FG starving APC states of funds-Govs

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62259

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT:

Why NASS opted for LG autonomy — Ihedioha

2015: PDP gives Jonathan, govs one week ultimatum to 8 9 purchase forms

FG starving APC states of funds —Govs

By Demola Akinyemi

•Wonder if PDP states are funded secretly by FG •Threaten to meet Jonathan, slam PDP Govs •Hold valedictory session for Fayemi, ex-Ekiti Gov

I

LORIN—GOVER NORS of All Progressives Congress, APC, controlled states, yesterday, complained about dwindling allocation to their states and wondered why their Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, colleagues were not sharing their concern.

The APC governors who met in Ilorin, Kwara State expressed concern Continues on Page 5

BRIBERY SCANDAL: Don't extradite me to UK, ex-Mint boss begs court 56

Mr & Mrs APC GOVS —From left: Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers, Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo, Ibrahim Shettima, Borno; and Rauf Aregbesola, Osun; during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

COLUMNISTS: President Jonathan, where is the ceasefire with Boko Haram?

•P.17

Ebola as grand conspiracy against Africa •P.19

Another Boko Haram decoy?

•P.19

Fayose shuts fuel stations belonging to Ekiti speaker, others 11

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

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4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 —5

POCKET CARTOON

FEC MEETING—From left, Minister for Niger Delta Development, Mr.

Steve Oruh; Culture and Tourism Minister, High Chief Edem Duke and Youth Development Minister, Mr. Boni Haruna discussing during the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG starving APC states of funds —Govs Continues from Page 1

about a possible secret funding for the PDP states. The governors, who vowed to meet President Goodluck Jonathan over the issue, also resolved to allow internal democracy to guide the selection of a presidential candidate for the party.

The summit of the APC governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, in Ilorin, however, did not rule out the adoption of a consensus presidential candidate, but insisted that it must be done within the ambit of internal democracy.

The meeting of the APC governors was also a valedictory session for

former Governor Kayode Fayemi who stepped down as governor of Ekiti State last Thursday.

The APC governors praised Fayemi for what they described as his exemplary strength of character.

At the meeting yesterday were Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ishaq Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) who was the host and Dr. Fayemi.

Chairman of the PGF, Governor Okorocha, who briefed newsmen at the end of the session which lasted several hours, ex-

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion—Dalai Lama

T

WO young boys noticed a farmer working in the field. The older of the two boys thought for a moment and said: “The man looks poor. Let’s hide a silver dollar in each shoe and then we’ll hide in these bushes and see how he reacts to that." The younger companion agreed to the plan and they placed a silver dollar in each shoe and hid behind the bushes. It wasn’t long before the farmer came in from the field, tired and worn. He reached down to put on his shoes, immediately feeling the money under his feet.

He looked amazed. Thinking he was alone, he dropped to his knees and offered a verbal prayer.

The boys heard the poor farmer’s cry of relief that the money will enable him help his sick wife and hungry children. His reaction gave the boys a different outlook about life, a feeling of warmth inside knowing the good they had done to a poor farmer in dire straits has made some difference. A smile crept across their souls. Always be kind. It comes back to you anyway.

pressed concern over what he described as the dwindling monthly allocation to the APC states.

He said: "This issue has become a very serious concern to us as governors and we felt that issues that affect the lives of our people must never be politicised. We refuse to accept the fact that this nation is broke and thank God that the Federal Government has confirmed that the nation is not broke. If the nation is not broke, what is due to states should be given to states.

"This idea of cutting what should go to states does not in any way promote democracy and democratic dividends.

And so, we as progressive governors, call on the Federal Government to look into the issue of dwindling resources and convince us why the states should not get what is due to them.

"We demand to have a meeting with the President on this issue of dwindling resources as quickly as possible,” he stressed.

Cash crunch aimed at APC states Expressing concern that the cash crunch was partisan and directed at APC states, Okorocha wondered why the PDP governors were not complaining.

"We do not know why our colleagues in the

PDP are not talking of this matter. If they are not talking, it is either they are not affected or somehow they are getting something from the back door which we do not know. I think the President or the Federal Government should act quickly to quell the present ugly situation which this terrible condition of dwindling resources points out to us by making sure that the states get what is due to them, at least to pay salaries of their workers.”

Giving the backing of the governors to the APC leadership’s efforts to ensure smooth nomination of candidates for various elective positions and the prospects of a consensus presidential candidate for the party, he said: "Our forum is in full support of consensus as one of the ways to produce our presidential candidate or any candidate in the party as long as it is done with respect to internal democracy.

“There will be no imposition of candidate in our party. Our forum has not adopted any candidate but we shall encourage consensus and dialogue within the leadership of the party and aspirants to see how we come up with a candidate. But where that is not possible, like true progressives, we shall have free and fair primaries.”

Governor Okorocha, on behalf of his colleagues, also lauded the former governor of Ekiti State “for a commendable show of character and a successful tenure in office, having handed over the office of the Ekiti State Governor on Thursday October 16, 2014.

Valedictory seesion for Fayemi Lauding Fayemi, Okorocha said: “You had great vision for the state with the achievements you recorded, history cannot say that you were without a purpose. Your humility and display of sportsmanship after the announcement of a result different from what majority of Nigerians expected and would have preferred to be outcome of the June 21, 2014 election leaves us, your brothers and colleagues, in admiration of you.

“In a free and fair democratic system, the

voice of the people is sacrosanct. It is the thrust on which the foundation of good governance, transparency and accountability is built. It is a voice that must be respected. But whether the voice that supposedly spoke on the election day is really the voice of the people is another matter.

The people of Ekiti, whom you served so well and so honourably, will live to tell. Needless to say that you have carved your name in gold in the annals of Ekiti State, in our great party and the political history of Nigeria.

“JKF,(John Kayode Fayemi) you have shown to the world what it means to be progressive and your conduct, both in and out of office will always be a point of reference so we enjoin you to continue in your good stride, never forgetting your strength of humility, hard work and steadfastness in fighting for the good of the people and the eventual development of our country Nigeria.”

Responding, an elated Fayemi said: “I am elated and full of gratitude for the support and solidarity that you extended to me as a member of this forum and as a former governor of Ekiti State.

That I had served as a governor is even a rare privilege but to have served alongside you as a member of this forum is a greater opportunity as a Nigerian. This group has played a critical role in the formation of our party because it was our maiden meeting in Lagos that gave us the name progressive. I shall miss this body greatly”.

Fayemi, however, assured the forum that he would forever remain a progressive, and shall continue to make his impact felt in the country, Ekiti State and APC. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last Tuesday assured that Nigeria is financially sound and has been

meeting its local and international financial obligations despite dwindling revenue from crude oil export.

The Minister who gave the assurance at a press conference in Abuja said: “Despite the dwindling revenue of the nation due to falling crude oil prices and decrease in output, the nation is not broke”.

She said, “right now, we have fluctuations in the price of crude oil and when that happens, it means that the money that comes into the coffers is a little bit small.

Does that mean that the country is broke? If we are not able to pay salaries to people or meet other obligations then we can say the country is broke but we have not got there. Nigeria is not broke.

"We may have to cut down on some of our expenditures. We may have to mobilize more revenue; we have to look at the fiscal policy; we have to look at the monetary policy –all of these have to come together and we are looking at them right now in the Ministry of finance.

“I want to assure Nigerians that we are putting in place contingency plans so that our economy remains stable."

According to the minister, the current realities of falling oil prices and reduction in quantity of production have made the diversification of the economy more imperative now than ever.

She added that in spite of the global economic challenges the Nigerian economy remained resilient, growing at about 6.5 per cent, making it one of the fastest growing economies of the world.

Her team at the Ministry of finance, she added had been working round the clock to ensure that the real sectors of the economy, especially, agriculture and power, among others received the needed impetus to boost productivity and provide jobs.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Okada man docked for robbery

By Hope Ofobike

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AGOS—JUSTICE Raliatu Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, has ordered that a motorcycle rider, Sanni Mohammed, and one other Monday Itichi be remanded in Kirikiri prison custody over alleged robbery.

The defendants are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted armed robbery preferred against them by the state.

The Prosecutor, Adetola Rotimi, told the court that the defendants committed the crime on November 8 at 13, in Sanusi Street, Okota, Lagos.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Counsel to the defendants, O. F. Matomi, urged the court to grant the bail application of the defendants, but the prosecuting counsel objected to the bail application and the judge ordered that they be remanded in prison custody.

The case was adjourned to November 25 for hearing.

Ritualists kill man, pluck son's eyes

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—SUSPECTED ritualists have killed a man and removed his son’s eyes in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The ritualists, 10 in number, were said to have stormed the residence of the deceased, Yakubu Ubandoma, with dangerous weapons, stabbed him on the neck and cut off his hands.

They also reportedly removed the eyes of the deceased’s son, Ishaya Yakubu, who later died in the hospital.

Not done, the ritualists were also said to have inflicted machete cuts on the head of another person in the house.

The state's Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said the command was doing

everything possible to arrest the culprits who fled the scene after carrying out the heinous act.

He said: “10 suspected ritualists, wielding dangerous weapons, stormed the house of one Yakubu Ubandoma, located about 10 kilometres away from Rimin Zayam Village in Toro council, stabbed him on the neck and cut off his hands.

“The suspects also removed

Robbers invade Enugu community

By Chibundu Abugu

R BURNT: Nigerian Legion office at the Federal Marriage Registry complex, Ikoyi, gutted by fire yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

How estate agents defrauded SAN of N19m

By Onozure Dania & Hope Ofobike

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AGOS— A prosecution witness and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Tani Molajo, yesterday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere how he was defrauded of N19 million by two estate agents, Emmanuel Adejo and Obi Fortune.

Molajo, who was led in evidence by Adetola Rotimi, said the defendants sold his land for N19 million without his consent, adding that he got to know about the secret transactions between the agents and some of the buyers in 2011, when the buyers could not get the lands they paid for.

The SAN, who is the owner of Paradigm Associates, said the incident happened while they were working with him as estate agents.

He further told the court that the defendants also stole N5 million from one Obinna and Ugochukwu Okpara, which was meant for the property they sold to them.

“They stole N1, 880,000 from

the eyes of his son called Ishaya Yakubu, who later died in the hospital.

“One other person in the house, Yakubu Alhamdu, sustained machete cuts in the head.”

Mohammed said police detectives visited the scene of the crime and rushed the victims to Toro General Hospital.

He said efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspects and appealed to members of the public with useful information to visit the nearest police station.

one Adekola Bunmi and N7,480,000 from Chike Anikwe and N2.50 million property from one Eleazu,” he said.

He stated that the defendants sold about 12 plots of land belonging to his company, Paradigm Associates, for N 2 million per plot, instead of N700,000 he instructed them and pocketed

about N19 millon.

The defendants had been arraigned in January over the alleged theft of N19 million.

They are facing an eightcount charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against them.

The prosecuting counsel, Adetola Rotimi, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged crime at Isheri

Osun, behind Jakande Estate, Isolo.

According to her, the offence is punishable under Section 516, 309 (9) of criminal code laws of Lagos State.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and were granted bail.

Justice Adebiyi adjourned the matter to November 19 for cross examination.

Sapele lawyers protest colleague's kidnap

By Godwin Oghre

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APELE—SAPELE branch of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in Delta State yesterday stormed major streets in the city, protesting the kidnap of one of their colleagues, Barrister Desmond Dudu, last Sunday.

The branch also embarked on boycott of courts with effect from yesterday, until next Thursday, October 30.

His captors have neither made contact nor demanded any ransom for his release at press time.

Dudu was kidnapped along Abraka/Eku Road, infested with several deep potholes, which had made it almost impassable for the last 10 years.

A reliable family source said he travelled to Abraka for a social engagement and was kidnapped on his return to Sapele.

NBA branch chairman, Mr. Gabriel Kerewi, and the Secretary, Mr. Ufuoma Ovwiudoh, said in a statement issued as part of the protest: “Sequel to the protest rally embarked upon by the

Nigerian Bar Association, Sapele branch yesterday, October 22, the lawyers reaffirmed the decision to boycott the courts from Wednesday, October, 22 to Thursday, October 30, to continue the protest against the kidnapping of our colleague, D. S. Dudu, Esq.” It would be recalled that about this same time a year ago, the oldest practicing lawyer in Sapele, Chief J. Y. Odebala, was kidnapped and released a week later, after a huge ransom was paid to his captors.

ESIDENTS of Umunaja quarters at Olido, IgboEze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, were held hostage, Monday night, by daredevil armed robbers who attacked and manhandled occupants of four buildings in the locality, carting away money and other valuables from victims.

Among those attacked was the family of late dean of Federal College of Education, Ehamufu, Mr. Fidel Ojobo.

One of the victims, Mrs. Marcilina Attama, who spoke in a telephone interview, said the robbers raided their house for over an hour and beat up her husband mercilessly, lamenting that they lost cash and other valuables, while the family was also nursing the physical wounds inflicted on its breadwinner.

Reports from the community showed that in recent times there had been several cases of robberies in the area hitherto regarded as relatively crime-free and that this resurgence of criminal activities could be traced to some developments linked to the leadership of the community.

Reacting to the incident, the President-General of the Olido Town Union, Mr. Ignatius Ape, former head of public relations department of West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and chairman of the community’s Neighbourhood Watch Group, Mr. Samson Allison, a retired deputy superintendent of police, all confirmed that the resurgence of robberies had been unsettling the residents.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—7

Convicted fraudster returns N550,000 to blind victim

By Austin Ogwuda

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RIDING HIGH: A cyclist on Bayan Garin Road, Bauchi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

NUGU—A 33-year-old security guard, Gift Onyegam, currently serving a 10-year jail term for defrauding a blind female teacher in Enugu, yesterday refunded N550,000, being part of the N830,000 she lost to him.

The refund of the money was sequel to the judgment of a Federal High Court, Enugu, presided over by Justice M. Shuiabu, who ordered that the convict, apart from serving the 10 years jail term without option of fine, should repay the money duped the blind woman.

Gift was arrested in 2013 by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for Advanced Fee Fraud, after she duped the blind teacher, identified as Mrs. Rose Ihekanacho, of N830,000 under the pretext of securing her son a job at Shell Petroleum Development Company and was, accordingly, convicted.

Presenting a First Bank draft of N550,000 made payable to the victim yesterday in Enugu, EFCC’s Head of Operations, South-East zone, Mr. David Iloyanomo, thanked his staff that carried out the investigation for their diligence and passion.

Elated Mrs. Ihekanacho, who was led to the EFCC office in Enugu by one of her sons, was full of praises for the

commission, saying at a point she wanted to give up on the matter.

Prosecution counsel, Mainforce Ekwu, had moved an

Controversy trails shooting, detention of citizen Ogedegbe

By Perez Brisibe

U

G H E L L I — CONTROVERSY is currently trailing the alleged shooting and detention of Vincent Ogedegbe at a police checkpoint, along Oko-Idiorwa Orogun Road, Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State

by Corporal Anthony Jackson as a rights group, Centre for The Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, CENTREP, and the Police are singing different tunes on the incident.

While the group is alleging that the police shot the victim for no just cause, the police alleged that the victim was involved in oil well vandalism and that he was trying to disarm the culprit when he was shot on the leg.

The culprit is attached to Nigeria Police post, Orogun.

CENTREP, in a statement by its Executive Director, Oghenejabor Ikimi, sequel to a letter to Delta State

AGF takes over prosecution of Cross Country boss

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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HERE was fresh dimension to the ongoing prosecution of the Managing Director of Cross Country Transport

Limited, Mr. Bube Okorodudu, over alleged N82.8 million theft charge yesterday as the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, took over the case.

Man, 39, charged for unlawful possession of phones

By Bartholomew Madukwe

A

39-year-old man, Chidi Ahamefule, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for unlawful possession of six Techno phones suspected to have been stolen.

The accused, whose address is unknown, was said to have committed the offence on October 16 at 77 Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

Ahamefule, who was arraigned by the police on a

two-count charge of unlawful possession of phones, pleaded not guilty before the Magistrate, Abimbola Komolafe.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Eranus Nnamonu, informed the court that the said offence is punishable under Section 327 (1) of the Criminal Law No. 11 Vol. 44 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Magistrate Komolafe granted him bail in the sum of N100,000, with two blood related sureties.

The matter has been adjourned to November 6.

Okorodudu was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of allegedly defrauding a company, AG Moeller Ltd and its officer, Mr. Adeloye Olukemi, over the sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to the company.

However, Okorodudu had claimed the issue was borne out of controversies arising from the payment for the buses which, he added, had been fulfilled.

At the resumption of the case yesterday, a lawyer from the AGF's office, Mr. D. E. Kaswe, announced to the court that he had the instruction of the AGF to take over the case before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court.

The EFCC, in its earlier charge against Okorodudu, had alleged that the defendants stole the money through the fraudulent sale of 17 units of the buses belonging to AG Moeller

oral application before the court praying it to prevail on the convict to repay the money, citing Section 11 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006.

Ltd and Mr. Adeloye Olukemi.

Announcing his appearance, Kaswe told the court that the AGF had since September 8 taken over the matter from EFCC, when the court was on its annual break, after he had on September 22 written the EFCC requesting for the original file.

The decision of the AGF, according to the lawyer, is due to the fact that there was a similar case being handled by the office at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Kaswe said: “We want to examine the files and reach our own conclusions because both of them are criminal matters.”

Justice Lawal-Akapo subsequently extended the bench warrant earlier issued against Okorodudu on July 1, ordering the police to arrest and produce him in court at the next adjournment date fixed for December 2.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alkali Baba, by F. O. Ogherohwo & Co on behalf of the victim, stated that Ogedegbe was allegedly shot on the right leg with an AK47 rifle in the presence of his wife and children having been abruptly stopped by one of the policemen at the checkpoints.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the shooting, stated that Mr. Ogedegbe was wanted in connection with the vandalization of Oil Well 14 at Orogun, adding that investigation was ongoing.

Scores injured as group engage policemen in gun battle

By Evelyn Usman

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ANDEMONIUM broke out yesterday at Ikosi area of Lagos, after some armed men suspected to be members of SURE-P, allegedly opened fire on a team of policemen.

The shootout, said to have lasted several minutes, sent residents and passers-by scampering for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets; motorists were not left out , as they reportedly made U-turns.

Scores of persons sustained injuries in the resultant stampede.

Details of the exact cause of the shootout were sketchy at press time.

However, information at Vanguard’s disposal had it that suspected members of the group held a man hostage over an unknown offence.

Policemen, who were informed about the illegal detention, reportedly went to rescue the victim, only to be confronted by sporadic gun shots from members of the group.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Alao-Akala, Wali pick nomination forms

By Henry Umoru

A

HEAD of November 29 Governorship Primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday stormed the National Secretariat of the party to purchase his expression of interest and nomination forms to return to the Oyo State government House in the 2015 Governorship election.

Speaking with Journalists shortly after he picked his forms, AlaoAkala who noted that the PDP lost out in the last election to the opposition because of internal wrangling, however vowed that the PDP was prepared to win the election in Oyo State.

Also yesterday, the immediate past Nigeria Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco and former Minister of National Planning Commission, Senator Abdallah Muhammed Wali was at the PDP national Secretariat to pick his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2015 Sokoto State governorship election.

Speaking with journalists after picking his forms, Senator Wali, who was accompanied by his supporters, described the government of Governor Aliyu Wamako Magatakarda as a failure, stressing that the state has remained backward in all sectors of the society Senator Wali explained that he was contesting the election because his people wanted him to govern them having consulted extensively with all stakeholders adding that Sokoto State was presently at the lowest level in terms of development in spite of its abundant human and mineral resources.

Also yesterday, a female Delta State governorship aspirant, Mrs Ndidi Abanum, who picked her forms to contest the Primary election, promised to make former militants Commissioners in her cabinet, just as she said she would bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in the state if elected as its governor in 2015.

2015: PDP gives Jonathan, govs one-week ultimatum to purchase forms Says no extension of Oct 30 deadline for sale of forms Grants waiver to returning, new members

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—AHEAD of the formal declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for his re-election bid for the 2015 Presidential election, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday gave the President and other aspirants vying for various elective positions, one week ultimatum to purchase their expression of interest and nomination forms, saying the party cannot go for a national convention to ratify someone who has not indicated interest to contest.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the Party ’s National Secretariat, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the October 30 closing date for the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms will not be extended beyond 6 pm on that date.

He said, “The NWC today (yesterday) decided that the issue of the closing date for the collection of the nomination forms cannot be extended. It will not be extended beyond 6 pm, of October 30th, no party member can obtain forms for our 2014 congress and convention after the deadline”.

Waiver for returning and new members Despite the adoption of President Jonathan by the National Executive Committee, NEC at its 66th Meeting as the party’s sole candidate for the 2015 Presidential election waiting for ratification at the party’s National Convention slated for December 6, the national leadership of PDP said that the leadership of the party also yesterday granted waiver to all its returning and new members to enable them contest for the Ward and three Ad-hoc delegates ahead of the ward and Adhoc congresses, with a promise to release the full list of other members who are contesting for Governorship, National Assembly elections today.

Metuh, who spoke to journalists after the weekly meeting of the National

COMMISSIONING: From left; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka; President Goodluck Jonathan; Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his Deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Mammud during the commissioning of Jigawa International Airport in Duste by the President on Tuesday.

Working Committee, NWC, said, “today, the National Working Committee has granted unconditional waivers to all returning and new members of the party who seek to participate in the Ward Delegate Primaries. Because it is an adhoc primaries, the NWC wishes to clarify that there is no requirement for party members to write to Ward Chair men or Local government Chairmen for waivers. All party members, new, and returning members are free to participate in the Ward Delegate Congress.

No extension of sales “The NWC today decided that the issue of the closing date for the collection of the nomination forms cannot be extended. It will not be extended, 6:pm, October 30, no party member can obtain forms for our 2014 congress and convention after the deadline, the last date is 30th of October and it will not be extended.

Party says no consensus at all levels “The NWC wishes to inform all our party members that the conduct of the primaries and the convention will be open and transparent, we will not tolerate any attempt to influence or interfere in that process, nobody will be selected, nobody will be adopted, no consensus, it will

be an open and transparent primary election at all levels.

“Waiver has been granted to all those who want to be delegates, but for all those who want to be in the House of Assembly, Senate, House of Representatives, Governorship, they will go through our process by applying for waivers. Today, the NWC has granted a lot of waivers, but because of the fact that more are going to apply tomorrow, we have not released it. After tomorrow, we will release the names of those who have been granted waiver to run or contest for the positions. “ “I want to state categorically that the NWC also informs Nigerians that the requirement for waiver does not apply to people who are board members occupying such committee positions.

“We are granting the waiver because we have noted that some chapters are planning to say that some people are either returning or they are new members and cannot contest to be delegates, but the issue of three-man delegate is an Adhoc one because immediately after the convention, national or local government delegate, upon the end of the congress, the delegate ceases.

“The waivers that the NWC is dealing with is the ones for House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship and Presidential. Those are the

waivers that we are looking at not the issue of delegates.

The Constitution of the party stipulates that there will be a national convention where decisions or memos from the National executives will either be approved or rejected and there is no way that you can go to a presidential election and say you are adopting or electing someone who has not bought form.

Jonathan to pay N22m for form “The October 30th for purchase of forms will not be extended and it is applicable to all candidates.”

It will be recalled that in the 39-page Election primary guidelines approved by NEC, President Jonathan, who is the sole candidate would pay a total of N 22 million to collect the Expression of Interest and nomination forms ahead of December 6 National Convention where he would formally emerge as the party’s candidate for the 2015 Presidential election According to the document, Expression of Interest Form Code PD002/P would go for N2 million which should be obtained from the PDP National Secretariat or such other places as may be designated by the National Executive Committee of the Party, just as the Nomination form Code PD003/ P would be purchased for N20 million, totalling N22 million.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 9

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT: Why NASS opted for LG autonomy — Ihedioha ...Labour set for nationwide strike over minimum wage removal from exclusive list ...Journey to truly entrench democracy in Nigeria has begun – Okafor, ALGON boss

By Clifford Ndujihe, Victor Ahiuma-Young, Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday explained that the National Assembly voted in favour of full administrative autonomy for Local government councils during the constitutional amendment exercise to protect the councils from abuses of state governments.

Ihedioha, who spoke when a delegation of parliamentarians from the National Assembly of Kenya paid him a courtesy call, said developments in the polity had shown that local governments were subject to abuse and usurpation by state governments, stressing that the practice needed to be corrected.

“The House carried out extensive alterations of the Constitution with respect to Local Governments,” he said, adding, “the House made it a full third tier of government complete with the structure, finance and its operations embedded in the Constitution itself.”

Ihedioha spoke on a day that the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, hailed the move as the beginning of the journey to entrench democracy in the grass-roots and the accompanying delivery of democracy dividends.

This came as the Organised Labour rejected the decision of the National Assembly to remove minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative exclusive list and asked workers to prepare for a nationwide strike.

Too much power at the centre — Ihedioha

Ihedioha regretted that political powers and resources were concentrated at the centre, saying it was responsible for the country’s stunted growth and development.

He observed that Nigeria’s past and present constitutions allocated more resources to the central government, leaving the federating units to bleed.

Ihedioha, who is the chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution said that the imbalances necessitated the amendment.

His words: “A perusal of the various constitutions of Nigeria since 1960 shows that the Exclusive List had constantly been increasing mainly as a result of military involvement in governance. Resources are concentrated at the centre, such that the Central Government takes

SEMINAR: From left; Mr Chukwujekwu Chukwudi, Retired FIFA referee; Mrs Omobola BabsAkinyeye, Director, Co-Curricular, Ministry of Education, Lagos State; Mr Jide Sipe, Manager, Media and Communication, GTBank and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman, Lagos Football Association at the GTBank-Lagos State Football Association Seminar 2014 held in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele. more than Fifty (50)’percent of allocation from the federation account. This state of affairs has created challenges of development at the constituent units where there are noticeable paucity of resources.”

According to him, the need to give more powers to the states was also one of the reasons certain items had been removed from the Exclusive list in the recent amendment to the 1999 constitution.

“Certain items have been moved from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list such as Railways, Stamp duties, Pension, Road Safety, Youth, Environment, Arbitration, whereas certain matters that are residual in nature like Health and Housing have been moved to the concurrent list. The idea is to devolve more power to the constituent units of the Federation,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Leader of the Kenyan delegation, Hon. Njoroge Baiya said they were in the country to learn from Nigeria’s legislative experience on constitution amendment and oversight functions among others.

LG autonomy is a welcome devt — Okafor

Reacting to the National Assembly decision, President of ALGON, Ozo Nwabueze Okafor, told Vanguard that it is welcome move that will accelerate development in the country.

His words: “It is a welcome development. The people of Nigeria now have the opportunity to hold local government administrators accountable for all their actions because there is no longer administrative hiccups and financial impediments to carry out their job. They will operate

without hindrance. We can now reach our councillors and chairmen.

“It is the beginning of the journey to truly entrench democracy in Nigeria. When we have a democratically elected councils that are independent and autonomous, the people will be the better for it because the councils are the closest government to the people.”

Organised Labour kicks

In relation, the Organised Labour is annoyed with the aspect of the amendment that removed minimum wage from the Exclusive list.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, at the Public Hearing by both the Senate and House of Representatives, warned that deregulation of the National Minimum Wage would create unprecedented industrial unrest in the country among other consequences.

Among affiliates of NLC that spoke against the move yesterday were the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN; National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE; National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, Steel and Engineering Workers Union; National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees; Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria; National Union of Banks, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, among others.

Reacting to the decision, umbrella body for senior civil servant in the country; the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN,

vowed to join other affiliates of the TUC and the NLC to down tools following the decision of the National Assembly to remove wage and other labour issues from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent list.

In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its President, Mr. Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary-General, Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal, the union called for total resistance to the federal lawmakers’ move to further impoverish Nigerian workers by outlawing the meagre National Minimum Wage, NMW, through the back door.

“We urge the trade union movement, civil society groups, religious leaders, royal fathers and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the National Assembly to reverse its decision to deregulate wages in the interest of peace in the country.

It is surprising that the National Assembly wants to complicate the security challenges in the country by inviting millions of Nigerian workers to take to the streets by its insensitive decision to deregulate wage,” they said.

ASCSN argued that the monthly take home of each federal lawmaker is about N30 million yet they are pained that Nigerian workers receive N18,000 monthly minimum wage, which is about $109 per month.

According to ASCSN, federal lawmakers are entitled to innumerable allowances such as hardship, furniture, wardrobe, recess, accommodation, utilities, domestic, entertainment, personal assistant, vehicle maintenance, leave and severance package, etc.

“It is also on record that the Nigerian Federal Lawmakers are the highest paid in the world earning more than the President of the United States of America.''

CBN denies funding Boko Haram

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has denied allegations that there are people using the bank to fund the extremist Boko Haram sect.

This was disclosed in a letter dated October 16, 2014 and addressed to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, on its request to provide information about alleged money laundering to Boko Haram through the bank.

It will be recalled that an Australian hostage negotiator, Mr. Stephen Davies had alleged that there are people within CBN top hierarchy using the bank to fund activities of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The CBN, in the reply to SEPRA said “In your letter you had requested from the CBN information about persons or office involved in alleged money laundering activities of the Boko Haram through the CBN; and information on the exact nature and duration of any such transactions.”

“We wish to inform you that after investigating the allegations across various Departments at the Bank that deal with payments, the bank could not find any information pertaining to persons involved in money laundering through the CBN to fund the activities of Boko Haram,” the bank said.

It added that CBN as banker to the Federal Government only maintains accounts for and on behalf of the government, its Ministries, Departments and Agencies; Deposit Money banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria and that it can only make payments on their behalf based on authorized mandates.

“Consequently, the CBN does not maintain or operate any accounts for individuals, officers or offices within the Bank. In conclusion, your organization may wish to note that the Bank maintains a robust AntiMoney Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism framework to prevent the use of its platform for financial crimes. Please, accept the assurances of the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.”

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

2015: Ambode declares at Onikan Stadium tomorrow

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A G O S — FRONTLINE governorship aspirant and former Accountant General of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, will tomorrow, formally declare his intention to seek the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress, APC. A statement from the campaign organisation of the politician who was the first to pick an Expression of Interest Nomination form towards the November 15, APC primaries, said that the declaration will take place at the Onikan Stadium at 10am. The organisation further noted that the declaration is coming on the heels of the endorsement that the Epe-born Ambode got from Islamic clerics, Tuesday in Lagos.

Lagos PDP gov aspirant promises power supply

By Ikenna Asomba

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A G O S — A governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, BOG, has promised to use his expertise to generate and distribute regular power supply for the economic empowerment of Lagosians if elected.

Speaking at an event organised by the Vanguard For a Better Lagos State, VFBLA, to honour him, Gbadamosi who affirmed that the state has a lot of human and economic potentials to achieve regular source of power supply for the benefit of the people.

