CALL TO ARREST EX-MILITANTS

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62331

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Striking health workers Allegations that I attack doctors on duty support Boko •Security beefed up at LUTH, National Hospital >>12

Haram, wicked — Jonathan >>8

Peace c'ttee urges Jonathan, Buhari to respect Abuja Accord >>12

CALL TO ARREST EX-MILITANTS

Clark, Dokubo, Tompolo, others blast Danjuma •Say he is the one that must be arrested •Accuse him of sponsoring attacks on Jonathan •As Clark, Kuku, Nyiam, others condemn his statement

By Emma Amaize, Soni Daniel, Henry Umoru, Dapo Akinrefon & Levinus Nwabughiogu

W statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday,

ARRI—ELDER

said he was disappointed at the call by former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (ret), that former Niger Delta militants should be arrested and prosecuted for warning that there would be war if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the presidential election on February 14. He said Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST: Donu Kogbara

Jonathan flounders on home turf •P.17

Mr & Mrs

BOKO HARAM——Boko Haram child soldiers in an undisclosed training camp. Photo: CNN.

APC opts out of 9 presidential debate >>

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The task of dislodging Amosun from Oke-Mosan •See pull-out inside

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

From left: Representative of the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Ado Solomon; Director, Political and Civic Education, Mrs. Ngosi Ekeoba and Project Manager, Mr. John Abbah address participants at a one-day training workshop on voter education for NOA,in Abuja,yesterday.

Clark, Dokubo, Tompolo, others blast Danjuma Continues from Page 1 that Danjuma should have condemned the attacks on Jonathan in several states in the North instead of calling for the arrest of the ex-militants.

Meanwhile, a former militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was defiant as he accused Danjuma of sponsoring terrorism in the Northern part of the country and also called for his arrest and prosecution.

Similarly, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid AsariDokubo in his reaction, said he felt sorry for Danjuma for calling for his arrest and other Niger Delta activists.

Danjuma had Wednesday in Kano State, called for the immediate arrest of Asari, Tompolo and Boyloaf over alleged comments credited to

misleading reports.

them that there would be war should President Jonathan fail to win the February 14 poll.

Reacting also, former Provost-Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig.

General Idada Ikponmwen(ret); Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; Captain Beck Hitler, a prominent Chief of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha Kingdoms, Delta State; Urhobo Ovo and Ijaw Kene Patriots for Okowa; former National Chairman of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, ATROMPCON, and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu and Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, faulted Danjuma’s call, describing same as unfounded and based on

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You’re stronger because of the hard times, wiser because of your mistakes, and happier because you have known sadness —Take Heart Quotes I always find the thought process and life’s principles reflected in the writings of Marc and Angel Hack so uplifting. And everyday, I try to imbibe positive way of living, because your ideas and choices don’t have to be on everyone’s “approved” list. Regardless of the opinions of others, at the end of the day the only reflection staring back at you in the mirror is your own. Make sure you’re proud of who that person is. Approach others with the belief that you’re a good person, whether they respond positively or not. It’s normal to want people to like you, but it becomes a self-imposed burden when too much of your behavior is explicitly designed to constantly reassure you of their approval. Remember that life is about laughing and learning through good times and bad. It’s about growing through whatever comes your way and looking back with a smile.

Danjuma's statement biased — Clark

Chief Clark, while noting his respect for the former army chief, said it

was unhelpful for Danjuma to condemn some and not others.

“I read with amazement and indignation, the statement made by Gen. Danjuma, a man I have so much respect for. I always believed that he is very straightforward and courageous and that he can speak to anybody on any issue. I was, therefore, surprised that young men like Asari Dokubo, Tompolo, Boyloaf who they call exmilitants should make statements and instead of him appealing to everybody who has been making such types of statements, he now said that some should be arrested?

“President Jonathan has always believed in one man, one vote and that nobody should die because of him. I went further to say that if it is true that Asari Dokubo and Kingsley Kuku said what was attributed to them, then confront them and not all of Ijaw people. I then went further to ask the speaker that he should be courageous enough to condemn similar statements made.”

Clark noted that a number of northern leaders including Alhaji Isa Kaita, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Dr. Junaid Mohammed and Ango Abdullahi in the past made threats against the peace and

security of the country before the 2011 elections.

“And in the same vein, they said that they would make Nigeria ungovernable if Jonathan wins the 2011 elections. And they really caused mayhem.

My nephew that I trained in the University of Calabar was among those Youth Corps members killed in Bauchi. Where was Gen. Danjuma then? So, why do you now condemn these people? So I think this type of condemnation is onesided and does not speak well of somebody who believes in the unity of Nigeria.

“Recently, APC said they will set up a parallel government if they don’t win the election. What did Danjuma say? So, I feel very disappointed that he should direct his attention to these men who feel that after the attack on President Jonathan in Bauchi where his security men were wounded and he was attacked in Katsina, something should be done.

“Jonathan comes from somewhere and perhaps that is why these people made that statement and you remember Governor Lamido of Jigawa said that if anyone goes against Buhari, the northerners would regard him as an enemy.

For some time now they have been campaigning, when Buhari went to Bayelsa State, he was given a red carpet treatment, and that is the home state of the President. It was the same in Port-Harcourt, the second home of the President. He (Buhari) campaigned throughout the South-South.

“So, why should Jonathan not have the same privilege? An he is the president of the country? Why should his posters not be pasted in the north? PDP governors cannot speak about Jonathan in their place?

So, what kind of country do we belong to? Has Gen. Danjuma not been reading about those things?”

“I condemn any statement made by anybody threatening the stability of this country. I am not supporting if it is true that they made that statement, they didn’t make it on behalf of us, but Danjuma should be more straight-forward and I respect him because when he

speaks, the nation will hear. He should not be biased. Nigeria is Nigeria, nobody is superior to the other, we are equals. If we belong to a country where only one part can make mistakes and it would be condemned, then it is not one country. So, I expect Danjuma to appeal to the northerners to allow Jonathan to campaign in every part of the north.”

Arrest him for sponsoring terrorism and attacks on Jonathan

Tompolo, who called for Danjuma’s arrest for all egedly sponsoring

terrorism in the Northern part of the country in a statement by his media aide, Paul Bebenimibo, said: “The call by Danjuma for my arrest and other agitators for a better living condition for the people of the Niger Delta region is an indication that he is behind terrorism in the North Eastern part of the country.

He also did not condemn the attacks on the president in Bauchi.

“Is Gen. Danjuma not aware of the peaceful atmosphere when Gen Muhammadu Buhari visited Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states (home base of the President) for campaigns? Why was it that President Jonathan’s convoy was attacked in Kastina and Bauchi states without any provocation?

“Who is Gen. Danjuma if not for the oil wealth he is enjoying from the Niger Delta? He should rather be arrested for being behind terrorism in the North.

“Where was Danjuma when Mallam Adamu Ciroma threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable if Jonathan defeated the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Buhari? Where was this

so-called statesman when the APC campaign Director-General, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, threatened to form a parallel government if President Jonathan wins the 2015 elections?

Where was he when Dr. Junaid Muhammed, Buhari and Atiku Abubakar all said in separate interviews that the nation will boil if Jonathan won the election in 2011?

“Gen. Danjuma should be reminded that the devilish treaty that brought the Southern and Northern Protectorates together in 1914, expired last year.

Danjuma and his likes should be grateful to President Jonathan, who has been keeping this country together.

“If not for President Jonathan, there would not be a Nigeria any more. Danjuma and his cohorts should be reminded of the saying that ‘those who live in glass house should not throw stones. Is it the interest of Nigeria that Gen. Danjuma is protecting or his oil bloc in the Niger Delta?"

I am sorry for Danjuma —Asari-Dokubo On his part, Asari Dokubo said he felt sorry for Danjuma for calling for his (Dokubo) arrest and other Niger Delta activists.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard , Asari who said he would in due course fully reply Danjuma reiterated his stand that President Jonathan would win the election.

Giving what he termed as the last warning, Asari restated that Niger Delta would return any attack on the President.

“Goodluck has already won the election. If they continue with the attacks on Goodluck Jonathan, we will respond disproportionately. This is the last warning. For the General, I feel sorry

Continues on Page 50

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Rights group tasks Police on Eyitayo's murder saga

By Starrys Obazei

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IGHTS group, Activists for Good Governance, AGG, led by Mr. Declan Ihekaire, has called on the Police to unravel the killing of a young man, Peter Eyitayo, an All Progressives Congress, APC, supporter,.

He was killed penultimate Thursday in a fracas between his party and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, supporters at Agege.

Mr. Ihekaire, who made the call in Lagos, alongside other civil society organizations in Lagos yesterday, also disclosed that another APC supporter, Lanre Ogunjimi, was also shot in the fracas.

He said: “The police claimed the deceased was already shot before their arrival. APC said PDP thugs killed Eyitayo, while PDP said it was the Police.

But I did my investigation.

“I spoke to Agege Local Government chairman, then to PDP candidate, Niyi Raheem, in Agege.

Then at Isokoko Police Station, the DPO told me Eyitayo had been shot before the police got to the scene.

“However, the police must unravel the killer. The blame game cannot continue forever. As far as we are concerned the police, PDP and APC are all culpable.”

Corpses of 2 students found in Osun River

By GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—CORPSES of two students of Ifeolu Secondary School, Osogbo, were yesterday found floating on River Osun by a woman who had gone to fetch water.

The incident threw the people of Ijetu area of the town into confusion.

Though what led to the death of the students could not be ascertained at press time, a resident of the area told Vanguard the woman, on discovering the corpses, dropped her bucket and ran to the street, where she raised an alarm.

Based on her action, the case was reported to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and a rescue team from the agency was immediately deployed to the scene.

A source told Vanguard that the students had gone missing since Monday and their parents had been looking for them, adding that the parents were said to have broken down in tears on seeing the corpses of their children.

The pupils were identified as Samson Obasanjo, a student of Junior Secondary School 2, while the second boy, who was identified simply as Kabiru, was also in the same class as Obasanjo.

The Head, Disaster Rescue Team of NSCDC in Osun State, Mr. Olufemi Awofade, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard, said the team had removed the corpses of the students.

He said that after recovering

the students' corpses, their parents took charge and called worshippers of Osun goddess to perform certain rites according to Yoruba tradition, before they would be buried at the river bank.

Awofade said: “They told us

that a woman went to fetch water at Odo Osun on Wednesday and saw corpses in the water.

“She was said to have run back and told the people around and information got to us. We moved to the river and

brought out the bodies, who we later discovered to be students of Ifeolu Secondary School.

“They called Osun worshippers to perform some rites on the corpses before they could be buried.”

Fake Customs officer, four others nabbed with 35.78kg hard drugs

By Esther Onyegbula

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PERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested Aguezeala Bob, who claimed to be a Customs officer, and four other suspects with 35.78kg of illegal drugs.

Obi Onyeka Emmanuel was arrested with 1.175kg of heroin, while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to China, while Aguezeala Bob Chidubem, the fake Customs officer, and Obidiazor Stanley were apprehended for allegedly sponsoring Obi Onyeka.

Vanguard also gathered that Ezeocha Henry Chidi and Alor Tochukwu Isaac were also caught with 11.430kg and 23.175kg of cannabis, respectively, on their way to China.”

Chidi was to board a Kenya Airways flight to China, when the drug was detected.

His arrest took place simultaneously with Alor's, who was to fly Ethiopian Airlines with 23.175kg of cannabis to China.

During interrogation, Alor, said: “Ezeocha Henry is my friend. We are both into cargo business.

“One of my customers brought three bags to me to take to China. He told me that the bags contained foodstuff and gave me N22,000.

“I blame myself for not searching the bags although this is not my first time of collecting goods from him.

“What I did was based on trust, but it ended this way. I took two bags and gave one to Ezeocha Henry, with N12,000.”

NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar, said Chidubem claimed to be a Customs officer at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, which was found to be false.

MOVING BAGS: A hawker at work. PHOTO: Akeem

Salau.

Oil communities storm NOSDRA over Bonga spill

By Emma Amaize

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A R R I — P L ACA R D carrying Itsekiri and Ijaw riverine dwellers affected by the 2011 Bonga oil spill by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, yesterday, besieged the National Oil Spill Response and Response Agency, NOSDRA, in Warri, Delta State, in protest.

A community leader, Chief Otobo Itiemogha, said the irate villagers were protesting NOSDRA’s nonchallant attitude in enforcing the November 2014 directive by the House of Representatives on SPDC to pay them $3.6 billion compensation.

NOSDRA officials, on reporting for work yesterday morning, met their offices barricaded by the protesters, who said they took the action after their last ultimatum to Shell expired on Wednesday.

Chief Itiemogha, flanked by the women leader, Mrs. Isibor Margareth, said the victims would take their protest to Shell offices in Warri and other parts of the Niger Delta soon.

He said: “The House of Representatives Committee on Environment on November 26, 2014, directed NOSDRA to liaise with SPDC to commence discussion within two weeks on the payment of $3.6 billion compensation to the victims.

“Shell refused to call a meeting for negotiation and we wrote several letters, which were not responded to.

“It now been two months since the directive by the House of Representatives and our last ultimatum to SPDC expired on Wednesday. We are tired of waiting for Shell to decide whether it wants to obey Nigerian law or not.”

An official of NOSDRA, who spoke to Vanguard, said: “We have appealed to them to exercise patience while their grievances are being looked into.

“We have reported their protest to our head office and we will follow up.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—7

‘Ex-Imo gov battered me over N500,000 dud cheque’ He called and insulted. His reason was that unauthorized persons could access the mail and use it for sinister purposes.”

Peace meeting

Chief Ajumbe on his hospital bed.

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE former Imo State chairman of defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, Chief Vitalis Ajumbe, is presently recuperating at Salvation Hospital, MCC/ Uratta Road, Owerri, following the battering he allegedly received from a former governor of the state (names withheld).

Narrating his ordeal to journalists yesterday from his sick bed, Ajumbe said the former governor owed him a lot of money that accrued from assignments he legitimately discharged for the former governor.

According to Ajumbe, who was also the former governor's agent in the last governorship party primaries, the latter wrote a N500,000 Fidelity Bank cheque that was dishonoured by the bank.

He said: “I first presented the cheque in Abuja and I was told that the account was dormant as the owner last operated it about two years ago and he used a discarded cheque for the transaction.

“I insisted on seeing the branch manager and he repeated what the officers in the banking hall told me.”

The aggrieved politician said on his return to Owerri, he met the former governor at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, stressing that instead of being sorry for giving him a dud cheque, the former governor asked him to go to Owerri Branch of Fidelity Bank.

Ajumbe said: “The story was the same when I presented the cheque in Owerri. I decided to lodge the cheque in my personal account with FCMB Owerri. This cheque was returned unpaid.”

He alleged that the former governor, thereafter, refused to pick his calls or return them, adding that he then scanned

the returned cheque and sent it to him by e-mail.

Ajumbe said: “On getting this mail, hell was let loose.

Chief Ajumbe mentioned a number of prominent personalities he complained to, adding that when the former governor eventually invited him to his guest house in Owerri, he did not only tell a number of his friends about the invitation, but also took two of his relations along.

His words: “Midway into the supposed peaceful discussion, the former governor became very angry and hit my chest with a wooden tray.

“Not satisfied with the act, he picked an iron rod and hit my head with it. I started

bleeding profusely. I stood up to go and he ordered his security men to lock the gate, which they did.”

He said the former governor and his aides started pouring water on him, possibly to erase evidence, adding that when the former governor noticed that he was determined to leave, he offered N50,000 for medical expenses.

Efforts to reach the former governor on his phone lines for his side of the story failed as they were all switched off.

However, the former governor's younger brother (names withheld) was forthcoming.

He said he heard the story, but added that “some elements of blackmail have unfortunately crept into the whole thing.”

Pastor's marriage ends, as wife gets pregnant for Okadaman

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—AN Igando Customary Grade A Court has officially dissolved the 18year-old marriage of Pastor Chris Onyekachi-Madu and his estranged wife, Augusta, after she got pregnant for an Okadaman, while still living with him.

Court president, Rasaq Ishola-Adeyeri, said in his judgment that from the cumulative evidence before the court, it had been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant had hit the rocks, since all efforts to settle both parties had proved abortive.

He said the defendant had refused to show up in court after she had been served court summons on three occasions.

Adeyeri said: “It is, therefore, assumed that she too is no longer interested in the union again; the plaintiff also maintained his stand to part ways peacefully with the respondent.”

The President also said that based on the pronouncement of the plaintiff, the court had no option than to separate them.

He said: “The motion, therefore, succeeds and order is, hereby, given that the marriage between Chris Onyekachi and Augusta Madu is officially dissolved from today January 28.

Cult clash kills one in Enugu

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—A middle-aged man, identified as Tochukwu, alias Schwarzenegger, was in the early hours of yesterday shot dead by suspected rival cult members in Enugu State.

The incident occurred along Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS, Bus Stop, at Independence Layout axis of the city.

An eyewitness said the victim was trailed to the spot and shot at close range by two men, who then ran into a nearby bush.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu Command, Mr. Ebere

Amaraizu, confirmed the incident.

He said: “His death may be connected to the killing of one other young man at the Abakpa axis of the metropolis by suspected cult members.”

The corpse had been deposited at the Mount Calvary Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, a water tanker yesterday suffered brake failure, rammed into an electric pole and somersaulted in front of Enugu State House of Assembly.

The driver, identified as Chinedu, died on the spot, while the conductor, who jumped out of the tanker, sustained serious injuries.

“The custody of the two children is, hereby, referred to the family court within Lagos Judicial Division, who has executive right to hear and determine matters involving children under 18 years.”

Aftermath of vandals attack: Three NSCDC men still missing

By Evelyn Usman

T

HERE were indications, yesterday, that three officials of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were still missing, four days after the attack by pipeline vandals which left two policemen and a motorcyclist dead in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Though their identities were not disclosed to Vanguard, it was gathered that the search for the officials' bodies in the creeks in Abule Ishawo and Tappa ended in futility yesterday.

On the other hand, 10 officials, said to have been rescued by a reinforced team, comprising the military and NSCDC, were discharged from the hospital.

Confirming report on the missing officials, the Commandant, Lagos State Command of NSCDC, Abafi Gabriel, said: “We are still searching for three of our men. 13 of them went for the operation. But we have 10 at the moment.”

APC campaign turns bloody in Abeokuta

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U T A — ELECTIONEERING campaign of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, yesterday, ended on a tragic note as a Police escort attached to a member of the House of Representatives (names withheld) allegedly shot dead a mother of two.

He also gravely injured several persons, including a young man at Erunbe in Ago-Oko area of Abeokuta.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the bullets from the escort’s gun hit the woman, identified as Taiwo, popularly called Mama Ola, who was in her kiosk, where she sold petty items.

Vanguard gathered that another victim of the gunshots was a young man who was injured in the face by the bullets.

He died on the way to the hospital.

When Vanguard visited the woman’s kiosk in the community, blood stains were

seen splattered in the gutter in front of her shop.

Her 16-year-old daughter, Halimat, who could not hold back her tears, explained that she was in the shop with her mother at the time, and was assisting her to pack some bunches of banana when she heard people shouting “Iya Ola, Iya Ola.” Halimah further explained that when she turned in her mother ’s direction, she saw her lying on the floor in front of the shop and in a pool of her blood.

It was learned that the National Assembly member, who was seeking re-election on the ticket of APC, had gone to the community with his supporters for campaign, when the incident happened.

A witness said the tragedy occurred when his police orderly was trying to clear the way for the lawmaker, as the orderly shot twice from the open roof of an SUV carrying the National Assembly member, which hit the victims.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

FG to sell NigComSat, as NCC names Infraco licence winners

By Prince Osuagwu & Jonah Nwokpoku

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AGOS — MINISTER of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, yesterday, revealed that government has concluded plans to sell theNigerian Communications Satellite Limited, NigComSat , contrary to reports in some national dailies.

According to Johnson, it was a matter of two to three years and NigComSat may no longer be under the control of the Federal government.

This came as Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, announced cable company, MainOne and telecom infrastructure company, IHS, as the two companies that won the Infrastructure Companies, InfraCos, licence for Lagos and North Central regions, respectively.

This means that both are sole broadband Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) for the regions and are expected to deploy Metropolitan Optic Fibre Infrastructure and Associated Transmission Equipment on an open access, non-discriminatory price regulated basis in the state and region respectively.

On NigComSat , some national dailies (not Vanguard) had reported the contrary, quoting the Managing Director of the establishment, Mrs. Abimbola Alale.

However, Johnson who made the revelation while presenting the ministry’s scorecard for 2011 to 2014 during the Information and Communications Technology, ICT, Stakeholders Forum, in Lagos yesterday, said the move was necessary, considering the chunk of funds the establishment gulps from the Federal Government..

She said although the satellite company had revenue generating capacity potential, it was a better asset in private hands.

She said: “I think there has been lot of talks about what government is still doing with NigComSat. We have taken a decision as a government that NigComSat will have to be privatised.

“We will have to sell it but it has to be done in a way and manner that there is going to be maximum value. The work that is being done now is to increase the production value of NigComSat."

Boko Haram planning to use livestock as bombers — FG

By Caleb Ayansina

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BUJA— THE Federal Government, yesterday, revealed the purported plans

by Boko Haram to use male suicide bombers disguised as cobblers (shoe repairers) as well as livestock, like goats, cows, donkeys and camels, to carry out their deadly missions.

According to the Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, “available intelligence reports indicate a plan by Boko Haram to use young male suicide bombers disguised as cobblers to hide explosives in their tool boxes and detonate them on soft target areas such as markets, restaurants, ATM locations,

political rallies, worship centres as well as other public places.

"Also, there is indication of a plan by this group to use livestock such as, goats, cows, donkeys and camels laden with explosives to attack chosen targets.

“The general public, including all persons operating within and

around the aforementioned places, are advised to be vigilant and mindful of suspicious activities in their environment.”

Omeri stressed that the security agencies might arrest persons, who take their livestock to city centres for grazing, as it had posed a security threat to the people.

Nigeria should re-examine policies after Feb polls —IMF

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor with agency reports

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AGOS — MANAGING Director of the International Monetary Fund IMF, Christine Lagarde, has advised managers of Nigeria economy to re-examine the nation’s fiscal and monetary policies soon after the February elections.

Speaking in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, Lagarde said: “Nigeria should reexamine its fiscal and monetary policies immediately after elections to see if further action is needed, after the government took steps to rein in spending and adjusted interest rates in November.

"The country has not asked for financial assistance from the IMF, which would be willing to extend further technical support to the country if requested.

“Shortly after the elections, the authorities will have to reassess the situation in view of the continued decline of oil prices to see if more needs to be done. They may have to take more measures.”

The IMF, last week, lowered its 2015 economic-growth outlook for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.9 per cent from a previous estimate of 5.8 per cent in October, citing “shocks” to oilproducing economies from falling prices. The growth forecast for Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, was lowered to 4.8 per cent from 7.3 per cent.

Lagard further said African nations should consider cutting fuel subsidies and oil exporters must curb spending as a slump in crude prices takes its toll on government revenue.

An almost 60 per cent drop in oil prices since June has forced policy makers in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude producer, to devalue the currency, raise interest rates to a record and consider shaving the 2015 budget by 8 per cent.

According to IMF managing director, subsidizing countries “should think about reducing

RALLY: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (right), Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on arrival at the Benin Airport for the presidential rally of the APC in Benin City, yesterday. and phasing out the oil subsidies, taking advantage of the oil price and using public finance more wisely than in undifferentiated energy

subsidies.

“For the exporting countries that are clearly taking a hit on both accounts of reduced trade revenues and reduced

public revenues, they have to be very cautious with public spending, and reduce what can be reduced and use whatever is left over as buffers.”

Allegations that I support Boko Haram wicked —Jonathan zSays army recaptured Michika yesterday zAs PDP lifts ban on Tukur, Adamawa PDP

Y

By Ben Agande & Charles Kumolu

OLA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, described as wicked, the allegations that he was supporting the Boko Haram insurgency in the north eastern part of the country for political reasons.

Addressing a large crowd at the Ribadu Square where the Presidential rally took place, Jonathan said no sane leader would support insurgency of any type in a country that he presides over.

According to the president, his administration is totally committed to reclaiming all the territories being occupied

by Boko Haram terrorists in Adamawa State, noting that from the earlier five local governments being occupied by the terrorists, government forces have reclaimed some,

including Michika which he said was reclaimed yesterday morning.

He said: “Some people have insinuated that I am behind Boko Haram and I say, may Allah forgive them.

There is no human being that will be the leader of his country and instigate crisis.

Why should I bring Boko Haram to Adamawa State?

"In 2011, I got 65 per cent of the votes in Adamawa State. How can any mad person insinuate that I am in support of Boko Haram for political reasons? God willing, we will recover all the remaining local governments and join you in redeveloping Adamawa State again.”

The president noted that he supported the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for the governorship position of the state because he will join governement in fighting insecurity in the country through his international contacts and exposure.

National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, who announced the lifting of the suspension on both the former national Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur as well as that of the EXCO of the state PDP enjoined the people of Adamawa State to vote for the PDP “because of what PDP has done and not what others have promised to do.”

The governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari who said the state had always belonged to the PDP promised that every stakeholder in the state will work towards delivering the state to the PDP.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —9

By Henry Umoru, Gbenga Oke & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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AGOS — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday alleged a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Presidency to scuttle the February 14 presidential elections through a rash of frivolous court actions.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has said the APC was not ready for the general elections and asked the party to concede defeat, noting that its campaigns have already exposed its emptiness and lack of integrity to Nigerians.

The party at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, thus charged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, to stoutly defend the independence and integrity of the judiciary in the face of the challenges just as it alleged that the Federal Government was deliberately fencing off foreign journalists from witnessing the polls through denial of visas.

The charges made by the party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were echoed in a separate press statement by the Buhari Campaign Organisation which said the presidential candidate of the party, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) was the target of the frivolous court actions.

Buhari’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, accused the presidency of seeking a pliable judge to declare Buhari ineligible to contest and through that instigate violence that would lead to the declaration of a national emergency.

At a separate news conference in Abuja yesterday, the APC also said that it would not be featuring in the ongoing electioneering public debates on national television and radio, being organised by the Broadcast ing Organisation of Nigeria, BON, hinging its decision on the “unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme, against the corporate political interest of the party (APC) and its candidates.”

Buhari to boycott BON-organised TV debates

Shehu, Director Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, in a statement further alleged that the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) powered debate was fraught with fundamental errors from the outset, by wearing the toga of government control, especially

Buhari to boycott BON-organised TV Presidency plotting to scuttle polls —APC, Buhari debates zzPDP, Charge CJN to defend integrity of judiciary being composed mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent People’s Democratic Party, PDP, administration.

He said: “A salutary inspection of the composition of NEGD brings into focus the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), National Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the African Independent Television (AIT, owned by a PDP chieftain).

"And going by the avalanche of inflammatory statements, misinformation and blatant lies being propagated by some of these media against our party and candidates contrary to the Koffi Annan brokered Abuja Peace Accord, and the failure of these aggressors to desist and apologise, have left the APC Campaign with no option than to steer clear of any premeditated smear campaign that could be inimical to our prospective electoral success.”

The APCPCO spokesman further explained that the boycott by the APC should not be seen as disrespect to Nigerian voters or an alibi for the party to dodge public scrutiny but be viewed as an honourable right not to consent to any activity that could distract, demean, denigrate or derail the fast-moving train of the party.

He noted that many government-controlled media have clipped the wings of APC promotional advertisements on one excuse on the other, adding that until a court upturned their decision recently, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, shut-down some telecom portals for soliciting legitimate campaign funds from members of the public for APC.

Death threat advertorials

He said: “Aside, elements close to sitting President Goodluck Jonathan have commissioned series of derogatory and death threat advertorials against the person, family and associates of the opposition leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, to which the APC had sent letters of complaint to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of State Security, Advertisers Practitioners of Nigeria (APCON), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the erring media that published or aired such offensive adverts or documentaries.

“None of our letters of protest has been attended to by the authorities. So whatever the incumbent President wants to do with the instrument of state to

zAPC not ready for polls —PDP

BOOK PRESENTATION: From left: Dame Serah Oloko; Mrs Adunola Abiodun; Mrs Esther Adebisi Salawu; Rev Mojisola Martins; Pastor Kayode Pitan and Dr Abisola Williams, author of the book, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ: My Only Plea In The Journey of Life’ during the public presentation of the book, in Lagos, yesteday: Photo: Biodun Ogunleye. harass members of the opposition into humiliating submission would not work.

The APC/Buhari campaign is now a people’s movement. The more they try to rubbish it, the more popular we are with the populace.

“We are not shadow-chasers or moon-walkers. The APC is concerned mainly with the lack of unity and security in Nigeria; plus the growing decimation of lives, property and territory of our great country due to preventable insurgency; the slumbering economy; decaying educational system; absence of jobs; poor public health; and the cancerous institutionalisation of corruption in our national life.

You can’t fool the people all the time. Nigerians will vote out their oppressors come February 14."

Court cases to disqualify Buhari

However, Alhaji Mohammed said: “With just a little over two weeks to next month’s general election, a rash of court cases have been instituted in an unrelenting effort to stop our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and at the last count, at least four cases have been filed by those who are undoubtedly fronting for the PDP and the Presidency, they are all working towards the same goal: Stop Buhari or scuttle next month’s elections. We expect more cases to be filed in pursuit of this ignominious objective.

“Since the emergence of General Buhari as the presidential candidate of the APC at a well-organised and

transparent national convention of our party last month, things seem to have fallen apart for the PDP and the Presidency and for them the centre can no longer hold.

"Indeed, Gen. Buhari has become the nightmare for the ruling party and the Presidency to such an extent that their entire electioneering campaign now dwells on one issue which is the person of Gen. Buhari.

“Why are they so frightened by Gen. Buhari’s candidacy for the office of the President? Why are they so terrified of facing Gen. Buhari at the polls? Why have they been engaging in a clandestine campaign to postpone the elections when on the other hand you claim to be ready?

“We have also decided to appeal directly to the CJN to defend the integrity of the judiciary at this critical moment to avoid a repeat of what transpired in 1993 when unscrupulous elements constituted themselves into the infamous Association for Better Nigeria, ABN, that was used to annul the 1993 general elections, thus aborting the Third Republic and throwing the country into a deep and prolonged crisis.

