We won't sack Civil servants, says FG

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61764

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

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CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN RETURNS The moral high ground of Gabriel Allon, Israeli spy and assassin •P.19

07059197616

Managing the economy and other issues •P.41

DONU KOGBARA: •P. 17

NIGERIA'S LATEST CARDINAL—Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan blessing the crowd on arrival after his consecration as a cardinal during reception formalities for him at the International Wing, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Flush out civilians from barracks — Ihejirika •P.7

We won't sack civil servants, says FG •Says Govt wants to create more jobs •Sanusi, an economist of political turbulence — Reps •NLC's call for Sanusi's sack hypocritical — CPCINYEMI

BY DEMOLA AK& EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

Councils deserve BABALAKIN: full autonomy — Jonathan •P.6 C M Y K

Court stops EFCC •P.7

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LORIN—FOLLOW ING the heat generated by the call of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi on the Federal Government to sack half of its workforce, the Minister Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

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C M Y K

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C M Y K

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C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

We won't sack civil servants — FG Continues from page 1 of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu, yesterday, assured that no worker would lose his job as the government was even desirous of creating more jobs for Nigerians.

Sanusi in a paper he presented at the 2nd Annual Capital Market Committee Retreat in Warri, Delta State, had stressed the need to prune membership of the National Assembly as well as the number of states and local governments in the country, among others.

The Labour Minister who spoke in Ilorin at the 8th National Labour Relations Summit and Fellowship Award held at the Michael Imodu National Institute for Labour Studies(MINILS), said rather than sack workers, the government has already set up job creation committee that would commence work next week on how to create more jobs in all sectors of the economy to achieve more success on the transformational agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

According to him, “no worker will be sacked.

Nobody should be

afraid, the government is desirous of creating more jobs for Nigerians”.

He noted that,”though job creation is more of private sector activities, but the federal government has created an enabling environment for private sector to thrive.

The government has also made a special effort on agriculture, power, ICT, tourism and recently SURE-P programme of the government in its efforts to provide jobs for Nigerians”.

Sanusi, economist of political turbulence — Reps Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, hit back at Sanusi, describing him as an economist of political turbulence over his call for a 50 per cent cut in the nation’s civil service.

Reacting to the issues raised by the CBN boss at a press briefing, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Victor Ogene described Sanusi as “an economist with a bias for creating political turbulence,” who had also not succeeded in pushing

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase – Martin Luther King Jr. The just shall live by faith, take that first step, it is taking you to a great place!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Keeping up with the Joneses was a full-time job with my family. It was not until many years later when I lived alone that I realized how much easier it was to drag the Joneses down to my level —Quentin Crip

S

TEVE Goodier, shared a story about two women who happened to be seated next to each other on a plane and struck up an earnest conversation about their respective hometowns. “Where I’m from,” one woman snivelled, “we place all our emphasis on breeding.” Her new companion, unimpressed and uninterested in this yardstick for measuring the value of a person, just smiled. “We think that’s a lot of fun, too – but we do find time for other pursuits.”

Some people try to impress. They want to elevate themselves by conspicuous breeding, social standing, education and life-style. They believe that to be “well-bred, well-fed, well-read and well-wed” just may help them find some happiness (and a satisfying bit of deference from others). But no matter what status we find ourselves in life, it is more meaningful when we are compassionate, caring, loving, friendly, and full of beautiful energy to others. Remember the saying, “if you must feel elevated about your status, feel superior to your previous self.”

This empowers us to bring wholesome and loving energy to others and in everything we do.

through, any of his controversial policies.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was also not spared over her ministry’s inability to cashback the balance of N300 billion of the capital allocation in the 2012 budget to government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) one month after promising to do so.

He said he did not know Sanusi to be a political economist, adding that “the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had succinctly replied the CBN Governor over the controversial comments”.

He explained that “it was ironical for him to make such recommendations when there have been astronomical increase in the workforce of the CBN since he assumed office. For me, I will say physician heal thyself,” the lawmaker noted.

He stressed that “checks had revealed that before Sanusi was appointed CBN Governor, its workforce was 5,022 but had risen to 6,015 since he assumed office”, adding that there have been reported cases of acrimony in the bank due to unfair promotion of personnel during his tenure.

He argued that the

CBN had an annual expenditure profile of about N300 billion and that Sanusi had never deemed it fit to subject such to public scrutiny as a mark of accountability.

“What solution has he proffered as an economist? How can he recommend a 50 per cent reduction in the civil service when we are talking of rising unemployment and high level of insecurity? As an economist, I think he should proffer something that would grow the economy instead,” the lawmaker added.

While expressing optimism that the 2013 budget would be passed before the House proceeds on Christmas recess, Ogene disclosed that it was, however, still worried over the releases of capital funds to the MDAs. He said the practice of “anticipatory releases” was not acceptable to the House, as much can still be done before the year ends if the fourth quarter releases were cashbacked early enough.

Facts available were that only about 75 per cent of N1.3 trillion Capital component of the 2012 Appropriation had been accessed by MDAs, just with a month to the end of the year”.

SURVIVOR

LCCI, others react

By PETER EGWUATU, FRANKLIN ALLI, & ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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EACTING to Sanusi’s comment, the Regional Managing Partner for West Africa, Ernst &Young (EY), Mr. Henry Egbiki, said: All I can say is that government can reduce recurrent expenditure through blocking of leakages."

Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf said: “The chamber is not in support of the Sanusi’s call to cut government work force by half, and that will be too drastic an action to take.

The social implication will be profound. But the principle of cutting down on cost of govern-

ance is good. Personnel cost is only one of the many components of this cost. The approach should therefore be holistic.”

In his reaction, Managing Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Gus Wiggle said: “A situation whereby state governments use up about 70 per cent of their state allocation to pay salaries of civil servants, is not

SUNTAI'S CSO—Mr. Tino Dangara, the CSO to Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai as he arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday after treatment abroad, following the recent air crash involving the governor and some of his aides. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. ideal, however, the economy of the country is not strong enough to

withstand the sack of about 50 per cent of the workforce.”

Sanusi: NLC call is hypocritical — CPC

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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AGOS—THE Con gress for Progressive Change (CPC) has dismissed the call for the sack of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as gov-

ernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN by the Nigeria Labour Congress as self-serving.

The party said the labour leadership’s call was only aimed at winning back popular sup-

port after the same leadership betrayed the masses when it unceremoniously surrendered at the peak of the popular revolt against the hike in fuel prices at the beginning of the year.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Councils deserve full autonomy — Jonathan zAs lawyer asks court to stop allocation to unelected councils

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & TONY EDIKE

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NUGU — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared his readiness to fight for full autonomy for the local councils, saying no meaningful development could be achieved in the country if the councils were not vibrant and not allowed

to function.

He spoke on the second day of the 13th annual extra-ordinary general assembly and national conference with the theme “Rediscovering the Nigerian local government system in the emerging constitution” organised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in Enugu.

The President, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said since the councils were the closest tier of government to the people, the rising wave of insecurity in the country would have been reduced if they were functioning well.

He also expressed his opposition to the state/local government joint account, noting that the councils have

a special role to play in his transformation agenda, which they were not doing currently.

He also wondered if the local government councils were getting their share of the subsidy fund.

Lawyer sues Finance Minister, AGF

The President spoke as a lawyer, Raymond Onyegu, dragged the Finance

Minister and the Attorney General of the Federation before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop statutory allocations to councils without elected chairmen.

Speaking at the forum, Onyegu, who lamented that 25 of the 36 states of the federation do not have elected governments while Anambra State has not held council polls since 1998, said a judgement of the Supreme Court holds that statutory allocation is meant for democratically elected local councils and not caretaker or transition committee chairmen

President berates govs

Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi (middle); National Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Hon. Nwabueze Okafor'; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, some Mayors from America; Governor Mu’azu Aliyu of Niger State; Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo (right), cutting the 13th anniversary birthday cake of ALGON, in Enugu, yesterday

Jonathan’s support for the local councils is coming against the background of the continuing efforts by governors through the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, to dislocate the councils from being recognised as federating units like the states.

NGF chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, had earlier this week told a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Youths and

$12.4BN OIL WINDFALL:

Court declines to okay probe into Okigbo’s report zSays plaintiffs lack locus to file suit zUpholds preliminary objections by AGF, CBN

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — AFTER six s u c c e s s i v e adjournments, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, dismissed the suit that sought to expose how the $12.4 billion oil windfall money that accrued to the Federal Government between 1988 and 1994, was spent by former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

The suit was dismissed on the premise that the plaintiffs lacked the requisite locus-standi to institute the action ab-initio, even as Justice Kolawole maintained that the legal action was hinged on “an incorrigible evidence of doubtful integrity.”

The plaintiffs, comprising

six Civil Society Groups led by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, had in the suit they instituted under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, beseeched the court for “an order of mandamus compelling the respondents, individually and/or collectively, to publish detailed statement of account relating to the spending of $12.4 billion oil windfall between 1988 and 1994, and to publish in major national newspapers a copy of the statement of account.”

Those joined as respondents in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. It would be recalled that in 1994, the Federal Government constituted

the Dr Pius Okigbo Panel with a mandate to investigate activities of the CBN and recommend measures for the re-organization of the apex bank.

In the course of its assignment, the Okigbo Panel reportedly uncovered that about $12.4 billion reserved in the ‘Dedicated and Special Accounts’, was depleted to $200 million by June 1994.

Consequent upon the alleged mismanagement of the said $12.4 billion by the then military president, Gen. Babangida, the investigative panel recommended an immediate discontinuance of the said ‘Dedicated and Special Accounts’.

Dissatisfied with the way the case was swept under the carpet by Federal Government, the plaintiffs, aside pleading the court to order the respondents to

prosecute anyone indicted by the report, equally insisted that the missing funds should be recouped and returned to the national treasury.

They also sought an order directing the respondents to provide adequate reparation, which may take the form of restitution, compensation, satisfaction or guarantees of nonrepetition to millions of Nigerians that had been denied their human rights as a result of the respondents’ failure and/or negligence to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of $12.4 billion oil windfall between 1988 and 1994.

Plaintiffs lack locus to file suit

Meanwhile, both the AGF and the CBN, had in their separate preliminary objections, opposed the suit, contending that the Okigbo panel report which

they said vanished before it could be published in a gazette, could not be admitted as evidence before the court since no official white paper was issued on it.

The respondents maintained that they could not find the Okigbo report, and had no duty to render account on the spending of the said accrued revenue.

Plaintiffs set for appeal

Meantime, the plaintiffs who were represented in court, yesterday, by Mr Shola Egbeyinka, said they would immediately proceed to the Appeal Court with a view to exposing how the $12.4 billion oil windfall monies were stolen.

The plaintiffs had argued that it was “the failure of the AGF to carry out his duty in this respect,” that prompted their legal action against the government in the first place.

Social Development that the governors would oppose suggestions to give the councils autonomy from the states and make them part of the federating units.

According to Jonathan, “vibrancy in the local governments means the constitution is functioning.

Tenure of local governments depends on the whims and caprices of the state governors. That should not be so. The tenure of our local governments, whether three or four years, should be clearly defined in the Constitution.

“The President has no right to wake up and say he has dissolved a state government. So why must a state governor dissolve a council? Why are we following the constitution in breach? We must live up to our duty and expectation of upholding and defending the constitution.

“The President is 100 per cent in support of ALGON because the Local Government is the closest tier of government to the people. He is in support of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which says that at every given time the local government must be democratically elected. The situation where some governors dissolve local governments is unconstitutional, illegal and unsustainable.

Joint account “One issue affecting the local governments that the President is concerned about is the state-local government joint account.

It erodes the autonomy of the local governments. The framers of the constitution did not envisage that the account will be run the way it is being run.

"The joint account means that allocation from the Federal Government and internally generated revenue must be put together for sharing but unfortunately, most local governments don’t get up to 20 per cent. How do the local government chairmen function without funds? It is for this reason that President Jonathan is fighting for full autonomy of the local government. So continue to mobilize and sensitise people for the amendment to come through.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—7

Money laundering: Ill-health stalls Babalakin's arraignment ...As court restrains EFCC

BY INNOCENT ANABA, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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AGOS — ON a day Chairman of BiCourtney Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin, was to be arraigned before an Ikeja High Court over alleged economic crime and money laundering, a Federal High Court also in Lagos, has restrained Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from going on with the planned arraignment.

The formal arraignment of Babalakin before the Ikeja High Court over alleged fraudulent transfer of Delta State Government funds, failed following a report that he was ill. The accused was charged with the fraudulent transfer of N4.7 billion.

He was accused of transferring the sum on behalf of former Gov. James Ibori of Delta, who had been convicted of money laundering by a London court.

Babalakin was charged alongside Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Ltd., BiCourtney Ltd. and Renix Nigeria Ltd. EFCC preferred a 27-count charge against him and the others.

While his arraignment was playing out at the state high court, Babalakin, approached a Federal High Court, Lagos, with an ex-parte application, seeking leave to apply for prohibition and certiorari order preventing EFCC from perfecting plans to

arraign him before the Lagos High Court, which was granted by the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris.

Justice Idris held that the leave, according to Order 34 Rule 3 (6) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, should operate as a stay of all actions relating to the arraignment.

The Rule states: “If the relief sought is an order of prohibition or certiorari and the judge directs, the grant shall operate as a stay of the proceedings to which the application relates until the determination of the application or until the judge otherwise orders.”

The court has, meanwhile, adjourned till December 12, to hear the application for interlocutory injunction against EFCC and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke.

At the hearing of the matter at the Lagos High Court, Okoh entered the dock to take his plea but Babalakin was absent.

Babalakin’s counsel told the court that his client was on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, over an undisclosed ailment. He tendered a medical report to that effect.

EFCC counsel argued that the development was a ploy by Babalakin to frustrate his arraignment, contending that the medical report was issued on the same day Babalakin met with EFCC officials in Abuja.

Trial judge, Justice Adeniji Onigbanjo, held that the claim that Babalakin was ill could be verified by the EFCC and adjourned the arraignment till December 12.

Navy promotes 112 officers

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — THE Navy Board has approved the promotion of 112 senior officers to various ranks. According to the Director of Naval I n f o r m a t i o n , Commodore Kabir Aliyu, 19 Commodores were promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, 40 Captains to the rank of Commodore, 33 Commanders to the rank of Captain and 20 Lieutenant Commanders to the rank of

Commander.

The 19 Commodores promoted include P.A. Agba, S.I. Alade, B.A. Egbedina, N.P. Agholor, O.P. Ozojiofor, G.A Anyankpele, L.O.N Iwuoha, H.O Ngonadi, H.H. Babalola, E.G. Ofik, S.E. Ogoigbe, J.K.Z Ango, and A.A. Osinowo.

Others are Commodores R.O. Osondu, A. Johnson, A.L. Akintola as well as Surgeon (Commodores) A.B. Afolayan, T.G.S Epelle and A.H. Yusuf.

The newly promoted

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (left) and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala at the 13th Honorary International Investors’ Council meeting in London, yesterday.

TERROR ATTACKS ON ARMY FORMATIONS

Flush out civilians from Army barracks, Ihejirika orders zThreatens to sanction field commanders if directive not heeded zRehabilitates 435 officers, 6,337 soldiers' accommodation

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — IN the wake of terrorists attacks on army cantonments in parts of the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, has directed that all civilians and non-military personnel residing in all army barracks be flushed out.

His words: “All illegal civilians and those above 18 years should vacate the barracks immediately in view of the security situation in the country. Any Commander that fails to flush out these persons should be ready to face serious sanction.”

The directive of the Army chief came just as he disclosed that since assumption of office, his administration had paid off a massive debt portfolio of over N2 billion which he inherited from UBA and Oceanic Banks. He said he could not lay a finger on what previous administrations of the Army did with the money.

Ihejirika who was speaking at the closing of the annual COAS Conference in Asaba said on terrorism: “Nigerians should expect more comprehensive action by the military and all the security agencies.

Some of the moves the army has initiates include that unit commanders should liaise more, supervise and monitor their personnel more closely than they have done in the past. So 2013 would be decisive.”

On accommodation

He directed that all vehicles used for internal security operations, be painted in army colours immediately to forestall the type of blackmail recently witnessed from Reuters International news agency, noting: “The Nigerian Army is dealing with enemies who have no other business that to plan mayhem, destruction and murder from morning to night.”

He said that within the last two years of his administration, 435 officers' quarters and 6,337 soldiers accommodation had been rehabilitated while by 2013, over 10,000 soldiers and officers' accommodation would be rehabilitated.

Porosity of Army barracks

On the porous nature of Army barracks like that of Jaji, he said: “Yes, several of our barracks are not fenced but in the last two years, we must have fenced four barracks. But we are

talking about may be 80 barracks that are not fenced.”

“Doing that will entail a lot of resources, a lot of support which the current budget may not contain. But again whether barracks is fenced or not, it does not serve as excuse for any commander to allow what happened to happen. But one thing I would say is that the lack of fence compounds the challenge.

“Now, every commander must think of ways of ensuring that what happened in Jaji does not happen. What is important is that you have put in your best in terms of planning, in terms of security measures, in terms of intelligence. Even when barracks are fenced, fences could be climbed, houses could be broken up, and we are not going to fence cities.

“What it means is that fencing of barracks would not be the only solution but it would aid security. A board of inquiry has been set up by the Nigerian Army and another one by the Defence Headquarters.

With these two inquiries with various terms of reference, I believe that a number of revelations will come up which will further help us to ensure that such a thing does not come up.

Intelligence gathering

On the vexed issue of intelligence gathering which many Nigerians believe is missing, the Army chief said: “The Nigerian Army works in collaboration with other services. We work hour by hour, and day to day with the SSS. We also receive support from the Nigerian Intelligence Agency. Apart from that, there are also certain international bodies that also relates with us.

“You are also aware of my visit to the Inspector General of Police. We also agreed on ways of enhancing intelligence collection and then dissemination.

The conference also emphasized the need for national intelligence fusion.

What it means is that all the various measures are going to be fast tracked to ensure that intelligence is further enhanced.

“You should know that it is a running battle because the people you are fighting are people within the country who know what measures you are even taking to checkmate their terrorist activities. That is why I also drew the attention of commanders on the need for them to, on a continuous basis, devise new tactics in dealing with the problem”.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Anenih denies culpability in failed N2.3bn road contract

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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RSTWHILE Minis ter of Works and Housing, Chief Tony Anenih, has distanced himself from impropriety in the failed N2.3 billion Nasarawa-Loko road project being investigated by the House of Representatives.

Anenih, in a letter to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, expressed his disappointment that a member of the House could make negative imputations against him, Anenih, without adequate investigation.

Anenih’s letter was upon news items last Tuesday that Anenih, who was Minister of Works and Housing between 1999 and 2002, had been summoned by the House Committee on Public Accounts to defend himself on the memo he presented to the Federal Executive Council recommending the award of the road contract to Torno Internationale Nigeria Ltd in 2001 despite what the committee alleged was the company ’s lack of technical competence.

Anenih, in the letter to Tambuwal, dated November 29, 2012, said the contract was award-

ed to the Italian firm after technical and financial appraisals that showed the capacity of the company which was at that time already executing similar jobs in other states.

He said: “A Technical Evaluation Committee made up of Senior Engineers in the Highways Department of the Ministry, in summary, found Torno ’s tender of N2,318,643,233.36 to be most desirable and recommended to the Honourable Minister that the contractor be considered for the award of the contract. Thereafter, the Honourable Minister forwarded a Memo to Fed-

eral Executive Council for consideration and approval.

“At its 36th meeting on Wednesday 5th September 2001, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) considered and approved the award of contract No 5092 for the reconstruction of Nasarawa – Loko road with Alushi Loop, to Messrs.

Torno Internationale (Nig) Ltd at the contract sum of N2,318,643,233.36 with a completion period of eighteen (18) months. An award letter dated 14th September 2001 was thereafter written to Torno accordingly."

Fed Character Comm calls for political appointees’ list

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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DO EKITI — The Federal Character Commission, FCC, has asked the Presidency to forward the list of current political appointees to the Commission’s office with a view to rectify the anomalies and lopsidedness in terms of appointments The Federal c o m m i s s i o n e r representing Ekiti State in the Commission, Dr. Dele Afolabi, dropped the hint during the official commissioning of the Commission’s office in Ado Ekiti yesterday.

According to him, the

letter was conveyed to the President through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

He equally revealed that the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has set up a committee to look into allegation of imbalance in terms of employment as raised by some interested groups.

The FCC boss said none of the six states in the zone could complain of marginalisaton because they all have the required 2.7 per cent in the civil service in line with the FCC formulae.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—9

1 Chinese killed in Lagos

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AGOS —Gunmen shot and killed a Chinese businessman at Ogudu area of Lagos on Wednesday night, Nigerian Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide has said.

Two other Chinese women sustained head and leg injuries during the incident.

My son did not kill his wife —Arowolo Snr .Says only 3 wounds were inflicted on deceased banker

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL. OLADEPO

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AGOS — Akolade Arowolo, the man accused of killing his banker wife, Titilayo

Omozoje yesterday opened his defence with his witness, Mudashiru Aroon telling an Ikeja High Court that the deceased only had three wounds on her body.

The disclosure by the

witness before Justice Lateefa Okunnu, contradicted the evidence given by Prof.

John Obafunwa, Chief Pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital who

testified that the deceased had 76 stab wounds on her body on examination.

Akolade was arraigned on one count charge of murder at their home at Isolo on June 24, 2011.

Rtd Capt.

Dada passes on Retired Captain Kehinde Godwin Dada a.k.a. ‘Cappy ’ has passed on at the age of 77. Wake-keep and interment will take place from December 5th-6th, 2012 at his residence while the final ceremony will take place in December 7th, 2012 at Solomon Gbadebo College Field, along Ogere road, IperuRemo, Ogun state. He is survived by wives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

From left: Mr. Foluso Philips, Chairman Nigerian Economic Summit Group NESG; Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, Director General; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President; Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, during a business dinner in honour of the visiting Prime Minister by Nigerian Economic Summit Group, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Fashola arrests policeman riding Okada on restricted road

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

Late rtd Capt. Dada

Alice Alo is dead

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N Itsekiri community leader in Kirikiri area of Lagos, Mrs. Alice Oritshelumewo Alo has passed on. She died in Lagos at the age of 78.

The deceased is survived by many children including a businessman, Mr. Adewale Alo, the proprietress of Bethel Schools in Lagos, Mrs. Comfort Otegbeye and a staff of Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, Mrs Dupe Ashiegbu.

Late Mrs. Alo

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, arrested a police officer who rode his 100 CC commercial motorcycle on the Agege Motor Road, Ikeja in defiance of the traffic law.

It would be recalled that the state governor, on August 2, signed into law the road traffic law which restricted the activities of Okada operators on 475 roads in the metropolis.

The officer, Mr. Ebahan Johnson, a Police Sergeant, who was accosted on the ever busy expressroad by the governor at the Airport Bus-stop, Ikeja, during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in the Lagos-West Senatorial District of the state, was riding a red Bajaj motorcycle.

Johnson, who initially resisted arrest, succumbed when he realised that it was the governor that accosted him.

Speaking on the arrest, Fashola said; “There is no one who would be

above the law. If anyone cannot submit himself to the law of the state, then that person should please, leave the state.”

The governor warned that the state government will not condone any violation of the road traffic law which was signed into law to bring

sanity into road transportation.

According to him: “There is no society where laws are not broken but the state government will increase its enforcement to ensure that residents of the state comply with the law.

“And as we move on the

road if we see anyone violating the law, we will stop and arrest him.”

According to the governor, the officer in question will be handed to the Commissioner of Police, Umar Mankko for proper prosecution.

“I am sure he would be prosecuted,” he said.

The witness who was said to be the father of the defendant, told the court that he was shocked to read in the newspaper that the deceased had 76 stab wounds on her body.

Under cross examination by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, the witness maintained that he only saw three wounds on the left part of her (Titilayo's)chest.

When told that a prosecution witnesses claimed seeing many wounds on the body of the deceased, he insisted that he only saw three wounds on the left part of her chest.

He, however, admitted that he said in one of his statements that he did ask why his son could have killed his daughterin-law.

Under re-examination by his lawyer, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, he said that the statement was a mere response to the question of the IPO who asked how the defendant could have killed his wife.

He had testified earlier that Arowolo had wounds on his palm, a confirmation that he was trying to wrest a knife from his wife. He said that he discovered some 20 wounds on the body of his son.

The witness confessed that the couple had been having quarrels, but that Akolade was never violent.

AREPO: 60 year-old man, 5 others remanded in prison

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — Six men, including a 60 year old, were yesterday arraigned and remanded in prison custody, for alleged murder of three Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, staff.

Those involved are Inerepamu Ijebu Joel, aged 25; John Aye Isaiah, 28; Ineye Okposa, 40; Timi Gunugunu, 22; Saheed Olisa Mudashiru, 25 and Oluwole Posibi Reuben, 60.

The defendants who are facing a seven-count charge of murder, vandalisation of oil pipe line, were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris.

They were said to have committed the alleged crime on September 5, 2012 at Arepo near Ikorodu, area of Lagos.

The police prosecutor, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Friday Ibadin, told the court that the six accused persons and others now at large, conspired amongst themselves to tamper with an NNPC oil pipeline.

He also alleged that the defendants murdered three men: Engr. Agbaku Oau, Ernest Ngene and Ikechuku Ikenem, by shooting them.

According to Ibadin, the offences committed are punishable under section 3 (6), 7 (b) of miscellaneous offences

Act Cap M17 and Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation 2004.

The three NNPC, staff,

were allegedly killed by the defendants, while they were carrying out repairs on the vandalised pipelines at Arepo, near Ikorodu.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Dana crash: 40 families petition Senate

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

A

BOUT 40 families of victims of the illfated Dana Airplane that crashed on June 3, 2012 in Lagos have petitioned the Senate Committee on Aviation on the deliberate refusal of the airline to pay them the statutory $30,000 compensation.

The deliberate refusal, according to the families, is as a result of the wicked machinations of Dana Airline and its representatives.

The families also claimed that the names of two of them, Ahmad Dukawa and Femi Shobowale, were fraudulently listed by Dana Airlines, its local and international insurers, Prestige Assurance Plc and Pritchard Insurance/ Lloyd’s of London as having been paid $30,000 each.

Consequently, the families have petitioned the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation to wade into the matter.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, through their legal practitioners and consultants, M.O Awoniyi & Co, the families said that it is a wilful, deliberate and malicious refusal by Dana and its insurers to pay the statutory compensation to them.

It will be recalled that Section 48(3) of the Civil Aviation Act provides: “In any case of aircraft accident resulting in

death or injury of passengers, the carrier shall make advance payments of at least US $30,000 within 30 days from the date of such accident, to the natural person or such natural persons who are entitled to claim compensation in order to meet the immediate economic needs of such persons and such advance payments shall not constitute recognition of liability and may be offset against any amounts subsequently paid as damages by the carrier.”

According to Bunmi Awoyemi, one of the lawyers representing the families of the victims, all efforts to get the claims t paid thus far have proved abortive.

Awoyemi said: “We have tried severally and in vain, via written and oral communication(s) to get the Airline and its insurer ’s solicitors, to pay our clients their monies.

They have only through, deceitful and deliberate measures prevented our clients from meeting their immediate and economic needs occasioned by the death of their loved ones in the plane crash. The name of two of our clients Ahmad Dukawa and Femi Shobowale were fraudulently listed by Dana Airlines, its local and international insurers, Prestige Assurance Plc and Pritchard Insurance/ Lloyd’s of London as having been paid $30,000 each.”

From left: Mallam Shehu Inua Imman, family friend of late late President Musa Yar’Adua; Col. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (rtd), brother to late President and Alh. Mustapha Musa, another family friend of the Yar'Áduas, during the 1st Memorial Lecture for the late President Yar’Adua, in Abuja yesterday. Photo by GBEMIGA OLAMIKAN.

PDP vs DANIEL:

Daniel is LP member — PDP .No, I m in PDP —Daniel

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA— A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State yesterday accused the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel of being a member of Labour Party in the state while masqurading as a PDP member.

The Bayo Dayo-led exco of the party in a statement issued yesterday by the Chairman, however,

urged the national leadership of the party to be wary of the antics of the former governor.

The party which acussed Daniel of ‘insincerity and a grand plot to weaken the PDP while using its resources and goodwill to float and fund other platforms,’ queried why he did not order his loyalists to return to PDP from the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN. According to the party, Daniel had disclosed his membership of Labour

Party and his romance with Accord Party at a meeting held on Monday, November 26, 2012 at the Lekki, Lagos home of Chief Sule Onabiyi.

“OGD said he and the former Minister of Solid Minerals, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola have alternative platforms in Labour Party (LP) and Accord Party (AP).

“In fact, he said they control the Exco in Accord Party (AP) in Ogun State, ostensibly in preparations for

Why Osun removed Oyinlola as chairman of cultural centre

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—Osun State government yesterday explained why it removed immediate past governor of the

state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the life chairman of the state owned Centre for Black Culture and I n t e r n a t i o n a l Understanding and replaced him with the

New exco for Ogbomoso Grams Old Students

T

HE national body of Ogbomoso Grammar School, Old Students Association recently held its 2012 Annual General Meeting at the school premises in Ogbomoso.

Top on the agenda was the election of new executive to run the association’s affairs for the next two years.

