Cameroon bombs Boko Haram, kills 41

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62308

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Buhari won't probe past leaders — Oyegun

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Cameroon bombs Boko Haram, kills 41 A

APAPA RETURNS TO NORMAL: ABOVE: Traffic jam on Mile 2-Apapa expressway after the Christmas holidays, yesterday. BELOW: WORK RESUMES:Marina car park as workers returned to work, in Lagos, yesterday. (INSET): Civil servants resuming at the federal secretariat, Abuja. Photos: Diran Oshe & Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Mr & Mrs

See Inside

Obasanjo begged AD govs for 3rd Term — Osoba C M Y K

COLUMNIST: How to lose the presidential election four times (2) •P.17

Perversion: N-Delta youngsters turn funeral to orgies

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BUJA — N I G E R I A’ S neighbour, Cameroon, has launched air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists for the first time, killing no fewer than 41 Islamist militants after the large force of jihadists crossed the border and seized a military camp at Ashigashiya, the government said.

Cameroon’s Minister of Information, Issa Tchiroma in a statement in Yaounde, yesterday, said the coordinated assaults on five towns and villages showed a change in tactics by Boko Haram fighters, who have focused on hit-andContinues on page 5

More nations join search for missing AirAsia plane

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2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON

SESSION: From left, Mr. Bimbo Manuel, Tinsel Actor; Mr. Akin Fadeyi, CEO, Bufferzone Lte/Presenter; Mr. Gbenga Adeyinka, Co-presenter and Mr. Muyiwa Ojo, Scheduler, MNET, West Africa, during the Strategy Session for Health Access, National Health Insurance Scheme talkshow Seasons 2, at Bufferzone Studios, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

BOKO HARAM: We must not allow terrorists to triumph — Mark

Cameroon bombs Boko Haram, kills 41 Continues from page 1 run raids on individual settlements in the past.

He said: “Boko Haram’s campaign to carve out an Islamist caliphate has spread from its stronghold in North-East Nigeria to neighbouring Cameroon, raising fears for an already unstable region also threatened by Islamist militants in the Sahel.

He added that Cameroon has sent thousands of soldiers to its Far North region to fight off the militants and said it launched air attacks on the movement for the first time on Sunday.

According to him, “Units of the Boko Haram group attacked Makari, Amchide, Limani and Achigachia in a change of strategy which consists of distracting Cameroonian troops on different fronts, making them more vulnerable in the face of the mobility and unpredictability of their attacks.

"No fewer than 34 militants were killed

after the army laid siege to a base used by the militants in Chogori while seven others, and one soldier were killed near the town of Waza.”

Army spokesman, Lt.Col. Didier Badjeck, told newsmen that the Islamists briefly occupied an army camp in Achigachia after a fierce fight, but withdrew after air attacks.

“All the militants had now pulled back into Nigeria,” Badjeck said.

Both Tchiroma and Badjeck said it was too early to give full details of casualties.

Biya orders deployment of war planes

In another statement, C a m e r o o n ’ s Communications Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said the country’s president, Paul Biya, personally ordered deployment of war planes on Sunday which forced the insurgents to flee the camp According to Bakary,

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too — Paulo Coelho.

Have you noticed that you feel better around some people than others? You smile more in their presence and afterward feel a little lighter, a bit more cheerful?

These kind of people are what we may call “purveyors of hope.” They help us to know that beyond every mountain we may surmount, there is a path...even if we can’t see it from the valley.

Indeed we need those kinds of people – those purveyors of hope – in our lives.

And with these beautiful pearls of wisdom from Emily Dickinson, I wish you a lovely festive season with great hope and love in your lives.

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the Soul. And sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.

“Fighter planes went into action for the first time since the start of the conflict on the Cameroonian side of the frontier, after several months of deadly crossborder Boko Haram raids.

"After two strikes and heavy fire, the assailants fled the Assighasia camp losing several fighters”.

He added that military operations were still under way and that “the toll from combat will be released once the operational evaluation is complete”.

The extremists have made frequent raids into neighbouring Cameroon since they began their insurgency in northern Nigeria in 2009.

Boko Haram tactics include massacres of civilians on both sides of the frontier, bomb attacks on state institutions and schools, and the razing of villages and mass kidnappings.

Since early in 2014, the movement has sent growing numbers of fighters into Cameroon, prepared to battle the army head-on as well as attacking and intimidating villagers.

On October 15, Boko Haram forces equipped with a captured tank and an armoured vehicle attacked a military base at Amchide, near the border, in a raid that killed several dozen civilians and eight soldiers, according to officials.

C a m e r o o n ’ s neighbours, with former colonial power France, have long criticised the authorities for what they considered a passive response to the actions of the jihadist movement even as its members used Cameroonian territory to rest and buy food and

weapons.

When a French family was kidnapped in 2013, alongside two Italian priests and a Canadian nun, President Biya sent major army reinforcements to confront the Islamists in “Operation Alpha.” The hostages were freed this year in Nigeria.

Some 2,000 Cameroonian troops patrol the far-north region, but security sources say that many more are needed because the area is so remote with a very porous border.

Military sources accuse Nigeria’s army of failing to do enough against jihadist forces who have taken control of large swathes of the northeast of the country.

“Attacks on our territory come from a neighbouring country that calls itself sovereign and does nothing,” a defence ministry official in Yaounde recently told AFP, asking not to be named.

Backed by France, Nigeria and three nations on its northern border — Cameroon, Chad and Niger — agreed on measures in May to help tackle the Islamist threat, including pooling intelligence, joint border surveillance and an intervention force.

Each of the four countries agreed to send 700 soldiers to the Lake Chad region where their frontiers meet.

An army officer told AFP late in November that, “Cameroon has already sent 300 men from the navy to the region, Chad and Niger are well placed to send troops, but that’s less certain where Nigeria is concerned.”

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA — SENATE President, David Mark, has urged Nigerians to unite against the security challenges facing the country, especially the onslaught on innocent Nigerians by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, saying that evil people should not be allowed to triumph.

Senator Mark said that the activities of Boko Haram clearly showed that they do not represent anything good or religious inclination but purely extremist pursuing antipeople agenda.

Addressing the congregation at St. Monica’s Catholic Church,

Otada near Otukpo, Benue State to mark the last Sunday of 2014, he pleaded with the perpetrators of violence and killings to give peace a chance.

According to him, what Nigerians earnestly desired now was peace, love and unity to heal the wounds inflicted on them by Boko Haram insurgents.

The Senate president implored all Nigerians to resort to prayers against forces of evil, saying, “we must not allow the evil doers to succeed . With prayers God will put them to shame.”

He noted that the issue of security was not a matter for politics but an issue that demanded cooperation and action to tackle.

2015: INEC releases names of presidential candidates, running mates

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BUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the names of the presidential candidates and their running mates who will contest next year ’s elections Of the 26 registered political parties in Nigeria, only 11 submitted names of candidates to run for the presidency.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, submitted the names of President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, while the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, submitted the names of Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo as presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Others are Oluremi Sonaiya and Saidu Bobboi for Kowa Party, Ambrose Albert and Haruna Shaba for Hope Democratic Party, Ganiyu Galadima and

Balarabe Ahmed of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Rafiu Salau and Clinton Cliff Akuchie for Alliance for Democracy, AD and Godson Okoye and Haruna Adamu, for United Democratic Party, UDP. Others are Nani Ibrahim Ahmad and Obianuju Murphy-Uzohue of African Democratic Congress, Martin Onovo and Ibrahim Mohammed of National Conscience Party, NCP, Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani and Paul Ishaka Ofomile of Action Alliance and Chekwas Okorie and Bello Umar of United Progressive Party.

The Labour Party, LP, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have already adopted the PDP candidate, Goodluck Jonathan as their candidate as well.

Of all the 11 candidates, only Jonathan and Buhari were candidates in the last election in 2011.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

2-man burglary gang smashed in Ado Ekiti

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—THE Ekiti State Police Command has arrested two men for allegedly terrorizing a section of Ado Ekiti, the state capital, during the Christmas festive period.

The command equally arrested a middle aged tenant, Mr. Clement Abosede, for alleged conspiracy in setting the house of his landlord on fire.

Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said the arrest was

made possible because of the tight security network put in place to ensure a crime-free situation at yuletide.

The suspects had allegedly laid siege to Olaoluwa GRA area, along Ado-Ilawe Road, broke into houses and carted away valuable materials.

Lakanu, who spoke through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said who are now cooling their feet in detention attacked and injured the victims with cutlasses, bottle and other dangerous weapons.

How 2 teenagers drowned in Osogbo Xmas party

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—THE Osun State Police Command has commenced investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of two teenagers, who drowned in the swimming pool of a popular hotel in Osogbo during a Christmas party.

The incident occurred on December 23, when the teenage group from a Christ Apostolic Church in Ile Ife organised a picnic for members as part of activities marking the Christmas celebrations.

Vanguard gathered that the Pastor of the church and his wife were invited by the police, following the disappearance of the leaders of the group that organized the picnic.

The victims are Ayomide Fagbola and Ifeoluwa, who were said to be about 17 years old.

A source said Ifeoluwa was the first to fall into the pool

and Ayomide, in an attempt to rescue his friend also drowned.

It was gathered that all effort by members of the group to rescue the drowned teenagers proved abortive.

When contacted, the State Police Public Officer PPRO, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, DSP, confirmed the incident.

Odoro appealed to the leaders of the group to come out of hiding and assist the police in the investigation of the case.

Policemen arrest a bus driver who drove against traffic at Oshodi, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Kidnapped Ondo monarch's wife found dead zAfter abductors collect N2m ransom

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—THE wife of Oba Lumure Ayelomi of Ayeka in Okitipupa area of Ondo State, Olori Dupe has been

found dead 10 days after she was reportedly kidnapped.

Vanguard learnt that she was allegedly murdered after her abductors collected N2 million ransom from the monarch. Her

Commercial activities pick up after Christmas at Idumota, Lagos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

corpse was reportedly found where her abductors asked the family to bring the ransom to.

It was gathered that the Olori was abducted by five kidnappers at her residence along Erinje Road, Okitipupa.

Vanguard learned that the abductors, who later contacted the family two days after she was abducted, demanded for N30 million.

The family reportedly pleaded with the kidnappers to consider the economic situation in the country and bring down the ransom. The abductors reluctantly agreed to take N2

21-year-old allegedly murders father

By Esther Onyegbula

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HE Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, is currently investigating the murder of one Moses Sunday, who was allegedly killed by his 21-year-old son in his three-bedroom apartment at Flat 6, 286 Jakande Estate, Mile 2 on November 6.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was based in Nasarawa State, where he worked as a mechanical engineer in a company before relocating to Lagos to live with his family about three months.

According to reports, the victim, his wife Funmilayo Tifase, their 26-year-old graduate daughter and their

only son, Oluropo, retired to bed that night before the unfortunate incident happened.

When his wife woke at 6a.m., she went to her husband’s bedroom and found him dead with a scissors stuck in his throat and raised alarm.

It was gathered that the neighbours alerted the Festac Divisional Police who arrested

the deceased wife, daughter and son before the case was transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba for detailed investigation.

Although Oluropo denied murdering his father, investigations are said to be pointing towards him, as it was discovered that their apartment was not burgled.

million.

Police sources hinted that a disagreement ensued among the abductors that the amount agreed upon was too meagre.

However, the family was informed to come with the ransom and pick the Olori at Sagamu, Ogun State.

They later changed it to OdeAye in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Vanguard gathered that after waiting endlessly till 3a.m. on the day, they left.

On the following day, however, the family organized a search party and her corpse was later found in the outskirts of Ode-Aye, along Ore Road.

Speaking with newsmen, one of the deceased’s children, Taye, said the incident had devastated the family of the monarch.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the Okitipupa Specialist Hospital mortuary.

The State Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident, saying the killers will soon be arrested and brought to book.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—7

Police kill 4 robbery, kidnap suspects in Anambra zParade suspected kidnappers' cook

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE Anambra State police Command has foiled kidnap and armed robbery attempts in Onitsha, killing four suspects in the process and arresting 12.

The officer in charge of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Mr. James Nwafor, said following a tip-off, the police trailed the gang to Asaba, Delta State, adding that on sighting

the police, the gang opened fire on his men and in the gun duel, four members of the gang were killed.

Two of the suspects were killed on the spot. Two were arrested, but later died on the way, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

12 paraded

He said the other 12 suspects that were paraded were among those terrorizing Anambra

State, adding that among those in the police net was a notorious armed robber and kidnapper, who killed the officer in charge of SARS in Onitsha, Mr. Emmanuel Ocheobi in 2012.

The dead suspects belonged to the gang of the late kidnap kingpin, Ofeakwu, who was killed last year and his property demolished by the state government.

Also paraded was a 65-yearold woman, Grace Offor, alleged

to be the cook for kidnapped victims.

Items recovered from the suspects include two riffles with three magazines, 49 rounds live ammunition, seven rolls of dynamite with other related explosive components, N7,000 being part of ransom paid to them and a RAV 4 Honda car belonging to one of the kidnapped victims.

Anambra State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Hassan Karma, who paraded the suspects at the headquarters of SARS in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Council, commended Governor Willie Obiano for his support in the fight against criminals in the state.

He said they had received support in logistics, vehicles and communication gadgets and assured of police’s commitment to rid the state of crime with the support of the public.

I’m not kidnappers’ cook—MADAM OFFOR

Madam Offor confirmed that her son (Evangelist Obinna Offor) and his friends kidnapped one Ahanaonu Jacinta with her vehicle, a Honda CRV at 33, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Anambra State, and brought her to her house at Arondizuogu in Imo State, but denied being their cook as claimed by the police.

She said: “My son is a musician and a prayer warrior.

I was surprised he could engage in such a nasty deal to the extent of being a kidnapper.

I am amazed and dumbfounded by such development.”

Wuse Market, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Tension as two policemen kill herdsmen over N50 in Adamawa

By Umar Yusuf

Y

OLA—ADAMAWA State would have witnessed another crisis on Friday but for the quick intervention of the Adamawa State Police Command, which quickly arrested two Police officers over alleged murder of two Fulani youths in Toungo Local Government Area of the state.

The two policemen allegedly shot their victims over an argument on N50 bribe in front of the local government headquarters at 5p.m.

Speaking to journalists in Yola, the National Liaison Officer of Miyetti Allah, Malam Sanusi Bara, said: “It would have been bloody if leaders of the group had not pleaded seriously with the angry crowd.”

According to Malam Sanusi,

the names of the deceased are Jibo and Maikudi. He produced some bullet shells he said were picked at the scene of the incident with number BO80/811, NNY 1987.

Sanusi said one of the deceased father, Dawa Musa, has now been left to cater for

Jibo’s two children and a woman which Maikudi was preparing to marry.

A similar incident took place some weeks back when about 25 Fulani were said to have been killed in Bali village of Demsa Local Government Area.

Tension is rising in these

areas as the Fulani are threatening retaliation should the law not take its natural cause. The Police Spokesman, Othman Mohammed, confirmed the report, adding that the team on patrol that caused the death of the two men was led by an inspector.

Lagos businessman charged to court for alleged fraud

A

businessman, Ado Ibrahim, was yesterday, charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged fraud.

The accused was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following a bail application adopted on behalf of the accused by his counsel, Mr. Abubakar Shamsudeen, the judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to February 4, 2015 for trial.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 30, when he allegedly obtained $132,134,000 from a Bureau De Change Operator, under false pretence.

Asuquo told the court that the accused induced the complainant, one Alhaji Mohammed Hamisu, to pay in the said sum into another account for an alleged business transaction.

According to the prosecutor, the accused allegedly absconded with the said sum of money upon receipt in Nigeria, without further recourse to the complainant.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1) and 1(1)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences, Cap F20, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

13-year-old boy electrocuted in Kano

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO— A 13-year-old boy, Bashir Auwalu, was electrocuted at Naibawa quarters of Kano metropolis, yesterday.

The incident, which triggered protest by the city dwellers, occurred at 842, Naibawa Tsakia

quarters of Kumbotso Local Government Area at about 5.30a.m. last Sunday.

Eyewitness told Vanguard that the deceased allegedly stepped on a live cable in front of his house, while easing himself preparatory for the early morning Muslim prayers.

Father of the deceased, Auwalu Kwaram, 49, told

Vanguard: “Bashir chose to ease himself outside, while our restroom was occupied, to beat time for prayers. His death was one of the many trials from the Almighty and it occurred in fulfillment of destiny.

“We are from God and unto Him we shall return at the appointed time,” the emotional father added.

In his reaction, the police image-maker in Kano, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, said the command was not aware of the incident.

“The incident was not reported, but we would launch an investigation to establish why what happened occurred and take appropriate measures to forestall recurrence,” he said.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

2015: Buhari fails to submit academic qualifications to INEC .Says papers with military board

By Joseph Erunke

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BUJA — PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, did not present his academic qualifications to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, even as he prepares for the 2015 presidential contest.

Unlike his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, President Goodluck Jonathan, whose academic certificates were conspicously displayed by the commission upon presentation, Buhari’s credentials were visibly without trace at the commission’s office at Area 10, Abuja.

The former Head of State, explained in an affidavit he deposed, which he submitted to the commission that all his academic credentials were with the Secretary, Military Board.

The affidavit deposed at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja and dated November 24,2014, was stamped and received at INEC headquarters on December 18, 2014.

In the affidavit, Buhari said: “All my academic qualifications (documents) as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/ 2015, are currently with the Secretary Military Boards as at the time of this affidavit.”

He added: “The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose.”

Jonathan pays N6.2m tax in 3 years

By Joseph Erunke

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan made tax payments of N6,264,221.75 to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, out of a total of N43,230,871.44 he earned as President between 2011 and 2013.

Details of the president’s tax payment also showed that the president did not earn any other income besides his fixed income as president of the country in that period. There were no indications of income from stocks or other businesses that the president could have had.

Despite earning a regular salary of N14,410,290.48 in each of the three years, the president’s tax liability, however, increased in 2012 and 2013 to N 2,510, 775.77 up from the N1,242, 670. 21 paid in 2011.

The returns were displayed at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at Area 10, Abuja.

The income tax clearance certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Abuja with Ref. No: ABJ/ MDA/PAYE/09690150 and dated July 2 2014 were part of the president’s submissions as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The document tagged: “To

whom it may concern,” indicated that the president’s source of income was “employment.”

The clearance which was stamped and received in the Legal Services Department of INEC on December 18, 2014 reads: “This is to certify that Dr. Jonathan, Ebele Goodluck (Presidency) has paid income tax assessment for the past three years.

CCB clears Sambo

Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has cleared Vice President Namadi Sambo to contest the 2015 general elections.

The letter of clearance was issued by the chairman of CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, to Sambo for the 2011 general elections.

It reads: “This is to certify that Arc. Namadi Sambo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has never breached any of the code of conduct for public officers as contained in 5th schedule to (sic) the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (1999), and has been declaring his assets as and when due. He is, therefore, cleared to contest the 2011 Presidential election.”

Sambo collects PVC

Meanwhile, Sambo, yesterday, collected his Permanent Voter's Card, PVC, at the INEC Distribution Centre located at the Kaduna North Local Government Secretariat,

Photocopy of Jonathan's tax payment. for three years.

Magajin Gari, Kaduna, Kaduna State.

He was accompanied by Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State and received by the Kaduna State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Haliru

2015: PDP flaunts Jonathan's feat in education sector Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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ESPITE THE face-off between the Federal Government and labour, which culminated in the closure of schools for many months this year, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had achieved a feat in the sector.

For that reason, the party said that it was proud of its numerous achievements in the

education sector, particularly the record performance of President Jonathan in the sector in the last four years.

The party, which reviewed the gains and challenges of the sector against the performance of the current administration, urged Nigerians to vote for President Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election to guarantee the future of education in the country.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, said that the

party had in the last 15 years, progressively grown the education sector as a social instrument for national development and integration through vigorous implementation of broad-based policies in keeping with its manifesto and ideology.

It saluted Jonathan for accelerating the development of education at all levels in the last four years, boasting that “President Jonathan has not only repositioned the public school system but has also provided the

FALLING OIL PRICES: Muslim group asks Jonathan not to acquire new jet

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA— MUSLIMS in the country have asked President Goodluck Jonathan to lead the way in enduring the expected hardship occasioned by the falling oil prices.

The call followed the plea on Sunday at a church service in Abuja by Jonathan to Nigerians to be prepared to bear with the hardship to be experienced in the country as a result of the

Aliyu Tambuwal.

The Vice President while praying for the peaceful conduct of the general election, pledged that the administration was determined to deliver free and fair elections.

continuous drop in oil prices.

Muslims Rights Concern, MURIC, in a reply to the President’s call, asked him to lead the way in the sacrifice to reduce the expected burden on Nigerians if indeed he was a patriotic leader.

Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said that while the call by Jonathan was in order, Nigerians were looking forward to a practical demonstration of what the president expects Nigerians to exhibit and not

mere admonition while doing the opposite.

The Muslim group regretted that the President was not leading Nigerians by example going by the way and manner he and his administration had carried on since coming on board.

MURIC said “Mr. President is not leading us by example if it is true that he still wants to buy a new aircraft. The presidency has explanations to render to taxpayers if it is also true that the proposed aircraft will be the fourth

since he took office in the year 2010. Why must President Jonathan buy four aircrafts in four years? Is the president walking his talk?

“The presidency also owes Nigerians explanations if it is true that friends and associates donated staggering sums of money amounting to millions at the launching of Mr. President’s campaign fund for the 2015 elections which netted N21 billion.”

enabling environment for greater participation of private individuals and agencies in the delivery of education services under government regulation.

“This is in addition to the massive rehabilitation and upgrade of Federal Governmentowned schools as well as the threepronged programmes of the Almajiri Education System, the first of its kind; the Girl-Child Education and Back-to-School programmes, all of which have drastically reduced the out-ofschool children profile in the country, particularly in the North.

“The 150 Almajiri schools across the Northern states and the Outof-School-Children Programme, including Specialised Boys and Girls Schools across the country, have given meaning to the lives of hitherto despaired children.

“Under Jonathan’s watch, enrolment in basic schools has increased from 23 million in 2010 to 29 million in 2012 and still growing. In the same vein, enrolment in colleges of education has increased from 620, 000 in 2011 to 750,000 in 2013. Also the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, established by the PDP is expanding to 250, 000 enrolments annually.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—9

Minister directs IGP to arrest politicians over inciting statements

By Dapo Akinrefon

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INISTER OF Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, has directed the Inspector of General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba to arrest and prosecute any politician who makes any inciting statement aimed at undermining the corporate existence of the nation.

Speaking, yesterday, in Lagos at the launch of a book Watch the watcher: 'A book of remembrance of the Obasanjo years,' authored by Yinka Odumakin, the minister said that members of the opposition were employing propaganda to bully the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that the different gangups in the country were aimed at seizing power by all means.

He said: “I am sorry to say that those disturbing the peace of Nigeria today are former PDP members. These are people that were once ministers,’ governors and those who had served their terms and are no longer useful in the PDP. "They now thought they could gang up again and form a political party and that is why they are saying that even if they don’t win, they will form a parallel government, which is very mutinous.

“I have started talking with the Inspector General and the

Department of State Service, DSS, that anybody who makes any inciting statement must be dealt with. This country belongs to all of us, and if anyone says anything mutinous, such a person will be arrested and prosecuted, no matter how highly placed the person is.

“By the grace of God, I am the Minister of Police Affairs in this country today, and I have said and I am warning that anybody who makes inflammatory statement, who said anything that is mutinous, will be arrested and prosecuted.

"They should stop the drum of war, anybody who calls for unholy

revolution, will be consumed by that revolution. Nigeria belongs to all of us. There is nobody that is untouchable, they might have done it in the past and got away with it, but let them do it now.

Anybody who does it now, no matter how highly placed will be arrested and prosecuted.

“Nigerians have seen and heard what they are saying, they are only trying to make up propaganda to cow the government and nobody can do it. They have been in government before, they had seized power in an unholy fashion before, they have been 'couped' out with their own coup before, and they have

done what they wanted to do, I don’t know what else they want and why they would start ganging up and say that they want to capture power on behalf of the people, who power already belongs to,” he said.

Asked whether the directive won't suggest a clampdown on the opposition, Adesiyan, said: “That is why the opposition party must keep shut and watch their utterances. In a gathering where you say people should go to the polling centres with charms, cutlasses, guns and the rest, it is mutinous.

"Are you a leader because you are telling your followers to go

A

FEW days after venting his anger on President Goodluck Jonathan, Jigawa State governor, Dr. Sule Lamido, yesterday, travelled to Minna, Niger State, where he held a closed door meeting with former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Details of the meeting were still sketchy at press time, but a source close to the parley, said the two men discussed the way forward for Nigeria.

Lamido, who during a political rally transmitted live from Dutse, the state capital, openly voiced his opposition to Jonathan and Buhari’s candidature for allowing their supporters to cause tension in the country, arrived Minna to see IBB, barely three days after Jonathan visited the former leader.

But Lamido explained to journalists after his meeting that it was not coincidental for him and Jonathan to visit IBB almost the same time.

The governor, said that he had

US committed to free, fair election in Nigeria — US Consul General

By Chioma Gabriel

T

SEMINAR: From left, Director General, Public Procurement, BPP, Engr. Emeka Eze; DirectorGeneral, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, Dr. Joe Abah, and Director, Reform Coordination Department, BPSR, Mr. Yamusa Bin, during the Lunch Time Reform Seminar series on the common challenges of public procurement in Nigeria, at the Auditorium of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja.

2015: IBB may intervene in Jonathan/Gov Lamido face-off

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

and make people cry, wives widow, children fatherless. All sorts of inciting statements should not be condoned. So, whoever says it henceforth will pay for it, I repeat, whoever! This country is established by law and the law must take its course.”

planned to go to welcome IBB from his overseas medical trip ahead of Jonathan but for poor weather, which disrupted his flight plan.

Emerging from the meeting, which lasted over an hour, Lamido explained that his visit to ‘my leader’ was to welcome him back from medical trip abroad

and to get acquainted with events around the man, who created the state on Tuesday August 27, 1991, which he has been governing over since May 29, 2007.

Although the former President did not talk to the media on the meeting, Governor Lamido explained that they discussed the imperative of working together to

ensure that Nigeria remained a safe, stable and united country.

“We generally talked about the general well-being of Nigeria and Jigawa State. It is of interest to all of us that Nigeria remains a stable and united country where Muslims and Christians can live."

HE UNITED States of America, has reiterated its commitment to free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2015.

The US Consul General in Nigeria, Jeffrey Hawkins made this known at the 5th Democracy and Political Participation Conference in Lagos. The conference organised by Youth For Transparency International, YTI, in conjunction with the United States Consulate, had Professor Pat Utomi and Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello as guest speakers.

In his opening remarks, Hawkins noted that a large number of the electorate in Nigeria were under 30 and their involvement, engagement and commitment was what will move Nigeria’s democracy forward.

According to him, “General elections in Nigeria is next year and US is interested and focused on a free and fair election in Nigeria in 2015."

Labour implores NASS to grow real sector with 2015 budget

By Victor Ahiumayoung

O

R G A N I S E D LABOUR, has implored the National Assembly to put policies that will grow the real sectors of the economy and ensure that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, lowers the interest rate and stop the free fall of the Naira in the 2015 budget before passing it, to avoid undermining the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking through the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, labour equally called the National Assembly to ensure that the budget captures practical

measures on reducing the cost of governance, which must start with drastic reduction of pay and allowances of the executive and legislature.

In a statement by NUTGTWN General Secretary, who is also a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Issa Aremu, the union said that the "N4.74 trillion budget 2015 budget presented to the National Assembly was based on the benchmark of $65 per barrel, 2.27 million barrels per day and exchange rate of N165 to a dollar.

"At $65 per barrel, the budget still confirms that Nigeria is an oil dependent economy contrary to the claim of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating

Minister for the Economy.

"Sustainable budgets are the ones based on revenue arising from real sector of the economy namely domestic manufacturing and exportation of finished goods.

“The National Assembly in debating this budget proposal should put policies that will grow the real sectors of the economy and in particular ensure that CBN lowers the interest rate and stop the free fall of the Naira which will undermine purchasing power of the working people.

They should also make sure that the budget captures practical measures on reducing cost of governance which must start with drastic reduction of pay and allowances of the executive and

legislature.”

On 2015 general elections, the union said “As the race for 2015 begins, we urge all the political parties candidates to operate based on the spirit and content of the constitution. The language of political contest should also be constitutional.

Nigeria’s constitution defines all Nigerians as citizens, not Muslims, Christian, Northerners and Southerners. The 2015 elections should be based on issues namely diversification of economy through re-industrialisation, job creation, improved power supply, poverty alleviation, health, education and end to physical and economic social insecurity.”

10— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Obasanjo begged AD govs for 3rd Term —Osoba zYoruba didn't benefit from OBJ, says Adebanjo L

By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—AS comments and reactions were still trailing the publication of an autobiography of former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo entitled, “My Watch” from well meaning Nigerians, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba faulted claims made by the former President of not nurturing a Third Term agenda, saying that he (Obasanjo) actually canvassed for it.

Osoba was chairman at the launch of a book titled: ‘Watch the watcher: A book of remembrance of the Obasanjo years' by Yinka Odumakin’.

He explained that while Obasanjo begged the leadership of the moribund Alliance for Democracy, AD, to support his tenure elongation plan, Osoba accused the former president of allegedly rigging out Alliance for Democracy governors in the 2003 governorship elections.

The former governor also disagreed with some aspects of the book ‘My Watch’ authored by Obasanjo saying he (Obasanjo) approached leadership of the AD to solicit for their support in 2003.

His words: “The Watcher (Obasanjo) wrote a book which Wole Soyinka has given his verdict.

I am also going to give my verdict when I write my book. That he (Obasanjo) does not know about the pact with the AD governors is far from the fact. To correct him, it was July 2002, he (Obasanjo) came to the graduation at UNILAG, where we met at the office of the old Head of State. It was there that he almost went on his knees that we, the AD governors, should support his Second Term ambition.

“We (AD governors) told him that we were not the founding fathers of AD. We told Abraham Adesanya but he said he would never go to Abuja. He later agreed that he would meet us at the presidential lodge. Abraham Adesanya never met him at Abuja but at the slightest notice Obasanjo came to Abuja.

Adesanya told him (Obasanjo) that he heard he was going to ambush us (AD governors). Present that day was Bishop Gbonigi, the Awujale and Cornelius.”

Osoba, who has since decamped from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, explained that “I am shocked and surprised that he wrote in his book that he knew nothing about the Third Term Agenda which he said God would have given him if he had asked.”

Commenting on the book (Watch the watcher) he said: “It is an event to put the records straight. Many aspects of the book written by President Olusegun Obasanjo need correction. He was at the centre of all the negotiations to broker a political agreement between Alliance for Democracy and the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003. For him to say he knew

nothing about it, I totally disagree with him because the final meeting with him was attended by highly placed Nigerians, a highly placed royal father, the Awujale, Pa Adesanya, Bishop Gbonigi, Bishop Ladigbolu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, all the governors and a host of others.”

Speaking further, he said “for him (Obasanjo) to say that he knew nothing about the arrangement between AD for which he aborted and rigged the election is totally incorrect. The book he wrote, is too voluminous, I don’t want to comment on other aspects because it is a very heavy book to read.”

Yoruba didn’t benefit from Obasanjo —Adebanjo

Also speaking, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo argued that the South-West did not benefit from the eight-year administration of the former president.

He said: “For eight years, I

challenge anybody to come and show what we (Yoruba) got when Obasanjo was at the helm of affairs.”

While he chided the former president, Adebanjo said, “for Obasanjo, Nigeria never existed before he came to power. He has only one adviser, Matthew Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo.

“Obasanjo believed he is not corrupt. But before he left office, he changed the constitution of the party so that he could become the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

Obasanjo has no conscience.”

It’s a provocative book of memories —Prof Dara

On his part, the book reviewer, Professor G.G. Dara said: “It is expected that the book will trigger more debates.

“The author was motivated to write the book to challenge exaggerated claims of heroic grandeur and accomplishments made by the former President.”

BOOK PRESENTATION: From left: Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sola Ebiseni, representing Ondo State governor, author of the book, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Chairman of the occasion, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesina, at the public presentation of a book titled Watch the Watcher in Lagos, yesterday.

Roll Call Notable personalities present include Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko represented by Mr Sola Ebiseni; Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adeshiyan; Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; FERMA chairman, Jide Adeniji, Professor GG Dara, Labour Party scribe, Mr Kayode Ajulo; Colonel Tony Nyiam (retd), Col Bello Fadile, Mr Akin Osuntokun and Lagos PDP chairman, Tunji Shelle among others.

2015: Labour

Party urges Nigerians to reject anti-people parties

L

By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—THE Labour Party, LP, has urged Nigerians not to make the mistakes of the past by voting for political parties whose policies and programmes are anti-masses.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Secretary of the party, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, said: “Except the Nigerian masses rises up to the situation, politicians will continue to take them for granted.

"Elections are around the corner and politicians have come with fake promises and gift items to hoodwink the people. The Nigerian masses have what it takes to vote out such persons or their cohorts from power.

“Power belongs to the people and all over the world, when the people rise in unison to say it is enough, they change any government they want out.”

Ajulo lamented that most state workers are owed salaries running

into several months while the governors are amassing more money for politicking in 2015.

According to him, any

governor whose tenure will end in 2015 must be made to pay all arrears owed to workers before their exit from office.

“These same governors,

though they are leaving have also devised means of foisting their cronies to take over leadership from them. This must be rejected in its totality.”

Lagos carpets FG over Sambo's utterances

L

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

AGOS—LAGOS State Government yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice; Namadi Sambo has ruled the country for four years without any legacy to show, even as it accused Sambo of lacking in facts on the economic viability of the state.

The state government made the statement while reacting to the claim by Sambo that many residents have been fleeing the

state because of the high taxes imposed on them by the state government.

The Vice President made the claim on Christmas eve, during a reconciliation meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirants in Lagos.

Reacting o n behalf of the State Government,

the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji, lamented that under the present administration, Nigerians have not “felt the presence of the Federal Government even in the remotest part of the country.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 —11

PDP NWC directed me to run for Senate —Daniel A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—FORMER governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, cleared the air over his alleged plan to become the Ogun East Senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, saying he was directed by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to run for the seat.

Daniel who stated this in a statement signed by his media aide, Ayo Giwa, warned the party leaders against discussing political developments within the party in the media, claiming that the action negates one of the articles of the PDP constitution.

According to him; “Internal disagreements which are supposed to be necessary ingredients of democracy are, on daily basis, being externalised.

“This act of indiscipline must be discouraged by all lovers of democracy, especially at this crucial period when we move towards a major election that will shape the future of the nation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP has declared that there were no authorised primaries held in Ogun State as the leadership of the party had

earlier on called on all stakeholders to come with a unity list of candidates encompassing all various interest groups across the state.

“Tremendous progress has been made in this respect and the onus lies on the leadership to point the way forward.

