...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 61990

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013**

Mr & Mrs

Cease fire, Jonathantells Agagu, Ondo govt•Says FG has ordered thorough investigation into cause of crash•Feyi Agagu, Femi Akinsanya flown out

ASUU STRIKE:FG commences ‘nowork, no pay'

Continues on page 5

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE &DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE – PRESIDENT Goodluck

Jonathan, yesterday,called for cease fire on thepart of the Ondo Stategovernment and the fam-ily of former GovernorOlusegun Agagu on theblame game over whohired the ill fated aircraft.

The President spokethrough Culture andTourism Minister, EdemDuke, who led a FederalGovernment delegation

COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

•P.47

Baraje's nPDP suffersdefeat against Tukur-led PDPin court, INEC 15

Lar preparedfor death,says aide

42

OVERSIGHT: President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo with members of the House of RepresentativesCommittee on Special Duties after their oversight function visit to the State House yesterday.

PHCN Assets:What next after privatization ofPHCN assets?— By Atedo N.A. Peterside

CRASH LATEST:

Delta kidnappersto die by hanging 6

•More tributespour in

8

US govt shutdown'll affectNigeria unless....—Okonjo Iweala, IMF boss

28

8

CMYK

2— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—3

CMYK

4— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

CMYK

POCKET CARTOON

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—5

LIFEWORDSBY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be fearedthan a wild beast; a wild beast may wound yourbody, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

Cease fire, Jonathan tells Agagu, Ondo govt

COMPASSION also brings us into the territory of mystery encouraging us not just to

see beauty, but perhaps also to look for the face ofGod in the moment of challenges, in the face of astranger, in the face of another being — KristaTippett

Krista Tippett also says that compassion can besynonymous with empathy. It can be joined with theharder work of forgiveness and reconciliation, butit can also express itself in the simple act of presence.It’s linked to practical virtues like generosity andhospitality and just being there, just showing up. Ithink that compassion also is often linked to beauty- and by that I mean a willingness to see beautyand goodness in others.

I’m not sure if I can show you what tolerance lookslike, she says, but I can show you what compassionlooks like - because it is visible. When we see it, werecognize it and it changes the way we think aboutwhat is doable, what is possible. It is so importantwhen we’re communicating big ideas - but espe-cially a big spiritual idea like compassion - to rootit as we present it to others in space and time andmatter.

Leo Buscaglia sums it beautifully: “Too often weunderestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kindword, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or thesmallest act of caring, all of which have the poten-tial to turn a life around.

L-r: Benin National Oder Chancel, Mrs Koubourath Osseni, Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mr.Lawrence Obisakin, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote during Dangote’s decoration as Grand Commernder of the NationalOrder of The Republic of Benin, by the President of Benin Republic, Dr. Boni Yayi

on a condolence visit toChief Olu Falae over thedeath of his son, Deji, inthe plane that crashed aweek ago.

The plane was convey-ing the remains of theformer Governor Oluseg-un Agagu to Ondo Statefor burial when it crashedand killed 16 passengers.Deji until his death wasCulture and TourismCommissioner in OndoState.

The Federal Govern-ment delegation includethe Communication Tech-

nology Minister, Mrs.Omobola Johnson, Direc-tor-General of TechnologyCorps, Dr. Pius Osunyi-kanmi, and Director, Cul-ture, Tourism and Nation-al Orientation, GeorgeUffot.

President Jonathanasked the governmentand the family of the de-ceased to stop dissipatingenergy on who hired thecrashed aircraft duringthe preparation to give DrAgagu a befitting burial.

He said: “We shouldstop dissipating energy bypassing blames now. An

occurrence like this is notwhat we pray to see againin this country. This is nota loss only to Ondo Statebut to the whole country.What we should be con-cerned about now is howto develop the aviation in-dustry and ensure such abad occurrence does notrepeat itself.”

FG orders thoroughinvestigation

The president said theFederal Government hasordered a thorough inves-tigation into the cause(s)of the plane crash andthis will help to improvethe quality of services inthe industry. On Deji(Falae), PresidentJonathan said words wereinadequate to describe the“monumental loss of thisbright light whom provi-dence took away,” addingthat he was leadershipmaterial.

The President who ex-pressed his condolence,that of the Federal Exec-utive Council, FEC, andthat of the country, prayedthat God will grant themthe fortitude to bear theirreparable loss of “thisstar”.

He said,“As a leader, abridge-builder in thiscountry, the sacrifice isheavy but we want you tobear it with magnanimity;God knows best."

Responding, ChiefFalae who spoke throughhis eldest son, Dapo, saidthough Deji lived a shortlife but his life impactedhis generation. He said“We are humbled andproud that Deji lived afulfilled life going by theoutpouring of testimoniesof his character, humilityand generosity by col-leagues, friends and sup-

porters."

Feyi Agagu, Akinsanyaflown out

Meanwhile, followinghis discharge from theLagos University Teach-ing Hospital, LASUTH,Feyi Agagu, son of thelate former Governor ofOndo State, may havebeen flown abroad for fur-ther treatment. Feyi is be-lieved to have been flownout on Wednesday nightto an undisclosed hospi-tal in London alongsideFemi Akinsanya.

Strong indications hademerged earlier in theweek that the duo werelikely to be discharged af-ter series of requests for

discharge for further treat-ment abroad.

It was gathered that theLASUTH managementeventually granted thedischarge after certifyingthem fit to travel.

Prior to their discharge,the duo, who survived theOctober 3 Associated Air-lines plane crash, werebeing observed at the pri-vate BT Complex Ward ofthe health institution.

Although hospitalauthorities kept sealedlips over the development,it was reliably gatheredthat the Agagu familymight have requested forthe discharge and takenthe decision to fly themabroad for better healthmanagement, but waskeeping it close to its chestin view of the series ofcontroversies trailing theplane crash.

Efforts to get a confirma-tion about the dischargefrom the hospital manage-ment were unfruitful as noofficial position was de-

Continues from page 1

clared. Sources confirmedthat Feyi and Akinsanyahad been in relatively sta-ble condition up tillWednesday.

A doctor who pleadedanonymity however ex-pressed shock at the newsthat Feyi and Femi hadbeen flown abroad.

“I saw Feyi on Wednes-day and I’m shocked atthe news that he mighthave been taken abroad.Feyi’s condition was themost stable. As far as I’mconcerned, he had nocause to be have beenflown abroad for furthertreatment except perhapsjust to go and rest.”

Earlier, it was gatheredthat five survivors of thecrash were receivingtreatment at three hospi-tals in the state. A seniormedical personnel at LA-SUTH told Vanguard :“There are three survivorsat LASUTH, one atGbagada General Hospi-tal and one at the AirForce Hoispital, Ikeja. Allof them are in fairly stablecondition,” he noted.

ABUJA—Chairman ofthe Nigerian Chris-

tian Pilgrim Commission,NCPC, Most Revd. Nicho-las Okoh, has led technicalexperts to Istanbul, Turkeyto inspect the approved air-craft that will fly intendingpilgrims to Israel, Rome andGreece for the 2013 Chris-tian Pilgrimage operations.

Also security operativesdeployed to accompany pil-grims for this year’s Chris-tian pilgrimage to Jerusa-lem, in Israel have beenurged to ensure theachievement of their man-date.

A statement in Abuja said,members of the inspectionteam inspected the two aifr-craft, Airbus A330 - 300 with387 passenger capacityseats, with 12 Business classeach with eight toilets, man-

2013 Christian Pilgrimage: NCPCinspects carrier aircraftBY VICTORIA OJEME ufactured in February and

November, 1996.According to the state-

ment, “the aircraft also haveentailment systems whichare in perfect condition;they are very clean witheight exit points. Membersof the inspection teamequally visited the FoodCentre which is calledSANCLA where theyworked on the menu beingprepared for intending pil-grims. The members weresatisfied with the arrange-ments on ground at the foodcentre; they made their ob-servations and ensure thatthe foods are well packagedby the Airline.”

Other members of the in-spection team to Istanbulinclude the Executive Sec-retary, Mr. John KennedyOpara, Senate CommitteeChairman on Foreign Af-fairs, Senator Matthew

Nwagu, Hon. MatthewOmegwara and Hon. Em-manuel. The inspectionteam also includes threetechnical officials of the Ni-gerian Civil Aviation Au-thority, NCAA.

Atlasjet of Turkey was se-lected as the official airlinefor the 2013 Christian Pil-grimage operations havingsuccessfully emergedthrough open bidding pro-cess and having been ap-proved by the President fol-lowing the recommenda-tions of the NCPC.

The Atlasjet Airline hadearlier in the year signedthe Air Carrier Agreementwith the Commission fol-lowing their selection to air-lift Nigerian Pilgrims to theHoly Land this year. Theairlift of intending pilgrimsto the Holy Land will com-mence on October 19, 2013.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Delta magistrate's kidnappersto die by hanging

GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION: Pupils at the launch of 2013/2014 state wide enrolment drive campaign on girl-chArea, Bauchi State, yesterday. INSET: Alhaji Abdullahi Dabo, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Universasenting school bag and books to Khadija Sani, during the launch. NAN PHOTOS.

Suspected cow thieves kill family of 9

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

ASABA— AN Asaba HighCourt, yesterday, sen-

tenced two persons to death byhanging, having found themguilty of kidnapping and rob-bing a female magistrate atgunpoint on Boxing Day twoyears ago.

The convicted persons, SaiduHaruna and Raphael Egwuba,who claimed to be phone tech-nicians and welder at Osubi,respectively, were arraigned ona three-count charge of con-spiracy to commit kidnapping,kidnapping and armed robberyon charge no A/37C/2012.

Prosecution told the court thatthe female magistrate was, onDecember 26, 2011, drivinginto her compound at noon,when the armed men abductedher.

She was eventually taken toa bush where they dispos-sessed her of valuables, includ-ing an ATM card, which theconvicts used to withdraw anundisclosed amount beforethey were caught.

TrialDuring trial, prosecution

called two witnesses, includingthe victim (female magistrate),to prove its case and also ten-dered some exhibits before thecourt, including the magis-trate’s Blackberry phone,which eventually helped intracking the convicts.

Identification parades werealso conducted at the office ofthe Department of State Serv-ices, DSS, and in the opencourt, where the victim identi-fied them.

The trial judge (identity with-held) in passing the sentenceyesterday, said: “I disbelievethe evidence of the first andsecond accused persons astheir testimonies were full ofcontradictions and meant tocover their tracks.

“From the totality of the evi-dence before this court, I holdthat the first and second ac-cused persons were involvedin the kidnapping and robbingof one Onoriode YvonneAsheshe of her Honda PilotSUV, ATM card, jewelries andBlackBerry phone, whilearmed with a gun.

“I hold that prosecution hasproved ingredients of countsone, two and three against theaccused beyond reasonabledoubt.

“For count three (armed rob-bery), I hereby sentence the ac-cused persons for execution byhanging on the neck until theybe dead. May God have mercyon their souls.”

Nursing mother,another remanded

Meantime, an Asaba chief

magistrate’s court presidedover by Chief Magistrate S. C.Okebu, has remanded two per-sons, including a nursingmother, who were arrested inAsaba for allegedly operatinga patent medicine store with-out license, in prison custody.

The two accused persons,Mrs Juliet Ekhomu and oneMr. Emeka Oburah, upon ar-raignment before the court,were ordered to be remandedand prosecution asked to du-plicate file and send to the Di-rector of Public Prosecution,DPP, for necessary legal advice.

Prosecution told the courtthat the “offence was contrary

to Section 2 (1)(b) and pun-ishable under Section 3(1)(b)of the counterfeit and fakedrugs and unwholesome Proc-essed Foods (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act, Cap C34, Vol-ume 4, Laws of the Federationof Nigeria, 2004.”

Some of the drugs allegedlyseized and recovered fromtheir respective shops inAsaba, included several bot-tles and packets of high pro-file antibiotics: Zinat suspen-sion, augmentin tablets andsuspension, Zitromax,Ampiclox, Amoxil, Erythromy-cin, Misopresol andCiprofloxacilin amongst others.

JOS — NINE members of afamily were allegedly

killed in the early hours of yes-terday in Kukek village ofBarkin Kogi, Foron District inBarkin Ladi Local Govern-ment Area of Plateau State.

Suspected Fulani cow rus-tlers were said to have at-tempted to steal cows belong-ing to one Baba Tsok Gwom,the victim, whose entire fam-ily members were wiped out.

According to a source in thevillage, the suspected Fulani

men killed the family of ninewith guns and machetes.

The source said the rustlerswere about leaving with thecows when the villagers sawthem and mobilised to attack.12 of the Fulani men weresaid to have been killed.

Meanwhile, the state’sCommissioner for Informa-tion, Yiljap Abraham and theInterim Administrator ofBarkin Ladi Local Govern-ment, Mr. Habila Dung, saidthey heard about the attack,but could not give details asthey were on their way to thescene.

Dung said: “I received a dis-tress call about the attack andI have immediately alerted se-curity agents. I am also on myway to the scene and will talkto you when I am back.”

However, Special TaskForce, STF, and the State Po-lice Command did not confirmthe story because STF’sspokesman, Captain SalisuMustapha was said to beaway.

Police Public Relations Of-ficer, ASP Felicia Anselm, saidthe Police are in the village tosee things for themselves be-fore giving the true picture.

BY MARIE-THERESENANLONG

Driverdocked overN12m theft

BY ONOZUREDANIA

LAGOS— A 36-year-old driver, Abayomi

Omojowo, was yesterdayarraigned before an Ikejamagistrate’s court over al-leged robbery of valu-ables worth N12 million.

Omojowo, who residesat 10, Akinde Street inIgando area of Lagos, isfacing a two-count chargebordering on conspiracyand robbery, preferredagainst him by the police.

Police Prosecutor, In-spector Roman Unuigbe,said the defendant andothers at large, conspiredto commit the alleged of-fence at 12.30a.m on July4, at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

Magistrate OlufunkeSule-Hamzat granted thedefendant bail in the sumof N200,000, with twosureties in like sum, andadjourned the case tillNovember 11.

Man, 25,remanded inprison forabduction

M A R A R A B A(NASARAWA

STATE)— A Grade 1 AreaCourt in Aso Pada inMararaba, NasarawaState has ordered oneDavid Monday, 25, to beremanded in Keffi Prisonon charges of abductionand attempted rape.

The presiding officer,Mr. Albert Maga, gavethe order after the PoliceProsecutor, Mr. FridayAdaji, prayed the court toorder that Monday be re-manded till October 24.

Maga then adjournedthe case to October 24 forhearing.

Earlier, Adaji told thecourt that one EstherPatrick of Aso inMararaba, lodged a com-plaint against the accusedon October 3 at the ‘A’Division Police Station,Mararaba.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—7

Plumber excretes 57 wraps of cocaine

hild education in Alkaleri Local Governmental Basic Education Board, SUBEB, pre-

BY TONY EDIKE

I was promised N300,000— SuspectBY DANIEL ETEGHE

LAGOS— OPERATIVES ofthe National Drug Law

Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,yesterday, arrested a 29-year-old plumber, Mr. OguOkechukwu, for unlawful im-portation of 945 grammes ofcocaine at MurtalaMuhammed International Air-port, MMIA, Lagos.

The suspect was appre-hended during the inwardscreening of passengers on anEtihad flight from Abu Dhabion arrival at the MurtalaMuhammed International Air-port with 57 wraps of cocaine

he allegedly rought in fromBrazil.

Speaking on the arrest,NDLEA Airport Commander,Hamza Umar, said the suspectingested a total of 57 wraps ofcocaine hidden in male con-doms.

He said “The suspect, OguOkechukwu, excreted 57wraps of powdery cocainepacked inside male condomsand sealed with cello-tape. Itis a dangerous practice be-cause many drug traffickers

have died as a result of leak-age in such wraps of narcot-ics.”

He further noted that thecase was under investigation.

Okechukwu, an indigene ofImo State, said that he waslured into drug trafficking be-cause of his inability to pay hisrent of 150,000 naira.

Okechukwu told investiga-tors: “I am a plumber. I ammarried with two children andmy wife just delivered oursecond baby. My problem was

how to pay my rent of 150,000naira.

“While looking for money, Iwas introduced to drug traf-ficking. They promised me300,000 naira if only I willbring the drug from Brazil.My travel expenses weresponsored.

“While in Brazil, I wasgiven 100 wraps of drugs toswallow but I could only take57 because it was my first timeand it was not easy to ingest.I feel very bad.”

Enugu demolishes Mountain of Fire &Miracles' church building

ENUGU— THE Mountainof Fire and Miracles Min-

istries, MFM, a popular churchin Enugu was, yesterday, de-molished by Enugu State Gov-ernment.

The large worship centre, lo-cated at the foot of the Zik Av-enue Bridge in Enugu Statecapital, was demolished after itwas said to be sitting illegallyon two plots of about 2,000square metres.

The pastors and members ofthe church, who were said tohave been praying for God’s in-tervention in the matter sincethe government declared its in-tention to demolish the build-ing last year, watched helplesslyas four bulldozers reduced theone-storey structure to rubble.

They rushed into the buildingand moved the church propertyto one side of the auditorium,pleading with the officials ofEnugu Capital Territory Devel-opment Authority, ECTDA, whowere supervising the demoli-tion, to spare the property.

Law enforcement agents, com-prising men of the Police Mo-

bile Force and the Nigerian Se-curity and Civil Defense Corps,NSCDC, prevented someyouths of the church from stop-ping ECTDA officials from de-molishing the structure. No ar-rests were made.

In courtEnugu government had de-

clared the building illegal, say-ing it was built along the Asatastream, allegedly violating thestate's town planning laws.

However, the church haddragged the state governmentto court and obtained an injunc-tion restraining governmentfrom demolishing the building.

But while the matter was incourt, government allocatedanother land to the church witha directive to the church lead-ers to relocate without delay.

The alternative allocation wassituated at Emeka Ebilla Av-enue off Agbani Road, but thechurch was said to be reluctantin relocating the popular wor-ship centre, insisting that gov-ernment must pay compensa-tion to enable it erect anotherbuilding at the new location.

Government, however, de-clined and reportedly gave thechurch some months to vacatethe building, which was there-after marked for demolition.

Why we can’trelocate— Pastor

A pastor of the church,Kennedy Udogaranya, saidthat the church and officials ofthe state's Ministry of Lands hadengaged in dialogue over theissue, but they were surprisedto see government officials withbulldozers yesterday.

He said that the churchcould not gain access to thenew land allocated to thembecause of the dispute be-tween Ngwo and Amechi peo-ple over the land.

He explained that thechurch had informed the gov-ernment of the difficulties in

relocating to the place andofficially requested for time toenable the two communitiessettle their differences overownership of the land.

The pastor said that thehaste with which the govern-ment demolished the buildinghad given the impression thatgovernment had other mo-tives for the demolition.

Udogaranya said eventhough government hadgiven them an alternative lo-cation, they should not beevicted in a hurry as thechurch would not conductservices on an undevelopedplot.

Government reactsA statement by the Commis-

sioner for Enugu Capital Ter-ritory Development Authority,Mr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede,yesterday, said governmentdemolished the structure be-cause “it was illegal and un-approved as an application forapproval was considered andrejected in March 2012.”

He said that the reasons forthe rejection of the applica-tion included “overbuilding ofthe property, with more than100 percent built upon, en-croaching into stream and roadreserves, construction outsidethe purpose of the property asthe area was designated forcommercial development andnot for institutional use.

“There was evidence of struc-tural instability. There was evi-dence of failure of some of thereinforced concrete elements atthe northern end of the base-ment area of the structure.”

“No responsible governmentwill stand and permit a predict-able catastrophe to befall itspeople .”

He said government had al-ready identified other struc-tures “which must be broughtdown to prevent any unsafecondition or illegal structurefrom remaining.”

Estate agent docked for N.2m fraud

LAGOS—THE police, yesterday in Lagos, arraigned a

57-year-old man, Ade Adetela,before an Abule-Egba magis-trate’s court on a one-countcharge of defrauding an accom-modation seeker of N210,000.

Adetela, an estate agent resi-dent at 4, Oluwalogbon St.,Abule Oko-Olaogun in OgunState, allegedly committed theoffence on July 12 at Oko-ObaRoad, Agege.

The prosecutor, InspectorRachael Williams, told the courtthat the accused collected themoney from one Mrs GraceOjile to secure accommodationfor her.

She said: “The accused ranaway and was caught when hewas about duping another per-son.”

Williams said that the allegedoffence contravened Section312 of the Criminal Law of La-gos State, 2011.

According to the law, a per-son found guilty of fraud canbe jailed for 15 years. The ac-cused, however, pleaded notguilty to the charge.

Following the plea, Magis-trate Tajudeen Elias grantedhim bail in the sum of N200,000with two sureties, and ad-journed the case till November13.

ABUJA— AN UpperArea Court in

Mararaba, NasarawaState, yesterday, sen-tenced a 27-year-oldbutcher, Mu’azu Lawali,to four years imprison-ment for raping a minor.

The presiding officer,Mr. Vincent Gwehemba,did not give the convictan option of fine.

The convict, who lives inAngwan Ganda Masaka,was arraigned for havingunlawful carnal knowl-edge of an 11-year-oldgirl.

The prosecutor, Inspec-tor Joseph Ahua, told thecourt that the matter wasreported by the victim’sparents at Masaka PoliceStation on October 4.

Ahua said the convictconfessed to committingthe offence, which contra-vened Section 283 of thePenal Code.

“Whoever has carnal in-tercourse against the or-der of nature with anyman, woman or animalshall be punished withimprisonment for a termwhich may extend to 14years and shall also be li-able to fine,” the PenalCode reads.

The accused, however,pleaded guilty to thecharge.

Butcherrapes11-yr-old girl

LAGOS— A 60-year-old man, Fatai Olaiya,

yesterday, appeared be-fore a Somolu magistrate’scourt, Lagos, for allegedmalicious damage of achurch building.

Olaiya, who resides at16, Oluwafere Street,Bariga, was arraigned ona two-count charge ofmalicious damage andbreach of public peace.

The prosecutor, ASPAkinlabi Adegoke, toldthe court that Olaiya, onSeptember 13, mobilisedeight unidentified menwho vandalised The Pil-lar of God Church at 2,Mabinuori Street, Bariga.

He said: “They em-ployed various equipmentand broke down the walls,smashed the windowsand then proceeded tovandalize all the musicalinstruments belonging tothe church, valued at N2.9million.”

60-yr-oldarraigned forvandalisingchurch

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

US shutdown 'll affect Nigeria unless...,say Okonjo-Iweala, IMF boss

BY OMOH GABRIEL & EMMAUJAH, WASHINGTON, D.C

FG stopssalaries ofstrikinglecturers

BY LAIDEAKINBOADE

SIGNING—From left: Mr Remi Oni, Head Client Coverage Wholesale Banking, StandardChartered Bank; Mr John Obi, Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Fidelity Bank Plcand Mr Herbert Wigwe, MD Access Bank Plc, during signing of an MOU with Total E&PNigeria Limited at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo: NwankpaChijioke.

WASHINGTON, US—THEpolitical logjam in the United

States which has forced partialgovernment shutdown over refusal ofthe legislature to review the debtceiling of the Barack Obamagovernment will directly affectNigeria's economy, unless the crisis isresolved immediately.

Co-ordinating Minister for theEconomy and Minister of Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as well as theManaging Director of theInternational Monetary Fund, MsChristine Lagarde, gave the warningat separate briefings at the on-goingannual meetings of the World Bankand the IMF, in Washington, D.C., theUnited States.

“The present situation in the UScreates uncertainties for people in thedeveloping and emerging markets;that is why we look forward to a swiftresolution of the issue of the debtceiling.

“If not resolved it could upset themarket, we could see higher interestrates, it could directly affect Nigerianbonds — as you know we do not haveonly the 500 million Euro bond wefloated two years ago but also thehighly successful Euro Bond wefloated recently about three, fourmonths ago”.

The minister said that the presentadministration was working hard toensure that the growth which thenation’s economy has recorded wasconverted into better living standardsfor ordinary people.

According to her, the FederalGovernment is massively investing ininfrastructure facilities, especiallyelectricity which she identified asNigerian’s most critical developmentimpediment, among both the rich andthe poor.

She said: “We are utilizing the fundsfreed from petroleum subsidy to createsocial safety nets in the area of maternaland infant health, which has won acommonwealth award for its initiative."

Also speaking on implications of theUS shutdown for the Nigerianeconomy, Ms. Lagarde said, “therewill be negative consequences for theUS economy and there will be verynegative consequences outside of theUS economy. And the IMF does nottake a stand and does not make arecommendation as to how politicallythis matter can be resolved.

“This is not for the IMF to say. Wedon’t take political views, we only lookat the economic consequences ofmeasures decided anywhere in theworld. When it affects the largesteconomy in the world, we are boundto not only look at the immediatedomestic consequnecs but we alsohave to look at what happenselsewhere, and we have to engage ina dialogue with members to see howthey can best prepare for that.

“What I can tell you is that thetransmission channels elsewhereincluding in Nigeria would include

the trade channel, because theUS economy would have tobalance its budget and wouldcetrainly reduce its economicactivities starting from the thirdquarter onwards.

“I can tell you that the second

channel which is probablygoing to be much more activeis the financial channel. If thatmatter is not resolved, we arelikely to see volatility,uncertainty and consequenceson the rest of the world.

“As far as Nigeria is concerned,clearly we would have to look intohow it would affect the price of oil,for instance, because Nigeria is anoil consuming and exportingcountry.”

Reps in Aso Rock on oversight duty

ABUJA—AS theongoing strike by

Academic Staff Union ofUniversities, ASUU,enters the fourth month,there are strongindications that theFederal Government hascommenced theimplementation of the “NoWork, No Pay” rule.

Vanguard gathered froma reliable source at theNational UniversitiesCommission, NUC, thatthe government haspassed a directive to thevarious universitiesgoverning councils to stoppayment of salaries of thestriking lecturers.

The ASUU ZonalChairman in Abuja, MrClement Chup confirmedthis yesterday after azonal conference ofASUU, University of Abujachapter, which took placeat the Gwagwaladacampus to review thenationwide strike.

He said his colleagueswere yet to receive theirSeptember salaries.

According to him, “wehave resorted to otherwelfare strategies to copewith the effect of the strike,particularly to contain thevarious attempts bygovernment to break theresolve of the union. TheFederal Government hasthrough the NationalUniversities Commission,directed universities tostop the payment of oursalaries effectiveSeptember this year andsince then our salarieshave not been paid.

“Part of the welfarestrategy, involveddistributing food items,giving out soft loans andcash advances tomembers."

He urged members ofthe public to ignore therumour that the strike hasbeen called off. He said:“Nigerians shoulddisregard rumoursmaking the rounds thatthe three months old strikehas been called off ”,adding that “the strikecontinues until thegovernment demonstratesa positive inclinationtowards implementing the2009 agreements and the2012 Memorandum ofUnderstanding signed byboth parties."

BY BEN AGANDE

Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Tuesday,Wednesday public holidays

ABUJA—MEMBERS ofthe House of

Representatives committee onSpecial duties yesterday visitedthe Presidential Villa to carryout oversight function on theperformance of the 2013 budget.

The 20- member committeemet with President GoodluckJonathan before inspectingsome on-going projects in theVilla after which theyexpressed satisfaction with thepace of work that are ongoing.

Special Adviser to thePresident on Media andPublicity, Dr Reuben Abati whospoke with newsmen after theinspection said the visit willhelp bridge communicationgap between the legislatureand the executive arm ofgovernment.

Chairman of the committee,Nadu Karibo said thecommittee was impressed withthe extent of work on-going atthe Presidential Villa.