Among those elected were: Alhaji ‘Bayo Adewolu as National Presi-

dent; Mr. Lola Oladepo as 1st National Vice President; Prince A.G. Adeyemi, 2nd National Vice President; Alhaji H. Adedokun, National Secretary; Mr. S.O. Olabode, Asstant National Secretary; Mr. E. A. Ayoola, Treasurer; ‘Niyi Odedele, Financial Secretary; Olaoye Oyawale, Publicity Secretary; Prince J.O. Abioye, Auditor and Mr. Ben. O. Fatogun, Legal Adviser.

renowned Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

The centre located in Osogbo was established by the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration who was sacked from office by the court of appeal sitting in Ibadan on November 26,2010.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Osogbo yesterday at the ministerial press conference, the state Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Alhaji Ajibola Bashiru stated that the former governor flouted every known norm by naming himself as the chairman of the board while still in office.

His words: “The former

governor, Prince Oyinlola did not follow the path of honour, did not follow the path of integrity and did not follow the path of moral, transparency and probity by appointing himself while still in office as the chairman of the board of the centre which was established wholly with

the funds of the state government.

“And that is the reason why this administration upon coming into the office looked at all the issues about board members and found a lot of errors which were corrected by the bill from the state House of Assembly.

TFCC celebrates

T

r uth Foundation Christian Centre, Omole Phase 2, Lagos has commenced its annual Victory Celebration.

The event with the theme: 'Reigning in Life' kicked off on Tuesday and will run through to Sunday, December 2, 2012, with Ordination

Service on Saturday, December 1, 2012.

According to the host pastor, Rev. Julius Sajuyigbe, other anointed men of God to minister include: Bishop David Richey from the USA; Rev. David Aboderin, Pastor Kunle Ajayi and Prophet Yemi Adekunle.

Ishola’s governorship ambition in 2015.

“Those present at the meeting included Senator Jubril MartinsKuye (JMK), Prince Buruji Kashamu, Chief Ayo Otegbola, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Hon. Dave Salako and the host – Chief Onabiyi,” the statement read in part.

But, in a swift reaction, Daniel through his media Assistant, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo described the allegation as “unfounded insinuations and political cheap shots by people playing political games.

“Otunba Gbenga Daniel remains the father figure of PDP in Ogun State and he remains an active member of the party which he nurtured into prominence in Ogun State.

“He built the PDP into a formidable political party in Ogun State and that is a fact of history.

And when some persons tried to play politics of exclusion their game plan failed woefully and the fortune of the party nose-dived.

“Attempts to exclude him failed in the past and will continue to fail. He is involved in the peace building process currently going on and will continue to be involved in on-going moves to rescue the party from where people who initiated politics of exclusion led the party to.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—11

Uduaghan assures on human capital devt N29.95 million, said the

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, said the state government would continue to deploy its financial resources towards human capital development.

Uduaghan, who presented cheques to 403 children of deceased civil servants and 101 physically challenged students of the state origin totaling

TOMPOLO FOUNDATION: From Left; High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, Mr. Ezenwo Wike, Minister of State for Education and HRM, Pere Godwin K. Bebenimibo, Ogeh Gbaran III, Aketekpe of Gbaramatu Kingdom, during the launch of Tompolo Foundation at Effurun, Delta State, yesterday.

Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Vanguard’s ex-Circulation Officer jailed two years for fraud

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—AN Asaba Chief Magistrate court, Delta State, yesterday, sentenced a former Circulation Officer with Vanguard Media Limited, Oluwole Kehinde, 43, to two and a half years imprisonment for converting proceeds from sales amounting to N5.08 million to personal use.

Trial magistrate, Mr. Sylvester Ehikwe, handing down the sentence, lamented that the former staff of the company, “who was entrusted with a sacred responsibility betrayed the management.

It is less evil to steal in the sight of God than to betray. Those who bite the finger that feed them cannot ask for mercy because by their conduct the innocent suffers.”

Counsel to the convict, had pleaded for leniency, saying the accused was remorseful.

One-count charge

Kehinde was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing N5,085, 281 property of Vanguard Media Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (a) of the Criminal Code.

Prosecution called two witnesses and tendered four exhibits while the accused gave evidence in his defence but called no witness.

First prosecution witness, Mr. Amorighoye

Miller, Head of Security, Vanguard Media Limited, testified that between January and February, 2011, there was a shortfall and when the account was cross checked, it was discovered that the accused failed to remit the sum of N5,085,281.00 into the accounts of Vanguard.

Shortfall

He added: “In view of the huge shortfall, the accused was invited to Lagos office and after a careful scrutiny, the accused admitted the crime and entered an undertaking on how he intended to pay back.”

Magistrate Ehikwe in his judgment, said, “the case of the prosecution is that at all time material to this case, there was a shortfall in Asaba account

of the company and through exhibit “C,” it was discovered that the huge sum of N5,085,281 was either stolen or could not be accounted for.”

The court noted that it was alarming that out of the money, the accused only paid a paltry sum of N30,000, which he described as a far cry.

Conviction

“Clearly, the missing money, pointed to one person, the accused, who had the sole responsibility to remit this into the account of the company in the normal and usual course of his duty.

“It is clear that the prosecution had proved the charge beyond all reasonable doubt, the consequence of which is that the accused is convicted.”

After the convict’s counsel pleaded his allocutus, the court sentenced him thus: “The accused is to serve a jail term of two years and six months.”

In his defence, the accused denied the charge.

He told the court that he was in Enugu Vanguard office between 2004 and 2010 and by the year 2010, he was doing his final year Higher National Diploma at IMT Enugu. He stated that when he resumed at the Asaba office in December 2010, he engaged a lady as a Sales Clerk to oversee his job in Asaba.

He stated that the transaction was on a daily basis and he was travelling from Enugu to Asaba and that when the discovery was made, he, (accused) reported the lady he personally recruited to police ‘A’ Division Asaba.

Rivers Varsity ASUU vows to continue strike

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT—LECTURERS of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have vowed to continue the strike they started three months ago, challenging the appointment of Prof.

Barineme Fakae as Vice Chancellor of the univer-

sity.

Chairman of the institution’s branch of the union, Dr Felix Igwe, told Vanguard on phone, yesterday, that they would not discontinue the industrial action because of the recent threat by the governor to apply the “no work no pay policy.”

He said the striking lecturers had not been paid their salaries since August when they commenced the strike, add-

ing that the “no work no pay policy” had never resolved industrial dispute anywhere.

He said it was also not true that the striking lecturers wanted to dictate to the Visitor of the university and governor of the state, who to appoint Vice Chancellor, noting that the governor violated the process of appointment of a Vice Chancellor for the institution when he allegedly ignored what he termed laid down rules.

state government had disbursed over N71 million to this category of students since the inception of his administration in 2007.

The governor, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha, urged beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme, to take advantage of the opportunity given to them by government to achieve their set goals in life.

Delta Internal Revenue Board trains staff on AutoReg Solution

BY JACOB AJOM

I

N a bid to boost its internally generated revenue, IGR, and reduce the porosity with which vehicle licenses being registered in the country, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, has carried out training of it’s staff on Automated Registration (AutoReg) Solution.

Chairman of DBIR, Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who spoke at the event,

expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his support for the Board and the leverage given to it for the training programme.

Joel-Onowakpo represented by the member representing Delta South Senatoral District on the Board, Mr Austin Oboroegbeyi, said the AutoReg training section would allow the board to re-engineer its system for effective revenue collection.

Oyerinde: Magistrate Court discharges Ugolor

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—A MAGIS TRATE Court sitting in Evbuoriaria, Benin City, Edo State, has acquitted the Exectuive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor and one Wilfred Iserhienrhien, of complicity in the murder of the Principal Private Secretary to Gov-

ernor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Olaitan Oyerinde.

It will be recalled that the duo were arrested in July by the Police following allegation that one of the suspected killers of Oyerinde mentioned him (Ugolor) as their sponsor.

Ugolor and nine others were charged before the court for alleged conspiracy, armed robbery and the murder of Oyerinde at his Ugbor residence on May 4, 2012.

Delta firm boosts 19 Battalion, Nigerian Army

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE—THE 19 Battalion, Nigeria Army Headquarters, Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, has received a donation of an ultra-modern check-point house at its Okirighwre Army check point on SapeleWarri Road, Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of the state.

The Okirighwre Army check point is one of the strategic check points in the state, through which the force had checked ac-

tivities of criminals in the state.

The ultra-modern check point house was donated by Eternit Limited, a Sapele-based roofing materials firm.

At the commissioning, Managering Director of the company, Mr. Dirk Modderman, a Dutch, said the check point house was built and donated by his company as part of its social responsibility and following the enormous co-operation that the Sapele community has shown the company since it began operations in the area.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Economic growth down to 6.4% in first half of 2012 •As FG, States share N2.6 tr •FG overspends by N281 bn

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

IBAKA SEA PORT PROJECT PRESENTATION: From left: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; representative of Minister of Transport/Chairman Ibaka Deep Sea Port Steering Committee, Dr. Iorwuese Viashima and Dr. Aisha Adimugu, MD/CEO, Felak Concepts Limited, during the presentation of Ibaka Sea Port project.

Insecurity: Edo Ag CP, DPOs brainstorm ....As banks in Ekpoma shut out customers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—WORRIED by the security situation in the state, Acting Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Hurdi Muhammad, yesterday, held security meeting with Divisional Police Officers in the state with a view to finding solution to the security challenges in the state.

Now fewer than 17 persons, including a mobile police officer had been killed in Auchi and Benin City in the past three days. Seven persons, including three soldiers were killed, Monday, when armed bandits numbering over 50 attacked four banks in Auchi. A popular estate valuer in the state, Chief Dan Odiete, was abducted by suspected kidnap-

pers Wednesday night on Akpakpava Road in Benin.

Meanwhile, banks in Ekpoma, the closest town to Auchi, refused to open to customers due to fear that they might also be attacked by armed bandits. The situation has thrown people in Auchi and Ekpoma into hardship because they

are now forced to travel to Benin City, to access their banks.

Banks in Auchi and Ekpoma have recently been targets of attack by hoodlums, who always find safe routes to escape after their raids.

Vanguard learnt that staff of a first generation bank in Auchi had been redeployed to their offic-

es in Benin City, following the decision by the Bankers Forum in Auchi to close shop until security was guaranteed.

The meeting between the Edo Acting CP was behind closed door but Vanguard learnt that the CP charged the DPOs to be alive to their responsibilities, particularly in this festive period.

Edo guber election Tribunal: Oshiomhole queries Airhiavbere’s eligibility

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—GOVER NOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, through his counsel, challenged Gen. Charles Aihiavbere’s eligibility, as he (Aihiavbere) mounted the witness box,

at the hearing of the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

Oshiomhole told the tribunal that Aihiavbere was detained for three months while in the Army for questionable conduct. But Airhiavbere insisted that he served the Army meritoriously for 37 years before retirement. He admitted that he did not win his polling

unit or local government area at the election.

Airhiavbere, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the July 14, 2012 governorship election, had dragged Oshiomhole to the tribunal, alleging that Oshiomhole did not possess the requisite academic qualifications to contest the said election and that the election was fraught with irregularities.

Tompolo launches foundation for less privileged Giwa-Osagie

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—FORMER militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, yesterday, in Effurun, Delta State, launched his foundation to facilitate access to basic education and healthcare for the less privileged in the Niger Delta.

Executive Secretary of the foundation, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, at the event, said the organisation was borne out of Tompolo’s desire to touch the lives of the less privileged in the areas of education and health, adding: “Tompolo has been in

the business of philanthropy since he was born.”

Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, represented by the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mr Nyesom Wike

and Commissioner for Special Duties, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Timi Tonye, respectively, commended Tompolo for giving back to the society.

GCU Old Boys hold luncheon

T

HE Old Boys’ Asso ciation of Government College Ughelli, GCUOBA, Lagos branch, is to hold its annual luncheon on December 2, at the banquet hall, Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

A statement by the Asso-

ciation's committee secretary, Mr. Akeju Akintomiwa, said the event to be attended by prominent Old Boys and other eminent Nigerians will also provide an opportunity to raise fund for other laudable projects in the school.

for burial

B

URIAL activities for Mrs. Victoria Enoyoze Giwa-Osagie, who died at the age of 72, have commenced.

A statement by Mr. Tunde Agbabiaka for the family said a service of songs will hold today at Akenzua Street in Benin City. Social wake-keep takes place on tomorrow.

Late Madam Giwa-Osagie

HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, said economic growth slowed down to 6.4 per cent in the first half of the year due to decline in crude oil production caused by vandalism of oil pipelines and crude oil theft. From an average of 2.14 million barrels per day (mbd) in the first half of 2011, crude oil production fell to 2.09 mbd in the first half of 2012. Hence total crude oil production including condensates fell to 382.47 million barrels during the period from 389.48.

Meanwhile the three tiers of government shared N2.6 trillion in the first half of the year, but the federal government overspent by N281 billion.

In its economic report for the first half of the year released yesterday, the CBN stated: “Provisional data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 1990 constant basic prices grew by 6.4 per cent in the first half of 2012, compared with 7.4 per cent recorded in the first half of 2011. The growth was driven by the non-oil sector, which rose by 7.8 per cent. The oil sector fell by 1.3 per cent.

The growth in the non-oil GDP was largely driven by improved activities in agriculture and services with respective growth rates of 4.1and 13.8 per cent. Wholesale and retail trade, and building and construction and industry grew by 8.4, 12.9 and 0.1 per cent, respectively.

Services were the dominant sector in terms of contribution, with a relative contribution of 2.8 per cent to the GDP growth. It was followed by, wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, building and construction, with relative contributions of 1.7, 1.6, and 0.3 per cent, respectively. The low performance of the oil sector was largely as a result of the fall in crude oil production.

“Nigeria’s estimated total crude oil production; including condensates averaged 2.09 mbd or 382.47 million barrels in the first half of 2012, representing a decline of 2.34 per cent below the average of 2.14 mbd or

389.48 million barrels recorded in the first half of 2011. The development was attributed to the increased vandalism of oil pipelines and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Aggregate crude oil export for the period under review was estimated at 1.64 mbd or 300.12 million barrels compared with 1.69 mbd or 307.58 million barrels recorded in the corresponding half of 2011.”

FG overspends by N281bn: “At N1,741.98 billion, the Federal Government”s retained revenue was lower than the proportionate budget estimate by 12.4 per cent, but higher than the level in the corresponding period of 2011 by 33.2 per cent. The shortfall in the retained revenue relative to the proportionate budget estimate was largely attributed to the drop in the actual amount shared from both the Federation Account and SURE-P. Analysis of the retained revenue revealed that the share from the Federation Account was N1,235.92 billion or 70.9 per cent, VAT Pool Account N50.80 billion or 2.9 per cent, Federal Government Independent Revenue N154.17 billion or 8.9 per cent, share of excess crude account (including budget augmentation as well as SURE-P) amounted toN278.71 billion or 16.0 per cent, while “others” accounted for N22.38 billion or 1.3 per cent. The fiscal operations of the Federal Government in the first half of 2012 resulted in an overall notional deficit of N281.82 billion or 1.5 per cent of GDP as against the proportionate budget deficits of N568.10 billion or 3.0 per cent of GDP and the deficit of N650.23 billion or 3.7 per cent of GDP recorded in the corresponding period of 2011. The deficit was financed from domestic sources, mainly, the FGN Bonds.”

N5.57 trillion revenues collected “ Provisional data indicated that total federally-collected revenue (gross) stood at N5, 577.22 billion in the first half of 2012. At this level, it was higher than both the proportionate budget estimate and the actual revenue in the corresponding period of 2011 by 15.1 and 17.2 per cent, respectively.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 —13

Orji woos Abuja Abians

BY WILLIAM JIMOH BUJA—GOVER NOR Theodore Orji of Abia State is to meet with indigenes of the state resident in Abuja tomorrow as part of efforts of his administration to draw the people closer to ongoing developments in the state.

Mr. Jenson Okereke, Senior Special Assistant on Public Relations and Strategy, who said this in an interview said the town-hall styled meeting was part of the governor’s inclusive approach to governance.

He said: “The governor

A

LECTURE: From left: Director-General, French Language Village, Professor Samuel Aje; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, and Director of Kings College, Otunba Dele Olapeju, at the 20th annisversary public lecture of the Nigeria French Language Village in Lagos, yesterday.

Traders shut down Nnewi market over kidnap menace

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—TRADERS at the popular Nkwo Nnewi market noted for the sale of motorcycle and parts yesterday

A

closed own the market to protest the menace of kidnapping in the area.

The closure of the market was the final activity marking three days of

fasting by the over 15, 000 traders during which they sought God’s intervention over incessant kidnappings in the industrial city.

The prayer was also aimed at making authori-

ties to have a change of heart over the rumoured plan to ban Okada business in Anambra.

Chairman of New Auto Spare Parts Association, NASPA, Mr. Christopher Oboh, who addressed the traders said the recent kidnap of their chairman, Mr. Dozie Akudolu, who had been in captivity for over one month, was giving them serious concern, adding that there were other victims yet to be released by the kidnappers.

According to him, the activities of the hoodlums had instilled fears in the minds of big time businessmen in the market, most of whom, he said. had gone into hiding.

He explained that the issue was having negative effect on their businesses, adding that their customers from far and near had become afraid to come to do business in Nnewi.

Criticisms critical to planning —Obi

L

ONDON—GOVER NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has said that constructive criticisms were central to planning in the lives of individuals as well as that of nations desirous of growth and development. He said this yesterday in London during the 13th meeting of the Honorary International Investors’ Council of Nigeria, which he attended as part of the Federal Government's delegation, led by the Vice President, Nnamadi Sambo, He argued that through the criticisms and offering of advice by the group, made up of renowned economists and captains of industries, Nigeria, had made quantum leap in de-

L

AGOS—THE Execu tive Director of a nongovernmental organisation, These abilities Ltd, Mr Adeboye Abioye, said, yesterday, that the needs of people with disabilities in Nigeria were not being considered, especially with regards to construction of high rise buildings.

He stated this at a press conference organised to sensitise the public on the forthcoming 2012 United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

velopment through the responsiveness of the Federal Government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan.

On the specific benefit Anambra State has derived from the Council, Governor Obi said that it was not just about Anambra but the entire country.

Obi said: “Beyond the country, however, I have made it a matter of necessity to read documents and resolutions from the Council, which have remained invaluable to Anambra State in her efforts to expand her industrial base. As I speak to you, we have done quite enough. Industries are coming up again in quick succession."

Counterfeit anti-malaria medicines on decline in Africa

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE BUENOS AIRES—THE spate of counterfeit antimalaria medicines in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa in general, has declined from 64.9 percent in 2008 to 20 percent in 2012, according to a new study of the” Qual-

Building: NGO makes case for physically challenged persons

BY ONOZURE DANIA

does not believe in sitting at the high pedestal there, but to come down and communicate to his people in a family meeting. He told me specifically that he would love to interact with his people and that is going to give him joy. In fact, he is fervently expecting that day to come.

“For the administration of Governor Orji, the people are the power you have as a leader and by this event, we intend to draw our people in Abuja and its environs even closer to governance.”

Abioye, himself a physically challenged person, said there were so many barriers limiting the standard of living of disabled people in Nigerian urban communities.

He noted that across the world, people with disabilities had poorer health, lower education and less economic participation.

He stressed that part of the challenges people with disabilities faced was partly the problem of accessing services many able bodied people take for granted.

ity of Anti-Malaria Medicines.

Director – General of the World Health Organization, WHO, Dr. Margret Chan, who acknowledged the progress in a pronouncement, attributed the development to efforts by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the indigenous pharmaceutical companies currently striving to bring the quality of their medicines to international standard through WHO pre-qualification.

Chan, who spoke at the first meeting of the New Member State Mechanism on Spurious Substandard, Falsely Labeled, Falsified and Counterfeit Medical products, SSFFC, held in Buones Aires, Argentina, said a similar study undertaken by WHO in Asia showed about 38 per cent failure rate of anti-malaria medicines within that region.

14—Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

DR. MAY NZERIBE'S BURIAL SERVICE AT VICTOTRIA COURT IN LAGOS, YESTERDAY. PIX: BIODUN OGUNLEYE.

From left: Auril, Nkechi and Emeka Nzeribe, all children of From right: Lanre Nzeribe, Ejine Nzeribe, Maggie Ibru, Nicholas Ebigwei and Yinka late Dr May Nzeribe at the service.

Jacob, at burial service for late Dr May Meyenim Nzeribe, at the Victoria Court Cemetary at Abijo, Lekki-Epe Expressawy, Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Mr Dele Adetiba, Mr Mac Ovbiagele and Mr Rufai Ladipo.

From left: Mrs Bridget Otobo, Mrs Janet Ohiwerei and Mrs. Abosede Osho.

High rate of poverty among students worries V-C

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

N

SUKKA—VICECHANCELLOR of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Barth Okolo, has expressed shock over the increasing number of students serving as masons at different building sites at Nsukka to pay school fees.

Okolo, who spoke through Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Isaac Asuzu, while receiving in his office Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi, initiator of scholarship award at the Institute of African Studies of the university, lamented the difficult times students were going through to sustain themselves in institutions of higher learning across the country.

He noted that it was surprising to see students from poor background engaging in petty jobs to eke a living.

He said: ‘’There are many indigent students in this university. You may not know that I saw one student the other day he came to my office. He had an academic problem and I asked him what was the matter?

His shirt was soiled and his

body dusty. I asked who soiled his shirt and he said, sir, I have been helping to carry cement at the construction site; that he helps

to carry cement just to get money to eat. I broke down and felt bad.’’

Prof. Okolo expressed the university’s appreciation to

Chief Onyishi, owner of Peace Mass Transits, for granting scholarships to over 100 students of the universityinthepursuitacademicwork.

ORJI KALU: Freedom of association has He said: “It is wrong to limit —Abia PDP chair say Abia PDP is catching

BY ANAYO OKOLI MUAHIA—CHAIR MAN of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Chief Emma Nwaka, said yesterday that freedom of association has a limit, noting that members of any given group reserved the right to make a choice of who to admit into its fold.

Nwaka, who was reacting to a question on why the party was catching cold over

U

the planned return to the party by the former governor of the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, said the party was not in any way afraid of the former governor.

“We don’t want somebody who will come and destabilize our party,” the party chief said.

According to him, even the PDP constitution mandates the ward executives to reject any interested party.

cold because of any person.

Any person who wants to the party should follow the proper channel, which is the ward. Let him go to his ward and join.

“Freedom of association does not mean that can accept person. Even the Party constitution gives the ward executives power to reject somebody but the reason for the rejection must be given.

It is for us to determine who to admit.

Foundation holds competition for physically challenged persons munication.

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

BUJA—IN line with its goal of making education accessible to the less privileged in the society, the Kings Benefits Foundation, KBF will tomorrow hold a spelling competition for the less privileged children in

the country.

The competition which is in its 12th edition will hold at Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.

According to the organizers, the programme is aimed at empowering destitute, orphans and less privileged children in the society with the knowledge of spelling words and com-

Announcing this in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Foundation, Mrs. Joy Ogiemwonyi, said: ‘‘we want to let them know that knowledge is their right and that beyond going to school, they can become whatever they dream off by having the right mind set.’’

From left: Mabel Ibru, Ayo Iroche and Alero Edu.

See tribute on page 49

‘How Uwazuruike beat SSS, escape arrest’

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA—LEADER of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Raph Uwazuruike, last weekend beat the men of the state security services, SSS, attached to late Dim Emeka Ojukwu’s residence and escaped arrest over alleged lawless activities during the traditional removal of mourning cloth by Ojukwu family at Umudim, Nnewi.

The first son of the late Ezeigbogburugburu, Chief Emeka Ojukwu jnr, who spoke to reporters, yesterday, on the incident, said the attempt by the SSS to arrest Uwazuruike was because of the unruly behaviour he and his personal security, in their hundreds, exhibited at the family home early morning of the day before the church service.

He said Uwazuruike, who was invited to the occasion by Ojukwu’s wife, Ambassador Bianca

Ojukwu, had neglected the advice of the security men at the gate that he should go into the compound with a few of his men but defied the advice.

Passage

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ADAM MARY Okeke Enekamma, 87, of Enugwu Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, is dead. She will be buried Thursday, November 29, after a funeral mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Enugwu Ukwu.

She is survived by many children, including Chief Eugene Obiora Okeke, Ibubo I of Enugwu Ukwu and Umunri.

Late Mary Enekamma

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012— 15

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16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 — 17

Female bishops

Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England at the General Synod of the Church of England

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AST week, I criticised Anglican traditionalists who have prevented women from becoming Bishops. I expressed the opinion that female and male priests should have equal status and identical promotion prospects in this day and age.

Some Vanguard readers

Her Majesty Queen of England, Head of the Church of England objected to my stance; and since it is a free world, they are certainly entitled to disagree with me. But I must say that sending me long religious tracts that attempt to

justify sexism is a complete and utter waste of their time.

And mine.

Why? Because I switch off mentally whenever I receive this kind of reading material

from so-called champions of Divine Truth. Because the theological arguments for rejecting female bishops have nothing to do with the recorded words of Jesus Christ. Because I will never buy into a world view that regards gender discrimination as spiritually sound.

Female priests have made huge contributions to the Anglican church since they were first ordained 20 years ago. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth (who was a lady the last time I checked!) is this very same church’s Supreme Governor.

So what is the “No” brigade’s problem? Why are they so illogical and so

doggedly determined to cling to the past? How can it be that female bishops are banned at a time when there is a female monarch and female Supreme Governor?

It’s all very weird and warped, if you ask me.

By the way, I’m a Catholic myself; and I should be even more critical of my own church…which, unlike the relatively progressive Anglicans, has flatly refused to ordain women as ordinary priests. We who look to Rome for leadership haven’t even made it to first base in the war against misogyny and I would love to think that the Vatican will one day budge on this issue. But I doubt that it will.

Are women smarter than men?

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London pulls in Nigerian shoppers

Spend, spend, spend!

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I

T has been reported in the British press that 150,000 Nigerians visit the UK every year and are blowing so much cash in UK shops that they spend four times what the average Brit spends and are now ranked as the fourth biggest foreign spenders.

They are surpassed only by the Chinese, the Russians and the Arabs.

There is a plus and minus to almost every facet of life; and the cheering aspect of this story is the fact that Nigerians are showing white folks that not every African is a pathetic pauper who needs to be rescued by their donor

The cheering aspect of this story is the fact that Nigerians are showing white folks that not every African is a pathetic pauper who needs to be rescued by their donor agencies

,

agencies!

However, a large chunk of

the funds that are being spent do not actually belong to the spenders in question because they have been looted from various government sources.

And it depresses the hell out of me when I watch people who should be behind bars swanning around, merrily brandishing ill-gotten European designer goods and spectacularly failing to invest in our own economy!

Most of these unrepentant shopaholics claim to be regular church or mosque goers. But they have massive black holes where their consciences and hearts should be. One wonders how they can sleep at night.

CCORDING to James Flynn, a globally renowned authority on intelligence tests, women in Westernised countries have become brighter than their menfolk.

One possible explanation is that women’s lives have become more demanding as they multi-task – taht is juggle the challenges of raising families with the challenges associated with holding down jobs. The implication is that complexity stretches the brain.

Another possible

James Flynn

explanation is that women have always had a slightly higher potential intelligence than men and are only just realising it now.

Flynn says that more data is needed to properly explain this trend; and he will, we are told, soon publish his findings in a book.

I can’t wait to read it!

I wonder whether women and men in non-Westernised nations will, if tested, produce similar results. Isn’t it amazing that the wheel has come full circle and that women have gone from being regarded as intellectually inferior to being described as intellectually superior, in some countries at least?

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 WHY the alarm about the number of fake teachers in Kaduna State? What would be done beyond the alarm? Are we terrified because we do not know the total number of fake teachers in the country?

Kaduna State has unqualified teachers, and some teachers, who got into the service with fake documents. It is nothing to be proud of, but it is a situation replicated in most States that do not take anything, including education, serious.

The recruitment processes into the civil service do not care much about quality of credentials. The two most important criteria are applicant’s sponsor and how much bribe applicant will pay. We do not think Kaduna State is exceptional in these.

Last December, the Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Saidu Adamu, told a newspaper that more than 18,000 teachers in the State possessed fake certificates; they were sacked, not prosecuted!

Yet in October the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Usman said many of the State’s primary school teachers did not have the minimum teacher ’s

Fak e TTeac eac her s, What ake eacher hers, Next? qualification. Are they fake or unqualified?

According to Governor Patrick Yakowa, a recent verification revealed more than 2,000 public school teachers with fake certificates.

The conflicting figures of unqualified teachers (Governor Yakowa also quoted 4,000) confirm burgeoning challenges with statistics. Is the state government sure the sacked teachers are not already back in service with more fake credentials? The challenges are deeper than sacking them. Are there more people working with fake certificates? Should the sources of fake certificates not bother the authorities?

Fake teachers are frequently under focus in Kaduna State because it hosts the National

Teachers’ Training Institute. The state government in its yearly address at the graduation ceremonies sees matters affecting teachers from the prism of fake teachers.

Does it know the number of unqualified civil servants across its services? What would it do to improve the quality of teachers and teaching in the State outside reeling out depressing statistics?

Too many things around us are fake. From election results to medications, Nigerians have a bounty of fakeness. Could the preponderance of fakeness be responsible for governments not recognising crimes or tackling them in any profound manner?

Should someone involved in forgery not be prosecuted? It is bad enough to use forged certificates, but worse if such a fellow is a teacher. What would he teach?

Does Kaduna State Government know it is guilty of promoting crime by freeing forgery suspects? Should it not have thought of prosecution as deterrent or it has other reasons for letting the suspects off so easily?

Governance takes more than parroting statistics. Kaduna State Government can do more to sanitise its teaching service.