“In order not to disrupt the arrangement, Otunba Gbenga Daniel elected not to run and pulled out of the senatorial race some weeks before the socalled primaries were held.

“However, at an emergency meeting summoned by the

National leadership of the party on Christmas Day, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was directed to run in order to enhance the success of the Party at all levels in the Senatorial district and by extension, the whole of the state.

“Going by this arrangement, it is absurd for any group to call themselves delegates and make statements that will only heat up the polity and may inadvertently affect the fortunes of the party in the state.

“The position of Otunba

Daniel remains that all hands must be on deck to ensure the success of all the PDP candidates at the polls by mapping out campaign strategies and ways of reaching out to the masses for their block vote in the forthcoming elections.

“The former governor also charged all the lucky candidates that emerged according to the unity list and other aspirants who failed to make the list to put it behind them and work assiduously for the success of the party at the 2015 elections”

BRIEFING: From left: Mrs Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria, Mr Yemi Oduyoye, husband of the deceased, and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocated Research and Documentation Centre, during the briefing on the death of Mrs. Folake Oduyoye and the practice of 'detention after birth' at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

Aregbesola blames Jonathan, PDP for Nigeria's woes

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—OSUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has launched an attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, lamenting that the country under the current administration is being badly managed.

Aregbesola, who spoke at a book presentation to mark the 50th birthday of a front line rights activist, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, said under Jonathan, Nigeria’s economy has nose-dived to the point of near collapse and that Nigerians deserve to know the true state of affairs in the country.

He said: “Politics aside, the truth about Nigeria is that the people currently managing it at the centre, careless about the people but themselves.

The governor added that the situation has gotten so bad in Nigeria that all Nigerians must decide to change the situation and save the country from bad managers who only think about themselves.

He reminded pro-democracy activists and organisations in Nigeria and beyond of the

urgent need to reconvene as a strategy towards ensuring the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate for the 2015 election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

Aregbesola said the time is now for those who had in the past rendered selfless services to their fatherland by confronting dictatorial governments and

installing democratic rule.

“Wherever you find PDP, you will find misery, poverty, underdevelopment. We must remember that the encounter of our people and experience especially in the South West geopolitical zone have never brought anything positive. Our people had associated their party

with misfortune and till today, they remain the same.”

Earlier, Shittu chided former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida for openly supporting Jonathan, saying it was only corrupt Nigerians like Babangida that would support the current administration which had no good plans for Nigerians.

Folarin rejects Akeju as Oyo REC

I

BADAN—THE Teslim Folarin 2015 Gubernatorial Organisation, has rejected the redeployment of Mr. Rufus Akeju as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo State.

The organisation said Mr. Akeju’s choice for Oyo State is totally unacceptable, going by his antecedents, which it said is well known.

Akeju, it went on, was known to be a former aide to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a card-carrying member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, adding that it was on the basis of

this and many other reasons that it rejected his re-deployment to the state.

In a press statement by its Director General, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape in Ibadan, yesterday, it declared that Akeju’s redeployment to Oyo State by the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was an error, adding “it must be corrected immediately to avoid a backlash.”

Aregbesola charges INEC Meantime, the Osun State

governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to use the opportunity of the coming 2015 elections to win the confidence of Nigerians by conducting a free, fair and credible general election.

The governor admonished the electoral umpire not to be biased and fall short of the expectations of the teeming masses of the country who are looking forward to an election where the majority of votes will count.

S'Court upholds Kaka's 2011 election

A

By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — T H E Supreme Court has upheld the election that brought Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka representing Ogun East Senatorial District into the National Assembly in 2011.

Kaka who ran on the platform of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, was dragged before the court by Chief Adebisi Adegbuyi on the ground that the party did not conduct a primary election in the senatorial district in accordance with section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended).

Adegbuyi had asked the court for an order setting aside the nomination of Kaka by the party.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, substituted for ACN, Kaka and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were the first, second and third respondents in the suit respectively.

The appellant through the suit had directed the defendant to accept him as the senatorial candidate of the party.

Butchers resist Oyo govt's order to relocate

I

BADAN—Members of the Oyo State Butchers Association in Ibadan North Local Government Area have resisted the order of the Oyo State Government to relocate to the newly constructed abattoir at Akinyele Local Government, saying that the status quo should remain.

The chairman of butchers association in Ibadan North Local Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Olobo while speaking with journalists at the weekend on the planned action of the state government to relocate them to the newly constructed abattoir at Amosun Village in Akinyele Local Government stated that there are series of clashes between Yoruba and the Hausa butchers which he said, could disrupt the peaceful co-existence among the two communities in the state.

Similarly, Alhaji Olobo stated that the distance to the main town and noncompletion of some basic infrastructure in the abattoir are some of the reasons for their resistance to the order.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

2015: Osunbor tasks INEC on credible polls

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, former governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserhieme Osunbor, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct the elections in a way that would inspire confidence in the people.

“We expect that the presidential election will be free, fair, credible, and devoid of violence. INEC should conduct the elections in such a way that would inspire confidence in people so that the results that would be announced at the end of the day will reflect the will of the electorate,” he said.

The former governor, who fielded questions from newsmen in Uromi at the thanksgiving service by Rev. Matthew Okpeholo on his recent achievements, also said that President Goodluck Jonathan ranked shoulder high above his co-presidential candidate as he has more to show in terms of achievements “In this era, people look at performance, they look at track records and I think people will look at the performance, track records and achievements of the two presidential candidates and indeed others that are in the

race. And at the end of the day, they will vote for who they feel can accomplish more in their lives and there is no doubt that on that score, President Jonathan will have more to show and would have an advantage, not to mention the incumbency advantage.

“So, let’s just watch and pray that everything works out well, that the elections themselves will be violence free and

Nigerians will be able to avoid all the fears that people are expressing that 2015 will come with a lot of problems. I hope that as God has been with Nigeria in times past, He will be with Nigeria in 2015, so that we surmount whatever difficulties people may entertain at this point in time,” he said.

On his governorship ambition, he said: “I take this

opportunity to tell Edo people that I am available to answer their call. I thank you for recognising what we did when we were there for a very short period. The massive goodwill that I have continued to enjoy is an encouragement for me to do more and by the grace of God and through the efforts of Edo people, if I am given the mandate once again, I will do more.”

PRESENTATION: From left: Chaperon, Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show, Moji Oyetayo; Managing Director, Bayswaters Industries Limited, Mr. Piyush Nair; Miss Juliet Onyinyechi Ofodile, winner of the maiden edition of Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show, and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Xmedia Communications Limited, Mr. Tunde Lawrenson during the presentation of prizes to the winners of the maiden edition of Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show, in Lagos.

Monarch opposes creation of Oil Rivers State from Akwa Ibom

By Tom Moses

became necessary in view of the long distance separating the YO—THE paramount two states from their maritime ruler of Ibeno Local boundaries.

Government Area, Akwa Ibom Calling on the people to reject State, Owong Effiong Achianga and other stakeholders in the oil bearing local government areas of the

By Samuel Oyadongha state, have dissociated ENAGOA—THE Joint themselves from the proposed Task Force, JTF, code Oil Rivers State, saying that named Operation Pulo Shield, such action was not in the best has embarked on non-combatant interest of the zone. approach in its effort to tackle Agitations have been on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta recently for parts of the oil region. bearing riverine areas of Akwa The approach, Vanguard Ibom State, including Oron, learned, involved engaging the Eket, Onna, Eastern Obolo, youths, elders and traditional Esit Eket and Ibeno Local heads of affected communities in Government Areas to be the campaign against oil theft. joined with parts of Rivers Outgoing spokesman of the JTF, State to form the proposed Oil- Col. Mustapha Anka, in an Rivers State, but the interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa Paramount Ruler of Ibeno State, on the activities of the council, Owong Achianga, command in the outgoing year, kicked against the move, said: “The command has warning that under no embarked on confidence building circumstance should his patrols to dissuade the youths and domain be included in the community from involving in proposed state with illegal oil bunkering and other headquarters to be located in criminalities in the region.

Degema, Rivers State.

“As part of its cooperate social Achianga, in a statement, responsibility, the task force also explained that his position embarked on a free medical

U

the proposal, Achianga whose Ibeno community hosts Exxon Mobil, frowned at the move, saying that it would be unthinkable for him to travel

eight miles across the sea with the attendant hazards posed to travelers by sea pirates to Rivers State.

ILLEGAL BUNKERING: JTF adopts non-combatant approach

Y

rhapsody at Akenpai and Igbomatoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Also, a bore hole was sunk to alleviate the suffering of the community in their need for potable water.”

Commending the strategy

adopted by the task force, he said: “It is indeed worthy to note that Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, recently acknowledged an increase in production due to the command's aggressive day and night patrols."

Okpe youths chide UPU over Delta PDP governorship primaries

By Emmanuel Aziken

A

GROUP, Okpe Youth Vanguard, has flayed the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, for overreaching itself in the recent primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State. It urged the group to sheath its sword against the party in the interest of the ethnic group.

The group, in a statement by its General Coordinator, Mr. Kingsley Akpederin, yesterday urged UPU to identify leading

lights of the Urhobo nation, who worked with the victorious PDP candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, so as to push the interest of the Urhobo nation.

Among those identified as principal characters who protected the interest of the Urhobo nation during the PDP primaries were former Minister of Information, Chief Sam Oyovbaire and majority leader in the House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya.

Peterside, God-fearing, competent —RIVERS MONARCH

By Gbenga Oke

H

IS Royal Highness, Mene Barile Yornah, the Menebua Kenwigbara of Bane Kingdom in Ogoniland, Rivers State, has described the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as God-fearing and a tested public servant with robust legislative and executive experience.

The traditional ruler, at his palace during a courtesy call on the monarch by Peterside and supporters of APC, said: “I see you as a divine gift to us because of your antecedents and competence. I can assure you that Bane community is ready for democracy and we shall enthrone a Godfearing and competent candidate because we have experienced violence and deaths in the past. So, no politician with a record of violence and incompetence will be allowed to govern us.”

Responding, Peterside shared his vision of a greater Ogoniland and Rivers State with the people.

Gbaramatu Forum hails Otuaro

By Akpokona Omafuaire

W

ARRI—THE Gbaramatu Political Forum, GPF, in Warri, Delta State, has congratulated Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, running mate in next year's election, assuring of the party’s landslide victory at the polls.

The group, in a statement by its Chairman, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, also congratulated the Delta State PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, vowing to mobilise support to ensure his overwhelming victory in 2015.

The group warned against unjustifiable attack on Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, noting that he has done nothing wrong to warrant such vilification.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—13

Buhari won't probe past leaders —OYEGUN

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—CONTRARY to fears in some quarters that the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, may probe past corrupt political office holders if elected into office in the next presidential election, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, has hinted that a Buhari presidency will not dig into the past, but will concentrate on the future.

He, however, accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of blasphemy, which he said “Will punish them come February 14,” following comments from the presidency comparing President Goodluck Jonathan with Jesus Christ.

Oyegun, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, said that insinuations that a Buhari presidency will send many Nigerians to jail, was a blackmail being masterminded by the PDP leadership, stressing that only those who may not want to change from their corrupt practices will have the retired general to contend with.

He said: “The only people I think should fear the Buhari presidency are those who do not want change. Those who want to continue with business as usual and those who want to continue to profit from the level of corruption in the society. We

Delta community swears in new exco

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—THE people of Ozuoka Community in Orogun Kingdom of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday got a new President General, 31 years after the previous President General came into office.

The swearing-in of the new executive, which also coincided with the Ozuaka Annual Conference was witnessed by sons and daughters of the community within and outside the state.

The new executive are; Ovuoraevwie Jalmarsson, President General; Onodjae Edison; Charles Akpofure, Secretary; Akatene Acjhoja, Treasurer; David Onu, Financial Secretary; Pastor Godspower, Assistant Secretary and Isekwene Akpevwe, Organising Secretary.

will have no apologies for people like that. But it is clear that from the Buhari perspective and that of the APC, the future of the people of this country is too important for us to spend valuable time trying to dig into the past.

“The first moment of a Buhari Presidency will be to focus on the future. The message will be clear, whatever you were engaged in before that, that is detrimental to the people of this

country, please stop it, change has come. It is time for change and anybody who decides that he does not want to be part of change and wants business as usual, that is his choice.

“We will go into post May 2015, where the law will normally take its course. It is not going to be looking back.

Anybody who believes that the future of this country is greater than his personal proclivities will have nothing to fear. There

will be a line drawn on the sand, on one part is the past and on the other side is the future.

“If you are part of the future, part of changing the society from the ills that have brought us to our kneels, you are our friend, you have nothing at all to fear. We don’t have time to go digging into the past. The future of our people is the challenge that we have, not the past.”

BIRTHDAY: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right); his wife, Rachael (2nd left); the Amananaowei of Toru Orua, Chief Friday Tounarigha (left) jointly cutting the cake with the Ebedibamowei of Tarakiri Kingdom, Chief Brown Etonye (2nd right) during his 90th birthday celebration at Toru Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

Ogoni protest alleged political marginalisation in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— OGONI indigenes in Rivers State, yesterday marched on the popular Aba Road, Port Harcourt, denouncing what they termed another move to rob them of an opportunity to produce the next governor of the state next year.

It will be recalled that the Ogoni had urged the various political parties in the state to produce their governorship candidate from the area, insisting that it was their turn to be governor of the state.

They had also argued that 2015 should be their turn to produce the governor since they had not produced a governor, deputy or speaker of the state House of Assembly since its creation.

President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, who led the peaceful protest, said the march was against political slavery of the Ogoni.

He said: “We are here today because there is injustice in Rivers State. We are here today because we are about to be consigned to another 24 years of political slavery in Rivers State

and we do not want it.

“Twenty four years ago, we launched a struggle for the political emancipation, economic redemption and environmental restoration of Ogoniland. After over 30 years of independence, Ogoni is still burning in the flames of withering injustice.

“It was this realisation that propelled us in line with the provisions of the Ogoni Bill of Rights, OBR, to launch the Ogoni Project 2015 which amongst others sought Ogoni’s

political representation in the position of governor of Rivers State come 2015. We provided all the analysis needed to convince whoever that cares about Ogoni that in the spirit of the principle of rotation, affirmative action and the federal character principle, this opportunity should be given to Ogoni come 2015. The parties had jettisoned this request of ours and had ignored Ogoni in the process, thereby humiliating all of us and making a mockery of the democracy which we all suffered for and nourished with our sweat and with the Ogoni blood. This is injustice."

Wike accuses Amaechi of neglecting riverine link road

R

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has accused outgoing Rivers State governor, Mr. Romiti Amaechi, of neglecting the link road leading to the riverine area of the state.

He said funds meant for the link road had been used for All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaigns.

Wike, yesterday, when he paid a thank you visit to the people of Andoni Local Government Area at Ngo town, for voting for him during the PDP governorship primaries, said if Amaechi had expended the over N30 billion being used to sponsor the APC presidential candidate, Muhammad Buhari, on the road from Bori through Andoni to Opobo-Nkoro, the road would have been completed.

“The abandonment of the major link road to the riverine area by Amaechi was because he resolved to expend Rivers money on APC activities and their presidential candidate. For us, this road will be our priority once we get into office. We will ensure that we link the upland to the riverine by completing the road to the riverine area.”

He said that the deprivation riverine people suffered under the outgoing APC leadership will be addressed when he takes over in 2015.

Addressing the gathering, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, regretted that the outgoing Rivers State governor had handed over the finances of the state to the APC leadership.

Era of compiling election results in Government House over —DICKSON

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, yesterday, dismissed claims that the results of the recent primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state were compiled at Government House, Yenagoa.

Responding to a question during a media chat monitored

on the state radio in Yenagoa, the governor also denied claims in some quarters that his administration masterminded the emergence of some National Assembly and state House of Assembly aspirants as winners at the primaries.

Dickson said that the era of compiling party election results within the confines of Government House was over.

According to him, those seeking elective offices ought to subject themselves to the will of the electorate.

“We did not write party election results at Government House. The era when people sit at Government House to write election results is over.

Members of the party and aspirants must subject themselves to the will of the people,” he said.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

10th edition of Carnival Calabar 2014

Cross River State Governor, Sen Liyel Imoke and his wife, Obioma (middle); Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke [2nd right]; Cross River State Deputy Governor, Effiok Cohbam (right), and Cross River State, PDP governorship candidate, Sen Ben Ayade, with his wife (left), during the kick-off of the 10th edition of Carnival Calabar 2014, in Calabar ,yesterday. Photos: Nwankpa Chijioke

Sea Gull Band .

Cross River State Governor, Sen Liyel Imoke dancing enthusiastically with Nigeria's Dance hall Super Stars P-Square.

Members of Sea Gull Band

Members of Passion 4 Band Members of Passion 4 Band.

Sea Gull Band C M Y K

Paparazzi

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—15

10th edition of Carnival Calabar 2014

Participants at Carnival Calabar 2014 grand finale

Masta Blasta Band

Sea Gull Band

Sea Gull Band C M Y K

Sea Gull Band

Members of Passion 4 Band

Members of Sea Gull Band

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Ndigbo not marginalised in Lagos politics — Lagos APC L

AGOS STATE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, dismissed statement credited to Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria, NCSN, led by Chief Udo Udeogaranya, that Ndigbo in Lagos were being marginalised in the politics of Lagos State, saying Chief Udeogaranya, was being economical with the truth.

In a statement by its publicity secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe in Nnewi, Anambra State, the party advised Ndigbo in Lagos to be cautious, tactful and honest in dealing with their host communities anywhere in Nigeria in the interest of peace and harmony.

APC insisted that contrary to the claims of NCSN, Ndigbo were getting their fair share in Lagos State as Igbo could be found everywhere in Lagos, saying, “Ndigbo control commerce in Lagos from Ladipo market to Tejuosho, from Oshodi to Alaba International, from the Trade Fair Complex to Oduade market, from Idumota to Balogun, just to mention a few of them.

"Ndigbo are in real estate, big time, they are in hospitality business, transport and building construction. Ndigbo import more than 60 per cent of all goods in Lagos on a conservative estimate.

In politics, Ndigbo are also being represented at all levels of government from the wards to the local government and at the state level.

“Ben Akabueze has been the Commissioner for Budget and Planning for nearly 10 years and the weight of that office is well known to those who should know better.

"Joe Igbokwe sits as the General Manager, LASIMRA, Head UFRU and APC Publicity Secretary, Lagos and these are strategic offices and six Ndigbo are fully employed at LASIMRA. “Justice Sybil Nwaka, an Igbo, is in the Lagos Judiciary, there was the late Mrs. Ngozi Mofuanya, a director of Public Prosecution, DPP; there are also Igbo lawyers who are thoroughly enjoying themselves in the Ministry of Justice in Lagos.

"There is also countless number of Ndigbo in top positions in the Lagos State Ministries, especially in the Ministry of Education.

Many Igbos are also working in the local governments.

“Ngozi Nwosu, an actress from Imo State, got a life-line of N6 million for an overseas surgery.

Mrs. Mary Igbokwe got N5 million and a flat as compensation for her late husband, who died in a scuffle with LASTMA officers in

Lagos. Mrs. Chima Ubani got cash and a flat at Marwa Garden Lagos when her husband Mr. Chima Ubani died in a motor accident near Abuja.

"First Consultants Hospital owned by an Igbo got N50 million as compensation for equipment destroyed after fighting Ebola in that hospital and consequently stopped spread of the deadly disease.

“Time and space will not permit us to say all we know about Ndigbo in Lagos. Igbo have made great fortunes in Lagos simply

because a very conducive atmosphere has been provided for these huge and monumental investments to thrive and we expect Ndigbo to show some understanding.”

“Lagos APC is appealing to Ndigbo in Lagos to work with their host communities in Lagos for peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship. Our property in Lagos were not said to be abandoned after the civil war. They were returned to us by the Yoruba after the war.”

“Yoruba have been fair to

Ndigbo and they need to reciprocate by seeking dialogue anytime there is problem instead of wars on the print and electronic media.”

“Eighty per cent of rich Ndigbo in Nigeria today made their wealth in Lagos. Lagos, APC still insists that there are rooms for improvement. And we advise Ndigbo to always seek audience with the authorities in their host communities for better understanding and cordial relationship. It is supposed to be a symbiotic relationship.”

Okorocha presents 2015 budget tomorrow

G

OVERNOR ROCHAS Okorocha of Imo State has agreed with the leadership of the state House of Assembly, to present the 2015 budget tomorrow.

The presentation earlier scheduled for yesterday, was shifted due to the valedictory session by the House of Assembly in honour of late member representing Ideato North State Constituency, Mrs. Eudora Okwesileze Igwe.

The burial of the late member comes up today A statement by Sam

Onwuemeodo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, said the leadership of the Assembly and Governor Okorocha agreed to shift the scheduled 2015 budget presentation, to Wednesday December 31, 2014 at the usual venue, saying the "postponement of the budget presentation is once again in honour of the late law-maker.

His Excellency regrets the inconveniences occasioned by the postponement.”

Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha, has commiserated with the husband, and the

entire family of Igwe in Ideato North Local Government and the state House of Assembly over Mrs. Okwesileze Igwe’s death.

The governor described her “as one of the outstanding members of the Assembly.”

Governor Okorocha had earlier expressed shock when the sad news of the death of the lawmaker was brought to his knowledge and had all state functions fixed yesterday and today, including the scheduled 2015 budget presentation cancelled or postponed, all in honour of the late lawmaker.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 17

A

PC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari’s blueprint for being a serial loser of presidential elections in Nigeria continues as follows: Be an uneducated presidential candidate: Get your APC supporters to deride Goodluck Jonathan as “clueless,” but to complain when PDP National Secretary, Wale Oladipo, calls you “a semi-literate jackboot.”

Run against Goodluck Jonathan, the most highlyeducated president in the history of Nigeria, who has a B.Sc. in Zoology; an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology; and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt; while you, on the other hand, did not even go to university but only as far as Katsina Provisional Secondary School.

Be one of the few senior military officers in the history of the Nigeria to fail the Command and Staff College exams as well as the senior military examinations.

While your senior military colleagues, such as Ibrahim Babangida, Tunde Idiagbon, Theophilus Danjuma, Augustus Aikhomu and Abdulsalami Abubakar have military suffixes after their names, such as FSS; Psc; or MNI; have none after yours.

Have no policy programme Have no idea whatsoever of what you would do as president.

Mouth anti-corruption platitudes without telling Nigerians how you propose to fight corruption.

Fail to appreciate that the president of a democratic government does not have the dictatorial powers you exhibited unscrupulously as military head of state. Refuse to appear in a public debate with President Obasanjo during the 2003 presidential election for fear of being disgraced. Be ridiculed by another invitation to debate Goodluck Jonathan today because the PDP is confident you will not be up to the task.

Claim: “no right-thinking Nigerian will vote for Jonathan” but show zero understanding of public policy. When asked in an interview on Channels Television how you would grow the Nigerian economy, give the ludicrous response that you would unilaterally stabilize dwindling oil prices; something even OPEC cannot do now. When Jide Ajani asks you: “Looking at the economy today, what are those things you would point at that are fundamental to making the economy prosperous?” Reply, showing your acute ignorance, by saying: “I am not an economist but with my experience, it is about the indiscipline and lack of probity of the PDP government.”

When he tries to get you to be more forthcoming by asking: “You have spoken in general terms but were you to make a presentation to the business community, what are those things you would be telling them about your economic agenda - in specific terms?” Reply C M Y K

her in an interview that the missing $2.8 billion was moved from the NNPC’s Midland Bank account to a private account; get NTA to dismiss her. However, she sued NTA, won the case, and was awarded financial compensation for wrongful dismissal.

Be an anti-corruption hypocrite

How to lose the presidential election four times (2) in the most vacuous nonsensical manner possible: “Firstly, let us secure our country. It means anything that comes to this country should be secure, but with people being kidnapped, armed robbery, bombings here and there, bad roads, fraudulent practices, nobody would come in and invest.”

When he still tries to get some substance from you by insisting: “What solutions would you proffer?” Show you have no idea whatsoever by replying: “It is not about telling them what to do which I have as plans but we have to understand how the problem developed? The ruling party must first accept responsibility for the failure of the nation before we can begin to talk about solutions.”

Be known for nonsensical policies As military head of state, treat Nigerians as school-children through an infantile “War Against Indiscipline.” Force them to queue at bus-stops under the watchful eyes of soldiers wielding whips with orders to flog publicly those deemed unruly. Make civil-servants who come late to work do humiliating frog-jumps.

Confuse this charade as cogent public policy.

Be the pioneer of kidnapping in Nigeria by seizing, drugging and crating Umaru Dikko in London, in the failed attempt to ship him forcibly back home.

Make a monkey of the Nigerian judicial system by imposing ridiculous 200-year prison sentences on politicians. Put a corrupt president under house arrest, but jail students for 24 years for cheating at exams.

Publicly chastise and humiliate the Ooni of Ife and the Emir of Kano, like a headmaster would his errant school-children, because they went on a private business trip to Israel. Even though Nigerians did not need government permission to visit Israel, seize their passports and place them under travel-bans.

Revert to the ancient stone-age policy of trade by barter referred to as counter-trading. Use it to camouflage the siphoning of Nigeria’s resources abroad to Brazil. Violate ECOWAS protocols by instituting a “GhanaMust-Go” policy that sought to

expel Ghanaians from Nigeria.

Impose austerity measures that create widespread job-losses and business closures and lowered the living-standards of Nigerians.

Be involved in $2.8 billion scandal Claim you are anti-corruption, but under your watch as federal commissioner for petroleum resources, it was discovered that $2.8 billion of Nigeria’s oil money was withdrawn from the NNPC account in London’s Midland Bank and fraudulently deposited in a private BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) London account where it generated interest amounting to 419 million pounds for private pockets.

BCCI, described by Time Magazine as “the dirtiest bank of all,” turned out to be a rogue bank of international drug-barons and money-launderers owned by a notorious Pakistani; Agha Hassan Abedi. The bank finally collapsed in 1991 after British and American regulators discovered it was involved in widespread money-laundering deals.

The Shagari administration instituted a probe panel, headed

by Justice Ayo Irikefe, to get to the bottom of the $2.8 billion scandal. The Senate also instituted its own investigations, headed by majority leader, Olusola Saraki. The Saraki committee’s report was presented to the Senate at the tail-end of the Shagari administration’s first

Get gullible SouthWest journalists to attack and malign anyone who dares to remind Nigerians about the missing $2.8 billion skeleton in your political wardrobe

term, with the resolve to address the matter after the 1983 election.

Conduct a coup d’état overthrowing the civilian government before the report could be made public. Bury the Irikefe Report, ensuring that it has never been made public.

Intimidate the press into silence by promulgating the infamous Decree 2 which stifled press freedom and threatened prosecution of even those who tell the truth, as long as it is not palatable to you. Send politicians indiscriminately to jail on corruption charges as a way of diverting attention from your own corruption scandal. Remove the Chief Justice of the Federation and replace him with Justice Ayo Irikefe, the man who headed the probe panel whose report you buried. Also appoint Chike Ofodile, the secretary of the probe panel whose report you buried, as your attorney-general.

Audit Report Fail to see the hypocrisy in your insistence that the probe report today on NNPC accounts must be published. You say: “In the spirit of the War Against Corruption, we demand the release of the Audit Report of the missing $20billion.”

But you buried the Irikefe Report on the missing $2.8 billion. Lai Mohammed, APC publicity secretary, says: “Nigerians will continue to demand that the audit report be made public, in the interest of transparency. The issue will not be swept under the carpet.”

However, you, the APC presidential candidate, rejected transparency by refusing to appear before the Justice Oputa “Truth and Reconciliation Panel” to defend your battered anticorruption pretensions, suggesting thereby that you have something to hide. Instead, get gullible South-West journalists, like Dele Shobowale, to attack and malign anyone who dares to remind Nigerians about the missing $2.8 billion skeleton in your political wardrobe. Foolishly believe such scurrilous attacks on your critics would make the matter go away.

When Vera Ifudu, an NTA reporter, revealed to Nigerians that Senate Leader, Saraki, told

Deceive Nigerians into believing you are a poor man, in spite of the fact that you earn the fat and generous pension of a former head of state from the Federal Government.

Proclaim yourself an anticorruption champion but fail to prosecute Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, a Fulani Prince of the Sokoto Caliphate and ex-Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, who lost thousands of pounds of his personal money in a London taxi while on official trip in London; even though Nigerian civil-servants are prohibited from maintaining foreign accounts. Simply post him from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of National Planning. Then crown it by appointing him a board-member of the NNPC. Claim you are against corruption, but surround yourself with corrupt politicians and enter into coalition with corrupt politicians in the APC. Have as one of your key allies, a man who has appropriated choice land properties in Lagos State, including a local government secretariat. As military head of state, have a palatial guest-house built in your home-town of Daura.

Jail Bisi Akande on corruption charges, and later have him as interim chairman of your socalled anti-corruption APC. Accuse the PDP of being corrupt, but welcome with openarms as many PDP members as possible. Accept into your party, men like Murtala Nyako, who was then impeached as governor of Adamawa State on corruption and other charges. Lead a highpowered APC delegation to the Ota home of one of the biggest PDP bigwigs of all, former president Obasanjo, in order to persuade him to come and be “the navigator” of your “anticorruption” party.

Make a song and dance about being anti-corruption, but readily acquiesce to your party ’s demand that a whopping N27.5 million fee to be paid by all presidential aspirants of your party; an amount more than that required by the PDP. Tell Nigerians you could not afford the N27.5 million. Nevertheless, declare your candidacy lavishly in Eagle Square, Abuja.

Tell Nigerians you took a dubious bank loan of N27.5 million in order to pay for your party’s presidential nomination papers. But afterwards it was reported in the papers that it was a former governor who wrote the cheque to your party to pay for you.

(CONTINUED IN TWO MORE PARTS).

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 LITTLE can be done about security without the police. All the little security appendages that have been created over the years have only weakened the police on several fronts – less funding for the police, and less political will to reform the police to the standard that will serve the country well.

Are the authorities surprised that the billions of Naira that both state and federal and local governments spend on the police are not yielding the expected results?

The police are the major challenge.

Governments have conveniently ignored them. Even the police are not treating themselves well. Issues as basic as training get poor attention. The consequences are obvious from the number of policemen who lose their lives in operations, to criminals who do not have better training.

Weapon handling is poorer. Purchase of sophisticated arms for those who have not been trained to use them is a waste. The police today are a burden that government should tackle through comprehensive reform of the force.

The critical areas to deal with must include the size of the force. A 300,000 force for a

Policing, Politics, Policy population of more than 160 million makes mockery of any expectations of performance from the police. At a ratio of one policeman to about 500 people, the police today, are short of policing standards of 1 to 100, outside the fact that archaic equipment and operational response strategies are deterrents to its efficiency.

A strong police would handle the matters of security with better assurance and gain the confidence of the people. When debates about the police begin, politicians highjack them with their base focus on state police as solution. How many States can fund

the police? What becomes the fate of States that cannot?

Agreed, the police have structural problem.

Why must an officer depend on Abuja , hundreds of kilometres from the scene of an incident to make a decision? How does Abuja determine the security needs of an area it does not know?

Do the police see affront in billboard advertising a private security that is erected within the premises of the Police College , Ikeja? What does that billboard say about the effectiveness of the police?

Government must have a security policy.

Where the police and politics fit into that policy is a matter of debate, but they are important. The perceived levels of insecurity, the high crime rates and the general uncertainties about the abilities of the government to protect the people, should be tackled.

Only government knows where it stands with security. Peoples’ impression is that government can do more. Sometimes the impression is that government is doing nothing about a fundamental issue that determines almost everything.

OPINION

By Eze Onyekpere

A

S the State Houses of Assembly vote on the constitution amendment provisions already approved by the National Assembly, it is imperative for the honourable members to pause and reflect on the role of the legislature in a democracy.

It is also important for them to understand the reasons behind some of the amendments proposed by the National Assembly. The State House of Assembly should be a meeting point for noble men and women who bear a mandate from the people to represent their interests in furthering democracy and development. They not only make laws, approve budgets, exercise oversight over executive functions, but generally carry the touch of being the bulwark against oppression and domination of the people by members of the executive arm of government.

Our focus in this discourse is on local government autonomy and the role of State Houses of Assembly. T h e National Assembly in its wisdom had voted to liberate the local government from the strangle hold of state governments. The amendments have sought to establish a truly democratic system of local governments with

LG autonomy elected representatives who are accountable to the people at the grassroots. Local government councils, if the amendments sail through will now have fixed tenure of four years.

When you compare this with the prevalent capricious system of two to three year tenures in most states of the federation and incessant dissolutions by state governments, it will be clear that it is a step in the right direction towards democratic consolidation.

If the amendments see the light of the day, the elections into local government councils will now be organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as against the sham elections organized by State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). SIEC organized local government elections returns the candidates of the ruling party as the winners. The ruling party under the direction of the governor sweeps the entire seat from the chairmanships to the councillors. And where the ruling party wants to demonstrate magnanimity, they leave a few councillorship seats to the opposition. Of course, the state level tribunals ensure that the electoral theft

is not sufficiently challenged. For anyone to emerge as a candidate in the ruling party, he must have been endorsed by the governor. In the foregoing context, the emergent councilors and chairmen owe their seats and allegiance, not to the people, but to the governors.

This sets the tone for the mismanagement of the state local government joint account established by the constitution. The states receive money from the federation account for their local governments and hold on to the money. They simply hand over to local governments enough money for salaries and then hold on to the rest. The council officials simply provide the facade for the governors to mismanage the money. Since the return to civil rule, all the local government councils across the federation have got allocations not less than N30billion on the average. This amounts to over N23.2trillion since 1999. But there is nothing in most local government councils evidencing the receipt and expenditure of these funds.

The duties and functions of local government as stated in Schedule Four of the Constitution are generally

usurped by states in a bid to control local government resources.

Thus, granting local government autonomy has many advantages and these include consolidating democracy, increasing development and giving the local population a voice in governance. It is therefore surprising that some State Houses of Assembly have teamed up with state governors against their people by voting against local government autonomy in the constitution amendment exercise.

Pray, did these honourable members consult their people to find out whether they support the status quo or the reform of autonomy? Since they have taken this precipitous step of ganging up with the governors against the interest of the people, the people owe them a duty to also relieve them of their mandate. Those honourable members from states like Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa do not deserve another term and the people should make their voice resoundingly clear through their vote in February 2015. *Mr. Onyekpere, a political analyst, wrote

from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014— —19

A nation in denial

By Sunny Ikhioya

O

NE thing that has characterised us as a nation is self denial. We run away from the truth as long as the pinch is not on our foot directly. How is it possible to have solutions to the multiple challenges facing us if we are afraid to diagnose correctly the problems facing the nation? How can you correctly cure an ailment when the diagnosis is wrong from the beginning?

