Media icons honour Amuka, discuss newspapers' future

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62461

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

**

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

N150

BOOK LAUNCH FOR SAM AMUKA @ 80

BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Gbenga Makanjuola, representing the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Lanre Idowu, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Chairman of the occasion; Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard and Celebrant; Izoma Philip Asiodu, and Prince Tony Momoh, APC chieftain; at the lecture and launch of a book entitled Voices from Within: Essays on Nigerian Journalism, in honour of Mr Sam Amuka at 80, yesterday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez. More pictures on Pages 14-16.

Media icons honour Amuka, discuss newspapers' future •Media icons, Senate President, Osoba, Adebanjo, Rita-Lori Ogbebor, others celebrate Sam Amuka at 80 •Newspapers will survive unless they commit suicide – IWERE

By Clifford Ndujihe & Japhet Alakam

Armed forces I headed lacked equipment, motivation to fight A 9 Boko Haram — BADEH COLUMNISTS:

Peace at last? •P.17

Cuba: The fabled islands of humanity •P.19

Buhari vows to protect integrity of Nigerian territories 8

BUJA—MEDIA icons and e m i n e n t Nigerians, yesterday, converged on Lagos to honour Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka and discuss future of the newspaper industry in the country.

They dissected the problems posed by social media to the survival of newspapers and proffered solutions.

Given the speed with which the social media dish out information in

various forms (photos, videos, texts, etc), the media luminaries said newspapers must adopt new and unique approaches to publish or Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

2 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

SENATE—Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left) with the

Chairman, Senate Adhoc Committee on Services, Sen. Abdullahi Gobir during the inauguration of the Committee, yesterday .

Media icons honour Amuka, discuss newspapers' future Continues from Page 1 perish.

They spoke at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos at a public lecture and launching of a book to celebrate Mr. Amuka, who turned 80 last month.

According to them, there is a lot to learn from Mr. Amuka’s gentle nature, honesty, hard work, generosity and mentorship to take the print media to the next level.

The way forward for newspapers was captured in the book: "Voices From Within: Essays on Nigerian Journalism in Honour of Sam Amuka (2nd edition)", edited by Lanre Idowu and the lecture; “Today ’s Newsroom, Tomorrow’s Newspaper: How to Survive and Thrive in the Internet Age,” delivered

by Mr. Ted Iwere, Managing Director of the I n d e p e n d e n t Newspapers.

Newspapers'll survive unless they commit suicide –Iwere In his lecture, Ted Iwere said the internet cannot

kill newspapers unless the print media choose to commit suicide by not doing the needful.

His words: "The question before us is, are Nigerian newspapers in the danger of going out of print, given the pervasive and growing influence of the internet?

"Nigerian newspapers today are at the cross roads. Publishers, editors, managers and journalists are all worried. They are worried about newspapers' survival and their worries are many because of the present condition and future prospects of newspapers.

They are worried about how to reinvent themselves in order to survive in the presence of alternate sources of news and information that are readily available."

He expressed optimism that newspapers will survive, if they, their publishers, managers, editors and journalists become internetcompliant.

"The internet age newspaper publisher and journalist must develop what one would call a ‘multimedia mindset.’ A

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something.

But I can’t accept not trying —Michael Jordan

R

ARELY, a dream or goal comes true easily and effortlessly, without delays, challenges or hurdles.

It is far more common, however, that you have to overcome many obstacles and suffer some setbacks before achieving any meaningful target. The more ambitious your goals, the more likely it is that you will face difficulties on your way towards it.

When this happens, what will you do? Will you just give up? Or will you persist and struggle and succeed?

A lot of that depends upon your attitude and experience.

Some of it depends upon your skills and network, some other factors as chance, luck or divine intervention.

No matter what you’re experiencing, you simply do not give up. When you find work that matters, giving up is not an option. So choose only the kind of work that matters. No, it does not have to necessarily be ‘life saving’ or ‘world changing’. But it should matter enough to you that you will not casually think of abandoning it when a distraction or obstacle crops up.

prime requirement of this paradigm shift is the combination of hitherto separate newspaper and website set up into a unified newsroom, driven by a new organisation structure and a streamlined copy flow plan. Modern newspaper houses need a mobile ready newsroom. The managers and journalists must be internetcompliant, mobile-ready, access the website regularly, and report the news with their devices," he said.

In addition, he suggested that journalists should go beyond breaking the news and add value to their stories via analyses, interpretation and investigative reporting.

Reflections on topical media issues Reviewing the book, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, represented by Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika (Head of Mass Communications Department, University of Lagos) said the book, is "a celebration of one of Nigerian journalism’s foremost personae, Mr. Samson Oruru Amuka, better known as Sam Amuka or simply Sad Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard and without doubt, one of the few outstandingly successful entrepreneurs in an industry notorious for the mortality of titles turned 80 on June 13, 2015."

Quoting Lanre Idowu, she said the first edition of the book was issued in 2005 when the honoree turned 70, while the current one does more than update the essays by adding eight new chapters as well as ensuring that the writers situate their reflections in the most contemporary and topical issues in journalism.

Her words: "The contributors straddle generations of practice; a

few of them are Amuka’s contemporaries and compatriots, while some of them are young enough to be his sons. There is a parade of stars with names such as, Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager of Vanguard, Debo Adesina, Editor-inChief of The Guardian, Frank Aigbogun, publisher of BusinessDay, Muhammed Haruna famed columnist, Tunde Fagbenle, long standing columnist and Gbemiga Ogunleye, former editor of The Punch among others.

"Let me state that the book is divided into three parts. The first features reflections on media content, looking at things like news reporting, cartoons, and editorial writing; the second examines the business side of publishing in the context of the internet. A third section contains reminiscences by people who have worked closely with Amuka in different aspects and facets of his career."

Ocean of tributes Among those who showered encomiums on Uncle Sam were Senate President Bukola Saraki; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh; retired super permanent secretary, Chief Philip Asiodu; Social critic and activist, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe; Niger-Delta and Itsekiri leader, Mrs Rita-Lori Ogbebor.

Others include National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Secretary General, Ms Comfort Obi; factional president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; Chairman of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah; Chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh and former chairman of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas C o m m i s s i o n (OMPADEC), Chief Albert Horsfall.

They thronged the main auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) to celebrate the man fondly called ‘Uncle Sam’ by admirers but known as ‘Sad Sam’ to older generations of Nigerians, who followed his column and excellent

journalism foot prints in the 60s and 70s.

Let’s celebrate the reluctant celebrant –Olusegun Osoba Osoba, who chaired the event, opened the floodgate of tributes to Uncle Sam. He said: "We are here today not because Sam Amuka wants us to be here. If he has his way, in the next five minutes he will disappear. That is Sam, that is his style, when he goes to a party, before you know it, he is gone.

"I want to thank Lanre Idowu and all others who arranged it because it is unlike Uncle Sam, he would not have had this, I want to thank all of you, I say congratulations.

"Most people don’t really know Sam enough, we call him Uncle Sam, but his most famous column was known as Sad Sam, with beautiful writeup, elegant language, richly and very cynical writing.

"He was first editor of Spear magazine, 50 years ago. Sam was the first to make us appreciate cartoons, because of his growing works in magazine, we now have many magazines like The Tell , Newswatch , The News, etc that followed him. I want to tell you one of the secrets of his longevity, he is a gentleman to the core, never envious of anybody, he is contented, a lover of artworks, act of giving, and a good swimmer. I enjoin those above 70 to start swimming."

Daddy Sam is a man of intellect, wisdom –Saraki Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola gave Mr Amuka another nickname, "Daddy Sam" saying, “Uncle Sam is more than

an uncle to me. He is Daddy Sam." He saluted Uncle Sam’s intellect and wisdom, which he said have not been dimed by age.

Unveiling the book, he told Uncle Sam: ‘We will be here to celebrate you at 90."

Man of gentility, honesty – Lori-Ogbebor Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor, who represented the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, described Uncle Sam as a performer, gentle and honest man, who has done so much for his country, Nigeria and the Itsekiri ethnic nationality.

"I will go back and tell the Olu that his son has performed,’’ she said.

Uncle Sam has done everything anybody can do for Journalism – Comfort Obi To Ms Comfort Obi, the secretary general of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), a group that Uncle Sam serves as a patron, ‘’to us, Uncle Sam is a mentor and stabiliser and we cherish his inspiration and moderating voice. He has done everything anybody can do for journalism and the younger ones.’’

Momoh, Horsfall, NdaIsaiah pay tributes Channels Television Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Momoh, in his tribute said, ‘’I cherish Uncle Sam a lot. I like to emulate his ways.’’

Horsfall said, ‘’Uncle Sam means something to anybody that knows him’’ while Nda-Isaiah remarked: ‘’Uncle Sam is a man all of us will like to be like. I remember asking him to pray for me before I started Leadership Newspapers 12 years ago."

THE ROLL CALL Chief Philip Asiodu Aremo Segun Osoba Prince Tony Momoh Ayo Adebanjo Ladi Bonuola Dare Babarinsa Debo Adesina Lanre Arogundade Mike Awoyinfa Tunde Fagbenle Dele Momodu Rita-Lori Ogbebor

Chief Fred Agbeyegbe Nosa Igiebor Demola Oshunubi Frank Aigbogun Louis Odion Gbemiga Ogunleye Mideno Bayagbon Gbenga Adefaye M o h a m m e d Fawehinmi Emeka Opara Henry Odukomaiya

Taiwo Ajayi-Lycet Muyiwa Adetiba Kunle Oyatomi Joe Ajaero Prince John Momoh Oma Djebah Fidelis Anosike Sam Omatseye Sam Nda-Isaiah Odia Ofeimum Bisi Olatilo Gbenga Makanjuola Albert Horsfall

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Police arrest 31 robbery suspects in Lagos

Some of the 59 persons rescued by troops after Wednesday's operation in suspected Boko Haram camps in Kashimbiri and Warmure communities in Londuga LGA, Borno State, yesterday.

NAN PHOTO.

By Ifeanyi Okolie

N

O fewer than 31 suspected armed robbers terrorising residents of Oto-Awori Local Development Area of Lagos State were arrested by anti-robbery policemen attached to Ijanikin Police Station in the past three months.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects, picked up at various hideouts around Ijinaki, Iyana-Era and Kola areas of Oto-Awori, were said to be burglars robbing shops and highways robbers attacking motorist plying the Mile 2- Badagry Expressway.

It was also gathered that among those arrested was a notorious suspect identified as Danguda, who is said to have killed many of his victims and also raped some women.

Sources disclosed that some of the suspects were transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, while others were charged to court.

Narrating how some of the robbers were arrested, a source who craved anonymity, said: “On Monday, May 25, some armed robbers were on a house-to-house raid at Ijanikin area, when a distress call was sent to Divisional Police Officer, Robinson Eregare.

A team of anti-robbery policemen was mobilised, stormed the scene and arrested some suspects.

GENERATOR FUMES:

Decomposing bodies of 3 siblings discovered in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE rustic settlement of Emeyal in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was thrown into confusion on Wednesday, following the discovery of the decomposing bodies of three family members, who died from inhaling generator fumes.

Similarly, two siblings were killed in the same local government when their home was gutted by fire.

Vanguard gathered that the Emeyal incident, in which three members of a family lost their lives, occurred when they kept a running generator in their living room, apparently for fear of it being stolen, instead of leaving it outside.

It was gathered that the

By Peter Duru victims were last seen Sunday night by neighbours, fuelling speculations that they may have died three days earlier.

According to a source, the corpses were discovered Wednesday, when security operatives forced open their door, following report of foul smell emanating from their room.

The bodies of the deceased, identified as Ibieneye Tubotamuno, 34; Jennifer Asiagbuladia, female, 30, and Goodluck Tubotamuno, 8, have since been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

Mosquito coil fire

Meanwhile, the Otuoke tragic inferno, which claimed

2 dead, one goes dumb after eating ‘forbidden’ fish in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—TWO persons, yesterday, reportedly lost their lives at Ezillo in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after eating fresh fish allegedly forbidden in the area.

Another person, who also ate the said fish, was said to have become dumb.

The victims (names withheld) are labourers hired by one Mr. Alieze for a construction work.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Mrs. Odoh Onyinyechi, told Vanguard that the victims, who took a break from work at the site,

went to the near-by stream where they harvested the said fish, which specie is forbidden by the community.

She said: “A man from our community went to the town and brought people to work for him. The people later went to the stream to fetch water and came back with some fish.

‘We warned them’

“We told them that these fishes are forbidden in our area because we do not consume them and if you must eat them, you must remove the scale. But I do not think they listened to our advice.

“Before we knew it, two of the labourers died, while one of them could not speak any

Man defiles 11-yr-old daughter

more.

“We do not eat this particular fish for any reason and we always tell anyone found with it to prepare it properly, if they must eat it.”

Another resident of the area who preferred anonymity, said he saw the victims harvesting the fish in the stream and warned them not to eat it.

He said: “Those people were busy harvesting fishes in our stream and I went closer to them and saw the fish.

“I told them not to eat one of the species which were among the ones they had harvested.

I told them to ensure they remove the scales before preparing it because they are very dangerous.”

the lives of two siblings, occurred at about 11a.m. on Wednesday when their makeshift home was razed by fire caused by a lit mosquito coil.

The deceased siblings were identified as Favour Agamawa, 7, and Juliet Agamawa, 6.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incidents.

He said: “On July 29, 3:50p.m., policemen responded to a distress call that a foul smell was oozing out of the house of one Ibieneye Tubotamuno, at Emeyal in Ogbia council.

“Policemen forced the house open and discovered the dead bodies.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased might have died about three days earlier, when they were last seen, as a result of inhaled fumes from a generator exhaust, which was kept inside their living room.

“The corpses were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, mortuary, Yenagoa, for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.

“Also, on July 29, at about 11a.m., one Ase Agamawa, of Otuoke in Ogbia council, reported that there was fire in his makeshift house, Batcher, at Otuoke, which resulted in the death of his two children.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was as a result of a lit mosquito coil in the house.

“The corpses were deposited at the Federal Medical mortuary, Yenagoa, for autopsy while investigation is ongoing.”

M

AKURDI—A middleaged man (names withheld) has been arrested and arraigned before a Makurdi Court for allegedly having sexual intercourse with his 11year-old daughter.

Vanguard learned that the accused was arrested a few days ago after allegedly engaging the girl in days of repeated sexual abuse whenever his wife was away from home.

He was, however, caught in the act by a neighbour, who heard the cry of the girl, while she was allegedly being sexually abused, in one of his escapades.

The neighbour was said to have called the attention of his wife to the development.

She examined her daughter and, convinced that she had been defiled, reported the matter to the police.

At the hearing yesterday, police prosecutor, Inspector Hyacinth Gbakun, told the court that the accused contravened Section 91 of the Penal Code and the laws of Benue State.

However, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction, but the prosecuting officer asked for an adjournment to allow the police carry out further investigations.

In her ruling, the presiding judge, Mrs. Cecilia Bakara, ordered that the accused be remanded at Makurdi Federal Prison and adjourned the case to September 29.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—7

Residents ‘arrest’ 2 robbers in Ilorin

6 dead, several hospitalised as cholera ravages Delta community

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—A cholera outbreak in Aladja, a community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has reportedly killed six persons, while several others have been hospitalised.

Vanguard learned that the health situation was noticed last week with few persons affected, but that by last weekend, the

death toll had risen to six as the disease gained wider spread.

Some of those affected, it was gathered, are receiving medical attention in different hospitals and health centres within Udu, while those with severe cases are hospitalised at the Central Hospital, Warri.

Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Solomon Kpomah, who confirmed the outbreak, said his

administration had deployed medical personnel to the community to curtail further spread.

He said: “The state government has also sent its medical team to test and treat those affected. We will continue to carry out sensitisation campaign.

“There is need for a holistic approach by all parties towards curtailing the disease.”

He urged residents to maintain high level of hygiene by disposing wastes properly, warning them also to be cautious of the water they drank and the food they ate.

Local residents had passed initial cases of the disease as a spiritual attack resulting from some grave evil committed in the community, until tests conducted by medical experts revealed that it was cholera.

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—TWO daredevil armed robbers were shocked in the wee hours of yesterday as they were overpowered and arrested by brave residents of Iluteju, Ilorin, Kwara State, shortly after dispossessing a resident of N500,000 and a car.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the residents, who had been persistently troubled by armed robbers in recent times, had collectively hired vigilantes to provide security to enable them live a peaceful life in the community.

Vanguard also gathered from the community that shortly after the vigilante left around 7a.m. yesterday, the armed robbers took advantage of their exit to attack the victim with guns and cutlasses.

The victim, who was said to have been threatened through the window with a gun, was forced to open his door after which he was dealt several machete cuts on his body and was subsequently dispossessed of N500,000, while his car keys were also taken from him.

Vanguard, however, learned that unknown to the armed robbers, some of the neighbours, who had already woken up by the time and were watching developments, reportedly mobilised themselves to attack the armed robbers.

The crowd was said to be initially scared of their guns but soon pounced on the robbers, having realised that they had run out of bullets.

Having beaten the suspects to pulp, the residents reportedly tied their hands and handed them over to the police at 'C' Division.

14-month-old baby rescued from kidnappers

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—MEMBERS of a vigilante group in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State have rescued a 14month-old baby boy, Chimnwemeri Uche, allegedly kidnapped by a gang which specialises in the abduction of children within Abia and its environs.

Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers were on their way to sell the baby to Nma Charity/Maternity and Rehabilitation Centre at Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South when they were nabbed by a vigilante group in the area.

Master Uche, whose parents live in Abayi, Aba, was said to have been abducted from their residence on July 22 by one Chinedu Ukachukwu from Ebiri Omuma, Rivers State, and his accomplice, Kingsley Mbodo, who hails from Umuowa, Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State.

Vanguard further gathered that Ukachukwu, who formerly lived at the same residence with the Uches, had asked Chiamaka, immediate elder sister to the Chimnwemeri, to assist them buy bread from a nearby shop.

It was while the little girl went on the errand that the duo kidnapped the boy while his mother, Mrs. Glory Uche, was in the kitchen preparing dinner for her household.

Luck, however, ran out of the two friends when they were arrested by the vigilante group, having failed to explain how they got the baby. They were later handed over to the police.”

Civilians rescued from terrorists' camp at Chuogori and Shantumari, Borno State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

32-yr-old man commits suicide over wife’s infidelity in Bayelsa

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—A 32-year-old man, Tuesday in Yenagoa, committed suicide after drinking an insecticide, known as Sniper, after he learned that his wife was having an extramarital affair at Ikolo in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The deceased, identified as Amatari Christmas, was married to Tombara, an indigene of Ayama in the same local government area. They have two children.

Vanguard gathered that the incident has provoked anger among indigenes of the community, with some kinsmen of the deceased threatening to invoke their ancestors to deal with the unfaithful woman and her lover, identified as a suspected cultist and an indigene of Ayama.

A kinsman of the deceased, who gave his name as Francis, said their late brother, on getting wind of claims of infidelity against his wife, decided to monitor her activities in the community.

Francis said: “On Monday, the husband went to fetch

vegetable in large quantities for his wife to sell. After harvesting the vegetable, the husband told the wife to return home after market to prepare dinner for the family.

“However, the dead husband became worried and suspicious at about 7p.m. when the wife did not return as instructed and went in search of her at his in-law’s house.

“At the mother in-law ’s house, he was told she had gone to the father’s place at Ayama. At Ayama, a concerned friend took him to the home of

his wife’s lover, where he caught them in bed.”

According to him, the wife’s lover, a suspected cultist in the area, had threatened to deal with the aggrieved husband who for fear of his life, hid himself in an uncompleted building before going home to drink the deadly substance after locking out his two children.

When contacted on the development, the spokesman of the state Police Command, Asinim Butswatt, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

... as farmer hangs self in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—DETECTIVES in Ondo State are battling to unravel the mystery behind a farmer, identified as Damilola Ibitokun, who reportedly hung himself at Ero town in Ifedore area of the state.

Vanguard gathered that his body was found dangling from a tree in a bush.

His wife, Muibat, said it was only God that understand the

mystery behind her husband’s action.

She said: “For quite some time now, he and I have been sleeping in the church but on Tuesday night, he told me he wanted to sleep at home. So I left for the church .

“At 1a.m., he came back to the church. When I asked him why he came, he said he came to ask me whether I quarrelled with somebody and I said no.

“So he went back home on that

night but in the morning of Wednesday, our neighbours came to tell me that they could not find him.

“We went to the police station to report and later went into the bush where we found him. “ One of his children, Ayomide, who was with him shortly before the incident, told newsmen that he saw his father leaving the house with a rope and knife, but did not know he was going to kill himself.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Buhari vows to protect integrity of Nigerian territories zUrges countries within Lake Chad to rise against insurgency zSays no country survives alone in terror war

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA — PRESIDENt Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to protect the territorial integrity of the Nigerian nation.

This is even as he urged countries domiciled within the Lake Chad basin to unanimously rise against all forms of terror attack within the zone, saying no country could win the war against terror alone.

The President, who made the remarks late on Wednesday during a state dinner at the Unity Palace in Yaounde during his twoday working visit to Cameroon, however, stated that Nigeria was going to team up with Cameroon in the fight against Boko Haram.

He said: “We recognize that none of us can succeed alone. In order to win this war, we need the collective efforts of each one of us, standing together as a formidable force for good, to defeat and end these acts of terror against our people.

“Let me assure all of my relentless pursuit of all possible means to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity, protect the lives and property of our citizens as well as my commitment to continue to collaborate with Cameroon and our neighbours, within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to respecting international norms to resolve this matter and to restore normalcy to all the affected areas as soon as possible.”

Lauds Biya for support

Earlier on his arrival to the country, President Buhari held a closed-door session with his host, where he expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya for providing refuge to Nigerians who fled their homes because of the insurgents.

He also commended Cameroon for its support to Nigerian military and security personnel in the fight against terrorism and offered his condolences to the families of the victims of terror in both countries.

The President also announced Nigeria’s willingness to expand economic partnerships with Cameroon, through increased joint ventures in infrastructure development, transport and commerce, among others.

While welcoming the achievements so far recorded by the Nigeria-Cameroon Joint Commission and all the landmark agreements signed between both countries, Buhari described the relations between both countries as excellent even as he recognized the roles played by past and present leaders and Nigerian citizens in sustaining friendly relations with Cameroon.

Biya reaffirms Cameroon’s commitment in fight against terror

In his remarks, President Biya, who congratulated President Buhari on his successful inauguration into office, said his electoral victory has provided an opportunity for him to preside over the “destiny of Nigeria.”

He said: “Mr President, a dark cloud is looming over our countries even as we welcome you; we are facing the same threat, which may rock the foundation of our two nations.

“This danger bears the name of Boko Haram, its atrocities and crimes are jeopardizing peace around Lake Chad and especially in our two countries.

“The number of dead and victims is rising, economic activities have been crippled in

affected areas, the number of refugees and displaced persons are ever increasing.

We cannot allow this cancer to spread, we must pool our resources and forces and share our experiences.”

Biya, who reaffirmed Cameroon’s commitment in the fight against terror, welcomed the “fresh push” on economic ties between both countries through easing of trade.

“I strongly believe in your readiness to work towards that goal and your visit to Cameroon as well as the discussions we have had have strengthened my conviction,” he said.

DINNER: From left: Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Chantel, President Biya's wife; President Muhammadu Buhari; President Paul Biya of Cameroon and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State at a state dinner in Yaounde during Buhari's visit to Cameroon.

Reps urge FG to revisit high profile killings, unsolved murders

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to re-visit all the high profile killings and unsolved murders in the country with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

This followed a motion entitled, “Need to undertake further investigations into cases of extra judicial killings and other high profile murders” sponsored by Rep Kingsley Chinda.

Presenting the motion, Chinda noted that these killings were allegedly carried out by men of the Nigeria Police Force, personnel of some other security agencies and unknown gunmen.

The lawmaker argued that efforts by previous governments to address the killings fell short of people’s expectations while citizens now live in fear because the atrocities have continued unabated.

He said the several cases of extra judicial and unresolved killings in the country included some traders at Apo, popularly known as Apo Six; invasion by mobile policemen and armed

soldiers of Ogoniland; the invasion of Odi community in Bayelsa; the killing of Dele Giwa, Pa Alfred Rewane, Chief Bola Ige and Engr Funso Williams among others.

The motion was unanimously agreed on and was referred to the Committees on Police Affairs and Public Safety and National Security by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara (when constituted) to monitor the investigations of the cases and present an interim report to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

Also,the House of Representatives, yesterday, in plenary urged the Federal Government and states of the North-East to construct temporary camps and schools for internally displaced persons, IDPs, and also re-open regular schools formally when security agencies have confirmed that it is safe to do so.

The motion entitled “Urgent need for the government to relocate internally displaced persons, IDPs, from schools in Borno State to enable schools reopen” was promoted by Rep Asabe Bashir, who noted that the Boko Haram insurgency which

has been ongoing since 2009, had at its peak led to the overrunning of 20 out of the 27 local governments in Borno State, killing thousands and displacing many.

“The government of Borno State had to resettle the internally displaced persons in schools, Hajj and the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, camps, an action that led to the closure of schools for over one year now, leaving the students to be idling away and exposed to social vices, “Bashir said.

She explained that there is the need for the Federal Government to assist the government of Borno State in rebuilding and rehabilitating the schools that were destroyed to enable them reopen.

While commending the efforts of Borno State Government, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; Red Cross; individuals and charitable organisations, the lawmaker further urged NEMA and other relevant agencies to provide well equipped mobile clinics that would give prompt medical attention to victims of bomb blasts and insurgents.

Reps leadership crisis: How Obasanjo convinced Buhari to intervene

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA — IT has emerged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s call to President Muhammadu Buhari played a vital role in making the President change his decision not to intervene in the leadership crisis that rocked the House of Representatives which ended Tuesday with the emergence of Femi Gbajabiamila as the House Leader.

Vanguard gathered that following the stalemate that emerged after the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House and the insistence by President Buhari that he will not intervene, some leaders of the party approached former President Obasanjo to intervene with President Buhari to avert a crisis in the lower arm of the National Assembly.

According to a member of the House of Representatives, who was privy to the decision, a group of concerned members of the House of Representatives decided that since President Buhari was adamant on his position about not intervening in the National Assembly leadership crisis, it was decided that they should approach the former President to intervene on their behalf.

“Initially, we wanted to approach members of his transition committee, especially those who have been with him for a long time, to impress on the President on the need to have a say in the leadership of the National assembly.

We met a brick wall and decided that the best bet is the former President, who is respected by President Buhari and he knows the implications of not having his foot in the National Assembly leadership. And he was amenable to our suggestion,” the member said.

Vanguard gathered that after speaking with President Buhari, the former President told him that it is important for the country’s democracy that he should intervene to ensure party supremacy. “We believe that it was that intervention that led to the resolution of the crisis,” the source said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—9

Armed forces I headed lacked equipment, motivation to fight Boko Haram —Badeh zSays fifth columnists' activities in military led to death of many officers

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA — IMMEDIATE past Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday, lamented the activities of fifth columnists in the military which led to the death of many officers and men of the army.

Badeh in his valedictory speech at his pulling-out ceremony in Abuja, yesterday, also confessed that when he assumed office as the CDS, he headed an armed forces that lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight an enemy (Boko Haram terrorists) that was invisible and embedded within the local populace.