According to him, “whatreally impressed me was theextension work going on at theState House Medical Centreand I was surprised. My initialimpression was that StateHouse Medical Centre wasonly for the President and theState House Staff but I observedthat those who are not evenState House staff have access

to medical facilities there; it isreally impressive.

“We also observed that a newsite is being developed,probably to cater for the upsurgein the people going there fortreatment. I was reallyimpressed with the fact thatoutsiders have access to thefacilities there.

“We are very happy that thePresident will open his doorsand allow members to comefreely and do oversight, I thinkthis is unprecedented, it is nota usual everyday thing. So I amreally impressed that thePresident opened his doors tolet us look at what we wantedto see,” he said.

He said the impression that theHouse of Representatives wasalways at loggerheads with theexecutive was not entirely correctbecause what the legislature triesto do is ensure that laws areimplemented as passed.

“The problem with Nigerians isthat they believe if you don’t quarrelwith the executive, you are notdoing your work well and any littledisagreement, any littlemisunderstanding between botharms which is very usual in politicsis often overblown. It is not out ofplace for the a House ofRepresentatives to ask questionswhen necessary, otherwise therelationship between the executiveand the legislature is very cordial."

BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA—THE FederalGovernment has declared

Tuesday, 15th and Wednesday,16th October, as public holidaysto mark Eid-el-Kabircelebratrion.

Minister of Interior, AbbaMoro, in a statement madeavailable to newsmencongratulated Muslims andenjoined them and Nigerians to

join hands with President GoodluckJonathan in his ‘sustained effortsto raise Nigeria to the next level ofdevelopment’.

The statement signed by thePermanent Secretary, Ministry ofInterior, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele,further urged Nigerians to use theoccasion to pray for peace and unityacross the nation. The ministerwished all Nigerians, ‘a mostrewarding and peacefulcelebration’.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—9

COMMISERATE—From left: Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice-Chancellor,Federal University of Technology, Akure; Governor of Ondo State, DrOlusegun Mimiko and his wife, Olukemi, during a visit by FUTA delegationto commiserate with the Ondo State Government over the unfortunate planecrash that claimed lives of some officials of the State.

FG fights to recover N39bnAbacha loot from Liechtenstein

NIGERIA hasembarked on an

international campaign topress Liechtenstein intoreturning $185 million(N38.85 billion) of ill-gottengains linked to the latemilitary Head of State,General Sani Abachawhich is still being held inthe tiny principality nearly14 years after recoveryproceedings began.

The Nigeriangovernment first requestedassistance fromLiechtenstein in returningthe assets in 2000, two yearsafter Gen Abacha’s suddendeath.

Criminal investigationsand subsequent forfeitureproceedings establishedthat the funds originatedfrom bribes paid byGermany’s Ferrostaal AG tocompanies whose ultimatebeneficiary was GenAbacha. They related to agrossly inflated contract forthe construction of analuminium smelter.

L i e c h s t e n s t e i n ’ sconstitutional court orderedthe confiscation of the fundsin 2012 and in March 2013,dismissed a final appealagainst the order bycompanies linked to theAbacha family, clearing theway for restitution of thefunds.

But the Liechtensteingovernment has declined toaccept written guaranteesfrom Nigeria that it willcompensate the principalityin the unlikely event that itshould incur any liabilitiesin a further suit that hasbeen filed by the Abacha-linked companies at theEuropean Court of HumanRights in Strasbourg. Thiscould delay the return ofthe funds for several moreyears.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,Co-ordinating Minister forthe Economy and Minister

of Finance and formerManaging Director of theWorld Bank, described thedelays as “outrageous” andaccused the Liechtensteingovernment of being unco-operative. She told theFinancial Times she plansto appeal for support forNigeria’s claims at thisweek’s InternationalMonetary Fund and WorldBank meetings.

Okonjo-Iweala aid: “Thisis about funds that werestolen by a corrupt dictator.We have spent nearly 14years trying to get themback and we are pleadingwith the Liechtensteinauthorities not to aid andabet the continuation of thatcorruption.”

Liechtenstein officialsdefend the delay as theresult of the case inStrasbourg which would, ifthe court accepts to hear it,address the plaintiffs’ rightsto a fair hearing underArticle 6 of the EuropeanConvention on HumanRights. The Europeancourt cannot overruleLiechtenstein court rulingsrestoring the funds butofficials in the principality

Bukar for swearing-in as FCT CJ

BY IKECHUKWUNNOCHIRI

ABUJA—THE ChiefJustice of Nigeria,

CJN, Justice MariamAloma Mukhtar, will today,swear-in Justice IbrahimBukar as the Chief Judgeof the Federal CapitalTerritory.

According to a statementthat was issued by mediaaide to the CJN, MrAhuraka Isah, yesterday,the event will take place atthe Supreme Court.

The swearing in, “is

sequel to Justice Bukar’sappointment by PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, as theChief Judge of FederalCapital Territory, Abuja onthe recommendation of theNational Judicial Council,NJC, under theChairmanship of JusticeAloma Mariam Mukhtar."

Justice Bukar who hasbeen in the office in actingcapacity, took over from theerstwhile CJ, JusticeHassan Lawal whorelinquished the position tobecome an Emir in KatsinaState.

fear they could be laid opento compensation claimsfrom the Abacha-linkedcompanies.

Robert Wallner,Liechtenstein's Attorney-General said:“Unfortunately, now we arein a situation where wehave a final judgment, wehave the assets and thegovernment wants to returnthose assets to Nigeria, butfour entities have filed acase at the ECHR.

“Even though theirchances of winning are lowwe lawyers know we cannever be sure of theoutcome.”

Enrico Monfrini, a Swisslawyer working with theNigerian government, hastraced $2.4 billion of assetslinked to Gen Abacha, mostof which were channelledthrough European banks.Nigeria has recovered $1.3billion, the largest trancheof which – $500 million –came from Switzerland in2005. A further $1.1 billion– in France, the UK,Luxembourg and theChannel island of Jersey –is still tied up in legalproceedings.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Lagos govt never closed our church– The Lord’s Chosen

Closure continues until they comply – Lagos Govt

BY SAM EYOBOKA

LAGOS — LORD’S Cho-senCharismatic Revival Minis-tries, yesterday, denied storiesthat the Lagos State Govern-ment had closed the churchheadquarters located in theAmuwo Odofin Industrial Es-tate, for violating environmen-tal laws of the state, saying thechurch has not been closed byany government.

A statement by the church’sDirector of Public Relations/Press, Pastor Louis Chidistated that the church and allher activities were running asusual, confirming, however,that officials of the Office ofDrainage Services in the La-gos State Ministry of Environ-ment actually gave notice abouta particular facility that did notobserve a certain requirementon the canal.

The full statement: “Our at-tention has been drawn to thenews being circulated that ourchurch has been closed by theLagos State Ministry of Envi-ronment. We wish to state thefact for the interest of our mem-bers and general public.

“First the church has notbeen closed by any govern-ment. The church and all heractivities are running as usual.

“The fact is that officials ofLagos State Government fromthe Office of Drainage Servicesin the Ministry of Environmentgave notice about a particularfacility that did not observe therequired set back from the ca-nal.

“They therefore asked thatthe facility should not be useduntil necessary amendment ismade. We have since compliedand the facility reverted to theformer status. Please take notethat the church did not stopfunctioning because of this asthere are many other facilitieswithin the church premises.

“The second observation

raised was the issue of streetmarket that sprang up at thebus stop. We also want to statethat the church never encour-aged street trading within theestate or along its road be-cause on many occasions it hascaused traffic obstruction tothose coming into the churchpremises.

“The church authority hasalso repeatedly warned thosetraders to stop desecratingthe holy ground and severalother efforts made to stop theillegal market were to no availas most of them claimed to bepaying rent and taxes to the‘authority.’

“Meanwhile, officials of thetask force section of the min-

istry have already dispersedthe street traders.

“We wish to state emphati-cally that The Lord’s ChosenChurch is a law-abiding min-istry and will remain so in allher activities by the grace ofGod. The church was neverclosed, and above all, the cor-dial relationship existing be-tween the state governmentand the church remains intact.

“We will continue to supportand pray for the governmentof the state, her citizens andindeed the entire country,” hestated.

Meanwhile, spokesman forthe Lagos State Ministry ofEnvironment, Mr. FolaAdeyemi, yesterday, stated

that the state government’sclosure of the church will con-tinue until its authorities fullycomply with the environmen-tal breaches.

The headquarters of theLord’s Chosen and Charis-matic Revival Church, Ijesha,Oshodi-Apapa Expressway,Lagos, were sealed off by theLagos State Government overenvironmental nuisance.

Officials of the Ministry ofthe Environment shut thechurch in the morning of onOctober 6, 2013, and pre-vented worshippers from hav-ing their Sunday service usu-ally attended by thousands offaithful.

Lagos debunks rumours of bad beef fromOko-Oba abattoir

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPE-JO

LAGOS — WORRIED bythe rumour that meat

from the Oko-Oba abattoir lo-cated in Iju-Isaga axis of thestate is unsafe for consump-tion due to the unhygienic en-vironment; the Lagos StateGovernment, yesterday, de-bunked the report, saying “theallegations were baseless.”

Commissioner for Agricul-ture and Cooperatives, Mr.Gbolahan Lawal in a state-ment, yesterday, said it wasalleged that 4,000 cattle,10,000 sheep and goats aswell as 500 pigs and 10 cam-

els slaughtered daily acrossthe state could lead to out-break of epidemic in Lagos.

Lawal, who described the al-legation as unfounded andcapable of misinforming thegeneral public, explained thatthere were qualified veteri-nary doctors and animalhealth workers at the variousslaughter slabs across thestate ensuring that the ani-mals slaughtered for con-sumption were of good healthand safe for consumption.

Lawal said only certifiedwholesome meat was allowedto be circulated in the state,urging the residents to pat-ronise only the approvedslaughter slabs.

According to him; “LagosState Ministry of Agricultureand Cooperatives is a respon-sive appendage of the StateGovernment who has not re-lented in its effort to bringwholesome meat to itscitizenry.

“We are very much con-cerned about the implicationof consuming unwholesomemeat. We cannot toy with thelives of over 18 millionLagosians and that is why aspart of our pro-active meas-ures put in place, the minis-try recently clamped down onillegal abattoirs in the state inorder to avert incidence of dis-eased infected animals andthis exercise will continue,”.

ALLEGED N270M FRAUD: Ajudua’s trial adjourned to Nov 6

BY BARTHOLOMEWMADUKWE

LAGOS HIGH Court sit-ting in Igbosere, yester-

day, adjourned to November 6,the ongoing trial of Lagos busi-nessman, Fred Ajudua, who isaccused of defrauding twoDutch businessmen, RemyCina and Pierre Vijgen to thetune of US$1.69 million (N270million)

The adjournment, accordingto the trial judge, JusticeJoseph Oyewole, is to enable

litigants address the court ondecisions reached by parties tothe case.

Ajudua is standing trial along-side his associate, Charles Orie.

Ajudua’s counsel, CharlesEdosomwan (SAN) had in-formed the court during the lasttwo sittings that consultationshad been on between the Eco-nomic and Financial CrimesCommission, EFCC, and thedefence team, saying certainagreements had also beenreached.

Fasholaeulogisesoutgoing HOS

Assemblytasks govt onEpe Ibeju-Lekki Roaddualisation

G O V E R N O RBABATUNDE

Fashola of Lagos State,yesterday, said hard workwas the only ticket to at-taining greater heights inlife.

Fashola said this inIkeja at a ‘Pens Down’ceremony for Mr.Adesegun Ogunlewe,who just retired as theHead of Service of thestate.

He said that Ogunlewemade remarkable inputinto the various policiesand transformation thathad changed the face ofcivil service in the state.

BY EBUN SESSOU

THE LAGOS StateHouse of Assembly

has called on the state gov-ernment to include thedualisation of the EpeIbeju-Lekki expressway inits 2014 budget to reducethe incessant road accidentson the expressway.

The call was made dur-ing matter of urgent publicimportance on the floor ofthe House when a mem-ber representing Epe con-stituency 1, AbiodunTobun, disclosed that per-sistent motor accidents thattook place on a daily basison this road were alarmingand it had become neces-sary for the state govern-ment to look into the mat-ter.

According to him, “thenumber of accidents re-corded on the axis occa-sioned by the narrowing ofEpe-Berger Bridge, itiner-ant hawkers, unabated ac-tivities of sand miners andvarious on-going construc-tion projects in the area isunquantified.”

The Lord’s Chosen Church headquarters after the sealing

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—11

SCHOOLS MERGER: CAN givesAregbesola 7-day ultimatum

We can’t reverse a policy meant to produce brilliant students – APC

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO — OSUN State chapter of the Christian Asso- ciation of Nigeria, CAN, has given a seven-day ul-

timatum to the state government to reverse the merger ofschools and return them to their original owners.

The state government had, last week, commenced themerger of public primary and secondary schools in the stateunder its schools reclassification programme.

CAN in a letter addressed to the state Governor, Mr'. RaufAregbesola and signed by its state chairman, Rev. Elisha

Ogundiya, urged Aregbesola torevert the new education policyin the interest of peace andtranquility in the state.

Also, CAN called for a reverseon the changing of single sexschools to mixed schools, sayingthat would help to preserve thereligious character of the schools.

The body said failure of the stategovernment to reverse to the sta-tus quo on the state education sys-tem would make it take further

actions on the matter.CAN also advised Aregbesola

to take the interest of all reli-gions into consideration whilemaking policies, saying that hewas voted into office by bothChristians and Muslims.

The letter reads: “We observethat the foundation of Christianfaith is being seriously threat-ened by some policies of the stategovernment, especially in theeducation sector, which thechurch is strongly averse to andit is not ready to compromise.”

Reacting, to CAN threat, theDirector of Publicity, Researchand Strategy of the AllProgressives Congress, APC, inthe state, Mr. Kunle Oyatomisaid: “You don’t reverse a policythat will bring up decent, bril-liant and successful students inthe schools.”

He appealed to CAN and other

interest groups inthe state to be tol-erant with thestate governmenton the new edu-cation policy inthe state, stress-ing that “if thereis any govern-ment with humanf e e l i n g s ,Aregbesola’s gov-ernment hasdemonstrated inmany ways thatOsun State is areference point inhuman develop-ment index.”

Nigerian elderlyhave highestdepression rate— Experts

IBADAN — ELDERLY per-sons in Nigeria are among

those with the highest rates ofdepression in the world as a re-sult of non-payment of pensionsand other related factors.

This was revealed by the Presi-dent, African Association of Psy-chiatry and Allied Professions,Richard Uwakwe, yesterday, inIbadan.

Chairman, Faculty of Psychia-try, National Post-graduateMedical College, NnamdiAzikwe University, AnambraState, making allusion to a re-cent global survey of the well-being of older persons byHelpAge International, Lon-don, said Nigeria was rated85th in a list of 91 nations.

He described as mere politi-cal statements the claims by somestate governors that theywere providing free healthservices for children underfive years and aged peoplefrom the age of 65.

While speaking withnewsmen in Ibadan, yes-terday, he lamented that thenumber of current psychia-trists in the country was lessthan the number required.

Corroborating the survey,Professor Oye Guruje, saidthe survey carried out in2001, about 10million of Ni-gerians had mental disor-ders.

The mental disorders ac-cording to him include, cog-nitive problems, anxiety dis-orders, stress related disor-ders, sexual dysfunction,sleep disorders, suicide, in-tellectual disabilities andmany others.

NEMAdistributesmaterials torainstormvictims inOndo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE — RELIEFcame the way of

victims of recentrainstorm in someCommunities in Akokoarea of Ondo state as theNational EmergencyManagement Agency,NEMA, yesterdaydonated relief materialsworth millions of naira toalleviate their sufferings.

The Senator represent-ing Ondo North senato-rial district, SenatorAjayi Boroffice facilitatedthe donation following arequest he made to theagency.

DEMOLITION:Ogun payspropertyowners

NOT FEWER than75 per cent of

individuals andcorporate bodies whoseproperties were demol-ished as a result of theon-going road construc-tion across Ogun Statehave been duly paid com-pensations by the stategovernment.

Special Adviser/Direc-tor General of the StateBureau of Lands and Sur-vey, Mr. AdewaleOsinowo disclosed thiswhile addressing mem-bers of the State Houseof Assembly Committeeon Lands and Housingduring their budget per-formance monitoring visitto the agency.

Ex-deputygov accusesgovts ofneglectingrural areas

A MEMBER of theNational Assembly,

representing Ogun Eastsenatorial district, Sena-tor Sefiu Kaka has ac-cused the Amosun gov-ernment of neglectingthe rural areas in thecountry.

Senator Kaka who wasa former Deputy Gover-nor in the state, there-fore called on the gov-ernments at all levels tosalvage the situation.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

HOMAGE: Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) and his Deputy, Mrs.Titi Laoye-Tomori, paying homage to the royal father, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Siju-wade, during governor's appearance at the public assessment, tagged Gbangbadekun, atEnuwa Square, in front of the palace, Ile-Ife, yesterday.

BY OLA AJAYI

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to inform the general public that the above-named ministry

has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for

registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters

Act, No. 1 of 1990.

1) PASTOR OGIDIGBO GAGA

2) PASTOR OTUNLA EZEKIEL

3) PASTOR IGBINOBARO WILSON

4) PASTOR ESHABUKO OGHENEFEJIRO SHIELAR

5) PASTOR OGHENEKPAROBO THEOPHILUS.

To preach the complete gospel of the Lord Jesus, for the liberation

of mankind.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the

Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris

Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days

of this publication.

The Board of Trustees Are:

Aim And Objective:

THE HOUSE OF DESTINY FAMILY CHURCH INT’L

Signed: TRUSTEES.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Revenue sharing formulashould reflect truefederalism —Dickson

BY SAMUELOYADONGHA

No campaign of calumny can frustrateJonathan —A-Ibom Speaker

Amnesty: Include morepersons in Phase III,ex-militant leaders beg FG

YENAGOA—BAYELSA State governor,

Mr. Seriake Dickson,yesterday, called for thereview of the country’srevenue sharing formu-la to reflect true federal-ism.

According to the gov-ernor, the current 13 percent derivation has be-come increasingly inad-equate to surmount thehuge developmentalchallenges confrontingoil producing areas.

Dickson, while declar-ing open a two-daySouth-South publichearing on the review ofthe nation’s revenue al-location formula inYenagoa, organised bythe Revenue Mobilisa-tion Allocation and Fis-cal Commission, RMA-FC, also called on theNational Assembly toexpedite action on thePetroleum Industry Bill.

This, according to thegovernor, would addressthe current disparity inrevenue allocation for-mula especially to the oilproducing states andcommunities in the Ni-ger Delta.

Represented by theSecretary to State Gov-ernment, Prof. EdmundAllison-Oguru, Gover-nor Dickson, said: “Youwill all agree with methat before the discoveryof crude oil in commer-cial quantities in Oloibiriin the present dayBayelsa State in 1956,

cocoa, groundnut, cottonand other agriculturalproduce were the main-stay of Nigeria’s econo-my.

“The regions produc-ing these agriculturalproduce were given 100per cent derivation for-mula and as time pro-gressed, it was revisedto 50 per cent and laterto 30 per cent but afterthe discovery of oil,these agricultural pro-duce were relegated tothe background.

“It, therefore, behoveson RMAFC to revisit theera of 100 per cent, 50per cent or 30 per centderivation formula to re-flect true federalism. Itis a well known fact thatthe exploration of oil inthe Niger Delta regionhas not only exploited

the people but has alsomade the area toxic andpolluted the environ-ment, a situation thathas adversely affectedthe agrarian and sub-sistence lifestyle of thepeople.

“The current 13 percent derivation has be-come increasingly inad-equate to surmount thehuge developmentalchallenges confrontingthe area. That is why ithas become imperativefor the National Assem-bly to expedite action onthe Petroleum IndustryBill, which I believe,when passed into law,will adequately addressthe lopsided revenue al-location formula, espe-cially to the oil produc-ing states and communi-ties of the Niger Delta.”

BY TONY NYONG

UYO—SPEAKER ofAkwa Ibom State

House of Assembly, Mr.Samuel Ikon, has saidthat no campaign of cal-umny against PresidentGoodluck Jonathancould deter progres-sive-minded persons,who desire audaciousand strategic develop-ment, from supportingthe President’ adminis-tration.

Ikon, who fieldedquestions from journal-ists in Uyo, on the stateof the nation, observedthat in the last twomonths, the country hadnoticed salvos of mis-

BY FESTUS AHON

U G H E L L I — N A -TIONAL Chair-

man of Presidential Am-nesty, Phase III, Mr.Wise Onobruchere, hasappealed to the FederalGovernment to includemore persons in the pro-gramme, insisting thatmany of their followerswere yet to be includedin the amnesty pro-gramme.

Onobruchere, also Na-tional Chairman of YouthReconciliation and Em-powerment Organisation,said: “These persons

have been verified andcleared by the documen-tation agents, Inter Agen-cy Task Force, IATF, asgenuine and qualifiedex-militants in the NigerDelta region.

“They have renouncedmilitancy in all its ramifi-cations unconditionallyand in accordance withthe conditions of the am-nesty programme.”

According to him, thethird phase of the pro-gramme was the onlyphase that followed dueprocess and yet, its mem-bers were being deniedbenefitting from same.

chievous propagandafired from attack ma-chines sponsored by ran-corous persons and theircronies, aimed at tar-nishing the good imageof the President.

He said that since thepropaganda warfare wasmalicious and devoid ofconstructive criticisms,which had left the un-suspecting public nei-ther deceived nor per-suaded by its perpetra-tors, Nigerians shouldrise in unison to declareunequivocal and un-flinching support forPresident Jonathan.

Ikon said: “We inAkwa Ibom State, hav-ing an abiding faith and

strong confidence in theleadership of Nigeriaand the unity of the na-tion, have stronglythrown our weight be-hind the President‘s re-cent constitution of anAdvisory Council on Na-tional Conference.

“No level, shade ortwist in any campaign ofcalumny can cause pa-triots and progressiveminded persons, whodesire audacious, strate-gic, sustainable, positiveand durable develop-ments in Nigeria, to sup-port the current cam-paigns of calumny un-leashed by politiciansand cronies fighting tofrustrate good govern-ance in the country.“

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—13

By-election: DPP chieftain,supporters decamp to PDP

BY EMMA AMAIZE

Amaechitasks youthcorpsmembers onjob creation

Delta senatorial by-election: Policewarn against violence

DeltaBeyond Oil:DBIR seekshelp fromUK

DELTA State Boardof Internal Reve-

nue, DBIR, has visitedthe British High Commis-sion in Nigeria, to solicitsupport from the UnitedKingdom government to-wards the realisation ofDelta Beyond Oil cam-paign of the state govern-ment.

Chairman of DBIR, Mr.Joel-Onowakpo Thomas,who led members of theboard on the courtesy vis-it to the British DeputyHigh Commissioner, Pe-ter Carter, in Lagos, saidthat Delta State had wit-nessed tremendous de-velopment in every sec-tor in the past few years.

Thomas said that thedesire by the current ad-ministration to continuethe developmental stridesit had recorded in thepast few years, necessi-tated the visit, particular-ly now that the state wasvigorously pursuing thediversification of its econ-omy through the “DeltaBeyond Oil” initiative.

Speaking during thevisit, he said: “Thank youfor granting us this op-portunity to brief youabout Delta State, DeltaBeyond Oil initiative andto dispel rumours youmay have heard aboutDelta State as being anunsafe haven. Though wemay have our challenges,I am confident that theyare not peculiar to DeltaState or Nigeria. I assureyou that the administra-tion of Governor Em-manuel Uduaghan hastaken steps to address theissues and they are yield-ing positive results.

“Permit me to informthat the state has gonethrough several transfor-mations in all areas of hiselectoral promises to Del-tans, particularly in theareas of peace and secu-rity, human capital devel-opment and Infrastructur-al development. Testimo-nies of this transformationabound,” he said.

DELTA State Police Com-mand, yesterday,

warned politicians in the stateto desist from any act of vio-lence during the bye-electionin Delta Central senatorial dis-trict, tomorrow.

The state Commissioner ofPolice, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba,gave the warning in Asabawhile addressing newsmen.

Aduba said that the com-mand would not hesitate toclamp down on any personfound breaching the peaceduring the election.

The police commissioner saidthat the command had put ad-equate measures in place toensure security of lives andproperty during the election.

He said that information hadreached the command thatsome people were planning to

disrupt the election, warningthat anybody caught causingtrouble during the poll wouldnot be spared.

Aduba said that the policecommand was collaboratingwith other security agencies inthe state to checkmate any planto disrupt the election.

Aduba further warned police-men to steer clear from politi-cians and top government offi-cials, adding that any police-man caught hovering aroundsuch people, would be severe-ly punished.

“Politics is not a do-or-die af-fair. So, during the election se-curity men will be mounted atevery polling station. Politiciansin the state should be goodambassadors by playing thegame according to the rules,”he added.

GOVERNOR Roti-mi Amaechi of

Rivers State has advisedthe 3,431 members of theNational Youth ServiceCorps, NYSC, whoserved in the state tostrive to be self-em-ployed.

Amaechi gave the ad-vice in Port Harcourt,yesterday, at the passingout ceremony of the 2012Batch ‘C’ corps mem-bers.

He said: “As you arenow faced with the taskof seeking gainfulemployment, I adviseyou to nurture and ap-ply yourselves to thepractical lessons of self-employment.”

Amaechi urged themto utilise the skills theyacquired during theskills acquisition andentrepreneurial devel-opment programme.

The governor, howev-er, said 22 memberswould face disciplinarymeasures for gross mis-conduct, saying it was inaccordance with theNYSC by-laws.

Delta guberhopeful visitsIsokoland

CHIEF GodswillObielum, a gover-

norship hopeful in DeltaState, has extended hison-going state consulta-tions with political andcommunity leaders to Iso-koland.

During his consultationtour to Isokoland, he vis-ited some political andcommunity leaders in thearea where he unveiledhis ambition to contest thegubernatorial electioncome 2015.

He told the leaders thathe will carry Isoko ethnicnationality along in termsof development, and alsopromised to continue withthe good work of the in-cumbent governor, Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan, ifelected.

Meeting: From left: Minister of Education, Mr. Nyeson Wike; Executive Secretary, Nation-al University Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie; Acting Executive Secretary, Terti-ary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) Mallam Aliyu Na’iya and Chairman, Board of Trustees,TETFUND, Dr. Musa Babayo, during theinister’s meeting with Pro-Chancellors/ Vice Chan-cellors of federal ans state universities, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

WARRI—DEMOCRAT-IC Peoples Party, DPP,

chieftain, Mr. Austin Ogbabu-ron, representing Udu/Ughel-li federal constituency, in theHouse of Representatives, yes-terday, led hundreds of his sup-porters to decamp to PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP.

His exit is seen as a majorblow to DPP, led by Chief GreatOgboru, who, few days ago,lost his three-time deputy, Og-bueshi Fidelis Tilije, to a rivalparty.

The move is seen by analystsas a significant boost to thechances of PDP in tomorrow’sby-election.

Ogbaburon, addressing hissupporters and Governor Em-manuel Uduaghan, in his homeat Orhuworun, said that theyhad retraced their way to PDPand were ready to ensure thatPDP takes the Senate ticket inthe election.

He said: “We, who were inDPP and all other small par-ties, have today crossed overto PDP. We are tired of being inthe opposition. We have seenthat President GoodluckJonathan is listening to us, theUrhobo people, and we havebetter chances with a PDP Sen-ator in Abuja.”

He assured that PDP wouldwin the election on Saturday,

adding, “We are going to winby a wide margin.”

Meantime, Governor Udua-ghan has prayed for peacefulpoll on Saturday.

