Court refuses to unseat Tambuwal as speaker

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62299

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Buhari's candidacy, fatal error— Okupe

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Court refuses to unseat Tambuwal as Speaker •Asks plaintiff to put him, other defendants on notice •Invasion of House: Committee report ready, indicts IGP •Senate summons FCT Police Commissioner

By Emman Ovuakporie, Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—JUSTICE A h m e d Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, refused to grant a fresh ex-parte application seeking to restrain Mr. Aminu Tambuwal from further acting as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The application was filed before the court by a member of the House House of Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS: Who is afraid of Jonathan (2) •P.17

ECOWAS—From left: President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic; President Goodluck Jonathan; Mohammadou Issoufou of

Niger Republic; Alassane Ouattara of Cote D'Ivoire; ECOWAS President, Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Ebun Abebola Strasser-King; ECOWAS Chairman, President John Mahama of Ghana; Faure Gnassingbe of Togo and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, at the 46th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Fayose presents Ekiti Budget 11 2015 to 7 lawmakers 2015: Itsekiri leaders anchor Police, FRSC, LASTMA pledge ethnic interests on UN resolution to clear Apapa-Oshodi Road 5 12 ADEBOYE'S VISIT TO VANGUARD THURSDAY:

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Quacks take over ide healthcare in riverine Ins e communities Se

CIA Torture Report 41 •P.

Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

SYMPATHY VISIT—Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left) in company of top management members of the Dangote Group, during a sympathy visit to Kano after the bomb blast that killed worshippers, injured many and shattered the Kano Central Mosque recently.

Court refuses to unseat Tambuwal as Speaker Continues from page 1 Representatives, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade.

The applicant, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State in the House, had in his application, prayed the court to stop Tambuwal from parading himself as the Speaker, pending the determination of the suit challenging his continued stay in office.

Aside the ex-parte application that was declined by the court yesterday, Akinlade is in his substantive suit, seeking a “judicial interpretation” of an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the

same Federal High Court in Abuja, where the court held that there was no division in the PDP. He insisted that in view of the earlier decision of the court, Tambuwal’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on October 28, amounted to a violation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Cited as defendants in the suit were Tambuwal, the House of Representatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Meantime, while rejecting the ex-parte application, yesterday, Justice Mohammed directed the plaintiff to put Tambuwal and all the other defendants on

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self —Aldous Huxley

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PPRECIATE that you are created with unique set of talents and placed before you are endless opportunities to use and refine them. Believe in your strengths and ability to actualize your dreams.

When you want to find the source of a natural spring, you dig deep and break through hard ground to move away all the rocks and of course, you need the right tools to help you accomplish your task, when you get the level where the earth is damp, the thirsty ground uncover a beautiful underground stream that washes away everything in its path.

This is how one can accomplish any given goal in life.

Metaphorically, the earth and rocks ar e the obstacles that might delay or inhibit one’s mission, these could also take forms in limiting behaviors, unrealistic planning, erroneous beliefs, negative character traits that keeps a person from feeling truly alive. This moment is always the place to start or continue your purpose and be relevant in the scheme of things to yourself and others.

notice.

Adjourning the case to January 19, the judge held that it would be “most unfair” to grant a restraining order sought through an ex-parte application against Tambuwal who is already before the court over the same subject matter.

Akinlade’s suit was initially assigned to Justice Evoh Chukwu who on December 2, withdrew from the suit following a petition against him by Tambuwal, accusing him of bias.

House committee to submit report on invasion, indicts IGP

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Police Affairs that investigated the invasion of the National Assembly on November 20 by the police may submit the report of its findings today.

A competent source close to the committee told Vanguard that the report was ready and it may be laid today for further legislative action.

He also confirmed that “the report heavily indicted the InspectorGeneral of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba on his role in rubbishing principal officers of an arm of government”.

According to the source, “ we expect that the recommendations which I can not reveal for now will be handled before the demise of this 7th Assembly. If we decide to touch it, then the outcome will be explosive as the IGP went beyond his scope of duty”.

Attempts to reach the chairman of the committee, Usman Kumo failed as his mobile line was switched off.

Vanguard recalls that immediately after the police invasion, the committee had summoned the IGP to appear before it but the IGP sent his deputy, DIG Sotonye Nwakanma.

The lawmakers had insisted that he should appear personally which he did on November 25.

During the interactive session, the IGP deliberately refused to address the Speaker by his official position but rather referred to him as Alhaji Tambuwal.

This did not go down well with the lawmakers who insisted that he should accord the

Speaker his due respect but the IGP refused.

The IGP stood his ground and the committee adjourned the meeting sine die.

Senate summons FCT Police boss Meanwhile, the Senate has commenced investigations into the November 20 Police invasion of the National Assembly and has invited the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Commissioner of Police over the incident.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and some members of the House of Representatives were locked out of the complex.

The Police said it acted on security reports that the National Assembly was to be invaded by thugs and hoodlums after the APC rally led by Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

The House had reconvened to consider the letter by President

Goodluck Jonathan requesting extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

It was gathered that more than a week behind schedule, the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Committee on Finance yesterday, commenced investigation into the matter.

Other members of the committee are: Senators Atiku Abubakar Bagudu; Victor Lar, Gbenga Sefiu Kaka, Paulinus Igwe, Jubrilla Bindowo and Ehigie Edobor Uzamere.

Makarfi initially refused to allow newsmen into the venue but was prevailed upon by members of the committee. On the first day of the hearing, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), of the National Assembly, told the committee that the instructions to close the gates on the day was based on a directive received from the Federal Capital Territory Command.

The committee subsequently invited the FCT Police Commissioner, Wilson Inalegu, to appear before the committee and also, explain who gave the directive.

ADEBOYE'S VISIT TO VANGUARD THURSDAY:

Police, FRSC, LASTMA, others pledge to clear Apapa-Oshodi Road

By Sam Eyoboka

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AGOS—THE Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, have pledged free-flow of traffic on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway ahead of the visit of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye to the corporate headquarters of Vanguard Media Limited, Apapa on Thursday.

The leadership of the Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship in alliance with the management of the company have secured the assurances of all security forces in the state to maintain law and order before, during and after Pastor Adeboye’s visit.

The Police in Lagos, the Nigerian Navy, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA and other relevant security

agencies in the area have been mobilized, and have given their commitment to deploy personnel to clear the traffic in the area.

The perennial traffic gridlock on the ApapaOshodi Expressway as a result activities of tank farms along that axis had been a source of concern to motorists, but the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti has already deployed men to arrest the situation in readiness for the programme.

The Policemen will cooperate with a detachment of naval personnel as well as LASTMA officials to create a window for the guests expected during the end-of-year Thanksgiving service scheduled for Thursday at 11.00 a.m.

Pastor Adeboye is expected to speak on the theme, “Divine Success and Prophetic Breakthrough” with inspiration from II Chronicles 20:20 and pray for the management and staff of the company.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Gunmen invade Benue community, kill 6

Middle-aged woman killed, 3 others injured in accident

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—NO fewer than six persons have been reported killed by gunmen at Adeka village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The fresh attack is coming despite recent efforts by the state government to ensure the restoration of peace in the troubled council, which had overtime come under repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that “the invaders, with the aid of an engine boat, crossed over from Loko, a border town in Nasarawa State, invaded five riverine villages in Agatu, and unleashed mayhem on our people.”

Reacting to the killings, the lawmaker representing the area in the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Audu Sule, expressed sadness over the renewed hostility in the area.

Audu said five people were killed in Adeka by the gunmen, who he claimed were sheltered by their sponsors in four villages of Nasarawa State, alleging also that the attackers had threatened to stage a comeback after the initial attack.

“The incident had been reported to the police in Otukpo as well as other security agencies in the state,” Audu said.

He urged relevant security agencies to quickly address the issue before it snowballed into a major crisis in the area.

When contacted, acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Matthew Okwu, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

Scene of the accident. PHOTO: Esther Onyegbula.

By Esther Onyegbula

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middle-aged woman reportedly died in an accident involving a Toyota Camry with number plate JJJ103 DG and a tricycle at Abati Bus Stop, Shasha Road, Akowonjo area of Lagos State.

The accident, which occurred around 5a.m., Saturday, claimed

the life of Mrs. Abigail, a passenger in the tricycle. She reportedly died on the spot, while others sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital.

Vanguard gathered that the driver of the car rammed into the tricycle while trying to overtake another vehicle.

Speaking to Vanguard, a resident, Abdulaziz Umar, who

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BUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, sentenced a middleaged man, Okwara Emmanuel, to two years imprisonment for using gas cylinders to manufacture different types of fake insecticides.

Okwara, who was said to have a wide retailer-based

another one.”

A roadside food vendor, identified as Iya Victoria, said: “The driver of the Toyota Camry was discovered drunk when he was arrested by the police.

“In fact, we do not know what is happening at this bus stop.

Just last week a vehicle crashed into the building of a private school at the same bus stop.”

22-yr-old banker accused of stealing N2.9m from employer

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A 22-year-old banker, Gbemisola Owoeye, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N2.9 million

belonging to Skye Bank Plc. The defendant, who resides at 1, Ayo Idowu Close, in Surulere area of Lagos, is facing a onecount charge of stealing preferred against him by the police.

The Police prosecutor, Chidi

Okoye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime between August and September.

He said the incident took place at 3, Akin Adesola Street, Skye Bank Head Office in Victoria Island.

Man, 42, in prison custody for robbery

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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42-year-old man, Emeka Okere, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos over allegations of armed robbery.

The Magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, ordered that the defendant be remanded

in prison custody pending an advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP. The accused, who is unemployed and resides at 16, Alhaji Yusuf Adebayo Street, Olodi Apapa, is facing a two count-charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

According to the prosecutor, Eranus Nnamonu, the accused attacked his victims, Messer

Man jailed 2 years for manufacturing fake insecticide distribution network for the insecticides and

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

helped rescue some of the survivors, said: “The driver of the private car hit the tricycle while attempting to overtake another vehicle. Three other persons were severely injured.

“Among those injured was an old woman, who was returning from a church vigil. The hospital we took the victims to rejected them, so we had to take them to

products he manufactured behind his house, pleaded guilty to a six-count charge that was preferred against him by the National Agency for Food and Drug and Administration and Control, NAFDAC. His arrest followed a tip-off from his neighbours.

When a raid was conducted at his residence at Kuje, a suburb town in Abuja, several empty cartons of branded

the gas cylinder he used to manufacture the bogus products were confiscated.

The items were produced before trial Justice Evoh Chukwu, who convicted the accused after he admitted guilt.

The accused person, through his lawyer, Mr. Ugochukwu Oparah, however, pleaded the court for leniency, saying he was driven into the business by poverty and joblessness.

Ebere Nwagboso and Chike Onuorah on September 14 at 5.40p.m., on the Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

He said the defendant shot at Nwagboso twice and dispossessed Onuorah of is Sports Utility Vehicle.

Nnamonu said: “The defendants, in company of some others still at large, attacked Onuorah and Nwagboso on the highway, and dispossessed them of their valuables, including a sports utility vehicle, SUV, valued at N6 million.

“They manhandled their victims, forcefully collected other personal item, after which they shot Nwagboso on his left hand and leg. Okeke was apprehended at Berger, Apapa following a police tip off. “ Subsequently, Magistrate Komolafe adjourned the matter to February 12, 2015, while awaiting Department of Public Prosecution, DPP’s advice.

He said the defendant was exploiting the bank’s intercurrency funds transfer via ATM to the domiciliary accounts of one Otun Kehinde and Olamilekan Alabi.

Okoye said: “He was found in the practice of round-tripping foreign currency by consistently moving funds from his Naira account in other banks, via ATMs, into domiciliary accounts in the bank, after which the dollar would be withdrawn and sold at premium in the black market.

“The sum of N15,246,474.25 ($98,364.35) was transferred via ATMs to the domiciliary accounts of his accomplices. The transactions were done between August 20 and September 18.”

He was also alleged to have introduced Olashile Adeshina and Lanre Fashoyi into the dealings.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under Section 285 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Section 285, prescribes three years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of stealing.

Earlier, the defendant denied the allegation when the charge was read to him.

Magistrate A. O. Awogboro admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250,000, with two responsible sureties in like sum, and adjourned the matter January 27, 2015, for mention.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—7

Gunmen kidnap pastor’s wife, demand N20m ransom

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI—THE wife of Pastor Chris Aniamaka, in charge of Dominion City, Kpirikpiri, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Pastor Ifeanyi Aniamaka, has been kidnapped by gunmen at her residence in Abakaliki.

Vanguard learned that the victim, who was trailed in a yellow bus while she was driving in her KIA Rio car, was intercepted at her residence on Onwe Nkam Street, Democracy

Estate, Abakaliki and kidnapped.

In a chat with Vanguard, the husband of the victim, Pastor Aniamaka, called on the church for prayers and for security agents across the state to ensure the speedy release of his wife from the hands of the abductors.

He said: “This incident came as a shock to me. We just finished our thanksgiving service for the year. My wife decided to drive the children home and they were intercepted

at our residence.

“From the account of my children, who were instructed to come down from the vehicle before the kidnappers took my wife away, the kidnappers followed them until they got to our residence at Democracy Estate.

“They threatened my wife with a gun and told my children to get down from the car before they drove away.”

Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers, still believed to be

in the state, had made contact with the family, demanding N20 million ransom.

It will be recalled that two weeks ago, a Deacon and Deaconess of Assemblies of God Church in Abakaliki were kidnapped and later released by their abductors after ransom was paid.

It is believed that a syndicate of young men has been terrorizing churches in Abakaliki by kidnapping members believed to be wealthy.

Receptionist accused of stealing with boss' ATM card

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A 30-year-old receptionist, Gladys Obaro, was yesterday charged before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly withdrawing N160,000 from her boss' account, using her ATM card.

The Police prosecutor, Austine Orji, told the court that the defendant on December 5, at Shop EE7 at Ikota Shopping Centre, Ajah, Lagos, stole the said money with a Zenith Bank ATM card.

He said the money and the card belong to one Ngozika Mba, whom the defendant was working for as a receptionist.

Orji said the incident happened at 10:30p.m., at Zenith ATM machine located at Plot 6, Layi Crescent Admiralty Way in Lekki.

When the charge was read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty.

However, Magistrate Salam Matepo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000, with two responsible sureties, each in like sum.

She adjourned the matter till January 26, 2015, for mention.

Mobile court convicts 50 traffic offenders in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A mobile court sitting in Yenagoa over cases of traffic offences brought before it by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Bayelsa State has convicted no fewer than 50 road traffic offenders in Yenagoa metropolis for various traffic offences.

Commercial tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, constituted the bulk of the convicted offenders.

The Bayelsa State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Vincent Jack, while confirming the outcome of the mobile court session, said the convictions took place during a mobile court session organized by the FRSC on a weekly basic to check and control traffic during the yuletide.

The Presiding Magistrate, Chief Magistrate Lucky James, sitting in Opolo area of the Isaac Boro Expressway in Yenagoa, convicted 49 of them with options of fine ranging between N3,000 and N30,000.

The chief magistrate, however, sentenced one of the offenders to two months imprisonment, while six were discharged and acquitted.

Ondo gas explosion razed 40 shops, houses

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—NO fewer than 42 shops and houses were razed by last Saturday’s gas explosion in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Meanwhile, the state government said it will compensate owners of houses and shops that were destroyed. Property worth millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.

These disclosure were made to Vanguard by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Head of Operation for Ekiti State covering Ondo and Osun states, Mr. Saheed Akiode, yesterday.

Meanwhile, Governor Olugesun Mimiko during a visit to the scene, said a committee would be set up to take inventory of the damaged property.

Mimiko pointed out that the committee will determine the compensation due to the victims of the inferno.

He said that the gas outlet responsible for the inferno was not approved for such business.

Governor Mimiko, who described the occurrence as unfortunate, read out the letter of rejection of approval for sitting the retail outlet on the location and handed over same to residents of the area.

The governor assured that all illegal filling stations located in residential areas and other hazardous locations in the state would be pulled down.

He called on the people to be vigilant and report illegal gas retail outlet to appropriate authorities.

Mimiko also visited the Truama Centre in Ondo, where some of the victims were receiving treatment.

He promised full responsibility of government for their bills.

He said: “Gas station outfit in the middle of residential areas is unacceptable.

“This man applied to set up the facility there in May this year and by June, the ministry wrote a letter rejecting the approval. Yet he went ahead to expose the lives of the people here to danger. This makes one to be sad.”

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Bombing of schools in N-East, crime against humanity — NHRC

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS — THE Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has described the bombing of primary and secondary schools in the North Eastern part of the country as a crime against humanity.

It said: “The insurgency in Nigeria is a threat to regional peace and security and the country needs a united leadership and the support of its international partners to defeat this insurgency.”

It also expressed concern over the rise in forced displacement of communities, disappearance and abductions of innocent civilians and attacks on places of worship, markets and schools, among others by insurgents.

NHRC governing council in a communiqué after its statutory meeting in Abuja, also considered the attacks and jailbreaks in some prisons across Nigeria, including Kotonkarfe (Kogi State), AdoEkiti (Ekiti State), Kirikiri (Legal State) and Minna prisons (Niger State).

It noted: “These developments are worrisome and disruptive of the criminal justice system in the country as it puts at risk lives of prisoners, detainees, prison staff and other law enforcement assets as well as host communities.”

Impeachment plot: Stormy session likely in Senate today As aggrieved Senators meet to strategise Senators are united behind Mark—Abaribe

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA — AS the Senate resumes plenary today, some of the aggrieved Senators, who lost out at the just concluded primaries and threatened to impeach the Senate President, David Mark, met yesterday at an undisclosed venue to strategise on how best to carry out the threat.

The Senate may witness a turbulent session as the aggrieved Senators, after what they described as "strategic meeting," vowed that there was no going back with the plot.

But Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, dismissed the alleged plot to impeach the Senate President,

saying that Senators were united behind Mark.

An aggrieved Senator, who was privy to the meeting, yesterday, said it was "a continuation of a series of strategic meetings we have been holding before and after our primary elections.”

He disclosed that the meeting was held in a highbrow hotel in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and that the meeting became necessary "for us to articulate and formulate some critical issues bothering on the primary elections.”

According to him, “the fact that the primaries in most instances were hugely flawed is not in doubt. The fact that our interest was not protected even after we were made to believe that there was automatic ticket for most of

us, is also not in doubt."

According to the aggrieved Senators, “it is also true that the Senate leadership failed to do the needful at the Presidency and the PDP headquarters to create a level playing field for us.

“We cannot pretend that all is well. We cannot also pretend that we are happy the way and manner most of us have been left in the cold to fend for ourselves. We will not just leave things the way they are going.

We needed to meet to talk to ourselves ahead of our resumption."

When asked whether the alleged plot to unseat the Senate leadership was also discussed at the meeting, he said “nothing is ruled out, everything is on the table but we will wait and see as things unfold.

“May be because most of us

PRESENTATION: Front row, from left; Ms Abimbola Alale, acting MD of NigComSat; Mr Emmanuel Agbegi, representing Supervising Information Minister , Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, MD, Galaxy Backbone, Yusuf Kazaure, Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson; Permanent Secretary, Min of Communication Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa and D-G, National Information Technology Agency, NITDA, Dr. Peter Olu Jack at the Ministerial Platform Presentation by Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, in Abuja, yesterday.

Social media'll play important role in 2015 polls —Minister Says ICT contributes 9.58% to Nigeria GDP in Q3 2014

By Emeka Aginam

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AGOS — THE Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, has disclosed that social media would play a very important role in the 2015 general elections.

Johnson, who presented the ministry ’s scorecard since creation, yesterday, in Abuja at the ongoing Ministerial Platform stated this while responding to a question by a member of the audience who sought to know if the Federal Government would control social media.

According the minister, President Jonathan's administration has recognised the strength of social media as a way of engagement between the government and citizens.

She said: ‘’This government does not believe in controlling the

social media. So, we won’t control the use of social media come 2015 elections but we will be managing them. They are going to be playing a very important part in the coming elections.

"I think what we are trying to do is managing the social media because government also has a social media platform of its own. If you take a look at our websites, you will see that we have our twitter and Facebook links, so we are engaging in social media as well. So it will play a very important role in the 2015 polls.”

According to her, "we have millions of Nigerians connected to the social media platform and over 80 per cent of them will be participating in the coming

elections. So it is very important to engage in social media platforms. It is not about controlling them but it is about using social media as positive tool to have successful elections come 2015.”

ICT industry in 2014

Despite challenges, she said that the Nigerian Information Technology sector currently contributed 9.58 per cent in the third quarter of 2014.

“The ICT industry contributes about $50 billion to Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Nigeria’s GDP is about $500 billion and ICTs contributes about 10 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP,” she said.

With optimism, the minister said the contribution would further enable other parts of the economy.

“The improved environment assured by President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda has helped create local companies including Wakanow, Jumia, Paga, Konga, i-Sec, iroko TV among others that are innovating and adding value to the Nigerian economy.

“The Nigerian telecoms sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world and continues to attract significant foreign direct investment.

Key policy documents

“The Federal Ministry of Communication Technology has laid down key policy documents, the national ICT policy, national broadband strategy, local content guidelines, among others. What follows is an overview of the impact recorded due to the judicious application of the principles contained in this documents."

have been too pro-leadership, always avoiding issues that may rock the boat, we have been taken for granted.”

Senators are united behind Mark —Abaribe

Meantime, the Senate through its spokesman, Senator Abaribe, in a statement entitled, “Senators Are United Behind Mark”described the report as “false, media reports purporting a plot by some aggrieved senators to remove the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark.”

Abaribe said the report was unfounded and only existed in the imagination of its authors, adding: “Senators operating as a body of one united family, have never at any time found any ground to move against its leadership or even thwart the long-standing camaraderie the upper chamber is known for, irrespective of political party affiliation.

“The Senate has a tested internal mechanism, which has severally been ably deployed by the President of the Senate and members of his leadership to tackle any difficult issues that arise within and outside the chamber.

“Senators have implicit confidence in the leadership of the Senate ably led by Senator Mark and there is nothing now to suggest or confer any iota of truth on the media insinuation of any form of schism that could warrant the removal of the President of the Senate.”

He advised journalists to exercise restraint on the reportage of issues that are not factual.

Stormy session

Meanwhile, Senate may witness stormy session on their resumption today as the arrowhead of the impeachment of President Jonathan, Senator Jajere, had about three weeks ago declared that about 70 Senators had put down their signatures for the commencement of the impeachment of President Jonathan that would be presented on resumption.

The Senate is also expected to look into the pending Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, although, it was gathered that the PIB may not see the light of the day in this present leadership until next year, as nothing has shown that the Senate would pass the PIB soon.

Besides, it is expected that the Senate would consider the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and the Fiscal Strategic Paper, FSP, for the 2015 budget, but it was not certain whether the Presidency had sent another oil price benchmark after pegging it at $65 per barrel before the oil price came down to $63 per barrel.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—9

Crude price decline: Fuel subsidy payment drops to N4.48/litre Oil workers' strike won’t affect supply — NNPC

By Michael Eboh, Chris Ochayi, Ediri Ejoh, Hope Ofobike & Funmi Amodu

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AGOS — FOLLOWING the continuous decline in the prices of crude oil in the international market, the amount the Federal Government is paying on subsidy for Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, has dropped to N4.48 per litre.

This came as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, assured Nigerians that the ongoing strike embarked upon by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, will not disrupt the supply of petroleum products to members of the public.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), in a document obtained from its website, yesterday, puts the market price of PMS at N101.48 per litre, as at December 12, 2014, compared to N108.38 per litre as at December 9, 2014.

According to the PPPRA, the Expected Open Market (EOMP) of fuel is N101.48; Landing Cost -N98.15; ExDepot price is N81.51 per litre, while the regulated price is N97 per litre.

The assurance by the NNPC is against the backdrop of long queue of vehicles that resurfaced at most filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and its environs yesterday on account of the strike announced by the unions.

The corporation in a statement issued by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, advised fuel consumers to avoid panic buying or stockpiling of petroleum products as that could lead to needless queues or cause fire accidents that could lead to loss of lives and property.

He said: “The NNPC is in talks with the leadership of the unions who gave the assurance that they would not disrupt fuel supply and distribution system as the strike was basically aimed at addressing the anti-labour issues by some of the International Oil Companies, IOCs.”

Buhari’s candidacy a fatal error —Okupe

Stop counting days Chibok girls are in custody, he says

By Charles Kumolu & Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS — SENIOR Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has described the election of a former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd), as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a fatal error.

Okupe who dismissed Buhari’s electoral potentials during a courtesy visit to Vanguard's corporate headquarters in Lagos, also dismissed criticisms against the administration’s capacity to uphold the nation’s territorial integrity.

He also urged the press to stop counting the number of days the militant Islamist Boko Haram group has held on to the more than 200 secondary school girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

Okupe in the same vein blasted Buhari for not making much money in his life, saying that repeated reference to the former head of state as a poor man was not a morale-boosting virtue for younger Nigerians. He said a man who failed to make much out of life should not be enthroned with the nation’s collective destiny.

Buhari's choice a fatal error His words: ‘’The choice of APC or their decision to elect Buhari as their standard bearer, is a fatal error. I have been in this game for nearly 30 years or more. I understand this game of politics very well.

Buhari is not a winner, has never won, and will not win; and it is for a reason that he has never won.

"The question you need to ask yourself and what APC should have asked themselves is: Why Buhari?

The calculation is that Buhari came with 12 million votes on the strength of his showing in the last election.

Now, if you can deliver the entire South-West, that is another 20 million votes, and other platforms, you add it and he is going to win.

"Politic is not mathematics.

Yes, Buhari had 12 million votes. The Bola Tinubus of this world, in the course of showing their capabilities, have been bruised; they do not control the South-West

VISIT: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe (left), and Dr. Olusanya Awosan, Special Assistant on Public Relations during a visit to Vanguard Media Ltd, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

and that is very clear. In actual fact, because they have a lot of money, Buhari should have dumped them long ago because they cannot deliver.

"At the beginning of this year, maybe the calculation was still clear that they would deliver South-West. Today in the South-West, Ondo is not in the basket, Ekiti is not in the basket, Osun State is neither here nor there and I am saying that authoritatively.

"Omisore may still be the governor of Osun but even if he does not become the governor of Osun State, we have seen the results of election in Osun State. If that is something to go by, it is topsy-turvy.’

"In Lagos State, just as they (APC) are clamouring for change at the national level, people at the grassroots are saying they are fed up of the nonsensical things that APC has been doing in the state.

"So, the point I am trying to make is that theoretical calculations may be what has misled them into taking that decision, but it is unfortunate and regrettable, and it is a fatal error.

Buhari is a non-issue "Buhari, to me, is a nonissue. Buhari has only two things going for him. He has not improved himself since he left office; he has not added any value, personally to himself or to any political tendencies that he represents.

He is a religious bigot and there is nothing he can do about that. He is not even a nationalist. Some few days ago, some people came out to say that Buhari is the northern candidate. So, who is the

southern candidate?

“Buhari is trying to make poverty a virtue, but poverty is not a virtue. The fact that Buhari has left office for so long and he says he is so poor, is nothing to celebrate, it is indolence and shameful.

Is that a role model? Is that who you will want your children to be, a poor man?

Indolence is not something we should celebrate. If a man like Buhari at his age says he is a poor person, that is too bad and it is also a deceit. That is not integrity."

On Chibok girls On the Chibok girls, Okupe said: "That is a very touchy issue, it is a very lamentable situation and an issue of profound national tragedy. It is not an issue of finding or when are we finding the girls.

The media has got on the wrong side of it.

"The real issue is that we are in a war situation and at the beginning, I am not sure that everybody accepted that situation. Some people are waging a very serious war against Nigeria, nothing is worse than war. When you are in a war situation, anything happens. Murder, cold blooded murder, wanton destruction of property, kidnapping, raping, you can name it. Even the best armies in the world commit such terrible atrocities. It is recorded in history.

"So, a war situation is a bad situation, that is why I said that it is not about finding the girls alone. When you are in a war situation, all the things I have said can happen. The misfortune we have is that we had these girls taken away

violently and it is extremely painful.

We must stop counting "When you have over 200 hostages, it is bad business.

The hostages are not kept in one place, which makes it more profound. So, do not let us go into the sentimentality of when government will bring the girls back. We are in a war situation, it is a very dicey circumstance but when you are talking of safety of lives, you cannot put tenure to what you must endure, to save a life and that is why we must stop counting.

"It is unnecessary, it does not help us, it does not help the girls. If it helps anybody, it encourages the insurgents and I don’t think that is the intention of anybody anywhere.

"If all these months and days, Boko Haram has not killed the girls and there is no information that the girls have been killed, it means there is a reason they are holding them and they have not killed them.

"We are not going to encourage them or create a situation where the girls are going to be killed. That was why the government took a lot of effort and took the bait when Chad offered an olive branch, unfortunately, nothing came out of it.

"That shows you that government is caring, this government, even at the risk of its reputation, is willing to go and do anything possible to release the girls but we are in a war situation."

10— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Kashamu, Ogun PDP chair drop contempt charges against Daniel, others

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—THE Ogun State faction of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to a chieftain of the party, Buruji Kashamu, yesterday, discontinued the contempt proceedings against former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Also, the faction led by Adebayo Dayo discontinued the contempt proceedings it earlier filed against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and another chieftain of the party, Dave Salako.