His words: “The activities of fifth columnists in the military and other security agencies who leaked operational plans and other sensitive military information to the terrorists, combined to make the fight against the insurgents particularly difficult.

“The activities of these unpatriotic members of the military not only blunted the effectiveness of the fight, but also led to the needless deaths of numerous officers and men who unwittingly fell into ambushes prepared by terrorists who had advance warnings of the approach of such troops. The decision by certain countries to deny us weapons to prosecute the war also added to the challenges we faced.

“Notwithstanding the modest successes we recorded in the fight against terror, I must say that the task of coordinating the military and other security agencies in the fight against the insurgents, is perhaps the most complex and challenging assignment I have had in my 38 years in service.

“Permit me to also add here, that nations' militaries are equipped and trained in peace time for the conflicts they expect to confront in the future. Unfortunately, that has not been our experience as a nation. Over the years, the military was neglected and under-equipped to ensure the survival of certain regimes, while other regimes, based on advice from some foreign nations, deliberately reduced the size of the military and underfunded it.

“Unfortunately, our past leaders accepted such recommendations without appreciating our peculiarities as a third world military which does not have the technological advantage that could serve as force multipliers and compensate for reduced strength.

“Accordingly, when faced with the crises in the North-East and other parts of the country, the military was overstretched and

ongoing war against terror where certain countries frustrated our attempts to procure much needed weapons are very instructive.

“Again, as I always said, when the nation is at war, it is not the military alone that is at war, it is the entire nation. Accordingly, every segment of society must see itself contributing to the overall war effort by presenting a united front against a common enemy.

“Therefore, I appeal to the relevant agencies of government to mobilize the huge human and material resources we have in this country towards the development of vibrant defence industrial complex that would contribute to meeting our critical arms and equipment needs. This is crucial if we must reduce our total dependence on foreign sources of supply for critically needed arms.”

Army clear notorious camps

PULLING-OUT: Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and his wife, Mary, being pulled out in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. had to embark on emergency recruitments and trainings, which were not adequate to prepare troops for the kind of situation we found ourselves in.

“It is important, therefore, for the government to decide on the kind of military force it needs by carrying out a comprehensive review of the nation’s military force structure to determine the size, capability and equipment holding required to effectively defend the nation and provide needed security.

A lot was achieved

“Despite these challenges, I am glad to note that a lot was achieved during our time in the fight against terror. The achievements are largely due to the commitment, patriotism, and fighting spirit of our men and women in uniform who saw the fight against terror as a task that must be accomplished no matter the odds and in spite of the campaign of calumny against the military by a section of the media and their foreign collaborators.”

Expressing happiness with “the teeming populace that have continued to stand behind their

military,” Badeh said: “Our true friends who stood by us in our time of need and provided us the weapons we are now using to conduct the operations will always have a special place in our hearts. I must also mention the support and cooperation we have continued to enjoy from our neighbouring countries.”

On his advice to the nation, the former CDS said: “I want to state emphatically that no nation can achieve its full potentials by totally depending on other nations for its defence needs.

The lessons of the civil war and

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to rid Nigeria of Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 21 Brigade and elements of Nigerian Army Engineers, yesterday, cleared a notorious terrorists camp at Chuogori and Shantumari in Borno State.

A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said “during the offensive operations, the fleeing terrorists left underground silos. In addition, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion conducted operations on Kashingeri, Wale and Kushingari, all Boko Haram terrorists camps today.

"During the raids, quite a number of the terrorists were killed, a Landrover vehicle and a tipper were recovered. The troops also rescued 59 civilians that were held captive by the terrorists and cleared the camps."

How Nigeria lost N1.3trn through waivers on rice, other commodities zAs Senate set to stop FG from granting waivers

zMandates CBN, Customs to recover lost revenue

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria lost a total of N1.3 trillion to waivers granted on importation of rice and other agricultural commodities between 2011 and 2014.

Peeved by the development, the Red Chamber has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to go all out to recover the lost revenue just as it stopped the Federal Government from granting any waivers on import duties in the country.

The development was sequel to a motion entitled: “Indiscriminate use and abuse of waivers for rice importation,” sponsored by Senator Adebayo Rafiu Ibrahim (APC, Kwara South), which he tabled for debate on the floor of Senate plenary.

The Red Chamber particularly mandated the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the

Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, to ensure that all import duties due to government was recovered immediately.

But it went further to set up an ad-hoc committee chaired by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) to look into the import duty policy regime and simultaneously carry out a holistic review of the programme.

The committee was also mandated to look into all issues relating to waivers, concessions and grants with a view to determining full government revenues in relation to this policy.

Earlier, in his lead debate, Senator Adebayo Ibrahim, said the flagrant abuse of waiver scheme had severely eroded Federal Government’s rice production policy by allowing importation of huge quantities of the commodity in excess of their approved quota.

According to him, a recent

Senate interaction with CBN revealed how importers have overshot their quota and consequently owing the federal government import duties running into billions of naira.

He further argued that instead of importers paying as huge as 70 per cent duties and levies to the Federal Government, they were granted waivers and thereby denying Nigerians legitimate revenues.

He also said instead of punishing defaulting importers, the outgone Federal Government rewarded them with fresh waivers to import more in its twilight.

Ibrahim also disclosed that the Federal Government loses as much as N71 billion on duty waivers to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil annually, recalling how the Federal Government gave import duty waivers to 10 rice and palm oil

importers, amounting to N150 billion in 2011.

He regretted that the Nigeria Customs which ought to enforce compliance with duty policy at the borders has failed to live up to its responsibility.

Supporting the motion, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto North) said findings on waivers had shown that N585 billion worth of waivers were granted by the Federal Government between 2011 and 2014.

Gobir argued that if this sum was shared among the 36 states of the federation, each of the three senatorial districts in a state will have N5.3 billion which he said was enough to provide 5,000 jobs in various states.

He, therefore, called for a complete stop of waivers.

Also speaking, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) said recent findings showed that over N400 billion had been granted as waivers in recent times.

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Lagos Assembly uncovers bloated estimate in councils’ budgets

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—LAGOS State House of Assembly, through the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, has uncovered bloated Overhead Estimate in the budget of the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs over the years to the detriment of the Capital Expenditure in the state.

This came as the House proposed disbursement of N59 billion as the overall budget size for the year ending 31st December, 2015 for the 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs and 37 Local Council development Areas, LCDAs, in the state.

This was contained in a report submitted by a Six-Man Adhoc Committee, set up by the house to scrutinize the 2015 Budget estimates of the councils and make recommendations.

The committee which was inaugurated on June 18, 2015, and chaired by Hon Rotimi Abiru, submitted its findings to the House, Wednesday, July 30, 23.

The 7th Legislative Assembly had earlier, mandated its house committee to carry-out the exercise in consonance with Section 3 of the Local Government

Ambode orders parastals, agencies to vacate rented apartments

L

FORUM: Anti-fraud consultant, Easysol, U.K., Paul Wilson; Director, Easysol U.K., Jeremy Boorer; Deputy Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mrs. Margret Ogundana; former Deputy Governor, CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo and Vice Chairman, WiniGroup Ltd, Mr. Tim Akano, during a forum on banking protection organized by WiniGroup in Lagos.

Council Committee Law, 2007 which states inter alia that: “The Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Local Government in accordance with the provisions of Sections 33, 34 and 40 of the Local Government (Administration) Law, provided

that with respect to the preparation of annual estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Local Governments, such shall be laid before the House of Assembly for debate and approval.”

Based on the above law the committee swung into action, but

could not conclude the assignment before the dissolution of the House on Monday, June 1, 2015.

The findings of the committee revealed that most LGAs and LCDAs in the state performed poorly in the area of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, hence, their reliance on Federal Allocation.

Shonekan, Ibidapo-Obe, others eulogise Alex Duduyemi’s virtues at book launch

By Dapo Akinrefon & Dayo Adesulu

L

AGOS—EMINENT Nigerians including former head of the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe; the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday in Lagos paid glowing tributes to foremost philanthropist and the Asiwaju of Ile-Ife, Chief Oyekunle AlexDuduyemi describing him as a philanthropist per excellence.

They spoke at a public presentation of a book titled: ‘Quintessential colossus’, to commemorate the 80th

birthday of Chief Alex Duduyemi.

The presentation attracted notable Nigerians; including former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau (retd); one time Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Alani Akinrinade (retd); former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Tunde Lemo.

Others are; Chairman of Honeywell Group, Dr Oba Otudeko; Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; a former Commissioner for Education in the defunct Western State, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi; Ovation Publisher, Mr Dele Momodu, Chief Sunny Odogwu; Chief Harry Akande and Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, among others.

Chief Shonekan, who was chairman of the event, described Alex-Duduyemi as a great philanthropist, saying “I like to also point out that attaining the age of 80 years in today’s world is by the sheer grace of the Almighty God. We must therefore give all honour and praise to God for this and other immeasurable blessings He has bestowed on Chief Alex Duduyemi and in particular, for giving him the grace to celebrate his 80th year birthday in the land of the living.”

Reviewing the book, Professor Ibidapo Obe, said Alex-Duduyemi had grown to be a quintessential colossus for so many reasons.

According to him, “this man is a man of style, who is specially blessed by God. There is a lot younger people can learn from him.”

AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State has issued a sevenday ultimatum to heads of government agencies and parastatals currently occupying rented apartments in the state to vacate and relocate to the main ministries.

The measure it was gathered was part of the ongoing reform of the administration in the public service to reduce cost of governance, ensure efficiency and improved service delivery.

The order to vacate the rented apartments, contained in a circular titled: ‘Re-alignment of office accommodation of ministries, department and agencies’ signed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Folasade Jaji, directed to heads of ministries and agencies.

Vanguard gathered that the rents of the apartments were often inflated at staggering sum, thus leading to allocation of huge funds for rents from government coffers.

Glo to host Soyinka, young award winning writers

N

A T I O N A L telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom, has indicated its intention to celebrate Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.

Globacom said in a statement that the event captioned “A Night with Wole Soyinka and Nigeria’s Young Literary Stars” is billed to hold in August in honour of Prof.

Soyinka and some of Nigeria’s young but inspirational literary writers.

The company added that the event is to pay tribute to the literary stars for their contributions to the study of literature in Africa and the world at large.

According to the company, Prof. Soyinka had brought honour to Nigeria and the whole of Africa. In addition to celebrating the literary icon and wordsmith, the event will also provide a platform for lovers of literature, the media and the guests to interact with Professor Soyinka and the young awardwinning writers.

During the event, Globacom will also launch a special prize in Literature for undergraduate students across the country tagged “The Glo Literature Prize for Undergraduate Students”.

The young writers being honoured are Sefi Atta, Tope Folarin and E.C. Osondu.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 11

OONI: Aregbesola in closed-door meeting with Ife Royal Council

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—MEMBERS of Ife Royal Traditional Council, RTC, the umbrella body of all traditional title holders from Ile Ife, yesterday met with Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State at the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo behind closed doors following Tuesday rumoured death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

The RTC, which had since dismissed the rumour, was led to the meeting that lasted about 10 minutes, by Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, with the secretary of the body, Chief VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (right) with and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, also in Joseph Olasoji Ijaodola (2nd left) and other members of Ife Traditional Council during their attendance, among others. visit to the governor on the rumoured death of the Ooni of Ife at Govt House,Osogbo.

Also present were top officials of the state government that are Oba Ijaodola told Governor rumour. If at all such an incident anyone would hear about it. We indigenes of Ile-Ife, led by Aregbesola that they came to had occurred, the traditional pray that Ooni Sijuade will live Chairman, Senate Committee on update him on Oba Sijuade's council would be the first to know long in good health.”

Rules and Business, Senator state of health and lamented that and break the news to the public.

Responding, Governor Babajide Omoworare. the Ooni was often a target of Sixteen of us are his chiefs and Aregbesola commended Others at the meeting were negative publicity with the press when he was travelling out, he members of the RTC for former member of Osun State declaring him dead several times did not look like he was going to holding forth while Ooni House of Assembly, Hon. in the past. die and should that have Sijuade was away and Adetilewa Sijuade, former According to him: “We were all happened to him, we would have prayed for sound health and Commissioner for Culture, shocked when we heard the been informed even before long life for Oba Sijuade.

Tourism and Home Affairs, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun and Special Adviser to the governor on Youth and Sports, Mr. Biyi Odunlade.

At the first meeting held in the agency last month, detailing and it is still ongoing but we presence of newsmen, Oba evidence of alleged cannot make any arrest now By Evelyn Usman Ijaodola, who is next in rank to misappropriation of public funds. until investigation is concluded.

Oba Sijuade, reiterated their The petition, according to This is to enable us get facts NDICATIONS emerged previous position that the Ooni first before making arrests. sources, alleged awards of yesterday that the Economic was alive and in good health. ''Not too long from now, we and Financial Crime Commission, contracts to unqualified persons, EFCC, may have begun an inflation of cost of contracts, and will have concluded our investigation into the finances and shady deals in some ministries investigation and the next line of action will be to effect arrest. expenses of Ondo State by government officials.

A source at the anti-graft agency There shall be no sacred cow government, following a petition over alleged financial said: “We began investigation as anyone fingered will be immediately we got the petition dealt with accordingly. “ misappropriation.

The petition, it was gathered, was filed by a former senior government official in Governor Olusegun Mimiko's government.

Vanguard gathered that the exgovernment official had filed about cent Ticket Sales Charge,TSC, 16 petitions to the anti-graft

by Lawani Mikairu & and Cargo Sales Charge, CSC, Daniel Eteghe to the authority.

IGERIAN Civil Disclosing this development Aviation Authority, to newsmen, General Manager NCAA, yesterday issued a 14- Public Affairs, Mr. Fan day ultimatum to all debtor Ndubuoke, said that erring airlines to pay up the five per airlines would be sanctioned at the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum, stressing that failure to comply with the directive of remittance of the outstanding payments; the Authority would enforce the provisions of section 27(3) of the Civil Aviation Act. Ndubuoke said “NCAA would take all measures contained therein to enforce collection of the debts.”

EFCC probes Ondo govt over alleged misappropriation of funds

I

NCAA gives 14-day ultimatum to debtor airlines on TSC

N

Lagos PDP faulted over stance on N39.4bn loan

T

HE Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate, CPPM, yesterday berated the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chapter in Lagos State over its stance on the N39.4 billion World Bank loan purportedly obtained by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

CPPM, in a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Nelson Ekujumi, said the opposition party in the state did not do enough to crosscheck its claims before going public.

The PDP had criticised Governor Ambode for hastily obtaining the loan from the World Bank, advising the governor to rescind the decision pending check on all previously obtained loans in the state, especially by his predecessor.

But facts emerged earlier in the week suggesting that the said loan was initiated and finalised by former governor, Babatunde Fashola and not the present administration as claimed by the PDP.

‘Inland Container Depots'll decongest Lagos ports'

L

AGOS—THE Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello yesterday said in Lagos that the nation’s Inland Container Depots (ICDs), which would soon begin operation soon, would decongest Lagos ports.

Bello said the operation of the ICDs would go a long way in decongesting the access roads to the ports in Lagos, as well as enhance cargo delivery.

He said if 70 per cent of the cargos were taken off-dock for examination, they would be delivered at the door steps of their owners in time.

“If 70 per cent of the cargo in the ports is taken off-dock for examination, then there would not be congestion either at the ports – that is – at the terminals or the roads leading to them.

“This is because you would have taken the trucks off the road; you would have minimised human contact and the ocean economy that we have had in the seaports would be replicated in the hinterland where these ports are located.''

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Delta students vow to shutdown Asaba over unpaid bursaries A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—STUDENTS of Delta State origin under the auspices of National Association of Delta State Students, NADESSTU, have threatened to shut down the capital city of Asaba, if their 2013/2014 bursary was not paid in the next two weeks.

NADESSTU in a communiqué at the end of its emergency meeting at Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, said that the students were no longer happy with the development, adding that any further delay in the payment of the bursary may lead to students’ unrest in the state.

The communiqué by Shaka Emomine, National President and others, decried that the student community was losing faith in the national leadership of the association over the issue.

The communiqué, said; “The national leadership of the association will no longer stand any chance of losing or jeopardizing the trust bestowed

on us by our fellow students whom we were elected to serve and protect their interest.

“Therefore, the Delta State Government is hereby issued a two-week ultimatum to come

up with the payment of the Delta State Students Bursary/ Scholarships Award or risk a state wide protest from the students with its main target being the state capital, Asaba with a

magnitude of protest capable of bringing all commercial activities in the beautiful city to a halt until the cries of the students are listened to.”

VISIT: Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida (left), Executive Director, Bank of Industry Mr Waheed Olagunju (right) and Bank Managing Director, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa during the visit by the bank officials to the former Nigerian leader in Minna, yesterday.

Retirees sue SPDC for N800m over entitlements Y E N A G O A — SEVENTY-Seven retirees, affected in the batch 2010 retirement exercise of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, Western Division, Delta State, have dragged the company before the National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

They are praying the court to compel the company to pay them N800 million, adding that the amount was their lawful severance entitlement following their sack, occasioned by their forceful retirement by the company due to its divestment exercise in 2010.

The retirees, Mr Sunday Olokor, Joseph Olley, and others, said: “We were all staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, Western Division, Warri, Delta State, until 2010 when we were all sacked from the service of the company in its divestment exercise, without paying us our over N800millionentitlementsforlossofjob.”

They are praying the court “To compel the company to pay us the amount as our severance package due to our loss of work occasioned

by our disengagement from the service of the company in 2010 while it was doing its divestment exercise.”

The plaintiffs said they served the company

meritoriously, “Between eight to 29 years each, amounting to an aggregate of over 500 years until 2010 when we were all disengaged from the company due to its divestment exercise,

without the mandatory payment of our over N800m severance money as contained in the company’s Managing Director’s News Letter to that effect.”

GOV POLL: Era of changing govs at will over in Bayelsa —ALAMIEYESEIGHA

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—FORMER Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, yesterday, said that the era of changing governors at will in the state was over and called on Bayelsans to rally support for Governor Seriake Dickson return bid.

Alamieyesiegha in Yenagoa at the inauguration of a support group for the reelection bid of Governor Dickson, Dickson Support Movement, DSM led by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, noted that the state

had witnessed massive transformation under Dickson in the past three years and lauded the Speaker of the House of Assembly and others for mobilizing support for the second term bid of the governor.

Alamieyesiegha said that the era of changing governors at will was over and charged “members of the group to go to all parts of the state to sell this good product, Governor Dickson for another term in office.”

He said: “We cannot afford to be changing our governors at will. Other states created the same time with us have only had two governors in the last 16 years.

But we have heard four state

governors. This does not bring continuity.”

The Speaker, Mr. Benson, who is the Director- General of the Dickson Support Movement, said that the projects embarked upon by the Dickson-led government were enough to bring him back to office for another term.

“You don’t have big work other than a responsibility to sell our worthy governor. He has done well. Go out for the lost sheep, bring them into the Dickson Movement.

“Thisgroupisthebrainchildofsome right thinking people of the state. This movement is not here for any other business other than supporting the reelection of Governor Dickson."

UZAMERE TO SARAKI: Reconcile with Lawal group

B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—THE immediate past senator representing Edo South senatorial district of Edo State, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, yesterday, urged the senate President, Bukola Saraki to take a cue from how the crisis in the House of Representatives was resolved, by closing ranks with the group of senators led by Senator Ahmad

Lawal, warning that the nation may not have ministers in the next one year if the crisis persist.

Uzamere who is one of those gunning to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2016 under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noted that “The two parties especially the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC must be very careful in taking decisions because you have

substantial number of PDP senators and they are speaking with one voice, which is commendable. There is no rebel among them, if there was a rebel among them, the APC will have the upper hand but that is not the situation, so APC must be careful for the smooth running of the senate.

“We saw how the House of Reps resolved their crisis few days ago.

I congratulated Dogara and Gbajabiamila for that smooth resolution. I still call on the senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Lawal to see how they can come together to sort out their problem. The ministerial list will soon be out, if this matter is not resolved, I am telling you in the next one or two years, we will not have ministers in the country."

Former UYC President makes case for Amnesty programme

W

ARRI—FORMER President of Urhobo Youth Council, UYC, Chief Sweet Eshenake has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore calls for the scrapping of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, especially by some Urhobo individuals and groups, saying that their view do not reflect that of the generality of Urhobo people.

Eshenake, a former member of the Delta Waterways Security, said that recent statements credited to Olorogun Jaro Egbo on some national issues particularly concerning the Niger Delta region and the amnesty programme does not reflect the true and present thinking of Urhobo youths.

Eshenake, who addressed newsmen in Effuru, added that wider consultationsshouldbemadeon issues concerning Urhobos in general, just as he appealed to President Buhari to take advantage of the gains so far madeintheNigerDeltaamnesty programme and extend same to the Boko Haram insurgents.

Buhari urged to resettle Bakassi people

By Dapo Akinrefon

L

AGOS—WITH P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari saying that Nigeria will abide by the International Court of Justice, ICJ, ceding the country ’s Bakassi territory to Cameroon, former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has called on Buhari to as a matter of urgency resettle and rehabilitate the Bakassi people just the way he is attending to the internally displaced persons in the North.

Ita-Giwa in a statement, yesterday, in Lagos, also endorsed the President’s visit to Cameroon, noting that such visit will reduce tension along border lines and ensure peaceful coexistence between the two countries.

She also aligned herself with the decision not to appeal the International Court of Justice ruling on Bakassi.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Sam Amuka Lecture and book launch entitled

From left, Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika,HOD, Mass Communication, University of Lagos, UNILAG; Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, representing the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Chief Philip Asiodu, Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Occasion, and Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard newspapers/celebrant, at the lecture and book launch, entitled '‘Voices from Within: Essays on Nigerian Journalism, to mark his 80th birthday in Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Joe Akintola, Photo-Editor, Lamidi Bamidele, Bunmi Azeez & Akeem Salau

From left, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, Chief Tola Adeniyi, and Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard.

From left, Frank Aigbogun,Publisher Businessday, and Feyi Smith.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Sunmi Smart-Cole and John Momoh.

From left, Mr Ray Ekpu and Mr Soji Akinrinade

From left, Mrs. Joke Omotunde, US Consulate General, Lagos; Mr. Dipo Ajayi, Mr. Ladipo Idowu, and Mrs Tinu Odugbemi C M Y K

From left, Mrs. Irewe Harriman; Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor, Senator Bode Olajumoke, and Mr. Sam Amuka.

Chief Henry Odukomaiya (left) and others

From left, Mr. Ayodele Akinkuotu, Tell Magazine; Tunde Awobiyi, former editor, Sunday Times and Ademola Oyinlola, Tell Magazine

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—15

Voices from Within: Essays on Nigerian Journalism

From left, Basorun Dele Momodu, Charles Akhigbe,Head of Corporate and Marketing, UBA Plc, and Louis Odion, Edo State Commissioner for Information.

From left, Chris Uwaje, Chief Philip Asiodu and Dame Comfort Obi

From left, Mr. Adeyemi Ibikunle; Idara Akan and Mrs Nkoli Ogbolu

C M Y K

From left, Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, HOD, Mass Communication, UNILAG, and C hief Aisha Tosan, Executive Producer, Crime Fighters, The Police and You

From left, Chief Taiwo Alimi, Chief Tola Adeniyi and Mr Ray Ekpu at the event

From left, Emeka Oparah,Director,Corporate Communication and CSR Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Eniola Bello, MD/Editor-in-Chief, Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole and Mr. Louis Odion, Edo State Commissioner for Information

From left,Kayode Komolafe, Ven.Emmanuel Fregene and Sunmi Smart- Cole

From left, Mrs. Bola Adetula and Mrs. Ronke Fetuga.

From left, Mrs. Bunmi Shofola and Mr Gori Ogunyemi

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Sam Amuka Lecture and book launch entitled Voices from Within: Essays on Ngerian Journalism

From left, Kehinde Olaosebikan, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe and Mr. Kunle Oyatomi

From left, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Chief Albert Horsfall.

From left, Mr. Solomon Edema, Akerele Olajide and Mr. Odia Ofeimun.

From left, Ademola Oladosu, General Manager, Southern Operations, Daily Trust, Mr. Richard Ikiebe and Lade Bonuola

From left, Mrs. Meg Ojeifo and Mr. Jimi Disu.

Cross section of dignitaries

From left, Blessyn Okpowo; General Manager, Community Affairs & Government Relations, Afren Nigeria Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi (left)and Mr. Kayode and Oma Djebah, Chairman, The New Diplomat.

Komolafe C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 —17

Peace at last?

H

ONOURABLE Femi Gbajabiamila, an APC stalwart, has just become the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. According to news reports, his emergence was preceded by weeks of tense horse-trading and negotiation between rival factions in the National Assembly and the body politic in general.

This “leadership crisis” has dragged on for several weeks;

Buhari and Obama T

HE Africa Report magazine is a respected Anglophone foreign publication that is based in Paris and distributed in several countries, including Nigeria.

When Buhari won the election, Africa Report magazine staff featured him on the cover of their May issue…using the arty stylised picture on this page.

This Africa Report Magazine picture of Buhari was inspired by a famous poster of Barack Obama, which has also been published on this page, that appeared all over the United States and the world during Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Both pictures have the word “HOPE” boldly printed beneath them.

When Buhari and Obama met in Washington DC last week, I remembered these two similar and iconic images of both of them; and it struck me that both men are, in different ways, pioneers and embodiments of the hopes of the Black race.

Many of us never dreamed that America would elect a President of African descent in our lifetimes. Sure, we knew that most American Blacks would passionately root for Obama.

But he couldn’t have made it unless he also attracted substantial support from Whites. And when he did, we were stunned.

It was absolutely amazing that so many Caucasian Americans, whose forefathers had brutally enslaved and traumatised Black people for centuries, could rise above their horrible history! And so many high hopes were invested in Obama.

Buhari also – by toppling an incumbent against all the odds - pulled off an amazing feat that inspired high hopes throughout Africa and its Diaspora.

When the Nigerian election results were announced last March, a Congolese friend sent me the following incredulous three-word email: “Goodluck LOST? Wow!” I received equally shocked C M Y K

and I have been dismayed by the spectacle of legislators wasting precious time on infighting about trivial personal grievances when they should be focusing on the many REAL problems that are paralyzing our country and need to be solved asap!

Gbajabiamila is a nice guy; and intelligent to boot. So I’m very happy for him; and I pray that he and his colleagues will now settle down, roll up their sleeves and concentrate on diligently serving the voters they are supposed to represent.

•Femi Gbajabiamila

reactions from many other Black onlookers from many other parts of our continent and the globe.

And the general consensus is that Buhari may not be everyone’s cup of tea (largely because of his militaristic track record) but should be hailed, nevertheless, for proving that democratic change is possible in the Giant of Africa…and that Opposition candidates who lack the resources of powerful, well-funded incumbents can still triumph.

As my Congolese friend later added: “It was like a Biblical David versus Goliath scenario; and it fills my heart with hope that the underdog wasn’t crushed.”

It struck me that both men are, in different ways, pioneers and embodiments of the hopes of the Black race

Reflections on the status quo

N

O leader is ever going to win every single heart and mind, especially not in a country that is often polarised along religious, regional and tribal lines.

So no matter how wonderfully Buhari performs, there will always be folks who can’t stand his guts - either because he is a Northerner or a Muslim. Or simply because they don’t like his past or face or voice or agenda or whatever!

Even in the North – which is often erroneously regarded as a unified ethno-political bloc, there are divisions; and I’ve encountered Kanuris who loathe Fulanis and vice versa.

