Why I fired service chiefs, by Jonathan by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 62068

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

FG to hike gas price by 50%

BOKO HARAM ATTACK: Borno, Adamawa death toll rises to 138

P.9

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Evacuation of my poultry wicked

— Enugu Deputy Gov P.14

COLUMNISTS:

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TERROR ATTACK—Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State, yesterday, inspecting a burnt mosque and some houses after Sunday's attack by a terror group in Kawuri, Konduga LGA of the state, where about 85 persons died and 300 houses destroyed. Below: Governor Shettima visits some victims of the attack in the hospital. Photos: NAN & Inusa Ndahi.

Why I fired service chiefs, by Jonathan

•P.38 BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & BEN AGANDE

OLA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said that he sacked the immediate past service chiefs because of unhealthy competition which made it possible

Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

....In recent times some mutual cooperation among the service chiefs and personnel have been lacking. This time around, we will not tolerate any unnecessary competition that would be retrogressive to this country

GOVT SHUTDOWN: APC Segun Okeowo of Reps stall 2014 Budget Ali must go fame 5

dies at 73

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POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being received by Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako on the President's arrival at the Yola International Airport, for a one-day working visit to Adamawa State, Yesterday.

SHUTDOWN: APC Reps stall 2014 Budget BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

AGOS—THE threat by the All Progressives Congress, APC to shut down the Federal Government got

underway, yesterday, as the House of Representatives deferred debate on the 2014 budget

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

OUR work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle — Steve Jobs “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” Steve Jobs says that this quote made an impression on him. “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, he knows that something needs changing. Remembering that our lives on earth is not permanent is most important tool in helping to make big choices in life. Because almost everything, all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of this truth, leaving only what is truly important. This knowing helps to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already open in acceptance of this reality. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

proposals of the Federal Government. Besides, APC members in a show of muscle, also shut out their Peoples Democratic Party, PDP colleagues from having a say in motions presented on the floor of the House yesterday. It was, however, a more dramatic development in the Senate where the PDP holds a slim majority. While APC members had their say, and lambasted the 2014 budget as anti-people and the worst budget outlay in recent years, the PDP majority nevertheless had its way in

advancing the budget towards debate. One PDP senator, Enyinnanya Abaribe in taunting his APC colleagues, called for fasttracking the budget in the same way as the APC controlled Rivers State passed the 2014 budget in under one hour. Also yesterday, the APC rejected claims that its senators flouted its resolution on the shut down of the Federal Government. The party in a statement made available to Vanguard said it did not ask for a boycott, but for the blockage of executive bills

and the 2014 budget in particular. Though House spokesman, Zakari Mohammed had last week promised that the 2014 budget would come up for consideration this week, there were no indications, yesterday, that debate on the budget would come up for consideration this week, usually reliable sources disclosed.

APC lawmakers in show of power Before the commencement of sitting, yesterday, APC lawmakers had a caucus meeting, where their plans were apparently laid out. At that meeting the members had allegedly vowed to show their strength as majority on the floor, and they so proved it once the House resorted into plenary at the end of the caucus meeting. A source who attended the APC meeting told Vanguard that “ we are going to use wisdom to manage the directive our leaders gave to us but definitely executive bills will suffer.

“We are ready to face our PDP counterparts in any form on the floor of the House that I can assure you,” the member said. A motion entitled: “Urgent need to assist the victims of a fire disaster in Rumuwoji Market in Port Harcourt, Rivers State”, sponsored by Rep Blessing Nsiegbe, APC, Rivers State became a battle ground for strength as APC members shut out their PDP colleagues from amending or altering the prayers. An amendment seconded by Rep Bitrus Kaze, PDP, was shot down by the legislators. Members also took consideration of the fact that Kaze is the leader of the National Unity Group, NUG, a pro-Jonathan pressure group which only last Monday vowed to show the strength of the PDP in the House. Also, an attempt by Rep Friday Itulah, PDP, Edo State to amend the motion to allow a special delegation to visit the victims was shouted down by the APC lawmakers. Continues on page 50

Why I fired Service Chiefs, by Jonathan Continues from page 1 for Boko Haram insurgents to attack the Air Force operational base in Maiduguri. Jonathan said the terrorists destroyed fighter aircraft during the attack and went scot free because of the rivalry between the former service chiefs. The service chiefs, who were sacked included the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola

Ibrahim; Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff, COAS, and Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Chief of Naval Staff. The President warned that any rivalry among the new service chiefs that threatens national security as was the case in the past, would not be tolerated. He spoke in Yola at the commissioning of the Nigeria Air Force, NAF,

Comprehensive Secondary School. He said a situation where Boko Haram terrorists succeeded in attacking a military installation because of unhealthy rivalry among the service heads would no longer be accepted. Emphasizing that the insurgents' activities and other crimes would be better tackled if the synergy between the services worked for the collective interest of Nigeria, the President said: “I urge you all to

cooperate because in recent times some mutual cooperation among the service chiefs and personnel have been lacking. This time around, we will not tolerate any unnecessary competition that would be retrogressive to this country. “We charge you to work together and I believe that we would no longer experience any unpleasant situation we had in the past because of some obvious lapses,” Continues on page 50

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

12 suffer burns as fire guts vehicle on 3rd Mainland Bridge BY BOSE ADELAJA

& MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS — TWELVE people suffered burns of varying degrees, yesterday, when an 18-seater bus somersaulted and caught fire on the Third Mainland Bridge. The victims were passengers of the Toyota Hiace commercial bus which was travelling towards Iyana-Oworo area. Although no life was lost in the incident officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority had a hectic time before they could rescue the victims. Also, the incident caused a heavy gridlock on the ever busy bridge. The LASTMA monitor in the area, Temitope Adebayo, said the incident occurred a little before 2. 00 p.m and the victims were moved to General Hospital, Gbagada for treatment. He attributed the incident to overloading which led to tyre blowout saying the back seat of the bus was loaded with goods apart from the fact that 14 passengers were on board. ‘’The incident involved a Toyota Hiace bus whose last seats were loaded with goods. Also, there were 14 passengers in the bus which had a burst tyre around Ilaje and as the driver attempted to stop, the vehicle upturned and burst into flames,’’ Adebayo said. He, however, confirmed that no life was lost in the accident and appealed to motorists to always exercise caution, adding: "We had to break into the vehicle before the victims were rescued and 12 passengers were moved to General Hospital, Gbagada for treatment."

Ex-student unionist, Segun Okeowo of Ali must go fame dies at 73 BY LEKE ADESERI, HENRY UMORU & DAUD OLATUNJI

AGOS — THE sun, yester day, finally set on Mr Segun Okeowo, the arrowhead of ‘Ali Must Go’ protests, arguably one of the most violent students agitation in the country. Okeowo, former president of the National Union of Nigeria Students, NUNS, who championed the students' protest in the late 70s against the General Olusegun Obasanjo-led military government died at about 6.30 a.m. yesterday at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, at the age of 73. Mr Kolade Segun-Okeowo, the surviving son of the late unionist, confirmed it, saying his father died from a heart related ailment. Late Segun Okeowo will be missed for his doggedness, which he demonstrated when he led the students’ union in 1970s, insisting on the removal of then Federal Commissioner forEducation, Col Ahmadu Ali (rtd) over 50 kobo daily meal increase. Later in life, Okeowo became

The late Segun Okeowo the chairman, Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, TSC, between 2003 to 2011.

May he rest in peace —Ahmadu Ali His arch-enemy then and former Federal Commissioner for Education during General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, was one of the first people to respond to the news of his death, yester-

day, praying that the late students’ union leader should rest in peace. In a text message to Vanguard, Ali who was at centre of Ali-Must-Go protests by university students said: “May he rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

Asked, recently, what led to the demonstration, Ali, a former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had said: “ In the demonstration that happened in 1978, the students were told that instead of having their

Ondo workers protest bank's refusal to release their salaries zWe don't have their money —Bank BY DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE — FOR allegedly withholding N706 million lodged by the Ondo State government in the Staff Matters Account, workers in the state, yesterday, picketed the Alagbaka, Akure branch of a new generation bank Three waste disposal vehicles loaded with garbage were used by the workers to block the entrance of the bank, thereby disrupting banking activities. But Vanguard learnt that the bank withheld the money because some workers, who took loans from it as far back as 2008, allegedly defaulted. It was gathered that the loan was guaranteed by the government in agreement with the workers union. This particular account, according to findings, is for paying workers salaries and other emoluments of workers in the state public service. The workers, as early as 7a.m, besieged the bank’s main branch and disrupted all activities.

Waste disposal vehicles at the entrance of the bank, yesterday. The workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, vowed not to remove the vehicles and their contents until the bank releases their salaries. The protest disrupted banking activities for hours and many customers of the bank could not transact businesses. According to a statement by the bank, yesterday, the Ondo State government guaranteed a facility to a related party in April 2008 and the bank only exercised its rights under the terms of the agreement by set-

ting off outstanding sums against the state government funds with the bank. The bank further reiterated that it was not holding on to any civil servants remunerations and has acted in conformity with the highest corporate governance standards in a professional and transparent manner. It also confirmed that discussions are ongoing between the Ondo State government and the bank to resolve the situation.

free accommodation in the university and their meal was still N1.50k, and because there was not much money, it was thought that they should make more contributions by adding 50 kobo to the cost of the meal per day. That’s all; that was the cause of the demonstration. “I tried to make them see reason. Being a former secretarygeneral of the National Union of Nigerian Students, NUNS, I always sympathised with them. “They held a meeting in Ilorin, I went there. They held a meeting in Maiduguri, I went there and talked to them. When they decided to hold a secret meeting in Calabar to challenge the government, I didn’t know again. But the Ministry of Education was not the one that did the increment; it was done by the Supreme Military Council, which is the body that was above the Federal Executive Council.”

Amosun, Daniel, others express shock Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State told a news conference in Ota that Okeowo’s death was ‘shocking.’ He commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed that God should grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. The governor recalled the role Okeowo played in the “Ali Must Go” saga. He described the deceased as a hero and urged Nigerian youths to take a cue from his exemplary struggle for a just cause. Also in a condolence message, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, described the late Okeowo as a legendary fighter and true democrat. Daniel in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Ayo Giwa, expressed grief at the demise of Okeowo. Daniel said the late student leader was a legendary freedom fighter who sacrificed his whole life in the struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian students, youths as well as the voiceless masses. Also, the Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Alhaji Adegbenga Kaka and governorship aspirant, Sina Kawonise,expressed grief and shock at the death ofOkeowo, describing him as a numero uno former students leader, activist and liberator of the oppressed and voiceless masses. The governorship candidate of the People’s Party of Nigeria, PPN, in 2011 governorship election in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, described the late Okeowo as an inspirational Nigerian and a true leading light of the state, who advocated social democracy.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 —7

Pastor nabbed for raping 13-yr-old girl

Some people scooping fuel from a ruptured pipeline (inset) Left: spilling petrol into the creek at Ijegun-Imoren Village, near Navy Town, Lagos (right): Fishes killed by ruptured pipeline. Monday. Photos: NAN.

Residents of 150 buildings rescued after oil spill in Lagos zIjegun-Imore residents demand compensation zWe won't pay —PPMC BY LEKE ADESERI, REGIONAL EDITOR, S-WEST & BOSE ADELAJA

AGOS — RESIDENTS of at least 150 buildings were rescued from a disaster zone around the Satelite area of Ijegun town in Lagos State in the past two days. A ruptured pipeline reportedly let out large quantity of fuel into Ijegun-Imore community, causing residents to scamper for safety. Meantime, some residents of the community, yesterday, demanded compensation from the Pipeline Products and Marketing Company, PPMC, for damages they incurred following the ruptured oil pipeline. The incident which occurred between last Sunday and Monday threw occupants of the buildings into panic before they were finally rescued by emergency responders from the state and federal agencies after a distress call. National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, said it received a distress call around 7.23 am on Sunday and quickly passed the information to appropriate authorities. NEMA South-West Information Officer, Ibrahim Farinloye, said supply sources and valves

had been blocked before emergency responders were able to access the area. According to him, 150 residential buildings were saved from the risk of fire disaster as the ruptured pipes were prevented from supplying fuel into them. The rupture was said to have been discovered on Saturday while the community prevented scooping of fuel but did not invite emergency responders until Sunday. Farinloye said the rights of way of the pipelines had been encroached and all signposts indicating dangers had been removed by land owners, thereby posing a risk to people, especially adventurous children. Vanguard gathered that due to the swampy nature of the area, NEMA and other emergency responders could not easily access the ruptured pipelines and the operation was suspended for a while, until a swamp-machine was moved to the area to carry out repair works which eventually took place on Monday. "Supply sources and valves have been shut while some security operatives have been deployed to carry out vigil in the area," Farinloye said.

Also, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, was said to have commenced cleaning, Monday, while normalcy had returned to the land.

Residents demand compensation

Some residents of the community said the oil spill was caused by negligence to monitor the pipeline network by the concerned agency. A traditional leader, Mr Nurudeen Olu-Fatunbi, said Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, should compensate residents of the community for not repairing the ruptured pipeline for more than a year. Olu-Fatunbi said that the community had reported the incidence to PPMC without any response. According to him, there is the need for government to embark on total clean up of the community because “we don’t want to lose our valuable items. The spill had caused economic hardship to the people of the area. “We are pleading with the company to urgently take steps to clean up the spill and send relief materials to us,” he said. Another resident, Mr Sunny Onotor, a former NNPC staff,

said there was the need for management of PPMC to ensure prompt monitoring of its pipeline network to curb incessant vandalism. Onotor also advised PPMC to provide dedicated phone lines to all host communities where they have pipeline network channels for prompt attention during issues surrounding its operations. He said: “Government needs to compensate us over their negligence to protect their pipelines; our community has been polluted due to the spillage. “Majority of residents have vacated the community due to ongoing pollution of the environment and hazardous nature of oil spill to human health.”

We won't pay compensation —PPMC

The Manager, Public Affairs and External Relations of PPMC, Mr Nasir Imodagbe said that the ruptured pipeline resulted from an act of vandalism. Imodagbe said the agency would not pay any compensation to any community which was supposed to assist government in protecting pipelines against vandalism, but was rather conniving with vandals. “As I speak with you, our men are seriously excavating the place to bring out the vandalised pipeline and commence repairs."

WERRI— The Police in Imo State have arrested the General Overseer and head of a popular church in Ikeduru council area of the state, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl. This followed a petition written to the Owerri Police Area Command by the lawyer to the father of the alleged rape victim, Mr Emperor Iwuala. The father of the victim, a widower and does not want his name in print, had alleged that the pastor severally raped his daughter between 2010 and 2013. According to him, “Between 2010 and 2013, I was sick and a friend of mine introduced me to the prophet. Because of my sickness, I lost my job as a luxury bus driver and also my accommodation in Naze Owerri. “Consequently, the prophet offered me accommodation in his house which he also uses as church. I moved in with my two little daughters. Because of my condition then, I did not know that the prophet was taking advantage of my predicament to defile one of my daughters. "One of the days, his wife caught him trying to abuse my daughter and she raised the alarm, which made the husband to send her packing. “Because of that, I sent my children away but the prophet threatened me, saying that I must bring my children back to the church. It was when my daughters went out of the prophet’s custody that they could narrate their ordeal to me. “Ironically, the prophet went to the police recently to report that I arranged to kidnap my daughters from his house.” Confirming the petition, Iwuala also disclosed that the said prophet was currently under investigation by the police for buying an alleged stolen vehicle. He applauded the security operatives for the impressive manner they are handling the matter. When the suspect’s prayer house was visited, a worshipper who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the pastor was arrested by the police and was still in their custody.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

FG bids to liquidate NITEL afresh

2015: President to consult kitchen cabinet soon —Ben Obi

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

BUJA — THE Fed eral Government has commenced fresh efforts towards liquidating the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, NITEL, and its subsidiary, Mobile Telecommunications Limited, Mtel. Presidency sources disclosed that a liquidator to act as an undertaker for the two moribund companies could be appointed by a court within the first two weeks of next month. The source disclosed that the move was due to Federal Government’s frustration with a series of attempts to privatise the two firms who enjoyed monopoly until about 13 years ago when the telecommunications industry was opened up for private sector participation. Massive corruption made it impossible for NITEL and its subsidiary to compete in the liberalised industry, as its operations were grounded, in spite of the fact fact that private sector competitors had to depend on some of NITEL’s facilities for their operations. Every attempt to sell NITEL and its subsidiary to a core investor since 2001 failed, leading to a management contract with Pentascope of The Netherlands which also failed to deliver and the contract had to be terminated when it was discovered to be a fraud. The tortuous journey of NITEL’s privatisation began in 2001 with the failure of Investors International London Limited (IILL) which offered to buy the majority share of the company at $1.317 billion to pay the bid price. In 2003, Pentascope was contracted by the Bureau of Public Enterprises under the leadership of Mal. Nasir el-Rufai, to manage the then ailing NITEL. Its mandate was top return the company to profitability as a going concern, but the managers failed to achieve the goal, rather they became a liability and had to be sent packing.

zFaults APC over directive to shut down governance zSays it’s like climbing a tree beyond the leaves BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

AGOS — FOLLOWING the release of the 2015 election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Goodluck Jonathan will soon hold a strategic meeting with his kitchen cabinet to decide on whether or not to run, his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, has said. However, the decision may not be taken until April because the Presidency may want to spend the next 90 days on effective governance to better the lot of the citizenry in line with the President’s promise of a better 2014 for Nigerians. In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Obi, who also described as uncalled for the directive of the Interim National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to its federal lawmakers to shut down governance, said it was worrisome that leading politicians and elders were making reckless and inflammatory statements that could hurt the country. Asked if Jonathan will declare his ambition now following the INEC’s timetable, he said the presidency was not expecting. He said: “I want Nigerians to understand one thing. I have been on the side of the opposition for very long. Now, I am in the executive, current leadership. "President Jonathan appealed to Nigerians and said he would not discuss politics until 2014. Despite all the pressure mounted on him by the opposition to draw him into politics much earlier than 2014, he resisted it; he continued on the path of governance and maintained that he would say something in 2014. "Now we are in 2014. INEC has spoken, we do expect that with all of these, I am sure he will sit with his kitchen cabinet and look at the pros and cons, what his administration has done and then take a position clearly on what his next line of action will be.”

On when the meeting will hold

On when this meeting will hold, Senator Obi said: “Like I said he will meet with his kitchen cabinet, they will study the INEC guidelines and timetable and decide: what do we do? Where do we go from here? "Nigerians will be adequately informed at the appropriate time. As far as I am concerned, they still have some two to three months to really concentrate on governance and that is the

Jonathan philosophy. "His New Year message was very clear: Nigerians will enjoy a better 2014, which means there are certain things he will want to put up that will make a difference. Let’s complete that process before we go into the political event. Let’s create the atmosphere for a better Nigerian environment.”

On govt shut down

Faulting the APC's call to shutdown governance until the Rivers State crisis is resolved, he said: “I do not know the circumstances under which APC leaders said their National Assembly members should block the 2014

budget, screening of ministers and confirmation of the service chiefs. "With all due respect, the budget is not only for politicians. That statement from the National Executive Committee meeting of the APC is uncalled for. How can you make such a statement? “I was a senator. Then we sit down and review issues. We had executive sessions where we ask ourselves: 'what we are discussing now is it a national issue or partisan issue?’ "Senators are respected because they discuss national issues: they don’t allow partisan political interests to overwhelm the dis-

course. “Until last week, no President had ever forwarded the names of service chiefs to the National Assembly. President Jonathan did it. The next thing is the opposition saying, ‘no, block it!’ "Things that affect the military is not something we should rush into and get deeply involved in but I am happy that the current Senate President is a highly respected retired general and one of the longest serving legislators in this country. So he combines the experience of a war general and that of an accomplished legislator to navigate. "I am sure that my colleagues, friends and associates in the opposition, having issued that directive to their party members in the National Assembly will by now be having a second thought. It is like climbing a tree beyond the leaves. It is uncalled for.”

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri (left) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Holger Nielsen, at a meeting in Addis Ababa during the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union, yesterday.

FG to hike gas price by 50% BY KUNLE KALEJAYE, with agency reports

AGOS — THE Federal Gov ernment may have concluded plans to raise the domestic price of natural gas to $1.5 per 1,000 standard cubic feet as it aims to ensure efficient supply of abundant natural gas to thermal power stations nationwide. This represents a 50 per cent increase in the current $1 price for gas to power plants. Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu, disclosed this in Abuja, saying the move is aimed at encouraging more gas supplies/ sales to power plants. This is as against the current situation whereby they (suppliers) complain about what they describe as the “uneconomic price” of the resource. Indications are that the devel-

opment may result in an increase in electricity tariff with power producers trying to recover cost incurred. Currently, fertilizer companies pay 90 cents for 1,000 cubic feet of gas while industrial users purchase 1,000 cubic feet of the product at above $2.50. The price for power producers, who account for about 80 per cent of the domestic gas consumption, was increased about two years ago from $0.1 to $1.0 by the government for the same purpose of encouraging suppliers to sell to power plants. These prices are, however, below the international market price for gas, which is about $3 per 1,000 standard cubic feet. Indeed, there have been strong concerns that inappropriate pricing for gas as seen with the existing price regime might frustrate the Federal Government’s efforts at stabilizing power supply in the

country. This, experts said, was already happening as producers were shunning the power plants in favour of industries, thereby negating the government’s intention for the power sector. Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, also indicated the move to raise the price when he stated that appropriate pricing of gas was a necessary factor that would guarantee improved power supply in the country. Nebo, who spoke of the disparity in price between gas supply to the power industry and the industrial sector, also cited the inability of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to promptly meet its financial obligations to gas suppliers as a major reason why gas supply to power plants had been erratic, negatively affecting power supply nationwide.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014—9

Defection: Senate dares Saraki, others BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE B U J A — APPA R ENTLY reacting to recent statements credited to Senators Bukola Saraki and Bindo Jibrilla that 17 senators elected under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, this week, the Senate, yesterday, said it would not accept joint defection of members. It said the senators were not jointly elected into the Senate and so cannot present a joint letter of defections, adding that those wanting to defect must present ‘’individual- open- letters’’ stating their movements to other political parties. The Senate spoke through its Chairman, Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinaya Abaribe, at a media briefing, in Abuja. Abaribe said that so far, the Senate has not received any letter from senators on defection to any political party. According to him, the existing constitution forbids mass defection, hence the Senate would not disobey the law. His words: “I have had cause to say this because the process for anybody to move from one party to the other is very well stated in the constitution and the process is open, clear and not in a way that can be misunderstood. "Don’t forget that every senator did an election on his own. There wasn’t a joint election. So senators can not write joint letters to the Senate President about defection. It must be on individual basis and every person who has to leave, for whatever reason, will have to state his reason and also do it personally. Abaribe said the Senate was not a place for partisan politics but for nationalists. Vanguard gathered that the senators who had wanted to carry out the action last week, shortly after resumption from Christmas and New Year recess, suspended it after the Senate leadership disclosed that they must submit individual letters stating why they have moved to other political parties.

LAUNCHING: Dame Patience Jonathan (middle), Rear AdmiralEmmanuel Ogbor,, representating Chief of Naval Staff (4th right), wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark (4th left), Patrick O. Onadipe, Nigerian Deputy Ambassador to Beijing, (2nd right), and others at the launching of the Nigerian Navy Operational Patrol Vessel, OPV, 91 Ship in Wuhan, China.

Adamawa church attack: Death toll rises to 138 zAs Governor Shettima donates to victms families BY NDAHI MARAMA &

UMAR YUSUF. OLA—THE death toll arising from the two separate attacks on a Church in Chakawa village, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Kawuri village in Konduga, in Borno State has now risen to 138.

Armed men

Armed men suspected to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect attacked Chakawa village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State as well as the Kawuri village in Konduga, Bornro State killing innocent people. In Chakawa, the terrorists attacked a Catholic Church while the faithful were praying on Sunday with AK47 riffles and Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, killing many of them and wounding several others. Also at Kawuri village in Borno State, another gang of terrorists invaded the rural community killing no fewer than 52 people.

Council boss speaks

However, the Chairman of Madagali Local Government, in Adamawa where a Catholic Church was attacked, Mr. Maina Ularamu said that local officials have counted 47 corpses, including those of two policemen, adding that several others who were wounded were still receiving treatment in some hospitals in the area. Ularamu said that the gunmen who were armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons later invaded another border village and killed more people before

fleeing to the neighbouring Cameroun Republic. A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity, however, stated that he counted about 53 bodies before they were evacuated to hospitals.

Commander confirms attack

The Brigade Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola, Brigadier- General Rogers Nicholas, confirmed the attack saying, however, that he was yet to ascertain the death toll. Nicholas further said that the impact of the attack was minimal pointing out that the military was on top of the situation. This was even as residents of the area said they were living in perpetual fear as more attacks could be launched since none of the attackers had been apprehended by the security operatives.

Catholic spokesman

The spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Reverend Father Raymond Danbouye, also confirmed that dozens were killed and that some of corpses were buried after a funeral service on Monday. At Kawuri, Borno State, residents said that gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists attacked them on Sunday pointing out that they had so far buried 85 bodies even as more others were still being discovered. The residents spoke when the state Governor, Kashim Shettima, visited to condole with them on the tragedy yesterday. According to them, they had buried 83 bodies earlier before recovering

two unidentified bodies which were buried yesterday morning.

Victims with bullet wounds

Councillor of Kawuri village, Dala Lawan, said about 40 persons with serious bullet wounds and burns were earlier recovered. “We have been searching and burying corpses since yesterday. We first buried 53 corpses and more are still being picked up in the bushes. Those with serious wounds died. We have just found two more corpses which brings the death toll to 85 for now,” Lawan told Shettima. Vanguard observed that some women, children and the aged who had high degree burns were groaning in pains on hospital beds in Konduga town, about 10 kilometres away from Kawuri village. A mother, Rabi Mallam, 46, who had second degree burns said she was hiding along with her son and grand daughter inside the room when the gunmen set their house on fire. “We ran inside the house to escape the bullets from their riffles but they came and set our home on fire while shooting sporadically. We could not come out because they were shooting, we were there for hours before they left thinking we were dead. I shieded the kids with heavy blanket soaked in water, but we were still burnt badly. I cried for the children because they were calling me to take them out, but I couldn’t ,“ Rabi who had blisters all over her body said.

40 victims on admission

About 40 injured persons were currently on admission in the hospital. A newly married couple who

said they lost everything was among those fleeing Kawuri with other villagers at the time Vanguard visited the village alongside the state governor. Meanwhile, Governor Shettima who shed tears while inspecting the level of the destruction of Kawuri village by the Boko Haram insurgents yesterday urged the remaining residents to take heart and leave everything that happened to God. He, however, promised that his administration would rebuild the burnt houses even if they were burnt again.

Governor Shettima donates

Shettima then announced the donation of N250,000 each to the families of those who lost their beloved ones, even as he promised to settle all the medical bills of those injured. The governor said: “It is sad that some innocent people who have never seen me or benefited anything from me as governor are being killed by terrorists in the name of politics. We pray that Allah will touch the heart of these terrorists so that they can lay down their arms and embrace peace in our dear state.”

Condemns killings

He also condemned the wanton killings and destruction of property on a daily basis in the state, describing it not only as anti-Islam, but callous and barbaric. While at the General Hospital, Konduga, Shettima sympathised with a 12-year-old boy and another 80-year-old Mallam Mohammed Mustapha and prayed Allah to grant them quick recovery.

10—Vanguard , WEEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

2 ex-FCMB staff faces 50,000 pounds theft charge BY PETER EGWUATU

AGOS—TWO employees of First City Monument Bank yesterday, appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos charged with theft of 50,000 pounds. The accused — Adeyemi Adebayo, 32, a transit officer, and Julius Ogundare, 46, a driver, — are facing a four-count charge bordering on making false claims, stealing and conspiracy. The prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, told the court that the two men committed the offences on December 31, 2013, at First City Monument Bank headquarters, Marina, Lagos. According to him, the accused were to move the money from the headquarters to the bank’s branch at Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, but failed to deliver it.

2015: Cleric predicts landslide victory for Jonathan BY JOSEPHINE

Why we can't build 4th Mainland Bridge now —LAGOS GOVT BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI&

MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS—LAGOS State government, yesterday, said the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge may not be realisable soon because; “With the current plan, 318 buildings will need to be demolished for the bridge to take-off.” Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze and his counterpart from the ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat disclosed these during an interministerial press briefing on analysis of Year 2014 budget, stressing that the year ’s budget is aimed at eradicating poverty. Hamzat explained that it was difficult for the state government to embark on the previous alignment for the construction of the bridge because of its huge requirements and expenses, adding that the previous alignment which is eight kilometers, will cost the state government N320 billion. According to him, “And to construct a kilometer of that bridge is about N40 billion, so the issue is that we also need to factor the cost of demolishing the 318 buildings into the project. Alot of these buildings are beautiful houses.” He expressed concern that larger per cent of these buildings do not have genuine building permit.

“We need to remember that when motorists make use of the bridge, they will need an exit route. And this route will require motorists to drive through a road that will afford them to link at Ijede in Ikorodu and another link to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway,” Hamzat said. Speaking on the appropriation for Lagos State University, LASU, Akabueze said: “We have N9.2 billion that would be spent on LASU

in 2014. Out of the N9.2 billion, N2.6 is for capital expenditure while N6.6 billion is for recurrent expenditure.” The commissioner added that the state budgeted the sum of N2.7 billion for Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, AOCOED, Ijanikin, Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCOPED; N1.2 billion and Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH;

COMMISSIONING: South Africa Tourism commissioned its West Africa office in Lagos, Nigeria, yesterday at ChurchGate Towers in Victoria Island, Lagos. Above, from left are Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa, South Africa Consul-General in Lagos; Thulani Nzima, South African Tourism Chief Executive Officer; High Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, and South Africa's Minister for Tourism, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, at the unveiling in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

IGBINOVIA

AGOS—A cleric with the Royal House of Faith Ministry, Pastor Bassey James, has declared that President Goodluck Jonathan will win Nigeria’s presidential election in 2015 with huge margin. This is coming as many other religious leaders have predicted the opposite concerning the 2015 presidential election. Speaking in Lagos, Bassey explained that prophecies were from God while predictions were framed from environmental, economic, social and political factors. He said: “Lots of people have given predictions that something terrible will happen to Jonathan and that he will not win the 2015 presidential election. But Jonathan is God-sent and, therefore, will win the 2015 contest with a very wide margin. He will overcome all the political and economic issues."

Judge chides lawyer over conduct L

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

AGOS—JUSTICE Ebenezer Adebajo of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere yesterday tongue-lashed a lawyer, over what he described as no professional responsibility over clients. Usman Izuagie, whose client is facing a two-count charge of armed robbery, asked the court to enter a trial within trial to ascertain whether the statement of the defendant was obtained as required by the law. He argued that the statement was obtained under torture and duress, adding that it was not a true statement made by the defendant. The trial judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, then asked Izuagie; “What steps did you take on the veracity of the allegation of torture brought before this court?” Izuagie maintained that he is not aware in law that as a counsel of a defendant he has the

N3.6 billion. He said: “LASU is not funded by the tuition fees paid by the students. It is not possible in today’s world to get quality tertiary education at N25,000. Many Nigerians pay more than that to fund their children’s education at the primary education level. Government around the world spends more money funding basic education than tertiary education. This is to create platform for more people to be educated.”

responsibility to ascertain the veracity of allegation of a statement that was taken under duress by the police, until the defendant gives evidence in respect of how the statement was obtained. Justice Adebajo ruled that the counsel holds no professional responsibility in the defendant, adding “It is the failure of ethics

for lawyers coming to court with allegation of torture without the counsel having taken steps on the veracity of the allegation.” The evidence of the prosecution witness (Insp. Sowemimo Banjoko) who commenced giving evidence on March 8, 2011, was subsequently taken. However, the trial within trial

was closed when the court asked Izuagie if the defendant can give evidence and he answered no, saying his client was having running stomach. “There has not been any demonstration of running stomach by the 2nd defendant. The warders have not been taking him to the toilet. The statement of the 2nd defendant obtained on June 21, 2008 and that of the 1st defendant obtained on June 19, 2008 are admissible and marked as exhibit E3 and E4” the judge ruled.