Only the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were left as alleged contemnors in the contempt proceedings before the court.

The Dayo-led executive had initiated four separate contempt proceedings against the alleged contemnors for allegedly disobeying orders of the court.

The plaintiffs had specifically alleged that the respondents had been attempting to remove them from office, despite two Federal High Court judgments affirming the legality of their positions.

Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, had at the last adjourned date, threatened to order arrest of Bankole, Daniel and Salako should they fail to appear before the court, but when the matter came up yesterday, all the alleged contemnors were not in court but were represented by their lawyers.

However, lawyer to the applicants, had surprisingly applied to the court to discontinue the contempt proceedings against Daniel, Bankole and Salako.

SYNAGOGUE: Coroner suspends invitation

to Joshua

By Abdulwahab Abdulah, Bartholomew Madukwe & Ebele Okafor

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AGOS—CORONER’S Inquest investigating the circumstances which led to the collapse of a six-storey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, yesterday, suspended its invitation to the founder of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua, pending the determination of his suit against the Coroner before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.

The decision was reached by the Coroner judge, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, after listening to an oral application by joshua’s lead counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. Although last week the coroner dismissed a similar application filed by Prophet TB Joshua before him, on the ground that it was abuse of court process.

Magistrate Komolafe had issued witness summons on relevant individuals and institutions including the Prophet TB Joshua. But the prophet, instead of appearing before the inquest, filed an application before Justice Okunnu to stay further proceedings of the inquest and suspend further actions on his invitation to appear to give evidence before it pending the determination of his suit against the coroner's judge before the High Court.

Joshua in the said application dated November 11, 2014 before the High Court and marked ID/ 188MJR/2014 had asked for a judicial review of the coroner’s proceedings, which began on October 13.

He had asked the High Court to declare that his invitation to appear as a witness before the coroner was a breach of his right to fair hearing, as no case had been established against his person before the coroner.

Joshua further contested that the coroner had been extending his inquisitions into areas beyond its statutory purview.

Justice Okunnu had fixed December 22, 2014 to hear the

application.

The inquest was inaugurated by the Lagos State Government under the state Coroner ’s System Law No.7 of 2007 to investigate the cause and circumstances resulting in the death of 166 people following the collapse on September 12, 2014 and bring its findings and recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

Meanwhile, in his testimony before the inquest yesterday, a Deputy General Manager, Air Traffice Control, with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr Rafiq Olubukola Arogunjo confirmed that a Nigeria Airforce Aircraft

was on a training mission within the Ikotun area on September 12 when the Synagogue church building collapsed.

Arogunjo who stated that the aircraft never flew directly over the collapsed building noted that the aircraft maintained the statutory 1000 feet flight distance in congested areas.

He further stated that the controversial aircraft had to fly over the Ikotun area for about six times due to the high traffic on in coming aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

Arogunjo insisted that on each of the six times that the aircraft navigated the Ikotun Area, it maintained a 2700 feet distance from the collapsed building.

VISIT: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (3rd left), Professor Philips Jegede, Dean Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife (2nd left)and others, during the visit by members of the Obafemi Awolowo Free Education Order, Faculty of Education, OAU, to the Governor in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Obasanjo's book lacks credibility —Kashamu

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By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—CHAIRMAN, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu yesterday berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s new book ‘My watch’, saying it is full of lies, blackmail and also lacks credibility.

He said Obasanjo’s book was out to portray President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in a bad light, adding that the former President “blames everybody else for everything but himself.”

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the PDP chieftain said: “Obasanjo’s open and mischievous criticism of the Jonathan administration, if anything, is drawing more sympathy for it, as one that is making a complete break with the past where impunity and lawlessness reigned. This is so because the issue is not so much about whether his claims are true

or not, but because of who is making the claims and his

manner of presentation. The messenger lacks credibility."

Police ban use of fireworks especially banger. in Lagos The Command boss, Mr

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By Evelyn Usman

AGOS—THE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, banned the use of fire works in the state during the Yuletide season, threatening to deal with any defaulter within the ambit of the law.

Consequently, it has enjoined parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from the use of fireworks,

Cornellus Aderanti, in a statement signed by the command spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, explained that the ban was declared with a view to ensuring public safety and also to avert all manner of dangers associated with its use during harmattan season.

“The state Command wishes to inform the general public that the use of fireworks is banned.

Parents are therefore advised to warn their wards to desist from its use to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law as defaulters will be punished”, he said.

While wishing Lagosians a warm Christmas celebration, Aderanti, however, assured them of the command’s commitment to ensure their safety during the season.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 —11

Fayose presents N80.774bn budget to 7 PDP lawmakers 19 APC members absent as party disapproves presentation Tell your runaway lawmakers to return, Fayose tells APC

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor & Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has presented N80.774 billion budget estimate to seven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members of the House of Assembly for the 2015 fiscal year.

However, the Chamber was parked full of non-legislators.

Christened “budget of reality” yesterday’s presentation represents 77.7 per cent of the 2014 budget of N103.8 billion by the immediate past Governor of the state,Dr Kayode Fayemi.

During yesterday’s budget presentation which took place at the floor of the state House of Assembly, members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers were absent.

The assembly’s gallery was, however, filled up to the brim as politicians, traditional rulers and captains of industries were in attendance.

Fayose on the occasion said the state government decided to reduce the budget to a more pragmatic and realistic one that would bring possible results to the people of the state.

Ekiti APC disapproves the presentation

Meantime, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state has condemned the attitude of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for presenting the 2015 Budget to seven of the 26-member of the House of Assembly in less than 20 minutes.

According to Ekiti State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the manner of the presentation of the budget by the Governor was constitutional breach, illegal and absurd.

The APC therefore counselled the governor to follow legal steps in the governance and financial management of the state. ‘’Seven members of PDP in the Assembly had earlier sat to illegally confirm commissionernominees and approve the dissolution and reconstitution of the local governments, among others. ‘’Monday’s illegal sitting with a full house of thugs was a new dimension to the constitutional breaches and lawlessness by the Executive.

“We never knew that Ekiti people could be brought to this low record in decency and respect for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by herding thugs to the House of

Assembly to join seven members to present state budget.

“The standard practice is for the governor to present the state budget to members in full session while the public sit at the gallery to watch proceedings. But in this instance, thugs intermingled with the lawmakers in a plenary in such a way that you cannot differentiate a lawmaker from a thug,” Olatunbosun said. ‘’The APC spokesman further criticized the barring of journalists, including the inhouse correspondents, from covering the event, even as he berated the governor for rallying reporters to the Assembly after presenting the budget at the illegal sitting for a press briefing.

He asked journalists to be professional in their duties to save democracy.

Olatunbosun’s words: “What is the use of calling reporters you intentionally barred from covering the main budget presentation to a post-budget presentation briefing if not to cover up the thugs that sat with the seven members to conduct that illegal sitting? This is time for activism in journalism.

Reporters must begin to ask questions on the abnormality and breaches of the Constitution in governance process.”

To this end, Olatunbosun called

the attention of Nigerians and lovers of democracy around the world to the reign of impunity in Ekiti State. He urged all organs and agencies of government responsible for budget processing not to get themselves involved in any financial transactions based on the “illegal budget”, saying all actions on the budget and transactions involving the features of the budget are illegal until it is legally presented to a legally constituted House of Assembly composed of 19 members of APC and their seven colleagues in PDP. In like manner, he urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to beam their lights on government financial transactions in Ekiti State in the face of mindless plot to defraud Ekiti people through illegal conduct in the financial management of public funds.

Tell your runaway lawmakers to return, Fayose tells APC

In a swift reaction, Governor Ayodele Fayose has told the All APC in the State to bring back the party’s runaway lawmakers

to the State, saying; “No individual, group or political party can hold the State to ransom.”

Reacting to the party’s condemnation of Governor Fayose’s presentation of the 2015 Budget to the House of Assembly, Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said: “It is shameful and wicked for the APC and its leaders to think that they can hold the entire people of Ekiti down just because they lost power.”

Olayinka, who warned the APC lawmakers of the consequences of losing their seats should they continue to abdicate their legislative duties, added that; “by the rule of the House of Assembly, each member must attend the House sittings for 181 days in a year.”

He said the sitting of the House in which the 2015 Budget was presented was lawful.

“The court of law is there for the loud-mouth in the APC to approach if they have any genuine complain to make.

“Today is December 15 (yesterday) and the APC lawmakers know that 2015 Budget must be presented as provided by the 1999 Constitution. Yet, some of the APC lawmakers refused to report in the House of Assembly, except three of them, who are interested in the progress and development of the State."

TOUR: From left: Mr Kehinde Fabiyi, Project Manager, UPDC,;Mrs Titilayo Gbadamosi, GM, Sales and Marketing, UPDC, Mr Brian Greenaway, Director, Technical Operation, UPDC, and Emeka Okoye,Chairman/CEO, AC Yafeng West Africa Ltd, during a facility tour of UACN Property Development Company's festival mall and residences in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Oyo PDP crisis deepens as Makinde, others defect to SDP Just last week, a former said; “After fruitless efforts to

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By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—THE crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo State was further depleted yesterday as one of its aggrieved leading governorship aspirants, Seyi Makinde picked up the ticket of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, as its candidate for the 2015 election.

governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala also dumped the party for the Labour Party after the former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin was given the party’s ticket.

While declaring his intention to call it quits with the party in Ibadan yesterday with all his teeming supporters, Makinde

ensure that free and fair election prevailed within PDP and witnessing the yearnings of the ordinary people of Oyo State that are asking for change for the reduction of poverty due to poor governance, I find it extremely difficult to shy away from this popular demand to make a difference in lives of our people.”

Protest trails alleged plot to withdraw Isiaka's mandate

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By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — HUNDREDS of protesters from Ogun West (Yewa/Awori) yesterday, converged on the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abeokuta to protest alleged plan by the leadership of the party in Abuja to withdraw the governorship ticket won by Gboyega Isiaka and impose the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.

This is coming just as leaders of the party from Ogun Central Senatorial District also warned the party leadership against any attempt to impose a candidate for the vacant Senatorial seat in the District.

The zonal leaders in a communique signed by Chief Ademola Adeshina (Chairman), Mrs Bolanle Tejuoso and Lijadu Majekodunmi(Public Relations Officer) at the end of its meeting gave nod to the primaries which produced the three candidates for its House of Representatives.

The candidates include Dr. Ibrahim Olaleye, (Abeokuta North/ObafemiOwode/Odeda), Hon. Yomi Ajayi (Abeokuta South), and Mr Nathaniel Sodipo (Ewekoro/Ifo).

However, in a related development, protesters in support of Gboyega Isiaka at the party secretariat located along Presidential boulevard were armed with placards.

They carried placards which had inscriptions such as ‘Ogun West will not disappoint PDP’,’GNI is the road map of 2015',’We salute PDP for the choice of GNI’,’GNI is symbol of success’,’On GNI mandate we stand.’

Prominent elders of the zone, who led the protesters and spoke at the venue include former Minister of National Planning, Mrs Ebun Oyagbola, former deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Salmot Badru, a leader of the party from Ogun East, Leke Adedoyin, Mrs. Iyabo Apampa, and the state party secretary, Mr. Semiu Sodipo.

They were all unanimous that the Ogun West people had been sidelined since the creation of the state in 1976, stressing the highest position they had been given was deputy governorship.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

FUPRE crisis worsens over NEEDS fund T

HE crisis rocking the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, is far from being resolved following a disagreement among some members the Governing Council over modalities for appropriating the National Education Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS, funds just released to the university.

The imbroglio between the Management and the Governing Council of the university forced the Vice Chancellor Prof. John EtuEfeotor, to proceed on sick leave, when he was still performing his statutory functions of running the varsity.

A source who spoke on the issue said that the crisis may have shifted to the Governing Council, which he said may be connected with who gets what from the NEEDS fund.

The source, who pleaded anonimity, said: “The problem stems from alteration in the sharing formula already agreed upon. The issue of

modalities for the release of funds to the Public Private Partnership agreement that was entered into with a company of one of the top officials of the varsity became

a contentious issue.”

Following these unresolved issues, the source noted that some aggrieved members of Council were now galvanizing support by

aligning themselves with those they feel they could get better fair deal from maintaining that this scenario has further polarised the institution along tribal lines.

By Jimitota Onoyume

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LUNCHEON: From right: Chief S.S. Rone, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, Mr. A. S. Mene, Mr. Tony Ede and Prof. J. N. Omatseye, during the annual luncheon of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, in Warri, Delta State. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

2015: Itsekiri leaders anchor ethnic interests on UN resolutions

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—ITSEKIRI Leaders of Thought, ILT, has said that its sustained commitment to the protection and projection of Itsekiri interests would be anchored on the resolutions of the United Nations, UN and the InterParliamentary conferences, next year.

ILT, at its 2014 end-of-year luncheon in Warri, Delta State, said: “In 2014, we were able to reach out and align with other ethnic nationalities in our region and across the nation to ensure survival of Itsekiri ethnic interests.”

In a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, ILT added: “In our interaction and work with other minority ethnic groups, we found a common thread of marginalization, deprivation, poverty, oppression, intimidation and neglect.”

He said that the ILT anchoring its activities on UN resolutions, would underscore the “protection of the individual's respect for human rights through rule of law and due process.

“Protection of minorities and respect for their political, social, economic, cultural and linguistic rights as well as observation of the integrity of existing states and boundaries.”

It condemned “forceful evictions, persecution and

Intensify war against corruption, rights groups urge FG

ethnic cleansing,” while also insisting on the settlement of disputes and conflicts involving national, ethnic or religious

minorities by peaceful and nonviolent means.

Present at the luncheon were Pa Johnson Ayomike, Chairman

ILT, Pa Isaac Jemide, Deputy Chairman, Madam Florence Rewane, Treasurer and Prof. J. N. Omatseye.

Kate Henshaw, other PDP aspirants affirm transparent primaries in C-River

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OME Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirants who either contested the National Assembly or governorship primaries in Cross River State have dismissed claims of irregularities by some defeated aspirants, insisting that the processes were free, fair and represented the will of the people.

Aspirants who insisted that claims of tampering with delegates’ lists were false, include Nollywood diva, Kate Henshaw, former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Mike Aniah and Mr Ugba Murphy, former chairman of the Editorial Board of DARR Communications, owners of African Independent Television and RayPower.

Aniah, who aspired for the governorship ticket maintained that in any contest, there could only be one winner, and advised those who lost to stop mud slinging.

“The governorship ticket was always going to be a contest and there was bound to be only one winner. So, for me, the process was fair and I subscribe to it,”

he said.

On the alleged tampering with the delegates’ list, he said: “What I saw at the state congress was what was arrived at the ward congress. The delegates’ list was authentic.”

Relieving her experience, Henshaw was emphatic that there was no manipulation of the delegates’ list, at least not during her primaries.

The actress was in the race for

the ticket for Calabar South/ Akpabuyo/Bakassi federal constituency.

“The alleged tampering with delegates’ list didn’t occur in my primaries. I have heard the allegation of tampered delegates’ list. I don’t know what they are talking about. The delegates I met with before the primaries were the same delegates I saw during the primaries," she said.

2015: Group hails PDP's ratification of Jonathan that the party’s endorsement of

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A GROUP, Clarion Call Initiative, CCI, has hailed last week’s ratification of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Special National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the party’s consensus presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.

Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, National Co-ordinator of CCI, Mr. Peter Chukwuemeka Nwabuzor, said

Jonathan was a step in the right direction.

He said that the group decided to support the president’s reelection bid because he had performed creditably despite the security challenges plaguing the nation.

Flanked by the Bayelsa State coordinator of the group, Preye Kosuowei, and Allison-Ingonabo, deputy co-ordinator, Nwabuzor said that Jonathan had made tremendous achievements in the various sectors of the nation's economy.

ORT HARCOURT—THE Federal Government has been urged to intensify its crusade against corruption, as that was the only way to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

In their separate papers delivered at a one day Democracy and Change Advocacy Forum organised by the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in collaboration with Doing Democracy Movement, DDM, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof.

Okogbule Nlerum and Dr. Sofiri Peterside lamented the rising cases of corruption in the country.

They appealed to government at all levels to wage a vigorous war against graft, stressing that it was already destroying the foundation of the country.

APC'll achieve Sekibo's vision —PETERSIDE

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By Gbenga Oke

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has assured the family of late Senator Tari Sekibo and the entire Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs that APC will achieve the vision of the elder-statesman of an Ijaw becoming governor come 2015.

Peterside, during the burial rights of the late former President of Ijaw National Council, in Okrika, described Sekibo's demise a great loss not only to the Ijaw, but also to the entire country.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Sylvester Asoya, Peterside said his party will realise the dream of Senator Sekibo, which was to ensure an Ijaw man governs Rivers State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 13

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14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—15

APGA names Ezenagu Reps candidate for Awka North/ South

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA — CHIEF Godson Ezenagu, a Commissioner for Agriculture during former Governor Peter Obi administration, has been declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Awka North/South House of Representatives.

His declaration followed the conclusion of the primaries which had been put off twice as a result of fracas.

Fracas had erupted between Ezenagu and his rival, Emeke Nwogbo, who is seeking re-election, over the authenticity of the delegates list.

Announcing the result of the primaries at the end of the exercise, the returning officer for the election, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, said Ezenagu scored 56 votes from a total of 98 votes cast to emerge victorious.

Igbo-Eze North LGA chairman impeached Nestor Ezeme, set up by the Chief Judge of Enugu State.

SUKKA — EMBATTLED Announcing the impeachment of Chairman of Igbo-Eze the duo, the leader of the legislative North Local Government Area, council Onyekachi Ugwu, who the Enugu State, Mr. Bonaventure house mandated to take over the Onuh and his Vice, Mr. Celestine administration of the council on Ezeugwu, have been impeached acting capacity, ordered the impeached chairman and his vice to hand over property of the council in their possession with immediate effect.

According to Ugwu, “pursuant to S. 8 (14) of the local government law (cap 109) laws of Enugu state, we the under-signed councillors of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area hereby adopt the report of the seven-man impeached panel set up by Hon. Chief judge of Enugu State and impeached the Chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA Mr. Bonaventure Onu and Vice RECEPTION: From left, Mrs. Aisha E. Tosan-Agberebi, bride's mother; Chairman Celestine couple: Mr. and Mrs. Ololade Koyi, and bride's father, Akpoebi Ezeugwu. The above E.Agberebi, at the solemnisation of holy matrimony between Odiri public officers hereby stand Cynthia and Ololade Oyindamola, at the Diocese of Lagos Church of impeached.”

Nigeria Anglican Communion, Our Saviour Church, Tafawa Balewa According to the sevenSquare, Lagos, during their reception, at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria man panel report, Island, Lagos, weekend. Photo: Akeem Salau "pursuant to section [14] of

By Chinenyeh Ozor

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for alleged gross misconduct and alleged embezzlement of public funds.

They were impeached, yesterday, by 16 out of the 20 councillors of the legislative arm of the council, following the recommendations of a seven-man panel headed by

the local government law, cap 109, laws of Enugu State 16 out of 20 councillors of Igbo-Eze North LGA alleged several offences bordering on embezzlement of funds, abuse of office, among others, against the Chairman and ViceChairman Mr. Bonaventure Onu and Hon. Celestine Ezeugwu respectively.

"The impeachment notice dated November 25, 2014 accused the two of misappropriations and embezzlement of local government funds.”

The chairman and his vice were sent packing for among others, alleged nonimplementation of 2014 budget of N 751,339.00 billion, none payment of approved compensation to Eke Ozzi land owners of N 70,000.000 and N 237,203.985 approved for grading reconstruction of roads and bridges, the said cash was retired while nothing was recorded as the job done.

Senator Ashafa seeks diversification of informal sector aimed at providing job opportunities to the jobless, and by extension curbs the ENATOR GBENGA Ashafa, incessant crime rate in the country. representing Lagos East Senatorial Recall that last week, the lawmaker District, has stressed the need to diversify empowered some neighbourhood youth the informal sector as part of measures for leaders from Somolu and Kosofe Local creating employment-generating- Government Areas, where about 5000 opportunities in the economy. youths benefited.

Ashafa made the remarks, yesterday, Speaking at the event, Ashafa said: “The during presentation of empowerment level of unemployment in Nigeria is items to indigent persons in senatorial increasing on daily basis. district.

"It is high time we all contributed our own According to the senator, the effort was quota in order to ameliorate the poverty situation. At the heart of my empowerment scheme is the urgent need to diversify, strengthen and deepen the industry with the largest O V E R N O R in Imo State. employment-generatingWhile commending the opportunities in our R O C H A S Okorocha of Imo State, has American gospel artiste, Dr. economy, the informal enjoined Christians to Ron Kennelly for being part sector. The welfare of my remain steadfast to the of the ‘Send down Thy people in Lagos East is words of God to surmount Glory’ crusade in Owerri, paramount to me the governor assured that the challenges of life.

"I will never stop doing would things that will elevate them Okorocha gave the advice government while addressing members continue to partner with from the shackles of poverty, of the Ikenegbu branch of churches to bring about because without them I the Assemblies of God moral transformation of the won’t be here today.”

Church during their people of the state.

According to one of the Earlier, Pastor in charge beneficiaries, Owolabi concluding church service on the ‘Send down Thy of Assemblies of God Abiodun, the initiative was Glory ‘crusade with Dr. Ron Church Ikenegbu, Rev. a good one which would go Bethel Nwanabo, a long way in ameliorating Kennelly from USA. The governor maintained commended Governor poverty situation in the that his Rescue Mission Okorocha for his visionary community, saying “I have government in Imo State leadership in the state known a lot of politicians in had drawn its strength from especially the introduction this district but Ashafa is free education quite distinct from them all. the word of God, leading of to massive infrastructural programme and the I will surely make use of this development of the state as massive infrastructural sewing machines efficiently. well as the comprehensive transformation in all parts I am very grateful for this free education at all levels of the state. gesture.”

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

S

LIFE'S CHALLENGES:

Okorocha tasks Nigerians

G

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

BOKO HARAM: 700,000 displaced — UNOWA A

Hallmarks of Labour Foundation Young Achievers Awards

Cameroon, and Niger at about 142,000 persons called on all parties concerned to intensify efforts at ensuring the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals were met.

“The Boko Haram insurgency continues to create mayhem as innocent civilian populations are being killed and entire communities are living under very challenging security situations.

“The regional dimension of this violent extremism is more than ever visible.

“The number of refugees and returnees in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger is estimated at about 142,000 persons.

“In Nigeria Internally From left, Mrs. Rita O'tega-Emerhor, Justice George Oguntade, and Professor Displaced Persons are Grace Alele-Williams, member of Board of Trustees, Hallmarks of Labour estimated to be about Foundation, during the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation Young Achievers Awards for Excellence 2014, at Nigeran Insititite of Inertnational Affair, NIIA, 700,000.

“Efforts need to be Kofo Abayomi, Street Victoria Island Lagos. Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi Government Area with over stepped up to globally 400,000 registered voters, and comprehensively the exercise is only carried combat the insurgency.

“The issue of youth out in seven centres; in Zaria Local Government unemployment needs to where the exercise is yet to be urgently addressed commence, INEC is and the attainment of the planning to conduct it at its objectives of the MDGs has been local government office which shadowed by the many only...

“If the PVC exercise is not security challenges we’re carried out in accordance facing, not only on the with the guideline, we are African continent but the sorry to say that you are entire world, needs to be From left, Mr. Yemi Osilaja, Executive Director, New Era Foundation; Mr. only inviting rancour and refocused.

“The nexus between Patrick Doyle, Mrs. Adefemi Taire, and Mr. Anthony Idigbe (SAN). probably not prepared to conduct the general peace, security and development cannot be elections in Kaduna State.

In other words, we suspect overemphasised,“ he said.

The UN representative that you are only following commended the dictates of the ruling also PDP at the expense of the ECOWAS for restoring popular majority,” Bantex political stability in Burkina Faso. added.

BUJA — THE United Nations Office for West Africa, UNOWA, said, yesterday, in Abuja that no fewer than 700,000 Nigerians were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for West Africa, said this at the 46th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, HOSG. Chambas, who put the number of refugees and returnees in Chad,

2015: APC accuses INEC of planning to rig for PDP

By Luka Binniyat & Mayen Etim

T

HE ALL Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over alleged attempt to rig the 2015 general elections in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Kaduna State chapter of the party in a petition to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, stated that some of the electoral commissioner, posted to Southern Kaduna were “shamelessly negotiating for financial inducement before they agree to go round for the (Permanent Voters Card, PVC) exercise. ”The petition signed by the state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Bala Barnabas Bantex, said the distribution of the voters cards had failed, adding that it “is either INEC is not prepared for the exercise or it has plans to deliberately exclude Kaduna State by depriving the people of their civic responsibilities.

“The leadership of the party in the state has gone round the entire state after the commencement of the exercise and observed that the PVC has recorded little success in that so many people were unable to receive theirs, and the explanation given by officials is that they have not received supplies...

“The continuous registration in most of the local governments has not commenced, where it has commenced it is only done at ward collating centres using one machine contrary to the guide line for conducting it at every polling unit.

“In Igabi Local

Consumer Protection Council confiscates N200m fake drugs

K

ANO — THE C o n s u m e r Protection Council, Kano State, yesterday, said it confiscated illicit and fake drugs worth over N200 million from different parts of the state in 2014.

The Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Nuhu Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kano that the public was to be commended for this achievement.

Bello explained that since the Consumer Protection Committee was converted into a council, it embarked on awareness campaign to educate the public about its activities.

He said that the committee had received a lot of secret information on where illicit and counterfeit drugs were stored in the state from the public.

“The largest operation was the confiscation of expired drugs worth

N114 million at Gezawa Local Government Area and another one at Gwammaja in Dala area worth N48 million.”

The chairman said that on confiscation of the products, the Council handed over the culprits and items to the court, adding that most of such drugs were destroyed.

He added that the Council had also confiscated many expired and adulterated food items and fake paint.

He urged people to be cautious of what they ate, especially in the coming year and appealed for more public support for the Council to achieve its set objectives.

He assured that the Council would embark on increased surveillance to track down illegality and protect public consumption of food and drug items.

From left, Princess Adebisi Sosan, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Dame Abimbola Fashola, Special Guest of Honour/First Lady of Lagos, and Professor Oyewale Tomori, Chairman of the occasion/ President of Nigerian Academy of Science.

From left, Mrs. Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, Executive Secretary, Board of Trustees, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation; Mr. Matthew Solarin, Head of Department of Science, International School, Olabisi Onabanjo University; Professor Grace Alele-Williams, Ambassador Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria; Dame Abimbola Fashola, Mr. Adesina Tiriba, Principal, International School, Olabisi Onabanjo University; Professor Oyewale Tomori, Master Somachi Chukwuma, Mrs. Rolake Edun, and Princess Adebisi Sosan.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 17

O

N September 24, 2014, Atiku Abubakar of the APC declared at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja that he was running to be president of Nigeria. The occasion was without incident.

This was followed on October 15, 2014 by Muhammadu Buhari of the APC who declared in Eagle’s Square, Abuja that he was also running for president. Again, the occasion was without incident.

But on November 10, 2014, the day before Goodluck Jonathan declared that he was running for president at Eagle Square in Abuja, the Boko Haram struck. 50 students were killed and about 80 injured in a suicide bombing in Potiskum, Yobe State. This shows in clear and unambiguous terms that the Boko Haram has no problem with either Atiku or Buhari running for president. But it is against Goodluck Jonathan.

Brotherhood of insurgency The “coincidence” between Boko Haram assaults and PDP events and their lack of incidence at APC events has become a standard operational procedure.

On September 26, 2014, Rabiu Kwankwaso, PDP governor of Kano State, and four other PDP governors, defected to the APC. Bombs did not explode as a result of this. However, on April 14, 2014, the day before Ibrahim Skekarau, former governor of Kano State was welcomed by Jonathan to the PDP at a rally in Kano after defecting from the APC; over 80 people were killed by the Boko Haram with a bomb planted at the Nyanya motor park near Abuja.

It is incontestable that the Boko Haram script against the PDP aligns conveniently with the interests of the APC. Indeed, instead of condemning the Boko Haram for killing innocent Nigerians, the APC seizes on these murderous incidents to attack the PDP for not cancelling the events both the Boko Haram and the APC are determined should not hold.

Accordingly, Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, accused the president of dancing “Azonto” on the occasion of Shekarau’s defection rally instead of being concerned about the killings. When the bombs went off the day before Jonathan’s declaration of his candidacy, Mohammed again declared as “utterly insensitive and absolutely callous” the decision of the president not to cancel the scheduled event; saying the president was: “dancing on the graves of the students.” But as any rightthinking person knows, cancelling the event would have been tantamount to succumbing to Boko Haram blackmail.

APC readily exploits national calamities in order to score cheap political points. This leads to the conclusion that it is either complicit in the attacks or insensitive to them. The APC does not seem to believe it can win the coming election against

C M Y K

Who is afraid of Jonathan ? (2) a sitting president and an entrenched PDP. Therefore, its assignment is that of an unscrupulous mischief-maker that would do anything and use anything to undermine the government of Nigeria.

Who is afraid of Goodluck Jonathan running for president in 2015? Two main protagonists have a consanguinity of interests: the Boko Haram and the APC.