And let’s not forget smaller Northern groupings like the Nupes…or Northern Christians…all of whom have their own unique customs, plus anxieties relating to fears of marginalisation and suspicion of “outsiders”.

When Dr Goodluck Jonathan was President, it was widely believed that the entire South-

South was enjoying a whole heap of fraternal perks. But those of us who were not Ijaws like Jonathan and his wife frequently felt neglected.

Even if Jonathan had dispensed largesse to all and sundry in an egalitarian manner - and been a great Head of State - he would still have had his critics.

As a sage once observed, you cannot please all of the people all of the time. And I’ve given up on trying to persuade everyone I meet in person or communicate with via this Vanguard page or encounter online in social media fora such as Facebook to share my view that Buhari’s election victory was A Good Thing.

But I’d like to think that the majority of Nigerians – including many of those who did not vote for Buhari – will eventually be glad that he replaced Jonathan.

Yes, things are moving very slowly at the moment. And slowness is immensely

frustrating for those of us who are impatient speed junkie by nature and would prefer to see lots of positive changes occurring every five minutes.

But let’s listen to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who wisely pointed out, earlier on this week, that: “…Change is not by magic…You don’t have results unless you plan well…[and] look holistically at what you inherited and analyse it, distil it and then take action…”

Furthermore, as this newspaper revealed in a report last Saturday, Mr President is quietly and steadily waging an anti-corruption war that is beginning to yield significant results and enabling more efficient economic management.

The nation’s foreign reserves have, according to the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, increased since the end of May - from $28.57 billion to $31.53 billion, following blockages of various leakages in the system.

Meanwhile, Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have resumed operations. And with Kaduna also expected to recommence its operations next month, it is likely that locally refined petroleum products will hit the 20 million litres mark in August, thereby drastically reducing our dependence on costly fuel imports and making it easier for the authorities to strengthen the ailing exchange rate.

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

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 THE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sat last week to review developments in the global and domestic economic environments since its last meeting of 18th and 19th May, 2015 to address emerging challenges in the economic landscape.

Amongst these was the battering pressure on the Naira exchange rate against the world’s major currencies which had forced the local currency to depreciate to an alltime low of N243/ USD1.0 as at the time of the MPC meeting.

Also key was the GDP growth rate which slowed to 3.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2015 as against 6.2 per cent in the corresponding period of last year. This was a fall-out of weaker consumer spending power, tighter monetary policy of the CBN/ MPC, and the political uncertainty that slowed down consumption spending in the first quarter of this year.

Inflation also accelerated for the seventh consecutive month to 9.2 per cent in June 2015. This was as a result of the pressure from petroleum products scarcity and weaker Naira/Dollar exchange rate.

CBN’s Mone tar olicy Monetar taryy P Policy Challenges The MPC is the highest public/private sector policy making body in Nigeria’s economy, more so now that the country is without a functional federal economy ministry/team at cabinet level. Hence the MPC decisions on these matters which are crucial to the stability of the economy and well-being of the citizens of this country cannot be over-emphasised.

The decision of the MPC to maintain status quo in spite of growing inflationary pressures and increasing volatility in the parallel segment of the foreign exchange market underscores the fact that the apex bank may have gotten to the limits of monetary policy options it can deploy. It means they are now forced to wait on

President Muhammadu Buhari to settle down and unfold his economic vision and direction.

The implication is that the CBN may remain incapacitated in this way until there are clear policy directions from the fiscal policy side (the federal government) particularly on issues bordering on fuel subsidy and general economic administration.

It is not likely there will be any significant change in the course of the financial markets and the economy in general as all indices in the economic challenges highlighted above will continue to head in the negative direction.

We therefore advise that CBN should use its independent policy window to address these urgent challenges and not to wait for the next MPC which will come belatedly in the fourth quarter.

The Federal Government must hasten to appoint its economic managers in order to give direction and a sense of mission to the economy. The delay and uncertainty are hurting the economy, and this must be arrested immediately.

OPINION The Buhari lacuna

By Michael Egbejumi-David

I

DIDN'T vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last election, though I know that Nigeria needed change.

I just disagreed with the change agent due to reasons I have explained in various writeups in the lead up to the election. I didn’t vote for Jonathan either; the PDP as was constituted and operated just wasn’t a Party I could even consider for anything. In the end, I voted for one of the lesser known Parties.

But Buhari it is. The majority vote will always prevail and that is respected here without any equivocation. So we move on.

As we move on however, it is becoming a struggle not to be uncomfortable in the way things have unfolded and in the way they are playing out. Some of the reservations expressed by some of us are now rearing their ugly heads. Contrary to his inauguration speech, and contrary to reasonable, logical expectations, Buhari hasn’t put a fully functional government in place. This is already the end of July.

As we say around here, nothing spoil. The only harm I saw were incompetent governors (who are unable to manage quite sizable resources) dancing around the President, taking advantage, and getting off easy. The mound of flip flops and reversal of official pronouncements have only meant a slight loss of face; nothing major.

However, I began to panic when I read a news report that Buhari has approved an exchange rate of N160 to $1 for Christian C M Y K

pilgrims. This report was publicised widely and with plenty of fanfare.

To me, it is another indication that the President sorely needs all the help he can get. He needs technical advisers and a seasoned cabinet like a fish needs water.

But the President has already and unwittingly set up his eventual Ministers for failure. They can’t win. Expectations are just too high now. Ministers would still have to be Nigerians, working in Nigeria.

The current perception is that Buhari is searching for the best of the very best – folks with no blemishes at all but blessed with superpowers. Optimal performance bothering on miracles would be expected from these Ministers and other appointed government functionaries. How could anyone go into a job like that? It is unrealistic and quite unfair.

All the same, I am becoming increasingly convinced that the President created this governance lacuna in order for him to have unfettered, unchallenged (dictatorial, if you will) shot at managing the country for a while before Ministers, Advisers and other

What this means is that a pilgrim with N400,000 who would have received $1,740 at the normal exchange rate will now get $2,500 under the Buhari plan

technical and legal people are brought in and begin to rein-in some of his more impulsive and autocratic tendencies.

It seems to me that Buhari wants to get in a few military-style diktats, strong-arm a few people before settling down to normal democratic governance. Because, so far, the only things on the table are hunting down people, dire innuendos and promises of persecution.

As has been whispered all along, the President has finally confirmed that he intends to probe just Jonathan’s government. It is only that government that is corrupt in Nigeria’s recent history.

Obasanjo is living large. The bribes from the Halliburton scandal are the major stakeholders in Nigeria’s present day change project. Even the scions of Abacha are running loose, obscenely flaunting stolen wealth. No problem with that. No investigations. Now tell me; how are certain sections of this country supposed to feel? Does this not seem like the start of marginalisation and dehumanisation of the usual suspects all over again?

Even Madam Patience Jonathan was comprehensively humiliated at Port Harcourt airport last week when she attempted to use the VIP waiting area. She was refused access by security personnel citing “orders from Abuja.” How petty! If a former First Lady cannot use an airport’s VIP lounge, who should? I suppose Rotimi Amaechi is using his APC mates to exact revenge. Anyway, there is God o!

The inclusiveness that was pervasive in the last four years is fast dissipating. Perhaps, someone needs to remind the President that

we are in a thriving democracy. The opposition and opposing voices are not supposed to be treated like conquered prisoners of war, or like burnt offerings.

Which brings me back to the issue of the pilgrims’ exchange rate.

I could have sworn that I heard candidate Buhari campaign that he would scrap government’s participation in, and subsidy of religious pilgrimages. But he has only gone and directed that pilgrims should exchange N160 to the dollar.

What this means is that a pilgrim with N400,000 who would have received $1,740 at the normal exchange rate will now get $2,500 under the Buhari plan. The government will cough up the difference.

Last year, about 14,000 Christians made one form of pilgrimage to one place or the other. 76,000 Muslims went to Mecca. If we do the math, the government is going to end up subsidising around a further $68 million or N13.6 billion on top of whatever is already subsidised for these pilgrimages.

Can you see why the President needs ministers and other technical people like yesterday?

Furthermore, a pilgrim with N500,000 would get $3,125. In theory, this person could turn around and sell back dollars on the black market and make a profit of $1,000 or N237,000. Now, an…emm…shall we say, enterprising Pilgrims Board official can fund 100 people into this scheme and he is looking at a cool N23,700,000 million per pilgrimage cycle. The Christians alone run four pilgrimages in one year! Heavens only know what they are looking for. *Dr.Egbejumi-David, wrote London.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Cuba: The fabled islands of humanity

T

HE Cuban flag has gone up in Washington DC. It had come down 54 years ago. The American flag is to go up in Havana on August 14. It had come down in 1961. Cuba had on July 20, packed about five hundred guests into its 16th Street mansion Embassy to raise its flag. It has two primary requests of its big brother neigbour; lift the 54-year embargo on Cuba, and get out of our Guantanamo Bay. US Secretary of State, John Kerry is travelling to raise the American flag in Cuba armed with two primary messages for his hosts; improve your human rights record and democracy.

In 1973, then Cuban President, Fidel Castro had made a prophetic declaration that “The US will come to talk to us when they have a black president and the world has a Latin American Pope” Then, it seemed quite absurd; the Catholic Church got its popes from a pool of Italian priests just as the headship of the Anglican Church comes from the English clergy. A black president of the United States?

That seemed a million light years away; African Americans did not get the vote until August 9, 1965 when President Lyndon Johnson signed The Voting Rights Act. But

thirty six years after Fidel made his prediction, America had a black president! I am not sure Fidel believed what he said; perhaps it was a wish, but it came to pass. It was that black President, Barrack Obama, who pushed for a restoration of ties.

The road to the restoration was opened on December 17, 2014 when Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro made an announcement of intent.

Then both countries sent back the respective spies they had imprisoned, and on July 1, 2015, America removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The fifty four-year conflicts between tiny Cuba with a population of 11.2 million spread over 110,860 square kilometres and a GDP of $212 Billion, and mighty US with a 310 million population occupying 9,629,091 square kilometres and a $17.710 Trillion GDP, is like David taking on Goliath.

The conflicts, which claimed thousands of lives, and produced romantic international figures like Ernesto Che Guevera, Camilo Cienfuegos and Fidel Castro, were sometimes quixotic.

They had begun with the March 10, 1952 coup by Colonel Fulgencio Batista which America backed. But many

Cubans were unhappy that the American mafia had turned their country into a prostitution and gambling haven. They regarded the plotters as traitors and puppets.

Then on July 26, 1953, 150 armed youths led by Fidel stormed the Moncada Barracks.

They were crushed and the survivors callously tortured.

One of them, Haydee Santamaria was kept in an adjourning cell to hear the wailing under torture of her brother, Abel, whose eyeball was removed and brought to her, and her fiancé Boris Santa Coloma, whose testicle was removed and presented to her.

The survivors were put on trial, and Fidel, a rookie lawyer, indicted the Batista regime for

The fifty fouryear conflicts between tiny Cuba with a population of 11.2 million spread over 110,860 square kilometres and a GDP of $212 Billion, and mighty US with a 310 million population occupying 9,629,091 square kilometres and a $17.710 Trillion GDP, is like David taking on Goliath

Which way for Biafra?

By Clement Udegbe

S

INCE the pogrom against Ndigbo of 1966, that led to the the declaration of the Republic of Biafra among the South Easterners of Nigeria , and the subsequent civil war, from 1967 to 1970, in which Biafrans were defeated, many do not know what to do with the name Biafra, which was drawn from the Bight of Biafra at the South of the Atlantic Ocean.

Most war veterans from the Nigeria side, especially the leaders treat everything about Biafra with ignominy, disdain, and repulsion. Out of pride and arrogance, they wish the name was crushed out of existence. They forget , that over One million lives were lost in that war majorly through famine, and hunger; that over four African nations, and four nations in Europe recognised Biafra, within its two and half years of existence, that Ndigbo, are a people that show and carry love for humanity, everywhere they go; that Igbos are making their contributions to the building of a virile Nigerian nation in spite of and against all odds; that you can never kill love, for God is love; and that their poor handling of the case of Biafra is a major scar on the conscience of this nation, among other scars, which include the poor handling of Biafran war veterans, retirees, and pensioners of Nigeria, our Prison and police cells.

The only preserved relics of that civil war, can be found in the wretched, poorly maintained war museum in Umuahia.

Till date many Biafran war veterans are yet to be paid their disengagement allowances and other entitlements 43 years after, and that is not a big surprise in a nation where even now, military

C M Y K

pensioners still queue, and slump on queues for their pension stipends. If those who fought and won the civil war, and those who fight to keep Nigeria safe today still beg for their entitlements, Biafrans who lost the war, ought to learn, and look for a better solution to their predicaments.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, have consistently employed very nonviolent methods to keep the name Biafra, and the quest for justice, equity, peace and unity of the Igbo man in Nigeria alive. They have resuscitated the Biafran Pounds across some Nigerian Borders, organised serious protest marches and rallies, which the Federal Government find embarrassing and typically, MASSOB have been visited with arrests, extra judicial killings, harassments, and all manners of suppressive actions, which have not solved the problem. The latest development in the Biafra story, is the Radio Biafra, which has given the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC,

The general attitude of an average Biafran should be to develop Igbo land and its environs first and as matter of urgent priority, with or without the oil money from federal government

treason. In his famous allocutus, he told the Court “Sentence me, it does not matter. History will absolve me” The news of the atrocities and trial, led to a ground swell of public demand that the youths be granted amnesty.

When they got amnesty, some went into exile in Mexico, regrouped, trained and rearmed before returning on December 2,1956, in an old rickety yacht called the Granma. Their plan had leaked, and Batista soldiers were waiting for them; only twelve of the 82 revolutionaries survived that ambush. One of them was the young Argentine medical doctor, Che Guevera who had been shot in the chest and neck. Che on January 1, 1959, led the victorious rebel columns into Havana.

The new Government nationalised major sections of the economy. This led to the clashes with the US. The embargo was not only on spare parts, transportation, food and medicine. It also included active sabotage. Some 300 counter revolutionary groups with external support, bombed hotels, shops, commercial ships, ports and farms. Commercial aircraft were hijacked and flown to US where they were confiscated and destroyed. There was the October 1976 hijacking of a Cuban Airline with 76 persons on board which was blown up over the sea.

Cuba alleged that the swine fever virus was deliberately introduced into the country in 1971 in a container, while a decade later, Type II dengue fever virus was introduced by the Florida-based Omega 7 group with over 350,000 people infected and 158 killed.

Perhaps, the most bizarre were the over 600 recorded attempts to assassinate Fidel. These included the use of cyanide pills

sleepless nights. I have not tuned to that radio, but those who have listened to it, say it spreads hate and bad language, against the Nigerian state, while also carrying news worthy items on the realities of the Igbo man in Nigeria. The radio is quite popular among Igbo youths, and the problem is that most of these youths never saw or fought the war, they did not see kwasiokor, Ogbunigwe, air raids, army camps, bedbugs, and the likes, they never lived on rodents, and reptiles as a source for protein. All they know about that war experience is from books, and the social media, and thus,may also not realise that a pharaoh who did not know Joseph is in on the throne.

President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, was reported to have told his audience during his recent trip to America that his government will be more favourably disposed to help those who voted massively for him, than those who did not. There is no problem with such a comment because it is exactly what politicians in Nigeria do, hence some argue that Igbos made the mistake of voting massively for former President Jonathan during the last elections.

It is realistic to expect a tilt against Ndigbo under this government, no matter what, and it will be a pleasant surprise if PMB did otherwise. Although we now hear that PMB was quoted out of context or wrongly, we will wait for time to tell.

Biafrans should now stand on the awareness created and the messages passed to turn things around for themselves.

The supporters of MASSOB, and Ndigbo in general, in Nigeria and in the diaspora should take the message to the next positive level in the best interest of Ndigbo.

Rather than focus on the negativities, and fighting governments, MASSOB, Biafrans,

and poison. There was also the 1971 attempt in Chile where a television camera with a gun in it was pointed at him, and an attempted assassination at the 2002 Latin American Summit in Panama.

On April 17, 1961, mercenaries trained and funded by the CIA backed with B-26 bombers invaded Cuba. At the battle of the Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron) Cuban soldiers personally led by Fidel, defeated the invaders within three days and captured 1,200 mercenaries. Rather than kill or imprison the mercenaries, Cuba exchanged them with the US for $2 million cash, and $50 million in medical supplies and food for children.

As part of international solidarity, Che led some Cubans to fight along side Lumumbist rebels against the dictator, Mobutu Seseseko in Congo. While many African countries including Nigeria have benefitted from doctors sent by Cuba, that country’s biggest gift to Africa was to send thousands of troops in 1975 to fight Apartheid South African forces that were always invading Frontline African states like Angola. It was the first time Apartheid was militarily defeated and its collapse became irreversible.

Cuba has one of the best social services in the world including free health and education, almost 100 percent literacy, right to employment and the distinction as the only country that has eradicated mother-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

Cuba emerged from international isolation, embargo, the missile crisis, collapse of the Socialist countries, terrorism and world financial crises, stronger. It makes sense for America to abandon its archaic policies towards Cuba.

and Ndigbo should harness all the energy and resources to look more inwards in order to turn Igbo land into that dream place for every person.

Their first assignment will be to hold our leaders in Igbo land responsible, by devising ways and means to challenge the present governors, and to make governance very hard and difficult for all thieves, and corrupt persons in our land.

Information should be compiled on all past and present leaders, with the view of denying them access to governance where they have stolen the common wealth of Ndigbo in any way. For example, a list of corrupt and stupendously rich governors making waves in the social media include some Igbo governors, and MASSOB should take such men to task, by organising to prosecute them now or soon after they lose their immunity. MASSOB should be in the fore front of the fight against corruption and kidnapping in Igbo Land.

Second, a master plan for rail and road transportation that will cover the entire Igbo land should be produced, in addition to Carbohydrate and protein supply plan for the South East Zone.

Third, the Igbo States, should agree with some South South States, especially Delta and Bayelsa on the development of a commercially viable deep sea port to augment Port Harcourt and Calabar Ports and to reduce the drudgery, risks and blackmail from importation through Lagos Ports.

The general attitude of an average Biafran should be to develop Igbo land and its environs first and as matter of urgent priority, with or without the oil money from federal government. Should this not be the way Biafra should go ?

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

20 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 —

21

FG asked to pursue completion of Ajaokuta, other steel mills

By Franklin Alli

T

HE Federal has been called upon to vigorously pursue, complete and put the Ajaokuta iron and steel complex, the Aladja steel rolling mills and the Oshogbo machine tools and Aluminum Smelter project into full and efficient production in order to boost the performance of PRODA, NASENI and FIIRO. Obibuzor Ifeanyi, President/ Chairman of Council Institute of Business Development, who made the call in Lagos, said if the nation’s steel and petrochemical plants are working well, producing raw materials for hand tools and machine tools, PRODA, FIIRO and NASENI will be in a better position to perform well by getting those machine to equip their factories to mass produce engineering infrastructure.

Obibuzor, who spoke on the occasion of the Institute’s summit on ‘Africa Regional Integration for sustainable comparative advantage’ with focus on ICT/telecom, agroallied, aviation and finance, noted that these technology development centers for now are doing simple machine design and production and are capable to mass produce those machines instead of importing everything from abroad.

“Nigeria, and indeed, the continent will go nowhere without the development of indigenous engineering infrastructures. We must as a nation, and continent develop engineering infrastructure in order to be independent of foreign machines. We must get our priority right and every other thing will follow; engineering infrastructure must be done by the governments

because it takes a lot of gestation period. There must be commitment from the top to the local government –this is because the entire

developed world gave attention to it. We can’t stop talking about it and unless we do it, there is no where this country is going, there is no where Africa is going because

you keep depending on developed countries and they will be laughing at you” he said.

Key speaker, Dr. Mohammed Kafafy, President, World Federa-

tion of Business Organisation/ Chief Consultant UNDP- GEF Energy Efficiency Project, noted: “We also need to develop people, not just education for certificates but we need quality education, education that changes mentality, individual life styles. This is the real education.

Momentum gathers for international agreement to combat rogue fishing

By Jimoh Babatunde with agency report

A

S the global economy is said to be stripped between $10 billion and $23 billion by Illegal, Unreported From Left;Dr Williams Babatunde Fowler;Executive Chairman Lagos State Board of Internal and Unregulated (IUU) fishRevenue/Guest Speaker,Mr Yemi Akeju,President/Chairman of Council Institute of Director with Alh Ahmed Rufai Mohammed,First Vice President IOD;and Prince Ben Onuora,Hon Legal ing , growing numbers of counAdviser.At the Institute of Directors Nigeria New Members Evening in Lagos.Photo: Akeem Salau tries are ratifying an international agreement to combat illegal fishing, fuelling interest in how best to implement the instrument.

IUU fishing and its impacts undermines the way fish stocks are managed to make it a double concern around the world.

To help tackle the problem, FAO

By Princewill Ekwujuru laboration. The idea of a foreign so we can do our nation proud, brokered the adoption in 2009 by its Member countries of the AgreeSSOCIATION of Advertising agency servicing foreign accounts he continued.

Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, out of Nigeria is a fallacy.

The Noah’s Ark boss was opti- ment on Port State Measures to has proposed 49 percent foreign According to him,, we should mistic that the buying in by for- Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illestake to the Advertising Practi- move from 25 percent foreign eign agencies into the stakes of gal, Unreported and Unregulated tioners Council of Nigeria, AP- stake to 49 percent where the Nigerian agencie will help im- Fishing.

CON for effective participation majority 51 percent is held by prove Nigeria’s advertising The agreement comes into force when 25 countries have deposited of foreign agencies in the Nige- Nigerians. space.

Adisa went on to say that stricter Further he said: “in 2013, the their instrument of ratification, rian advertising industry.

The Managing Director of enforcement of the reform in the APCON reforms took effect with known as acceptance of accession; Noah’s Ark, Lanre Adi- realm of advertising practice and the gazette of the 5th Code. The so far, 12 countries have done so, sa made this sugges- media placements. On the lo- main objective was to shore up the latest being Iceland in June. tion at the cal front, this is where the bleed- the fortunes of advertising busi- Two more states will soon join them.

0.35 $120.60 42nd Annual General ing is coming from. nesses through licensing and “Port state measures” generally refer to actions taken to detect illeMeeting of AAAN in “APCON must be seen to mean protection of our self-interest.” $3,206. 00 2.00 Oshogbo, Osun state business in this regard with a lot “A critical part of this was the gal fishing when ships come to capital, on the topic, of help from all of us. Collective- delineation of agencies into na- port. $11.38 0.21 Nigeria Advertising: ly, we need to step up our game, tional and foreign categories The Agreement promotes collaboWhat next?, where depending on their ownership ration between fishermen, port said the ad industry structure. There was a surge in authorities, coast guards and na$52.99 reform embarked upon the membership of AAAN ahead vies to strengthen inspections and 0.31

by APCON in 2013 of the new reforms leading to the control procedures at ports and on 47.52 -0.46 was a good step taken, issuance of the new APCON li- vessels. Importantly, it also allows We need to shift the states to prevent the landings of but argued that the 25 censes.

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL percent foreign stake conversation from the This trend has since slowed catches derived from IUU fishing DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 for foreign agencies down. In the mean time, the Ni- by vessels regardless of the flag POUNDS 305.4072 306.1863 306.9654 fear of foreign was minimal, thus adgerian economy has been ad- they fly.

EURO 216.2076 216.7592 217.3107 “The Agreement aims to harmovocated for 49 percent. invasion to foreign judged the biggest in Africa.

FRANC 202.7307 203.2478 203.765 nize port controls in order to preHe said also that the “For various reasons, we have YEN 1.5833 1.5874 1.5914 CFA 0.3113 0.3213 0.3313 APCON reform giving collaboration. The seen the ‘exiting’ and realign- vent illegally caught fish from ever WAUA 273.3986 274.0961 274.7935 25 percent to foreign idea of a foreign ment of affiliations. Unlike the entering international markets RENMINBI 31.5591 31.64 31.721 agencies is due for a 90’s it appears that affiliation is through ports,” said Blaise KuemRIYAL 52.2653 52.3986 52.5319 agency servicing review.

“We need to not a guarantee for winning busi- langan, Chief of FAO’s DevelopSDR 273.8708 274.5695 275.2681 shift the conversation nesses. Our competition today is ment Law Service. foreign accounts out of KRONA 28.9679 29.0418 29.1157 from the fear of foreign hydra-headed; it’s both local Nigeria is a fallacy CBN Exchange Rate as at 29/ 07 /15 and global,” he noted. invasion to foreign col-

C M Y K

AAAN proposes 49% foreign stake in Nigeria ad agencies

A

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

By Peter Egwuatu

Access Bank gets Moody’s rating

D

ESPITE the outcry of persistent downturn trend in the nation’s stock market, the Securities and Exchange Commission, SE C said that the deadline for recapitalisation of capital market operators remains September 30, 2015.

Director General of the commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, who confided in Vanguard after the second quarter Capital Market Committee, CMC meeting in Laos said “September 30, 2015 is sacrosanct and every operator is expected to meet the minimum capital requirement.

According to him “ Already, a committee from the NSE and Central Securities Clearing System , CSCS is already working toward that deadline and in the next two to three weeks, we will know those that will meet the target. The committee is up and doing, having only two weeks to conclude the process.

Meanwhile, the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) had expressed fears that the persistent downward trend at the nation’s stock market would affect stockbrokers’ recapitalisation plans.

Mr .Emeka Madubuike, ASHON President, said in Lagos that continuous dilution in the value of equities was a big threat to the exercise.

“The major issue we have in this recapitalisation programme is the dilution in value because the market has lost over 33 per cent since October,” he said.

Madubuike said that some members who had shored up their capital using equities were in danger of going below the new capital base announced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2013.

He said that most stockbrokers’ assets were in equities, noting that the lull in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would affect their capitalisation exercise.

Madubuike said that “there are people who, as of December, had met the requirement and are in danger of going below the required level due to the slide in the market.

“This is something we need to talk about if the trend continues in the next few weeks, whether to use a prior date as the valuation date,” Madubuike said.

He said that the association had drawn the attention of the commission to the development, noting that it would engage SEC if the trend continued.The ASHON president said that the association’s major objective was to ensure that all members remained in the market,

C M Y K

M

BRIEFING:

From left, Sa’adatu Bello, Executive Commissioner , Legal and Enforcement, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Mounir Gwarzo, Director General, SEC; Zakawanu Garuba, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, SEC and Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Nigeria Stock Exchange at the second quarter post Capital Market Committee, CMC, briefing, in Lagos.

Recapitalisation: SEC insists on Sept 30 deadline operating at one level or the other.

Madubuike, however, warned that people should not be frustrated out of the market in the name of capitalisation.

He said that the classification of the new capital base for

stockbrokers would help the market because people would be accommodated.

Madubuike said that people would make business decisions to determine at what level they wanted to operate, whether as a

broker/dealer, broker or dealer or stockbroker.

NAN reports that SEC on Dec. 19, 2013 issued a new capital requirement for capital market operators with Dec. 31, 2014 as deadline but the deadline was extended to Sept. 30, 2015.

Nigeria-UK Capital Market taskforce sets agenda for govt to drive economy

By Peter Egwuatu

N

IGERIA-UK Emerging Capital Market Taskforce has set agenda for the government through its report on the state of the economy that would help boost capital market which will in turn drive economic growth and development of the nation.