Speaking while accepting theformer members, led by Og-baburon, Uduaghan prayed forpeace in the state, explainingthat all those who were proph-

esying anarchy following theelection would be disappoint-ed.

The governor, who praisedthe political success of PDP inUghelli/Udu federal constitu-ency, said that the former DPPchieftain and House Represent-ative member, Ogbaburon, hasonly found his way back home.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Flood wreaks havoc in Owerri

Makinde to Mbang: Prelate election was not manipulated

ASTPApromotesIgbo culturewith festival

A B U J A — T H EAnambra State

Towns People Associa-tion, ASTPA, Abujabranch will Saturday, Oc-tober 12, hold its bi-annualcultural festival to promoteIgbo culture and tradi-tional heritage.

The president of the un-ion, Mr. Emeka Mbaghawho announced this tonewsmen in Abuja, saidthe event became neces-sary in view of the immi-nent extinction of Igbo lan-guage and culture.

His words: “The essenceof this festival is to restorethe glory of Igbo cultureand values, because we arerealizing that there is thetendency that Igbo cultureand values are not beingpromoted by Anambrariansand Igbos in general.

“We therefore, felt thattime has come for us to re-invigorate our Igbo cultureand values because a manis not a man except, whenhe is identified with hisculture.”

Customsmournsvictims ofLagos aircrash OWERRI—SEVERAL fam-

ilies have been renderedhomeless and property worthmillions of Naira destroyed byravaging flood that followed atorrential rain in parts of ImoState yesterday.

The downpour, which start-ed at about 2 am and lasted forabout four hours, flooded sev-eral parts of Owerri municipal-ity.

The story was the same inEgbu, particularly Umuayaluvillage, Owerri North localcouncil area, parts of WorldBank Housing Estate, OnitshaRoad Industrial Area and oth-er adjoining communities.

Several families residing inbuildings along Ibeme Street,near the Relief Market, Ower-ri, were seen scooping waterfrom their houses and tryingto salvage whatever they couldfrom the ruins.

Some vehicles were sub-merged in most of the placesvisited by Vanguard and noeffort was made by owners totow them to safety at press time.

Vanguard recalls that Chuk-wuma Nwaoha Road, Dick Ti-ger Street and many other

L AG O S — C O M P-TROLLER-GENER-

AL, CG, of NigerianCustoms Service, NCS,Dikko Inde Abdullahi,has commiserated withthe immediate families ofthe former Governor ofOndo State; OlusegunAgagu, the victims of theair mishap, the govern-ment and people of OndoState over the crash of theAssociated Airline’s planecarrying the body of theformer Governor.

A statement by the Dep-uty Public Relations Offic-er of NSC, Assistant comp-troller Joseph Attah saidthe CG was grieved overthe incident and pains in-flicted on the victims in-cluding the families of theformer governor, the peo-ple and government ofOndo State and the nationat large.

“The families have losttheir dear ones, we havelost credible country menwhose contributions areneeded especially at thistime when the nation isbuilding bridges of unityand economic develop-ment for total transforma-tion into the great nationof our dream” he said.

BY SAM EYOBOKA

streets in Amakohia and Akwa-kuma areas could not be ac-cessed in vehicles as a resultof the flood.

Lamenting her plight whenVanguard visited 4 IbemeStreet, Owerri, Dr. OnynyeNwachukwu, a veterinary doc-tor, said she could not imme-diately quantify the loss occa-sioned by the rampaging flood.

”You can see that the entire

ground floor is flooded.Where do I start counting ourloss? Is it from the veterinarydrugs, poultry and animalfeeds or personal effects? Thedamage is colossal”, Dr.Nwachukwu lamented.

According to her, residentsof the street had been tryingto help themselves in thepast, stressing that they hadeven constructed a culvert

and taken other measuresaimed at reducing the effects ofthe flood.

”We are always working onthis road. We have also takenother measures aimed at check-ing the devastating effect offlood. You can see that manyfamilies now have to wadethrough the flood before gettinginto their homes”, Nwachukwulamented.

BY IFEYINWA OBI

SIGNING: From left: Ms. Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Dr. OlusegunAganga, Minister of Trade and Investment and Vice Minister, Industry and Development,Brazil, Mr. Ricardo Schaefer, during the signing of memorandum of understanding be-tween the two ministries on the promotion of trade and investment in Abuja, yesterday.

LAGOS—Former Prel-ate of Methodist Church Ni-

geria, His Eminence, Sunday OlaMakinde has debunked claims byhis predecessor that the electionof his successor and former Arch-bishop of Enugu, Most Rev.Samuel Chukwuma Uche wasmanipulated, saying the exercisetook place in full compliance withthe provisions of the prevailingConstitution of the church.

Prelate-emeritus, His EminenceSunday Mbang, who argued thatthe election of the new prelate wasnot credible, free and fair as theElectoral College disregarded thechurch’s constitution on mattersaffecting nomination and screen-ing of candidates, described theelection as an ecclesiastical fraud.

He also protested the transla-tion of bishops and archbishopsat the emergency electoral com-mittee of the emergency confer-ence as lacking legal backing andtherefore were null and void andof no effect.

But presenting the new prelate,His Eminence, Samuel Uche tothe media at a ceremony at theArchbishop Soremekun MemorialHall, Lagos, Makinde arguedthat the election was unanimouslyratified by the first emergency con-ference of the Methodist ChurchNigeria held on September 1,noting that the ConferenceConnexional Council, which is thehighest organ of the church, theRegistered Trustees and the threeConference legal advisers which

Obi of Onitsha urges subjects to hook up to Glo

met on October 4, commendedthe process and outcome as free,fair, transparent and credible.

“The election was absolutelydevoid of manipulation and fraudof any kind, be it ecclesiastical,executive recklessness, or other-wise. In this wise, the church hascontinued to set the pace for soci-ety to follow,” he explained, with-out any direct reference to the pro-test by Prelate-emeritus, His Emi-nence Sunday Mbang.

According to Makinde, Dr.Samuel Uche was as at the timeof his election, Archbishop ofEnugu where he had served since2009, contending that he had ear-lier served with distinction in vari-ous capacities and once served

as chairman of the Kano Statechapter of Christian Associationof Nigeria.

It was on that note that MostRev. Makinde formally pre-sented the new prelate, HisEminence Samuel Uche, whowas formerly invested the thirdprelate and the eighth head ofthe Methodist Church Nigeriaon Sunday before an impressivegathering of Methodist peopleand friends from sister churches.

Makinde commended theMedia for the support they gaveto him in the last seven yearswhen he presided over the af-fairs of the church, noting thatthe cordial relationship he en-joyed with the media actually

started in those dark days ofAbacha regime when he was CANchairman of Abuja.

He then appealed to the mediato extend the same support andcooperation to the new head of theMethodist Church.

Answering questions, the newPrelate corroborated Makinde’sexplanation, saying that hiselection was devoid of rancourand in accordance with thechurch’s constitution. He alsocalled on the Federal Govern-ment and the Academic StaffUnion of Universities to yieldgrounds and resolve the pro-tracted industrial action in theinterest of Nigerian students.

ONITSHA—THE OBI ofOnitsha, Igwe Nnaeme-

ka Alfred Achebe, has com-mended telecommunicationscompany, Globacom for itspartnership in making theyearly Ofala festival a hugesuccess. The monarch urged Onit-sha people and those from theadjoining towns and villagesto hook up to the Glo networkand reciprocate the good ges-tures the network had over theyears extended to themthrough its sponsorship of Ofa-la Festival.

The monarch, who made thecall in Onitsha, yesterday, at

the Royal Banquet organizedin his honour by the telecom-munications outfit in com-memoration of the 2013 OfalaFestival Celebrations, notedthat it was proper for the On-itsha people to make Globa-com their choice network,stressing that the companyhad through its partnershipredefined the Ofala festival.

He said it was a great pleas-ure for the people of Onitshato have had Globacom as apartner in the Ofala Festivalin the last three years.

“It is a great pleasure notonly for the Agbogidi but theentire people of Onitsha to

have Globacom as a partner inthe Ofala Festival. The royalbanquet we are having today isa way Globacom has deviced toappreciate all of you for thewarm reception you have giv-en it since it came into Ofalathree years ago. Even as wewine and dine together today,it is important for us to have itat the back of our minds that thisis a great synergy between theOnitsha Kingdom and Globa-com Limited. The best way wecan reciprocate Globacom’s ges-ture, therefore, is for the entireOnitsha people to make thenetwork their network ofchoice”, the monarch said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 —15

PDP crisis: INEC rejects Baraje's faction, sticks withTukur

BY SONI DANIEL, RE-GIONAL EDITOR, NORTH,HENRY UMORU & ONO-

ZURE DANIA

From left: Alhaji Abubakar Agege, who was the Director of Protocol to Larwhen he was governor, Da Bitrus Pam and former Minister of Aviation, ChiefSamuel Mafuyai at the Lar's residence in Jos. Photo: Taye Obateru.

CONDOLENCE VISIT TO LATE SOLOMOMLAR'S FAMILY, YESTERDAY.

ABUJA—THE fledgingleadership of the

Abubakar Baraje-led fac-tion of the Peoples Demo-cratic Party suffered ma-jor setbacks, yesterday,with the rejection of its listof officials as the authen-tic leaders of the party byIndependent NationalElectoral Commission aswell as defeat at a LagosHigh Court in its suitagainst the BamangaTukur-led faction of the

party.INEC said it would

not withdraw the recog-nition it accorded theBamanga Tukur groupsince it was privy to theprocesses that led to hisemergence as the Na-tional Chairman of theparty as well as otherofficials of his group.

INEC's clarifica-tion

INEC’s clarificationfollowed a letter writtenby the National Secre-tary of the New Peoples

Democratic Party, nPDP,Olagunsoye Oyinlola,asking the commissionto recognise Baraje andmembers of his NationalWorking Committee asthe valid leaders of theparty.

INEC in its letter tothe Baraje faction,which was addressed tothe National Secretaryof the faction, Mr.Olagunsoye Oyinlola,said that it stood by theelections that broughtboth Tukur and his offi-cials into office andwould therefore not rec-

ognise Baraje and his of-ficials.

The letter with refer-ence No. INEC/LEG/PDP/19/111/245 anddated October 2, 2013,was captioned: Notifica-tion of Changes in theleadership of the PDPand request for formalrecognition and signedby the Acting Secretary ofINEC, Mr. U. F. Usman.

INEC in its reply, whichwas received by theBaraje faction on October3, 2013, said, “The com-mission acknowledgesthe receipt of your lettersdated 1st and 23rd Sep-tember respectivelywherein you requestedthe commission’s recog-nition of the Baraje-ledfaction and newly-electedNWC.

“You will recall that thecommission monitoredthe National Conventionand Special NationalConvention of the PDPheld on the 24th of March2012 and 31st of August2013 at the EagleSquare, Abuja, after no-tices to the commission.

“A NWC was elected atthe two conventions withAlhaji Bamanga Tukur asthe National Chairman.The commission will notwithdraw recognitionfrom the leadership of thePDP elected at the con-ventions duly monitoredby the commission.

“Be guided accord-ingly,” the commissionsaid.

Vanguard learnt thatthere was jubilation in thePresidency last night fol-lowing the leakage of theINEC’s letter to its strat-egists.

At a Lagos High Court,the suit filed by the AlhajiKawu Baraje’s faction ofthe Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, against theNational Chairman,Alhaji Bamanga Tukurand three others wasstruck out for want of ju-risdiction.

The suitThe suit was filed by

Baraje, Dr. Sam Jaja andPrince OlagunsoyeOyinlola on September 1,2013.

The Baraje’s faction haddragged Tukur and his co-defendants to court prayingfor an interlocutory injunc-tion to stop them from pa-rading themselves as PDPNational Executive Commit-tee members.

Joined in the suit as de-fendants were UcheSecondus, Deputy National

Chairman; Dr KemaChikwe, Women Leaderand Olisa Metuh, Na-tional Publicity Secretary.

The counsel to the de-fendants, Mr. Joe Kyari-Gadzama, SAN, and MrEmeka Etiaba, had in theirearlier preliminary noticeof objection, asked thecourt to strike out the suitfor want of jurisdiction.

The counsel had arguedduring the last sitting thatthe writs of summons didnot comply with the man-datory requirements ofSection 97 of the Sheriffand Civil Process Act be-cause they were not en-dorsed.

The plaintiffs’ counsel,Robert Emukpaeruo, hadargued that the court hadjurisdiction to hear the suitcontrary to the objectionsraised by the defendants.

In her short ruling, Jus-tice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, held that the La-gos State High Court hadno power to assume juris-diction over a matterwhich originated outsideits jurisdiction.

She said the applicantshad averred in their affi-davit that the course of ac-tion, which was the spe-cial convention of the PDP,arose in Abuja and that thePDP had its registered of-fice in Abuja while noneof the defendants are resi-dent in Lagos State.

The judge then heldthat,”with the defendantsnot resident in Lagos andthe subject matter originat-ing in Abuja, the HighCourt of Lagos State hasno power to assume juris-diction over this suit. I ac-cordingly make an orderstriking out the suit,”Adefope Okojie said.

No cause foralarm— G7 Govs, Baraje

In its reaction yesterday,the Abubakar Kawu Barajeled new Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, said thatthere was no cause foralarm over the ruling by aLagos High Court whichthrew out the suit institutedagainst the AlhajiBamanga Tukur led Na-tional Working Committee,NWC.

In a statement by its Na-tional Publicity Secretary,Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,the group said, “We wishto assure our teemingmembers and Nigerians ingeneral that there is nocause to worry. This is be-cause the ruling has noth-ing to do with the merit ofthe case but the place of

filing. As advised by HisLordship, we shall hasten tore-file the suit, this time inAbuja, as we are convincedabout the merit of our case.

“Finally, we urge all oursupporters and membersnot to despair or exerciseany atom of fear and shouldcontinue to support the lead-ership of our great party un-der the able leadership ofAlhaji Abubakar Baraje aswe are getting closer to free-ing our party from the en-clave of undemocratic ele-ments currently holding usto ransom and doing every-thing within their powers toruin all that our foundingfathers struggled to build.

“With today’s (yesterday)court ruling, we are now verydetermined to restore PDPto the path of honour par-ticularly now that we havelost our great first NationalChairman, Dr. Solomon Larto the cold hands of death.Let us reiterate that nothingand we repeat nothing willstop us from implementingthe visions of both Dr. Solo-mon Lar and all the found-ing fathers of our great partyto the letter and keeping allundemocratic elements atbar from leadership of ourgreat party.”

Presidency excited by INEC's decision against nPDP

Maku laudsNigeria’sparticipationat MIPCOM

ABUJA—INFORMATION Minister Mr

Labaran Maku, has saidthat Nigeria's participa-tion at the just concludedinternational televisionindustry market and exhi-bition, otherwise calledMIPCOM, which endedyesterday (Thursday) inCannes, France wouldpave the way for greaterexposure of Nigerian tel-evision and film contentto the rest of the world.

The Minister spoke at areception held at the oc-casion under the auspicesof the Nigerian Broad-casting Commission,NBC, which led the Ni-gerian delegation to theCannes event.

He congratulated Nige-rian participants at thisyear’s MIPCOM, sayingthat it is the first time thatNigeria has participatedat an official delegationlevel.

Maku commended theDirector General of theNBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, fortaking the initiative to par-ticipate in MIPCOM 2013.

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

From left: Chief Joseph Jatao, Amb. Danladi Wuyep, Prince Jama Angbazoand Dr. Joseph Golwa in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

From left: Eldest son of late Solomon Lar, Mr. Gideon Lar, AmbassadorDanladi Wuyep and Mrs. Uju Ikeazor, at the Lars residence in Abuja. Photo:Gbemiga Olamikan.

CMYK

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

CMYK

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 —17

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOUREQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED,WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

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Avoidable tragedies

TONYE Harry, thedistinguished, smart and

immensely likeable formerSpeaker of the Rivers StateHouse of Assembly, and ViceChairman of the Nigerian Ten-nis Federation, died last weekin an air ambulance.

He had collapsed a few daysearlier after an exercise ses-sion and was being flown toEurope to receive medicaltreatment when he suddenlypassed away. May he rest inpeace.

The tormenting thought thatkeeps reverberating throughmy mind is this: Our dearbrother would not have beensnatched away so prematurely(he was in his early 50s) if hehad fallen ill in a country thathas adequate medical facili-ties.

When I told my friend,Unoma Giese, how much I re-gretted Tonye’s demise, shesadly opened up about theway in which she lost hermother in 1965.

Unoma’s late father, Profes-sor Norbert Onuora Osamo,studied in Germany and camehome with a German wife. Abrilliant haematologist (award at University of BeninTeaching Hospital has been

named after him), he and hisfamily were happily based inIbadan when disaster struck.

Mrs Osamo, who had takenup a position at St Anne’sschool, decided to drive toLagos and had a fatal accidentbefore she reached her desti-nation.

She was only 26 years old;and Unoma, who was only twoat the time, is convinced thather mother would have sur-

vived this car cash if efficientemergency services had beenavailable. But Nigerian am-bulances tend to be nothingmore than hearses that onlyshow up to carry corpses tomortuaries and burialgrounds…rather than well-equipped and adequatelymanned rapid response ve-hicles that rush to crisisscenes and save lives.

Unoma is still haunted by

her young mother’s probablyunnecessary death; and I amsimilarly traumatised by themanner in which my belovedfather left me.

Daddy had a stroke just overa decade ago. Indigenous doc-tors failed to heal him, not be-cause he was incurable…butbecause of mundane practicalfactors, such as the completeabsence of an operationalbrain scanner in PortHarcourt.

Our then Governor, Dr Pe-ter Odili, kindly decided tosend him abroad. But he qui-etly faded away the day be-fore he was due to make thejourney to London and I be-

lieve that he would still behere if he had received properhelp sooner. The list of avoid-able tragedies goes back along way and will continue tolengthen relentlessly if noth-ing is done to solve Nigeria’shealth crisis.

As I’ve said on numerousoccasions on this page, theNigerian authorities urgentlyneed to stop messing aroundand confront this persistentdemon. Every single govern-ment hospital I have ever vis-ited is far from ideal. Some aretolerable, but let’s face it: Tol-erable is not good enoughwithin this context.

Life is too precious to be en-trusted to institutions that aremerely tolerable. And mostgovernment hospitals are noteven merely tolerable and canreasonably be described asfilthy, unhygienic, badly-runjokes.

When my driver, Tunde, gotsick in Abuja, I rushed him tothe University Teaching Hos-pital in Gwagalada and wasappalled by the conditions Imet there.

The place stank to the highheavens and looked like adingy slum; and the scariest

thing was that the doctors Italked to were not remotelybothered about the fact thatthey were working in such aninsanitary environment.

When I bitterly complainedabout the dirt and stench, theyeither came up with feeble ex-cuses or coolly eyed me as if Iwas an excessively fussytroublemaker. I gained theimpression that they regardedmy attitude as ridiculouslyforeign.

Localrealities

Tunde died shortly after hewas admitted; and I wasn’tsurprised. He would have hadto be particularly robust toemerge from that hellholealive.

Private clinics are usuallybetter, but still heavily handi-capped by local realities.

Since many Nigerian doc-tors are highly intelligent andaware of how things are donein more civilized parts of theworld, one wonders why theydon’t possess sufficient pro-fessional pride - and compas-sion for patients who placetheir trust in them - to firmly

put their feet down and insiston high standards.

Given that quite a few of ourpolitical leaders happen to bemedics, one is also compelledto frequently wonder why Ni-geria is such a disgracefuldeath trap.

Why are individuals whopossess the expertise to knowwhat changes are desperatelyneeded so unwilling to act?Why do those who have thepower to revolutionise ourhealth sector and make itwork for everyone drag theirfeet?

Naija VIPs and their cronieswallow in complacency be-cause they have the funds toflee overseas whenever sick-ness rears its ugly head. Butthe Grim Reaper doesn’t careabout anyone’s bank balance!And many of these selfish,short-sighted privileged folksdie before they can even boardflights.

Even if they don’t give adamn about the masses, theyshould develop thecommonsense to embrace theconcept of Enlightened Self-Interest.

The late Tonye Harry

Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health

Every single government hospital Ihave ever visited is far from ideal; mostgovernment hospitals are not evenmerely tolerable and can reasonably bedescribed as filthy, unhygienic, badly-run jokes

OPINION

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Instruction left behind by Caliph Uthman Dan Fodio (1754-1817AD)THE Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio(1754_1817 AD), founder of the SokotoCaliphate( may God Most High admit himinto Paradise), left behind the followinginstruction:“Every responsible person must learnenough of this science (Sufism-IslamicMysticism) to enable him acquire praise–worthy qualities and to keep him fromblame–worthy qualities.”(Please see page 33 of Sheykh UthmanDan Fodio’s book, Al-Kitab ‘Ulum al-Muamala translated by A’isha Abd ar Rah-man at-Tarjumana, as Handbook on IslamIman Ihsan, published by Diwan Press,England.) Apparently today, many of the Nigeri-an Muslim elite do not know that theabove was the important instruction leftbehind for them to follow by the Sheikh,Uthman dan Fodio. Consequently, there-fore, there is no serious discuss onSufism(Sufi -Muslim ascetic or self deny-ing mystic), no Sheikhs ( who are the in-tellectual and spiritual successors of theSheikh Uthman dan Fodio) to be found toguide the people on Sufism. This situationhas serious consequences for society; forthe vacuum created is filled by fanaticalgroups such as Maitatsine and Boko Har-am.

He was a Sheikh and a great intellectual

The founder of the Sokoto Caliphate Uth-man dan Fodio (1754-1817 AD, may God

Most High grant him admission into Par-adise) was a Sheikh or Spiritual Guide ofthe Qadiriyah Order of Sufis (Sufi-Mus-lim ascetic or self denying mystic). The Qaddirriyya Order was founded inBaghdad in the 12th Century AD by theSheikh Abd- al-Qadir al-Jilani (d. 1166AD). It became the most popular mysticbrotherhood in Asia from whence it spreadto other parts of the Islamic world, includ-ing the western Sudan.

His mystical experience

Related is this passage from Al-Wird (Lita-ny), a work by Uthman dan Fodio: “WhenI reached the age of forty years, five monthsand a few nights, God Most High drew menear to Him and I found there, the masterof human being and jinn our master Mo-hammed may the peace and blessings ofGod Most High be with him, together withhis Companions, the Prophets and theSaints; they welcomed me and seated meamongst themselves.

Then the saviour of human being andjinn, my master Abd al Qadir al Jilani

came with a green cloth decorated withthe inscription: ‘There is no god but GodMost High and Mohammed is the Mes-senger of God Most High’. In this vision Uthman dan Fodio wasdecorated with the cloth. The Sheikh AlJilani to whom Uthman dan Fodio re-

ferred died in 1166 AD, some 578 yearsbefore Uthman dan Fodio was born. Thus, in the lives of Mystics such as theCaliph Uthman dan Fodio, Divine guid-ance was sought and was near; at night bydreams and visions and by day by themeans of the ‘Divine Voice’ which a reader of the works of the Islamic Mystics will sooften come across.

Uthman Dan Fodio as a scholar

Uthman dan Fodio was an erudite scholarand a great intellectual, who toweredabove any of his day. He was a prolificwriter and had to his credit over 100 worksand 480 poems written over a period of 40years. The works of Uthman dan Fodio coveredthe fields of theology, politics, sociologyand economics. (Please see The Intellectu-al Origin of the Sokoto Jihad by AhmedMuhammed Kani pages 45-58).

The Shiekh or the spiritual master orguide

The Sheikh is a man of ripe experiencewho had himself journeyed far in the Mys-tic Path, the Path of self-denial, the path ofprayer and of fasting. He is the man whohas succeeded in the mortification of theflesh and also expelled from his heartworldly desire so that the light of Divinity

is now resplendent in him. To the Mysticshe is the perfect man. He is a saint. He isthe great bulwark against the destructivetidal waves of ill-informedfanaticism.(Please see the Mystics of Islamby Professor Reynold Nicholson, pages 28-49).

Why are the Sheikhs so necessary to-day?

Where there are no true Sheikhs, their veryimportant positions in the Religion of Is-lam and in society are taken over by fa-natical, unnecessarily aggressive and illformed leaders. Such religious leaderssoon gather around them many simple-minded folks who are then imbued withfalse doctrines and doctrines whichpreach violence. In no time such groups inflict themselveson the society as Maitatsine or Boko Har-am. The leadership of Islam and the Ni-gerian Muslim elite have it as a the dutyto act on the instruction left behind by theCaliph: to teach Nigerian Muslims aboutSufism in order to produce the sheikhs, ifGod Most High wills, and to ensure thatthey are right in the centres of where theycan influence societal thought , places suchas the universities.

BY MURID MUSA JARIKRE

*Musa-Jarikre wrote from Sapele, DeltaState.

Passports, privileges,poverty

ONE of the most urgent bills before the National Assembly is one seeking

amendments to the 2004 Passport Act. It hasgone through the second reading at the Houseof Representatives and it is a matter of timefor the amendments to become law.

What would the law contribute to the well-being of Nigerians? The importance of the lawis its establishment of privileges it confers oncertain classes of Nigerians. The law is toclearly determine, its proposers say, those whoshould be entitled to bear diplomatic, and of-ficial passports.

How important is this? Members of the Na-tional Assembly in executing their oversightfunctions, engage in extensive travels abroad.They want to change Nigeria to resemble theirchoice travel destinations. They have largelyfailed in the past 14 years to reflect lessonsfrom their travels in the Nigeria they build.

Another major reason for their travels is lei-sure, which is found in parts so far flung thatdiplomatic passports ease their passages. Sim-ilarly, when they venture abroad for medicalattention, their status and importance must beflaunted at every stop.

Diplomatic, and official passports are there-

fore important. They are status symbols, theycannot be allowed to stray into too manyhands, otherwise, they become ordinary andreduce the status of their users.

Formerly, the executive arm of governmentissued the documents at its discretion. Thereare fears that some people, including somemembers of the National Assembly, may beexcluded from the privilege, unless the lawclearly confirms their status. Moreover, the

House of Representatives has started decid-ing those who would not get the passports.

The Comptroller Generals of the Fire Serv-ice and the Nigeria Security and Civil DefenceCorps, NSCDC, were removed from the list

the House Committee on Interior compiled.Our concerns are with the importance the

National Assembly attaches to laws that ex-tend the privileges of its members while ne-glecting the issues that result in the povertythat is ravaging the land.

How many laws has it made to facilitate pol-icies that would minimise poverty? How doprivileges like these benefit millions of Ni-gerians who in their lifetime would never needpassports, not to mention diplomatic, and of-ficial ones?

When the National Assembly moves for itsbenefit, the urgency is obvious. The rapidityof delivery assumes a national importance dis-proportionate to the issue. Even at the apo-gee of abuses visited on similar official privi-leges, less than half a million Nigerians wouldhave the diplomatic, and official passports atany given time.

The National Assembly can have its pass-ports. It should, however, attend to the wor-ries of most Nigerians — education, employ-ment, food, health, infrastructure, justice, se-curity. Nobody requires diplomatic passportsto fix Nigeria.

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—————1919191919

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Anambra governorshipelections and NdigboBY CLEMENT UDEGBE

ON October 7, 2013,political campaign activi-

ties formally started in AnambraState of the South East Nigeria,preparatory to the election nextmonth, for the person who willtake over from Governor PeterObi. Three major political par-ties' candidates will lock hornsin the election: Chief Obiano ofAPGA, Chief Ngige of APC, andChief Ifeanyi Uba of Labour Par-ty. Much is yet to be heard of thePDP, which appears bogged downby its own political self-destroy-ing machinations and mischief.