Akiolu lauds Shasore

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AGOS—AHEAD of the 2015 general election, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I 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, is a true son of Lagos.

The monarch made the remark in Lagos at the launch of a book, titled: ‘Possessed’, authored by Shasore, chronicling the history of law and justice in the crown colony of Lagos(1861– 1906).

SYNAGOGUE: LASUTH completes collection

of DNA samples to identify victims zTesting billed for South Africa

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By Chioma Obinna

AGOS—THE Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, yesterday, said it had concluded the collection of DNA samples for identification of 115 victims of the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, in Ikotun area of Lagos.

LASUTH disclosed that at least 100 samples of relatives of victims have been collected for free DNA testing at its department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine.

South Africa where all the samples will be collected, adding that they had concluded the Nigerian leg of the investigation and were awaiting the results of the DNA samples sent to South Africa for analyses.

Oke said the state was not able to carry out the collection of samples here in Nigeria following the huge cost involved in bringing into the country two members of each family of the victims.

Free DNA testing

“There is a limit to what I can

tell you. The DNA is being done free not in Nigeria. Dana crash DNA testing was not done here but in the UK because we are just beginning to build capacity for it and it is going to take some time. ‘’But because 80 per cent of the victims were South Africans, for us to take specimen, we have to bring at least two relatives from South Africa to Nigeria. So the State decided to select a Laboratory in South Africa that is equally competent to do the DNA so that 80 per cent of the relations who are South Africans

can have their specimen taken.

“You have to fly them to Nigeria and fly them back to South Africa, you house them and then you do the test. Their Nigerian counterpart specimens have been taken and the same specimens have been taken to South Africa.

Post-mortem

The post-mortem has been conducted and the dental recognition process has been done, x-rays have been done where necessary and we are just waiting for the result to be out,” he explained.

Account of stewardship

Giving an account of its stewardship, the newly inaugurated Management Board of the hospital, led by the Chief Medical Director, Prof.

Adewale Oke, said they have concluded the collection of DNA samples, explaining that testing would be done as it was done in August 2012 and August 2013 for Dana Air and Associated Airlines plane crashes, respectively.

Oke who explained that 80 per cent of those who died in the Synagogue tragedy were South Africans said the Lagos State Government has made arrangement for the samples of their families to be collected in their country.

He added that already the State Government had arranged a DNA laboratory facility in

EBOLA: From left: Vice President of NLC, Comrade Isa Aremu, Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Hugo Ramos Nilanes, and Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, during a solidarity visit to the Cuban embassy for sending 256 Cuban professionals to work in Ebola affected countries of West Africa in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Lagos begins traffic impact analysis on Eko Atlantic City

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government has commenced traffic impact study on the Eko Atlantic City project and has completed the public transport system designed for the Victoria Island axis of the state.

The state government added that reconstruction of the Akin Adesola road, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, LCDA, would commence in the first week of November.

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the IruVictoria LCDA, which also had in

attendance the Managing Director of Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and the council chairman, Mr. Abayomi Daramola.

Opeifa said: “What is going on in Atlantic City at the moment is

construction of infrastructure. We are doing a detailed traffic impact studies on the Eko Atlantic City. For now, we believe that what we need is public transportation for the businesses in Victoria Island.

Vanguard gathered that the

state government two years ago yielded to the demands of the Victoria Island and Ikoyi Residents Association, VIRA, to halt the construction work until it completes the repair work on the Ozumba Mbadiwe road.

PUBLIC OWAN YOUTH ASSOCIATION

Owan Youth Association is a non-governmental, apolitical, non-violent organization nor a cult group. It’s an organization that is geared towards promoting love, unity, tranquility, oneness and protecting the general interest of all Owan Youths and her people.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1 To promote love among all Owan youths and watch out for the interest of one another.

2 To stand for all Owan citizens and promote equality amongst us as one people.

3 To promote peace, amongst all Owan people and fight for the right of Owan people.

4 To promote efficiency and effectiveness of all Owan youths in every area of life.

5 To support each other in Good and bad times.

EXECUTIVES: TRUSTEES: Com. Kenedy Onarimi - President Mr. Ayeni Monday - Chairman Mr. Agbonluai Stephen - Vice President Mr. lrekhe Benjamin - Vice Chairman Mr. Egeruan John - Secretary General Mr. Imoobe Glen - Secretary Hon. Oherein Sunday - Publicity Secretary Mr. Imona Joseph - Member Com. Ohilebo Moses - Chief Whip Com. Eboreimen Tunde - Member Com. lriaye Joseph - Treasurer

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

Signed: Secretary General

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 —11

Fayose shuts Speaker, others' fuel stations zI won't be intimidated—Ekiti Speaker

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By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—THE Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has said that not even the shutting down of his fuel station by the state government will make him abandon his political party, the All Progressives Party, APC. The state government had announced the closure of some filling stations in the state on Tuesday for allegedly constituting environmental hazard to the society.

Speaker reacts

Omirin who reacted to the closure through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Wole Olujobi, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said he had fulfilled all the necessary environmental laws before locating his filling station and got necessary approval, wondering why the governor is starting early in the day victimizing those who do not share his political leaning.

Omirin pointed out that intimidation and coercion will not force him to betray the people that voted him into office “Hon. Joseph Olugbemi had told me two days after the governor’s inauguration that he (the governor) had made up his mind to close my filling station over refusal to join PDP. Olugbemi defected to PDP on the day Governor Fayose was inaugurated.

“I had earlier told the governor that in the interest of Ekiti people, the House of Assembly would work with him to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people

of Ekiti State.

Calling the governor

“I called the governor to confirm what the honourable member told me about the plan to close my filling station.

He denied having such plans, swearing that he would not engage in victimization of his opponents. ‘’But only yesterday the governor ordered the closure of the filling station, citing environmental reasons,” the Speaker explained.

The Speaker said he had a background of political fidelity anchored on progressive democratic practice, adding that he would not abandon the principle in pursuit of selfish agenda diametrically opposed to the ethos of his political

belief.

He said the present atmosphere in the state does not call for high-handedness and persecution against perceived opponents, but a collective pursuit of common goals to deliver good governance to Ekiti people, stressing that attacks on the opponents, particularly the lawmakers, will only create conditions inimical to a cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislature necessary for smooth running of government.

Fayose dismisses allegation

But Fayose, who dismissed Omirin’s allegation through his Chief Press Secretary,

Idowu Adelusi, said: “What Omirin said is totally false, there is no iota of truth in it.

The essence of closing down those petrol stations is to ensure sanity and safety in the state capital.

“While some petrol stations were sited on public properties or residential areas, everybody knows the danger it can cause if there is fire outbreak which had happened in some towns before, leading to loss of lives and property. “ Even in Lagos State, you cannot just site petrol station anyhow. ”Omirin should have nothing to fear, because the Governor has nothing against him."

DINNER PARTY: From left: Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Deputy Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc., Dr. Tunde Ayeni, CON, Chairman, Skye Bank Plc., his wife, Abiola, and Mr. Timothy Oguntayo,GMD/CEO, Skye Bank Plc, at the dinner party organised by the bank for Dr. Ayeni who was recently conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of Niger, CON, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

MIMIKO: Mark c'ttee moves to reconcile

aggrieved Ondo PDP members

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By Dayo Johnson

KURE—THE Senate President, David Mark, leading the Reconciliation and Integration Committee working on agreeable resolution of the grey areas in the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met with the aggrieved parties yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that the meeting scheduled for Abuja held late in the night.

Governor Mimiko left Akure, the state capital yesterday, while the state Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi was also in Abuja for the meeting.

The meeting, according to source is at the instance of

President Goodluck Jonathan who directed the Senate President to look into the complaints of the PDP leaders.

Vanguard learnt that the

Committee is to iron out some grey areas identified by the state working committee of the party in the agreement entered into by leaders of the party with the governor.

Leaders of the party in the state had insisted that the agreement reached with the governor by their National leaders without their input on sharing of party positions was unacceptable to them.

Our Mechatronic Village, first of its kind in Nigeria—Aregbesola

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By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—GOVERNOR of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, disclosed that the state-of-theart mechanical facilities being put in place in the state for assemblage and repair of automobiles is the first of its kind in the country.

The Mechatronic Village, as it is called, situated in Esa-Oke

and nearing completion, has three computerised mechanical workshops for assembling and repair of various types of automobiles.

It was gathered that the kind of machine procured by the government is not only the best but also the latest in the world today.

Aregbesola said the era of shipping complex automobile from Nigeria abroad for

repairs will become a thing of the past with the establishment of the automechanic workshop in the state.

He made this known at a reception of the team of German trainers in Osogbo, the state capital, with the beneficiaries, Nigerian Automobile Technician Association, NATA, in attendance.

EBOLA: NMA calls for vigilance

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BADAN—THE Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant inspite of Monday’s certification of Nigeria as Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation.

WHO had declared Nigeria Ebola-free after the country had not recorded any new case of the disease for two incubation periods of 21 days.

But Dr Muideen Olatunji, the Chairman of the NMA in Oyo State, said in Ibadan that Nigerians should be cautious in jubilating over the new status of the country.

His words: “This is a period that all stakeholders should be at alert and improve on our health hygiene.

“We in the health sector should increase our surveillance of Ebola suspects. We should improve our active surveillance system and alert management system."

....As Amosun seeks review of burial process

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — OGUN State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has advocated a review of the cultural and religious burial procedures among the people of the state to curb the spread of Ebola Virus Disease.

The Governor said this at a health workshop on the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease, organized by the state Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT. Amosun who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, maintained that the measure was necessary to reduce the risk of spreading Ebola Virus Disease through infected corpses.

12 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

2015: Bayelsa CP warns against violence

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N AG OA — BAY E L S A State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchuckwu, has warned against acts capable of igniting violence and political assassinations, ahead of party primaries and the 2015 general elections.

The Commissioner of Police, who spoke at a meeting with leaders of political parties in the state, urged them to provide a level playing field for contestants and guard against inflammatory statements to avoid violence in the state.

Present at the meeting were the State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd); the Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr.Chris Alagoa and Chairman of the state chapter of Conference of Political Parties, CNPP, Mr.Lucky Akpeli, among others.

Addressing the leaders of the political parties, the commissioner said the political processes of the coming elections should not be a “do-or-die affair.”

He said: “There must be losers and winners. It is only when we are alive that we can contest elections. Political violence must not be

instigated. Election is not a game but a process and it must be credible. We must sustain our democracy by playing according to the rules. Lack of level playing ground, injustice and inflammatory statements will lead to political violence and political assassinations.”

The command, he warned, would not tolerate any breach of peace in the state.

In their remarks, Col. Inokoba (retd) and Mr.Alagoa,

commended the Police for the initiative and promised to contribute to the existing peace in the state.

Col. Inokoba said though the present PDP administration in the state had maintained peaceful disposition to good governance, the warning against possible violence should be handed to aspirants of other political parties.

He said: “Aspirants should be cautioned. Let them work

with the fear of God. Power belongs to God. If you don’t work with God, you will fail and pay dearly for it. We should not embark on anything that will lead to spilling of blood.”

Also speaking, representative of APC in the state, Chris Alagoa, assured that members of his party will play according to the rules of the game so as not to create confusion in the polity.

VISIT: From left: Mr. Sam Eyoboka, Religious Affairs Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Elder Emmanuel Obuh, Production Officer, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Brett Johnson, founder of Institute for Innovation Integration; Mr. Victor Gotevbe, Administration Manager, Vanguard Newspapers and Mr. Simon Peters, Secretary to the Chairman, Vanguard Newspapers, during Brett Johnson's visit to Vanguard Newspapers in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Ex-Lagos SWAN chair picks APC ticket for Edo Assembly

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—SPORTS journalist and former Lagos State chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr. Frank Ilaboya, was among aspirants of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State that picked expression of interest form to contest for the House of Assembly seat for Owan West Constituency.

Another journalist, the Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, also picked the expression of interest form to vie for the party’s ticket to the House of Representatives for Ovia Federal Constituency and declared that inadequate legislation amid poor representation in the National Assembly had crippled the huge oil benefits of the state.

According to Omo-Ojo, legislation is one aspect that is lacking in exploring the oilrich resources of the state. He said: "Accruals from oil wells that were criminally ceded to our neighbouring states” were under my effort as the Commissioner of Oil and Gas

then, recovered. It is on record that under my stewardship, we got some of those oil wells back that were ceded out of the state since 1984.”

Speaking after picking his expression of interest form, Ilaboya said he was in the race to correct the imbalance in the representation of his people in the state House of Assembly.

He said: “I want to be used as a vehicle to touch my

people. I also know that our people deserve a voice that can represent them very well.

I made an independent research on why people go into that place and seemed to be performing and so many things came up but the summary of that research is that there is always a big disconnect between the representative and the people.

So, I want to fill that gap and my five cardinal programmes

which I would unveil later were sourced from the research.”

On his part, former Edo State chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Philip Ugbodaga, said he was sure of getting the party ’s ticket as far as there was a level playing field for all aspirants.

Ugbodaga wants to get the party ’s ticket to represent Akoko-Edo Constituency II.

Obuh, sent by God to govern Delta —Emami

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—AHEAD of the 2015 governorship election in Delta State, convener of Delta United for Tony Obuh, Chief Ayiri Emami, has described Mr. Tony Chucks Obuh, as Godsent to govern the state.

Speaking during a meeting of the group at Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the State, Emami said the group had

been on ground for over three months, noting that the group was out to deliver Obuh for governor and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for President in 2015.

Insisting that his group would not be deterred by activities of detractors, he said Obuh had the capacity to build on the achievements of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

“Mr Tony Obuh will carry everybody and all interest

groups along,” he added.

Stressing the need for people to obey their leaders, Emami said President Jonathan had transformed the country into a construction site and should be voted for in 2015.

Similarly, Mr. Frank Omare, and Mr Daniel Mayuku, who also spoke at the meeting, urged the people to be honest and shun politics of blackmail.

They said ascending the state governorship position could only be attained in turns.

LG poll: Ebu community backs Edeni for councillorship

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HE people of Ebu in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have commended the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oshimili North LGA for endorsing Mr. Marvin Edeni as its flag bearer for the councillorship position in the forthcoming local government elections.

They promised to ensure his victory because of his track records and projects he single handedly executed for the community.

Edeni said: ”Let me tell you that the conditions necessary for development to take place have been missing in Ebu for a long time now and this is because we have people who lack the requisite knowledge for development and the love of the people in their hearts to make it happen.”

C-River LG politicians move to ensure Boki retains House of Reps seat

By Jacob Ajom

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HEAD of party primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State, a group of prominent politicians from Boki Local Government Area, in the state, has resolved to ensure that the area retained Boki/Ikom Federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

The group, operating on the platform of Friends of Ambassador Soni Abang, at a meeting at Orimekpang, resolved to ensure Boki retained the seat.

At the meeting presided over by Jacob Dakim, Mr John Abun of Kakwagom Irruan, moved the motion that Boki should do everything within its capacity to retain the House of Representatives’ seat.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Gov Uduaghan's 60th birthday thanksgiving service

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (celebrator) and his wife, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, during Governor Uduaghan's thanksgiving service, at First Baptist Church, Warri, yesterday.

Photos: Akpokona Omafuaire

Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama and his wife, Dr. Nelly.

From left, Governor Uduaghan, his wife, Roli; Toritseju Uduaghan (son), Orode Okpu (daughter), Makayla (grand daughter), and Ryan Okpu (in-law).

Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege (middle), on arrival at the event

From left, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia (right), President Deputy Speaker, Basil Ganagana and Chief Akpodiogaga Emeyese, member, Delta State House of Assembly.

Court of Appeal, and Chief Solomon Ogba.

Artistes performing on the occasion.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, celebrant.

From left, Deputy Governor, Amos Utuama; his wife, Nelly Utuama, Chief Olu Falae, and others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 15

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16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

IYC elects new leaders in Lagos

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HE IJAW Youth Council (IYC) Lagos chapter has elected new executive members to run the affairs of the organisation. The election, which took place at Oxford Hotel Lekki, Lagos was adjudged to be transparent by all aspirants and other stakeholders.

The officers elected were: Boma Johnbull, Chairman; Benjamin Offeh, Vice Chairman; Francis Gerry, Secretary; Tarelia Oliver, Asst. Secretary; Henry D. Oyobolo, Information Officer; Stella Joshua, Women Coordinator; Ebifaka Ngeri, Financial Secretary; Angel Bonny, Treasurer; Amangiya Amafina, Mobilization Officer and Oyinbrakemi Benson, Student Representative.

In a statement issued by the new Information Officer, Henry Oyobolo on behalf of the new chairman and the entire executives, the IYC, expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the National Executive Council led by the President, IYC worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eadiri and his deputy, Comrade Rasazk Amatoru.

While thanking Ijaw leaders who created time to attend the event or sent representatives, the new executives applauded the effort of the Lagos IYC Electoral Committee led by its Chairperson, Elaye Offeh; Powei peremini, Secretary and others including Comrade Moses Iko–Awail, Thomas Suku, Doubra Wasini, Dio Cyril and Ebi Whisky for a job well done..

Clamour for Delta North governorship slot upsets group

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI — DELTA State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Delta State, Chief Wilson Omene, has said Delta Central Senatorial District is upset over the clamour of the zone to produce the next governor of the state.

According to him, Delta North has never shown any compassion for other disadvantaged zones in the distribution of federal infrastructure and appointments.

Defending the position with statistics on perceived imbalance in the spread of federal infrastructure and appointments to Delta State in the past eight years, Chief Omene said “In the

last eight years, Delta Central has never seen such level of disdain in the handling of the political interest of the state. For the capital city development projects and infrastructures, we can hardly begrudge them because they are bound to be cited in state capital.

"The more offensive tone is that out of 23 key appointments to Delta, they have 18, leaving only four for South and Central. Even as they have the opportunity to be in the corridors of power, why could they not be magnanimous in ceding a near even quota to us in fairness? Those who are whipping the sentiments of

zoning are trying to deceive the people with the falsehood that the Governorship is an isolated human capital development from the other federal appointment including Central Bank Governorship and the rest.

“Our position is clear.

Having been neglected and treated with so much disdain

in this manner, we must use the only power we have, the majority advantage to take the Governorship. No one, least of all Delta North should begrudge Delta Central. They have never been fair and we will not bow to the sentiments of the North and their supporters.”

2015: Orubebe joins Delta gov race

By Chris Ochayi BUJA—FORMER Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, yesterday collected the expression of interest and nomination form to run for governorship position in Delta State, declaring that he was the most qualified and experienced man to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in May 29, 2015.

Orubebe, who spoke at the national swecretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after picking the form, said: “God has deposited a lot of knowledge in me and that is what I want to deposit in Delta State.”

According to him, “the advantages I have over other contestants are that I am a grassroot politician and I am an experienced man. I’m a

A

man with experience and experience is something you cannot buy. I am a born politician.”

The erstwhile councillor and local government chairman in the state immediately took the form to the Living Faith Church, located at Jahi in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for “one hour with the Lord” where he praised and thanked God. At the church service, he said the essence was to commit the new journey unto God who had given him the backing.

NOMINATION: From left, Hon Bethel Amadi, receiving the nomination form from National Organizing Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, at PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Urhobo media owners pass confidence vote on Utuama, others

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of

EDIA OWNERS under the umbrella Urhobo Media

Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Senator representing Delta Central District, Olorogun Otega E m e r h o r a n d Chief operations.

Emmanuel Ighomena, “The Royal Salt Nigeria Limited stands out as the D e l t a S t a t e D e p u t y most active company in Chairman of Peoples supporting the task force Democratic Party, PDP, within the community and for what they termed great as I speak, no other t h e i r company has surpassed developmental strides their various their gesture in this i n communities and the regard,” Evoh stated.

Practitioners Forum, UMPF, have passed vote of confidence in the Deputy

Firm donates patrol van to joint Police, Customs task force and check the situation.

Speaking shortly after the presentation ORRIED BY the traffic gridlock of the patrol van to the Commissioner of on Apapa-Oshodi expressway, a Police, Ports Authority Police Command firm, the Royal Salt Nigeria Limited, has (Western), Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, in empowered the joint traffic control task company of the CAC, KLT Command, force of the Nigeria Customs Service, and General Manager of the company, Mr. the Police at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT, Joslin Couthinh, said the van was donated with a patrol van to enable them monitor to the task force to reduce traffic gridlock along the access road, as well as boost policing in and around Kirikiri area.

Reacting to the

By Simon Ebegbulem Ihimekpen, who also de- development, Customs clared that it would be sac- Area Controller, KLT ENIN CITY — rilegious to give preferen- command, Comptroller CRISIS is looming tial treatment to some as- Frances Enwereuzor, in the Peoples Democratic pirants of the party who re- lauded the company for the Party, PDP, in Edo State as cently defected to the PDP, gesture and called on other some leaders of the party, insisted that those who re- companies to emulate yesterday, discredited the cently defected must be same. screening committee set up treated as prodigals.

He said: “This is an by the party in Edo South He also said the party historic day because when senatorial district, saying it believed strongly in zoning I came to KLT, there was no was an attempt by some and warned that those task force in place and as a leaders to impose their trying to abandon the result of the traffic situation stooges as candidates of zoning arrangement in Edo on the bridge, we had to set the party.

Central senatorial district of up the task force.

A chieftain of the party in the state did not mean well “I know the importance the state, Okharedia for the party. of synergy between inter

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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Crisis brews in Edo PDP over screening

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agencies and it is yielding results as we speak. My message to other companies at KLT is to be part of the progress, they should know that something good has happened today.”

The Commissioner of Police in charge of Western Ports, Mrs. Hilda Harrison, lauded the KLT controller of customs for her effort to set up the task force, saying such innovations would help move the maritime sector to an enviable height.

She added that the vehicle donated to the task force will go a long way in addressing some of the anomalies within the port environment.

On his part, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of KLT, Mr. Akpole Evoh, assured that as head of the task force, stakeholders had confirmed their efficiency of its

Group condemns TAN

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GROUP, Activists for Good Governance, AGG, has condemned the activities of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, for their "recklessness and profligacy in their campaigns amidst poverty and under-development in Nigeria."

At a press conference recently, leader of the group, Declan Ihekaire, said, his group was "completely non-partisan in political and labour matters.

We are not supporting any political party in Nigeria.

All we are asking for is justice, good governance and responsibility to the electorate."

He condemned the reckless display of TAN that they had much to spend to win the presidency at all costs.

He revealed how TAN invited all nong o v e r n m e n t a l organizations, NGOs, to Abuja,, ostensibly to "buy their endorsements for Jonathan.

"I was there as a mole at the meeting," he said

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 17

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IKE other Nigerians, I was taken by surprise when news broke last week that the Nigerian government had reached a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram. The announcement was swiftly followed by the Chief of Defence Staff's directive to all troops to stop engagement with Boko Haram.

It became even more curious when I heard the interview that President Goodluck Jonathan's Private Secretary and Chief Negotiator, Hassan Tukur, gave to the BBC's FOCUS ON AFRICA programme.

Tukur sounded optimistic that they had achieved a breakthrough, underlining that by saying the people he negotiated with had forewarned about the releases of the hostages freed in Cameroun early last week; therefore the government had no reason to disbelieve their negotiation counterparts.

The most important element of the riddle was that Boko Haram had allegedly agreed to release the Chibok Girls who have stayed six months in captivity. That delighted me as every other Nigerian. Yet, I was as apprehensive as every other person. What if the government

President Jonathan, where is the ceasefire with Boko Haram? had been conned? And too many forces have "invested" heavily and reaped abundantly from the fiveyear old insurgency!

Twenty four hours later we received a riposte as Boko Haram elements continued their spates of killings in Borno. To underline the gloom, Borno Elders came out publicly to say that they didn't believe that the government team negotiated with the right people.

As I write these lines, Nigerian soldiers are continuing engagements with Boko Haram, thus putting to naught the

ceasefire announced by the Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Barde. It is also instructive that the Federal Government has continued its "negotiation process", without involving the governments of Borno and Yobe states.

Yet President Jonathan needs to deliver on his ceasefire (or what Adamu Adamu once called "seize" fire, in the different setting of conflict in the Gaza Strip), because inability to achieve freedom for the 219 Chibok Girls, will cast a dangerous political pall on his 2015 re-election campaign. And

for President Goodluck Jonathan and his handlers, the most important issue at hand is to hit the campaign trail for 2015. Yes, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), blessed with the ample presence of Anyim Pius Anyim and other Jonathan hangers-on are doing a good job campaigning and keep President Jonathan in the minds of the Nigerian electorate. The truth however is that the momentum will gather pace if President Jonathan can deliver an effective ceasefire and freedom for the

Chibok Girls. The cynical exploitation of freedom for the Chibok Girls is a central plank of the political agenda of the Goodluck campaign. In the euphoria that is expected to follow such a release, President Jonathan will be painted as the ultimate patriot who got the job done!

The prevarications and irresponsible denial following the kidnap of the girls will hopefully have been forgotten, by a Nigeria that seems ever shallow in its ability to recollect or make the necessary interconnectedness in social and political phenomena.

That is why the apparent unraveling of the process that Marshal Alex Barde and Hassan Tukur so effusively announced a week ago, is not very good for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign.

Mister President, what happened to the ceasefire (who "seized" your fire please?) and may you please hasten to #FREEOURGIRLS? This is their sixth month in captivity Mister President, Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria's Armed Forces, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. And political time is running out!

General Yakubu Gowon: Officer and gentleman @80

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MET General Yakubu Nigeria, I met General Gowon Gowon for the first time in again at the Abidjan airport. This 2005. The setting was Bamako, time he asked of the whereabouts the Malian capital. I was covering of Yakubu AbdulAzeez, famous the meeting of the African former editor of the NIGERIAN Statesmen Initiative, a forum of HERALD newspaper in Ilorin, at ex-African Heads of State, which the height of its glory in the 1970s. brought several old African He was very sad to learn that he leaders together in the setting of had died and he then told me a lovely hotel close to the River that AbdulAzeez was on his Niger. When I told him I was a entourage to Kampala for the reporter from Nigeria, his face lit fateful OAU Summit that up in delight and throughout the provided the basis for his conference he was readily overthrew in July 1975. Gowon available for a conversation, in his said Yakubu AbdulAzeez had typically polite and friendly broken down sobbing when the manner. The Darfur crisis was on news broke from Nigeria that he the front burner and I was very had been overthrown but he was much interested in getting the surprised to read AbdulAzeez's former Sudanese Prime Minister, report that he (Gowon) had cried!

Sadig El-Mahdi to give me an He was still looking for the interview on that hot subject; but opportunity to correct the report he was not keen and all entreaties with AbdulAzeez, but that was never to be. Our last for a couple of minutes encounter was in 2010, away from the Bamako in Conakry, Guinea. He initiative failed to was heading the Carter impress him. I was Center's Observation becoming fairly Mission for the desperate and just as I Guinean Presidential was becoming elections. I was despondent, General covering for DAILY Yakubu Gowon came by TRUST. He was as and greeted me; I saw charming, decent and my opportunity. I told welcoming as ever him that I had sought during the rounds of without success an visit to polling districts interview with the around Guinea and at former Sudanese Prime the dinner party hosted Minister. Darfur was the by the Nigerian most important issue on Ambassador. the African plate and our But General Yakubu readers would very G o w o n much love to read his On loomed so large on the views. General Gowon of promised to convince balance, as consciousness Sadig El-Mahdi and he the decades Nigerians of my generation as the Head did! I got a most illuminating interview have passed, of State during the Civil War, 1967-1970. The on several issues General of: Go-On-Witharound Sudanese Gowon has slogan One-Nigeria politics and history. The material was later continued to (GOWON) was very real for us because the published inside live a very war conditioned lives all WEEKLY TRUST. through those tragic On our way back to modest life

years. And as a ten year old in 1970, the end of the war was one period that seemed to have spiked a generous level of enthusiasm and patriotism amongst us all. I was very active in the Boys Scout Movement, in the 6th Ilorin Troop. At the end of the war, General Yakubu Gowon went on a nationwide tour. He seemed more popular than ever; and those of us in the scouting movement were at the Ilorin Railway Station as part of a Guard of Honour and a few days later, a few of us were drafted to arrange the tables at the Government House for the State Banquet in honour of the visiting Head of State! It is remarkable that Gowon was overthrown 39 years ago; there was along list of accusations against his regime and the coup which removed him from power

had been wildly celebrated. Yet, given all that Nigeria has gone through since his exit, we can look back and behold the decency of leadership; a more patriotic exertion by rulers and much lower levels of corruption than what we now have in Nigeria.

Today, theft, heist and monumental corruption have become fundamental objectives and directive principles of state.

When we look at the states today, there are ex-governors who have become richer than the states they governed while the Nigerian state lies prostrate and enfeebled as a result of its serial rape by a predatory clan of bandit rulers.

The Gowon period saw some of the most important development initiatives Nigeria witnessed and the draw back was that the period didn't achieve as much as it

possibly could. On balance, as the decades have passed, General Gowon has continued to live a very modest life; there are no scandals around him and his family has never been intrusive in our lives. He exemplified the background that he came out of, from the Barewa College in Zaria and the old values which bound communities and individuals together in the old Northern Nigeria. I think General Yakubu Gowon is the quintessential officer and gentleman who gave his very best in service to his fatherland. His humane leadership of the Nigerian Civil War and equally patriotic management of the aftermath have ensured his place in Nigerian history. Happy 80th birthday to General Yakubu Gowon!

Wanted urgently in all Federal varsities: A faculty of stomach infrastructure

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IGERIA must thank the Political Scientist, Jibo Ibrahim, for his original contribution to our understanding of the intricacies of Nigerian political culture. This is because it was Jibo that coined the term "Stomach Infrastructure", to help us understand the monumental victory that Ayo Fayose scored in the Ekiti state governorship election. Fayose wiped out the incumbent in all the 16 LGAs of Ekiti. Since Jibo's "invention", the term has taken a life of its own in Nigeria. Last week, Governor Ayo Fayose proudly owned the term and to show seriousness, he announced and actually appointed a Special Assistant on Stomach Infrastructure. That is expected to be replicated in all the LGAs and the brand new governor told his jubilant supporters at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado

Ekiti, that their chickens were fattening and bags of rice will be ready for Christmas, for: "STOMACH INFRA…" and the jubilant crowd added: "…STRUCTURE"!

On the wings of the success of this vote winning slogan and praxis, I want to patriotically urge President Goodluck Jonathan; PDP Chairman Adamu Mu'azu; Party Fossil and Enforcer-inChief, Tony Anenih, to consider directing ALL the new Federal Universities that President Jonathan "dashed" Nigeria, from Otuoke, through Lokoja to Dutse and beyond, to URGENTLY introduce a FACULTY OF S T O M A C H INFRASTRUCTURE with immediate effect. Professorial chairs can be swiftly endowed to consolidate STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE as a component part of the Transformation Agenda.