OPINION

BY OKACHIKWU DIBIA

T

WENTY three years after Nigeria’s independence was an era that witnessed huge capital investments by the Federal Government to lay the foundation for a strong and vibrant economy. Such investments were in all aspects of the economy: oil and gas ( including refineries and depots and petro-chemical plants), mines and steel, infrastructure, especially inter-regional roads, electricity and telecommunication, vehicle plants, building and development of seaports and airways, building of financial institutions, post offices, textile factories, river basin development authorities, etc.

These investments were estimated to be over N5 trillion. Almost at about that time, it was discovered that most of these investments were going down the drain largely due to poor management. Thus, the enterprises were not able to provide the economic and social services for which they were established. The accumulated result was that the Nigerian economy became comatose and so sick it needed a surgeon’s attention immediately.

So, the Federal Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari consulted the World Bank and the IMF who, as usual to the economic challenges of Third World countries, recommended austerity measures which included deregulation and devaluation of the naira. Devaluation was devastating because it led to very high rising of the prices of goods and services, just like the Udoji era in 1975. Inflation due to Shagari’s austerity measures was well captured by Jimmy

Deregulation, BPE and the PIB Conter, the Eze Agala 1 of Ikwerre in his song titled “Austerity Measure”. According to Jimmy, before the austerity measures, a cup of garri used to sell for 20 kobo in Port Harcourt, but had to rise to one naira due to Shagari’s austerity measures. Such unprecedented 400 per cent rise in the price of garri and indeed other goods had continued since then.

After Shagari, came the Buhari government which threw the issue of IMF-World Bank’s recommendation open to Nigerians for debate. At the end of the debate, most Nigerians rejected the IMF-World Bank prescriptions and so the government refused to buy the drugs. When Babangida came as leader of the government, he welcomed the prescriptions and bought the drugs. The prescription was re-christened Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, whose key recommendation was deregulation of the Nigerian economy. So in 1988, he formed the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization, TCPC. The key objective was to open up and liberalise the economy such that the private sector will lead the economy and enable the enterprises deliver the services for which they were incorporated. So the TCPC was to privatise or commercialise selected government enterprises found guilty of inefficiency and ineffectiveness. This was why the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was commercialised in about 1988. As we talk today, staff of the NNPC are happy that the corporation was commercialised and

indeed they would prefer that it be privatised.

What this means was that all was not well with the management of the NNPC. That was why the law establishing the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, listed NNPC for privatisation. The BPE metamorphosed from the TCPC. It is the key and authentic deregulation agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria. With the support of the World Bank, DFID, etc, the BPE remains the most capacitated institution in Nigeria that can reform an enterprise, all things being equal.

This is why all the reform bills that later led to the privatisation of government-owned enterprises originated from the BPE. It was the BPE ( while acting as the Secretariat of the OGIC) which drafted the first and original PIB that was approved by the FEC but never saw the light of the day after it was deposited with the law makers. That was the draft that was re-drafted several times to a point there was no true copy of the original draft because there were then over 10 species of the PIB. This led to the current government doing a new and clean draft now before the NASS for passage.

B

PE, like all such institutions across the World, has been having it rough with the powers that hate privatisation and can influence government decisions in Nigeria.

While BPE will always stand on the part of due process, these enemies of true capitalist progress would always want to arm-twist the BPE and the government to have their way.

They are mostly in government and some in the private sector. They are the ones that have frustrated the privatisation of NITEL/MTEL, PHCN and now they have succeeded in preparing and smuggled in a Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that may not serve the interest of Nigerians.

It is now common knowledge that out of the 122 enterprises privatised by the BPE, about 65 percent of them are doing excellently well, while the rest are facing one challenge or the other arising from policy environment.

If this is a testimony of good performance by the BPE, why should the current PIB seek to delist NNPC from being reformed by the BPE? This is the question Nigerians are asking the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC. Why should the current PIB provide for the NNPC to reform itself and at the end still retain itself with a new name, National Oil Company? Why should all the key decisions to be made in reforming the oil and gas sector be made by the Minister of Petroleum Resources? Is it reasonable for the Minister to be in-charge of the reformation of NNPC under her? Shell has been against true reform of the sector, who said that there is no correlation between Shell’s interest and the current PIB? Again, can what will be in the interest of Shell be favourable to Nigerians?

The new PIB before the NASS is too cosmetic and may not lead to a true reformation of the Nigerian oil and gas sector. One would therefore suggest to Mr. President to quickly recall the PIB from the NASS and throw it open to Nigerians for detailed discussion.

•Mr. Dibia, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 — 19

, I

F the Israeli “Never Again!” applied to all humans on earth without any discrimination, humanity would have taken a giant step in doing good for all and sundry.

But an understanding of what has happened to Palestinians since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, demonstrates that never again applies only to the Israelis, nobody else. This means that it is possible for the Israelis to do to the Palestinians what they swear will never happen to them again.

The crisis of the Middle East is not getting a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine, or preventing Iran from sending nuclear bombs to Jerusalem. The crisis of the Middle East for the world (the UN) and the world

powers (USA, China, Russia, Japan and the Brics) is how to compensate the loser in the region. The losers are the Palestinians and the winners are the Israelis. The winner has no problem living with his winning but how does the loser live with his loss?

Nobody who reads the captivating spy thrillers of Daniel Silva would long avoid these and other thoughts about the goingson in the Middle East. Daniel Silva has written ten or so novels about the adventures of Gabriel Allon, art restorer, professional assassin and ace spy and punishment instrument of Israel against her enemies. For instance, it was Gabriel Allon who pursued and murdered all

,

the members of the PLO who had been responsible for the death of the Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics of 1972. That year Daniel Silva, an American citizen was 12 and the incident seared him for life. He is a convert to Judaism and is able to inject into his narratives of the adventures of Gabriel Allon insights into contemporary politics of the Middle East.

Daniel Silva is also a member of the US Holocaust Memorial Council.

T

here is a quote at the beginning of Prince of Fire (2005) of an old Jewish proverb: If you seek revenge, dig a grave for two. Gabriel Allon wins at the end but what a price he has to

Escapism as state policy

BY PETER ULU

R

ECENTLY,as the 10-year deadline for the appeal of the ICJ ruling on Bakassi approached, the legal community in Nigeria made strident appeals to the Federal Government to appeal the judgement . Their appeals did not seem to impress the Jonathan-led Federal Government, as the deadline passed without any reaction from the latter. In their appeal to the FG, the lawyers seemed to look at the Bakassi issue purely as a legal one. That did not surprise me much.

After all, it is second nature for a lawyer to see every dispute as a legal problem, to be tackled legalistically using legalisms, an endeavor that for lawyers provides work and puts food on the table for them and their families.

The Bakassi issue may be a legal one, but for me it is far more importantly a matter of political responsibility, sovereignty, the national interest and national security. Once these imperatives are understood the solution to the Bakassi quandary becomes clear and simple. It is only a pariah state or a rogue government that will subordinate the national interest and its sovereignty to another nation or to an external entity. The way the Obasanjo, Yar ’Adua and Jonathan administrations have handled Bakassi is politically irresponsible. They have acted like leaders of a pariah state or as leaders of a rogue government.

Nigeria indeed is a pariah state because we as a nation cannot draw a line in the sand on any issue, including when our national interest or sovereignty is threatened. Our government ‘s response to important policy challenges for several decades now have been consistently escapist. Nigeria’s governments are unable to draw a line in the sand for corruption. Our criminals can only be properly prosecuted when they venture

outside the country. On Bakassi, Nigeria has allowed Cameroun, a country whose population is about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s and with resources in the same proportion or less, to draw the line in the sand and win. Let me not be misunderstood.

Cameroun is a brother African nation. But that fact does not in any way mitigate the greater truth that Bakassi Local Government Area is Nigeria’s and that the people of Bakassi are Nigerians. The matter of Bakassi is not one that should be clouded by sentiment. It is in the mutual interest of Nigeria and Cameroun that their shared borderlands be safe, secure, peaceful, stable and permanently so. That is not going to happen if the dispute over Bakassi is resolved through a contrived or imposed settlement. It will happen only if the solution is original and principled.

Such a solution must necessarily be derived from the legitimate aspirations of the Bakassi people, not from what is convenient for individuals in power in Abuja and Yaounde. The solution that the Obasanjo, Yar ’Adua and the Jonathan administrations, between them provided, has rendered Bakassians more or less stateless and that is very unfortunate. If Nigeria had shown proper leadership on Bakassi, I am sure that Cameroun will be the first to appreciate that sovereignty over Bakassi cannot be based on documents that amount to nothing more than relics of colonialism, documents that were used by the colonizers to facilitate the partition and exploitation of Africa for themselves. The history of Bakassi and, for that matter, all of Africa predates colonialism. If we are serious about our sovereignty and our nationhood we should not be submitting , in the 21st century, to any process that validates foreign exploitation of Africa in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The way we have handled Bakassi can only bring Nigeria more

,

The moral high ground of Gabriel Allon, Israeli spy and assassin

The crisis of the Middle East for the world and the world powers is how to compensate the loser in the region; the losers are the Palestinians and the winners are the Israelis

pay every time he wins: loss of his wife and son, threat to his new love, physical wreckage almost.

But he wins. He does not entertain any moral conflict as to the rightness of what he is doing for his country while he is executing the enemies of the state of Israel.

“There’s a clear moral distinction between the Palestinians and the Nazis. There is a certain justice in Khalid’s cause. Only his means are abhorrent and immoral.”

“Justice? Khalid and his ilk could have had peace time and time again, but they don’t want it. His cause is our destruction. If you believe he wants peace, you’re deluding yourself.’ She pointed towards the screen. “If he comes to that street, you have a right, indeed a moral duty, to make certain he never leaves there to kill and maim again. Do it, Gabriel, or so help me God, I’ll do it for you”(Prince of Fire, page 237). This is the case for the Jews.

Here is the case for the Palestinians: “Jews,” she said(a PLO member called Palestina). “You think you have a patent on pain. You think you have the market cornered on human suffering. My Holocaust is as real as yours, and yet you deny my suffering and exonerate yourself of guilt. You claim my wounds are self-inflicted.”

“So tell me your story.”

“Mine is a story of Paradise lost.

Mine is a story of a simple people forced by the civilized world to give up their land so that Christendom could alleviate its

If Nigeria had shown proper leadership on Bakassi, I am sure that Cameroun will be the first to appreciate that sovereignty over Bakassi cannot be based on documents that amount to nothing more than relics of colonialism

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contempt , not more respect or gratitude from Cameroun or from the comity of nations.

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bout two weeks ago, the incumbent governor of Cross River State told Aljazeera and other media that what needs to be done about Bakassi is to compensate the people. TheGovernor was, however, silent on what the people of Bakassi should be compensated for and how much that compensation should be or what form it should take. If such compensation is for seizing and uprooting them from their ancestral lands, from their roots, then to the Governor such natural and fundamental endowment is negotiable and can be traded like goods on the stock market. Now, I would like to ask Governor Liyel Imoke how much compensation he would like to be paid to annex Itigidi, his home town, to Comeroun? The Governor’s opinion on Bakassi are the words of an agent of the status quo, an agent of a pariah government. What Governor Imoke has said, to me, is worse than exgovernor Donald Duke and ex-Senator Florence Ita Giwa, who have chosen to hide their complicity in the Bakassi deal behind a veil of silence. I recall that Imoke was not exactly a nobody when General Obasanjo was striking the Bakassi deal.

guilt over the Holocaust.”

“No, no,” Gabriel said. “I don’t want a propaganda lecture. I want to hear your story. Where are you from?”

Ages ago, it was clear that literary work can never really be neutral. Art is never for Art’s only sake. Something drives the passion of the writer and that something is not just the love of words and the seduction of appropriate sentences.

Something outside of the writer, something to which his or her writing tries to promote, invariably drives the passion of the writer. It is up to the reader to realise this as she or he reads these enjoyable adventures. Take the James Bond novels for an example. Ian Fleming created James Bond in the context of the Cold War and at the end of every adventure, it is the humanism of the West and its love of freedom that trumps the Communism of Russia and China. It is not for nothing that John Le Carre, another Cold War spy thriller writer lamented the collapse of Russian Communism and its effect on his work.

Daniel Silva writes to entertain and to educate but at the end of the day to make a case for Gabriel Allon’s pursuit of both past and future revenge without forgetting that in the pursuit of that life style, he must be aware of the need to always dig a grave for two. This is what makes the novels such engrossing reading.

Since 1999 he has been close to Obasanjo, first as a special adviser, then through a number ministerial appointments, including that of Power and Steel. For Governor Imoke, ex-governor Duke and ex-senator Ita Giwa, General Obasanjo’s patronage was priced higher than the country ’s national interest in and sovereignty over Bakassi; General Obasanjo’s patronage was more important to them than their allegiance to the Bakassi people.

At times like this, it is hard not to remember the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. As Premier of Northern Nigeria in 1959, the Sardauna rejected the result of the plebiscite when the area now called Adamawa State voted for Cameroun. Sir Ahmadu insisted that the plebiscite was rigged. The Sardauna then lobbied the UN hard and succeeded in getting the vote cancelled and rescheduled in 1961. Within two years Sir Ahmadu Bello made sure by a vigorous hearts and minds campaign, using both diplomacy and resource allocation to the area, that the people voted overwhelmingly for Nigeria in the plebiscite of 1961. After the favourable plebiscite the area was named Sardauna Province, a name it retained till the Nigerian Civil war broke out in 1967.

Those were the days when patriotism mattered in public office in Nigeria.

Unfortunately the political leaders in Eastern Nigeria in 1959 were not made of the same stuff as Sir Ahmadu. They allowed the plebiscite to pass and so laid the foundation for what has happened to Bakassi today. Before 1961 Bakassi was a couple of hundred kilometers inland from Nigeria’s border with Cameroun to the South-East. But it must be hastily added that the mistakes of Eastern Nigeria’s leaders in 1959 to 1961, namely, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr Michael Okpara, could not be an excuse for General Obasanjo and Dr Jonathan to repeat such mistakes today.

*Lt.Col. Ulu,rtd, wrote from Lagos.

20— Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 — 21

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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IGERIA should develop a for eign Direct Investment strategy that will facilitate the creation of jobs for the millions of unemployed in country.

Dr. Patrick Kormawa, Regional Director, United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO) Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS said this at the annual Dinner and Dance of the International Chamber for Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) held in Lagos.

The Dinner, which was chaired by Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Head of Interim Government, featured the official unveiling of the 2012 Guidelines on International Investment developed by ICC. In a keynote address delivered at the Dinner, Kormawa observed that though Nigeria received $3 billion as foreign direct investment (FDI), which is the highest in Africa and records average annual growth of the economy of about seven percent, unemployment remain a major challenge.

"About 4.5 million new job seekers add to the unemployed population in Nigeria every year. It is therefore imperative that investment policy focuses on creating sustainable and descent jobs to grow the economy and to put more Nigerian's back to work.

Speaking on steps measures to address this challenge, he said, "Nigeria should focus on strategies to increase FDI to the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. This will help increase the MVA to GDP, expand trade, increase employment support the balance of paymentInvest in investments. Invest in the necessary infrastructure,, institutions, skills and innovation. This will attract investors. A quick way to do this is to learn from successful countries, and adapt lessons learnt and use innovation to leap-frog.

"Expand trade and improving services. Expanding trade will put more people at work if there is a vibrant modern manufacturing or service sector. In the case of Nigeria, there is need to invest in upgrading and modernizing targeted industrial sectors that support export trade.

In the light of the third industrial revolution the country needs to move towards a more diversified industrial sector with focus on the use of re-

From left: West Africa Leader, Ernst and Young, Mr. Henry Egbiki; Managing Director, Interswitch/Winner of Entrepreneur Award for Emerging Category, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe and Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, during the Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur Award, in Lagos.

Nigeria should use FDI to facilitate job creation —UNIDO boss zAs ICCN unveils guidelines for international investment newable energy, intelligent technologies and new business models "Support investments in Science, Technology and Innovation to ensure food, energy and job security for Nigerians today and in the future.

"Support the acceleration of regional integration to take advantage of free movement of goods and services and market opportunities. Nigeria is well situated between West and Central Africa, with flight time of about 5 to 6 hours to Europe of these would expand international and intra-Africa trade. It is therefore in Nigeria's economic interest to continue pursuing regional integration of Africa."

Commenting on the 2012 edition of the ICC Investment Guidelines, Mr. Babatunde Savage, Chairman ICCN, said, "Historically, the promotion of foreign direct investment has been a priority for ICC, beginning with the publication in 1949, of its International Code of Fair Treatment for Foreign Investments. Evolving from that initial code, ICC published the first edition of the Guidelines for International Investment in 1972.

The 2012 edition explains clearly the respective responsibilities of the investor, home government and the host government relating to international investment. There are substantive re-

visions on labour, commercial, investment and fiscal policies reflecting the contemporary environment for international investment. There are new chapters on anti-corruption, competitive neutrality and corporate responsibility.

It is the intention that these guidelines will be useful for investors and government in creating a more enabling environment for cross-border investment and understanding more clearly their shared responsibilities and opportunities in fulfilling the vast potential of cross-border investment for shared global growth."

FG trains 267 youth entrepreneurs in agro-business 144.7

4.9

2,507.00

-31.00

19.19

-0.04

109.03

-0.84

86.20

-0.98

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

SELLING

154.76 155.26 155.76 247.3993 248.1986 248.9979 199.563 200.2078 200.8525 165.8202 166.3559 166.8917 1.8896 1.8957 1.9018 0.2868 0.2968 0.3068 236.5858 237.3501 238.1145 24.8502 24.9309 25.0116 41.266 41.3994 41.5327 26.8905 26.9773 27.0642 237.293 238.0602 238.8268

CBN Exchange rate as at 29/11/20127

BY CALEB AYANSINA

N

OT less than 267 youth entrepre neurs engaged in agriculture drawn from various states have been trained by the Federal Government to consolidate on the YouWin entrepreneurial empowerment scheme which remains one of the high points of the present administration efforts at reducing unemployment rate among the youths.

Vanguard gathered that 80 beneficiaries were trained in Ode-Omu centre in Osun state, 90 youths in Sapele, Delta State, while 97 people benefited from the programme at Katsina center in Katisina state.

During the closing ceremony of the intensive empowerment training programme held at the various centres, the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdul-kadir said that the objective was to 'build up capacity for self-sustained livelihoods in youth through training

and thereafter empower them to start their own business and thus become employers of labour'.

The Minister in a statement signed by the Assistant Director (Press and Public Relations) of the ministry, Mr Olusola Abiola disclosed that "empowering the youths in developing economic and leadership skills is a fulfillment of the promise made by President Goodluck Jonathan under the transformation agenda to ensure youths get the necessary empowerment which would transform their lives and help them become contributors to national development".

He explained that "the programme is a deliberate policy to complement the Ministry's existing National Youth Agricultural/Vocational Skills Acquisition and Capacity Building Programme under this administration conceived to give meaning to the lives of both under-employed and uneducated youths, in order to encourage

their involvement in Agriculture".

Abdul-kadir charged participants to use their acquired skills to impact the society, expressing the desire of the Federal Government to see their skills giving employment to others in their communities, thereby helping to create job opportunities and create wealth.

This he said will actualize Mr. President's dream to drastically reduce poverty can be drastically within few years, if commitment and consistency can be sustained.

The minister equally used the opportunity to disclose that the Ministry was working on other interventions directed at addressing youth restiveness caused by misery and joblessness such as the Youth Employment Programme, adding that, under the 2013 appropriation Government will aggressively pursue the implementation of these programmes which will effectively deliver thousands of jobs annually to the nation's economy.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Chams’ performance impaired by govt policies, macro-economic challenges

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

C

HAMS Plc, listed on the Information and Communications Technology sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has said that its financial performance for the year ended 31stDecember, 2011, was negatively impacted by unstable government policies and other macro-economic challenges among others.

The company’s profit after tax had during the year slumped by 1,236 percent, thereby making it one of the top negative profit earners among quoted companies in stock market.

Addressing shareholders at the company ’s annual general meeting in Abuja, chairman, Chams Plc, Professor Adebayo Akinde said the numerous negatives in the country vitiated its roll-out and project timelines, which frustrated its corporate expectations of returns.

Akinde, however, assured that the board has initiated a new intensive five-year strategic business plan aimed at strengthening the core competitive advantages of the company, as well

From left: Alfred Braimoh, Head, Private Sector Group, ECOWAS Commission; Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, Head, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Skye Bank Plc; Dr. Max Castelli, Head, Global Strategy, UBS Global Asset Management;Richard Fox, Managing Director, Fitch Ratings; Mr. Dotun Adeniyi, Executive Director, Skye Bank Plc and Mr. Wil Freeman, Director, Operations, West African Monetary Agency at the Second West African Global Banking and Investment Conference in London. as enhance its ability to operate profitability within the changing macroeconomic dynamics.

The five-year business plan, which included a two-year corporate plan that allows the company to intermittently observe its corporate progress, was sequel to extensive internal and

external business reviews and was a major kernel of efforts by the board and management to put the company on the path of stable profitability, he further assured.

He noted that the board has engaged reputable consultants with expertise and vast experience in business turnaround

to help it in the reinvention and repositioning of the company for excellent performance in addition to internal business review and restructuring by the management of the company.

He expressed optimism that the new business plan would open up new opportunities for the company in the pri-

vate sector, which would mitigate the company’s dependence on unstable public sector’s projects.

According to him, while several long-awaited public sector projects have either been awarded or are in execution stage, the new strategic direction that focuses also on opportunities in the private sector would

complement the strategic advantages of the company as the company-of-choice in information and communication technology (ICT) in Nigeria.

In his review, Managing Director, Chams Plc, Sir Demola Aladekomo, said the company was poised to leverage on its cutting-edge and innovative technologies to take full advantage of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s cashless policy, otherwise known as ‘cashlite’ project.

He pointed out that Chams has already started rolling out its mobile payment solution with remarkable success while it has secured further milestones as a major stakeholder in the electronic and transactional payment industry.

It should be recalled that the CBN had granted approval-in-principle for mobile payment license in 2010.

“The mobile payment solution characterized by our usual innovativeness, ease of use and cutting edge technology promises to change the face of payment in Nigeria. It must be mentioned that this singular solution is the future of transactional and payment processes with its huge propensity to dramatically yield untold value for our esteemed stakeholders. We are primed to roll out in full force with a view to capturing a substantial size of the market,” Aladekomo said.

Red Star Express commended for CSR activities C

HAIRMAN, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Muse Ariyoh has commended Red Star Express for sustaining the scholarship program that the company commenced in 2004.

The beneficiaries, students of some public schools in Oshodi-Isolo local government also expressed their gratitude to the management of Red Star Express for embarking on such a laudable project.

Speaking on behalf of other recipients of the scholarship, Peter Esekhaige, an SS 2 student of Ikeja Senior Grammar School, Oshodi said ‘We thank Red Star Express for its dedication to the scholarship programme which has reduced the burden borne by our parents in providing for our educational needs. What more can I say than to thank the

company and its management for keeping their promises.’

During a special ceremony held at the company’s head office, in honour of the beneficiaries, Red Star Express Managing Director, Mr. Sule Bichi, explained that the purpose of the scholarship was to encourage young and brilliant Nigerian students

to aim for excellence. He implored the beneficiaries to stay focused on their academic pursuit and also conduct themselves in manner worthy of emulation.

He noted that the gesture was in accordance with the company’s philosophy of Corporate Social Responsibility which mandates the company to contribute to the develop-

ment of the society. Red Star Express appropriates 0.5 per cent of its annual profit after tax towards to running of the “Red Star Foundation” which is the charity arm of the organization.

Red Star Foundation aims at expressing its social responsibility to host community, leveraging on its corporate goodwill and creating

more awareness, also demonstrating its core value for the benefit of the society and encouraging excellence, diligence and integrity among secondary school students.

Red Star Express PLC has grown to become a premium logistics firm in Nigeria in terms of revenue, network coverage and market share in the domestic and internation-

al market. It enjoys a domestic strength of 169 offices in Nigeria, deliveries to additional 1,500 communities, over 1400 highly trained personnel and over 500 vehicular fleet. It prides itself of automatic proof of delivery and advanced technology with all operations done online and real-time.

NSE explains dela ading summar delayy in releasing tr trading summaryy T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has explained that the delay in the release of the daily transactions details on Monday, November 26 and Tuesday, November 27, 2012, was necessitated by the changes required to achieve the rebasing of five indices.

The changes were successfully completed on Tuesday 27thNovember

2012.

The affected indices are: The Consumer Goods, NSE 30, Banking, The Oil and Gas and The Insurance index.

Head, Market Operations of The Exchange, Mr Ikponmwosa Obaseki, confirmed that the Exchange’s trading system maintained 100 percent availability during the

period and traders’ experienced no issues during these trading days as speculated in some quarters. He explained that Index updates were post-trading activities, carried out after trading hours but within a rather short time window.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian bourse began publish-

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

The revised Index Values have been uploaded on the NSE website, and the next rebalancing of the Indices, an exercise which The Exchange undertakes in collaboration with global financial data giant, Bloomberg Inc., is set to take place at the end of the year.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—23

Nexim Bank, Turkish Exim Bank seek deeper financial cooperation

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

N

igeria Export and Import Bank (Nexim) has commenced disccusions with the Turkish Export Bank (Turk EximBank) on how to deepen financial and technical cooperation between the two countries in the area of export diversification.

During a visit to the Turk EximBank in Ankara, Turkey, Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Roberts U. Orya presented a strategic framework to his Turkish counterpart aimed at deepening the already existing collaboration between the two EXIM Banks Nexim Bank’s spokesman, Mr. Chinedu Moghalu, said in a statement that the business visit to Turkey was borne out of the need to explore additional off-shore sources of financing to cater to the Bank’s rising profile of investors in the MASS sectors of Nigerian economy.

“The delegation led by Orya to Turk Eximbank included high level officials of the African Export Import Bank – AFREXIM Bank from Cairo, Egyp led by the Executive Vice President Finance, Administration and Banking Services, Mr. Denys Denya.

Also, other business moguls from Nigeria’s private sector led

by Chief Sunny Odogwu, the Ide of Ahaba of The Odogwu Group of Companies, were part of the NEXIM delegation.

Receiving the team, Mr. Alaadin Metin, the Deputy General Manager of TürkEximbank, expressed

satisfaction that the NEXIM MD has shown good vision by rekindling the existing relationship between the two Exim Banks which commenced since 2010 but was given a renewed impetus after President Goodluck

Jonathan took the initiative to encourage a more mutually beneficial commercial exchanges between Nigeria and Turkey during his official visit to Ankara, Turkey in February 2011 Ankara as the official guest of President Abdullah Gül.

From left: President, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Alhaji Garba Ibrahim Gusau; Executive Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi; Deputy Vice President (South-West) NASME, Prince Degun Agboade and CEO of TMC and member of NASME council, Mrs.Toki Mabogunje, at the policy dialogue between NASME and NERC, in Lagos.

NJI, CIBN collaborate on effective dispute resolution for banks T

he National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria are collaborating to articulate strategies and framework that would ensure effective disputes resolution of cases involving banks and other financial institutions in the country.

Dangote emerges winner of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of 2012 award

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resident, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has emerged as the winner in Nigeria and West African sub-region of the Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 under the master category, which automatically qualify him to context in the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the year 2012 to be held in Monte Carlo Monaco.

Also, Mr. Goodie Ibru, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) emerged as Life achiever of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012. In the Emerging Category, Mitchell Elegbe, Managing Director, InterSwitch got the award.

Meanwhile, there were five awardees in the Emerging Category at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur

Mr. Metin expressed optimism that the present discussion will yield the desired results in line with the already beneficial relationships between the two

of the year 2012 which include: Mitchell Elegbe, Mr. Frank Adu, Managing Director, CAL Bank, Ghana, Adelaide Ahwireng, Managing Director, FIO Enterprises Ghana; William Ato Essien, Managing Director, First Capital Plus; Roland Agambire,Managing Director, Rig Communication.

In Master Category, Aliko Dangote and Mr. Azudialu, President, Nestoil Plc emerged as awardees.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Egbiki, Regional Managing Partner for West Africa, Ernst & Young, said, “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.

This and other topical issues will dominate discussions when seasoned jurists and financial experts gather at Abuja during the 2012 National Seminar on Banking and Allied Matters for Judges.

The seminar with the theme: Banking and Judiciary Reforms in Nigeria” has been scheduled to hold at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditorium, NJI, Mohammed Bello Centre, Airport Road, Abuja from December 5 – 6, 2012 .

The programme is designed to provide a forum for top banking industry operators and judges to cross-fertilize ideas on contemporary banking and related judicial matters for the soundness of the banking industry and development of the economy.

Consequently, NJI and CIBN have assembled seasoned experts from the judiciary and the financial sector of the economy to address the august gathering, among who are Prof. Isaac Oluwole Agbede, Dean, School of Law & Security Studies; Alhaji Ado Wank, MD/CE, Unity BANK Plc; Dr. Alex Otti, MD/CE, Diamond Bank Plc; Hon. Justice I. N. Buba, Federal High Court, Lagos; Prof. Epiphany Azinge, DG, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Mr. Buka Kyari, MD/CE, CSCS; Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Deputy Governor, CBN; Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CE, Wema Bank Plc; Prof.

Paul Obo Idornigie, NIA, Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu and Mrs. Juliet Madubueze, Past Presidents, CIBN, among others.

AMfB bags LEAD award for best MfB

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

A

ccion Microfinance Bank (AMfB) has emerged winner of the 2012 Lagos State Enterprise Award (LEAD) for Best Microfinance Bank of the year, even for the second year running.

