36 govs fight autonomy for LGs

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62260

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Stakeholders impressed as DNL unveils 2,700 tons made-in Nigeria CPF Modules W

By Egufe Yafugborhi

ARRI—NIGERIAN Content Development in the oil and gas sector gained a boost, yesterday, with the completion of first ever Nigerian

fabricated 2,700 Tons Central Processing Facility (CPF) Modules built by Daewoo Nigeria Limited (DNL).

The project which is the nucleus of the Engineer-

ing Procurement component of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) Otumara Associated Gas Solution (AGS) awarded in 2011, was completed and unveiled at the Warri Yard of DNL Continues on Page 16

36 govs fight autonomy for LGs •I'll run in 2015 — JONATHAN

•PG.8

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—IN a rare show of solidarity, the two factions of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, temporarily put aside their year-long differences, yesterday, to fight against the National Assembly proposal granting autonomy to the country’s local governments.

The two factions, led by

Continues on Page 16

High Court judge threatens to release criminals on bail

POWER OUTAGES:

Help on the way, FG tells Nigerians •P.9

15 killed as Fulani invade Nasarawa village •P.7

•P.6

COLUMNIST: Donu Kogbara

Political reflections •P.17

Mr & Mrs NEW Ekiti GOVT HOUSE: It's insensitivity to plight of Ekiti people — Govt •See pull-out Inside C M Y K

UNVEILING—A group photograph of top NNPC, SPDC, NAPIMS and Daewoo staff shortly after unveiling the built in Nigeria 2,700 tons Central Processing facilities Modules for Otumara Node for Domgas Project in Ekpan, Delta State, yesterday. Inset: L-R: Chief Ernest Nwapa, Secretary, Nigeria Local Content; Dr. David Ige, GED Gas and Power, NNPC and Chief Joseph Penawou, Country Chair, Deawoo Nig. Ltd. at the event.

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AJUDUA: Alleged accomplice granted separate trial

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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USTICE Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday, granted separate trial to one Mrs. Oluronke Rosulu, accused of allegedly aiding Lagos lawyer, Fred Ajudua, to defraud former Chief of Army Staff, General, Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd), of $8.3 million while he was in prison.

Ipaye’s ruling was sequel to an application made by Rosulu’s lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Ogundele, who filed an application seeking to separate her charges from those of Mr. Ajudua.

The court granted Rosulu’s application on the grounds that she had the right to separate her trial and that she had made a case for meritorious hearing.

Rosulu, until her suspension, was a Registrar with Justice Olubunmi Oyewole who was handling Bamaiyi’s case in Ikeja High Court before he was set free.

Arguing the application, Ogundele hinged his position on the delay being suffered by the case, which he said had affected her client who had been suspended by Lagos State Judicial Service Commission.

Police quiz Adamawa Speaker

By Umar Yusuf

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OLA—POLICE Detectives from the Force Headquarters yesterday quizzed the former Acting Governor of Adamawa State and the Speaker of the state Assembly, Umaru Fintiri, for over two hours over alleged plans to cause unrest in the state.

The Speaker confirmed the incident, but he said it was connected with the electrification of street lights in the state capital, pointing out that there was a petition that he inflated the contract to N2.3 billion, while the actual project cost was N283 million.

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‘EMPOWERMENT’: Items of empowerment at the Plateau North Senatorial Zone, Jos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

High Court judge lambasts Lagos prosecutors for ‘lack of diligence’

By Onozure Dania & Hope Ofobike

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AGOS—JUSTICE Aishat Opesanwo of Lagos High

Court, Igbosere, has lambasted the state’s prosecutors for lack of diligence in handling cases.

She also threatened to start granting bails to criminals, if the

NAFDAC cracks counterfeiting syndicate

By Chioma Obinna

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday arrested five members of a syndicate which specializes in counterfeiting and distribution of cosmetics and food products.

Parading the suspects at a media briefing in Lagos, the Director -General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the products constituted public health problems.

Orhii, who was represented by the Head, Investigations and Enforcement, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, also cautioned the public not to be deceived by such unscrupulous businessmen capitalising on old habit to market spurious products that could harm

human health.

Giving account of the latest crackdown, which he considered a major breakthrough by the agency, Orhii said a member of the syndicate, Mr. Ebenezer Arimiwen of Fakanbi Street, Egbeda, Lagos, was arrested in his illegal factory located right inside his residential apartment, counterfeiting brands of cosmetic products.

The NAFDAC boss also noted that all the products of Arimiwen were presented as manufactured in London, Paris, New York and EU. Also arrested and paraded was Mrs. Tina Ezeaku in Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, for the illegal manufacture of unregistered Timbora Yoghurt and also obstructing officers from performing their duty.

Threatens to release criminals on bail prosecutors failed to sit up in pushing their cases in court.

According to her, it is very embarrassing that she has been presiding over matters in the court for over one year without a single judgement.

She said: “I have been here for over a year and not one judgment has been passed. It is an embarrassment. Bail applications is all I attend to; once you go in to trial within trial, everything is stucked.

“We are like a moving train that is going nowhere, while passengers keep coming. The situation will compel me to start granting bails to armed robbers.

You know what that means.”

Justice Opesanwo, who was very furious with the way the prosecutor, Afolabi Sholebo, was handling the cases in her court.

She said: “If you cannot do what you ought to do, my garment will be stained and I will not like to be involved. I have to remove myself.

“It seems I am waiting on you and it should not be so. Perhaps we should set bail conditions and let them go.

“We would adjourn the matter and give the prosecution time

to react to applications. If he does not react to the application within the time frame, the cases will be struck out.”

Opesanwo also said that the prosecution had about 600 cases before her, lamenting that there was nothing to show for it.

She also said that the prosecution portrayed the court differently, adding that once the prosecutor left the court, he forgot about the cases.

She said: “You come to court without case file, but with a sheet of paper. What does it cost to create a file jacket? I do not think it makes sense. This division is pure embarrassment.”

She stated further that within last week and yesterday (Thursday), she had struck out 10 cases of armed robbery for lack of diligent prosecution.

She advised that the prosecutor should have a way of communicating with the Director of Public Prosecution, Olabisi Ogungbesan, “if you do not have the man power.”

In his response, Afolabi said his office had internal problems, which had made things tedious for the counsel.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 —7

Sapele lawyers on strike over abducted colleague

By Perez Brisibe

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APELE—LAWYERS in Sapele Judicial Division have refused to sit for the past four days in protest of their kidnapped colleague, Mr. Desmond Dudu.

Dudu was abducted last Sunday evening along EkuAbraka Road in Ethiope East Local Government Area by unknown gunmen.

In a protest for the unconditional release of Dudu, hundreds of lawyers of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Sapele branch, took to the streets of Sapele carrying placards.

Freedom march, appeal

15 dead, as Fulani invade Nasarawa village

By Abel Daniel

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AFIA—NO fewer than 15 people were feared killed in suspected fresh Fulani herdsmen attack on Kompany village in Lafia East Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, early Tuesday.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the insurgents invaded the village at about 2a.m. and started shooting sporadically.

According to the witness, over 15 dead bodies, mainly women and children, were recovered as at yesterday, with many still missing.

Worried by this development and incessant killing of farmers and innocent citizens by the herdsmen, the state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Yunana Iliya, yesterday appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to quickly intervene to stop the activities of the herdsmen from degenerating into another insurgency.

Some of them had “Free Barr. Dudu,” “Kidnapping is wrong and evil,” “Stop the kidnapping and release our colleagues,” among others, written on them.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting lawyers the Sapele Police Station, Chairman of the branch, Gabriel Ekerewe, said: “We are highly irritated with the kidnap of our colleague and we are using this medium to appeal to the kidnappers to release him unconditionally.”

In his response, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Mammah Rijau, while expressing sympathy over the incident, told the lawyers to be patient, saying police was on top of the situation and doing

their best to ensure the release of their colleague and arrest of the kidnappers.

He said: “I urge you to

advice the Dudu family not to negotiate with his abductors, but to provide the police with every available information.”

Customs rescues 27 passengers from Lagos boat mishap

By Godwin Oritse AGOS—NO fewer than 25 passengers, including a boat captain and his assistant, were yesterday rescued by officers of the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service along Ojo Alaba in Lagos State.

While on normal patrol routine in and around the Badagry creeks, the Customs team sighted the distressed passengers screaming for help along the waterways of OjoAlaba axis at 11 a.m.

Immediately, officers of the command swung into action to assist passengers of the capsized craft.

correspondent on the mishap, an Inspector of Customs, Ado Hussaini, who was part of the rescue team, said: “On our way back to the command from Agbara, at the junction linking Ojo and Alaba to the high sea, we noticed a boat with 200 horse power engine in distress and right there in our presence it capsized.

“We noticed that the passengers were floating on water. We then devised a means on how to rescue them. Nobody died in the process.

“We took the passengers to Parara jetty, very close to the road and began to call on their respective families.”

Rescue

... all safe

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The patrol team of five, led by one Inspector of Customs, Mr. Mohammed Tijani, ensured that no life was lost in the boat mishap and later moved the rescued passengers to the shore.

The passengers were taken to the nearest jetty at Parara within Ojo-Alaba axis.

Speaking with our

According to him, almost all the passengers were with their life jackets. He said 26 male, and a female were rescued.

Meanwhile, acting Controller of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Johnson Gabriel, commended the officers of the command for their humanitarian qualities in the course of the duty.

72-yr-old man docked over N15m fraud

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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72-year-old man, Raheem Babatunde, has been charged before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court in Lagos, for fraudulently converting and allegedly selling a land valued at N15 million.

Babatunde was charged alongside Miriam Onilara, 50, and Omolasho Olukayode, 42, by the police, on a five-count charge of forgery and fraudulent conversion of property.

According to charge, the accused persons also forged the document of the said land and stole N2.5 million from one Alhaji Usman Mohammed Tanko.

They pleaded not guilty.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Eranus Nnamonu, informed the court that the offence was punishable under section 363 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The magistrate, Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties, who must be their blood relations, and adjourned the matter to November 6.

50 injured, shops looted as traders, revenue collectors clash in Onitsha

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—NO fewer than 50 persons, yesterday, sustained various degrees of injuries, while about 20 shops were destroyed, following a confrontation between some revenue collectors from Onitsha South Local Government Area and traders at the Millenium Merchants and Importers Association Markets, Main Market, Onitsha.

Trouble started when Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairman, Lady Ann Chukwuneke, allegedly stormed the market with over 100 youths to collect revenue from the traders and at the same time clamp down on street trading in the area.

A source said the council officials started dismantling some of the shops, which did not go down well with the traders.

This, it was learned, resulted in a free-for-all between the traders and revenue collectors, following which over 50 persons

sustained injuries.

Among those reportedly injured were the Vice Chairman of the market, Prince Peter Okoye and Obiora Otigba.

The traders began to protest, with placards bearing inscriptions such as “The council chairman is not a good mother,” “Governor Obiano should remove her,” “We have lost huge sums of money to hoodlums.”

Governor intervenes

Reacting to the development, the President of Anambra State Markets Amalgamation Traders Association, AMATAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, said the council chairman had no right to storm the market and destroy the wares of the traders, some of who, he said, lost huge sums of money to hoodlums.

He said: “The governor directed me to come and calm the traders and to reopen their shops, that he is looking into the crisis. I am happy the governor is aware because he does not want crisis in the state.”

The traders protesting alleged invasion by council officials.

Market’s Chairman reacts

Earlier, the chairman of the market, Mr. Valentine Ezechukwu, and former chairman, Chief Obiora Nwankwo, described the action of the council boss as uncalled for, adding that they had earlier discussed with the chairman on the way forward for the market and wondered why she stormed the market without notice.

They said: “We gave a token to the council, yet they stormed

the market demanding N50,000 per shop.”

Three traders, Uche Okolie, John Achukwu, from Warri and one Joseph claimed to have lost N 2.5 million, N360,000 and N 100,000, respectively, to the hoodlums.

The timely intervention of the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, saved the situation from escalating to other markets.

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8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

By Ben Agande

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BUJA—LESS than 24 hours after an ultimatum from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to him and others to purchase nomination forms within seven days, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swiftly moved to formalise his reelection process with the constitution of a declaration committee.

The declaration, Vanguard learnt yesterday has been tentatively scheduled for between the 7th and 15th November, 2014.

A highly placed presidency source disclosed yesterday that the president would also pick the nomination form before the expiration of the one week deadline given by the PDP to all aspirants to various offices.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the declaration committee, which is to be headed by erstwhile national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed is composed of representatives of governors, the National Assembly and other political stakeholders. The committee is to choose a convenient date for the president to make a formal declaration.

Before the decision was arrived at, the president met with some prominent members of the party in and outside of government in the Presidential Villa yesterday where he told them that following his adoption by the governors of the PDP, the National Working Committee and the Board of Trustees of the party, he has accepted to heed their call to contest in the 2015 election.

Among those at the meeting Vanguard learnt were the national chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark and other close aides of the president.

“President Jonathan met with key party members where he thanked them for giving him the opportunity of first refusal. He thanked them for adopting him as the candidate of the party and formally informed them that he has accepted to run and would be purchasing the nomination form before the expiration of the one week deadline given by the PDP for all its aspirants to pick nomination forms within one week,” the source said.

According to the official, in order to ensure a smooth formal declaration ceremony, the president has constituted a committee that would prepare the logistics for his formal declaration which will be between the 7th and 15th of November.

Similarly, it was gathered that the president has also constituted a fund raising committee for the campaign proper, which is headed by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana.

Other members of the fund raising committee have, however,

2015: I will run — JONATHAN zTo pick up nomination form before PDP deadline not been named yet.

Members of the Declaration Committee include: Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed (Chairman) from Kebbi, Sen. Ken Namani (Deputy Chairman), Enugu, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Ebonyi, Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali (member), Gombe, Julius Imagwe - SSA - Youth (member), Edo, Dr. Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) - Kano, (member).

Governors representing the six geographical zones include; Liyel Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East), Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu Niger (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West) and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).

Representatives of the National Assembly are Sen. Hosea Agboola , (Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Rep. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Rep. Salmas Badru (Ogun).

Members representing the Federal Executive Council include; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke (Bayelsa), Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Women Affairs,

WORKSHOP ON CIVIL MILITARY COOPERATION: From left, President Goodluck Jonathan; Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the EU Head of delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Michel Arrion during the opening ceremony of the International Workshop on Civil Military Cooperation at the National Defence College, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa), Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Representatives of the PDP in the committee include: Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus (Rivers), Chairman, PDP Benue State, Chief Emmanuel Agbo, (Benue) National Women Leader, Kema

Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).

Other members are Sen. Stella Omu (Delta), Sen. Walid Jibirn (BOT Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Sen. Aniette Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Mrs. Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and

Gen. A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth Leader) - FCT. Others appointed to the committee at the discretion of the president were Barr. Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Hon. Micah Yohanna Jiba (FCT) and Hon. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).

NLC summons emergency meeting over minimum wage Monday

By Funmi Komolafe & Victor Ahiuma-Young

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday summoned an emergency meeting of its executive council on Monday to discuss the removal of wages from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List by NASS. But the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha said yesterday that the report of the Constitution Review Committee adopted by the National Assembly did not remove labour from the exclusive legislative list.

A statement by Ihedioha said that the Senate had earlier put labour on the concurrent list “but the House retained it in the exclusive list.”

“During the harmonisation of the reports from the two chambers, the Conference Committee adopted the House version and retained labour on the exclusive List.

“Both Senate and the House of Representatives have now adopted the Conference Committee report which retained labour on the exclusive

legislative list.

“We are at a loss as to where the false and misleading information on this matter emanated from,” Ihedioha said.

However, the Monday ’s meeting of the NLC is also coming as Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, noted that senators were not only ignorant but also uninformed about the principles of National Minimum Wage, NMW, insisting that NASS would not have its way as workers would resist the action with the last drop of their blood.

The NLC also claimed in a statement that the action of members of NASS was part of “a conscious ploy by some people to truncate the ongoing electioneering process.”

The statement, signed by the NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, read: “The NLC condemns in strong terms the removal of wages from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List by the NASS, in the on-going fourth amendment exercise to the 1999 Constitution.

“We at the Congress see the removal of wages from the Exclusive List as an act of treachery masterminded by conservative governors and their

cohorts in the NASS which will do the polity no good.

“We wish to state in no uncertain terms that the Congress will mobilize its members to resist this move to scrap the NMW. We recall that last year our national campaign and mobilization on this subject matter was suspended at the instance of the leadership of the Senate which promised to revisit the issue now that they are better informed. ‘’We recall paying tribute to the House of Representatives, which in its wisdom did not contemplate removing Wages from the Exclusive List. It is also worth recalling that the just concluded National Conference retained Wages on the Exclusive List in deference to the logic of the argument for the necessity of maintaining wages on the Exclusive List.

“We have generated and circulated enough literature on this subject matter and we are completely at a loss as to the rationale for this turn-around. We advise the NASS to hearken to the voice of reason and the voice of the people by urgently retracing their steps because the consequences of their action could be dire for the nation.

“We have explained as often as

necessary that the basic rationale for the fixing of a minimum wage is to ensure that employees, particularly the unorganised and unskilled, are not exploited by their employers to the extent that their pay becomes so low that it creates a pool of the working poor. ‘’Minimum wage laws are in force in approximately 90 percent of the countries of the world today. Why would Nigeria leave this group for the negative 10 percent?

“One of the implications of this amendment is the jettisoning by the NASS of the concept of a national minimum wage as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (item 34 of the Second Schedule). What this means is that every individual employer will determine it’s minimum wage. This is extremely retrogressive and dangerous. ‘’The other implication is that it will turn the wage determination process in states into a legislative exercise instead of the universal best practice model of collective bargaining as enshrined in the ILO Convention on Collective Bargaining and Convention on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.''

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 9

POWER OUTAGES: Help on the way, FG tells Nigerians

By Michael Eboh

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LCCI, bemoaned the epileptic power situation in the country, saying that, “the sector is critical to Nigeria’s economic development and all hands should be on deck to ensure it is fixed.”

He further stated that there are concerns that the successor companies did not conduct due diligence before buying into the power companies, in addition to

the funding challenges confronting the companies.

According to him, the Nigerian financial system cannot support the funding structure of the power sector due to the long term gestation period for the power projects, high interest rates and legacy debts.

He further expressed concern that the top management of the successor companies has little

experience on how the sector is run, while there is no proper framework to ensure a meaningful level of local content.

He disclosed that investors in the power sector are grappling with a lot of challenges beyond their control, noting however, that efforts should be made to tackle the challenges, as this will ensure that the sector is fixed and also make the country competitive.

AGOS—FOLLOWING the significant decline in power supply witnessed across the country in the last couple of days and the untold hardship it has brought upon Nigerians, the Federal Government, yesterday, said, “Nigerians should take heart, help is on the way.”

Speaking at the Worldstage National Electricity Power Conference, in Lagos, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the Federal Government is aware of the challenges confronting the sector and is working assiduously to address the problems.

This is coming on the heels of a worsening power situation, with power supply dropping to as low as 2,000 mega watts in the last couple of days. This has led to rationing of electricity as a number of households in the country are grappling with about six hours of electricity daily.

Nebo, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Investment, Finance and Human Resources, Mr. Olajuwon Olaleye, said the Federal Government is aware that the power sector is the hub of development, and it is ensuring that all hands are on deck to bring HONOUR FOR OMERI: From left; Senator Suleiman Adokwe; Director General, National progress to the sector.

Explaining why the Transitional Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri and HRH, Eze Ikenna Okoli, the Obi of Akokwa I of Electricity Market has not kicked Imo State at the dinner organized by Alago Friends of Obowu of Keana in honour of Omeri off, Nebo stated that the Federal who recently received Officer of The Order of Federal Republic (OFR) award, in Abuja, yesterday.

Government is currently putting finishing touches to ensure that the power companies are seen to be operating in an effective manner.

He further stated that they are at the second stream of the shadow trading phase, which is HE World Health have been saved through “staggering” number of lives are designed to mirror and test run Organisation, WHO, said effective diagnosis and treatment being lost to the”second biggest killer disease from a single all the segments of the power Wednesday that nine million of TB since 2000”, it said.” sector, making sure that people developed tuberculosis, In a message marking the infectious agent” and that everything is in place before the TB, in 2013, while 1.5 million report’s launch, Dr Mario “insufficient funding is kickoff of the TEM. died, including 360,000 people Raviglione, WHO Director of the hampering efforts to combat the He maintained that the who were HIV positive.

Global TB Programme, global epidemic.”

An estimated 8 billion dollars is transmission section of the power WHO in a latest report released applauded the data collection sector needs a total investment of in Geneva, said the world was efforts by member states, noting needed each year for a full $7.7 billion over the next couple fighting a difficult battle against that it was helping the UN response, but there is currently of years for the maintenance of the spread of tuberculosis. agency to draw a broader and an annual shortfall of 2 billion the transmission grid, while the It revealed that there was clearer picture of the global dollars.

Against that backdrop, it stated distribution and generation greater number of cases than epidemic. sections needs an investment of previously estimated amidst “Following a concerted effort that the multidrug-resistant TB $5 billion annually to drive shortfall in research funding. by countries by WHO and (MDR-TB) crisis continues to growth in the power sector, The report, entitled,’ Global multiple partners, investment in wreak havoc through “severe making possible for the country Tuberculosis Report 2014', stated national surveys and routine epidemics” affecting developing to attain all the targets for the that the mortality rate from TB had surveillance efforts have countries, particularly in Eastern sector. increase,” Europe and Central Asia. continued to fall and dropped by substantially WHO said that in 2013 there The investment is important, 45 per cent since 1990.

Raviglione said. because as the generating “This is providing us with much was an estimated 480,000 new This development, WHO said, capacity of the country is being had kept the world on track to more and better data, bringing cases of the difficult-to-treat strain upgraded in the next couple of meet the Millennium us closer and closer to while extensively drug-resistant months, the wheeling capacity of Development Goals (MDGs) understanding the true burden TB (XDR-TB), an even more antibiotic resistant strain of the the transmission facility also target of reversing TB incidence. of tuberculosis,” he added. needs to be upgraded to be able Although higher than disease, has spread to 100 The world body added that “at to deliver power to every nooks the same time, the number of expected, the overall figures fall countries.

“The progress that has been and crannies of the country. people developing the disease is within “the upper limit of Also speaking, Mr. Aderemi declining by an average 1.5 per previous WHO estimates,” the made in combatting MDR-TB has been hard won and must Bello, President, Lagos Chamber cent per year.

WHO said. of Commerce and Industry, It stated that in spite of this, a be intensified.''

“An estimated 37 million lives

TB kills 1.5m, infects 9m in 2013 — WHO

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Boko Haram frees abducted women ...Girls rumoured married off to insurgents

By Umar Yusuf

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OLA—THE Boko Haram insurgents, who reportedly abducted about 50 women and girls from two border villages between Adamawa and Borno states have freed the women among their captives.

This was disclosed in an interview by villagers, who spoke on the issue with newsmen on the telephone from their hide-outs.

They however, said that the exact number of those released could not be ascertained, but that no fewer than 45 girls were still being detained.

According to the villagers, the women and girls were abducted from Waga Mangoro which was between Gwoza in Borno and Madagali in Adamawa states.

Relatives of some of the abducted women who were later released by the insurgents also, told newsmen in Yola that some of the girls have been turned to cooks while others were married off immediately to some of the insurgents.

A relative to one of the women who spoke on the condition of anonymity said; ''Initially, the insurgents captured 80 girls and women whom they later loaded into their vans and zoomed off into the bushes.

Later in the night, the insurgents separated the elderly women from the girls and released the women, who are now languishing in the forest because they could not locate the towns because they were razed down by the insurgents.

“We are confused that hours after the so called cease fire agreement between the Federal Government and Boko Haram insurgents, our girls are still being abducted by the insurgents.

“We are at a loss about government’s insincerity on the whole issue and we urge them to rescue our daughters without further delay as we are ready to die searching for our missing ones.”

10— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Tension as chieftaincy row brews in Lagos community

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—A row, which has already attracted the attention of the Lagos State Police Commissioner and the Lagos State Government, is now brewing in IbejuLekki area of Lagos State over the title of Oba Obirin Olorisa, Queen of Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State The Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Ademoorin Kuye, has taken up the matter, following series of complaints from Oba Tajudeen Elemoro and Oba Onibeju, on the alleged activities of one Madam Toyin Eleku, who they claimed had been parading herself as Oba Obinrin Olorisa of Ibeju-Lekki area.

It was gathered that the final straw was a petition to the commissioner by lawyer to the Eleku Family of Oko Olomi, Mr Paul Ogundele, claiming that the Eleku family “Do not have such title in their family and the highest title is just a Baale in the Okunu Eleku family in the person of Chief Segun Eleku.”

APOLOGY ON page 10 of the Vanguard of June 22, 2011, we published a news item titled Tension in Ekpan, our alleged release of subject by Police.

We retract the said news item and apologise to Chief V. E. Otomieno for any inconvenience the publication may have occasioned him.

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Pandemonium as fire guts MMIA terminal building L

By Lawani Mikairu

AGOS—THE Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport, MMIA, Lagos was yesterday saved from being razed down following a quick intervention of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, fire fighters after fire broke out on the fifth floor of the Airport terminal.

The fire, said to have been caused by an electric spark, started at about 11.45 a.m. on the fifth floor of the terminal where the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has its’ offices. The departure hall on the first floor of the terminal was enveloped by smoke as passengers and workers ran out of the hall for safety.

Vanguard was at the scene of the fire and witnessed the efforts of FAAN fire fighters, using tender truck with number plate P6-03 and a pick-up van fire tender with number plate FKJ407-AS, to put out the fire. It took about an hour for the fire to be put under control. The fire fighters later told reporters that the smoke at the departure hall passed through a hose down from the 5th floor where the fire started.

Reacting to the fire incident, FAAN General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Yakubu Dati said

preliminary investigation reveals that the incident was caused by a short circuit at the panel room. And that there was no immediate danger to anyone as a result neither did it affect flight operations at the terminal.

Dati said: “There was a minor smoke incident at the departures hall of the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at

about 11:45am today, Thursday, November 23, 2014.

"The smoke was quickly traced to the electric panel room on the second (5th) floor of the terminal by a combined team of FAAN’s electrical engineers and fire officers.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the incident was caused by a short circuit at the panel room which was quickly arrested by the engineers on duty.

"The Authority wishes to assure the traveling public and other airport users that there was no immediate danger to anyone as a result of the incident neither did it affect flight operations at the terminal.

“The Authority has directed the Directorate of Engineering and Maintenance to commence immediate investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the said short-circuiting of the cables.”

AGM: From left: Senior Advisor on Food Security and Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Dr. Victor Ajieroh, former President, Nigerian Institute of Food, Science and Technology, NIFST, Mrs. Dolapo Coker, and Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Clem Ugorji, at the NIFST 38th Conference and Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

Ignorance, decadence top Nigerian's problems — Vanguard conference

By Vera Anyagafu, Prisca

Sam-Duru, Providence Obuh & Tolulope Falola Monsur Olowoopejo AGOS—PARTICIPANTS at Vanguard Women Roundtable Conference, yesterday, concluded that the abduction of Chibok girls is not the biggest issue facing the country but described it as a mere distraction from major issues.

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The conference which focused on Violence Against Women and girls in the country, is titled: “The Plight of Women and Children in the Face of Emerging Terrorism: Which Way Forward?” was held at Vanguard Conference Room.

The participants identified two major problems affecting the country as “mass ignorance of the people and decadence in the family unit.”

According to them, “Nigeria is a sad country with sad citizens.

Chibok girls is not the biggest issue but a major distraction from major issues troubling Nigeria.

The problem is that Nigeria is very complex. Nigeria is a pathetic state and Chibok girls issue is a tip of the iceberg.”

They pointed out that abducting women and children is with the intention to create fear in people and that the Boko Haram sect is a political group which does not have ideology.

“Some members are there because of poverty and so they are paid better by their sponsors who go about recruiting young children.”

However, a section of the participants disagreed with the allusion that poverty is the cause of loss of our value system rather blaming it on the take over of schools by government.

In particular, they maintained that

Nigeria made the mistake of just moving on after the civil war without addressing post-war issues as well as a way forward: “Nigeria must separate state from religion,” they said.

On education, the participants said that it is what changes and empowers individuals as well as nations, adding that lack of adequate structures is the bane of quality education.

7th LIRS School Essay begins

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AGOS—THE seventth edition of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service Secondary School Essay Competition has begun. The competition kicked off with the delivery of letters to schools between October 9 and 10, 2014.

The competition was conceived to acquaint the youths, the leaders of tomorrow, w i t h tax administration as a way of ensuring that they become responsible citizens when they gain employment after leaving school and also to motivate them for academic excellence.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 —11

No plan to impeach Fayose — APC lawmakers zAs Gov's aide slams speaker for operating fuel station

By Leke Adeseri, South West

Regional Editor & Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—THE 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have denied planning to impeach the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Speaking at the Assembly complex in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the lawmakers said their recent visit to Lagos State had nothing to do with alleged planned impeachment of the governor.

Impeachment rumour

Speaking on behalf of others, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Taiwo Orisalade, urged the people of the state to dismiss the rumour.

A socio-political group, Ekiti Democratic Coalition, EDC, had alleged in a statement that the lawmakers were offered N800 million bribe by a National Leader of the APC, to impeach Fayose.

The Deputy Speaker described the allegation against him and 14 others as baseless and a figment of imagination of those that concocted the story.

Orisalade who reacted to the allegation through his Special Assistant on Media, Taiwo Oluwaleye said he couldn’t imagine how some individuals would just wake up and start writing gibberish with the sole aim of discrediting others.

He said he was not even in the country when his colleagues travelled to Lagos State which had to do with the forthcoming convention of APC later this year.

The lawmaker said he travelled abroad on Friday, October 17 and returned on Wednesday, October 22 and therefore could not have attended any meeting with anybody.

According to him; ‘’The group in its publication, said the Assembly planned to use the dissolution of Local Government Caretaker Committees as reason for the impeachment.

“It sounds comical and only intellectual Lilliputians would rush to the press with such cheap blackmail."

Orisalade, however, urged the public to disregard the news in its entirety, adding that the House will not be deterred from its responsibility which was to make laws that will move the State forward.

He stressed that the legislative arm will continue C M Y K

to work harmoniously with the executive as it did in the past.

Speaker has no right to own private business —Fayose’s aide

Meantime, the Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Information and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka has described the claim by Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Omirin that his filling station, T5 Petrol Station, was sealed up for political reasons as the height of mischief and misrepresentation of facts.

He said as a public office holder, “the Speaker does not have legal right to own private business, and one wonders how someone prohibited by law to own private business while in office can be said to own a filling station that is under construction.”

Olayinka, in a statement yesterday, said; “As against the falsehood being spread by the Speaker and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Petrol Station, alongside three others were sealed up for contravening environmental laws.”

The governor ’s aide listed the four filling stations affected by the government action as; INIS Integrated Services located on Iworoko Road, Ado-

Ekiti, belonging to Hon. Churchill Adedipe; NIPCO Petrol Station (Morolu Global Services), Isato-Oke in AdoEkiti (belonging to Mr Oloko), T5 Petrol Station, Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti (owned

by Dr. Adewale Omirin) and PHENROSE Limited, Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti (owned

by Mr Gilbert Igweka).

Olayinka, who advised the Speaker to thread softly to prevent himself from being pushed into perdition, added that; “Code 2 (b) of the Code of Conduct Act prohibits public office holders like the Speaker from participating in management or running of any private business, profession or trade.

“Therefore, those saying Dr Omirin owns a filling station are only trying to throw him inside the web of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and they won’t be available to help him out of the mess they would have put him in.”

Stop theatrics and face governance, APC tells Fayose The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, has advised Governor Ayo Fayose to stop playing to the gallery and start governing the people of the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement said it was high time the governor stopped pulling his usual stunts and start telling the people what beneficial programmes he has for them.

The statement reads in part: “We are not surprised about the recent circus show of our Governor, who has been busy reeling out imaginary and mind boggling figures to discredit his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. ‘’It is in his character to do so, we would, as a matter of fact, have ignored him, but we felt the need to set the records straight for the unsuspecting public who may be misled by this overblown cost of the new Governor ’s Lodge and the fittings therein.

