one of them is the school levers programme for those who have finished their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and are trying to go into the university. “We still have refresher programme that allows people have lectures before the main

BRIEFS Judge dismisses $25bn suit over AIG rescue

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From left: President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Laide Osijo presenting Fellowhip Award to one of the newly inducted Fellows, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during the 50th anniversary dinner of the council, in Abuja.

College of insurance to bridge admission gap STORIES BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA examination. The programme is designed to help prepare our students for the institutes’ exam. We also have refresher programmes for middle level managers,” he said.

The CIIN DG said that the College of Insurance and Financial Management is evolving and that its blue print is ready. “I do tell people that the college is not the building – the number of

classes we have, but the blue print which we have been able to develop and within the next few months, we would be admitting students. Whether we admit them in the permanent site or somewhere else, would not be the most important thing now, but the important thing is that we have a blue print and we are bringing in people that would run the college.”

Adepegba said that they would be bringing experts from the industry that would

Insurer advocates continuous training for operators M

ANAGING Director of Niger Insur ance Plc, Mr. Justus Uranta has said that human capital of insurance companies requires constant training and retaining to be at their best and be able to make meaningful contribution to the growth of their firm.

To this end, the management of Niger Insurance plc has promised to continually organise training for the employees of the insurance company so as to keep rendering excellent services to its cherished customers.

Uranta, who said this during a chat with journalists in Lagos recently, maintained that Niger Insurance is still in tune with its human capital development by way of sending key staff to both local and international training fora.

Speaking on the members of the company’s staff who graduated from the West African Insurance Institute (WAII) in Banjul, The Gambia recently, the Niger Insurance boss assured that the organisation will con-

tinue to send its employees to the institute in order to keep enriching their knowledge.

Uranta, while confirming that more than 50 employees have been trained at WAII in the last few years, added that the company’s management has resolved to ensure that some of its employees continue to attend the institute on an annual basis.

While referring to eight employees of Niger Insurance who graduated from the institute in July, he pointed out that the company prioritises human capital development because it appreciates the fact that its human capital is its most valuable assets.

In order to remain a profitable organisation delivering exceptional value to its stakeholders, he said the company is constantly looking at its products, operations and meeting the needs of its customers.

Besides, the Niger Insurance boss informed that the company’s training school at Anthony Village, Lagos has been given a face-lift in readiness for more enhanced in-house training for its employees.

form the faculties of the college.

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ccording to him, the ad ministrative block of the college is completed, the restaurant is 90 per cent completed, and seven chalets have also been completed. “With the complement of buildings we have in there, we can start.

We have made tremendous progress on the college. We have completed the administrative block that houses the class rooms and can sit about 2000 students. We have admin offices for the college rector and other staff. We have a restaurant and seven chalets for people who may want to stay overnight. The next stage is for us to build the halls for residents and that I think before the end of the year, we shall lay the foundation for that.”

Adepegba said that as many professionals gradually age and retire from the insurance industry, the institute has continued to educate young people to take its examinations to boost their performance.

“We have improved on our awareness drive and there are more people coming in to register for our examination, but there is still the need to fast track it. I believe we must be able to match the number of people coming in two times over and above those going out. However, we have not been able to achieve that.

There is a danger if we have for an example 30 people retiring every year and we cannot find about 40 or 50 people replacing them by way of qualification.

federal judge in New York has dismissed a $25 billion lawsuit arising from the government rescue of the insurance company American International Group during the 2008 financial crisis.

Starr International, a company run by former AIG CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, accused the Federal Reserve Bank of New York of taking valuable assets from AIG shareholders without their consent or fair compensation.

The lawsuit, filed in November 2011, was dismissed Monday by Judge Paul Engelmayer of Manhattan federal court.

The government poured $182 billion into AIG to keep it afloat and has been selling the ownership stake it got in return. The company said in September that the government owned 16 percent of AIG stock. Until then, the government had been majority owner.

ICA joins Uni to research strata damage

T

HE Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and James Cook University in Townsville have joined forces to identify factors in the design of strata title buildings that lead to unnecessary insurance losses.

It follows the release of an Australian Government Actuary report that says strata insurance pricing is undergoing adjustment because of risk and vulnerability.

ICA CEO Rob Whelan says vulnerability is “resulting in sizeable premium increases for these properties”. He says the project will examine strata properties of varying ages and standards, quantify vulnerability and make appropriate risk-reduction recommendations.

“It will get information from insurance companies, which will be assessed by a methodology yet to be determined by James Cook University,” ICA spokesman Campbell Fuller said.

The completed methodology is expected within days, after which a James Cook team led by David Henderson will begin researching. Results are due

by April.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—35

MIDWEEK SERMON

monthly doing God's work and have to be in places not well-served by commercial flights. On his part, Pastor Oritsejafor travels every other day within and outside Nigeria as the president of CAN. I know him personally and can confirm that he hardly spends a full week at home in Warri because of his very busy ministry itinerary.

So, for logistic reasons, having private airplanes is actually a necessity for these men of God. The private jets are imperative if they are to do the work God has committed into their hands effectively and efficiently.

This is not just about luxury or status.

The Pope rarely travels more than thrice internationally in a year. Yet the Pope has a private jet. Why has nobody complained about that?!

with SAM EYOBOKA sameyoboka@yahoo.com

Okposo, Ayefele, Ekiye for Oritsejafor's triple jubilee

A private jet...used by one of the Nigerian pastors

Of Nigerian pastors and private jets

By EGHES EYIEYIEN

T

HE news media and the so cial internet sites like Facebook, Twitter and several Nigeria online portals have been abuzz since Saturday, November 10, 2012, after reports that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, had joined the rarefied ranks of Nigerian pastors who owned private jets. It was Pastor Ayo’s birthday as well as his 40th anniversary as an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, some wealthy members of the church where he serves as the senior pastor, Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, contributed money and bought an airplane as a gift for him. President Goodluck Jonathan was among the several local and international dignitaries who were in Warri to rejoice with Pastor Ayo on the august occasion.

Expectedly, criticisms have trailed the development. Pastor-bashing is now commonplace in Nigeria, and especially on social media like Facebook, even by some who claim to be "Christians" but have no understanding whatsoever of the Bible and have no respect for spiritual authority. Not unexpectedly, even the latter-day “social critic”, good governance “crusader” and President Jonathan-basher, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, joined the bandwagon not wanting to miss an opportunity to politicise the matter. He tweeted "@afo4u: @el-rufai And the church members are wallowing in abject poverty"...irony of life, but it is CAN, PDP branch...so anything is possible. And, in response to el Rufai’s malicious tweet which went viral on the internet, some have even alleged that it was the Presidency that actually bought the private jet for Pastor Oritsejafor!!

Non governmental organisations

jafor's elevation as CAN's president, the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, introduced its Malaysia-style Islamic Banking which Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, recently declared to be unconstitutional and illegal. It became incumbent on Pastor Ayo to articulate and voice out the stance of the Nigerian Church on these two issues. And his passion and conviction in dealing with these issues have come to define public perception about him.

For many Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria, Pastor Ayo's leadership of CAN could not have been more timely. Not one to be intimidated into silence, Pastor Ayo's forceful statements on national issues cannot be ignored. For those who would have preferred him to be subservient and kowtow to the reactionary elements who, though not even of the Christian faith, had successfully influenced the actions of some of the past CAN leaders, Pastor Ayo was soon accused of "heating up the polity" even when it was clear to all that he was merely responding to the actions of those who were actually causing division, strife and the death of thousands of innocent and hapless Nigerians.

For a man known for his utmost commitment to God and the establishment of His

,

Mallam el Rufai merely gave voice to his constituents frustrated by Oritsejafor’s uncompromising and principled stance on the war against the Church and Christians!

Manifest mischief The statement by el Rufai, a chieftain of the Congress of Progressive Change, who has been critical of the Joint Task Force for its response to Boko Haram activities in the North, underscores the manifest mischief of some who have been attacking Pastor Oritsejafor using the airplane gift as their excuse.