Boko Haram apologists There can be no question that the interests of the Boko Haram and those of the APC are in tandem; leading observers like Femi Fani-Kayode to declare that as the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was the armed wing of the political Sinn Fein in Britain; so can the Boko Haram be described as the armed wing of the APC in Nigeria. As a confirmation of this, APC members have shown greater determination in attacking the Nigerian government than in attacking the Boko Haram. However, now that they are fishing for votes nationally, some of their prominent Northern figures are now attacking the insurgents.

Let us take, for example, the position of the presidential candidate they have finally chosen; three-time loser Muhammadu Buhari. For years Buhari, who often betrays inadvertently his true colours as a sectional and sectarian Northern champion, was an ardent apologist for the Boko Haram.

In an interview with Kaduna’s Radio Liberty in November 2012, Buhari demanded that the Federal Government should stop the clampdown of Boko Haram insurgents, insisting they should be given special treatment like the Niger Delta militants.

These are Buhari’s words: “They (the Niger Delta militants) were trained in some skills and were given employment, but the ones in the north were being killed and their houses were being demolished. They are different issues. What brought this? It is injustice.” That same year, Buhari said he does believe there is a real movement called Boko Haram and claimed the federal government of Nigeria was: “the biggest Boko Haram.”

Wole Olaniyi was a fly in the wall at a meeting in Kano Government House in 2013 designed to persuade rebel PDP governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to decamp to the APC. Assuming that only Northerners were present, Buhari declared the Boko Haram was a “strategic plan” by the government of Goodluck Jonathan to “destroy the North.”

When Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, Buhari came out against it. Seeing the conflict with Northern goggles, Buhari claimed Goodluck Jonathan was using the insurgency as an excuse to wage war on the North.

Attempt at volte face It is necessary to remind Nigerians of this position of Buhari because now that he is shopping for Christian and Southern votes, he is singing a different tune. He is now smoothtalking Nigerians; naming Christians before Moslems in his speeches, and putting the South before the North in them. But let us not forget that Buhari was so clearly identified as a friend of the Boko Haram that, in November 2012, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the

second-in-command to Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in announcing a readiness to negotiate a ceasefire with the Nigerian government, named Buhari as one of the few “trusted” Nigerians it would be ready to negotiate with.

Buhari’s blatant sectarianism has not gone unnoticed. Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the PFN (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria) was so incensed by Buhari’s defense of the Boko Haram insurgency that he asked that Buhari should be arrested.

Oritsejafor said: “This can only mean that the retired General is a fanatic. He is, therefore, the prime leader of this religious and blood-thirsty sect called Boko Haram, a movement that is based on a warped interpretation of a strict adherence to force people of other religions into Islam. This is why I call for the arrest of Buhari now. Buhari is a big security risk to Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

Truly progressive Northerners also sought to distance themselves from Buhari’s sectarianism. Jibril Mamman Vatsa, spokesman of the Arewa Youths Forum, said: “Buhari does not speak for all Northern leaders.

His statements on Boko Haram exist as part of a continuum of Northern leaders’ responses to the problem, which have ranged from proposing dialogue to condemning the Federal government’s approach to, if some allegations are to be believed, actively supporting the movement. If the Boko Haram members are becoming more daring by the day, it is because of the support given to them by some highly placed persons.”

Refurbished image

APC members have shown greater determination in attacking the Nigerian government than in attacking the Boko Haram

However, now that Buhari is gunning again for the presidency and seeking votes from a national constituency, the need has now arisen for him to tamp down his pro Boko Haram rhetoric.

Therefore, in an about turn, he is now pretending to be a big critic of the Boko Haram. He says: “These people, whose actions are not sanctioned by any religion and who subscribe to no known values, will not succeed. Our people are resilient and strong, and our nation is capable, based on our rich human and material

resources, of successfully tackling these nihilists. We will together see the end of them and their reign of terror.”

Buhari’s new stance should not be believed. A chameleon can only change its colour; it cannot change its shape. Buhari would now like us to see him as the Messiah who would bring the Boko Haram insurgency, which he said was a Southern ruse, under control. To do this successfully, Buhari needed to be refurbished as an enemy of the Boko Haram. Into this new playbook came the alleged attack on his life by the insurgents.

APC supporters should forgive me for being totally cynical about this. The so-called attack on Buhari’s life benefits no one but Buhari himself because it fits into his new script of trying to distance himself from the Boko Haram.

Buhari does not normally go around in a bulletproof car. But quite conveniently, when he was attacked, he had borrowed one especially on that occasion. His car was not bombed but sprayed with bullets. Some people died from the attendant bomb blast, but not a single one of Buhari’s aides died. In any case, the Boko Haram never declared they were the ones after Buhari.

APC blunder Rather than condemn Buhari’s attackers, the APC was more interested in using the incident to absolve itself of complicity in the spate of terrorist attacks in Nigeria. Lai Mohammed issued a statement saying: “If indeed the APC is behind Boko Haram and General Buhari is a sympathiser of the evil group, as the Federal Government wants the world to believe, could it be that the insurgents do not know their leaders or sympathisers, assuming they are behind the attacks? Whatever happens now, the satanic and repulsive theory of the PDP-led Federal Government that the opposition APC is using Boko Haram to truncate the administration of Jonathan is up in flames.”

Lai Mohammed blundered with this statement. It easily leads to the conclusion that the whole point of the attack on Buhari was to launder the image of the APC and distance it from the Boko Haram. This was quickly recognized by the PDP. Olisa Metuh, the PDP national publicity secretary said: “We are shocked, disappointed and disgusted that the APC leaders chose to use the ugly development to embark on image laundering. Nigerians now ponder; they ask, was the attack a setup aimed at scoring some political points? Or could it be APC’s desperate strategy of trying to disentangle itself from the internationally acknowledged link with terrorists and possibly undermine the planned probe of their involvement by the United Kingdom?”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 MINISTER of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, is alarmed at the depth of corruption among university graduates. He wondered about the situation during an assessment visit to the University of Lagos.

Does Mallam Shekarau live in Nigeria?

“Education is the main engine room for the movement of our nation Nigeria. Education is meant to make us responsible human beings and help us change our attitude for better.

We are having more graduates and we are still having more 419 people. Why should we be having more educated people and more corrupt people?, ” he asked.

It would be a shock if the Minister ’s understanding of corruption in the education system is localised to the behaviour of graduates. Does he know how they became graduates?

Corruption in education is broad and bold.

The examining bodies and the admission processes have for years shifted attention from qualified students to extorting money from every candidate who seeks one of the limited available spaces in the universities.

Is the Minister unaware of these? Can he claim ignorance of academic fraud in the universities, the favours lecturers demand to pass students or the routine plagiarism

By Eric Teniola

Continued from yesterday's Viewpoint

F

ROM the remnants of OMPADEC, President Olusegun Obasanjo in June 2000 established the NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (N.D.D.C.) and appointed an Economist/ Journalist, Chief Onyeanma Ugochukwu(70) from Umuahia in Abia State as Chairman and Chief Godwin Omene, an Urhobo from Delta State as Managing Director.

Section 14 of the NNDC Act stipulates that 15% of the Federal Government budget must go to NNDC. Last year the NNDC got over 300billion naira. The Executive Director Finance and Administration of NNDC, Pastor Power Aginighan said on August 3, 2011 that the NNDC got N561.9billion naira between 2000 and 2011. This year alone the National Assembly approved N322.6billion for the NNDC. On September 10 2008, President Umaru Musa Yar’dua (1951-2010) created the MINISTRY OF NIGER DELTA and on December 9, 2008 he named my former boss Chief Ufot Ekaette(75) an experienced admimistrator from Ikot-Edor in Onna Local Government as pioneer Minister of the Ministry with Chief Peter Godsday

C M Y K

Corruption: Shekarau’s Surprise among academic staff, some of who are promoted based on fraudulent credentials?

Last year, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, held a one-day sensitisation workshop on ‘Effects of Corruption in the Nigerian University System’, following petitions from students, members of staff, unions and other stakeholders. Alleged abuses included admission processes, conduct of examinations, appointments and promotion of staff, manipulation and falsification of academic records such as transcripts.

Sexual harassment and victimisation of applicants, syndicated plagiarism by students and staff, delay or non-payment of gratuities

and pension, non-adherence to bidding processes in the award of contracts, illegal accreditation processes, running unapproved study centres, affiliating programmes to unaccredited schools, establishing and operating un-approved and consequently illegal universities, were other complaints.

Who would expect graduates of these schools to be different from the system that produced them? In 2012, University of Calabar dismissed five lecturers and demoted 10 others for unwholesome behaviour. Four of the lecturers were involved in plagiarism, the fifth committed financial fraud while the demoted ones obtained promotions through works published in fake journals.

Victor Dike, a US-based Nigerian professor sued two professors of University of Port Harcourt for plagiarism. Prof Dike claimed the accused published his work verbatim, as theirs, in a journal under a different heading.

These few examples are public; hardly any higher institution is spared. If the Minister ignores them and limits his concerns to corrupt graduates, he is only dealing with the consequences of corruption and not causes of a deep-rooted illness in all levels of education.

OPINION Changing tide for the Niger Delta (2) Orubebe (55) from Ogbobagbene from Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State as Minister of State. In 2001, the Ministry got N51.2 Billion naira, in 2010 it got N82.6 Billion naira, in 2011,N55.2billion naira,in 2012, N86.2 billion naira,in 2013,N63.4 billion naira. Between 2009 and 2013, the Ministry has collected over 342 billion naira alone.

On January 25, 2009, the same President Yar’adua issued a proclamation acting on section 175 of the Constitution and pardoned all Militants in the Niger Delta. He then created an office called Presidential Amnesty Programme and appointed Chief Ndu Timi Alaibe from Opokuma in Bayelsa State as Chairman and special adviser to the President on Niger Delta. Chief Kingsley Kuku (44) from ArogboIjawin Ilaje Local Government Area area of Ondo state, the man who succeeded Chief Alaibe, told the nation on February 17 this year that the PAP has collected over 234.1 billion naira since its inception.

In March this year, the Senate approved another N34.8 billion naira for the PAP. Added to all these are the huge monthly allocations for the states in

Niger Delta. For example, the Minister of Finance,Mrs.NgoziOkonjo-Iweala (60) from Ogwashi-Uku in Delta state on June 1 at Babcock University in Ogun state announced that Akwa Ibom state with a population of 2.5 million received 260.1 billion naira in 2013 alone while Bayelsa received 173 billion naira,Delta 209 billion naira, Rivers 230 billion naira. Oyo State with a population of over 5 million received 82 billion naira during the period.

For the month of October this year Akwa Ibom received 17.3 billion naira, Delta state received 14.1 billion naira, Ebonyi-2.7 billion naira, Kogi-3.8 billion naira and Rivers-11.8 billion naira while Osun received 2.3 billion naira.

Last year Obio/Akpor local government in Rivers state, where the former Minister of State for Education, Mr.EzenwoNyesomWike once served as Chairman, spent 6.3 billion naira according to the Chairman of the Local Government, Prince Timothy Nsim.

Some of the former Militants have now become “big players” in the lucrative oil business, having been given monopoly in the policingof the marine coastline routes in the Niger delta-a statutory responsibility of the

Nigeria Navy- yet oil theft is on the high increase on a daily basis.

Right now we have three bodies— NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta and Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) simultaneously addressing the problems of the Niger Delta. With one of them as the incumbent President, and with the wild and wide Presidential Powers at his command, the people of the Niger Delta have never been so blessed in their chequered history.

My long-time friend, Professor G.G. Darah will always insist that the money allocated to the Niger Delta cannot compensate for the destruction of the environment in that region by the oil companies.”Eric, just come to the Niger Delta and see the havoc that the oil has caused to our people” he once told me.

The people of the region will always argue too that the oil money of Nigeria is their own and that they are doing us a special favour by sharing it with the rest of Nigerians. No doubt they have come a long way from the era of oppression and they still have a long way to go.

Concluded •Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014— —19

The changing face(s) of the Nigeria Police Force

By Sunny Ikhioya

A

FTER serving in the regional capacity in Port Harcourt and a greater part of the eastern region, I was transferred back in January 1995 to the Lagos headquarters office of my company, an indigenous conglomerate with over a thousand staff and sixty five branches, spread over the nation. I was in charge of the group administration office and the security and police matters come under my jurisdiction. The company was a production company and we employed all sorts of people, so, once in a while we find ourselves in different police stations across the land to settle issues.

The uniform then was a darkish grey on black, in a way, it was referred to as 'black and black'. The reputation of our Police Force then, was not so favourable; stone faces, foul languages, bullying and deliberate intent to incriminate innocent citizens. Then, like now, you see such notices as "The Police Is Your Friend" and "Bail Is Free", pasted all over the places but the reality was the opposite.

That was the picture of our Police Force then and to cap it all, everywhere you go, you find police check points all over the place, both on major and side

streets, doing nothing but harassing innocent motorists and transporters. One needs divine interventioon if a police man stops you for a check and you respond with a frown.

For me, the re-branding of our Police Force truly took off with the effective banning of police road blocks from our highways and roads during the era of IG Mohammed, the immediate past Inspector General of police.

Despite protests from various interests groups, the policemen stayed away from our highways and the impact was very positive to our transport system and also, to the Force. Unfortunately, they are beginning to crawl back to our highways again. This is often the case during elections, but after the elections are over, they are reluctant to return to base.

In the past one year, I have had reasons to visit at least three major Police stations in Lagos, unrelated in the matters that brought me to them and spread apart, far and wide by their geographical locations.

Basically, I come in as an intervening third party and my starting point is usually the office of the DPO. From my experience with three DPOs at Elere Agege, Mushin and most recently Ikotun, I can safely conclude that

By Badejo Nurudeen

I

T is significant that a few days before Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari turned 70, he was on November 20th appointed as Co-Chair with Mrs Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and Ambassador to the United Nations, to lead High-Level Commission on Global Security Justice & Governance. The commission is to release recommendations in advance of U.N’s 70th anniversary in September 2015. Also, it is to find better mechanisms to prevent and resolve armed conflicts, address the human security impacts of climate change, and prevent future cross-border economic shocks. With membership drawn from far and wide, the array and caliber of membership of this commission is a confirmation of Gambari’s resourcefulness and acceptance in the international community.

Gambari, a distinguished Nigerian and world citizen turned 70 on November 24.

His life in the past 31 years has been devoted to public service and indeed service to mankind. Gambari needs no introduction, having held office as Foreign Affairs Minister after the collapse of the Second Republic. He holds the record of being the longest serving Ambassador/ Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (January 1990 to October 1999), and altogether served under five Heads of State and President.

He was born in Ilorin, now Kwara State, Nigeria, in 1944, and his aristocratic background must have played a role in his devotion to service. He left indelible imprints in the world politics and international system.

I met Gambari during my undergraduate years in my insatiable quest for knowledge.

I was in need of a copy of his book, Theory and Reality in Foreign Policy Decision Making. Knowing full well that he does not reside in Nigeria, I was faced with an uphill task. With his email address, I was able to start what is now a lifelong friendship with Gambari from then till this present moment.

In spite of his commanding heights as an international civil servant, he attended to

the Police Force is totally rebranded from the levels of the DPOs. It is left to the individual DPOs to let this change trickle down to the rank and file. I believe when this is done, the Force will become truly our friend.

Let me start from Elere, a case which involved a transaction between two parties, because one of the parties had connections to other policemen in the station, he used his influence to put the other party in detention. I came with a lawyer and we went straight to the DPO's office, a gentleman named Lewi Suleman. Immediately he realised that the action his men took was wrong, he ordered for the release of the detainee and called all parties together where the issues were amicably resolved. The accused was released, no money exchanged hands, we said thank you to Mr.

At the top level, the police is rebranded. How does this trickle down to the other ranks?

Suleman and left. I am sure the DPO must have forgotten this incident but I left quite impressed.

The second incident took place at the Mushin police station off the Agege motor road bus stop.

The DPO there is from the eastern part of the country whose name I cannot recall now. The incident occured early this year.

My cousin worked on the generator set of one of the big men around. Unfortunately, the engine failed after fixing. They took the boy to the police station and handcuffed him to a chair. I saw the situation and could barely control my emotions. On inquiry, the officers tried to intimidate me, so, I left and went straight to the gentleman DPO. He swiftly called the OC crime whom he rebuked in my presence and immediately ordered for the release of the boy. He was granted bail, no money exchanged hands except the normal thank you.

The third and most recent one took place at the Ikotun police station. The DPO here is Mr. Haruna Alaba, he testified as the DPO on duty during the Synagogue coroner inquest.

Pious, factual and bold, he is yet to recover from the shock of the Synagogue incident. He claimed that most reports by the press on the incident were not factual. He said only those present during the incident can give a true account of the day's event. On the incident that took me to him, he laid it bare to all parties, in fact, on this occassion, my party was the guilty one and he relayed the message in clear terms, of the consequences if we do not reach

amicable settlement. He granted bail accordingly, no money changed hands except the normal thank you.

Incidentally, the three gentlemen I have mentioned here are from the north, east and west of the country, the only unifying factor is that, they are all policemen. I want to use this message to encourage them to keep it up.

So, at the top level, the police is re-branded. How does this trickle down to the other ranks? I will offer some suggestions.

Regular training on inter personal relationship and police obligation towards the citizenry, this should be handled at the DPO levels and planning and budgeting provided for its execution.

Secondly, make police offices more corporate, presentable and friendly. Let it be clean, neat and computerised. Provide basic equipment, a well equipped Police Force is a well motivated Force.

Provide good changing rooms, with each officer entitled to a locker. I saw a female staff changing wears in one of the offices, it did not look decent. separate locker rooms should be provided for men and women.

Salaries and other emoluments must be provided as at when due.

The police officers are our friends, let us build a positive image for them. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Gambari, quintessential diplomat at 70 my request with dispatch and sent the book from his US base through his son (who has since then become our reliable courier). You are bound to be touched by Gambari’s humility.

Gambari’s appointment as DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) was the beginning of his involvement in Nigeria’s foreign policy in its entirety. To assert that he was prepared for this challenge will be an understatement, for having received M.A. and Ph.D. both in Political Science/ International Relations from Columbia University, he came fully prepared. He was in this position till his appointment as the Minister of External Affairs following the December 1983 military change of government. His tenure in office witnessed the high point of Nigeria’s engagement in international politics, and chiefly the Dikko affair (a foiled attempt to return the erstwhile Minister of Transport, the late Alhaji Umaru Dikko to the country from London in a crate), which was handled with utmost professionalism. Based on principle, he rejected the position of Minister of Education at the end of his tenure in August 1985 because his former bosses were still in detention.

He has touched the lives of so many people and has made a significant difference in many of those lives

Writing extensively on Nigeria’s foreign policy, regional economic integration and International politics, he has captured his rich hands-on experience in numerous books. As an academic, and in spite of his diplomatic calling he has published and continues to publish articles in national and international scholarly journals.

As Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Gambari was a senior member of the Nigerian Delegation to ten consecutive sessions of the General Assembly (44th to 54th); he also served as President of the Security Council on two occasions (May 1994 and October 1995).

He has chaired the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, which successfully saw the fall of that long-standing social injustice and the establishment of democratic rule in South Africa.

He led several United Nations Missions, including the Special Committee Against Apartheid Mission to South Africa and the Security Council Missions to South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda and Mozambique.

Gambari chaired the UN Special Committee on Peace-Keeping Operations.

He served as member, Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) and also President, Executive Board of UNICEF. He later served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission to Angola (UNMA), and in that capacity helped to bring the peace process under the Lusaka Protocol to a successful conclusion.

Upon completion of his mission assignment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative in 1999, the UN, in recognition of his expertise offered him yet another appointment as UnderSecretary/Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on African Affairs. He later became the Under-Secretary/ Head, Political Affairs Dept of the UN- the most important office after that of the Secretary General. Gambari served the UN as Under-Secretary/Special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to the troubled

Myanmar where his mediatory efforts yielded fruits, and led to multi- party democracy and the release of Aang Sun kyi from house arrest after close to two decades, and her election into the parliament.

The career of this seasoned diplomat in the UN cuts across important committees, commissions and special assignments including the chair of UN Security Council, UN committee on Apartheid, the head and special representative of UN Secretary –General to Cyprus, International compact with Iraq, UN special envoy to Myanmar (formerly Burma) and until recently joint UN-AU special representative to Darfur. Among the highpoints of his illustrious career was his role as the last chairperson of the UN Committee against Apartheid, under which aegis he presented UN’s congratulatory letter to the legendary Nelson Mandela during his inauguration as president of South Africa in 1994. In connection with this role, Gambari was in October 2012 honoured by the government and people of South-Africa with the highest decoration reserved for foreign recipients.

His commitment to peace and security of the world inspired him establish the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, a nongovernmental “think-tank” based in Abuja, Nigeria. The centre is devoted to critical analyses of and solutions to the problems of conflict prevention, management and resolution; democratization and sustainable development in Africa.

Gambari’s greatest attributes are listening, patience, writing, reading voraciously and power of retention, humility and promotion of friendship. He has touched the lives of so many people and has made a significant difference in many of those lives.

•Mr. Nurudeen, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

C M Y K

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 21

Technology plays key role in food production, health, others — Industry leaders PETETR EGWUATU

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NDUSTRY leaders from Africa and across the globe have identified technology as a major factor that would enhance food production, health facilities, water production and other things that would improve the standard of living of the people.

They stated that technology is something nice to have in every country as its usage has helped to improve businesses and the wellbeing of the people.

Rising from the Huawei Western Europe CIO Forum 2014 in Amsterdam, recently, where they discussed the challenges facing people, businesses and cities as they enter a new, more connected technology age.

In a keynote speech on the topic of Smart Cities, Ger Baron, CTO of the City of Amsterdam said: “We have passed the moment that technology is something nice to have, technology nowadays plays a role in our food production, our water management and health care, the way we organize our private lives and the way we learn. This means that cities need to re-think their role and adapt to what is needed after this third industrial revolution” Welcoming the audience to the CIO Forum, Kajsa Ollongren, Alderman for Economic Affairs and Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam discussed the tran-

$174.0

-$1.4

$2,899.00 $15.01

$11.00 $0.03

$61.65- $2.03 $57.49

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

$2.14

CENTRAL

167 167.5 168 261.9562 262.7405 263.5248 208.0653 208.6883 209.3112 173.1467 173.6651 174.1835 1.4108 1.4151 1.4193 0.2964 0.3064 0.3164 242.9445 243.6719 244.3993 26.982 27.0633 27.1445 44.4918 44.625 44.7582 27.9755 28.0593 28.1431 244.4045 245.1363 245.868

CBN Exchange Rate as 14/12/2014

sition to becoming a smart city: “Amsterdam’s ambition is to establish itself as a city with the best health care facilities, cleaner air, lower energy usage, reduced motor vehicle traffic and to promote an open flow of information between the government, companies and citizens. Our connectivity is enormously helpful in achieving such goals.”This follows an agreement signed in October between the City of Amsterdam, Amsterdam ArenA and Huawei to jointly

cooperate on the development of the smart city and smart stadium concept.

Kevin Tao, President, Huawei Western Europe said: “The digital world and physical world are converging, ICT systems are transforming from supporting systems to value-generating systems, bringing dramatic changes to our daily lives and our business. Europe is the leading ICT market and our customers are full of innovative ideas. As

a strategic partner, Huawei is committed to continuous innovation based on customers’ demand as well as joint innovation in collaboration with them. We consistently invest in big data, Software Defined Network (SDN) and wireless network technologies with the aim of helping our clients achieve business success and building a better connected world with our partners and customers” Dr. Christoph Steiger, Vice President, Head of SAP Business Transformation Services

EMEA, highlighted that complexity is one of the biggest concerns of today ’s businesses.

Unemployment: 349,343 new jobs created in Q3 — CBN

By Hope Ofobike

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From left: Mr. Babatunde Savage, Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of Guinness Nigeria Plc; Otunba Francis Meshioye, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN); Mr. Sesan Sobowale, Company Secretary/ Director, Guinness Nigeria; Mr. Adeyinka Hassan, Immediate Past Chairman, ICSAN Lagos State Chapter and Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, ICSAN, Mr.Tony Okonmah at the annual conference of ICSAN in Lagos.

FG crashes fish prices to affordable levels

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illions of fish consumers are heaving a sigh of relief as fresh import quotas for fish issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has brought down prices across the country.

For instance, Herring prices have come down from N7, 600 to N4, 000 per carton. In the case of Horse Mackerel, the price came down to N5, 800 from more than N9, 500 per carton. The Titus species is being sold in the market for N6, 800, down from a level of N10, 200 per carton. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) figures, Nigeria currently has a shortage of 2.6 million tons

of fish. While the global average of fish consumption is 18.7 kilogrammes per person, Nigerian per capita consumption of fish is only 11.2 kilogrammes.

Nigerian fish supply consists of 600,000 metric tons of local production and the balance is mainly covered by imports of frozen fish. Frozen fish are caught in high seas by trawlers in Asia, Europe and Russian the major markets from where Nigeria imports fish.

Nigerian domestic production consists predominantly of farmed fish, mainly catfish. The varieties of frozen fish that Nigeria imports are not available in Nigerian coastal waters. Besides, Nigerian

trawling industry has been seriously affected by oil spillage, piracy and non-sustainable fishing practices.

“The impact of any major reduction in imports would only mean that catfish will be the only variety of fish available in Nigeria”, a fishery expert, Solomon Anichebe had said. He has opined that Nigerians have gotten used to varieties of imported frozen fish over the past decades including Herring or Shawa, and Sardine which are popular in the North, Horse Mackerel (Kote), Sardinella (Agbodu), and Mackerel which are staples in the East and Blue Whiting (Panla) which are favourites in the Western region of Nigeria. Only the catfish has become accustomed to breeding in Nigeria, he says.

HE Central Bank of Ni geria, CBN, said 349,343 jobs were created in the economy in the third quarter of 2014.

This is contained in the Communique issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, after its Monetary Policy Committee Meeting, MPC, held in Abuja.

The figure is far greater tha that of the second quarter which stood at 259,353.

According to the CBN, the N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) which was launched in 2009 has also created 166,790 jobs.

The Committee noted with satisfaction that the reforms in the power sector and other complementary policies if followed through; would promote investment and create the needed jobs for inclusive growth and development.

The CBN also stated that the domestic economy has remained strong and resilient in the face of strong global headwinds.

Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at 6.23 per cent for the third quarter of 2014. Although lower than the 6.54 per cent in the preceding quarter, it was higher than the 5.2 per cent achieved in the corresponding period of 2013.

The non-oil sector remained the major driver of growth recording 7.5 per cent in contrast to the oil sector, which contracted by 3.6 per cent. Overall, output is projected to grow at about 7.0 per cent in 2014, compared with the 4.2 and 5.5 per cent, recorded in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The Committee also noted that the robust expansion in domestic output in the third quarter of 2014 against the tepid growth in the global economy was anchored by the improved performance in services, agriculture, trade, and industry.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Because the banks are mandated to keep a portion of customers deposit in liquid instruments (instruments that can be easily exchange for cash), which is the liquidity ratio; they are the biggest investors in TBs

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TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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n the top 10 last week were shares of eTransact International Plc, Airline Services and Logistics, ASL Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Academy Press Plc, Omoluabi Savings and Loans Plc and Beta Glass Company Plc. Others were Eterna Plc, E c o b a n k Tr a n s n a t i o n a l Incorporated Plc, 7-Up Bottling Co. Plc and Chemical and Allied Products, CAP Plc. eTransact recorded 15.38 percent or N0.34 price appreciation to emerge the first in the list. It opened the week at N2.21 and closed at N2.55. The company has been at the forefront of facilitating epayment option in Nigeria, in a bid to drive the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, cashless policy. Recently, it announced the investment of about N58.8 million ($350,000) into a mobile money activation project in collaboration with EFInA, a financial sector development organization. The project is being piloted in Northern and S o u t h We s t e r n Nigeria and is called “The PocketMoni 500” project. eTranzact International PLC, which facilitates mobile banking services of 11 banks through its mobile switching platform, processes over N1 trillion every year and has more than 11 years’ experience processing financial transactions in Africa, got a Central Bank Mobile Money license for PocketMoni, its mobile money wallet in 2012. According to Mr. Valentine Obi, the company’s CEO, the collaboration with EFInA is the first of a series of strategic partnerships the company planned, and it will be launching other similar projects in other parts of Nigeria.

In recognition of this, the company ’s PocketMoni, bagged two awards at the AfricaCom and Lead Africa Awards 2014 in the Best Mobile Money Service category. The various investments have been feeding positively into the finances as its revenue grew to N4.71 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, from N3.06 billion posted a year earlier. Also, its profit after tax rose to N192.7 million as against N127.8 million in 2012. This represented 10

INVESTORS How to invest in treasury bills

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

percent and 50.7 percent growth in revenue and post tax profit respectively. eTranzact is the first online real-time payment system that allows account holders to pay for goods and services purchased from merchants, transfer funds to any bank account, cell phone, any card, pay bills, order products without stress.

ASL, an in-flight catering services and hospitality company, followed as the second most patronized stock with 9.70 percent or N0.16 increase, closing at N1.81 from N1.65 per share. In a definite move to improve its earning power and increase value for its stakeholders, the company announced the expansion of its operation to Rwanda and other East African countries four months ago. Besides, the company also expressed intension to expand its business into oil and gas catering and provision of in-flight services at Rwanda. In line with this, the company said it has entered intro agreement with third parties to set up ASL Rwanda and ASL Oil & Gas Logistics Limited as a special purpose vehicle for the Rwandan operation. The company, however, seems to be battling with dwindling financial fortune as its revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014 declined marginally by 3.9 percent to N2.56 billion from N2.69 billion in the same period in 2013. Similarly, the post tax profit declined by 35.8 percent to N50.9 million from N79.29 million recorded in 2013.