Dr. Fayemi as a firm believer in transparency and accountability had never hidden any of the projects executed with bond money from Ekiti people and this included the new Governor’s Lodge. Nothing could be farther from the truth that N50 million was spent on procuring a bed. Nowhere in the world is any bed sold for N50 million and none of the ones in the Governor’s Lodge is up to N2 million."

We're not against Mimiko— Ondo PDP leaders

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KURE—THE leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Ondo state yesterday said they are not against governor Olusegun Mimiko joining the party.

Rather, they insisted that a landlord must not become a tenant in his own house.

They were reacting to the governor's accusation that the party in the state lacked discipline for rushing to court to halt the decision of the national secretariat of the party as regards the dissolution of the State Working Committee.

This was contained in a statement by the Party ’s Organising Secretary, Afolabi Akinbowale, in Akure.

....As 2 Ondo Assembly members defect to APC

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MEETING: From left: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima and immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, during the All Progressives Governors Meeting, at Government House, Ilorin.

By Dayo Johnson

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—TWO members of the Ondo State House of Assembly elected on the platform of Labour Party yesterday defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. They are Gbenga Edema representing Ilaje constituency 11 who refused to defect with other 23 members last week to the PDP on the pretext that he was still consulting and Hon. Fola Olasehinde representing Ose council area of the state.

While Edema did not hide his displeasure of going to PDP with his other colleagues, Olasehinde who is one of the three female members in the Assembly actually signed with others to defect to PDP only to capitulate yesterday.

Osun NUT splits as secondary school teachers form were tied.

Their grouse was over state, was chosen as the leader parallel body alleged The leader of ASUSS, a source increase in the monthly of the new splinter group called

O

By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—OSUN State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, is split into two factions with the secondary school teachers in the state forming a parallel union.

union deductions from members’ salaries.

It was reliably gathered that one Obawole Abike, said to have led the team that collected signatures of teachers in secondary schools across the

Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS. It was learnt that the group held several meetings before the last one at Oduduwa College, Ile Ife early this week where loose ends of the new union’s matters

present at the meeting, declared that the leadership of NUT in the state has failed to protect rights of teachers, especially those working in secondary schools, hence its decision to form a parallel body.

C M Y K

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Three nabbed over attempt to blow up Calabar-Itu bridge

By Chioma Onuegbu

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HREE suspected terrorists who last month attempted to blow up CalabarItu head bridge have been arrested by security operatives in Akwa Ibom State The suspects were identified as Samuel Coleman Yaw, a Ghanaian resident in Bakassi Local Government Area in Cross River State; Monday Anthony, an indigene of Ikang village, also in Bakassi Local Government Area and Boronyefa Olorogun, alias General Bofa.

Briefing newsmen at the state command headquarter, in Ikot Akpan Abia, yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Achong, said the suspects were arrested on October 5, after intensive surveillance by the Police and the Department of State Service, DSS. He said: “On 20/09/2014, the command received information that a group of aggrieved terrorists planned to blow up the Calabar-Itu head bridge. Upon thorough and intensive surveillance, two of the suspects, Samuel Coleman Yaw, a Ghanaian resident in Bakassi Local Government Area and Monday Anthony of Ikang village also in Bakassi

LGA in Cross River State, were arrested.

“The mastermind, Boronyefa Olorogun, alias General Bofa, escaped but after a rigorous search by a combined team of Police and DSS Akwa Ibom State, the suspect was traced and arrested in Yenogoa, Bayela State, on 17/10/2014.

The suspects have admitted to commiting the crime.

"The following items were recovered from the suspects: Six super power 90 explosives; five blasting laps, three rolls of detonating cords, one bundle of extra detonating cord, and one Honda Accord 1997 model.”

The Commissioner, who explained that the suspects would soon be arraigned in court, listed other achievements of the command in the last one month to include arrests of 10 suspected kidnappers, two pirates, child traffickers and recovery of three vehicles.

SWEARING-IN: Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State flanked on his right by the new Chief of Staff, Mr. Victor Atuonwu, his wife, Mrs. Maureen Atuonwu (left) and children, shortly after he was sworn-in at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Delta LG poll: Crisis brews in Warri over alleged bid to dump PDP chairmanship candidate

By Daniel Gumm

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ARRI—FRESH crisis is brewing in Warri, Delta State, following perceived moves to dump Mr. Weyinmi Omadeli, as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairmanship candidate for Warri South-West Local Government Area, less than 48 hours to the local government polls.

It was alleged that an exNiger Delta militant leader, is using his connection with the

Presidency to substitute Omadeli with his sibling as the favoured chairmanship candidate.

Consequently, an Itsekiri group, Itsekiri Consolidated Movement, ICM, has threatened to cause a breach of the peace in Warri should the plot become a reality.

The ICM, in a statement by its Chairman and Public Relations Officer, Messrs Oritsegbemi Besidone and Franklin Metsese, respectively, warned that any

attempt to replace Omadeli as PDP chairmanship candidate and impose the sibling of the ex-militant leader as the next council chairman or seize the Warri South-West Constituency seat from the incumbent member representing the local government area, Daniel Mayuku, would result in a major crisis capable of having a spill-over effect on the 2015 polls.

The Vice Chairman of Delta Water ways Security Committee, Chief Boro Opudu, who is also the Warri

South-West PDP Chairman, had explained that the peace agreement between Ijaw and Itsekiri in the aftermath of the Warri crisis did not include the state constituency seat in the council area, but the single tenure rotational chairmanship.

Meanwhile, some Itsekiri youths, yesterday, besieged the gate of Olu Palace in Warri, protesting the alleged moves to replace Omadeli as PDP chairmanship candidate for Warri South-West.

LG polls: Deltans urged to support DSIEC

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HE co-coordinator of Benin River Vanguard, Mr. Anthony Okotie, has called on the people to accord the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, the requisite support to deliver credible polls in the local government election coming up tomorrow.

Speaking in Jakpa at a rally in support of the PDP flag bearer Mr. Francis Maku, Okotie enjoined the people of Warri North Local Government Area to vote for the PDP

candidate.

He said the large turn out at the rally was an indication that PDP would sweep the polls.

The PDP flag bearer, Mr Francis Maku promised to surpass the achievements of the incumbent by bringing dividents of democracy closer to the people.

Mr Okotie further charged the people to vote PDP in the election to be at par with the state and federal government.

Ekanem joins A-Ibom gov race

By Gabriel Ewepu

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S 2015 election draws closer, a gubernatorial aspirant from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ime Ekanem, has joined the race to Government House, Uyo, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Ekanem, recently at the PDP National Headquarters, bought the Expression of Interest and Nomination form to kickstart his campaign.

Speaking on his decision, Ekanem said he wanted to add value to human capacity development in the state, which was paramount to sustain the infrastructure development by Governor A k p a b i o - l e d administration.

Ekanem said: “I am contesting because I feel I can do a lot to change the lives of Akwa Ibom people. I have done quite a bit in the state, but through this opportunity I can do more to transform the lives of our people. I want to empower unemployed youths, I will do this through the private sector."

Ebong passes on

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HIEF Enobong Ebong of Utu Edem Urua village, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, is dead, aged 85. He was a former staff of Vanguard Newspapers. Aside from his career in journalism which saw him working in several newspaper houses, late Chief Ebong also worked with various other organisations.

A statement by Imo Ebong on behalf of the family, said funeral service will be held at Annang People’s School, Utu Abak, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

Late Chief Ebong

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 13

900 C-River communities to benefit from WHO's medical aid ... to stop the spread of NTDs

By Ike Uchechukwu

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ALABAR—WORLD Health Organisation, WHO, is partnering National Association of Seadogs, NAS, to distribute and administer drugs on Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, to over 900 communities in Cross River State, aimed at stemming the spread of NTDs ravaging some communities in the state.

The NTDs are Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis), Onchocerciasis, Trachoma, Schistosomiasis (snail fever), Trichuriasis (whipworm), Ascariasis (roundworm) and Hookworm.

Drugs to be administered are Mectizan and Albendazole, while mosquito-treated nets will also be distributed alongside.

Over 100 participants under the NAS Medical Mission and NAS Volunteers Corps were yesterday trained in Calabar by officials of the WHO/Cross River State Ministry of Health to administer the distribution of the drugs to affected communities.

Project Director of WHO/ NTDs office in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Hillary Adie, told Vanguard that WHO decided to partner the association to ensure effective distribution to the communities, especially in Calabar South, Calabar

Municipality and Abi local government areas of the state where coverage was still poor.

He said: “These drugs are free and they are for specific diseases. They are meant to help reduce the scourge of NTDs. We are calling on NAS to help ensure effective distribution; they should help us see that the masses gain a lot from this. The problem is with Calabar South because of

the stranger elements who are not giving us ears. We have been working with some health workers but it has not been effective. We have distribution challenges in Calabar South, Calabar Municipality and Abi LGAs.” President of NAS, Prince Ifeanyi Onochie, said the association decided to use Cross River State as the pilot scheme for the partnership

with WHO to help mitigate the spread of the scourge.

Onochie, who spoke through the NAS Medical Pyrate, Dr. Ofem Enang, said the “NAS Medical Mission is made up mainly of health professionals, among others that are seadogs from Area 5 consisting Jokaina, Frigate, Red Barracuda and Kalahari, would ensure free distribution of the drugs to identified communities."

VISIT: Chief Victor Ochei (left) receiving the traditional blessing from Chief Joe Omene, President-General, Urhobo Progress Union, during a consultative visit by Ochei, in Mosogar, Delta State.

Ihonvbere tasks oil firms in Edo on CSR

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—SECRETARY to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has tasked oil companies operating in the state, to provide basic amenities to their host communities, explaining that “it is the only solution to restiveness in communities."

Ihonvbere spoke yesterday in Benin City at a stakeholders’ forum with the theme, Effective Corporate Social Responsibility: A Tool for Sustainable Peace In Oil Producing Communities, organised by the state Ministry of Solid Minerals, Oil and Gas. Stressing the need for oil producing communities to be cautious and civil in their demands for social amenities and jobs creation from the oil and gas companies, Ihonvbere noted that the oil and gas sector had remained the main stay of the nation’s economy.

C M Y K

He said: “Edo State Government, in line with the provisions of the law setting up the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission, EDSOGPADEC, has been providing both capacity for human development and basic

amenities such as roads, water, electricity, schools, health centres, skills acquisition centres, markets, to mention but a few,” adding that the forum was another milestone in the quest by the state government “to remind us of our duty to ourselves at

all times.”

Earlier, Commissioner for Solid Mineral, Oil and Gas, Mr. Isimemen Iriogbe, said the ministry was always ready to assist host communities with conflict resolution that could have degenerated into disruption in operations and other crisis.

Delta 2015: We’ll not forget you, UPU assures Ochei

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HE governorship ambition of Chief Victor Ochei, former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, got a boost when the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, through Chief Joe Omene (JP) gave the assurance that “the group will not forget him Ochei, when the time comes for considering a suitable governorship aspirant.

He made the statement while responding to Ochei’s advocacy for support to his ambition during a consultative visit to the

executive officers of UPU, in Mosogar.

Omene said the statement stemmed from Ochei’s impressive address, which portrayed him as a detribalised Deltan who had shown tremendous understanding of the socio-political dynamics of Delta State.

He counselled other aspirants to emulate Ochei whom he described as a unique politician with exemplary track record of encouraging ethnic tolerance as

a means of deriving strength from the state's diversity.

Earlier, Chief Ochei pledged to bring his wealth of experience as a former speaker of the state legislature to bear on governance with the aim of improving on the lives of Deltans, if voted as governor.

He informed the gathering that as a detribalised Deltan, his focal point would be to have a pan-Deltan blueprint to bring about massive transformation in the various sub-sectors of the state.

Delta LG poll: Funkekeme urges support for PDP

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EMBERS of P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, have been urged to come out en- mass to deliver the party in tomorrow's local government election.

The state commissioner for Works, Mr. Solomon Funkekeme, made the appeal in Kiagbodo, yesterday, during the flag-off of campaign in Burutu Local Government Area.

He called for unity among Burutu PDP chairmanship candidates, councillors and party members for the success of the the election, adding that the council area has been impacted positively since the inception of PDP in Delta State.

Candidate of the PDP in Burutu Local Government Area, Mr. Ebikeme Clarke, in his address, promised to give the local government area a face lift, adding that he would key into the three- point agenda of the present administration. He also promised to bring additional 13 points agenda to actualize his vision for the area.

Deacon Kenneth Ogeibiri, PDP Chairman, Burutu LGA, on his part, assured the chairmanship candidate and his team of total support from the party in the area because according to him, PDP is synonymous with empowerment.

Correction

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N our advertorial in the Vanguard Newspaper of October 23, 2014, on Page 59, we erroneously carried the title, Consultancy For Procurement support to the newly created Edo State Public Procurement Agency.

We have since been informed that the appropriate name of the agency is EDO STATE P U B L I C PROCUREMENT AGENCY. All inconveniences are regretted.

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14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

2015: CAN, PFN members pray for peace

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY — AHEAD 2015 general elections, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, will converge in Benin City next Monday, to pray for the peaceful conduct of the polls.

The clerics will also pray for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria during the Bible Alive Believers International Convention, BABIC, an annual convention of the Gospel Light International Ministries, New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin City.

The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Rev (Dr.) Felix Omobude, who disclosed this in a press statement in Benin City, stated that the Christian clerics will start arriving Benin City from Monday, next week.

JTF destroys 13 illegal oil refinery camps

By Samuel Oyadongha

Pulo Shield, in collaboration with Oil and Gas Task Force, on illegal oil bunkering of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, of Bayelsa State, have destroyed 13 illegal oil refinery camps on Igbomotoru creek of the state.

The JTF in a statement issued by its spokesman, Lt. Col Mustapha Anka, said the ENAGOA — operatives were on patrol along OPERATIVES of the antiIgbomotoru water ways of illegal oil bunkering troop of the Southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State, Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation when they uncovered the illegal refinery camps.

Items discovered at the camps operated by crude oil thieves, according to the statement include storage dumps, Cotonou boats filled with stolen crude and Automobile Gas Oil, AGO, and pumping machine.

Other equipment discovered and destroyed were plastic tanks and hoses for siphoning stolen crude oil from oil wells.

Both the sites and products, alongside the equipment, according to Anka, were destroyed in Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, Deputy Governor, Delta State (left), presenting line with the Task Force award to Mr. Victor Onogagamue, Delta State Director of Sports, at 2014 mandate in the Niger Delta. dinner/merit award nite grand finale of Delta State Public Service Week celebration, at Orchid Hotel, Asaba. Photos: Nath Onojake

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Delta State Public Service holds awards nite

Lagos APC dismisses speculations to stop third term aspirants

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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Dahunsi marks golden jubillee

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R. AFOLABI Dahunsi will on Thursday, October 30, 2014 celebrate his 50th birthday.

The event, which will take place at Oranmiyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, 111, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, will commence by 11:oo.am.

Awardess, from left, Eluroh Lucky, Madam Patience Omomadia, Mr. Victor Onogagamue, and Mr. Ojeblenu Andrew.

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BUJA — IMMEDIATE past Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere, yesterday, advanced reasons he wants to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Ekere said in Abuja that he was seeking to govern the state

because of his conviction that he represented the best choice for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Akwa Ibom State "at this critical stage in the history of our great state."

Ekere noted that Akwa Ibom needed a visionary leader like himself to be able to propel it to a higher level and usher in new era of growth and prosperity.

Mr. Dahunsi

Uduaghan's led Delta to promised land — LG chairman

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ARRI — OUT- GOING chairman of Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Sam Ken, has described Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, as a true and hard working leader.

According to him, Governor Uduaghan has successfully led the state to the promised land.

AGOS STATE chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, dismissed speculations of plans to stop aspirants on third term aspirants from contesting the forthcoming elections.

Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Henry Ajomale, dispelled the rumours in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr.

Why I want to succeed Gov Akpabio — Ex-dep gov Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

By Gabriel Enogholase

Similarly, he said JTF in Edo State, while on patrol, discovered six illegal oil refining camps at Okpogbene and Satama general area in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State where oil bunkerers operated with four Cotonou boats, 16 cooking ovens and 35 drums filled with substances suspected to be stolen oil.

He said: “Two suspects were arrested during the operation. Other items discovered include, 23 surface tanks filled with illegally acquired oil. The items were moved to safe area and destroyed while the suspects were taken into custody for preliminary investigations before handing them over to prosecuting agencies."

He also praised the governor for the successful implementation of his three-point agenda of peace and security, human capital development and infrastructure development which, he said, had impacted positively on the 25 local government areas of the state.

Ken, who spoke, yesterday, in Warri, eulogized the governor on his 60th birthday, noting that

Uduaghan started his success story when he was Commissioner for Health under the Chief James Ibori’s administration.

“He left his foot on the sands of time, especially when he was the Secretary to Government under Governor James Ibori.

"Today as the Governor of the state, Deltans are happy over the impact he has made on the wellbeing of the people," he said.

He said: “Today, our state needs a leader with the right vision, mentality, temperament, courage, strength of character, experience, humility and zeal to serve and usher the state into a new era of growth and prosperity "Our state needs a man with the fear of God who can be trusted to take appropriate and tough decisions needed to move the state forward. The vision and pioneering efforts of our founding fathers and successive leaders must be consolidated.

"A deliberate attention must be paid to providing platforms and a conducive environment for our people to thrive and excel in their endeavours. After all, progress and development are best measured by their impact on people. Across the State, our people need jobs. They need increased economic opportunities.

"They need better living conditions and higher standards of life. They need a state that is safe and secure."

Joe Igbokwe.

Ajomale said: “The reports now making the rounds about alleged decision by the leadership of APC in Lagos to stop aspirants from contesting after a second term is a fallacy.

“There is no iota of truth in the report as no such decision was reached. It is a total mis-representation of the decision reached and such information must have emanated from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, agents and not APC. “The Governors’ Advisory Committee, GAC, never issued such a directive or reached such a decision.

“The APC believes in the inalienable rights of every eligible member to contest for any elective office for as many terms as possible as long as it is constitutional."

Apology On the cover page of the Vanguard's Brandish column of Thursday, September 4 - Thursday, September 18, 2014, we published an article entitled, 'Techno; Can a former “Counterfeit” Brand lead anti counterfeit warriors?' which article continued on pages 10 and 11.

We, hereby, retract the said publication in its entirety and apologise to Techno for any inconveniece or embarrassment the publication may have caused it.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—15

Christian wake-keep for Remi Oyo

Christian wake-keep for Remi Oyo ‘Ebonyi may lose presidential votes if governorship primaries go awry’

By Francis Igata

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From left, Mr. Vincent Oyo, husband of the deceased; Okiemuote Abudiore, daughter of the deceased;Tolu Abudiore, son-inlaw; Little Tobiloba Abduiore, grand son; Nkem Oyo, daughter in-law, and Otome Oyo, son, during the Christian wake- keep for Remilekun Oyo, at the NAN Media Centre, Iganmu, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

BUJA — AHEAD of the November 29 gov ernorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a faction of the party in Ebonyi State, yesterday, warned that the party could lose the presidential election in the state if it allowed a crooked primary election to select candidates for elective positions.

The warning came as Senator Paulinus Igwe, PDP, Ebonyi, disclaimed the adoption of erstwhile minister of health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu as the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, describing the action championed by Governor Martins Elechi as a selfish, clannish and the personal agenda of the outgoing governor.

Igwe spoke as he collected the PDP gubernatorial forms setting the stage for a possible face-off with Chukwu.

Meanwhile, Chukwu has rebuffed the allegations of imposition against him, saying his experience in government service had placed him as the best person to govern the state.

Speaking with journalists after submitting his gubernatorial forms at PDP National Secretariat, Igwe who described him-

self as a landlord, and not a tenant in the field of politics, stressed that the endorsement of Chukwu was clannish in nature and would not stand.

According to Igwe, the manner in which the party structure was being hijacked for selfish motives in Ebonyi could threaten the chances of the PDP in the state if the leadership of the party failed to check it.

The letter which was signed by the factional chairman, Chief Mike Awo, while notifying Muazu of the existence of a new executive, group accused the Chairman, Prince Ugoji Ama Otti of failure, to hold a party caucus in line with the constitution, since 2007, adding that all party decisions were taken by the governor alone.

He said, “From the foregoing, it is now very obvious that if there is no intervention, PDP will die a natural death in that Chapter and the President Stands the risk of losing election in Ebonyi State.

PDP campaigns for candidates in Ughelli council polls

From left, Chairman, STB MCcan, Mr. Biodun Sobanjo; Chairman, Vanguard Media Ltd, Mr. Sam Amuka; Head, Department of Creative Art, UNILAG, Professor Duru Oni, and former President, Guild of Editors/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, at the event.

FG restates resolve to have operational rail system nationwide M INISTER OF Transport, Senator Idris Umar, yesterday, reiterated Federal Government resolve to ensuring an operational rail transport nationwide by December, especially in South-East geopolitical zone.

Senator Umar spoke after the 14th National Council of Transport in Enugu.

The 4-day conference, which had as its theme:”providing safe and secure transport” was a melting pot for the 36 Commissioners of Transport and other critical stakeholders in the sector who were at the conference to reflect on past experiences and plan for a better transport sector with a view to formulating a workable transport policy in the country.

The Minister said “a lot of safety measures has been put in place in the marine, rail and road sector. The essence of this gathering is to come together to discuss and see how effective these measures has been, if there are challenges, we appraise and know how to eradicate them.”

On the South-East rail rehabilitation, he said the rail line segment from Port-Harcourt-Gombe would be completed by December as the security situation

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around Maiduguri improved.

Speaking, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Adesheyi Sujiwade, said, “though there was a delay in payment for the contract to the contractor handling the South-East rail rehabilitation, it has now been resolved. The fund for the contract certificates was released not long ago through the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment

Progromme, SURE-P. The good thing about this project is that being a SURE-P project, the payment is guaranteed. Now that they have been paid, you will notice that there has been a remarkable improvement in the speed of construction.

“The contractor now has a few kilometers to relay tracks from the Imo-River to the Port-Harcourt Station.

Former chairman of Delta North PDP supports Ochei's guber ambition

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA — IMMEDIATE past Vice Chair man (Delta North) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ogbuefi Eric Anigala, has described Hon. Victor Ochei’s gubernatorial ambition as one that will bring about meaningful transformation in Delta State if voted in.

He made the statement when Hon Ochei paid him a consultative visit in his Obiaruku country home.

According to him, Ochei’s massive transformation of the

Delta State House of Assembly was an indication that given the opportunity, he would replicate his performance as the Chief Executive Officer of Delta State.

“Most times, I no longer recognize the present Assembly complex because of the massive face-lift given to it,” he said, adding that, “ it is only natural to support his ambition and pray to the Almighty God to assist him in the actualization of his dream of becoming the governor of Delta State come 2015.”

P

By Tommy Anaduaka

EOPLES DEMOCRATIC Party PDP, in Ughelli South Local Government Area, of Delta State, has called on the people in the council to vote massively for its chairmanship candidate, Mr. Paul Etaga and others in Saturday council polls.

This came as the party intensified campaigns across the local government.

Speaking at one of the rallies, Chairman of PDP in the council, Olorogun Francis Agwoligho, assured the people that his party would continue with positive development strides if it won the poll.

He pledged to come back with all the PDP candidates to say 'thank you' to the people, after the election.

Olorogun Okiemute Okoagbe (JP), the Director General of the Etaga Campaign Organization, who told the people that he was one of the leaders of the opposition before in the local government area, asked the opposition member to join the mainstream party, claiming that, all those in the opposition were in darkness.

He advised the people to follow the PDP whose light that can lead the people of Ughelli South to the promise land.

Also speaking, Hon. Festus Utuama, the Commissioner representing Ughelli South in the DESOPADEC, board stressed that Hon. Paul Etaga, would do well for the people.

Utuama asserted that there would be no gap in Etaga’s leadership and the people, pledging that he should be held

personally accountable if the chairmanship hopeful derail.

Dep Gov refutes rumour of Gov Wada's health

By BOLUWJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA — Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, yesterday, described insinuations of the deteriorating health of Governor Idris Wada, in an Indian hospital, as not only as baseless, but a figment of the imagination of mischief makers.

Awoniyi spoke in Lokoja while reacting to online reports of Wada’s alleged health challenges.

He said, “Though the governor travelled, other senior government officials and myself are constantly in touch with him. I spoke repeatedly with him yesterday (Wednesday). The governor is doing well and in high spirit. I wonder how wicked some people could be to peddle rumour of the death of a man who since assumption of office as governor has remained committed to the growth and development of the state. The governor is due back in a few days time to continue to steer the ship of the state.”

Awoniyi then urged the people of the state to go about their normal businesses, as the state was in safe hands of Wada and shun scaremongers, whose activities he said were capable of retarding the growth and development of any society.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

POCKET CARTOON

against granting autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country.

Jang-led NGF OFFICIAL LAUNCH—From left: Channel Marketing Manager, Adebayo Adams; Key Account Manager, Abiola Anifowose; Director of Marketing, Gareth Abel; Director of International Business, Wiko Mobile, Marcel Van De Pas and Country Sales Manager, John Peters during Wiko Mobile official launch/press conference held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

36 govs fight autonomy for LGs Continues from page 1 Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State, in separate reactions said the autonomy proposal for the local government system was out of sync with the operation of a federal system.

The two houses of the National Assembly had adopted the proposal for autonomy for the local governments as the third tier of government in the federation. The move which has been received with joy among some stakeholders in the local

government system was, however, opposed by the two factions of the NGF. The Jang-led faction of the NGF walked out from the mainstream faction led by Governor Amaechi after supporters of Jang disputed the outcome of the election which returned Amaechi as chairman of the governors’ association last year.

Reacting to the decision of the National Assembly to grant autonomy to the local governments, the Amaechi-led faction speaking through its Director-General, Asishana Okauru, affirmed that the body would not

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Peace with contentment is great gain. Make sure that your life ends up in an all-round profit.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with —Mark Twain Learning to listen intensely or deeply, is the kind of listening that can help relieve the suffering of another person. You can call it compassionate listening.

You listen with only one purpose to help an individual express his or her heart’s content. Even when what is being said is erroneously full of wrong perceptions and bitterness, you are still capable of listening with compassion. Because when youdo this, it gives the individual a chance to suffer less. However, if you want to help him/her to correct their perception, you’llhave to wait another time.

For now, you don’t interrupt. You don’t argue. If you do, there might be no chance for closure. You just listen with compassion and help him/her to cope well. A process like this can bring transformation and healing.Deep and compassionate listening induces calm and a feeling of great comfort but mostly the knowing that someone cares deeply about you makes all the difference in the world.

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change its opposition on the issue of autonomy for local governments.

Amaechi's NGF Speaking in a telephone interview with Vanguard, he said: “The NGF does not support autonomy for local governments. The governors are against it, they have said it and still maintain that they will not support autonomy for local gov-

ernments.

“There is no country in the world that there are three federating units; there are only two all over the world. Why should you say that there must be a third federating unit in Nigeria?”

According to him, chairman of the forum, Governor Amaechi aside making a similar call last year, had at a session with journalists recently said that the governors would continue to push

In an unusual concord with the Amaechi-led forum, the Jang-led NGF in a statement by its secretary, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, said: “The NGF under the leadership of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has differed with the NASS over the move to amend the constitution and grant local governments full administrative and financial autonomy."

The governors in the statement accused some members of the National Assembly of using the conference committee to force through an amendment that was clearly rejected by the Senate during the constitution amendment debates and votes.

Onaiwu in the state-

ment quoted the governors as saying that “it was improper in an issue of this magnitude for the conference committee to overturn the position of a majority in the upper house.

“The push for local government autonomy by the National Assembly was hasty without first considering the problems of executive recklessness and ineffective administration at the local level.”

The governors thus warned that “the amendment will lead to the hijack of some local government administrative structures by a few powerful individuals without the oversight the state government currently provides.”

The forum, however, expressed confidence that the amendment will be rejected by a majority of the states houses of assembly.

Stakeholders impressed as DNL unveils 2,700 tons made-in Nigeria CPF Modules Continues from page 1 in Delta State.

Managing Director of DNL, Mr. P.S. Lim, told guests at the unveiling ceremony that “as first of its kind in Nigeria, the Otumara CPF Modules completion has contributed significantly in pushing Nigeria towards becoming the undisputed hub of oil and gas development in Africa.

“In line with the Nigerian Content Policy, the project was fully realised in Nigeria with productive cooperation from key contributors involving major and sub contractors including NETCO, A M A Z O N , N I G E R C H I N , DORMAN LONG, PIMOFF partnering DNL to meet completion.”

Mr. Lim added that, “the joy for Daewoo is in

being an agent for practically demonstrating the spirit of the Nigerian Content Act which translated into provision of several direct and indirect jobs, discouraging capital flight, and boosting local capacity in course of the project.”

He challenged other international oil companies to exert more confidence in local capacity by challenging Nigerian companies and experts, particularly DNL to handle similar major projects in line for execution in the industry.

SPDC General Manager, Nigeria Operated Offshore, Shallow Offshore Project, Toyin Olagunju, who represented the company ’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu said: “With the project completion, part of the gas

plant where nominal 20 million cubic feet of gas will be compressed and six megawatts of electricity generated daily has been realised.”

Dr. David Ige who represented the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation added: “This project will also secure 60,000 bpd of oil.

It is a big boost towards ending gas flares in Nigeria. It demonstrates that day after day we are setting new standards and when we set our hearts to it, we can end gas flaring in Nigeria.”

Special Guest at the occasion, the Executive Director, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa said: “It is a revalidation of the Nigerian Content Act and why President Goodluck

Jonathan had to sign it.

“This is another milestone. The value for the Act in this milestone and others before it is not in terms of the tonnage nor dimension of project.

The key value is the mindset change. That even Nigerians can do all things possible in the technical intensive oil and gas industry.”

Nwapa acknowledged that the extended challenge is that “some basic fittings in the locally fabricated modules still had to be outsourced abroad.

The next stage is to see that even these components are produced in Nigeria with Nigerians predominantly involved.

The completed project is set to be transported to the Otumara Shell project site soon for installation and specially constructed pipe beam foundations.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 —17

Political reflections

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AST week, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari, the former military Head of State, formally declared his interest in replacing President Goodluck Jonathan.

This declaration surprised nobody, given that Buhari has been doggedly trying to repossess the Number One slot for many years. And, until recently, I had reservations about his refusal to abandon this burning ambition because he is not getting any younger and has image problems and has made mistakes.

However, Buhari is far from senile and all human beings make mistakes and longstanding readers of this column will know that I’ve always had some respect for him because his soldierly strictness appeals to my Puritanical streak.

Puritanical streak Furthermore, because I know several Christians (including three outspoken and liberal female activists) who’ve had excellent relationships with him for many years, I don’t agree with people who keep insisting that Buhari is a nasty, dangerous Islamic bigot who secretly approves of Boko Haram’s evil activities.

However, perception is often as important as reality; and a lot of Southerners can never be persuaded to believe that Buhari is a basically decent man.

It is also worth noting that some of Buhari’s supporters are uncontrollable and stupidly convinced that the North has been shortchanged and was born to rule.

Given that Nigeria was ruled by Northerners for 38 of the 50 years that elapsed between our Independence from British colonialists in l960 and Jonathan’s assumption of power in 2010, I become extremely annoyed C M Y K

when Northerners bitterly assure anyone who will listen to their interminable whingeing that they’ve had a raw deal and that it is their “turn” to take over.

As far as I’m concerned, it is NOT their turn by a long shot…or ANYONE else’s turn, for that matter. As far as I’m concerned, Jonathan is not “entitled” to a second term; and the North is not “entitled” to replace him. As far as I’m concerned, we as a nation should outgrow our irrational tribalistic biases.

I used to be an enthusiastic Jonathan advocate because he is my Niger Deltan brother and I felt that it was our region’s turn. My mother is Igbo and I used to say that Igbos also deserved a turn in Major-General Muhammadu Buhari the presidential villa. My late father was Ogoni and Ogonis have never occupied the top slot in my home state, Rivers; agonised over this issue at every ethnic group.