This is not surprising. Pastor Oritsejafor’s election as the president of CAN was historic. It was the first time that someone from the Pentecostal fold would become the president of CAN. His emergence as CAN's leader also happened at a time when the terrorist jihadist group, Boko Haram, began escalating its murderous activities in the northern part of Nigeria. And in January, 2011, just months after Pastor OritseC M Y K

,

Kingdom, hypocritical posturing and pandering to the gallery for photo opportunities to be hailed as a politically correct "pacifist" while thousands of his Christian brothers and sisters are plunged into utter misery and rendered widows, widowers or orphans was not an option.

Mallam el Rufai merely gave voice to his constituents who have been frustrated by Pastor Oritsejafor’s uncompromising and principled stance on the ongoing war against the Church and Christians in Nigeria! As far as I know, the Nigerian pastors that currently have private jets are Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Adejare Adeboye, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and, of course, Pastor Oritsejafor who was given one penultimate Saturday by members of his congregation.

These men have to travel very frequently around the world ministering. RCCG has thousands of branches and millions of members on all continents of the world. Winners' Chapel and Christ Embassy equally have many international branches and hundreds of thousands of members. Pastor Adeboye, Bishop Oyedepo and Pastor Oyakhilome travel thousands of kilometres

Very few know about the social and philanthropic work which these men and thousands of others, are doing. In reality, the Church is doing more than any government, international agency or non-governmental organisation to fight poverty, illiteracy and diseases in Nigeria today. The Church in Nigeria is much more effective than the government at all levels! It is not just in the habit of churches and Christian ministers to be boasting about their poverty-alleviation programmes and charity works like companies and many non-faith based NGOs love to do for public commendation and approval. They leave God, the Rewarder, to judge what they do in the "closet" and reward their good works both here on earth and in the hereafter.

That there are some pastors who are fleecing the sheep and whose god is their bellies, does not mean all wealthy pastors are scammers. Many of them are entrepreneurial and do not even get remuneration from

their churches. In fact, they are often the biggest donors/givers in their church.

Prosperity is scriptural. The worship of Mammon (money) is not. Let us not be like those "Christians" of whom Kenneth Hagin Sr. wrote in one of his books that they prayed: "Lord, please keep our pastor humble. We will keep him poor"! What was Jesus’ experience with matters like this? Let’s see John 12:1-16.

If Jesus were alive today and a Nigerian, religiously-minded "Christians" would abuse and condemn him for not agreeing to Judas Iscariot's suggestion that the expensive perfume be sold and "given to the poor". Some people like to point to the fact that Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem.

But, they conveniently ignore the verses in the same chapter of the Bible (John 12 above) where we are told Mary poured perfume worth one year's wage. That is about N216,000 today if we use the minimum wage of N18,000 per month!! Designer perfumes sell for no more than N20,000 for a 100ml bottle of a high-end eau de parfum!!

The point is: "Moderation" is subjective!

For example, if a person has a net-worth of say N1 billion, why would you begrudge him for having a car that costs even N50 million? Or why complain if he owns an air-plane that costs $5 million if he thinks his business and lifestyle demand that he owns a jet? And who says that means he cannot or does not give generously to the poor?

Let us honour our men of God who are celebrated worldwide. If there is any veritable case of fraud or embezzlement against any clergyman, let the law take its course.

To general-ise that all wealthy pastors are thieves and assume that they must be exploit-ing their church members is twisted, unjust and wicked. *Eghes Eyieyien<http:// eghes.blogspot.com>

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Omotola bags ‘Actress of the Year’ N

Omotola starred in ‘’Ties That Bind’’ alongside Hollywood’s Kimberly Elise, Kofi Adjorlolo, Ama K, Khareemar Aguiar among others. She has been rated one of the highest paid actresses and appeared in leading box office movies more than most of her contemporaries. Up Creek, Amina, Blood on the Lagoon, Last Flight were among those that top the bill for her this year.

Omotola will be going head to head with her supposed fiercest rival, Genevieve Nnaji, come December 2nd for the Most Stylish Actress award at the FABS award. The duo have been nominated alongside other top actress like Rita Dominic, Nse IkpeEtim and Beverly Naya.

The 2012 ELOY Awards were held at the Porsche Showroom Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The ELOY awards have been held annually since 2009. It is organized by Exquisite Magazine, led by its publisher, Tewa Onasanya.

OLLYWOOD’s top ac tress and mother of four, Omotola JaladeEkeinde is an actress who has had too many good years in her acting career and this 2012 isn’t a pushover either.

In fact the talented actress has done more high budget films more than any of her rivals this year and the payoff has come for her not only in the way of money but awards too.

On Sunday she added another one to her spilling shelf of awards when she bagged the ‘’Actress of the Year ’’at the 2012 Exquisite Lady of the Year Awards (ELOY).

Her sterling role in the movie “Ties That Bind” pulled the stunt for her and she did it, beating Ini Edo, Funke Akindele and Nse Ikpe-Etim. Call it icing on her well-decorated cake, only some weeks back, Omosexy, as she is lovingly called by fans bagged another one,the BEFFTA, Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts awards.

Empress marks ‘special’ birthday in Lagos and Abuja

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eautiful Nollywood actress, Empress Njamah, is a woman who makes things happen, not only because of her beauty but also for her down-to-earth nature who seems to court controversy at every turn. She recently added a year and rather then throwing the usual big celebrity bash, the ebony beauty decided to celebrate with the less-privileged kids from various homes in Lagos and Abuja.

The Lagos shindig took place on 17th of November while the Abuja own, held only last

Saturday, November 24th.

The actress who only recently returned from a trip around Europe came back just in time for the birthday and unlike those she has had in the past, she decided to celebrate this year ’s edition with children from Homes.

According to the celebrant, who took time out to accuse the press of making her look like an evil person, she believes she is not a bad person that the image being painted of her is largely due to negative reporting from the Nigerian press.

Apart from acting, Emp r e s s runs her House of Empress in Abuja where she spends most of her time, when she is not in Lagos.

This may very well informed her holding the party in the two cities because of her affiliation.

Brymo releases much anticipated album Recording artist Brymo has released his highly anticipated sophomore album – ‘’The son of a Carpenter’’, his debut since joining Chocolate City Music two years ago.

The album comes just months after the singer released his smash hit single ‘’Go Hard’’.

Headies, and releasing some of the biggest tracks including ‘’Good Morning’’, which is heard in clubs all around Africa and also heavily supported

by BBC Radio 1xtra in the UK,’’The son of a Carpenter ’’ is said to be one of the biggest releases of 2012.

Having had a great year in music, winning the ‘’Record of the Year ’’ award at the

The 13-track album features the old classics including ‘’Ara’’, and ‘’Good Morning’’, and new favourites such as ‘’Omoge

Campus’’, ‘’See Me’’ and ‘’Akara’’. While remaining true to his fuji roots, Brymo proves his versatility as an artist with tracks like ‘’Akara’’ and ‘’Your Love’’, which has an international dance feel guaranteed to get you on the dance floor.

The album is spruced up with exceptional production from a group of talented producers including E Kelly and Jesse Jagz, and a signature Chocboi anthem from the rest of the team- the first lady, Pryse, Ice Prince, M.I. And Jesse Jabz

Aki and Pawpaw play novelty match with J.J. Okocha

The duo of Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, popularly known as Aki and Pawpaware set to show what football skills they possess as they are bill to trade tackles with legendary footballer, J.J. Okocha in a novelty match to be held on December 1, 2012

Nuella Njubigbo shaves hair Nuella Njubigbo is back on the movie scene and this time around with a bang.

She recently shaved her hair to feature in a new movie. Of course, this came with a big package as she is expected to pocket huge some of money for this self-alteration. Ella, as she is fondly called is a respected name in the industry even though the alleged rumour of her romance with producer, Tchidi Tchikere nearly put paid to her image.

Uchenna Nnanna relocates to Lekki Uchenna Nnanna has joined the league of movie stars who are living in Lekki.