Visas to foreign journalists

“May we also alert Nigerians and the global community to the systematic denial of visas to foreign journalists wishing to cover next month’s election. A regime that has nothing to hide or fear will not hesitate to allow international coverage of what is undoubtedly one of the most important elections in the world this year.

"Information reaching us indicates that most of the foreign journalists who applied for visas to travel to Nigeria from different parts of the world for the elections have been kept in abeyance under the guise of security clearance. This is totally unacceptable and it is another indication that this administration has a lot of skeletons in its cupboard as far as the forthcoming election is concerned.

APC not ready for polls —PDP

In a statement, yesterday,

by PDP National Publicity Secretar y, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party described APC’s fixation on its unfounded claims of plots to scuttle the 2015 general election as a clear confirmation that the opposition party was not ready for the polls.

He said: “The APC and its Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, are now frustrated that they could not present an alternative to the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan and as such have resorted to fabrication of baseless stories in an attempt to heat-up the polity and divert attention from their failure.

“Having ran a superior campaign with its record of achievements and roadmap for a more prosperous Nigeria, the PDP reassured that it is ready for the elections and urged Nigerians to turn out enmass and vote for it come February 14th 2015."

10— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Publish your receipt, Fashola tells Agbaje zAs Agbaje decries attack by APC LAND USE CHARGE:

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By Dapo Akinrefon & Monsuru Olowoopejo

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday challenged the People’s Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the owner of Jaykay Pharmacy, to publish receipts showing that he had paid N1.6 million land use charge debt.

The governor, who made the statement while addressing the crowd at the APC campaign rally held in Epe Local Government, said that revealing the facts on land use charge debt of JayKay pharmacy was not for personal reasons but for the development of the state.

According to him, “It is not that I hate him (Agbaje). But this is not a personal issue. This is an issue that concerns the development of Lagos State. I am saying this without mincing words. His pharmacy has not paid land Use Charge for year 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; it amounts to N1, 629, 064.62. But they have paid for 2013 and 2014.”

This came 24 hours after Agbaje accused the governor of distort ing the fact, saying “I have even been commended for paying my Land Use Charge on time.

“I didn’t say you did not pay two years Land Use Charge, LUC you did. But you have four years unpaid LUC. If you have paid all your LUC, please publish your receipt."

Agbaje condemns Fashola, APC’s attacks on him

Meantime, Agbaje yesterday decried the constant attacks on his personality by the All Progressives Congress-led government.

Fashola opens C & S CONFAB

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AGOS—LAGOS State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola will on Thursday February 5, this year lead other eminent Nigerians to declare open the annual conference of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria holding at St Moses Orimolade Cathedral, Egbe-Ikotun Lagos, the General Headquarters of The Eternal Sacred Order of The Cherubim & Seraphim.

C & S Unification Church of Nigeria is the umbrella body of all the C & S churches in Nigeria and overseas.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Church, Superintendent Apostle Michael Adeyemi, noted that the conference with the theme, “I will heal your land”, will afford the delegates to discuss on how to move the church forward and take a position on the state of the nation.

Agbaje, who said this while addressing a rally organised for Amuwo Odofin and Apapa local government areas said that rather than resort to mudslinging, the APC should focus on issue based politics.

Addressing the supporters, Agbaje decried the campaign of calumny against him orchestrated by the APC and

the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

He described the governor’s allegation of tax evasion as false and a campaign of clamuny based on fear of loosing to the PDP. He said: “The more mud they throw at me, the cleaner I come out as you all know. The governor in one of the APC

rallies had said that I am too old to govern the state whereas we are all in our 50s and I look younger than them. At another forum, he said I do not have experience to be a governor and I begin to wonder there where he got his own experience as governor before governing Lagos. I want you to know that governance is not about experience but qualification.”

AWARD: Finance Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Seye Dosunmu (left), receiving a tax compliance award from Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fasola on behalf of the company, at the Ninth Lagos State tax award in Ikeja, yesterday.

Groups want LUTH to pay N50m compensation over patient's death L AGOS—TWO women advocacy groups yesterday urged the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, to pay N50 million compensation to the family of a deceased patient, Mrs Folake Oduyoye.

The groups, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, and Women Arise for Change Initiative made the plea during a walk to campaign

against maternal death in Nigeria.

During the walk, the women displayed placards with various inscriptions to express their grievances about alleged maltreatment of the late Oduyoye by LUTH. Some of the placards read: “It is Illegal to Detain Women in Hospitals”, “No Woman Should Die at Childbirth”, “Save Our Women from Unnecessary

Death”, “No Women, No Nation”.

The walk was part of the burial activities for the late Oduyoye, who died as a result of alleged maternal complications at the hospital.

WARDC had on Dec.19 petitioned the management of LUTH over Oduyoye’s death while she was allegedly detained in the hospital due to her family’s inability to settle her medical bills.

Airtel rolls out new SMS promo

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has introduced an exciting trivia-based mega consumer Promo aimed at rewarding its loyal customers with millions of Naira over the next ninety days.

Tagged ‘SMS 4 Millions’, the promo is anchored on a pointbased interactive SMS system

where customers will accumulate points to increase their chances of winning by responding to questions.

The promo, which will run for 90 days,is divided into two categories; the Play for Free and the Premium trivia game. The play for free offers a cash prize of N500,000 weekly, while the premium triviawhich costs N100 daily to participate, offers

customers the opportunity to winsmart devices daily and N3m on a weekly basis for the duration of the promo.

Customers join the Play for Free zone when they send the keyword ‘FREE to the shortcode 53370. Once activated, they will receive a series of general questions on their phones which they will provide answers to score points.

ELECTIONS: NIS warns ECOWAS community

against participation

By Evelyn Usman AGOS—THE Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mrs Justina Ahmedu yesterday warned ECOWAS nationals living in the state not to get themselves involved in the forth coming election, threatening to

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repatriate any erring alien.

The warning is coming on the heels of the arrest of some aliens with Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, by officials of the command.

As at yesterday, a 54 year-old Ghanaian and his 23 yearoldchild arrested with PVCs

were repatriated by the command.

In a meeting with some ECOWAS community leaders at the Alagbon office of the immigration service yesterday, Ahmedu stated emphatically that the service would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that aliens did not participate in the forth coming elections.

LAGOS GOV:

Ambode seeks fairness at polls

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS—MR. Akinwunmi Ambode the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, for Lagos state has called on law enforcement agents to provide adequate security for all parties involved in the coming election without any bias as this would further enhance the democratic process in Nigeria.

He made the call at the stakeholders interactive meeting with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and political parties in Lagos. ‘’The security agencies should see themselves as agents of the state and not of any particular political party. ‘’There is a need to build agencies like the Police and Directorate of Security Services, DSS, and other parastatals as enduring institutions. ‘’They must rise above partisan politics and not be subject to the whim and caprices of any political office holders.

Meantime, the campaign of Ambode witnessed by a mammoth crowd in Agege local government area of Lagos.

Madam Christiana Osborne for burial

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RS CHRISTIANA Oluwatoyin Osborne (Nee Coker Gbadebo), is dead.

There will be lying in state today at 2pm, at Savage Compound, 192 Apapa Road, Ebute Meta (West) to be followed by a wake keep by 5 pm at the same venue.

The funeral service holds tomorrow at the Holy Flock of Christ (Agbo Mimo Kristi), 192 Apapa Road Ebute Meta (West), Lagos by 10.30 am, followed by interment at Ikoyi Cemetery.

She is survived by the widower, children and many relations, including Mrs Jumoke Osborne-Adekoya

Late Christiana Osborne

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —11

Ogun Police arrest 5 APC councillors over alleged plot to defect A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—MEN of Ogun State Police command, yesterday, allegedly rounded up five councillors out of the 100 local government councillors in the state allegedly planning to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Councillors from Ijebu North East, Odogbolu LGAs

The arrested five councillors were said to belong to the Ijebu North East Local Government Area and Odogbolu Local Government Areas of the state.

Vanguard gathered that the arrested councillors were said to be on their way to the PDP secretariat, the venue of the defection in Atan, the headquarters of Ijebu North East Local Government Area when the bus they were travelling in was accosted by about eight armed policemen around Ogbogbo.

government areas of the state.

The councillors allegedly arrested by the unidentified policemen include Hon. Dele Talabi (Ward 6), Rufus Onadega (Ward 2), Hon. Rosanwo (Ward 9), and Hon. Ajayi (Ward 5).

The name of the fifth councillor said to be from Odogbolu Local Government could not be ascertained as the time of filing in this report.

The chairman of Mobilization and Organization Committee of the PDP in the South West,

Prince Buruji Kashamu who was planning to receive the defectors expressed shock over the incident.

APC scribe denies alleged arrest claims

But the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Sola Lawal said that the alleged arrest of the five councillors was not true.

Lawal said: “That cannot be true. We are not aware of that; that is not to our knowledge.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa

Adejobi said that he was not aware of the arrest of the five APC councillors.

We are not aware of the incident—Police Adejobi said the policemen that made the arrest were not from the Headquarters, saying, as far as the command in the state is concerned, he was not aware of the incident.

He, however, urged the affected party to lodge their complaints at the command for them to commence an investigation.

Plots by councillors to defect

A source told our correspondent that no fewer than 100 APC local government councillors across the state had concluded plans to defect to the opposition PDP in their various areas.

They were also said to have already met the PDP leadership in the state and had concluded arrangements on when they would formally defect in each of the 20 local

AGM: From left: Mr. Dele Olorunda, Vice President, Ultimate Circle of Nigeria, Mr Hakeem Amao, Treasurer, Hon. Seye Oladejo, President, Dr Wale Oduwole, ex officio member, and Mr Adelaja Adeleye, immediate past President, during the club's Annual General Meeting in Abeokuta.

Fayose makes U-turn, pays teachers outstanding salaries

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has made a U-turn by ordering immediate payment of outstanding August salaries of teachers said to have been owed by the immediate past administration i in the state.

He had vowed not to settle the month’s pay.

According to the statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, the payment marked the beginning of clearance of other unpaid salaries, especially September, 2014 salary and emoluments left behind by immediate past administration to the various categories of workers.

According to Adelusi, the

governor had always believed that with patience on the part of Ekiti people, especially workers, all challenges of huge debt and others left behind by the past administration would be surmounted.

Confirming the development, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, which is the umbrella body of teachers expressed gratitude to the governor with a pledge to continue to support and cooperate with the government.

In a statement issued in AdoEkiti yesterday and signed by the state Chairman, Comrade Kayode Akosile and Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Ajibade, the union said its members had started receiving alerts of payment of the money.

The body expressed pleasure with the governor, noting that they were surprised that Fayose could still consider paying the outstanding salaries at a time like this when

the state was battling with lean purse and heavy commitment of his government to welfare of Ekiti people.

Western Post promises readers value for money

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SOUTH West newspaper, Western Post, has promised to give its readers value for their money in Sunday’s edition.

The paper, which has carved a niche for itself in the South West region, also pledged to feed the region with incisive and objective stories.

According to a statement by the management of the paper, Sunday’s edition promises to be a good read as it explains why Tinubu ate his words over

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Okirika business boom, what Femi FaniKayode really wants.

Also, the edition speaks with Afenifere’s spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, who gives insight to the story behind the group’s endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term.

In addition, the paper presents a diary of a 112-yearold Ondo Ifa priest in Ondo State among other regulars.

Peoples' needs 'll determine my policies —ISIAKA

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BEOKUTA—FOR any government to succeed in impacting positively in the lives of the people, their needs should form the basis of policies and decisions.

This was the submission of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka during his campaign tour to market women and various groups in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, yesterday.

Isiaka who was welcomed to the market by hundreds of market women, artisans and various youth groups promised to run a peoplecentered government that will take their needs into consideration before executing any project.

He said: “The essence of democracy is to allow people to take decisions about how they wanted to be governed. We shall take inputs from you and execute projects that you want. We shall not give what you don’t want or execute any project in any community apart from what that community requested for."

Post-Fidau celebration for Alhaja Adeseun

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BADAN—THE eighth-day post-fidau celebration of life reception for late Alhaja Fausat Folasade Adeseun will hold tomorrow, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The post-fidau reception will commence at 2pm at GASO Event Centre, British America Tobacco Street, by Ibadan Toll Gate, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan.

She is survived by children and many relations, including Remi Adeseun, Chairman of Rodot Group.

Late Alhaja Fausat Adeseun

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

POLL: HDP asks court to disqualify Jonathan

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Hope Democratic Party, HDP, yesterday, approached the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, asking it to disqualify President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in the February 14 presidential poll.

The party, in the suit that was filed by its lawyer, Mr. Okechukwu Ehogwu, insisted that President Jonathan was not qualified to stand for the election having been elected into the office of the President in the two previous elections in 2007 and 2011.

Cited as defendants in the suit, which has Alhaji Yahaya Saba as the 2nd plaintiff, were the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The plaintiffs contended that by virtue of section 137(i)(b) of the 1999, President Jonathan can no longer stand for any poll to the office of the President.

They further claimed that by virtue of section 142(i) and (2) of the 1999 constitution, the President has become ineligible to be presented or sponsored by PDP for the 2015 poll having been sworn in twice as elected President.

Besides, the plaintiffs prayed the court to invoke its powers to seize and confiscate “alleged anonymous illegal donation of N21.27 billion received by Dr Goodluck Jonathan in flagrant disobedience to the law guiding acceptance of donation for electioneering”.

In addition to confiscating the fund, the plaintiffs, sought for the prosecution of President Jonathan and PDP for accepting a huge sum over and above the N1billion ceiling allowed by the law for Presidential election expenses.

They prayed the court to disallow PDP from participating in the Presidential poll having allegedly fielded an unqualified and ineligible person.

The party also want the court not to allow the ruling party to make a substitution on the ground that the period for nomination has already elapsed.

Striking health workers attack doctors on duty ...Security beefed up around LUTH, National Hospital replace the striking workers, until hospital brought in casual medical tear gas canisters.

By Sola Ogundipe, One of the masterminds of the Chioma Obinna, Victoria when the strike ends. workers, including nurses to take Vanguard gathered that the over their jobs. attack was said to have been Ojeme & Gabriel Olawale

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ANDEMONIUM broke out in some federal tertiary health institutions across the nation yesterday following attempts by striking health workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, to prevent medical doctors and other staff from carrying out their duties.

Workers reportedly unleashed attacks on doctors at Gwarimpa General Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, while in Lagos, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, there was a clash between the workers and armed anti-riot policemen over alleged engagement of locum workers by the management to

development, which disrupted skeletal services put in place to cushion the effects of the strike, arose after the health workers stormed the premises following information that the alleged casual workers engaged by the hospital management would be resuming work yesterday.

However, the heavy presence of security men provoked the protesting health workers which led to an open confrontation between the parties.

In Lagos, the premises of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was heavily guarded following alleged clashed between striking health workers and medical doctors over claims that the management of the

Unfortunately, few patients and visitors around at the time, scampered for safety following the clash, even as the police fired tear gas into the crowd.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has called on security agencies to investigate the recent attacks allegedly carried out on its members by JOHESU on hospitals within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

During one of the attacks, a Consultant Paediatrician with Gwarinpa General Hospital, Dr. Eucharia Anunobi, who also had asthma, was not too lucky, as she suffered severe respiratory distress following the invasion of the Hospital on January 21 with

arrested by security agencies while the case has been reported to the Police.

The Association therefore raised the alarm that if the emerging scenarios were not stopped, it could blossom into a “full scale insurgency in the health sector.”

The Chairman of NMA in FCT, Dr. Fatima Mairami and Secretary, Dr. Chukwudi Okebaram, who spoke in a press conference attended by the Medical Director of Gwarinpa General Hospital, Dr. Tony Momoh stated that the attackers were said to have broken down the entrance to the main block and the laboratory and shot canisters of tear gas within the Gwarinpa Hospital.”

FEB POLLS: Peace c'ttee asks Jonathan, Buhari to respect Abuja Accord

zExpresses worry over unpleasant remarks by supporters

By Joseph Erunke BUJA—THE National Peace Committee, NPC, set up following the signing of a non violence pact by the Presidential candidates of 14 political parties in the country, yesterday, expressed worry over some unpleasant comments emanating from both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in the build up to the February 14 presidential poll.

To this end, the committee has asked the two leading candidates to adhere strictly to the agreement they entered into as well as caution their supporters on the implications of some of their actions.

At a press conference in Abuja, the committee insisted that the two presidential candidates and their colleagues must adhere to the terms of the peace accord, saying it was only through such that the elections could be without violence.

Founder of the Kukah Centre for Faith and Leadership Research and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, led other members of the committee to the press conference, where he explained that the members would meet during the week to harmonise modalities for monitoring compliance to the peace pact by the political gladiators.

According to the committee, “we must note that this initiative is meant to build on the historical gesture which the candidates themselves

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MEETING: From left: Representative of All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Mr Edwin Ikhinmwin; Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi; Bishop Matthew Kukah and Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, Dr. Yunusa Tanko during National Peace Committee meeting for February general election, in Abuja yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. demonstrated by not only signing the document but going further to embrace one another, thus, showing their commitment to putting the nation before anything else,” he added.

While hinting that the committee would insist that nobody digress from the rules and principles governing the peace accord, Kukah appealed to Nigerians to support the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in its bid to conduct free, fair and credible polls for the country.

He also asked supporters of the politicians to be cautious in what they do and say so as not to inflame the country with their actions.

“Let us who are supporters not cry more than the bereaved,”

Kukah stressed.

A member of the committee and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, said the signing of the peace accord by Jonathan and Buhari showed their commitment for peaceful 2015 general elections, given that threats and violence were not new in the country’s political scene.

Akinyemi, who observed that abuses during campaigns were worrisome, said there was the need to draw a line to avoid crisis.

Also commenting on the issue, the Chairman of the Intra - Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Dr Tanko Yunusa, said that his organisation had made arrangements to ensure that political parties obey the peace agreement.

The committee, which is expected to hold its main meeting on Monday, has the former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar as members.

Others include Alhaji Muhammad Musdafa, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Justice Rose Ukeje (rtd), Aliko Dangote and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as members.

They also include Professor Prof. Ameze Goubadia, Zaynab Alkali, Mr Sam Amuka and Dame Priscilla Kuye.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Angry youths stone Jonathan's convoy; police fire gas windshields and windows on several vehicles. An Associated Press reporter was unable to see if anyone was hurt.

Police used tear gas and whips to ALINGO — Youths angry at the Nigerian government’s failure to fight disperse the mob.

In another incident, angry youths also Islamic extremists threw stones Thursday at President Goodluck Jonathan’s stormed the state secretariat of the electioneering convoy in the eastern town President’s party, the Peoples Democratic of Jalingo, Taraba State, breaking Party, PDP and vandalised the building and parked vehicles.

The attack on the secretariat was said to have done by over 300 youths who come in vehicles with arms.

A security man at the gate of the secretariat, who spoke BUJA — THE Metuh, in a statement, to Vanguard said he ran for Peoples Democratic stressed that the deliberate his life when he saw the Party, PDP, raised alarm refusal by INEC refusing to youths of more than a 100 yesterday, that the release the PVCs was and armed approach the Professor Attahiru Jega led designed by INEC to secretariat.

Independent National disenfranchise its members Not fewer than ten Electoral Commission, from voting next month. vehicles were damaged Metuh noted that the while the building was INEC, was working with PDP had observed that damaged in several places. the opposition the All Progressives Congress, officials of INEC were From Jalingo, Jonathan APC, to ensure that working hand in gloves flew to Yola, capital of members and supporters with the APC in the state to Adamawa State, where of PDP in Lagos State were frustrate the distribution of officials had declared the denied their Permanent the PVCs in PDP route of his motorcade a nostrongholds as well as non- go area.

Voters’ Cards, PVCs. According to PDP, the indigenes, describing the The presidential as cavalcade already had been APC has been jittery over development the increasing popularity of “unacceptable, illegal and stoned in northern Katsina President Goodluck part of the criminal plot by city and northeast Bauchi Jonathan and the PDP the APC to hold on to power last week. Youths in Bauchi governorship candidate in in the face of its dwindling flung shoes and plastic the state, Mr. Olujimi popularity among the bottles at Jonathan’s Agbaje and now seeks to people who are now eager podium at a rally. compromise the electoral to vote en masse for the In Jalingo, soldiers process by manipulating PDP and end APC’s guarded billboards and the distribution of the PVCs. dictatorial rule in the state. posters of Jonathan, who is “While we restate our running for re-election on The National Publicity commitment to peaceful Feb. 14.

Secretary, Chief Olisa and credible elections come Protesters shouted that the February 14, 2015, we will troops should instead be not accept any attempt to fighting the Boko Haram scheme us out in any state insurgents blamed for the or states controlled by the deaths of some 10,000 APC.” people in the past year.

IR SAMUEL Ndubisi O k a f o r , (SALOK),aged 57, businessman and community leader and Knight of St Christopher, is to their inability to get return

By Emman dead. ticket in June 2015.

Ovuakporie His burial rites begin Of all the budget defence BUJA — BARELY today, January 30, 2015, meetings held between two weeks to the with a funeral service at his Monday and yesterday, 2015 general elections and country home at Etiti-nabo none was done in the open Village, Ezihu, Igbo– as campaigns rage on, for the media to inform lawmakers in the House of Ugwu, Aguata Local Nigerians of what MDAs Government Area, Representatives have did with their allocations for developed the habit of Anambra State.

2014, and what they hoped conducting secret budget There will be an outing to get and spend in the 2015 defence away from the service on February 1, at fiscal year. the Holy Trinity Anglican prying eyes of journalists.

On Tuesday, the House This deliberate black-out Church, Igbo-Ukwu.

Committee on Information in budget defence, He is survived by wife, according to some held its budget defence children and relations. lawmakers, who spoke on meeting where all heads of media condition of anonymity, government might be in connection with organisations, such as the Television the quest to mop up Nigerian Authority, NTA; Federal needed funds for campaign in the case of Radio Corporation of those who won return Nigeria, FRCN; News tickets for re-election on the Agency of Nigeria, NAN; one hand, and those the Voice of Nigeria ,VON, seeking settlement as as well as the Nigerian severance packages from Broadcasting Commission, Ministries, Departments NBC, among others, were Late Sir Samuel Okafor and Agencies, MDAs, due present.

By John Mkom & agency reports

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PDP protests INEC, APC collusion to exclude its supporters in Lagos

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Sir Samuel Okafor for burial

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Reps conduct secret 2015 budget defence

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —15

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16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Igbo youths condemn attack on President Jonathan

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths rose from an emergency meeting in Owerri, yesterday, condemning the recent attack on President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in Bauchi and Katsina states by irate youths, re-affirming their total support for the reelection project of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The position of the youths was contained in a communique by the National Vice Presidents for Imo, Obinna Achinonye; Odozi Nwodozi, Delta; Kanu Nwaorisara, Rivers, and Alex Okemiri – President, Ebonyi State chapter, and made available to newsmen in Owerri.

“We wish to observe that our brother and President of this country, recently escaped assassination attempt by some youths in Bauchi and Katsina states.

We condemn the barbaric act in its entirety."

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Kill PDP before it kills all of us, Buhari charges Nigerians Simon Ebegbulem, Levinus Nwabughiogu & Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN-CITY — PRESSIDEN TIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (ret, in Benin City, yesterday, charged Nigerians to constitutionally kill the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through their votes before it kills Nigerians.

His declaration came as Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole of Rivers and Edo states faulted President Goodluck Jonathan for failing the people of the region.

They spoke at the Benin City presidential rally of the APC which held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Some of the dignitaries at the well attended rally were the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu; former Minister of State for Works, Engr.

Chris Ogienwonyi, and all APC candidates in the state.

Governor Amaechi said the admission of the President in PortHarcourt, Wednesday that he had not done anything for the region was an admission of failure that should not be rewarded with another four years.

Governor Oshiomhole on his part, blamed the President for failing to tackle corruption, saying the President kept a blind eye to the death of several graduates who were scammed during the Immigration recruitment interviews last year.

General Buhari, who lamented that every household in Nigeria suffered alleged PDP misrule in

the past 16 years, said Nigerians must ensure that they vote out the PDP on February 14, and defend their votes, asserting that an APC government will find lasting solution to corruption, unemployment, insurgency and poverty, which according to him, were inflicted on Nigerians by the PDP. Amaechi in responding to the claims by the President in PortHarcourt that he had not done anything for the region said: “The President admitted that he has done nothing in South-South in six years. When he could not do anything in six years how will he

do anything in four years. I have told Rivers people, Eleme Petro chemical in Rivers State, NAFCON, were done by HausaFulani men. Our president who is our son has spent six years but he did not do anything.

“All he has done is to enrich himself and other people and our responsibility is to get a good president who will do something for us and for Nigeria. And we thank God that the President himself has admitted to failure. I call him “I will do President.” We will vote out this “I will do President.” Once trust is betrayed you can never repair it.”

Abia govt, APGA gov candidate in war of words intimidations, falsehood, among Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—AHEAD of the February 28 governorship election, Abia State government and governorship candidate of opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Alex Otti, yesterday, engaged in accusations and counteraccusations of threats,

other antics, aimed at gaining electoral advantage.

While the Abia State Government accused the APGA governorship candidate of fabricating alleged all manner of white lies against the state government because of his governorship ambition, the APGA ‘s candidate through Alex Otti Campaign Organisation, AOCO, alleged plans by the ruling

in Abia State to arrest all doorto-door volunteers soliciting for votes and support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship flag-bearer.

The campaign organisation said it did not know when it has become a crime to ask for the personal details of prospective voters in a bid to forge a bond with them before elections.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —17

Jonathan flounders on home turf

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ONGSTANDING readers of this column might recall that I was extremely unhappy when my Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, spectacularly fell out with the Presidential Duo – Dr Goodluck and Dame Patience Jonathan – in 2013.

For years, I had fervently prayed for a South-South Presidency. Now that this dream had finally been realised (I’d shed tears of pure joy when Goodluck was sworn in!), I wasn’t in the mood for disruptive, undisciplined, embarrassing, annoying, immature, avoidable in-house quarrels. I wanted a totally united front.

As far as I was concerned, any eminent member of the South-South political family who didn’t strenuously avoid internal conflicts was selfishly and treacherously Letting The Side Down. And I yearned for Amaechi and the First Couple to quickly resolve differences that seemed surmountable at the time.

I wanted Jonathan, Amaechi and other Niger Deltan leaders to join hands like siblings, come up with inspiring socioeconomic development plans and dynamically transform our ailing region - and the entire nation - with help from enlightened compatriots from other parts of our potentially great Federation.

I wanted Niger Deltan leaders to enable Niger Deltans to intelligently control, enhance and benefit from our resources, while also generously sharing the oil that flowed from our ancestral lands and creeks with citizens from other zones.

But it was not to be. Things rapidly went from bad to worse. Dame Patience, who is not famed for stylish restraint, became increasingly crude and combative. And her husband allowed her and her sidekicks to run amok in Rivers State.

Amaechi, who is not as tolerant of monstrously overbearing females as the Oga At The Top, got tired of being provoked and joined the main Opposition party.

By then, I was also tired of the Jonathans. After months of begging Amaechi to bend over

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•President Goodluck Jonathan backwards to make peace with them and 3 whole years of making excuses on their behalf whenever they were criticised by anyone, it had fi-

Amaechi has successfully undermined Jonathan on his home turf.

This week, at a PDP rally in Port Harcourt, the stadium was only 70% full

nally dawned on me that the Jonathans would never be the iconic leaders I wanted them to be. And I concluded that Amaechi was right to decamp to the APC. It was an immensely tough decision that required enormous amounts of courage, not least because of the massive amounts of emotional blackmail to which Amaechi was subjected on a daily basis.

The Jonathans were especially significant, historically and sociologically, because they were the FIRST-EVER First Couple from our backyard.

They both came from very humble backgrounds and typical riverine fishing villages.

They were seen as representatives of long-suffering minorities who had never risen to such dizzying heights before; and Amaechi was constantly harassed, reproached, insulted and guilt-tripped for “betraying” them.

No day went by without various appalled individuals and concerned delegations landing on Amaechi’s doorstep to lecture or nag or cajole him to patch up his relationship with his “Big Brother and Big Sis-

•Gov. Rotimi Amaechi ter”.

Interventions were staged by close friends of Amaechi and by major dignitaries he respected. But once he had made his mind up, nothing could persuade him to budge. And I’m glad he stood firm because it is time – this is the twenty first century! - for Nigerians to adopt more progressive mindsets and abandon backward geographical and tribal obsessions.

Amaechi has successfully undermined Jonathan on his home turf. This week, at a PDP rally in Port Harcourt, the stadium was only 70% full.

He has bravely taken a gamble and I pray that it pays off on February 14.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 CHARLES Soludo, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, has been accused of attention-seeking. Another accusation is that he mixed facts with fiction to the annoyance of today’s governments. He has been named a poor manager, whose skills resulted in huge bank liabilities – N5.67 trillion, according to government.

It is expected that his treatise on the economy, though he recapped issues he had written about four years back would generate these reactions. Those involved are unwilling to address the issues.

None of the reactions, unfortunately, addressed the issues he raised, in manners that would give Nigerians more insight about the glowing future that features on the campaign trail. The rosy picture Soludo painted of the economy by the time the Obasanjo administration departed is not entirely true.

Obasanjo left phantom projects that pulled the nation in debt. Soludo brought up the issue of abandoned projects. The best examples of Obasanjo’s legacies in that sphere are the National Independent Power Projects which did not improve electricity supply as they were uncompleted.

Soludo’s Untaken Challenge The shallowness and deceit around the projects were evident when some, though uncompleted, were commissioned. The most outstanding in this regard was Papalanto, which was commissioned, without a gas supply plan. Contract for the gas pipeline was never awarded.

Soludo should be the first to admit that governments inherit assets and liabilities.

His picture seems to show the assets mostly.

Liabilities were ignored and could be many, including the low level of transparency, which he also emphasised.

However, he made indisputable points about the emptiness of the campaigns. We

had drawn attention to the vacuity of the campaigns particularly that the 2015 campaigns were being run without any serious considerations for the peculiar challenges Nigeria faces, now that the price of oil is sliding beyond the expectations of our economic managers.

The triple evils – compromise, corruption, incompetence – were signposted in Soludo’s article as more causes for concern, even if oil prices were to hit new upward records.

He believes that those promising a better Nigeria should at this stage produce the figures (the bases) for their campaigns.

On the surface, it would appear Soludo’s challenge is for those in government. We think it is also for those who want to replace them. Soludo used the nation’s economy, 34 years ago, to illustrate the possible repeat of the dire challenges we faced then.