The bottom line is that and I used to loudly insist that great length and have it was our turn to produce the concluded that Wike’s ethnic Jonathan should NOT be next Governor. origins should not matter in opposed just because he is But I’m no longer willing to the slightest to anyone who is not Fulani!...and should only support anyone t h i n k i n g be replaced by someone who on this turn-bystraight!...and is likely to do better.

There is of course no turn basis. that Wike guarantee that Buhari will do Nowadays, I’m should be only interested opposed ONLY better than Jonathan overall in character and b e c a u s e if he is eventually endorsed performance. I nothing in his as the APC’s flag-bearer and don’t care where u n i n s p i r i n g winds up winning the anyone comes track record election. But I’m increasingly from. If I think suggests that he convinced that Buhari has a that a candidate will be the kind lot going for him.

He is the single most from another of Governor we popular leader in Northern zone is likely to need. deliver more In other Nigeria and is worshipped progress and words, if I because he is a passionate integrity than thought that champion of the poor and has someone from Wike would a very modest lifestyle. my backyard – at excel and that either the local or Ogoni, Ijaw or Modest Federal level - I o t h e r lifestyle will vote for the alternatives seemingly Buhari is not a typical w e r e s u p e r i o r inadequate, I materialistic, philandering candidate. would put my Naija VIP. He isn’t into flashy Rivers State is small weight baubles like the latest jeep or c u r r e n t l y designer watch. He displays behind Wike. embroiled in a History has no desire to own countless toxic controversy shown us that a properties here or abroad. He that revolves Governor or doesn’t have expensive I very much around Chief President from girlfriends.

Nyesom Wike’s Buhari is widely regarded one’s area will doubt that gubernatorial not necessarily (even by his worst enemies) agencies like aspiration. Wike, fulfil one’s as a highly disciplined and the ex-Minister dreams or give essentially honest man who the EFCC will of State for a damn about has a zero tolerance – or at be as supine Education, is one’s welfare; least a very low appetite by facing stiff or lethargic as and I urge African standards – for opposition N o r t h e r n corruption and rubbish. they are at the mostly because He strikes fear into the irredentists to he is from the pipe down and hearts of senior thieves in the moment if same Ikwerre g r a c i o u s l y North and beyond. A friend Buhari gets ethnic group as share my view who hangs out with Big Boys the incumbent, another that a good guy from all six geopolitical zones Rotimi Chibuike from anywhere tells me that most of his cronies chance to run Amaechi. will be as fair as are fervently praying that the show I have is possible to Buhari never gets back into

the saddle because they are terrified of his rigid moral code and sure that he will probe and jail them or compel them to refund their ill-gotten gains!

I very much doubt that agencies like the EFCC will be as supine or lethargic as they are at the moment if Buhari gets another chance to run the show. I also like the fact that Buhari is not a woman-wrapa. His wife conducts herself so discreetly and decorously that I don’t even know what her first name is!

We don’t hear depressing stories about Madame Buhari attempting to exploit the considerable influence that her husband wields in various states. All indications are that even if she was greedy and overbearing by nature, her Oga would not allow her to get away with crudely throwing her weight around.

Let me also say that one of the aspects of this Administration that has angered and saddened me most is Jonathan’s decision to retain – and bestow a national honour upon - Abba Moro, the Minister who presided over a botched-up recruitment exercise in which job-seekers lost their lives.

Rewarding future Talk about rewarding failure and manslaughter!

Moro did not personally kill anyone and I assume that both he and Mr President are genuinely sorry that those people died. But the tragedy occurred because Moro’s office messed up; and the buck should stop on the desk of whoever happens to be in charge when such massive errors occur; and I reckon that Moro would have been quickly relieved of his post if Buhari had been his boss.

On Monday, Nigeria was declared ebola-free by the World Health Organisation and Jonathan should be heartily congratulated for this stunning success.

I wish he had done as well within many other contexts.

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

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18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 ABUJA is threatened by its fame as the place where all the opportunities are, especially for making quick money.

Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have their eyes set on Abuja. They have heard that once there, they can make something for themselves.

Whether it is a myth or not, there is little anyone can do that would convince those with their minds made up that relocating to Abuja was the panacea to their personal challenges. They have examples that testify to the abilities of Abuja to cure all cares.

Before their eyes they have seen village upstarts step into Abuja in some political role and return as lords. Nobody can tell them that being in Abuja would not change their lives similarly.Abuja would continue to draw people in their droves.

In the midst of the conflicts tearing the North East, North West and North Central into shreds, Abuja appears an oasis of peace. Where else would those hunted in their own homes go? Its central location to the action spots in the North is reducing the city to a huge refugee camp. Even

Abuja - Here W e We Come when peace returns to the crisis areas, those who relocated to Abuja rarely leave.

The authorities barely notice. They built Abuja for their comfort with the assumption that its high cost of living would shield it from the poor, the masses, the ones governments only remember during elections. They have managed to find their way to Abuja, some to behold its wonders others to seek survival.

Economic refugees are boosting Abuja’s population. They believe it is the place to harness opportunities. Many arrive in Abuja without any plans other than doing anything to survive. The city’s rising crime

rates is a result of the arrival of many jobless people who must survive.

Governments should have anticipated long ago that their policies would result in migrations to Abuja, which the people see as where to making a living. The abandonment of many economic posts across the nation has created an exodus to Abuja.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed in complaining about the numbers that relocate to Abuja daily sounded as if he was blaming ordinary people for crises that have lingered for years and displaced them from their homes. Job seekers, and others hunting for opportunities, would go where they think their needs would be met. The influx into Abuja is in its infancy, fueled by insecurity, economic straits. It would continue for as long as other places are unsafe.

The authorities can only keep Abuja for themselves, when they cater for the needs of the masses through “smaller Abuja” of opportunities in other parts of Nigeria.

OPINION

By Joe Keshi

O

N October 10, 2014, the Nigerian Media reported the visit of the American Ambassador in Nigeria to the American University in Yola, Adamawa State.

It was not the meeting with the proprietor of the university, a former vice president and a presidential aspirant under the opposition All Progressives Congress during the visit that made the headlines and raised eyebrows but the denigrating comment of the envoy on that occasion. Ambassador James Entwistle, it was reported, had explained that the United States refusal to sell highly needed weaponry to Nigeria in her war against terror and insurgency in the North East of the country was because “the Nigerian Military is notoriously known for human rights abuses”.

Such tactless and undiplomatic language of the American Ambassador should surprise no one. For years now and against diplomatic norms, it has become the hallmark of American envoys in Nigeria to utilize various public platform provided by unsuspecting Nigerians to lecture and disparage the country, its leaders and institutions. While its diplomats are busy doing their best to create rupture in relations between the two countries, they are complimented by their bosses in Washington who constantly invite Nigerian leaders, including some past leaders who regrettably use the occasions to demean, discredit and disparage President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration.

In the wake of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, America in its usual razzmatazz had announced to the whole world that it was C M Y K

America-Nigeria troubled relations sending some special service men and aircraft to help the search for the missing Chibok girls.

Weeks and months later all that was heard of America’s involvement and effort was again a disparaging statement that the Americans would not share any intelligence with the Nigerian military because of its corrupt tendencies.

With such statements from American envoys in Nigeria and those from highly placed American officials in Washington, in and out of the Obama administration and the United States congress, it is only fair to question the sincere commitment of the American government to the corporate existence of Nigeria. This is because the American government, according to official sources, has not only constantly turned down Nigeria’s request for valuable support, in terms of superior weapons to fight the insurgents in the North East, but has successfully blocked Nigeria from purchasing the necessary arms, ammunition and military hardware from other sources. Against this backdrop, explaining or understanding American behaviour and attitude towards Nigeria, which includes humiliating and disparaging the country, its leadership and institutions, becomes very difficult.

This is because for years and in recent times, the American government not only proclaimed and often reiterated its strategic relationship with Nigeria but openly and publically profess its readiness to assist the country and its military in the fight against Boko Haram. Yet when the opportunities presented themselves for America to

demonstrate the true essence of strategic relationship and help a friend in dire need, it chooses a different path all together. Equally no Nigerian should be impressed, misled or fooled by American excuses. There are credible evidence, from available official US records, indicating that the United States has, over the years, executed some of the biggest arms shipments, running into several billions of dollars, to countries with abysmal human rights records, including brutal suppression of democratic dissents. A number of countries in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, including one which recent history we all know too well, are beneficiaries of American military support.

Besides, even if we stretch the human rights violations a little, it is not America, whose Military and security agencies have had their own share of abysmal records in almost all their operations outside the US, that should openly criticize the Nigerian military the way it does. Rather, the United States can and should show more consideration and understanding as to why military personnel, especially soldiers, misbehave as they often do in war.

For a country often condemned and accused of hypocrisy in its handling of human rights issues by among others, Amnesty International, it would appear that the US government, irrespective of the misbehaviour of its military in war times, operates a double faced sense of propriety where the definition of right and wrong is solely determined by what suits the narrow interest of the American government. What is more worrisome is that America’s postures against Nigeria, that is

facing its worst security challenges since the end of the country’s civil war in the 1970s, comes in the face of American intelligence community’s prediction that the country could break up by 2015 and one is thus left to wonder whether the US attitude is to hasten the fulfillment of that predication. In comparison, the United States is currently mobilizing global support and spending billions of tax payers’ money in humanitarian and military support to prevent the total disintegration of a region it helped to destabilize.

While the Nigerian government needs to be more strategic in its engagement of the United States, it should make it clear to the Americans and their local collaborators that this country will not collapse and is not about to disintegrate. Nigeria will overcome its security challenges with or without American guns or boots on the ground in Nigeria and would emerge stronger. This is why it is imperative for all Nigerians, on the issue of terrorism and insurgency in the North East, to stand together and support the government and the military. In our unity lies our strength and an unmistakable message is sent to friends and foes alike that, whether they assist us or not, we will survive and emerge a more unified nation.

*Ambassador Keshi, a career diplomat, was Consul - General of Nigeria, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014— —19

By Clement Udegbe

W

E woke up on Saturday October 18, 2014, to newspaper screaming headlines of a ceasefire with the Boko Haram, by the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Bade issuing a directive to the service chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, and the Inspector General of Police, to comply with the cease fire agreement on all areas of operations.

This meant that the cease fire agreement was so neatly packaged that both parties were to comply with the terms, details of which is yet to be published, except that the over 200 Chibok girls were expected to be released as part of the deal. This vacuum fuelk led speculations about the terms of the said agreement.

Some said the girls would be released on the October 21, others said the 2015 elections would be postponed as part of demand by the terrorists, and that war prisoners on both sides shall be released by each party to the deal, etc. The FG must have been very pleased with the cease fire, and I was quite expectant of the postponement of the 2015 elections, because that ought to be the most reasonable thing to do at this time, in the best interest

of the country. It will almost border on rash insensitivity and unseriousness for a nation in war to find time for campaign razzmatazz and soap box theatricals, which will constitute a huge distraction to those who must plan and execute the war.

The Chibok girls are yet to be released, while the nation continues to push on with frenzied campaign arrangements, making it necessary to question the real benefits of the cease fire.

The expected release of the Chibok girls at this time, when political campaigns are about to kick off, leads many to wonder what kind of politicians we have.

Have they been playing politics with the girls? Was it a mere coincidence they are just about being released at this time?

The cease fire in itself appears a welcome development, as it will enable the poor people of the wartorn North East zone to breathe some fresh air once again, recollect themselves, find scattered relations and friends and gather what may look like a peaceful life, even though it can never be life as they had it before the war. Cease fire will also allow our fighting forces to re-arm, reequip, re-organise and sort themselves out to be able to tackle the challenges of saboteurs in the

,

Boko Haram's deadly ceasefire

Politicians have failed to realise how dangerous and risky it could be to trust jihadists because of the deep religious influence involved

,

war campaign so far.

However, there are some very bad sides and implications. First, is that it will give the terrorists time to re-organise, re-group and possibly select a new leader. The original Shekau who was the first leader of the terrorists was killed under General Ihejirika as the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, while the second or fake Shekau was killed under the incumbent COAS. It set them very confused and devastated leading to the heavy casualties that they sustained in the recent past. The ceasefire will therefore give them the time they desperately need to re-plan, and re-arm and restructure, to be able to re-launch attacks whenever they may feel ready and able to do so.

Boko Haram is accepting this cease fire deal because of the heavy casualties they have suffered recently in the hands of the combined fighting forces of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad Republics.

Second, is that politicians will

soon be carried away with campaigns, while the common enemy, Boko Haram, reorganises, and strategises preparatory to their next bloody onslaught.

Third, is that the seeming peace which the cease fire will engender will coax Nigerians to relax the prevalent high vigilance, while their enemy, the jihadists, will seize the opportunity to move themselves deep into other safer areas of Nigeria, like the South West, South East and SouthSouth. Fourth, the cease fire will help Boko Haram more than it will help Nigeria, because this war is not just about political power, it is a form of Jihad as far as the enemy is concerned. Their sole aim, ultimately, is to exterminate other religions from Nigeria, especially Christianity.Their methods, may be rough, wicked, inhuman, and even embarrassing to some of their sponsors, but the rate of growth of that group within the last two years shows that their sponsors are not really bothered. They kill, behead and commit all kinds of atrocities in the name of Islam encouraged by their sponsors and some saboteurs in the Nigerian system. It will therefore be naïve and even fool hardy, to expect the cease fire to be of any great value to Nigeria.

Terror sponsors will use the time of temporary truce to re-plan their

Redrawing Cross River State political map: Design or accident?

By Venatius Ikem

F

OR me, the mantra of Change is not new. Some believe it passionately while others hate it. Some even hate me for just the thought of it. The truth is, like it or hate it, or even hate me, the idea that there is a likelihood of change in the Cross River State political environment is a given?

The funny thing about it is that the issues and events shaping this change are selfinflicted by those that are opposed to it.

Simply put: Political change here is driven by sheer arrogance of power and the misread political environment that suggests that those holding temporary power hold a permanent franchise on how we think and behave politically.

Take the scenario that the powers that be are attempting to foist unpopular aspirants as the PDP flag bearers on the electorates in this age and end time of an almost eclipsed influence of a dying hegemony, then you get the full picture.

I cannot speak for the Southern Senatorial District but from interactions it is clear that the regime's preference for a senatorial candidate is symptomatic of a system bent on destroying itself. I cannot think of a worst indifference to public opinion and a crass arrogance on how not to attempt to foist an unpopular candidate on a people. I don't want to sound like I have an opinion on who should be because it is not my constituency.

The scenario at Central is a bit tricky, yet not entirely different. The challenger to Senator Ndoma Egba may be populist in outlook but people are beginning to think again about the reasons they are fed or on why a prominent and capable representative like the Senator should be replaced because someone said he offended his sensibilities!

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It is not helpful that his candidature is sympathiser of it? How loyal is a friend offending the sensibilities of the party at whose friends are your "enemies"? The the centre which sees the senator's answer my friends, is blowing in the wind. challenger as at best a marginal PDP Only PDP National knows best. But the member who joined the rebellion against PDP I know does not reward disloyalty with the party to form a cabal that has served promotion. Having benefitted so much their selfish interests in the House of Reps from disloyal conduct in the House of amassing a huge fortune for themselves Representatives I see no disincentive to do otherwise should the Honourable in public project patronage.

The Governor's continued member gain promotion to the Senate.

When we as innocent citizens keep accommodation of this rebellious group in the state remains suspicious as his cozy asking why our Governor, Chairman of the relationship with the leadership of the South South Governors' forum from where rebellion has not gone the President comes, acclaimed unnoticed at the highest level. bosom friend of the President and It is remarkable that the member of his kitchen cabinet, Speaker of the House has cannot influence anything to our never missed an occasion in state in four years, not even a Cross River State, even if it is symbolic solidarity visit, in the a football match or an absence of any project for the innocuous declaration or President to come and empowerment programme, commission, then there is a critical especially if organised by one problem of doubtful loyalty. of the members of this The only citizens of our state who rebellious group who he has are loyal and playing at the centre sufficiently empowered with of the President's attention are not juicy committee chairmanship just "enemies" of our Governor, in the House. they are haunted and if need be It makes sense to recall with removed from office. That is the hindsight that John Owancalamity of the vilification of Enoh was the first minority Senator Ndoma - Egba, Leader of Leader of the Cross River the Senate, a very loyal member State House of Assembly at In Governor of the Senate and one of the most inception as an elected cerebral members of Nigeria's Member of APP as it then was. Imoke's legislature who must be stopped He only crossed to the PDP to calculation "by fire by force" to please the save his career which has powers that be. blossomed unbelievably there should As our dear governor prepares under the leadership of Gov. be no ranking to bow out of office, it is clear that Imoke. he does not want to leave behind The questions that easily senator from any capable representative of the arise are: Is the governor one Cross River state at the Federal level except of the patrons of the rebellion he has adjudged as owing State by 2015 those or a mutual friend and personal loyalty to him and him

support for the insurgents by creating new means of channelling funds to them. While the cease fire may seem good and attractive to some politicians, many of them have failed to realise how dangerous and risky it could be to trust jihadists because of the deep religious influence involved.

Jihadists attach little or no value at all to the life and property of non-Muslims and therefore will have no respect for any agreement with them in the first place. Boko Haram should therefore not be trusted by Nigerians for any reason whatsoever!

In a conventional war, usually the armies on both sides are trained and disciplined combatants, with ability to follow the cease fire process. But in this type of war, where you are dealing with half-baked volunteer and commandeered fighting personnel like they have in Boko Haram, anything can happen, moreso with the hindrances America and Europe seem to be posing to Nigeria. This was why the terrorists were busy killing people in villages around Borno State, while the cease fire was being announced. This could turn out to be a very deadly cease fire for Nigerians both within the war zone and elsewhere in the country ! a legal practitioner, •Udegbe, wrote from Lagos.

alone. The interest of the state is secondary. One would have imagined that a state deprived of oil revenue as Cross River State will leverage on its human resources capacity to add value to its citizens by making maximum use of the experience and contacts of her citizens at the Federal level. But alas! They are chased and fought to oblivion by the very people who swore to protect them in the name of politics!?

Thus, Senator Otu is to vacate his seat for the Governor's buddy Gershom Bassey; Daniel Asuquo for the Governor's cousin, Dr. Emil Inyang; Essien Ayi for Dominic Oqua Edem; Nkoyo Toyo for Ita Mbora.

By this calculation Frank Adah and Bassey Ewa will remain as a mark of their “meritorious” service while Senator Ayade vacates for Rose Oko. In Governor Imoke's calculation there should be no ranking senator from Cross River State by 2015 at the National Assembly so that he can rule cross river state by proxy if his still-born effort at single handedly nominating a puppet for the governorship of the state were to succeed. But for the first time Cross Riverians are saying loudly: NO! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! And Governor Imoke is not coming to terms with this new Cross River anymore, not knowing that his conduct has radicalised an otherwise docile and peaceful people.

Never mind that the Governor’s talk about second term being okay, but third term unacceptable! Senator Otu, Nkoyo Toyo and Dan Asuquo are serving their first terms, while Bassey Ewa is serving a second term already. Is it double talk?

Think again, some animals are more equal than others! *Mr. Ikem, former national publicity secretary of PDP, wrote from Calabar, Cross River State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Aborted trip: Pathetic story of fortune seekers duped by travel agents

By AUGUSTINA ANYAEGBU

T

IRED of having to strugl e everyday to keep hunger and poverty at bay, three young men decided to take their fate into their own hands by seeking to relocate to Switzerland in search of fortune or the proverbial greener pastures. They had reckoned that on getting to this European country, they would settle down, pick up whatever available jobs that would bring in dollars or pounds which they would subsequently repatriate to their respective families. It was a dream, beautiful as it was comforting. But what they did not reckon with was having that dream rudely aborted through the treacherous machination of some dubious travel agents.

But to actualise their dream, they needed a helper. So entered Mr. Uchenna Ulojiofor who volunteered to link them up with one Mr. Joshua, a Switzerland based business man, who, it g

later emerged, had been running a thriving business of helping people to secure free visa to Switzerland as long as they were willing to help him with his drug pushing business.

Speaking with Vanguard Metro, VM, Mr. Abumchukwu Obiaguru, said: “ I was in the village when Uchenna came and said he wanted to help me get visa to Switzerland at a cheap rate. He explained he was an agent to Mr. Joshua and that everything I needed had been provided. All that was required of me was a token amount of money to make up the required amount for the purchase of the flight ticket. I ran around and was able to raise N50,000 which I gave him.

Unknown to me, I had kissed my money goodbye. But believing it was a genuine deal at the time, I called my best friend and told him about the whole arrangement and also advised him to try and raise some money for the same purpose. In fact, I had to lend him N20,000 because he was unable to complete the

If that guy fails to refund my money, I will probably have to commit suicide

required sum of money.

“After paying the money into Uchenna’s account, he told me and others who equally paid to find our way to Lagos because that’s where we would take off and as well as collect our visas. I travelled with my friend from the East to Lagos. We were happily waiting for the day we would bid Nigeria goodbye which never came up till now.”

Also speaking, Mr. Maxwell Ifemme said that it was his friend who convinced him to buy into the idea of travelling out of the country. “Abumchuckwu came to me and told me about the planned trip to Switzerland.

Initially, I had mixed feelings about it. But then, I also didn’t want to miss out on a great opportunity in case it turned out to be genuine. I succumbed and gave him the only money I had and asked him to lend me the rest. I promised to better the lives of my mother and my siblings as soon as I reached Switzerland. Unfortunately, all my hopes and plans have been dashed in the mud.

“When we got to Lagos, we called him(Uchenna) on phone and reminded him about our passports. He said that all the passports were in his possession

ROVING CAMERA

*Stuck...Even this cart pusher cannot find a way through the traffic congestion at the Berger end of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway Pix: Lamidi Bamidele.

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and he would give them to us on the day we would be travelling out. So on the appointed day, we all came to the place he told us to come and waited for him.

We waited from morning till evening to no avail as he didn’t show up. I tried calling him but he switched off his mobile phone. We all went home that day. But two days later, he called us and informed that it was because of Ebola that prevented us from travelling.

Prevention from travelling Now Ebola has passed and he kept on postponing the date.

And now, he’s nowhere to be found and his two lines are not available. The only option left to us now is to report the matter to the Police and have him arrested.

But the problem now is that we don’t know where he ran away to.”

For another of the victims, Mr. Onyeka Mmadu: “I couldn’t have been in this mess if I had heeded my cousin’s advice. My brother told me that it was not possible to use such amount of money to travel outside the country. But I ignored his advice because I thought he was envious of my great opportunity of hitting big money. If that guy fails to show up to refund my money, I will probably have to commit suicide because I gave away the entire amount that my Oga used in settling me to start my own business. And now the money is gone. I don’t have money to feed myself right now.

My cousin is now laughing and calling me a fool. God save Uchenna if I set my eyes on him.

He won’t be alive to tell the story if I see him.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 21

Private sector investments in sugar sector hit N500bn — FG …Says imported packaged sugar remains banned N

and the sugar master plan is our roadmap. By implementing a full scale sugar programme, Nigeria can produce over five million metric tonnes of sugarcane, which far exceeds the current domestic production of about 1.3 million metric tonnes per year.

“This means that, not only can we produce enough sugar for consumption, we can in fact become a net exporter into the sub-region and the wider international markets. Under our current programme, we are on track to producing 1.7 million tonnes by year 2020, and to exceed this afterwards This is the first President that has had the vision and courage to embark on this journey of diversification.”

Speaking at the Forum, the Executive Secretary, NSDC, Dr. Latif Busari, called on importers of banned packaged sugar to come and produce in Nigeria under the NSMP, noting that this would create jobs for Nigerians and grow the economy.

While commending President Jonathan and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment for their foresight and courage with respect to the implementation of the NSMP, he said, “The implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan has been very successful so far; we will therefore not allow anything to derail the process. Imported packaged sugar remains banned.”

From left: Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani; Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; Director, LagosPhoto Foundation, Azu Nwagbogu; and Director, Brands and Communication, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye at the press conference to announce the line up of activities for the 5th edition of the Etisalat-sponsored LagosPhoto Festival, in Lagos. by the Bank of Industry, with a N5bn matching fund by the National Sugar Development Council, among other intervention measures.

While reiterating that imported packaged sugar remained banned, he said, “So far, significant progress has been made in the sugar sector as a result of Government’s policies. We are proud of what we have achieved so far, but more excited about what we can achieve as we go ahead. The momentum we have

IGERIA has attracted and commenced the implementation of over N500billion private sector investments in the sugar sector under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who disclosed this at the 2014 Sugar Forum in Lokoja, Kogi State on Thursday, noted that the investments cut across 11 states of the federation - Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Adamawa, Kogi, Taraba, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto states.

He said, within two years of the implementation of the NSMP, sugar prices had nosedived to an all-time low, while refining sugar capacity utilisation had moved up from 60 per cent to 75 per cent.

The minister listed the interventions in the sugar sector under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to include trade instruments, “which give domestic products access to the local markets; and the N2bn Agricultural and Infrastructure Support Fund set aside at the Bank of Agriculture for investors in Government’s Backward Integration Programme.”

Aganga said that the Federal Government had also created a N10bn funding pool, managed

achieved in the sugar sector is irreversible. We have started a journey that is difficult to reverse.

“The NSMP was developed as a core component of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan to fundamentally transform the sugar sector to create jobs, generate wealth and enhance economic growth.

We’re gradually realising the targets under the plan. “ The minister added, “The case to develop the sugar sector in Nigeria is clear,

Nigeria loses N21.6 trn to piracy in three years

By Godwin Oritse

F

OLLOWING the increased activities of the pirates in the nation’s coastal and territorial wa-

198.6

-0.8

3,119.00

-1.00

16.41

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

ters, Nigeria lost a total of N21.6 trillion to the sea robberies in three years.

Disclosing this at a maritime security and safety symposium in Lagos , Professor Charles Ukeje of the Internation-

-0.27

USD 86.16 +0.76

USD

USD 83.25

USD +0.10

154.76 249.6279 197.6595 163.8365 1.4481 0.2835 230.5372 25.271 41.255 26.5386 230.9483

155.26 250.4344 198.2981 164.3659 1.4528 0.2935 231.282 25.3531 41.3883 26.6244 231.6945

155.76 251.2409 198.9367 164.8952 1.4575 0.3035 232.0268 25.4352 41.5216 26.7101 232.4406

CBN Exchange Rate as 22 /10 /2014

al Relation Department of the Obafemi Awolowo University, said that the figure will continue to rise if urgent steps were not taken to check mate these criminals Ukeje, in his paper titled ‘Economic Implications of Piracy and other Crimes to the Maritime Industry and the Nigerian Economy’ noted that except for 2007 and 2013, the number of pirate attacks on African waters exceeded the global figures in all cases, by more than double. Drawing insights from the Contemporary Maritime Piracy Database (CMPD) between 200110, the University don further disclosed that a recent study on ‘The Changing Nature of Contemporary Maritime Piracy’ published in the British Journal of Criminology (2014) identified the location of piracy, time of attack, target vessel characteristics, motivation for piracy, and capacity to strike over long

distances, as some of the emerging trends in pirate attack.

He explained that the crime has become so lucrative such that what a pirate makes from one single attack could last him for 20 to 25 years if he lives minimally.

Ukeje explained that piracy as product of insecurity and structural deficits cannot be resolved over night, adding that the governments at regional level must make concerted effort to either reduce the menace or eliminate it.

He said “Although piracy has emerged as a market on its own right, those who reap the greater revenue are mostly unknown as they operate from under ground.

“To address the first aspect, it is important to identify some of the key constituencies in the maritime industry and their characteristics” He opined that since pirate attacks are sea base but planned on the land, there is a need to empower the inhabitants of the littoral states cannot be over emphasized.

He said that while the ports recorded 270 attacks in ten years, territorial water attacks stood at 173 as against 108 recorded against international water.

Beer manufacturers advocate zero duty for machineries, equipment

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE Beer Sectoral Group, BSG, of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has advocated for reduction of import duty payable for the importation of machineries and equipment used for the brewing of lager beer and other alcoholic drinks.

Speaking at the commencement of the ‘Drive Free Alcohol’ campaign in Lagos, the Head of the BSG, Mr. Sesan Sobowale said that the reduction of import duty should be geared towards encouraging players in the beer manufacturing sector of the economy with a view to reducing cost of production.

Sobowale suggested that the government need to regularly review its excise duty as well as its Unit Cost Analysis (UCA) charges and ensure that the ban on the importation of beverages and alcoholic drinks are fully implemented.

He said “The government and its agencies need to adopt a more transparent and simple excise duty structure that supports the brewing industry as a necessary step to enhance the ability of the BSG to expands its backward integration initiatives.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Investors, stakeholders can tap into potential of rebased GDP — FBN Capital

By PETER EGWUATU

A

head of the December 31,deadline for the recapitalisation of the Nigerian capital market operators, stockbrokers under the aegis of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS have commenced fresh dialogue with the regulators in the capital market with a view of meeting the capitalisation requirements and deadline.

There are also strong indications that the CIS may soon sign a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) to enhance synergy among the three professional bodies.

The President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Albert Okumagba disclosed this to Vanguard, weekend, during the institute’s programme, termed “ Brunch with the President” held in Lagos.

The capital requirement for broker/ dealer was increased from N70million to N300 million.The minimum capital requirement for Issuing Houses was also raised from N150 million to N200 million; while that of underwriters went up from N100 million to N200 million. For a registrar in the Nigerian capital market, the minimum capital obligation was raised to N150million from N50million; while for those in trustees business, the capital requirement was moved up to N300million , from N40millon.Furthermore, the minimum capital requirement for rating agencies was increased from N20million to N150million ; while the capital requirement for corporate investment adviser remained unchanged at N5 million.Continuing, he said “It is going to be a continuous engagement. We have met SEC and also the NSE. So, we

F From left: British Airways Trade Account Manager, Nigeria, Peju Diya; winners of British Airways travel consultant bumper reward, Halima Mohammed of Touchdown Elite Travels, Solomon Olowonawu of Goodnews Travels; British Airways Trade Account Manager, Eastern region, Bodunrin Olowolagba and British Airways Trade Account Manager, Northern region, Ronnie Uzoigwe, during the presentation of Shoprite shopping vouchers to winner of the British Airways Frontline Incentives for Trade Partners in Lagos.

Stoc kbr ok er ockbr kbrok oker erss engage regulat or regulator orss o ovver recapitalisation deadline will continue the talk and that is one of the things we promised when we took over the leadership of the CIS.” A fellow of the institute, who is also the Chairman of Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, Mr. Emeka

Madubuike, said “Yes, we have met with the Chairman of SEC and the talk is ongoing. We told him our position. We will still meet the management team of the commission to address grey arrears before the deadline.

Rights issue: Unity Bank to reconstruct shares

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

ollowing the success of its recently concluded right issue, Unity Bank Plc is set to reconstruct its shares.

The Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Henry Semenitari, disclosed this at the listing of the bank’s additional 78.45 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each that arose from the rights issue and special placing on the Official List of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. He also disclosed that the rights issue undertaken by the

bank earlier in the year was oversubscribed by more than N950 million.

Unity Bank had in May concluded arrangements to raise N39.2billion via Rights Issue of 38.45 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at 50 kobo per share and Private Placement of 40 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N0.50 kobo per share.

Acceptance list for the rights issue opened on May 12 and closed on June 18.

Semenitari, who also rang the trade closing gong, said:

PZ posts N8.2 bn profit

By EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

P

Z Cussons Nigeria Plc has posted a profit before tax, PBT of N8.2 billion for the year ended May 2014, representing an eight per cent growth when compared to N7.7 billion recorded in the previous year.

The Chairman of the company, Prof Emmanuel Edozien disclosed this at the company ’s 66th Annual General Meeting, in Abuja.

He told the shareholders that the year under review was characterized by “tough

operating conditions, taking into consideration, the security challenges in parts of the North and the stiff competition from other companies.”

In spite of that, Prof. Edozien maintained that PZ Cussons “still performed satisfactorily and it is expected that this commendable performance will continue in the coming years”.