The pretty actress recently moved into a posh apartment in Lekki Phase 2. she was once a Nollywood Ambassador, which earned her a car gift and some other pizes..

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;37

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former EFFC Chairman; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group of Companies and Dr. Alex Otti, Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank, during the unveiling and commissioning of Pastor Lazarus Otti Memorial Library, donated by Dr. Alex Otti, at Babcock University, Lishan-Remo, Ogun State, weekend.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu congratulates Barr. Tobechi Ekomaru; behind them, from left: Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru and Miss Nene Iwuanyanwu, during the Nigeria Law School, Abuja Call to Bar ceremony of Mr. Tobechi Ekomaru and others, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja

From left: Namadi Sambo, Vice President; Ibrahim Shema, Katsina State Governor and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, during the 2012 Comptroller-General's annual conference in Katsina State.

From left: Mrs. Ibukun Abimbola Odusote, Permanent Secretary; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Alhaji Bukar Tijani, Minister of State, at the 2013 budget defence before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, in Abuja

From left: Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Hon. Ekpenyong Ayi, during the 2013 budget defence by the Ministry of Labour, at the National Assembly, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

G.U Evulukwu, Chairman, Travelex Nigeria; Lloyd Dorfman, Chairman, Travelex Group and Phillips Oduoza,GMD/CEO,UBA Group, during a courtesy visit by Travelex to UBA Corporate Headquarters, in Lagos.

From left: Rt. Rev. Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria, welcoming the prelate, Dr. Sunday Makinde to the diocesan 2012 third annual festival of hymns and songs, at the Opebi Circuit Cathedral, Opebi, Ikeja. At the background (middle) is the lay president, Sir Godwin Olatunji Adewunmi.

From Left: Bayo Onanuga, Managing Director, PM News/ The News; Abiodun Faleke, Chairman, House Committee on Corruption and Senator Ganiu Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, during visit to The News Corporate Office, after last week's fire incident, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

38—VANGUARD,

WEDNESDAY,

NOVEMBER

28,

2012

My wife found I was having an affair with her friend

I want my violent lover back!

Dear Bunmi, My lover of two years and I had a really violent relationship, but I always went back to him because I love him so much. He’s now been transferred to another town and I learnt he was living with a girl.

Later, he was violent towards her too, and she left him. After this incident, he started writing me beautiful love letters and I was happy we were back on track.

Recently, I heard he was involved with yet another woman.

When I asked him for an ex-

planation, he said he’s changed his mind about us and it’s over.

He boasted he doesn’t need me. How can he be so heartless? I love him and would do anything to get him back.

Nkem, by e-mail.

Dear Nkem, You may feel what you’re currently experiencing is the worst thing ever but I think it’s the best. The truth is, you don’t need this guy. For a start, he has a history of violence towards women.

Secondly, he doesn’t care for you. And third, it sounds as if

he isn’t capable of caring for anyone.

I know you think you love him, but it’s an unhealthy love.

Perhaps you find it exciting to be with someone so unpredictable. Or maybe you believe you can save him and stop him being violent.

But you deserve far better than this— someone who’s able to return your affection and make you happy. So please, take this man at his word and end the relationship now.

Don’t phone or write to him and if he tries to start things up again, don’t go there!

She has a low opinion of herself Dear Bunmi, I am a 24-year-old guy and my girlfriend is 20. She has never had an orgasm. She feels her breasts are too sensitive, and kissing them does nothing for her.

She says that sex for her is okay, but it really does not feel great to her. She loves it when I give her oral sex, and she often masturbates.

I want to give her an orgasm, but if she or I play with her clitoris for too long, it gets really sensitive, so we stop. Is that the sign of a coming orgasm? Should we keep going?

Reuben, by e-mail.

Dear Reuben, The clitorises of some women do get very sensitive when they become very aroused, so much so that they can’t be touched directly.

But once in that state, it might

be possible to trigger an orgasm by touching around the clitoris, so that it gets some stimulation but not so much that it becomes uncomfortable.

I suggest you try that and ask her if she wants more time with foreplay. You can join in helping her to masturbate before having full sex.

“You have to find out why your marriage got to the point where you felt tempted to cheat on your wife. Why did you encourage this woman to borrow from you without your wife’s knowledge?”

My ex makes life unbearable for my wife Dear Bunmi, About three years ago, against my better judgment, I went out with this girl who was tagged an ‘easy lay’ by the boys. All I wanted was a bite at the cherry like everybody was having, but she later told me she was pregnant. I denied the pregnancy outright but gave her money to have an abortion.

Unknown to me, she did no such thing and with my mum’s connivance, she had a baby boy. As luck would have it, the boy looked so much like me that I fell in love with him. I decided to support her and my son any way I could.

I got married last year and C M Y K

this girl was furious. She has now refused to let me see my son on a regular basis. Whenever she wants me to see him, she would bring him to my matrimonial home knowing my wife’s child is a girl. She’s decided to call the boy “Junior ” without even consulting me.

She’s sworn I would never have another son for what I did to her. But what did I really do but to stand up to my responsibility? I want peace in my life and she’s the only one who can decide to leave my new family alone.

Albert, by e-mail.

Dear Albert,

Your ex couldn’t obviously handle the fact that you found her good enough to sleep with but not good enough to marry.

You have to make her see that you have another life now and should stop blackmailing you with your son.

Admittedly, you love this boy, but you have to make her stop using him as a bargaining chip. You have to put your foot down about her coming to your matrimonial home. If she blackmails you by withdrawing contact with your son, call her bluff.

Believe me, the tougher you are in dealing with her, the quicker she’ll see the light if she values her son’s well-being.

Dear Bunmi, Early this year, my wife found out that I was having an affair with a very close friend of hers and she was completely devastated. This friend of hers was in a financial mess and came to me for help.

One thing led to the other and we started having sex. I knew I wouldn’t get the money I lent her back and sex with her was supposed to be some sort of compensation.

My wife has completely cut off contact with this woman and although she says she still loves me, she can’t enjoy sex with me any more. Most of the time, she just sees sex as a duty she has to go through. She says she’s deeply hurt that I betrayed her so shamelessly with her friend.

I love my wife and have told her that. But she said she couldn’t get over my betraying her with her best friend.

Is she over-reaching?

Raymond, by e-mail.

Dear Raymond, Apart from the fact that you’ve destroyed your wife’s trust emotionally by sleeping with a close friend of hers, she must have been alarmed at the money you lent her behind her back. She also realised you weren’t sorry you bedded her— only sorry that you were caught.

The way forward? You have to find out why your marriage got to the point where you felt tempted to cheat on your wife.

Why did you encourage this woman to borrow from you without your wife’s knowledge?

Show her how sorry you are and don’t demand sex as of right. Try and win back her trust by being affectionate and genuinely sorry for what you have done.

She will eventually forgive you— but she needs time.

“Ask her if she wants more time with foreplay.

You can join in helping her to masturbate before having full sex” He hid his other children from us Dear Bunmi, I’ve been married for 16 years and we have three children. I recently learnt from a family member that my husband had a secret family who lived close to her friend’s house— and that the woman had two children for my husband.

I didn’t really believe her because she’s naturally a vicious gossip. When I told my husband about what I learnt, I was expecting him to deny it. Instead, he confessed he’s had the affair running for over 10 years— barely six years after our marriage.

Naturally, I told our children and they were as shocked as I was. I’m worried about the effect on my children if we split up but I don’t really know how to handle this. Do you? I feel so betrayed.

Queen, by e-mail.

Dear Queen, Now that your husband’s secret is out, you’ll discover

that instead of the stability you once enjoyed in your marriage, you’ll be constantly worrying about where your husband is and who he is with.

Your husband doesn’t want to be separated from his first family. If he did, he would have let the cat out of the bag sooner than now. You have to decide what you want and work through your betrayal with your kids who are obviously resentful of their father’s behaviour.

I don’t think you can ever trust your husband but how does he feel about your finding out? Did he regret his action? Promise it would never happen again? How deep is his commitment to this other family of his? Time alone would sort out this nightmare of yours.

