JONATHAN'S PERFORMANCE: Our verdict, by industrialists, others

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61894

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

We 'll swim or sink with Amaechi — 27 Rivers lawmakers

•I have no hand in his travails — First Lady

.9& s g P •

JONATHAN'S PERFORMANCE:

14

Mamman Kontagora dies @ 70•P.38

Our verdict, by industrialists, others •Say Nigerians yet to feel impact of growing economy •Power situation impacts negatively on investments — LCCI •Pgs.A6&A7

HEZBOLLAH ARMOURY IN KANO

BY OUR REPORTERS

L

AGOS—MIXED reactions have trailed President Goodluck Jonathan's assessment of his administration in which he said he has done well. Many operators in the private sector dismissed the pass mark which the President awarded to himself, saying that available Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE Political and economic •P.28 stability: So far

Mr & Mrs

DISCOVERED—A cache of weapons on display, yesterday, at a house in the Bompai area of Kano after its discovery in an underground bunker. Security agents alleged the weapons were supplied by the Lebanese shiite militant group Hezbollah to attack Israeli and western interests in Nigeria. More pictures and story on Pages 6&7.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE: Reps approve 14 yrs jail term

—P.8 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 31, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

PDP DINNER—President Goodluck Jonathan (l) and the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal exchanging banters during the People's Democratic Party's Family Dinner organised at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

JONATHAN'S PERFORMANCE:

Our verdict — Industrialists, others Continues from page 1 field experiences and data do not bear him out completely.

Others agreed, however, that there are some levels of

improvement. But all have agreed that the welfare of Nigerians has not improved as unemployment is rising by the day.

Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Com-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them - Maya Angelou. How you react to something determines what the thing becomes.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come — Mack And Angel Hack

I

N your quiet moments, what do you think about?

How far you’ve come, or how far you have to go? Your strengths or your weaknesses? In your quiet moments, pay attention to your thoughts. Because maybe, just maybe, the only thing that needs to shift in order for you to experience more happiness, more love, and more vitality, is your way of thinking. Here are some thought-provoking quotes from Mack and Angel Hack about life lessons that may help you adjust your way of thinking.

You cannot change what you refuse to confront.

Sometimes good things fall apart, so better things can fall together. Don’t think of cost. Think of value.

Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly. Too many people buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t know. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. If people want to be part of your life, they will make obvious effort to do so. Think twice before reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay. Saying someone is ugly doesn’t make you any prettier. The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

merce and Industry, Muda Yussuf said: “Economic growth trend, measured by the performance of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), has been generally positive over the last two years, averaging about 6.5 per cent. This is good compared to growth conditions in most economies around the world.

However, there remains a major concern about the weak impact of the growth performance on private sector and the welfare of the Nigerian people.

“Virtually all business segments lamented the harsh operating environment in recent years.

The power situation deteriorated as we now have a relapse into a chronic power failure.

The refineries are still underperforming; unemployment level is still high and cost of fund is high.

“Sectors that posted good growth performances as at December 2012 were telecommunications, 31.8 per cent; Hotel and Restaurants, 12.2 per cent; Solid Minerals, 12.5 per cent; Building and Construction, 12.6 per cent; Real Estate 12.4 per cent; and Wholesale and Retail Trade, 9.6 per cent. However, the contributions of

most of the sectors to GDP are not significant.

Respective contributions are as follows: telecommunications, 7 per cent; Solid Minerals, 0.4 per cent; Hotel and Tourism, 0.6 per cent; Building and Construction, 2.2 per cent; Real Estate, 1.9 per cent. The character of growth explains the limited impact of growth performance on welfare of citizens. Local value addition and indigenous participation in many of the sectors is still very low ”. He agreed that “Nigeria had become a major portfolio investment destination in Africa because investors are more comfortable in a democratic environment,”.

He, however, said that there was huge disparity between the nation’s economic growth and the living standard of Nigerians. “International Monetary Fund ranked Nigeria number 36 in the world on account of GDP estimated at 273 billion dollars in 2012. United Nations Development Programme, ranked the nation number 157 on account of human development index in the same year,” he said.

Yusuf said that the dividends of democracy could be evident in the business sector if govern-

ment had intervened in the challenges confronting the sector. Many small and medium-scale enterprises still have serious challenge in accessing credit even at high rates. The power situation, which improved slightly towards the end of 2012, has since deteriorated. This development led to increase in expenditure on diesel and petrol and a resulting decline in productivity and competitiveness,” he said. Yussuf appealed to government to bring a lasting solution to security issues in order to boost the confidence of investors.

Capital market operators slam corruption Capital market operators agreed that the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has indeed enacted some policies that have favourably impacted not just the capital market, but the entire financial system. They however, said that more still needed to be done on the area of corruption, which they said is systemic.

Reacting to the President’s mid-term assessment, Mr. Emeka Madubuike, Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, and the Managing Director, Compass Investment Limited, said: “Though there are still some unresolved issues, like the issue of corruption, but looking at the numbers coming out of the financial system, one cannot but say that the Jonathan administration has done quite a lot in stabilising the system. The financial system I know about is the capital market and it is doing well. You can only attribute this to the fact that some people are doing well. There must have been some policies

put in place by this government to warrant the kind of stability we are witnessing in the financial circle. We cannot run away from that.”

According to him, the constitution of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, and its various roles in ridding the banking sector and capital market of toxic assets cannot be wished away.

He affirmed that this along with the reforms in the banking system initiated by the governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, was an attestation of the good work Jonathan has done in economic circles.

“Look at the formation of AMCON, the cleansing in the banking sector and even the GDP. All these show that somebody somewhere is doing a good work,” he aded.

Speaking in the same vein, Alhaji Rasheed Yussuff, Managing Director, Trust Yield Securities Limited, said that the resolution of the margin loan facility debacle, and conclusion of reforms in the banking sector have helped in stabilising the entire financial system, adding, “to that extent, he has helped the capital market to come out of doldrums.

“Talking about the macro-economic environment, some Ministers appointed by Jonathan are really doing well.

Talk of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, and the Central Bank Governor. These four people are managing the macro-economy well. Kudos should be given to them,” he added. Nonetheless, he stated that some of the achievements by these ministers were yet to be felt by the common man, saying that more should be done in this regard.

Continues on page 53

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—7

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Baker jailed over bromate

Rev Okotie's ex-pianist docked for contempt of court

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

BY ONONZURE DANIA

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AGOS—AN ex-pianist of Household of God Church, Okiofor Dafiaghor, 40, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court, over contempt of court.

Dafiaghor, who is facing a count charge before Magistrate Akinde, was said to be going through a trial before a Senior Magistrate Court 27, presided over by Magistrate Oshodi Makanju.

The defendant was said to be facing a criminal charge of an alleged offence before Court 27, when he went to ask for the money his former employer, Rev. Chris Okotie, owed him and was arrested and charged to court.

The police prosecutor, Chinalu Uwadione, said that the defendant committed the alleged offence on May 10, at about 3pm.

He said that the defendant did committed misdemeanor to wit contempt of court by publishing or caused to be published in social media Magistrate Makanju’s photograph and defamatory comments, over a ruling delivered in a criminal case with charge No Mik/L /95/ 2012, over the matter that is subjudicated before Magistrate Makanju.

Ruling on attempted judge's murder for June 5

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

R

ULING on the bail ap plication of a commercial bus driver, Mr. Kasali Quadri, who was arraigned for allegedly attempting to kill a Lagos High Court judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, was yesterday adjourned till June 5.

The presiding judge, Justice Christopher Balogun of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, and some other selected judges, were said to be having an ADR judges meeting in Igbosere, yesterday, which stalled ruling of the defendant’s bail application.

Quadri, who has been in prison custody since March 2012, was arraigned before Justice Balogun on a onecount charge of attempted murder proffered against him by the state.

Arms, ammunition and the underground bunker in Kano.

Kano arms cache belongs to

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—DIRECTOR of De partment of State Services, DSS, in Kano, Mr. Bassey Etang, has said the weapons of mass destruction discovered in a bunker at a Lebanese residence in Kano, Tuesday, belong to international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah.

Etang spoke to newsmen in Kano, during a joint conference with the Commandant of the 3 Motorised Division in Kano, Brigadier-General Iliyasu Abba, at the scene of the discovery in Bompai area of the Kano metropolis.

He said: “The weapons were brought in by an international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah, to attack Israeli and Western interest in Nigeria.

“On May 28, a combined team of the JTF involving the army of the 3 Brigade in Kano and the Kano state DSS conducted a thorough search on this house located at No 3

Gaya Road, off Bompai Road, Kano, belonging to one Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, a Lebanese, who is currently out of the country.

“After painstakingly searching the premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bed room, where a large

Justice Rhodes-Vivour’s wife, others released after N3m ransom

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—KIDNAPPERS of Mrs. Adedoyin RhodesVivour, wife of a Supreme Court Justice, her daughter and driver, allegedly collected N3 million ransom before releasing them on Tuesday.

A reliable source told Vanguard: “The ransom was paid more than a week before they were released, but the kidnappers still held them captive because the other victims held with them in their camp were yet to pay their own ransom.

“It was only when all paid up that they released all of them. One of the victims is Mr. Frank Elumeze, a top of-

ficial of the Delta State Water Board, who was also kidnapped, some weeks ago “He was released along with the Rhodes-Vivours on Tuesday after the ransom for him was paid.

“The camp where they held is in Delta State. It is not security agents that freed them.

Nobody knew where were kept.

“They contacted the families and the judge’s family paid N2 million, while somebody else paid N1 million to bring the total ransom for the three of them to N3 million.

“The victims were blindfolded by the kidnappers and taken to somewhere near the

Flood: Commuters stranded on Keffi-Abuja government?” in the gutter.

Expressway filth Usen also noted that if ad“Now see how we are

M

ARARABA—COMMUTERS on KeffiAbuja Expressway at Mararaba, which borders Abuja, got stranded following a downpour, yesterday, that caused flooding which cut off access to the road.

Some of the commuters attributed the flooding to blocked drains. They complained that most of the traders at the Mararaba Market dump refuse in the drains, thereby obstructing the flow of water whenever it rained.

Mr. Ola Johnson, a commuter, said the traffic jam caused by the flood would have been avoided, if the traders were environment-friendly.

He said: “The way traders in this area dispose of their refuse is not proper. Often you see them sweep their surrounding only to dump the

quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber were recovered. The bunker was specially constructed for this purpose.”

stranded because of the action of a few people. Now they will blame it all on government.

But in our own little corner, what are we doing to help the

equate sanitation facilities, such as refuse bins were provided, it would help the residents to dispose their refuse properly.

3 docked over N21m robbery

BY ONONZURE DANIA

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AGOS—THREE serial armed robbers were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly robbing one Alexander Onabule and one Funke Oguntoyinbo of N21.6 million.

The suspects, whose names were given as Emmanuel Stanley 24, Godwin Abanum 26 and Wasiu Odeyinka 23, were docked before Magistrate Akinde.

The defendants and others at large are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, felony

and armed robbery.

Police prosecutor Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the defendants committed the crime on February 13 at 11:15am at Jakande Gate, Isolo area of Lagos.

He said that the suspects, while armed with a gun, charm and other dangerous weapons, robbed the victims of two HP laptops, worth N320,000; one Toshiba Satellite laptop worth N140,000; one i-Pad valued N120,000 and cash amounting to $7,500 dollars, among others.

Church of God Mission International in Benin, before they opened their eyes and asked them to find their way.”

As at yesterday, security agents were yet to locate the camp used by kidnappers. The trio were abducted on May 10 on their way to Benin, Edo State, for a wedding.

The kidnappers had initially asked for N200 million ransom.

According to the source, “the released official of the Delta Water Board is in a hotel somewhere, resting, but has promised to resume work by Monday.”

11 arrested over lecturer’s kidnap

Meanwhile, 11 persons have been arrested by the police in connection with the kidnap of a lecturer in science education, Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Dr. (Mrs) Mercy Mokobia on April 9, at 1a.m. in her bedroom.

Dr. Mokobi has not been found, but the police had destroyed a house in Ozoro, where the kidnappers, including three females, were traced after collecting N1.2 million ransom.

Hezbollah— DSS Taking stock

On his part, the Commandant, Brigadier Abba, said the weapons of mass destruction include 11, 50mm anti-tank weapons, two 122mm artillery gun ammunition, four antitank landmines, 21 rocket-propelled grenades, RPG, 16 rocket-propelled grenades charger, one rocket-propelled grenade tube and 76 military grenade.

Others are one SMG rifle, nine pistols, 17 AK-47 rifles, 44 magazines, 11,433 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 103 packet of slap TNT. Brigadier Abba further revealed that “investigation also confirms the existence of a Hezbollah Foreign Terrorist Cell in Nigeria.

Arrest

On May 16, DSS arrested one Mustapha Fawaz the coowner of the popular Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, all in Abuja.

His arrest and confession unveiled other members of the foreign terrorists network, which led to the interception of one member of the syndicate named Abdullah Tahini, a Lebanese, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with undeclared 60,000 United States Dollars on him

en-route Beirut.

Thereafter, on May 26 one Talal Roda, also a Lebanese with Nigerian passport, was arrested in this same house.

According to the Brigade Commander, all the arrested suspects have confessed to

have undergone Hezbollah terrorist training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park.

He said: “The fellow is now at large. The arms and ammu-

Abductors demand N15m for lecturer’s son

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT—HOS TAGE-takers have asked Dr. Godstime Ogbeoleka, Senior Lecturer with Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, Rivers State, to cough out N15 million to buy freedom for his son, Thomas Ogbeoleka, who they kidnapped Wednesday afternoon.

Thomas, 30, was in his father ’s residence at Ihuapa, Ahoada West Local Government Area, when the armed men struck and whisked him away on one of the motor bikes they rode on.

A relative said: “Four masked men stormed the compound with Okada in the afternoon.

“They walked straight to the father’s house asking for one of the victim’s elder brother in polite tones.

“When they could not find the prime target, they broke in and

grabbed Thomas after robbing the house. They started shooting when they were leaving the scene and that was when neighbours got to know they were kidnappers.”

Another family source said: “The kidnappers have contacted us with hidden phone numbers

A

man, Vincent Venman, de scribed as a fraudster by

Royal Dream Bus-Stop on Keffi-Abuja Expressway, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, after a downpour, yesterday.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been arrested for allegedly impersonating former Plateau State Gover nor, Fidelis Tapgun, and defrauding him of N5 million.

Venman a.k.a. Fidelis Tapgun, was apprehended at a first generation bank branch in Jos, Plateau State, while attempting to withdraw N2 million sent to him as a bait by the serving Senator, whom he had earlier defrauded of N5 million by claiming to be Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun.

Bulus’ undoing was his insistence to further milk the Senator after collecting N5

demanding N15 million. There has been appeal for N1 million.

They we were joking.”

Rivers State Police Public Relation officer, Ms. Angela Agabe, when contacted on the matter said she was in a briefing and needed time to establish a police position.

... as don faces trial over $48,000 fraud charge

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a senior lecturer at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Dr. Stephen Abah, before an Abuja High Court.

Abah was docked on a twocount charge bordering on

Man nabbed for impersonating, defrauding Tapgun

BY SONI DANIEL

nition were targeted at facilities of Israel and Western interest in Nigeria.

“However, the security agencies are making efforts to unveil the true situation. At the end of investigation, all those involved will be prosecuted.”

million sent to him in two installments through the account name, Venman Vincent Bulus with number account 30775681.

His demanded for another N2 million, which infuriated the lawmaker, who reported the scam to EFCC. In return, the commission swiftly initiated investigation and advised the Senator to play along. The suspect was subsequently nabbed as he was trying to withdraw the money.

Items recovered from him included N2.5 million, a Toyota Prado SUV 2012 model and a savings account withdrawal booklet.

criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

He was said to have, between August 2008 and March 2009, obtained $48,500 from one Udeh Godwin under the guise of setting up a joint company but diverted the funds to personal use.

The offence, according to EFCC, is contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same code.

However, the accused person, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defence counsel, Abel Ozioko told the court that EFCC had previously granted administrative bail to the accused person on self recognition.

Stressing that it was his client that voluntarily submitted himself for trial, Ozioko, yesterday, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.

However, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Sukuji Bandawa opposed the bail application on the grounds that he was just served with the bail application and would need time to respond.

Justice Olasumbo Goodluck adjourned ruling on the bail application to June 4 and fixed July 11 and 16 for trial.

HE Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has convicted an Osogbo bread baker, Mr. Afolabi Nurudeen, for obstructing officials of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in the course of performing their duties.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC has impounded counterfeit medicines valued at N59,300,000.00 in Lagos.

Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, who commended the judiciary, disclosed that the agency had recorded about seven convictions since 2009.

Afolabi was said to have been arranged before the court on May 12, 2011 under Section 25(1) of the NAFDAC Act, Cap 1, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 25 (1) of same Act. He explained that on March 15, 2010, at Isale Agbara Street, Osogbo, the convict was said to have attacked NAFDAC Assistant Director, Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga and other officials of the agency, when they found prohibited potassium bromate in his bakery.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Babs Kuewumi pronounced that Afolabi was guilty of the offence leveled against him and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with option of four thousand naira.

7-yr-marriage dissolved over mother-in-law palaver

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AGOS—A cosmetologist, who said her mother-inlaw interfered in her marriage, yesterday, secured divorce in Lagos.

Mrs Kikelomo Olomogua, 23, had her seven-year-old marriage to Kayode, 38, ended, following a divorce suit she filed on March 4, before an Agege Customary Court.

She had told the court that her mother-in-law controlled her home, and that Kayode supported her.

She said: “My husband beats me anytime I have a misunderstanding with his mother.

“My mother-in-law always complains of my dressing, she told my husband that I was prostituting.

“I can’t continue living with mother and son; I know my mother-in-law is my husband’s first wife.”

8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Reps to probe alleged $40m internet spying contract

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, passed a resolution to probe the alleged award of a $40 million internet spying contact to a foreign company to monitor the Internet activities of Nigerians.

The House also directed its committees on ICT, human rights, Justice and anti-corruption to conduct the investigation and report back to the House in three weeks.

The resolution was unanimously passed by the House.

The lawmakers also directed the Federal Government to suspend all action with regard to the contract pending the outcome of the investigation.

The resolution was passed based on a motion under matters of urgent public importance presented by Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (ANPP Zamfara).

He noted that the contract was reported to have been awarded secretly and in wanton disregard of due process, Fiscal Responsibility Act and Bureau of Public Procurement Act 2007.

He revealed that the award of the contract violated the basic privacy provision in chapter four section 37 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

According to him: “The contract was awarded under the guise of gathering information to enhance national security; but this may not be the answer to the glaring security challenges of today’s Nigeria. The right to private and family life has been violated”.

He further revealed that the clandestine contract was awarded by President Jonathan’s administration to Elbit Systems, an Israeli Information technology firm to spy on millions of Nigerian internet users.

It would be recalled that opposition parties in the country and several media organisations expressed outrage over the development when it was reported by the media several weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, yesterday, told newsmen that the lawmakers did not consider President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the amendment of the 2013 Budget Act as urgent, adding that the document would be considered at the appropriate time.

Same sex marriage: Reps approve 14 years imprisonment

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—THE House of Rep resentatives, yesterday, endorsed a 14 years jail sentence with no option of fine for same sex couples. The House also outlawed gay clubs and societies in the country.

The lawmakers took these decisions while considering the report on a “Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or civil union entered between persons of same sex, solemnization of same and other matters related".

The House also placed a 10 years jail term for members of gay associations or those engaged in gay processions. The lawmakers resolved that any marriage or civil union entered into by persons of same gender is prohibited.

The bill on same sex was introduced on the floor of the House last year. A public hearing on the matter was held in October, 2012.

The senate had also passed a bill prohibiting same sex union with similar jail terms for offenders.

With the consideration of the report, the bill will now wait for harmonisation with the senate’s version.

Yesterday’s consideration of the report was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Iheioha. The House resolved that “marriage contract or civil union entered between persons of same gender by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country shall be void in Nigeria, and any benefits accruing therefrom by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law in Nigeria”.

It outrightly banned solemnization of same sex marriage in place of worship like church, mosque, traditional places .

The Bill provides that: “Marriage or civil union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any place of worship either in a church or Mosque or in any other place in Nigeria”.

The House insisted that “Only marriage contract between a man and a woman either under Islamic law, Customary law and Marriage Act is recoganised as valid in Nigeria.

Same sex marriage, an absurdity The bill described same sex marriage as an absurdity that should not be allowed in the country.

The House ruled that no person should be allowed to operate a gay club.

The bill further stated that “any

person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall each be liable on convictions to a term of 10 years imprisonment .

“Any persons or group of persons that witnesses, screens,

shields and aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment”.

On the courts that will have the jurisdiction to entertain same sex

marriage litigations, the bill provides that both the state and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, courts are empowered to hear cases of breach of any provision of the bill.

The bill further provides that “the High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory shall have jurisdiction to entertain matters arising from the breach of the provisions of the bill.”

BUSINESS SUMMIT—From left: National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar; Commercial Counsellor in the Embassy of Austria in Nigeria, Nella Hengstler; Commercial Attache', Andrea Kubista and NACCIMA second Deputy National President, Chief Alaba Lawson, during the visit of the Commercial Counsellor to NACCIMA on their planned Business Summit.

FG vs Al-Mustapha: Judge declines to hear appeal over death sentence

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS—JUSTICE Ibrahim Saulawa of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, yesterday, declined hearing in the appeal by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan, challenging the death sentence handed them by a Lagos State High Court.

Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late General Sanni Abacha, and Shofolahan, former Personal Assistant to Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, were challenging the death sentence passed on them by the lower court on January 30, 2012, by Justice Mojisola Dada, for conspiracy in masterminding the murder of late Kudirat Abiola, wife of late Chief MKO Abiola.

When the matter came up yesterday, for argument, the presiding Justice, Justice Saulawa

declined hearing for personal reasons.

He told counsel to the convicts that he could only assist them in recording a further date for arguments, but will not participate in hearing the main appeal for reasons which he described as personal.

He consequently adjourned the case till June 10 for hearing.

Meantime, the court granted the application by the respondent, seeking to amend its respondent’s brief by substituting it with the correct version, and deeming same as being properly filed and served, while an application by Shofolahan’s counsel, for an order, deeming his reply to the amended respondent’s brief, as properly filed and served, was also granted.

The convicts were arraigned in October 1999 on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and their involvement in the 1996 murder of the deceased on the

Lagos/Ibadan expressway.

The lower court found them guilty of the offence, and accordingly convicted and sentenced them to death by hanging.

In their appeals, the appellants were contending that the death sentence passed on them by the lower court was unwarranted, unreasonable and a manifest miscarriage of justice, arguing that the trial judge erred in law by arriving at the conclusion that they conspired to kill Alhaja Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

The appellants faulted the judge’s treatment of the contradictory statements of Barnabas Jabila (aka Sgt. Rogers) and Mohmamed Abdul, as well as the reliance on the testimony of Dr. Ore Falomo on the bullet extracted from Late Kudirat.

They also faulted the court’s rejection of portions of Jabila’s testimony which they felt favoured them and applying only areas which did not favour them.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 9

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME & HENRY UMORU

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ORT HARCOURT—27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, vowed to swim or sink with Governor Rotimi Amaechi as they dismissed insinuations that some of them had succumbed to inducements to impeach the governor.

The assertion by the lawmakers came as the faction of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, opposed to Governor Amaechi’s leadership, opened a new secretariat in Abuja with a promise not to antagonize President Goodluck Jonathan.

The opening of the Governor Jonah Jang-led factional NGF secretariat, however, exposed a setback for the faction as VicePresident Namadi Sambo and three governors that earlier identified with the faction stayed away.

The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly including the speaker, Daniel Amachaere, in a joint statement, rebuffed insinuations that some of them had caved in to entreaties to join a plot to impeach the governor.

While pledging to swim and sink with the governor, the lawmakers were, however, mute on whether approaches had been made towards enlisting them into such a plot.

Five of the 32 members of the House who have in the past been associated with the antiAmaechi tendency did not sign the statement.

The five lawmakers who did not sign the release were Evans Bipi, Kelechi Nwogu, Michael Chinda, Martin Amaewhule and Victor Ihunwo.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, the lawmakers who also declared loyalty to President Jonathan said: “We have observed with consternation rumours making the rounds, even appearing on the pages of National Dailies that we, the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been financially induced to impeach Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, and Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum.

"For the avoidance of doubt, we make bold to categorically state as follows: that we have not and will not receive any pecuniary gratification or marginal oil fields.

"That we are united in our resolve to commit our unalloyed loyalty to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike R. Amaechi Governor and the people of Rivers State; that we the undersigned do not contemplate the impeachment of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike R. Amaechi as an option.

"We reiterate our loyalty to the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the leader of our Great Party, the

We 'll swim or sink with Amaechi — Rivers lawmakers

BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Justice George Adesola Oguntade (Rtd); Author, Mr. Adekunle Osibogun; Legal Luminary, Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke and Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Ademola Adeyinka, at the presentation of the book, “The Citizen’s Book on Governance” in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

People’s Democratic Party, PDP.”

Jang opens alternate NGF office in Abuja In the absence of Vice President Sambo, the secretariat of the faction of the NGF was formally unveiled by Governor Jang himself at 5.45 pm.

Besides Sambo, three other governors who had last weekend aligned with Jang also failed to turn up or send representatives to the opening ceremony.

The three were Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Saidu Dankigari of Kebbi.

Present at the Commissioning of the Secretariat at Number 2, Nana Close, off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja were governors of Taraba, Ondo, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Katsina and Plateau.

The governors of Gombe and Benue sent their deputies.

The invitation letter sent to the governors for the commissioning, dated May 28, 2013, and signed by Governor Jang read in part, "It is my honour and pleasure to invite your most esteemed self to the above meeting which is scheduled as follows. Date: Thursday, May 30, 2013. Venue: 2 Nana Close,

by Erie Crescent, off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja.

"The meeting which shall be preceded by the official commissioning of our new Secretariat by the Vice President,

Namadi Sambo, shall among others, deliberate on ways and means of consolidating the Forum.”

The NGF before its breakup last weekend had maintained a secretariat at No. 1 DengXiaoping Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

14 of the 16 governors, who were at the event were from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while the other two, Olusegun Mimiko and Peter Obi were from Labour Party, LP, and All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, respectively.

PDP governors who shunned the event were those of Kwara, Kebbi, Adamawa; Sokoto; Jigawa; Kano; Enugu; Rivers and Niger states.

Absense of some govs 'll not undermine Jang's credibility — Dickson Meanwhile, Governor Serikae Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday insisted that the absence of some governors would not undermine the credibility of Jang as chairman of the NGF. “At the meeting in Kwara State where Governor Rotimi Amaechi was elected, only seven governors and six deputies, and that made it a total of 13 as we are going on more people will join.”