He explained that the company paid out N2.4 billion in dividend to its shareholders representing 61 kobo per share, which was a increase of 5 kobo when compared with the 56 kobo per share dividend

payout of the previous year.

On sales, he told the shareholders that PZ Cussons maintained its leadership position in the toilet soap segment of the market with Premier, Joy and Imperial Leader which drove the personal care business driven by personal wash beauty, medicaments, as well as, Mother & Baby categories.

He noted that the home and family care brands performed relatively well during the period, saying, “growth of personal care brands was also strong, while homecare was challenged by a decline in commodity product”.

“We are definitely going to do share reconstruction; we would have an AGM approval for that. So, in a very short while, that will be done. Considering the number of shares on issue in the market, that will definitely be done in the interest of shareholders.”

He noted that the entire rights issue was fully taken up by the domestic investors, saying that no foreign investor partook in the offer.

He explained that having successfully completed the rights issue, the bank would judiciously and professionally deploy the funds well to upgrade the infrastructure and shore up the balance sheet, which he said would lead to capital appreciation for the shareholders.

He assured that within the next few years, shareholders of the bank will not only benefit from capital appreciation but will also enjoy dividend payment, while saying that funds from the rights issue would be judiciously used to achieve set goals.

BN Capital Limited, the Investment Banking and Asset Management subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, has said that with a focus on the recently rebased Gross Domestic Product, GDP, investors and stakeholders in Nigeria can tap into the potentials of the country.

The company stated that it will host key stakeholders at the 4th edition of its Annual Investor Conference, holding on the 11th and 12th of November 2014 at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.

The theme of the conference, according to FBN is “Lifting the lid on emerging Nigeria”, with a focus on the recently rebased GDP of Nigeria. Headlining this year’s event are the Honourable Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; the newly appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; and the Director General, Nigerian Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, among other speakers and panelists. Also billed to speak at the event is Dr. Anil Gupta, a scholar widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on strategy, globalization and entrepreneurship.

According to the Managing Director of FBN Capital, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe, “Over the last three years, we have explored key aspects of Nigeria’s economic evolution as it transitions from a frontier to an emerging economy.

This year, we will consider how Nigeria can capitalize on the recent GDP rebasing which has propelled it to the position of the largest economy in Africa, and also shine the spotlight on previously under-represented fast-growing sectors of the economy which the recent rebasing has brought into focus.”

It was also gathered that Dr Gupta will be discussing his ideas on how Nigeria can handle the “too big to ignore” tag which comes with the elevated position the country finds itself in after the rebasing. Dr. Gupta is ranked by Thinkers 50 as one of the world’s “most influential living management thinkers” and is one of only three professors in the world to have been elected by his peers as a Lifetime Fellow of all three of the most prestigious bodies in the field – Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society, and Academy of International Business.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—23

MAN Group decries registration bid by wines importers Stories by FRANKLIN ALLI & NAOMI UZOR

Raw TResearch

TAssociation of Nigeria

From left: Chief Operating Officer, Shoreline Power, Marc Hasenclever, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello, Vice President, Engr. (Mrs) Joana Maduka, Interim Chairman of Energy Group, Engr. Effiom Edet and GAS-Investor and Large Projects Segment Manager, Mantrac Nig. Ltd, Mohamed Abou El Wafa, at the inauguration of the Energy Group of the Chamber. its application to forward such to the Registrar-General of CAC within 28 days of publication.

Consequently, the Ethanol Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria had risen in protest stating that the use of the word ‘producers’ in the name and objects of the said association is fraudulent and misleading.

The association which does not see any justification for another appellate group that are merely importers and wines insisted that it has never failed in representing the interest of all genuine registered members of wines and spirits manufacturers in the country.

Counsel to the group in a pe-

tition to CAC said that the registered objectives of the organization, among others include “Bringing all Distillers and Blenders within the Nigerian business community together with a view to constantly evaluate and discuss matters of common interest."

AfriHeritage Business environment survey for OPS, Govts

A

FRICAN Heritage Institution (AfriHeritage) says the results of its ongoing data gathering on Business Environment and Competitiveness, tagged BECANS III, will be beneficial to both the Organised Private Sector, OPS, and governments at all level.

The Executive Director of the Institution, Dr. Ifediora Amobi, who disclosed this at a press briefing to herald the commencement of the project, said the results of the survey will help the OPS in their economic advocacy activities.

He also stated that the federal, states and local governments can use the results to carry out policy reforms that will ensure good business environment and enhance Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness ratings.

According to him, the Institution conducted the first two cycles, BECANS I and II, in 2007 and 2010, respectively and now they have started the third cycle of the survey.

According to him, business environment in Nigeria is the shared responsibility of federal, states and local governments.

“In particular, state governments are responsible for the bulk of the infrastructural, regulatory and ad-

Materials and Development Council, (RMRDC), in collaboration with the umbrella bodies of Organised Private Sector and development financial institutions, said it is set to focus national attention on critical challenges of manufacturing industries with the 2014 NIRAM Expo.

In a statement by the Director General, RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim, said, RMRDC in collaboration with the umbrella bodies of Organized Private Sector, namely: NACCIMA, MAN, NASSI, NASME, and development financial institutions, namely: BoI NEXIM, Bank of Agriculture and NERFUND, will be organizing a Raw Materials Exposition, tagged ‘2nd NIRAM Expo 2014’ at De Blue Roof, LTV Event Centre from 28th-30th, October, 2014 so as to focus national attention on critical challenges of manufacturing industries.

He disclosed that this year’s 2nd NIRAM expo is themed: “Achieving Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan Through Raw Materials Sourcing” and is designed to focus national attention on critical challenges of manufacturing industries, which border on securing a standard framework for achieving improvement in sourcing of raw materials on sustainable basis by SME manufacturers and other potential users in the country, as well as creating efficient linkages and synergies among the real sector of the economy.

According to him, the objectives of NIRAM Expo is to provide conducive platform for exhibiting industrial raw materials, to create enabling environment for effective synergy among stakeholders in raw materials value chain on sustainable sourcing of raw materials, to create opportunity for manufacturing industries to procure their raw materials directly from the producers, to facilitate business-to business meetings amongst stakeholders engaged in raw materials value chain in Nigeria, to generate adequate information on raw materials producers for future referencing and to encourage an efficient network and partnership in the real sector of the economy.

He disclosed that the raw materials exposition will feature, exhibition of primary and secondary raw materials, plenary sessions on achieving sustainable raw materials sourcing, group discussions & experience sharing on case study situations, masters class demonstration of raw materials value chain and marketing opportunities for SMEs through foreign partners from Belgium.

HE

HE Ethanol Manufacturers

(EMAN) has objected strongly to the registration bid at Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),by Wines Marketers and Producers Association of Nigeria, (WMPAN) saying, the attempt by the group connotes setting up a parallel body in the sector.

The group in a statement signed by its solicitors, Messers Ajibola Morebise & Co. stated that the Ethanol Manufacturers Associations is the recognised registered representative of all alcoholic beverage manufacturers and producers in Nigeria which has been duly registered with the CAC. It will be recalled that the Spirits and Wines ‘Producers’ and Marketers Association of Nigeria, had a month ago, approached the Corporate Affairs Commission seeking registration as an umbrella association of wines marketers and the group had in a paid advertorial stated its aim as providing industry collaboration that will drive and influence appropriate enabling environment in Nigeria for the importation marketing, distribution and sale of spirits and wines in Nigeria.

It, however ,urged members of the public with any objection to

NIRAM Expo to focus on critical challenges of manufacturing industries —RMRDC

ministrative services needed by private enterprises. So, without commensurate business environment reforms by state and local governments, the macroeconomic and institutional reforms of the federal government would not be able to produce the desired impact on employment and poverty”, he noted.

He explained that the BECANS model defines business environment along four benchmarks: infrastructure and

utilities, regulatory services, business development support and investment promotion; and security.

“BECANS runs in successive cycles of research, survey, dissemination and policy dialogue. Each cycle begins with desk research (the scientific validation of models, methods and indicators) and is subsequently followed by a survey and data collection, data analysis, report writing, publication,

dissemination and dialogue between the government and stakeholders in private sector and civil society.

At the end of the exercise, BECANS intends to inform, influence and stimulate policy and institutional reforms for better business environment across Nigerian states; to engender mutual learning, peer review and dissemination of best practices among Nigeria’s state governments.

McDowell’s promotes consumer experience through friendship jam nited Spirits Limited, marketer of McDow ell’s No. 1, a whisky brand in Nigeria, said it has stepped up its consumers engagement drive in the country through its Spirit of Friendship Jam aimed at enriching consumers’ experience of the brand.

The jam, according to the company, held in Lagos, was targeted at promoting the spirit of friendship among Nigerians as the brand reunited and engaged erstwhile KcPresh to thrill its consumers.

The company said the event had in presence hundreds of Nigerians who thronged out to celebrate Nigeria’s independence in the spirit of friendship.

Speaking at the event, Precious John, also known as Presh said his experience of the brand endeared him to identify with the brand’s spirit

U

of friendship project.

He said, “I tried it through a friend in a club and having realised that it was nice, I have often patronised it over and over again. And when they called me to be part of the spirit of friendship project, I told them that funny enough, I tasted your brand like two weeks ago and it was really nice, and that was how we sparked up the discussion.

“For a brand that is promoting friendship, I would say that they have really done well actually because what they are trying to promote is peace, unity and love,” he said.

In a media chat earlier, an official of United Spirits Limited, Saurabh Grover, said, “The brand personality is enjoying with real friendship. This is ensuring that the friendship becomes even stronger; that’s the positioning we have done.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014—24

Why we chose LADOL for Egina integration project – Samsung STORIES BY GODWIN ORITSE

S

AMSUNG Heavy Industries, SHI, partners to the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics, LADOL, has explained why it chose the base for the Fabrication and integration of the Floating Production Storage Offshore loading, FPSO for the Total Egina oil well project.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the integration and fabrication of the FPSO in Lagos, Managing Director of SHI, Mr. KS Lee said that the LADOL has provision and all that was needed for the successful fabrication and integration of all the FPSO of the Egina project.

He explained that the protection of the base from sea waves was a major factor that was considered in bringing the project to LADOL. Speaking in similar vein, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Monitoring Development Board, NCMDB, Engr Ernest Nwapa told Vanguard that most of the reasons why LADOL was chosen for the project, was for the ease of logistics, location in addition to the world class facilities at the base.

“SHI chose LADOL as their own preferred site, and since SHI won the bid, and has now demonstrated that even the fear of not being able to do the

integration here has been overcome because everything that will be needed to assist in the fabrication and integration of the FPSO are right here in LADOL. “Today is a very good day for us in the oil and gas industry but what is important is to get this thing done in Nigeria because doing it one yard will bring more business into Nigeria and Nigerians as this will lead to more businesses to more yards in Nigeria” Nwapa said.

The Managing Director of Samsung Nigeria, Chamwang Kim, in his remarks noted that the event marked the beginning of a great journey that will make a big stride in Nigeria oil and gas .

He explained that fabrication facility which is the first of its kind in Africa is expected to make Nigeria the hub for the fabrication of facilities urgently needed to harness deep water hydrocarbon assets in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He added that Samsung has complied with the law and the safety code of Nigeria in the development of the facility.

He was of the opinion that the partnership will produce more Nigerian artisans as the project will afford local technicians the opportunity to learn from experienced Korean engineers.

The Managing Director

of Total Upstream Company of Nigeria, Mrs Elizabeth Proust, who spoke through the Deputy Managing Director of the Company, Mr Charles Ngoka said, the project is expected to

empower Total to foster technology transfer and skills development in the oil and gas sector . She added that the rig that will drill Ejina project oil wells will arrive Nigeria by November, while actual drilling will start by

N

IGERIA’s first private/public partnership in port operation, the Lekki deep sea port project got a boost recently as the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank approved funding to finance the construction of the port.

The deep seaport is a $1.5 billion public private partnership project between the Federal Government (represented by the Nigerian Ports Authority), the Lagos State Government and the Tolaram Group. A Shareholder’s Agreement to this effect was signed in December 2012 amongst all three parties.

In a statement signed by the Chief Financial Officer of Lekki port, Mr. Sandeep Parasramka said that the port project is still very much on course contrary to specula-

tion that paucity of fund was stalling the project.

“The project is very much on course and is progressing well, with respect to global standards, large Infrastructure projects like this take time to achieve.

“I can confidently tell you that African Development Bank has recently obtained Board approval for US$150 million funding for the project while European Investment Bank which is very much eager about investing in the project, has also gotten Principal Board approval which would see them support the project with funds also.

“A few more International Banks who are also in the process of securing their Board approval are also going to join the list of banks, investing in this laudable initiative.

‘All the Banks are very keen to participate in the Project given its strategic

“I am particularly proud to witness the significant milestone in the realization of my father’s vision to create a wholly Nigerian facility that will be a platform from which thousands of jobs will be created."

From left: Comptroller, Apapa Area One Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Charles Edike; Executive Secretary , Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello and Director, Commercial Shipping Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mrs. Dabney Shallhoma, at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos.

NIMASA acquires special satellite system to monitor maritime domain

BY CHRIS OCHAYI & GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE Nigerian M a r i t i m e Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has said that the agency has acquired a unique satellite system with

capacities to identify any kind of vessel entering or leaving the country’s maritime domain.

NIMASA’s Director General, Mr. Akpobolokemi, who revealed this while receiving the Maritime

Lekki deepsea port gets funding from ADB, EIB

BY GODWIN ORITSE

December, this year.

Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi said: “We have been developing the facility for 13 years and the ground-breaking today is a real watershed moment.

importance, competitive advantage, good financial returns, strong Government Support and unprecedented economic value it is expected to inject into the economy” .

He explained that projects of this kind requires the lending parties to agree on appropriate terms of lending and conduct stringent due diligence.

These processes according to him, take time and are very essential to achieving the debt financing.

The most important developmentnowisthatLekkiPort is at an advanced stage, with the due diligence completed and financing terms very much underway.

Parasramka also said “apart from getting the concession from NPA to build Lekki Port, Tolaram has put together leading global consultants such as Standard Chartered Bank, the Louis Berger Group Inc., Delta

Marine Consultants, BMT Asia Pacific, TBA Netherlands, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pte Ltd and GMaps, following which the EPC contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (one of the foremost builders of ports with a track record of delivering projects on time), has been appointed to build the port.

The project will make Nigeria the gateway to the West African region and will be one of the most efficient and modern maritime facilities, catering for containerized, liquid and dry bulk cargo par international standards.

Lekki Port will have significant positive macroeconomic impact estimated at $361bn over the entire concession period.

It is expected to contribute more than $200bn to the government treasury while also creating close to 163,000 new jobs in the economy.

Man of the year award under the 2014 Nigerian Advancement Awards series organised by Newaves Innovation, in Abuja, said the agency under his leadership has built robust maritime domain awareness architecture in the last three and half years.

“We revived the trend from having seen the stakeholders seeing us from the perception as a contract issuing agency to an agency that is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in our maritime domain, ensuring safety, security and protection of the marine environment.” he said “This consciousness made us to come up with a four point agenda that is in line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr President.

Essentially what we have been able to do and what we are doing is part of what the President has in stock for a better Nigeria.

“Our satellite system is on board, unique with special qualities that can identify any kind of vessel, entering or leaving our maritime domain. We have a radar system that is on-going.

We have the capacity to enforce compliance of our

regulatory responsibility because of the many platforms that we have”.

Akpobolokemi explained further that in the area of capacity building, “we have done wonderfully well. More needs to be done yet. But precisely, we have been able to establish a maritime university.

He said the way the Maritime University is being structured, it is going to compete with any maritime university in the world.

“We have been able to establish a science and technical college. It has started academic programmes. It is going to be the feeder to the university to bring middle level man power.

“We have been able to establish six maritime institutes in six different universities across the country, within the past three years plus. We are developing a ship yard.

“Also in the area of capacity building which I have been talking about, presently we have over 2,500 Nigerians in different parts of the world, studying degree programmes in maritime, precisely in marine engineering, Navy architecture and nautical sciences.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—25

I N S I D E

Kwara State is not owned by any dynasty — Jani

Are the Sarakis struggling for survival?

Page 28

Page 27

Why I offered myself to liberate Kwara — Sunday Babalola, PDP Aspirant Page 28

LG Polls: No battles in Delta A possible insight into what 2015 offers for Delta State could be demonstrated in tomorrow’s local government election in the state.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & FESTUS AHON

T

HE much awaited local government elections into the 25 local government councils in Delta State come up tomorrow with the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in pole position to sweep all chairmanship and councillorship positions on offer.

Tomorrow’s election follows the exit of the last democratically elected local government officials in 2011. Since then, the local governments have been run by caretaker administrators appointed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with the approval of the State House of Assembly.

Opposition political parties Though more than ten political parties are involved in the contest, the opposition political parties with the exception of some in some selected local governments had shown much seriousness in the campaign preceding tomorrow’s election.

It is indeed no surprise that once the PDP concluded its primaries last August that the winners in many of the local governments immediately took the garb of chairmen and councillors waiting for tomorrow ’s event as a coronation.

Besides the PDP, the other parties contesting for positions in tomorrow’s election are the All Progressives Congress, APC, Accord, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM,

Social Democratic Party, SDP, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. The obstacle to the conduct of the local government election had been the legal constraint raised against the constitution of a new board for the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC. That constraint was finally removed last year after the judicial case brought by some stakeholders was finally resolved.

The case had given way for the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to appoint sole

•Uduaghan: Delta governor administrators for the local governments, a development that was not in total conformity with constitutional provisions

guaranteeing unabridged democracy at the local government level.

Following the development, a board headed by Mr. Moses Ogbe was inaugurated by the governor. The commission on May 13, 2014, issued a notice and time-table for the elections with the party primaries scheduled for between June and August 15, 2014.

Remarkably, the primaries by the PDP on August 9 was itself more heated than the election coming up this weekend.

But that, however, would not relegate the determination of the security agencies to provide a security cordon for the election.

Security agencies It was gathered that the military is expected to join the police and other civil defence agencies in ensuring a smooth conduct of the election.

A chieftain of the Labour Party in the State, Chief Lance Orhierhor said; “We are prepared but our fear is that DSIEC is said to be printing two sets of materials for the election.

For once, we should learn to do things right; we don’t need to fight over local government elections.”

“Results are expected to be

declared at units and wards level and when that is done you know the winners at the unit level and ward even before the final declaration of the results at the final collation centre.”

“When that is done, Labour Party will win a good percentage of the election because in the few areas where we have candidates we are prepared to win them.”

On his part, Chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Erhue said; “we are very prepared for the election. All we are asking for is level playing ground for all the parties. We are not far from the battle field; we shall meet at the field.

“We don’t want any card carrying member of a political party as a returning officer”.

State publicity secretary of the PDP Mr Ray Macaulay said; “the PDP is fully prepared for the election; as you are aware our candidates went round their respective Local Government Areas campaigning whereas the other parties went to sleep waiting for miracle from heaven.

“We have worked hard for victory and we will be victorious at the end of the election. We reached out to the electorates to seek for their votes and we are confident they will vote massively for us”

26 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

•Bukola: Contending with PDP and Sister Gbemi

•Saraki: Contending with PDP rivals and Brother Bukky

KWARA 2015:

Physical developments

Are the Sarakis struggling for survival?

THE two most prominent children of the late elder statesman, Senator Olusola Saraki: Senators Bukola Saraki and sister, Senator Gbemisola Ruqqayat Saraki are fighting from different angles for lead position in the affairs of their father’s political patrimony. Could they both lose out?

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

T

HESE are not the best of times for Senator Gbemisola Ruqqayat Saraki, GRS as she is fondly called by her admirers. GRS is still unrelenting in the grudge war with Brother Bukola over the latter ’s leading role in stopping her gubernatorial pursuit in 2011.

Besides fighting Bukola, she is now engaged with her male counterparts in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for supremacy in the opposition party.

Despite her political acumen, her name is becoming a rallying point for all those who claim that it is time to see the back of the Sarakis in Kwara State.

It was no surprise that when

she was slated for ministerial appointment that almost all senior PDP officials put aside their many differences to oppose the proposal. But that did not deter Gbemi who successfully installed her people as chairman, secretary and woman leader of the state chapter of the PDP. Gbemi discovered to her chagrin that the chairman, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo who was once her loyalist would be taken from her grip by her rivals in the PDP. The opposition against her nonetheless, Gbemi is unrelenting and has upped the ante by her decision to contest for the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP. She is for now the only female aspirant even in both political parties, and is contending with other

brother, Bukola is also challenged by the determination of the PDP hierarchy in Abuja to grab the political levers of the state from him. Bukola is especially targeted on account of his leading role in fragmenting the PDP before his exit to the APC. It is thus like a grudge match between him and the president.

Bukola is also of interest to Abuja because of the discomfiture he gave the administration in being the first person to expose the multi trillion naira subsidy scam in the downstream petroleum sector.

After several months of deep cogitation, Bukola brought the anxieties of Governor Ahmed to an end with an endorsement for a second term.

Speaking after an all night meeting with major stakeholders three weeks ago, Saraki said: “It’s not r umour, it’s tr ue that I endorsed him for second term of another four years.

•Ahmed: Anxiety lowered after Bukola's endorsment prominent political gladiators election and Engineer for the PDP ticket. Among Sunday Adebayo Babalola who also those in participated in the contention for the last primaries but PDP ticket are was made to step Alhaji Jani down for Governor.

Ibrahim, an Ahmed. a s t u t e Also in the race is industrialist who Senator Simeon though is having Ajibola who is in his first shot but his third term in is showing the Senate and impressive Professor Shuaib c a p a c i t y, My Oba Abdulraheem, Muhammed Dele Deacon John Dara, Belgore SAN endorsement Comrade Ben who was the of Governor Duntoye and candidate of the Abdulrazaq defunct Action Ahmed for a Abdulraham.

Congress of While Gbemi Nigeria, ACN in second term struggles the stress the last was not from her rivals in gubernatorial accidental the PDP, her

From my own view, I believe he has performed very well, he has been able to bring physical developments to the state despite paucity of funds, and he has been able to consolidate on the legacies I left behind,” the former governor said before adding the clincher on Ahmed, “He has (also) been completely loyal” “When we moved from PDP to APC, he gave all the cooperation we needed”. He continued, “my endorsement of Governor Ahmed for a second term was not accidental. He worked for it, he merited it because he has performed creditably well”.

Bukola’s endorsement of Ahmed was despite the permutations that were on Bolaji Abdullahi who sacrificed his position as a minister because of his loyalty to Bukola and the long persistent shadow of the speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdulrazaq Atunwa. Both men are expected to remain loyal and would not rock the boat by contesting the primaries with Governor Ahmed.

Their submission to the will of Bukola nonetheless, the former governor is still expected to have a difficult time trying to retain his political hegemony given his own sister ’s desperate attempt to even score from the other side. A man’s enemies are members of his own household.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—27

Kwara State is not owned by any dynasty — Jani

•Jani: I am not obligated to the Sarakis

Billionaire businessman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim is one of the frontline aspirants contending for the governorship ticket of the party in Kwara.

In this interview, Ibrahim reviews the political situation in the state and the agenda before him.

Excerpts: YOU recently picked up the Expression of interest for the governorship primaries in PDP. What are your chances?

The form was actually picked up by some well-meaning Kwarans on my behalf; those who have been clamouring for my participation in the political process. We have consulted widely and I can tell you that there is a ground swell of support for our cause. I am under no illusions that the desired political change in Kwara will be an easy process. Everyone knows the battle will be hard, because no one relinquishes power voluntarily.

But PDP will certainly reclaim Kwara come 2015 because the people are tired of the present government, make no mistake about that. The signposts are there and the change cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another 4 years.

Who is your Godfather in Kwara politics?

I do not have a Godfather because I do not believe I need one. I believe that Godfatherism is nepotism, it robs a people of opportunity to identify and elect the best amongst them. Because the leaders that emerge are appointed by the Godfather and not through the popular choice of the people, they owe their

obligation to the Godfathers and not to the people.

They are answerable to Godfathers; they do not feel accountable to the people because they were not put there by them. They serve the bidding and interest of the Godfathers, and are not touched by or accept

blame for the poor living conditions of our people.

We have ceased to anoint candidates in Kwara PDP and I can assure you that every candidate will have a level playing field as we have no Godfather problem in the party.

The people of Kwara will become my Godfathers and Godmothers if I am elected into office. That way I will be responsible to them and use the assets of the State, its resources, fertile lands and natural resources in the most efficient ways possible for the common good of all our people.

Do you agree with those who say that the Saraki dynasty is dead in Kwara?

Kwarans are not unmindful of the contributions that Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, the Wazirin Ilorin, and former Senate Leader who was widely regarded by most Nigerians as the ‘Strongman’ of Kwara politics, has made in the lives of Kwarans both economically and politically.

However, Kwara State is not an empire or private dynasty of the Sarakis so the argument about whether Saraki Dynasty is alive or dead in the state is not an issue. Kwara State is part of Nigeria, owned by the people and governed by whosoever receives the mandate of Kwarans and not by any particular family or any Dynasty.

And secondly, we do not have a caste system where the aristocrats lord over the common class.

Kwarans are now politically savvy and are seriously agitating for a total cleansing of the political terrain, exorcism on the evil demon called Godfatherism, removal of all forms of Oil used in anointing our political leaders and the freedom to fully participate in the political process without fear of retribution.

Today the drums of political freedom can be heard strongly in every street, town hall, village and hamlet in Kwara. So no Godfather or Godson will be allowed to dictate to our people anymore, because ruling Kwara is nobody’s birth right. We are

all tired.

Why would someone like you with your rich background, the immediate past president of the prestigious Alumni Association leave all that for politics?

When I survey the State with the eyes of a business person, I see opportunities all around, but the reality on ground today is widespread poverty. Going by the goals we have been able to accomplish in Lubcon with our very modest means, well-wishers of the State have over the years and at various instances been urging me to come in and make a difference.

True patriot As a true patriot who could no longer sit by and watch things fall apart before our very eyes, I have responded to their call.

It is claimed that you still have some business relationships with the Sarakis and that you may be fronting for them. How true is this? (laughs) Its funny the types of stories that people come up with, you cannot but marvel at how they make up all sorts of tales.

My relationship with Senator Bukola Saraki dates back to our secondary school days at Kings College Lagos where he was my junior, and being from the same state, he naturally came under my wings.

We have political differences stemming from the different views we hold on the role of government, the manner in which it carries out its mandate and its overall relationship with the people. This has however not affected our relationship as friends.

I believe that the present government which he installed has not delivered the expected

Continues on page 28

Wh yself Whyy I of offfered m myself to liberate Kwara — Babalola, PDP Aspirant

By DEMOLA AKINYEMI

Engineer Sunday Babalola, a Petroleum Engineer was a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2011 election. He, however, stepped down for the incumbent shortly before the primaries. Babalola who has again offered himself for another contest in this interview explains his mission and manifesto. Excerpts:

W

HY are you aspiring to govern Kwara State?

Firstly, my aspiration is based on the fact that as long as good people refuse to act, evil will continue to prevail. As long as

we all run away from politics and leave all to prayers, we have no reason to complain about what is happening.

How do you see your prospects given the abundance of aspirants?

I believe I have a very good chance. I did very well in 2010 as you must have learnt. This time my people are even better organised, well focused, more motivated, determined and willing knowing that there shall be no imposition. We have over 40,000 people registered in the New Page Forum (a Babalola Support Group) that are working day and night in all the wards and Local

•Kwara State Government Areas.

This is not an exaggeration and the number is growing by the day. Their motivation is the need for good governance.

Also, the politics of money (or what is called amala politics) is gradually fading away.

Moreover, we have traversed the whole state selling our idea of an ideal government that would benefit the people. I like to remind you also that among

all of us jostling for this position, I am the only one that has very intimate relationship with all the Senatorial Districts.

I grew up and spent my adolescent years (the years when a man forms all his characteristics, develops his vision for life and living and lays the foundation for who he is going to be) in Kwara North

Continues on page 28

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Why I offered myself to liberate Kwara — Sunday Babalola, PDP Aspirant Continues from page 27 while I am from Kwara South by extraction. I did my middle school in Kwara Central. So, you can see that I understand the problems of our people in all the Districts; I can relate with them because I lived with them and was affected by them in my growing up.

What are your strategies to govern and develop Kwara if you become the PDP candidate and eventually win the governorship election in the state?

Firstly, as soon as we have the opportunity to serve the State we shall ensure that all schools are properly set up and the environment ready for the students to learn from before resumption for first term.

Secondly, we shall create employment through the establishment of cooperative societies through which soft but self-regulating and selfcollateralised loans will be granted to different professionals and artisans in order to boost their business.

Every tax paying adult, children and the aged will be on health insurance to ensure everyone has access to good health care. We have plan to establish a system that would ensure hospitals are well equipped and can be accessed even in rural areas. Within the four years we shall spend, we shall ensure proper road network to enable transportation of goods and services to where they can be sold.

But people say that your party cannot wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State?

We are more than prepared for the election. I read a lot of insinuations that there are infightings within the PDP. That is not true. What we are seeing today is democracy in action. You cannot throw up the best in any system unless there is competition. Therefore, what we see in the PDP is that people are competing for their desired positions. Off course, this is a strange phenomenon in Kwara State, so I can

understand their thinking.

It is alleged that the PDP is counting on federal might. Is that true?

The last two elections in Ekiti and Osun States clearly established the fact that the Federal Government is not in the business of influencing the outcome of elections. Before then, there were the elections in Edo and Ondo. In all, the PDP won only the Ekiti State election.

Where is the influence or federal might that you are referring to? We in the Kwara PDP know clearly that the Federal Government is not going to use any federal might to win any election. The will of the people shall prevail. But we also have the advantage that this government is not performing.

Where is shared prosperity or legacy continuity? Into whose pocket? Let’s face it, the one before it did not perform either.

How has the aviation school helped Kwara? This is a State that effectively has only one

•Babalola airline plying it because there is no economy to support increase in the number of air travellers. Even the one airline is not even half full all the times I had the privilege of taking it.

How come aviation school? Is a priority? Where is the food from? It is from Shonga farms.

So people are just waiting for 2015 to boot them out.

Transform constituent parts to achieve our dream Nigeria

BY CLEMENT OFUANI

I

T was Professor Chinua Achebe who wrote over a quarter of a century ago in The Trouble With Nigeria that ‘it is basically leadership.’ Several years later, if there is one point on which there is unanimity of opinion among Nigerians, it is that leadership remains a problem in our nation. We have remained a potentially great nation because we have, for many years of our history, been unable to install the leadership required to translate our potential greatness into actual greatness except for a few islands of accidental successes.

If we are to expect and obtain different results from our leadership in future, particularly under the current democratic dispensation, we must change the method of identifying and electing them. We must seek to change our politics and our leadership recruitment process.

In our families and in our businesses, we know that the right personnel are our best assets and we hire them through rigorous processes. How much more important should we therefore consider the recruitment of men and women for the most important jobs in our land – our public service?

In the more developed countries that many of us admire so much, citizens often express a desire for less government preferring to take on the

responsibilities of national development through advancements in their various walks of life.

The citizens understand the role of government as that of an enabler; one that provides the right environment for them to make successes of their legitimate pursuits. Indeed, for them, one of the measures of the effectiveness of government is its unobtrusiveness. For, when governmental institutions are functioning as they should, no one notices that government is working because it is taken for granted. However, when institutions fail, people start demanding to see government in action.

Unarguably, increasing demand for government is perhaps an evidence of failing government.

I have severally advocated for a complete overhaul of the way government business is done in the executive arm in our land to place emphasis on policy formation which provides multisectoral and multi-dimensional solutions and clarity to spending plans.

I have always held that it is not every policy initiative that should result in public procurement or contract award, as some policies may merely lead to new legislation on how to improve economic performance by realigning market incentives, while some may lead to progressive regulatory controls as checks against market

•Ofuani imperfections.

I qualified as a chartered accountant after my first degree in Accountancy from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. And I had extensive private sector working experience in diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy including banking and insurance. I am also a Chartered Insurer and I

hold a Masters degree in Banking and Finance from University of Lagos.