In a recent Wednesday night programme on Channels Television, Straight talk with khedirat, featuring APC presidential aspirant and governor of Kano State, Dr.Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was asked to identify the causes of Boko Haram insurgency in the country. Of all the points he listed, he deliberately avoided the angle that deals with extreme religious doctrines, propagated by itinerant muslim preachers. He carefully avoided the role of muslim brotherhood in the fuelling of Boko Haram insurgency, carefully avoiding the fact that, each time Abubakar Shekarau comes on air, he claims, all he is doing in the name of Allah. He failed to highlight the fact that, it is only negative religion that can take a group of people to such height of delirium, what Marx referred to as 'the opium of the masses', nothing else.

If it is not religion, why is it that they have links with such bodies like the ISIS, al-shabab, al-queda both in Yemeni and Talibans and not other countries which do not have muslim links.

Extremism exists in every religion, in Christianity and others. We remember the Jim Jones Guyana tragedy, it was recognised for the evil that it was and condemned by the whole world, a movie was even produced from it. The Boko Haram originated from people who have decided to misinterpret the doctrines of Islam, those who were in position to condemn it initially kept quiet.

Now the hand shake has gone beyond the elbow and people are trying to adduce extraneous reasons as the cause. Until we all decide to face the truth, a solution can never be found. We must appreciate Lamido Sanusi, for his bravery in rallying for a united fight against those bastards, valour has always been part of his character traits. Every northerner, I mean, the genuine muslims must rally round to bring to an end, the activities of these extreme muslim fundamentalist s.

As long as we deliberately manipulate facts to suit our purpose, challenges will continue to remain insurmountable. When we say religion, we do not mean it to denigrate any group but to emphasise the huge burden that is placed on religious leaders to properly direct the focus of our

youths. Religion addresses the mind and it involves a lot of brain washing, by the time we tackle it from the proper orientation of youths in their individual places of worship, recruits for the Boko Haram and other such terrorists will dwindle.

We live in self denial in this country, the naira, as I write is over 190 to a dollar in the parallel market, the price of crude oil is still on a free fall and our leaders have started preaching the value of agriculture to cushion the impact.They present it as if it is that simple. What kind of agriculture do we want to practise in this country? How ready are we for this? I notice that most countries that have

As we approach the new year, we must consciously have it at the back of our minds that only a factual approach to the challenges facing this nation will set us free

succeeded in their agricultural sectors, have mastered the act of producing or manufacturing the agricultural implements that go with it; Israel, China, India, USA and others, no African country is in the list except South Africa and we all know why. It is not by mouthing it, how can we make our agriculture to successfully compete with the foreign products? Power is not stable, manufacturing is almost zero. A successful agricultural output must also go with a successful processing of the products, how ready are we for the processing?

In modern agriculture, you do not need a large population to make it succeed. For example, in the USA, less than 5% of the population is into agriculture and they are able to produce surplus, which means; the other 95% of the population are engaged in other productive ventures. What will happen in the Nigerian situation? I need somebody to do some explaining.

We live in denial in this country, for a long time now, we have not been privileged to have productive researchers. Gone are the days of Awojobi, Claude Ake and others of their kind. All we have in our tertiary institutions are radical lecturers, specialising only in strikes and protest, misleading a large number of the populace in the process. In other climes, lecturers are rewarded for their manifest contribution to the growth of knowledge, their work is seen by all and the values to mankind easily discernible. Here we get honoured for leading protests, our higher institutions have stopped adding value to the

Random musings on Jonathan, Buhari, Nigeria and 2015

By Abba Adakole

L

UCKILY for the Ijaw man who had no shoes but managed by a combination of hard work, a studious mind, the cunningness of a boa constrictor - many thanks to his adept study of zoology - and of course, a large dose of divine intervention which many ignorantly like to pass off as good luck, he is today, arguably, the most powerful man in the black world.

No doubt, he has his negatives (but then, who does not have, especially in the murky world of politics where men will sell anybody or anything to taste the crazy aphrodisiac-power). However, over the years, he has managed to keep Nigeria together in spite of hydra-headed monster, dubbed Boko Haram, which continues to ravage most of the North-East and is inching to the west of the north.

It appears the creators of the monster, or those who fertilized its growth, can no longer dismount the monster, and have found a ready fall guy in the federal government in the hazy world of blamestorming. In ferocious anger, the monster appears to be turning on some of its own, even as it continues to bring old Kanem Bornu empire to its knees. The evil that men planted in human blood and needless sacrifices is now on a backfire with its litany of uncovered, and at other times, careless collateral damages.

In this knotty situation enters General Muhammadu Buhari, himself a target of the daring monster from the North-East. It does not matter that the retired and somewhat aging and tired General has the Kanem-Bornu blood flowing in his veins, just as he has the Ba Haushe (Hausa) blood, and the pre-dominant Fulani blood, C M Y K

according to him. In Boko Haram's medievalist-idiotic war, apologies to Governor Shettima, anyone who breathes a word or threat against it, even if he is an emir in far-away Kano, he must be dealt with.

It does not matter to the "mad men" from the east if anyone was previously a sympathiser; once he spoke against them, he must be mowed down. Buhari has been a target; Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been one, yet some warped and wicked thinkers still do not see the wisdom in keeping President Jonathan away from Borno State. With these mad men who could turn on anyone, bomb anyone, even former friends, kidnap women and children, and have no respect for even their own respected and venerated persons and institutions; some still think the President should travel that way. Well, as commanderin-chief, he is free to do so as long his Defence Minister, security and service chiefs as well as head of the Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) agree to be on the same flight and convoy with him. And on the day he

They know that if he gets to Aso Rock Villa, he will not only alienate them, he will send them on exile.

Even Tinubu, who needed the number two slot to protect himself, will now work hard against him, Osinbajo or no Osinbajo

goes, none of these men must fall conveniently sick or travel elsewhere for other official duties. To make the pack an interesting one, he should invite Buhari and Sanusi along.

When Mr. President returns from such a trip, he should consider dressing up like Abubakar Shekau for political effect and to win the votes of the terrorists, because these days, that seems to be the vogue. The handlers of Buhari don't seem to find anything wrong in altering his identity by dressing him up in Niger Delta attire since the man desperately wants to be in Aso Rock Villa.

He looked comical in the Delta attire, though in suit he looked a little better, even though unfamiliar. In the 11years he has been seeking the highest political office, this writer cannot remember seeing Buhari in anything other than his Babanriga, but the handlers of Buhari, including that one who used to think the man was unelectable, but now needs him and his blind and unthinking followers to begin his journey back to Abuja through Kaduna, have to be more ingenious to sell him to his fellow countrymen.

They must also come up with an ingenious way of distancing from his new "Oga at the top" from Lagos, because anytime they are seen side by side, it looks like a ravenous wolf and hawkish lamb are having a tango. For a man like Buhari to be seen as the puppet of the Lagos chief is nothing but an unmitigated political disaster.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was right when he suggested that it amounted to an insult to think the General was his lackey, but he did not help matters when he let it be leaked that he was interested in being number two to Buhari.

system. Next generation products are supposed to be sampled first at our higher institutions and research centres, collaborations between the academic and the private sector producers is a must for the development of any nation but,over here, what do we find? Lazy and fraudulent dons, waiting to reap where they did not sow and they are usually the first to criticise. The institutions must strive for autonomy and self sufficiency, that is the only way they can begin to earn respect and serve the purpose for which they were created.

We live in self denial, those who have the opportunity now use their position to deprive the non privileged ones of their rights. If not, how will you explain President Goodluck Jonathan's refusal to perform the ground breaking for the Escravos EPZ project. We must remember that a foundation that is based on injustice will never stand, only time will tell. The Ijaws used to be the oppressed, now that they have the opportunity to correct those things they were crying for, they must not misuse the opportunity, other Niger Delta tribes are equally entitled to the benefits from the resources in their God given land, equity demands that.

As we approach the new year, we must consciously have it at the back of our mind that only a factual approach to the challenges facing this nation will set us free.

Happy New Year. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

That singular act showed Nigerians for seven days that the Katsina-born patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) couldn't make up his mind on a simple matter of who his number two man should be. Many suddenly began to remember that the General had never been a man of his own. They recalled that in the heady days of his administration three decades ago, he could do nothing without Tunde Idiagbon; and when Idiagbon travelled out of the country, he lost power to his ambitious subordinates.

Also, many began to recall that all the mess that was spattered on him after his days at the Petroleum Task Force (PTF) was simply because he could not rein in his boys who fed fat on him. Such a man, without a mind of his own, can surely not be today's alternative to Jonathan. Many who are thinking that the naturally arrogant Fulani man kowtowing to conquer are simply mistaken, because some of those he is stooping to just conquer are not as stupid as he thinks. They know that if he gets to Aso Rock Villa, he will not only alienate them, he will send them on exile.

Even Tinubu, who needed the number two slot to protect himself, will now work hard against him, Osinbajo or no Osinbajo.

Some of the General's former buddies in and outside the Army have heard him say he has forgiven but not forgotten those who did him in three decades ago; and knowing soldiers as we do in Nigeria; knowing Fulani men as we do in the north; and knowing Muslims as we do, an eye must either go for an eye or for the two eyes, including all the teeth. Moral: they don't believe he has forgiven any bit. •Mr. Adakole, political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, DECEMBER 30, 2014

By Suzan Edeh

R

ESIDENTS of the ancient city of Bauchi were busy with last minute shopping for Christmas when the relative peace that had pervaded the town was interrupted by bomb blasts which rocked the Central Market in the city.

The blasts came on the heels of another explosion which killed about 21 persons in a motor park in neighbouring Gombe State.

Indeed, nobody envisaged the explosion in Bauchi Central Market, which unarguably, is the largest in the town. This was because after the bomb blasts that rocked Peoples Hotel in the Bayan Gari area of the city, Bauchi has been relatively peaceful.

Vanguard Metro, VM gathered that the attack occurred around 5.30 pm when activities in and around the market had peaked. Some of those who managed to escape , told VM that their survival was an act of God. A visibly shaken tricycle (Keke NAPEP) driver who identified himself as Umar Sarki, described the incident as horrifying. According to him, nobody should pray even for his worst enemies to witness what happened that fateful day.

Shattered roof and windscreen Sarki said he was caught up in the midst of the raging fire which was ignited after the bomb exploded at one of the entrance gates to the market.

“I had arrived at the market in my Keke minutes earlier.

After dropping some women at Wunti market, I was discussing with some passengers who were going to Federal Low Cost Housing Estate when I heard the explosion.

The roof and windscreen of my Keke were shattered in the process. I struggled to pass through the confused crowd to a nearby building. In the process, I fell down and injured my right leg. I was later rushed by rescuers to ATBU Teaching Hospital, “ he said.

Another survivor, Mrs Mary Igbede said she was doing her Christmas shopping in the market when she suddenly heard a deafening bang.

“I was with my baby and we were buying things for the Christmas in one of the provision stores when the bomb exploded. After the explosion, confusion

Confusion as people run for their lives

BAUCHI BOMB BLASTS:

How we cheated death — Survivors enveloped the market as people ran for their lives. I was afraid because somebody could take advantage of the situation to rob or kill me,” she said.

I was expecting some goods from Kano on that fateful Monday; because of this, I decided to wait a little longer in the shop; I had barely left the shop to ease myself when I heard a loud explosion

Continuing, Mrs Igbede said; “The owner of the provision store advised me to hold unto my baby and remain where I was. I thank God because I was not hurt, He (God) saved my life”.

Another eyewitness, who identified himself as Idris Bala Maigoro said: “I was expecting some goods from Kano on that fateful Monday.

Because of this, I decided to wait a little longer in the shop.

I had barely left the shop to ease myself when I heard a loud explosion”.

Maigoro who sells wrappers and women accessories, said his shop is located at the second wing of the market, very close to where trailers park to offload goods. “I started running to escape from the raging fire, As I was about to jump a pole, I saw some people whose skin were peeled off by the heat generated by the blast. They were also running for their lives too. Some hoodlums took advantage of the situation and looted the shops of traders. The impact of the blast is still affecting me psychologically,” he narrated.

The Chairman of the Central Market Traders

Association in Bauchi, Alhaji Adamu Musa Noma, told newsmen that two men dressed in mobile police uniform and a lady came to the market Monday evening and bought boxes and Atamfa (Ankara) clothing materials and kept them in a shop.

According to Noma, “one of the bombers went outside to make call, while the other detonated the bomb. About 10 of my members lost their lives in the explosion. Shortly after the bomb blast, the security committee set up by the association to decongest the market met.

Reconstruction of the market Part of the agenda was how to decongest the market and ensure proper parking of vehicles because there are some categories of vehicles that are not allowed to park near the market”.

Meanwhile, Governor Isa Yuguda has commiserated with the victims. He assured them that his administration will reconstruct the market to restore their means of livelihood. In a statement signed by his Chief Press

Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, the governor said the government will pay the medical bills of those injured during the blast.

The governor, who later visited the scene as well as the injured in hospital, reassured them of his administration’s determination to continue to place security on the priority list.

“This is alien to us here but with faith in God, it will soon come to pass. We will not allow it to deter us from continuing with the focus of our administration which is security of lives and property of all innocent citizens,” the governor said.

He said that adequate security will be intensified in all public places to forestall future occurrence while calling on the people to be security conscious and report every questionable character to security agencies.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Haruna Mohammed said three suspects had been arrested for looting.

“Normalcy has been restored by security forces while patrols are being intensified,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 21

Fraudsters discourage licensing of private equity firms —SEC

By Jonah Nwokpoku

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has said that it is reluctant to license more Private Equity firms due to fraudulent activities of some operators in the sector..

Commissioner, SEC, Ugo Ikemba stated this while speaking as a member of a panel discussing the ‘the impact of Private Equity on the economy: Regulator as a driver’ at the CBO Capital Partners 4th Annual Investors’ conference held recently in Lagos.

According to Ikemba, “Fund management in Nigeria has met with lots of issues in the past. SEC’s docket is full of fraudulent managers who take money from everyone else.

Now with Private Equity, it’s the sophisticated type of investors that you are getting your money from but this doesn’t mean that there is less fraud out there.

So we have crisis upon crisis of fraud in Nigeria which has brought us to the point where the SEC is essentially scared of giving people Private Equity licence,” he said.

“Lots of people are asking why it takes up to a year to get a licence and why SEC is not

approving so that Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) will give them access to their N27 billion, it is because we are trying to prevent a problem,” he added.

The conference which had the theme: ‘Can Private Equity save Nigeria?’ had operators and regulators alike discussing the place of Private Equity in Nigeria’s economy and whether Private Equity can really help the country grow.

that are underway and they have very mature impacts on the economy,” he said.

He however noted that “the impact of Private Equity depends on how one looks at the meaning. I think many understand Private Equity to mean investing in stabilised businesses as opposed to Venture Capital where you have to invest in

complete start-ups. But Private Equity is broad enough to include Venture Capital and that is one area that actually has not been developed much at all in this country.”

On her part, Director Henshaw Capital Partners, Ms Barbara James said that Private Equity has not really helped Nigeria explore its economic

potential fully.

She however observed that, “There is private equity opportunity that can and will help Nigeria grow if we do the things that we need to do.”

If we look at the asset under management of Private Equity, there are no exact figures for that but I think that the rough figure is about $3 billion and if you look at pension contribution to Private Equity, it’s about N8 billion currently and that is under $50 million. And our pension asset is worth about N4.5 trillion and less than five per cent of that is under Private Equity, which is about $3.2 billion.

Retail sales market Speaking on the role of Private Equity on the growth of Nigerian economy, Director Real Estate, Actis, Mr. Chudi Ejeka argued that Private Equity has helped Nigeria grow.

“A perfect example is the retail sector. Nigeria has a huge retail sales market. Currently estimate puts it at about N160 billion annually. But most of them are informal right now. But that is still larger than South Africa’s $65 to $75 billion per annum. So Private Equity has helped to launch a retail revolution taking place in this country, starting for example with Palm Shopping Centre, Ikeja City Mall and several others

From left: Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe Sate and Council Co-ordinator, Honorary International Investor Council (HIIC), Baroness Lynda Chalker at the 17th meeting of the HIIC in London.

Labour laments declining textile sector

By Victor Ahiuma-young

O

RGANISED labour has said the performance of the Nigerian textile industry remains at low ebb in 2014 due to lack of an enabling environment and inconsistency in government policy.

In a review of the performance of the sector in 2014 through the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, labour said key problems affecting the industry include persistent electricity supply crisis, inadequate raw materials, government’s inability to regulate imports, high cost of production inputs, unrestrained importation of fake and substandard textiles from China, low patronage of made in Nigeria textiles, security challenge, high interest rate and recent devaluation of the Naira.

Speaking through the President of NUTGTWN Mr. Oladele Hunsu and the union’s General Secretary, who also is a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Issa Aremu, organized labour, stated, “Capacity utilisation in the industry

remains below 50 per cent and the growth has been stagnant since 2012.

The government had talked about a new textile policy in February 2013 however there has been no progress.

Unless effective steps are taken by the government to revive the industry, gains achieved in 2010 will be lost and result in job losses, thus aggravating the unemployment situation. In 2015, we demand for patriotic industrial policies through direct mass actions to protect domestic industry. It is time we grow the non-oil sector.”

Speaking on 2015 national budget, both Oladele and Aremu said “the coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala recently presented the 2015 budget to the National Assembly on behalf of the President. The N4.74 trillion budget was based on the benchmark of $65 per barrel, 2.27 million barrels per day and exchange rate of N165 to a dollar. At $65 per barrel, the budget still confirms that Nigeria is an oil dependent economy contrary to the claim of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

“Sustainable budgets are the ones based on revenue arising from real sector of the economy namely domestic manufacturing and exportation of finished goods. The national assembly in debating this budget proposal should put policies that will grow the real sectors of the economy and in particular ensure that Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, lowers the interest rate and stop the free fall of the Naira which will undermine purchasing power of the working people. They should also make sure the budget captures practical measures on reducing cost of governance which must start with drastic reduction of pay and allowances of the Executive and legislature.”

They called on politicians and political parties to think more on how to improve the national economy ahead of 2015 general elections, saying “As the race for 2015 begins, we urge all the political parties and their candidates to operate based on the spirit and content of the constitution.

The language of political contest should also be constitutional.”

$169.00

-$1.15

$2,948.00

$14.72

-$0.04

$59.52

-0.72

$55.14

-1.11

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

$-16.00

167 259.8353 204.1909 169.6982 1.3899 0.2937 242.5432 44.4942 27.4373 242.6343

CENTRAL 167.5 168 260.6133 261.3912 204.8023 205.4136 170.2062 170.7144 1.3941 1.3983 0.3037 0.3137 243.2694 243.9956 44.6274 44.7606 27.5195 27.6016 243.3608 244.0872

CBN Exchange Rate as 29/12/2014

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

The principle is the same for all kinds of investment, be it in shares, treasury bills or bonds. The goal is the same, and it is to increase what you have today, by saving it and committing it into an activity that would generate income and increase the value of the money or resources committed into it

,

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By Nkiruka Nnorom

O

n the top 10 performing stocks last week were the shares of United Bank for Africa Plc, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp Plc), Oando Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Dangote Cement Plc and Seplat Petroleum Development Company plc.

Others were Guinness Nigeria Plc, National Aviation Handling Co. Plc, Champion Breweries Plc and Zenith International Bank Plc. UBA led the pack with 32.28 percent or N1.22 p r i c e appreciation, closing at N5.00 from N3.78 it started the week at. The bank ended the year impressively as it swept global banking awards in London last month, winning in five categories to become one of the highest single winning bank brands at this year’s awards. The award which was organized by The Banker magazine saw UBA being voted ‘Bank of the Year in Africa’ for 2014, beating others to win the highly coveted award for panAfrican bank brands. Four country subsidiaries of UBA Group in Sierra Leone, Gabon, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire also won “Bank of the Year” for their respective countries. UBA Senegal won the award for the third consecutive year, having won in 2012 and 2013. In order to drive growth and deliver more to its stakeholders, UBA in August this year returned Mr. Tony Elumelu, its former CEO to man the affairs of the bank in chairman capacity, thereby joining two other banks in the country that have toed the same line. The move that was upheld by various stakeholders in the financial industry as capable of changing not just the fortune of the banks involved, but the entire bank landscape in the country. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the bank posted recorded 20 per cent growth in earnings to N264.7 billion from N22.1 billion in 2012. Loan growth and improved pricing boosted the bank’s interest income, which grew by 24 percent, whilst noninterest income grew by a modest 15 percent, affected by reduction in Commission on Turnover, CoT, charges. The profit before tax was up eight percent compared to N52.0 billion in 2012. However, Group’s profit declined by 14 percent.

Trnascorp Plc, which has in recent time undertaken various measures to reposition the company followed with 28.90 percent or N0.89 appreciation, closing at N3.97 from N3.08.

The culmination of the initiatives geared at repositioning the

company was manifested in payment of N1.93 billion dividends this year to its shareholders, the first in its seven years of listing on the NSE. Transcorp, penultimate week, was named the Most Compliant Firm among the companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The Most Complaint Listed Firm award is given by the NSE to the company that demonstrates the highest degree of compliance with the rules and regulations regarding disclosure obligations of listed companies to the exchange in any particular year. Before sliding to the current market price, the share price of the company had almost climbed to the 2007 IPO. It had risen to N7.04 before crashing. Hopes of the shareholders of Transcorp to receive another dividend at the end of the 2014 financial year have been raised as the company posted an increase of 89 percent in profit before tax N9.7 billion from N5.15 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Also, its profit after tax rose from N3.5billion to N8.263 billion, while total assets stood at N157 billion compared with N149.454 billion as at December as at December 31, 2103.

Oando Plc came third with 26.79 per cent or N4.22 gains to close at N19.97 from N15.75 per share.

Oando recently concluded rights issue of N48.78 billion through the offering of 2.22 billion ordinary shares of 50k each at N22 per share to its existing shareholders on the basis of one new share for every four ordinary shares held as at 25 July 2014. The offer commenced on Monday, 24 November 2014 and closed Friday, 19 December 2014.

A subsidiary of the company, Oando Energy Resources Inc, recently announced the completion of the 45,000bbls/d, 51km Umugini pipeline. The pipeline will provide an alternative evacuation route for crude oil produced from the Ebendo Field through the Trans Forcados export pipeline.

Skye Bank advanced by 26.20 percent or N0.60 to close at N2.89 from N2.29; Dangote Cement rose by 22.91 percent or N36.65 to close at N196.65 from N160.00; Seplat went up by 21.54 percent or N57.07 to close at N322.11 from N265.02; Guinness advanced by 21.53 percent or N26.91 to close at N151.87 from N124.96; NAHCo followed with 20.92 percent or N0.86 increase to close at N4.97 from N4.11; Champion Breweries recorded 20.90 percent or N1.02 increase to close at N5.90 from N4.88, while Zenith Bank added 19.30 percent or N3.15 to its share price, closing at N19.47 from N16.32 per share.

INVESTORS You can invest

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

o some people, the word ‘investment’ sounds big and they see it as something for the educated, or the rich.

This, however, is far from the truth. Investment is not the exclusive preserve of any class of people. It is something for everybody. So anybody can invest, and that includes you.

To invest simply means

putting money or resources into an activity that yields income. The aim is to increase whatever you invested (money or materials) so that you can have more in the future. As implied, it starts with saving something today, which means you choose not to consume all or everything you earn.

Thereafter, you search or

determine where you want to commit what you have saved, and that can increase its value over time. The act of investing is as old as man, and it occurs at every level of the society in one shape or the other. For example, when Palm Oil is in season, some people buy it in large quantities, and store it till it is no longer in season, and it becomes scarce. They then

MARKET NEWS

Analysts rate NSE high despite challenges By Nkiruka Nnorom

D

ESPITE challenges of consistent decline in international price of crude oil, fear surrounding the upcoming 2015 general elections and security challenges, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has witnessed some improvement over time, says a report by BGL Plc. According to the report termed “Nigerian Economic Review and Outlook for 2015”, the investment banking group said that large scale and innovative reforms of the market since the tenure of the current administrators of the NSE led by Mr. Oscar Onyema have supported improved market activities.

“Some of the reforms include the introduction of market makers, expansion of trading hours, new and modern trading platform (X-Gen), improved corporate reporting,

market data availability among others”, BGL Research and Intelligence observed.

“Significant surge in foreign inflows into the

market in the 2012/2013 period reaching US15 billion in 2013 from US$3.69 billion in 2011, were justified on the back of the improved market transparency and governance. The market therefore recovered in nominal

From left: Head, Savings, Fidelity Bank Plc., Janet Nnabuko; Branch Leader, Corporate Branch, Fidelity Bank, Pascal Nzeribe; Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Fidelity Bank Plc., IK. Mbagwu; star prize winner (Lagos) Chukwujekwu Osai; Head, Retail Group, Fidelity Bank, Richard Madiebo, and Head, Branch Coordination, Fidelity Bank, Onyinyechi Ekwereonu at the Fidelity Bank Save4 Scholarship Savings Promo prize presentation in Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 23

sell it at a higher price.

Consequently, they end up with more money than they had before (all things being equal).

This is investment in Palm Oil trading. Some people invest in other agricultural produce.

It is still investment. In some cases, the money is contributed and given to the palm oil trader, who uses the money to do the business and return the money with interest or profit, depending on the agreement.

The principle is the same for all kinds of investment, be it in shares, treasury bills or bonds. The goal is the same, and it is to increase what you have today, by saving it and committing it into an activity that would generate income and increase the value of the money or resources committed into it.

As indicated above, it starts with savings, or deciding not to consume everything you earn. Mind you, it is not about what or how much you earn, it is about decision and discipline. Many people use their low income as excuse for not saving. But

term to pre-crisis level by the end of 2013. At 41.97 percent return in 2013, the market outperformed peers in emerging market and many developed markets,” the report added.

It however stated that the effects of US quantitative easing, QE, tapering and flight to safety capital reversal on the back of the outlook for 2015 elections are a low point for the market YTD in 2014, adding that 75 percent Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, on public sector deposit, PSD, added to the pressure.

Emerging markets downturn rattling the market, driven by sharp commodities price decline- oil price.

“Across comparable markets and selected advanced markets, the NSE remained the laggard in performance, due to strong flight to safety capital reversal on the back of oil price decline, FX threat and the outlook for 2015 elections.

Tighter monetary policy environment and weaker currency outlook portend further depression for the market. Weaker banks’

there are examples of low income earners who save and do so regularly. You can start with just N1 per month.

Yes N1 per month. With time, you will easily increase it to N2 per month. After deciding to save, the next decision is where to invest the money. I remember a woman asking for advice on what to invest in. She was considering using her savings to open a provision store. But she was reluctant due to her past experience in this regard. This is a challenge for many people.

As a result, they save but they do not invest. In other words, they just keep the money saved in their bank accounts. The implication is that the money saved is within their reach to spend, and they eventually spend it.

There are various types of investments anybody can choose from depending on the amount of money you want to invest. Some are formal while some are informal. You can however be sure that there would be at least one type of investment that is suitable for your purpose and capacity. (To be continued next week)

earning outlook for 2014 is a low point “Wehowever expect the market to at least recover ground lost this year in 2015 based on strong risk adjusted valuation of Nigerian equities on current price depression.”

Going further, the report stated that Nigeria’s equities market may be significantly under-priced based on some fundamentals. “PE ratios of most sectors on the Nigerian stock exchange are lower than that of its peers. The banking sector, agriculture and oil and gas are very attractive. FMCG which were hitherto overvalued have experienced significant price correction and the sector currently offers value for investments.

“Beneath the impressive valuations of the Nigerian equities market is the expanding middle income group attracting improved financial performance of firms in the FMCG and retail space.

New frontiers of opportunities are also unfolding in power privatisation and likely reforms of the oil and gas sector.”

,

FORUM

The act of investing is as old as man, and it occurs at every level of the society in one shape of the other. For example, when Palm Oil is in season, some people buy it in large quantities, and store it till it is no longer in season, and it becomes scarce. They then sell it at a higher price.

Consequently, they end up with more money than they had before

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Recapitalisation deadline tomorrow

By Providence Obuh eadline for increases in minimum capital D requirements for capital

market operators is tomorrow, December 31, 2014 as announced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and a new minimum capital structure is expected to take off by January 1, 2015.

Under the new requirements, stock broking firms in the country are expected to raise their capital base to N300 million from N70 million.

This move will reduce the number of stock broking firms in the country as well as streamline their operations.

I n this interview with Investors Forum, shareholders share their opinions on the move.

Excerpts:

Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo - Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria here is no place in the world T where there is no regulation of any organization. I Am quite sure SEC and the stock broking firms must have been talking for some time before they came up with the recapitalisation idea. In my view as a layman, I think that the stock broking firms were not prepared.

They thought it was a joke.

Since they have been talking on this issue I expect that they too should be prepared. If you are asked to recapitalise there will be changes.

If there is a need for extension, I think they would have settled that before now, every person is under regulation in one way or the other, so I don’t expect less from them. I support what SEC is doing, I commend the Central Bank of Nigeria's effort because whenever they come up with an initiative you see other regulators following in that direction, you will see some moving ahead or some lagging behind. In Nigeria we like to pretend, we wait for opportunities to capitalise on.

There is always a way out, recapitalisation has nothing to do with job loss.

We like excuses, people fail to look into certain things in this country. The

regulators did not ask anybody to close shop, rather people can come under one umbrella and form a name and begin to operate, everybody wants to keep his own identity nobody wants to move with time, there is always a way out in solving problems if we are open to changes.

The recapitalization, I think will not lead to retrenching of staff. I believe there will be understanding between investors and if they wish to come together under one umbrella, they can do that and answer one name. People are only concerned about keeping name and not looking at the positive side. Another thing is that people rely so much on their godfathers instead of doing the right thing.There are some government functionaries that if government has been

Olatokunbo listening to them, this economy would have gone backward. I want us to start facing issues squarely and stop being sentimental. Other countries are going forward and they also have issues disturbing them as they are making sacrifice to their countries but we don’t want it so, we are just complaining.

Here in Nigeria, we don’t move with time we just want to remain where we are and it can’t be so

Mrs. Bisi Bakere —Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria

T

he duty of regulators is to regulate the market.

If the authorities feel that the stock broking firms are operating below expectations and knowing the level that they should be operating then they are in a better position to ask for increase in capital base.

They are in the right position to tell stockbrokers and other operators in the market to recapitalise. I think this recapitalisation is for the good of the stock broking houses as well the investors. The regulators are not going to collect the money from them, there is nothing wrong about recapitalisation, it has been on for about some years now, they have given them about 12 months to comply in order to meet the deadline.

Bakere

As regulators they have the right to penalize any operator that fails to comply. The stockbrokers cannot be left to continue to operate the same way. for instance, something happened to one of my investment partners . .A stock broking firm sold their shares worth over N40 million, there is no way to get such money back but if they were well recapitalized and strong, the better for the investors. It is better to have10 vibrant stock broking firms than 100 that do not meet the requirement and this is the problem with Nigerians once they have money, instead of merging the want to establish their own.

But what we tell investors is that the regulators might have their faults, but we know they understand it better than us because they are regulating this system.

Investors will be having nothing to lose because all the shares of the investors are not with the stockbroking firms but with CSCS. Even if any stock broking firm collapses, that does not mean the owners of the shares would lose their shares. If you want to change your shares from one stock broker to another, what you do is to fill form to CSCS because the shares are with thecompanyandnotthestockbroking firm, it is the share of the company not that of the stock broking firm.

If the stock broking firm is quoted for instance, it is a different thing, but they are not quoted. It is the company's shares that they are buying on behalf of their clients that are quoted.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

DECEMBER 30, 2014

Nigeria saves N107bn from subsidy in three months

By Michael Eboh

N

IGERIA saved N106.65 billion in three months, from July to September 2014, from the partial removal of fuel subsidy which came into effect in 2012. Specifically, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in its Economic Report for the Third Quarter of 2014, said the amount was recorded in the Subsidy ReInvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), and was shared among the three tiers of government, with some of the funds also shared to oil producing states under the 13 per cent derivation principle.

According to the CBN, the funds were shared as follows: Federal Government — N48.88 billion, State Governments — N24.79 billion, Local Governments — N19.11 billion — and 13 per cent Derivation Fund — N13.86 billion.

Furthermore, the CBN said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in September 2014, commenced refunds to the Federal Government, with the first installment of N10 billion.

This, according the CBN puts the total allocation to the three tiers of government in the third quarter of 2014 at N1.982 trillion, compared with N1.927 trillion in

PARTY: From left: Mother of the overall winner, Mrs. Omolayo Fajimi; Welfare Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Neolyn Nwaokolo-Oba; overall winner, Oluwatoni Fajimi; and Manager, Employee Relations, Mr. Debo Atunwa, during the 2014 Total Christmas party in Lagos... on Sunday. the preceding quarter and the proportionate quarterly budget estimate of N2.095 trillion.

Analysing data from the Federation Accounts Operations, the CBN stated that federallycollected revenue during the third quarter of 2014 stood at N2.685 trillion, representing an increase of 2.7 per cent, when compared with the level in the preceding quarter.

“It, however, declined by 1.2 per cent when compared with the proportionate quarterly budget estimate. The development, relative to the budget estimate was attributed to the decline in oil revenue,” the CBN explained.

Continuing, the CBN said, “At N1.723 trillion, gross oil receipts, which constituted 64.2 per cent of the total, fell by 4.0 per cent below the receipts in the preceding quarter. It also fell below the proportionate budget estimate by 3.8 per cent.

“The development relative to the budget estimate was attributed largely to the fall in crude oil and gas exports during the review quarter.

“Non-oil receipts (gross), at N961.98 billion (35.8 per cent of the total), rose above the proportionate budget estimate by 3.7 per cent. It also rose above the level in the second quarter of 2014 by 17.6 per cent.

“The increase in non-oil revenue relative to the proportionate budget estimate was due largely to the sharp increases in National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDF) and Education Tax.” Of the gross federally-collected revenue in the third quarter of 2014, the CBN said N1.609 trillion was transferred to the Federation Account and shared among the three tiers of government, with the Federal Government receiving N765.56 billion, while the state and local governments received N388.30 billion and N299.36 billion, respectively.

US purchases 18m barrels of Nigeria’s crude in 8 months

By Michael Eboh

C

ONTRARY to claims that the United States has stopped crude oil import from Nigeria, records from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, revealed that the US purchased 18.01 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria, between January and August 2014.

This was in spite of a sharp decline in Nigeria’s crude oil export to US in 2013. In particular, Nigeria’s crude export to US dipped by half, dropping by 49.89 per cent to 73.762 million barrels in 2013 from 147.213 million barrels recorded in 2012.

Specifically, analysis of the NNPC’s Monthly Petroleum Information showed that the United States of America have

purchased crude from Nigeria, every month in 2014, with the exception of July.

However, crude export figures from September till December are yet to be released.

A breakdown of Nigeria’s monthly crude export showed that in January 2014, the US purchased 1.87 million barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil, out of Nigeria’s total crude export of 65.305 million barrels; while in February, the US purchased 3.048 million barrels, compared to Nigeria’s total crude export of N65.703 million barrels.