Affirming that the forum was not established to antagonize the presidency, he said: “This forum does not exist on personal aggrandizement; this forum does not exist for antagonizing the presidency and

other people in authority.

"This forum is not a platform for opposition politics, the forum is not to be used to promote an agenda that will be like promoting an alternative government, what we have done is to insulate the forum from holding meetings in governors lodges and so on.

Also speaking at the occasion, the factional chairman, Governor Jang said the opening of a secretariat was to reduce the cult of personality in the NGF. “It is not proper that governors should meet at private residences, and this informed the reason why we decided to get a suitable place, where we will feel comfortable.

Hence this will further strengthen the forum and Nigerians will see unity among us”.

Jang's secretariat to launch a website In a related development, the secretariat has concluded plans to launch a website that will among other things reflect “the new thinking, perception, goals and orientation of the NGF under a presidential system of government.”

According to a statement issued by the factional NGF, "The website is equally expected to project and propagate the vision and mission of the NGF under Dr. Jang as a non-confrontational, fence mending, bridge-building and above all supportive of Mr. President and all oth-

er leaders in their quest to build a new Nigeria of our collective dreams and aspirations.

"The NGF is out to strengthen the democracy we have all painstakingly nurtured over time, serve the collective interest of Nigerians devoid of selfish tendencies, which could threaten the unity, peace, stability and progress of the Nation.

"The NGF under the guidance of Governor Jang will in no circumstance run a parallel government to that of the President, but will rather work hard to sustain all existing democratic structures as will clearly be captured in the website.

"It is hoped that, when formally launched, it will afford Nigerians the opportunity to regularly and objectively comment and make contributions on issues of common and national interest, so that we can collectively build our democracy to enviable heights.”

Rivers group wants NGF to release video of last election Meanwhile, Pilot Group has called on the NGF to release the full video coverage of the last NGF election and “other electoral process observed in the course of the said election”.

A statement made available to newsmen, yesterday, in Port Harcourt and signed by the Chairman, Publicity committee of the group, Mr Egbe Festus, expressed hope that a release of the full video coverage of events during the NGF election would lay to rest the controversies that had dogged the outcome of the election.

While congratulating Governor Chibuike Amaechi for his victory at the NGF election, the body urged the National Working Committee of the PDP to exercise caution in the way it meddles into the internal affairs of the state chapter of the party, adding that the suspension of the elected officials of Obio Akpor local government should be thoroughly looked into to determine the legality of the action before applying sanction on any member of the party.

Continuing, the statement enjoined governors to conduct themselves in manner that would consolidate the nation’s democracy, stressing that they should accept defeat where necessary and be magnanimous in victory.

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Utomi, Sagay slam FG over nation's poor devt

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI AGOS—FORMER presidential candidate Professor Pat Utomi and Professor Itse Sagay, have lampooned the Federal Government for failing to make significant impact in the development of the country, saying “the Federal Government should learn Lagos state administration strategy.”

They spoke in Lagos, during the public presentation of a book, entitled: ‘Fashola: The Historic Reconstruction of Lagos authored by Mr. Emeka Odikpo, a legal practitioner.

Sagay argued that it was unfortunate that people currently holding political power at the centre had

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only succeeded in bringing the country to shame before the comity of nation.

According to him, “It is the type of the government that will have. It is the PDP type of mentality. When you have a breakaway type of PDP governor like Amaechi, who is trying to make an impact in the life of the people and establish some legacies of good governance, it is not in the character of the PDP. So, they have to destroy him”.

He urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to look beyond Lagos politics and contest for the presidential election in 2015, noting that the kind of transformation Lagos witnessed under his administration and under his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed could be rep-

licated at the centre.

On his part, Utomi blamed the cancellation of Metro Line project during the administration of former Governor Lateef Jakande by the military for the traffic congestion witnessed in the state today.

He said Lagos transformation “is a mark of commitment and continuity. This is indeed a committed administration. For long, everyone has been talking about 2nd Niger Bridge. The country will definitely learn from what is happening in Lagos.”

He commended Fashola for sustaining the good work his illustrious predecessor left behind, saying for Fashola “to have continued to sustain the work left behind, he must have been driven with passion”.

EFCC didn't investigate ex-NIMASA DG over alleged contract scam —Witness

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, was told that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, did not investigate whether former DirectorGeneral of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Raymond Omatseye, stole money from a contract awarded for the supply of 100 Blackberry phones.

Testifying in the trial of the former NIMASA boss, who EFCC re-arraigned before Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia on an

Passage

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A Otoka Emmanuel Edjevberhe, aged 91, will be buried today after a requiem mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 107 Yoruba Road, Sapele, Delta State.

He is survived by children and other relations, including Charles Otoka, Atlanta, Georgia, USA and Queenette Otoka of Vanguard Newspapers.

Late Emmanuel Otoka

amended 27-count charge bordering on contract scam, an EFCC investigator, Ibrahim Ahmed, said his enquiry indicated that the phones were actually delivered. The contract was said to be worth N22.05million.

“I did investigate whether the accused made any financial gain from the contract,” Ahmed said, noting that he did not find out whether the contractor, Anchor Offshore Services Limited, was specially promised the contract by Omatseye.

Omatseye pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was re-arraigned because of the transfer of the former judge, Justice Binta MurtalaNyako.

He was charged with alleged illegal transfer of the agency’s fund and contract splitting estimated at over N1.5 billion.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Ahmed said the other contractors, who bidded for the supply did not make any complaints about the Anchor enjoying any special favours.

Ahmed, who claimed NIMASA’s governing board did not approve the supply, added that he did not have evidence of the non-approval.

“I made a statement on December 3, 2010 when the matter was still fresh in my mind. I did not indicate that I asked for minutes of the meeting where approval was given for the purchase of the Blackberry phones.

The market survey we did showed that Blackberry was N120,000 as at 2010, but I can’t remember the specification. I don’t know if there are different kinds of Blackberry phones,” he told the court.

Group seeks revitalisation of Primary Healthcare system

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—WORLD Or ganisation for Family Doctor, WONCA, has called on government at all levels to revitalise the country’s Primary healthcare system with a view to ensuring functional health care delivery services that meet the health needs of Nigerians.

WONCA posited that a functional primary healthcare system will save Nigeria billions of naira in a foreseeable future.

Making the call during the World Family Doctor Day in Lagos with the theme: “Family medicine: Advocacy and strengthening primary health care in African region,” the President, African Region, Dr Sylvester Osinowo, said the PHC system was cost effective, preventive and people-oriented because it was the closest level of care to the community.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 11

Ekiti guber: Tension mounts as S-Court rules on Oni's petition today

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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DO EKITI—TENSION mounts in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, as the people of the state await today’s judgment of the Supreme Court over the suit instituted by former governor of the state, Mr. Segun Oni, urging the apex court to set aside the Court of Appeal's judgement of October 15, 2010, that removed him from office The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, had in its decision on the matter set aside the judgement of the lower tribunal which upheld Oni’s election as the validly elected governor of the state in 2007.

The court in its decision ordered a re-run election which was held in 2009 However, after living office, Oni, not satisfied with the decision of the court, approached the Ado Ekiti division of the court, alleging bias and favoritism on the part of the suspended president of the court, Justice Ayo Salami and the members of the tribunal.

Specifically, Oni is seeking an order setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti division delivered on Monday, February 27, 2012.

He,is equally seeking an order directing a fresh Panel of the Court of Appeal to hear and determine the aforesaid appeal in (ii) above de novo.

An order directing the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to take over the governance of Ekiti State, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal in (ii) above by the Court of Appeal.

Ekiti CP speaks

On his preparation for the

judgement, Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, said he had a meeting with the leaders of the two parties where they promised to caution their supporters against fomenting trouble before, during and after the judgement.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said: “We are monitoring the situation very closely.

"We invited all the leaders of the political parties on Tuesday, and it was agreed that they will talk to their supporters and party members in view of today’s judgement to ensure that there is peace in the state.

“Our intelligence unit had

been sent out to gather information from the public. We have also deployed our men to all strategic positions across the state to forestall breakdown of law and order that may arise as a result of the judgement. So, we don’t foresee crisis before, during and after the judgement.”

Ekiti ACN chair hopeful In his response to the pending court verdict, the Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ekiti chapter, Chief Jide Awe, who assured that his party members would not forment trouble, said his members were not

Ogun Police arrest 8 robbery suspects

in the habit of formenting trouble, even at a time when situations were more grievous than this.

He, however, expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying his members would not involved in any action that would desecrate the temple of justice, just as he enthused that the party would be victorious in today ’s judgement.

Oni and other PDP leaders had at various times clarified that the suit was not intended to ridicule the judiciary but to expose alleged bias in the judgement that ousted him from office.

Oni believed that he would be vindicated in the end.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Police Command, yesterday, said it arrested eight armed robbery suspects that specialised in car snatching and other criminal acts in Ifo communities of Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the arrested suspects were members of the gang that have in recent time terrorized the Ifo community.

Adejobi said: “ Biodun Olugbodi, is the leader of a secret cult group that had threatened to carry out a reprisal attack on members of the unregistered Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, last May 9.

“Other suspects are; Seun Sunday, Dare Busari, Dayo Sotade Alaba Busari, Sola Akinfenwa, Seun Ewejobi and Tope Adebisi."

Anniversary

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PRESENTATION: President Goodluck Jonathan (left), receiving the report of the National Broadband Plan for 2013-2018, from the Co-chairman, Presidential Committee on Broadband, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe (right), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. With them is Mr. Jim Ovia, Chairman, Visafone. State House Photo.

Ile-Oluji monarch would 've been killed —CP

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—POLICE Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr. Patrick Dukumor, yesterday, said that timely intervention by the police saved the traditional ruler of the troubled Ile-Oluji, Oba Suulade Adedugbe, from being killed by the youths who were bent on sacking him from the palace.

Dukumor, who read riot act to those he called trouble makers in the town said their intention was to kill the Oba and razed down his palace.

He pointed out that the protesters vented their anger on policemen when they could not carry out the devilish mission.

He noted that the protesters attacked his men with guns, cudgels, broken bottles, other dangerous weapons, during

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the three-day violence.

According to him the protesters provoked policemen deployed to restore peace in the town but they restrained themselves.

He said that the DPO of Ile Oluji was not spared in the attack by

the protesters.

He said that the protesters ignored all entreaties from him when he personally visited the town to address them and from notable leaders of the town.

Dukumor pointed out that the police officer who was operated upon in Obafemi

Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, is now stable and responding to treatment.

The police Chief, however, said that 17 suspects already in police custody will be charged to court next week and vowed to bring those behind the public dis-

Oyo ACN disregards Ladoja, Akala alliance towards 2015 former governors had set

BY OLAAJAYI BADAN—ACTION Congress of Nigeria in Oyo State, has said setting up a 10-man committee by former Governors of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala towards harmonizing their 2015 governorship ambition

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would not upstage its government.

According to the party in a statement by its Publicity secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, the coming together of the duo could be likened to the gang-up of a sparrow and crocodile.

The party was reacting to a newspaper publication which claimed that the two

up a 10-man committee towards harmonizing their 2015 governorship ambition.

The ACN said the exgovernors should be ready to clear the air on their ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over mismanagement of the state fund while in government.

turbances in the town to book.

According to him those that have fled the town would be arrested and made to face the music.

ATE Pa Joseph Adeyemi's remembrance service will hold on Wednesday, June 6, to mark the first anniversary of his death.

Pa Adeywemi died on June 6, 2012.

A statement by one of his sons, Wale Adeyemi, of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Lagos, said he was an outstanding auto technician and a community leader.

Adeyemi was born in December, 1924, in Ondo Town, Ondo State.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MOTIVATIONAL AND CHRISTIAN BOOKS DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA. (MACBDAN) The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association with its headquarters at 17 Bale Adeyemo Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos State has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association with its headquarters at 17 Bale Adeyemo Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos State has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1)Mr. Nicodemus Okwuchukwu Nnamezie.

(2)Mrs. Edith Ngozi Nnaji.

(3)Mr. Christian Uchechukwu Nwabueze.

(4)Mr. Chidiebere Joachim Nnamezie.

(5)Mr. Okochi Anthony Mmirikwe.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. (a)To promote Social interaction and understanding among members. (b)To protect the interest of all members in line with the Association’s Constitution and Policy. (c)To exchange ideas and opinions on matters of importance. (d)To encourage the spirit of progress, unity and honesty among members. (e)To promote customer friendly relationship among members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED:

PETER O. DURU Esq. (Solicitor) 08032762564

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Contractors threaten Shell

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ARRI—A GROUP of contractors of Shell Development Company, under the aegis of Rightway Surveillance Forum, has given the oil company a two-week ultimatum to relocate from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, or lose its services.

Rising from its meeting in Warri, Delta State, the group’s president, Chief Alfred Biukeme, said the oil company had two weeks also to increase the salaries of surveillance guards from N22,000 to N150,000, adding that the present salaries of N22,000 was a slave wage.

Fuming that the guards were treated as slaves in their own country, Biukeme also warned Daewoo and Saipem Nigeria, to stop neglecting host indigenous contractors in the new gas project to commence soon in the southern swamp, threatening repercussion if schemed out.

Labour in Rivers denies obtaining bribe to go on strike

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— TRADE Union congress, TUC, Rivers State chapter, has described as untrue, allegations in some quarters that labour unions were offered N100 million by the state government to go on strike over the closure of Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area secretariat by the Police.

It will be recalled that TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, embarked on a two-day warning strike early in the week, to press home their call for the Police to allow work resume at Obio/Akpor council secretariat.

The state Chairman of TUC, Mr. Chika Unuegbu, who spoke to journalists at the Rivers State delegates' conference of TUC Women Commission election in Port Harcourt, said labour had a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, after the warning strike, where they re-echoed their demand.

According to him, they made it er Committee and the susthe council to run the place clear to the Police boss that they pended elected officials of the pending the determination of were not an interested party in council. the suits filed by the Caretakthe political crisis that had engulfed the council, adding that all they wanted was for Police to allow w o r k e r s resume, so that their salaries for April and May could be paid.

He said they told the Commissioner that staff of the council were the worst affected by the action of the Police.

Unuegbu said NLC had also written to the state government before the warning BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Bisi Osunneye (member board of trustees), Passtrike to aptor Ituah Ighodalo (chairman, board of trustees) and Dr. Enyantu Ifenne, point the Head of Local Gov- (member board of trustee) all of Foodbank Nigeria, during the board briefernment Ad- ing on its activities. ministration of

Amaechi assures on safety P

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has assured that his administration will continue to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

Amaechi, in his Democracy Day message to the state, also appealed to security operatives and the people to cooperate with the state government to ensure the security of lives and property.

He said: “As we enter into the third year of our final tenure, we want to reassure you of our commitment to our oath of office to safeguard lives and property of everyone, who lives or does business in Rivers State.

We shall leave no stone unturned in our quest to ensure that our people live in a safe and secured environment. We call on our people and the security agencies to continue to cooperate with government to help sustain the peace that we now enjoy.”

The governor recalled the ugly security situation he met on ground when he assumed office in 2007 and the effort of his administration to restore peace in the state.

Amaechi spoke extensively on the success of his administration in the areas of education, health, agriculture and empowerment programmes.

Governor Amaechi, who assured that his administration will continue to deliver on its election promises, expressed gratitude to God for His blessings upon the state.

NECO seeks reform in education system to check mass failure

BY ALICE FESTUS

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Governing Board of National Examination Council, NECO, Mr. Paddy Njoku, has warned that the mass failure recorded in the conduct of national examinations in the country in recent years will continue, except a comprehensive reform of the educational system was carried out.

Njoku, yesterday, at the public presentation of the Transformational Teacher and Taking Responsibility for School Improvement, by Rosemary Nwangwu, in Abuja, expressed concern over the poor performance of applicants in NECO, West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB examinations.

He said that the edu-

cational system keeps deteriorating as a result of what is being fed into it and as such, the reformation has to begin from the basic levels which, he said, are the nursery and primary levels.

He said: “In information communication technology, you have garbage in and garbage out out which is called GEGO. Once what you are feeding into the examination system is rotten, it will bring out rotten result. So, the point we are making is that we should reform our educational system and rejig it in such a way that our children go into the examination well prepared, otherwise, NECO, WAEC and JAMB will always be producing bad results, which are true results of the bad situations, authentic results of the bad educational situation that we have in the country today."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—13

Broadcast journalists urged to embrace social media

BY CHARLYNE IKPE

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FORMER Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Prof.

Raph Akinfeleye, has called on broadcast journalists to embrace the opportunities offered by the social media to meet up with the challenges of globalisation.

He also regretted the disappearance of feedback in traditional broadcast journalism, noting that it was a cardinal principle in good communication.

Akinfeleye spoke in Lagos at a lecture titled: Social media and Broadcast Journalism, convened by Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Lagos Council, Lagos Television, LTV. He said: ’’Broadcast industry in Nigeria is an interesting industry if its history and operations are considered. The relationship between the broadcast industry and social media at the early periods was not promising, but it seems the broadcast journalists were skeptical about their future.

He said: "The future of broadcast journalism and social media in Nigeria is bright," adding that many applications are being developed and the broadcast industry can always make use of the opportunities given to them by the new technologies.

Etinagbedia for burial

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RS. Blacky Etinagbedia, of Urukpedi and Abowhe quarters of Emevor, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, is dead, aged 70.

A statement by her daughter, Mrs. Dora Edijala, said Christian burial rites will take place tomorrow at Adam Igbudu Pastoral Centre, on Emevor Express Road, followed by interment.

Late Mrs. Etinagbedia

Dispute over ballot boxes: Jega, INEC lose bid to stay judgment I

NDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, has lost in its bid to stay the judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which restrained it from further using transparent ballot boxes for elections, without the consent of the patent right owner.

Trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, in his ruling, declined to stay the judgment.

INEC and its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had asked the court to stay the execution pending the determination of their appeal, challenging the judgment.

It will be recalled that the court had, in its judgment of June 5, 2012, held, among others, that the plaintiff, Bedding Holding Limited, owns a valid and subsisting patent rights over transparent ballot boxes and electronic collapsible transparent ballot boxes being used for elections in the country.

The judge voided the rights over similar inventions purportedly issued subsequently to three firms, Emchai Limited, Tambco United Nigeria Ltd and Anowat Project and Resources Ltd, by the Registrar of Patent, for being illegal.

Justice Bello, in the judgment, also granted an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants and any other person from utilising or dealing with the patented boxes of the plaintiff, “except with the express and prior consent, licence and authority of the plaintiff to that effect.”

Refusing INEC’s application, the court held that the reliefs granted in the judgment were mainly declarative and

were incapable of being stayed.

Justice Bello, who berated INEC and Jega for acting in disregard of the court’s order, frowned at the decision of the electoral body and its Chairman to deploy the same ballot boxes for the governorship elections held last year on

July 10 in Edo State and on October 20 in Ondo State, without the consent of the plaintiff and in disregard of the court’s subsisting order made on June 5, 2012.

The court held that it was an irony that INEC and Jega would approach his court for an indulgence, having will-

ingly disregarded and flouted its order.

“The use of the ballot boxes has soiled the applicants’ hands. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

They cannot, therefore, seek the indulgence of the court having flouted its orders,” the court said.

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ENIN—THE Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman of Benin Forum, Chief David Edebiri, yesterday, said that impeaching Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, will not guarantee a second term ticket for President Goodluck Jonathan.

He urged the President

S-Court to hear Gov Okorocha/ PDP suit June 4

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—SUPREME Court has slated June 4 to hear the suit between Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, even as a group of lawyers loyal to former governor of the state, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, yesterday, served a petition on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. The petitioners, alleged plot to disband the panel handling a fresh appeal by Governor Okorocha, challenging the joining of his predecessor in an election petition that was filed against him by the governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

FGGC Abuloma Old Girls, FCT Chapter elect exco

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Impeaching Amaechi won't guarantee Jonathan’s re-election —Esogban of Benin

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

The court, meanwhile, stayed proceedings in the contempt proceedings pending against INEC and its principal officers for using the ballot boxes without the patent rights owner’s consent.

to give the people the dividends of democracy by ensuring steady power, industrialisation and tackle security challenges, rather than fight political battles with governors over 2015 presidential election.

Speaking to Vanguard, the elder statesman, who disagreed with the assertion by President Jonathan that his administration

had performed creditably well, said: “I am not totally in agreement that democracy is already here in Nigeria. We are working towards achieving true democracy but it has really not come. A typical example of that is the current issue of the election of Nigeria Governors Forum, where 35 people met to elect one man and the aftermath now is a dispu-

tation as to what happened and what did not happen.

“I think if the President wants to come back as President, he does not need all the current rigmarole that is going on.

Let him give the Nigerians good governance. Let him make Nigeria one of the countries of the world where electricity is constant."

EDERAL Government Girls’ College, Abuloma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s foremost Unity Schools established over 35 years ago, will soon begin to enjoy support from her old girls.

This is because the old girls in some major cities across the country and overseas have decided to come together to network, and bring to limelight the ideals for which FGGC Asuloma is known, shore up the image of the school, impart the larger society and bring succour to their Alma mater, amongst others.

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Lagos acquires 8 life raft boats for rescuing flood victims

First lady denies involvement in Amaechi’s suspension

BY BEN AGANDE

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — LAGOS State Government has purchased eight life raft boats and other rescue equipment for rescue operations during flood disaster and boat mishap in the state.

General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu announced this, yesterday, during a stakeholders’ meeting with the officers of the Nigerian Merchant Navy in Alausa, Ikeja.

Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the government purchased the new equipment to improve response to emergency issues, especially flood cases in the state.

It will be recalled that

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BUJA — THE first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday, said she had no hand in the suspension of the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media and Publicity, Ayo Osinlu said the allegation was “not only dubious, but also diversionary, unfair, unkind, and therefore totally unacceptable”.

According to him, Mrs. Jonathan was not an official of the PDP and as such could not have led ‘the elders of the party by the nose’ to take such a decision.

“It has again come to our notice that a new twist has been introduced to the carefully orchestrated scheme to anchor the political fortunes or survival of certain embattled politicians on a deliberate demonisation of the First

Lady, Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan.

“This new twist came by way of a so-called “investigation” reported on the front page of a national daily, yesterday.

“According to the report, the First Lady, as characteristic these days, is being alleged to have influenced the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi from PDP by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

“We consider it laughable that it can be assumed by any sane person that the First Lady could possibly “summon” the members of the NWC of the party for the purported purpose of handing down “stern directives” on crucial party decisions.

“We ask, on what platform?

Within what contexts? In what capacity? Is it not an unfortunate insult on all the elders that constitute the NWC to insinuate that they were assembled by the First Lady, or anyone else for that matter, and instructed on positions of the party? And why couldn’t

newspaper ’s “investigators” name at least a few of those in attendance of this famous meeting?

“We consider it a most unbecoming insolence, to say the least DISRESPECTFUL, of any one to suggest that the whole of PDP was led by the nose and influenced by a private interest, in a matter that so evidently borders on party discipline and administration.

“Only recently, we were compelled to make a statement, warning those who have become specialists in looping their self-induced political travails around the First Lady, to develop another strategy for their survival.

“This was when another vicious lie was circulated that Her Excellency had, again, “summoned” service chiefs in Rivers State, and instructed them to be firmer in handling the Rivers matter.

“Let us state once again, that the First Lady is not an elected official of state, neither is she a party functionary. She therefore recognises

very clearly her place in the scheme of things and acts always accordingly within context.

“In safe estimation, the whole of this is a conscious calculation to sustain the issue of Governor Amaechi in full public view, as well as to explore the possibility of keeping public sympathy in his favour.

“While we have no challenges with the Amaechi camp struggling for political survival and relevance, we wish to state categorically our strong objection to the wicked use of the name and profile of the First Lady in the process.

“For us this is not only dubious, but also diversionary, unfair, unkind, and therefore totally unacceptable.

“We wish to warn that if this trend continues in the near and distant future, we may be constrained to take action within legally permissible limits to protect the integrity of the office and person of the First Lady.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 —15

Jonathan promises full implementation of national broadband roadmap

BY BEN AGANDE

ABUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has pledged that his administration will take immediate steps to fully implement the report of the Presidential Committee on a National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap which submitted its report yesterday.

Speaking after receiving the report yesterday, president Jonathan said the successful implementation of the National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap will help to positively revolutionize communications in Nigeria.

According to the President the committee’s view that broadband is to the 21st century information age what electricity was to the industrial age represents his conviction and he would give his full support to ensure that Nigeria is wholly integrated into the global digital communications network.

The president said “any country that lags behind in the current age of ICT will miss a lot. That is why we have created a separate Ministry of Communications Technology to facilitate the establishment of the best digital communications infrastructure in Nigeria and optimize our adoption of global best practices in the use of information and communications technology.

“I thank you for your work and I assure you that the report will be adopted by government and implementation will begin immediately because our people are hungry for information and we are in a hurry to fully integrate our country into the digital communications age,” the President told members of the committee.

The Committee, which was established in September 2012 to develop a broadband strategy and roadmap for Nigeria, said that the key objectives of the plan which it has evolved are: to promote pervasive broadband deployment in the country; increase broadband adoption and usage and ensure the availability of broadband services at affordable prices to maximize its socioeconomic and political benefits.

It is expected that in the 2013-2018 implementation period a five-fold increase in in-

ternet and broadband penetration will be achieved in the country.

It is also intended that all state

capitals and urban cities will have metro-fibre infrastructure installed within the period.

State of emergency: More Nigeriens and Chadians among arrested insurgents

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

ABUJA — THE Special Forces fighting to dislodge the terrorists from Adamawa, Borno and

Yobe states, yesterday, arrested five Nigeriens and two Chadians as they tried to flee the military onslaught.

The Defence headquarters also disclosed that recent messages from the terrorists, soliciting support from Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as other cohorts of the insurgents is clearly a confirmation that the group was being decimated.

A statement signed by Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, read: “Five Nigeriens and two Chadians are among the fleeing insurgents apprehended by the Special Forces as troops continue their pursuit of terrorists dislodged from their bases”.

The seven were among the nine arrested at Tumbu Gini, a border town with Chad as they tried to cross the borders into Chad.

Jang pledges support for NYSC

BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

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OS — GOVERNOR Jonah Jang of Plateau State has pledged continuous support for National Youth Corps, NYSC, scheme to ensure that the welfare of Corps members posted to the state is well taken care of.

He said this, yesterday, at the commissioning of the NYSC Foundation Corps Members Lodge in Jos and commended the exCorps members for establishing the foundation to support the scheme.

Represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. James Yakubu, he said his administration will continue to stand by the NYSC State Secretariat.

He added: “Let me assure you that the Plateau State Government would continue to support the NYSC Scheme by ensuring that that we fully participate in their activities, while joining hands with them to ensure maintenance culture for this building being unveiled.”