United Kingdom, UK has also pledged to partner with the Federal Government as it identified three critical sectors that it would assist Nigeria to develop. The sectors are Education, Agriculture and Energy.

The Nigeria Delivery Group, the local execution arm for the Emerging Capital Markets Task Force Nigeria project (ECMT), and a collective made up of capital markets operators, regulators, platforms and experts, has responded to the recommendation in the report by pledging to institutionalize their interim structure.

Presenting the inaugural report on the state of the Nigeria capital markets, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE and Sir Roger Gifford, former Lord Mayor of London who both serve as co-chairs to the UK Emerging Capital Markets

Taskforce in Nigeria stated “One of the key recommendations in the report is the establishment of a platform through which market participants can collectively

focus on key issues around market development.”

He said “I am very happy to take receipt of this inaugural report by the Nigeria UK Capital Markets Project.

OODY’S, a top three global leading rating agency, has assigned firsttime foreign currency issuer and local currency deposit ratings of Ba3 with stable outlooks to Access Bank Plc. It also assigned Access Bank a Counterparty Risk Assessment (CRA) of Ba3 (cr).

The ratings are underpinned by a b2 Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) which measures an issuer’s standalone financial strength.

According to the agency, “Access Bank’s b2 standalone profile reflects (1) solid asset quality metrics, underpinned by tangible improvements in loan underwriting standards and risk management in recent years; (2) robust capital and liquidity buffers, supported by sustainable internal capital generation; and (3) a stable liability structure predominantly funded with deposits.”

The agency further stated that these strengths are balanced against Nigeria’s challenging operating environment, which takes into account the strong growth potential of the system and institutional and structural weaknesses, as well as the concentration risks on the Bank’s books, including to the oil and gas industry. However, the agency noted that Access Bank is very well positioned.

Osun Osogbo festival partners IoD to list on NSE

By Providence Obuh

T

HE Osun Osogbo Festival has entered into partnership with Institute of Director (IoD) Nigeria in order to fast track its plan to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Speaking at the forum heralding the 2015 edition of the festival in Lagos, Festival Organiser, Mr. Ayo Olumoko, said that the partnership became necessary in order to get the IOD’s endorsement to enlist the Osun festival on the NSE and gain more recognition.

Olumoko pointed out that the festival is recognized by the international community, especially UNESCO, due to its consistent celebration of over 600 years and cultural relevance.

According to him, “Getting Osun Osogbo on the NSE is a dream that we have been working on for the past two years and I can tell you that

we are perfecting that by partnering with IoD to get its endorsement.

“IOD is the best place to lure the corporate world to buy into the idea of enlisting Osun Osogbo Festival on NSE. “With the synergy that we now have with IoD, we will soon enlist Osun Osogbo Festival on the NSE, we have started the relationship this year and as a matter of fact I am a member of the IoD and I have the confidence that we will put the festivals on the market.

Commenting, President and Chairman of Council, IoD, Mr. Yemi Akeju, said that he had been participating in the festivals from a tender age as a child in Osogbo.

He said, “I was born and bred in Osogbo. I had my primary and secondary education in Osogbo and as a graduate of Arts from university I have had cause to interact with the Theatre Icons, Duro Ladipo, Chief Oyin

Adejobi who epitomised culture in the ancient town.”

He stated that IoD would give its backing to the plan of the organiser of Osun Osogbo to enlist the festival on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, the number one original prayer drink, Seaman’s Schnapps will be launching “Ayo Olopon” as a software application to pop up the 2015 Osun Osogbo Festival.

Category Manager, Seaman’s Schnapps, Mr Amuwo Olayinka, said stating that Ayo Olopon’s App is going to be the kind of game that the youths will enjoy on their blackberry phones and windows devices.

“Ayo Olopon is going to be a game the people can download that will teach our youths how to play and give them more information about Osun Osogbo so that our people can carry their culture forward. This is an extra that Seaman is bringing to Osun Osogbo this 2015,” Amuwo said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 23

By Jimoh Babatunde

Research Centre: Osun allocates 200 hectares of land to IITA

with agency reports

T

HE cashew (Anacardium occidentale) was introduced from Brazil in the 16th century and has become an economically important cash crop for a number of African countries. In the Benin Republic, for instance, raw cashew nuts have replaced cotton as the number one agricultural export produce and account for over 13% of export earnings.

Production is, however, severely constrained by infestation by several insect pests, sap-sucking insects, leaf miners, branch borers, coreid bugs, mirid bugs, and thrips, which adversely affect the quality of harvestable nuts and causes yield losses of up to 80%.

In a recent report published in the Journal of Agricultural and Forest Entomology, a team of researchers that includes Dr Jean-François Vayssières, IITA entomologist, present remarkable findings. Cashew nut yields can be boosted by as much as 78% with weaver ants only, and 151% with ants and GF120 bait sprays, when treatments incorporating the African weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) are employed against Béninois insect cashew pests.

The researchers carried out their two-year study on a cashew orchard in the Parakou area of Bénin. First they divided the cashew trees into three blocks.

Each block was then divided into four treatments, each with 72 trees.

Sugar solution The treatments were as follows: a plot of trees colonized by weaver ants (ants); a plot of trees colonized by weaver ants fed with sugar solution (ant feeding); and an integrated pest management system (IPM) consisting of a plot of trees colonized by weaver ants and with spot application of GF-120.

GF-120 is a biopesticide mixed with protein bait compatible with organic production but detrimental to cashew pests.

Finally, the control treatment against which the performance of the other treatments was measured consisted of a plot of trees not subjected to any form of pest control.

Trees protected by weaver ants were compared with those without any form of protection.

They found that nut yield and weight increased by 78% and 73% for the ants treatment, by 122% and 118% for the ant feeding treatment, and by 151% and 141% for the IPM treatment compared with the control.

“The presence of weaver ants patrolling the trees provides protection against pests,” said Dr Vayssières. “They can have a direct impact by capturing insect pests such as cashew bugs and also provide, ‘visual and olfactory cues’ that act as a repellent.”

C M Y K

T

Cashew farmer with his produce

Weaver ants can boost cashew yield, study shows The efficacy of weaver ants as natural biocontrol agents against a wide range of pests as shown by this study is in harmony with findings from previous studies carried out by Dr Vayssières in 2008. These demonstrated that Oecophylla Ionginoda was efficient in repelling and reducing damage caused by these dangerous fruit flies— Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra— in mango and citrus plantations.

An unexpected finding from the present study, however, revealed that treatments using weaver ants and sugar-fed weaver ants led to an increase in thrips activity which resulted in a higher than expected reduction in nut quality.

Conversely, when weaver ants were used in conjunction with

GF-120, nut quality was enhanced and thrips damage reduced.

Therefore an IPM program incorporating weaver ants and GF-120 or a similar pesticide is

The presence of weaver ants patrolling the trees provides protection against pests

recommended. Because organic pesticides are expensive, more studies are required to determine the cost effectiveness of this kind of program to ensure that the gains from an increased yield are not eroded by the costs of the treatments.

Dr Vayssières also confirmed that there are other control methods focused on thrips to be tested in this way.

He added “The red ants, O. longinoda, are particularly suitable for African developing countries where fruit trees are rarely monitored for pests and where IPM is hampered by high tree size and inadequate/ insufficient farmer knowledge.

Expert raises alarm over GMOs introduction in Nigeria

By Gabriel Ewepu

A

N international environmentalist and agriculturist, Dr Vandana Shiva, has raised alarm over the proposed introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs, in Nigeria and other African countries, describing it as suicidal.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Shiva said that Monsanto and other food corporations

from the West were out in Africa to make huge profits and enslave African farmers at the expense of their wellbeing.

She further maintained that GMOs were not the best science and technology for food production and survival of Africans rather was deadly to the soil and human existence as she gave example of the devastation it has caused in India, United States of America, USA, and other parts of the world where they have adopted GMOs in food production.

She added that many

farmers were now indebted to Monsanto, because they owe to get seeds and this has trapped farmers in dependency and debt, and some farmers out of frustration of huge debts have committed suicide.

She said: “The pressure on Africa to adopt uniform seed laws such as those promoted under African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is all aimed at seed colonisation of Africa and must be resisted.

HE Osun State Government has allocated 200 ha land to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as part of efforts to ensure that the majority of Osun youth, farming families in the neighbouring communities and farm settlements are able to maximize crop yields and increase the productivity of their farms through best-bet agronomy, and crop protection practices.

This was disclosed recently when Dr Charles ‘Diji’ Akinola, Head, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships (OEDP) and Coordinator Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Program (O-REAP), led a sevenmember team of representatives from O-REAP, OEDP, Osun Ministry of Agriculture, and the Office of the Surveyor General to IITA in Ibadan.

The visit was to begin the process of formalizing an agreement on the use of the 200 ha at Agba Ogun –one of the areas of high agricultural production allocated by the Osun State Government to IITA for the next 49 years.

Production of food Dr Akinola, who said ,the farmland will be supervised partly

by O-REAP which is energetically seeking to ensure mass production of food in the State, added that the efforts of the Osun state government is an attempt to reduce dependence on crude oil and to shift to agriculture with the target of capturing 10% of the total food bill from neighbouring Lagos State, currently estimated at USD 23 billion.

“The State of Osun relies on IITA with over 45 years of award winning research to achieve this feat” Dr Akinola said. He added “In the next couple of years, we expect to have a site in Osun where IITA can visibly show the practical impact of its research…We are also looking at a situation where IITA can have a positive impact on the lives of small-scale farmers occupying about 30,000 ha in 28 communities around the allocated site through research that will provide them with opportunities.

“We also expect IITA to develop creative ways of integrating agroforestry into the farming systems. We expect approaches that work in the State of Osun will be successful across southern Nigeria, especially focusing on crops such as cocoa, oil palm, plantain, maize, and cassava.”

Dr Kenton Dashiell, DDG Partnerships and Capacity Development, disclosed that IITA intends to conduct research directly relevant to address the needs of the farmers in the area whilst ensuring the long-term sustainability of the land.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Hub Status: Ghana threatens Nigeria with direct shipment to Calabar

By Godfrey Bivbere

E

FFORT to make Nigeria the hub for West and Central Africa is under threat as Ghanaian ports are gradually pushing for that status with the introduction of direct shipment from Terma port to Calabar port.

The effort is being pursued

by African Independent Feeder, AIF, that is projecting to link ports in the West African region in the nearest future. Vanguard gathered that already, a 10, 000 tonnes vessel have started berthing at the ECM Terminal in Calabar port.

Although the trend is a threat, some operators are of the opinion that the arrival of the direct shipping service is favourable for traders and businesses in the SouthSouth and South-East region of the country.

A clearing agent Luke Obasi, said neglect by government seems to be deliberate and that the ship calling from Terma has increased business activities in the port.

Obasi explained that the small vessel takes cargo from Ghana because of the low channel to the port but noted that the drivers of the project are making plans to bring in more vessels as cargo volume increases.

Efforts to meet the Managing Director of ECM Terminals, Kingsley Iheneacho, proved abortive as he was said to be in a meeting.

Similarly, Vanguard could also not reach the Calabar Port Manager, Durowaiye Ayodele, as the port’s spokesman, Chijioke Ukadike, said he was

indisposed as at the time of the visit. Immediate past Port Manager, Musa Wada, told Vanguard in Houston, USA, last year that they were working at bringing in the specialised containerised flat bottom vessels to deal with the low channel of the port.

He noted that being basically a wet cargo port, he

He called on the governor of the Cross Rivers State, Ben Ayade, to lead the charge for the dredging of the channel leading to the port on behalf of all port users as the benefit to businesses in the South-South, South-East region, the state and its indigenes is better imagined.

Terminal operators push for 24 hours port operations

By Godwin Oritse HE Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, (STOAN), has said that ports are essential

C M Y K

do was to dredge the Calabar port channel to enable larger vessels call at the port. Ogodo however expressed dismay that the federal government seem not to be interested in the dredging of the channel which has been awarded three times without any achievement.

* Some bad portions of the access road leading to and from the Lagos ports despite assurances by the management of NPA to carry out palliative work on them over a month ago.

T

Although the trend is a threat, some operators are of the opinion that the arrival of the direct shipping service is favourable for traders and businesses in the South-South and South-East region of the country

will continue to sell the port for more investors to come to the facility.

Meanwhile, President of the Nigerian Shippers Association, NSA, Cross Rivers Chapter, Mike Ogodo, has dismissed the threat claim, noting that all the federal government needed to

services obligated to remain open at all times including weekends and public holidays,.

In a statement it issued weekend, the group said the

concession agreement stipulates round the clock operation at the ports, a position reinforced by former Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar.

ADB-funded bridge connecting Nigeria, Cameroon to be completed this year length of 276 meters with

By Godfrey Bivbere

A

CONNECTING two lane bridge linking Nigeria and Cameroon intended to facilitate trade between both countries is to be completed for the end of the year.

The bridge which is being financed by the African Development Bank, ADB is being constructed by Chinese construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC. The bridge contract which is design and build commenced two years ago is expected to go

over the Cross River at the Nigeria/Cameroon border at Ekok/Mfum, with an approaching road for easy vehicular movement.

The length of the bridge across the river is expected to be about 276 meters with an approach single lane road with approximately 1.5 kilometers length on either side of the bridge.

An FGN tender notice made available to Vanguard stated in part, “The design and build (D and B) bridge project includes a new two lane bridge over the Cross River of approximate

approach roads (single carriageways of approximate 1.5 kilometers length) on either side of the bridge. The weight of the bridge carriageway should not be less than 11am.”

The contract that started two years ago was expected to have been completed by now.

Speaking on the effect of the completed bridge project on business, the Chairman of Shippers Association of Cross Rivers State, Micheal Ogodo, said it would open the state and indeed the surrounding states for more business, especially with the neighbouring countries.

STOAN also said that all parties were involved in cargo examination and delivery on weekends and public holidays.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had also, at various times, reiterated the importance of weekend and public holiday operations at the port.

“For example, on the October 2, 2013, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) issued a public statement to the effect that there were cargo clearance operations at the various terminals on October 1,” said STOAN Chairman, Princess Vicky Haastrup.

Haastrup said it is in the interest of the larger port community that the ports remained open every day for both ship and landside operations.

“24/7 operation provides the necessary spread to eliminate congestion and unnecessary backlog of consignments inside the terminals,” she said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—25

Transcorp Hilton Abuja shines at World Travel awards

T

Etienne Gailliez, General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja with other managers holding the awards

Hoteliers look forward to better business later this year — Loxley

By Jimoh Babatunde

T

HE hospitality sub sector of the tourism industry in Nigeria is hopeful that the second half of this year will be better because of the renewed hope in the country’s economy after the last general election.

The hospitality sector had it so rough last year because of the Ebola and security issues that plagued the country as well as the heightened fear about the last elections in the country.

Speaking with Vanguard recently, the General manager, Southern Sun hotel, Ikoyi, Mark Loxley, hoteliers are optimistic in terms of the new government as people are looking forward to coming back to Nigeria, and that the economic drive outside the oil and gas is giving more hope.

While noting that it has been challenging starts this year because of delayed elections and the fall in oil price, Loxley said everybody is looking forward to strong economy climate.

He said the lesson last year’s experience of Ebola and security challenges taught him and others in the industry is that they can do better in attracting Nigerians to travel within the country as a way of supporting the industry when there is fall in foreign patronage.

“Last year was tough in terms of security and Ebola, what that has taught us is that we can do better to attract Nigerians during lean period to support our business when there is fall in foreign patronage .

He advised the larger tourism industry to support the agriculture industry in terms of getting their supplies from local farmers instead of importing, “the more we can buy locally, the more

C M Y K

cost effective and support we give to local people. We can also entice people through domestic tourism development.”

Mark Loxley said looking at the fragile nature of the nation in terms of fuel scarcity, security, the factors impact and the impact on their business, he said security is paramount and the challenge is to operate in safe environment.

While commending the Lagos state government for the way it handled the Ebola case in the state last year, he explained that security is a matter that applies to hotels anywhere in the world as shown by the unfortunate incident in Tunisia recently or that of Nairobi two years ago.

He explained that the realization of that fact made the hotel to pay attention to guests security and that they are happy working with the local police in the area they operate.

Loxley added that the recent grading of hotels the Lagos state government is good for the industry as the grading will help

We need to pay more attention to local events, sporting events and remain in alliance with sporting events in Lagos state as well as seek for more new business

in regulation of the industry in terms in operating in accordance with international standard as well as help in marketing.

He disclosed that Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has been graded a four star hotel and prayed that the grading continues with a proper grading council put in place by the government.

Loxley said with grading over, that the hotel will take stock of its business profile by raising the game to meet up with various marketing segments as well as seek new business. “We need to pay more attention to local events, sporting events and remain in alliance with sporting events in Lagos state as well as seek for more new business.”

Increase in occupancy

RANSCORP Hilton Abuja recently came top in five different categories in the 22nd World Travel Awards at the Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2015 which took place at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort in Baie Lazare, Seychelles.

The hotel, which is owned by Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, emerged winner of the prestigious World Travel Awards for Africa’s Leading Business Hotel, Nigeria’s Leading Business Hotel, Nigeria’s Leading Hotel, Nigeria’s Leading MICE Hotel and Nigeria’s Leading Hotel Suite (the Presidential Suite).

“It is a great privilege and honour to be recognised for what we do by our discerning guests “, said Etienne Gailliez, General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

“To win the World Travel Awards in five categories is unprecedented in Nigeria and we are delighted that our efforts at delivering world class experiences consistently to our Guests are recognised and appreciated. It is a fitting reward for the hard work and dedication of our Team Members especially in the past year. The awards are, therefore, dedicated to all our Team Members”, Etienne concluded.

Operational excellence Recognition from the World Travel Awards is coming on the heels of the launch of a new vision for the hotel and the implementation of operational excellence initiatives that focus on delivering extraordinary guest service.

Receiving the awards on behalf of the hotel, Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, said, “I am pleased that the outstanding work and dedication of the team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja has been recognised once again. Receiving these awards ahead of the planned makeover of an already award-winning facility means that we are poised to deliver an unparalleled experience on the continent of Africa; incredible things are coming both for our guests and for industry watchers.”

World Travel Awards recognises, acknowledges and celebrates excellence in travel tourism and hospitality, which is why Transcorp Hilton Abuja was chosen by fellow professionals across the globe for a World Travel Award.

Winners of the World Travel Awards are decided on by an independent vote from 167,000 travel agents and tourism experts in over 200 countries.

He promised that the standards of the hotel will be maintained as the sector is becoming more competitive in Lagos state with more hotels springing up. “We are looking forward to a better occupancy rate in September. I think many states will be looking forward to attracting business and one way of doing that is increase in occupancy.”

Loxley added “We will continue to seek for new business, new market, we will continue to look for new people in the environment, Lagos is a resilient environment and we will continue to maintain and improve as individual has more choices of hotels now more than before.”

Mark Loxley expressed confidence that with good location, excellent product and premium placed on staff training, the hotel will get its fair share of the Lagos market.

While hopeful of the business growth in the state , Loxley promised that the hotel is paying attention to training and retraining of its staff, “apart from refurbishing, training is cornerstone of any management philosophy; so, we are employing Mark Loxley, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel’s GM with some correctly and constantly training. guests at a cocktail in the hotel.

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Aiming at Buhari through Amina THE propriety of the appointment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s assumed "blood relation" as acting chairman of the nation’s election management body is an issue to many

However, the PDP is unwavering in its attack as it on Wednesday cited her appointment as a major gaffe of the Buhari administration.

At a press conference in Abuja, the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus said: “we urge Mr. President to take a critical look at the issue of the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman of INEC for which our party has severally raised some salient issues why she is not suitable for that position. It is incontrovertible that Mrs. Zakari by virtue of her blood relationship with Mr. President cannot preside over the affairs of an Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Remarkably, Mrs. Zakari was appointed as a national commissioner by the PDP’s President Goodluck Jonathan.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

Blood relationship

C

HIEF Olisa Metuh, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was seemingly enthusiastic last Tuesday. For the first time the opposition party spokesman seemed to have found a weapon to puncture the clean image that has been generally said of President Muhammadu Buhari with his depiction of the appointment the president’s alleged blood relation as the nation’s chief election umpire as the height of corruption.

Like a man desperate to find fault, he said: “The president decided to make a mockery of our laws by appointing his blood relation as the chairman of INEC and this is the height of nepotism and is indeed the height of corruption.

What is worse than corrupting the electoral process? in fact we dare say that this is the height of corruption.”

Height of corruption The appointment of the Queens School educated pharmacist, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari has raised feathers especially after the national commissioner designated by Prof. Attahiru Jega as his successor was overlooked by the president to give Zakari the job in acting capacity.

Remarkably, Zakari’s tenure as a national commissioner was to end on July 21, but she has remained in office on the perceived understanding that she has been appointed as acting chairman of the commission by the president.

Abdulkadir Oniyangi, a national commissioner who was appointed the same time with her left office on July 21, a development that brought concern to some stakeholders to the effect that the president may

C M Y K

•Zakari: Acting INEC chairperson

Remarkably, Mrs. Zakari was appointed national commissioner by the PDP’s President Goodluck Jonathan •Metuh: Faults Zakari's

•Buhari: Chided by PDP

continued stay

over Zakari

have overreached himself in proclaiming a national chairman of INEC without the consent of

the Senate as required.

Defenders of the president’s action say that Mrs. Zakari’s

appointment being in acting capacity does not warrant the kind of criticism that has come from the PDP.

AMINA ZAKARI: A profile

A

MINA Bala Zakari is a pharmacist by profession and hails from Jigawa State. She completed her Secondary Education from the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) degree in Pharmacy with Second Class upper (Best Graduating Student) in 1980 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

After completing her National Youth Service, she worked as a Professional Pharmacist in various hospitals between 1983 –1996. She then moved into the consultancy field to serve in

various capacities as a consultant in Health and Social Services from 1997 up till her appointment as National Commissioner, INEC. She has also served as a Special Assistant to the President and was posted to FCT where she served as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Social Development and Agriculture and Rural Development from 2004 – 2007.

Her Consultancy services covered Federal MDAs (FMWH, NAFDAC, NPHCDA etc) MDG’s and the Private Sector.

Amina Bala Zakari is a

registered Pharmacist and Member Pharmacist’s Society of Nigeria as well as Member of Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM).

Other qualifications she obtained include, Certificate in Managing Drugs Supply for Primary Health Care from MHS Amsterdam in 1997, Certificate in Project Management 1998, Certificate in Senior Management from Crown Agents London in 2005 and Certificate in Executive Education in Business Management from Harvard Business School.

The PDP’s assertion nonetheless, the commentary on the development is very mixed with some major stakeholders holding different opinion on the issue.

Her tenure is justified—Sagay Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, said the appointment of Zakari as acting chairperson of INEC was valid and are backed by relevant provisions of the constitution.

Sagay said “as far as I know, he (Buhari) has only appointed her as acting chairman. It is in an acting capacity, that is all. She was appointed to act when her tenure was still on and from what I gathered, the tenure was terminated by the appointment.

Her tenure, as acting chairman, is a totally new one and has legal entity.”

The legal luminary noted that her appointment “is a totally new thing, which has a life of its own, which can be justified by some relevant provisions of the constitution. The appointment is valid in an acting capacity. If she is going to be the chairman, then, the president has to send her name for Senate for approval.”

She’s being pulled into a mess—Fasehun On his part, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr Frederick Fasehun said the acting INEC chairperson was being pulled into a mess unknowingly.

Fasehun said “she is a decent person and a decent character.

What I think is that she is being pulled into a mess and she does not know that. She knows that she cannot be acting and confirmed, moreso that people have commented on her relationship with the president.

I think she knows what to do.

Continues on page 28

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—27

zSpeaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (right) and Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila

Dogara’s deal, Gbajabiamila’s gain THE peace deal that deflated the tension in the House of Representatives has generally been applauded, but it leaves a section of the country short-changed and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in a quandary

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

S

IGNS of unity pervaded the atmosphere in the early hours of yesterday morning as members of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the first time sat down as a team to pronounce peace between the one time warring factions.

“There are no more factions in the House what we have today is a group of lawmakers loyal to the House leadership and our great party,” Speaker Dogara said following his gesture of conciliation towards his one-time rival, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila who he conceded the office of House Leader to.

His words were echoed by Gbajabiamila, the minority leader in the immediate past House who has now been transformed into the majority leader.

In the meeting in House Room 028, members of the two camps openly reconciled and apologised for the harsh words that had been traded and sought to move the House towards achieving their initial objective of coming to the House.

The peace deal between Speaker Dogara and Gbajabiamila was worked out Tuesday afternoon in the office of the clerk while many of the House members were in the chambers at a session presided

over by the deputy speaker, Yusuf Lashun from Osun State.

The prospects for peace at the beginning of that Tuesday, however, had not looked promising especially after supporters of Dogara after a meeting resolved to heed the party’s injunction for peace halfway. In their resolution which they adopted as adopting the party’s position as amended, they had resolved that they would take the instructions of the party national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun by returning some of those

There are no more factions in the House what we have today is a group of lawmakers loyal to the House leadership and our great party

ISSUES AT STAKE •Southeast for the first time excluded from ruling party’s complement of principal officers •PDP may now look for other ways of making trouble for APC in the House nominated by the party for the principal offices: Ado Doguwa (Kano) for House Leader, Bala Jibrin (Kogi) for Deputy Leader, Pally Iriase (Edo) for Chief Whip and Chike Okafor (Imo) for Deputy Leader. In adherence to the principle of federal character, the Dogara group at their last caucus meeting which ended sometime around 00.30 hours on Tuesday morning had rejected the plea for Gbajabiamila to become House Leader on the premise that his Southwest zone had already produced the deputy speaker of the House.

However, their will was, however, reportedly broken later in the day upon pressures from the presidency that weighed in for Gbajabiamila to get the position. “From the body language of the president it was obvious he wanted Femi, and we could not go ahead to disparage the wishes of the leader of the party,” a source in the Dogara camp said. The development caught many of Dogara’s supporters unawares, but it was not as if they were offended,

especially as the decision on Tuesday immediately punctured the air of bickering that had characterised relationships on the floor since that decisive leadership contest of June 9, 2015, when Dogara defeated Gbajabiamila narrowly for the speakership.

Principal officer The development, however, left the Southeast with the short-end of the stick as for the first time, one geopolitical zone in the country failed to produce a principal officer in the complement of principal officers of the ruling party. Rep. Austin Chukwukere, APC, Ideato North/ South,Imo State was quick to flay the decision saying their people felt abandoned. “We are not happy over our exclusion and the way the party has abandoned us despite what we passed through during the election to ensure that APC has representation in our place. Our constituents have been

calling us over this development, and we have not heard from the party why the injustice should be meted on us,” Following the unity meeting yesterday, Speaker Dogara was, however, quick to reassure the people of the Southeast that they would be adequately compensated saying ““we are already working on that to see how the zone will be adequately compensated”.

Gbajabiamila was equally assuring of a compensation for the people saying “it is not right to play the ethnicity or regional card for now, but they will be adequately compensated”.The Southeast it was learnt may be adequately compensated through juicy committee positions.

The development may also leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP caucus in a quandary.

The caucus and indeed, the national leadership of the party had been supportive of Dogara and had rejoiced in the wake of the crisis in the party exploiting the division to foster its own political agenda of decimating the new ruling party.