The selection made after a survey was conducted by an industry research group for LEAD awards, was based on excellent performance and good understanding of micro lending in the sector.

Managing Director of the bank, Ms. Bunmi Lawson who expressed delight on the award said that the award came as a testament to the strength of the Bank’s continued viability, assuring customers of a brighter future while providing the quality of service deserved.

“Accion Microfinance Bank has consistently delivered on its promises of dependability, accountability, and ensuring the security of our customer’s funds. In addition, our core values of integrity, excellent customer service, leadership, innovation and team work as well as our business philosophy and methodology, have made us standout as a leading Microfinance Bank in Nigeria.

“Ensuring a brighter future for our customers is our passion and that is why we offers a broad range of products to our customers, whether it is a personal loan product, savings account for transactional purposes, loan products for small and medium sized entrepreneurs, to the fixed account for individuals and organisations who seek a safe purse at a competitive interest rate.

“Our customers know that they can rely on us to assist in the growth of their businesses, ensure that their families are well taken care of, that their children are able to have an education, or provide access to quality health care for the entire family,” Lawson stated.

However, AMfB with staff strength of over 350 staff spread across 16 fourteen branches and the Head Office, accounts for a total asset worth N2.4 billion in excess, gross loan portfolio of over N1.7 billion and disbursed loans well over N14 billion to over 85,000 customers since inception.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Star consumers wins two cars at promo draws

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From left: Mike Itemagbo, NFF official; Seni Adetu, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Daniel Amokachi, Assistant Coach of Super Eagles at the launch of Guinness “Fly with the Eagles” campaign, in Lagos.

hristmas came early for the duo of Eze Innocent, a Taraba based business man and Adekunle Babatunde, a student of the University of Ado-Ekiti. They became proud owners of brand new Toyota Corolla cars in the ongoing “Star Time to Shine” Promo.

It may have taken 230 Star crown corks for Eze to join the league of car owners but the 52- year-old man is certainly enjoying the thrill of the experience. The native of Enugu state said he had collected 230 crown corks since the promo commenced last month before he got the winning cork. “I gathered 230 Star crown corks and it wasn’t an easy task for me. I got some of the crown corks from bottles of Star that I purchased while I collected others from whenever I went out to drink,” he explained.

According to Eze, the car would help his business grow

Emirates, Arsenal agree on new N37.2bn sponsorship deal STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

E

MIRATES international airlines, and Arsenal Football Club have announced a new £150 million (N37.275billion) deal which grants the airline a five year extension to their shirt partnership with the Club until the end of the 2018/2019 season.

As well as being one of the biggest deals ever struck in the game, the agreement, worth £30 million a year for five years, extends and deepens one of the strongest and most recognisable partnerships in sport.

“Arsenal’s strong appeal around the globe and ambitious approach to the game parallel our own approach to business, making them a valuable partner for our brand,” said His Highness (HH) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

“We continue to see immeasurable value in our global sports sponsorships and our sponsorship with Arsenal is no different. The Club has been an important enabler of the growth of our business over the last decade and we are confident this will continue as part of our extended deal.

“This partnership remains a perfect combination of two truly

global brands. Through our global network and carefully selected sports sponsorships Emirates is able to unite and engage fans, and coupled with Arsenal’s world-wide fan following this makes for a strong match,” added HH Sheikh Ahmed.

As part of the deal Arsenal’s home will continue to be known as Emirates Stadium up to 2028.

The Emirates brand will also continue appearing on the front of Arsenal’s playing and training kits and the new agreement contains a number of marketing rights, which come into effect immediately, to ensure Emirates can engage with Arsenal fans in the UK and abroad.

“This is an exciting day for Arsenal Football Club and all our supporters,” said Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis.

“This agreement is a testimony to Arsenal’s approach and to the capabilities we have developed in recent years as well as the strength of our partnership with Emirates.

“The original deal with Emirates was a key facilitator of our move from Highbury and this next phase of our relationship will be just as critical to keep us at the top of the game in England and Europe.

“Emirates is the perfect partner for Arsenal and we are delighted to have agreed a

new partnership. Emirates is a world class brand and by flying to over 120 destinations across six continents has a truly global reach. This reach will play an important role in our own ambitions to further extend the

depth of our following around the world. The fact this partnership will continue for many years to come underlines how much both organisations value and benefit from the relationship.”

as well as enable his wife commute to her school. “This car will change my life. At least now, my wife can go to her school, Taraba State University, without the stress of boarding commercial buses and my business will also grow because of the car,”, he stated.

As for 30-year old Adekunle Babatunde, a student of the University of Ado-Ekiti, the brand new Toyota Corolla is his reward for switching to Star. According to Babatunde, he was convinced to take Star by a waitress when he was unwinding at a bar close to his residence in Ibadan. Luckily, he registered the crown corks for the promo and one of them won him the car.

“Thank God I listened to that young lady at the bar that evening. Who would have believed it would bring me my first car,” he added.

With the new car, Adekunle, the new Star convert, insists the lager beer would remain his preferred choice. “Drinking that bottle of Star was the best decision I ever took. Now, I have become the latest loyal consumer of Star. Why would I leave a brand that has rewarded me with a car?” he asked.

Both Adekunle and Eze were presented with the keys to the brand new cars by former Nigerian International football captain, Henry Nwosu, at the corporate Headquarters of Nigerian Breweries Plc., makers of Star, in Lagos.

AFCON 2013: Guinness rallies support, evolves campaign A s the Super Eagles of Ni geria competes at the 2013 African Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa, Guinness Nigeria Plc has unveiled a series of consumer activities to rally support fot the Nigerian team as it seeks to emerge victorious at the tournament which begins January 19 next year.

The campaign “Fly with the Eagles” identifies with the intense love and passion millions of Nigerians share for football and the team’s aspiration to make Nigerians proud at the 2013 AFCON outing.

At the reveal of the campaign, the Managing Director Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, said he was proud of Guinness’ association with the Super Eagles over the years and excited that Guinness is at the centre of galvanising support from millions of Nigerian fans. “Guinness Nigeria is keeping faith with the Super Eagles as we have always

done because we believe the team is not just made up of the eleven players on the pitch but also includes the 170 million people cheering their team on.

As a company and a footballloving brand, we are convinced that we have what it takes to succeed at this year’s outing.”

Before unveiling the logo for the campaign, the Marketing and Innovation Director for Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Austin Ufomba, reeled out a series of activation handles that make up the entire ‘Fly with the Eagles’ campaign – including a National Consumer Promotion, the campaign theme song, Guinness Fan Parks and an exciting engagement platform that will enhance deeper participation of fans and consumers alike. He said: “We believe strongly in the Super Eagles and in the passion of the Nigerian supporter. As such, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout will once again demonstrate its belief in the Super Eagles by

providing innovative ways for millions of fans in Nigerian to show their undying support for the Super Eagles as they compete at the Nations Cup in South Africa in 2013”.

As part of the campaign, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout has also launched a pan-Nigerian Consumer Promotion with a grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to South Africa for 200 fans. Asides the grand prize, millions of Naira in cash prizes are also up for grabs, with 4 consumer carting away cash prizes of N100,000.00 daily throughout the duration of the campaign amongst other prizes.

Consumers are clearly in for exciting times during this campaign as they will be enjoying an exclusive song specially composed for the Super Eagles which will hit the airwaves very soon. Fans will also have the opportunity to compose and upload their own songs for the team on the Guinness-VIP social media platforms.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—25

NACCIMA raises alarm over Thailand rice, seeks cut in food importation

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

N

IGERIA Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry , Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has raised alarm over the importation and consumption of Thailand rice in the country, warning that the chemicals used in storing them are harmful to human health.

The Association has also urged government to start thinking of reducing food importation next year.

John Isemede, Director General, told VANGUARD in an interview that Thailand has been exporting into Nigeria rice stored in their silos for 10 to 12 years which have lost their nutrient value.

“After this, they would start selling 8 and 7 years rice in the silos. Why should we buy rice that has been in the silos for twelve years? Don’t you think that chemicals that are used to store rice for twelve years can affect human lives?” he queried.

“Did you know what happened last year why the price of rice jumped from N5, 000 per bag to N10, 000? It was because flooding happened in Thailand and the rice they are selling to Nigeria now is the one that has no nutrient values; it’s the one that have been in their silos for twelve years “Why should we import food as an agricultural country? What would happen if the person you are importing from doesn’t have tomorrow; what if they have poor harvests?

A very good example was what happened two years ago; Thailand had its own problem of flood which we are experiencing now; as a result of this, the prices of imported rice jumped by 600 percent.

The N235 billion being spent on importing rice annually can be channeled to producing local rice at the Benue valley,” he said.

On likely famine in Nigeria next year due to the recent flood in some parts of the country, he dismissed Nigerians fear, saying: There won’t be famine in Nigeria next year. Let me tell you, the flooding did not destroy cassava 100 percent. So this flooding is not going to be as dangerous as some people thinks. Peo-

ple in the cities consume more of imported things while those in the rural and urban consume more of starchy foods such as yam, cocoa yam, garri, maize, etc. The only thing is that a lot of terrible things have happened

in the north; as a result of bombing activities a lot of farmers are not longer there, some of them have relocated. We are going to have problem in respect of agricultural produces like onion, beans, guinea corn tomatoes, yam, etc.

Nigeria will be sufficient in tomato production by 2013 — Sanusi

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

N

IGERIA will be suf ficient in the production of tin tomato pastes by 2013 as production of Tomatoes will grow by 1000 per cent in Kano, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Lamido Sanusi said.

Speaking at the 2012 forum of Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) in Lagos, Sanusi said this feat was achieved from a model developed to revitalised the real sector of the economy and bring farmers into the financial inclusion programme.

Sanusi said that by February 2013, tomato production would have grown from 300,000 to three million metric tons, representing 1000 per cent in the state, adding that the farmers would be producing 300,000 metric tons of tomato pastes which are 100 per cent of importation of the pastes into Nigeria this year.

He said, “E veryone complains about maximum neglect to agriculture and it is true. For instance, look at tin tomato and how can banks lend to a tin tomato farmer? If you go to Kano today and take the tomato that is produced, there is so much water in it that it cannot produce what you call the China red paste that madam uses in the kitchen.

“So, even if you process that, it wouldn’t give you the paste. There is no storage for the Tomato farmer and the yields are very low.

So, we started to work on fixing the market. What is done on Tomato paste for example, started between January and February.

“There is a huge transformation now. We put to-

gether all the stakeholders in various meetings including the processers, the seed providers, the research institutes, the Commissioner of Agriculture in the state, the banks, among others. By January/ February, there will be a Dangote tomato processing plant in the Kano.

“We are working on the irrigation; we have changed the seeds; the production will move from 2 million metric tonnes per hectare to 10 million per hectare. We have a variety of seeds that produce paste. Now, with the irrigation, the farmers can now plant in two cycles.

We are about to finish negotiation with Dangote on contracted price for the farmers per basket.

“The farmers used to sell a basket for N450 because they need to sell before it perishes. Those that are able to store can hold on and sell for N2,200 towards the end of the season.

Now, the average now adds up to N1000 per basket. Dangote wants to pay N1200 per basket.

“If he accepts to buy at N1,200, our model shows that farmers can borrow from banks with the high yield through variety of seeds and, with this technical that assistance farmers have, they can make a return of 80-100 per cent of their capital.

“Thus, the cash flow.

Now, with that model working from January 2013 through 2014, what would have happened is that tomato output in that area in Kano/Jigawa axis would have moved up from 300,000 metric tonnes to 3 million metric tonnes every year. We will be producing 300,000 metric tons of Tomato paste and that is 100 per cent of import of Tomatoes into Nigeria this year."

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Colour, glamour at Abuja carnival ...as Rivers comes top T

HE Vice President, Namadi Sambo, captured the essence of the annual Abuja Carnival that ended Tuesday night at the Eagle Square in the Federal Capital, when he said "The laudable dreams that gave birth to the carnival have continued to motivate its annual celebration, anchored on the recognition that there exists a nexus between culture and the economic and technological growth of a nation.

This indeed could be the dreams of then President Olusegun Obasanjo and his team when the carnival was initiated in 2005 as an annual event aimed at showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Nigeria and for promoting the country as a safe, warm and hospital tourism destination.

From last weekend to Tuesday, the resident of Abuja and few tourists who could muster the courage to visit the country for the carnival at short notice despite the security challenges facing the country were treated to the best of the country ’s culture.

Twenty two states of the federation including some invited countries like China; Namibia; Trinidad and Tobago; Egypt took parts in activities that range from street carnival, durbar, children fiesta, cultural night, traditional food fair and bush bar, boat regatta, command performance and contemporary music fiesta.

STREET CARNIVAL Some streets of Abuja covered by the 18 kilometres route of the carnival were transformed Saturday and Tuesday, the opening and closing ceremonies of the carnival as participating states paraded in colourful costumes.

Rivers and Oyo states that won the award for the best costumes and carnival floats were cynosure of all as they displayed extreme creativity in costumes, floats and dances complemented by contemporary music.

Tourists and Nigerians alike had the opportunities of savouring the country’s

rich cultural heritage at close range as well as some foreign troupes.

BOAT REGATTA Though, the boat regatta event is currently losing its steam, as evident from the

and Rivers, which did not stop the crowd from enjoying the best of artistic performance and ingenuity of costumes on water.

Boat regattas are indispensable part of the annual traditional festivals in

and paddlers, with participation opened to both sex.

It was not surprising that Rivers state came top in the boat regatta in terms of performance and costumes

Some of the participants at the carnival

,

By Jimoh Babatunde

They sang, beat their drums and danced to folk music

,

number of participating states which were just four, Niger; Akwa Ibom; Bayelsa

the rivirian communities which involves the use of mounted decorated canoes

adopted in presentation.

their

MASQUERADE The masquerade event of the carnival has always been the centre of attractions for many participants and tourists alike as the Abuja carnival parades array of beautifully adorned masquerades with different dance steps.

This year’s edition was not an exception as the participating states paraded masquerades to the admiration of the audience.

Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, and Rivers states delight to watch, of particular interest was the Ajikwu groups of masquerades from Anambra state. They sang, beat their drums and danced to folk music. They were indeed energetic and agile in their movement.

COMMAND PERFORMANCE It was a night of glamour and glitz at the banquet hall in Aso villa as the carnival was taken to the presidency.

The Vice president, Namadi Sambo leading and visiting delegates like the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr Denzil Douglas, were treated to the best of performances by the national troupes from participating countries alongside selected Nigerian troupes.

The court sound specialist from Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago with their steel band stole the night show with rendition of popular Nigerian music, not to be forgotten too were the performances of the Imo and Kano states troupes.

We'll make Nigeria the biggest in our hotels and hospitality business — Vos

P

By Daniel Eteghe

resident, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Roeland Vos has said that the focus of Starwood Hotels and Resort was to make Nigeria the biggest in it's hotels and hospitality business in Africa stressing that Nigeria has a huge opportunity that needs to be tapped into by the resort.

Speaking during an interactive session with newsmen at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Victoria Island Lagos, Mr. Vos pointed out that Nigeria was the second country at the moment which would become the biggest in the next two

to three years in Africa apart from other countries like the United States, Angola, Ghana and so on.

"I think that honestly in the overall scale, Nigeria is a huge opportunity for us and similar things could be said of places like United States, Angola, Ghana and so on but for us Nigeria is the number two at this time which will become the biggest in the next two to three years in Africa" Mr. Vos affirmed.

On plans to expand and build more new hotels in Nigeria apart Lagos and Abuja, the President of the Resort noted that they had a lot of destinations to build in more new hotels stressing that the demand for their hotels in Nigeria was

high.

He said"I think that there is a number of destinations that have been announced and Alex can tell you more about those destinations but we think that there is still more hotels to be built outside of those two big cities, in Lagos and Abuja and even in those cities at least we use most of our 9 brands of which part of them could be represented in both of those cities and beside that the other destinations, I think they could take like 5, 6, 7 or 8 different cities where we could have our hotels too in not too distance future"

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 , 2012—27

Lagbaja breaks silence over ‘online picture, Ego’s exit ...drops 9th album BENJAMIN NJOKU

F

ew months after a picture which claimed to be the facial identity of Bisade Ologunde popularly known as Lagbaja circulated online, the man behind the mask has decided to break his silence over the said picture.

Lagbaja cleared the air, while unveiling his latest studio effort and nineth album titled ” 200 Million Mumu; The Bitter Truth”, at his event outfit, Motherlan, in Opebi, Lagos, last week.

Reacting for the first time since the picture hit the internet, Lagbaja said, “people are very funny, this same picture has been put on internet before now with a similar story.

They should know that Lagbaja is much older than the person there and I don’t have bald-head, may be by the time I have bald-head, he will look much like me.”

Although, the masked saxophonist did not dismiss the possibility of his facial identity being revealed someday, he however noted that it would be after he has kicked the bucket. ‘People will have the opportunity to see my face when I’m gone,” he said Lagbaja also seized the opportunity offered by the informal gathering to address some pertinent issues bothering on his career and personality.

According to him, what he gains by not talking about his

personal life on the pages of newspapers is his priceless freedom.

“Lagbaja is a very simple person, he said, adding “I don’t want to live a life of a celebrity. There are certain things I can do today, which most you cannot do. I can walk from my house in Omale Estate down to my Wonderlan in Opebi, I’m talking about three kilometers here but most of you cannot do it.

Not because you don’t have the energy but you simply cannot do it. What I gain by not talking about my personal life is freedom.”

Lagbaja

Continues on pg 28

h it w e s r rs u o c n io is ll Beverly Naya on co enevieve Omotola, G

BY AYO ONIKOYI Fast rising Nollywood actress, Beverly Naya hasn’t been around for more than two years in the industry and already she is rubbing shoulders with the very best in the business.

The highly cultured beauty who only started

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her acting while featuring in Lancelot Imasuen’s “Home in Exile” produced two years ago. She is billed to slug it with the likes of Omotola, Genevieve Nnaji and Nse Ikpe-Etim for her role in 2010 movie ‘’Guilty Pleasure” as she is nominated for the Most Stylish Actress honour in the FABS award, holding later this month.

Compared to the other nominees for the award, Beverly is way behind and her only claim to fame is a couple of films like ‘Home In Exile’ and “Weekend Getaway’, where she starred alongside Genevieve Nnaji, Uti Nwachukwu and Ramsey Nouah. She also made a show of her dazzling beauty in Banky W.’s ‘’Follow You Go’’ video but will these few capers put the odds in her favour? It is a long shot in the dark but one Beverly is hellbent on taking.

Already, she is not leaving any stone unturned as she is regularly and religiously on social media campaigning for votes. There is hardly a day without “Hey guys!! I need

your support, please vote for me to win FAB’s ‘Most Stylish Actress’ via a link. Luv you guys” banner from her posted on either Twitter or Facebook.

Beverly became so popular recently, no thanks to a rumour being milled around that she is involved in a hot sizzling romance with Big Brother All Star winner, Uti Nwachukwu after the duo were caught in a compromising position on a couple of occasions. But the damsel has since dispelled the rumour on Twitter, saying “This Insinuation is laughable..Pls lets not start a rumor…..My boyfriend wasn’t too happy seeing this….” Uti makes me laugh a lot…its always fun and games hanging out with him and nothing more.”

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

2face, D’ banj clash with Femi Kuti, Sir Shina PPeeter erss at TTOP1 OP1 0MICS OP10MICS

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t will be an unusual atmo sphere at the exquisite Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos this evening, as an unusual music concert,tagged, the mother of all shows, TOP10MICS holds in grand style.

Organised by entertainment powerhouse, Koga, the concert has been generating heat in the past few weeks in respect of what to expect today as African queen

crooner, Tuface Idibia, Kokomaster, Dbanj, Afrobeat Icon, Femi Kuti, Juju Star, Sir Shina Peters, Ace Humorist, BasketMouth, popular OAP, Yaw, DJs Jimmy Jatt and Neptune get set to thrill their fans.

The organisers have also confirmed that there would be 10% discount on tickets bought online This year ’s TOP10MICS has been

described as the ‘ battle of the young and the old breed’ as two of Nigerian best music acts, Femi Kuti and Sir Shina Peters go head to head with the likes of 2face, D’banj and others.

Speaking on the concert, Anu Awoseyi of Koga Entertainment informed that there will be new twist to this year’s concert. “We have been encouraged by the volume of tickets sold so far. For those fans who would be at the concert today, there is something more to this concert that would separate it from the usual ones. I am not allowed to reveal the specifics now but there would be new twists to this year’s concert, last year’s event was a little predictable but this year ’s show won’t be like that from the performance of the headlining artistes to the organisation for the concert”.

Lagbaja breaks silence over ‘online picture, Ego exit ..drops 99th th album that is how it should be. roundings has nine Continues from page 27

On Ego Ogbaro’s exit, Lagbaja said, “ Naturally, every person will aspire to grow; you cannot hold unto an employer all your life. If you have a drive in the artistic world, you want to also be an employer, you want to explore your own art. So, it was a natural progression. Ego had to leave. Don’t forget that she was with us for more than 10 years. So, what else do you expect? There was no fight. In fact, I had been encouraging her to do her own songs long before her exit.

If she had stayed, I would have been happy but when she was going I was happy too.”

“I said, ‘okay, but you have to wait till the end of the year so we can have a party for you’. And so, we celebrated her at our last show before she left. It’s a natural growth; you can’t remain in one place forever. And mind you, when you leave, you are actually creating a space for somebody else to come in because my concept is my concept.”

“Ego left at the right time

If the opportunity comes, we would meet somewhere else. Few weeks ago, I saw Ego at an event and I invited her on stage to perform alongside my band. Today, she has started her own career. The girls with me today will someday start their own career too,” Lagbaja said.

Lagbaja said his latest album is intended to speak to the conscience of Nigerians. The album has nine tracks and one video. Among the nine tracks are , ‘Knock Knock Knock’, ‘200 Million Mumu (parts one and three)‘, ‘Redemption Song’, ‘Guide Me O’, ‘Thou Great Jehova’ and ‘Omo Jayejaye’, the track with the video.

In shooting the video, the artiste employs the services of Nollywood acts including Racheal Oniga and a host of others. “If you follow my music videos well, you will notice that I always love working with actors and actresses. I have worked with Basketmouth and some others in the past. As a matter of fact, I enjoy working with them because of the flavour they bring into what I am doing,”Lagbaja said According to the artiste, it is not in his tradition to do singles, but with the release of Knock Knock Knock, the game changed. The album which he says seeks to awaken the consciousness of Nigerians to happenings in their sur-

tracks and one video. “ The album is a satire, the inspiration comes from my belief that I have to pass a message that contributes to the national discuss. This is not a joke and when it comes to what happens in Nigeria, I think I have a solution. The solution is that we are all mugus and we are contributing to the mess that’s happening here. It is easy to point fingers at leaders but actually, a leader cannot be different from the followers because he was one of us; he came from among us.

The same madness happening at the federal level is happening in the local government. Your neighbour who you knew before is now councilor or chairman, and suddenly, you’re not seeing changes in the environment but you’re seeing changes in him.

He gets fatter and we mugus are grumbling and shouting along as if we are not seeing that the solution lies in the fact that we have to address these ourselves,” he said.

THE TEAM BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com AYO ONIKOYI OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

Synopsis

Movie of the week

Hotel Pennsylvania

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n a gritty language school, located deep within a large Manhattan hotel, people from all over the world are brought together to learn English. As they share their past scars and future aspirations, one man’s failures inspire another man’s dream. The film, directed by Marc Raymond Wilkins is written by Lani-Rain Feltham. It stars Darri Ingolfsson, Maria Pendolino and Miriam Weisbecker.

Movie Schedule

30th November – 6th December

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Hotel Transylvania: 11:15am, 1:10pm, 3:05pm.

Dr Bello : 1;10pm, 5:40pm Premium Rush: 1:40pm, 5:55pm, 10:10pm The Meeting: 3:00pm, 7:30pm Jab TAK Hain Jaan: 4:00pm Twilight Saga: Breaking dawn part2: 11:05am, 6:50pm, 9: 10pm Sparkles: 11:00am, 10:00pm.

Bond23: Skyfall: 1:20pm, 4:20pm, 7:30pm, 11:15pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Hotel Transylvania: 12:20pm, 2:15pm, 4:10pm.

Dr Bello: 11:35am, 4:05pm, 8:40pm The Meeting: 1;25pm, 6:00pm Bond23: Skyfall: 12:35pm, 3:20pm, 6:05pm, 8:50pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, ABUJA Hotel Transylvania: 11:30am, 1:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:40pm.

Dr Bello: 12;30pm, 2;30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8;30pm.

Twilight Saga: Breaking dawnpart2: 12:00pm, 2:20pm, 4:50pm, 7:05pm,9:20pm Sparkles: 12:40pm, 5:05pm, 9:15pm.

Bond23; Skyfall: 11;50am, 2;40pm, 5:50pm, 8;50pm The Meeting: 12:10pm, 2:45pm, 5:20pm, 8:10pm.

Premium Rush: 1: 00pm, 3:00pm,5:00pm, 7:00pm, 9:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Premium Rush: 12;10pm, 4:30pm, 8:40pm.

The Meeting: 2:30pm, 6:40pm Sparkle: 2:10pm, 6;20pm.

Bond23:Skyfall: 12;50pm, 3:30pm, 6;10pm, 8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Hotel Transylvania : 12:10pm, 2:10pm, 4:10pm, 6:10pm, 8:10pm..

Dr Bello: 12:20pm, 2;20pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm Premium Rush: 11;10am, 1:10pm, 3;20pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm.

The Meeting: 11:50am, 2:40pm, 5:20pm, 8:20pm.

Twilight Saga: Breaking dawn part 2: 12:50pm, 3:10pm, 5:40pm, 8:20pm Sparkles: 12;00pm, 2;30pm, 5:10pm, 7:40pm.

Bond23 Skyfall: 11:10am, 2;00pm, 5;00pm, 7:50pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS UYO Premium Rush: 11:40am, 1:30pm, 3;20pm, 5:10pm, 7:00pm The Meeting: 11:50am, 2:25pm Okon Goes to School: 5:00pm, 7:00pm, Sparkles : 12:15pm, 4:30pm Bond23: Skyfall: 12;50pm, 3:45pm, 6:30pm.

Safe: 2:00pm, 6:35pm.

OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Hotel Transylvania: 10:00am, 11:55am, 1;50pm, 3:40pm Dr Bello: 2;30pm, 6:50pm, 8:40pm.

Premium Rush: 5:35pm, 7:30pm, 9:25pm The Meeting: 12:00pm, 4:20pm Twilight Saga: Breaking dawnpart2: 1;45pm,4;10pm, 6;35pm, 9:00pm.

Okon goes to school: 10:00pm Sparkles : 1:00pm Step up4 : 10:55am Madagascar 10:00am GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Hotel Transylvania: 10;10am, 12;15pm, 2;20pm, 4:25pm Dr Bello: 1;20pm, 6;20pm, 11:25pm Twilight saga breaking dawn part2: 10::30am, 12:55pm, 3:20pm, 5:45pm, 8:10pm, 11;35pm.

Premium Rush: 12;40pm,5:10pm, 9:40pm Sparkles: 10:10am, 2;4pm, 7:10pm, 11:40pm Bond23:Skyfall: 10;15am, 1;40pm, 4:10pm, 7:05pm, 11:00pm GENESIS CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Hotel Transylvania: 9:45am, 1;30pm, 3;20pm, 5:10pm Dr Bello: 9:50am, 2;55pm, 7:00pm, 9:20pm.

Twilight Saga: Breaking dawn part2: 9:50am, 2:15pm, 4:30pm, 6;45pm, 9:00pm, 11: 15pm The Meeting: 1;35pm, 9:25pm.

Sparkles: 12:00pm Bond23: Skyfall: 12:10pm, 5;15pm, 8:00pm, 10;45pm.

Safe: 11:35am, 11:40pm.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—29

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30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Olamide set to thrill fans at Nnenna & Friends end-of-y ear par ty end-of-year party A

Kate Henshaw

Kate Henshaw becomes face of perfume line

N

ollywood actress, Kate Henshaw has landed another multi-million naira deal.

This time with a UK based perfume line called blessing perfume.

It is owned by a UK based Nigerian and exclusively sold in Harrolds, one of the world’s most famous department stores in London’s Knights bridge, UK. Although she did not disclose how much was involved in the deal, our source said the company parted with a ‘mouth watering’ sum of mon-

ey to have the actress sign the deal.

Henshaw started her acting career in 1993 and has featured in over 50 movies. She is presently a judge on the ongoing Nigeria’s Got Talent show and is also on set for an upcoming soap opera, Crossroads, along with other actors, including Emeka Ossai.

The single mother of one, who lost her contract with telecoms giant, Glo, is also the seasoning brand ambassador of Onga.

s 2012 is fast drawing to an end, Wale Adenuga Productions Ltd, producer of multi awardwinning TV programmes Super story, This Life, Papa Ajasco & Co. and Nnena & Friends TV Show, is concluding plans to ensure that all families are treated to Top Family Entertainment, at this year’s edition of the Nnena & Friends End-ofYear Show.

Coded Tunes star artiste, Olamide, who has been busy delivering hit after hit to the airwaves, will be performing at the event and has vowed that his performance there will be his best ever and has stated that he looks forward to having an awesome time with thousands of fans there.

Nnena, a versatile artiste who is adored by kids and teens all over the country, will be hosting the event which will also feature assorted quality entertainment from Elenu, Akpororo, K-Baj, Nnena & Friends Musical Group, Lolly Kid, DJ Walex, Gentle Explosion, and as always, Papa

T

wo of Nigeria’s finest ac tresses, Tonto Dikeh and Uche Jumbo were hosted by the biggest entertainment industry weekly celebrity party, E-Rave yesterday, at Club Rumours, Ikeja, Lagos.