Wema Bank Plc, which placed third on the list, rose by 5.26 percent or N0.05 kobo to close at N1.00 from N0.95 it started the week at. Following the bi-annual rebalancing of the NSE 30 Index in July this year, Wema Bank Plc was exited from the NSE banking index. Stocks to be included are based on their market capitalisation from the most liquid sectors.

The liquidity is based on the number of times the stock is traded during the preceding two quarters. To be included, the stock must be traded for at least 70 percent of the number of times the market opened for business. Wema Bank Plc posted impressive results for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, with the operating income rising by 26 per cent from N15 billion to N19 billion.

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t is one of the safest investment products. Yet many people know little about it. The banks are not also helping matters. They rarely inform or educate their customers about it. And why should they, when it is more expedient for them for the customer to invest his money with them via fixed deposit than investing the money in Treasury bill.

Treasury bills (TBs) are short term government debt instruments. Hence investing or buying TBs is tantamount to lending to government on a short term basis usually below one year. They are issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who is the banker to the government.

The government uses TBs to borrow money to finance its expenditure pending receipt of revenue. For example, if the government wants to pay salary for this month, and it is yet to receive the income for the month, it could ask the CBN to help it raise money by selling

TBs. The CBN issues the TBs at a specified interest rate, specifying the maturity, usually 91 days (three months).

Though anybody can buy TBs, you have to go through the banks, who act as agents to the CBN. Also because the banks are mandated to keep a portion of customers deposit in liquid instruments (instruments that can be easily exchange for cash), which is the liquidity ratio;

The bids of investors that quoted interest rate from 10.05 percent downward were successful, and the CBN sold TBs to them

they are the biggest investors in TBs. In addition to using TBs to borrow money on behalf of the government, the CBN also uses them to control the amount of money in the economy (via the banking system). When the CBN wants to reduce money in the economy (money supply), it sells TBs to the public. The money invested in the TBs automatically leads to reduction in money supply.

Also when the CBN wants to increase money supply it buys TBs from the public.

Whenever the CBN issues TBs for any of the above purpose, all or some of the TBs may be purchased. If all the TBs are not purchased, the CBN warehouses the outstanding TBs, and reissue them at a later date. The reissued TBs are called secondary market TBs, while newly issued TBs are called Primary Market TBs. Secondary market TBs are also called OMO (Open Market Operation) TBs, and they are mostly used by the

MARKET NEWS

Fidelity Bank rewards customers with N11.62m in on-going promo STORIES BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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n line with its commitment to drive educational development in the country and empower more of its customers, Fidelity Bank Plc has rewarded 32 customers that emerged winners in the fourth

draw of its ‘Save 4 Scholarship’ promo with N11. 62million.

The draw was conducted across the six geopolitical locations in the country.

Cash prizes ranging from N2million (star prize), N1million, N500,000 and

From left: Assistant Manager, Regulatory and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Afam Ojeh; Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc., Ik Mbagwu; Head, Sales, Fidelity Bank Plc., Janet Nnabuko and Divisional Head, Retail Group, Richard Madiebo at the Fidelity Bank Save4 Scholarship Savings Promo 4th draw in Lagos.

N210,000, including six Generating Sets and Refrigerators were won in the draw that was monitored by various lottery regulatory agencies.

Mr. Richard Madiebo, Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said that impact of the promo on the bank’s savings has been huge.

He said that the bank through the promo is offering its customers the opportunity to attain their aspiration as regards educational pursuit.

He said, “The impact of the promo on our savings has been very significant, but more than that, what we are looking at is a way of touching Nigerians.

As you know, Fidelity is a bank that prides itself as being very strong in Corporate Social Responsibility. We are seeing that a lot of people are coming in and asking questions about what the promo is all about.

Continuing, he said, “What we have done is that we have

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 23

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FORUM

We are not saying they should be listed as a body or as an association but we want them to list as a company producing something.

Also, they cannot borrow from the capital market, this is because they are just an association or a guild and any bank giving them money is taking risk

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INVESTORS SPEAK

CBN to control money (liquidity) supply.

For example, on December th 4 , the CBN issued three TBs in the primary market.

One of them was a N27.85 billion worth of 91 days TB that would mature on March th 5 2015. Investors bided for N19.699 billion, while the CBN sold N17.85 billion, at the stop rate of 10.05 percent.

This is the process. A week to issuing the TB, the CBN would announce through advertisement its intention to sell or issue TBs of a particular amount (i.e N27.85

billion as in the example above). Interested investors would be required to bid for the TBs. The minimum bid is N10, 000, and the bid must be in multiples of N1000. The investors also must specify the interest rate at which he wants to bid (or willing to lend to the government). This is called the bid rate. After receiving all the bids, through the banks, the CBN evaluates the bids, and allocate the TBs, starting with the bid with the lowest interest rate, until it gets exhaust the amount of TBs it wants to sell. The interest rate

given Nigerians, especially our customers the opportunity to have access to education.

Basically, funding is usually internal when someone wants to get educated, no matter the kind of education he/she wants to attain. By providing this opportunity, we have told them that they now have the opportunity to actually go out and get educated.” ”What we intend to do increasingly is to reach out to our customers on a personal level, in addition to what we are doing in electronic and print media. We are sending mails and text messages to them. So, increasingly, more people are getting aware. I can assure that by the time we are through, everybody in Nigeria should be aware of what we are doing,” he added.

Also speaking, Mrs. Chijioke Ugochukwu, Executive Director, Shared Services of the bank said the promo focuses more on cash reward due to the importance the country, the bank and everybody attach to education and the opportunities it opens up for individuals.

To participate in the monthly draw, all a customer needs to do is to open a savings account

with the bank and grow it to N20,000, while the existing customer is required to top up his account with N10,000 or

of the bid that gets the last allocation of TBs, is called the stop rate. In the example given above, the interest rate submitted by investors ranged from 9.0 percent to 12 percent.

But the stop rate was 10.05 percent. This means the bids of investors that quoted interest rate from 10.05 percent downward were successful, and the CBN sold TBs to them, while the bids of investors that quoted interest rates from 10.06 percent upward, were not successful, and the CBN did not sell TBs to them.

(To be continued next week)

HE value of transactions carried out in NASD OTC Plc has risen to over N2 billion, barely three months after hitting N1 billion marks in September.

NASD Plc is the promoter of a trading network that eases secondary market trading of all securities of unquoted public companies primarily in Nigeria but with a focus on the West African region.

The mark, according to the company, is a cumulative effect of and increasing preference investors have for transparency and participating institutions’ recognition of the liquidity the market affords.

“This number is significant because it represents deals that hitherto would not have been captured by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, tax authorities, economic planners and analysts.

The NASD OTC market is

Boniface Okezie

Entertainment industry can’t be listed until...

One of the fallouts of the Capital Market Committee, CMC’s conference, is that the entertainment industry should seek listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Shareholders, however, opined that they cannot list except they are incorporated by CAC as a company producing a product. Excerpt:

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R. Boniface Okezie, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Except the entertainment industry have formed a company registered and established with the Corporate Affairs more to qualify. The amount won Commission (CAC) incorporated and have an appointed is payable over five years and can manager to run the company, that is the only time they can list or if they have an industry where they can manufacture and be converted to cash. produce their own films, then they can talk of listing. As far as am concerned, there is nothing they can list because as an association or guild of actors and actresses, you can not list. It is not tenable. There must be something they are producing for them to list. If they are producing and making films then they can list as a company. The people encouraging them are not getting it right, because the government supports them by mapping out money. That money is supposed to be used for an therefore creating an opportuindustry where they produce films and make disc, where people nity for both institutional and can go and record and pay in form of studios. We are not saying individual investors to accept they should be listed as a body or as an association but we want and use the same data and get them to list as a company producing something. a clearer perspective of our Also, they cannot borrow from the capital market, this is investment terrain, the compabecause they are just an association or a guild and any bank ny said in an emailed stategiving them money is taking risk. They must form a company ment. incorporated by CAC. That is the only way they can listed.

NASD OTC recognises the Government can give them money to encourage them, they indispensable contributions of can as well use it to form a company to be run properly and participating institutions, PIs, earn profit and then they can list and pay back to the registrars, custodians and all government. other operators who have started the development of this Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, founding member, market Some PIs contributed Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA) directly by trading through the I wonder how they are going to package them to list, what system and a great many have product ARE they going to be selling that will determine if they been invaluable in testing, fine will be listed on the stock exchange. If it has been done tuning and advertising the somewhere else then they can look at the criteria and do same market, the statement added. in our market but if not, I don’t think it is ideal.

Meanwhile, 10 more If it is the hotels, it is a different thing, but just an individual participating institutions have in the entertainment industry is unimaginable. How do they been approved to trade in the intend to do it? Sometimes, the government thinks they know it market. all. This is because if they don’t have product to sell and services This brings the total number to render, they just feel they can list as a guild or as an of participants on the OTC association, let's wait and see. People come to the stock market market to 87 broker /dealers to buy not based on individual parameter. They must have and 23 Issuing houses. something on ground before listing. It is what you have that The new entrants are African will drive buyers to invest in your company.

NASD OTC market value rises to N2bn

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24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

DECEMBER 16, 2014

Oil sector contracting, licensing processes fraught with corruption — Report

By Michael Eboh

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HE process for the award of contracts and licenses for oil and gas prospecting in Nigeria is tainted by corruption and collusion, according to a report, the 2014 Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) Benchmarking Report.

The process, the report disclosed, is ruined with a high degree of uncertainty and political influence, a factor that has hampered the growth of the sector and the economy in general.

The report, presented by the Nigerian Resource Governance Institute, NRGI, the Centre for Public Policy and Advocacy, CPPA among others, summarises the s e c o n d benchmarking of Nigeria’s petroleum sector governance against the 12 precepts of the Natural Resource Charter.

The NNRC is led by a 14-member independent, multidisciplinary expert advisory panel, comprising Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, former

Minister of Petroleum and Foreign Affairs minister; Mr. Adeola Adenikinju, a Professor of Economics from the University of Ubadan; Mr. Bode Agusto, former Director General of the Budget Office and Professor Akpan Ekpo, Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, among others.

The report said, “For instance, where a company is perceived to have the best qualifications, based on the criteria set

by, for example, the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR), such a company may not emerge as the final bid winner. The predictability of the contractual process is significantly diminished as a result.”

The report further highlighted the fact that 67 per cent of marginal fields allocated in the 2003 licensing round are yet to produce a single barrel of oil, 10 years later.

Furthermore, it added, “Some

SENSITISATION: From left: Dr. Emmanuel Enu, Executive Director, Exploration, First E & P; Mr. George Osahon, Director of Petroleum Resources and Mr. Abolore Sholebo, Divisional Head, Oil & Gas, Fidelity Bank at a one-day marginal field sensitisation workshop held in Lagos.

Nigerian banks fund N438bn of oil assets acquisition

By Ediri Ejoh & Funmi Amodu

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IGERIA banks advanced over $2.5 billion, about N437.5 billion, to Indigenous companies for the acquisition of the divested assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and other oil companies in Nigeria Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, who stated this at the one-day Marginal Field Sensitization Workshop, organized by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR in Lagos, explained that the amount is 83 per cent of the total worth of the assets, valued at $3 billion.

According to him, the banks participated in the divestment programme of Shell on the onshore asset sales by supporting indigenous companies to provide debt finance for the acquisition and subsequent operations of the fields.

Represented by the Division Head, Oil and Gas Upstream, Abolore Solebo, Okonkwo affirmed that the participation of banks is in line with the Federal Government’s local content initiative, targeted at the oil sector as well as other critical sectors of the economy.

“The Nigeria Content Monitory Board, NCMB, has made a lot of success on the oil service space, but has had a bit of challenge on the E & P. Although, over time they have recorded successes in supporting the divestment of the IOCs on the onshore asset,” he maintained.

Responding to how oil firms can assess loans from banks, Okonkwo noted that the company had to be fully ready in its financial, legal documents and stipulated requirement, adding that the promoters of the companies must put in place a structure worthy of financing, having all Information

of memorandum, setting the management team in place, before approaching the banks.

Moreso, he said that for a company to avert damage that can be incurred from the falling oil price, players in the industries should rework their numbers, taking advantage of spontaneous financing and ensuring no disruptions in their production.

Also speaking, the Director of Petroleum Resources, Mr. George Osahon, stated that the licenses of non-performing marginal fields in the country will be revoked by March 2015.

According to him, “With this inability to kick start operations and make fallow the operations, the licensing of these fields will be revoked by next year. “ He blamed lack of finance and inadequate technical capability for the inability of many of the operators to operate these assets.

licensing activity took place during the 2012-2014 period. On 28 November 2013, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the minister of petroleum announced the opening of second marginal oil field licensing round, with a total of 31 fields on offer – 16 of them located onshore, and the remaining 15 on the continental shelf.”

The report lamented the fact that the preparatory activities and road shows following the announcement of the 2013 marginal fields, did not lead to any allocations as the government chose to repeatedly delay the proceedings and ultimately to postpone the round all together.

The report further stated that sector roles under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources are either not explicitly known or are so fluid that the same function may cut across multiple agencies, giving rise to confusion and conflict of interests.

“In monitoring and regulating the industry, for example, the DPR is not effectively independent and empowered to execute its oversight functions. Its decisions often conflict with the interests of NNPC especially since NNPC is involved in both the regulatory and commercial aspects of the industry.

For other companies operating in the industry, regulatory complications and compromises arise from the lack of adequate influence and capacity for the DPR to carry out its duties without bias,” the report noted.

In general, the report disclosed that situation in the Nigerian oil sector did not record any significant change from when the last report was presented, noting that all the indicators used in measuring Nigeria’s performance remained the same.

“Since 2012, there has been no progress made with respect to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. The Bill’s provisions are not in the most ideal form, and it is stalling for a number of reasons including disagreements over its fiscal provisions, especially allegations of being a revenue bill; lack of resolution of challenges of policy discretion; and other regulatory issues with its proposed institutions,” the report stated.

Mr. Dauda Garuba, Nigerian Program Coordinator, NRGI, explained that the release of the report will help shape discussions ahead of the 2015 elections, entrench change and accountability in the polity.

According to him, the Charter is designed to see how countries rich in natural resources are managing the resources for the public good.

Continuing, he said, “The 2014 benchmarking exercise is not just another index of information; rather, its goal is to help Nigeria improve governance of the oil and gas sector and provide key stakeholders with a tool for action.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 25

NCDMB charges oil servicing companies on employee motivation ...As Wellmann Group rewards staff

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PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. Babs Omotowa, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria LIquefied Natural Gas, (NLNG), Mr. Maikanti Baru, Group General Manager, LNG Investment, NNPC and Mr. Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), during the presentation of the report of the feasibility study and investment forum for the proposed ship dockyard in Badagry, Lagos State.

Oil: Nigeria, other W/African countries record declining rig count

By Sebastine Obasi

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HE falling oil price has taken its toll on the rig count in Nigeria and its West African oil producing neighbours as the region recorded an eight percent decline in rig utilisation in the month of November.

According to Rig Data, a worldwide offshore rig fleet information report obtained by Vanguard, current competitive offshore rig utilisation of the region stands at 68.8 percent, as against 77.2 percent recorded the previous month. The decline is remarkable given the fact that the region recorded a rig utilisation of 89.1 percent about this time last year.

Other parts of Africa recorded rig utilisation of 57.1 percent, as against 83.3 percent recorded a month ago. A breakdown of the rig utilisation of other regions of the world shows that Far East Asia recorded 66.7 percent as against 70.3 percent, South Asia recorded 82.9 percent as against 85.7 percent recorded last month, while South East Asia recorded 72.3 percent as against 72.8 percent a month ago.

The current rig utilisation in East Europe is 50 percent, as against 100 percent utilisation recorded last month, while North Sea Europe has a current rig utilisation of 94.9 percent as against 92.9 percent recorded last month.

Canadian Atlantic part of North America maintained its 100 percent utilisation recorded last month, while the Pacific North America also maintained its zero percent utilisation.

For the Alaska region of the United States of America, rig utilisation increased from 50 percent recorded last month to the current 100 percent use, while other parts of the U.S.A have 72.7 percent utilisation as against 71.9 percent recorded a month ago.

Brent crude had hit a five-year low

below $68 a barrel after averaging around $110 in 2011 to 2013. Oil markets have been volatile since last November ’s decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries not to cut production. In recent days, traders have sought a price floor for crude, which has tumbled some 40 percent from June highs.

The chief economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol last week said he forsaw oil rising to near $100 a barrel in coming years, some 40 percent above

current prices that have been hit by a supply glut and sluggish global growth.

“I think an oil price, which will balance the markets in the next years to come, will be close to $100,” Fatih Birol told a conference in Stockholm, when asked to quantify at what level he sees oil prices long-term.

“We shouldn’t be blinded with what’s happening now. Looking at the geology, looking at the economics of the oil markets, one shouldn’t be surprised if we see in a few years’ time, again, a rebound of prices,” Birol said

Ikeja DISCO upgrades system, unveils new payment platforms

By Michael Eboh

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KEJA Electricity Distribution Company Plc (Ikeja Disco) has upgraded its systems to enhance secure, convenient and more efficient payment options.

According to a statement by Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, Head Communication Strategy, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, the upgrade will make it possible for prepaid and postpaid customers within its network to make bill payments or buy tokens via vouchers, Point-of-Sale terminals, bank branches and online banking portals as well as on Ikeja Electric’s website.

He further stated that the upgrade has facilitated the alignment of payment options within Ikeja Electric, a development that invalidates previous payment options.

Speaking on the development, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, Managing Director, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc, said the the new payment platforms are being powered in collaboration with First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB), United

Bank for Africa (UBA) and Nigeria InterBank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS).

Acording to him, it will ensure that postpaid customer accounts are credited promptly, avoiding unplanned service interruptions while prepaid customer are provided more convenient vending channels.

He said, Ajifowobaje, “The upgrade is a result of a comprehensive study of our network which was geared towards ensuring that customers have seamless payment options.

“The new regime has eradicated any likelihood of wrong entries or delayed confirmation of payments by customers.

“As long as the customers pay with our Ikeja Electric vouchers, at approved POS terminals agents, via NIBSS eBillsPay at bank branches or online banking channels, the transaction is effected in almost real time,” he said.

He identified the partnering banks to include: Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, FCMB, Fidelity, Enterprise Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Heritage Bank Limited, among others.

HE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has charged indigenous service companies to explore creative strategies of motivating their staff so as to retain the skills and capacities they have developed within their companies.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa stated this at the long term service award organized in Warri by Wellmann Group, an indigenous oil servicing firm with expertise in heavy lifting and marine transportation,which offered stakes in the company to four of its long serving staff as strategy of rewarding and further motivating them.

Other recipients of the awards were the company’s strategic partners and clients like Nigerdock, Shell, Chevron, Subsea7, Total among others.

Nwapa who was represented at the event by the Board’s General Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr. Chijioke Okorie explained that retaining quality staff within service companies was fundamental to developing Nigerian Content as it would help firms develop institutional, technological and infrastructural capacities to deliver on projects.

Okorie described the achievements of Wellmann as a confirmation that the Board’s implementation strategies were working and yielding results.

According to him, “There were a number of jobs that some operating companies tried to give out to international service companies. The Board intervened and the jobs were placed with Wellmann. That helped to build the company’s capacity and infrastructure over the years.

Wellmann is a good representative of Nigerian Content and the Board is proud of its growth.”

In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Wellmann Group, Mr. Chris Iyovwaye explained that the benefitting employees had worked devotedly in the establishment for over 10 years and had become stakeholders of the company.

He noted thattheyjoined when the company was barely able to pay meagre salaries, hencedeserve to receive a percentage of profit declared at the end of every financial year.

Iyovwaye commended the NCDMB for its implementation of the Nigerian Content Act, crediting the policy for the growth of the company especially in an area that was dominated by foreign players.

He further stated that “Wellmann is justone of the many success stories scattered all over Nigeria, doing well because of the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act. With determination and focus, we have grown from a company that hires equipment whenever it wanted to work, to a company owns every type of equipment whenever it goes to work.”

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

DECEMBER 16, 2014

SEFA invests N102m in bio-refinery project in Nigeria

By Michael Eboh

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HE Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has approved a $580,000, about N101.5 million preparation grants for the expansion of Green Energy & Biofuels (GEB) Bio-refinery project in Nigeria.

The project, according to a statement by the African Development Bank, AfDB, is a pilot of Small & Medium Entrepreneurship Fundamentals (SMEFunds), a social enterprise based in Lagos, and the first bio-energy cooking fuel production facility and distribution network in Nigeria.

Specifically, the SEFA grant, the AfDB said will finance technical studies, business advisory services and a full environmental and social impact assessment in support of the scaling-up of SMEFunds/GEB operations, particularly the waste-toethanol cooking fuel production and distribution in Nigeria, to fully harness economies of scale.

The expansion entails growing their biogel production capacity from 1,000 to 30,000 litres/day and ramping up the cookstove manufacturing supply chain four-fold over the next three

CELEBRATION: Mr. Amarquaye Martey, JV GM Technical, Mr. Mike Gutkoski , Chief Operating Officer, Mart Energy Resources Ltd., Engr. Charles Odita, MD/CEO, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Ltd., Mrs. Rachael Akhuetie, GM, Finance and Admin., Suntrust Oil Company Ltd. and Mr. Isaac Yerokun, Head, Operations Support, Platform Petroleum Ltd, during the celebration marking the company’s seven million man-hours lost time injury free operation (LTI) in Lagos. years.

After the approval, Joao Duarte Cunha, S E FA Coordinator, stated, “SEFA’s support will enable the expansion of the first commercial waste-to-ethanol and cookstoves operation in Africa, itself the product of ingenuity and capacity of African entrepreneurs.

“By offering a modern low-

carbon cooking solution, GEB is also contributing to improving women’s and children’s health, creating employment opportunities and reducing deforestation associated with charcoal production.”

Despite Nigeria’s enormous wealth in energy resources, an estimated 84 per cent of households lack access to

quality cooking and lighting fuels. In addition, woodfuel is still the main source of energy for cooking and heating for 56 per cent of the population.

The AfDB explained that with a high demand for woodfuel and an estimated 100 million cubic meters of firewood consumed annually, Nigeria has currently one of the highest rates of deforestation

Midwestern marks seven million man-hour HSE milestone M

IDWESTERN Oil and Gas Company Limited in furtherance of its philosophy in health, safety and environmental (HSE) management and personnel motivation has celebrated the company’s seven million manhours lost time injury free operation (LTI) in Lagos.

A similar celebration, according to a statement by the company, was held for the field personnel at the Umusadege field location in November.

Speaking on the development, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Midwestern Oil and Gas, Mr. Charles Odita, said that safety is the responsibility of all and with a proactive and enduring HSE culture which is key in the sustenance of the company’s performance, the company will achieve more milestones.

He commended the staff of the company for their purposeful pursuit in accomplishing the safety milestone of seven million man hours without any incident or

injury, and advised all to strive to attain the next level which is eight million man- hour LTI free operations.

“As we award souvenirs and plaques of recognition and commendation to some of our personnel that contributed in making this happen, I charge every staff, especially supervisors, managers and more importantly, the HSE team to move HSE to the next level in our Joint Venture (JV) operations as we strive for more LTI free milestones” Odita enthused.

He also pledged the company ’s readiness to continue to cooperate with the host communities, JV partners and also continue to improve on the health of the workers and their work-life balance.

Commenting on the award, the Head, Operations Support -Platform Petroleum Ltd, Mr. Isaac Yerokun commended the company for rewarding the outstanding Drivers.

Also speaking, Chief Operating Officer, Mart Energy, Mike Gutkoski explained that

the achievement of seven million man hours without lost time incidents is a major milestone and a clear indication of commitment of management and staff towards high safety standards. He however, enjoined the company ’s personnel to continue to strive for higher milestones.

The HSE Manager of Midwestern Oil and Gas, Mr. Anthony Okoye, attributed the feat to the commitment to safety by management, staff and contractors for incident-free workplace.

Okoye, while thanking his colleagues for the achievement, said the company will continue to improve on her HSE Management System implementation.

He encouraged guests, staff and contractors to avail themselves of the free health check services provided by medical experts at the event.

A representative of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Success Ikpe congratulated Midwestern Oil and Gas for

achieving the 7 Million Manhours lost time injury free operation, adding that the company ’s outstanding performance include the delivery of about 10 wells and wished the company more success as it continues in its stride to attain the 10 million man-hours LTI free operation.

Highlights of the occasion were the cutting of the cake to mark the celebration, award of plaques based on performance and recognition and a safety documentary to acquaint the management and staff with required safety standards and risk elements associated with exploration and production operations.

The awards cut across Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Ltd, and its joint venture partners, Suntrust Oil Company Nigeria Ltd. and Mart Energy Resource Ltd. HSE Awards were presented to staff and contractors under the following categories:- the Best MW-SOP (Unsafe Acts/ Conditions) Reporter and Drivers with Best HSE records.

in the world, at over 3.3 per cent per year.

SMEFunds, according to the AfDB, developed the project to produce second-generation bio-ethanol gel cooking fuel from waste products (currently sawdust and water hyacinth) and distribute improved clean cookstoves.

It added that following a twoyear pilot, with 120,000 stoves and 700,000 litres of biofuel sold, SMEFunds created GEB, a spin-off company, to achieve scale as a stand-alone business. Scaling-up this business will involve the construction of a large biorefinery plant in Lagos that can produce up to 22 million litres of ethanol per year at maximum capacity, and 10 biogel micro-plants in strategic locations across the country to carry out gel production and packaging over the next three years.

China, Kazakhstan to sign US$10bn oil, infrastructure deals

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HINA is expected to sign 30 cooperative agreements worth US$10 billion with Kazakhstan as Premier Li Keqiang begins his first official visit to the country, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Xinhua did not give details, but quoted Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping as highlighting a joint-venture logistics base and urging interconnectivity with highways, railways, ports, air routes, oil and gas pipelines.

“The Sino-Kazakh cooperation is developing rapidly. The volume of trade between the two countries is increasing annually by 20 per cent,” Xinhua quoted Mr Li as saying in an article.

Kazakhstan has become China’s second largest trade partner in the Commonwealth of the Independent States, while China is the second largest trade partner and the largest export market of Kazakhstan, Mr Li was quoted as saying.

Mr Li will also visit Serbia and Thailand, but some of the most touchy topics he could encounter are off the agenda, including the fate of Muslims from western China who have fled to Southeast Asia.

Mr Li’s trip, from December 14 to 20, also takes in summits with Eastern European, Central Asian and Southeast Asian leaders.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 27

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

UPDC’s Cameron Green redefines architectural landscape of Ikoyi

By Jude Njoku

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MIDST pomp and pageantry, Nigeria’s leading real estate development and property company, Messrs UACN Property Development Company, UPDC Plc, last week, celebrated the completion of its multi-million Naira Cameron Green Estate located in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos.

The ceremony which was held at Estate’s lush green playground, attracted captains of industry, real estate gurus and residents of the luxury estate located at No 1-3 Cameron Road, Ikoyi.

In his brief remarks, the Group Managing Director of UAC Plc, Mr Larry Ettah commended the buyers for having faith in the company’s ability to deliver quality products, even when the project was off-plan.

UPDC’s Managing Director, Mr Hakeem Ogunniran took exception to the popular belief that people should not invest in real estate because of the poor state of the nation’s economy.

Real estate investors “There is a lot of conception that because of the current state of the economy, the uncertainties, the issues around politics, that people should stay action on real estate investments. But we at UPDC take a very contrary view. We believe that at a time like this, perhaps the best return on value and the best multiplier of value that you can have, is real estate investments,” he said.

An elated Ogunniran flaunted the features that distinguish Cameron Green Estate from other estates within the Ikoyi neighbourhood.

“We designed Cameron Green in a manner that the orientation has limited exposure to the sun because of its potential eco friendliness. This is because when you have a building that has limited exposure to sunlight and sun rays, then the use of cooling by mechanical means is reduced and that is a very sound principle of sustainability.

Cameron Green estate

When we say that this is Cameron Green, the tendency around here is to assume that it is because we have flowers and trees. That is just part of the elements. If you take a very close look at this project, you will see that all the materials we used, for example, for the roof, we used aluminium truces instead of timber which is in accordance with green conservation. The kitchens are made of MDS which are recycled materials in line with our goal of building for sustainable values,” he said.

Continuing, Mr Ogunniran said: “In doing this project, as much as possible, we did not distort the existing ecosystem. We had to leave all the trees and in addition, we are very proud to say that we have planted 128 trees on the site. In the next four to five years, you will see the beauty of this estate”.

The UPDC boss listed the prominent facilities in the estate to include a swimming pool, lawn tennis court, fitness centre, children playground, easy drive way, ample parking lots for

residents and visitors, sewage treatment plant and borehole with water treatment plant.

Describing the location as exclusive, Ogunniran said the facility management of the estate will be handled by UPDC. “The occupancy of this estate is unbelievable and that is one of the benefits of designing not a concrete jungle as you find in all the places in Ikoyi. We have 1.1 hectares here but we have built up only 35 percent. The rest were left for amenities and things like that,”he said.