With the assumed unity in the ruling party, the PDP caucus in the House led by Rep. Leo Ogor, one of the most experienced members of the House would now have to ponder new options for political ascendancy.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

•Gbagi: The press won the election for Buhari

ANTI-GRAFT WAR: Many people are now scared of Buhari — GBAGI zMedia ‘killed’ Jonathan, made him look like a complete failure

F

ORMER Minister of State for Education and Delta State governorship aspirant, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi is a lawyer, criminologist, industrialist and one of the founders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is unhappy with the level of stealing among elected and appointed public officers, especially in recent times and wants President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that those found guilty of graft are logically prosecuted or his regime will be at the mercy of justicethirsty Nigerians. He shared this view in an interview with Vanguard where he also spoke on why former President Goodluck Jonathan lost the last presidential election and Buhari’s performance so far among others.

By Clifford Ndujihe

O

N why Jonathan lost the presidential polls to Buhari I am one of the founders of the PDP, a lawyer and a criminologist, which means that I have friends and brothers across the nation. What I did was to get to the nooks and crannies of the country to find the true situation.

At the end, my finding was, it was certain that Jonathan was not going to return.

This dates back to when Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s fight started. It is sad that that situation was allowed to play out the way it did.

I tried my best to ensure that

the situation was nipped in the bud because Obasanjo and I had a meeting where I saw a clip of what was going to come out and it turned out to be that permutation that Jonathan would lose.

Then, I called my father, Chief EK Clark, and said this is what is going to happen. He was in Delta State that day and he was quickly going to meet President Jonathan and said there was need for us to have a quick meeting.

It is one of the things I respect Obasanjo for. I said to him at the end of our meeting that day, ‘please send for Jonathan to come to this house and talk to him.’

Obasanjo responded, ‘Kenneth, Jonathan is the president of this country. I am not going to send for him, I will go and look for him.’

That was what happened. Why didn’t they give him access? Why didn’t they allow him to do what he needed to do? In any case, certain persons in the entire Jonathan administration constituted an embarrassment because Jonathan did not speak to any of his ministers.

We were the ministers, who did the ground job that brought Jonathan to power. Soon after that election, Jonathan was held hostage. And he rather picked people of questionable character at the expense of those of us who built the house and the

government was hijacked by criminals. That was the beginning of the catastrophe and downfall, that was how we dissipated. We used our own money to fight in our various localities for Jonathan to be elected as president. At the end of it, people who had nothing to do with it became the owners of the government and friends of government. It was prediction foretold. The government was not allowed to breathe. Merit was not the basis of it and so we lost direction and everything.

So, when I predicted that Jonathan was not going to win, it is because I was stating the fact.

People were deceiving him.

Thank God, he finally accepted that he was caged by the criminals. With the benefit of hindsight, I think if Jonathan were president today, he would think differently.

On allegations that the elections were rigged The election of Buhari was done three, four years before the actual election. The persons that worked Buhari’s case out were mainly the journalists in Nigeria.

They had moulded the peoples’ mind and thinking and made Jonathan to look like total and complete failure. So, the country and people were yearning for change because their mind had been so driven in such a direction that Jonathan was no longer the president even though he was there.

Take for instance, a very stupid publication about a northern president dying in office. That was the rudest shock I had. And that Buhari was going to die in office. That was very rude.

The press won the election for Buhari. They started digging Jonathan’s loss. It got to a stage when Jonathan was not the president but persons in his cabinet and persons around him.

He was just like a prime minister in a presidential system of government. He was not a politician. How he allowed himself to be taken over by some miscreants was a very painful situation.

On the implication of Jonathan’s loss to the SouthSouth Jonathan has ended the slot.

Whatever negativity there was with regards to the Jonathan’s government will have effect on the Buhari government.

Buhari cannot be going to the 1999 regime

Given the geo-political structure of governance in Nigeria today, Jonathan has taken a shot at our slot. Regrettably, the way it all ended is very sad. A lot is yet to come out. I am a proponent of we must get it right.

It is sad that people who have no business eating breakfast in Nigeria are eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same time. When such a situation occurs, the country is not encouraged, the youths are restless, the people don’t want to go to school because they rather believe that mediocrity, lies, theft, forgery, etc, is a way of life. It is very sad that in the months ahead of us we are going to see a lot of embarrassing revelations. No nation thrives in the way and manner these criminals who held Jonathan to ransom ran the country.

On Buhari’s decision to limit his probe of past governments to Jonathan’s regime Whatever was done in 1999, there was a president before this president. It was the duty of Jonathan to have probed the government that he took over from. Buhari has no business going to a government which is not back-to-back with him. The Jonathan administration is backto-back with him.

Wrong assumptions Whatever negativity there was with regards to the Jonathan’s government will have effect on the Buhari government. Buhari cannot be going to the 1999 regime. What concerns him by law and every fact of life is this one.

On Buhari’s perceived goslow approach People made a lot of assumptions that are wrong.

When Buhari became president people expected that as soon as he gets in he will retire everybody and send them away.

He didn’t do that. I think he took the right step. He did not do anything before he changed the Department of State Services (DSS) director. As soon as he changed the DSS director it means he has a grip on the security and information gathering system of the nation and has got the head and the neck of the country in his hand.

It would have been senseless going to take a lot of steps when the DSS director is not with him.

After that, he has moved to change the service chiefs. He is looking at what happened.

People are giving him information and briefing him as to where they are with affairs. So he has facts as to how to handle issues.

Having grabbed those issues, is he a feared man? A lot of people in the country are quite scared because they don’t know where we are going. You can’t go to Buhari and say you want to offer him money as it used to Continues on page 29

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—29

Understanding Ikpeazu’s pace in Abia

By Charles Kumolu & Iheoma Nwanyawu

T

WO months after Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu commenced his four-year mandate as the governor of Abia State, the direction of governance in the state appears amazing.

With a policy thrust that is occasioned by distinct departure from previous approaches to governance, the administration is boldly making impressions in the hearts of many.

Having optimistically pledged to commence the business of governance by avoiding peculiar distractions that had derailed past administrations in Nigeria, only a few expected less from Ikpeazu.

Be it size of government, attitude to governance or financial prudency, the present administration in Abia seems to be on the path of redefining governance at the state level in the country.

At the risk of sounding patronising, the various governmental policy actions that had taken place across the state since May 29 could cautiously be termed as remarkable. And as such, it becomes easy to say that things are looking up in Abia.

Staff audit in the civil service Early in the life of the administration, the governor in a pace setting move, halved his salary in line with the stifling financial realities in the country.

Also in that light, his official trips are often done with less aides thereby reducing significantly, the cost of such trips and by extension setting an

example for the members of his cabinet.

Another pragmatic step towards cushioning the effects of Abia’s dwindling revenue, was the staff audit in the civil service.

Purposely to put an end to the state’s bloated civil service, the auditing was embarked upon.

It is envisaged that the programme would eventually determine the actual staff strength and weed out the ghost workers through an Integrated Payroll Verification System.

With this in place, the promised prompt payment of salaries on

Recognising the economic potentialities of Aba, all that are needed to reposition the city as a truly commercial city had commenced in line with the maxim that if the government gets Aba right, Abia will be good

Centre with capacity of about 9,000 persons would soon be hosting some of the biggest events in the country.

The centre is digital, with advanced information technology such that events can be recorded and the signal beamed live for people to watch anywhere in the world.

There is also the stoppage of tax collection in order to give way to an automated and harmonised tax regime by the Economic Advancement Team.

Recognising the economic potentialities of Aba, all that are needed to reposition the city as a truly commercial city had commenced in line with the maxim that if the government gets Aba right, Abia will be good.

IGR benchmark The government intends leveraging on some existing structures to realise the IGR benchmark.

The new Umuahia City which was designed to include modern malls, recreational parks, housing estates, and an International Conference Centre, ICC, is in this category.

For instance, the Conference

Interest of international agencies One of such is the clean up of the silted Aba drainage. A working Aba with its number of small and medium scale industries, would surely boost the state’s IGR. The envisaged gains of resuscitating the commercial hub, is an acknowledged fact by local financial organisations, and international organisations like the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

To ensure that achieving the administration’s objectives regarding Aba, are realised, the Office of Aba Urban Renewal was established.

Interestingly, the rationale for this is to develop every part of Abia by making Aba the spring board.

walks the talk and will not disappoint Nigerians in picking a substantive Chairman for the Commission at the appropriate time” He however accused the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)

of trying to overheat the polity over the issue. He said, “I think the PDP is not ready for the role of opposition and that is why they try to criticize every actions President Buhari has taken”

•Ikpeazu: Governor of Abia State the 24 of each is likely to be realistic.

Observers also see the establishment of Abia State Economic Advancement Team, as a testimony to his commitment towards upping the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.

Headed by Ikpeazu, the agency which is expected to drive the state’s economic growth, has a mandate of increasing the IGR from N350 million to N1.5billion within the

first year in office.

Aiming at Buhari through Amina Continues from page 26 Buhari has done nothing wrong—Tsav Similarly, a retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: ‘’Much as I can say that the President has done nothing wrong by allowing her to continue in acting capacity, I will caution that he should not also do things in isolation. Buhari as a believer in the rule of law will not do anything that will bring the law to shame. We are all aware of the trouble that the APC is causing in the National Assembly and its effect on the administration. When the lawmakers resume, we expect Buhari to send the name of anyone he wants as the substantive chairman. He has the right to extend her tenure.

Buhari is a man of his words — Mohammed In his response, second republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed said it is very unfortunate that the Nigerian

Constitution does not envisage the situation the country has found itself.

He said, “President Buhari has only appointed her in the acting capacity and not as a substantive

chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC. So there is no cause for alarm”.

He went further, “I can say with all seriousness that President Buhari is a man of his words, he

Many people are now scared of Buhari — GBAGI Continues from page 27 be in the past. All those impunity has gone to the dust. Auditing has started. All the world leaders have pledged that they will support and repatriate Nigeria’s money.

Nigeria is in a state of coma. I pity the president. I pity some of the governors, like the governor of my state (Delta).

Government was run with reckless irresponsibility.

The only thing that will give us and the greater majority of Nigerians succour is that these persons are brought to book. Not the cosmetic arrangement of just taking people to court, they get lawyers to bail them and they start branding in our eyes the looted wealth. If such arrangement happens under the Buhari government there will be catastrophe. We must see a logical trial.

We don’t want to see monkey trials by the EFCC and ICPC. They themselves will have themselves to blame. The Nigerian populace will this time haunt them and the Buhari government will be cut short if we do not come to logical conclusion with the trials. Anybody, who has held public office and has stolen money must be made to return the money.

On comments that President Buhari is being selective in his anti-graft war by going after PDP people and leaving those in his All Progressives Congress, APC That is not correct. His party was not in government at the centre. We are a federation with federating units. Buhari is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which means his area is that of government of the federation not the states or the local councils.

However, when you from Anambra or any other state have issues with facts, you take it to the relevant agencies for prosecution and such governors or local council chairmen will be prosecuted.

So it is the governors that should go back to their predecessors in office and say you committed so, so and so offence and take it up.

On impressions that the fight against Boko Haram is waning under Buhari Let us give Buhari and the service chiefs, DSS Director three months, in my reckoning, given the fact that a lot of people who are prosecuting this war, who are now Boko Haram, are ex-soldiers, expolicemen, ex-navy, ex-air force. Their sponsors have become so spread all over the country that it requires tact and strategy to achieve.

30— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

In few months time, one of the oldest surviving highlife legends in Africa, Chri Ajilo will be 86.

Ordinarily, at 86, one wonders what the octogenarian music producer will be doing on stage. But Pa Ajilo believes he belongs there. And that’s why last weekend, he took the centre stage, performing alongside Blackman Abdulkareem as Special Guest at Beautiful Nubia’s evening of poetry and music which held in Lagos. In this chat with WG, Ajilo bares his mind on a number of issues.

Highlife is not dead, but•••

Y

OUR fans have been missing you on stage, where are you now?

I live at Ahere, in Ijebu Ijesha.

Looking at the state of today’s music, do you think anything has changed compared to your own time?

Music will always grow. It’s either going to the left or going to the right. But, I personally believe in good music. I was trained as a musician and I know how difficult it was. So these days, many of us think that music is an easy thing.

They just know how to sing and then you become a star. But I don’t believe in that. I was trained as a musician and I know how difficult it was. You have to learn the rudiments of music as we were taught during our own time. These days, I set up my own School of Music in Ijebu Ijesha.

Is it an academy, and when was it established?

An Academy! I pray to have an academy established in Ijebu Ijesha in future. There are so many schools today that cannot even teach music as a subject to students. I am only lucky that I was born and brought in Lagos, and

—Chris Ajilo, highlife legend

By Japhet Alakam the school I went to- CMS Grammar school, music was part of our subject for three years whether you like it or not.

So you need a foundation, it is on that foundation you can build yourself and that’s what has kept me going.

What’s your assessment of the kind of music that our stars are playing today?

You see, that is what I am saying, the foundation of good things is the rudiments. A lot of

Highlife music is not dead.

What is happening today is titbits from here and there and then they mix it up and call it something else

musicians don’t have the rudiments and without foundation what can you build?

You cannot build anything. So talking about the music of today, they deal on rhythm when they don’t even know it. It’s nothing but repetition, not meaningful, and

C M Y K

there is lots of copying, you can’t compare it with the music yesteryears. When you talk of highlife music, it is a music that has very good lyrics, good danceable rhythm and it has a form. I was a staff producer for Polygram, the only one all over the world. So you see, I am interested in teaching the youths what music is all about, and I am happy doing it.

Do you think highlife music can be recreated in Nigeria the way it is going?

Highlife music is not dead.

What is happening today is titbits from here and there and then they mix it up and call it something else. But highlife is our traditional music. In other words, the whole of West Africa, nobody can tell me that highlife originates from Ghana, or Cameroon. No, it’s all African music put together and the main thing is the message, the music itself, and the lyrics.

From what you have said, can we still produce musicians in the calibre of Osita Osadebe, Oliver de Coque who ruled the airwaves with their kind of music?

Of course, yes.

But we are not seeing much of that?

You cannot have it because those who are reigning today, don’t have the foundation. That’s why I am interested in teaching music. One of my students was working in Ibadan, as a service boy in Independence Hotel. But today, he has his music school in Kaduna and he has been graduating other musicians. Today, I have some of my students who are even playing in churches. In my Cathedral, one of my students is our organist and other students who are in some other churches. I have one of my students, just 2012, who is now a student of OAU Ile-Ife and he knows more than his colleagues in year one Continues on page 31

Intel’s 3D X-point: 1000 times faster than flash?

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 —31

Synopsis

Highlife is not dead but...

Continues from page 30 because he was trained from my school to have a good knowledge of music education and that’s what we need.

What is the name of you school?

Chris Ajilo school of music, located at Odo Oja in Ijebu Ijesha. It is my own house.

I am a musician, I have my own band, but what I am saying is that, first, if you are a trained musician, you are open to many other departments to work in the entertainment industry, but if you don’t have that musical training, then you are limited. From ’79 up to 96 I was with polygram, premium, phonogram, it’s the same company, so what I am trying to say is that music education is very important. If you can help assist us make the study of music in schools compulsory.

Right now, there is no government who can say music can be taught in all schools, because where are the teachers? Who is going to teach? So, what I am doing is building up gradually, and I will tell you that by the Grace of God, we are going to have an academy of music in Ijebu Ijesha.

Why did you take music as work?

As I said earlier, I went to CMS Grammar school and for three years, it was compulsory to take music classes, when you get to class 4, you can drop it.

When I was in Europe, England, I went in for an Engineering course at Brimighan Technical College, I was even working in the BSC factory, and I joined BSC that was where I started having part time at the Brimighan Technical College. And I belonged to

Youth organization, and even in those days, we ride cycles every weekend all over the neighbouring cities around and every time we get to the Youth clubs, all I am interested in is watching the band playing, until one day I decided I might as well go back to music and I told my mother and she said “ah.. you want to leave Engineering for music? Do you want to come back home and become Alagbe?- like beggars”. For that alone, I never replied my mother for one solid year, and I went straight back to London and into music school.

Since then, no going back.

When exactly did you form your band?

August 1st 1955 in Lagos, before then I have been leading bands in England.

Based on what you have said, what advice do you have for the younger musicians so that they can write music with good lyrics?

You see, in my school, I even have a 72 year old man who is taking lectures and, he is also the owner of a primary school, who has even his own children in the Universities. So what I am saying is, if our musicians can just put down their pride and learn properly, the theory of music goes a long way. They will make it.

Are you fulfilled as a musician?

Of course I am. God is very good to me. I have only two kids, one in USA- my daughter and my son

If our musicians can just put down their pride and learn properly, the theory of music goes a long way. They will make it

TEMPTING FATE Two brothers, one of deep faith and the other buried in a life of crime have their worlds torn apart when the wrong one goes to jail and the other commits an unforgivable act.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK Terminator Tempting Fate Pixels

Schedule commencing from Friday 31st – 6th Aug , 2015 SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Pixels : 11:40am,1:05pm,5:00p Minions : 11:05am,3:10pm Terminator : 3:45pm,6:20pm,8:45p Jurassic World : 11:45am, SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Pixels : 10:50am,2:45pm,7:10pm Tempting Fate : 11:15am,5:00pm,8:50pm Minions : 11:20am,3:00pm, Terminator : 2:55pm,4:45pm,9:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Pixels : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:00pm,7:000pm Tempting Fate : 12:20pm,2:20pm,6:20pm,8;50pm Minions : 12:40pm,2:30pm,4:20pm,6:10pm Terminator : 1:00pm,3:40pm,6:00pm,8:35pm Jurassic World : 1:10pm,3:30pm,5:50pm,8:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Pixels : 2:00pm,6:10pm, Tempting Fate : 2:20pm,6:20pm, Minions : 11:55am,1:40pm, Terminator : 3:25pm,7:55pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Pixels : 12:00pm,2:20pm,4:25pm,6:35pm,8:40pm Tempting Fate : 12:30pm,2:30pm,4:30pm,6:30pm,8:30pm Terminator : 11:50am,2:15pm,4:40pm,7:05pm If tomorrow never coms : 12:00pm,2:00pm,4:15pm,6:25pm,8:35pm Jurassic World : 12:30pm,5:20pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Pixels : 4:35pm,6:45pm Tempting Fate : 1:30pm,8:30pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Pixels : 9:20am,3:35pm,5:30pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU Pixels : 10:20am,5:10pm Tempting Fate : 3:00pm,7:20pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, CITY MALL LAGOS Pixels : 11:05am,12:15pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS Pixels : 10:00am,1:30pm Tempting Fate : 9:30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANO Pixels : 10:05am,12:05pm,1:50pm, FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, APAPA Pixels : 10:40pm,11:50pm,1:45pm Tempting Fate : 9:25pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Pixels : 10:10am,12:10pm,2:10pm Tempting Fate : 10:20am,12:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA Pixels : 12:00pm,2:00pm, Tempting Fate :10:10am FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR Pixels : 10:30am,12:25pm,2:25pm,4:25pm,6:25pm,8:25pm Tempting Fate : 1:45pm

C M Y K

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31,

2015

Insurgency: NCWD advocates women, children empowerment …Trains 330 youths on vocational skills acquisition

By Funmi Olasupo

T

HE Director General, National Centre for Women Development (NCDW), Lady Onyeka Onwenu, has charged development partners, stakeholders and corporate bodies to join in the task to rebuild the lives of women and children who have lost their means of survival as a result of the mindless activities of insurgents.

She noted this in Abuja when the centre graduated about 330 youths on vocational skills acquisition.

Owenu stated that the centre is currently working with the Women Development Centre

in the states and local governments to effectively reposition them to reduce poverty in households and communities by empowering rural women with literacy and numeracy, as well as vocational skills.

According to her, this in the long run will enable them establish businesses and generate income.

First steps to income “We have in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) developed a series of training manuals to facilitate uniformity and maintain standards in the

establishment and operations of the centre nationwide”.

“Our programmes are based on the recognition that women’s economic empowerment is the first step to freedom and we are contributing to raise a viable and skilled workforce to meet the challenges of unemployment in the country” “What is more interesting in the composition of our students is the fact that we have more University Graduates in these programmes.

“This is no doubt is a pointer to the fact that white collar jobs are becoming more elusive and vocational training will in the long run lead to a more fulfilled life,” she said.

Lady Onyeka Onwenu

Kanekalon set to crown African beauties symbolizes how beauty opens doors to new opportunities and it also creates a platform for true African beauties to shine through personal IVEN Kanekalon’s history of talent as well as appearance. c o n t r i b u t i n g Auditions are scheduled to take place in Port to women’s beauty in the form of high Harcourt and Lagos, after which a total of 20 quality, beautiful and safe hair extensions, Finalists will be selected, who will then Kaneka Corporation of Japan, maker of the proceed to the finals scheduled to take place renowned hair fiber, Kanekalon has in Lagos on the 14th of November, where the announced the much awaited re-opening first Miss Kanekalon will be chosen and of Miss Kanekalon, a platform to appreciate crowned. The winner of the competition will true African beauty. star in the upcoming TV commercial and also The pageant was initially launched in receive amazing prizes. Also, the winner’s 2014. However, due to the Ebola virus stylist, runners up and their hair stylists will threat in West Africa at the time, Kaneka receive glamorous prizes.

Corporation decided to postpone in line Miss Kanekalon truly embodies the spirit of with government directive that large public Kanekalon, which focuses on beauty, quality gatherings be discouraged, in a bid to curb and safety – as beauty is not just what appears the spread of the disease. Miss Kanekalon on the surface but is also about what comes from within. Kanekalon prides itself in offering stylish and high quality products that meets the demand of today’s woman.

Kanekalon has been in the Nigerian market since 1987 and has continuously are proactive goal getters from the celebrities, but contributed to the beauty of Nigerian different walks of life, people who work women through innovative fiber such as committed individuals who to ensure that Affrelle, Aquatex and Futura. Moreover, their success story work relentlessly to achieve since 2010, Kanekalon has been offering is written in phenomenal success. exciting events for women such as “Salon The high flyer goes from that gold.”

Storm” where the Mini Ambassadors of The first your neighbour that bought a Kanekalon visit salons to spread news of season of the house from baking cupcake, 100% Kanekalon products, year-end fan to the successful furniture high-flyer is due appreciation events like “Kanekalon Night maker down your street, to to premiere online of 1,000 Braids” “Kanekalon Hair Show” a fresh that makeup artist that made and and so on. The range of glamorous TV episode will be Kate Henshaw look beautiful commercials over the years has also created on the red carpet. According released every much talk amongst women who appreciate to Wahab Adebukola Aminat, week from August classy, high quality and safe hair the initiator of High flyer 3, 2015. extensions NG,: “We are not celebrating

By Juliet Ebirim

G

Miss Kanekalon

Shawttynatt Media to unveil HighflyerNG

By Kehinde Ajose

O

NE of Nigeria’s f o r e m o s t social media enterprise, Shawttynatt Media known for her Influence in digital communication is set to unveil a distinct web series named THE HIGH FLYER NG. The Highflyer NG is a platform created to celebrate the passion, drive and entrepreneurial spirit of eminent individuals. Whether in social venture, business or C M Y K

a project in the workplace, motivation plays a major role in success. The high flyer is focused on bringing the people behind groundbreaking success stories to the limelight to motivate, inspire and impact the society at large.

The high flyer is a true entrepreneur who gets things done to achieve results. The high flyer is an individual that sees no limitation, gives no room for impossibilities. They

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31 , 2015 —33

Ricotta

Brie

Know your cheeses

I

t’s cocktail season, and turning up at a cocktail or organizing one is not only about the fashion but also knowing about the drinks and fingerfoods that are ever present at good cocktail parties. Cheese is a good place to start.

Parmesan cheese

Popular as a topping for Spaghetti and pasta dishes,

Permesian Parmesan cheese is noted for its distinct taste and hard texture which are a result of their lengthy and very specific production procedures. The process for making Parmesan cheese is lengthy and arduous.

Parmesan cheese is made with a special blend of two different types of cow’s milk.

Parmesan cheese are fed only on grass and hay. This

gives the milk with which Parmesan cheese is made a unique consistency that shows in the texture of the cheese later on. Parmesan cheese contains no additives or artificial flavourings.

Ricotta cheese

It is created from whey, a watery substance left over from the milk, which is drained off when provolone or

mozzarella cheese is made.

Ricotta affumicata, or smoked ricotta, is a hard cheese that can be grated over pasta or melted in a casserole.

Ricotta infornata is created by

The Strategists steps with Ankara fashion fiesta

By Anozie Egole

I

t was indeed a day of glitz and glamour at the prestigious Orinetal Hotels, Victorial Island, Lagos, as a team of great minds, under the auspices of, The Strategists, recently held fun seekers to a good time as they unveiled a one in a million

fashion fiesta tagged, Ankara Fashion Fiesta, The event according to the organizers is coming on the heels of their resolve to close the gap that exists between people who work very hard to make a living with little of no place to enjoy themselves when it comes to wearing good ankara designs at a very affordable price.

Speaking at the event, the Brand Manager, Tola Siwoka, said that the event will also create an avenue to employ most of our unemployed youths. “ The Strategists, are a group of great minds who have decided to come together to close the gap that exists between people working and having time to look good at a very low rate. This show will

also give fun seekers the opportunity to relax themselves and have fun because there will be lots of entertainment on that day. We are targeting women between the ages of 30 upwards. This does not mean that it is strictly for ladies, we also have plans for men to come and see different fashion styles as we are going to showcase different fashion styles.

This will create a massive avenue to employ many of our unemployed youths. We choose ankara because we are all Africans and we have discovered that there is nothing people do not sow with ankara in recent times. I have seen many people sow suits, bridal wears, bags, shoes, gown with ankara and they all look good. A lot of youths are beginning to love

ankara and we have been receiving amazing support from local designers. In this edition, the observers can buy the commodity will they are still on the run-away at a very affordable rate. We are also encouraging the government to throw throw their support behind this as it has the potentials of being a bigger boost to our nations economy if properly taken care of,”.

According to her, most of the challenges they have encountered so far has been sponsorship “ Sponsorship has been our major challenge because we are still new and not everybody wants to partner with us. But we thank God for Da’viva and some other people who decided to partner with us,”.

b a k i n g creamy ricotta until it has a brown, toasty crust.

Ricotta is most often used in Italian cooking, typically as cheese filling for cooked pasta dishes such as lasagna, manicotti and ravioli. The cheese blends well with tomato sauces. It also makes great dips and spreads and dessert fillings for cannoli and blintzes. It is the main cheese used for cheesecake

Brie

It has a distinctive rich, creamy flavour which is deliciously mild and complements fruit, high quality bread, and anything else the cheese can be smeared onto. Although Brie is traditionally a French cheese, it is one of the most recognized types of cheese in the world. Like Camembert, a similar creamy and slightly runny cheese, Brie is considered to be mature after it has softened all the way through, and will have an astringent, chalky taste if eaten too young. After draining for almost a day, the cheese is removed from the molds, salted, and bacteria is introduced. Finally, the cheese is set in a cave to age for approximately one month before being brought to market.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

people coming from dysfunctional homes, different social economic background, unrealistic dreams and aspirations, etc, are some of the factors Boyo said are to blame for most broken homes.

Lack of communication, mismanagement of finance, all forms of addiction,Verbal, sexual, emotional abuses and other forms of domestic violence were also noted to cause break ups in homes.

Dr B also pointed out that “The biggest problem in Nigeria is over spirituality which makes people not to face reality. Nigerians are fond of patching up things and sweeping them under the carpet. I must warn every single woman not to marry anyone without unraveling the person."