But at the end of the day, you alone can decide what to do, especially if there are chances of him cheating again with a succession of women.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—39

OKADA BAN:

Mixed blessings in Delta (2) This is the concluding part of this report which was first published yesterday Okada riders ...before the restriction

By EMMA AMAIZE Regional Editor, South South

KADA is not the prob lem- Footballer Footballer, Ikechukwu Anayo, said: “I am a footballer, so the ban is not for somebody like me to exercise; it is not a blessing to me. I have friends who have been displaced because of this ban. Someone who was staying in Okumagba area has now been forced to relocate to the village so that he can operate his okada. Many people who earn a living riding okada are now suffering because they cannot work again.

“Is okada the problem of the people? Why should the government single out okada only as a means used by robbers? Is it only okada that causes accident?

Government's failure The Dana plane crash killed over a hundred at a time, has the government banned airplane? People use cars to rob, so the excuse is not genuine.

The government has failed to provide water, electricity and employment, people are suffering and he is adding to their pains.

Govt should build roads, bridges, create jobs: “Look at Edo State, Oshiomhole has turned the place around, yet he has not banned okada because

Blessing Oformiyan, a worker speaks on the ban.

C M Y K

Delta state he is focused, our government should focus on building bridges, roads, housing estates and create jobs, they should stop causing pains to people. Look around and see suffering everywhere, Warri looks like a desert now because many businesses have crumbled with the ban."

An undergraduate, Christopher Odamah, however, thinks otherwise. He told Vanguard: “I give kudos to the state government for the ban, many okada have been causing nuisance in the town, everywhere look calm now.

Tricycles not enough: “But the timing is wrong, the keke (tricycles) are not enough, also the buses are inadequate. Because the ban will have a lot of effect, the government would have solidified all arrangement to absorb the problem that the ban would cause. Now, many people have been pushed out of businesses, how will they fend for their families. The people whose business target were okada riders are now facing a hard time. Though the ban is helping me to exercise now, but it is not an easy thing at

all, people are complaining, the government should think of how to empower them.'

Rescind the order - Trader A trader, Mrs. Doubra Sembra, complained: “Since the ban, things have not been easy for us, we have to trek, many of the young men are suffering now. To feed is a problem to many, the government would have thought about this thing very well because these guys could turn out to become armed robbers, I think there is trouble ahead, people are suffering of flood, the government went and ban okada, it is not easy for the poor people.

“There are many people who depend on the okada for their

Mrs. Doubra Sembra

Madam Orugba Edefata.

A haulage Keke daily living; those women cooking on the roadside are now counting their losses because there are no sales again. Government should reverse the action until when they are ready for it, but for now, they are not

,

O

he is punishing them? The work of government is to give us good road, hospital free education and not to ban okada."

Okada causing more harm than good Ughelli South-based politician, Olorogun John Ewenede, stated: “I am happy that okada has been banned. I want it extended to Udu area, Ughelli and those major towns. Okada has done more harm than good, it makes many of the youths not to learn any trade or go to school because it gives them quick money. I think the government should be commended for the decision, the government has shown that they care for human capital development. People will get fitter now and healthier, we will get stronger now. Let the youths go and learn a trade. Look at Gha-

What is our crime that we should be made to suffer like this? At my age I have to trek if I am going to church and market, the ban is not good for me

ready yet, no buses, no keke and taxi drivers have increased their charges.”

Leave okada people alone An aged woman, Madam Orugba Edefata, asked: “What is our crime that we should be made to suffer like this? At my age I have to trek if I am going to church and market, the ban is not good for me. Leave the okada people alone, is it because they support Ogboru that

Keke in operation.

,

na, all the young men have one or more handiwork, they are very skilled, but here, we have vast majority of youths without any form of skill, this is not acceptable. The little problem we are facing with the ban is a teething problem, which we will overcome soon. People hate change, but in the long run, they will adjust to it, I thank the governor for this policy.”

40—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

From right: USA Consular General, Nigeria, Mr. Jeff Hawkins; Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Adewale and Political Officer, US Consulate, Mr. Ben Lazarus, during Jeff Hawkins' visit to Amuwo Odofin Local Government Secretariat, Festac Town, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Professor Pat Utomi of the Pan African University (left) and Lagos State Medical Guild chairman, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, at the annual general meeting/conference of the medical continuing education of the guild in Lagos.

ACN chieftain advises Oshiomhole on industrialisation

Presidency: PDP faults Wada on 2015

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—THE ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has frowned at the call by Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, on the NorthWest zone of the party to start working for the 2015 presidency, sayiny it was in breach of its directives that elected members should focus on their promises to the electorate in 2011.

Apparently miffed over

the alleged disobedience of its directive on the 2015 campaigns, by the governor, the PDP, also warned him to ensure that his perfornace in office guarrantees its victory in the state in 2015.

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, said: “I believe the Kogi State governor must have been misquoted. Kogi is one state that we directed to ensure that the perform-

ance of the governor should win us election again. The governor should direct his energy and attention on ensuring that his people are satisfied with his performance in office. That should be his priority at this point and not 2015. ‘’We do not want any distraction at this point and nobody should deviate from what we are doing. This is not time for politics, this is

time for performance.’’

Wada ruffled feathers in the party, when he asked other party members in his zone to brace up for the challenges ahead and work for the 2015 presidency.

Wada who addressed party leaders from the zone in Abuja, challenged the PDP members from the area not to dilly-dally as the time to start preparations for the election so as not to be taken unawares, was now.

Delta govt demolishes tipper park in Warri

BY EMMAARUBI ARRI—FOLLOW ING the order of the Delta State Governor, authorities of Warri South Local Government Area, the tipper park on the Ugbuwangue/NPA expressway has been demolished. Meanwhile, the executives of the garage has protested the demolition exercise.

In a protest letter addressed to the council boss

by Chairman of the park, Mr. Daniel Amiteyekpa, the tipper operators expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s move against the only tipper garage in Warri, noting that the land was allocated to them through a Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, letter

W

with reference No.FMHUD/DT/URD/ BPA/46.

The tipper operators, who said that they were ready to dialogue with the gov-

ernment on the issue, noted that they can not afford to increase the cost of a tipper load of sand with N5000 at the moment due

Bi-Courtney: Ogun returns works yard to RCC

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A G O S — B A R E LY nine days after the Federal Government terminated the N120 billion concessioning contract for the reconstruction and maintenance of the LagosIbadan Expressway to BiCourtney Highway Services, the works yard allegedly seized from BiCourtney by the Ogun

State Government has been returned to RCC. The Federal Government announced the termination of the contract as well as the re-awarding of same to Juliu Berger and RCC, although the details of the new contracts were not made public. The government cited non-performance as reasons for its ac-

L

tion but the concessionnaire disputed it.

However, there were indications yesterday, that the RCC had already moved their equipment into the former Bi-Courtney Yard.

Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun was earlier quoted as having said that he would build a trailer park there.

Software AG partners Northern Spark on EBPM software

L

AGOS—SOFTWARE AG, a leader in Busi-

ness Process Technologies and Northern Spark Lim-

US Consular General visits Amuwo Odofin LG AGOS—THE Consu lar General of US Embassy, Lagos, Mr. Jeff Hawkins, recently paid a visit to Amuwo Odofin Local Government area for the purpose of pursuing mutual prime development.

The choice of Amuwo Odofin according to the Consular General was based on the strong reputation of its current government led by Mr. Ayodele Adewale.

to their relocation from Warri South and requested for an urgent meeting with the government to resolve the matter.

Mr. Jeff Hawkins, who said the US consulate is interested in local government development in Nigeria, gave an impressive scorecard of the present administration in Amuwo Odofin.

In a media chart after a tour of facilities and projects in the council secretariat, the Consular said: “What I have seen on ground today in this council area is indeed impressive, and has

further strengthened our resolve to work towards the development of local governments in Nigeria, that is why we want a good knowledge of their administration.”