The weekly show with its fun filled atmosphere yet again mesmerized its audience, as these two veterans in the industry created excitement at the event but shared their latest projects with their fans and collegues. The event, hosted by popular comic act, MC Abbey had other top acts, actors, comedians, artistes, DJs and great entertainers on ground to cheer them on.

The two star actresses gave a summary of how they began and what their fans should

expect from them. There were performances from top Nigerian artistes and comedians.

E-Rave is an initiative of Klick Promotions in partnership with Ruff Sounds and Nasville Entertainment.

It had in the previous editions hosted the likes of Trybe records lord, eLDee The Don, Nigerian’s most prestigious DJ, DJ Jimmy Jatt and the talented comedy act, Julius Agwu. Since the debut of this most anticipated event; it has not failed to leave its audience gasping for more.

Nnena

2012, being the latest in a series of well-attended live shows by the Nnena & Friends Brand, has secured the affiliation of top corporate bodies in Nigeria including Indomie Noodles, Ribena,

Bigi Sausage, Yoyo Bitters, McVities Happy Faces, Spectra Limited and Beloxxi Biscuit which will all ensure that there are lots of gifts and prizes to go round.

Fat ai R olling dollar loses wif irewor ks atai Rolling wifee ttoo ffirewor ireworks L egendary guitarist and singer, Fatai Olagunju, popularly known as Fatai Rolling dollar is not a happy man at the moment. He recently lost one of his wives, Olaitan.

According to the septuagenarian, his late wife had been admitted in the hospital for months before she eventually gave up the ghost last Friday(November 23, 2012).

He traced the origin of her illness back to December 2011, prior to Christmas celebration, when a firework thrown into his house hit and affected his late wife’s leg.

The incident resulted into complications days after, while several attempts to treat and heal the leg proved abortive until she finally gave up the ghost.

E-Rave hos ts TTont ont eh, Uc he Jumbo hosts ontoo Dik Dikeh, Uche

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

Ajasco & Company, Nigeria’s No. 1 C o m e d y Group will be there to perform live on stage with their unique brand of comedy.

The live event which will consist of two shows that will both take place on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at the air-conditioned National Theatre, Iganmu-Lagos at 12noon to 3pm and 3pm to 6pm Nnena & Friends Endof-Year Show

Only last year, the 86-yearold artiste wedded veteran screen goddess of Yoruba home movies, Bunmi Akinbo Gold.

Gold, whose stage name is Esubiyi, is most famous for her lead role in “Aiye Ogun Omo Arayele”-the first Yoruba movie to be shown on NTA Nigerian Television Authority back in the days.

Blessed with 15 children already, Rolling Dollar who recently welcomed child number 16, says he is still interested in fathering babies for as long as he can.

Having been involved with two other women-a German and a Nigerian who bore him children, apart from his first wife who died in 1999, Pa Rolling Dollar also added that he is capable of taking yet another wife.

The artiste, one of Nigeria’s oldest surviving singers, is most famous for his hit track, ‘Won kere si number wa.’

Irene Logan returns with new single S

BY AYO ONIKOYI

eason One winner of Real ity TV Show, Stars of the Future, Irene Logan is back on the scene with her new single titled Akwasi Kasanova. Irene said she is back to claim just position on the music scene and hopes to record the video of the single in the next two weeks.

She said the video for her newest song is different from

her previous videos as this single is expected to be more airy, lively with lots of fun.

The idea, according to her is about girls protesting against Casanovas.

Irene also revealed she went off the scene to repackage herself and study the music scene better to know where she would make the most impact. She has however promised to release her first album next year.

Irene

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—31

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32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Timaya and Duncan

Timaya, Duncan Mighty,

others to be honoured at Odudu music awards

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

S

elf-acclaimed Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, Duncan Mighty, Timi Dakolo, American based singerPupa Say are among notable artistes to be honoured at the 4th annual Odudu Music Awards 2012, billed to hold tomorrow, at the Hotel Presidential, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Others include, London based singers- Sody Cookey and Enyioma as well as Channel O award winner, M-Trill.

These artistes known to have started their music careers from back in the days in Port Harcourt.

Earlier, the executive producer, Micheal Ogolo assured that they have put everything have been put in place to give Port-Harcourt another mind blowing edition of Odudu Awards.

“This year alone, we received over 200 entires and made 83 nominations for the 40 Categories of the awards. We have been able to host three successful editions which had elicitated lots of cheering support from the NigerDelta people. We have also had couple of Nigerian Stars , like Ali Baba, Julius Agwu, Gentle Jack, Bobby

Ogoloma and others in attendance and the wife of the Governor of Rivers State witnessed the last edition and also presented the an awards in the Gospel category for male and female”.

Ogolo however enjoined Nigerians and fun seeker in particular to come and see the best of Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta on the 1st of December, 2012. This year ’s Odudu Music Awards will have more musical performances on stage than the presentation of awards proper. Most categories will be given out at the Blue carpet area to allow for 15 categories maximum on stage. We want to celebrate Port Harcourt music as well as project these talents to the world.”.

Being the biggest awards ceremony in the whole of the Niger Delta region, this year’s edition which will be hosted by by popular on-air personality, Andre Blaze and a UK based musician, Enyioma has been designed to be spectacular in a way. Odudu Music Awards is set up to serve as a reward and appreciation mechanism for the abundant talents in entertainment, especially music, in the Niger Delta

Ayinde lights up Ibadan as Olubadan bags cchief hief hiefttaincy title RONTLINE politician and Chair F man of Al-Wajud Real Estate, Mr. Shamsudeen Abogun has bagged the

Shamsudeen Abogun

chieftaincy title of Aaro Babajiroro of Ibadan Land by the Olubadan, His Royal Highness, Dr. Samuel Odulana.

Abogun, who was a House of Representatives aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, was honoured as a result of his philanthropic activities across the nation.

A statement by the Chairman Marvin Giwa Promotions, Alhaji Tunde Giwa noted that the event which was held at Jogor Centre, in the ancient city of Ibadan, attracted the crème de le crème of the society.

On hand to entertain guests at the event, was a popular fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—33 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

Nok-Y-ia Facebook on the go with Asha205

Nokia Asha -205-206

F

ACEBOOK lovers in Nigeria- ofcourse they are in great numbers- are in great deal of good times as Nokia closes ranks with Facebook in one of the most interesting collaborations for connection in the mobile w o r l d .

The collaboration which gives birth to the new Nokia Asha 205, gives FB lovers the opportunity to nock their Facebook alive on the go, with just a touch on the button.

The new device is the first Nokia device to feature a dedicated Facebook button, designed for people who want the fastest,one-click access to Facebook features.

Introducing a new range of Asha phones, 205 and 206 in Lagos recently, Mobile Growth Manager, Africa for Facebook Nicola D’Elia, said that people around the world use Facebook Mobile to connect and share with their friends and so her company had decided to strike partnerships focused on delivering the best Facebook experience to as many people as possible.

She described Facebook’s partnership with Nokia as perfectly complementing its strategy of giving people around the world a rich Facebook experience for keeping in touch with their friends.

Also Head of Mobile Phones, Nokia India Middle East & Africa, Calin Turcanu, noted that globally, young consumers have increasingly started using Facebook for socializing, keeping in touch and striking new friendships, adding that the launch of the Nokia Asha 205 responded to this growing demand and

gives them a unique option for accessing Facebook while on-the-go.

The phone maker also introduced another feature called Slam on the phone which allows consumers to share multimedia content like photos, music and videos with nearby friends almost instantly. eatures of the phones: Nokia Asha 205 is the ultimate social phone, with a QWERTY keyboard and new Facebook button Nokia 206 delivers bold color andimpressive 47 days of stand-by time Slam – an exclusive new service that enables fast content s h a r i n g Both devices reflect Nokia’s heritage by combining worldclass design and long-lasting battery life.

The Nokia Asha 205 and Nokia 206 are the first Mobile Phones devices to include Nokia’s exclusive Slam feature. Slam works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones without the need to pair devices, and without the recipient needing to also have Slam. In just a few clicks, people can ‘Slam’ their content to another device faster than with Bluetooth alone and without consuming Internet data.

Other key features of the Nokia Asha 205 include: eBuddy screen notifications that keep users up-to-theminute on new conversations The free Nokia Life+ web app, including the Life Skills and Live Healthy services A comprehensive mobile entertainment package, including 40 free EA Games available for download, along with tens of thousands of other apps available from the

F

Nokia Store The products feature Single SIM and dualSIM models featuring Nokia’s exclusiveEasySwap technology that enables consumers to change SIM cards without having to turn off the device Great standby time: up to 37 days with single SIM and up to 25 days with dual SIM The Nokia Asha 205 is available ina vivid color range including Cyan, Magenta and Orange. The estimated retail price for the Nokia Asha 205is around 62 USD andit is expected to start shipping in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Nokia 206: beautifully bold Internet. The Nokia 206 features a classic alphanumeric keypad and a generous 2.4” display,giving ample room to surf the Internet, play games, or chat with friends. People can also enjoy fast access to Facebook and Twitter right from the home screen.It has a vibrant color palette including Cyan, Magenta and Yellow, the Nokia 206 is the ideal for those who want familiarity and ease of use, coupled withbeautiful design and all the benefits of the mobile Internet.

Other key features of the Nokia 206 include: Imaging technology that optimizes photos taken with the 1.3MP camera for sharing on Facebook

TECNO N3

TECNO targets youth market with N3 3G smartphone

I

F you think that the youth segment of the country does not have any hand in the mobile boom that Nigerian market has been known for, you will quickly change perceptions on first contact with Tecno N3 3G dual SIM smart phone.

If the phone fails to do the magic, Vice President of the phone manufacturing company, Mr Arif Chowdury will explain: “The youth in Africa are vibrant and constantly want to stand apart with their own identities. As a mobile phone company, we understand the need to constantly engage them and TECNO as a brand is committed to connecting with the African youth’s motivations and passions.

“The TECNO N3 is designed specifically for the young African consumer and offers a great mobile phone experience, with access key features that young people

look for such as social networking, access to thousands of apps and entertainment at a good price point. We are using the Be Yourself campaign to introduce this phone model because we feel it’s the best platform for us to connect with the youth.”

TECNO has partnered with Qualcomm, a world leader in 3G and next generation mobile technologies to provide N3 with a powerful chipset of Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7225A, which packs everything needed for a best-in-class experience for a smart phone, to give consumers the best 3G smartphone experience.

With Airtel also as one of the partners, the 3G Android Smartphone is bundled with an Airtel SIM and according to Tecno, Nigerian customers who purchase the device will enjoy six months complimentary data from the telecoms operator.

HP boosts printing with Ink Advantage 3525 F OR private business owners and those who would want to do some printing with their equipment at home, HP is offering a helping hand. With the introduction of new HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 3525 e-All-in-One, business and home users wanting to print more for less, are in real business. The edge of this device according to Hp, is that they can also print wirelessly from virtually anywhere. The printer can be banked on for affordable wireless performance to do more at home and on the go while at the same time produce impressive results, using lowcost Original HP inks.

The new HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 3525 e-All-in-One printers offers automatic two-sided printing, wireless direct printing that allow users to easily print from wireless-enabled mobile devices without a network or router.

It also allows the user to print photos, documents, email and more. The product has key features that may

interest low i n c o m e earners, particularly.

525 Low-cost tage 3 i n k s Advan The low-cost Original HP ink cartridges that come with the new product allows users the advantage of printing what matters for less and easily replace cartridge. With the printer, users can print, scan, copy, and connect to web content.

Reliable, time-saving results The printer saves time by automatically printing and copying on both sides of a single page.

Produce borderless everyday documents, photos, and flyers at home.

From the 2.0-inch mono display, users can easily print, scan, copy, and access HP Quick Forms.

Easy mobile printing—from virtually anywhere Like has been emphasised, with HP ePrint, users can print from virtually anywhere, share wirelessly, and connect to users’ wireless network quickly and easily Performance.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY , NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Integrity does not have Colour Creed or Sex —Henrietta Fagbo

L

awyer and multifaceted journalist Henrietta Abisola Titilola Fagbo has had a burden for our national societal values for a very long time. This burden was to find an outlet in a television and radio program, Profiles of Achievers, which began to air about ten years ago. Earlier in 2012, it all evolved into a documentary in print featuring more than twenty of the celebrated men and women who had been interviewed on radio and/or television..

Chief Emeka Anyaoku

In the forward written by Peter Osajele Enahoro, the latter wrote: Our sense of self-worth as a people was in such decline that our young looked abroad for role models, mimicking their sartorial and hirsute styles… it was my guess that there were more boutiques named after Diana, princess of Wales, than there was named for princess Amina, Zaria’s colourful warrior queen.

And in introducing the book to the reader the writer stresses: what we have today is in sharp contrast to those good old days . young people look around and they see a great measure of worldly success awarded to men and women lacking principles.

Crooks are crowned with public honours and swindlers roll in questionable wealth.

Vices are given euphemistic names to clothe their evil.

In this interview she opens up to Morenike taire on this her Labour of Love.

I notice that the entire book is written in the first person narrative I interviewed the people based originally on a radio and television program that I did called Portrait of Achievers. I asked questions and they answered so when it moved up to become a book I didn’t want to remove or add anything they had said You wanted it to be from the horse’s mouth as it were When you start rewriting, you would lose some things.

You might be losing the essence of the interview

They think with a life of service they don’t need to add anything but I wanted to know the people behind the journey because iwas seeing them as ambassadors of us all and knowing that they went to schools that are still around then speaking to the people in the now schools that you too can be these people not just for the achievers but for the up and coming achiever as well

Henrietta Fagbo Which is?

Which is what the people said themselves about themselves. I might move away from the original intention of the people Is it not also important to have other people’s perspectives of the profiled people?

Very very important but this is the Portrait of Achievers. It’s their portrait. So many things are out there being said about them, who people think they are but for me I wanted them to tell their own story- their journey, the reasons for their decisions, the drawbacks, the fallouts, their regrets if any.

Fola Adeola

What were the criteria for being in this book? I bet there will be a lot of people who would think they ought to have been featured. Why are they not there?

A number of people were written when the program Portrait of Achievers was started over ten years ago. A number of people stepped it down. These are the people who dared to be interviewed by the unknown Henrietta Fagbo. A lot of people who stepped it down did not see this book coming. The truth of the matter is I didn’t see this book myself. The book evolved. I think a lot of people did not want the publicity of the radio and television programs so they stepped down the interviews. It was after many years of radio and television that it was requested that can we not have this thing documented? That’s how the book evolved But why would some people, if they have achieved honestly, worry about the publicity?

They think the achievement should speak for them. I have come to realize that in some form of modesty they don’t want to talk about themselves.

And what’s an achiever?

Now it’s a tall order walking the straight and narrow. I think a lot of people think that its old fashioned but there’s dignity in labour. I look at a lot of people that have worked hard in whatever field they’ve found themselves, toiling at it and they have come to their own. They may not have billions but they have become an authority in what it is they started at and this country has recognized some but for some people you will say I have heard his name since the 60s and 70s. why are they being recycled? They are proven and tested and they are standing taller than their natural height. Men and women.

Will this go on to be some kind of series?

Yes I hope so, although I’m not encouraged by the lack of support but I am hoping that it will turn around. We can’t have it all in the first edition Most of the names in the book are well known names.

Is this to say that there are not some people in their corners doing their thing and doing well?

Believe me there are lots of people sitting in their corner and doing exceedingly well.

This country and any country

should thrive on role models and we cannot have enough of them. I am saying that the people you see in that book by no means exhaust the numbers of role models we have. Our mothers, our fathers, they are not in this book. But the people we see out there we must know they did not come there by fiat, that they had a lot of falls and rises and falls and rises. They continue to be steadfast and that is what singles them out.

We ourselves should learn that even when we’re down and out.

What’s the role of mentoring in nation building, for you?

I thank you for this question!

Every time I go to interview not just the people in this book but everybody I have interviewed over ten years, I leave the place a better person. I am a piece of all these people. I walk into somebody’s living room, they open their doors and they talk to me about themselves.

Maybe before I am a bit discouraged about something and I leave the place saying to myself , you have not begun, get back on the beat and just like you said, it is not over till it’s over. Unless people remind us, unless we remind ourselves we get discouraged by bashing here there and the other but it is in the bashing that the real us will emerge.

I am sure there is a fine gentleman somewhere waiting to be found…

Or a lady.

Or a lady !

When I think for instance of Continued from page 35

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 — 35

It’s about worshipping God and helping to encourage hearts and above all that people come to know God through music

Integrity does not have Colour Creed or Sex Continue from page 34 ECOWAS and I think it’s the brain child of a Nigerian and other people (professor Adebayo Adedeji).

General Ovadje did something for women, and you are thinking professor Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate. Mr Alfred Irabor Okoigun, one of the youngest person featured in this book was born in 1955 .

First set of the petroleum training institute (PTI), working hard in his industry of choice and making his mark.

What are we doing now, and where are we?

There is need for continuity because these people are passing Like we all are. But about women, I notice there is only a sprinkling of women featured.

That was out of modesty. Professor Grace Alele-Williams, Alhaja Lateefa Okunnu, Hajiya Lemu. I really let them no rest, that’s how they came in. they didn’t have a choice It’s the same trend that we see in politics with women shying away for one reason or the other.

Is it like a social or cultural thing?

I think a cultural thing.

We stay backstage. Once you are a woman you nurture other people and you stay in the background. I think we should be more than that, allow ourselves to be appreciated, recognized. I am particularly pleased that I am speaking to you a woman. We should remind ourselves that we have a role to play.

Tell me more about this Hajiya Lemu (one of the featured women) There are ten different people on the board that throw names up. Funny enough Hajiya Lemu is out in Minna. She according to the story met sheikh Lemu in England and she came to Nigeria and started educating. As an educator I was told she had made a lot of impact out there in the North so got in touch with her and she was very responsive,

If it’s not entertainment how does it attract people?

What do you define as entertainment?

very open and very honest. She said to me she started being a Christian and ended up being an Hajiya today, and she is vigorously and actively charting the course of women

Did you have a good representation of people from all over the country?

All over the country. No l i m i t a t i o n .

Communication was a problem. What I also said to myself is, integrity does not have colour, creed and sex. If there is a particular tribe that was not sufficiently or not represented here, this is not the last, this is the first. Integrity is not the exclusive preserve of any tribe. Every part of this nation there are men and women of achievement and I know that, and they will be celebrated.

Finally, if I may ask, where would you like to see this book?

I would like this book to be in the hands of women/mothers because they do a lot in the decisions of children. I’d like to see it in the hands of Nigerians in the Diaspora, in secondary schools, national libraries and state libraries. It is not too early to start influencing our children but never too late to stop them from going the wrong way. In this book was a man who was rusticated from the university.

Who was that?

Dr. Ovadje. And he went back to the same university. He became an inventor and is recognized all over the world today. In this book was Dr. Chilobia who said at his final examination in secondary school he wore his senior sister ’s blouse as a shirt. Such was the level of poverty and he came back to be the Managing Director of FBN Merchant Bankers.

Is that not in a past era? Can such things happen in Nigeria today?

I am sure there are a lot of stories waiting to be heard.

Rita Alakija

We want Microwave Christianity—Rita Alakija I

n the later days of the era when being a television presenter was synonymous with glamour in Nigeria, Rita Alakija’s presence was one of the newer generation ones that graced the more upmarket side of the tube. Many years after she moved on, worked in the financial sector and successfully battled illness for many years, the mother of one better known as a broadcaster recently announced her foray into gospel music by a concert in Lagos, raising many a brow from observers who had not known of the diversity of her previous work life spanning experience in the aviation and financial sectors.

She sings using the trade name AIMEE and does not bat an eyelid when she asserts that broadcasting did not prepare her in any way for the rigours of producing a seven-track album while on six or seven different and debilitating medications.

Rita’s is a story of the indomitability of the human will and indeed, mind. In this short chat with Morenike Taire, she explains why she is now singing.

Why music now?

(Chuckles) Why not music?

But why gospel?

It’s what am I, who I am. I believe that whatever talent we have be it music, be it to play any instrument, art, writing, bee collecting, beauty, intelligence.

Whatever it is we have at the end of the day it’s given to us so that we can use it to give God glory If you look at the face of the gospel sector of the Nigerian music industry what is missing and how do you come in?

I am very proud. I think that gospel has come a long way and

Something you listen to and enjoy For me it’s much more than that; it’s a spiritual experience.

It’s a journey. It’s like saying you come before God to worship Him and you see it as entertainment. There are people who do that kind of music so it’s just different, not entertaining.

At the concert and album launch you repeated only one song from the album.

Why was this?

I don’t know. I wish

is doing very well. I am very happy that there are wonderful talents here in Nigeria and it’s not like one, two- there are many so it’s competitive. Of course there is constant room for constant improvement and the only thing that cannot change is change. The moment you think you’ve arrived, that’s the moment you begin to fade.

i knew. It’s about just obeying the leading of God. Sometimes you want to promote something and He says, “ you promote me first”. Anyway the theme was Follow Me, not follow AIMEE but follow Jesus. This was one of the first things Jesus said to his disciples. It was not a suggestion or an idea. It’s a command.

What about singers like Whitney Houston who began with gospel? Where do they go wrong?

Whitney happens to be one of the people I really respect in the music industry. As far as I am concerned the best vocal in the world. Life happens, stuff happens. I am not here to judge her, I just wish things didn’t happen the way it happened for her. There will never be another Whitney.

There will be somebody else , another kind of voice but that kind of voice? No, maybe a copy.

In Nigeria it’s happening in front of your house...

It’s about saving people.

What is the future looking like? Is this just a flash in the pan?

No it’s not a flash in the pan.

This has come to stay by the grace of God because as you were saying why music? It’s a tool. Music is very powerful.

Someone sings a love song and another person is feeling all loved and everything.

Someone sings another kind of song and it makes them want to do drugs. Someone plays some kind of music and it ignites anger and violence.

Music is a tool that can be used either for good or bad.

Music is not entertainment.

How do you know?

When you’ve gone through a near death experience before then you think you know things and you are just okay until you go through a life changing experience and you begin to look at life from different perspectives. You begin to wonder what really is the essence of life, what really matters? Is it all about you? Is there a higher calling?

When I was ill I got to a point where I said, God, when are you going to heal me? Heal me right now! There didn’t seem to be any way. The question came to my heart? If I don’t heal you, will you still love Me? Do we love God because He is God or do we love Him only when things are going right? I love Him against all odds. Belief will tell you what to do, determine your lifestyle. I was reminded about the story of Abraham.

God didn’t show up when Abraham was thirty or forty.

Why seventy five? We want immediate gratification. Fast food Christianity; microwave Christianity.

36— Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2012 —37

Cinnamon: Best medicinal spice you can get eatrightconsult@yahoo.com W 08091276796

ONDERING what cinnamon is?

Cinnamon is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree, which when dried, rolls into a tubular form known as a quill.

Cinnamon is available in either its whole quill form (cinnamon sticks) or as ground powder, which can be found on supermarket shelves. It has a long history as a spice and medicine. Its unique healing abilities come from three basic essential oils found in its bark containing active components called cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol, plus a wide range of other volatile substances Cinnamon's ability to lower the release of arachidonic acid from cell membranes also puts it in the category of an "antiinflammatory" food that can be helpful in lessening inflammation which may be why it has been used traditionally to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger.

Cinnamon's essential oil also qualifies it as an “anti-microbial” food, and as such has been studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast - Candida. Its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are so effective that recent research demonstrates that this spice

with Funke Oshifuye can be used as an alternative to traditional food preservatives due to the fact that it prevents oxidation more effectively than all the other spices and the chemical antioxidants.

Seasoning a high carbohydrate food with cinnamon can help lessen its impact on blood sugar levels owing to the fact that cinnamon slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise

in blood sugar after eating.

Studies have shown that compounds in cinnamon stimulate insulin receptors, inhibit an enzyme that inactivates them, thus significantly increasing cells' ability to use glucose, and reduces blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes.

Not only does consuming cinnamon improve the body's ability to utilise blood sugar, but just smelling the wonderful odour of this sweet spice boosts brain activity! Chewing cinnamon flavoured gum or just smelling cinnamon enhanced drink enhances attention processes, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor speed while working on a computer-based programme.

If you asked me, I intend to include cinnamon in my next shopping list, what about you?

Your nails say much about your health

D

ID you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? Problems in the liver, lungs, and heart can show up in your nails. Keep reading to learn what secrets your nails might reveal.

Very pale nails can sometimes be a sign of serious illness, such as: anaemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease and malnutrition. If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis.

One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate a more serious condition such

as severe thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes or psoriasis. Nails with a bluish tint can indicate an infection in the lungs, such as pneumonia or heart problems. If the nail surface is rippled or pitted, this may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis.

Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease.

Inflammation of the nail fold. It may be the result of lupus or another connective tissue disorder.

Neimeth donates drugs to Kogi flood victims

N

EIMETH International Pharmaceuticals Plc has donated relief materials to Kogi State Flood Victims. The relief materials which came in the form of Pharmaceutical products include antimalarials, anti-infectives, ncp Antiseptic, Obron-6 Multivitamins to assist pregnant and lactating mothers and Pancemol, Neimeth’s brand of paracetamol.

Making the donation, the Managing Director, Pharm Emmanuel Ekunno, commiserated with the Governor His Excellency Captain Idris Wada over the disaster being experienced as a result of the flood, and pledged Neimeth’s continuous support.

In his response, the Governor Wada who appreciated Neimeth, for being her brother’s keeper hinted that nine Local Government Areas were actually affected by the flood and that about 19 communities were totally submerged.

He reiterated that one can only appreciate the magnitude of the damage by witnessing it physically as this kind of calamity had never befallen the state in the past 50 years.

The Governor promised to use the drugs judiciously for the benefit of the target recipients.

Other members of staff in the Neimeth entourage include; Mr. Emmanuel Nwanonenyi, Head, Public Sector Business Neimeth, and Dr. Samson Audu, Miss. Emesomhi Imhoagene and Mr. Paul Ndu all of Neimeth Abuja Office.

Prudence, hydrocephalus and spina bifida patient yet to raise $200,000

P

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

RUDENCE, Peace and Precious are triplets born 12 years ago in Ibadan, Oyo State, to Kendrick and Nkechi Unaidet. As luck would have it, shortly after birth, Prudence was diagnosed with viral encephalitis (enlargement of the head). She is still in the news after she suffered severe brain damage, blindness, hearing and speech deficits and seizure disorder and was allegedly mismanaged by doctors at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan. Today, her condition has gone from bad to worse.

As you read this article, Prudence risks adverse physical and mental development if nothing urgent is done to raise the $200, 000 required for her treatment overseas.

Efforts to raise the needed amount for the life saving surgery have not been fruitful.

So far, the family has raised N628, 000.00.

Prudence was struck with a strange fever in 2001, but the hospital came up with conflicting diagnoses which compounded her situation. Efforts to battle with the problem have left her family in penury.

Promises of support from some State governments including the Federal Ministry of Health, are yet to see the light of day. “My pain is that we are far from raising the required sum,” said the father, Kendrick Unaidet in an emotion laid voice.

The man who claimed to have made contacts with international bodies, hinted that Emily Fudge of Hydrocephalus Association based in California, USA, had enlight-

• Prudence on her sick bed. ened them on the condition but lamented the delay in providing the child with needed treatment. He said some children with hydrocephalus problem like his daughter’s case are not in a write-off situation. He quoted Emily as saying that “in California where there are support groups, the affected children are provided

with quality medical care and they are living normal life and that several stages of brain surgeries are done to enable the children live a normal life.

He recalled that another Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida Foundation based in Lagos had offered a glimmer of hope in the form of a “V-P Shunt”.

We were told that at 14 months, Festus had the first operation in 2005, In August 2006, Festus had complication rising from “Shunt migration” into his brain and this made him to undergo another procedure, since then Festus condition has been improving by the day. He was optimistic that with Festus experience, his daughter, (Prudence) situation can improve tremendously in more advance health facility. Asked how he intends to raise the huge sum, with tears in his eyes, he disclosed that the condition of his daughter has taken him to places he cannot ordinarily think of. “I went to the office of the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State precisely on 24th July, 2012, to check the Governor’s response to a letter we sent to him, I was told the letter is not yet treated and we got

the same reaction from the office of Oyo State Governor.

“I also went to the office of the honourable Minister of Health, but I met with the Senior Special Assistant who explained that the ministry does not have provision to finance my sick daughter’s treatment but could assist on areas of administration. “When asked on what the ministry could do about the mismanagement and gross negligence which has affected the child’s treatment, he said that the complaint would be investigated. But who knows when and how this investigation would be done. If it took them about a year or so to react to the letter we delivered to the office on 14 of November 2011,” he queried.

Kendrick is seeking help from the office of the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan through her pet project - Women for Change Initiative. “But our hope is yet to yield any fruit; we are thinking maybe she has not been served with our application since 14th December, 2011.”

Appealing for more assistance to raise the required sum for the treatment of his sick daughter to enable her live a normal life again, he said: “We thank Nigerians who irrespective of their various economic challenges and financial obligations have contributed their widow’s mite to this course.” If you are touched by Prudence’s plight, please send your donations to Prudence Unaidet, UBA 2054905748, or call Kendrick Unaidet - 08033634675 and Nkechi Unidet - 08039113644.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

OBASANJO’S MOSQUE:

The mysteries, mission and his men W

HEN the sharia legal system was launched in 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had described it as Political Sharia which he said would fizzle away. Having gone into what he claimed to be retirement, President Obasanjo last Friday caused a stir when he gathered Muslim associates of his to raise funds for a mosque project within his presidential library. Will it fizzle away like political sharia?