Quality time

Maimuna (left) with panelists during the discussion segment.

What turns women on?

As Still Bonding bonds couples to tackle issues of divorce

By Prisca Sam-Duru

S

HE isn’t in this business of helping couples at war with each other, mend fences, all because she is a woman. It is not also because she is a mother or perhaps has had any major experience as regards family issues.

Nollywood A-list actress, Maimuna Abaji Yahaya has stepped into the business of finding solutions to breakups in marriages because she is bothered by the alarming rate at which marriages hit the rocks in a traditionally family oriented nation such as Nigeria.

couples and spinsters. The impactful event which centered around how to stop marriages from falling apart, was themed, “Why Do Marriages Fail?”

The Seminar created a forum for couples to have a personal contact with the host as well as ask questions, without being judged or castigated.

Most importantly, the seminar was aimed at discovering how women can make their marriages enjoyable.

In her opening, the elegant actress stated that the Seminar sort to find out why

“Relationships are sweet at the initial stage as people go in with a lot of aspirations and all of a sudden, couples begin to keep malice, antagonize each other and the next thing is divorce.”

While emphasizing that marriage is to be enjoyed, not to be endured, Maimuna stressed on how imperative it is for parents especially mothers to bring up their children in an enviable manner that will enable them make the right choices in future.

The guest speaker, Dr

Omadeli Boyo best known as Dr B who pilots an anonymous radio programme for married couples, said that most issues that lead to break ups in marriages, were there even before the couple got married.

According to him, most marriages fail due to issues relating to infertility.

Regrettably, women bear the burden of infertility even when Iit is men that are largely responsible for determining sex of babies.

People with different world view, incompatible temperament especially of

He used the opportunity to enjoin men to ensure they spend quality time with their wives, stressing that intimacy not sex, turns women on.

During the discussion session, the panelists sort to break down some of the issues Dr Boyo raised in his speech.

The question of whether social media should be added to the factors that tear marriages apart came up. After so much deliberation, it was agreed that in as much as some individuals engage in internet surfing for the wrong motif such as watching pornography, online sex, etc, many others use the platform positively.

They also warned couples about the danger in spending so much time on the social media as the platform could eat into the time they are supposed to spend with the family. The discussants also advised couples to ensure they talk things over whenever there are issues rather than involve a third party.

Solutions to breakups From her television talk show; Bond, to marriage seminar titled, Still Bonding, Maimuna has grown the passion to rise up to the occasion of tackling issues of divorce gradually eating up the country’s family oriented values. She has observed with amazement, how little moles become a mountain causing couples to drift apart and finally divorce.

Still Bonding’s marriage seminar was held last Sunday at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, for couples, intending

Maimuna (Middle) and friends at the Seminar

Maimuna (middle) during a session at the Still Bonding Seminar

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 —35

Children need to stand out as champions —School proprietor .... condemns high level of moral laxity among youths, adults

By Anino Aganbi

T

HE 2015 speech and price given day was held at Pauline Johnson school Lagos,was done in honour of the pupils and teachers thereby commending them for a successful academic year.In the life of every child, the ability as a parent, Guardian or teacher to speak and impact positively in their lives has always been made paramount as this enables children to grow up with healthy minds.

With this in mind, the staff and management of Pauline Johnson School, Lagos has made it their duty to deliver a world class life long education to children regardless of race, colour or creed, inculcating high and moral values as they are prepared to be responsible leaders of society, able to pursue their chosen careers with success and adapt to the challenges of adult life in a global community.

In encouraging each student, she also said that “You are all true representatives of everything the school stands for. As hardworking, articulate young people, you are a credit to Pauline Johnson children school and an inspiration to your admirers. It is through your accomplishment that everyone is able to see skills and commitment of the staff and management. You are a great example of what we look for in students.

She disclosed that “Our awards are not only limited to those with intellectual commitment, we also award prices to students who are morally upright. This is very important especially these days when there is high level of moral laxity among our youth

and even adults. Thus, we have carefully selected the best behaved students in each of the classes for honour and award of prizes. It is hoped that others will learn from this and put up their best behaviour in and out of the school.

Today’s occasion is a lesson to every one of us that there are some attributes in us that we need to identify and work on, so that we will stand out and be among the champions.

These attributes include self discipline, ability to put in extra effort, self sacrifice, self denial, striving for excellence, seeking motivation, choosing your friends,/associating with like minds, remaining focused and humility.

Pauline Onibudo

Global community And also help to pursue the development of the total child with a sound mind in a healthy body.

Speaking at the event, the director of Pauline Johnson children school, Dr. Pauline Johnson Onibudo stated that “I thank God for making today a reality. I am very delighted because this ceremony gives me an opportunity to congratulate you. You have all done well.

"I am grateful to the parents for believing in their children and making a huge investment into their future. To the teachers, I am proud of you.

It has been a long year of hardworking, perseverance and painstaking effort to teach, to get result.

“We are celebrating a day like this because it is a day when the fruit of our labour is exhibited for the world to see.

I congratulate you all for a job well done. Every student has put in so much effort during the year, to all of you I say congratulation. I believe this represents the true spirit of Pauline Johnson children school.

"Although you have all worked very hard, the difference between you and those who will be going home with our prices today is the extra ordinary input into their work. That extra is what has distinguished them today."

C M Y K

From left: Mrs Oluwagbemiga Benson, Pioneer Cahirman SUBEB, Yeye Gbadebo, state APC Women Leader, Lagos East Senatorial District, Princess Adenrele Adeniran Ogunsanya former SSG Lagos state and others at the victory party held in honour of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode at the Egbin Therminal Station Ikorodu

Cross section of Rotary Club,Victoria Island during the inauguration of her 34th president.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Jara discount card promises more

A

Intel’s 3D X-point: 1000 times faster than flash?

I

Stories by Laju Iren

T might seem at first glance that the average person doesn’t need faster storage. He is probably used to waiting fifteen minutes to copy a movie from one computer to a flash drive or memory stick. But imagine if he could do that in just a few seconds! The new 3D X-point memory is even more useful than that-perhaps a thousand times more- if this brainchild of Intel Corporation and Micron Technology is launched next year as expected.

It would bring a revolution to the world of big data, the Internet of Things and high definition streaming.

3D XPoint technology can turn immense amount of data into valuable information in nanoseconds. For example, retailers may use 3D XPoint technology to more quickly identify fraud detection patterns in financial transactions; healthcare researchers could process and analyze larger data sets in real time, accelerating complex tasks such as genetic analysis and disease tracking.

The performance benefits of 3D XPoint technology could also enhance the PC experience, allowing consumers to enjoy faster interactive social media and collaboration as well as more immersive gaming experiences.

The non-volatile nature of the technology also makes it a great

choice for a variety of low-latency storage applications since data is not erased when the device is powered off.

For Intel, the 3D XPoint technology is a major breakthrough in memory process technology and the first new memory category since the introduction of NAND flash in 1989. The explosion of connected devices and digital services is generating massive amounts of new data.

To make this data useful, it must be stored and analyzed very quickly, creating challenges for service providers and system builders who must balance cost, power and performance tradeoffs when they design memory and storage solutions. 3D XPoint technology combines the performance, density, power, non-volatility and cost advantages of all available memory technologies on the market today.

Evolving technology:

The Archos example I

F there is one field that knows change, it has to be technology. The definition of a computer in the 1930s is very different from the definition today. It might even be different tomorrow. Tech companies who want to stand the test of time, know how to evolve, adapt to and thrive in their everchanging environments.

One of such companies is Archos. A pioneer in the portable audio and video player market since 1988, Archos now specializes in Android Tablets and Smartphones. Between, 1988 and now, it has been a testament of adapting to succeed.

In 2000, Archos launched the Jukebox 6000, the first MP3 player combined with a hard disk. In 2008, Archos launched the first generation Internet Tablets, and then the first ever Android powered tablets in 2009. In 2013, Archos launched its first generation of Smartphones with the Archos Platinum series.

In a relatively stable market

Archos continues to gain market stakes. The company recorded a revenue increase of 25% in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014.the company said that the growth was due but not limited to Proven success in Africa and the Middle East on the horizon .Archos, by way of its Egyptian partner, has been met with success in Africa. The entry into this market allowed Archos a place in the Top 5 bestselling tablet brands in Egypt in 2015. More recently, Archos has started developing

the same strategy in other countries like Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Nigeria, and soon Algeria. A smartphone line that was well-received by retailers and customers Archos currently offers a large range of smartphones, produced in the biggest mobile phone factories with high quality guarantees.

Since its entry into the market at the end of 2013, Archos has become a major player in contract-less smartphones in France and Europe.

new discount card, Jara ID, which is set to launch on August 1, 2015 has said that users will be entitled to up to 63% discounts on a wide range of purchases across the country.

Co-founder of Jara, Mr. AbdulAzeez Akingbola in a press release to Vanguard Hi-Tech recently said that the company’s two offerings, Jara Plus and the Jara Student Card appeal to the upwardly mobile class and over 18 million Nigerian students respectively. His words: “Membership costs N5,000 for Jara plus and N3,500 for the Jara Student card. Users can sign up online at www.yourjara.com/join. The general public is also welcome to signup to our ambassadorship programme where we share a 50% commission for invites or subsequent signups made.”

Continuing, he said: “We saw a need to foster stronger relationships between brands & customers and we thought why not give consumers just a little JARA to win them over. Jara discount card not only saves customers money, but helps them make money as well.”

Jara is currently in partnership with about fifty brands in Lagos i n c l u d i n g Konga.com, Ember Creek, Melting Moments, Bheerhugz, Giddimint.com, Adam & Eve, Soul lounge among others. Continuing, he said: “Jara will also give users a Friendship bonus of about N2,400, anytime they successfully invite a friend to join Jara and up to N1,000 Jara bonus every time those invited friends go ahead to invite others.”

Quality compressors, at the heart of any good refrigerator

I

f you have ever bought a new refrigerator, you would realize that the focus of the warranty is not really on the fridge, but on the compressor. The reason is simple; if the compressor is intact, every other thing else will fall into place.

But if not, the reverse is the case.

Electronic giant, LG, says that as a result of its aim to make life more comfortable, more convenient, and more efficient for users, its Inverter Linear Compressor refrigerator comes with leading edge benefits – superb energy savings and quiet performance, providing optimal temperature control for fresher food, great durability for greater peace of mind.

Commenting on this innovation, General Manger, LG Electronics West Africa operation, Mr. Hyunwoo Jung said: “A refrigerator’s compressor plays a key role in determining energy efficiency, food freshness, noise levels and durability.

LG refrigerators equipped with an Inverter Linear Compressor Greater Durability for Greater Peace of Mind Superb Energy Savings and Quiet Performance. At LG Electronics we have always strived to offer consumers high performing appliances.

“LG Inverter Linear Compressor utilizes a simple design; it is also engineered with a meticulous attention to detail and a passion for quality. Fewer friction-generating parts and superior construction have allowed the Inverter Linear Compressor to achieve an outstanding level of durability.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—37

Uvwie council boss denies sending thugs after councillors

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

W

ARRI—CHAIRMAN of Uvwie Local Government Area in Delta State, Mr. Henry Baro, yesterday, denied reports that he sent thugs to beat up some councillors of the Uvwie legislative arm.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Hilary Ukusare, the council boss described the report as untrue and unfounded, adding that what was experienced in the legislative House was an internal crisis among the councilors leading to the suspension of some members who attempted to impeach the Leader of the House.

Denying his involvement in anti-party activities during the 2015 general elections as well as intentionally withholding salaries of councilors who supported the Social Democratic Party, SDP, House of Assembly candidate in the area, Baro noted that due to the financial constraint of the

council, councilors were being paid salaries in batches.

He said: “Owing to our financial challenges, members of the council’s legislative arm resolved among themselves

that salary payment should be done in batches. As a matter of fact, no Uvwie councilor has been paid since January.”

He explained that despite the loss of the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP in the State House of Assembly, he remains a strong member and loyalist of the party which emerged victorious in other elections in the area.

SEMINAR: From left, Group President, Everyday Group of Companies, Dr. Charles Dinwobi, Executive Director, South-South, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong, and Regional Manager, South-South 1, Skye Bank Plc, during the Skye Business seminar in Port Harcourt

40 youths renounce membership of cult groups in Rivers P

By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT—ABOUT 40 members of various cult groups in Rivers State, have willingly relinquished their membership of cult groups at a ceremony in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

Names of the dreaded cults they belonged to were Degbam Dewell, Black Axe, Arromaid and Icelanders.

It will be recalled that about 11 persons were shot dead three weeks ago by suspected cultists around the evening market area in Eleme, a development that attracted wide condemnation.

Meantime about 15 clergymen conducted a deliverance service for the repentance cultists numbering about 40 at the village square in Onne, Eleme.

Rev. Nwachinemere Okundo

who led other clergymen to conduct the deliverance session, enjoined the repentant cultists to remain good ambassadors of their parents and families.

He assured that the decision

they took to quit cultism was the best thing to happened to them.

The youths whose ages were between 20 to 28 came out one after the other to publicly renounce their membership of their cult groups, promising to be

Delta to dualize Nnebisi road, build cottage hospital

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Government, has approved the dualization of Nnebisi Road, Asaba; construction of ultra modern market at Orerokpe and reconstruction of a cottage hospital at Abavo as part of its efforts to make life more meaningful for the people of

the state.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Asaba, the Commissioners of Works, Water Resources Development, Basic Education and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of the state, Chief James Augoye; Sir Fidelis Tilije; Chiedu Ebie and Mr Ehiedu Aniagwu

Days of expatriate welders will soon be over —EDIBIRI

B

By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—PRESIDENT of Nigerian Institute of Welding, NIW, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has assured Nigerians that the era of the importation of Filipinos, Koreans and other foreign nationals as welders will soon be a thing of the past as the institute was set to produce welders of international standard to carry out welding activities in the country.

He said that in line with the country’s vision of being among C M Y K

good members of the society.

The member representing Eleme state constituency in the House of Assembly, Josiah Olu, state Chairman, Police Community Relations, Chief Caska Ogosu were among those that witnessed the ceremony.

the 20 developed countries in 2020, the Nigerian Institute of Welders has planned to key into the realization of this vision by ensuring that no fewer than 20,000 welders of international standard are produced.

Edebiri who spoke in Benin at the presentation of Diploma Certificates to 11 graduands of the Mudiamen Welding Institute by the Nigerian Institute of Welding, said: “We want to inform Nigerians that

Nigeria Institute of Welding is set to take over welding activities within Nigeria with competent personnel and infrastructure. The National Centre of Excellence for Welding Engineering and Technology has been developed to undertake welding activities, prepare welding procedure qualification, personnel qualification, research study, research development, equipment testing, fermentation, design and a lot more."

respectively, explained that the 1.17 kilometer road dualization will commence at the Traffic Light to Cable Point and terminate at the bank of the River Niger.

Augoye said that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa “in a haste to see that his campaign promises are actualized within the shortest possible time and within the limited resources available to the state in line with the SMART agenda.”

He added that “From the market to the River Niger is going to be a single carriage road.

“We are aware that there is no way the SMART agenda can be actualized without having effective and sustainable road networks across the state, especially in the areas of wealth and job creation" adding that Governor Okowa’s administration has commenced moves to ensure that the roads are worked on.”

He noted that the dualisation of the road had become urgent, due to the heavy commercial activities taking place and in order to make the area

Edo family begs IG for protection

B

ENIN—THE family of one Frank Osayi in Edo State, has appealed to the Nigeria police to increase security around the lives and property of some family members.

Sir Patrick Osayi, spokesperson of the family told journalists, yesterday, in Benin City that as a result of incessant attacks on members of the family by unknown persons, “We are appealing, calling on police to fortify surveillance in order for our lives and property to be secured.

“On December 1, 2005, my daughter, Loveth and manager, Nelson Ikodo were both killed while I and my wife sustained serious injuries from gunshots during one of the attacks.

“Also, on April 29, 2009, my sister was kidnapped with no trace till this moment and on March 23.

2010, my wife was kidnapped but later released which occasioned the untimely death of our beloved mother, Late Mrs. Felicia Osayi on April 7, 2010 on account of shock from the ugly event.”

Sir Osayi added that he was alsokidnappedonJanuary7,2014 and later released.

Bayelsa plans free 24-hour ambulance service

Y

By Emem Idio

ENAGOA—THE Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Bayelsa State, Dr. Dennis Allagoa, said that a 24- hour non- fee paying ambulance services will soon become operational in the state before the end of the year.

Allagoa, in Yenagoa while receiving an ambulance and other hospital equipment from an Italian based organisation, ONGPobic Onus, said when operational, the scheme will cover the entire state, adding that already, a welltrained ambulance service support team had been set up.

“We have been collaborating with the Italian non-governmental organisation, ONG-Pobic Onlus in terms of logistic support, high level cardiac surgery, emergency transport, basic life and advance life support,” Allagoa said.

38 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Ugwuanyi’s kinsmen donate land to boost agriculture

I've been strengthened by blackmailers —Rev Fr Mbaka

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—ENUGU cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka celebrated his 20th priesthood anniversary recently, describing it as victory over enemies of truth and blackmailers.

It should be re-called that Mbaka’s message of change,

By Francis Igata

E

N U G U — DETERMINED to support Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's investment drive for Enugu State, his kinsmen have voluntarily donated an expanse of land covering 680 hectares to the state government for commercial agriculture.

The representatives of five autonomous communities in Udenu Local Government Area of the state, comprising Ohom Orba, Agu Orba, Imilike Etiti, Imilike Agu and Ezimo, made the donation yesterday, during a courtesy visit on the governor at the Government House, Enugu.

Governor Ugwuanyi hails from Orba in Udenu Local Government Area.

Presenting the offer, the leader of the delegation, Albert Edoga noted that the gesture was borne out of their collective desire to assist the government actualize its lofty dream to boost the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state through investment promotion in agriculture and other viable options within the state.

He disclosed that the land surrounded with five streams, "has the natural potentials to produce cash crops like pepper, rice, cassava, ose-Nsukka, maize, yam, among others," adding that they had decided as a people to engage the government constructively for mutual benefits.

which he delivered before the March 28 presidential election, attracted criticisms, especially from the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Speaking at the Christ the King Parish, Enugu, during his 20th anniversary mass, attended by thousands of worshippers, including the wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, the cleric said despite all the attacks against him, God

continued to protect him because he remained on the side of the truth.

He declared: “I am not tired after 20 years, 20 years of good health; 20 years of miracles from God; 20 years of hard apostolic work; 20 years in the hand of God. “There was a time they blackmailed me; they were saying such things like ‘Mbaka why?

Mbaka this, Mbaka that’, but I have remained in the hand of

STRIKE: Okorocha reads riot act

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—IMO State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has ordered the striking civil servants to resume work immediately or risk being summarily sacked.

The governor read the riot act while addressing some youths, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Owerri.

While accusing the workers of reneging on the recent agreement they freely entered with the state government, Governor Okorocha also described the current strike as “illegal and would not be tolerated next time.”

It was the considered opinion of the governor that “the strike was politically motivated and principally aimed at rubbishing the good reputation of his administration.”

He wondered why civil servants should embark on strike “because of just few months of unpaid salaries” owed by his administration.

Okorocha was particularly irked that no other state went on strike over non-payment of salaries, considering the economic meltdown facing the country.

“I do not know of any other state whose workers went on strike as a result of unpaid salaries. Imo workers treated me unjustly by embarking on the current

industrial action,” Okorocha said.

Explaining why he took the decision to sack the striking workers if they fail to resume, the governor said a lot of youths in the state are in need of employment.

Meanwhile, labour leaders in the state had advised civil servants to ignore the threat issued by the governor, stressing that labour might completely shut down the state if government failed to pay their unpaid salaries.

Labour also ordered pensioners not to appear before any verification team set up by the state government, stressing this verification had been conducted several times by the present administration, without paying the pensions.

God.” He, however, said he had forgiven his attackers, praying God to “forgive all those who have fought us on the course of this ministry and bless those who have stood behind us.”

In a special message, entitled, '20-point agenda,' Fr. Mbaka said he was praying for President Buhari “that God will protect him so that enemies will not destroy him. I also pray for Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi so that God will not allow occultic men to steal his vision.”

In a brief chat with journalists, the spokesman of the ministry, Maximus Ugwuoke said blackmail and unnecessary criticisms had rather strengthened the cleric.

According to him: “Those who are saying he should stay out of politics are misguided. It is part of the role of priests. So, they are merely trying to cow him down but I can tell you that Fr. Mbaka is not somebody to be intimidated; the more they do this, the more he is strengthened.

“In these past years, you can see how God had vindicated him; you can see his prophetic message before the general elections; at a time, he was repeating that prophecy even in the face of threat to his life. So, today, we are celebrating victory against enemies of truth.”

Otti condemns Abia govt’s reaction to assassination attempt on his life

By Gbenga Oke

T

HE GOVERNORSHIP candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State has condemned the reaction of the state government over the assassination attempt on his life.

He described the statement by Governor Ikpeazu as unguarded, unfortunate and suspicious.

Abia government while reacting to the attempt on Otti’s life had said Otti was only trying

to whip up sentiments to attract the sympathy of the security agencies and the electoral tribunal to his disastrous petition, adding that "his lamentation is the cry of a drowning man."

But in a statement by Otti’s Media Assistant, Mr. Jennifer Ben-Okereke, he said Ikpeazu’s quick rush to the media barely 24 hours after the attack and ahead of police investigation was a mere attempt to politicize the fatal incident which claimed the life of a policeman on duty at the guest house.

According to the statement: “The attention of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the April general elections in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has been drawn to the unwarranted reaction of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to the attack on a private guest house in Abuja, where Otti stays by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Friday.

"His unguarded comments on the unfortunate incident become more worrisome and suspicious, considering that the police

authorities have already confirmed the incident to newsmen, while they have also commenced investigation in earnest to uncover the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“The hasty reaction further raises a fundamental question as to whose interest Ikpeazu was desperate to defend, since Otti in his press briefing on the incident, did not point accusing finger at him or his administration, but strongly wished that the police investigation would help to expose the masterminds of the attack.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On withholding of students' results by WAEC

T

his is total madness.

Instead of them to strategize and look for other means of collecting the money owed by these states, they are plotting on how to frustrate innocent students. Pure madness! -Mr. Richard Dappa, Businessman

A

re they telling us that those students in the affected states did not pay their WAEC fees?

Please, they should release their results and look for other ways to get their money from the governments. -Mr. Dauda Omede, Worker

A

generation of Nigerians who benefited from a functional and relatively-affordable public school system came into power and killed that system, floated private schools and priced same beyond the reach of the working class. -Mr. Barley Okeadu, Businessman

M

y view on the issue is that none of the students wrote the exam free of charge, so it will be out of place for WAEC to punish the students on behalf of the state governments. -Mr. Monday Micah, Businessman

W

e should collectively blame the states involved. WAEC is an independent examination body and it is not a charitable organisation.

Some states still owe for May/June 2014. Let the states involved pay WAEC. -Mr. Ige Michael, Self Employed

W

AEC should know the best way to retrieve her debts. Remember, none of these students could be allowed to take the exams without paying the WAEC fees, second & third terms school fees, all at the same time. -Mr. Nelson Nwamara, Entrepreneur

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 39

Ex-NIMASA boss, others grilled by EFCC

By Godwin Oritse

F

ORMER DirectorGeneral of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, was yesterday grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission,, EFCC, to answer questions based on some petitions against him by some directors in the agency.

Also also grilled along with Akpobolokemi were Director, Shipping Development, Mr. Enusour Waredi, and the Deputy Director in charge of Procurement, Mr Obom Oonye Confirming the development, EFCC’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said people got invited everyday, adding that the same invitation extended to Akpobolokemi was nothing exceptional.

Uwujaren did not give any further details on the questioning of the former NIMASA boss.

Sources close to the agency told Vanguard that Akpobolokemi’s invitation to EFCC might be connected with alleged mismanagement of the agency during his tenure.

Lalong swears in 17 mgt committee chairmen

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—DESPITE protest from concerned stakeholders, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, yesterday swore-in 17 management committee chairmen, charging them to provide purposeful leadership at the grassroots.

The governor, while addressing the committee chairmen, tasked them to key into his policy thrust of revamping the economy, sustaining peace and security as well as ensuring prosperity through good governance.

He said they should see the appointment as an opportunity to drive the needed change the people at the third tier of government yearned for.

Giving reasons for the dissolution of elected councils, Lalong stated the action was necessary after an assessment of the operations of the councils which he said left much to be desired in government expectation of leadership at that level.

He further warned the people against “primitive accumulation of wealth” as the era where people got into offices with the primary

purpose of self-enrichment in the state was over.

He said: “We are here to witness the swearing-in of management committee chairmen as well as the official inauguration of management councils for the 17 local government areas in the state. ‘’It became a matter of necessity for the government to dissolve local government executive and

J

OS—A group of retired police officers have urged the Federal Government to remove their names from PENCOM Pension and return them to the old pension scheme.

According to the group, PENCOM has failed to pay its members their entitlements.

Invest in mining to improve economy, miner tells Buhari

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to ensure the inclusion of mining and minerals sector in his

developmental agenda as doing so would create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the country.

The charge was given by a miner, Abdullahi Usman, who also called on the federal government to encourage

The retired officers took this position through their National Secretary, ASP Sylvanus Basadeimbo (retd), who pointed out that their plight had was neglected by both the Federal Government and the National Assembly in the past.

Speaking after their general meeting yesterday at the Police Officers’ Mess in Jos, the

pensioners said since their entitlements came under PENCOM were not properly paid, with most of their members either dead or suffering from one illness or the other. He said: “We are asking the government to consider our plight and remove us from PENCOM and return us to the former scheme or pay us all our monies immediately.”

indigenous miners to enable them develop the sector to maximally contribute to the economy of the country.

Usman in a statement issued in Jos yesterday, noted that Nigeria was blessed with many minerals deposits.

He said: “The mining sector, if properly harnessed, will generate foreign revenue for the country five times more than oil.

“As crude oil price continues to nosedive, I am calling on the Federal Government to invest in the mining sector as it has the much needed diversification of the economy from oil and this can be achieved with deliberate commitment to utilising the mass deposit of solid minerals in virtually every state in the country.

PDP still suffering from electoral loss – MOHAMMED

By Bashir Adefaka

N

ATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has never recovered from the shock it sustained at last March's presidential election.

Mohammed, said this in an interview with Vanguard in Lagos, yesterday, following an allegation by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Secondus, that the C M Y K

become unaccountable in public service to the mandate given to them.

“Your selection as management committee chairmen and that of your other members is a product of broad spectrum consultation, so that you are conscious of the expectation of the people and morally under the burden of conscience to deliver on the expectation of the citizenry.''

AWARD: From left; Yemi Odubiyi,ED, Operations & Services, Sterling Bank Plc; Prof Nnenna Okore, honoree; Prof El Anatsu, Professor of Art, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Mukhtar Bakare, MD/CEO, Kachifo Ltd at a dinner reception organized in honour of Prof Okore on her award as full professor by North Park University, Chicago, USA, held in Lagos.

Retired police officers lament non-payment of pension

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

legislative arms after the assessment of the operations of the councils within the provision of the law which leaves much to be desired.

“As a new government, we are committed to reducing the sufferings of our people; our government will not fold her hands and watch those who are called to the highest threshold of accountability in leadership

newly-appointed acting Director General of the Department of State Secretary, Mallam Lawal Daura, was a member of APC. Mohammed said Daura was never a member of APC. He said, “The Director General of the Department of State Security Service, Mallam Lawal Daura, is not an APC member.