Lagos lawmakers frown at jungle justice

AGOS—MEMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday tasked the Ministry of Information and Strategy to enlighten the public against carrying out jungle justice in the state. The house took the position following a motion moved by Mrs Funmilayo Tejuosho, APCMushin I, under matters of urgent public importance. Tejuosho said that she received

a message recently indicating that two women and one man were stripped naked over a fraud-related case. The lawmaker said the incident was said to have occurred at Shonibare Street in Mushin area of Lagos on Sunday. “I think the house should condemn this criminal act; no person should take laws into his hands. The house has passed a

law on criminal justice,” she said. She urged the police to live up to its responsibilities by protecting the lives and property of the citizens. Mr Taiwo Kolawole, the Deputy Speaker, said that there was the need for community policing. “If there is community police in the society there would not be such criminal acts in the society,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014—11

Fashola, Oshiomhole mediate Ogun APC crisis zAs NASS caucus shun Amosun's parley BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—GOVERNORS Babatunde Fashola and Adams Oshiomhole of Lagos and Edo states respectively have been enlisted to wade into the crisis rocking the Ogun state branch of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Vanguard reliably gathered that, Fashola and Oshiomhole accepted to intervene in the political imbroglio to save the party from imminent loss in 2015 elections. The two governors, according to a reliable source who craved anonymity, would soon convey a meeting to reconcile the two warring factions of the party. Meantime, an attempt by Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to woo members of the All Progressives Congress, National Assembly caucus hit a brick-wall as the later shunned a meeting he initiated. Both the governor and members of the National Assembly on the platform of the APC are at loggerheads which has led to the factionalisation of the party. The party in Ogun State is being led by former governor of the state, Chief Segun Osoba and the incumbent,

Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Vanguard exclusively gathered that, Amosun camp decided to mend the fence with Osoba loyalists which has the majority in the newly constituted harmonisation committee following the reported matching order by the leadership of the party to reconcile within

few weeks. It was also gathered that, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa sent a notice of the meeting to the NASS members scheduling the meeting for January 27 at MTR hall, near Presidential lodge, Abeokuta at 1:pm., but non of the lawmakers

attended. Findings however, showed that, the NASS members decided to boycott the meeting citing insecurity as one of their reasons. The aggrieved NASS members vowed not to attend any meeting in Abeokuta until their personal safety could be guaranteed.

INAUGURATION: From left: Otunba Moses Adeyemo, Oyo State deputy governor, Interim Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, South West National Vice Chairman, at the inaguration of the harmonization committee and Interim State Exco of All Progressive Congress APC, in Oyo State, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Ile-Ife rejects Aregbesola's proposed additional council bill BY GBENGAOLARINOYE

SOGBO—THE people of Ile-Ife, in Osun State have faulted the proposal for creation of additional Local Government Areas by Governor Rauf Aregbesola now before the state House of Assembly, saying that the approach adopted by the government lacked international application. Briefing newsmen in Ile-Ife yesterday, the President of Ife Action Council, a sociocultural organisation, Mr. Lawrence Awowoyin noted that the rationale for creating Local Government Councils was purely for development. He maintained that the people of Ife have been badly treated in the proposed Executive bill. The Governor had last December sent a proposal for the creation of additional 27 Council Areas from the existing 30 Local Government Areas and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke-Ife to the state House of Assembly for approval. In the proposal only three additional Council Areas are proposed from the existing four Local Government Areas

that make up Ifeland. For instance, Ife East, Ife Central and Ife South have one additional Council Area each, while none was given to Ife North. But, the people of Ile-Ife stated that detail analysis of the demographic statistics of some Local Government Councils in Osun State has thrown up questions that needed urgent answers. Specifically, the group asked for additional eight Council Areas with the three already proposed. The group queried why some Local Governments with

less population than Ife Central and Ife East Local Government Areas respectively have two additional council areas proposed for them, while Ife Central and Ife East Local Government Areas attracted one each in the proposal. It also asked why Ijesha land with a population of 621,909 got additional six Council Areas, while Ifeland with a total population of 643,582 got only two. "Modakeke-Ife was created years back, all that was done in the proposal was to change the name from Area Office to

Local Council Development Area, LCDA," the group said. The group had in a letter dated January 2nd, 2004 addressed to Governor Aregbesola titled “Appeal for more Local Council Development Areas in Ife land” appealed to the governor for “favourable reconsideration of the proposal before final approval to demonstrate equity, fairness and comradeship in the distribution of infrastructure, participatory governance and dividends of democracy.”

Adoption saga polarises Ekiti PDP members BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI—POSSIBLE adoption of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirants in the forthcoming polls in Ekiti State has polarized members of the party in Gbonyin Local Government Area as the leadership of the party adopts two aspirants at two different fora. The two gubernatorial aspirants

adopted by the leadership of the party in the council are Senator Gbenga Aluko and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Odeyemi. The Chairman of the party in the area, Hon Israel Ajayi who read the resolution of the executive members of the party to adopt the former speaker said the decision was taken after a meeting of the extended Executive Committee in January

26,2014. at Ode-Ekiti However, another group within the party’s exco have dissociated themselves from the endorsement . The group led by the Vice Chairman, Hon Segun Adebayo hinged their action on the earlier decision by the party in the area where a former senator, Gbenga Aluko, was endorsed on January 8, 2013.

APC targets 600,000 members during Ondo registration BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo state yesterday said it is targeting the registration of over 600, 000 members across the state during the coming membership mobilisation and registration exercise. This figure represents 40 per cent of the total voting population in the state Consequently, the party has put in place a mobilisation and registration committee that is expected to oversee the exercise. To achieve this a committee that was drawn from the nine federal constituencies across the state met with the chairmen of the three parties that formed the APC from the 18 local government areas of the state yesterday in Akure. Addressing newsmen after its meeting held in Akure, a leader of the party in the state, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, said the party had started moves that would ensure a hitch free mobilisation and registration exercise.

FG designates Akure cargo airport BY LAWANIMIKAIRU

AGOS—THE Akure Airport has been designated a perishable and non-perishable cargo airport by the federal government. The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah disclosed this yesterday when she paid a courtesy visit on the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko in Akure. According to the Minister, the perishable cargo terminal project at the airport is meant to harness the agricultural export capacity of the state as it will provide a gateway for farmers and industrialist to have access to international market. She also added that “ the perishable cargo concept would open up the economy, develop local market, reduce rural-urban migration, create jobs, and assist farmers by creating wealth, leading to the “farm to supermarket concept”.

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Rivers, PDP disagree over financial status BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has dismissed allegation that it was broke. State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the state had continued to meet its financial obligations despite the shortfall in its allocation from the Federation Account. Meantime, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has insisted in a statement, that the state was broke. State Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah, speaking through his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, said the state image maker, Mrs. Semenitari was merely putting up brazen denial on the issue. The party said that the alleged lean financial position of the state had led to collapse of several sectors of the government and its agencies. The statement said, “The PDP among others wants

Delta women endorse Olejeme

EMALE politicians in Delta State, have stormed the U& I headquarters in Asaba, Delta State, urging the chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme to vie for the governorship of the state in 2015. The women who pledged their unalloyed support and encouragement towards the realisation of the aspiration, eulogized the virtues of Olejeme, saying she was eminently qualified for the office. Chief Grace Okonta, spokesperson of Vibrant Women in Delta Politics, VWDP, said, “she combines integrity with intellect and character with competence. Gender is not a central issue in the 2015 governorship contest. It is about the future of the state, the ability of an individual to consider issues in a rounded, holistic way and offer solutions to the problems affecting the state. “We want someone with experience, contacts and intimidating credentials. We want someone who will put the needs of the people first. We want someone, who will focus on improving the state’s economy and education system. It is important for Deltans to see a new and different kind of leadership that will take the state to the next level. It may well take a woman to do that.”

Mrs. Semenitari to explain why the state government still owes officers and men of the State Transport Management Agency, TIMARIV, for about six months, the newly recruited 13,000 are also owed six months’ salary.” The party wondered

why officials of the Rivers State Government would continue to deny facts that are available at the door post of the people, saying a responsible government should be courageous enough to tell its citizens the truth at least on the affairs of the state.

Dickson offers jobs to inmates of orphanage BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA— Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has directed that the temporary staff of the state Gloryland Children’s Home be offered immediate employment to ensure effective administration of the home. Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, gave the directive when he visited the orphanage in Yenagoa, as part of activities to mark his 48th birthday anniversary. The governor also asked the Ministry of

Women Affairs and Social Development to build an educational facility within the premises of the facility. Presenting food items, beverages and toiletries to the home, Dickson also directed the ministry to ensure that the children were enrolled in the best primary schools to give them a sense of belonging. Dickson, who described the orphanage as an important institution, explained that he decided to celebrate his birthday by identifying with the children and urged other well meaning individuals to show love to the needy in the society as their level of success would be measured by the positive impact made in the lives of the less privileged ones.

Tompolo denies hijack of Okerenkoko contracts BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

ARRI – EX-MIL ITANT leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, also known as Tompolo, has denied reports that he hijacked contracts from the Nigeria Maritime Safety and Administration, NIMASA, to build a maritime university in Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. In a protest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter, a group, the Okerenkoko Federated National Development Forum, ONDF, had accused Tompolo of assuming supremacy and sidelining other leaders, over who benefits from contract opportunities coming to the oil bearing Ijaw communities. In the letter, the group accused Tompolo and his cronies of hijacking the

construction of maritime university in the community to the exclusion of other interests in the Gbaramatu community. Responding to the allegations through his media consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo dismissed same, describing them as unfounded. Bebenimibo said, “The mood in the community does not suggest any protest. In any case, the accusations are baseless and cheap blackmail. Tompolo does not have any project in the school. NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transport, the supervising agents on the contract had a mutual understanding to award the project to qualified contractors and that local contractors would benefit as sub-contracts. To the best of our knowledge, this position is being followed. “It is cheap blackmail to claim that Tompolo has deployed even one soldier, not in the least over 150 in Okerenkoko to force himself on anybody over the contract."

C M Y

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 13

Elumelu counsels politicians

BUJA—THE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, has appealed to the political class to play politics with godliness, adding that actions and inactions that are capable of heating up the polity should be avoided. Elumelu, who represents Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency in the House, spoke shortly after the thanksgiving and prayer session with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja. He urged Nigerians to join hands with the President to pray for the country as this year was a significant one, with the general elections drawing closer.

EFCC summons Ekowe poly rector, 4 others over alleged financial scam BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—THE crisis rocking the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State has taken a new twist as the management of the institution, including its Rector, Dr. Ineyi Ekpebu, have been summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Ekpebu was summoned to appear at the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of investigations into alleged financial scam involving the institution. Ekpebu was also directed to come along with the institution Bursar, Mr James Neminebor, Head of Audit, Mr. Denson

Oyakhilome donates auditorium to AAU

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—THE President of Believers’ Love World (Christ Embassy), Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, has donated a 650 capacity ultra modern auditorium to the Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma. Oyakhilome handed the keys over to the Edo State governor and Visitor to the state University, Governor Adams Oshiomhole during the commissioning. Rev Oyakhilome is an alumni of the university. He also donated a 100 KVA sound proof generator, explaining that he decided to embark on the project after observing the sincere determination by the authorities of the university to provide the needs of the students. He said: “This is the first phase and to serve as a catalyst for others to join hands in developing the country. The problem is not the management of our natural resources, but managing the potentials locked up in the minds of our teaming youths, whose education cannot be separated from the aspiration of the country.”

Funeral for late Sheriff

ATE CHUKWUMA Sheriff, 35, Senior Staff at Oil Facility Surveillance Ltd, Warri, Delta State would be buried between January 31 and February 1, 2014. A statement by his family, said that late Chukwuma, who hails from Ogbeti-Afor in Ndokwa East LGA of Delta State would be accorded a service of songs at Manchester Field, Refinery Road, Effurun before his remainsproceedstohishometown for burial. He is survived by a wife and children.

In his response, Oshiomhole, commended the cleric for his “vision and commitment,” describing him as a global icon. “Pastor Chris is not only a good ambassador of the University, but of the state and the entire country. We are here, not only to commission a building, but to attest to his conduct and giving to others.”

Ojibare, Abadani Woyengikuro, Zachariah Owutuamor. The affected officials were directed to appear before the commission on January 30, 2014. Counsel to the institution’s chapter of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic, SSANP, Mr Festus Keyamo, had last year petitioned the EFCC over alleged cases of unpaid allowances, salaries and diversion of funds into private

your school in which the need to obtain certain clarification from you and some of your officers have become imperative.” The EFCC also directed the invited officials to come along with list of staff from 2009 to date (academic and non academic) showing age, sex, state of origin, LGA, date of first appointment and last promotion, grade level/ step, rank and date of last posting.

Urhobo people unite with Ibori's family BY AKPOKONAOMAFUAIRE

ARRI—THE Urhobo people under the leadership of Chief Patrick Aziza, have reunited with the Ibori family of Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State with a view to working for the development of the Urhobo nation. The reunion at a brief but colourful forgiveness and pardon ceremony, organised by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU in Warri was for a united Urhobo. President General of UPU,

Group backs Okocha for Delta guber seat

accounts. According to the letter of invitation dated January 20, 2014 with reference number CR:3000/ EFCC/PHC/EG/TC/Vol.1/54 signed by Zonal Head, EFCC, Mr. David Inyang, the Rector and others would be questioned by the officer commanding, Economic Governance. The letter addressed to Ekpebu read “This Office is currently investigating a case involving

BY GBENGA OKE

SABA—A group, Niger Delta Renaissance Movement, NDRM, has thrown its weight behind the governorship ambition of Mr Peter Okocha, saying that he (Okocha) has brought ray of hope to majority of Deltans. Speaking at the presentation of an award of “Distinguished Niger Delta Icon of Positive Politics and Nation Building,” to Okocha in Delta State, National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Warri Dennis, said that the choice for the award was based on salient leadership qualities, positive and human policies, firm advocacy for justice and equitable distribution of political goods and benefits. He said: “We dare say that Delta State needs somebody like Peter Okocha at this stage because of his youth empowerment programme and strategies, developmental strategies, strong inter personal relations and community development strategies, which are rare qualities that are evident in his services at various times."

Chief Aziza, represented by his 1st Deputy President General, Chief Joe Omene, said that the Urhobos are the major losers in the current Nigeria polity, stressing that the people must busy their differences for the interest of the present and future generations. Aziza noted that his administration was determined to bring all Urhobo sons and daughters together no matter the situation, pointing out that the task of salvaging the Urhobo nation rest squarely on the Urhobos themselves.

He charged the people to learn to forgive one another, no matter the circumstances and level of the offence. Head of Ibori family, Chief William Ibori, commended the UPU, for the foresight, adding that the Ibori’s family and the Oghara people were grateful and would always partner the leadership of Aziza to move Urhobo forward. Chief Ibori noted that the Urhobo cannot afford to pass through another hectic experience again, saying “we must support each other.”

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14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Abia govt, former Gov Kalu in war of words BY ANAYO OKOLI.

MUAHIA — ABIA State government has lashed out at the former governor of the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, over his attack on it, describing his action as irresponsible. Orji Kalu in a recent media comment was quoted to have said that the state was backward and was not working, in terms of development. The government in a statement through the Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Governor, Mr. Eddie Onuzuruike, described Kalu as uncharitable and self-serving. He said: “Kalu is a drowning politician who is looking for something to hang on to. He has lost face with Abians after inflicting pains on them during his inglorious eight years rule. “In his characteristic manner, Kalu blamed his selfinflicted travails on the high flying Governor of Abia State, Chief T.A. Orji (Ochendo)"

NCAA's board reconstituted, gets new chairman BY OKEY NDIRIBE

RESIDENT GOODLUCK Jonathan, yesterday, reconstituted the board of directors and approved the appointment of Alhaji Waziri Tambuwal as Chairman of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The President also reconstituted and appointed chairmen of three other aviation parastatals. They include Barrister Olusola Oke, as Chairman, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA; Dr. Dan Kure, as Chairman, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and Chief Yomi Akintola, as Chairman, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NMA. This was contained in a press statement issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Evacuation of my poultry, a wicked act — Enugu Deputy Gov “Violation of Purpose Clause which they claimed was the basis for their action was not mentioned in the press statement. “The two letters which alleged violation of purpose clause of the C of O of the premises was dropped in the statement issued from the Governor’s Office on Monday. “In the two letters they wrote to me on December 24 and 27, 2013, which I replied, they made mention of the environmental or health hazard emanating from the poultry. “In their press statement, they claimed that they wrote me and asked me to clean up the place

and I refused. So let them produce a letter asking me to do that. It is not true,” he said. NUGU — DEPUTY GoverThe deputy governor recalled nor of Enugu State, Mr. that in his reply to their letters, “I Sunday Onyebuchi, yesterday, told them that the poultry area was described the evacuation of his designated Agriculture Unit and poultry from his official residence I want them to deny that the strucat Government House by officials ture had been used as poultry of the Enugu Capital Territory before I became deputy governor. Development Authority, ECTDA, “Let them also deny that I have and Ministry of Environment as not operated the poultry since a wicked act. 2008. And that is why I put in He said the action of the official my Asset Declaration at the end which was shocking to him, was of my first term in office and at intended to humiliate him and the beginning of the current term show how “politically impotent” that I have operated the same he was. poultry and this was verified by Speaking on the evacuation of the Code of Conduct Bureau. 3,000 birds from his official resi“How suddenly did my poultry become a health hazard when it had been in existence since 2008? “Let them also deny that there is no bigger poultry, piggery and cattle ranch in the Governor’s lodge. My poultry was properly run and cleaned because it was run with the technical support from Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture.” Asking perpetrators of the act not to justify “an evil and wicked deed by feeding the public with falsehood,” Onyebuchi stated that “if they succeed in deceiving the public, they can never deceive God. “As I am talking to you now, over 3,000 birds were confiscated from the poultry yesterday and their whereabouts unknown to me. They also removed bags of feeds and feeders and other materials from the site.” Asked what would be his next line of action, the deputy governor said: “For now, I am presenting the matter to God first of all beINSPECTION: Mr. Godwin Madueke, Enugu State Commissioner for Works (centre), address- cause the person behind it is so powerful that my chaling newsmen, during the inspection of Edinburgh Road, Enugu, yesterday. lenging her will be like using a vehicle to collide with a moving train." BY TONY EDIKE

dence and the statement by Governor Sullivan Chime’s Press Secretary, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, on Monday, which claimed that the poultry constituted a health hazard to people working at Government House, Onyebuchi said those behind the act were hiding their actual motive. The deputy governor said he was surprised that the statement from the government did not mention the alleged violation of the purpose clause in the Certificate of Occupancy for the Deputy Governor’s lodge as claimed in the two letters earlier sent to him from the office of Chief of Staff to the Governor.

Okwu names Anakwue Anambra APGA chairman

Igboadabe group that championed the emergence of a candidate from WKA — THE Chief Maxi Okwu- Anambra North as the next governor of led All Progressives Grand Alli- the state. Only recently, he held a news conferance, APGA, has appointed Chief ence commending the people of Shedrack Anakwue as chairman of the Anambra State for electing Chief Willie party in Anambra State. Anakwue was the leader of Obiano as the new governor of the state and solicited the support of the entire Anambra people to ensure the success of the in-coming administration. HE FEDERAL Operations Unit, FOU, shops and other areas where fairly used The appointment of of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Zone vehicles are sold,” Dimka said. Anakwue was silent on the He warned that defaulters, if and fate of Chief Egwuoyibo C, Owerri Command, has concluded plans to set up a task force to check the activities of wherever found, would be promptly ar- Okoye who was named the those marketing second hand vehicles with rested and prosecuted, even as he state chairman of APGA warned those who patronise the deal- during the controversial fake Customs’ documents. The Customs Zonal boss, Mr. David Dimka, ers to be very careful. “This Command will not hesitate to Awka convention of the who read the riot act, yesterday, while briefparty that produced Okwu ing journalists in Owerri, also said his men arrest any defaulter anywhere and time as the national chairman. would periodically storm car shops to check we find him. It is also important to warn A letter conveying the apthose who patronise these motor dealimport documents. pointment was signed by “Apart from routine patrols, officers and men ers to be very careful as anyone found Dr. Sagir Maideya, who is with fake papers would also be prosof the unit will also embark on spot checks in the national secretary of ecuted,” Dimka warned. BY VINCENT UJUMADU

Customs Service reads riot act in Imo

Okwu’s faction of APGA. The letter, addressed to Anakwue read: “The National Working Committee, NWC, has reviewed the state of the party in the Anambra State and in line with our party constitution, you, Chief Anakwue will now step in as the acting state chairman.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014—15

Boko Haram: Reps to investigate arrest of 320 suspects in Rivers BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

BUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, directed its committees on Police Affairs and Human Rights to probe the arrest of 320 persons

alleged to be members of the Boko Haram sect by Rivers State Police Command, last Sunday. This was sequel to a motion brought to the floor of the House by Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano). The House gave the two com-

mittees one week within which to thoroughly investigate the matter and get back to the House with appropriate recommendations. The Rivers Police Command had, on Sunday, said its men had arrested 320 persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

VISIT: From left, Regional Director, Africa,Mrs Samantha Louis; President, Mr. Malcolm Furber, and Country Manager, Ms Ijeoma Anadozie, all of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, CIMA, on the visit of CIMA President and activities of the institute, in Lagos.

The suspects were arrested at about 5a.m., Sunday, in a convoy of 17 buses between the border of Imo and Rivers states. Kawu in his motion punctured the Police report, saying, “the arrested persons were in Rivers for legitimate business as most of them were petty traders and menial job seekers in search of means of livelihood in their fatherland. ”Such manner of arrests and injustice portends obvious danger capable of breeding political instability to the already overheated polity as the suspects were known to be law abiding citizens whose nature of business is wellknown.” He explained that the arrests once again brought to the fore “several issues that require immediate attention of every wellmeaning Nigerian for the security, economy and political wellbeing of the country and its citizens.” He cited Section 41 of the Nigeria Constitution which guaranteed that every Nigerian was entitled to move freely throughout the country. Kawu said this was not the first time the said suspects were in Rivers, stating that they had been there on several occasions. He said if no urgent step was taken to address the issue, such arrests “may as well lead to breakdown of law and order, posing threat to the very existence of the country as a whole.”

El-Rufai released, attends APC meeting in Lagos BY OKEY NDIRIBE

EPUTY NATIONAL Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC , Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who was detained by the Department of State Services, DSS, last Monday was released yesterday morning. This was disclosed, yesterday, by Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Media Assistant to El-Rufai, while speaking to Vanguard in a telephone interview. He said the former FCT minister was released at about 12.30a.m. after under-going interrogation by operatives of the security agency for about 15 hours. Adekeye said El-Rufai was interrogated for the alleged inciting remark he made regarding the possibility of violence erupting if next year’s general elections were not free and fair. He also stated that El-Rufai had already travelled to Lagos to attend a meeting of the Interim National Executive Committee of the APC. It would be recalled that ElRufai turned himself in to DSS after the security agency obtained C M Y K

a warrant for his arrest. The security agency had mounted a man-hunt for him after the remark he made which was considered inciting in the nation’s security circles. The former FCT minister was

driven by Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi to the national headquarters of the security outfit at about 9.15a.m. in an ash-coloured Mercedes SUV. Others who accompanied him were his wife, Mrs. El-Rufai;

Senator Chris Ngige; Interim National Secretary of APC, Tijani Tumsa; the Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu and El-Rufai’s lawyer, Mr. Mustapha.

NERC, Brazil agency seal agreement on information exchange BY CHRIS OCHAYI

BUJA — THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has entered into an agreement with Agencia Nacional de Energia Electrica, ANEEL, of Brazil, to collaborate in the area of information exchange aimed to deepen the development of the nation’s energy sector. The collaboration, according to NERC, dated back to 2011 when the NERC under the special scheme established by law, resolved to partner with the commission in the area of regulation of the electricity sector. The agreement focused on organisation and furthering of regulatory bodies; exchange of technical and legal documentation, personnel training, tariff determination, electricity market monitoring and development. Other objectives are consumer protection issues and surveys, quality standards and renewable energy, among others. In line with the agreement, three members of staff of the commission,were nominated from three divisions; Renewable Research Development, Legal and Consumer Affairs, led by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Muhammed Lawal Bello. The vice chairman revealed that ANEEL had a comprehensive customer redress mechanism worth emulating.

Boko Haram: AGF stalls trial of Kogi varsity lecturer, 2 others ...as court gives FG 72 hours to serve charge on suspects BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA —- FAILURE of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, to honour a hearing notice served on him by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, frustrated the arraignment of Dr. Mohammed Yunus, a lecturer at Kogi State University and two other alleged sponsors of a Boko Haram cell situated at Igala land in Kogi State. It will be recalled that the high court had on January 13, directed government to, within seven days, file formal charges against the accused persons or risk having them released for want of evidence.

However, on January 23 when the matter came up, counsel to the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Clifford Osagie, urged the court to allow it to further detain the accused persons, stressing that it had since concluded investigations in the matter and transmitted the case file to the AGF for prompt action. Though six persons were initially apprehended by the DSS over their alleged romance with the Boko Haram sect, Osagie however told the court that no prima facie nexus was established against three of the suspects. Consequently, trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, on the last adjourned date, ordered immediate release of Mustapha Yusuf

(a.k.a. Habib), Ismaila Abdulazeez , and Ibrahim Hayafu, who were hitherto in custody of the DSS alongside the lecturer, Yunus, since October 30, 2013. While adjourning an application by the remaining accused persons, including Yunus, Salami Abdullahi and Umar Musa, seeking their release from detention, following inability of the Federal Government to charge them to court, Justice Kolawole, warned the government to take the prosecution of the accused persons seriously, even as he granted an appeal by the third accused person, to be allowed to secure the service of a defence counsel. Meanwhile, at the resumed sitting yesterday, all the accused

persons and their counsel appeared in court, only for it to be discovered that the AGF failed to assign any prosecutor for the matter. Dissatisfied with the development, Justice Kolawole observed that the office of the AGF was duly issued a copy of the same hearing notice given to counsel to the accused persons, noting that the said notice which was served by the Chief Registrar of the Court through a bailiff, was equally acknowledged by the AGF on January 27. In a short ruling, Justice Kolawole, said he was constrained to shift the trial to February 3, owing to the adjournment foisted on the court by the AGF.

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16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Nigeria worth celebrating — Labour Minister BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

S THE Federal Gov ernment’s plan to mark the centenary anniversary of Nigeria’s amalgation kicks off, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu has called on all to support the Transformation Agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and look forward to the future with “ renewed determination, hope and expectations’. The minister spoke in his office in Abuja yesterday while receiving the Nigeria Centenary Celebration Lapel Pin from the National Coordinator of the project, Mr. Chuks Chilaka. According to the Minister: “I urge Nigerians to whom this celebration means more to rally round and support the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President.” He added: Centenary celebration will not be complete without reference to the contributions of labour leaders. “Hundred years in the life of any nation is worthy of celebration and for Nigeria we are happy that we have attained such an enviable stage," he said.

VISIT: From left, Alhaji A. Mohammed, member, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce; Alhaji Awwalu Makarfi, first Deputy President and Chairman, Organising Committee, 35th Kaduna International Trade Fair; Mr. Gabriel Omoh, Business Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Dr. Abdul-Alimi Bello, President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, and Usman Saulawa, DirectorGeneral, Kaduna State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mine and Agriculture, KADCIMMA, during a courtesy visit to Vanguard Media Head office, in Apapa, Lagos, on the forthcoming 35th Kaduna International Trade fair. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele

DDC machines contract: Court awards N17.3bn cost against INEC, Jega BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA — THE Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, yesterday, found the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, guilty of infringing on the patent rights of an indigenous company, Bedding Holdings Limited, BHL, who it awarded contracts worth N34.5billion for the purchase of Direct Data Capturing, DDC, machines for voters’ registration in 2010.

The high court, in its judgment, maintained that having gone through the totality of evidence adduced before it by both the company and INEC, it was satisfied that the electoral body, violated a subsisting patent right over the process, application and use of DDC machines for voters’ registration, solely acquired ab initio by the firm. The CJ held that in the award and execution of the contracts, INEC, its chairman and three companies involved in the transaction, infringed on a valid right of the plaintiff. Consequently, the court or-

dered INEC, Jega and the others to pay BHL N17.25 billion as compensation for infringing on its valid and subsisting patent rights. Specifically, BHL had in the suit filed by its lawyer, John Okoriko, alleged that INEC and Jega, infringed on its patented rights over the process and application of DDC machines for the compilation and collection of various biodata by awarding contracts for the purchase and deployment of the DDC machines for the compilation of the voters register without its consent. Joined with INEC and Jega as

2015: We were shocked by INEC’s timetable —Presidency •Denies influencing election schedule •Why we’ll conduct presidential election first — INEC BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & OKEY NDIRIBE

HE PRESIDENCY has dismissed as false, comments that it influenced the 2015 election time-table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, last week. Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Monday, accused the Presidency of influencing the electoral umpire to schedule the presidential election first so as to create a ‘bandwagon effect’ in subsequent elections in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “I don’t know how they influenced the Independent National Electoral Commission to put this election and National Assembly election first and then two weeks after, they'll do House of Assembly and governorship elections. I think the presidential election should come last,” he said. Responding to the allegation, Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, in a chat with Vanguard, said the Presidency had no hands in the issuance of the election timetable, which he said they were not expecting.

This came as the INEC gave reasons it released the schedules early and fixed presidential polls first. Said Obi: “They (INEC) have a constitutional responsibility to take care of elections. It is that responsibility they have adhered to. For me, it is part of the transformation agenda that those who are given responsibilities to perform do so without let or hindrance. That is what the (Professor Attahiru) Jega-led INEC has done. Nobody was expecting it. If anybody was saying that they were under some influence that person is wrong in his presumption. "It is the independent nature of the various organisations under this administration that is coming to play. We must thank the President for making sure that these organisations have a free atmosphere to function." Asked if the timetable was not released too early, given that the 2015 elections are 13 months away, Senator Obi said: “It is their (INEC) responsibility to put out dates for elections, declare dates for campaigns, among others, that is what they have done. Don’t forget they did that under a retreat. All of them cannot be mak-

ing a mistake at the same time. ” On whether putting the presidential election first would not create a bandwagon effect in favour of the PDP as alleged, Obi said the argument was neither here nor there because past elections had not followed any strict order.

History of elections in Nigeria

Indeed, past elections in the country beginning from the Second Republic did not follow any strict order.In 1979, the governorship election was held first on July 28 followed by the presidential polls on August 11. However, in 1983, the controversial ‘bandwagon effect’ was introduced into Nigeria’s political lexicon when the presidential election was conducted first on August 6 while governorship polls came up a week later on August 13. The elections were characterised by widespread rigging, which the military also cited as one of their excuses for wresting ing power four months later on December 31, 1983. To return the country to civil rule in 1999, local council elections were held on December 5, 1998, followed by the governorship on January 9, 1999 and the presiden-

tial election on February 27, 1999. In 2003, there was a marked departure from the two patterns already established. The gubernatorial and presidential elections were held on the same day and same time on April 19. However, in 2007, governorship and state assembly elections were held first on April 14, while the presidential and National Assembly elections were held on April 21. In 2011, the presidential polls (April 16) came before the governorship election (April 26). Meanwhile, speaking on the issue in an e-mail chat with Vanguard, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, said the commission is backed by law to fix the time table and schedule of elections as it deems necessary. Idowu, who is currently in the United States of America, in response to the specific question on why INEC chose to conduct the Presidential Election first, replied:”The law empowers INEC to determine the schedules, and it is neither here nor there which comes first. The arrangement is what the Commission considers most suitable for its operational planning.”

defendants in the matter were the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and the companies to which INEC awarded the contracts , Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation Limited, Zinox Technologies Ltd and Avante International Technology. In his verdict, Justice Auta, upheld Okoriko’s argument and evidence to the effect that the plaintiff was the sole owner of the patent rights over the process and that its rights was infringed by the conduct of the defendants, except the AGF. He held that although the AGF was not a party to the transaction, as the nation’s chief law officer and a relevant officer in the execution of orders made against the government or its agents, he was a necessary party in the case. Justice Auta further held that the nation’s Patent and Design Act precludes anybody from using a patented invention without the consent of the inventor. He said Section 6 of the Act provided for the protection of a patent right, adding that it was the duty of the court to ensure such protection.

Madam Cole for burial

RS. GRACE Ololade Cole is dead. She passed on in Lagos, aged 78. She is survived by children, grand children, great grand children, brothers and sisters. Madam Cole will be buried on Friday, January 31, 2014, at Atan Cemetery, Lagos.