The governor applauded the foundation for embarking on different projects such as the giving of soft loans to exCorps members to enable them establish their own small scale businesses, “so that they can be relevant and avoid chasing employments that iare not available.”

He said the new orientation camp built in Mangu Local Government will soon be ready for use.

FRSC lists Abuja-Lokoja, Lagos-Ibadan, Benin-Ore roads as most accident prone

BY NOEL ONOJA

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BUJA — THE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday, named the Abuja-Lokoja, Benin-Ore, Lagos-Ibadan and the AbujaKaduna roads as most volatile to road accidents in the country.

Speaking at a capacity workshop put together for regulatory risk management practitioners in north-central states

by Shell petroleum in Abuja,

the Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal, Denis Garba Terrang said the roads have recorded the highest number of road accidents, injuries and crash related fatalities in Nigeria.

He said, “Of recent, every Tuesday we sit down and look at the number of accidents that took place, the number of people that died and those that got injured and we discovered that there is a pattern, there are spe-

cific roads where these accidents take place, for example, Abuja-Lokoja road, AbujaKaduna road, Benin-Ore and Lagos-Ibadan road.”

He however, noted that due to the concentration of more resources to “face those places squarely; you look at the rate of road crash going down because of the concentration of safety resources in those areas.”

Terrang said the FRSC’s target is to reduce road traffic crash rate by 20 per cent and the number of fatality by 30 per cent

this year, adding that the weekly number of fatalities resulting from road crashes was staggering. While informing that the World Bank donated 12 ambulances fully equipped with requirement for rescue to the FRSC last month, he said the FRSC is partnering with different organisations to have road side clinics equipped with paramedic that assists in the evacuation and rescue of crash victims.

The Country Chair of Shell company in Nigeria, Mutiu

Sumonu, who spoke through the Manager, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Amadi Amadi, said statistics worldwide has shown that about 1.2 million people die from road accidents yearly and about 50 million injuries with the highest number being recorded in Africa.

“We think that something needs to be done, hence we are putting this together to improve the capacity of those tasked with managing road safety in Nigeria,” C M Y K

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Bauchi High Court reinstates suspended legislator, Danna

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AUCHI — A Bauchi High Court, yesterday, ordered the reinstatement of a female member of the state Assembly, Mrs. Rifkatu Danna (PDPBogoro), suspended since June 7, 2012.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Zango, who gave the order in Bauchi while delivering judgement on the case, also directed the House to pay the lawmaker all her salaries and entitlements which accumulated during her suspension.

Zango ruled that the indefinite suspension clamped by the House on Danna was unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect.

He described the action of the Assembly as mere arbitrary show of power, which had infringed on the fundamental human rights of the plaintiff.

Use criticisms to effect changes, NOA boss, Omeri advises opposers

BY DOTU IBIWOYE

T

HE DIRECTOR General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri has challenged critics of President Goodluck Jonathan to offer constructive ideas that would help the ad-

ministration plan ahead for the future.

Omeri, who commended Jonathan for his transformational leadership in the last two years, said it was the duty of Nigerians to point out areas of defect in development instead of the current pull down syndrome by the oppo-

sition and other critics of the government.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the NOA, Mr. Paul Odenyi, yesterday.

Omeri said that the Federal Government ‘’has made good strides in several sectors of the economy in the last two

President Jonathan mourns late General Kotangora

BY BEN AGANDE&LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck has expressed ‘shock and immense sadness’ on the death of the Deputy Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Major-General Mamman Kontagora (rtd.) who died yesterday morning, aged 69.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati: “President Jonathan joins the family of the late Kontagora in mourning the illustrious and indefatigable former Minister of Works and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who,

even in retirement, continued to serve his fatherland with zeal, vigour and enthusiasm whenever he was called upon to do so.

“President Jonathan believes that the nation will always honour the memory of the late Army Engineer for having served Nigeria with commendable patriotism and distinction during an excellent career in the Armed Forces and other capacities in the public service including Federal Minister, Sole Administrator of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Development of National Stadia for the World Youth Soccer Championship in 1995.

“He prays that God Almighty

will grant General Kontagora’s soul eternal rest.”

Meanwhile, a delegation led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed represented President Jonathan at General Kontagora’s interment.

The delegation also included the Minister of State for Power, Mrs. Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi and the Chairman of Sure-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, the statement added..

In his own reaction, the Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed expressed shock at the death of Gen. Kontagora, who was until his death, the Deputy Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P.

years,’’ adding that ‘’the transformation process envisages the participation of all in the task of developing the nation, a duty which, requires positive attitudinal change and consistency at all times.

“I commend President Jonathan for the boldness in presenting his score card in the open for people to see. It is quite heartwarming that he has also urged all Nigerians to have a look at it and offer constructive criticism, in full realisation that the work ahead requires an evaluation like this.

“It is therefore, a challenge I throw to those who have made a business of criticising the government to come out and offer suggestions on how the next two years should be handled for the greater good of all our people.

“The transformation process starts from the individual and it is a sacred duty of all Nigerians to contribute their efforts in realising the transformation of our dear country,” he said.

Omeri then recommended Jonathan’s mid term report for wide circulation amongst the citizens to ensure objective analyses based on facts and figures.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 17

A totally unnecessary drama and personality clashes. And it is not terribly smart or mature to crudely and cruelly victimise Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the NGF Chairman, to the point where he is attracting widespread sympathy and has become a

national hero!

Amaechi – a performing governor - has been treated appallingly and suspended from the PDP. Meanwhile, a secretly-shot video conclusively proves that he won last Friday ’s NGF

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HAT is the big deal about a bunch of governors getting together from time to time to chat about issues that concern them…and then disagreeing with the President whenever they think that he is being unfair or unwise?

To be honest, until those who claim to have Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s welfare at heart started to carry on, somewhat hysterically and paranoidly, as if the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, was a dangerous, evil revolutionary outfit, the NGF barely registered on my radar screen…which is why I have probably only mentioned it once or twice since I launched this column six years ago!

As far as I’m concerned, the NGF – which is not recognised in the Constitution - is nothing more than a club for guys who occupy various government houses. And it’s not as if they are all admirable.

Frankly, some of them are obnoxious jokes.

Achievement of governors However, the characters and achievements of governors are not my main focus today. I simply want to make the point that, like many organisations that have been formed by naturally assertive individuals who belong to the same profession and have common interests – the National Union of Journalists and Nigerian Bar Association, for example – the NGF can sometimes be troublesome.

But this is supposed to be a democracy, for crying out loud! And governors are as entitled to express their views and choose their leaders as anyone else.

Ditto the President and his fans - who have every right to regard the governors as unreasonable and dislike any Chairman the governors elect.

But there are smart and mature ways of dealing with such differences of opinion

election, fair and square, by three votes (if you haven’t already seen the video, you can access it on http:// www.saharareporters.com/).

But The Powers That Be have persuaded some of Amaechi’s colleagues to turn on him and insult o u r collective intelligence.

And we are now b e i n g assured that the “ R E A L” Chairman of the NGF is J o n a h Jang, the Governor of Plateau State…who allegedly enjoys the support of half of the N G F members.

Pe o p l e who have normal human instincts do not approve of bullying, especially when the bullies don’t have great track records a n d possess m o r e weapons than the bullied; and almost all of the Nigerians a n d foreigners

I’ve spoken to recently are rooting for Amaechi because they see him as a plucky little David who is struggling to survive unjust assaults from a mighty, vindictive Goliath.

One would have thought that Jang – whose state has been a hugely violent and hugely embarrassing mess for far too long - would be too busy with his core gubernatorial duties to bother about relatively trivial NGF issues.

But this is Nigeria! – a profoundly dysfunctional country in which VIPs are permitted to get away with misplaced priorities. And we’re hearing that Jang – whom some journalists are sarcastically describing as “the factional Chairman of NGF” is currently preoccupied with establishing “a new factional NGF office”.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Gov. Chibuike Amaechi

What a factional farce!

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Y the way, I feel obliged to reluctantly - say that I am very disappointed in Godswill Akpabio, the Awka Ibom Governor. I don’t know him well but have met him a couple of times and have visited Uyo to check out his projects.

And he struck me as a decent, serious gent who was doing lots of good work for the citizens who kindly voted for him.

And I don’t understand why he has allowed himself to become the unpopular face of anti-Amaechi hostility and skullduggery.

Does Akpabio not realise that there is safety in numbers?...and that he himself may eventually suffer if his attempts to

dis-empower the NGF succeed?

Gov. Godswill Akpabio At the end of the day, this terrifyingly toxic and totally unnecessary drama boils backing if he wants a second term…and down to tragic pettiness, suicidal lack of to summon Amaechi like a junior judgement (making mountains out of brother and make peace with him…as molehills!) and the pathetic political in GENUINELY (as opposed to just pretending!). In a nutshell, the Amaechi ineptitude of a handful of bad advisors.

The last thing that Niger Deltans and and Jonathan wings of the PDP should Nigerians need at this critical juncture is please, for their sakes and all of our squabbling or aloof leaders who aren’t sakes, bury the hatchet…but not in each willing or able to save us from shame and others’ backs! failure. And I Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 urge Mr 6458 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS President to YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY remember that he BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT will need DETAILS ATTACHED. m a x i m u m

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 31, 2013 THE most important issue in Nigeria now is leadership of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF. It has eclipsed security challenges the country faces. Anger, danger, hunger that Nigerians suffer from governments’ ineptitude are unimportant.

Everything is about 36 men and some outsiders who have created another distraction to keep our eyes off them as they steer the Nigerian ship recklessly.

What is the NGF? Why is it suddenly so important? Why if the Presidency is not interested in the crisis, one of the factions feels obliged to report to the Vice President (the President was at the African Union 50th anniversary celebrations in Addis Ababa)?

Would the faction have reported to the President if he was around? Why the presidential support for a factional NGF secretariat?

Sentiments and issues have tangled; it is difficult to separate them. Governors who participated in the election, certain of their group’s victory, are turning around to smear the exercise as flawed. If they won would their position have been different?

What Governors, What F orum?

Forum?

Thanks to technology even those who said they did not vote have been contradicted.

Where was the rigging? The 35 votes cast matched the number of governors in attendance. Nobody complained about the counting until the loss. Political miscalculation is at the root of what has been promoted to a crisis. The complaining faction believed it had the numbers to win.

NGF is an association of governors.

Membership is not compulsory. Attendance at its meetings used to be poor until the past two years when NGF has rallied governors’ positions on issues, mostly States’ participating in decisions about dispersing Nigeria’s resources.

Every governor wanted more money, presumably to develop his State. The forum met a need. Among its critics are those who wonder why states resources are spent on NGF, an exclusive club, whose membership is only 0.0000225 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

The undue importance placed on NGF is an excellent example of how our governments think only about themselves.

They would stop at nothing to please themselves, showcase their importance, and disrupt things to get things done their way.

Quests for power platforms are primed at annexation of any association that could raise a contrary voice. NGF was a prime target. Opposition would not be brooked.

The point is made emphatically enough to strike fear in dissenters.

Politicians have again placed their greed above everything.

We hope parties to the conflict realise Nigerians elected them to serve the people.

Nothing is more important than the welfare and security of the people, the NGF crisis cannot enhance them.

OPINION

BY C.DON ADINUBA Continued from yesterday's pg 18 UT when he was told we were around, he quickly got up and joined us in the living room; for the next two hours we were discussing all kinds of issues under the sun— and even above the sun! All of a sudden, his wife appeared from the lecture room and was surprised to see the husband discussing heartily with us. She screamed: ‘Chinua, what are you doing outside the bedroom?

The doctor ordered you to have complete bed rest, not even to take calls. I am not happy at all!’ Prof responded: “ I came less than two minutes ago to dismiss my friends who came all the way from Lagos and Enugu’”. It was laughter galore.

I continued, this time with mischievous comments: “The world has, indeed, come to an end. Things have fallen apart. How can a woman be calling her husband by the first name, especially in public? How can a woman order her husband back into the bedroom in broad daylight? Okonkwo of Things Fall Apart must be turning in his grave. Who knows whether highly educated women are not on top of their husbands when they want to produce babies?”

The commotion of laughter in this huge living room was still on when Okey rhetorically asked: “C. Don, are you sure you are not already engaged in this sacrilegious practice, even though you are not yet married, let alone to a very educated woman?” I remarked to the audience about Okey who was, as usual, in jeans: “Don’t mind him. Okey is the boy in jeans; the boy wiser than his father”. Ejike, a professor of

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Achebe: A personal testimony (2) fisheries, was visibly confused. Okey spoke to him and his wife in particular: “The Boy in Jeans—Or The Boy Wiser Than His Father is the title of one of Achebe’s poems in the poetry collection Beware, Soul Brother. You know C. Don is a Nigerian journalist, so he doesn’t give credit to authors!” The dominant issue in the Nigerian print media then was the charge of plagiarism against a foremost journalist and columnist, accused

by Kunle Ajibade and Dele Momodu, then two graduate students of literature at the University of Ife, of lifting without acknowledgement whole passages from Thomas Paine’s classic, The Rights of Man. I responded to Okey: “You are a Nigerian journalist, so can you cast the first stone?”

As Achebe and Ejike were seeing us off, the latter said: “You guys have succeeded in making my place so warm this evening. I have never seen Prof so relaxed, so comfortable with people. You are exceptional. By the way, I have noticed your high intelligence, eloquence and confidence.

Feel free to come to my house anytime of the day.” Immediately we got to a poorly lit spot on the way back to the hotel, Okey and I began to hum, sing and dance: “This Vice Chancellor who has at least two beautiful, tall, fair skinned and elegant daughters has given us a rain cheque. Providence has buttered our bread!” A fierce argument soon erupted between Okey and myself over who would first approach which girl; we had just caught a glimpse of these girls for the first time and didn’t know anything about the

damsels except that they should be the daughters of our host!

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chebe saw beyond our exuberance which he said reminded him of the rambunctious Christopher Okigbo whom Michael J.C. Echeruo described in the forward to Pol Ndu’s Songs of A Seer as “the most verbally exciting African poet writing in English”. Through the Achebe instrumentality, I was offered editorial committee membership of Okike. And when Achebe decided to retire from the journal, he sought my opinion on the choice of the editor. I wasted no time in suggesting Emmanuel Obiechina, the biggest name in the English Department at the UNN, but he explained that he wanted “a creative mind, a writer, and not necessarily a scholar”. He went on: “I have Chinweizu in mind, but he loves peripatetic activity; he is itinerant.

Okike will remain within the Institute of African Studies at the UNN. I am also considering Ossie Enekwe , head of the Drama Department who is a very good poet, novelist and scholar. But Ossie doesn’t seem to have much confidence in his tremendous abilities”. Ossie, a good and quite friend of mine who obtained three graduate degrees from Columbia University in New York, did suffer diffidence, a result of his combat experience in Biafra which changed him completely. When I sent him a questionnaire on his writing and on Okike which he answered satisfactorily, he still submitted the answers to Achebe for vetting before sending

the material to me for publication.

I will ever relish the courtesies Achebe extended to me. At the celebration of his 60th birthday at the UNN in March, 1990, he was walking down the hall to perform a certain ceremony when he saw me with Andy Ezeani of Champion Newspapers in an obscure corner and immediately came straight to me, together with his charming wife, and thanked me generously for finding the time to honour him! With the paparazzi swooping on us, he invited Nureeden Farah, Chinweizu and Ngugu Wa Thiong’o to join in the photos we were taking. Sensing I was close to the great writer, Weekend Concord deputy editor Dimgba Igwe, a fantastic professional, sought my assistance for a major interview with the Achebes.

No one could come into contact with Chinua Achebe without fond memories and without learning a few lessons. He was exceedingly infectious in innumerable ways.

Among other things, he taught me humility and the need to be embedded in one’s community. He was a global citizen who was treated like a head of state in some African countries he visited, yet he accepted to be the president of the Ogidi Town Union where he was handling such local issues as the location of a primary health centre, renovation of a dilapidated primary school, modernizing of village open markets, settlement of disputes between kindred groups and sometimes between peasant farmers and their wives and children! Achebe was a great man, indeed.

Concluded

*Mr. Adinuba, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013— —19

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IGERIA’S path to democracy is chequered. Once we lost it to the 1966 coupists, several military leaders thereafter, made unsuccessful attempts to return the country to democracy. From the late General Murtala Mohammed, who was cut down by his colleagues, through Generals [all retired]Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida to Sani Abacha, transfer of power at the centre was a very difficult challenge, except for General Olusegun Obasanjo as he then was, who voluntarily handed over power in 1979, only to regain it years after, but not without sacrifices.

Handover of power could be difficult, especially if one shot his way into it from what we saw in the behaviours of these Generals.

Power handover was made more difficult for them by the players in the system who would always gravitate around every leader.

These men, as powerful as they were, believed in power politics without principles. They mustered ethnic, military, tribal forces to see to it that any Head of State sat tight till he was pushed out by his impatient colleagues in a military putsch or so. Some of these coups were bloody, while others looked like arrangee business among ‘brothers’. Of all our past military leaders, it was the great duo of General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and Vice Admiral Okhai Akhigbe(rtd) who resolutely gave us democracy, which culminated into the swearing in of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as the first democratically elected President of Nigeria on May 29, 1999. So, our beloved former President , a great man by any description, chose naturally to declare that same date as Nigeria’s Democracy

Day. Democracy Day is worthy of the celebration in our nation. The serious problem is with the date May 29 itself. Upon the announcement of this very date as Democracy Day, agitation filled the air waves in Nigeria.

Many Nigerians argued that June 12 should be the Democracy Day because it was on June 12, 1993 that Prof.Humphrey Nwosu, as the head of the then INEC, announced the result of the fairest, most transparent and freest presidential election ever held in Nigeria in favour of Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, who trounced Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the Nigerian National Party, NPN.But to the surprise of all, except perhaps the makers and shapers of Nigeria at that time, General Ibrahim Babangida(rtd), as the Head of State, annulled the result of the election. The agitations that followed this annulment became so intense that he stepped aside from Aso Rock and put in Chief Ernest Shonekan as the Head of an Interim National Government, ING. As wicked, unfair, and unjust as that annulment was, power players continued to jostle and push for control. This left the ING unstable until General Abacha pushed Chief Shonekan aside and out of Aso Rock on December 18, 1993. After putting Chief MKO Abiola in jail, General Abacha was found himself contending with the forces of June 12 even as he tried to convince Nigerian that the cap of a president fitted him better. But he bowed out of the scene when death unexpectedly struck, thus paving way for General Abubakar and Admiral Akhigbe to assume control of in Aso Rock. Chief MKO Abiola also died in the struggle to actualize June 12. But these two fine officers of the Nigerian

,

Military overlooked the power players, the trappings of governance at the peak and conducted elections that brought Obasanjo back to Aso Rock.

Critics of Chief Obasanjo say that he spurned the June 12 date because he despised Chief Abiola and all he stood for. He, however, chose May 29, the date he was sworn in as President, as the Democracy Day for this nation.

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he key questions of who decided on May 29 as the date for the swearing in of President Obasanjo, what was playing in their minds, and what was their purpose, are the concerns of this writer.This is because on the May 29, 1966, the whole of Northern Nigeria declared what they called ‘Araba’ against the Igbos in the North and started a genocide against the Igbos, a genocide that led to a civil war that saw over 3.1 million Igbos killed. Professor Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, a visiting professor at the Universaidade de Fortlaeza and a specialist on the state and on the genocide wars in Africa in the post-1966 epochbeginning with the Igbo genocide, confirms that this genocide inaugurated Africa’s current age of pestilence. He says that over 12 million additional Africans have been murdered in further genocide in Rwanda (1994), Zaire/

How democratic is Africa's democracy?

BY UCHE NWADIALOR

S

INCE May 29, 1999 when Nigeria’s ongoing nascent democracy commenced, the giant of Africa has set this date for an annual ritual of celebrating a continuous and unabated democratic rule aimed at consolidating this global political value as well as creating awareness on the need for our democratic operators to improve on its dividends.

Two days before this date, precisely May 27, our students all over the country celebrate the Children’s Day in preparation for the national democracy day.

The zeal and funfair which characterised these momentous and historic days have waned with every successive year; this is not because Nigerians do not appreciate the importance of these occasions.

During our colonial days, the Empire Day was a sacrosanct day set aside annually to honour the government and her colonial administration, including their men of glory who lost their lives during the World War. All school children in the country, whether in urban or rural areas, were

subjected to a march past to salute the Union Jack, chanting the British Anthem with precision and joy rather than melancholy. But today how many Nigerian children can recite the Nigeria National Anthem or literally appreciate every line of this document.

It is said that that the worst type of democracy is better than the best type of military rule. No one can clam that Nigeria’s democracy since the past 14 years can be rightly described in superlative degree and not even in comparative terms. How could that be if the dividends of democracy such as motorable roads, potable drinking water, electricity supply, good heath facility and gainful employment, among others, have eluded most Nigerian communities, especially at the grassroots. Even the privileged class of the urban milieu have abandoned their specialist hospitals for foreign medical care. How many Nigerians can afford this? Even our tertiary institution with all the technologists that abound, suffer epileptic electricity supply, lack of potable water, stinking toilet, empty libraries or libraries stock with obsolescent journals and text books .

The April 2011 general elections in

DRCongo(since late 1990s) and Dafur-West Sudan (since 2004), and in other wars in Africa. Prof Ekwe-Ekwe gave reasons on his website, and whether we agree with him or not, we are bound to accept that May 29 is not a day for this kind of merry making and celebration for this counrty. It was the date evil started in Nigeria which touched Africa and is still festering.

May 29, 1996 is undoubtedly the most tragic day in Igbo history. It is the date of Igbo genocide-the most gruesome, devastating and expansive genocide in 20th Century Africa.

This very date, May 29, brings to the mind of any reasonable Igbo man, the terrible memories of the genocide and the unjust war that followed. Yet this May 29 1966 is also the Igbo day of affirmation, recovery and liberation. The Igbo people resolved on this day that marked the beginning of genocide, to survive the catastrophe by creating the State of Biafra. The Igbo could not have survived the genocide if they remained in Nigeria at that time. Those who started the genocide, the North of Nigeria, had all it required to wipe them out from the face of Nigeria, because protection for them would have come from nowhere. That the Igbos lost the war and the mention of the word Biafra is now shouted down at all levels in Nigeria, all exacerbated by the continued trial of Chief Uwazurike of MASSOB, makes this date a special day of meditation and rethinking to the Igbo man, and by extension to all lovers of peace and progress, of Nigeria. We saw the war in Igbo land, we were ravaged, killed, our women raped and dehumanized, properties carried away by the invading army and it all started on May 29, 1966.

It should be a day of sober reflection, dedicated by the Igbo man, Nigeria and Africa against genocide. It should be a day Nigerians, especially in the North, should sit, think and resolve never to attack an Igbo man or any visitor to their land again.

Celebrating democracy on the same date is a cover-up of facts

,

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

,

Something must be wrong with the May 29 date

It should be a day of sober reflection; it should be a day Nigerians, especially in the North, should resolve never to attack an Igbo man or any visitor to their land again

In a true democracy, power belongs to the people; the African Union, AU, should endeavour to intervene and arrest threats to the growth of democracy in the continent

,

Nigeria were acclaimed as being superlative compared to all the previous elections since 1999.

Y

et, the degree of fairness, freedom and participants turnout was a far cry from those recorded in the United States of America when President Barack Obama was re-elected for his second tenure in that there were no violence, ballot box snatching and stuffing, impersonation, death through post-election violence as was the case in Ivory Coast, Northern Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. This is as a result of the erosion of the democratic values of 33 years of military interregnum which has

and the truth, and at best is deceitful and mischievous. That the late Generals I.D. Bisala and Mamman Vatsa were killed for organising unsuccessful coups is a fact. We cannot cover up or deny that they were Generals of the Nigerian Army. The younger officers need to know this truth so as to guide them in their career.

In the same vein, that IGP Tafa Balogun was tried and convicted of a crime in this country does not remove the fact that he was an Inspector General of our beloved Police Force. We must always accept it and then address it for the help of future leaders. That May 29, 1966 was the date the North started genocide against Igbos is a fact, and we as a nation should respect that fact, and use the occasion to address the issues that cause genocide with a view to stopping it in our country. The telltales of the lack of remorse by the North in this action abound.The North must stop killing Igbos!

How do Nigerians, especially the true democrats like Chief Obasanjo want the Igbos to feel that it is on such a date that Nigerians chose to celebrate democracy? If indeed the State of Nigeria has any respect for the Igbo man and believes in fairness and justice, the Nigerian Presidency and Senate should look into these facts and change this date. If we in Nigeria really mean to build a nation where inequalities and mischief of the past will be done away with, we must jointly reject celebrations on this date.

May 29, should be a day dedicated by Nigeria against genocide in Nigeria. If all those who have benefited economically or in one way or the other from the defeat of Biafra, the silencing and conquering of the Igbo man rejoice over it, wine and dine on that day, for the other lovers of this nation in truth, it will remain a day of prayers, solemn meditation and supplications to God, asking the Lord, what shall we do so as never to tread this path again in Nigeria.

*Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

impacted negatively on the psyche of African political leaders to date. This factor also explains the unfortunate incidence of June 12 and the eventual choice of ex-president Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo.However, it is interesting to observe that the influence of militarism is declining fast with two presidents emerging successively from the ivory tower.

Democratic awareness should start from the home, the Church and the school.

Primary and secondary school curricula should embrace the elements of democracy in all the classes, while Government, as a course, must be compulsory for the social science department in tertiary institutions. It has also become necessary for the various tiers of government in conjunction with the electoral commissions and the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to embark on an intensive sensitization campaign on the need for the youth to shun violence and for Nigerians to turn out enmass during the 2015 elections.

In a true democracy, power belongs to the people. The African Union, AU, should endeavour to intervene and arrest threats to the growth of democracy in the continent, especially in Congo, Guinea, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Libya, Egypt and others. That is the only way elections in Africa, between now and 2015, will enhance democracy in the continent.

* Mr. Nwadialor, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard,FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Afenifere’s strange bedfellows Dear Sir,

I

was alarmed but later bemused when I read about Afenifere’s press conference in the media recently. Seated with Afenifere’s chieftains were Senator Iyiola Omisore and Mr Yinka Odumakin. Mr Odumakin was the vocal spokesperson of the group that broke away from Afenifere.

Afenifere was established in 1951 by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and his

governance.

It was during this process that Senator Omisore came to the fold, especially when the Alliance for Democracy, AD was being formed and he became the Deputy Governor of Osun State.