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & DAUD OLATUNJI

D

RESSED as usual in the Hausa traditional flowing gown, the sight of Atiku Abubakar genuflecting before a seated Olusegun Obasanjo at the Customs conference in Katsina last Wednesday almost wiped away bitter memories of the past power struggle between both men. Few men would have heard the discussion between both

men that day, but the body language of their actions is increasingly becoming clear to many of a surreptitious political shift in the country.

Before making his appearance in Katsina, Obasanjo had been in the Southeast where he put up appearance at the burial ceremonies of the father of one of his former ministers, Mr. Frank Nweke jnr. Besides the burial service, Obasanjo it was learnt, also made contact with strategic political stakeholders

in the Southeast.

Before traveling to the Southeast, the 75 year old former president had last Friday played host to a fund raising for a mosque project in the President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

The exerting journey from the Southwest, to the Southeast and to the North by the former president would come as a surprise to those who received Obasanjo’s retirement from politics last April.

In his resignation notice sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, his one time protégée, the three time Nigeria leader said that his disengagement as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would allow him devote himself to international

duties and also allow him mentor others locally and abroad.

By relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BOT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me,” Obasanjo had said in a shocking development that caught the nation off guard last April.

He added that his disengagement would also create time for him “to give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share.”

The journeys across the country and the reconciliation with former foes, it was learnt are indicative of the desperation of the former president to salvage what is increasingly being felt what is left of a legacy.

The Obasanjo legacy which was at one time believed to be personalized in President Umaru Yar‘adua and after him, in President Goodluck Jonathan,

Continues on page 40

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—39

I'm living the Chuba dream — Sen Margery Okadigbo THE verbosity, pomp and carriage of the late Oyi of Oyi, may not be immediately noticeable, but underlining her words are the same intellectual grit, grace and grasp of issues that were characteristic of the late Senator Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo. In fact, Senator Margery Okadigbo, widow of the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo could easily be taken as the feminine illustration of the articulation, eloquence and grammatical fecundity of her late husband. Margery has made history as the first woman to sit on the same seat as her husband in the senate. In an interview following her recent inauguration, she speaks of her initial feelings entering the chamber where the spectacle and substance of her husband radiated to the whole nation. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HAT was the motivation for your senate bid?

To make a difference or a change in my zone, to make my own contribution.

How do you assess the representation before you?

It is not a fair thing to do because everybody has their own ideas, yardsticks, limitations and various other reasons why they come or why they work the way they do.

Do you agree with the impression that after Senator Joy Emodi that Anambra North was until now virtually

absent in the senate?

(Laughs) Like I said I don’t want to run comments on anybody’s achievements or under achievements.

Considering the legacy left behind by your husband, did you feel any sense of trepidation that you were about to step into a very big shoe?

Obviously from the start of the journey, I kind of felt that way, I already knew that the expectations were going to be high and I guess that spirit I shared with him was saying to me, ‘you can do it, you can do it,’ and maybe because I also lived with him, I shared a bit of his vision, so some of it I can

try to achieve and its all to do with empowerment.

My husband wasn’t a money politician and he was devoted towards empowering people, placing the zone in the right perspective and bringing as much as possible to the people whatever is considered as the dividends of democracy and I think when you do that, you leave a longer lasting legacy than doling a lot of money to people.

Money is something that burns out but when you empower people, you empower a generation, a family lifeline. So, for me, that is what it is all about. You bring health to them, bring employment to

,

*Margery: I know the high expectations

them and generally improve their welfare.

Coming to the senate, I must say it was a welcome thing because, here I was, I never really sat in the red chambers, but I did visit a few times in the gallery to observe when I was visiting and had to wait for one thing or the other.

So, the red chamber is not an unfamiliar surrounding for me.

He (Chuba) had been to the senate twice over, so I was quite used to it and being his wife as senate president, that was also an experience and it afforded me the opportunity to interact with people from different parts of the country. So, I have had my own fair share of playing hostess to people.

So coming to the senate for me wasn’t daunting, it wasn’t intimidating and the current senate president is also somebody I had met along the political main road, so I am quite comfortable with him and they (senators) on their own, have been very, very welcoming. Everybody is all nice and cordial, so I am fine, absolutely no problem.

When you entered the chamber the day you were sworn in, what really entered your mind?

It was a mixed feeling even as I walked down there were tears in my eyes. Tears, because the last time I came to the National Assembly was when I brought my husband for the tributes. That was my last visit

So, for me it is a great honour to represent my people from birth and marriage.

Considering the intrigues that characterised the senate during your late husband’s time, did you have a feeling that you were coming into the midst of backstabbers and betrayers?

Well, politics is all about ambition and people being driven by their various ambitions. For instance, my husband for the level of politics he played, one would expect that his level of ambition would be equally high.

But as far as I am concerned, I am a neophyte, I am just coming in. I don’t even have a grasping of what is going on yet for me to know whether my ambition is going to backstab me or me backstab somebody.

Learning the ropes For now, and I guess for sometime to come, I am going to learning the ropes. We already have lost one year in the zone in the battle in the court, we recently had a court outing which has now been adjourned till March because Igbeke is still in court and for him and what he says, that he is going to keep me in court for as long as that senate is existing.

I think that my main preoccupation is trying to

My husband wasn’t a money politician and he was devoted towards empowering people, placing the zone in the right perspective and bringing as much as possible to the people to the assembly, so when I walked through the foyer, there were intense memories that came with that entry.

Even though the tribute was down in the Green Chamber but as I entered for my inauguration all the memories just came back. As I made the descent to be sworn in, I felt I was doing it for him, I felt I was re-living his dream and there was something like a duty call of a wife that I felt I was doing.

Great honour Not just as a wife to him, but even to the Omambala people where he comes from in Anambra North. I felt that the Omambala people were going to have their place back in the senate because out of the seven local governments in Anambra North, Omambala make up four.

I happen to come from Onitsha, and Onitsha makes up two and the other is Ogbaru.

,

recover what has been lost in the last one year. There are projects that were shared which my zone did not benefit from and everything is measured in what you do, not how long you have been there. Nobody is going to remember that she was in court for one year, the average person doesn’t remember that anymore.

All they see is that she is in the senate and that she has been sworn in. So, if you have lost one year, there is so much you have lost. So, for me, I am too busy trying to see how to settle down, how to recover, so I am not bothered about that backstabbing thing.

What do you consider as the greatest need of your constituency right now?

In the last few months we have been flooded under. Of the six local governments that were flooded in Anambra State, my zone has four. Here you are being sworn in and of all the great ideas and expectations

Continued on page 40

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

OBASANJO’S MOSQUE:

The mysteries, mission and his men insinuations of weak leadership. Jonathan in a national television media chat had rubbished Obasanjo’s application of force in Odi, Bayelsa State in 1999 saying that it was a failure. Before Jonathan went to bed that night penultimate Sunday, Obasanjo was in contact with his Man Friday, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode who the following morning “With the greatest respect to Mr. President this is factually incorrect,” Fani-Kayode said in a press statement following Jonathan’s television appearance. “He has either forgotten the relevant facts or he has been misinformed. Whichever way he is mistaken and it is important for those of us that proudly served the Obasanjo administration to respond to him in order to clarify the issues, clear the air and set the record straight for the sake of history and posterity,” Fani-Kayode who served as Obasanjo’s Minister of Culture and before then presidential aide said.

Signs of the rift between the former president and President Jonathan are also reflected in the cantankerous relationship between core elements in the Obasanjo presidency and the Jonathan administration.

Direction of the country Among them are Fani-Kayode, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu among many others.

Besides, at 75 Obasanjo is alleged to be seriously concerned about the direction of the country.

But even more, the former president is said to be worried about the import of President Jonathan seeking another term in office in 2015 and the import of that on the polity.

Obasanjo it is believed to have assured northern political stakeholders ahead of the 2011 general elections that President Jonathan would exit in 2015 and allow the presidency to return to the north.

However, no sooner than after the last presidential elections the former president it was learnt began to sense plans by President Jonathan to seek a second term in 2015 and allegedly became discomfited over the development.

Whether Obasanjo voiced his objection to the incumbent president is not known, but his action in resigning from

,

Continues from page 38

Before travelling to the Southeast, the 75 year old former president had last Friday played host to a fund raising for a mosque project in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta

the Board of Trustees of the PDP is believed to be his first action to distance himself from the collateral damages that may ensue from whatever plans Jonathan has for a second term.

Known for his nationalistic tendencies, Obasanjo it was learnt, believes that at 75 he still has one last mission to prevent Jonathan from self destruction or destruction of the polity through a second term.

The mosque project was perhaps the first in the unfolding strategy for the Owu born Christian. Remarkably, the event which was supposed to be a solemn religious gathering was largely interpreted as a political strategy forum towards 2015.

The geopolitical spread of guests at the fund raising was equally significant.

None of the governors of the South East and South South geopolitical zones where Jonathan is believed to be counting on for his 2015 aspiration was present.

It was gathered that, Obasanjo decided to construct a mosque within the premises of the Presidential Library to make the

,

place look international and as well erase the impression that, he hates northerners and their religion which is Islam.

An insider at the Obasanjo Hilltop building hinted that, shortly before the event , Obasanjo held a closed door meeting with the four northern governors that came; Usman Dakingari of Kebbi, Rabi Kwakwanso of Kano , Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and the Katsina state governor, Shehu- Shema who was represented by his deputy.

Remarkably, all four northern governors are said to have presidential aspirations in 2015.

Construction of the mosque Besides, some state governments such as Adamawa, Niger , Kaduna , Katsina Zamfara Kogi ,Kwara and Ogun states also donated N20 million each for the construction of the mosque .

Atiku Abubakar who could not attend sent N5 million through his friend Otunba Oyewole Fasawe who ironically fell out with Obasanjo on account of his (Oyewole’s) close association with Atiku at

Obasanjo: Retired but not tired the peak of the troubles between the former president and the former vice-president.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives, Chairman of Dangote group of companies ,Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former governor of Kebbi State , Senator Adamu Aleiro were also present at the mosque fund raising.

Immediate past governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki who is still mourning his father and still has his eyes in the 2015 contest did not miss out and pledged his own N2 million to the Obasanjo mosque.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi who was in his traditional attire made a personal donation of N5 million.

Addressing the people at the gathering, Obasanjo who counseled Nigerians to be tolerant and accommodating said the legacy he is laying with the mosque project is one “that knows no boundaries, religion, gender, age, tribe,race language.”

Concluding, he said: “This legacy must serve the community, and if we are to serve the communities, it must reflect inspite of the odds of the community,” Obasanjo said.

I'm doing it for Chuba — Margery Okadigbo Continues from page 39 agreed on was the rotation of the governorship round the senatorial zones, we have the rotation of the presidency round the geopolitical zones.

So, fair is fair!

You are about the highest elected political office holder from Anambra State on the platform of the PDP. What is your assessment of the state of affairs of your party in the state?

Well, we have crisis in Anambra PDP and I believe that the leadership of the PDP is fully aware of it and I also want to believe that in no good

time that they will address it.

Because Anambra State would soon be going for gubernatorial election and if we don’t put our house in order, I don’t think we are going to make good gain in 2014.

Alarming result Anambra State is predominantly PDP and oftentimes when you have a wrong or alarming result against PDP it is the result of a rebellion. Anambra State for the PDP has to be well positioned, it has to be all-inclusive, you don’t take the party and put in

the hands of a few people and expect to get good results and that is always the result. So, the leadership from the top must address it otherwise Anambra State will continue to go the other way.

But how optimistic are you given that in the last ten years you have not had a state executive that is globally recognised?

I am optimistic, but as I said it is a leadership thing. If the PDP from the top make Anambra PDP right, then Anambra PDP will be right.

What legacy do you like to leave in the senate?

Though I am a lawyer by

profession, I find in my interaction with my people that two things come to play, agriculture because that is what my people are all about, they are farmers and the other thing is health.

I move around and I see the pathetic structures they call maternity homes and I am alarmed. You have maternity homes without water.

So I find that health and agriculture are the two major things and coincidentally by the grace of God, I happen to be the vice-chairman of the Health Committee in the Senate and I intend to use that very well.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—41

T

HE problems of Nigeria as embedded in the “National Question” have confused many people including foreigners who are friends of Nigeria. People could not understand how a country so blessed with human and mineral materials would be described as a poor country.

As a journalist of the old breed, I have always been tempted to examine, however in a lurid manner, that perplexing condition of the “Nigeria Question”.

Perhaps, as I now understand, that I and others have been seeking rather impatiently, for the real reasons why our living condition has not improved after many years of sufferings.

Fortunately, the Governor of Central Bank found himself in a similar situation in a lecture he delivered at the 2nd General Dr Yakubu Gowon Distinguished Annual Lecture recently.

The lecture was titled: “NIGERIA`S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASPIRATIONS AND THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION - Is There A Nexus?”.

I agree with the organizers that because of his official position, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is the proper person for the job.

It is recognized that the Central Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance are tasked with the responsibility of advising the Federal Government on macroeconomic stability and growth. It is to his credit that the Central Bank Governor spoke brilliantly and lucidly on the chosen topic.

He made his good point.

Mallam Sanusi made references to countries which started around the same time with Nigeria in 1960. Indonesia with a population of about 250 million started with a per capital income of about $55 in 1965 now enjoys

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Managing the economy and other issues per capital income of $2,981.

Also, in Indonesia, 60 per cent of the population drank safe water while in Nigeria; only 39 per cent was lucky last year to have potable water, and per capital income is a mere $1,500.

The transformation in the economy was due to the vision of a great LEADER who introduced “pro-poor, progrowth to employment economic policies”, among others.

On Malaysia, Mallam Sanusi attributed phenomenal economic transformation in the past 50 years to the strong political leadership of the country.

Here, the average GDP growth rate was 5.2 per cent; population below poverty was 4per cent; and unemployment rate hovered around 3.1per cent. Electricity production was 118.2 billion Kw/ h while consumption was 93.8 billion Kw/h. In Nigeria, we thank God for the provision of 4,000 Kw/h, and even with this, the epileptic stance continues.

Nigeria’s unemployment rate is about 30 per cent. While

Nigeria boasts of about $40,000 billion (foreign exchange reserves) in 2011, Malaysia could point to a figure of $129.6 billion.

The Mallam attributed this transformation to quality Leadership which ensured political stability, business friendly policies, productive work force and developed infrastructures, among others.

In addition, 87% of the population had access to good water. Malaysia enjoys a per capital income of $2,981, while Nigeria struggles on per capital income of $1,500.

The third success story is that of Singapore which had no natural resources but highly dependent on provision of services to the British military bases present there. According to Mallam Sanusi, today 100% of the population have access to good water and has developed a successful open market system and an environment devoid of corruption, with a per capital income of $43,865.

Mallam Sanusi attributed the source of Singapore‘s economic success to years of successive economic leadership which has been able to transform the economy through consistent policies of a visionary leader.

It is happy to note that Central Bank Governor in his lecture has been able to acknowledge the fact that Nigeria over the years, has failed to match the achievements of other countries which started the race together with her at the same time.

“Let me state emphatically”, the Mallam bellowed, “that though the Nigerian economy has achieved some considerable progress, the accomplishment is far below our realizable potentials, given her abundant human and material resource endowment”. He recommended “visionary leadership and good governance”. To us, this translates to common sense economics, sensible politics and good government which we have been preaching over the years.

While it is agreed that the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is not saying something new, but coming from him at this stage of our economic transformation, what he has said is worthy of note. To some people, the Central Bank with its current tightening monetary policy is a part of our problems – the efforts that frustrate economic expansion and eradication of mass unemployment.

And there was an empire Surely, the Yoruba people of the present era will perhaps feel a sense of nostalgia as they look back on the grandeur that was the old Oyo Empire or dream of the halcyon days that once pervaded the reign of Oba

We'll mak e peace be tw een Buk ola and Gbemi make betw tween Bukola

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

THE stream of people flowing into Illorin following the death of Kwara’s one time political leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki is now ebbing giving family members the opportunity to grieve and come to grips over the implications of the loss.

Alhaji Ayiinla Olatunji Saraki, a septuagenarian who is the only surviving male brother of the departed political giant in a moment of reflection spoke to Vanguard on the loss of their senior brother. Excerpts:

H

OW was your growing up like with late Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki?

When we were very young, our parents noticed very strange attitudes in Dr Olusola Saraki, particularly our father who was also very rich then. He used to tell us that everything about him was extra ordinary. He said Almighty Allah indeed created him specially with extra time.

How? He didn’t tell us, even though everything about him was normal

as far as we were concerned then. And after pestering our father he would simply tell us that when the time comes, we will all see.

Interestingly he was the eldest of all of us so we didn’t have any reason to begrudge our father then. As far as I’m concerned, the extra ordinary aspect of him actually started when he joined politics. One thing I personally noticed was that anybody born of Saraki who is not a bastard must be generous, but Oloye was excessively generous in his own case particularly when he joined politics.

His love for the masses was unparalleled, everybody who came across him had various pleasant life changing stories of a man who turned their lives around for good to tell about him.

He was to me more than a father. When I traveled to USA in the sixties, he was the one that sponsored me. ,I’m not a politician, I’m a private person, a business man. It was when I was overseas that he contested for the first time and lost.

So when I returned, he introduced me to his people in politics as his immediate younger

brother. His death happened at a very wrong time and there was nothing that I wanted that he didn’t give me.

Now that the mantle of leadership of the family has fallen on you, how will you cope?

I have to accept it, I don’t have choice, I know almighty Allah will help me. I will try my best, but I can’t be as Oloye Saraki was because he was more wealthy, the best, he was everything, so nobody can be like him.

There was said to be enmity between Senator Bukola Saraki and his younger sister Senator Gbemisola Saraki which could not be settled until their father’s death, what becomes of that now?

I don’t know why people are just making something out of this issue. The truth is that teeth and tongue used to fight, there is no family without one difference or the other, so it is normal, we will settle everything. I will try my best to ensure that everybody lives together peacefully.

Do you believe that his son, Dr Bukola Saraki can step into his father’s shoes?

Well, nothing is impossible in

Abiodun, the Alaafin of Oyo-Ile in the 18th Century.

Yoruba Kingdoms, before the advent of European colonialism and internecine wars had flourished in Ife, Owu, Ijebu, Ijesha, Ketu, Popo, Egba, Sabe, Egbado, Igbomina, Ekiti, Owo, Ondo, Ila and Lagos.

The break-up of the finely tuned constitutional set-up of Oyo empire, as a result of conflicting and inordinate ambition of central government officials, the rebellion of provincial chiefs against the Alaafin, culminating in the perfidy of Afonja of Ilorin, the despotic disposition of Bashorun Gaha and the weak Alaafinate, all these with others had led to the collapse of the old Oyo Empire. The sack of Oyo-Ile by the Fulanis in 1830 signified the end of the glorious Oyo Empire.

The old Oyo Empire was reported to have lasted for about six centuries with emphasis during its heydays on centralization of government processes, efficiency, grandeur and glory. (Extracts from The Agenda, published by me in year 2002 on Genocide of people of old Oyo-Ile).

Ibadan, which became the new Oyo military power, was saddled with the responsibility of defending the scattered Yoruba provinces after the fall of Oyo Empire.

The Fulani forces, after the sack of Oyo-Ile in 1830, believing that the Yoruba were “cowards” raised a powerful force with the aim of dipping the Quran in the sea.

However, the crushing defeat of Ilorin forces by the great Ibadan army at Oshogbo in 1840 finally put an end to the threat of Fulani invasion of the Yoruba country.

— Tunji Saraki

the governor here for two terms of eight years first in the history of Kwara state and he also contested for the presidential primaries of his party, PDP and to me he performed excellent being his first attempt, and considering the heavy weight politicians who were his opponents in that primary. He achieved these feats while his father was still alive.

These are testimonies that he was prepared for the task. We only need to •Tunji Saraki: Oloye was a father continue to pray for him and continue to this life, and I know that with God support him. If he gets the all things are possible. Bukola is needed support, I believe he will not a stranger to Kwara politics continue from where his father and even Nigeria politics. He was stopped.

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

We can't have religious crisis in Taraba — Sen Bwacha SENATOR Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba South) is the Chairman of the senate committee on agriculture and natural resources. Bwacha who recently returned from a visit to ailing Governor Danfulani Suntai in Germany speaks on the governor's condition, the reported religious crisis in Taraba State among other issues. Excerpts. not around. So it is not like this is something strange we are seeing in our state. So it is the right thing and from what I have seen, the Acting Governor is making the most of the situation, given the circumstance and continuing with the good works. In all his broadcast, he has been consisted with the fact that he would continue all the legacies on ground.

Also, while you were away, Ibi erupted in crisis. It was Christians fighting Muslims and vice versa.

I disagree. The Ibi crisis in regrettable and I’m sure we would soon unravel the causes of the skirmish. But I reject the theory that suggests it is wholly religious crisis. It is impossible to have religious crisis in that part of the state.

Of course I can relate to the sentiments that because Christians were attacked in

Y

OU just returned from Hannover, Germany to visit Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and his aides hospitalised there. Did you get to see them?

Yes I did. Everyone who went to see the governor saw him and his aides.

So how is he doing?

He is doing very well. And I can assure you he would soon be back to continue the good work he has been doing. And contrary to the rumours I heard on getting in here, the governor is doing very well. He didn’t sustain any life threatening injury. He doesn’t have any brain damage or spinal cord issue and he is recuperating by the day. In fact, for a plane crash, this is nothing short of a miracle.

I know people are apprehensive, worried about him because he is a true leader, a good man. But they would have to be patient. He would return to continue to do what God has asked him to come and do. So people should just keep on praying. And the aides too are doing great.

Expression of surprise There was a day we went to see Dasat, the ADC, and he recognised all of us, calling us by name. He was even humorous about it and laughed when we expressed surprise.

What was your encounter like with him?

It was fantastic. I saw God at work. You know, there was a day I sat by his bed and was just silently singing a certain gospel song I liked. He was silent all the while, and then he suddenly looked up and smiled at me. Then he said “Amen”. I just started shedding tears of joy. I’ve seen many things in my life but nothing compares to this.

In your absence, the House of Assembly mandated the Deputy Governor to act as governor.

That was the right thing to do, it is a constitutional thing. And the house exhibited great patriotism and political sagacity in doing what they did. I commend them really. That is the sort of thing Gov. Suntai would have encouraged anyway. If you know him, he has always supported his deputy to act whenever he is

•Bwalcha: We are one in Taraba

churches, so it would be seen as religious. The truth though is that it is a few hoodlums who take advantage of religion to cause mayhem. All the religions do not teach that we should attack another faith.

May be you don’t know but true Muslims would not burn down a church.

True Christians would not burn down a mosque. So the crisis, is only religious to that extent but beyond that, it is some rascals hiding behind religion who normally unleash mayhem on helpless people.

And Taraba has peculiar traits that make a religious crisis impossible. Like almost every home in Taraba has both faiths in the household.

And I know Ibi quite well.

They overwhelmingly supported me in my elections.

They are peace loving folks who do a lot of fishing. sIn Taraba, we have come a long way for that sort of a crisis. No one can even divide the people along religious lines as everyone is wiser than that.

The state is for everyoneChristians, Muslims, and traditionalists. And it is home to many ethnic groups. We all live together and have learnt to accept one another.

S.B Awoniyi: Still Relevant Five Years after Mopa in Mopamuro LGA of Kogi State witnessed the influx of personalities who came to mark the fifth year memorial Church Service of Late S.B Awoniyi,Aro of Mopa. Abu Mike, Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Deputy Governor writes on some of the late elder statesman comments that are relevant in the nations contemporary politics

L

ATE Chief Sunday B. Awoniyi, is being remembered by family, friends and political associates five years after he departed what is referred to by many as this sinful world.For many who knew him, he is being remembered for his integrity especially when he joined the murky waters of Nigerian Politics.

Today, the nascent democracy he fought to enthrone has come to stay. Many will however say that his comments and caution to politicians while he was alive that seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, are today food for thought. A man who demonstrated integrity and accountability in public and private life, S. B. Awoniyi, cut his teeth in leadership under the tutelage of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto.

Commenting on the nations political leadership which he described as the bane of the nation’s problems, he said “Until we

can considerably improve the quality of our politicians by deliberate actions, and until we are lucky to have leaders who are not bitten by the bug of self succession and who will not manipulate elections or destabilize the legislature or other arms, emasculate his own party and other parties at all cost, our democracy will continue to be a charade”.

Late Chief S. B. Awoniyi’s involvement in politics began in the ill-fated third republic when he represented his people of Kogi West in the Senate on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). According to S. B. Awoniyi, the Nigerian politician will continue to fail the people as long as his quest for high office is a case of neck or nothing for which he is prepared to sacrifice the good of his country.

Having participated in the General Sanni Abacha’s Constitutional Conference, Late Awoniyi, joined forces with the likes of Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji

er”. Late Chief S. B. Awoniyi, played a major role in the formation of the PDP in 1998 and also made input in the presidential victory.

Late Chief S. B. Awoniyi, who served at one time as Secretary to the Executive Council of Northern Nigeria, had this to say on religion “We have taken for grant•Awoniyi: Remembered in death ed for decades, the religious harmony we have Bamanga Tukur with several othenjoyed in spite of Nigeria beers to form the defunct All Nigeing multi-religious and multi-ethrian Congress (ANC) where he served as its protein National nic. In cozy self righteousness, we wondered how Britain, our Chairman.

A visionary leader whose words Colonial Masters,could have got seem to be coming to pass even it so wrong in their treatment of after his demise, he once said: “I the Irish Catholics.”

Awoniyi, served as Chairman have grave fears for our country.

Board of Trustees, Arewa ConThe prognosis for clean elections sultative Forum in 2000 and in future in Nigeria are not enChairman of the Forum’s Cencouraging. Our next series of elections in the future are likely tral Working Committee in Deto be worse than the series of cember 2004. Awoniyi is unelections in 1998/99 because the doubtedly, a man who has left his stakes are astronomically high- imprints on the sands of time.

Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 —43

Super Eagles dare musicians, Nollywood stars in fight against HIV/AIDS

BY LAJA THOMAS

T

HIS year’s World’s AIDS Day slated for Saturday December 1 may turn out to be one to cherish and remember

by Lagosians as Friends Africa, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, which works primarily to create awareness for this deadly disease partners Emmanuel Babayaro a former Super Eagles Star, with support from Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a novelty match to commemorate the day. So beyond the usual speeches and advert gimmicks by pharmaceutical firms capitalising on the euphoria of the moment to sell their products, a lot of entertainment and fun are said to await those who will attend the celebration.

The match billed to take place at Campos Square, Lagos Island is aimed at creating awareness against the stigmatization and discrimination of persons living with HIV / AIDS. It will have former Nigerian football stars (Team Eagles) play against a team of Selected Nigerian Celebrities (Team Entertainers). Team Eagles is made up of Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Celestine Babayaro, Emmanuel Babyaro, Mutiu Adepoju, Emmanuel Amunike, Mobi Oparaku, Emeka Ezeugo, Ben Akwuegbu, Abdul Isah, Tijjani Babangida, Taribo West, Teslim Fatusi, and Taiwo Enegwa.

Entertainers team The Entertainers Team on the other hand will feature M.I, 9ice , Segun Arinze, Gordons, Faze, Ice Prince, Yemi Blaq, Dr. Sid, Yul Edochie , John Njama, Femi Brainard , Nonso Diobu, Uti Nwachukwu , Olamide, Sound Sultan, John Dumelo, Klint da Drunk, Afeez Ayetoro (Saka), Chinedu Ikedieze (AKI), Osita Iheme (Pawpaw), Wande Coal, Sexy Steel , Magnito , ID Cabasa , Eboh Bomb, and Magnito.

According to Dr Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba, founder and Chief Executive Officer: “This novelty match forms part of the continuous advocacy for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to which my organisation has been in the forefront”.

In addition to the novelty football match that promises to be scintillating, Dr Ikemba

From left: Emeka Ezeugo, Dr Akudo Anyanwu-Ikemba, (founder / CEO Friends Africa) Emmanuel Babayaro and Segun Arinze. informed that there shall be a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre, adding that a mobile voluntary counselling and testing, VCT, station will be setup for spectators, players and participants at the venue.

This, he said, is aimed at providing an opportunity for people to receive counselling and also to be tested to know their HIV status free of charge.

Dr Ikemba further said that there shall be distribution of IEC (Information Education and Communication) materials during the course of the match.

These include flyers, pamphlets, brochures, posters, calendars, male/female condoms, T-shirts, pens, etc, for sensitization towards the prevention of HIV and other related STIs.

Friends Africa has been at the forefront of marshaling plans against the three pandemics: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in Africa on behalf of the Global Fund. From its Nigerian office, it is involved in such projects as advocacy, capacity building/education, documentation, technical assistance.

Friends Africa has a PanAfrican Board of Directors which includes but not limited to Nigeria’s former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (rtd); Madam Kagame, wife of the Rwandan President; Angelique Kidjo; Youssou N’dour; Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede, CEO of Access Bank, who chairs the board.

Auchi mayhem: ‘O my precious chickens,’ cries eyewitness

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

T

HE Polytechnic town of Auchi, in Etsako West Local Government Council of Edo State has not been the same since last Monday when dare-devil robbers invaded the town and attacked four banks. About 15 persons, including three soldiers, were killed in the operation that lasted for about three hours. It was like a war scene as the armed robbers who stormed the town with sophisticated weapons rained bullets ceaselessly.