In March, the US purchased 3.89 million barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil, compared to total crude export of 62.57 million barrels; in April US exported 6.19 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria; in May, 950,397 barrels was

exported by the US from Nigeria.

In June, the US purchased 1.105 million barrels of crude oil; while in August, US crude export from Nigeria was 954,162 million.

However, the NNPC report didn’t state if the crude export to the US was part of a crude swap arrangement or actual sales.

Between January and August 2014, Nigeria has exported a total of 513.166 million barrels of crude oil, with the US accounting for 3.51 per cent of the total, representing 18.01 million barrels.

The US was the highest buyer of Nigeria’s crude, purchasing 14.279 million barrels in December 2012, thereby, accounting for 19.15 per cent of Nigeria’s total

crude export and 86.28 per cent of total crude export to North America.

By December 2013, the US dropped to the 10th highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, with 1.438 million barrels.

The NNPC report stated that

by December 2013, Europe was the highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, accounting for 47 per cent of Nigeria’s total export; followed by Asia and Far East, accounting for 26 per cent; while Africa accounted for 12 per cent of Nigeria’s crude export.

South America accounted for 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total crude export, while Oceania/Pacific and North America accounted for three per cent and two per cent respectively.

Algeria asks OPEC to cut production

A

lgeria's oil minister on Sunday called on OPEC to cut production and raise the price of oil, which has plunged dramatically in the last six months.

The call by Youcef Yousfi to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, of which Algeria is a member, comes as the country is struggling to deal with a halving of oil prices from $120 barrel to $60 a barrel.

"For us, OPEC has to intervene to correct the imbalance and cut production to bring up prices and defend the income of its member states," Yousfi said in remarks carried by the state news agency.

While Algeria has some $200 billion foreign reserves, enough to cover imports for the next several years, it is heavily dependent on its oil revenue which provides 97 percent of its hard currency income and 60 percent of the budget.

In a cabinet meeting Tuesday, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the first time expressed concern over the "worrisome" situation and made vague promises of cost-cutting.

Ikeja Electric to address payment challenges

T

he Management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc (Ikeja Electric) has assured its customers that the company is already addressing challenges customers may be experiencing on its new payment channels.

Whilst thanking customers for embracing the new payment platforms, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, Managing Director, Ikeja Electric said the company's technical experts were working assiduously to ensure the channels offer seamless payment services for all its customers.

"We regret the inconveniences and have already primed our customer care executives to give our esteemed customers prompt attention either at our various IE Serve care centers or when they call our help lines," he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 25

Oil prices likely to rebound in second half of 2015 — Poll

By Sebastine Obasi, with agency reports

T

HERE are indications the current slide in oil prices may not last beyond the first half of 2015. According to Reuters monthly survey, crude oil prices are likely to bottom out in the first half of 2015, until a possible slowdown in United States shale production counters a supply glut exacerbated by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ decision not to cut output.

OPEC’s agreement last month to stand pat on output meant the onus for any supply cutbacks was now on nonOPEC producers, primarily led by U.S. shale oil, analysts said.

“Oil prices will be lower, making shale oil production less attractive for investments, which are necessary to keep shale oil production growing,” Commerzbank’s Carsten Fritsch said.

The survey stated that oil is seen recovering in the second half as non-OPEC production responds to lower prices, while demand picks up in the course of the year.

The survey of 30 economists and analysts projected Brent

Tanker vessel

to average $74.00 a barrel next year and $80.30 in 2016.

The forecast for 2015 is $8.50 below the average projection in the previous Reuters poll.

The November poll number was down $11.20 from October, marking the biggest downgrade in average forecasts since the 2008 economic downturn.

Brent this month hit fiveyear lows below $60 a barrel,

down almost half from peaks reached in June. Brent has averaged $100.57 so far this year.

“In terms of the floor price, we think $60 per barrel will be the level at which fast-rising U.S. shale oil producers will feel the pinch,” ANZ analyst Natalie Rampono said.

“Supply cuts above this level will be limited to other smaller, high-cost U.S. and

Canadian unconventional oil producers. Although we think it will take six to 12 months for these supply cuts to become apparent,” she added.

Some analysts, however, were skeptical whether OPEC’s stand would serve as a deterrent to U.S. shale oil producers.

“The lag in oil production response from existing wells from the U.S. suggests that only the marginal oil projects will be discouraged at this stage,” Vyanne Lai of National Australia Bank said.

The poll forecast U.S. light crude would average $68.70 a barrel next year, and $74.90 in 2016. U.S. crude has averaged $93.99 so far in 2014.

“Some of the highly leveraged U.S. shale oil producers will face serious trouble. In the long term, OPEC strategy should pay off for OPEC as this strategy should lead to higher oil prices from 2016/17 on,” Hannes Loacker of Raiffeisen Bank said.

Raiffeisen is among the most bullish forecasters, projecting Brent to average $80 a barrel in 2015, and is one of 11 institutions that had participated in the previous poll and retained their outlook since then.

Oando boosts Navy operations with 1.2m-litre fuel storage facilities

By Sebastine Obasi

O

ANDO Group PLC said it will continue to provide logistic services to the Nigeria Navy in its quest to be a foremost naval formation in the continent.

Speaking at the commissioning of the 1.2 million litre fuel storage facilities at the NNS Beecroft Naval Base, Apapa, the Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing PLC, Yomi Awobokun said that the company’s strategic business partnership with the Navy will not only assist and support the Command in eliminating the operational and safety risks inherent in using contaminated petroleum products but will improve the operational productivity of the Nigerian Navy.

According to him, “We are aware that the Nigerian Navy as an arm of the Nigerian

Armed Forces plays a critical role in the enforcement of all customs laws, including antibunkering, fishery, immigration and maritime laws of Nigeria at sea; execution of safety regulations on the Nigerian territorial waters and to effectively and efficiently deliver on their strategic and operational defence responsibilities. They need a strategic partner to support them, hence the reason we aligned with them and propose a unique business solution to enhance their operational efficiency.”

Explaining the projects executed for the Navy in the partnership, Awobokun said that the value-adding proposition included undertaking remedial civil, mechanical and electrical works on the existing facilities. The company also fabricated and installed a surface bulk storage tank of

1million-litre capacity for the storage of automotive gas oil, AGO (diesel) and a 45,000litre capacity underground storage tanks for premium motor spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol. He also said that Oando completed the construction of perimeter reinforced concrete bund wall of 150mm thickness around AGO surface storage tank; supplied and installed one dispensing pump for PMS, constructed, painted, branded and illuminated a mini canopy over the pump island.

This is in addition to fire extinguishers, sand buckets and safety signs to protect the investment.

He said, “This is significant for our nation. A nation of our size needs a strong Navy.

With the increase in the fleet and the morale in the troops and the quality of leadership, Nigerian Navy is getting stronger.

“Our organization is

positioning to support that strength and be proud partner to the Navy. We intend to continue to play our part. We are already working with them on other initiatives to ensure that in the years to come, their role in the continent as a foremost Navy is not by any means diminished. “ We want to ensure that the biggest ship of the Navy is able to be filled up as efficiently as possible. That is the way we have designed this. As the Navy fleet grows, we will also increase our capacity and support them.

“There is a lot of plans to replicate this in some other formations around the country. Ultimately what the Navy is interested in doing is ensuring that the supply volatility of fuel commodities has negative impact on the ability to patrol our waters and support the maritime industry in the country.”

World Bank pledges $1.75bn to Nigeria’s power sector

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HE World Bank has pledged US$1.75 billion over the next four years to support the Nigeria power sector reform.

The Bank’s Country Energy Task Team Leader for Nigeria, Mr. Eric Fernstrom said this at a capacity building program on post privatization monitoring for the power sector jointly organized by the World Bank and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

According to Fernstrom the $1.75 billion was 25 percent of a total of US$7 billion earmarked for Nigeria in the next four years.

He noted that the Bank was encouraged to offer the additional assistance to ensure that the reform objectives were realized as a result of the transparency exhibited in the transaction process and the robust post reform measures put in place by the NCP/BPE. The two-day workshop held at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State sought to expose participants to the techniques, methods and information sources for effective post privatization monitoring and evaluation of the PHCN successor power companies.

The workshop was also meant to enable participants analyze performance targets using relevant tools as well as expose them to strategies for effective engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The workshop attracted participants from critical sector stakeholders; including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Office of the Vice President; amongst others.

Reviewing the programme, the Director General of the BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki ranked it very high in value addition and stated that it has greatly increased the capacity of the participants to effectively monitor power companies. He thanked the World Bank for sponsoring the programme and for its sustained support to the Bureau of Public Enterprises over the years.

The DG was represented by the Director of Post Privatization Monitoring Department, Mr. Ibrahim Kashim.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

DECEMBER 30, 2014

India plans world’s largest solar power plant

I

ndia is making a massive commitment to the solar industry and it may be poised to have the world’s largest solar power plant with plans for a 750 MW project. India’s “ultra mega solar power plants” are part of a 25 GW plant to make the country a solar powerhouse. For some perspective, that’s enough solar energy to power the equivalent of 4.1 million U.S. homes, and about half of the solar expected to be installed in all of 2014, so the opportunity for the industry is massive.

Solar companies are clamoring to get into the booming market and SunEdison has already signed a 5 GW memorandum of understanding to develop projects in the State of Rajasthan.

What’s interesting is that India is going against the trends of the rest of the world, who are building smaller projects closer to demand sources.

Huge solar plants aren’t new to the industry. Over the last decade, solar power plants have gotten bigger and bigger. This year, First Solarcompleted the 550 MW To p a z Power Plant, which is now the biggest in the world.

But that will soon be eclipsed by SunPower ’s579 MW Solar Star Project, which will be completed in 2015. You can see below how SunPower project sizes have increased over the years.

SunEdison hasn’t built projects that big but its plans in India are for 500 MW plants, which would be among the largest in the world. But SunEdison, First Solar, and SunPower have all been trending toward smaller plants outside India rather than continue to push the envelope of on size.

That’s what makes India’s plans so interesting.

Oil and gas refinery

Nigeria’s gas revolution to create 5m jobs, says NNPC

By Chris Ochayi

T

HE Group Executive Director, GED, Gas and Power Directorate at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, has said that the current gas revolution embarked by the Federal Government would create over five million jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians.

Ige who made the remarks in the Corporation’s journal made available to Vanguard in Abuja, noted that, the efforts will also industrialize the country.

He said the gas revolution of President Goodluck

Jonathan is focused specifically on that aspect of natural gas which is leveraging natural gas as feedstock to jumpstart a massive industrialization with gas-based industries.

According to him, “Just to take you a little step backwards, you know that Nigeria has significant gas reserves. We have about 187 trillion cubic feet, TCF, of proven gas reserves, which makes us within the top ten in the world. “In addition to that, we have about 600 tcf of undiscovered potential. So if you bring all that together, Nigeria can very easily be within the world’s top three in terms of gas resource base.

So, our gas resource base is

significant.

“Up till now, a major part of our gas sector development in Nigeria was for export through the Bonny LNG. We export close to 3.5 bscfd of gas. And the impact of that has been great; we have received a great deal of revenue as a nation.

“But the real economic impact which natural gas can have on any nation has not been fully utilized in Nigeria.

That is what the gas revolution was about.

“First, we decided to refocus on gas for power where we intend to grow our gas supply to the power sector significantly. You know that once there is power, it has

significant impact on the economy. Secondly, natural gas has a unique capability which is apart from being used as a fuel for power; gas can be used as a feedstock for major industries like fertilizer, petrochemicals and methanol.

“In advance economies these industries actually form the core of industrialization.

Our expectation is that, if we did that, we will be able to create a widespread geographically dispersed industrialization in Nigeria because with petrochemicals, we can now make products like polypropylene and polyethylene, and take them to other parts of the country to create secondary industry,” he said.

TCN records significant reduction in system collapse in 2014

By Chris Ochayi

T

HE Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Mack Kast, has said that the significant reduction in system collapse in 2014 was as a result of judicious use of available resources tailored towards enhanced evacuation capacity.

Kast, who spoke at the leadership forum organized for the power sector in Abuja, noted that TCN has a number of important projects ongoing and at various stages of completion. He said hopefully some of these projects will come upstream

early part of next year.

He also said TCN is almost ready to evacuate power to be produced from two major National Integration Power Projects (NIPPs) in Calabar and Alaoji. The good news from TCN is that in the first quarter of 2015 the two plants would come upstream.

He gave kudos to the contractors and officials working on these projects for ensuring that they would be realized on schedule, adding that fund utilization has recorded a big leap to as much as 99.5 percent, in the year under review.

Also at the forum, the Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip

Aduda counseled the new owners of GENCOs and DISCOs to be guided by the maxim that to whom much is given, much is expected, hence Nigerians expect more from them as they are fully in charge of the sector post privatization.

He explained that Government cannot fold its hands because despite privatization, Government still has equity share in those enterprises. He said that investors in the power sector must be encouraged to keep faith with the nation’s vision of uninterrupted power supply.

On load shedding in the sector, he said, it is totally

unacceptable that distribution companies have not kept faith with the promised capital injection to enhance and build on what was inherited. He tasked them to brace up by building capacity to take up all allocated power.

According to him, this he said is the only way to justify the confidence repose in them

by Government, to take the sector to higher heights.

Simeon Atakuliku, the Representative of Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) in his presentation spoke on the need for a more robust move towards solar-powered energy source through

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 27

By Chris Ochayi

BEDC laments harassment of staff in Etsako

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HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has approved a review of the Multi- Year- Tariff Order, MYTO, 2 regime ahead of take-off date for a disciplined electricity market

by January 1, 2015.

With the commencement of MYTO 2, the Commission will now progressively hold electricity distribution, transmission, generation companies as well as other market operators to the terms and conditions of their licences.

The NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi said, “It is expected that the take-off of MYTO 2 will bring about improved service delivery as distribution companies are now expected to implement their investment plans for metering and strengthen their networks in line with their bid documents.”

He explained that the adjustment in methodology is not expected to bring about any increase in tariff to the residential customers on R1 and R2, who formed majority of electricity consumers, at least not in the next six months.

Explaining the rationale behind the adjustment, Amadi said that the Commission had shielded ordinary Nigerians from possibility of rates’ shock that could have accompanied the review while pressing the operators for improved service delivery and to abide by the agreement they signed while acquiring the electricity entities.

B

Power plant

TEM: NERC reviews tariff methodology He explained further that the review was imperative on account of the take off date of January 1, 2015 for the transition electricity market and the memorandum of understanding between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.

According to him, all these measures were being put in place to ensure the new owners can fund their operations and ensure improved electricity supply to the economy as well as expand the amount of electricity available for economic development.

With this development the

existing regime of interim rules, whereby the Commission governs the market without the full rigours of the MYTO, as situation arises will cease, while activities of the market will now be governed by strict contractual obligations.

2015: FG partners firm over 1 GW solar power capacity devt

By Ediri Ejoh, with agency report

T

HE Federal Government said it will directly engage with prospective project developers to set up renewable energy projects in the country.

In a bid to realize this ambition, the federal government has received pledges from three companies to set up 1 gigawatt, GW solar power capacity in the country.

The companies are solius NGPC, Peoples Home Association and Solar Force Nigeria Limited. The whole programme entails large utility-scale power projects as well as distributed power projects.

Peoples Home Association said it will set up 500 MW of

capacity across the country, to be added in five tranches of 100 MW each. Solar Force Nigeria Limited will set up 200 small-scale projects of 1 MW each in as many villages as possible.

Solius NGPC is expected to set up the balance 300 MW capacity. However, the size and type of the projects is unknown. The company said it will also set up a training centre for power sector professionals. Peoples Home Association will also set up solar research centers across universities in Nigeria to help generate about 10,000 jobs in the solar power sector.

The federal government has pledged full assistance to these companies and will provide them with land and a transmission

network, and it will help the companies meet regulatory requirements for setting up the projects.

With these fresh MoUs, the total solar power capacity pledged by various companies in Nigeria this year is expected to be more than 5 GW. Earlier this year, SkyPower FAS Energy signed a series of agreements to set up 3 GW of solar power capacity in the country. This capacity would be added through utility-scale projects and represents an investment worth $5 billion.

In late November, two USbased companies pledged to set up a total solar power capacity of 1.2 GW by 2017.

The projects will require a cumulative investment of $2 billion dollars and once

operational will generate enough power to meet the demands of 1 million homes in the country.

Also, a consortium of American investors in renewable energy, under the auspices of Motir Seaspire, had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government to deliver in two years 1,200mw of solar powered electricity in Nigeria.

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, who made this known explained that the proposed solar technology to be installed is guaranteed United States standard, assuring that the consortium has the capacity to increase the scope of the project up to 10,000mw in the next five years.

enin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has lamented the harassment of its staff by youths of Iyahmo community i n E t s a ko West local Government area of Edo State over a disagreement with its officials and security agents attached to the company.

The youths and other electricity consumers in the area, it was gathered, allegedly attacked staff of the company, policemen and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) attached to BEDC. To this end, the police said they have charged two youths of the community to court over the alleged attacks on its men and the staff of BEDC. Two of the police officers were said to have been hospitalised with broken ankles, while one NSCDC personnel was also hospitalised.

A source at the Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) said that the agency had received a petition from BEDC over the youth’s alleged tripping of the 33KV line that pass through Iyahmo community each time supply is restored.

According to the source, the tripping of the line affected electricity supply in Auchi community including the Nigerian Army school of Engineering in the area.

The NERC source stated that the crisis started after some youths from the community, which was disconnected on the ground of indebtedness to BEDC, Auchi Business District to the tune of N3.362 million, allegedly stormed the office of BEDC Auchi Business District and Urban Service unit respectively, requesting for an immediate restoration of electricity supply to the community.

The source said, “It took the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security Service (SSS) of Edo State for peace to be restored between the community and BEDC.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Toyota Corolla, who the cap fits E

VEN Toyota competitors at the Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards, NAJA, applauded the Toyota Corolla when it was announced as the Nigeria Car of the Year.

Like other honours given at the NAJ Awards, no one could fault the choice of the Corolla for this award. Even before the announcement of the award, few of the guests, who chatted with Vanguard Motoring at the Eko Hotel venue of the event, said the Corolla would carry the day.

I, even as Chairman of the NAJA committee, pretended not to know. I would have been disappointed if our choice was not the Corolla, given the way most of them, not even Toyota dealers, were rooting for it.

Maybe I would have instructed that another plaque be prepared for the Corolla. But the applause and cheering that engulfed the venue when the Car of The Year was announced, demonstrated how sportsmanly automobile dealers in Nigeria could be. The ovation was so loud that the jurors, who voted for Corolla (the auto journalists) felt proud of themselves.

That was how fair journalists can be in organizing an award that was not cash-and-carry, but recognition for hardwork and quality service delivery.

The Corolla’s emergence as Car of the Year was not surprising. It demonstrated its rare qualities right from the launch earlier in the year.

Even with its price difference, the Corolla still remained the preferred choice to many new car buyers. This has been attributed to Corolla’s outstanding qualities.

The Toyota Corolla has been dominating the Ni-

four cylinder engine, which delivers 132 horsepower and 128 pound feet of torque.

The engine

geria Auto Journalists Awards since the birth of the award five years ago.

But the current Toyota Corolla looks exceptionally good in terms of design, comfort, power, fuel efficiency, roadhandling and safety.

...competing well

The Corolla has been the best-selling car in Nigeria with every successful model for close to two decades.

Though the Corolla competes in the most competitive segment of the Nige-

ria auto sector, with seductive looking, load of in-car technology and sharper handling, the Corolla has remained on top despite the competition.

Toyota has stepped up the 2014 Corolla in every aspect to out-perform competition. Throughout the all-new 2014 Corolla, you will notice serious changes including improvement in styling, comfort and other features.

The Corolla looks more athletic, yet more spacious like never before. The new

Corolla is about three inches longer than the previous version, with nearly four inches of additional wheelbase, placing the wheel farther out to the corners and given the car a sportier stance.

It has LED headlamps and running lamps under the bonnet of the Corolla with powerful 1.8 litre

This fuel-efficient engine features valvematic, which has a broader range of continuously variable valve timing and increase fuel economy and engine output.

The Corolla engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, which ensure smooth delivery on the road, although there is a sixspeed transmission for people who prefer manual gear box.

Inside the Corolla is more conservative than exterior, but with improved materials.

The dashboard is finished with soft-touch material, while the front seats have been enhanced with more adjustable features and longer bottom cush-

ion. The back seat has been transformed to give executive feeling in terms of space. There is plenty of legroom and headroom too.

Safety first

Safetywise, Corolla is highly rated, featuring eight airbags along with Toyota Star Safety system.

The system include vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. There is also Toyota standard smart stop technology brake override system.

Generally, Toyota has stepped up the features of Corolla. Infotainment game, smart key system with push button start, automatic climate control, leather trim, tilt and telecopic three spoke steering wheel with paddle shift and audio controls, and multi-information display.

Etuk is FRSC new spokesman

T

HE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has appointed Corps Commander Imoh Etuk as the new Corps Public Education Officer, to replace Corps Commander Stella Uchegbu, who is now Sector Commander of Abia State Sector Command.

Until his new assignment, Etuk Imoh, a seasoned and thoroughbred officer, was the Delta State Sector Commander and had served in various capacities

at the national headquarters and other formations of the FRSC. The new spokesman, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, holds a Bachelor ’s of Science degree in Social Sciences from the University of Lagos and has distinguished himself in various capacities of service to the corps.

He was the pioneer Unit Commander for Ido-Ekiti and the Wharf Unit Commands and also Head of Operations at the Rivers

and Ogun Sector Commands between 1998 and 2000, respectively.

Corps Commander Etuk was also Zonal Head of Policy, Research and Statistics at Ilorin Zonal Command and Zonal Head of Operations in Lagos Zonal Command Headquarters before proceeding to National Headquarters as Head of Sports Section under the Training, Standards and Certification Department in 2010.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—29

By Theodore Opara

Hyundai iX35 SUV thrills youths at Headies H

YUNDAI Motors Nigeria has again demonstrated an uncommon magnanimity as it presented prized Hyundai iX35 Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, to reggae and dancehall music sensation, Patoranking, winner of the Next Rated commemorative plaque at the 2014 HipHop World Awards, popularly called Headies.

Patoranking defeated rival nominees Runtown, Orezi, Skales and Yemi Alade to emerge winner in the Next Rated category, arguably the most coveted grouping in the Headies since 2006.

Previous winners are Asa, Wande Coal, Omawumi, Wizkid, Davido and Sean Tizzle.

Headies is Nigeria’s adaptation of the prestigious Grammy Awards, where outstanding local and potentially inspiring and upcoming artistes are honoured.

The Next Rated category of the award is traditionally sponsored by Hyundai Motors, a sub-

sidiary of the Stallion Group since 2011, to encourage upcoming and outstanding artistes in the local music industry.

Presenting the car keys to Patoranking at Eko Hotel and Suites, venue of the show, Mr. Jatin

Nadkarni, Head, Sales and Marketing said Hyundai was pleased to be associated with the Headies and Nigerian youths, remarking that music had become one of the most effective media to communicate and

reach out to world most potent population.

He said: “We will continue to use this platform to raise the profile of Nigeria evolving hip-hop music, which has lately become a tonic for sociocultural emancipation.”

The Hyundai Head of Sales and Marketing said the gesture was in line with Hyundai Motors' global youths’ sponsorship programmes that essentially seek to reaffirm Hyundai corporate social responsibility initiative.

He described Hyundai as stylish, sleek and sporty vehicle with dynamic curves that help to improve performance and lower air resistance for outstanding fuel economy and quiet cabin space.

Adding that the iX35 is a 2.0-litre SUV with uncommon passion for performance, Mr. Nadkarni said the vehicle is powered by direct-injection petrol engine that enhances performance and reduces fuel use, while lowering Co2 emission.

The interior of the iX35 is crafted with new seat upholstery and soft-touch front and rear door trims with appreciable 60/40split rear seat.

Hyundai iX35 comes equipped with new projector headlights and LED driving lights that enhance night travels, just as the steering wheel audio control and USB auto input with iPod compatibility and aux input jack makes the car fun to drive, Mr. Nadkarni explained.

Nigeria needs workable railway to boost economy —MBISIOGU

By Vera Anyangafu

I

T is sad to know that Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million and boasting to be Africa’s number one economy has a rail network of 3,505km besides the new lines of about 1,129 km or more under construction, while South Africa, with about 50 million people has 20,192 km of railway network.

In South Africa also, railway network connects all the major cities, and I am not misplacing facts to state herein that a nation without effective railway system is practically backward in economic development Imagine the city of Lagos without the maddening early morning traffic gridlock. Developing countries with similar characteristics like the city of Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt and the likes have remodeled their railway system to be able to accommodate up to 14 rail lines in one station connecting nearby towns and cities.

These were the words of the President and Cocoordinator, Good Gov-

ernance Initiative, GGI, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, during a recent chart with Vanguard.

According to the China-based Nigerian business mogul, who is also the CEO, Blue Diamond Logistics, China, it will be in the interest of the Nigerian government to ensure that Nigeria built itself a workable railway system to boost increasing economic activities across countries.

Africa's number one?

He noted that a good railway system in Nigeria will reduce the risk associated with moving good from one part of the country to the other through road transportation, stressing that Nigeria, rated as Africa’s prime example of economic growth, stands the risks of losing such positions to mere paper rhetoric as Africa’s number one economic hub if such prime economic indicators as an efficient railway system continue in its snail speed and bureaucratic policies.

He said: “When we say Nigeria is a leading economy in Africa, it should reflect in its

physical structures. If we say Africa looks up to Nigeria to lead in the transformations taking place across African continent, then Nigeria should take into consideration the urgent need to rehabilitate its aging infrastructures and industries.”

The Blue Diamond Logistics boss also pointed out that as head counts increases, citizens are setting up business sites and expectantly, more cars, motorcycles, and bicycles are put on the road to transport goods

When we say Nigeria is a leading economy in Africa, it should reflect in its physical structures

and services to numerous agents and consumers across the county.

He said in such situations, transportation by road becomes a major challenge, and decongestion turns out to be too chaotic for other noncommercial road users.

Citing the ugly situation as life threatening for the fact that in many occasions, drivers of tankers loaded with inflammable products and or trailers with unfastened loaded containers always jostle for space with smaller vehicles, and many a time, avoidable accidents occur.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to hasten construction of additional effective railway system to help decongest the number of heavy duty trucks and other commercial vehicles jostling for space on roads.

Citing China as a fast developing country, with its urban population posing a great challenge, the GGI President opined that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan should not relent in embarking on a complete overhauling of

the Nigerian transportation system.

He added that introducing speed trains that connects neighbouring cities will go a long way in boosting the Nigerian economy.

On Lagos

He said: “The Lagos State government under Mr. Raji Fashola has started on a very good note with its light rail projects from Lagos to Badagry.

“But the good intention may be hampered by avoidable nonchalant bureaucratic bottlenecks disrupting progress of work, evidenced by the slow pace of work going on with the projects five years since it started.

“The situation is worrisome in the sense that Lagos serves as the economic nerve centre of Nigeria and is famed as one of the highest rural-urban migration hotspot in Africa, with a bustling population compared to its landmass.”

How it was

Recalling the Nigerian railway system as among the first generation of railway systems in

the world, designed to facilitate the flow of goods, such as groundnut, cocoa and cotton from the inlands to the coast, Mbisiogu pointed out that the bringing back effective railway system in the country is one of the best thing that will happen to the country’s economy.

He said: “The Nigerian government is making commendable effort through the implementation of its promises on boosting the railway sector.

“More so with the 80 percent completion of the Abuja-Kaduna railway network.

“When you read government plans on revamping the Nigerian railway system with an investment worth over $10 billion, it could be very heartwarming, especially with the Federal Government’s August 2010 Draft on National Transport Policy.

“In view of this, I would be glad if President Goodluck Jonathanled government makes possible a complete overhauling of the railway system beyond paper rhetoric.”

30— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 —31

defectors vacant.

Eleven senators, in a joint letter to the Senate President, signalled their intention to defect from the PDP to the APC. Their repeated persuasions on Senator Mark and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu to read their letter were persistently rebuffed.

Senate spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe told newsmen that senators could not defect jointly as they were all elected individually. After trying unsuccessfully to persuade the senators from defecting in the closed-door sessions, the drama played out in plenary.

Five out of the 11 senators tried to defect individually.

Senator Bukola Saraki opened the floor when he raised a point of order upon Order 15 of the Senate Standing Rules 2011 (as amended), and announced that his privilege as a senator was breached.

Senate leadership

Issues that confronted the Senate in 2014 MANY watchers of events in the Nigerian Senate were not disappointed in their expectation that the resumption of the Senate on January 21, 2014 after the three week yuletide break would come with trouble, especially between it and the executive.

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

T

HE expectation was hinged on the ground that before the upper legislative chamber embarked on break on December 19, 2013; it had rejected President Jonathan’s oil benchmark of $74 per barrel as contained in the 2014 to 2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. Instead, it raised the benchmark to $76.50 per barrel.

The upper legislative chamber also directed that details of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, projects expected for execution in the 2014 budget be attached as addendum to the annual budget estimates for approval by the National Assembly, a development seen as a departure from the past.

The legislators also resumed to meet unfinished legislative businesses that demanded immediate and prompt consideration just like the 2014 Appropriation Bill. Among them were the Petroleum Industry Bill, Customs (Amendment) Bill, Pensions Reforms (Amendment) Bill,

further review of the Electoral Act, the harmonization of the Senate and House positions on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) among several other bills.

The disagreement arising from MTEF presentation, led to the delay in the treatment of the 2014 budget. But after months of delay, the Senate on April 9, 2014, passed the 2014 Appropriation Bill, thus authorizing the Federal Government to implement the N4.695 trillion budget.

Shortly, after the passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill, the Senate shifted its attention to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, designed mainly to reform the petroleum sector.

The bill before passage split the 109 senators along ethnic, regional and religious lines.

The Northern senators were staunchly opposed to it while their counterparts drawn from the south fully stood in defence of the bill. Hot verbal arguments ensued among the senators in the course of the debate on the bill, but the camel’s neck was broken when in his contribution, Senator Ita Enang, representing Akwa

Ibom North West, openly accused the North of controlling 83 percent of the oil blocs all of which are found in the south, and called for total cancellation and reallocation of the oil wells.

While the PIB was still under consideration, 22 senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presented notice of defection to the then newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC. Their action was in spite of the Senate President, David Mark’s plea and words of advice to them to ensure that members don’t transfer their differences in party lines.

Mark had said: “Here in the Senate, how we ride the challenge, and not let it deflect our focus from our constitutional responsibilities and our duty to our nation, will be a measure of our maturity as elder statesmen and women, democrats and patriots.

“We are the members of an institution deliberately designed by our Constitution to balance the nation and to stabilize our polity. We live true to this creed, and to this constitutional responsibility, only when we rise above narrow and parochial considerations not only in our thoughts and words but also in our actions.”

No longer had he presented his speech than the gale of defections that plagued the House of Representatives

reared its ugly head in the Senate, and thus, disrupted the peace that the Upper House was initially known for.

Indeed, the Senate was nearly torn apart when 22 Senators in the ruling PDP signified their intention to defect to the APC. Nigerians watched the defection drama with keen eyes and curiosity because the leadership had made subtle statements of declaring seats of

The bill before passage split the 109 senators along ethnic, regional and religious lines. The Northern senators were staunchly opposed to it while their counterparts drawn from the south fully stood in defence of the bill

He informed the Senate President that he and 10 other senators had written a letter of defection which the Senate leadership had refused to read on the floor. Mark literally foreclosed any further attempt by the 11 PDP senators to defect to the APC. Although five out of the 11 PDP senators at plenary made spirited efforts to invoke their order of privilege, Mark pointedly told them that since the matter was already before a court, they would have to wait until the judicial process was over.

Senator David Mark, relying on Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended) successively deflected their planned defection to the APC. Mark referred Saraki to Order 53(5) which reads: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the president of the Senate prejudice the interest of the parties thereto.”

He added that “It cannot be a matter of privilege to you because the matter is in court and no mention should be made of it. Therefore, I rule you out of order.”

Efforts by some PDP senators to declare the seats of the intending defectors vacant were also thwarted as Mark rebuffed the attempt, also ruling them out of order.

Undeterred, some of the aggrieved senators said they were already in the APC and that the Senate president was on his own.

However, as the year 2014 drew to an end, the senators remained in the ranks of the PDP even though all of them Continues on page 33

32—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

THE HOUSE IN 2014:

How the House fell

THE event that unfolded on December 18, 2013 in the House of Representatives when 37 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP lawmakers under the aegis of new PDP defected to All Progressives Congress, APC made things to fall apart in the House.

By Emman Ovuakporie

T

HIS singular development tore the House into two warring factions that snowballed into 2014.

Different parties went to court to declare the seats of the defectors vacant but till date no court has given a consequential order on the seats.

Before the defection, PDP members who were originally 208 were reduced to 171 members while the APC had 175.

With 175 members, the APC had a superior plurality of members but needed six additional members to take over the leadership of the House.

If the APC had met the required 181 members, it could have conveniently changed the present leadership structure of the House.

Leadership structure This was never to be as Speaker Aminu Tambuwal had to appeal to all the warring lawmakers to sheathe their swords to save the 7th House from disintegration.

Miraculously, the PDP regrouped and the configuration suddenly changed to its advantage when five lawmakers defected to PDP. As the spate of defection continued, the House became a shadow of itself in 2014 as a better part of the year was spent politicking.

Hon Tajudeen Yusuf, PDP Kogi had told Vanguard in December 2013 that Nigerians should not expect much from the House in 2014 as it would be paralysed by politicking.

True to his words, politics of different dimensions swallowed the House to the detriment of legislative business.

Between June 2011 and

December 2014, the House passed 101 bills, 23 bills were negatived and 120 motions were passed as resolutions.

Tambuwal’s House would have achieved more in this direction if not for the fact that it dabbled into politics that has robbed it of the opportunity of being one of the most productive legislative sessions in the history of the House.

As the year opened in January, APC lawmakers held sway as they started the gospel of filibustering the 2014 budget until they suddenly changed gear and allowed it to sail through.

By the middle of the year, the PDP lawmakers woke up from their long slumber and decided to fight for their survival.

This led to the formation of different groups within to fight the rampaging APC lawmakers.

Rampaging lawmakers PDP, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Accord Party (AP) became united against APC under the aegis of National Unity Group of the House of Representatives (NUG).

The group under the leadership of Hon Bitrus Kaze, PDP, Plateau and Hon Pat Asadu, PDP, Enugu, fought the APC to a standstill until PDP legislators regained a little control.

By the second quarter of the year, politics continued unabated and much was not achieved before the long break in June.

Finally, when the House reconvened from its long recess, the centre could no longer hold as politics had taken the better part of the year and it was towards the end of November, Speaker Tambuwal gave the PDP the red card.