Late Madam Cole

VANGU ARD,WEDNESD A Y,JANU ARY 29,2014 ANGUARD,WEDNESD ARD,WEDNESDA ,JANUARY

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18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 ARABS would not forget Ariel Sharon soon. The Israeli soldier, politician and statesman, who his compatriots loved and hate, in proportional measures, was to some a hero, while Palestinians call him a murderer. He died on January 11, after eight years in coma, from a 2006 massive stroke. Born to Belorussian Jewish parents, in the agricultural settlement of Moshav, Sharon joined the Haganah at a young age and fought the 1948 First Arab-Israeli War, regarded as war of independence. Two years later, Sharon became a national hero in another Arab-Israel conflict with Unit 101, which was specially created for retaliatory attacks in Arab territories. He commanded a paratroop brigade that was active in the Second Arab-Israeli War in the 1950s and 1960s. Sharon was a hero of the Six Day War that routed Egyptian troops at the Sinai and crossed the Suez Canal to cut off a third Egyptian military formation. The costly military operation almost earned him a court martial. His mentor, Gen. Moshe Dayan, rescued him. He was a co-founder of Likud Party. As Ag-

Sharon – Hero, Murderer? riculture Minister, under Menecham Begin, he initiated the policy of occupation. He was later Defence Minister. Sharon’s dubious role in the 1982 massacre of Palestinians in refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, by Christian Phalanges in Lebanon, remained a blight in his military career. Global outcry against the massacre forced him to resign. In 1998, he became Foreign Minister under Benjamin Netanyahu and in 2001, Prime Minister. Many believe the 2000 emergence of George W. Bush in Washington with Sharon in Tel Aviv created frustrations that prompted the 9/11 terror attack in USA, as Palestin-

ians and Arabs saw no hope of resuming the peace process. Sharon who began his premiership on a controversial note of building more settlements on the occupied territory made a sudden turn in 2003 when he endorsed the road map for peace that USA, the European Union and Russia supported. In 2005, he expelled 9,800 Jews from their settlements in Gaza and West Bank. Yossi Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem said of Sharon, “No Israeli leader left behind such a paradoxical legacy as did Ariel Sharon. When Israel expands settlements, it continues the path set by Sharon in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Yet as Israel negotiates an agreement with Palestinians that would inevitably involve uprooting settlements, it is likewise faithful to the legacy of Sharon, the only Israeli leader to dismantle settlements – twice, in Sinai in 1982 and then in Gaza in 2005.” Sharon was interred at Shikmim Farm in southern Israel, where his second wife Lily was buried. He is survived by two sons. Arios Sharon!

OPINION BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI Continued from Tuesdayviewpoints THNICITY, nationalism and regional allegiance are socio-cultural ideologies. In Nigeria, as in most other parts of Africa ethnocultural ideologies are much stronger than ethno-economic ones.” Furthermore, according to Mazrui, his favourite Nigerian example was “Obafemi Awolowo's effort to move Nigeria a little to the left. When he looked to see who was following him, it was not the dispossessed of all ethnic groups in Nigeria who followed; it was his fellow Yoruba of all social classes and levels of income.” Some people may argue that Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution which protects fundamental human rights is adequate with respect to the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness but these provisions are clearly incongruous with the issue of indigeneship that is at the root of inter-ethnic clashes across the nation just as they need to be reconciled with the overarching requirements of S.14 (3) and (4) on federal character. Fundamental to these discordant issues is the unacceptable definition of the federating units that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At independence, the federating units were the three regional governments and the central government. Within the three regions, minority ethnic groupings sought liberty from the oppressive dominance of the major ethnic groups which led to serious agitations for further subdivisions of the subnational governments without necessarily diluting or giving up their co-ordinate powers. The first democratically elected government went through constitutionally recognised processes to create the Midwest Region as an addition to the subnational federating units. This process of self-actualisation was however

Thoughts on the national conference(2) halted by the military intervention which subsequently used fiat to carve up the erstwhile regions into states that became the new subnational federating units, however, the states were stripped of the powers they should have inherited from the regions to the advantage of a new powerful and domineering federal government controlled by an unrepresentative military junta. Subsequent efforts were focused on consolidating this anomalous power relations including decreeing them into the 1999 Constitution. Understandably, different sections of Nigeria that were disadvantaged by military rule; the most vociferous of which is the South East geo-political zone, have protested against the perpetuation of this arrangement. It has therefore always been the hope of these groups that a national conference will provide a platform for redressing the wrongs of the military era as well as to retrieve the powers of the sub-national federating units from the central government. It can therefore be seen clearly that the recommendation of the Okorounmu Committee on National Dialogue that delegates should be elected on the basis of the current federal constituencies created by the unrepresentative military administrations will perpetuate the wrongs rather than redress them as it will retain the overriding powers of numbers in the hands of the favoured groups. The other recommendation for nominated delegates representing interest groups will further worsen the situation since, on the most critical issues of power devolution and fiscal federalism, virtually every delegate will vote according to the desires of their ethnic and geo-

political groupings. Take the issue of fiscal federalism for instance, without a shred of doubt, decades of almost total dependence on crude oil export for funding of government budgets at all levels and for foreign exchange earnings raise palpable apprehension in non-oil producing States over the prospects of sub-national government control of their resources. The apprehension is such that they have been unwilling to consider the socio-economic benefits of resource control in terms of its proven impact on efficiency in resource management for the overall benefit of the nation. It is unarguable that the relatively higher balanced and inclusive economic growth rates recorded by the Nigerian nation in the immediate postindependence years and the subsequent decline after the military intervention in governance has a direct correlation with the changes in national fiscal arrangements decreed by the military and sustained ever since by succeeding governments. It is expected that this sort of economic postulation will be debated at a national conference in which majority ethnic groups will not have veto powers over the wishes and aspirations of others and that practical beneficial consensus can be reached on such issues. On the basis of the foregoing, it is evident that the position of the Committee of Patriots on equal delegate representations for ethnic nationalities seems to provide the needed framework for the ethnic nationalities to give expression to their desires for equity in the Nigerian nation. Furthermore, it will help in finally properly defining what constitutes the

true sub-national federating units in Nigeria.Perhaps, the most critical question that needs to be addressed is the transition from the current constitution to the expected outcome of the national conference. Obviously, it is imperative that nothing must be done to tamper with the rights of the federating ethnic nationalities to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness especially its abridgement by the voting powers of the favoured groups under the current constitution. It is to avoid such a situation that it has been suggested that the first step to the national conference should be the amendment of the current constitution to provide for its convocation and for its outcome to become a new constitution if approved by referendum of the ethnic nationalities. Without this critical step, many are of the view that we might as well not hold the national conference, in which case, it will remain a dream deferred with attendant instability and insecurity. I am not unmindful of the current fluid power relations in the National Assembly between the ruling party and the opposition and how that can hinder such an attempt at constitutional amendment however, there is no short cut to the right steps. The past cosmetic alterations of the Constitution have not helped the nation so far and it is unlikely that the fundamental issues raised above can be equitably resolved within the subsisting constitutional framework. We must therefore work towards a multi-partisan consensus on this issue for the sake of a stable future for our children. Concluded *Mr. Ofuani, a former commissioner in Delta State, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARRY 29, 2014— —19

, Komla Dumor’s BBC

EYOND the media image I

know pretty little about the late Ghanaian-born BBC presenter, Komla Dumor. This is the case with most people we get to know through the media in our fast changing information age. But by the time he passed on Saturday, January 18, 2014, Dumor had become a close part of our media experience, at least for listeners and watchers, of both the BBC radio and television around the world. His death had a personal touchmuch in the same manner one would feel about someone related or well-known to one. This testifies to the invasive power of the media. Komla Dumor was well known to millions around the world. He was one of the better known faces on the BBC. Before this, his voice was to be heard on the now rested ‘Network Africa’ programme. Komla Dumor ’s popularity extended,however, beyond the fact of his being on the BBC. He

didn’t just have to rely on the staying power and reputation of the BBC. He carved a space for himself in the galaxy of BBC star presenters. It’s not often that a presenter rises up the ladder to gain worldwide visibility and respect within a relatively short period. But Komla Dumor did- at least at the BBC which he joined in 2006. Before him there had been many whose voices woke up millions around the continent: Hilton Fyle, Bola Mosuro, Elizabeth Ohene, Josephine Hazeley, Max Bankole Jarret and Audrey Brown among others. Dumor came much later than many of these names in a different time when the BBC was spreading its dragnet into television and other multimedia format. The switch from radio into television looked smooth but without people like Dumor this would probably have been impossible. Yet once the extension into television and online journalism took off in full steam, listeners got the added pleasure

He had the right passion and drive for his job. This couldn’t be otherwise for someone who gave up his study of medicine, abandoning the stethoscope for the microphone

of wonderful visuals to accompany the usual radio voices. Indeed, one could then put a recognizable face to many of the voices to which one had conjured particular, even wrong images. In the last few years, the BBC became a ‘world service’, not only in terms of reach but also in terms of staff representation. Before the likes of Dumor broke the barrier, presenters on the ‘Africa Service’ were restricted to just that. They presented programmes directly connected to the different parts and regions of Africa. What one heard on prime time BBC programmes was the crisp accent of educated Britons- the so-called Received Pronunciation. But once the BBC began its own internal reforms, the platform for news presentation was expanded to people from different parts of the world and with accents not necessarily associated with an Oxford or Cambridge education. This was all the opportunity people like Komla

Dumor needed to shine. And shine he did. It must be said though that Komla Dumor’s story did not begin at the BBC. That credit must go to Ghana, his home country, where he had worked in the media and had distinguished himself before England beckoned. He had the right passion and drive for his job. This couldn’t be otherwise for someone who gave up his study of medicine, abandoning the stethoscope for the microphone. He had presence- charisma and verve. And his imposing physique and deep baritone all worked to make him very visible to his superiors like Lyse Doucet who quickly saw the qualities they thought could win more viewers to the BBC and so insisted he be put on television. He was both serious and dramatic. While reading the news on prime time, he was serious. But on the street, he was down to earth, getting down to bare knuckles as the occasion demanded. Humour was not far from him either. All of these qualities he brought to his presentations in varying degrees. Dumor had been part of the battery of reporters and presenters the BBC sent to South Africa to cover the funeral of Nelson Mandela. His interviews with the Mandela children and grand children were at once sober, humorous and revealing. The last time I saw him on television was just two days or so before his sudden death. He was on ‘Focus on Africa’. Always well-

dressed, he stood tall and dapper as he walked close to the cameras. In the true spirit of the BBC slogan, Komla Dumor lived the stories he reported. He was proudly African and as an African he told the African story with the balance of a professional. He enjoyed the job and exuded the confidence of someone sure of his calling. On a group visit to the new BBC office in London last April, I had a glimpse of Komla Dumor as he walked back to his space with what looked like a lunch pack swinging from his hand. He had a bounce in his gait. He was in jacket and trousers and what looked like trainers below. His movement was that of a singer who sang to himself often. He played the piano, we’ve since learned and one of his colleagues spoke of his love of hip-hop and classical music. These were unknown parts of the man that must have shaped his television persona- as was his commitment to the family. I had come to enjoy his presentations and, perhaps, taken it for granted that he would always be atop of his game. For upon hearing of his death in the evening of 18 January, I tried to understand why it all felt so shocking and personal. It was then I realised how much he had become a personal aspect of my media experience, one of the high profile presenters whose work testified not only to his vast competence and knowledge of his trade but also to the joy he derived from it. Rest well Komla Afeke Dumor.

Are homosexuals human beings? HE theme of the 1993 United Nations child deserters and abusers, rapists, world conference on human rights in paedophiles, Daddy Overseers who fleece T Vienna was Women’s Rights Are Human their flock and sleep with their female

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congregants (married and unmarried), etc. — justify their lack of Christian love, charity, or plain fellow feeling by resort to a cheap and convenient cultural nationalism. Respect for the equal humanity of gay persons, they say, is a foreign concept being imposed on us by the imperialistic West. And then, without batting an eyelid, they quote from the Bible or the Koran - as if Christianity and Islam were African religions! But they fail to cite one African religious or cultural practice that punishes homosexuals with the force of law. Or an African jurisprudence that sanctions imprisonment as a form of penal justice. In an earlier essay in The Guardian on the frightening tide of homophobia in our land, I asked the venerable Rev. Jasper Akinola, the spiritual leader of the antigay movement, why, if he was the übercultural nationalist that he claims to be, he chose to be a priest of the Church of England, founded and headed by King Henry VIII in protest against the Roman Catholic Church’s refusal to indulge his appetite for adultery, and not of the Church of Orunmila? I am yet to receive an answer. We know, however, that the purported defence of African values (defined by whom?) is only a fig leaf for covering an onerous legacy of the Abrahamic faiths: making a sin of sexual desire, whether it be hetero- or homo-social in nature. Not even after marriage - a social undertaking not to be confused with the natural, hormone-driven, impulse of sexual orientation - was sanctioned as an inconvenient solution was the problem solved. But in blaming the West for something

Rights. I was with the Civil Liberties Organisation then and attended the conference. Why was it necessary, you might ask, to state that incontestable fact 45 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the very first article of which asserts unequivocally that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights?” Aren’t women human beings? Funny as it may sound, the status of woman as human wasn’t always “settled.” Indeed, a much earlier conference is believed to have been convened in France, circa 586 A.D., to resolve the question whether or not women were human! In having her humanity doubted, woman, the primal Other of history, the first to embody difference (ab-normal-ity, deviance from the perceived norm), shared a common fate with Africans, other socalled persons of colour, and many oppressed groups. Thus, as the great white men behind the American Declaration of Independence proclaimed the fact that “all men are born equal” as one of the truths they held to be “self-evident,” their diction betrayed the exclusion of women from equal humanity. It was not until 1920 that the 19th Amendment ensured political equality for American women by making them voting citizens. One of the disingenuous yet appealing justifications for the dangerous antipathy to gays and lesbians in Nigeria is that same sex relations are foreign to African culture. Those who bay for the blood of homosexuals, who would have them jailed for 14 years even when billion-dollar thieves in government and business are awarded national honours — not to mention election riggers, wife beaters,

Persecuting them will only make that backward stance even more barbaric. Whenever power has to resort to maximum force to have its way, it has lost the moral ground and is very close to defeat

that has been present in every human society and in the animal world as well, the self-righteous army of God forgets that the West persecuted homosexuals until quite recently.

ow more catholic than the pope, they cannot bear to hear the same West that brought them the Bible change its mind about any of its creeds and catechisms. “How dare you admit,” they shout, foaming at the mouth, at the Archbishop of Canterbury, “that gay people do not choose their sexuality any more than heterosexuals choose theirs, and then proceed to treat them as human beings equal to us virtuous heterosexuals?

How dare you ordain a gay bishop in OUR church?” But the question is inescapable: are homosexuals human beings? If the answer is yes, then they must be accorded their human rights and dignity. Sexual relations among consenting adults are no more harmful to society in same sex relations than in opposite sex relationships. If there be any harm, it is the mad rush to erode the laws of privacy and to criminalise what is at worst a sin, as if God cannot be trusted to punish that among other sins on judgement day. Yet, by pandering to the prejudices of a majority closed to reason — such as freed Barabbas the murderer and crucified Jesus - to authorise the recriminalisation of same-sex relations through sweeping and draconian punishment, President Jonathan may have unwittingly done the gay and lesbian community, all of rational humanity, a favour. For the law will not make homosexuals disappear from, or cease to be born in, Nigeria. After all, where do homosexuals come from, if not from heterosexual parents? Persecuting them will only make that backward stance even more barbaric. Whenever power has to resort to maximum force to have its way, it has lost the moral ground and is very close to defeat. To our brothers and sisters persecuted for being gay, I say take courage: the darkest hour of night is just before midnight.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

JANUARY 29 , 2014

n top of the onestorey building located at 163, Itire Road, Mushin, Lagos, is a bold inscription ‘’JOSSY-JD LTD, Obstetric and Gynecology.” The poster of an expectant mother canvassing for patronage, adorned the upper floor of the building which was used as private hospital. The poster stated that any pregnant woman who patronises the hospital’s Radiology Department, would be entitled to a gift. The hospital was a beehive of activities for couples seeking the fruit of the womb until last Thursday when it was sealed off by a team of medical personnel from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN, and Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA. Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that until its closure, the hospital met some basic requirements of a private hospital. The only snag was that it was run by a man alleged to be a quack. The proprietor identified as Dr Sunday J. Bassey, an indigene of Cross River State, claimed that he had on his payroll, three midwives, a matron, a radiologist and other staff who rendered medical services to both in and out-patients. VM was told that some staff of the hospital claimed that their boss works with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. According to them, he only comes to work in the clinic after closing officially at LUTH. VM was also told Sunday, 37, claimed to have graduated from the University of Calabar in Cross River State before proceeding for further studies in India.

How the closure was effected

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN,

‘’Dr Sunday’’ being led away from the hospital after his arrest. (INSET): Sunday and his midwife, Vivian. Pix: Bose Adelaja.

How fake gynaecologist was nabbed in Lagos ...Charged to court By BOSE ADELAJA hospital with some policemen at about 10 am, went round the premises to inspect the facilities. They asked the “Dr Sunday ” to present a certificate of competence which he failed to do. His patients were transferred to a government hospital whilehe was thereafter arrested

The said Nigerian sent us an email that one of his classmates, who was withdrawn from the University of Calabar, has been practising as a medical doctor in Lagos team was led by the HOD Inspectorate, Dr Okwuokenye Henry while the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, was led by its Executive Secretary, Dr Jimi Asuni. The team which arrived the

and taken to Alausa where he was handed over to the Police for further interrogation. The HEFAMAA Executive Secretary, Dr Asuni alleged that Sunday had been operating illegally in the area with doubtful certificates. He

claimed that he (Sunday) does not possess any certificate of competence as required by the medical profession.

lso speaking to VM shortly after the closure, Dr Henry said the visit followed a tip-off, noting: “We are here as a result of the report we got from a well meaning Nigerian who does not want evil to thrive in this country. The said Nigerian sent us an email that one of his classmates, who was withdrawn from the University of Calabar, has been practising as a medical doctor in Lagos. “By our own techniques, we were able to locate the address after which we contacted the Lagos State Ministry of Health for assistance. It was discovered that the said hospital had filed an application for accreditation to operate a fertility centre. “Its document also showed

the proprietor possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Medicine to operate as a gynecologist. He also claimed to have another certificate from an Indian College to operate as a fertility expert. “Unfortunately, he included year 2002 MDCN license with the forged signature of Dr Oshoba Festus who only worked with us between 2006 and 2008. It was easy for me to identify the fake document because the Council’s Registrar as at 2002, was Dr. Okwudili Ezeani. “Also, his license was probational that was to last for only two years but he did not know that he needs to get a full license before he can practice as a professional,’’ he said. Dr Henry explained that the closure of the facility was his body’s first raid in the new year, ‘’This body has recorded over 25 cases so far but this is our first operation in year 2014,’’ he said. According to him, the Council’s Registrar, Dr. Ab-

dulmumini Ibrahim mandated the body to fish out quacks wherever they are operating in the country. “Our Registrar has given us a marching order to fish out quacks from all nook and crannies and we have a formidable force all over the federation that has been empowered to carry out such operations,’’ he added. A visibly weighed down Dr Sunday could not respond when VM asked for his own side of the story. Pressed further, he retorted” I am dizzy and do not need to be disturbed on this issue.” Meanwhile, the matter has been charged to the Magistrate Court 2, Ikeja. When the case came up for hearing last Friday, Sunday was granted bail with two responsible sureties who must be working and who have evidence of tax clearance Each to the sureties who must have verifiable addresses, was required to deposit N50,000. The case was later adjourned till March 7, 2014.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 21

Nigeria to earn N104bn from cocoa export N

By WILLIAM JIMOH, with agency report

IGERIA will earn about N104 billion from the export of cocoa this year as the output of the product is set to rise by 10 per cent. According to the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, this is due to a rise in the price of the commodity last year which resulted in planting of more disease-resistant beans in the country this season. Robo Adhuze, spokesperson for the association, who stated this during a media chart in Lagos, noted that Nigeria will harvest 225,000 tons of cocoa this season, according to Amsterdam-based trader

Continaf BV estimate. “Output for 2013-14 will probably rise by 10 per cent as higher prices enable more farmers to buy agrochemicals to protect their crops,” noting that the association is still collecting data for the year in line with the outlook. Cocoa rallied 21 percent in New York last year partly on speculation dry weather would damage crops in West Africa. The farm-gate prices for cocoa beans increased 40 percent to N420,000 or $2,592 per metric ton as of Jan. 23, from N300,000 a year ago, said Adhuze,. “Nigeria’s main crop, being

harvested now, can be affected by fungi diseases such as the black pod but the impact on production is minimal owing to pest control. The new crop varieties supplied by government produce 1 1/ 2 tons of cocoa per hectare 2.47 acres each season compared with the older types which yield 1/2 ton,” Adhuze said. Nigeria, world’s fourth-biggest producer of cocoa, plans to double cocoa production to 500,000 tons by next year, Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said last year. Nigeria is distributing earlymaturing, high-yielding, diseaseresistant beans that mature in about 18 months to farmers to replace the traditional crop with four to five years maturity, Malachy Akoroda, Chief Executive of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, said in August.

SON impounds substandard goods worth N400m

TANDARDS Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Monday in Lagos seized three containers of gas cylinders and sealed four warehouses stocked with substandard generating sets worth N400 million. Mr Bede Obayi, Head of Inspectorate and Compliance Unit, SON, told journalists that the organisation’s taskforce made the huge seizure based on intelligence reports. Obayi said that the cylinders were being smuggled into the country when the task force intercepted it around Okokomaiko, a Lagos suburb. He said that the goods had been sampled and sent to the laboratory for a final test. “On the spot examination showed that the goods did not have the necessary import documents and failed the basic standard parameters. We will take action against the importers by evacuating the goods from the warehouses. We do not want goods that do not meet the required standard to be in circulation,” Obayi said. “We have put a series of measures in place to deter importers of fake and substandard goods into the country. They no longer have any hiding place, the exit of SON from the sea ports, notwithstanding,” he said. According to Obayi, the importers and manufacturers of substandard goods would be made to face the full weight of the law.

BRIEFING: From left: First Deputy President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Awwalu Makarfi; Vice President of the chamber, Dr Rowland Ogbonna; and Director General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr John Isemede during the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce media briefing on its forthcoming 35th international trade fair in Lagos, yesterday.

113.6

-0.8

Brent oil remains $107 as China slowdown stokes demand worries

2,898.00

+106.00

14.8

-0.31

RENT oil was $107 a barrel on Monday as slowdown in China demand creates worries, but cold weather of northern Hemisphere and tensions in the Middle East curbed losses. Emerging markets came under pressure as the U.S. Federal Reserve looked set to continue tapering its stimulus and as tighter credit conditions in China raised fears of a slowdown. However, expectations the West will pick up the slack in China’s slowing oil demand-growth meant losses in crude futures were limited. Brent crude was 32 cents off 107.56 dollars a barrel, after settling 30 cents higher. U.S. oil gained 22 cents to 96.86 dollars, having ended 68 cents lower. “Overall, the fundamental scenario for oil is not so bad because you have recovery in the U.S and Europe making

up for China trend,” said Tony Nunan. He is an oil risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp in Tokyo. “But will we have to go through another crisis of a contagion across emerging markets? That’s the thing in everybody’s mind now.” China’s economic growth will slow gradually over the next two years, a media poll showed. Growth for 2014 may come in at 7.4 per cent, according to the median forecast. That would mark the slowest expansion for the economy since 1990. “The government is doing the right thing, but China is a bit of a double-edged sword,” said Nunan. Fed officials are seen cutting bondbuying by another 10 billion dollars at their regular two-day policy meeting beginning on Tuesday. “If further tapering were to occur, the U.S.-

denominated crude is likely to suffer in the short-term due to the strengthening in the greenback,” analysts at Phillip Futures said in a note. However, longterm prospects will be positive as it underpins recovery in the U.S. economy, suggesting higher demand for the commodity.” Around this time of the year as peak winter season demand ebbs and refineries go in for maintenance, oil should typically come under pressure, Nunan said. But the severe cold spell in the U.S., Europe and Japan means that Brent may trade between 106 dollars and 108 dollars a barrel for the week, he said. Prices are also drawing support from lingering worries of a worsening geopolitical crisis in the Middle East.

107.04

-0.84

95.76

-0.88

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

154.75 257.0398 212.2706 173.2923 1.5604 0.3011 236.4395 25.5814 41.2612 28.4399 237.8198

SELLING 155.25 257.8703 212.9564 173.8522 1.5654 0.3111 237.2035 25.6645 41.3945 28.5318 238.5882

155.75 258.7008 213.6423 174.4121 1.5704 0.3211 237.9674 25.7476 41.5278 28.6237 239.3566

CBN Exchange rate as at 28/01/2014

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

BRIEF

New car sales expected to improve nearly 2% from last year

ew-vehicle sales are expected to improve 1.6 per cent year-over-year in January to a total of 1.06 million units, and an estimated 15.9 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to Kelley Blue Bookwww.kbb.com, the provider of new and used car information. At 15.9 million, this would be the highest recorded January SAAR since 2007, when it was 16.4 million. “January is typically the weakest sales month of the year as many consumers take advantage of holiday deals in December. However, winter storms also could impact new-vehicle sales this month, as much of the country deals with historically cold weather and snowstorms,” said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Early estimates indicate fleet sales will be down as well.” Key highlights for estimated January 2014 sales forecast: In January, new light-vehicle sales, including fleet, are expected to hit 1,060,000 units, up 1.6 per cent from January 2013 and down 21.9 per cent from December 2013. The seasonally adjusted annual rate for January 2014 is estimated to be 15.9 million, up from 15.2 million in January 2013 and up from 15.3 million in December 2013. Retail sales are expected to account for 83 per cent of volume in January 2014. Chrysler is expected to post a respectable gain in January with strength from its Jeep and RAM brands. Following the recent launch of the Cherokee crossover, Jeep sales increased 34 per cent in December, while the overall industry was flat. In addition, RAM sales finished the year 22 per cent higher than the previous year. “We expect Nissan to record a solid sales month in January from its top products, the Altima and the all-new Rogue,” said Gutierrez. “Both set record sales in 2013, and the Rogue has become an integral part of Nissan’s portfolio with compact crossover sales booming among

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Low govt. support, awareness plague NIID Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

ack of government support and low awareness are some of the challenges currently plaguing the performance and success of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID, of the Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA. Head of NIID, Mrs. Bola Omole who disclosed this to journalists in a recent chat said that though there has been a remarkable improvement in the number of vehicles uploaded on the NIID platform from 300,000 in 2011 to 1.65 million vehicle insurance policies in 2013, lack of adequate awareness about the project has also contributed to the low performance, adding that most vehicle owners are not aware of the existence of NIID.

the model is extended to the ports to block the existing leakages there due to activities of illegal insurance operators at the ports. Director General of NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas said the ports are another means through which insurers’ loss huge premium in addition to motor insurance.

Committee on Marine Transport on the problems confronting marine insurance in Nigeria, said the committee should expedite action on the process of computerising the authentication of marine insurance certificates.

Worried by this, insurance operators recently took the issue to the door steps of the National Assembly.

Besides, the insurers pointed out that the insecurity problems in Nigeria and multiple checks carried out at the ports have forced the Joint War Committee of Lloyds and London underwriters to include Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries/ trading zones, where vessels could only come on the payment of additional premium for war risk cover.

Specifically, the Legal Committee (LC), a technical arm of the NIA in a review of the presentation to the Senate

The Chairman of the Legal Committee, Samuel Oduroye, in the review of the Customs and Excise Management Bill

It will be recalled that recent media reports said that insurers allegedly lost N46 billion yearly to fake documentations at the ports.

- June 2012 to May 2013, said “The process of computerising the authentication of marine insurance certificates should be expedited as the estimated N46 billion being lost through fake documents is substantial to warrant urgent action to prevent these leakages”. According to him, “Provision should be made for electronic invoices that will be issued to customs, importers and insurers to reduce the incidence of underdeclaration in the systems and allow for easy monitoring by concerned stakeholders.” Oduroye stressed that the country should also adopt the electronic tracking system for vessels plying its waters for a more effective monitoring of their movements.

She explained that since the deploying of 25 gadgets to Ogun State for verification, there has been high patronage of genuine motor insurance policy by the general public. She however identified lack of Government buy in, lack of enforcement and low awareness as some of the challenges confronting the performance of the NIID project. Meanwhile the NIA has said that its major target in the new business year is to block the leakages in the ports under marine insurance through the use of the Database. The NIA said in addition to capturing remaining states to L - R Adamu Mele, Executive Director, Business Development and Investment, Kabir Tijani, key into the NIID in the Head Corporate Services and Malam Aliyu Dikko, Chairman Board of Directors, Premium Pension purchase of third party motor Limited insurance, it will ensure that

Premium pensions strategises to consolidate gains

he board and management of Premium Pension Limited, one of the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the country are strategizing to consolidate gains and move the company in tandem with the anticipated growth in the industry in the next five years. In a statement, Chairman of the company, Malam Aliyu Dikko said that they set out on this journey on July 7, 2005 to establish and nurture a company with a vision to be the leading PFA in Nigeria and a global player. Dikko said, “Our mission is to achieve superior customer

satisfaction in active and retirement life through best practices defined and driven by our core values of care, integrity, transparency, ethics and professionalism.

investment management policy with state of the art investment management tools that will produce superior returns for our clients,” he said.

“Our performances to date when placed in juxtaposition with the strategy we developed in 2008 reveals a mixed bag of areas where the benchmark were not attained and areas where targets were exceeded,” Dikko continued.

He further emphasized the need to consolidate on the company’s zero tolerance for non-compliance and further sharpen the risk management policy and best practices in internal control processes and procedures.

“This strategy defining exercise has the principal objective of leading us to our set vision and mission through defining ways of developing a strong

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Wilson Ideva, said that Premium Pension Limited is already occupying an enviable position in the

industry and has the potential to be unassailable with the right strategies. He said, “The competition in the industry is becoming stiffer and the environment throwing up tasking challenges. The company’s actual performance grew from N52.3 billion in 2008 to N325.7 billion in 2013.” Ideva also noted that the actual assets under management surpassed the 2008 strategic plan projections for four of the five years while performance over budget ranged from a low of N276 million to a high of N19.7 billion.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 23

Oladipo Bailey; Professor Joe Irukwu and Osaka Ogala, were nominated for the Excellence Award. For Best Trade Group Award, he said Nigerian Insurers Association; Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers and Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria were nominated. Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc; Leadway Assurance Limited and Mansard Insurance Plc were nominated for Companies for Corporate Brand Award. From left: Managing Director, Anchor Insurance Plc, Mr. Mayowa Adeduro, presenting a Laptop, Certificate of Award/plague to the overall best agent in microinsurance, Mr. Babajide Salami represented by Oyawoye Oladipo at the Anchor Insurance staff and agents performance award/ New Year welcome party in Lagos

Inspenonline unveils nominees for insurance, pension award

nspenonline, an insurance and pension online media has released the names of nominees for the 2013 Nigerian Insurance and Pension (Inspen) Award. A statement by the Editor, Chuks Udo Okonta, said the yearly award which is in seven categories will be contested by underwriting, broking firms and individuals who distinguished

themselves in 2013. The award ceremony comes up February in Lagos. He said the nominees for the Insurance Man of the year category are, the Managing Director Mansard Insurance Plc, Mrs Yetunde Ilori; Managing Director Leadway Assurance Limited, Oye Hassan-Odukale; Managing Director Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Olawale Onaolapo and former

President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) D r. Wole Adetimehin. He noted that firms nominated for Insurance Company of the Year are, Mansard Insurance Plc; AIICO Insurance Plc; Leadway Assurance Limited; Custodian Group and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc. He said Yemi Soladoye;

Firms nominated for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award were, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc; Industrial and General Insurance; Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc; Leadway Assurance Limited and Mansard Insurance Plc. Okonta noted that firms nominated for the Pension Fund Administrator of the year are, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers; AIICO Pension Managers; Leadway Pensure PFA Limited and PAL Pensions. He urged voters to cast their votes for individuals and firms that have contributed immensely to the development of insurance and pension industry and by extension the nation by mail to inspenonline@gmail.com or udochukwuyem@yahoo.com.

