72 hours after drama in Aso Rock: Jonathan, Amaechi embrace in public

PAGE 2 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 3

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How Fulani insurgents raided Plateau villages

BY TAYE OBATERU

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ore light has been shed on how suspected Fulani insurgents who raided some villages in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday engaged members of the Special Task Force (STF) maintaining security in the state in cross fire for over two hours.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the apparently well-armed attackers in a show of power, took on soldiers of the STF who moved to the area following a distress call, but lost 20 men in the process.

It was learnt that the assailants, having had a field day at Magama where they killed 23 people and burnt several houses, moved to Bolgang where they killed eight people and were taking the onslaught to Karkishi when the STF members halted their advance.

Sound of gunfire was said to have rented the air

for hours forcing residents of the area to flee to safety.

However, many of those who fled were said to have started returning by Friday following the activities of the STF which gave them some confidence.

Meanwhile, the state house of assembly has summoned chairmen of the six local government caretaker committees in the Southern Senatorial District over renewed violence in the zone.

Speaker of the house, Mr. John Dabwan, said the meeting would assist in finding a solution to the recurring attacks on the people in the local government areas.

STF Media Officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, had on on Friday confirmed that 28 people were killed by the attackers who also lost 20 men during the cross fire with soldiers.

He said the attackers later retreated to Yamini, Yelwal, Shendam and Agikamai villages in neighboring Shendam Local Government Area adding, “some who sustained gunshot

injuries were arrested while some motorcycles, weapons and ammunition were also recovered.”

In a related development, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olapke, has said a special force would be put in place to fish out illegal arms and ammunition in wrong hands in parts of the state.

He stated this while

briefing journalists at the weekend, expressing concern over the proliferation of arms which he believed was responsible for the frequent violence in the area.

He promised that the peace parley with stakeholders in Langtang North, Langtang South and Shendam would be sustained as a way of fostering peace.

Gun men kidnap three corps members in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT: THREE corps members have been kidnapped at the Corpers’lodge in Ogonokom Community Secondary school, Abua/ Odua local government area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe confirmed the development. Sunday Vanguard gathered that

23 remanded in prison for sanitation *Amosun Inspects First Ijebu offences in Ogun Ode Flyover

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday inspected the flyovers under construction in Ijebu Ode and urged the construction firm to redouble its efforts in order to complete the projects in a record time.

The governor also monitored the monthly environmental sanitation where he urged law enforcement officers to arrest and prosecute offenders of the exercise

in accordance with the law. The two flyovers, according to a statement by media aide of the governor, Funmi Wakama, are located at Mobalufon junction, along Sagamu-Benin road and Bobasua/Lagos Garage.

When completed, the Mobalufon bridge will end the regular carnage on the expressway as vehicles moving to Ijebu Ode will now use the flyover instead of risking head-on collision with

those coming from the Benin end of the expressway. The flyover descends into the 6-lane international standard Moblufon-FolagbadeImepe-Ibadan Road being constructed by the current administration.

Commuters along the Ondo-Benin Road will not experience any traffic gridlock at Bobasua/ Lagos Garage as another flyover is being constructed at the Tjunction.

Amosun expressed satisfaction

those kidnapped were two males and one female corps members.

Sources around the Corpers’lodge told the Sunday Vanguard that the kidnappers stormed the lodge at about 12 midnight yesterday, adding that they shot sporadically to scare the neighbourhood.

As press time, Sunday Vanguard learnt that no contact had been established with relatives and colleagues of the kidnapped Corps members for ransom. The state DSP Agabe said that the Police was on top of the situation, stressing that efforts were on to secure the release of the hostages, a development community sources corroborated when they spoke to the Sunday Vanguard.

Abduction of Corps members is not a strange incident in the state as they had been kidnapped about four times in the last three years.

A source at the National Youth Service Corp secretariat said Corps members at Ogonokom community had been relocated temporarily to a nearby community for safety. “They might go back to Ogonokom community when their security is assured”, the source said.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 5

Boko Haram kills 15, sacks 7 communities in Borno * JTF recovers arms in Yobe

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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UNMEN suspected to be members of Boko Haram yesterday attacked seven hilly communities in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and killed about 15 people. They attacked the areas with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs, torching many houses and carting away food items and livestock.

Though details of the number of people and houses destroyed in the multiple attacks were sketchy, an anonymous community leader of Kunde said 15 people were killed by terrorists, when they overran six other communities of Gathahure, Hwa’a, Tihezeh, Hrazah, Hembe and Gjigga on the Mandara Hills, that stretch for 16 kilometres, east of Gwoza, the council h e a d q u a r t e r s .

This came as members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stormed a Boko Haram hideout in Fune Local Council of Yobe State and recovered arms and ammunition used by the sect.

Meanwhile, youths popularly called Civilian JTF, invaded Sulimanti Ward, a suburb of Maiduguri Metropolis in a search of a Boko Haram suspects.

The Kunde leader said residents of the community and six others fled to Gwoza town, Barawa, Agaplawa, Kurana Bassa, Kwatara, Limankara and Ngoshe Ndahang.

The other communities ransacked by the terrorists, he said, include border towns of the Republic of Cameroon, where some of the residents had fled with their wives and children.

Education First! Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, with a young normad on the sideline of his inspection visit to the 107km Ilara-Ilase Road in Ogun West Senatorial District, yesterday.

Confirming the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, a top military source of the Special Operations Forces (MISOF) at Barawa, a border village said: “some of the villages on Gwoza Hills cannot be accessed by our men because of the difficult terrain. Our men can only be stationed at this village for our operations with fighter jets that could bombard the hills with cannons to destroy the training camps and hideouts of Boko Haram sect members.”

On casualties of the attacks, he said that one of the community leaders reported to the Divisional Police Officer of Gwoza that 15 people were killed by the terrorists.

Due to the total closure of GSM network services in Borno State for the past one month, the JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (3rd left), his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola (3rd right), National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2nd right), Rivers State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (left), Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu l (2nd left) and Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rt. Rev. Monsignor Bernard Okoduwa (right) during a special prayer session to mark Fashola’s 50th birthday at the State House, Marina.

Musa and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin could not be reached for comments.

JTF Recover arms in Yobe Twenty - four hours after attacking a JTF post at Potiskum in Yobe State, soldiers smashed a Boko Haram hideout and recovered of arms and ammunition, including police jacket and helmets; after they had attacked another post in Fune Local Government Area of the State on Friday night.

Displaying the recovered arms and ammunition yesterday in

Damaturu, spokesman of JTF, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus said: “the gunmen had on Friday attacked our JTF check point in Fune council area; and snatched a Police vehicle containing 86 helmets and jackets. Our men have also made recoveries of two vehicles, arms, ammunition and other materials used for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”

Speaking on how the insurgents’ hideout was smashed, he said: “our men pursued and engaged them in a fierce gun battle, overpowered the terrorists and

recovered this stolen vehicle as well as another one used by the Boko Haram armed sect.

“Other items recovered include, an AK47 rifle, three Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) bombs, three RPG chargers, a riot gun, and 485 rounds of ammunition.”

Lt. Lazarus also said that, 42 police fragmentation jackets, 44 police helmets, six AK47 rifle magazines, 80 fragmentation blades and illicit drugs were also recovered from the hoodlums.

Jonathan, Amaechi embrace in public Continues from page 1 capital.

The embrace took place at the Port-Harcourt International Airport when Jonathan was returning from his home state of Bayelsa where he commissioned a hospital facility.

Presidential Villa operatives had, on Wednesday, blocked Amaechi from getting to Jonathan at the seat of power during a dinner, an action that was interpreted in many quarters as stemming from the crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

The Aso Rock incident was the climax of the crisis in the NGF which saw the President disposed to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as chairman of the body as against Amaechi, who secured a second term as the NGF chairman with 19 votes to 16.

Jonathan, en route Abuja

after the Bayelsa visit, yesterday, embraced Amaechi at the Port-Harcourt Airport.

He arrived the airport in a presidential chopper.

As the president emerged from the helicopter, he made for the tarmac where the Rivers governor stood with members of his state executive council.

Astonishment Both men were locked in an embrace after a handshake while those around watched in astonishment.

Those at the airport included the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, the arrowhead of opposition to Amaechi in Rivers State, and the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Chris Oboh.

Jonathan later boarded the presidential jet for Abuja.

Maternal Mortality Earlier, while in Bayelsa, the President commissioned a 40-

bed Comprehensive Cottage Hospital in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area, saying the nation’s maternal mortality rate had dropped by 30 per cent in the last four years.

The multi million Naira health facility, built by the Bayelsa State Government, is located at the president’s home town.

Speaking at the occasion, Jonathan put the nation’s current maternal mortality rate at 350 as against 500 deaths per one hundred thousand women recorded in 2008.

His administration, he assured, would not relent in its efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, target of 250 per one hundred thousand women by 2015.

The President, who reiterated his commitment to the MDGs, especially in the health sector, said all hands would be on deck at ensuring that the nation achieves its MDGs objectives in all the sectors by 2015.

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013

Uyo summit: We ‘re not anti-Jonathan, Ijaws renew support for Orubebe democracy—Briggs

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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RGANISERS of the National Political Summit on the future of Nigeria tagged:

Uyo 2013 have described as unfair and uncharitable comments attributed to Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, that those billed to participate in the event were saboteurs of democracy and enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan that he could not sit with them.

Responding to the comments yesterday, Ms Ankio Briggs, one of the South-South coordinators of the summit, said Clark’s words were harsh and unacceptable.

Her words: “How can calling for this summit of Nigerians from different sectors and parts of the country to discuss the future of Nigeria, call for a Sovereign National Conference, people’s constitution and true federalism amount to being unpatriotic, undemocratic and enemy of President Jonathan? I find it difficult to believe that my elder and leader, Chief E.K Clark feel that when people sit down to discuss the future of Nigeria they are unpatriotic and undemocratic. It is harsh.

“The summit is not about President Jonathan as a person or president. It is about Nigeria, the future of Nigeria and the way forward. I am a supporter of Jonathan myself. Clark was invited. If he doesn’t want to attend, it does not mean those who are attending are enemies of Jonathan. We have been saying that we want SNC. There have been other

summits that Clark attended. He was at the Lagos summit.

“I will attend. It is a wrong impression to see the summit as being about Jonathan. The summit is not anti-Jonathan. I believe that we must have a national conference before 2015 if Nigeria is to survive. It is in the interest of President

Jonathan to have a national conference. May be President Jonathan would be the first president to have the wisdom, boldness and courage to say Nigerians have been clamouring for national conference, let’s give it to them.”

Wondering how eminent Nigerians like Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Professor Itse Sagay, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, Amanayabo

Alfred Diete-Spiff, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu and Chief Olu falae and others, who fought for democracy and almost died in the struggle during the military era could be branded enemies of democracy, Briggs said, “ we are not enemies of Jonathan. We are not saboteurs democracy. We are protecting democracy in Nigeria.”

From left: Chief Sinari Daranijo,Osupa Adinni of Lagos, Bashorun S. AlabiMacfoy,Bashorun Musulumi of Lagos and Alhaji Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Abou, Baba Adinni of Lagos during the 10th year remembrance and prayer for late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan at the Central Mosque, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye

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jaws in Delta State have renewed their support for the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe’s governorship ambition if he decides to contest in 2015.

Coordinator of Izon communities in the state, Chief Bare Etolor, who spoke after a meeting in Warri, noted that the minister will further transform the state by ensuring rapid development across the 25 local government areas if he becomes g o v e r n o r .

Etolor, a former chairman, Izon Council of Elders (Izon Okosutu), said his people were not happy over negative claims against the minister.

He expressed displeasure over Chief Edwin Clark’s recent attack on Orubebe which borders on his governorship ambition in the state, adding that such open condemnation should not have come

Delta community alleges marginalisation

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he people of Akoku in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State are crying of being marginalised by federal and state governments .At a general meeting of sons and daughters of Akoka, at the town hall in Delta, the Onochieze of Akoka Kingdom , Chief Olisemenogor, recalled how sad it was for Akoku land with four big towns of Obi-obeti ,Umuaja, Ugulu and Akoku inland to have only one ward, whereas villagesin the state have two or three wards, thereby producing

several councillors as against Akoku producing only one. He emphasized on the need for more wards to be created out from Akoku ward 2.

The highlight of the

meeting was the setting up of a six man committee comprising of Chief Sunday Ogwu, Col Chris Okubor (rtd), Chief Ashibudike Otutu, Prof Felix Okpiliki , Hon Leo

Esegbue as Chairman, and Mr Donatus Aghenu as secretary with the mandate to convey the position of the communities to all tiers of Government

from the eminent Ijaw national leader.

According to him, Ijaw leaders have since dismissed Clark’s statement as his personal opinion because everybody has his own life to live.

Etolor, however, lauded the effort of the Urhobo Elders and Leaders Stakeholders Forum for having the courage to attack corrupt people in government but enjoined them to go further in exposing contractors who got millions of naira as mobilization fees without executing projects.

Newspaper distributor in Ijesaland dies Mr Paul Adeniyi Fadugba is dead. The newspaper distributor died in his home town, Ilesa, Osun State on Wednesday, June 26.

Fadugba, aged 60, was a newspaper distributor for 42 years.

He is survived by six children and a wife.

He will be buried at his residence, Iyemogun road, behind Ilesa East local government secretariat, tomorrow.

GLO SLIDE AND BOUNCE SHOW: Omawumi, turn them into employers of Waje advise youths labour in addition to their

l o b a c o m ambassadors and G singers, Omawumi and Waje, have advised youths to be focused, determined and disciplined in whatever they do so as to excel Addressing hundreds of students who stormed the

Mission Road, Benin’s Regional office of Globacom for the “Meet and Greet” segment of the Glo Slide and Bounce Tour, Delta State born Omawumi urged the youth to be engaged in entrepreneurial endeavours which would

education. Her appearance turned the Glo world shop to a carnival ground as the fans of the talented female artiste trooped in to have a glimpse of the singer who took time off to sign autographs.

Late Adeniyi

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 7

EX-PRESIDENT’S LAST DAYS REVEALED

‘How Oyedepo, Onaiyekan, others tried to save Yar’Adua’ *Family warned to evacuate ex-president 3 weeks before death – PFN scribe

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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he late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua may not have died had the family heeded the advice to evacuate him from Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja three weeks before he died.

National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, one of the four pastors who visited the Villa to pray for Yar’Adua at the height of his sickness in 2010, disclosed this at the weekend.

The three other pastors were Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith World Outreach, aka Winners Chapel; Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Bishop of Abuja; and erstwhile Aso Rock Chaplain, Prof. Yusuf Obaje. The pastors visited the seat of power for the prayer session after Yar’Adua was flown back from Saudi Arabia where he had been taken for treatment for an undisclosed illness.

The PFN National Secretary said he told the

Yar ’Adua family at the meeting that there was the need to take the president out of Aso Rock within three weeks to keep him alive.

According to him, however, they shunned the advice as they were afraid that President Goodluck Jonathan, then vice president, would take over (power) if they took him out of the Villa immediately.

“Of course, I was not obeyed and exactly three weeks after that visit, he died”, Kure, based in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, but spoke to Sunday Vanguard in Lagos, last week, said.

Narrating what transpired at the prayer session for Yar ’Adua, which he claimed lasted about 10 minutes, “sharp and straight to the point”, the PFN leader said: “When we went in there, they pulled me aside and said the reason you are here sir, go beyond that, can God show mercy?

Can God change these things? It’s like deep inside of them, they felt he (Yar ’Adua) might not survive. And they had the right to ask God for mercy.

That was why they called in the Muslims and the Christians”.

He continued: “So I knew my own mission but I sensed things do not happen like that and I told them what would make him escape death.

I told them privately. That is, me and them, it had nothing to do with the four (he and the other pastors). My reason for being called was slightly different from the other three. I think Oyedepo was called because of the miracles (he was performing) in the Living Faith Church. We were called in because they believed we have access to God and that we could pray some effective prayers that would help the matter.

‘Not politically convenient’ “I told them the Lord said that within three weeks they should take him out of the Villa to somewhere he’d be without pressure. That was the time the polity was heating up. I told them to take him away from there (Aso Rock) because while there

L-R; Ashish Thakkar, President Mara Group, Ini Onuk, Lead Consultant, Thistle Praxis and Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River state at the AR-CSR CEO Roundtable conference held in Tinap, Cross River State within those three weeks, even if as much as one mosquito bite him, he would die. I told them I saw only three weeks. So if they had taken him out within those three weeks, maybe God would have shown mercy and given him some rest and added some time to his life. I don’t know how much, I’m not God. I’m just an oracle who spoke for that season.

And the understanding I got later, I was told they couldn’t take him out because it was not politically convenient. They were afraid that Jonathan

would take over if they took him out immediately.

He kept him there to ensure that Jonathan did not take over even when it was to the detriment of his health. Maybe it was a tactical move; the wife had no say in the matter”.

Captivity Exonerating the former president’s wife, Turai, from blame over the failure to move Yar’Adua from Aso Rock as advised, Kure said, “Nigerian politicians are very complicated and sophisticated people when they know their interests are at stake;

they will use you to remain relevant. They will keep you there until they get what they want. I think she was also in captivity.

Of course she would have wanted her husband to live; she would have wanted to remain the first lady naturally. Let’s not pretend about these things. Constitutionally it was not her call; it was the politicians’ call which was what the people in the National Assembly and Nigerians were making that, `let the constitution have its way’. It was a constitutional call, it was not her call”.

Full interview next week.

AS NCC DISCONNECTS UNREGISTERED SIMS TODAY...

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU f you are reading this I and you have not registered your phone line(s),

it may just be almost late. In fact, you need not wonder why you may neither receive nor complete any calls from today.

This is because the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says the collation, harmonisation and authentication of the subscriber’s identification modules, SIMs card registration it embarked upon in conjunction with all the telecom operators in Nigeria, since 2011, ends today, and those whose numbers were not captured will be disconnected.

For the past two years, the industry regulator (NCC) has embarked on a massive campaign, sensitizing telephone subscribers on the need to register their phones to enable a proper record of subscribers in the country, effective monitoring of telecommunications activities and cut down on phone-related crimes.

The regulator also made it clear that after a sixmonth period which expires on September 2011, those who did not register their lines stood the risk of losing them by deactivation.

However, following the panic, tension and anxiety

27million lines at risk *164 million phones connected, 119m active as the exercise came to an end, the Commission allowed a grace period by asking people who had not registered to go to their operators to do so while it was collating, harmonising and authenticating the data already gathered.

The harmonisation and authentication exercise have taken over one year and the NCC, a few months back, declared that on June 30, 2013, all unregistered lines would be deactivated.

Tension in the industry is at its height. This also reflects the growing nature of Nigerian telecom industry and the intrigues which heralded the exercise, March 2011 when it was flagged off.

As at Thursday, about 27 million SIMs out of the 164 million connected lines and 119 million active were said to be still unregistered.

MTN Nigeria, according to figures from the NCC has 52 million subscribers; Globacom, 24.3 million; Airtel, 24.1 million; and Etisalat, 15.1 million.

How it all beganIn the wake of unending security challenges facing the country, it became expedient that measures needed to be

taken. In 2009, the then Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Engr Ernest Ndukwe, opted for SIM registration as one of the measures.

SIM registration is a standard practice in almost all economies of the world for its ability to check phone crimes and, in Nigeria, such crimes, including death threats via text messages and kidnappings, were becoming common.

A meeting between the regulator, operators and other stakeholders were held where government mandated the operators to start registering subscribers.

However, it was learnt that the operators expressed inability to do a good job in less than three years, prompting the agreement that they should register new entrants while the regulator finds way of registering existing subscribers.

The operators later went on registration of both the new and old subscribers.

The action infuriated the regulator.

Then the regulator under the current EVC, Dr Eugene Juwah, presented a budget of N6.1 billion for the exercise. The budget caused

some stir at the National Assembly and the telecom sector and created different camps that engaged in claims of whether the bill was justified or not.

Eventually, on February 14, 2011, the exercise began.

Campaign Subscribers initially were reluctant to adapt to the new directive and it became clear that something needed to lure them into the exercise. The operators introduced different packages.

Globacom for instance offered reward packages including a guaranteed 30 minutes free airtime (10) minutes per month for 3 months, all expense-paid trip to Manchester or Dubai to 60 registered customers (20 per month for 3 months) and N20,000 airtime to 300 lucky winners(100 per month for 3 months).

Meanwhile the company has made over 17 millionaires in the N1m category of the promo.

Etisalat Nigeria introduced 9ja Free Credit Promo, designed to reward new and existing subscribers who register or

have registered their SIM cards. The promo gives a 30 per cent bonus credit to call any network. With consistent text messages ardio jingles and TV commercials, Airtel lured subscribers to register their SIM cards and win a gift. Other operators like Visafone opted for the direct marketing strategy including road shows.

MTN Nigeria embarked on the billionaire promo tagged the BIG Reward programme.

Improved turn-out Confirming improved turnout of customers at the SIM registration centres since the launch of the Big Reward, MTN General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Kola Oyeyemi, said,. “That is the overriding objective of the BIG Reward programme; getting subscribers to register so that we can have a credible database of telephone users for our country. When we have such a database, government can better plan the economy and the people will be the better for it.”

Subscribers ask for extension Meanwhile, the National Association of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS) has reportedly appealed to the NCC to extend the deadline by another three months to give every subscriber a fair

consideration. The body said several factors have all conspired to prevent many subscribers from complying adequately to the deadline.

In a letter to NCC, entitled, “Appeal to NCC for 3-Month One-Way Final Warning on SIM Registration”, NATCOMS alleged that several agents carrying out the SIM registration process employed some sharp practices that discouraged subscribers from registering.

According to part of the letter,: “In the last two to three weeks, reports, issues and concerns reaching us are as follows: 1. During the SIM registration exercise, some umbrella SIM registration agents were not collecting the full details needed because of the rush by the agents to register as many subscribers so as get paid big.

2. Some umbrella SIM registration agents, during the active registration period and even now are asking subscribers to pay N100; a situation that discouraged s u b s c r i b e r s .

3. Some umbrella SIM registration agents, even when they are agents of a particular network operator, collect other operators SIM cards for registration in order to shore up the number of SIM cards they register daily.”

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013

Floods: Lagos to demolish buildings on wetlands, drainage

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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Honorary Degree recipient, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar receiving a plaque from the Chairman, Turkish Nile University, Mr. Hikmet Coban while the Education Minister, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufai (r) and the Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Prof. Huseyin Sert (l) watched after the award of honourary degree to the Sultan during the 1st Convocation Ceremony of the University at Jabi Road, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

Obama pays respect to family, as Mandela fights for life

BY TONY NWANKWO with agency reports

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RESIDENT Obama carved out some time on his busy tour of Africa to meet with members of Nelson Mandela’s family as the the 94-year-old former president of South Africa and civil rights leader is fighting for his life. Mandela is still in critical condition and seeking treatment at a hospital in Pretoria. Things are tense in South Africa as South African President Jacob Zuma and Mandela’s own daughter have made it clear these may be Madiba’s last days. (Mandela is fondly known as Madiba by South Africans and his supporters.)

It’s unclear yet who was present at Obama’s private meeting that took place at the Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg, which is part of Mandela’s foundation, but the President did speak with Graça Machel, Mandela’s wife, by phone. “I expressed my hope that Madiba draws peace and comfort from the time that he is spending with loved ones,”the President said afterwards. Machel is by her husband’s

side at the hospital.

Machel thanked the President for his kind words during this obviously very difficult time. “I am humbled by [Obama family’s] comfort and messages of strength and inspiration which I have already conveyed to Madiba,” Machel

said. The president chose not to see Mandela in person in accordance with the family’s wishes. The vigil outside of the hospital has drawn huge crowds and has overshadowed Obama’s three-day visit to South Africa.

BY JULIET OHWOTITE

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RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan has been commended for promoting the welfare of women.

Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources, in a statement on the recent launch of the book she commissioned, entitled, ‘Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Champion for Women,’ stated that, over the past two years, Jonathan has appointed women into over 30 per cent of the top positions in government and also put in place programmes and initiatives designed

to help some of the country ’s poorest women. She said the president has fulfilled his promise in the area of empowering, protecting and creating more opportunities for women.

This, according to her, includes recently establishing a directive to get more women appointed to the boards of Federal

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Asaba, the sacked members were accused of professional rascality and

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VEN before the dust set tles on recent wrangling with Communication Commission of Kenya surrounding Star Times alleged charging of its subscribers for free-to-air channels, the pay TV company is embroiled in a dispute with Ugandan consumers for allegedly selling them outdated decoders.

Star Times’ Chinese national Kevin Chen, whose

company is alleged to be selling to Ugandans obsolete decoders due to be switched off before the end of this month to pave the way for the internationally acceptable Digital TV due Broadcasting, according to Jackal News, is scheduled to face the courts.

Two Ugandan citizens, Mulwani Taminwa and Muzamiru Kasamba, were, on 18 June, cleared by the

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Parastatals, a move the presidency hopes states and local governments will emulate, thereby transforming Nigeria in a way that has never been done before.

The book ‘Champion for Women’ inspects some of the many accomplishments of President Jonathan and his administration, and celebrates

the growing power and opportunities for Nigeria’s women.

In her comments on the book, Allison-Madueke said, “When President Jonathan became president with the people’s mandate, in May 2011, the process of change he had begun the previous year moved into a higher gear”.

Commercial Section of the High Court to file a case on behalf of more than 130,000 complainants whom the Chinese allegedly duped into paying for the outlandish appliances.

They will be joined by the Uganda Consumers P r o t e c t i o n Awareness Association (UCPAA) to push for a refund from the Chinese.

The victims also seek a swap for the compliant decoders from the accused.

Ugandan lawyer, Richard Omongole, filed the public interest lawsuit, with a preliminary application

by Mulwani, Kasamba and UCPAA, to bring a representative suit on behalf of the victims of the alleged racket.

The court’s deputy registrar, Thaddeus Opesen, allowed the application, which is to be served on Star Times management through an advertisement in the media.

2015: Anenih tasks Mantu, Abba Gana, Ojougboh, others *Says PDP needs total reconciliation, re branding

BY HENRY UMORU

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HEAD of the 2015 polls, the chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of

refusal to handover documents of the association and others.

Mogaji: Tinubu, Fashola condoled HE President, Eko Foundation, Alhaji Hakeem Danmola and the Chairman, Liberty Foundation, Dr. Olujobi Ososanya have condoled with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his wife, Senator

LCDA, urged residents living on wetlands in the state to relocate in order to avert disasters.

Bello explained that the structures were erected illegal on drainage alignments, road setbacks and verge, saying “this contributes massively to flooding and we cannot allow this to continue in Lagos state.”

StarTimes dragged to court over alleged obsolete decoders in Uganda

Diezani commends Jonathan for women empowerment

Crisis in Delta tabloid owners group ELTA State chapter of the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN, has announced the expulsion of those it reffered to as erring members over alleged professional misconduct.

A statement by Delta State Chairman of ACNPN, Prince Charles Umejei, and General Secretary, Chief Gabriel Choba , after a meeting in

AGOS State govern ment, yesterday, said buildings erected on drainage canal and wetlands in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, would be demolished to avert flooding.

This came barely a

week after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, predicted that Lagos, Ogun and Cross River and some other states would be affected by floods between June and early July.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, who disclosed this during the monthly monitoring sanitation exercise in Agboyi-Ketu

Oluremi Tinubu; the Mogaji family; and the Market Association nationwide on the passing away of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.

They described her as a very passionate, honest, dogged market, community and religious leader, whose ultimate at all times was equity and justice.

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, has urged the PDP Project to work towards ensuring that the party wins the elections.

Speaking when members of the PDP Project, led by a former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, visited him in his Asokoro residence, Anenih, who noted that the PDP requires such a body, stressed that there was the need for total reconciliation and re-branding in the party.

He, however, told members of the group to ensure that they carried everyone along as no one should be excluded.

Earlier in his remarks, Mantu, who congratulated the leadership of the party, especially the National Working Committee, NWC, and the BoT, disclosed that PDP Project was formed to complement the efforts

of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The group has Mantu as Chairman, National Advisory Council; Chief Richard Lamai, National Coordinator/ CEO and Dr. Bolere Ketebu, Secretary.

3rd Toyin Falola annual conference

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HE Annual Interna tional Academic Conference named after Professor Toyin Falola, the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities and University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas, Austin, kicks off at Lead City University, Ibadan tomor-

row and runs till Wednesday . The 2013 edition of the conference, devoted to “Ethnicity, Race and Place in Africa and the African Diaspora” ‘ will attract distinguished scholars from the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and Asia.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 9

''A clear and present danger! Prelude to 2015?''

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

SOS to Governor Uduaghan on Okobia Road Dear Sir,

Truth crushed to Earth shall rise again, The eternal years of God are hers, But error, wounded, writhes in pain, And dies among his worshippers’.

Williams Cullen Bryant (1794 – 1879).

VERY tincture of patriotism and resurgence must have a streak of personal interest. Hence, the Sage and Satyagraha, Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said “I am first a Yoruba man and then a Nigerian”. The statesman Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1809) also posited that “My affections are first for my own country, and then, generally, for all mankind”.

I believe this,but my concern for humanity is stimulating this article.

Okobia is a town in Okpe Local Government Area. It was founded around 1170 A.D and has remained in a state of troglodyte backwardness cocooned by arrant underdevelopment and forgotten by the march of civilization.

We have only a dilapidated 3-room primary school, in short, no school, no water, no light and no road. The only accessible road through Adagbrassa, Okwetolor and Okuegume is an apologetic eyesore and we live like bathophilous organisms and Kafkaesque rejects.

We have been in this grandiloquently horrendous situation right from independence in 1960

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through the Nigeria / Biafra civil war (1967 – 1970), down through the creation of the Mid – Western Region, Midwest State, Bendel State and now Delta State. Okobia town has become the quintessential exemplification of sordid and wicked socio-economic neglect, right from: Sir Comodore Luke Ochulor till date.

The Okobians are peasant farmers who voted for Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umoru Musa Yar ’Adua and now Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, with nothing to show. The list also goes through our various Okpe leaders / Okobia sons

and daughters who horridly pragmatised our underdevelopment and effected the pauperization of our franchise.

One wonders at the prevalent cerebral erebus that propelled Okobians to vote for these same vulturous and clamasorial destiny – destroyers. It was Senator William E. Borah (1865 – 1940) that said “The Marvel of history is the patience with which men and women submit to the burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments”. We should be able to say boo to a goose and drive the political bull out of our china shop and like the Roman hero, Horatius, asked, “And how can a man die better

than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his gods”.

We call on our amiable Governor to please come to our aid in Okobia and do something to the long neglected Okobia road. Governor Uduaghan, please leave an indelible mark in the scorching heart of the Okobia people by constructing the road to Okobia from Aghalokpe, Igun, Aragba to Okobia and from the Sapele, Adegbrassa, Okwetolor, Okuoegume to Okobia Town.

Chief Bobson: Gbinije Mandate Against Poverty (Map), Warri – 08023250378.

The non visit of President Obama to Nigeria Dear Sir,

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HE non visit of President Barrack Obama to Nigeria on his second trip to Africa, is a clear evidence that he does not want to be contaminated by a political class that is neck-deep in corruption and treat it with kid gloves and do not want to change our expensive system of government that is of tremendous benefit to them, while ironically it is leading our country to bankruptcy.

A political class that is yet to put in

place a credible and transparent voting system and earn salaries and allowances that are the highest in the world.

A group that continue to import petroleum products through a system that is riddled with corruption, instead of building more refineries that would have created jobs for the unemployed.

A political class that have failed woefully to tackle the constant power outages in all parts of our country and most regrettably for having

impoverished our richly blessed country and its populace with their greed and being bereft of ideas of what governance is all about, but are only adept in accumulation of unmerited wealth from what belongs to all of us and thereby becoming richer than the rest of us and our country! This is the tragedy of our nation, period!

Ifeka Okonkwo Plot 44 Ahocol Housing Estate, Awka, Anambra State

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

“Seek home for rest for home is best”, Thomas Tusser, 1524-1580.

T was almost nineteen years ago when my first article appeared on the pages of the Sunday Vanguard. But, even before that first one came out, a policy decision had been made about this page. Because the Federal Government looms so large and the states are, by comparison, midgets, the focus will be on issues which are federal or national in scope – with only occasional stopover to address state or local matters. That policy remains in place. However, even the ancient mariners, the adventurers, if they don’t perish on the way, eventually lounge for home.

I am from Lagos State, on both sides of my family. So permit me a stop-over in Lagos. Actually, although, the two issues to be discussed are now generating a lot of debate only in Lagos State, each of them might arise in any other state. One is a matter here and now; the other is futuristic for many states – but eventually the latter will end up at the National Assembly; sooner or later. Permit me to put my cards on the table on both initiatives – I support them and will willingly pay the price of my support. Since I have never been a card-carrying

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member of any political party, nobody should send me a rejoinder accusing me of partisanship – as objective readers will soon discover. Any political party can, or should, implement both.

Lagos State recently opened a new ultra-modern bridge, linking Lekki Pennisula to Ikoyi, two highbrow areas of the State.

Because, the new bridge is very close to the toll gate on the Lagos-Ajah-Epe road, but it will provide a quick exit to hundreds of thousands of people who would want to avoid the congested tolled road, users of the new bridge are obligated to pay higher tolls than those on the main road. For instance passenger cars on the road now pay N120; those choosing to use the bridge are required to pay N250. Without toll gates on the new bridge, Lagos might as well remove the first toll gate since all traffic will be diverted to the new. Because, there is a suit pending in court on the matter, I hope the observations that will follow will not amount to contempt of court. As an economist, it is my general belief that Nigerians expect too many government services to be provided free. But, the basic training of every economist had taught us

that, “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. For that matter, there was never such a thing as “free education”. That was a political gimmick which was used to divert people’s attention from the fact that the taxpayers were/are paying for the education. From so-called free education, governments at Federal and State levels had moved on to donate “free health services, free eye glasses, free lunch etc”. It is all a colossal lie. The citizens pay for everything.

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Stop over in Lagos: Two govt initiatives

Making all roads toll-free constitutes more of a SUBSIDY to the operations of the fleet-owners than individuals with only one car

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scuppers the urge such as, other places to visit, work commitments, lovely summers, not the right time and for years I have not questioned my reluctance to go back.

Then the children came along and I resisted the need to go, but deep down I have always felt the need to take my children to Nigeria, and show them the places of interest, the life and people. My saving grace, I suppose, is that my parents, siblings and close family have always visited the UK and that makes the call of "home" not as urgent.

My parents do visit but I really know how hard it is when my folks want to come and visit us in the UK. They have to run the gauntlet of the High Commission, documents, interviews, more documents, bank statements, more documents and the list is endless.

I mean, my parents are frequent travellers but the experience of getting a UK visa can be very frustrating.