Anambrarians, in particular,and Ndigbo in general will per-haps showcase a better electionthis time than the show of shameof the past.It is hoped that thiswill be an election that will seethe least of violence, thuggery,ballot box snatching since 1999,because of the decency of the meninvolved this time, made easierby the clarity of the choice to bemade among the candidates. Thelines seem pretty clear betweenthe candidates. Voters who areimpressed with display of wealth,opulence and all the razzmatazz,will root for the Labour candi-date; those who are drawn moreby the nostalgia of past perform-ance in delivery of electoralpromises will go for the APC can-

didate, while those who want bal-anced development of their statewith a view to the future of Ndig-bo in Nigeria, will queue behindthe APGA candidate. It wouldhave been sweeter, more exciting,and interesting if we had the eru-dite and eloquent Prof CharlesSoludo in this election. It is un-fortunate that he is not in thisrace.

For many, this is the electionthat will speak for the known op-position national party, the APC.The absence of the PDP in theirfull force, as yet, makes victorymore taunting to the APC, pro-viding it with a golden opportu-nity to make credible inroad intothe Igbo enclave. Many have ar-gued, and I agree with them, thatthe personal unreserved apologyto Ndigbo, made recently by Gov-ernor Babatunde Fashola of La-gos State, for the deportation in-cident was to increase the politi-cal fortunes of the APC in thiselection. It was to give ChiefNgige the latitude he deserved byremoving that powerful arsenalfrom the armoury of the APGAand others. I had personallyhoped that the APC will make themiscalculation of riding with thepoorly articulated, myopic, andpolitically damaging reasoningof Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in jus-tifying the deportations. Gover-nor Fashola’s apology to Ndigbo

in person is a display of graceand political maturity, betterreasoning, as it pulled the rugfrom under the feet of their polit-ical traducers in Igbo land. Theapology took the ball back to thecourt of Ndigbo, to do what theymust in order to develop theirareas and give their peoples thecorrect sense of belonging in thegeographical expression we callNigeria. It has given ChiefNgige, who many admire in An-ambra politics and amongNdigbo, the level playing field hedeserves to win this election.Chief Ngige seemingly has noreason not to sweep the polls ex-cept for the nagging uncertaintyover who the APC presidentialflag bearer will be. The APC willdo better for Chief Ngige if theywill come out with their presiden-tial flag bearer now. Failure todo this will fuel speculations thatthey will end up with a candidate

at the national level who will bevery difficult to market to Ndig-bo, and this alone will surelywork against Chief Ngige in thenext few weeks, whether ChiefRochas Okorocha relocates toAnambra or not, as he has report-edly promised to do, in supportof Chief Ngige.

Those who wonder and ponderdeeply on what becomes of Ndig-bo in Nigeria politics, look be-yond 2015, and therefore attachlittle weight to the impact of thepersonal wealth and power of thedramatis personae in this elec-tion. These people are convincedthat Ndigbo should have theirown power base in one politicalparty. The atomicity of the PDPculture in recent times, betray theinstability in random agglomer-ation of individuals with just thesimple drive to dominate othersthrough economic power ratherthan effect the deliverance ofgood governance to the people.It becomes obvious that current-ly, ethnic sentiments, and powerbase associations confer betteropportunities for power negotia-tion at the center. It is the lack ofrealisation and acceptance ofthis fact by many Ndigbo that isresponsible for their being andremaining the scape goats of theNigerian political dynamics.While many Ndigbo have ac-quired immense individual eco-nomic and political power, theSouth East largely remains a de-prived, denied area in too manya sense in our dear country Ni-geria. The need to address thisimbalance makes it imperativefor Ndigbo to think and look be-

yond 2015 in all their politicalcalculations.

While it may be desirable andattractive to some to aim at be-coming a Vice President underthe APC, or any other arrange-ment, it is more permanent, fea-sible and wiser for Ndigbo toplan for Presidency after 2015,by forming and consolidating apolitical base within one party atthis time. The dwindling fortunesof the Labour Party, in other po-litical zones, make it less attrac-tive to the Igbo man who has alsolost so much under the now deadand buried PPA. This electiontherefore becomes a crucial onefor Ndigbo because it will con-front the big issues of the direc-tion of Ndigbo politically in thereality of present day Nigeria.

This is why the promise ofAPGA as the rallying party forNdigbo becomes a task thatshould be accomplished by allwho think and live Ndigbo, hav-ing awakened to the realities ofNigeria political currents. Ndig-bo can all relate to Dim Odimeg-wu Ojukwu, in APGA, draw inspi-rations from our heros pastthrough AGPA, plan and negoti-ate a better South Eastern Niger-ia under APGA. Ndigbo can re-solve to sink their differences andforgive each other as good broth-ers, under AGPA, and this elec-tion offers Ndigbo and Anam-brarians these awesome oppor-tunities.

*Mr Udegbe, a legal practition-er, wrote from Lagos.

Condemning police brutality ofRivers teachers

AGAINST all odds, the Rivers Stategovernment led by Chibuike Rotimi

Ameachi, chairman, Nigeria GovernorsForum, NGF, scored another first: offeringemployment to 13,000 teachers at once! Atan envisaged colourful ceremony at theLiberation Stadium, Port Harcourt wherethe new teachers were to be offered their‘Letters of Appointment’ on Wednesday,September 25, the police invaded the venuein over 20 Toyota Hilux patrol vans andbrutalised the teachers!

They came shooting teargas into the facesand eyes of the harmless and defencelessteachers, flogging, beating andmanhandling them – causing a stampedeand dispersing them abruptly, with many,including women falling over themselvesin their attempt to flee the chaotic scene.

Rather than commend the efforts of theAmeachi-led administration for achievingthis no mean feat and contributingmeaningfully in reducing unemploymentin the country, the police felt otherwise.Coming at a time of immense state andparty-sponsored tribulation againstGovernor Ameachi, this police assault isone too many! The list of assault could beendless. I therefore write to condemn it andcall for the re-deployment of the policeCommissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu fromthe state.

The last before this latest assault, ofcourse took place on September 20. Thepolice in Rivers State under the control ofCommissioner Mbu harassed over 500youths, aged between 14 and 21, who wereon tour of projects in Port Harcourt withGovernor Ameachi – an initiative of RotaryInternational, District 9140 for youngfuture leaders. The armed policemen also

trailed the young persons every where theywent with the governor.

I consider reasons adduced by the policefor their action as porous and hollow – onethat cannot hold water. According to theCommand’s new spokesman, AhmedKidaya Muhammed: “The Rivers Stategovernment failed to inform the RiversState Police Command of the event. It wasdeemed an illegal gathering. Police got anintelligence report that there was going tobe a break-down of law and order”.

How can the police deem such activityas the presentation of ‘Appointment Letters’to newly-recruited teachers “illegal”? Theevent portrayed nothing sinister as it wasneither held in the dead of the night nor ata secret and unaccessible venue. It was heldin broad day light at a public venue that iseasily accessible; so why acting as if it is acult meeting or something of sort thatis deemed “illegal”?

Talking in terms of seeking police permitor informing police before joblessNigerians could access their ‘Letters ofAppointment’ is as funny as it is astonishing.Which government – federal, state andlocal – has ever sought police permit todespatch ‘Appointment Letters’ toNigerians that are being offered jobs? It isnot the first time that the Rivers Stategovernment would be inviting this set ofapplicants and they’ve always gatheredwithout police permit or any untowardoccurrence like breakdown of law andorder. So why is their gathering at theLiberation Stadium different from theirearlier gathering at the invitation of thesame government?

Come to think of it, the whole exercisewas of public knowledge. Radio and TVstations in the state were awash with theannouncement, even dailies carried it -nothing clandestine at all! So whatever

meaning or colouration the police is givingto it is all balderdash! The so-called‘intelligence report’ that there was goingto be a break-down of law and order, whichthe police lay claim to, is all balderdashand cannot be substantiated. It is the usualwitch-hunting of Governor Ameachi! It isthe usual discrediting of anything Ameachidoes by the police authorities in RiversState. And this is too bad, too sad!

Even factional chairman of the state PDP,Felix Obuah’s volt-face defence of thepolice over-zealous action is faulty. Saidhe:”It’s a ploy by Ameachi to use frustratedyouths as protesters against PresidentJonathan”. Again, this is untrue, nothingcould be far from the truth than this. Ifanything, the exercise is meant tocomplement the President’s efforts atreducing unemployment rate in thecountry. Casting aspersion and throwingstones , like Obuah busied himself doingat any given opportunity is to say the least,flabbergasting. Deliberatelymisrepresenting facts and misleading thepublic – which has become the trademarkand hallmark of the Obuah-led faction ofthe PDP in the state tantamount to aninvitation to uprising and anarchy in thestate.

One wonders when Obuah will refrain

from toying with the collective will anddestiny of Rivers people. His inflammatorystatements are attempt at setting RiversState ablaze so Rivers people shouldcontinue to ignore him.

What is even more disturbing in thiswhole saga is that the police in their questto disperse the 13,000 teachers, teargassedand humiliated them – including women –and as they ran for their precious lives,many were injured, forcing one of theaffected teachers to lament to the Nationnewspapers: ”Our forced dispersal is veryunfortunate and least expected in ademocracy”.

It is interesting though that with all itsretrogressive actions against the teachers,the police could not succeed in breakingtheir spirit, as rather than flee immediatelyto their houses, they re-grouped directlyopposite the stadium’s main gate,discussing their fate and the policebrutality on them, up to about 12 noon - from about 8.30 a.m when the policedescended on them.

All in all, in whose interest is the policeaction? Is it in the interest of the teachers,masses, state or nation? Certainly not!Rather it’s in the interest of a few powerfulpoliticians who have become ‘feudal lords’and who have seen Commissioner Mbu andhis men as ready tool of destabilisation intheir hands!

No wonder Governor Ameachi describedit as “a crude display of federal might,senseless, barbaric, shameful and theheight of desperation”. I cannot agree less.

It is therefore condemnable! I condemnit in strong and unequivocal term and urgeall well-meaning people and progressiveminds to condemn this attempt by thepolice at sending the teachers back to thelabour market, an attempt to send societyback to the dark ages when men groped inthe dark, in the jungle of life!

Mr. Enebeli, a Rivers State Liaison officer,wrote from Abuja.

BY JOHN ENEBELI

While manyNdigbo have ac-quired immenseindividual eco-nomic and politi-cal power, theSouth East large-ly remains a de-prived, deniedarea in too manya sense in Niger-ia

I condemn in strongand unequivocal termthis attempt by thepolice at sending theteachers back to thelabour market, anattempt to sendsociety back to thedark ages

20—20—20—20—20—VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguard, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, OCTOBER 11, OCTOBER 11, OCTOBER 11, OCTOBER 11 , , , , , 20132013201320132013

Debate of the masses

BY EBELE ORAKPO

‘‘

Tears as Imo buries foodpoison victims

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

IT was a sorry sight to beholdas five white caskets containing

the lifeless bodies of Madam GraceNwosu and her daughters werebrought into the sleepy rural com-munity of Egbelu Nguru, Ngor Ok-palaeke local council area of ImoState for burial.

The unfortunate victims mysteri-ously died May 31, this year, afterconsuming a local but very nutri-tious delicacy, Ugba (oil bean sal-ad), prepared by the matriarch ofthe family, Grace Nwosu.

Those interred included Proph-etess Nwosu, Chinelo Nwosu (a400 level student of University ofNigeria, Nsukka), Chidera Nwosu,Njideka Nwosu, Chizitere Nwosu.The grand-children, Ijeoma andAmaka Frank were buried in theirhometown, Mbieri, Mbaitoli LocalGovernment Area of the state.Many people who were at the scenewere simply dumbfounded. Emo-tions ran very high. Tears flowedfreely down the cheeks of people.Others wailed uncontrollable, whilea good number of sympathisers end-lessly cursed those they claimed poi-soned the oil bean salad, whichkilled Madam Nwosu and her chil-dren.

The confusion in the arena natu-rally forced members of Cherubimand Seraphim Church, who wereconducting the requiem service totemporarily halt proceedings untilsome sanity was restored. SeniorApostle John Afokalam, who deliv-ered the homily, cursed those whoperpetrated the evil act. He furtherpromised that they will never go un-punished, adding that their onlysaviour would be if they openly con-fessed their sin to God and beforeEgbelu Nguru people.

He admitted that the loss was co-lossal but enjoined the survivingmembers of the Nwosu family to facethe distasteful event with equanim-ity and faith in God.

“Death is not victory to the devil.Death is not victory to the perpetra-tors of evil. It is, however, advisablefor evil doers to retrace their stepsand turn to God or be prepared toface the full wrath of God,” SeniorApostle Afokalam said.

In a message, the Baba Aladura ofthe church, Dr. L. A. Onyeleonu, rep-resented by the Secretary, CentralManagement Committee 8, Dr. Bas-sey Edem, said the church was

shocked by the mystery surround-ing the death of members of Nwosufamily and others. “The church isgiving them a national burial to ful-ly demonstrate that death can neverbe victory over the children of God,”Onyeleonu fumed.

Explaining the delay in buryingthe deceased members of the Nwo-su family, Edem linked it to policeinvestigation, adding that the churchonly got the go-ahead signal fromthe Imo police boss, Mr. Moham-med Katsina at about 4pm the pre-vious day and fixed the burial forSaturday, October 5, 2013.

The leadership and members of theNational Association of Imo State Stu-dents, NAISS, University of Nigeri-an, Nsukka Chapter, were fully rep-resented at the event. They ex-pressed palpable anger over theloss of their colleague. Speaking tojournalists, the President of the body,Comrade Hilary Nwauzoije, vowed

that they will not rest until the causeof the death of their colleague wasunearthed and the perpetratorscommensurately punished.

Similarly, youths of Egbelu Ngu-ru community lampooned the stategovernment for allegedly abandon-ing the surviving members of thefamily in their moment of grief.They grieved that the state govern-ment did not make any financialcontribution towards the burial anddescribed it as “very injurious tothe administration of GovernorRochas Okorocha”. The Sole Ad-ministrator of Ngor Okpala localcouncil area, Mr. Stanislaus Ugo-

Language wahala:Different strokes fordifferent folks

IT was as if commuters in the CMS-bound

commuter bus this Tuesdaymorning, unanimously de-cided to create their ownhappiness despite theheart-rending news itemsbombarding them from alldirections in the past cou-ple of weeks as theylaughed all the way to thefinal bus-stop.

The conversation startedwhen a commuter by name,Tunji, put a call through tohis friend. “Hello Olaniyi(which means glory is inwealth). Bawo ni (How areyou)?

Another commuter byname Okey, burst outlaughing and as soon asTunji ended the call, helooked enquiringly at Okeywho was still laughing forno apparent reason. “Whyare you looking at me likethat? I am laughing be-cause of your friend’s name.I just remembered the inci-dent that happened a longtime ago in the Eastern partof the country,” whereup-on, he launched into a veryfunny narrative. “A Yorubaman named Olaniyi foundan Igbo lady he wanted tomarry and as tradition de-mands, he went to the girl’shome town to perform thetraditional rites. Everythingwas going on smoothlyuntil some elders of the la-dy’s family went to her andasked her the name of thebridegroom and she replied‘Olaniyi’.

You could have heard apin drop. The silence wasso loud. Suddenly, theyfound their tongues and allchorused ‘tufia.’ One of theelders then asked the per-plexed lady if she was cra-zy. ‘You want to marry agood-for-nothing, a vaga-bond, someone that willamount to nothing? Hewhom the gods want todestroy, they first makemad. If you want to commitsuicide, count us out’.”

As the laughter was dy-ing down, Steve said: “Andbawo ni equally meanssomething different inHausa. It means ‘there isnone’; so when a Yorubaman asks a Hausa manbawo ni, the mischievousones will reply thus: ‘Gaweni, ga weni, wai ba woni,meaning: ‘Here is one and

here is another and youare saying there is none.”

“Oh, what about theYoruba guy who went tovisit his Igbira friend inOkene. On arrival, the Ig-bira guy ran and embracedhis friend and in his ex-citement, he decided to callhis father to come andshare in his joy. He said:“Ota mi de, ada mi da?The visiting friend took tohis heels and the friendcould not understand whatwas wrong with his friend.In Igbira, it means ‘myfriend has arrived, whereis my father to help mewelcome him’; while inYoruba, it means, ‘My en-emy is here, get me my cut-lass.”

“Ha, this one pass Tow-er of Babel incident oo,”noted Janet. “I heardabout an Owerri lady thatcame on a visit to Lagosand went to an eatery toeat. She asked for garri andsoup. She was served soupfirst because the garri wasnot ready. By the time thewoman came with the gar-ri, the hungry lady hadeaten half of the soup andthe eatery owner went bal-listic. ‘O ni were ni (youmust be mad),’ shescreamed at the lady. Thelady gave her a disarmingsmile and calmly replied:“O lee akpa ishi mara shiawum onye Owerri? (Howdid you know I am fromOwerri).” It was the turnof the eatery owner to beconfused,” said Comfort.

“There is also the storyof a Fulani man who wentto a Yoruba food seller toask where he could easehimself. ‘Arniya, ina zantutu? (Female heathen,where can I defecate?)asked the Fulani man. Thewoman who did not un-derstand a word of whatwas said replied: ‘Kilo njebe? (What is that?)’ Smil-ing happily, the Fulaniman said: ‘O hoo, nan akejapa miki shi? (Oh great!This is where they depositit for you.),” narrated Mer-cy. “You can imagine therest of the story.”

At this point, peoplewere holding their sides asthey laughed so hard.“Oh, I love my country,Naija. God bless Naijaand the people,” declaredOkey.

Death is not victory to the devil; death is notvictory to the perpetrators of evil; it is, however,advisable for evil doers to retrace their stepsand turn to God

chukwu Okere, who stood in for thestate government, debunked the al-legation by the youths. He remind-ed the youths that when news ofthe ugly incident spread, the Gov-ernor visited members of the familyas well as doled out the sum of N5million for the burial arrangementsof the deceased citizens.

The Sole Administrator appealedto people to allow the sleeping dogto lie, stressing that nobody shoulddo anything that would further en-danger the lives of the survivingmembers of Nwosu family. As peo-ple made to leave the community,they prayed that such ugly incidentsshould not befall Imo people again.They recalled that not too long ago,a family was wiped out in Emekuku,Owerri North Local GovernmentArea of the state. They died fromgenerator fume on the night theyburied their mother.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 — 21

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING

CBN Exchange rate as at 10/10/2013

110.06 +0.38

103.53 +0.50

114.95 0.45

2,725.00 +26.00

18.63 0.04

DOLLAR 154.73 155.23 155.73POUNDS 248.6821 249.4857 250.2893EURO 209.9686 210.6471 211.3256FRANC 166.4336 166.9714 167.5091YEN 1.5971 1.6023 1.6075CFA 0.3017 0.3117 0.3217WAUA 237.1949 237.9614 238.7279RENMINBI 25.2694 25.3515 25.4336RIYA 41.2558 41.3891 41.5225KRONA 28.144 28.2349 28.3259SDR 237.8974 238.6661 239.4349

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

INTERNATIONAL LabourO r g a n i s a t i o n ,ILO, has called on world

leaders to step up the fightagainst child labour, sayingirrespective of noticeablereduction in recent time, it isstill a very large number.

ILO Director-General, GuyRyder, told delegates to theongoing third GlobalConference on Child labour toredouble their efforts so thatthe international communitycould reach the target it set foritself to eradicate the worstforms of child labour by 2016.

ILO’s latest global estimateson child labour,released in therun-up to the conference, showthat since 2010, the number ofchild labourers has droppedby one-third to 168 million.While the fall in numbers isgood news, the ILO DGwarned that “ it is still a verylarge number - it is only 27million fewer than the entirepopulation of Brazil.Thesechildren constitute 168 millionreasons for our presence here

Step up fight against child labour —ILO

From left: Investment Executive, Financial Institutions, Debt and Structured Finance, CDC Limited, Miss Dalia Aga; ExecutiveDirector, South East/Treasury, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu; and Managing Director, Debt and Structured Finance,CDC Limited, Mr. Holger Rothenbusch, during their visit to Skye Bank Plc .

Manufacturing exporters get N12bnNEXIM funding

NIGERIAN Export-ImportBank (NEXIM) has stat-

ed that it has provided N12 bil-lion in lending to Nigerian ex-port manufacturers, many ofwho put the “Proudly Nigeri-an” label on their products inthe West African sub-regionalmarket and globally.

The bank also said that it hasfunded agro-processing exportenterprises to the tune of N6.6billion in the period August2009 to April 2013,

Managing Director of theBank, Roberts Orya, who stat-ed this in Abuja, said agricul-ture alone contributes over 40per cent to GDP with investmentopportunities in cash crops likecocoa, rubber, cashew, oil palm,gum arabic among others.

“The Nigerian governmentseeks to develop value-chainsin high potential crops and oth-er agriculture commodities, in-cluding tomatoes, soya beans,cotton, rice, maize and cassa-va. In the area of mineral re-sources, Nigeria has over 34 sol-id minerals in commercial

like tomato, soya bean, cotton,rice, Maize, cassava, leatherand wood products.”

“With an annual food deficitgrowth of 3.4% reaching $22bil-

quantities.”Orya noted that “Ni-

geria is now more attrac-tive as an investor desti-nation with an increasein inflow of Foreign Di-rect Investment (FDI) to$8.9 billion in 2011 from$4.9 billion in 2004 whiletotal merchandise tradeincreased from $118.93billion in 2010 to $153.1billion in 2011.”

Lamenting the insignif-icant volume of trade be-tween African nations,the Managing Directorsaid the non-oil sector inNigeria offers huge in-vestment opportunities,saying that “Nigeria is amajor producer of foodand cash crops and theNigerian governmentseeks to develop valueschains particularly forvalue added products

BY DAN GUMM lion in 2011 according to theFood and Agricultural Organi-sation (FAO), Nigeria can con-tribute to food security in Afri-ca,” he said.

THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday,

sold N31.82 billion($822.59million) worth ofTreasury Bills with maturitiesranging from three monthsand one year with yieldsbroadly flat compared withthat of the previous auction.

The CBN sold N20.15 bil-lion worth of 91-day TreasuryBills at 10.8 per cent com-pared with 10.85 per cent atthe previous auction lastmonth.

The CBN also sold N43.49billion in the 182-day note at11.64 percent, slightly lowerthan the 11.69 percent at thelast auction, while a total ofN68.18 billion of the 364-daydebt was sold at 11.74 per-cent, the same returns as atthe Sept. 26 auction.

Investors’ bids reachedN250.55 billion comparedwith N315.48 billion at theprevious auction.

CBN sellsN132bn inTBsBy PATRICIA NWOSU With

Agency Report

today.”The conference will take

stock of the progress achievedsince the second globalconference that took place inThe Hague in 2010.

The ILO Director-Generalcautioned that the current rateof progress was not fastenough, saying “Let us beclear. We will not meet the 2016target and that is a collectivepolicy failure. We have to dobetter. Child labour is only aproblem of poor or developingeconomies but affects allcountries.”

He urged participants todirect their efforts towardspolicies and actions that havebeen successful.

“We are seeing child labourconcerns mainstreamed intopublic policy in multiple,relevant fields. We see greaterclarity about the need forbetter school- to-worktransition and skills-matching.We see a new globalconsensus on the need toensure social protection floorsfor all people. We see greaterunderstanding that decentwork for adults and youth of

working age is a necessity ifwe are to ensure familyincomes that do not rely onchild labour– and in turn, thatchild labour underminesdecent work and decent wagesfor adult workers”, said Ryder.

According to the latest globalestimates, child labour ispredominant in agriculture,both formal and informal, andin other sectors of the informaleconomy.

The ILO chief highlightedthe role of enterprises andtrade unions that have beentaking up the challenges of theinformal economy: tradeunionism is growing amonginformal economy workers andenterprises have beendiscussing with trade unionshow to clean up their valuechains, protect and respecthuman rights at work andremedy the violations.

But Ryder also warned thatthere is a danger that as the“long march” against childlabour appears to be enteringits final phase, theinternational communitymoves its attention away fromthe fight against child labour.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

CMYK

BRIEFS

7-Up Bottling Company willspend as much as N681

million in 2013 in pursuingoutstanding court cases, evenas it spent N2.26 billion inservicing different banks’ loansin the year ended 31stMarch,2013.

This is contained in thecompany ’s 2013 AnnualReports and Accounts.

The amount to be spent onlitigation, according toinformation available in thereport, is about 1.3 percentincrease over N672 millionexpended in the correspondingperiod of 2012.

According to the report, “Thecompany is engaged in lawsuitsthat have arisen in the normalcourse of business. Thecontingent liabilities in respectof pending litigation and otherclaims amounted to N681

7-Up spends N2.2bn on debtservicing

million as at March, 2013(2012: N672 million.)”

The report also revealedthat 7-Up has an unsecuredloans totaling N25 millionwith key managementpersonnel as at the end ofMarch, 2013, same as2012.

Though the companystated in the report that itis not expected to suffer anymaterial loss arising fromthe claims, shareholders atthe 54thannual generalmeeting warned againstimpact of such litigations,saying that it is eroding thecompany’s earnings.

Speaking on behalf ofother shareholders, Mr.Godwin Anono, President,Standard ShareholdersAssociation of Nigeria saidthat N681 million is asmuch as annual turnover ofsome companies in

Nigeria, while calling on themanagement to look for a wayof ending those cases.

He said, “Let’s know thekind of people we are doingbusiness with; we can’t keepwasting our resources oncourt cases when we needmoney to grow our business.It is a whooping amount. Weshould identify the source ofthe problem and deal with itimmediately.”

The duo of Peter Okoh andGbadebo Olatokunbo alsocautioned the companyagainst over-dependence onbank loans to fund itsbusiness, saying thatsomething should be doneabout the company ’sborrowings.

“The last time weapproached the capitalmarket for fund was in 1996.We cannot continue to workfor banks; it is not advisable.

We should look for a way ofraising cheap fund,” theysaid.Earlier, the chairman,Faysal El-khalil, said thatcontinuing high prices ofkey manufacturing inputshad significant impact onthe operating marginsduring the year. However,“With the help of aggressivesales and marketinginitiatives, we were able togrow the volumesignificantly in the secondhalf of the year and mitigatethe impact of sluggish salesand price roll back in theearlier months,” El-khalilstated.“I am pleased to report thatdespite many seriouschallenges the companyfaced during the year underreview, it has been able toachieve satisfactory results.This improved performanceis a reflection of the capacityinvestments the companyhas been making and theoperational efficiencies andcost-saving strategiesimplemented by themanagement,” he added.

Shares of South Africa’sTelkom SA hit their

highest in 20 months after thefixed-line operator said first-half earnings likely rose morethan 20 percent, the latestsign a turnaround at thestruggling company isgaining traction.

Telkom has been battered foryears by falling profits thanksto stiff competition frommobile operators MTN Groupand Vodacom, which itpreviously owned.

It was also hurt by anexpensive failed attempt toexpand into Nigeria and arevolving door of chiefexecutives. CEO SiphoMaseko became the sixthchief executive since 2005when he took over in Aprilthis year.

But Maseko appears to beconvincing investors he isgetting the company back ontrack. In June Telkom wrotedown the value of its networkby 12 billion rand ($1.2billion).

South Africa’sTelkom SAjumps onnews of higherH1 earnings

CSL Stockbrokers Limited, amember of FCMB Group

Plc, has emerged the “Best In-stitutional Brokerage, 2013” atthe annual Capital Finance In-ternational Awards (CFI.co).