Unlike in 1981, unemployment was lower; standard of living was higher and cost of governments lower.

Candidates in the elections should pay attention to our improved future and how we would attain it, not just wish it. Soludo thinks attention to details is low – it is a quality the candidates share.

OPINION

By Aiyevbekpen Osakue

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HE two Senatorial candidates have hit the grounds running. The electorate needs to weigh each one against his strengths and weaknesses in order to arrive at a choice that will work for the majority and who in their judgment is best suited to deliver effective representation.

This is critical because a blind voter, not only endangers his personal freedom, he also endangers his social, physical and economic well being and that of his neighbours.

Pharm. Mathew Urhoghide hit the political stage with a bang in 1983 when he aspired to go to the Senate under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which then held sway. Thereafter, he seemed to have temporarily relapsed into limbo until 2011 when he again failed to receive the nod of his party to fly its flag for the Senatorial race. Angered by what he considered an act of injustice, he declared for the PDP where his nerves were calmed by an appointment to the office of the State Publicity Secretary. Most people will agree that he is charming, clear-headed, farsighted, organized and adventurous but these have hardly been brought to bear on his job as Chief publicist. He belongs to a generation that should be giving Edo South a new leadership direction as a relief from the embarrassment of those in their late 60s and 70s. Indeed, he symbolizes a leadership that should redeem its before it is shoved aside by the younger generation. His leadership and

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The

Edo

south

organizational capacity has hardly been pressured or tested. This is fatal to his present quest.

Perhaps, the greatest blight on his record of performance as PDP image maker was when he brutally attacked the person of Dr. S.O. Ogbemudia over a generous remark he made on Edo State government. The PDP image maker was asked to react and he did without a second thought. That was a messy mud puddle created by the horns woggling activities of the ever restless godfather whose fiendish character constantly rebels against Edo South. Elder statesman of Ogbemudia’s standing cannot be manacled by narrow party interest. What is repulsive in the entire episode is that such occurs only among Edo manumits seeking political advancement. Our people have continued to offer themselves as war dogs in the hand of enemies outside of Edo South. When the ‘godfather’ betrayed the PDP, denying them of a seating governor and denying Esanland of governorship, no Esan-man was angered enough to throw

Representation has become sophisticated and involves intense but knowledge driven debates on complex national issues

senatorial

war

caution to the winds by throwing tantrums and diatribe at their leader. If you throw stones on your father’s rooftops, you will have no house to seek shelter at the time of need!

The strength of Hon. Samson Osagie lies, first, in a mix of his personal character traits: He is humble, accessible, fearless, outspoken, eloquent and charismatic.

Most highly respected analysts believe that these are qualities that an effective parliamentarian must possess. He is a lawyer and holds a masters degree in Business administration thus surpassing the threshold of the basic requirement. He is currently a member and Minority Chief Whip of the House of Representatives where he acquired a larger than size image on account of his vibrancy and activism.

As a law maker, he stands out as one of the few who has sponsored the highest number of bills passed into law and one of the few that could take the floor at will and arrest the attention of his colleagues ostensibly due to the high quality of his contributions.

He ranks as one of the super law makers of House of Representatives. In performing oversight functions, Osagie has shown integrity and fearlessness, thus his name features in serious probes and investigations. All togetger, he has remained far above scandals. This cannot be said of many others. His membership of the House of Representatives is an advantage in his quest for promotion to the Upper House only because he is a

round peg in a round hole. For several of his colleagues who have not been as effective, it was in contrast their waterloo.

If Edo South wants to be heard at the centre, if the area will receive her fair share of Federal projects, if the issues that are peculiar to Edo South will be brought to the front burner of national discourse, the quality of the Senator from the area is critical. Representation has become sophisticated and involves intense but knowledge driven debates on complex national and international issues. The representative at the senatorial level requires someone with innate ability, intellectual fecundity and experience in the cultivation of critical skills within the legislative institution to deliver effective representation. Having posted superlative performance at the House of Representative level, emerging as a Principal Officer, Hon. Samson Osagie, should ordinarily have no difficulty in convincing Edo South electorate that he has all it takes to make an effective Senator. If he could soar in a three hundred and sixty member House, then he would fly like an eagle in a one hundred and nine member House. In the midst of largely atrophic governor-turned Senators, most of whom are merely in search of refuge from their sins and existential solitude, an athletic Samson Osagie will emerge as the power-house of the Senate, galvanising his colleagues to effective action with unusual depth of insights and erudition in thoughts.

*Mr. Osakue, a political strategist, wrote from Benin city, Edo State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015— —19

Feb elections: Issues that must be resolved

By Clement Udegbe

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N two weeks’ time, Nigerians will be going to the polls, to choose who will be our president, for the next four years barring any acts of God. It is appointed for man to propose but God disposes all about man, especially, those that know Him. It was God, that put GEJ, on the throne, in spite of human calculations and manipulations.

Another opportunity has come for us to reaffirm our faith in God, by either retaining GEJ, or replacing him, as instruments in God’s hands, because God often requires man to do a thing, while the devil requires man to do his own, and therein lies the source of the confusion, and dilemmas on earthman’s power and ability to choose!

2015 is a special year in the spiritual realm, from where our activities on earth are governed.

It is a year of jubilee, a year of freedom for the Christians, and our choices this year as a nation, will have prevalent effects for the next 25 years. The occults know this and they are sparing nothing to have their choice. The Muslims know it and that explains all the shouts to have their choice. I just hope that the Christians also know it and will conduct themselves to make a God approved choice for the nation.

This power to choose, is responsible for the frenzy,

mischief, lies and deception that is attending the 2015 elections, because we have to choose between GEJ of PDP, or GMB of APC. The international allies of Nigeria are also involved in the game of choice, with their own loads of intrigues and interests.

Since only one of the two will win, and for Nigeria to remain in peace irrespective of who wins or loses, a few key issues must be dealt with before 14 February 2015.

First and in no order of importance, is the availability of the PVCs and or TVCs, to enable all registered voters to cast their vote and help in making a healthy choice. There are conflicting reports both from INEC and interested monitors, on the distribution of the Voters cards. We are told by INEC to go and collect our PVCs, but when we got there, we found none, and nothing that really indicates that we will have them! Today, all who registered in Imo State, during the recent registration exercise are yet to pick up their PVCs, and this applies to over 50 percent of registered voters in that state. It is the same story across the nation from Ebonyi to Borno and Abia to Sokoto states. Experts say that over 20 percent of registered voters may not be able to vote, and that is significant to cause trouble, because those who are disenfranchised will react, and their reactions could be violent,

It is only an unwise child that laughs when a mockery of his mother is made.

Nigeria is the mother of APC and PDP, and whoever laughs at a mockery of our President by Boko Haram is misguided

due to this advance rigging method, and the importance of this very election. Calls have been made before now, for change in INEC, to avoid this situation, and since the Federal government thought otherwise, they must be ready to contain the reactions that will follow mass disenfranchisement across the zones.

Second, is the need to manage

violence during campaigns, elections, and after elections. In spite of the elections non-violence accord by stakeholders, some politicians, especially of APC, do not seem to respect the accord.

GEJ, whose government initiated the accord, has become the victim of violence in three northern states during campaigns including the home state of GMB, and neither the APC, as a party nor GMB as a person has apologized for the breaches of that accord and peace of the places, by their supporters.

As a party that chants “Change”, the APC needs to change their ways, first, that we might have peace whether they win or lose.

Nigeria is more important and bigger than APC, or PDP. Third, our internal security must remain a priority even as we run around with campaigns, and the question of voters and voting in the troubled areas of the north east must be adequately addressed. If relatively more peaceful areas like Imo, Sokoto, Lagos, Oyo and other states in the South of Nigeria, have issues about PVCs, what is the situation with the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the North East? What assurances do we have that people in these troubled areas will cast their votes, and avoid more troubles that may follow their dis-enfranchisement?

A postponement of these elections to enable the nation face Boko Haram was suggested much earlier, but politicians could not be bothered. The National Security Adviser recently, suggested a shift in date just to enable INEC put its house in order, the things were so politicised with the result that just

less than 24 hours after GEJ visited Borno State on his campaign, we almost lost Maiduguri to Boko Haram! Let’s wait and see what happens when GMB goes there, to know where the problem lies.

It is only an unwise child that laughs when a mockery of his mother is made. Nigeria is the mother of APC, and PDP, and whoever laughs at a mockery of our President by Boko Haram is mis- guided!

Now that America is blocking the procurement of necessary weapons to fight insurgency, for their own reasons, how does the APC feel? If America has not delivered Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, etc, from insurgency, will they deliver Nigeria? APC must let issues of our internal security rise above the “Change” slogan, and team up with the PDP, over all national security matters.

Finally, Nigerians need to know what the parties will do to shield them from the effects of the prevalent global fall in oil prices.

We know that hard times await us in 2015, but what will our leaders do to save us from high taxes, high Internally generated revenue crunch.

If APC government in Lagos denied areas like Ojo, and Ejigbo of good roads because they are mostly PDP, while in Kano and Katsina they discriminate against non-indigenes in the same manner, can we trust them in Aso Rock? God help Nigeria.

•Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

Sokoto: Student-teacher confrontation RIGHT OF REPLY

By Mohammed Kabir-Hassan

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OURNALISM is a profession that demands high sense of responsibility because its practice contributes to general societal behaviour in what is termed public opinion. In the present era of exposure to modern communication awareness, the educated class especially journalists and writers in analysis of issues provide information that usually stream to the grassroots. Information must be authentic and verifiable to establish or sustain reputation of the conveyor. In the circumstance where information passed is discovered to be sheer mischief and bunch of falsehood, it casts huge doubt on the integrity and reputation of the bearer. It is disdainfully professional abuse for a senior journalist to deliberately resort to twist of facts solely on selfish considerations in jettison of objectivity or fair comment.

Amanze Obi in his usual tirade against the current leadership of Sokoto state captioned another insidious article in Sun Newspaper thus: Sokoto-student-teacherconfrontation. This out pouring of personal prejudice and elevation of sycophancy was a disappointment to journalism.

Amanze Obi is one person that much decorum is expected in his artistic style and handling of matters of political significance particularly with his advertised high profile academic clout and experience in Journalism. Personal interest was stretched to intolerable level. Whoever followed the writer on his analyses of Sokoto politics since 2007 would glean a man perpetually attached to the former governor of Sokoto State. His myopic allegiance to Bafarawa has befuddled his outlook towards Sokoto politics in barefaced lies and mischief making.

In every forum ex-governor Bafarawa has, as recurred in Obi’s article, always portrayed Governor Aliyu Wamakko, as politically inferior to him. It has been

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insinuated that Bafarawa politically nurtured Governor Wamakko. The truth is Wamakko actually gave Bafarawa political latitude in the events leading to their government in 1999.

The Sokoto political class and the civil servants were reluctant on Bafarawa candidacy because of low education and less exposure to modern bureaucracy. The entreaty that brought Aliyu Wamakko to bolster Attahiru Bafarawa provided the needed confidence to garner the support of the political class, the traditional institution and the civil service that mobilised for the victory of ANPP in 1999.

Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko retired as a seasoned bureaucrat after attainment of the pinnacle of the system, permanent secretary.

All his life he has been politically active.

He once served as chairman of Sokoto local government (now four local governments).

Perhaps, Obi may verify Alu’s detailed curriculum vitae in the Saturday Sun January 17, 2015 - Pullout on Sokoto. The Pullout was appropriately titled “Wamakko: Star from the North”. Therefore, if the Sun staple where Obi is a senior staff could capture Governor Wamakko in

The scale is falling off everybody’s eyes to realise that the real teacher in academic and politics is Aliyu Wamakko. The outcome of 2015 general elections shall settle the polemic in APC victory

that light, it exposes his selfish and vendetta vitriolic against Governor Wamakko merely to remain in the good books of Bafarawa.

This assessment is justified when seen from the perspective and language Obi chose to embark on bread and butter journalism.

Bafarawa’s mindset of denigrating Governor Wamakko reflected in his general attitude towards the chief executive of Sokoto State since 2007. The series of court case against Governor Wamakko was orchestrated by Attahiru Bafarawa in his vowed vendetta and commitment to make the state ungovernable for Governor Wamakko, or to remove him. At a stage, people of Sokoto State became impatient with Governor Wamakko for taking all the bashing without hitting back.

Unusual tolerance Some personalities close to Governor Wamakko attest to his unusual tolerance of political opponents including Bafarawa. It is, therefore, nauseous for Obi to allege that Governor Wamakko persecuted Bafarawa.

He woefully failed to prove his insinuation on facts.

Indeed, Bafarawa is roundly perfidious against Aliyu Wamakko in the ill-treatment unleashed on the man that facilitated his governorship of Sokoto State. As deputy governor Aliyu Wamakko was near irrelevant in the scheme of government due to the bossy nature of Bafarawa or what Governor Wamakko once described as ‘know it all’.

It is a character that contrasts with Alu’s humility and democratic principle. This manner played out in the way he tolerated unnecessary provocations from Bafarawa.

The insults and clandestine activities of Bafarawa were attempts to destabilise the focus or visions of Governor Wamakko towards development of Sokoto State.

The Pullout on Sokoto by the Saturday Sun should be handy reference to Obi that

Governor Aliyu Wamakko performed far more than Bafarawa in development of Sokoto State in every sector of the economy.

Governor Wamakko provided a government that really touched every interest group in Sokoto State. That is a government that ensured security of lives and property unlike the other administration that encouraged tensions and uncertainties in the State.

This is a government that Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal shall inherit soon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal demonstrated capacity and capability of leadership as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The basic fact is that pragmatic leadership is Caliphate culture in equity and justice.

The Speaker is home-made man as he oftstated. That has made him knowledgeable about Sokoto political environment. Sokoto people love him and his popularity continues to blossom. The air of his victory and that of APC pervades the psyche of Sokoto electorate.

The presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari a few days ago was overwhelmed by the mammoth crowd that crawled his movement in Sokoto.

That was opposite of PDP rally when its presidential candidate visited Sokoto which witnessed scanty crowd reception.

The scenario rubbished the boast by Bafarawa that he would deliver Sokoto State to Jonathan and PDP. The truth is Bafarawa is politically incongruent in the current Sokoto political equation. Obi should cease basking in delusion of Bafarawa’s utopian political clout in Sokoto State. The mix is not tenable.

The scale is falling off everybody’s eyes to realise that the real teacher in academic and politics is Aliyu Wamakko. The outcome of 2015 general elections shall settle the polemic in APC victory.

•Mr. Kabir-Hassan, a public affairs commentator wrote from Sotoko, Sokoto State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

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Vanguard, FRDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —21

FG commissions N60bn steel mill in Sagamu

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he Federal Government y e s t e r d a y commissioned a N60billion integrated steel mill in Shagamu, Ogun State as part of productive activities thrown up by the sectorial implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who commissioned the mill, built by the Standard Metallurgical Company, said Government was committed to repositioning the steel sector to access a substantial share of the global wealth, estimated at $10tn.

He said with the implementation of the right sectorial policies under the NIRP, the number of functioning steel rolling mills in Nigeria had increased to over 21 currently, from less than five a few years ago. ”Before this administration came on board, we had less than five functioning steel rolling mills and no cold rolled steel mill, but today there are more than 15 functioning steel rolling mills producing reinforced bars; about three functioning cold

rolled steel mills producing cold rolled flat sheets; and about three producing or about to commence the production of wire coils. This is a visible evidence that our policies are working,” Aganga said.

According to him, steel is at the heart of any country ’s economic development and is one of the most important materials widely used for both domestic and industrial purposes throughout the world, hence the priority given to the sector in the NIRP. He said, “In addition to accelerating the industrial development of a nation, a vibrant steel sector contributes to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product and exploitation of Nigeria’s abundant natural resources.

“A vibrant steel sector also generates economic activities in downstream industries, creates job opportunities and acquisition of technical skills, helps in the transfer of technology and provision of machine parts and tools. This particular project is being executed with 100 per cent locally-sourced raw materials.”

He noted that the establishment of the phase I of SMC’s steel mill and the ground breaking of the phase II of the project would complement the company’s existing investments in the agri-business sub-sector of the

country, pointing out that the mill ranked among the largest private sector investments in the steel sector in Nigeria.

Aganga said, “I am assuring existing investors like SMC and prospective ones of Government’s support in the pursuit of self-sufficiency in

ROUNDTABLE: From left: Bob Collymore, Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom, Kenya; Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary, MTN; Segun Ogunsanya, CEO & Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria; Elias Masilela, Executive Chairman, DNA Economics, South Africa and Foluso Phillips, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group at the Africa Sustainable CEO

NB expands N18bn Aba Breweries by 50% ...creates over 279,000 jobs

By Princewill Ekwujuru

N

IGERIAN Breweries, NB Plc has expanded the technical capacity of the N18 billion Aba Breweries by 50% to 2.4 million hectoliters per annum from 1.2 million hectoliters.

Speaking, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga, at the commissioning of the new ultramodern brewery expansion in Abia State, said by this, the company has restated its resolve to power and support the economic developmental goal of Nigeria with the investment of N18 billion through the expansion of the Aba Brewery.

He stated that it is also a clear indication that Nigeria and Abia State are safe for business having created over 279, 000 C M Y K

direct and indirect employment for Nigerians which include thousands of farmers, with 85

This journey which commenced with the registration of our company in 1946 continues today with a footprint of 11 breweries and two malting plants strategically spread out across Nigeria

local steel production. The implementation of game changers in the sector is already opening up a lot of downstream sector activities with the attendant massive job opportunities and economic empowerment for our engineers, technicians, artisans and fabricators alike. ” To date, a number of sectorial policies have been developed under the NIRP. The Sugarcane to Sugar under the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) has attracted over $3 billion in investments.

per cent of the employment attributed to direct production.

While commending the management of the company for its unalloyed commitment to the economy and people of Nigeria, he said: “this cannot be taken away from what contributed to the listing of the company as one of the top one hundred companies in Nigeria in 2014. The project is also a reflection of our future as a Nation.”

Also speaking, Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, stated that as Nigeria’s pioneer brewing company, the commissioning is in a sense an opportunity to showcase another example of NB’s long-standing and continuing commitment to ‘Winning with Nigeria’ through “our investments, our footprint, our people and our socio-eco-

doubles the technical capacity at the brewery to 2.4m hectoliters per annum.”

nomic impact. This journey which commenced with the registration of our company in 1946 continues today with a footprint of 11 breweries and two malting plants strategically spread out across Nigeria.”

He added that “Aba Brewery commenced operations in 1957 with an initial installed capacity of 500,000 hectoliters per annum which later increased to 1.2million hectoliters per annum. The Brewery reconstruction and expansion project which began in 2012 was completed in 2014 at a cost of N18bn. It makes Aba Brewery the most modern brewery in Nigeria and simultaneously

$167.30 $2,722.00

$15.20

-0.90 -21.00

-0.15

$48.80

-0.80

$44.73 CURRENCY

BUYING

DOLLAR EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

167 187.541 187.3878 1.4126 0.2659 233.3106 26.6999 44.4338 25.184 234.4346

-1.50

CENTRAL 167.5 188.1025 187.9488 1.4168 0.2759 234.0092 26.7803 44.5668 25.2594 235.1365

168 188.664 188.5099 1.4211 0.2859 234.7077 26.8607 44.6999 25.3348 235.8384

CBN Exchange Rate as at 29/1/15

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—23

Shipping charges: Port regulator moves to expose violators

By Godfrey Bivbere

T

HE nation’s port economic regulator, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, has commenced moves to expose terminal operators and shipping companies still involved in the collection of illegal charges on port users despite the order of the federal high court delivered last month.

To this end, the Council in collaboration with importers and the various customs brokers/ freight forwarders has directed the compilation of such collections of illegal charges with evidence from them by the terminal operators and shipping companies.

The Council’s decision is not unconnected with allegation that the terminal operators have been collecting those charges which the Federal High Court Ikoyi stopped them from collecting in December last year.

Vanguard gathered that the NSC is considering either to publish the names of offenders or head back to law court. However, a source at the Council said that it intends to bring the full weight of the law against all those who chose to go contrary to the court order but was not forthcoming on exactly what the action would be.

The source explained that at the right time all illegal charges collected by the affected shipping companies and terminal operators would be refunded.

He advised those affected to continue to compile the evidence.

The source also said that the Council has directed it’s Consumer Complaints Unit, CCU, to visit all the ports with the aim

of interacting with importers and customs brokers to obtain from them evidence of the illegal charges being collected by the shipping companies and terminal operators.

Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, said that he has so much to say on the issue but stressed that he cannot comment on it because the matter is in court Reacting to the above, President of Nigerian Shippers’ Association, Jonathan Nicol argued that since the shipping companies and terminal operators applied to the court for ‘stay of execution of the order’ after the judgment, they ought to have waited until their application is granted.

2m now commute by water every month in Lagos — LASWA

By Godwin Oritse

D

ESPITE the increased boat mishaps that occurred in the country last year, no fewer than two million people now commute through the waterways in Lagos on a monthly basis.

Data sourced from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), put the figure at 1.902,631 as at the month of December 2014.

Although, there was a fluctuation in the figure during the year, the number increased in the month of December..

The increase in the patronage of the use of waterways for transportation in Lagos has been attributed to the improved regula-

Six vessels in 86,300mt of petroleum products this month

By Agnes Obiabo

A

total of 86,300 metric tones of the petroleum products shipped in onboard six Vessels have berthed at the nation’s port in Lagos early this month.

According to the shipping position of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, made available to vanguard, 36,300 metric tones of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, 38000 metric tones of Jet fuel, Jet A1, 30000 metric tones of Premium Petrol Spirit, PMS berthed in Lagos during the period under review.

Similarly, 12000 metric tones of Aviation Turbine Kerosene, ATK was shipped in by M.V’s Amelia Pacific, Adour, Hanze Mumbai, Fair Artemis, Seagrace, Med Balic and

From right: Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. David Omonibeke; Acting Coordinating Officer, African Circle Pollution Management Limited (ACPML), Mr. Ahmadu F. Ahmadu; Regional Manager, West, ACPML, Mrs. Nike Shobowale at the formal unveiling of ACPML specialized trucks for pollution and waste control at Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos.

Stavenger Breeze between the 1st and 6th of this month.

Between the 7 and 10 of this month, a total number of 4,000 and 10,014.400 metric tones of Ethanol and Soda Ash was shipped in to Lagos port respectively on board three vessels M.V’s Tour Pomerol, Thoco Celebration and Guiliana.

A total number of 1,850 metric tones of general cargo are expected to arrive at the Lagos port on the 15 of this month onboard M.V Mandarin River.

This week, 287 Units of vehicle are expected at the Lagos port brought in by M.V Hoegh Kunsan.

Another 9,185 containers onboard 19 vessels are expected to arrive at the Lagos port on the 23 of this month.

tion governing the use of the waterway.

A breakdown of the figure showed that 1,798.343 used the waterways in January, while 1,794,421 was recorded in February.

For March and April, 1,794.848, 1,789,212 was recorded respectively.

While the month of May recorded1,790,899, 1,788,315 was recorded in the month of June.

While 1,787,478 was recorded in July, 1,788,487 was also recorded in the month of August as against 1, 788,036 and in September a total of 1,788,036.

1,879,098, 1,867,045 and 1,902,631 were recorded for the months of October, November and December.

The authority according to its Managing Director, Mr. Yinka Marinho said that LASWA will stop the campaign on safety on

the waterways in Lagos.

He explained that the more commuters obey the law regulating waterways transport, the less accident will occur.

“The life jacket is meant to save lives when an accident occurs but Lagosians do not like wearing the life saving vest.

“We will continue to enforce the use of life vest until the message we are trying to pass sinks in.

PAAR jack-up: ANLCA to meet with FMoF, Customs, others

By Godfrey Bivbere

T

HE Association of Nige ria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, is to meet with the management of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Ministry of Finance, FMoF, and other critical stakeholders to discuss issue of deliberate jack up of the value of Pre-arrival Assessment Report, PAAR, and other issues affecting the sector.

The meetings are expected to hold this week in Lagos and Abuja. National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who disclosed this to vanguard in Lagos, noted that ANLCA is aware of the issue of jack-up of PAAR by field officers of the Service and that they have documents to show that it actually happens. He siad that the association is taking up the issue with the appropriate quarter.

According to him, “We are always meeting, we have meeting with the FMoF, we have meeting inside the Customs,

we have meeting with Trade and Investment. I think we have about three or four meetings all spread within Monday and Tuesday. That what we do every time because we go there to discuss how it will impact positively on our members, that is more important.

“I have document to show that

I have copies of those documents in my bag that is forms the basis for the meeting we are having on Monday and they are going to investigate it because we have evidence to show

even officers in the field still practice unwholesome approach, some people still intimidate agents in order to collect money from them.

“There is no way PAAR that is issued from the ruling center, that is sent to the bank for the importer to comply, will have another PAAR issued by the releasing officer different from the one coming from Abuja, you know that something is wrong.

“I have copies of those documents in my bag that will form the basis for the meeting we are having on Monday and they are going to investigate it because we have evidence to show.

“I can tell you that the present Customs will not take it lightly with anybody that is trying to bring down the PAAR. I have told you that the problem with PAAR as a process is the human nature. That PAAR system we are using here is the one that is being used all over the world, forget that people tell you that World Trade Organisation, WTO does this or do that, no.”

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 25

I N S I D E

C-RIVER: Ayade thrills Ogoja nation with How about the Casandras'pragnosis? message of hope

RIVERS ELECTION: Drums of war

Page 26

WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE DAY:

Page 27

Page 28

Jonathan has given Ndigbo new life —Umeh •I doubt Buhari will keep the peace accord if...

CHIEF Victor Umeh is National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and currently, the candidate of the party for the Anambra Central senatorial election. In this interview, he answers questions on several political issues of the moment.

Excerpts:

By Chioma Gabriel

T

HIS is the first time you are seeking elective position. Can you tell us what inspired you because you are still the national chairman of APGA? My contesting for Anambra senatorial constituency came as a result of several calls from various groups within the senatorial districts that I should represent them because they believe that I will offer them better representation at the Senate.

Secondly, I accepted to run because after my participation as a delegate at the national conference, I discovered that there is still much to do. As a delegate of the conference, I was among the other South East delegates who championed decisions that would restore the people and bring them to an acceptable position in the Nigerian politics; particularly addressing the structural disadvantage Ndigbo have suffered over the years as a result of the war.

Conclusion of the conferences We were able to secure a very important side into the national conference, including the creation of an additional state in the South East to increase the number of states in the South East to six.

We were able to let our voices over the funds that are meant for the local governments in the states. At the conclusion of the conference, it became obvious that if the resolutions are addressed, it will be included in the constitution of the state.

We were able to reach those resolutions because we know the disadvantages that out people have been suffering over the years.

The president has consistently promised to implement the resolutions of the national conference and so there is hope that things would change for better if Jonathan comes back as president in 2015.

Apart from that, another national chairman of APGA would emerge soon because my tenure would soon end and so I decided to go to Senate and I wish to work for my people and the good of Nigeria and contributing to national

growth and also assist in making good governance for Nigeria.

Those are the reasons why I am in the race and as a result of a clarion call from my follower ship. The people are happy with the present situation in the state.

APGA has restored sanity to Anambra state. The present governor is doing very well to restore security of lives and properties.

The South East has backed President Jonathan through thick and thin. Is he really the right choice for Ndigbo?

For a people that have lost so much over the years, it will be very difficult for them to really see that they are making improvement in their lives. Under Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency, the Igbos have received a new lease of life. For instance, the Enugu airport is now an international airport so much that you can fly to any part of the world from there. It wasn’t like that in the past. It will not be nice for us to take for granted remarkable improvements that we have recorded under President Jonathan’s administration.

The second Niger bridge that you spoke about, the government has taken steps.

We have gone there to flag off the construction but the issue of funding

Under Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency, the Igbos have received a new lease of life. For instance, the Enugu airport is now an international airport so much that you can fly to any part of the world from there

•Umeh: Jonathan is the only hope we have requires further management assessment to give the project its full light. That project is still on. Last December, the Enugu/ Onitsha expressway got approval of over 20 billion Naira. If you go there now, the construction is in its advanced stage.

If people do not get their dividends under other administrations, under Jonathan, it is different. It was a policy of the previous administration that the Igbo will never get an international airport.

Under President Goodluck Jonathan, it became a thing of the past. Gradually, we will get the presidency given an opportunity of bringing the Igbos together.

Can General Mohammed Buhari, the presidential candidate of APC assist Igbos?

Of course he wont. Look at the some of the challenges I have pointed out to you.

The major challenge the Igbo are facing in Nigeria is the disadvantage in the political structure in Nigeria.

And Jonathan is the only visible person that saw the need to convene a national conference where issues were discussed and the solution to the structural disadvantage of the Igbo was one of the

issues on the table. The APC boycotted the national conference. In other words, APC stood for the elongation of the status quo. Let our people continue to have five states and 95 local government areas.

Can a party that boycotted the national conference produce a president that would represent the resolutions of the national conference? He cannot solve the problem of the people. I cannot vouch for Gen Buhari because he cannot do anything for our people.

For the fact that APC boycotted the national conference means that it cannot bring about any positive change. The only place where the issue of Nigeria is being negotiated is the national conference and APC was opposed to it. It will be a tragedy for anyone to be talking about supporting a political party, not Buhari as a candidate, that is opposed the national conference which gives so much to reduce the pains of Nigerians.

Jonathan is the only hope we have through the resolutions of the national conference. The bulk of the problems of the Igbo lies in the structural disadvantage

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

•Wike: PDP candidate

•Peterside: APC candidate

RIVERS ELECTION: Drums of war THE three major political parties in Rivers State recently signed a peace accord to reject violence in the course of the ongoing campaigns. However, there is almost a general agreement that the assertions of the pundits are quite far from the actions of their gladiators and pawns.

By Jimitota Onoyume

T

HE tense political atmosphere in Rivers State has undoubtedly unnerved many peace loving people.

Several lives have been lost and property have been destroyed in the battle of wits between the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the ultimate political prize in the state – the governorship.

Most of the violence have been directed towards the APC a fact that has led some in the ruling party in the state to point fingers at the PDP. However, neither the police nor the courts have been indicted anyone for the spate of violence.

It was as such not surprising when the APC last Wednesday rolled out its big guns including the state chapter chairman, Mr Davies Ikanya, Senator Magnus Abe and Prof. Tam David-West, a close ally of the party ’s presidential candidate to articulate their assertions.