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Adesina should also get a remit to include S T O M A C H INFRASTRUCTURE in the successor programme to OFN and GREEN REVOLUTION, which was launched this week inside Aso Villa. These are moments of triumphalism in Nigeria; we have been certified free of Ebola by WHO; and we can even EXPORT STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE around Africa and the whole world, the way that Aliko Dangote is exporting cement plants! Those who cannot see the good coming out of Nigeria should please give themselves the pause; S T O M A C H INFRASTRUCTURE is the MOST POTENT invention of Africa's biggest vote-rigging contraption (SORRY PLEASE!), Africa's biggest political party, the PDP! Governor Ayo Fayose move over and take a bow!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 NIGERIA is populated by leaders. We probably have more leaders than the led.

Everywhere you turn, there is a leader, where he leads, and his ideas of leadership do not seem to be issues that bother the people.

Leader is the buzz word for anyone who seems to wield influence, mostly imaginary.

Admitted that fairness is alien to our politicians, we should be fair, by asking them questions about our future which is rarely captured in the bogus promises they are making about 2015.

It is the season of promises. Most of them are rehashes of fabulous promises that have been made since 1999, copied from faded copies of 1979 manifestoes and regurgitated to digital relevance for a people, who can really say they have seen it all.

From all sides it is the same. The bigger the promises, the bigger the befuddlement of the electorates – politicians have held them captive.

We have promises from all sides. Without an appraisal of what others have done, all those who want power are on a campaign to prove that Nigeria had been badly managed.

Ques tion F or Our Question For Leaders Now they remember the people. Politics is about the people they keep telling us, especially at times like these when they want the people to vote for the next round of the invasion of our resources.

What roles have the same politicians who want our votes played in our lives since 1999? When last did they bother about our lives? Are they telling us anything new?

What proof, from their performances, do they have to support their promises?

If national concerns are the welfare of the people, how have our governments applied Section 14 2 (b) of the

1999Constitution to their actions?

According to the section, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

Concerned politicians should know they have ignored the people for too long.

As if they have not done enough damage, they are determined to shut down the chances of the peoples’ participation in their government, contrary to Section 14 2 (c), which states, “The participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

The indifferent position of governments, not only in Abuja, to Section14 2(b) is responsible for democratic governments that have become government of the people “ without the people”. Things are getting worse. Politicians through their actions distance the people further from their governments each election season.

Our people should realise that token politics for votes, is not only insulting to their dignity but is the ticket politicians require to appropriate our country to themselves at the people’s expense.

OPINION

By UCHE NWADIALOR

Delta: Who settles for the crumbs

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myriads of posters conspicuously pasted not only in unauthorised premises but also at a time when posters were not supposed to be seen. In addition, its unbelievable that uptill the moment of this write-up there is no indication that the political leaders from the three ethnic components of the Delta North senatorial district have initiated at any point in time efforts at ensuring the continuation of the power which the centre and the south had passionately shifted to it in an amicable, peaceful and equitable manner.

Recall that during the first and second tenures of Senator Patrick Osakwe, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who has remained a powerful instrument as chairman of the senator committee on health in the on-going Nationwide federal government transformation in the health sector , played a pivotal role as manager of the Osakwe campaign organization. It was during this that the Ndokwa people promised to relinquish political power to Ika or to Aniocha-Oshumili after senator Osakwe’s trenure. This is an example of the type of political spirit of give and take being canvassed by this writer. When eventually Senator Okowa indicated his interest to run for the Senate after Senator Osakwe’s two tenures, the people of Ndokwa

T would appear that the dust is gradually settling down over which of the three senatorial districts in Delta State will attract the coveted apex political office in the state. Also noteworthy is the drop in the number of aspirants gunning for the gubernatorial seat of the State from the Delta North senatorial district compared with the dearth of aspirants from the Central, and even the senatorial district of the incumbent Governor. Indeed, majority of political office seekers from the Central and Southern zones seem to have nodded to the robust supplications of their brothers and sisters in the North in time with the conventional principles of power shift advocated by the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, since the birth of the foremost oil-rich Delta State, 23 years ago.

However, what baffles political pundits is that in spite of the magnanimity being demonstrated by the relatively more politically conscious Urhobo, itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko Nationalities in this knotty political decision, it seems that there is no corresponding spirit of give and take among the beneficiaries in the North. Apart from the flagrant violation of the electoral regulations exhibited through the

federal constituency pushed forward their leader and son under the auspices of the mouth piece of rural dwellers led by this writer to reciprocate Dr Okowa’s political magnanimity honorably withdrawing from the race which he did as a listening leader. This writer went further to publish an article in the Pointer newspaper titled "The battle for the Delta North senatorial district" in which I appealed rather vehemently to all political aspirants of Ndokwa extraction at that time to step down for Senator Okowa as any contractor action “would be tantamount to an in-ordinate political ambition’. Perhaps such aspirants could as well have been conspiring to subject the Ika political elite to the statues of perpetual crumb pickers.

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s of now, there is at least one or two aspirants for the gubernatorial seat from each of the three federal constituency of Delta North Senatorial District. How many of us, including the aspirants themselves, have paused to take a stock of the history of the pattern of political power in that district ranging from senatorial positions to ministerial appointment, Deputy Governor's office, extra-ministerial and Judicial appointment as well as

the general authoritative allocation of resources or dividends of democracy in the area.

The conventional principle of second tenure has become institutionalised in the organisation of most African political parties, hence the likes of President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Ossai N. Ossai of Ndokwa Federal Constituency and Comrade Friday Osanebi of Ndokwa East House of Assembly of Delta State, deserve their second tenure also by virtue of their performances.

Going by speculations filtering from the political vineyard of Delta State, one of the most popular gubernatorial aspirants may have been discouraged to abandon his second tenure to enable another Federal constituency to take the slot leaving the third Federal constituency to remain the perpetual political crumb picker. This conspiracy is equally facing an uphill risk of hatching a still chicken due to the perceived obsession of the core Delta people with the oil-rich perpetual crumb picker whose household includes the Urhobos, the Ijaws, the Isokos, and even the Iweres.

•Nwadialor, a former member of the House of Assembly, wrote from Asaba

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014— 19

, Another Boko Haram decoy?

A S a commentator on un folding daily events, I strive to keep within issues before they are overtaken by new developments. I gauge an issue, write, then pray to come out before something new takes away the interest of the reading public. But this time, I am making an exception. I am praying that as you read this article, it would have been overtaken by events.

I pray that the much trumpeted news of a truce with the Boko Haram Islamist insurgents holds true. I pray by now, the 219 Chibok girls still in the custody of these bloodthirsty anarchists would have been released to the warm embrace of the Federal Government for onward transfer to specialist health centres where they will be evaluated and treated for any health issues arising from their over six months of traumatic stay in the den of their captors.

I don’t care if the Federal Government and the ruling Peoples

Democratic Party will be rejoicing for pulling off a major political coup. It is no skin off my nose if Dr Oby Ezekwesili and her #Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, campaigners will be in radio and television stations or all over the Internet claiming to be responsible for the pressure that resulted in the rescue. It is none of my business if the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, will claim it was their members in the BBOG, as its chieftain, Mr Audu Ogbe publicly disclosed recently in Abuja, pushed President Goodluck Jonathan’s hand to get the girls out of bondage.

The eventual rescue of the Chibok girls, if it does happen, will be a political buffet. There will be enough for everyone to eat and even take home.

Apart from that, I am also hoping that by now, the Boko Haram fighters will be handing over their weapons in their hundreds or thousands, while the innocent civilians displaced from their villages will be free to return home

I want Boko Haram to beg to surrender and accept amnesty at our terms; we want the conflict to end in such a way that no one will ever think of exploding a suicide bomb in any corner of Nigeria

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or whatever remains of them. I will like it to be like January 14, 1970 when soldiers came into our bush villages. They were welldressed soldiers, looking very well fed, but bearing no arms. Some of them had tribal marks of various scarific definitions totally alien to those of people of the East.

So, they were Nigerian soldiers, the enemy forces who had now ceased to be enemies. They were very friendly and even patted the heads of those of us who were kids.

But I know better than to indulge in such a daydream. The enemy in Boko Haram is unlike the “enemy” in the federal soldiers after the war was declared over. They have proved to be cowardly, devious, cunning and dead-

ly. On more than two occasions in the past three years, they “offered” ceasefire. The Federal Government swallowed it hook,line and sinker and got itself ridiculed. They cooked up another sly strategy. Wearing army uniforms, they strolled into an unguarded girls’ boarding school at night, summoned them and informed them they were being taken to “safety” from Boko Haram who planned to attack them. The girls swallowed this hook, line and sinker and found themselves in a grim adventure that is better read in novels than actually experienced.

When the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badey (CFR) last Friday gleefully went on air to announce an “agreement” for a ceasefire in the war between our armed forces and Boko Haram, most of us were stunned. Our shock was not only because Boko Haram offered the ceasefire without the slightest inkling of any ongoing negotiations. It was not only the sheer eagerness of the Air Chief and the Federal Government to grab the “offer ” as if their lives depended on it, but also the speed with which our troops were told to halt further operations.

Up till the moment of putting up this article, the Federal Government was still full of hope that the truce-breaking insurgents would follow through with their promises and release the girls with a tone that suggested it was imminent. This was in spite of the

reported continued attacks on villages and settlements in Borno and Adamawa States killing about 25 people, some of who were rejoicing over the ‘truce”.

I am sad that the Federal Government and the Nigeria Armed Forces have continued to approach the insurgents as though we are the underdogs while the Boko Haram is the more formidable side. We are too eager to jump at any purported sign of “leniency” by the insurgents. We are beggarly in our yearning for Boko Haram to give us peace. We are putting ourselves in a position for these wild animals to dictate conditions to us. This is not the Federal Government and the Nigerian Armed Forces that I am familiar with.

I want us to return to our true elements and put on the character that led to the end of the civil war and the Niger Delta militancy. There were unconditional surrenders of the rebels (or whatever you called them). I want Boko Haram to beg to surrender and accept amnesty at our terms. We want the conflict to end in such a way that no one will ever think of exploding a suicide bomb in any corner of Nigeria because when Boko Haram did it, they and their sponsors suffered consequences no one wants to face ever again.

Total military victory over Boko Haram will bring lasting peace.

Anything short of this will only bring uncertainty. There will be permanent fear of Boko Haram “ex-militants” and their local and foreign sponsors. We do not want the peace of the graveyard.

Ebola as grand conspiracy against Africa

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ANGEROUS ignorance is more world of manufacturing the Ebola outbreak dangerous than dangerous knowl- in a scheme to use Africa as a testing edge. As his eyes open up, the African is ground for bio-weapons.

Scientists agree essentially that deadly bound to be enraged. Has anyone ever stopped to think of the agony of a people diseases like Ebola and HIV/AIDS are biowho are victimized in every sphere of life; weapons that are being tested on Africans a people who are dying daily out of no and also being used as a check on Africa’s population. Incidentally, Liberia currently fault of theirs?

Listen to the people who distrust their has the continent’s fastest growing hospitals; these are otherwise very loving population. Admittedly, to be opposed to people who can no longer shake hands technology in today’s world would with, and hug, their relatives and friends; tantamount to self-hatred. But the White and people who suddenly must resort to man’s inhumanity to the Black is also not hosting members of their elite clubs with an act of God. The Liberian Observer points out that stock-fish or “eja shokotoyokoto” (iced fish) instead of the delicacies of antelope and Ebola has long been recognized as a Geporcupine meat, which they once enjoyed, netically Modified Organism, GMO. In his work, Emerging Viruses: AIDS and Ebola all for fear of Ebola!

Listen to people whose rights – Nature, Accident or Intentional, of passage to foreign lands must Horowitz (1998) was most be totally abridged and if they unambiguous: “The discussion in must pass, they must be thorthe early 1970s made it obvious that oughly screened, sometimes the war was between countries that beyond their under-pants, before hosted the KGB and the CIA, and being thrown into quarantine the manufacture of AIDS-like without any explanation – with viruses was clearly directed at the the accompanying life stigma – other… He had confirmed the all because of their skin existence of an American-Medicalpigmentation or the accident of Industry that conducts biological geography! weapons tests under the guise of Suppose in this state of administering vaccinations to melancholy, you are told that the control diseases and improve the so-called Ebola virus is manhealth of Black Africans overseas”. induced? And suddenly signs Ebola has a terrible history and begin to emerge that the mosttesting has been secretly taking dreaded viruses in the world place in Africa. Dr. Horowitz today – Ebola and HIV/AIDS – The use confirms further: “The pathological may be another grand conspiracy description of what was found in against the Black race. Recently, of Africans animals killed by the Ebola virus is the Liberian Daily Observer, the as guinea what the virus has been doing to largest newspaper in Liberia, pigs must citizens of Guinea, Sierra Leone and featured an eye opener in its front Liberia in its most recent outbreak: page in an article titled “Ebola, stop Ebola virus destroys peoples’ AIDS Manufactured by Western internal organs and the body forthwith!

Pharmaceuticals, US DOD?” deteriorates rapidly after death. It The article accused the Western softens and the tissues turn into jelly,

even if it is refrigerated to keep it cold.

Spontaneous liquefaction is what happens to the body of people killed by the Ebola virus! The 1976 Ebola incident in Zaire, during President Mobutu Sese Seko, was the introduction of the GMO to Africa”.

Over the years, sites around Africa, particularly West Africa, have been set up for testing emerging diseases, especially Ebola. In this case of international conspiracy against Africa, the suspects are many: The World Health Organisation, WHO, and other UN Agencies; the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, USAMRIID; Tublane University, New Orleans, USA; The US Centre for Disease Control, CDC; Doctors without Borders (in French, Medicins Sans Frontiers); Tekmira, a Canadian Pharmaceutical Company; the UK GlaxoSmithKline; and the Kenema Government Hospital, Sierra Leone.

The charges against them have been carefully documented by the Liberian Observer publication: The WHO and other UN agencies have been implicated in selecting and enticing African countries to participate in the testing events, promoting pretentious vaccinations, while pursuing various testing regiments.

Reports narrate stories of the US Department of Defence, DOD, funding Ebola trials on humans, trials that started a few weeks before the Ebola outbreak in Guinea and Sierra Leone. The reports state that DOD gave a contract worth $140 million to Tekmira to conduct Ebola Research. The research work here involved injecting and infusing healthy humans with the deadly Ebola virus.

Perhaps still more disturbing, is the conclusion in the report that US Government has a viral fever bioterrorism research laboratory in Kenema, a town at the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Tublane University has won research grants, including a grant of more than $7 million from the National Institute of Health, NIH, to fund research with the Lassa viral hemorrhagic fever.

The US, Canada, France and the UK are all implicated in the detestable and diabolical deeds involved in the Ebola tests.

African leaders must now wake up. It is no longer enough for them to perform the annual ritual of going to the UN General Assembly to blow hot air and enunciate useless policies, policies that tend towards apologia for grants and aids.

Rather, they must situate issues where they truly belong. The Western nations must know that the diseases for which they stigmatize Africans are theirs to own and theirs to pay for. They must pay, and pay through the nose! The African continent can no longer be relegated to the locality for the disposal and deposition of hazardous chemicals, dangerous drugs and toxic wastes. The Western countries must look for other areas for their chemicals and biological agents of emerging diseases.

The use of Africans as guinea pigs must stop forthwith! This is a heinous crime, crime against humanity, for which African and other humane world leaders must press criminal charges, to be followed by commensurate affirmative action in protecting the developing countries.

20 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Tough time for taxi drivers as FCT task force intensifies raids

*The SUV which was hit by a taxi cab following the raid

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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RAGEDY was averted at the weekend when officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, raided Area 1 Shopping Complex in Abuja, creating panic and confusion in the area. Among those counting their losses on account of the incident is the owner of a red sports utility vehicle, SUV, which was parked by the shopping complex. The car was damaged when a taxi cab rammed into it as the cab driver was trying to make a quick get away from the scene.

Supposed taxi park Vanguard Metro, VM, which witnessed the incident was taken aback as others present when the NIS pickup car made a sudden stop near the supposed taxi park with six taxi cabs parked at the Loading Areas: 2, 3 and 10. And almost immediately some officials in uniform and mufti alighted from the pick-up and headed for the taxi cabs waiting to pick passengers.

They promptly impounded two of the taxi cabs and thereafter crammed themselves inside. While this was going on, the drivers of other taxi cabs quickly dived into their own cars and zoomed off. But one of them who tried to prevent an Immigration official from entering his taxi had the screen of the car shattered. It was while he was trying to reverse and manoeuvre his cab out of the place that it hit the red SUV car whose driver and a companion seated beside him luckily escaped

unhurt.

The owner of the SUV, Mallam Ibrahim Garba who was apparently dazed by the impact came out of his seriously damaged car without saying a word. But 20 minutes after, he was approached by a taskforce official in army uniform who pleaded with him to go to Area 1 under bridge apparently for a chat with the team’s leader on how to address the issue of the damaged vehicle.

An hour later when VM called Mallam Garba to ask if the issue haD been resolved, it was gathered that the team leader would want Mallam Garba to hold on till the escaped taxi driver was apprehended.

When VM called NIS Public

Where do they want us to stop and pick passengers?

There is no park provided for us.

What else do they want us to live on?

Relations Officer, CPP Emeka Obua, to ask him why NIS had to raid an alleged illegal parking lot, he confirmed that Immigration officers are part of a task force set up by the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, adding that it was not out of place to see some of their officers among the task force team.

Obua also cited an instance when he was harassed by one of their officials who ordered him to move his car from a particular spot not knowing who he was until he identified himself, adding that nevertheless, he obeyed and moved his car away from that spot.

The Secretary of Taxi Cab Branch near the Complex, Abdulrahman Ali, who was at a loss over the invasion said the Area 1 under bridge team gave them the permission to stop and pick passengers on the walkway of the road rather than doing that on the road and causing traffic obstruction in the process.

Ali told VM thus: “Madam, I honestly do not understand what just happened. Before now they used to harass us when our members stop by the road side to pick passengers. We then went to the head of the team under the bridge and spoke to them, he told us that taxis could not continue to stop and pick passengers on the road, but said he rather preferred we moved to the walkway, and that we have adhered to”.

A taxi driver, Salisu Sunday, said they are tired of being harassed by the task force officials. “Where do they want us to stop and pick passengers?

There is no park provided for us. What else do they want us to live on?” he asked no one in particular rather helplessly.

Bad roads: Who’s to blame?

BY EBELE ORAKPO

B

UT I don’t understand human beings! How can the people doing business in this area not repair the road for their own comfort? If I say I no tire for them, I dey lie,” commented Christy, a commuter in the Mile-2 bound bus as the driver tried to avoid one pothole after another along the Ajangbadi – Ojo Alaba International Market road.

“They are waiting for government to do it nah!” replied Pete.

“That doesn’t make sense. Who is feeling the pains? How many government officials use this road? They are all in highbrow areas. This area is for the masses,” said Christy.

“It’s government’s job to repair the roads. Do you realise how much government makes from these businesses here?

These traders pay all sorts of levy to both state and local governments and what do they get in return? At least, the government should reciprocate by repairing this road for them, but no, they would rather share the money,” said Chidi.

Anything normal?

“Left to the business people here, they would have done it because the bad road shortens the lifespan of their vehicles; so it would be in their best interest to contribute money and do the road, but there is a problem.

The problem is that government will not allow them to do it,” said Kenny.

“Are you kidding me?

How can you say a thing like that? Somebody is trying to help you do your job so you will have enough money to do other things and you are saying no? Is that normal?” asked Pete.

Replied Kenny: “Is anything normal in Nigeria? Is it our politicians that are normal? “ Said Chidi: “You better believe it. It’s true. I remember a church really begging the local government before they were allowed to repair the road to the church. At

that time, I couldn’t understand it but later, I understood their warped reasoning.”

“And what was the reason?” asked Pete, to which Chidi replied thus: “They didn’t say it openly but reliable sources said that if the church did it, government won’t be able to award it as a contract and get their kick-backs and kick-fronts.” As realisation dawned on Kenny, he exclaimed: “Oh, okaaaay, I see! It all makes sense now. You know they award contracts on roads yearly or every two to three years and get kick-backs.”

Continued Chidi:”Not only that, they abhor anyone who will do a good job; they prefer shoddy jobs so that in less than a year, the road will have hundreds of potholes and they will award the contract again to their family members and cronies and get their kick-backs. In any case, by the time you finish giving them their 10 – 30 per cent kick-back, you will have little to work with because you will want to make profit too. After all, you no come Lagos come count flyovers.”

Narrated Christy: “I heard the story of a guy who won a contract to supply chairs to a government agency during the Abacha era.

After giving the kickback, he had very little money to work with so he complained and when the Oga heard it, he asked the guy whether he actually intended to supply the chairs, and the guy said yes. The Oga called him a fool, telling him that the way they do it is to supply a few, just samples and pocket the rest of the money. No one will ask questions because they know how it is done.”

“God help Nigeria. If you repair any road without permission, you will land yourself in hot soup. You wan remove milk from their mouth?”

“Such contractors are foolish. They prefer to make money in the shortterm and mar their reputation. How can I do a shoddy job with my name on it? Next time, no one will give me a job or recommend me to others.

No way! He who must dine with politicians must do so with very, very long spoon,” said Pete.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 21

From left: Mr Itzhak Ronen, Vice President/Head of Sales, Radware Africa; Mr Dem Eleso, Chairman, Contact Solutions Limited (ConSol); Tomer Erez, Senior Technical Solutions Manager, Radware Africa and Mr Abiodun Adeoye, Managing Director, Contact Solutions Limited (ConSol) at the distributor agreement signing ceremony between Radware and ConSol in Lagos.

NGOs must pay tax — FIRS

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE Federal Inland Revenue Serv ice, FIRS, has commenced a fresh push for Non-Governmental Organisation s, NGOs, which would include religious bodies to pay tax.

The Acting Executive Chairman, EC, of the service, Alh. Kabir Mashi, told NGOs operators at a sensitization meeting in Abuja, yesterday, that the nation’s tax laws did not exempt them from paying tax, absolutely.

Alh. Mashi who was represented by the Coordinating Director of Modernisation, Mr. Osy Chuke, explained that

the only tax from which such organizations were exempted was Income Tax but that if they got involved in activities that yielded profit, taxes had to be paid to the federal government from such profits and that personal income taxes of their staff had to be paid to the government.

“Nigerian tax laws do not necessarily

exempt NGOs from paying taxes. Rather they recognise NGOs as basically nofor-profit entities, which are therefore exempted from paying Income Tax. Where, however, an NGO engages in activities from which it derives profits, then it will be required to pay taxes on such profits, like any other profit-making entity.

UNIDO, PIND sign pact on poverty reduction in the Niger Delta

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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USD 86.16 +0.76

USD

USD 83.25

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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

“Also, other than income taxes, NGOs are not exempt from paying taxes suck as Value Added Tax, VAT, on goods and services. They are also required to deduct and pay over Personal Income Tax from the salaries and allowances paid to their employees, amongst others”, he said.

The EC disclosed that a Medium Tax Office had been opened in Abuja to handle NGOs’ tax issues as part of the organisation’s move to create specialized offices for various taxpayer groups.

In an opening address, the Coordinating Director, Field Operations Group, Mr. Ajayi Bamidele, noted that the contributions of NGOs were recognised in the society as they undertake shared responsibility with government for social and development needs of the country thereby relieving the financial burden which otherwise should have been government’s responsibility.

He said that the extant tax laws provided for some tax exemptions for the NGOs in line with the recognition of their supportive roles in the society but some operators mistook the exemptions to cover all taxes which was not the case.

His words, “it was found that there is little awareness about tax obligations of NGOs in Nigeriaa even where these NGOs carry out business activities.

There is this erroneous belief among operators that as tax exempt organizations, they are exempted from all tax obligations, including filing of returns.

“This assumption is not correct and I think this is what led to the proliferation of organizations doing business but registered as NGOs in all manners of human endeavours in Nigeria”.

Payment of tax NGOs and religious bodies have been a subject of a long debate between the federal government and leaders in the sectors with the latter insisting that their outfits were not out to make profits and therefore should not be taxed.

he United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on poverty reduction through productive activities in the Niger Delta.

The states in the Niger Delta include: Abia, Imo, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Ondo.

Mr. Patrick Kormawa, the UNIDO Representative in Nigeria told Vanguard that the partnership is in line with the organization’s mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

He added that the agency collaborates with regional governments, relevant Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs and organizations including those from the private sector that also have the capabilities of reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development in the country.

According to him, “The primary beneficiaries of the joint declaration are the men, women and youth of the Niger Delta. Other beneficiaries include relevant and several MDA’s, institutions and non-government organizations located within the region.”

He said the Niger Delta region is known for its rich diversity, dynamic human capital and vast natural resources but regretted that infrastructural and industrial development, job creation and enterprise development are major issues the region is still grasping with. “UNIDO is entering into this strategic cooperation with PIND to establish a framework for the identification, conceptualization, and implementation of projects/ programs around common thematic areas which both organizations share”.

Some of the coming projects of the two agencies, according to Kormawa include such the development of rural entrepreneurship, agri-business development, agroprocessing and value addition, promotion of human security, sustainable natural resource management, the establishment of creative industries; and any additional areas that may subsequently be determined by both the Representative and Director of UNIDO Regional Office in Nigeria and the Executive Director of PIND. In his earlier remarks, Mr. Sam Daigo, the Executive Director of PIND said the joint partnership is aimed at strengthening the capacities and competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and is expected to promote equitable economic growth and advance the region’s industrial sector.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

,

BUSINESS

Principles of success

BY JASON FRENN

C

onfucius said, •"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work another day in your life." I disagree. What if you•are not any good at what you love?

I would love to fly a 787 Dreamliner, but with me in the pilot's seat you wouldn't expect to get to your destination in one piece.

Too many people make the mistake of pursuing what they love and then neglect doing it well. If you want to be one of the best in your field,

best you can be in that area.

Second, find true honour in what you do. Whether you sell photocopy paper, hygiene products, lug nuts, or trash bags, attempt to see the honourability in what you sell. If you lead teachers, assembly line workers, or nonprofit volunteers, help your organization see the positive impact that it makes on its constituents and customers. Then donors will give money, workers will volunteer their time, and those who need your product or idea

Too many people make the mistake of pursuing what they love and then neglect doing it well

,

make more money, impact more people, or make your idea known throughout the world you must live out the three following principles of success.

First, discover your golden thread and stay true to it. That is, find the one thing you were wired to do and keep your motivation and passion focused on it.

I•have watched many stumble through life without a clue of what is their golden thread.

Your golden thread is what you were born to do. It•is who you were wired to be. Your gifts, talents, and abilities indicate patterns of direction, and they will guide you to become excellent in a given area. Why fight or resist what you were made to do or who you were designed to be? So figure out your golden thread, and focus your efforts on being the

,

will go to great lengths to acquire it.

Third, learn to be a first-rate closer. Think about it. The one thing that successful lawyers, relief pitchers, sales representatives, professors, and writers have in common is their ability to orchestrate a convincing and favorable close.

People will give you their allegiance, money, or support in exchange for something they believe is of equal or greater value but only if you can give them a clear call to action.

Once you do, it will be difficult for people to walk away from your offer.

Jason Frenn is the author of POWER TO PERSUADE: How to lead people to transformational decisions

NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES Date Currency 21/10/14 DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

F

ailure is inevitable in life.

Failure in business is even more certain. Everyone who has dared to make a difference in business has had a share of failures. Everyone who has started and built a business must surely have a story to share on failure. Those who have never failed, have never really tried enough. Some of the highly successful businesses of the world today have come very close to folding up. They only gathered momentum once more and dared again.

Failure is not the worst thing that can happen to a person; never trying anything is worse than trying and failing.

Listed below are some of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time and what they had to say about failure, which will help renew our mentality towards failure.

Bill Gates Gates has been the richest man in the world over many years. However, he has not succeeded in everything he did. He dropped out of Harvard Business College without finishing and went into I.T. He later co-founded Microsoft that eventually made him the richest man in the world. However, before starting Microsoft, he started a business called Traf-O-Data that failed. At the time when he dropped out of school and when he failed in his first business venture, many would have considered him a big failure but today, he is worth over $72 billion and making more daily. Because he chose not to give up, no one remembers his failures as much as his successes.

His words: •"It is fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure. I failed in some subjects in exam; but my friend passed in all. Now he is an Engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner."

Henry Ford Ford was an American

Buying(N) 154.76 249.9684 197.6285 163.7152 1.45 0.2823 230.2023 25.2805 41.2396 26.5341 230.9019

Central(N) 155.26 250.776 198.267 164.2442 1.4547 0.2923 230.9461 25.3626 41.3729 26.6198 231.6479

Selling(N) 155.76 251.5836 198.9055 164.7731 1.4594 0.3023 231.6898 25.4447 41.5061 26.7055 232.3939

Turning business failure into success

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report industrialist, a machinist and manufacturer and founder of the Ford Motor Company.

Before achieving success, he failed twice when he joined with investors to establish a company that would manufacture automobiles. His Detroit Automobile Company and Henry Ford Corporation folded up only after a year of existence because the automobiles they were producing were of a lower quality and higher price than he wanted. He tried race cars but realized the average man did not want race car, but something more reliable. It was his desire to make something more reliable that led to the Ford Motor company that succeeded and sold its first car for about $800 on July 15, 1903. He became one of the richest men in the world in his days and even today.

His words: •"Failure is just a resting place. It is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

The only real mistake is the one

,

,

Failure is not the worst thing that can happen to a person; never trying anything is worse than trying and failing

Failure is just a resting place. It is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently

,

from which we learn nothing."

Steve Jobs Late Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur, marketer and inventor, cofounder, chairman and CEO of Apple. Jobs like every other successful entrepreneur was not immune to failure. In 1985, he left Apple after a power struggle with the board of directors but returned in 1998 and brought Apple from near bankruptcy to profitability. This may make him look like a superman but he too had business failures. A notable one was with products like The Apple Lisa, The Apple III, The Powermac g4 cube which all failed. Also, when he tried to sell Pixar by the late 1980's

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—23

,

& YOU

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case you fail by default

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week day news on Baltimore's WJZ-TV after the show received low ratings. She was demoted to morning TV, where she found her voice and met fellow newbie Gayle King, who became her producer and editor of O, The Oprah Magazine. Seven years later she moved to Chicago, where her self-titled talk show went on to dominate daytime TV for 25 years. She now heads her own channel, OWN, but had to overcome failure, poverty, sexual abuse, etc. in order to be what she is today. Today her net worth is about $2.9 billion.

Her words: •"Be the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment, own it. I don•ft believe in failure. It•fs not failure if you enjoyed the process."

J.K Rowling Joanne Rowling is a British novelist and author of the Harry Porter fantasy series.

She wrote her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when she was a single mother. She was rejected by 12 publishers but she persisted on what she was doing until the Harry Porter series grew, ultimately breaking records. She is now internationally renowned for her seven-book Harry Porter series and became the first billionaire author in 2004.