CFI.co, the organisers of theawards ceremony, said that,“Through a very effective com-bination of local and interna-tional experience, CSLS hasbuilt a team and a service offer-ing that is highly regarded bydomestic and international in-stitutional investors. CSLS hasan excellent track record withboth liquid and illiquid as-sets.”

The organisers also stated that

CSL stockbrokers gets Best Institu-tional Brokerage Award

the judging panel was par-ticularly impressed withCSLS’ experienced team oftraders’ ability to providereal-time information flowto clients during tradinghours, thus, providing mar-ket insight to assist clientsin making timely tradingdecisions. This medium hasbeen producing very posi-tive results. CFI.co alsowent on to note that “withregulated offices in Londonand strategic partners inNew York and South Afri-ca, CSL is providing thelevel of access to Nigeriathat the market needs”.

Receiving the award, Mr.

Gboyega Balogun, the Man-aging Director of CSLS, said:“This award is a reflection ofthe consistency and quality ofCSLS’ corporate and institu-tional brokerage business.CSLS brokers public and pri-vate issues on behalf of ourcorporate clients, to our insti-tutional investor client base.We have access to readydeals-flow from the corporateand investment banking busi-nesses within the FCMBGroup, and subject to a deal’ssuitability for our institution-al client(s), we can then actas the conduit that brings cor-porate and institutional inves-tors together.”

LECTURE: From left: The Executive Vice- Chairman, Techno Oil Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Obi (MON);Director-General/CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research(FIRO), Dr.(Mrs.) Gloria. N. Elemo,at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry Centenary lecture held recently in Lagos.

Brentsteadiesabove $109after steepovernightlosses

Brent steadied above $109per barrel on Thursday,

following steep overnightlosses as data showed U.S.crude stocks rose by the mostin a year last week.Festering uncertainty over thebudget standoff in Washingtoncontinued to cloud the outlookfor demand, althoughPresident Barack Obamalaunched a series of WhiteHouse meetings withlawmakers to search for a wayto end the impasse.“The key thing at the momentis the supply situation. We sawa steep increase in stocks,which took its toll on prices,”said Ric Spooner, chief marketanalyst at CMC Markets inSydney.“And now macroeconomicconcerns building over theU.S. budget crisis are drawingin the same direction, leadingto softening oil prices.”

IMFsecuresfinancing tosustainWorld’spooorestcountries

The InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF)

secured today resourcesneeded to sustainconcessional lending to low-income countries (LICs) atan average annual capacityof about SDR 1.25 billion(about US$1.92 billion) overthe longer term, which isbroadly in line with currentestimated demand for IMFsupport to the world’spoorest countries.A critical mass of 151member countries havecommitted to provide to thePoverty Reduction andGrowth Trust (PRGT) theirshare in the partialdistribution of the generalreserve of SDR 1.75 billion(about US$2.7 billion)attributed to windfall profitsremaining from the partialsale of IMF gold,amounting to over 90percent of the distributionthat was approved inSeptember 2012 (see PressRelease No. 12/368). Thesecommitments follow anearlier agreement to useSDR 700 million from apartial reduction of thegeneral reserve attributed towindfall gold profits as partof a strategy to fund the trust.

By PETER EGWUATU

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 — 23

National Programme forFood Security (NPFS)

under the Federal Ministry ofAgriculture, in conjunctionwith the People’s Republic ofChina and the Food andAgriculture Organisation ofthe United Nations (FAO),convened a high level forumaimed at showcasing theachievements of South-SouthCooperation programme inNigeria and otherparticipating African nations.According to the organisers,SSC is the mutual sharingand exchange of keydevelopment solutions –knowledge, experiences,good practices, policies,technology, know-how andresources, between andamong countries in the globalsouth.

In 2003, Nigeria signed aTripartite Project Agreement(TPA) with China and FAO insupport of the NPFS.

The forum with the theme:Promoting innovation,linkages and technologyadaptation: Achievements ofthe South-South Cooperationin African Agriculture, heldbetween September 26 and28, 2013 in Abuja andattracted participants fromBenin Republic, DemocraticRepublic of Congo, Ethiopia,Kenya, Liberia, Malawi,

Namibia, Senegal, SierraLeone, Guinea and Uganda,as well as developmentpartners.

In his address, Nigeria’sMinister of Agriculture andRural Development, Dr.Akinwumi Adesina noted that“China’s agricultural growth isimpressive and offers lessonsfor African countries. Chinapulled over 400 million peopleout of poverty within 10 years,largely throughtransformation of theagricultural sector. Chinatreats agriculture as a matterof national security because

they understand that any nationthat cannot feed itself is a dangerto its own sovereign existence.”

Also speaking, China’s Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Mr.Chen Xiaohua noted that foodsecurity is fundamental to humansurvival and development. “InChina, we have a saying thatAgriculture is the foundation of anation, and food is the heaven toits people. We seek to boost grainand agricultural productivity withincreased input, improvedinfrastructure and acceleratedadvancement in science andtechnology.” He noted that Chinahas fed 21 per cent of world

population with less than 9per cent of world cultivatedland. As one of the earliestand major participatingcountries in SSC under theFAO framework, China hassent altogether 998agricultural experts andtechnicians to 24 countriesin Africa, Asia, South Pacificand the Caribbean. Thebiggest, longest and mostproductive SSC project byChina is with Nigeria,” hesaid.

In a communiqué releasedat the end of the meeting,participants renewed their

commitment to the SSCinitiative as a useful andeffective means to improve foodsecurity and end hunger inAfrica by 2025, as suggested byAfrican Heads of States andGovernments in Addis Ababain July 2013.

They pledged to “ worktogether on developingcooperative projects, methodsand plans, and graduallyperfect approaches ofimplementing effective SSC;continue to shareexperiences, knowledge,technologies, best practicesand capacities in the spirit ofsolidarity, equal partnershipand for mutual benefits inpursuance of our commongoals of eradicating hungerand malnutrition, reducingpoverty and achievingsustainable development.”

They also pledged toactively explore new areasand modalities of multilateralagricultural SSC, in order tomeet the increasing demandfrom African countries foragricultural development andfood security, and constantlyimprove implementationefficiency and results of theprogrammes, adding thatthey will support theGovernments of China andother potential and existingprovider countries, “tocontinue and even expandtheir much valued multi-levelsupport to the SSC framework.“

Adesina commended FAO forits vision in developing,promoting and nurturing SSCto boost agricultural productionin developing countries, notingthat out of a total of 998 Chineseexperts that have been in theSSC programme across Asia,Africa, South Pacific andCaribbean, 686 have been inNigeria. He also praisedChinese Government’s visionto set up a $30m Trust Fund tosupport the SSC, noting thatthe SSC has helped Nigeria inmany areas especially in riceproduction, apiculture,aquaculture, poultry, bambooproduction, development ofsmall scale equipment,vegetable production and dripirrigation. “The impact of theSSC is evident in the lives offarmers, communities andprivate sector firms that havetaken advantage of theprogramme,” he enthused. Heappealed for a closercooperation amongparticipating countries anddevelopment partners saying:“Because we now treatagriculture as a business, theSSC should be modified toSouth-South AgriculturalInvestment Cooperation.”

He believes that Africa holdsthe key to solving the problemof global food challenge asclose to 60 per cent of theworld’s uncultivated arableland is in Africa.Also presentat the forum were Mr. FestusAkinnifesi, Chief, SSC and Ms.Louise Setshwaelo, FAOrepresentative in Nigeria.

Africa holds key to global foodchallenge — Adesina, Agric Minister

*A Nigerian womanlearning how to applyChinese cage fishculture technology,part of the SSC project.

FORUM: Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture (middle), in a warm handshake with Mr. Chen Xiaohua, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Peoples Republic of China, while Laurent Thomas, Asst. Director-General, Technical CooperationDept, FAO, looks on at the high level forum in Abuja.

FOOD SECURITY:

BY EBELE ORAKPO

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Implementation of policies willresult in market, trade integration

BY DANIEL GUMM

Lagos ChamberLagos ChamberLagos ChamberLagos ChamberLagos Chamberprprprprprofofofofoffffffererererers solutions ts solutions ts solutions ts solutions ts solutions toooooSMEs challengesSMEs challengesSMEs challengesSMEs challengesSMEs challenges

SEMINAR — Fromleft: Chairperson, Smalland Medium Enterpris-es Group of the LagosChamber of Com-merce and Industry,LCCI, Mrs .VictoriaOnafowokan Obadina;Chairman, LagosChapter of NationalAssociation of SmallScale Industrilists,NASSI, Mr. SegunKuti-George; ViceChairman, LCCI, Mr.Adams Idufieko; andDirector, Planning, Pol-icy, Monitoring andE v a l u a t i o n ,SMEDAN,Mr. P. J.Atukpa, at the one-day2013 annual seminar inLagos. PHOTO: Dan-iel Gumm.

AFRICAN policy- makers, govern-

ment officials and devel-opment experts recog-nize the crucial role ofregional integration inthe development of Af-rican economies. Theyadd that this interactioncan be accelerated or re-inforced through the cre-ation of a common mar-ket for goods and serv-ices.

However much morecan be done according toAfrican DevelopmentBank background papertitled "Understandingthe Barriers To regionalTrade Integration in Af-rica".

PRESIDENT of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Indus-

try, LCCI, Mr. Goodie Ibru, Wednesday,said that the Small and Medium En-terprises, SMEs sector, has consistent-ly maintained a commendable record asa viable sectoral group in the LagosChamber.

He explained said that SMEs, are cat-alysts of economic growth and have “cru-cial roles to play in the developmentprocess of the economy.”

Ibru, in an opening remarks at the2013 seminr/luncheon of the SMEsgroup of LCCI said that in spite of the

presumed support by the Nigerian government,SMEs have continued to perform below expecta-tions, adding that however, the sector is constrainedby challenges, particularly significant in areas suchas inconsistent government policies, multiple tax-ations, insecurity, lack of planning and technicalknowledge, shortage of man power, and manage-ment strategy, etc.

Ibru, who was represented by the Vice Chairmanof the chamber, Mr. Adams Idufieko said that theLCCI could tackle and find lasting solutions to thechallenges of the SMEs by the various training pro-grammes in capacity building it offers to overcomeinternal obstacles of the SMEs.

In her brief welcome remarks, Chairperson, Smalland Medium Enterprises Group of the LCCI, Mrs .Vic-toria Onafowokan Obadina, noted that the backgroundinformation and opportunies inherent in SMEs, “isone of active and guidance organs of the LCCI,which shared its membership from enterprises andallied businesses.”

Explaining the objectives of the group she statedthat it is to “advance and protect the business in-terests of its members as well as promote commerceand industry within the context of the overall de-velopment of the country.”

She said part of the contribution towards the de-velopment of the SMEs is organising “interactivesession such as this, with aim to address the issuesaffecting the sector and the economy generally, andproffer solutions to the problems confronting oper-ators within the sector.”

“Most businesses in the SMEs sector are goingthrough a difficult period as a result of externaland internal challenges which combine to changethe divine fortune of operators, even as she calledon government to give SMEs the right support todevelop. She added that SMEs themselves havethe responsibilities of working to overcome theirinternal problems.

"Despite the long his-tory of regional integra-tion on the continent,the level of intra-Africantrade remains low incomparison with otherregions," writes AfDBEconomist Kennedy K.Mbekeani in the 23-pagereport. "Using intra-re-gional trade share as ameasure of regional in-tegration, Europe hadthe highest degree ofmarket integration fol-lowed by Asia and NorthAmerica in 2009. Africahad the lowest degree ofmarket integrationamong the 7 regionswith only 11.7% of itstrade destined withinthe continent."

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Continues on page 29

I like the goodthings of life

,,

By SAM ANOKAM

After he was declaredwinner of the first season

of Idols West Africa in 2007,Timi Dakolo has been soaringhigh with success aftersuccess

Currently working on hissecond album, Dakolo, in thischat with our reporterspeaks about the industry,his life, plans, growing up andother issues. Excerpts:

What is happening toy o u ?

I am doing fine. I am doinggreat. I am working on mysecond album right now. I amsupposed to record a newsong with Cobhams thisweek. I am trying to make ita collaboration. I’m already inthe process of sorting that outnow. I am also building myown studio just for thepurpose of recording at myconvenience.

Over the years, you havebeen known for a particulargenre of music, why is thatso?

It is not that I am particularabout one genre but I do Soul,RnB, sometimes, a little bit ofReggae and Rock. I basicallysing what I feel.

It is observed that youperform more on events thathas Niger Delta appeal, whydo you have preference forNiger Delta concerts?

I don’t think so. I go for allkinds of concert. I am a Niger-Deltan and Nigerian too. IfI’m invited for a cause I solelybelieve in, I will be there. Ibelieve in oneness, unity,equality, peace. I believe inlove, in the real sense of the

word. I also believe in goodrelationship, hardwork.

How has the journey been withyou so far?

I won’t complain. I would say it hasups and it has downs. It has times ofstandstills, it has times of slow paces,fast paces but I am learning everyday.

And you hope to achieve what at theend of the day?

I want to become a very greatmusician and to leave a legacy. Iwant my music to still be here longafter I’m gone.

How do you cope withstardom?

I’m just me. Certain times, youcan’t do the simpler things. I likethe good things of life. I like to gowhere normal people go. I am thekind of guy that can wind down thewindow of my car and buy gala ifI’m hungry. I don’t think there isanything bad in it. If I like a shirt,no matter how cheap it is, if I like itand it is going to fit me, I care less.

How do you rate the musicindustry presently?

I think we are not where we ought

to be but we are far from where weused to be. There is a lot of money in itnow unlike how it was before. We canconquer the world. We have so muchtalent in this country.

Any collaboration withOmawunmi soon?

Not yet. We should be looking at itnow. All things are possible

Tell us about your new album?It’s just me so far. I am doing some

old-school songs. I am doing mynormal styles. I am going to featuresome rappers in my song. I have notdecided how the whole package will

be yet but I know it is going to be great. Ihope to realize it sometime next year. I amthe guy that takes my time to get there. Iwould rather slow down to get there than takemy time and miss it.

Do you have any plan to feature anyinternational artistes in any of your songs?

Yes, by the grace of God, I am workingtowards it. I would love to do a collabo withTina Turner. I also love Seal, Jay Z.

What were those things you did before thatyou can no longer do again?

I think I have been learning. I have beenreading a lot. I may not be reading as I used

—Timi Dakolo

I am the kind ofguy that can winddown the window ofmy car and buy galaif I’m hungry. I don’tthink there isanything bad in it. IfI like a shirt, nomatter how cheap itis, if I like it and it isgoing to fit me, I careless

Continues on page

Jim Iyke,Nadia Buaricontinueromance, setfor wedding?

Veteran actorPa Kasumubattles liver,heartdiseases,needs help

I N S I DE:

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 — 31

Exhibition Schedule from OCT. 11 — OCT. 17, 2013

Synopsis

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK

to but I am still reading to gatherknowledge. You can never know it all. I amlearning to play the piano as well as thetheory of music. I will not say I am thereyet but I think information is everything.What you know and another man doesn’tknow is an advantage over the person.

How was growing up like?It was sweet but it had its ups and downs

too. I particularly remember my time withmy grandmother then. How after school,sometimes, I had to help her sell stuffs andall that. I lived with her because my parentswere in Ghana , so they brought me to her.When there was no school fees I did notcomplain until the money came. There wereups and downs but I think that was whatforged me into whoI am today. Mygrandmother usedto have a lot ofsayings whichdidn’t make senseto me as a child orteenager then withwild dreams. Shebelieved inhardwork. Shenever believed inthe easy way out ofthings. She taughtme to fight forwhatever I want.

What do youmiss about yourchildhood?

I miss the placeswe used to sit andsing. My cousinswould come aroundand myg r a n d m o t h e rwould singGhanian songs thatwe initially didn’tunderstand. After awhile, we pickedup the songs wedidn’t understand.I miss all thosestory times. Justbecause we werewith her, she wouldstill tell us storieswe have heardbefore and it wouldbe interesting.

What are your vices?I don’t drink, I don’t smoke but I play

video games a lot. I play Playstation a lot.

Any regret about life so far?I honestly don’t have any regret. I take

everything as a lesson. The only thing Iregret is my grandmother not being here toreap what she has sown in my life. It ispainful.

How do you cope with women?I stay in my house. You can see I’m

married. Though it doesn’t matter to somebut they are on their own. I am your friendbut they can’t get past that. Trust me. Thereis so much at stake to compromise for solittle. We chat, talk but when it becomesuncomfortable, I will tell you my mind. Thatis what I learnt from my grandmother. Sayyour mind. Say the truth. It can’t happen.It is simple.

Do you have any comment on theNigerian music industry?

We have to get it right. They haveto set up a serious body that wouldprotect the rights of the artistesbecause it is their intellectualproperty. You need to earn from it, youneed to make money from it. We haveto have a body that protects us andwe have to tackle piracy. I have beenin one of COSON’s meetings. I thinkthey should get it right, if they do,the entertainment industry is goingto be booming more in this part of theworld. It is not booming enoughbecause there is no structure andwhere there is no structure, thingsdon’t work out. Just like a housewhere the father does whatever helikes as well as the mother andchildren. There is no structure.

There is no rule.Anybody can getaway withanything. There islawlessness.

What kind ofbooks do youread?

I readinspirational books.I also read novelsbut not stupid ones.I don’t read Millsand Booms. I readbooks of JohnGrisham, SydneySheldon, MarioPuzzo, all thosekinds of books. Ialso read a lot ofmagazines andnewspapers. Ifollow Nigerianpolitics too.

You want tobecome apolitician?

If God wills, Iwill. I will not callmyself a politician,I’d rather say Iwant to be a leadersomeday. I want towork with theyouths, give themthat sense ofbelonging. If we all

see this country as our own, it willwork. Why it is like this has to do withthe orientation problem. Someone hassaid it is not what we can get out ofthis country we should be thinking ofbut rather what we can give to it . Thiscountry has given meopportunity.There is a differencebetween a politician and a leader.People follow leaders. People followyou naturally because you have thatcharisma to carry them along. Youhave to feel their plights.

Who is your mentor?I have a truck load. They comprise

of people I watch and people I listento. You can be a mentor to me todayby just one word you say. I wouldthink over it and see how it wouldaffect me and my immediateenvironment. It is not like I have aparticular person I am following hislifestyle. That is how it is for me inmusic. I can have a song for a month.I will play it in my car, with my phone,when I’m sitting down, just to buy

I like the good things of lifeContinues from page

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLANDR.i.p.d. : 1:55pm,6:20pm,8:15pm,10:10pmAlan poza : 11:35am,3:50pmPain and Gain : 11:30am,3:50pmDark Skies : 3:30pm,8:10pmKeeping My Man : 1:55pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJAR.i.p.d. : 10:45am,4:40pm,8:30pmAlan poza : 10:30am,5:00pmPain & Gain : 10:30pm,6:20pmDark skies : 7:10pmKeeping My Man : 2:50pmThe Big Wedding : 7:10pmGrown Ups : 9:00pm2 Guns : 5:00pmElysium : 4:30pmSmurfs 2 : 12:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SECR.i.p.d. : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:00pm,7:00pm,9:00pmAlan poza : 2:25pm,6:55pmPain & Gain : 2:00pm,6:40pm,9:10pmDark Skies : 11:50am,1:50pm,3:50pm,7:30pm,9:30pmKeeping My Man : 12:50pm,5:10pm,The Big Wedding : 2:05pm,3:55pm,5:40pm,This Is The End : 11:50am,4:30pm2 Guns : 2:50pm,7:10pm,9:20pmPhata poster : 5:50pm,8:50pmWorld War Z : 8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJAAlan poza : 12:20pm,6:45pmKeeping My Man : 4:50pm,9:00pm2 Guns : 2:10pm,6:30pm,8:40pmElysium : 2:35pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURTR.i.p.d. : 1:00pm,2:25pm,4:40pm,6:45pm,8:50pmAlan poza : 12:00pm,2:10pm,4:20pm,6:35pm,8:50pmPain & gain : 1:50pm,6:20pm,8:50pmKeeping My Man : 1:30pm,6:00pm,8:25pmThe Big Wedding : 12:20pm,2:40pm,9:00pm2 Guns : 4:30pm,6:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYOAlan poza : 12:15pm,2:30pm,4:45pm,6:55pmKeeping My Man : 12:40pm,2:40pm,4:40pm,6:50pmThis Is The End : 12:05pm,2:20pm,4:35pm,7:00pmGrown Ups 2 : 12:00pm,4:25pmElysium : 11:50am,4:30pmDead Man Down : 2:05pm,4:30pmSmurfs : 11:45am,1:40pmWhite House Down : 3:50pm,6;30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, SURULEREAlan poza : 2:45pm,7:00pmKeeping My Man : 1:00pm,9:00pmThe Big Wedding : 10:40am,2:40pm,6:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADANAlan poza : 2:30pm,4:40pmDark Skies : 12:10pm,2:10pm,8:15pmKeeping My Man : 11:00amThe Big Wedding : 2:15pmGrown Ups 2 : 10:00am FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,CALABARAlan poza : 4:50pm,6:50pmKeeping My Man : 11:00amThis Is The End : 2:15pm,6:35pm,8:45pm

The Movie R.I.P.D and Alan Poza are releasing on Friday, attached are theart work Synopsis for R.I.P.D.A recently slain cop joins a team ofundead police officers working for theRest in Peace Department and tries tofind the man who murdered him. Synopsis for Alan Poza Alan Poza is a hilarious youth comedyand love drama movie which exposesthe emotional adventures of a young,enterprising music industry executiveas he searches for his true inner feelings

TWO GUNSPAIN AND GAINKEEPING MY MANBIG WEDDINGDARK SKIES

in a sector filled with temptations and emotional uncertainties.The movie is produced and directed by Charles Novia and stars topNollywood actors like O.C Ukeje, Beverly Naya and Nobert Young

*Timi

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

KSA, Millie Jackson tangoon stage for Jadeite ball

By JULIET EBIRIM

The Shell Hall Muson CentreLagos will come alive with a live

concert featuring King Sunny Adeand Millie Jackson. The A-listevent, billed for Friday, 1st ofNovember 2013 is the first of its kindand also first of many platformsfrom the Jadeite Group to signifythe official launch of the luxurybrand in Nigeria.

The event which will feature ‘KingSunny Ade’s ‘Through -The -YearsLive Concert’ is an exclusiveopportunity to see for the first timeKing Sunny Ade (KSA) performinga live concert, and showcasing hisbest hits through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’sand the 20th century; a markcelebrating his 50 years on stage.Also performing alongside KSA isthe timeless soulful Diva from theUnited States, Millie Jackson andher band.

The Jadeite platform, a novelty oftwo companies - GWIdeas &RockThompson Nigeria is a highlysuccessful international brandreputed for developing andcreating platforms that deliver top-notch experience for individualsseeking luxury entertainment. Itaims at creating and producingsome of the most exclusive andspectacular premium eventstargeted at high networthindividuals and organizations in a

Williams said, “We are hoping tomake sure that we celebrate thepeople that made arts and culturewhat it is today. The fact that wehave new, up and coming artistsdoesn’t mean we have to forgetthe older ones who they learntfrom. We have to celebrate ourpast. Nigeria is blessed with a lotof arts and cultures. It is also goodto be timeless. The younger onesneed to understand that to havestaying power, consistency is thename of the game. King Sunny

Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Bright Chimeziehave that, to mention but few. This is tocelebrate them and everybody that hascontributed to Nigeria as a whole”.

The event has gained the attention ofsome of the most firmly established brandspresent in Nigeria such as LANSONChampagne, the official drink of the

diamond jubilee for Her Royal Majesty,Queen Elizabeth II of England. Others areMercedes Benz, Zakaa Luxury Concepts,Beat FM, Classic FM and the CentrespreadGroup amongst others. The concert’sentertainment will be produced by EdiLawani, popularly referred to as theGodfather of Showbiz .

fascinating celebration of luxury and success.The Jadeite Ball Nigerian version whose

maiden edition kicks off this year will be anannual event celebrating successful andoutstanding Nigerian individuals andbusinesses, their perseverance and heritage,in an exclusive and luxurious eveningreflecting their best of times.

Speaking on the idea, the CEOof GWIdeas, Mrs. Fola Aganga-

Smooth FM brings Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo to NigeriaBENJAMIN NJOKU

Ten-time Grammy Awardwinning singer and song

writer Chaka Khan, Grammy Awardwinning Benin born Angelique Kidjoand our very own Kaline Akinkugbeare expected to grace the stage at the4th annual Smooth FM Love MusicLove Life Luxury concert, holding this

Saturday, at the Expo Center, Eko Hotel andSuites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In line with its aim of becoming thetrailblazer for world-class musicalentertainment in Lagos, Smooth FM isincreasingly recognised for delivering wellorganised, well-attended and entertainingconcerts offering Nigerians a chance toexperience world famous, legendary souland jazz greats perform on Nigerian soil.

Last year, Smooth FM brought internationallegend and 10-time Grammy Award winningjazz guitarist George Benson to Nigeria forthe first time. In 2011, saxophonist PamelaWilliams, guitarist Jimmy Dludlu and Asadrove, the crowd wild with their performancesand in it’s first year the Love Music Love LifeLuxury Concert had an impressive line upthat included Angie Stone, Gerald Albright,Richard Bona and Mike Stein.

Star takes Gbenga Adeyinka toEnugu for Win and Shine partyStar lager beer, one ofNigeria’s premium beer,manufactured byNigerian Breweries Plc,recently held Enugu legof its Star Win and Shineparty at the Bush Arena,amidst fun andexcitement.Gbenga Adeyinka, theanchor, treated guests torib-cracking jokes. Itemswon by consumersinclude cash prizes ofN100,000, N50,000, LCDTV sets, Blackberryphones, football jerseysand branded carpets.

Consumers Win More Prizes At the second Win & Shine Promo Party

Fun seekers, having a frolicking night at the party

DVD Home Theatre winners at the Lagos party

Jersey Winners, displaying their prizes

Prize Winners pose with their prizes

Vanguard,Vanguard,Vanguard,Vanguard,Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 — 33

CMYK

With PRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUprinceosuagwu@gmail.com

08050498513

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

Nigerians by nature are hardworking people; after a hard

day’s work they feel the need toreturn to their homes to revitalizetheir energies. To achieve this, theyopt for the entertainment, householdand mobile devices provide.However for most people thechallenge most times is how they canoperate these contraptions withoutexpending more energy. This bringsto the fore voice command technology,a technology that makes it possible forconsumers to talk to devices and havethem do what they desire.

The thrill of speaking to a device andhaving it do what you want is beyonddescription; it is difficult to effectivelycolour with words the thrill that comesfrom having a contraption do what werequire.

Times are changing and so also istechnology. With the advancement intechnology, consumers are beginning todemand from technological devices likesmartphones, computers, tablets and otherelectronic gadgets that some level of humaninterface capabilities.

Today, leading technology companies arebecoming increasingly consumer driven,investing in areas like native content to getconsumers onboard their platform.

VVVVVOICE COMMAND:OICE COMMAND:OICE COMMAND:OICE COMMAND:OICE COMMAND:The newThe newThe newThe newThe newsmarsmarsmarsmarsmartttttcompetitioncompetitioncompetitioncompetitioncompetition

Recently LG electronicsannounced intention to lead

i n this technologicaladvancement, showcasing aplethora of forward-thinkingproducts with voice commandand natural languagetechnology, as trump card.