Speaking on the nature of the violence that they have been subjected to, Ikanya said: “Our plight is akin to that of a people in a militarily conquered and occupied territory. PDP thugs and hirelings practically commit murder under the watchful and proactive eyes of the police”, he said.

He further accused the police of being biased whenever attention was drawn to the

alleged criminal activities of the opposition.

“Most of these heinous crimes have been aided and abetted by the Police “, he said.

Continuing, he said President Goodluck Jonathan set the stage for attack of members of the APC. “The federal government of Nigeria under the presidency of Dr Jonathan adopted a deliberate policy of state sponsored violence against Rivers people.

Machinery for violence The PDP having established it’s machinery for violence now began to unleash mayhem in the form of physical attacks on the APC members, killing and causing grievous bodily harm on our members across the state”, he said.

The party later showed footages of some of those allegedly killed by the PDP in the state ahead of the elections.

Former Minister of Petroleum under the military, Professor David West who also spoke lamented the political related killings, saying it was unfortunate that they could happen under a government with a responsibility to protect lives and properties.

He described Nigeria as a failed state under President Jonathan, noting that his vote was reserved for the APC even if he was not a member of the party.

“We have a failed state. Nigeria

state is failed. A government that cannot protect lives has no business being there “, he said.

“I supported Amaechi when many abandoned him. My votes are for the APC, what is good for Nigeria is good for Rivers state, APC”, he said.

Senator Abe who also spoke said Nigerians should give attention to cries of his APC party, stressing that the situation had become so bad.

“Today you can be killed for being a member of APC. The constitution gives us right to belong to political party.”, he said.

According to Abe , some forces allegedly want to force a political leadership on the state, noting that the intention was responsible for the increasing attack of his APC members. “The powers that be want Rivers people to do what they want. Security operatives sent here are not allowed to operate the way they should. We have complained severally”, he said.

Fielding questions from newsmen Senator Abe denied allegations by the PDP that the attack of APC members were sponsored by aggrieved members of the APC. “So we will arrange to kill our members to create sympathy for ourselves. What sympathy are we looking for. This is why we are

Abe said his party could not hold its rally in Okrika last week because of alleged threat to lives of members

calling on the Police to investigate and arrest those behind the killings and attack”, he said.

Abe said his party could not hold its rally in Okrika last week because of alleged threat to lives of members.

It would be recalled that assailants stormed National Field, Okrika, venue of the rally last weekend while the place was being set for the governorship campaign rally of the party that was to come to Okrika local government area. The assailants fired several shots, detonated dynamites in the place to scare those working in the place.

Though no life was lost but the ugly development forced the party to cancel the rally.

Abe who decried the incident, wondered why his party would not be allowed to campaign in Okrika local government area. “I don’t know when it became official that APC cannot campaign in Okrika local government area”, he said.

Governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Peterside who also responded to some questions dismissed as wicked and malicious allegations by the PDP that attack of APC members in the state were sponsored within the party.

The PDP has, however, acquitted itself saying: “gunmen are not members of the PDP and they are not also working for the party. Members of the PDP are God fearing and cannot be part of any activity that will spill blood.”

According to the party the violence that has trailed APC is mainly due to the internal crisis arising from the governorship primary.

My fears about the elections — Umeh Continues from page 25 we acquired in the course of the civil war.

If you look at what I have told you, the South East has ninetyfive local government areas, the South South has one hundred and twenty-three local government areas, South West has one hundred and thirty-five local government areas . The Igbo must fight for their right to overcome their marginalisation in Nigeria.

People should look at the structural solution that the administration of Goodluck Jonathan would bring. I want Ndigbo to know that their support for Jonathan is not on selfish ground.

The former vice president from the South East, Dr. Alex Ekwueme did say recently that the Igbo will not give Jonathan a block vote which means there is a kind of division that he has perceived amongst the people.

My response to Ekwueme is

that people are approaching this matter from various perspectives.

If you read the reasons that Dr. Ekwueme read out, you will see clearly that he is not happy with the PDP. Being a founder of the PDP, he is not happy with the way PDP has treated him and as far as I can say, Ekwueme is entitled to his opinion. On the issue of Buhari and Jonathan,the people should know that they do not have any alternative as to who to support than Jonathan. I support Jonathan based on previous achievements.

Previous achievements It is also a wake up call for President Jonathan. His response has been good towards the South-East but he ought to do more. It depends on his approach. Moreover, people must know that the first of his tenure must be different from the second term. His actions during

a first term cannot in any measure be compared to the second term presidency. Let us give him the support and see his response to finding solutions to issues that affect the people. No matter how we look at it, it is better to have hope than to have no hope at all. From what I have explained to you, Jonathan’s second term presidency will bring more hope than Buhari’s presidency.

I don’t see APC implementing the resolutions of the national conference. To me, Jonathan and Buhari are not even comparable in any respect to the Ndigbo’s expectations. Buhari has nothing to offer us. He was part of the military junta that governed the country in which Igbo were not given any chance to shine.

The military were the people that caused the Igbo problem.

There is nowhere that the Igbo will trust anybody who was associated with the successive military regime that impoverished the Igbo in Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 27

C-RIVER: Ayade thrills Ogoja nation with message of hope THE harmonious ambience under which the recent flag-off of the Peoples Democratic, PDP, governorship campaign in Cross River State, took place, did not leave any doubt that successive campaigns across the 18 local government areas of the state would not be characterised by overwhelming solidarity.

By Charles Kumolu

H

ELD in Ogoja, the principal town in Cross River North Senatorial District, the event was a fanfare of sorts, given the remarkable display of oneness by party faithful.

In addition, the well attended gathering was prominently hallmarked by wave of endorsements in favour of the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ben Ayade.

Party chieftains and traditional rulers, were excited over the choice of Ayade who they swore collectively to rally behind and provide the needed support.

For Ayade, who emerged as the party’s standard bearer in a primary election that was not short of controversies, the outing reaffirmed his position as the leading candidate in the race.

In his remarks, on behalf of Ogoja Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Igbaji Monkom, commended the state governor, Sen Liyel Imoke for zoning the governorship position to the Northern Senatorial Zone.

Abiding faith “We are grateful to our governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and the party that despite the skepticism that trailed the zoning of the governorship to our zone, you have kept an abiding faith in your promise to the North. On our part, we are very determined and ready to support not only our son, Professor Ben Ayade, but also our President, Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 and 28 elections.

Ayade has always been part of us and has identified with us over the years. He has the passion for the people. He knows our pains and he shares them with us. And since 1998, we have known no other party than the PDP. We are for Ayade and President Jonathan,” he noted.

Re-echoing Monkom’s sentiment , Chief Sunny Ekong said: “Imoke has always shown particular interest in us and you proved to us today with the choice of Ayade that you meant well for us. The only way we can pay back this uncommon gesture is to get our permanent voters’ cards and ensure that Ayade is voted one hundred percent into office and President Jonathan is

returned overwhelmingly in the February 14 election.”

The pulse was also the same at Yala, where the campaign train led by Imoke was received by an ecstatic crowd of supporters and party faithful.

Imoke, who addressed Yala Elders of Thought, made a passionate appeal on the need to vote for Ayade and President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We have brought your children to you and to appeal to you to support them. As politicians, we must pay our respect to you and that is what we have come to do.

We know that without you, we cannot make any meaningful progress politically. There is absolute need to support the PDP from top to the bottom so that we can continue to develop Yala.

This is our humble appeal to you,’’ he stated.

An assurance that the governor’s appeal would yeild fruitful result, came from Mrs.

•Ayade: Seeks to succeed Imoke Martina Odom, who expressed the commitment of the people of Yala at ensuring that Ayade wins by a landslide at the forthcoming poll.

Odom said: “We appreciate your consideration and feelings for us at every challenging time.

Our wards have benefited from your scholarships, your intervention in the healthcare of

our people. You are a man who has a heart of pity. You have given us water and equipped our health centres. We assure you that not only men will vote for you in Yala but we the women will also vote massively for you.

We believe in you and we know your capacity.” Also speaking, Hon. Mike Ogbudu, who thanked Imoke for offering them

a youthful governor-in-waiting, assured the campaign train that Yala will ensure the highest number of votes for Ayade and the rest of the candidates including President Jonathan.

“Thank you Your Excellency for leading the state to where it is now. We will ensure that Ayade polls the highest number of votes from Yala come February 28.”

The excitement over Ayade’s candidacy was also visible in his ancestral town, Obudu when the campaign train berthed there.

Held at Jeddy Agba Memorial Stadium, Obudu, the crowd was so overwhelming leading to an unusual traffic gridlock across the town.

They sang his praises to high heavens and rendered a supine supplication to God for the actualization of the vision embodied in their son.

Indeed, the Obudu rally was uniquely different as the governorship candidate engaged his people in his native language.

This drew thunderous ovations and chants from all who forsook their personal schedules to receive Ayade.

Further campaign stops at Bekwarra an Obaniluku, were greeted with massive presence of party faithful, who restated their committment towards ensuring that Ayade emerges victorious at the polls.

Certificate saga can’t stop Buhari’s ambition — Solomon AS controversy continues to surround the certificates and qualification of the All Progressives Congress’ standardbearer, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, the Public Relations Officer, APC-Diaspora, Canada Chapter, Mr. Jerry Solomon, said the certificate saga won’t stop the General’s ambition and mission come February 14.

By Gabriel Ewepu

W

HAT is your take to the recent certificate saga of the APC Presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, and don’t you think it will affect his ambition?

It is impossible for the calibre of General Buhari, with his personality and worldwide reputation for honesty and integrity to lay claim to qualifications he does not have.

There is no how the certificate saga can affect the ambition of Gen Buhari. Nigerians want a leader that can take them out of the current ditch the PDP administration plunged them into. The record of performance of Gen Buhari as the Head of State and chairman Petroleum Trust Fund is convincing that he’s the right person for the job and Nigerians are in cognizance of that.

INEC recently said there may be no election in the troubled North-East of Nigeria but will ensure Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were allowed to vote, do you think as Diaspora Nigerians it is healthy for the 2015 elections?

It is the constitutional right of all Nigerians to be able to vote and be voted for. Government has to put all apparatus required in place to ensure no citizen is disenfranchised of their constitutional right. It is actually unhealthy if certain group are not allowed to vote.

With grave security concerns in the country don’t you think the 2015 elections should be postponed?

I think that is the more reason the election should be conducted.

The whole world knows that the

administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is not serious about fighting the insurgency.

Despite the huge amount expended by his administration on the defence, the officers blame their inefficiency in combating the terror group on lack of proper weapon which was confirm by the United State military and the Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis.

Nigeria needs a leader that will sincerely take the insurgency Heads-on. Gen Buhari has done it before and can surely do it again. He defended Nigeria against the attack of Chad republic and the Maitatsine terror group.

Election should be conducted and hopefully President Jonathan will be voted out and Nigeria can begin to gather herself together.

What are Diaspora Nigerians doing to support INEC to conduct credible and accepted elections in Nigeria?

The current administration is not making use of the enormous resources available in Nigerians in Diaspora as a result a lot of

•Solomon: Elections must go on as fixed

people in that category is watching the developments in Nigeria from the distance. However, we are reaching out to the electorates, enlightening them on the importance of peaceful conduct during and after election. We are educating them on the need to go out to vote and ensure their votes count. We are hoping the INEC, under the leadership of professor Attahiru Jega will play their part.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

I

T seems as if the minds of many Nigerians are finally fixed for the crucial election of February 14, 2015 even if some people have serious doubts about the ability of the electoral umpire to be fully ready for the show.

The apparent fear of violence before, during and after the Presidential election has been dampened by the signed “peacepact” by the principal political gladiators. Though there were signs of stoning and bombings of opponents` vehicles and offices, the general impression is that the election will be fair and free of violence. The pity is for the party thugs who would feel the pains of violence and the sympathy for the innocent Nigerians who bear the consequences of electoral violence.

Under the present politically charged atmosphere, the confidence of the two main contestants should be recognized and praised. Inspite of the raging insurgency in a section of the country causing heavy loss of lives, despite the loss of revenue from the crash in oil prices and inspite of the devaluation of the country‘s currency (naira), President Jonathan is insisting on his second-term – a curious phenomenon in the democratic world.

The main challenger, inspite of three failures in three attempts, despite his image as a Muslim fundamentalist and religious extremist (which he has totally rejected), he has continued undisturbed (even by certificate saga) in his quest to be the next President of Nigeria.

Here is the saga of the mixture of politics and economics in the developing (poor) nations of the world where personal interests override national consideration.

It took recently the courage of a patriotic Nigerian to exclaim that the shedding of blood of innocent

WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE DAY:

How about the Casandras'prognosis?

Nigerians is of more important consideration than the election of leaders who, understandably, did not fulfill all promises made at that moment of desperation.

This view might not sink into the skulls of party thugs, sycophants and ambitious power seekers who would be prepared to quote the relevant parts of the 1999 Constitution. Those who crave for paying little attention to the election at all cost in an atmosphere of insecurity, political and economic instability would certainly be in the minority.

President Jonathan and his ruling party PDP want to stay in power and justifiably so.

General Buhari (rtd) and his

The post election economic scenario is – less revenue, stunted growth, less infrastructural developments, more unemployment and increase in poverty

party APC, and probably so, would prefer a change in Aso Rock. All the justifiable and probable reasons are based on enlightened self interests, and perhaps not on national interest.

In modern democratic world, the benchmark for political governance is full employment (unemployment of 3 percent or less), macro-economic stability (low inflation rate and stability of prices) and strong currency.

Even in a situation where the economy is strong and where the debt burden is light and the currency is strong, the electorate would insist that the destiny of the country is not tied to the apron of a single party.

In Britain, after a long rule of the Labour Party, the last election gave no absolute majority to any single party which led to the formation of Tory – Liberal Government.

Modern Germany has always voted in a way to encourage deformation of a unity government. Recently, the voting pattern in the US showed the control of the Senate and Congress by the Republicans to check the freedom of Democrats‘ President Obama. Many democratic countries are now protecting their political stability and economic

prosperity against the dictatorship of a single party by strategic voting pattern and not by violence. This modern trend should be understood by all political leaders and their followers.

It is a pity that the current political campaigns are woven around the personalities of the leading gladiators – Jonathan and Buhari, and not on current issues of the day. The topic should be specifically on Security and Economic Prosperity which have become elusive.

Unfortunately, both leading parties, consciously and ignorantly have been deceiving Nigerians by “nice things of life”, the cost of which is hidden from the electorate. They have failed to educate the public how they are going to fund their promised project.

The country‘s economic situation has worsened since the fall in oil prices and the consequent devaluation of the naira. All rosy promises being made during election campaigns are meant for vote catching and nothing less.

It should also be clearly stated by the political leaders and clearly understood by gullible masses that the current security

challenges – insurgency and war, armed bank robbery, kidnapping and ritual killing – are far beyond the capability of any existing political party or a single leader.

President Jonathan and his party could not do it over a period of 16 years.

It would be too much for Buhari and his party to overcome the current formidable forces even if they are endowed with magical or supernatural powers.

The post election economic scenario is – less revenue, stunted growth, less infrastructural developments, more unemployment and increase in poverty. The continuous deep gulf between the rich and the poor could be the signpost for rural and urban uprisings. It is not too late to reverse the political campaigns of deceit by the political parties and stick to reality of life in 2015. There is ample time for enlightened minds to save Nigeria and rescue the Naira. It is the time to be thinking about subsequent depression and ways to uplift the economy, not by tight monetary policy from the Central Bank.

It is a wrong economic policy.

Corruption I have so far abstained from discussing the topic of corruption because I don’t understand the meaning in ‘the Nigerian context‘ (with apology to Gen Buhari – APC crusader). Also, I don’t recognize a corrupt Nigerian when I see one.

A few months ago, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode faced a series of charges on corruption (though he had maintained his innocence), now he occupies the exalted position in a political party. You see what I am about to say.

Also many politicians facing corrupt charges are now candidates in the coming elections. That is Nigeria for you.

ANAMBRA: Why aggrieved PDP aspirants must sheathe sword — Annie Okonkwo

By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor

‘I

FEEL very bad whenever I see my people suffering.

So, I am ready to stake all that I can boast of to enable the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District feel the impact of good governance in the state. Legislature remains the most critical branch of government by virtue of its relationship and close affinity with the people because they are elected directly by the people. So, it remains the soul of our democracy and because of its central importance, representative democracy or participatory representation cannot be separated from the core of our political processes.’’

With these words, Senator Annie Clement Okonkwo, outlined why he wants to return to the Senate to represent Anambra Central in June. He was in the Upper Chamber on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2007 to 2011.

Now, after a prolonged battle following the confusion that

trailed the outcome of the PDP National Assembly primary elections in Anambra State, he emerged as the party’s candidate.

He is going to face the likes of incumbent Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which is the ruling party in Anambra.

Okonkwo is mindful of the high electoral hurdle ahead. He confessed that Anambra is the toughest state to do politics in Nigeria, adding that the Anambra Central election will not be an easy contest for any of the major candidates, who he admitted are heavy weight politicians.

Extends olive branch to aggrieved PDP aspirants To ensure that the PDP emerged victorious in the various state and federal elections next month, Okonkwo urged the aggrieved aspirants that participated in the PDP primary elections to sheathe their swords and support the candidates that

made the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) final list.

“Our focus should shift on how to ensure PDP’s success in the coming general election because crisis in the party would affect the fortune of the party in the election,’’ he pleaded.

Excellent performance He also canvassed support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection bid, saying: “President Jonathan has done marvellously well in all sectors as president and he deserves to be re-elected. The present administration had established about 12 new universities, increased power generation to over 4,400MW. In agriculture, infrastructure, the Jonathan-led administration has also performed excellently well.”

Okonkwo had his early education at School Road Primary School and Ngwa High School, all in Aba, Abia State. He also attended Government Secondary

•Okonkwo: Wants to return to Senate School, Owerri for his A levels and later University of Lagos where he obtained Diploma in Marketing and an Advanced Diploma in Commercial Law and Practice. He also did a specialist course at Harvard Business School and graduated in 1997.

While in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, Okonkwo said he pursued effective representation by considering and consulting his constituents first in all that he

did. He created several forum through which the electorates could access him.

A successful businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Okonkwo ventured into business at a very tender age and ever since has not looked back. His business empire cuts across telecommunication, oil and gas, manufacturing, banking, export, import and real estate among others, providing jobs for thousands of Nigerians.

His philanthropic gestures and activities as a senator included tarring the major road leading to his Iruebenebe village in, Ojoto Obofia; established Agunechemba Foundation to empower youths with education and skills.

Others include getting the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology undertake a two-day oversight visit to Anambra State during which the committee asked the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Anambra erosion sites which led to review of ecological funding by the Ecological Fund Office.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —29

From left: Mr. Supo Sasore, Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Hon. Demola Seriki, Dr. Tola Kasali and Alhaji Safari Adaranijo. Back row: Mr. Niyi Adelaja, Mr. Yinka Lawal, Mr. Fola Tinubu, Dr. Solanke Labamba and Kehinde Bamigbetan, members of committee support group for Ambode campaign team.

Meeting. L-r: Controller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mrs Justina Ahmedu; Chairman, ECOWAS Community Leaders Forum,Mr Frank Ekow Quaye, and Deputy Comptroller of Immigration in charge of ECOWAS section, Dora Amaihian, during a meeting with ECOWAS community leaders on the forth coming elections

NOTAP introduces Technology Storyboard/book

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, has introduced an educational and instructional tool aimed at planting the seeds at the basic educational level.

The initiative which NOTAP said is intended to arouse and sustain the interest of school children in science and technology at the basic education levels for breeding the future workforce needed to transform and modernise the Nigerian economy, involves step-by-step graphic and pictorial representation of the technological process of transforming raw materials to final products.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama, in his remarks at the occasion of launching the Technology Story board programme and unveiling of Technology Story Book Project Initiative by NOTAP in Abuja, said the project was another demonstration of NOTAP's commitment to ensuring that science and technology, which is globally the engine that steers development.

With this initiative, he said, NOTAP has demystified science and technology through a simplified pictorial representation of products production and manufacturing processes. ‘‘Interestingly, most of these products, the raw materials and the final products are both well known to children in Nigeria, while the intermediate processes remain a mystery,’’ he said.

C M Y K

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

I love the crazy way Iyanya twists his waist — Lola Rae B

ritish-Nigerian singer cum songwriter, Funmilola Rachel Garton, known by the stage name, Lola Rae introduced herself into the Nigerian entertainment scene last year with the release of her debut single ‘Fimile’ featuring kukere master Iyanya. After the success of that single, she is back again with another banging single “You Know What My Name Is”.

In this chat with Weekend Groove the returnee diva with Nigerian, Ghanaian and British blood talks about her music, her new management deal with Twenty 20 Media and her acquaintance with Iyanya:

BY IYABO AINA

How did you come about the name Funmilola? y mum is a Ghanaian and my dad, English and they both lived and worked in Nigeria for 50 years. They met and got married; my three sisters and I were born in Nigeria and we lived in the country for fifteen years. We had to go back to school, but my dad insisted that he wanted to die in this country because he loves Nigeria and claims to be a Nigerian. We all have Nigerian passports and this is the only country that I really know, that was why I go by the name Funmilola Rachel Garton because I am a Nigerian. I was born in Obalende, Lagos and I am proud to be a Nigerian.

M

Why music?

I have always had the passion for music. I feel like adding to what the likes of Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, Omawuni, Waje and a host of others have been doing so well in the entertainment industry. It is a way of making a statement in a distinctive dimension and discharging my Godgiven talent. I also want to showcase my talent as well as make the young ones realise that they have got one talent or the other to create jobs and opportunities for themselves.

Tell us about your experience so far in the music industry, and how you would describe the Nigeria music industry?

To me, the experience is really good.

And at the same time, difficult because sometimes you will want to give out the best of you but there is no room for such. I strongly believe that the entertainment industry will find its place in terms of structure in no time, and we will not relent to attain a well structured system. I am 100 per-cent ready to face the music and the many challenges I may encounter. I have C M Y K

nothing to fear . I was born here in Nigeria and I am used to the system.

At present, I am launching my coming back with a big bang. I am really enthused to carve a niche for myself and affect the industry positively.

My management is taking necessary steps to stamp my come back on the scene.

Like how many songs have you done so far Actually, I haven’t released any album but I have three singles; “My Tingle, Fimile ft Iyanya,and You know what my name is”.

What’s your kind of music?

My kind of music is Afro-pop, because it has a lot of pop influence but it’s still African interms of the language I use which is pidgin English.

How was it like working with Iyanya ?

Iyanya is a veteran in the game, he’s done so much and he was the one that said he wanted to feature in the

Continues on page 31

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Tayo Faniran, Toke Makinwa unveil as Payporte ambassadors

Your phone, your smart secret keeper

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—31

Synopsis Barbie in Prince power

I love crazy way Iyanya twists his waist

B

arbie stars as Lumina, a mermaid with the power to control pearls. Cheerful and creative, Lumina finds herself working in a mermaid salon customizing fabulous hairstyles. And when Lumina has the chance to attend the royal ball, her friends adorn her with a gown fit for a princess. At the ball, villains try to seize power over the kingdom, and Lumina finds within herself an unexpected power that proves she is much more than a hair stylist.”

- Lola Rae Continues from page 30 song. I was so surprised and had to ask him if he had heard the song before and he told me there was no problem . Right now, Iyanya is more like a big brother to me .

What level of influence would you say Iyanya brought on that song?

He brought a positive influence on the song because after releasing the audio the song got more than 200,000 views on Youtube What would you say you love about Iyanya?

I love his music, and I love his crazy way of twisting his waist What will make you different from top female artistes we have in the industry?

My sound; because in my new single it sounds as if I’m rapping but I’m not a rapper. I’m trying to rebrand myself in order to stand out and be unique . Also, I will be doing more of stage performances and not just the normal studio recording.

Which Nigerian female artiste do you admire?

I admire the likes of Tiwa Savage, Omawumi, Waje and a host of others because they are the first set of people who started Afro-pop. I feel like adding to what they have been doing in the entertainment industry. Music is my way of making a statement in a distinctive dimension and discharging my God-given talent.

Your growing up and when did you move out of Nigeria?

I was born in Lagos. I lived in Nigeria for about 15 years then moved to Ghana for one year before moving to the UK. The move was for educational reasons because I had my primary education at the St. Saviours School and my secondary education at Lekki British International High School, Lagos State. I later moved to Ghana for a year because my grandma was sick and I eventually relocated to England for my university education.

About my growing up, it was a very normal background, though my dad is a foreigner but he worked in Nigeria for about 45years. But my main base has always been Nigeria and it has been fun How do you handle your male admirers?

Actually, I’m a very shy person and always surrounded by guys but what I do is just to mingle with them.

Are you fulfilled with where you are?

To the glory of God ‘Watch my Tingo’ has close to 100,000 views on YouTube.

It is such an overwhelming feeling; I am so thankful to God and everyone, who has gone to watch it. Sometimes, I refresh the page to make sure I’m not seeing different things to be honest.

So, I am very fulfilled in terms of where I am and where I can I see I’m C M Y K

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK • WEDDING RINGER • 30 DAYS IN ATLANTA

• ANNIE • EVENTH SON

Movie schedule from January 16th - 22nd 2015

going and I k n o w there is more to come How do you get inspiration?

It’s usually from things that happen around me. For instance, if you listen to one of my singles where I used lyrics like ’17,18,19, ‘ I was just trying to portray a picture of a woman and her bottom moving in a particular motion while walking with the phrase ’17, 18, 19 gbagada’. It’s hard to describe but trust me, the next time you see a lady walking you’ll notice it. I actually picked it up from School here in Nigeria.

What’s your view about nudity in music videos?

I don’t agree nudity is encouraging and it’s exactly what has taken over the entertainment industry because everybody wants to sell his/her song. And it seems to be working because the fans love it. I’m not saying one should get naked but you just have to give your fans the best. For instance, the way I dress when going onstage is quite different from the way I dress on a normal day. I always like to look sexy while performing and it’s a way of giving my fans the best.

What is your greatest asset?

I think my physique, because I remember a lot of people usually say they love my stature, that I’m petite What do you look out for in a man?

I like guys that can make me laugh, genuinely kind and God-fearing because my family is very religious What should we be expecting from you soon?

I would be doing lots of collaborations soon. I have featured Iyanya, Seli Bobo and Banky W. I want Nigerians to be at alert and be on the lookout for my works. At present, I am working on two singles.

SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Laggies : 11:00am,1:35pm,7:00pm Barbie in Prince Power : 11:30am,1:10pm2:50pm, First Cut : 11:50am, The Wedding Ringer : 4:30pm6:30pm,8:30pm John Wick : 3:30pm,8:45pm 30 Days in Atlata : 9:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Laggies : 10:30am,2:40pm,8:50pm Barbie in Princess Power : 11:30am,1:00pm,4:45pm The Wedding Ringer : 12:00pm,6:35pm,8:40pm John Wick : 3:00pm,8:45pm, Seventh Son : 2:30pm Annie : 2:30pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 4:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Laggies : Barbie in Princess Power : First Cut : The Wedding Ringer : John Wick : Seventh Son : Annie : 30 Days in Atlanta :

1:20pm,3:20pm,5:20pm,7:20pm,9:20pm 1:10pm,2:40pm,4:10pm 12:00pm,2:20pm 1:10pm,3:10pm,5:10pm,7:10pm,9:10pm 4:40pm,6:40pm,8:40pm 12:30pm,2:30pm,4:30pm,6:30pm,8:30pm 4:00pm,8:20pm 12:00pm,2:10pm,4:20pm,6:30pm,8:40pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Laggies : 11:00am,1:00pm,5:00pm The Wedding Ringer : 3:00pm,7:00pm,9:00pm John Wick : 11:45am,4:20pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Laggies : 1:00pm,4:50pm,6:50pm,8:50pm, Barbie in Princess Power : 11:30am,1:00pm,2:30pm,5:45pm First Cut : 5:00pm,8:55pm The Wedding Ringer : 11:00am,1:00pm,5:00pm,7:00pm John Wick : 3:00pm,9:00pm Seventh Son : 11:40am,4:15pm Annie : 11:05am,2:55pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 11:45am,2:00pm,6:20pm, SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Laggies : 10:35am,6:35pm,8:35pm Barbie in Princess Power 10:20am,12;00pm,1:45pm The Wedding Ringer : 12:35pm,4:35pm, John Wick : 8:30pm Seventh Son : 10:15am,2:30pm, Annie : 12:15pm,4:30pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 6:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO First Cut : The Wedding Ringer : John Wick : Annie : Champagne : 30 Days in Atlanta :

11:40am,1:45pm, 4:00pm 11:50am,1:35pm 11:30am,1:45pm,4:00pm,6:15pm,8:30pm 12:20pm,2:20pm,4:15pm,6:10pm,8:20pm 3:50pm,6:10pm,8:25pm

OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABA Barbie in Princess Power : 10:45am, Laggies : 12:10pm,7:20pm The Wedding Ringer : 3:25pm,5:25pm6:30pm John Wick : 2:05pm, Seventh Son : 12:15pm, Annie : 10:00am 30 Days in Atlanta : 1:25pm,6:10pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS The Wedding Wick : 11:40am,4:50pm,7:00pm,9:10pm,11:20pm 12:50pm,3:50pm,7:00pm John Wick : 30 Days in Atlanta : 8:30pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT The Weeding Ringer : 1:00pm,5:30pm,10:00pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 9:50am,2:00pm,4:10pm,8:20pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU The Wedding Ringer : 10:50am,3:25pm,10:05pm Annie : 1:10pm,5:30pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 11:00am,9:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS The Wedding Ringer : 10:00am,5:15pm,7:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,HERITAGE MALL, IBADAN John Wick : 12:05pm,2:00pm,4:30pm,6:25pm Annie : 10:00am 30 Days in Atlanta : 6:15pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,APAPA The Wedding Ringer : 4:10pm, 30 Day in Atlanta : 2:00pm,7:45pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Annie : 10:00am,12:10pm2:25pm The Wedding Ringer : 12:00pm,3:55pm,7:40pm John Wick : 9:35pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 10:20am,4:00pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA The Wedding Ringer : 10:00am,3:10pm,6:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR The Wedding Ringer : 2:20pm,6:40pm,9:05pm Annie : 11:50am,8:15pm

32— VANGUARD,

C M Y K

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

BITS Briefs Afenifere endorses Jonathan for re-election PAN-YORUBA socio-political organisation, Afenifere has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for second term in office.