Her words: •"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default. Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I've met people who don't want to try for fear of failing."

Culled from Bizham.com

% Change +0.12

Learning the ar artt of doing things differently BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

•"Our world is not shaped by those who think similarly, but by those who dare to think differently"...Rashida Rowe

I

t is possible for people to have different reasons for setting up businesses. The same applies to small businesses or big corporations. Regardless of whatever reason(s) any business was established, the desire to achieve better result will always play out. Then, again, achieving better result to most organizations is characterized by increase in profitability. Desiring an increase in profitability is an acceptable proclivity for organizations as a result of the services being rendered and paid for.

But, the disappointing truth is that no organization can achieve increased profitability by desiring or wishing for it alone except by doing things differently.

After hearing for the first time that: •"you don't need to think more, you just need to think differently", I had a different worldview about thinking. It made me to realize that we do not need to think more (haphazardly) just for thinking sake, we need to think differently with the result in mind – we need to think strategically. The same applies to organizations, to achieve better results, we may not necessarily do so many things for our customers in terms of quantity, but we need to begin to do things

differently for them. We might just focus on doing one particular thing differently for them. The other time I was discussing with an executive whose company has spent so much money on transformation, and I realized one key thing that was lacking – attitudinal change. For an organization to think differently and achieve its transformation goals, attention must be paid to develop the right attitude of its workforce first and foremost. This is

,

in order to break even on his investment, for 4 to 5 years he had no bidder. He shopped it to Bill Gates, Lary Ellison and many other companies but didn•ft succeed. At last, he succeeded to sell it to Disney in 2006 for $7.4 billion. Most certainly today, no one at Apple remembers his failures.

His words: •"I am convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the nonsuccessful ones is pure perseverance. If I try my best and fail, well I have tried my best."

Richard Branson Sir Branson is a British business magnate and investor. He is the founder of the Virgin Group that currently owns more than 400 companies including Virgin Records, Virgin Airways, Virgin Mobile, etc. If there is one man who better understands business failure, it is Branson. He has failed in several business projects since he started the Virgin Group. Some of them include: Virgin Cola, Virgin Student, Virgin Brides, Virgin Clothing, Virgin Cars, Virgin Megastore, Virgin Flowers, Virgin Pulse and Virgin Digital, and more. Some lasted a few years while others failed just immediately they started. But inspired by the lesson his mother taught him never to focus on past regrets, he refused to stop and today Forbe's magazine ranks him as the 6th richest citizen of the United Kingdom with a net worth more than $4.6 billion.

His words: •"You don't learn to walk by following rules.

You learn by doing, and by falling over. I see life almost like one long university education that I never had – every day I'm learning something new."

Oprah Winfrey Winfrey is an entertainment guru and one of the richest black women in the world. She was terminated from her post as co-anchor for the 6 o'clock

Change ($) +0.10

Building worldclass organization requires that leaders should utilize everybody's contributions

,

because one person with a wrong attitude can sabotage and make a mess of all the transformation effort. Yes, I know I am not writing about attitudinal change, but then right attitude is like a lubricant that will oil the wheels of •"thinking differently".

Unbelievably, and despite the fact that most organizations are doing the same thing year in year out, using the same business strategy and initiatives that have not worked, and yet they expect to have different and better results (that is impossible). With the stiff competition in the business world, if you keep doing your business the same way you have done it for five years; you will never even achieve the old results that you are used to, but rather below what you have been achieving.

That goes to show that to desire improved results in all facets of business operations, we must have a paradigm shift, and that comes by thinking differently. The truth of the matter is that sometimes, we know why our organization is performing so badly, but we are stuck to the old ways of doing things – and we are not ready to try something new.

All organizations that are stuck to the old ways of doing things that have not yielded them better results will end up becoming •"Defenders of Decline" instead of•"Architect of the future" (example is Apple Inc. vs others). Apple succeeded in becoming the “architect of the future” while others are busy defending the decline, little wonder Apple’s slogan is “Think Different”.

To paint a clearer picture of what thinking differently should mean to organizations, we need to realize that in our various organizations, there are strategies that are not working, marketing initiatives that are not producing the numbers, activities that are not worthwhile and generally things that are not working for the organization. Thinking differently starts when we begin to question the old ways of doings that that have not yielded expected results and begin to push the boundaries and think in new ways that lead to improved results.

Thinking differently is akin to committing to make a difference. In order words, organizations that are thinking differently want to make a difference in the lives of their customers and employees. It is this committing to make a difference that brings improved and sustainable results for the shareholders.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Briefs BITS Enterprise Bank reassures customers on AMCON divestment

T

From left: Director of Finance and Accounts, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Abatcha Bulama, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo and Group Managing Director/ CEO, Union Bank Plc, Mr. Emuwa Emeka at the 2014 Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) investiture of Fellows in Lagos.

Fashola blasts banks over branch locations, unfair labour practices

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

G

overnor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has accused banks of unfair labour practices, and disregard for the state physical planning laws in the construction of their branches.

The Governor made these accusations at the investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Represented by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Be Akabueze, Fashola called on banks to have a rethink in the way they pursue their business.

He said, “Oftentimes banks locate their branches in a place where they have not made provision for the customers to park. So their customers constitute a nuisance to other road users, by interfaring with traffic. And most ofter those branches are cited without obtaining physical planning approval. And when the bank has opened and staff have started working there, it then presents government with a dilemma, do you shut down the bank or just ensure their illegal action.

The other area that banks should reconsider is certain aspect of your labour practice.

An example is the increasing trend towards labour casualisation, especially as the industry still remains profitable.

Given the high level of unemployment, they seem to take advantage of all the desperate people looking for jobs, by engaging them on terms that ensure that they

have no pension in the future.

Also there is a lot of talk on the unreasonable deposit target and the impact on staff and the family.

Another issue is the focus on financing trade rather than agriculture and industry. We know that the banks have some constraints but within those constraints can we say we are really doing the best that we can in terms of financing agriculture and industry.”

In her welcome address, CIBN President, Otunba, Debola Osibogun, said that the Institute, every year, sets aside a day to admit

a selected few of its eminent and distinguished members into the coveted Fellowship and Honorary Senior Membership status. Dear Members.

“Today’s event is therefore in continuation of that tradition but it is unique in the sense that two hundred and fifteen (215) key operators in the banking, finance and allied Industry and the Academia are being admitted simultaneously to the Fellowship and Honorary Senior membership categories. This number is the highest ever and an indication that more qualified members are making outstanding and noticeable contributions in their chosen professions of banking.

Political institutions, entrepreneurship responsible for poverty alleviation- Aig-Imoukhueede

By FUNMI OLASUPO

T

he President, National Council of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Mr. Aigbije Aig-Imoukhuede, said that political institutions and entrepreneurship are the two major factors responsible for the alleviation of poverty in the country.

Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede who stated that the two trusts of the Nigerian project are simply about fixing the nation’s institutions and its entrepreneurship, also stated that, if Nigeria can do the later, the country will be the greatest nation ever.

Presenting a paper titled: Poverty, Development and Growth, Lessons for Nigerians, at the 21st edition of the annual Lift Above Poverty Organization, (LAPO), development forum, in Abuja, the NSE President stated further that “entrepreneurs are necessary for our economy, and we have to begin to change our approach to entrepreneurship as a nation.”

He said, “I argued that the two trusts of the Nigerian project are simply about fixing our institutions and fixing our entrepreneurship, if we do these two things, a time will come when the whole world will bow to Nigeria. “Irrespective of whether development is eminent or intentional, development is focused on the alleviation of poverty, which is why when I see acronym such as LAPO, I consider it very important because that ‘Lift Above Poverty’ is very powerful and should never be ignored.

Responding, the Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Eddy Erhagbe said once there is poverty, there is bound to be insecurity and thus, the freedom of governance will lead to the need for us to build peace in our country. According to him, LAPO has clearly established its credibility, dependability, integrity and sustainability which are not common with many organizations in Nigeria.

he management of Enterprise Bank Limited has reassured its customers that the emergence of HBCL Investment Services Limited (HISL) as the new owners of the bridge bank will not in any way disrupt its operations but would rather strengthen its ability to provide better services to its customers.

The bank, in a statement said customers of the bank would continue to enjoy excellent service delivery, irrespective of the imminent change of ownership, following the full payment of the bid amount of N56billion by Heritage Bank Limited. According to the bank, “the transparency and successful sale of the bank by AMCON should serve as a guarantee to our esteemed customers that the combination of the two banks is a step in the right direction that will ensure increased potentials for further value addition to all stakeholders.”

Undoubtedly, the synergies of combining Heritage Bank’s aggressive market focus and technology orientation with Enterprise Bank’s legacy and branch networks would produce a highly customer-centric institution.

All structures, it continued, have already been put in place to engender a seamless transition to a new financial institution that will distinguish itself as a bank of preference in the industry. The bank encouraged everyone, including customers of the two combining entities to fully embrace the emerging bank.

It will be recalled that Enterprise Bank Limited came into being August 5, 2011 following the intervention of National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in Spring Bank Plc and the subsequent takeover by AMCON, who appointed the outgoing Board of Directors and management team with the charge to reposition the bank and make it attractive for investors.

CSR: SOS Village Nigeria Commends Ecobank’s Support

T

he National Director, SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria has commended Ecobank Nigeria’s continued support and commitment to the welfare of less privileged children in the SOS homes across Nigeria.

Mr. Erhumwunse Eghosa said Ecobank has consistently demonstrated strong financial support to SOS Villages in the country thereby making life meaningful for the children.

Mr Eghosa enjoined other corporate organizations and public spirited individuals to emulate the bank. In his words “We are grateful for your humanitarian support. This most importantly reminds the children that you believe in their right to a happy, healthy childhood and a bright future.”

He assured that the children will continue to receive the needed physical and emotional bonding that every child deserves, ‘so as to help them cope with the challenges of their day to day life as well as build and strengthen the foundation for their holistic development.’

In a statement, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku, said the bank’s support to the SOS Villages is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment.

He explained that the bank has consistently supported the organization annually because ‘we share a common vision of assisting the under-privileged in the society’, adding that all children need long term family-based care.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 25

From right: Mrs Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State, respresentative of Minister of Education, Mr Mustapha Abdul, Winner of the senior category, Master Idakwo Emmanuel, Mr Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy Governtment Public Affair, Chevron and Jane Ashini, Public Affairs, NAPIMS during the Chevron sponsored National Art Competition award ceremony held at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

Restore study of History in schools, Fashola, dons tell FG

By Dayo Adesulu

T

HE Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has urged stakeholders in the sector to encourage the study of history stating that it is vital part of national development. Just as the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola at the same event also lamented the extinction of History from Nigeria's school curriculum.

Shekarau whose speech was read by the Officer-in-Charge, NECO, Abuja, Mr. Mustapha Abdul during the 2014 NNPC and Chevron National Art Competition, CNAC, held at Muson Centre, Lagos said: “Children’s Art is a vital part of any nation’s development and history.”

According to him: “Some of the things we know about the people of pre-historic times are based on their cave paintings and drawings."

The Minister who lauded the organizers of the national art

NUC approves Int'l certification entrepreneurship in varsities Pg. 28

competition said:“By supporting and providing our children with opportunities to project their creativity, the NNPC/CNL joint venture is helping to preserve some of our today for posterity and also encourage imaginative interpretation of our collective experience.”

Collective experience Recalling President Goodluck Jonathan's address during the flag off of activities marking the centenary celebrations, he quoted him saying: “We owe it to ourselves, to past generations and to the future generations to tell our own story, the story of our experience, our challenges and most certainly our strides within the continent and the world." He explained that telling a story is part of history.

The former governor who was delighted with the objective of the competition, noted that the theme gives another veritable chance to

Intel Africa pledges suppor t for research, dev't in Nigerian varsities Pg. 31

tell the Nigerian story. He said: “the various entries submitted have helped to capture the country’s feat and to tell the story of the country through the passage of time to present day."

Speaking in the same vein, Abimbola Fashola who frowned at the removal of history as a subject from our curriculum, said we need to put history back into Nigeria's school curriculum.

Fashola who was elated by the

art works of the 20 students, urged them to read about those who have done well in that profession.

Arguing in favour of restoration of history, she said that the documentation of heroes of a particular field of study which students read about and are challenged is history on its own.

It will be recalled that at a different fora, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju and other stakeholders

in the sector had spoken in favour of the restoration of History as a subject in to Nigeria's school curriculum. Meanwhile, Machiavelli who commented seven months ago on the extinction of history in Nigeria's schools curriculum said: “Sad, very sad and dastardly. One inalienable means of nation building is by inter group

Continues on page 26

Expert calls for provision of reading materials for learning

By Dayo Adesulu & Kelechukwu Iruoma

H

AVING observed the depreciation of Nigeria's, the Managing Director of Interworld Managing Mains and Services Limited, Mrs. Omotayo Morgan has called for the provision of interesting reading materials that will boost the reading culture at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists in an interview, she said materials that are interesting should be provided to the students at all levels, adding that children must also be encouraged to read. According to her: “Students will read when reading is made interesting to them. It is something they have to develop from childhood and it is what parents just have to work on.”

She however said that students want

materials that will stretch their imagination and by so doing they will read and that love for reading will stay with them all their life.

The MD of Interworld who also represents World Book International, publishers of educational materials in both print and digital format and Exco education services providing periodicals, journals for tertiary institutions tasks schools and government to provide functioning libraries everywhere in the country, adding that it will encourage children and parents to go there and find out things.

According to her: ”The libraries that we have are old libraries with outdated materials that is of no interest to everybody.”

She however said that a library is part of the fundamental art of the society.

Mrs Morgan however tasks universities to produce journals, adding that works in Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Expert calls for provision of reading materials in learning system

*From left: Ada Ijara, UBA Trustees; Olawande Alaran, Brand Manager, CoolWorld Electrical Retail Stores; Toyin Olaitan, UBA Trustees and Taofik Oshodorimu, a customer, at the 'Back to School' promo Raffle Draw at the Victoria Island store of CoolWorld.

Restore study of History in schools Continued from page 25 of Igbo civilians in the defunct Biafra -via relations among constituent groups of a starvation. No government account of these geopolitical entity. History fosters unity and atrocities whatsoever. Therefore how can the cohesion. Through history we can link Sokoto present generation draw useful lessons from to Calabar. the war and prevent another one from "History is the father of Diplomacy and occurring?

International Relations and grandfather of “Nigeria has long showed its disrespect for Politics. History directs Commerce. history and archeology, thus this scrapping does Remember the great book Trade and Politics not come as a surprise to me. This is certainly a in the Niger DeltaI by K O Dike? step in the wrong direction.

“Without history how would we have known “For a nation to scrap the compulsory study that Maiduguri had had contact with Spain of History, which has helped to shape great even before the State of Nigeria came into nations like USA and Britain into who they are existence? How do we know how Sakkwatto today, is, to say the least, the greatest atrocity a became Sokoto? How do we know that the nation can commit against its present and four market days of the Igbo are the same unborn generations. “How then can a nation with that of Bini? How do we know that Potokiri know where she is heading to without a sense is Portuguese and that the Binis have had of where she was coming from? Posterity will contact with them over four centuries ago? never forgive this present crop of Nigerian How do we pinpoint their architectural leadership for commiting this crime against influence in Eko Kingdom? humanity.”

"The present Oba of Lagos during the last Mr. Brown Eredia, while lending credence kingship scurried part of his claim to to the foregoing asserted, “They stole our the”forgotten” Akinsemoyin Dynasty. He had commonwealth,they mortgaged our future,took to establish filial linkage to this forgotten away our pride,and now still want to take away Monarch that collaborated with the our history. History is a people’s memory, and Portuguese and took Lagos to its acme. without a memory, man is demoted to lower “Without history how would we know that animals . Shame to those behind this brainless what we have and see as Lagos today are all idea !” Speaking in the same vein, Mr Okwu breaths of the Oodua, Bini Kingdom and The averred:“They removed History because they Portuguese. The word Lagos is Portuguese want Nigerian youths to be developed on the meaning Lagoon. Eko is Bini word lies they wanted to persist about meaning Camp. Bajulaiye is a Yoruba the nation." corruption of the Bini name Bazuaye.

That’s why today, if one “Today my study and proper wants to insist on the truth being knowledge of history worldwide has told, he or she would be served me as VISA to audiences accused of opening old around the world. It has won me wounds. Yet a people without friends and gotten me out of trouble their true history are just as severally. I am proud of History and equivalent to animals without my great History teachers.” the conscious memory of their Ogom who also shared his own view past, because it is conscious said, “My first contact with any memory that separates animals Nigerian history was a book of Civil from humans.”

War photos by Peter Obey. This was Safiya Ismailia Yero, on his in my form 4 and I asked myself then: part noted, “While in secondary “How come all this is new to me?” I school, I was the only history asked my mother; did this really student in a class of 64: it was a happen?”.

I saw this government secondary school.

"I have read a lot on my own since Students were to choose coming while then, but I have had a deep beween government and conviction our leaders have long growing up, as history right from SS1. In SS1, connived to keep us ignorant of our I sought to I asked my classmates and history.” friends who all chose On his part, Mr. Gold Force said: know exactly government instead of history “I saw this coming while growing up, what led to the why they chose government, as I sought to know exactly what led they told me it was simply up to the civil war and what really civil war and because that was what happened during the war. My father what really everybody chose, including our told me his own side of the history seniors. I then approached the having fought on the Biafran side. happened senior students and asked the Yet there is no official historical during the war same question to which I got account of the 1966 Pogrom and the the same response i got from Nazi-styled extermination of millions my friends.

Continued from page 25 journals are up to date materials. In her words “any research finding come out first in journals, that is where educationists, researchers and people in the higher level of education report their findings and that is how they make it available for students.”

She however enjoined schools to provide World book publications for their students, adding that World book materials supplement textbooks that students read. She also said that World book has about 21 different products for any ward of learning, for kids that are just growing, for children and those in the universities.

Saying equally that, World book materials make learning more interesting and interactive.

She also said that “in the last few years, the education industry has been moving from print to digital format and that

World book is not left behind.

She said that World book E-book enables the children to read two books simultaneously without disturbing each other," adding that World book materials online should be provided by schools for their students, which is a fantastic tool for teaching and learning.

She therefore encouraged schools to subscribe to World book packages that will assist the children and schools to attain their goals, adding that the materials are new cost effective and digital for enhancing teaching and learning. She also said that World book gives backups for schools that have it, by training and directing teachers and educators online. Morgan, therefore urged schools to key into the World Book Digital Products slated on 28th of October, 2014 at 10am and on 30th at Corona Schools.

CoolWorld splashes N5.6m scholarships on 10 students

I

n its desire to contribute to the development of education in Nigeria, Cool World, a subsidiary of PZ Cussons, in Lagos, gave five grant winners during the weekend N200,000 each.

Thus in two years, the company has offered scholarships of N5.6 million to 10 Nigerian students whose parents patronise their products.

Speaking at the "Back to School’ raffle draw held at CoolWorld, Adeola Odeku in Lagos, its Brand Manager, Mr Olawande Alaran said: “The essence of the programme is to give back to the society and to promote education in Nigeria considering the fact that education in Nigeria is dwindling gradually and some parents find it difficult to pay school fees.

“So we decided to give back to parents to enable them pay for their students' tuition. We hold this programme every August and September to assist parents in payment of school fees because that is when schools resume. We see it as an opportunity to assist our consumers.”

He explained that parents who are qualified to obtain the raffle tickets for the education grant are those who have purchased any Haier Thermocool and TEC products worth N50,000 and above between August to September every year.

Alaran who disclosed that the Consumer Protection Councils and National Lottery are aware of the promo,urged

those who newly won the Back to School promo to come for their collection. "If the winners are not present on the raffle draw day, we call them immediately to notifying them. After that, we invite them to our office alongside the Consumer Protection Councils and National Lottery for collection. This is the fourth time we are giving back to the society via this education programme."

Just as the names were written on their raffle tickets, the winners include; Charles O. Florence, Sanni Yemisi, Godwin Odey Agama and Bar Idadiaba. Each winners was given scholarship of N200,000.

Mr Adewole Oluwaseyi, one of the customers who was at the raffle draw said that though he has about four Thermocool products at home, he was not disappointed that he was not among the five winners in August September edition. He said: “It is a game of luck. If you are buying anything, you are not buying because you want to win. We will still continue with them because their products are good.

Mr Kehinde Bello, also a customers present at the raffle draw said. “I did not win because it is a game of luck."

On her part, Adaku Ijara UBA Trustees said: “We are custodians of the money that is disbursed to the winners.

We don’t give them cash, but we pay directly to the education institution of the recipients."

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Ovie Brume Foundation set to reward hard-working teachers

BY DAYO ADESULU

I

*From left: Mrs Dolapo Olaoye, Director Curriculum and Examinations, Mr Olaolu Oguntuyi, Director Technical and Vocational Services, LASTVEB, Engr. Olawumi Gasper, Executive Secretary, LASTVEB and Mr Bayo Ibiyeye, Member Governing Council, LASTVEB unveiling the new beneficiaries of Dangote Academy held at LASTVEB Head quarters, Ikeja.

LASTVEB unveils technical students for Dangote employment scheme

BY DAYO ADESULU

N

o fewer than fifteen technical students in Lagos State have benefited from the Dangote Academy Scheme in the first phase of employment.

The fifteen students were offered admission to undertake 18 months junior technical training scheme at Dangote Academy, Osogbo. The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB, Engr. Olawumi Gasper disclosed this at Ikeja when the beneficiaries were unveiled to the public.

He said 524 sat for the examination, 84 students who

qualified were shortlisted for the oral interview and 15 of the beneficiaries were selected for the first phase of employment.

According to Gasper the selection process cuts across the five technical colleges in Lagos State.

Meanwhile, Mr Afonja Gafar, one of the 15 beneficiaries was reported to have died three weeks ago after a brief illness.

His colleagues who made the disclosure it at the public presentation lamented the demise of Afonja adding that he will be greatly missed by all.

However, the selected trainees are expected to report to the Dangote Academy, Oshogbo, between Saturday and Sunday for registration as

the inauguration and induction programme for the new trainees shall commence on Monday 28, 2014.

Gasper who urged the beneficiaries to see the training as an opportunity, said the training automatically earns them employment in Dangote company.

Paul David Oluwatobi who studied Welding and Fabrication at Government Technical College, Ikorodu spoke on behalf of himself and other beneficiaries said: “We are happy for this opportunity, we pledge to be law abiding and good ambassadors ofLASTVEB."

n its quest to encourage teachers in their profession, Ovie Brume Foundation, a non governmental organization, is set to reward teachers who have done well on the job.

Joining other nations of the world to celebrate world teachers day in October, the executive director of the foundation Mrs Iwaola AkinJimoh said that outstanding teachers will be handsomely rewarded to motivate them to give their best to our children.

When asked how the foundation will identify teachers who are doing well in the teaching profession, she explained that students at EtiOsa Local Development Counci Area will be given opportunity to write a short essay about their teachers to nominate their best teacher.

According to her, Public schools in Eti-Osa are the main focus.

Explaining other things the foundation does, the executive director said it is mandated to bridge the gap between students in the public and private schools.

In order to achieve this, she said that a number of programmes were introduced since 2002 in memory of Oviehire Adeyemi Brume, the Nigerian Harvard product who died shortly he arrived Nigeria in 2002 at age 29.

Among others, the foundation is the initiator of The Barack Obama American Corner.

The Barack Obama American Corner, according to her, is an information resource centre established as a partnership between the United States Embassy andOvie Brume Foundation. It provides a wide range of free resources, including books, journals, reference materials, magazines and DVDs about the America society, culture and politics to the general public. The Corner also provides internet access and literacy related programmes. It is open to the public five days a week and is visited by over 300 people every month, she noted.

Besides she pointed out that the Barack Obama American Corner holds regular spelling bee contests to encourage and reward good spelling.

Lagoon School lauds Aimua's artistic prowess

Aimua beside her painting

T

he Lagoon School, Lekki, has honored Aimua Osarieme Enadeghe, a 14year-old female SS2 student for her artistic prowess which earned her second position in senior category at the just concluded National Art Competition for Nigerian Secondary Schools. The art annual contest which was Organized by the NNPC/ Chevron joint venture in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education attracted 640 entries. However, 20 finalists made it to the grand finale.

Contestants' works were adjudged based on ability to reflect and interpret the theme:

Nigeria at 100. Created with Poster color and paper brushes on cardboard.

Aimua’s work was adjudged second best owing to her strong concept and depiction of the theme. Using an ant colony to underscore Nigeria’s strength in unity, Aimua’s allegoric painting sought to chronicle the history of Nigeria’s leaders since 1914. She explained: “The ants in my work represent our past leaders since 1914. The ants with British flags represent our colonial leaders; while the ants with military caps represent our indigenous military leaders.

The ants with Nigerian flags represent our civilian leaders and the ant with a black hat on top of the anthill represents our current leader, President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Aimua added: “The Musical instruments symbolize the celebration of our centenary and the flag which shines in the sunlight is a symbol of our national unity, identity and brighter hope for tomorrow.”

Shedding light on why she

chose to use ants as a medium to illustrate her message, the budding artist said it is in view of the insect’s level of organization.

In her words: “Ants are very organized and they operate as a unified entity. When ants build an anthill they all work together and divide labour. If we work with the same zeal and passion we would take this nation to greater heights.”

Her proud mother, Mrs. Isoken Enadeghe, commended the organizers of the competition and the management of Lagoon Schools for its approach towards learning and harnessing the innate talents of students.

Her dad, John Enadeghe, made similar remarks and pledged to continue supporting Aimua in developing her artistic talents.

Edna Abugewa Ekenimoh, the school’s art teacher said Aimua’s impressive result was borne out of zeal and hard work. “We at The Lagoon Schools are proud of Aimua.

She has brought joy to us. We intend to use this as a springboard to excel further in other art competitions.”

*Pupils of LA Primary School 1 and 2, Amukoko, jubilating over the presentation of free school uniforms, bags and exercise books given them by the Hon. Fatai Ajidagba, Chairman, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, Monday.

Elizade freshmen urged to pursue academic excellence

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

F

resh students of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, have been advised to squarely face their studies, as well as shun acts capable of jeopardizing their ambition of acquiring quality education towards the pursuit of academic excellence.

Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, founder of the university, who gave this charge while addressing the students at a session organized for him to formally meet them, however urged them to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding their studentship in the university, warning that

the institution would not condone indiscipline from any student.

While revealing that his establishment of the university was based on the big gap discovered between the nation’s education and that of the advanced countries, Chief Ade.Ojo expressed his readiness to bridge the gap by making Elizade University a model for Nigeria and Africa.

Charging the students to be agents of change that the country needs, he said: “You must apportion your time based on the significance of whatever you want to do.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

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GCIOBA turns 80, seeks partnership with govt to boost education

By Tare Youdeowei

H

AVING spent over N150 million in the past 10 years to revamp Government College Ibadan, its Old Boys Association is calling for partnership with the government to return the school to its glory days. The president, Biodun Jolaoso, said: “The school is facing serious challenges including decaying infrastructure, academic decadence, poor staffing, student over population, security and sanitary problems.’’ He said that there are over 3,000 students in GCI today with only 20 regular teachers adding that such teacher to student ratio can never produce academic excellence.

Jolaoso added: “We appreciate the challenges facing the state government in terms of heavy demands on its meagre resources.

That is why the Old Boys are suggesting and are ready to partner with the state government in a public private partnership that will involve; the creation of new policies on the quality of both teacher and student, new curriculum

C M Y K

development, establishment of a board of governors for the school, development of an infrastructural master plan, sourcing funds for the school i n c l u d i n g endowments, grants and direct alumni intervention and restoring values and traditions of the founding fathers. If government is ready we are prepared to assist government and in assisting government we would part of the running of the school.”

Meanwhile, the Old Boys Association of Government College Ibadan, GCIOBA, under the leadership of National President Chief Biodun Jolaoso, has held its celebration th of the school’s 85 anniversary on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October 2014.

The two day event, which was particularly hosted by the 1964 Class Set upon turning 50 after graduation, featured a lecture on; Challenges of Reinventing Quality

Education in Nigeria by Professor Jide Owoeye, Chairman Governing Council, Lead City University, Ibadan, spiced with; a Jumat service, sing song, AGM and election of new officers, novelty football match between GCIOBA and Lagelu Grammer School old students team, unveiling of the hall of fame, N65 million worth new library donated by University Press Plc, Ibadan, memorial service, group photograph, annual luncheon and merit award, at the Function Hall, Jogor Center, Kakanfo Inn Conference Centre and the school premises in Ibadan, Oyo State, respectively.

Speaking for the hosting set, Chairman 1964 Class Set, Mr Olufemi Soewu, said; “Our set is 50 years this year and we have two projects to be dedicated and commissioned, first is the lecture theatre and the teacher ’s common room which we renovate every year.

Next is the hall of fame in which we have a gallery that has the role of honour. It lists out all

the old boys who have won the GCIOBA national merit award from inception till date.”

On augmenting and improving service delivery in the school, Jolaoso said: “What we are doing mostly is hardware (building construction and renovation) intervention, which is just a step.

We have also been doing software intervention. On our own part we have been augmenting government’s efforts. The Old Boys also recruit teachers who are on our pay roll. The Parents Teachers Association also recruits teachers which they pay. We support the government, we recruit teachers. Currently youth corps members are more than regular teachers and they aren’t meant to be teachers. If you are youth corps member and a graduate of chemistry, that doesn’t make you a chemistry teacher. We are doing our best but things are not rosy. The best thing is for the government to take a definite step in recruiting teachers.

Am not saying they should send all teachers to government school, but they should set a standard.”

Gowon tasks stakeholders on falling education standard

By Gbenga Ariyibi THE former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon has expressed concern over the falling standard of education,urged the well to do members of the society to salvage the trend.

Gowon equally linked illiteracy and lack of quality education to Boko H a r a m insurgency,lamenting that the sect have killed and maimed some of the brightest stars the country can parade ,especially in the northern part of the country.

Speaking at the second convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) where he was conferred with honorary Doctorate d e g r e e , t h e octogenarian expressed the hope that with the democracy that is thriving in the country, the future of education in the country would gets better

“The management of education in Nigeria today requires all to contribute and change its face to meet the current realities. And I am optimistic that with our striving democracy, which will allow for exploration of opportunities beyond our immediate environment, the future is bright.

The former Head of State lauded the effort of the founder of the university, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) for providing one of the best universities in the world with first class infrastructure urged other Nigerians to emulate him.

S p e a k i n g e a r l i e r, B a b a l o l a expressed satisfaction that his dream of providing reformative and quality education that is functional is being achieved with the quality of students graduating from the school.