They only come to visit me and my siblings in the UK and to ensure that all is well and I equally, am relieved when I see them and

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Once that truth is accepted, the next most important thing is for citizens, through their elected officials to determine which services will be provided without direct charge i.e fees being paid, and which will attract surcharge. To me, it has amounted to fiscal policy madness for Federal and State governments to make every highway or bridge toll-free. Not only are the people of the state, both heavy users and light users, forced to pay for the construction, they are also required to pay for the repairs

and bridges not be tolled?

The users, including my wife and I, should repay the cost of construction and bear the cost of repairs for as long as the roads remain in use. That way, we will construct more roads and keep them in better shape.

Having crossed “Fashola’s” new bridge, saving over one hour in the process, I regard the toll on cars a clear bargain. I will use it as often as necessary.

Finally, while still on roads, I strongly feel the Federal Government and the states should selective-

knowing that they are hearty and well.

I have to write letters of invitations, and send photo copies of documents and sometimes original documents to verify that all is above board, so I provide

cause when they are around I feel like a child again. My mother fusses over me and my dad, well, I am a daddy's girl.

So you can well understand when I read that the UK is proposing £3, 0000 bonds in cash as a security against foreigners living in the country illegally after the expiration of their visas.

Let's be clear here so it is a blanket that every visitor will have to hand over £3,000 prior to entry and they will be given back if they do not over stay, the trouble who has £3,000 for surety, then costs of a ticket and spending money?

Show me the way to go home "No man is an island, entire of it; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." - John Donne OU know how they say; East, West, home is best? Right.

Well, I haven't been to Nigeria for close to 25 years now so, where do I call home? I have always felt that Nigeria is my home but, my son came up with a happy medium that home, is where your family is. So I guess it is the UK because that is where my family and my heart is. When push comes to shove, though, I am a Nigerian born in the UK. I will always carry Nigeria with me, and I let people know that from the onset. Why haven't I been home? And why that long?

I don't know, it just happened.

I do intermittently feel the pull for Nigeria but, always something or someone

and maintenance. But, there is something inherently unfair about that system. Like most car owners, I have only one car; my wife also has one. Julius Berger, Dangote Group of Companies, NNPC, the ENERGY Group, Flour Mills, to mention a few, operate over one thousand vehicles each and they spend more hours on the roads and being heavier cause more damage. Quite clearly, making all roads toll-free constitutes more of a SUBSIDY to the operations of the fleetowners than individuals with only one car. Both, the single car owner and the fleet owners collectively are allowed to cheat the majority without cars. So, why should some roads, especially the major highways

what I can and no more, if they do not think it is sufficient then they can always call me should they require any other information or better still I give them my

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Whenever recession bites, people are more likely to look for scapegoats and immigration has always been the whipping boy, in terms of economic ills

employers' details should they want to verify my details. It can be a long and tedious process but I persevere knowing that my parents will be coming to visit.

My parents visits are to me, my tonic, my elixir and to my children it is one that they look forward to; my parents share stories of their youth, they connect with my children and make memories that will serve my children well into their adulthood. In fact every time they come they bring a bit of Nigeria with them!

These visits are life enriching; my parents have been crucial in passing on our culture, values, wisdom and traditions to my children.

For me, it is priceless be-

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I know if that were me I will go elsewhere if I had to find the extra amount just to visit a country. The justification,according to the UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, is that the bond will help recover the costs incurred by foreign nationals who come in to the country to use public services when they overstay their visas. And she continued "In the long run we're interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services.'

So the £3,000 bond, which will be paid in cash and this only, applies to people from India, Pakistan, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Ni-

ly introduce toll roads in order to generate more revenue and to make the repair and maintenance of the roads more affordable. The Finance Commissioners, who meet with the Federal Minister of State for Finance, every month, just to share oil money are not thinking. One would expect all of them irrespective of political party to one day present a joint proposal to their governors in this regard. Some states stand to make fortunes out of this.

Cremation of corpses was recently passed into law in Lagos State – the pace-setter state in this regard. It is an idea whose time had come several years ago.

That Lagos would be the first state to confront the inevitable was also predictable. This state, which occupies less than half a percent of the landmass of Nigeria, is home to about fourteen percent of the citizens. Most of those who die here, are buried here and the cemeteries are full. Yet no community in the state is ready to donate land for the establishment of new burial grounds. In Lagos metropolis, Ikoyi, Abari, Atan and Apena have been recycling vaults for over thirty years. We are at the breaking point.

Furthermore, but for the divine presence of so many Moslems among us, Lagosians alone would probably have depleted all the timber in Nigerian forests. Deforestation, which had accelerated with increasing numbers of corpses is one of the causes of increasing annual floods. Nigerians in general, and Lagosians in particular, are drowning themselves with escalating use of coffins. Again, we are

at the breaking point. We might actually reach a stage when there would be no wooden coffins to be bought at any price.

The Government of Lagos State has my full support on this matter. The problem they will have is to find locations for the crematoria and to obtain funding for them. If they can overcome those obstacles before I go, let me be the first volunteer for cremation. It is more economic and I don’t want to add to Nigeria’s problems – now or in the future – if I can help it.

SS MUTINY: PDP ’S SHIP OF COUNTERKEROUS ELEMENTS -- 1.

“No man will be a sailor who has the contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with a chance of getting drowned..”, Dr Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784.

Being a member of the PDP, the largest party in Africa, is becoming increasingly like being in the largest ship ever built – with the chance that you might be dead before you hit the water. The TITANIC, once declared as “the mightiest ship ever built, and, God himself cannot sink it” went down on its maiden voyage taking thousands of passengers with it. At least the Captain and crew of the TITANIC were not engaged in a “free for all fight”. Captain, crew and passengers of the ship branded PDP are engaged in the worst from of riot never before experienced by any ruling party in the world since politics started in ancient Greece.

And sooner, than later, it will get deadly.

Delesobowale.com

geria. It means this pilot scheme of the new policy targets countries due to its high number of visa applications and what the government sees as relatively high levels of immigration abuse and fraud.

The Home Office said the six countries targeted were those with "the most significant risk of abuse".

They stated that last year 296,000 people granted sixmonth visas were from India, 101,000 from Nigeria, 53,000 from Pakistan and 14,000 each were from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Moreover, they also want to cull the number of foreign students acquiring visas to study in the UK. This will be a shame as the foreign students tuition helps to ensure the success of many UK institutions.

To me, the move can be seen as divisive but they argue that it is actually called "selective", well, it is a matter of syntax let's call a spade a spade, this is not a fair move.

What is clear is that whenever recession bites, people are more likely to look for scapegoats and immigration has always been the whipping boy, in terms of economic ills. So it seems that the government is trying to score a political goal and pander to the right of the political spectrum.

Blaming high unemployment rates, overuse of public resources and crime on immigration rate is a low blow on law abiding and hard working immigrants and foreign visitors.

The economy has been stagnating and there is a full blown austerity and the mood of the nation is

uncompromising that they want change. But blaming Immigration when there is an economic slump is not new but I understand the sentiments; that if there is not enough to go round how can we be welcoming others to come in to share the limited resources?

The number of migrant workers coming to the UK over the past decade has had little or no impact on joblessness.

What this will do, is perpetuate intolerance, xenophobia and paranoia. The England I know is that the majority will argue for fair play and defend the minority rights and I have no doubt about that.

I do not think that everyone that comes to the UK has the sole intention of over staying in spite of what it has been inferred nor have come to use the public services such as the health care, social funds and education.

So Abuja has thrown down the gauntlet, and issued a rebuttal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Pocock, over the proposal 3,000 pounds "cash bond" on visa applicants from Nigeria and other selected Commonwealth countries.

And the minister expressed displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria over the policy, which he described as not only discriminatory but also capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth family.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 11

Does President Jonathan have supporters in the sky? sky. Whenever the nation is praying hard to avoid political turmoil, these sky inhabitants often damn the consequences and for personal gains, instigate our leaders to embrace what is transparently wrong. They were in active service when our President had to step aside after June 12, 1993 and when the third term agenda rocked our collec-

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The PDP is indeed, virtually irrelevant in the local areas because in Nigeria it is governors that “elect” chairmen and councilors of the local governments

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tive peace. Quite often, these protagonists behave as if they have more at stake than the leaders they seek to perpetuate in office.

Now, they have emerged,

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Mr. President, enough of sermonisations please!

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T the official com mencement of the national Christian campaign on social transformation tagged: "Be the change you want to see", put together by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), President Goodluck Jonathan claimed that a lot had gone wrong in the family, schools, churches, and the society generally, and that there is need to bring about transformation. According to media reports Mr. President, represented by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, expressed optimism that the campaign would reset misplaced priorities in the society, pointing out that "Our priorities are misplaced. The values of hard work, respect for elders, truthfulness, contentment, humility, patience, compassion, fairness, love, justice, obedience, etc. are all lost."

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of CAN, while preaching at the event, sermonised that "If God can change me, God can change Nigeria. If you look at Nigeria in the eyes of the spirit, you will see a great Nigeria. But if you look at Nigeria with natural eyes, you see a confused nation." It is instructive to note that President Jonathan and Pastor Oritsejafor, who are living witnesses to the shambolic

this time to campaign for the 2015 election. Yet, President Jonathan for whose sake they are supposedly working tirelessly says he has not made up his mind on the subject. His appeal to them to wait until 2014 before embarking on the venture, if necessary, has not only fallen on deaf ears, they are ready to damn the consequences of distracting

state of affairs in the country were not bold enough to locate the root cause of our problems at the doorstep of mediocre leadership. The reason for this deliberate omission is not far to seek.

As Usman Dan Fodio, a nineteenth century Muslim cleric declared, "Conscience is an open wound.

Only truth can heal it."

Therefore, Mr. President and Pastor Oritsejafor deliberately avoided the inconvenient truth, namely, that the fundamental cause of Nigeria's arrested development is the inability or plain refusal by members of the ruling elite to provide responsible, transparent, and selfless leadership for the people. Let us begin with President Jonathan himself who, alongside former President Olusegun Obasanjo, are among the luckiest Nigerians alive today. As we argued last week, President Jonathan's meteoric rise from very humble beginnings to the pinnacle of political power is the kind of existential experience repackaged for entertainment purposes in blockbuster movies.

However, the question is whether he has manifested the kind of leadership qualities that Nigeria needs now to progress. The most charitable and generous assessment of Jonathan's administration would score it thir-

the same President from his transformation agenda.

They are not also bothered by the condemnation of their activities by the Independent National Elector-

ty five percent. Most Nigerians believe, correctly in my view, that his government has failed in the areas of electricity supply, security, employment generation and wealth creation through a robust manufacturing sector, as well as drastic reduction in the amount of money used in running a bloated sybaritic government.

Similarly, mind-bending financial rascality and corruption is continuing unabated among top public officials despite Jonathan's shibboleths about having

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ONSIDERING that Africans have come to be known as people who prefer to associate with a ruling political party, there is no need to dispute the claim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it is the largest political party in Africa.

These days, it is becoming clearer that the party is set to clinch another title-the party with the largest number of Nigerians in the diaspora. If the PDP is attractive, the presence in its fold of the President of the Federal Republic is a greater attraction. Against the backdrop of the uncountable number of people looking up to the party for government patronage, some people who live in the sky may have joined the bandwagon To identify Nigerians who live in the sky may not be easy. We can only assume that those whose behaviours are not in consonance with what is on ground in the nation probably live in another world-perhaps the

al Commission (INEC) which has had to draw attention to Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), that: ‘the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day’.

The people concerned appear to be above the law because nothing has happened to any of them despite the call by INEC to security agents to apprehend any political party or politicians who are seen campaigning and pasting posters towards 2015 general elections.

It is doubtful if they all live in the sky because we have come face to face with a group identified as the South West chapter of the PDP, which has openly endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in 2015. In a communiqué signed by one of them who was described as the Chairman, South West Caretaker Committee of PDP, the group said it endorsed Jonathan because of his leadership qualities and transformation efforts.

Should the President not be wary of any group that does not know the difference between the time for electioneering and the time for governance? Besides, is the South West PDP in a position to give the President valuable support? These questions are pertinent considering that none of the six states in the south west geopolitical zone has a single governor. Of the 18 senatorial districts in the zone,

the PDP has only one senator. This appalling poor performance is replicated in the House of Representatives. The PDP is indeed, virtually irrelevant in the local areas because in Nigeria it is governors that “elect” chairmen and councilors of the local governments.

The political adviser to the President ought to take a census of those who are anxious to be seen as friends of Jonathan but who distract the man by jumping the gun. They should be separated from real democrats. Meanwhile, some other PDP leaders of the same south west zone last week took the President to task on the need to accommodate the region in the remaining executive positions in the federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Even if this group has some sky people, it is a truer reflection of the political reality in the zone as it claims to be meeting to re-strategise and reposition the party in the zone Are there prominent Nigerians among the people of the sky? If the allegation by the powerful Arewa and Northern Elders that General Onoja and Senator John Pam went to endorse the President for a second term is true, such behaviour belongs to the sky. It is similarly an attitude of the sky if the anger of the elders is that it was not a northerner that their two colleagues went to endorse. The point here is that the sky is not necessarily for the hungry.

A look at the political history of Nigeria would easily show that there are many VIPs in the sky. Not too long ago, our first lady who was in her state –Rivers- for some family engagements visited some traditional rulers. At the palace of the Nyewali of Rumeme community in Port Harcourt, she was assured of the support of the people for her husband come 2015. The monarch also reportedly condemned those he described as Northern apologists, accusing them of betraying their brother, President Jonathan by supporting a candidate of Northern extraction for the 2015 elections.

A traditional ruler, who knows the candidates of an election before the nomination process starts, is obviously a seer with sky powers. If many of our traditional rulers are that powerful, it is probably because as the companions of the gods, the sky is a natural habitat for them. Is it surprising therefore that they have already endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State for a second term ahead of the coming governorship election in the state? At a recent public event in the state, the Ataoja of Osogbo speaking on behalf of the Obas told the governor that “All Obas in Osun are saying emphatically that you should move forward, because, we know that one good term deserves another”. It is not likely to be different from the wishes of the Osun oracle.

assets publicly, he cleverly refused to come clean. President Jonathan, just like his predecessors whether military or civilian, has perfected the art of making fine speeches without sincerity of purpose to back them up.

As a result, it is not surprising that all the talk about his transformation agenda, about repositioning the economy for sustainable growth, about poverty alleviation and delivery of dividends of democracy to the suffering masses are just that - mere talk full of hot air. The main reason why President Jonathan and other members of the ruling cabal are always lamenting the vanishing effectiveness of moral values in the society while the masses are suffering is that they do not

spective governments that are detrimental to the common good. Consequently, the government in both countries are making concessions and working on reforms to placate the people.

That is how it should be; after all, government is about people, not about a few greedy individuals and multinational organisations solely motivated by primitive accumulation and megalomania. In our own case here in Nigeria, the situation is rather different.

Nigerians tend to depend on an imaginary supernatural power to solve all their problems, rather than take concrete actions to assert their fundamental right to good governance. This is where I have serious objections to the close ties between religion and state in this country. Now, I consider religious irrationality, as exemplified by Christianity and Islam, to be one of the most formidable obstacles in the path of Nigeria's evolution towards greatness.

Very wealthy "men of God" are spiritual consultants to the President, governors, members of the legislature and other top government officials and politicians.

Thus, it is not surprising that political and religious leaders in Nigeria have been conniving to despoil gullible Nigerians. That is why prominent members of the clergy always admonish their followers to pray for our political leaders. If I were a pastor or imam (I am so lucky not to be one), I would continuously pray with my congregation that the almighty should grant corrupt Nigerian leaders long life and afflict them with the most horrible diseases so that they would not

enjoy their ill-gotten wealth. Indeed, since the Supreme Being is supposed to be a God of justice for whom nothing is impossible, I would pray fervently that He (or She or It) should use any means necessary to make sure that Nigerian leaders, their families and cronies do not benefit from the proceeds of corruption.

However, our religious leaders can never pray that God should severely punish VIP thieves here and now because some of them are benefiting from the appalling existential situation on ground, which compels millions of Nigerians to seek illusory spiritual help in churches and mosques.

Remember, Pastor Oritsejafor is a very comfortable Nigerian.

He is among the lucky few that live in mansions, owns a private jet and can afford the best things of life for himself and his family.

On that basis, one can understand why he can only see Nigeria's imaginary greatness with "spiritual eyes." However, the suffering masses see clearly and objectively a very different Nigeria with their "natural eyes"; and what they see is a deformed country in dire need of radical positive transformation without the illusory comfort of religious superstition.

Nigeria, as presently constituted and run, is not working. President Jonathan, members of the ruling elite and highly placed clergymen and clergywomen should stop sermonising and begin to lead by example. Moral virtues are best taught by action, not by pious sententious platitudes, which ultimately amount to nothing.

CONCLUDED

The main reason why President Jonathan and other members of the ruling cabal are always lamenting the vanishing effectiveness of moral values in the society while the masses are suffering is that they do not take their responsibilities very seriously

,

zero-tolerance for corruption.

Therefore, President Jonathan can make ceremonial speeches about misplaced priorities and the loss of values. The real issue is whether as President he has led by example, that is, whether he has demonstrated the same virtues the disappearance of which he was lamenting. In my view, Mr. President has not really been as transparent and accountable as some Nigerians would have wanted.

Even in a simple and symbolic matter of declaring his

take their responsibilities very seriously. Again, our leaders know that Nigerians have an incredible capacity to endure manmade hardships occasioned by incompetent leadership.

Now, in countries where people are really serious and desirous of positive change, the citizens protest publicly to compel their leaders to act responsibly.

For example, there are massive protests in Turkey and Brazil as the people unleashed the power of dissent against policies and programmes of their re-

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

The past of the present T which stage in a man's life is it okay to give up or perhaps give in?

Considering I am regarded by most as a hopeless optimist, it's a negative question to even contemplate. So maybe I should rephrase the question.

When will the past stop influencing the present? And at what point should one throw in the towel and accept that the past is a yoke the present always has to carry? Most Christians celebrate their rebirth once they give their lives to Christ; it's a new beginning; old things are passed away (supposedly). Growth is constant and that means even without the reason of religion, we change who we are several times during the course of our lifetimes. Experience, circumstances and happenings change us and who we are can be different and even unrelated through the

ages. The conundrum is this; are there things we have done, choices we have made that have taken us pass the point of no return?

My driver and sidekick took me on in an argument not too long ago and it was about the supposed new beginning and blanket forgiveness Christians claim when they become born again. He had gone to his village for a funeral and returned fuming over something that transpired. He started his story on a very sad note. His village had been under siege by a gang of youths and they terrorised everyone. They robbed openly, raped the women and killed indiscriminately. At one point in time, the villagers had formed a vigilante group and rounded up the gang, they had been lynched and their leader left for dead.

There was peace thereafter till this leader came back from the dead. He had apparently crawled into the bushes after he had been left for dead and resurfaced a few months later. He went on a revenge spree and was singlehandedly

,

A

ploy for close to 16.

So back to the present and he is filled with rage when he recounts his disgust and outrage at the presence of a pastor he saw when he was recently in the village. It's the stuff Bollywood and Nollywood are made of. The same gang leader had become born again and was now a pastor preaching the gospel. "How God go fit forgive that kind person?"

Was the question that interjected all my explanations and sermonising. He showed me some mangled looking scars, mementoes he got from the pastor when he rained terror on the village. With tears in

Changing who we are won't change what we have done and for some of us our present will be spent atoning for our past

blamed for 13 assassinations before he disappeared again. The dread of him had sent everyone into panic and my driver had relocated to Lagos. Some of his friends and a cousin were part of those killed.

This was over 17 years ago as he has been in my em-

,

his eyes, he recalls the unending funerals from the revenge spree that had him fleeing his home to become homeless in cold and hostile Lagos. He recalls starving and having to scavenge for food before he got a job driving a bus.

I believe what hurt him the

most was the death of the son he left behind in the village; he had not even dared go visit the boy when he was ill and could not attend the funeral. "God no fit forgive am ooo!!" He concluded.

I personally believe God is able to forgive us all our sins if we are able to confess them and accept Him into our lives. That is a truth I strongly believe but that's one side of the coin. Reality is the other side. God's forgiveness doesn't always cancel the consequences of those past sins. The regenerated gangster turned pastor may be a changed man but he murdered many people and no one can condemn those crying for justice. Changing who we are won't change what we have done and for some of us our present will be spent atoning for our past. I had a few decisions to make this past week and just like everyone I found that there are some choices that I made in the past that will colour my present and future. I don't believe in regrets and condemnation but that said, I still wonder what life would have been if I made more informed choices.

Giving up when the past comes knocking is not an option; it is self defeating.

Giving in to the reality that is a direct consequence of the past is better. We just have to make the best of things.

I can't presume to know what it feels like to be in the village pastor's shoes.

He epitomises the 23rd Psalm; He walks in the valley of the shadow of death daily. I don't know what informed his former choices. I suspect drugs and fast living but they are mere excuses and won't satisfy everyone. I actually admire his courage; shame and fear would have kept most people away. He has to look into the eyes of people who hate him, who are hurt and angry and he has to preach forgiveness and reconciliation to the very people he plundered!!! I can count it as grace that my life in the past left me with consequences that are a mere inconvenience in my present. To answer my own question, the past can't be dismissed, the present has to carry the yoke of it. The sad truth is that some choices take us pass the point of no return and we have to live with that reality. Repentance and even Restitution is often a part of the reality of the present but even that won't always be enough, some of us will pay for the past.

Prostitutes beat, injure security men in Akure

Woman gets life for chopping off husband’s penis

A

judge sentenced a Southern California woman who cut off her estranged husband’s penis and tossed it in the garbage disposal to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Catherine Kieu, 50, was convicted by an Orange County jury in April of

aggravated mayhem and torture following the assault on her ex-husband.

Kieu drugged her former spouse before tying him up and severing his penis with a knife. She then threw it into the garbage disposal unit.

An attorney for Vietnamborn Kieu argued at trial that she had suffered

sexual abuse as a child which left her with posttraumatic stress. She was remorseful about the attack, he said.

After the sentencing hearing, the victim identified only as “Glen” - said he wished Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey could have given Kieu

more time behind bars, ”Deep down inside I was hoping for a stronger sentence, but given the restraints of the law this is what he had to do,” he said. ”There may be a situation where I can be happy, but whole? Never ... I’ve got a long ways to go.”

Disabled persons shut council secretariat

BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

P

EEVED by their alleged exclusion from Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, by the chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area Transition Committee, Delta State, Mr Friday Akpoyibo, physically challenged persons shut down the secretariat.

Akpoyibo, according to sources, fled his office before the aggrieved disabled persons arrived the council’s secretariat, on Friday, adding that a bus belonging to the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, was nearly van-

dalized. Quick intervention of the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ughelli ‘A’ Division, Mr. Gardo Garaji, was said to have saved the situation. Chanting war songs, the disabled persons alleged that the council chairman made several unfulfilled promises to them, vowing to cripple activities of the council if their demand was met. Urging Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to their rescue by prevailing on Akpoyibo to carry them along in the running of the council, the physically challenged persons, under the aegis of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPW, said they had

lost confidence in the administration of Akpoyibo.

Narrating their ordeal, the chairman of the Ughelli North Local Government Area chapter of the association, Comrade Ernest Igbuzor, said: “The council chairman

has reneged on various promises he made to us.

Our group is under the supervision of the State Ministry of Women Affairs and we have presented a proposal which is keyed into by the council’s administration”.

BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

S

OME prostitutes yesterday beat security personnel attached to the Ondo State Task Force on Environment during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Akure, the state capital.

Their uniforms were torn into shreds while they sustained injuries due to the beating they received when they tried to enforce the environmental laws where their brothel was located.

The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sola Ebiseeni, led the task force across the Akure metropolis to ensure compliance with the environmental exercise.

During the exercise, which also took the task force to

Group hails Uduaghan's S-Court victory EMBERS of Uvwie M Transformation, a political pressure group in

Students of National College Gbagada Lagos during the maiden Cultural Day

some towns and villages, some people violating environmental laws were arrested.

However, when the team of the task force personnel got to the hotel, located at Oke Padre, off Lao Street, Akure, they met the prostitutes with their clients drinking alcohol and dancing.

Efforts of the security personnel to make them observe the environment exercise were rebuffed.

The prostitutes prevented their clients from being arrested.

The prostitutes and clients thereafter descended on the Civil Defence and security officials attached to the task force and beat them mercilessly while they resisted arrest.

Delta State, have hailed the Supreme Court victory of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, saying it was victory for democracy and good governance in the state.

Chairman of the group, Chief Peter Digbori, Mr. Tony Edeki, secretary and Mr. Philip Ukpokoha, public relations officer, in a statement, also commended Governor Emmanuel,

for the on ongoing reconstruction of Enerhen Junction, the approved construction of a flyover at Effurun roundabout as well the relative peace in Uvwie.

They also commended Governor Uduaghan for the inauguration of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, and his determination to conduct a credible local government election in the state.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PPA AGE 13

PROLOGUE

JONATHAN / AMAECHI FACE-OFF

Stockpiling wood for tomorrow’s…

BY JIDE AJANI

T

he power of might! Or, the might of power! Whichever one you choose, there is an air of inescapable discernment: AUTHORITY. Authority resides everywhere - in the home (which is the smallest unit of society), the ward, local government area, federal constituency, senatorial district, state and country. At every level, there is that symbolism of authority.

Now, before you get into a position of

authority, there is a set of guaranteed rules.

The rules are meant to enthrone order in the affairs of men.

For the family, the father is the head and it is ordained - especially in the African context, which is quarantined from the seemingly collectivized powersharing concept between husbands and wives in western civilization. To become a councilor, House of Representatives member, senator, state governor or president, there are guidelines in the constitution.

The finer details are also in the electoral guidelines.

But because of the ambivalence of men, there are even much finer aspects of the rules guided by what is generally known as ‘the gentleman’s agreement’.

This is an understanding between parties. No matter how crooked or disproportionate (in terms of who gets what), an agreement, conveniently entered into by parties, is expected to and should be binding on the parties or their representatives who have entered into such.

In Nigeria, that does not hold true.

The breach of agreements litters the political landscape like disused polyethylene.

From the gentleman’s agreement, to

C M Y K

for zoning. If Jonathan and his supporters did not abide by their own resolution of December 22, 2002, why should he and his supporters on the issue of NGF expect a piece of paper containing signatures to become a substitute for an election victory of Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi?

How do you begin the argument that 16 votes are greater than 19? Or that a piece of paper on which some names and signatures are scribbled should take per-eminence over an election result?

What lesson is Pa Jonah Jang, the Plateau State governor, trying to teach Nigerian youths? What lesson is President Jonathan who, for whatever logic obviously bordering on indiscretion, chose to recognize Jang as NGF chairman, attempting to teach Nigerian youths?

Does it not bother those ill-advising and dragging Mr. President along this line that it was the same logic that was presented to him in the case of the election of a speaker of the House of

the electoral guidelines and the constitution, politicians breach them all with reckless abandon.

In a few instances, there have been arguments on why such agreements should be breached. But in most cases, there is no extenuating justification for the serial acts of betrayal.

Yet, we are a people who are quick to point fingers.

On December 22, 2002, President Obasanjo assembled what can be described as loyalists, a little over 40 of them, That is one of the things that constituting the Peoples should bother President Democratic Party, PDP, caucus, to agree that after the eight-year Jonathan. He should seek rule by the South as represented loftier goals and equally by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, the North would more honourable platforms have its own eight years. Fate of engagement. The events intervened and Umar Musa Yar’Adua, who’d spent just about of last Wednesday’s dinner 30months (two and a half years) inside Aso Rock Presidential in the eight years allotted the North, died. Of course, the 1999 Villa reached an anti-climax Constitution of the Federal yesterday at the Port Republic of Nigeria envisaged such and made provisions for Harcourt International containment. In fact, the Airport when wisdom and constitution also made provisions that once an individual meets maturity prevailed some conditions outlined for qualification to seek the presidency, such a person should Representatives when it was illnot be encumbered by any other advisedly zoned to the South West with legislation or external deals or just six PDP members in the House? The agreements. Therefore, Goodluck Ebele result of that misadventure was that Jonathan was qualified to contest the some members poured cold water on the presidency in 2011 – and he won. But presidency ’s efforts by ignoring the both Jonathan and his supporters lived party’s zoning, and electing Speaker in denial: First, that there was no Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who is also meeting where the presidency was from the North West zone as Vice zoned; and that Jonathan was neither President Namadi Sambo – something part of it nor did he vote, when, in actual unusual. fact he represented then Bayelsa State With the face-off between Jonathan governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, at and Amaechi creating needless tension the meeting. Of course, Jonathan voted

in the polity, how does the former go to bed at night with ease? Madam Patience Jonathan took over Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for a bout a week, issuing

instructions like an empress and making statements insinuating that a section of the county had been defeated before and needed to be defeated again.

At the heart of the unnecessary tension in the PDP, the tango over NGF chair and the fight with real and perceived opponents of this administration is the 2015 election. Those insisting that Jonathan must contest the 2015 presidency need not dissipate energy needlessly becaus e the constitution

guarantees his right. That some people in the North are alleging that there was an agreement for Jonathan to do just one term is also akin to Jang claiming that he has some signatures and, therefore, he is NGF chairman.

Politics is not stupidity. In fact, stupid people need not get involved because it requires smartness and uncommon sagacity. Obasanjo’s open tango with his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, from September 2002 ended in 2007 with neither Obasanjo nor Atiku winning the battle – but Obasanjo lost the more because he cannot recover from the unraveling that brought daylight into his mythical posture of being super human. After eight years as President, he is no more than an irritant to Jonathan. If truth be told, the needless battles of today would only stockpile wood for tomorrow’s bonfire, the smoke of which would choke Jonathan’s aspirations and legacies.

But does it bother the presidency that President Obama keeps pooh-poohing the idea of visiting Nigeria? And that the major reason is because of Nigeria’s shambolic approach to governance and integrity? That is one of the things that should bother President Jonathan. He should seek loftier goals and equally more honourable platforms of engagement.

The events of last Wednesday ’s dinner inside Aso Rock Presidential Villa involving President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi, reached an anti-climax yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport when wisdom and maturity prevailed. The photograph of a President and Governor in a handshake, says it all: That politics should not be a matter of hatred, acrimony and needless overheating of the polity. The question now is, how will they proceed from here?

PAGE 14

—SUNDAY

Vanguard , JUNE 30, 2013

MOMENTS OF DRAMA INSIDE ASO ROCK

Amaechi wins some, loses some Last week, the crisis in the NGF moved into Aso Rock Presidential Villa with dramatic effects. This is the story of how Governor Amaechi was humbled one night, while he drew level the following day, with the active collaboration of his majority governors – both drama inside the Villa.

N

EVER before has the coun try witnessed so much drama as it did last week since the imbroglio over the election of the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum. Since the controversy that erupted following the rejection by some governors of the election of Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, every action or inaction of Amaechi who is seen to be in the bad books of the presidency has been subject to microscopic scrutiny. So when the meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum was convened last Wednesday night, some loyalists to the president interpreted the action as a further affront on the president who had scheduled dinner to honour women in his cabinet for that same night. For many, Amaechi and his group of nineteen governors who had all been invited for the meeting may not attend the dinner to further drive home their spite for the president. They were utterly mistaken.

About thirty minutes into the dinner which had in attendance President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the president of Malawi, Joyce Banda, the former Ghanaian President, John Kufour, the president of the senate and other high ranking government officials, governor Rotimi Amaechi and his supporter-governors were ushered

,

By Ben Agande, Abuja

He added for dramatic effect still looking at Jang “you are the leader of the other PDP extended faction”, drawing laughter from those present in the Chambers hall.

By this, Amaechi drew blood too, to even the scores against Jang and the presidency after the incident of the previous night

,

into the Banquet hall of the presidential Villa when the programme of event had already started. His admission into the hall was an aberration that had never taken place for a long time. Once the president is seated for a function, no other person is allowed to come into the venue especially as noisily as Governor Amaechi and his colleagues were

allowed to do.

According to a security source in the presidential Villa, ‘the decision to allow the governors come in even against protocol was to avoid the situation whereby unnecessary politics would be read into our action if we stopped them from entering. We decided to allow them through the back door so that they would not distract the programme and we would not be accused of playing politics. It was a delicate decision that we had to take with a view to balancing our security obligations while not providing reasons for unnecessary politicking”.

It was a decision that they later came to regret, Sunday Vanguard learnt. As soon as the governors were allowed in, while a few of them like Governor Rotimi Amaechi went to the front seats which had had been reserved for them, other governors like Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Magatarkada of Sokoto chose to seat at the back of the hall where seats had been reserved for the media.

But while the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim was reading his welcome address, another drama was to play out between the governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi and the president’s security details. Few minutes after he sat on his seat, Amaechi moved from his seat and made to towards where the president and his guests were seated. It was a decision

that he apparently did not think through. His journey was truncated as a security detail of the president politely but firmly told him that he could not access the president at that point in time.

Giving reason for the action of the security operatives, a senior security source at the Villa confided in Sunday Vanguard that it was a decision that was solely informed by security considerations and not politics. “The president and his guests were listening to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was delivering his speech. Allowing governor Amaechi to approach him at that time would have caused a huge distraction. We could not have afforded to allow that” he said.

But the drama involving governor Rotimi Amaechi reached its crescendo on Thursday last week at the meeting of the National Economic Council. The council is a meeting of the governors under the chairmanship of the Vice president to forge a common economic front for the state and the federal government. Before the controversy over the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors Forum, the chairman of the Forum usually occupies a prominent place and his seat is clearly marked to indicate that he is the leader of the governors present.

But obviously following directives from above, the sitting arrangement was changed from the usual. Previously the Chairman of the Governors Forum Continues on page 16

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 16, 2013 — PAGE 15

Some people want to take Rivers back to the dark era —Hon Nwuke

Says those attacking Amaechi are scared of his profile Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke is the member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in Rivers State at the House of Representatives. He was the Director of Press to Governor Chibuike Amaechi and later appointed Commissioner for Information.

He was reappointed Commissioner but sent to the Commerce and Industry Ministry. He was the publisher of a provincial paper, the Port Harcourt Telegraph.

In this interview, Nwuke speaks on burning political issues in Rivers State.

C

omments on politi cal developments in Rivers State.

I am worried by what has become an attempt by some to create instability and I think that, for those who have followed developments here from 2007, what is happening is a great disservice. We came from a background where value placed on human lives was near zero. People felt insecure. From that point when Amaechi stepped into Port Harcourt, we have had relative peace. And so, from the people who were known to raise their hands when they saw security operatives, we have learnt to work with confidence; in fact speak our minds. Above all, we have had years of political stability, economic growth and development and proper social interaction.

As a lawmaker, I am worried that there are people who are attempting to send us back to the dark era, the years before 2007. I know that Rivers people are resolute, they understand the issues, they are undaunted.