Due to obvious differences and discordant tune of the political music at that time, it was clear to all that Omisore did not belong to the fold. Things began to fall apart in the party and in the leadership of the Osun State Government leading to his impeachment as the Deputy

,

Afenifere has since unravelled and the various leaders have joined different political parties; while some are still in the ACN, some have joined PDP while many of them are with Labour Party; it is curious therefore to see Omisore nesting comfortably with Afenifere

,

associates. Since then, it remained the rallying point for the progressives in the South West geopolitical zone in Nigeria. Since 1999 when the current democratic dispensation took its root, things took a new dimension with real disciples of Awolowo trying to align themselves together to pursue the authentic Awo’s vision in

Governor. Since then, Senator Omisore has left the AD to pitch his tent with the PDP. His party deployed all resources at its disposal to fight Awo’s once united political family with intent of total annihilation. This allegedly culminated in the gruesome murder of Chief Bola Ige and the annihilation of the AD in the South West with Bola

Tinubu of Lagos State the only man standing.

Afenifere has since unravelled and the various leaders have joined different political parties.

While some are still in the ACN, some have joined PDP while many of them are with Labour Party. It is curious therefore to see Omisore nesting comfortably with Afenifere. Has Afenifere become Afenifere-PDP? Let them tell us so that we can know where they stand. What they are up to and what scheme they may be plotting is yet to be known but Omisore has his eyes on Osun State Governorship election next year. Are they Omisore’s friends and part of his campaign group?

Time will tell.

Omisore had surreptitiously crept into the rank of the Afenifere group again the way he did in 1999. One wanders why the

Honour the slain policemen Dear Sir,

I

would be delighted if you allow me to use your widely

Dr. O.B. 07059395566

Mbamarah

Distraction in government

President Jonathan vs Gov. Amaechi

Kidnapping and Monguno’s stand on Rotimi Boko Haram

President Jonathan vs Gov. Amaechi

The spat between president Jonathan and Governor Amaechi is unhealthy for our democracy. Both have shown that they have no space for dissenting voices. This ought not to be so in a democratic setting. Both men should channel their efforts towards providing quality service to the people who elected them into office for the sake of our political progress and unity.

This country is in dire need of good leadership, not quarrelsome leaders.

Gbenga 080308924497

Judging from reports on Munguno’s stand on Boko Haram, his kidnap looks stage managed. President Jonathan

,

GOVERNOR Amaechi has not shown any interest or declared his intention to contest the 2015 election, so I don’t see any reason why President Jonathan should be apprehensive. The President’s constant snapping at the heels of Governor Amaechi through his aides and lackeys is based on the fear that Amaechi will contest against him.

Joy 080205822339

There are too many distrations on the government which most times are not constructive enough to get the kind of publicity they get but borne out of the quest to get power. In most democracies of the world, opposition criticise constructively in order to solve critical problems confronting them as a nation, but here in

When government is over distracted like it is now, by opposition parties, paid media houses, Nigerian Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Boko Haram among others, it creates lack of concentration on the part of the government, and the people suffer for it

,

should not be cowed into setting a precedent by bowing to murderer’s demand . Boko Haram is north’s instrument to make Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan as some of their leaders threatened .

Only God knows why these persons still walk free. The north contributed nothing to Nigeria gaining of freedom but have enjoyed 39 years out of 50years so far.

group allowed its ranks to be broken and became so vulnerable to open its doors to another era of alleged political terrorism that characterized Omisore‘s earlier romance with the group in 1999. We know that the group has suffered very serious infiltration from the opposition which has led to its being factionalised.

It is nevertheless a suicide mission for these factions to allow further division by allowing Omisore into its fold. This romance obviously is like a political cancer that should not be allowed to fester. Anything to the contrary can only constitute a death sentence to the peace and tranquility being enjoyed in the region.

Kunle Omideyi, Surulere, Lagos

Nigeria opposition only criticise to pull down the government in power. When government is over distracted like it is now, by opposition parties, paid media houses, Nigerian Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Boko Haram among others, it creates lack of concentration on the part of the government,

read newspapers to call on the Federal Government to honour the policemen who paid the supreme price in

and the people suffer for it.

Those in power have the mandate to govern and should be allowed to do so with less distractions.

Clara 08078210057

Kudos to Gov. Amosun’s urban renewal projects

Nigerian urban centres currently experiencing a disconnection between urban infrastructure and the populace. The majority of urban infrastructure were developed during the military regimes as far back as the early 70s. Depsite the succession of democratic governance in the 21st century, there had been an inadequate maintenance of infrastructure in most urban centres across Nigeria.

It is gratifying to note that the Ogun state government has put everything in place to make the state a mega city in the country, with the provi-

Nasarawa State when they went to arrest cultists that were terrorizing the inhabitants of the state.

If the Federal Government cannot declare national mourning for the deceased policemen, it is advisable we put our national flag at half mast in their honour.

Already, there is an impression that human life is now cheap in the country. It is unfortunate that the killing of the people hardly makes news as it occurs almost on daily basis in Nigeria. Many policemen have been killed but the killings of up to 60 policemen at a time is unprecedented in the history of this country.

We should not leave only their widows, orphans and their loved ones to bear the pains of their loss; we should by our actions demonstrate that they are not alone in their griefs.

Honouring them will not only encourage our policemen to work harder it will show that if they die in the active service, they did not die in vain. This will go a long way in easing the pains and anguish of their immediate families and their loved ones.

James O. Adeyemi Ile-Epo, Abule-Egba, Lagos.

08026106556

sion of social amenities , in terms of road networks, transportation systems, provision of educational materials and recently the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding( MOU) on light rail project in the state. No wonder, when Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Godswill Akpobio visited the state, they commended the state governor.

F. H . E . O l o m o r e 08057700199

First Bank and ATM charges

The Central Bank has asked banks not to charge for use of ATM but First Bank now charges N100 per month for services. First Bank should reduces most of their unnecessary charges.

Emma 08078921191

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.You have to know when to stop and let go of somethings for they say "A stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave"

Simon Adewale08056180103, Lagos State .

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 21

Nigeria yet to properly implement ISPS code - NIMASA

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said that Nigeria as a maritime nation has not satisfactorily implemented the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

NIMASA’s Executive Director Captain Bala Agaba, disclosed this at a meeting of maritime stakeholders comprising jetty owners, shipping firms, on-shore - offshore companies, stevedores and the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

He however said the agency is ready to commence proper implementation of the ISPS code in Nigeria.

Agaba said NIMASA could not do much in implementing the code because of the problem it had with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security and Safety (PICOMSS). According to him, for eight years PICOMSS pretended to implement the ISPS code when in actual fact it was not.

He said the agency has concluded plans to convene a stakeholders meeting with a view to resolving the issues ‘PICOMSS left after it was wound down’.

126.8

0.35

2,209.00

+4.00

16.63

-0.09

From Left: Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, General Electric Africa, Nils Tcheyan, receiving an award for Public Private Partnerships in recognition for GE’s work in Nigeria on Energy from the CEO /Vice Chairman, Africa investor, Hubert Danso, at the African Infrastructure Investment Summit.

“We are not doing very well with regards to the ISPS code but we are going to take up seriously from now. All stakeholders will be invited to a meeting with a view to ensuring that the ISPS code is properly implemented,” he added.

It will be recalled that about five months ago, the Federal

103.90 -0.33 94.56 -0.45 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

SELLING

154.74 155.24 233.9824 234.7384 200.2026 200.8495 159.7069 160.2229 1.5162 1.5211 0.285 0.295 230.0661 230.8095 25.2764 25.3585 41.2607 41.394 26.8557 26.9425 231.0732 231.8199

155.74 235.4945 201.4964 160.739 1.526 0.305 231.5529 25.4406 41.5273 27.0293 232.5665

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

CBN Exchange rate as at 30/05/2013

Government scrapped the Presidential Implementation on Maritime Security and Safety (PICOMSS), following its refusal to merge with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The development according to an official of Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO)

forum, who spoke to Vanguard under condition of anonymity, will definitely impact negatively on the port security system.

Sources close to the dissolved PICOMSS said that it had to opt for the Committee to be scrapped because NIMASA’s definition of security is a far cry from

what it should be. The source also stated that the late Former Security Adviser, General Patrick Azazi, was made to convince the President on the need to either merge PICOMMS with NIMASA or have it scrapped.

Both the NIMASA and PICOMSS have been at logger heads over who should be in control of the security in nation’s water ways. At a point, international Oil Companies operating in Nigeria, were paying dues to PICOMSS for providing security services for their operations. This move however, did not go down well with NIMASA who consequently launched an onslaught on the Committee and ensured that it was finally scrapped.

It would also be recalled that at a time both the Presidency and the Senate Committee on Marine Transport were at loggerheads over two separate maritime security bills that underwent some legislative processes. While the then Senator Gbemi Saraki-led Senate Marine Committee was pushing for the passage of the Coast Guard Bill, the Presidency promoted the passage of a Maritime Security Agency, a department that would have duplicated the function of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

Sources close to the Marine Transport Committee said that the President requested that the National Assembly approve the setting up of a maritime security agency that will protect ships, oil facilities and ports in the Niger-Delta region.

Equal trading opportunities will address terrorism in Africa – GIABA

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

he Director General of Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, Dr. Abdullahi Shehu has said that provision of equal trading opportunities for developing countries like Africa would help to address the problem of terrorism in the continent.

Shehu stated this in an address at the United Nations Security Council meeting on combating terrorism in Africa held in New York.

Shehu who was proffering solutions to the menace of terrorism in Africa, said there is need for strategic partnerships among national, regional and

international actors, while advocating for a stronger political commitment and leadership, establishment of an effective early warning mechanism for the prevention of conflict and terrorism.

He identified other solutions to include capacity building and support to States to promote rule of law, democracy and good governance for the prevention of conflict, and the maintenance of international peace and security, provision of technical assistance, the need to improve and sustain cooperation and coordination at the national, regional and international levels, including the involvement of civil society organizations and the private sector.

He therefore called on national, regional and international actors to

close ranks in order to effectively fight the menace of terrorism in Africa.

He however noted that most African countries are incapable of dealing with the problems in isolation due to many challenges confronting them, arguing that the impact of terrorist acts which are manifested in various dimensions is widespread, and that the patterns and locations of these terrorist acts depend on the ideology, intents and capability of the perpetrators.

In his words, “While most terrorist activities have been driven by extremist and political motivations, we are yet to see perhaps a devastating pattern if terrorist groups are driven by a feeling of deprivation, hunger, poverty and unemployment, and that may be even more difficult to control in a country” he said.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 201 3

BRIEFS

Firm plans capacity building for top company executives

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

A From left: General Manager, Facilities, 1004 Estates Limited, Mr. Oni Olushola; Institutionalisation and Advisory Service, Nextzon Business Services, Mr. Wale Ogunsola ; Head, Main Board, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Cynthia Akpomudiare and Executive Director, Contemporary Group Limited, Arc. M. O. Ibitoye, at the NSE Institutional Services Workshop in Lagos.

May & Baker to raise new capital to support growth plan

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

M

AY & Baker Nigeria Plc would consider raising additional capital to support its business expansion and steady the healthcare company against competition, the board of the company has said.

At the annual general meeting of the company in Lagos yesterday, chairman, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), said the company has started considering various ways of raising new capital and would soon choose the most appropriate means to bolster the capital base of the company.

According to him, it has become expedient for the company to recapitalise to muster enough liquidity to face the challenges of the business environment.

He outlined that the huge investments in the world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing centre in Ota, Ogun State, the company’s vaccine manufacturing joint venture with the Federal Government, new products and other initiatives will provide a stable base for the company’s growth in the years ahead.

He said the company has rolled out a new five-year strategic plan that would seek to harness all opportunities to increase the group’s earnings and returns to shareholders.

He noted that the company has projected turnover of N9.6 billion for 2013 based on the optimism on expected increased output from its new manufacturing plant, business restructuring efforts and expected reduction in financing costs following the soft loan received from T.Y Holdings during the last quarter of 2012.

He added that profit is also

expected to increase in 2013 as the company continues to optimize production and cost efficiencies.

“Our company is well-positioned for the future with a lot of potentials from the strategic investment we have made in Ota and other attractive business prospects in our sight. As we vigourously pur-

sue our new five-year strategic plan with all the opportunities it presents, we can only hope for better performance and stronger earnings capacity going forward,” Danjuma said.

He said the company has reached advanced stage in perfecting the renewal of the joint venture agreement with

the Federal Government on the local manufacturing of vaccines noting that the company will shortly after the agreement commence local production of vaccines.

Danjuma called for a deliberate policy by the various arms of government in Nigeria to buy locally produced products and services.

We are committed to ensuring robust performance — Livestock boss

By WILLIAM JIMOH

L

IVESTOCK Feeds Plc has vowed that it will maximize every available opportunity in its operation as part of efforts to ensure the achievement of a robust performance in the current financial year.

Chairman Board of Directors of the Company, Mr. Larry Ettah, who disclosed this while addressing shareholders of the company at the Annual General Meeting, AGM in Lagos, said that that they would strive to consolidate on 2012 performance work notwithstanding the challenges especially of high cost and shortage of some of the major input material currently facing the industry.

According to him, “Despite the various challenges that are facing the industry, which was compounded by the flooding of the growing belt of the nation, your board and management team is working hard to overcome these emergent challenges.”

“We will also optimise the synergy with our sister company in the UAC Group, Grand Cereals Limited,

especially in technical and raw material procurement to realise this objective,” Ettah said.

Additionally, he asserted that the poultry industry growth that was estimated at about 20

percent in 2012 over 2011 was largely propelled by the growing expansion of many medium to large scale farmers, who were beneficiaries of the Central Bank’s Commercial Agricultural Scheme.

Fidelity, GTB, 4 others queue for awards in Morocco

S

EVEN Nigerian banks, namely Fidelity Bank Plc, GTBank, Access Bank, Skye Bank, First Bank, are among the cream of banks on the continent, which have been penciled down for recognition at the African Bankers Awards holding in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. The Awards, being organised by the UKbased African Banker magazine, are part of the highlights of the Annual General Meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB), which is currently holding in the North African country.

The Nigerian banks are among about 42 of their counterparts on the continent nominated in various categories for awards. South African banks also made a strong showing with as many

nominations as their Nigerian counterparts.

Fidelity Bank is Nigeria’s only bank that made the shortlist of five in the category of Most Socially Responsible Bank, out of about 56 entries, according to information from the organisers. According to them, the judges were said to be impressed with Fidelity’s Helping Hands Programme which is the bank’s platform for CSR in their various branches.

GTBank, which CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje is nominated as African Banker of the Year is also shortlisted as Bank of the Year on the continent.

While no Nigerian bank was shortlisted for Financial Inclusion Award, three of them: Access Bank, Citi (Nigeria) and Skye Bank, were nominated for Deal of the Year.

S part of its move to ensure sustainable value creation for businesses across Nigeria, Stransact Partners, a professional services firm, said it plans to commence training of chief executives of companies in select programmes. The firm plans to launch this in July with a two-day class on Essential Business Secrets in Dubai.

In a statement, signed by its Corporate Communication Manager, Damilola Daniel, the company said it has discovered that businesses die in Nigeria because they lack the ability to create values. “And since we know the secrets to value creation because we have helped many struggling businesses regain stability, it is therefore necessary for us to coach desiring executives on how to create values for business growth.

“This is our way of delivering on our commitment to create wealth for Nigeria. We do this by birthing businesses and by providing strategic advice that guarantees sustainable growth,” Daniel said.

According to him, Stransact Partners has helped established a company from zero capital to N250 million turnover in just three years.

Tantalizers set to improve services

A

leading indigenous fast food company, Tantalizers plc, has said it was set to actualise outlet renovation, business expansion strategy and completion of its IT platform.

Company ’s Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Bose Ayeni, told newsmen in Lagos that the money from IFC, which had earlier taken an eight percent equity stake in the company, would be used to renovate Tantalizers’ outlets in a bid to increase the excitement around the strong Tantalizers brand.

Mrs. Ayeni, explained further that Tantalizers’ customers have a lot to look forward to, adding that the firm has studied the developments in the Nigerian environment and the dynamics of the fast food industry and was now poised to address the changing taste of its customers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 23

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Olumirin falls: God’s gift to Ijesha

FOR tourists, the mention of Osun State conjures the image of Osun shrine, river and the festival, but there is another hidden treasure in the state of the Living Spring called ‘Olumirin’ It was named “Olumirin.” by the people of the town as it was their thought that it was another god whose power over the whole area was only similar to Akinla, the founder of Erin Ijesha town.

The waterfalls, also known as the Erin Ijesha Waterfalls, is two kilometres off Erin Ijesha town, which lies 20km east of Ilesha on the Ilesha-Akure Road in Osun State.

Conspicuous eye catcher The gigantic Ridge constitutes a conspicuous eye-catcher for every traveler along the IlesaAkure expressway, as it towers into the distant skyline, forming a spectacular backrest for the sleepy towns of Erin-Oke, ErinIjesha and Erinmo.

The awe-inspiring falls is an assemblage of seven distinct cascades believe by the people to exude from a big pot located at the top of the ridge. Often times, first time tourist at the waterfalls unconsciously starts to number the waterfalls from the last drop (the base of the ridge) as it is the first of all the falls to be encountered when visiting; whereas the numbering is supposed to be from the top.

Nevertheless, going by layman’s standard, the seventh drop of the waterfalls is the first waterfall.

The first cascade plummets through a narrow opening in a cluster of luxuriant tree trunks

blanketed in dark green leafage, down a steeply folded rock face of about ten meters in height.

Like a rain of a million limpid pins, the showers descend and inundate s huge boulder reposed at its plunge pool below. Fallen

logs of wood laid dank in the pool and out-flowing stream channel.

The air hung muggy with a heavy smoke of splashed water droplets. The sight sparks the first fire of excitement that pervade the

veins of any visitor at the falls.

The refreshing ambience is further thickened when one ascends the steep rocks to explore the other stages of the waterfalls.

The second cascade is the most gigantic of all, with the waters diving down a 40m-high cliff. The copious plunge is most spectacular in the rainy season when the stream channel is at its flooding levels. Its plunge pool forms a shallow swimming pool for visitors at the site who are

lucky and brave enough to get to the second fall.

The climb up the waterfalls is quite intimidating and arduous, as there are no steps constructed or clear paths made up the ridge slopes, except depressions and projections on the surface, as well as roots and branches of huge trees, forest climbers and shrubs along the paths, which serves as hand and foot holds for the adventurous tourist.

Nevertheless,the ascent of the enormous ridge is most rewarding, as one is treated to dazzling and panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape, depicting the true natural beauty of the Nigerian landmass.

Another great attraction at the waterfalls, is the Abake village, a rustic enclave located at the top of the colossal ridge. The name “Abake”, is a Yoruba word which is a combination of two other Yoruba words: “Aba” “Oke”, meaning “the village on the top”, suggesting the location , of the small village.

Exciting activities at ErinIjesha waterfalls tourist resort includes: Swimming, base jumping (new potentials), rock climbing; bird and game watching among others.

NTDC to give attention to domestic tourism

… as new DG resumes T

he newly appointed Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has promised that transformation of domestic tourism would receive high priority .

Outlining her focus for the promotion of country’s tourist attractions before the staff of the agency, Mrs. Mbanefo said she will work to develop local content as she believes that before we can successfully sell Nigerian tourism brand to the outside world we must address the domestic market potentials, secure the buy-in and confidence of Nigerians in the sector as well as Nigerians to be proud of their tourism heritage.

She told staff that the development of the domestic tourism would also entail other core mandates which includes job creation, poverty alleviation and revenue generation.

In her address to the management and staff of the NTDC, Mrs Mbanefo noted that the vision of the NTDC shall be interpreted in line with that of the ministry which is to reposition Nigeria as the preferred tourism destination in Sub-Saharan Africa offering diverse world class tourism products geared towards contributing 10% of the GDP through a transformation driven policy.

She expressed utmost confidence in

Mrs. Sally Mbanefo the programmes and plans of the minister for Nigeria’s tourism sector and said that NTDC would be committed to achieving the set goals while adding that the minister has properly interpreted and adapted the overall transformation agenda of the government of President Goodluck Jonathan as it relates to tourism sector of the economy.

Mbanefo also revealed that the new NTDC shall be active in promoting advocacy and public enlightenment for the tourism industry to get Nigerians to appreciate and patronize the beautiful natural endowments God has given the country.

Her messages also dwelt heavily on the need for accountability, discipline and integrity as the watchword of the new NTDC adding that she operates an open door management style that seeks to ensure free flow of communication that would enable a team spirit.

The critical focus of the meetings , according to a source, were on development of the Tourism Value Chain across the country to realise the objectives for which the Corporation was set up as well as meeting the core mandate of the supervising ministry of tourism.

In this connection the new DG was said to have indicated that NTDC, working in close partnership with other parastatals shall be implementing the Tourism Master Plan geared towards the promotion of Nigeria’s rich tourism potentials through identification, development and marketing of the diverse tourism opportunities.

In addition and in line with the coremandate of the supervising Ministry, the new NTDC shall be active in promoting tourism as a foreign exchange earner, income redistributor, major revenue earner to the federal government, major employer of labour as well as a catalyst for rural development and poverty reduction.

Delta: Fresh start

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—25

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in his second term is running an aggressive campaign on the ground to erect a legacy that would endear the governor in the hearts of the populace. It is a race against time.

BY EMMA AMAZIE, SOUTH-SOUTH REGIONAL EDITOR

T

HERE is no doubt that the two years between 2011 and 2013 are the golden years of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s six year stewardship of Delta State.

In the first term opposition elements had matter of fact attacked the government without batting an eyelid, but nowadays, it is with moderation. Chairman of Labour Party, LP, in the state, Comrade Emeka Nkwoala, captured it thus, “We believe there has been some developmental efforts, but there is still room for improvement.”

The Delta State House of Assembly under the leadership Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei as speaker has also constructively engaged the governor in the last two years.

Many, however, thought that with up to six legislators in the 29-member legislature, the Democratic People’s Party, DPP lawmakers would turn to stormy petrels in the chambers, but so far, it has been a robust relationship between the executive and legislature.

Attempts by some DPP leaders to influence their representatives in the House to challenge their PDP counterparts were greeted with a quiet retort that the lawmakers were all working together for the growth of the state.

The only area of difference of note was the refusal Governor Uduaghan to sign the Anti-Kidnapping and Terrorism Bill that was passed by the House of Assembly

•Governor Uduaghan inspecting a road project

was paid early and going forward, workers’ salaries will be paid before the 20th day of every month.”

The governor has also upped the ante in the renovation of decrepit public primary and secondary schools in the state in the last two years, and this has set his government apart from his predecessors.

In the health sector, he has retooled the public health system in the state with the

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He has retooled the public health system in the state with the Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara and Eku Baptist Hospital, Eku, now government-owned, fitted with up-todate facilities

upon his opposition to the death clause contained in the bill.

The lawmakers nevertheless overrode the governor’s veto.

Workers in the state were shocked when the government, for the first time, paid their May salaries within the first two weeks of the month.

It is a new policy the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bernard Okumagba said would be sustained henceforth.

“The state government resolved to be paying workers early. Accordingly, the salaries for the month of May, 2013

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Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara and Eku Baptist Hospital, Eku, now government-owned, fitted with up-to-date facilities. The Central Hospital, Warri is not left out, while pregnant women are praying for him day after day because of his free maternity programme.

The governor’s weakest link used to be road construction, but the governor has moved to address that in 2013 with an aggressive focus on roads in Warri, Effurun, Asaba, Ughelli and some other parts of the state.

Uduaghan is on course-

Labour Party The Labour Party chairman, Nkwoala in his mid-term assessment of Uduaghan said, “Critical analysis of these three- point agenda shows clearly that the governor is actually on duty, despite some few ugly incidents, here and there.”

“However, central to the development of any state is the issue of job creation through massive industrialization.

Nothing to cheer – DPP Democratic People’s Party, DPP chairman in the state, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, was, however, emphatic that Uduaghan’s “second term is not better than his first term – development wise”, even though he agreed that construction works were ongoing on the roads and new schools built.

His words, “There is nothing to show. The construction of roads and drainages started last year and at a time, it was said that the 2012 rains slowed down the pace of work. All through the dry season, these works were not completed.

The rains have come again.

“The tunnels called drainages, being constructed haphazardly all over Asaba are something else. These do not meet the standards of drainages being constructed in states like Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River to mention but a few. "'Certain projects awarded by the present government and

those inherited from his predecessor are yet to be completed such as the Airport project, the Agbor erosion menace, the Asaba-OgwashiUku- Ughelli dual carriage way, the Inter-Bau round about- Okpanam road project".

Defective implementation – ACN The chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Chief Adolo OkotieEboh in his comments said: “Let me say that the economic development of the rural populace has not changed much. It is also of note that the urban renewal programme of the governor has not yielded much result as the planning and implementation are defective and lack speed.”

I score him average – Ikimi Coordinator of the Forum for Human Rights Defence and Justice, Delta state, Barrister Oghenenabor Ikimi, said, “I will score Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration since May, 2011 on the average based on a holistic examination of his administration’s three point agenda, as it would be totally unfair for me to write off his administration,” even as he noted the continuing menace of youth unemployment.

Tackling of unemployment “Hence, I want to suggest that for the remaining life span of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration, he should concentrate on agriculture to tackle poverty, hunger and youth unemployment in the state. I believe that once youth unemployment is tackled, insecurity would gradually disappear,” he asserted.

Ex-militant leader, “Gen” Augustine U. Ogedegbe poured commendation on the governor while the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR flayed the administration at mid-term.

Uduaghan initiated big projects – Odili Governor Uduaghan’s Manager, Communications, Mr. Paul Odili, who responded to the tirades of the opposition parties, said, beyond Asaba Textile Mill that the administration is creating opportunities for industries to operate in the state.

He also described as ridiculous assertions that roads being constructed were of poor standard asserting that “Uduaghan’s government is not about first and second term.

It is a continuum of programmes and policies of the administration.

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Rivers: Continuing harvest Governor Chibuke Amaechi of Rivers State proved beyond doubt that government could be made to work for the ordinary citizen in his first term with his unparalleled projects in education, health and agriculture. Given the overdrive in the first term it is not surprising that critics say that he has slowed down this time around. Has he?

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

S

UCCESS has many friends and with it, many secret hostile enemies. That indeed is the unfolding development in Rivers State where the Chibuke Amaechi administration has to a large extent won plaudits for its remarkable achievements in education, health, agriculture, sports and indeed infrastructure. Not surprising, many governors from far and near have had cause to visit the state to see the wonders that were credited to the Amaechi administration in the recent past.

With the success also came political capital which catapulted the governor to the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF and the consequential exposure that has now put him in harms way.

The Amaechi administration

•One of the 525 model schools built by Amaechi

•Amaechi

were ICT compliant.

The governor has also been making frantic efforts to complete, and where not, add to the primary health centres and roads started in his first term.

The monorail is among the

The relationship between the executive and the legislative arm of the government at a time was so cordial that the ACN described the latter as a rubber stamp House of Assembly. But the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Otelemaba Amachree was quick to dismiss the allegation by the ACN party as lacking in substance.