Immediately Tambuwal defected on October 28, he adjourned the House till December 3.

Gbajabiamila claimed would ever live in infamy, members successfully smuggled the speaker inside the National Assembly premises and pushed through the cloud of tear gas shot by the policemen to enter into the chamber.

Many other members scaled the fence to enter the premises

Political permutations This development changed all political permutations in the House as the executive flexed its muscle which yielded no tangible result.

Tambuwal’s security details were withdrawn and an attempt to have an emergency session on November 18 to deliberate on the extension of Emergency Rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states was scuttled and the House adjourned till December 16. On that day, policemen mounted a cordon and made a determined effort to lock out the speaker and some APC members from entering the House even after the deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha was waved through the security checks.

However, on that day that the minority leader, Femi

As the year opened in January, APC lawmakers held sway as they started the gospel of filibustering the 2014 budget until they suddenly changed gear and allowed it to sail through

drawing flaks from some critics but praise from many others including Nobel Prize laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka who described that day as their finest hour.

In 2014, virtually all the committees went to sleep as their chairmen and members put 2015 re-election as priority over other business in the House.

From the results of the primaries held by the two major parties, 60 percent of PDP lawmakers did not get return tickets while close to 80 per cent of APC lawmakers were given the green light to face the voters in 2015.

From next January through June, 2015 when the curtain of the 7th Assembly would be drawn, the APC may be in control as aggrieved PDP lawmakers are expected support their APC colleagues on the floor of the House.

All diehard President Goodluck Jonathan loyalists like Hon Warman Ogoriba, Henry Ofongo who almost lost his life supporting Jonathan, Pat Asadu and a host of others lost their primaries to the machination of their state governors.

Indeed, President Jonathan’s promise that the year 2015 would be hard will seriously be felt in his dealings with the House of Representatives in the period between January and May 2015.

EDIBLE WORM: Delicacy made in Sapele, Mosogar, Oghara

PODIUM…

DESOPADEC rejuvenates Itsekiri communities with projects

PAGE 6

PAGE 5

VOL. 1: NO. 30

TUESD AY, DECEMBER 30, 20 14 TUESDA 201

•A funeral ceremony.

PERVERSION: Niger Delta youngsters turn funeral to orgies

By Austin Ozobo

Y

OUNG boys and girls have perverted funeral ceremonies at some communities in the Niger Delta to sex and drinking revelries, contrary to the sombreness that should go with such events.

The new mania, accentuated by the incursion of modernism into African tradition, has permeated so deep that it is no longer strange to see a boy and a

girl smooching and even having sex at dark corners during burial ceremonies.

Some get drunk and dance wildly; others dress charmingly, eat like gluttons and the big guys spend hard currency to show off.

Primarily an event for the burial or cremation of the dead, the strange deeds inculcated into the ceremony have degraded African culture.

Investigations by Niger Delta Voice showed that in many communities in the

*“Some of us met our husbands, boyfriends here” *Devil in the detail, says Evangelist Opudu *Erosion of tradition to blame—Prince Kemezide region, most girls, women and men attend burial ceremonies principally to look for sexmates.

A 21-year-old girl, who identified herself as Helen, said at a burial

ceremony in Calabar, Cross River State: “The society is changing; some of my friends and other girls, who are married

Continues on Page 7

2—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Eket youths plot showdown with construction firm over road project AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

I

By Tom Moses

E

KET—YOUTHS of Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, under the umbrella of Eket-5 Group of Villages, are plotting a faceoff with one of the companies working on the East-West Road, Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, for alleged deviation from the original plan of the Eket-Oron Road contract.

Petitions EFCC The youths, who maintained that the original plan of the said Eket-Oron Road by-pass was that of a dual-carriage way contrary to the single carriage way the company was now constructing, have also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged fraudulent practice.

Youth leader, Prince Bassey Bassey told Niger Delta Voice: “The people of Eket are not fools and should not be taken for granted. We should not be treated as if we do not know what we want for our communities.”

In the offing “If Gitto Construction Company attempts to do anything short of a dual carriage way, we will be left with no option than to stand down all equipment of the company.”

It was gathered that the contract for the dualization of the road was awarded by the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in September 2006 at the cost of N26 billion with a charge to the Gitto Construction Company to comply with the job prescription, which is now being questioned.

Policing Gitto The youth’s group in a position paper endorsed by its President, Deacon Samuel Etukudoh, and Secretary, Inyang Inyang, declared that they would resist the perceived adversities in the contract.

It stated: “As seasoned youths in this 21st century, it is necessary to inform the general public of the adversities associated with this contract.

“The work scope involves increasing the single carriage way of 2×7.3m road pavement, 2×75m outer shoulders and 1.0m inner shoulders with 4m wide median.

“The work also comprises rehabilitation and improvement of the existing

Ijaw honour King Ebizimor

•Eket Bridge. single carriage-way by strengthening its embankment and pavement layers and provision of new asphaltic concrete courses where necessary.

“It also includes the construction of additional lane running parallel to the existing alignment by provision of compacted natural and excavated laterite materials as sub-grade and sub-bases and the provision of

crushed rock as base course.

“To this end, N3.9 billion, being mobilization fee, was paid and after extensive evaluation, N2.3 billion was paid in September 2009 for compensation to aid the dualization work.

“Gitto Construzioni, rather than use this fund judiciously, conspired with some miscreants from Eket to swallow the amount meant for the compensation thereby

jeopardizing the contract earlier awarded.”

No scam—GITTO An official of the company described the claim of diverted compensation as fallacious.

The official said the government, through the supervising Ministry of Niger Delta, was scrutinizing the company ’s operations to ensure that stipulated standards were met.

Epidemic looms in Yenagoa, as residents empty excreta into waterways BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—EIGHTEEN years after its creation, many residential buildings erected close to the canals at Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, have no serviceable septic

tanks for human waste disposal, sparking fear of an impending epidemic.

Niger Delta Voice investigations revealed that human waste from the homes were sadly discharged into the canal, which villagers drink and cook with.

Clever by half landlords Instead of building septic tanks to accommodate the human waste in their homes, what most landlords cleverly

did was to construct pipes routing excreta from their conveniences to the canal, not minding the health consequences on members of the public.

It was learned that residents in such areas were living under heavy stench of human waste indiscriminately discharged into the canal.

This sordid state of affairs, some disturbed residents told Niger Delta Voice, was responsible for the putrid smell in their neighbourhood, especially during the dry season when the water level is low and the canal does not flow freely.

Worse affected areas of Yenagoa are Onopa, Amarata, Okutukutu, Ekeki, Akenpai, Akenfa and Edepie.

Govt agencies blamed Some residents, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, blamed the state Environmental Sanitation Authority and the Ministry of Environment for not living up to their responsibilities.

“It is really pathetic that the Environmental Sanitation Authority in the state has gone

•One of the many canals turned soakaway.

Continues on Page 3

JAW National Congress INC, Worldwide, Lagos Chapter, has said the late King Robert Ebizimor, is an icon of the Ijaw music and a symbol of the Ijaw struggle.

Late Ebizimor is acclaimed to be the greatest musician to have emerged from the Ijaw nation in history.

Speaking at a celebration in honour of the life and times of the icon at Navy Barracks Main Field, Mobil Road, Ajegunle, Lagos, President of INC, Chief Patrick Hebrew, noted that Ijaw people should ensure that they get their permanent voter’s card to be able to vote for Jonathan in 2015.

Different Ijaw groups such as Ijaw Youth Council, Ijaw Youth Development Association, Ijaw Monitoring Group and Ijaw National Congress among others, graced the event.

Ijaw women groups were not left out as they adorned different attires to pay their last respect to the departed hero.

The chairman of Niger Delta Nationalities Forum, Seigha Manager, also described the late music icon as a moral compass to the Ijaw people, an ambassador and a centre and symbol of Ijaw unity.

He said his music cut across all the Ijaw people.

He said: “Nobody disputes his talents. His level of intelligence and the spirit with which he gathered Ijaw people right from Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom.

“His music is loved and cherished by all. Nobody commands the kind of unity in Ijaw like Robert.”

The father of the day was Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni, a former Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea and former Minister of Transport.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—3

Owa monarch laments abandoned stadium project

Cattle dealers lament poor sales in S-South BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G OA — C AT T L E dealers had projected huge sales this yuletide season in Bayelsa and other states in the Niger Delta given the lucrative nature of the business last year.

They flooded Yenagoa, Asaba, Benin, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Calabar with cows, but have been left lamenting low patronage.

Many dealers complained about the reduced turnout by customers this year, compared to previous years.

Many cows, no customer Niger Delta Voice went round Yenagoa and other capital cities in the South South and observed that most of the vast stretch of the green field, along the Sani Abacha Expressway from the Amarata-Elebele Close and the Bayelsa Palm Estate have been taken over by herds of cattle with no customer in

sight.

A dealer, Mallam Ardo Ibrahim, said: “Customers are not just coming to buy even when the prices have remained stable. We sell between N150,000 and N170,000 depending on the size and ability of the buyer to haggle.

We are not making good sales compared to last year.”

No money “People are complaining that there is no money in the state, but we expect that market will improve before the year runs out,” he added.

He disclosed that in the previous years, he sold between four and six cows a day, but this time around, he had not sold more than three cows since he came to Yenagoa last month. ... same in Asaba, PH, Uyo, Benin, Calabar The story was not different at the cattle market along Tombia road as the dealers were also seen waiting for customers.

Alhaji Adamu Mohammed, who spoke at Asaba, informed that the problem was not peculiar to Bayelsa and Delta states, as some of their colleagues in Edo, Rivers,

Cross River and Akwa Ibom states were also complaining about poor sales.

Some residents in Benin blamed the poor patronage on the shortfall in the state’s allocation, saying it was a general trend.

A citizen told Niger Delta Voice in Port Harcourt, “if you go round the markets, you will discover that most of the traders are complaining of poor sales.

“Look at the rice market; the prices are static yet people are not coming forth to buy.”

Stockpiling cash for election!

Abu Suleiman said in Calabar: “It is either the politicians are hoarding cash ahead of 2015 general elections or the states are facing financial crunch due to fall in Federal Allocation.”

A top government official in Bayelsa state, asserted: “Overhead allowance from which most of the workers make extra money had been slashed drastically by the present administration so as to make fund available for other critical projects, because of the fall in the state’s allocation from the federation account.”

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Theresa Ugbobu

O

WA—THE traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor, has grumbled about the abandonment of Owa Stadium project, awarded by the administration of former governor, Chief James Ibori, during his second term.

Speaking to Niger Delta Voice, the monarch said the contractor suddenly deserted the project, adding “ we never saw him since then and all the roof of the uncompleted

YULETIDE TRAGEDY:

3 siblings die in midnight fire CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

O

K U R I K A N G OKOYONG— THREE children locked in by their 31year-old hairdresser-mother, Mrs. Arit Asuquo Akiba, have been killed by a strange night fire at Okurikang Okoyong community, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State.

The kids, Moses Akanenyene, 10 years; Blessing Emmanuel Akpa, six; and David Emmanuel Akpa, four years, born of two different fathers, were until their death, pupils in Akiba Ayi Nursery and Primary School, Okurikang community.

Grief-stricken family Niger Delta Voice gathered that while many families were celebrating Christmas, the Ukpayang family was in sorrow following the sad incident on December 24 at the family’s 17, Market Road residence in Okurikang Okoyong.

Mrs. Akiba told Niger Delta Voice that she went to knit a client’s hair some metres away from the house, but brought the three children home and locked

•Buy me, please.

stadium is pulling away because of the long period of abandonment.”

He asserted that the situation was unfortunate because such a project that would have brought development to Owa community had been abandoned and nothing noticeable was being done to complete it.

Noting that the administration of the incumbent, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, was fast cruising to an end, he appealed to the state government and whoever will emerge as the next governor of the state to come to the rescue of Owa people by completing the project.

the door from outside after putting them to bed.

Calamity Her words: “I went back to complete the hair, but it was just too late for me to come back home that night, so I decided to pass the night there.

“When I came back the next morning, I saw a large crowd in front of the house and people started consoling me to take heart, it was then it dawned on me that tragedy had struck.

“I rushed in, even though they tried to stop me and what I saw made me speechless. It was the lifeless bodies of my three children.

“Moses, who was 10, Blessing was six years old, while David was only four and they all attended Akiba Ayi Nursery and Primary School, Okurikang.”

Arit, who said her life would never be the same again with the exit of her God’s precious gifts, told Niger Delta Voice that the fathers of the three kids, who had parted ways with her, years ago, showed up during the burial.

I couldn’t move —GRANDFATHER Her grandfather, Elder

Continues on Page 7

Epidemic looms in Yenagoa, as residents empty excreta into waterways Continues from Page 2 to sleep with the result that people have turned the canals to septic tanks,” a resident, Chukwudi, lamented.

Extortion Another resident, Ebiowei Tadu, noted that instead of the

sanitation workers putting a stop to the ugly scenario, they were more interested in extorting money from traders in the capital city.

He said: “I do not know what the Environmental Sanitation Authority is doing. Go round the town, you will see houses channelling their waste pipes

to the nearest canal with the resultant oozing stench, which is not good for the health of the people. ”The sanitary condition is cause for concern,” he added, calling on the sanitation agency to do the needful and save the residents from possible epidemic outbreak.

Sanitation offcial reacts Though the chairman of the sanitation authority, Chief Abel Ebifemowei, could not be reached for comment, a staff who pleaded anonymity, said the authority was doing everything possible to put a stop to the trend.

“Most of the residential buildings are now constructing septic tanks due to the increased awareness campaign on the dangers of the old practice and threat of sanction on houses discharging human waste in the natural drains,” he hinted.

4—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Bad roads cut off Idumuje-Unor DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Emma Amaize

I

DUMUJE-UNOR, the headquarters of the dreaded Ekwumekwu (military-cum cultural body formed by Anioma people), Idumuje Kingdom, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, to resist the exploitation by Europeans through the Royal Niger Company, many decades ago, has been isolated from other parts of the state because of deplorable roads.

The royal father, His Royal Majesty, Obi Charles Chukwunwike Anyasi III, a retired communications consultant and prolific writer, spoke to Niger Delta Voice.

He said: “Every other route to the my kingdom is completely inaccessible, except two points from Issele-Uku and OnichaUgbo, where we have partial access.

“Issele-Uku is fairly better than that of Onicha Ugbo to the extent that one can still pass it, but it is actually in a deplorable condition.”

Out-of-the-way “It is from the centre that the tarred section began and edged into the town, the tarred portion has been defaced and for the untarred portion, anybody who drives through it during the raining season does so with his heart in his mouth. We have been shouting and shouting and no response.

“The Issele-Uku-IdumujeUnor road project has been ongoing for a number of years before I came in.

“The stories I hear about the project are unspeakable; you know government and their antics. The contract was awarded and it went from hand to hand: from hand to hand and went moribund.

Failed promises “We have been pressing and pressing and as I speak to you, we have been on the neck of the Commissioner for Works, who has been promising, promising and promising.

“He told me some time ago that he was waiting for the rains to stop so that they could come and start the project, but as I speak to you, I have not seen any sign that they are ready to do the road.

“Over a month ago, they promised to come and inspect the road. But they never came and excuses are always there.

“Concerning Onicha-UkuIdumuje-Unor road, you could see a signboard belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. I met it when I came from Lagos, penultimate December and I

*I wrote Elumelu, he didn't respond— MONARCH *Says contractors dug culverts, then disappeared *We're on site; delivery depends on NDDC—CONTRACTORS

road and left there, making the road impassable, adding, “You can imagine, if you have emergency on that road, you cannot pass through it. You will do a longer route by passing through the not so comfortable Issele-Uku-Idumuje road.”

Turned to robbers, kidnappers’ den “There is nothing happening on the Onicha-Ugbo-Idumuje road. In fact, the rains made the place completely impassable and because the road is in ruins, it has become a den for marauders.

“Some murders have been committed there within the past few months, people are afraid to go there, you know it is easier to lay ambush for you when you are going through a

Isolated According to him, “between here and the Esan areas in Edo state, there is a road that need to be expanded, but for many years now, the talk of us linking to Ohordua and other Esan South-East Local Government Area in Edo state is a mirage.

“Ugboko has a link road through Onicha- Ugbo through Idumuje-Ugboko-Abuja, but we do not have any such thing. So we are just cocooned and struggling to rear our heads.”

RIGHT: IdumujeUnor /Onicha-Ugbo Road.

No response from Elumelu HRM Anyasi III said he wrote a letter to the lawmaker representing the area in the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, to help ginger the commission, but I never got a response from him.

He said: “Recently, some contractors came to me, saying that they have been ordered to do the job. That was two months ago. I rejoiced.

“The following day, they brought men and began to dig up the culverts. When they finished the culverts, they disappeared.

“I cannot even reach them on phone. I do not know what the

matter is, I do not even know who to question because they came zealously that the NDDC had given instructions that all ongoing projects should be completed.”

The monarch expressed the fear that the project might go the way of Issele-Uku – Idumuje road, adding, “We are looking forward to getting a proper response from these people.

“What they do is that when they come, they present a facade that they want to work, they show signs and disappear, I cannot even say if it is being abandoned or there are hitches here and there until I hear from them. All we keep doing is pressing.”

He complained that the earth that was dug out when drainage system was dug was put on the

Not abandoned —CONTRACTOR The contractor handling the Onicha-Uku-Idumuje-Unor road, however, told Niger Delta Voice: “Workers are on site constructing the metal panel for drainage.”

Asked when he was expected to deliver the project and about youth challenges if any, he said in a text message: “There are normal youth issues, but it can be managed.

“Time of delivery depends on how we are mobilized by the commission as soon as we are through with the panel.”

Road to Ugbodu completely unnavigable The monarch spoke further on bad roads to the kingdom, saying, “for Idumuje-UgbokoIdumuje-Unor road, I am not sure anybody passes there again. I have ordered my subjects in Aniofu to start clearing part of it because it is completely blocked.

“We still have another road from here to Ugbodu, which is completely inaccessible. Even if you are taking your bicycle to Ugbodu, it is an uphill task.”

HRM Anyasi III.

have made inquiries and I was told that it had been there for quite some time.”

bumpy road. ”It has been turned to robbers and kidnappers’ den; there have been other harassment along that road. Very recently, a motor cyclist was murdered on that road because the road is not good,” he added.

Beneficiaries laud Maeba Foundation health programmes

Sugar level testing.

RIVERS… THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

By Davies Iheamnachor

B

ORI—BENEFICIARIES of the recent free diabetes and

Blood Pressure treatment by Senator Lee Maeba Foundation in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Diabetes Association of Nigeria for Ogoni communities in Rivers State have commended the Senator for his benevolence.

Over 2,500 citizens diagnosed Over 2,500 citizens were diagnosed and given free drugs at the programme held at Bori community, Khana Local Government Area.

A beneficiary, Mr. Celestine Viula, said, “The project is so good and very beneficial to the people. Senator Lee Maeba has proven himself to be a humanitarian because of this kind privilege he has given to the poor masses in Ogoni.

“He has made it possible for the people of Ogoni to have free screening and treatment on one of the sicknesses that does not have a known cure.”

Another beneficiary, Samuel, said: “I have not been going

for treatment since I was diagnosed of diabetes because there is no money, but the doctors that came here today have given me some drugs and have advised me on the kind of food that I should be eating and some that I should reduce. I am so happy.”

A citizen, Mrs. Love Nugha, stated, “When I came here, the doctor that I met asked me to go and run test. After that, they gave me drug. I will go home and try the drugs.

“I am happy with them because everything was free and less stressful. I pray that this drug should cure me because I am down. I thank the organizer of this programme and pray that God should also heal

Continues on Page 8

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—5 describe it as a delicacy.

EDIBLE WORM: Delicacy made in Sapele, Mosogar, Oghara

By Perez Brisibe

K

NOWN as Odorn in Urhobo; Ikolo in Itsekiri; Onoh in Ukwuani; Ebuzun by Ika-speaking people of Agbor, all of Delta State; Mitt, Gbai or Kolo by the Ijaw, depending on the specie, grub worm popularly called edible worm, is a delicacy for many people, especially in the Niger Delta region.

While some indigenes of Delta State outside the state would send people to buy the delicacy for them on weekly basis, some people would almost puke at the very thought of eating the worm, said to pack a high reserve of protein, lipid and carbohydrate.

Edible worm has a large amount of fibre with the skin serving as a great source of dietary roughage; it is found mostly inside the trunk of the raffia palm, which produces palm wine, also known as Ogoro.

Popularly found in the tropics, edible worm is commonly sold at Sapele, Oghara and Mosogar communities in Delta State and the riverine Ijaw communities in the region.

Also found in commercial quantity in the Eastern part of the country, where palm wine is produced in high quantity, the Ibo are yet to explore the commercial value of this delicacy.

Preparation There are basically three ways of preparing edible worm. For Sapele-based commercial seller of edible worm, Madam Faith, the most popular way of preparing it is by roasting or frying.

In roasting, the larvae are hung on a stick to form a row like a barbecue and heated on a hot charcoal until they are properly broiled and ready to eat. The larvae are first boiled with salt and water.

Heating continues until it is cooked and the pan is dry of water. The larvae will become almost flattish at this point.

Then, it is heated and steered continuously on the dry frying pan until it puffs-up into a brownish oily product.

To enjoy it Though there is no prescribed way of eating edible worm, most persons enjoy eating it with Tapioca, a local snack made from cassava, while others eat it with bread or Madigga, a common snack in the riverine communities of Niger Delta region made of baked flour.

It also serves as a substitute for meat or fish in meals, while

Health implications A dietician with Mayor Medical Centre, Asaba, Dr. Ronke Olabisi, described edible worm as a grub that should be eaten once in a while.

While lamenting its high reserve in lipids and cholesterol as well as salt during its preparation, she warned that it has a high contributory effect to High Blood Pressure, HBP, stressing that edible worm lovers should control how they eat it and ensure that it was eaten with roughage.

Three species of edible worm for sale.

Commercial value At the Amukpe roundabout in Sapele, a stick of 10 edible worms cost N200 depending on the size of each worm.

Edible worm seller, Eloho Eferakaya, said she makes an average of N3,000 daily and has been in the business of selling edible worm for the past seven years.

She said: “We mostly sell to travellers who sometimes buy in large numbers but we are currently getting reduced sales owing to the high demand for roasted pork, which has a similar taste to edible worm owing to its oily content,” she asserted.

A trader with sticks of Edible Worm at the Amukpe Roundabout, Sapele

Hunting Edible worm hunter resident in Tuomo community, Burutu council area of Delta state, Preye Johnny, told Niger Delta Voice that trackers of the larvae are tactical in how they ascertain its presence in palm tree trunks.

He said: “Though I cannot really tell how they enter the palm, hunters use the presence of largely yellowish palm tree leaves on a standing palm as a conclusive indication of larvaeinfested palm tree.

“Others use the characteristic smell of the larvae to predict their presence in a tree by perceiving the air around it for possible smell of larvae.

“They are also known to make specific sounds as they eat through the frond rachis.

“Hunters usually place their ears lightly on standing trees to listen to the movement of the larvae which gives a bubbling effect.”

LEFT: Babecued.

RIGHT: Live edible worms.

others take it alongside a drink, preferably palm wine.

Others prefer eating it fresh after removing the alimentary tissues. In all of these, edible worms are highly relished by inhabitants of some rural communities and they still remain relatively unfamiliar and anomalous to many.

Forbidden tantalizer Administrator/Founder of Ijaw Clinic, a Facebook page anchored on promoting the

Ijaw culture, Mr. Ernest Brisibe, said parts of Kalabiri and Ogoni people of Rivers State forbid edible worm, while it is a regular snack for Ijaw in Delta, Bayelsa and other adjourning Ijaw clans.

Although the Deputy President General of the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, Youth Wing, Mr. Paul Abu, said it had not been verified if any of the 24 Urhobo kingdoms forbid it, edible worm is a snack loved by the

Urhobo people.

Taboo in Kalabari On why the Kalabari forbid eating it, a Kalabari chief, Chief Gonaka Tonye, said: “We grew up realizing that our ancestors forbid eating it, so we had to follow in their footsteps.”

A don at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, Rasheed Yusuf, said it was unimaginable that people could eat maggot and

Environmental impact Though edible worm was said to have a high economic value as a source of employment for persons exploiting its commercial potential, Osagie Osamuyi of the Friends of the Earth International, FoEI, said the activities of edible worm hunters were contributing to the rapid depletion of palm trees in the African rain forest.

He said: ”Palm trees are either destroyed by direct felling of trees or the negative impact of sucking off the plant’s juice that makes it to bow to the forces of wind, rain, animals, other insects and diseases.

“The larvae could be a great pest that might cause very serious damage to palm tree plantations.”

6—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

PODIUM… DESOPADEC rejuvenates Itsekiri communities with projects *How we succeeded, by Hon Diden, DESOPADEC Commissioner

Hon. Michael Diden commissioning renovated Delta State Library, Warri.

ABOVE: Hon. Diden commissioning Egbokodo-Itsekiri jetty. MIDDLE: Obodo community jetty

New Ugbuwangue modern market.

Renovated Okere town hall

A block of six classroom at the Institute of School desks purchased for Obodo Continuous Education, Warri Centre.

Secondary School.

By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire

K

OKO—IT was a feast of projects when the Commissioner representing Itsekiri ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Hon Michael Diden, A. K. A. Ejele, inaugurated projects worth several billions of naira executed by the commission in his tenure.

Inventory At Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, a massive Games Village was constructed, transformers provided for the villagers in addition to renovation of the Police Station, a 300-metre

jetty sprung to existence at Obodo, while renovation work was carried out at the Institute of Continuing Education, ICE, Warri, Warri Library, Okere Town Hall and water project at Olu Palace, Warri.

Besides the science laboratory at Ubeji Secondary School, Ubeji, and street light in the community, there were road projects, doctors’ quarters and health centres executed at Ajimele community by the DESOPADEC commissioner, who is Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State House of Assembly standard-bearer in Warri North.

Biggest of them all However, the chief of them all is the N1 billion multi-purpose dredger purchased for the reclamation of erosion-

Blocks of science laboratories at Ubeji Secondary School.

threatened Itsekiri communities, which is seen as a rare feat

by Hon Diden, an erstwhile chairman of Warri North.

The projects' inauguration, which lasted two days, was like a celebration in Itsekiriland.

and want to solve the numerous problems or schools, roads, street lights, among others.

These projects we are commissioning today are what they demanded for and we have to do it for them.”

Magic wand Diden, who was enamoured by the praises and prayers of the people, said: “When I came on board as the commissioner, I took time to hold meetings with my people to know exactly what they need.

“These meetings formed part of our decision making process. So while planning my budget, I have to include the various projects they demanded.

“We did this to avoid imposing unwanted projects on the people. I love my people

Uduaghan’s 3-point agenda He said: “What we have done is part of the three-point agenda of the PDP government led by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

“He placed emphasis on infrastructural development. So at DESOPADEC, we have to key into it. Making our people happy gives us satisfaction. We shall continue to do more for them.”

Commenting on the Games village at Koko, Diden said: “In those days, we were engrossed in various sports. Sports pay

today more than any business.

“We built this gigantic edifice to harness talents.

Delta State is the leader in the national sports festival, and we want to maintain this feat.

“We have everything that our young ones need here to become champions in the world; this is human capital development that can turn around the fortune of our children.”

DESOPADEC shocked us—AJIMELE LEADERS Responding, Chairman, Ajimele Community, Sapele, Adeyemi Agbule, said: “We thank the commission for this project.

“We cried to Hon. Diden that we do not have any school in our community; we also requested for a health centre. Now we have all of them.

“DESOPADEC has done well for us; we now have school, doctor’s quarters, road, electricity and a health centre.”

The Olaraja of Ajimele, Pa Alfred Gedu Oriake, added: “DESOPADEC has done well for us. Our community has really been transformed. I am happy that this is happening in my time. May God bless the commissioner and the state government.”

Uncommon feat — OHEBE A native of Obodo community in Warri South Local Government, Francis Ohebe, who is infatuated by the 300-metre jetty, said: “This is the best project and longest jetty in his area.

“The Obodo people have yearned for this project for over 10 years. Diden has Itsekiri development at heart and he has attained a feat that no one has achieved.”

Ubeji Community Secretary, Justice Afor, added, “we are impressed with what Diden has done for us as a people. We want to thank him and urge him to continue the great work he has started.”

Lauds Diden, D E S O P A D E C , Uduaghan On his part, EgbokoItsekiri community elder, Edon Lucky, said: “Words are not enough to thank Diden, DESOPADEC and the state government.

“We are happy that several projects were sited here.

Today we are commissioning them and are happy.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—7 you shame the devil.”

PERVERSION: Niger Delta youngsters turn funeral to orgies

Continues from Page 1 today, met their husbands and boyfriends at events like this.

“So, you do not have to blame me. Any young girl that is looking for a man in her life does not miss an event such as this and others because you can meet your life partner here.

“Even if it means caressing, most of us do it to get the men to release money and show that we are ready for the next level of the relationship.”

Another girl, Angelina, 25, said in Uyo: “Time waits for nobody. This is modern life; it was not like this before.

“But we have to join them in the fun, because that is the only way to catch up.”

A university student, John Keziefa, said: “It is true that nowadays people go to a burial ceremony, not essentially to mourn, but to look for sex mates, drink and eat.

“You do not have to know the person that is being interred or be invited. It is a social event and because it takes place mostly in the night, the youngsters see it as an opportunity to mingle.”

Unacceptable incursion However, Chairman, Egbemene community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta state, Evangelist Richard Opudu, said sexual perversion, merriment at funerals and using funeral as an avenue to make money, which are modern developments, were callous and strange in Ijawland.

He said: “The befitting receptions given to guests at funerals are not too necessary.

They do so to persuade guests for more financial donations.”

Opudu said in the beginning, people mourned the dead and in the process, society tried to develop modalities to circumvent weeping by bereaved persons.

He said modern society

arrived with a bizarre way of organizing funerals by turning it to merriment to avoid people mourning the departed for too long.

He said it was wrong for Christians to mourn the way the world mourns today, emphasizing, “God giveth life and He taketh and the word of God is that we should rejoice because the spirit of the deceased goes to eternal glory.”

Devil in the detail Disagreeing with ostentatious display during burials, he queried why the bereaved persons should wear expensive clothes at funerals, saying such mourning was of the devil.

He said: “If you put on black clothes, you are making yourself a laughing stock before your enemies, but when you put on good clothes and rejoice,

Erosion of tradition Prince P. F. Kemezide, from Ogbe-Ijoh in Delta State, condemned the practice of people fighting at the burial ceremonies over food.

He said: “It was not so in the beginning. Food provided at funerals was to feed some persons who come from far as they may be hungry, and drinking was to ward off sadness. But it is not so these days.”

He said before now, it was the affluent people that organize expensive burials, but nowadays, the poor, as if in a competition, have joined them.

“When the rich organizes such heavy burials, they in turn use it to taunt, especially a poor man, who was unable to give his father or mother the socalled befitting funeral,” he asserted.

His words: “Donation of money at funerals is a strange act. In the ancient days, only the first son of the deceased person was allowed to seat in the funeral ground with a black cloth tied on his neck as a sign of mourning.

“Things have dramatically changed today.”

‘No point mourning the dead’ Dr. Peter Tiki from Edoro community in Burutu Local Government Area, sees nothing wrong in giving befitting burials to departed ones.

He explained that the

exorbitant funerals depend on the age and status of the deceased person, adding “if the man attained 70 years and above or is wealthy, or is 35 to 55 years, a befitting funeral can be organized for such a person to announce his glorious or painful death.”

Another reason given by Tiki for befitting funerals was to observe the last day of the person’s stay on earth as those he left would not see him again.

He, however, stated that in the beginning, “ when somebody of 35 to 40 years dies without having a child, they do not organize funeral. The person is buried quietly.”

Tiki asserted that people mourned seriously in the olden days because of low population and death at that time was seen as a big threat to societal growth unlike today that there is an implosion in every family and community, creating unemployment and other social vices.

His words: “Now, people have become aware of the dangers posed by population implosion.

“So the more people die, the better for the survival of the society and so, there is no point of weeping or mourning over a deceased person.”

He, however, condemned people using funeral ceremony as avenue for orgies, lamenting that the strange act was difficult to reverse at the moment because it has eaten deep into the fabric of the society.

YULETIDE TRAGEDY: 3 siblings die in midnight fire

•The room. INSET: The kids' graves.

Continues from Page 3 Nyong Ukpayang, 77, who owns the building and was in the house when the inferno occurred, was distraught over the loss of his great grandchildren.

He said: “I was fast asleep at about midnight when I heard people shouting and screaming.

“I woke up to discover that my room was filled with smoke.

I was so weak that I could barely move until some people came to my rescue.

“It was when I came out that I realized that three of my great grandchildren living with my granddaughter had been consumed by the fire and I also discovered that she did not sleep in the house with them

that night.”

Too late One of the sympathizers, Mr. Ephraim Ekeng, said: “It was late before we realized that the children were in the house.

“Even when we broke down the door because it was locked from the outside, the three children were already dead due to the thick smoke because the

room was made with local bricks.”

Another neighbour, who preferred anonymity, also told Niger Delta Voice that when they heard voices, “we taught it was Arit beating the children.

“But before we realized it was a fire outbreak and went to the scene it was already too late.

The three of them were already burnt to death.”

8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Fun seekers storm C-River for Calabar street party CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Emmanuel Unah

C

ALABAR—IN SPITE of the slapdash organization, an unprecedented crowd of merrymakers, weekend, converged on Calabar to savor the blissful ambiance of the Calabar Street party.

Millions of people crowded both sides of the 11kilometre route of the carnival parade, beginning from Mary Slessor Avenue down to the entry point at the U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium.

Several ad-hoc dancing, drinking and food dispensing joints sprung up along the route with thousands of people jampacking the joints to dance and guzzle liquor, while others ate food packed in basins.

The sea of heads stretched from Atekong Junction to Efio Ette Junction and even the team of soldiers deployed by the Brigade Commander, Amphibious Battalion, to steer revellers clear from the side of the road, near his residence at Efio Ette Junction, failed woefully, as some of the soldiers ended up joining in the frolicking.

Even after the bands had entered the stadium, the drinking and dancing on the streets went on till the wee hours of Sunday morning. The colourful event featured the regular five participating carnival bands, which includes: Master blaster, Seagul, Passion 4, Bayside and Freedom.

Duke, Ndoma-Egba, Ita-Giwa absent For the first time in its 10 years existence, former governor and originator of the Carnival Calabar, Mr. Donald Duke, was conspicuously absent at the street jamboree and there was

no mention of his name anywhere throughout the duration of the event.

Also absent at the street party which they had featured prominently since its inception were Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, the Senator representing the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State and leader of the wave making Sea Gull

Band, Senator Florence Ita Giwa.

Though no reason was given for the nonattendance of the bigwigs, the acrimonious outcome of the PDP primaries in the state caused a wide chasm between Senator Liyel Imoke the governor and leader of the PDP in the state and the trio, who have

them.”