Investors confident about their own retirement, but not their children’s

recent John Hancock survey found that investors are relatively confident of their preparation and expectations for retirement, but are divided on the outlook for their children. Six in 10 surveyed say they expect their quality of living in retirement to be better than their own parents, and close to a third think it will be about

the same, while nine per cent say they expect it to be worse. Yet a third of investors believe their children’s quality of life in retirement will be worse, with about 40 per cent thinking it will be about the same, and three in ten expecting that their children’s retirements will be better. “Our sur vey findings underscore the importance for parents to encourage savings,

preparation and planning when discussing finances with their children and family members,” said Bill Cheney, John Hancock’s Chief Economist. “Learning about and setting up retirement and college savings plans can go a long way toward building confidence and financial security.” The findings were drawn from the fourth quarter 2013

Swiss Re earns Moody’s upgrade

oody’s has upgraded Swiss Re’s insurance financial strength rating and senior debt rating. It says the move to Aa3 from A1 reflects the reinsurer’s improved profitability and financial flexibility, plus an excellent market position and strong business diversification. Swiss Re’s “good profitability has continued [this year], with a reported return on equity of 13.6%”, the ratings agency says. “We now see little uncertainty and very small potential cost implications regarding legacy exposures related to former financial services activities that significantly affected the group’s results in 2008.” Operational debt has fallen since 2010 and earnings coverage last year and this year has

been relatively high. Swiss Re’s financial flexibility continues to be enhanced by its access to capital markets, according to Moody’s. Return on capital and return on equity are expected to remain good “but not at the same level” as last year and this year. “Swiss Re, like other reinsurers, currently faces a difficult trading environment, with low investment yields a feature, [while] reinsurance pricing, especially for catastrophe business, is generally under pressure,” Moody’s says. The reinsurer faces a credit challenge managing its pre-2004 US individual life portfolio, which has made losses since 2007. “In light of this and the group’s catastrophe exposure, we expect Swiss Re to show some volatility in its results going forward.”

John Hancock Investor Sentiment Survey, a quarterly poll of affluent investors. Just over four in ten investors would not change anything about their retirement preparation. Nearly 30 per cent wish they had saved more from the beginning, and 13 percent wish they had started planning earlier. For half of those responding to the survey, their personal vision of retirement is best described by “being able to spend time as [they] choose.” Spending time with family and friends and spending time relaxing were the next best descriptions (35 per cent). One in five said that continuing to do work that they enjoy best describes their personal vision of retirement. Of the 44 percent of investors who say they plan to work in retirement, 36 per cent said they will likely work at a part-time job different from the one they held, while 28 per cent expect to continue their existing job on a parttime basis. Sixteen per cent plan to do charitable or volunteer work.

BRIEF

Insurance employment outlook improves

nsurance, financial services and real estate employment is forecast to improve next quarter as the sector leads labour market growth, according to a hiringintentions survey by recruitment group Manpower. The number of employers in the sector expecting to increase staff in the period is a net 16%, up six percentage points on the final three months of this year. Employment intentions are relatively stable compared with a year earlier. The survey questioned 1507 employers across seven sectors, asking how they anticipate total employment will change. “Employers in six of the seven industry sectors expect to grow staffing levels during the next three months, with the strongest labour market forecast for the finance, insurance and real estate sector,” the report says. Overall a net 7% of Australian employers plan to grow staff levels, based on results showing 20% intend an increase and 13% a decrease. Globally, Manpower surveyed 65,000 employers in 42 countries and territories, with Taiwan, India and New Zealand reporting the strongest hiring plans. “Despite continuing economic challenges and widespread uncertainty in the global labour market, the first-quarter research reveals the majority of hiring managers will continue to add to their workforces by varying degrees,” the report says. Italy, Ireland, Finland and Spain forecast the largest decreases in hiring intentions.

24 — Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

NSE partners CBi on corporate governance rating for companies By NKIRUKA NNOROM

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change, NSE, had entered into partnership with Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) to develop Corporate Governance Rating System, CGRS, for companies quoted on the Exchange. In line with this, a breakfast meeting with senior executives from listed companies across various industry sectors in Nigeria, would be convened this week, to further discuss Corporate Governance as one of the critical fundamentals for ensuring a healthy investment environment and maximising investor returns for sustainable growth of the nation’s capital market. The rating system, according to the NSE, is geared towards supporting effort of in-

graining corporate integrity into the fabric of listed companies. According to Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, “The Exchange has been pursuing a programme that is really geared around sustainability as we want to encourage companies to do business in a sustainable manner. The partnership with the CBi is to create a corporate governance rating system and based on that system, a ranking will be created and an index introduced for companies that meet certain thresholds within that ranking.” “The objectives are to raise overall corporate governance standards in the country, by providing companies with an incentive to develop global best practices. It will provide opportunities for companies to

differentiate themselves in the market place,” Jalo-Waziri added. Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Director of CBi, Mr Soji Apampa, mentioned that according to a recent IFC report, good corporate governance ultimately increases a company’s access to capital. According to him, “The NSE and CBi plan to launch the CGRS in 2014 and as part of the process of implementing the initiative, we have invited companies to join us at a detailed briefing session on the CGRS. This session will provide information on the methodology, implementation, overall strategy and benefits of the system,” revealed Apampa. It is important to note that the ratings and subsequent rankings will feed into two other important projects of the Exchange.

The Nigerian capital market and a national conference W

E are in a season in which it would appear that any ideas which would improve our national life should be considered. The nation should be looking for improvements that can be made in its capital market and vice versa. The capital market had its origins in the Lagos Stock Exchange Act 1961. The general public did not have much involvement in the capital market until the Indigenisation Act of 1972. Subsequent to the commencement of this law, a number of expatriate-owned companies offered to sell some portion of their shareholding to Nigerian investors. The stated rationale for this law was to place Nigerian citizens and associations at the commanding heights of the country’s economy. At that time, on each occasion a company’s shares were offered for sale, the demand for shares usually exceeded the available shares. Allotments of the available shares were such that investors did not obtain all the shares they asked for. In some instances, shares were allotted to some state governments in order to have a spread of investors across the country. Essentially, Nigerian investors earned dividends and bonus shares declared by these companies during the 1970s and the early 1980s. Also, in the period following the intro-

, VISIT: From left: Mr. Ashish Desai, Acting Managing Director, Wapic Insurance Plc; Alhaji Adamu Balanti, Director, National Insurance Commission, NAICOM; Fola Daniel, Commissioner for Insurance; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Board of Directors, Wapic Insurance Plc, and Mr. Barineka Thompson, Director, NAICOM, during the courtesy call by the Board of WAPIC Insurance Plc to NAICOM’s office, Abuja.

FG to complete sale of Abuja Exchange June By WILLIAM JIMOH, with agency report

HE Federal Government has said the proposed sale of the Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange will be completed by June this year. The director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Arunma Oteh, who disclosed this in Abuja noted that the government’s earlier commitment to complete the privatisation exercise by the end of last year could not hold, as it was unable to meet the deadline. According to Oteh, “the government wants to privatise the only commodity exchange and it had committed to doing it by the end of last year. It didn’t meet that deadline, but it’s planning to do something by

the middle of 2014.” “We have a number of both domestic and international players, who are very interested,” Oteh said. “They would rather acquire the privatised exchange, so they’re trying to see how far the government is going with this initiative and if not, they are prepared to seek a registration for a new commodity exchange,” she added. The Abuja commodities exchange was converted from a stock exchange to a commodities market in 2001 and has information on crops traded dated January 2008. Heirs Holdings Chairman, Tony Elumelu, wants to acquire the state-owned Abujabased exchange when it is sold, he said in an interview last month. If it’s unable to buy the exchange, Heirs Holdings will apply to the SEC to set one up, he had said.

This concern is partly because some market participants obtained loans for investment in the market and these participants have not been able to repay the loans

duction of the Indigenisation Act, participants in the capital market such as stockbrokers and registrars had a significant growth in their activities. From the mid 1980s onwards, the introduction of various government policies such as Structural Adjustment Programme, various import licensing regimes and import substitution requirements for manufacturing industry has given rise to a situation in which some of the companies that were introduced to the Stock Exchange after the Indigenisation Act are no longer operational. In some significant instances, some companies which include the Nigeria Bottling Company, Nampak Nigeria Plc and United Nigerian Textiles Company have delisted their shares from the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, and have paid off their Nigerian shareholders such that the expatriate core investors now hold 100% of the equity in these companies. One or two of the companies had indicated that it would not have been profitable for them to raise the funds that were required for the company’s capital investment from the Nigerian capital market. Furthermore, the capital market participants are concerned about the recovery of share prices following on the 2008 crash of share prices. This concern is partly because some market participants obtained loans for investment in the market and these participants have not been able to repay the loans. If we examine the results of companies listed on the NSE, we would find that a few companies in the breweries, food products, personal/household products and pharmaceutical sectors have regularly paid dividends to shareholders after the 2008 crash and that these companies have share price levels higher than the prize levels at anytime before. If we examine the shareholding and management structures in these companies, we would find that the expatriate core investors hold more than 50% of the equity of these companies and that these core investors are active in the management of the companies. The results of the companies listed on the NSE should drive the performance of the market and the question that arises is why is it that a number of the companies listed on the NSE are not performing well.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 25

DIARY

Select ICT events zTelecom CEM World Congress 2014 April 2014, Venue TBC, London zhong Kong ICT Expo 13 – 16 April 2014 Hong Kong. z Cards & payment Asia holds in Singapore 23-24 April 2014. zTransport Networks for Mobile Operators 2014 13 – 14 May 2014 London.

HE recent pronouncement of N14 billion grants for dry season farming by federal government, undoubtedly, is a welcome development, considering that such special grant was unprecedented, especially, when it is targeted at boosting the chances of Nigeria in achieving food sufficiency, particularly in rice production as planed by the federal government. But how far this grant will go remains unclear, given that the Presidency is still withholding the bio-safety bill passed by the National Assembly, which is expected to arm Nigerians farmers with the latest technological tools and inputs to compete favourably with the food producing majors across the globe.

zCritical Communications World 27-29 May 2014 BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

The House that walks

new prototype house walked around the campus of the Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridgeshire, England. The eco-friendly house is powered by solar cells and minature windmills, and comes with a kitchen, a composting toilet, a system for collecting rain water, one bed, a wood stove for CO2 neutral heating, a rear opening that forms a stairway entrance, and six legs.

I N S I D E C M Y K

Nigerian e-market swells with Buyam.com

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

HE bill is one of the bills passed by the National Assembly that have been gathering dust on the desk of President Jonathan. Although President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a committee to vet the long awaited biosafety bill as passed by the National Assembly before he could sign

it into law, the new law is expected to usher in a new era in the deployment of biotechnology to boost food production, ensure food security and reduce the high incidence of food importation. Participants at the 10th anniversary of African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF seminar held in Abuja recently said, Nigeria’s dream of achieving food sufficiency in 2015 will be a mirage, unless the

Tecno in ‘Talk and Clean’ against e-waste

country adopts biotechnology in the agric sector. To achieve these goals, they were of the view that President needs to sign into law, the bio -safety bill currently before him, which they believe would open a new vista for massive production of food for local consumption and export, irrespective of other reforms going on in the sector. Agricultural biotechnology is the application of

Right regulatory policy in BPO will fast link Nigeria’s MDGs

technology to agriculture to make, modify or improve on a product for the benefit of mankind. When the bill is signed into law, it is expected that Nigeria with vast arable land and so many agricultural potentials would benefit more, as it would make a significant economic impact on the populace by contributing immensely to job creation, wealth creation, eradication of hunger and malnutrition. Farmers on their part, experts say, would not require special skills or training to key into the benefits of the initiative, as they are the end users of the agricultural biotechnology product otherwise called Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs; such as seeds and plantlets, which are the same as Continues on page 30

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Nigerian e-market swells with Buyam.com By PRINCE OSUAGWU

HO would have believed that Nigeria could grow this far? Just type buyam.com.ng on your computer browser and your desired good and services could be delivered at the comfort of your home. That is as far as Nigerian ecommerce ecosystem keeps growing on daily basis. Yet, do you know that with over 167 million people living in Nigeria today, the current Internet penetration at approximately 30 per cent means that a lot of businesses online and more expected to come, would still perfectly compete, grow and survive? That was the calculation of a Nigerian company,Morpheus Limited, promoters of the ecommerce platform, Buyam.com which sees them as the latest entrant in the burgeoning Nigerian online retail platform. Explaining his business focus at a press parley last week, Managing Director of he company, Mr Emeka Mordi said that part of the growth statistics of the industry that attracted him into the business was that the growing middle class makes up more than 23 per cent of the population and therefore presents a golden opportunity for new entrants to create a safe and dynamic online retail service. He described his platform as where business to business, B2B and retail commerce customers can access goods and services directly from the merchants at no additional costs. He calls it a web-based, global marketplace where a variety of products could be bought and sold. The site, according to him, covers Nigeria and will eventually expand to other African countries in the near future. Already Buyam.com.ng is partnering over 108 merchants stocking everything from electronics, books, to fashion and health care, which the company intends to meet the needs of its rapidly growing customer base. To secure customers Mordi said his company is using the highest grade of encryption and highest grade of technologies to secure the platform. ”We are also working with the banks and payment platforms to spot any fraudulent behaviors in order to bring internet fraudsters to book” Logistics: “Because we recognise that delivery is a key point of failure in this business, logistics will be handled by top of the line haulage and logistics partners. For instance, we are partners to DHL Express among others and also supplement their services with our own in-house logistics company, Thanet Deliveries. ”Besides, we are backed up by sound insurance policy. so even if the goods are stollen or damaged, the customer is not going to lose his money” he added.

National ID card enrolment now holds Saturdays

HE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has extended the national identity card enrolment from weekdays to include Saturdays, beginning from January 18, 2014 in Abuja and Lagos. According to the Director General of the Commission, Chris Onyemenam, the extension would avail the commission the opportunity to register more Nigerians. He said that NIMC was ``in a hurry” to meet the target President Goodluck Jonathan set for it. ``President Goodluck Jonathan has given NIMC the mandate to register all Nigerians and all legal residents from age 16 years and above by Dec. 31, 2014. ``In a bid to meet the presidential mandate, therefore, NIMC has put all necessary measures in place to commence Saturday enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN) in Abuja and Lagos respectively from Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. ``This is to avail more Nigerians the opportunity to enroll. We are soliciting the cooperation of all eligible Nigerians and legal residents in the country to make the project successful,” he said. Onyemenam said that NIMC’s offices would continue to be open to applicants from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm while Saturdays’ enrolment would be from 9am to 4pm. The Director General said that the commission had set-up a pre-enrolment portal: www.ninenrol.gov.ng where applicants could fill their bio-data online.

Tecno in ‘Talk and Clean’ against e-waste By ONOZURE DANIA

o fewer than 120 people gathered in Ikeja Computer market last week to carry out the special environmental cleaning exercise initiated by phone manufacturers Tecno ltd. The initiative tagged “Tecno Talk and Clean, was part of Tecno’s CSR initiative to reduce e-waste in the market. The effort also complements Lagos state government’s efforts to rid the metropolis of dirt. Explaining the essence of the exercise, the company’s Below the Line BTL manager, Soifack Sonna, said the activity underscores Tecno’s desire to give back

to the society where it is doing business. He also said that Tecno was using the excercise to encourage other people operating in Computer Village to maintain clean environment. Sonna, who spoke on behalf of his general manager Mr Jackwell, said that the exercise will not end only in computer village but will extend to other parts of Lagos in the course of the year. Sonna said, “We just want to say that this campaign is designed to keep our business environment clean. Tecno is not just in Nigeria to do business alone, but also to help our customers stay safe and healthy in our environment” he added. The BTL manager further stated that the campaign is the first for Tecno all over the world and that Nigeria

was the first place to implement it before it would move to other countries. Nigeria is the base of Tecno in Africa and this is the first campaign we are doing in Nigeria and it is also the first for Tecno all over the world, Nigeria has 36 states, so we are going to need more resources, to enable us carry out all this activities across the country.”Sonna added

Airtel offers N4bn free airtime in joint promo with 7Up By PRINCE OSUAGWU

IGERIAN subscribers on the Airtel platform stand to enjoy no less than N4 billion worth of airtime in a new megaconsumer promo in partnership with Seven-up Bottling Company Plc. The promo, which is open for two months between January 20 and March 22, 2014, offers consumers of the mineral beverage company’s products, including Pepsi, Mirinda, 7-Up, Teem or Mountain Dew carbonated drinks,instant Airtel free airtime. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday in Lagos to announce the promo, General Manager, Value Added Services, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Victor Bannerman-Chedid, who let the lid on the promo, last week, described it as an in-depth demonstration of the two

companies’ customer-centric culture which translates to multifaceted exciting packages and offerings. He stressed that Airtel particularly was a true pro-people telecoms company based on the various channels through which it strives to enrich the lives of Nigerians, adding that the company only recently concluded another exciting promo in which every customer was a winner. Bannerman said that “ the partnership between Pepsi and Airtel, is one of the most exciting things to happen to the Nigerian consumer in recent time. We are happy to begin the New Year on a very promising and positive note for the good of the Nigerian consumer. We recognize their importance and the immense roles they play in the success of our businesses.” The partnership will see Nigerian consumers winning airtime for

every glass bottle of Pepsi, Mirinda, 7Up, Teem and Mountain Dew purchased in the next 60 days. Explaining the mechanics of the promo tagged ‘Everybody is a Winner’, Bannerman explained that each crown cock would bear a pin number which is revealed when a consumer peels off the inner bottle covering of any of the carbonated soft drinks.

he customer is Consumers are to dial the revealed PIN number for instant recharge of one minute Airtel airtime for both on-net and off-net calls. For consumers who are not on the Airtel network, the PIN number entitles them to a free SIM card that on activation will enable the consumer to enjoy the free airtime. Consumers can redeem up to three free airtime crowns per day and each recharge is valid for three days. In addition, the airtime has pass over value as a customer may decide to give it to friends or family members as a show of love. It is also redeemable within 30 days after promo window closes. Also speaking, the Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Norden Thurston said the partnership is rooted in the customer-focus philosophy of the two companies as well as the desire to give to the Nigerian consumer the best of two worlds: drinking refreshing Pepsi and coming alive by talking via Airtel. His words, “It is always good to have a partner, but it is more important to have From left: General Manager, Value Added Services, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. the right partner. Airtel is the Victor Bannerman-Chedid; Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling right partner we have Company, Mr. Norden Thurston; General Manager, Mass Market, Airtel identified, and are proud to Nigeria, Wole Abu and Senior Marketing Manager, PepsiCo, Mr. Shakeel work with the company Akram at a press conference to unveil Pepsi/Airtel consumer promo, in because of our shared Lagos. values.”

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Right regulatory policy in BPO'll fast link Nigeria’s MDGs — Adebayo By EMEKA AGINAM

or Nigeria to fast track the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, especially in employment creation , right policy and regulatory environment must be put in place to win the confidence of the service providers and industries that may be willing to use the country as a Business Process Outsourcing, BPO, destination, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Communications Network Support Services Limited, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo has said. This is even as studies have shown that Nigeria is the next major destination for Business Process Outsourcing, BPO after India and the Philippines who currently have the highest number of Contact center operators. Business process outsourcing (BPO) involves the contracting of the operations and responsibilities of specific business functions or processes to a third-party service provider. Adebayo who stated this in a press conference last week on BPO in Nigeria shortly after a media tour of CNSSL Contact Centre, an ultra modern call center at Mayfair gardens, Lagos told IT Journalists that Nigeria has a good chance of creating millions of job for graduates if local firms were encouraged in BPO with right poliEngr. Adebayo cies. Policy and regulatory environment: Adebayo who is also the President Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, stressed that, “We have a high number of graduates and the quality of training they receive is adequate for BPO service for needing industries across the world. But our policy and regulatory environment must be right, in order to win the confidence of the service providers and industries that may be willing to use Nigeria as a BPO destination”. According to him, the Nigeria Telecom industry is one of the highest contributors to our National GDP above 10% and also, one of the highest consistent contributors to our FDI over the past 13yrs. CNSLL employs 6000 graduates : “In CNSLL we are contributing our little best to our national economic development. We are one of the highest employers of labour in the telecom Industry today, with our over 6000 graduate employee workforce. “We are grateful to our Principal Partner MTN Nigeria for the opportunity to support them and MTN by this is an example of a Company supporting local companies in the development of our national human capital among other things. “We wish other Big organiza-

tions will emulate MTN in this regard in order to enable us take the full benefits accruable from BPO.

ly employs about 74 000 people, contributing over 0.92% to South domestic Africa’s gross product(GDP).

BPO can solve unemployment problems: “ Imagine if many young enterprises in Nigeria will engage the number we talking about in BPO how well it will solve our unemployment problems. “We saw an early opportunity in business process outsourcing BPO and over the past seven years since our establishment we have developed capacity and human capital to support the telecom industry in Nigeria and other, sectors requiring our type of services in the economy, such as the power Sector, oil and gas sector, banking and finance, among others, he explained.

China: “China is also trying to grow from a very small base in this industry. However, while the BPO industry is expected to continue to grow in India, its market share of the offshore piece is expected to decline. The Philippines has over-taken India as the largest call center industry in the world in 2010” he explained.

Indian example: According to him, India has revenues of US$10.9 billion from offshore BPO and over US$30 billion from IT and total BPO. India thus has some 7% share of the total BPO Industry, but a commanding 63% share of the offshore component. Philippines,South Africa: Other locations like Philippines, and South Africa, he said have emerged to take a share of the market. The South African call center industry has grown and direct-

Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe, the ALTON explained is also an emerging BPO destination. Report has it that in 2010, 33,000 jobs were moved to Eastern European countries., he said. While the overall size of the industry and the number of developers in Eastern Europe is lower than India, the knowledge of European language such as French, Spanish, German and Italian by many Eastern Europeans, as well as the overall high quality of education in these locations, according to him allows the BPO industry in this region to continue to grow. “For example, the region has an estimated 17.2 million people with a tertiary education, compared to 13.6 million in India, making it an attractive choice for BPO, especially if more specialized projects are to be outsourced” he added.

Samsung launches 2nd phase of engineering skills in Nigeria By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

AMSUNG Electronics West Africa has partnered with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA to address the issue of technical and engineering skills shortage in Nigeria. Speaking at the commissioning of Samsung Engineering Academy , the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Bravo Kim said that the Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy was undertaken in response of the need to train skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth Kim reiterated Samsung’s commitment to fulfilling its brand promise of inspiring the world and creating the future through its commitment to bringing new and meaningful innovations to the doorstep of customers In addition to ensuring that Africa develops an adequate pool of engineering skills, the academy also provides learners with well-paying job opportunities, a commitment that supports the Nigerian government’s drive to address the issue of youth unemployment. Kim said the firm’s interest and commitment to facilitating a better future for Nigeria by training a skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth. According to him, “At Samsung, we understand the importance of investment in quality education and its role in youth empowerment. Today’s ceremony is yet another significant milestone for Samsung in Africa, as it represents our vision to ensure that empowerment opportunities that exist on the continent is shared by all, even as we continue to expand the programme here in Nigeria and across the continent”. The academy is one of several community development projects undertaken by Samsung over the past few years, in furtherance of its corporate social investment initiatives. Samsung started the first phase of the academies in South Africa in March 2011 which graduated its first class of students in January 2012 in its pilot phase.

SECURITY CERTIFICATION:

GIS partners STG

By CHARLES MGBOLU

nformation Security Consulting firm, Global Info Swift (GIS) has partnered Security Technology Group STG in a bid to strengthen information security controls of banks in the country. According to Mr. Afolabi Oke, Executive Director, GIS “In the wake of cashless society, we have to start embracing technology which comes with a lot of risks, these security certification procedures ensures that we protect the information access within our financial institutions. It means we have to standardise to international practices.” This is against the backdrop of the mandate from the CBN to all banks to get their information security management systems certified by 2015. Mr. Oke explained that when the entire financial sector complies, it makes it very difficult for hackers. “One of the requirements of ISO, is you must do what we call a variability assessment test, where you test your system and determine how to mitigate the risks that you have identified , with the test you know how strong your website is particularly with banks” Mr Daniel Britz, CEO Security Technology Group explained that the certifications aim for sector leaders “If we want to get everybody to comply we cannot start at the bottom. If we make the big organisations comply with these standards, they will in turn force their vendors or agents to comply too to standards. It trickles down from there.” “There must be no weak link in the sector,” says Mr Oke. “It is important that they all certify. The first line of defence is external, institutions must have access control, you must be able to ensure only authorised personnel ply within your operating systems. Many years ago, 419 used to be the talk of the day but now, gradually, you don’t hear about it again because people are becoming much more aware of how they can protect their information.

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N14bn FG grant needs technology boost Continues from page 25

conventional crops. Speakers at the seminar said the introduction of GM foods processing system in Nigeria would multiply food production that would ensure food security, improve nutritive value of food, improve agricultural practices by minimizing use of chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. GMOs are organisms in which the genetic material, DNA has been

altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called gene technology and allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between related species. It is this method that is used to create GM plants, which are used to grow GM food crops. While, announcing the N14 billion grants during the inauguration of the dry season farm support programme held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja,

President Goodluck Jonathan said the sum was reviewed upward by 56 per cent from N9bn earmarked for the programme in 2013 because more states were now part of it and promised to increase the financial support as more states keyed into the project. According to him, the resolve to expand this dry season programme stemmed from federal g o v e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to ensure that farmers from October

get what they need before the commencement of the dry season. Jonathan said he would expand the Growth Enhancement Scheme to reach more farmers, adding that sometime this year, the federal government would launch a fund for small and medium scale farmers. He admitted that agriculture remained the largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and the largest employer of labour.

“Our nation shall be green, our barns shall be filled and our farmers shall prosper,” Jonathan said. On his part, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani said he believed that biotechnology has the strong potential to achieve sufficient food for every Nigerian, one of the aims of the transformation agenda of the present administration, which is to ensure food security for all Nigerian. “The African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF,

through its synergy with NABDA does not only ensure food security, but ensures the local farmers utilize appropriate technologies such as biotechnology. One of their key projects in Nigeria is the development of nitrogenuse, water efficient and salt tolerant rice. This is key because Nigeria is the second largest importer of rice in the world, about two million metric tons of rice from countries like Thailand and China. The project would ensure Nigeria is self sufficient in the production of rice and would boost the countries revenue,” he added. The Director-General of NABDA and Chairman, Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology, Professor Bamidele Solomon said though, he believed in the ability of President Goodluck Jonathan in sign the bill into law soon to ensure food security in the country, there was need to prioritise the importance in order to fast-track the high food yielding process. According to him, the new law will usher in a new era in the deployment of biotechnology to boost food production, ensure food security and reduce the high incidence of food importation. Food production will soon take an upward swing He said, “Having a law will ensure the safe use of modern biotechnology while protecting human health, the environment and national biodiversity. “It will also facilitate risk assessment exercises, monitoring and enforcement measures relevant to import, export, trans-boundary movement of the products of modern biotechnology, laboratory and field testing/use of modern biotechnology including handling, containment disposal, control, monitoring and release of biotech products. “ T h e r e f o r e , biotechnology research will be given the opportunity to thrive as soon as the bio-safety framework is in place. It will soon be signed into law.” The global convention by which the world keeps watch over biosafety issues is the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD. Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF recently hosted an interaction around this convention between experts and farmers.

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CHAN 20 14: 201

ergio Aguero has w a r n e d Manchester City’s title rivals that he will pull out all the stops to ensure they take some silverware this season. Aguero, who recently returned from a spell on the sidelines, took his goal tally to 25 in 24 games this term with his hat-trick in City’s 42 victory over Watford in the FA Cup. The Argentine international is hoping that his goals will one day amount to trophies at the Etihad.”The important thing is the goals contribute to the team’s victories and we win titles,” Aguero told reporters. “I don’t have any specific goals to reach but [I want as] many as possible. ”We weren’t expecting to score four goals. We knew at half time we needed to

What Nigerians in SA want from Eagles

igerian soccer fans in South Africa on Tuesday urged Coach Stephen Keshi not to allow the Black Stars to dictate the pace of the semifinal game with the Super Eagles. The match is in the ongoing African Nations Championships (CHAN) scheduled to hold on Wednesday in Bloemfontein. The fans said in Johannesburg that the Eagles should not give in to fear or intimidation by the Black Stars. They said the Eagles had the technical edge to ward off any threat from the Ghanaians. Coach Salami Longe who oversees a football academy in Johannesburg, said that the Black Stars did not play any spectacular game against

Congo in the quarter-finals. He, however, said the Ghanaians could raise their game in the semi-finals because of the rivalry between both countries. “My appeal to the Eagles is that they should not allow the Black Stars to dictate the pace of the game. They should not even harbour any fears while facing up to Ghana. “The Eagles should go into the match and mount immediate pressure on Ghana with the aim of trashing the Black Stars with as many goals as possible,” Longe said.Sylvanus Okereke, who runs a sports shop in Johannesburg, said the Black Stars were ‘beatable’ by the Eagles.

igeria defender Solomon Kwambe is thrilled to be available again for selection after serving out his red card ban. The full back was sent off for second book able offence in Nigeria’s final group game of the African Nations Championship against South Africa. He subsequently missed Saturday/ stirring comeback win over Morocco, but says he is now ready to contribute to the cause. “I thank my mates for keeping us in the tournament in my absence and I promise that if I am picked for the semi-final game, I will make up for my absence in the previous game,” Kwambe said. The full back was part of the Super Eagles of Nigeria which arrived Bloemfontein on Sunday night, ahead of their semifinal clash against the Ghana’s Black Stars on Wednesday. The Nigerian team was split into two on the trip to Bloemfontein, with the

C M Y K

improve and in the end we won and we have made it to the next round. We are happy with that.” City travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions and having scored 22 goals in their previous five games.

•Messi

we return home on the 2nd of February. They have believed this and taken it on board and we remain focused to do well in this tournament” Gorowa says the support from the Zimbabweans living in South Africa has been tremendous and made it a home away from home atmosphere, “We sincerely appreciate the Zimbabweans who have thronged to the stadium in Cape Town to support the team and we are expecting the same following here in Bloemfontein.