A m a e c h i ’ s concentration on governance despite pretension to the contrary would have been affected by the recent eruptions in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The governor is faced with the rebellion of renegade party supporters who in cahoots with authorities in Abuja are allegedly aiming to undermine Amaechi’s political profile ahead of the 2015 general elections. Few indeed would claim Amaechi to have failed at mid-term having, the dispute is only on how he has managed the success!

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Not surprising, many governors from far and near have had cause to visit the state to see the wonders that were credited to the Amaechi administration

by a far degree laid solid landmarks in the diverse sectors in its first term and in the first half of the second term the governor has largely concentrated on harvesting the projects, commissioning and building upon what he did in the first term.

Given the relatively slower tempo in the second term, it is not surprising that many dwellers accustomed to the aggressive drive of the first term say the governor is no longer working.

Others mischievously say that the NGF is taking his time.

One of the 23 model secondary schools in the state situated at Eleme took off this session under the management of Educomp Solutions Group, an India based education consultancy. The tuition free institution with structures that could make many universities green with envy is conceived to rank among the best secondary schools in the world and hence the importation of the Indian education consultancy as managers of the school.

To further drive home his commitment to delivering quality education, the governor recently flagged off distribution of free laptops to secondary schools in the state.

The governor explained that the exercise was part of his resolve to ensure secondary school students in the state

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projects the governor has been striving to complete. It is a project the administration claims would ease traffic flow in Port Harcourt, but critics now allege it is an albatross on the government given what they allege is the administration’s difficulty in completing it.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN state publicity secretary, Mr Jerry Needam while flaying the project as a waste of funds alleged that the money so far invested in the project could have been channeled to areas of urgent

need in the state.

Among the projects started in the first term of the government that have recently been completed or commissioned is the ultra modern Kelsey Harrison hospital in Port Harcourt managed by International Trauma Critical Care Limited, ITCC, an international hospital management organisation.

The administration is also making effort to guarantee the state uninterrupted power supply as it intensifies effort to complete work on its power project.

Gombe: On steady course HIS early days in office were very annoying. He was so slow and elicited an impression in some quarters that he had no agenda for the state. Months passed, he did not appoint commissioners

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

HE opposition at time even threatened to evoke appropriate provisions of the 1999 Constitution to force him to assemble his Cabinet. Amid severe criticisms, he admitted that he was a green horn in politics. That was Ibrahim Dankwambo, the present Governor of Gombe State who resigned from being the Accountant-General of the Federation in December 2010 to

contest 2011 gubernatorial election. He won and was sworn in as Governor on May 29, 2011.

But unknown to many, Dankwambo was learning the ropes. In those first days in office in 2011, he convened a meeting of stakeholders and Gombe indigenes and constituted about 14 different Committees. The mandate of the Committees was to do thorough and analytical investigation of all the critical sectors of the state economy

which included Education, Agriculture, Health, Commerce and Industry, etc, and make far-reaching recommendations that would form the nucleus of his administration. Of course, many people saw that as a waste of time.

That singular move may, however, have paid off as virtually all the government has achieved so far are hinged on recommendations of the

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 27

Gombe: On steady course Continues from page 26

geo-political zone of the country.

various Committees. It was only later in December 2011, that the Governor appointed his Commissioners to help him realize the set objectives.

Education: After two years Dakwambo has left an imprint in the education sector. When he took office, he visited many primary and secondary schools in the state and was greeted with many dilapidated structures.

Prompted by that, he vowed to modernize some schools especially those in the urban areas.

To this end, he pulled down what used to be the old Hassan Memorial Central School located at the heart of the city and got Vice President Namadi Sambo to perform the foundation laying ceremony.

Today, there are not only edifices standing there but beautiful serenity which have all the trappings that make learning an attraction. Again, Dankwambo saw the need to establish a state owned Polytechnic and College of Education. According to sources, the bill to secure the Polytechnic, at Bajoga, Funakaye local Government Area, Gombe North and the College at Biliri Local Government Area, Gombe South respectively had been passed by the State House of

•Dakwambo Assembly. The sites have been secured and work will soon be in full swing. At the Gombe State University, the Governor is doing some strides. So far, he has commenced the building of College of Medical Sciences and over N200 worth of medical equipment has been purchased.

The administration has also done much in uplifting the road network and established an International Conference Centre in the state capital.

The idea is to keep floating the State as the economic epicenter of the Northeastern

Peace and Peace Gombe under Dankwambo has been seriously challenged by the spate of insecurity arising from the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic insurgents.

However, the administration has through its cooperation with the s e c u r i t y agencies been able to check the insurgents.

Knocks for Dankwambo Delayed conduct of Local Government of Local Government Election and Dankwambo’s influence has made progress in the political arena too. He is almost his own man today having totally left the shadows of his mentor and benefactor, Senator Mohammed Goje, his predecessor.

He has taken time to build his own structures and this accounted for the delay in the conduct of local government elections as he allowed his own

We have blocked the 89 ways politicians rig elections – Ogunmola, Lagos REC ACADEMICIAN turned election regulator, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola was formerly provost of the Oyo State College of Education before his appointment as a Resident Electoral Commission, REC in 2011.

Dr. Ogunmola in this interview reviews the 2011 general election and efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to build upon the success achieved. Experts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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AVE you been able to identify the major failings of the commission in 2011?

We have done that. In our case we identified the problem of logistics for example, late arrival of materials at the polling units, uncooperative attitude of some of the ad-hoc staff. We have also identified the issue of the difficulty in getting to riverine areas.

The commission in its wisdom engaged some consultants to carry out a study on the past exercise and come up with identified lapses and ways of ensuring that those lapses are removed

in subsequent elections.

Following that we had a strategic plans retreat and there we tried to envision a future and have developed strategies to ensure that that future is achievable.

We have redrafted the vision of the commission and also the core values. We have also identified the stakeholders in the electoral process with a view to ensuring that we get the best from them.

There is a perception that the present INEC knows how to lay out good plans, but finds it difficult implementing them. For example after more than two years the permanent voter’s card is not yet out?

I disagree with the comment that we don’t match our

speech with action. INEC is very cautious that if it wants to secure the trust and confidence of the people that it must match its words with action.

For the voter ’s card, I am happy that the story so far is in the public domain and people are not kept in the dark as to what we are doing.

Sometime last year it was reported widely that a contract for the printing of 40 million permanent voter’s card was awarded and we are expecting that in the space of about six months that the permanent voters’ cards would be ready.

In printing the permanent voters cards we have to ensure that the errors detected in the original

men to mature.

To many people, that was a big minus of his government as he was not seen as a democrat.

But the elections finally held in February this year and the opposition was generally seen to have been muzzled out of the race while the ruling PDP swept the entire polls.

No opposition in Gombe.

Officially opposition is virtually dead in Gombe. Those who would have kicked against unfriendly actions and policies of the government have also relocated to the ruling PDP and so, joined the bandwagon. A few persons left are caged from talking.

Former Secretary of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Barrister Luka Haruna who assessed Governor Dankwambo’s performance in the last two years while describing them as commendable, however, called on him to channel hisenergies towards building bridges to the people.

Bottomline Given the level of work in Gombe in the last two years, many are optimistic that before the next round of elections in 2015, the Governor would have changed the status of the state to earn himself a political platform to stand as his own man.

register are not printed along with the permanent voter ’s card. For example, in the case of double registration we have to make sure that permanent voter’s cards are the authentic and error free voter’s cards and that is why it is taking us long because we are trying to perfect the register.

AFIS has been carried out and it will surprise you to know that the number of registered voters will be far lower than what was originally indicated because of detection through AFIS. In fact, in some places you find up to 15% reduction.

So, you mean that the voter ’s register was over bloated?

Not over bloated It was bloated?

Ehmmnmn! If you say bloated, indirectly you are saying it was a deliberate…

Not deliberate. Or do we say it was exaggerated?

Not exaggerated.

So, what word do we use now?

You can use the word that the number that was released initially has reduced as a result of this AFIS.

Continues on page 28

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

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N management parlance, a periodic appraisal is necessary to consider and compare the present position with the last one as a means of planning for the future. Therefore, it may be rewarding to assess the progress of the present administration from the time of its inception in 2011 to the present time.

Some analysts might question the justification for judging a President half-way to the end of his term.

In fairness, a just appraisal should be on the ruling party in terms of its policy in respect of promises of political stability and economic prosperity. It is also true that President Jonathan is not the architect of the present state of political instability and that he could not be absolutely held responsible for largescale unemployment and abject poverty in the country. This appear like inherited maladies.

Many apologists of the current President have stated clearly many times that the opposition and the cynics have been criticizing the man rather than the system. If the structure is deficient, the actor is just trying, in his own best way, to redeem what looks like ‘irredeemable situation’.

Political stability It is true that the political stability of the country at present has been disturbed by the Boko Haram destructive insurgency which is now being firmly addressed by the military, as ordered by its Commander-in-Chief.

Under the late President Yar’ardua, there was the Niger Delta Militants’ insurgency which was successfully ended, leading to amnesty being granted to the insurgents. Rebels under President Obasanjo in Odi(Bayelsa) and Zaki Biam(Benue) were not so lucky as they incurred the wrath of the military general, and not, peaceful, but a ‘bloody civilian’.

Within the last 14 years of civilian rule, (former President Obasanjo is treated as a civilian), Plateau and Ekiti states came under strict State of Emergency,with military administrators appointed. There is hope that the latest declaration of state of emergency in

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Political and economic stability: So far Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States(without military administrators) would be successful in bringing to an end Boko Haram insurgency and restore peace and prosperity to the affected areas and other parts of the country.

In the analysis of the past events, questions are being asked as to the suitability of the policies (or none) of the ruling party on political stability of the country and its security situation.

In the unfortunate situation of no reliable or concrete policy, each leader is left on his own to adopt whatever action is deemed to be necessary and suitable for the occasion. Many precious lives have been lost through tough action, belated negotiation and slow reaction to dangerous events in the country.

It is widely recognized that Nigeria is a curious federation, and a complex one at that. “All federations are the consequences of the agreement among hitherto separate and independent states to form a national state under one central parliament and government, with individual states maintaining their sovereignty on a number of subjects agreed to be left to the states. Such was the position in the case of United States, Switzerland, Australia and Germany”, observed a political analyst. The military adventurers seemed to have turned Nigeria’s federation into a central administration, ruled by a Leader who

could turn himself into a dictator, if he so wishes.

The country is lucky that President Jonathan is not a ‘bully’ at present, even if it appears that he does not brook any opposition among his supporters.

However, what Nigeria needs is a return to true federalism and not the ‘doings and misdoings’ of the President in the discharge of his duties. The country would expect exceptional leadership with an extensive administrative capacity and imaginative grasp to provide political stability.

On the economic plane, it is convenient to argue that according to official sources, there has been a great success in achieving macro-economic stability. According to the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, after the last NPC Meeting, ‘in the final analysis, the Committee was convinced that in view of the successes achieved on all fronts-banking stability, low inflation, exchange rate stability, strong reserve buffers and the recovery in the equity market, there is no reason at this point to change a policy that has worked so well’.

What are the elegant statistical facts?

Foreign exchange reserves at $49.13billion (14 months imports); Inflation rate of 9.1%; exchange rate of N159.50 to 1 US dollar; Monetary Policy Rate of 12% and GDP rate of

6.72%. Certainly, these figures are better than those woeful figures - the Inflation rate of 20% and GDP growth rate of 2.8% in 1999, of fourteen years ago. However, in 1999 foreign exchange reserves, totalled $5.4billion;average exchange rate was N92.3 to 1US dollar while inflation rate stood at 6.6%.

Also, there has been no observable change in increase in employment over the same period. From observation, it looks as if the Central Bank Governor, by his action and words will not shift ground on his tight monetary policy.

Even if the consequence of such a policy is notable decline in employment.

Recently, at the risk Management Conference in Lagos, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was quoted as saying, “the threat of inflation was still high in the economy, especially when government spending expected to increase in 2014 to 2015 due to elections”.

He added “so people should not look forward to low interest rate at a time of increase government spending”. The Central Bank Governor is so obsessed with the problem of inflation (rising prices) that he often forgets the damage of continuous “tight monetary policy” on the economy, especially mass unemployment.

The consequence of growing unemployment in a nation is far greater than that of slight increases in prices as Prof. Lipse once noted, “when resources lie idle, their potential output is lost forever. Unemployment for a long period can be a very degrading thing, indeed when an able bodied head of the household finds himself without work for a period of years the experience can be soul destroying”.

It stands to reason that there is no super magic by which an ailing economy can be rightly guided or suitably directed by the “classical economists” in the Central Bank and its Monetary Policy Committee.

Therefore, the less faith placed on tight monetary policy, the better it would be for advocates of full employment. To some observers, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi looks like a weird economist with jaded ideas on modern economic development.

We have blocked the 89 ways politicians rig elections – Ogunmola, Lagos REC So, the number on the register was more than the real number of voters?

Yes. So, in effect, it was exaggerated?

You see…

You don’t want to use the word exaggerated?

Yes, I am being careful because I don’t want you to go and write register over bloated!

You see, that is one aspect of the new INEC that we are not shy to disclose that something was wrong.

Look at what happened during the last election. The chairman came out and said that this thing has to be postponed. We don’t want to deceive Nigerians.

AFIS was carried out and we

know that part of the reason was that for the first two days of the registration there were hiccups here and there,

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Continues from page 27

say that the register was over bloated.

I can assure you that the next election would be far

What contributed to the relative success of the last election was because we tried to block some of the holes in the previous elections

fingerprints were not being captured properly and we directed that people should go back and some people went back without completing the process meaning that the machine would capture them twice and when you subject them to AFIS the machine will detect them and put them out.

Not that those people were not authentic voters and that is why it would not be correct to

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better than the last election and that is sure.

What contributed to the relative success of the last election was because we tried to block some of the holes in the previous elections because immediately the commission came into being, they went for a retreat and that study identified 89 different ways of rigging elections and the commission tried to block

as many of them as possible.

So, how many have you blocked now?

I think close to all of them. But you see, the human factor is there.

When you talk of somebody moving from one polling unit to the other and that is why we •Ogunmola introduced the issue of accreditation by 12 election. How many have you O’clock in all polling units. been able to prosecute?

Once people know the I know of the case of a person number of people accredited who brought a card that does there is no way one vote can not belong to him to a polling be added to the number of unit and he was accosted by votes in that location. a policeman and the case is We had issues of still in court. malpractices during the last

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C M Y K

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Jonathan's cross (3) In this concluding instalment, Nanaghan argues that the issue of amnesty for Boko Haram is a non starter

Boko Haram: Dialogue must come first before amnesty

BY BOLA AJIBOLA

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HERE seems to be a muddle about the way we are handling this issue of Boko Haram. It is my view that we are already jumping the gun and pushing the cart before the horse. While on one hand we have embarked on the issue of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, on the other hand the Federal Government had already set up a committee on Map Amnesty. It is difficult to be friends of those one is facing on the battle field, involving death and destruction of lives and properties. In view of the current situation, there is urgent need for Nigeria to take a positive line of action.

This positive line of action must be by way of dialogue. Some years back when the League of Nations had its convention, they established this idea which used to be called “fact finding”.

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there should be move by both parties to present their terms of settlement upon which both parties could come to by reconciliation and by way of give and take. It is after this that amnesty could come in. Talking about amnesty before dialogue is like jumping the gun which is not advisable in this regard.

It is like telling an accused person that he is found guilty even before he is asked to state his case. There is no

HEY also attacked a military barracks killing two soldiers. They went to the Bama prison, killed 14 warders and freed 105 prisoners to swell their ranks. Four innocent civilians and 13 of the Boko Haram members lost their lives in the dare devil attack, thus totaling 55 dead. For some Nigerians these are mere statistics. For some of us who have battered our humanity and conscience for a mess of pottage, these are mere figures.

Humanity and conscience

of Nigeria

doubt that the government must find out the immediate and remote causes of the grievance being nursed by the Boko Haram.

The idea of stating that Western education is wrong is a misnomer and cannot be part of the serious issue in this matter. In the first case, it is unislamic since the Sunnah and Hadith of Islam says, “Knowledge is a Whenever there is dispute between sine qua non”. The Holy Qur’an is full two entities, in order to find a lasting of this issue of knowledge in its c o n t e n t .

Secondly, it is Talking about amnesty before dialogue is unconstitutional like jumping the gun which is not to attempt such an idea. There advisable in this regard. It is like telling an is need for both accused person that he is found guilty sides to thoroughly even before he is asked to state his case address the issue of religion, ethnicity and politics. solution by way of peaceful settlement there is absolutely the need for In addition to all these, there is need dialogue. Such dialogue must involve for the government to address the issue the two parties to the dispute stating of insecurity and corruption. The their causes of grievance. Thereafter, nation is disintegrating because of the social menace that at the moment plaguing our nation to the extent that we have now become a pariah among the comity of nations. Talking about corruption, someone like me will find it difficult to understand that this is the same nation that I served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice for six years in the 1980s and I took no money home.

BOLA AJIBOLA

T

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Then I directed that 35 percent of the money should be paid back to the government for good governance, 25 percent to Nigeria Bar Association as the root where I developed from and 40 percent to the needy and disable people of Nigeria (to about eight organisations including Red Cross and Red Crescent). Now in retrospect, it is difficult for me to imagine that I was the one paying the salaries of the two staff that I personally engaged to work for the government in the Ministry of Justice throughout that period.

With insecurity, corruption and all other vices facing us in Nigeria at the moment, development will continue to be mere illusion.

But I am concerned by the mindless carnage perpetrated by Boko Haram on a daily basis. I am involved as part of my humanity is daily diminished. I am deeply concerned with such an eerie and Mephistophelean situation that has no end in sight. I am deeply worried. I am deeply traumatized.

These same Boko Haram infidels contrived to shoot down the President’s jet on his last visit to Borno State. This is because in terms of ground artillery, they have the same types of arsenal as the Nigerian Army. And they move in a convoy, yet we delude ourselves by saying that they are faceless, they are spirits. For instance in the Bama attack of May 7, they came in a convoy of buses. They came, they conquered

and they escaped in the open glare of the whole world and yet some one is telling me Boko Haram is a faceless organization.

I am convinced that some one, some where is being economical with the truth.

The amnesty issue for Boko Haram is a non-starter but because some of these same sponsors of the evil sect will make enormous profit, they have decided to egg the president on.

The amnesty package we are told is about N20million for the leaders and N5m for every Boko Haram fighter.

If this tentative mouth watering largesse is confirmed, how will the money be doled out, who will dole out these billions of dollars to these faceless Boko Haram cultists. Will they then now wear human faces. In actual fact, the amnesty advocates are more interested in what they will get from the amnesty largesse Most of these amnesty funds will go to these foreign almajiris from Chad, Niger and Benin who have truly been doing the killing because I shudder to think that my own fellow Nigerians will slit a human throat or plunge a long knife into a pregnant woman’s stomach and dislodge the unborn child.

Nigeria, how deep have thou sunk into the quagmire of satanic iniquity. All Nigerians must join hands to fight this great evil before it consumes us all, before it puts a wedge on this nation and splits us asunder. *Mr. Nanagan, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

After the Nigerian civil war, Why is the State allergic to the name Biafra? (2) Hanum in this concluding piece argues that any further attempt to ostracise the Igbo will be disastrous

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WANDA is today a model of peace and prosperity. They obeyed God's word. Other countries of America notably Canada, are seeking to redress the injustices previous generations inflicted on their native peoples.

There must be restitution for peace to reign. Pax opus justitiae (peace is the work of justice), not only in Nigeria, but all over the globe.

People yearn for justice and peace.

Nigeria must make the omelet.

Then it shall live, though eggs are broken and heavens fall.

Social justice A society must be rooted and grounded in justice, at least three quarter way if it must survive, since society was made for man, and not the reverse. This is because man is the only animal that is born undeveloped. This makes him bound to his fellow country men seeking a perfect order. Where he perceives not these social justices, he seeks to return to his natural society, the family or tribe (same kind) who share common destiny with him.

This may be the road we are travelling.

This was, and still is the condition Easterners found themselves in 1966, when suddenly, the society turned against them, like the Germans turned against the Jews.

The Germans and other blood thirsty societies have shown remorse and good justice towards the offended but the Nigerians have not.

Now if the Holy Scriptures is taken as the inspired words of God, then it must lay claim to be the objective measure of truth, since God is the transcendent end to all things. If there's no good and no evil, then the Christianity of the Bible is a fairy tale. The scriptures have condemned murder and injustice, naked or clothed, political or social, and whoever does it and repents will not stand condemned.

Igbo have shown promise in the continuity, development and progress of this country more than the rest, by being present and on the ground everywhere making important inputs.

Any further attempt to ostracise them will amount to a very deep cut on ourselves, believe it or not. *Mr. Hanum, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

38— Vanguard ,

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

2015:

NGF: Jang’s emergence 'll strengthen Nigeria’s democracy

Ex-Benue Speaker guns for guber ticket

— Akpabio Centre boss

BY PETER DURU

M

A K U R D I — F O R M E R Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart Mr. Terhemen Tarzoo has indicated his interest to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Tarzoo, however, said that his interest in the exalted position would not push him to engage "in do or die politics" or acts that could jeopardize Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

Tarzoo also warned that politicians must not allow their quest for political power to push them into heating up the polity needlessly, since “it is only God who can bestow power on whom he so desires.”

The former Speaker spoke in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state while consulting with the leadership of the Sankera Development Association, SADA, over his gubernatorial ambition.

He pleaded with all those angling to succeed the outgoing governor in the state to desist from making inflammatory statements that could set the people against one another.

Bauchi NAWOJ counsels women on leadership

B

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, has appealed to women in the state to accept leadership responsibilities so as to give them some sense of belonging in the affairs of the state.

Chairperson of the association, Hajiya Kaltume Shall, made the appeal yesterday during an interactive forum for women journalists organised by the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Aisha Yuguda in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day at the Iya Abubakar state Library.

Shall lamented that women were relegated to the background in leadership positions and called on the state government to involve more women in administrative and executive functions.

L

ASSESSMENT—Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (2nd left) conducting the Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (left) and other dignitaries round the Vice Chancellor's Lodge during the on-the-spot assessment tour of the on-going construction works at the Sokoto State University Complex, Airport Road, Sokoto, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Kontangora, 70, passes on

BY WOLE MOSADONI, WITH AGENCY REPORT

M

INNA—A FORMER Minister of Works and Housing in the Babangida administration, retired Maj-Gen Mamman Tsoho Kontangora, 70, is dead.

Family sources said he died yesterday, at the National Hospital, Abuja, and had been buried in his home town Kotangora, in accordance with Islamic rites.

He was born on April 20, 1944 in Kontagora, Niger State.

He attended Central Primary School, Kontagora, from 1952 to 1958 and Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, from 1964 to 1967.

He bagged a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1972.

He also attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, California, U.S. and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Kontagora served as Minister of Works and Housing from 1988 to 1993, as well as the Sole Administrator of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, during the late General Sani Abacha regime.

He was also the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, from 1998 to 1999. Kontagora held various command posts, including Commanding Officer, 11 Field Engineers Regiment, Kaduna; Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers Brigade, Ibadan; Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers Brigade, Jos; Commander, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, New Bussa, and Director of Quartering and Engineering Services, Army.

He contested for the presidency on the platform of the PDP in

2007 but was defeated at the primaries. Until his death, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. He held the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON. Left to mourn him are his wife, Hajiya Ladi, and 13 children.

Northern Govs react Meanwhile, the Northern States Governors' Forum, NSGF, has expressed shock and sadness over Kontagora’s demise, describing it as a monumental loss to Niger State in particular and the nation in general.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu in his condolence message signed by

his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo described late Kontagora as a patriot who died in the service of his fatherland.

The Governors said they were pained by the demise of Gen. Kontagora, but took solace in the fact that he lived an exemplary and purposeful life with remarkable achievements as a military officer, administrator, community leader and a dedicated family man.

Aliyu further said the late former Minister was a rare gem who would be missed for his immeasurable contributions towards the development of the country as a soldier and leader.

“He was an uncommon statesman, a dependable ally, a devout Muslim, a great military officer, a highly disciplined gentleman and a respected mentor of his subordinate officers,” he added.

AGOS—CHAN CELLOR of Akpabio Centre for Leadership, Pastor Bassey James has commended the emergence of Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, describing it as a good omen for the nation.

Bassey in a statement in Lagos, yesterday, described Jang as, “a man with experience,” adding that, “this will go further in strengthening the nation’s nascent democracy because he is a bridge-builder and a national icon.

"He will definitely move the nation forward and we are proud of his emergence.”

On the crisis in Plateau State, James argued that such problems were not peculiar to Plateau State.

“I totally disagree with those who argued that there is violence in Plateau State and so Jang can not rule effectively.

"There is violence everywhere in the world and if really there is unbearable violence in Plateau State, I am sure President Jonathan would have declared a state of emergency there just like he did in some states recently,“ he added.

Shettima urges unity amongst political leaders

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI—GOVER NOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State has asked Nigerian leaders and their supporters to unite as one to enable them focus on issues that affect the masses.

Shettima lamented that there were so many developmental challenges begging for attention that should keep leaders busy instead of pursuing some mundane issues that now engage their attention.

He spoke in Maiduguri, the

Borno State capital, on Wednesday while addressing leaders and other stakeholders to mark this year’s Democracy Day. According to him, Nigerians cannot afford to wait while their leaders fought themselves over selfish interests.

Speaking against the backdrop of pervading insecurity in some parts of the north, he asked political gladiators within and outside Borno State to come together as one to enable them resolve the problems facing the states in particular and Nigeria as a country.

He said he will never, as a

leader, condone or promote disunity amongst his followers and as such, he would not encourage anybody to do so.

Shettima described the last two years of his administration as “eventful and interesting.”

He said that Borno State would reach greater heights, as “tough times never last forever.”

Shettima also said he was seriously indebted to journalists and media houses, within and outside Nigeria for what he described as their dogged and brotherly support in highlighting activities of his government.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 —39

TREBLE CHANCE Bastia v Sochaux Brest v Nancy Toulouse v Montpellier Grasshoppers v Basil Lausanne v Lucerne Young Boys v FC Zurich Kabankrasn v Anzhi LokomotivM v Mordovya Rubin KJazanvFC Krosnodor Alcorcon v Almeria

SOCCER TIPS

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be sold this summer —Real Madrid

THE Portugal superstar, 28, has been linked with a return to Manchester United while Paris SaintGermain are also interested.

Ronaldo last year claimed he was “sad” at the Bernabeu, sparking speculation he wanted to quit the club.

But Real president Florentino Perez hopes he will stay and believes he should be their main man for years.

Perez said: “He told me in the summer he was sad and I told him we would do everything possible for him to be content.

“I don’t know if he has an offer from PSG. I think Cristiano is the best player in the world.

“We want to build the Madrid of the future around him and I would like Cristiano to be the best paid player in the world.”