The state coordinator D’ Network, a NGO that is working with the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, Comrade Siabe Dum Eluanwi, said: “What is happening here today is to the amazement of everyone.

“Senator Lee Maeba Foundation came to Ogoni Land to give the people free diabetes and hypertension screening and drugs which we have not seen before..

“The people have come out in their numbers to benefit from the benevolence of our son, Senator Lee Maeba.

“Over 2000 people have ben-

Growing stronger— IMOKE speaking to flag off the 11kilometre revelry, Senator Imoke, declared that the event was waxing stronger after 10 years of its inception stating that the carnival had taken a life of its own.

Otovwodo community seeks help on crumbling school structures DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Festus Ahon

U

GHELLI—WORRIED by the dilapidation of classrooms and administrative blocks of Otovwodo Grammar School, Otovwodo-Ughelli community, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, the people have called on the State Government to expedite action on the renovation of the collapsing structures of the school.

State of decay Speaking on behalf of the community, while conducting newsmen round the rundown buildings, president general of the community, Comrade Umuago Akpubi, lamented that six blocks of classrooms,

laboratory, principal’s office, open registry, staff room and staff quarters amongst others,

Beneficiaries laud Maeba Foundation health programmes Continues from Page 4

different political calculations.

He maintained that Carnival Calabar remains the biggest street party in Africa. “This is 10 years of the Calabar Carnival, the greatest street party ever and the greatest show in Africa.”

Imoke, who was flanked by his wife, Obioma and the State’s PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ben Ayade, and his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, joined the revelry for some kilometres before retiring.

Earlier, Chairman of the State’s Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said government had put in place measures to ensure the sustenance of Carnival Calabar.

“Apart from the carnival commission and its structures, there is a band association in view as well as the right political will,” he said.

The 2014 edition of the Carnival Calabar, with theme ‘Celebration Time’ which is the last for the Imoke’s led administration, also attracted Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti, his wife among other dignitaries.

efited from this project and we are very much happy. You can see everybody with smiling faces that is to tell you that we are happy,” he asserted.

Positive impact Speaking at the end of the exercise, leader of the medical team, Dr. Barinua Kekii Gbaranor, expressed satisfaction that the programme truly impacted positively on the lives of the people of Ogoni, adding that over 2500 cases of diabetes and BP were diagnosed and addressed.

Gbaranor added: “I am very happy that the Honourable Leader, Sen. Lee Maeba has ensured that health care deliv-

ery gets to the grassroots and I am happy to be part of this great project. From the turn up here today, it is clear that the people at the rural level lack the resources that will help them have a healthy living.”

More on the way Representative of Senator Lee Maeba Foundation and deputy chairman of the organization, Folasade Aliyu, commended the people of Rivers State for their participation in the screening and consultation exercise.

“She also promised that the organization would continually provide such and other services to the people of the state.

were on the brink of total collapse.

He said the walls of the classroom blocks had, in the last few years, degenerated from one stage of decrepitude to the other, adding that the roofs of almost all the buildings in the school were in very bad shape.

Worsened by rainstorm The president general added that the situation was compounded by the recent rainstorm, which blew off the roofs and destroyed most of the buildings in the school.

His words, “Some of these buildings, as you can see, are in very bad shape. The student population of this school is very high because of its importance to the people of the community as well as residents of the Ughelli metropolis and neighbouring communities like Uduere, Ogor and others.”

He stated, “This is because Otovwodo Grammar School, Government College, Ughelli and the Oharisi Model Basic Secondary School are the only government- owned secondary schools in the Ughelli metropolis since others have been handed over to the missions and the level of patronage is very high.”

Urgent assistance While bemoaning the perennial flooding that frequently leaves the classroom buildings submerged in water particularly in the peak of the rainy seasons, Akpubi said “the football field and most part of the school are usually completely flooded and the students and their teachers have great difficulties in getting to their classes. So the institution needs critical intervention.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—33

LG AUTONOMY: Why we're disappointed — Loman, ALGON national chairman DR. Emmanuel Loman is the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area; the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, as well as the Interim National Committee Chairman of ALGON. In this interview he bares his mind on the issue of autonomy of local government as well as on the insecurity threats which face the country. Excerpts:

By Marie-therese Nanlong

W

HAT is your perspective on the alleged opposition of the Plateau State House of Assembly to autonomy for local governments?

I want to believe that development is much needed in the grassroots and local government is a grassroots government. From the statutory allocation, the sharing formula in this country is not favourable to the local government despite the fact that development is mostly needed at the local government level.

The National Assembly came out with a proposal that was sent to the States Houses of Assembly to look into the approval for the autonomy of local governments but it is really unfortunate that most of the states are not in support of autonomy to the local government.

Social amenities I’m really so disappointed because the point here is that members of the State Houses of Assembly came from various constituencies and these constituencies are their various local governments, they know all the problems in the local government, they know how social amenities are lacking there.

Given the claim that many local government chairmen are alleged to be corrupt in their dealings, don’t you think the rejection of autonomy is justified?

That is a myopic thinking that if funds are channelled directly to the local government, they will not be used properly. The point here is that we have three tiers of government, the federal, state and local government and basically all tiers ought to be autonomous.

We share from the federation account equitably but unfortunately, the federal and state governments go with the lion share of the funds.

Corruption in this country cuts across all tiers of government, the issue here is that we should be

thinking of how to address corruption from all tiers of government not only in the local government. Once corruption is addressed in the politics of the country, there is no Chairman that will be given funds for development and it will be diverted for something else.

What is ALGON’s relationship with the state government in

terms of funds allocated to the local governments?

We want to thank God for the kind of leader we have on the Plateau. Since we came on board as chairmen, our funds have always been channelled directly to the purse of the local governments and that has enabled us to execute programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.

For myself since I came on board in March this year, there were some ongoing projects but I have completed them, I have completed about seven projects and if you go to other local government, let me tell you the truth, you will find various developmental projects done by these present Chairmen. Go to Mikang local government and see what is happening, the chairman there has executed quite a number of projects.

Judicious use of funds

From the statutory allocation, the sharing formula in this country is not favourable to the local government despite the fact that development is mostly needed at the local government level

Jos South very close here, you will see projects, a very big stadium is there and other projects.

The governor has never for once said let him know how much is accrued to us or how much came from the federation but his warning has always been that we make judicious use of the funds accrued to us, we must provide amenities that our people will enjoy.

Certainly, the governor has laudable programmes for the State, he has repositioned the state and with what is happening, you can see for

Logman yourself that there are developments. He has equally transferred this kind of idea to the local government that is why we have development in the 17 local government areas.

Go to each of the local government headquarters and see the road networks there, it was an idea that was brought by the governor and I learnt some States are copying from him which is good. This is as the result of not tampering with our funds, if our funds were being tampered with, those developments will not be in place.

Are you satisfied with the way and manner relief materials are being distributed to victims of insecurity in the country?

I have been at the helm of affairs even here in Plateau and the crises that have engulfed my local government and what has been brought to us by NEMA is nothing to write home about compared to what I have heard as taken to other States. I believe in totality what you are saying. I took over as the Interim National

Committee Chairman of ALGON and this is the third month, I have a mandate to hold an election and we have been meeting to see how we can hold the election.

It is true what is happening in this country needs urgent attention, people are not being treated equally as it should be. If you look at the crises that had engulfed Plateau State, the attention given to Plateau State is far less than what has been given to other States.

Even appointment at the federal level, Plateau state has been short-changed so automatically, you see that the federal character is not being respected when it comes to Plateau State at the federal level.

What is the problem?

That is a very big question we need to answer; you see at times, people in government are the ones creating these crises, selfishness has been the order of the day, ethnicity, and religious sentiments are killing us, even in the political scene we are seeing it.

Issues that confronted the Senate in 2014 Continues from page 31 are card carrying members of the APC. President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter to the Senate requesting for an extension of the state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states caused some rumble in the Senate as some Northern senators vowed to resist it.

The President had said the extension was necessary because of the continuing activities of the insurgents in the North East region.

However, Northern Senators resolved to vote against the extension.

Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru hinged their opposition on grounds that the extension of the emergency rule was not the best way to combat the insurgency which had paralyzed social and economic activities in the affected areas.

“We believe a lot of things ought to be addressed in order to conquer the issue of insurgency. So, our own position is that we are not going to support extension of the emergency rule in the area”, he said.

20 billion missing money,

confirmation of CBN governor, APC budget blockade directive The Senate probed an allegation by the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, failed to remit $20 billion into the Federation Account.

The Senate probe absolved the NNPC of any wrongdoing even as President Jonathan fired Sanusi and instead, replaced him with the former Zenith Bank Managing Director, Godwin Emefiele.

The opposition APC directed

all its members in the National Assembly to block all executive bills which involved the budget and the confirmation of Service Chiefs.

The Senate finished the process of amending the 1999 constitution, started by the National Assembly, received the conference report of the constitution review transmitted same to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The document, which required 24 state assemblies to vote “yes”, for the amendment to stand, has since been returned to the Senate for final adoption.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

•Heap of refuse at Coconut bus-stop on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, yesterday.

Christmas: Refuse overwhelms LAWMA as residents resort to burning zWe face challenge of large waste during yuletide — LAWMA boss

By Ikenna Asomba

A

S is characteristic of Christmas celebration, Lagos metropolis is filled with heaps of refuse generated during the period.

Four days after Christmas, Vanguard noticed that refuse littered major streets and road medians in areas such as the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, particularly, Cele Bus-Stop, Ijesha Bus-Stop, Mile 2, Otto Wharf; Berger Yard and Coconut Bus-stop, the Lagos/ Badagry Expressway, particularly the Okokomaiko stretch, Iyana-Iba, Alaba Suru, as well as Jakande Low Cost Housing Estate,

Ojuelegba, Boundary in Ajegunle area of Lagos, Isolo, LASU/Iba Road, Alaba International Market, Ikotun

When residents wait for the PSP operators and they are not forthcoming, they have no option than to deposit their refuse on the streets

and Makoko areas of the city.

With the heaps of refuse dotting the landscape, despite the incorporation of the Private Sector Participation, PSP, operators , the introduction of highway managers to sweep the highways and the ban of cart pushers, to ensure proper disposal of refuse in the state, Vanguard gathered that residents have resorted to the burning of refuse along the streets and road paths.

While some residents commended the efforts of road sweepers and PSP operators before Christmas for keeping Lagos clean, others were of the opinion that considering the heaps of refuse in the

metropolis, the agency and its collaborating operators had not met their expectation, especially for a state that prides itself as a mega-city.

Outbreak of epidemic Against the backdrop of these wastes along streets and road paths in the city, Olawale Salako, a resident at Karimu Street, Ojuelegba condemned the refuse heaps on Lagos roads as a result of the festive season.

Urging LAWMA to mobilise trucks to evacuate the refuse heaps, Salako said: “This Christmas season, residents usually generate a lot of waste. But when they wait for the PSP operators and they are not forthcoming, they

have no option than to deposit their refuse on the streets or any available space.

To prevent any outbreak of epidemic, I urge LAWMA authorities to mobilise their trucks to evacuate the refuse heaps, as residents are at the receiving end.”

Similarly, Ifeanyi Odimega, a resident of Ojoku Street, Tolu-Ajegunle said they have long been waiting for their PSP operator to collect their refuse.

He said: “This Yuletide, our waste has been outside for days now; that is why people started emptying their dustbins indiscriminately

Continues on page 35

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

—35

Christmas: Refuse overwhelms LAWMA as residents resort to burning some residents to burn these wastes along the streets or road paths.

That is lawlessness, which is strange in other parts of the world.”

Continues from page 34 because they cannot wait any longer. Sometimes some people dump their generated refuse in the drainage channels, and that is why we continue to have flood in the area.”

He therefore, called on LAWMA to intensify efforts to regularly clear refuse heaps in the area to avoid outbreak of diseases.

Toll free lines: Reacting, the

Major challenges

General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, Dr. Ola Oresanya, who lamented the health hazards posed by these activities of burning of refuse along streets and road paths by residents, pointed that there are toll free lines provided by the agency for residents to call if the PSP operators do not visit their areas.

Advocacy tours Oresanya stated that to prevent situations whereby refuse heaps dot the city, LAWMA before the Christmas embarked on advocacy tours to several communities in the state, instructing residents to properly store their wastes for onward disposal by the PSP operators.

His words: “Keeping Lagos clean is our major focus and commitment as an agency.

That is why before this Yuletide season, we did a lot of advocacy, where we instructed residents on how to

•Residents burning refuse along Boundary market road, Ajegunle, yesterday. properly store their household wastes for effective disposal by our PSP operators. In our commitment to achieving this, thousands of free refuse bags were distributed to residents in various areas, because for us, storage is very important.”

Lawlessness: Reacting to the burning of refuse along streets and road

paths by residents, the LAWMA boss said: “Burning refuse is not the best thing for residents to do. Most people take to this in the guise that PSP operators have not visited their area. Just like we have always advocated for, if as a resident you don’t see your PSP operator, you have the right to call them through

these toll free lines which LAWMA have provided.”

Speaking further, he said: “However, it must be clarified that our contractors don’t pick bulky wastes such as furniture wastes, trees cut down, grasses among others.

But it is still wicked and an insensitivity on the part of

Oresanya however decried that the major challenge for the agency this Yuletide are the attitude of organisers of street jams, as they are usually known not to clear the huge amount of wastes generated by them after the parties.

His words: “This Yuletide, we have challenges with organiser of street jams and parties, as they don’t plan to clean the streets after their parties.

However, we are battling with this attitude to ensure that Lagos is clean. Most of the organisers of street jams and parties were observed to have left the streets uncleared. To forestall this in future, we are making arrangements to sensitise them to collaborate with LAWMA whenever they are holding street jams and parties.

“We are always ready to collaborate with them. But what we need is for time to give us prior notice and our people will be deployed to dispose the wastes generated from their street jams and parties these Yuletide.”

Devt plan: Lagos needs N370bn for sewage in 5 years

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

T

HE Lagos State Government has said that it requires over N370 billion ($2 Billion) in five years to meet the sewage need of the state.

At an unveiling ceremony of the Lagos State Development Plan, LSDP, Governor Babatunde Fashola had disclosed that the plan would afford government and residents the opportunity to know where energies could be directed towards the improvement of the state, even as he stated that the government spent N2.4 billion to boost water and road transportation in the state.

In the 13-year plan document, made available to Vanguard, it x-rayed the current challenges in the

cosmopolitan state and how they will be addressed.

It also revealed that a larger

The ridership on water transportation is in excess of 1.5 million as against 150, 000 passengers recorded monthly in 2007

percent of residents in the state do not have proper sanitation, as most residents resort to usage of septic tanks, which leads to water pollution.

According to the document, about 1.4 billion litres of water used in Lagos daily ends up as waste water, adding that this poses a major threat to the state.

The plan further revealed that aside upgrading the existing Waste Water Treatment Plants at Abesan in Ipaja; Oke-Afa in Isolo; Iponri in Surulere; Alausa in Ikeja and Amuwo-Odofin, 5, 250 kilometres of sewers need to be laid.

The document stated: “The state will also need about 60, 000 sewage trucks to ply the roads six times daily to transport the sewage treatment plant, and 10 Waste

Water Treatment Plants must be constructed within the five years period.”

Fashola however revealed that the state government had commenced the construction of the Odo-Iya Alaro Waste Water Treatment Plant in Ojota axis of the state.

Water modes of transportation The document revealed that in 2015, the state government Gross Domestic Product, GDP targeted was N4.6 trillion, due to the investments made lately on both land and water modes of transportations.

A breakdown of the money showed that N1.469 billion was spent to construct and rehabilitate long abandoned jetties in the state.

According to the document, some of the jetties that were

constructed were at Oke-Afa, LASU and Ijegun. Also, N89 million was spent on clearing of waterways and dredging of navigable routes on the water ways.

Speaking further, the governor at the ceremony stated that the investment in water transportation sector has improved the connectivity and the monthly ridership in the state.

He said “Today, the ridership on water transportation is in excess of 1.5 million. And this was against 150, 000 passengers recorded monthly in 2007 at the inception of the current administration,” adding that “N895 million was spent by the government to fully equip the officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.”

36— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

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42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

• Strike: A day Nigerian medical doctors took to the street in Lagos. Right is a picture of Ebola patient being attended to by medical experts.

2014: Ebola, strikes dominate health sector FOR the Nigerian health sector, the outgoing year 2014 was eventful in several respects. It was a cocktail of the good and the bad. The year was marked by gloomy health stories that elicited fear, sadness and death, as it was illuminated by events that gave reason to cheer and remain hopeful.

The year 2014 will never be forgotten as the year the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, came to Nigeria. Much more reported than any other health event, the historic Nigerian Ebola incident topped the list of medical and health stories even though the year saw quite a few other memorable moments. The first ever Ebola outbreak that occurred in Lagos, and the nation's ultimate victory over the deadly virus, have gone down as two of the most important events of the year. Even in the face of significant strides in preventive healthcare and near eradication of polio, the Ebola saga took the limelight.

The major minuses included the inhibiting health sector strikes, sustained high infant, child and maternal mortality and morbidity; increasing cases of Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, etc.

Like the previous year, 2014 opened with a strike threat, and is closing with a health workers' strike. The outgoing year was consecutively punctuated with protracted strikes in the health sector that effectively paralysed healthcare delivery activities.

Indeed, the story about health sector strikes this year is no different from previous years.

There was good news in polio eradication. Indeed, among the most glaring assessments of the sector in 2014 was perhaps the commitment and leadership shown by the Federal and State governments to stop the spread of the dreaded Ebola virus and the fact that the country is close to eradicating polio.

President Goodluck Jonathan assented to the National Health Bill, the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, PCV, was also adopted into the National routine immunisation schedule. These were the landmarks. The honest assessment of the year is captured in a statement by the American billionaire and Microsoft giant and philanthropist, Bill Gates, when he observed in his official twitter handle that the media coverage about Nigeria this year was Ebola and terrorism, adding that from a global health perspective, Nigeria actually had a pretty good year.

Good Health Weekly chronicles the failures and successes in the health sector in 2014. Excerpts:

By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna, & Gabriel Olawale

The Ebola outbreak

The outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease brought fears, pains, death and losses to businesses in the country. The outbreak in Lagos followed importation by late American-Liberian, Patrick

Sawyer. Also affected was Rivers state. A total of 19 cases were reported of which seven died while 12 survived.

Laboratory confirmation of the first case, in Lagos on 23 July, rocked public health communities across the country.

There was panic not only

because of the virus but because of the country's population. Lagos alone was 18 million. The Lagos State government was worried about carrying out successful contact tracing in such a congested area. With assistance from the World Health Organisation, WHO, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, and other health officials reached 100 percent of known contacts in Lagos and 99.8 percent in Port Harcourt.

Federal and State governments in Nigeria provided ample financial and material resources.

Exactly 42 days after the last Ebola contact undergoing treatment was discharged from the Isolation Centre in Lagos, the WHO declared Nigeria Ebola free. The declaration was a landmark event acknowledged by the entire world, on the basis that Nigeria could defeat Ebola despite challenges of insecurity and poor health system among others.

The Nigerian government received accolades for the leadership it provided during the Ebola outbreak.

To put an end to Ebola in West African countries and the world at large, the Federal Government sent 250 Ebola volunteers to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, to help contain the outbreak. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, is sending 250 more volunteers by January 2015.

Eradicating polio

The outstanding performance the country recorded in the eradication of polio despite the insecurity in some parts of the country which hampered immunisation in those areas was another milestone that received accolades even from outside the country.

Nigeria is one of the only three countries that have never been free from polio (Pakistan and Afghanistan are the other two), but with a decrease of 50 cases to six cases in 2014, the country would soon be declared polio free.

In the words of Bill Gates, “the fact that Nigeria is now Ebola free is a great example of how doing the work to fight things like polio also leaves countries better prepared to deal with outbreaks of other diseases.”

Also according to the Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, Nigeria has not recorded a single new case of the wild polio virus since July. Only six cases have been recorded in Nigeria this year - a dramatic 90-per-cent decline from last year.

This is crucial progress, since Nigeria has been the sole reservoir for the spread of the

The year 2014 will never be forgotten as the year the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, came to Nigeria

virus to dozens of other African countries. It would leave Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only remaining countries in the world where polio is still endemic.

A decade ago, the campaign was in serious trouble, as northern politicians and religious leaders spread rumours that the polio vaccine caused AIDS and infertility. In February, 2013, disaster struck again when gunmen killed nine vaccination workers in the northern city of Kano.

Other milestones

The National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, in collaboration with mobile networks in Nigeria launched a mobile health insurance scheme. With the launch every Nigerian who owns a phone will now have access to health insurance with as low as N250.00 per week. The Mobile effective networks include MTN and Airtel, Nigeria.

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, opened the N100 million Molecular Biology Research Laboratory built and equipped by Chevron Nigeria.

The lab was key to the quick confirmation of late Sawyer's infection status with Ebola Virus Disease.

To boost lab services in the country, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, commissioned its Human Virology Laboratory. Also, during the year, President Goodluck Jonathan launched a programme on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, PMTCT, where it was declared no Nigerian child should be born with HIV. Another event was the commissioning of Dental Therapist Development Centre in Lagos. The centre which is first Continues on page 44

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—43

FG introduces Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

By Sola Ogundipe

T

OWARDS averting the deaths of over thousands of children below five years of age from pneumonia and other pneumococcal diseases annually in Nigeria, the Federal government has introduced the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, PCV, into the National routine immunisation schedule.

The inclusion of the life-saving vaccine into the nation’s EPI schedule follows years of agitation by Nigerians and healthcare professionals at home and abroad. And is ultimately expected to improve the health outcome of children in the country, No less than 177,000 children under five years of age die from pneumococcal diseases annually in Nigeria. Pneumonia, is an infection of the lungs, needlessly affects millions of people worldwide each year.

Pneumonia infections can often be prevented and can usually be treated.

At the formal launch last week in Lokoja, Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, Kogi State Governor, described the introduction of the new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine as an essential response to reducing pneumonia in Nigeria.

Wada, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi described the newly introduced vaccine as a laudable initiative capable of protecting young children against pneumonia and other diseases. It is another strategy aimed at reaching every child at risk of pneumonia.

Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad said with full national coverage of the vaccine, over 600,000 childhood deaths will be prevented over the next three years as the government will ensure availability of the “lifesaving” vaccines for the

•Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, being assisted by Mrs. Aminat Adamu, a health worker, to immunise baby Nofisat Jamiu during the National launch of the PCV in Nigeria by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, last week in Lokoja, Kogi State.

•Cross section, members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Lagos Branch and Ikorodu paramount Chiefs during an HIV/AIDS Advocacy visit to the Oba’s palace in Ikorodu.

Eko Hospital calls for zero tax rate on medical equipment

By Chioma Obinna

I

RKED by the plight of cancer patients in Nigeria, management of Eko Hospital, Lagos has appealed to the Federal Government to impose zero tax on medical equipment.

The hospital was of the view that with zero tariffs on medical equipment, patients with non communicable diseases such as cancer would have better deal treating their conditions.

In a chat with Good Health Weekly in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Mr. Olusegun Odukoya who was of the view that the zero tariff policy will benefit all Nigerians explained that the current high tariff is currently affecting the successful treatment of cancer patients in private hospitals.

Odukoya who x-rayed the importance of cancer therapy for cancer patients explained that currently Nigeria does not manufacture cancer equipment and maintenance services are also not available in the country.

According to him, “It is important that the federal government spends some money train our personnel to

ensure that even when these equipment are bought and brought into the country they are maintained locally.

“Today in Nigeria, Eko hospital is the only private hospital that has radiotherapy in Nigeria. Just as other teaching hospitals have challenges with maintaining the equipment, we in Eko hospital also have similar problems which we have just resolved and the equipment is now functioning. But if we have the well- withal of our personnel in Nigeria, the time lag that it takes in repairing these equipment will be shortened. And these will help in treating most Nigerians who cannot afford to travel abroad for cancer treatments,” he added.

He further explained that the implication of high tariff and not having maintenance personnel on ground would mean little hospitals having the facilities, very high cost treatment implications for patients because centres will now pass cost of maintenance to the patients which he said may discourage patients from accessing care.

Odukoya who disclosed that no fewer than 1000 new cases are seen in the

hospital annually dismissed insinuation that cancer was on the rise saying, “there is more emphasis on early diagnosis, and people are diagnosed early and treated than in those days when they present late.”

On cancer prevention, he advised Nigerians to exercise more, live a healthy lifestyle and eat balanced diets. “Eat well, exercise and don’t abuse your body by smoking, drinking and taking drugs.”

“For cancers such as cervical cancers that can be prevented, there is need to have cervical cancer screening every three to five years. There is also the need to give young girls that are not exposed to sexual intercourse to prevent the development of cancer of the cervix.”

Odukoya who commended the Federal Government on the containment of Ebola regretted that Nigeria is losing serious money to medical tourism.

To redeem this he suggested that the Federal Government should emulate Indian Government who at a point brought al their personnel practicing abroad home and gave them a unit interest of about 3 to 4 percent.

Nigerian child towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4.

In the views of Dr. Rui VAS, Country Director, World Health Organisation, “The introduction of PCV in Nigeria will ultimately improve the Child Health outcome of the country and accelerate the progress of the country towards achieving the MDG4 Goal 4 Commenting, the Director of Disease Control and Immunization NPHCDA, Dr. Emmanuel Abanida said:”We are happy this is happening at this critical time in Nigeria. Globally, pneumonia kills nearly 1 million children younger than five years of age each year. This is greater than the number of deaths from any infectious disease, such as HIV, malaria or tuberculosis. This is the reason why we are more than happy to jump start the administration of this vaccine to ensure our children live healthy life”. Introduction of the new vaccine will initially commence in some states of the Federation, but plans are on to ensure the availability through the public health system at no cost for all children less than one year of age.

Lekan Asuni, Managing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical in Nigeria, manufacturers of the PCV, said the vaccine will bring a remarkable improvement in the reduction of childhood death related to pneumococcal diseases.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, is the arm of Federal Ministry of Health responsible for routine immunisation in Nigeria. Partners who witnessed the event were representatives of The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Clinton Health and Access Initiative among others.

FG insensitive to the plight of Nigerians — JOHESU

By Victoria Ojeme

S

TRIKING health workers under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, yesterday accused Nigerian government of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians saying, “Federal Government refusal to meet with the workers will only elongate the ongoing industrial action.”

President of JOHES, Ayuba Waba, who spoke in Abuja, also raised alarm over alleged police brutality on its members in Lagos.

Waba who condemned the alleged action of the police said the act was against known ‘universal industrial relation norms.’

He warned that should the situation continue it would lead to breakdown of law and order in the country’s health institutions.

According to him, JOHESU will withdraw all its members rendering skeletal services in some hospitals across the country should the problem continues.

The JOHESU boss further advised health workers in the country to tighten their belts for what he described as ‘long full battle until victory is achieved.’

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

2014: Ebola, strikes dominate health sector Continues from page 42 of its kind in Nigeria will help to check quackery in the dental profession. The resignation of the former Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu towards the end of the year to contest the gubernatorial seat in Ebonyi state led to appointment of the Minister of State for Health as the supervising Minister of Health.

Incessant strikes

The year began with a threat by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA that Nigerians should prepare for the mother of all strikes precisely on January 5th, 2014.

But the timely intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan caused the strike to be shelved after he agreed to appoint the first ever Surgeon - General in the country.

But six months later, NMA executive led by its President, Dr Kayode Obembe resumed a nationwide indefinite strike despite all appeals by Nigerians over its 24 - point demands.

The strike which began in July 1, 2014 dragged on even when Ebola broke out in the country. The strike apparently caused the striking doctors to lose public sympathy when they failed to call off their strike in the face of the Ebola outbreak. The NMA President finally suspended the strike in August 25, 2014.

The Medical Guild, group of doctors by the Lagos State government had their two months salaries withheld as the state government decided to implement its "no work no pay' policy. The year is winding up with another nationwide strike by members of Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU. The Union had since November 16, embarked on a nationwide strike abandoning their duties to doctors alone.

companies like Airtel Nigeria provided phones, free airtime amongst others. MTN donated treatment equipment, while organisations donated funds.

Chevron Nigeria Limited also donated a N100 million laboratory to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba Lagos.

Also, the private hospitals this year showed more understanding in terms of data collection. According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, there are improved data collections from the private facilities unlike before.

The outbreak of Ebola also brought a lot of changes in the way patients are assessed in the hospitals. It brought about for example the introduction of hand - held non contact thermometers.

Also worthy of mention, is the fact that many religious organisations in 2015 launched various programmes on health and lifestyle. Some churches dedicated some of their time to educate their members on health education particularly during the Ebola saga.

Nigerian doctors undergo specialist training in India

By Sola Ogundipe

N

IGERIAN health professionals in Lagos and Benin City have undergone a 2-day Continuous Medical Education Training in India, aimed at improving their surgical skills in knee replacement, amendment of heart failure and management of post-renal transplant among others.

The training, put together by Apollo Hospitals Group, was conducted by Dr Muhammed Sehar, Senior Consultant, Joint Replacement Surgeon; Dr Sunil Modi, Senior Cardiology Consultant Surgeon; and Dr Vijaya Rajakumari, Senior Kidney Transplantation Consultant Surgeon, all of Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

Modi explained that heart failure was not a disease but diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetics, infection of the heart muscles and rheumatism could all lead to failure of the heart.

“Treating heart failure helps to relieve symptoms, helps to reduce exacerbations

Philanthropy, corporate sponsorships and partnership

The year witnessed improved partnership between public hospitals, Private facilities, and corporate institutions, politicians as well as religious organisations. This came in form of donations, rebuilding, and reconstruction and for improved health care services.

The philanthropy shown by organisations, particularly in the fight against Ebola deserves mention. Mobile

•Managing Director/Ceo Rodot Nigeria Limited, Remi Adeseun Presenting Life-Time Achievement Award To Managing Director/Ceo Merit Healthcare Limited, Dr Lolu Ojo Which He Received On Behalf Of Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi; And Founder/Ceo Healthplus, Bukkie George At The 7th Healthplus Annual Conference, Thanksgiving Dinner And Award Held In Lagos On Monday.

and helps to improve survival,” he said, referring to hypertension as the number one silent killer of mankind because the most common symptom is “no symptom,” and the most common reason “is no reason.” He blamed the seemingly helpless situation on lack of awareness.

Rajakumari, while giving a critical insight of kidney transplant among patients, explained that 50 per cent of patients were either diabetic or hypertensive. In her words: “If you look at these adults, the other 50 per cent will either be chronic nephritis or nephropathies. Lupus erythematosus is most common in children, some of whom are born with small kidneys. That is when they develop kidney failure.”

One of the participants, Dr Oluwabusuyi Abu, gave kudos to Apollo Hospitals and Diamond Helix for the initiative. “The session was well organised and the speakers on point. Within this short while, I have learned a lot from the three different speakers who talked about issues related to our medical practice. These included amendment of kneel replacement and amendment of heart failure as well as management of post renal transplant. The three speakers did very well and I am very happy about that.”

Another participant, Dr Gertrude Ogunkeye said, following the programme, she would talk to all adults she knew to at go for medical check-up.

“Make sure you are not hypertensive, make sure your kidneys are working well and whatever problems you have found, follow them with the doctor’s advice totally and carefully. Also, as a paediatrician, my job is to educate the mothers about taking care of their children’s health because a lot of problems we see in adults, also happen in the Expressing satisfaction for attending the event, Dr Magaret Uduma assured: “I am going to review all the information I got here today. I am going to make sure I don’t forget any of them and I am going to put them into practice. I would also like to continue to educate myself medically.”

Mr Raj Raina, General Manager, Marketing and Strategic Business for Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, said the hospitals would provide observer programmes for Nigerian doctors.

National Health Bill will end health sector strikes — OLUWOLE

By Victoria Ojeme

•Dr. Steven Oluwole, MDCAN President

T

he assent of the National Health Bill into an Act of Parliament by President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to put an end to the incessant series of agitations in the health sector, the President of Medical Consultant

Association of Nigeria, Dr, Steven Oluwole, has stated.

Oluwole who commended the President for signing the Bill, said the Act provides framework to regulate, develop, and manage a National Health System, and set standards for rendering health services in the Federation.

“The Act harmonises the tiers and modes of health care delivery in the country. In other words no health care services should exist outside of this framework. This should promote developments and standards that would benefit patients.

“Since the Health Bill is not a Labour Act, the operations of Unions and Associations under extant Labour Laws are not the subjects of its provisions.

However, provisions of the Act that clearly defined roles, should end agitations that are based on professional rivalries.

“The provision is quite clear, there is hereby established for the Federation the

National Health regulation of health services, without prejudice to extant professional regulatory laws,” he stated..

On the increase of private clinics in the country, Oluwole said, the rights of patients are not compromised in public hospitals.

“Subject to this Bill, a user may attend any health establishment for the purposes of receiving health services.

Further, if a health establishment is not capable of providing the necessary treatment or care, the health establishment in question shall refer the user concerned to an appropriate health establishment which is capable of providing the necessary treatment or care (in such manner or such terms as may be prescribed by regulation).

The responsibility for management is rested on the Minister of Health who shall prescribe mechanisms to ensure a co-ordinated relationship in the public and private health establishments in the delivery of health services.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary, Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, HERFON, Dr. Muhammed Lecky, stated that passage of the bill was a plus to President Jonathan’s re-election bid.

“There is not going to be a piece of bill that will come out of National Assembly that will be better, now and for the future than this bill, because it is about health.

“I cannot talk of anything better than health, really. Anything you add, or you do later is just an addition to health. Your health is the most fundamental thing anybody cares about.

It is going to be in his name that President Jonathan signed that bill. It has advantages for him; in terms of electoral capital, it is massive because he can come out tomorrow and say I have signed this bill. It is really an opportunity.

“It is like what happened in America; the Obama Care; the Affordable Care Act in America. People don’t know it as Affordable Care; they know it as Obama Care,” he added

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—45

Wike to pick female running mate

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNORSHIP candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said that his running mate will be a woman.

Wike, who spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, noted that his running mate will be announced formerly today, adding that the party had to go for a woman as part of its 35 percent affirmative principle.

He said that his running mate was from the Ijaw axis of the state, adding that the PDP was going to win at the state and presidential levels.

He noted that the era when women were only given bags of salt and few cups of rice as reward for their involvement in elections was over in the state.

He said: “We must move away from only empowering women. We must move away from giving them only wrappers and bags of rice during electioneering campaigns.

Women are very important in every democratic set up and we should encourage them to occupy important positions in the country. If you look round the world, you will find out that women are entrusted with top leadership positions. If you look inward, you will also find out that women who are in top

Mutu assures on completion of foreshore protection

By Perez Brisibe

U

G H E L L I — HOUSE of Representatives member, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, has assured that the ongoing foreshore protection project at Akugbene town in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State will be completed next year.