For the PDP to say the DSS boss is APC member shows that they have not yet recovered from the loss of the last election. Things like this are really affecting the

mentality of the PDP people. Daura was appointed on merit. Look at the man’s record. His track record is there. He had served in various positions at the service. He was deputy director up to deputy DG. He is a man of impeccable character, integrity, experience, capacity and credibility. If the man is from the President’s village and he is competent, is that a disqualification?”

On how Buhari is fighting corruption, Mohammed lashed out at people saying that there has

not been any change since the APC-led government came on board, dismissing their comments as unfortunate.

“It is unfortunate for anybody to say that Buhari has not done anything to fight corruption. The first thing he did to fight corruption was to ensure that all money belonging to the Federal Government is paid into one single account. It is the effort of this government that revealed that the NNPC failed to remit N3.8 trillion between 2012 and 2014.''

“There are so many mineral deposits in the country that are not known and still lying untapped. Iron ore and zircon sand have large deposits in the country and if properly tapped, have the capacity to generate more revenue than crude oil.

Mama Shobande is dead

M

AMA Deborah Olatunji Shobande is dead.

According to the announcement by the family, madam Shobande st passed on,on the 1 of July, 2015.

Funeral arrangement as released by the family, Christian th wake-keep comes up on 13 August, 2015. Funeral service is at the RCCG Glory Parish, 49-51 Anjorin Street of Cole street Lawanson, Surulere Lagos on th Friday 14 at 10am Prompt.

Late Madam Shobande

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

UNILAG: From left— Professor Babajide Alo, Deputy Vice Chancellor; Professor Ester Adegbite, HOD, Finance Department; Dr. Charles Onyeiwu, Head, Discussion Planning Committee, and Professor Rufus Olowe, all of University of Lagos, UNILAG, during the Department of Finance's second annual policy discussion and analysis forum in Lagos, yesterday.

RAILWAY: From left— Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation; Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly; HRH Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, and a Kano Prince, inside the First Class coach of the Kano-Port Harcourt railway service.

ROWEAD 2015: From left— Mrs Adaobi Alex-Oni, Convener, Role of Women in Emerging African Democracies, ROWEAD; Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Iyalode of Egbaland; Mrs. Nkiru Chigbo, Experience Centre Manager, Heritage Bank, Ikeja, and Mrs Margaret Orakwusi, guest speaker, during Rowead 2015, sponsored by Heritage Bank, in Lagos.

AIRTEL'S MULTIMEDIA: From left— Taiwo Obe, Founder, the Journalism Clinic; Emeka Oparah, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, and Dan Mason, international trainer and specialist in digital media at the launch of the Airtel multimedia journalism training in Lagos.

Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC; Prince Dapo Adelegan, President Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, NBCC, and Asiwaju Fola Osibo, Honorary Life Vice President, NBCC, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between NBCC and NEPC in Abuja.

WOSA FOR MANDELA: From left— Mr. Matome Mbatha, Market Manager, Wines of South Africa, WOSA; Mrs. Aderonke Sobodu, Managing Director, Spronks Creations Ltd; the event organisers, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa, South African Consul-General in Nigeria and Chief Newton Jibunoh, environmental crusader and adventurer, celebrating Nelson Mandela Day at the WOSA grand tasting event in Lagos.

MS IMAGINE CUP: From left— Sobola Timilehin, Ahwin Kevin, Obinaju Raymond and Adeyemo Oluwaseun on their arrival in Seattle, Washington, USA, for the 2015 Microsoft Imagine Cup Student Software Competition.

IoD: Mrs Janet Adetu, CEO, JSK Etiquette Consortium, receiving his membership certificate from Mr. Yemi Akeju, President/Governing Council, Institute of Directors, IOD, at the new members' evening in Lagos.

NBCC/NEPC: From left— Mr. Segun Awolowo, Chief Executive Officer,

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—43

FUEL PRICE HIKE: DPR sets up task force on products sale

By Clara Nwachukwu

A

S part of measures to check malpractices by depot operators and oil marketers in Nigeria’s downstream operations, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, said it has set up a special task force to monitor product sales in the country.

The petroleum industry regulator explained that it took the steps to directly supervise the sale of premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol, and dual purpose kerosene, DPK, from the depots “to prevent the further imposition of hardship on the general public.”

The move is also meant to ensure that appropriate pricing of the products is strictly adhered to order, while also checking “the unprincipled activities of these Depot Owners and Major Marketers in this regard.”

DPR, in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, also said that the measures became imperative, following its discovery of unscrupulous activities being perpetrated by the operators.

It said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the prevailing hike in retail prices of PMS & DPK across the country is as a result of the unscrupulous activities of some depot owners and major marketers, who are engaged in selling PMS & DPK to various retailers at prices higher than the official ex-depot price of N77.66k & N34.51K

respectively.”

product.

Pump prices of products

Task force operations

To cash in on the supply shortages occasioned by Federal Government’s inability to offset an outstanding N200billion subsidy claims, marketers and depots operators took the liberty to increase the pump and ex-depot prices of petrol and kerosene.

Retail marketers alleged that they were forced to hike pump price of petrol to between N100 and N150 per litre depending on the outlet and location because the depot operators had also increased the ex-depot price of the product to N96/litre.

However, petrol and kerosene are heavily subsidised by the Federal Government, which prescribed pump price sale of N87 and N50 per litre respectively for the products, and absorbed the differences between the land costs and the pump prices.

But aside from Lagos and some western regions and Abuja, Nigerians do not buy these products at the officially regulated prices. In fact, the farther you travelled, the higher the price. Yet, subsidy and bridging claims are made to sell these products at the regulated prices nationwide.

Besides, hardly any retail outlet in the country sells kerosene at N50/ Litre, except possibly the NNPC stations, where consumers are made to queue for days to purchase the scarce

According to the DPR, the special taskforce is meant to supervise and monitor product sales from the affected depots, adding that it also had “powers to undertake the sale of products from these depots.”

To effectively carry out its mandate, the task force is meant to liaise with the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and the Law enforcement agencies.

DPR also said the process will also involve, “The immediate suspension of direct sales of PMS and DPK from the affected Depot Owners and Major Marketers.”

The taskforce will thereafter, “issue directives and guidelines to the general public on the procedure for the enforcement of the supervised sales throughout the period of this exercise until normalcy returns to the sector.”

The regulator disclosed that the decisions were the outcomes from “a meeting held on Wednesday 29th July, 2015 in Lagos between the DPR and all stakeholders in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry including; PPMC, PPPRA, MOMAN, DAPPMAN & IPMAN. “The meeting was summoned to convey government’s displeasure at the sale of petrol above stipulated pump price.”

Buhari’s visit to Cameroon successful—Ortom

G

OVERNOR Samuel Otom of Benue State has described the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Cameroon as very successful.

A statement by his Special Adviser Media and ICT Mr. Tahav Agerzua, said “Governor Ortom, has returned from the Republic of Cameroon where he accompanied President Buhari, alongside other colleagues whose states share boundaries with that country, describing the visit as successful.

“He disclosed that apart from closed door meetings

C M Y K

between President Buhari and his C a m e r o o n i a n counterpart, President Paul Biya, governors from both countries discussed bilateral issues of mutual interests. Top on the list, he said were trans-border joint security, trade and commercial activities and provision of infrastructure.

“According to Governor Ortom, it was agreed that officials of local governments that share borders from both countries be encouraged to interact among themselves with the

objective of tackling common challenges. He said he particularly discussed the road linking the state with Cameroon and trans-border post and other related facilities.

“The governor stated that they also met with a delegation of the Nigerian community selected from across Cameroon and that both they and indigenes of that country expressed happiness with the visit and look forward to a sustained engagement between the two countries,” the statement added

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 45

Shawwal 15, 1436 A.H.

Kindness tto o all is ibadah G

ENERALLY, all acts of worship, through financial expenditurearebybroaderdefinition classified as Sadaqah. But by extension, good deeds and acts that tend to save or ameleorate the suffereingsofanothercreatureofGod are also considered as sadaqah.

Today, we are not going to focus on Zakat as it implies but other acts of worship that are not only ihsan but also Sadaqah.

Goodness or ihsan, and a sense of collective responsibility towards one another were a hallmark of the early Muslims. That ultimately resulted in orderliness in the society in which they lived and a flexible hierarchical social structure that prevailed before now. The poor and the needy were entitled to a share of the society’s wealth. They were sensitive to each other,evengovernmentsandleaders did not shirk from their responsibilities. Crimes were almost unreported and life was meaningful to every living being. Through tat, Islam could be easily explained and seen to be thriving in the lives of people. But today, the reverse is the case. Insensitivity to the plight of the people, looting, cruelty, worse crime against human beings are the order of the day.

Hundreds of verses GiventhatCharityisnotmandatory and has no preset limit, it is strongly encouraged in hundreds of verses in the Quran. Various verses of te Holy Qur’an pontificate the act as a meansofobtainingGod’smercyand forgiveness (24:22, 92:17 to 92:18), cleansing the souls of impurity (9:103), and attaining superior degreefaith(30:38,76:8to76:9,90:10 to 90:16). In fact, one area that we should reflect properly on is one that states, Aljazahu-li Ihsana, ilaa-li ihsan.

Noonedoesanyatomofgoodness, except that he is paid back with goodness. As human beings, we all enjoy numerous blessings of Allah in our lives and the only way we can show gratitude to Allah for His blessings is to pass some of the blessings on to our fellow humans beings. If we take a critical look at Quran Chapter 93, we will realise that we have greater respsibilities to the less fortunate than we think we have.

Inthesameway,causingavoidable pain and suffering to the defenseless and innocent creatures of Almighty Allah is not justifiable under any circumstances. No doubt, it attracts its own punishment too. Another point is that it is not only necessary on human beings, animals are also partofAllah’screaturesandkindness to them is also a act of ibadaah and charity.

As Muslims, we are encouraged to act and think in such a way of

accepting all species of creatures in their own right and do what is right on them. It is true that Allah has given human beings dominions over all other creatures but we cannot sit in judgement on them according to our whimandcaprices.Causingemotional distressonanimalsisnolessaphysical injury on it. There was a story of the Prophet cutting off his shirt’s sleeve as a cat was sleeping on it, rather than disturbing the sleeping cat; when it was time for prayers. When people at themosquenoticedhimwearingatorn sleeved robe, they asked: “Holy Prophet, why is your garment torn?”

The Prophet simply replied that his cat was sleeping soundly upon the sleeve of his robe and rather than disturbing the cat, he cut the sleeve and put on what remained of his garment. The Prophet is so kind to animals that he would not pull the garment or awaken the cat, instead he rather cut his robe and let the cat sleep undisturbed.

In another story narrated by Abdul RahmanbinAbdullahbinMas’ud,he statedthat:“Wewereonajourneywith the Prophet (s.a.w), and he left us for a while.Duringhisabsence,wesawabird calledhummarawithitstwoyoungones and took the young ones. The mother bird was going round over us in the air, clapping its wings in grief, when the Prophet(s.a.w),returned,hesaid:“Who hashurtthefeelingsofthisbirdbytaking its young ones? Return them to her, he said.”

We also read the story of an Israeli prostitute who was saved from being ont of the dwellers of Hell as a result of her kindness to a dog. The dog was reported dying of thirst, runing helter skelter searching for water. It got to a well and it was going round the well inutterdiscomfort.ThisIsraeliprostitute saw this dog and came to its rescue.

She took off her shoe and watered it and fed the dog severally until the dog

was satisfied. By this singular act, Allah forgave her and admitted her into al-janah.

The Prophet taught that if a Muslim is performing ablution for prayer and somebody who is dying of thirst cries for water, it becomes necessaryfortheMuslimtosacrifice the water meant for ablution to quench the thirst of that person, even if he is a non-Muslim. Islam therefore is all about goodness to the creatures of Allah and not solely about a salat without any iota of goodness to humanity.

Those who are bent on amassing wealth, and denying the less fortunate a share are those who will suffer in the hereafter and will be deprived of the mercy of God. (3:180, 4:37, 47:38, 89:17 to 89.24).

Not feeding the needy is cited amongst the major reasons for which someone will not be in paradise (74:42 to 74:46). Being insensitive to the plight of those in need of help is another means of incuring the wrath of Allah. The Quran describes as hypocrites those whoperformtheirsalatbutdonotshow kindnesstotheorphansandtheneedy; these are those who have sold their chances of being in al-janah. (107:17). Amassing wealth for its own sake orfortheloveofbequeathingmoney for children unborn is an evil deed deservingofextremepunishmenton theDayofJudgment(9:35).

The lesson is that not only are Muslims repeatedly instructed to spend,theyareexplicitlyinstructed to spend from their most cherished possessions, from what is dear to them, from whattheyconsidertobe the best that they own to releiving thosewhoareinoneforofhardships or the other. Aprt from financial consideration,kindnessindeed,and act of goodness even to those who wrong you are the major kernel of what Islam is all about.

Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Dr. Mashuud Fasola leading the Eid-il-Fitr Prayer with other members of the Jamaat at Ojokoro, recently.

Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mashuud Adenrele Fasola (middle) presenting Holy Quran to the new Chief Imam of Ibadan, Fadhilatu Shaikh Abdul Ghaniyu Abu Bakar Agbotomokekere at his residence in Ibadan recently.

Laying of a two units of flats guest house for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat World Leader, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masiv 5th at the headquarters in Ojokoro, Lagos.

The World leader is expected to visit the country next year.

Ahmadiyy a fflags lags of or 1 00 yyear ear Ahmadiyya offf activities ffor 100 earss celebration

By Aderonke Adeyeri

T

HE Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, AMJN, has flagged of activities for the celebration of its 100th anniversary with the groundbreaking/ foundation laying of a two flat guest house for the world leader of the Islamic organisation, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih, 5th, at the headquarters in Ojokoro Lagos.

The guest house will be used for the official visit of the world Islamic leader next year.

According to the Amir, AMJN, Dr Mashuud Fasola the building will be one of the landmarks of the centennial programmes next year.

Meanwhile, the organisation has congratulated the new

president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, AbdulWaheed Odusile. In a statement signed by the National Secretary, Publications and Media

Relations, Qasim Akinreti, the organisation under the leadership of Dr. Mashuud Fasola prays for Allah’s guidance and wisdom for the

new NUJ President. He enjoined him to work assiduously towards lifting the status of the Nigerian media to enviable positions in the country and the world at large.

As Elders' forum holds medical camp Convention

By Aderonke Adeyeri

T

HE Elders group, Majlis Ansarullah of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, AMJN has concluded arrangement to hold its 2015 Medical Camp. According to a release, the event will hold at Maternity Center Oke Eletu, Ijede, Lagos Southwest Nigeria on 5th and 6th of August, 2015.

Also, the annual Islamic

convention, Ijtema has been slated for the 7th and 9th August in Ikorodu, Lagos state with a theme Good Governance and Nation Building .

The three-day event will take place at the Government College, Owutu, Ikorodu under the chairmanship of the Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, AMJN, Dr Mashuud Fasola and the Head, Sadr of the Elders Group- Majlis Ansarullah,

Alhaji M. B. Odukoya.

According to a statement from the chairman organizing committee, Engineer Abdul Waheed Adeoye, the conference will feature series of activities such as lectures on the theme, Good Governance and Nation Building, Jihad: A misunderstood Concept in Islam, Quran as well as quiz competitions, sports and Speech contest on topical issues on Islam.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED AMADI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amadi Onyinyechukwu Nkiruka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. B e c k l e s Onyinyechukwu Nkiruka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoro Salome Av w e r o s w o g h e n e , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osakue Salome Avweroswoghene. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKPOVOKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss B e n e d i c t a O g h e n e r u m e Akpovoka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. B e n e d i c t a O g h e n e r u m e Bebapere . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AMADASU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Taiye Iyobosa Amadasu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taiye Iyobosa Ugwoke.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

USAIYO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Helen Paul Usaiyo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Helen Anthony-Ogheneovo.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KADIRI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Afeghese Kadiri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stella Afeghese Mabiaku. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IDIAGHE—I, formerly

MGBOMENE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mgbomene Ike, now wish to be known and addressed as Ike Pius Ojibi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZEJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeji Ngozi Benedette, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anoliefo Ngozi Benedette. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHUKWUNEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogechi Deborah Chukwuneke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogechi Deborah Emoghwanre. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMOGBAI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uwa Suraya Omogbai, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uwa Slim Ibrahim. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EHANNIRE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ehannire Uyioghosa Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O m a t s e y i n Uyioghosa Joy. All former documents remain valid. United Health Care Int. Ltd., GTB, First Bank Plc, UBA, FCMB and general public take note.

MORDI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinwe Anwuli Mordi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinwe Anwuli Umadia. All former documents remain valid. General public and authority to whom it may concern please take note.

FAMUYIDE—I, formerly known as Miss Famuyide Motunrayo Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinrokun Motunrayo Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMAYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omaye Unekwu Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Henry Unekwu Esther.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ARIT—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Arit Nsa Eyo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alice Nsa Eyo. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Nig. Plc and general public please take note.

AYAPAYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayapaye Ebikozigha Theresa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Diyemowei Ebikozigha Theresa. All former documents remain Valid. General public please take note.

O T U N Y O— I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Otunyo Anthonia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onomuighokpo Anthonia. All former documents remain Valid. The Nigerian Police Force and general public please take note.

E N UAG W U N A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Enuagwuna Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emefieh Obianuju Joy. All former documents remain Valid. General public please take note.

OJETTEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojetteh Anthonia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mordi Anthonia Elue.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DIDIGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Didigu Jane Frances Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iyida Jane Frances Onyinyechi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ani Grace Chigozie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogaba Grace Chigozie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DILIBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dilibe Amarachi Vivian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Offorka Amarachi Vivian. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKWORJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss O k w o r j i Oghenemine Becky, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ochuko Oghenemine Becky.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLEBUNNE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinenye Celestina Olebunne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinenye Celestina Oyinmah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OVIOSUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Victoria Dein Ayo Oviosun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Dein Ayo Alagbe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UDOBONG—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Janet Edwin Udobong, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkpoikana Janet Godwin Ekpe. All former documents remain valid. FUTO, NYSC and general public please take note.

OKPEKI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Onome Okpeki, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Onome Ukpeba. All former documents remain valid. Embassy and general public please take note.

IGABARI—I, formerly

public please take note.

IFON—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gladys Mfon Ifon now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gladys Essien Abasiubong. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADABA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Surayatu Sarah Adaba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Surayatu Tokulah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IYERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Loveth Iyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekeh Loveth. All former documents remain valid. First City Monument Bank, Warri Delta State and general public please take note.

NKWODINMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkwodinma Chiazor Mavis, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obani Chiazor Mavis. All former documents remain valid.

Energy and Business Media Ltd, Lagos State University and general public please take note.

ILOMAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Anwulika Ilomah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Anwulika Aire. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Embassy in Germany and general public please take note.

NWANKWO — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Edith Amaka Nwankwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Edith Amaka Madu. All former documents remain valid. Institute of Management and Technology [IMT], NYSC and general public please take note.

O G U N DA R E — I , formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Ogundare Monilayo Olawumi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oludare Monilayo Olawumi. All former documents remain valid.

SUBEB, Maryland and general public please take note.

MIKE-AJAKAIYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Loveth Mike-Ajakaiye, now wish to be known and addressed as Loveth Osaro Ilekhuogie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABAS —I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Abas Emily Osa, now wish to be known and addressed as Iduseri Emily Osarumwense (Osa).

All former documents remain valid, College of Education Igueben, Ambrose Alli University and general public please take note.

ARAWORE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jolomi Alero Arawore, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jolomi Alero Eke. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

UZOEGHELU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifeyinwa Chigozie Uzoeghelu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gift Chigozie Chukwuemeka. All former documents remains valid.

University of Nigeria, NYSC and general public take note.

OKEZUE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ijeoma Jennifer Okezue, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijeoma Jennifer Anaenugwu. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

ADEGOJU—I, formerly known and addressed as Adegoju Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Akindola Mary. All former documents remains valid.

General public take note.

known as Oyomire Imade, now wish to be known and addressed as Idiaghe Oyomire Imade. All former documents

remain

valid. General public please take note.

known and addressed as Miss Igabari Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eunice Onomiruren. All former

documents

remain valid. General

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015—47

Vanguard CLASSIFIED

Delta PDP chair petitioned over Udu crisis

T

HE crisis rocking Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has taken a more frosty direction with the party leadership sending a petition to the state Chairman of the party over what they described as the shoddy and suspicious handling of the Udu PDP crisis by the Chief Tom Amioku-led Panel on Anti-Party activities.

They said the people of Udu no longer had confidence in the panel, calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene and save the party.

In the petition signed by party leaders from all the

wards in the council, including Ejiro Onokpasa and Donald Brosu, among others, the party noted that the way the panel was handling crisis smacks of a grand conspiracy against the fortune of PDP in Udu council.

It read in part: “Despite the copious evidence against some of those accused of having been engaged in anti-party activities during the last general elections, it is worrisome that the panel led by Chief Tom Amioku appeared to be lukewarm in enforcing discipline.

“This suggests that some members of the panel may have been involved in similar behaviour.”

Osanebi lauds NUJ's new VP

T

HE Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, has congratulated the newly elected Vice Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr. Akpati Ogude.

In a statement, Osanebi said: “The path of every just man is ordained to shine more and more till Jesus returns. Our elder brother and friend, Mr.

Akpati Ogude have always had God’s favour and grace on his life with hard work.

“It is my prayers that God will give him more grace to serve Him and humanity, because therein lies our advancement.

“Because it has pleased God to increase our brother, Ogude, He also will give him the unction to function.”

Nigerian emerges ABC's President

L

AZARUS Angbazo, President and CEO of GE Nigeria, has been elected President of the American Business Council, ABC, in Nigeria.

Speaking on his election, Angbazo said: “It is an honour to have been elected by my peers to serve. The focus of ABC, aside from promoting business between the US and Nigeria, remains to aid Nigeria’s development in

education, infrastructure and institution building.

“These are areas where GE has unique expertise and I will work with members of the board as well as of the standing committees to make this happen.”

The council was set up with the objective of promoting the development of commerce and investments between the United States of America and Nigeria.

Baptist holds appreciation service

T

HE First Baptist Church, Festac Town, Lagos, will hold its 15th year appreciation service, Sunday, for the church’s Senior Pastor, Rev. Victor Bamidele Akerele.

Dr Akerele is the immediate past Chairman of Pastors’ Fellowship of Lagos, Central Baptist Conference, and is currently the 1st ViceChairman of Lagos

Central Baptist Conference; Moderator, Unity Baptist Association; and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, FESTAC District.

The service will also witness the commissioning of the multipurpose building of the church by the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr. Supo Ayokunle.

OGAGAVWODIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Franca Emokiniovo Ogagavwodia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Franca Emokiniovo Adegor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DASSAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Lina Nanya Dassah, now wish to be known and addressed as Lina Nanya Plate. All former documents remain valid. LASU, WAEC, Plateau State Polytechnic Bukuru, National Population Commission, Government Senior Secondary School Laranto in Plateau State, German Embassy and general public please take note.

O L O K U N — I , formerly known and addressed as Olokun Opetomi Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Ayodeji Opetomi Abosede. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

J O S H U A — I , formerly known and addressed as Mr. Joshua Omovbude Friday, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. F r i d a y Aimienbenomon Omovbude . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ZIMUGHAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Po w e i t a m a r a u p r e Yvonne Zimughan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Powei Yvonne Zimughan-Ogunbajo.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UBIDO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ubido Gillian Oreva, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okwegbe Gillian Oreva. The Nigeria police, Delta Command, Delta state University and general public please take note.

IGBINOVIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss I g b i n o v i a Eghenayarhiore, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogieva Eghenayarhiore.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Benin City, NHIS, Federal Ministry of Health and general public please take note.

AMAECHI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Veronica Amaechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chioma Veronica Mbaegbu. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public please take note.

KALABO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jennifer Kalabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jennifer Diweri Akah. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AISAGBONHI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dora Aisagbonhi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dora Ibhana Edughele. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and general public please take note.

JOLOMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omotola OnoAra Jolomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omotola Sule Braimoh. All former documents remain valid. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and general public please take note.

SULE—I, formerly known and addressed as Rakiya Uba Sule, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rakiya Aminu. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

A D A O R A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adaora Nneka Emekwue, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adaora Morris Agbomhere Aken.

All former documents remain valid. First Bank, UNIBEN, Embassy and general public please take note.

OTOBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Otobo Ifie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ifie Ebi Thankgod.

All former documents remain valid. Bayelsa State Judiciary and general public please take note.

O K O E G UA L E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Okoeguale, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Ogene. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public please take note.

NYAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nyah Mfon Sunday, now wish to be known and addressed as Barr.

(Mrs.) Mfon Ozemhoya.

All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and general public please take note.

LALEYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Laleye Titilayo Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olaogun Titilayo Esther. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMAGBORON—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss E m a g b o r o n Magdalene Okakor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. M s e m b e r Magdalene Okakor Dooshima. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ODEDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Christiana Amuche Odede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Christiana Amuche Adani. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ASU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chidinma Helen Asu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chidinma Helen Ezeude. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O L U G H U — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Olughu Adaeze Geraldine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abayomi-Odusi Adaeze Geraldine.

All former documents remain valid. FCMB and general public please take note.

Confirmation of name I was formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Samira Salma Sally Jijiba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibrahim Samira Salma Sally Jijiba Fadlallah.

All former documents remain valid. GT Bank and general public please take note.

E T O K A K PA N — I , formerly known and addressed as Iboro Donatus Etokakpan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iboro Aniefiok Ekanem.

All documents bearing my former names remain valid.

N i g e r i a n Immigration Service, and general public take note.

NWOSU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwosu Onyinye Prisca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezeokafor Onyinye Prisca. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

You Can Book Your Advert At: YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL, 79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA. CALL: 08035449960, 07031322957 MURPHÝ'S PLAZA, 27, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND. CALL: 08038092373, 08033163424

48—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Jihadists seize US-trained Syrian Cameron under attack for calling African migrants swarm of ‘insects’ fighters AVID Cameron condemned the ‘awful, Britain N al-Qaida affiliate the rebel militia Division 30 al-Nusra Front kidnapped The row erupted after Mr A abducted an were snatched on Tuesday the commander of Division D sparked a major dehumanising language’.

Prime Minister David Cameron sought to insist American-trained rebel night by jihadists mounting 30, Colonel Nadim Hassan, political row today after commander and seven of his fighters in northern Syria just days after they deployed in the war-torn country. The mid-week kidnapping is seen by analysts as a setback to Washington’s effort to shape an insurgent force able to combat Islamic State extremists, and it is likely to complicate plans for a safe zone in northern Syria currently under discussion between U.S. and Turkish officials.

According to a monitoring group, fighters with

a checkpoint near the Syrian town of Zahart alMalkia, about 40 kilometers northeast of Homs.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the incident happened as the fighters were “returning from a meeting in the city of Azaz in northern Aleppo province to their headquarters.”

The observatory said the fighters had met with other rebel factions about a coordinated assault on the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. “Forces from

along with seven members of the division, including commander Farhan alJassem,” according to a statement by the monitoring group, which relies on political activists on the ground for its information.

Turkey’s state-run news service, Anadolu Agency, put the number of abductees higher, reporting that 18 fighters were kidnapped.