Ghana, Nigeria in titanic clash W

first team made up of officials, arriving in the city by 7pm, while the other half of players and coaches came into town at about 9:30pm. The team is quartered at the President Hotel and Conference Centre, alongside the Zimbabwean national team, who will be playing the first semi-final at the Free State Stadium against their Libyan opponents also on Wednesday. MATCHES TODAY CHAN ZIMBABWE vs. LIBYA 4:00pm GHANA vs. NIGERIA 7:30pm PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa vs West Brom Chelsea vs West Ham Utd Sunderland vs Stock City Tottenham vs Man City

8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm

SCOTTISH LEAGUE Celtic vs Kilmarnock Hearts vs St Mirren

8:45pm 8:45pm

•Ghana

Uzoenyi

est African giants Ghana and Ni geria will revive their rivalry today in the semi-final of the 2014 African Nations Championship. But this showdown will be without high-profile foreign-based players and rather restricted to players in the domestic leagues as the tournament rules dictates. The home-based Super Eagles, making their tournament debut, are slightly on top of their opponents who have been far from impressive. Stephen Keshi’s side pitched themselves for the title after a miraculous comeback in the 43 win over Morocco in the quarter-final.They rallied from three goals down to beat the Atlas Lions. Nigeria have so far scored 12 goals and conceded eight. Striker Gbolahan Salami is racing against time to be fit for the titanic clash due to a thigh injury. Rightback Solomon Kwambe is now available for selection after serving a one-match ban. For Ghana, goal scoring has been

a problem after raking in four goals but the 2009 runnersup have strongest defence having conceded just a single goal. “Our attack has been such that we only manage one goal per match but we have been defending very well. That for me is a sign of a team that is progressing and I don’t think it is a bad thing to defend very well,” Head coach Maxwell Konadu said. “It is also important to score goals but in cases when you score one goal in a match and manage to defend it, that means you will win.” Trio- Michael Akuffo, Abeiku Ainooson and Kwabena Adusei-who picked up knocks in the quarter-final clash against DR Congo are now available for selection. Right-back Godfred Saka, who picked up a foot injury in the second Group C match against Libya, is now ready. Nigeria have not beaten Ghana since 2006 when they nicked a 1-0 win in the Group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

•Ronaldo

Hazard - I can compete with for me, I wanted to Messi, Ronaldo game amuse myself and didn’t

CHAN S/FINAL:

Kwambe happy to return N

Aguero vows to fire City to silverware

•Hazard

Zimbabwe W arrior Warrior arriorss loaded but they have insisted with belief interested parties will only he only side from speak with players after the T (Council of Southern tournament. “From the African Football Associations) beginning l told the players COSAFA region remaining in the 3rd Orange African Nations Championship – South Africa 2014, the Warriors of Zimbabwe are in buoyant mood ahead of their semi-final clash against Libya on Wednesday 29th. The Warriors took time to speak with the media after a training session at Siwelele Park, (Bloemfontein Celtic training ground). Warriors coach, Ian Gorowa said he and his backroom staff have been bombarded with requests about Zimbabwean players

•Aguero

bother what the people thought about me. ”But since I’m here at Chelsea, I’ve become more aware of my qualities, I guess. Before I knew I was a good player, but not one of the better players in the world. ”Now I realise that I can compete with Messi and Ronaldo in the near future, if I put in some more effort. “I don’t know if I will ever reach their level. It’ll be hard, they have incredible stats, but I accept the challenge.”

helsea midfielder Eden Hazard believes if he maintains his form he can challenge the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 23-year-old has grown from strength to strength since joining the Blues from Lille in 2012 and has now set his sights on being amongst the top players in the world. ”Of course I want to be the best in the world,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws. ”Previously, I was more worried about the game itself: football was just a

Mourinho rules out Premier League title

•Mourinho

ose Mourinho says Chelsea will not win the title this season - but insisted it will be a very different prospect next year. In what has become something of a theme for the Chelsea boss this season, he says that the “priority” in this campaign is to work to the required level - but that is for one season only. Once the squad have been with him for a full year, and new signings such as Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah have gelled, he expects it to be a very different Chelsea. “I don’t think

so,” Mourinho said when asked about winning the title, and whether he could again take out the champagne he had provided for his birthday at the end of the season. “I think you have to drink champagne because we are improving. We are improving a lot. The team, the players... so the perspective of champagne in the future is good. We are going in a good direction. But this season? I don’t think so.” “We have to try to keep the good form we have, and let things happen naturally. As I’ve always said, our main objective this season is to build a team. The best way to build a team is to be competing for things. C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 33

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

CHAN 20 14: 201

What Nigerians in SA want from Eagles

C M Y K

•Messi

Ghana, Nigeria in titanic clash W

8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm

SCOTTISH LEAGUE Celtic vs Kilmarnock Hearts vs St Mirren

8:45pm 8:45pm

•Ghana

Uzoenyi

•Ronaldo

Hazard - I can compete with for me, I wanted to Messi, Ronaldo game amuse myself and didn’t

CHAN S/FINAL:

Kwambe happy to return N

Aguero vows to fire City to silverware

•Hazard

•Aguero

Mourinho rules out Premier League title

•Mourinho

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VANGU ARD,WEDNESD A Y,JANU ARY 29,2014 ANGUARD,WEDNESD ARD,WEDNESDA ,JANUARY

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36— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

CONSTRUCTION OF 1008 HOUSING UNITS:

Lagos approves N200 million for displaced Ijora-Badiya residents By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

HE Lagos State Government has approved over N200 million to resettle the former occupants of the site acquired for the construction of 1008 units of flats at Ijora Badia. Governor Babatunde Fashola who disclosed this when he visited the illegal dump site being regenerated by his government promised to resettle the displaced inhabitants of the area. The Governor who interacted with some of the former occupants told newsmen after that provisions have been made for each of the former occupants. He asked them to bring their names and account details so that issues of mix ups do not arise about the original occupiers. He enjoined those involved to contact the office of the Attorney General of the State who is in charge of the disbursement of the funds. While responding to a question on when the first set of blocks would be laid at the site, the Governor said the construction technology has changed from what it used to be in the past. “Today, the construction technology has changed. The drain is constructed off site, they bring the mechanical shovels, excavate, put the drains in and your road is almost half done.

It is the same way we have approached this housing project”, he said. “Yes, there is not a lot of work going on site here; there is also a lot of work going on off-site. The form work which the Professor was explaining to us that makes four blocks in one vibration sequence instead of one block, the form work that makes the block with the conduit already laid inside the blocks so

that the electrical fittings and the conduit pipes can be installed at the time that the blocks is being laid are all being prepared off-site, he explained. “So, in the next few months as they’ve explained, the first buildings will be on this site but the work is being done mentally and technologically offsite so that when they deploy, everything goes on smoothly”,

the Governor stated. According to the Governor, the benefits from such a technologically driven approach are quite germane. “Just as the Professor was explaining to us that traditionally, it takes about one person a day to lay about 100 blocks. With this system, you can do a thousand blocks a day, so, you would see that you are gaining 10 times efficiency. “Over time, we will now write a manual hopefully from them about a Nigerian developed system for efficient, cost effective saving mass housing delivery, then we are on our way”, the Governor added.

•A housing estate built by the Lagos State government

Eternit unveils plans to begin dry construction

TERNIT Limited, a leading manufacturer of market place for customers. “Last year, we have created a special business roofing and ceiling products based in Sapele, Delta state has announced plans to provide more development unit within our firm due to current inclusive building solutions and services in 2014 and market realities and in response to special demands by many of our clients. A lot of our clients have come beyond. According to the firm, the reality in the Nigerian to trust the quality of our products and have economic environment and the growing need to demanded that we assist further in helping to deliver address special needs of high-quality housing solutions. We want to ensure customers, informed the that we achieve that in 2014,” Modderman said. Modderman also said that Eternit would be decision. The Managing Director of involved in providing dry construction in the country. the company, Mr. Dirk According to him, the firm has concluded all Modderman,said the creation arrangements to offer this special construction HE Federal Government plans of a business development method to governments and individuals who are to spend 300 billion naira on three major unit by the firm in 2013 interested in delivering quick and affordable housing road projects under the Public Private Partnerrepresented an extension of to the populace. ship, PPP arrangement. He said, “In 2014, we will be focusing on delivering the company’s business This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, beyond the traditional new solutions through our dry construction unit. We Mike Onolememen, an architect, when the provision of roofing and believe that Nigeria needs this new method of Chairman and members of the Board and Manceilings. He stated that in this building in order to meet housing demands that agement of the Infrastructure Concession Reguyear 2014, the unit would have continued to be a challenge in this country. latory Commission ICRC, visited him in Abuja. focus on providing highly One of the quickest and most affordable ways of The projects include the Lagos-Ibadan Exspecialised services in the achieving this is through dry construction,” he said. pressway, the second Niger Bridge at Onitsha and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road in Lagos. The Minister explained that when the three projects are completed, the economic activities of Nigerians will be greatly enhanced. Onolememen who noted that about 180 BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU for manufacturing quality tiles projects across the country are competing for Rao who spoke on the heels of the limited resources,explained that that was why EST African Ceramics opening of a new showroom in Lekki, the Ministry adopted the PPP approach in hanLimited, WACL has unveiled said the company has great plans for dling the road projects plans to introduce a technology the building sector this year. The Chairman, Governing Board of ICRC, that would take care of current “We would be launching a first-of-its Senator Ken Nnamani said the Commission is packaging challenges and delivery kind technology that would take care solidly behind the Ministry on these key PPP of customised designs in the ceramof current packaging challenges and projects. ics industry. deliver customized designs and shapes. Senator Nnamani said that the Commission The General Manager of The stakes are high in these had been championing the development of a WACL, Bhaskar Rao who disinvestments; nevertheless we are comGreen Paper for the Federal Roads and Bridges closed this, explained that the mitted to take on the risk to satisfy the Tolling Policy and implored the Minister to be company has also received kudos needs of Nigerians for quality and decisive in pushing the document across to critifrom the Lagos State Chapter of the designs obtainable anywhere in the cal stakeholders. Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA world,” he said.

FG to spend N300 billion on three PPP projects

Firm plans to tackle packaging challenges in ceramic industry

C M Y K

FERMA ds re war rew ards staf or stafff ffor outstanding per perfformance By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

HE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA recently celebrated 17 of its staff members who distinguished themselves in the course of duty. The assessment leading to the awards were made between 2011 and 2013, with awardees cutting across all grade levels and cadre. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze admonished those who were honoured to show more commitment while those yet to be recognized should not lose hope. He also said the impact of FERMA on government’s effort to improve Federal roads nationwide has been felt and applauded by all members of the public. Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji said he was happy to be associated with FERMA and the roads sector generally, as the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works. With FERMA’s achievements on the road, he said, the notion that civil servants don’t contribute much to economic growth has been effectively proved wrong. On his part, Chairman FERMA Governing Board, Ezekiel O. Adeniji, said his board is lucky to have a competent and committed management team as well as a conducive policy environment and good will from the Goodluck Jonathan administration, which was determined to turn around the fortunes of the Federal road network. FERMA Managing Director/ CEO, Gabriel Amuchi, an engineer, thanked the awardees and other staff for making contributions that enabled the Agency to discharge its mandate to Nigerians through effective maintenance of Federal roads. The Agency, he posited, has reduced the stock of poor and bad roads on the Federal road network from 85 percent in 2003 when FERMA commenced operation to about 26 percent in 2013. He said FERMA is better positioned and resolved in its commitment to improving Nigeria’s Federal road network, with the acquisition of necessary machinery as well as employment and training of more staff. He also said staff welfare is being improved by the current management.

UK and politics of prisoners exchange agreement BY VERA ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

HE recent report of i m p e n d i n g implementation of repatriation of prisoners’ agreement between Nigeria and Britain will definitely not come without lots of controversies since the so-called prisoners transfer agreement appears to be an avenue through which the UK intends to escape from the cost of feeding and maintaining over 700 Nigerians in their prisons.

“Insinuations are that the UK is trying to assert the master and servant relationship it has maintained with Nigeria over the years, which is clearly seen in the manner with which they impose certain laws on Nigeria, as is the case with the initiated prisoners transfer agreement”, are the words of an irate Nigerian analyst, Mr. Ndibe Okeh. Okeh, who believes that the agreement, which is billed to ensure that no fewer than 700 Nigerians serving jail terms in

the UK, are transferred to Nigeria to complete their sentences, said it is nothing but a game of international politics and neo-colonialism. He told Vanguard Consular Advisory that the British government is rather dilly dallying with the Nigerian government, by way of initiating an agreement under the guise of ensuring positive steps in furthering the supposedly mutual relationship and partnership between their government and the Nigerian

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, government, whereas the reverse is the case. “This undertone goodwill offer of prisoners exchange is quite ridiculous, since Nigeria has over 700 of her countrymen incarcerated in the UK prison, against one Briton in Nigeria prison. “The fact is that British government has weighed the cost of taking care of the more than 700 Nigerian prisoners as against one British prisoner, hence the gain of initiating the agreement to enable them send back the Nigerian prisoners without the Nigerian government suspecting foul play.” Okeh added, “the British government’s offer of about one million euro, totaling about N260m to Nigeria to enable a comprehensive reformation of its prison centres for the comfort of the inmates, including those awaiting transfer. “If we think deeply, the intention behind this goodwill or good thought is quite deep and I feel the Nigerian government should have looked beyond the nose to understand the real reason behind the agreement.” In a similar development, a Nigerian student in Britain, Femi Oluwa, said he is suspicious of the initiated prisoners transfer agreement (PTA) UK signed with

JANUARY 29, 2014 — 37 I am of the view that the government should ignore this offer and think of how to arrange a come back for its citizens and provide them with better amenities. Nigerians are the largest number of Africans in the UK, who migrated for several good intentions, ranging from study to tourism and or business.

Enough infrastructure If Nigerians put together the amount of money they are being drained of by the British, through its luring educational offers and so on, there would be no reason not to have enough infrastructures that would have kept Nigerians within home.” Another student who spoke on grounds of anonymity said,“if what Nigeria loses from health sector is added up, Nigeria would have enough revenue to upgrade the many dilapidated health equipment in the country, thereby putting a stop to the huge sum India and other foreign countries rake from Nigeria’s ailing health sector. “It is important for the government to put in place suitable measures that will ensure monies lavished in other countries are judiciously diverted to improving tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and other key sectors of the country’s economy, so as to keep our countrymen within their home country.

The Nigerian government should have looked beyond the nose to understand the real reason behind the agreement Nigeria, and would not be surprised if at the end of the day, Nigeria is made to lick its wound from the proposed PTA, expected to kick off before the end of 2014. He is of the view that Nigerian government should not accept whatever amount of money the UK government is offering to rehabilitate the condition of its detention centres, stressing that Nigerians on study in the UK have enormously contributed in growing UK’s economy through the huge amount of fees they pay as school fees. Femi said, “Although the UK government promised to provide funds to enable the F e d e r a l Government of Nigeria refurbish its prisons to make it humane and accommodating enough for inmates,

Further more, Okeh also agreed that if Nigeria leadership can take measures that will see that at least half of these monies are spent here in Nigeria, then in not more than four years, Nigeria will be giving aide not receiving it and that will bring back our dignity as a nation. This will guarantee that we take decisions concerning our dear country without attracting unwarranted insults from countries that we should be bailing out if we put our acts right. He said, “The agreement which has really not attracted wide acceptance across Nigerian populace, judging from my opinion sampling, which reveals that the prisoners exchange may not be conclusive since what is law in Nigeria, may not be law in Britain. So how would one exchange a prisoner back to his country to serve a sentence for perhaps a gay practice in Nigeria, when ordinarily, gay is lawful in Britain. Same also is applicable to Nigerian who is sent back to his county to complete a jail term for practicing polygamy in Britain, whereas, polygamy is lawful in Nigeria. The issue is really a huge disparity in Nigeria and Britain bilateral dialogue.”

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Are you not encouraging promiscuity? Dear Bunmi, OU RECENTLY advised a 20-year-old man that when he’s with a woman he cares for, he shouldn’t hesitate if they both wanted to know each other erotically; that making love was the most natural thing in the world. I agree with you that it is -with love and commitment in marriage. I feel sad that these days lovemaking is regarded so lightly and, as a result very few relationships or marriages last; young girls get pregnant, and teenagers who are not mature face problems. When I was younger, I was in love with many boys. If I had indulged in love-making with all of them, I would have regretted it by the time I met my husband. He and I were friends first, and our love developed slowly. We knew a lot about each other before we got married and only then did we embark on our desires and then to fulfil them in the security of marriage was the most wonderful, lasting and satisfying experience. Consequently, our marriage lasted 40 years and our love and respect for each other was deep. Sadly, I’m now a widow. I pray that the sanctity of love and love-making could return. Instead, love-making seems to have become cheap and tawdry. I respect your view. But please tell young people to hesitate before engaging in love-mak-

Still treated as his bit on the side Dear Bunmi, Y BOYFRIEND and I were having an affair while he was living with an older woman who was also his business associate. Because he was financially reliant on her, we had to be discreet. However, they split up recently and he moved to a bungalow she helped him to buy. He always said things would be different between us when he was unattached, but they aren’t. We go out more and do more love-making and he tells me he loves me -then he denies we have a committed relationship. He still insists we sneak off to meet well away from our neighbourhood and he makes sure no one knows about us. I’m not interested in us living together, but I want us to see each other openly and be a proper couple. When I told him this he said I should go and find someone else. 1 love him and can’t believe it has turned out like this. Why doesn’t he want the world to know we’re together? Justina by e-mail.

Dear Justina, Your boyfriend is wise in not wanting to go straight

from one fully-committed relationship into the next. And remember, he was having an affair with you; affairs are fun because they’re naughty and dangerous and have to be kept secret. That’s almost certainly why he wants to keep your relationship underwraps and why he wanted out when you asked to be seen openly as his girlfriend.

If you’re to have a chance with him, you must back off and give him some time, in the hope that he’ll realise he wants you as much as you want him. You don’t know why he broke off with his benefactor or if it was a total separation. If on the long run he still wants his freedom, then you have no alternative than to let him go.

Should we have made it work? Dear Bunmi, Y GIRLFRIEND and I split up two years ago. We lived together before we did, only we were always arguing. It never was that way when we lived apart. Our arguments had to do with who did what and who spent what. However, in the time we’d been apart, I’d really missed her. I’ve tried to get back on my feet by starting new relationships, but haven’t met anyone I really like. Now I think I might have been too hasty by letting her go. Do you think I should ask her to let us try again? Tony by e-mail

Dear Tony,

When a relationship ends, it is always for a reason. With you and your ex, it was because you had different ideas on how to share out chores and how to spend money. You obviously had a basic incompatibility problem in the way you approach life. Now, two years later, what has changed? Have you altered your views on how things should be done? And do you think she’s altered hers? Most important, is she free to come back to you? If you get back together and one of you hasn’t changed, you’ll hit the same problems all over again. Why not put the past firmly behind you and move on to someone new - and better?

He is into heavy pornography DearBunmi, Y BOYFRIEND of six months has suddenly started showing interest in porn magazines,

which he buys at secondhand bend-down stalls at bus-stops. He’s also into revolting pornography films and has lost

I didn’t mean to hurt him Dear Bunmi, OR CLOSE to a year, I was in an unhappy relationship. I was then living with my boyfriend and we both shared expenses as we had good jobs. Then we joined this wonderful social club and I fell in love with a man in our group. My boyfriend found out and 1 had to move out of the flat. I knew he was heart broken and I felt guilty. I now heard he has voluntarily asked to be transferred to another state and will be moving away soon. I feel so responsible for turning his life upside down. What do you think I can do to ease his pain? Shirly by e-mail.

Dear Shirly, I’m not sure there’s anything you can do. The bottom line is you made a decision to end your relationship and go off with someone else. It is sad, but it is what you had to do to survive. Now your ex has made a decision to move away. That’s sad too, but it’s what he has to do to survive. He’s taking action to pick himself up and start a new life. The best way you can support him is to let him handle things his own way. Don’t consider going back to him. It wouldn’t work and you know it. You’re no longer his partner and you’re not responsible for him, so don’t waver.

interest in me. He is 27 and I’m 20 and it’s making us argue all the time. I’ve refused to watch his stupid movies. What should I do? Agbeke by e-mail Dear Agbeke, It’s obvious that your boyfriend has allowed himself to be sucked into a sexual fantasy world in which he finds explicit and powerful images of impossible gratification exciting. As time goes on, he’ll find out that for him to sustain his fantasy and the thrills it brings, he will continue to push away reality and his ilesh-and-blood girlfriend no matter how attractive she may be to him. Your wants and those of your boyfriend have obviously changed in a dramatic way. A woman needs to feel loved and valued in the eyes of her lover. This man has made his choice by switching his allegiance to o b s c e n e d r e a m s . Yo u ’ r e well rid of him.

ing. Casual love-making is a disaster. Beatrice, bye-mail. ‘:•; Dear Beatrice, I respect your view too. Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience of love-making and marriage. There are no rules of erotic behaviour by which we may all live happily. Love-making within or outside marriage, or a committed relationship can be ugly or beautiful. We need to respect our instincts. Men and women who have erotic experiences before meeting their partners for life do not in any way diminish their great joy when they eventually find one another. It’s been proved that resisting our desire to make love with someone we love does not improve our chances of building a strong relationship. Rather, it reflects our natural fear of lovemaking and what was drummed into us as children that love-making is somewhat shameful. By encouraging people to think of love-making as taboo, we increase, not decrease the probability of guilt, disease or unwanted pregnancy. Intimacy is the core of lasting love and companionship. By making love, as you and your husband discovered, we reveal ourselves more completely. I thank you once again for sharing the joy you found during your marriage. Your story should be an inspiration to us all.

It’s been proved that resisting our desire to make love with someone we love does not improve our chances of building a strong relationship. Intimacy is the core of lasting love and companionship. By making love, as you and your husband discovered, we reveal ourselves more completely. Does my orgasm need a boost? Dear Bunmi, Y CURRENT boyfriend believes that the secret to a woman having mind-blowing orgasms is in the G-spot. He’s tried to find mine but 1 don’t seem to have one. Now he told me his doctor friend told him about injection I could have to give me one. Is he right? Omoye, bye-mail.

Dear Omoye; You may not have a G-spot as your boyfriend suspected. A Gspot is an erogenous area inside the vagina’s front wall. Research

suggests that not every woman has one. I’ve heard of these injections and don’t know if they’re widely available. They’re expensive too. Forget about injections and try to relax during love-making. You don’t need a G-spot to have a good orgasm. Climaxes aren’t about pushing a single ‘button’, but rather about finding your own personal perfect stimulation. Get your man to find out what works for you rather than worrying about what isn’t working.

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, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 39

Aribisala’s naked truth for Buhari, and the North •Lord Lugard

•President Goodluck Jonathan

Shaping agenda for national dialogue amid doubts (2) BY HUGO ODIOGOR

in the North. Indeed he is the most popular Northern politician in the North today. But that precisely remains his undoing at the centre. The more he is identified as a Northern champion, the less attractive he becomes as a national choice. Even in the North, his support base is limited to Muslim population. He does not appeal to Northern Christians. Then there is the added factor of the opposition of his implacable opponents among the Northern elite.” Truth be told, this man is not viable as a presidential material because of the oft-stated (and experienced!) factors, as also elucidated by Aribisala. Here, the columnist puts it rather bluntly:“One thing is certain, the South-South and the South-East will not vote for Buhari in 2015. Not only that; there are no buyers for Buhari’s sectarian politics in the South-West. No matter what Tinubu might be telling him, the people of the South-West will not vote for Buhari in 2015. We already had the template in 2011, when Buhari tried to sell himself, first by balancing himself with a Yoruba man: and then by making sure the Yoruba man is a Christian; a pastor no less. But it just did not wash. It will not work in 2015.” At a time when the North agitates for the return of the presidency to the region, we cannot afford to file in someone whose defeat would be The nearest Buhari will go to Aso Rock in rather predictable. Here, Aribisala sounds words of cau2015 is by attending the Council of State which the North and meeting.” One, therefore, is wont to wonder tion, the APC should only ignore why shouldn’t Buhari annoint anybody from at their risks. His words: “The worst the army of his associates thing that can happen to the observers of Buhari’s foray into politics that se- Northern presidential aspirations in 2015 is for rially losing the election could not just be attrib- Buhari to be on the APC ballot. That is a sure uted to rigging. But instead of the General and guarantee that the North will not be providing his team to conduct self-searching introspec- the next president. Buhari will be a shoo-in in tion, they keep riding on the egoistic pony that an election for president of Northern Nigeria. he is being rigged out and his victory is as- But in an election encompassing the entire country, the best he can envisage is to be a kingsured in the next election. But this pressure on Buhari to contest again maker. He cannot be a king. The nearest Buand again has since been discovered to be a hari will go to Aso Rock in 2015 is by attending money spinner for some people who literally the Council of State meeting.” One, therefore, box him into a corner, massaging his ego for is wont to wonder why shouldn’t Buhari antheir own ends.” No doubt, the former head of noint anybody from the army of his associates. The APC, as a historical and unprecedented state is very popular within his own northern Muslim enclave. Mayhem was severally un- amalgam of the opposition, has the burden to leashed to protest what is perceived among our make the best use of this God-endowed chance. largely uneducated crowd that have no expo- For the first time we have an opposition party sure beyond the markets of Kano, to be disen- that has at least one governor in all six geopofranchisement of Buhari’s mandate. Several litical zones of the country – a good omen of people had put their lives in the line, in the things to come. It therefore falls on the leadercause of this decade of Buhari politics, cheer- ship of the party and all those who toil to see to ing on the “messiah” and wrecking havoc on its formation to ensure that a more acceptable, his opponents (verbally and otherwise). As Ari- pragmatic and trusted person is given the bisala himself acknowledged in his write-up, chance to pick the party’s ticket. The party is Buhari has the popular mandate of the down- not in short supply of credible and trustworthy trodden masses especially in the Muslim dom- individuals to pull from. The mistakes of 2003, 2007 and 2011 should not be replicated this time inated states of the North. But is it enough to be a president of the Fed- when there is clearer coast to victory. Ahmed wrote from Wuse II, Abuja. Email: eral Republic of Nigeria? Aribisala helps us out: “Without a doubt, Buhari has massive support maikano.ahmed@yahoo.com

This is the concluding part of this report which was first published in our yesterday's

fraudulent arrangement are that want to preserve it at all cost.” What has emerged from the coalition of the Lower Niger Federation comprising the South East and South South and the United Middle Belt Congress and the Pan Yoruba group Afenifere, is that they are pushing that nomination into the conference should not be based on existing geo-political zones or senatorial zones, but rather, on different ethnic nationalities that make up the country. According to Barrister Fred Agbeygbe, “using the existing geo-political structure, especially, the senatorial zones would alienate certain ethnic groups from being represented; this will be unfair in the new Nigeria of our desire.” For the former Director General of National Orientation

E said "we must commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his wisdom and boldness to convoke such a conference at the time Nigerians were beginning to take extreme measures to express their views because they felt that they they have been alienated from affairs of the county." Gulak said "contrary to attempts by the opposition parties to cause distraction on the forthcoming National Conference, the presidency is committed to ensuring that the process is transparent, and the wishes of Nigerians are upheld, regardless of misguided criticisms by those who do not believe that something good can come from the Jonathan administration." The devil alternative: The issues before Jonathan today are whether we should go Unless the structural defects in into another election or embark on the 1999 constitution are adthe task of restruc- dressed, going into an election in turing and reconstruction of Nige- 2015 will be a futile exercise ria. There is no doubt that some parts of the coun- Agency (NOA), Prof. Elochuktry whose people are seen as in- wu Amucheazi ,the Igbos are ferior persons who should not in total support of idea of repaspire for the political leadership resentation on the basis of ethof the country have placed em- nic nationalities where memphasis on exiting from Nigeria bers would be nominated from their groups. instead of staying in a country. He said, “We want this counAccordingly to him, “the choice before Nigerians today is wheth- try to survive and we are doing er to continue struggling to patch all in our power to make it sura building with serious structural vive. The various groups want defects arising from its faulty a brand new constitution to foundation, to the point where we emerge from the proposed nahave leaky roof in all the rooms tional conference, just like South Africans used the Conference and compartment. Those Nigerians are always anx- on Democratic South Africa ious to hold elections that bring (CODESA), to ditch the apartnew set of plunderers and their heid constitution, which suscliques on board. Every body tained the White Minority wants his own person to get to rule. The groups are equally inpower and continue with the culture of plundering the resources sisting that “the new constituof this country. For how long can tion should not be written by a we endure this? How sustainable select group and imposed on is this type of democracy of chop, Nigeria as was done in 1979 and 1999. There are strong agitaI chop? According to Nnadi, “unless the tions that the outcome of the structural defects in the 1999 con- proposed National Conference stitution are addressed, going into should be subjected to a referan election in 2015 will be a futile endum before it could adopt as exercise. It is only those who are the new constitution for Nigebenefitting from the present ria.

BY ABDULLAHI AHMED

RUTH is bitter. And a Hausa adage has it that it is he who loves you that can give you that bitter pill. The columnist, Femi Aribisala, has just published a long and analytical essay which contains a fair dose of truth pills for General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and his cohorts, as well as for the North in general. With some air of finality, Aribisala’s article is entitled “Why Buhari will never be president of Nigeria”. The piece in question has, in more ways than one, re-echoed some of the things some of us having been drawing attention to, about the Buhari presidential project. Reading through Mr. Aribisala’s essay, I found myself nodding along in agreement of most of the critical points he raised. Though I have my reservations on a few points, on the whole, I found the main thrust of the thesis overwhelmingly accurate and convincing. As the election further draws closer, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) consolidates its gains thus far, its major Achilles heel is solving the riddle of who flies its flag. This is a decision that is akin to a double-edged sword; capable of winning the fight for the party or inflicting it with a life-threatening wound. Permutations are ongoing and as far as the North is concerned, all eyes are on the APC as the PDP ticket is not up for grab for just anybody. But at the centre of the permutations for the APC ticket is General Buhari who has become to the party, in the words of a friend, like the proverbial lizard that hovers over a gourd which is capable of contaminating the water or getting the gourd destroyed in an event the owner insisted on sending it off. In an article published in September last year, I noted that; “It is therefore the saying that once beaten twice shy that once beaten, twice shy that made people who were otherwise emotionally attached to the cause of Buhari to have a rethink. It is a consensus among most key

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Govt shutdown: APC’s directive generates furore BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DAPO AKINREFON, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

HE call by the All Progressives Congress, APC on its lawmakers to stop the passage of government bills was what some thought to be an ordinary act of democratic expression. But not so to many others, who believed it was suggestive of anarchy. Rising from a closed door session of its National Executive Committee, NEC last Wednesday, the APC had directed its lawmakers in the National Assembly to stall the process of government bills and the confirmation of Federal Government nominees. The order inevitably was an order to shut down government. The order was the party’s response to what it claimed was the reign of impunity in Rivers State, a fact underlined by the administration’s failure to heed National Assembly resolutions on stopping the crisis. The resolution was immediately flayed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its agents which said it was a confirmation of its earlier claims that the APC was determined to foist anarchy on the country. The PDP was also followed by

•Sagay: It's balance of terror the Federal Government, a fact underlined by fears that the APC had determined to stymie it. The partisan considerations nonetheless, civil society organizations, lawyers and aligned groups were divided on the issue as presented as follows:

The resolution was immediately flayed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its agents which said it was a confirmation of its earlier claims that the APC was determined to foist anarchy on the country.

a number of other partisan and sectional groups who flayed the APC directive as capable of derailing the country’s efforts in consolidating democracy. Given the APC’s minority status in the Senate, it was not surprising that the directive has not been largely effectual among senators. It is, however, in the House of Representatives where the APC has a slim majority that the PDP and its sympathizers fear the damage would be done. Yesterday, against expectations the House failed to proceed with the consideration of the 2014 budget proposals of

It is an invitation to anarchy – Afenifere Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described the APC directive as an invitation to anarchy. Afenifere Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said: “The APC do not know when to draw the line between politics and anarchism. It is an invitation to anarchy. One would have even understood if they directed their members in the National Assembly not to clear ministerial nominees, but when they said they should not clear service chiefs, in a country that

has crisis, you are asking for mutiny. “As a party that is poised to take over the leadership of the country, when you are asking your members to take the laws into their hands and embark on self help, it calls to question the degree of responsibility to which the APC can be trusted with power. Continuing, Odumakin also berated then party for tying its directive to the resolution of the crisis in Rivers State. “APC is full of hypocrisy .What is happening in Rivers that did not happen in Ekiti? Road transport thugs were deployed to stop Opeyemi Bamidele from launching his Bibire Coalition and two of his supporters were killed at different times. Not a word on these barbaric acts has been heard from APC on this till date. Asking that service chiefs should be not cleared is an incitement to mutiny in the armed forces. And for a party that wants to govern Nigeria throwing responsibility to the dogs by calling on their members to resort to “self help” confirms the fears that the APC may eventually turn to be Nigeria’s version of Egypt’s Muslim brotherhood.” It’s a balance of terror—Sagay Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), in a telephone chat with Vanguard, described the stand off as a balance of terror. He said: “It

•Odumakin:It's invitation to anarchy is a counter to the president particularly and the Federal Government that is allowing killings and mayhem in Rivers State and also allowing Joseph Mbu (Rivers State Commissioner of Police) to go on a oneman stampede which is bringing down the whole state. If the state is going to be shut down and anyone, who supports the APC is going to be maimed if he or she shows his or face outside, and if the governor is going to be undermined and paralysed by a police officer, who is behaving as if he is the real governor, then, the APC has seen an area it is strong in the National Assembly and hit back. It is using its National Assembly powers to frustrate the Federal Government. For me, it is a balance of terror. It is a question of who is stronger or who is ready to give up first.” APC has no capacity to enforce the directive—Aturu Rights crusader, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, said: ”My problem is that the APC as a party has power to take whatever decision they feel is correct, but my worry is whether it has the capacity to enforce that decision, as far as our constitution is concerned. APC has to examine its position thoroughly in accordance to the constitution so that it will not take a position, which at the end of the day will become hurtful to the party.”