Mutu, who represents Bomadi/Patani federal constituency in the House of Representatives gave the assurance, yesterday, at Akugbene town during a town hall meeting with his constituents to update them on his activities in office.

The lawmaker, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, admonished youths in the area on the need to respect constituted authorities, and thanked them for supporting the Peoples Democratic Party.

leadership position have been very successful. So, we in PDP have settled for a female running mate as a way of encouraging women to occupy sensitive positions of authority.”

Wike said the country’s First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, did not influence his party's choice of governorship candidate, noting that she would, however, be happy with the party's choice in the state.

“To be honest with you, the wife of the President is not aware of our decision. But I know she will be happy with it.

She has been very supportive.

She has given us moral support.

She is a great women mobilizer.

She has been mobilizing support for her husband. She prayed for me and gave me her blessing. By nominating a female running mate, we have achieved 35 percent affirmative

policy. We have a good balancing in choosing a female running mate. We choose a Kalabari female running mate that would be made public very soon,” he said.

The governorship candidate said he was already talking with aggrieved members of his party, including governorship aspirants, to ensure they all buried their grievances for the good of the party.

RECEPTION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Mr. Saturday Owulekhue, former Chairman, Orhiomwon Local Government Area, during the latter's defection to the APC, on Saturday.

DELTA 2015: Abraka PDP stakeholders to mobilize votes for Okowa, others

By Festus Ahon

A

S A B A — S TA K E HOLDERS of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, have vowed to mobilize votes for the party's governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and other candidates of the party during the 2015 general elections.

Making the promise at a meeting of the party, which was attended by party leaders from the three wards of Abraka community, the party's Director of Youth Mobilization, Chief Sunday Onoriode, charged party members to be committed to the activities of the party.

In their resolution, the leaders from the three wards, Chief Tony Onoharigho, Chief Sapele Atigogo, Chief Cheko Inomiesaha, Chief Warri Godday, Kizito Oweh, Mr. Felix Erhimedafe, Mr. Wilson Agbure and Mrs. Grace Uwhumiakpo, maintained that Abraka community was a PDP stronghold.

Chief Onoriode, in a chat with

newsmen, said: “We have only one party which is PDP and if you decide to leave the party for Labour Party or All Progressives Congress, APC, you are going to start afresh and you know what that means.

Abraka is a home of PDP and we must show that during 2015 elections.

“Let us not shy away from the

truth, you cannot benefit where you do not work. Our right to demand for what we want for is when we deliver the party. Our resolution today is to go home and start strategizing on how we as Abraka people can give bloc vote to Sen. Okowa and all other candidates of the party from House of Assembly to the presidency.”

DELSU don urges sustenance of investors training, said that Delta Beyond Oil and with the dwindling international

A

UNIVERSITY don in the Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Abraka, Dr. Theophilus Opkidi, has tasked the next government that will take over from incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, to make sure that it sustained the Delta Beyond Oil policy, noting that it was the only way to guarantee further socio-economic development of the state.

Opkidi, also the Managing Director of DELSU Investment Limited, an independent arm of the university responsible for its private agricultural investments

price of crude oil, the state and the country could no longer rely on crude oil for survival, except through such an initiative as the Delta Beyond Oil. “It is for the reason of self sustenance that my university asked me to set up the DELSU Investment Ltd. We started with just N5 million but today that arm is worth N400 million. I am sure the state governor saw the growth there and that must have made it possible for him to direct me to revamp the earlier moribund Songhai Delta Farm, which is at Ovwore axis of Amukpe-Sapele."

Pereotubo sworn-in as Burutu Council secretary

M

R. Roland Pereotubo has been sworn in as secretary of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State with a charge to be loyal, faithful, diligent, and dedication in the discharge of his duties.

Chairman of Council, Chief Ebikeme Clark, while performing his statutory duty in the midst of large party followers in his office, tasked Pereotubo to bring his experience to bear and see every indigene of the council as equal stakeholder in the development of the council, devoid of party affiliation.

In his response, Pereotubo pledged to abide and conform with the local government laws as well as seek constructive ideas that will move the council forward.

Pereotubo, said that his appointment will add value to the lives of Burutu people, noting that, this was a call to serve humanity having worked with the National Assembly for about seven years.

Warri Ijaws commend Otuaro, Okowa others

By Akpokona Omafuaire

W

ARRI—THE Warri Ijaw Political Watch, a political pressure group in OgbeIjoh, Warri South-West Area Local Government of Delta State, yesterday, congratulated Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, insisting that his choice was that of a round peg in a round hole.

The group in a statement by Mr. Douglas Moses, also praised Okowa for making a wise choice, insisting that Otuaro has displayed humility and intelligence in the course of his duty as a Commissioner in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Don't leave PDP, Orji begs aggrieved members

Edevbie’s supporters denounce Akpovoka’s defection

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—AHEAD of 2015 elections, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has appealed to aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirants in the recent primaries not to leave the party, arguing that taking such a decision may not be in their interest.

Governor Orji, who addressed an expanded stakeholders meeting of the party at the Women Development Centre, WDC, Umuahia, yesterday, said the party ’s umbrella would accommodate every member.

He said: “The mushroom parties are trying to poach from PDP, but you should not fall victim.”

According to Orji, it was late for anybody to dump the party that was in firm control of Abia and embark on an unclear journey with the opposition parties.

The governor admitted that some people might have felt bad over the outcome of the primaries, but reminded them that “there will always be another tomorrow and that

M

EMBERS of P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ughelli Ward 3/7, the immediate constituency of Olorogun David Edevbie, have distanced themselves from the decision of Mr. Julius Akpovoka, a Director of the defunct David Edevbie Campaign Organization, DECO, to defect to Labour Party, LP. At a meeting convened by Mr. Francis Onobruchere, a chieftain of PDP in the ward, members said Akpovoka was on his own and absolved Edevbie from the consequences of Akpovoka’s action.

They said since Edevbie remained a member of PDP, members of the party in the ward were still loyal to the party and had nothing to do with LP. In his reaction, Edevbie said he wished Akpovoka well.

with patience somebody who lost out today could become the winner tomorrow.”

He said since the governorship primaries had produced Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the party’s candidate, all party members must give him support because “if he wins

the election next year, we have all won and if he loses all of us have lost.”

Responding to those who accused him of supporting and sponsoring Ikpeazu, Orji said as the incumbent governor rounding off his tenure, there was no way he

Mrs Obiano celebrates Xmas with inmates

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has urged Nigerians to show love to the less-privileged in the society, especially during festivities.

She spoke during her visit to prison facilities in Anambra to celebrate the Christmas with the inmates. She visited Onitsha, Aguata and Amawbia prisons, and Daughter of

Charity Orphanage Home at Fegge, Onitsha.

She told inmates that she came with a message of love, as Christmas was a celebration to be shared with loved ones.

According to her, “as the wife of the governor, I am privileged to be the mother of all in the state and I see you as an important part of one big family. The fact that you are confined here does not mean that you cannot

C

OOLWORLD, a subsidiary company of PZ Cussons, has said the downward trend of the Naira to the US dollar exchange rate will not affect its products as it launches an online shopping site, www.CoolWorld.com.ng, for customers.

The Commercial Director, CoolWorld Electrical Retail, Mr.

N

O one should speak of violence. However, the children of God only need to be free from darkness. According to Matthew 11:12, from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. We need wisdom to undertsand this.— Miss Ethel Rukeme, Worker.

P

Olugbenga Kolawole, who disclosed this at a briefing in Lagos, said: “Though other manufacturers have already changed their prices due to the exchange rate, CoolWorld still maintains its prices because of our large heart for risk.”

According to him, the exchange rate would affect everybody, especially today where 70 percent of goods

come out reformed and better than others and able to contribute to the service and progress of our state.”

Present to welcome the governor's wife was the Assistant Comptroller of Amawbia Prisons, Mr. Chris Akabueze, who commended her for the show of love and concern.

She donated one cow to each prison, cooked rice and meat in packs, bags of rice, noodles, tubers of yam, beverages, soap and detergents, among others.

Delta workers seek 13th month salary

P

UBLIC workers in Delta State have appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to fulfill his promise to pay 13th month salary, to set a lasting legacy.

Speaking through the

Chairman of the state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Williams Apkoregha, NLC said workers were looking forward to the 13th month salary before the end of 2014,

CoolWorld repositions against Naira devaluation

By Dayo Adesulu

would not have an input on who succeeds him.

He, however, reminded the party stakeholders that it was the collective decision of the party that power should shift to Abia South, which he said had divine backing because “God is God of equity and fairness.”

were imported.

He said: “We are the manufacturers and our cost of goods is low. We bring it in and assemble. Because of this, we see ourselves as having the ability to withstand the challenge of the exchange rate.”

Most companies, he noted, had begun to offer online services in today ’s evergrowing global market,

adding “CoolWorld launched its online site to give visibility of its products to customers all over the world.”

Kolawole, who explained that CoolWorld had been online for years, noted that it had gone a little further by introducing e-commerce on the site to enable customers reach company and buy products online.

and would want to enter 2015 with great expectations, being an election year.

According to Akoregha, “we want to use this medium once again to appeal to our amiable and labour-friendly governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to fulfill the promise to pay the 13th month salary he made to the state workers during the 2014 May Day celebration.

“We hold the governor in high esteem; we know he is a man of his words. As leaders of the state workers, we need to remind the governor of this promise to reassure our members that he is not only a man of his words, but also a workers’ friendly governor.

“Congress is very hopeful as we have now come to know the governor as a man who works his talk on labour matters.”

What is your perception of 2015?

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is sincere by telling Nigerians that 2015 will not be easy. It is a call for prayers for him and the country. I want to seize this opportunity to pray Almighty God to grant him wisdom, courage and strength to tackle the numerous problems facing the country.— Mr Asuquo Bassey, Businessman.

I

declare 2015 a good year with abundant grace of God for all wellmeaning Nigerians.

Those who think or believe that the coming year will be tough; I pray that my God in heaven will surprise them.

Nigeria shall be greater.

—Miss Esther Adichie, Student.

I

T is good to be sincere to the people and carry them along. The President deserves our support. The same thing happened in Russia, where the president told his country men and women that they should expect hard times because of drop in oil price.—Mr Isaiah Unane, Worker.

N

O matter what happens, Nigeria and Nigerians must survive as usual. Therefore, 2015 will be like the many other years Nigerians have suvived. Let us not approach it with fear because of the general elections. It is well. —Mr Ilokoli Augusta, Businesswoman.

F

OLLOWING utterances from our politicians and the manner in which lawlessness seems to be on the rise, one may conclude that 2015 will be tough. But of a truth, God will take absolute control.

So there is no cause for alarm.— Miss Chinonye Chinny, Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014— 47

YULETIDE: Mobile court convicts 18 drivers

over traffic offences in Ilorin I

By Demola Akinyemi

LORIN—THE Mobile Court of the Federal Road Safety Corps Kwara State Sector Command Ilorin- Ajase-Epo road has convicted 18 drivers for contravening traffic rules, while three others were cautioned.

The Mobile Court is meant to prosecute road traffic violators in the state to stem the tide of road traffic crashes and achieve Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic crashes during the yuletide celebration in Kwara State.

The Sector Commander, Mary Wakawa who disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, yesterday, cautioned drivers who commited various traffic offences such as non-fastening of seat belt, overloading, safety helmet and others.

Wakama reiterated that the exercise would be a continuous one and further warned all road users in the state to desist from other offences like dangerous driving, over loading with passengers and goods, over speeding, using of cell phone while driving, under age driving, driving under the influence of drugs

and alcohol, non-use of crash helmet, use of worn out tyres and others.

She said that any offender caught will be arraigned before the Mobile Court that will be sitting all through the

celebration period adding that road side camps have being erected in Olooru, Bode saadu and Omu-aran.

The Sector Command also hinted that she has deployed 600 staff to control

traffic, conduct rescue activities, and enlighten members of the public in Churches and Mosques.

DEDICATION: From left: Bishop Bennett Okoro, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Archbishop of Abuja and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Rev'd. Nicholas Okoh, former deputy governor of Imo State, Dr Ada Okwuonu and Bishop of Mbaise Diocese, His Lordship, Rev. Chamberlain Ogunedo, during the dedication of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, at Ife Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State.

SURE-P: FG to prosecute fraudulent firms,

others —GIS boss M

By Peter Duru

AKURDI—THE Federal Government would soon commence the prosecution of individuals and firms, who connive to defraud the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE- P. The Director of the Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, Mr. Peter Papka made this known, yesterday in Makurdi the Benue State capital, at the orientation and employment training for Benue interns, organised by SURE-P in collaboration with Lapidot consults.

Represented by Mrs. Tolutope Falae from the Federal

Ministry of Finance, Papka said: “It is true that some bad eggs on the sides of the interns and firms who are their employers, have attempted to defraud the scheme through unethical practices. Some interns have

I

LORIN—THE leadership and stakeholders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State has unveiled Alhaji Ahmed Yinka Aluko as the running mate of its governorship candidate, Senator Suleiman Simeon Ajibola, boasting that they

remains committed to the objectives of the scheme for the benefit of Nigerians, we would not hesitate to commence the prosecution of fraudulent interns and firms who would like to abuse government’s good intentions.”

Buhari raises N85m via sctratch cards in Jigawa

D

By Aliyu Dangida

UTSE—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Buhari Support Group, BSG, has realized over N85 million in Support of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign for

Kwara PDP picks Aluko as deputy have put their differences gov candidate

By Demola Akinyemi

attempted to get paid without working while some firms and their representatives have attempted to connive with interns to derail the objectives of the scheme.

“While this government

behind them and have resolved to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, at the 2015 election.

Senator Ajibola also said that the ruling APC which was declaring the next election as a walk over because of his emergence were actually afraid of him so they needed to pretend to the public.

the 2015 election, which he is running as APC’s presidential candidate.

The money was donated by APC and Buhari’s supporters at the fund-raising where his scratch cards were launched.

During the launching it was also announced that a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart in the state dolled out N10 million in support of General Buhari.

The chief launcher, Honourable Sabo Nakudu, who defected recently from the PDP to the APC and currently APC’s senatorial candidate for Jigawa SouthWest Senatorial District bought the cards worth N5 million while his friends and associates bought N50 million worth.

The state Governorship Candidate, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, also bought the Buhari scratch cards for N5 Million, his company also bought N5 million worth.

Also various groups, associates and candidates for House of Reps, State Assembly, Party officials, supporters including women, Youth Vanguard and others shouting at the top of their voices ‘sai Buhari’ scrambled for the remaining cards.

The cards sent to Jigawa state were said to be for N20 Million only, but more would to be supplied to the state because of the high demand by the APC supporters.

NITDA plans ICT community centres nationwide

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA—NATIONAL I n f o r m a t i o n Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has revealed plan to build Information Technology, IT, community centre nationwide to increase peoples’ access to IT in the country.

To this end, the agency has concluded arrangement to kick-off with about 48 community access centres, as pilot projects in the first quarter of 2015.

The Director General of the NITDA, Mr Peter Jack disclosed this at the sideline of the public Presentation of the Framework for Building a Knowledge-Based Nation through Information Technology with focus on women and youths, developed by the Consultancy Support Services, CS2, Ltd, in Abuja.

He said the centre when fully in operation would assist in running other services like voter’s registration, National ID Card registration, as well as registration for various examinations like WAEC, JAMB, etc, in addition to being a training centre on ICT.

2015:

Youths congratulate Otuaro as Okowa's running mate

W

ARRI—IJAW youths of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, have congratulated Mr. Kingsley Otuaro on his emergence as the running mate to Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Comrade Timi Oluba who spoke on behalf of Gbaramatu youths yesterday, said: "Otuaro was actually the choice of the Ijaw to be the running mate to Okowa."

Oluba, however, maintained that the youths of Gbaramatu kingdom were seriously working towards the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 presidential election and called on Deltans to support Senator Okowa.

He also commended Otuaro for his outstanding contributions towards the development of Ijaw nation, and empowerment of Ijaw youths.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

PRESENTATION: Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), receiving a report compiled by Labour on ways to improve the state Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, from Chairman, Labour Committee on IGR, Comrade Francis Adetunji (2nd right), during the presentation of the report at Governor's Office, Osogbo, Osun State. With them are, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,Osun Chapter, Saka Adesiyan (left); Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, JNC,Osun Chapter, Bayo Adejumo (3rd right), and others.

PARTY: Wife of the Governor of Benue State, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, during Xmas party for children, at Government. House, Makurdi, Benue State.

RECEPTION: From left, former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara; President of Ngwa Patriots Forum, Chief Okey Ahiwe, and ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, during the Grand Reception and Award Ceremony in honour of Mr. Ajaegbu in Aba, Abia State.

AWARD: From left, Mr. Omosanjo, Chairman, Ayanre Community Development Association; Engr. Owoso, Chairman, Youth Empowerment Programme; Kudirat Oseni, beneficiary, receiving an award from Alhaja Hassan, 2nd Vice -Chairman, Ayanre Community Development Association, at the just concluded Youth Empowerment Programme, organised by Ayanre Community Development Association, Olorunda, LCDA, to empower the youths in its community. Photo: Simon Adewale.

PRESENTATION: From left, Senator representing Lagos West, Senator Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon; Secretary, Oasis Women Organisation, Adenike Kayode, and Funke Oguntuga, during presentation of gift items to the widows

by Senator Solomon, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Director of ICT, Ministry of Education, Mr. Orji Kalu, representing the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (CON); Head of Tax, Airtel Nigeria, Bolarinwa Akapo; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Hon, Aminu Suleiman; Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Board of Trustees, Dr. Musa Babayo, and Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, during the award presentation to Airtel Nigeria, for its consistent payment of education tax, at the TETFund 2014 Taxpayers Forum, in Lagos.

OPENING: From left, representative of the DPO, New Etete Police Division, Benin, ASP Alexander Bassey; Showroom Manager, Mr. Mustafa Darwish; General Manager, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Amthal Fouani, and Managing Director, Jerry Steel Works Limited, Mr. Radwan Jammal, during the official opening of LG Brand Showroom, in Benin.

PRESENTATION: Mr. Emomotimi Oguwor on behalf of the DESOPADEC Commissioner, Kingsley Otuaro (right), presenting the key of a Passport 19 Boat to the traditional ruler of Iduwini Kingdom, represented by High Chief Evans Etimigba, in Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 49

50— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

The Convener Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative,Senator Oluremi Tinubu;Chairman Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Student of Leadership Academy for Girls; during inauguration of Musical youth Fiesta Initiative Leadership Academy for Girls,at her Constituency office in Yaba,Lagos

L-R: Osas Ighodaro, Ambassador Polo Luxury Group; Jennifer Obayuwana, Executive Director Polo Luxury Group; Zainab Ashadu, Creative Director Zashadu; Linda Mesorob-Sodeinde, Creative Director Ariaba Beads, At a showcase of Luxury designers at the Polo Luxury Group Headquarters Lagos

NITDA unveils framework for knowledge based economy

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has unveiled a framework aimed at increasing the participation of women and youth in ICT sector.

Director General of the agency, Mr. Peter Jack, said the framework when implemented, has the capacity of leveraging knowledge for development of women and youths thereby stimulating the country’s development.

Presenting the document to members of the public, the DG said the framework is in line with the NITDA mandate to use ICT as central tools and catalyst for development.

He said women and youth constitute large percentage of the country population and there is need to come up with strategic framework which aims at building a nation where they could realize their full potentials.

Jack stated that it was imperative that women and youths who make up the majority of the population are not only carried along but are major players in shaping the direction of evolving a digital nation with sustainable peace, equity and improved quality of life, adding, “The effective use of information and knowledge is becoming the most critical factor for rapid economic growth and wealth creation, and for improving socio-economic well-being and for Nigeria to be globally competitive in the 21st century, a critical factor would be our ability to harness our knowledge potential using ICT.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—51

A housing estate in Abuja

Labour union unveils plans to build N400bn public servants estate in FCT

By Caleb Ayansina

T

he Nigeria Civil Service Union (Federal Council) has unveiled plans to build over 600 affordable housing units to address the problem of accommodation faced by workers in the nation’s capital.

The N400 billion project named Blossom Court will be built in collaboration with the Blancmansion Nigeria Limited. The first phase of the project will take off with about 150 housing units.

Located at Karish in the New Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Blosson Court, according to developer, will on completion, have modern facilities.

Performing the groundbreaking ceremony, the chairman of the Union, Comrade Lawrence Amechi explained that the estate is for public servants. However, members of the public who indicate interest can also be accommodated in the scheme.

Amechi said the workers’ union embarked upon the project through their cooperative society because most of the estates in the FCT are not affordable to the workers.

He said the union has made solid arrangement with a reputable mortgage institution to ensure that workers become house owners with their contributions to the National Housing Fund, NHF

“The project will not be one of those projects where people after subscription find it difficult to take possession of their houses; the workers will not be disappointed without compromising standard.

The project will be beneficial because if you look into Abuja,

the standard of living is high and this particular one we have designed, will be affordable. It is over subscribed and we have a payment pattern that is very easy,” he said.

Continuing, Amechi said: “The issue of mortgage will

not be a problem. We have almost five banks that are ready to spread the payment as long as you perceive it will give you comfort. You can be living in the house and still paying for it. The payment pattern is okay.”

Speaking in an interview with

Vanguard Homes & Property, the Managing Director of the Blancmansion Limited, Mr Bennett Ezeta explained that the beauty of the project is that the subscribers could decide to settle for either the finished house or the carcass house and complete it by themselves.

He said that the project would be completed within 24 months at a cost of about N400 billion. Off-takers, he said, would take delivery of their houses within 12 months.

Why uncompleted projects dot the nation’s landscape — Shonubi

By Jude Njoku

T

he immediate past Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Mr. Olayemi Shonubi has attributed the high cost of procuring civil and heavy engineering projects in Nigeria to the non-utilisation of quantity surveyors who by training are equipped to give value for money on all construction projects. He also blamed the plethora of uncompleted or abandoned projects in the country on the inability of the government and relevant agencies to use the services of construction cost experts.

Shonubi who spoke at a recent interactive session with newsmen as part of activities to mark the 2014 Quantity Surveyors Week organised by the Lagos state chapter of the professional body, insisted that the principal reason behind the avalanche of abandoned and uncompleted projects is non-utilisation of the services of construction cost experts from the conceptualization through to the execution of such projects.

Shonubi who weekend, handed over to the new chairperson of the chapter, Mrs Adenike Ayanda, also stated that

most projects are abandoned due to a mismatch between the available funds and what the consultants have designed, maintained that the use of quantity surveyors in both buildings and heavy/ civil engineering projects, would reduce cost overruns that ultimately lead to the abandonment of projects. He explained that it is only in Nigeria that the engineer designs a project and at the same time, does the costing. According to him, the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation, BEME, being used by engineers is not internationally recognised but was packaged by engineers to retain their stranglehold on

Mr Olayemi Shonubi, Immediate past Chairman, NIQS, Lagos State chapter

the construction industry. Mr Shonubi explained that what is internationally recognised and accepted is the bill of quantities preserved by quantity surveyors.

To ensure value for money spent on infrastructure projects, he called for the establishment of Directorate of Budget and Economic Planning to be headed by a quantity surveyor in every tier of government. The directorate, he said will be saddled with the planning, monitoring and implementation of all projects, especially capital projects.

Speaking on the high cost of housing delivery in the country particularly in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Shonubi attributed it to a plethora of factors which include the high cost of land and the failure of the mortgage system. He noted that most property owners in Surulere (Adeniran Ogunsanya and Randle) bought their houses through the Staff Loans Board which provided mortgage facilities to them. He also decried the absence of basic infrastructure like good roads, noting that if we had good roads and functional railways, people can afford to live in far-flung areas and come from there to work in the city centre.

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

The demolished property.

Court restrains LSBC, others from further demolition of Lagos property

By Kingsley Adegboye

A

Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has restrained the Lagos State government from further demolition and dismantling of a property located at plot 49, Martins, street, Lagos by the agents of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LSBCA. In an interlocutory injunction granted by Justice Hakeem O. Oshodi, the court restrained the Attorney General of Lagos State alongside the State Urban and Renewal Agency from further tampering with the five -storey building destroyed by the agents of the government.

Defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of Lagos State, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, LASURA and the Lagos

State Building Control Agency LASBCA. In the motion on notice filed by the Claimants/ Applicants, they sought for an order of the court to restrain the defendants “either by themselves, agents, privies or whosoever from erecting any structure, or alienating to the third party (LASBCA) or further interfering in any manner on any part of the property situate at No. 49, Martins Street/30, Shitta Street, Lagos pending the determination of the substantive suit in this case.”

Granting the prayers in the suit documented as LD/ 7688/2014, Justice Osodi ordered the respondents to maintain the status quo.

He adjourned the matter till January 15, 2015 for the hearing of the motion on Notice.

“Due to the peculiar nature of the facts of this case, it will be prudent for the Court to maintain status quo of the Respondents. In this respect, the Court hereby orders that parties, especially the 2nd and 3rd.

Defendants, to maintain status quo as at today,” the Judge ruled.

The Claimant, Alhaji Fasasi Adesigbin Oluwole, Afeez Oladimeji Shitta, Alhaja Mutiat Olasumbo Hassan,(on behalf of the family of late Alhaja Taibat Shitta) and Alhaja Hadikat Talabi had in the suit laid claim to the disputed property at No 49 Martins street, Lagos.

In their affidavit, they alleged that in spite of the court orders restraining the defendants. from further tampering with the disputed property, they “at a break neck speed fully demolished the property in dispute in my presence.”

Stakeholders endorse Anambra’s multi-city devt plan

By Nwabueze Okonkwo HE move by the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to embark on the construction of multi-city projects in Awka Capital Territory, has been endorsed by royal fathers and the chairmen of the various local government areas that make up the area. The endorsement came when the Awka Capital Territory Development Board, ACTDB led by Mr. Chika Egwuatu, an architect, undertook a familiarization tour of the area. The stakeholders who lauded the setting up of the 10man board comprising

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seasoned professionals, also commended what they called the development revolution of the Obiano administration.

Lamenting that both the past military and civilian administrations had failed to develop a master plan for the Awka Capital Territory, the stakeholders hailed the on-going process to develop an Awka Capital City to be modeled after Dubai, Seoul and Kigali..

The Chairman of Awka South Local Council, Mr. Azubuike Iloh called for the construction of a modern abattoir and a central motor park in the new Awka master plan.

He also advocated the

relocation of Eke-Awka main market and Arthur Eze Avenue Building Materials/Timber market to Umuokpu, to allow for free flow of traffic. It will also curtail the activities of hoodlums in the area. Iloh also called for the establishment of small scale industrial centres and a central mechanic village in the town.

In his remarks, a former President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Chief Emeka Onuorah noted that with the calibre of professionals assembled by the governor, the project would

Continues on page 53

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 —53

Trinity Mall

N600m Trinity Mall opens for business in Ikeja T

By Kingsley Adegboye

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RINITY Mall located along the ever-busy Awolowo Way in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, has officially opened for business. The threestorey shopping complex constructed with about N600 million, is the flagship commercial project of OMAIS Investment Limited, a Lagosbased real estate development company. The construction of the mall comprising 40 shop spaces of various types, was formally flagged-off on December 13, 2011.

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO of OMAIS Investment Limited, Omochiere Aisagbonhi told journalists last week that less

Stakeholders endorse Anambra’s multi-city devt plan Continues from page 52 succeed as planned.

Onuorah who is the Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Area, described the board as a great team and praised them for the hard work which resulted in the production of a document modeled after Dubai, Seoul and Kigali within six months.

The Njikoka Council boss called for more enlightenment to enable the populace adhere to planning principles before developing any project. The enlightenment will also assist them to adjust, after the expected initial resistance.

than 10 per cent of the spaces in the mall are yet to be occupied.

“The design of the mall is a mix of rugged Nigerian and finehoned international structural

details. The shop types are in various shapes and sizes, with the provision of lock-up, open plan and see -through models.

There is ample parking space, an

elevator, 24- hour power and water supply as well as adequate security including CCTV surveillance”, he said.

On whether OMAIS has plans to develop similar malls around Lagos in the nearest future, Aisagbonhi said the company has already acquired a piece of land in Maryland for the development of another mega mall. The ground breaking ceremony, according to him, will be done immediately after Christmas.

Aisagbonhi said shopping should be pleasurable to the person spending the money and satisfying to the one providing the service. He explained that making shopping pleasurable was the main reason behind the development of Trinity Malls.

“This is why we have committed a lot of money to the completion of this project and we have spared no expense in making sure that the mall meets all internationally acceptable standards”, Aisagbonhi stated.

Describing the Lagos tax regime as very rigid particularly as it concerns real estate business, Aisagbonhi said there is no concession from either the state government or local councils. Rather, he said, real estate developers are subjected to multiple taxation.

According to him, economic development should be a partnership between the government and the governed, either as individuals or as corporate organisations. He said the government is expected to provide the necessary infrastructure that should encourage citizens and others to invest in the economy.

LCBC member countries set to implement 91m euro investment plan

By Funmi Olasupo

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s part of efforts to tackle the challenges confronting the operations of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, LCBC, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr Sanusi Imran Abdullahi, an engineer, has unveiled plans to implement a five-year investment plan, expected to gulp about 91,000,000 Euros.

The plan would bring about the improvement of the hydraulicity of the Chari and Logone Rivers and the desilting, erosion and evasive weeds control measures, in and around the Lake Chad to enable the Lake accommodate more flow.

A press statement signed by the Deputy Director Press, in the Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Boade Akinola, said Abdullahi made th the disclosures at the 60 Ordinary Session of the LCBC Council of Ministers Meeting held weekend, in Niamey, Republic of Niger.

Addressing delegates at the conference, Abdullahi disclosed that the five -year investment plan which is expected to commence in 2015, is an offshoot of the International Donors Round

The plan would bring about the improvement of the hydraulicity of the Chari and Logone Rivers and the desilting, erosion and evasive weeds control measures, in and around the Lake Chad

Table Conference in April 2014 at Bologna and Rimini Italy.

“The amount of 91,000,000€ which was pledged (ADB- 86 million, BMZ- 5 million €) would be used to implement the LCBC FYIP”, the statement said.

The Commission’s Executive Secretary explained that the Chairman of the Summit had set up the International Monitoring Committee to follow up on all pledges made during the Donor’s Conference headed by former President of EU Parliament , Prof. Prodi Romano, to be assisted by former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Members of the committee included representatives of three multilateral financial institutions Africa Development Bank, World Bank and European Union, a representation of a bilateral financial partner (Germany), Ministers of Planning of Niger, Chad and Nigeria and the Chairman Council of Ministers of the LCBC. He urged member countries

to show more commitment towards timely payment of statutory contributions. “The persisting challenge of nontimely payment of statutory contribution by member countries has continued to make it impossible for the Commission to carry out its planned and approved activities. This situation is making our development partners weary, and at times confused about our seriousness to sustain the Commission”, he emphasized.

Speaking on the commitment of AfDB towards the implementation of the FYIP, the Bank’s Chief Technical Expert, Dr. Tounkara Samba Bocary said AfDB had committed more than 100 million US Dollars to ensure the implementation of FYIP. Representing the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, the Director, Planning Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mr. Wakil Adamu, commended the efforts of Nigerian government toward reviving Lake Chad Basin.

54— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Court remands 4 men for forgery, cultism

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENINAN Evboriaria Magistrate court sitting in Benin has remanded four men in prison custody for forgery and cultism.

The accused, Ekomoba Abu, Ononiwu Samuel, Ehibor Austine and Nkwocha Emeka were arraigned on a five-count charge of forgery, unlawful possession of firearms, operating as members of Black Axe and committing Advance Fee Fraud popularly known as 419.

They were alleged to have forged sign up letters of the Nigeria Entertainment Music Board, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Visionaries Football Club of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. The accused were accused of engaging in unlawful secret cult and firing gun to cause panic to members of the public.

Pleas of the accused were not taken but trial Chief Magistrate, A.A Ihenyen remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to January 30, 2015. He ordered the court registrar to duplicate the case file and send copies to the Directorate of Public Prosecutor for legal advice.

Ihedioha bemoans decay in Imo education sector

By Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri EPUTY Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has described the level of decay in Imo State education sector as “regrettable and alarming”.

Ihedioha made his feelings known during an interaction with journalists in his Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise local council area country home.

“What is happening in Imo State today is regrettable and alarming.

Before the advent of the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration, our dear state ranked high in external examinations but today, we now find ourselves at the bottom”, Ihedioha said.

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Gaidam visits victims, flays insurgents’ attacks G

OVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, yesterday, condemned the recent insurgents’ attacks on Gaidam market, police station, Gaidam Local Government Rest House and private house of the local government chairman.

Gaidam made the remark when he paid a sympathy visit to the victims in the town.

Addressing newsmen shortly after inspecting the Gaidam Central Market, the governor described the attack as “unfortunate, inhuman, unwarranted and ungodly”.

The governor, who hails from

Gaidam, said it was unfortunate that the town lost its market to insurgents’ attacks.

While assuring that the state government would do everything possible to assist the victims of the mayhem, the governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency to liaise with officials of the market association with a view to assessing individual losses for the assistance.

Gaidam also directed the agency to provide urgent relief materials to all the victims of the attacks.

The governor also visited

SURE-P begins second phase graduate training scheme in Enugu

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—The Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P on the Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, yesterday, commenced a threeday graduate interns training programme for 100 beneficiaries for the second phase in Enugu State.

The training is to enable trainees to optimize their internship by developing useful skills and positive habits in their place of internship.

While delivering the opening at the programme, Project Director, GIS, Mr. Peter Papka, said “SURE-P provides critical safety nets to deliberately create a critical bridge that will enable the Nigerian graduate cross from graduation to workplace with ease. This gap has been responsible for the claim that the graduates are unemployable because they have few skills and no experience to enable them hit the ground running in the workplace.

“The training provides instruction on personal and team effectiveness, skills, etiquettes and ethics of the workplace. It will assist the interns to adapt, build career

path development, bridge the gap between school and labour market and provide the graduates with something to do and somewhere to go.

“Windows will open to committed interns and we want to assure you that the scheme will support any intern that plans his own future after internship.

Opportunities in agriculture, information communication technology, power, construction, health, environment and sanitation as well as financial literacy will be provided to interns during this training.”

Mainesorowa in Niger Republic, where most persons displaced by the attack took refuge.

He was received and conducted round the refugees camp by the prefect (governor) of Diffa Region, Alhaji Yakuba Usman.

Usman told his Nigerian counterpart that more than 4,000 people were offered shelter in the area out of whom 1,385 had

been camped and fed by the Government of Niger.

He said 3,000 refugees were staying with friends and relatives in Mainesarowa town.

Usman also said that the President of Niger had directed that the refugees be given proper treatment.

Addressing the victims, Gaidam urged them to regard their plight as an act of God.

DSS cautions politicians over inciting statements

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HE Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, warned politicians against making inciting statements capable of truncating the nation’s democracy.

The Service in a statement by its spokesperson, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, warned of dire consequences for the politicians if they failed to retrace their steps immediately.