Also speaking,Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose who pledged to collaborate with the school in the area of Agriculture also promised to facilitate airport to the state.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

FG awards 14 students with scholarship

By AHMED IBRAHIM

El-Rufai to speak at CIAPS inaugural programme for graduates AMAKA ABAYOMI

F

ormer Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been selected as the most preferred guest speaker at the upcoming inaugural Outcome-Based Education (OBE)Programmes to be held at the Lagos Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies, CIAPS. El-Rufai emerged as the most preferred guest speaker in a survey conducted amongst students, graduates and friends of CIAPS. Other nominated speakers that gained a lot of votes during the survey include Ms. Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Prof. Pat Utomi.

The OBE lectures will start October 31, 2014 and the theme to be treated by the selected speaker, Mallam ElRufai is Ethics, Education and Employability.

The CIAPS OBE Programmes, according to Prof Anthony Kila, the Centre Director; “are outcome based educational programmes built on research and input obtained from dynamic organisations about their recruitment needs as well as

Nasir El-Rufai

their employment and development strategies”.

A major aim of the programme is to address the employability of many graduates and young people.

Rather than focusing on just theory and academic curriculum, CIAPS is working with businesses and various other organisations to establish the kind of graduates they need, the skills and knowledge these graduate should possess. That way, graduates will be training for real jobs and careers rather than just for certificates.

The programmes will also help young people and graduates familiarise themselves with the working environment as a

fundamental part of their study at CIAPS will be their work-experience, workplacements and other various kinds of internship.

Many of the companies working with CIAPS on these programmes are eager to employ but cannot find the right people, many of the graduates they find are not ready for the work environment. CIAPS’ plan through its fast track programmes is to bridge this gap by providing very practical training for graduates and help them reach employers. Interested applicants can apply by visiting the CIAPS website www.ciaps.org

R

ector, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara state, Dr. Mufutau Olatunde Olatinwo, said that fourteen students from the institution are among the beneficiaries of a scholarship award by federal government. Dr. Olatinwo said that among the institutions in kwara state, Federal Poly, Offa has the highest number of awardees.

Dr. Olatinwo said this at the 21st matriculation ceremony for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 sets, who were admitted into the institution for their National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

The ceremony which was done at the 1000 seaters capacity of the main campus, had in attendance the school registrar, deputy rector, academic, deputy rector, admin, the school lawyer and other principal officers of the school.

The Rector said that the school's management has, in compliance to Federal government’s directives, instituted Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) to make sure that students are well trained in all kinds of small scale production, which is one of the aims to reduce unemployment among the graduates.

He urged them to be embedded in entrepreneurship development programmes setup by the school in order tobe self employed after their programme.

Olatinwo, while addressing the students, warned the new students to be industrious and patriotic that the Polytechnic Academic Board will not hesitate to withdraw any student who performs below expectation in his or her academic work.

He said: “Let me restate that the Polytechnic Academic Board will not hesitate to withdraw any student who performs below expectation in his or her academic work.

You should also be aware that offences like examination malpractice, cultism, sexual harassment, gross misconduct, violence etc, attract outright expulsion. I urge you all to make your student Handbook a daily companion for rules guiding you as students of the polytechnic.”

Lucinma women devt centre graduates students

... As Zenith bank offers 15 laptops to students

Crescent varsity honours Abiola-Dosunmu at 6th convocation

Crescent University honours Abiola-Dosunmu.

By TARE YOUDEOWEI

C

RESCENT University, Abeokuta has honoured the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, HRH, Erelu Abiola-Dosunmu with Doctor of Science ( Honoris Causa) in Business Administration at its 6th Convocation where 248 students graduated from College of Information and C o m m u n i c a t i o n Sciences(CICOT), Natural and Applied Sciences (CONAS), Social and Management Sciences(COSMAS) and College of Environmental Sciences( COES).

The University also conferred

the Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi and Dr Haci Kutlu from Turkey with Doctor Of Science ( Honoris Causa) in Business Administration and Political Science and International Relations respectively.

The founder and Proprietor, Judge Bola Ajibola expressed his gratification with the education plus of the University, noting that the certificates had been awarded to graduands because they had excelled in both learning and character.

Judge Ajibola said: “ students in our institution may repeat a

level not only because of academic failure but because they fail in their moral and spiritual dispositions”,adding that Crescent University had built this into a course titled Global Citizenship which must be passed compulsorily.

Recounting the achievements of the university, Ajibola expressed: “part of the second visit of the NUC to our university had us being commended for the good behaviour of our students.

The accreditation panel members acknowledged the coolheadedness and polite greetings from our students wherever the NUC officials met them on campus”.

In his speech,the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hassan Kehinde Okeleye maintained that with the directives of the NUC, the university had a virile entrepreneurial centre where all students are trained on alternative skills and vocations to their basic degree programmes and noted that some of the products of this centre were displayed at the convocation ground outside the auditorium.

A cross section of the graduates of Lucinma women development centre

BY KELECHUKWU IRUOMA

I

t was indeed an arena of euphoria as Lucinma Women Development Centre on Saturday at St, Finbarrs’s College Road, Akoka graduated not less than 26 students and also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the development centre.

The development centre established in 2004 has been an institution which operates model community centres providing affordable high quality vocational education and technology training, leadership and entrepreneurship development, health education and leisure learning programmes as a vehicle for socio-economic development.

In marking the 10th

anniversary, an address was given by Dr. Goddy Okoruwe on managing diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, preventing heart attacks and strokes and understanding the facts about Ebola. In the course of his address, he lectured the people on how effectively they can prevent the aforementioned diseases, adding that people should always go for medical check up in order to detect early any disease they might have.

In an interview with the chairperson of Lucinma, Madam Lucy Jonah, told journalists that she gives gratitude to God to have made the institution ten years, adding that the development centres need support from corporate organizations and the government in running the free programme effectively.

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32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014— 33

34—Vanguard,THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

How we check pension fraud, by PTAD

By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

P

ENSION Transi tional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, has explained how it has been able to check fraud in pensions of retirees under the Defined Pension Scheme, DPS, since it was established a year ago.

Director-General of PTAD, Nellie Mayshak, at a sensitization workshop on pension management, said the monthly payroll was always submitted to the office of the Accountant-General

of the Federation for direct payment from budgetary allocations maintained with the CBN's bank accounts.

"The Central Bank of Nigeria is now handling your money. Our duty at the PTAD is just to prepare data that will be submitted to CBN. We don't touch your money. It is the CBN that will pay the money to your banks while your banks will credit your accounts. Apart from this, we always monitor the payment from the CBN to different banks and till the

banks remit the money to your account. So FG really means that your money will not be lost in transit again and I want to appeal to you to beware of the activities and antics of some unscrupulous elements in our society, capitalizing on the hitherto bad system to swindle you of your hardearned money. "Beware of 419 that always send messages to you that your file is before them, now ready for processing, but that you must send certain amount of

money to ensure the processing, we are not part of such; because we are not hungry, we are being decently paid. We are quite aware that some are selling complaint forms to you at N1, 000, this is very wrong.

We are giving out complaint form free of charge; it is fraudulent for anybody to collect money on it from you. We have made arrangements with EFCC, anybody who is caught will be prosecuted, enough of 419, we are encouraging you too to

report anybody who asks you to bring money to the appropriate security operatives for adequate arrest and prosecution."

PTAD assured all the pensioners who came from states in the South West of prompt payment of their pensions without going through unnecessary rigour.

The workshop had in attendance members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, police pensioners, civil servants, customs, immigration, underwriters and

others from government parastatals.

Mayshak further explained that Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, had improved monthly electronically payment of pension to the respective beneficiaries without any form of fraudulent act.

She stressed that the agency had also restored payment of monthly pension to genuine pensioners who had hitherto been removed from payroll.

According to her, the agency had successfully conducted a mini-verification of some categories of police and civil service pensioners and had placed them on payroll.

In the paper entitled, 'Role and Mandate of PTAD' which she presented, she said the Federal Government was never happy about the ways and manners billions of Naira was handled, hence the establishment of PTAD under the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Proper investigation She hinted that it was part of the mandate of the directorate to ensure that those pensioners that their names were omitted within the last two to five years were included after proper investigation.

She said, “the directorate has been tackling reported cases of fraud in collaboration with the pensioners unions and agencies such as EFCC, and we have a zero tolerance for corruption."

"There has not been a single incident of misappropriation of pension funds since PTAD took over and there will be none, " she stressed.

Challenges of the agency include lack of adequate awareness by some concerned stakeholders about the agency; wrong impression about PTAD by some pensioners and critical stakeholder; huge pension liabilities including resistance to change and absence of credible database as some of the challenges confronting the agency in the last one year.

The National President of theNigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr. Abel Afolayan gave kudos to PTAD for approval of 33per cent pension increase by federal government and reversal of hitherto problematic payment of pensions by banks.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—35

,

Ekiti: Labour leaders or traders?

In the process of processing the application for refunds, we encountered a bank teller which showed that a subscriber had paid the initial deposit into an account , other than the advertised NLC- Kriston Lally EPC

By Funmi Komolafe

W

HEN politics is at its peak, you begin to see the true colours of those who claim to be representing the interest of workers. Simply put, you begin to see clearly those who are genuine labour leaders and those who are labour traders.

Recent developments in Ekiti State should give any committed unionist cause for concern.

Just before Governor Kayode Fayemi left office after he lost the re-election, employees of the state government embarked on a strike following the inability of the Fayemi Government to pay two months overdue salaries.

We have no record that during this period, labour leaders in Ekiti had any consulation with the the out-going governor on this issue, and neither did they declare a trade dispute. They simply went on strike. Earlier, there were reports from Fayemi’s government that Governor elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose had instructed banks to dishonour state cheques.

There is also no record that the leadership of the state Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) or the Public Sector Joint Negotiating Council ( PSJNC) verified the claims of Dr. Fayemi’s officials.

Neither did they consult Mr. Fayose to confirm or deny this.

Calling off of strike When the National Judicial Council ( NJC) ordered the courts to re-open, it was not presumably because the workers were on strike.

What was most disturbing was the fact that these labour leaders or labour traders as they have proved to be, called off the strike on the day of Mr. Fayose’s inaguration.

The issue is why was the strike called off? Were workers paid their outstanding salaries on the day of the inaguration? Where and when did the union officials hold any consultation with Mr. Fayose on this issue? What were the terms of agreement? Are the labour leaders ignorant of “ Collective Bargaining” procedures ?

Was the strike called off because the labour leaders have earned their pay for calling this strike?

In January 2012 , the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress called off a popular strike against deregulation of the down stream sector of the petroleum industry without any form of collective bargaining. Till today, the NLC has not recovered from the consequences of that action which disconnected it from the civil society organizations.

,

process applications for refunds, we encountered a bank teller which showed NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed-Omar that a subscriber had paid the initial deposit into an account , other than the advertised NLC-Kriston Lally EPC.” Kriston-Lally's response: “When in October last year, NLC ordered that we should stop accepting deposits from subscribers, we posted that on our website and sent bulk SMS text messages to all those who subscribed.

We also informed the Bank in writing to freeze the X-Path system and to automacatically block further payments.

This edition of Labour Vanguard gives more insight into how the However, due to pressures from so dream of workers to own houses turned to be an unrealizable dream. many people and in particular from the leadership of NLC, especially, the NLC accountant, and one honourable NLC

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE & Lally's statement . staff whose name evades me, it was VICTOR AHIUMA- YOUNG. The Rivers State Council of the NLC decided to allow new clients to pay dein a letter dated February 28, 2014 ARTNERS to the Nigeria Labour addressed to Kriston-Lally, signed by posits into our operation account which Congress in the housing scheme, NLC state chairman, Chief Chris Oruge was in existence since 2012.”

He further explained: “ This operationKriston Lally EPC Nigeria Lim- stated that “the Executive Governor of ited in its own side of the story released Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi al account was also used for the financing of Kriston-Lally’s contribution to the press on September 27, signed Amaechi through the Greater Port Harby its Group Managing Director/ Chief court City Development Authority has, to the project: Acquisition of land, payment of salaries, certain Executive Officer, Alhaji Mustapha on the 21st February, 2014 administration costs and Umar Madawaki went down memory officially allotted us cash provided to the NLC lane: approximately 40 hectares of president upon his requests “In March 2013, Kriston Enterprises prime land at the Aluuand treats”. of which Kriston Lally is a legal affiliate Omagwa axis of Greater Port In addition, Alhaji entered into an MoU and subsequent Harcourt for use as Phase 1 Madawaki stated: “It is contractual agreement with the NLC. of our affordable Housing noteworthy of mention that The project for affordable housing for Scheme”.

60 per cent of our employees Nigerian workers was based on this The state council asked the were nominated by NLC contract….. Kriston Lally was obliged to company to liaise with leadership which meant that develop and provide affordable housing GPCDA for the “official we were responsible for according to agreed prices to the formalities and establishment training them since they depositors by the end of 2014.” of boundaries.” came to us without profesHe however disclosed that “there is sional experience”. another part of the contract which the Furore over deposit We had earlier reported NLC has failed to mention to the public According to NLC that the NLC president told and this part of the contract is absolutely president, Abdulwaheed his National Administrative fundamental not only to the success of Omar, “ on October 4, 2013 , Council members that his the project but it is fundamental to the Congress decided that further signature was forged, a very beginning — initialization of the subscription and collection of claim Kriston-Lally denied. project “.

This money be stopped to enable If indeed, some staff of Alhaji Madawaki stated with the project consolidate and operational NLC knew of the existence emphasis that “there are two articles in deliver the first phase of of this account, why did the the contract, that is p.1.10 and p 5.1 account was houses to those who had NLC claim it had no knowlwhich clearly laid out the responsibility subscribed within the also used for edge of the account? Or is and obligation of the NLC to provide promised time frame of Dethe NLC saying its staff did the land on which the developer, Kriston the financing cember 2014. This decision not act on its behalf?

Lally was to, or is to build houses for was served on and acknowlof Kriston Why didn’t Kriston-Lally Nigerian workers. The NLC has to date edged by Kriston-Lally on 4th officially communicate the not provided land for the project on Lally’s contriOctober 2013.” development to NLC in which Kriston Lally can build.”

Omar added: “Congress bution to the black and white ?

Indeed, the NLC did not mention this became worried however as ….. So what is the fate of in its press release dated September 22 project the take-off of the project kept depositors? Find out in our signed by its President, Abdulwaheed on being delayed. Due to next edition.

Omar. the delay, a number of subHowever, information available to scribers applied for refund of Labour Vanguard confirms Kriston their deposits. In the bid to

How workers' housing project failed

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36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Court order must be obeyed to sustain our democracy — Gov Orji Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, in his over seven years tenure, went through 12 election petition tribunals. A situation which better describes the popular saying that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

However, what is unique is that in each case he came out clean. In this interview, the governor spoke on a 576 page book titled ‘Abia Governorship Law Reports’ edited by former Attorney General of Imo State, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), the allegations, against him on the Okija shrine, the impact of the compendium on jurisprudence, the rule of law, the inclusion of the opponents in the running of his administration and other related issues. Excerpts:

By DOTUN IBIWOYE

W

HAT lessons can be learnt from the twelve election petition tribunals that you went through and the writing of this legal compendium?

The writing of that book was not my inspiration, I did not initiate it. It was the initiative of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, who defended me throughout my cases at the tribunals. He told me that ‘your Excellency, your case has been temporarily stifled by election petition tribunal, you should begin to document such for the people and for posterity’. At the first instance, I underwent a lot of trouble during that election. I had a lot of serious litigation issues, and he said ‘if you document your experience, it will add value to everyone who reads it and the result will definitely be positive. The book will also compliment our jurisprudence’.

I have gone through the pages and they are all interesting. I also believe that it will serve as a reference point to any tribunal judge that has similar and prolonged case like my own. The

one that I am most interested in, is the one saying that I belong to a secret society-the Okija, simply because I know that I have never belonged to any secret society in my life. I am sure that people go to shrine and perform rituals, that is what they want. I do not have

Because if I had gone and testify, maybe that situation would have been cleared.

Whatever is not stated in the constitution, then one can’t assume it is the law

Is Anarchy An Alternative?

•Chief Theodore Orji, Governor of Abia State

anything to do with the shrine.

After many accusations and thorough investigations, eventually the truth came out- that I didn’t belong to any secret society, the truth cannot be hidden.

It has become a reference point from this book for any person who may come tomorrow and contest election and if they say he belongs to a secret society. They have to proof that that society is secret. I have never heard of anything like Okija secret society and there is none.

So was that how the judge was convinced that you were not a member of a secret society?

Well, that is why you have first tribunal and second tribunal.

Because there was no enough evidence, for the lower tribunal to prove that this Okija shrine is a secret society. I remember vividly, I offered myself to go and testify, but the first lawyer that defended my said no, it was not necessary. Because if I had gone and testified, maybe that

— PG.38

situation would have been cleared. Whatever is not stated in the constitution, then one can’t assume it is the law.

The well known secret societies in Nigeria like the Ogboni and rest of them have modus operandi, so I have never had anything that depicts my lifestyle with the operation of a secret society.

You are not a lawyer but the multiple tribunals have made you to be fully involved in the judicial processes. What is your advice to other people at the helms of affair who may have similar cases?

First thing, you have to realize that all I went through were political trials. In political trials, when it comes to the struggles for powers, anything goes. There are people who want to get power by all means; through blackmail, through propaganda and through false accusations. That was all that I went through. It was not a very nice experience, for an innocent man. I am an innocent

man in the murky waters of politics. My piece of advice to leaders is that they should stand on the truth.

Damaging relaltionship If there are areas you can reconcile with your opponents, just do that. But if you are going to go through this process, you have to be determined to fight what you know to be the right cause. It is not something you do half way and run away. To fight from the lower tribunal to the appeal court down to the supreme court. If you are on the right path, with a good lawyer, you will win, but if on the other hand, you are a politician and you know that what you are fighting for is not just, there is no point damaging your image or damaging the relationship which you have with the man who is on the right path, just parley with

Continues on page 37

GOOD GOVERNANCE: Legal and regulatory framework for capacity building —Page 38

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—37

Court order must be obeyed to sustain our democracy — Gov Orji Continues from page 36 him. Politics is all about negotiation and inte-rest. One of the most salient things that is noticeable in all the tribunals is that your opponents are now your ally. How did this happen?

Yes, it was not the tribunals that united us, it was my initiative. If I had gone by the rulings of the tribunals, I would have waged war against those people who took me to court. By saying ‘ you see now I am governor, I will teach you a lesson, I will revenge’, which means many people will be affected but I said no, that is a bad way to go, because I have now come to appreciate why those who did what they did, did it.

The best thing was to bring every person on board irrespective of what the tribunal had said. We have won the battle against the opponent. So all those people who took us to court are with me because they have come to realise the type of person that I am.

If didn’t initiate it, they would not have come. It might have led to something else by now. You know what happens in the village, when somebody takes you to court, they become your perpetual enemy because they will say that you want to kill them.

So, that was what happened.

With my position, I believe that making peace will be a win-win for all of us. I invited them to discuss with them and I saw their reasons and they saw mine, and I involved them in governance.

That is the summary. Someone that wants to be governor like you, and you are now the governor and you exclude him, he will be unhappy throughout.

But you make him part and parcel of that government, he will feel satisfied and support you. So that is what we did there, and it is working for us.

How would you rate the lawyers who defended you because they are the main actors that won the cases?

The lawyers were great. You

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

•Chief Theodore Orji,

see, when God prepares you for something, you have to do it well.

Remember that I took selected lawyers to the tribunals, who know their onus and who are determined because all of them

If you try from the lower court and you don’t succeed, go to Appeal Court, if you do not succeed, go to Supreme Court, and once the Supreme Court decides, the best thing is to obey

knew that my case was just and they put in everything you would think that a lawyer would put in the case. Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria and those that are not senior advocate, but, well experienced lawyers volunteered. In fact, all the lawyers from my community came to the tribunal on their own to assist. Any idea they had, they will give to the senior lawyers to help him. So I appreciate them for what they did for us, because it was unprecedented. They didn’t come because of money, all these senior advocates came because they saw a man that the system was trying to humiliate.

They saw a man who won election clearly, and they wanted to take away his mandate. So they said no, justice must prevail, and that was what made my case.

What is your recommendation to other states of the federation concerning the rule of law?

Well my recommendations to every state is that, they should not disobey court orders because that is what unites us and sustains this our democracy. They

should not because there are other avenues for you to seek redress. If you try from the lower court and you don’t succeed, go to Appeal Court, if you do not succeed, go to Supreme Court, and once the Supreme Court decides, the best thing is to obey, because you will know that you have exhausted all the channels of justice. So, I will not recommend that any person should disobey court orders. I don’t recommend that, because in all of these, our democracy must be sustained. It’s the judiciary that will help to sustain it. You see what happened in Adamawa, assuming the people said no, we will not obey court order to swear in this new governor, there will be crises there. There would have be killings and burning of houses and properties.

But because they obey court order, you see that there is at least relative peace in that place. So, in our own interest and for peace and for sustenance of democracy, for the separation of powers, I recommend that every government, every Nigerian should obey court orders.

Different impression Some people who in their nature and the position of authority, they have become the main figure. No person can go near them. In fact if you see their faces, you will run away. So they assume authority everywhere.

But we are not like that, because by so doing, you will scare people away. People will have different impression about you, even though you are a bad person.

First and foremost, I see myself as an ordinary Nigerian and the position that I am occupying today is by divine intervention and I will leave one day and join the masses. You rather use your position to help the people, because that is why God has given you that position. So that

when you come out, you will still be parleying with them. They will still admire you when you come home and they will still hail you.

I always admire Chief Jim Nwobodo, wherever he is. There are people who will come to a function and you mention their names, in fact when they entered the hall, some people will start walking away. You will not like that kind of thing. So it’s now that you have this position that you have to cultivate that attitude of humility.

The issue of executive interference in the judiciary and other arm of government has always reduced effective governance, how has your government treated the judiciary?

Yes, the three arms of government in Abia have been working harmoniously. I have never had issue with the judiciary.

Issue with the judiciary On the issue of acting C.J, we were acting in accordance with the law. It is there in the constitution, when a substantive C.J retires, before making a recommendation, you appoint an acting C.J who will be there for at least three months before the substantive C.J will be confirmed.

So, this is what had been happening. Whenever the C.J retires, we submit names of those who are qualified to be considered. That is what we have done now because the last C.J has retired and we had a meeting to submit names for selection of substantive one.

And it has not caused any problem for us. But anyone that will come, we will ask the C.J to cooperate with the executive and the legislature, because it is the House of Assembly that will confirm you and bring your name for me to swear you in. So every arm is important. You have to carry them along. I have not had a stubborn C.J, neither have I had a stubborn acting C.J, but all along, except one, the rest have been women, and you know, women. They are always meticulous and organised. So we followed the process of the law in appointing our C.J.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Is anarchy an alternative?

By Awa U. Kalu, SAN

R

ECENT events in the polity have not only left a sour taste in the mouth of right thinking and law abiding citizens but have left rather innocent Nigerians wondering whether a slide into anarchy is a distinct possibility.

Thomas Hobbes (15881679) the late English philosopher, in his rather famous Leviathan (pt.11,ch.19) parodied the idea of anarchy when he noted that ‘they that are •Awa U. Kalu, SAN discontented under moncial proceedings which archy, call it tyranny; and they that are they ensured was still displeased with aristocracy, call it oligarborn? You may bear in mind chy; so also, they which find themselves that the government in grieved under a democracy, called it anpower as at the date of the archy, which signifies the want of governfracas was produced by the ment; and yet I think no man believes, APC – a political associathat want of government, is any kind of tion different form the asgovernment”. sociation that produced the What are these events that trouble the incoming administration. mind? The first is the very widely reportThe lack of trust in the ed assault on the judiciary in Ekiti State judicial apparatus for the within the month of September, this year. purpose of mediating in an As will soon be seen, the assault on the impartial manner, between courts in Ekiti have varied ramifications contending parties, apparwhich will continue to unfold. ently led’ to the breakdown According to media reports, the first inof law and order. Another cident occurred on Monday, 22nd Sepimportant factor to be taktember, 2014 when a group of bandits and en into consideration is thugs invaded the court premises in Adothat while the incumbent Ekiti and caused a Judge of the High governor at the material Court and several court staff to flee in diftime belongs to the oppoferent directions for their safety. What was sition in the context of the at stake? Allegedly, the court was sitting totality of the federation, for the purpose of considering the eligithe incoming governor is bility of the victor in the governorship elecof the most powerful political party if not tions held in June. in Africa, at least South of the Sahara. The media was awash with allegation that the Governorship judiciary in Ekiti State planned to scuttle elections the mandate of the incoming Governor by The allegation is that the fracas which subverting the will of the people expressed ensued in court was occasioned by the through the ballot box. The result was belief of the supporters of the victor that twofold.

First, the Chief Judge shut the courts to their victory would be scuttled. Again, avert further crisis and then there were Thursday, September 25, 2014 recorded rumours that the incoming Governor another assault on the Ekiti State judiciary. It was also widely reported in the would be denied his mandatory oath of media that a Judge of the Court, Hon. office (in that the Chief Judge, or indeed, Justice Adeyeye sitting in court number no Judge, would be available to swear him three (3) was beaten up by those who in- in). Apart from speculation, it is hard to vaded the court premises and his suit was imagine how the political process will be shredded during the attack. The media stretched to such limits.

What gave credence to the fear that the further reported that “the police officers Governor-elect will remain ‘oathless’ is the on guard looked unconcerned and uninterested as Judges, Magistrates and oth- second part of the imbroglio – the use of er members of staff had to run for their the police to shut down the courts until the inauguration of the new administralives”.

More disconcerting was the report that tion is achieved.

Again, two questions arise from the Ekiti the court room of the Chief Judge was not spared as members of staff attached to the crisis. Considering the immediate reacChief Judge’s Court were also beaten up tion of the Chief Judge which was the and attacked. The Chief Judge’s record withdrawal of judicial services by shutbook was allegedly torn to shreds. In or- ting down the courts, you may wonder der to understand Thomas Hobbes’ refer- whether it is within the purview of a Chief ence to ‘want of government’, one would Judge to close the courts for any length of need to ruminate on why police men on time (except ofcourse during vacation). On duty allegedly looked the other way when the other hand was the decision to use the premises they were supposed to guard the police to shut the courts pending the swearing in of the new Governor. or watch over, came under assault.

Was it a decision designed to adhere Could it be that they were interested in the outcome of the litigation which of course justice for one or should society aim for was aborted or thwarted when the mis- justice for all? We cannot deny that the creants invaded the court premises? In the constitution vests judicial power in the alternative, were those law enforcement courts created by the constitution. agents loyal to those opposed to the judi-

GOOD GOVERNANCE: Legal and regulatory framework for capacity building

By AKIN OYEBODE

I

ntroduction: Humankind has been experiencing unprecedented change at a frenetic pace in recent times. Whether we are contemplating societal structure or organization, management, science and technology, the arts or even sports, everything seems to point to the fact that we are living in an era of unprecedented transition where old ideas, assumptions and perspectives are yielding to change which we all have to grapple with if we are not to be left behind or become disoriented and diffident in the face of new, unfamiliar scenarios.

From analogue broadcasting and oldfashioned communications systems, the world has since moved to the age of information communication technology revolution just as mechanical engineering and aircraft technology had attained incredible heights such that traditional modes of transportation suddenly seem so old-fashioned with the development of fast electric planes and supersonic airplanes which have further shrunken distances within an already globalized village. Improved agricultural methods and genetically modified seedlings and other scientific breakthroughs hold incredible promise for the world’s population, whether rich or downtrodden, weak and famished.

•Prof. Akin Oyebode phenomenon of change. Indeed when Frederick de Klerk admonished his white supremacist compatriots in apartheid South Africa to either adapt or die, he was merely echoing the eternal and universal truth concerning the inevitability of change.

Any society bereft of the awareness of the inexorability of change and the necessity to harness change to its benefit is doomed to become a victim of forces it can neither understand nor control. It is largely on account of this that societies send their off-springs to school in order to arm and equip them with the facts of life Human and prepare them to survive in an advancement inevitably uncertain future. For, knowledge is truly power, as Francis Bacon once Although human advancement remains observed so much so that ignorance could very much a work in progress, as there be very expensive indeed as knowledge are quite a number of ailments would surely rule over still ravaging the sick and poor ignorance. for which medical science is yet If our forefathers had better to furnish cures, it has to be awareness of the world they admitted that tremendous would most probably have been gains have been recorded as a less trusting of their enslavers result of considerable and escaped their fate of investment by governments becoming casualties of the and the industry of innovators, machinations of their conquerors. researchers and other elements This explains why we just cannot of the contemporary afford to fall into self-indulgence knowledge economy who and smug self-satisfaction like our herald the brave new world forefathers did. We need to that humanity now inhabits. apprehend the nature of the times It is against this most we are living in and make interesting leitmotif that we adequate preparations and wish to approach the theme of adjustments for the future. this presentation. Accordingly, It seems to me that we should it is intended to situate the state proceed from an awareness of of affairs in the country within Nigeria’s manifest destiny to the rubric of change, be it show the light to our neighbours, political, social or economic the rest of the continent and If our before zeroing-in on the role indeed, the entire black race. It of good governance in relation forefathers was not for nothing that to the much-trumpeted had better Providence had endowed us transformation agenda of the with humongous resources in awareness present administration. Finally, terms of the bounties of nature we shall interrogate the scope of the as well as human capital. Indeed of law as a framework for it would be a great disservice to world they bringing about the muchthe Creator if Nigeria fails to desired change in our would harness these resources to the fortunes. benefit and for the service of the most The Imperative of Change black race. in Nigeria and Its Spin-Off in probably Accordingly, our people have Africa and the Black World to jettison all superstition, have been It is axiomatic that change is diffidence and self-defeat and immanent in nature, man and less embrace requisite selfsociety. It is, therefore, quite trusting of confidence, tenacity of purpose understandable that the and keen focus in order to lift the ancient Greeks had to conceive their country up from the morass of of an entire branch of enslavers incompetence, self-doubt and philosophy—dialektika—in a ineffectual mismanagement into bid to get to grips with the which it had sunken.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 39

By GBOLAHAN GBADAMOSI

L

OTTERY, like other ideas borrowed from other jurisdictions, is a creation of statute. In England, a statute of 1698 provided that lotteries were by default illegal unless specifically authorized by statute.

A 1934 Act was further liberalized in 1956 and in 1976 small lotteries were legalized.

Its operation became national in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. It was operated by Camelot Group to whom the license was granted in 1994 and 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission and was established by the then British Prime Minister, John Major, in 1994.

To take a maximum advantage of what lottery should be and how it should be operated, when London won the bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, Olympic Lottery Scratch cards were launched on July 27, 2005 under the brand name “Go for Gold”.

How not to implement National Lottery Act

competition or device for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance, or as a result of the National exercise of skill and chance or lotteries based on the outcome of sporting events, or any other game, Journey across Atlantic Ocean scheme, arrangement, system, to the United States, history has plan, competition or device, which it that lotteries did not always the President may by notice in the have a sterling reputation. One Gazette declare to be lottery and early lottery in particular the which shall be operated according National Lottery (1965) which was to a license”.