The council chairman, Mr. Ayodele Adewale on his part stated that the international relations his government is building with various advanced economies of the world is for sustainable development.

ited recently organised a seminar on Achieving Business Process Excellence with Software AG’s Enterprise Software.

The seminar brought together participants from financial institutions, multinationals, government agencies and academia, to understudy how some of the current challenges facing Nigerian business corporations can be overcome through the use of Enterprise Business Process Management ,EBPM Software and transform business faster with Business Process Excellence.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN CITY—A chieftan of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Odaro Ize-Omoregie, yesterday, advised Governor Adams Oshiomhole to encourage public/private partnership in the waste management unit with a view to create employment in that sector.

Omoregie who urged the state government to focus on reviving ailing industries in the state, noted that the Oshiomhole administration had laid solid foundation in terms of

B

infrastructural development, therefore stressed the need to focus on industries so as to create employment for youths of the state.

He said: “The Governor has laid the foundation for development and we commend him for that. But in this second term, I want to advise that he should create an environment whereby youths of the state will be self employed by creating and encouraging vocational studies after which they can be given soft loans to start their businesses."

Private Jet: Rep expresses surprise, backs Oritsejafor

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ARRI—THE media generated controversy over the propriety or otherwise of the ownership of a private jet by the current President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the founder of the Warri-based Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has been described as most unnecessary and diversionary.

Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, in a telephone chat, the member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju said: “Since when has ownership of pri-

vate jets by leaders in the Christendom become an issue in the world, Nigeria inclusive.

“Particularly in Nigeria, I am aware that there are some individual Christian leaders, who own private jet, and such has not generated any fuss.”

The lawmaker explained that those making issues out of the recent owning of jet by Pastor Oritsejafor cannot fain ignorance of the fact that major airports in Nigeria, “particularly in Lagos and Abuja are littered by privately owned jets and many of such owners include religious leaders."

Crawford varsity partners Israeli Institute on hi-tech

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G B E S A — CRAWFORD University, Igbesa, Ogun State, licensed by National Universities Commission, NUC, is partnering with Galilee International Management Institute, Israel, for a world class, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical and Marketing companies.

The programme would attract the presence of Israeli management experts to the university to teach courses on High Tech Proc-

esses in Banking, Food, Chemical and Pharmaceutical, Insurance and Risk Management, Telecommunications and Industrial Management.

According to the ViceChancellor, Crawford University, Professor S. A. Ayanlaja, "this is going to be a highly beneficial programme for all companies, organisations, and individuals, since Israel is known to be one of the best Science-Tech countries of the world.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 41

42—Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

FG sacks Onagoruwa, DG BPE Continues from Page 12

All the others suffered a short lived tenure, including the first DG of the Bureau, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, who was later elevated to a minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime.

Whether full term or short-lived, all the Bureau’s bosses were enmeshed in controversies, associated with their handling of the privatisation process.

Although he was later appointed a minister, el Rufai’s tenure 1999 – 2003, was controversial arising from the sale of NITEL to Pentascope, which allegedly cost Nigeria about N100 billion in revenues.

Dr. Julius Bala, who took over from him as the second DG, 2003 – 2005, was sacked “for giving approval to Folio Communication Limited for the illegal sale of assets

of Daily Times Nigeria Plc.” Chigbue’s term between 2005 and-2009, did not go hitch free, as there were allegations that state-owned telecoms company NITEL, national aluminium company ALSCOM, and stateowned newspaper the Daily Times, were sold in controversy.

She was replaced by Dr Christopher Anyanwu in 2009, who, after only one year in office, was relieved of his appointment over the sale of NITEL for $2.5billion to New Generation Telecoms.

The new man, Dikki Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, was until his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan as the acting Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the Director of

Industries and Services at the BPE. Born on December 30, 1958, Dikki is a 1980 accounting graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He also holds an M.B.A from ABU. He joined the BPE as a Director on December 1, 2004 and has served in many departments, starting as Director of Power and Communications. He has also served as Director (Finance and Management Support); Director (Transport and Aviation); and Director (Communications and Capital Market).

He was licensed as a stockbroker in June 1993.

Dikki has attended several courses and seminars in Nigeria and abroad. He is married with three biological children and adopted ones. He is from Zuru local government area of Kebbi State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 43

OSUN 2014:

Battle looms that the PDP was favouring a particular candidate for the gubernatorial ticket.

The recent movement involved close to 8,000 PDP members led by Chief Adekunle Oluawo, a former Chairman of the State Water Corporation under the administration of Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Among those who moved with him were Hon Rasheed Olaolu (Ede North); Hon Akeem Kajogbola (Ede South); Dr. Adedokun Ademola (Egbedore); Chief Akinyemi Amos (Ejigbo); Hon Abidogun (Ayedire); Hon Ogunmodede (Olaoluwa).

Others included Moshood Oluawo (Ifelodun); Sulaimon Ayantoye (Ayedaade); Dr. Omisore Ayo (Ife East); Ezekiel Adebiyi (Atakumosa West); Dr. Ayotunde Omisore among others.

They were received into the fold of ACN by Governor Rauf Aregbesola supported by other chieftains of the party

2014 is still far away for many, but not so for Osun State political gladiators who are quietly drawing strategies for what promises to be an epic gubernatorial contest.

W

ITH just two years to the governorship election in Osun State, the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are gearing up to outwit one another in the coming election.

Following the removal of the immediate past governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola from office in 2009, the state chapter of the PDP it once seemed would be steeped in lethargy.

It was perhaps a reflection of their estimation of the poor fortunes of the PDP that a number of senior officials of the party recently decamped from the party to the ruling ACN.

I

cannot forget the memo rable lesson on public policy and service I took away from a meeting with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole earlier this month.

In a session with some journalists a week or so before his second term inauguration as governor of Edo State, the man popularly referred to in Benin as the comrade governor spoke on the conscious choices he is making in governance.

Noting the relatively modest furnishing in the Government House where the meeting took place, and against the background of the acclaimed success he has made in roads reconstructions, Oshiomhole said: “I have not built any road in what is generally called the GRA where the big people reside and that is a conscious decision. I have chosen to put public resources in those depressed neighbourhoods where the forgotten majority reside,” the governor explained.

It is thus a pity that this commendable attitude of directing public policy towards the betterment of the majority of the populace is now in serious reverse across the different tiers of government.

Indeed in political circles the defection to the ACN on Tuesday 13th November 2012 at the open field of Government Technical College, Osogbo has set tongues wagging about the fortunes of the party.

The defection was the second major movement of politicians from the PDP to ACN in recent time after the Chief of Staff to then Governor Oyinlola, Elder Adebayo Babalola dumped the party along with his supporters for the ACN in the early days of the Aregbesola administration.

The exercise shook the PDP to the foundation as it was hardly expected. It also affected the fortunes of PDP in the 2011 general elections because the party was unable to win any of the state and federal legislative seats from

*Oyinlola: Immediate past governor the state.

Babalola’s movement was in

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com SMS 08052201189

Private Plane: Oshiomhole’s Choices It is this lack of consciousness in helping the majority of the populace that has made several governors to focus on building Government Houses at great cost above other felt needs of the citizenry.

Elaborating, Oshiomhole said: “I had the choice to build an ultra modern government house, “befitting” for the first family but I would rather prefer to build an ultra modern hospital which is currently under construction where majority of the people can have access to, rather than a government house where they will be locked out. Again, it is the cost of choice.”

It is not as if the good things of life are lacking in the Oshiomhole Government House but the conscious choice of the Edo governor in channel-

ing public resources towards easing the condition of the majority of the population is one lesson that is so much lacking in governance in many other places.

Governors that have not taken the choice to rebuild the Government House where they live have resorted to buying private planes for themselves. The excuses being given by their paid and indirectly paid apologists are simply prosaic.

Given the financial distress in the land it is not only unviable and financially burdensome to buy and maintain private planes for governors, it also helps to dislocate the governors from thier day to day duties. Only a governor who believes that he has to be in Abuja every week or out of

the wake of mutterings before the Court of Appeal judgment

the country every other week that would contemplate such.