It is climbing a tree beyond the leaves – Ben Obi Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on InterParty Affairs, Senator Ben Obi said the directive was uncalled and amounted to taking opposition too far. His words: ”I do not know the circumstances under which APC leaders said their National Assembly members should block the 2014 budget, screening of ministers and confirmation of the service chiefs. With all due respect, the budget is not only for politicians. “I was a senator. Then we sit down and review issues. We had executive sessions where we ask ourselves: ‘what we are discussing now is it a national issue or partisan issue?’ Senators are respected because they discuss national issues: they don’t allow partisan political interests to overwhelm the discourse. “Until last week, no President had ever forwarded the names of service chiefs to the National Assembly. President Jonathan did it. The next thing is the opposition says, ‘no, block it!’ Things that affect the military is not something we should rush into and get deeply involved in but I am happy that the current Senate President is a highly respected retired general and one of the longest

Continues on page 33

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014—41

Govt shutdown: APC’s directive generates furore Continued from page 32

have urged members of the National Assembly to shun the directive, saying it was a ploy to “massage the ego of a few, who are consumed by their own sense of bloated ego.” Led by Hon. Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna), other members of the group include Gideon Gwani ( P D P , Kaduna), Shehu Garba (PDP, Kaduna), Kyari Gujbawu (PDP, Borno) and Ka’amuna Khadi (PDP, Borno) and

hide to call for anarchy. The statement read in part: “These directives, especially the one calling for the non-passage of the 2014 budget is a desperate attempt to frustrate the government from consolidating on its transformation agenda and delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians and in the process, present the government in bad light”. Alleging a plot to incite violence, the legislators noted, “it seems the directive to block the confirmation of nominees to fill vacant sensitive military positions is to ensure that all our military and security agencies are denied competent leadership in order to prepare grounds for the mayhem APC plans to unleash on innocent Nigerians. “The planned violence which is APC’s real intentions was subtly passed in a carefully laced threat to the collective peace and security of Nigeria and the Nigerian state. To discerning minds, APC’s actual message in the directive is the threat that it may have no alternative than to ask its members all over the country to take

whatever step that is necessary to protect their lives and property. Urging their colleagues to continue in the usual non-partisan method of attending to legislative business, they added: We urge you to disregard any directive which consequence you know will be detrimental to the interest of a larger population of Nigerians. Let us remind ourselves that government shut down or filibustering has never been employed by any legislature to massage the ego of a few who are consumed by their own bloated sense of importance”. While appealing to PDP Reps who defected to the APC to return to the PDP, they asked security agencies to be on alert to avert threat to lives and property of Nigerians, saying: “Nigerians have in the past been taken unawares when such threats were dismissed as mere ranting of aggrieved politicians. In fact, we call on all security and intelligence agencies to as a matter of duty, pick up any Nigerian or group of Nigerians who make seditious comments inciting the public to violence or self-help justice.”

Emeka Wogu: A comrade with content and conscience

Still on the rise on the political ladder, he was appointed the Abia State Federal Commissioner, at the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), in July 2000 where he left an enviable record as one of the longest serving Commissioners of the Commission having served two full terms of five years each before being appointed a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April, 2010. Perhaps what many people do not know about Chief Wogu is that he is in his best mood when decked in his spotless white traditional attire, specked with special buttons and a red cap to match. It is also not commonly known that he is a traditional family man, gender sensitive and a lover of children. No wonder he is happily married to Oyabebefa Anita, and blessed with four children Ola, Zara, Ama and Chidiadi. Sir, as you celebrate your 49th birthday today, the entire staff of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity joins your family and well-wishers, within and outside the country, to wish you a happy birthday and many more years of political exploits ahead. Happy Birthday, Sir!!!

serving legislators in this country. So he combines the experience of a war general and that of an accomplished legislator to navigate. He also urged caution in the House of Representatives where a leadership tussle is raging between the PDP and APC with the latter claiming that it now has majority and should be recognized as such with leadership positions. “We have legislators from APGA and Labour Party. Have you taken their numerical strength? Where do they stand? APC has 172 and PDP 171 members, if you add APGA and Labour, who then constitutes the majority? It is always better we do stocktaking before we come to the public domain because once you come to the public domain you make the issue look elementary. It is a serious parliamentary issue that I believe serious discussions will be engaged by all and sundry. I must commend the Speaker for the matured manner he handled the issue that day. Both camps, APC and PDP

BY SAMUEL OLOWOOKERE

HE cry of a bouncing baby boy greeted the serene environment of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Umuahia, Abia state, on January 29, 1965 announcing the arrival into this world of a baby who, today, is the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At the time of his birth, nothing was known about his future. Perhaps, his parents had an inkling that a great son, who would bring blessings to his family, his state and the nation at large, had been born and his father, late Elder Joseph Wogu of blessed memory, named him “Chukwuemeka”, which, literarily translates to “God has done marvels”, thereby expressing his immense gratitude to God for the gift of the baby boy, Emeka Wogu. Today that hunch of his Farther has manifested beyond any reasonable doubt. Like a popular Igbo adage which states that (translated) “A journey of 10000 miles begins with a step”, so did the journey into greatness begin for Emeka Wogu, today recognized both nationally and internationally: after being successfully weaned by his mother, late Mrs. Nnennaya Wogu of blessed memory,

•Obi: Directive is uncalled for poured encomiums on him,” he said Shun directive, lawmakers urge colleagues Meanwhile, a group of members of the House of Representatives under the aegis of Concerned Lawmakers,

Emeka took the first steps, toddled, walked and then ran to school, the first of which was primary school which he left in year 1975. After that initial taste of formal education his zeal for more of it caught on and he moved to the level and graduated with Division One from Ngwa High School, Abayi in Aba, Abia state in 1980. His tertiary level education was preceded by a postsecondary education in the Federal School of Arts and Science Aba, between 1981 and 1982, and proceeded to the Imo State University, now Abia State University, in 1986 where he bagged L.L.B (Hon.) in 1986. Thereafter, he he was admitted into the Nigeria Law School, Lagos and finished in 1987. Not relenting in his quest for knowledge, he proceeded to obtain Masters Degree in Public Administration (2004) and Master of Science in Political Science-Public Policy Analysis (2011) from University of Calabar and Nasarawa state University respectively; which he iced with a Certificate in Benchmarking Emerging Markets (2008) issued by S.P Jain Institute of Management, Singapore. Still determined to get to the peak of academic excellence Chief Wogu is presently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Political Science (part time)

Emmanuel Udende (PDP, Benue). In a statement read to reporters in the National Assembly on Monday, they said the excuse that the Rivers crisis must be addressed was just a guise under which the APC seeks to

political career with a popular election as the Assistant Legal Adviser of the defunct Liberal Convention in the old Imo State in 1989. His sterling performance on that post led to his election to a higher post in 1991, as the Vice-Chairman of the Aba South Local Government Area of Abia state, under the defunct N a t i o n a l Republican Convention, soon •Wogu at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. A tale of His contributions to the academic arena would not be complete without mentioning his many well researched academic lectures including a Guest Lecture at the Nigerian Defense College (NDC), University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Ibadan, and various other institutions in the country. This intimidating academic profile prepared the honourable gentleman for the exceeding exploits he has recorded as a professional lawyer, a technocrat and an astute politician. Chief Wogu started his

elevated to be the acting chairman between March and early June, 1993 and within the same month he was made the Chairman of the Local Government Council, a position he held until the military intervention in November 1993. With the return of politicking in 1998, he was elected a member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituencies in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), and in 1999, he was appointed the first Political Adviser to the then Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.

*Mr. Olowokore is a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Wheelchair or not, I'll serve the Lord, says Pastor Adegboye PASTOR Samuel Adegboye, presiding pastor of His Amazing Grace Global Ministry, Jikwoyi is confined to a wheel chair as a result of a fatal accident along Abuja-Lokoja highway; yet he remains steadfast and passionate about the work of God. Adegboye gave his life to Christ at an early age and had since not looked back. He left Abuja for Lagos on an official assignment and on his way back to Abuja on August 14, 2006 when tragedy struck. He was to stop at the University of Abuja to defend his Master's dissertation in Economics at the institution when he had a ghastly accident that almost claimed his life. He spoke to our Favour Nnabugwu.

His story

“I was involved in an accident on August 14, 2006; on my way from a national Christian programme in Lagos. The unfortunate event happened in Abaji, few kilometres to the city centre. A luxurious bus overtook a car and the bus was facing us headlong and in order to save the day, our driver swerved to the bushy side of the road; but, while the driver was trying to negotiate back to the road, the front tyre bust and the bus somersaulted several times before it came to a halt in a ditch along the busy path. I was unconscious, but God restored me to consciousness and at that point in time, the first question that I asked was; “ where are my legs” because I couldn’t feel the lower part of my body again. I was eventually rescued and brought to the side of the road. I then discovered that I could not sit down again, the only thing I could do was to just lie down. Any attempt to sit resulted in excruciating pains. However, men of the Road Safety Corp and our church members were contacted and all of us who were injured were moved to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital. On referral to Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala Kano, Adegboye stated that his health condition had deterio-

*Pastor Samuel Adegboye rated to the extent that doctors felt he could not make it again. However, rather than give up, he took solace in the Word of God which says, “I will not die, but live to declare the works of God in the land of the living.” Continuing his narration, Adegboye said: “From the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital I was taken to the main spinal cord ward of the National Orthopaedic Hospital at

Dala, Kano. Out of the six doctors that examined me only one was positive about my survival. At that point, I knew that only God can pull me out, so I decided to focus more on God and never allowed the negative reports to weaken my resolve to overcome my tribulation. By focusing more on God, I was able to neutralise their negative thoughts about me.

Have heard stories about people living with spinal cord injury and the attendant frustrations, but I was not moved because my spirit did no give in to negative thoughts and doctors reports.

The Dream I could see that right from that time God was giving me courage, my inner man was being strengthened day by day. One night, in my dream, I saw a man holding a life coal with scissors and he asked me to open my mouth. When I saw the man, I knew he was not there to harm me, everything was telling me that this one is for me and not against me. I opened my mouth and he touched that life coal with the scissors and touched my tongue. “That touch was his blessing and I told him, please touch my forehead, touch my hand, touch my back and my legs and he said that in as much as your tongue is touched, your entire body is touched and that was the end of it. My experience as from the next morning was a sort of spiritual remittance in such a way, that the second morning, I took my Bible with renewed vigour and I was reading the scripture. “I had the strength to even read magazines brought for me from Abuja. I could see that I was loaded and then my attention was not even on the accident, my body that was on a particular unmovable state, I was seeing beyond that hospital bed, beyond the accident that I had. I was full of hope for a brighter future and I had it down in me that my dream will be accomplished fully without an iota of doubt despite the accident that I had.

Why me? Asked if he never at any point tried to question “God, why me”, his reply was reassuring, yet touching. Hear him: "Even though I had occasions to think about my con-

gregation in Abuja, my job at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and my masters programme at the University of Abuja, I never allowed that to dampen my morale nor threaten my love for Christ. Instead, my determination was renewed because stories abound in the scriptures of people who faced similar trials but stayed with God till the end. Highlighting the various activities lined up for the celebration of his 50th birthday, he noted that apart from having a thanksgiving service to demonstrate the faithfulness of God in his life, a book documenting his travails during and after the accident and his eventual triumph has been launched. On the significance of the book, he noted, ”The book, Rescued from the Jaws of Death was launched on December 21, 2013. Its the testimony of my wonderful deliverance from that ghastly motor accident and the documentation of my experiences in the various hospitals where I was admitted in my search of healing.

Waking up the giant Pastor Adegboye ended by saying that he is no longer bothered by the thought of whether or not he would ever walk again; saying that all he intends to spend the remaining of his life thinking is how to win souls for Christ. He also hopes to continue his academic pursuit to a PhD level. “I want to inspire my generation to focus on the Lord and be God fearing. God is the sole coordinator of our purpose in life, I want to enjoin my generation to know that there is a giant in everybody and it must be awakened", he emphasized. Pastor Adegboye intends to continue to serve and worship the Almighty God, stressing he cannot be deterred by his present condition. He said his faith in God cannot be faltered.

PDP crisis is evidence of answered prayers, says Umunna By SAM EYOBOKA

RESIDING Bishop of Bi ble Life Church, Ajegunle in Lagos, Dr, Leonard Umunna has said the number 14 carries a lot of significance and as a result Nigerians should be hopeful. Asked his expectations for the year, the bishop said: "The number 14 is a good number and signifies favourable things, and I have told people that they should expect to hear congratulations this year. God is going to do great and marvellous things." It will be a dazzling year for the upright, but to those who

do not know Him, He will pluck out their joy and give to others, he pointed out, adding "for Nigeria, I have said repeatedly that its major problem is Nigerians. But God is going to do a new thing. One thing I know is that God has always answered whenever we call on Him as a people; whether in the military or in the civilian dispensation, whenever we petition God against any government He always answers." Asked to rate the performance of fellow men of God in 2013, he said: "it is still those few ones that do not believe in evil that kept preaching the truth and challenging the

devil; they are the few that have made some marks." According to him, those who are compromising, government pastors, political pastors who say only the things that appeal to earthly authorities, are still on the pulpit yet supporting evil, they have continued in their evil ways, and that’s why nothing has changed in the country." As the nation approaches another election year, what does he foresee, given the tension already in the political turf? "God has already done it. By the political realignment going on, especially the drama in APC and the PDP, things

are bound to work in favour of the masses of this country. A party said they would rule Nigeria for 60 years. God has already reversed it. What is going on now tells us about the plan of God for Nigeria and that is why I said congratulations to every Nigerian." On the exchange of inflammatory letters between President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-President Olsegun Obasanjo, Bishop Umunna said: "He who goes to equity must come with clean hands. Even Obasanjo’s daughter said that much. Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones. Whatever he

accused President Jonathan of, Chief Obasanjo is guilty of. "Jonathan decided to reply because silence is not golden in Nigeria. I think somebody somewhere wants to impose his own will and authority on somebody. "Both of them are almost the same though. One knows the way to the market, the other knows the way to the supermarket. They are trying to flex their political muscles. "The political class has toyed so much with the destiny of the Nigerian people; what is happening now is prayer answered," he stated.

VANGU ARD,WEDNESD A Y,JANU ARY 29,2014 ANGUARD,WEDNESD ARD,WEDNESDA ,JANUARY

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44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Ughellis restate support for Uloho BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—THE Ughelli Political Voice, UPV, has said it was in support of the third deputy president general of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Chief Austin Uloho, describing him as a good ambassador of Ughelli Kingdom. The group in a statement by its secretary, Prince Elvis Oharisi, said “we hail the transparent nature of the UPU election, which brought into office an Ughelli ‘freeborn’ Chief Uloho as the third deputy president general.” Faulting a media report credited to Ogbe Political Change asking Uloho to resign his position on the ground that he (Uloho) is a card carry member of a political party, UPV described the group as faceless, insisting that he (Uloho) was “properly elected by the people of Ughelli clan to represent them as the third deputy president general not as president general of UPU. "

2015 : Lawmaker calls for calm

ARRI — A House of Representatives member, Daniel Reyenieju, has called on the electorate in the Warri federal constituency to remain calm as the 2015 general elections draw near. Reyenieju who spoke when a political pressure group, Wafi Democratic League, WDL, paid him courtesy call in Warri, charged members of the group to be calm over the issue of future contestants who seek elective positions in the Warri federal constituency, and particularly the governorship of the state. He said he could not point to anyone for now, “but as time goes on, the body language of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will determine those that should be supported, particularly who should govern Delta State in post-May, 2015 era.” Earlier in his speech, the leader of the group, Mr. Esimi Nanna thanked the lawmaker for his qualitative representation so far, urging him to seek for re-election in next year’s election into the National Assembly.

Labour leader decries victimisation in Delta BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—FACTIONAL Chairman of Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, PSJNC in Delta State, Mr. Goodluck Ofobruku, has cried out over alleged manipulation within government circles to scuttle the full implementation of minimum wage in the state, saying that his insistence on the payment of the minimum wage was part of the in-fighting that had split the council into factions. Ofobruku, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba, however, exonerated the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for short-changing the workers in the implementation of the minimum wage, but rather blamed some top government functionaries for allegedly blocking the memo he sent to the governor on the matter. He also blamed the logjam on the alleged insensitivity of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour/ Industrial Relations, Mr. Mike Okeme, pointing out that “because of this in-fighting, government is the beneficiary of our fight because that (splinter) group cannot declare an action that workers will obey because we will counter it and if we declare action too, they might counter too.” Another faction is led by Mr. Tony Toki and is believed to

have the backing of the governor’s aide on Labour Relations, Okeme. According to Ofobruku “when the national minimum wage was approved by the Federal Government, we immediately forwarded a memo to the state government for implementation in 2011 and that same 2011, I think January, a circular came out from the government that they had approved the implementation of the minimum wage for workers in the state. That time, those that were always going there to collect money were shamed because government came out with a circular saying that they have adopted it for implementation in Delta State and government started paying.”

Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham(L) congratulating Mr. Steward of Lilleker Brothers, Nig. Ltd while MD of the Company, Eng. Trevon Ralton watched shortly after signing contract for the execution of 2nd National Urban Water Reform Project for Ikom in Calabar.

Constituency projects: Bello-Osagie blames FG's poor budget performance BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—A member of House of Representatives, Mr. Rasaq BelloOsagie, has lamented that poor implementation of budgets by the Federal Government in the past few years had led to the abandonment of constituency projects across the country. He regretted that most of the completed constituency projects in his constituency were those awarded in 2011 and 2012, adding that the failure by the Federal Government to execute budgets as approved by the National Assembly had deprived ministries, departments and agencies of government of funds, which according to him would have enabled them award the contracts for the projects. Bello-Osagie, who represents Oredo federal constituency of Edo State, at the inauguration of projects estimated at over N500million across his constituency, said

“as lawmakers, we only make laws that will guide the executive, but we try to intervene in those projects where the Federal Government cannot reach directly to our people. We try to see how we can touch the lives of our people directly. We are commissioning street lights, boreholes, electricity projects, primary schools and so many others. I can tell you that some projects because of poor funding from the MDAs, where these projects were domiciled, they were abandoned. “These projects were supposed to be for 2012, but due to poor funding, the completion was delayed. But by the grace of God, we have been able to complete them. In fairness to the MDAs, it is the jaundiced nature of the budget implementation process, where the budget is performing about 35 per cent, if monies are not released to the MDA, there is no way the agencies can award contracts. So, it is a general problem. All

Bayelsa gov lauded for developmental efforts BY OLAITAN AYOOLA

OVERNOR of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has been commended for his efforts in developing the state since assumption of office in 2012. Speaking in Lagos, a maritime operator, Captain Paul Ogoun, said that the efforts of the governor had re.sulted in the development of social amenities and critical infrastructure. Ogoun said the governor’s team was focused on providing durable and quality roads in the state to open up hitherto alienated com-

munities in a bid to improve the socio-economic profile of the inhabitants of such areas. He noted that the governor had signed Memorandums of Understanding, MoUs, with so many high-profile companies such as Daewoo and Hyundai Heavy Industries among others, to establish plants/ factories and facilities as a precursor to generate employment for the teeming youth of the state. He identified the on-going construction of three critical roads linking the three senato-

rial districts in the state as major milestones, which has been described as engines of development, adding that it will link virtually all parts of the state when completed and make life easier for the average Bayelsan. According to him, “On the eve of the new year, the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Jonah Gboribiogha (rtd), drove from Yenagoa to Nembe, a feat, which before the advent of the current administration, was better imagined than attempted.”

we need to do is to see how we can improve on our budgetary process in such a way that biddings are made as at when due,” he said.

Ijaws commend Isoko over Omu's election

HE Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the election of General Paul Omu as the new president general of Isoko nation as a blessing to the people of Isoko land. In a congratulatory message by Mr. Joseph Evah on behalf of the IMG, the Ijaws saluted the popular decision of the Isokos to put forward one of Africa’s best strategists in military tactics and an unblemished public servant as a leader of one of the richest ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. “We are proud to say during the debate for the creation of Delta State, General Omu was the pointsman of our people at the Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC, under General Ibrahim Babangida military administration. We are also aware that he was betrayed when the capital of Delta State was announced, but we thank God that his struggle and sleepless nights to see Delta State created in his lifetime was not in vain. "The emergence of General Omu as Isoko Progressive Union leader is a new dawn in Isoko land and we urge all the people particularly politicians to cooperate with him to promote the economic and social life as well as the identity of the people”.

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Umukoro advises Uduaghan on successor

CHIEFTAIN of Peo ples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Chief Victor Umukoro, has urged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to be meticulous in selecting his successor, saying that most of those presently frolicking around him because of his support, were those who fought against his candidature during the PDP primaries at Ogwashi-Ukwu in 2007. Chief Umukoro in Ughelli while playing host to some members of PDP in Delta Central, yesterday, said Uduaghan should be on his knees and consult God properly before picking his successor, adding that most of those jostling to be governor today fought him and wanted him disqualified during the PDP primaries in 2007. He said “assuming Uduaghan did not become the governor of Delta State, who could have supported them. There is no doubt that Delta Central will work for a Delta northern governor, but Governor Uduaghan must pick a credible successor, who will listen to him, follow his three point agenda, build on his transformation agenda and not someone that will come to destroy them."

Group donates equipment, cash to Delta community BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—AS part of its commitment to the wellbeing of rural dwellers, the Igbide Patriotic Assembly, IPASS, has donated educational items and medical equipment worth more than N400,000 to secondary schools and healthcare centres in Igbide, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State. Presenting the items its Administrator, Mr. Collins Othihiwa, said one of the objectives of the body was to touch the lives of the people and appealed for the educational, socio-economic, moral and infrastructural development of the rural dwellers. Noting that the donation was tagged ‘Project 7 of the organisation,’ he said “the Project 1 of IPASS was the distribution of 2,000 copies of free notebooks to students and pupils of all public secondary and primary schools in Igbide.”

Zoning for 2015 a lazy man's argument—Delta SSG ••says he has no interest in governorship BY AUSTIN OGWUDA & FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—SECRETARY to the Delta State Government, SSG, Mr Ovuozuorie Macaulay, has described the clamour for zoning of the state governorship position to Delta North senatorial district as a lazy man’s argument, saying that he has no interest in the governorship race in 2015. Macaulay in a chat with newsmen in his office, said; “I have explained that what the ordinary person wants is good governance. It doesn’t really matter where the person comes from, once you can give good governance, you will settle the problem. “It is because of issues of injustice and unfair distribution of projects and appointments that people want to fight to be there. Once we begin to put it into our consciousness and begin to treat every other human being as our brother, then the issue of nationality will not arise. My advice to all of you is that if we must vote for anybody, it should be based on the fact that person will make Delta State to stay one. If the person has the right qualities, it does not necessari-

ly mean whether the person is from the North, Central or South. “We also know that some people are also saying we are five brothers in this state, each of us is entitled to it as well. Anybody who wants to govern this state should tell Deltans, I have what it takes to manage this state, I understand the politics of this state,

the needs of my people, not your people as Isoko or Anioma, but your people as Deltans. If you are able to drive this through, then we can begin to look at your direction. I think is a lazy man argument to say ‘it is my turn to become governor.” On whether he would run for the governorship in 2015, Macaulay said; “I want to ask

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (2nd left) in hand shake with Mr Johnson Urhorho shortly after inspecting construction work onOtirikpi street and Okwagbe street in Warri

NDDC lauds Delta govt on improved peace BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

IGER Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commended the Government of Delta State for improved peace and security in the state. Commissioner representing Delta State on the NDDC board, Sir Tom Amioku, gave the commendation in Warri, yesterday, while hosting the Commander of the Nigerian Air Force, Warri Base, Commodore Ayodele Dudusola. Amioku said “Long before Christmas of last year, there has relative peace in Delta. We

thank the chief security officer in the state, the governor whose commitment has brought about this peace. It is also a point of fact that the governor is achieving this peace and security with the cooperation of security agencies in the state and that is why we cherish the visit by the Air Force as an opportunity to further our partnership on security and support our task of developing our area.” He said that the partnership with the Air Force was desirable to strengthen NDDC’s project monitoring, es-

pecially in difficult terrains and assist contractors’ safety to deliver projects on time. Earlier, Air Commodore Dudusola thanked the com-

ENIN CITY—EDO State Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, has lamented that salaries of judges have not been reviewed since 2011, calling on the Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Commission to address the issue. He spoke when he hosted the Chairman of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Useni Elamah and other members of the Board during the flag off of the Registration of Tax Identification Number, TIN in Benin City. Justice Idahosa, who com-

mended the state government for its tax drive, which he said has been judiciously used in the provision of infrastructures in the state, stressed the need for the review of the salaries of judges, adding that judges like other Nigerians were facing serious challenges. He said “we are happy that the Edo State Government is now collecting taxes from everybody unlike before when only civil servants paid taxes in this state. But with the coming of this administration, other individuals and companies have started pay-

mission for the existing partnership with the Army and Navy on NDDC’s operations, hoping that the partnership with the Air Force would further improve the commission’s development task in areas of mutual benefits to parties.

Ex-administrator consoles Oba over loss of Bini queen

ORMER Military Administration of Oyo State, Mr. Edore Oyakhire, has condoled with the Oba of Benin, Omo Erediauwa, over the death of his wife, Queen Esther, saying that the de-

EDO CJ laments delay in review of judges pay BY SIMEON EBEGBULEM

who has said that I have consulted him? If you want to be governor, you go around consulting, but if you the major media come now and say we have made you our governor, there is nothing wrong with that, but beyond that as we talk today, I have always told people, power belongs to God and God will give it to those he wants.”

ing taxes. But on our part, our salaries were supposed to have been reviewed since 2011, but that has not been done. “If our salaries are reviewed, judges will pay more taxes, so the relevant revenue body should review our salaries, so that we will pay more taxes.” He explained that the process of registering the TIN number was easy and urged the people of the state to continue to assist the state government in its developmental strides through the payment of their taxes.

ceased was pivotal to the growth of Edo State. Oyakhire in a statement said the late Queen lived, worked and died for Nigeria. His words, "The sudden death of our Queen, Esther, brought severe pains and great sorrows to us. Sadly, this came at a time when Nigerians, the Edos and more specifically the Binis could hardly afford to dispense with the vital services of their amiable best particularly in the royalty, death surreptitiously stole Queen Esther “The demise of a Queen in a Kingdom is a monumental loss to humanity. Her sudden demise is an irreplaceable loss in an inauspicious season. It is painful, but glorious in the sight of the Lord when a faithful person dies. May God Almighty give all of us, including Omo Erediauwa and the entire Benin royalty the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss."

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

GRI, SIDA, others to promote sustainability reporting BY MICHAEL EBOH

lobal Reporting Ini tiative, GRI, Focal Point, South Africa, has entered into a partnership with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, SIDA, Thistle Praxis and Access Bank Plc, to promote capacity building on sustainability in Nigeria. Speaking at the G4 Sustainability Reporting Guideline Training Workshop in Lagos, Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank, said the partnership was designed to empower participants with the requisite knowledge of sustainability reporting. Wigwe, who was represented by Mr. Gregory Jobome, Chief Risk Officer, Access Bank, stated that the training will help participants manage the reporting process and benefit from the transparency of adopting such standards. He noted that the programme would advance the shared mission of mainstreaming sustainability reporting into business practices in Nigeria and Africa as well as enhancing the presence of the Global Reporting Initiative in Nigeria at regional and national levels.

Gofwen, ex-Secretary to Plateau State Govt, for burial

ORMER SECRETARY to the Plateau State Government under the Solomon Lar Administration, Nde Samuel Gofwen,will be buried, this weekend, according to a funeral programme released by the family. Gofwen died January 23, 2014, aged 75. According to the funeral arrangement, service of songs will hold tomorrow, Thursday, January 30, 2014, at the Church of St. Piran on the Plateau, Jos. On Friday, January 31, 2014, after a funeral service at the same church, interment will hold at the family compound, Tuwan, in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State. He is survived by children and other family members.

Late Gofwen

IMSG plans sacks beggars from streets BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI — APPARENTLY angered by the growing number of beggars in major cities of Imo State, the state government has concluded plans to introduce “Operation Stop Beg-

ging, OSB,” in the state. Special Assistant, SA, to the State Governor on Disability Matters, who doubles as the President General of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Imo State Chapter, Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu, stated this while fielding questions from

journalists in Owerri. “Operation Stop Begging, which is expected to take effect from March this year, is principally aimed at ridding the state of street begging,” Dr. Nwachukwu said. The SA, who commended the governor for introducing free edu-

From left, Vice President, South East/South South Professionals of Nigeria, SESSPN, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu; President, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-oju; Secretary General, Mr. Dagogo Karibi-Whyte, and Financial Secretry, Mr. Andy Wabali, at the press briefing by (SESSPN, on state of the nation, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

cation scheme in the state, also said the programme had helped many physically challenged persons to have access to formal education. Nwachukwu said the government had employed no fewer than 54 physically challenged people into the 27 local council areas of the state. Meanwhile, Governor Rochas Okorocha has promised that the Obowo Modern Market will soon be commissioned with all the necessary facilities in place. Okorocha disclosed this while interacting with traders at the market during his inspection tour of the market. “The market was built as part of government’s efforts to provide succour to Imo traders displaced at Umuahia as well as open up Obowo for development into a commercial city,” Okorocha said. He assured the traders that access roads and other facilities such as parking lots, toilets, water, street lights and security will be provided to bring the market to an international standard and appealed to them to make good use of the facilities.

24% of Nigerians fall victim to fake doctors —NOIPolls BY CHIOMA OBINNA

SURVEY by NOIPolls Limited, a country-specific polling organisation in West Africa, has found that no fewer than 24 per cent (two in 10) of Nigerians fall victim to quack or fake medical practitioners in the country. The poll, carried out in the second week of January, this year, also revealed that typhoid and malaria were the most prevalent ailments for which 50 per cent of the population had been treated by the fake doctors. It also showed that 11 per cent of pregnancy and childbirth related issues were also treated by these quacks.

Other ailments that topped the medical services offered by fake doctors include skin infections, diabetes, food poisoning, epilepsy, pneumonia, toothache and chicken pox, among others. The poll revealed that respondents to the poll were of the opinions that the health condition of the population treated became worse after treatment. The poll might have proved recent media reports in Nigeria on the upsurge in the prevalence of fake medical practitioners, with attendant effects on the physical well-being of the populace and life expectancy of the average Nigerian. The NOIPolls had conducted its latest poll on the prevalence of

sub-standard/quack medical practitioners in Nigeria, with a view to gauging the perception of Nigerians regarding their knowledge of the existence of quack medical practitioners and effects on the country’s health sector.

NULGE commends Obi over conduct of LG poll BY ENYIM ENYIM, ONITSHA

IN SPITE of the controversies that have continued to trail the conduct of the council poll in Anambra State, the state chapter

Abia govt to train 320 youths on modern agric technology — Commissioner

MUAHIA — ABIA State government has concluded plans to sponsor 320 youths to the Songhai centre in Benin Republic to learn modern agricultural technology. Commissioner for Agriculture,

Dr. Kenneth Nwosu, who dislcosed this Nwosu in Umuahia, yesterday, said the gesture was part of the youth empowerment programme of the state government. The commissioner said those

Ihiala LG boss tasked on grassroots development Chukwuemeka Nsofor, noted that

GROUP, Ihiala Local Gov ernment Grassroots Initiative, ILGI, has called on the newly elected chairman of the council, Mr. Awugosi Bartholomew, to justify the mandate given to him by improving the lot of his constituency. Briefing newsmen in Lagos, spokesperson of the group, Mr.

ILGI would act as a watch-dog to ensure that the people were not short-changed again. He noted that it was incumbent on the chairman to set the pace for the development of the council, given that this was the first time local government election was held in the state since 1999.

Further findings from the poll showed that 79 percent of Nigerians were aware of the growing prevalence of quacks in the country’s healthccare delivery, while 21 percent remained ignorant of their existence.

selected would be trained in beekeeping, snail production, poultry, aqua-culture as well as crop production and value addition. According to him, the beneficiaries will be empowered financially and assisted with loans to enable them to start their own businesses. “We will train and equip them to start up their own businesses to be able to employ other people. “Honey and snail production are now very important areas in agriculture, considering the prices of bottles of honey and snails. “So the idea is that some of them will come back to the state and become part of the resource people we will also have at the Abia Liberation Farms,” Nwosu said.

of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, yesterday, hailed Governor Peter Obi for breaking the jinx by conducting the election after more than 16 years. President of the union, Mr. Jerry Nnubia, said with elected chairmen and councillors in the 21 local government areas of the state,the people in the rural areas would enjoy democracy dividends. ”For us in the NULGE, we express our profound happiness that after more than 16 years, Peter Obi’s government thought it wise to give Anambra true democracy by democratising the third tier of government,” he said. According to Nnubia, the burden of the state government will be reduced to a greater extent as most of the problems arising from various communities and council areas would be channeled to the elected local government chairmen and councillors. Besides, he said the enthronement of democracy at the third tier level would fast-track development.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 47

FLAG OFF: Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State (left), vaccinating PRESENTATION: Chairman, Bida Badminton Club,Dr. Aliyu Muh'd Babadoko a child, at the flag off of the 2014 sub-national immunisation programme, (left)making a presentation to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on behalf of at Likoro, Kudan Local Government Area, Kaduna State, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi. the President of Fajara Club, Banjul, Gambia, in Government House, Minna.