The arrowhead of those opposed to the governor in the state was in the same cabinet with you some few years back...

Let me say men are born, some are ambitious, some over ambitious, some without conscience.

C M Y K

Now I don’t know where to place my friend and brother in the state cabinet then. I think it is regrettable that he is joining forces with those who do not wish Rivers people well, who do nothing but promote division.

He has his agenda, he may have his grouse but he was part of the building of this house. It is regrettable that shortly after he became Minister also on the basis of his relationship with Governor Amaechi, he has decided to act this way. Well! I think Rivers people will not be bothered by him.

Do you see any face behind the actions of the Minister?

Remember he said he was always at the forefront of many things. I think a man who says he was Commander-in-Chief; Field Marshall won’t be contented with playing the second fiddle. I think perhaps Nyesom wants to be remembered for much more.

Those in opposition have labelled the governor in some of their public statements as an arrogant person. You are close to the governor; you served him as a commissioner before you became a member of the House of Representatives. What is your response to this allegation?

I think we are getting it all wrong. Governor Amaechi is not an arrogant person. Is being blunt, saying things the way you see them arrogance?

I have very strong reservations

,

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

•Hon Nwuke....There are people who see themselves as king makers

I think that there are people who are afraid of Governor Amaechi’s profile nationwide. I think the decision was rash, I think the wrong person in law was approached on the issue

as to the application of the term arrogance on Amaechi. I know he is a man who tells you the way he feels on issues.

He speaks his mind on issues and he is accountable for his opinion, that is not arrogance.

There are people who see themselves as king makers.

And kingmakers take the backseat after a king is made.

Note that after an election, politics stops. A governor is elected to take decisions. I know that the governor consults with the people. He holds town hall meetings regularly to know what the people want in their environment.

I don’t know where the arrogance allegation is coming from. You see him running a government that is accountable to the people. I don’t know how this has become a case of arrogance. Perhaps those accusing him of arrogance aren’t coming out clearly to tell us what they have in mind. People are united in the state that de-

,

velopment is taking place. Jobs are being created, hospitals are being built, capacity building projects are ongoing. Scholarships are being awarded.

On the suspension of the governor by his party, Peoples Democratic Party I think that there are people who are afraid of Governor Amaechi’s profile nationwide.

I think the decision was rash, I think the wrong person in law was approached on the issue.

The state House of Assembly has oversight function. I believe that the decision to suspend Amaechi was not properly thought out. It came after the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election. Amaechi had been accused of having a presidential ambition and he denied. I don’t know how else he can say this. The NGF is a pressure group, it seeks to find the best for its members.

Some have said the person who wants to control the about N400 billion annual budget of

the state after Governor Amaechi is behind the Rivers State crisis.

Those who worry about this forgets that power belongs to God. Men will aspire, it is their right. I think the whole strategy in place is to weaken the political base of His Excellency.

You talk about God, how religious are you?

I do have strong faith in God. How have you affected your constituents?

I think we have tried to focus on providing basic needs.

We have given boreholes, a total of seventeen in three communities. So that those within neighbouring communities can also benefit.

I also attracted the Igbodo Akwaogo Road that is being handled by the NDDC. It is on record that I ensured the Igwuruta Okpagha Road being handled by the Niger Delta Ministry and is running because I opposed the move to remove funds on it.

I have awarded twenty scholarships. Each of the students gets one hundred thousand Naira each. They were selected through a very rigorous process.

I gave in every ward in my area one motor bike. I also bought motor bikes to support the party structure in the area.

In every ward, the party chairman and secretary got a bike.

I gave some out as empowerment to youths.

PAGE 16

—SUNDAY

Vanguard , JUNE 30, 2013

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

he inside story of the feud in Riv ers State between the governor and the state police commissioner, who is believed in some quarters to be fighting the cause of the authorities in Abuja.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, has been having a running battle with the state government since he assumed office.

Many top officials of the state government are of the opinion that the police boss is acting a script of the authorities in Abuja.

They are quick to point at the way he ordered his men to seal Obio Akpor local government secretariat barely a week after the Rivers State House of Assembly suspended the Chairman of the council, his vice and 17 councilors over allegations of abuse of public funds and breach of security.

The action of the police has made it impossible for the seven-man Caretaker Committee that was put in place by the state government to function. The staff of the local government have also not been able to access their offices. This has been the state of things at Obio Akpor local government in the last two months.

The Caretaker Committee, led by Mr Chikordi Dike, got a High Court order asking the police to vacate the secretariat with a caveat that it should provide minimal security while activities resume at the place. Barely three hours after the police moved out of the place, the plant room in the secretariat was set ablaze allegedly by hoodlums.

There were also protests by youths allegedly from Obio Akpor local government who threatened to wreak havoc on the place if the Caretaker Committee was allowed access to the secretariat.

The two developments forced the police to move in again to seal the place.

The police, the Caretaker Committee and the suspended elected officials of the council, at press time, were in court on issues surrounding the secretariat.

There are those who think the action of the police is laced with bias while some others believe the security agency acted to save lives and guard against chaos in the local government area.

Meantime, the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Otelemaba Amachree, was the first to accuse the police commissioner of partiality in the political crisis rocking the state. Reports quoted Amachree as calling for immediate redeployment of the commissioner

AMAECHI VS POLICE CHIEF

The politics and intrigues of a battle

Governor Rotimi Amaechi on account of his alleged interest in the state political crisis. Some local government Chairmen in the state also levelled same accusation against Mbu. But to the Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and loyalists of the Minister of State for Education in Obio Akpor and other parts of the state, the police commissioner deserved to be commended for his actions on the political crisis in Obio Akpor local government council.

Obuah, the factional Chairman of the Rivers PDP, in a press statement, lauded Mbu, saying he had not acted outside his lines of duty.

The face-off between the state government and the police commissioner took a dramatic twist recently when the latter labelled Governor Chibuike Amaechi a tyrant and dictator. According to Mbu, his problem with those in government was because of his alleged refusal to act at the whims and caprices of the governor.

“Our governor is very tyrannical, he is a dictator. He wants everybody to say 'yes sir' to him and I said I will not say so. I am a professional”, the police boss said. He further said he was in the state

Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, purely on police duty, pleading that Amaechi should not drag his name into the murky waters of politics. He further reiterated his ban on protest without police permission in the state.

The dust generated by his comment on the governor had hardly settled when Amaechi fired his own shot daring Mbu to shoot him over public protest. The governor said he had concluded plans to storm the street of Port Harcourt with hundreds of Rivers people to march against the ban against public protests by the police commissioner. He said the police boss should be ready to open fire on him and hundreds of protesters.

Amaechi boasted that there was no way several Mbus would be able to stop the protest march which he would lead. The governor said while he would be at the head of the protesters, the Secretary to Rivers State Government, SSG, would be on ground to receive a formal letter from him and the protesters, stressing that he would soon pick a date for the exercise.

The governor also alleged that the state police commissioner recently ordered his men to stop people of Orashi who were coming to pay him a solidar-

ity visit. Chairmen of the four local governments in the area corroborated Amaechi's statement.

According to the foursome, Chairman of Ahoada East, Mr Cassidy Ikegbedi; Ahoada West, Awori Miller; Abua Odua, Udi Odum; and Ogba Egbema Ndoni, Mr Austin Ahiamadum, they got a call from the police Area Commander in charge of their zone asking them not to embark on the visit. But they insisted on their right. The council chairmen said their people were harassed at Rumuji, Emohua local government area by the police as they were going to Port Harcourt to pay the solidarity visit to the governor.

On Thursday, Mbu explained why his men had to stop those coming for the visit. According to him, the initial information available to the police was that they were coming to Port Harcourt for a public protest.

The police boss said he had to ask his men to allow them into the state capital after the governor called to tell him that they were coming on a solidarity visit.

“We got report by 1 am on Tuesday that some elements were being mobilised to come to Port Harcourt for a public protest. We had to stop them. His Excellency called me to say they were on solidarity visit to Government House. And I called my officers to allow them to come”. Mbu, who described Amaechi as his friend, brother and boss, said there was no problem between them. According to him, whatever problem existed was a media creation.

“His Excellency is the Chief Security Officer (of Rivers State), he is my friend.

I am his 2ic.”

When told that the governor had threatened to embark on a street protest with hundreds of Rivers people to challenge the police ban on peaceful protest in the state, the police boss said he was not sure Amaechi would do so. “I know that His Excellency is not thinking in the direction”.

Mbu said the ban on protest without approval from the police was still in force in the state. “We won’t discuss the planned protest by the governor now.”

On his relationship with Amaechi, the police commissioner said the media had been busy creating false impression that they were fighting. “Forget what journalists are busy writing about the governor and myself. He is my friend, brother and boss. Yesterday we spoke for about thirty minutes”.

When asked if he would open fire on the governor if he leads his protesters, the police chief smiled and said,” how can I shoot my governor?”

Amaechi wins some, loses some Continued from page 14 would usually sit directly opposite Vice President Namadi Sambo who chairs the council but last week Thursday, no seat was allocated for the NGF chairman ostensibly to avoid a situation whereby the presidency would be accused of taking sides in the controversy surrounding the NGF elections.

Instead, the seats were rearranged in alphabetical order and since there is no State with Q, this brought both Ameachi and Jang to sit beside each other, probably the first time they were sitting so close to each other since the NGF face off. so when governor Rotimi Amaechi came into the council Chambers and

headed for where he thought his seat would be, he was politely informed by the protocol officers that his seat was the one marked with R, representing Rivers state. It was at that moment that it dawned on him and other governors present who his neighbour was going to be.

Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu who is also the chairman of Northern Nigeria Governors' Forum, voiced out the anxiety that had dominated the hall when he told Amaechi: “So you are going to sit with Jang. This is very nice oh. Somebody is trying to be diplomatic here."

To this Amaechi replied : "We are still together. So, I am going to sit with him.

The real chairman and the... (laughter).

The arrival of governor Jang created a frenzy amongst supporters of governor Amaechi who apparently wanted to take advantage of the presence of the media to send a message from the seat of power which is widely perceived to be the real power behind Jang.

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshimole whose theatrical abilities may have been honed by several years of his experience in the labour movement led other governors to where Jonah Jang was seated and pointed to Amaechi, saying "that is my chairman!". He added for dramatic effect still

looking at Jang “you are the leader of the other PDP extended faction”, drawing laughter from those present in the Chambers hall. By this, Amaechi drew blood too, to even the scores against Jang and the presidency after the incident of the previous night For governor Oshiomhole and his colleagues, though the comment was supposed to be a joke to lighten the mood at the council chambers, the moment may have presented a sobering moment for governor Jang who wore a bland face for most of the encounter. This drama is bound to be repeated again and again for as long as the crisis in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum remains unresolved.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 17

BY BEN AGANDE

S

ENATOR Nimi Barigha – Amange, from Bayelsa State, in this interview, speaks on the face-off between President Goodluck and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and says governors must be loyal to their party.

What is your take on the crisis in the PDP particularly with two governors claiming the chairmanship of Nigeria Governors’ Forum coming from the same party?

PDP is a very large family and such is not unexpected. But I think the way the PDP leaders have handled it, that is the area that is worrisome. I remember PDP has gone through worse crisis and we emerged strongerl. What I expected and what I am still expecting is for the leadership of the party to set up a committee that will look into the areas of misunderstanding and resolve this matter. not out of hand yet. And I strongly believe we will resolve it before the end of year.

What is your suggestion to the party leadership on how to resolve the matter aside setting up committee?

My personal opinion is that it is wrong the way the family has moved. We have the leader of the party being Mr. President, we have the chairman of the party, we have the Board of Trustees (BOT) members.

We regard them as leaders at the apex and we obey them.

You can go to the field and win an election but if they say don't go because it will affect the other arm of government you obey. And that is what it means being loyal to your party. You must be loyal to the party because it is the platform on which you became governor, senator, member of House of Representatives. I am not happy that some people disobeyed the party before the NGF election and, after the election, they continued to make inflammatory statements that brought us to this level.

But I believe that we will settle the matter and move forward.

Some Nigerians say the punishment of suspension is too harsh for those sanctioned on the NGF crisis.

These are areas we are a bit worried about. The leadership, maybe they have seen more than we know but we feel a committee should have been set up to look into the crisis, get the report and then you can apportion blames. Rushing to suspend a sitting governor does not augur well for the party because we need a state like Rivers. We don't want a divided state. Rivers State since 1999 has given PDP 100 per cent votes during elections; that is the only state has given us 100 per cent votes, not even Bayelsa, not Ogun State where Obasanjo comes from and we still want the state 100 per cent. So if the leadership of that state has offended the party, the party should tread with caution and show mercy. I personally feel we need Rivers State votes in

Senator Amange

PDP govs must be loyal to the party —Sen Amange ’President Jonathan's style is admirable' bulk.

You were once quoted as saying the North-west should wait till 2030 to have their turn in the presidency.

Yes my position has not changed. If the six-year tenure arrangement sails through in the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly, then it will be a good thing in the sense that a zone will not wait for too long to have a go at the presidency. Instead of eight years, it will now wait for six years. I was thinking that they will think of the present crop of governors and president, but the newly elected ones will stay for six years, that means by 2017 another zone will have the presidency for six years. Before you know it all the zones would have tasted power and we will have peace.

After the South-south, if we are talking about zoning, North is not a zone. We have six zones in the North, so after the South-south, which has not tasted the presidency, until now, it will go to the South East which has tasted for only six months or there about before it will go to North-east. We must consider other parameters if we talk about zoning.

If the North-west is clamouring to come in as President, where then is zoning? You have Abacha, Buhari, Shagari, North-west with three slots.

Then North Central three Gowon, Babangida and Abubakar. North East has produced only Tafawa Balewa. So if the President must come from a zone from the North it will be North East, not North Central, North West.

But if you look proportionally you will see that the most short- changed zone was South South followed by South East, followed by North East.

Whereas we talk about zoning, it is all about the impact the President's make on the lives of Nigerians. One would have thought that with a South South President, the neglect that brought about militancy and the likes would be addressed. Is this President on the right track?

Is a good question. I like the way the President is going about it not because I know him as an individual. He is not South South President, he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The whole nation is his own constituency and if he can handle it this way for the next eight years (two terms), maybe the glamour, the struggle to be President or for one zone to push for somebody will be reduced. If a president will come in and regard Nigeria as his own constituency not caring for his own zone, state, local government area, Nigeria will be better of.

So we from the South South,

we are not expecting that he will do magic for us. If you are taking about federal project, the only federal project that we have today is the East West Road, from Cross River to Edo and it has been on for eight years and still under construction.

But our happiness is that the President is looking at every area equally. If you talk of voting strength, it was the South East that gave us the highest number of votes. Does it then mean that he will only face South East? No! So any President coming in should learn from the way the current president is operating, regard the whole nation as his constituency.

Your position seems to be at variance with what Asari Dokubo is saying that unless Jonathan emerges winner of the next election by (2015), Nigeria will suffere dire consequences?

Asari Dokubo is an individual he is free to state his mind. The statement Asari made is not stronger than the one Sani Bello or other northern leaders have made. You take him as he is, he is free to speak his mind. But he is not saying that because Goodluck Jonathan is taking care of the South South or because he is South South President Nigerians must accept him. No! That is not the statement, the statement is that other zones have stayed for eight years so the South South zone should also complete its eight years. That is the simple statement that the young man has made. People should not where he (Jonathan) comes from to intimidate him out of office. I read him very well and I listened to him, he has not made any derogatory statement or statement that say he will try to upturn the government. If you read what he said you will know that what he said is not as strong as what the northern elders are claiming he said. So let's leave Asari alone , this is a free nation so he is free to say his mind.

So what that means other people that are also making inflammatory statement are also free?

I will not call what Asari said inflammatory. What do you mean by inflammatory? Somebody said this person must not contest and another said he must contest is that inflammatory? If somebody said this person must not contest and such statement is not inflammatory why should the one that said he must contest be considered inflammatory? I will not use that word. There has been this struggle that Jonathan must say for only one term than his own supporters not only Asari Dokubo are saying he must complete his two terms.

The North Central youths have said in a statement that Goodluck Jonathan has the constitutional right to re-contest for another four years. It is the way it is put one is stronger, one is not. The statements were the same, one said don't contest, the other said

contest.

Ribadu recently said Nigeria is a sinking ship under Jonathan and experiencing tyranny under him is that true?

I did not listen to Ribadu say that. You know maybe he was misquoted. Because before you say one thing is bad you have to compare. Let him compare the two governments. He was almost the defacto head of one government. He left his own job as EFCC boss and he was everywhere.

He was the person removing governors by unconstitutional means but nobody called him a tyranic leader. So let us not bother about those statements.

He contested election and failed so he has tested election and I don't think even if he contests elections three times that he will succeed.

He was actually doing the work, we praised him for what he did for EFCC but at a time he left his job and started going into general governance.

He was always at the presidency and he was just behaving like a catch dog, leaving the main job he was doing. So he cannot throw stone and he cannot point one finger at the present government because four of them will be pointing at him.

His statement is not correct and Nigerians should disregard this statement.

This presidency has been accused of being slow in taking actions and why is the President afraid to act particularly when past leaders make inflammatory statements?

Yes I have heard statements credited some leaders but let me tell you, the president is not a military President, he is not a military head of state, he is a democrat. That is the difference. When he went to Maiduguri and he said he was not going to discuss with ghosts, you heard your so called inflammatory statements from the north, that he gave amnesty to Niger Delta youths and not to the northern youths. But he was not the person that gave amnesty to Niger Delta youths it was Yar'Adua.

So this issue of being slow is better for us. If you look at the way he declared state of emergency, he waited patiently, he followed all due processes and finally he declared state of emergency and got 90 per cent support of the world both internal and external support.

Because he was methodically following the events not rushing to take rash decisions. And that is why they say he is slow.

Is better for him to be slow than to taking irrational decision that will create more problem.

So when statements are made by former heads of state. You now look back to the time this man was in charge of this country, what did he do? And I can say during the Buhari's regime, it was another controversy. We have not forgotten the 53 suit cases loaded with dollars and escorted by Villa security to this country and he was fighting corruption? You see that is why you just don't make statements for the sake for it.

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

*Uchenna Nwanyu...suspect in police net

hotel, from where they would call relatives of their victims demanding for ransom. When ransom is paid, they would blindfold their victims and drive them to another part of Ogun State where they would drop them. After any successful operation, they would leave for Ghana where they would share their loot.

End of the road Disclosing how the kidnap syndicate *Weapons recovered from the alleged gang was smashed, a police source said: “Having stayed around their camp for some days to monitor their movements, we noticed that only three persons were s t a t i o n e d permanently in the flat. And if we had struck then, we won’t be able to get the rest of the members and that would have foiled the desired effort, because others would go and regroup. we had always known they were into “So we waited until they went out at 12 kidnapping but were afraid to report to midnight and came back with a man later them to the police for fear of being killed. discovered to be an Indian, who they They usually drove out at odd hours , say abducted in Ikoyi. When they arrived, we about 12 midnight and returned about waited for them to settle down and to, at three hours later. After that, the gates least, to keep the victim safe. We did not would not be opened until the next strike immediately so as not to kill the morning when they would drive out again. victim.

After two to three days, we won’t see them “From our investigation, we learnt that again until about two weeks later ”. victims were usually kept at the left hand Corroborating this claim, Lagos State side of the flat while they (kidnappers) Commissioner of Police , Mr Umar occupied the right side. Having waited Manko, disclosed that members of the for three hours, without any sight of any gang lived in Ghana but only came to of them driving out, we decided to go Lagos to perpetrate their heinous inside. activities.

“Immediately we went inside, they “ Remember when the Ejigbo LCDA opened fire from the window and this led chairman was kidnapped, I promised to a gun duel. In the process, two of them Lagosians we were going to arrest the jumped over the fence to escape but were kidnappers. We later got information that shot dead by our men stationed there. these kidnappers were based in Ghana Others attempted to escape through the and all efforts to arrest them in Ghana kitchen door to an uncompleted building. failed because the country had her They were also gunned down by some procedure and they insisted we could not policemen who laid ambush there. At the just go there to make any arrest”, Manko end, seven of them were killed”. told journalists.

Army uniform “We went to Ghana with a team of Before they met their waterloo, the suspected kidnappers reportedly operated in army uniform, thus making it When the gun shots died impossible for members of the public to down, I decided to come know their true identities. Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that areas out, only to behold the they always targeted were Lekki, Ikoyi lifeless bodies of my boss and Victoria Island. Other areas where they reportedly struck were done on and four of his friends in information. the sitting room Their modus oparandi included intercepting vehicles of victims, pretending to be soldiers. They would, international policemen, INTERPOL, thereafter, drag their victim out, push him but, after 31 days without a headway, our into their vehicle and zoom off to their policemen returned to Nigeria. camp in Agbara. The kidnappers also “Based on painstaking follow-up and reportedly operated in broad day light, surveillance in tracking these kidnappers, especially at weekends, throwing caution men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad to the wind. Anytime they encountered (SARS) discovered their hideout in gridlock, two of them would alight from Agbara two weeks ago. The Commander their vehicle to control the traffic for easy of SARS, Mr Abba Kyari, led a team of passage. At other times, when caught in crack detectives to a suburb in Agbara traffic, they would accost a victim in his where the kidnappers had their camp. car and order him to come out, that his “After 72 hours of waiting in ambush, the attention was needed in the cantonment. men cordoned off the area, then stormed Anytime a victim proves tough, they the house where all the kidnappers would beat him up and drag him into their gathered around 3 am”. vehicle.

The suspected kidnappers, it was learnt, Following this new trend, CP Manko only visited Nigeria on weekends when advised Lagosians to be wary of men in they lodged in hotels close to the area. uniform of any kind. “ People have to be Then they would storm Lagos, abduct more conscious while dealing with people their victims and take them to their camp in uniform for now”, the police boss said. at Agbara where those resident in the flat Police sources hinted that after each would take over. The remaining six successful kidnap , a bureau-de-change members would, thereafter, leave for the operator, whose identity was given simply

THE KILLING OF TERROR GANG IN LAGOS

We could have exposed Lagos council chairman’s kidnappers but... —Neighbours *How they operated with bravado; and were caught and killed

T

HE peace enjoyed by residents of Idomila community, located off A g b a r a Igbesa area of Ogun State, was, in the early hours of Monday, suspended following sporadic gun shots which jolted the residents from sleep.

The gun shots, described as one of the worst in the history of the community, were initially concluded to be from robbers. But when the dust settled, it was discovered to be a gun duel between operatives of AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja and suspected members of a notorious kidnap syndicate that used a building in the community as hideout.

At the end of the gun battle, seven suspected kidnappers were killed and two taken alive, in army uniform, with the recovery of four AK 47 rifles, 28 AK 47 magazines fully loaded, more than 1,000 rounds of AK- 47 live ammunition, army uniforms and two vehicles — a Honda CRV SUV with number plate ABC 106 AE and a Nissan Pathfinder SUV with number plate AGL 730 AZ. The alleged kidnappers; according to the police, were responsible for the abduction of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area boss, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, two months ago and a Federal High Court judge, who was on a visit to Lagos..

Investigation by Sunday Vanguard revealed that one of the suspects, alleged to be the gang leader and one of those killed during the police operation, Jonah Benjamin Osinachi, rented the threebedroom bungalow in March, 2013. The building is situated on the outskirts of Idomila, with some uncompleted buildings around it.

Osinachi, popularly known as China, reportedly did not not stay in the apartment which gates, neighbuors said, were always shut. But three suspected members of the gang were reportedly always indoors.

Further investigation revealed that while some of the residents, majority of whom are farmers and traders, were suspicious of the activities of occupants of the building, they could, however , not place their fingers on the exact business they were into. On the other hand, some of them, who claimed to be aware they could be into kidnapping, could not disclose this to security operatives for fear of reprisal.

One o f the residents, who spoke on phone, said: “Their arrest did not come to some of us as a surprise. This is because

,

BY EVELYN USMAN

,

as mallam, would be handed the loot. The mallam would take the loot to Ghana, from where members of the gang would collect their share.

But the suspected leader of the gang, Osinachi, always collected his share before handing the rest to mallam .

One of the arrested suspects, Uchenna Nwanyu (25), who denied ever taking part in any of the kidnapping, admitted, however, to always watch over their victims. Nwanyu disclosed that although Osinachi was his boss, he was never paid any reasonable amount at the end of the day. With the killing of his boss and members of his gang, Nwanyu said Lagos would experience peace in the area of kidnapping.

His words: “I worked for my boss, Osinachi, whom we all called China. His father hailed from China while his mother was from Imo State. I managed his building in Ghana and his restaurant. I was only in Lagos on his instruction to help procure international visas for his wife and two children. He told me they would be spending this year’s Christmas

in London.

“While in Lagos, he called me to come to Agbara, that his goods would be arriving that day. When I got there, I met him and his friends, some of whom were smoking and drinking.

When it was close to 12 midnight, they brought out their charms, said some incantations and brought out a liquid substance which they poured on their heads. After that , they left the house in army uniform and guns.

“I was sleeping when they came back with a white man . They told me to take the man to my room and watch over him. While in the room, I overheard my boss telling his friends that he was tired and could not go to the hotel he usually stayed whenever he visited Lagos. He said he would go to the hotel the next day, from where he would contact the white man’s relatives for ransom.

‘Peace in Lagos’ “But few hours later, I heard gun shots. It never happened like that before. I lay down and also asked the white man to lie down so as not to be hit by stray bullet. I heard my boss instructing his boys that everybody should flee for their lives. I could not leave the room for fear of being hit by bullet.

“When the gun shots died down, I decided to come out, only to behold the lifeless bodies of my boss and four of his friends in the sitting room. I raised my hands up and remained there until someone hit me with the boot of a gun and I fell down.

“I have always known my boss was into kidnapping. But I just could not tell him to his face to stop. Anytime I watched the news and saw reports of any arrest of kidnappers, I would call his attention to it but he would dismiss it with a wave of the hand saying those arrested were not smart enough.

“With the killing of this people, I assure you that Lagos will experience a down turn in kidnapping because the major kidnap here is done by the group” Asked if he knew the identities of those kidnapped, he shook his head and said: “ No”.

London-bound wife and hard drugs Continuing, Nwanyu said: “ I do not think my boss’s wife was aware of what he was into . He only gave her the impression that he was into hard drugs and that was why he said he asked them to relocate to Ghana from where he planned to move them to London next year . That is why he procured their visas.

“I have severally thought of quitting but could not because I was yet to get a reasonable amount with which to start life afresh. Now I have been arrested without any thing to show for the three years I worked with China”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 19

UK VISA BOND:

A price for migration and terrorism

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor

W

hen two Nigeria – born British citi zens, Michael Adebolajo and Micheal Adebowale - went on celebratory murder of Lee Rigby, 25, a British soldier in Woolwich, southeast London on May 24, it was obvious that the conservative government of Prime Minister David Cameron will hit back.

For a government that has witnessed massive street riots in April 2011, largely spearheaded by immigrants and irate youths, the horrifying daytime attack by the two Nigerians identified as local terrorists, armed with meat cleavers, was too much, given the discontent in Europe with multi-culturalism, a euphemism for xenophobia, but, more importantly, with Muslims who are easily picked out for acts of terrorism.

The decision to introduce a visa bond of 3,000 pounds is nothing but a pay back for citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, India and Pakistan who are known as high risk sources of immigration.

The two killers shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they went about their grisly crime and asked stunned passers-by take video of their act and blood dripped from their hands immediately after beheading the soldier.

The killers said their action was prompted by their desire to avenge the death of Muslims being killed in Afghani-

David Cameron stan, the Middle East and Africa by western powers. Their action fitted perfectly into alQaeda philosophy of Jihad and ideology of hate which have provided the fuel for burning passion for suicide bombings, terrorist attacks on Christians and Jews who are blamed for the actions of western governments in many troubled spots around the world.

They told television cameras at the scene of the crime: “We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reasons we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day”. According to them, “ this British soldier is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.

One of them declared: “We apologise that women had to see this today but in our lands our women have to see the same. You people will never be

safe. Remove your government. They don’t care about you” Global politics Migration and terrorism have therefore become the hottest socio-political issues in global politics in majority of the destination countries of Europe and the United States. There have been serious efforts to control the demographic trends and shifts especially in the face of dire economic circumstances in western economies. But this is only a futile effort given the close socio – cultural and historical links between Europe, Africa and the Arab world dating back to 700 AD. There have been wide spread process of alienation, rejection that have been instituted by the welfare system in Britain and other European nations and there

have equally been a systematic process of rebellion by the disposed minority groups.

The British Home Office, which proposed the 3,000 pounds visa bond had cited the need to deter travellers to the UK from overstaying their visa permit during their tour.

It also said the move will take care of the cost of deportation of people who overstay their visa as well as pay for the cost of over using British social facilities during their visit. Interestingly, the countries targetted by this proposed visa policy are citizens of countries that hail from the former British colonies who now belong to the Commonwealth nations, a glorified club of leaders of old British empire Since the conservative government of the late Baroness Margaret Thatcher introduced visa for Commonwealth countries, in 1987, Nigerians have been among the worst hit as the citizens of the most populous black country on earth are compulsive travellers and majority of them head to the UK in search of knowledge and jobs.

The situation has been made worse since the turn of the century with the rise in Islamic restiveness across the world. This has led to upsurge in acts of terrorist attacks on nationals that are seen as not liberal democracies as citizens of such countries have become targets of Islamic-inspired Jihad.

There have been gradual and open reaction to what has become growing threat to nation-

al security of the countries where Islamic extremists have gained remarkable ground.

There have been back lash from right wing politicians and groups that have been gaining votes from their tough anti-immigration policies. It is therefore expected that the Cameron administration in White Hall would take drastic measures to deal with what is seen as the invasion of foreigners in the UK. Nigeria has threatened to react to the proposed visa bond policy but what the British political establishment has failed to reward is the huge success that their country has derived from the sweat of immigrants.

Barrister Mc Anthony Ndukaeze, an immigration attorney, told Sunday Vanguard that immigrants especially Nigerians with British citizenship, were responsible for the huge success which Britain recorded at the London Olympics.

Renowned scholar on migration, Prof. Aderanti Adepoju, is of the view that politicians who want to win votes often play up the negative side of migration and the activities of immigrants. The action of terrorists, especially foreigners, has often attracted more negative reaction from citizens of the host country.

Adepoju insists that migration is not the problem of many countries that latch on it to impose stringent policies on their visa entry requirements as we can see with the proposed UK visa bond.

How UK bowed to Nigeria, India

BY UDUMA KALU

*We had the ‘principle of reciprocity’ in mind-Okonjo Iweala

O

verseas anger and failure by the United Kingdom, UK, Border Agency staff to follow up leads in cases of migrants breaking the law have been given as reasons why the UK Prime Minister David Cameron aborted the proposed £3, 000 visa bond.

The UK, last week, proposed that visitors from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana should pay the bond before they can get a visa, to be repaid after they leave UK within the limits of its term.

These states were labelled “high-risk” for over-stayers.

The UK Labour had twice suggested similar schemes when it was in government, but they never came into being.

But Cameron, on Tuesday night, “slammed the brakes on

British public. The Green Party was said to be utterly opposed to the idea of the bonds – and more broadly to the government’s approach to immigration.

Okonjo Iweala the proposal”, on the basis that he didn’t want to undermine “his growth agenda or the ‘open for business’ message he delivered on a recent trip to India”. It is also reported that despite the push by the UK and its Labour Party, as they chase votes, the visa bond did not reflect the general view of the

Also, UK border officials reportedly wrote off more than 35,000 potential leads from police records when trying to trace missing migrants, according to a watchdog report published last week.

“The UK Border Agency failed to take action to locate more than 3,000 migrants on whom there was a positive hit when checks were made against the police database.

Nor did officials follow up a further 30,000 possible matches to names and addresses on the police national computer (PNC),” the inspection report

said.

However, reports from the UK indicated that anger from Nigeria, India and Ghana were behind the visa bond abortion.

According to UK Trade and Investment, Nigeria is the UK’s second largest market for goods in Africa, and the 33rd largest overseas market. Exports of goods and services to Nigeria were worth about £2.5bn ($3.84bn) in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available. Exports from Nigeria to the UK totalled $9.2bn last year, most of it oil, according to the National Bureau of Statistics in Nigeria.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, economy and finance minister, told British media the proposals were anathema to the spirit of agreements between

the two countries aimed at boosting trade and investment and that every targeted country may retaliate.

“Frankly we are baffled by the whole thing. This is a very blunt instrument. It sends all the wrong signals about Britain’s openness for trade and tourism,” she told the Financial Times (FT), saying she was sure every country targeted had the “principle of reciprocity” in mind.

Nigeria’s fast-growing economy has drawn foreign investors, while wealthy Nigerians have become some of the highest spending consumers among visitors to the UK, FT said.

More than 180,000 Nigerians apply for UK visas every year and about 70 per cent of applications are successful, the British High Commission in Abuja said.

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

Structural Transformation in Nigeria and Africa I

n the 35 years leading to 2005, crude oil exploration, production and export provided the only talking point on Nigeria in international business of scale. Over this period, the Nigerian economic outlook was impacted mainly by global politics and market events.

The ripples generated in Nigeria, positive or negative, were too weak to travel far and wide enough to impact the country outlook in the estimation of the international community and systems that controlled global markets, except when the ripples were ultranegative. We were susceptible to external shocks transmitted through the conduit of international oil market.

This scenario has been changing.

Improvements in governance frameworks through multi-party democracy since 1999 and purposeful (market) reforms have been re-defining the influence of Nigeria in global politics, finance and investment. We see two recent evidences of this. One, in quick succession, JP Morgan and Barclays have listed the Federal Government Bonds in their respective emerging market indexes. Consequently, global demand for Nigerian sovereign debt issues has gone through the roof. It is the supply side of the market that has been exercising caution, quite appropriately; with the recent intent to link higher debt capital to delivery of specific infrastructure projects by the Federal Government.

Two, Benzinga.com, the financial media outlet that provides heads up for Wall Street’s top traders, alerted its audience and through NASDAQ, to growing evidence that Nigeria’s influence on global portfolio performance is no longer limited to financial assets that enjoy the sovereign guarantee of the Federal Government.

“Nigeria ETF gets good news on glum day for global markets” was how Benzinga put it on a day Exchange Traded Funds tracking global markets sagged last month. The “newly-minted” Global X Nigeria Index ETF, (only two months old), listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), closed downward by marginal 0.9 per cent when emerging and developed markets tracker funds lost lowest 1.5 per cent value.

What inspired this? Your guess is wrong if you thought the Nigerian hydrocarbon sector provided the inspiration that made the fund tracking Nigeria to hold out above its seniors.

Bloomberg reported Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to say the ratio of nonperforming loans (NPLs) at Nigerian banks to credit total fell to 3.8 percent in April 2013, from 35 percent in November 2010. The star performances of Global X Nigeria ETF and the banks (in relation to their aggregate low NPLs) are two of the several positive outcomes of the extra-ordinary intervention

Sanusi led to rescue the Nigerian banking industry in 2009.