The agency said most of the group consisted of Turkmen, quoting the head of the Syrian Turkmen National Movement.

describing hundreds of migrants in Calais as a ‘swarm’.

Labour’s acting leader Harriet Harman said the Prime Minister should remember he is talking about ‘people, not insects’ as tensions mounted over the government’s response to the crisis.

But political opponents accused him of ‘dogwhistle’ politics and the Refugee Council

Taliban gets new head, confirms Mullah Omar’s death leaveAfghanistanatanytime peace talks have been

T

HE Taliban has formally confirmed the death of the group’s founder, Mullah Omar. Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, the head of the Taliban’s political and military affairs, has been chosen as the insurgent group’s leader, according to media reports that cited senior Taliban officials. But the group has not confirmed the appointment.

An Islamist movement statement Thursday says Omar died of illness, but gave no details of when or where, saying only his health deteriorated over the last 15 days of his life.

The announcement sheds no new light on whether a statement Wednesday from the Afghan government is correct in saying Omar died two years ago. But the Taliban says Omar did not

since U.S.-backed forces overthrew the group in 2001, despite the Afghan assertion he died in a hospital in Pakistan. A Pakistani statement earlier Thursday said the next round of Afghan

NDIA executed Yakub Memon early Thursday for his role in the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which killed 257 people.

The 53-year-old was hanged at a prison in the western city of Nagpur hours after the country’s Supreme Court rejected his final pleas. Memon was one of 11 people originally sentenced to die for the attacks, but the only one

OZENS of protesters gathered outside the practice of a suburban Minneapolis dentist who killed a protected lion in Zimbabwe.

Demonstrators carried signs and chanted outside the office of Walter Palmer, the man who killed Cecil the lion.

Palmer has said he believed the hunt was legal and didn’t know about the lion’s status as a protected animal.

Some of Palmer’s patients were among the protesters.

Signs read “Killer” and “I am Cecil” - the name of the dead lion and protesters

Police were present at the scene and allowed the peaceful protest to continue.

Meanwhile, a professional hunter has been charged in Zimbabwe for failing to prevent the unlawful killing of Cecil, whose death has caused widespread revulsion across the world.

The head of Zimbabwe’s safari association said the big cat with the black mane was lured into the kill zone and denied “a chance of a fair chase”.

TheZimbabweanmenwere accused of aiding Dr Palmer, who reportedly paid £32,000 to track and kill a lion.

Zimbabwe police have said they are looking for Dr

unknown.

Palmer has reportedly advised his patients to seek care elsewhere as he remains in hiding since his identity was revealed.

BIG game hunter Walter J. Palmer, who rose to infamy for killing Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe is now feeling hunted himself, albeit mostly online.

Twitter, as usual, was the epicenter for the anger directed at Palmer, with some questioning his manhood, calling for him to be released into the wild, and posting photos of Palmer posing with other large animals he has killed for sport.

postponed at the request of the Afghan Taliban leadership. Pakistan which hosts the talks said it remains hopeful the Taliban leadership will stay engaged in the peace process.

$1m bail for US officer for killing black driver

A

JUDGE set bail at $1 million on Thursday for the former University of Cincinnati police officer who shot and killed a motorist, after a traffic stop over a missing license plate.

The former officer, Ray Tensing, appeared briefly in a Hamilton County court in Cincinnati, in gray-andblack striped jail garb, handcuffed behind his back, as his lawyer, William

India executes man for 1993 Mumbai attacks actually executed.

I

the government was taking action to deal with the crisis in Calais.

Speaking in Vietnam during his south-east Asian tour, the Prime Minister said the French had sent an extra 120 police and the UK was investing in fencing and security measures at the Channel crossings in Calais and Coquelles.

Burundi’s opposition leader Rwasa becomes deputy speaker.

Cecil: Protesters besiege lion’s killer’s Palmer, whose exact office chanted “extradite”. whereabouts were

D

•One of the six activists being stabbed at the Jerusalem Gay Parade yesterday.

Cameron blamed the crisis in Calais on a ‘swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain’ Prime Minister David Cameron blamed the crisis in Calais on a ‘swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain’ David Cameron on ‘swarm’ of migrants trying to enter

The others had their sentences changed to life in prison.

He was convicted in 2007 of plotting and financing the bombings that hit multiple sites in Mumbai, including the Bombay Stock Exchange, Air India offices, hotels and a movie theater.

His older brother, Tiger Memon, and gang boss Dawood Ibrahim were the alleged masterminds of the attacks. They remain at large.

S. Mathews II, entered a plea of not guilty for him.

On Wednesday, county prosecutors announced that a grand jury had indicted Mr. Tensing on charges of murder and manslaughter in the killing of Samuel Dubose on July 19 during a traffic stop for a missing license plate. They said it was the first time a law enforcement officer in the county had ever faced a murder charge for actions taken in the line of duty.

The prosecutors also released a graphic and widely anticipated video of the shooting, taken by a body camera worn by the officer, which they said was crucial to the case, and showed that Mr. Tensing and possibly other officers had misrepresented what had happened.

The death of Mr. Dubose, who was black, at the hands of Officer Tensing, who is white, joined a string of recent cases.

•Protesters at Palmer's office in Mnneapolis, US yesterday.

Mugabe threatens to expel US, British Diplomats want to see peace in They are no good for us.

Z

IMBABWE’S President Robert Mugabe has threatened to expel the ambassadors from the United States and Britain, accusing them of fomenting anarchy in his country.

Late Wednesday, Mugabe said vendors were resisting calls by authorities to leave streets and settle at designated sights. He said the U.S. and British embassies in Zimbabwe were paying vendors to cause chaos in the country.

“These are ambassadors of countries that imposed sanctions on us, so we have said we will kick them out of the country. They do not

developing countries,” alleged Mugabe.

“They just want to see chaos; people fighting each [other], terrorism everywhere. British and American ambassadors what kind of people are they?

Behave and you will be in peace with us. Misbehave and we will kick you in your bottom. It is our country,” he added.

The U.S. and British embassies in Harare declined to comment.

MH370 debris washes up in Madagascar

A

PIECE of airplane debris that washed ashore on an island near Madagascarwould be the first tangible evidence, if confirmed, supporting investigators’ assumptions about the fate of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

But even if authorities can link the debris to the Malaysia Airlines jet, locating the rest of the wreckage would be immensely difficult, relying on complex calculations about ocean currents and weather patterns across thousands of miles over the almost 17 months since the plane went missing.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 49

Alleged graft: EFCC grills Chime's Chief of Staff

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun moves to get at the immediate past governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, who is alleged to have misappropriated huge sums belonging to the state during his tenure.

As a prelude to ascertaining crucial information necessary for bringing Chime to account for the funds said to have been laundered by his administration, the commission, yesterday, grilled the former Chief of Staff to Chime, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, for over ten hours in Abuja, asking her to say all she knew about the huge financial transactions in question.

She was shown series of petitions bordering on alleged graft committed under the Chime administration and challenged to prove the authenticity or otherwise of the allegations.

A source in EFCC confirmed that Nwobodo, who arrived the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at about 9.30am, was immediately confronted with series of petitions bordering on conspiracy and diversion of Enugu State funds by the former governor and his cronies and was asked to speak on what she knew about the issues.

As at the time of filing the story last night, Nwobodo was still being quizzed by a team of crack detectives to determine whether or not to file charges against her, the former governor and his aides named in the petitions.

A top EFCC official said: “Nwobodo’s invitation is believed to be precursor to the

interrogation of her former principal as the agency is said to be flooded with petitions indicting Chime of humongous graft during his eight-year rule of Enugu State as governor from 2007 to 2015".

It was not also clear if she would be admitted to administrative bail and asked to return as the

spokesman for the agency, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for confirmation.

The EFCC has lately stepped up the investigation of key politically exposed persons but they have ingeniously used huge funds at their disposal to escape justice.

A

WKA— BARELY six days after the peaceful congress of the Anambra State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Chief Chris Uba faction of the party, which has Chief Ejike Oguebego as the state chairman, has faulted the exercise, arguing that it ought not to have been held in view of subsisting court order that recognized Oguebego as the state chairman of PDP. The state congress which held last week produced a 27- member state executive committee, with Prince Kenneth Emeakayi as the state chairman.

Oguebego, whose group boycotted the congress along with his leader, Chris Uba, told

L – R: Messrs Senesie Kallon (Acting Director General), National Telecommunications Commission, NATCOM, of Sierra Leone; Frank Manja, Commissioner; Momoh Konte, Chairman, NATCOM; Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi ,Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, during a courtesy call on the EVC in Abuja

reporters yesterday, that apart from the fact that there was a subsisting court order, the matter was still pending at the Supreme Court.

According to him, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had in 2013, declared that status quo antebellum be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the substantive

M

EMBERS of the Enugu State Executive Council (Exco) presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi rose from its meeting, yesterday, approving the release of N35 million as 10 percent equity contribution towards the purchase of 100 units of one-bedroom flats for civil servants in the State within the grade 01 to 10 bracket.

The housing project situated at Elim Estate, Ibagwa Nike in Enugu is meant to alleviate the housing accommodation challenges of the workers.

matter.

He argued that following the court order, his tenure would continue to run until March 17, 2016. He showed reporters a copy of a letter written by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and signed by one Musa Adamu for the secretary to the commission, to the PDP national chairman, recognizing him and his group

as officials of PDP in the state.

The letter dated October 23, 2014 entitled, Re: Current status of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State reads: “You may wish to note that the commission monitored a state congress of PDP in Anambra State at which Chief Ejike Oguebego was elected as chairman of the party in the state. .."

We've sent kidnappers, child traffickers out of Abia —CP

By Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba

A

BIA State Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshak, said, yesterday, that armed robbers and child traffickers have relocated from the state as the police have

Enugu civil servants get N35m housing bailout

By Austin Ogwuda, Enugu

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

N

O fewer than 150 persons were rendered homeless, yesterday, following an outbreak of fire that gutted 10 shops and many residential buildings at Afor market, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The fire which started at about 3 a.m. also ravaged goods and electrical materials worth over N50 million.

The incident occurred as a fire service vehicle belonging to men of the state fire service was said to have broken down on its way to the fire scene, thereby worsening the situation.

An eye-witness, Pat Agbata, attributed the incident to epileptic power supply in the area, adding that the power voltage from Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, at the time was high.

Estate surveyors and valuers roles listed at seminar

Fresh crisis as PDP faction declares Anambra congress a nullity

By Vincent Ujumadu

Fire guts Anambra market; destroys goods, shops, homes

Briefing newsmen shortly after the Exco meeting held at Government House Enugu, the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udeuhele said that the beneficiaries of the housing scheme would be selected through a ballot system that would be conducted in full public glare to remove any form of suspicion.

According to him, “the process of selecting would-be beneficiaries would be such that all qualified and interested workers would participate while the 90% balance is to be paid by civil servants deducted from their salaries .

made their businesses, unprofitable.

Joshak, who stated this in a chat with members of the Aba Federated Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, who called on him, at his office, noted that the Police in collaboration with other security agencies in the state have reduced crime.

He said,“If we look at the crime situation in the state, you can see that the police in collaboration with other security agencies have run robbers, kidnappers and child traffickers out of business. It is not yet time to clap hands, but I think we have done well. I want to tell you that with our strategies, it now takes some weeks to hear about kidnapping, robbery and car snatching incidents in the state.

“For many months now, we no longer hear about baby factories and child trafficking which was

thriving in the state in the past.

The operators gather pregnant girls and pay them off with N20, 000 when they are delivered of their babies to sell them between N500, 000 and N250, 000. Such pregnant girls would never see their babies again; we have run them out of business. We have arrested the kingpins at Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa areas.”

On kidnapping, Joshak lamented the failure of some families of victims to report to the security agencies.

According to him, “When people are kidnapped and demands for ransom are made; people usually say, don’t tell the police, soldiers and other security agencies. They are made to believe that if they inform the security agencies, they may not see their kidnapped relations alive, but this is not true. "

T

HE need for organizations to employ Estate Surveyors and Valuers to act as conduit between the organizations and facility management providers has been emphasised The charge was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of Mandatory Continuing Professional Development, MCPD, seminar organized by the Enugu State branch of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, in conjunction with Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON, in Enugu.

The communiqué was signed by Dr. Chris Ezeudu, Chairman, MCPD committee, Enugu State branch and Cosmas Ezeh, Chairman, NIESV Enugu State branch.

Obosi community reads riot act to criminals

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA — CRIMINALS who are still operating within Obosi, a densely populated urban community in Idemilli North Local Government Area of Anambra state have been warned in their own interest to steer clear of the area or be prepared to be flushed out by the community.

President-General of Obosi Development Union, ODU, Chief Dan Igbokwubili who sounded this note of warning to newsmen yesterday, said the community has risen up to the occasion to flush out all the hoodlums who have been causing problems in the area.

50 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 51

Mikel could face Arsenal on Sunday A

RSENAL and Chelsea are set to renew their fierce rivalry when they face off against each other in the FA Community Shield tie on Sunday at the Wembley.

The match sees the English Premier League champions face the reigning FA Cup winners as managers Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger look to claim bragging rights.

Wenger ’s men have been busy during the off-season as they were participating in a number of friendlies as well as the Emirates Cup where they were rampant in beating Lyon before clinching the cup with a win over Wolfsburg.

The Gunners have managed to acquire the services of goalkeeper

Petr Czech from Chelsea with Wenger praising the keeper.

Arsenal are also linked to Gabon’s Borussia Dortmund striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang, but there’s been nothing agreed by the two teams thus far.

Other transfer rumours suggest the FA Cup holders are linked to Southampton and Kenyan striker Victor Wanyama.

Looking at the Blues camp, Mourinho could be without the duo of star striker Diego Costa and centre-back Gary Cahill due to injuries.

Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel could be in action for the league champions and the coach will hope to use him in ensuring his midfield is in good shape.

All Nigeria Championships: Okagbare docks trials

BY BEN EFE

A

FRICAN and Commonwealth Games champion, Blessing Okagbare was not in action at the 2015 All Nigeria Athletics Championships which began at the Warri City Stadium yesterday as excused herself from the championships.

She wrote to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria claiming that she is nursing an injury, which has ruled her out of all competition.

However, she said her conditions will improve before the world

Nigeria wins 11 medals

N

•Okagbare

We ‘re condemned to beat E/Guinea – Falcons coach S

UPER Falcons stand-in coach, Christopher Danjuma, has revealed that his side are condemned to win their away game at Equatorial Guinea in the return leg

of their Olympic qualifier on Sunday.

The national women’s senior team played a 1-1 draw a forthnight ago in Abuja, with the second leg going down this weekend.

Oliseh Continues from BP confident the Eagles will take the first hurdle but that the road to Russia would be tough.

“It is going to be very, very difficult, but I believe we can qualify.

All we have to do is look at ourselves, try to improve our game and hopefully we will qualify.”

Oliseh has had little previous coaching experience, being in charge of a Belgian third division club. “I don’t think that is a drawback though,” he states. “Time will tell, but I took the job to be successful.” And he says that he is confident his players can benefit from his World Cup experience, adding: “But first we have to qualify.”

The coach reiterated his decision on having the best players to play for Nigeria. “Our

ambition is to get the best to play for Nigeria, and football is getting faster these days and it keeps getting faster and faster. The tempo is different now, and we can see in the first division of most nations that is where the tempo is.”

Even though he finally felt ready for the job, he said he hesitated to accept the challenging offer. “To coach Nigeria is not the easiest job in the world and one is only as good as the players. Nigeria at the moment has a lot of potential, but we don’t have a lot of confirmed players in the top clubs in the top leagues, so taking over the national team now means we have to remake the whole team and introduce a new philosophy of playing style, of culture and mentality.”

championships and the All African Games.

‘The board of the AFN met , discussed her case and granted her an exemption,’ said Olukayode Thomas AFN spokesman.

He added that Chinwe Okoro has also been exempted because she is sitting for an exam.

The women 100m was decided yesterday.

Gloria Asumnu clinched the race with 11:42, Stephanie Kalu was second with 11:47 and Deborah Adeyemi placed third with 11.66 seconds. The men final comes up today.

Danjuma disclosed that he was working on the team’s psyche to put them in the right frame of mind ahead of the clash after the loss of Gracious Akujobi.

“For us, it’s a must win, we are condemned to win and I believe with what we’ve done in training, we will come victorious,” he said.

“After the first leg, we’ve been working on the mindset of the players, to get them fully prepared for the game.

“And we hope they will take their chances and make a name for themselves and become stars like Asisat Oshoala who seized the opportunity given to her.”

Jay Jay Continues from BP on whether to make a permanent move to the Milton Keynes club.

Wolverton, who currently ply their trade in the Spartan South Midlands League, were tight-lipped about Okocha’s long-term future.

Amanda Keech, chairperson of Wolverton Town, said: “He did play 45 minutes last week for us but we can’t say either way whether he will sign yet.

“He is friends with somebody who coaches at the club and could be helping out with preseason training with the players. We will be able to say more once he has decided.”

Okocha started his career with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt before spells at European giants Fenerbahçe and Paris St-

Germain.

Premier League fans will remember him from his time at Bolton Wanderers, during which he made more than 100 Premier League appearances. He also helped Hull City win promotion from the Championship in 2008, after playing 18 times for the Yorkshire side.

Okocha also made 73 appearances for Nigeria, playing in both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and captained his country for nearly four years. With Nigeria he won the 1994 African Cup of Nations and a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He was named Nigerian Footballer of the Year no fewer than seven times and was even named in the Fifa 100 – Pele’s list of the top 100 greatest living footballers.

IGERIAN male and female powerlifters won 11 medals and broke three world records at the just-concluded Powerlifting World Open Asian Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Almaty 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open championships, which began on July 26, ended on July 30.

Feyisetan Are, the coach of the Nigeria Powerlifting Federation (NPF) disclosed

this from Kazakhstan.

He said that the medals comprised of seven gold and four silver.

The coach said that the female powerlifters were the biggest winners in the competition, raking in five gold medals and three silver medals.

“Omolayo Bose is the biggest winner at the championships, after breaking the senior world record in the 79kg female category.

Siasia

Continues from BP the final African qualification stage — an eight-nation tournament in Senegal with the top three finishers securing tickets to Brazil.

But Congo, guided by famed French coach Claude Le Roy, can eliminate Nigeria on away goals by winning 1-0 at Stade Municipal in the Atlantic oil hub.

Siasia and Le Roy can offer strong arguments as to why the ‘Dream Team’ or the ‘Red Devils’ will succeed.

Nigeria excelled on the road this year in 2015 All-Africa Games qualifiers, which are also restricted to under23 footballers, winning 4-1 in Gabon and 2-1 in Zambia.

Arsenal Continues from BP Hotel in Victoria Island as fans took photographs with the trophy and the vising A r s e n a l representatives.

Arsenal’s Partner Services Executive, Alex Smith, said the tour was important because the club appreciates the support the English team enjoys in Africa.

Smith said: “We have similar arrangement with some other African countries including South Africa. The trophy is here for Nigerian fans to have a feel of what the team is doing

out there in the UK and also in Europe.

“The partnership with Sterling Bank is a tremendous one for the team because we have received some of the fans and customers of the bank at the Emirates Stadium for live games.”

Sterling Bank’s Head of Consumer banking, Gbenga Adegoke, said the bank had similar virtues with Arsenal.

“Arsenal believes in gradual growth to achieve success and that is what the bank is doing in Nigeria. We are proud to be partners of the club,” he said.

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Community Shield 2015: Cech vs Courtois

T

•Cech

Di Maria poised for PSG switch — Blanc P

ARIS SaintGermain coach Laurent Blanc confirmed negotiations with Manchester United over the transfer of Angel di Maria are “close to the end”.

Di Maria did not join up with his Manchester team-mates in the United States following his participation at the Copa America earlier this month as he attempts to force through a move to French champions PSG after a difficult first season in the Premier League.

United manager Louis van Gaal said he did not know of Di Maria’s whereabouts when quizzed following Wednesdays’ 2-0 loss to PSG in the International Champions Cup. And Blanc offered an update on the club’s pursuit of the 27-year-old, telling reporters: “You know negotiations are in tandem [ongoing] and as Paris St Germain [and United] are both big clubs, that can be difficult.

“But we feel we are close to the end.”

United forked out a British-record transfer fee of £59.7million to prise Di Maria away from Real Madrid last season.

However, the Argentina international failed to settle in England, consigned to the bench from March up until the final match of the season following his red card in an FA Cup clash against Arsenal.

Di Maria registered 10 assists and scored three goals in 27 Premier League appearances last term as United finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League play-offs.

HE Community Shield focuses on two teams. The Premier League Champions and the FA Cup winners.

However,this Sunday’s encounter between Arsenal and Chelsea will undoubtedly be about one man, Petr Cech.

The 33-year-old swapped west London for north London this summer in a £10 million deal at the end of June after playing second fiddle to 23-year-old Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea last season.

Petr Cech is set to come face-to-face with with his ex-teammates and former manager, Jose Mourinho, in this weekend’s Premier League curtain raiser.

The Czech international lifted the Community Shield twice during his

Drogba mobbed by Montreal Impact fans

F

•Di Maria

Messi makes early Barcelona return

L

IONEL Messi is ready and raring to go for the new Liga season after returning to Barcelona yesterday, five days ahead of schedule.

The Argentina international was not due back with his club until Monday after helping his country reach the Copa America final last month.

However, Messi was present to undergo - and pass - medical checks at Camp Nou alongside fellow countryman Javier Mascherano and Brazil duo Neymar and Dani Alves.

Goalkeeper MarcAndre ter Stegen also made an early return to the club after playing for

ORMER Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been mobbed by fans at his arrival in Montreal after signing for local MLS club the Impact.

Drogba posted a video on Twitter of a packed arrivals hall at MontrealTrudeau International Airport on Wednesday, with fans held back by security guards, and the 37-year-old forward in the foreground, nodding at the camera with a satisfied look on his face.

The former Ivory Coast international wrote: “First steps on Canadian soil, what a welcome @impactmontreal.”

The Impact tweeted a picture of Drogba holding one of their club scarves with the accompanying line: “You were waiting for this: Didier Drogba!”

Drogba signed with Montreal on Monday as part of a trade deal with Chicago Fire,

•Messi Germany in the Under-21 E u r o p e a n Championships, but Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will return on Monday as planned.

The quartet’s return could see them all feature in this weekend’s final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina in the International Champions Cup.

•Ibe

committing to the Canadian club until the end of the 2016 MLS season.

eleven years at Chelsea in 2005 and 2009.

Mourinho was clearly focused on the future when he recalled Thibaut Courtois from his loan at Atletico Madrid in 2014, putting him straight into the Chelsea first team despite Cech’s excellent 2013/14 campaign. Inturn, this left Cech watching from the bench for the majority of last season.

Of his ex-colleague, Chelsea captain John Terry said “Petr Cech was a model professional last year and that is why he got the move he wanted, because of how well he reacted around the place.”

As the season drew to a close, Cech had to make a choice. Stay at Stamford Bridge as Courtois’ number two or move on, in search of first-team football.

Arsenal have undoubtedly landed themselves a world class goalkeeper in Cech, But how does he compare to the man that Mourinho preferred as his number one?

•Drogba

Ibe can be a ‘top-class performer’, says Rodgers

B

RENDAN Rodgers believes that Jordon Ibe has the potential to become a ‘top-class performer’ for Liverpool.

The 19-year-old began to feature in the first team last

season and was impressive during Liverpool’s tour of Asia and Australia this summer.

And the Liverpool manager believes Ibe can go on and become one of the best players at the club.

‘He’s definitely a player that we want to really create into a top-class performer, but we’ve got to give him that time and we’re creating the environment for him to do that.

‘You see how exciting he is, but he still has a lot of potential and work to do.

He’s one that certainly will feature heavily this year.

‘We mustn’t forget he’s still only 19. He broke into the team young and had some appearances. We felt he needed a loan, has gone out and did really well.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 53

C M Y K

54 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 — 55

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015

Mikel to face Arsenal on Sunday — Page 51

Oliseh: Road to Russia 2018 ‘ll be tough N

EWLY appointed Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has warned his countrymen and women not to expect miracles from him, even as he assured that the country can qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Oliseh admitted that he was embarking on a difficult path. “We are practically starting from scratch, so that is why I am saying that people should not expect miracles from us.”

On the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, the former Nigeria international said he was

Continues on Page 51

•Mourinho

•Wenger

Wolverton woo ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha We’ll attack Congo — Siasia N

F

ORMER World Cup and Premier League star Jay-Jay Okocha could be on the verge of a shock move to amateur side Wolverton Town after playing for their reserve side last week, the club confirmed.

Okocha, 41, played 45 minutes for Wolverton’s reserves against Arlesey Town reserves last week, but has not yet decided Continues on Page 51

We ‘re condemned to beat E/Guinea – Falcons coach — Pg.51

•Okocha

IGERIA have vowed to attack Congo Brazzaville in their Pointe-Noire fortress this weekend and move closer to a seventh Olympic Games football tournament appearance.

The U-23 team take a fragile 2-1 lead into the second leg of a thirdround qualifier for the 2016 Rio Games and coach Samson Siasia has revealed his game plan.

“We will attack because we want to win in Congo — not avoid defeat,” the 47-year-old former national team striker told reporters.

A draw will suffice to take the ‘Dream Team’ to Continues on Page 51

Arsenal display FA Cup in Lagos

A

RSENAL Football Club of England on Thursday displayed the English FA Cup the team won in Lagos.

The colourful event took place in Lagos with the Nigerian partners of the team, Sterling Bank, fully represented together with some customers of the bank and fans of the team.

The trophy was on parade at the Oriental

•Siasia

Continues on Page 51

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S ANSWERS YESTERDAY'S

ACROSS 3 Hatred (5) 9 Pair (6) 10 Undergo (6) 11 Parched (5) 12 Cupid (4) 15 Food-list (4) 17 Earn (7) 20 Wand (3) 21 Finished (5) 23 Detail (4) 25 Cab (4) 26 Renovate (5) 28 Beaker (3) 30 Ebbed (7) 33 Genuine (4) 35 Dandy (4) 36 Brittle (5) 38 Gang (6) 39 Evoke (6) 40 Agree (5)

DOWN 1 Performed (5) 2 Glory (5) 3 Elderly (3) 4 Obtain (6) 5 Employed (4) 6 Mire (3) 7 Bid (5) 8 Haughty (5) 13 Train (7) 14 Drain (5) 16 Spotted (7) 18 Go in (5) 19 Encountered (3) 22 Old-fashioned (5) 24 Males (3) 27 Mammal (6) 28 Split (5) 29 Confusion (5) 31 Dullard (5) 32 Demise (5) 34 Region (4) 36 Sever (3) 37 Layer (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Polish 5, Ripped 9, Tamed 10, Earned 11, Louder 12, Medal 14, Char 17, Sex 18, Else 20 Eaten 22, Blend 23, Severed 24, Remit 26, Tenor 29, Eden 30, Hem 32, Ripe 33, Wider 35, Endear 36, Limpet 37, Depot 38, Lodged 39, Needed.

DOWN: 1, Pierce 2, Lariat 3, Stem 4, Hades 5, Relax 6, Idol 7, Puddle 8, Darted 13, Deleted 15, Hated 16, Resin 18, Elder19, Snoop 21, Net 22, Bet 24, Reveal 25, Mended 27, Nipped 28, Rested 30, Hired 31, Melon 33, Wade 34, Rite.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K