Real lost out to on the signing of Brazilian ace Neymar to Barcelona at the weekend.

And Perez added: “If we had been able to sign Neymar without altering the eco-system of the club we would have but there were too many conditions attached.

“It would have cost us £130million.

I don’t know . how much it cost Barcelona.”

Perez wants Zinedine Zidane to lead the club into a new era when Jose Mourinho leaves at the end of the season.

The former France star played for Real between 2001 and 2006 and was named World Player of the Year three times.

His is currently Real’s director of LATE football but Perez believes one day he TIPS will take over as manager.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti is the favourite to replace Mourinho, who is returning to Chelsea.

And Perez said: “We don’t know who will be the new coach.

“But we want this new sporting project to be lead by Zidane. I hope one day he will be coach.

“When we choose the coach, the new person and him will analyse the team so we can take a qualitative step forward.”

Real have been linked with a £60million move for Tottenham forward Gareth Bale.

When asked about signings, Perez added: “We have a magnificent team.

CREDIT EXCELLENT All I can say is that we will improve by signing the best.

Toronto 2 USA 7 “I have thought about two players Sporting KC 2 Celta Vigo 7 and some more from the youth team.

Chicago Fire 2 Granada 7 We will see what the coach and Zidane say.”

Brno 3 Mallorca 5

FOUR HOMES

1 X 2 X 4 3X 8 PAIR FOUR AWAYS 29 6X 30X 36 X X 44 49 PERMUTATION 3 X 5X 9 X AVOID 10X 17 X 20 41 TIPS RISKY 33 27 X 34 X 35

SP Gijon 3 Sevilla 5 Real Madrid B 3 Zaragoza 5 Huesca 3 Sion 5 Cardoba 3 Barcelona B. 5

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS WEEK 46

Int ernational FFriendlier riendlier International riendlierss

1 Brazil 2 Rep Of Ireland 3 USA

v England 1 v Georgia 1 v Germany XX

Spanish BB VA La Liga BBV 4 Barcelona 5 Celta Vigo 6 Deportivo LC 7 Granada 8 Levante 9 Mallorca 10 R. Vallecano 11Real Madrid 12 Sevilla 13 Zaragoza

v Malaga 1 v Espanyol XX v Sociedad 2 v Getafe XX v R Betis 1 v Valladolid XX v Ath Bilbao XX v Osasuna 1 v Valencia XX v Ath Madrid XX

Switzerland SL 14 Basel 15 Grasshoppers 16 Servette 17 Sion 18 Thun

v St Gal;len 1 v Lausanne 1 v Lucerne X v FC Zurich X1 v Young BoysXX

Spanish Segunda Division 19 Almeria 20 Barcelona B 21Cardoba 22 Guadalajara 23 Hercules 24 Huesca 25 Las Palmas 26 Ponferradina 27Real Madrd 28 Sabadell 29 SP Gijon

v Girona v Villarreal v Mirandes v Lugo v Murcia v Xerez v Numancia v Santander v Alcorcon v Elche v Huelva

1 XX XX 1 1 XX 1 1 XX XX XX

Sweden Allsvenskan 30 Brom'jikarna 31 Hacken 32 Helsing 33 M Jallby

v Malmo v Elfsburg v Atvidaberg v Halmstad

2 X 1 1

Czech Republic Gambrinus 34 Banikostrava v Jablonec XX 35 Brno v Slovacco XX 36 Hradeckralove v Plzen 2 37 Jihlava v SlaviaPrague XX 38 Liberec v Pribram 1 39 Mlada Boleslav v Teplice XX 40 Sigma Olom v Budejovice XX 41 Sparta Prague v Dupla Prague 1

USA Major League Soccer 42Chicago Fire v DC United XX 43 Chivas USA v Seattle XX 44 Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas 2 45 Columbus Crew v H Dynamo XX 46 NY Red Bulls v Vancouver W 1 47 Real Salt Lake v Sjeathouakes 1 48 Sporting KC v Montreal Imp XX 49 Toronto v Philadelphia U XX

3 17 20 29 Revised Pairs 3 x 5, 9 x 10 17 x 20, 29 x 49

40 — Vanguard Vanguard,,

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire.

If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?

SCORPIO; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but.

SAGITTARIUS;. The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed CAPRICORN; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powersthat-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation AQUARIUS; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

W

HO is a great man? Why study the great man? What is the benefit derivable from studying great men?

A great man simply put is somebody that has done something notable and remarkable that is of benefit to

Studying great men humanity. So, if you are a rich man who lives for himself alone, you can’t be said to be a great man.

Asking the question: Why study the great man, is like asking the question why study his-

tory or any other subject. It is important to study the great man in order to understand the principles and philosophy of his greatness.

Studying the great man saves you lots of time, money and effort,

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

it helps you not to commit the same mistake of trial and error which he made before achieving greatness.

Study great men.

Their experience could help you to minimise or eliminate pitfalls on your road to success.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; If what you’re doing today ’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today.

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now ARIES; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble TAURUS; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today.

It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

GEMINI; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

CANCER; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

VIRGO; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble

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

Success for me?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen quickly.

John, Ibadan.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear John, There are indications of financial success for you but you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self. Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political.

Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life which looks not totally balanced.

Basically you are a family minded person. You are equally loving and caring. But sometimes your love of freedom get better off you to the resentment of your closer partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault making love-business very interesting. And unless you are more careful and determined you may marry more than once.

HOME & AWAY

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—41

I

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

70 virgins in Heaven?

Another misconception trary to killing of oneself.

Martyrdom is everywhere praised and encouraged.

Again, the Prophet said: “The most excellent jihad is that for the conquest of self.” “Whoever suppresseth his anger, when he has it in his power to

ways paint in a derogatory manner to suit their interests and purposes. There is no where in the Qur’an where 70 virgins was mentioned as a reward for killing people.

In paradise, there are many things that you cannot de-

,

T was one Hamas activist, Muhammad Abu Wardeh, who was reported to be recruiting terrorists for suicide bombings in Israel more than a decade ago that said: “God would compensate the martyr for sacrificing his life for his land. If you become a martyr, God will give you 70 virgins, 70 wives and everlasting happiness.” All the informed Muslims knew certainly that Wardeh was only shortchanging his recruits.

This has become widespread to the extent that non-Muslim and mischief makers who have no modicum of knowledge about Islam use this false assertion to denigrate the religion, especially when the dare devil bombers or blood thirsty group struk. They say: Hey! they want to go to heaven and acquire 70 virgins and other bla bla...

It is only a sick and despicable mind that feels that it has a right to attack, steal, murder and cause harm to others.

One, suicide which is qatlu nafsi-hi is strictly forbidden in Islam, and it is followed by the punishment of Allah. The flesh and body are not our own possession but a trust granted to us in order to preserve our spirit. So, we cannot attempt to blow up the divine work of art entrusted on us. We cannot also destroy it by going on hunger strike; it is unacceptable in Islam.

The Quran which guides the actions and activities of any Muslims says: Suicide is forbidden. “O ye who believe!... [do not] kill yourselves, for truly Allah has been to you Most Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire...”

(Qur ’an 4:29-30). Then the Prophet says “Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever”, [Bukhari (5778) and Muslim (109 and 110)].

What the Hadith referred to is matayr which is (sahid) con-

The Quran talks about damsels, but in a context that most people especially the non-Muslims have misrepresented and always paint in a derogatory manner to suit their interests and purposes. There is no where in the Qur’an where 70 virgins was mentioned as a reward for killing people

,

show it, God will give him a great reward.” “Do you love your Creator? Love your fellow beings first."

"Wish not or supplicate for death before its taime cometh.”

Secondly, paradise is described in great sensual detail in Suratul Waqiah; Q56 verses 12-40 and other chapters as well as the hadiths. Also, Q55 verses 54-56 ; Q 76 verses 1222.

In one of the verses, Hurun moqsuratun fil-khiyam.

Meaning: Fair ones are reserved in the Garden. Yes!, the Quran talks about damsels, but in a context that most people especially the non-Muslims have misrepresented and al-

scribe or comprehend except with spiritually assistance.

Allah mentioned in Qur ’an many things about Paradise.

Comparing the earthily with that in heaven is mismatch. It is not about emotional and biological relationships, it is not about the way we relate here on earth.

The Qur’an says: In Gardens of Bliss: A number of people from those of old, And a few from those of later times,(They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones), Reclining on them, facing each other. Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness), With goblets, (shining) beakers,

and cups (filled) out of clearflowing fountains: No afterache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication: And with fruits, any that they may select: And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire. And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,Like unto Pearls well-guarded. A reward for the deeds of their past (life). Not frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill, Only the saying, “Peace! Peace”. Q56 v 12-26

Jihad

N

on-Muslims are quick to refer to Islamic term of Jihad. Not many of them read the Qur’an or the hadiths to know exactly what the term means. Those of them who take Comparative studies or those who assume to know usually have a warped knowledge of the term as a result of sentiment of ‘mine is the only way’. They have refused to be guided by the substance in what they read, rather they twist it and allowed themselves to be ruled by sentiment. You will be surprised by the idea of a Pastor on Jihad, or the meaning a student at the seminary will give to Jihad. Even when you explain to them, they still hold firmly to what they think they know because it serves them a purpose. I have had to explain

‘Jihad and the virgins’ a number of times to some of my non-Muslim colleagues, yet, it has not changed anything; they still hold on to their idea.

Islam is all about mercy, about virtue, about sacrifice and about duty to humanity.

It encourages moral perfection and any activity that is far from these, no matter the colouration, is not Islam. As Muslims, there is no room for fanaticism, for hatred, for racism, for terrorizing or killing innocent people in Islam, even in a state of war. Shedding innocents’ blood constitute a form of injustice that can not be tolerated by Islam.

Combative dimension The Qur’an states that to kill one innocent person is like killing all of humanity. Now, for the umpteenth time, Jihad, which literally means ‘struggle,’ has an internal, societal and combative dimension. The internal dimension of Jihad encompasses the struggle against the evil inclinations of the self, and the spiritual project to adorn the self with virtues such as justice, mercy, generosity and gentleness.

Secondly, the societal dimension includes struggling against social injustice and creating a communal identity based on charity, respect and equality; while the third aspect of jihad is only to be used as self-defense against aggression or to fight oppression, and, even at that, it is strictly within the limit of good conduct, justice and preservation of life of the innocents and the sanctity of the environment. For those who don’t know, this latter type of Jihad can only be declared by a legitimate, recognized religious authority, not any individual or a group of people with no legal identity or acceptability.

Hijab: Fashola seeks out of court settlement

T

•From left: Wife of Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company, Dr. (Mrs) Sekinah Bola-Oyebamiji;Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (A.C.N.),Irewole Local Goverment, Alhaji Owoade Arimiyan; Managing Director, Osun State Investment Limited, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji and Chief Imam Ansarud-deen Society of Nigeria, Ikire Branch, Alhaji Mosuru Badmus during the prayer session organised by Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Ikire Branch in Commemoration of 56th birthday of Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola at Ansarud-deen Centre Mosque, Ikire, recently

HE Lagos State Government is seekz ing an out of court settlement in the suit filed against it by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit over the victimization of Muslim girls wearing Hijab in state public schools.

When the case came up for first hearing before Justice J.O.K Oyewole of the Lagos High Court Ikeja today, counsel to the state government, S.A Ajanaku, said no defense had been filed in the case, but added that steps had already been initiated towards settlement of the matter.

He pleaded with the judge to allow the government more time to consummate the steps already initiated.

However, counsel to the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit Barrister Hassan .A. Fajimite, who led other nine lawyers to the court, expressed surprise at the request of the state counsel, saying that they were not aware or informed of any move by the state government to settle the case. He nevertheless obliged to the option.

Justice Oyewole thereafter asked the parties to meet and work out terms of the settlement and report back to the court

on July 10, 2013.

Meanwhile, members of the MSSN and other Islamic organizations, who thronged the court premises for the case, later embarked on a peaceful protest to Ikeja under-bridge and back to the old secretariat mosque beside the high court.

They carried placards with inscriptions like ‘Hijab is our right,’ ‘Why must Lagos State Government compete with God?’ ‘Hijab our pride,’ ‘Nudity is not our way,’ and others.

Addressing the people, the Amir Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen, urged all Muslims in the state to remain calm and peaceful throughout the period the hearing of the case would last.

He also thanked all Islamic organizations that came to solidarise with the MSSN on the Hijab issue promising that the society would not relent until victory is achieved.

It would be recalled that the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit had taken the state government to court over persistent victimization of Muslim girls using Hijab by some secondary school principals in the state.

42 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Achebe's body arrives Residents move to check flooding in Yenagoa

Delta has the highest number of kidnappers already sentenced — Uduaghan ….Says Kokori traditional ruler remains vacant until wanted Kelvin is fished out

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—RESI DENTS of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have stepped up efforts to check flooding in the state capital by mobilising to clear blocked drainages in their neighbourhood.

This followed Sunday heavy downpour experienced across the state, which caused many homes in low zones to be submerged.

Though Nigerian Metrological Agency, NIMET, had predicted heavy rainfall in the country, not many took the warning serious until the Sunday deluge, which sacked several homes.

Residents have been trooping out in their hundreds in the last three days to clear the blocked drainages in their neighbourhood.

They were also seen constructing artificial channels for water to flow to the natural canals in Yenagoa.

It was also observed that the construction firms handling road projects in Yenagoa, which were blamed for the blocking of some of the existing drainages had commenced their clearing.

A resident of Biogbolo, a Yenagoa suburb, who gave his name as Eladebi Jones, said that the Sunday downpour was a clear signal of more troubled days ahead.

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has said that the state will explore “every available method to deal with kidnapping,” just as he said that he was withholding giving staff of office to the traditional ruler of Kokori community until the wanted kidnap kingpin, Kelvin was fished out.

He said: “We have identified some communities that have high rate of kidnappers, especially communities that encourage and protect kidnappers.

"Kokori is an example of such a community and in that community, I had said I will

not give staff of office to the traditional ruler, until we are able to get the kidnap kingpin, especially the young man called Kelvin. A lot of persons have been arrested, property or places where they keep the kidnappers destroyed.

“Some native doctors that help kidnappers have also been arrested. And I must thank the judiciary because the judiciary has also gone ahead to jail these kidnappers and I can tell you that Delta State has the highest number of kidnappers that have been convicted by the judiciary in the whole of the country. And that requires a lot of boldness on the part of the judges. I want to thank them.

“The House of Assembly is also putting laws that will as-

sist us deal with kidnapping.

So, we are using every available method to deal with kidnapping and today, Delta State is a safer place than

NDDC commended on road project

S

ENIOR SPECIAL Assist ant to Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udaghan on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Delta South, Mr. Vincent Uduaghan, has expressed satisfaction with the appreciable progress made on the Koko/Ogheye Road project being executed by the Commission.

Uduaghan, who was at the site to inspect the project, also commended the contractor handling the project for doing a good job.

Tebite lauds Uduaghan for supporting Jonathan

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI — MEMBER representing Ughelli South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, yesterday, commended the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan over his support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tebite in a chat with newsmen, stressed the need for the

people of the Niger Delta region to be supportive of the Jonathan’s administration, adding, “it is the first time one of us is holding the exalted office of the president of Nigeria.”

Insisting that President Jonathan was doing well and deserves the support of his people back at home, he told the people to support

what it used to be a while ago.”

He spoke as part of the Democracy Day celebration in Asaba.

Jonathan's second term ambition.

He also commended Uduaghan for his landmark projects in the state, saying; “My governor commissioned so many people-oriented projects in Asaba to mark the 14th year of democracy in Nigeria; he has a lot of projects to showcase."

He said “The Koko/Ogheye Road project is the continuation of the East-West Road from the Koko axis, and its economic significance to the development of the region is overwhelming.”

He commended Uduaghan for providing the enabling environment for such project to thrive, and appealed to the National Assembly to approve more funds for the Koko/ Ogheye Road project in the commission’s budget to ensure it timely completion.

Mrs. Miriam Ighorodje is dead

Bishops want Christian wedding enshrined in the constitution BISHOPS FROM the oil producing states, including Anambra State, have called on the National Assembly to ensure that the Christian way of conducting marriage, otherwise known as church wedding was enschrined in the constitution, when the legislators are reviewing the constitution.

The clergies made the call

during a courtesy visit to Archbishop Goddowell Avwomakpa on his election as the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South-South Zone.

Avwomakpa, who doubles as the chairman of the Bishops Forum, while backing his colleagues on the proposed inclusion of Christian marriage in constitution amendment,

said: “When Muslims want to resolve issues relating to marriage, they approach Sharia Court, but the constitution has no provision for resolution of marriage for Christians, though we recognise the existence of the Customary Courts.

"Christians have no special court to resolve marital issues except theconventional court."

RS. Miriam Ighorodje, is dead, aged 78.

Late Mrs. Ighorodje is survived by children, grand-children and great grand-children, among whoma Vanguard Newspapers.

Burial arrangements to be announced later.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

M

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

31 days of ASUP strike: What is your view?

I

do not understand what is happening in this country. When ASUU goes on strike, all the media will go agog reporting it.

Now, ASUP has been on strike yet it is not reported enough.

What a flagrant display of injustice and discrimination! — Mr. Jerome Samson, Businessperson

T

HE issue of strike in Nigeria is not a new thing. But on the aspect of ASUP strike, it is very shocking that the Federal Government would allow it to linger for long without resolving it. — Miss Aisha Nana, Fashion Designer

A

SUP strike was a last effort at saving the polytechnics from failure, as the union is set to reshape the polytechnic system. Let parents bear the situation and lend positive voice to ASUP position. —Dr. Onyeka Uwakwe, Lecturer

I

think the problem started with the policy on education in this country. I will urge the Federal Government and ASUP to resolve the issue, so that polytechnic students can return to school. —Mr. Amusan Lawrence, Teacher

W

hatever could have been the cause of ASUP strike, let them bear in mind that it is not the government that is suffering because their children are schooling outside the country. Let ASUP call off the strike, for the sake of the students. —Mr. Olanrewaju

Badmus, Student

T

HE strike has its good and bad sides. It is good because the fight is for the betterment of the polytechnics. It is bad because students will have to spend a longer period in school. But I'd like the fact that ASUP has stood its ground. — Miss Adebola Adesida, Student

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—43

Okara urges support for Amaechi

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT—RENOWNED writer and poet, Mr. Gabriel Okara, has called on Rivers State politicians to settle their differences and rally round Governor Chibuike Amaechi to overcome the forces currently confronting the governor.

Okara, in Port Harcourt, said: “Governor Amaechi is a right peg in a round hole. His programmes and policies are people oriented. He thinks more of the public than himself.

The people may not understand the kind of person they have until he leaves office.”

Esan League lauds Oshiomhole on devt

T

HE people of Esan, in Edo State, under the aegis of Esan League, have commended the state governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, for transforming and empowering the people of the state.

The League in a statement by its President, Mr. Henry Okpamen, commended Governor Oshimhole for the infrastructural development of the state, including Esanland, with the provision of roads, development of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and the completion of the abandoned administrative building.

The group said that the people-oriented policy of the Oshiomhole administration had resulted in the effective and efficient use of the tax payers money.

Passage

T

HE families of Osakwe Imoniero of Ekruezaha and Imonisume Umuejele, both of Owhelogbo town, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, have announced the death of Pa Joseph Osakwe, aged 93.

Service of songs holds on June 7, while funeral service will followd on June 8, at Osakwe family compound, June 9.

Late Osakwe was the father-in-law of Mr. Omoloye Oluyemi, Vanguard’s Newspapers Circulation Representative, Ughelli Outstation.

Rivers community vows to shut down Chevron, Shell operations

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— THE people of Kula community in Rivers State, have threatened to shut down Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Nigeria Limited operations in the area over alleged abandoned projects.

In a statement, yesterday, the traditional ruler of the community, HRH King Kroma Eleki, Sara XIV and his chiefs, said Shell had not met its financial obligation to the community for sustainable development since 2007, adding that the General Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU, they signed with the oil company was aborted with the death of some of its chiefs, who were signatories to the account.

They said efforts to set up a new board to run the GMOU had been frustrated by some forces. The community said they had, however, forwarded a list to the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, noting that if the renewed effort was

frustrated, they would have no option than to shut down the operations of Shell in the area, adding that the same thing applies to Chevron.

Continuing, the community also threatened to embark on a protest to Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, over a land reclamation shore protection project

awarded by the interventionist agency since 2009 that had been allegedly abandoned.

“In a unanimous decision, the community, after considering what we contribute to the national economy with four flow stations, two gas injections and booster plants, agreed that a peaceful pro-

TALENT QUEST COMPETITION: From left: Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Adora Giwa-Amu and wife of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nelly Utuama, during the final of Delta State Talent Quest Competition, in Asaba.

....As Delta community begs govt to prevail on oil firm over MoU

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE people of Emu-Ebendo, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State, have appealed to the state government and other relevant authorities to prevail on a drilling firm operating in the community to urgently implement the memorandum of understanding signed between the community and the

oil firm some years back.

The community made the appeal during a peaceful protest staged at the premises of the firm to draw government attention to their plight.

Youth President of EmuEbendo, Mr. Uba Ijeoma and the Woman President of the community, Madam Alice Ezeugbor, urged the company to pay all its outstanding debts and employ more youths according to the

Memorandum of Understanding, MOU. When contacted, the firm's Community Relations Officer, Mr. Hakeem Akintoye, said some violent youths from the community stormed the company’s premises, shut down their operations and beat up several workers on site.

He said the injured workers had been taken to hospital and the matter reported to law enforcement agents.

Brazilian investors storm Edo, meet with top we hope will blossom into a govt officials rewarding mutual business

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—NO fewer than 20 investors from the state of Rio Grande Do Sal, in Brazil, yesterday, met with the Edo State Government and expressed their interest to invest in agriculture and other sectors of the state.

The leader of the delegation, Mr. Luiz Mainardi, who expressed their satisfaction with the conducive environment created by the state government for investors, noted that they decided to come and invest in the state, “because Edo State has huge potentials for investment. We are happy to be in Edo State and we intend

test should be undertaken by the community to NDDC and Rivers State Government and letters of representation to be sent to the Presidency and other government agencies.

If nothing positive comes out of that protest the community will shut down both Shell and Chevron operations in our area,” the community said.

to invest in agriculture, health, tourism and other areas of interest.”

Edo State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, who represented Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said the state had provided the conducive environment needed for investment in the state, expressing the readiness of the state government to work with the Brazilian government in areas of mutual interest.

He said: “We appreciate this trade visit and hold it in high regard. We have assembled our highly placed government officials that will meet with you later to identify areas of mutual interest, which

partnership.

“The state government will provide the necessary incentives and provide the enabling environment, which will bring to fruition, the interest that we have identified. We look forward to a very fruitful deliberation and assure you that this partnership will be of great benefit to both Nigeria and Brazil and the indigenes of Edo State in particular.”

The delegation, which included the Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil, Amb. Vincent Okoedion, also visited the palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom before entering into lengthy deliberation with officials of the state government.

Jonathan urged to be more proactive in N-Delta devt

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

COMMUNITY leader in Delta State, Chief Richard Enaredei, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to be more proactive and pragmatic in the development of the Niger Delta region.

He said that the Niger Delta bears the brunt of environmental devastation arising from oil exploration and exploitation, suffered untold hardship over decades amidst abundant natural endowments, but remains in squalor and wallows in abject poverty.

Enaredei, who spoke at Esanma, in Bomadi Local Government Area of the state, during his swearing in as Chairman of Esanma Standard Elite Club, said: “The Niger Delta region is the proverbial cash cow but virtually has nothing to show for it.

Niger Delta which accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue has been underdeveloped and the means of livelihood of its inhabitants have been greatly hampered by the exploration activities that feed the rest of the nation."

44—Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Abia 2015 guber: PDP chieftain, monarchs on collision course over zoning

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

A

chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Chief Charles Nwangwa, has disputed claims by the Chairman of Osisioma Ngwa Traditional Rulers’ Council, Eze

Emmanuel Chiavoghilefu, that the 2015 governorship in the state had been zoned to either old Aba Province or Ukwa Ngwa.

He argued that it was the turn of Abia South Senatorial District to produce the next

governor of the state, in line with the rotation arrangement of the party.

Nwangwa, who is also the leader of Ngwa Renaissance Group, told Vanguard in Lagos that since the creation of Abia State, no Ukwa Ngwa

DONATION: From left— Mr. Tajudeen Lawal, Director/CEO, Lagos State Library Board; Otunba Fatai Olukoga, Special Adviser on Education to Lagos State Governor; Mr. Clement Iloba, Public Affairs Manager, and Suzan Obi, Lagos PRO, CSR team, both of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, dduring the donation of 1,000 books to Lagos State Government Library, Sabo, Yaba, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Imo inaugurates team on hotel monitoring

I

MO Government has set up a team to monitor and ensure that hotels in the state meet stipulated standard for operation.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chinedu Offor, made this known when he toured some hotels in Owerri, yesterday.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Goddy Dike, the commissioner said the state government was determined to ensure that guests in hotels enjoyed comfortable and peaceful atmosphere.

He stressed the need for hotel environment to be clean and described Imo as a hospitable state even as he regretted that most hoteliers did not perform their civic responsibility.

He said: “We have decided to rate all hotels in the state; and awards will be given to the best hotel found worthy in all ramifications.”

He called on hotel proprietors to participate in a planned enlightenment seminar.

person had been governor.

He said: “People who are saying that it is not the turn of the Abia South Senatorial zone to govern the state in 2015 are conscious collaborators against the Ngwa people, which has been the bane of the Ngwa man.

"Equity, justice and fairness require that the next governorship seat goes to the Abia South senatorial zone.

“Abia South is now completely the Ukwa Ngwa stock. The people who have been empowered all along are the other half. We have only had a federal appointment after 44 years.

"Ukwa Ngwa has 60 percent of the population of the whole state. Also, about 90 percent of the state resources are from Ukwa-Ngwa, which has nine local government areas out of 17 in the state.

"Ngwa is the largest sub clan or sub ethnic group in Nigeria. These nine councils are seeking for Aba State.

They have never held any power both in the military and civilian."

Apo 6: Court declines application to recall witness A

N Abuja High Court, yes terday, refused an application to recall a prosecution witness, Mr. Ayuba Ede, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, in the alleged Apo six killings.

Justice Ishaq Bello ordered for the continuation of cross-examination of the witness.

It would be recalled that Mr.

Rickey Tarfa, counsel to Danjuma Ibrahim, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, had earlier filed an application challenging the recall of Ede as a witness in the case.

He said that on February 14, 2012, Ede was cross examined by the prosecuting counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

Enugu ACN predicts victory for APC in 2015 elections

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

L

AGOS—CHAIRMAN of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Enugu State, Mr. Barth Ugwoke, has predicted a resounding victory for All Progress Congress, APC, in the 2015 general elections in the South-East zone of the country.