I have read reports which claim the intervention was very expensive. I say Nigeria could not afford the unravelling of her banking sector as it was bound to happen before the last intervention, which originated in Nigeria a tsunami that is still sending positive waves to the global market. Nigeria could afford the bailout and the needed investments to keep the banks alive and well, because the country’s oil revenue could back efforts to save a very key industry that has been supporting the Nigerian economic might in some ways since the end of the banking industry consolidation in 2006. What else can we do with our petrol dollar?

It definitely provides investment capacity for economic diversification and higher GDP growth.

Following my invitation to a highlevel panel at the just-concluded Annual Meetings of African Development Bank in Marrakech, Morocco, I started interrogating the theme of the conference: ‘Structural Transformation of African Economies’. Can Africa inspire growth across sectors of the national economies? Do we have needed infrastructures to support intra-Africa trade which is a necessity for national economic diversification in the continent? And, of course, what is the role Nigerian Export–Import Bank can play in the mix?

The Necessity Structural transformation of the African economy is a necessity. The good news is that it is one agenda which we can deliver. Financiers look at how ideas like this can be delivered with the required financing. Over the last ten years or more, notwithstanding the minor setback during the global financial crisis of 2007 – 2008, balance sheets of several African countries have been strengthening. In Nigeria, we seized the opportunity of high oil prices to do a very smart deal to exit the Paris Club debt. Thereby, additional resources were freed, which otherwise would have been used for debt servicing. We also built savings buffers. The required institutional framework to counter pro-cyclical budgeting is now gaining grounds in several African countries including Ghana, Angola and Nigeria.

The market conditions that made these possible have since returned.

We are seeing bright price outlooks for commodities. Several commodityexporting African countries can generate the financial windfall to make secondary investments in agriculture (with emphasis on agroprocessing), manufacturing, solid minerals and services. We call this our MASS Agenda for Nigeria at

*Orya

Nexim Bank.

When one looks at the strategic imperatives for this transformation, one sees that today we can still talk of the demographic dividend that is inherent in our population structures. Africa has the manpower, at least in the very basic sense, to support economic growth on the continent. The youth population is huge.

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By ROBERTS ORYA

One can only imagine that technology will continue to dominate performances of future economies. Africa must connect with this reality

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They can be employed. They must be employed.

But can we go far with reliance on extractive industries? It is not necessarily a categorical and capital “NO”. If that were the case, we might again be talking about a “hopeless continent.” But that characterisation has been confounded.

Therefore, the extractive industries of Africa can provide resources to invest in secondary industries. Mother Nature has blessed our continent.

However, the major problem with extractive industries, especially hydrocarbon, is that it employs very few people. The OECD says in its recent report that the extractive industries accounted for no more than between 1–3 percent of global employment. Even then, most of the jobs in the sector are highly skilled. In most cases, expatriates take most of the jobs.

Therefore, we have to re-engineer economic growth in sectors where we can generate employment for our teeming youth population.

So, we have the two building blocks for the realisation of structural transformation of African economies. The necessity is quite obvious. The resources to make the initial investments are available. The combination of both encapsulates the frontier emerging market status of several African states. And

that is generating the interest of global investors in our continent and in our country.

Trade Infrastructure Africa currently contributes no more than 3 per cent to global trade. That is dismal, and it puts a glass ceiling on the prospects of higher GDP growth rates of African countries. For there to be an improvement, African countries must grow trade within. Intra-Africa trade must be a key strategy for private sector development and consequently job creation and elimination of extreme poverty in our continent.

Nexim Bank found that absence of direct maritime links between West African States constitutes serious barrier to cross-border trade within the sub region. Shipment delays, which arise from trans-shipment arrangements that are largely through Europe, prolong cargo delivery time to between 45 - 60 days within the sub-region. This can be reduced to 3 days in most cases when direct maritime link is established. Poor road infrastructure also drives up the cost of transportation, causes excessive transit time, and therefore makes intra-regional trade non-competitive within West and Central African.

The time and cost efficiencies the Sealink Project will bring about are immediately apparent. Beyond this however, it will unlock opportunities in the maritime sector through effective indigenous participation. Much of the annual maritime freight payments of average $5 billion from import / export tonnages will be localised. This will help in generating maritime-related employments on the continent. Additional investments will be stimulated in multi-modal transport infrastructure that will also link non-littoral regional member countries.

Nexim Bank is enjoying extensive stakeholders support for this project. The African Development Bank has endorsed it, so also the Ecowas Commission and Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA). The Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) is sponsoring it. The Sealink Project will operate as a private sector business.

Accordingly, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is in place to deliver the project.

Strategic Underpinning Investment in education is very important to the realisation of the structural transformation of the economies of African States. Strategies for human capital development for up-andcoming young Africans must target quantitative and qualitative outcomes. At every level of production and service delivery, we need to train and re-train our people. Although I have talked about intra-Africa trade growth, there is nothing there that says we can circumvent global competitiveness. We must benchmark global standards.

The role of technological know-how has already entrenched in our present world. One can only imagine that technology will continue to dominate performances of future economies.

Africa must connect with this reality.

Inclusive growth is important as well. We must ensure that our women are integrated in both policymaking and business. When the woman is empowered, the family–the critical building block of functional societies is empowered. Civil society must continue to demand governance reforms. One of the greatest enablers of the growth we have seen in our continent over the last 10–15 years has been recovery from political instability in several African countries. A representative government; one that is accountable to the people and is transparent, would influence domestic stability and attract external support for economic growth and structural transformation.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 21

EXECUTION OF FOUR CONDEMNED PRISONERS

Oshiomhole’s critics, Amnesty International got it wrong – Charles Idahosa

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

Oshiomhole has the constitutional duty to sign death warrant. And this is subject to advice from relevant bodies and it must be made clear before the governor signs such warrant that all legal processes have been exhausted

C

harles Idahosa is one of those who formed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, but, Charles T, as he is fondly called, has switched political camp. He is now the Political Adviser to the Action Congress of Nigeria (A C N) governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. In this interview, Idahosa exonerates his principal from the Monday hanging of four prisoners on death row. He describes the execution as an entire legal matter, saying due process was followed. He also shares his perspective on how Oshiomhole’s successor should emerge in 2016, just as he gives reasons for the formation of Edo Solidarity Movement (ESM), a group that is geared towards building a political structure that will lead to the emergence of the governor’s successor.

Excerpts: Amnesty International, among others, has criticized your governor for signing the execution warrant of four prisoners who were executed on Monday Monday.. Many people say it is a dent on the state government?

There is nothing like dent because the governor must execute his duties.The execution of the prisoners has nothing to do with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole or the state government. This is a constitutional matter. Oshiomhole has the constitutional duty to sign death warrant. And this is subject to advice from relevant bodies and it must be made clear before the governor signs such warrant that all legal processes have been exhausted. For example, the person must have been tried in proper courts, that is, the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court must have confirmed that he actually committed the offence. So nobody should bring any sentiment here. The question you should ask is were these people innocent or guilty as charged? This has nothing to do with politics. In the 70s, there was public execution of armed robbers in the then Bendel State compassing of the present Edo State but what we don’t know is whether capital punishment has reduced robbery or not. But if you observe, there are states now where they passed a law saying kidnappers will either face life imprisonment or death sentence, so it all depends on the law.

Being somebody who knows Governor Oshiomhole very well, do you think ordinarily he would have signed the execution warrant were it not that the law compelled him to do so?

The fact that Governor Oshiomhole is a masses man does not remove the fact that he is a man too that believes in fairness and justice. I remember the last time he had this kind of challenge with international bodies on the issue of the death warrant, he asked them, did these people kill? If a man leaves his house with a gun with the intention of killing another person and the governor is the chief security officer of the state, or when people are sleeping, a man comes with a gun,

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*idahosa robs a couple, rapes the wife, rapes the daughter in the man’s presence and even kills, like what happened to a top government official who was working with ADP, and that persons is caught and he is tried in a competent court and found guilty, and you say because Oshiomhole is a masses man he should leave the person, that is not done. Oshiomhole, as Governor, must be seen to give justice and fairness to both parties.

IfAmnesty International is saying don’t kill this man,’ what about the family of the people the man killed? So I don’t see why people are condemning the execution; as governor, he has to look at both sides and make a decision. This has nothing to do with Oshiomhole, these are people who committed crime against God and humanity, they killed, they raped, and, if you commit a crime, you pay for it. As far as I am concerned, if you take another person’s life, you have no right over your own any more. Nobody has the right over another person’s life and expect to live.

You just launched a political group, Edo Solidarity Movement. We learnt it is geared towards finding Oshiomhole’s successor?

Yes, this is a group of people of like-minds. We used it in 1996 during the military regime because there was no political party then, and we needed a forum where we could sit together and discuss . So I contested under the ESM banner then to become the chairman of Uhumwonde on non-party basis. I remember that, at the said time, we won about 18 out of the 18 local governments. We are now in ACN and I just said to myself, by time ACN loses its identity with the registration of APC, we need a forum where we can articulate our views within the new party and push people of likeminds, people we know can deliver, not people with big pockets, not people who just came from the US with bags of dollars and pick tickets. I just felt there was need for me to call people of the progressive hue and the Edo Solidarity Movement cuts across the three senatorial districts. We are not interested in who becomes governor, we are not interested on who becomes

senator, all we are interested in is to identify amongst ourselves and make sure that we support them. ESM is about creating a conducive atmosphere within a political group, within the political party to enable the governor concentrate on governance. We are approaching 2016 and Oshiomhole is not entitled to third term, you will agree with me the level he has taken Edo State to. We, as members of the ESM, will move as a bloc into the APC by the grace of God. If we allow a few people to hijack the party they will do whatever they want. We want people that say the truth because we want the people to lead and not a party of cabal. This group is not put together for any individual who will become a successor to Oshiomhole.

This movement is about participatory democracy, this movement is about having a say in who takes over. It is not put together for a particular person. This movement is also for us to have a say on how our party is run, so that when the time comes, the party will be able to have transparent primaries on who succeeds Oshiomhole. Only a fool will think that Adams Oshiomhole will rule for eight years and will not be interested in who succeeds him. We want to be part of it, we are interested in who takes over from Oshiomhole.

There is this feeling that the battle for succession might tear the Edo ACN apart.

You remember what happened when some party members had different views on who should be Governor Oshiomhole’s running mate ahead of the election last year. At that time many of you said the party will be torn apart but what the governor did then was to consult with the leaders and, at the end of the day, we all agreed that he should continue with the present deputy. So when it comes to who will be, Comrade Oshiomhole will sit down with the leaders and decide who succeeds him. We are going to discuss because we don’t want the tempo of work started by Oshiomhole to slow down. But talking about crisis, there won’t be any crisis in the party. We will argue and agree on somebody at the right time. The truth is that 2016 is still far away; so it is not

our immediate goal. Our immediate goal is to restructure the party for greatness.

PDP criticisms.

You just have to understand that the PDP in Edo must talk so that Abuja will hear them and know they still exist. That is the only way they can drop one board appointment for the person that criticized Oshiomhole most. The PDP was in Edo for years and we did not see light, they were not even able to collect taxes. Most of the money Oshiomhole is usingtodevelopEdoisgenerated here. From N300million IGR, we are now collecting over

N1.2billion and we are seeing what Oshiomhole is using the money for. So I don’tlikejoiningissueswiththembecause they have nothing to offer the people, they are down and out. So it is funny each time I read them saying they will capture Edo in 2016. But you don’t expect them to say they will lose the next election, they have been boasting since Oshiomhole came on board. We have never lost any election, it started with the Akoko Edo election, we defeated them. Godwin Abbe was the MinisterofDefencethenandhewithdrew soldiers attached to the joint patrol; yet they lost. From there we moved toAfuze, they also lost. After that they now said, they are waiting for the general election where Oshiomhole and others will be in their villages, the general elections came, yettheylostandstartedcomplainingagain.

We cleared the entire state at the general elections. We got two out of the three senatorial seats, seven House of Reps out ofnine.Theyarebeingdepletedeveryday.

So what has changed now that they feel willmakethemwin?By2015Oshiomhole will still be governor, his election will be 2016. You will see the pounding in 2015, then 2016 will just be a formality. I saw a PDP stalwart saying that once they win the presidency they will win the governorship in Edo state. But I told him thatbythetimeACNorAPCdefeatsPDP in 2015, 2016 will just be a formality. The man said their leader said they will go back and do what they know best how to do, that is rigging the election.

You ran for governorship in 2007.

Do you still nurse that ambition?

Yes I ran for governorship that time, but I believe that only God gives power.

You cannot say this is what I want to be, only God has the final say. I don’t have any ambition to run for any elective office fornowbutonlythepeopleofEdowilldecide who the governor of the state will be. I don’t nurse any governorship ambition now.

PAGE 22—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

These men are good enough!

Dear Rebecca

T

HIS is actually my first time of writ ing to you and I must commend you for the wonderful things you are doing. I pray the almighty God continue to bless you. I’m in my mid 20’s and I don’t know if I’m to say that I have a problem with men. I’ve not had any lasting relationship. I’ve had three dates but each of them was brief. All these happened within some months. They don’t ask for another date, and sometimes, they travel without informing me.

Right now, there’s this male friend I met seven years ago. A relationship developped, but I’m even thinking of leaving him because his behavior irritates me. I’ve asked him if there is any other girl in his life and he said no. The last time I saw him was in November last year, yet we live in the same town. It is not as if I enjoy the relationship but what do I do to get out of the situation?

I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like dating men who work in the same office complex with me. I have many admirers where I work and they are disturbing me.

I’m totally confused. It is not as if these guys are not okay but I feel the whole thing is just too sudden.

There is this particular one who is becoming a thorn in my flesh. How do I come out of this?

Aunty, I don’t like dating married men but there is this man I got to know some years back. He is married with two children. He wants me to be his friend and this is something I’ve never done all my life. How do I tell him that I don’t want him? I also have a problem with my menstruation. I’ve been to the hospital and was told that my flow is irregular and heavy. Is there anything I can do about it?

Worried friend, Abuja.

REPL Y REPLY

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ou didn’t say much about your self and background to enable us know a little bit about the sort of person you are.

You come across as an intelligent person, but who wants the world to fall in line with your

own concept of life. In short you want other people to strive to please you without your putting in any effort to make the relationship worthwhile for the other person. You probably are an attractive and achieving young person, who has allowed this fact to allow her feel that she’s entitled to what she feels is best for her in life.

This doesn’t make you a bad person, but the fact is that no-one is the best of anything in life. You only have to go round the corner to find several people who are more than what you think you are.

Besides, you won’t remain young forever.

There would come a time when the number of male admires will start dropping until you find that you hardly have any left.

Then, whichever man comes your way would feel he’s doing an ‘old maid’ a favour, and he would expect you to show him respect and appreciation for dating you or proposing marriage. All this is not to frighten you into grabbing the next man who looks your way, but

in making you aware that you should develop a spirit of ‘ give and take’ and humility, if you want to have a fulfilling relationship with people; be it romantic or not. You have to strive to please other people so that they can enjoy being with you. We all have faults; acknowledge the fact that you have faults too, so, stop finding faults in other people. Be sweet and pleasant to the men

who come to ask for friendship even if you are going to turn them down gently. Stick to your principles but don’t set standards which are too high and unrealistic for people around you, particularly the men who come to you. Be tolerant and let people see how nice you are.

Now, I suggest you sit down quietly with the above advice in mind to evaluate your past rela-

tionships. Are there things you feel you should have done differently to retain the men’s interest for a longer period, even where it wasn’t going to lead to marriage? Be honest about your assessment, and where necessary, resolve to change.

Mid-twenties is still quite young these days for a girl to panic about relationships not working. So, calm down and

work on yourself first so that you can be found pleasant from the inside, and you will have more friends who remain in the friendship. Not every relationship with members of the opposite sex has to be a romantic one or end in marriage. I suggest you make friends generally with young men around you so that you can get to study and understand them better. Let good friendship build up first before romance comes in, and do not talk marriage until both of you are sure. I don’t advise you date married men. To me it is an insult for a married men to want to date a young girl, unless he is seriously considering marrying her and she is willing to be a second wife and go into polygamy.

A medical expert says you should go to a teaching or general hospital to consult a specialist (a gynecologist) on the issue of irregular menstruation so that it can be properly explained to you.

I want romance; they want friendship!

Dear Rebecca

I

am a guy of 24, a year four under graduate. In my year one, I asked two girls who were my course mates out at different times. They are both good friends too. But they both told me it was impossible, as they were already into relationships, but they would want us to be ordinary friends. I agreed. I am four years older than the first girl, while the second girl is one year older than I. I became so close to the second lady that our course mates thought we were into a relationship.

I told them that she was like a sister to me. There was a time she broke up with her guy and I asked her out again, thinking she would give in, but she still would not want me as a boyfriend. Still she visits me in my hostel outside the campus and we hug and kiss. She then wanted to know what was between me and her friend, the other lady. I told her we’re just

friends.

I really do not want to lose any of these girls, even though they only want ordinary friendship with me. The second girl and I are very close, she know much about me and I also know much about her. She says that’s the reason we cannot be boyfriend/girlfriend.

Please I need you advise.

Anonymous, Cross River State REPL Y REPLY

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ust one of these two la dies be your girlfriend? Can’t you approach other girls within or outside the campus for a romantic relationship? I know you say you’ve been friends with them for a while and you’re fond of them and wouldn’t want to lose them, but since you’ve never really owned them, you cannot lose them.

They’ve been honest

enough to tell you that they can only ever regard you as a brother. There’s no doubt that they like you as a friend and want to remain your friend.

Accept this and enjoy their friendship with you.

Not every relationship between a man and a woman has to be a romantic one. In fact, there are some friendships with members of the opposite sex which are for life, involving your marital partners and children later. You would always be there for each other, giving support, but no romance or sex. These friendships can be quite useful and we all need it; married or single.

Some good friends like that can even help get a girlfriend or even a marital partner because they understand you and know your taste and needs. The second lady who visits you and allows hug and kisses, but who maintains that she wants only friendship, was probably feeling low and unloved because she had split from her boyfriend, and she needed

to feel admired and loved, so, that body contact was essential to her.

Don’t force her into something she doesn’t want and which she has been openly honest about. If you do, you’d be the one to be hurt in the end when she makes up with the boyfriend or finds someone else she

loves. You’d also be ruining a beautiful friendship. Some ladies who had been jilted may marry a good friend who they really have no romantic feeling for, in order to heal, or to settle down, but most of such unions are not really happy or satisfying later, and the couple may split.

Don’t force her into something she doesn’t want and which she has been openly honest about. If you do, you’d be the one to be hurt in the end when she makes up with the boyfriend or finds someone else she loves

•All letters for publication on this page should be sent to: Dear Rebecca, Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: dearrebecca2@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 23

Who has more staying power: The Sugar Daddy or the Toy Boy?!

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HEY’d been called so many names in the past. Sugar-daddies, cradle- snatchers, fuddyduddies, moneybags.

And any unflattering names you can think of.

Yet they ’d been around longer than the so called toy boys who are almost common place these days. Yet people who are involved with today ’s older men say they are sexier and more in demand than ever before.

Do we need to remind ourselves that money has now become a sensitive subject in our lives? Soaring inflation rates have caused a downward spiral in many bedrooms. So, naturally when the subject of older men comes up, the question of money is inescapable.

Even to a seeming woman of substance like May. May works as a manager of several years standing with a reputable bank. She was left literally holding two babies seven years ago by her ex-husband. Despite her plum job, she admitted it was rough sailing. Then she met Ralph four years ago. It was as if she had struck oil.

“He pays for everything” she confessed unashamedly, “and 1

never feel uneasy about it. I see our relationship quite clearly; two people who love each other equally, but give each other different things.

Though Ralph supplies the money, he has no intention of buying me with it. If he didn’t respect me I wouldn’t take his money. If I didn’t have any career I was interested in and spent all my time shopping and going to beauty parlours, our relationship would fall apart in no time. The most important thing about loving an older man is for both of you to meet each other at the right time in your

lives.

“I met Ralph when I was good arid ready for a deep commitment. I won’t kid myself that there is no envy from many women who think I’m onto something good - I’m working on my career and earning enough to be self sufficient, but I feel good enough about myself not to resent Ralph helping me with my rent or with maintaining my car. As a matter of fact, I’m grateful for his generosity. I mean if we were married (either legally or ‘ your so called bogus no-meaning native law) no one would bat an eye-lid at my hav-

ing a good job and being ‘kept by a man’ at the same time! I’ll admit there is no way you can separate money from the relationship, but my feelings for Ralph have to do with his sharpness, energy, humour, curiosity and all the things that made him rich in the first place!”

Tayo, a 32-year- old medical doctor recalled that: “I had an argument with a friend recently on the subject of taking money from an older richer man. My friend said she would never let a sugar-daddy help with her finances but I said bull! I told her that I

would be a fool if I didn’t let my man (who is nineteen years older than I am by the way) follow through with the gentlemanly amenities he grew up with. Besides, my man knows that I like him for himself, not his money. He doesn’t constantly need to be in the role of my benefactor but I don’t complain when he does me a favour. All in all, I get from him great conversation, great sex and great companionship.

Why shouldn’t I feel comfortable about sharing his wealth?”

To every rule though, there is the odd exception. When Tera wanted to marry a 55-year-old widower four years ago, her best friend was aghast, spending a rich man’s dough was one thing, but tying the nuptial cord was practically begging for trouble. “My friend is a real cynic,” explained Tera.

“She said a 55 year-old rich man might be quite a catch, but his penis would be no prize at all.

“I mean how vulgar could you get? I suppose it was all sour grapes on her part as my husband was in firm shape. He took (and still takes) better care of himself than he did when he was young. “It is his grown

up children who gave me a rough time. The eldest who is over 30 is only three years older than I am but he and his wife never hide the fact that they think I am an opportunist. His other children talk to me condescendingly but my husband tells me to ignore them.

“We now have a child and relatively we are contented. Once in a while though, when his friends, visit with their wives, I feel like nothing but a kept woman. They look so old! There are times I pray that I see younger people around me more often than I see older ones ...” A psychologist wrapped up the younger woman/ older man relationship when she observed that: “In this type of relationships, there is a heightened atmosphere, a sense of momentum which is the formula that seems to melt boredom away. Older men have more experience, are more patient and tolerant”. “I’ll settle for tolerance when I’m much older ”, hooted Leila, a receptionist, “for now, I need a much younger man who will spring to action at the touch of a button. Not one I say special prayers for any time we want to make love!”.

toes. Stay in the position for another slow count to ten. Release the pose, rest a while and repeat.

This is another firmer of

the buttocks and legs.

These postures should see you through your problems as it has done for some others.

08052201867(Text Only)

Firm up your buttocks and thighs Trunk up

Number two: Lie flat down on your stomach.

Now, keep your toes inverted and with your hands stretched out be-

hind you as illustrated, and lift up your trunk.

Stay in this posture for a slow count to five.

Drop down and repeat. A great chest expander.

The spread eagle

Technique: Sit with legs widely spread apart.

Now, grasp your big toes with your forefinger and thumb around your big

,

T

HERE are many people, espe cially young ladies having issues with the state of their buttocks.

Some of them are not comfortable with the state of their buttocks and thighs.

They complain of fat bums and thighs and want to have them reduced.

Well, to assist such people solve their problem, they should practice the following exercises.

Lie flat on your stomach. Now, keep your toes inverted and with your hands stretched out behind you as illustrated, and lift up your trunk

,

Single leg raise

Technique: Lie flat on your belly. Place your hands by your sides and raise your right leg for a slow count to ten. Drop the leg and repeat with the other leg. Rest for a while and go ail over again. This is good for firming up their buttocks and thighs.

The Spread Eagle Pose Single Leg Raise Pose

Yoga classes at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

PAGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard , JUNE 30, 2013

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

This ‘winner’ didn’t take it all!

A

BOUT a fortnight ago, I ran into an old friend on the Island. I was really glad to see him. He’d simply disappeared from the social scene with his family and no one’s heard from him for almost ten years. After the usual pleasantries, he told me he had to leave the country when he did as his life was vitually falling apart.

He explained: “I was thinking of what to do with my life - after I was made redundant from work, when I heard the good news that a bosom friend, Leke, was being made a top dog in one of the newly created local governments. What a stroke of good luck. We were very close and I was sure he would help.

“After a series of meetings with him, he agreed I wasn’t really a businessman material.

But if I could provide fund, the fund would be invested with contractors who had little or no cash, and regular returns would be made to me on my capital. I was ecstatic. All my redundancy pay and the little I had put by from the petty contracts I’d done, 1 handed over to him. Talk about watching your money grow! Since he was the overall boss, my cheques were paid regularly and my ivvestments almost tripled in a few years.

My Volvo car had had its share of refurbishing.

This was the time for buying a new car. And none of the Tokunbo variety either. I had suffered enough!

“I went round a few car dealers and collected prices of cars that would’now suit my new status. My capital was still in my friend’s outfit - all that 1 would’be spending would be the interest, and this was after my friend had taken his share! 1 also had money to buy my round of drinks frm time to time

at the club and at parties.

Life was good. Out of greed, 1 told my friend 1 wanted a really showy car. Could I lump my savings with the capital and re-invest so that the returns would be high?

He was agreeable to this but when next 1 saw him, he told me some nosey external auditors were looking through their books with a tooth comb.

He, therefore, suggested that we cool things for about six months. Since the auditors complained that the company we used featured too frequently in their books, I suggested we register a new company. He reluctantly agreed.

“His reluctance led me to pump all the money I had into this new company knowing the returns would be higher.

After that, if my friend wanted to take things easy, 1 would be satisfied with my nice windfall. 1 was stuck in one of the long petrol queues that were the norm in those days, and was getting really impatient by the long wait when one of my friends spotted me and walked over to my car. `Isn’t it sad about Leke?’, he told me after the usual pleasantries. My heart dropped to my shoes. “Leke”, I spluttered, “~What happened to him?” “‘Didn’t you hear?” He died this moming’. This conversation took place around twelve midnight. As soon as I filled my tank, I drove straight to Leke’s house. It was a bit quiet but the night guard confirmed what I just learnt.

I didn’t know how I made it back home. I woke my wife and was crying like a lunatic. My tears were for all the fortune I would be losing by Leke’s death. What would happen to my five children for goodness sake? My landlord had also reminded me that my annual rent would be due soon. Now this! My wife

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

My emblem of beauty

My emblem of beauty,in youI always see the gem I am longing for, a rare gem,a treasure worth hav-

was really upset that I took Leke’s death so hard. I hadn’t told her the shady deals Leke and I had and how much we were making on the side.

“He was buried a week after he died. His remains were laid in his house for about two hours before he was taken away for burial.

I wanted to be there. To see his body. To really confirm that he was now helpless to retrieve my money for me. His body wasn’t the most pleasant sight I’d seen. He looked grotesque and almost unrecognisable. How could you? I screamed at him silently as I paid my bogus last respect. How could you die now with all that money at stake? I staggered out of the room and went back home. There was no point going for any funeral service or the actual burial. I didn’t feel up to it at all.

“About a month later, I went back to his office.

Because Leke and I were very close, I never dealt with his staff directly. It was Leke who always collected the cheques and he always promised to take care of the’ boys’. It was one of them who told me, along with the contractor

we always used, that the auditors were around if I wanted to talk to them about salvaging some of my outlay, I readily agreed.

What was there to lose?

The auditors told me after I’d said my piece that my money was a small drop in the ocean of misappropriation they were trying to sort out. They said I should write a formal complaint in triplicate and bring them back to the office.

They would look into my case after they ’d dealt with the big ones.

“But they weren’t really optimistic about getting any thing back in the near future. I never went back. What was the point? I was then in my late fifties.

What sort of jobs would I be looking for at my age? And since all my savings were now wiped off leaving me in debts, what capital could I boast of to start a new business with? I finally relocated to Britain. We are all British citizens and my pensions were being paid already. Life was bearable but I missed home.

It was at this point my

ing. Happiness bubbles in my heart like a champagne because your love is like a perform that spread around my body. You have indeed occupied the large portion of my heart to the extent that your name is now written boldly within the enclaves of my core heart.

Akachukwu Ferdinand aka5forever85@gmail.com 08063819314, 08152178859. .

My Woman

A true warrior does not give up fighting for the things he love. A mountaineer does not stop climbing until he gets to the top of the mountain, a sculptor does not stop carving until he gets the required shape. My woman, I want you to know that I will never quit loving you.I will marry you, and you shall

wife started talking back whenever I scolded her.

She said I was a tyrant and a bully. That she stuck it in Nigeria because I refused to encourage her to work.

Well, that was over, she threatened. One more violence from me and she would deal with me! I was gubsmacked.

“She’d never in her life spoken to me like that before. I was blind with rage and struck her. She rushed out of the house and came back with the police! They told me that my wife feared for her life and didn’t want me around her and her children as I was a dangerous man. Could I pack a few of my things and leave?

“I felt really defeated and I’d forgotten that you don’t get away with domestic violence in Britain. If a family were to break up, it is the husband that is asked to leave. So 1 left and that was the end of my marriage! My wife had found one caring job to do, my children were in good schools so they didn’t really need me.

Even the two sons of the marriage, who I’d

thought would come with me opted to stay with their mother. Was I such a bad father?

“I found a modest accommodation and have since picked-up the pieces of my life. i have a British passport, so girls are no problems as they believe I would remarry and make my new wife a citizen. i don’t intend to do any of such thing. And I don’t intend to tell them either. Since women are deft hands at deceiving and using men, i intend to play them at their own games.

Life is never what you planned it to be. Who could ever guess I would be grappling with so much set-backs in my later years?!”

A Different ‘Birds and the Bees’ (Humour} A HUSBAND had always insisted he and his wife only ever make love in the dark. After 20 years, the wife decides to turn on the light and finds him holding a vibrator. She goes absolutely ballistic. “How could you lie to me all these years?” She yells.

Her husband looks her straight in the eye and says calmly: “I’ll explain the toy - you explain the kids.”

Man No Be Wood!

(Humour) GOD appears to a man and tells him he’ll have to give up cigarettes, drinking alcohol and having sex if he wants to get into heaven. The man says he’ll try his best to succeed. A week later, God appears and asks him how things are going on the abstinence front. The man says that fags and drinks were easy to give up, but when his wife bent over to take some meat out of the freezer, he just couldn’t resist. “We don’t approve of that sort of thing in heaven you know,” God says sternly.

The man replies: “They don’t approve of it in the supermarket either!”

have my beautiful babies.I love you.

Kelechi Ndubisi Kconeofafrica@gmail.com, 08032900530

Heart-breakers

She left all those men who were proposing her and came for you, she trusted you with all her delicate heart,She was proud to tell her friends and sisters that she's falling in Love with you, Remember those who were advising her to leave you but she didn't.

Now you are calling her a slut, you are taking her love for granted, you are not caring about her heart, you don't value her tears.Think about it, she'll get tired and leave you and you'll regret losing her...

Think Twice!

Chris Onunaku, dekris4real@gmail.com 08032988826.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 25

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*Widowed by alleged cultists

NASSARAWA KILLINGS SHOCKER

Relief money hijacked from policemen’s widows *MD-Abubakar, IGP

zWomen seek herbalists’ help to find ‘missing cops’

M

“

Y husband is not dead.

Therefore I won’t accept any money in lieu of him”. “Our husbands are not dead; they are only held hostage by alleged cultists. They can be rescued by herbalists”. These statements summarise the responses of some of the widows of the over 100 security officers killed in Nassarawa State by people suspected to be members of a cult. Life has not been the same for the widows and orphans since the demise of their bread winners.

To Mrs. Elisabeth Onoja, wife of Inspector Sunday Onoja, the reported death of her husband is still like a dream one month after. “I don’t believe he is dead because we have not been able to find his corpse”, she said.

“We were told that some of the affected security officials are still being held hostage by those people (cultists) at Lakyo. Since I have not seen my husband’s body, I believe he is one of those held hostage. We are begging government to do everything they can to release our husbands.”

When Sunday Vanguard visited her residence in Lafia, the state capital, the widow was in her bedroom praying and pleading with God to bring the missing husband back home safely. The woman, with six children to cater for, asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the state

,

BY ABEL DANIEL

The leadership of POWA has made several attempts to encourage the woman (names withheld) to collect the relief token as that will not stop the husband from returning but she refused and would not allow anybody sympathize with her

,

government to help the widows and children of the slain officers.

“I have six children; the first son just got admission at Nassarawa State University. The last boy is ten years old.

All of them are in school. My worry is, who takes care of these children for me?

I want government to at least take over the sponsorship of the education of the children of the officers who were on official assignment when they were attacked”.

For Mrs. Mary John from Ado local government area of Benue State, the wife of the late Sgt. Sunday John, the death of her husband has left a vacuum no one can fill. “When my husband left home that day, we thought, like any other day, that he was going to return only for him to come back as a corpse. I am worried

daily about how to take care of our seven children”, she said.

“The IGP and the state governor have tried to alleviate our immediate challenges; but I want to beg them to please take over the sponsorship of the education of our children for the sake of my husband who served the nation with his blood. He died in active service. The only consolation they can give me and my children to help me sponsor them” “The police, the wife of Governor Almakura and some other people gave us some food items. They gave me two bags of rice, one and a half bags of Semovita, one and a half gallons of groundnut oil and cartons of noodles. I thank them, may God reward them. But one bag of rice cannot take us to the end of the month”.

“I want government to help us with job.

I can do cleaner job if I get one as I am not doing anything right now. I also want the IG to do everything possible to ensure our late husbands’ benefits are not delayed. This will help us”.

Sunday Vanguard also gathered that one of the wives of the slain police officers refused to claim the money given to the widows to take care of their immediate needs because she did not believe her husband was dead.

Mrs. Carol Ebosele, the secretary of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Nassarawa State chapter, said, “The leadership of POWA has made several attempts to encourage the woman

(names withheld) to collect the relief token as that will not stop the husband from returning but she refused and would not allow anybody sympathize with her.

“The shock of the news of the death of the women’s husbands left some of them in hospital. While many of them don’t know how to continue with their lives, some have almost spent the cash given to them by the IG and the state governor, and now seeking the help of herbalists to rescue their husbands after being told by the herbalists that their husbands are held hostage by the alleged cult group”.

Mrs.Priye Gotto, Nassarawa POWA coordinator, also revealed that some of the widows’ husbands’ relations have hijacked the money given to them to take care of their immediate needs. “Some of them complained to us that while they were busy with their husbands’ burial arrangements, their husbands’ brothers collected the money and refused to give them a penny”, Gotto said.

“We are doing our best in to ensure that the widows are properly taken care of, especially those with many children.

We encourage them to open bank accounts in their names so that the money can be paid directly to the accounts.