Cameron Green consists of four detached houses, each sitting on 1,000 sq metres and serviced with a boys quarters. Each house comes with its own swimming pool.

There are also two blocks of 28 flats made of 10 units of four-bedroom flats, 10 units of three-bedroom flats and eight units of one-bedroom flats.

The UPDC boss also used the forum to unveil other developmental initiatives of the company in Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Asaba and Ibadan.

ameronC Green at night

FG repositions FHA, inaugurates new boards for the agency

By Caleb Ayansina

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HE

Federal Government weekend, inaugurated the Technical Board, TB and Interim Management Board, IMT, of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, with a charge to turn around the dwindling fortunes of the authority in the next 18 months. The Government said it is dissatisfied with the performance of the agency which has failed to fully achieve its mandate since inception about 40 years ago.

Announcing Government’s resolve to reposition the Authority, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi regretted that FHA’s mandate of providing affordable housing delivery, especially for the less privileged and low income earners, is yet to be met.

The Minister who will chair the Boards, noted that in the past 40 years of its existence, FHA was only able to build 37,000 housing units

across the country, an average of less than 1,000 houses per annum.

“The noble objective of the Federal Government to use FHA and its subsidiary as vehicles for bringing affordable housing programmes to the doorsteps of the less privileged and low income earners in Nigeria is yet to be achieved. Since its inception about 40 years ago, the authority has been able to build only 37, 000 housing units across the country (an average of less than 1000 houses per annum).

Currently, the housing deficit in Nigeria is estimated at 17 million units. Studies show that the Authority is handicapped by a number of challenges, including institutional operational losses, teeming legacy debts, poor internally generated revenue base and inability to effectively function without budget,” she said The Minister charged the newly inaugurated board and the interim management board to closely

supervise the entire process of restructuring and commercialisation of the FHA on the basis of international best practices.

“Let me emphasise that the main purpose of re-structuring the authority is to enhance its capacity and reposition the agency to serve Nigerians better, bearing in mind our current efforts towards reducing the alarming housing deficits of about 17 million facing the country.

In carrying out this exercise, I would like to charge all concerned to endeavor to make it more efficient, effective and at affordable cost.

It is also imperative for the IMT to evolve a more result-oriented and accountable management, based on performance contracts, strengthened financial accounting controls, upgrade of the management information system and to ensure financial solvency through effective cost control and prudent financial management,” the Minister said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 29

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30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

By Jude Njoku

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IGERIAN architects were last week, tasked to raise their game in order to be more competitive and yet deliver more value to their clients. The charge was given at the second annual ATO lecture in Lagos, by the Principal Partner, ATO Architects, Arc. Ayoola Onajide.

He advised architects to “design yourself out of where you are” in order to collectively propel the architecture profession to a higher level.

Guest speaker at the forum, Arc. Olusegun Ladega who spoke on Architecture: Substance and Shadows.

Random Musings from over Three Decades of Practice, posited that architecture has never been known to be retrogressive. According to him, architecture is indeed an expression of life, the times, the aspirations and the society as a whole. “Architecture of any age has always reflected the limits of engineering and scientific know how of the time.”

Ladega who is one of the leading lights of the architecture profession in the country, said the practice of architecture is gradually imbibing the aso ebi (sameness) syndrome, in which buildings are indistinguishable one from the other.

Said he: “An architectural work becomes commoditized when one offering is nearly indistinguishable from another. As a result of technological innovation, broad-based education and

Experts task architects to raise the bar of their practice frequent iteration, goods and services become commoditized and therefore widely accessible,” he said.

“Many architects describe themselves as building designers or administrators of the building construction contract. This inaccurate and deceptive definition of the profession has not only led to

a belittling of the architect but has also grossly undermined the architect’s professional fees and remuneration,” Ladega said.

He listed other challenges facing the practice to include the value that Nigeria places on intellectual property.

“There is total disregard for intellectual property rights,”

he said.

The annual lecture, which is in its second edition, is aimed at raising the bar of practice in the country and in so doing, helping to impact positively on the practitioners.

The maiden edition had Prof.

John Godwin who delivered a paper on The Wow Factor as a Metaphor for Excellence.

He highlighted the diminishing prominence of the architectural profession in favour of glossy and shallow ‘Do It Yourself’ alternatives by non-professionals. The trend, he noted, was resulting in buildings that are unresponsive to the environment, non-functional and fiscally unsustainable.

Urban renewal: Experts chart the future of geospatial technology

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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Arc. Ladega delivering the ATO lecture in Lagos

QSRBN inducts 263 quantity surveyors, 34 firms

By Chris Ochayi

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INISTER of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi has enjoined quantity surveyors to collaborate with other professional in the built environment to take full advantage of ongoing reforms in housing and other sectors of the economy The Minister who gave the charge at the 2014 induction of new quantity surveyors and practising firms, also advised them to continuously prepare themselves professionally to be able to fit into the new scenario.

A total of 263 newly registered quantity surveyors and 34 practicing firms of quantity surveyors were inducted at the ceremony, bringing the number of registered quantity surveyors and practicing firms in the country to 2438 and 202 respectively.

The Minister who lauded the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, rd QSRBN for organising the 3 annual professional clinic on planning, scheduling and

estimating for process engineering projects, said the regulatory body has begun to take seriously enormous opportunities open to quantity surveyors in transforming the economy.

“As we all know, accurate estimates are the basis of sound project planning. The subject of planning and estimation cuts across all fields of study. It is, therefore, necessary for quantity surveyors to leverage on the various opportunities afforded by the concept of process engineering in an economy blessed with so many natural resources such as ours,” she said.

Mrs Eyakenyi also commended the accreditation of quantity surveying programmes in tertiary institutions, saying it will promote positive governance and national development.

“The reforms initiated in the housing sector by my ministry are already positively affecting growth in the national economy.

I believe we can all attest to the fact that there is presently a high demand for services of many professionals in the built environment-quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, builders, etc,” she said.

forum to showcase the t r e m e n d o u s applicability of geospatial technology in Nigeria and across Africa, organised by Office of the SurveyorGeneral of Lagos state, has ended in the nation’s commercial capital.

Declaring the forum open, Governor Babatunde Fashola explained that the state government has played a significant role in propagating the application of geospatial technologies in the country.

Represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, Fashola stated that geospatial technology plays an essential role in addressing various governance and societal issues by enabling agencies to carry out their jobs quickly and more efficiently and provide relevant information to the right people, at the right time and place.

He said the state has also emerged as a key player in providing geographical information to the nation ranging from natural resources to agriculture and land management which have started to implement geospatial technology widely in their everyday operation.

Earlier, the Surveyor General of Lagos State, Mr. Joseph Agbenla disclosed that the forum would enhance collaboration within various agencies thereby resulting in smart and functional governance for the people of Lagos State, Nigeria and Africa in general.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 31

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32 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

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Tourism potential of dog meat delicacy in A'Ibom PAGE 5

VOL. 1: NO. 28

Sapele residents scale fences to get home, blame Seplat PAGE 4

TUESD AY, DECEMBER 116, 6, 20 14 TUESDA 201

Quacks takeover healthcare in riverine communities

By Cletus Opukeme

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DORO (BAYELSA)—FAKE physicians have hijacked medical care, especially antenatal services, at many riverine communities in Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers and Delta states, following the refusal of most government health personnel, deployed to the few existing health institutions in the areas, to work there.

Investigations by Niger Delta Voice revealed that the fake physicians, mainly traditional birth attendants, frequently administer a concoction of millipede

*Make pregnant women to drink herbal, millipede concoction *Conduct pregnancy test with bare hands *I watch my mother bleed to death after childbirth—19-YR-OLD GIRL secretions to pregnant women to induce labour, and this had reportedly caused death of mother and child on several occasions.

It’s free in Delta—OTUMARA Commissioner for Health, Delta State, Dr. Joseph Otumara, however, said the

situation was different in the state, as government was offering free maternal care for women at all government-owned central and general hospitals in waterside communities.

According to him, “we have 65 of them in the state, but the free maternal care is not in the Primary Health Centres, PHCs,

totalling 408 in the state.

“However, at the Central Hospital, Bomadi; General Hospital, Forcados, Burutu and Ogriagbene, it is free.

“We have not heard of doctors charging anybody for antenatal service in these

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2—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Akwa Ibom citizens blast FG over Federal roads help us restore the CalabarUyo Road.

“No matter what it takes, he should please try to complete the East-West road, nothing else. Also let him repair the IkotEkpene-Umuahia road, repair Ikot Ekpene-Aba road and repair Abak-Azumili road.”

AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

By Chioma Onuegbu

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YO—CITIZENS of Akwa Ibom State have scoffed at the Federal Government for supposedly leaving federal roads linking the state with neighbouring states, particularly the Calabar-Itu road in ramshackle condition, despite numerous entreaties to it.

Inhabitants, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice , said President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure to fix the Calabar-Itu road and other gateways to the state was symptomatic of his attitude towards the sufferings of the people.

Former Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Uwem Udoma, said the people expected President Jonathan to have used his position as a son of the region to touch the lives of people of South-South, especially in road infrastructure that has remained the major problem of the people.

He said: “They say charity begins at home, so if there is any region that should have been developed more than any other one, it should have been the South -South region.

“The oil revenue from the region is what Nigeria is using for development and this is the first time we are having a son from the region as a President. Take Akwa Ibom for example: the gateway into the state is a death trap.

We’re disenchanted “The first one is the Calabar Itu-Road that links former Cross River State. The two sister-states have a kind of homogenous economy, but we cannot inter-trade because there is no road.

“From Uyo to Calabar, a journey of one hour, now takes you four hours, and unfortunately if a trailer falls and blocks the road, it becomes a journey of the whole day.

“Calabar-Itu Road was built in 1975. So it needs a major reconstruction. The President can do it, but he is giving deaf ears to the yearning of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

“Secondly, the Ikot EkpeneAba Road that is the major gateway into Akwa Ibom State, is no longer passable for the past seven years, and the President has done nothing about it.

“Take another road, the Ikot Ekpene-Umuahia, another gateway. There is the Ekpatakwa-Azumili road that you can go through Ukanafun.

That is another entryway that is also not passable.

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Different faces of Calabar-Itu Road.

“It was awarded to CCECC, a Chinese firm that had done nothing up till date, and yet Jonathan has been in the presidency for six years, enough time for a president to do something for his people.

“So we are completely disappointed with this kind of presidency and they call him a son of the Niger Delta, a son of the South -South. I do not know the kind of agenda

Jonathan is putting in place.

“He does not deserve the vote of people of Akwa Ibom State in the coming election.

So he has done nothing to merit Akwa Ibom people reelecting him this time for a second term in office.

“He can win the election, but that will be without Akwa Ibom votes.”

Udoma asserted: “You now talk about the East-West Road.

Exodus to Igbodo DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Festus Ahon

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GBODO—THE people of Igbodo Kingdom, Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, both at home and the Diaspora will converge on the community from December 20 to 27 to strategize on ways of developing the domain.

Chairman and Secretary of the Planning Committee, Dr. Ndu Okonye and Mr. Nkem Nwaeke, in a statement, said

the programme, tagged Igbodo Mass Return Home, was to encourage self-help efforts among the people as well as attract attention of government and other development agencies towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the community.

The event would feature homage to the traditional ruler of Igbodo, HRM Ikechukwu Osedume, crusade, free medical service, inter-village football competition, lectures on career choice, cultural dance, launching of fund for an ultra-modern palace as well as award and gala night.

But the third leg of it, which is from Eleme junction to Oron, which concerns Akwa Ibom people, was not awarded

by Jonathan.

“It was awarded by Obasanjo’s administration, so what has Jonathan really done for our people to give him our votes?”

A commercial driver, who simply identified himself as Mr. Uduak, lamented that it was frightening plying the Calabar-Itu road because of the decrepit state of the road.

He said: ”It is very painful when people talk about dividends of democracy and the masses are suffering terribly due to bad roads. If votes count in this country, Jonathan cannot win election in the area.”

“Calabar-Itu road is no longer a road because those of us that ply the road regularly know it is not a motorway anymore: you need to see it,” a civil servant, who shuttles from Calabar to Uyo daily, bemoaned.

Member, Board of Trustees, BoT, All Progressives Congress, APC, Group Capt Sam Ewang (retd), appealed to Jonathan: “Please, try as much as possible to come and

24,000 of 35,000 miles of bad roads fixed—NKANGA Making case for Mr. President, however, former Military Administrator and BoT member, FERMA, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, said it would be unfair to say that Jonathan has not done anything about roads, pointing out that of the 35,000 miles given to the Federal Government, only 4,500 miles were motorable when he came into office.

He said: “Today we have more than 24,000 miles motorable. And we must be honest and fair that to fix the kind of road you have in Zamfara or Sokoto is not the same thing you will do in the South-South.

“The capital used in building roads in this part of the country is high, but he has done that. Today he is building the East-West Road.

“I am among those who said if you do not do this SouthSouth roads, forget about our votes. But we have seen the efforts he has made.

“Look at the Ikot EkpeneUmuahia road for example; that road was awarded, but the contractors did not perform.

“FERMA had to come in to make it passable. It has now been re-awarded; same thing happened with the road from Ekpatakwa to Azumili: the contractor abandoned it.

“And in this region, we have problem because it rains all year round. It is only this few months of dry season that you can see them working on roads.

“So when the thing looks minimal, there are lots of factors. One is that the terrain is not something that you can just go to in a hurry.”

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—3

Mysterious cat causes pandemonium in Calabar

50 years of waiting over, as C'River community gets health centre CROSS RIVER… THE

PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Ikechukwu Uche

PEOPLE’S PARADISE

C

By Ikechukwu Uche

C

ALABAR—THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has built a cottage healthcare centre for the people of Okoroba, a riverside border community between Nigeria and Cameroon in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Niger Delta Voice was informed that the project is of paramount importance to the people, who have had no comprehensive health facility in their community for the past 50 years.

“We travel over one hour, 20 minutes on water to access proper medical attention in neighbouring cities,” a happy resident asserted.

Clan head of Okoroba, Ntufam Michael Itasong, commended NDDC for remembering the town, saying “for years, all we have had is a primary healthcare centre that could not take care of serious health cases, but we really appreciate the commission’s magnanimity.”

The Director, NDDC Cross River, Sir Frank Isaiah, who spoke with Niger Delta Voice shortly after commissioning the medical centre, said the people of Okoroba would no longer have to patronize quacks or travel long distances to get proper medical attention.

He hinted that NDDC was targeting over about 8,000 communities in the Niger Delta and charged the people to protect whatever the commission had provided for them from being vandalized.

He said: “It is your own and you must guard it jealously.”

CROSS RIVER… THE

Sir Frank Isaiah cutting the tape to commission the cottage health centre.

ALABAR—IN a typical African society, cat, a small, usually furry, domesticated and carnivorous animal, is regarded as a harbinger of good and bad luck, depending on the circumstances.

Not many like relating with cat in the present day because they regard it as an animal universally used by witches to charm and destroy the lives of others.

So, when a security officer in Calabar, Mr. Asho James, saw the sleek movement of a massive cat at his duty post, December 1, on Moore Road, at about 2 a.m., the ungodly hour that powers of darkness allegely deploy spiritual arrows, he was understandably startled.

Attack and counter-attack As he was trying to figure out what to do, the cat mewed and advanced in a suspicious way towards him. He quickly grabbed a stone and hurled at the surging cat to frighten it, but rather than take flight, the mammal pounced on him.

It was a brawl between cat and man. James prevailed in the exasperating clash.

But, convinced that there is something ominous about the whole thing, he decided to take the dead cat home, slaughter and eat it since God had given animal to man as meat, and anybody that turned itself to an animal should be treated as such.

Front view.

Shocker Niger Delta Voice gathered that he butchered the animal at his 3, Imoh Close in Calabar and behold, there were impossible-to-read words engraved on the abdominal wall of the cat.

His wife immediately raised alarm, which attracted neighbours.

Some people said it was a bad sign and the cat was on a dangerous mission to exterminate the names of those inscribed in its body and the killing could even spell disaster for residents of the area.

I‘ve never seen this kind of mystery—JAMES James, who told Niger Delta Voice, when our reporter visited his residence, that he is an Ishibori indigene from Ogoja Local Government Area, said he had not seen this kind of mysterious thing in his life.

He said: “If not for God, the cat would have overpowered me and may be killed me in the process.

“It was because of the attack that made me decide to use the cat as meat. But when I butchered the cat and saw the write-ups, I decided to throw it away, because what I saw was so strange to me and others around.”

Unbelievable A resident, Mr. Eka Paul, said it was the most incredible thing he had ever witnessed in his life.

His words: “Come to think of it, how did the writing get into the cat’s intestine? to me it would remain a big mystery because I cannot even begin to imagine how it happened.

“If I had not seen it myself, nothing would have made me believe. I have never seen anything like this before.”

Sir Isaiah commissioning the cottage's power source.

Akpabio’s aide brings succour to visually-impaired AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

By Tom Moses

I

KOT-EKPENE— THE sight of two blind persons in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ete Okon Udo Umoh and Madam Arit Udo Udo, have been restored by SAMAKON Foundation in collaboration with Pro-Health International Free Health-Care Mission, which conducted free eye

surgery operations and other health care services for 2,000 residents of the community.

The foundation is an initiative of the Special Adviser to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Technical Matters, Etido Inyang.

Aside from the two persons who had their vision restored, many others with various eye problems were also treated and eye glasses given to them free of charge.

Also, those who had malaria and typhoid symptoms and other general health situations were diagnosed and the

necessary drugs assistance administered to them by the over 30 medical doctors and laboratory attendants engaged

by Engineer Inyang and the Pro-Health International.

Engr. Etido Inyang (above) and beneficiaries of the health scheme .

C M Y K

4—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Monarch’s arrest triggers tension in Delta community DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—THERE is apprehension at Orhuwhorun community, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, following the sudden arrest of the monarch, HRM Sam Mukoro Okaka X, by the police, following a petition by some of his subjects.

Though the monarch was released last Friday, there is still uneasy calm in the volatile Urhobo town.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that plain-clothes policemen, last week, stormed the palace of the monarch and dragged him into a van. He was whisked away to the surprise of community leaders and villagers.

How palace was invaded Chief Public Relations Officer to the Ovie-in-Council and Vice President-General of Orhuwhorun, Chief Akporhobo Tataunu, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said: “When the armed men, who turned out to be policemen, invaded the palace, they manhandled and dragged our king into their vehicle like a common criminal. This has never been heard of.

“People thought they were robbers or kidnappers. They initially took him to UtagbaOgbe prisons, quite unconnected to Udu area.

“Before we could make any arrangements, he was transferred to Abuja.

“From what we have gathered, the masterminds happen to be the Ovie subjects. In fact, his extended family.”

Bone of contention Efforts to reach one of the alleged antagonists of the monarch on phone proved abortive as his line was not reachable.

The said antagonist, among others who are from same royal Ekrovie Quarters as the current monarch, were said to be at daggers-drawn over land and communal leadership.

According to Chief Tataunu: “the youths were getting agitated and driving towards chaos for subjects to treat our royal father with such disdain.

“It is not over. Those who arrested the Ovie are free to pursue whatever grievance motivated their actions as long as they are lawful.

“But as a community, we will also deal with the matter traditionally because it will be C M Y K

Policemen bundle off the monarch (on the floor). setting a bad precedence to let it lie low.

A large crowd was gathered at the Ovie’s palace awaiting his arrival from Abuja as at

press time.

Police confirm arrest Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer,

Delta State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Celestina Kalu, said the incident did happen.

He said that the arrest was

carried out by “our men from Abuja.

“I cannot say exactly what the issues are. But I am aware the area is calm.”

Sapele residents scale fences to get home, blame Seplat company had done such pipe laying. Usually, we gather money to repair the road.

“We have been in great pains due to the blockade and the company has pushed us so hard that we have now decided to fight back.”

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Akpokona Omafuaire

S

APELE—LAST month, members of the House of Representatives climbed fence to get into the Green Chamber in Abuja and it made news, but landlords and residents of the NEPA Cooperative Housing Estate Road, off Shell Road, Sapele, Delta State, have been climbing fences for about six months running to access their homes.

They incur extra costs to enter their homes and pay charges for parking their cars in other people’s residences outside their area since June, when Seplat Nigeria Limited made

the access road to the residential quarters inaccessible after laying pipeline to its new site.

A property-owner in the area, Levi Ojumor, told Niger Delta Voice: “Our street is directly opposite the Seplat flow station, Sapele. In June, they dug up

the entrance of our street as they were laying a new pipeline for their turbine.

“After the job, they abandoned the road and all pleas to cover the road so we access our homes have fallen on deaf ears.

“This is the fourth time the

Yes, we climb fences Another landlord, Williams Ohwerhi, said that following the blockade on their street, residents resort to climbing of other people’s fence to gain access to their homes, saying that his son fell from the fence during one of such tortuous escapades.

His words: ”It is unfortunate, but we have to climb fences to get to our houses. My son fell and got injured in one of such incidents.”

Felix Tarhena corroborated the claim of his fellow landlord that

Continues on Page 8

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—5

Tourism potential of dog meat delicacy in Akwa Ibom

By Tom Moses

A

KWA IBOM—DOG meat, a delicacy for the Ibibio, Oron, Annangs, Eket and Obolo-speaking people of Akwa Ibom State, has turned not only a source of foreign income earnings to the sellers in the state, it is also enticing consumers and tourists from neighbouring African countries and beyond.

Mr. Anietie Effiong, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Bambo Island, one of the largest and highly patronized dog meat spots, located along the Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard in the outskirts of Uyo, told Niger Delta Voice that because of the increasing patronage from outside the state, his bar had been redesigned to meet tourism standards, as tourists visit the place regularly to digest the delicacy.

Ghanaians, other foreigners His words: “People come here from far and near; tourists, including the whites foreigners, Ghanaians and people from other countries come here to see what we are doing and sometimes taste what we are doing here.

“Would you have imagined that this is an ordinary palmwine and dog meat bar?

“This place provides natural ambience, beauty and fresh air whispering and oozing from the bamboo leaves which also shades the place from high sunlight.”

Effiong, who normally prepares a minimum of five dogs daily for consumption by customers, explained that the oily substance in cooked dogs help to nourish the skin, preserve youthfulness, builds energy and stimulate libido, just as the delicacy has the innate tendency to build immunity and provide mystical protection to the consumers against elemental forces.

He asserted: “In fact, this place has helped to educate a lot of people, who before now, held erroneous and negative impressions about dog meat.

“Many of them are now eating dog meat and have attested to the efficacy of its medicinal and nutritional values.

“So, the issue has been basically that of one man’s meat being another man’s poison. But we can tell

A plate of plaintain poridge and dog meat. RIGHT: A salesgirl.

BELOW: Mr. Udofia caught in the act.

anybody, not because I am promoting my business, that there is no meat yet that is as delicious and as appetizing as dog meat,” Effiong declared.

His sales girl, Miss Blessing Monday, who corroborated his claim, said she observed that people from all over Nigeria and other African countries have come to cherish dog meat as much as the people of AkwaIbom.

She said: “Even if we cook

and garnish 10 dogs a day, all would be consumed.

“Aside from those who come here to buy dog meat directly, many others book and pay in advance to entertain their visitors and guests at wedding ceremonies, birthdays, child dedication and other ceremonies.”

The reason for the appreciable market and patronage, Blessing said, was not unconnected with the fact that dog meat was

irresistibly delicious.

Best way to enjoy the delicacy Proprietor of Ima-Abasi 404 and Palm-wine Bar, Mbiokporo in Nsit-Ibom Local Government Area, Mr. Ekom-Obong Inyang, said there was nothing incongruous about dog meat delicacy.

He said consumers derive even greater pleasure after the consumption of a plate of dog

meat combined with plantain or yam and then plodded down with a bottle of palm wine.

Consumers happy Aside from its alluring aroma and appetizing appeal, consumers of dog meat, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice at Obio Etoi, Mbierebe Obio, Mbiokporo, Anua Obio, Itam, Uyo and environs, insisted that dog meat was of higher medici-nal and nutritional values than any other meat.

C M Y K

6—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

PODIUM…

My community has no road, water—RIVERS MONARCH

By Davies Iheamnachor

E

VEKWU—EVEKWU community in Odoegu clan, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, has said that there is no passable road to the town, functional water and health facilities in the community.

The people have, therefore, called on Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who they applauded for his strides in other aspects of development in the community, to come to their rescue.

The paramount ruler, Oha Odudu Dimkpa, Nyewe Eli Evekwu, who spoke through his son, Prince Peter Dimkpa, told Niger Delta Voice that the community of Evekwu, said: “We have a water project in the community and it is not functioning.

“I do not know the company that built it, but the government knows about it. We are calling on the government to help us put it in order.

“We also call on the government not to relent in reaching out to the needs of the people.”

Bad road Despite the glaring strides of Governor Amaechi in the town, he said the community does not have internal roads, pointing out that “ we requested for road, but they have not done anything yet.

“We still lack internal roads.

Our road is terribly bad. We want the governor to help us bring road to us. ”We have a sand field; 15 sand dumps. That is very challenging because of the road. Cars sink, especially during rainy reason.”

A youth from the community, said: “We contribute largely to the revenue of the local government, but we do not have road and the road has been a serious challenge to us.

“The road has been challenging to the economic activities in the area. We have sand fields, which is also a source of revenue for even the state.

“Based on this, I think it would have been important that the government builds good road for us so that the big trucks can come in and carry sand to the different places where they are needed.

“They charge us too much.

Each of the sand fields pay allocation to the government, we pay environmental, local government levies. National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, takes their own too.

Although for a long time now, NIWA has not been coming.”

Govt agencies fight over revenue “There was a time when the environmental agency and C M Y K

*Lauds Governor Amaechi for building schools

Modern Nursery School, built by the governor's wife.

Nyewe Eli Evekwu, Oha Odudu Dimkpa in his palace.

Evekwu community main road.

NIWA had problem over who takes charge of the revenue made from the sand field.

“We gathered that they have gone to court. Ever since, NIWA has not been coming.

“For every trip of sand, we pay N800 to the government.

They have their agent that is on ground, counting and collecting the money for them.

Yet they have not constructed our road.

“We are pleading with the government to give due atten-

tion to our road.”

Failed health project The monarch stated: “Government said it will build health centre for us, but till date nothing has been done. The community has a serious need of it.

“When challenging issues come up, we do not have a nearby health facility to handle it.

“When Mr. Emeka Woke, the former council boss of Emohua

Local Government was in office, he promised us that the government will build a health centre for us, but he failed us.

He made the promise when he came to our community.

“When he was the council chairman, he promised to build health centre for Evekwu. He came here with his wife and we presented it to him in our address that we have the challenge of health centre.

“He accepted to do something about it but he disappointed us.

“Health centre is at the top of the agenda of our challenges.

We do not have a place to send the sick in cases of emergency.

“At night, when somebody falls sick, it is always difficult to handle such situations.

“Rumuododgo 1 and 2, Rumuewhor and Evekwu are in the same ward 14, but there is no way we can share the same health facility considering the distance of the communities from one another.

“On the issue of health centre in the state, communities should be considered not on the basis of ward because there are communities which share the same ward, but do not live in the same environment.”

He expressed surprise that government’s promise to build a health centre for the community has not been fulfilled.

Non-functional water project He said: “We have water project in the community, although, the water is not functioning. I do not know the company that built it, but government knows about it.

“We are calling on the government to help us put it in order. We also call on government not to relent in reaching out to the needs of the people.”

On Amaechi’s development initiatives, he said: “He is indeed a leader who has the development of his people at heart.

“The present administration of Amaechi, to a very large extent, has proven that its responsibility is to ensure that the people at the rural communities receive the attention of government in the area of development.

“The last four years, before the second tenure of the state governor, was nothing to write home about in terms of infrastructural development in our community.

“But for four years now, the government has truly remembered us.

“The primary school in Evekwu lacked everything that make it an academic environment but the present administration transformed it to a modern school.

“In the last four years, Amaechi has tried enormously in delivering to the community on his promises. He has transformed the community from what people used to know it.

“The government has tried very well in developing the community of Evekwu.

Although to a very reasonable extent, development is not total, we are very much happy on the efforts of the present administration in ensuring that this community takes a new look.

“Amaechi’s administration is really, extremely good compared to other governors that have ruled the state. Not that I am praising him, but it is good that one who has done well be appreciated.

What Amaechi brought us “The kind of facilities the governor has brought to us is not in every village. He has good intentions for our community, which means he will still do more.

“The government has tried in bringing several projects to the people of this community.

The state government just approved the building of a Technical College which is still ongoing.

“We have electricity but we want the government to help us connect the gas line to us.

The government has built two schools.

“One of the schools, Modern Primary School, was built by the state governor, and the Modern Nursery School was built by the sole effort of the wife of the state governor, Dame Judith Amaechi.

“That school was brought as an empowerment programme to the people.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—7

Quacks takeover healthcare in riverine communities Continues from Page 1 hospitals. It is free in Delta state.”

No maternity in riverine areas— PREGNANT WOMEN Riverine women across Ijaw and Urhobo communities in the four states, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice , said majority of them do not attend antenatal care because there was no maternity centres in their areas.

Thirty-seven years old Mrs. Eku Maria from Ndoro community in Bayelsa State, said: “We have no choice as there are no maternity centres and the few ones in some communities have no doctors and nurses to attend to our cases.

“What you see us doing is to manage what we have by patronizing quacks, prayer houses and traditional birth attendants.”