Ugwoke said the merger by three major opposition parties, including ACN; Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; All Nigeria People’s Party and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, into APC would ensure defeat of Peoples’ Democratic Party.

He said the Igbo were deceived into supporting President Goodluck Jonathan blindly in the 2011, adding “after several years, our peo-

ple are now asking themselves certain questions; questions of what they had got in return for supporting the President.

“They are asking questions about how many roads the President has started in Igbo land or elsewhere in the old eastern region and questions about the first or Second Niger Bridge, which they were promised.”

He said: “At that sitting, the prosecutor informed the court that he will not be re-examining the witness and the witness was accordingly discharged.

My lord, it is pertinent to state that the prosecution, thereafter, sought for several adjournments to enable them to field other witnesses in support of their case, but they failed to do so.”

He said that when Ede was called, the prosecution led him in evidence and tendered two large brown parcels which were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits 12 and 12A. He said on unveiling the parcels, an AK-47 rifle and magazine were allegedly found.

He said: “Can a witness be recalled without proper application and without placing sufficient materials before the court to consider in exercising its discretion as to whether or not to allow the recall of such a witness?”

Group raises alarm over ‘endangered' Igbo language

A

group, Pinnacle Organisation, has decried the disappearance of Igbo language, especially among the new generation.

To help restore interest in the language, it is organising a two-day event aimed at revitalising Igbo culture.

Pinnacle’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Charity Okoli, said the event, tagged Igbo Asoka” (Igbo is sweet), will hold on September 7 this year at Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra State capital.

The organisers said it was the first of its kind and will feature talk shops, traditional dances, masquerade displays, beauty pageants, and a gala nite, with participants turning out in Igbo traditional attires.

Foundation makes case for indigent citizens

A

non-govermental organisation, Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation, ASYF, has decried what it called the uncaring attitude of many public officers, well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to the appalling poverty which pervades the Nigerian society.

In a statement by the founder, Amb. Asabe Shehu Yar ’Adua, commemorating 2013 Democracy Day, ASYF said: “The current trend portend danger to nation-building unless we take pragmatic steps to sincerely tackle the rising poverty among such people.

“Children are the future of tomorrow. We can only protect and guarantee their future if we do not neglect their mothers."

... as Chime backs Enugu North for guber slot

G

OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has thrown his weight behind the people of Enugu North Senatorial zone for the 2015 governorship slot in the state.

Chime told a stakeholders’ meeting as part of Democ-

racy Day celebrations in Enugu that his choice of the zone was based on an understanding in Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. He said: "It is not in our power to create a state. But, of course, we are fully in support of the creation of Adada

State and we are doing all we can to make sure it is actualised.

"In the event it doesn’t happen before 2015, I believe we have an understanding within PDP that certainly our candidate will come from Nsukka zone."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 —45

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46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

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Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—47

COMMISSIONING: From left: Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator Anthony Adefuye, during the commissioning of Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge in Lagos.

AWARD: From left: Mrs. Felicia Agubata, Chairman, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Lagos Chapter; Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, House Committee Chairman on Aviation, receiving an award from Mrs. Olayinka Abdul, President, APWEN, at the association's 2013 business luncheon and award presentation in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

CONFERENCE: From left: CEO, Simon Page Business School, Princewill Omorogiwa; Manager, Data Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Bankole Alao, and General Manager, Simon Page Business School, Solomon Twum, at the Digital Marketing conference and exhibition in Lagos.

CELEBRATION: From right: Mr. Sola Abati, Marketing Manager; Mr. Raymond Ofili, Promotion Executive, both of Honeywell Noodles and some School children, during the Honeywell Nooldes' train ride for school children to mark the Children's Day in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

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INDUCTION: Mr. Adeyinka Adekoya, new inductee, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (middle), flanked by his parents, Mr. Adekunle Adekoya of Vanguard (right) and Mrs. Ayorinde Adekoya, during the induction of new members by ICAN in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Shola Oyelese.

COMMISSIONING: First Lady of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Josephine Elechi (left), receiving a gift from Divisional Sales Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Faith Abod (right) and others, during the commissioning of the Guinness Distribution Centre, at Ohaukwu Community in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

PRESENTATION: From left: Community Relations Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria, Mr. Solomon Ogundele; Environmental & Health Safety Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria, Mr. Jide King; Chairman, Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Aleshinloye and Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, Mr. Gbenga Ibikunle, during the BATFN's cheque presentation to Oluyole LGA for dredging of waterways, at the Oluyole Secretariat, Idi Ayunre, Oyo State .

BRIEFING: From right: National Coordinator, Democratic Alliance for Youths, DAY, Mr. Kabiru Abdullahi; General Secretary, Mr. Efosa Ogedengbe and Deputy National Coordinator, Alhaji Ado Dansudu, during the DAY's inaugural media briefing on its forthcoming national conference in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

AWARD: Sir Kenny Okolugbo, Commissioner, Ndokwa nation, DESOPADEC (right) recieving award as Community Developer of the Year from Kennedy Odubu of South South Nigeria Leadership in Asaba. While Mr. Mudiaga of Delta State Broadcasting Corporation looks on.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — A1

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A6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Power installation...any improvement in power supply in sight?

2 YEARS OF JONATHAN’S PRESIDENCY

Worsening power situation impacts negatively on imvestments E

CONOMY over the past two years: Economic growth trend, measured by the performance of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, has been generally positive over the last two years, averaging about 6.5 per cent. This is good compared to growth conditions in most economies around the world. However, there remains a major concern about the weak impact of the growth performance on private sector and the welfare of the Nigerian people. Virtually all business segments lamented the harsh operating environment in recent years. The power situation deteriorated as we now have a relapse into a chronic power failure. The refineries are still underperforming; unemployment level is still high and cost of fund is still high.

Sectors that posted good growth performances as at December 2012 were telecommunications, 31.8 per cent; Hotel and Restaurants,12.2 C M Y K

per cent; Solid Minerals, 12.5 per cent; Building and Construction, 12.6 per cent; Real Estate 12.4 per cent; and Wholesale and Retail Trade, 9.6 per cent. However, the contributions of most of the sectors to GDP are not significant.

Indigenous participation Respective contributions are as follows: telecommunications, 7 per cent; Solid Minerals, 0.4 per cent; Hotel and Tourism, 0.6 per cent; Building and Construction, 2.2 per cent; Real Estate, 1.9 per cent.

The character of growth explains the limited impact of growth performance on welfare of citizens. Local value addition and indigenous participation in many of the sectors is still very low.

Nigeria, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was ranked number 36 on account of the GDP, esti-

Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power

mated at $273 billion in 2012.

But it ranked 153 in its Human Development Index by the UNDP; 127 in Global Competitiveness Ranking of the World Economic Forum; and 131 in the Ease of Doing Business Ranking of the World Bank. This underscores the disconnect between economic growth, investment climate and the welfare of citizens in Nigeria. This picture also underlines the challenges we face as a nation – making economic growth inclusive.

Macroeconomic Fundamentals: The Macroeconomic fundamentals of the Nigerian economy over the past two years are good. The components of these fundamentals include the naira exchange rate, inflation and foreign reserves. Exchange rate was generally stable during the period ranging from N155 to N160. For an import dependent economy, exchange rate stability is crucial for the stability of prices and crucial for

strategic planning for investors and brings a lot value to the economy generally.

It is remarkable that inflation rate is on downward trend; it was 9 per cent in January and increased slightly to 9.5 per cent in February. This is a positive development for the

,

Being a review of Nigeria’s economy over the past two years by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry

economy as it helps to stabilise the exchange rate and inspire the confidence of investors. The improved accretion to reserves could be ascribed to high crude oil prices in the global market. The reserve build up could have been better but for the resurgence of vandalization of pipelines and crude oil theft.

Challenges: It is one thing to have good Macro-Economic fundamentals; it is another matter for the business environment to be conducive for investors.

Credit Situation: The Credit Situation remains a major problem for investors in the economy. Many small and medium scale enterprises still have serious challenge in accessing credit even at this high rate. The tight credit situation is a major inhibiting factor to the capacity of domestic enterprises to take advantage of the robust Nigerian market.

This position was corroborated by our Business Confidence Survey for the second quarter of this year. The credit challenge was identified as the

,

The stagnation of the manufacturing sector is one of the tragedies of the Nigerian economy. Yet production is critical to an enduring economic and social stability

economy and private sector.

Low inflation is good for the perseveration of real incomes in the economy and the welfare of citizens. At 49.7 billion USD in March 2013, the foreign reserve was relatively robust as it could cover 13 months of imports. The growth in reserves represents 12.7 per cent increase over the status at the end 2012. Robust reserves are important for the

factor with the biggest negative impact on business confidence.

Power Situation: The Power situation improved slightly towards the close of last year 2012. However, this situation has since deteriorated. This development impacted negatively on investment during the quarter with increased ex-

Continues on Page A7

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—A7

Worsening power situation impacts negatively on imvestments Continues on Page A6 penditure on diesel and petrol by enterprises. This also comes with the consequences of declining productivity and competitiveness.

Security Situation: The Security situation in the country deteriorated in the last two years. It impacted on investment risk, worsened our perception and image at the global level. Access to markets in the troubled parts of the country has reduced for many enterprises and this is already affecting sales and profitability.

Also many enterprises have relocated with the inherent challenges. Also related to this is the escalating oil theft and the vandalisation of pipe lines. Billions of dollars have been lost in revenue; many lives have been lost as well. The environment of affected communities had suffered serious degradation as a consequence of this problem. Indeed, the oil and gas sector suffered negative growth on the back of this challenge.

Constraints to real sector The Nigeria business environment is generally not conducive for manufacturing enterprise which is why the risk of industrial investment is high and continues to increase.

The various policy interventions have not had the desired impact on the sector. Unless there is an effective and sustained protection and support for the sector, it is only a matter of time for the sector to become extinct.

This scenario has played out in the tyre manufacturing, the textile industries, the assem-

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President Goodluck Jonathan Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Finance minister

bly plants, the battery industry, the steel plants and many more. Manufacturing business is perhaps the most challenging in the economy today. The trend has grave implications for the economy. An economy dominated by buying and selling cannot boast of a bright future. Production is critical to economic progress, value addition and job creation.

It is impossible to have a vibrant manufacturing sector in the face of rampant dumping of cheap imports in the country. Some of these imports are landing at 50 per cent of the cost of products produced locally. Besides, manufacturers have to worry about high energy cost because the power improvement is yet to be sustained; they have to worry about high interest rates - 20 per cent and above; they have to worry about a multitude of regulatory agencies making different demands on them; they have to worry about massive smuggling and under invoicing of imports and many

more. The multinationals and other conglomerates in the sector may have the resilience to cope. But for most manufacturing SMEs, it is a nightmare.

The stagnation of the manufacturing sector is one of the tragedies of the Nigerian economy. Yet production is critical to an enduring economic and social stability. The way forward is to address the fundamental constraints to manufacturing competitiveness in the Nigerian economy.

The manufacturing contribution to GDP is still less than 5 per cent and this had been the trend for over a decade. This of course reflects in the capacity of the sector to retain existing jobs and create new ones.

The reality is that job losses in the sector have been on the increase over the years as productivity declined on the back of the harsh operating environment. However, the multinationals and conglomerates have shown some positive trend in performance and resilience, especially in the foods

and beverage sector as well in the cement industry. Even then, they would do much better if the operating environment were better.

If the power sector reform delivers the desired outcome, the fortunes of the sector would definitely improve. The manufacturing intervention fund of N200 billion had a positive impact on the few firms that benefited. It was a restructuring and refinancing facility which gave a significant relief to the firms and enhanced their cash flow. The interest rate was 7 per cent and the tenure was 15 years. But the fund was evidently inadequate and has since been exhausted.

The Bank of Industry also played a remarkable role in funding industries; but the beneficiaries were few compared to the financing gap that exists in the industrial sector.

Meanwhile, credit remains a major challenge for manufacturing enterprise. Access to credit is difficult and cost of credit is outrageous. The problem is particularly acute for the small and medium manufacturing enterprises. Policy inconsistency is also a major problem for industries. This is more pronounced in trade policy. Tariffs are adjusted in ways that are inconsistent with the nation’s aspiration of rapid industrialization. For instance, the collapse of the tyre industries in the country was the outcome of inconsistent trade policy. The patronage of made in Nigeria products is more at the level of rhetoric than concrete actions. Yet an effective patronage policy could make a whole lot of difference in the fortunes of the manufacturing sector.

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NUJ PRESS WEEK—From left: LTV Director, Administration Morakinyo Akinrinade; Director News, Ayo Agbesanwa; Guest Speaker and former HOD Mass Communications, Unilag, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye and Director Current Affairs, Funke Moore at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos Television chapel press week conference in Lagos.

JONATHAN'S PERFORMANCE: Our verdict — Industrialists, others Continues from page 5 He also noted that three active ministers out of about 40 ministers does not tell well of the administration, saying that they should be prodded to add their quota to the economy.

On corruption, Yussuf said that government should as much as possible allow private sector to participate in some developmental projects, stressing that concentration of too much power in individuals should be discontinued in the interest of the nation.

“When a lot of power is vested in an individual, if he has an opportunity of doing anything, perhaps awarding contract, he will favour people that are immediately close to him,” he stated.

Also speaking, Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, Managing Director, Partnership Investment Plc, said that the administration is on course in terms of policy, but still needs to do more in the area of ‘soft issues.’

Economy yet to impact Nigerians — Stakeholders An economist, Mr Remi Alarape, Managing Director, Remmy Associates Ltd, in his reaction

advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts to make Nigerians feel the impact of government. Alarape said this in Lagos in reaction to President Goodluck Jonathan’s Mid-Term Assessment Report. He said that the Federal Government had to increase its impact on the standard of living of Nigerians. “Most Nigerians do not have information on what the regime is doing to improve the economy,“ he said.

Alarape lamented that the productive sector had been inactive due to the absence of enabling environment. “The lending rate to real sector is still high which had made it difficult for government to meet its projected gross domestic product.

Our unemployment rate has been on the increase and the oil sector is not being expanded to em-

ploy more hands, “ he said. Alarape urged the government to take more proactive steps to diversify the economy, generate employment opportunities and reduce the nation’s poverty rate.

Dr. Jona Ezikpe, former Managing Director Manny Bank, now Chairman Chief Executive NEMACO farms believes the government is in the process of transforming the agricultural sector for good.

National Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo said: “To be candid, l have read and heard a lot on the policies/achievements of the Federal Government on stable-macro economic indices, Agriculture etc.

But frankly, they’ve not reflected on the citizen’s welfare and if they do not, then how do we

gauge government achievements? Meaning nothing has been achieved. May be, we should give them more time, because many bad things are happening around us now; that are giving both Corporate organisations and the citizenry sleepless nights. We need to be very-careful now."

Mr Oderinde Taiwo, National Coordinator, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PROSAN) said the President has done his best for the economy and there are lots yet to be done. On the Capital market, he said, the presidency needs to broker peace between the National Assembly and the Security and Exchange Commission to end the zero allocation to the body which is not good for the market.

See more on Page 63

Boko Haram still killing Christians — CAN

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA - The Chris tian Association Nigeria (CAN), yesterday, raised alarm over

the continuous killing of Christians and burning of churches by the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in spite of the

reported military onslaught against the insurgents, following the declaration of state of emergence in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The President of CAN,

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a statement, in Abuja said the military operation was yet to effectively secure Christians and their churches, and urged the military to redouble their efforts to restore normalcy in the affected states and other parts of the north, where fundamentalists have continued to kill Christians.

The statement read in part, “ while we appreciate the statement by the military high command that more towns are being secured in the operations to rid the nation of terrorist activities, we are sad by reports from Borno State where the terror has gone from the horrendous to the tragic as more Christians are still being killed and Churches burnt as reflected in many distress calls from the state by CAN officials on ground.

“Last Friday, for instance, an executive member of CAN in Gwoza Local Council, Rev. Luka Bazigila and a member of the COCIN Church, Yohanna, both of who were in attendance at a Christian fellowship were shot dead by gunmen who alighted from a Tricycle. The gunmen, apparently angry that they missed their target, the Medical director of Borno State Hospital, who was out when they arrived his residence, shot and killed his step mother.

“A Muslim guard, employed by a Christian Architect in Abuja to watch over his house was mistaken for a Christian and shot dead. One COCIN Church on the Mandara Mountain was burnt by members of the Boko Haram sect on Sunday morning”.

Oritsejafor also called on the Federal Government to make public, a document containing the names of Boko Haram sponsors reportedly secured by the military.

“In the light of a recent statement that the military recovered a document containing the names of Boko Haram sponsors, I call on the Federal Government to expose the sponsors now.

I believe that such exposition will go a long way to enhance the fight against the Boko Haram sect and serve as a deterrent to others who might want to toe the same line,” he insisted.

The CAN President

drew the attention of those citing reasons other than religion as the cause of the insurgency

by Boko Haram to a recent statement by the leader of the sect, Alhaji Abubakar Shekau where he called on like-minded Islamists in countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join to create an Islamic state in Nigeria, urging friends of Nigeria, to join forces with the Federal Government in this struggle to save Christians from being exterminated.

“We call on our friends abroad to regard the statement by the Boko Haram leader as a SaveOur-Soul message before Christians in Nigeria are confined to only one part of the country. If this happens, Nigeria is heading for division. Therefore, Nigerians who believe that the reasons for the onslaught of Boko Haram on innocent Christians, their Churches and other Nigerians are linked to injustice, inequality and unemployment should remember that Nigeria belong to us all.

“Boko Haram is a part of a global network of terror. I call on the northern Muslim leaders to jettison regionalism, ethnicism and religion and to imbibe the culture of unity in diversity as the only true principle that can save Nigeria.

Resorting to arm-twisting tactics can only shield the Boko Haram members and encourage them in their killing spree. This is a Jihad not inspired by pecuniary or unequal motives but one that is driven by fanatical and dogmatic religious ideology of doing away with Christianity in Nigeria.

“I plead with President Goodluck Jonathan not to allow the blood of our Reverend gentlemen and other Christians not to be allowed to atone for a cause that does not only make a mockery of what Amnesty stands for, but seems to suggest that the blood thirsty sect is on a legitimate and acceptable mission.

“I commiserate with the families of the deceased and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear the losses. I call on all Christians in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to join me in prayers for peace, unity of Nigeria and an end to the insecurity in our land tomorrow, Friday, 31st of May, 2013,” he called.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

Drama, as Majek Fashek storms COSON awards night

...performs on stage

By BENJAMIN NJOKU MILD drama ensued at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, venue of the just concluded Song Award organised by the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON)last Saturday night when Nigeria’s reggae legend and guitarist, Majek Fashek stormed the place to thrill his fans once again after years of being missing on stage.

Clad in rugged jersey and jacket with a brown cap, Majek who has been incapacitated for a long time now arrived the venue some minutes to the end of the event and hell was let loose. Shouts of ‘the Rainmaker’ rented the air as he moved from one end of the expansive hall to another, greeting and hugging some of his contemporaries whom he has not seen for years. Interestingly, Majek’s song, “Send Down the Rain” won the best song of the 1980s at the event.

Even though, his sight evoked sympathy, some of the guests who were familiar with Majek’s ordeal could not believe their eyes as the Rainmaker was virtually in high spirit. Still looking shabby and frail, Majek bubbled with life while the event lasted.

Upon spotting highlife maestro, Victor Uwaifo who was one of the dignitaries that graced the awards night, Majek immediately prostrated before him and later, requested to perform on stage. But the audience would not allow him to do so as they wanted him to close the event.After Iyanya’s ‘erotic performance’, Majek mounted the stage and took the audience in a musical voyage. He reeled out some of his evergreen songs to the delight of the audience. When he sang ‘ Send Down the Rain’, everyone in the hall took to the floor as they sang along with him. His performance that night reaffirmed his place as a reggae legend.

Despite missing the stage for a long time, Majek who waltzed his way into the hearts of music fans in the late 80s and early 90s with his debut album “Prisoner of Con-

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science” containing the hit track ‘Send Down The Rain’ released in 1987, still retains his stagecraft, vocal dexterity and followership. Standing ovation however greeted his ‘unexpected’ performance even as he hinted that his latest album is due to be released soon.

Meanwhile, the event was organised to honour musicians, songwriters and composers who had written and sung great songs from 1960s till date. Victor Uwaifo’s “Joromi,” was chosen as the best song of the 1960s while Prince Nico Mbarga’s “Sweet Mother” won the 1970s category.While Femi Kuti’s “Wonder Wonder” emerged the best song of the 1990s, for the new millennium (2000), Kehinde Akinbode’s “Olorioko” was awarded the best contemporary Afro song. The contemporary pop song was awarded to Tu Face Idibia with “African Queen.”Sunny Nneji won contemporary highlife category with “Oruka.” Idibia won contemporary afro with “Iheneme,” while Psquare were honoured for their hit song “Chop My Money” and the best song for contemporary highlife of the new era was awarded to Jude Okoye for “Baby Oku.”The award ceremony was part of activities marking the COSON week.

Majek Fashek

INSIDE BBA 8: Eviction fever grips housemates!

AppWar: WhatsApp, BBM, where do you stand?

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—55

Head of House, Tanzania’s Feza, to the Diary Room. She had to save one and replace them with another, and she did not hesitate but saved the Ghanaian Elikem and replaced him with Betty from Ethiopia.

Incidentally, both Tanzanian housemates nominated Denzel (Uganda), and Huddah (Kenya).

In the Rubies house, Ugandan housemate Isaac did not get a single nomination. Those nominated from Rubies were Sierra Leone’s Bassey (6) and Ghana’s Selly (5). Nigeria’s representative, Beverley in her role as Ruby Head Melvin (left) Beverly (right) (Both Nigerians) of House, chose to save Bassey and put Natasha up for eviction in his place.

BBA- the Chase reality television show kicked off last Sunday night in Johannesburg with South African super group Mafikizolo performing ‘Khona’, backed by magnificent dancers from the Mzansi Ballet Theatre. IK who returned as the presenter rolled up in style on a motorcycle and promised viewers ess than a week after they were ush- an exciting three months of television, ered into the Big Brother Africa house, which would see the housemates playeviction fever has already gripped the ing the game with their eyes firmly on housemates. the USD300 000 prize.

In fact, 5 out of the 28 housemates have Speaking on this year’s show, M-Net been nominated for possible eviction in both Africa Managing Director, Biola Alabi houses, Diamond and Ruby this Sunday. said, “ AfricaMagic is excited that AfUganda’s representative, Denzel is one of rica’s biggest reality show is now unthe nominees. derway. Audiences can expect the adDenzel, who is in the Diamond House, dition of interesting and engaging new garnered 6 nominations from his fellow elements to the show. Big Brother has housemates, who gave various reasons for displayed remarkable growth over the nominating him, including finding him years and we hope that this year will ‘ weird’. Another housemate said, he tries not be different. The launch of Hot too hard, while the South African Angelo Room will certainly bring fun, laughfor some reason said, Denzel disrespects ter and witty commentary in an amuswomen. But it was Kenya’s Huddah who ing and comical way. Shock, drama, got the most, with 7 nominations. House- emotions and surprises have always mates called her ‘fake’, while some didn’t been synonymous with the show but like the way she was behaving like a diva. audience must keep watching because Also, nominated was Elikem from Ghana. anything is possible over the next 91 After Big Brother announced the nomina- days.’ tions last night, he called the Diamond’s

BBA 8: Eviction fever grips housemates!

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Tuf ace Idibia, Burner Bo or uface Boyy, Darey ffor Xovar Lounge Concer oncertt ll is now set for the classy debut of Xo

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var Lounge Concert to be headlined by the trio of Tuface Idibia, Burner Boy, Darey Art Alade.

Scheduled to hold today, the night of highend groove is being organised by Bespoke Entertainment, owners of Bespoke Centre in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and Xovar Lounge.Xovar Lounge is located at 1 Parktonia Hotel Road, Elegushi, Lekki behind Bespoke Centre.

According to Mr. Olumide Mabawonku, CEO, the high-octane event begins by 7pm till the wee hours of the next day. ”We are prepared not only to provide a world-class entertainment but also to present a classy show that will be remembered for a long time. What’s more, we put Xovar Lounge in a scintillating shape for the occasion,” gushed Mabawonku.

Synopsis

Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor

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emptation: Confessions of a marriage Counselor is a drama-thriller film produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. The film is adapted from the play of the same name written by Perry, with several changes.

This is the thirteenth film by Perry. It was released on March 29, 2013.The film opens with a marriage counselor working with a young couple having problems. The wife claims they are not the same people anymore and married young which starts an argument.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK FAST AND FURIOUS 6 TEMPTATION TURNING POINT THE HOST

Exhibition Schedule for 31st May- 6 June 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND

Fast and Furious :11:00am,1:15pm,3:45pm, 6:15pm, 8:45pm Turning Point:1:40pm, 6:50pm Temptation: 1:40pm, 4:00pm, 6:10pm, 8:20pm.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani: 4:40pm,7:40pm Journey to self :1:40pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA

Fast and Furious : 3:55pm,6:30pm,9:00pm Turning Point: 6:00pm Temptation: 1:25pm, 5:50pm, 8:20pm The Host:3:15pm Journey to self : 3:40pm Oblivion: 3:45pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT

Temptation :11:50am,1:55pm,4:00pm,6:15pm ,8:30pm Turning Point :2:10pm,6:35pm,8:40pm Fast and Furious :12:40pm,3:00pm,5:30pm,8:00pm Weekend Getaway: 12:10pm Journey to self :2:10pm, 4:15pm,6:20pm Oblivion: 2:05pm,8:30pm G.i Joe: 3:50pm, 8:20pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Temptation: 11:55am, 4:00pm, 6:10pm, 20:30pm.

Journey to self:2;10pm,6:30pm Turning point: 12:00pm,4:30pm,8:50pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS ABUJA

Fast and Furious 6 :1:40pm,4:10pm,6:40pm,9:10pm Turning point :12:00pm,4:30pm,6:30pm The Host :12:05pm,4:45pm,9:30pm Identity Thief :2:30pm,7:20pm Temptation: 12:10pm, 2:20pm, 4:40pm, 7:00pm, 9:15pm Journey to Self :2:10pm, 8:30pm.

Oblivion: 12;30pm 5:00pm, 9:25pm G. I JOE: 7:10pm, 9:20pm

OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS

Fast and Furious :1:05pm,3:40pm,6:15pm,8:45pm Turning point: 6:20pm, 8:20pm Temptation: 2:30pm, 7:00pm, 9:15pm G.I.JOE : 11:50am Oblivion: 10:10am.