Among them is the LG G2which offers a glimpse of howvoice commands may makeconsumer ’s lives easier.Special feature in this deviceis the VoiceMate whichoperates in different languages.VoiceMate supports a widenumber of the LG G2’s corefeatures including phonecontrol, search navigation andmore. The VoiceMate accordingto LG, was developed toemphasize the human elementof its technology. For instancewhen asked what it had forlunch, VoiceMate will respond,“I ate 220 volts. It was fresh andexciting.” The optimism remainsthat VoiceMate will one day beable to control device settings andretain ‘always on’ capabilities ableto pick up on voice commands evenwhile the phone is in dormant modeAlthough, voice command

technology has been around fordecades, but it has neither beenproperly advanced nor generallyharnessed, despite the fact that it isfar less accurate than typing on akeyboard. But thanks to the initiativesby industry leading technology

companies and smartphone makers,things are looking up.

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

You may not need to entertain toomany questions, as is always the

case, to replace your damagedphones in Nigeria now. At leastSamsung has kicked off thecampaign with the kaunch ofNoQuestion Asked warranty modelfor its Nigerian customers who buythe newly released Galaxy Note 3smartphone.

The device maker has justannounced that the new device doesnot only feature the advancedversion of it’s original 24-monthaccidental damage from handling(ADH) warranty but will allow usersreceive a replacement device in the

Replace damaged galaxynote 3, no questions asked!

event of screen or liquid damageto their Galaxy Note 3, at no extracharge.

Shortly after unveiling thebrand and the Galaxy Gear inCape Town, South Africa recently,Director of Hand Held Productsat Samsung Electronics WestAfrica, Mr. EmmanouilRevmatas, described thepremium service as part ofSamsung’s efforts at providingits consumers with a worry-freelife.

“With the original ADHwarranty, our consumers got totake their Samsung Galaxy S4 forno-money and no-questionsasked repairs for screen andliquid damage, not once but twice

FOUR WAYS TO GET YOUR GADGETSTOLEN

Four ways to get yourgadget stolen

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

It’s very likely that you love your smart phoneor tablet. It’s also very likely that somebody elsedoes too. More often than not, a compliment,and a few ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ would suffice.Unfortunately, some people take it to the nextlevel and would attempt to steal it. Here arefour ways you can help them do just that:

1. Unnecessary flashing: Let’s face it, it’sno use buying an expensive gadget if you can’tshow it off. But too much of that, and you’reunlikely to own your gadget for much longer.Avoid bringing out your gadget in rowdy publicplaces such as bus stops, buses and markets.Even when in driving in traffic, tone it down alittle so you don’t lose your car window anddevice at the same time. If you’re particular aboutnot missing calls, use a headset while on themove.

2. ‘Let me see’ syndrome: So many peoplehave lost their devices to the ‘let me see’syndrome. This is a scenario where someoneyou barely know asks to view pictures, videosor apps on your device, and mysteriouslydisappears with it. If someone you barely knowwants to view your device, you would do well tostay close to them.

3. Forever Charging: If you keep chargingyour device everywhere you go, you are boundto lose it sooner rather than later. Having a lowbattery is not the end of the world, so don’t betoo desperate to charge your phone when yourbattery is low.

4. Owambe: Parties are a good place to loseyour device. It is easy to get so carried awaywith excitement that you are less careful thanusual. A simple way to ensure that your devicescome out unscathed from parties is to be deviceconscious. Another tip is to hold on to only onedevice throughout the event.

during the first two years of the lifeof their device. For the Galaxy Note3, we have upgraded the service.With the Samsung Premiumwarranty, instead of two repairclaims, users of the device will nowget two instant phone replacementsover the 24-month warranty period,at no extra charge.

With technology developing at thespeed of light, and touch screen fast

becoming the order of the day, it seemsunusual that no device has been developedto allow users feel the images displayed onit. However, if the Disney Company has itsway, this might change sooner than we think.

Disney is developing a tactile touch screendevice that allows users to ‘feel’ imagesdisplayed on it. According to a recent report,

Virtual images you can touch?Disney researchers havediscovered a way to fool the nerve-endings of users into believingthey’re able to feel textures on thesurface of a touch screen.

The way this is done is bysending tiny vibrations off thescreen’s surface, which fool thenerve-endings in a user ’s fingersinto believing they’re touching a

something different in compositionto the surface of the touch screen.Essentially it tricks users intobelieving they ’re physicallyinteracting with ridges, edges andtextures. The developers said thatthe algorithm that allows for all ofthis physical interaction could easilybe applied to existing touch screendevices.

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 —35

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

08102479985 By Bartholomew Madukwe(nwamad@yahoo.com)PEOPLE SPEAK

On the proposed national conference

Foundationdonates toschools

FADAMA: Rivers' agency, communityon warpath over land acquisition

BY FESTUS AHON

THE national conference should help us

as a country to make nec-essary adjustments—structurally and politi-cally— that will ensurewe remain one in what-ever form. Basically, theconference is a goodthing for the country.—Miss Ilokoli Augusta,Student.

WELL, the conference could make

us revert to our four-re-gion structure: North,West, East and Mid-West. It can either decideto remain federal orchoose a confederal sys-tem. But I think the latteris the beginning of disso-lution.— Mr. MartinsIfeanyi, Businessman.

THE conference is in-deed good, espe-

cially if it will bring to anend issues that causestrike in the educationsector. Students that aretomorrow’s leader havebeen disappointed withthe ongoing ASUUstrike. The end is stillunknown.— Miss Chio-ma Ani, Communicator.

THE call for nationalconference is not a

call for the working classto take over govern-ment. Rather, it is for re-gions and ethnic nation-alities to determine theirfuture. Some people havechose guns to achievetheir aim. We chose dia-logue.—Miss BlessingEzeokoye, Student.

WHY are we talkingabout national con-

ference again? OBJ or-ganised a rag-tag “con-ference.” Abacha too!IBB is not left out. If pre-vious leaders had done itright, there would be noneed to do it again. Letus first define the mo-tive?— Mr. OnwuchekwaMartins, Broadcaster.

IF I may ask, what willhappen to all the

democratic structuresacross Nigeria? I am sosure that this is not thefirst time this country iswalking this path. Butmy fear is that some poli-ticians may hijack thecore idea for their selfishinterests.— Miss Bless-ing Ubah, Student.

UGHELLI— AS partof its effort to assist

pupils, Ovu Foundation,yesterday, donated over13,000 notebooks and oth-er writing materials worththousands of naira to allprimary schools in Ovu,Ethiope East Local Gov-ernment Area, DeltaState.

Presenting the items tothe Chief Inspector of Ed-ucation in the area, Mrs.Kehinde Oderhohwo foronward presentation tothe primary schools atUrhodo-Ovu PrimarySchool, Ovu, President ofthe foundation, Dr. Akpo-fure Rim-Rukeh, said thatthe decision to donatewas to encourage childrenin the community acquireeducation.

Saying the education ofchildren of school age waspriority to the foundation,Rim-Rukeh said it hasbeen donating books inthe past four years toschools in the area.

Rim-Rukeh said: “Thefoundation is working to-wards putting up an elec-tronic library at Ovu Junc-tion.”

PORT HARCOURT—EIGHT communities in

Etche Local Government Areaof Rivers State have vowed toresist, even with their blood,alleged forceful acquisition of

their farmlands by the RiversState Sustainable DevelopmentAgency, RSSDA.

The communities, yesterday,

complained that RSSDA wasmapping out the land for farm-ing purposes under the Fa-dama Project without recourseto an acquisition agreementearlier reached between parties.

At an emergency meeting inOlakwo Village, the landown-ers said they would not allowthe Rivers agency to encroachon their land until acceptablecompensations were paid.

Spokesperson for the land-lords, Chizoba Ibegbulam, saidno amount of force would makethem relinquish their land to thegovernment when nothing hadbeen paid to them, following themovement of RSSDA’s equip-ment into the land.

Ibegbulam said: “We haveagreed to fight back. Some-body cannot take our land forfree. We know what the gov-ernment is looking for. Theywant crisis and we are goingto give it to them since theyprefer anarchy to dialogue.

“At our last meeting after re-jecting the proposed compen-sation of N50,000 per plot ofland, we told government topay us same way they paidother communities in the neigh-bouring local government areasalso affected by public acquisi-tion.

“Ours will not be different. Weare farmers. For God sake, ifthey want to take our land, letRSSDA pay compensation.”

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

BENIN— GOVERNORAdams Oshiomhole of Edo

State has warned local govern-ments in the state against ille-gal road blocks for the purposeof extorting motorists and otherroad users.

The governor, who gave thewarning, yesterday, in Beninwhen he received a delegationof Elders from Ovia North-EastLocal Government Area in his

Oshiomhole blasts LGs overharassment of motorists

office, said government wouldset up a task force and anyonecaught would be dealt with.

Oshiomhole said: “We havestopped the local governmentsfrom collecting taxes on trafficrelated issues. The Local Gov-ernment Act does not allowthem to set up traffic controlunits, impound vehicles andcollect money.

“Traffic control is the exclu-sive prerogative of the stategovernment and we are tryingto create a proper identity for

them so that we do not turn thestate to a nightmare for roadusers.

“We also want to stop themfrom stopping vehicles that arepassing through Edo State.

“They ask motorists to pro-duce their radio and televi-sion licences. Signals to carsare not from local govern-ments.

“As a government, we mustensure that we do not behavelike thugs in the eyes of ourpeople.”

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM& GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

Ex-militant leader laudsJonathan on nat'l confab c'ttee

EX-MILITANT ‘General’,Mr. Preye Ekpebide, yes-

terday, commended PresidentGoodluck Jonathan for inau-gurating the national dialoguecommittee, adding that sameindicated the President’s re-solve to solve the teething prob-lems threatening the corporateexistence of the country.

Ekpebide, speaking inBomadi, Delta State, said: “Atthis point in time, when everygeopolitical zone wants to ruleat all cost without resort to theconstitutional provisions andthe issue of terrorism thathave given the nation a badimage, setting up the commit-tee on national dialogue be-came imperative.”

Preye said Jonathan took abold step in the right direc-tion. He urged those saddledwith the responsibility to leaveno stone unturned, noting thatNigerians were looking up tothem to provide solutions to is-

sues threatening the coun-try’s unity.

Preye thanked the leadersthat have been supportive ofJonathan’s administration,adding that nation buildingwas a collective effort.

Okolugbo tasks Ndokwa youths

SIR Joe and LadyMary-Ann Chibor

will celebrate their 25thwedding anniversary to-morrow at Ovak EventsCentre, FESTAC Town.

Anniversary

THE Commissioner repre-senting Ndokwa on the

board of Delta State Oil Pro-ducing Areas DevelopmentCommission, DESOPADEC,Sir Kenny Okolugbo, hascalled on youths to take ad-vantage of the commission’svarious empowerment pro-

grammes.He spoke during the pres-

entation of tricycles’ keys toyouths from different wards inNdokwa nation. He chargedthem to use and not sell thetricycles.

Okolugbo urged the youthsto encourage the state gov-

ernment by utilising themeans of transportation to cre-ate employment and improvetheir standard of living.

He said: “The tricycles willbecome yours in a year’s timeafter you would have shownevidence of usage in the lo-cality.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—37

Industrial court dismissesTotal's suit against ex-staff

BY INNOCENT ANABA

Dokpesi,Ayankoroma,Aimiuwa,others for2013 EMMAAaward

2015: Former militant leader drums support forJonathan

Monarch hails FG for citing EPZ at Ogidigben

BY GABRIELENOGHOLASE

From left: Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, Dr. Ibeanusi and OVATIONmagazine publisher and columnist, Chief Dele Momodu inside a theatre room of the Dentaland Maxillo-facial hospital in Port Harcourt, one of the many new health facilities built bythe Amaechi administration, on Wednessday.

THE National Industrial Courtsitting in Lagos, yesterday,

dismissed the preliminary objectionby Total E&P Nigeria Limited,TEPNG, challenging thejurisdiction of the court to hear theN5 billion suit instituted against itby a former staff, Aralu Steve.

Ruling on a preliminaryobjection by Total, Justice OyeyojuOyewunmi said that the claimant’ssuit disclosed reasonable cause ofaction against the oil company.

Justice Oyewunmi said that fromthe document frontloaded beforethe court, such as letter ofemployment proved that there was

a nexus between the claimantand the defendant.

The court also joined MapleLeaf Ventures Limited as thesecond defendant in the suit,adding that the justice of thecase would be defeated withoutthe participation of MapleVenture.

“There are reasonablegrounds to join Maple Venturein the suit whose presence isessential to the complete andfinal adjudication of this suit.You cannot shave a person’shead in his absence,” JusticeOyewunmi held.

The claimant a laboratorysupervisor had in his amended

statement of claim argued thaton December 10, 2008 whilecarrying out chemical injectionmonitoring and pumpsadjustment at the Obagi FlowStation owned by thedefendant, he received a splashfrom one of the chemicalinjection.

The claimant stated that priorto the occurrence of theincident, he discovered that theparticular pump hadmalfunction and promptly drewthe attention of the defendantto it during the daily Heads ofDepartment's meeting which heattended as the LaboratorySupervisor.

BENIN—THE Olaja Orori(Spiritual head) of Ugborodo

community in Delta State, Mr.Benson Omadeli, has commendedthe Federal Government for citingthe Ogidigben Export ProcessingZone, EPZ, in Ugborodo, WestSouth West Local Government Areaof the state.

He said that the citing of the EPZin the area would speed up theeconomic development of WarriSouth council and also complementthe activities of the Nigerian PortsAuthorities, NPA, Warri.

The community leader in astatement in Benin, yesterday,added that a committee to join theFederal Government to midwife theproject had been set up by thecommunity.

He added that members of thecommittee, headed by Mr. Olire

BABINE – Ereku as approvedby Eghare Ajah, the traditionalPrime Minster of thecommunity, had already been

sent to the Group ManagingDirector of Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation, NNPC,and the Delta State governor, Dr.

BOMADI—PRESIDENT,Phase II militants under the

Amnesty Programme, ‘General‘John Aki, has called onPresident Goodluck Jonathanto declare his interest for re-election, noting that NigerDelta former-fighters werefirmly behind him.

Aki, who addressednewsmen in Bomadi,headquarters of Bomadi LocalGovernment Area, Delta State,noted that the call becamenecessary due to the unfolding

political drama in the country,adding that the JonathanPresidency come 2015 was anecessity.

He stressed the need forthe North to give Jonathana breathing space to governthe country, warning thatnorthern politicalmanipulations againstJonathan’s Presidency werecalls for disunity anddisintegration of the country.

“Jonathan must go for asecond tenure like others.

The North should have in mindthat they ruled this countrysince independence. We,former agitators are in supportof Jonathan Presidency in 2015and we will soon go for aprocession in Abuja forJonathan 2015,” he said.

He described the BokoHaram sect as a group of peoplewithout a genuine cause, whowere out to discredit Jonathan’sgovernment, noting that theiractions of homicide hadexposed their ulterior motives.

Youth taskedon gainfulemployment

BY JONAHNWOKPOKU

THE founder, WealthAcademy Global

Initiatives, Mr. Mark Idiahi,has stressed the need foryouths to be kept busythrough gainful employment,saying that this was the onlyway to curb increasing waveof violence in the society.

He spoke to Vanguardduring a four day skillsacquisition andempowerment seminar inLagos.

According to him: “Thiscraze by young people to findjobs need to be curtailed. Weneed a kind of psychologicaltransition. Imagine someonegraduating from school andthen sitting back at homebecause no one has offeredhim a job. So I figured that ifwe don’t do something aboutthese young people, they aretime bomb because theviolence that is prevalenttoday in the society can beassociated with young peoplethat are not gainfullyemployed.”

UGHELLI—PROJECTOfficer E-zone

Marketing and EventManagers, managers of EdoMovie and Music AcademyAwards, EMMAA, Mr ElvisOgie, yesterday, said that theManaging Director of theAfrican IndependentTelevision, AIT, ChiefRaymond Dokpesi, DrBarclays Ayankoroma andChief Lugard Aimiuwaamong other have been listedfor the 2013 EMMAA award.

Ogie, in a statement saidthat he event is billed forNovember 21, 2013, addingthat the award was inrecognition of the recipients’contribution to the industry.

He said: “The vision behindthe EMMAA 2013 is a uniqueone which aims at recognisingand celebrating the potentials,talents and rich humanresource in the Edo movie andmusic industry. No doubt thatthe industry has contributedin no small way to theNigerian movie and musicindustry and this event isbeing put together to write thenames of the numeroustalented and deservingindividuals in gold."

Stallion beginsvehicleassembly inLagos

AUTO manufacturers,Nissan and Stallion

Group, have signed aMemorandum ofUnderstanding, MoU, tojointly launch vehicleassembly in Lagos.

The initiative is inexpectation of FederalGovernment's policy approvalof the new AutomobileIndustrial Policy, designed toencourage development ofthe auto industry in Nigeria,and will see Nissan becomethe first major internationalmanufacturer to launchvehicle assembly in thecountry, following the newlegislation.

Nissan President and CEO,Carlos Ghosn, said:”Wewelcome the proactivemeasures being taken by theFederal Government toencourage inward investmentand job creation driven bylocal auto manufacturing.

Launching

PROACTIVE Technologies,an indigenous company

focusing on renewable energyand e-payment solutions, haslaunched a new solartechnology equipment calledSolar Water Heater, SWH.

The protek equipment,which eliminates electricityand fuel bills utilises a proventhermal solar technology toprovide constant stream of hotwater. The new SHW alsoretains hot water for up tothree days even if there is nosun and available in capacitiesup to 300 litres.

The Chief Executive Officerof the company, Mr. RolandObe during an exhibition inLagos, said that the new SWHcomprises array of solarcollectors for solar energy,which heats the water in thecollector and insulated tank tostore hot water.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

400m children living in extreme poverty,says report

BY OMOH GABRIEL

Agagu: Igbinedion condoles with Mimiko,Ondo people

BENIN CITY—Edo State, Chief Lucky Ig-

binedion has commiserated withthe government and people of

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

Obi distributes 500 buses to secondary schoolsBY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—GOVERNOR PeterObi of Anambra State, has

commenced the distribution of500 buses to secondary schoolsin the state with 120 school prin-cipals receiving keys of vehiclesfor their schools.

The governor said at the cer-emony, at Alex Ekwueme Squarein Awka that the buses were partof fulfilling his promise to spendN40 billion as the final push to-wards achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals, MDG, by2015.

Obi announced that his govern-ment has equally procured 25,000computers with complete school

ABUJA—THE NigerianPostal Service, NIPOST,

Wednesday, said it intercepted45,571 items and scam letterswith counterfeit financial in-struments worth N13.74 billionin 2012.

Disclosing this in Abuja,during the 2013 World PostalDay Celebration, the Post Mas-ter General of the Federation,

L AG O S — D E LTAState Board of In-

ternal Revenue, DBIR,Tuesday, took the DeltaBeyond Oil campaign tothe British High Commis-sion to solicit support fromthe United Kingdom gov-ernment towards the real-ization of the vision.

Chairman of DBIR, Mr.Joel-Onowakpo Thomas,who led other members ofthe board on a courtesyvisit to the British DeputyHigh Commissioner, PeterCarter, in Lagos, said Del-ta State has witnessed tre-mendous development inevery sector within thepast few years.

Joel-Onowakpo notedthat the strong desire bythe present administrationto continue the develop-mental strides it has re-corded in the past fewyears, necessitated the vis-it particularly now that thestate is in pursuit of the di-versification of its econo-my through the Delta Be-yond Oil initiative.

He said: “Testimonies ofthis transformationabound and we use thisopportunity to invite youto visit Delta State to seethings for yourself. In fact,few months to the end ofhis tenure, there is no partof his electoral promisethat Governor EmmanuelUduaghan has not kept,bearing in mind that, nosingle administration canmeet all the aspiration ofits people in a tenure.

“The most importantthing is to lay the solidfoundation for the futurewhich is what the gover-nor has done.”

Responding, the BritishDeputy High Commis-sioner, Peter Carter, saidhe was excited by the visitof the team from DeltaState, saying that “it hasrevealed practical story ofthe opportunities and pro-grammes of the state gov-ernment.”

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

LAGOS—THE World Banknew report on extreme pov-

erty has stated that number of peo-ple living in extreme povertyaround the world has sharply de-clined over the past three decades.

The bank is worried that thenumber still includes roughly 400million children, or one -third ofthose living in such abysmal con-ditions.

World Bank analysis released,yesterday, for the first time givesan in-depth profile of the poorestpeople in the world.

The report found that 721 mil-lion fewer people lived in extremepoverty in 2010 defined as thoseliving under $1.25 a day com-pared to 1981.

But it also concluded that a dis-proportionate number of childrenwere among them: Children ac-counted for one in three of thoseliving in extreme poverty aroundthe world in 2010, compared withonly one in five of those livingabove the poverty line.

In low-income countries, thepercentages were even worse,with half of all children living inextreme poverty.

World Bank Group PresidentJim Yong Kim in the report said:“We have witnessed an historicmovement of people lifting them-selves out of poverty over the pastthree decades, but the number ofchildren living in poverty aloneshould leave no doubt that thereremains much work to do.

“We can reach our goals of end-

ing poverty and boosting sharedprosperity, including sharing thatprosperity with future genera-tions, but only if we work togeth-er with new urgency. Childrenshould not be cruelly condemnedto a life without hope, withoutgood education, and without ac-cess to quality health care. Wemust do better for them.”

In his remark in the report

World Bank Chief Economist andVice President, Kaushik Basusaid: “The finding that over 400million children live in extremepoverty and children are morelikely to be poor than adults isdisturbing, since this can exac-erbate child labour and create in-ter-generational conflict. Hence,if we want to make a sustainabledent on global poverty, this iswhere we need to focus our at-tention.”

It will be recalled that at theApril Spring Meeting of theBank Group and IMF the Gov-ernors of the World Bank Groupendorsed two global goals: end-ing extreme poverty by 2030 andpromoting shared prosperity byfostering income growth of thebottom 40 per cent of the popu-lation in developing countries.Poverty reduction globally hasmoved at a faster pace than ex-

syllables and books installed inthem, adding that all the second-ary schools in the state would alsoget money for provision of sickbays and connection to theinternet.

The schools, he added, wouldreceive generators, noting thathis government was moved to do

these because of the positive re-sult from returning schools totheir original missionary owners.

According to him, the fruit ofgovernment efforts had alreadystarted manifesting in the goodperformances of Anambra schoolsin different external examina-tions.

The governor thanked theChurches for partnering with thestate, saying that since govern-ment started disbursing moneydirectly to them, they had beenable to achieve more than gov-ernment would have achievedif allowed to spend the moneythemselves.

Ondo State over the plane crashthat claimed the life of the stateCommissioner for Tourism andother prominent indigenes of thestate, last week.

He said the incident was shock-ing and sad for the nation andcalled for speedy investigation ofthe cause of the crash involvingAssociation Airline.

His words: “I was reallyshocked like many other Nigeri-ans because late Dr. Agaguwhose corpse was equally in theplane was a great politician whommajority of us feels he does notdeserve this type of painful inci-dent. I commiserate with theOndo State Government, theFalae family and all those wholost their loved ones in thatcrash.

“We pray that the Almighty Godwill grant mercy to the souls and

give the family the fortitude tobear the irreparable loss.”

The former Governor who alsoreacted to reports in the socialmedia linking him to the owner-ship of the crashed AssociatedAirline, debunked the reports,describing it as the “handiworkof my detractors.”

He said: “People can be wick-ed some times. Some of myfriends called me to say that peo-ple are insinuating in the socialmedia that the crashed Associ-ated Airline belongs to me. Thisis not true. I want to say that Ihave no hand or business in therunning of Associated Airline.

“I will advise those peddlingsuch rumour to repent and rath-er dissipate that energy to prayfor the souls of those involved inthe crash rather than peddlingrumours.”

NIPOST recovered N13.74bn scam documentsin 2012 —Post Master-General

DBIR takesDelta BeyondOil to BritishHighCommission

Alhaji Bori Baba, said thatNIPOST officials were able tointercept the scam mails whosemonetary value runs into manybillions of naira as a result ofphysical inspection of docu-ments and postal packets bythe company’s officials.

Alhaji Baba, who was repre-sented by the Deputy PostMaster General, DPMG,Yashim Isa Bitiyong, said over

“45 milllion mail items werehandled by NIPOST last yearout of which 10.3 million camefrom abroad and delivered inNigeria while 2.4 millionitems were dispatchedabroad” from the country thesame year.

According to him, lettersposted and delivered in thecountry last year amounted to33 million.

CONFERENCE: Mr.Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President, South-East/ South-South Professionalsof Nigeria (left) and USA Congress member, Karen Bass, Ranking Member of the HouseSubcommittee on Africa, at the recent Congressional Black Caucus Foundation annual con-ference in Washington DC, USA.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 2013—39,

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, GM, Consumer Marketing,MTN; the winner of MTN Songstar, Mr. Habila Bature from Kaduna StateUniversity, receiving KIA Motors' car key from Mr. Larry Annetts, ChiefMarketing Officer, MTN, during first prize presentation, in Lagos.

WELCOME: Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan with Benue StateGovernor's wife, Mrs Suswam, being welcome on arrival to Seoul, Korea, bylittle flower girl, Miss Felicia Mekekpemi.

FORUM: From left, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, EtisalatNigeria, Ibrahim Dikko; Director, Policy and Competition in charge ofInternational Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC,Lolia Emakpore, and the Minister of Communication Technology,Omobola Johnson, at the 12th Annual Commonwealth Telecommunica-tions Organisation, CTO, Forum, sponsored by Etisalat, at TranscorpHilton, in Abuja.

MEETING: From left, Mr. Uba Mrohwobor, Dr. Janet Oyubu, Prince JosiahNtekume Unukpo-Orogun, during All Progressives Congress' meeting with theUrhobo Progress Union, UPU.

SCREENING: Founder, LiveWell Initiative, Mrs. Bisi Bright ( right);Ms Titilayo Ojeifo (2nd right), President, Soroptimist Internationalof Lagos Mainland, and others, during a comprehensive screen-ing exercise conducted by both organisations.

AWARDS: Mr. Oje Ivagba, Director of Pro-grammes, and Ms Iyadunni Olumide, ExecutiveDirector, both of LEAP Africa, at the FinancialTimes/Citi Ingenuity Awards forum, in London.

VISIT: Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, ExecutiveChairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue,DBIR, in a handshake with Peter Carter, BritishDeputy High Commissioner, during the former'svisit to the British High Commissioner, in Lagos.

From left, HRH, Hakimin Bamawa, Alhaji Madaeukin Zazzau; Plant Manager, KadunaPlant, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, NBC, Mr. Clement Adebayo; Zonal Direc-tor, Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Felicia Leo; and Vice Chairman, KadunaSouth Local Government Council, Ishaya Anfani, at the commissioning of renovated/equipped block of classrooms and sanitary facility for Demonstration Primary School,Kakuri, Kaduna State, sponsored by NBC.

CELEBRATION: From left, Dr. Femi Olugbile,Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry ofHealth, representing Dr. Jide Idris, Commissionerfor Health; Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, Coordinator, Spe-cial Projects Programmes, Ministry of Health; ElderEbenezer Olasehinde, Senior Citizens Associationof Nigeria, and Mrs. Fatimah Bakare, Coordina-tor, Centre for Mental Health Research and Initia-tives, during the 2013 Pan Lagos World MentalHealth Day celebration. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

CMYK

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

NATIONAL CONFAB: Middle Beltlauds President

IANSA women seek ban on vision for nuclear weapons

Foundationadvocatesawareness onMSA disease

From left: President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina; Executive Secretary, NationalUniversities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie and former Executive Director, Nigerian TelevisionAuthority, Mr. Edward Amana, at a media workshop on "the dynamics of the education sector" inAbuja, yesterday

I’m not amember ofnPDP—Rep Enoh

BY EMMANUELOVUAKPORIE

ABUJA—CHAIRMAN,House Committee on

Appropriation, Mr JohnEnoh, has denied allegationsthat he was with the AlhajiKawu Baraje faction of thePeoples Democratic Party, PDP.Also, Enoh has vowed to suea national newspaper over apublication that linked himwith the splinter PDP.