Govt has forsaken us A housewife, Mrs. Ufuoma Goddey asserted: “We are suffering daily as both the Federal and state governments have abandoned us to our fate.

“We want government to come to our aid by building maternity centres, send doctors and nurses as well as provide medicines for us in the riverine communities to solve our health needs.”

A mother of three from Ayokoromor community, Delta State, Mrs Shopware Akpobowei, 26, said: “I have been a regular patient of a native maternity here in this community because there are no clinics in this area.

“I delivered my three children in a native maternity home and the fourth one will be delivered in native maternity. We do not know antenatal care here, not to talk of it being free, as there is no maternity in this village.”

We drink anything they give us Her words: “We drink whatever they give to us without minding the side effect to our health conditions.

Our case in the riverine area is a pathetic one, especially when you see a fellow woman like you bleed to death after delivery.”

Nineteen year old Grace Pelezibo from Ekogbene town, who lost both her mother and new-born brother during child birth, said: ”My mother was 38 years old when she died three months ago.

“She bled to death three days after delivery in the village. My little brother too died after two days of continuous crying because of lack of breast milk and there were no health personnel to

Mrs Evelyn.

Mrs Oruware .

Traditional birth attendants.

Maria.

take care of the baby. ” Women deliver in farm, canoe Niger Delta Voice was informed that some women deliver at their farms in the forest and in canoes, while fishing because of the absence of maternity homes.

The result is that there are high maternal and infant mortality deaths in riverine communities in the Niger Delta.

A source said: “What exist as maternity centres in the riverine communities are poor caricature facilities, one of which serves five or more communities.

“Because of that, pregnant women prefer to go to the oldfashioned herbal medicine homes and spiritual homes for solution.”

Pregnancy test conducted with bare fingers At a popular native maternity home run by local health

attendants, Niger Delta Voice saw many expectant mothers, who come for checkup sitting and waiting in a queue to be attended to.

The native health attendant, Mama Rose, who has been in the business for over 30 years, said: “I test the stage (months) of pregnancy with my bare hands without scanner.

“I have solved so many cases that have come to my clinic.

Since there is no government maternity in this part of the world, we are using what God gave to us to help ourselves.

“I have several patients here who come on regular basis to receive treatment.”

Millipede potion brouhaha She denied giving millipede concoction to expectant mothers to force them to deliver when they are in labour pains, but said: “I give different types of concoctions. There is the one that I cook as food to give to women looking for children.”

Fourty-four year old Ijaw

mother of eight children, presently a widow, Mrs. Evelyn Pere from Obotebe, confirmed that native health attendants administer concoctions mixed with secretion which looks like milk for the pregnant woman in difficult labour to drink.

She said: “After drinking, the women easily pushed out the baby. I have not drank millipede concoction and I cannot tell the side effect. But I do not think there is any side effect; that is why they administer it.

“I delivered six children in the village without orthodox medical treatment: which is without antenatal care in the hospital. But the other two children were born in a private hospital in Warri.

“For me, God blessed me so much that I delivered my eight children successfully without any complication like the Hebrew women.

“I do not take treatment, whether native or not, from conception till labour. But that

Ufuoma. is not to say other women are as lucky as I am.”

Ijaw women hard-hit She said: “Many Ijaw women are dying. They sometimes deliver in the forests in the farmland, fishing canoe.

Majority of us do not attend antenatal care.

“But let me tell you, government must do something about it, especially us that are from Burutu, an oil-producing local government.

“It is not fair; we still suffer like our ancient mothers at this computer age.”

Wife of the immediate past Burutu Local Government Area, Mrs. Julius Takeme, who is from Obetebe and Mrs Helen Oruware from Gbekebor community, who were peeved at the federal and state governments, lamented that Ijaw leaders do no show interest in maternal care of women in the region.

Continues on Page 8 C M Y K

8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Sapele residents scale fences to get home, blame Seplat

Bayelsa communities get free medicare from SURE-P, NACA BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Emem Idio

I

GBOGENE—THE Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, and the National Agency for the Control of Aids, NACA, held a four-day free medical care and HIV Counselling and Testing, HCT, for residents of Igbogene and Amarata communities in Bayelsa State.

The programme, held at the Igbogene community Town Hall

the company wants to frustrate them, saying “they want to block us out of existence.

“The cost of building has skyrocketed and my neighbour, who is building his house, has to pay double for the materials.

“The sand was deposited in another street. People had to use head pan to tranfer it to the site. Same thing with the blocks. You can imagine the sufferings.”

had packed up as there was no patronage owing to inaccessibility of the street.

“The chemists, provision stores have all closed down; there is a cellophane company on the street which had closed up too,” the landlord said.

He wondered what the offence of the residents was, saying that landlords had vowed to take legal actions if after exhausting peaceful means the firm still refuses to do the needful.

Businesses crippled Tarhena disclosed that many mini-businesses in the street

We’re sorry—Seplat A top official of Seplat Nigeria Limited in Lagos, who craved

Continues from Page 4

and St. Matthias Primary School field, Amarata, witnessed a large turnout of residents, including youths, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the aged.

There was also free blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index tests, free treated mosquito nets and general health counselling.

An elated Paramount Ruler of Igbogene community, His Royal Majesty Adike Hope Green, who spoke on behalf of the b e n e f i t t i n g communities, commended the organizers, particularly at this time of the year, and commended the Federal Government for the initiative.

anonymity, told Niger Delta Voice on phone: “We got to know about the road issue very late and immediately, management gave a contract for re-filling of the road.

“I guess the contractor should be on it now; maybe the rains delayed it. Seplat is a very responsible company, we cannot cause pains to our neighbours.

“We are sorry about their plight but we assure them that in a short while that issue will be over.

“We want to thank them for being civil all the while; we commend them for their understanding.”

Quacks takeover healthcare in riverine communities Continues from Page 7 Takeme noted: “Women die at an alarming rate during childbirth in the riverine areas.

Maternal death rate is high due to absence of maternity in riverine communities.

Masseurs damage new foetus “The scourge is ravaging like wildfire; our women resorted to all sorts of quacks’ treatment during pregnancy because there is no maternity or even if there is one, it is not equipped and there are no doctors and nurses to attend to patients in our locality.

“You imagine a two-month pregnant woman going to massage her tummy. The masseurs will damage the newly developed foetus and that leads to series of miscarriages in the villages. …confirms millipede mixture “In labour room, local health C M Y K

attendants do all sort of things and many women die during childbirth.

“There are stories in Ijaw where they said that millipede liquid is given to pregnant women to drink, which makes easy delivery.

“All these nonsense occur because the women have no choice. They resorted to the only available local and crude treatments, even though it is damaging their organs.”

Mrs. Oruware blamed the absence of medical centres and maternity in riverine communities in Niger Delta on bad leadership.

According to her, ”a responsible and responsive government must take the care of its citizens as paramount.

“If a governor gives free medical treatment to pregnant and nursing mothers in Warri and other cities, what about the majority of women, who are suffering in the riverine communities without a mater-

nity?

“Where do you expect them to register for the free maternity care when you do not provide one for in community?”

Medical Director of Our Saviour’s Clinic and Maternity, Bomadi, Dr. Ebi Tuduo Mathew, told Niger Delta Voice: “People are dying every day out of ignorance, especially pregnant women and infants.

“They are prone to epidemics and diseases. There is high rate of maternal/infant mortality at Ijaw riverine communities in Niger Delta.

“This is due to absence of medical centres and maternity in the riverine areas.”

He appealed to both federal and state governments to provide health centres in all the riverine communities and carry out intensive sensitization campaign for the local women to embrace the maternity homes by registering themselves and their wards early to solve their health needs.

Medical team of NACA, SURE-P during the outreach.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—33

By Theodore Opara

Porsche exceeds previous year’s deliveries P

ORSCHE AG increased global deliveries to customers from January to November this year to more than 169,000 vehicles, already exceeding the overall total for 2013 of 162,145 new cars.

This represented a growth of 15 percent over the same period last year (January to November 2013: 147,290 vehicles). In the reporting month of November, Porsche delivered 17,700 vehicles, an increase of one quarter over the same month last year.

“This strong November is evidence that our strategy is working extremely well,” said Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board, Sales and Marketing of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. He said: “It also confirms our commitment to taking advantage of every opportunity presented on

the global markets.”

In Europe, Porsche delivered from January to November 2014 around 54,500 vehicles, an increase of 18 percent over the previous year, with the domestic German market accounting for 22,200 of these.

And with a total of 51,600 deliveries, an increase of 13 percent, the American region also showed a significant rise in the number of customers opting for Porsche.

In addition, midNovember saw the sale of the last of the 918 Spyder hybrid super sports cars.

This was a limited run of 918 models.

The majority of the cars – 297 – will be shipped from the Zuffenhausen manufactory to buyers in the USA. And in both Germany and China there are around 100 proud new owners of the super sports car.

•Porsche Cayenne

Coscharis bags awards in five NAJ awards categories C

OSCHARIS Motors carted five awards at the recently concluded 2014 Nigeria Auto Jour nalists Awards, NAJA.

The awards include the Most Improved Auto Brand of the Year,Ford; Corporate Social Responsibility Auto Company of the Year, Ford; Luxury SUV

of the year 2014, Ranger Rover Multiple Brand Showroom of the Year Award and Managing Director of the Year 2014 award.

The awards were presented courtesy the Ford and Range Rover brands, the Company and Mr. Josiah Samuel.

The latter ’s award as the Managing Director of the Year 2014 justifies the array of awards Coscharis has received this year, which has been unprecedented in the history of the company.

According to the General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Services, Abiona Babarinde, “the awards are testimonies to the quintessence luxury, capability and versatility of the brands in our stable; the commitment of Coscharis as a company towards customer service and the diligence of the team to positioning the company as a market leader in the automobile sector in Nigeria.”

While reiterating the company’s commitment to continuously provide customers value for money, the Group Managing Director, Mr. Josiah Samuel, who won the Managing Director of the Year award, commended the company ’s media partners and the organisers of the event for recognizing the

efforts of the awardees in 2014.

He stated that “the company is committed to consistently position its brands as the leading premium brands in Nigeria in order to reflect their global status as the most versatile automobiles.

Furthermore, he enthused that the vision statements of Coscharis is to build an institution that will be timeless in its relevance.

Consequently, the company ’s policy is to always conduct its businesses within customer friendly e n v i r o n m e n t necessitating the myriad of edifices built by the company wherever it is located.

“We are therefore, grateful to the organisers for recognizing our dealership as the Multiple Dealership Showroom of the Year 2014, especially by our showroom at Lekki.”

Coscharis Motors is the sole importer of Jaguar L and Rover, BMW & MINI, Morris Garrages, Joylong vehicles and co-dealer of Ford brands in Nigeria.

It boasts of a wide dealer sales and service network across the country, with a well trained team and highly equipped workshops nationwide.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Ford boosts Lagos green initiative, donates 100 trees A

•The Sensational Ford

S part of its contin ued commitment to building a better world through investments in the countries it operates in, Ford has approved an environmental grant to Nigeria to aid its environmental needs.

Ford, in collaboration with the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, has donated more than 100 trees to help improve the environmental conditions in the state; aside from the beautification of Osborne Road in Ikoyi.

The company revealed that the decision to award the grant to Nigeria was borne out of the need to further assist the country overcome some of the challenges associated with population and pollution, especially in Lagos which serves as the commercial capital of Nigeria with a population of almost 20 million people. ”It is important for us to invest in sustainable projects that benefit the environments in which we operate,” said Jeff

Nemeth, President and CEO, Sub Saharan Africa.

“Africa provides so many new opportunities and improving the environment will benefit everyone, even the generations to come.”

Ford’s environmental efforts have extended to many countries across the globe.

“We remain committed to constantly investing in sustainable environmental projects for the wellbeing of all stakeholders and we’re glad to be making a difference in Nigeria, too,” said Nemeth.

Ford’s global grants programme was first introduced in Nigeria in 2012 through the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle campaign that was focused on education on the need to preserve the environment.

The latest project in Ikoyi takes the company one step closer in its drive to help preserve the environment in Lagos State and foster a greener Nigeria, as the country strives to achieve its millennium development goals of ensuring a sustainable environment.

Ford’s global grants programme was launched in 1983. To date, Ford has awarded more than US$2 million in grants to hundreds of environmental projects in more than 60 countries, spanning Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, Puerto Rico and now Africa.

Toyota Avensis Continues from page 32 offers a truly comfortable space.

Luxury torch in he Avensis include the CD player, audio mini-jack, leather interior, auto air conditioning system, bluetooth, smart entry and start system, eightway power front seats, keyless entry system to mention just a few.

And when it comes to safety, the Avensis is a typical Toyota built with high level of active and passive safety features which integrates the use of advanced technologies.

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 35

C M Y K

36 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 37

38 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

The thrills and frills o Buhari rekindles hope from Lagos

•Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha; Sam Nda-Isaiah, APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun; General Mohammdu Buhari; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and an unidentified party official after the emergency of Buhari as the flagbearer of the party.

By Dapo Akinferon & Levinus Nwabughiogu

T

eslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the just concluded National convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Surelere, Lagos State wore a new look outside being a beehive of activities.

More interesting also was the superb security that prevailed due to massive deployment of security operatives from both the police and the Department of State Services, DSS throughout the two-day event that held between December 10 and 11. Lighting was also adequate to illuminate the inside and outside of the stadium.

By 4pm on Wednesday, the first day, accreditation of party delegates, journalists and other stakeholders at the epochal event had already gotten underway.

This took place outside the main bowl of the stadium where party officials had stationed the individual booths of the respective states. And so, with the name of each state boldly inscribed on the booth, identification and accreditation were made easy.

Meanwhile, at the second and main gates of the stadium were a horde of security details who mounted sentry.

Thorough electronic-aided search was also conducted at the port of entry. This warded off hoodlums and interlopers who had no business within and around the venue.

Inside, the stadium was well decorated to reflect the day.

Flags and banners of the party were hoisted and spread very conspicuously to adorn the environment. Every state of the federation had a stand.

Party leaders, senators, members of the House of Representatives had their place also. Of course, the place of the media stood out. At the center of the stadium was an erected platform which

They especially targeted the alternate convention secretary, Dr. Alex Ideh, remarkably from Delta State who some claimed was the cause of their disfranchisement.

served as the podium for the various speakers. A red rug was also spread from the VIP stand to the center just as electronic projectors.

Electronic projectors From within the centre of the pitch came some scintillating tunes that kept the place going that though the programme had not started as at 10 pm, that everyone had their fill.

While the wait lasted, two popular artists turned politicians, Tony One Week and Desmond Elliot were on stage entertaining the audience amid introduction of dignitaries. Tony Tetuila and Seyilaw were also hand and joined the duo.

Excited by the orderly coordination of the process, a member of the Board of Trustees of the party and Presidential Screening Committee, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja poured encomiums on the convention planning committee headed by the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The event finally came on stream at about 9:30 p.m. when former broadcaster turned lawmaker, Abike Dabiri-Erewa who was the official Master of Ceremony, MC, mounted the podium, calling for the singing of the Nigerian national anthem. This was followed by Christians and Islamic prayers.

This was followed by an avalanche of speeches. Among those who spoke were the host governor, Mr. Babatunde Fasola, the national chairman of the party, Mr. John OdigieOyegun, chairman of the Presidential Screening Committee, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives, the national leader of APC and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and two party chieftains, Chief Audu Ogbe and Senator Danjuma Goje among others.

Presidential ticket The five contestants for the presidential ticket, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, governors of Kano and Imo States, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Chief Rochas Okorocha, and the publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah also had an opportunity to present their ideas to the delegates before the voting process was flagged off.One of the highlights of the convention was the unveiling of APC manifesto.

This happened before the commencement of actual voting.But the voting which commenced few minutes past two o’clock in the early morning of Thursday was disrupted two hours after by Delta State delegates who demanded that they must be allowed

to cast their vote inspite of the missing verification cards.

The protest resulted into a free for all between Delta State delegates and some electoral officials.

The verification card had on it, name of each delegate from each state. And it also served as delegates voters card.

The protesting delegates smashed chairs and some voting materials, even as they chanted “No more voting.

Until we are allowed to vote.”

They especially targeted the alternate convention secretary, Dr. Alex Ideh, remarkably from Delta State who some claimed was the cause of their disfranchisement.

It took the intervention of the APC chairman, Chief Oyegun to restore normalcy at the scene about an hour after the crisis emanated.

But the matter was later resolved as voting continued.

Voting ended at about 5 am, setting the stage for sorting of thumb-printed ballot papers and counting. This lasted until about some minutes to 6 pm on Thursday when General Mohammadu Buhari was declared winner of the exercise by polling 3,340 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Buhari said:“I ask that you join this effort, not for me, but to establish a better land for all of us. I understand and accept the hard challenge ahead. When all is said and done, let it be written that Muhammadu Buhari gave his all for this nation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 39

of party conventions

•Senate President, Senator David Mark, wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo, Vice President Nnamadi Sambo, First Lady, Patience Jonathan and National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mua'zu at the PDP National Convention in Abuja.

Celebration of Jonathan in Abuja

By Henry Umoru, Assistant Political Editor

A

BUJA, the nation’s capital city, was last Wednesday practically locked down by a combination of traffic gridlock and security cordon put in place for the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The security cordon was within a five kilometre radius of the Eagles Square venue in the heart of the city leading to a spill over that was felt as far away as the Airport Road and other major highways leading into the city.

Different story Many residents compelled to go out for business trekked long distances to their destinations. Others, especially civil servants not so compelled, simply stayed back at home and enjoyed a two day holiday.

It was a different story for the hospitality industry, which had good business. All the hotels were fully literally taken up by the 4,224 persons accredited to attend the national convention.

That number was besides the hangers on that also came into the federal capital for the convention.

Killing many birds with a stone: The event was a case of the PDP using one stone to kill more than three birds.

First, it was the election and ratification of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Professor Wale Oladipo and Adeyanju as the substantive national chairman, secretary and auditor of the party respectively. At the end of the exercise, Mu’azu scored a total of 2672 votes out of the 2691, Oladipo got 2639 out of 2646 votes while Adeyanju secured 2575 out of the 2596 votes cast.

Mu’azu who took over from the former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was appointed in January this year by the National Executive Committee, NEC at its 64th meeting and he would need to be affirmed at the party’s National Convention, same applies to Adeyanju who took over from Bode Mustapha and Oladipo who replaced the former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who came in through the March, 2012 National Convention.

New manifesto, amended constitution At the convention, the PDP approved a new manifesto to guide all the organs of the party. The 38- page manifesto which shall be for a period of four years from 2015 to 2019, would serve as a working doc-

ument for the party and the government formed by the party, even as the party also approved its amended Constitution.

PDP National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon explained that the approval became imperative for the officers to have legitimacy.

The National Youth leader, Abdullahi MaiBasira at 10.27pm, then moved a motion for a new manifesto which was

approved by all the delegates.

The major and final action carried out same night and into the early hours of Thursday was that delegates voted for and ratified President Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

In the arena, pavilions and stands of the various states were filled up and the atmosphere was full of life, except in some cases when the opposite canopies to the VIP stand were empty.

Delegates were fully dressed and seated in their pavilions as praise singers had a field day dancing round the square.

Parallel primaries

At the convention, the PDP approved a new manifesto to guide all the organs of the party

At the event, it was surprising that in spite of the parallel primaries conducted by the Adamawa PDP with one in Abuja which led to the emergence of former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as the candidate of the party for the 2015 governorship election and another one in Adamawa with threats of planned boycott, Governor James Ngilari attended the convention, sat with Ribadu, just as they engaged in discussions. The governor was the head of Adamawa State delegates. Also

with them were former Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak; former Military Governor of Lagos, General Buba Marwa and deputy Senate leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina.

Governorship candidate Ngilari had rejected the primaries which produced Ribadu on the premise that he had been unfairly schemed out of the race for the party’s ticket for the 2015 election. The governor and Ribadu were later seen walking together to meet President Jonathan inside the State Box of the Eagle Square.

At the Ondo State Pavilion, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Bode Olajumoke; former State PDP Chairman, Ebenezer Alabi; acting Chairman, Engr. Clement Faboyede sat together.

Also at the Convention, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and the governorship candidate of PDP in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, sat together at the stand provided for Delta State, indicating that the pre- election noise has been put aside. It would be recalled that prior to the primaries, Governor Uduaghan had rooted for Tony Obuh and later David Edevbie, to clinch the party’s ticket, but they lost to Okowa.

40 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Ebonyi: Are the hawks now after Elechi?

After massively losing out in the bid to pave way for his chosen successor, there is apprehension that political enemies of Governor Martins Elechi could now come after him.

By Peter Okutu

T

,

HE rumoured plans to impeach Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State by the State House of Assembly was in the eyes of some a fluke.

Those saying so insist that the peace and stability of the state remains unshakable.

But the signs are indeed ominous given the increasing empowerment of the governor’s political foes. In the latest development, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku was last Wednesday returned to office following the ruling of a court.

The judgment nullified the November 10 2014 purported impeachment of the speaker by thirteen members of the House in a hotel in Abakaliki.

In his ruling, Justice Anslem Nwigwe asserted that the sitting of Ebonyi State House of Assembly can only take place in the chambers of the house and that the speaker can only be removed from office by two third majority of the members.

The speaker who had at one time been a close ally of the governor subsequently fell out with him after the governor unilaterally picked erstwhile minister of health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu as his successor.

,

•Elechi Fazed by the development supporters of the governor masterminded the impeachment of Nwazunku using 13 members of the House of Assembly in a hotel, Top View Hotel, Abakaliki.

The 13 members were short of the 16 required to form the twothird majority required to push

through an impeachment in the opinion of the court. The court also ruled that the sitting outside the chambers was illegal.

The reversal of the impeachment and the sitting yesterday was alleged to have raised concern in the camp of the governor that the speaker and

his allies was aiming for retribution.

This was because members of the House loyal to the speaker are more in number compared to those in the Governor’s camp.

Vanguard gathered that the alleged plot to impeach the governor was to give way to the

speaker to become Acting Governor of the State while the Deputy Governor would resign his position to face his electioneering campaigns.

However, such permutations were laid to rest last weekend when the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Deputy Governor of the State, Engr. Dave Umahi debunked the insinuation in some quarters that some members of the State House of Assembly were plotting to impeach the State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi.

Umahi gave the revelation during the 25th anniversary of Folk Technical College Alike Ikwo LGA. According to him, nobody will impeach Governor Martin Elechi because he will finish his tenure.

“Nobody will impeach the leader of the state. He will finish his tenure; whether my Governor supports me or not I will still love him; he fought for the creation of the State.

“Anyone fighting this mandate is fighting God; all the candidates of PDP will be returned; our vision is in line with what God gave to us; God has ordained it; it is time for enjoyment and not labour.”

Yesterday, when the House resumed, both camps clashed briefly, but nothing else. At least for now.

Ndoma-Egba: Victim or victor of a conspiracy

By Duke Enyia

T

HE over 15 years Nigerian successive democratic process, is still surprisingly and painfully far from being matured.

Up till the moment, merit appears irrelevant, thrown to the wind. What thrives in Nigeria’s political circle right now are subservience to Godfather’s who promote sheer mediocrity across the land.

Anyone who attempts to be a guiding light or advocates for standard and level-playing ground is marked in some cases and made a scapegoat thereafter.

All of these unpleasant developments played out in the just concluded primaries of some political parties recently. Of particular note is the primaries of therulingPeople’sDemocraticParty (PDP) where some aspirants have been, one way or the other, shortchanged by the resenting interest of over-bearing political leaders and governors in some states of the Federation.

In the PDP fold are the contending cases from disputed primaries in states such as Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Adamawa, Ogun, Lagos and Plateau. Another instance is the dubious manner in which the primary of the Cross River State Central Senatorial District was conducted. The contest wasprincipallybetweenincumbent SenatorVictorNdoma-Egba(SAN) and fellow federal lawmaker Hon. John Owan Enoh. The Senate Leader reportedly lost to Hon. Enoh who polled 217 votes as against his purported 37 votes.

So far, the ranking Senator, who made his first appearance in the upper legislative chamber in 2003, is not the only one contesting the manner in which the primary was conducted. The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Mike Igini, in a separate petition, not only condemned the primary process, but described it as “far below the standards of 2011 and “not encouraging”.

In order to pursue his case to a

logical conclusion, Senator Ndoma-Egba had in a letter dated December 8, 2014, addressed to the ruling PDP’s National Assembly Electoral Appeal Panel demanded for a complete cancellation of the primary, as it was flawed with many irregularities and ran foul of the electoral laws that were supposed to guide the exercise.

He equally accused some prominent government and PDP officials in Etung local Government Council of hijacking the accreditation process.

Senator Ndoma – Egba further alleged that the primary was highly militarized as some “militants were imported from outside the state who in the course of the process killed one person identified as Friday Ajaghe in Obubra Local Government a day before the primary exercise.”

The Lawyer turned politician in his petition indicated that the primary venue was occupied by gunmen who outnumbered the delegates. The situation was so

bad to the extent that Ambassador Mark Egbe, who was allegedly absent at the primary still polled 20 votes!

The question now is; who were the veiled dictators of this naked fraud against democracy and people of the Cross River especially in the central senatorial district? The pertinent question to ask at this juncture is this; does this three-term Senator really deserve or merit this type of unkind treatment and injustice?

Senator Ndoma-Egba who was once Chairman, Senate committee on Information and Media, and Deputy Chairman of the Judiciary Committee on record had sponsored bills on: Nigerian Prisons Services Act (Repeal & Reenactment Bill 2009; The Nigerian Community Services Bill 2009; Criminal Justice (Victim’s Remedies) Bill 2009.

Others include: Abolition of Discrimination against Women Bill 2009; Legal Aid Act Amendment Bill 2008; Legal Practitioners’ Act

(Amendment Bill, 2008; Freedom of Information Bill 2008; National Human Rights Commission Act Amendment Bill 2008, aside many motions moved and other bills he co-sponsored on the Senate floor.

Theimplication oftheSenatornot returning is that the people of Cross River central senatorial district have been denied of quality representation by a ranking senator, allowing a selfish godfather to impose on them a rookie representative. In all parliaments all over the world, Nigeria inclusive, ranking lawmakers take key legislative positions and important committee chairmanship ahead of new legislators. One sure thing is that in all of these, the people of the state will eventually be the losers if the godfather prefers a rookie senator to a ranking and experienced senator like Senator Ndoma-Egba, who may highly likely return as Senate Leader when PDP wins in 2015. *Enyia wrote in from Calabar, Cross River State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—41

Why Ajimobi’s second term is imperative — Genny Adeosun Chief Mrs Genny Adeosun, woman in politics advocate and wife of late former Minister of Aviation, Communication and Transport. Chief Oluwole Adeosun, who died while in active service as Chairman of the National Pension Commission (Pencom), relieved her experience to Vanguard at the family’s Victoria Island, Lagos residence last Thursday. She spoke glowingly about Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State saying for a governor who has done well in first term, a second term is deserved. Excerpts:

CIA Torture Report

I

T is not easy for any country to tell the world that it engages in some form of torture in breach of international conventions against inflicting brutality on other human beings in order to extract information from them for whatever reason. It is even more unlikely that a country would publicly do a mea culpa and tell the world that it regrets torturing its own sworn enemies. Last week, the U.S. did both when its Senate released the long-awaited report on torture by the Central Intelligence Agency, C.I.A. The summary of the 1,600-page report is that in its quest to get what it adjudged to be crucial information to safeguard the security of the U.S. and its citizens in the immediate aftermath of the September 2011 terrorist attack that killed almost 3,000 people, the C.I.A employed inhuman and excessive enhanced interrogation techniques to torture people connected with Al-Qaeda and its various affiliates. The report slammed the C.I.A. for its use of the infamous waterboarding technique, among other instruments of human degradation and bestiality, to extract confessions from the alleged terrorists.

The focus of this column is not on the nature of the torture or an indictment on those who used it, but the moral courage that enabled the authors of the report to compile and consequently publish it.

There is something to salute about a country that admits that its actions were a deviance from, and affront on, international human rights and respect for human dignity. When President Obama was campaigning in 2007, he made it known that he would end such forms of torture upon assumption of office.

He subsequently made good on that promise. Last week, the U.S. Senate added its voice to that commitment by openly acknowledging that on that score of respect for human rights, the U.S. got it flat wrong.

What is equally interesting is that someone like Senator John McCain who was once a prisoner of war and Republican, broke ranks with most of his ideological counterparts to denounce what the C.I.A. did to those terrorists in the name of breaking them down and extracting information from them.

Senator McCain told reporters that his reason for Economic denouncing C.I.A.’s prosperity is a b h o r r e n t i n t e r r o g a t i o n not the only techniques was not indicator of necessarily about the terrorists, but because the quality such inhuman of life in a methods were the antithesis of nation America’s moral

character. The senator said: “It’s about us: what we were, what we are, and what we should be, and that’s a nation that does not engage in these kinds of violations of the fundamental basic human rights that we guaranteed when we declared our independence.”

But, for every John McCain that condemns the CIA, there are perhaps ten Republicans who see nothing wrong with that form of interrogation.

In a rather cavalier and Machiavellian style, they forcefully argue that crucial intelligence was gathered from such methods, and that such intelligence helped keep the U.S. safe from people who wished to kill and main its citizens. The fact that such broad characterization of the techniques as result-oriented had been debunked in the report, does little to move them from their entrenched position. One such ardent supporter of the C.I.A.’s brutal techniques is former vice president, Dick Cheney. Without exhibiting an iota of remorse over the torture issue, Cheney dismissed the report as “full of crap” and said that given another opportunity, “I would do it again in a minute.”