I was first invited into public service as Special Assistant to Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Delta State in 1999 and I later became the pioneer Commissioner for Economic Planning. In 1999, we met a chaotic system of administration left behind by the military and immediately embarked on some progressive reforms to bring order and transparency to governance.

We pushed through some of those reforms and successfully changed the way government business was done despite some resistance.

Travelling the length and breadth of Delta State in recent times and listening to our people, I find that despite our ethnic and cultural peculiarities (not differences), our desires and

Look, Kwara State is as good as won by the PDP because there is nothing this government is doing for the people. The people saying this must be APC people and they are only preparing the ground to explain their loss by saying it is “federal might” that will make us win

aspirations are basically the same, underscoring our common humanity. Our people want to live in a decent society where everyone will be treated fairly and with dignity. They want to live in a society where they feel safe and do not need extra eyes behind to walk our streets. They want our children to go to good schools within our neighbourhoods and not travel long distances with associated risks, in search of good schools.

They desire to see our children get well-paying jobs upon graduation or where they are entrepreneurial, for them to realize their dreams in a society that rewards talent, hardwork, risk taking and enterprise and provides the enabling environment for the flourishing of a “Nigerian Dream” of rising from grass to grace with hard work and industry as the guide *Chief Clement Ofuani is a governorship aspirant in Delta state

Kwara state is not owned by any dynasty — Jani Continues from page 27 democracy dividends to our people.

In all of Senator Bukola Saraki’s eight year tenure as governor, I was not appointed into any position in his cabinet I was never nominated for any Federal appointment, so it baffles me when people say I am fronting for him. I run a business

that is about the second largest employer of labour in the state, I have been privileged to head the alumni association of the most prestigious institution in the country… My question to them is “What do they think I would be offered to make me front for someone and take orders from the person on how I run my government? Is it position, is it money or what?”

I would also like to point out that I am an Independent Director in Heritage bank, my appointment was approved by the Central Bank to ensure adherence to best practices and to help reposition the Bank and enhance its smooth take off. And Independent Directors do not own shares in the bank as per CBN guidelines.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 —29

From left— Chief Paul Eriri; Olorogun George Oyefia, General Coordinator, Team Ochei 2015; Mr. Victor Ochei; Ogbuefi Eric Anigala; Mr. Jerry Ossai, during a consultative visit to Chief Anigala yesterday in Obiaruku, Delta State, yesterday.

Akiolu lauds Shasore at book launch

L

AGOS—AHEAD of the 2015 general election, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has said that the former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, an All Progressives Alliance governorship aspirant for Lagos State, was a true son of Lagos. The monarch made the remark in Lagos at the launch of a book, entitled: ‘Possessed’, authored by Shasore, chronicling the history of law and justice in the crown colony of Lagos (1861–1906).

The author, Olasupo Shasore is one of the latest entrants into the governorship race in Lagos State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. Harping on the lineage of Olasupo Shasore, Oba Akinolu recalled that many people do not know that he is the grandson of the land owners in Lagos, adding that his grandfather Rufiu Oloye Shasore, was to be the Chief Oluwa of Lagos in 1913, but intrigues did not allow him to assume that

post.

In his remark at the book launch, Governor Babatunde Fashola lamented the relegation of Lagos by the Federal Government, urging the government to return Tafawa Balewa Square TBS, to the original owners. He said that the central government was given the heritage to manage, adding that TBS was part of the land that belongs to the king of Lagos, and with the conquest and possession of Lagos it became crown land administered by the British crown. The governor said that at the end of the colonial era, it was passed to the Federal Government, and when Lagos State was created along with 11 states, it became a state owned land.

Speaking on the title of the book, the author, Mr. Supo Shasore said it was written out of love for Lagos as a true indigene and to explain how Lagos was possessed by the British, and also to highlight the economic injustice against Lagos as well as showcase

2015: Rivers APC vows to wipe out Ebola

N

IGERIA will become a world beater in so short a time if the All Progressives Congress (APC) is voted into power during next year’s presidential election, the Rivers State Chapter of the party has said. It made the submission while reacting to the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday.

“Monday, October 21, 2014, will remain evergreen in the history of Nigeria as it was the day the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria Ebola-free and the American Broadcasting Corporation also declared Nigeria’s Ebola eradication effort as a model which the USA and other nations must emulate.

Those of us in APC cele-

brate this feat since Lagos and Rivers, the two states that achieved this milestone, are APC States. This clearly points to where the hope lies as Nigerians prepare to vote for a new government next year. With what Lagos and Rivers states demonstrated in this regard, it simply means that with APC at the helm of affairs come 2015, Nigeria will surely be a world beater,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued Thursday in Port Harcourt.

The party in the statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, made it clear that in APC lies the hope and future of Nigeria, warning: “If we fail to take advantage of the 2015 elections to vote out the wicked and visionless PDP, we are doomed as a nation.”

the record of agitating against social injustice.

L-R: Director of marketing, Middle East and Africa, Wiko, Gareth Abel, director, International business, Wiko Nigeria, Marcel Van De Pas and country sales manager of the communications gadget company, John Peters, during the press conference and launch of Wiko, in Lagos.Photo;Joe Akintola; photo editor

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Live performances are my bread and butter — Bez

By ANOZIE EGOLE

E

mmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula, known as Bez in the music industry, is probably the only Nigerian multi-instrumentalist of his generation, singer-songwriter and composer, working in a genre known as “alternative soul”, a hybrid of soul, rock, jazz and RnB. WG caught up with the Nassarawa Stateborn Glo ambassador recently and got him taking about his music, his recent tour of Rwanda and his upcoming album. Excerpts”

Festival concert for Peace. What has the tour impacted on your image as a musician and entertainer?

First of all, let me start off by thanking all the fans in Rwanda who came out for our shows in Gisenyi and Kigali. The opportunity to visit other African cities always shows you the power of music, its ability to bring us all together. At a point, we try to express our art and live a dream and you never know how far that art can go. I live in Lagos and write my songs here, but I don’t know that people in Rwanda could sing along with me too. The folks at Rwandair and Afrogroov made it happen. They were amazing hosts to us.

You recently returned from a tour to Rwanda where you played at the Kigali Up

The opportunity to visit other African cities always shows you the power of music, its ability to bring us all together

,

Laide Bakare welcomes baby No 3

C M Y K

How was the trip from beginning to the end?

They were very open to my music, it was nothing short of amazing. As a country, they have been to the brink and back and you can still sense the resilience amongst the people. It’s a beautiful country with amazing topography and the folks there are so laid back. Sometimes it reminded me of what Jos used to be like when I was younger. Nigerian music as a whole is very popular there and my own brand of Naija music was very welcome and celebrated.

, I now live in a palace, Kcee boasts

Choosing the right tablet

How would you compare the music scene in Rwanda to what is obtainable here?

The modern music scene is burgeoning in Rwanda, they have had a long love for traditional music and musicians, now the younger musicians are

Continues on page 35

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—31

Vol. 1 No. 4

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

OBAS ANJO IN THE SOUTH WEST OBASANJO WEST::

Rejected stone turned cornerstone party took over all the states in the South West except Lagos which became too difficult for him.

URING his eight-year After serving his eight year reign as President constitutional terms, between 1999 and 2007, his Obasanjo reportedly government started the antiattempted to elongate his corruption fight by creating the tenure through a third term country ’s first anti-graft agenda which was agency, the Economic and scuttled.After he finished his Financial Crimes Commission, two terms as President and the EFCC. The Commission third term agenda got scuttled, reportedly secured at least 275 he came back to Abeokuta, his convictions, including high home town from where he profile members of the state continued ‘ruling’ the country recovering a total of $5bn in by proxy, before the death of assets. former President Umar Musa As President, he wielded a lot Yar’Adua of power. His reign recorded a Barely a year after he left the lot of seemingly impossible Presidency, Obasanjo was tasks such as few lawmakers appointed by the United impeaching their governors in Nations as a special envoy for Oyo and Plateau states. He also Africa and has since overseen sacked the governor of Ekiti democratic elections on behalf state and declared a state of of the African Union and emergency there.

ECOWAS in countries across As the President, which the continent. automatically confered on him, At home, seven years after the leader of his party, the he relinquished power as Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, President, it is glaring that Obasanjo still some of the wields a lot of National Chairmen influence. of the party became Those who his victims as they became national fell under his Chairmen of the sledged hammer.

PDP after he left He either removed office had paid or forced them to homage to him in resign. The cases his house in turn. of Chief Audu Those who had Ogbeh, Vincent come to him among O g b u l a f o r, the national Ahmadu Ali among Chairmen of the others are still fresh PDP include former in Nigerian’s Chairman, Alhaji memories.

Bamanga Tukur Also, his power and the current was enormous, as National Chairman, he dictated who Alhaji Adamu became the Muazu. They all governor of any claimed to have state he so desired Obasanjo come to seek for his and any attempt to has recently advice and support. stop his wish would been playing Also, the Senate be crushed.

President, David The 2003 and host to Mark , Speaker of 2007 elections House of conducted while he politicians Representatives, held sway as from across Aminu Tambuwaal, P r e s i d e n t remained the most the country as well as governors and other c o n t r o v e r s i a l to seek his high profile elections in the county’s history. In political politicians in the 2003, Obasanjo support country have come to pay homage to ensured that his

By DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

D

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*Chief Olusegun Obasanjo: With the presidential Library at the background the former President.

Economic worth Economically, Obasanjo is a silent billionaire whose investments cut across the country.

Obasanjo remains the only President in Nigeria that owns a multi-billion Presidential Library which comprises Hotels, ultra modern halls, cinemas among others.

Corporate organisations He had organised a controversial fund raising for the project while he was President and successfully realised substantial amount of money and commitments from business moguls, corporate organisations and international donors.

His business diversification cut across oil business as he was said to have got the franchise of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Ogun State and beyond. He is also into agricultural business with different sections which include animal husbandry, poultry, cash crops among others. He has also ventured into education as he has been touted to be the owner of the Bells University of Technology, Bellstech, Ota

among others. He was also said to have invested greatly in a media business, but prefers to operate it by proxy.

Political worth Politically, Obasanjo commands the greatest respect of all Nigeria’s past leaders. He was the first former President in the country that installed his successor and as well facilitated the emergence of the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

He was reported to have facilitated the emergence of so many governors including the ousted Adamawa State governor, Muritala Nyako, Sule Lamido, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Jigawa and Delta States respectively among others. Incidentally, present and past governors still owe Obasanjo gratitude for their emergence.

In the South West, Obasanjo also enjoys political goodwill in almost all the states including Lagos. All the governors referred to him as their father. Though, some of the states are being governed by opposition parties, Obasanjo still enjoys his political relevance.

Apart from politics, Obasanjo also wields influence on traditional matters. He had facilitated the installations of many traditional rulers including

the incumbent Alake of Egbaland; the Olowu of Owu among others.

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2015 general elections, Obasanjo has become the beautiful bride to both the PDP and APC. This development became obvious following the recent visits by the leadership of the both parties and subsequent close-door meetings to Obasanjo’s Hiltop House in GRA, Abeokuta

Permanent interest Obasanjo has recently been playing host to politicians from across the country to seek his political support .This action has however, led a credence to the popular aphorism that there is no permanent enemy in politics but permanent interest. The present political situation has shown that Nigeria is drifting towards two party system and these two prominent parties have been variously demonstrating in their quest to woo Obasanjo to support their respective courses.

Recently, the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu visited the exPresident, to discuss issues

Continues on page 33

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

NEW EKITI GOVT HOUSE:

It is insensitivity to plight of Ekiti people — Govt

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

B

ARELY five days after the inauguration of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose, the Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, released photographs of the interior of the new government house built at an estimate of N3.3 billion by the immediate past government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Olayinka described the new government house as an act of insensitivity to the plight of Ekiti people, many of whom cannot afford to feed once in a day, adding that no progressive minded Ekiti person would see the out-ofthis-world luxury provided with over N3.3bn borrowed fund and not weep for the State and its people.

Olayinka, who said Governor Fayose was alarmed at the waste of Ekiti resources, stated that the governor would have preferred to sell out the property and use the fund to provide basic amenities and employment opportunities for the people.

Employment opportunities

He disclosed that “the plan was to run government from the comfort of Oke-Ayoba Government House and move from there to anywhere.

“Also, contract for the maintenance of the property was already awarded for N150 million per annum.

“When we visited the Government House for the first time yesterday (Sunday), Mr Governor was pondering on the option of selling-off the place or turn it to commercial use."

Speaking further, the governor ’s aide said: “The bed alone costs over N30 million and what was spent on the bedrooms, toilets and bathrooms will be in the region of N100 million.

“How can a responsible government use borrowed fund to provide this kind of luxury in a State where a lot of people cannot afford to feed once in a day?

“People should ask what was really wrong

with the abandoned governor’s lodge?

“Shouldn’t such funds expended on the hilltop edifice had been used to resuscitate the moribund Textile Factory in Ado-Ekiti that was turned to lock-up shops to provide employments for our teeming unemployed youths?

“Here is a government which could not pay workers salaries, owing them for two months before leaving, preferring to use over N3 billion borrowed fund to provide luxury for himself.

“Most importantly, did our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whom the so-called progressives claim as their role-model live in any government house, not to talk of building an Emperor-like House for himself?

Did late Michael Adekunle Ajasin build a monarchical government house for himself?

Did Baba Lateef Jakande live in any government house?

These are great Yoruba sons, whose recorded landmark achievements as Premier of the old Western Region and governors of Lagos State and the old Ondo State respectively.

“The duo of Ajasin and Jakande were able to impact

tremendously on their States because they would not like to waste public fund to provide luxury for themselves,” he lamented.

While reiterating Governor Fayose’s a v o w e d commitment to the masses, Olayinka said: “Left for Governor Fayose, he won’t use that aristocratic government house because it is a symbol of oppression in itself.

He will prefer to live where Ekiti people can easily see him, touch him, eat with him and discuss the progress of the State

together, but abandoning it would amount to colossal waste of public funds. Let me assure you,

Governor Fayose will not hide himself from the masses,” assured Olayinka.

The Team Editor: Correspondents: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Gbenga Ariyibi Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Ikenna Asomba

Adeleke Adeseri Ibadan Osogbo Akure Ado Ekiti Abeokuta

C M Y K

C M Y

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 33

Why I built new Ekiti Government House – Fayemi

By LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor

I

N a publication that pictorially showcased exgovernor Kayode Fayemi’s exploit in Ekiti, titled: ‘Leapfrogging Ekiti from Obscurity to Prosperity’ the conception and funding of the new controversial government house were clearly stated that ‘’The administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State places much premium on infrastructure which it believes is a catalyst for modernizing the state.

Infrastructural development is the second policy thrust of the 8-point agenda of the Fayemi administration otherwise known as the “Roadmap to Ekiti Recovery. ‘’Desirous of being remembered for good by citizens of the State, the Fayemi administration conceived what it called “Legacy Projects” bequeathed to the generations yet unborn. ‘’In conceiving the projects, the administration took cognizance of the need to execute projects that accord with the needs of the government and people of Ekiti and critically also, positively project the Land of Honour in the comity of states in Nigeria. ‘’Not ready to be encumbered by the meagre allocations from the Federation Account as the state is 35th out of 36th on the nation’s revenue ladder, the administration secured a N25 billion bond from the Capital Market. ‘’Upon accessing the first tranche of N20 billion, the administration immediately embarked on the mission to change the face of the state with the Legacy Projects which the new Government House is one of them.”

According to Fayemi, ‘’Ekiti State has lived with the challenge

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State of having a befitting Government House since the state was created on October 1, 1996. The first Military Administrator, as he was designated, Col. Inua Bawa (rtd), was holed-up in a borrowed apartment before building an official residence with bricks sourced from Ire-Ekiti Burnt Bricks Factory. ‘’Successive administrations since then made do with some buildings in the Government House complex, including the present abode of the state’s number one citizen known as the Osuntokun Lodge. The fact that the Lodge lacked many facilities befitting of the residence of a governor and therefore “very inferior” to other Government Houses in the country, made the need for a new Government House in Ekiti very imperative. ‘’This inadequacy came even more to the fore at the death of the former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, with guests pouring in from all over the country to commiserate with the government and people of the

*The new governors lodge before completion

state on the monumental loss. To add to the state’s sorrow, the governor could not receive two sets of guests at the same time. ‘’But that rather embarrassing experience has become history with the construction of the new Government House situated on the Ayoba Hills in Ado-Ekiti, the new edifice, like the biblical “House on a Hill” can be seen from all parts of the city. ‘’While dismissing the claims of the opposition that the project is self-serving, Fayemi argued that the new Government House belongs to the people of Ekiti and not his personal property. ‘’He added that it would continue to serve as the official residence of all coming governors, long after he would have left office. The new Government House, will go down as an important statement of the New Ekiti that the Fayemi administration has always thought possible: It is an Ekiti State that plays second fiddle to none.’’

Obasanjo in the South West Continues from page 31 bordering on the future of the country.

The same day, the Senate President, David Mark who led a strong team including Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the Peoples Democratic Party Women Leader, Mrs. Josephine Anenih and Senator Polycarp Nwite also held a closed-door meeting with the former president.

Former Oyo State governor and a chieftain of the Accord Party, Rashidi Ladoja, also visited the former President the same day.

With this development, Obasanjo seems to have now become a beautiful bride whose support must be sought for political parties to win the next election.

Recall that shortly after the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Peoples Party of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressives Change and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to form the APC, the party leaders had stormed Obasanjo’s residence to introduce the party to the former President.

Among the APC leaders that spoke at the Obasanjo’s residence was Tinubu. He described the former President as an elder statesman saying,”you have come out of tribulation and held the highest position in this country.

We are here because of your courage. Nobody can claim that he has information more than you. You have surmounted a number of crises.

“Nigeria is divided now more than before. To realise a stable Nigeria, we want to encourage you to continue to speak the truth. We are resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria, we want you as navigator.

Recent visitors The recent visit to Obasanjo’s residence by Mark, Tinubu and Ladoja has been described as a game of wit between the PDP and APC ahead of the 2015 election.

It was reliably gathered that, Mark was sent by President Goodluck Jonathan, while the APC reportedly sent Tinubu to Obasanjo for support.

Speaking after the separate closed-door meetings,Tinubu said he discussed with Obasanjo about some of his former boys who would vie for various elective positions in the 2015 general elections, especially the Presidency.

In his remarks after his closed-door meeting with Obasanjo, Mark described him as the father of the nation with a wealth of experience.

Wealth of experience The Senate President said he had come with his team to discuss with Obasanjo and raise some basic issues that affect both the PDP and the nation at large.

He said “They are discussions that would move this nation forward, because his passion for this nation is unquantifiable. So we have really had a good discussion with him.” Apart from the closed-door meeting, the PDP had publicly begged Obasanjo to show mercy to the party and work for its victory.

The national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu who led others to seek for pardon from Obasanjo said the former president should forgive the past and come and lead it to success in 2015.

The national chairman of the party said he offered the apology on behalf of the party saying “all of us must beg Obasanjo to forgive us. We need to beg him. He is very prayerful and we need to ask him to forgive us so that we can be forgiven. We are your children.

“We have made mistakes and Baba, please forgive us.

Come and lead us. We are your followers and we assure you that we are all good boys and girls. We have sinned.

Baba please forgive us.”

But, in his reaction to the appeal, Obasanjo said nobody offended him and if he has offended anybody, the person should forgive him.

Born on March 5, 1938, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was a former Nigerian Army general that served twice as the nation’s head of state. He served as a military ruler from February 13, 1976 to October 1,1979 and later became a democratically elected President of Nigeria between May 1999 and May 2007 .Obasanjo who hails from Ogun State holds the chieftaincy titles of the Balogun of the Owu Lineage in Abeokuta and the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba clan of Yorubaland.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Alaafin marks 76th birthday in grand style

things.

He is a beauty to behold when he dances rhythmically to a traditional music called Bata, his dance steps go in tandem with the tune of the music.

His influence and power, though not as it used to be in the past, in the state and Yorubaland know no bounds. Any governor in the state who underrates his political influence will surely bite his finger in regret. When he turns his back against a governor, he uses all his arsenals including law courts to make him fall in line.

So, you can imagine what happens and the calibre of people that would rejoice with him when a monarch who possesses all these sterling qualities and more marks his 76 years. It was celebrated with pomp.

Weeklong programme It was a week-long programme which attracted well-wishers both within and outside Oyo town.

Among them were the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ms. Monsurat Sunmonu; Mr. Farouk Alao, son of late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland who is the Commissioner for Sports in the state; Local Government Chairmen from the four councils in Oyo, traditional rulers and several others.

Also many pressure groups comprising members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, motorcyclists, artisans, motor mechanics, serving members of National Youth Service Corps attended the ceremony.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi who the monarch commended for his efforts in transforming the state, described the Alaafin as a quintessential traditional ruler and custodian of the culture and tradition of the entire Yoruba race.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi: Dancing Bata royal father towards the unity and

By Ola Ajayi As you step into the ancient progress of the Yoruba race, Governor Oyo palace, you are greeted with Ajimobi said that the contributions of the monarch to the preservation and IS Royal Majesty, Oba carvings, cowry shell, drawings promotion of Yoruba culture Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi and images of both at home and in the deities.

When you 111, the Alaafin of Oyo, who diaspora was clocked 76 years few days ago is enter into his unquantifiable. a traditional ruler with distinction. compound, as a “Kabiyesi deserves our Immediately he assumed mark of honour, you presence. We are here to remove your shoes throne on November 18, 1970, celebrate an epitome of after Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu and caps. Inside the intelligence, culture and 11, he brought elegance into the palace, you are intellectualism in royalty. traditional institution, not only in ushered in by a We are here to celebrate a large carving of an Oyo but also in Yorubaland. Of quintessential traditional course, the story of Yoruba is not eagle which serves father of all, not only in complete without the Iku Baba as the roof of the Yorubaland, but the whole Yeye, Alase Ekeji Orisa as he is spacious palace. of Nigeria. We are also here When Alaafin popularly called. to celebrate an ambassador Among the Obas in speaks in Yoruba of culture,” he said.

English Yorubaland, he distinguishes and The governor restated his himself as a custodian of Language, you administration’s resolve to marvel at his depth Yoruba’s cultural heritage . As a promote the traditional lover of culture, he said some of knowledge. You institution and welfare of Kabiyesi years ago, that “traditional rulers just don’t want him traditional rulers in the deserves our should be seen as the perfect to stop. He is a state. In his remarks, the repertoire of history embodiment of the culture, of the presence.

We Caretaker Committee land as well as the synthesis of and knowledge.

Chairman of Atiba Local are here to the aspirations and goals of the Despite the fact that Government, Prince Akeem he is over 70, when nation. celebrate an Adeyemi commended the he begins to talk This is not only in social values various achievements of the epitome of of veracity, egalitarianism, justice about historical Ajimobi administration in and democracy, but in dressing, events both local intelligence, the provision of adequate utterances and comportment. and international, security to the lives and culture and with statistics and This is in addition to the mere as well as quality necessary trivialities that mark date, then you intellectualism property education and health Nigeria and the locality as a wonder how he services. in royalty remembers all these distinctive entity.”

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SOUTH WEST BRIEF With Ikenna Asomba

Molete Fire: Ajimobi bans street trading in Ibadan

F

ollowing the October 11, fuel tanker fire that roasted scores of people, including many roadside traders and destroyed property worth several millions of naira at the popular Molete Roundabout in Ibadan, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Tuesday, vowed to totally eradicate street trading especially in Ibadan and its environs, through a committee that has been set-up.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation and Chairman of the ad-hoc committee on the Molete fire disaster, Prince Gbade Lana, at a briefing, said Ajimobi who visited the scene of the carnage very early on October 12, had noted that the damage would have been less, if the people had taken to the genuine warning by his administration to desist from street trading and move to various neighbourhood market places that had been provided.

Nobody can force me out of PDP — Mimiko

O

ndo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said no individual can force him out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that his defection was not to create crisis or divide the party.

Mimiko, who spoke when he addressed youth leaders led by the PDP national youth leader, Abdulahi Maibasira, clarified that he has come back to add value to the party, not for a second term nor to get a senatorial ticket, adding that there is no senate seat available for him.

He said: “I have not come to PDP to be part of crisis, I have come to add value, I am not coming into PDP on the eve of a second term election and that is part of what we should consider, as a person I have no ambition, there is no senate seat available for me, I have only come to add value.”

Lagos CP w arns of warns offf icer icerss against mounting roadblocks

T

he Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, has warned officers and men of the command against mounting roadblocks and desist from the harassment of members of the public.

Aderanti, who was speaking, Monday, during his working visit to the Area A Police command, Lion Building, Lagos Island, led by the Area Commander, Mr. Imohinmi Edgal, an Assistant Commissioner of police, warned his men to change their ways or be shown the way out of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Lagos police boss who urged his men to device all possible means to earn public trust said: “There is a wall between us and members of the public. I want us to pull down this wall. There is a communication gap between us and the people we are supposed to be serving. You were recruited into the police to protect lives and property; we should be able to work in harmony with the people of Lagos State. The perception problem is too much. How would they trust us when we turn a complainant into an accused person? Please let us change for the better.

Osun allays fear over plan to release water from dams

O

sun State government, on Monday, allayed fears of residents over plan to release water from its dams across the state, with a view to avoiding imminent collapse of the dam structures.

It attributed the planned release of water from its dams to heavy rainfall witnessed in the state in the past few days.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, the government called on the residents of the state not to panic, as slight flooding might occur in communities hosting the dams, following the release of large volume of water.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—35

Synopsis

W

hen Bobo, the youngest of the seven dwarves, accidentally pricks Princess Rose (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty) and sends the kingdom into a century-long slumber, Bobo and the other six dwarves must travel into the future in order to revive Rose... and find that even the smallest dwarf can be a king. A hilarious mash-up of the best classic fairy tales for young and old alike, featuring a suicidal dragon, a brave little dwarf.

CAST: Otto Waalkes, Nina Hagen, Ralf Schmitz

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK •EQUALIZER •DRACULA UNTOLD •NINJA TURTLE •RECLAIM •FINDING FELA

Movie schedule from 24th October — 30thth October 2014

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND The 7th Dwarf :12:00pm,1:40pm,3:20pm,6:00pm, Reclaim : 12:10pm,6:40pm Ninja Turtles :1:50pm,3:50pm,6:00pm Finding Fela : 1:35pm Dracula Untold : 11:20am,5:10pm,7:00pm The Equalizer : 4:10pm,8:40pm

Live performances are my bread and butter — Bez Continues from page 30 crafting their own brand of music, and infusing it with sounds of hip hop and RnB. I happened to do a show with an amazing American based Rwandan singer called Iyadede, and I am hoping we can make something happen together in the future.

How is your marriage working out?

Fine, January will make it a year, my plans on marriage is to stay happily married. I have been blessed with an amazing wife and it’s been a joy building the foundation for what we pray will be a fulfilling life together. One day we will be blessed with children and even grandchildren.

After the success of your 2011 album Super Sun, what next should we expect from Bez? I have been working on a new album for over a year now, it’s been a long process, but rewarding nonetheless. The goal is to capture the growth and evolution of an artiste. Most of the instrumentation on the album is live and so we have recorded here in Lagos, in New York, Houston and we went to my village in Nassarawa to also do some recordings with some traditional musicians.

It was so exciting for me to go home to Karu and be able to reflect some our traditional music in my recordings. In Houston I worked with amazing horn players and percussionists, one of them even plays in Beyonce’s band. The style of my music is not going to change much though there will be sligh more rock edge to it. I also co-wrote a number of songs on the upcoming album with X3m Music artiste Simi, C M Y K

you have probably heard her new single “Tiff ” and Omolara Ayodele.

Cobhams Asuquo is at the helm of affairs in the production of the album.

When specifically will you drop the album and where?

In this region, probably second quarter of 2015 Do you think that marriage has slowed you down and come between your making good music?

Not at all, in fact, I would say that marriage has quickened my pace.

Music to me is a calling, it’s my life’s work so I have to move really fast in this space in order for things to work out well. I have been on the road, as you know, live performances are the bread and butter for any artiste. I spent this time introducing a whole new fan base to my music, establishing a base in East Africa. On November 1st, I am scheduled to be in Spain and the U.S. Work and shows have been going on well.

Are there any collaborations on your new album?

Yes there are What are your plans for Bez the brand?

Very good question. My top goal is to keep churning out amazing music and growing a fan base for my brand of music. I intend to focus on more music videos from this upcoming album. We do have some interest from foreign markets so we are currently following up on those requests. We intend to stay the course and keep the energy high during our live performances and give the fans a show every single time. Its called show business for a reason.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA The 7th Dwarf : 1:10pm,2:50pm,4:45pm Reclaim : 2:30pm,6:30pm, Ninja Turtles : 10:30am,12:25pm,2:25pm,6:55pm Finding Fela : 12:10pm Dracula Untold : 11:30am, 4:25pm,8:30pm The Equalizer : 11:15am,4:25pm, SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC The 7th Dwarf : 12:30pm,2:10pm,3:50pm,5:30pm,7:10pm, Reclaim : 2:50pm,4:40pm,6:45pm, Ninja Turtles : 12:20pm,2:20pm,4:20pm,6:20pm, Finding Fela : 12:00pm,2:30pm Dracula Untold : 12:10pm,1:00pm,2:00pm,5:00pm,6:40pm The Equalizer : 1:00pm,3:30pm,6:10pm,8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA The 7th Dwarf : 2:50pm,4:30pm,8:50pm Reclaim : 1:15pm,6:10pm Finding Fela : 12:30pm Dracula Untold ; 12:25pm,2:15pm,8:40pm The Equalizer : 4:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT The 7th Dwarf : 11:45am,1:20pm,3:00pm,4:40pm Reclaim : 11:45am,4:20pm,9:00pm Ninja Turtles : 11:15am,1:10pm,5:10pm Finding Fela : 3:55pm,6:05pm,8:15pm Dracula Untold : 11:30am,3:30pm,5:20pm,7:10pm The Equalizer : 11:00am,1:30pm,4:00pm,6:30pm,9:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI The 7th Dwarf : 10:40am,12:15pm,3:55pm,7:25pm Reclaim : 2:00pm,6:30pm,8:30pm, Ninja Turtles : 10:30am,12:30pm,2:30pm,4:30pm7:10pm Finding Fela 10:20am Dracula Untold : 5:35pm,9:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Finding Fela : 11:45am,4:20pm,6:30pm The Equalizer : 1:00pm,3:45pm,6:20pm Being Mrs Elliot : 11:50am,2:10pm,6:40pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS The 7th Dwarf : 10:00am,11:30am, Reclaim : 10:20am, Ninja Turtles : 12:05pm Finding Fela : 9:10pm Dracula Untold : 1:55pm,4:05pm, The Equalizer : 3:40pm,6:05pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS The 7th Dwarf : 11:00am,12:50pm,2:50pm,4:40pm Reclaim : 1:30pm,3:35pm,11:20pm Finding Fela : 3:50pm The Equalizer : 6:00pm,8:40pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT The 7th Dwarf : 11:35am,4:20pm Reclaim : 12:15pm,7:10pm,10:10pm The Equalizer : 9:10pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU The 7th Dwarf : 12:05pm,3:50pm Reclaim : 1:25pm,9:15pm The Equalizer : 3:35pm,8:30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS The 7th Darf : 10:00am,11:35am,1:40pm Reclaim : 10:25am,10:50am FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,HERITAGE MALL, IBADAN The 7th Dwarf : 10:00am,10:45am Reclaim : 10:40am,2:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA The 7th Dwarf : 10:00am,11:00am,12:40pm Reclaim : 11:30am FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR The 7th Dwarf : 11:00am KADA CINEMAS, BENNI The Equalizer : 3:15pm,8:00pm Being Mrs Elliott : 11:00am,1:30pm,4:00pm,6:30pm

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,OCTOBER 24, 2014

THE MAN WHO DRESSED WOMEN

Oscar de la Renta - (22 July 1932 – 20 October 2014) T

HERE are occasions when you do not know whether to laugh or cry, so end up doing both at the same time.

One of them is at the death of iconic designer Oscar de la Renta, who died at 82 last week.

There are designers and there are designs but Oscar, a complete sucker for stark femininity, was his own design.

He was a woman’s man and the ultimate woman’s designer.