Publicity Secretary of the Organisation Yinka Odumakin said this in Akure while briefing newsmen after a meeting President Jonathan held with the leaders of the Organisation.

The meeting took place at the residence of the National Chairman of the Organisation, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

Why Ogun should reject Amosun — Osoba AHEAD of the general elections next month, the national leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Segun Osoba has said that his party remained the only genuine progressive body in the country, hence the electorate should vote massively for its candidates.

Osoba who spoke at a meeting he held with traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders at Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu North Council of the state, stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had failed in terms of provision of “Democracy dividends” to the people, hence they should vote for the SDP, which according to him, would meet their expectations in terms of good governance.

•The man, Ayodele Fayose

100 Days Anniversary:

Has Fayose been in the eyes of the storm?

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI- Marking of 100 days in office has become a permanent features of our leaders in the country. The idea was apparently copied in United States of America and it has since to our system that every other leader in Nigeria would like to mark his or her 100 days in office.

Though,the whole idea appears elitist but it is good for our system,as it provides a golden opportunity for our leaders to use the opportunity of 100 days in office to appraise themselves whether they are on a right track or not,if on a wrong track,such a leader would seat back and re appraise himself or herself and set agenda for himself.

Therefore, Ekiti State Governor who was inaugurated on October 16, 2014 marked his 100 days in office on Tuesday,Jannuary 26, 2015, though, the ceremony was low keyed, with the attendance of some dignitaries including some traditional rulers led by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti,Oba Rufus Adejugbe, Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, the Speaker, Hon.Dele Olugbemi, commissioners,Special Advisers and some of the chieftains of the ruling PDP in the state in attendance in all the locations where some of the projects were commissioned.

Among the projects commissioned were the rehabilitated Matthew Road, Ado-Ekiti, Bisi Market, Awedele Road, Ado-Ekiti, drainages along Ajilosun Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Others are 12 ambulances, 19 patrol vans for security C M Y K

agencies, 20 motorbikes, three tractors and 12 waste vehicles.

Fayose said he had changed the style of commissioning projects which was the practice in the state,saying henceforth,that he would adopt a system like it is being done in some of the advanced countries of the world of not formally commissioning projects before being turned to use,but being registered in the minds of the people of the state.

W

hile emphasizing his efforts towards paying the outstanding salaries and allowances of workers left unpaid by the immediate past administration in the state led

by Dr Kayode Fayemi said the state government needed the sum of N7.5 billion to settle arrears of entitlements of public servants in the state According to him, the

Fayose declared that despite the challenges and commitments that he would strive to execute some projects and the prompt payment of salaries

entitlements included August and September 2014 salaries of some workers, subventions due to state-owned institutions, leave bonus among others.

Fayose declared that despite all the challenges and commitments that he would strive to execute some projects and the prompt payment of salaries.

“We have about N7.8 billion obligation to workers in the state. The obligations were left behind by the former administration,which include over N2 billion as leave bonus to workers,over N1 billion as deductions from workers’ salaries that the former administration did no remit.

“August and September 2014 salaries they did not pay some workers amounting to over N2 billion. Subventions to tertiary institutions which is over N2 billion as well.

“I don’t know where to start sometime I cannot sleep. We did not inherit anything tangible from the former administration.

“The six months’ moratorium from banks that we got, will lapse in two months and when that happens, banks will be deducting N780 million monthly to service the over N31 billion loans the former administration left behind.

“Also, N800 million is deducted from our statutory allocation monthly to service the N25 billion bond that they took.

We have approached four banks to borrow us money to pay at least one month out of the two months salaries owed some workers. But essential things must be done. I call for understanding from people and I am committed to making life better for the people,” he said.

Agbaje’s firm owes Lagos N1.6m tax — Fashola

LAND USE CHARGE:

THE Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has accused Jaykay Pharmacy, owned and managed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of owing the state N1.6 million as unpaid land use charges.

But in a swift reaction, Mr Agbaje faulted the claims made by the governor that his company defaulted in the payment of the land use charge.

Ogun confirms outbreak of bird flu in Ota, Sagamu, others The Ogun State government has confirmed the outbreak of Avian Influenza otherwise known as H5N1 otherwise known as bird flu.

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Ronke Sokefun while addressing newsmen said samples from Sango, Sagamu and Ifo live birds market tested positive to the highly pathogenic bird flu.

She said samples of birds taken from another poultry farm on Obalende-Ikangba Road in Odogbolu Local Government area of the state had tested positive.

OSUN: Physically challenged seek participation in polls WITH a few days to February general elections, the People living with disabilities in Osun state have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and other relevant organs of government not to disenfranchise them.

10 injured, as Lagos-based Ekiti varsity students protest NO fewer than 10 students of the Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED Epe were injured during a protest to demand clarification on the allegations of irregularities leveled against the institution.

The Management of Ekiti State University, EKSU had last week alleged that MOCPED, an affiliate of the University, was yet to remit some funds into the coffers of the institution.

THE TEAM Editor: Adeleke Adeseri

Correspondents: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Gbenga Ariyibi Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Monsur Olowoepejo Ikenna Asomba

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Ado Ekiti Abeokuta Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 7

LAGOS STATE

My fresh bold ideas for Lagos — Agbaje

Mr. Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist turned politician is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State recently opened up to journalists in Lagos on his plans for the state at an interactive session during which he also opened up on how he would deal with the matter of his presumed godfathers.

Excerpts:

•Jimi Agbaje

By Dapo Akinrefon How Lagos is working?

A lot of money has gone through Lagos, I believe over N4 trillion in the last 16 years and the question will be what have we achieved with it? Has there been progress, yes, there has been progress. But has it been value for money, we say no because with the value of money that has been brought to us, we cannot say we have achieved the basics that are expected of a global mega city and that is very key if we look at the key areas. If you look at World Bank survey for states in our country, they talk about ease of construction permit. If you want to build a house, factory or anything, Lagos is the worst state to build. In all the states in Nigeria, Lagos is ranked number 36 out of 36 states. It is the worst state in Nigeria to get permission to build in this country because they make it so difficult for the residents to build. So, if you want to build a house, Lagos is the worst state to get approval.

If you say you want investments to come and want to build your factory, what you go through does not show that Lagos encourages you to come, and of course if we don’t have business, we cannot create jobs.

Also, on the issue of registering properties, we are number 31 out of 36.

Lagos is lucky, it is a former capital, the commercial nerve of the country but I tell people that Ibadan used to be the real C M Y K

commercial centre but lost it, so we shouldn’t think Lagos cant loose that steam Political Experience We have looked at Lagos and I say that those who changed the World changed it from the paradigm that you have to do things differently because if you don’t do them differently, you will get the same result. Even the national leader of their party, the only experience he had before he became governor was probably thee months as a senator, he had no government experience, so we should keep the politics aside and come in with fresh ideas. The issue is whether I am qualified or not Vested Interest In Lagos, you may find good programmes on paper but you will see that the implementation is being affected by vested interests.

Anything that Lagos does has to be in the interest of what I call vested interests. So, if you look at the light rail, the blue line was supposed to have been completed in 2012, this is 2015.

By Gods grace, we will complete the project. The question is why is it not complete? Again, the model is wrong and so what you find is that there are very good policies on paper but the vested interests affect their implementation. Ideally, the government should do the lines and then give the private sector the service to run. But if the vested interests want to corner the market and they

don’t have the resources, then it is going to be delayed. The BRT is not working again because there are vested interest factors involved. It pays the vested interest to do commercial housing than to do housing for the people. We have a vested interest that is affecting the social, economic and political life of our state.

You cannot have any big project in Lagos unless you take into consideration vested interest.

That is affecting our state and we are saying that it is time to remove Lagos from this bondage.

There are insinuations that you have a godfather whose interest may affect your performance if elected as governor.

We have looked at Lagos and I say that those who changed the World changed it from the paradigm that you have to do things differently

Such an issue doesn’t arise.

I don’t have a godfather in the way that they have put it.

Again, I will be a bit sensitive because we are moving forward and not looking backward. But just for the records, there is no godfather.

You said you haven’t seen Chief Bode George in our campaign; Chief Bode George is an elder, he is a leader of the party. Chief Bode George is not the one that is going to run the campaign. When it was time to choose my running mate, I chose my running mate, nobody chose her for me.

Naturally, you go to the leadership of the party and make known your choice. The issue of godfather hampering whatever service delivery is not even on the table. I want the people to believe me that it won’t happen.

Fallout of the primary I think it is clear that we are united. There is a common purpose that we need to take back Lagos from vested interests, on that we have unity purpose and it overrides all other issues. Maybe I won’t be the best person to ask whether the reconciliation is complete but from our own angle, we are working together because there is that unity of purpose.

Tax Burden in Lagos The tax net in Lagos has to be expanded to lighten the burden on the few that are over laden. And the way you expand the tax net is in

provision of services to the people. By the time you do health, education and others, you will be capturing more people into the tax net. So, the burden you put on the few will be shared by more. It is because people do not feel government that is why you can’t capture them into the tax net. The ocean economy is a new frontier of opening up the economy, it is also a source of funding and that is the reality.

Toll Gate I have made it very clear that the toll on Victoria-Island-Epe axis will be cancelled. On that tollgate, there is no more publicprivate partnership. You want to build a tollgate, you said it will cost you N50 billion to put that road all the way to Epe and that you will have tollgate. You took it to VGC, you said you are not doing again and you collected N80 billion back. Now officially, it is government that is collecting toll on that road, we hope it is so.

Vested Interests The properties acquired by the vested interests, the ones we can take back, we will take back, those ones that have been acquired illegally and cannot be properly accounted for, we will take back. The ones we cannot take back and taken in a way that the people have been shortchanged will be addressed. That is why I said this election is about continuity or change.

Okada I believe the government in Lagos has been arrogant in governance. Even the same party in another state that banned Okada didn’t do it the way Lagos did it. That is why I said Lagos government cannot be said to be a progressive government. I am not saying it hasn’t made successes in some areas but it is not about the people. The same party in another state banned Okada but called them, gave them taxis but what Lagos did was get lost, you are not wanted, go and die.

That was the aspect that was faulty. The okada people are human beings, they are citizens, and they have a right to live. When you remove something, you give back.

LCDA I think we have moved on, there is recognition that the 37 LCDAs have come to stay. Even in the PDP party structure, it is 57 and that is the recognition of where we are. So we have moved on from there. Having said that, we are hoping as President Jonathan has said, that the constitutional conference that has recommended that the local governments be removed from the constitution, would not even matter on the numbers you have because officially those 37 are not recognized by the constitution, that is why INEC will come and recognize 20 local governments.

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

LAGOS STATE

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State is a party whose fame had risen following the return of former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his followers across the state to the party. The party also experienced serious expansion due to the comeback of great politicians along with their followers to his fold.

The likes of former Minister of Finance, Chief Jubril Martins-Kuye; former Deputy Governor of the state during Governor Olusegun Osoba’s administration, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye; former speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, added value to the party.

However, the recent internal wrangling rocking the PDP, following the party’s primaries in December 2014, led to the exodus of the returning leaders of the party to another parties.

Daniel was being rumoured to have agreed to work with SDP leaders ahead of the February 28 governorship election in the state, however, insisting to work for the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 presidential election.

The PDP governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka is believed to be loved by most people in the state and was said to have a better chance to win the election.

With the turn of events, political observers were of the opinion that the tactical withdrawal of Daniel and some of his loyalists from the PDP portends a great danger to the victory of Isiaka.

Isiaka, who contested on the platform of the PDP in 2011, came third having been defeated by Amosun. But for this February poll, it is said that he is not leaving any stone unturned.

Political pundits have observed that, for the PDP to reclaim its mandate which it lost in 2011, it needs to put its house to order.

However, Vanguard gathered from a reliable source that Isiaka has adopted a silent approach to get to the eligible voters in the state.

He was said to have adopted surreptitious moves to woo electorates, unlike Amosun who tours the wards with scores of buses from Abeokuta.

Social Democratic Party The SDP is also scrambling for the seat in Oke-Mosan in the coming election. The SDP in the state is lucky to have all the serving Senators and six out of nine House of Representatives members as its members. The party is being led by the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Osoba is believed to have considered the battle for plum job in the coming election as a C M Y K

•Amosun

•Gboyega Isiaka

•Akin Odunsi

Strength of Amosun’s major contenders fight to finish, following his alleged humiliation in the hands of his estranged godson, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

As part of his grand plot to unseat Amosun, Osoba and his party have concentrated on the people of rural areas who constitute the largest percentage of electorate.

Vanguard Checks revealed that the power and the influence of the SDP resides in the rural areas, following his past experience when he held the reins of power in the state.

It was gathered that Osoba facilitated electrification in most parts of the rural areas in the state, even as he constructed

several roads in the rural areas.

In what has been described as a payback time, the former governor has taken his campaign to the rural areas and he was said to be enjoying the goodwill from the rural dwellers.

But, the SDP is said to be

facing serious challenge over membership, as it was formed barely three months to the election.

However, the recent claim by Osoba that the party has garnered over 50, 000 membership strength was said to be giving Amosun a serious headache.

Though, the popularity of the governor was getting soar owing to the number of the people that followed him to several parts of the state he has toured.

The SDP, according to the findings, may dislodge Amosun and his party going by the situation on the ground.

The party seems to have reaped largely from the crisis rocking the state PDP, as some aggrieved members of the PDP and APC have defected to the party across the state, thus swelling its membership strength.

The next landlord of the OkeMosan following the outcome of February 28, 2015, remains unknown.

However, the head of the dice may fall on the PDP, which is said to have the most sellable and acceptable candidate; the SDP which enjoys the goodwill of majority of the electorate; or even the APC-led government, which enjoys the power of incumbency and control over the state’s machineries.

FEB POLLS: Ogun police threaten to seal hotels harbouring thugs

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA- The Ogun State Police Command has warned hoteliers in the state not to harbour thugs before, during and after the forthcoming general elections in February. The Police threatened that it would shutdown any hotel that flouts the rule.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi stated this in Abeokuta, while disclosing measures put in place by the state police command towards having a violence-free election.

According to Adejobi, from intelligence reports gathered, the command had established that some politicians have been hiding thugs in hotels in order to use them to unleash terror on their opponents in the wake of the polls.

He said: “We have sent signals to all those who may want to come to the state, either before, during or post election periods, to stay away from the state. They know they cannot come to cause any trouble in Ogun state. We have been

•Ogun State CP, Ikemefuna Okoye talking to hoteliers who believe they are having lucrative businesses by harbouring thugs.

“Any hotel in the state found harbouring criminals, the government will do the needful to make sure the hotel is sealed up, and it doesn’t operate for a long period of time. We have warned them and we are going to have another set of meetings with the stakeholders.”

While talking about other

measures already in place to avert political clashes, the Police image-maker explained that the command had held series of meetings with political leaders in the state and streamlined their campaign schedules in such a way that no two political parties would have their campaign rallies in the same town, same day.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have had their presidential

campaign rallies in the state, and there was no sad incident.

It is just that we have been able to work with political parties and stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission to harmonise the schedule of activities of the political parties, so that one party will not be having rally while another opposition party is also having theirs in Abeokuta.

“Their schedule of activities to the police has helped the police to have a robust operation order,” he said.

Concerning the current strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, nationwide, the police image-maker said the indefinite strike had led to congestion in the police cells across the state, because suspects could not be taking to the courts.

He however, said the commissioner of police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had directed that those who committed bailable offences, should be granted bail, but they would still face the charges brought against them, when the courts re-open.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 5

ONDO STATE

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE- Ahead of the February general elections, ritualists are said to be on the prowl in Ondo State.

The gruesome murder of two teenage girls on the farm when they went to gather firewood for their mother to prepare dinner for their different families, recently placed the state on red alert of security authorities.

Vanguard learnt that the two girls identified as Oyinkansola Owoeye and Folasade Bello were reportedly slaughtered by their assailants and their blood drained before dumping their lifeless bodies by the road side.

The ugly incident which happened at Ota-Ogbo which is a new site behind Anglican Grammar School in IjuItaogbolu in Akure North council area of the state has since created fears and palpable tension in the agrarian community.

Parents hurriedly kept their children indoors while the attendance of school children at various schools had since the ncident occurred last weekend have reduced drastically.

Some of the parents interviewed expressed shock and vowed that they will continue to keep their wards at home until some is done that will assure them of the safety of their children when they go to school.

One of the parents Mrs Agness Ogunkorode appealed to the security operatives to smoke out the killers of the two innocent girls.

Ogunkorode said the people of town are now living in fear while the streets is deserted as early as 6pm since the murder of the girls.

She fingered politicians who are desperate for power and crazy to get rich as mastermind of the dastardly act.

Vanguard gathered that the girls on the instructions of their parents left home around 7am for the new site where building construction is in progress and many tress were fell by owners of the landed properties to gather firewood that would be used for cooking.

The mother of one of the girls whose mother died in the 2012 DANA plane mishap was living with a policeman in the town while other girl is a daughter of a civilian.

They were said to be Senior Secondary School SSS1 students in the town.

Vanguard gathered that the mother of one of the girl became apprehensive when they failed to return for the farm after two hours.

A search party was organised by the mothers and other sympathizers but the girls could not be found.

C M Y K

The suspected ritualists paraded with human skull by the Ondo State Police Command

Ritualists on the prowl in Ondo as election draws near

•Ondo Police Commissioner Isaac Eke...

An alarm was raised to the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Amos Farunkanmi and some local hunters and youths in the town conducted another round of search only to discover their lifeless bodies inflicted with machetes cuts by the road side on the way to the farm.

Sources added that aside the machetes all over their bodies it was also discovered that their blood had been allegedly drained and taken away by the ritualists.

On careful examination, it

The traditional ruler appealed to the security operatives not to leave any stone unturned, to smoke out the killers and bring them to book.

was discovered that the girls may have first been strangulated before they were reportedly slaughtered and their blood drained.

Their heads were said to be dangling when their corpse were discovered by the search party.

The traditional ruler of the town, Oba Farunkanmi who spoke with Vanguard described the incident as shocking and dastardly.

Oba Farunkanmi said that the incident was the first in the history of the community.

According to him the community has met with the security operatives on the incident and are ready to assist them to expose the killers of the innocent girls.

The traditional ruler appealed to the security operatives not to leave any stone unturn to smoke out the killers and bring them to book.

Oba Farunkanmi said the community has put in place machinery to safe guard the people of the community and forestall similar ugly incident in the town.

When contacted, the Police Image Maker Wole Ogodo confirmed the death of the two girls. Ogodo however said that they were killed by unknown assailants in the town.

According to him “ we received information that the

two girls, Oyinkansola and Folasade went to the bush to fetch fire wood where they met their untimely death last Saturday.

“Our detectives have visited the scene of the crime while photographs of the corpses were taken while the they had been removed and deposited at the Mortuary of the State Specialists Hospital for autopsy.

The police Image Maker said that no arrest had been made by the police as regards the death of the girls.

Ogodo said “ We hereby appeal to the people of the state to field the command with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of the criminals. Such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.”

Meanwhile, it will be recalled that few weeks ago detectives in the state arrested two ritualists with a human skull along Ibillo/Isua expressway in Akoko South East council area.

Policemen attached to Isua Divisional Police Station while on a routine check along Ibilo/ Isua expressway intercepted them while on an unregistered motorcycle.

The state Police Commissioner Isaac Eke who paraded the ritualists said that the two men who were on the bike cleverly wrapped the skull in a black polythene leather.

The suspects are Lukman Sule of Ikiran Town, Edo state and Alaiye Sule.

Vanguard learnt from police sources that the suspects exhumed the corpse of a dead man with the connivance of guards at an undisclosed burial ground and chopped off his head.

They reportedly allowed the head to get dried and were on their way to sell it to an herbalist when they were apprehended by the police.

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

OWAN'BE... THE SOCIAL LIFE OF YORUBA Input by Onozure Dania (08026651636)

Biola and Bunmi's wedding. groom and his friends when they were about to prostrate Biola, dancing in to the reception hall

The groom and his friends prostrating to the bride’s family Guests having fun at Biola and Bunmi's wedding

The mothers were not left out at Biola and Bunmi's wedding

Groom and his friends in a group picture

Cross session of guests digging it on the dance floor at Biola and Bunmi's wedding

Friends in Aso Ebi dancing at Biola and Bunmi's wedding

Adetoun and Oluwaseun cutting their cake

Couple with Oba Elegushi and friends

Biola's friends in Aso Ebi •Royal father at Oba Elegushi's daughter's Deputy Governor of Lagos state and a friend wedding

Bride Biola and her friends in Aso Ebi , in a group picture C M Y K

The couple

Cross session of guests

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 3

OSUN STATE

LAND DISPUTE:

peace and security will be

Apprehension grips residents of two Osun communities at daggers-drawn

By By Gbenga Olarinoye & Lateef Dada

I

F E — Pa l p a b l e apprehension and tension have chased-away residents of Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, following continuous fighting between the two communities over a disputed land.

The crisis which started on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 with over 100 houses burnt by the angry youths in the two communities had degenerated into war of sort.

Vanguard gathered that the fracas started when residents of Ipetumodu allegedly trespassed into the land belonging to Ashipa. The melee which resulted into the shooting of some persons started that fateful day, with just a gun shot, but since then the battle of supremacy has continued between both communities.

Some armed youths blocked the road linking the two warring communities and prevented the anti-riot policemen from MOPOL 39, led by their Commander, Mr.A. Abang from wading into the fiasco.

However, save for the intervention of the anti-riot policemen and the regular policemen in the community, the troubled could have degenerated into a killing spree, as the atmosphere was still tensed as at 5.00pm on that day.

The monarch of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adegoke blamed the crisis on the people of Ashipa community, saying they invaded his community and set many houses ablaze including the hostels built by the monarch which housed Pre-Degree students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, Osun State.

He alleged that the fighters from Ashipa community stormed Ipetumodu and chased out 46 students who resided in the hostel before setting their property ablaze.

One of the victims from Ipetumodu, who identified himself as Baale Akinola, said that he was shot by the rampaging hoodlums from Ashipa but escaped death, even as another person, Kola Adewale informed Vanguard that Ipetumodu community gave Ashipa indigene access to farm on their land in the past, saying that “the people of Ashipa were now selling parcels of land from where they were allowed to farm without C M Y K

recourse to the genuine owner of the land.

Adewale said: “They are few in number and that is why we don’t want to overrun them. But they have taken us for granted for too long and we will react one day.”

Meanwhile, earlier, leaders of the two warring communities on Monday January 19, embraced one another to demonstrate that they have agreed to sheath their swords over the disagreements that culminated in the communal clash following the governor’s intervention.

At the meeting were the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba

James Adegoke and the representative of the Alashipa of Ashipa, Ojediran Olaleke chiefs and leaders of the township associations of both communities.

The Governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in whose presence the leaders of the community embraced one another charged the two warring communities to ensure promotion of communal peace and progress which is one of the cardinal programmes of his administration or face government sanctioned.

Aregbesola at the peace meeting urged the monarchs and leaders of the two

communities to warn the youths not to further engage in act that could further jeopardise the peace of the communities and the state at large.

He told them to always uphold the ethos of ‘Omoluabi’ which the state is known for, saying that development can only thrive in an atmosphere where there is peace and unity.

Aregbesola also said that a committee will be set up look deeply into the remote cause and solution to the problems identified by the leaders of the two communities, adding that any of the two communities found wanting will be seriously dealt with as nothing short of

allowed in the state.

But, despite Governors intervention, the crisis between Ipetumodu and Ashipa in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun state, on Wednesday January 21, took a new dimension as some pre-degree students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, subsequently escaped being killed when the crisis erupted.

Vanguard, however, gathered that some people were injured in the renewed clash on Wednesday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ayo Olowe, confirmed the crisis to our correspondent on the telephone.

He said, “ There was crisis and some houses were burnt especially in Ipetumodu. Some persons were said to have stormed the town, vandalised the students’ property and set the buildings ablaze. They said that they brought out the students belongings before setting the hostels ablaze.

Aregbesola during his visit to the warring communities

...As Aregbesola inaugurates 6-man commission of inquiry

G

overnor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has set up a six-man judicial commission of inquiry headed by Justice Olajide Falola to look into the communal clash between Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities in Ife North Local Government of the state.

The governor, in a speech titled “Never Again” while inaugurating the panel, charged it to inquire into all the circumstances that occasioned the disturbance of public peace which occurred on January 13, 2015 and in subsequent days.

The communities of Ipetumodu and Ashipa had engaged in an orgy of violence and were on the path of mutually assured destruction before the intervention of lawenforcement agencies, the state government and other leaders.

Aregbesola also urged the commission to include as its terms of reference, the

investigation and determination of the identity of the perpetrators and sponsors of the communal clash and disturbance in the two communities.

The governor also asked the panel to recommend

Aregbesola also urged the commission to include as its terms of reference, the investigation and determination of the identity of the perpetrators and sponsors of the communal clash and disturbance in the two communities

appropriate administrative, civil or criminal action to be taken against person(s) or group(s) found to be involved in the destruction of properties and attacks on persons.

He noted that human beings will lose their claim to being civilised if at this age they still prefer raw and sadistic actions to dialogues in the settlements of disputes among themselves.

According to him, “The commission of inquiry is expected to make appropriate recommendations and suggestions to the state government towards the prevention of future occurrence; "To recommend appropriate monetary sum as compensation for any damage or injuries that might have been suffered as a result of the communal clash or disturbance.

“The commission shall have powers to take memoranda, papers and submissions from members of the public.

"They can also visit the scene

and receive contributions, submissions or papers from traditional rulers and institutions in the area.

“They can take oral evidence and exercise other powers within the ambit of the law to attain success in the present assignment.

He pointed out that disputes are bound to happen in every human community, noting that it is the logical fallout of human civilisation that institutions of government are created for people not to take laws into their hands.

He said, “Land is one of the issues that we are so passionate about especially in non-industrialised societies.

But this is false consciousness.

We work hard and some try to grab by force in order to own pieces of land.

“Wars are also fought for the same reason. But in the final analysis, we will all die and be buried in the bowels of the earth."

We don’t own the land but

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

OYO STATE

Oyo Guber Polls:

Can Ajimobi break the single-term jinx?

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN— AS Oyo State prepares for the February 28 governorship election, it is clear that the political history of the pacesetter state will be altered this time around.

It is a fact that no governor has ever served the state twice.

No thanks to some powerful forces that determine results of elections in the state.

Previous elections in the state can best be described as the more you look, the less you see.

In any election in the state, the influence of these forces is always felt.

Among these forces are Senator Lekan Balogun, a high chief in Ibadanland; Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, former PDP Deputy National chairman, South West; Elder Wole Oyelese, former Minister of Power and Steel, late AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

Though, the revered monarch is not deeply involved in politics, any politician who belittles him, does so at his own peril.

Since the death of Alhaji Arisekola-Alao, the political forces have been in disarray.

These forces are scattered in varoius political parties in the state.

While some of them are in the PDP, some are in Social Democratic Party. The political forces no longer speak in one voice.

Adeojo and Balogun who are both in the PDP have been campaigning day and night for President Goodluck Jonathan across the state with the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide spearheading the campaign.

According to her, irrespective of the claims of some political foes of the PDP, the ruling party would shock many analysts when it wins both the presidential and governorship elections slated for February 14 and 28.

Among the local government areas they visited before filing this report were Ona Ara and Egbeda Local Government areas.

Akinjide told the large number of party supporters that gathered at Olorunsogo area of Ona Ara Local Government to ensure they vote for President C M Y K

Jonathan,the party's governorship candidate, Folarin and other candidates of the party in the election.

She said: “You should please all go out and convince others to go and collect their permanent voter cards. Tell them to vote for President Jonathan and Teslim Folarin.

It is by doing so that we can get Ibadan State. Vote PDP, vote Ibadan State.”

They are using all forms of methods to discredit those aggrieved aspirants who had

It is a fact that no governor has ever served the state twice. No thanks to some powerful forces that determine results of elections in the state

•Senator Abiola Ajimobi called it quits with the PDP. Among the chieftains of the party who had bidden the party bye are Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala, Engr. Seyi Makinde and others.

Luckily, for the political forces, some of the aggrieved aspirants had resolved to work for the success of the party.

They include Alhaji Hazim Gbolarumi, Mr. Femi Babalola (Jogor), Professor Soji Adejumo, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, and Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan.

They were all present at a rally organized by the PDP in Ibadan for President Jonathan and its governorship candidate, Senator Folarin.

The coordinator of the rally, Oloye Akinjide, told Nigerians to vote for Jonathan who

during his tenure, signed into law the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) which allows for freedom of speech and expression among Nigerians.

According to her, many journalists and broadcasters would be thrown into detention if Buhari should come back.

“When he was Head of State, the Decree 4 he promulgated was used as an instrument to gag Nigerians, especially journalists.

"There was no freedom of expression and speech. Many journalists and freedom fighters were clamped into prisons.

President Goodluck Jonathan never did this. Instead he allowed the FOI bill to be signed into law. Your vote for

Jonathan will ensure your freedom of speech. Vote for Jonathan on 14th February and let your votes be Valentine present for him,”she pleaded.

Speaking further, she noted that other candidates in other parties had been tested, but Folarin who is a young person “is capable, competent. He is my younger brother and he has promised to work with President Jonathan to ensure we get Ibadan state,” she said.

Also present at the rally were Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo, the Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland; former Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Lekan Balogun; Senator Hosea Agboola, Senator Ayoade Adeseun (Oyo Central), among others.

The task of dislodging Amosun from Oke-Mosan Continued from Page 1 Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, have tacitly given support for the governor.

Aside the formation of SDP in the state, Amosun’s albatross have been said to be the attempt to scrap the first University of Education, Tai Solarin University of Education, even despite his reversal of the policy, the people of Ijebuland seem not to have buried the hatchet.

It was learned that the Ijebu people had lost confidence in Amosun over the issue of TASUED. They have this notion that he might revisit the issue of scrapping, if given a second term mandate.

Another many sins of the regime is that Amosun hampered the free flow of money in the state, even as he has been alleged to have engaged in circulating the state’s resources among his

Ogun State Governors Office Oke Mosan Abeokuta

political associates and family members.

Amosun has also been alleged of engaging in white elephant projects, which according to the proponents of this claim encouraged cash flight.

The governor was also blamed for allegedly neglecting the rural people who constitute 70 per cent of voters.