Al Qaeda terrorists

By Bashir Adefaka & Maryam Oseni

I

T is a little above two years now that your husband who was a Minister of Aviation and Managing Director of First Bank, Chief Oluwole Adeosun, departed for greater beyond. How has life been with you?

I just thank God because the day he passed on, I thought my life was over. I could not believe the man that I see and speak with everyday for almost 30yrs can pass on just like that without a goodbye, without preparation and unceremoniously?

I just thought that my life was over because I felt how will I cope with my children? I did not know how I would handle the children without their father.

My family was a very close one, it was a sample of what a family should be. The problem now is how do I play the joint role of a father and a mother to my children?

I do a few businesses like a boutique, hotel called Villa Maria in Lekki, I do general trading and I am also into Real Estate. And we are blessed with very good friends. He was an extremely good man to the family, to his friends and to everybody that came his way. He touched the lives of most people that came his way one way or the other. Many of our friends have stood with us.

Can we be able to know some of these friends?

I don’t want to mention names because in the process I may leave out some names and those left out may get angry. I will mention just a few like the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III. He has been there for us. Governor Abiola Ajimobi, his wife and his children have been a pillar of strength and support.

This is how he philosophically defended his position in an interview: “With respect to trying to define that (what the C.I.A. did) as torture, I come back to the proposition (that) torture was what the al Qaeda terrorists did to 3,000 Americans on 9/11. There’s no comparison between that and what we did with the respect to enhanced interrogation.” In other words, an eye for an eye is solid logic. No one really expected the former vice president to say anything short of what he said, and how he constructed his narrative.

The senate report says as much for it provided details to show how a particular terrorist was providing valuable information, only to start giving bogus “actionable intelligence” when his new interrogators began to water-board him. Let us bring the issue nearer home. How many African governments will have the moral strength to release such a report that acknowledges that they have been engaging in torture? When will they stand up and pledge that they would Genny Adeosun...Ajimobi has done well abide by international human rights My family and Ajimobi family are like one conventions? Can such a report family. The children have taken the released by the U.S. senate ever be responsibility of being my children’s conducted and released in any keeper.

African nation or indeed any nation Whenever I need a father-figure, Chief in the developing world? Such Ajimobi would tell me, “Baba ku Baba ku,” governments are more adept at meaning that though our father that is my denying any human rights abuse, husband died but that we still have a even when the evidence amply father, which is the role he has been contradicts them. playing to us. Those that are also playing Economic prosperity is not the only key role are Alhaja Bisi Edionseri (Cash indicator of the quality of life in a Madam), Jim Ovia, Chief Okenla, Chief nation. How a country respects the Adeyi, Arc. Femi Majekodunmi, Mr. Akin sanctity of human life is equally of Fanimokun, Mr. Ade Coker, Goke Taylor, great value. his club (Club 548 members,) classmates

1954 - 1958 at Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta); they still hold their meeting here when it is his turn. They are carrying on as if he is still alive.

And how about Chief Abiola Ajimobi?

I mean what do we not know about him?

Before he became governor, we were in London and he made a statement that touched me. He said to me, “My sister, this is London where light does not blink, water runs well and life is better and one could want to stay here but no. I have seen money, my wanting to be governor is not about the money nor the power. I just want to go there to make a change. I want to show them what governance is. It saddens me to see my state so dirty and nothing works.”

And when he became the governor and for the first six months people were complaining that he was not doing anything, I was afraid because if he succeeds I succeed and if he fails I fail being that we are like one family. But after six months that he came out with his blueprint; I didn’t know that all that while, they were strategising.

Ajimobi's achievements Today Ibadan and Oyo State generally has changed so much for better. The first time after the transformation that I went to Ibadan, I thought my driver was in a wrong place because, in fact, I did not realize we were in Challenge. I am so proud of Governor Ajimobi’s achievements in the state in such a short time. Governor Ajimobi has really transformed Oyo State.

What does Governor Is’haq Abiola Ajimobi mean to you on a birthday?

I just thank God for bringing him this far and I thank God for his wife who is my very good friend. They compliment each other. He is a very good family man, good father to his children just like my husband; loving father and loving husband and my friend, Florence, is a fantastic wife who does so much on her husband. My husband used to tell me that, “Your friend, Florence, is a real mother and fantastic wife.” So, Ajimobi having her as a wife does not have to think about home front because it is well taken care of. She complements the effort of her husband with a lot of programmes for instance the aged people’s programme, ABC Clinic which is free for people that cannot ordinarily afford medical charges and she is so compassionate.

Sometime ago we went to UCH and we saw a lot of people who had their sick ones admitted in the hospital but did not have where to sleep. Florence Ajimobi, the First Lady, used her personal money to build a place like a hotel and said relations of sick people in UCH who have nowhere to sleep should be accommodated free of charge. She is doing a lot of charity programme for the masses in the state from her personal resources because she has been doing successful businesses since we left school in 1979.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Firecrackers: Lagos traders shun govt directive on storage, sale

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

A

YEAR after the Lagos State Government released a white paper to checkmate the storage and sale of firecrackers; there was still no dull moment at the Lagos Island markets where these products were sold especially as the Yuletide draws near.

Last Saturday was no exception. As early as 9:00 am, traders of these firecrackers at Mosalasi, Dosunmu, Oroyinyin, Obun Eko Streets had openly displayed these explosive products and were already attending to the customers from within and outside the state, who had trooped to the market to shop for the season.

The State Government last year issued the White Paper after the Lagos Island explosion and fire incident of December 26th, 2012 in which one person was killed, 10 houses razed and 11 cars burnt at Ojo-Giwa Street, Jankara Market banning all

markets and improvised warehouses for explosives in Jankara, Ojo-Giwa, Okoya and Moshalashi areas of Lagos Island.

At Ojo-Giwa Street, the relics of the building damaged by the explosion still stands and the roads yet to regain its status before the explosion.

firecrackers in the markets.

One of the traders, who identified herself as Mama Bukky, explained

Displaying their wares Also, some of the traders affected by the explosion were still sighted at 45 Ojo-Giwa Street, where the explosion started, with their make-shift shops, with the aim to someday raise money to secure a better shop to display their wares.

Vanguard learned that the traders who deal in these products have not ceased from importing the products.

Rather, they have introduced new brands to the market.

Vanguard approached some of the traders and discovered that there were inferior and genuine

The state government plan would never be effective because the state was yet to create an urban warehouse in Jankara area, as contained in the policy

“the prices are different. And this is based on their durability and loud sounds,” adding that the prices range between N350 for two sounds and five sounds for N650 among others. While a pack (10 pieces) of the inferior of 20 sounds was sold for N500.

One of the residents who do not want his named mentioned argued that the State Government plan would never be effective because the state was yet to create an urban warehouse in Jankara area, as contained in the policy.

He said “That was why the government cannot properly monitor the activities of the traders who import the explosive devices.

And that was why when you go to the streets today, you hear deafening sounds. And one cannot know if what he heard was the sound of gun or firecrackers.”

Sources also said that some of the products further violate the directives of the state government to have a clear instruction for its safe use in English language. But they were either written in Mandarin (Chinese), German or others.

The State government directed

that the sale, storage and handling of fireworks must be with the express permission of Government and in line with extant (earlier) regulations (THE EXPLOSIVES ACT No. 34 1967).

The government added that health and safety rules require that all explosives to be sold, stored or distributed in Lagos State must bear a clear definition of its production details, contents, manufacturer ’s address as well as clear instructions for its safe use in English Language.

Effort to get the response of the Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye and the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi to react to the development and what they government plans were to address the issues, were not successful, as they didn’t respond to the text messages sent to them.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

—43

Day out with Naval officers’ wives in Lagos •As they build classrooms, empower 126 widows, orphans

By Evelyn Usman

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HE auditorium of Quorra, at the Naval Training Command, Apapa , Lagos was a beehive of activities last Wednesday, as women later discovered to be widows of fallen naval personnel thronged to the venue.

They were of different sizes, shapes, complexions and tribes, with some of them still wearing long faces which depict the trauma caused by the loss of a bread winner.

and orphans of naval personnel who died during active service by wife of the Chief of Naval Staff and President , Naval Officers Wives Association, NOWA, Mrs Lami Ohiama Jubrin. The beneficiaries also included orphans of the fallen heroes.

They were 126 in number.

Then all of a sudden, the entrance door was flung open, signifying the arrival of the long awaited eminent personality of the day; Jubrin, accompanied by the outgoing Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval

Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade and some senior naval officers of the command.

Addressing the widows, Jubrin noted that the financial gesture was in fulfilment of the promise she made to her predecessor, Mrs Vivian Ezeoba, who initiated the plan last year, where over 100 widows and orphans benefited.

She explained that the gesture was also a demonstration of the association’s concern for the welfare of the widows, noting that it would go a long way to ameliorate their financial plights

if used wisely.

She hinted that : “ This year we have done a random selection cutting across all zones.

We hope that it will boost existing businesses and also that the children of these fallen heroes will be able to get quality education so that they will be greater than us tomorrow. We are certain that amongst these children will grow up to be NOWA national president, first lady of the nation, Chief of Naval Staff and president , in future” However, on her part, an

Silent anguish Amidst the pang of silent anguish, the gathering offered the widows an opportunity of meeting with their counterparts from other states of the federation who they had at one time or the other, shared same barracks with while their husbands were alive.

They recounted the good old days as well as their respective ordeals and the gargantuan responsibilities the demise of their husbands has saddled them with .

More pathetic was the ordeal of some of them whose husbands were killed in the ongoing onslaught against insurgency in the North East. One of them was heard saying: “ My sister, it has not been easy o.”

The gathering was the occasion of donation of cash to widows

FOC NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo presenting cash to a widow, Mrs Rose Daramola and her son, Victor Daramola at the 'DAY OUT WITH WIDOWS AND ORPHANS

As harmattan finally hits Lagos T

By Dapo Akinrefon

OWARDS the end of every year, the nation is besieged with a different kind of weather. The weather, which comes during the Yuletide season usually comes with it excitement in the air.

Known as the harmattan, it comes with its own aura and many prefer it to the cold and hot weather.

Though most people opine that the harmattan is a season that occurs each year but indeed, the harmattan is a hot, dry and dusty wind (continental trade wind) blowing over West Africa.

This northeasterly wind blows from the Sahara Desert into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March (winter). The name comes from or is related to an Akan cognate.

On its passage over the desert, it picks up fine dust and sand particles (between 0.5 and 10 micrometres). The air is particularly dry and desiccating when the Harmattan blows over the region. At morning, low temperatures can easily be as low as 15 °C (59 °F) or 20 °C (68 °F). At afternoon, high temperatures easily soar to more than

30 °C (86°F) and can reach as high as 40 °C (104 °F) sometimes, while the relative humidity drops under 10%.

According to weather experts, the Harmattan blows during the dry season which occurs during the lowest-sun months, when a high pressure system of the subtropical ridge stays over the central Sahara Desert and when a low pressure system of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) stays over the Gulf of Guinea.

Expectedly, the Harmattan brings desert-like weather conditions which lowers the humidity, dissipates cloud cover, prevents rainfall formation and sometimes creates big clouds of dust or sand which can even result in violent duststorms or sandstorms but when the haze effect is weak, this dry wind creates beautiful sunny days with plenty of clear skies.

With the haze hitting parts of the country especially Lagos State, it is expected that the harmattan will come with mixed feeling.

Perhaps, one of the disadvantages of this dry weather is disruption of flight operations in the country, especially from Lagos.

It is, however, expected that the

harmattan, perhaps, will result in some major airlines diverting their flights.

Due to the dry weather, the possibility of fire outbreaks is usually high at this time of the year.

Fire outbreaks usually have high records during this period.

Also, as the dryness in the atmosphere increases, people are prone to be infected with various airborne diseases.

In 2013, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) warned of adverse weather in most parts of the country owing to the harmattan haze.

Besides this, conditions are expected to cause some levels of discomfort as heat-related ailments were expected to be prevalent in the areas during the hot season.

While air-borne diseases usually triggered by Harmattan dust haze are also likely to be prevalent in most parts of the country, the prospect of cold weather-related diseases such as pneumonia, catarrh and cough are likely.

As the harmattan berths in Lagos, it would be imperative for health practitioners and governments in states like Lagos to make contingency plans in the event of outbreak of diseases.

executive of NOWA, Mrs Olajumoke Oyagha , urged the widows to brace up and look unto God for survival rather than depending on men. She also enjoined them to find something doing, rather than staying idle.

Also addressing the widows, wife of a deceased senior naval Officer, Mrs Nkiru Azuibuike, warned women whose husbands are still alive and serving never to allow themselves to be carried away by the euphoria of the present state by idling away.

Recalling how she was saddled with the responsibility of catering for her four children alone, after the demise of her husband twelve years ago, she stated: “ In my case my husband did not allow me to work even though I have a Bachelor degree in Biochemistry. I learnt the hard way when he died . But I was determined to pull through and I started something doing. Today , three of my children are graduates while the youngest is still in the university. You can learn how to make beads, sew or even sell puff-puff.

Do not be ashamed to start small”, she stated.

Commission classrooms at Navy Town, Okokomaiko Next day, the NOWA president, proceeded to NOWA Secondary school at Navy Town and NOWA Day Care , Nursery and Primary school at Okokomaiko area of Lagos, where blocks of class rooms and libraries built by the association, were commissioned.

Reiterating the association’s commitment to quality education, Jubrin explained that the decision to build more classrooms was borne out of the need to decongest the existing ones, as well as to create enough space for new intakes.

In his remark, the outgoing FOC, Western Naval command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade commended efforts of the association at the speed with which the classrooms were completed. As a way of demonstrating the command’s support for the association, Alade and heads of units under his purview made cash donation to the association.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014—45

Crisis looms in Edo North PDP over conduct of primaries

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

Wards of the state that took part in the delegate elections. So,

for people to condemn the exercise for not being able to

clinch the uncharitable."

tickets

is

ENIN—CRISIS is looming in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo North senatorial district, as a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, who lost the senatorial ticket of the party to Mr. Pascal Ugbome and others who contested primaries on the platform of the party, have threatened to defect from the party if the outcome of the primaries was not revisited.

The group, at a meeting in Auchi attended by Momoh, Alhaji Usman Shagadi, former APC state Vice–Chairman, Chief S. Mayaki, Fred Omogberale, former Deputy Speaker in the state House of Assembly, Kasimu Dokpesi, Kashetu Ohiweire, Dickson Ahonsi, among others, accused the leadership of PDP of conducting the primaries with predetermined results.

They contended that in the REPORT: From left: Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, and Chairman, Committee build up to the PDP primaries, on Aeronautical Charges, Ahonsi Unuigbe, during the submission of a report to the Minister, the Chief Dan Orbih-led state executive and Edo North at the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Abuja. senatorial district leaders compiled the names of loyalists as delegates contrary to the party’s guidelines which they said recommended delegates elections.

They added that no delegate election was held anywhere in Edo North senatorial district, adding that the final list of delegates was It said: “The contention

By Godwin Oghre compiled in the house of is that you have chosen to a former senator to ensure SCRAVOS—BARELY handle your employment that anointed aspirants 14 days to the issues relating to our emerged as the party’s flag bearers for the Senate expiration of the 21 days union activities with a and House of ultimatum given to group, known as Itsekiri Chevron Nigeria Ltd, to Coastline Communities Representatives.

Reacting to the correct its employment Association, instead of the allegations, Edo State dispute with Escravos union itself, an action that Chairman of PDP, Chief chapter of Seamen and negates the rules of this Orbih, described same as Water Transport Workers union and the enabling spurious, saying that the Union, an arm of Maritime Act of parliament which party adhered strictly to Workers Union of Nigeria, sets it up and empowers the party’s guidelines for MWUN, the union has its labour activities. All the conduct of the dragged the company efforts by us to correct the before the International anomaly had failed, primaries.

He said: “The process Maritime Organisation, hence the resultant 21established for throwing IMO, sitting at The day ultimatum to you.

“As law abiding citizens up delegates for the Haque, Netherlands, over what it termed “Chevron’s of Nigeria, we have taken primaries which was held in Edo State was strictly lackadaisical move and one more step to avoid the adhered to by the party unreadiness to settle a coming catastrophy and followed religiously. volatile labour dispute should you fail to address the lingering labour crisis After the exercise that with the union.”

In a notice to Chevron, between your company brought about the election of delegates, the party set copied to the company’s and our union, and that up an Appeal Committee counsel, Mr Osaghae is why we are dragging and those who had issues Jude, the union’s your company before our addressed their fears to chairman, Mr Tunokan mother union, the the Appeal Committee Ebami, said it was International Maritime and filed their cases dragging Chevron to Organisation at The IMO in order to avert Haque, where we shall where they existed.

“The complaints were imminent catastrophe it lock horns with you in its looked into by the Appeal planned to unleash on the panel of Labour Dispute Committee, which company should it fail to Adjudication, the outcome handled the issues address the subject of the of which shall be binding judiciously. It was the crisis before the end of the on us and your company." delegates from the 192 ultimatum.

Union drags Chevron to IMO over labour dispute

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Door to Door for Okowa inaugurated in Delta

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GROUP, Door to Door for Okowa, has been inaugurated in Delta State to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the state, Senator Arthur Okowa, secures total victory in the 2015 general elections.

Speaking at a crucial meeting of selected politicians at his country home, the Chairman of the group, Mr. Dom Okonma, said that the group was inaugurated for the primary purpose of campaigning door to door, as the name suggests, to ensure victory for Okowa in the forthcoming general elections in the state.

He said: “We have pledged total commitment, loyalty and allegiance to ensuring that Okowa becomes the next Delta State governor. We have agreed to reach out to the electorate for their support of the PDP flag bearer.”

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Delta royal family dethrones head

ASUU threatens LASU over alleged victimization of chairman

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE Owerri zone of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday threatened a showdown with authorities of Lagos State University, LASU, over alleged intimidation and harassment of the chairman of the institution’s ASUU, Dr. Idris Adekunle.

The zone comprises Anambra State University, Uli; Imo State University, Owerri; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; Federal University of Technology, Owerri and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Idris was allegedly removed as chairman by a section of ASUU members in LASU weekend, a development that came on the heels of a threat by authorities of the university to withdraw his PhD certificate.

Coordinator of Owerri zone of ASUU, Professor Ike Odumegwu, at a briefing in Awka, called on the visitor to the university, Governor Babatunde Fashola and the governing council of the institution to direct LASU administration to stop what he described as the dangerous

T

HE Okaka royal family of Orhuwhorun in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has said that Mr. Samuel Mukoro has been removed from office as the traditional head and Ovie of Orhuwhorun in Udu Kingdom for abuse of office.

In a statement by the heads of Akpa, Ibo, Okere, Isuvwe, Owhonana families and Oghuvwie of Okaka royal family, the elders said the decision was arrived at during a meeting of the Okaka royal house in Orhuwhorun.

They said: “That by the ancient customs and traditions of Orhuwhorun, the Okaka royal family retains the sole irrevocable traditional authority and power to select, appoint, approve and to exercise disciplinary power of removal for abuse of office of the Ovie.”

trend of arbitrariness and impunity and return LASU to the path of progress.

He said: “Members of our union in LASU fought for students, parents and guardians.

“It is sad to note that consequent on the active role played by ASUU-LASU, led by the branch chairman, Dr. Idris Adekunle, in the school fees crisis, the university administration has adopted various forms of victimization against the chairman and other members of our union.

“These oppressive practices

A

BAKALIKI—THE two-time Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Professor Chigozie Ogbu, yesterday insisted that he had no plans to resign his membership of

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for another political party.

Recall that members of Governor Martin Elechi’s cabinet, his brother in-law, Senator Chris Nwankwo, the 13 caretaker committee Chairmen, son of the governor,

that there was an error in the description of the area of his specialization and that the programme specified on the certificate awarded over five years ago is not being offered by LASU.” Odumegwu said the decision of ASUU to make the case of Dr. Idris a national issue arose from the fact that the culture of arbitrariness was fast spreading among universities in the country, urging stakeholders in the university system to begin early to combat the worrisome development before it crippled the Nigerian university system.

Labour wants 13th month salary for Delta workers

By Kelechi Azubuike

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IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State chapter, has urged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to, in line with his May Day promise, approve the payment of 13th month salary as bonus for workers in the state ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

At a meeting of the State Executive Council, SEC, presided over its Chairman,

I'll never leave PDP, says Ebonyi Dep Gov

By Peter Okutu

have been cloaked under different guises of administrative policy.

Furthermore, the administration has tried to use some members of the union to create the impression of division within the union and the failure of this attempt has resulted in a more aggressive and direct attack on the chairperson of ASUU-LASU. “The latest development is that the administration has perfected plans to withdraw the PhD certificate of Dr. Adekunle Idris on the excuse

Chief Elechi Elechi, few members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and several party faithful, Wednesday, defected to Labour Party.

Ogbu explained that his leaving PDP would place a

Mr. Williams Akporeha, NLC commended Governor Uduaghan’s effort for the regular and prompt payment of workers’ salaries, and due response to workers and labour-related issues in the state.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting said: “Congress wishes to recall with expectation the promise made by the governor in his 2014 May Day speech regarding the approval of the payment of

13th month salary as bonus for workers in the state.

“Congress, therefore, appeal to His Excellency to fulfil his promise to the state workforce not only to raise his admiration among workers, but also to register another success story for the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration.

“Congress is very hopeful as we have now come to know the Governor Uduaghan as a man who works his talk on labour matters, even in the midst of other contending state issues.”

serious question mark on his hard-earned integrity and commitment to the party.

He called on all the political parties and interest groups involved in the 2015 general elections in the state to sheathe their swords and embrace peace and dialogue.

According to him, “as a

loyal PDP member, I have no intention of leaving PDP for any other party.

“It will be contrary to, and a question on my hard earned integrity, to be seen jumping from one party to another simply because I was denied an opportunity to be fielded as candidate.”

On Lagos State PDP governorship primaries?

C

ongrats Jimi Agbaje for winning the primary election in Lagos on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, platform. I pray that he will win the general election in February 2015 in Jesus name. Mr. Babawibe OluwatoyinClergy C M Y K

I

just love PDP formula.

Amaechi with Wike in Port Harcourt and here in Lagos, we have Jimi Agbaje with Obanikoro.

Anyway, it is part of the game and I wish whoever emerges governor of the state good luck. Mr Ukoma Ogwa- Student

T

he Jimi Agabje choice will definitely make the emperor of Bourdillion sweat. He will have a reason to fear now as Agbaje remains the Lagosians choice.

Lagosians are tired of commercialization of the state. Prince Tunji DinniBusinessman

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waiting Governor of Lagos State, by the grace of God. God bless Jimi Agbaje, God bless PDP, God bless Goodluck, God bless Adamu Muazu, God bless Nigeria's transformation.

Mr Kingsley NgeneWorker

R

ents in Lagos can build you a house elsewhere; the cost of shops in Lagos can run a pure water factory and you will still have money to spare. Every sector has been commercialized, including roads where toll fees are being forcefully collected. Mrs Morayo Simeon- Worker

L

et me put Lagosians through.

Jimi, Obanikoro or Ambodethey all Tinubu boys. So what are we saying? I wish that the best candidate win in Lagos State. What we want is good governance. Mr Abdulazeez JimohBusinessman

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 47

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48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

FLAG-OFF: From left, Managing Director, Wow Roadshows Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, Managing Director, Chemical & Allied Products, CAP, Plc; Mrs. Omolara Elemide; Marketing Manager, Mr. Dominic Oladeji, and Finance Director, Mrs. Adeline Ogunfidodo, at the flag-off ceremony for the 2014 Dulux Mobile Room Makeover Activation, in Lagos.

CEREMONY: From left, Honorary Consultant Cardiologist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr. Dike Ojji; Honorary Consultant Peadiatrician, UCH, Ibadan, Professor Adegoke Gbadegesi, receiving the AstraZeneca Research Grant Award; Cosultant Gastroenthologist and Hepatologist, Dr. Funmilayo Lesi, College of Medicine University of Lagos, and Medical Liaison Officer, AstraZeneca Nigeria, Dr. Seun Jewoola, during the AstraZeneca Research Grant Award Ceremony, in Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: From left, Alhaja Gbolahan Daidu, Chairman, SUBEB Maryland, Lagos; Mrs. Ethel Emma- Uche, Lagos Brewery Manager, representing MD/CEO of Nigerian Breweries, NBL, PLc; Mrs. Y. A. Fatoke Education, Secretary, Surulere LGA; Mrs. Emete Tonukari, Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainaibilite Manager, NBL, and Mr. Akoni Laolu,Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Projects in Lagos, during the Commissioning of the Renovated Adisa Bashua Primary School, Surulere by Nigerian Breweries Plc, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

PRIMARIES: From left, Mr. Bola Bakare, Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kosofe Local Government Area; Alhaji Welly Hassan, his wife, Mrs. Sherifat Hassan, PDP candidate for Kosofe Federal Constituency; and Mr. Mufutau Babalola, Chairman, Kosofe Local Government Area, at the party's primaries, in Lagos.

ANNIVERSARY: Cross section of members of National Association of Ijaw Female Students at their 10th anniversary, at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos recently.

AWARD: Sir Lucky Omoluwa, 'sandwiched' by his past awards, displays the Good Governance and Integrity Award, given to him by the Centre for Transparency in Nigeria, at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja.

AWARD: Mohammed Garba, import co-odinator, Ogun Customs Command, receiving recognition award in Customs operations, from the publisher of Trans-Quest magazine, Mr. Felix Kumuyi, at Idiroko, Ogun State.

DAY-OUT: From left, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade; President, Naval Officers Wives Association, NOWA, Mrs. Lami Jibrin, and Vice-President, NOWA, Mrs Uju Akinwale, at a day-out with widows and orphans by President of NOWA, in Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 49

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 51

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 , 2014 — 53

Israeli PM rejects Palestinian UN bid

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SRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday angrily rejected a Palestinian bid to set a UN deadline for an end to Israel’s occupation amid a flurry of talks led by US top diplomat John Kerry.

Related Stories “We will not accept attempts to dictate to us unilateral moves on a limited timetable,” the Israeli leader said before arriving in Italy.

Amid a renewed drive to push the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to the top of the global agenda, Kerry and Netanyahu met for nearly three hours in the US ambassador ’s sumptuous residence in Rome.

The Americans are seeking to avert an endof-year showdown at the United Nations Security Council, which could

place them in a diplomatic quandary.

The Palestinians have said they will submit an Arab-backed draft text setting a two-year deadline for an end to the decades-long Israeli occupation of their lands to the UN as early as Wednesday.

Simultaneously France

is leading European efforts to cobble together a more nuanced resolution which could prove more acceptable to the US administration.

The French text would set a two-year timetable, but for concluding a peace treaty without mentioning the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Paris is also hoping to seize more of the initiative by not leaving the negotiations solely in the hands of the US.

Sydney siege: Three dead after commandos storm cafe T

WO people died, along with an Islamist gunman, after commandos stormed a cafe in Sydney, Australia, to bring to an end a 16-hour siege.The gunman, identified as an Iranian refugee, had taken dozens of hostages.

Meanwhile, four people were injured, includ-

France busts cell recruiting Syria fighters

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RENCH police have arrested about 10 people in an operation to dismantle a network sending wouldbe fighters to Syria.

Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, said four of those detained on Monday were already jailed for unrelated minor crimes and that most of the arrests occurred in the south of

France.

The prosecutor’s office said it does not yet know how many people the network had recruited.

European officials fear that radicalised fighters will return from the battlefields of Syria and Iraq and attack at home, and France has made it a crime to recruit or be recruited for fighting abroad.

Earlier in June, a

Frenchman linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) group was accused in a deadly shooting at a Brussels Jewish museum that killed three people.

Authorities estimate around 1,000 French nationals have taken part in the conflict. According to figures published in the French Le Monde newspaper in November.

ing a policeman hit by gunshot pellets. The centre of the city was put in lockdown when the gunman seized the hostages early on Monday, forcing some of them to hold up a black Islamic banner at the window of the Lindt cafe.

The cafe is located in Martin Place, a busy shopping area in Sydney’s financial district.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was “profoundly shocking” that people were being “held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation”.

‘Isolated incident’ A 34-year-old man and a woman aged 38 were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital, as was the gunman, the New South Wales police force said in a statement.

Two women suffered non-life threatening in-

juries as did a policeman who had been hit in the face by pellets.

Another woman suffered a gunshot wound to her shoulder. New South Wales state police commissioner Andrew Scipione said it had been an “isolated incident”.

Seventeen hostages were accounted for, including those who had managed to escape earlier, he said.

Local media reports suggest the commandos from the Royal Australian Regiment entered the building after the gunman started firing shots.

Commissioner Scipione urged people not to “speculate” about what had happened inside the cafe and said police believed more lives could have been lost if officers had not entered the cafe at that point.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 55

OIL WORKERS' STRIKE: FG, labour meet as workers shut operations

By Victor Ahiumayoung

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HE Federal Government will today meet leaders of striking oil workers and other stakeholders in the petroleum sector in a desperate effort to end the industrial action before it worsens the fuel supply chain and other socio-economic situations.