Humility is also lacking in the consideration.

With frequent trips to Abuja or journeys abroad in deceitful search for foreign investors, it is no surprise that many of the governors do not have a feeling of the agonies of their citizens. A governor should preoccupy himself with the issues affecting his citizens and regularly go round the state to have a feeling of the road situation. He should enjoy or suffer the

,

BY DAPO AKINREFON

The presidential air fleet is estimated to have about eight aircraft in a country where there is no national carrier

,

roads with the citizens. But when he hops in and out of the plane, he flies above the terrain and is removed from the pains of the citizens.

This attitude is simply not restricted to the governors.

Continues on page 47

The presidential air fleet is estimated to have about eight aircraft in a country where there is no national carrier.

It is not in the consideration of the authorities that even more endowed countries do not pamper their elected officials as is done here.

Few in power believe that directing public policy towards meeting the needs of the majority should be the raison detre for government.

It is apparently this failure to comprehend the public need that has motivated the federal administration towards its controversial plot to purchase aircraft for Nigeria’s private airlines. The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah who started with so much public goodwill is unfortunately throwing much away in her seemingly desperate effort to satisfy a minute proportion of the citizenry.

There is no doubt that a great majority of Nigerians would rather prefer that the funds being channeled into the controversial aircraft scheme be channeled towards more significant public needs. But pitiably, because the poor are not in their minds, they would not. What a pity.

44 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012—47

ANIOMA:

Quest for self identity

A CAMPAIGN to integrate parts of Anambra State with the proposed Anioma State draws resentment from some agitators west of the Niger.

BY EMMA AMAZIE, SOUTH-SOUTH REGIONAL EDITOR

A

NIOMA Voice, a pressure group representing the Anioma nation in Delta state is kicking against alleged moves by some within and outside the Anioma region to merge some parts of Anambra State with the proposed Anioma State.

In opposing the proposed merger which aims to integrate Onitsha and Ogbaru communities east of River Niger with the proposed Anioma State, the Anioma Voice say that such a relationship is alien to them.

“It will be, therefore, be a disingenuous political machination for the States Creation Committee to adopt or attempt to adopt these anti people proposal made by these few self- centered individuals and group of persons, as a true reflection of the wishes of the Anioma people,” the group said in a position paper articulated by Comrade Greg Cypreal and other leaders of the zone.

The Anioma leaders thus urged the National Assembly not to ever contemplate making the proposed Anioma State a South -Eastern state without any consideration of

Continues from page 43 led by the Acting Chairman, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo.

geography or differences in language, culture and tradition.

“Such a move would introduce more grievous problems within and outside Anioma,” the group said.

The group said that even more disheartening was the unacceptable proposal to exclude Igbanke from the proposed Anioma state.

Rather than incorporate odd bedfellows, it argued that Igbanke, an Ibo speaking part of Edo State should rather be allowed to join their kith and kin in Anioma.

According to the group, “Anioma either by history, culture, geography, or political aspirations, has never been part of the South East. Granted that a greater majority of Aniomas speak Ibo language, but it is Ibo language of a unique and distinct variety, which developed out of inter-ethnic relationship, not as an origin.

The dissimilarities between Anioma and Ibos of the South East are quite striking. It is much like the Ibo people of River State.”

It stated, “The devious proposal to locate the proposed Anioma State in the South East geopolitical zone contrary to all available evidence, both natural and

man-made, which clearly indicate otherwise.

We find nothing that could

OSUN 2014:

have given rise to this unwholesome machination other than political exigency

Battle looms

Aregbesola’s second term

However, of the lot Senator Iyiola Omisore and Chief Fatai Akinbade seem to be the more favoured.

The PDP contenders

Akinbade Akinbade, the erstwhile Secretary to the State Government during the seven year tenure of the Oyinlola administration was also at one time chairman of the party in the state.

In the two positions, Akinbade was able to muster much goodwill and dispense favour, developments that made him closer to the grassroots.

He is also said to be very popular both within and outside of the party and is regarded as humble, personable and accessible.

Omisore The former deputy governor of the state, former chairman of senate committee on appropriation is known to have structures in all the 30

The now open secret that Aregbesola would seek a second term in office has not in any way deterred the aspiration of PDP members to slug it out with him in 2014.

Indeed, perceptions around the state of non-performance hanging on the ACN administration is even making the contest for the PDP ticket tougher.

Indeed, the PDP is not resting on its oars to give the ruling party a run for its money and has retooled its structure and machinery to tackle the ruling party.

It has especially positioned itself to act as a formidable opposition and it is no surprise that the party is almost always keen to join issues with the ruling party.

*Aregbesola: Incumbent Remarkably, many of the aspirants who were in the race before the Appeal Court judgment in 2010 are preparing themselves for another run.

Among them are Mr. Tunde

and a plot by these selfish and power drunk individuals to create an environment that would suit their selfish acts and continues to make them relevant”.

“The proposal to smuggle Onitsha and Ogbaru communities into the proposed Anioma State is also hereby rejected by us. We state that we have no political relationship with these communities and therefore such amount to a miscarriage of justice on the majority of Anioma people and an attempt to extend the expansionist agenda of the South East beyond the Niger using some of their Anioma benefactors.

“Finally, we also vehemently reject any recommendation aimed at retaining our Igbanke kith and kin in Edo State where they are made to live like tenants in their own land.

Igbanke is of Anioma ancestry, and over the years they have expressed their desire to rejoin their kith and kin in Anioma. We, therefore, do not expect anything less.

Indeed anything short of returning Igbanke to the proposed Anioma State shall be deemed a denial of their identity, which in itself is worst than political genocide.

Aniomas here represented, shall resist any attempt that deviates from the above three(3) points with every conceivable means within the ambit of law at our disposal”, Anioma Voice asserted.

*Omisore: Gearing up Odanye, ex-Aviation Minister, Chief Femi FaniKayode, Prof. Wale Oladipo; Fatai Sarumi, Lati Bakare, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Chief Fatai Akinbade.

local councils areas of the state aside from enjoying the sympathy of majority of the elders of the party who believe that he is one candidate that would give the ACN flagbearer a run for his money.

While he is currently garnering support from all and sundry, the Ife born politician who is known for pursuing his ambitions irrespective of whatever inhibitions, is undoubtedly going to be a deciding factor in the days ahead.

But even more than any other thing in deciding the fortunes of the party in 2014 would be matter of unity. It is no surprise that Omisore and some other party elders have been working round the clock to mend fences and soothe egos wherever they are found.

For many in the PDP, the belief is that if Aregbesola could do it from outside, indeed, it can still be repeated.

48 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

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50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Nnenyin Alison Attah (1938-2012): e pluribus unum