Thus, he made clothes that made women feel confident rather than sassy; feminine rather than ‘pretty’, a concept he passionately detested. His clothes simply made women exude raw passion, and to feel like what they are- women.

The famous fashion designer was born in the Dominican Republic and made a name for

himself in the 1960s. Oscar de la Renta stood out as a beacon.

He created clothes that were a love song to women, and told the world how he truly felt about them.

The designer sadly passed away at his at his home in Connecticut at the age of 82.

He created clothes for the world’s most famous womenmost recently, he was responsible for Amal Clooney’s beautiful French lace wedding dress for her marriage to George Clooney. Hilary Clinton was also a client, a friend and an admirer.

But his designs were not the only ones that benefited from his deep passion and philosophy- all his creations did and like every icon that ever lived he was quoted effusively at every turn by those looking

for wisdom and amusement.

Here is our pick of the sayings that lent him legendary status and stamped his footprints in the sands of the time of the wearer’s mind. “Pearls of wisdom”, they have been called by Vogue!

“We live in an era of globalization and the era of the woman. Never in the history of the world have women been more in control of their destiny.”

“Gardening is how we relax.

It’s another form of creating and playing with colours.”

“We are dealing with sophisticated customers. What’s most important to these women is individuality. I’ll have to create things she’ll want to wear, no matter who she is.”

“Online media is increasingly influential in fashion” “I was surrounded by sisters.

•Oscar My childhood was all women”.

“The qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness.”

“What women have achieved in the last 50 years, I wish men would have achieved in the last 100.”

Fulani Secrets of Beauty thousand years to the Senegambia area. By the eighteenth century some had migrated as far east as the Niger and Benue Rivers (now in Nigeria).

What has been attributed to the Fulanis as beauty is actually as a result of an adaptation to a nomadic lifestyle for centuries. Because whole tribes of Fulani travel long distances in order to find grazings for their cattle, their bodies are not only extraordinarily fit (both men and women) but have adapted longer legs to make for more efficient movement over all kinds of terrains.

• Fulani Women

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HE president Senghor, of Senegal, once said Guinea has the most beautiful women in Africa, in particularly the Fulanis. They are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Africa, numbering approximately 40 million people in total.

C M Y K

Wherever they are to be found, the Fulanis or Foulahs are considered the most beautiful and graceful people whom nature has endowed with numerous gifts of lovely gaits, beautiful features, good skin and good height.

Learn natural beauty from the

Fulanis:Nomadic Lifestyle The Fulani peoples live in West Africa. They are among the most widely dispersed and culturally diverse peoples in all of Africa. Many Fulani trace their beginnings back one

Protein-rich Diet The Fulani diet usually includes milk products such as yogurt, milk, and butter.

Each morning they drink milk or gruel made with sorghum.

Their main meals consist of a heavy porridge (nyiiri) made of flour from such grains as millet, sorghum, or corn. They eat it with soup (takai, haako)

made from tomatoes, onions, spices, peppers, and other vegetables. The also eat a lot of meat.

In addition, most of their food is natural (unprocessed) and made from whole grains.

Rest Languorous lifestyle is as much associated with the Fulani of every type. Like the Fulani, most cultures have their own peculiarities of lifestyle, including in what is deemed to be beautiful and how to achieve it. Having ample rest in addition to ample exercise is one lifestyle trait the Fulanis have benefited from.

Natural Cosmetics Having such little access to the outside world for such long periods has ensured that the Fulanis have stuck with their own age-long cosmetics. Laali (henna) as well as natural animal and plant oils have kept the Fulani woman’s hair more than stellar.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 —

Foundation trains 100 people in skills acquisition

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

T least 100 beneficiaries last week went to their various homes with a big smile on their faces after graduating from the first Hon Adewale Olola Benson Foundation Free Skills Acquisition Training programme.

The beneficiaries, who are predominately women and youths, received their certificates at an elaborate graduating ceremony held in Surulere Local Government Area.

The two weeks intensive training saw the students graduated in different areas of skills acquisition such as; Beads making, pedicure, scalp making, soap, make-up facial, fashion, event decoration, air freshener making, and hair dressing among others.

Speaking on the occasion, organizer and sponsor of the programme, Mr. Adewale

The trainees Benson, explained that the initiative, which cost him about N500,000, aimed at encouraging the youths, women and men in taking up their own business in the drive towards self reliance and reduction of unemployment in the society.

He said he was worried by

the rising rate of unemployment and degrading values in the country, hence, the need for the intervention Benson, who was a former political office holder in the Surulere Local Government, clarified that his gesture had nothing to do with political

interest, “I don’t have any political ambition for now, am only doing this for the development of our indigent masses in the state and the country at large Quoting Robert Gallagler, who states, “change is inevitable except from a vending machine”, Benson while urging the trainees as they stand on the brink of moving into a new life beyond the process of acquiring different skills, stressed change would be inevitable “and it is indeed gratifying to see our graduating trainees matured and become skills proficient, ready to tackle the career in their chosen field.

“It gives me great joy to see myself giving back to the society. I am really fulfilled by what i have been able to contribute in my little way to the society.”

Also speaking Hon Ay o Osidele, Assistance Secretary, Surulere LGA, urged

37

the beneficiaries to put all that they have learnt into positive use for themselves, families, the state in particular and the nation in general, “what you have acquired is a legacy and it depends on you how you put the acquired skills into good use of the benefit of mankind.”

One of the beneficiaries, Miss, Osidele kadiyat, 18 years old who recently finished her Senior Secondary School, SSS, from Federal Government Girls College, Shagamu, Ogun State, expressed gratitude to the sponsor and the management for affording her the opportunity to be self reliant, despite the fact that she just left secondary school.

“With the skills I have acquired I can earn good money to sustain myself and even employ others when my business start to grow. I don’t have to depend on my parents for petty expenses anymore.

“I therefore, urged other well meaning Nigerians and residents to emulate this gesture by coming on board to contribute their own quota to national development and keep those who are not supposed to be on the streets, off the streets.”

NAS donates items to support street children

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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ATIONAL Association of Seadogs, also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has reiterated its resolve to working tirelessly and passionately towards the cause of making life meaningful to street children in Nigeria.

Members of the association made the pledge recently while presenting a commuter Bus and other support materials which include 18 pieces of mattress and a gas cooker to Child Life Line Residential Situated in Ibeshe, a suburb of Ikorodu, Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, the NAS Capn, who is the National Leader of the Organisation, Prince Ifeanyi Onochie, noted that NAS has recently focused on alleviating the plights of out of school children in Nigeria which is growing at a significantly high rate, going

by UNESCO and UNICEF statistics which show that Nigeria accounts for 10.5million of the 61 million out of school children worldwide, adding that 40 percent of Nigerian school children between the age brackets of 6-11 years are out of primary school, apart from 30 percent who drop out while only 54 percent proceed to junior secondary.

Onoche stated further that these worrisome data stirred

up emotions, leading to pertinent questions such as: “Where are these out of school or drop-out children located?

Why are they not in school?

How are they engaging themselves to stay busy? Could they be out in the streets hawking, pilfering etc?”

According to him, “It is against this backdrop that NAS has determined to contribute its quota to arresting this situation by partnering various organizations involved in street child care and welfare initiatives, orphanages and other humanitarian ventures targeting out of school children.”

In her response, the President, Child Life Line, Mrs. Sally Udoma said Child Life

National Leader of National Association of Seadogs, Prince Ifeanyi Onochie (right) presenting matrasses to the President of Child Life Line, Mrs. Sally Udoma as part of the association’s effort to better the life of street children.

Line was set up to make little contributions towards providing a better life for street children.

She therefore, thanked NAS embers for their generosity, kind gesture and interest in helping the needy,

particularly the activities of Child Life Line and the efforts to collaborate in creating a better future for the street children, whom according to her, exist in the nook and crannies of the country, who engages in washing plates in restaurants, carrying loads at the market places and being bus conductors among other things as means of survival.

Udoma lamented that the country was losing a lot by not providing opportunity to children on the streets to take advantage of their intelligence through education and training, thereby becoming useful to themselves, their immediate and extended families and the nation at large

Former street boy recounts experience A

KINTUNDE Ayeni one of the people rescued from the street, narrated how he lived on the streets for over 20 years after he left home, saying, “There is nothing on the street.”

Akintunde who left the comfort of his parents’ home in Ojo axis of Lagos State without leaving any trace behind, for several years, roamed the street during the day and sleep wherever he found safe haven in the night.

After years of leaving the

streets, he couldn’t understand why he left home to join other children who had abandoned their education and started roaming the streets of Lagos Akintunde, now in his 30s left the street in December 1997 after he was persuaded by officials of the Child life-line centre to either return home or live within the premises of the centre to continue his education.

Of the two options, he chose to live in the centre residential apartment to continue his education.

Akintunde noted that some of his friends with whom they roamed the streets together declined the offer to live within the centre or return home. “But I thank God today that I didn’t regret the step I took”.

Akintunde, who now works as a Tour Guide in the Badagry axis of the state, said that the centre helped him to perfect his art skills. According to him, “All I have achieved today was because this home sponsored my education.

And now, I can assist my aged mother now with what I earn from my business.”

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

I dreamt of my eviction, says GUS 11 sixth evictee

I now live in a palace, Kcee boasts T

his week, Limpopo King, Kcee was the co-host on MTV Base’ Official Naija Top Ten with MTV VJ Ehiz.

During the freestyle session the entertainer explained that he wasn’t a rapper, he also gushed about how he now lives in a palace and has a fat wallet. “I have a fat wallet and now live in a palace” he said. The Limpopo hit maker couldn’t help but be thankful for how far he has come in his music career.

Kcee whose song moved from number 10 to number 8 spot on this week’s MTV Offical Naija Top Ten, brought in a mix of reggae and dancehall to the show, he kept shouting ‘shaba’ to complete his freestyle session.

‘Dorobucci’. by the Mavin All Stars is still in hot demand by many as it stays at the number one spot for the fifth week running.

Wizkid’s monster track, “Show You The Money” climbs to number two this week while Skales moves one place down to number three. Flavour makes a new entry into this week’s chart with the video, “Wake Up”. Other talented acts on this week’s chart Wizkid, Burna Boy, Waje Ft Tiwa Savage, PSquare Ft TI and Ice Prince.

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kenna Emedike who became the sixth contestant evicted from Gulder Ultimate Search 11 has revealed that he actually dreamt about his eviction . He lost out in the Octagon Chart task.

The GUS 11 warriors were to make three trips down a hill and retrieve three pieces of a hexagon, one piece at a time. Upon return to their work stations, they were to solve a puzzle, using parts of the hexagon to form the answer.

The other contestants solved the puzzle in succession and left to another location to retrieve leaving only Ikenna at the workstation. By the time he called to Chidi Mokeme to inform him that he had solved the riddle, the Anchor man told him he had been evicted. Ikenna pleaded for another chance but was asked to leave the jungle in three seconds.

A dejected Ikenna said he assumed that the task would not lead to eviction hence he was not really in a haste to solve the puzzle. He blamed his poor performance on lack of food which did not make him think straight.

However Ikenna said the dreamt about Gulder Ultimate Search. He said: “In the dream, we as contestants were performing a particular task and all of a sudden, a number of us were evicted. It happened so fast that I felt it was odd. I wondered what was happening. The remaining people left were a male and female contestant. In the dream, I asked Chidi Mokeme, the anchor man, whether this was the way things were done on Gulder Ultimate Search.”

The remaining contestants still in contention for the Gulder Ultimate Search 11 top prize are: Otto Canon, Addoh Evi, Iroh Noella, Samantha Appi, Emmanuel Afolabi, Sharon Robinson, Chinedu Ubachukwu and Cosy Joe. .The fast rising artiste opens up to Showtime on why he cut of his dreadlocks which was his trademark look .According to him:”I decided to cut off the dreadlocks because I want to appeal more to the ladies, because women are very important in anything that you try to do, fair enough men are the bread winners of the house, but if your woman likes an artiste, the man would surely listen to the artiste too and that’s the way music grows.

Talking about his celebrity crush he says:”The truth about the matter is this, I won’t say I have any celebrity crush I actually think all these female celebrities are crushing on me and admiring me “

Laide Bakare welcomes baby No 3 P

opular Yoruba actress, movie producer and record label owner, Laide Bakare has delivered baby number three, her second son to new hubby, Alhaji Oriowo.

Laide made the announcement early hours of Wednesday in a Blackberry broadcast.

Yes! Yes!, it’s a boy, it’s a boy. My boy arrives exactly 4;30 pm American time in New York nice weather on Tuesday. I am the happiest person in the world.

Laide has been in the States for months now for the sole purpose of having her child in the Uncle Sam’s country. Laide, popularly reffered to as Alhaja Tio Common, had her first child, a girl, for her first husband, Mr Okunfulire.

Why I cut off my dreadlocks — P.R.E P

.R.E, whose name is an acronym for Pretty, Real and Entertaining is beginning to carve a niche for himself not only as a talented artiste but one that has what it takes to be around for a long time.

The fast-rising Bayelsa State-born artiste opens up to WG on why he cut of his dreadlocks which was widely known as his trademark .

His word: “I decided to cut off the dreadlocks because I want to appeal more to the ladies. Women are very important in anything that you try to do, fair enough, men are the breadwinners of the house, but if your woman likes an artiste, the man would surely listen to the artiste too and that’s the way music grows” Talking about his celebrity crush, he says “The truth about the matter is this, I won’t say I have any celebrity crush; I actually think all these female celebrities are crushing on me and admiring me”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—39 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Choosing the right tablet

By Laju Arenyeka

S

O, you’re tired of carrying your laptop around, and you’ve finally decided that you need a tablet to carry out your daily tech needs.

Congratulations. But you have an even greater challenge ahead: how do you know what tablet to buy? Just like in Medicine where the wrong tablet prescription could endanger your life, buying the wrong tech tab could endanger your career. That why you need to consider the following: Operating system: iOS, Android or Microsoft?

Apple’s iOS has considerably more tablet optimised apps than others. It also wields a user interface that is easy to use but not very customizable. And since the operating system comes only with Apple Tablets, the high end price is something to consider. iOS is one of the easiest systems to use, and the App Store has almost half a million quality apps and digital magazines optimised for the iPad. On the other hand, tablets which run on the Android Operating system are often cheaper than other tablets.

Although Android Apps aren’t always optimised for bigger screens, the tablets are usually very customizable. User accounts on Android tabs also allow for separate settings for each member of the family. The Windows Operating system is usually in two versions: Windows RT and full Windows 8.

However, Reviewers say that it is not that much choice compared to Android.

Although there are very limited number of quality tablet apps, Windows RT tablets come with Microsoft Office for free.

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Budget People say that money makes the world go round. That remains debatable, but one undeniable truth is that to get the right tablet, budgeting is key. Generally , 7-inch tablets are much cheaper than 10-inch ones and iPads are more expensive than Android tablets. While it’s no use getting an expensive tablet if a cheaper one can meet your needs, it’s even worse buying a tablet that won’t meet your needs simply because you want to save money. Whether your budget is high end or low end, there’s most likely a tablet for you. Just be sure to read reviews, ask questions and take your time in deciding.

Practicality What do you want to use your tablet for? How often do you want to use it?

You might need to take a longer time answering these questions, but without the internet, your tablet could very well be a modern typewriter.

4G tablets allow you to insert a SIM card so that you can use a mobile network to have internet access wherever you can get a signal.

You’ll need a subscription, though.

Note that all 4G tablets can also use a 3G connection. 3G is an older technology and therefore slower than 4G. But try not to restrict yourself to tablets with only wifi connection.

Size Tablets usually come in 7-inch and 10 inch sizes. 7-inch tablets are very portable and comfortable to hold with in one hand, they are usually cheaper than 10-inch versions, and are best for reading books and commuting. However, small screen makes browsing the internet a bit trickier and may not be the best for digital magazines and newspapers.

10-inch Tablets have a large screen which is good for TV, video and visually impaired it is also best for reading newspapers and magazines.

10 new mobile phones, as Wiko debuts in Nigeria

•Wiko Highway smart phone

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HERE might be one way to enter into the Nigerian market, but nothing makes a statement like coming in with ten new mobile phones. So it’s no wonder that when French mobile phone maker, Wiko entered the Nigerian phone market officially

Customers hype LG showroom

recently, offering 10 models from its extensive range of smart phones and feature phones, it took the market by storm.

Wiko Mobile debuted in Nigeria at a formal Media Launch event at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos. It held a separate Business evening for the trade and other stakeholders latter in the evening.

International Business Director of Wiko Mobile, Marcel Van De Pas, said Wiko launched in Nigeria because the brand positioning represents a perfect match with Nigeria’s predominantly young population as well as the appeal of the Nigerian market.

He noted that smart phones account for 20 percent or 400, 000 units of the estimated 2million monthly mobile device market in Nigeria. Wiko would stake a strong claim for its share of that market drawing on its experience in France where it became Number 2 in

only three years. GFK Institute, an authority in the telecoms market, named Wiko Europe’s fastest growing mobile phone brand in 2013.

Models of the Wiko brand launched into the Nigerian market are Highway, its flagship, Rainbow, Bloom, Lenny. Sunset and Goa, all smart phones. The feature phones are Kir-3, Riff and Lubi-3.

Flagship model Wiko Highway is one of the first smartphones to use 2.0 GHz Octa-Core technology. The Highway’s exceptional features include a Gorilla Glass body, super bright 5" FHD screen, 16MP back camera and 8MP front camera. A smartphone that guarantees superior speed and performance, Wiko says the Highway is one of the best-inclass smartphones available in Nigeria.

ONE are the days when you had to travel far and wide to get the right electronics. Now, good electronic shops are right there in your neighbourhood. Not far from the popular Alade Market, LG Showroom located at Oshoppey Plaza, Allen Avenue in Ikeja is one of the main LG Brand Stores in Lagos that serves as an all-purpose neighbourhood electronics store. Laid out simply in a wide rectangle, the showroom has shelves overflowing with home appliances of various sizes: microwave ovens and vacuum cleaners. Larger appliances like washers, freezers, cookers and refrigerators. There are selections of Hi-Fi systems, phones, laptops and computer peripherals.

Also, there is a large section with different TVs- LG Ultra High Definition TVs, Smart TV, OLED TVs as well as LED TVs. The store draws a steady local clientele all year round.

When asked about the innovations from LG as well as his shopping experience at the LG brand Store, a shopper, Mr. Felix Tunde said “I find them very innovative. I fancy their new products; I think that’s why I go for LG. Every gadget in my house is LG; my phones are LG, my Air Conditioner is LG even my microwave oven; but if you are talking about a particular product that I fancy, it is their air conditionerthe Art Cool. It’s the fact that it is an artwork mounted on an Air Conditioner; and plus the facet that it is three dimensional- so it’s so innovative in that sense.”

When asked, another shopper Mr. Lord’s Wish Obiorah what attracts him to the store, he said: “I don’t know where to start, in fact all gadgets and devices in my house is LG; Moreover, I wont say I am drawn to the store as a result of proximity to where I reside .

When you talk about the durability and reliability, this brand delivers on these aspects as well.

On the whole, there are a number of things involved, durability, reliability and availability; these three factors endear me to the brand.

•Refrigerators at LG show room

40— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 Chief Imam Sulaimon Buhari Olanijo is the Chief Imam of Mushin-Olosa Central Mosque and the Chairman/ President, Council of Imams and Ulamau in the area. In this interview with Facing The Kaaba in his office, he charges the Muslims on expanding the frontiers of knowledge in order to practice the religion appropriately while urging them to imbibe the legacies of Prophet Muhammad’s migration in the wake of persecution. Excerpts.

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know about the religion. Some Muslims do not know that the 1st of Hijrah is in Muharram let alone knowing all other Islamic months in sequence.

(Muharram, Safar, RabiulAwwal, Rabiu-Thanni, JumadalAwwal, Jumadal-Thanni, Rajab, Shaaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zhul-Qada and Zhul-Hijah) If all Muslims take it seriously, government can also consider a public holiday on that day. We should also know the days of the week, it is important to know about our religion because we will spend less time in this world but eternity in the hereafter.

How do the new hijrah day can best be celebrated?

It is not new, the celebration did not just start today, but I think we should first of all visit and pay courtesy call to leaders in Islam, then we visit the less privileged including the orphanage, prisoners, hospitals and show love to them, there are so many people who could not pay their hospital bills let lone living good life after hospital. Although, in Islam, we don’t have to wait for a day like this because we should make it a duty, but observing it also on that day will •Chief Imam Sulaimon Buhari reignite the love of the prophet to all in to increase our knowledge of the face of persecution and a Islam. All what we are doing in worthy hijrah. Again, we should Islam are in concert with Hijrah organize lectures to and the cyclical moon. The commemorate that day. Islamic Ramadan fast and Hajj rites organizations should get have their specific time in the scholars to teach people on this Islamic calendar calculated in order to cleanse their hearts through the moon cycle. So, I of some impurities in our appeal to Muslims to learn and attempts to live a good life.

New Hijrah: Love in the face of persecution — Sheikh Sulaimon

HAT is the significance of Hijrah? between him and Allah. Allah We give praises and asked him how he wanted the adoration to Allah. In this part enemies to be dealt with, of the world, the Gregorian whether they should be calendar is prominent but in inflicted with madness or made Saudi Arabia and other Islamic to fight and kill themselves; the countries, the Hijrah Calendar prophet did not choose any of is in use in these countries. As the options but rather preferred a result, the first day of to let them go unhurt because Muharram is very popular in many of the enemies and these countries but it is not the infidels were from the same same in this part of clan with the the world. In the past, Prophet. God then our forbearers did not asked him through give it the necessary angel Gabriel what publicity it deserved, he wanted and the but as time and Prophet replied information that he wanted to technology advanced, go out of the we were able to see ambush unhurt the need to popularize and it was so it and give it due granted.

The attention. The Quran, enemies were chapter 9 verse 36 m a d e says unconscious; they It was at a time did not know when Prophet when and how he Muhammad was escaped. Even surrounded by the when he saw them infidels who wanted and walked out, he to kill him right in his panicked, God bedroom, what assured him that transpired that day What we though they were became a cornerstone there but they should be and a reference point would not see him. for Islam. The Prophet remembered The prophet exhibited good for should be walked away leadership and love unnoticed. The even love for his the good mercy and enemies. At that point, works we compassion that there was a the Prophet c o m m u n i c a t i o n have done exhibited is a

lesson for all of us because he would have chosen to fight and have them killed. What we should be remembered for should be the good works we have done. That was what led to the migration from Makkah to Madinah. It was never easy for him passing through all these challenges including those challenges on the way to Madinah but he endured, he persevered and that was why he could record those successes that will continue to stun the world.

Applying these virtues in our daily lives as Muslims may be somewhat difficult considering the society we live in. How can we adequately imbibe these virtues?

Mankinds are very difficult but we are far above other creatures with our developmental knowledge.

That was why Allah made man to dominate all other creatures.

Allah gave the world to man and the hereafter are meant for him also. No animal no matter how big or powerful has been so honoured. If it is about power, the animals are powerful, if it is beauty, there are more beautiful animals. So, it is nothing but our developmental knowledge. So, before we can grasp the significance of Hijrah and internalize the lessons, we have

Sallah: NTIC kills 750 cows •Dazzles Muslims, non-Muslims

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

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From left: Alhaji Aro Lambo; Chief Rask Okoya; and Dr Tajudeen Okoya, at the Eid-el-Kabri Prayer at Oluwa Ni sola Esate, Ajah, Lagos State recently.

Departing pilgrims face cap on Zam-Zam

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ILGRIMSreturninghomeafter completingtheHajjpilgrimage are becoming increasingly resentful ofthefive-litercaponZamZamwater imposed by the authorities.

With the demand for the precious water surging as pilgrims return home,theauthoritieshavemovedto increase the supplies of Zam Zam in Jeddah and Madinah.While in Makkah, pilgrims have access to plentiful supplies of Zam Zam.

However, the long tradition of carrying Zam Zam water home following the Hajj may well be on its way to becoming a memory as now almost all pilgrims are only allowed tocarryafive-litercontainerwiththem which they are given at the check in counters at the airports. Moreover, thisfacilityislimitedtothosepilgrims whohaveperformedtheHajjunder governmentschemes.

HE Eid-il-Kabir celebration must have come and gone, the reminiscence of the splendor that came with the festivity has continued to drag as the NTIC Foundation’s annual cow slaughtering programme came as a relief to many Muslims who could not afford to buy a ram for the the celebration as many of them went home with loads of meat for Sallah celebration.

NTIC Foundation is an establishment of the executive committee of the Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges, NTIC, meant to carryout some social responsibilities in its immediate environment. With the motto, “Be so tolerant that your bosom becomes wide like the ocean…become inspired with faith and love of human beings…let there be no troubled souls to whom you do not offer a helping hand and about

whom you remain unconcerned.”

Apart from being Muslim festival, the NTIC community seized the festive period to foster cordial relationship between Muslims and Christians all over Nigeria, the school and its host communities and as well as governments of Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Vice Principal of the school, Mr. Olayinka Aderoju and Exam & Records Officer, Daulyetkhan Bakhytbet, respectively, the Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges said it hadbeen slaughtering and distributing cattle on behalf of thousands of local and international philanthropists since 2006 for the indegent Muslisms.

“Year after, the programme grows from strength to strength and it reaches for more places than the previous years. In 2012 on behalf of those who donated, NTIC Foundation sacrificed and

distributed 1,100 cows in 47 different points in 22 states, reaching about 25,000 underprivileged and needy families.

“What we are witnessing here is equally being carried out in several other states of the Federation and in the same manner to the other sets of people,” the release stated.

The Lagos/Ogun axis of the ceremony, held at the OGD Layout, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway premises of the NTIC was well attended by Ogun State Commissioner for Education represented by the Director of Secondary Education in the Education Ministry, Mr. Adekunle Adegbesan; the Onisheri of Isheri Olofin, Oba Nurudeen Adekanbi represented by the Apena of Isheri Olofin, Chief Idowu Arowojobe and several other dignitaries from both Muslim and Christian communities.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—41

Muslim students bemoan Hijab ban ruling •say, Judgement, a rape of the constitution

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HE Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit has frowned at the judgement delivered by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos on the ban of hijabs in primary and secondary schools in the state.

Onyeabo had on Friday, September 17, dismissed and ruled against the use of hijab in schools, claiming it would affect the secular nature of Lagos State.

MSSN described the Judgement as a rape of the constitution.

President of the group, Alhaji Kaamil Kalejaiye said the judge rejected numerous arguments presented to her, during the about two-year case, that sections of the Nigerian constitution and international laws guaranteed the freedom of religion, thoughts and conscience.

Kalejaiye said: “It is unfair that the judgement denied us a right

that is not only Godly but constitutionally stated. Do we call that a misinterpretation of the constitution or rape of the code of law. We want to believe that the dictates of the constitution must stand at all times. While we remain undaunted and won’t relent on our efforts to get female pupils dress accordingly because it is their right, we reject in totality the judgement and urge every Muslims to do so too.

“We are simply asking for our right and not a favour. We have started the sensitization and mobilization of our members, sympathizers and well-wishers which include parents and families of our members of over four million here in Lagos to be ready for protest and Allah on our side we shall overcome.

“What it means, to refuse Hijab is simply that you are asking our female pupils to begin to dress

nakedly. It is shameful that we have found ourselves in a state where wrong acts are seen as the rightt by some elements.”

Kalejaiye insisted that the judgement would not have been fairly arrived at, giving the stance that the defence lawyer, Femi Pedro (SAN) had in one of his positions argued and recognized the use of Hijab.

He also said since the government said it would allow the use of Hijab during Islamic Religion Knowledge classes and Jumaat prayer, the Judge should know that it was a permissible dressing ethics for female Muslims.

He stated: “It is embarrassing to hear the judge say that allowing the freedom of religion for Muslims would affect faithful of other religions. This seems to be absolutely out of point as the mode of practice and doctrines of every religion are different.

Hajj beneficiaries praise MTN on arrival

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HE 20 pilgrims sponsored by the leading ICT and telecommunications company, MTN, arrived the country, after fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam and having a life enriching experience in the holy land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims, who came with a high sense of spiritual fulfillment, showered encomium on MTN for not just giving them a rare opportunity they have long desired but, making them better people in their Islamic faith with awesome experience.

Apart from fulfilling the Hajj rites, they had the privilege of visiting the Prophet Mosque in Madinah.

One of the excited beneficiaries, Hajarat Ahmed Aboki, a 30-year old post graduate student, from Suleja, Niger state, while commending

MTN for the rare privilege given to her, stated how uplifting and fulfilling the journey was.

“Sincerely, words cannot express how I feel. This is a rare opportunity given to me for just subscribing to an Islamic content on the MTN Value Added Services. This is my first time of traveling for Hajj and even traveling out of the country.

“Alhamdulillah (to God be the glory), I was able to perform the Umrah, the Hajj itself and other Islamic obligations expected from a pilgrim who travels to Mecca. It is so amazing, fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam without paying a dime. All my expenses were taken care of, from my flight from Abuja to Lagos, and then to Saudi Arabia and coming back, It was an awesome experience.

Speaking on how the journey to

the holy land impacted so much in her life, Aboki stated: “it has had a great impact in my life. It has made me a changed person; feeling like new born child, because I felt my sins have been forgiven and washed away Insha’Allah (by God’s grace).

Another sponsored pilgrim, Mohammed Bello, from Lagos, stated that the journey has uplifted his spiritual life. “I feel spiritually uplifted. I was able to raise the banner of Tawheed high and reviving its characteristics that had perished.

This is one of the foremost objectives of Hajj. I was able to throw pebbles during the last Days of At-Tashreeq, which is the last of the rituals of Hajj that a pilgrim does before performing Tawaaf Al-Wadaa‘, leaving Makkah to go home.”

Some of the pilgrims sponsored by MTN at Jam’raat, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

L-R: Missionary (Barr.) Rabiu Uthman; General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Abbas Iromini and Amir, Dr. Mashhud Aderenle Fashola, during the 40th Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria Shoora 2014.

2015: Ahmadiyya urges Nigerians to vote credible candidates

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HE head of Ahmadiyya electing representatives who will Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria conduct the affairs of the state on our Elder Council - Majlis behalf to further the process of nation Ansarullah, Alhaji Mikhail building. Sometimes we replace Odukoya, has urged Nigerian those in power, at other times, we ask electorates to vote for credible them to continue - supposedly to candidates in the 2015 general continue the good works they are elections across the country. doing.

He gave this advice at the 40 The Sadr - head of the elders group annual consultative meeting - of the Ahmadiyya Muslim jamaat in Shoora of the Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria expressed regret that people of the Ahmadiyya Muslim donotusuallybenefitfromtheregular Jamaat held at the national general elections to make positive headquarters of the organization changes. While blaming the in Ojokoro, Lagos. politicians for the country’s woes Alhaji Odukoya, a retired public because they are in the driver’s seat, servantintheOgunstatecivilservice blame should also go to those who said this call became he said put incompetent imperative against the drivers to drive the nation’s backdrop of election of development, once they incompetent people into have collected a paltry price public office over the years or cups of rice. and apparent complaint He equally urged the from Nigerians that the youth not to make political leaders are not themselves available for performingtoexpectations thuggery or any violent acts in their responsibilities to inpoliticsaspoliticalleaders the citizens. would find a safe heaven to Inhiswords:“Weshould settle their political exercise our voting rights differences sooner or later. wisely at the next general “Our youths should also be election, so that the right advised not to involve Our people would be voted to themselves in any riotous/ power. We should not youths thuggery acts during the concentrate on the should also period. They should Executive posts only i.e. rememberthatthosewhoare President,StateGovernors be advised sending them on such and Chairmen of Local not to deadly assignments also Governments, but also the havechildrenwhoareeither legislative posts either at involve schooling somewhere, Local, State or National themselves mostly outside the country, levels, since their activities or enjoying the best of life also affect our lives, either in any while their fathers are busy positively or negatively.” riotous/ buying guns and cutlasses He noted that,” every for you as ‘festival’ gifts. A election is an opportunity thuggery wordisenoughforthewise!” for citizens to exercise their acts during he counseled. franchise. Thus, at every the period electionwelookforwardto

L-R: Two beneficiaries of MTN Hajj—Mohammed Sanni; Hajarat Ahmed Aboki; Senior Manager, Segments, MTN, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed and Customer Knowledge Analyst Marketing & Strategy, MTN, Ismail Salami, during the arrival of 20 subscribers from Makkah, for this year’s Hajj, sponsored by MTN, at the Murtala International Airport, Lagos.