“The POWA leadership in the state has pledged to push the request of these widows to the national office of the association, and the nation’s first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, so that the poor widows are not neglected. As married women, we are all potential widows. It could happen to anybody”.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

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A

bout 253 officers are at the centre of a promo tion crisis rocking Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The officers are among the 287 in the chief narcotics agents (CNA) cadre who sat for a conversion course to the superintendent cadre in 2008, but only 30 allegedly passed and thus promoted.

The mass failure in the examination conducted by the Regional Academy for Drug Control (RADC), Jos caused disquiet in the NDLEA as it was alleged that most of the officers were deliberately failed to deny them promotion.

The officers argued that the agency’s authorities could not justify the mass failure unless they were saying the instructors who took them through the one month course at the RADC were not good. They are pleading with the Federal Ministry of Justice overseeing NDLEA to intervene and save their careers.

The officers, who were said to have been due for promotion since 2000, took the course in 2008 and subsequently sat for two examinations – conversion and promotion – but the results, it was learnt, were not released until 2010.

According to them, whereas the results should have been released within one month after the examinations, the almost two years it took to release them gave rise to the allegation that the authorities had ample time to manipulate things.

The agitation generated by the issue in the NDLEA was said to have led to the affected officers asking for their papers to be recalled and remarked but sources claimed they could not push through following threats of sanction by the authorities.

Only three of the officers “ who got help”, the sources said, had their papers recalled, remarked, passed and promoted to the superintendent cadre, thus making the total number of the 287 chief narcotic agents who passed the conversion course to 33.

Ordinarily, unsuccessful officials, it was learnt, should have had a resit for the papers in which they had references and, if successful, promoted.

Whereas there was a circular from the office of the chairman/chief executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, list-

Promotion crisis rocks NDLEA

•253 officers seek Federal Ministry of Justice intervention

,

By LEKAN BILESANMI

The agitation generated by the issue in the NDLEA was said to have led to the affected officers asking for their papers to be recalled and remarked but sources claimed they could not push through following threats of sanction by the authorities

ing new criteria for conversion/promotion from the CNA cadre to superintendent, and which abolished resit in the conversion/promotion, the circular stated that the new rule did not affect this set of officers.

“While I expect agency officers and agents to be appropriately guided, I wish to state that the guidelines shall commence from this year (2011) and do not affect officers on the rank of CNA that have participated in the previous conversion/promotion exercise”, Giade said in the circular dated 23 August, 2011.

Meanwhile, the officers said no resit examination has been arranged for them while they are not also allowed to attend the conversion/promotion course afresh.

In other words, they have

,

stagnated since 2000, some 13 years ago.

And as their fate hangs in the balance, one of the officers said some top officials of the NDLEA have used their discretion to promote some of their colleagues.

“I know of an officer who, simply because he is a personal aide to a top official of the NDLEA, benefited from discretional promotion while another got promoted because he helped to avert fire outbreak in the residence of his boss.

There are many others like that. It is those of us who are not connected to the top shots in any way, i.e. those without godfathers, that have been left in the cold for 13 years”, the beleaguered officer said. Following their situation, he claimed many of those who were junior to them in the

agency are now their seniors.

Describing their alleged stagnation as scandalous, the NDLEA officer said they sent a petition to the agency’s Governing Board but got no response.

Consequently, we are pleading with the ministry supervising the NDLEA, the Federal Ministry of Justice, to intervene as our careers in the agency are at stake”, he said.

The NDLEA chairman was said to be unavailable when Sunday Vanguard visited the agency ’s headquarters at Ikoyi, Lagos to seek the authorities’ own side of the story.

The agency’s controversial conversion/promotion saga, it was learnt, began in 2000 when the 287 officers in the CNA cadre converged at the RADC, Jos for the one month programme.

Giade was said to have visited the academy and told the officers the examination would be in two stages – conversion and promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics II. The arrangement was that only successful officers in the conversion examination will proceed to write the promotion segment.

Sources said the chairman/chief executive of the NDLEA bowed to the plea of the officers that the result of the conversion examination should be out within one week of writing it so that successful officers could immediately proceed

zAhmadu Giade to write the promotion segment.

This was to save the officers the stress of returning to their various stations across the country after the conversion examination, and coming back to the RADC, Jos later for the promotion examination.

For inexplicable reason, the result of the conversion examination, according to the sources, was not released within the agreed one week, prompting the RADC to ask all the 287 officers to proceed to write the promotion examination.

Before returning to their stations after the two examinations, the officers were reportedly addressed by the academy commandant who was said to have congratulated them on their wonderful performance.

The saga, however, took a twist when the results of both examinations not only took about two years to be released, but also only 30 officers were allegedly successful.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 27

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400 to benefit from Fayemi’s free surgical festival

From left: Hon Waziri Tambuwal, Senator David Mark and VP Namadi Sambo

JOKE ALONGE, CONFINED TO WHEELCHAIR, INSISTS:

D

espite being confined to a wheelchair, Joke Alonge is undeterred by the odds fate has put before her.

She bagged a first degree in special education at University of Ibadan (UI) in 1992; second degree in social work in 2002; and secured a Ford Foundation scholarship by which she received a certificate in community development at University of Denver, Colorado, US in 2008. Alonge currenty practices social work at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. In this piece, she makes a case for people living with disability.

The problems faced by persons living with disability are mostly ignored by other members of the society. They are daily at the receiving end of abuses, marginalization and obvious exploitation.

Opinions of members of the society about persons with disability differ. Some view them as nature’s error. Others hold the belief that anyone with an obvious disability must have committed some serious offence in the previous world and his present condition serves as punishment. Others simply are not bothered about disability issues as real as they are.

At home, family members see them as an unfortunate beings whose bad luck can cause misfortunes for them. Friends stay away from them thereby making socialization difficult. Lecturers are insensitive about the schedule of lecture locations. Employers discriminate about fixing them up for job. People hardly welcome the idea of their children courting or marrying them and the general society is hostile about having them as full members. Government does not make laws to protect their rights.

Buildings are designed without consideration for them while access to public places like banks,

‘What Sambo, David Mark, Tambuwal can do to help people with disability’

offices, cinema, schools and even religious centers is very difficult. Transportation is another big issue for Nigerians with disability. A graduate disabled Nigerian who is unemployed obviously cannot afford to buy a car.

The public transporter considers picking a wheelchair bound individual as a favor and so thinks that he has a choice to do it or not since there is no law protecting the interest of the disabled.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ascertained that ten per cent of every population in Africa lives with one form of disability or another. Invariably 60 percent of the Nigerian population has various forms of disability. As a result of lack of support facilities, this population, large enough to be the size of a small country is neglected. In civilized countries, this population is embraced, encouraged, accorded with dignity and fully included in the society.

Nigeria is very far from achieving this height of civilization and development despite being a signatory to several international treaties on disability rights.

One of the factors that make a society civilized is to encourage and allow someone with a disability who is interested in politics the opportunity to contest and hold a political office.

To have a person with disability in government in order to represent the interest of his folks is a starting point.

Under the present dispensation, disabled Nigerians are seen but not

heard. Lack of recognition relegates individuals living with disability to an invisible status thereby reinforcing the inferior sense of self.

All hands must be on deck to improve the living conditions of people living with disability in Nigeria. The National Assembly should pass the age-long Disability Bill into law. It is also incumbent on Vice President Namadi Sambo to get NIA (National Institute of Architects) to henceforth design public buildings in a disability friendly manner. All Nigerians must come to the realization that the neglected disabled population of today can contribute meaningfully to national development if properly catered for, supported and recognized. As a matter of fact, the support facilities we appeal to you to provide today might be needed by anyone in the future.

Nigeria as a sovereign nation has since entered into international law as to what is fair in the treatment of her disabled citizens. Chief among these treaties is the United Nations’ Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, (UNCRPD).

She is therefore legally binding to protect the rights of her disabled citizens in specific laws in order to create a barrier free environment for all. Anything short of this is perversion of justice.

Over 400 patients referred for surgery during the 7th Edition of the Fayemi-Administration’s Free Health Mission in April and the Free Cancer Screening Programme organised by the Ekiti State Government last month are currently undergoing free surgery at three health facilities in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof Olusola Fasubaa who made this known in Ado-Ekiti said that the 400 patients are receiving medical attention at the State Specialist Hospital Ikere, General Hospital, Ijan and the Opthamological Centre at the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital.

According to him, 200 of them are being treated for hernia, appendicitis and other illnesses requiring general corrective surgery adding that about 100 are to undergo surgery for cancer related ailments while the remaining 100 patients are receiving attention for cataracts and other eye ailments.

He explained that the Free Health Mission of the present administration was designed to consolidate the Free Health Services of the State Government through regular medical intervention to all citizens of the state using a population-based outreach model.

Church gives back to society Over 200 men, women and children in Idiroko area of Ikorodu, Lagos State smiled home after receiving a package, including food stuff, medication, household needs and many more, from the Fountain of Living Water Church.

The participants had an opportunity to learn causes and prevention of health issues from Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc. The founder and Senior Pastor of the church, Pastor Niyi Aniya, said the programme was part of the church community outreach programme which is also coincided with the church first anniversary held under the theme: “Thy Kingdom Come”.

Aniya explained that the focus of the programme was to bless the less privileged.

His words: “It is an all-embracing package.

It is also a biblical injunction that the church should care for the less privileged, orphans, widows among others. That is why we are here today to show and exhibit the love of God for the people in this community and we believe that it will be of great benefit for them and we will not relent in doing more.”

Appreciating Fountain of Living Water, Bale of the community. Alhaji Tajudeen Aluke, called on other religious organisations to take a cue from churches and make their impact felt in their communities.

Lamenting the deplorable state of the community roads and lack of other basic infrastructures, the Baale pleaded with the state and local governments to come to the aid of the community by rehabilitating the roads.

Most of the residents praised the church for blessing them with gifts, saying the gesture will go a long way in improving their living.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

Sur prise bir thda or Helen Oritsejaf or Surprise birthda thdayy dinner ffor Oritsejafor IT was a carnival of some sort penultimate Sunday, when members of the Daughters of Sarah Fellowship of the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State treated their matriarch and wife of the National President of Christian Association

of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor (Mrs.) Helen AyoOristejafor to a birthday bash at the Maxim Lotus Chinese Restaurant in Warri.

The surprise dinner party for the Ekiti Stateborn first lady of Word of Life Bible Church followed an earlier one

held during the church service where different groups in the church including children from the Eagle Hand Foundation Orphanage

and Eagle Heights Schools, owned by the c h u r c h m a d e presentations to Mama Helen Oritsejafor as she celebrated her birthday.

The first couple of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor surrounded by students from the Eagle Heights Schools

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor surrounded by members of the Daughters of Sarah Fellowship, and Men Alive Fellowship.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and wife, Mama Helen Oritsejafor and their children; Ayodele Jnr, Ayodeji and Ayodeta.

W

Eze Ilomuan Ilomuanyya’s daughter weds in Abuja

C

hairman, South East Traditional Council, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, hijacked the front row of high society last Saturday in Abuja when his daughter,Adannma wedded her heart-throb, Kelechi Nwakanma. Traditional rulers across the the country graced the occasion. Photos by Yomi Adesida

Mama Helen and her husband, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor surrounded by the executive of Daughters of Sarah Fellowship.

Razzmatazz as Aki buries dad

hen you are a Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) and a motion picture mega star your clouts are bound to draw a lot of water just as Chinedu Ikedieze popularly known as Aki did at his late father’s burial ceremony at Uzuakoli, Bende Local Government area of Abia State.

Government functionaries, Nollywood stars and a host of others were in attendance to honour the actor’s dad, late Pa. Michael Ikedieze Ogbonnaya Okoronkwo. Photos by Hill Ezeugwu

R-L: Nneoma Chinedu Ikedieze, Chinedu Ikedieze, MFR, (A.K.A Aki), Ma. Ijeoma Helen Ikedieze, Chinyere Christiana Ikedieze.

L-R: Osita Iheme, (A.K.A Paw Paw), Victor Osuagwu and Mr. J. Martins.

L-R:Dep. Gov. Abia State, Chief Emeka Ananaba and Chief Onyebilanma Sunday, Chairman, Bende LGA.

R-L: Chief Benedict Meregini, Chief Emmanuel Ndubuisi (Ijiriji Bende) and Hon. Barr. Chijioke Madumere.

Kelechi Nwakanma and his bride, Adanna Nwakanma flanked by bride’s dad, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya with wife, Lolo Eby Ilomuanya (R) and the Dep. Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and wife.

The couple flanked by bride’s dad, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya with wife, Lolo Eby Ilomuanya (R) and the Dep. Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and wife with Mrs. Bon Nwakanma, groom’s mum.

The couple and parents with a cross section of traditional rulers

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 29

NEXIM Bank in Nigeria’s path to economic growth - 2

I

We at MC&A Digest are happy to be instrumental in creating the right and appropriate impression, as our contribution. The topical value touch-points we have chosen for this series on execution are determined along the considerations of global economic growth indicators of human resource value enhancement and engagement, employment generation (youth engagement), economic liberalization, economy d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n , industrialization and over-all growth rating for global competitiveness. Our task is simple: to make-known, those potentials inherent in the deliberate efforts we make as a nation and those impediments as can be remedied for optimal advantages, starting with NEXIM Bank.

NEXIM Bank is one of those deliberate efforts resultant upon policy adjustment in reflection of the emerging global trend. As a nation with immense regional and global responsibilities, Nigeria assumes a strategic position that compels carefulness, tact and extreme commitment toward set goals. It is also imperative for Nigeria to the 3Cs of continuity, consistency and commitment in her drive for development in keeping with her Vision 20:2020 (and in her quest for deepening the first National Implementation Plan).

The present administration has demonstrated some measure of zeal in the direction of change actualization; we must lend encouragement towards the finish-line.

Unemployment rate (%)

,

N continuation of our series on the place, potentials and contribution of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) to Nigeria’s economic development, we are considering the cost of inadequate funding on NEXIM’s potentials at driving the countr y ’s economic reformation, from the position of employment generation – as the direct result of its project financing role. Last week, we did look at NEXIM Bank’s efforts at the nation’s economy diversification so far, and the prevalent limitations due to inadequate funding. In reaction to that article, reactions from our readers painted a troubling picture.

The most worrisome is that 60% of those who wrote to us were getting to know as much as we made known of the NEXIM Bank, for the first time. A few others wrote to express disbelief, because, according to them, the impression they had of the institution, hitherto, is one of an institution without distinct relevance.

As a nation with immense regional and global responsibilities, Nigeria assumes a strategic position that compels carefulness, tact and extreme commitment toward set goals

President Goodluck Jonathan For the sake of argument, let us consider the potentials of employment generation in NEXIM Bank’s successful intervention in the financing of an agro-based investment involving the entire sequence from farm, through yield processing to manufacturing of processed food to export trading. The entire base produce and value-adding chain will require nothing less than direct work force of over 75 men and women, and other indirect job opportunities attendant upon allied services.

Roughly estimated, that singular intervention will be capable of generating well over 250 job opportunities, directly and indirectly.

Conversely, however, that same opportunity will be lost, with other attendant negative implications, when such opportunities are not seen to fruition. Add to missed export trade/earning opportunities; hundreds of job/employment opportunities are lost. Add to

that, the potentials of such investment’s contribution to the country ’s GDP are lost.

Worst case is the multiplier effect of such losses in big volume and value calculation.

Unfortunately, however, that is the situation with so many applications pending with NEXIM Bank, as you read this article. According to Mallam Sani Shehu , President, Nigerian Miners’ Association, in an interview, solid minerals mining requires huge funding, which is primarily done by government-backed funding institutions in developed economies. He noted that if such tactical intervention happens in this economy, the solid mineral mining sector of our economy will blossom. He anticipates NEXIM Bank’s support to actualize this prospect.

Interestingly, NEXIM Bank has so far made available well over N2 billion to initiatives in the solid mineral mining

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sector in recent times. Now, the interesting thing about this NEXIM’s involvement is the creativity, innovativeness and proactivity. As it stands, NEXIM Bank is waking up a sector which economic potentials are by far much more than the crude oil we all which has trea sure,

unfortunately been inactive.

Regular banks will not go near it for tactical considerations bordering on profitability.

It, therefore, takes proper risk analysis and creativity in investment banking to so engage. NEXIM Bank’s intervention in the solid minerals mining sector has stimulated huge employment opportunities, with capacity to grow with deeper intervention.

As a run-down of the institution’s intervention in employment generation so far, it has in, provided N12 billion in lending to Nigerian export

manufacturers, between August 2009 and April, 2013.

The other exciting news therefrom, is that NEXIM Bank’s intervention as mentioned above has resulted in well over 21,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. In the agroprocessing sector, it has committed over 6.6 billion naira. It has committed 1.4 billion naira towards growing the entertainment, through the Federal government’s Creative and Entertainment Industry Stimulation Loan Scheme, enabling huge creative capacity engagement, engaging well over a million direct and indirect gainful talent and creativity engagement/employment.

One can only imagine how much more can be achieved if NEXIM has funds to adequately finance the multitude of private initiatives pending activation, long after the applications are screened and adjudged good. Today, applications approved for their merit, export trade/ foreign earning potentials and employment generation potentials are valued well over 20 billion naira. As mentioned above, these approved (but not funded) applications represents frustrated efforts, thwarted dreams, untapped national economic growth opportunities and unexploited employment opportunities – due to inadequate funding of NEXIM BANK – the Federal Government’s official and sole Trade Policy Bank!

We all have a lot to gain from adequately funding Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank).

PAGE 30—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 31

PAGE 32— SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30 30,, 2013

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

View-Point

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

doubt if the pictures of the painfully thin girls you saw at the seminar you wrote on, had actually been suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia. If they looked passably well-dressed, they could be naturally thin and bony. I’m such a one. I eat a lot of fattening foods, but remain so thin and bony that nothing fits.

It’s embarrassing.

Doctors who’ve been attending to me, and sending me for tests, can’t find anything wrong. I feel well and strong, but don’t look it. I’m told when I marry and begin to have children, the flesh will begin to build up. I hope so. On the other hand, ma, if those in the pictures looked wretched and poorly dressed, they could have been suffering from malnutrition.

Anorexia and Bulimia seem frightening ailments. We shouldn’t import them. Hannah, Kaduna.’

‘Auntie, I appreciate the fact that you want our ladies to have a better image, but what about the men? What goes for the women should go for the men. We want them to look clean, be well-mannered, responsible, truthful (they’re found greatly wanting in this department), hardworking, respectful and serious with life. We don’t like seeing men with potbelly rolling about the place and not caring one bit about how they look. They’re on every street in Nigeria. If they have bulimia and anorexia in their bid to have a good figure, I’d support them. In your piece, ma, it’s like girls are the ones who are

Re: Our food, health & the experts are you saying that we don’t need to do our best to keep slim and look nice? Our good character can never make one feel good about ourselves.

But having a good figure and looking well-groomed can.

Those are what make you stand out anywhere, any time.

- Tutu, UNILAG, Lagos.’”

‘My sister Mrs. Ovbiagele, kudos to you for that piece on our food and the experts. If you go by what the so-called experts say, your life will be miserable. They slam the lid on every food item. Yet, these are things our ancestors ate and survived to great old age.

My thumb-rule is to do and eat everything in moderation.

Sometimes, your body tells you what doesn’t agree with it. Too much sweet and oily things can loosen the bowel horribly and make you throw up; so, one avoids food that contains a lot of it. Thanks. Ishola, Fadeyi, Lagos.’

‘Madam, nobody suffers from bulimia and anorexia in Nigeria. Quote me, even though I’m not an expert.

These health conditions belong to the western world.

When one throws up here, it’s due to a stomach bug or malaria-related ailment, or even drunkenness. Anyone who gorges on food, and then goes to induce vomiting on a regular basis, is sick in the head. Period. The person needs a Psychiatrist. Michael, Abuja.’

‘Ma, I enjoyed your article on food and the experts. I

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OME of our young ladies who read my piece with this title were not pleased with me for saying that we should raise our girls to depend on good character traits and their inner strength to acquire selfconfidence and respect, rather than on figure and looks.

They feel I could, by my statement, be encouraging our ladies to look frumpy and careless about their physical looks; thereby running the risk of losing the men in their lives, or having no man in their lives at all. They insist that good looks and figure, along with appropriate good dress sense, attract people more, and bring more respect and favour, than having the best character in the world.

These ladies feel I’m letting the side down by constantly harping on the need for women to comport themselves well, as if it is in their nature to misbehave. What about the men?

Well, my young sisters may have seen the matter from another angle, but I still believe that we women should do our best to have character traits that would edify the family, the society, the nation, and the world at large.

This is because God has made us the senior partner in the task of bringing in and raising human beings for the world. The men have their role in this too, but we have the heavier task of helping to mould our children properly. If we refuse to embrace this and play our role well, the society risks breaking down because we have failed to instill the right things in our children, right from the home.

From incidents around the world these days, we can see that even where children have been taught the right values, some still go out to acquire the wrong ones due to peer pressure. You can imagine the chaos if they were never taught the right values, and had no good values in their parents to copy! So, women have to do their best and leave the rest to God. As for the accusation that I could be implying that figures don’t matter, nothing could be further from the truth, as weight-watch as been part of my life since early childhood.

My point is that we shouldn’t allow the danger of bulimia and anorexia into our lives as a result of the need to check weigh-gain “Auntie Helen, I was disappointed by your comment in your recent article ‘Our Food, Health and the Experts. Pardon me, ma,

If you go by what the so-called experts say, your life will be miserable. They slam the lid on every food item. Yet, these are things our ancestors ate and survived to great old age

Healthy food

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naturally ill-mannered. We’re not, and you’re not encouraging the men to behave better. Don’t make them seem like the perfect people. Remember that you’re one of us. - Frances, Ibadan.’

‘Our Food, Health and The Experts – Having spent many years overseas, madam, I can advise MODERATION, not abstinence, when it comes to food and drinks. - Emeka, Enugu.’

‘Madam, systems differ in the human bodies. What’s good for one, maybe dangerous for another. A monarch, when interviewed when he turned 90 many years ago, said that when he read that ‘SMOKING CAN SHORTEN LIFE’ he laughed, because he was still enjoying smoking and drinking. He added, however, that he wasn’t saying that smoking was a good habit. Some people are obsessed with obeying the health experts, and they weigh and count everything that goes into their mouth. When the end comes, they may die from something not related to food and drinks.

Living is in the hands of God, so, eat and drink in moderation. Everything that God made for us to eat and drink is safe. Our problem is greed. We consume too much of everything, in our bid to show that we’re not poor, and are living well. There used to be a saying decades ago; ‘Luxury kills the African man.’ If we each eat and drink only what we need, there won’t be hunger in the world. - Pa Peter, Anambra.’

We thank all those who wrote in.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 33

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

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Being married to a monarch doesn’t deny me freedom to serve — Rotn Tonia Agugoesi

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her,, service to or her humanity is the essence of man’s existence.

A royal mother and senior serving officer of the Nigerian Customs with a Masters degree in Political Science, Rotarian Anthonia Agugoesi is the charter President of the Rotary Club of Festac Central. The club which officially took-off with twenty-nine members recently in Lagos is the offspring of the Rotary Club of Festac. In this interview,, she speaks on interview her zeal for selfless service and plans for the club among other issues.

Enjoy!

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ou have quite an impressive number o f charter members; how did you do this?

Determination made it happen.

Of all our members, only two are old Rotarians from other clubs. The others are new Rotarians and we were able to get so many of them through determination and commitment. The requirement for chartering a club is twentyfive members, but we surpassed that. Also, we didn’t just go about looking for members; we scouted for accomplished professionals.

What likely challenges do you foresee?

My concern is how to retain these members. We’ve heard of cases where after the euphoria of being chartered, club membership begins to dwindle.

I however think we won’t have such problems because, from the onset, we were careful about the people admitted into the club. Nevertheless, we won’t take anything for granted; we’ll keep inviting older, prominent Rotarians to keep mentoring our members.

Even as we work hard to retain existing members, we’ll keep going out on membership drive because we really want to grow beyond our present seize.

How exactly do you hope to retain these members?

Like I said, we hope to keep inviting older Rotarians to educate us on the essence of Rotary. Also, we plan to make

our fellowship interesting by coming up with programmes that would excite them each time they come to meetings.

We would also engage in family programmes that create platforms for extending love to our spouses and children.

Again, we’ll embark on very essential projects for our community because once they see that their works are being appreciated by the community, they definitely would want to remain in Rotary.

What are these projects you plan to embark on?

As part of activities for my tenure, the club will engage in the construction of three public toilets across Festac Town, the donation of chairs and tables to public schools, distribution of micro-credits to women, sinking of boreholes, scholarship schemes, carrier awareness talks, provision of artificial limbs, visit to less privileged homes and sponsorship of corrective surgery for children with hole in the heart.

How do you hope to accomplish these?

We intend to gather support from corporate organizations.

We also believe there are individuals who desire platforms for helping humanity, so, we hope to give such people the opportunity to benefit mankind through Rotary and watch us work wonders with their money. Of course, they will be there to witness the commissioning of the projects.

Which of these projects is paramount to you?

The public toilet! It’s worrisome to think that markets exist without public toilet facilities. This is a place people go to, and probably stay from morning till evening.

How do they ease themselves?

In corners that are filthy? I’m very particular about this; maybe it’s because the construction of a public toilet was the first project ever done in Rotary down town Chicago.

You’re a busy professional; how do you hope to serve effectively on this platform?

Once there’s a will, there must be a way. It takes determination, and then with commitment, providence will

•Rotn Tonia Agugoesi

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BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

If being married to a monarch does deny me the freedom to be kind, to serve and to care, then it’s as good as snuffing life out of my body because I really don’t see the meaning of a life that does not care about the next person

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head me on. I’ve been a Rotarian since 2002 when I was inducted into the Rotary Club of Festac Town- the club which founded this new club.

Providence has always pushed me on.

Did that same providence make you the president of this new club?

(Laughs) It did in a way. By the time we all came together as members of the Rotary Club of Festac Town to make our inputs on the formation of a new club, everybody said it had to be me who would head the club. So, I did not have to refuse the honour.

Prior to that time, have you held key positions in Rotary?

Oh yes!! I’ve been chairman of so many avenues of service in the Rotary Club of Festac Town; I’ve been chairman of the Rotary Foundation and of several service projects.

You’re married to a ruler and traditional under traditional African society society,, being married to a royalty places some sort of restraints on a woman’s life; do you get enough f r e e d o m ?

Freedom is a very relative concept; being married to a monarch doesn’t deny me freedom to serve humanity.

Yes, I’m married to a traditional ruler, but does that deny me freedom to be kind to the next person or to do what is right? I don’t think so, and

these are all what Rotary stands for- service, kindness, care. If being married to a monarch does deny me the freedom to be kind, to serve and to care, then it’s as good as snuffing life out of my body because I really don’t see the meaning of a life that does not care about the next person.

Above all, I thank God for an understanding husband; he’s wonderful and has supported me all the way. He’s extremely a great husband!

It’ 1 years now since It’ss 1 11 you became a Rotarian; how has the experience been?

It’s an experience I’ll forever be grateful for. It has availed me a whole lot of opportunity and has exposed me positively.

Most importantly, it has taught me to wake up everyday with thoughts of how to be kind to the next person.

In Rotary, we have what we call ‘Paul Harris Fellow’. This is earned when somebody donates a thousand dollars to the Rotary foundation which in turn spreads the money to the needy in different parts of the world. Can you picture me touching the life of a child crying in Tanzania? The beauty of it is: that child is benefiting from my money without ability to say ‘thank you’ to me. What can be more fulfilling?

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013

AMCON will recoup investments in Enterprise, Mainstreet, Keystone banks – Lemo *Says CBN is driving down bank interest rates, charges

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Tunde Lemo, in this interview, speaks on the performance of the economy, the exchange rate in the last two years and Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON. Excerpts: OME critics allege that the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, is lumping performing loans together with the non- performing ones. What is your perspective?

I don’t know where the allegation is coming from; and I think people need to understand the role of AMCON. AMCON is a child of necessity.

AMCON came because of the need to address the issue of non-performing loans. I won’t call them toxic assets because they are impeding the growth of commercial banks. This is at the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

And so what AMCON did was to simply buy off these non-performing loans from banks so they can have a fresh breathe. AMCON also assisted in restructuring and recapitalizing the banks that were affected by the global financial crisis and currently they have significant investments in three of those institutions. AMCON has been very successful, and, between now and the next 10 years, we expect it to have recovered all its investments from three main sources: One, the assets they are sitting on which they bought from the banks and which they are going to sell, but the sale will be done in such a systematic way as not to cause a major stir in the property or capital market.

So, a significant amount of income would come from that area. The second area is through the sale of the banks where they have significant investments. Now that they have sold Union Bank, and talking about Enterprise Bank, Mainstream Bank and Keystone Bank, it is expected that they will also earn a lot, because they have repaired those banks. The banks have bounced back and they are doing well now.

The third will be the sinking fund which the Central Bank and the Bankers Committee have created.

CBN, year in year out, is putting N50 billion into the fund, while the banks are committing five percent of their total assets into the fund. So when you look at the funding from these three sources over a period of 10 years, AMCON should be able to service its bond obligations.

What is the drive for the reinforcement of the policy to publicise the lending rate by the CBN ?

The CBN has counselled banks that they need to be transparent in the publication of their interest rates the margin and deposit rate. The reason is because the banks are different in shapes and sizes, and some of them are big players while some have branches all over the country. So cost structure will differ from bank to bank, and, depending on what their strengths are, it is important to have transparency on the part of the customers. In fact, the transparency that

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Mr Tunde Lemo....People need to understand the role of AMCON. AMCON is a child of necessity they are advocating in industries means that banks should be transparent in all to let the public know what the deposit rates are and what the lending rates are for different kinds of credits; that is basically what the (CBN) governor reechoed at a recent Bankers Committee meeting. This will also enable everyone know how competitive he is and then

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Today, the customers in the sectors that are mentioned have been able to access costs at single digit interest rate. The macro economy is a lot more stable today than before and, when you look at the key industries , it starts from inflation

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there is a valid explanation around the kind of interest rate that you charge.

What is the possibility of lowering credit rates which many people say are too high?

It is very rational for you to think interest rate could be as low as possible, but what are the major components of interest rate of financial institutions?

Of course interest rate would depend on the prevailing money market rate, which is currently 12 percent. It may seem high, but you have to look at where the inflation number is, inflation currently is around 9.6 percent, almost 10 percent. So two and a half or three percent spread over inflation is not too high because if you don’t allow depositors to have positive real interest rate, it would affect savings mobilization; it would affect deposits mobilization. What do I mean by that?

When you buy Pounds, for instance, or

Treasury Bill, if you do not have a rate that is above inflation rate, then you are poorer by so doing. And so it’s important for you to be competitive and also have rate size, which will assist in mobilizing deposits. The resources are optimally utilized between savers and users of funds. If the savers are a little above some points above inflation rate, which is why we cannot just drop our policy rate, if inflation is where it is.

On top of that is what we call the risk premium on credit risk and some other operational risks. In Nigeria, you find out that the cost of doing business is high, because of structural factors like the roads are not good, security and electricity challenges, and so on and so forth.

When we fix those infrastructure, and then doing business in Nigeria becomes less voluminous, of course we are going to have a much slimmer margin for banks. So when you look at the risk we reach, which is currently around 10 to 11 percent, and then you add the risk premium and then the administration cost for banks, you land where we are.

Back to your question, whether or not, interest rate could be lower?

Interest rate could be lower if we deal with those structural factors.When all of that happens , then inflation comes down and the Central Bank policy rate comes down. The lending rate will also come down. This will make banks to be very efficient. In the last three years, we have learnt how to embark on share service; of course you know I drove that personally, and, because of that, the banks are building skills now and they are lot more efficient than before.

So the share service is reducing the interest rate in banks?

That is what is transmitting now into some reduction in interest rate. Banks themselves have come together and they are making commitments that they would also be willing to reduce interest rate in the interest of the economy and the real sector.

The logic of share service is for banks to reduce their cost structure, they need to have a rethink on the way they do business at areas of assets they are acquiring now; in other words, it may be more cost effective for them to jointly own some assets and share service and that we have seen in the

area of infrastructure. We have seen that also in the area of currency distribution and haulage. Today, we have CIT companies which is cash in transit companies that run bullion activities for the industry as a whole instead of individual banks doing it all by themselves. We have also seen that in cashless; the essence of cashless is to ensure that our payment system is structured such that transactions are done using the electronic payment channel.

It also means that cost of doing business, cost of payment will also drop; our plan really is to save as much as possible 30 percent of the operating cost. We are not there yet, but there have been significant reduction in the bank operating expenditure and because of that bank charges are already coming down. In the review of the guide to bank charges, we have started to see even banks themselves coming to commit to reduction in charges. One of them is the commission of turnover; commission of turnover before was maximum of five percent; now they charge only three percent, and then, with the commitment that over time, in the next two to three years, it will further drop. Today we talk about high cost of borrowing but, if you look at the big boys, the big companies, the companies that have good rating, they are not borrowing at high rates.

The big banks have large exposure to these big companies and the real sector has started to attract credits at very reasonable rates. You will also remember that the Central Bank is also intervening directly in some sectors of the economy which is agriculture and real sector through SME lending, and aviation. So the way it works is that some funds were deposited with Bank of Industry for lending to commercial banks, and these are also lent out at commercial rates.

With reasonable stability credit rates, has the country been able to stay afloat of the global credit crunch?

Today, the customers in the sectors that are mentioned have been able to access costs at single digit interest rate.

The macro economy is a lot more stable today than before and, when you look at the key industries , it starts from inflation. Inflation number has been consistently in single digit since January, that is commendable and the exchange rate volatility has almost disappeared. Today we have very stable exchange rate in the last two years. Plus or minus one percent, 156 to 157 to a dollar, which is very commendable in this kind of clime and the external reserve level is well over 48 billion US dollars, which is almost like the highest point since the outset of the global financial crisis.

So when you look at these achievements, you know that they are an index of a very strong economy. The economy is very strong. About 25 percent of the xternal reserve that we were talking about is inflow of foreign capital, portfolio funds and FDI which, of course, is a confirmation and endorsement of the economy because, when you begin to see the inflow of portfolio funds and FDI, it will naturally not come unless you are voting for the economy.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 35

The road to second monetary zone

BY UDEME CLEMENT

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N order to fast track migration and compliance to the new international accounting standards, financial institutions within the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) are mapping out new strategies for full adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), to ensure harmonisation of standards, procedures and operational modalities of member countries for smooth establishment of the second monetary zone by 2015. The primary objective of IFRS is to enable businesses worldwide to follow globally acceptable financial accounting reporting standards designed to impart transparency in financial data disclosure. IFRS is a set of international financial accounting system with specifications and framework developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (ISAB), an independent accounting standards development body, based in London .

Experts are of the opinion that adoption of IFRS by WAMZ member-countries will reaffirm leadership role in integration process to ensure a seamless harmonisation of accounting practices among countries within the zone.