The daily tabloid had pub-lished a story in which he wasreported to have held meet-ings with the splinter groupknown as the New PDP witha view to helping the factionestablish a chapter in hishome state, Cross River State.

Enoh described the publica-tion as "malicious and unac-ceptable”, insisting that heremained a card-carryingmember of the main PDP.In a letter from his lawyers, thelegislator demanded for a re-traction of the said libelouspublication, its removal fromthe newspapers website anda letter of apology to him with-in seven days, failing whichhe would seek redress in a lawcourt.

The letter signed by theprincipal partner of the lawfirm, Mr Ikechukwu Nwabufo,described the publication asbaseless, false and libelous.

Expert laudsFG on PHCNhandover

MANAGING Directorof Prince Ades Oke

International ventures, PrinceOkedele Timothy Adekola,has commended the FederalGovernment, for the han-dover of the Power HoldingCompany of Nigeria, PHCNto private entrepreneurs.

Adekola who was speakingwith newsmen in Lagos saidthe Federal Governmentshould put in place an effec-tive monitoring mechanism toensure that no influence fromany quarter would sabotagethe operations of the privatefirms in their move to provideregular power to drive Nige-ria’s economy.

Adekola also asked the gov-ernment to ensure that thosePHCN workers presently af-fected by the privatizationmove were not abandoned,adding that the process of set-tling all outstanding debtsmust be taken seriously.

He said there was need forthe government to explore theimmense opportunities in re-newable sources of energy byencouraging small and medi-um enterprises, willing to con-tribute to the energy demandof the nation.

JOS— THE Middle Belt Progressive Movement, has

commended President GoodluckJonathan for the planned nation-al conference, saying it will givethe minority tribes opportunity toinform Nigerians and others, thesufferings they have been pass-ing through all these years insilence.

Speaking, yesterday, the legaladviser to the group, Nankin Ba-gudu said the decision was aright step in the right directionbecause “we know that Nigeriaas a nation was founded on afaulty foundation and there aregreat injustices to the minoritytribes in the country.”

BY MARIE-THERESENANLONG

Bagudu argued that when latesage, Chief Obafemi Awolowocanvassed for regional govern-ment, people thought he was atribalist, but today, he had beenvindicated.

According to him, “We are gladthat this is happening becauseof the concern the minority tribeshave which we believe would beaddressed in the conference. Ni-geria was founded on a faultyfoundation where the majoritytribes benefited and stifled theminority. The blood of the Mid-dle Belters kept Nigeria togeth-er but its people are made to besecond class citizens.”

On his expectations, he said:“The political system is a greatinjustice to the minority. People

with genuine concern should begiven room to express them-selves not those who want toappear on the television seek-ing their self interest. The issueof parliament is just for pleasurebut we believe representation inparliament should reflect all thetribes in the country for properrepresentation.

"The allegation that five percent of the nation’s income isspent on the National Assem-bly is alarming, many are advo-cating for a change and if themajority seeks a change, theNational Assembly should beable to make sacrifices and passthe majority’s yearning into lawso as to move the nation for-ward.”

NYSC sanctions4 corpsmembers inNiger

THE National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in

Niger, yesterday, said fourcorps members of the 2012batch ‘C’ deployed to the statewould be sanctioned for vari-ous offences.

Mrs. Justina Andirya, theNYSC coordinator in the state,disclosed this during the pass-ing out parade of 1, 800, batch‘C’ 2012 corps members de-ployed to the state.

Andirya said that two corpsmembers would repeat theirservice year, while the othertwo would have their serviceyear extended. “Some corpsmembers lost their bearingalong the way and failed toconform to the norms and ide-als of the NYSC scheme. Theywill be appropriately sanc-tioned in accordance with thedictates of the NYSC bye laws.Two corps members will re-peat their service year whileanother two will have theirservice year extended in linewith the provisions of theNYSC bye laws,” she said.

Andirya said that 10 of thecorps members were nominat-ed for merit award, while 19others got commendation cer-tificates.

ABUJA - THE International Action Network on

Small Arms, IANSA, WomenNetwork-Nigeria, has called fora ban on the new vision for nu-clear disarmament, signed at the67th session of United NationsGeneral Assembly (UNGA) lastyear.

A statement by its NigerianCoordinator, Ms MimidooAchakpa, said the Federal Gov-ernment had earlier recommend-ed zero tolerance shown by statesagainst chemical and biologicalweapons which are also weap-ons of mass destruction, sayingFG should comply with the lawby extending it to nuclear weap-ons.

Achakpa said nuclear weaponswere the only weapons of massdestruction yet to be prohibitedby an international treaty, notingthat Nigeria issued a joint state-ment with 33 other member

BY SUCCESS UZOKWE states, on the humanitarian di-mension of nuclear disarmamentin October 2012.

She stated that a ban would notonly make it illegal for nations topossess nuclear weapons, butwould also eliminate its use.The coordinator added that ma-jority of African states havesigned the treaty of Pelindaba,which declared Africa a nuclearweapon free zone, but Nigeria isyet to do so, urging the govern-

ment to assume its leadershiprole in Africa.

Her words, “Since the deto-nation of nuclear weapons is aglobal threat, we call on the gov-ernment of Nigeria and all sig-natories of the treaty of Pelinda-ba to take a leadership role inmoving discussions forward toachieve the start of negotiationsfor a treaty to outlaw and elim-inate nuclear weapons as soonas possible."

LAGOS State Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, has

called on Governor BabatundeFashola to review upward thepay package of the state publicservants. This came ahead of ameeting with the state govern-ment on the minimum wage in-crease for state workers.

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

AS part of activities marking this year’s world

Multiple System Atrophy,MSA, (progressive degener-ation of nerve cells in severalareas of the brain) a founda-tion which seeks the improve-ment of awareness of the con-dition in Nigeria, Funmi Fash-ina Foundation, FFF, hascalled for concerted efforts todeepen MSA awarenessamong Nigerian doctors.

Addressing participants atthe MSA day in Lagos,a member of the board oftrustees of the foundation, Aji-bade Fashina, said the foun-dation was embarking on thecampaign as part of efforts tobetter the lot of persons suf-fering from the disease in thecountry. He said, “another rea-son we decided to do this isbecause during the last semi-nar we conducted for doctors,it was discovered that a goodnumber of them were hearingabout the existence of the dis-ease for the first time. Whatthat tells us is that, probably,they might have mis-diag-nosed patients in the pastunknown to them; thus theneed for creating awarenessabout the disorder in the coun-try."

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

State JNC chairman, ObafemiOyenubi, said the meeting wassubject to the agreementreached by both the governmentand labour to review the salaryof workers in the state everythree years. He said, “it is basedon these facts that the unionwrote the state government todemand for a meeting to dis-cuss on the increment."

Lagos JNC seeks wage increase

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—41

CMYK

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

‘IN the last two and a half yearsor thereabout, we’ve been

talking about his funeral. Hewould say ‘Major, Ponsah (a closerelation), where are you going tobury me?’ We tried to discouragehim from such statements but hewould insist saying ‘let’s face thereality of life.’”

With these words, the Execu-tive Secretary of the Solomon LarFoundation, Mr. Major Adeyi,disclosed how Chief SolomonDaushep Lar, the late elderstatesman who died on Wednes-day knew his time was near andprepared well for his passage.

Speaking to journalists, yester-day, Adeyi who was one of theclosest persons to the late politi-cian, said Lar had been talkingabout plans for his funeral sinceover two years ago.

Chief Solomon Daushep Lardied two days ago in a US Hos-pital. He said, “So this clearlyshowed that he was prepared fordeath, he was ready. He wouldsay we should think of the hymnsor those to officiate at his funeral.For an old man to have been talk-ing like this, you would know thathe was ready to face death be-cause he believed he had finishedhis assignment.”

Outpouringof tributes

The disclosure came as tributescontinued to pour in for the latepolitician just as the Plateau Stategovernment said it is making planto give a befitting state burial toLar, the first civilian governor ofthe state and first national chair-man of the ruling Peoples Demo-cratic Party (PDP).

Governor Jonah Jang disclosedthis, yesterday, while addressingPDP stakeholders from his JosSouth Local Government, aheadof the forthcoming local govern-ment election billed for Decem-ber 21, 2013. In a statement byPam Ayuba, his SA Media/Pub-licity, Jang also announced thata state mourning would be de-clared when arrangements areconcluded for the remains of thelate sage to be brought home.

Jang added that PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, NationalSecretariat of the PDP and other

Solomon Lar started preparing for deathtwo years ago — Aide

•Always asked: ‘Where ‘re you going to bury me•We’ll give him state burial – Plateau govt•Governor Jang off to Abuja for consultations on burial plans•More Nigerians pay tributes•PDP opens condolence register

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE,TAYE OBATERU,

OKECHUKWU NDIRIBE,LUKA BINNIYAT, HENRYUMORU,PETER DURU,

SAMUELAYADONGHA,GBENGA

OLARINOYE, JOHNBOSCOAGBAKWURU & JOSEPH

ERUNKE,MARIE-THERESENANLONG

political associates of the late pol-itician were equally making ar-rangements to participate in theburial. It was learnt that arrange-ments were on to fly his body tothe country while consultationsare said to be on between the Pla-teau State Government and fed-eral authorities on the burialplans. Meanwhile, encomiumshave continued to be poured onthe late politicians as several peo-ple thronged his Jos residencealong Beach Road yesterday tosympathise with his family. Con-dolence registers have beenopened at both his Jos and Abujaresidences in which several peo-ple extolled his selflessness andpositive contributions to the po-litical development of the coun-try.

PDP opens register, shelvesministerial briefing: The Nationalleadership of the PDP has openeda condolence register at the Wa-data plaza, National Secretariatfor its late pioneer national Chair-man, Chief Solomon DaushepLar. Signing the register, yester-day, PDP National Chairman,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said, “thedemise of Chief Solomon Lar is agreat loss to the PDP family andthe entire nation. He was a greatleader, an emancipator of theunder privilege. He was a lightin the political firmament of ourgreat nation.May his gentle soulrest in perfect peace.” As a markof honour for Lar the PDPshelved the planned ministerialbriefing by the Minister of Com-munication Technology, MrsOmobola Johnson.

Tukur, FCT minister eulogiseLar: Tukur, while briefing Jour-nalists, disclosed that the govern-ment and the party will give thelate Chief Lar a befitting burial,though he did not say how theparty would immortalise its firstNational Chairman and later,Chairman, board of Trustees, BoTdespite pressure from reporters.The PDP national chairman, whonoted that he accompanied thelate Lar during the registration ofthe party, alongside other lead-ers of the party, said that the lead-ership and members of the partywill strive to promote peace thatthe late elder statesman stood forand was symbolised by the wav-ing of his white handkerchief.

Northern Governors mournLar; say Nigeria has lost a patri-ot: The Northern States Gover-nors Forum (NSGF), describedthe death of Lar as a devastatingloss to the people of Plateau Statein particular and the nation ingeneral. Chairman of the forumand Governor of Niger State, Dr.

Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu saidwas a patriot of uncommon cour-age.

The forum said Chief Lar was arecurrent decimal in the nation’spolity for over five decades: ei-ther as a legal practitioner, mem-ber of the nation’s first nationalparliament, state governor, firstnational chairman of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) or an el-der statesman. The statement de-scribed the late Chief Lar as a na-tionalist who lived a purposefullife of dedication to the cause ofthe nation’s unity and dedicationas well as commitment to the up-liftment of the citizenry.

Nigeria has lost a statesman—Gemade: Former National Chair-man of the PDP, Chief BarnabasGemade said, “We have beenmonitoring his ill-health in theUnited States. He has been in andout of the hospital. We thoughtthere had been an improvementin his condition, but death hascome in a very shocking manner.We didn’t expect that he wouldgo at this time.

Foundingfather

“As a founding father and thefirst National Chairman of thePeople’s Democratic Party, hemade a tremendous contributionto the democracy we have today.We thought that he would con-tinue to be around to render hisservices to this party and the na-tion especially at a time whenthings have become very compli-cated. Given the disagreementsand challenges we are facingwithin the ruling party, he shouldhave been around to assist usmediate between the run-awaygovernors and the party."

Governor Yero, ACF mourn:Kaduna State Governor, AlhajiMukhtar Ramalan Yero and theArewa Consultative Forum, ACF,praised Lar and urged Nigeriansto emulate his virtues. Said Yero:“History would be fair to Lar forhis selfless commitment to the

unity of the diverse people in theNorth as well as national cohe-sion. The death of Lar is a loss tothe entire country and not to hisimmediate family or the peopleof Plateau State alone.

“The late Lar was a pillar ofNigeria’s democracy, as a found-ing father of the Peoples Demo-cratic Party he will be remem-bered as a pillar of democracy,who made immense sacrifices to-wards entrenching representativegovernance in the country. Healso played prominent role as anastute politician in stabilising thenation, leading to his emergenceas governor in the second repub-lic.”

He was a detribalised Nigeri-an and political political icon –Dickson: Governor Seriake Dick-son of Bayelsa State describedLar’s death as most shocking anda painful loss to his immediatefamily, the government and peo-ple of Plateau State and the na-tion. In a condolence message tothe family, government and peo-ple of Plateau State, Dickson re-called the pivotal role and self-less sacrifices of Chief SolomonLar to the enthronement and sus-tenance of the nation’s democra-cy, stressing that he always placednational interest above his per-sonal considerations.

Lar never practiced politics ofexclusion—Dariye: Former Gov-ernor of Plateau State, SenatorJoshua Dariye, likened the deathof the revered politician to a bigiroko tree that has fallen. Hiswords: “Solomon Lar of blessedmemory believed in internal de-mocracy, he believes that even ifyou differ, you must ensure thatthere is internal democracy. Peo-ple are no more pursuing ideo-logical purpose that brought ustogether. People are now pursu-ing personal, parochial, primor-dial agenda. This is not what pol-itics is all about, politics is allembracing, all inclusive, not ex-clusive.

“Indeed our prayer when hetook ill was to live long and con-

tinue to contribute to this greatcountry called Nigeria. It is a bigiroko tree that has fallen on thePlateau, in Nigeria, in the Mid-dle Belt. If you look back, So-lomon Lar joined politics at pre-independence in the late 1950sand he witnessed the lowering ofthe Union Jack."

Another fine patriot gone–Amaechi: Rivers State Governorand Chairman of the NigerianGovernors Forum (NGF) Chi-buike Rotimi Amaechi, describedthe death of the elder statesmanand pioneer Chairman of the Peo-ple’s Democratic Party(PDP) asanother big tragic loss to the coun-try.

Courageousleader

He said, ”Chief Solomon Larwas a true, fine patriot who servedhis fatherland diligently andwholeheartedly. He was a verycourageous Nigerian who spokeagainst misrule, tyranny and im-punity in the country when it wasconvenient for most politicians tokeep quiet; and very dangerousto speak out. He displayed abrand of courage that is rare tofind among today’s politicians.”

APGA expresses shock: Na-tional Chairman of the All Pro-gressives Grand Alliance, APGA,Chief Victor Umeh, expressedshock over the death of Chief Lar.He said that Chief Lar had aneventful and successful life, par-ticularly in his career as a politi-cian, saying that the death of theformer governor and astute dem-ocrat, came at a time Nigerianeeded his political sagacity andadvice most.

Suswam, Amosun, Orji, IPACmourn: Governors GabrielSuswam (Benue), Theodore Orji(Abia), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun)and the Inter-Party AdvisoryCouncil (IPAC) also showeredtributes on Lar. Suswam describedLar as a pillar of democracy, greatpatriot and a bridge-builder.

Hon. Dr. Omakarh Samson signing condolence register of late Solomon Lar inAbuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—43

Confusion in securitycircle, Kelvin’s camp

,

,By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional

Editor, South-South

MORE than meet theeyes: When Delta kid-

nap kingpin, KelvinOniarah, who was wanted thenby both the police and army,stormed his country home,Kokori in Ethiope East LocalGovernment Area on Tuesday,September 17, to issue his 60-day ultimatum to government,it is obvious that what transpiredwas a serious security breach.Many people suspected thatsuch impunity could not haveoccurred without the collusionof security operatives onground, particularly as Kelvin’snew group, Movement for theLiberation of Urhobo People,LIMUP, allegedly fired up to 50gun shots intermittently into theair.

Delta State Commissioner ofPolice, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba,who doubted the bravado afterhe was told by the DivisionalPolice Officer, DPO, in the area,said that nothing like that hap-pened, now knows better. Van-guard gathered on good au-thority that the DPO had beenredeployed after the state Com-mand discovered that he mis-led his boss. Unmistakably,there is more than meet the eyesin the affair as detachment ofsoldiers and policemen weresaid to be on ground in the area. Getting more thorny: Howev-er, the matter is getting morecomplicated with reports thatKelvin had an unwritten agree-ment with security operativesand was devotedly keeping tohis side of the bargain, only forgovernment officials to betrayhim. What is even more con-

fusing is the information that theDepartment of State Services,DSS, was holding a wrong per-son. A source said before hisarrest, Kelvin had problem withhis boys and his camp was inturmoil because of his decisionto stop kidnapping and workwith government. Kokori wom-en who protested against thesiege to the community by sol-diers, during the week, also saidthey were aware that Kelvinhad turned a new leaf to workwith government. They report-edly asked why he should bebetrayed by those he was work-ing for.

A source told Vanguard, “I amaware that Kelvin had an unre-corded agreement with the se-curity agencies. I do not knowexactly which of them for himto co-operate with them and hewould be granted amnesty.

Unrecordeddeal

The people in Kokori know hewas working towards amnesty,but it was as if some personswanted to renege on the agree-ment and he decided to dosomething desperately.” But asenior military officer dismissedthe existence of such an unre-corded deal when Vanguardmentioned it, saying, “I can tellyou, there is no truth in it.”

Sour deal! According to oursource, “Kelvin had an under-stood arrangement that hewould be granted official par-don and was working with somesecurity agents to actualize it,but at a stage, he felt that somepersons were trying to sabotageit after he had split with hisboys. I think he misread the sit-

uation, instead of still remain-ing in hiding for things to workout, he behaved immaturelyand on September 17, issued a60-day ultimatum to govern-ment to grant him amnesty,instead of just pleading for am-nesty.

“He was acting with the be-lief that he already had a dealto be granted amnesty and thematter was extending for alonger period than heexpected and the way to quick-en the process was for him todo what he did on September17, as I said earlier, that waswhere he misfired.”

Police opted out: Hint ofKelvin asking for amnesty wasfirst dropped by the Delta StateCommissioner of Police, Mr.Ikechukwu Aduba, who re-vealed that the linchpin, on therun at the time, phoned himsometime between Februaryand March, this year, beggingfor official pardon. The negoti-ation with the police probablydid not fly as Mr. Aduba saidhe back-tracked when Kelvinled an operation that saw thekilling of three prison wardersin Warri, few days after he spokewith him.

Pact with other securityagencies: Our source insisted,however, that the negotiation foramnesty continued with othersecurity agencies and an under-standing was reached thatKelvin should hand off kidnap-ping and help security agentsto “destroy” the industry in thestate. Protesting Kokori womenalluded to the deal, last week-end. They said Kelvin was in-deed working with soldiers andgave the name of one of the kid-nap victims he helped to res-

cue, some months back.They said Kelvin rescued Mr.

Emmanuel Ighomena, whowas reportedly abducted bysome kidnappers and handedhim over to soldiers before he(Kelvin) issued the 60- day ul-timatum to the government. In-vestigations by Vanguardshowed there was lack of syn-ergy among the security agen-cies in the state on some highprofile cases due to allegationthat one of the agencies, moreoften than not, compromisedwith criminals. Most times, theydo not share vital informationand do not co-operate when itmatters most. The no-love lostwas evident during the man-

curity agents accused him oftaking hostage. The person wasonly untied after his gang freedthe victim and Kelvin handedhim over to security agents.

Cock and bull story: A se-nior military officer, who wascontacted by Vanguard on theincident said, “This is a cock andbull story, Kelvin was a wantedcriminal and he remained sountil he was arrested, nobodyentered into any unspoken ar-rangement with him, it is alllies.”

Confusion over seized Deltakidnap kingpin: While eye-brows are still raised over whatreally transpired betweenKelvin and security agents inDelta State, there is misappre-hension over his celebrated ar-rest, September 25, by a com-bined security of the Depart-ment of State Service, DSS andNigerian Army in Port Harcourt,Rivers State.

Parade oflinchpin

Spokesperson for DSS, Mari-lyn Ogar, had in a statement inAbuja, stated, “On September25, 2013, a combined securityteam of the Nigerian Army andDSS operatives arrested KelvinProsper Oniarah, a notoriousterrorist, kidnap kingpin andarmed robber, who has been onthe wanted list of security agen-cies.” More than two weeksafter the said arrest, the DSS,as typical of it, had not parad-ed the linchpin, also known asKelvin Ibruvwe. The failure toparade the kingpin has raisedsuspicion as to whether Kelvinwas the person arrested, but atop government official toldVanguard in Abuja, “There is

no doubt that the person arrest-ed is Kelvin Oniarah.

“What you are hearing is ru-mour, I have also heard it. Imay not know why the DSS hasnot paraded him as you asked,and which many persons havealso expressed concern about,but I think the DSS might stillbe carrying out some investiga-tions, which could be why hehas not been paraded yet.”

Dissenting voice: A securitysource, however, told Van-guard, “Kelvin is not the onethat was arrested. They arrest-ed some of his boys and thoughthe was the one. If he is the onethat was arrested, let the DSSparade him for the world to see.They said Kelvin has been ar-rested, that is what they said,let them bring him out for peo-ple to see and know if it is him.” Soldiers deployed to Kokorifew days after Kelvin, who de-clared himself a militant lead-er, September 17.

hunt, last year, for the kidnap-pers of Prof. Kanene Okonjo,mother of the CoordinatingMinister of the Economy, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Split in Kelvin’s camp: It wasgathered that Kelvin’s sup-posed resolution to accept am-nesty did not go well with sometop members of his group, whodecided to continue with the“business” even if he was quit-ting. As a result, his campsplit. According to the source,“somebody was kidnapped inAbraka area after Kelvin en-tered into the unwritten pactand information filtered in thathe was behind it, but he denied,vowing to expose the culprits. "Kelvin, purportedly, traced thegang to a breakaway faction inhis community and seized thering leader, who he tied to anelectric pole in a primary schoolin the community, insisting thathe would not be released untilhis group freed the person se-

•Kelvin Oniarah and his gang, the Movement for the Liberation of Urhobo People, LIMUP

Kelvin is not the one that was arrested.They arrested some of his boys andthought he was the one. If he is the onethat was arrested, let the DSS parade himfor the world to see

CMYK

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

What deportation is not (2)BY VERA SAMUEL

ANYAGAFU

IT is apposite that evenin the deportation of an

alien the appropriateauthority cannot actarbitrarily but must followdue process, which ofteninvolves ministerial,administrative or judicialDeportation Order, open forthe affected alien tochallenge in court.

It is thus clear that if themanner of the “deportation”

carried out by the LagosState Government wereeven an act of the FederalGovernment, involvingnon-Nigerians, it wouldremain unlawful by reasonof its arbitrariness, non-conformance with dueprocess and lack ofdecency.

No legal authority todeport

It is important to redirectthe argument about whatthe Lagos StateGovernment did and not toposit it within the context ofdeportation. Also, it isimportant to re-enforce the

case that no stategovernment has the legalauthority to deport even analien from the country andI believe the case here hasraised enough dust torequire the intervention ofthe Attorney General of theFederation.

He needs to restate thelaw and bring it home toother Governorsthreatening reprisal actionsthat deportation belongsexclusively to the FederalGovernment and that noNigerian can be a subjectof deportation in Nigeria.

Limit to powers of

deportationThe case of the Federal

Minister of Internal Affairsand Others VS ShugabaAbdulrrahaman Darman1(982) 3NCLLR915 helpedto shed light over the limits

declaration that the‘Deportation Order’ wasultra vires and void and thatsame constituted a violationof his fundamental rights,personal liberty, privacyand freedom of movementin Nigeria.

In the case herein, thepower of the FederalGovernment overdeportation is defined andcircumscribed by law,therefore, cannot beinvoked against Nigeriansand is open to judicialchallenge.

The State Government bythe law is constitutionallybarred from matterspertaining to deportationand it will be an arrogationof non-existent powers forstate governments to claimthat they can deport ‘non-indigence’ to their ‘state oforigin’, because attemptingsuch would be illegal andunconstitutional and wouldepitomize a level ofexecutive recklessnessworse than the case inShugaba’s Saga.

Seekingresponsivegovernmentintervention

Under Chapter II of the1999 Constitution (asamended), it is stated thatthe security and welfare ofthe people shall be theprimary purpose ofgovernment. Section 15prohibits discrimination onthe grounds of place oforigin, sex, religion, status,ethnic or linguisticassociation and enjoins thegovernment to encouragefree mobility of people,goods and servicesthroughout the Federation.Section 16 enjoinsgovernment to provideadequate shelter,unemployment and sickbenefits, welfare of thedisabled and to manage theeconomy as best as possibleto serve the common good.The Constitution does notenvisage that any Nigerianwould become a destitute.Destitution is a direct resultof failure of governmentand this malaise can only becured through responsiveand responsiblegovernment intervention.

of even thepowers of theF e d e r a lGovernment ind e p o r t a t i o nmatters and toestablish that aNigerian citizendomiciled inNigeria cannotpossibly bedeported fromNigeria. ShugabaAbdurrahamanDarman was aMember of theGreat NigeriaPeoples Party[GNPP] and theMajority Leaderin the Borno StateHouse ofAssembly.

The NationalParty of Nigeria(NPN) controlledgovernance at theFederal level, andin purportedexercise ofpowers under theImmigration Act,1963, the thenFederal Ministerfor InternalAffairs (BelloMaitama Yusuf)issued an Order,published in anExtra-ordinaryF e d e r a lG o v e r n m e n tG a z e t t ec l a s s i f y i n gShugaba Darmanas a “ProhibitedI m m i g r a n t ”w h e r e - u p o n ,Shugaba Darmanwas deportedfrom Nigeria.

He went tocourt and soughtseveral reliefsincluding adeclaration thathe is a citizen ofNigeria and assuch has af u n d a m e n t a lright of immunityfrom expulsionfrom Nigeria.Having ruled inhis favour, thecourt made a

Barr. Eddie Onyeka, Esq

The first part of thisinterview was publishedon Wednesday last week

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—45

THE Nigerian ElectionDebates Group (NEDG) has

concluded arrangements to stageissue- based debates for all thecandidates that have been clearedby the Independent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC) forthe November 16, 2013 election.

Altogether, 23 governorshipcandidates and their runningmates are expected to participatein the debates.

Chairman of NEDG, Mr. TaiwoAlimi told reporters in Awkayesterday that 11 NonGovernmental Organizations,NGOs, under NEDG, whichinclude BroadcastingOrganizations of Nigeria (BON),Nigeria Guild of Editors, NigeriaUnion of Journalists (NUJ) andNigeria Bar Association (NBA),Election Reform Network andTransition Monitoring Group(TMG) are involved inorganizing the debates.

According to Alimi, the debates,which will be in two sessions arescheduled for October 22, 2013for the running mates, while the

Candidates, deputies to squareup in debates, Oct 22, 29, 31

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

governorship candidates wouldhave theirs on October 29 and31.

He said: “The coalition of mediaand civil society groups seek toset agenda and provide for thepeople of Anambra State anopportunity to get relevantinformation about each of thepersons aspiring to rule them.