Lottery in ordinary meaning is passed by Congress for the beautification of Washington D.C “a means of raising money by selling numbered tickets and which was and giving prizes to the administered by the holders drawn at municipal government random”. See the was the subject of a major introductory part when US Supreme Court Britain raised money to decision in Cohens V fund 2012 Olympic Virgina. See Jean Games.

Edward Smith in John In another word, Marshall’s Definer of A lottery is defined as: “(a) Nation New York: Henry A gambling game or Holt & Company, 1996 method of raising pp. 456-459. money, as for a public Unlike the UK which charitable purpose in has a national lottery which a large number of system, lotteries are tickets are sold and a established in 44 states in drawing is held for US. certain prizes; (b) Any From the UK and the device for distribution of US, it is clear that lotteries prizes by chance; (c) are established by Any happening or government to either process that is or raise funds for a specific appears to be project or to augment determined by chance”. state revenues or to Are the operators of the support educational Act implementing the system. In whichever provisions of the statute? way, tickets are offered as The immediate answer is part of lotteries to enable in the negative in view interested parties of the NLRC’s extension participate therein. of the provisions to Likewise, the National Consumer Sales Lotteries Act (NLA) 2005 Promotion (CSP).. brought into life “The It is my To all intents and National Lottery purposes, CSP Regulatory Commission” humble (NLRC) see section 1 as submission encourages a variety of short term promotional signed into law by the techniques to induce former President that Olusegun Obasanjo on companies customers to respond in some way. CSP is a March 30 2005. marketing Section 57 of the NLA conducting typical technique that adds defines “lottery or CSPs do values to a product in lotteries” to include “any order to achieve specific game, scheme, not sell marketing goals. In arrangement ,system, tickets plan, promotional

these categories of CSP are some of the companies that engage in short term promotions which operations are not within the contemplation of the drafters of the National Lottery Act. It is argued that the Act of the NLRC in issuing letters alleging breach of the provisions of the Act to some companies that engage in short-term promotion is illegal as can be gleaned from section 29 of the Act (Sales of Tickets).

This section requires that it is mandatory that a ticket of any lottery under the Act shall be sold on behalf of a license through personal applications postage or electronic transmission....” It is my humble submission that companies conducting CSPs do not sell tickets, it is only additional value or incentive for patronizing a particular product, as the consumer is definitely not

engaging in a lottery game because he or she gets value for his money in terms of the product he or she has paid for.

Another salient point to consider is located in Section 24 of the Act (Application of proceeds of a National Lottery). Subsection (1) reads “A licensee shall establish an operational fund to be known as the “prize funds” into which is to be paid a minimum return of 50 percent of the proceeds of a National Lottery”, while subsection (3) states that “

Determination of result A licensee shall pay to the Trust Fund established under section 35 of this Act within a period not more than 90 days after the determination of the result of each

lottery, an amount of 20 percent of the proceed of the lottery for the first 5 years of the license, 25 percent in the subsequent 5 years and thereafter 27.5 percent”.

It is to be noted that companies or corporate bodies conducting CSP’s do not sell tickets, there is no proceeds out of which are to pay required percentage to the National Lottery Trust Fund. The Act (NLA), according to the drafters is ONLY to regulate lottery business and not CSP. Referring to Section 20 of the Act (Duration of a license) which among others states that “ a license granted shall be valid for a minimum period of 10 years and a maximum of 15 years”, it is the contention of this writer that there is no valid reason why a company should apply for a license for a CSP with a minimum duration of 10 years when maximum duration of such CSP is just for a period of six months. Further, it shows that it was not in the spirit and letter of of the Act that companies utilizing one marketing form or the other to push the sales of their products including CSP should be applying for lottery licence.

To be continued

SAN condemns judges’ lobby for inclusion in election tribunals

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige, has flayed the judiciary for not playing its role to ensure a better electoral process and condemned judges who lobby to be included in election petition tribunal.

Ngige, who spoke at the 7th Annual Law and Social Development Lecture of Bamidele Aturu & Co., noted that often, the judiciary was susceptible to manipulation, in terms of composition of tribunal members.

He said: : “The judiciary has a tremendous role to play. It is the judiciary that actually make or mars any electoral process. If an election is badly conducted, it is the judiciary that will call the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to order.

“It is also the judiciary that can defend a properly conducted election. The problem we have now is that the judiciary is not playing that role.”

Noting that some vested interest played parts in ensuring that certain judges were nominated to election tribunal, Ngige pointed out that what could mar the success

of the 2015 general elections was a repeat of situations where a judge lobbies his Chief Judge for inclusion in election tribunal.

“If a judge lobbies his Chief Judge, then the Chief Judge is like a red flag that hwas raised- an indication that the judge is corrupt and he should not be put into the system to handle election litigation. These are some of the problems I have observed.

And if it is repeated in 2015, it will heavily mar the outcome of the election,” he said.

Renowned human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana SAN, on his part,asserted that Nigerians had shown that Aturu lives on by their turnout at the event.

“I am impressed at the speeches. We are getting ourselves prepared for the next elections,” Falana asserted.

Human rights activist, Mr Richard Akinnola, described the event as one that kept on the legacy of late Aturu.

He said: “This is something he believed so much in and put so much resources into when he was alive.” Akinnola, however, lamented that money, rather than ideal or character, had become a major factor in recent elections in the country.

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Ebola - Open Letter to the ECOWAS presidents

By Chinweizu

A

S the spectre of Ebola stalks the world, people everywhere are looking accusingly at the ECOWAS presidents.

Like the commandants from whose prison a jailbreak of very dangerous prisoners has just happened, they had better have a damned good explanation of the event or face court martial, etc. The citizens of ECOWAS demand no less. How can these presidents allow such a thing to happen on their watch and disgrace all Africans?

Aspersions of all sorts are being cast on us as incompetent to manage our countries.

Africa is being demonized as this mysterious human backwater from which strange diseases emerge to afflict the whole world.

Before long it will be argued that Africa should be re-colonized by the West to protect the whole world from the deadly incompetence of its corrupt black misrulers.

Cancellation of conferences In the meantime, the economies of ECOWAS countries are suffering. Their tourism sector has already been hit by postponement and cancellation of conferences, group tours, private visits etc. In farming villages, economic activities are being disrupted as the people flee for safety.

And when the entry bans being urged in the USA and elsewhere are imposed, there will also be the cost of social disruption as

it you can’t fix it. I, as a concerned ECOWAS citizen— and I believe many other Africans would join me in this—therefore demand an emergency ECOWAS Summit on Ebola at which the ECOWAS presidents should set up a public and independent Commission of Enquiry comprising eminent international judges and jurists to investigate the event and find answers to some pertinent questions: On February 18, 2006, I delivered a public lecture at Muson Centre, Lagos, titled “Lugardism, UN Imperialism and the prospect of African power.” In it I mentioned a book, published in 1997, whose title should be the starting point of discussions on how to contain and end the Ebola epidemic of 2014. It was Emerging Viruses: AIDS & Ebola - Nature, Accident or Intentional? by Dr. Len Horowitz , (Tetrahedron, LLC., 1997; ISBN:092355012-7;$29.95) That title, from nearly twenty years ago, suggested that AIDS and Ebola may not be natural viruses, but lab-made viruses. For the purposes of investigating this Ebola epidemic, and until a better hypothesis is offered, let’s start with the hypothesis that this Ebola epidemic has been caused by a lab-made virus.

Virus epidemics

CHINWEIZU

If it is a lab-made virus, then how come it is now suddenly proliferating in West Africa, in the Mano River basin countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea)? How many genetic engineering labs using recombinant technology are there in those countries?

Who operates them? That’s where, in my view, the ECOWAS Presidents should begin their inquiries if they want to protect their populations from this and similar virus epidemics in future.

Here are some of the pertinent questions to be put to the proposed ECOWAS Commission: • Is the Ebola virus natural or artificial, i.e. lab-made?

family members, barred from entry into America and Europe, cannot visit one another. Students back home on vacation may not be able to return to their campuses abroad, nor will importers be able to make quick trips abroad to buy and bring in goods. Emergency trips abroad for treatment of other ailments will be affected. Until the epidemic is ended, the economies of ECOWAS will be seriously hit and the economic and social coats will keep mounting. And the epidemic can’t be ended without knowing its causes and therefore the effective ways to combat them.

After all, if you don’t understand

Logically, it is either natural or artificial.

Here is an editorial in The Observer (London), Sunday, October 5, 2014, telling of the first death in this epidemic: “On December 26, 2013, a two-yearold boy fell sick with a mysterious illness whose symptoms local people and medical workers had never seen before. Within two days, the boy was dead.”

This suggests that it was not something previously known in the area. Hence it could not have been naturally present or endemic in that ecosystem. If it were a natural and therefore ancient member of the ecosystem

President Ellen-Sirleaf, Liberia

President Alpha Conde, Guinea

President Goodluck Jonathan of the Mano River basin, it would Immunology at Tulane University have manifested there long School of Medicine?

•Have they been conducting enough before now for the local population to have developed any experimental treatments on some immunity to it and to have citizens of the region (e.g., knowledge of it - as with malaria. injecting monoclonal antibodies)?

•What are the declared Ergo, it is a recent introduction to the area. And it is probably an purposes of the Tulane University research project? artificial virus.

• Do they include detecting the •If Ebola is a lab-made virus, possible use of hemorrhagic fever who manufactures it?

•Is there any patent on the viruses as bioweapons?

•Have they also been Ebola virus? If so, who owns the investigating the use of patent?

•Who brought the virus to the monoclonal antibodies as a Mano River Union countries treatment for Lhasa fever and (Sierra Leone, Liberia and other viral hemorrhagic fevers?

•If so where? On-site in Africa Guinea) and in sufficient quantities to infect so many as to or outside Africa?

•What treatments have killed some 3000 have such in the ten months since investigations that first death in produced for Ebola?

December 2013?

•Have these •Have any labs in treatments been made those countries been available to the Ebola working on Ebola? victims in West Africa?

•If yes, who set them And how soon after the up and who operates epidemic began? them?

•What precise roles •Where precisely are have Dr. Robert Garry, they located?

Professor of •How did the virus The Microbiology and get from the labs to the fearful Immunology, and Dr. village where the boy citizens of James Robinson, lived?

Professor of Pediatrics, •Was the escape to ECOWAS, been playing in this that village accidental the fearful research? or intentional?

•What do Profs Garry Some other people of and Robinson have to intriguing questions say about the origins of that ECOWAS Africa, this epidemic? presidents should indeed the •What role has direct the Commission Corgenix Medical to investigate include: fearful Corp been playing in •Is it true that people of the Tulane research? researchers from Tulane •What does Douglass University, New the whole Orleans, USA, have world need Simpson, president of have to say been operating in the answers to Corgenix, about the origins of this area for about ten years epidemic? under the leadership of these •Are any US one Dr. Robert Garry, questions Government agencies Professor of or UN agencies Microbiology and

President Macky Sall, Senegal associated with Tulane University in this research?

•What role has the World Health Organization been playing in the Tulane University research?

•Who funds this Tulane University research project?

•Is it true that the Cubans sent help before the UK and USA? If so, How come the big countries were tardy?

•Did the governments of the affected countries (Liberia, Sierras Leone and Guinea) sign agreements permitting the research and trials in their territory?

•Were any risk assessments done before the arrangements were agreed?

•Were they given financial incentives/ rewards to allow the research?

•Did they clear these arrangements with the other ECOWAS countries?

•Are these governments in any economic arrangements with China?

•These are 30 pertinent questions. Let an ECOWAS Commission of eminent jurists be set up, and let them help a frightened world to find and listen to the evidence.

Artificial Ebola virus If the ECOWAS investigation upholds the hypothesis that the Ebola virus is lab-made and new to the ecosystem of the Mano River basin, then whoever they were that brought this artificial Ebola virus to West Africa are prima facie responsible for causing this epidemic.

And they have a legal and moral obligation to supply any cures they have developed and in sufficient quantities to eradicate the epidemic within a month.

The fearful citizens of ECOWAS, the fearful people of Africa, indeed the fearful people of the whole world need answers to these questions. And it is the responsibility of the ECOWAS presidents to start providing the answers without delay.

The whole world is frightened; the whole world is waiting! The whole world is watching and judging them. Let them not, by inaction or delay, convict themselves of indifference or incompetence or worse.

• C h i n w e i z u , Sundoor999@gmail.com

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—41

•Adefulire

•Seriki

•Solomon

•Ikuforiji

•Ambode

•Ashafa

•Gbajabiamiala

•Tinubu

•Fashola

•Bayewu

LAGOS SENATE CONTESTS

APC, PDP in battle royale

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE contest for the Senate and House of Representatives in Lagos State is one that has transfromed the two leading parties in the state into political warriors with both camps formulating strategies to outwit each other.

Interestingly, while many aspirants have come out in the All Progressives Congress, APC in the Lagos West and East Senatorial districts, the shape of the contest in that party in the Lagos Central Senatorial district remains a matter of conjecture.

Matter of conjecture All eyes are on party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as to his own aspiration. The seat which is presently occupied by his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu has not as much attracted much interest from the party faithful who out of deference to the wife of the party leader and also in consideration of her own robust representation have not come

out to oppose her.

The gist in some sections of the party is that Asiwaju could take the Lagos Central Senatorial ticket as a way of positioning himself for the office of Senate President in the likelihood that the APC forms the majority in the Senate.

LAGOS WEST: APC G a n i y u Solomon S e n a t o r Ganiyu Solomon occupies the Senate seat but has since thrown his hat into the governorship ring since the party has zoned the seat to Lagos West.

Though the Minority Whip of the Senate maintains that it is either the governorship position or nothing else, insiders are of the view that the recent position of

the Oba of Lagos practically shut the door on other aspirants when he endorsed a particular aspirant, in the person of Akinwumi Ambode.

Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire In the case of the Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, her second term as deputy governor is no longer plausible with a Christian being proposed as the next governorship candidate of APC in the state. She has, PDP has therefore, accepted been unable her fate and looking for an alternative to win which is the Senate. elections into She is from Alimosho the legislative local government area, the biggest in arm at all the state. levels but the Alimosho is one of the 10 local party, this government areas time around, that make the Lagos West Senatorial intends to district of the state. undress the Adeyemi Ikuforiji Mr Adeyemi APC Ikuforiji is the current

•Tinubu Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Inspite of his eye on the governorship seat, Ikuforiji is believed to be interested in the Senate, in the even that he loses out at the APC primaries.

Demola Seriki In Lagos West Senatorial district, former Minister of state for Defence, Alhaji Demola Seriki, has his hat in the ring to succeed the current occupant of the seat, Senator Ganiyu Solomon.

Born and bred on the Lagos Island, the APC chieftain is bent on re-enacting Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi’s deed when he crossed over from

Lagos Central to Lagos West to pick the zone’s ticket to the Senate.

Iyabo Obasa Mrs Regina Iyabo Obasa, until recently, was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos State.

Obasa is said to be interested in picking the party ’s senatorial ticket.

Kamal Bayewu Alhaji Kamal Bayewu, is the outgoing chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government.

Continues on page 42

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

HE race to succeed governor Chibuike Amaechi has assumed feverish pitch in Rivers State. In the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP where about twenty persons have so far indicated interest to contest the governorship election the party is largely divided along the lines of those opposed to the governorship bid of former Minister of state for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike and those on his side.

Those against Wike’s governorship ambition say it would be unfair for the former minister to succeed Governor Amaechi who is from the same Ikwerre ethnic nationalit.

According to one of the governorship aspirants, Mr Gabriel Pidomson, Ikwerre would have done eight years by the time Amaechi ends his tenure in 2015 so the proper thing to do would be to give other ethnic groups opportunity to compete for the plum job.

Though Governor Amaechi is no longer of the PDP but he shares the sentiments of those opposed to another governor from Ikwerre. According to him, for sake of fairness other ethnic groups should be given the chance.

Crack in the party Meantime, the leadership of the PDP in the state has ruled out zoning of offices, insisting that offices should be competed for. State Chairman, Mr Felix Obua said the party was promoting the values of democracy with its resolve, stressing that only the best and widely accepted would fly the party’s flag in all elections.

The crack in the party played up clearly when the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu in company of Mr Wike and some other national officers of the party made a stop over visit at the party’s secretariat on Aba road recently. Virtually all other governorship aspirants except Prof Don Baridon boycotted the event Some of them told Vanguard that they were not aware of the visit of the National Chairman.

Meantime, what many viewed as the climax of the tension in the party manifested at the Legacy House, Abuja where supporters of Wike and those opposed to him allegedly clashed leaving several persons injured.

Apart from the opposition to Wike's aspiration, the Ogoni have been arguing that it is their turn to produce a governor for the state.

According to the President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, Mr Pyagbara Legborsi, the Ogoni had never being governor, deputy or

Rivers: Politicians step up struggle to succeed Amaechi

•Abe

•Peterside

speakers since the creation of the state, stressing that it was time for other tribes to reward their loyalty and support in the past.

He said the Ogoni's had campaigned and supported others to be governor in the past, so this should be time for others to support any of their son's to clinch the job.

There is also another twist to

the governorship tussle.

This time it is coming largely from the riverine part of the state. Nimi Walson Jack, also a governorship aspirant and several others from the riverine part of the state have argued that power should rotate between the upland and riverine divides of the state.

According to Mr Walson-Jack the riverine/upland dichotomy

Aspirants *Senator Lee Maeba *Senator Magnus Abe *Hon Dakuku Peterside *Mr Nyesom Wike *Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs *Dr Abiye Sekibo *Prince Tonye Princewill *Senator George Sekibo *Engineer Emma Tubotamuno Georgewill *Faafaa Dan Princewill *Hon. Ibinabo Michael West *Nimi Walson-Jack *Lancelot Anyanya *Paworiso Samuel-Horsfall

•Wike

•Maeba is the natural divide that had allegedly guided how occupants of Brick House, Government House were selected.

He said the divide informed why whenever the state had a governor from the riverine area an upland person would be the deputy and vice versa.

There are those who say that power should rotate along the three senatorial districts.

Proponents of the foregoing insist that only Rivers South East senatorial district has not produced a governor since

creation of the state.

Coordinator, Rivers South East Renaissance Movement, Mr Dornu Nwinang , said other senatorial districts have had a feel of the office except the Rivers South East senatorial district. “ This should be our turn. He insisted He said the upland and riverine divide are in the Rivers south east senatorial district . “ Upland and Riverine people are in this senatorial district.

The Opobo are here as riverine, the Oyigbos are also here as upland. These are just some examples that you find upland and riverine in this senatorial district “, he said.

Already, within the PDP alone some of the aspirants who have indicated interest in governornorshig include Senator Lee Maeba, Engr Bekinbo Dagogo Jack, Bar Dumu Lulu Briggs, Engr Emma Georgewill,Oseleye Ojuka, Chief Larry Harrison and so on.

In the APC, the top contenders for the party’s ticket are Senator Magnus Abe who represents Rivers South East senatorial district and Hon Dakuku Peterside, member representing Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Though they have not made their intentions formal, party members said the duo have been building political structures all over the state.

Some members of the party who spoke to the Vanguard said Governor Amaechi may decide who picks the party’s ticket at the end of the day.

According to sources, the governor as the state leader of the party may not want the APC to suffer internal crack before the general polls.

APC, PDP in battle royale Continued from page 41 Already, a group in the local government area, AJIF Elders Forum, has endorsed Bayewu for Lagos West Senatorial District in the coming general elections.

Lagos East APC Until recently, his ambition was to become the APC standard bearer but he has since jettisoned the idea.

Senator Olugbenga Ashafa is the present occupant of the Lagos Senatorial seat. Party leaders and members have queued behind to represent them in the Senate. For now, Ashafa is alone in the saddle.

Lagos Central

Raji Fashola The outgoing governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has performed beyond peoples imagination.

Based on this, Fashola is being tipped for the ticket, while Remi Tinubu is being appeased to step down for the former.

Remi Tinubu Senator Oluremi Tinubu is serving her first term as the lawmaker represent Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Tinubu, who is the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity.

She is already oiling her political machinery to

represent the district in the Senate while external forces are poised to convince her husband (Bola Tinubu) to replace her.

PDP: Ready for battle Lagos Central Hakeem Gbajabiamila Engr. Hakeem Akinola Gbajabiamila, was former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He has since declared his readiness to wrest the Lagos Central Senatorial District seat from Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Gbajabiamila boosts that he is battle ready to face the Tinubu factor in the forthcoming election.

Lagos West PDP: Moshood Salvador Moshood Adegoke Salvador is a chieftain of the PDP in Lagos State. He is also former member of the House of Representatives, who vied for the position of National Secretary at the last PDP convention but was asked to step down without reason.

Salvador, a delegate to the just concluded National Conference, was the PDP senatorial candidate but was defeated at the polls. He is said to be interested in the race.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—43

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

W

HEN the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, declared his intention to vie for the senatorial seat for Anambra Central, the other two major political parties in Anambra State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, knew that they had to present equally credible candidates to match his popularity.

It was therefore not surprising that soon after Umeh’s declaration, both the PDP and APC went to the drawing board to source for candidates that could give the APGA candidate a good fight.

For the PDP, six persons have lined up and all things being equal, one of them will fly the party’s flag for the Anambra Central senatorial zone. The PDP people in the race are Prince Victor Ezenwa, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Mr. Obiorah Okonkwo, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife and Mr. Kodilichukwu Okelekwe.

Ezenwa, the son of the second republic deputy governor of old Anambra State, Chief Austin Ezenwa, was secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, under former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju who governed the state from 1999 to 2003, Before then, he had served as chairman of Njikoka local government area.

Recently, he told political stakeholders in the zone at his Abagana country home that his decision to join the race followed the wide consultations he made on the matter.

Governorship primaries Another PDP aspirant is Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe who has remained loyal to PDP even when he was stopped from participating in the party’s governorship primaries after paying all the required fees in 2010. Some of his colleagues who were so badly treated left the party and later rejoined. For his consistent party loyalty, many PDP chieftains say he is the kind of senator the party needs.

Mrs. Uche Ekwunife is also aspiring to go to the senate on the platform of PDP. The two – term member of the House of Representatives is said to be favoured to clinch the ticket based on gender consideration. It was gathered that the federal lawmaker is getting the ears of the Nigerian First Lady who is believed to be clearing the envisaged obstacles on the way for her. Her only problem may be her penchant for changing political parties which, some people say, portrays her as an opportunist.

Like Ekwunife, Senator Annie

2015: Tough battle in Anambra Central THE battle for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat has moved some of the strongest political machines in the state into overdrive

•Ekwunife: Seeks to climb up

•Umeh: APGA

•Okonkwo: Former senator

Okonkwo has been jumping from one political party to the other just to remain relevant. He was PDP senator, after which he went to ACN and later APC and also romanced with APGA at some point before recently going back to PDP. The other two Okonkwo’s, Sylvester and Obiora, are new in the race, though both have enormous resources to prosecute their campaigns if nominated by their party.

For the APC, Senator Chris Ngige remains the sole aspirant for now, even as he is not

forthcoming on whether he would vie for the position in 2015 or not.

With what is on ground in the senatorial zone, it is obvious that the fear of Umeh of APGA is the beginning of wisdom, and that is what has made the race in Anambra Central unique. For instance, in the seven local government areas that make up the senatorial zone, Umeh’s loyalists are totally in charge as elected local government chairmen and councilors.

To many of them, electing Umeh to go to senate is a pay

back time and they are not pretending about it. It is therefore not surprising that no other aspirant has emerged from APGA to challenge him and while the other political parties are struggling to secure their parties’ tickets, Umeh is looking beyond party primaries and setting up campaign structures.

Besides, youths from the senatorial zone, irrespective of their political affiliation, are rooting for him because apart from being a house hold name in the state, they believe he would be an outspoken and quality senator.

It was gathered recently that if there is one senatorial zone where PDP might not put in much effort in 2015, it is Anambra Central because the ruling PDP at the federal level was said to have decided to compensate APGA and Umeh with the seat for deciding to support President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and in the forthcoming election.

However, the recent defection of the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi who is from

Aspirants *Senator Chris Ngige *Chief Victor Umeh *Hon. Uche Ekwunife *Hon. Austin Ezenwa *Chief Victor Ezenwa *Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe *Senator Annie Okonkwo *Chief Sylvester Okonkwo *Dr. Okonkwo Obiorah *Chief Mrs. Christy Okoye

A

BY ANAYO OKOLI.

FTER dithering procrastination, Senator Joy Emodi has entered the fray thereby putting the race in Anambra North Senate contest into a fresh start. Senator Emodi’s entry into the race follows what sources claim as pressure from political and traditional leaders on her. She is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Before her entry, a number of leading political leaders had also indicated interest, but sources say that a number of constituency leaders were not comfortable with the line-up and hence the pressure on Senator Emodi who is remembered for her eventful representation of the constituency in the time she was in the Senate between 2005 and 2010.

•Ngige: Incumbent the same Anaocha local government area with him from APGA to PDP, and the pockets of opposition from those who lost out during the nomination of candidates for local government election conducted last year in the state, Umeh should watch out for the unexpected because, as they say, politics can be unpredictable sometimes.

While some politicians, especially those in opposition, are faulting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s preparations for the 2015 general elections, Umeh is optimistic that INEC is on the right course.

He said: “The first stage towards achieving free, fair and credible election is by empowering the electorate with their voters’ cards which is what INEC is doing successfully.

In the past, voters were finding it difficult to cast their votes and we have observed that in the present exercise, everybody that came with his or her old voters’ card found their permanent card, which is very commendable.”

Anambra North: Joy returns

•Emodi: Joy of the Senate The pressure on Emodi Vanguard learnt came mainly from stakeholders in the PDP who are afraid that some of those in the line up could make

the party to not only lose the Senate seat, but also lose votes in the presidential election which is holding on the same day. “You know the National Assembly election is holding the same day as the presidential election, the failure of the party to so far find a strong candidate may lead to the opposition disgracing us in the presidential election,” one source familiar with the development revealed.

Following the way she left the Senate in 2010 and her exit from the presidency, some associates had prevailed on her not to again seek public office.

The senator famously known as the Joy of the Senate during her time in the Senate, was said to have strongly resisted the pressure but subsequently caved in following the

pressures that also came from outside the constituency.

Senator Emodi was said to have embarked on consultations across the zone following which she picked the form to return to the Senate.

A source from the zone who was privy to the Senator ’s decision, confirmed that “we encouraged her to get the forms and contest, because we know that she is very capable and has the experience; we have tested her and she did well, we want her”. He said that some of them who are major stakeholders in the area have weighed the capacity and capability of those trying to come out to contest for the Senate in the zone and discovered that Emodi remains the best.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Ebola: Church asks govts to increase Sanofi restates commitment to wellness in Nigeria awareness on personal hygiene F T OLLOWING the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola–free nation, government at all levels have been urged to increase awareness campaign on personal hygiene across the country with a view to constantly remind the Nigerian population that as long as Ebola virus still exists in any part of the world the country remains at risk.

Making the call during a Post Ebola Awareness Walk and prayer for Chibok Girls organised by members of the National Youth Organisation of Celestial Church of Christ, C.C.C, the National Youth Coordinator, Nigeria Region, Evang. Olusola Bankole commended the Federal and State Government for the giant steps taken to combat the dreaded disease.

Bankole further posited that personal hygiene should be a common responsibility to all and sundry, adding that no Nigeria should handle the matter with levity because what happens to one, can affect all.

His words, “It is therefore important that more awareness campaign be embarked by Nigerians to spread the message of hand washing and sanitising during the day to day activities. “We vehemently appeal to leadership of all

Youth members of Celestial Church of Christ, C.C.C, during its Post Ebola Awareness Walk recently in Lagos. churches at large including C.C.C to please resolve their man-made differences and face the principal assignment which is spreading the gospel news and teaching the ways of God both in art and act.”

“As in the 70s and early 80s, Church dictates the spiritual atmosphere of the country and environs, then, there was no diseases, endless killing/ shedding of blood, poor /stunted economy etc. It is high time stakeholders burry their hatchet and allows peace to reign.”

Speaking, General Youth Coordinator, Benson Adedayo who described the Post Ebola

Awareness Walk which started from Masha through Stadium, Ojuelegba and terminated at Tejuosho Market, Yaba described the walk as awesome. According to him, the walk was to sensitise Lagosians on Ebola and what people should do even after Ebola.

On his part, Lagos Youth Coordinator, Evang. Sumade Oyedeji said in line with governments’ effort against the killer virus, they have put in place measures to prevent the spread.

“Apart from sensitising our people, we are training our people on how to handle people with fever and also plans are underway to install electronic sanitisers.

O sustain the tempo of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiatives in Nigeria, Sanofi has renewed its avowed commitment to the wellness of the country’s citizens, in line with the company ’s corporate strategy focusing on the patient access to healthcare and safety.

In its presentation titled ‘CSR from global strategy to Nigerian projects’ at the 2014 edition of the CSR West Africa Summit recently in Lagos, Head of Public Affairs, Sanofi North East Africa, Dimeji Agbolade, revealed the company’s several initiatives including the health of children through its Healthy Children Happy Children initiative, prevention of Malaria, Maternal and infant mortality, Tuberculosis, Epilepsy, Mental Disorders and the fight against noncommunicable diseases and more specifically diabetes and hypertension. ”Our involvement in CSR is multifaceted and spread across disease prevention, training of healthcare workers to handle cases as well as easing access to quality healthcare and reducing health inequalities around the world. We are

also a major player in the campaign against counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry.

“A further demonstration of our commitment is evident in our partnership with the World Health Organisation in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. We are also a genuine partner in the fight against and elimination of sleeping sickness by 2020,” he said.

While noting the rising cases of cancer, particularly childhood cancers in developing countries, he stated that Sanofi is involved with 19 projects aimed at controlling cancer among children in 16 African countries.

Agbolade added that, “Sanofi Pasteur is the world vaccine leader and has the most extensive range of vaccines, which help prevent 20 infectious diseases including rabies, seasonal flu and meningitis. Since 2002, we have trained over 1, 200 healthcare professionals in vaccinology and prevention through programmes deployed in 11 Africa countries.”

“We are also committed to eradicating Maternal and Infant Mortality through our Stand Up For African Mothers initiative.”

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—45

Okpe students seek change in Sapele constituency

Stakeholders, kinsmen buy nomination form for Ganagana

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UCHI Chapter of the National Association of Okpe Students, NAOS, has called for change in the representation of the Sapele Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, DTHA, in 2015, describing the current representation as unproductive and selfserving.

President of the group, Mr. Lawrence Biadero, in a statement in Sapele, said through the years and with the current assembly, Sapele constituents had suffered political decadence and neglect in area of infrastructure development and youth empowerment.

They called on the Sapele people to pull their weight behind Chief Lucky Ayomanor, for the constituency’s seat in 2015, saying the aspirant’s antecedents and commitment to the development of Sapele and its people make him a worthy choice.