Sunday Vanguard spoke with stakeholders from various financial institutions within the sub-region: There is the urgent need for West African sub-region to adopt a single currency: Mr. John Gaikpa, West African Monetary Institute, Ghana .

There is the need for countries within the subregion to have a common currency that will enhance

Mr. Euraclyn Williams trade facilitation within the region. Doing so will stimulate tangible economic growth and development. For instance, each member-country holding on to its currency is not helping the region in any way. This is because the individual countries currencies are not competing favourably with the major trading currencies in developed economies like the U.S. Dollars and British Pounds.

My advice is that individual countries within the region must work hard to adopt a single currency that will make the financial sector and trading activities within the sub-region much more favourable like what obtains in developed countries. The financial industry is growing rapidly but there seems to be more work to be done to foster efficiency in the system. For example, many places within the rural areas in some countries and many people are un-banked.

This means a large population is not transacting businesses through the banks. Measures must be put in place to address this challenge.

Banks within the sub-region must turn attention to riskbased supervision: Mrs. Sylvia Kawaley, Bank of Sier ra Leone: To start with, the on-going banking reforms in various countries within the West African sub-region are repositioning the financial institutions for greater growth.

As such, banks should give more attention to risk management, the regulatory authorities saddled with the primary responsibility of regulating the commercial banks must also focus on riskbased supervision to prevent crisis or any form of system collapse in the financial sector.

Mr. John Gaikpa

In Sierra Leone , for example, I can say authoritatively that the Central Bank of Sierra Leone is working tirelessly to ensure that banking reforms impact positively in the industry to optimise outputs now and in the long-run. At present, banking supervision in Sierra Leone is currently under going series of capacity building programmes in risk-based supervision, which in a short period will greatly enhance new supervisory techniques to strengthen the effectiveness of risk management in the system.

IFRS will promote transparency and engender

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Mrs. Sylvia Kawaley

purposes for enterprises operating across several countries. It is imperative that African countries be integrated into the global financial system, and at the extreme not considered to be a fail state.

Policy makers should endeavour to have a pass mark for our countries by setting higher standards of transparency and probity in the use of public resources, by converging to global accounting standards.

The importance of IFRS compliance within the subregion informed the recent regional course on

There is the need for countries within the sub-region to have a common currency that will enhance trade facilitation within the region. Doing so will stimulate tangible economic growth and development

greater financial credibility in the region: Mr. Euraclyn Williams, Director of Administration and Finance, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, Central Bank of Nigeria, Learning Centre, Lagos: Adopting a globally acceptable standard like IFRS will form the basis for comparability between enterprises operating in different jurisdictions and constitute a search light that international investors will use to make investment decisions in countries within the subregion. This will also reduce the cost of raising foreign capital as well as cost of compliance to a single standard in financial reporting

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International Financial Reporting Standards, organised by WAIFEM to acquaint member countries with the provisions of IFRS and to equip them with the necessary skills to guide the process of migrating to the new standard. The specific objectives of the course were to provide participants with the knowledge of interpretation of financial statements prepared under IFRS system, understanding the use of IFRS for policy making and key management decisions, appreciation of the implications for migration to IFRS and appreciation of the need for global standards in reporting financial positions

and performances. Others include, understanding of the WAMZ programmes and adoption of IFRS by member states, which covers uniform reporting standard, overview of current accounting standards, its application, roadmaps and challenges, framework for financial statements, IFRS-central banking, implementation of IFRS in WAMZ member countries, the use of IFRS by financial regulators and business entities.

Over 100 countries mainly in European Union have adopted IFRS. In the subregion, the adoption of IFRS was launched in Ghana in 2007, while Nigeria commenced the gradual adoption in January, 2012.

Worldwide adoption of IFRS is expected to be completed in 2015. Globalisation has necessitated the need to have universal accounting standards applicable to all jurisdictions. Such standards will engender harmonisation of accounting frameworks and practices around the world.

Through this achievement, evaluation of performances, adherence to best practices, comparison amongst similar players is made possible.

Given the fact that the economies in our sub-region are linked to the rest of the world, it is crucial that global accounting standards such as IFRS form the basis for accounting and financial management practices in our sub-region. It is against this backdrop and considering the amount of work involved in the convergence process, that capacity building as well as skill development on successful implementation of IFRS becomes imperative.

One of the destabilising factors of global financial crisis was the amplification of financial shocks through the banking system. There was widespread criticism that the accounting standards and in particular, fair value accounting significantly contributed to the financial crisis and exacerbated the severity of the crisis, in view of its failure to deal with illiquid markets and distressed sales. The IFRS convergence process will involve significant challenges for the banking system in general, as banks will need to upgrade their infrastructure, including Information Technology (IT) and human resources to face the complexities of the IFRS.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013

‘We grow small businesses on the internet’

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BY NKIRUKA NNOROM Deepankar Rustag is Managing Director, VConnect Global Services, a local search engine that provides information of product services and business. In this interview, he says the success of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria requires collaborative support of government and local banks.

HAT is your assessment of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, in Nigeria having been actively involved in the industry in the last few years?

Small businesses here are very passionate, but they require a lot of support to actually grow. A lot of efforts are made by banks, government and other infrastructure providers to groom the large scale businesses. How many of their policies are targeted at small and medium businesses? I know the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is there. Some of the banks also provide some assistance, but this is not enough? SMEs really need our support. Small and medium scale businesses across Africa reportedly contribute more than 50 percent to their Gross Domestic Products (GDP), but unfortunately that is not the scenario in Nigeria. We are still way behind and that has to

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Deepankar Rustag change. We have to grow in terms of the contribution of small scale businesses to the nation’s GDP. Small and medium scale businesses have a very important role to play in any economy, especially in the area of employment. The government and the banks need to direct their policies to the SMEs. What is your company doing to ameliorate some of the challenges facing SMEs? Last year, SMEDAN came up with a survey on the challenges that small and medium scale businesses face.

One of their challenges, according to SMEDAN’s findings, was working capital.

I think banks are working towards changing that. Other government institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have actually provided funds to take care of them.

Some of them face challenges like manpower, workforce and getting skilled people and raw

Our plan was to make websites for thousands of businesses. In that process, we were able to take 700,000 businesses online. We went from area to area, state to state and have combed three states completely starting from Lagos and now going to other states

materials. Also, for start ups to manage on their own is tough.

You manage your stock, warehouse e.t.c. alone. In other parts of the world, there are softwares you can install in your computer to help you manage your warehouse, invoices and your inventories.

We don’t have such softwares here. But now we are helping small business get these tools on their smart phones. They don’t need to have computers to have them. Before now, if an SME wanted to do marketing, they had to print fliers and you cannot track the performance of a flier. It is a very expensive form of marketing. Some have argued that fliers are more economical but that is not true.

There are different ways of spending little money to get value and return. We have trained them to know that by spending little amount of money; they can grow their business on month-to-month basis. That is why we conduct a lot of business forums and we

,

invite the CEOs of businesses; we partner with them, we provide them with internet and laptops and show them how to utilise the platforms we have created. Our team members help some of them who are not very conversant with computers and internet.

Some have started using smart phones, but are not used to internet. We give them all the resources so we can actually take them online. Also, we help them measure return on investment. Marketing is a very important concept. A trader in Alaba International Market may be passionate about what he does but because he is in Alaba and does not have any control in Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja where a lot of consumption happens, he loses business. How can a person in Alaba have control over all those other areas?

Online presence actually helps him. Recently, someone from one of the big companies

ordered 300 or 500 leather bags from Kano through our site. It does not matter where you are; online presence is all you need.

Recently your company moved 700,000 SMEs online, how were you able to do this and what impact would this have on SMEs? When we started our business, we had close to 7,000 small businesses or individual driven enterprises online in the Nigerian space.

We looked at several initiatives as to how we can change the sector. Our plan was to make websites for thousands of businesses. In that process, we were able to take 700,000 businesses online. We went from area to area, state to state and have combed three states completely starting from Lagos and now going to other states.

What can SMEs gain from Vconnect.com that they cannot get from other search engines like Google?

Google is a data aggregator; Google gives you any website that is on the internet. But someone has to take the initiative to bring the content to the Nigerian space on the internet. Google does not give small business website or the visibility that they require to grow their business. But Google is our big brother, they help us get publicity, but when you search for information on Google they take you back to us. To answer your question properly, we are content based and Google is more of a facilitator.

Truck queues may return to Apapa ports *As concessionaire threatens to withdraw scanning logistics

BY UDEME CLEMENT

L

ONG truck queues may resurface at the scanning sites in Apapa ports as the management of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, the concessionaire handling Apapa terminals, has threatened to withdraw scanning logistics at the ports, stressing that it may be forced to review the voluntary logistics support it is providing to port users in getting their containers scanned.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that APM Terminals had a written agreement with the service provider on the number of containers to scan daily depending on their capacity.

When contacted, the Media Adviser to the company, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, explained that APM Terminals was not responsible for scanning of containers at the ports or for any delay associated with scanning. He said, “Scanning is the responsibility of Cotecna and Customs. APM Terminals

only intervened by taking over the logistics to bring about efficiency in the system. We voluntarily took over the duty of providing logistics because the previous arrangement was not working well. Less than 60 containers were scanned per day and trucks were forced to wait for up to three days to complete the scanning process.”

He went on, “When we intervened, we had a written agreement with the service provider that not more than 200 containers per day could be scanned, partly due to the capacity of the single fixed scanner and also due to the fact that there is no pre-advice given by Customs. We are not responsible for providing the scanner or for operating it. It just happens that it is erected on our facility contrary to what obtains at Tin Can Island Port where the scanner is located outside the main port terminal.

Since our intervention commenced, we have received several commendation as the waiting time for trucks was

eliminated saving those who hire the trucks about N30,000 per day (or N90,000 for the three days).”

He continued, “This is despite several constraints including the fact that Customs does not advise us on the containers that need to be

positioned in advance. We must wait until the customers/ importers are advised individually by Customs as to whether or not their container needs to be scanned. If APM Terminals is forced to hands off the scanning logistics, truck queues are bound to return to

the scanning site. There is the need to honour the agreement of sticking to scheduling not more than 200 containers a day for scanning so as not to jeopardise the help APM Ter minals is providing to importers in getting their boxes scanned.”

Sharp, CFAO Elctro-Hall in new partnership

BY PEACE ONYEUKWU

T

O satisfy the growing demand for versatile business solutions in Nigeria, Sharp Middle East has announced its new local distribution partnership with CFAO Electro-Hall.

The partnership which enables CFAO Electro-Hall to distribute sharp document and visual business products such as Multifunction Printers (MFP) and Professional display products.

According to Tomoo Shimizu, Director of Business Solutions Division at Sharp Middle East, who spoke during the unveiling in Lagos, said that these new

range of products are the MX7040N and MX-6240N digital full colour multifunction printers which are well positioned for the high volume office colour and light production environments.

He said that these are highly automated light production machines designed primarily for corporate reprographic departments and are also likely to find favour with pay-for-print firms and need the agility to react quickly to urgent, unscheduled jobs.

Shimizu further stated that productivity-wise, the MX7040N and MX6240N feature a 150sheet high speed feeder with an engine speed of 70cpm and

62cpm (colour and B/W) respectively.

“Both these machines are equipped with a 3,100-sheet paper capacity (expandable to 8,500 sheets) and seemless printing with an immediate toner hopper to ensure continually running even during cartridge replacement”.

Group Managing Director, CFAO Electro-Hall, Mr Steve Faderin, also disclosed that sharp showcases not only its multifunction printer systems, but also focuses on its range of professional displays, demonstrating its state-of-the-art technology with the Video-walls, interactive and signage monitors.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 37

Behold the NYSC entrepreneurs T

here have been developmental initiatives across various sectors and tiers of government, to address the problem of youth unemployment in the country.

However, these efforts have made little or no impact considering the enormity of the problem. Most of the initiatives fall short in terms of scope and scale.

Today, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is probably the only government institution that has presence (infrastructure and personnel) in all the 774 local government Areas (LGAs) of the country, putting it in a position to be reckoned with, in ensuring youth empowerment.

Created 40 years ago, the scheme annually mobilizes and deploys over 300, 000 young graduates from higher institutions across the federation.

Recently, the scheme generated some controversy leading to the call for its scrapping by critics who cited insecurity challenges while others clamoured for its restructuring.

This scenario compelled the management to go back to the drawing board, to reinvent a scheme that is tailored to the security and socio-economic realities of the time.

In March 2012, to be precise, the NYSC leadership took a bold step by introducing skill acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes into the orientation course content, in order to raise an army of entrepreneurs that will drive the economy and not job seekers that will trudge the streets in search of scarcely available jobs.

To institutionalize this, the Federal Government raised the number of departments in the NYSC from seven to eleven with Department of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) as one of the new departments.

The project is a nationwide initiative, targeted at young graduates mobilized and deployed in a year mandatory

,

BY CALEB AYANSINA

Not less than 131, 659 corp members were given skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development training in 2012

,

service. Implementation of the project would be cascaded down to the states and LGAs. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the project was designed to be implemented within the framework of camping exercise (in-camp) and the service year of the corps members (postcamp).

The in-camp component of the project would focus largely on creating the entrepreneurial and self-reliance spirit, helping corps members explore income generation opportunities available, with a view to identifying the one that best suits their personality/circumstances and professional training, some sort of hands-on training, as well as development of business plans.

The post-camp component would provide the platform for a more rigorous training of interested corps members, with a view to equipping them with the necessary technical/ vocational skills, as well as business competence needed to start-up business; this would be carried out by various partner organizations with cognate competence and experience in the identified skills sets.

There are about 10 skill sets, according to the Director of SEAD, Mrs. Marry Damabia, which cut across various sectors of the economy, ranging from energy, construction, agro-business and environment.

Some of the NYSC members told Sunday Vanguard that they were trained on poultry, grass-cutter rearing, snailery animal

husbandry, bees keeping, fish farming, plantain and banana sucker multiplication, bead making, tailoring, etc.

Not less than 131, 659 corp members were given skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development training in 2012.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th edition of the NYSC/MDGs War Against Poverty (WAP) at the NYSC orientation camp, Kubwa, Abuja, the Director General of NYSC, Brig. General Nnamdi Okore-Affia, said the scheme introduced skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development training for corps members, with a view to providing the graduate youths with skills, in addition to their academic skills for self-reliance.

“The level of youth unemployment called for serious concern. We will be glad if we can get all the help we need to properly drive this programme. It is our expectation that if this collaboration works, we would have contributed in no small measure towards driving national socio-economic development,” he said.

O

kore-Affia explained that the project was meant to empower corps members with entrepreneurial and agroenterprise skills, with corresponding interest free loans, to generate employment, eradicating poverty and hunger, as well as creating wealth.

“Through continuous training, the scheme would be producing successive and successful generation of corps entrepreneurs, who are expected to be vanguards in the process of nation building.

“This segment of the population is highly productive and highly creative, and if properly harnessed would contribute significantly to the developmental aspiration of any nation. Nigeria therefore cannot be an exception.”

Also, the State Coordinator, NYSC, Lagos State, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, said the introduction of SAED into the NYSC scheme had helped many fresh graduates to be self-reliant, creating employment

opportunities instead of searching for non-existent jobs.

Recently, the scheme synergized with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matters, to work out a more realistic approach to entrepreneurial empowerment for youths.

The two bodies jointly developed a model called the ‘Micro Enterprise Pack Model’.

The components of the new model were unveiled, when the SSA to the President on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, visited the NYSC Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.

Imagwe observed that the previous approaches only brought people together for entrepreneurship programmes and dispersed them to their consistencies without any assistance.

Not only that, the NYSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a private company, JFK Consult, on postcamp skill acquisition programme for corps members.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the training programme which also targets other interested youths in the society will commence on social-media from where qualified candidates are going to be selected for two weeks training at the entrepreneurial academy in Abuja.

The Chief Executive Officer of JFK Consult, Mr James Abiona, said it was important for corps members to get the basic entrepreneurial skills before they get through with their service year so that they would not remain job-seekers, but job creators.

At the signing ceremony, in Abuja, Mrs. Marry Damabia, who signed on behalf of the NYSC noted that the programme would build on the entrepreneurial lecture received by corps members during their orientation exercise in camp.

Meanwhile, Damabia decried the non-chalant attitude displayed by some government institutions which have direct bearing on the mandates of the scheme, but refused to cooperate despite several letters written to them, either for approval or partnership.

She noted that the scheme was facing some constrains ranging from inadequacy of funds to drive the programme, to lack of materials for practical hands-on training both in and out of camp, mentoring centres, among others.

Damabia therefore, appealed to them for change of attitude, while calling on corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals “to continue support us, so that the real purpose of NYSC can be realized”.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

chimeena@yahoo.com 08056180157

Champion for Women

F

OR long, women in our country were extremely restricted in terms of political appointments. This is in spite of the Beijing Declaration in 1995 where leaders and governments were pressured to allot a reasonable number of offices in decision making to women.

However, we are currently witnessing a quiet revolution with the deployment, into critical positions, of Nigerian women who have distinguished themselves through their various callings. And in government, they are using their power, talent and moral examples to shape our lives.

The book, Champion For Women, is about one man’s efforts to change the balance of power, narrow the gender gap and put aside the deepseated social and indeed, political prejudices against our women. As Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, petroleum resources minister, a beneficiary of this gender-sensitive administration, wrote in the Foreword: “This is not just historic, but something special in the history of Nigeria.

Half the world’s population is female, but the international average of women in elected office is only around 20 percent. Look at the top office– holders, and the figure is lower still; in Nigeria, however, one in three members of the Federal Executive Cabinet is a woman. It is a fact of which all Nigerians, male and female, can be justly proud.”

Vice President Namadi Sambo amplified this further in the Preface: “President Jonathan’s willingness to take the risk and put women in charge of some of the most critical sectors of the economy demonstrated one of his outstanding qualities- bravery. He had the courage of his convictions and, more than that, a healthy respect for the ability of the Nigeria woman and was determined to give her, her due.”

Despite the foregoing glowing words, it would be premature to conclude that the gender battle is won in Nigeria. But nobody will contest the fact that something has changed. And it is a credit to this administration that it has managed this radical and inclusive paradigm shift not only in the number of women appointed into cabinet positions but also in the strategic portfolios placed in their care.

The 313-page book contains five chapters.

Chapter one, aptly titled “Leading A Nation, Advancing Its Women”, traces the trajectory of President Jonathan to power and the challenges of the new office: how to contain issues of corruption, power outages, violence in the Niger Delta among many others. The chapter particularly emphasized that though providence played a crucial role in Jonathan’s ascent to the presidency, analysts tended to have focused too much attention on a superstitious interpretation of his first name, Goodluck, rather than the qualities that stood him out.

Rightly, the chapter argues that while fate might have played a role in Dr Jonathan first becoming the governor of Bayelsa State and later the president, “the fact that he later stood for election and won both these positions on his own merit, is often lost in the narrative.”

But perhaps the greatest revelation here is the background to the president’s avowed belief in the power of women as agents of change. In his own words: “My admiration for the ability of women to thrive in a challenging and adverse environment is drawn directly from watching my mother’s strength when I was growing up…This contributed to my decision to entrust the women in my government with the responsibilities of high office.”

The book details some of the frontline measures adopted by the government to enhance the status of women in the country. Particularly noteworthy are the appointments of women into key positions by the president. For the first time in the history of the country and indeed the continent, Mrs. Itunu Hotonu became the first woman to be appointed a Rear Admiral in the Navy. Remarkably too, the first female military pilot in the Nigerian Airforce,

Blessing Liman, was commissioned alongside 126 men who had completed the Direct Short Service Course in October 2011.

Still on military matters, 20 female officer cadets attended the 63rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on the directive of President Jonathan, the first time and a major milestone in the history of the 50year old institution. Rightly dubbed “Jonathan’s Queens” they proved that given equal opportunities, our women will excel beyond measure.

Chapter Two is devoted to the “power ” behind the throne, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Indeed, in Patience, President Jonathan found an energetic advocate for women’s liberation. Chapter three highlights the President’s vision for women, some notable women in politics all over the world and the present efforts to bridge the gender gap. Chapter Four is President Jonathan’s Leading Women, their portfolios, their activities, their vision and their biographical details. They are indeed profiles in courage. Here is the lineup: Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON, Chief Justice of the Federation, the first ever female Chief Justice of

Dame Patience Jonathan

,

Nigerian Women and the Promise Keeper Title: Champion for Women Edited with Foreword By: Diezani Alison-Madueke Preface: Namadi Sambo Pages: 313 Reviewer: Samuel Idoko

growth.

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is Minister of Petroleum Resources, the first woman to hold the position. It is a measure of confidence in her ability that she is entrusted with the ministry that is actually “the backbone” of the economy, by generating about 80 percent of government revenue.

Mainstreaming her experience in the private sector as a former Director in Shell, she has managed to prune down the number of marketers in the downstream sect o r

to contain corruption and instill greater transparency. A strong advocate of local content and the empowerment of Nigerians, she is currently pushing through the National Assembly a revolutionary Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that is intended to reposition the oil and gas sector.

Mrs. Omobola Johnson is the pioneer minister in charge of Communication Technology. With degrees in electrical and electronic engineering and digital electronics from the United Kingdom, she is well trained to man the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy. Prior to her appointment, she was the Country managing director of

The book details some of the frontline measures adopted by the government to enhance the status of women in the country. Particularly noteworthy are the appointments of women into key positions by the president

Nigeria. Indeed, she has been a woman of many firsts: first female lawyer of northern extraction, first female High Court Judge from the north and she has served at all levels of court. An independent-minded woman whose current efforts-to restore faith in the judiciary by cleansing it of impunity and corruption, speak volume of the sterner stuff that she is made of.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance. A major national newspaper headline some few weeks back described her as the “Backbone of a Rising Economy”. A hard worker with powerful negotiating skills, she is a household name all over the world and a respected authority on developmental economics. Pictured in her signature Ankara and “headgear ” dress, she has imposed some fiscal discipline on the economy and had at times pushed through unpopular measures to make the state run more efficiently and encourage

,

Accenture, a management consultancy.

Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa is the minister tendering our environment.

She is working hard to battle the rage of floods, pollution, deforestation and climate change through raising public awareness. A former school teacher and businesswoman, she has done well in promoting reforestation.

Hajia Zainab Maina, is the minister in charge of Women Affairs and Social Development. Which is really fitting for someone who is a powerful advocate of women’s rights. Her campaigns for increased investment in women, children and the vulnerable groups in the society have been yielding results.

Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe is in charge of the challenging Ministry of Water Resources. In Nigeria, the statistics say 58 percent of the population has access to clean water, figures many would question. Access to clean and

potable water in addition to good sanitary measures save lives, particularly of children. Ochekpe has vowed to raise access to water to 75 percent by 2015 the bid to meet the Millennium Development Goals and evidence suggests she is equalt to the task.

Princess Stella Oduah is in charge of the important Ministry of Aviation. She is a good copy for the administration’s transformation agenda as Nigerians can today see physical changes at the airports due to her remodeling efforts. Most of the obsolete equipments at the airports are now functional, besides promoting the airports security and safe operations.

Lady Amal Pepple is the Minister, Lands, Housing and Urban Development. A former career civil servant with first class honours degree, her duty is to provide decent shelter for Nigerians, a challenging area where she has been making serious impact.

Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I, a Chevening scholar with Ph.D from West Virginia University, looks after the Education Ministry, a ministry whose activities can contribute greatly to bridging the sexual divide. She is strengthening the institutional management of education.

Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide is Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory.

She, in alliance with the Minister, is working hard to seeing that Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, is the place to be and investors’ destination.

Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi is the Minister of State for Power, the ministry on which much of the administration’s transformation agenda rests. Although there are noticeable improvements, a lot still needs to be done to restore the confidence of the Nigerian people. · Erelu Olusola Obada is the Minister of State for Defence. For a long time now, she has been superintending the ministry all by herself at a period our military has been involved in internal security and, by all accounts, she has done a pretty good job. · Prof. Viola Onwuliri is a professor of biochemistry and minister of state for Foreign Affairs. She is evidently a pillar in the efforts to rebuild Nigeria’s image abroad even as our country remains a regional leader of repute within the continent.

The list of prominent women in this administration seems endless but one I cannot fail to mention here is Prof. Joy Ogwu, OFR, who is the country’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. An erudite scholar, she is a member of the Presidential Advisory Council of Nigeria in International Relations.

All factors considered, this book celebrates the achievements of President Jonathan’s Transformational administration through the aid of the driving force- the women in his government. It is a powerful argument for continued and perhaps even greater presence of women in government.

The authors have written an admirably balanced account of the women in government with a wealth of information but still incisive and engaging; some with close-up moments of tangible intimacy and of course, with some sympathy.

No less important are the brief biographical sketches of the major characters interspersed with very revealing interview sessions; the Continues on page 39

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 39

When the classical Masters serenaded Muson

By JAPHET ALAKAM MUSIC

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Mbanefo and Kanitz on stage at Muson

rhythm. Kanitz particularly exuded a ravishing glow with his fingers on the violoncello, breathing in the rhythm as he creates resplendent beautiful sounds.

Mbanefo on his part tried to maintain balance, meeting up with the demand of the violoncello as he struck the keys with vigor as if he was dueling with Kanitz. This brilliant piece

earned them a standing ovation and an encore.

The reputable lawyer built his passion for the piano at an early age of six. He received his first piano lesson from a

Open Door Series set for Kongi at 79

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ENOWNED pianist and lawyer Louis Mbanefo and music composer and Cello maestro, Thomas Kanitz engaged the audience in a spellbound piano and cello concert at Muson centre Lagos recently. Both performers who are highly recognized in their musical prowess did not fail to accomplish this feat as they performed pieces of Beethoven, Schubert, and Vivaldi to the delight of the audience.

The guests were a mixed audience who had come to witness the beautiful sounds of classical music performed by two great players. Besides the personalities for the night, the stage complemented the event as drapes of different colours were used to create a vibrant ambience and reflected the mood of the pieces played.

Starting with the Red Priest (Antonio Vivaldi) piece sonata No. 6 in B-flat major, Mbanefo flaunted his command of the black and white keys of the piano, creating different colours of music in the four movement piece, Mbanefo set up a rhythmic tone with accompaniments beyond imagination.

He was later joined on stage by the cello maestro Kanitz, who displayed an unequivocal dexterity as both played one of the greatest composers Ludwig van Beethoven’s sonata for violoncello and piano, A-Major, Op. 69 piece. Starting off with the violoncello, Kanitz maintained a striking balance as him and Mbanefo went back and forth with the three movement piece in a melodic interplay. A bit melancholic, this symphony ostentatiously captured the innate strength of the instrumentalists.

They both returned on stage after a brief interval to play the contemporary Nigerian composer Pemi Oludare piece, ‘Irapada’. This was followed by Schubert’s impromptu for piano. Schubert is famous for his impromptus which are eight in series. Playing Op. 90 and G major, Mbanefo again showed his astounding finesse on the piano.

For the next twenty minutes, Mbanefo and Kanitz entertained the audience with a powerful rendition of Schubert’s Sonata ‘Arpeggione’ in A minor. This three movement piece is the only substantial composition for the Arpeggione which exists today. Enticing the audience with its crescendos and decrescendos, the players showed a fine, if not aggressive dialogue of the piano and violoncello.

This particular piece was composed during Schubert’s deteriorating health and was specifically designed for bowed strings guitar but there have been contemporary transcriptions with the cello and viola.

Though grim in nature, Mbanefo and Kanitz added a scintillating touch to this piece with its breezy and romantic

church organist in Onitsha and had remained faithful to the instrument ever since.

While studying law at Queens College, Cambridge University, he attended music lessons and performed in various concerts at the University. He is also one of the founding members of the Musical Society of Nigeria and has served in various committees of the body. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St Saviours’ Schools Ikoyi and Ebutte Metta and also the Director of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria.

Kanitz is well known for his versatile musical background as an illustrious performer.

The German player is notable for his vast knowledge as a composer, instructor and performer as well. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Muson Symphony Orchestra.

By JAPHET ALAKAM ANNIVERSARY

T

HE literati, art en thusiasts and follow ers of the iconic figure, the Noble laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka will be treated to another celebration of the essence of the Artiste in the society using Wole Soyinka as a reference point as the organisers of the Open Door Series Project WS79 unveils the programme of activities marking his 79th birthday.

The project which is organised by Zimirage Multi Media Ltd will feature an essay competition, play production and culture presentation.

T he 2013 edition which is premised on the theme: ‘Memoirs for our Future’; would hold on the traditional July 13, being the 79th birthday anniversary of Prof. Soyinka. And as usual Soyinka will receive 79 students who participated in the project essay at his Abeokuta home while the London segment will hold on July20.

According to the project producer, Mrs Liliam AmaAluko, The Open Door Series Project WS is a platform for International Cultural Exchange. The programme has evolved over the past 3 years to include an international Essay competition for senior secondary school students, advocacy lectures, tours, drama and cultural presentations.

‘The Project WS brand was inspired by the essence and ideals of the Nobel laureate in literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka. These ideals sum up in the artiste’s humanism as reflected in his globally-acclaimed various roles as a cultural, civil rights and political Activist are the pedestal on which we have built the pro-

Prof. Wole Soyinka gramme of the Open Door series.’

According to her, “Our main goal in the Open Door Series is to combat fear, violence and its contingent reactions through the use of education, arts and culture.We are starting with the youths (secondary school level) because we believe that they can still be positively influenced and moulded into the leaders of tomorrow that we desire them to be.”

She also stated that the 2013 edition is designed to herald the 2014 edition that would mark Soyinka’s 80th birthday celebration. A grand programme designed with novel artistic and educational items have been planned for the 2014 edition.

On his part,the project executive producer, Teju Wasee Kareem, who disclosed that sponsorship has been a major challenge to the project, said that the WS79 is a precursor to WS80, which is a highly significant year for us all. Prof.

Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka who is the symbol and anchor of the WS project will be 80 years old next year and the project seeks to mark that very significant date in significant ways.

“It is important to note that we are not marking the day because it’s a birthday but we intend to mark the day because it symbolizes for us all a con-

Our main goal in the Open Door Series is to combat fear, violence and its contingent reactions through the use of education, arts and culture

,

tinuation of the life of an inspirational man who has fought and is still fighting for

the dignity of man, the rights of the individual and the unity and security of his Country; our country,” he added He also stated that “Memoirs for our future” apart from being the theme of this year’s project is also the title of our new book- a compilation of the winning essays from WS76 to WS78 as well as other selected essays from submissions for all the years.” The Nobel Laureate himself is writing the foreword to the book and will present the books to the public at our event on 20th July 2013.

The Nobel Laureate will also flag off the WS80 essay competition to the Diaspora students at the summit that will hold during the event.

Champion for Women Continued from page 38 passion with which the women are going about their duties and the attention to the home front; their achievements in office and their goals and extent to which they want to take the administration.

The book is well produced too, illustrated with relevant, aesthetics and colourful pictures, maps and charts.

The interactions of the President with Nigerians and the outside world leap out of the pages. It is a book worth collecting, indeed perhaps the warmest souvenir yet of the

forces of women in government.

Interestingly, of the ten contributors to the book, eight are women; also of varied backgrounds but with education from the best schools in the world.

This is therefore a book about women, commissioned by a woman and written largely by women. The simple lesson: In Nigeria, our women have seized the stage, and the momentum. It is now left for them to make this collective mission a long lasting winds of change and make our society much better. · Idoko is an Abuja-based public affairs analyst

Nigerians tasked on unity

A

Warri-based inde pendent Petroleum Marketer and Managing Director of SAM-JOHN Nigeria Limited, Otunba John Obribai, has advised Nigerians to live in peace and harmony with one and another, irrespective of tribe and political affiliations Otunba Obribai, who gave the advise on the occasion of his birthday celebration in

Warri, said, Nigeria is no doubt blessed with oil and other mineral resources, but urged everyone to live in peace to enable them benefit from their God-given resources.

While thanking friends and associates who graced his birthday party, he enjoined Nigerians to continue to put their trust in God for everything they do, as success comes only from Him.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30 30, 2013

DRAMA

L

AGOSIANS were last week at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Auditorium, treated to an enthralling stage performance of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi by students of The Childville Schools, Lagos.

A critical analysis of the annual event which is in its third year running, reveals the huge impact drama has on the young actors and actresses.

From all indications, the school’s drama teacher Gboyega Jerome who also directed the play which was written by late Prof.

Ola Rotimi, appears not only to be breeding a crop of talented actors but also, musicians with specialisation in composition.

Tune and rhythm

The way and manner in which the actors composed a song; Na waoo, NEPA na waoo, NEPA wa oo... in response to power outage in the middle of performance which lasted close to 10 minutes, is worth commending. Rather than letting the obstruction bring down their morale, they quickly and perfectly composed the song which fell into tune and rhythm with the dirge they were singing before NEPA struck. And when electricity was finally restored, they had a smooth transition into the original dirge.

The actors’ demonstration of such artistic ingenuity, attracted laughter and an accompanying deafening applause from the audience.

The annual event which debuted in 2011 with the suc-

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi comes alive at Childville school

which include two buildings with clear distinctive features that drew a line between the habitat of the Benin people and the abode of colonial masters were well designed by Felix Kolawole.

Building rounded pupils

•A scene from the play, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. Photo by Prisca Sam-Duru cessful performance of Prof Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart followed by Prof Ola Rotimi’s bestseller, The Gods Are Not to Blame in 2012, for the Childville Head of School, Warren Townsend, has come to stay “because we believe in letting the pupils know their culture and their history which is why Ola Rotimi’s plays have been chosen for two consecutive years because he captures the past and gives it life on stage, besides, his plays are rich in culture.”

The name Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi which has become synonymous with the Benin history, through the eyes of Rotimi, narrates the many travails of the then Oba of Benin kingdom, Oba Ovonramwen

Nogbaisi, brought about by political unrests which characterised the period between 1879 and 1888 when the presence of colonial masters threatened the peace of the kingdom with their commercial venture. The British succeeded in deposing the Oba and sent him on exile to Calabar where he later died in 1914. Throughout the breathtak-

played Oba Ovonramwen; Iyinoluwa Yemi-Shodimu who acted as Ologbosere, Medoh Opurnm (Ezomo), Emeka Nwakama (Osodin) and Chidiebere Eziaba, who was one of the British soldiers and many others, drawn from Primary 3 up to SS1, interpreted their roles and delivered their lines with such professionalism that en-

,

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

The Childville maintains a tradition of building rounded-pupils, who would not only be good in academics but also in creative arts

ing performance, the young actors and actresses such as Aduragbeminiyi Olawuyi, who

,

deared them to the audience.

The costumes, songs and lighting were on point. The props

A handbook for self reliance

By PRISCA SAM-DURU REVIEW

O

N a yearly basis, higher institutions in the country churn out graduates who end up spending more years in the labour market than they did while in school.