An eyewitness, Shaka Hamza said he started hearing explosion at about 6:24pm and this lasted till after 9pm.

Shaka said he saw three dead bodies along Jattu road and a military personnel near Agip filling station.

He said: “I was about to go to the mosque when the shooting started.

They attacked the command quarters at Warrake. They also attacked soldiers’ base at Igbirra camp. When we

started hearing gun shots, I thought maybe soldiers were engaging criminals, but suddenly we saw some armed men, over 20 of them shouting and shooting. They were ordering every body to enter their houses. They were fully armed, so we started making calls in our houses.

War situation “In fact, it was there that we learnt that they have bombed the Area Command police station. It was like a war situation but it is a pity that the police could not do anything. But the truth is that I don’t think the police would have faced those people because they were fully prepared.

May be they had hint that money was deposited some where and that came for it”.

A woman, Iyabo Omon, whose shop is close to the police station said she thought it was an accident when the first explosion occurred. She said

she took her children to safety when she heard repeated shooting and explosion. She said: “I saw many of them carrying guns. I ran under the bed and one came to bang on my door. Suddenly they shot a man. They took the chickens and other items I displayed for sale. It was later we discovered that the man they shot was a driver with Bob Izua Motors. I packed all the things in my shop. But we thank God we are still alive because we actually thought it was over for all of us.

“This shows that we have no protection in this country, when robbers like this can conveniently come to a town like Auchi and take over the place. It is shocking and I pray we don’t experience this kind of thing again in our life. There are several people who are hypertensive; they were rushed to the hospital due to the sound of gun and the bombs. We are yet to count the number of deaths; it is later that we will know because so many people were affected”.

44—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Why Nigeria will not experience food crisis – Agric Minister

BY LAJA THOMAS

E

XPRESSED apprehension about unverified figures arising from the recent flood disaster in some parts of the country, has prompted the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, to assure Nigerians that the country “will not experience food shortage.”

Dr. Adesina, speaking in Minna recently where he flagged off the Federal Government’s effort to release 4,200 MT of food relief for Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states, noted that though the situation of the flood presents a huge challenge on food security in many parts of the country, Nigeria will not have food crisis. “Let me assure you that the Federal Government is taking all measures to mitigate the impacts of the flood. Nigeria will not have famine. We will not have a food crisis. We will recover from the flood,” he said.

The Agric Minister based his affirmation on the fact that through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, a total of 8.1 million metric tonnes of food have been added to the domestic food supply in the last one year.

“From our efforts, this year alone, from maize, rice, cassava, sorghum, we have added a total of 8.1 million MT of food to our domestic food supply. That is 70 percent higher than the target of five million MT we set for 2013; and 41 percent of the total target that we set for 2015.

“If we had not added the 8.1 million MT of food to the domestic food supply, which provided a significant buffer, Nigeria would have seriously felt the impact of the flood. We will continue to

Abdel- Nasser Quadri, CEO, Practical Habitat Group; Ozde Celiktemel-Thomen, official, US Consulate, Lagos; Shawn M. Strange, SEED Centre, Washington; Bene Uche, Senior Cultural Affairs Assistant, US Consulate, at a workshop in Lagos

Stakeholders stress importance of research for sustainable environ Dr. Adesina, Agric Minister displays a bag of food item

sprouted nuts of oil palm seedlings to revamp our palm oil production. Free cotton seeds have been provided to farmers across the Northern states, to plant 75,000 hectares of cotton this year alone; all done free of charge”.

No cause for panic: Adesina urged Nigerians not to panic. “We must avoid those who want to create unnecessary panic. There have been all kinds of figures in the media on the extent of damage by the floods. While we do not dispute that there are economic losses, some of the figures and information being used are not based on real data. If you believe all the figures being bandied, you would think that all of Nigeria is under water. That is simply not correct. None of these statements is based on any real rigorous data and analysis. Furthermore, those who want to flood our markets with cheap imported food, taking advantage of these panic statements, have started clamouring for waivers for food imports.

Nothing is better business than the panic business.”

,

Those who want to flood our markets with cheap imported food, taking advantage of these panic statements, have started clamouring for waivers for food imports; nothing is better business than the panic business

work hard,” he said.

Speaking further, the Minister remarked that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in partnership with the state governments, have been working very hard for the past one year with the role of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda to raise food production and secure our food supply. He said within 120 days, the revolutionary Growth Enhancement Support, GES, which cleaned up decades of corruption in the fertilizer sector, succeeded in reaching over 1.2 million farmers with improved seeds and fertilizers, using the electronic wallet system.

Between tales and facts: He said “67,000 MT of maize seed, which was planted on 3.5 million hectares of land, with estimated production of 7 million MT of food has been distributed, while 30 million stem cuttings of cassava have been given out free to farmers. The Federal Government is distributing over 3.5 million hybrid cocoa pods or a total of 114 million cocoa seedlings free.

We are distributing nine million

,

The scienfic approach: He

informed that immediately the floods started, the International W a t e r Management Institute – the world’s leading centre for water management and issues of flood, was invited by his Ministry to help use sophisticated remote sensing and satellite imagery to determine the extent of the flood; the extent of the inundation and how soon the flood water will recede to carefully plan its post-flood food production strategy.

The Institute also used satellite images and vegetation data to measure crop areas under inundation to determine crop loss estimates.

The scientific investigation, even at the peak flood period of October 12-13, which one would expect for maximum crop loss, showed that the total flooded area was 1.4 million hectares. The estimated area for crop loss was 467,000 hectares. “We must have a sense of proportion. Nigeria’s total cultivated area under crops is 40 million hectares of land. That means that the cultivated areas estimated to have experienced crop loss affected was only 1.17 percent of the total cultivated crop area in Nigeria. It is clear that Nigeria’s food security will not be compromised by the flood,” he noted.

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

A

T the lecture orga nized by the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate in collaboration with Practical Habitat Ltd, a leading housing solutions company on Urban Planning and Policy Analysis held in recognition of the global importance attached to urban development, stake-

holders stressed the need for adequate planning and research for urban d e v e l o p m e n t .

The lecture was designed for stakeholders and professionals in sectors such as policy makers, consultants, town planners, architects, engineers, civil society, real estate developers, environmentalists, infrastructure providers and Public Private

Partnership.

It was also designed to serve as a strategic workshop to develop dynamic and practical regional and urban planning policies to protect the interests of all key stakeholders from the government at all levels, citizenry, developers, financiers as well as mortgage providers.

Crimes abroad: safety and security for Nigerians

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

N

IGERIANS planning to travel to the Republic of Brazil for different purposes should endeavour to equip themselves with some of the basic information which will ordinarily serve as a guide to experiencing a stress free sojourn and conducive stay throughout their stay in the country.

It has been discovered that in some major cities of Brazil, there are various levels of crime and violence, more often during festive and carnival periods and as such one who intends to travel to the country should make plans prior to those festive periods, or more still avoid making such trip until after the periods were over.

Those who are currently in Brazil should be particularly vigilant before and during the festive and carnival periods, as there is often a seasonal upsurge in robberies around this time, hence, you are advised to dress down, avoid wearing flamboyant jeweleries and expensive watches. You should as well, carry small sums of money.

Concealing cameras or mobile phones, is also very important during this periods and when threatened, it is advisable not to waste time in handing over your valuables, as any attempt to resist is capable of making you lose your life, since the attackers are often with harmful weapons, especially when under the influence of drugs. You are equally advised to safeguard all valuables at all times, especially your passport.

Drug trafficking: Despite the fact that drug trafficking is noted to be widespread in Brazil, it is important that you avoid getting involved as it may incur severe penalties against you, which of course will definitely mar the image of Nigeria as well as your travel document. If you do not have any genuine business intention for wanting to migrate to Brazil, order than drug trafficking, then it is advisable that you

reconsider your intention for a better and more comfortable job. You are advised to make sure that you are with a comprehensive travel and medical insurance as you embark on your journey.

It is also imperative that while you are in the country, you make effort to monitor local media reports for latest information concerning certain unfavourable situations which maybe of enormous importance to your movement, especially because public transport is most likely to be disrupted during periods of unrest.

You are, therefore, warned to remain at alert and abreast with local conditions at all times, as you move in and about some cities in the country.

Migration and its consequences Continues from last edition

T

HE arguments on the lips of many Nigerians living abroad is wheeled towards the country’s inability to provide social amenities and deal with security of lives and property, unemployment, etc. Many maintain that if all these are not put in place, they are not prepared to come home.

According to Benson, ‘They are just being very selfish and unreasonable, if not, why would any sensible person wait for those in the country to do the hard donkey work for them to come back to, sit and enjoy. When you dispose yourself to be part of the positive change, be sure that you and your generations to come will enjoy the benefits of your struggle to a better Nigeria.” Another reason anyone should think towards home and on time too Benson argued is the fact that Western culture is causing havoc with our domestic and matrimonial lives.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—45

From right: Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, Chairman Local Organising Committee for the 6th Congress of African Middle-East Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE); Prof. Ziad Shariha, AMAGE Founding President and Prof. Henry Cohen, President, World Gastroenterology Organisation, at the AMAGE Congress, held in Tinapa, Calabar.

From left: Babatunde Savage, Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc; Joe Costello TD, Minister of State for Trade, Ireland; Connie Guilfoyle, Honorary Consul of Ireland to Lagos and Ambassador Patrick Fay, Irish Ambassador to Nigeria at Guinness Nigeria's hosting of Irish MP, at Guinness Harp Brewery, Ogba, Lagos.

From left: Mrs. Tolulope Agiri, Human Resource Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc; Mrs. Elizabeth Omafuare Adjarho, Mother of Unilever's 'contest winner; Lilian Adjarho, winner of Unilever's 'as-pure-as-a-mother's-love' true story contest and Mr. David Okeme,Director, Brand Building, Unilever Nigeria Plc, during the presentation of the prize, at the recent re-launch of Vaseline.

From left: Mr. Lucas Dada, Director, Product and Services, Etisalat Nigeria; Mr. Okung Ebiefie,Head, Data Message Application and Devices, Etisalat Nigeria; and Mr. Anthony Iloh,Head retail and Roll-out, at Etisalat 3G BIKE presentation over the weekend, at the Silverbird Galleria. Photo: Joe Akintola.

From left: Helen Eboagwu, Facility Manager, Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Ltd (AM Facilities); Juliana Obanife, Home Matron, Red Cross and Wale Odufalu, GM, Corporate Services, AM Facilities, at the presentation of gifts by AM Facilities to the Nigeria Red Cross, in Lagos.

From left: Hon. Adeola Jokomba, Chairman, Ikorodu Local Community Development Area, LCDA, presenting keys of two Mitsubishi pick-up vans to Bernard Ediagbonya, Sup. of Police and Divisonal Police Officer, DPO, Shagamu Road Police Division in Ikorodu.

From left: Steve O’Donovan, Regional MD, Banknotes,Travelex UK; Chidi Amuta,Chairman/CEO, Wilson & Weizmann Associates Ltd and Alhaji Bello Maccido,Group CEO, FBN Holdings, at a dinner, during the visit of Travelex Group Chairman to Nigeria.

From left: Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson, Proprietress, Lawson Group of Schools; Mr. Oscar Onyema, Director-General, Nigerian Stock Exchange and Barrister Margaret Orakwusi, chairman of the occasion, during the 35th anniversary of Lawson Group of Schools in Abeokuta.

46— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30,

2012

BY ABU MUHAMMED

A

Legacies of Prophet Ibrahim

Every valley, gulley, mountain and paths that the Hujaj passed witnessed the Nur (Divine Radiance) that they carried with them into town, city, village. They remained unaffected with the legacy of the blessed Haramain Sharifain.

The legacy of Makkah Mukarramah being the Tauhid of Allah (SWT), and that of Madinah Munawwarah, being that of Nubuwah (Prophethood) and

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

O’ Al-Hujjaj, what ha ou br ought? havve yyou brought?

•The legacy of Prophet Ibrahim

Khatme Nubuwah (the seal of Prophethood) In Makkah we have the Kaaba which is the symbol of Tawhid (Monotheism) established by Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) for the sole and exclusive worship of Allah (SWT). Prophet Ibrahim's life (a.s) was characterised by total submission to his Creator and Sustainer and complete steadfastness in the face of great

,

S flights carrying the Hujjaj arrive at at various airports, the ‘arrival halls’are packed and crowded with loved ones, family members, friends eagerly awaiting to welcome the new Al-hujjaj. Their eyes are glued, scanning, looking for their loved ones; and eventually, greetings laced with smiles began to pour. Returnees dressed in a thowb, head clean shaven, face glowing, further enhanced by the emulation of the blessed beard of the Noble Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) pushing a trolley atop which stands the containers bearing the blessed waters of Zam Zam flanked by his spouse who’s beauty now further enhanced by the donning of the Hijab; suddenly from nowhere children who had missed their parents emerge shouting, ‘Ummi, Ummi (Mummy), Abi, Abi (Daddy)’ as they run into the welcoming arms of their returning weary parents.

Thereafter the elders from amongst family, friends and strangers wait to greet the Hujjaj and immediately request the dua (Supplication) of the Haji as per the directive of the Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) ‘When you meet a returning Haji (on his way home) then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to beg forgiveness of Allah on your behalf before he enters his home, for his prayer for forgiveness is accepted since he is forgiven by Allah for his sins’ {as narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).

It is for this reason that it has always been the custom and habit of our predecessors to welcome the Hujaj, to walk with them and to ask them to pray on their behalf.

For all those of us who have been at the airport to receive a returning Haji, the picture painted above is a reflection of that experience, to which we can easily relate. Sadly though, besides this ‘cosmetic’ change that a Haaji undergoes, there is generally a lack of what the Haj of yesteryears held for a Haaji.

(There are definitely exclusions)

Allah (SWT) thus, ‘O Allah, grant me a righteous son?’ (Surah 37, Verse 100) Against all odds and against every expectation, Allah granted him a son at the ripe old age of 86 (Ibn Kathir) Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was then commanded by Allah (SWT) to leave the blessed land of Shaam which represented land of material abundance and financial wellbeing and migrate to the barren

Prophet Ibrahim's life (a.s) was characterised by total submission to his Creator and Sustainer and complete steadfastness in the face of great trials and tribulations like being ostracised by his own community including his father; and subsequently flung into the fire for his strict belief in Tawhid

trials and tribulations like being ostracised by his own community including his father; and subsequently flung into the fire for his strict belief in Tawhid. As a manifestation of one of the greatest miracles, he was divinely protected by Allah (SWT) and the fire was made a place of peace and comfort for him from which he emerged unscathed. When this miracle failed to convince those associating partners with Allah (SWT), Ibrahim migrated from the lands of his forefathers to become a stranger in the promised land of Shaam (Syria), where he continued with his mission and called to the light of Tawhid in the ocean of darkness, ignorance and polytheism. As he grew older, his desire for a child grew stronger and he prayed to

,

desert land of Arabia in the valley of Makkah, devoid of any vegetation or habitation. There, he was instructed by Allah (SWT) to leave his wife, Haajar (r.a) and his infant son, Ismaeel (a.s). He showed unflinching faith and allegiance to the command of his Creator and Sustainer as he never once questioned the commandment of Allah (SWT).

Equally impressive was the response of his wife Haajar (r.a) who, after being told that this was the Command of Allah (SWT) responded, ‘If your leaving us here is on the command of Allah (SWT) then He will never forsake us!’

While her words are worth marveling at, it must be said that her faith was tested. After being left in this barren valley that had no sign of any habitation or

From right: Ishola Haroon Balogun of Vanguard Facing the Kaaba, Imam Abdul Hafeez Abojututu, Suratudeen Central Mosque, Ikorodu (2nd right) and other members of the mosque during the last Quran Recitation Competition organised by Idayat Islamiyya Arabic School, Ikorodu. The next edition holds in February.

vegetation her little provisions were soon exhausted and as scorching desert sun took its toll, her infant son began to writhe in hunger and thirst. She then ascended Mount Safa hoping to see someone or something to come to her assistance. Having scanned the pitiless horizon from this vantage point she hastily and frantically descended this mount and quickly made her way up Mount Marwa having the same hope of redemption. Not seeing anything, she once again descended into the valley and repeated her ascent up Safa. With every vain ascent and descent her hopes began to crumble while her desperation began to increase at the sight of her child crying uncontrollably due to hunger and thirst. When eventually, on her seventh ascent (her fourth on Safa), the pendulum of her hopes shifted totally off creation and only onto her Creator, Allah (SWT), the spring of Zam Zam began bubbling beneath the feet of her infant son, Prophet Ismaeel (a.s).

The water of Zam Zam which, from that time until today, flows forth in abundance and quenches both the physical and spiritual thirst of the millions visiting the Haramain as well as those that anxiously visit the returning Hujaaj/Umaraa at their homes having hope of being honoured with the good fortune of being offered a drink of this blessed water can be said to be the product of the great sacrifice of the family of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s). Once this water began to

gush forth the valley of Makkah began its growth as a habitation with the settling of the Jurhum tribe from Yemen that would today become the most visited and revered place in the whole world.

Prophet Ismaeel (a.s) grew up amongst the Jurhum tribe who loved him dearly and it was amongst them that he learnt the Arabic language. When Prophet Ismaeel (a.s) reached the age of puberty, the age wherein a father begins to see the continuation of his generations, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was commanded by Allah (SWT), in a dream, to sacrifice his only son (at that time) – that same son granted to him at such an old age and in whom, like every father, he had great love for and as well as hopes for his future. In a sense, Prophet Ismaeel (a.s) was his whole world. That same Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who had spent almost a hundred years totally devoted towards the mission of Tawhid and passing test after test was now to be tested the ultimate test! As in his fulfilling of his Creator’s commands before, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) did not for a moment hesitate to fulfill the command of his Creator neither did he question the logic and reasoning behind such a command. The response of Prophet Ismaeel (a.s) when his father communicated this command of Allah (SWT), is worthy of admiration. He told his father: ‘O my father! Do as you have been commanded! You will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the patient (steadfast) ones!’

Surah 37, Verse 102 Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) then proceeded towards Mount Arafah with Ismaeel (a.s) in order to fulfill the command of Allah (SWT). On route, at Mina, the devil appeared on three occasions to thwart the commitment of brahim (a.s) towards fulfilling the command of Allah (SWT). However both father and son remained steadfast and proceeded to fulfill the command of their Creator. It was when both had firmly resolved to fulfill the command of their Creator that Allah (SWT) presented the ram from paradise to be sacrificed as a ransom for Ismail (a.s).

Sheikh Lawal charges Muslims on goodness

A

S Muslims Ummah marks 1434 A.H. Hijrah (Islamic New Year) which began on Thursday November 15, 2012 (Yaomal Ahad 1st Muharram, 1434 A.H.), an international Islamic preacher and Imam, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Adegboyega-Lawal has called on muslim Ummah and Nigerians to stand for truth, by the truth and do the will of Allah, in all their acts and deeds, for Nigeria to be on the right course among the country of nations.

Sheikh Rahman-Lawal who is the National President, Islamic Progressive Association of Nigeria (IPAN) and National Co-ordinator, AS-SALAM Praying Centre, Nigeria, noted that Hijrah was a turning point towards the right axis of governance, thus called for Allah’s guidance on Nigeria and Nigerians.

Lawal further urged Muslims to be more pious and righteous in this new Hijrah 1434 A.H. and should move closer to the creator by obeying His rules, as well as being good and fair to fellow human beings.

The leader of IPAN & ASSALAM Praying Centre, Nigeria also enjoined Muslims and

believers to follow Islamic monotheism with all sincerity, by attributing to the creator all that He deserves, and doing Jihad and Dawaah. “We must also respect all the prophets and believe their divine messages, revive and follow the Sunnah of prophet Muhammed (SAW), for our lives would be peaceful and orderly,” he stated.

The Islamic leader who is also a member of NACOMYO, Oyo State, tasked Muslims to reflect on the past so as to strengthen their faith in the new 1434 A.H and to intensify on their salats with humility, submission, concentration and fear of the torment of the Day of Judgment, pay our zakat, as at when due, be sincere and truthful to others.

Sheikh Lawal charged the federal government to addresscorruption at all levels, insufficiency of basic and effective social amenities, lack of security and unemployment crisis with a view to moving Nigeria forward, while also urging the politicians to emulate the character of the Prophet, who as a statesman ruled with the fear of God.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 — 47

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS: You will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family minded.

CAPRICORN: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

AQUARIUS: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

PISCES: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

ARIES: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

AM not an econo mist; but I know there is what is called ‘comparative advantage’.

This simply put is the principle which encourages countries to produce goods and services for which they have comparative advantage in international trade. Under this principle, countries are

Strengthening your areas of strength expected to produce and export products in which they incur least cost. In other words, they should concentrate on areas they have advantage.

As it is with nations, so it is with individuals. Every human no matter how

TERROR MUDA

excellent, must have his areas of strength and areas of weakness. In other to excel, it is only proper that we further work on our areas of strength, so much that it will impact on our weakness. By way of analogy, let us exam-

in “Never say goodbye”

ine darkness and light.

You don’t have to fight darkness. When the light is too much darkness will disappear on its own volition.

Strengthen your areas of strength, and your weakness will continue to diminish on its own.

Think out it!

By Lanre Kehinde

TAURUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

GEMINI: Success is boldly printed on your cards today.

Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

CANCER: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

LEO: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today and if you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

VIRGO: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

LIBRA: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

SCORPIO: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

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

What does future have for me Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Akinremi, Ekiti.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Akinremi, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career.

You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

48—Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

From left: Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari and the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, at the Customs' conference in Katsina.

From left: Chevron Petroleum Geologist, Mr. Abdullateef Amodu; Chairman/MD, Chevron, Mr. Andrew Fawthrope; Senator Gbenga Ashafa,and Director, Governmental Affairs, Chevron, Senator Gbenga Aluko, during a Committee Session at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

Nyako presents N95bn budget for 2013

BY UMAR YUSUF

Y

OLA—GOVERNOR Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, has presented N95 billion budget for the 2013 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, tagged “budget for continued delivery of democracy dividends,” Nyako said the proposed budget was articulated against the backdrop of the current economic challenges and realities on the ground, adding that N20.960 billion was for per-

sonnel cost; N28.383 billion - over head cost just as Consolidated Revenue Fund charges would take N6.460 billion while N39.040 billion was budgeted for Capital Expenses.

According to the governor the 2013 budget was principally designed to promote continuity of his administration’s efforts to transform the state economy for massive development programmes.

He said his administration would continue to en-

sure that basic social infrastructural facilities for primary health care delivery, electricity, portable water for “our rural population, provision of quality education and technical/formal agricultural skills at vocational centres for youths are pursued vigorously.”

“We intend to formally commission in the new year, Adamawa-German Diagnostic Centre in Yola to reduce hospital tourism abroad and the first ever agricultural skills develop-

ment centre of international standard in our country.”

The Governor, however, commended the State Assembly members and the people of Adamawa for their continued support to his administration.

He said his vision remains the rapid socio economic development of the state through Agricultural development as the centre piece and the provision of requisite security environment and social facilities.

Man jailed 7yrs for defiling 12-yr-old daughter

B

ENIN— A Benin Chief Magistrate's Court has sentenced a 47-year- old father, Godwin Allu, to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for having unlawful carnal knowledge of his 12-year-old daughter.

Allu was accused of sleeping with his daughter on Nov. 20, at 19 Omono Street, off Stadium road, Benin City.

The offence is punishable under section 208 of the Criminal Code cap 48 Vol .11 of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, which is applicable to Edo. The little girl had testi-

fied that her father had unlawful carnal knowledge of her three times at different occasions.

The victim, who had blood stains on her uniform, informed her headmistress at Obaseki Primary School, Benin of

the incident.

The headmistress later reported the case at the Airport Police Station, also in Benin.

When he was arraigned before the court, the accused admitted committing the crime

Flood: FG takes samples of snakes to determine anti-venom vaccines relief materials to flood

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI & SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—THE Fed eral Government is to take samples of foreign snakes which infiltrated into the country through the flood that devastated some parts of

Bauchi State to determine the type of antivenom vaccines for them.

Chairperson of the Presidential sub-committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Professor Dora Akunyili, made this known when her committee donated

Ilorin monarch assures Sarakis of continued Bukola Saraki and other long retinue of loyalists, support PDP leaders and support-

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI LORIN—THE Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, has assured that he would continue to extend the support given to the late elder statesman, Dr. Olusola Saraki and the Waziri of Ilorin as the political leader in the state to his son Dr.

I

and pleaded for leniency.

Delivering judgment, yesterday, the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Peter Obaseki, described the crime as bestial for which the accused deserved no mercy.

members of the family in order to move the state forward.

The monarch made the promise when late Saraki’s family members including Mrs Toyin Saraki, Senator Gbemisola Saraki and Mrs Tope Edu (nee Saraki) among others paid him a thank you visit in his palace.

Senator Bukola Saraki in company of his wife and a

ers also visited all the Baloguns and few other personalities in the state capital to thank them for their support during the funeral.

Gambari who was responding to the remarks by the former governor said the support became necessary because of the lofty achievements of the elder statesman in Kwara State .

victims at Duduri District, in the state.

The poisonous, foreign snakes were reportedly noticed in Yuli village river by inhabitants of the area.

This was even as the Kwara State Government said it has so far spent N200 million out of the N300million it received from the Federal Government for flood victims on rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by the flood.

Chairman of the State Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako, made this known while presenting some items purchased from the Federal Government’s grant, at the Palace of Emir of Shonga.

Akwa Ibom govt condoles with Sampson's family

U

YO— A K WA Ibom State Government has condoled with the family of the Member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ekong Sampson, on the demise of his mother, Deaconess Alice Sampson Akpan, who was a devoted leader in the Qua Iboe Church and in her community.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by his deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe, paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family at their country home in Ikot Unya, Mkpat Enin,

sympathised with the family over the loss.

Akpabio eulogized the late Deaconess as a great woman of God who believed in God through her exemplary lifestyle, noting that “it is a wonderful thing to serve the Lord, not because of one’s wealth or status in the society, but in the way you are dedicated to the things of God.” The Assemblyman, Mr. Ekong Sampson, expressed delight at the visit to the family at their moment of grief and thanked the Governor for raising their family to an enviable status.

Ijaw extol Igali's virtues

L

AGOS—THE Ijaw nation, yesterday, described the death of one of the pillars of the accountancy profession in Nigeria, Pa Newton Amie Igali as a loss to the nation.

In a statement signed

by Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator of IMG, the Ijaw expressed sadness that Igali died when the oil-rich region needed him most.

The late Newston Igali, according to the Ijaws, contributed immensely to the development of the Niger Delta through his love for education and humanity.

According to the Ijaws, Pa Igali was one of the brightest accountants Nigeria ever produced and one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian civil service. “Because of his great input in the nation’s development, God has raised educational, economic and political giants through him, among whom is his son, Amb. Godknows Igali, a great son of the Niger Delta.”

They called on the Federal and state governments and accounting institutions in the country to immortalise the late Igali.

Orient Forum holds unity festival

L

AGOS—ORIENT Progressive Social Forum, a group of professionals and entrepreneurs from South East, will on Sunday December 2, 2012 host the second edition of its “Unity Festival” for the year with the theme; “InterRegional Co-operation: Panacea to a Peaceful Nigeria.”

According to its Chairman, Dr. Uche Obienu, Managing Director of Bolitz Integrated Services, the programme will commence with a Sunday fellowship at the Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos at 9am, with a presentation.

May Nzeribe, Advertising Icon goes home TRIB UTE TRIBUTE

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

T

HE remains of Dr. May Nzeribe, erstwhile Chairman of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, who brought ethics and standards into the industry was interred yesterday. However, his contributions to the growth of the advertising industry cannot be wished away amidst sobs and sadness among his peers and family. His death, however, came as a shock to many advertising practitioners.

Nzeribe, born into a royal family in Oguta, Imo State, grew over the years to build a stunning reputation for himself. As a little boy growing up in Ubuta town in the Eastern part of the country, May knew what he wanted in life.

Dr. May Nzeribe

Coming from a polygamous home meant he had to strive hard to build a great future for himself.

He sometimes had to struggle ceaselessly to survive harsh conditions. A past president of the IAA in Nigeria, Association of Advertising Practitioners of

Nigeria, AAPN; and former Chairman, A d v e r t i s i n g Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON; May saw it all at the highest stages of his profession.

His several wellresearched articles over the years, remain a reference point for many practitioners in Nigeria and beyond. His award by the IAA makes him the first Nigerian to be so recognised. He was largely seen as the pivot and revolutionary who redefined advertising practice in the country. May’s journey to the top did not come just as easy as many would think. He had to make huge sacrifices to achieve the laudable feat. As a young Account Manager at OBM in the early 1970s, he became popular

Vanguard, FRIDAY, with many clients, thanks to his efficiency at handling tasking briefs. He was indeed a workaholic for he could commit himself so much to a task until he got the result he wanted.

Quarterly journal It was only during his time that the association’s quarterly journal, Advertising in Nigeria , was published regularly. It was from there May joined the education committee before testing his hands on the vice presidency and finally the presidency of the respected body.

And ever since, he never looked back.

In his book, Advertising Revolution in Nigeria, Mac M. Asemota described Nzeribe as the most influential figure that has helped popularize the advertising profession in Nigeria.

NOVEMBER 30, 2012—49 Asemota states: “More than any person of his age, he remains the most powerful influence in popularizing advertising ideas.