The claim of marginalisation of Ogun West is a strong factor

against the second term ambition of Amosun, as the region has produced two governorship candidates for this election.

Amosun’s relationship with civil servants is also a big deal in his bid to get re-elected.

Other factors that may militate against his second term ambition, according to the findings is the alleged lopsidedness in the

appointment of commissioners.

Majority of the local governments were said to have been denied the opportunity to produce commissioners, while few others have two or even three commissioners in his cabinet.

Even, the personality of some of the commissioners appointed

by Amosun was said to be questionable, as they were alleged to be either imposed on the governor or alien to the people of the state.

Amosun’s government is also alleged of engaging in nepotism. An unconfirmed report has it that, about 43 members of Amosun’s family are in his government, while his elder brother is being accused of abusing the privilege of his (Amosun’s) office.

He was said to have cornered a lot of the contracts awarded by the government, while the party members got none. All these factors, according to the findings may militate against Amosun’s second term ambition.

VOL. 1: NO. 9

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

The task of dislodging Amosun from Oke-Mosan •With his many ‘sins’ according to detractors

By Daud Olatunji

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ITHOUT prejudice, the battle or the most coveted Oke-Mosan governorship seat in Ogun State is between five political parties out of which three are most prominent for next month’s election.

The pendulum seems to be swinging among the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, while the Labour Party, LP, seems to be gradually gathering momentum.

Come May 29, 2015, the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun would be deemed to have exhausted his C M Y K

first constitutional term in office as the executive governor.

But, whether or not Amosun will be lucky to get a second term mandate from Ogun people, like his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the election billed for February 28, would definitely answer the question.

Expectedly, the governor who is the candidate of the APC in the state seems not to be leaving no stone unturned, as he has been embarking on ward-to-ward campaign to all the 236 wards in the 20 local government areas of the state.

However, his albatross remains the SDP whose members are the off-shoot of the APC in the state.

To many political analysts, the emergence of SDP in the state is a dangerous development for Amosun’s second term bid, as it has the potential to scuttle his ambition Oyo Guber Polls: Can Ajimobi break the single-term jinx?

•Page

To many political observers, the emergence of SDP in the state is a dangerous development for Amosun’s second term bid, as it has the potential to scuttle his ambition.

It will be recalled that the supremacy battle between Amosun and his estranged political godfather, former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba led to the exodus of the latter and his followers from APC to the SDP. This development has reduced the chance of the APC as it lost all its Senators and six out of nine members of House of Representatives to the SDP. Many of its leaders were said to have joined the horse party.

However, despite the loss suffered to SDP, the APC in the state is still waxing strong with its membership strength. Part of its strength is that while it enjoys power of incumbency, it is also in possession of government machinery from local government to state level.

There is a strong belief that the APC enjoys a wide acceptance from the people in the state especially in Ogun Central where the governor hails from.

Further findings have shown that the governor also enjoys good patronage from market women led by Iyalode of Egbaland, Chief Alaba Lawson.

Some traditional rulers were reported to be gunning for Amosun as the next governor.

Top on the list of the Obas that prefers Amosun is the Olowu of Owu Kingdom in Abeokuta, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu; the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, whose son is the APC Senatorial candidate in Ogun Central among other Obas, especially those of Owu extraction.

It was however, gathered that most of the traditional rulers in the state among whom are the Alake of Continues on Page 2

IN THIS EDITION

LAND DISPUTE:

2

Apprehension grips residents of two Osun communities at daggersdrawn •Page 3

FEB POLLS: Ogun police threaten to seal hotels harbouring thugs •Page 6

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—33

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34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

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LOATING is caused by a million and one things. Good news is, you don’t need to shell out a million dollars to deal with it.

A simple face massage can help minimize the damage, particularly right after a big event.

Beauty

Cleanse First Massaging your face with the oils, dirt, and chemicals that can be sitting on the skin can increase bacterial levels in your pores. Instead, make sure you wash your hands with antibacterial soap to ensure optimal cleanliness, and then wash your face with your normal cleanser.

Swipe Upwards with Varying Pressure There are two main tricks to de-puffing via massage: First, move your fingers in upward motions (to prevent sagging or wrinkles), using lighter pressure around the eye area and heavier pressure on less sensitive areas, like the forehead, cheeks, and chin.

Second, while you don’t have to use a product, using a moisturizer or oil can make your skin look more radiant— and make the massage extra relaxing. Use one packed with active ingredients like amino acids or plant extracts, which help the product penetrate deeper into your skin’s layers.

Eye Area Give this delicate area the TLC it deserves: “Around your

Dealing with bloating

eye area, you should always use your ring finger—you do not want tot much pressure,” she says. Her best trick for massaging this area? Go in circular motions around the eye to soothe soreness and de-puff those bags.

Take Your Time For best results; massage your face for five minutes twice a day. If you’d rather do longer massages less often, try 30-minute DIY

treatments twice a week.

Use Tools to Up Your Game Using a tool like the SkinCool Ice Roller at Home can dramatically improve the effectiveness of your facial

massage. You can freeze it, and when it is time to use it, you can roll it on your face. The frozen ice roller is what calms any inflammation down that is occurring in your skin, and it is great for de-puffing as well.

CSOs caution religious, traditional leaders against heating up polity

By Josephine Agbonkhese

Kaduna-based renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmed Gumi in a letter to General Buhari, the APC Presidential Candidate, called on him not to run for elections as “it would further polarize the country and worsen the security challenges the country is grappling with.” In another report in Vanguard Newspapers in 2014, Sheik Ahmed Gumi reiterated his advice to General Buhari and extended same to President Jonathan, saying “Buhari and

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ELIGIOUS and traditional rulers across the country have been advised to refrain from making statements or taking actions which can be misconstrued as campaigning for or against a particular candidate or party ahead of the upcoming elections.

This call from frontline Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, is coming on the heels of controversies presently trailing the statements of some religious and traditional rulers regarding the elections.

The joint statement by Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre, WARDC; Saudatu Mahdi, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, WRAPA; Idayat Hassan, Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD; Hauwa Shekarau, FIDA Nigeria and Emmanuella Azu of Gender and Constitution Reform C M Y K

•Rev Father Mbaka Network, GECORN, amongst others, was entitled ‘The Role of Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers in the Peaceful Conduct of Elections’.

It cited notable utterances like that of Rev Fr Mbaka in which he criticised the government of President Goodluck Jonathan for corruption and insecurity before a congregation of about 30,000 people and called for a

change in the government.

“Also, a statement credited to Tunde Bakare states that “regardless of who wins the elections…it is certain the country will erupt in crisis.”

Similarly, a statement by Venerable Felix Okonkwo urged Nigerians to treat the All Progressive Congress with caution as it is an Islamic party. In October 2014, a

Using their moral authority to promote electoral participation and non-violence is their expected responsibility

Jonathan are polarizing figures,” the statement reeled out.

Arguing that the reverence placed on religious and traditional leaders by their subjects places on them a responsibility of neutrality and non-partisanship, the group reiterated that any reckless statements from them can incite and further heat up the polity, translating into electoral violence especially in instances where ‘faithfuls’ go all out to ensure prophecies of their leaders come to pass, underscoring and encouraging rigging, violence, etc.

It, therefore, called on religious and traditional leaders to serve as counter forces towards reducing the threats of electoral violence and ensuring the conduct of a free and fair election.

“Using their moral authority to promote electoral participation and non-violence is their expected responsibility. They must demand non-violence and accountability especially when candidates pay them homage.

Vanguard, FRDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —35

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 —37

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Your phone, your smart secret keeper

By Sarah Ofonedu

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HEN you mention technology in Nigeria, the first thing that pops up in the mind of an average Nigerian youth is a phone, a Smartphone.

Flashback 15 years ago; As a result of outrageous phone bills and very few landlines in the country, the idea of a phone was limited to contacting people on important issues only. But fast forward to 2015, and the essence of a phone goes way beyond making phone calls.

To many Nigerian youths, a mobile phone that can’t do more than make calls is outdated. The average young person stays glued to his phone surfing the internet, listening to music, playing games, watching videos and keeping tabs on everything happening around the world.

To many of them, a smart phone is not just a device but a companion that is part of their lives. To get more facts

to back up an argument, the smart phone becomes a partner. When boredom creeps in, the phone is the next thing a youth turns to.

In a school setting, when an assignment given by a lecturer seems impossible, the student treats it with ease because of the assurance that the mobile phone would most likely have the answer.

Most Nigerian youths don’t have to tune in to radio or TV stations to find out news around the world.

The introduction of new apps by various news outlets gives these youths the pleasure of knowing “ what’s up” in the world just by a simple “click.”

The social media phenomenon, which has struck youths around the world like a thunderbolt, fuels the craze for smart phones. Social media channels feel man’s insatiable need to know who is doing ‘ what, where and when.’

Smart phones are the medium

LG wins 41 awards at 2015 int’l CES L

through which youths can constantly be updated on these channels. It is no wonder that social media and smart phones can be seen as two sides of a coin.

Besides all these, one can never do away with the films and entertainment that mobile phones bring.

As one student at the Lagos State University, LASU, told Glamtech: “These days there is virtually anything I can think of that my phone can’t do for me. The idea of a phone as a communication tool for phone calls is so far gone. Today Nigerian youths hardly keep diaries, but will create hidden pages on their phones to pour their hearts out, that’s also the reason people say ‘take a look at a person’s phone and you’ll know exactly who he is.’ This is because our phones have now become our best friends, we can tell it any secret and it remains so.”

Archos hits Nigerian market with multiple Smartphone range F

RENCH multinational electronics company, Archos has made a bold entry into the Nigerian mobile phone market with an array of Smartphones.

These include the Archos 3G, 4G and Windows phones range, a definition of the Archos Smartphone evolution.

The 3G includes the Archos Titanium, Neon, Platinum, Oxygen and Xenon range of Smartphone with screen size ranging from 3.5 inches to 6.27 inches with Android 4.4 operating system.

Other ranges include the 4G range within which come the Archos Helium and Diamond 4G series, built with Qualcom Snapdragon 410 and armed with 512 Ram/ 4GB memory size. There is also the Archos 40 Cesium range, a very affordable Dual SIM Windows 8 Smartphone.

The Archos mobile phone also comes in

different stylish shapes and colour ranges including black, white, gold, deep blue, grey and pink. Others include, light blue, bush green and orange.

Archos, a pioneer in consumer electronics since 1988, originally made its name as a precursor in the portable audio and video player market. More recently, Archos was the first ever tablet manufacturer with the 2008 Internet Tablet range and the first Android tablet manufacturer in 2009. Today Archos is specialized in Android powered tablets and Smartphones as well as many connected devices, part of the growing Internet.

G Electronics (LG) recently won 41 awards at the 2015 International CES. The awards were led by LG’s show-stopping G Flex2 smartphone, stunning flat and curved 4K OLED TVs and revolutionary TWIN™ Wash System with mini washer. LG earned accolades from Engadget, USA Today/Reviewed.com and Digital Trends, among many others, as well as 10 CES Innovation Awards from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) across multiple home entertainment, home appliance and mobile device categories.

CEA also named LG the 4K Ultra HD Partner of International CES 2015.

Commenting on the achievement, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Seonghak Kim said: “We are extremely proud to receive these awards; it feels great to realize that consumers appreciate what we put into our products. These 41 awards are a confirmation of our commitment to delight consumers worldwide. For us at LG Electronics, this is a worthy recognition for our continuous hard work as well as research and development in our quest to satisfy consumers meeting their peculiar needs and demands.

With LG being the only company to effectively offer consumers the full gamut of choice across all forms of largescreen TV technology – that includes LCD(LED backlight), OLED, 4K Ultra HD, Curved, and most recently 4K OLED, consumers have come to expect leading edge offerings from the brand.

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38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Gidan Makam Museum, Kano

Kano city wall

Kano tourist attractions make national monument list The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) recently requested the permission of the Kano State Emirate to establish an Islamic art museum at the defunct British Council’s premises in Kano.

The building housing the British Council located near Gidan Makama is said to be about 400 years old and was once used by a former emir of Kano, Muhammadu Rumfa.

NCMM said they have also selected five more sites in the state for inclusion in the list of additional national monuments. Here are some of the selected tourist sites in Kano.

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IDAN Makama House: Gidan Makama House, once served as the palace of the emir of Kano but now houses a museum with wide spectrum and array of art, craft and artifact representing the history, political and religious heritage of the people.

The museum walks you through Kano history from the 9th to 21st century. The museum takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get through. The jihad period and the British invasion of the city in 1901 are really interesting. Another overlooked building is Gidan Dan Hausa, which is the Kano State museum.

Gidan Dan Hausa house has a collection of artifacts from stone age to present day.

Gidan Rumfa: This is what the present palace of the emir is known by and it is an enchanting edifice on expansive landscape. Historically, the palace was built during the reign of Emir Muhammadu Rumfa in the 13th Century. It is a vast complex and rich in splendour with a touch of aristocracy. It houses different sections and facilities as well as a mosque.

Kano City Wall/Gates: The city walls and gates are landmarks that open a window to the past existence of the people. AlC M Y K

though the original outlook of most of the city walls have been destroyed what now stand are replicas of the preserved walls.

This ancient city wall with a 14km radius earth structure was completed in 14th Century to provide security to the growing population of the old Kano city in the wake of any external aggression.

Numbering about 15, the city walls once served as defensive facilities with gate and also demarcated the abode of the indigenes from those of the strangers.

Gidan Dan Hausa house has a collection of artifacts from stone age to present day

The surviving city walls include those located at the Bayero University old campus road; where you come across Sabuwar Kofar, Dan Agundi, Kabuga, Dukawuya and Gadon Kaya. Other sites are Goron hill and Kofar Ruwa while that of Kofar Nasarawa road presents a picture of the renovated wall.

Dala hills: It is one where the first inhabitants of the city settled.

Traces of this historical fact are evident as you meander through the area where many of the buildings still retain their rural appeal.

Standing atop Dala hill affords one a bird eye’s view of the sprawling city.

Conducive place for tourists It is a good location for picnic; relaxation and photo shoot with the condition greatly improved over the years to make it conducive place for tourists. At the bottom of the hill is a complex for shopping and other activities.

The last time I was there, the complex was yet to be completed but it is hoped that it would have been made over by now so as to give visitors something to cherish at the centre. Besides Dala Hill, there are other historical sites that give better perspective to the city’s landscape as well. Some of these include Goron Dutse, which is about two kilometers walk from Dala Hill.

Others are Magwan in Nasarawa area, Panisau around the Kano airport and the famous Bompai. Accessing them is very easy as there are inbuilt stairways from the base to the top.

Kano Dying Pit: Is one of the renowned spots in the city to watch local artisans at work as they turn out clothe materials

of different designs from the dying pit, which is believed to be as one as the city itself.

Various designs are folded into the material before dyeing and the fabric is often beaten to achieve the shiny, indecent appearance.

Works of art on fabric The techniques employed to obtain the look are unmatched around the world. And, although the methods they use are ancient, these lush works of art on fabric always remain extremely popular and continue to be in great demand.

Kurmi Market : Located within the city centre, it remains one of the commercial nerve centres of the city, which over the years was famed for Trans – Sahara trade.

Famed as one of Africa’s oldest market, Kurmi market is an

expansive market that a visitor would find intriguing exploring.

The market is a maze of narrow alleys where tourists can find pretty much anything, shop for everything from carvings, calabashes, to jewelery, brass works, leather goods and pottery.

Kano Central Mosque: Located in the emir’s palace vicinity is Kano Central Mosque, which is another captivating landmark of the city. Built around the 15th Century, it has over the years undergone different phases of re-engineering. It has a masterpiece architectural design and facade with a blend of Arabic flavour.

Tiga Dam/Rock Castle: Tiga dam is one of the biggest creations in Kano state. Located outside of the city, it is one of the tourist sites with an attractive ambiance. Boat cruise and spot fishing are some of the water related activities that anyone visiting can enjoy. At the base of the dam is Rock Castle Hotel, which was built in the heydays of the state to house Queen Elizabeth and her entourage during her visit to Nigeria years back.

Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel wins award

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outhern Sun Ikoyi Hotel’s General Manager, Mr. Mark Loxley, has attributed the successes of the hotel which culmunated in its winning the the highly coveted award of ‘Travellers Choice 2015’ to “fantastic team effort and the dedication of staff.

Mr. Mark Loxley said this when he received the award bestowed on the hotel by the travel and online review website, Trip Advisor .

Southern Sun Ikoyi was selected as the 2015 Best Hotels Category - Nigeria in the award developed to identify, highlight and reward excellence among the finest hotels throughout the global hospital-

ity industry.

The Trip Advisor awards are judged by the vast number of guests who visit any named hotel, their comments and reviews about the hotels are posted onto the international travel website which is visible to millions of travellers from around the world.

The GM noted that the award did not come as a surprise because the dedication of the hotel’s staff in providing a continuous high level of superior guest service is second to none in the industry.

Mr. Loxley added that the award will “further motivate staff and management to continue in its efforts in maintaining the status of high quality service delivery at all times.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015— —29

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40— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 HE indispensability of leadership and followership in nation building is not in doubt.

In Islam, there are models of good leadership. The Messengers of Allah are good examples, then Seal of Prophethood is another shining testimony while taking into cognizance the caliphs and their piuos followers. Again, every Muslim remains guided by the acts and practice of the Prophet through the hadiths.

At this auspicious time of electioneering, when there are basket full of promises, when there are political abuses and undoings, discharge his duties towards the when violence and thuggery have people (Makhluq) to the best of become the order of the day. Now, his abilities. All the campaign all we need do is to go back, look promises by the various political into the lives of our Prophets and parties are amanah. It represents adopt any of these practices into a social contract between a leader our lives or even recommend them and his followers. A good leader to our political leaders. The beauty must therefore ensure that the of the models lies in the promises made are fulfilled. They universality of their application. should protect the people, treat Leadership in Islam is them fairly with justice. The ability considered as an amanah (a trust) to see beyond assumed and a responsibility and that is why boundaries, and to come up with every Muslim’s focus of leadership solutions or paths that can bring is anchored on doing good and succour to the people and by keeping to the promise made to extension to humanity is another the people. mark a good leader.

A leader is required to meet his For those who are Muslims obligations to Allah, as well as to among the candidates seeking the

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Leadership, Muslims and civic duties votes of people, they should understand that the leadership thrust is simply a way to earn either earn Allah’s pleasure or incure His wrath.

In doing this, there must be sincere intention to deliver on the promises and work with people of like-minds to project and implement these ideas.

It is a common phenomenon that once the politicians get into power, they become anti-people. They fail to understand that authority vested in them is not their private property.

Almighty Allah who gives power is capable of taking the power at any time. The means to which the power can be snatched is also

From left: Mr. Kamal Adewale Sanusi, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Abdul-Kabir Olawale Paramole, Chairman of the Board, Alh. Abdul-Ganiyu Opeloyeru, member and Alh. Risikat Ogunbunmi member, during a Press briefing to Commence sales of Hajj form for year 2015 by Board, at Lagos State Old Secretariat, Ikeja, Yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

unknow. So, the wise one should do what is right and shun evil.

Unfortunately, we are all witnesses to a lot of misgovernance in the society. The followers therefore must not just sit on the fence but must also play their part in order to get rid of the evil in the society. But how? The right to vote is a sure way of ensuring the society gets better.

Vote out bad leaders and enthrone those you feel can do the job. It is one responsibility any Muslim must not shirk from. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) commanded us: “When you see an evil act you have to stop it with your hand. If you can’t, then at least speak out against it with your tongue. If you can’t, then at least you have to hate it with all your heart. And this is the weakest of faith.”

Muslims should enjoin good and forbid evil. We must try to be good role models, ensure peace and stability in the society

Let us all remember that Allah warns His believing servants of a Fitnah, trial and test, that encompasses the wicked and those around them. Therefore, such Fitnah will not be restricted to the sinners and evildoers.

Rather, it will reach the others if the sins are not stopped and prevented.

So, why can’t we be active in what affects our lives as a people?

Our involvement within the political system is also a great way to present to the public an accurate image of Islam, and of Muslims as supporting the issues that are important in our lives, and maintaining high morals and standards.

Political process It is still a hypothesis that Muslims are more in number in this country. However, it is a vital consituency and being involved in the political process will ensure that we also state our demands before any candidates.

As Muslims, we must take advantage of our rights, and become involved in the process.

If we are not being treated fairly, we must exercise our right to participate and vote. That is one sure way the ummah can progress.

Muslims should enjoin good and forbid evil. We must try to be good role models, ensure peace and stability in the society. We must be reminded that we all have a duty to also protect and project the values of peace in Islam especially when there are misconception about Islam following pockets of violence in some part of the world.

We must not be used by some elements to cause violence before, during and even after elections.

Al-Mighty Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “And verily, the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and fear Allah, and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from sin and evil deeds, and by performing righteous deeds).” (12:57)

The concept of success in Islam (2) Continued from last week

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By Ridwan Jamiu

HE Prophets and Messen gers of Allah are at the frontline. What distinguished the Egyptian, Roman and Persian civilisations if not wisdom, intelligence and skill? Look at what scientists have accomplished to make life better for us.

Look at those who lead the world today in civilisation and might. The nation that reads is the nation that leads. As for us, we largely do not read to learn, we only read to pass or get promotion. It has been rightly said that, ‘if you want to hide something from the blacks put it in a book. Knowledge is power.

Knowledge is honour.

Knowledge is our passport to the future. Success is a vehicle; its fuel is knowledge. The more knowledgeable you are the more fulfilled and successful you can become as long as the

knowledge is useful. Knowledge is success if it is beneficial. But always make a difference between education and indoctrination. And remember that ‘Education without values will only make man a cleverer devil.’

Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “There was a man from among a nation before you who killed ninety-nine people and then made an inquiry about the most learned person on the earth. He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the negative and the man killed him also completing one hundred.

He then asked about the most learned man in the earth. He was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred

people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the affirmative and asked, ‘Who stands between you and repentance? Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place.’

Angels of mercy So he went away and hardly had he covered half the distance when death overtook him; and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of torment. The angels of mercy pleaded, ‘This man has come with a repenting heart to Allah,’ and the angels of punishment argued, ‘He never did a virtuous deed in his life.’ Then there appeared another angel in the form of a human being and the

contending angels agreed to make him arbiter between them.

He said, `Measure the distance between the two lands. He will be considered belonging to the land to which he is nearer.’ They measured and found him closer to the land (land of piety) where he intended to go, and so the angels of mercy collected his soul”. [Al Bukhari and Muslim] What killed the monk? It was ignorance. So does ignorance destroy and cause failure. So does ignorance widow women and orphan children. Had the man never found the learned man he would continue his evils and the society would know no peace. Ignorance is a cancer. It is a weapon of self-destruction.

So will ignorance take some people to Jahannam hereafter.

There has always been a correlation between ignorance and poverty and disease. The most impoverished and most diseased population in Nigeria

for example is where book (boko) has been made haram. That is the North-east.

What saved the life of the learned man? It is Knowledge. So does knowledge save. What led the hero of the story to Allah’s forgiveness and mercy? It is Knowledge. So does knowledge bring salvation and deliverance.

So will many people enter Jannah hereafter because of their knowledge. You want to succeed here and hereafter without knowledge about your Lord and your religion! Your fate is in your hand. Do not be the architect of your own failure.

You must know why you are doing what you are doing, and you must learn how to do what you must do. People who practice ‘copy and paste Islam’ are not always firm in faith.

Easily can the tide toss them about. That is because they do not know Islam and what it means to be a Muslim.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—41

Preach Islam well, Emir, Aregbesola urge Muslims •As Ahmadiyya Hufaz shines at National Quranic competition

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HE Emir of Kano, His royal Highness, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has urged Muslims to preach Islam in the correct manners and reflect its true teachings in their lives.

Also, the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola advised Muslims to be torchbearers, adding that no one would read the Holy Quran and be found in anti-social and criminal activities.

The duo made the call at the

29th National Quranic competition organised by Centre for Islamic Studies, Usman Dan Fodio, University, Sokoto in conjunction with Edo State government, held in Auchi recently.

Meanwhile, 10 (seven males and three females) of those who memorized the Holy Quran at the Hafizul Quran School established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at at Ilaro, Ogun state Southwest,

Oba Gbadebo urges religious tolerance

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HE paramount ruler of Yelwa, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Gbadebo Adegbenle has called for peaceful coexistence among religious groups.

He made the call when the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria, Dr Mashuud Fashola paid a courtesy call on the paramount ruler in his palace in Ilaro.

The visit came weeks after the annual conference of the Muslim organisation in Ilaro which was attended by the paramount rulers across the country including Oba Gbadebo of Ilaro.

While calling for peaceful, free and fair elections, he urged other religious groups to co-exist without rancour especially in Ilaro community.

Nigeria were among other young Hufaz that won various prizes at the event.

The Hufaz represented Lagos,Ogun,Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states in various categories of the competition.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Sheu of Borno, Emir of Zaria as well as the Emir of Tallata Mafara were among other dignitaries at the event.

Hadiza Taleemun (Female) from Plateau State emerged overall winner and got a brand new Lexus Jeep and N500,000 cash prize while the overall winner (male) Yusuff Muhammad Baffa Daku from Gombe State, went home with brand new Toyota Jeep and N500,000 in addition to Toyota Avensis each for First and second Male and female categories.

The additional prizes were presented by Edo state government, while Vice President Arch. Namadi Zambo presented cash prizes for first to fifth positions in both categories.

From left: Alhaja Olayinka AbdulKereem, Lagos State PDP, Deputy Governorship Candidate; Alhaja Samiat Omolara Mumuni, Women Affairs Secretary, NASFAT and Lagos State APC, Deputy Governorship Candidate, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule during a Special Prayer for the Nation organised by NASFAT, held at Mowe, Ogun State, recently.

From right: Sheikh Al-Imran Eleha, Guest Lecture; Sheikh Abdullah Akinbode, National Chief Missioner, World-wide, NASFAT and other Ulamas during a payer session for the nation at Mowe, Ogun State.

Ahmadiyya trains Missionaries

Feb polls: NASFAT prays for Nigeria ISLAMIC Cleric, Sheikh AlImran Eleha has urged Muslims to continue to offer prayers for the peace and development of the country particularly during the forthcoming general elections.

Eleha gave this charge

during a Special Prayer for the Nation organised by leading Islamic Organisation in the country, Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fatih Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, held at Mowe, Ogun State.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Elaha tasked the Lagos

Muslim W orld Int’l magazine se World sett to honour individuals, groups

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USLIM World International Magazine, the first and largest independent Muslim entertainment and lifestyle magazine in Nigeria, is set to honour Muslim individuals, groups, societies, schools, businesses and corporate organizations who have contributed immensely to the development of their immediate environment.

The Managing Editor of the magazine, Seyi Owoyomi said: “One of our main objectives when the first edition of Muslim World Int’l came out was to correct the misrepresentation of Islam and project the beauty of the religion in a manner that will

ensure easy, pleasurable interest among the youths and other classes of people.

"We wanted to provide a vehicle through which Muslim youths could share their experiences and convey the excitement, challenges, and disappointments that come through peaceful co-existence in their various communities.”

He stated that the magazine has so far created the desirable impact and built over 20,000 readership base.

According to Owoyomi, the awards are open to Muslims and non-Muslim individuals, groups, adding that shortlisted names will be published in its February 2015 Edition among other details.

State governorship running mates under the platform of the two major parties in the State, People’s Democaractic Party, PDP, Alhaja Olayinka AbdulKereem and All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule who were present at the occasion to be good ambassadors of Islam and Nasfat during and after the elections, adding that as leaders, they would be responsible for any act of violence carried out by their supporters.

Earlier, the President of the society Engr. Kamil Bolarinwa in his keynote address emphasised the potency of prayer as an indispensable factor in the life of every Muslim. "It is incumbent on us to beseech Allah for this nation for a peaceful general elections. We will offer prayers for all the organs of INEC, the security agencies, the politicians and all Nigerians.

Islam enjoins Muslims to call on Allah in prayer and put their trust in Him," Bolarinwa said.

He also urged parents to guide their children and wards against thuggery and violence.

L-R: Circuit Missionary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, New Bussar, Hafix Isyed Shaid Ahmed; Immam Solat, Abuja Mosque, Missionary I’shaq Muhammed Habeeb and National Secretary, Tabliq, Dr. Saheed Olurotimi Timehin, during the National Refresher Course for Northern Region Missionaries and Daiyan IIallah program in Abuja

L-R: Naib Amir, Northern Region Zone, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Yeqeen Habeeb; Missionary-in-Charge, Maulvi AbdulKhalique Nayarr and Circuit Missionary, Kaduna, Missionary Naseem Ahmad-Butt, at the event.

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Qualification for a president of Nigeria

By Ben Nwabueze

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ITH the general elections now only three weeks away, it seems altogether right that the qualification of anyone aspiring to the office of President should agitate our minds, except that, in the typically Nigerian way, the agitation is overshadowed largely by politics, and is not focusing on the issue, so vital to the national interest, as to the qualification or qualities appropriate in a person to govern our affairs and our lives for four years, using “qualification” in the sense defined in the dictionary to mean “that which qualifies or fits a person for any use or purpose, as for an office, or employment”. So defined, it includes a person’s background, antecedents, character, etc.

Primal reason Among well-informed Nigerians, it seems to be generally agreed that a primal reason for the lack of good governance in the country is bad leadership owing, in the main, to poor and inadequate qualification and background prescribed by our Constitution for the presidency.