By BARR JOE UKPONG

A

S Nnenyin Alison Garland Valentina Attah (nee Julian Coleman), the affable late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State (1999-2003) is soon to be buried, it becomes pertinent to expose at least, in parts, the life of this great lady and humanist. She was a citizen of the world: born in Barbados (a beautiful Island of about 284,589 people by 2009 estimate, 431 km2 in land size with Bridgetown as capital city), educated in United Kingdom and married to •Nnenyin Alison Attah an African. She was a librarian by pro- after the trip. Throughout the trip, she fession and kind-hearted by nature. did not carry herself as the First Lady As First Lady, she founded the Child at all. She always served us, instead Development Trust, CDT, and via this of waiting to be served. My birthday vehicle, she silently but effectively (June 3) met us in Hong Kong. She touched numerous lives and gave showed concern and joked with me hope to many. Her approach was not affectionately during the marking of lousy, but the impact was positively the birthday. felt. Nnenyin was a lesson in humiliWhen I later became Commissionty, hard-work, simplicity and love of er for Environment, I once again tasthumanity. ed this quality of hers. My Ministry As a First Lady, she neither threw had trucks which she regularly needher weight around nor interfered in ed for Government House purchases Government affairs. She had no in Lagos. She would plead so earanointed aspirants/candidates during nestly with me anytime she needed nomination exercise. She favoured it - something she could just ask for none for appointments and God-moth- with an air of finality as the Goverered no one for positions. She just did nor’s wife. But not so with this highly not play politics in any manner. To her, civilized Lady. She would plead as if everything had to be done on the ba- I could say ‘NO’ . sis of merit, fairness, equity and good As the curtains fall on her life on conscience. earth and Akwa-Ibom people, other She was simply un-lobbyable. She Nigerians and non Nigerians alike did not desire political structures. She are acquiring various uniforms to had no interest in who occupied juicy mourn her passage, I weep for Akwaposts as she did not crave for ‘settle- Ibom State as we loose such an anment’ and cared less on who execut- gel. I join other well meaning people ed government contracts as ‘kickback’ to commiserate with the chief mournwas not her portion. Little wonder that er, Arc (Obong) Victor Attah, the visionary and immensely She favoured none for appointments loved exand God-mothered no one for posiGovernor of Akwa Ibom tions. She just did not play politics in State, ex-naany manner tional president of the throughout her eight years of First la- Nigerian Institution of Architects; dyship in Akwa Ibom State, she was Trustee of PDP, a man who fought for not involved in any scandal to cause the good life that is being enjoyed by embarrassment to herself, husband or the people of South South geo-politthe state as a whole. Her passion was ical zone through enhanced Derivato always pray for the success of her tion Principle. husband’s government, peace in To my much-pained and couraAkwa Ibom state. geous brother, Dr Udoma Ekarika (the God answered all these prayers. son-inlaw), I say take heart. I know it She always offered well thought-out hurts. But can you argue with God? advice to her husband. She ensured To the entire Attah clan of Akwa Ibom that her children (Felicia and Chris- State, which is admirably led by Protopher) acquitted themselves appro- fessor Edward B. Attah, a world-renowned medical consultant and trainpriately.

Her humility was striking. In 2002, er of medical doctors, I mourn with as Special Adviser on Special Projects you all. Be proud that you brought to the Governor, I was privileged to such a benign lady to Nigeria by martravel with her and her husband to riage to answer your family name.

China, Hong Kong and Germany in POTUS. Were humans allowed to be connection with the Akwa Ibom In- First Ladies in Heaven, Nnenyin dependent Power Plant and meeting would surely qualify as one, not by with SINOPEC, the Chinese oil gi- my wish Hut due to her qualities and ant. I then came face to face with her the impartial nature of almighty God. humility. Travelling with somebody is Nnenyin, Tie-Sung.

•Barr Ukpong served as Special one sure way of knowing the person better. Hitherto friendly people who Adviser and later, Commissioner for travelled together have been known Environment when Arc (Obong) Atto fallout with each other during or tah was Governor of Akwa-Ibom State

•Anambra State Governor and Visitor to the state university, Peter Obi, and the Chancellor, Orhue 1, the Orodje of Okpe kingdom, at the installation

Okpe Monarch mounts the saddle as Chancellor of Anambra Varsity

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

T

HE Orodje of Okpe Kingdom in Del ta State, HRM Orhue I, was last week installed the Chancellor of the Anambra State University, Uli at an impressive ceremony attended by many academicians and traditional rulers from various parts of the country. The Orodje was also awarded han onorary doctorate degree in law, LL.D of the university, along with the former Registrar of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike and former vice chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Professor Sylvanus Cookie whose award was received by his son, Sylvanus Cookie Jr. The impressive ceremony also witnessed the conferment of bachelors and higher degrees to about 2000 persons who completed their studies in the institution. The Orodje, who performed his first assignment as the Chancellor of the institution after his installation by the Pro-chancellor of the university, Professor Elochukwu Amaucheazi, expressed gratitude to Governor Peter Obi, who is the Visitor to the university, for finding him worthy and credible to be appointed the chancellor.

He said: “I give God the glory for the privilege of the consideration by the university authority and approval of the appointment by the Visitor to the university, Mr. Peter Obi. I feel particularly honoured to address this unique convocation in my capacity as the Chancellor. It is also with great pride and high sense of humility and personal fulfillment that I stand before you to perform my first official function at this very colourful ceremony.”

A

fter speeches by the vice chancellor, the pro-chancellor and the governor, the new chancellor, to the delight of the mammoth audience, admitted over 2000 persons who had completed their postgraduate and undergraduate studies, as graduates of Anambra State University.

The Orodje said: “Today’s event ushers in another phase in the history of development of this university as it witnesses the fourth convocation ceremony for the conferment of degrees on deserving students of the university, who have been found worthy in character and learning. My perception of education is that it helps in liberating the mind, expanding horizon, developing potentials and dismantling myopic thoughts and undue individualism.

“It is through education and all its attendant advantages that made it possible for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an illustrious indigene of Anambra State, to liberate his mind from

myopic ideas and undue individualism.

The great Zik saw and developed the bigger and larger map of social and growth of Nigeria and indeed Africa. To the graduates, by your learning and experience, we expect you to turn yourselves to activities of a new socio-political order through the quality of your thought processes, your exemplary conduct and the nobility of your deeds. It is my humble belief and ardent prayer that the mission and vision of this institution on the Nigerian project are achievable in Jesus name –Amen.”

Governor Peter Obi had during a courtesy call on him by the Orodje at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka, before the convocation, said the choice of the Orhue 1 for the position of Chancellor of the university was because of his credibility. Indeed, the search for a credible replacement for the former Chancellor of the university, Eze Clifford Nwuche, the Igbu Ukpata 11 of Ahoada Kingdom in Rivers State, who joined his ancestors last year, took Anambra State government and authorities of the university over two years.

Names pencilled for chancellorship Many names were put forward, including those the governor knew and did not know and eventually when the name of Orodje of Okpe Kingdom was mentioned, Governor Obi knew that he had found the right person. He thereafter sent his commissioner for education, Dr. Uju Okeke and the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Fidelis Okafor to Okpe Kingdom to “beg him to accept the nomination.”

The governor told the Orodje: “For two years, we have been searching for a credible replacement for our former Chancellor, the late Eze Nwuche from Rivers State. To me, the Chancellor of a university should be somebody who merits it. Your choice was not based on any bias. Rather, it was those who were very credible in the society that recommended you. Your choice is to help us reshape the university and bring it to limelight and we therefore want you to use your wealth of experience to build a better university. As your son, I will always welcome your advice.”

The visitor to the university, Governor Obi, who was elated at the calibre of personalities the Orodje attracted to the convocation ceremony, promised to increase the tempo of infrastructural development at the two campuses of the university at Igbariam and Uli. According to him, the investment to be witnessed in the university in the next one year would make it one of the best in the country.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — 51

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Minister throws Sports Festival open T

HE Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi has said that subsequent editions of the National Sports Festival would now be open to all athletes, be it foreignbased or local to compete for medals.

Speaking during the Opening Ceremony of the 18th National Sports Festival, Eko 2012 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos yesterday, Abdullahi, said the decision to throw future festivals open to all athletes, was informed on the need to allow the nations best athletes to compete and bring out the best from them.

“Future editions of the National Sports Festival will now be open to all our athletes. This will encourage a keener competition from the athletes and make our

O

LURANTI Lajide, the Table Tennis Chief Referee at the 18th National Sports Festival which began on Tuesday in Lagos has warned against gambling at the venue of the competition.

Lajide handed down the warning on Tuesday at a meeting with the

various states’ team leaders for the festival held at the Knock-Up Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

“Any table tennis players or official caught gambling within the arena of the table tennis competition would be disqualified.

Lagos, Abia Continues from B/P

FOOD BASKET . . . Benue State contingent at the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 201‘2 displaying their state slogan as the Food Basket of the Nation. Photo: Henry Unini sports better ”, said Abdulahhi, in his keynote address at the occasion.