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

be noted that a national minimum wage in this context is the least pay a worker in Nigeria should earn on a monthly basis. In other countries, it is based on certain number of hours for which the it with a law which excludes any worker is engaged. Perhaps what person employing five persons the Senate meant to do was to and below from paying the decentralize collective bargaining National Minimum Wage. A in the public sector. Even that has national minimum wage is the its implications. It should not be least basic that must be paid to a done without consultation. worker in Nigeria per month. It What does the Senate mean? has never stopped By de-listing “National sectoral collective Minimum Wage” from the bargaining.

For exclusive list it is unclear instance, a clerk in a what the intention of the textile company and a Senate is. Minimum wage clerk in the food an does not represent the beverage industry still totality of wage issues in do not earn the same Nigeria. However, the pay. Why? Collective definition of national Bargaining in the minimum wage varies sectors vary and from country to country. In By deallowances are some countries, it is the determined by this listing basic only while in others process. it is inclusive of “National The year 2000 allowances. national minimum Minimum A recent study of the wage was done in Wage” from ILO’s Committee of accordance with Experts on the Convention 98 of the the Application of ILO for which Nigeria exclusive Conventions and was commended. This Recommendations on the c o m m e n d a t i o n list it is components of minimum earned President unclear wage stated, “A number of Obasanjo an invitation national laws do not to address the plenary what the indicate the elements of session of the ILO the intention of remuneration that make following year. the minimum wage, the Senate up Nigeria was cited as a and among those that good example. It must is contain indications on the

National Minimum Wage: Implications

By Funmi Komolafe

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HE decision of the Senate to de-list the National Minimum Wage from the exclusive list may put Nigeria in the special mention of the International Labour Organization, ILO, once again.

Beyond that it means that the Nigerian worker would become more vulnerable to exploitation by employers.

The manner in which it was done is a clear violation of Convention 98 (Right to Collective Bargaining and Tripartism) of the International Labour Organization which Nigeria ratified at independence. This convention is one of the core conventions of the ILO. What is minimum wage?

According to the ILO “the minimum wage may be understood to mean the minimum sum payable to a worker for work performed or services rendered, within a given period, whether calculated on the basis of time or output, which may not be reduced either by individual or collective agreement, which is guaranteed by law and which may be fixed in such a way as to cover the minimum needs of the workerand his or her family, in

the light of national economic and social conditions”.

Then Governor Abubakar Rimi of Kano State was the first governor to introduce minimum wage in 1980. He was followed by his then Kaduna State counterpart, Alhaji Balarbe Musa. Both belonged to the Peoples’ Redemption Party, PRP. It was not until 1981 that Nigeria had the first national minimum wage of N100 basic salary per month during the administration of then President Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari. It was backed by law. This was after an 11 day strike of May 1 to May 11, 1981.

Then in 1990, following organized agitation by the Nigeria Labour Congress after series of agitations and failed negotiations, the government of General Ibrahim Babangida raised it from from N100 to N250 per month. In 2000, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo negotiated with the Nigeria Labour Congress under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Assocation, NECA, and agreed at N5, 500 per month national minimum wage.

The National Assembly backed

subject, it is difficult to identify general trends due to significant differences on the following points: the inclusion of the basic wage only or, on the contrary, the inclusion of all or part of bonuses, tips, commissions, allowances and other additional payments; the taking into account of only money wages or, where applicable, also the cash value of benefits in kind; and the indication of whether or not “wages” within the framework of the legal provisions on the minimum wage, exclude overtime pay.”

The ILO Committee added, “The legislation in several countries simply provides that only the basic wage is taken into account for the purpose of the minimum wage. This is the case, for example, in Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Hungary, Malaysia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.

However, it noted that in countries like Cameroon, Nigeria’s neighbour, ''the guaranteed inter occupational minimum wage (SMIG) is defined as a basic wage floor, to which any contractual or agreed bonuses and allowances granted to a worker recruited without any skills may be added. According to the interpretation of this provision, in determining whether an employee has received at least the minimum wage, the basic wage (the wage properly socalled) has to be taken into account, as well as supplements, such as commissions.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—43

Tourism stakeholders task Duke on promises operator, said the Minister should have known better that tourism has become a fiercely competitive S Nigeria joined the rest business.

“For tourism of the world to mark the destinations the world over, Tourism Day recently with the competitive advantage is no theme “Tourism & Community longer natural but increasingly Development”, highlighting the man made driven by technology, community dimension as one of information and innovation.” the key pillars of sustainable She regretted that the Vision development, stakeholders who statement in the “Culture, gathered in Lagos to celebrate Tourism and National Orientation were unanimous in their opinions in the Transformation Agenda’ that tourism in Nigeria today has document of Nigeria becoming largely been a missed the preferred destination and opportunity. cultural capital in Sub-Saharan They noted that had tourism African has not been met. history been different, Nigeria Alogba asked what has been would probably have been one of put on ground to see that the the most visited places in the country offers diverse world class world, arguing that the industry tourism products geared towards is woefully being limited by little contributing at least 10% of the international investment in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) tourism facilities and limited flow through a transformation driven of international visitors among policy. others. As such the potential of According to her “it is not stock the industry to spawn of natural resources of Nigeria entrepreneurship; to create new that will determin her services; to drive other competitiveness in sectors of the economy; tourism , but rather, how to strengthen rural these resources are communities; to generate managed and to what foreign exchanges and extent they are create employment has complemented with not been realized. man-made innovation.”

The stakeholders said, She added “Tourism they thought the has more than 26, 500 appointment of Edem products, cutting across Duke, a tourism all human activities and practitioner, as the productions, that can Minister of Tourism in create million jobs, 2011 by President from petty traders to Goodluck Jonathan high profile would have changed the management class. If fortunes of the industry well nutured and for good but this has not managed it can help the been the case. country’s balance of On his appointment, payment, and is a Edem Duke came up vehicle to promote the with a document entitled country’s image.”

“Culture, Tourism and For the tourism National Orientation in sector’s contribution to the Transformation communities’ Agenda’ in which he said empowerment to be there is a strong need to visible in Nigeria, Mike bridge the gaping lacuna It is not Oluwole said there is between effusive need to have a strong expressions of the value stock of policy, legislative and of our potentials of natural regulatory environment tourism on one hand and that will marshal out a visible policy and resources of national tourism policy. legislative platforms to Nigeria that He said since the deepen the sector.”

Minister has said that Three years down the will the National Tourism lane, the strong, determined Master plan prepared structural and strategic under President framework he said her Olusegun Obasanjo’s needed to transform the competitiveness government is no longer sector has not taken root. in tourism implementable, “then Biola Alogba, a tour

Southern Sun Hotel’s challenge: Sailors compete for honours

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By JIMOH BABATUNDE

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Edem Duke, Tourism Minister he should come up with a road map that will form the basis for programs, projects and strategic initiatives.

“In Nigeria today, there are two departments for tourism in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. These departments are not strengthened for facilitation and implementation.”

Oluwole said he expected the minister to have conducted skill audit to identify skills gaps, manpower gaps and inventory competencies, and effective deployment of existing workforce as he promised in the working document he presented to stakeholders in 2011.

Development of tourism He asked if the ministry has facilitated and provided appropriate incentives for private sector investment in tourism; facilitate enabling and appropriate legal and fiscal frameworks; or facilitate the development of tourism The tourism operator said the ministry has failed to provide leadership in planning and policy formulation; monitoring and updating national tourism policy.

Oluwole said the Minister who was once the President of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) should have engaged the private sector, but regretted that this has not been so.

The Minister also promised to reactivate the Presidential

Council on Tourism as well as organise Presidential Retreat on Integrated Tourism development that will involve all stakeholders.

“That has not happend and even the bi-annual stakeholders meeting he promised to convene has not seen the light of the day.”

Another stakeholder enthused.

Another tourism operator, who does not want his name in print, said the Minister promised effective and coordinated marketing and promotion of the country with the launch of the ‘Fascinating Nigeria’ promotion last year.

She asked what has become of the promotion except the publication of magazines that are seen in few hotels in the country against what Edem Duke promised.

They said what we have today is the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) under the leadership of Mrs. Sally Mbanefo preaching domestic tourism as a catalyst for the growth of the sector in the country without the backing of the larger brand launched by the ministry.

It is even being said in the industry that the ministry has abdicated its role of collating data for reliable tourism statistics in the country that will help in planning where to focus the country’s marketing and promotion.

On the promise to strengthen institutional capacity, some of the stakeholders spoken to said training has been one of the greatest deficiencies of the tourism industry in Nigeria as the

IXTY three members of the Lagos Yatch Club defied the high winds on the Lagos Lagoon, last Saturday evening as they competed for honors in the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel Offshore Challenge 2014.

Sailing and tourism, which have long been recognized at the Lagos Yatch Club as a winning combination continued to enjoy the place they deserve at the club.

The participants at this year’s Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel Offshore Challenge sailed four kilometers offshore going as far as Ogogoro and Takwa Bay Islands as the wind dropped after the early morning showers which made the sea difficult for sailing.

Despite the high winds, participants defied all odds as they energetically raced towards the finish line, ensuring that team morale was kept on high throughout the challenge.

This year’s challenge saw fierce competition from twenty-four participating boats as they all battled to cross the finish line. Each sail boat had a lead sailor and two accompanying experienced crew.

The Lightening and Hobie teams gained satisfaction from the heated challenge as they had their sail boats cross the finish line first. Seven sail boats from the Hobie team and one sail boat from the Lightening team enthusiastically cruised to victory.

Members of the Lagos Yatch Club, families of participants and invited guests added glamour to the day’s event by cheering-on participants as they crossed the finish line.

Speaking during the award ceremony, Commodore of the Lagos Yatch Club, Mr. Michael Barnes commended the tenacity, impressive effort and relentless team spirit of all the participants and winners during the very challenging course of the day.

He thanked the hotel’s General Manager, Mr. Mark Loxely, describing him as a “fine and experienced sailor noting that his sailing qualities have rubbed off on the Southern Sun Hotel’s brand.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

Luxury bus manufactured by Innosons Motors

A BOI honour for INNOSON

By Chukwudi Enekwechi

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INNOSON Group contributed greatly to the famous rebasing of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product rating, which has placed Nigeria as the biggest national economy in Africa. This is no doubt the right step in the right direction.

With the emergence of automobile manufacturing companies in Nigeria such as INNOSON, Nigeria is at the threshold of emerging as an industrialized economy.

Recently, the World Bank rated Nigeria as one of the few countries that her GDP will grow by 5% in 2015. This obviously is cheering news taking into account that the country is at present waging a lingering battle against some centripetal forces in the North East.

IGERIA'S march towards home grown industrialization was recently boosted when Bank of Industry inducted ten outstanding customers of the bank into their Hall of Fame. Most importantly was the recognition to the founder/chairman of INNOSON Vehicles Manufacturing Company, Nigeria’s first indigenous motor vehicles manufacturer.

It is pertinent to remark that similar awards have been bestowed on INNOSON by the Federal Government, Vanguard Newspaper and numerous other organizations, both locally and internationally for his outstanding contributions towards the realization of President Centripetal Jonathan’s vision in revitalizing forces the automobile manufacturing sector.

What was previously thought to From the inception of the be the exclusive preserve of Jonathan administration, he developed countries, and made it clear about his unimaginable in black determination to ensure that Africa has been Nigeria does not continue accomplished by the to serve as the destination INNOSON Group point for the dumping of under the Jonathan foreign produced motor administration, by vehicles. The INNOSON being the first Vehicles Manufacturing indigenous company to Company immediately manufacture whollykeyed into the vision by made in Nigeria innovating the local vehicles. production of Nigeria’s first It is gratifying to note indigenous automobile that the company has manufacturing plant at factored the high cost Nnewi, Anambra state. associated with With the setting up of the acquiring new vehicles factory, hope came alive that in their policy, and has indeed it was possible for Simply started producing cars Nigerians to replicate what put, if this that an average has been achieved in other policy is Nigerian can afford at developed countries like the reasonable cost of USA, UK, Germany, Japan, well one million naira.

China, India to mention but implemented, Government on its part a few. As a result many it will help has directed all federal unemployed Nigerians to boost M i n i s t r i e s , were given employment by the Departments and the company, and there is Agencies to source their nation’s no doubt that such vehicles locally. spectacular feat by the economy This policy is meant

to encourage local manufacturing of vehicles, and by so doing create jobs, and halt the capital flight associated with the importation of foreign made vehicles.

Simply put, if this policy is well implemented, it will help to boost the nation’s economy, as the huge f o r e i g n exchange being wasted in the transactions will be spent at home, and strengthen the n a i r a .

Furthermore, with the local manufacturing of vehicles, the much t o u t e d technological transfer will be realized faster t h a n envisaged.

It must be stated here that no nation has ever attained greatness by depending on importing every item they need, rather it is through deliberate and concerted efforts such as we see in the INNOSON miracle that countries evolve into developed or what we refer to as advanced countries.

INNOSON’S patriotism in

investing billions of dollars in setting up a vehicle manufacturing plant in Nigeria is laudable, and the only way the country can reciprocate such uncommon patriotism is to guarantee steady patronage of their products.

In fact, it will amount to

economic sabotage to patronize foreign made vehicles in this era when government is devoting much of its efforts to encourage local automobile manufacturers.

We have in the past been regaled with stories of Nigerians stashing away billions of naira outside the shores of this country; we are also aware that some wellto-do Nigerians have billions of naira investments in Dubai, London, USA to mention but a few. Yet despite all the drawbacks of doing business in Nigeria such as lack of power and inadequate infrastructure, INNOSON Group has braved it, and made the country proud by being the first indigenous company that started manufacturing vehicles within Nigeria, bereft of any foreign colourations.. Such a wholly indigenous automobile company must therefore be given all the necessary support to thrive.

Obviously, the advantages of choosing this path are numerous, as apart from creating needed jobs for Nigerians, it will have multi-faceted impact on the nation’s economy, since other ancillary companies are likely to spring from there. One can easily say that this is a win – win game for Nigeria if only the local, states and federal governments make it a policy to patronize local manufacturers like INNOSON, rather than frittering away scarce foreign exchange through the flagrant importation of foreign made vehicles.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—45

A'Ibom restates commitment to Uyo Breweries

FCMB CUSTOMERS:

From left— Dr. Chidi Onwuzuligbo, Engineer A. O. Uwuoraya, Mr. Julius Ebochi, all customers of First City Monument Bank, FCMB; Mr. Segun Odusanya, Deputy Managing Director of the Bank, and another customer, Prince Ephraim, at the Customer Service Week dinner hosted by FCMB in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Eyituoyor canvasses support for PDP

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DELTA LG ELECTIONS: Police take security measures

By Festus Ahon

By Godwin Oritse

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OKO—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairmanship candidate in Warri North Local Government Area, Mr. Francis MakuEyituoyor, has called on supporters to come out and vote massively for the party.

Speaking at Ogbudugbudu, MakuEyituoyor, one of the communities in the creeks, Maku- Eyituoyor said although the council was a PDP stronghold, the party did not want to take the people for granted.

As part of the campaign, the PDP candidate and his running mate, Mr. Sunny Abilo, met with prominent Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders in the council, as well as other stakeholders, to seek their blessing for success at the council poll.

Fidau prayer holds for Alhaji Osikoya

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HE 8th day Fidau prayer for Alhaji Abass Osikoya will hold today at De Prime Place, Molipa, ljebu-Ode. Born in ljebu-Ode on August 19, 1924, the late Alhaji Osikoya was a devout Moslem, community leader and businessman.

He held positions in the Anwar ul lslam Movement of Nigeria.

He died on October 15.

He is survived by widows, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

C M Y K

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SABA—DELTA State Police Command, yesterday, assured the people of the state that tomorrow's elections in the 25 local government areas of the state, would be hitch free, and advised youths to guard against political thuggery.

The command, in a statement by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Roland Preston, said: “The Delta State Police Command wishes to assure the people of the state that the command, in synergy with other security agencies, have mobilized adequate manpower for hitch-free local government elections tomorrow.

“The command also reiterates its appeal and warning to politicians in the state to play the game by the rules and be prepared to accept defeat in good faith as there must always be a winner and loser in every contest. Youths are warned not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs.

“The command has,

therefore, imposed restriction of vehicular movements, except for those on essential duties, from 7a.m. to 3p.m. of Saturday (tomorrow).”

It said the measures became necessary to check trouble

‘Uduaghan made governance easy for next governor’

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XECUTIVE Secretary of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Mr. Jude Ukori, yesterday said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has laid a solid foundation for the next governor of Delta State.

Ukori also congratulated the governor on his 60th birthday, noting that Uduaghan had done his best for the people of the state.

He said: “The people of Delta State are witnesses to

HE problem of flooding at Ozoro community in Isoko North Local Government Area, which has destroyed houses and crops valued at millions of naira, will end if experts were consulted and drainage constructed.

Mr. Leo Ogor, Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives, representing Isoko constituency, said this at a meeting with members of Nigeria Union of

the laudable achievements and several projects executed by Uduaghan’s administration.

The governor has transformed our health, transport and educational systems, and even our schools were upgraded to modern standard.”

He expressed confidence that the next governor would consolidate on Uduaghan’s laudable achievements, saying it was the only way the next governor would succeed.

PDP youths get new exco

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ELTA State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, Young Democrats, PDPYD, has

Leo Ogor identifies solution to Ozoro flooding

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makers, adding “security operatives have been charged to deal ruthlessly with any person or group of persons who try fomenting trouble before, during and after the elections.”

Journalists, NUJ, Isoko Correspondents Chapel, at Ozoro.

While urging the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to intervene, Ogor attributed the flooding to the topography of the area and the construction of illegal buildings on drainage routes.

He also called on National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to send relief materials to victims of the flood.

elected a new executive, with a charge on them to see themselves as not just leaders of tomorrow but partners of today.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new executive, state Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Ebifa Ijomah, represented by the state Chairman of Nigeria Youth Council, Mr. Hope George, while urging the youths to be diligent and respectful to constituted authorities, promised to give the group the needed support.

He said: “You should think of what you can do for your community and the country.

“Membership of PDPYD is a call to service and it should be paramount to you.”

KWA Ibom Government has restated its willingness to remain a shareholder in Champion Breweries Plc, Uyo, even as Heineken Group has indicated readiness to invest in the company.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who stated this when Heineken President in Africa and the Middle East, Mr. Siep Hiemstra, paid him a courtesy visit in Uyo, said: “We pledge that the state government would still remain a shareholder in Champion Breweries Plc.” Speaking earlier, Mr. Hiemstra said the future of the breweries was to make better investment plans and that the state was by far a better place to discuss feasibility studies.

He congratulated the governor on infrastructure development in the state.

Ex-militants urged to petition Jonathan

By Onoja Innocent

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OMADI—DELTA State Chairman, Amnesty Phase 2, Mr. Kingsley Muturu, has urged ex-militants on Phase 3 of the amnesty programme, to channel their agitations of inadequate slot to the Federal Government.

Muturu spoke amidst protests by members of Phase 3 ex-militant group in Ughelli, Delta State, who accused Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on the Niger Delta and Chairman of Amnesty Office, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, of withholding its slots.

According to him, it is a known fact that over 360,000 slots were approved for the third phase by the Federal Government and that it was apparent that the slots approved for the phase were not enough.

He said, however, that going to the streets and protesting against the wrong person or direction was not the best way to go about it.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

2015 GOV RACE: Enugu PDP endorses

Omu Ahaba passes on

Ugwuanyi as consensus candidate

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HE FAMILY of Obielua Ochei of Asaba in Oshimili South Local Government of Delta State has announced the death of Obi Maria Ejima Obielua-Chizea, Omu Ahaba.

The late Omu Ahaba was a political ally of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Action Group. She was a dogged fighter for women rights and modernization of age-long tradition and practices that were dehumanizing to women.

Until her death, she was the traditional leader of women of Asaba and custodian of the Asaba culture. She is survived by children and many relations.

E

By Francis Igata

NUGU—ENUGU State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, endorsed Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as consensus candidate for the governorship ticket in 2015, and lashed out at those stoking embers of discord in the party.

The party, in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Okey Eze, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the false and mischievous campaign of calumny against the candidature of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi by known bad bed followers who have lost touch with the reality on ground and have resorted to blackmail and untoward acts in the media in a failed attempt to mislead the public and discredit the party’s choice.

"This reaction has become necessary in view of the false rumours being peddled in the national dailies(Not Vanguard) that our consensus candidate for the 2015 governorship election in the State, Ugwuanyi ‘may not

Late Omu Ahaba

be cleared’ by the National leadership of our Party for his alleged ‘role in the emergence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal’. “ The state chapter of our party

L

AGOS—MEMBERS of Africa in Diaspora and Non Indigenes Cultural Association, have commended President Goodluck Jonathan over World Health Organisation, WHO’s, declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free country, saying “it is a national achievement.”

The association also commended the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, which he said did very well in the containment of the

W

e have forgotten how long it took Westerhof to build our best team ever. It was Keshi & his crew that made that project.

Amodu was there before and suffered similar disrespect and exploitation. Mr John Amokaha- Businessman

handiwork of mischief makers who because of their unpopularity in the Party lost out in the democratic process that led to the emergence of our Party’s consensus candidate."

APGA leader counsels Bianca Ojukwu on Abuja, yesterday, wondered Umeh national chairman”. why Bianca “who knows next The APGA Woman Leader noted

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE woman leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Ezinne Amaka Agbiogwu, has urged wife of the former leader of the party and Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, to mind her ambassadorial work and leave the party’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, alone.

Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, wife of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, had recently engaged in criticism of Chief Umeh and his leadership style of the party.

Agbiogwu in a statement in

Diaspora group hails Jonathan on Ebola-free Nigeria scourge through its public group, Peter C.J. Anigbogu, enlightenment campaigns in the mass media.

The WHO had hailed Nigeria’s response to Ebola as a “spectacular success story”, saying every country should take note of how it handles the crisis.

Nigeria was declared Ebola-free on Monday by the World Health Organization, after 42 days without any new case of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

In a statement, the National Chairman of the

wishes to state clearly that the said media publications do not in any form reflect the true position of the National Leadership of our Party. Rather the publications are the

said: “Even as we celebrate this achievement, it also implies that Nigeria should sustain and step up preventive measures so that we will continue to remain Ebola-free. This declaration should not be seen as an opportunity to recline into passivity.”

He also lauded governments at all levels, stakeholders, Nigerians and international agencies for the success.

to nothing about the party, how it has been managed over the years and the individuals, who have made sacrifices for the growth of the party, will suddenly be attacking the

that “Chief Umeh has demonstrated exemplary leadership and character that Nigerians are proud of, I wonder who can claim ignorance of what the man has done, except Bianca”.

APGA: I've been vindicated, says Okorie founder and pioneer National

A

By Chris Ochayi

BUJA—THE National Chairman of United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, yesterday said statement credited to former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State on the situations in the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, had vindicated his position on the party.

Chief Okorie, who was the

Chairman of APGA, said the party was now a carcass, having lost its members to UPP with a tiger head as its logo.

It would be recalled that Mr. Obi, while defending his defection from APGA to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following criticism by Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, that he betrayed her husband, the late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu, admitted that the party was no longer what it used to be when he made the pledged.

NASS: Idisi assures Ethiope constituency of devt

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SABA— A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives aspirant for Ethiope federal constituency, Mr Lovette Idisi, has assured the people of the area of democracy dividends.

In a chat with newsmen at the Delta State PDP secretariat, Asaba, after purchasing the nomination form to run for the

position, he explained that he has come to serve his people and not to be served, promising to use his contacts across the globe to attract development to the area.

His words: “I have all the prerequisite to represent Ethiope federal constituency at the National Assembly and l know their needs and that is the reason l am submitting myself."

What is your view on Keshi’s sack?

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e forgot to remember Keshi’s offence, he refused to invite our best players and used his mediocre friends to lose all matches. 11 out of 13 matches played, so why shouldn’t he be sacked?

Miss Joy Amos- Student

D

o they have a better coach than the Big Boss? They have now brought Amodu, whose football philosophy is not quite different from that of Keshi, to buy time to appoint who?

Mr Osagie IrediaWorker

I

f the NFF had nothing better, then why not leave Keshi to at least finish with the qualifiers before changing him? Why are Nigerians so quick to fire coaches? We only remember his bad sides. Miss Chimezie Ezembu- Communicator

I

t is like banning okada without building goodroadnetwork.

We always want quick success, we easily point out whereAmericaandUKarein development but shy away fromhowtheygotdeveloped.

Mr ObimNwosu-Customer Care Agent

H

ow can any serious football federationsackanationalcoach, after winning a keenly contested match such as Nigeria Vs Sudan game?

Shuaibu is really and truly a way of sending panic to the system.Mr OpeseitanTundeJournalist

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 47

Sen Obadara's missing phone: NUJ gives KEDCO 7-day ultimatum to apologize

Adeyemi guns for senate seat for 3rd time

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—THE leadership of Kano Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has given Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, seven days within which to tender an unreserved apology to journalists in the state over embarrassment suffered in relation to the suspected missing phone of Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Gbenga Obadara.

The union also threatened to seek legal redress should the company fail to apologise, asking that the apology be published in five national newspapers.

The NUJ, in a signed by the chairman and secretary, Haruna AbdulJalal and Abubakar Adamu Gamo, respectively, said a consortium of constitutional lawyers had been put on notice in this regard.

It regretted that the unfortunate false accusation was a conscious attempt to blackmail the Journalism profession.

The NUJ announced suspension of press coverage of KEDCO’s media event, pending the resolution of the crisis.

CONVOCATION: From left, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; wife of a former Head of State, Mrs. Victoria Gowon; her husband, General Yakubu Gowon; best graduating student of Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Ado Ekiti, Miss Ogunbusola Oluwatoyin; founder of ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola, and his wife, Yeye Aare Afe Babalola, during the 2nd convocation of the university on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti.

PDP committed to successful election — MARK

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday assured Nigerians that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was committed to a successful election and would join hands with all stakeholders to ensure free, fair and credible polls in 2015.

Senator Mark spoke during the Plateau North Senatorial Zone Constituency Empowerment and Development programme to mark Senator Gyang Pwajok’s second year in the National Assembly.

Addressing beneficiaries at the Polo Field in Jos, Mark urged

them to continue to support Senator Pwajok in whatever position he would be contesting in next year’s elections.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is committed to free, fair and credible elections.

“I am in support of any stakeholder who is working for a peaceful election. Election is not war or a battlefield; we must all join hands to ensure a successful election.

“Senator Pwajok is one of the youngest senators who is making robust contributions in the Senate. It is a thing of joy that he is giving back to his

Jonathan charges varsities on infrastructure, research equipment

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has challenged the nation’s universities to complement the efforts of the federal government in upgrade in infrastructure, teaching materials and research equipment by attracting private sector cooperation and investment.

President Jonathan, who gave the charge at the grand finale of the 30th convocation ceremony of University of Ilorin yesterday, was represented by Minister of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau.

He noted that “the universities should be repositories of vibrant and cost effective solutions for the private sector ;but only the right steps can secure the best relationships in this regard”.

He said he was aware of the problem of unemployment facing C M Y K

the youth in Nigeria and that his administration was determined to tackle it squarely.

According to him, “our universities as centres for generating, imparting and applying knowledge should effectively key into the Transformation Agenda to enhance social development programmes by leading the way in relevant research, training and manpower development needs of our country.”

The President commended the achievements of the university, ranked first in Nigeria, 20th best university in Africa and 1,842 in the world, based on 2014 University Web Ranking conducted by the 4 International Colleges and universities, 4ICU. “I commend you for not allowing negative forces from outside to disturb the peace and stability which this university enjoys. I urge you never to waiver

in the drive to achieve excellence,” he stressed.

constituency who stood by him; you must reciprocate the gesture by supporting him in whatever position he seeks in 2015.”

However, Sen. GNS Pwajok, who replaced the late Sen. Gyang Dantong, donated items worth N150 million to over 1,000 women, youths and handicap in the constituency, as parts of his appreciation to the constituency.

Among the items given to beneficiaries from Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bassa, local government areas making the Northern Senatorial zone, include large and small grinding machines, sewing machines, tricycles, block moulders, hair dressing kits, barbing kits, irrigation water pumps, wheel chairs, vehicles and computer sets.

Recounting his contributions in the National Assembly, Sen. Pwajok appreciated his constituents, saying they had been the foundation for a successful two years in the Senate.

Vodacom Business launches new solutions

A

S part of its commitment to give superior and costeffective voice services to its customers, Vodacom Business Nigeria has enhanced its enterprise voice suite with the launch of two new solutions, Business Connect and Business Express.

These are enterprisegradefixed telephony solutions made for Nigerian businesses specifically to give superior and cost-effective voice services.

Vodacom Business Connect enables enterprises with existing PBX (Private Branch Exchange) infrastructure to make and receive external calls.

The solution integrates seamlessly with the customer’s legacy PBX and supports a wide

range of protocols and interfaces including SIP, FXO and E1.

According to Abu Etu, Product Manager, Vodacom Business Nigeria, “The increase in employee mobility and the usage of multiple devices among employees, introduce some complexities that slow down processes in the workplace.

“Our Enterprise Voice solution allows businesses to communicate with their staff across different devices maintaining one number and dialing behavior, so that every business call is answered”.

Also speaking, Vernon Van Rooyen, Head of Operations, Vodacom Business Nigeria said; “We’ve worked hard to develop the right tools specifically for the businesses in Nigeria.''

O K O J A — POLITICAL associates of Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday picked the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, expression of interest and nomination forms for him to contest for Kogi West senatorial seat for a third term.

Chairman of Mopamuro Local Government Area, Mr. Folorunsho Daniyan, who led other chairmen and commissioners from the zone, said their decision was in line with the wish of the people for Adeyemi to continue with his good representatives in the National Assembly.

He said: “Our decision to taxed ourselves to obtain form for Senator Smart to return to the National Assembly is prompted on quality representation, experience, ranking and prompt delivery of dividends of democracy.''

Bauchi shares Ebola test kits to schools

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—BAUCHI State government has begun the distribution of Ebola test kits to public and private schools in all the 20 councils of the state.

Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Abdullahi Dabo, told newsmen yesterday that the Ebola test kits had arrived the state, adding that the distribution became necessary because the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Bauchi chapter, parents and guardians and school proprietors had been agitating for the kits in schools.

He said: “The Bauchi State government has trained public and private school teachers on the signs and symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. “Each school would be provided necessary materials as a preventive measure. Aside from the Thermo scan, gloves, First Aid treatment boxes, soap dispensers that will be made available to all schools.''

48 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

BRIEFING: From left, Mrs. Comfort Emmanuel, Asstant Director ( Medical Devices and Chemicals); Kingsley Ejiofor, Head, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, and Mr. Sheriff Olagunju,Deputy Director, Foods, all of National Foods, Drugs and Control, NAFDAC, at the NAFDAC's press briefing on the arrest of counterfeiters of various cosmetics and food products, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

PARTY: From left, Chris Brown's official DJ, Babey Drew; Heineken Brand Manager, Kehinde Kadiri, and Mitchell Ashley, on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for the Heineken Green Light Party, at Spice Route, Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Head, Regulation and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Nwakuche Duruogu; GM, Lagos Island Bank and Chairman, Save4 Scholarship Savings Central Promo Committee, Emeka Obiagwu; Madam Fadeke Adigun, her daughter, and husband, during presentation of N500,000 cheque to Madam Adiqun, won at the Fidelity Save4 Scholarship Savings Promo.

BIRTHDAY: Rev. Joshua Adeniji (centre), marking his 56th birthday, at C.A.C Ago - Irapada Kehinsi, Ibadan, flanked by Pastor M. A. Abodejo (left) and Pastor Bukola Iyamidigbagbe, during the 56th birthday ceremony of Rev Adeniji.