He said: “As a change agent, Chief Ayomanor will bring to bear his selflessness, openmindedness and concern for the common good.”

Telecom firm rewards customers

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HE Senior Manager, Segments Marketing, MTN, Saidat LawalMohammed has said that sponsorship of pilgrims is part of the firm’s show of appreciation of customers’ loyalty.

He said: “It is a reward to our customers for their dedication and loyalty; we decided to express how important they are to us.”

She spoke during the arrival of 20 pilgrims sponsored by MTN to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

One of the beneficiaries, Hajarat Aboki, from Suleja, Niger State, said: “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 travelling for Hajj and even travelling out of the country.”

By Festus Ahon

CONFAB: From left— Dr. Olumide Okunola, representative of the World Bank Group/ International Finance Corporation, Nigeria; Dr. Tunde Fakunle, Regional Community Health Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company; Dr. Kwasi Boahene, Director, Advocacy and Programme Development, Health Insurance Fund, the Netherlands; and Ms Aaltje de Roos of the Sustainable Department, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the panel session on Public Private Partnerships for Universal Health Coverage in Africa, at the 2014 Africa Works Conference in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Uduaghan thanks God for achievements

By Gabriel Enogholase, Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, at a thanksgiving service to mark his 60th birthday, expressed gratitude to God for a fulfilling life, and promised to always give glory to God in whatever situation he found himself.

The governor, who read the first lesson with his wife, taken from Psalm 103, at the First Baptist Church, Warri, also expressed gratitude to the men of God who in one way or the other played various roles in making him what he is today.

According to him, “my being a governor today has created numerous enemies for people like Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop Simeon Okah and other clerics, because they believed in me.

At 60, God has lifted me from nothing to something.”

He recalled that in 2010, when the election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba removed him from office as governor, “I came here to this Baptist Church for a thanksgiving and when

people asked me why I was doing this, I told them that the decision of the tribunal was temporary and with the hope that the same God will restore him back to office as governor.”

Earlier in his sermon, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, blamed the challenges facing the country on “wickedness.”

Some of the dignitaries at the service were Deputy Governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN); South South Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; former Secretary to the a Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae; Senators James Manager, Ifeanyi Okowa and Emmanuel Aguariavwodo.

Edo commissioner makes case for APC

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—EDO State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Chris Okaeben, has urged Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to join hands with the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration in bringing development to the people instead of plunging the state into unnecessary crisis.

Okaeben, who spoke yesterday when he formally declared his interest to run for the House of Assembly seat for Oredo West constituency, told supporters that the All Progressives Congress, APCled administration in the state

meant well for the people.

He added that his conviction that the state government meant well that led to his decision to run for the Assembly seat to contribute his quota to the development of the state.

Earlier, Chairman of APC in the local government area, Dr. Godwin Okoro, said the decision of the aspirant to declare his intention before his ward members and the party at the local government level, showed his respect for party supremacy.

He said all aspirants would be given equal opportunity to try out their popularity at the party primaries.

Why I want to represent Burutu constituency— PONDI

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Delta State youth leader, Mr. Julius Pondi, has said that his desire to contest for the Burutu Federal constituency on the platform Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was borne out of the need to provide purposeful representation that would fast track the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the area.

Pondi, who spoke shortly after picking his expression of interest and nomination

forms from the state PDP Secretariat in Asaba, noted that the area had suffered underrepresentation since 1999 compared to other federal constituencies that have dividends of democracies to show.

The former leader of Burutu Legislative Arm, while calling for support from the people, said that he would provide purpose-driven service to the people of Burutu if given the opportunity to represent them

at the House of Representatives.

Mr. Churchill Botu and Pondi’s campaign DirectorGeneral, Mr. Pullah Ekpotuayerin, described Pondi as a vibrant and trusted legislator, who can effectively represent the constituency, noting that as leader of Burutu Legislative Arm, the House passed a bill making it compulsory for all public and private schools in the council to teach Ijaw language.

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SABA— POLITICAL stakeholders and kinsmen of Mr. Basil Ganagana, Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, comprising Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftains, opinion leaders, women, youths, students among others from Patani Local Government Area of the state, have purchased nomination form for him and urged him to recontest the Assembly seat in the area.

Declaring their position during a solidarity visit to the lawmaker in Asaba, Chief Harrison Biu and Mr. Fred Avwoke, Secretary, Transition Committee of Patani council, who spoke on behalf of the group, said their decision was predicated on Ganagana's effective representation, performance and experience as a legislator.

Vice Chairman of the Transition Committee, Mr. Ebimobowei Ekpobe-tebe, and High Chief Yankee Lawrence said they were not just urging the lawmaker to return to the House, but that they had already purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms for him to make good their plans.

Ned Nwoko honoured

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RINCE Ned Nwoko has been honoured as the best legislator Delta North has produced since 1999.

Prince Nwoko, who represented Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives was honoured by Advocacy and Social Justice, which said that after 12 years of his exit, the Anioma nation had not produced another effective lawmaker at the federal level.

The award was presented at the public presentation of a book entitled Power shift- A Vital Tool in Nigeria Politics, written by Amiri Mariogene, with a foreword by Obi (Prof.)

Chike Edozien the Asagba of Asaba.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Wogu joins Abia gov race

Okorocha tasks principal officers on Rescue Mission O

WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, yesterday, urged newly appointed Principal Officers to ensure effective management of key policy areas of the rescue mission of his administration.

Governor Okorocha spoke while addressing the officers at Government House, Owerri.

The governor, who outlined the duties of each of the officers, enjoined them to be guided by the principle of good conduct and restraint.

He urged them to report to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff whenever they were faced with challenges.

Okorocha called on the officer in charge of dredging activities to ensure people were not allowed to dredge Nworie River areas located

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE I M M E D A I AT E past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has formally joined the race for governorship election in Abia State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Wogu, who stormed the party's secretariat with tens of vehicles branded in his campaign posters and colours, also commissioned his campaign office strategically located opposite the party office.

The former minister ’s arrival to the party office was like a carnival as he rode in an open SUV accompanied by dance groups and supporters from the 17 Local Government Areas.

Declaring his ambition before the party leadership, Wogu said he had returned home to render service to the people of Abia State after diligently serving the nation in the capacity of a Minister.

Wogu said he had a blueprint to move Abia forward as he knew the state very well and recounted his previous service to the state.

W

e all saw it coming and Keshi himself must have seen it coming; why he came back at all to allow himself to be so rubbished is what I couldn’t understand. I thought this Illah, Delta State born chap was far smarter than that.

Mr. Emmanuel Ugorji - Businessman

within the municipality to avoid land degradation.

He equally charged those in Tertiary Institutions Affairs to bridge the gap between students and government

and ensure that fees were not introduced in the system against government's free education policy.

Officers appointed include Mr. Ibeawuchi Nwaneri for

ELECTORAL VIOLENCE: Emodi advocates

life ban for sponsors, perpetrators

By Gbenga Oke BUJA—FORMER Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters, Senator Joy Emodi, has said sponsors and perpetrators of electoral violence should face life ban from contesting any elective office.

She also said electoral violence

A

was worse than armed robbery because it denies the electorate the greatest democratic right.

Speaking during the national capacity building workshop for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, female aspirants, tagged “Turning words into action in the 2015

MPPP chieftain, Nwanti enters 2015 presidential race

By Clifford Ndujihe

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W E R R I — INTERNATIONAL Detective, Mr. Sam Nwanti, has joined the presidential race, vowing to stamp out corruption, if given the mandate.

Nwanti is aspiring on the banner of the Mega Progressives Peoples Party, MPPP. He told Vanguard that he was in the race to save Nigerians from the stifling grip of the major political parties and boasted that he will beat President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and any

Youth Must Work Programme, Prince Ifesinachi Okorie in charge of Traffic and Park, Mrs. Ngozi Ukaeje, OCDA, Mr. Johnson Nnanyereugo, Dredging Activities, among others.

candidate fielded by the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Imo State-born technocrat, who had lived and worked in the United States of America for over 26 years, said his exposure and experience had placed him in a better stead among the horde of aspirants, to steer the ship of state to the path of growth and development, if elected.

Specifically, he said he would tackle corruption headlong and stop the menace in 2015.

His words: “I am an Americanbased and trained detective/ investigator for over 26 years. I am the first Nigerian criminalist and have received special

training in polygraph test (lie detector). I am currently assisting over 10 agencies around the world in investigating high profile cases.

“In the course of my profession, I have investigated crime and corruption in Nigeria and recognised standards of professional crime and corruption in this country.

It falls within my forts, corruption is our main problem, leaders have taken a lot of things for granted. I have the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity."

elections: Strategies for increase of women in elective offices”, Emodi maintained that money politics was primarily a great disadvantage against women in politics, adding that women had not taken their right positions politically in Nigeria.

She said: “As we are very grateful to President Jonathan for the appointive positions for women in this country, we are very much aware that the Nigerian women especially the PDP female party faithful are not where they ought to be in terms of elective positions and this informed the need for this workshop.

'We are thankful to President Goodluck Jonathan, whose administration has far more than any other in our national history worked hard towards giving women their rightful place in the scheme of national politics and governance.

"We were used to slogans and sweet embellishments like gender balance, gender parity, gender equilibrium, gender mainstreaming, and affirmative action, among others, but I want to put it on record that it is the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration that has taken steps to move these sweet talks from words to action.”

What is your view on Keshi’s sack?

N

ow that Stephen Keshi is gone, NFF should please do us the favor by employing the likes of Victor Ikpeba or the other joker like him called Mr Pinnick who could as well double as the chairman of NFF and head coach of the super eagles.

Mr Ogwu Benjamin- Commenter

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his is not maritime business. At this level, Nigeria does not need a coach that has been experimenting for over two years. If he has been consistent with his African champion team, the results could have been much better. Mr Osileke Osipitan Worker

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had thought that the best thing that Keshi owed himself was to have simply called time on the Super Eagles job. He ought to have resigned before the AFCON qualifying campaigns and leave the team without a new coach.

Miss Blessing Emmanuel - Baker

H

e was carried away and figured that he had made too much money and fame after his team became the African champion. A leader should be diplomatic and not too rigid. There could be failures to correct mistakes, but not persistent failures.

Miss Chioma Ani Student

eshi recently underK performed through his directives and team

selection. He appears to be stubborn too. I presume he will learn from his mistakes for the future. He should have seen that his days as Super Eagles Manager were over. Miss Nnennaya OkoronkwoStudent

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 47

2015: I'll beat Jonathan easily — KWANKWASO

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—GOVERNOR of Kano State and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said that President Goodluck Jonathan would be easy to defeat during the 2015 elections contrary to the expectations of the supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Kwankwaso also said that he was determined to go to the end in his quest to emerge as the candidate of the opposition APC, dismissing speculations that he would step down for any of the aspirants.

The governor, who is banking on his age among other older aspirants like General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Nda Isaiah noted that he was the most qualified for the job. ‘’I have contested elections 12 times, I won 11 times, and lost only one from the ward, local government, state and national assembly level,” he said.

Kwankwaso spoke with journalists in Ilorin Tuesday night ahead of yesterday’s meeting of the APC leaders and other stakeholders in the state.

He explained that with the electorates’ level of awareness,

Nigeria’s growing democracy, any incumbent governor or president can be removed by the people.

According to him, he was removed as the governor of Kano State and later re elected, adding that in Ekiti State, the electorates voted against an incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the APC, while the same APC won election in Osun State.

He said that the trend would

continue in the 2015 general elections.

His words, ‘’Any president or governor can be unseated in Nigeria now; forget about any political jamboree or propaganda that anybody or political party can be engaged in now. For me, President Jonathan will be easy to remove in 2015 election because Nigerians are angry with him. Many people will be surprised. ‘’You people are just sitting down here, if you go to the north eastern part of Nigeria, your

PRESENTATION: Popular Disc Jockey, DJ Neptune (left) presenting a prize to the Star Lite Winner; Daniel Madza at the Star Lite DJ Truck held in Elegushi Beach, Lagos.

SURE-P impacting lives positively, says Sambo

L

OKOJA—VICE President Namadi has assured Nigerians that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P of the Federal Government “is living up to its mandate of impacting lives

positively.”

Sambo, who made the remark while declaring open, a two-day SURE-P Stakeholders’ conference in Lokoja, said the programme was designed to meet specific targets in the Transformation Agenda road-

map of the present administration.

He described as apt, the theme of the conference which is “Three Years of SURE-P, Issues, Challenges and Prospects”, saying that the programme had kept faith with its mandate by

Enugu guber: Chime's men fear PDP may not clear Ugwanyi

By Charles Kumolu

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HE fears in the camp of the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime over the chances of his anointed candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, may not be cleared by the national secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following his role in the emergence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, despite directives from both the presidency and the PDP that members of the party should support Mrs Mulikat Akande.

Sources told Vanguard in Abuja yesterday that Ugwanyi was later appointed as the chairman of Marine Transport in the House as reward for his support for Tambuwal, a situation which has now become a big baggage for him ‘’as a disloyal party man.’’

people there are living on the hills because of the crisis of displacements while many others have fled to neighbouring African countries for survival; where we are sending relief materials to them. Nigerians are no fools and people cannot be deceived. At the right time, they will speak with their votes. ''If any of you journalists are the parents of the Chibok girls only God knows how many write ups you would have done by now. Where are the girls,we really need a change.”

The sources said that ‘’reports that the chairman of Marine Transport in the House of Representatives, Ugwanyi, who the governor allegedly handpicked as his successor was one of the major brains behind the House of Reps rebellion that brought the Tambuwal speakership in the house has set the governor ’s camp into a tailspin. ‘’Apart from coercing traditional rulers from the Enugu North Senatorial District to which the governor is zoned to sign prepared texts with the threat of losing their recognition if they acted otherwise, the camp has moved chests of money into Abuja with a view of changing the story.

This is however, laughable as the aim was to procure the leader

of the House of Reps, Hon. Mulikat Akande, who this cabal stopped from being speaker against the directive of the party, to take the governor’s anointed candidate to see the president and party officials to deny the story.

“This strategy is childish. How can this be denied? We have these records in our files.”

It was gathered that presidency officials were very reluctant to see the governor’s anointed candidate when the matter was broached, hence the governor’s anointed candidate was brought in and introduced to the president for about 30 seconds and he left without being able to bring out loads of newspaper cuttings he had brought to show the president as proof of his endorsement, the same act the president and the party had roundly condemned.

impacting positively and directly on the lives of all Nigerians.

Represented by Kogi Deputy Governor, Chief Yomi Awoniyi, Sambo said that the conference would enable the stakeholders to review and take stock of the SURE-P from inception and strategise for better performance in the years ahead.

The Chairman of SURE-P, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd) commended President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the programme.

Agwai said that programme had impacted positively on the nation and touched lives in positive ways from road infrastructures to education, health, water, employment, technical and vocational training, communication and tourism, among many others.

Agwai said the two-day conference was aimed at taking stock from 2012 when the programme started to 2014 and engaging stakeholders to explore better ways of collaboration for sustainable and effective infrastructure development.

Earlier, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi, described SURE-P as an “appropriate, timely and an effective response by the Federal Government, judging by the visible and appreciable impact the programme has made”.

INEC assures parties, aspirants of level playing field

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has promised to avail all political parties and their aspirants a level playing field during the 2015 elections.

Benue State, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Alhaji Baba Yusuf, gave the assurance yesterday in Makurdi the state capital, after presenting the certificate of return to the newly elected House of Representative member for Buruku constituency, Joseph Ityav.

He said, “INEC, as an unbiased umpire in the coming elections has taken steps to ensure a free and fair electoral process that would be devoid of rancour, because every party and aspirant would be availed a level playing field.”

Ex-Justice Akanbi slams FG over ceasefire with Boko Haram

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—FORMER President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (retd), has expressed disappointment over the negotiation for a ceasefire between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect.

Akanbi, a pioneer chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, spoke in an interview with journalists yesterday on the occasion of the 30th Convocation lecture of University of Ilorin.

He said it was wrong for the government to have waited till now when the election was fast approaching before negotiating with Boko Haram.

According to him, ”I have said it before. Government must harness its people and overcome the Boko Haram sect. We cant go on like this. Elections are coming up in February and we are still fighting.''

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

VISIT: From left, President, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick; Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu; Vice President, NFF, Mr. Seyi Akinwunmi and Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, during a courtesy visit by the NFF team to Guinness Nigeria head office, Ikeja.

LAUNCH: From left, Senior General Manager & Corporate Development Business Head, Africa, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Harinder Sidhu; CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Hari Prasad; Head of Chancery, India High Commissioner, Mr. Vyas Choudhary; Director, Customer Service, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ajay Bashki, and Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah, during the press launch of 'My Health' by Airtel Nigeria in collaboration with Apollo Hospitals at Lekki, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Jude Abaga, (MI); Mr. Aderin Olanrewaju, winner of a plot of land at the 5th year anniversary of The Beat 99.9 FM; Yemi Alade, Mr. Babatunde Olusegun Adewale (Mode 9), and Mr. Olisa Adibua, at the Official Land Title Documents presentation to Mr. Olanrewaju, at the Beat 99.9 FM office, Victoria Island. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu.

VISIT: Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman, Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (right), displaying a National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, study bag presented to him by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe (left), during a courtesy visit by the university to the senator in Abuja.

CONFERENCE: From left, Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Captain, Mr. Teddy Iwere; Deputy General Manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Mr. Cliff Shiridzinody; Managing Director, Aviator Travels and Tours Ltd. Mrs. Tinuke Nwakohu, and Sales Manager, Kenya Airways, Mr. Diran Oloyede, at the Southern Sun media conference on its forthcoming Golf Day, in Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: From left, Asst. Welfare, APC Delta State; Dr. Chris Ugoh; Hon. Marvin Edeni, Councillorship Aspirant (Ward II, Ebu, Oshimili North LGA); vice chairmanship aspirant, APC Oshimili North LGA; Dr. Ebumokei, Chairman, Bai Foundation; Engr. Doyle Edeni; Chairmanship Aspirant, APC Oshimili North LGA, Mr. Kwasa Emmanuel Amatokwu and Evang.

Shedrack Obasa at the commissioning of Water Project/ borehole in Ebu Community, Oshimili North LGA of Delta State..

BIRTHDAY: From left, Fred Agbaje, SAN, and Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group at a post-humous 50th birthday celebration of late Bamidele Aturu, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Corporate Communications Manager, Nigerian Breweries PLlc, Mr. Patrick Olowokere; grand prize winner of Star Music, Mr. Michael Achu, and Marketing Manager, Alcholic Drinks, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Tokunbo Adodo, during the presentation of prize to the winner, at Nigerian Breweries Bar. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

RALLY: Solidarity rally in support of the out-going Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, and the incoming VC, Prof. Faraday Orumwense by students, women and professionals in Benin City.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 49

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50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—51

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun defying a heavy downpour to address a mammoth crowd in Ota,Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, in continuation of his assessment tour of the 20 local government areas in the state yesterday..

Abia state Governor Theodore Orji acknowledging greetings from pupils of Ndume Otuka Primary School during the commissioning of Ndume Otuka Model Primary School in Umuahia.

Imo APGA in UK decamps to PDP

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HE United Kingdom based Imo APGA, Sunday, voted to decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The group which met at Dr Lawrence Eke Ndulor’s residence – 109 Wolverhampton Road, Birmingham, West Midland United Kingdom said its decision to decamp to PDP followed its view that its prospects would be brighter with the ruling party, PDP, hence its decision to follow the wise footsteps of Imo APGA leader, Chief Martins Agbaso. It said the decision of the parent body to decamp to PDP to join force with President Goodluck Jonathan has already been endorsed for the second time to enable Imo State to realise its potential as progressive entity as Ndigbo are known to be.

Star, Gulder win ADVAN award

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OR the third year in a row, brands from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc have reinforced their topmost position in marketing excellence. Star Lager Beer, Star Lite, Gulder Lager Beer, Amstel Malta and Fayrouz shone like a million stars as they picked up a total of seven prestigious awards at the 2014 Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Awards for Marketing Excellence event held at the Muson Centre.

Star Lager Beer clinched the Gold Award in the ‘Experiential Marketing Category ’ with its nationwide music concert, d Star Trek as well as thir position in the ‘Campaign of the Year Category’ with Shine on Nigeria campaign.

52— Vanguard, THURSSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Late Oluremi Oyo's requiem mass

From left, Mr. Vincent Oyo, husband; Mrs. Okeiemuote Abudiore, daughter; Mr. Tolulope Abudiore, (son-in-law), during the requiem mass for late Oluremi Oyo, former Managing Director of NAN, at Joachim & Anne Catholic Church, Ijegun, Lagos. Photos: Diran Oshe

From left, Mr. Vincent Oyo, Mrs. Okeiemuote Abudiore, daughter, Master Tobi Abudiore, and Mr. Tolulope Abudiore.

Mr. Zachary Oyo, and Mrs. Lucky Oghumu.

From left, Rev. Fr. Anthony Okeke, visiting priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Nwanua, Parish Priest, and Associate Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Amenaghawon.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 53

BRIEFS McCain predicts low Mid term poll turnout

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Gunman attacks Canadian parliament P

OLICE, yesterday were searching for one or more suspects after a gunman fatally wounded a Canadian solder at Ottawa’s war memorial, before being killed by police as he entered the nearby parliament building.

The attacks began at about 9.50am yesterday local time (13.50 GMT) when a man carrying a long weapon shot the uniformed soldier guarding the memorial. Thirty minutes later, as police surrounded the area, the suspect entered the nearby parliament, was confronted by police and shot dead.

Video obtained by Canada’s Globe and Mail showed police moving through a hall between parliament’s library and centre block, before multiple shots were heard in an apparent exchange of gunfire. A body was reported by witnesses lying motionless on the floor after the gunfire ended.

Canada’s prime minister, Stephen Harper was holding a meeting with party members in the centre block as the gunfire erupted outside.

“PM was addressing caucus, then a huge boom, followed by rat-a-tat shots.

We all scattered. It was clearly right outside our caucus door,” said Tony

•Armed officers sealed off parliament after the shooting Clement, a member of the treasury board.

Another witness, MarcAndre Viau, told the AFP news agency that he saw a man run into a meeting

inside parliament, chased by police who yelled “take cover”. That was followed by up to 20 gunshots.

People fled parliament by scrambling down

scaffolding being used in renovations, witnesses told the Canadian Press news agency.

Gunfire was then reported at the nearby Rideau shopping centre. By this point - about two hours after the shooting of the soldier - police combed the area for more gunmen, with unconfirmed reports they were positioned on roofs.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from parliament at 11.30am local time (15.30 GMT), as police continued to hunt for suspects, Senator Jim Munson told how his offices had been placed “in lockdown”.

Blast outside Cairo University wounds 11

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bomb has exploded outside the gates of Cairo University, wounding eleven people including policemen stationed outside the campus to quell student protests that have become customary in the politically unstable country.

Police cordoned off the area and scoured it with sniffer dogs, state-run Ahram news outlet reported on Wednesday, citing a security source. Six of the eleven wounded were policemen stationed outside the campus, Ahram said.

The blast took place near the site of a bombing in

April that killed a police general. Riot policemen are now stationed on foot and in armoured vehicles to confront the frequent protests by pro-Islamist students.

The explosion came after policemen had clashed with student protesters earlier in the day.

Egypt’s university campuses, since the previous academic year, have been rife with almost daily protests staged by students opposing the army-led overthrow of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

April’s attack was claimed by Ajnad Misr, one of several armed

groups that have become more active since the overthrow, killing hundreds of policemen and army personnel in sporadic attacks across the country.

Like most attacks, Wednesday’s blast was in response to a deadly police crackdown on Islamists following Morsi’s unseating, Ajnad Misr said, according to AFP news agency.

The group pledged retaliation last week after police quashed protests in several universities across the country. A student at Alexandria University later died of gunshot wounds sustained during the clashes.

US warns of defective auto air bag

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HE U.S. government is now urging owners of nearly 8 million cars and trucks to have the air bags repaired because of potential danger to drivers and passengers. But the effort is being complicated by confusing information and a malfunctioning website.

The government’s auto safety agency says that inflator mechanisms in the air bags can rupture, causing metal fragments to fly out when the bags are deployed. The inflators are made by Japanese parts supplier Takata Corp.

Safety advocates say at least four people have died from the problem, which they claim could affect more than 20 million cars nationwide.

On Wednesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added 3.1 million more vehicles to an

initial warning covering 4.7 million cars and SUVs. Car owners might have difficulty determining if their vehicle is equipped with the potentially dangerous air bags. The warning covers certain models made by BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota.

Most of the 7.8 million vehicles are subject to existing recalls. But manufacturers have limited the recalls to high-humidity areas, excluding cars and trucks in states to the north.

NHTSA says owners in Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii and “limited areas near the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana” should pay special attention to the warning.

RIZONA Sen. John McCain is expecting a low voter turnout in next month’s midterm elections because he says voters are skeptical of both the Obama administration and the Republican Party.

“What I’m hearing from my pollster friends is that people don’t like Republicans and they don’t like Obama,” McCain said in an interview on Pivot’s “TakePart Live,” a show co-hosted by his daughter, Meghan McCain. “And they’re very, very turned off. And I’m afraid we are going to see a very low voter turnout in this election, and that’s not healthy for, obviously, any of us.”

According to the latest Gallup poll, just 40 percent of Americans approve of the job President Obama is doing, while 54 percent disapprove. And just 14 percent approve of the way Congress is handling its job.

EU leaders urge Russia stabilize Ukraine

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U leaders will urge Russia at a summit this week to do more to stabilize Ukraine, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters, but diplomats expect no change in sanctions on Moscow in the near future.

The leaders’ call comes days before Ukraine holds parliamentary elections on Oct. 26 in a vote that is to bring pro-Western and strongly nationalist lawmakers to office, something Moscow is unlikely to welcome.

“The Russia Federation should respect Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity and contribute to the political stabilization and economic recovery of Ukraine,” EU leaders will say.

They will also call on Russian authorities to “exercise their influence” to ensure pro-Moscow separatists uphold a faltering ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine and the rebels reached the ceasefire agreement in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Sept. 5, the first step towards ending the worst standoff between Moscow and the West since the Cold War ended.

Hong Kong protesters resume march after fruitless talks

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BOUT 200 Hong Kong protesters marched to the home of the city’s Beijing-backed leader on Wednesday to push their case for greater democracy a day after talks between student leaders and senior officials failed to break the deadlock.

Others continued to occupy main streets in the Chinesecontrolled city, where they have camped for nearly a month in protest against a central government plan that would give Hong Kong people the chance to vote for their own leader in 2017 but tightly restrict the candidates to Beijing loyalists.

Iraqi Kurds authorize sending fighters to Kobani

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AWMAKERS in Iraq’s largely autonomous Kurdish region voted yesterday to authorize sending Kurdish fighters known as peshmerga to help defend the embattled town of Kobani in Syria, where fellow Kurds are facing an onslaught by militants of the Islamic State group.

Kurdish officials said an unspecified number of fighters would be sent through Turkey to support their ethnic brethren in a battle playing out just across the Turkish border. The fight has grabbed the world’s attention and triggered sympathy for the outgunned Kurds.

Anwar Muslim, a Kobani-based senior Kurdish official, praised the decision, saying “all help is welcome.” He said there seemed to be a solidifying international push to help Kobani combat the militants.

As details of the deployment were being worked out, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the United States made a mistake in airdropping weapons to Kurdish fighters in Kobani earlier this week because some of the weapons ended up in IS hands.

“It turns out that what was done was wrong,” he said, according to Turkey’s private Dogan news agency.

The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that IS militants were able to seize one of the 28 bundles of weapons and medical supplies intended for Kurdish fighters. Col. Steve Warren said it appears the wind caused the parachute to go off course, and that the weapons in the bundle were not enough to give the enemy any type of advantage.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

2015: Taraba community moves against alleged imposition of candidate

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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S preparations for 2015 general elections intensifies nationwide, some aggrieved persons in the southern part of Taraba State have protested alleged move by a party chieftain to present the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Darius Ishaku, as the consensus candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the governorship seat.

Though the zone is expected to produce the next governor, the people accused General Theophilus Dajuma (retd) of unilaterally endorsing Ishaku without wide consultation and approval.

They alleged that Isiaku was out of touch with political realities on ground in the state, having spent his entire life outside the state.

A statement by Chief D. S. Nyaturi, one of the leaders in the zone, demanded that the General rescind his decision in the interest of the people, being an unpopular one.

He said people of Southern Taraba would stick with the decision of Chief Jubrin Anfani-led committee, which earlier screened all eligible candidates from the area and came up with a consensus one for the governorship slot.

LAUNCH: From left— Mr. Gareth Abel, Director of Marketing, Middle East and Africa, Wiko; Mr. Marcel Van De Pas, Director, International Business, Wiko Nigeria, and Mr. John Peters, Country Sales Manager of the firm, during a briefing on the launch of Wiko, in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

FIRS probes 6 firms over N2.4bn tax fraud

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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HE Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has quizzed top officials of six firms, including oil companies operating in the country, for failing to remit tax revenue amounting N2.4 billion.

According FIRS spokesman, Mr. Wahab Gbadamosi, the affected companies did not only fail to remit their outstanding tax liabilities, but also refused to file their tax returns as required by law.

He said: “The companies and their outstanding tax liability are Leaders and Company Ltd, N228.5 million; Lottoj Oil and Gas Ltd, N14.4 million; First Deep Water Ltd, N63.1 million; Tonique Oil Services Ltd, N27.79 million; Tak Continental Ltd, N960.2 million and Alliance and General Insurance, N1.13 billion.

“Earlier, the service on October 3, in Lagos embarked on a similar tax recovery exercise against

Baker Hughes, Line Trale, Tecon Oil and Heyden Petroleum, all operating in the oil and gas industry.”

With the dwindling oil revenue, FIRS, it was learned, had received a marching order from the Presidency to step up its tax collection activities and that it had all necessary legal backing to deal with defaulters.

The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, at the Federal Inland Revenue

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B U J A — NORTHERN Youth Movement for Positive Change, NYMPC, yesterday, called on the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to halt the implementation of the recent delineation of polling units across the country.

After its conference in Abuja, the group, which spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Aliyu Mustapha, said the creation of new polling units was capable

of breeding discord in the country if INEC implement it.

The group, which plans to mobilise about 15 million youths for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 presidential election bid, urged INEC to implement policies that would enrich the country’s democracy.

It said: “We observed with dismay the INEC template for delineation of polling units, which had regrettably planted discord and suspicion in the polity, instead of fostering unity of

Service Regional Enlarged Management Meeting held in Ibadan on September 25, had said the service would be compelled to invoke relevant laws against recalcitrant taxpayers.

In furtherance of this, Alhaji Mashi was said to have directed full scale enforcement against corporate bodies and individuals yet to file “tax returns” and voluntarily fullfil their tax obligations.

The tax law required compa-nies, with December 31 as their end of Year Accounting Date, to file their tax returns on or before the end of June of every year, while payments of taxes were expected to be made not later than end of August.