May obviously chose the right profession. He loves talking to people (ability to communicate), he knows communication is crucial to all social processes, he loves convincing people (articulate), and he has made a success of it (effective). He also cuts the image of a sharp guy, a gregarious personality of himself (image).

"These are advertising criteria, but they can be expressed in relatively simple terms – he personifies the typical advertising man. Nzeribe is an advertising practitioner with a difference.

Through his activities and writings, he has helped raise popular consciousness. He was one man who has done much to promote and preserve the ideals of the profession through information and persuasion. To him, each challenge calls for his best. No other adman has devoted as much energy to the business of running AAAN, IAA and APCON-related activities.

The general feeling is that he works and work gives him an assignment and it is regarded as “done deed”. For Nzeribe, “you don’t pick up a job and forget why you asked for it.

You must justify the confidence reposed in you.

If in the process you are scored high, so be it.”

Mind blowing accolades As mind-blowing as these accolades sound, May had insisted that his journey into what has now brought fame and fortune was an accident. He told a national daily in November 2004: “It just happened. I didn’t have any choice. And I’ve been in communication all my life. When starting off, I didn’t have any role model, hero or what have you. I just plunged into it."

Since the Oguta-born veteran established his firm, Sunrise D’Arcy, in 1984, he had become deeply rooted in the development of the trade across the African continent. To some of his friends like Biodun Sobanjo, Chairman of Trokya Group, who expressed sadness, “it was very, very sad. May his soul rest in perfect peace.” Tolu Ogunkoya, Managing Director of MedieReach OMD and President of Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, MIPAN, had no word to express the shock.

But in an unpublished piece on late Dr. May Nzeribe, I wrote for him while working at his agency. May Nzeribe was an unassuming and extremely gifted advertising icon who would not stain his hands in any deal.

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Vanguard CLASSIFIED

BUNUJU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Glory Bunuju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Erhabor. All former documents remain valid. Midwifery and Nursing Council, the authority concerned and general public please take note.

OGBOMO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aituari Ogbomo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aituari Omo-Ogbebor. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EKPO—We, formerly known and addressed as EKPO FAMILY: (1) Adiaha Aniedi Unwana Pauline Victor Isaac Ekpo, Pauline Victor Ekpo, Pauline Ekpo and Pauline Aniedi Victor Ekpo. (2) Eteka Anietie Jonathan Victor Isaac Ekpo, Eteka Jonathan, Jonathan Ekpo and Jonathan Edimek (3) Etekamba Philip Victor Isaac Ekpo, Philips Victor Etekamba and Philips Udoeyen Ekpo (4) Koko Inyang Andrew Victor Isaac Ekpo, Koko Andrew Inyang and Andrew Inyang Ekpo (5) Grace Jonathan Ekere, Keti Grace Victor Isaac Ekpo and Keti Grace Isaac, now wish to be known and addressed as EDIMEK FAMILY: (1) Aniedi Victor Isaac Edimek (2) Jonathan Victor Isaac Edimek (3) Philips Victor Isaac Edymek (4) Andrew Victor Isaac Edimek and (5) Keti Grace Edimek. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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General public please take note.

ANI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ani Juliet Ukamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Udeh Juliet Ukamaka. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Institute of Management & Technology (I.M.T) Enugu, banks and general public please take note.

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NWAOZOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. (Miss) Nwaozor Bernadette Ugochi, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr (Mrs) Abara Bernadette Ugochi. All former documents remain valid. University of Lagos, Lagos State University, NYSC and general public please take note.

ODUNAYO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odunayo Olanike Janet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Babalola Olanike Janet.

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Reconciliation of NamesThis is to certify that the names Obiakor Kingsley Obinna, Obiakor Enoch Obinna refer to one and the same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Obiakor Enoch Obinna. All former documents remain valid. Dr. David O. Oyedepo (Living Faith Church Worldwide: Winners Chapel), Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Abia State Polytechnic and general public please take note.

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Itsekiri Regional Development Committee and general pubic please take note.

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Addition of Name My name is Jennifer Akpoyede but now wish to be known and addressed as Jennifer Tevuke Ovwufeti. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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— 57

CLASSIFIED

OBHIOSE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obhiose Lami Maureen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uwuigbe Lami HE United Nation Maureen. All former General Assembly documents remain valid.

General is set to implicitly public please take recognize a sovereign state of Palestine note. yesterday despite threats by the United UKPABI—I, formerly States and Israel to known and adpunish the Palestinian dressed as Miss Authority by withholding Ukpabi Joy Chinyere much-needed funds for , now wish to be the West Bank known and adgovernment. dressed as Mrs. A resolution that would Nnoka Joy Chinyere. lift the Palestinian All former documents Authority ’s U.N. remain valid. General observer status from public please take “entity” to “non-member note. state,” like the Vatican, is expected to pass easily in CHIA—I, formerly the 193-nation General known and addressed Assembly. At least 15 as Miss Jennifer European states plan to Dooyum Chia, now vote for it. wish to be known and Israel, the United addressed as Mrs. States and a handful of Jennifer Dooyum other members are set to Ajukwu. All former vote against what they documents remain see as a largely symbolic valid. Mainstreet and counterproductive Bank and general pub- move by the lic please take note.

Palestinians, which takes place on the 65th OTSE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gloria Orinya Otse, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gloria Orinya Alfred Tobias. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UN set to recognize Palestinian state, despite threats T

UKAEGBU —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Favour Ezinne Ukaegbu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ikechukwu Ibekwe Favour Ezinne NeeUkaegbu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ADAMS —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Winifred Adams, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Winifred Isimakhome Owumi.

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anniversary of the assembly’s adoption of resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.

M e a n w h i l e , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been leading the campaign to win support for the resolution, which follows an eight-day conflict this month between Israel and Islamists in the Gaza Strip, who are pledged to Israel’s destruction and oppose his efforts toward a negotiated peace.

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East peace envoy David Hale traveled to New York on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to get Abbas to reconsider, even as the Palestinians gave no sign they were turning back.

•Labourers putting up a banner depicting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Voting on Egyptian constitution assembly writing a new country. begins Egyptian constitution has

T

HE Islamistdominated

From left: Cordinator General, Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, Mr. Michael Anyiam –Osigwe former president of Democratic Socialist Republic Sir Lanka, Her Excellency Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof Bolaji Akinyemi,Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Pro(Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri ,and Emir of Shonga Dr Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya at the 13th Session of the Emmanuel Osigwe Anyiam –Osigwe Foundation held at NIIA Lagos yesterday.

Poverty, conflicts barriers to 3rd world growth — Ex-Sri Lanka president

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

HE former President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has said that poverty and conflict were the key issues causing serious setback to developing nations.

The foreign envoy who made this assertion in her keynote address yesterday in Lagos during the 13 th Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe lecture series titled, ‘Synthesis for nationhood: Ethnic policy

and national integration: From indigenes to citizens’ told the gathering that poverty was considered to be the greatest challenge facing all countries, especially third world countries.

She noted that governments have formulated and implemented thousands of programmes to alleviate or end poverty and deprivation to no avail.

She noted that Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation has been created to fulfil the noble philosophy expressed by

Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, adding that his vision was to work for the good of humanity.

“However, rarely do governments recognize the importance of searching out the causes of conflict and resolving them.

Unresolved conflict invariably leads to violence and civil war.

This in turn compounds the problems of poverty. “ E c o n o m i c development is no doubt the priority requirement for addressing the challenges of poverty and deprivation” she said.

convened to vote on the final draft.

In one of its first steps, the constituent assembly voted to keep sharia, or Islamic law, as the main source of legislation.

It came after the constitutional court said it would rule on Sunday whether to dissolve the assembly.

Egypt’s judiciary is in a stand-off with President Mohammed Morsi after he granted himself sweeping new powers.Mr Morsi was scheduled to address the nation on television on yesterday evening.

His decree last week has sparked huge protests across the

Liberal, left-wing and Christian members have boycotted the assembly, accusing the Islamists of trying to impose their vision.

According to Egyptian state TV, the articles so far passed stipulate the Islam is the religion of the state, and the principles of sharia are the “main source of legislation”.

This is unchanged from the previous constitution under Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled as president last year.

Salafists and some members of Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood failed to have “principles” replaced by “rules”.

Rwanda wants new DR Congo rebel front

R

WANDAN support for rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo may be more widespread than previously believed, the BBC has found.

Kigali has already rejected UN accusations that it is backing the M23 rebel group which recently captured the strategic eastern city of Goma.

Two ex-rebel fighters told the BBC they were offered money from Rwanda to set up a new front further south.

More than 500,000 people have fled seven months of fighting in the east.

Rwanda has previously

backed armed groups in eastern DR Congo as a way of fighting Hutu militias who fled there after Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, in which some 800,000 people died.

The M23, who like Rwanda’s leaders are mostly ethnic Tutsis, has also denied it is funded

by Rwanda.

BBC East Africa correspondent Gabriel Gatehouse spoke to two former rebel fighters in Bukavu, which lies on the southern tip of Lake Kivu, some 200km (125 miles) from Goma.

They were from DR Congo’s minority Tutsi ethnic group and said they had joined the rebel

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

TREBLE CHANCE Fulham Norwich Q.P.R. Bristol C. Burnley Nottm For. Getafe Granada Real Madrid

v Tottenham v Sunderland v Aston V. v Wolves . v Blackburn v Hull v Malaga v Espanyo v Ath Madrid

SOCCER TIPS Messi, Ronaldo & Iniesta: Who should win FIF A Ballon d’Or? FIFA LIONEL MESSI will take on Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta for the title of best player in the world.

The Spain-based trio are the final three in the race to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or award on January 7.

Barcelona superstar Messi is on track to beat Gerd Muller’s all-time record for the number of goals in a calendar year.

He is currently on 82 and needs just four more to pass the 85 scored by the Germany and Bayern Munich striker in 1972.

The Argie ace has already beaten the second-best record of 75 — set by Brazilian legend Pele while playing for Santos in 1958.

His biggest rival is Ronaldo who despite trailing Messi in the goal-scoring stakes, was the main man in Real Madrid’s Spanish title triumph.

The winger was Portugal’s top scorer as they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2012 where they were knocked out on penalties by eventual champions Spain.

The star of that historic Spanish victory was Barcelona midfielder Iniesta who was named player of the tournament.

He may not have scored in Poland and Ukraine but Iniesta’s influence on Vicente del Bosque’s side was massive.

Iniesta has also played a key part in Barca’s best-ever start to a league season under new boss Tito Vilanova.

Bookies Coral make Messi is the 6-1 ON favourite for the award, with Ronaldo at 4/1 and Iniesta at 8/1

FOUR HOMES

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said: “It shows how strong football in Spain is.

“We have seen again what they did at the Euros and it will be interesting to LATE see what happens in the Confederations TIPS Cup.” There was also a Spanish theme to the FIFA World Coach of the Year award.

Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque was nominated for his role in guiding Spain to a successful defence of their European crown.

FormerReal Barca bossJose Pep Mourinho Guardiola and current coach were also named on the shortlist.

3 X 5X12X 15 FOUR AWAYS PAIR 41 8X 20X 24 X X 28 PERMUTATION 43 2X6X7 X19 X 26 X 29 AVOID 35 TIPS 34 X 37X 39 RISKY

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has rubbished speculation linking him with a move to QPR and wishes to remain at White Hart Lane for the remainder of his career.

Defoe has been in fine form for Spurs this season and is their leading scorer with 10 in all competitions.

EXCELLENT goals Yet rumours have circulated that the EnFulham 7 gland international would be prepared to Norwich 7 move across London to link up with Rangers boss Harry Redknapp, with whom he has Q.P.R. 7 worked under at West Ham, Portsmouth and West Ham 5 Tottenham, once more.

"That's not going to happen. I'm not leavBristol C. 5 ing Tottenham, I love the club and to score Burnley 5 goals at a big club like this is fantastic," Defoe told Sky Sports News.

Nottm For 5 "If the opportunity comes to leave the club Getafe 5 it won't be happening. I don't want to leave, I'm a Spurs player - and I'm happy.

36

CREDIT Willem 2 Groningen 2 Siena 2 Lazio 3 Genoa 3 Real Madrid3 Mollorca 3 Granada 3

Jermain Defoe committed to Spurs

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS Week 20 F.A cla ys Premier ship .A.. Bar Barcla clays Premiership

1 Arsenal 2 Fulham 3 Liverpool 4 Man City 5 Newcastle 6 Norwich 7 Q.P.R. 8 Reading 9 West Brom 10West Ham

v Swansea 1X v Tottenham XX v South'pton 1 v Everton 1X v Wigan 1 v SunderlandXX v Aston V. XX v Man Utd. 2 v Stoke X1 v Chelsea XX

.

NPower Football Championship 11Birmingham 12 Bolton 13 Bristol C. 14 Burnley 15 Cardiff 16 Crystal P. 17 Leicester 18 Millwall 19 Nottm For. 20 Peterboro 21Watford

v Middlesbro Void v Ipswich 1 v Wolves XX v Blackburn XX v Sheff Wed 1 v Brighton.

X1 v Derby 1 v Charlton 1 v Hull XX v Blackpool 2 v Barnsley 1X

Spanish BB VA La Liga BBV 22 Barcelona 23 Celta Vigo.

24 Deportivo 25 Getafe 26 Granada 27 Mallorca 28 Osasuna 29 Real Madrid 30 Sevilla 31Valencia

v Ath Bilbao 1 v Levante X2 v Read Betis 2 v Malaga XX v Espanyol XX v Zaragoza XX v R.Vallecano 2 v Ath Madrid XX v valladolid 1 v R. Sociedad 1

Italia Serie A 32 Bologna 33 Florentina 34 Genoa 35 Inter Milan 36 Juventus 37 Lazio 38 Napoli 39 Siena 40 Udinese

v Atalanta v Sampdoria v Chievo v Palermo v Torino v Parma v Pescara. v Roma v Cagliari

2 6 7 48

X2 1 XX 1 1 XX 2

XX 1X

Dutch Eredivisie 41 Ajax 42 Feyenoord 43 Groningen 44 NEC 45 Twente 46 Utrecht 47 Vitesse 48 Willem

v P.S.V. XX v Waalwuk 1 v Heracles XX v NAC Breda 1 v Den Haag 1 v Az Alkmaar 1X v Roda 1 v HeereeveenXX

German Bundesliga 49 B. Munich

v B. Dortland XX

Revised P air s Pair airs 2x6,7x14 29x34,43x48

Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012—59

Plane crash: Suntai's aides return

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—FEW weeks after they were flown to Germany to meet their principal and continue proper medical attention, two of the three aids to Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State returned, yesterday.

The two aides, Chief Detail, Joel Danladi, and Chief Security Officer, CSO, Tino Dangana, touched down at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport, Abuja, at 4.40pm aboard a Lufthansa aircraft.

They were driven off at 5.10pm in a convoy of four cars.

The aide de camp, ADC, Dasat Iliya, the third of the governor’s aides injured when the aircraft being flown by the governor crashed on a flight from Jalingo to Yola, will return next week.

The CSO, who returned using crutches, stopped photo-journalists from taking shots and asked one, who had taken a shot, to delete it.

Director of Medical Services in the Government House, Jalingo, Dr. Ahmed Kara, told newsmen Governor Suntai and the ADC were doing very well at the hospital.

French Village celebrates 20

F

EDERAL Government-owned Nigeria French Village, an interuniversity centre for French studies at Ajara, Badagry, Lagos State, yesterday, marked 20 years of its establishment.

The village was founded in 1991 to serve as an alternative to the “a year abroad” intensive French Language study programme for the language’s students.

CORRIGENDUM

I

N a paid advertise ment, entitled Honour Well Deserved, published on Page 51 of Thursday 29, 2012 edition of Vanguard, we inadvertently referred to the awarding institution as University of Ilorin instead of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin.

The error is regretted.

Advert Manager.

Reps threaten to order Okonjo-Iweala's arrest over police pension

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives, yesterday, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over her refusal to honour invitations from its Committee on Pensions.

Members of the committee also want the Finance Minister to explain her role in the take-over of Police Pension Fund and non-payment of pensions to retired officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force.

Chairman of the Committee on Pension, Ibrahim Kamba, read the decision of the committee

after waiting for the minister for several hours without any apology for non-appearance.

He noted that it was obvious that the minister was not ready to appear to explain why the ministry took over Police Pension office without regard to Pension Reform Act. He said: “We have been inviting the Minister of Finance over the prob-

lems of police pension.

She has been holding the police pension and several police pensioners have died due to non-payment despite the fact that the National Assembly appropriated money in the 2012 fiscal year.

“Following her refusal, the committee is going to issue a warrant of arrest against the minister if she fails to attend the next meeting.

“We are going to give her a last opportunity. She

has no right to neglect the summons of the committee. Many former IGs have not been paid. Sunday Ehindero and Sunday Adewusi and DIG Akeredolu have not been listed due to the take-over by the minister.

“We want to make the reason for our action clear to Nigerians. We hate playing with peoples lives. We have received some petitions from the police that many police pensioners are not paid.”

FG assures on fuel availability at Yuletide

BY BEN AGANDE

A

AWARD: High Chief Alex Akinyele, Chairman of the occasion (left), presenting the Most Outstanding CEO of the Year award to Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, MD, Fidson Health Care Plc at the 2012 Pearl Award Nite in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Jang, lawmakers on warpath over council workers' strike

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—PLATEAU State House of Assembly and Governor Jonah Jang may be on warpath over the six months old strike by local government workers in the state.

Already, some members are pushing for an impeachment notice to be served on the governor if he does not rescind his decision not to pay the workers, for the period they have been on strike, in the interest of peace.

A special sitting of the house is to hold today (Friday) to deliberate on a motion seeking to direct the governor to pay the workers. The decision to hold a special session was taken at plenary yesterday, where members expressed concern over the lingering impasse between government and the workers.

Many members were unhappy that appeals to

the governor to reconsider his insistence on invoking the no-work no-pay rule were not heeded.

Some said they had be-

come targets of attack from angry workers, who are turning violent in demanding payment of their salary arrears.

AMAGE to partner Nigerian physicians

P

RESIDENT of AfricaMiddle East Association of Gastroenterology, AMAGE, Prof. Hussein Abdel-Hamid, has pledged the support of the body to Nigerian physicians in the research and management of diseases of the digestive system and internal medicine in general.

Speaking at the closing dinner of the 6th AMAGE congress held at the Tinapa Business Resort near Calabar from November 22 to 24, Prof.

Abdel-Hamid said the hosting of the congress in Nigeria, the first time in Africa, has successfully removed the barrier between the medical community in sub-Saharan

Africa and their counterparts in the Northern part of the continent.

He disclosed that Nigeria was chosen because of its important position as one of the important gates to the Sub-Saharan Afri-

can region, adding that the goal of the congress, held every two years in different countries of the world, was to bring people together irrespective of their race, colour, culture or religion.

BUJA—DESPITE the fuel scarcity being experienced in some parts of the country, Federal Government has given assurances that there would be uninterrupted supply of petroleum products during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

A senior aide to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, who spoke with journalists at the Presidential Villa yesterday, said no attempt by some disgruntled elements to frustrate the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan in reforming the oil and gas sector would succeed.

The official, who sought anonymity because a detailed briefing would be provided next week by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, noted that the government was determined to ensure there was no return of queues in the nation’s petrol stations.

He said: “The government is working round the clock to ensure that people have fuel during the Christmas and New Year period.”

Catholic Archbishop tasks Christian on ICT

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

A

RCHBISHOP of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, has advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of using modern technologies and their resources to preach the gospel, promote human value and impacted the society positively.

Speaking during commissioning, first convocation and award ceremony of Centre for Media Development, CMD, in Lagos, Bishop Adewale, extolled the power of the media for evangelism and encouraged Christians to embrace it.

He appreciated the effort of Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony

Okogie who inaugurated the centre two years ago, saying the centre was significant in the life of Catholics, especially in the archdiocese of Lagos.

He added that the centre would serve as an added advantage to evangelise the word of God. He said: “Everything that happens is God’s providence and not accidental.”

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Eko 2012: Boxing fans lament power outage, lack of ventilation

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

L

AGOS State firebrand pugilists, Fijabi Olaide and Joseph Otto in the men’s 64kg and 60kg weight categories yesterday, enlivened the indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute For Sports (NIS) to the admiration of the fans as they mesmerized their opponents with hard punches.

Fijabi and his teammate, Otto are some of the promising boxers who gave good account of themselves as they defeated their opponents with long margins, beating them 11points to one and 12 points to one apiece in their respective weight categories.

Speaking shortly, after his bout, Fijabi who is the defending champion in his weight category said he is focused to retain his title in this year’s festival Equally, the host state\s boxers showed their uprightness to do their state proud as all

their pugilists won all their bouts to move into the second round.

Dauda Azeez in the 49kg defeated Yusuf Olalekan of Rivers, Akeem Akinade in the 52kg defeated Sodiq Moammed of Kano, while Kazeem Oliwo defeated Oyekola Rilwan of Gombe in the 56kg category.

However, boxing fans and the boxers at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos yesterday lamented frequent power outages and lack of ventilation at the hall of the National Institute for Sports (NIS).

The fans said that the problems did not allow them to enjoy a steady flow of bouts as matches were being regularly disrupted due to power

R

FIF A FIFA Continues from B/P The Argie ace has already beaten the second-best record of 75 — set by Brazilian legend Pele while playing for Santos in 1958.

His biggest rival is Ronaldo who despite trailing Messi in the goal-scoring stakes, was the main man in Real Madrid’s Spanish title triumph.

The winger was

Portugal’s top scorer as they reached the semifinals of Euro 2012 where they were knocked out on penalties by eventual champions Spain.

The star of that historic Spanish victory was Barcelona midfielder Iniesta who was named player of the tournament.

He may not have scored in Poland and Ukraine but Iniesta’s influence on Vicente del Bosque’s side was massive.

5000 participants for 1 December Etiosa walk weekend, at 7:30 a.m. President st

I

N a bid to promote healthy living, peace and love, more than 5,000 people are expected to participate in a walk tagged Walk for Life staged by Etiosa Youth Development Initiative in Etiosa Local Government Area of Lagos state.

The walk takes off this

of the Youth Initiative, Ayodeji Lawrence said the show will commence from the end of Manuwa street through Awolowo Road, Falomo Kingsway roundabout by Golden gate Restaurant to Second Avenue, Obalande and terminates on Keffi street.

Continues from B/P searing 35 degree centigrade Bamako sun at the Stade Quezzin Coulibalily -named after the foremost Malian monarch.

This team has gone through so much on this road to Morocco 2013 including playing less than 41 degree in the 4-1 victory over Niger in Niamey last September.

“We know the challenges before us and by the grace of God, we shall overcome Mali on Sunday,” defender Wilfred Ndidi who has played every minute of the Eaglets’ last five matches stated.” The weather in Bamako is hot but it can’t be compared

with what we had in Niger (Niamey).”

The Golden Eaglets’ training today took place at a makeshift ground with a well-maintained pitch, pending the release of the team’s official itinerary by the Malian Football Federation.

Manu Garba (MFR), Head coach of the Golden Eaglets reckons that the players must take benefits of being here on time and focus on the job at hand. ”Whatever we are going through now cannot be compared with our collective efforts over the last months as such we must be extra focussed now,” Garba told his ever ready young guns.”

Brazil Continues from B/P GIRLS AT WAR---Volleyball scene at the Sports Festival with Niger state laughing last. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Rivers female hockey team defeat Adamawa 1-0 IVERS female hockey team on T h u r s d a y defeated their Adamawa counterparts 1-0 in Pool

Eaglets

B preliminaries at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

Oyo State was also in the same pool with Rivers and Adamawa at the festival.

The first half of the match which lasted 35 minutes ended goalless, but Rivers scored in the 60th minutes to decide the match.

Coach Collins Iheanyi of Rivers attributed his side’s victory to longtime preparation and adequate support from the state government.

“Our victory is tie to

good preparation and support from the government during our preparation. The team was camped for four months and we are getting reward for that,” he said.

Coach Ibrahim Maiha of Adamawa said that he was pleased with his team’s performance because it was nine players against 11, saying his team would have performed well if they were completed.

“Some of our players were screened out because they did not register

Football Confederation have turned to the man who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 after axing Mano Menezes.

The five-time world champions have handed Big Phil a contract covering the 2014 World Cup, which will take place on home soil.

Scolari, who also led Portugal at the 2006 World Cup and

3 teeth Continues from B/P he saw two of his teeth in club doctor Andrew Dent’s hands.

“Then he nearly fainted! We think there is another tooth lodged in his jaw.”

T

HE policy statement by the Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi to open the National Sports Festival (NSF) has received the backing of Delta and Ekiti States.

According to the Chairman, Delta Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick, the decision is long overdue as this would bring glamour to the sports fiesta.

“I think this is what I

have championing that the festival should be thrown open for top athletes to represent their state of origins. You can imagine athletes like Blessing Okagbare, Damola Osayomi and Ajoke Odumosu taking part in the festival, fans will surely be drawn to the stadium and this will also afford the young athletes to rub shoulders with the top athletes and such budding athletes will surely be integrated into the senior team,” Pinnick said.

Pulis refused to point the finger at Coloccini, adding: “I don’t think there was any malice in it.”

Crouch is now a doubt for Saturday ’s trip to West Brom.

Lagos Continues from B/P

Delta, Ekiti back Abdullahi on open festival

E u r o p e a n Championships in 2004 and 2008, said: “I’m not feeling under pressure, but very happy.

“When the FA president called me last Tuesday and confirmed that I was the chosen one, I thanked him a thousand times.

“The players are those who always have pressure over them, I don’t.”

Elisha Egbe won gold in taekwondo. The event was Poomsae form where he defeated other contenders from Delta and Edo. In a chat with Sports Vanguard, Egbe who hails from Ebonyi State said he was happy winning the gold medal for his adopted state. “I am happy because it is in fulfillment of what I

pledged to my coach.”

Egbe who won silver in the same event at the last sports festival in Port Harcourt said the medal was as a result of the motivation he got from the state Sports Council.

“In terms of motivation, Lagos State ranks tops.

We were adequately motivated because, if it is about hard work alone, other states also worked hard. I thank God for Lagos,” the gold medalist said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012— 61

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62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012— 63

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Page 54 VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

FIFA Ballon d’Or battle: Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta, know fate Page 52

Eko 2012: National Sports Festival

Lagos joins Gold train

By JACOB AJOM

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HE race for medals at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival got more interesting yesterday when the host state, Lagos joined the gold rush, bagging her •Iniesta second gold medal in as IONEL MESSI will many days. take on Cristiano Spectators at the Ronaldo and Andres Molade Okoya Thomas Iniesta for the title of Indoor Sports hall best player in the world. erupted in ecstasy when The Spain-based trio are the final three in the Continues on Page 60

L

•Ronaldo

•Messi

race to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or award on January 7.

Barcelona superstar Messi is on track to beat Gerd Muller ’s all-time record for the number of

Ouch! Crouch has 3 teeth smashed out Delta State, Dankulu Mohamed (blue) and Kebi State Shukurune Mohamed fighting in the 65kg weight category. Delta won. Photo: Henry Unini

Brazil turn to Scolari

P

HIL SCOLARI is back for a second spell as Brazil boss.

Ex-Chelsea manager Scolari, 64, has been out of work since leaving Palmeiras earlier this year.

But the Brazilian Continues on Page 60 TODAY'S

•Scolari

PUZZLE

P

ETER CROUCH was left in a bloody mess after having three teeth smashed out in a sickening clash.

The beanpole striker was accidentally caught

by Toon defender Fabricio Coloccini’s arm during Stoke’s 2-1 triumph.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis revealed: “Crouchy wanted to carry on until

Continues on Page 60 YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

goals in a calendar year.

He is currently on 82 and needs just four more to pass the 85 scored by the Germany and Bayern Munich striker in 1972.

Continues on Page 60

Eaglets train in ‘burning’ Bamako sun

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CR-OUCH! ... groggy beanpole Stoke striker is helped off

ACROSS 1 Belllow (4) 4 Fix (3) 6 Steep (4) 9 Vehicle (3) 10 Spine (8) 11 Parched (4) 14 Conifer (3) 16 Renovate (5) 19 Rusted (8) 21 Lac (5) 23 Claimed (8) 24 Sweetmeat (5) 27 Gratuity (3) 31 Location (4) 33 Stirred (8) 34 Fasten (3) 35 Loaned (4) 36 Tree (3) 37 Team (4)

ONFIDENT Nigeria U17s have arrived in Bamako ahead of this weekend’s African qualifier against Mali.

The Golden Eaglets were received by the Nigerian Ambassador in Continues on Page 60

DOWN 2 Unfortunately (4) 3 Enjoy (4) 4 Supplied (8) 5 Increased (4) 6 Climb (5) 7 Scull (3) 8 Ascend (5) 12 Sneer (5) 13 Avarice (5) 14 Because (3) 15 Readjusted (5) 17 Poor (5) 18 Breezy (5) 20 Decrease (8) 22 Sleep (3) 25 Combine (5) 26 Salute (5) 28 Facts (4) 29 Go by (4) 30 Nurse (4) 32 Can (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Joyous 5, Menace 8, Stripped 9, Team 10, Top 12, Cable 15, Asp 17, Air 18, Nag 19, Inn 20, Asked 21, Rue 22, Eft 23, Eye 24, Gel 26, Erred 29, Eat 33, Rush 34, Unafraid 35, Placid 36, Tinned.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Outdo 3, Omit 4, Sepia 5, Medal 6, Note 7, Class 10, Thing 11, Panel 12, Crate 13, Baker 14, Ended 15, Agree 16, Pleat 25, Equal 27, Round 28, Exact 30, Alike 31, Chic 32, Iron.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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