This trend has resulted into an upward rise in the number of unemployed youths who are desperate to find a means of livelihood in a country so endowed with both human and natural resources.

In response, individuals have come out with several books on self employment as well as entrepreneurship or empowerment workshops organized for youths in Nigeria with theme centered around efforts to produce a crop of creative minds who would become self reliant rather than roam the streets endlessly while in search of jobs.

Self Employment & 30 Ways to Financial empowerment, a 60 pages book, is Jovita Bivbere’s selfless and positive contribution to the different concerted efforts already made with the aim of assisting the youths become positively engaged.

Coming from the stable of Tentpeg Production, Jovita, a counselor, caterer, budding entrepreneur and public speaker without reservations, pens down from her wealth of experience, life changing ideas and methods which when applied, would

definitely depopulate the labour market.

The contents of the book would not only help nurture the productive capacities of the youths, but also help individuals build healthy homes in addition to helping them comport themselves while in public. The book also makes positive statements on how of priority important is education to building a successful life.

"Self Employment & 30 Ways to Financial Empowerment" which is divided into two parts, has its first part, titled “30 ways to financial empowerment” beginning from page 5 through 24. It emphasizes on importance of education, how to avoid failure, character building, etc. The second part titled, “Self Employment”, indeed, provides great opportunity for any serious minded individual to become successful. he author did a selfless job in this section by listing different types of dishes, cosmetics, tie & dye materials, toiletries, fruit drinks, etc. She also makes available, the items or materials needed for their production and also, explains the processes of manufacturing them.

Jovita Bivbere has documented vital information necessary for mind and nation’s development and readers will find it an interesting book for building an independent life in future.

The Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Smith, who spoke shortly after the play, expressed appreciation to the students for making the school proud. She noted that the school maintains a tradition of building roundedpupils, who would not only be good in academics but also in creative arts, adding that taking part in such plays, brings out hidden potential in the pupils.

“Through these stage plays, the pupils develop confidence, charm and art of public speaking. And many of them are already doing well in school debates and other programmes in the school, all geared toward developing them as future leaders.”

Describing this year’s play as a huge success, Gboyega Jerome who disclosed that the rehearsal lasted for 7 months, said, “I am glad the students have made the school proud once again. I give thanks to Almighty God and kudos to everyone who participated in one way or the other to see that the performance was great” The lead actor, 15-year-old Aduragbeminiyi Olawuyi who has been consistent in his performance, having played outstanding roles in previous outings, congratulated his fellow actors and commended the school management for the exposure given him which he believes would make greater impact in his future.

Farafina invites entry for 2013 Creative Writers Workshop

B

T

Self Employment & 30 Ways To Financial Empowerment

by Jovita Bivbere. Published

by Tentpeg Production,Lagos. 2012, PP 60 .

UDDING writers who need to sharpen their creative writing skills have another opportunity next month as Farafina Trust in conjunction with Nigerian Breweries invites entry for this year’s Creative Writing Workshop.

According to Farafina Trust, organizers of the 5 year old creative writer ’s workshop, entries for the workshop would close on Friday June 28, 2013. Applicants who may be published or unpublished writers are expected to write a few sentences about themselves in addition to a creative writing sample of between 200 and 800 words.

The writing sample must be pasted or written in the body of the email with subject titled ‘Workshop Application’ and sent to udonandu 2013@gmail.com.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 41

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 47 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Why something worse than Boko Haram is coming, by Prophet Olabayo PRIMATE Theophilus Olabayo, 67, founder of Evangelical Church of Yahweh with headquarters in Mende, Maryland, Lagos, had remained one of Nigeria's respected prophets whose prophesies had shaken the high and mighty in the country. In this interview with SAM EYOBOKA, the cleric says there would be a spiritual revolution that will rock the nation to its foundation and at the end of it, a new nation will emerge. Excerpts...

*Primate Theophilus Olabayo

W

hat really happened that you went off the radar for several years?

I have been talking. A prophet doesn’t just say things. It’s when God asks me to speak that I speak. Many atimes, I warn our leaders but they don’t have listening ears.

I was the only one who said President Umaru Yar'Adua had a terminal disease and when the condition got worse, the wife called some of us to Abuja to ask of the chances of her husband. I said the husband would die and Jonathan would become president. I warned President Goodluck Jonathan that people would make the country ungovernable for him, but people said I was a prophet of doom. Is it not happening now? Let me quickly say this here that worse than Boko Haram is about to happen.

It's no secret that you had some health challenges which may have been responsible for your absence for some time. What is the nature of your ailment?

I did not lay off. Elijah was sick and he was still doing God’s work. I had an attack.

A spiritual attack but I am still hale and hearty. Spirit cannot die. The spirit of God cannot die in you. The body may be weak, it doesn’t matter. But the spirit cannot die. God will continue to speak through you.

Is it true that you had stroke, Sir? It’s not a big deal that someone has stroke but I am okay. While on a trip to Kaduna, God had revealed to me that I would have stroke and would be away for some

time. So I looked for someone who knew about stroke; one of my pastors.

How did it happen and what was your first reaction?

I was going for a revival in Kaduna and God told me to go with somebody who knows about stroke. The man had to follow me to Kaduna. When I got to Kaduna, they told me one of my townsmen was sick and when I got to his place, God said I should not do anything though he was suffering. I got a room for him, paid his bills and left after praying for him. As I was returning to the church in Kaduna, I had the attack.

And did you have any medical treatment?

Definitely!

Why do you think it’s a spiritual attack?

I know because God told me about it. I know it could be exhaustion because I pray and fast a lot.

There was this rumour among the people that one of the reasons your church went down was because you were caught in adultery with somebody else’s wife. Is it true sir?

God will forgive you. Where?

That is why Nigeria cannot move forward. How do you expect me; I preach the Word of God, I preach against adultery, then I’ll be caught in such an act! Impossible!

Anybody can lie against you.

At your age sir, are you thinking of passing over the baton to someone else soon?

I am a prophet and it is not hereditary. God can choose anybody. When it’s time for me, God will tell me to lay

hands on the person. God has not told me yet, I’m still a young man. There are so many people that are coming up, not only one person. Among them, God will raise up leaders. We have young pastors coming up in the church who have the gift of the Word of God, the Bible. Not only vision, people believe that it’s when you just speak in tongues alone or see vision. No! There are different types of gifts.

There are churches as soon as the founders pass away you don't hear much from those churches...

It can’t happen here because it’s God that called me. When it is time, God will raise up another leader among us.

What do you foresee for Nigeria?

We are sitting at the keg of gunpowder. We are looking at total darkness in the nation.

We need to pray very well because these political people are not doing the right things.

Nothing is working; the worst corruption is in Nigeria. There has never been corruption as worse as this. The name of Nigeria is now corruption and some of the journalists are not helping matters. People are being bribed. But there’s going to be a revolution. The poor will overtake the rich.

You’ve not seen anything.

You’ve not seen Boko Haram.

Worse Boko Haram is about to happen and we have to pray against religious war that may last seven years. Let Jonathan drop his ambition for 2015. Let him work and allow his work speak for itself. Most of his political alleys especially from his Niger Delta are deceiving him and are talking carelessly.

They will be consumed one after another. They are already beating war drums if he fails to return in 2015; let them keep quiet. They are not helping matters. Very soon they ’ll start bombing. The chairman of PDP is going to face another problem because there’s going to be crisis and if care is not taken, he is going to be removed. They are going to scatter them and cause confusion between him and the president. Most of these governors that are being sacked are going to join hands together to form another party.

A new party will emerge which will be more powerful than

PDP. Not APC! Gov. Rotimi Amaechi’s current challenges will create more problems in this country.

What’s the way out of all of these? How can we prevent this doom from coming to pass in Nigeria, Sir? The problem with Nigeria is leadership. We are so corrupt and wicked. We manipulate things and we don't allow God to work. They don't believe in God. They go about looking for protection; some of them think they are untouchable.

They don’t believe there’s God. One day they are going to give account. God is going to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria very soon and a brand new nation will emerge from the ashes of a revolution. The president is being caged by some few people. When you are saying the truth, they arrest you. Some of his close people are enemies and he doesn’t know. If he’s not careful, they are going to run him down. There are things to be done spiritually. I don’t need to discuss all these with the Press because our leaders don’t have listening ears. We need to come together and work for this nation because we have children. We don’t want our children to suffer.

Because if there’s war in Nigeria today, Ghana cannot accommodate the number of refugees. They are holding notional meetings. If they want to do something, somebody will talk today; they will give him millions of naira to keep quiet. They are not saying anything, they are only exchanging money and that is what is destroying this country. Our refineries are not working; the roads are bad, armed robbers have taken over; there’s no work, now they want to sack people. The man is making more mistakes everyday. Every step he takes, he’s making wrong decisions.

Many of his advisers are selfish and wicked people.

They are just accumulating wealth. And they are old.

They don’t give up. They are acquiring properties.

Some say Nigeria might not survive beyond 2015. Do you agree?

I went to America of recent and I prophesied and it happened. Let me tell you, it’s not America that will dictate

for us. God is saying that we should avoid war; religious war.

Sir, is there anything the Church or anybody can do to avert a violent revolution?

As I am prophesying now, some church leaders and prayer contractors will take it to them to get money, to get oil blocks and buy aeroplanes for themselves. That will not solve the problem.

Despite the health challenges, you still talk like this.

When are you ever going to get tired?

I can’t be tired. They have tried me. I was the only one condemning Sani Abacha.

One day they sent one brigadier to me, I was in my house.

As he came, I said something is in your stomach, he said yes, Sir. They said you should come and arrest me, he said yes Sir. I said but you have a daughter, he said yes sir. That day, my phone just stopped working I know it was their handiwork. When he came, God revealed to me and I told him you are going to land into problem, your oga will die.

Before Abacha died, one Austin came to me. He said he has a friend of Abubakar, I said he’s going to be next president and Abacha would die, and it happened. There’s nobody that God cannot catch.

If 100 pastors and mallams are praying for them, they can’t survive. God is about to move if they don’t change and repent because they have put us under bondage for long.

These pastors, let them change. They will say we are Pentecostals, that doesn’t mean you cannot speak truth.

There was a time it was only me and Idahosa that were speaking during Babangida’s era. Most of these pastors that were condemning prophecies, are now prophesing.

Where did they see it?

Jealousy and envy are the things killing them, What is your own assessment of late Pa Obadare?

He’s a man of God. He’s one of the chosen men of God, a soul winner, has the fear of God. That’s one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was a blind man and was quoting the Bible. A good preacher of God. He’s one of the best in the Body of Christ that we miss.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013

J

ESUS says the false prophet will be a Christian. He will be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He will prophesy in the Lord’s name.

He will cast out demons and do many signs and wonders in Jesus’ name.

Nevertheless, the Lord will deny knowing him because he will practice lawlessness. (Matthew 7:15-23).

The man in the bible who diminishes the law and practices lawlessness is Paul. It is Paul who says: “to the lawless, I was lawless.” (I Corinthians 9:21).

Diminishing the law

Paul says Christians have died to the law: “You also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” (Romans 7:4). He claims Jesus abolished the law entirely: “(He) has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.” (Ephesians 2:1415). According to Paul, Jesus abrogated the law: “having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

(Colossians 2:14).

Christians need to ask where Paul gets his doctrine from. Nowhere in scripture does God say the law will be abrogated. The transition from the old to the new covenant does not imply a change of the law. Jeremiah says: “This is the covenant that I will make

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

(Jeremiah 31:33). It is a new covenant but the same old law.

The Messiah, does not abrogate the law. Ezekiel says he will actually cause Israel to obey the law. (Ezekiel 37:24). Isaiah says he will “magnify the law and make it honourable.” (Isaiah 42:21).

Jesus himself says: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.”

(Matthew 5:17).

But Paul declares: “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Ro-

mans 10:4). He says furthermore: “If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” (Galatians 2:21).

However, he then contradicts himself as usual by saying: “It is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13).

Indeed, contrary to what Paul says, righteousness actually comes from obeying the law.

Moses says: “It will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.”

Paul is least in the kingdom of God (Deuteronomy 6:25). So who are Christians going to believe concerning the Law of Moses: Moses, the law-giver himself; or Paul, the law-interpreter?

Paul makes a declaration of lawlessness: “All things are lawful unto me.” (I Corinthians 6: 12). He says furthermore: “We are not under law but under grace.”

(Romans 6:15). However, when James confronted him with the accusation that he was promoting lawlessness, Paul promptly affirmed the continued validity of the law by making Nazarite sacrifices according to the law.

(Acts 21:20-26).

When he was arrested, he proclaimed to the Sanhedrin total adherence to the law: “I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my

fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” (Acts 24:14).

But he was simply being deceitful as usual. He confesses elsewhere: “To those under the law I became as one under the law- though not being myself under the law.” (I Corinthians 9:20).

Beggarly elemental principles

Paul says the law comprises “ weak and beggarly principles” which keep men in bondage.

(Galatians 4:9). He says it brings God’s wrath (Romans 4:15); cannot justify (Galatians 2:16), and cannot give life. (Galatians 3:21).

However, when a man asked what he should do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to fulfil the law: “An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.

‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied.

‘How do you read it?’ He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’”

(Luke 10:25-28).

Paul also belittles the Ten Com-mandments, referring to it as the ministry of death and condemnation: “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look

steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!”

(II Corinthians 3:7-9).

However, the psalmist disagrees entirely with Paul. David says: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

(Psalm 19:7-8). Joshua says adherence to the law brings “good success:” “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

(Joshua 1:8).

Agent of Caesar

Paul says the law was given by angels who are “no gods.” (Galatians 3:19; 4:8). But Moses says God himself gave it to him directly (Exodus 25:21-22), and Jesus confirms this. (Mark 12:26).

Therefore, Jude’s derision of “dreamers” who reject authority and slander celestial beings is applicable to Paul. (Jude

1:8-10). Paul curses angels from heaven who preach a gospel different from his. But Revelation says angels from heaven preach the true gospel: “I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth.”

(Revelation 14:6).

P

aradoxically, while he says we should disregard the Law of Moses, Paul insists we must obey the laws of governments.

While he ridicules angels from heaven, he commends government officials as “ministers of God.” Angels must be disobeyed for allegedly operating without God’s authority. But Caesar must be obeyed because his laws are “the ordinance of God.” (Romans 13:1-4).

How in heaven’s name can evil men like Nero or Hitler be described as God’s ministers who must be obeyed? God justified Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for refusing to obey Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship idols. Paul’s injunction that Christians must obey all rulers raises questions about him being an agent of Rome. When he was arrested, he appealed to Caesar for deliverance and not to God. He was then taken to Rome under heavy military escort, where he was lavishly accommodated.

Jesus says anyone who teaches men to break the least of God’s commandments shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19).

Paul’s antinomianism is proof-positive he is least in the kingdom of God.

Re: Tithing Bananas by Femi Aribisala (Published on May 5, 2013) Part of scripture is often omitted THIS tithe issue has been of serious concern for me. On the popular Malachi 3 scripture, no one emphasizes on the clause "...so that there will be FOOD in my house..." Not money.

That part has been carefully omitted. Take that clause side by side Deut.

14: 22-29 where it is stated you should bring tithes to come and EAT before God. It goes on to say if the distance to the 'church' is too long such that the food items will be too heavy for you to carry along, sell it for money but when you eventually get there, use the money to buy FOOD items. Again the emphasis is on FOOD IN THE CHURCH! And it further specifies who should eat the food, including YOU, but most

especially the needy! I suggest we should humbly approach our pastors with this concern and get to hear from them.

---Utitofon Ekpenyong, University of Calabar Tithe not in New Testament TITHING was never found in the New Testament. The truth is bitter, but it still remains the truth. Pastors, who are still practicing tithes collection, are becoming extortionists in this way, the only offering that was permitted in the church is 'The collection for the saints' (I Cor. 16:1-2) and it should be done on the first day of the week, once. So, if your pastor is still into collection of tithes as a way of surviving, then he should revisit the Bible, and not practice what has already been abolished by the

blood of Jesus, in the New Testament church!

---Don Crayman, UNIBEN It's true YES that is true. We must understudy at the foot of Christ who is the model and example. In this regards I concur with the Jehovah Witness doctrines. They practice what is true as Christ laid down. The tithe and the teachings of what is meant for are both explicitly documented in the scriptures.

Men whose god is mammon have leveraged on the ignorance of many "fans" of Christ to enrich their bank accounts.

They have their rewards already---the jeeps, private jets, mansions in Lekki and elsewhere, the fine babes and many designer clothes. Me I no want that kind of reward way go perish

when person transpires.

One of the benefits of the reality of death is that it teaches you that the resurrection of Yeshua is a reality and that whatever we labour for in this world will be consumed by those who didn’t even work for it.

Death also tells us that the kingdom of God is real, and one day this reality we know will be replaced by the reality of life after death where money is not spent.

This is no duel. We make our choices and we probably have enough to defend our positions. Na at the point of death and accountability we go find out who was right or wrong, abi. So me I say, follow your conviction, follow your doctrine, follow your Pastor, follow your comfort, if it works for you, all well and good. Afterall, whe-ther we pay tithe or not will not be the basis for our judgment na. Na if we do

the will of the Father and loved our neighbour as ourselves. Me I rather give my money to widow, to the hungry etc than put am for one man’s ministry way the account signatory na him wife and himself, abi.

A Nigerian pastor brainwashes his followers to bring only American Dollars to a church service he aptly tagged Dollar Service.

Struggling Nigerians, including students, the poor, the not-so-rich and the rich obeyed, traded their Naira in the black market to acquire Dollars, which they took to church as offerings etc.

Of course the pastor, a multi-billionaire went home hundreds of thousands of Dollars rich. All these happening in a country where there is a law that financial transaction should be done in Naira to be deemed legal. When will people

open their eyes to the fact that some of these so-called men of God are not who they claim to be.

---Stephen IpaliboLawson

RCCG inaugurates Pure Word Parish

T

HE inauguration of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pure Word Parish, Okota, holds today.

The inauguration which takes place at Illumination Hall, 21, Akpomuje Street, Off Taiwo Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, will have Pastor Charles Bob-Manuel ministering.

According to the host pastor, Israel Oluwasegun Osidipe, the theme of the ceremony is the Door has Opened will kick off by 10 am and will attract other ministers of God such as Pastor Danjuma TafawaBalewa and Pastor Mrs Adeola Mensah.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013—PAGE 49

available to the ministry for the development of the region?

I want to reason that, that is another level of madness exhibited by people who think the way they are, that is the way others are. Today, in this country, there is a process of doing things.

There is a procurement law in place. So how do you pocket money? People talk out of ignorance. They don’t know what it takes to award a contract. As a minister, I don’t have the power to sit down in my office and call in Mr. A and say ‘I give you this contract’. It is advertised; so it sounds stupid, it exposes the ignorance of people who sit in their houses, offices and in the market places to say ministers are pocketing money. It is absolute nonsense.

Is Elder Orubebe actually corrupt in view of the recent outcry by some Delta leaders and a group led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, asking the EFCC to prosecute you over alleged corrupt practices? How do you feel about the allegations of corruption against you?

Elder Orubebe is not corrupt and cannot be corrupt. Dino Melaye came out that time and said I awarded contracts that were not in the budget, that I awarded contracts worth N27 billion and that I had paid the money and that I have pocketed the money. He said I awarded particularly one contract for N1.2 billion and then increased it to N12 billion and paid for it.

I think Nigerians are cleverer now, they now understand what governance is, they understand the process of awarding contracts. Of course I came out and addressed a press conference.

The man said N27billion but the contracts that were awarded were just N6 million; he said I had paid all the money, but the contractors were mobilized with only N990 million. At the time they were talking, we were owing the contractors and we were even talking to their bankers to let them know that we gave contracts to these people and the money was not available yet and that they should give them time to work.

Are you bothered by the call on Mr. President to sack you from the cabinet?

I am not bothered because Nigerians, including Mr. President, know that these people are acting foolishly and they are ignorant of the measures Mr. President has put in place to ensure transparency in governance. I am not bothered about them and that is why I don’t talk about it because everybody knows that the allegations are malicious and, unfortunately, they don’t have the facts. I think the critics are day-dreaming and have personal interests.

Some of them expected certain things from me and, when they were not available, then Orubebe is a bad man; it is very sad. But, as far as I am concerned, that concept of blackmailing people for personal gains is an old thing. That is an old concept. The new concept is doing things transparently and getting things done so that Nigeria can move forward.

The smear campaign is a cheap blackmail and I will not succumb. We are doing things transparently and we continue to do it despite the claims by this category of people. We cannot be intimidated, we are on course and we will get to where we are going. I think it is better that they begin to act as reasonable people and get their facts right before they come out to misinform the public.

If you say Elder Godsday Orubebe is that upright, why do you think they are after him?

I want to believe that some of them see me as a threat; some of them feel that with Elder Godsday Orubebe around, they would not be able to realize what they want to gain in life.

Some of them have confronted me that I want to take leadership from them and I begin to wonder if leadership is just for some people.

Leadership emerges through the will of God and I have never contested leadership with anybody.

The rumours are everywhere in Delta State that you are nursing governorship ambition in 2015.

I have told people who care to listen that, today, as far as I am concerned, my immediate concern is to work for Mr. President, support Mr. President to enable him deliver his Transformation Agenda. I stand as one of the key supporters of Mr. President, one of the key

Clark didn’t nominate me as minister — Orubebe The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, is in the eye of the storm following allegations of corruption and non-performance against him. In this interview, Orubebe dismisses the allegations and speaks on the frosty relationship between him and Chief Edwin Clark.

Excerpts: loyalists of Mr. President to do what he wants us to do to move Nigeria forward.

As far as I am concerned, 2015 is still very far and it is in God’s hands. When we get to 2015, that is when other things will come up. When we get to 2015, I have the right to contest like any other Deltan but that is not in the agenda for now.

But you are being accused of declaring for governorship during your recent condolence visit to the family of

,

ow do you react to the allegation by H some stakeholders in the Niger Delta that you just pocket the money being made

Chief Clark did not recommend me for appointment as minister, but he supported me when the battle over my appointment started.

He was not the one who nominated me but he supported me when there was crisis over the appointment

,

a prominent Urhobo politician, Chief Lords Alams Barovbe, in Ovu, Ethiope East LGA. Can any reasonable person ever believe that someone who wants to be a governor would go to a burial ceremony to declare his intention? It is absolute nonsense. I was there on condolence visit and we were talking about the activities of the man and that was how we ended. And so it was nonsense, it was cheap blackmail for anybody to say that. If I want to contest for governorship of Delta State, even if I want to contest in 2015 and I want to declare, number one, I would have made proper consultations and number two, when I am declaring, the

entire state will gather at one place for me to declare and tell them.

But your leader, Chief Edwin Clark is one of the people who accused you and he even said you are not fit for the governorship of the state.

Chief Clark is entitled to his opinion but, fortunately, in the statement, he said he was told, he was not there. And so he must have acted from an uninformed position. I am sure some mischievous people that are always around looking for their daily bread must have carried that information to him. But, thank God, he said he was not there, he was informed.

Number two, if I want to contest the governorship of Delta State in 2015, Chief Clark also knows that I have the capability to run for the governorship of Delta State, I am not barred by the constitution and I have support of people and nobody will stop me from running.

He is free to support anybody but there are thousands and thousands of people who will also support me if I want to run in 2015. re you of the opinion that the A petition by some Delta leaders to the EFCC was rooted in the

governorship issue in 2015?

I don’t want to talk about where they are coming from but, as far as I am concerned, it is absolute nonsense, baseless, it is unfounded and self-serving and they cannot smear my name. People of Delta State and people of this country that I have related with know that I am a man of integrity.

A section of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Burutu LGA of the state, where you and Clark hail from, recently announced your suspension from the party. What is your reaction?

I am glad you said a section of the PDP. I think we have, today, a group that was put in place by Chief Clark and it is these people that went on air to say Orubebe is suspended but I don’t lose sleep over it because it is of no consequence.

What is your relationship with Chief

Orubebe Edwin Clark now?

I don’t have any problem with Chief Edwin Clark. He is one of the leaders we have in Ijawland. Our relationship is very cordial.

But supporters of Chief Clark have openly said that you are an ingrate in view of the widespread belief that he recommended you for appointment as minister.

Why are you ungrateful?

Chief Clark did not recommend me for appointment as minister, but he supported me when the battle over my appointment started. He was not the one who nominated me but he supported me when there was crisis over the appointment. I know the person who recommended me; at the appropriate time I will mention that name.

I was recommended to the government by a young man, whose identity I will reveal at a later date. However, I have done everything humanly possible to carry Chief Clark along.

What is your relationship with the leadership of the PDP in the state?

My relationship with the leadership of the PDP is very cordial. Peter Nwaoboshi is my state chairman; he is a very strong, great man, he is doing very well and I am supporting him and his entire executive so that we deliver PDP for all the elections in 2015. PDP is the only party we have in Delta State. I am very happy with our executives and the way they run the affairs of the party.

How can you say that when Chief Clark accused you of instigating some members to drag the party to court?

How can I instigate people to take the party to court? That is the beauty of democracy, everybody has the opportunity to say whatever he wants to say. That is the beauty of democracy. If I have cause to go to court, it is me that would go. If people are aggrieved and they go to court, are they saying people don’t have any right to go to court to seek redress? If somebody is walking and stumbles on a wood, it is Orubebe; I think they should stop this nonsense. And I have told you that I am working with the state chairman of PDP to ensure that we deliver in all future elections.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013

The looming demographic time-bomb

BY CHRIS OKOTIE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Govt should increase funding for research, redesign university curricula

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HERE are certain demo graphics that give a clear indication of a country’s development profile and some insights into its economic future.

Literacy rate, access to health and potable water, state of infrastructure, housing, functional public utilities, transparency in governance and efficient service delivery by government agencies etc.

In all of these, according to records of the world’s Human Development Index, our country is lagging far behind its peer nations. This ought to worry our governing elites, but their present focus is on the politics of 2015 election which is two years away.

Instead of thinking about the country’s future, our elected politicians are more concerned with the security of their tenures.

Now, let’s put things in proper perspective to see how we could cope with the challenges of a growing population in a fast changing

world. Nigeria is expected to be the world’s fifth most populous nation in the world by the year 2030, with a projected population of 257,815,000 million, up from our current figure of 158,423,000million. This represents an increase of 62.7 percent, if the current trends con-

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disasters, wars, epidemics and other unforeseen interventions.

Nevertheless, we could be sitting on a demographic time-bomb if our economic managers do not plan ahead. It must be realised that the four countries ahead of Nigeria in the projected rankings notably, India, China, USA, and

All the rosy projections on Nigeria’s great power visions will go up in smoke unless the government makes a decisive move to give education it’s deserved priority in programme development

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tinue, according to the United Nation?s Population Fund, UNPF. This would put us behind India (1,523,482,000) which is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation; China (1, 393,076,00 billion), United States( 361,680, million) and Indonesia( 276,659,000million) in that order.

Of course, these figures are subject to change because of natural

Indonesia already have sound economic base, with stable and progressive polity.

We are still grappling with the politics of succession, infrastructural deficit, mass illiteracy, a largely unskilled workforce, corrupt leadership, unstable power supply and other factors of underdevelopment, including unfortunately, terrorism and organised crime. Worse, our leaders have this predilection for world

power illusions, often coming up with ill conceived ideas of great power profiles based on dubious projections of development goals that are always never attained.

We have had major development plans that projected our country to be among the top 20 industrialised nations by 2010, 2020 and now 2030.

But these projections often do not have any realistic blueprints to back them up, or if there is; fidelity with implementation often scuttled the visions.

Only recently, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, admitted that our Vision 20:2020 plan is no longer realizable. Saudi Arabia, a major oil exporter looks more likely to be among the 20 leading industrialized nations by 2020, not Nigeria. According to the United States National Intelligence Council, NIC, based on certain postulates, Nigeria would join China and a few countries that would be the driving force behind shaping the world’s economy by 2030. At about that time, China, currently the world’s second largest economy would have overtaken the USA as the world’s No.1 industrial power.

The NIC added: “In addition to China, India, and Brazil, regional players such as Colombia, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa and Turkey will become espe-

cially important to the global economy. The diffusion of power among countries will have a dramatic impact by 2030. Asia will have surpassed North America and Europe combined in terms global power, based upon GDP, population size, military spending and technological investment.”

All the rosy projections on Nigeria’s great power visions will go up in smoke unless the government makes a decisive move to give education it’s deserved priority in programme development. For instance, according to the 2012 Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report, about 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of The government should increase funding for research, improve the welfare of the academic staff and re-design university curricula. This would enable the products of our institutions of higher learning to square up to the technological challenges facing Nigeria in all areas of development, so that we could stop importing tooth picks, biros and such elementary products from Asia.

*Okotie, a pastor-politician, lives in Lagos.

Okotie@revchrisokotie.com.

Follow at twitter@Revchrisokotie.com.

08078421451(sms only)

Combating fake drugs with technology

BY MARTINS IKHILAE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Tracking counterfeiters of food and pharmarceutical products

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OUNTERFEITING and faking of drugs and food substances have assumed a global industry status, so also are the worries and concerns over the development. Particularly for Nigeria, the challenge has been the impetus needed to frontally and aggressively confront the menace. To the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Nigeria’s health boosting agency, falls that responsibility. The efforts of the Dr. Paul B. Orhii-led agency, especially its deployment of cutting edge technologies to fight and win the anti-counterfeit drugs war, have gained global recognition.

Take Truscan for instance, NAFDAC’s successful deployment of this technology brought it to global conscious-

ness. There are also Black Eye and Radio Frequency Identification system (RFID). I hasten to add the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS), the world’s first anti-counterfeiting contraption which uses the SMS platform. Orhii is enthralled by MAS, especially for its cost effectiveness and immediacy of result. The programme involves the packaging of drugs with a scratch card placed on drug packs from the point of manufacture.

When scratched, the hidden codes revealed on the packs could be sent free of charge via SMS to 38353 on the MTN, Zain and Globalcom networks.

Shortly afterwards, the sender will receive a reply confirming whether the product is genuine or not.

Fantastic you will say! What it means is that NAFDAC may finally have succeeded in placing the responsibility of detecting counterfeit drugs in the hands of Nigeria’s over 114 million mobile phone subscribers. It will thrill you to no end to know that the agency is applauded globally as the world’s first drug regulatory authority to deploy and use hand-held devices at borders for on-the-spot detection of counterfeit medicines with re-

sounding successes!

While MAS may be a first choice because of its mass involvement appeal, Black Eye, Radio Frequency Identification system and TRUSCAN equally have their own attractions. Black Eye has the capacity to screen multiple drug samples at the same time. This is how it goes: It compares a tablet that you are trying to

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break them down and tell you which one is good or bad.

The Radio Frequency Identification system has the ability to track and trace regulated foods and medicines and also prevent the forgery of sensitive documents.

So much is the public confidence in the technology-driven war against counterfeit and fake drugs and food items in

For pharmaceutical companies that are reluctant to key into the strategy because of their perceived cost implications, they might have placed higher premiums on profitability than the lives of their customers which amounts to being unpatriotic

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check and tell you whether it is genuine or fake; and if you ask from the machine, it will break the product down into its active pharmaceutical ingredients; if counterfeited, it could reveal the inactive pharmaceutical ingredients. It is a ready tool in the hands of NAFDAC’s operatives because it can take up to 1000 different tablets at the same time and

Nigeria by NAFDAC that critical stakeholders in the sector are ready to throw in everything and synergise with the agency to win the war. Removing the burden of tariff payment from consumers of the drug is a veritable incentive for its use. And so, key stakeholders in the sector, the drug manufacturers, have come to the aid of consumers by ac-

cepting to fund it although it is currently applicable to malaria drugs and antibiotics, being products most cloned and adulterated by the murderous counterfeiters. The NAFDAC has assured that efforts are also on to extend the service to other general purpose drugs.

MAS guarantees befitting and enduring positive corporate image for pharmaceutical companies and their products, thus ensuring high level product patronage with the attendant high revenue yield for such firms. For pharmaceutical companies that are reluctant to key into the strategy because of their perceived cost implications, they might have placed higher premiums on profitability than the lives of their customers which amount to being unpatriotic.

Let me say unequivocally that Orhii’s ongoing revolution in NAFDAC has succeeded in placing Nigeria in the league of serious countries of the world ready to do anything to protect their people from the merchants of death that drug counterfeiters have become. *Ikhilae is a Lagos-based public affairs analyst. Email: martinsikhilae@ymail.com

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 51

Anambra 2014: Andy Ubah and the others

BY DENNIS SAMI VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The search for Gov Peter Obi’s successor

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HEAD of next year’s governorship poll in Anambra State, there have been analyses on the expectations of Anambrarians, their fears and who must not succeed Governor Peter Obi. The peculiarity of the election makes it of interest to every indigene of the state, nay Nigerians all over.

The fact that Anambra connects all parts of the country courtesy of the River Niger bridge throws it up as the state to watch whenever an exercise like the forthcoming governorship election approaches. And given the strengths, categorization and character of the contestants in the race, the gripping effects of the campaigns that lead to the poll proper are way out of the ordinary.

No, fewer than 18 people have indicated interest to govern the highly commercially vibrant state.

They include Chief Andy Ubah, Comrade Tony Nwoye, Paul Odenigbo, Chukwuma Soludo, Nicholas Ukachukwu and Emmanuel Anosike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

fold. There are also aspirants from other political parties, especially from the ruling party in the state, APGA. Many observers believe the PDP looks set to take the reins of government in the state if only the party can conduct its primaries devoid of rancor and bad blood given even while the senator representing Anambra South and former governor (for 16 days), Uba, stands out among the contenders and highly favoured to pick the PDP ticket.

Born on December 14, 1958 in Enugu to the family of Mr & Mrs Philip Uba whose parentage was from Uga, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, the governorship contender witnessed the Nigerian civil war which ended in 1970, with his parents and siblings.

The young Uba continued his education after the war at Boys High School Awkunanaw, Enugu State where he obtained his senior school certificate (SSCE). He gained admission abroad and was engaged in geological studies at Concordia University, Montreal Canada where he graduated with honors in 1984.

The senator who had further academic studies at the California State University, later proceeded to Buxton University in the United Kingdom where he earned a doctorate degree in bio-sciences in 1996.

He lived and worked most of

his professional life in the United States. Between 1985 and 1992 he worked for the Golden State Mutual Insurance of California. With his team, he established a chain of health clinics in different parts of United States. His duties involved conducting

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paign of PDP in 1998.

Some political analysts believe it was Ubah’s dedication to Nigerians in Diaspora, for example, that earned him the recommendation of the then presidential candidate of PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Subsequently, he was appoint-

Armed with the goal of rendering public service to his people, Uba, as the PDP candidate won the 2007 gubernatorial election in Anambra State but was removed few days later through a court order which faulted INEC for conducting election in the state when Governor Peter Obi’s tenure was still running

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evaluations for the United States government on workers’ compensation claims.