PROMOTION: From left, Area Sales Manager, Consolidated Breweries Plc, Mr. Ezekwere Okebunachi; grand prize winner, Mr. Obike Abraham, with a friend, Mr. Okechukwu Emmanuel, at an event showcasing the grand prize winner, in the on-going Turbo King Reward Promotion, in Enugu.

CAMPAIGN: From left, Mr. Isaac Wilkie, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Committee, Warri North LGA; Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor, PDP Chairmanship candidate in Warri North LGA; the Olare-aja of Koko, Chief Victor Nana; Mr. Sunny Abilo, running mate to Maku-Eyituoyor; Mrs. Abigeal Anigholo, and Mr. Eyitene Okorodudu (squatting), councilorship candidates, in Koko respectively, during political campaign in Koko town ahead of council poll in Delta State.

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PRESENTATION: From left, Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Command (Western); Frances Enwereuzor, Customs Area Controller, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command; Mr. Saini Kumar, Plant General Manager and Mr. Joslin Couthinho, General Manager, both of Royal Salt Nigeria Limited, during the presentation of patrol van donated by the company to the Nigeria Police KLT 1 Division.

INAUGURATION: From left, Brand/Business Consultant, Northman Bass, Adaeze Okoli; Marketing Director, Northman Bass, Melanie Ayoola, and Chief Storyteller, TINK, Franklin Ozekhome, during the inauguration of THREE GUYS’ brands social hub, in Lagos.

FINALE: From left, Chief Yusuf Ayoola, Bashorun of Oyo, representing Alaafin of Oyo; Hon. Disu Holloway, Commissioner for Culture and Intergovernmental Relation; Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, and Chief Wheton Poton, Baale, representative of Akran of Badagry, during the grand finale of 2014 of Olokun Festival, at Badagry, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 49

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50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 24, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 51

Sultan charges monarchs over insurgency

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III yesterday in Enugu called on all traditional rulers in the country, to rise and show concern over the current insurgency ravaging the North East part of the country.

He said it was improper for any traditional ruler to remain complacent because his domain was not affected.

The Sultan, who spoke as a guest of honour at the SouthSouth/South-East Traditional Rulers Forum, also advised his colleagues to be courageous to tell politicians the truth no matter whose ox was gored.

President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, assured traditional rulers that his administration was doing everything possible to ensure that the traditional institution was given a pride of place.

He said: “Mr. President awesomely welcomed the recommendation of the traditional institution which was adequately represented at the Confab. I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President is making relentless effort with the National Assembly

towards finding more convenient roles for our revered traditional rulers so as to enable better involvement and participation for them in issues of governance and administration of our dear country.”

On his part, the South-South Monarchs Forum Chairman, Edmund Daukoru, said unless the issue of moral crisis, which is the root cause of insecurity and

corruption in the country, was properly addressed, the nation might be chasing shadows.

According to him “Our beloved nation for whose well-being we have a sacred obligation of lifelong labour is today in a serious moral crisis which is the root cause of most of the dysfunctionality we observe in the society at large from insecurity to corruption. ''Regrettably, our collective guilt and the attendant fear of mutual blackmail continue to inhibit us from taking up this matter more

seriously. All the same, it is my firm conviction that the traditional institution is uniquely placed to partner with government, along with credible religious and social organizations to bring about the much desired moral re-armament against such consequences of bad conscience as the deadly lack of morality that leads people to play black leg in favour of Boko Haram terrorists or the selfish morality that helps itself to bank funds to the determent of depositors just to name a few recent examples.”

Mr. Daniel Idonor, former Vanguard reporter, abuja collecting expression of interest form for Federal House of Representative from Mr. Moses Dickson Iduh, PDP organizing secretary, Delta State at the party secretariat, Asaba. Photo by Nath Onojake.

INEC approves distribution of PVCs in 13 states

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approved the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCS, in 13 states of the federation, including Imo, in the third

phase of the exercise.

Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Selina Okoh, who disclosed this to newsmen, yesterday in Owerri, said the exercise would begin on November 7 and end on November 9.

“The commission has also

Imo sets up c'ttee to identify projects

by NDDC, FERMA, others

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State government has set up a committee to identify projects executed by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, and constituency projects in the state.

Explaining why the committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Sir Jude Ejiogu, became necessary, Governor Okorocha said there was need for the check, especially as billions of Naira might have been allocated for such projects.

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The governor charged the committee to “tour the state to see whether there are NDDC projects, FERMA projects and constituency projects in parts of the state.”

He directed the committee to find out the amount appropriated for the projects and how much was actually spent.

“You must also find out who collected the money for the jobs from these bodies, see whether the projects have been done where they exist, and whether what was done could be commensurate with the amount collected for such and those involved,” Okorocha said.

approved Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in the third phase to commence on Thursday, November 13 and ends on Monday, November 17, 2014”, Prof. Okoh said.

According to her, the voters register will be on display at the Polling Units, PUs, where voters registered, while distribution officers will be at the PUs from 8.00 – 4.00p.m for the three days of the exercise.

Okoh explained that a person whose name appeared in the register would go to the distribution fficer at the same venue with his Temporary Voters Card, TVC, and exchange it for the Permanent Voters Card, PVC. “Those with TVC should be given an attestation to fill. Such a person would be expected to submit his/ her form with a recent passport photograph to the PVC Distribution Officer and he/she would then be issued with his/ her PVC,” Okoh said.

She emphasised that there would be no collection of Permanent Voters Card by proxy, stressing that each person was made to sign a collection register.

“Voters are expected to crosscheck their names in the displayed voters register and

those who registered during the last registration exercise that could not find their names in the displayed register are to reregister during the continuous voters registration exercise between November 13 and 17, 2014 in the Wards designated as registration centres,” she said.

2015: Group vows to mobilize support for party that fields Igbo in Lagos

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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AGOS—NDIGBO United Association, NAU, has vowed to mobilize maximum support for any political party that will concede substantial elective political positions to Igbos resident in Lagos in the 2015 general election.

The group also endorsed the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate in the election, saying the endorsement of Jonathan was taken based on his achievements in all spheres of governance in the country, especially his contribution towards moving the Igbo nation forward.

At a briefing in Lagos, president of NAU, Chief Anselm Njoku, said the decision to partner with any political party in Lagos that would cede more power to the Igbos became necessary because the easterners had contributed immensely to championing several developmental projects in Lagos and boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.

He said “We hereby call on all Igbo sons and daughters in Lagos to come out en-masse to register and revalidate their voters’ cards during the forthcoming Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, review of voters’ register.''

Foundation holds Mother’s summit

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HE Reverend Funke Felix Adejumo Foundation will hold its 5th edition of the annual Mother’s summit on November 1st in Lagos.

The annual mother’s summit is a 6-hour prayer session put together by Reverend Funke Felix-Adejumo, founder of the Funke Felix Adejumo Foundation.

The FFF foundation is a developmental agency founded to empower women and to help them fulfill their purposes as mothers, wives, careerists, friends and nation helpers.

Speaking on the project, Reverend Adejumo said: “The

summit is a nondenominational gathering of women who come together to pray for our children, and their general wellbeing. The role of a woman as a nation builder cannot be over emphasized.

Every successful person or otherwise is born of a mother and as such coming together to pray for our children, helps set the tone for a better Nigeria”.

The summit, which is in its 5th year had held in London, Abuja, Canada and more recently in Houston, Texas.

It will be holding on the first of November at the Marque of the All Seasons Plaza, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 53

FG to deploy 506 volunteers to Ebola infested countries

Ottawa attacks: Canada to toughen terror laws

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ANADIAN Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to strengthen the nation’s terror laws one day after a gunman rampaged through parliament.

He said plans would be expedited to give more powers to surveillance and security agencies.

On Wednesday , a reported Muslim convert shot a soldier at an Ottawa war memorial before attacking parliament.

He was killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who was greeted to a standing ovation on Thursday for his efforts. It was the second attack on Canada’s military in three days.

Standing to address the MPs to warm applause, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first words were: “I know we

will always stand together.” in a hit-and-run in The objective of the attacks the province of was to instil fear and panic Quebec. in Canada, he said.

Mr Harper But he vowed to expedite described the security measures to perpetrator, who toughen powers of was shot dead, as an surveillance and detention.

“ISIL-inspired “They need to be much terrorist”. strengthened, and I assure Canada recently you, Mr Speaker, that work announced plans to which is already under way join the US-led will be expedited,” Mr campaign of air Stephen Harper, Prime Harper said. strikes against Minister of Canada “We will be vigilant, but we Islamic State will not run scared. We will militants in Iraq but be prudent, but we will not panic,” he no link to IS or the new military added. campaign has been confirmed by police On Monday, another soldier was killed investigating the latest attack.

The intellectual battle against ISIS THE article below had been published in many newspapers all over the world and online, and translated into more than 50 languages. Apart from reference to our country in the piece, the message is just apt for our situation, given our current experience with the rise of ethnic militias and the security challenge currently personified by the Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of rural-urban riots. It is hoped those in charge of our affairs are reading, if they haven't, already. — EDITOR.

BY SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

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HE global financial crisis taught the world how profoundly interdependent our economies have become. In today’s crisis of extremism, we must recognize that we are just as interdependent for our security, as is clear in the current struggle to defeat the ISIS. If we are to prevent ISIS from teaching us this lesson the hard way, we must acknowledge that we cannot extinguish the fires of fanaticism by force alone. The world must unite behind a holistic drive to discredit the ideology that gives the extremists their power, and to restore hope and dignity to those whom they would recruit.

ISIS certainly can — and will — be defeated militarily by the international coalition that is now assembling and which the UAE is actively supporting.

But military containment is only a partial solution. Lasting peace requires three bigger ingredients: winning the intellectual battle; upgrading weak governance; and grassroots human development.

Such a solution must begin with concerted international political will.

Not a single politician in North America, Europe, Africa, or Asia can afford to ignore events in the Middle East. A globalized threat requires a globalized response. Everyone will feel the heat, because such flames know no borders; indeed, ISIS has recruited members of at least 80 nationalities.

Malicious ideology

ISIS is a barbaric and brutal organization. It represents neither Islam nor humanity’s most basic values.

Nonetheless, it has emerged, spread, and resisted those who oppose it. What we are fighting is not just a terrorist organization, but the embodiment of a malicious ideology that must be defeated intellectually.

I consider this ideology to be the greatest danger that the world will face in the next decade. Its seeds are growing in Europe, the United States, Asia, and elsewhere. With its twisted religious overtones, this pre-packaged franchise of hate is available for any terrorist group to adopt. It carries the power to mobilize thousands of desperate, vindictive, or angry young people and use them to strike at the foundations of civilization.

The ideology fuelling ISIS has much C M Y

 Al Maktoum

ISIS is a barbaric and brutal organization. It represents neither Islam nor humanity’s most basic values

in common with that of al-Qaeda and its affiliates in Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. What most worries me is that a decade ago, such an ideology was all that al-Qaeda needed to destabilize the world, even from a primitive base in the caves of Afghanistan.

Today, under ISIS, adherents have access to technology, finance, a huge land base, and an international jihadist network. Far from being defeated, their ideology of rage and hate has become stricter, more pernicious, and more widespread.

The destruction of terrorist groups is not enough to bring lasting peace. We must also strike at the root to deprive their dangerous ideology of the power to rise again among people left vulnerable by an environment of hopelessness and desperation. And, on this note, let us be positive.

The solution has three components.

The first is to counter malignant ideas with enlightened thinking, open minds, and an attitude of tolerance and acceptance. This approach arises from our Islamic religion, which calls for peace, honors life, values dignity, promotes human development, and directs us to do good to others.

De-radicalizing youth

Only one thing can stop a suicidal youth who is ready to die for ISIS: a stronger ideology that guides him onto the right path and convinces him that God created us to improve our world, not to destroy it.

Credit is due to our neighbours in Saudi Arabia in this field for their successes in de-radicalizing many young people through counseling

centers and programs. In this battle of minds, it is thinkers and scientists of spiritual and intellectual stature among Muslims who are best placed to lead the charge.

The second component is support for governments’ efforts to create stable institutions that can deliver real services to their people. It should be clear to everyone that the rapid growth of ISIS was fuelled by two governments’ failings: the first one made war on its own people, and the second one promoted sectarian division. When governments fail to address instability, legitimate grievances, and persistent serious challenges, they create an ideal environment for hateful ideologies to incubate — and for terrorist organizations to fill the vacuum of legitimacy.

The final component is to address urgently the black holes in human development that afflict many areas of the Middle East. This is not only an Arab responsibility, but also an international responsibility, because providing grassroots opportunity and a better quality of life for the people of this region is guaranteed to ameliorate our shared problems of instability and conflict.

We have a critical need for long-term projects and initiatives to eliminate poverty, improve education and health, build infrastructure, and create economic opportunities. Sustainable development is the most sustainable answer to terrorism.

Our region is home to more than 200 million young people. We have the opportunity to inspire them with hope and to direct their energies towards improving their lives and the lives of those around them. If we fail, we will abandon them to emptiness, unemployment, and the malicious ideologies of terrorism.

Every day that we take a step towards delivering economic development, creating jobs, and raising standards of living, we undermine the ideologies of fear and hate that feed on hopelessness.

We starve terrorist organizations of their reason to exist.

I am optimistic, because I know that the people of the Middle East possess power of hope and a desire for stability and prosperity that are stronger and more enduring than opportunistic and destructive ideas. There is no power stronger than that of hope for a better life. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid alMaktoum is Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — Federal Government has given approval for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to support Ebola infested countries including Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to build local capacity of health workers to enhance their response in the fight against the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

With this approval, 250 Nigerian experts are ready to be deployed to these countries in the next few days. This is the first phase of the 506 volunteers that have been identified and ready for deployment to these countries.

Supervising Minister of Health, Khaliru Alhassan, disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja.

He also warned that the transportation of corpses is still banned until clearance is obtained from the Minister of Health.

He noted that in order to remain alert and prepared in case of another EVD outbreak and to ensure proper coordination of EVD activities in the country, the Federal Government has set up a National Emergency Operations Centre in Abuja.

Alhassan however stressed that, despite the declaration of Nigeria as an Ebola-free country, “the Nigeria’s public health must not be taken for granted and we must not go to sleep and start resting on our oars. It should serve as a warning that this current outbreak of EVD still presents a measured threat to Nigeria and the rest of the world until it is contained and eliminated from all countries, particularly from the West African sub-region.

“Without this, the possibility of a reimportation of EVD into Nigeria remains high; thus it is not quite over yet. It is with this regard that we have developed a Nigerian Ebola Preparedness Plan with all elements to work with the states to activate their incident management systems, to strengthen our national preparedness and be ready to respond to a potential outbreak, should it occur again.'

BRIEFS Ukraine rebels end ceasefire before polls

Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk have announced the end of a ceasefire, ending a period of relative calm as the country braces for parliamentary polls.

Addressing reporters yesterday, the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, said “The truce has been observed by us alone. But the day before yesterday we started to respond as well.

It has been quieter since yesterday.”

Police battle fighters in Tunisian town

A member of Tunisia’s security forces has been killed in a shootout with an armed group in a town near the capital.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Aroui said exchange of fire on Thursday came after two counterterrorism operations in the south of the country in which a private security guard was killed, several people were injured and two fighters captured.

The ministry said police traded gunfire with armed “terrorists” who had taken refuge in a house in the town of Oued Ellil, close to Tunis.

“Our agent died of a bullet wound in the eye sustained in clashes with a terrorist group,” the official told AFP.

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Ashafa wants N'Assembly's input in signing treaties

SUMMIT : From left— Constance Nwokejiobi, Coordinator, ExxonMobil Foundation Programmes, Nigeria; Adesimbo Ukiri, MD/CEO, Avon HMO, and Onyeka Onwenu, Director General, National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, during the women and girls summit at the centre in Abuja.

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

S

ENATOR Gbenga Ashafa has canvassed amendment of treaties making procedure to make way for consultation of the National Assembly before the executive arm of government can sign treaties with other countries or organisations.

The bill for the amendment had earlier been sponsored by Senator Ashafa, who represents Lagos East senatorial district, but was stood down for further debate before year’s end.

Ashafa, in a statement by his Head, Media and Strategy, Mr. Babatunde Adegunju, explained that the bill would ensure active participation of the committee of the whole in the National Assembly in the process of initiating and making treaties.

The bill, if passed into law, would facilitate easy and quick comprehension of treaties and speed up their approval by the National Assembly.

Ashafa said: “The central aim of this bill is to ensure that treaty making is a concurrent function as it is in other countries.

“The measure also checks presidential power and have representatives of the states and of the people make inputs at the negotiation and ratification stages of treaty making.”

Reps probe Ekiti judiciary crisis

By Emma Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, asked its Committees on Police and Justice to investigate the crisis rocking the judiciary in Ekiti State.

The directive followed a motion sponsored by Ifeoluwa Arowosoge (APC, Ekiti State).

While moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that on Monday, September 22, thugs in their hundreds invaded and sacked a high court in Ado-Ekiti while hearing was in progress in a case filed sometime in May

by E-11, a pressure group, based in Ekiti State.

He also noted that a senior judge, Justice Isaac Ogunyemi, was beaten up by thugs who also tore his court records and smashed the windows of the court room.

He also recalled that on Thursday of the same week, being September 25, another judge, Justice John Adeleye, was beaten, dragged on the floor with his official regalia torn, while other judicial

Lagos HoS commends missions on schools mgt

T

HE Head of Service of Lagos State, Mrs Seyi Williams, has commended missionary schools in the state for living up to expectation and keying into the vision of the state government, which returned the schools to former owners over a decade ago.

Mrs Williams, who gave an address as Chairman at the Speech and Prize Giving Day of Methodist Girls High School, MGHS, Yaba, disclosed that she was impressed that “the management is restoring the

moral and academic standards for which this oldest girls’ school in Nigeria was known.”

The HOS, an old girl of MGHS, commended what she described as transformation of the school since its return to the Methodist mission, adding that “no government can shoulder the responsibility of providing education for all its citizens without the participation of all relevant stakeholders.”

officers, lawyers, litigants and journalists were equally intimidated by the thugs.

Arowosoge said the independence of the judiciary, which should be an inviolable tenet of any democracy, was being threatened by assaults and intimidation of judges and other judicial officers.

Contributing to the motion, Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, the chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Aminu Shagari, among others, described the incident as an affront on the nation’s judiciary and asked the House to condemn the act.

However, shortly before the motion was discussed in

details, the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary, sought the views of Chairmen, House Committees on Judiciary, Police and Justice, to ascertain whether the case was already in court.

Told that the National Judicial Council, NJC, had already waded into the matter, the deputy speaker said: “I think it makes sense for us to urge our Committees on Police and Justice to investigate the matter and report back to the House.”

With the acceptance of the House via a majority voice vote, the matter was eventually referred to the committees.

Jonathan faults allegations of rights abuse against security agents

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

B U J A —P R E S I D E N T Goodluck Jonathan declared yesterday that the perceived human rights abuses by the military and other security agencies currently battling terrorism and other emergent threats in the country were exaggerated and should be properly investigated.

Jonathan made the call while declaring open a three-day International Workshop on Civil Military Cooperation at the National Defence College in Abuja, organised by the office of the National Security Adviser and the European Union.

He said: “We have taken very serious reports from some international organisations about perceived human rights abuses by our security force during military operations.

“Findings have generally shown that these reports are

indeed exaggerated.

“I can recount an incident in 1992. I cannot say exactly when, but a newspaper came out with photographs of soldiers raping girls on the street of a community called Choba and we were all alarmed that soldiers were raping women.

“Choba, incidentally, is not a community that is hidden.

That is where the University of Port-Harcourt is located.

Investigations were later made, even by civil society groups. People asked questions and at the end of the day, there was no incident like that at all.

“This is why we must review use of military camouflage and fatigue by military and paramilitary agencies.

“These are being abused and people who are not supposed to use them are using them.”

Nigerian leaders must show Godly character —BRITISH MP

By Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—A member of the British House of Commons, Lord Paul Boateng, yesterday challenged Nigerian leaders to lead the people in fear of God, show courage, character and de-emphasize greed and corruption for the common good.

Boateng gave the charge while delivering a keynote address as a guest speaker at the 5th edition of the annual National Breakfast Prayer organized by the National Assembly in Abuja.

He said the current state of affairs in Africa’s most populous nation was due to actions which had gone contrary to the ideals of its founding fathers, who preached and worked for the greatness of Nigeria.

He said: “As a little boy in a small neighbouring country of Ghana, when Nigeria came along to join us as an independent state, I remember the words of a great son of Africa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

“Also known as the Zik of Africa, he gave bondbuilding and strengthening speech, calling on all compatriots for a concerted effort of leadership, oneness and patriotism.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 55

Ronaldo scores against 50 different teams W

ITH his goal in Anfield, Cristiano Ronaldo added Liverpool to the list of teams he has scored against since joining Real Madrid. The English side is the 50th rival to have conceded at the hands of the Portuguese man since became a player for the Whites. Sevilla is the team he has found the target against most times: 18.

Following the Andalusians, Atlético de Madrid and Athletic are the other sides the Real Madrid man has had most joy against in front of goal, with 14 goals notched up against both clubs. The only team Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score against in a competitive fixture is Dinamo Zagreb. He made his official Real Madrid debut against Deportivo, a team he also scored his first goal

against for the club.

His scoring form on the road in the Champions League Cristiano Ronaldo made it ten away games in a row getting on the scoresheet in the Champions League in Anfield. The Whites’ forward began his spectacular scoring streak in March 2013 in Old Trafford, against Manchester United. He has racked up 15 goals during his last ten Champions League games away from home.

The teams he has found the back of the net against during this period are: Manchester United (1 goal), Galatasaray (5 goals in 2 games), Borussia Dortmund (1), Juventus (1), Copenhagen (1), Schalke (2), Bayern Munich (2), Ludogorets (1) and Liverpool (1).

•Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (r) vies with Liverpool’s Glen Johnson.

Diego Costa to miss trip to Man Utd

C

HELSEA expect to be without Diego Costa for their trip to Manchester United on Sunday with the Spain forward, who has been hampered by hamstring trouble all season, now suffering from a groin strain apparently sustained while on international duty.

The striker was also hospitalised last week with a severe stomach bug and has failed to train properly since returning to England after his country’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg, of which he played all but eight minutes. While the hamstring problem would have required rest – he has now missed his team’s last two

Williams bounces back •Beats Bouchard 6-1, 6-1 at WTA finals

Drogba’s still a great player – Terry

C

HELSEA are in safe hands with veteran Didier Drogba leading the attack, according to skipper John Terry.

The Blues head to Manchester United on Sunday in the midst of a striker crisis.

Star man Diego Costa looks likely to miss out with hamstring and groin injuries, while Loic Remy is touch-and-go after limping off in the midweek win over Maribor.

That leaves Drogba as the only senior Chelsea striker left for the visit to Old Trafford, however, the Ivorian is short of match fitness himself after only recently recovering from an ankle problem.

And despite the shortage of options for the trip to Manchester, Terry is remaining upbeat over Chelsea’s prospects in front of goal.

‘We’ve got a big squad; Didier came on and showed what a great player he still is,” he said.

“The players are showing how important the depth of our squad could be this season.

“As the manager rightly says, everybody’s got a part to play and we’ve seen that in the last few games.”

•Costa games – to be cured, the 26-year-old has undergone intensive treatment this week on the groin complaint but there is acceptance within the club’s medical staff that it is unlikely Costa will be able to start the game at Old Trafford.

•Serena

S

ERENA Williams rebounded from the worst beating of her professional career to rout Eugenie Bouchard 6-1, 6-1 at the WTA Finals on Thursday.

Williams was humbled

by Simona Halep the

previous day, when the 18-time Grand Slam champion won only two games.

She turned around and eliminated Bouchard from semifinals contention with a 0-3 record in the round-robin stage, while Williams improved to 2-1. The American will have to wait until Friday ’s match between Halep and Ana Ivanovic to know if she is through to the semis.

Williams will make the final four unless Ivanovic manages to beat Halep in straight sets.

Halep is guaranteed of a semifinal berth.

Messi: Enrique can take me off ‘whenever he wants’

L

IONEL Messi says Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is entitled to substitute him “ whenever he wants” after he was taken off early during the 3-1 Champions League win against Ajax last Tuesday.

Having scored one already against the Dutch side, Messi, 27, was attempting to edge closer to Raul’s record amount of Champions League goals.

The Argentina captain, however, was substituted in the 66th minute — while trailing the record by two — with Enrique opting to rest him ahead

•Messi of Saturday ’s clasico against Real Madrid.

The substitution came just three days after Messi appeared to refuse to come off during the 30 win over Eibar, yet the player himself insists he has no problem with the Barca boss wanting to haul him off early.

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 — 57

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58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

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U-23 job very difficult — Siasia S

AMSON Siasia has admitted that managing the under 23 national team will be a difficult task.

The former Flying Eagles and Super Eagles manager, was last week reappointed to take charge of the under 23 team to prepare them for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Siasia said that it will be challenging to build a formidable team, but was optimistic that he will get the job done.

“There are a lot of challenges when it comes to trying to get things down especially, screenings. It’s a long process and from what I have been told, the first game is in February and that isn’t too far, we even haven’t started anything,” Siasia said.

“It’s a very difficult job but with hard work I think we could get it done. What we have now is like a rush-rush thing, trying to get the players that we believe can help us play the first few matches.”

Siasia during his last time in charge of the under 23 team, led Nigeria to winning the silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

•Onome Ebi

Onome Ebi: We will match Cameroon strength for strength

O

NOME Ebi is confident that she and her teammates will match the physical strength of the Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon in the final of the African Women Championship to be decided at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.

Cameroon are a very physical side compared to the sleek passing game exhibited by the Super Falcons so far in the tournament. Football watchers here believe that Cameroon might just

muscle the Super Falcons the way they did to their opponents on their way to the final.

But Ebi who has been a rock in the Falcons defence noted that the final against Cameroon will be fought strength for strength. Her performance against South Africa was a key factor at denying the Bayana Bayana a clear chance at goal.

“We are going all out for Cameroon. The Super Falcons are a strong team and we do understand ourselves very well.

Upgrade your credentials, Oliseh tells African coaches

F

ORMER Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has said coaches in Africa must prepare themselves adequately to rub shoulders with top-class

coaches across the globe.

He said aiming at improving themselves will help them chalk success when given the chance to manage any big club or

FIFA ranking Continues from BP uninspiring displays have seen the team plummet down to number nine in Africa below countries like Cape Verde and Senegal.

The Les Fennecs of Algeria, who have won four out of their four Afcon 2015 qualifiers, are the number one team in Africa with 989 points and 15th on the world ranking ahead of England.

Nigeria are behind Ivory Coast who are second. Tunisia, Ghana,

Cameroun, Cape Verde, Egypt and Senegal make up the African top ten spots.

Evidently, the goalless draw in South Africa and the 1-0 loss to Sudan didn’t do the Eagles any good in the latest rankings.

World Cup winners Germany still maintain the number one spot in the world. Argentina and Colombia are in second and third respectively while Brazil, who hosted the Fifa World Cup lie in sixth place on the world rankings.

national team.

Several African coaches do not travel outside the continent fearing the risk involved, especially competing with experienced Europeans and other nationals, and the few who do, succumb to pressure and face a great deal of task in managing players’ egos.

In an interview with a foreign news media, Oliseh insisted that African coaches must upgrade their credentials to suit the growing demands of modern football.

•Oliseh

Court Continues from BP Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last month were illegal.

World football governing body FIFA have warned that should anything hinder the newly-elected NFF executive committee led by Pinnick from operating, they will move for an automatic ban for the country till the next FIFA congress in May. On Thursday, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court Jos ruled against the NFF elections in Warri of September 30 as well as the congress preceding it because they were against his orders.

“I have set aside all the proceedings and decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary meeting of the 20th September and the Elective Congress of 30th September which were direct contravention of the orders of this court as granted on the 19th September,” said Justice Allagoa.

“Nobody should foist on the court a complete case of hopelessness so that the principles of law and justice can be upheld.

Its not enough to say that the order of court was wrongly made, no matter how unorthodox, its subsisting orders, unless set aside, remains law and must be respected.

“Defendants in this matter have not filed any counter affidavits in this court to contest the facts.

There is no motion nor Memorandum of Appearance. This is a court of Record. On this note, the court has no option to protect the integrity and sanctity of court. Court orders are not tea party. Nobody is above the law. Impunity must be stopped.”

Some persons on behalf of Chris Giwa, who maintained he was elected NFF president on August 26, took the matter to the court even though FIFA statutes forbid football matters to be deliberated in a civil court.

FIFA did not recognise the election of Giwa and warned he and his supporters to vacate the NFF office in Abuja.

In July, Nigeria was

suspended briefly after another Jos court sacked the NFF then led by Aminu Maigari and the country’s sports minister appointed a civil servant to run the federation.

NFF appeals

The executive committee of Nigeria Football Federation has filed for appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division of Thursday, which annulled the NFF elections of September 30.

The Judge had given the order annulling the elections despite a preliminary objection filed by the NFF challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, said: “We have been notified of the ruling of the court, which was made in spite of our filing for a preliminary objection concerning the jurisdiction of the court.

“However, our lawyers have gone to work immediately the order was made. We are appealing the ruling and also filing for stay of execution of the order.”

On Thursday, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court Jos ruled against the NFF elections in Warri of September 30 as well as the congress preceding it.

“I have set aside all the proceedings and decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary meeting of the 20th September and the Elective Congress of 30th September which were direct contravention of the orders of this court as granted on the 19th September,” said Justice Allagoa.

“Nobody should foist on the court a complete case of hopelessness so that the principles of law and justice can be upheld. Its not enough to say that the order of court was wrongly made, no matter how unorthodox, its subsisting orders, unless set aside, remains law and must be respected.”

60 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—61

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62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 24, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014—63

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

Eagles drop to 42nd in FIFA ranking

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IGERIA have dropped five places from their previous 37th position, and are now placed 42 on the latest Fifa rankings released on Thursday.

The Super Eagles

Continues on Page 59

Nigeria risks another FIFA ban as...

Court sacks Pinnick’s NFF

We'll match Cameroon strength for strength — P.59 Upgrade your credentials, Oliseh tells African coaches — P.59 Diego Costa to miss trip to Man Utd — P.55

Serena bounces back! — P.55

...NFF appeals

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IGERIA is in danger of another FIFA ban after a court ruled that elections that ushered in Delta FA chairman Amaju Pinnick as president of the

Continues on Page 59

U-23 job very difficult —Siasia P.59

•Pinnick

•Giwa

•Mikel

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fidgety (5) 5 Cupboard (6) 8 Abrupt (5) 10 Distant (6) 11 Imitated (4) 14 Hat (6) 15 Widespread (7) 18 Pinch (3) 19 Faucet (3) 21 Trial (4) 23 Dissuade (5) 24 Grasped (4) 27 Lair (3) 29 Lout (3) 31 Swiftly (7) 32 Insane (6) 34 Delicate (4) 35 Tie up (6) 38 Seam (5) 39 Club (6) 40 Regional (5)

DOWN 2 Employ (3) 3 Stocked (6) 4 Still (3) 5 Petal (4) 6 Believe (6) 7 Meal (6) 9 Discounted (7) 12 Enclosure (3) 13 Drug (4) 16 Relax (4) 17 Subsequently (5) 20 Punishment (7) 22 Dirty (4) 24 Feverish (6) 25 Bread (4) 26 Stunning (6) 28 Restaurant (6) 30 Marshland (3) 33 Hollow (4) 36 Fish (3) 37 Epoch (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: Script 5, Damp 8, Lover 9, Ass 10, Prey 11, Site 12, Acted 13, Threat 16, Rest 18, Vale 20, Yes 22, Rut 23, End 24, Wade 25, Reel 28, Dollar 30, Staff 32, Meal 33, Iota 34, Sot 35, Melee 36, Tied 37, Tender.

DOWN: 1, Scanty 2, Reserved 3, Poplar 4, Boycotted 5, Deserved 6, Arid 7, Peer 8, Lea 14, Terrified 15, Old 17, Sue 19, Analysed 20, Yap 21, Settled 26, Locate 27, Crater 29, Omit 30, Same 31, Foe.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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