The implication of this is that the likes of London Olympics 100m finalist, Blessing Okagbare and African tennis legend, Segun Toriola can compete at the festival if they want

to. This is what all our sports technocrats of repute have been clamouring for. This view was resonated by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan at the Delta State Sports Summit, where he called for the National Sports Festival to be thrown open to all

athletes, irrespective of their status or where they are based.

In fact, most of the speakers at the Summit held in Asaba, recently, were of the view that limiting the festival to home-based and amateurs was not going to do our sports any good.

ANOCA names DBN consultant T

HE Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has appointed DBN Sports as its marketing consultant for all its programes for an initial period of four years, renewable on the basis of performance.

The agreement stipulates that DBN will be responsible for marketing all ANOCA activities, with a view to getting adequate funding for such events like the All Africa Games, the Africa Olympic Village, the African Youth Games, the

Table Tennis bans gambling

•Sonny ANOCA Games for Seniors and the Olympic Africa Project.

ANOCA said in a letter signed by its President, Lassana Palenfo and

Beware of Carroll clash.

— Rooney league Rooney knows

W

the pony-tailed powerhouse well from England duty and says his defensive colleagues must be mindful of the £35million man’s capabilities.

The United ace said: “Andy Carroll is a handful."

AYNE ROONEY has warned his Manchester United teammates: Beware Andy Carroll.

Burly striker Carroll is expected to line up for West Ham as the East Londoners head to Old Trafford for tonight’s

SUPER EAGLES vs TEAM NOLLYWOOD

4 Days To Go!!! @

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addressed to the Chairman and President of of DBN Ltd, Mr Osa Sonny Adun, that the foremost Nigerian sports marketing and television station was chosen as its consultant based on the strong pitch it made and the immense track record of proven prowess in sports marketing over the years. “Following your presentation to the ANOCA Executive Board on June 26, 2011 in Lome, Togo, on

marketing opportunities open to ANOCA activities and products and after a careful study of the capacity of DBN Ltd to leverage such activities and products with a view to sourcing, generating and securing new revenue streams worldwide for the adequate funding of ANOCA youth and sports development projects and programmes amongst others on the African continent.

Police Continues from B/P during an interview.

“The command is set for the festival; about 1,500 officers would be deployed to various games centres across the state, while about 18,000 others would serve in the general security duties in the state.

“The Police is not providing security for the festival alone; the military, as well as the para-military agencies are all involved.

“We all have some understanding on our various roles,” Brown said.

NAN, on Tuesday, observed some heavily armed military men keeping watch on people entering and leaving the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, ahead of the opening ceremony.

NAN also reports that some para-military personnel were seen controlling traffic alongside some officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority in the Surulere area of the metropolis.

The sports festival holds in Lagos from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

clash with Enugu State at the Agege Stadium.

In other matches in the women’s categoy, Ogun will play Edo while Imo and Lagos slug it out in the last match of the day.

FOOTBALL MALE Lagos vs Abia Onikan

4 p.m WOMEN FOOTBALL Ak. Ibom vs Osun Agege 8.00 a.m Benue vs Enugu Agege 12.00 Ogun vs Edo Agege 2 p.m Imo vs Lagos Agege 4 p.m

Team Lagos Continues from B/P the visitors 2-0, in the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged Eko 2012.

Ayoleke Solomon opened the score sheet for the Team Lagos in the 35th minutes of first half, while Ochucko sealed the victory in the second half of the game, as the team amassed the three maximum points from the visiting Team Kastina.

Speaking after the match, the goal scorers enthused their feelings towards the team feat, they said they are ready to take on any team and win gold for Lagos State.

The central defender, Solomon Ayoleke said, “It was a good game and our tactical ability and hard work earned us the victory. I must say Kastina are very good side packed with lots of creativity

Cycling Continues from B/P performance from the beginning of the race held at Eric Moore Road, Surulere. He won the gold medal at the expense of Enoruwa Marvis of Ogun state who settled for the silver just as Issa Mohammed of Kaduna State won the bronze.

In the female category, Oyo State cyclist, Durogbade Joke against all odds recorded the first gold for the state after defeating Juliet Akaegbu of Rivers State in the keenly contested finals of the 200m event while Clara Enadogbor of Delta State picked the bronze medal.

Speaking shortly after the race, Osim noted that he came to Lagos to win four gold medals even as he promised that he will not disappoint the Government of Rivers State that invested

heavily in in him and sports development generally. “ I am here to defend the titles I won at the last sports Festival in Port Harcourt and I will not disappoint “My target is to win four gold medals at the Games because I want to show the whole Nigerians that Rivers State is the best cycling state in the country.

Silver medalist at the cycling event, Enoruwa Marvis born of Edo parentage declared that he decided to represent Ogun State at the festival as a way of repaying the state’s magnanimity towards him.

He told our correspondent, that he would have loved to represent his home state but decided to dump them because they have done little or nothing to encourage athletes to excel.

Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

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Mikel fears Benitez axe —P28 Page 52

Oyo, Rivers win Cycling gold

Eko 2012:

BY JACOB AJOM

Police deploy 19,000 for Sports Festival

O

YO and Rivers states yesterday announced their r intentions to top the medals table at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival by winning gold medals in the male and female 200 meters cycling races.

Edward Osim representing Rivers put up a superlative Continues on Page 52

Team Lagos beat Katsina 2-0

G

OALS from Bolowotan striker, Ochuko Jacob and Soccer Warrior Academy Defender, Ayoleke Solomon gave Lagos State football Male team the victory against Kastina as they piped

Continues on Page 52 TODAY'S

CHAMPION’S STUFF . . . First Gold Medalist, Edward Wonder Osim of Rivers State after clinching the Gold in cycling 200msprint y e s t e r d a y.

Photo: Henry Unini

T

HE Lagos State Police Command says it has deployed 19,000 officers and men to provide security in

the state during the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF).

Mr Vincent Brown, the Assistant

Commissioner of Police (ACP) Operations, Lagos State Command, disclosed this to NAN Continues on Page 52

Lagos, Abia clash F

OOTBALL matches will continue today in both male and female categories at the Onikan and Agege stadiums.

In the men’s football Lagos will take on Abia State in the male football category at the Onikan Stadium. Lagos defeated

PUZZLE

Katsina 2-0 in their opening match while Abia State team was walked over by Delta.

In the women’s category, Akwa Ibom will lock horns with Osun state while Benue will

Continues on Page 52 YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Team Lagos marching at the opening ceremoning of the 18th National Sport Festival yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi DOWN ACROSS 2 Put (5) 1 Goad (4) 3 Yacht-meeting (7) 4 Wicked (3) 4 Stopper (4) 6 Inclined (4) 5 Moist (4) 8 Allowance (6) 6 Assessed (5) 9 Ripe (6) 7 Wed (7) 10 Breach (3) 11 Wonder (3) 12 Demise (5) 12 Immerse (3) 14 Confess (5) 15 Domesticated (5) 13 Owns (3) 16 Encountered (3) 18 Delight (6) 17 Delve (3) 20 Hinder (6) 19 Relaxation (7) 24 Animal (5) 21 Males (3) 26 Emulate (5) 22 Supply (7) 28 Famous (5) 23 Finish (3) 30 Cunning (3) 25 Sick (3) 32 Noble (6) 27 Entertain (5) 33 Dismount (6) 29 Anaesthetic (5) 34 Yield (4) 30 Agitate (4) 35 Manage (3) 31 Story (4) 36 Deserve (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 2, Asset 7, Trust 8, Rigid 10, Taped 12, Lad 13, Tacit 15, Refused 17, Adored 19, Fat 20, Defined 23, Les 25, Deal 26, Revoked 30, Dad 31, Decide 34, Debated 37, Limit 38, Cat 39, Duvet 40, Waned 41, Teeth 42, Sewed.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Broad 2, Astir 3, Stated 4, Ever 5, Diluted 6, Ridder 9, Gas 11, Defiled 13, Tally 14, Cover 16, Fan 18, Decoded 21, Denim 22, Fleet 24, Sedated 27, Vat 28, Delete 29, Decay 32, Cited 33, Dirty 35, Ban 36, Dupe

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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