Nigeria; and that accounts for his interest in philanthropic and developments projects he carried out in the country soon after his return.

It was this pursuit to contribute to the socio-economic and political development of the Nigerian people that encouraged him to join in the United States the presidential cam-

ed the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs.

He was then to work with the then president to make good policies and appointments, which impacted positively on many interests groups in Nigeria.

He had cause, sometime ago to debunk the claim by critics on his role in the Obasanjo administration. “I did not disgrace the Igbo race. When we

came in, some people said give this Igbo man just six months, he will do one thing or the other and he will be rem o v e d .

But I trusted in God, and did what I was supposed to do and remained there for eight y e a r s ” .

Calling for unity among Ndigbos, the senator said, “ we need to go back to where we started, we need to start again as one family, that’s the best thing for Ndigbo.”

Mind to serve Armed with the goal of rendering public service to his people, Uba, as the PDP candidate won the 2007 gubernatorial election in Anambra State but was removed few days later through a court order which faulted INEC for conducting election in the state when Governor Peter Obi’s tenure was still running.

But he was not done yet as he went on to indicate his interest to deliver democracy dividends to the people of his state from 2014: “One day, I will show what I want to do for Anambra State. I know that we are starting another race in Anambra; if it is God’s will, I will be there to showcase the plan I have for the people”.

But before then, Uba remains a cheerful philanthropist to the needy and the less privileged, as a well as supporter of noble goals and initiatives.

Innovation as base for national standing

BY UMAR TANI ZX VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The tracks being charted by youths in the education sector

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HEN the first Na tional Education In novation Exhibition took place from November 19 to 21, 2012, nothing prepared the audience for the hope embedded in the products and services of some young Nigerians. More encouraging, too, was the fact that the event highlighted partnering and networking between ministries critical “to the promotion of innovation for national development”. The first National Education Innovation Exhibition was held in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of CommunicationTechnology, Health, Science and Technology, Trade and Investment in Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan himself attested to this when he observed that “in putting this exhibition together, the Federal Ministry of Education has recognized a very key aspect of successful education and innovation, which is collaboration”. This, according to Mr. President, “provides us with the oppor-

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ronment where people are unaware of their activities. Thus the National Education Innovation Exhibition was organized to bring to public attention the innovation taking place in schools. Innovation, acccording to Jonathan, is “an approach towards thinking differently, that must be encouraged and ultimately nur-

With a growing economy, the demand for skilled manpower is rising. The gap between private sector involvement and technical and vocational education training is even more visible

tunity to know what others are doing, as well as share and contribute to our success”.

There is absolutely no way government and its functionaries can operate in an envi-

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tured”.

Further to this is the fact that Nigerians are, generally speaking, unaware of the tracks being charted in the course of the Jonathan administration Transformation Agen-

da by the youth in our educational sector.

The organizers of the exhibition hoped to: Bring to public attention equipment and materials produced by educational institutions; provide awareness on these to relevant government agencies; provide awareness to necessary sections of the organized private sector towards enhancing the quality of the products; and commercialize the products.

The outcome should definitely address the issue of linkages between educational and research institutes within the private sector.

At the same time, commercializing these products should reduce, significantly, import and even enhance export. This way, Nigeria’s balance of payment is increased.

Through this too, issues of job creation and enhancement of the country’s industrial base would be addressed.

With a growing economy,

the demand for skilled manpower is rising. The gap between private sector involvement and technical and vocational education training is even more visible.

Yet, it was a day of galore for event watchers, as over 100 institutions and private investors met to rub minds and polish ideas under the watchful eyes of the Minister of Education, Prof. Rugayyatu Ahmed Rufai.

As managers are wont to say: “information is power ”, and we wait to see how much impact this initiative would have on the next phase of the exhibition.

Its initiator and Minister of Education attested to this when she said, “We have a wide range of innovation that, if properly commercialized, would enhance our national economic standing”.

I can’t wait for the second National Education Innovation Exhibition. I presume, you too can’t. *Tani lives in Wuse, Abuja.

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013 TONIA'S PIC

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S the House of Representatives prepares to embark on oversight evaluation of the controversial 2013 Budget, the lawmakers are once again on a collision course with the Presidency over the implementation of the fiscal document.

Amid reports that the Executive had so far implemented its own version of the 2013 Budget , the House, on Wednesday, dumped the 2013 Budget Amendment Bill that was sent to the National Assembly

by President Goodluck Jonathan in March.

The House rejected the President’s budget amendment proposal after a report on it was presented at the Wednesday plenary session by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Sam Tsokwa, on behalf of the joint Committees on Rules and Business , Judiciary a n d Justice which was mandated to examine and determine the legality of Jonathan’s letter to the National Assembly that accompanied the budget amendment proposal.

Tsokwa, in the report, informed the House that going by the content of the letter, the President was silent on what should be amended in the 2013 Appropriation Act, adding that he should have presented a Supplementary Appropriation Act. Citing reasons why the lawmakers should dumped the budget amendment proposal, the Committee Chair said: “A community reading of section 81 subsections (1) (2) and (4) of the Constitution creates a very strong impression and feeling in the mind that the Constitution does not favour, admit of or even contemplate the amendment of an Appropriation Act save through a Supplementary Appropriation Act.” According to him,: “The document, the Appropriation Act 2013 Amendment Bill, which Mr. President’s communication forwarded to the House, apart from carrying the title, “Appropriation Act 2013 Amendment Bill” and the bill’s long title, has nothing again in it to show that it is a document seeking to amend or repeal and re-enact the 2013 Appropriation Act”.

The lawmaker continued: “The purported Amendment Bill, a five clause Bill, is completely and totally silent on what and which sections of the 2013 Appropriation Act it seeks to amend or repeal. It is also silent on the schedules or what aspects of the schedules to the 2013 Act it seeks to amend and/or repeal.”

He observed that the content of the letter indicated that what the President needs to present to the House was 2013 Supplementary Appropriation Act and not a 2013 Budget Amendment Act which is unconstitutional.

Tsokwa said since Jonathan asked for approval of N4,987,382,196,690 instead of the N4,987,220,425,601 appropriated by the National Assembly, he ought to have sent a 2013 Supplementary Budget to the parliament.

He added, “Clearly, what the Amendment Bill 2013 seeks to appropriate is more than what was appropriated for the 2013 fiscal year in the 2013 Appropriation Act, that is to say, the Executive would appear to be seeking additional funds. ”Obviously, this cannot be achieved through an Amendment Bill. The answer lies in a Supplementary Appropriation under section 81(4) of the Constitution.

At best, the Appropriation Act 2013 Amendment Bill of Mr. President, for want of a better description and or expression, is, in the words of Hon. Dogara a “2013 Appropriation Bill No. 2” - an alien, a stranger or, indeed, an interloper in our constitutional arrangement. “ The Tsokwa’s Joint Committee report on the floor of the House was greeted by applause from his colleagues.

BUDGET 2013

Jonathan, House in fresh showdown

President Goodluck Jonathan Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, announced that the report didn’t need a debate and therefore ruled that it had been adopted by the House.

Tambuwal had, in his opening speech during Tuesday’s resumption of the third legislative year of the House, sent a signal about the planned discarding of the President’s Budget Amendment proposal. Against the unambiguous stand of the Presidency that the 2013 Budget remains an unfinished business, the Speaker said the lawmakers would soon embark on oversight evaluation of the 2013 Appropriation Act. According to him, “...In a matter of days,

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BY OKEY NDIRIBE

Aminu Tambuwal amended.

One of the clauses the President wanted amended was that which denied allocation to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).

In the letter entitled, “Submission of the 2013 Amendment Budget Proposal and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Amendment Budget Proposal”, and addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator David M a r k a n d Tambuwal, Jonathan, expressed dissatisfaction with the provisions of the Budget Act relating to SEC and some other clauses.

The President complained about clause 10

Neither the House nor the Senate deliberated on the President’s proposal for amendment of the 2013 Budget. On several occasions when the proposal had been listed on the order paper of the House for debate, it was skipped for inexplicable reasons

the House will suspend plenary session and embark on oversight of the 2013 Budget implementation.”

He went on: “ I need not remind us of the need to hold tenaciously the representation duty of promoting and protecting the interest of our constituents and the Nigerian people at large. We must respond promptly to their concerns and plight and at all times insist on accountability, probity and good governance.”

There had been differences between the National Assembly and the Presidency over the 2013 Appropriation Act even before Jonathan assented to it in February. It was gathered that after the dispute lingered for weeks, an agreement was reached by both sides that the President should give assent to the bill which was passed by the National Assembly last December and send a supplementary bill to the parliament for the purpose of rectifying aspects of the Budget Act which he considered defective.

Apparently, in line with this agreement, Jonathan, in March, sent a letter to the National Assembly proposing that certain clauses of the 2013 Appropriation Act be

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of the Appropriation Act which stated that “All revenue however described including all fees received, fines, grants, budgetary provisions and all internally and externally generated revenue shall not be spent by SEC for recurrent or capital purposes or for any other matters, nor liabilities thereon incurred except with prior appropriation and Approval by the National Assembly.”

He insisted that the clause ought not to have been inserted in the first place.

According to him: “Considering the fact that the budget of SEC did not form part of the core 2013 Federal Budget as presented to the National Assembly, I believe that this clause ought not to have been inserted in the 2013 Appropriation Act in the first place. Secondly, the import of the clause is tantamount to shutting down the business of the Commission with a potential negative impact on the Capital Market.”

The President also reminded the leadership of both arms of the National Assembly that based on discussions that had already taken place between the Executive and various committees of the national parliament, it had become imperative that certain provisions

including cuts to personnel cost across the public service and provisions for some capital projects be changed through an amendment budget.

Jonathan further pointed out that the 2013 Appropriation Act includes two clauses which may be injurious to the spirit of separation of powers and which could hamper the work of the Executive arm of government. He observed that both clauses ran counter to the established chain of reporting.

Neither the House nor the Senate deliberated on the President’s proposal for amendment of the 2013 Budget. On several occasions when the proposal had been listed on the order paper of the House for debate, it was skipped for inexplicable reasons.

Authoritative sources told Sunday Vanguard that the President’s objection to the N4.98 trillion budget, passed by the federal lawmakers for the 2013 fiscal year, was based on three grounds: The zero allocation to SEC; the raising of the oil benchmark to $79 from the $75 proposed by the Executive; increment of the projected revenue profile of the budget by N63 billion and the inclusion of constituency projects which bloated the budget bill that was submitted by the Presidency.

The lawmakers had, last year, adopted a resolution demanding the sack of the SEC Director-General, Ms Arunma Oteh, on the grounds that she lacked the requisite qualification to head the Commission. The House’s resolution has been ignored by the Presidency.

Some observers believe that the House took this decision as a vendetta against the DG of SEC for alleging that the Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Herman Hembe, had been involved in an act of corruption. Oteh had alleged that Hembe collected money from the Commission for a trip he failed to make.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogated Hembe over the matter and later charged him to court.

Commenting on the clause against SEC in the fiscal document while briefing journalists about two months ago, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Afam Ogene, said the lawmakers stand on the SEC DG would remain unless reviewed by the House.

Ogene also warned that “anybody who violates the 2013 Appropriation Act without a review by the National Assembly would face the wrath of the law at the appropriate time. “ Earlier, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who chairs the Committee, shed light on why the House may not yield to the President’s request to amend the 2013 budget .

Mohammed said the unimplemented aspects of the capital provisions of the 2012 Budget, which were rolled over to 2013, had been abandoned by the Executive. He explained that the House rolled over this aspect of the 2012 Budget because funds for executing some of the affected capital projects in the 2012 budget were released close to the end of last year adding that much of such funds could not be utilised for the purpose for which they were released.

He too had warned that any member of the Executive who failed to implement the 2013 Budget as signed into law would face the wrath of the law.

The National Assembly, on December 20, 2012 , approved the sum of N4,987,220,425,601 as the federal budget for 2013. It comprised of N387,976,000,000 for statutory transfer; N591,764,000,000 for debt service; N2,386,024,770,349 for recurrent (nondebt)expenditure while the balance of N1,621,455,655,252 was for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure.

The figure passed by the two chambers was N63 billion more than the sum of N4.924 trillion original proposal presented to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan last October.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013, PAGE 53

WHEN POLITICIANS CONVERGE

X-raying the impact of the Dubai wedding T

HE recent high society wedding between Tosin Omokore and his heartthrob, Faizah Musa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, may have come and gone, but beneath the social impact it made are political statements that are still generating interest across the political space.

As it was widely reported, the wedding, held some three weeks ago, pulled the high and mighty from the various sections of the country across the seas to Dubai: Serving governors, past governors and top government functionaries, politicians and captains of industry. Dubai became a Mecca of sorts to prominent Nigerians attracted to the event by the stature of the two families, such as the humility and simplicity of the groom’s family.

Now, politicians and some political analysts are beginning to look at it from different perspectives, while others are reading between the lines.

Speaking to one of the key politicians who attended the event was revealing. He said the event was more than a wedding.

“Why not?”, the politician who attended the event with his family asked rhetorically. “2015 is around the corner and no event of such magnitude is wasted. Now, there must be a political mileage in all big events.”

The politician, who spoke to some journalists about the event, said he looked around and marveled at the calibre of people at the event and the ability of the organizers to pull that feat.

“If you have that kind of crowd, you don’t waste it,” he said.

Another invitee to the event, who also spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity, said he was initially confused over the introduction of political dimensions to a purely social gathering.

According to him, in most cases, such issues come up at side meetings of major events, but on putting the various scenes at the wedding together, he could not but agree with people who were discussing in whispers that the organizers of the event were “ working for a boss somewhere.”

“And if it were so, I think they did a good job,” he said.

All over the world, it is the prayer of all parents to live long enough and to have the financial wherewithal to organize the wedding of their children, and to have relations, friends, colleagues and business partners felicitate with them. The Dubai wedding passed as a good example.

But beyond the social issues, some people are asking deep political questions: Was the event a deft political move by some people, who are close to President Goodluck Jonathan but who operate quietly and never heard of?

The calibre of people at the event, what was said and even what wasn’t justify such questions. Governors in attendance included the Akwa Ibom State helmsman, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who came with his wife and Kogi State Gover nor Idris Wada.

Akpabio is the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and a known loyalist of Jonathan.

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Enyinnaya Abaribe....Goodluck Jonathan can be likened to a pilot who took off and suddenly entered into turbulence. With patience and perseverance, he weathered the storm The same can also be said of the Kogi governor, who pitched his tent with the other pro-Jonathan governors in their support for Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Also at the event were former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, another ally of the president, and other Jonathan loyalists.

Among the senators, mostly from the PDP, who graced the occasion were Senate spokesman Enyinnaya Abaribe, Smart Adeyemi, Magereth Okadigbo, Zainab Kure, Boluwaji Kunlere, Anthony Adeniyi, Clever Ikisikpo, Aisha Jummai Alhassan,

,

Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I looked at his accomplishments in politics and his political antecedents and I say that this man should not just be Asiwaju of Lagos but Asiwaju of the entire Kaaro o ojiire (referring to the Yoruba race).

“I want to assure you, Asiwaju, that there is a President in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, who has fought more battles than any other Nigerian leader in the name of terrorism.

“In 2012, the budget for security was N900 billion; that money is enough to dualise all major roads in Nigeria. It is enough to equip our universities.

If that money had entered some

Some analysts are beginning to ask whether the attention on Tinubu at the wedding was not an attempt by the “Jonathan Boys” to bridge the growing gap between the PDP and the political interests of people in the South-West?

Esther Nenadi Usman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Clever Ikisipo and a former member of the upper chamber, Senator Joseph Akaagerger.

In what has become the talk-of-thetown, PDP Senator Smart Adeyemi tried to turn the wedding into a political gathering of sort with his remarks, during which he openly canvassed support for Jonathan and urged the Action Congress of Nigeria (A C N) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to join forces with fellow democrats, having distinguished himself as democrat, instead, pitching his tent with people who are dictatorturned politicians.

Adeyemi, who is the Chairman of Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Ter ritor y (FCT), spoke at length on the issue: “I admire Senator

,

African countries, it would cripple the economy, but it was committed to security because of terrorism.

“Goodluck Jonathan can be likened to a pilot who took off and suddenly entered into turbulence. With patience and perseverance, he weathered the storm. Today, he has reached the cruising level and he is cruising towards 2015. I believe you should be with this president as a democrat and not with a dictator.”

The hall went quiet initially, but soon erupted in huge ovation for the Kogi Senator. It was not clear how Tinubu took the comments because, with the nature of wedding ceremonies, there was no opportunity for him to respond, even if he desired to do so.

Tinubu later left the venue for other engagements. But many people at the

wedding were wondering whether it was another campaign rally for Jonathan and why Adeyemi suddenly began using the wedding to stump for the President. Was it pre-planned or did he just seize the moment - the large assemblage - to canvas support for Jonathan?

Some analysts are beginning to ask whether the attention on Tinubu at the wedding was not an attempt by the “Jonathan Boys” to bridge the growing gap between the PDP and the political interests of people in the South-West?

The analysts, who are also linking the dots, say although the celebrant is a quiet person, his political stature and loyalty to the PDP is not in doubt.

The same can be said of the more visible Adeyemi, who is also close to the celebrant. Then, there was Akpabio, a visible Jonathan loyalist.

Although he was not said to have commented on the issue, a politician at the event said the governor ’s body language was not one of disapproval of Adeyemi.

Adeyemi could not be reached at press time, but a friend of his said he was unwilling to comment on the Dubai homily.

But whatever the motive behind his comments was, the moment was just right. Besides the heavy National Assembly representation, the crème de la crème of Lagos was also represented. Apart from Tinubu, there were Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, a number of red cap chiefs, among others.

From the banking and business sectors came chairmen and managing directors of banks and other companies. There was also a long list of top civil servants including permanent secretaries, ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community and players in the oil and gas industry as well as oil service companies.

With the preparation of political parties for and as memories of the joy of the wedding wane in the minds of many people who attended the wedding, they are not likely to forget the political undertones of the surprise the “Jonathan Boys” sprang up in Dubai.

PAGE 54—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

Jonathan and single tenure debate

,

BY MARCUS OBI

W

HEN President Goodluck Jonathan, in July 2011, mooted the idea of a single tenure for the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors, the move drew negative reactions from some sections of the populace who felt it was preposterous, coming less than three months into his tenure. Some of them even accused the President of planning to elongate his tenure when it was disclosed that his suggestion was for a sevenyear single term. Two years after that controversy, the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, in its wisdom, has proposed the adoption of a six-year single term for the President and Governors.

Though the latest proposition has vindicated Jonathan, it has equally generated a debate, but on a broader level this time, with questions being asked about the merits or otherwise, the timing and effective date as well as the beneficiaries and other implications.

The first issue is the justification for the proposition, whether or not it will serve national interest and general good. The Senate Committee, in its recommendation at page 11 of its report, justifies the proposal as one that will

The onus is on the Senate to prove that the vexacious clause is not targeted at Jonathan or any other person by rejecting and expunging it

,

President Goodluck Jonathan

promote good governance. It says: “Considering the financial expenses often associated with re-election and to ensure that executive heads are freed from distractions to be able to concentrate on public policy issues, a provision for a single term of six years for President and Governors is made in section 135 and 180 respectively.”

This explanation is in tune with the one offered by Jonathan two years ago. He had said then, while receiving the French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe :”My proposal for a seven-year single tenure is anchored on the need for an incumbent President to focus maximum attention on the

execution of his development programmes instead of spending vital energy on reelection issues, though this has been misunderstood to mean that I want additional seven years .”

Insisting that the President meant well for the polity with the single tenure proposition, his spokesman, Reuben Abati, also explained: “President Jonathan is concerned about the acrimony which the issue of re-election, every four years generates, both at the federal and states levels. The nation is still smarting from the unrest, the desperation for power and the overheating of the polity that has attended every general election, the fall out of all this is the unending inter and intra party squabbles which have affected the growth of party democracy in the country and

have further undermined the country ’s developmental aspiration.”

This argument is selfevident and difficult to fault even at other levels of political contest such as national and state assembly positions. It also explains why our politicians jump from one party to the other in a desperate bid to stay in power.

However, some people also argue that the trend should continue, that the nation would learn by experience as democracy matures in the country overtime and it shall be well in the long run. But the problem with this thinking is that it fails to recognize the enormous socio-economic cost the country has suffered in the course of desperate reelection politics.

Perhaps the most contentious issue in the current single tenure debate is the recommendation of the Senate Committee that the incumbent President and Governors would not be beneficiaries of the new system if adopted. With the chairman of the committee, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu insisting that 2015 will be the commencement date if the proposition sails through, there have been, insinuations that the amendement is meant to deny Jonathan and the first time Governors the right to bid for a second term since they were elected under a constitution that allows them

to.

Against this backdrop, the fear expressed by the President’s Political Adviser, Dr Ahmed Gulak, that the contentious clause is targeted at his principal and his consequent suggestion of 2019 as the commencement date is understandable.

However, the issue is bigger than that. Even if Jonathan and the current first time Governors seek and win reelection in 2015, the same general election will also produce some first time governors who will be denied the opportunity of a second term in 2019. Will their tenure be enlongated by two years?

Let us not confuse the situation further. The debate over the commencement date is unnecessary. Whether it takes off in 2015 or 2019, every potential or interested contestant for the offices of President and Governor whether as an incumbent or a new contestant should have equal access. A law is made for its altruistic value and for the general good of all, not to promote or deny an individual or group unjustly.

The onus is on the Senate to prove that the vexacious clause is not targeted at Jonathan or any other person by rejecting and expunging it.

Such an arbitrary censorship is undemocratic and unwarranted. * Obi is resident in Lagos

2015, discipline and party supremacy

BY PRINCE OLIVER OKPALA

A

LMOST on a daily basis, elected and non-elected officers in various states Government Houses, Houses of Assembly, the Senate and the House of Reps and political partners engage in mindless namecalling, sometimes in the name of defence of their paymasters and principals.

This ugly practice and habits ought to be from our national politics.

The use of gutter language by politicians is obscene. It is an ill-wind which does not blow anybody any good and it does not present this country in good light in the international community and the strangers living in our midst. It is improper to use foul language against a political opponent just to score a cheap political point.

This mudslinging cannot be part of a political culture which seeks the respect of all and sundry internally and externally.

There should also be respect by politicians for one another.

More importantly, elders and statesmen in the political turf are not there to be insulted, abused and ridiculed. There is

this culture of respect for elders in Africa. In Nigeria, all the ethnic groups share in this common culture of respect for elders. Younger elements are not supposed to abuse elders and call them names.

Politicians should learn to conduct themselves in an orderly manner in their utterances, and behaviours.

The utterances of some of our leaders against their opponents are, to say the least, unfortunate.

In this wise, mention must be made of recent comments of some governors who have shown absolute carelessness and indecorum in their speeches.

No one is taking away the right of a governor to ventilate his grievances. But, in doing so, it is improper to castigate and malign an elder statesman. A governor, like Caesar ’s wife, must live above board in his conduct and utterances.

Foul languages are capable of heating up the polity and ultimately compromising the security of the nation. It can also truncate our cherished democracy.

Politicians must be disciplined.

There should be internal democracy in all the political parties. And party leaders must apply the big stick where

nerves will be frayed at this time and feathers ruffled, there will be winners just as there will be losers. Discipline in a party will ensure that the tenets of internal democracy are observed and

, Bamanga Tukur necessary to whip recalcitrant members, irrespective of their positions, into line. Anti-party activities and indiscipline contributed greatly to the collapse of previous republics.

These ills must not be allowed to rear their ugly heads again in our body-politics.

A member of a political party must be subjected to the rules, regulations and the constitution of his party. No one can be above his party for the party is supreme. Any deviation from the rules and the party constitution should attract appropriate sanctions. It behoves the chairman of any political party to ensure that there is discipline, order and sanity in his party.

This is the only way to preserve and protect our democracy.

As the 2015 elections draw near, the parties will hold primaries. History teaches that

A member of a political party must be subjected to the rules, regulations and the constitution of his party. No one can be above his party for the party is supreme. Any deviation from the rules and the party constitution should attract appropriate sanctions

,

that the outcome of primaries will not unduly overheat the system. Besides, campaigns will be part of the primaries. Such campaigns must, of course, be issue-based and issue-oriented.

Intemperate language should be out of it as it may jeopardize the

main elections.

Journalists who convey information from the leaders to the public must dwell on facts only. They should not descend into the arena where their visions will be blurred by the dust raised by political combatants.

Those who engage in imagemaking should be careful and eschew war of words, bitterness, rancour and acrimony in the discharge of their duties.

It is only in Nigeria where the image-makers of a political party will take on the President in the media in the name of criticizing the President’s midterm report. A President is the alter ego of the country. He is the elected representative of all Nigerians. Therefore, to insult him is to insult all Nigerians.

The spate of intemperate and unguarded language must give way to fair comment and robust debate on issues affecting the country. Politicians should not give the impression that they are fools who uttered all their minds.

The earlier our leaders learn to show restraint in what they say and publish, the better our present republican democracy can go.

Okpala is a political analyst

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 30, 2013 — PAGE 55

Nigerian kids in diaspora shun Nigerian athletics

BY BEN EFE

U

SA and Great Brit ain have always paraded athletes of Nigerian descent and they are making inroads and winning medals for these countries, while Nigeria suffered at international events. Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s effort to lure some of these athletes seems to be yielding no results.

Usually, it is the athletes who fail to make the US or British teams that come back home to give it a try. But according to the AFN president, Solomon Ogba, world class athletes of Nigerian birth have showed little interest in clothing themselves in Nigerian colours because of the prevailing conditions Nigeria’s sports found itself.

“Why would a world class athlete come to Nigeria when we cannot match his demands. We are searching far and wide for quality athletes to represent Nigeria.

But how do you go about it, when for in-

stance, America is offering the athlete lots of money and here we don’t have money to spend on athletes,” said Ogba.

He added that for Nigerian athletics to catch up with the rest of the world, the sport must have to be funded just like what obtains in ma-

jor athletics countries of the world.

“We haven’t got the kind of funding that will put us at the world level. Things have been dif-

ficult, even as we are talking we don’t know where to turn to get funding for our world championships.”

However, he added

that the sports minister Bolaji Abudulahi has an understanding of the situation and was extending support.

NBBF opens Afrobasket women 2013 camp THE Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF has endorsed the proposal of the women’s national team coaching staff to open a trial camp to select home-based players for the Afrobasket 2013 team. Fifteen players from the Zenith League have been invited to the trials which will take place at the Ind o o r Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos from June 30 to July 6, 2 0 1 3 .

The invited players are:-Nkechi Akashili, Magdalene Ukato, Amaka Nwakamma, Atosu Upe,Grace Okonkwo, Evelyn Akhator, Nkem Akarawe, Nkoyo George,Theresa Samuel, Lillian Okwadi, Nana Sule, Regina Lornumbe, Lina Ubol

Aderemi Adewunmi and Emmanue Odah.

At the end of the exer-

cise, the players to join the foreign-based players in a closed camp in

Abuja in July will be selected.

FIFA Under-20 World Cup:

Nigeria battles Uruguay again

N

•Umar, NBBF President Dong, Funmi Ojelabi and Cioma Udeaja. The shortlisted players are from seven league teams namely, First Deepwater, Dolphins, First Bank, Sunshine Angels, FCT Angels, Plateau Rocks and Nigeria Customs.

Head coach Scott Nnaji will run the camp to be assisted by coaches, Lateef Erinfolami,

IGERIA’s Under-20 team, the Flying Eagles will face a test of their intention to go into the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, when they face Uruguay in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday.

Uruguay beat Uzbekistan on Saturday 4-0 to win second spot in group F and set up a clash with Nigeria, runners-up of group B. Already Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh is feeling the heat as he prepares his team for the South Americans whose senior team, beat the Su-

per Eagles 2-1 at the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Obuh will have to watch out for Nicolas Lopez who emerged as the star of the show in the game against the Uzbekistan team, scoring one and creating another.

Flying Eagles goalkeeper Chukwuneye Okani is optimistic that the team will go far in the tournament.

“We are strong contenders for the trophy,” said Okani.

Former youth international, Kehinde Fatai backed the team to reach

the final.

“The Flying Eagles have done well, they started slowly but they are doing better game after game,” said Ajiboye, who won the 2007 U-17 World Cup in Korea.

“The guys have qualities to do well in the tournament. They must take chances that come their way in subsequent games, this is the knockout stage and no room for missing chances as there won’t be a second chance,” stated the Romania-based striker who also appeared at the 2009 World Cup.

Buster Douglas, Riddick Bowe storm Nigeria He disclosed that the who beat the men.’ Bustler Douglas was the

By JACOB AJOM & UCHE UDEH

B

USTER Douglas the first man to defeat Iron Mike Tyson, when every one thought he was invincible, Riddick Bowe and and James ‘Bone Crusher ’ Smith, all former World Heavyweight champions will be coming to Nigeria July 18. The visit is at the instance of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Council.

This was disclosed yesterday in Lagos by the Executive Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Comrade Ayodele Adewale at a press briefing held at the Amuwo council chambers.

The LGA boss said the visit, code named ‘’Tour of Champions” was aimed at promoting the tourism potentials in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and help “open a new vista of unlimited opportunities for our youths in particular, and our people in general.”

council was partnering with Trans Atlantic Group under the coordination of Honourable Alfred Dixon, a former Mayor of Greenevers, North Carolina in the USA, who is also a tourism consultant.

He said that the former boxing champions will address about five hundred youths at the Tulip Hotel, Amuwo Odofin and also have an exhibition bout against some local boxers at the FHA Field, Festac Town.

“These are the ‘men

first man to knock out’ Iron’Mike Tyson. Riddick Bowe was the first man to beat Evander Holyfield in the first two of the three matches that they fought.

‘Bone crusher ’ Smith was the first college graduate to win a world boxing heavyweight title; and famed to have knocked out a heavyweight champion, Frank Bruno even as a rookie’’ the chairman added, while speaking on the profile of the former champions.

PUNCHY ... Buster Douglas (left) receiving a punch from Evander Holyfield

Flying Eagles player, Ojaga for trial in Denmark

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, ABUJA

B

LESSING Sunday Ojaga is excited to ply his trade in Denmark following the arrangement by his agent Ted Haggard for trials though for a club yet to be disclosed.

The Benue State born player who was part of Bayelsa United team that won the national

league in 2008 and who played for Abia Worriors before he had a fracture in 2012, expressed joy that his form has improved after the injury

that put him out of circulation.

“I thank God that I am back with my game. I went out of track for about eight months. I

had the fracture when I was playing for Abia Warriors in our match against the UNICEM Rovers of Calabar in 2012. Abia Warriors took

care of my hospital bills, although my contract with the club expired at the period I had the injury,” he stated.

Katsina set to host U-17 Boys’ tourney

A

RRANGEMENTS have been concluded by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON, organize a successful 3rd edition of the

annual Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema U-17 boys’ tournament slated for June 30 to July, 2013 in Katsina the Katsina State

capital. According to a statement by the Federation signed by its Secretary General, Patrick Okpavuerhe, participating states are expected to

come along with 20 players who must be 17 years as at July 31, 2013 with body weight of 60kg and maximum height of 1.78m.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 30, 2013

Conf ederations Cup: Confederations

Neymar set to shoot down Spain in Maracana battle B

RAZILIAN star Ney mar has vowed to help fire Brazil to a third straight FIFA Confederations Cu title at the expense of world champions Spain today to show fans they can expect fireworks when he arrives in La Liga with Barcelona.

“We will be playing for our families, our friends, but above all for the Brazilian nation,” Neymar said.

“We are ready for what will be an historic match,” the 21-year-old starlet said as he looked forward to a mouthwatering encounter with the Spanish on Sunday in Rio De Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.

“We shall be defending our country,” added Neymar, who scored in all three group games before helping to create goals for Fred and Paulinho in the semi-final success over Uruguay.

“It will be a great match.

Both teams are out to create history,” added Neymar, noting that while Brazil are gearing up for an even bigger prize next year when they host the 2014 FIFA World Cup

for the first time since 1950, landing Spain’s scalp on Sunday would send out a message that a new Selecao has landed.

Spain who have never won the FIFA Confederations Cup, will go into action on the back of a record 29 matches unbeaten and seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in a major tournament after UEFA EURO 2008 and 2012 triumphs sandwiched between their maiden FIFA World Cup success in 2010.

Brazil meanwhile came into the tournament having let go former coach Mano Manezes for 2002 FIFA World Cup-

winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, despite the latter enduring some difficult spells in club football with Chelsea and Palmeiras.

Since Scolari’s return, Brazil have slowly begun to shape a team based on a blend of youthful exuberance encapsulated by the likes of Neymar himself and the experience of older players such as Fred, whose three goals, following a run of five in six friendlies, have fired up the new machine.

“This will be a real final showcasing great players.

It should be a great game and I just hope I come off happy and a champion with my team,” said Ney-

•Neymar mar, who added he was not afraid of the close attention the Spanish defenders will undoubtedly

free kicks, spray passes around, score goals. I want to help the team.”

Brazil 2013: Keshi got it wrong with home-based players—Gen.Adebiyi

BY EDDIE AKALONU

C

OACH Stephen Keshi should take the blame for Nigeria’s loss to Uruguay and Spain in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, so said Brigadier-

General Gregory Adebiyi, a one-time Nigeria Football Association, NFA vice chairman and chairman of it’s technical committee.

Gen. Adebiyi told Saturday Vanguard sports in an interview in Lagos that be-

cause Keshi’s decision to field home-based players who are inexperienced against the Spaniards clearly was ill-advised and exposed him as one who anticipated Spain’s mission in the competition poorly.

“To me, Spain had a

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

seek to shackle him with.

“I will just go out there and do what I always do to help my team - take

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

grudge against Nigeria going back to the France’98 World Cup when Nigeria defeated them 3-2. So it was no hidden fact that as European and world champions, Spain wanted to avenge and erase such dark spot in their football history especially as Nigeria was in the competition as African champions. It was definitely the best opportunity Spain got and because our team failed to face reality of the time, it worked to their favor,” he opined.

The one time director of the Nigeria Army Health and Physical Education department posited that

“There was no reason for Keshi to have experimented with players in a game against the world champions or even Uruguay. He could have done that conveniently in the first outing with the less fancied Tahiti while reserving his best players for the big games,” he said.

“Let us recall also that Spain’s coach had benched some of his best players in the 1-0 whitewash of Tahiti because he wanted his best players available to achieve a favorable result against Nigeria, avoid a repeat of France’98 fiasco and go home a happy man and he got it,” Gen. Adebiyi said.

TODAY’S CONFED CUP MATCHES Uruguay Brazil

v v

Italy Spain

5 p.m 11 pm

U-20 WORLD CUP RESULTS SOLUTION on page 5

Uzbekistan Croatia

0 2

Uruguay New Zealand

4 1

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