The statement said: “The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to inciting and unguarded statements and utterances by some politicians ahead of the 2015 general elections. Of particular interest is the statement of a serving governor calling on men of the armed forces to rise up in protest

against constituted authority, with the intent to undermine the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Their actions which are intended to achieve their desires are irresponsible, selfish and against our collective wellbeing as a nation. It is noteworthy that similar unguarded provocative statements by politicians in the past had encouraged violence that resulted in loss of innocent lives and property. It is pertinent to note that no Nigerian is above the laws of this land. Political office holders must not hide under the privileges of their offices to perpetrate and encourage the commission of acts inimical to the general interest of this nation, as this will henceforth not be tolerated.

Concerned inter- party stakeholders in Oyo State politics, yesterday, protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office in Ibadan calling for the replacement of the Oyo State resident electoral commissioner to Ibadan. The protesters with their posters during the protest

Cancer patient denies escaping from UBTH over unpaid bills •Begs Gov Oshiomhole for assistance

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY- A 45 yearold woman, Enoyin Ukponayusi Helen, a cancer patient, who was said to have escaped from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, December 23, 2014, wept, yesterday, when she narrated that she only went out to beg for money to upset her hospital bill to gain her freedom from the hospital.

The patient whose left breast was cut off to stop the

spread of the ailment, has been detained in the hospital for more than two months due to her inability to pay N500,000 to the management of the hospital.

Her condition became complex after her son, 15 yearold Esosa Ukponayusi, who went to see her mother at the hospital the same day she left the hospital, was arrested and detained at Ugbowo Police station by the management of the hospital. The hospital management has, however, denied that he was arrested

over the alleged escape of his mother, saying that Esosa was arrested over a fight with security operatives at the hospital.

Efosa and their neighbour who was equally arrested by the police were granted bail after Christmas. However, Mrs Ukponayusi who was detained at the female surgical ward of the UBTH, pleaded with Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other wellmeaning Nigerians to come to her aid.

“I only went out to look for

people to help me with the money to pay the hospital not that I escaped. I am tired of sleeping in the hospital alone.

When everybody leaves I will be alone and the environment is very fearful. I cannot continue like this, people should come to my aid. ''That was why I went out that day not that I escaped. And the whole thing became worse for me when I learnt that my son was arrested at the police station and that they accused him of knowing my whereabouts. I am tired of staying here alone, people should help me,” she wept.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014—55

Pensioners demand better welfare

By Lamidi Bamidele

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ERMANENT Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Commission, Mr. Ashimi Jamiu, has assured pensioners in Lagos State that all payments due to the pensioners will be settled.

Speaking at a launching of the maiden edition of the 2015 Lagos State Teachers Pensioners’ calendar in Lagos, he said: “All payments due teacher pensioners in the state will be settled.

“We are surely going to be pensioners after leaving service and I will not want to face such ordeal. About N13.5 billion is expected from the Federal Government have not been paid.”

Also speaking, chairman of the Lagos State Teacher Pensioners, Rev. James Kayode Owoyemi called on all tiers of government to improve the welfare of teachers whether serving or retired.

He said teachers are important to the society and that the relegation of teachers is unacceptable.

FG, stakeholders tasked on education

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IFE of House of Representatives Committee Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Blessing Mutu has called on the Federal and state governments, and other stakeholders in the education sector to make concerted effort to improve primary and secondary school education in the Niger Delta region.

Mrs Mutu noted that since education was the bedrock from which nations attain greatness and overcome poverty, it was imperative for the government and well meaning individuals to provide and improve upon the educational standard of children from the creeks to enable them live meaningful life.

The lawmaker ’s wife spoke at Akugbene town during a Christmas party held for children.

Nigeria, EU sign MoU on 2015 elections A

BUJA—THE European Union (EU) and Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the monitoring of the general elections in 2015.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Danjuma Sheni, who led Nigeria’s delegation at the occasion, said Nigeria was committed to conducting credible elections in 2015.

Sheni said Nigeria welcomed the EU team to observe its elections because of the importance of neutral observers in the process.

He said: “Nigeria welcomes the European Union as observers of its elections just as others because of the importance of neutral observers in the electoral process.

“Such observers tend to lend credibility to the legitimacy of the elections. This is precisely the reason why Nigeria is willing to sign this MoU with the European Union delegation.

“The EU observed our 2011 elections which were declared as one of the freest and fairest elections in Nigeria.”

The permanent secretary added that the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, had confirmed that the 2015 elections would be conducted under the best international practices.

He, therefore, called on the EU and Nigeria’s other partners to continue to assist INEC to live up to the pledge made by Jega.

“Nigeria values the presence of the international observers for its elections since this is one of the pillars for strengthening democracy.

“Nigeria is committed to having free, fair, credible, transparent and peaceful elections,” he said.

Leader of EU delegation, Mr Alan Munday, said the union was committed to

improving democratic processes in Nigeria.

Munday said the objective of any observer mission was not to criticise but to deliver independent report to improve future processes.

He said that the observer mission would look at the whole process of the election from the campaigns to the post-

election period.

Munday called on all stakeholders to respect and play by the rules to ensure a level-playing field, free and fair process for all those involved in the democratic process.

He said the observer team of about 20 to 30 persons would be in Nigeria in the

next few weeks.

Munday said that the team would not be able to cover the whole country owing to the vastness of the country.

He, however, said that it would cover all the geo-political zones, states and the major cities, and collaborate with the locals, NGOs and other international observer teams for effective observation.

MOSOP PROTEST: Members of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, on a peaceful protest against what they termed political slavery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday. PHOTO: Nwankpa Chijioke.

I didn’t endorse Karetimi as Okowa’s running mate—OROMONI

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ARRI—IJAW leader in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Couple Oromoni, has denied media report that he attended a meeting of the Ijaw Political Elders Forum at Bomadi, where Chief Oluwole Karetimi was endorsed as the

running mate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship standard bearer, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Chief Oromoni told Vanguard, yesterday, that reports linking him to the purported endorsement of Karetimi, chairman of

Bomadi Local Government Area, was a fallacy as he was not at the purported meeting of the forum and did not sign any statement to that effect.

He said his findings revealed that some persons added his name to the list of those who attended the meeting to gain support for their candidate.

Ukpe Anioma congratulates Okowa

By Hugo Odiogor

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KPE Anioma, a Delta North political pressure group has called on the people of Delta State to vote for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. It also congratulated Okowa on his resounding victory in the last PDP governorship primary in the state.

In a statement by its National Leader, Chief Joe Obuseh, yesterday, the group, said “We congratulate our son

and brother, Senator Okowa for his spectacular victory in the last PDP governorship primaries in Delta State.

“We are happy that our dream of an Anioma aspirant clinching the PDP nomination has been actualized. It can never be too late to thank our brothers and sisters not only in Anioma, but also in Delta South and Delta Central senatorial districts who made Dr. Okowa’s victory possible.

“We also congratulate all the other worthy contestants for the nomination especially

those that have displayed a spirit of sportsmanship by openly conceding and congratulating Dr. Okowa for his victory.

“These include Elder Godsday Orubebe and Sir Chuks Tony Obuh, Ochei, Elumelu and others. We urge every member of the great PDP family to come together quickly to support Dr Okowa to fight for and clinch the Delta State governorship come the February 2015 elections.

“We urge Dr. Okowa, on his

part to demonstrate magnanimity in victory by welcoming all the factions and groups who are members of the great PDP family in order to defeat the other political parties in the governorship election.

“On our part, we have enjoined all Ukpe Anioma members wherever they may be in Delta North to vote for Dr. Okowa in the coming governorship election.

“We also call on all members of PDP in all senatorial districts to remain steadfast in the support of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.”

56— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30 , 2014

BRIEFS US approves Roche Ebola test for emergency use

More nations join search for missing AirAsia plane *As Indonesia asks US for help *Plane suspected to be at bottom of sea

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HE search for a missing airliner with 162 people aboard will expand today, the Indonesian government announced.

Four additional areas will be searched, the national search-andrescue agency said.

Seven zones were patrolled Monday, the second day of working to find AirAsia Flight QZ8501. So far, the search has been fruitless.

“Our early conjecture is that the plane is in the bottom of the sea,” said Bambang Sulistyo, the head of the search-andrescue agency. That belief is based on the plane’s flight track and last known coordinates. ndonesia has formally asked the United States for help in the search, a senior U.S. official said. A process is underway to determine what may be needed, the official said.

The United States had already expressed willingness to help if asked, with the Navy 7th Fleet standing ready to contribute to search efforts.

One task Indonesia is seeking help with involves technology.

Indonesia has reached out to the United Kingdom, France and the United States for help with sonar devices that may be needed for an underwater search, Sulistyo said Monday.

France has dispatched two investigators to Indonesia. They are due to arrive in Jakarta on Monday, France’s Foreign Ministry said.

The missing plane is made by Airbus, a French company.

China will dispatch aircraft and ships to participate in search and rescue efforts, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.

A Chinese navy frigate previously patrolling in the South China Sea was en route to the waters near where the plane lost contact, the ministry said on its website. The Chinese air force is also assisting with planning, the ministry said.

A C-130 plane from Singapore has been participating in the search, and the country’s military said it’s sending two more ships to the search area.

Malaysia’s transportation minister said his country has deployed three vessels

and three aircraft to assist in the search. And the Royal Australian Air Force said Monday that it was deploying a patrol plane to help.

Rescuers say weather was probably a factor in the plane’s disappearance.

Large waves and clouds hampered the search for the plane Sunday and Monday. But Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla told reporters his country will not give up or set a time limit for the operation.

A possible oil slick within the search zone has been

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OCHE Holding AG said U.S. health regulators have approved its Ebola test for emergency use in response to the world’s worst outbreak of the disease in West Africa.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Roche’s LightMix Ebola Zaire rRT-PCR Test for use on patients with signs and symptoms of Ebola Zaire virus infection, the Swiss drugmaker said in a statement.

Roche said the LightMix test can generate results in just over three hours, helping to detect the virus quickly so treatment can start as soon as possible.

Egypt to try 15 students in military courts

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N Egyptian prosecutor referred 15 alleged members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood to a military court on Sunday on violence-related charges, the state news agency reported.

Egypt expanded the jurisdiction of military courts in October to permit them to try civilians accused of acts ranging from attacking state facilities to blocking roads.

The change followed some of the worst assaults on security forces since last year’s overthrow of President Mohammed Mursi of the Brotherhood.

The accused are 15 students from Zagazig University in the Nile Delta who face charges including inciting riots, belonging to a terrorist organisation and protesting without a permit.

Iran’s supreme leader vilifies U.S. police

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Relatives of passengers onboard AirAsia flight QZ8501 cry in a waiting area at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya December 29, 2014

N a series of blunt tweets over the holiday weekend, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei entered America’s debate on race and police violence — comparing unrest in states like New York and Missouri to conflicts in the Middle East.

On Sunday he tweeted: “#Jesus endured sufferings to oppose tyrants who had put humans in hell in this world& the hereafter while he backed the oppressed. #Ferguson

Taliban declares ‘defeat’ of NATO

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Indonesian experts embarking on a search mission for the missing Asian airline

ALIBAN fighters in Afghanistan have declared the “defeat” of the US and its allies, a day after the coalition officially ended its combat mission.

A Taliban statement said the US-led force had “rolled up its flag” without having achieved “anything substantial”.

Nato formally ended its 13-year mission on Sunday, but about 13,000 troops will stay to train the Afghan army.

Meanwhile, officials said four Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack in Helmand province on Monday.

Three other soldiers were injured during the attack on an army checkpoint in Sangin district. Eight insurgents were said to have been killed.

Clinton, Obama top ‘most admired’ poll

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Masks popping up in global protests

ILLARY Clinton takes the top spot on a list of admired living women for the 13th year in a row, according to an annual survey released by Gallup on Monday.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, is considered the most admired living man in any part of the world.

When asked to name a woman they’ve heard or read about and admire, 12% mentioned Clinton, the former secretary of state, New York senator and first lady.

Eight percent said Oprah Winfrey, 5% said Nobel Peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and 4% said first lady Michelle Obama.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30 , 2014 — 57

AFRICAN NEWS

Hunger Gnaws at Burundi’s Soul R

ECENT studies indicate Africa’s little, and little-known, country of Burundi is the hungriest place on earth.

War, poverty and overpopulation have left up to two thirds of the residents with chronic food shortages, stunting people’s growth physically and also professionally, while rising demands for scarce resources pose serious problems for Burundi’s stability. In Ngozi province, in the north, charities are using a variety of methods to fight the war on hunger.

Along many of the hillsides in Burundi’s northern Ngozi province, rows of workers are digging and planting to try and stop fertile soils from sliding away.

The United Nations World Food Program’s cash for assets scheme is currently paying more than 5,700 local farmers to work other people’s lands after years of trying and failing to beat hunger by toiling their own.

Farmers like 50-year-old Matthias Bukuru say that the $1.25 wage he’s paid is a fortune compared to the self-enforced slavery he used to put himself through, only to still go hungry.

He said the worst job he had was farming for someone and being paid 12 cents a day.

“The worst job was when I used to farm for someone for a day and he paid me 200 Burundian francs per day, which would only buy me a small basket of sweet potatoes to bring home to eat, and that wouldn’t even feed the family,” said Bukuru.

Studies by the International Food Policy Research Institute, a malnutrition watchdog, place Burundi last in 79 countries surveyed on food and poverty issues.

A twelve-year civil war that ended in 2005 left much fertile land fallow for too long, or repossessed, while overpopulation has increased the pressure on food production.

Bukuru and many others, whose outsized clothes make them appear like teenagers, say that they returned home after years in exile to infertile land and had no money to regenerate it.

Peul women sit in a house across the Nour Islam mosque where they found refuge in Bangui, Central African Republic, Dec. 11, 2013.

Displaced Muslims in CAR in Jeopardy H

UNDREDS of displaced Muslims trapped in a town in the Central African Republic are becoming more vulnerable by the day, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR. The agency is calling for this group of people to be relocated, and discussions with the

C.A.R. government are expected in the coming days.

About 500 Muslims, mainly ethnic Peuls, have been in the town o f Yaloke in western C.A.R. since fleeing there nine months ago to escape hostile Christian and animist anti-balaka militia.

In Yaloke, they have

had some protection from French and United Nations peacekeepers, and have been receiving some food aid. But they are trapped in a small area and unable to move outside it for fear of attacks. Health conditions have deteriorated.

A mission led by the Roman Catholic

archbishop of Bangui recently visited Yaloke to provide medical help.

The doctor with the mission, Elkana Ndwatcha, told VOA the Peuls’ situation is deplorable, and action must be taken urgently to save them. He described their living conditions as appalling.

UN reopens Nile route to bring aid to hunger-hit South Sudan Sudan has been heavily

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HE United Nations said on Monday it had begun delivering food aid to war-torn South Sudan via the Nile River from Sudan for the first time since it became independent in 2011, warning the country could face a “hunger catastrophe”.

The corridor, through

an area of high military activity, will reduce reliance on expensive airplane and helicopter deliveries, which cost six to seven times as much as river and road transport, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

“The threat of a hunger catastrophe remains

very real in early 2015 as the dry season takes hold,” said Stephen Kearney, WFP’s acting country director. “This will make an enormous difference in our efforts to bring food assistance to people in critical need.”

The border between Sudan and Sudan

militarized since Juba declared independence from Khartoum three years ago, cutting off nearly all cross-border commercial and humanitarian traffic along the Nile. The route was opened only after extensive negotiations between the two countries, WFP said.

He said 40 people in the group died between April and December. Aid agencies say that figure includes 13 children. They say it’s a far higher mortality rate than in the surrounding community, where only one death of a child was reported in the same period.

The main causes of mortality among the children have been malaria and malnutrition, said Ndawatcha. Many of the children, he said, displayed typical signs of protein deficiency - badly swollen feet, cheeks and eyelids, and emaciated bodies.

He adds that the archbishop spoke with the community’s leaders, who said the Peul want to leave Yaloke and go to Cameroon, where they will be accepted and will be able to earn their living.

Ethiopia accuses ICC of bias, urges delisting of Africa

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A Sudanese girl from the war-torn Blue Nile state collects water from a muddy pond, in order to avoid a 12-hour wait at a water pump, in South Sudan’s Doro refugee camp December 10, 2011.

HE Ethiopian Prime M i n i s t e r , HaileMariam Desalegn, has called on African countries to withdraw their membership from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the organisation is only serving the interests of Western nations.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while receiving the Sudanese State Minister for Information, Yasser Yusuf, who concluded a three-day visit to Addis Ababa on Monday.

Desalegn said that he totally agreed with the

call on African countries to pull out of the ICC. The prime minister had noted that the ICC had become a tool that serves the interest of the countries who, ironically, refused to be members of the court.

He expressed happiness that Ethiopia was not member of the court, because “the court is not the place for justice as all permanent members of the UN Security Council have stayed away from the court, but still use it to implement their political will”.

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 59 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

GEMINI;. Placement of the Moon can bring you avoidable confrontation either from new contacts or old allies; try you best to avoid partnership crisis.

Exhibit maturity CANCER; Planetary placement warns you to take your health more seriously. Yet here is a day remarkable success can be your lots LEO;. Whatever happens you will have cause to smile. Yet you must not take your friends for granted, especially from 3pm. Take love more seriously.

VIRGO; Unless you exercise great control domestic water can become heated with re-action from people within your base of operation. Protect your career.

LIBRA; Moon’s influence can induce others to oppose some of your moves within your social circle.

Respect important view of your good friends.

By Richard Eromosele

HE shepherd is T the person who takes care of sheep. In this piece, our Lord Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd.

The sheep listens to the shepherd,

Behold The Great Shepherd — 1 but how many of us listen to Him? How many of us obey His commandment?

How many of us

TERROR MUDA

do what He asked us to do? And how many refrain from doing what He asked us not to do? For some, this

in “Never say goodbye”

is the time to obey t h e commandment of God in the breach.

For others, this is the time to surrender to the devil. Did I hear you say surrender to the devil?...

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO; Astrological forces are capable of bringing avoidable personality clashes through financial transactions. If you rely too heavily on promises made by others from 3pm you can be painfully disappointed.

SAGITTARIUS; Unseen forces can boost your confidence and may prompt you to become unnecessarily aggressive to the resentment of others. Take it easy please.

CAPRICORN; You are meant to do away with whatever can not be placed above board, especially if working today AQUARIUS; Nurse no false hope and do away with self deceit so that you’ll not run into avoidable trouble.

This is the wrong time to take your influential friends for granted, especially any time from 3pm today.

PISCES;. Here is a day you can come under the fire of enthusiasm but if care is not taken others may take undue advantage of your mind. Do away with whatever can heat your domestic water. Protect your image.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; Better than yesterday but you are advised to take legal related issues more seriously. Minor misunderstanding possible from 3pm TAURUS;. Be very careful with both your personal and/or others money and joint ventures too. Be more family minded.

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

What’s my Astropersonality?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, Please keep my birth dta and identity secret, but I want you to analyse my horoscope bluntly so that I can know who am I; talking about my personality.

Anonymous, Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, What you will find here under will prove useful if you take them seriously and utilise them.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT Aries that hosted the most important heavenly body (the Sun) together with indicator of mental focus lensMercury, is known for special leadership quality and higher degree of positive aggressiveness. Yes you were endowed with leadership talents which can manifest either in the business world or POLITICS and probably both. It is true that Aries can be very aggressive, but with many planets placed in more mild Star signs, with less than 50% of push-full influence, loving Venus as most influential planet when you were born, certainly aggression of Aries is greatly water down to the minimum . That is not to say you the timid type but yours is a balanced personality. You are gentle, honest and straight forward person. Preponderance of fixed and earth in your chart are pointers to the fact that you are the careful type who will not change his mind just for the fun of it. Then as peace loving Venus was the most influential planet when you were born, peace and harmony will always come first whenever you want to take any (important and/or) decisive action.

Placement of mighty Sun (indicator of basic-self hood) the Moon (indicator of sub-conscious self/emotion) and the Stellium (that is more than two planets in one Star sign} in Aries, Pisces and Taurus respectively meant that basic characteristics of the three Star signs stated in this paragraph are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 61

Djokovic eyes more success in 2015 N

OVAK Djokovic has his sights set on the Mubadala World Tennis Championship title as he bids to kick off 2015 with a win. Djokovic is bidding for a fourth title in the Abu Dhabi tournament, which takes place between January 1 and 3.

The world number one will take on either Stanislas Wawrinka or Nicolas Almagro in the semifinals on Friday, with Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Feliciano Lopez potential final opponents should the Serb reach Saturday’s showpiece.

Djokovic, who reached the French Open final and won Wimbledon last year, believes victory at the Mubadala Championship would be the ideal start to 2015 as he bids to retain top spot in the rankings and add to his seven Grand Slam crowns.

“The countdown really is on to the start of the new season starting in Abu Dhabi. We’re just days away, so I’m genuinely excited,” he is quoted as saying by Gulf News.

“2014 has been such a memorable year for me and I can’t wait to get back on the court and face-off against the world’s best players.

Right now I’m feeling good, fresh and motivated to keep on playing at the very highest level.

“The first few matches of the season are always special and I’ll be looking to make sure that, in 2015, they are winners so I can get off to the best possible start.”

Ali still in hospital with pneumonia

M

EYES ON 2015 . . . World number one tennis star, Novak Djokovic firmly returns the ball to an opponent as he targets more success in 2015

McIlroy ends year as top player R

ORY McIlroy has made it a career total of 60 weeks as world number one with the release of the final golf rankings of the year.

The Northern Irishman started the year as world number six, but after wins in the British Open in July and in the WGCBridgestone Invitational at the start of August he was back at the top. He cemented that position with his fourth major title win at the US PGA Championship and ended the year almost three ranking points clear of second-placed Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

Australia’s Adam Scott, who held the number one ranking for a short period of time earlier in the year, was third.

UHAMMAD Ali remained hospitalized yesterday with pneumonia but “is making great progress,” a family spokesman said.

The three-time heavyweight boxing champion, humanitarian and Louisville native remained at an undisclosed hospital to which he was admitted Dec. 20, said Ali spokesman Bob Gunnell.

Gunnell said he had not been authorized by Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, to make additional comment.

The 72-year-old boxing legend has battled Parkinson’s disease for years.

Ali appeared at the University of Louisville’s Oct. 30 football game against Florida State. Ali will be 73 on Jan. 17.

The Alis have a home in Louisville but spend most of their time at their other residence in Arizona.

SWINGER MAN . . . Rory McIlroy maintains his top rank as the year comes to an end

Nadal not bothered about rankings R

•Wawrinka

AFAEL Nadal says being world number one is no longer a goal as he must concentrate on extending his career for as long as possible.

The world number three has been recovering from an operation to

remove his appendix after missing the end of an injury-plagued 2014 season. His preparations for 2015 are now underway and he hopes to be fully fit for the Australian Open in January.

Nadal, who last featured at a tournament in Ba-

sel in October, says vying for top spot in world tennis is no longer a goal - or an option - after being hit with injuries in recent times.

“For me it won’t be a goal in my career anymore,” the 28-year-old said in a recent inter-

view with Stade 2. “If I have become No. 1 because of the results I have, it’s great. But I’m not going to pursue this objective. I will follow my schedule. “My big goal is to play as many years as possible."

*Ali

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Transfer Centre....Transfer Centre ...Transfer Centre...

Torres: No place like Atletico F

•Torres

ERNANDO Torres couldn’t resist expressing his joy when his return to Atlético on loan was made official, quickly taking to social media to voice his delight.

“Going home at last.

Thanks to everyone that has made this dream possible. Go Atleti,” he tweeted.

Minutes later, in Dubai, the striker offered his first statements to the press as an Atlético player again: “I try to be happy and there’s no better place than Atlético. It’s a privilege to be at this club. I fulfilled my dream when I was 17 years old in my first professional game when I made my debut in the second division”.

The forward analysed his departure and return seven years later: “As an Atlético fan it was hard to leave the first time round but Atlético and I have evolved and won titles. Since I was a little boy, I’ve been an Atlético fan and I have very special feelings for this team. I have been with other teams but none like Atlético.”

Chicharito in Milan link R

•Chicharito

Podolski close to Inter deal I

NTER’S deal to sign Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski is almost done, but the two clubs are still haggling over the price.

“I was informed about Galatasaray’s offer,” the Germany international

HARLTON have extended Oguchi Onyewu’s contract until the end of the season.

The United States

is quoted as telling the Turkish Press .

“But that was a long time ago. Now I’m an Arsenal player, but in January I will make the best decision for myself.”

•Onyewu

centre-half signed a shortterm deal with the Championship club in October when Michael Morrison left to join Birmingham on loan.

That loan will become a permanent move when the transfer window opens, and Charlton will now keep Onyewu until June 1.

The 32-year-old, whose previous clubs include Newcastle and Milan, has made just two substitute appearances to date.

•Ancelotti

Ancelotti aims for Real stay

R

EAL Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti has played down rumours of him quitting the reigning Champions League winners.

Ancelotti was linked with the bench of the Italian national team after Cesare Prandelli’s resignation in the summer and is still touted as a candidate for the future, but he played down links to the Azzurri.

“My ambition is to stay at Real Madrid. I feel good in this club and with these players and I’d like to continue with them in the future.”

Pardew wants another striker

N

EWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has admitted his squad is a striker short despite the efforts of summer signing Ayoze Perez to plug the gap “I said at the start of the year we were a striker light and we really needed someone to come through and help us out. I’m not talking about the transfer window, but we need another striker if we can get one.”

Charlton to keep Onyewu

C

EAL Madrid striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez is being linked with a shock switch to Milan this summer.

The Mexican is on a season-long loan at the Santiago Bernabeu from Manchester United and is expected to return to Old Trafford at the end of the season, having been unable to force his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s starstudded starting line-up.

However, the Daily Star reports that he is likely to be sold by United boss Louis van Gaal, with Milan understood to be monitoring his situation as they scour the European market for quality strikers.

The Mexican is on a season-long loan at the Santiago Bernabeu from Manchester United.

However, the Daily Star reports that he is likely to be sold by United boss Louis van Gaal, with Milan understood to be monitoring his situation as they scour the European market for quality strikers.

•Pardew

De Boer: I won’t leave Ajax

F •Podolski

RANK de Boer ’s agent has told Sky Sports News HQ the Ajax manager will not leave his post this season despite reported interest from Newcastle.

“Frank will never leave Ajax during this season.

There has been no contact to myself, or Ajax, from another club for Frank. We have received no approach at this stage.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — 63

Ballon d’Or: Dunga votes Ronaldo over Demba Ba blasts ‘puppet’ Giresse Neymar B

RAZIL boss Dunga has revealed he voted for Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo not his own player Neymar - to win the 2014 Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo, who was handed the award in 2014, is the favourite to win the trophy for a third time but faces competition from Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Neymar was nominated in the 23-man shortist having been one of the stars of this summer ’s World Cup until injury ended his tournament, and Brazil simultaneously careered towards an embarrassing semi-final exit to Germany.

Despite now coaching Neymar for the national team, having taken the reins from Luiz Felipe Scolari after the World Cup finished, Dunga revealed he has allied with the Barca star’s Real Madrid rival Ronaldo for the Fifa award this year.

B

•Ronaldo “My vote was for Cristiano Ronaldo,” the 51-year-old said at a press conference in Porto Alegre.

If Ronaldo is successful in his bid for the Ballon d’Or, he will be just one victory short

C M Y K

of matching Messi, who has won the trophy four times.

On Saturday Bayern goalkeeper Pepe Reina said Ronaldo would win the prize but feels Neuer is a more worthy candidate, while Barca

midfielder Xavi has also questioned the Portuguese’s credentials because of his failure to shine at the World Cup. The winner of the award will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on January 12.

Ugbade fears over foreign pros’ availability

F

LYING Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade, is hoping

Kanu Continues from B/P qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament holding in Equatorial Guinea.

“It is quite clear and we don’t need to shy away from the fact that Nigerian football did not fare well in the outgoing year. This is as a result of the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations holding in January 2015 in Equatorial Guinea.

So if we are not featuring among the best footballplaying countries in Africa, it simply means that something is wrong with our football this year.

“Honestly we didn’t do well in the game this year; it’s just the honest truth.

There is nothing good to write home about as regards the senior national team of Nigeria. Mind you FIFA rates our performance based on the Super Eagles performance and not the age grade competitions.”.

However, the former Arsenal of England forward said all hope is not lost as he believes that if the right things were put

•Neymar

in place very soon, the country could re-launch itself to compete favourably among the comity of football playing nations. He particularly pleaded with all those involved in the crisis rocking the nation’s football to have a rethink in the overall interest of the nation.

“Yes it has been a disappointing year for Nigerian football but by God’s grace 2015 would be a new beginning for us. I sincerely pray that everybody involved in the entire crisis and problems that bedeviled Nigerian football in the year 2014 will sit back and look at themselves and have a rethink, have a change of mind and start working in earnest for the development of the game in the country”.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold winner also used the opportunity to rally support for the National U-23 team, the Dream Team who will be playing to qualify for the soccer event of the forthcoming 2016 Olympic Games.

that they can get the full complement of the invited overseas based players as they commence camping for the 2015 Africa Youth Championship.

Nine overseas based players have been invited by the Flying Eagles coaches for camping ahead of the tournament in Senegal but there have been reports that some of them may be unavailable for the preparation.

But Ugbade has said that they expect all nine invited players to show up to the team’s camp in Kaduna.

“We expect all of them (overseas based players) to show up to camp in Kaduna. None of them has said anything to the contrary, so we expect them to come to camp.

“We have a very important tournament to

HE FA has charged Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse with violent conduct following an incident during his side’s 3-2 victory over Everton.

Seamus Coleman went to ground after clashing with Cisse during the Premier League match at St James’ Park and re-

•Demba Ba “Following our defeat in Tunisia, he was in the changing room, with a dazed look, not knowing how to start his speech. I insist that we are not dealing with a coach but with a puppet.”

Senegal will kick off their tournament against Ghana in Mongomo on January 19, before facing South Africa and Algeria.

Redknapp Continues from B/P

•Ugbade prepare for and I’m sure the players want to be a part of it also, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t show up,” Ugbade said.

However, despite expressing optimism about the availability of the players, Ugbade reckoned that if in the event that any of the players don’t show up, they have ‘capable replacements’ for them.

Cisse charged with violent conduct plays suggested the latter

T

E S I K TA S ’ Senegalese striker Demba Ba hit out at Lions’ coach Alain Giresse after being left out of the squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Frenchman decided not to include the 29-year old in his 28player pre-list ahead of the continental showpiece.

“The list includes almost all the players involved in the qualifying campaign. I am not here to say if some of the players deserve or not to be there, but when I see some of the names chosen ahead of me, I do not agree,” Demba Ba told Stades.

“Looking at this list, it seems that we are not dealing with the coach of a national team but rather with a puppet. It is clear that he didn’t take some of the decisions.

was fortunate to survive as referee Craig Pawson took no action. A statement on Newcastle’s official website read: “Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been charged with violent conduct following an incident in the Magpies’ Premier League fixture against Everton.''

proven Premier League finisher though has spent the past couple of years playing in China and Qatar so one would have to wonder if the powerful forward still has the ability to make an impact at the highest level.

Redknapp wants to

bring in a forward to help share the goal-scoring burden with star striker Charlie Austin and Yakubu may be the man for the job.

Yakubu netted 138 goals in 346 appearances during his previous spells in England with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers.

Tottenham Continues from B/P made enquiries regarding the availability of the Nigeria international, but Spurs appear to be favourites for his signature should he severe ties with the Russian champions.

The reason for this is that Tottenham Hotspur have an excellent working relationship with Tony Harris, the representative of Ahmed Musa, with one of his clients Reuben Gabriel practicing with the club before his switch to Waasland-Beveren. ‘’Tottenham Hotspur

are still showing interest in Ahmed Musa. It’s still at an early stage. Musa will cost a lot for any potential suitor. ‘’West Ham have enquired about him, so things will be a little complex,’’ a source close to Ahmed Musa said.

Speculation is rife that the Super Eagles star could leave CSKA Moscow sooner rather than later, as the club have shown interest in three other forwards including Guangzhou R&F’s Aaron Samuel.

Ahmed Musa has two more years before he comes off contract with CSKA Moscow.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Redknapp plans shock move for Yakubu

Q

PR boss Harry Redknapp is preparing a surprise move for Nigerian veteran Yakubu Aiyegbeni

according to the Daily Mirror.

The 32 year old has worked under Redknapp previously at Portsmouth and is a

Continues on pg 63

Kanu's damning verdict:

Our football failed in 2014

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Tottenham, West Ham chase Musa

F

ORMER Super Ea gles captain Nwankwo Kanu has emphatically declared that Nigerian football in the out-going 2014 was a total failure, especially, when put side by side with 2013.

Kanu who spoke to Sports Vanguard in a telephone chat insisted that there is no need for anybody to pretend that the country got it right the way its football fared adding that his greatest regret was the failure of the Super Eagles to

Continues on pg 63

•Yakubu

T

OTTENHAM Hotspur are still interested in Ahmed Musa and a move for the striker could be in the offing in the January transfer window.

The Nigeria international was linked with a transfer to White Hart Lane three years ago, but he disappointed Spurs chiefs after penning a long term deal with CSKA Moscow.

West Ham have also

•Pinnick

•Keshi

•Kanu

Continues on pg 63

•Musa

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Agreeable (5) 7 Slumbering (6) 9 Whim (3) 10 Jewel (3) 12 Stupidity (5) 13 Nurse (4) 15 Submit (5) 17 Scorn (6) 19 Simple (4) 20 View (5) 22 Sick (3) 24 Gossiped (7) 27 Meadow (3) 28 Stadium (5) 31 Gull (4) 33 Expiated (6) 35 Temptress (5) 37 Droop (4) 38 Oafish (5) 41 Moose (3) 42 Strict (6) 43 Sheet (5)

DOWN 1 Succulent (6) 2 Fair (6) 3 Fix (3) 4 Secure (4) 5 Worship (5) 6 Apparition (8) 11Ruminated (9) 14 Notch (4) 16 Dropped (4) 18, Genuine (4) 21 Chicken (8) 23 Thin (4) 25 Rip (4) 26 Sketched (4) 29 Revised (6) 30 Hymn (6) 32 Advantage (5) 34 Responsibility (4) 36 Island (4) 40 Wager (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Smug 4, Rut 6, Hone 9, Awe 10, Stressed 11, Tern 14, Age 16, Added 19, Combined 21, Merit 23, Disaster 24, Eased 27, Egg 31, Post 33, Inactive 34, Nee 35, Beer 36, Lie 37, Made.

DOWN: 2, Mate 3, Grew 4, Resigned 5, Tidy 6, Hated 7, Owe 8, Nerve 12, Scale 13, Amass 14, Aim 15, Eerie 17, Death 18, Decry 20, Disgrace 22, Tag 25, Alone 26, Enter 28, Bill 29, Stem 30, Avid 32, See.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K