ORIENTATION: From left: Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Director General, Technical Aid Corps, TAC,, Dr. Pius Osunyinkanmi, and Dr. Charles Amanze, at the opening of the 14th orientation exercise for the TAC volunteers in Akure.

INAUGURATION: From left: Senator Iyiola Omisore, Archbishop Gabriel Agbegunrin, and ministerial nominee, Abdul Jelili Adesiyan, at the inaugration of the new archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Diocese, at SS Peter and Paul Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan.

VISIT: Ayoyemi Ajimatanrareje, Miss Nigeria, Florida and Otunba Gani Adams, Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress, during a visit to Otunba Gani Adams in Lagos.

PROMO: From left: Mrs. Ibilola Akinla, Verification Consultant, Alexander Forbes Consulting Actuaries Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Anyanwu Comillus, Assistant Chief Surveillance and Enforcement, Consumer Protection Council and Mrs. Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, during the draws of DStv Samba 2014 promo. C M Y K

HONOUR: Emeritus Professor J.P. Clark (2nd right), Alaowei Broderick Bozimo (2nd left) and others, admiring some paintings depicting J.P. Clark’s work, at a programme organised by Ijaw Heritage Group to honour the emeritus prof. @80, at the BB Hotels, Warri, Delta State. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

VISIT: Line Manager, British Council, Port Harcourt, Ijeoma Arguba (left) and Project Director, Port Harcourt World Book Capital, PHWBC, 2014, Mrs. Koko Kalango, during a visit to the British Council in Port-Harcourt.

RETREAT: From left: MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Seni Adetu, Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC, Mr. Joe Dada, and GMD/CEO, of UAC, Mr. Larry Ettah, at UAC’s 2014 management retreat in Lagos.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

NTI pledges to sustain training of Maths, Science teachers

Plateau Chief Judge retires Friday BY TAYE OBATERU

ADUNA—DIREC TOR-General and Chief Executive of the National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, Kaduna, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu, has pledged his organisation’s determination to sustain the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education, SMASE, project. He, therefore, urged state governments to adhere to the timing and procedures of the training, with a view to maintaining the current tempo. Sharehu who spoke through the NTI Registrar, Mrs Safiya Balarabe, at the closing ceremony of the cycle two, first Cohort training, said: “It is my belief that you will adhere to the timing and procedures when conducting cycle two trainings for your 200 core teachers.” He said that the project was key to the achievement of UBEC mandate, even as he described Sciences and Mathematics critical variables in the development of any country. Representative of the Federal Ministry of Education at the ceremony, Mrs. Amina Abdulkadir, a Principal Education Officer, SMASE Unit, commended the institute and other stakeholders for the effective mobilisation, implementation and delivery of the project.

INSPECTION—Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (left) in a chat with the state water resources commissioner Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa when the governor visited to inspect ongoing construction works at the Damaturu Regional Water Supply project, in Damaturu, yesterday.

Sambo seeks increased bilateral ties with Cote d’Ivoire BY EMEKA MAMAH

AGOS—VICE President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has called for increased bilateral ties between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire especially in the economic sector as both countries are strategic partners and pillars of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Sambo spoke, yesterday, at a dinner organized in his honour by the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Kablan Duncan in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Alhaji Umar Sani. According to Sani, Sambo said that although cooperation be-

tween the two countries had been strong, there was room for improvement particularly in the areas of energy, oil and gas. “We should avail ourselves of the enormous potentials in our various spheres for the common goods and aspirations of our teeming population. It is for this reason that I consider my visit to your country as another opportunity to use our warm and cordial relations to further improve the well-being of our people,” Sambo added. He however, expressed his satisfaction on the peace process in the host country urging the Ivorians to remain committed to the peace initiative of their government

Kwara Gov sends list of 16 commissioners to House for confirmation

IORIN—GOVERNOR AbdulFatah Ahmed of Kwara yesterday, presented a list of 16 nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners. The governor ’s request was contained in a message read by the Speaker of the House, Rasaw Atunwa, during plenary. Ahmed said the request was in consonance with Section 192, Sub-section 125 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. According to the message, the nominees are Mr Amos Aboyeji from Oyun Local Government Area; Alhaji Issa Kayode, Moro; Alhaji Aliu Mohammed, Asa;

Alhaji Shaaba Umar, Edu; and Alhaji Abubakar Mora, Kaima. Others are Mr Saheed Popoola from Offa; Dr Abubakar Kannike, IIorin East; Mr Bode Ogunleye, Ekiti; Alhaji Lade Mohammed, Patigi; Mr Olubode Olayemi, Ifelodun; Alhaji Abubakar Mora, Kaima, and Mr Abubakar Garba, Baruten. Others are Mr Tunji Morofoye from Oyun; Hajia Ramata Abaya, Asa; Alhaji Saka Onimago, IIorin West, and Alhaji Tolagbe Alege, IIorin South.

The Speaker directed the nominees to submit their credentials to the Clerk of the House, Mr Oyetunde Oyeniyi, on or before Friday Jan. 31. Atunwa announced that the screening of the nominees would commence on Feb. 1. In another development, the governor on Tuesday presented two bills to the House for consideration and passage. The two proposed laws are the Data Capturing of Landlords Agency Bill, and Environmental Protection Agency Bill.

assuring them of Nigeria’s continued support in ensuring the unity, and stability of the country. “Nigeria will continue to support the reconstruction and development of Cote d’Ivoire,” he assured. Sambo also said that the Federal Government would remain committed to ensuring the realization of the international highway that would connect Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in partnership with the private sector. “It is gladdening to note that Nigeria’s businessmen are being allocated some oil blocks to explore in Cote d’Ivoire. I want to assure you that we will continue to partner in all areas needed for the development of Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria. Africa’s problems must be solved by Africans,” he further noted. Earlier, the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr Kablan had expressed gratitude to Nigeria for helping solve the Ivorian post-electoral crisis, with her initiatives towards the restoration of peace in the West African-sub-region. He said that Nigeria remained a key global partner to Cote D’Ivoire accounting for 24 percent of the country’s imports. “In this context, this partnership must allow us to pull our efforts to address the challenge of development in order to ensure the well-being of our people, particularly in terms of job creation, infrastructure and poverty alleviation,” Kablan added.

OS— THE appoint ment of a new acting head of the Judiciary in Plateau State is being awaited as the incumbent Chief Judge, Justice Lazarus Dakyen retires from service on Friday. Retirement activities for the outgoing chief judge commenced, yesterday, with the launching of two books in his honour to be followed by a special valedictory court session today, among other activities. It is expected that Justice Pius Damulak who is next to the outgoing chief judge would emerge as the next head of the judiciary. If Damulak is not considered, the stage may be set for the emergence of the first female chief judge for the state in the person of Justice Yargata Nimpar who is next in line.

Kebbi distributes 241, 206 bags of fertilizer to farmers

IRNIN KEBBI— THE Kebbi State Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, KARDA, yesterday, said it had distributed 241, 206 bags of fertilizer to farmers registered under the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES. Alhaji Abubakar Lolo, the coordinator of the programme in the state told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Birnin Kebbi that 80, 402 farmers benefited from the gesture. He said each of the beneficiaries had been allocated three bags of fertilizer. Lolo said another batch of 24, 123 farmers would receive theirs this week. “We would continue to distribute the commodity this week to all the registered farmers in the 27 designated centres in the state.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARRY 29, 2014—49 —49

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50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

From left: Rasheed Jimoh, Regional Manager for EMC in English-Speaking West Africa; with Adrian Mcdonald,President, EMC Europe, Middle East/ Africa and Nazim Fraijat,Managing Director, EMC Levante and Emerging Africa at a press conference to announce the EMC traning centre in Lagos, yesterday.

SHUTDOWN: APC Reps stall 2014 Budget Continues from page 5 Other attempts by PDP members to second motions and bills were rubbished by APC members who shouted them down. No mention was made of the Appropriation Bill yesterday. Rather, the House went through a rehearsal on the voting on the report of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review. Vanguard gathered that the budget is not slated for consideration this week.

Budget takes centre-stage in Senate

Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume was at the head of what turned out to be a doomed move to stall debate of the 2014 budget of the Federal Government in the Senate yesterday. He called for the suspension of debate on the budget in the face of what he claimed were the absence of relevant documents that would guide senators in making contributions as required by Fiscal Responsibility Act. Among the documents he said were missing were the revenue and expenditure profiles of government, the revenue framework broken down monthly according to sector, and the document on the performance of the 2013 budget. While calling on the Senate not to rush into the passage of the budget, Senator Akume

lamented distortions in the priority of the government, citing the N700 million proposed for entertainment in the presidency and another N300 million to build up more facilities for VIPS in the State House Clinic. Senator Ahmad Lawan, APC, Yobe North, on his part, described the budget proposal as the worst appropriation bill in the history of the Fourth Republic adding that the Senate should not discuss it without first discussing the implementation and success of the 2013 budget. Noting the weight of the recurrent side, he said that with 74% farmed to recurrent expenditure catering to less than five million Nigerians, he flayed the style of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who he said with the revelations of the spate of import duty waivers had shown herself to be against the poor. He thus demanded her resignation. He also described the N2 billion proposed for the Northeast as scandalous. Senator Alkali Jajere, APC, Yobe South also dismissed the budgetary proposals for not taking consideration of the North. Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare, APC, Osun East, accused the Senate of having surrendered its powers in Sections 80 and 81 of the Nigerian Constitution to the executive, reminding the chamber that good governance

was a responsibility that it should show to the people of the country. “Having listened to contributions, it appears we have surrendered to the supremacy of the executive. As it is now, the Senate should suspend the implementation of the budget and send it to a special committee to rejig it completely and do a complete turn-around of it so that the parliament will own the document as it is required by law,” he stated. In his contribution, Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar ’Adua said that the budget had nothing for the common man even as he accused the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of doing the biddings of the World Bank to the economic detriment of the nation. “In this budget, there is nothing for the poor, you cannot single out one programme for the poor. Everything in the budget is for big men, the political class and the bureaucrats. The budget makes provision for about five million people (recurrent) neglecting over 97 percent of the country,” he stated.

Abaribe wants Rivers example for budget passage But Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South while commending the articulation of Senator Lawan, reminded him of the fast passage of the Rivers State 2014 budget by the APC-controlled House of Assembly.

“Two weeks ago, the APC government in Rivers State passed the budget in one hour; let us copy the APC,” Abaribe said. Senator Paulinus Igwe, PDP, Ebonyi advised that the budget should be sent to the appropriate Senate Committees for legislative action, adding, “the earlier we pass the budget the better for us." Earlier, the Senate President, David Mark had advised Senators “to use a national magnifying glass to look at the budget,” urging Senators to consider the interest of the country instead of personal or party interest. Introducing the Appropriation Bill earlier, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba stated that all the proposals in the budget were laudable and tailored to meet the critical needs of the country so as to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Our senators didn't flout our order — APC Meanwhile, the APC yesterday described as erroneous news reports that its senators flouted the party’s directive to shut down the government until the stoppage of alleged impunity in Rivers State. The party in a statement issued in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the presence of its senators at the screening of defence chiefs did not mean the senators had flouted the directive. “We never directed our members in the National Assembly to boycott the chambers’ sessions, whether it is screening of appointees or plenary. What we said is that they should block Executive Bills. In any case, a Senator or an Honourable member can only filibuster when he is in attendance. Fillibuster does not equate to boycott or non-attendance,’’ APC said. The party said it was fully aware that its members in the Senate would attend the screening of the military chiefs, ‘’just as we are sure they will be part of any debate on the issue, and we have no problems with that. After all they were elected to attend the National Assembly sessions and fully participate in its

activities. But their contributions will help swing things one way or the other. That is the crux of the matter". Further justifying the directive, the APC said it would help restore normalcy and also benefit all Nigerians including the National Assembly which had in the past asked for the redeployment of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu. “It was the National Assembly that passed the resolutions on the redeployment of Mbu. Members of the PDP, APGA, Labour Party, Accord Party, who are now playing to the gallery just to feather their own nest and place personal interest above national interest, were part of the efforts that culminated in passing the resolutions in both chambers. But the Presidency simply ignored the resolutions, a dangerous trend that will make nonsense of the principle of check and balance in our democratic system and also encourage the President to flout future resolutions.

‘’In this respect, the National Assembly itself should own and commend our directive, instead of a few exhibitionist legislators rushing to the media to make uninformed comments. As far as we are concerned, we acted rightly in issuing our directive, which is meant to end the impunity in Rivers, save our democracy from descending into anarchy and protect national institutions which are being rubbished and manipulated by the Presidency,’’ APC said Senator Babafemi Ojudu, APC, Ekiti Central also corroborated his party ’s statement in a chat with Vanguard yesterday. “Our party leadership never frowned at our participation in the screening. They never said that. What the party said is that we are free to take part in all the processes of the screening and the party has even clarified their position today (Tuesday) on that. So there is no question of anybody disobeying the party or anything of sort.”

Why I fired Service Chiefs —Jonathan Continues from page 5 he said adding, that the National Assembly along with traditional institutions can form the bedrock on which “ we can move our country to the next level.”

Why I appointed Badeh CDS

Jonathan said he appointed Badeh as CDS because he was prudent in the management of resources allocated to the NAF. He said the National Security Council meeting will hold next week when they would have been cleared by the Senate and the officers decorated with their new ranks. At the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa, Mustapha Aliyu, Jonathan said that with the appointment of new service chiefs, the tempo of activities against the Boko Haram sect will be increased. “Let me express our condolences to various families and various peo-

ple that have lost loved ones in this unnecessary Boko Haram crisis. This thing was alien to us. It was never part of us or our culture. God willing, Nigeria will overcome this challenge,” he said. He had earlier commended NAF for establishing the school as a foundation for the development of scientific and technological innovation. “One of the reasons for lifting the CDS from his position as CAS is; I noted carefully that in terms of managing resources, I believe that he tried. I believe that for him taking charge now as CDS, he can work with other colleagues and properly brief them on how to do it, then the Nigerian Armed Forces will be a different Armed Forces,” he added. Governor Murtala Nyako in his address apologized to President Jonathan for the not-tooimpressive welcome accorded him as the streets were deserted, saying it was due to the security situation in the area.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARRY 29, 2014—51 —51

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HIV: Scientists at MOU make breakthrough A

GROUP of Nigerian scientists charged from the body alongside." Existing medicine have found what could be a novel treatment for Human Immune-deficiency Virus, HIV, infection that may slash the cost of treatment. The team of scientists, including graduate students and researchers from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria have been able to show that synthetic Aluminum-magnesium silicate (AMS) has antiretroviral effects that could lay a perfect track for affordable and effective therapy for HIV. Results Results of their work titled “Assessment of Antiretroviral Effects of a Synthetic Aluminum-magnesium Silicate” published in the British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research and featured on nd featured on SCIENCEDOMAIN international shows a significant reduction in the titres of the virus when HIV positive plasma was incubated with AMS. Head, Department of Veterinary Medicine at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, and the lead scientist, Professor Maduike Ezeibe, said the discovery could provide an ultimate cure for the virus that has defiled so many scientific efforts to curtail it in the past. Ezeibe reacted aluminium silicate with magnesium silicate to obtain the synthetic aluminum-magnesium silicate devoid of impurities. Giving further details Ezeibe noted: "Molecules of aluminum-magnesium silicate have platelets that possess both negative and positive electrical charges on their surfaces and their edges. HIV on the other hand is negatively charged. So the simple scientific understanding that opposite charges attracts ensures that the HIV virus binds to the AMS and is dis-

"AMS is normally used as a stabilizing medicine that does not really have toxic

• L-R: Chairman/CEO, Odpins Ltd., Mr. Gbeyin Shonibare; MD Mart Life Detox Centre, Mrs. Idowu Ashiru; and MD, MART, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru during a media briefing in Lagos recently.

effect on the patient, so it makes it a suitable agent for mopping up HIV virus from the body," he said. In the Journal, Ezeibe stated that "possession of both negative and positive electrical charges makes AMS a broad spectrum antiviral medicine." "AMS, if used in combination of selected antibiotics and immune stimulant may achieve a 'cure' for HIV," the lead researcher of the work said. "When a significant number of particles of invading viruses adsorb onto its (AMS) molecules instead of onto their hosts cells, viral infections are terminated," Ezeibe noted. The author noted also that "Adsorbing out HIV means that millions of new virions usually released from each infected cell would be inhibited from establishing new infections in more cells," adding, "Thus, HIV would be prevented from overwhelming the body immune systems and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) stage may be prevented.which case Ezeibe said a cure could be achieved.

Nutricima rewards consumers in Mega Cash Promo

O promote good nutrition among Ni gerians, Nutricima Limited, has announced that it is giving away cash and gifts prizes worth millions of Naira to consumers in its latest consumer-reward initiative tagged ‘Nutricima Mega Cash Promo.’ The promo, which is aimed at rewarding new and existing consumers of Nutricima’s range of milk products, will run for three months starting from January 21st through April 22nd, 2014. At a press conference, the Managing Director, Nutricima Limited, Mr. Suneel Vasudevan, explained that consumers stand the chances of winning millions of Naira and numerous gifts after pur-

chasing any of Coast evaporated milk, Olympic evaporated Milk or Nunu powder refill which has the promo label. Under the label, consumers can find a six digit Code number which is to be sent with the product serial number to 08093377802. The sender then gets an interactive voice response which informs the consumer about what he or she has won. Instant wins in the Mega Cash Promo include N50 airtime e-top-up for thousands of consumers, cash prizes of N500, N1, 000, N5, 000 and N10, 000 each. Aside from the instant prizes, consumers can also qualify for a monthly raffle draw where they have the opportunity to win between N50, 000 to

N1million.To redeem their cash prizes, customers are expected to go to any branch of Zenith bank with the product label and valid ID card. Cash prizes between N500 – N10, 000 will be paid over the counter, while N50, 000 – N1, 000, 000 will be transferred to winners’ accounts. 15 lucky people are expected to win N1, 000, 000 each in the raffle which will hold every month of the promo duration. Vasudevan, said Nutricima, in line with its vision to reward its new and existing consumers, came up with the Mega Cash Promo to appreciation millions of its loyal consumers across Nigeria, as well as potential consumers.

Acute low back pain (physician heal thyself) N

OT one for New Year resolutions, I however decided to get fitter this year. I started a regime of sit-ups and push ups, cycling and spot jogging. But, alas, by the third day, my back froze in a tight spasm and I was unable to walk. My back twisted and locked into a sideways posture. I walked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Any attempt to straighten my spine was punctuated by a yell and a grimace and a retreat to the bent position. Not a pretty sight for a pain doctor scheduled to see a pain patient in 48 hours. Typical of most doctors, I convinced myself that the "problem" will resolve itself. I took no medicines nor any action that I would probably have instructed my patients. But, by the next day, the back pain took a nasty turn for the worst. One side of my back

was hard and stiff; the other side in intermittent spasm. The pain had extended to the back of my thighs. Each footstep was like an elephant taking first steps on an ice rink. I swung into action and began a crash course of muscle relaxing tablets, non steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets and ointment, and intensive massage. Good old acetaminophen (paracetamol) was also helpful. By the next day, the morning of my appointment, my back pain was better and the stiff side had abated. But the spasms were still there, and worse. I set off to the clinic with the intention to disguise any spasms or discomfort in front of my patient. The consultation was interesting. The patient, a man in his mid fifties from Abuja, complained about low back pain of 2 months

duration. His symptoms were identical to mine. As he described his spasms and pain, my own back muscles jerked and stiffened in response. Each time he seemed to catch my grimace I switched it into a smile. At the end of the consultation, with a sense of achievement in hiding my ailment, I ushered him out with his treatment plan. As the man stepped out, he turned back and said: "Doctor, you really must take care of that your tetanus!" Perhaps for different reasons, we both burst into laughter. Acute Low Back Pain is not a laughing matter. It is the commonest cause of work absenteeism in the world and a great economic burden to many countries. The lower back bears the brunt of the weight of our trunk. The tiny joints in the spine are constantly twisting

and turning and the back muscles are constantly bending and stretching. Inappropriate dynamics (movement or posture) is the commonest cause of acute low back pain, It often resolves after a few days with NSAIDS (aspirin-like drugs), simple analgesics, massage and bed rest. When it persists for a couple of months, it is referred to as " sub acute "; after three to four months it becomes " chronic" and takes on a rather different character. Apart from the back muscles, the bones of the spine and the joints of the pelvis (women especially) are other sources of low back pain. The bones begin to show their age (wear and tear) usually after the age

of 35. If the muscle spasms trap some of the nerves that go down to the leg, a burning radiating pain develops ("sciatica"). Sometimes the worn out spine bones also release chemicals that irritate the nerve roots and also cause sciatica.. The best prevention advice is to be careful, and aware at all times, about posture and lifting and undue stress on your spine and back muscles. That way.......you wont get tetanus!

•Dr Femi Ogunyemi MBBS(Ibadan) FRCA FWACS DAAPM is an Anesthesiologist and Pain Management Specialist with active licenses in Nigeria, UK and USA.

54 —

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

Rural electrification: Let there be light in the villages

•Rural electrification

ESPITE the success of the recent privatisation of the power sector, there are indications that Nigerians still expect more from the Federal Government in the area of rural electrification. Currently, it is believed that about 80% of the rural areas have little or no electricity, as most of them have not been included in the national grid. Though there have been efforts at ensuring power supply to the rural areas, most communities still grope in the dark as a result of uncompleted rural electrification projects. Also, successive governments have constantly relegated this aspect of national development to the background, resulting in the absence of policies needed to tackle the endemic problem of rural electrification. For instance, when the Nigeria Rural Electrification Programme was launched in 2005, the federal government aimed to connect about 1,500 communities to the national grid by 2007, and to achieve 85 percent electrification by 2010 (compared with 40 percent in 2005),

but more nearly 10 years after, many rural areas in the country are yet to benefit from this programme. Investigations by Vanguard Features,VF, showed that many communities are still deprived of electricity supply across the country. Giving bite to VF's findings, a report by Messrs S. O. Igbinovia and P.E. Orukpe titled: "Rural electrification: The Propelling Force for Rural Development of Edo State, Nigeria" said: ''In

By CHARLES KUMOLU

review study puts rural households average requirement between 1 583.2 – 2 324.'' Though the Ministry of Power has initiated various measures towards strengthening the rural electrification programme, there are doubts that the project might be abandoned like others. “Reviving the rural electrification project is a good development. If properly implemented there will be better results. I also have my fears about the

You can’t talk about being among the 20 developed economies by 2020 when the rural population lack s electricity

some countries, as little as 5%, of the population in Africa (excluding South Africa and Egypt) have direct access to electricity. The figure falls to 2% in rural areas. Demand is expected to grow by about 5% annually over the next 20 years. Africa constitutes approximately10% of the World’s population, the total primary energy consumption of Africa is only about 3% of the total World's primary energy consumption (BP2002) and a

project because of the culture of abandoning projects in the country. If investors are allowed to invest in rural electrification, Nigeria will become the economic hub of Africa because the commodity sector will grow,'' Chairman Power Logics Technology, Chief Emeka Ojeh said. “Getting the rural communities electrified, is not also an easy task, Ojeh noted, adding that: ''the challenges facing rural electrification in Nigeria are

•Minister of power, Prof. Nebo myriad; some are unique while many are inherent to the rural communities. These challenges cover a wide range of factors ranging from technical, political, economic, financial and social issues.' 'Another person, who is in a hurry to see the rural electrification projects become a reality, is the Chairman Enroc Energy, Engr. Kayode Ademola. Ademola is angry that despite the dream of being a developed economy by 2020, the rural areas where over 50% of the country's population reside, lack electricity. ''You can't talk about being among the 20 developed economies by 2020 when the rural population lack electricity. Before the agencies concerned with rural electrification em-

bark on the electrification of villages and urban areas, there must be a quantitative study of the relationship of energy consumption to GNP of the area in question, to bring about integrated development,’’ Ademola added.

Abandoned projects to be completed soon

VF also gathered that this need to light up the rural communities, informed the revival of the moribund Rural Electrification Agency, REA, by President Goodluck Jonathan. Giving an insight into on going efforts towards providing adequate electricity for rural dwellers, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo noted that plans have been concluded to

Continues on page 55

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

— 55

Rural electrification: Let there be light in the villages and improve electricity supply in the country. At the meeting, Nebo told the EU delegation, led by Ambassador Michel Arrion, Head of EU Delegation to Africa and ECOWAS, that the federal government had embarked on a robust programme of electrification of the rural areas not captured in the national grid. Neno, who expressed sadness that the EU countries showed little enthusiasm during the privatisation programme concluded recently, explained that the EU's lukewarm attitude gave room for countries like China to invest billions of dollars in the sector. He said that ‘’EU countries still have a chance to benefit from the opportunities being provided in the area of rural electrification, particularly in exploring investment initiatives, provision of expertise and assistance in capacity building of renewable energy in which the fresh initiative, which pilot projects have already begun is hinged, to enable the programme succeed.“ He also notified the delegation that such assistance could also come in the area of energy conservation, stating that

You can’t talk about being among the 20 developed economies by 2020 when the rural population lack selectricity

of Power, while the remaining 48 were initiated by the agency.“ Inherited 2,269 projects Further breakdown revealed that the agency, at inception, inherited 2,269 projects from the Ministry of Power and successfully completed and inaugurated 323. A total of 1,946 of the projects are at different levels of completion. Confirming that work is ongoing on the projects across the country, Ojeh said: "rural electrification moves are on course. As a stakeholder I am impressed. The REA on its own, awarded contracts for 158 rural electrification projects (113 grid projects and 45 solarbased projects). Sixty-five of these projects have been completed and inaugurated, while the rest are at different levels of completion.” Ojeh's assertion about the commitment of the ministry, was witnessed recently, as the country and the European Union concluded plans to partner in rural electrification. This implied that the EU may become one of the key partners in the provision of electricity to the rural areas not captured in the national grid. The two parties, it was gathered, agreed to hold future meetings to work out areas of cooperation towards building enhanced power infrastructure

since about 90 percent of the energy usage in the country was dedicated to lighting, it would be good to develop energy efficient bulbs, which he believed the EU countries had the expertise to accomplish.“Assuring that the demographic indicators on investment in Nigeria were quite encouraging to stimulate the interest of the EU, he said it was necessary for the body, whose members are Nigeria's old allies to invest in the development of critical infrastructure in the sector. The Minister also informed his guests about fund expectation, adding that, he was concerned that a particular fund the ministry's training institute was supposed to draw from had not materialised, and wondered whether there were conditions Nigeria had not met. The Ambassador, while acknowledging that EU members actually had the capacity to assist in the areas outlined, assured of the possibility of a robust relationship of investment and assistance. Stating that EU countries had experience in off-grid power provision, he said that attracting investment in that area was quite key adding that his team was interested in developing a conducive environment for such investment.

Succour for almajrai as Bauchi state embraces their education By SUZAN EDEH

In Bauchi State for instance, the Government has embraced this system of education with a view to imparting Qur’anic knowledge to the pupils (almajiris). Also introduced are aspects of western education. The Government believes that this will go a long way in curbing insecurity in the state as most people are of the opinion that the Almajiri serve are tools in the hands of militants and other insurgents. About 60 percent reduction in such criminal activities is being targeted.t. This view was expressed by the Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda during the inauguration Tsangaya Model School at Buzaye Village in Bauchi Local Government Area. According to Yuguda,“ with the integration of the Almajiri system of education with Western education, in the next five years, Northern states would be highly educated, developed and secured”. He explained that the initiative by President Jonathan is the “first time any administration in Nigeria has taken a bold initiative to address the issue of

HEN President GoodLuck Jonthan’s administration decided to establish the Almajiri School Project in the northern and some southern parts of the country to address the challenges of insecurity and provide basic education to children who are out of school,many state governments, particularly in the north breathed a sigh of relief. This was anchored on their belief that the system will arrest hooliganism and lawlessness taking its root in the region. The project was a clear testimony of the Federal government’s effort of integrating one of the vulnerable groups and incorporating them into the education system. Stakeholders in the North-east region who had earlier criticised the President are now the main beneficiaries of the Almajiri school system. The system is believed to have helped in solving the challenges militating against the Child Rights Act. The Almajiri falls among the group of destitute children in Nigeria. They With the integration of the Almajiri system constitute about seven of education with Western education, in the million street begging, maladjusted,aggressive next five years, Northern states would be and violent-ridden chilhighly educated, developed and secured dren of Northern Nigeria. The Almajiri word was coined from the Arabic terminology ‘Al-Mu- the Almajiri who had long been neglected, hajirum’ meaning refugees to be granted deprived and suffered”. He informed that alms-assistance. The concept of Almajiri in about 220 Tsangaya schools had been the core Northern parts of the country, refers established in Bauchi State with a total of to any person that moves on the street beg- 35,531 Almajiris enrolled in the schools and ging alms, sometimes in groups. They are assured that with improved allocation to the usually aged between seven and15 years state and Federal Government’s continuous and are supervised by a Mallam of an infor- commitment to the programme, the numbers mal Quranic School. of the Tsangaya schools would increase in Prior to the establishment of the Almajiri the state. schools in the country, the system was The State government, he said, started bastardized by lazy parents, greedy teachers, integrating the Qur’anic school into basic exploitative politicians and employers of education with only three schools. “With labour. It served as a means of indoctrinating the coming of this administration in 2007, the youngsters to the Qur’an as a means of the number of schools increased to 20 in imbibing self-discipline. 2009. “The number increased again and now Most parents who found the up-bringing we have 620, with an enrollment of 35,531 their male children burdensome threw them pupils. All the schools have classrooms with into the system with little or no supervision quality facilities such as furniture, and care. Such children, brought up as beg- instructional materials, as well as qualified gars tend to feel or behave in a way that por- teachers,” he said. tray them as inferior, without a sense of selfYuguda said three Tsangaya Islamiya worth. Meanwhile, the Federal government Model Schools were built by the Federal has set up 143 out of the projected 400 Alma- Government in the state. Two of them, ji model schools in the North and a few south- the one in Buzaye and the other at Azare ern states for a targeted population of 10 mil- were approved by the Tertiary Education lion less privileged children who are out of Trust Fund (TETFund) and built at the cost school. of N350 million.

Continues from page 54 ensure that all abandoned rural electrification projects were completed in the shortest possible time. He said: “It is on record that the rural electrification agency was moribund before President Jonathan came on board. The agency, which is saddled with rural electrification, has been scrapped." President Jonathan the minister said had, however, revived the agency and injected funds for its effectiveness. “Most of the projects were abandoned when they were at 90 percent completion. Today, huge rural electrification projects have been penned down for completion,’’Nebo added. He said there was no way government could bring development and value chain into the rural areas without effective electricity, adding that electricity is key to farm produce and preservation in the rural. A breakdown of the 1,994 electrification projects abandoned across the country, indicated that 1,946 were inherited by REA from the Ministry

56 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

•A cache of arms and ammunition recovered from the gang

•Eyo, one of Jack’s gang members in a fake army uniform

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

HE controversy surrounding the disappearance of a 34-year-old suspect, Joseph Jack, from police custody in Lagos State, has taken a new twist, as Crime Alert has uncovered that he was gunned down during a police operation. Sources disclosed that Jack, an alleged member of a notorious armed robbery gang that specialized in using military uniforms and accessories to terrorize members of the public was arrested in September 2013 after dispossessing a man at gun point, of his tricycle in Yaba area of Lagos. The owner of the tricycle, Obiora Offor, was said to have spotted Jack, four months after the robbery, in a crowd, in a military uniform at Ojodu Berger, arguing with a motorist. He confronted him but got a beating of his life, for accusing a military personnel of armed robbery. The police at Ojodu were alerted and Jack was arrested. During interrogation it was discovered that Jack was fake and was transferred to Special Anti-Robbery oplSquad, SARS, for proper profiling and investigation. While at SARS, Crime Alert

Controversy as robbery suspect disappears from police custody gathered that, its operatives uncovered that Jack had three pending cases of armed robbery, extortion, intimidation and harassment with the Squad. They also discovered that the Army at 9 Brigade Ikeja, had written a letter to the Commissioner of Police Lagos, asking that Jack be prosecuted for armed robbery, after he was arrested by a team of army personnel on patrol in Ogba area of Lagos for attempting to dispossess a middle-aged man identified as Rufus Akinrinwale of the sum of N2 million. The letter dated January 12, 2012, stated in part, “In course of our investigation, it was discovered that the suspect is a civilian who specialized in impersonating as a soldier and committed crimes under this guise including robbery. He

has been arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for the same offences on several occasions in the past. Assorted military items were recovered from him including army identity card.” Meanwhile, Crime Alert further gathered that, while Jack was still undergoing interrogation and SARS operatives were making effort to track down members of his gang, a gang of armed robbers clad in military uniforms attacked a branch of Access Bank at Ayobo area of Lagos and attempted to break into the Automated Teller Machine, ATM, killing three policemen including an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Longus Amuzie. They carted away their rifles, as they responded to a distress call from the bank.