Tuface

56— Vanguard, FRIDAY ,MAY 31, 2013

Vineys Hosts Children

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Eunice Oluwafunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, Ekiti State deputy governor

PROFILE

Ekiti welcomes new Deputy Governor

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igeria was heartbroken when the news of the demise of erstwhile Ekiti State deputy governor Eunice Oluwafunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, also fondly referred to as Moremi. It sparked a whole new spate of awareness about breast cancer, the monster that claimed the life of the quiet beauty, and about her successor, who would have to comfort her electorate as well as her teeming fans.

The unenviable lady that the role has been thrust upon is Prof Modupe Adelabu, , but it would appear Ekiti’s Kayode Fayemi is no stranger to titanic women, with First Lady Bisi Fayemi being one herself.

Prof Adelabu was born on May 23, 1950 in Ado Ekiti to Prince and Mrs. Samuel Adepoju Adejugbe. She attended Christ’s School, AdoEkiti (1962 – 1967) and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo (1968 -1970). She holds a B.A. (Ed) ; MPhil ; and PhD, all from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife. She started her teaching career as a Graduate Assistant in 1976 in the Department of Educational Administration and Planning , OAU, where she rose to the post of Professor in 2008. It turns out being a local princess is the least of her qualifications.

She had been the Head of the Department of Educational Administration and Planning of the Obafemi Awolowo

University, Ile-Ife when the governor had first asked her to be his deputy , an offer she’d reportedly turned down due to the ill health of her husband.

She was later appointed chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB. The new deputy governor has also served as a resource person for the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP; United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF; and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, on numerous issues bordering on education.

She has also been involved in consultancy work for the Universal Basic Education Commission in Nigeria as well as being part of the 15-member

he Viney Club organizes a seminar for teenagers. The seminar will be led by professionals, highly motivated facilitators, reputable and qualified speakers. We have identified a number of areas that are of universal concern to parents and the society, so we developed this seminar to address few of these issues.

Topics will include relationships, teenage pregnancy, Health, self medication, eating habits, emotional health and Bad Breath.

From the presentations and team activities, teens will have opportunity to discuss these areas and their importance as well as discover the tools they need to be productive.

According to Founder and ceo Mrs. Emem Adeyemi, Vineys organizers and

planners of teenagers/youths’ events and programmes, “ Our mission is to discover, develop, celebrate and empower the younger ones for future challenges and responsibilities of leadership which can provide them with the support and opportunities that can help them grow into confident leaders.

We bring together all available resources in collective efforts to affect a positive change in their lives”.

“We are committed to giving Educational, inspirational and exciting teenagers’ programmes.

So join us and empower our youths- the future generation, for a new Nigeria.

We are committed to giving Educational, inspirational and exciting teenagers’ programmes.

So join us and empower our youths, the future generation for a new Nigeria”.

Education Reform Panel that worked assiduously on Ekiti State government’s reforms in the education sector.

Adelabu, who has consulted for the World Bank, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and other international agencies, was also a foundation member of Board of Ekiti State World Bank Assisted Poverty Reduction Agency. She has also been involved in consultancy work for the Universal Basic Education Commission in Nigeria.

Her appointment has been described by party (ACN) enthusiasts as “ a win-win strategy designed to inflict maximum punishment on the rancorous opposition in the state”.

Snip off the Years Watch your make up

Tips to dressing 10 years younger

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nknown to many women, dressing younger does not entail dressing like a teenager or a hooker. Wearing micro miniskirts, ripped jeans and tight tees is not going to make you look younger. On the contrary, it often shows the loopholes and dates you more than you were dated before.

Dressing younger is a fine art, and you might want to take a tip or three.

Kate Henshew

Go easy on your make up once you hit the 30 mark. The older you are, the lighter your make up ought to be. Ignore those artists who tell you you can cover your flaws with concealers. Go easy on concealers and pancake and put more emphasis on your cheekbones and eyelashes.

Use cream blush rather than powder and splash out on mascara. The same goes for the hair. Ditch the Cindy Crawford mane and pay more attention to your own hair.

Keep it smooth and sleek and colour it or get highlights for that shiny look.

Another essential is to have your eyebrows always plucked to perfection for that groomed-within-

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 — 57

Oshotimeyin, Gates, Lead at ‘Women Deliver’

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an-inch… look.

If you are in your late 20s and over, you are pushing it on four inch high heels. Go rather for three inches, if you will, and block heels rather than stilettos. Better still, play with the classic look with kitten heels which, if well chosen and well worn, can be very, very sexy on women of any age.

Colours

On the other hand women tend to dump colours the older they get.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with colours, bright colours. Simply avoid over the top neons though.

Babatunde Osotimehin

,

s Girls’ & Women’s Health and Rights are in Focus at Women Deliver 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, while World Bank and Guttmacher Institute release new data on the value of investing in girls and women Tuesday more than 4,000 global leaders and advocates from nearly 150 countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for Women Deliver 2013, the largest conference of the decade focused on the health and wellbeing of girls and women. The opening sessions of this three-day event highlighted the critical need to invest in girls and women to spur development worldwide.

The second day had global leaders announcing progress and new commitments toward expanding contraceptive access for women in developing countries. They also outlined plans for sustaining this momentum in the years to come.

The day’s events built on commitments and energy generated at the landmark July 2012 London Summit on Family Planning, where global leaders pledged more than US $2.6 billion to provide 120 million more women and girls in the world’s poorest countries with voluntary access to contraceptive services, information and supplies by 2020.

Speakers at Women Deliver 2013 discussed strategies to reach women and girls in developing countries who do not want to become pregnant, but lack access to contraceptives.

“Putting women at the center of development and delivering solutions that meet their needs will result in huge improvements in health, prosperity and quality of life,” said Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates. “When women have access to contraceptives they’re healthier, their chil-

Putting women at the center of development and delivering solutions that meet their needs will result in huge improvements in health, prosperity and quality of life

dren are healthier, and their families thrive.

At the morning plenary session led by Melinda Gates and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Di-

,

rector and Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) Co-Chair Babatunde Osotimehin— government leaders from Africa and Asia highlighted concrete examples of progress on

Wearing bright colours can mean you can wear less make up, so it’s a win-win situation.

Shapes

Classics are good, but they have no business being drab.

A shapeless bell blouse might not be exactly what you need, but for some reason, it seems more ‘age appropriate’.

Just wearing something that really nips you in at the waist can give you curves in all the right places and a much more youthful silhouette. Conning the observer by playing tricks with your tailoring might be

family planning and reaffirmed commitments to further expanding contraceptive access: Senegal’s Minister of Health Dr. Awa Coll-Seck discussed the country ’s dramatic progress in eliminating contraceptive stock-outs since the national family planning program’s roll-out in November 2012, doubling the budget to CFA 200 million with plans for further increases in 2013. The First Lady of Zambia, Her Excellency Dr. Christine Kaseba-Sata, highlighted Zambia’s stalwart commitment to expanding family planning access in the country, which launched its national family planning program last month;?Indonesia’s Minister of Health Dr. Nafsiah Mboi

the most useful skill you might ever pick up.

Accessories are a Girl’s best Friends

To put classy into the equation, accessories are always on point . We don’t all have the money to throw out our

announced the government’s increase in funding for longacting reversible contraceptives, as part of its redoubled efforts to regain momentum on family planning access after recent plateaus.

National Coordinator for Malawi’s Safe Motherhood Initiative, Mrs. Dorothy Ngoma, discussed the government’s efforts to considerably strengthen the family planning component of safe motherhood efforts countrywide “These countries show that we can make an impact on women’s access to reproductive health if we rally the necessary political will and financial commitments,” said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin. “Expanding access to contraceptives is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save lives and ensure the health and wellbeing of future generations.”

Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization that brings together voices from around the world to call for improved health and wellbeing for girls and women.

Launched in 2007, Women Deliver works globally to generate political commitment and financial investment for fulfilling Millennium Development Goal #5—to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health. Building from the groundbreaking conferences Women Deliver convened in 2007 and 2010, Women Deliver harnesses commitments, partnerships and networks to help prevent the approximately 350,000 deaths of girls and women from pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes that occur every year.

Women Deliver ’s message is that maternal health is both a human right and a practical necessity for sustainable development. Invest in women—it pays.

clothes at the end of each season but everyone can update their accessories.

Gold jewellery and patent leather were big last season but now it’s all about wedges, big bags and big sunglasses. Invest in any of these trends and you can instantly update your jeans and shirts without breaking the bank. Pick an accessory style you’re comfortable with that works for you and run with it. One key focal piece is best, with a few other accessories worked around it.

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

By WINIFRED IMONLUAMEN

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here appears to be an ongoing app war between RIM’s Blackberry Messenger, BBM and a budding rival WatsApp Messenger.

While BBM has remained users favourite app for exchanging free instant messages amongst a close user group on Blackberry device, WatsApp has come to slice the strong hold, perhaps threatening to push BBM to a seemingly uncomfortable corner.

Unlike BBM which operates in a closed user group, WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which also allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. It is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia.

This range of phones can all message each other because WhatsApp uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing. Another beauty of it is that it seamlessly connects to users who exchange contacts, automatically, without seeking PINs or authorizations.

Although this messaging platform is gaining ground among youths and school children, the grip BBM has on loyal users, seems to be even getting tighter. So when we sampled opinion of a number of users of both platforms and the war was interesting to witness. Hear them out!

Mr.Olaniyi Dare hatsApp is sensa-

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On his blog, one of the WhatsApp developers, Jan Koum relived the decisions and practical experience that discouraged him and his partner, Brian Acton from selling adverts on the platform. I am sure it will make a good read for you!

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rian and I spent a combined 20 years at Yahoo!, working hard to keep the site working. And yes, working hard to sell ads, because that’s what Yahoo! did. It gathered data and it served pages and it sold ads.

We watched Yahoo! get eclipsed in size and reach

by Google… a more efficient and more profitable ad seller. They knew what you were searching for, so they could gather your data more efficiently and sell better ads.

These days companies

AppWar: WhatsApp, BBM, where do you stand? tional.

I was introduced to it by a friend and since then, I fell in love with it. The platform has more smileys than BBM and it’s an app that can be used on any phone. You see, the catch is that whatsapp upgrades a new contact automatically and you don’t need to request to add someone up. You can add anybody once the person is on whatsapp. For me, BBM is too serious.

Miss Sopulu Amaechina prefer BBM because most people on the platform are on twitter and news get to twitter faster and by so doing pass on to BBM.

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Mr. Awotoye Abayomi hatsApp is boring and does not express much maturity on users. Most of the people on BBM are serious people no matter their age and there is this air of responsibil-

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ity that revolves around the platform. Most of my friends are on BBM and for me, that says it all.

Miss Eva Aja prefer BBM to WhatsApp because it’s a nice way of communicating when one doesn’t have airtime on the phone. WhatsApp takes time in sending messages. In fact, more people use BBM than WhatsApp.

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Miss Vaughan Kemi am not a gadget freak though, but WhatsApp is more like it to me. You know, it works on any phone as long as one has access to the internet.

WhatsApp gives everyone on your contact extra means of communicating with you because not only can you chat, you can also call the person since you have the person’s number. BBM on the other hand has restricted users, it is strictly for people using Black berry phones. WhatsApp is an app you download but BBM is more like an added technology to the phone.

These apps both perform the same function but WhatsApp has an added advantage because of the number it shows or asks for before you can add up a contact.

But •Aigbomian Obehi

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•Eva Aja

•Olutuyi Bukola

•Awotoye Abayomi

•Vaughan Kemi

•Jide Familugba

•Olaniyi Dare

WhatsApp developers open up!

Why we don’t sell ads on WhatsApp know literally everything about you, your friends, your interests, and they use it all to sell ads.

When we sat down to start our own thing together three years ago we wanted to make something that wasn’t just another ad clearinghouse. We wanted to spend our time building a service people wanted to use because it worked and saved them money and made their lives better in a small way. We knew that we could charge people directly if we could do all those things. We knew we could do what most people aim to do every day: avoid ads.

No one wakes up excited to see more adver-

WhatsApp to be the product that keeps you awake… and that you reach for in the morning. No one jumps up from a nap and runs to see an advertisement.

Advertising isn’t just the disruption of aesthetics, the insults to your intelligence and the interruption of your train of thought. At every company that sells ads, a significant portion of their engineering team spends their day tuning data mining, writing better code to collect all your personal Brain Acton data, upgrading

tising, no one goes to sleep thinking about the ads they’ll see tomorrow. We know people go to sleep excited about who they chatted with that day (and disappointed about who they didn’t). We want

Jan Koum

BBM uses pin which cannot be used to call up somebody.

Mr. Jide Familugba hen something is meant to look like something, it can never be the same. WhatsApp was modeled after BBM and that tells you what an innovation BBM is.

However I have also observed that most Blackberry users do also download WhatsApp on their phones. To me, that’s an extra to a user. Yet, BBM is still an easier platform to send videos, music, pictures even as it attributes smiley’s, status, personal messages as well as it displays pictures.

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Miss Aigbomian Obehi or me WhatsApp is a good innovation but I still prefer BBM because it’s more interesting. But the two apps have disadvantages.

While BBM could sometimes, be annoying by the way people announce their every movement and anything in their lives, it is also very interesting to have.

In the same vein, WhatsApp is innovative because it creates alternative for people who cannot afford a Blackberry or do not like the device. On WhatsApp, even if you delete contact, the person still has your number. But if you ask me, BBM still has upper hand on User Interface experience.

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the servers that hold all the data and making sure it’s all being logged and collated and sliced and packaged and shipped out… And at the end of the day the result of it all is a slightly different advertising banner in your browser or on your mobile screen.

Remember, when advertising is involved you the user are the product. At WhatsApp, our engineers spend all their time fixing bugs, adding new features and ironing out all the little intricacies in our task of bringing rich, affordable, reliable messaging to every phone in the world. That’s our product and that’s our passion. Your data isn’t even in the picture.

We are simply not interested in any of it.

When people ask us why we charge for WhatsApp, we say “Have you considered the alternative?”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013—59

2015 Presidency: North may Woolwich sanction pro-Jonathan politicians N

By SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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N D I C AT I O N S emerged, yesterday, that the north might sanction prominent politicians from the region found to be fraternising with President Goodluck Jonathan with a view to scuttling its desire of occupying the Presidency in 2015.

Vanguard learnt that the decision to clip the wings of northern politicians who were yet to see the need for the country’s top political office to revert to the region, was taken at a meeting of the Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, during one of its recent meetings in one of the states, which is under the state of emergency.

At the meeting, which had some governors and many elite from the north in attendance, strategies for voting out President Jonathan was elaborately discussed and agreed upon. It was learnt that one of the weapons to be applied in cajoling influential northerners particularly governors and lawmakers, in railroading into the northern agenda, is to brand the unwilling ones as ‘enemies’ of the region and expose them to public.

Fraternising with Jonathan A member of the NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, confirmed the position of the north in an exclusive interview with Vanguard but declined to say how such action would work against top politicians, who were not voted into office by the forum. The former ABU vice chancellor, said that although the NEF had no power to remove such politicians from office, they had the prerogative to expose them as saboteurs of the north.

Abdullahi said: "It is true that we are looking at those from the north, who are fraternising with Jonathan to stop us from getting the Presidency in 2015. I can say to you that appropriate steps will be taken at the appropriate time to deal with such moles known to be working with Jonathan against northern interest as far as the next election is concerned.

“We are aware that some of our people, governors, lawmakers and ministers are working against the interest of the region because

they don’t believe that we should produce the next president of Nigeria. If we cannot do anything to stop them, we can mobilise the people to see them as the enemies of the north.”

Vanguard learnt that the NEF took the decision to sanction northern politicians working for Jonathan following the alleged persecution of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State by the Presidency for reportedly having an ambition of pairing with his Jigawa counterpart, Sule

Lamido, to run in 2015.

Although the duo have consistently denied the rumour, their posters, suspected to be planted by opponents, have continued to flood major cities and towns, thereby exposing them to more trouble with the Presidency. Despite the fact that the President has not declared his intention to run, his soldiers particularly former militants, have already threatened to cause mayhem if Jonathan was not returned in 2015.

S -Court hears PDP, Okorocha suit, June 4

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—SU PREME Court has slated June 4 to hear the suit between Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, even as a group of lawyers loyal to former governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim, yesterday, served a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. The petitioners, alleged plot to disband the panel handling a fresh appeal

by Governor Rochas challenging the joining

of his predecessor in an election petition that was filed against him by the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

Ararume is challenging the outcome of the election that brought governor Okorocha to power.

In their letter to the CJN, by one Adebalogun Sai, the petitioners alleged a plot by a powerful group in the judiciary working for one the litigants to sack the appeal panel handling Ararume’s petition.

No leadership tussle in Anambra ANPP—Orjiako

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA— THE An ambra State chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Pat Orjiako, has said there is no leadership tussle in the emerging political party, noting that the concern of all the merger parties is to ensure that All Progressive Congress, APC, wins the forthcoming governorship election.

He said: “As far as we are concerned, there is no leadership tussle. I am the chairman of ANPP and other people are chairmen of their political parties and who will eventually become the chairman of APC in this state is not an issue. If I become the chairman or another person becomes the chairman, the other person will go for another position. The major issue we are advocating

from among the three major merging political parties that already have their executive in place because their tenure will be terminated by the new merger arrangement.

“Our assurance is that we are going to give Anambra people leaders who have vision and can assist the APC governorship candidate to win the next election. Personally, I am interested in winning the governorship of the state and not who will become the party chairman. But we must also have an independentminded chairman that will be an asset and not somebody who will not be able to articulate how the party will move forward.

We can get the chairman either by consensus, harmonization or by congress. So we are not quarrelling on who becomes the chairman of APC.”

murder: Adebowale charged

IGERIAN-BORN, Michael Adewale was yesterday charged with the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London, police have said. Michael Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, London, who will appear later at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, is also accused of possessing a firearm.

A second man, Michael Adebolajo, 28, remains under arrest at a London hospital and is in a stable condition.

A post-mortem examination found Drummer Rigby, 25, died

•Michael Adebowale of “multiple incised wounds” after the attack on 22 May. Mr Adebowale, who was discharged from hospital on Tuesday, and the other suspect were shot by police at the time they were arrested.

Sue Hemming, head of

the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Special Crime and Counterterrorism Division, said: “Crown Prosecutors have been working with the investigators of Counter Terrorism Command since the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby on 22 May. “Following the release of Michael Adebowale from hospital, we have authorised the police to charge him with the murder of Drummer Rigby. “We have also authorised police to charge him with possession of a firearm, contrary to section 16A of the Firearms Act 1968.

US economy shows weak growth

A

drop in government spending dragged more on the U.S. economy than initially thought in the first three months of the year, although consumer spending looked relatively resilient to Washington’s austerity drive.

Other reports on

Thursday showed the number of new jobless claims rose modestly last week while contracts on previously owned homes climbed to a three-year high in April.

Together, the reports pointed to an economy that

Syria: Russia slams U.S. over refusal to rule out no-fly zone

R

USSIA on yesterday said the refusal of the United States to rule out the idea of a no-fly zone over Syria cast doubt on its commitment to efforts to bring the warring sides together for a peace conference.

A White House statement saying the possibility of a no-fly zone remained on the table, along with other statements and actions by Western governments and the Syrian opposition, “cast doubt on the sincerity of the desire of some of our ... partners for a success of international efforts” to end the 26-month-old conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Meanwhile,the Syrian army has scored “major victories” against rebels and now holds “the balance of power” in the conflict, President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly told a Lebanese TV station.

Mr Assad was also

quoted as saying Syria has received the first shipment of an advanced Russian air defence system. Russia vowed to go ahead with sending S-300 missiles earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the main opposition outside Syria said it would not take part in peace talks while massacres continued.

has held up reasonably well despite government constraints, but nevertheless faced headwinds severe enough to dissuade the U.S. Federal Reserve from trimming its monetary stimulus in the immediate future. “(The reports) paint the picture of an economy with strengthening fundamentals that is facing significant fiscal drag,” said Ellen Zentner, an economist at Nomura in New York.

Gross domestic product, a measure of the country’s total economic output, expanded at a 2.4 percent annual rate during the first quarter, down a tenth of a point from an initial estimate, the Commerce Department said. Analysts had forecast a 2.5 percent gain.

New EU agreement to boost Schengen border accord

A

GREEMENT has been reached in Brussels on when temporary border controls can be introduced in the European Union’s freemovement Schengen area.

The new accord lays down common rules on reintroducing checks in exceptional circumstances.

It also allows unannounced inspections to ensure controls are not being imposed illegally.

Schengen permits EU citizens to move freely without passport checks between the 22 states that signed up.

The latest accord, negotiated between the European Commission, the European Parliament and governments, now goes to a full meeting of the parliament for consideration in June or July.

Egyptians draft law, dashes hopes of free civil society

A

law drafted by the Egyptian presidency for regulating nongovernmental organisations dashes hopes for a free civil society after the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak, Human Rights

Watch said oyesterda..

President Mohamed Mursi has said the bill submitted to the Muslim Brotherhood-led parliament on Wednesday would liberate a civil society that was stifled by Mubarak, who was

toppled by an uprising ignited by democracy activists.

Human Rights Watch said the new draft was “hostile to the very notion of independent civil society”.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

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Chicharito: Nigeria deserves respect Manchester United and Mexico striker Javier Hernandez says Nigeria deserve respect ahead of their meeting tomorrow.

Both countries meet in an international friendly in Houston, Texas, and the Mexican forward is wary of the threat posed by the African champions “The most important thing is to have a game to prepare for the qualifiers, which we’ll be doing against Nigeria.

“They are African champions and they have many players abroad.

The players are always full of running when they play but they have also improved a lot in recent years.

“The game against Nigeria will be very important for us to prepare ourselves. You have to give them due respect knowing well that they too will be using the game to prepare for the World Cup qualification too.”

Kick-off is at 2am Nigeria time.

Mourinho Continues from BP again! Everyone is delighted he’s coming back — the club, the players and the fans “We are already looking forward to next season — we are sure it’s going to be very exciting.”

Mourinho finally put pen to paper during a two-day trip to London this week.

His cover story was attending the Crystal Palace-Watford play-off final at Wembley on Monday and visiting friends in the capital.

But the real purpose of the visit was to seal an emotional return to his beloved Blues along with right-hand man Rui Faria.

Now it is expected he will be unveiled next week in a blaze of publicity by the Europa League champions.

That is after he has taken charge of Real’s final game at home to Osasuna on Saturday, which will bring to an end his controversial three-year reign at the Bernabeu.

Nigeria Oboabona contesting ball with Didier Drogba of Cote-di-voire at Nations Cup tournament

I will pocket Chicharito — Oboabona boasts

S

UPER Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona has said he will stop Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez “Chicharito” in today’s international friendly against Mexico.

The high-profile match will be played in Houston, Texas, in the United States of America tonight, which will be 2am Nigerian time on Saturday.

“If I could stop players in the calibre of Didier Drogba, Yaya Youre, Gervinho at the Nations Cup, I can’t be afraid to face any striker in the world. I will do my best to stop Chicharito and Giovanni dos Santos,”

Oboabona told MTNFootball.com from Houston.

“Both players are unarguably world-class strikers and they are very deadly but marking out Drogba has boosted my confidence not to fear any striker.”

He added: “We are also looking forward to an interesting match that will boost our confidence ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia because that is the main thing all Nigerians are eagerly waiting for, but we will also give our best to maintain our record against the Mexicans.”

Eagles Continues from BP team will not have any reason to faulter against the Mexicans. “We will do our best and ensure that we come clean against Mexico, as usual we want Nigerians to pray for us. On our part we will defend the national colours well against any opposition and Mexico is just one of them”, he declared.

Camp sources also revealed that Ukraine based hitman Brown Ideye and German based Joseph Akpala, may be the preferred strike force to start against the Mexicans as

the duo have shown maturity at training sessions.

Big midfielder John Ogu is also said to be pulling his weight and it won’t be surprising if he starts the match against the very tricky Mexicans. “I don’t know who will start and who will not but we have a team that should do very well against Mexico”, Keshi said on Thursday evening. The match is scheduled for 8pm Houston time and 2am Nigeria time on Saturday morning which will still be Friday evening in Houston.

Mexican population Continues from BP the players can adjust to different tactics and take on any nation. If they qualify for the World Cup, they will be playing countries from different continents. It even begins with the Confederation Cup in Brazil.

They are African champions and have shown that they can adapt to the rugged play of African teams. Before the Nations Cup in South Africa, they also showed guts against Catalonia in Spain. Tomorrow, in the early morning, they play a team that has a blend of South American football and a little of European touch.

Mexicans pass the ball well and they also have speed especially on the counter attack. Keshi, would, therefore, be exploring a way to curb their possession and use power game to muscle them out of their stride while a blistering attack may boost their goal chances.

Two top players who added weight to the strength of the team during the Nations Cup in South Africa will not play tomorrow. Mikel Obi and Victor Moses. But others have trained so well that Keshi feels that they can hold their own against Mexico, a country that can boast of good youth development going by the feats of their youth teams recently. But a third position in the ongoing World Cup qualifying group games makes Keshi feel that

they are not on top of their game and not a team that should beat the African champions.

“We have trained well and the boys are excited about this international friendly match. I hope that they show that excitement on the field,” Keshi said at the Westin Galleri Eagles Hotel on Alabama Road. The Hotel is located in one of the biggest malls in Houston.

Keshi’s assistant Valere Houndonou said that the fighting spirit in the Eagles camp is a thing of joy to the technical crew.

“Everybody wants to play. And I think most of the players here will have a chance to play,” Valere said.

The performance of two home-based Eagles has impressed him. Emeka Eze, an attacker with Enugu Rangers and Ebenezer Ogulami, a midfielder from Sunshine Stars of Akure have done well to earn their first caps. And so is Tony Ujah of Cologne FC, Germany.

Valere said Ujah is a player Nigerians should watch out for. John Ogwu was invited for the game against Kenya in Calabar.

He was dressed up but did not play. He may get a chance tomorrow morning. Joseph Akpala played few games under Samson Siasia but has not played under Keshi. He may also get a chance to play.

“I think that we have a good team with Egwuekwe, Oboabona, Echiejele, Onazi, Brown Ideye, Vincent Enyeama etc.”

Mutu

Continues from BP

The infant was miraculously rescued after he was cut was from the pipe by frantic emergency in Jinhua, in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang.

The incredible story of the youngster – dubbed baby 59 - quickly spread worldwide after amazing footage showed medics and firefighters desperately trying take apart the 10cm diameter with pliers and saws.

Now cheat Mutu, who joined Chelsea for £15.8million in 2003 before being kicked out of the club when he

failed a drugs test, has told Romanian channel ProTV: “I intend to adopt this baby.”

The dad-of-three said he had discussed the plan with his wife Consuelo and plan to make an approach to the baby’s parents if a legal agreement could be found However the striker, who now plays for AC Ajaccio in Corsica, could face difficulties as Romania is not currently on the list of 17 countries whose citizens can adopt from China.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

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