Need for, indeed the imperativeness of, a good education and background required for presidential leadership The type and quality of presidential leadership called for must be of the kind that enabled the United States to achieve the goals and purposes of decolonisation at a corresponding period of its history. The American Revolution was able to transform American government, society, ethic, values and culture in part because of the quality of the men

PROF. BEN NWABUEZE who led it, the revolutionary leaders, otherwise called the Founding Fathers; men like George Washington, first president, John Adams, second president, Thomas Jefferson, third president, James Madison, fourth president, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, to name only the better known among them. Except George Washington, all three Presidents immediately after him were

brilliant lawyers and outstanding intellectuals. (Thomas Jefferson, one of the finest minds of his time, read books in Greek and Latin and grappled with Euclidean problems in Mathematics in his teens. His home in Virginia, his bedroom, the bed on which he slept, the clothes he Map of Nigeria wore are still preserved uptill now. I drew so President in October 1979, no much inspiration from being Head of Government or his vice taken round that home during my at the federal level from visit in 1987 to deliver a Lecture independence in October 1960 at the bicentennial of the U.S. to 2007 had a university degree Constitution.) (discounting the interim The American revolutionary arrangement under which Chief leaders have been described as Ernest Shonekan, a graduate, “civic-minded philosopher ruled for a short period of some statesmen”, an extraordinary months in 1993.) None had galaxy of men of good character, therefore been exposed to the good education, integrity, mental orientation, intellectual honesty and sincerity, with deep insights and academic influence concern for the public good and of a university degree a scorn for self-enrichment. They programme. were able to implant in American Unlike their American society an enlightened ethic, counterparts at the ethos and values through the corresponding period of their “brilliance of their thought, the country’s history, the Heads of creativity of their politics” and Government and their vice at the their extraordinary ability to federal level in Nigeria lacked combine “ideas and power, the intellectual capacity, the intellectualism and politics” educational qualification, the without getting alienated from acuity of mind and the creativity the people and without becoming of thought to combine “ideas and obsessed with votes. power, intellectualism and politics” demanded by the Personal challenges of decolonisation after independence from colonial connection rule.

They had little or no idea of the Because they “saw themselves as part of an organic social role which their leadership community linked through strong personal connection to those below them”, they were also able to maintain with the people an intimate relationship devoid of any feelings of alienation. They set themselves up in the role of educators of the people, “models or guides for citizens’ behavior ”.

Through their prodigious literary output – in pamphlets, broadside, Nigeria must be one articles in periodicals and newspapers, letters and of the few speeches – they tried to mould standards of democracies in the opinions and behaviour. world, outside Africa, In contrast to the where retired military intellectualism and high educational qualification of the officers, with American Founding Fathers oligarchic outlook which enabled them to provide the kind of leadership the country and interest, wield needed to create a new society such great influence in place of the old colonial society, the leadership in charge of the in government as management of affairs at the well as in the political federal level in Nigeria was characterised by intellectual process after poverty and educational transition to inadequacy. Before the advent of Dr. Alex Ekwueme as Vice- democratic rule

required of them. Eight of the Heads of State/Heads of Government in the period between January 1966 and May 1999 were military officers trained in good military schools or academies – Generals Aguiyi Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

But, whilst training or education in military schools or academies is certainly adequate for the management of military affairs and relations among members of the military, it does not impart or inculcate the kind of knowledge, ideas, insights, orientation and perceptions needed for the government of society as a whole.

Military training Our experience of rule by military men or retired military men, especially General Obasanjo’s rule as Head of the Federal Military Government (FMG) for four years (1976 – 79) and as civilian President for eight years (1999 – 2007) bears out indisputably that their military training, career and life spent in military barracks do not equip them with the kind of vision, orientation, intellectualism, the sense of fairness, justice and impartiality needed for the government of society under a system of constitutional democracy.

Moreover, the military ’s regimented system of the giving of orders and unquestioning obedience of such orders inclines and acclimatizes them to absolutism and autocracy in government even under a constitution as supreme law that limits governmental powers, as again borne out by the autocratic personal rule of Obasanjo as civilian President, otherwise described as “constitutional dictatiorship”, a seeming contradiction in terms. Obasanjo simply aborted Nigeria’s transition to constitutional democracy.

Besides the dictatorial actions of Obasanjo as civilian President

by which he aborted the country’s transition to constitutional democracy, other retired military men have also, by their activities, retarded or undermined Nigeria’s experimentation with constitutional democracy.

For example, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of the FMG, has been running for the presidency at four consecutive presidential elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015; David Mark, retired military officer and former minister in the military government, now president of the Senate successively for the past eight years or so; retired General T.Y. Danjuma, as minister of defence for some years under the civilian government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Other high-ranking retired military officers formerly in government during the period of the military regime continue, after the 1999 democratic transition, to influence government policies and to exercise influence in other areas of government. Indeed, it is they, together with other reactionary oligarchic elements opposed to democratic rule, notably the Caliphate in Northern Nigeria and its agents, who manipulate governmental affairs, unseen, from behind the scene; the group constitutes what is known as the “invisible government” of Nigeria.

Oligarchic outlook Nigeria must be one of the few democracies in the world, outside Africa, where retired military officers, with oligarchic outlook and interest, wield such great influence in government as well as in the political process after transition to democratic rule. This clearly augurs ill for democracy in the country. The country deserves to be left alone to pursue its experimentation with constitutional democracy without the retarding influence of retired military men.

Interestingly, one of our former military rulers, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on his ouster from power in 1975 after a nine year rule, in order to widen his insights and deepen his intellectuality, enrolled as a political science student at the University of Warwick, England, bagging a Ph.D at the end of it.

Another one of them, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, after eight years in office as civilian President (discounting his previous four years as military Head of State and Government) enrolled in the Open University for a diploma course (not degree course), not a course in Law, Political Science or Economics, but in Theology of all courses.

The whole thing is made all the more an irrelevancy, a triviality, by the fact that the Open University is a university existing in the open air with no walls and without the university atmosphere and environment that shapes ideas and perceptions and attitudes, and without the interaction among students and with staff that

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—

Qualification for a president of Nigeria Continues from page 42 provides that atmosphere and environment.

Nor do our military rulers have the intellectual power to understand the nature and processes of the sophisticated organism, the modern state, transplanted to Africa by European colonialism. The modern state is a foreign organism lodged by colonialism in the body of Africa. It is foreign, not just in the sense that it was the creation of alien powers, but more so because, not having existed before colonisation (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia excepted), it has no root in the life, culture, traditions, habits and experience of the African peoples.

It was forcibly imposed upon backward peoples lacking the necessary foundations of civilization, and unacquainted with its ideological or philosophical foundation and its ways, its organizing principles, institutions, procedures, its traditions of government administration, the habits of order, discipline, obedience to law, patriotism, and loyalty, the attitude of the responsibility and accountability of rulers to the whole mass of the people.

In the nature and extent of its powers, in particular, the power to make law by legislation, the state transplanted to Africa by colonialism has nothing remotely corresponding to it in precolonial days.

Precolonial polity There was nothing in the precolonial polity remotely like the alien-type state’s strong, formidable organisation of force, its enormous power, the array of patronages at its disposal, its vast business interests and pervasive control over the economy, its status as a subject of international law, entitled by virtue thereof to all the rights and powers bestowed by that law on states, and the way people are subjected, in many aspects of their lives and affairs, to coercion or compulsion by means of regulations of a legislative nature, judicial orders or decrees enforced by the organised coercive force of the state, and executive orders, all backed by an overwhelming force at once intimidating, irresistible and awesome in the form of a standing or full time army and police with all their weapons of violence, as well as other law enforcement apparatuses like prisons and prison warders, concentration camps, detention centres, security agents, road marshals, tax collectors, customs officers, forest guards and so on, a force made all the more awesome still because it is in the exclusive monopoly of the state.

It is not only that the modern

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, APC presidential candidate state is totally different from the pre-colonial African polity in the nature of its power and force; the forms, institutions and principles involved in its administration were also unknown and without any basis in the pre-colonial African polity. Save only monarchy, which has become discredited in most part of the world anyway, neither the democratic, representative form of government, with its institutions of free and fair elections based on universal adult suffrage and political parties, nor constitutional democracy, with its institution of a written constitution as supreme law enshrining a guarantee of human rights, separation of powers, the Rule of Law, nor the socialist form of state, with its institutions and principles of socialist ownership of the means of production and exchange, total rule (totalitarianism), socialist legality and democratic centralism has any real basis in pre-colonial African political experience and culture.

Thus, the African rulers (more especially military rulers) who took over the mantle of leadership from the departing colonisers came to their new roles with hardly anything from Africa’s past to prepare and guide them in those roles. Exceptional intellectualism and a solid educational qualification are therefore necessary credentials for effective performance in such roles. Leadership in the circumstances of Nigeria and other African countries faced with the challenges of decolonization is not something for a presidential leader inadequately equipped intellectually, educationally and characterwise.

Intellectual poverty and educational inadequacy of the qualifications prescribed by the constitution (1999) for the president The political process in Nigeria does not entirely account for the intellectual poverty and educational inadequacy of presidential leadership.

Presidential leadership

In my view, the Constitution should prescribe a university degree or its equivalent as the minimum educational qualification for election to the offices of President and Vice-President

Part of the blame lies with the Constitution, section 131 of which provides: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if – (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

As if school certificate prescribed in section 131(d) is not inadequate already, “school certificate or its equivalent” is defined in section 318(1) to mean: “(a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary

School Certificate level [i.e. without the certificate]; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and - (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten years, and (ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totaling up to a minimum of one year; and (iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission; and (d) any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission”.

The provision says nothing about the person’s background, antecedents, experience, character, including qualities like integrity (the third Schedule, for example, provides that a person to be appointed a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be of “unquestionable integrity”), sense of fairness, justice and impartiality, and of loyalty to the Constitution in terms of the Oaths in The Seventh Schedule, and his psychological or mental state.

In these days of widespread “expo”, certificate faking and general degeneration in the standards of education in our schools and colleges, primary six school leaving certificate is really next door to illiteracy. A semi literate President is what the prescription in sections 131(d) and 318(1) tantamounts to.

What little literacy is acquired from the education system at the primary school level is soon lost owing to the lack of a reading culture that pervades our society, caused to a considerable extent by the enthronement of wealth as the determinant of social standing and the consequent inordinate pursuit of it and of other mundane, non-intellectual pursuits.

Non-intellectual pursuits No one with this kind of thoroughly inadequate educational background can be expected to read, with understanding, the Constitution of Nigeria, laden, as it is, with difficult and perplexing concepts, or the books on constitutional law, political science and sociology where the knowledge of these concepts can be found.

And knowing that he cannot understand them, he would have no inclination or disposition to buy the books or to read them.

The desire to accommodate educationally backward areas, which no doubt is the reason underlying the provision, is no justification for prescribing such low level of educational qualification for election to the

43

office of President or the National Assembly. There is no State in the country today that does not have a fair number of university graduates.

The effect of these provisions is, lamentably, to entrench in the Constitution the intellectual poverty and educational inadequacy which has characterized leadership at the level of the presidency since independence in 1960 right up to the election of President Umaru Yar ’Adua in 2007 (the first university graduate to hold the office of President (discounting the interim arrangement under which Chief Ernest Shonekan, a graduate, ruled for some months) and the accession to the presidential office by VicePresident Dr Goodluck Jonathan on 5 May, 2010 after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua.

In my view, the Constitution should prescribe a university degree or its equivalent as the minimum educational qualification for election to the offices of President and VicePresident.

Whatever happened to the amendments to sections 131(d) and 318(1) passed by the National Assembly in 2010 at the early stage of the amendment process The amendment deletes the words “school certificate level or its equivalent” in section 131(d), and substitutes therefor “tertiary level and obtained the relevant certificates”, (italicized to emphasise that the certificate is thereby made a constitutional requirement thus changing the Supreme Court decision in Suswam’s Case.)

Constitutional requirement It then goes on to define in section 318(1), as amended, the term to mean: “(a) Ordinary National Diploma or its equivalent; or (b) Nigerian Certificate in Education or its equivalent; or (c) Higher School Certificate or its equivalent; or (d) Advanced School Certificate or its equivalent; or (e) Higher National Diploma or its equivalent.”

Each of the five qualifications is prescribed as an alternative minimum qualification on its own, e.g. higher school certificate or advanced school certificate, and is not made any the less acceptable because of the inclusion of higher qualifications in (a), (b) or (e) above. For this reason, although the higher national diploma is now generally regarded as equivalent to a university degree, the amendment falls short of prescribing a university degree as minimum educational qualification.

Significantly, however, the deletion of section 131(d) has the effect of also deleting the definition of “School Certificate or its equivalent” in section 318(1).

I have not been able to find out how the amendment was lost at some stage in the amendment process, and never became law.

This is, indeed, regrettable, since the country needs it.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Doctrine of domination

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By Erahodu Oseghale

ONSIDERING the current crisis situation plaguing the political climate as we head towards the 2015 general elections, it is necessary to recall certain significant episodes in the past, which almost miraculously diffused tension and provided a systematic solution, in place of the debacle of deadlocked diatribes that threatened our unity and stability. There can be no denying that the supposedly democratic contest for the Presidency of Nigeria in 2015 has instigated a despotic desperation to literally confiscate the tenure of the incumbent among those who never genuinely recognized his right, nor that of a “minority” for that matter, to rule. Yet, even the most virulent vector of “Jonathanian” jaundice cannot justifiably declare that any Nigerian should be hounded out of an entitlement, purely on the basis of his tribe and tongue which is clearly the case today, albeit camouflaged as frustration with “nonperformance”.

Our nationhood has always been tethered on the doctrine of unity in diversity and the notion of the nation belonging to us all.

If these principles had been dutifully upheld as they should have, our country would have been the more strengthened to prevent and withstand the ethno-religious quakes that have instead remained permanent perils on the path to our collective development and progress.

Collecltive development Arguably, the initial emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as acting President exposed the sinister underbelly of the patriotic posturing of our political leadership elite in spite of the oaths they swear and the legitimate expectations of innocent, peace-loving and incredibly integrated Nigerian commoners. In fact even the established statutes of the Nigerian Constitution which unambiguously stipulated the order of succession in a vacated Presidency had to be vigorously backed up with a hurriedly harnessed consensus on “doctrine of necessity”!

All these issues highlight the vulnerability of our nationhood when confronted by the recurring reticence of the political leadership elite who have no qualms about putting their selfish/clannish interests above all else especially in the inordinate pursuit of power and privilege.

It is a pity to observe that barely four years after securing the strategic consensus to conceive a doctrine of necessity with which to uphold constitutional provisions and retrieve our nationhood from naked nepotism, here we are again faced with the same uncompromising threats from dominant ethnic groups intent on imposing a supremacist stranglehold on an incumbent minority President.

In analysing the current crisis of leadership which has overwhelmed the routine of general elections we cannot shy away from the regrettable reality of an unholy alliance between the core-north (again!) and the south-west to wrest the settled entitlement of two-term presidency from the incumbent south-south minority President Goodluck Jonathan with such reckless abandon that callously canvasses “civil disobedience” and “alternative government” as the only alternative to election defeat.

The ulterior motives of the so-called opposition parties is glaringly paraded in

the opportunistic gathering of strange bedfellows and allied incompatibles united in a rabid scramble for power at all costs.

It does not augur well for democracy or nationhood that the inherent weaknesses of a marginalized minority in the longstanding lop-sided competition for power are seized upon by the hawkish heroes of majority rule to victimize and demonize the very first Nigerian President from the southsouth to the extremist extent of portraying the providential emergence of an Ijaw President as abomination of treasonable proportions. Even the unprecedented undeniable landmark achievements of a humble and comparatively hard-working President are buried under the barrage of blanket condemnation orchestrated with the deceptive cruelty of Goebbels.

Without dwelling too much on the unfairness and overzealousness of those currently campaigning so viciously against the merited and settled right of President Goodluck Jonathan to a second term of four years, suffice it to emphasize that, as far as the fanning of ethnic embers for political leverage is concerned, there will be no end to it even if the core-Hausa/ Yoruba tribal champions hoodwink their way to power in 2015.

Apart from the lingering threat of a retaliatory response from the justifiably enraged ranks of the Niger Deltans being persecuted out of Aso Villa which has the proven potency for strangulating the economic jugular of the entire country, the noose of nemesis will not spare the conspirators of today from the consequences of their opportunistic onslaught on the fabric of unity in diversity the population of everyday Nigerians have been striving to knit for decades.

As things stand today, those who are riding rough shod on the unity, security and stability of Nigeria just to reclaim an obnoxious “divine right” to rule which they have severally monopolized and abused under various guises for most of our decades as an independent nation, must be ready to return to power under even more destabilizing environment than the Boko Haram insurgency which has a very limited if any economic repercussion on their part of the country. President Goodluck Jonathan and the south-south minorities could not possibly have contemplated a tenure in the Presidency in this millennium given the might of majority tyranny deployed to make leadership the exclusive right of majority tribes in general and the HausaFulani in particular. But when Almighty Allah ordained the immaculate The last succession of an Ijaw to the Presidency of Nigeria has not after the pre-destined been death of a Katsina heard of President, it had to happen and will remain the so until He otherwise determines. The last has contest been heard of the for power not contest for power between between mortals claiming divine rights to rule and mortals God Almighty who gives claiming and takes power to whom He pleases ! To God be divine the glory ! rights to •Erahodu Oseghale writes from Benin rule

Map of Nigeria

philosophy and the humanities. Both of them also had some insinuations about my being a layman.

Unfortunately, I found Ifeanyi’s intervention on behalf of Classics more enlightening than Prof.

Dukor’s. I suspect that Prof. Dukor just confirmed my fear that Nigerian philosophers are not public-friendly especially when they hide behind some kind of highfalutin ‘philosophese’ that ordinary laymen find difficult to follow.

For the professor, ‘(Olaopa) has interpreted philosophy upside down hence our task is to…stand philosophy and its praxis erect.’ He then went on, by a far stretch of unfair and unjustifiable parameter, to compare my interrogation of the relevance of philosophy to David Hume’s infamous denigration of the Black race and the eventual colonisation of Africa. This comment is interesting for me especially coming from a Professor of Philosophy who: (a) consistently speaks about ‘philosophy and praxis; and (b) equally laments, from the beginning of his response to my article, the government’s lukewarm attitude to the ‘celebration of wisdom and its pristine praxis.’ Furthermore, Prof. Dukor also calls attention, funny enough, to the ‘poverty of philosophy’ in Nigeria. He then calls on Nigerians, who operate largely behind what he called the ‘veil of ignorance,’ to ‘read more of Plato’s Republic for national transformation agenda, for reflective and critical approach to issues of religious and ethnic matters, for transcendental

Philosophy, humanities and the national question in Nigeria

By Tunji Olaopa

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N November 16, 2014, The Guardian carried my article titled ‘Philosophy and the National Question in Nigeria.’ I wrote that article as a layman’s interrogation of the vocation of philosophy and what I think philosophers ought to be doing about the Nigerian project. I began that article with an anecdotal note about my early and still abiding love for the philosophical enterprise and how I believe that philosophy and philosophers have remained too invisible for too long in the national discourse. I also noted that philosophy, according to Plato, cannot be too silent in national affairs because the philosophers, by reason of the imperative of philosophy, have an active role to play in ensuring social order and national development. One of my central arguments, therefore, is that contrary to UNESCO’s recognition of the worth of philosophy for ‘the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual,’ Nigerian philosophers stand indicted for generally failing to insinuate themselves into the Nigerian national context as their most immediate philosophical laboratory that generates issues, problems and concerns. This same argument also indicts us the policymakers as we seem to buy into the disciplinary fallacy that philosophy and philosophers are not relevant to national development, compared with the sciences.

Right of reply I considered that these arguments constitute a very simple challenge to the humanities in Nigeria to stand up to the urgent call of relevance. The feedback I have received, largely from core professional philosophers and academics stimulated me to further reflect on the subject matter, hence this piece, which in view of its length, is structured into three parts.

Let me first appreciate Mr Jonathan Ifeanyi and Professor Maduabuchi Dukor who both considered my article significant enough to merit some hard-hitting comments and observations. In ‘Ibadan school of classics and the question of relevance’ (Ifeanyi) and ‘Philosophy, more than bread on table’ (Dukor), both in their various concerns identified what they considered not up to par in my indictment of

Ifeanyi’s worry also hinges on the issue of relevance, and particularly that of Classics, his first degree discipline apperception of leadership rather than the hitherto narrow and circular leadership syndrome.’

On his own, Ifeanyi’s worry also hinges on the issue of relevance, and particularly that of Classics, his first degree discipline. One good pointer about Ifeanyi’s response is that he said my queries about philosophy also echo his especially about Classics and the humanities in general. But then he attempts to draw a significant lesson from an interview he had with a professor of Classics many years ago about the relevance (or irrelevance) of Classics and the humanities. That lesson came at the end of his article: Finally, the motto of Classics Department in the premier university reads: “viverecogitare est”—meaning “to think is to live.” As I pondered over this, I reasoned that the question of relevance of courses in the humanities, and especially classics, comes to many only because they “think” to live instead of living to think. But I have also observed that learned people don’t ask such a question at all.

To be continued

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015—45

UBTH TO JUHESU: Return to negotiation table

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—CHIEF Medical Director, CMD, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Michael Ibadin, has appealed to members of the Joint Health Workers Union, JUHESU, in the country, who have been on strike since December 12, 2014 to suspend their strike and return to the negotiation table.

He said the people have the right to demand services for which the health workers are paid, adding that government was still paying their salaries and allowances even though they were on strike with the hope that this would pave way for negotiation.

Prof. Ibadin, who addressed newsmen in Benin, Edo State, on the on-going JUHESU strike, said that the strike was dragging for too long, adding that it was the ordinary masses that bear the brunt of the strike as many patients who were moved from one hospital to another due to the strike died in the process.

He said: “Sixty-five to 75 percent of the workforce was not there. Members of the public are the major beneficiaries of our services.

We have asked our doctors to continue to run their clinics.

The dialysis centre is functioning, ICU is functioning, but this is a public hospital and members of the public want full medical services. Total and social loss due to the strike is monumental. This strike has been on for too long.”

On promotion of JUHESU members, Prof. Ibadin said

that a panel of experts on inter-professionalism, headed by former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, was set up by the Federal Government to look into the issue, adding that the government had since directed that the White Paper on the findings should be made public.

He said that nobody has been denied promotion in UBTH at any salary level, adding that the adjustment in their salaries cannot be done immediately until there was a budgetary provision for such.

He said the strike was affecting UBTH, "as some departments are not running effectively.”

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) presenting a plaque to Rear Admiral S.A.G. Abbah, Deputy Commandant and Team Leader of Course 37 Participants, during a courtesy call on the governor at Government House, Uyo.

Disputed property transferred to varsity by military govt —UNIBEN

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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UTHORITIES of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, have said that the disputed property destroyed

by Edo State Government was transferred to it by the military

government.

Speaking through its counsel, Mr Hannibal Uwaifo, UNIBEN said that the disputed buildings were transferred to it by the military government, with the authority of the old Bendel

State administrator, Col. George Innih.

He added that the university was at the Appeal Court over the matter, as it had, since December, some days after the judgment, appealed against same and had also prayed the

EPZ: Ijaw group threatens showdown with FG over exclusion

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—YOUTHS of Ogulagha community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, under the aegis of Sokebolou/Yokiri Federated Youths, have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal and Delta State Governments over alleged “non-inclusion of Sokebolou/ Yokiri, Adedegbene, Oloseimoere, Agboromagbene communities in the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project or face the wrath of the communities.”

The group, in a statement by its President, Mr. Binaebi Adiwei, said they resolved to issue the ultimatum after series of letters were written to the Presidency, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and C M Y K

Delta State Government to include them as stakeholders in the EPZ project failed to yield the desired result.

He alleged that the Sokebolou/Yokiri people own over 50 percent of the land acquired for the EPZ project and that they were not being treated as major stakeholders.

They called on the federal and state governments and Ministry of Petroleum Resources to see the urgency of including them in every negotiation and meeting regarding the EPZ project.

“We will not hesitate to shut down the over 70 oil wells if by the expiration of the sevenday ultimatum, there is no sign from any of the appropriate quarters to ensure the inclusion of Sokebolou/Yokiri, Adedegbene, Oloseimoere,

Agboromagbene and other communities in the EPZ project,” he said.

appellate court to stay the execution of the judgment.

Uwaifo clarified that the buildings include the Ugbowo Campus, the Ekenwan Road Campus, Staff Quarters and Club allocated to the University at GRA, and the Arts Theatre, Airport Road.

It will be recalled that Edo State Government demolished some of the houses occupied by some university staff, but the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, said the government’s action was in line with the rule of law.

FEB POLL: Group vows to deliver Okowa

By Daniel Gumm

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ARRI—A POLITICAL pressure group, Okoejebility, with over 30,000 members cutting across Delta North and Delta South senatorial districts, has been inaugurated in Sapele, Delta State, with a mandate to deliver Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the state.

The inauguration, at the residence of former Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area and

Chairman of Okowa Vanguard, Michael Diden, witnessed the swearing-in of executive and ward exco members of the group.

State Chairman of Okoejebility, Prince Omatseye Ewetan and the PDP flag-bearer for Delta State House of Assembly, Warri North Constituency in the February 28 election, Michael Diden, explained that the objective of the group was to make sure its members work hard to sensitise eligible voters to make a wise choice by voting Okowa as the next governor of the state.

FEB POLLS: Delta Central youths promise to deliver Jonathan, Okowa

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—AHEAD of the February general polls, Urhobo youth leaders, under the aegis of Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, UYLA, have promised to deliver President Goodluck Jonathan and the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in the elections.

Speaking during the rally held at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, which attracted over 3,000 persons, National President of the group, Mr Francis Arhiyor, said that their members cut across the 24 kingdoms of Urhobo nation and that they had unanimously agreed to support and work assiduously to mobilize more than one million votes for President Jonathan, Dr Okowa and also vote for PDP in all the elections.”

Dr Stephen Oru, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, who chaired the occasion, thanked the organisers of the rally for providing such a platform to garner support for Jonathan and Okowa.

Describing the youths as vibrant and purposeful, Oru stated that “the youths of any nation are the engine room and indeed the future leaders of the nation; without a purposeful, well ordered and intelligent youths like the Urhobo youths, such a nation is bound to have challenges of leadership in the future."

Remembrance

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HE one year remembrance and thanksgiving service in honour of the late Mrs. Nwabunie Chukwurah takes place at the Living Souls Baptist Church, Diya Gate, OPIC Estate, Agbara, Ogun State on February 1, at 10am. She died January 30, 2014.

Late Mrs. Chukwurah

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 47

We've distributed 1.5 million PVCs in Bauchi, says INEC B

By Suzan Edeh

A U C H I — T H E Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that it had so far distributed about 1.5 million of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, to registered voters in Bauchi State.

The Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Mr Emmanuel Umenger who spoke said that the figure represented about 83.85 per cent of registered voters in the state.

He spoke yesterday in Bauchi while speaking on the commission’s preparedness for the forthcoming general election, pointing out that the remaining 16.15 per cent would be distributed at the wards in the various local government areas of the state.

He said INEC had decided to decentralise the distribution of the PVCs to ensure that, all registered voters received theirs before the polls.

According to Mr Umenger, INEC had started receiving nonsensitive materials like ballot

boxes meant for the presidential election while those for governorship and other elections would be received soon.

He said: ” INEC in its attempt to fast-track the process of accreditation which is usually burdensome is going to deploy card-readers which are handheld devices that has the ability

to accredit a registered voter within two minutes.

“Once you come to the polling unit with your card, the device will scan it and all the data will shown on the screen. It is a very small device that enables the voter to know if he or she has been accredited. ‘’If you have a ballot paper in constituency A for instance, you

cannot take that same ballot paper to constituency B to cast your vote. The ballot papers this time around are colour coded and has some security features that are unique to that ward.

“Secondly, after the election results are announced at the polling units and copies will be made available to observers, police and party agents.”

LAUNCHING: From left: HRH,Oba Rilwan Akinolu I, Oba Of Lagos, Dr Alex Otti, APGA governorship candidate of Abia State, HRH, Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha/chairman of the occassion, Priscilla Otti, and Sir Nath Okechukwu, Chairman/CE, InterBau Construction Company, at the Book launch and fund raising in support of Dr Alex Otti in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Plateau APC gov candidate worries over debt profile

By Marie-Therese

J

Nanlong.

OS—THE Plateau State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Mr. Simon Lalong has decried the debt profile of the state which he said was over N100 billion, saying there was need to rescue the state from total collapse.

Addressing his party ’s supporters Wednesday during the flag off of its campaign at Nefur Arena, Pankshin, Lalong said he was on a mission to rescue the state and asked the people to give him the needed support.

He said he would ensure the timely payment of salaries of civil servants as well as create the enabling environment for the creation of job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.

The party, however, received some defectors including former commissioners and aides who served in the first tenure of Governor Jonah Jang.

Speaking on their behalf, Mr. Nuhu Gargara said their group

was made up men and women of integrity who had worked at various times and in various capacities in Jang’s administration for the progress of Plateau and Nigeria as a whole.

He, also, said the group

intended to use its platform to campaign against the belief that APC was a party for Muslims which “some mischievous people are using to confuse the people of Plateau State.”

NEMA delivers 540 tonnes of relief materials to Nigerian refugees in Niger Republic

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BUJA—THE National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said on Thursday that it had delivered 540 tonnes of relief items to Nigerian refugees taking shelter at different locations in the Diffa Region of Niger Republic.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Sani Datti, a Senior Information Officer in the agency, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The statement said the relief items, which included food and non-food items, were delivered to the refugees who fled the country due to the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

It quoted the NEMA DirectorGeneral, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, as saying that the provision of the relief items was in obedience to President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive to

NEMA to repond to the humanitarian crisis and to assist the refugees, to provide humanitarian relief to them.

Sani-Sidi said in the statement: “President Jonathan’s government is committed to ending the plight of victims of terrorism.

“NEMA will also continue to liaise with the Government of Niger to ensure that all Nigerian refugees live in better condition."

PDP stalwart lauds Mrakpor Forum offers scholarships on devt remarkable impact in using her to 13 indigent students position as the representative for

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SABA—A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart, Chief Anthony Nwaukoni has described the party ’s House of Representatives' candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the next months general elections, Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor as a grassroots politician who has used her position to better the lives of Deltans irrespective of tribe or ethnicity.

Nwaukoni who stated this during the PDP governorship campaign rally at Ogwashi-Uku, said that Hon. Mrakpor has made

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Aniocha South in the State House of Assembly to attract infrastructural development to the area.

Others who spoke on the occasion described Hon. Mrakpor as a mother, committed and dedicated leader that has continued to cater for the welfare of the people.

Mrakpor also used the occasion to appeal to the people to ensure they collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, while enjoining them to cast their votes for all PDP candidates during the elections.

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SSELE-UKU—OVER 13 indigent students drawn from various public secondary schools in IsseleUku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have been presented with scholarship by Eminent IsseleUku Peoples Forum.

The official presentation of the award was performed by the President of the forum, Chief Francis Ozomah at the Palace of the Obi of Issele-Uku. The event was witnessed by the Regent of Issele-Uku, Prince Dominic Egbune, executive

members of the forum, Principals of secondary schools in the area, among others.