After that incident, CCTV footage of the operation was showed to Jack and he identified one Eyo and Confidence, who he said were the leaders of his gang and four others. An operative who spoke with Crime Alert on the condition of anonymity said, “The moment Jack identified the Ayobo bank robbers as members of his gang, we knew we’ve gotten our lead on the bandits that killed our colleagues. We immediately asked him to place a call to Eyo and tell him that he has been away treating an ailment and he is back, but very broke. Eyo expressed surprise hearing from Jack and he asked him to team up with him and two others at Illasamaja, where he said he has an operation involving N10 million. We took Jack to the spot at

Ilasamja, where they were supposed to meet and the moment Eyo sighted us he attempted to escape by shooting at us but he and three others were gunned down. We recovered an AK 47 rifle and 11 fully loaded AK 47 magazines from a bag he was carrying. A Nigeria Army Identity card, with No. 93 NA/ 968, depicting Sgt Eyo B, was found on him. We also arrested one Chinonso Eguzobi who was the informant that gave out the operation. While we were making efforts to recover the missing police rifles, Jack assisted us in locating a housing agent who rented an apartment for Eyo and Confidence. We arrested him and he took us to Eyo’s apartment, but while we were searching for exhibit Jack saw

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

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Death of APC chieftain aide’s wife:

Police attribute absence of autopsy repor o dela tigation reportt tto delayy in in invves estigation ...as widower boy-cotts burial By EVELYN USMAN

•Joseph Jack in a fake uniform

an opportunity to escape and jumped out of the window. The building is a one storey and an operative who was at the ground floor shot at him as he attempted scaling the fence of the building. He died from his bullet wounds and his body was deposited at the mortuary. We ended up recovering the three missing police rifles belonging to deceased policemen and one other.” The source narrated. However, Jack’s mother, Bose Bajulaye, received the shock of her life penultimate Friday, when she stormed SARS headquarters in Ikeja in search of her son. Crime Alert gathered she slumped when she couldn’t find the name of her son on the list of inmates in the cell. She was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, for treatment, but her quest to see her son has remained paramount to her.

Husband, relatives absent at burial

Tears, flowed freely as the remains of the graduate of Industrial Relations from the Lagos State University was interred on January 9, 2014 , at Atan cemetery, Lagos. It was learnt that those who paid their last respects were mainly family members and friends. But Ibironke’s widower and his family were reportedly out of sight while the whole interment exercise lasted. A member of the deceased’s family who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed displeasure at Ajibola’s absence and that of his family members, saying: “None of them cared to come. It goes a long way to show that they were never interested . We had to bury our daughter on our own.” However, Crime Alert was reliably informed that the absence of Ibironke’s widower and those of his family members could not have been unconnected with the communication gap between both parties. Family sources explained that they were given a warrant to bury their daughter by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, with a promise to come for the autopsy report two weeks later. As at Monday, the family said they were yet to receive the report for an unknown reason.

Deceased had premonition of her death

• Ibe Further investigation showed that the late Ibironke had a premonition of her death. This followed her decision to leave her matrimonial home on several occasions, for what she described as fear of the unknown. A close friend of hers who simply gave her name as Dami, said: “ Immediately she gave birth to her first child who is now three yearsold, she threatened to quit the marriage because she alleged that her husband was not faithful to the marriage vows. But her father advised her against such decision. She had attempted to quit thrice over what she described as fear of the unknown but each time , she would be reminded by her family members that a woman’s place is in her husband’s house.”

HE remains of the wife of the Personal Assistant to a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Sanni Ajibola Yusuf, Mrs Ibironke Sanni, whose death generated a lot of controversy over the exact cause, has finally been buried. Surprisingly, her widower and members of his family were reportedly absent at the Atan cemetery, Lagos, where she was interred. The lifeless body of the 31-year-old mother of two was reportedly found in their flat at Abike Jokogbola Sholebo Estate in Oga, Ikorodu, area of Lagos, on December 23, 2013, with claims that she committed suicide. But the claim was refuted by the deceased’s family who said she could have been strangled to death, following finger marks reportedly discovered on her neck. The family members therefore, called on the Police to ascertain the exact cause of their daughter’s death. However, indication emerged yesterday that the autopsy report on the late Ibironke, was yet to be out. The delay as gathered, had hampered investigation by operatives at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department , Yaba, Lagos to establish whether the late Ibironke was strangled to death or could have committed suicide.

Immediately she gave birth to her first child who is now three years-old, she threatened to quit the marriage because she alleged that her husband was not faithful to the marriage vow

Her fears were later confirmed when what was earlier perceived as rumour about her husband’s alleged escapades with a woman in Abeokuta, turned out to be true, after the said woman reportedly had a baby for him. “ Nobody knows what actually transpired on that fateful day. We only hope that the police will come up with tangible clues at the end of their investigation”, Dami said. While some persons were of the opinion that Ibironke could have committed suicide because of the startling discovery, her family faulted the opinion. Speaking with Crime Alert, one of the deceased’s family members who spoke on condition of anonymity , said there could be more to Ibironke’s death. “This is because we feel there is more to her death than what we were told. On that fateful day, we were informed that our daughter was rushed to the Ikorodu General Hospital, by her in-laws, where she was certified dead . They were advised by doctors at the hospital to go and report the incident at the nearest police station. Rather

than heed the advice, they took the body back home, locked the door and left. “We visited our in-law family’s home at Beach Close, Ita Elewa in Ikorodu, where we met the fatherin-law, our daughter’s husband, Sanni Ajibola Yusuf and other members of his family. We asked what steps they had taken, only to be informed that they had contacted the Area Commander on phone. “Our family pointed out that the issue at hand was more than mere calling the police on phone. That was when the father-in-law and some members of our family went to Igbogbo division to report the incident.” At the police station, father-in-law to the deceased, Alhaji M.K Sanni, who is chairman, Neighborhood Watch, was said to have requested the Police to issue a report that would enable them bury Ibironke. But the deceased’s family was said to have kicked against it, insisting rather, that an autopsy be carried on her to ascertain the cause of her death before being buried. The insistence according to late Ibironke’s family sources followed discovery of finger marks around her neck, fuelling suspicions that she could have been strangled to death. “Secondly, the Sniper insecticide container her husband’s people said she took was found inside the trash bin in the kitchen while her body was found in the bed room. If indeed she took it, she would have left it close to where her body was found. There was also no drop of it around where her body was found. “Thirdly, we were made to understand that the late Ibironke sent her husband a text message. But neither of her two phones were found when the police conducted a search round the house. “Even when we suggested that the case be properly investigated by the Police, her in-laws kicked against it, threatening that we would regret our action, since we decided to bring such a disgraceful act to public knowledge.” Sources to late Ibironke said.

Ibironke’s widower detained

When contacted, spokes person for the Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braid, promised to reach Crime Alert, after being briefed by the appropriate officer at SCID. However, sources at SCID hinted that operatives swung into action immediately the case was transferred from Igbogbo division, by arresting the widower, suspected to be the prime suspect. He was reportedly detained for some days before being released.

58 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 NEWS BRIEF

Ivorien mob attack gay activist office

UN approves use of force in CAR T

HE UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution allowing European Union troops to use force in the Central African Republic and threatening sanctions against those blamed for the country’s strife. The EU has pledged 500 troops to help African and French forces already in the country trying to end clashes between rival Christian and Muslim militias. The resolution allows the reinforcements to use “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in the country which has been in near anarchy since its president was overthrown by rebels 10 months ago. Michel Djotodia, who replaced the ousted president, resigned this month along with his prime minister after failing to check the religious violence. Following the resignation, Catherine Samba-Panza, the mayor of Bangui, the capital, was elected interim president of the Central African Republic, making her the first woman to hold the post. The UN resolution allows for sanctions against the ringleaders of groups blamed for massacres and human

Morsi back in the dock

A section of French soldiers watching crowd of frustrated citizens of Central Africa Republic in Banjui, yesterday. rights abuses, but did not name initial targets for measures. It also calls on the Central African Republic’s

interim government to speed up moves towards new elections. A transitional accord between rival groups set a

deadline of February next year for elections. The council said polls should be held in the second half of 2014 if possible.

Syria’s peace talks resume in Geneva

YRIA peace talks resumed with the UN hoping to break a deadlock over a possible transitional authority but the opposition said an afternoon session was cancelled after the government refused to discuss it. The fourth day of talks had started in Geneva on

yesterday between delegations from President Bashar al-Assad’s government and the opposition National Coalition after they hit an impasse the day before. “(International mediator) Lakhdar Brahimi cancelled the afternoon talks to give (Ibrahim) Jaafari time to think over

S/Africa’s opposition parties merge, field black candidate against the African WO South Africa’s opposition parties, the DA and the new Agang party, yesterday in Johannesburg, joined forces as Democratic Alliance, and selected a prominent anti-apartheid activist, Mamphela Ramphele as its presidential candidate for the April general elections. It is the first time that the DA has named a black

N angry mob has stormed the headquarters of Ivory Coast’s most prominent gay-rights organisation, ransacking it and pelting office windows with stones, an official has said. Claver Toure, the group’s executive director, said nearly 200 people on Saturday stormed the offices of Alternative Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan, the commercial capital, and made off with computers. The attack happened in a West African nation generally viewed as moderate and sometimes considered a safe haven for homosexuals fleeing persecution elsewhere. The Associated Press news agency said the raid, which followed many days of anti-gay protests, underscored the dangers facing gay-rights movements in Africa even in the few countries where homosexual acts are not illegal. Others heaved sacks of garbage over the property’s exterior walls and scattered trash and broken glass at the entrance, according to the AP.

presidential candidate in an election, in an attempt to dispell persistent charges the party is a vessel for white interests. The move comes as Ramphele’s political party, Agang, joined forces with the DA, which came a distant second in the 2009 election. But the choice of Ramphele is unlikely to turn popular support

•Mamphela Ramphele candidate for D.A.

National Congress (ANC), which led a decades-long struggle against the racially divisive apartheid system, the Reuters news agency reported.

Geneva 1,” opposition negotiator Ahmed Jakal told the Reuters news agency, referring to the Syrian government chief negotiator. “There is deep resistance by the regime to move the discussions onto the question of a transitional government.” Members of the opposition told Al Jazeera that the reason they were at the talks was because they wanted transition. But that the government had presented a proposal that attempted to divert from that plan. A UN official said that the cancellation did “not mean anything”.

British lawmakers query Queen's expenditure

EMBERS of British House of Commons yesterday took aim at Queen Elizabeth II’s household accountants, saying they must cut their costs and tackle a huge backlog of repairs to the monarch’s crumbling palaces. Palace officials must also do more to boost the royal family’s income as they are dipping into reserve funds alarmingly often, parliament’s public accounts committee said

in a report. The queen’s reserves are down to a “historically low ” £1 million ($1.65 million, 1.2 million euros), the report revealed. C o m m i t t e e chairwoman Margaret Hodge said lawmakers felt the queen had “not been served well” by her household accountants or by the Treasury, which is supposed to scrutinise royal spending.

GYPT’s toppled President Mohammed Morsi stood alone in a soundproof glass-encased metal cage at the start of a new trial yesterday wearing a white prison uniform, pacing and shouting angrily at the judge in apparent disbelief: “Who are you? Tell me!” Morsi is on trial with 129 others, including Muslim Brotherhood leaders, and militants from the Palestinian Hamas group and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, over charges related to the prison breaks at the height of the 18-day 2011 uprising against his predecessor Hosni Mubarak. The trial coincided with the third anniversary of one of the most violent days of that revolution that plunged the country into prolonged turmoil, and that eventually led to the virtual collapse of the police and their withdrawal from the streets. Morsi supporters clashed with police Tuesday in central Cairo, and gunmen killed an aide to the country’s interior minister, in a high-profile drive-by shooting. Security forces also deployed heavily and erected checkpoints in the city as they braced for more violence with protests by Morsi supporters scheduled for later in the afternoon.

Hillary Clinton mum on presidency; regrets Benghazi

ORMER U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remained vague yesterday about whether she would run for president in 2016 and said the militant attack in Benghazi, Libya, was the biggest regret of her four years as the top U.S. diplomat. Before a large crowd of politically active car dealers, the overwhelming favorite among Democratic presidential contenders discussed her signal accomplishments, notably a recommendation that U.S. commandos go into Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden, and her regrets. “My biggest regret is what happened in Benghazi,” she said during a question-and-answer session after her keynote speech at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in a packed, 4,000-seat room. Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed when militants attacked the lightly protected U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi and a better-fortified CIA base nearby on the night of September 11, 2012.

Republicans plan replacement of Obama care

ENATE Republicans revealed their vision for health care yesterday in a proposal drafted by Senators Orrin Hatch (Utah), Tom Coburn (Okla.) and Richard Burr (N.C.) as a legislative blueprint for conservative reform. Unsurprisingly, as its first order of business, the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility and Empowerment Act (P-CARE) repeals President Barack Obama’s health care law in its entirety. It then spends eight pages largely putting that law back together. Rather than overhaul health care in a new direction or return us to the free market free for all, the Senate Republicans’ plan is essentially a series of adjustments to the Affordable Care Act, revealing in some measure just how far the health care debate has moved since 2009.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—59 YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; You are becoming more determined to the betterment of your cause. However this is not the right time to re-arrange (and/or) re-plan your finances. LIBRA; Giving priority attention to either day-to-day working activities or long term career related issue is not bad at all but you must be as practical as possible. SCORPIO; It will be wrong to drop ambitious plans along your career line because of minor disappointment. Take your good friends more seriously. SAGITTARIUS; Time is fast approaching for an important actions concerning you career and/or business lines. Don’t allow friends to mislead you. Be very practical. CAPRICORN; It is good to express yourself gracefully , but it is equally good to watch what you tell others so that you don’t promise what you can not deliver.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY By Richard Eromosele

EMEMBER the biblical ten lepers? Ten of them were healed but only one came back to offer thanks. Many of us are like the nine lepers who refused

Don’t Shut That Door — 2 to come back to thank God for their healing. When someone has done you a good turn, it is only proper you show appreciation.

Those who refuse to be grateful are like the people who entered a room and shut the door against any other person coming into the room.

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Don’t shut that door. You could need it another day. Other people could also have a need for it some day. Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; The best for you today is to give priority attention to practical way to improve on your working pattern and encourage better understanding at work. PISCES; It is nice to rely on yourself but nobody can be an Island on his own; meaning that you will need to be as co-operative as necessary to be successful today. ARIES; Good advice from the veterans within your base of operation will go long way to get things done the proper way to the betterment of your cause. TAURUS; If you take good advice from your tried and trusted friends you will not have cause to regret but if you become reckless it would back-fire. Be loving. GEMINI; You like it or not, domestic related issues will become prominent on your mind. Career and financial affairs can bring you unexpected success today. CANCER; Those of you who are more firmed are in for a rewarding day. In whatever you do today it is important you don’t forget both immediate and far future.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; You will have more to gain keeping both your personal and financial secrets. Take good advantage of your sex appeal to enhance your love life positively.

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

Was I born on a Tuesday? Dear Joshua, I want you to tell me the day of the week I was born, how the planets lined up when I was born and what both immediate and far future have for me. Niyi, Mina. Dear Niyi, You were born on a Monday as indicated by your horoscope data as given here under. I hope you will take what you will find seriously and utilise them. THE HOROSCOPE DATA DAY OF BIRTH=MONDAY SUN SIGN = CANCER ;SUN IN 6TH DEGREE OF CANCER. MOON SIGN = ARIES ;MOON IN 24TH DEGREE OF ARIES STELLIUM SIGN = LEO MERCURY IN 1ST DEGREE OF LEO* VENUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO* MARS IN 17TH DEGREE OF LEO* JUPITER IN 22ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO SATURN IN 3RD DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 14TH DEGREE OF LEO* NEPTUNE IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 2ND DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF LIBRA SOUTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF ARIES NUMBERS OF PLANET HOSTED BY GROUP OF STAR SIGNS (ACCORDING TO QUALITY & ELEMENT) ARE; CARDINAL = 3 FIXED =6 MUTABLE = I FIRE = 5 EARTH = 2 AIR = NONE WATER = 3 PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% FINAL DISPOSITOR (PLANET AT HOME)= AMBITIOUS SATURN For the past few years you have entered an endless cycle of material success. And your 48th year on earth is meant to be a powerful turning point with major emphasis placed on MONEY and LOVE. Talking of money, it will come through your work . However the great challenge here is how to hold on to your profits as there are indications of you expending too much of your funds on either women or woman. It is not clear if it is on business or your normal responsibilities. But mind you if it is on business you will need to tarry a while because such may not yield the desired result. Actually if you go into joint venture with a woman during your 48th & 49th years on earth you are more than likely to be cheated; to be fore warned is to be fore armed.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

How Eagles can fly over Ghana, by fans

Nadal’s coach blasts fans

BY INNOCENT IDAMA

•Nadal PAIN’s Rafael Nad al was booed at during the finals of the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday when he took a medical timeout to get treatment on his injured back. Nadal’s uncle and coach Toni Nadal blew up over the boos following his nephew’s timeout. “I don’t think the crowd should be doing this. Rafael has always given his best at this tournament, all tournaments."'

Federer goes crazy over Wawrinka

CHASE ... Mohamed Oulhaj of Morocco gets to the ball ahead of Ifeanyi Ede of Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town on 25 January

Black Stars will clip Eagles wings — Ex-Coach

IGERIAN fans have tipped the Local Super Eagles to see off the Black Stars in tonight’s African Nations Championship semi final match in Free State Managaug. Speaking to Sports Vanguard at the National Stadium, Lagos fans said team work and fighting spirit will propel Nigeria to the final First to speak , Bolaji Hassan said:’’ as a footballer , whose friend is in the team, I believe that Nigeria will win tonight. Also speaking, Johnson Moses said:’’Nigeria will win because of Stephen Keshi. He is a good coach and going by their win against morocco, I believe Nigeria will win tonight”. In his own reaction, Peter Okon said:’’ Nigeria is winning tonight by 21

NOGIG 2014:

Shell send NCDMB packing •Wawrinka

WITZERLAND’s top ranked player, Stanislas Wawrinka clinched his career’s first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this season. Wawrinka revealed that his fellow countryman and 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer immediately congratulated him after his win “He called me straight away to congratulate me. Roger was going crazy he was so happy. He has been in that situation so many times so he knows the feeling and he was delighted. He is my first supporter, he is always there. ”Some players will realise it’s possible now to win a Grand Slam. All the top 15 players felt we had more chance to beat them this time."

EGENDARY Ghana ian coach Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie insists the hype that has characterized today’s semi-final showdown between the Black Stars and Ghana will amount to nothing and tips his native country to scale the hurdle. The two West African rivals will go at each other in the second semi-final game at the ongoing CHAN tournament in Bloemfontein. “This game isn’t any different from other semi-final games. Why is there fear and panic surrounding this game? Before the DR Congo game, people were pessimistic about our chances but we beat them 1-0, “We tend to always overstate the importance of these games. The noise about this game should stop. We will beat Nigeria.” he said in an

interview with Sena Radio. “We have conceded only one goal at the tournament which is one of the best at the tournament [Zimbabwe is the other team to have conceded only once too]. That’s credit to our defence and goalkeeper, Stephen Adams.”

T was a tale of agony yesterday at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, venue of the football preliminaries of the 15th Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games as the team of Nigeria Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) were bundled out of the tournament by Shell Petroleum and Development Company.

•Coach Konado of Ghana

Coming into the second day of the ongoing preliminaries, Team NCDMB knew they had their work cut out for them following their opening draw 4-0 loss to Chevron, which meant that anything short of a win against Shell was going to mark an abrupt end to their hunt for the prized soccer gold in the biennial Games. But any thought of a reawakening was immediately put to the sword by a rampaging Shell team that plundered in four goals to headline their entry into tournament as one of the teams angling for the cherry, which is to dethrone Team Total as soccer champions . In the day’s first match in Group A, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) revived their qualification hopes when it pipped Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas 1-0 in a

tight game that kicked off at 8:30. The victory leaves them on four points, three more than Total, who today battle NLNG in the final Group A match holding at 8:30am. In yesterday ’s last match, ExxonMobil walloped Oando 7-0, to record the biggest victory so far in the competition, which makes them by far the team to beat, if goals scored is the yardstick Speaking after watching yesterday’s games, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Louis Ogbeifun expressed satisfaction with the standard of play while thumbing up the match officials for a fair officiating. “It has been a great experience so far watching these football matches and I believe we will have an even greater experienced when competition in other sports starts in February”, said the hardworking Ogbeifun.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARRY 29, 2014—61 —61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

UZOENYI: Road to stardom N

Picture shows Ejike Uzoenyi, a 10 year old player coming in as a substitute to 14 years old team mate in 1999 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. Edwin Eze who doubled as coordinator and match commissioner in the match, according to Pepsi Academy tradition is seen with the young Ejike Uzoenyi signaling for substation for Ejike. Pictures are models of reality. An authentic picture reflects facts.

C M Y K

IGERIA’s Super Ea gles home-based player Ejike Uzoenyi who dazzled soccer fans in Rwanda in the Nation’s Cup qualify match, is a child of destiny. The young Ejike Uzoenyi started playing football at the age of six in primary school, but was picked up by Pepsi Academy Technical team Enugu at the age of 10years. He was exposed to competitive football in Ado Ekiti in 1999 at the age of 10 years when he played in a demonstration match at Ado Ekiti during the launch of Pepsi Academy in the old western city as an U-12 player. Ever since, the Ado Ekiti, exposure he has remained unstoppable. Known in football circle at a tender age as ‘Codo’, a short name for Commando, Ejike Uzoenyi started football as a super attack-

ing midfielder. He had Played and captained Enugu Pepsi Academy U-14 and later U-16 team before he left the Academy, in 2002 to join Ida Lions from where he joined other teams like Gateway FC Abeokuta, Enyimba FC Aba, etc. before he returned to Rangers three years back. He is a senior Pepsi

Player who according to their record is senior to Solomon Okoronkwo, but a year junior to Onyedika Ogbuke in Pepsi Academy Enugu. Coordinator of Pepsi Academy in the South East, Edwin Eze was among the first people to discover Ejike’s abundant talent in the late 90s and pushed him to many competitions in the East and also Lagos.

Abia Warriors sign tested players

BIA Warriors have signed experienced campaigners like exEnyimba skipper Chidozie Johnson and former Pillars star Abdulwasiu Sowemimo. Also at the newly promoted premier league club is Olabiyi Fabiyi, who captained Bayelsa United to the third posi-

tion of the Premier League in last season’s campaign; Ogbonnaya Okemiri and Onyekachi Okoye, the veteran midfielder, who was declared the most valuable player in the Nigerian Premier League after helping Lobi Stars of Makurdi win the FA Cup in 2003.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 — 63

No mistakes against Ghana, Agbim vows S

UPER Eagles goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim says the team is ready to face Ghana on Wednesday in one of the semifinal matches at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN). Agbim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday that the Eagles were training hard for the match. “Our desire in every game is to win and I believe in the semifinal, we will win by the grace of God. “We came to compete. So, any day we can play against any country. We are not afraid of any country. “Any country they give us to play (against), we will play. It’s a game and by the grace of God, at the end, we will carry the day.‘ Agbim said the team would strive not to repeat the kind of mistakes it made in the match against Morocco at the quarterfinal stage of the competition He said the Eagles showed “too much respect“ for the Moroccans and that the North Africans realised it and capitalised on it. “We have learnt our lessons and it will not happen again,“ he assured.

Eagles on course for Ghana victory

*No mistakes today — Agbim

Respect for Keshi will not stop Ghana — Konadu C

OACH Maxwell Konadu of the Ghana Black Stars on Tuesday said that the respect he had for the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, would not distract his team from their objective. Konadu said at a prematch media briefing at

Go for Glory

Continues from BP

came back to win the quarter final match against Morocco. “We reckon with the great fighting spirit which the team has so far demonstrated, especially against South Africa and Morocco, and we believe that such spirit will help the team to achieve the ultimate goal of not only qualifying for the Finals but lifting the trophy as well,” Globacom added. Globacom praised the coaching crew led by Stephen Keshi, adding that “ We have

confidence in the team that they will not fail this great nation “, the statement said, urging them to work really harder. T h e telecommunications company also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for ensuring adequate motivation for the Eagles, and footballloving Nigerians for their steadfast support for the team so far. Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of Nigerian national teams.

the Bloemfontein Stadium, South Africa, that he would not allow Keshi’s intimidating pedigree to stop him and his team on Wednesday. The two West African neighbours and football rivals, would trade tackles in one the semifinal matches of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN). “I quite agree that Keshi is currently the best coach in Africa; but I will want to add that football does not always follow logic. “Sometimes the best

coach loses, and we cannot rule that out in tomorrow’s match. “Some of the best coaches who came to this tournament have been sent packing with their teams, because they crashed out earlier than expected. “I respect Keshi and all he has been doing for Nigerian football in recent times. “But talking about tomorrow’s match, you can be a good coach and on a day your players are not playing well, there is nothing you can do,” he said.

Ghana coach Continues from BP nal at the Cape Town Stadium. Coach Konadu, while applauding the Eagles for their excellent run so far at the Championship, noted that the exploits of the Nigerians belonged to the past as the Black Stars were determined to prove that they were the masters of Nigeria

when it comes to football. “I commend the Nigerians for their brilliance so far but that is now history as we are determined to show them the way out of the tournament on Wednesday. We will prove that we are the masters of the game on the pitch”, said a determined Coach Konadu.

UPER Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya, says that preparations are on course for the team to overcome the Black Stars of Ghana in Wednesday ’s African Nations Championship semi-final. Alaiya disclosed that the players are currently undergoing both physical and mental preparations for the must-win encounter. “Everything is working well for the team ahead of today match,” he said. “The team’s coaching crew are taking them through the daily routines as expected of them. The team’s Psychologist, Robinson Okoson, is also doing all he could to work on their confidence. “All things being equal Super Eagles are ready to face Ghana,” disclosed. Nigeria play Ghana at the Free State Stadium in

Bloemfontein. The same venue were the Super Eagles lost to Greece at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

World Cup hard ticket forms closes

UBMISSION of Hard Ticket Application Forms for matches of the group phase of the 20th FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil will close on F r i d a y this week, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced. NFF’s Director of Marketing, Adama Idris, disclosed on Tuesday that it is important that all those who have obtained the Hard Ticket Application Forms (HTAF) submit the same latest by Friday in order that the process for ticket confirmation can commence.

Keshi

Continues from BP er thriller because by their victories over their foes, the two West African giants will cross paths to get to the final. The semi final fixture which comes up today in Bloemfontein, South Africa has attracted a lot of interest from the locals here who are still not pleased with the Bafana Bafana whose exit from the tournament was masterminded by the Super Eagles. Coach Stephen Keshi has not allowed the landmark victory over Morocco to get into his players heads. ‘’I have told them to remain focused. The victory over Morocco is now history and we still have about 180 minutes to the trophy, so we cannot afford to believe that the task is over,’’ Keshi said. He has no serious injury worries in camp and with the expected return of Solomon Kwambe, who served a one match suspension as a result of a red card and Benjamin Francis who has regained fitness after a lay off that

was occasioned by an injury he sustained during the opening match against Mali, Coach Keshi has maintained faith in his winning squad. Captain Chigozie Agbim will man the post, Azubuike Egwuekwe will lead the defence quartet of Erhun Obanor, Kumle Odunlami and Brigh Eseme. In the midfield Abdullahin Shehu, Rabiu Ali and Ugonna Uzochukwu will hold sway while Ejike Uzoenyi will lead the attack line likely to also feature Barnabas Imenga or Gbolahan Salami (if he is fit) and highly mobile Ifeanyi Ede. There is no doubt, the Ghanaians will be out to puncture Nigeria’s increasing thirst for trophy but the resolve and sense of determination exhibited by the Eagles here has put the Nigerians in a pole position in the opinion poll. A victory for the Eagles over Ghana will only justify the huge confidence South Africans have for a the team that achieved feats that were least expected of them.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

End of road for Nigeria — Ghana coach

Ghana must go — Keshi N

IGERIA and Gha na have a long history of rivalry, particularly when it comes to football. From the days of Independence Games in the early 1960s when the two countries were pitched against each other in the annual event to the modern times, every match involving them is sold out. When the Black Stars of Ghana defeated DR Congo 1-0, a day after the Super Eagles shocked the Atlas Lions of Morocco 4-3 in the most dramatic fashion, most watchers of the game, here in South Africa agreed that CHAN would witness yet anoth

Continues on Page 63

N upbeat Local Black Stars Coach, Maxwell Konadu last night said that Nigeria have come to the end of their fairytale run at the African Nations Championship holding in South Africa. Both West African rivals clash in a last four match tonight at the Free State Stadium in Mangaung, with the prize, the chance to play in Saturday’s fi Continues on Page 63 CHAN S/final Zimbabwe v Libya 4pm Ghana v Nigeria 7:30pm EPL Aston Villa vs West Brom 8:45pm Chelsea vs West Ham Utd 8:45pm Sunderland vs Stock City 8:45pm Tottenham vs Man City 8:45pm

Glo to Eagles: Go for Glory

ELECOMMUNICATIONS giant and leading sponsor of football in Nigeria, Globacom has called on the home based Super Eagles to go all out and do the nation proud by qualifying for the finals of the on-going African Nations Championship in South Africa. The Super Eagles will lock horns with the Black Stars of Ghana in the second Semi final match of the Championship in Bloemfontein on Wednesday. In a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, Globacom commended the fighting spirit of the Nigerian players and tasked the technical crew to evolve ways to motivate the team to go all the way. “The resilience of the Eagles and their coaching crew in the face of odds is worth commending, especially after the team

Continues on Page 63

*Ghanaian fan

*Nigerian fan

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 1 Bog (6) 5 Beat (6) 8 Terrible (8) 9 Footwear (4) 10 Append (3) 12 Untidy (5) 15 Age (3) 17 Fish-eggs (3) 18 Stretch (3) 19 Expert (3) 20 Stadium (5) 21 Beer (3) 22 Bristle (3) 23 Rodent (3) 24 Detective (3) 26 Giant (5) 29 Concealed (3) 33 Revise (4) 34 Soonest (8) 35 Drive (6) 36 Tremble (6)

Down 2 Egg-shaped (5) 3 Light (4) 4 Fur (5) 5 Frock (5) 6 Ado (4) 7 Fragrance (5) 10 Grant (5) 11 Fear (5) 12 Intended (5) 13 Passed (5) 14 Long (5) 15 Demise (5) 16 Cede (5) 25 Beneath (5) 27 Perfect (5) 28 Pungent (5) 30 Outcome (5) 31 Pace (4) 32 Fog (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 1, Chic 4, Bad 6, Dart 8, Turned 9, Revise 10, Yak 12, Below 14, Entry 15, Noose 18, Defend 20, Frayed 24, Dated 26, Spoil 28, Dingy 30, Bog 32, Escape 33, Rioter 34, Edge 35, Tub 36, Erne.

Down: 2, House 3, Condone 4, Body 5, Dark 6, Divan 7, Reserve 11, Ass 12, Bid 13, Won 16, Odd 17, Eft 19, Exposed 21, Red 22, Adipose 23, Dry 25, Ado 27, Inane 29, Green 30, Beat 31, Grab

How to Play Sudoku

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.