Those found liable risk three years jail term, in addition to paying the tax arrears with interest, as provided in Part V1, Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act, 2007.

Reps to investigate N3.7trn Green Field refineries project

By Emman Ovuakporie

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BUJA—APPARENTLY disturbed that the Green Field Refineries contract awarded almost four years ago is yet to be completed, the House of Representatives yesterday moved that the N3.7 trillion contract be investigated.

The House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream Sector, was,

Rescind your decision on polling units, Northern Youths tell Jega

By Caleb Ayansina

OKAEBEN : Mr. Chris Okaeben, Edo State Commissioner for Sports (middle), and his supporters, during his declaration for Oredo West seat at the state House of Assembly on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benin.

the country.”

It noted that Nigeria was found on the basis of equality of opportunities and mutual respect for one another, adding that INEC’s delineation of polling units was unnecessary.

It added: “We call on INEC to rescind its plan for delineating the polling units until a rational template is ready.

“One that can incorporate proportionate delineation of polling units based on iconic geographical structure: north central, north-west, south-west, south-east and south-south.

therefore, mandated to investigate the failed green field project and report back within two weeks.

This development was sequel to a motion promoted

by Abbas Tajudeen, PDP, Kogi, in a motion tagged Need for urgent explanation of the failure to construct the N3.7 trillion Green Field Refineries at Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states four years after the award of the contract.

He said: “The Federal Government signed an agreement on May 13, 2010, with China State Engineering Corporation, CSCEC, for the construction of green field refineries projects in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states at a cost of $23 billion, equivalent of N3.7 trillion, with a completion period of five years.

“Based on the terms, 80 percent of the cost is to be funded with a loan provided

by China Export Credit Insurance Corporation and a consortium of Chinese banks, led by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is to provide 20 percent of the funding as

equity contribution.

“No tangible work has been executed at any of the three project sites with just a year to the end of the project period for completion of the refineries, even though the Minister of Petroleum Resources had assured the public of the commitment of NNPC to pursue the projects as soon as the White Paper on the report of the 22-member task force headed by former Finance Minister, Kalu Idika Kalu, was released.

“We are amazed that despite a favourable recommendation by the task force for the Lagos refinery, there is no evidence of plan to construct a refinery at the Lekki site by year 2015.”

Earlier, Leo Ogor had raised a Point of Order, where he declared that the House Committee on Finance had no business being part of the investigation.

Attempts by the sponsor to defend the inclusion of the committee failed as the deputy speaker ruled in favour of Ogor, saying the motion should be amended to reflect only Petroleum Resources, Downstream as the sole investigator of the matter.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 55

Okorocha lifts embargo on employment into civil service

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, yesterday announced the lifting of embargo on employment into the state civil service.

Okorocha who announced the lifting of the embargo while addressing permanent secretaries in the civil service who visited him at Government House, Owerri, explained that the recruitment would be made from workers already involved in the Youth Must Work Programme and in accordance with the civil service guidelines.

A statement by Jane O. Amucha, on behalf of Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, said the governor also disclosed that buses would be provided to convey civil servants to and fro their offices, free of cost, thereby easing transport burden.

Governor Okorocha pointed out that while politicians in other parties were concerned about elections, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was committed to executing more projects, completing and commissioning existing projects for the betterment of the state.

“There will be more projects and we will be stronger than when we started,” he said.

He thanked the permanent secretaries for working as a team and remaining dogged in their

belief in the “Rescue Mission” government, not allowing political opponents to use them to fight government while he commended them for “being part of the success story in the state.”

Okorocha directed the Head of Service, HoS, to submit a list of senior officers who would be deployed as principal officers to supervise certain government projects and ensure proper maintenance.

Speaking on 2015 elections, Okorocha stressed the need to

give Ndi-Igbo its rightful positions at the federal level and called on the people of the SouthEast to support any Igbo man vying for the presidential seat.

He insisted “I will neither allow the Igbos to be forgotten as a people nor tolerate the long years of marginalization Ndi-Igbo have suffered in Nigeria.”

Earlier, Imo State Head of Service, HoS, Mr. Calistus Ekenze, said they came to present birthday gifts to the governor as well as thank him for approving the celebration of the 2014 Civil Service Week in the state.

Mr. Ekenze explained that the celebration, which kicked off yesterday, would feature many presentations, starting with a march past competition among the Deputy Governor’s Office, House of Assembly and Ministries. He also appreciated the contributions of some sponsors in providing cash and items for a successful event.

The HoS used the occasion to invite Governor Okorocha to the grand finale holding on November 6, revealing that an award will be conferred on the governor by Imo workers on that occasion.

HANDING-OVER: From left; Mrs Omolara Erogbogbo, Perm Sec, Min of Education; Mr Abdul Bello, Chief Financial Officer, UAC Plc; Mrs Titilayo Solarin, Tutor Gen\Perm Sec, Education District 2, Lagos State cutting the tape; Mrs Omolara Elemide, Managing Director, CAP Plc; Mrs Olujoke Akindele, Principal of Eva Adelaja Girls secondary School, Bariga, Lagos and others behind watch during the handing over ceremony of re-painted Eva Adelaja School by CAPPIC yesterday. Photo by Shola Oyelese.

Nwobodo picks nomination form for Enugu-East

By Austin Ogwuda & Francis Igata

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HE Chief of Staff, Enugu State Government House, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, yesterday picked her nomination form to vie for Enugu-East senatorial district in 2015, having formally resigned. Thousands of supporters from the six council areas of EnuguEast, Enugu-North, Enugu-South, NkanuWest,Nkanu-East and IsiUzo thronged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP state secretariat carrying placards with inscriptions such as ”Ifeoma is our pride, what a man can do, a woman can do better” to show their solidarity for her.

Addressing newsmen after the purchase of the Forms, the leader of the six council chairmen who purchased the form for her as a mark of absolute solidarity, Mr. Cornelius Nnaji, of Enugu-East Local Government Area said, “We the chairmen from the six council areas of Enugu-East senatorial district jointly purchased the Express of Interest and Nomination Form for Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo. She has done well in the service of Enugu State.

That is why we want her to go to the senate and represent us.''

Ekweremadu lauds NOUN for setting up Study Centre in Awgu LG

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BUJA—DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has commended the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, for accepting to open a Study Centre in Awgu Local Government Area

of Enugu State.

This was even as he conveyed the approval, in principle, by the National Assembly, the University’s plan to set up a Study Centre within the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Senator Ekweremadu spoke when he received a delegation of the NOUN, which paid him a courtesy call in his Office in Abuja, yesterday.

He commended the NOUN for the opportunity it is giving to

Why I want to be Imo gov in 2015 — NJEMANZE

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ORMER Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Imo State, Sir Ken Njemanze, SAN, has disclosed that he is eminently qualified to mount the saddle of leadership as the next governor of Imo State.

Njemanze, who spoke in Abuja where he secured his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to seek nomination as the PDP's governorship flag-bearer.

Njemanze paid the mandatory fees at the national headquarters of the party on Monday, collected the forms to signal his formal interest in the governorship primaries, yesterday.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria and scion of the Njemanze Ruling House believes that the purchase of the party’s Expression of Interest and

Nomination forms is the first step towards realising his ambition of emergence as the Imo PDP governorship flag-bearer and to be elected the governor of the state.

The former Attorney General, who spoke while being handed the forms by the Party’s National Organising Secretary Abubakar

Mustapha, explained that the procurement of the forms signifies his unwavering determination to be a major contender for the Imo governorship seat on the platform of the PDP. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said he believes that PDP will let the will of the people prevail in the primaries.

Nigerians to access tertiary education across the country, emphasizing that “an educated populace is very critical to the development of our nation”.

Ekweremadu also expressed hope that the Study Centre in Awgu town would bring tertiary education closer to his constituents and the surrounding rural communities.

He said: “I am happy that you have approved a Study Centre to be set up at Awgu in Enugu West Senatorial District. Enugu West is the only Senatorial District in that State without any higher institution of learning. ''It has been my earnest desire to have a tertiary institution in the District. So, this is meant to fill this gap.''

Ugwuanyi thanks support groups over endorsement

By Francis Igata

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, consensus candidate in Enugu State in 2015, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has expressed his unreserved appreciation to various support groups who have shown solidarity since his emergence in September 26.

Ugwuanyi who represents IgboEze North/Udenu Federal Constituency bared his mind during a civic reception organized in his honour by the Enugu Unity Forum,EUF, held at Golden Royale.

According to him, “ we will thank our governor, for keeping his words as demonstrated in his

resolve to ensure that his successor will emerge from the Enugu-North senatorial zone. He is God’s own gift to the people of Enugu State.

“I thank all the stakeholders in Enugu State, the Party and EUF. You will continue to grow from strength-to-strength to the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.''

G7 Patriots back Jonathan

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non-governmental organisation, G7 Patriots International, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to declare for re-election in 2015 as a step towards consolidating on his Transformation Agenda.

Mr. Nwana Sunday, President of the group made the call when he led other members on a courtesy call on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State in Asaba.

He lauded the President for what he described as improved power supply, reduction of unemployment, provision of good roads and rehabilitation of airports and railways as well as promotion of free and fair conduct of elections among other achievements.

He said the group, aside charting Jonathan’s re-election course, was in tune with development partners in the private and public sector to ensure just development in the society.

56—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Jonathan carries out minor cabinet reshuffle

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RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan, yesterday, carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle to fill the vacancies created by the recent resignation of seven ministers.

This was part of the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of State (II) for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, announced the changes while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

According to Nurudeen, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd), is to oversee the functions of the Minister of State for Defence.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Steve Oru, is also to supervise the office of the Minister of State in the ministry.

Similarly, Mr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, will oversee the duties of his Minister of State.

Brett Johnson advises newsmen on truth

By Ediri Ejoh & Paul Nwankwo

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EDIA professionals have been urged to imbibe the truth in the daily discharge of their duties.

Founder, The Institute for Innovation, Integration & Impact Incorporated, Mr. Brett Johnson, who gave the advice, yesterday, during a visit to Vanguard, said it is the responsibility of the media to dig for the truth and tell the truth at all times, as this will help bring about positive development in the economy.

Johnson said, “Not everyone has the capacity to search for the truth; but it is the responsibility of journalists to seek out the truth and communicate it for everyone. It is important that journalists know, love and communicate the truth, because telling the truth means one is doing the work of God. This is especially as God is a journalist. The Bible says God is the Word; He is the truth and is particular about people in the journalism profession.”

L-r. Ms. Yemi Keri, MD/CEO of Edo State ICT Agency, displays her plaque as the "Most Outstanding Public Sector CIO" at the Annual Award event organized by Information Technology Media Initiative recently in Abuja; Dr. Chris Uwaje, President ISPON; Mr. Chris Onyemenam, Director General NIMC; Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman of NCC; and Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communications Technology ("Premier ICT officer for the Federation")

Bribery Scandal : Don’t extradite me to UK, ex-Mint boss, Okoyomon begs court •says he wants to be tried in Nigeria

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, fixed December 1 to decide whether or not the former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company, NSMPC, Mr. Ehidiamhen Okoyomon should be extradited to the United Kingdom to face corruption charges.

Justice Evoh Chukwu adjourned for judgment on a day the accused person, through his lawyer, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, begged the court not to okay the extradition request, saying he would rather prefer to answer to the charges here in Nigeria.

“My Lord, my client is prepared to face the music here.

Firstly, he is a Nigerian citizen and wants to be tried according to the Nigerian law. We cannot guarantee that he would be given fair trial over there in the UK. Moreover, according to them, part of the offence was committed in Nigeria. You cannot just bundle any citizen from one country to another, it is a slight on our sovereignty. I urge your Lordship to dismiss this application intoto”, Iziyon pleaded.

The extradition process was initiated before the court by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN. Adoke told the court that the ex-Mint boss was needed in the UK over his alleged role in a bribery scandal involving officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the NSMPC and Securency International Pty

of Australia.

The crime was allegedly committed between 2006 and 2008.

Moving the application, yesterday, a lawyer from the office of the AGF, Mr. M.S Hassan, told the court that a District Court in the UK has already issued a warrant of arrest against the accused person. Hassan further tendered several documents in exhibit, among which included an affidavit that was deposed to by one Tapan Debnah, a solicitor with the Serious Fraud Office, SFO, of England, which was sworn before a Westminster Magistrate Court.

The affidavit gave a summary of the allegations against the accused, the punishment prescribed for the offences and the jurisdiction of the court to try the matter. The AGF also adduced the Certified True Copy of the charge, the warrant of arrest issued by a District Judge in the UK, an investigative report on oath deposed to by one Brenda Smith White before the Westminster Magistrate Court, a photograph of the accused person for easy identification, as well as a letter notifying the accused of his success in his application for British citizenship.

Hassan, told the court that the UK government earlier notified the accused in advance of all the documents that will be used in his prosecution. “My Lord that is an indication that he will be given a fair and transparent trial. Moreover

he is a British citizen and as it stands today, there is no charge pending against him in Nigeria to warrant his prosecution here. All the Nigerian government wants is for him to go there and clear his name over the charges against him”, the AGF’s lawyer added.

Meantime, the AGF based his application on the extradition treaty of 1931, which he said became applicable in Nigeria in 1935.

He maintained that the extradition treaty is an existing law under section 315 of the 1999 constitution, adding that it has not been repealed by any law.

Extradition treaty still in the grave However, counsel to the accused person, Iziyon, insisted that the said treaty was repealed by Schedule 4 of Decree No 87 of 1966, adding, “nothing has been shown to prove that this 1931 Act has resurrected. It is still in the grave and confined to the legal coffin and, therefore, cannot confer any authority or locus on the Attorney General of the Federation”.

Iziyon further contended that ‘Exhibit B ‘ from the AGF, which is a copy of London Scheme for Extradition, was yet to be domesticated in Nigeria. His argument was countered by counsel to the AGF who told the court that it was duly domesticated in section 12 of the constitution.

Hassan added that section 2 of the Extradition Act provided that it should apply to every country within the

Commonwealth region.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Chukwu adjourned for judgment, even as he ordered further remand of the accused in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Okoyomon had in an affidavit in support of the suit dated October 7 and filed on October 10, 2014, which was deposed to by one Josephine Majebi, averred; “That I know that Nigeria is not a party to the 1931 Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and it is not applicable in Nigeria. “That the London Scheme for Extradition within the Commonwealth, 2002, does not apply in Nigeria. That I know as a fact that Nigeria is not a signatory nor has it ratified the Treaty between the United States of America and Great Britain.”

Likewise, he argued that the extradition application failed to satisfy provisions of Sections 1(1) – (6) of the Extradition Act. His lawyer further stressed that the extradition application by the AGF disclosed no cause of action against his client and the AGF, who instituted the application lacked the locus standi to do so.

He said there had been “no Order of the President published in any Federal Gazette applying the provisions of the Extradition Act for the extradition of persons to the United Kingdom.”

“That the United Kingdom is not one of the countries listed in the First Schedule to the Extradition Act, CAP E25, LFN 2004, to which the Extradition Act, Cap 25, LFN, 2004, applies,” the supporting affidavit added.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014—57

Journalists embarrassed over Sen Obadara's phone

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—NO fewer than 30 journalists were, yesterday, subjected to intense search over the alleged missing mobile phone of Senator Gbenga Obadara, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, in Kano State.

Senator Obadara had visited the state with his committee members for an oversight function at the Kano Electrical Distribution Company, KEDC, along Post Office Road.

The committee members later had an interactive session with journalists shortly after.

However, trouble started for the newsmen immediately after the session, when Obadara alerted the management of KEDC that his Chinamade Smart phone was missing.

Soon after, and based on the alleged instructions of his superior, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the KEDC, Alhaji Mukhtar Baffa, seized the microphone and said: “Gentlemen, we do not intend to embarrass any of you, but you have to submit yourselves for search over the Senator's missing phone.”

Heavily armed policemen were subsequently drafted to the conference hall for the search operations on the hapless journalists.

The pressmen were guided to one side of the conference hall. As the policemen were about to begin, another message came in from outside the hall about the discovery of the handset.

Meanwhile, the journalists have demanded for a written

apology from the management of KEDC, saying that the treatment was not only embarrassing but dehumanizing.

Chairman of Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, in the state, Francis Edwin

Reps probe security agents' use of masks, hoods

By Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, directed its defence-related committees to summon heads of the nation’s security agencies for an interactive session over the use of face masks and hoods by their operatives.

The security chiefs, expected at the session are the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS; Director General of Department of State Services, DSS, and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP. A member of the House, Nathaniel Agunbiade had yesterday, through a motion, asked the House to pass a resolution, directing the security chiefs to ensure that their operatives stop the use of face masks and hoods, and stick to their respective assigned uniforms.

Agunbiade had, in his submission, described the use of masks and hoods as not being part of the security personnel’s uniforms, and should be discouraged, especially in these days of insurgency and kidnappings, as criminals may take advantage of it against

IG orders audit of armouries nationwide

A

S part of measures to s t r e n g t h e n accountability of the stock of weaponry of the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered a thorough check and audit of Police armouries nationwide.

A statement from Force Headquarters said: “The

Olofu, said: “This incident is totally demeaning, provocative and uncalled for.”

Later the PRO, Mr. Baffa appealed for understanding, pointing out that “it was not meant to humiliate members of pen profession.”

exercise, which has already commenced, will cover all Police commands, formations, stations and units across the country.”

This measure will also enable the force to review the current state of arms and ammunition in stock at various Police armouries.

innocent Nigerians.

His submissions were supported by other members, who attributed the use of such gears to hoodlums, and a practice of the jungle.

“If somebody is coming to arrest me, I have to know who the person is,” Daramola had stated.

The debate, however, took a new twist when Hassan Saleh pointed out that the security forces ought not to be castigated, but be heard before passing the resolution, since according to him, they were not wearing masks and hoods in the past.

He said: “Before now, they were not wearing masks. So the question should be what went wrong?

“We should not condemn them; we should rather encourage them to do their job.”

His position was supported by Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor and Chairman of the Committee on Youth Development, Kamil Akinlabi, who pointed out that it would be unfair to pass the motion without listening to the security forces on what led to the new practice.

Based on these observations, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha pointed out that it was not right for security-related matters to always be subject of open debates on the floor.

He said: “It is not right for us to open everything up on the floor. We have relevant standing committees on security matters.

“So it is better for us to allow the committees to dialogue with the heads of the security agencies over this matter and report back to the House.”

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 59

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

NFF invites Amodu, Siasia

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

T

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation ( NFF) has invited the interim coach of the Super Eagles Shuaibu Amodu and head Coach of the National U23 team, Samson Siasia to appear before its technical committee to defend their programmes for their upcoming assignments.

Last Tuesday the NFF handed Amidu a list of 66 players from which he is expected to select the players he intends to invite for the two remaining 2015 AFCON qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa while Siasia had on Monday submitted his own programme to the technical department as a sign of his readiness to begin his new assignment.

General Secretary of the

NFF, Barr. Musa Amodu who disclosed this in an interview yesterday in his office also assured that the Super Eagles will qualify for the championship going by the approach which Coach Amodu has brought to the job.

“We engaged Amodu and his team with the sole objective of qualifying for the nations cup. We know that that task is very onerous given the fact that after four rounds of matches we have gathered only four points, four behind group leaders South Africa and three behind our next opponents Congo.

This has left us in a very precarious position.

“They have been given the task of winning both matches comprehensively, so we would be sure of getting a total number of 10 points.''

Oshoala Continues from BP showed a lot of disjointed officiating.

The Nigerians survived the late surge by their opponents who were boosted by a dubious goal awarded by the match officials.

The game started with both sides trying to establish dominance, but it was the Super Falcons with their passing game and excellent possessions that asked the South Africans several questions.

Banyana Banyana goal keeper Philadelphia Mndaweni cut off on rushing Francesca Ordega after she had been put through by Oshoala.

Moments later Oshoala got her own chance after she broke free from the middle, but she shot into the mid section of the keeper.

Portia Modise troubled the Nigerian defence but Onome Ebi held her grounds. On the other side Halima Ayinde headed wide off a corner kick. But it was Oshoala who had the breakthrough in the 38th minute. She held on to a pass offer a counter attack, she

shook off her markers and inched into the box from the left, She took her aim and finished it off. She was on call again on the dot of 45 minutes. She floated a shot from the right, which left it left Mndaweni stranded.

At the break the South Africans tried to fight their way back into the game. But they couldn’t find a way through. The Falcons continued with their dominance and kept their cool. A shot by Halima Ayinde was parried by the Banyana Banyana keeper. The South African women soon got a controversial goal from a corner taken

by Refiloe Jane. The ball was headed off the line, but the lines woman Njoroge ruled that it was a goal. It was shocking to all. The players who were on the spot did not contest the ball when it was headed out, by Falcons defender Ebere Ngoji.

Oshoala who was voted woman of the match said she was excited the Falcons won game. “It was a hard game, we gave our best and I am glad we are through to the final.”

Boxer, coaches barred for life after ref assault

T

•Amodu

•Siasia

Obasi: It’s nice to be back with Eagles

C

HINEDU Obasi had one of his best displays since he started wearing the Schalke 04 jersey as the German team beat Sporting Lisbon 4-3 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Portuguese side opened scoring in the 16th minute through onloan Manchester United winger, Nani, only for Obasi to level the scoreline 18 minutes later with a header after a free-kick by GermanNigerian wing back Dennis Aogo.

The Nigeria international then set up Schalke 04’s second goal for Klass Jan Huntelaar in the 50th

minute before he was substituted fifteen minutes later.

to lay artificial grass on the newly built world-class Uyo Stadium. That venue will host the decisive clash of the Super Eagles with South Africa next month.

“How many good pitches do we have in this country? Keshi queried. We say we are a football nation and we don’t even have good training pitches for the national team, or good field to play on. Instead, there are artificial pitches everywhere, even the new Stadium in Uyo. It was when I heard from the governor that they wanted to use artificial pitch that I had to shout and tell him no way. That is how they used natural grass pitch there. But why should I be the one to say it?

Where are the

referee, who then fell to the floor where the boxer continued to punch him.

The referee was taken to a hospital and local police arrested the Croatian boxer.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) president, Ching-Kuo Wu, said: “AIBA and the entire boxing family have zero tolerance for this sort of behaviour.”

Loncar and his coaches are barred from participating in all AIBA competitions pending further decision by the AIBA’s disciplinary commission.

Eagles to open Akwa Ibom Stadium, Nov 6

N

IGERIA’s Super Eagles,made up entirely of domestic league players,will play a friendly game in Uyo,Akwa Ibom to formally open the new Akwa Ibom Stadium on November 6,2014.

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation disclosed in Abuja that the friendly encounter,which is to be bankrolled by the Akwa Ibom State Government,will see the Super Eagles play a North

Keshi Continues from BP

HE Croatian boxer Vido Loncar and his coaches have been barred for life by the International Boxing Association for assaulting the referee in a recent contest.

Loncar had to be dragged from the ring after he attacked the Polish referee Maciej Dziurgot following a loss to the Lithuanian Algirdas Baniulis in the lightheavyweight division on Monday at the European youth championsips in Zagreb.

Loncar punched the

journalists?”

He said he was proud of his achievements during his spell as Nigeria’s manager.

“People keep saying I drew a lot of matches.

But how many Nigerian coaches agreed to play friendly matches all the time or to use homebased players without fear? But people don’t see that. Every time it’s Keshi this and Keshi that. Then they say I always try to use the President against them.

President that I cannot even see!”

He also said he was happy that the drama was finally over, as was his family.

“I am not bitter. I’m just disappointed in some of you,” he pointed out, referring to journalists.

“Now people can stop talking about Keshi.”

African team that will be confirmed this week.

Head Coach Amodu Shaibu is already planning to use the opportunity of this international friendly to begin preparations for Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations campaigns in November.

“22 players will be called up to camp in Uyo from Sunday,November 2 ahead of the friendly and that game will afford us a wonderful opportunity to see some of our best legs in the domestic league more closely.''

•Udoh

Pope Continues from BP The football-loving Argentinian head of the Roman Catholic Church said he was “surprised by the result” but according to a Bayern statement told the team on Wednesday morning: “You delivered a wonderful game of football yesterday.”

The Bavarians have now firmly established themselves as one of the frontrunners for Europe’s top club competition this season, after scoring five goals in the first 35 minutes on their way to their European record away win which left them top of Group E with maximum points from three games.

The Bayern coach Pep Guardiola completely

outclassed his Roma counterpart in every aspect of the game as Bayern, led by the Dutch forward Arjen Robben, who netted twice, moved up to nine points, five ahead of second-placed Roma.

Robben heaped praise on the team’s tactical preparation: “I am still convinced that Roma are a tough team but we really must thank our coaching team because they prepared us outstandingly for this game.

“I have never seen anything like it, at least not against such a strong team like Roma. They had no answer to our attacking game and that quickly decided the match.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Nadal zooms into quarterfinals

A

CRASH. . . Serena falls to defeat

Serena crashes to heaviest loss in 16 years S

ERENA Williams won just two games on Wednesday as she crashed to her heaviest defeat in 16 years and raised concerns over a knee injury that could dash her hopes at the WTA Finals.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion was a shadow of her dominant best as she slumped 60, 6-2 to Romania’s Simona Halep, her biggest loss since she was 16 and without a tournament win to her name.

The seismic defeat ended a run of 16 straight victories at the year-ending tournament for the 2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013 champion, whose bid for a title hattrick is now hanging in the balance.

Musa: We couldn’t have beaten City

C

FLIGHT. . . Ahmed Musa of CSKA jumps for the ball with Fernandinho of Man City during their Champions League match. It ended 2-2.

180 golfers for Southern Sun golf

By Jacob Ajom

O

NE hundred and eighty golfers will feature in this year ’s Southern Sun Ikoyi golf tournament billed to hold November 15 at the Ikoyi Club 1938 golf course.

Addressing the media, the deputy General Manager of Southern

FTER Rafael Nadal reached the Swiss Open quarterfinals in 57 minutes with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, top-seeded Roger Federer crushed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-1 in just 46 minutes to reach the second round on Wednesday.

The second-seeded Nadal, playing just his third tournament since Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, broke the qualifier ’s serve five times.

The Spaniard, who struggled with appendicitis earlier this month in Shanghai, was never troubled by the 120th-ranked Herbert, who double-faulted 11 times.

Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Cliff Shiridzynodia said the tournament which started with 80 golfers in the first edition, has grown to become one of the most anticipated events in Nigeria’s sporting calendar.

“The tournament has has experienced astronomical growth as we have over 180

golfers vying for honours,” he said.

Captain of Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section, Teddy Iwere assured that the club was ready for the event which would feature both male and female golfers.

“We are ready to ensure the event ends in good time for the players."

SKA Moscow for ward Ahmed Musa believes his team could have done even better than holding Manchester City to a draw.

“I’m very happy with our second half,” Musa told UEFA.com.

“In the first half we showed too much respect for City but after the break we worked hard to get a point.

“After we got back level we had the drive to go on and win the game but we didn’t have enough time.

“We have our first point but now we need to keep working hard.”

Gerrard ‘agrees’ Real deal

L

IVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard is reported to have agreed a sensational deal to join Real Madrid in 2005.

The claim comes from Spanish newspaper Marca Gerrard has already revealed he had opportunities to join the likes of David Beckham, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu but decided to stay with Liverpool.

•Nadal

Gov’s Cup serves off November 17

By John Egbokhan

W

ITH Nigeria certified Ebola free by the World Health Organisation, organisers of the Governor ’s Cup have fixed November 17 as the serve off date of this year ’;s edition.

Relevant officials in the organisation of the annual tournament which is in its 14th year, said that they Tournaments Director, Prince ‘Wale Oladunjoye said that “ we thank God that we have been able to successfully contain the Ebola virus disease that was unfortunately imported into our country. This has

necessitated our resolve to reconsider the organisation of the Governor’s Cup with an abridged version of invitational tourney with participants coming only from the African continent because the time is too short for us to make it an ITFapproved competition.

“We are expecting 12 Nigerian best players in both men and women’s categories with stars from other 20 African countries which had been taken part in the previous editions. The LOC will provide accommodation for the players, while there are attractive prize monies for winners.”

63 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Oshoala powers Falcons to World Cup

BY BEN EFE, Windhoek

S

UPER Falcons reached the final of the African Women Championship by beating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 2-1 in a hard fought match at the Sam Nujoma

Stadium, Windhoek.

Asisat Oshoala scored a brace to dim the hopes of the Banyana Banyana who were dominated by the Falcons. The South Africans were at the

Pope applauds Bayern victory O L L O W I N G Bayern Munich’s 7-1 away demolition of Roma on Tuesday, the German champions conF

tinued a two-day visit to Italy by meeting Pope

Francis at the Vatican.

Continues on Page 60

mercy of the Nigerian women, but they failed to put away several scoring chances in a match the referee Continues on Page 60

VICTORY DANCE: Asisat Oshoala (l) celebrates with team mate

Keshi: Nigeria not a serious football country F

ORMER Super Eagles manager Stephen Keshi has thrown a parting shot at Nigerian football, saying

the country should stop seeing itself as a serious football nation because it was still lagging behind in many vital areas

needed to attain such levels.

The former Togo and former Mali manager noted, for instance, that

but for his intervention, the Akwa Ibom State governor was planning

Continues on Page 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Handwriting (6) 5 Moist (4) 8 Paramour (5) 9 Donkey (3) 10 Quarry (4) 11 Location (4) 12 Performed (5) 13 Menace (6) 16 Repose (4) 18 Valley (4) 20 Aye (3) 22 Groove (3) 23 Finish (3) 24 Paddle (4) 25 Stagger (4) 28 Buck (6) 30 Employees (5) 32 Repast (4) 33 Jot (4) 34 Drunkard (3) 35 Skirmish (5) 36 Fastened (4) 37 Offer (6)

DOWN 1 Scarce (6) 2 Kept (8) 3 Tree (6) 4 Blacked (9) 5 Earn (7) 6 Lord (4) 8 Meadow (3) 14 Petrified (9) 15 Elderly (3) 17 Prosecute (3) 19 Inspected (8) 20 Yelp (3) 21 Subsided (7) 26 Find (6) 27 Bomb-hole (6)

29 Exclude (4) 30 Identical (4) 31 Enemy (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Brash 9, Avenue 10, Eating 11, Scent 12, Idea 15, Wise 17, Consent 20, Die 21, Timid 23, Amen 25, Gate 26, Token 28, Peg 30, Defence 33, Edit 35, Deer 36, Birth 38, Candid 39, Landed 40, Doped.

DOWN: 1, Basic 2, Seven 3, Bus 4, Recent 5, Send 6, Hat 7, Rigid 8, Agree 13, Donated 14, Asset 16, Silence 18, Tired 19, Big 22, Dated 24, Nor 27, Nettle 28, Peace 29, Giant 31, Needy 32, Erode 34, Lido 36, Bid 37, Had.

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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