Presenting the award, the President of the forum, Chief Ozomah stated that the award was in honour of the late Rev. S.W Martins who devoted all his efforts in the development of education not only in the area but in the whole of the then Med-west Nigeria.

Chief Ozomah, who is also the Ozoma of Issele-Uku said that the beneficiaries of the award were selected based on merit.

Hadejia residents laud FG on kerosene direct scheme

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UTSE—RESIDENTS of Hadejia in Jigawa State yesterday commended the Federal Government over the introduction of KeroseneDirect scheme.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the NNPC retail stations in Hadejia had kicked off sales of kerosene under the scheme.

The Kerosene-Direct scheme was designed to end scarcity and enhance availability of the product in the communities.

A cross-section of the residents, who spoke to NAN in Hadejia, described the scheme as ‘commendable’.

Alhaji Muhammad Garba, a resident, said that the scheme would reduce difficulties experienced by consumers in accessing the product.

Ezinne Omocho for burial

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RS. EZINNE IMUO Omocho of UkwuAkwu Ututu is dead. She died on November 4, 2014. She will be buried at her resident, Ndi Okoewa compound, UkwuAkwu, in Aro Chukwu LGA, Abia State, on January 30, after commendation service at St. Peter ’s Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Umuiwe Parish.

She is survived by children, grand-children and other relations, including Rev. Confidence Imuo.

Late Ezinne Omocho

Madam Comfort Koko-Overen passes on

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ADAM COMFORT Koko-Overen (68) of Ekakpamre, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State is dead.

Service of songs will hold on Friday, January 30, at No. 1, Urhobo Road, Warri, while funeral service and interment will take place the next day, at Adam Overen’s compound in Ekakpamre.

She is survived by children and many relations, including Mr. Eddy Ekpri, a staff of Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Asaba.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

APC presidential campaign in Benin, Ibadan

From left, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Chief John Oyegun, Chief Bisi Akande. former National Chairman; APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (ret), addressing supporters, during APC presidential campaign, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin City. Photos: Joe Akintola (Photo Editor)

APC supporters at the stadium in Benin

From left, Chief John Oviasogie, Eribo of Benin Kingdom; MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC; Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, APC Vice Presidential Candidate; Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Chairman, during APC Presidential Candidate's visit to the Oba of Benin in his palace.

From left, Governor Abiola Ajimobi; APC Presidential running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, and APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, during APC presidential campaign, in Ibadan. Photo: Joe Akintola, (Photo Editor)

PDP presidential campaign in Adamawa, Taraba

President Goodluck Jonathan, acknowledging cheers from PDP supporters during the From left, President Goodluck Jonathan; Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abass Tafida and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during a presidential campaign, in Jalingo, yesterday. courtesy visit to the Emir, in his palace, in Jalingo.

President Jonathan (right), and PDP Adamawa governorship Cross section of PDP members, during the presidential campaign, in Adamawa candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, at the Adamawa rally.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 49

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50—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Clark, Dokubo, Tompolo, others blast Danjuma Continues from Page 5 the General, I feel sorry for him.

“What was his salary throughout his period in the army? How did he acquire the wealth that he has acquired? How did he get the oil concession from a piece of paper? How did he get it if not through the manipulation of the Nigerian state? He wants to maintain his wealth.

One day, they will answer for their crimes,” Asari said.

It was peace

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meeting—Kuku Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who spoke in Abuja at an interactive forum with a cross section of Nigerian youths on how to end insurgency in the North East, said Danjuma misfired by calling for the arrest of the Niger Delta activists.

The presidential aide pointed out that far from what the former minister reportedly said, the former militant leaders were summoned to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to explore the possibility

of dousing raging tension over the alleged attack on Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi states.

Kuku said that Danjuma should have sought clarification from him or his office rather than go to the media to call for the arrest of Tompolo, Dokubo and other ex-militants for what they did not advocate.

He explained that the meeting, which was hosted by the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, was meant to calm the agitated Niger

Delta youths, who had prepared to retaliate the stoning of their kinsman, Jonathan, in the North.

Gen. IdadaIkponmwen, others react

Brig. General Idada Ikponmwen, disagreed with Danjuma, saying that they should be warned on the implications of their statements rather than calling for their arrest.

According to him, “the truth is that the use of threatening words has become almost part of our

political system, it is not the best. The way I look at it, we are in a battle because politics in Nigeria is a battle; it is a battle of wits; a battle for resources; it has been the situation.”

Also, Captain Beck Hitler, a prominent Chief of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha kingdoms, faulted the call for the arrests, saying it was quite unfortunate that the call was made by General Danjuma, who didn’t call for the arrest of Buhari, APC presidential candidate who issued similar

threats in 2011.

The Ijaw chief also said it was wrong for Danjuma to have described Tompolo, Asari Dokubo and other exmilitants as irresponsible individuals, adding they contributed have

immensely to the development of Niger Delta region.

A group, Urhobo Ovo and Ijaw Kene Patriots for Okowa, faulted Danjuma’s call, saying: “We see the call made by Danjuma to arrest Tompolo and others as clear oppression and a hidden agenda to deny President Jonathan victory on February 14.

The people of Niger Delta are strongly supporting President Jonathan’s re-election.”

His Royal Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu, on his part, said: “It is clear that Tompolo, Asari Dokubo, Boyloaf and others did not actually threaten war or say they would destabilize the country if Jonathan did not win the February 14 presidential election; they only expressed dismay at the attack and stoning of Mr. President, who is from Niger-Delta during his campaigns in the Northern part of the country.”

The Ijaw Youth Council, spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said: “The accusation leveled against Jonathan by the APC, is also unfounded.”

He said it was not true as alleged that President Jonathan was backing Tompolo, Dokubo, Boyloaf and others in purported threats to destabilize Nigeria as alleged by APC. He pointed out that IYC participated in the meeting by the governor of Bayelsa State, Dickson with youth leaders and ex-Niger – Delta freedom fighters on January 23.

“There was no time it was resolved that Niger Delta people would destabilize Nigeria if President Jonathan fails the February 14, 2015 Presidential election.

This did not form part of the resolutions of the meeting which were read out by Hon. Kingsley Kuku for Governor Dickson to transmit to Mr. President.

“The report on exmilitants threatening to destabilize Nigeria in the event of President Jonathan losing the 2015 election is a figment of the imagination of the writers and not part of the resolution of the meeting. The meeting could not have discussed that as we are confident that President Jonathan would win the February 14, 2015 Presidential election,” he added.

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54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Oil spill ravages Bayelsa community

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—KALABA community, one of the six communities of Okordia clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has again been hit by oil spill from a Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, facility.

Though the cause of the spill, which was noticed two weeks ago, could not be immediately ascertained, sources told Vanguard that the community also suffered similar fate last September, when it recorded two spills within three weeks.

The management of Agip, the source added, had been informed of the spill but the company has not been able to contain it.

“We informed some management and staff of Agip when the spill was noticed and pleaded with the company to promptly mobilize to site for clamping before more harm is done. Even though Agip responded that information had been received earlier about the spill, it was surprising that Agip failed to take any positive remedial action until the spill point increased and crude oil spewed into the environment,” the source lamented.

Paramount ruler of the community, Chief Roman Orukali, who spoke to ERA team led by Morris Alagoa,

yesterday, lamented the spill, describing it as unfortunate.

He said: “The spill occurred on January 12, and Agip was promptly informed same day.

The company came to see the spill point the next day, January 13, but it is surprising to see that Agip has failed to return and stop the spill while crude oil has continued to spread in the environment.

“Agip should know that the environment is our life, health

and wealth. In this regard, I wish to urge Agip to help us protect our environment by stopping the spill and carrying our immediate clean-up. This, the company should do to ensure a safe environment for our people.”

Also, the community youth president, Samuel Oburu, while lamenting the effect of the spill on the environment, called on Agip to mobilise its men to site and make

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SABA—THE campaign train of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Wednesday, brought socioeconomic activities to a standstill in Agbor and Owa-

PRAISE NIGHT: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right), and Rev. Emmanuel Ogemudia of the Shepherds Vine Christian Centre, Bayelsa State, shortly after the State Praise Night for January, 2015, at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.

Oyibu, headquarters of Ika South and Ika North-East Local Government Areas of the state, respectively.

The campaign train, which left Agbor at 1p.m., for the headquarters of Okowa's home council, Owa-Oyibu, caused traffic gridlock, as vehicular movement was brought to a

stands still for several hours, while indigenes from the neighbouring villages thronged the Owa-Oyibu township stadium to catch a glimpse of the campaign team of their son, Senator Okowa, and hear him speak.

Addressing the crowd of supporters from within and

Rivers PDP demands apology from APC over cloned programme allegation programme proposed by Peterside if

P

By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT— P E O P L E S Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has demanded an apology from the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, over his allegation that the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Nyesom Wike, cloned his programme for the state.

Flanked by Professors Onuchuke Okeh, Kaniye Ebeku and others, Mr Isaac Okemini said the party would not hesitate

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By Egufe Yafugborhi

ARRI—IJAW leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has appealed to 22 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 2015 governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State to rescind their decision to defect with their supporters to All Progressives Congress, APC, over the controversial party primaries won by Mr. Emmanuel Udom.

In a statement yesterday in Warri, Delta State, Chief Clark, while acknowledging that the aggrieved Akwa Ibom PDP governorship aspirants “felt cheated by Governor Godswill Akpabio’s titanic hold on the party structure,” urged them to wait for a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the issues when he visits Akwa Ibom today.

Madam Edosio passes on

FEB POLLS: Ika stands still for Okowa

By Festus Ahon

necessary repairs so as to stop further spread of crude oil and related pollution in the environment.

Disturbed by the impact of the spill on the environment, ERA Field Coordinator in Bayelsa State, Alagoa Morris, has urged the company to take immediate steps to stop the spill by going to site and effect clamping after JIV and commence immediate clean up of the impacted environment.

Clark placates aggrieved AIbom PDP gov aspirants

to initiate legal actions against Peterside if he failed to tender an apology.

He said Peterside's allegation was entirely false, stressing that Wike developed his blueprint for the state 10 months ago.

He said that Wike's programme promised to address issues around the court that had been closed for about 18 months, the comatose legislature in the state and alleged dictatorship of one man in the governance of the state.

Continuing, he said if it was the same

elected, then it meant that the APC planned to reject Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s programme.

outside the council, Okowa told his kinsmen to reach out to all their friends and relations in the state to cast their votes for him and the PDP candidates, including President Goodluck Jonathan, who are standing for the February general elections.

Okowa, who also spoke at Agbor, headquarters of Ika South council, said the PDP does not expect less from Ika people, appealing to them to give bloc votes to the PDP. The governorship candidate who paid courtesy visits to the ‘Obis’ of Agbor and Owa-Oyibu, stressed the need for the people to ensure victory for the PDP senatorial candidate, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi.

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RS. Joy Edosio of The Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos, is dead, aged 65.

Until her death, she was a member of mothers union and women’s guild, and matron of Christian Ladies League and Boys and Girls Brigade, in the church.

She is survived by five children, five grand children and other relatives.

Late Mrs. Joy Edosio

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 55

MEDICAL OUTREACH: From left; Dr Ibrahim Njidda Mamadu, ART Senior Program Officer, PIU, HIV/AIDS Programme, NACA/SURE-P; Alhaji Abubakar Akoda Illela, Deputy Director, PHC, Illela LGA, Sokoto State and Alhaji Sahabi Isah Illela, Wakilin Sarkin Rafin Tllela, representive of District Head, Illela LGA during the Free NACA/SURE-P medical outreach in Illela LGA of Sokoto State.

SEMINAR: From left; Mr Sunday Adeneye, Disaster Adviser; Mrs Ijeoma Nweke, Branch secretary; Mr Daniel Umoh,Programme Officer and Mr Samuel Ige,Training Officer, all of Nigerian Red Cross, Lagos State branch during a 2-day seminar on: The Role Of Volunteers Before, During And After Disaster" at the Makoko office of Red Cross in Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

Group canvasses support for Jonathan, seeks free, fair elections

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AGOS—NIGERIANS have been called upon to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the forth coming elections so that he would complete the “good works he had started.”

In a release, a group under the aegis of Nigeria Renaissance Forum, said President Jonathan had made groundbreaking and giant strides in agriculture; education, health, power, roads, aviation, oil and gas, amongst other achievements and, therefore, deserves a re-election.

A statement signed by Engr. Marshal Kunoun, Chairman and Ms Hilda Dokubo, Secretary of the group said other Jonathan’s achievements, in the financial sector, job creation, non oil exports, housing, manufacturing, entertainment industry, Information Communication Technology (ICT), the Rule of Law, women empowerment, should be taken note of, while taking decision on who to vote for.

According to the Renaissance Forum, “Nigerians are anxiously wondering what would happen at the elections considering hues and cries of the major players. In many ways, like the 2011

elections, members of the public are expressing fear over words and actions of some notable players, whose utterances have continued to over-heat the already tense state of affairs arising from the security challenge of the Boko Haram sect, kidnappings and militant activities.

“Even the story of the formation of a parallel government by the All Progressives Congress, APC, if his party is not satisfied with the elections, is another point to ponder, though the APC Chairman, Chief Oyegun and other party stalwarts had to apologise for that statement.

“We of the Nigeria Renaissance Forum, rise in utter condemnation of these negative attributes of intolerance of opposing views or do-or-die politics that is becoming the hallmark of elections for political offices in our country.

“Let Nigerians obtain their Permanent Voters Cards, go to their polling centres and freely decide who they want to govern them without fear of harassment on Saturday, February 14, 2015 and the other elections.”

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

NG A- The NGA strands, the strides in 20 14 201

By Oji Onoko

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T was a year of intense activities for the National Gallery of Art (NGA). It began on an intellectual note with the maiden Nupe Art Conference/ Exhibition which took place in the ancient city of Bida, Niger State.

Traditional artists from the nooks and crannies of the old Nupe kingdom displayed different works ranging from paintings, sculptures and textiles to the admiration of all present.

The highpoint of the event was the lecture, titled, “Nupe Arts: A Renaissance” delivered by the Secretary, Nupe Culture & Resource Centre, Bida and Head, Research & Documentation, Governor’s office, Minna, Dr. Ndagi Abdullahi who asserted that the ancient Nupe people were not just the masters of Arts, but were by and large the originators of the Arts of ancient Nigeria.

“The ancient Nok culture is now being discovered to have had its epicentre, and origin located in the Greater KinNupe of former times whence the culture actually spread to the Jos Plateau area where it is now associated with Kwai and Jos Tin mines!” he declared.

This was followed by the annual NGA Children’s Day Art Competition which drew pupils and students from the Federal Capital Territory FCT) to the Women Development Centre, venue of the occasion in Abuja and the 22 state capitals of Nigeria where NGA has offices.

The children had a swell time displaying their talents in all aspects of visual art and

performance.

Then came “Art of Friendship” initiated in 2012 as a platform for Nigerian artists to cross-fertilize ideas with their counterparts from other nations through their embassies in Nigeria. The “Art of Friendship 2” the second in the series involved Nigeria and four other countries- Republic of Czech, France, Italy and South Korea. The exhibition which took place at the FCT Archives and History Bureau witnessed an impressive crowd which included the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, Director-General, NGA, Abdullahi Muku, management and staff of the Gallery, the Ambassadors of the participating countries and their Cultural Attaches, artists residing in Abuja and numerous foreign and local

The logo is not just a design but a symbolic representation of a global convergence of artists, art scholars, enthusiasts and more on the city of Abuja

•Afia Mgbede- Night Market, Photography by Chukwuka Okenwa art lovers. There were 40 works of art on display, comprising paintings, mix-media, drawing, sculpture and printmaking.

The Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja later played host to the NGA 5th National Visual Arts Competition/Awards in the Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Professional categories. The exhibited works showed great promise from the budding artists. The winners were rewarded with cash prizes as incentive to do more and a motivation for others to strive for excellence.

The train then moved to Kaduna for the second edition of the NGA in-house exhibition, tagged, “Together Again” at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Club with the apt theme of peaceful co-existence and unity among Nigerians. The exhibiting artists were more than grateful for the opportunity to showcase their works by NGA. The Art Fair was inaugurated by NGA last year in a deliberate move to

FG reviews cultural policy, partners UNESCO for UCH documentation

By Caleb Ayansina

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HE Federal government has said that it was reviewing the current National Policy on culture to reflect the provisions required for effective safeguarding of the 2003 Convention on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in the country.

Consequently, the government solicited the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to help in documenting the country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage; such as performing arts, social practices, traditional craftsmanship among others.

The Minister of Tourism, Cul-

ture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, stated this at the launching of the project for the support of the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Nigeria, in Abuja.

The convention had the theme: “Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Nigeria”.

The Minister represented by the Director of International Relation, Mr George Ufot, recalled that prior to the ratification of the convention in 2005, Nigeria had actively involved in the intergovernmental meetings leading to the elaboration and adoption of the convention.

Duke however maintained that much achievement could not be recorded due to gaps in the existing legislation as well as the insufficient human power to enable the safeguard of ICH in the country.

“As inventories are the first step of safeguarding and a state obligation to drive the process forward. It is important to seek some assistance that is why we have asked for UNESCO’s financial assistance for comprehensive documentation our vast Intangible Cultural Resources in a software data base and a hard copy publication.”

The Minister noted that “Nigeria has presently the inscribed

encourage professional artists in its employ to produce works for public exhibitions thereby sharpening their skills and developing bodies of works just like their peers in studio practice.

The Art fair equally took place in Enugu for most of the NGA artists in the South East zone.

Creative evidence Elated by the quality of the 42 works on display by the 32 inhouse artists, the NGA Director General who sees the initiative as a balancing act, stated: “As reflected in the creative evidence before our very eyes, these artists who have never faltered in their daily administrative duties have also not forgotten all it takes to keep the sustenance of their professional discipline in motion and tempo.”

But the peak of it all for NGA this year was the unveiling of the Abuja Biennial Logo at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua which

elements, two namely the Oral Heritage of Gelede along with the Republic of Benin, and Togo and Ifa Divination System, a unique corpus of knowledge, formally proclaimed Masterpieces were integrated in 2008 in to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity along with 88 other elements from different countries.”

Also speaking, the Regional Country Director,UNESCO, Prof. Hassana Alidou, noted that there was need to develop a database of the various tangible and intangible cultural heritage and services across the country.

Alidou added that training and retraining of cultural administrators would also help in safeguarding the ICH. The Director assured that

heralds the hosting of the Abuja Biennial in the last quarter of 2015 in the Federal Capital.

According to Barrister Hipo Onwuegbuke, Board Chairman, NGA, the logo is not just a design but a symbolic representation of a global convergence of artists, art scholars, enthusiasts and more on the city of Abuja. The Minister of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke put it succinctly: “The unveiling of the Abuja Biennial Logo is just a route; a modest ceremony ladened with expectations of the eventual creative enterprise. Beyond the unveiling lies the actual Abuja Biennial, a global event that will assemble the best creative minds from all over the world on the soil of Abuja. The Biennial opens the double window of opportunities to international artists, tourists and patrons whose presence and patronage are capable of energizing our economy.”

UNESCO would create awareness among ministries, departments and agencies, including the United Nations agencies on the importance of culture for development.

“Intangible cultural heritage is an essential component of human development, it represents a source of identity, innovation and creativity for individuals and “This had made it necessary for communities. culture its place at and the “It is a to linktake between culture heart of development policies,” all sectors of the society for socioshe said. development espeeconomic The in Japanese Ambassador to cially a country with over 160 Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji said million people. that the Japanesethe government “Safeguarding ICH and was committed to thediversity recovery in of promoting cultural Nigeria’s cultural heritage. general has become absolute imShoji added project was perative in that thethecontext of funded to enable easy recogniglobalisation.''

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 57

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58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

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ZIDIRI—I, formerly

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 59

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Aussie Open: Murray reaches 4th final A

NDY Murray came storming back after a poor start to beat Tomas Berdych and reach his fourth Australian Open final.

The British number one lost a tense first set but recovered to win 6-7 (68) 6-0 6-3 7-5.

It will be the sixth seed’s eighth Grand Slam final and first working with Amelie Mauresmo, with ex-coach Dani Vallverdu now in Berdych’s corner.

“There was a little bit of extra tension - it was a big match,” said Murray.

“A lot was made about Dani Vallverdu, my former coach, working with Tomas.

“But we’ve been friends since we were 15 years old and I felt that the focus was unfair and unnecessary.

“This is sport - and there’s more to life than sport. It created a bit of extra tension but every-

•Murray one calmed down after start of the match.”

The Scot’s hopes were under threat after losing a tension-filled opening set, but he turned it around with a brilliant lob early in the second and took control with seven straight games.

Berdych, 29, had started much the better and served for the set at 5-3, only for Murray to break straight back in a rally of huge forehands and celebrate wildly in the direction of the Czech’s player box.

Serena to face Sharapova in final

FACE-TO-FACE ... Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova ready for final

S

ERENA Williams will face Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final after the pair won their semifinals in straight sets in Melbourne.

World number two Sharapova won an allRussian contest against Ekaterina Makarova 63 6-2.

Williams, the top seed, converted her ninth match point to beat fellow American Madison Keys 7-6 (75) 6-2.

Britain’s Andy Murray takes on Czech Tomas Berdych in the first men’s semi-final at 08:30 GMT. Williams, 33, capped a fine performance with a dramatic ending as she saw seven match

points slip by at 5-1, before converting her ninth with an ace and a scream in the following game.

Keys, 19, matched Will-

iams for power but not always control as the 18-time Grand Slam champion edged a tight match over one hour and 24 minutes.

Berdych: I lost my serve, but life goes on

S

EVENTH seed Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray dismissed reports of tension between them after the Czech was knocked out of the Australian Open.

Berdych, who is now coached by Dani Vellverdu — a former member of Murray’s coaching team — started at a blistering pace that had the Scot hanging on by his fingernails as he scrambled all

around court to save his own serve.

The Czech conceded just two points on his first four service games before Murray clawed his way back with Berdych serving for the set at 5-3 and then forced it into a tiebreak, which the seventh seed surprisingly won after saving a set point when Murray hit a forehand into the net.

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60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Ameobi joins Crystal Palace S

Kalu Uche returns to La Liga N

IGERIAN forward Kalu Uche has been announced by Levante as their latest signing, as the Valencian side strengthen their attacking options for the second half of the season.

Levante have officially announced the signing of experienced Nigerian forward, Kalu Uche, who joins the club on an initial contract until June of this year, though with an option to extend

HOLA Ameobi has joined Crystal Palace on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

The former Newcastle man looked close to joining West Brom a few days ago, but opted to join his former manager Alan Pardew at Palace instead.

Ameobi played almost 400 games for Newcastle, scoring 79 goals.

The 33-year-old Nigeria international departed England in May 2014 to join Turkish side Gaziantep, but he left Turkey in December.

“I’m very excited to be here, I wanted to get back in the Premier League and having worked with the

that for another season, if the move works out well for the player and the Valencian side.

Older brother of Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche, Kalu now will now reside a short distance away from his sibling, whilst Levante are hopeful that his past experience in La Liga will provide a significant boost to their side, as they battle to avoid relegation from the Spanish top-flight.

Costa contests stamping charge

C

HELSEA striker Diego Costa is contesting the Football Association’s charge for violent conduct — a move which has the full support of the club.

The Spain international is facing an immediate three-match ban for his apparent stamp on the Liverpool’s Emre Can during Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg at

•Costa

Guinea •Continues from BP Modibo Maiga’s 47th minute equaliser earned Mali a 1-1 draw after Kevin Constant had given Guinea an early lead.

Maiga’s goal was ultimately in vain, however, with Guinea being picked at random to go through on Thursday.

Guinea have not qualified for the quarterfinals since 2008 and have not progressed beyond the last eight since 1976.

Their knockout fixture against Ghana will take place in Malabo on Sunday.

Stamford Bridge.

Costa has until 6pm to respond to the charge of violent conduct and it is understood the striker will be contesting.

The Costa incident one of several during an action-packed 120 minutes - happened in close proximity to the dugouts, but was missed by the match officials. It was subsequently reviewed on video by referee Michael Oliver, with the charge following as part of the FA’s fast-tracked procedures.

The fate of Costa’s appeal will be known on Friday, while there is a possibility it could even be decided late on Thursday. Either way, there will be a resolution before Saturday ’s mouth-watering contest with title rivals City - a match Chelsea have announced they will not be holding a press conference ahead of.

Agbonavbare •Continues from BP teammate of Agbonavbare said that Rayo Vallecano would be playing the match in honour of the former New Nigeria of Benin goalkeeper, who he hailed as a rare breed.

“Wilfred deserves much more than a victory. The people who were lucky enough to meet and spend time with him are still grieving that his battle with cancer had a sad ending. I always say that Wilfred was one of those people who should not have died ever.

•Kalu

•Ameobi manager before it’s been great to come back and hopefully help us avoid the relegation battle,” Ameobi told the Palace website.

“I had a couple of other clubs interested but I think my relationship with Alan [Pardew] and how much I enjoyed working with him was one of the big factor in my decision.''

Mbia disappointed with Afcon exit I

N the wake of their 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournament exit at the hands of rivals Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon skipper Stephane Mbia said they gave everything on the pitch.

The Indomitable Lions lost by 1-0 courtesy of a classy strike by Max Gradel in the first-half, however Volker Finke’s side tried all they could to find an equaliser but it was all in vain as their road came to an end in the 30th edition of the tournament.

Mbia missed the first match for the side due to a red card he received in the final qualifiers match against the same Ivorian side.

“We gave everything on the pitch but it is a disappointment, we didn’t qualify but we need to remain positive,” said Mbia.

“These are people who should have always been with us. He was a good person, loving, so I am very angry that he had the end he has had”, added Jemez On tonight’s game, the Rayo coach said “many times we say that if a win or a party is right or wrong. This is really unfair, but always remain in the memories it has been for us. I had the great fortune to be his companion and friend. No matter what we give the family, it can’t replace their father.

But if a victory would brighten the moment in memory of Willy, we will do everything to make it possible”.

•Mbia (r) contests for the ball with Yaya Toure.

•Continues from BP

Onigbinde

and personally, I can tell you that players, coaches, journalists, television stations and even the soccer image of the country will be in pains during and after the tournament.

“The cost of Nigeria’s absence cannot be quantified, it is huge, especially for young players whose careers hinge on their appearances at the Nations Cup.” In the same vein, former Nigeria international, Edema Fuludu has said Super Eagles failure to qualify for the tournament could have an adverse effect

on the prospect of budding Nigerian football stars.

Fuludu who was part of the Africa Cup of Nations winning side of 1994, said while the world watched the tournament looking for the next big undiscovered talent, no one would be interested in Nigeria, which didn’t augur well for aspiring football stars in the country..

AFCON is typically seen as an opportunity for young talents to show off their ability with the hope of securing lucrative contracts with big teams from around

the world.

Fuludu said this was unlikely to happen now until the next tournament, putting the next generation of his nations talents at a disadvantage.

“Economically, our non-presence in this football party in Equatorial Guinea is not good for us, because, it is a bad business for the local league,” He said.

“It will affect the domestic league in a way because the players, who stood to benefit, may be ignored by those who want to take them out to ply their trade in Europe and other parts of the World.”

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

Afcon 2015: Guinea through in drawing of lots

G

UINEA have won a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals ahead of Mali following the drawing of lots.

Guinea will meet Ghana in the Africa Cup

of Nations quarter-final after progressing at the expense of Mali in the drawing of lots to decide Group D. The Ivory Coast were already assured of their place in the last eight as

Afcon 2015: Cost of Eagles absence huge – Onigbinde A

S Nigeria reels from not being part of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea, a competition they won in 2013, former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde has said the cost to the

group winners, but Guinea and Mali faced a nervous wait after ending the first round with identical records.

A victory for either in the last round of group fixtures would have been enough to seal qualification, but

•Continues on Page 60

Nigerian football fraternity cannot be quantified.

“Everyone is a loser,” he said “I say this because we have suffered the same fate on many occasions

•Continues on Page 60

•Ibrahim Traore

Agbonavbare should not have died — Rayo coach •Eyes Deportivo win for Agbonavbare

By John Egbokhan

C

TUSSLE... Mali’s midfielder Seydou Keita (r) vies with Guinea’s Ibrahima Conte during the 2015 African Cup of Nations group D match on Wednesday in Mongomo. The match ended 1-1. Photo: AFP

Aussie Open: Serena to face Sharapova in final — Pg 59

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

OACH Paco Jemez of Rayo Vallecano has lamented the passage of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, who he noted should not have died.

Agbonavbare, on Tuesday morning, lost

his battle to throat cancer at a Spanish hospital, leaving behind three children, whose mother, was also struck down by breast cancer some three years ago.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Spanish La Liga match against Deportivo La Coruna, Jemez, who was a former •Continues on Page 60

•Agbonavbare

QUICK CROSSWORD

ANSWERS

DOWN: ACROSS: 1 Straightforward (6) 1 Depart (6) 5 Tool (4) 2 Vertebrates (8) 8 Additional (5) 3 Nut (6) 9 Hat (3) 4 Fatigued (9) 10 Suspire (4) 5 Store (7) 11 Extent (4) 6 Platform (4) 12 Matches (5) 7 Organs (4) 13 Girl (6) 8 Ovum (3) 16 Moistens (4) 14 Novices (9) 18 Principal (4) 20 Seed (3) 15 Cold (3) 22 Cereal (3) 17 Sailor (3) 23 Line (3) 19 Alleviated (8) 24 Large (4) 20 Bowl (3) 25 Victim (4) 21 Sportsperson (7) 28 Submissive (6) 26 Adolescents (6) 30 Dramas (5) 27 Sport (6) 32 Fruit (4) 29 Inquires (4) 33 Tense (4) 34 Vehicle (3) 30 Situation (4) 35 Horse (5) 31 Unhappy (3) 36 Place (4) 37 Comments (6)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Legal 9, Abused 10, Bishop 11, Tired 12, Scar 15, Iota 17, Horizon 20, Shy 21, Robot 23, Even 25, Erne 26, Route 28, Rid 30, Handled 33, Herd 35, Ease 36, Wound 38, Mental 39, Erects 40, Ready.

DOWN: 1, Harsh 2, Sugar 3, Let 4, Editor 5, Abet 6, Lid 7, Chaos 8, Spray 13, Coterie 14, River 16, Thieves 18, North 19, Hoe 22, Trade 24, Now 27, Earned 28, Rhyme 29, Drunk 31, Larch 32, Dense 34, Hole 36, War 37, Dry

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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