Already, the workers, on the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN’s counterpart, operating as NUPENGASSAN, have not only stopped loading of products, major installations in both upstream and downstream have also, been shut.

Vanguard gathered that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministries of Labour and Productivity as well as Petroleum Resources, slated today’s meeting for 11 am in Abuja.

However situations reports across the country yesterday indicated high level of compliance by workers on the first day of the strike.

In Lagos, most depots were shut. At Ejigbo Depot, some tankers that loaded earlier in the day were restricted, but later allowed to move out of the depot because of the inherent danger.

At Apapa, installations owned

by Mobil and Oando were said to have recorded total compliance.

Though there was skeletal work

by NUPENG members at Total depot, but it was later stopped in the course of the day.

While in Warri, there was no loading, while NUPENG members were seen wearing red as a sign of protest, in Port Harcourt, a strike monitoring committee member

told Vanguard on condition of anonymity, that there was total compliance in all oil and gas locations, as the loading bays were shut.

Similarly, in Kaduna and Abuja, there was also total compliance on the part of PENGASSAN members.

In Kaduna, the gate of the Kaduna Refinery was shut and no entrance was allowed into the premises.

A union leader claimed that in the morning, the NNPC towers was opened for business and workers were at their desks but were later called to stop work at about 11.45 a.m.

The workers are protesting among others, the inability of the government to carry out Turn Around Maintenance, TAM, on the refineries and reduce pump prices of petroleum products in line with the slump in global prices of crude oil.

Other grievances are delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, global crude

oil prices slump, non implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act to reflect Nigerian’s in management positions and expatriate quota law, appalling state of access roads to refineries and oil depots’ facilities, insecurity in the country that has led to the death of members, appointments in government agencies in disregards to succession planning, compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries for the National Housing Fund, NHF, casualisation and contract staffing and unfair labour practice by companies and government agencies.

They also include termination of appointment of the Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary of the Association

by Total Exploration and Production, Total E&P, Nigeria Limited, retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, non-standardisation of

nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency, NNRA, in line with what is obtained in other agencies in the oil and gas industry, refusal of the management of Addax/ Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/Sudelletra to recall sacked staff.

Meanwhile, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, in Lagos advised the Federal Government to address the grievances of the oil workers immediately and save Nigerians from another round of fuel scarcity among other implications of the strike.

Leaders of TUC at a meeting of their National Executive Council, NEC, In a communiqué by the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, and Secretary General, Mr. Musa Lawal, warned that that the industrial action would cripple the economy and bring untold hardship to Nigerians were managing to cope under the current economic condition.

NUJ PRESS WEEK: From left; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kaduna State chapter, Yusuf Idris; MD, Nagarta Radio, Alhaji Yusuf Saulawa; Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State and the guest speaker, Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor, Festus Okoye at Kaduna NUJ press week, at Arewa House, Kaduna yesterday. Pic: Olu Ajayi.

Enugu Fiesta: Uwaifo, Chimezie, Paulson Kalu thrill fans today

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NUGU—THE city of Enugu comes alive today as legendary musicians entertain fans as part of the attractions in the ongoing Enugu Culture and Tourism Fiesta.

Code-named Old School night, the event which holds at Okpara Square, will feature music legends like Bright Chimezie, Victor Uwaifo, Paulson Kalu, Mike Ejeagha, Apostles, Johnny Nez, Ras Kimono, Sir Warrior band and One World who will take the audience down memory lane of yesteryears.

Also as part of the fiesta, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese in Enugu State, Rev. (Prof) Godfrey Onah has called on religious bodies, educational institutions and other organizations and personalities to take all necessary steps to promote Igbo language.

He made this recommendation in a paper he presented in flawless Igbo language before a packed audience in Enugu where he said it was regrettable that ''Some people even perceive our tradition and culture as inferior to foreign ones. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Igbo language does not go into extinction as had been predicted.''

Thugs invade Ebonyi Assembly, batter, lock out members

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BAKALIKI—THE political crisis in Ebonyi State shifted to the House of Assembly yesterday, leading to

invasion of the Assembly complex by more than 300 thugs, who allegedly beat up House leader, Sam Nwali and

others, preventing them from entering the chambers.

Those allegedly locked out and assaulted by the thugs include;

Jimi Agbaje, best man for Lagos — GROUP

By Ikenna Asomba

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HEAD of 2015 governorship election in Lagos State, a sociopolitical group, the Eko Initiative, EI, yesterday, threw its weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flag-bearer, Jimi Agbaje, saying he remained the best candidate to take Lagos to the next level.

In a statement, coordinator of the group, Mr. Sumbo

Onitiri, said the emergence of Akinwunmi Ambode as the flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had reduced the governorship contest to a two-horse race, insisting that Agbaje would give the ruling party APC, a run for its money.

He said: “Following the emergence of Akinwunmi Ambode, as the candidate of the APC, and Jimi Agbaje as the candidate of PDP, there is

no doubt that Agbaje is the only candidate that can wrest power from the APC, which has been ruling the state since 1999, thus putting an end to the Tinubu dynasty.

“Agbaje has already been given the nod by representatives of 12 political parties in the state, who have closed ranks with PDP and the EKO Initiatives to adopt him as their candidate. With this adoption, we believe that Agbaje is the right choice for Lagosians.”

Deputy Speaker, Blaise Orji, Chief Whip, Kingsley Ikoro and nine others, belonging to a faction of the House.

While the commotion was going on outside the chambers, the faction of the House led b y the Speaker, Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku was sitting within the chambers, where they reversed the sacking of some Assembly Staff by the state government, reiterating their objection to N15 billion bond applied for by the state government (which they had earlier approved before the crisis started), and extended the suspension on two lawmakersKingsley Ikoeo and Oliver Nwachukwu.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Maigari Dikko, who arrived the scene of the commotion with reinforcement of policemen,

ordered the arrest over 100 of the hoodlums, and whisked them away in hilux vans to the state police command.

Reacting to the development, two of the lawmakers locked outside, Eni Uduma and the Deputy Speaker, Orji, alleged that their faction, who arrived the Assembly complex were frisked by policemen at the entrance gate before being allowed into the premises but on getting to the complex, another set of policemen prevented them from entering the chambers.

They alleged that it was at that point that the thugs descended on.

The Speaker, Nwazunku, Frank Onwe and Odefa Obasi Odefa, denied that the other lawmakers were not invited for the sitting and that they were blocked by thugs.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 57

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Even without NHIS Bill, HMOs will deliver — UKIRI Stories by Sola Ogundipe

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S the nation awaits passage of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Bill into law, a healthcare manager, Adesimbo Ukiri, has admonished key stakeholders to be more customer-focused, develop consumer insights and introduce health plans that speak to the different needs of the nations’ teeming population.

Ukiri, who is Managing Director/ CEO, Avon Healthcare Limited, asserted: “With or without passage of the NHIS bill, HMOs can convert Nigerians from making often unaffordable out-of- pocket payments to meet their healthcare needs.

Subscribing to a health plan is the most cost effective way to have financial access to quality healthcare services and Nigerians need to be made aware of this.”

Speaking at a roundtable on healthcare financing, she acknowledged that whilst legislation remains key to achieving Universal Health Coverage, a lot can still be achieved in terms of improving penetration levels even ahead of the promulgation of the NHIS bill into law.

She stressed that there is a lot that the industry can do to create awareness and sensitise the public to the benefits

•L-R: Christofer Fuchs, Associate Director R&D Baby Care Europe Middle East and Africa, P&G; Dakore Egbuson Akande, Nollywood actress; Iphie Chuks-Adizue, Brand Manager, Pampers and Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, Nollywood actress at the launch of the newly improved Pampers Baby-Dry held at the Pampers Manufacturing Plant, Agbara, Ogun state last week.

Pampers Baby-Dry diaper debuts

Nutrition website debuts in Nigeria

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HE new improved Pampers BabyDry diaper has debuted from the stable of Procter & Gamble, Nigeria.

During the launch at the company’s N 4.8 billion manufacturing plant in Agbara, Ogun state, Christofer Fuchs, Associate Director, R&D Baby Care Europe Middle East and Africa, P&G, said the new Pampers diaper is borne out of extensive research and development.

“The latest improvement to our Pampers diapers is the new stretchy sides. We understand that babies’ tummy expands as much as 8cm during the night. This makes diapers loosen and leakage occurs. With our new stretch feature, Pampers expands and relaxes with the baby’s tummy, thereby efficiently preventing leakages. In addition, the super gel in the diaper locks wetness away better than ordinary diapers, keeping the baby comfortable all night”, Christofer added.

Iphie Chuks-Adizue, Brand Manager Pampers Nigeria said, “more than 50 million babies experience the comfort and dryness of Pampers every year worldwide, so with our latest improvement, Pampers Baby-Dry which is similar to our UK offering, provides superior dryness for our babies and adapts to the baby’s shape and movements for a good night’s sleep and a great next morning. One Pampers diaper is guaranteed to keep your baby dry throughout the night”.

Reacting to the product demonstrations at the launch, popular Actress and mother, Dakore EgbusonAkande said: “P&G has absolutely outdone itself this time. I must confess that this new Pampers beats my expectations. Having used the product for my baby, I encourage all mothers to try it, because it is truly effective at keeping my baby dry and comfortable”.

of subscribing to a health insurance plan with licensed HMOs. “If we want to achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage, scaling up enrolment is imperative. However HMOs should not just rely on passing of the NHIS Bill which will make subscription to a health plan mandatory. “We should also task ourselves to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians, convincing them that it is in their best interest to subscribe to a health plan. Let’s challenge ourselves to develop different options and propositions with respect to health plans and products that speak to the needs of different market segments and consumer base within the country,” she remarked.

Further, Ukiri said creation of alternative channels of subscription and enrolment that are easy, convenient and pervasive will provide additional opportunities to drive up coverage on a massive scale. “No matter the income bracket, social class, geographical location, everyone will benefit from subscribing to a health plan. With the majority of spending of healthcare coming directly from out of pocket, it is important that this trend is reversed. We, as HMOs, must stand up to this challenge and bring Nigeria at par to the rest of the developed world.”

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•L-R: Dr. Esther Somefun of Action Health, Mr. Sidhartha Samal Ranona Limited, Mrs. Ibironke Alabi of Human Resorces ( HR), Olam Nigeria , a nurse at the LUTH, Bridget Famakin at the Olam WAD campaign that took place at Ranona Limited Isolo, Lagos State

OLAM provides HIV education, free screening for 2,000

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N line with the 2014 theme for the World AIDS Day, “Close the Gap’’, OLAM Nigeria provided free health education and screening for over 2,000 staff in Lagos and Cross River States.

In Lagos, the company provided health education as well as HIV Counselling and Testing for its distributors and retailers in Ojuwoye Market Mushin and residents of its surrounding communities.

Olam staff at Ranona Limited,Isolo, were provided adequate information on the importance of knowing their status and practicing the ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, Condom use) formula to a healthy sexual life. Information was also provided about ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) and confidential voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing by trained testers was made

available. About 400 persons were screened and counselled for HIV free of charge.

In Cross River State, an HIV awareness programme was held for over 500 students of Northern Abanyom Comprehensive Secondary School, Better Life Famers Group and other members of Etikpe Community, in Ikom Local Government.

After the awareness raising session on World AIDS Day itself; 35 students at the School nominated as Community Ambassadors will go on to receive additional training to equip them with the skills needed to deliver peer counseling to their fellow students.

The Community Ambassadors’ activities will impact not only their fellow students but their families and the surrounding cocoa farming communities.

nutrition website and new tool in the fight to drive proper nutrition in the family is now available to Nigerian mothers. Launched by Horlicks, from the stable of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc in collaboration with the Federation of Africa Nutrition Societies, FANUS, the website designed to provide nutritional information essential to Nigerians and Africans at large.

Presenting the new uniquely designed website, GSK’s Global Expert Nutrition Manager, Mrs Jaya Mathai, said the Africa family nutrition website is a complete nutritional care guide for all African families.

“This new website provides comprehensive articles on various aspects of family’s lifestyle including nutrition, health and physical fitness amongst others.

We understand the importance of proper nutrition and the challenges involved in getting authoritative information on subjects related to nutrition, hence the need for a website to cater to this need. The website provides all Africans with detailed information on nutrition alongside other issues of family life. The new site is simply designed as an African mother’s first stop for information.

An additional feature on the website is the utility calculator which provides an insight on an individual’s state of health.

Senior Brand Manager, Horlicks, Mrs. Bimpe Osanyintuyi, said: GSK Consumer’s mission is to improve the quality of human lives by helping people to do more, feel better and live longer- all of which this new nutritional website depicts. The website therefore contains comprehensive articles on nutritional health issues which we believe will improve the lives and health of our consumers.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 59

60—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Mirabel Centre Goodwill Ambassadors emerge against gender violence and security.

By Chioma Obinna

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HE fight against gender-based violence received a boost recently in Lagos as Mirabel Centre, a sexual Assault Referral Centre, unveiled celebrities as Goodwill Ambassadors against gender – violence.

This is coming on the heels of rising trends of violence against women and girl child all over the world. The unveiling ceremony held during a recent workshop organised in Lagos by the United Kingdom Department For International Development, DFID, funded Justice for All , J4A, programme in collaboration with the Lagos State government, Partnership for Justice and Women Aid Collective, WACOL. Presenting the Goodwill Ambassadors, the Managing Partner, Partnership for Justice, and Executive Director, Lagos Mirabel Centre, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba, explained that the Goodwill Ambassadors was created to strengthen the campaign against gender –violence as well as give voices to the voiceless.

She listed pressure from perpetrators against seeking for justice, police’s preference for settling cases and demand for money from clients, inability to access hospital services outside working hours, among others.

Among celebrities unveiled at the workshop with the theme, “A Coordinated Approach to Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Lagos State included Ice Prince, Bimbo Akintola, Bez Idakunle, Koffi Tha Guru, Remi Diagbare, Wana Udobang and Miss Century Nigeria, and Queen Uba.

Mirabel Centre has within its establishment provided medical and counselling services to 361 victims of sexual violence; including 220 under the age of 18 and that the alleged perpetrators in 25 cases have been charged to court.

Eze-Anaba called for collaborative efforts to reduce the incidence of Sexual and Sexual Gender-based Violence in the country as well as funding from other organisations in Nigeria as J4A funding will stop in 2015.

Speaking, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola, who was represented by Dr. Olubi Abimbola, noted the importance of gender-based violence adding that, “Gender-based violence is a global pandemic.” Fashola while pointing out that women and girls are the most vulnerable to gender-based violence added that, the act could be stamped out through education, empowerment, equality, justice

On his part, National Programme Coordinator for J4A, Bob Arnot, called for sustainable impacts of the activities of the various stakeholders to ensure that they are replicated in other states in the country.

The Lagos Mirabel Centre is the first Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, in Nigeria and the Tamar Centre in Enugu, providing remedial counselling services to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

The Attorney General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, stated: “We have always been in the forefront of rights protection, law reform and law enforcement, initiating positive trends for the rest of the country. It is therefore imperative for the state government to take action against these crimes so as to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors,” he stated.

• L-R: Mirabel Goodwill Ambassadores for gender based violence, Ice Prince, Music Artist; Queen Ubah, Nigerian Centenary Queen; Mrs. Itoro Eze Anaba, Managing Partner, Partnership For Justice; Bimbo Akintola, Nollywood Actress, Kofi, Comedian and Wana Udobang, Journalist and Writer during the unveiling recently in Lagos.

Malaria: Mortein unveils automatic insect control

By Gabriel Olawale

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N a renewed fight against malaria, Mortein from the stables of Reckitt Benckiser has introduced Mortein automatic insect control system made from natural extracts. At launch in Lagos, Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Silivrili represented by the Head, Trade Marketing, Mr. Emmanuel Ugwuanyi said development of the new product was informed by the need to stem the prevalence of malaria in the country and Africa in general.

Silivrili said the new variant is expected to last up to four weeks with more than 2,000 bursts of sprays that ooze out at regular interval of 15 minutes provide continuous protection against crawling and flying insects.

“Malaria can be eliminated in Nigeria.

This is the philosophy behind the launch of the new Mortein automatic insect control system. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria, providing a convenient and preventive option against malaria without electricity, this product is safe to use when the room is properly ventilated and is available at a cost of N2000 for the complete set and N1100 for the refill pack across stores nationwide,” he sta ted Further, Silivrili said strategic partnership had been made with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, the lead agency of the Federal Ministry of Health on the elimination of malaria, and with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and other relevant government bodies.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO sir, good day. I have an extreme case of premature ejaculation. On several occasions, just while kissing a girl, I will wet my trousers. You cannot even begin to imagine how embarrassing this has been for me. So I don’t have a girlfriend and I find it difficult to befriend women. A friend told me about you people so I am putting all my hopes on you. I really need your help. Thanks – Philip Dear Philip, your experience of extreme quick ejaculation is not unheard of and happens a lot to single men who are not sexually active. This type of quick ejaculation shares certain similarities with men’s wet dreams. In both cases, there is an overload of built up semen due to sexual inactivity and hence the quick trigger of ejaculation. A lot of us had similar experiences many years ago when we were younger. As soon as you get into a steady relationship where sex is frequent, this experience will stop. For now it can only be managed in the following ways. If you are going to be intimate with a girl on a certain day, it helps if you masturbate once or twice, just before intimacy. What this does is that it eliminates the nervousness of intimacy and buys your body some time before semen is produced again. Unlike women who can have multiple orgasms within a five minute period, a man’s body requires a longer time to produce and refill semen after ejaculation. So if you masturbate minutes before a sexual encounter, you will not experience quick ejaculation soon after because there isn’t enough semen to ejaculate yet.

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There are lots of Masturbators and love dolls today designed to enable men get sexual relief in situations like yours. Toys such as the Real Skin Latin Masturbator will help give you some satisfaction so you don’t have to cheat. However, living in different cities is a bad idea and never works well. Look for a way that you can both live in the same town – Uche My husband has problems with weak erection and premature ejaculation. He is really trying his best to make me happy but the problem is still there. I was told that you can help him - Ifeoma Your husband needs an erection enhancing supplement and an ejaculation delay cream. He should take Hard Times. It is a fast acting, natural herbal supplement that will give him hard erections and the stamina to perform multiple times. One capsule works for days. For his premature ejaculation, he should use Gladiator Power Cream – Uche I have started using that Liquid Sex Instant Penis Enlarger. Nice product. Thanks - Niyi You are welcome. That’s it for this week. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. You can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 to order or you can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are.

For enquiries, email custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 61

City v Barca: Enrique tips Messi to top Aguero B

ARCELONA boss Luis Enrique wouldn’t swap any player for Lionel Messi.

The Barca coach was quizzed for his thoughts on Sergio Aguero, the City’s Argentine striker has been in superb form this season, scoring 19 goals in 20 games before injuring himself in the win over Everton.

It is a record to draw comparisons with his countryman Messi, who has 21 in 21 for Barcelona.

While Enrique rates Aguero highly, he is confident he has the best Argentina forward, indeed the best player in the world.

“He’s probably up there in the top ten or so players” Enrique said.

“But for me the number

Arsenal glad with Monaco draw

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*Messi one is Leo Messi. Everyone else comes after him.

“If we’re on form, we are good enough to cope with any competition. I always think positively, and I know we are quite capable of getting through the round against Manchester City.”

*Aguero

PSG v Chelsea: “Mourinho wanted French giants”

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OSE Mourinho wanted to draw Paris St Germain in the Champions League last 16, according to club secretary David Barnard.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Barnard said:

“Obviously PSG are known to us because we played them in the quarter-finals last year “I know that Jose said before the draw that he would like to see PSG for our supporters because

of the travel arrangements and the logistics, and he was right.

“I think both teams now have totally different teams to last year and it’s a one-off situation."

RSENAL secretary David Miles insists his side will not take Monaco lightly as the French outfit have ‘earned the right’ to be in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“We are delighted to be here when you consider its 17 consecutive years in the Champions League it’s a fantastic achievement for Arsene Wenger and the players.

We are very much looking forward to the game and being at the top table of European football ‘We have picked some of the biggest teams in Europe over the last five years. We aren’t taking anything for granted, Monaco have earned the right to be here.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Top African music acts to dazzle at Glo CAF Awards T

OP music acts from across the African continent will dazzle guests, VIPs and members of the football community at the forthcoming 2014 Glo-CAF Awards scheduled to hold in Lagos on January 8, 2015.

The top acts expected to do their stuff at the high octane continental event are Congo DRC’s multiple award-winning song writer, singer and guitarist, Fally Ipupa; global Jazz icon, Hugh Masekela from South Africa and Egyptian folk singer and the first person from an Arab country to perform at a Nobel Prize ceremony, Hakim.

Other acts billed to perform at the show, which will be watched live all over the world, include the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa, sensational singing group, Uhuru; pan African group, Cirque D’Afrique and Tanzania’s prominent multiple award-winning singer, Diamond.

Some of the biggest stars in Nigeria will also light up the evening.

They include the wavemaking highlife artiste, Flavour; Hip hop sensations, P-Square and Wande Coal; Afrobeat icon, Lagbaja and one of Nigeria’s most prominent female singers Omawumi.

All of these top musicians cum entertainers are also Globacom Ambassadors.

The event, touted as the Oscars of African Football, is held annually to celebrate the continent’s finest football stars. It attracts the biggest names in world sports, particularly football, as well as other spheres of life, such as business, politics and entertainment.

“It is a careful selection of music stars and highly decorated performers, whose songs are currently ruling the airwaves across the continent” said Mr. Ashok Israni, Globacom’s Regional Marketing Director, West Africa.

According to him, the stars are expected to take turns performing at different stages of the awards.

One of the highest points of the night for many fun lovers, especially Jazz lovers, would be the live performance of the legendary South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer, Hugh Masekela.

Taleveras Foundation partners NFF for coaches’ devt

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•From left: The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Ladi Balogun; former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai; President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Alhaji Rafiu Ladipo and another ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Aloy Agu, at the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer tournament which ended on Sunday.

NSCDC, Jaguar dominate Korean Ambassador’s Taekwondo Championships

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Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Tammy

Danagogo, who described Taekwondo as a sport with a lot of potential for

IGERIA Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Jaguar teams at the weekend ruled the 5th Korean Ambassador ’s T a e k w o n d o Championship.

NSCDC, the defending champion in the male category retained the title it won in 2013 after beating Oyo to the podium in the final while NSCDC female team could not repeat the feat of their male counterparts as they lost to Jaguar team at the three-day tournament held at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park in Lagos.

In the presence of the Minister of Sports/

HE much anticipated second edition of Benin Chess Tournament began yesterday at the indoor sports hall, Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City. The tournament will end December 19th.

Tournament director, Princess Omoyemwen Adeyinka-Afolabi confirmed that top chess players from across the country are participating at the tournament that is being sponsored by Seven Up bottling company, with the support of Edo

•Continues on BP

City face Barca

is.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will play Monaco as manager Arsene Wenger goes up against his former employers.

Asked beforehand about the prospect of facing Monaco, whom he managed between 1987 and 1994 and who lie sixth in Ligue 1, Wenger said: ‘I’m not against it at all.

‘It would be a visit to my first home. Of course I would love to go there.’

In the other ties, Bayer Leverkusen take on last season’s runners-up Atletico Madrid and Juventus play Borussia Dortmund in a repeat of

the 1997 final.

Schalke meet defending champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich play Shakhtar Donetsk and Basle take on Porto.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was quick to respond to the draw, writing on Twitter: ‘Monaco! I’m sure our fans will enjoy the away trip... great place, great draw!’

Club secretary David Miles added on Sky Sports News HQ: ‘We’ve picked some of the biggest teams in Europe over the last five years but we’re certainly not taking anything for granted, Monaco have earned the right to be here.

Benin Chess tourney begins

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State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Mobilization, Edo State Sports Council and many other corporate bodies.

She revealed that over two hundred chess players from across the country are competing in six categories.

Tagged “Oba’s Cup” the tournament is being organised by the Nigeria Chess Federation in collaboration with Sports Colony International as well as Edo State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Mobilization.

‘It’s the first time we’ve played Monaco in a competitive match so I’m sure Arsene will be delighted at going back to one of his former teams.’

The other two ties also bring connections and City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain, a former Barca player and director, said: ‘I will take the time to visit family, friends, I have a lot of friends there at the club.’

He labelled the draw itself ‘unbelievable’, adding: ‘Every tie’s the same, we had Bayern Munich and CSKA Moscow in the group phase, and now we have to deal again with Barcelona.

Nigeria at international tournaments, NSCDC were at their best to clinch the coveted trophy.

F/Eagles •Continues on BP Ghana.

The 2015 AYC will be staged by Senegal between March 8 and 22.

“The target for the team is to win the AYC and so qualify for the World Cup in New Zealand as the best team in Africa,” declared Manu.

“We want to be champions again and we want to do this in style.

“We know it won’t be easy, but we are working very hard to achieve this target.”

The AYC draw will be conducted in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday.

Elite refs •Continues on BP Tope Orowole, said they were very grateful to NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and Senforce Insurannce Limited for packaging the capacity building programme, and that they have gained a lot professionally.

“We are full of appreciation to the NFF President and the Board as a whole for the sponsorship that was brokered and the general arrangement that was so flawless. We benefitted a lot in terms of capacity

ALEVERAS Foundation has hailed the Nigeria Football Federation for the opportunity to partner with it in the building of a Technical Performance Team around the National Teams, starting with the sponsorship of 17 qualified persons for a three –week match – reading technique and backroom analysis exercise in the United Kingdom next month.

At a brief ceremony consummating the relationship, in Abuja on Monday, Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Igho Sanomi identified the development of technical persons as very key to turning around the fortunes of the Nigeria game for the better.

As part of the team’s build-up for Senegal 2015, they will play another test game against Ace Academy of Kaduna Wednesday morning at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

They have also lined up another test game against YSFON national selection at the same venue on Friday.

They beat Jamba Academy 4-1 and Standard FC of Zaria 120 in their first two training games.

The Nigeria U20s will break for the Christmas on Saturday and reopen training camp in Kaduna on December 27. enhancement and this will certainly reflect in our performance in the coming season.

“Now that one of our own Peter Edibe has been appointed to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, we believe it is the beginning of many good things to happen to Nigerian refereeing.”

Edibe’s appointment comes as NFF President Amaju Pinnick insisted that his focus remains seeing Nigerian referees officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and other global championships.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

F/Eagles ‘ll go to World Cup as champions — Manu N

IGERIA U20 coach Manu Garba has said he wants his team to qualify for

the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand as African champions.

The Flying Eagles

City face Barca, Chelsea get PSG

have already won the African Youth Championship a record six times with their last triumph being in 2011.

In 2013 in Algeria, they finished as thirdbest team at the AYC behind champions Egypt and runners-up

•Continues on page 62

Elite refs back from England, Edibe heads to Malabo

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M

ANCHESTER City will once again face Barcelona in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after

TODAY'S

the draw in Nyon.

The Catalan side eliminated Manuel Pellegrini’s team at the same stage last season, win-

PUZZLE

ning 4-1 on aggregate.

Chelsea were paired with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain as David Luiz comes up

against his former club.

The Blues overcame the French side in last season’s quarter-finals,

prevailing on away goals after a 2-0 home win followed a 3-1 loss in Par

IGERIA’S elite referees returned from a two –week capacity enhancing programme in England on Sunday, expressing deep appreciation to the Board of Nigeria Football Federation for the exercise.

Their return coincided with the appointment, by the Confederation of African Football, of top Nigerian assistant referee Peter Edibe to officiate at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Equatorial Guinea early next year.

One of the referees,

•Continues on page 62

•Continues on page 62

QUICK CROSSWORD

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Floor-covering (6) 5 Holy (6) 9 Inheritance (5) 10 Bird (6) 11 Flinched (6) 12 Called (5) 14 Dross (4) 17 Youth (3) 18 Present (4) 20 Consumed (5) 22 Assessed (5) 23 Turned (7) 24 Whiskers (5) 26 Postpone (5) 29 Whirlpool (4) 30 Crowd (3) 32 Only (4) 33 Wall-painting (5) 35 Loathsome (6) 36 Burden (6) 37 Principle (5) 38 Smoothed (6) 39 Wreckage (6)

DOWN: 1 Fold (6) 2 Stew (6) 3 Paradise (4) 4 Sum (5) 5 Stitched (5) 6 Parched (4) 7 Firework (6) 8 Evaded (6) 13 Bullfighter (7) 15 Trapped (5) 16 Blithe (5) 18 Hell (5) 19 Spree (5) 21 Bow (3) 22 Colour (3) 24 Suit (6) 25 Worship (6) 27 Cattle-food (6) 28 Niche (6) 30 Pondered (5) 31 Founded (5) 33 Silent (4) 34 Tardy (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Saved 7, Hector 9, Bad 10, Did 12, Folly 13, Seep 15, Deter 17, Serene 19, Earl 20, Lasso 22, Ill 24, Tangled 27, Mar 28, Needy 31, Miss 33, Master 35, Teeth 37, Pawn 38, Ouzel 39, Eel 41, Eat 42, Delete 43, Yearn.

DOWN: 1, Chisel 2, Access 3, God 4, Save 5, Adore 6, Enlarged 8, Ride 11, Denigrate 14, Pest 16, Tell 18, Roam 21, Altitude 23, Lent 25, Name 26, Deep 29, Eraser 30, Yanked 32, Steer 34, Shed 36, Elan 40, Lea.

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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