What we are trying to do is toprovide a platform at whicheverybody will have theopportunity of telling the peoplewhat they can do”.

Alimi said that those whowould take part in the finaldebate on 31st October would bedetermined by the outcome of

opinion poll of the registeredvoters in Anambra State, asconducted by credibleresearchers

He explained that as part of thedebate, a non participatingaudience that would not clap oreulogize any of the candidateswould be allowed into the hall,

adding that the idea is to providea level –playing field for all thecandidates.

He said that NEDG hadsuccessfully conducted similardebates in Edo and Ondo statesand hoped that Anambragovernorship candidates wouldparticipate effectively.

•Obiano:APGA•Ngige:APC •Ubah:LP •Ukachukwu:PDP

IN like manner, a socio-cultural organization,

Igboezue Unity Association ofNigeria yesterday set agendafor the governorshipcandidates.

National chairman of thegroup, Chief Pius UchennaOkoye, in an interview withVanguard said they wouldwithin seven days invite the

••Group to screen contendersBY ENYIM ENYIM candidates for proper

screening before they couldendorse any of them.

According to him, a qualifiedcandidate of their choice mustnot be corrupt and must be welleducated, adding thatAnambra state is not a state fornone educated people togovern. He advised the peopleof Anambra to vote wisely in theforthcoming election in ordernot to vote in a mediocre.

THE candidate of theProgressives Peoples

Alliance, PPA, in the election,Mr. Godwin Ezeemo has saidthat his choice of Dr. RahpaelChikwenze as his runningmate for the election is becausehe wanted someone who is asdetermined as himself to evolveways of moving Anambra Stateforward.

Presenting Chikwnze toreporters in Awka, Ezeemo saidAnambra is a difficult state togovern and therefore needspeople who have the strengthof character and thewillingness to serve the people.

The PPA running mate, whohails from Aguleri Otu inAnambra East localgovernment area, was untilrecently a lecturer at theNwafor Orizu College of

Why I chose Chikwenze asdeputy – Ezeemo

BY VINCENT UJUMADU Education. He holds a PhD inPhysics.

This came as the South EastDevelopment Initiative, SEDI,a group of small –scalebusinessmen in South Eastgeo–political zone, has donated10,000 posters and 21 bannersto Ezeemo CampaignOrganization as part of itspartnership programme withthe PPA candidate.

National chairman of SEDI,Mr. Harrison Onyemaenu,while presenting the materialswith members of his group tothe campaign organization inAwka, said the PPA candidatehas won the people’s hearts,especially the youths, becauseof his belief in transparent, freeand fair competition, asopposed to some people whoprefer to manipulate situationsto favour them.

WE will all go to the polls onNovember 16 this year to

vote another governor, who willtake over from the incumbentGovernor Peter Obi. This is adecision that will decide ourfuture in the state. So let us thinkdeeply and vote wisely.

The candidates in this electioncome from the three senatorialzones in the state. There arecandidates from zones whichhave produced a governorbefore, produced again and stillwant to produce again.However, there is a zone whichhad never produced a governorbefore and the zone is hopingand believing that in the spirit ofone family, you will support andvote for it’s candidate to becomethe first governor from the zone,just as the zone had beensupporting and voting forcandidates from other zones tobecome governors in the past.

Anambra State is made up ofthree families namely; AnambraSouth, Anambra Central andAnambra North. Everything inthe state including the office ofthe governor belongs to all ofthem and should be equitablyenjoyed by all of them. But thishas not been so because sincethe creation of the state in 1992,successive governors of the statehave all come from AnambraSouth and Anambra Centralrespectively. Anambra State hashad six civilian governors andAnambra South has produced

Why Anambra North deserves a chanceBY UCHEM OBI four governors: Dr.

Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dr.Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Dr. AndyUba and Mrs. Virgy Etiaba.Anambra Central has producedtwo governors in the persons ofDr. Chris Ngige and Mr. PeterObi.

Anambra North, which is thelargest of the three families, hasnot had the opportunity toproduce even one governor. Thisis not fair and this is not how totreat a family member, who hasgiven more for the sustenance,development and enhancementof our common home.

Foremostpolitician

Anambra North, for betterunderstanding, is the SenatorialDistrict of the first president of theFederal Republic of Nigeria andforemost politician, Rt. Hon. Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle ofOnisha and the great Zik ofAfrica. The senatorial zone of thisgreat sage deserves bettertreatment in the Anambra projectthan we have given it.

Anambra North is home toRiver Niger and Omambala Riverfrom which the state derived itsname. These two rivers and theirtributaries have turned theSenatorial District into the foodbasket of the state. The SenatorialDistrict accounts for over 90percent of the agricultural andaquatic production of the state.

Anambra State is basking in the

euphoria of joining the leagueof oil producing states becausenature deposited oil in AnambraNorth. This same Anambra Northhas one of the largest deposits ofnatural gas in the country.

The three Senatorial Districts ofAnambra are sharing, harvestingand enjoying the naturalblessings of Anambra North inthe spirit of brotherhood.

It is only equitable in the samespirit of brotherhood, to askAnambra South and AnambraCentral Senatorial Districts toallow Anambra North to share inthe joy of producing the nextgovernor of the state, which theyhave monopolized since thecreation of the state.

Anambra North has the largestmarket in West Africa and thismarket, outside federal revenueallocation, is the highest revenueearner for the state. How then arewe treating this zone as outcastin the Anambra family?

This is injustice, the kindNdigbo are complaining of inNigeria. We believe that Ndigbodeserve to produce the nextpresident after PresidentGoodluck Jonathan’s tenurebecause Nigeria stands on atripod of Hausa/Fulani, Yorubaand Igbo and Hausa/Fulani andYoruba have continued toexchange the baton of Nigeria’spresidency between them as ifNdigbo does not exit.

* Uchem Obi Esq, director ofMedia and Publicity, WillieObiano Equity CampaignGroup, wrote from Awka

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Delta Central by-election: The 9 candidatesvying for late Ewherido’s seat

BY EMMA AMAIZE

E F F U R U N - N I N Ecandidates, including

two women, will square up,tomorrow, in the Delta Centralsenatorial district by-election.

The seat became vacantbecause of the death of SenatorPius Ewherido on June 30.

The women flagbearers areMrs. Atatagolly HannahOritsegbubemi Odibe ofAdvanced Congress ofDemocrats (ACD) and Mrs.Mercy Imonisa, of Kowa Party,KP.

Other candidates are Mr.Alfred J.J. Joseph, AlliedCongress Party of Nigeria,ACPN; Omoru-AkposheriEdafe-David, All ProgressivesGrand Alliance, APGA; LuckyIghomuaro Ambrose, MegaProgressive Peoples Party,MPPP; and Chief AndiKayoma Osawota, LabourParty, LP.

Also in the race are Chief EdeDafione- Democratic PeoplesParty, DPP; Mr. EmerhorGermanson Oghenetega – AllProgressives Congress, APCand Emmanuel Aguariavwodo-Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking during a meeting ofstakeholders’ election forum forDelta Central by-election, DeltaState Resident ElectoralCommissioner of theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC),Dame Gesila Khan, said thatthe election would be held in1,263 polling units, 85registration areas and eightlocal government areas in thesenatorial district.

The eight local governmentareas are Ughelli North,Ughelli South, Udu, Uvwie,Ethiope East, Ethiope-West,

Okpe and Sapele.She said: “INEC is not

unmindful of the publics’ highexpectations. I, therefore,assure the people of DeltaCentral senatorial district that

the commission will leave nostone unturned to ensure afree, fair and credible election.A situation where any of theparticipants would appear tofoment trouble and constitute

a cog in the wheel of peace andprogress will not augur well forthe system.”

According to her, “the issueof electoral violence will alsocease to flourish or reduced to

THE postponement of theDelta Central senatorial

district by-election to October 12from the initial October 7 by theIndependent National ElectoralCommission, INEC, has twirledto a good thing for the politicalparties and their candidates.

Three of the major parties, PDP,DPP and APC are fielding theformer Managing Director of theNiger-Delta DevelopmentCommission, NDDC, and formerHouse of Representativesmember, Chief EmmanuelAguariavwodo; scion of theDafinone family, Chief EdeDafinone; and business mogul,Olorogun O’Tega Emerhorrespectively as their senatorialcandidates.

The Labour Party, LP, has aformer Secretary of the Delta StateOil Producing AreasDevelopment Commission,DESOPADEC, Barrister AndrewOsawota as its senatorialflagbearer.

LP chair, Mr. Emeka Nkwoala,confirmed to Vanguard shortlyafter he emerged from a meetingin Asaba, where INECannounced the postponementthat it was a blessing in disguisefor the party, as it would afford itthe chance to do more campaignfor its candidate.

Blessing in disguise for partiesBY EMMA AMAIZE, RE-

GIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH-SOUTH & FESTUS AHON

Chairman of the PDP, ChiefPeter Nwaoboshi and his DPPcounterpart, Chief TonyEzeagwu, share the samesentiment even though theyseparately declared that theirparties were prepared for theelection, anyday.

Indeed, the postponement ofthe by-election by seven dayshelped the parties to resolve thedifferences among the defeatedcontenders for the party’s ticket.

Majorparties

Except for the PDP that resolvedits own early with formercontenders, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, Hon. John Agoda andothers bowing to the party’schoice of Aguariavwodo, theother major parties for the by-election were almost going intothe race with a divided house.

One of those, who lost in theprimaries held in Sapele, HonSolomon Edojah, was said tohave proved difficult, but he hadsince back-pedaled.

The exceptional conciliation forAguariavwodo by other aspirantsis what has given the partystrong hope in the by-election.

The APC has extinguished theburning anger of activist andlawyer, Barrister Festus Keyamo,who pulled out of the party’sprimaries following what he

described as a sham registrationof members to suit the candidate,Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor.

A bitter row also engulfed DPPas Richard Odibo, NapoleonGbinijie and Abel Oharumeprotested the emergence of ChiefEde Dafinone. Some leaders,under the auspices of UrhoboThink Tank, Abuja, urgedthem to bury the hatchet.

The group, led by EngineerEnunuaye Akporotu thanked theparty’s arrowhead, Chief GreatOgboru, for wading into theimpasse, saying, “what is at stakein Delta Central is to vote for theright candidate, who willrekindle hope for the progressand development of the Urhobonation.”

The INEC shifted the by-election because sensitivematerials for the exercise werenot ready. The parties did not feel

they lost anything in the deal, aslong as it did not breach theconstitutional provision of 30days to fill the vacancy,beginning from the date theopening was communicated tothe Commission by the Senate.

With the postponement of theby-election to October 12, it isobservable that the last date ofcampaign could now be October11 and possible run-off, October16.

On the towering anticipation ofa just poll, Delta State ResidentElectoral Commissioner, DameGesila Khan, appealed topolitical parties to engage inelaborate and extensive votereducation campaign, adding that“the parties have a dominant roleto play towards achieving thedesired free, fair and credibleelectoral process.”

•Emerhor: APC •Aguariavwodo: PDP •Dafinone: DPP •Osawata:LP

the barest minimum when thepolitical parties, theirsupporters and politicians ingeneral shun the urge torecruit thugs to unleash terrorduring elections.”

A POLITICAL PressureGroup in Delta State

known as Utuama Women inPolitics for Agwariawodo hasvowed to vote en mass for theDelta Central Senatorial flagbearer of Peoples’ DemocraticParty, PDP, Chief EmmanuelAgwariawodo in tomorrow’selection.

In a statement by itsCoordinator, Ambassador

Group vows to vote PDPEndurance Orubu, the groupsaid the emergence ofAgwariawodo is the best thingthat has ever happened to theUrhobo people.

The statement read inpart:”The group is fullyprepared to make sure wedeliver PDP in our variouslocal government areas in thissenatorial by-election.”

FOLLOWING the conversion to theexalted principle of Dialogue, Dr

Goodluck Jonathan (like a born-againChristian) has sworn in the members ofthe Advisory Committee on NationalDialogue, which by itself has becomepopular with majority of Nigerians. The President has quickly followed hiswords on October 1, with action withina week, thus re-awakening the forlornhope of many patriots. The heavyburden is now on the broad shouldersof the Chairman, Senator Okurounmuand his eminent members.

Although the work of the PAC(Presidents‘ Advisory Committee) is toprepare the ground for the realConference, the proper execution of itsmandate which is all embracing (toconsult widely) would determine thetype of dialogue or ‘Conversation‘ thatwould subsequently follow. Accordingto the President‘s instruction, noopinion, how little or how great shouldbe avoided and according to SenatorOkurounmu, no ‘no-go-area‘ has beengiven by President Jonathan. It is clearthat skeptics who doubted the politicalintention of Mr. President would havebeen sadly disappointed by the rapidlychanging events.

My candid opinion is that the real testof President Jonathan‘s political movesis the process and progress of the real‘Conversation‘, the final conclusion andhis reaction and that of his government.

Some observers believe, and justifiablyso, that if there are more than 300 tribalgroups in the country and there are 774local councils in Nigeria, election ofparticipants could be easy through localgovernment areas, and as people say,each tribe has its own identification. Itis even considered easy for the majortribes which the present State structurerecognized – Hausa/Fulani; Ibo; Yoruba;Edo etc. Some states are not sostructurally lucky.

It stands to reason that anymeaningful conversation would touch

on the structure of the country andwould examine the structure of 36 statesin ‘harmonizing‘ the people culturallyand economically. Some states call forstructural examination – Benue State,with predominantly Tiv majority andrestless Idoma minority; Delta State withamalgamation of Ibo, Urhobo, Isoko,Ijaw, Itsekiri, etc with no similarreligious or cultural similarities apartfrom known language differences. Itis no surprise that these ethnicdifferences had affected negativelypolitical and economic considerations inrecent past in the country.

Apart from State formation structurewhich appears clearly deficient, thequestion of electoral process has alsobecome one of the greatest problems ofthe country. In local politics, this ismanifested in the art of selection ratherthan election. Under national politics,the ‘ winner-takes-all‘ mentalityprevails. The current system recognizesonly the political parties and the partywhich gets to the post first is declaredthe winner (that successful party willbe adorned with power and prestige).A party with 51 per cent of votes lords itover the country, stepping on the rightsof the minority (49 per cent).

It becomes a political tragedy if the

government – ruling party and activeopposition. That lively period alsowitnessed the glaring evidence of someambitious politicians in army uniforms.The nation has also witnessed the riseand the sunset of ‘Heads of State and amilitary President‘; it has also seen theattempts of former rulers to regain powerand the failed attempts.

The beauty of a ‘Dialogue‘ is theattempt to examine the present federalsystem of government in the past 14years on the country‘s political andeconomic plane. We should discuss onthe obvious failures of the system thatmakes President Jonathan a politicalenemy of some ‘Northern politicians‘who want power back to the North orwhy that sturdy and resilient race wantsan Ibo President. The most intriguingpolitical position at the moment is theplot to see that President Jonathan doesnot seek re-election in spite of hislaudable Transformation Agenda.

Some believe, and rightly so, that ifPresident Jonathan‘s progressiveprogrammes (embedded inTransformation Agenda) are working,perfectly, he should not be denied hisconstitutional right. Nigeria should beable to judge by the reality of thesituation in 2015 those good and reliableroads constructed (some are underconstruction); modernized airports (wepray to God for no more crash) and thestability of the economy with fullemployment and less poverty.

BIAFRAPerhaps the ‘Dialogue‘ or

‘Conversation‘ would provide thegolden opportunity for us to know andhear about the glory that once pervadedthe Biafra deep blue sky but got missingin the present South-Eastern States withintelligent Ibo leaders and their ownregular share of oil money. We eithertalk now or forever keep our mouths inLagos shut forever.

losing minority is also another ethnicgroup. Could arrangement be made fora form of proportional representationwhere power (and all that goes with it)is shared proportionally? This and otherreasons make Dialogue or Conversationnecessary in an atmosphere wheresome particular interests (tribe) cry orallege marginalization of their peopleand areas.

Many apologists of the present systemargue, but not coherently, that the‘Federal Character‘ provision in thepresent constitution should take care ofany act of marginalization, if it exists. The answer is clear in that the ‘federalcharacter‘ clause is noted for its breachrather than in its obeisance by the samepeople who have got to their positionsat the expense of others. Some criticsof the present Federal Government mayhave their reasons in Dr. Jonathan‘sappointments to some strategicpositions. It might be due to eitherethnic considerations or suave politicalmoves to ensure survival.

Some analysts see the value of‘Conversation‘ an opportunity toexamine the structure of governmentsince Independence in 1960. The post1960 era saw the glory of robust debatesin a parliamentary system of

The new road to Nigerian unity

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—47

C/RIVER: C/RIVER: C/RIVER: C/RIVER: C/RIVER: Why we excluded APC from council polls Why we excluded APC from council polls Why we excluded APC from council polls Why we excluded APC from council polls Why we excluded APC from council polls — Otu, CROSIEC chairmanSIR Patrick Otu, two-time Chairman Cross-Rivers StateIndependent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), in thisinterview with Vanguard speaks on the challenges thecommission had in the last local council election,controversies arising from the merger of the APC and itsnon-participation in the election and how to strengthen SIECsamong others.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

•Otu

CHALLENGES CROSIECfaced during the recent

local council electionThe challenges of the election

had to do with the terrain of theplace, the issue of ad-hoc staff,the issue of registration of the AllProgressives Congress, APCand its participation in theelection.

Controversies over APC’snon-inclusion

The merger of parties had neverhappened in Nigeria. And whatwe have today is a novelty. It’sfor Nigerians to learn.

When we started the process ofelection (local governments) onthe 18th of March 2013, ACN,ANPP, CPC were all there. Theyfollowed us gradually to the point.In fact, we relied on them.

And the contest was on the waywhen APC got registered. Andeven though we were carryingon with the process, our intentionwas that whether APC comes,they will still allow CPC, ACN,ANPP to continue to the end

before they now got into thealliance. But the moment APCwas registered; INEC withdrewthe certificates of those parties.Which meant everything thathappened with those parties gotterminated midway. And APCwas not there when we startedon the 18th of March. And theregistration of APC came up onemonth and 21 days to ourelection. I had printed materials,we had finished everything. Infact, the journey was up for theelection because it’s not one andhalf months to election that youprint materials.

That is why you will see ACN,ANPP, and CPC on our ballotpapers. And for Cross-RiversState, we don’t always print ourballot papers in respect of theparties that are doing businessin the state. We put all the partiesbecause we don’t want anybodyto accuse us of exclusion. So wedid that, but by the registrationof APC, even INEC chairman,Prof. Attahiru Jega came up andreferred Nigerians to the ElectoralAct, that APC can only participatein elections after 90 days of

registration. We don’t make thelaws. CROSIEC was founded bythe law and there is nothing inour laws that cover mergers. Wedon’t have powers to postponeelections. It’s not only CROSIEC;none of the States IndependentElectoral Commissions haspowers to postpone the totalelection programme. When wecan postpone is when election isunder-way and there’s violencein a particular local government,or if there’s any imminentviolence in a ward or a localgovernment we say let us not doit. Even when we did this election,we suspected one ward and weshifted it by one week; that is thelaw not that because a party hasbeen registered, then the whole

process has to wait. It’s not in ourlaw and we can’t do anything thatis outside our law.

Did you hold a stakeholders’meeting to discuss these issueswith all the political parties?

Yes, I held meeting with all thepolitical parties.

And what did they say?They argued and even the

national body of APC wrote to uspleading, asking that we shouldfind a way to accommodate APC.

And what did PDP say?PDP sat there and never argued

the matter. They said well, let thecommission sit and think of whatto do. They said so because theyknow that there’s no legalground for that. The process ofregistering APC started onMarch 18, they were registeredon July 31, and the election washeld on September 21.

What is the APC accusing youof?

They alleged that I told peoplethat PDP and the stategovernment were mountingpressure on me not to allow APCto participate. And I said how?For example, in our law, it’s onlya question of security that willmake us postpone elections. Andit’s not us that will raise the issue.In 2005, Governor Donald Dukeraised the issue and we calledstakeholders throughout thestate, addressed them that we arepostponing elections because of

insecurity, everybody was awareand the election got postponed.But there’s nothing like that thistime around. What they want usto do, the commission can’t takethe political decision.

How long have you been thehead of CROSIEC?

I have been there since 2005and I’m doing my second term.So, by 2015 my tenure will elapse.So you realize that

The 1999 AD and APPexperience

Then, those parties were stillthere as registered parties inspite of the alliance. But now, thecertificates of the merged partieshave been withdrawn.

What’s the way forward?You see, like I said, it’s

lawmakers and the court that willdetermine the issue. And I keeptelling them that the commissionis a legal entity and whatever thecourt says, the commission willabide. All the things we aretalking are based on thelegislation we have on ground.The question of the governmentof the state having influence onus is not true.

Cross River State has neverhad care-taker committee since1999. If not the only state, it’s oneof the few states which have haddemocracy at the grassroots levelsince 1999. It’s ACN and ANPPthat used to measure up withPDP but because this scenariohas led them out of the electionthat is why the election becamea one-party affair.

48 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

CHIEF Solomon Lar who diedon Wednesday at 80, was at thepoint of his demise one of THElongest enduring political facesin the country. He was evidentlyone of a handful of still activepoliticians who started jostlingfrom the colonial era. Typical ofthe exhibitionism thatcharacterised politics in the firstrepublic, Lar till his death, wasremembered for hisshowmanship on the politicalplatform as regularlydemonstrated by his all presentwhite handkerchief.

Lar’s longevity on the politicalplatform was in the opinion ofmany political stakeholders aresult of his adept combinationof political wax and wits. Manyothers saw him as a masterpolitical bridge builder. It was assuch no accident that as atwednesday, he remained one ofthe few linkages between the firstrepublic politics and the fourthrepublic.

The zenith of Lar’s politicalodyssey was his appointment asnational chairman of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, havingbefore then been the first civiliangovernor of his native old PlateauState. His appointment asnational chairman of the PDPfollowed the decision of the thenprotem national chairman, Dr.Alex Ekwueme to contest thepresidential ticket of the party in1998.

Nationalchairman

As national chairman of theparty, he presided over what hasturned out to be the mostdemocratic of all the presidentialprimaries of the party hosted inhis political base, Jos, PlateauState in 1998. That success wasalso alleged to have turned intoa political undoing as the winnerof the primaries, OlusegunObasanjo, just out of jail,reportedly vowed not to work withLar as national chairman. Theflamboyant Lar was said to haveangered Obasanjo when hestood up at the convention foralmost one hour on the excusethat he would not leave his houseand open the convention unlesshe was heralded into the JosTownship Stadium, venue of theprimary election by policeoutriders!

Following the primary,Obasanjo commenced theprocess of restructuring the partystructure and staff to make it morecompliant to his taste, and Larbecame a primary target. InNovember 1999, Obasanjoensured that a less showy andmore compliant chairman in theperson of Chief BarnabasGemade was elected nationalchairman of the party.

Lar, however, remained activein the party and was shelved tothe then powerless Board ofTrustees as chairman. Hisproblems with Obasanjoremained on the periphery of the

Lar:The linkman with the pastBY EMMANUEL AZIKEN,POLITICAL EDITOR

power play that characterised theparty up till 2006 when Lar openlysided with Obasanjo’s active foeand deputy, Atiku Abaubakr.Indeed, only few remembertoday that Lar alongside someother powerful party chieftainswere the first to form a parallelnational executive of the PDP in2006 as their rejection of the totalseizure of the party structure andsystem by Obasanjo.

Obasanjo’s response was to usesecurity agencies to shut downthe parallel office established bythe Lar group, which eventuallynever got a footing.

While Lar did not leave thePDP, he remained a distantgrandee of the party attendingparty functions whenever hisfailing health allowed him. Hewas, nevertheless, compensatedwith the election of his daughter,Bene Lar into the House ofRepresentatives in 2007.

His national political standingnonetheless, Lar was sometimesflayed at home for his role inbacking some of Plateau’s morecontroversial politicalpersonalities. Senator JoshuaDariye, the former governor ofthe state and Senator IbrahimMantu, the immediate pastdeputy president of the Senatewere two of the state’s moredivisive political leaders who gotfoothold in the PDP in 1999reportedly through Lar.

As he grew older, Lar returnedto the original political course hestarted his trade from – MiddleBelt activism.

In later years, he became astrident voice for theemancipation of the Middle Beltgeopolitical zone.

Lar who was born in April 1933in Langtang, Plateau State hadhis primary education at theSudan United Mission Primary

School in Langtang, and thenproceeded to the famous GindiriTeachers College, Gindiri,Plateau State where he obtainedthe Higher ElementaryCertificate that qualified him tobe a teacher.

He commenced his politicalcareer in 1959 when he contestedand won the councillorshipelection in the Langtang NativeAuthority, and the same year, hewas also elected into the Houseof Representatives on the ticketof the United Middle BeltCongress (UMBC). He won re-election in 1964 and became aclose associate of the then PrimeMinister, Alhaji Abubakar TafawaBalewa who he served as aparliamentary secretary whilst atthe same time serving as juniorminister in the Federal Ministryof Establishment.

Following the militaryincursion of 1966, Lar took timeout to study law at the AhmaduBello University and was calledto the bar in 1971. He would beremembered for his pioneeringrole in the establishment of thelegal aid system having servedas the first national secretary ofthe Nigerian Legal AidAssociation.

He was also vice-chairman ofthe committee that recommendedthe establishment of 19 states out

of the then 12 states in 1976. Atthe return of democratic rule in1979, Lar was elected governorof Plateau State and was returnedto power in 1983 but was forcedout by the military putsch ofDecember 31, 1983.

At the advent of the thirdrepublic he joined the SocialDemocratic Party, SDP andbacked Chief Moshood Abiolafor the 1993 presidential election,and following the annulment, hewas one of those appointed byGeneral Sani Abacha to stabilisethe government as Minister ofPolice Affairs. Lar, however, leftthe government not long afterreportedly after seeing throughthe power grab desperation ofGeneral Abacha.

He was to subsequently teamup with likeminded democrats informing the G9 which cascadedto the G34 that formed thenucleus of the PDP in 1998.

Governor Sule Lamido ofJigawa State one of the nineoriginal founders of the PDP saidin a text message yesterday thatLar would be especially missedat this period. “As a member ofG9 he left when Nigeria,democracy and especially PDPneeded him most.” That was anappropriate epitaph for a bridgebuilder.

•Lar

ON Boko Haram If we demonstrate our

patriotism, the few elementsdisturbing the country will findit difficult to carry out their evilacts and their activities willcome to an end.

On military incursion intopolitics and his incarcerationby General MuhammaduBuhari in 1983

I have forgiven Buhari. I thinkhe acted in ignorance becauseI know that he has realised thatwhat he did was wrong and

Solomon Lar’s words on the marbleIN his over 50 years sojourn in politics, Elder statesman, first civilian governor of PlateauState and first National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief SolomonDaushep Lar, left his footprints on the sands of time. He made an avalanche ofinterventions in the series of challenges the nation faced. See excerpts below.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE this is why he is participatingactively in politics.

When we were put in theprison in 1984 by the GeneralBuhari and Idiagbon regimeunder the pretext that some ofus stole money but I never stolea penny; the military were justtrying to make excuses tointerfere with the politicaladministration – somethingthat they don’t have businesswith.

On recurring ethno-religious violence on thePlateau

This was the state that people

were coming from all over theplaces, like Kano, Borno, Yola,and Kaduna to take refugewhenever there were problemsthere. So, Jos was a place ofpeace where everybody waslooking forward to coming tobecause the people did notdiscriminate against visitors.During the administration ofNigeria People’s Party (NPP) inthe 1980’s in the state, allpeople from over the countrywere trooping in. In thejudiciary we had people whowere not indigenes of the state.We had people from Anambra,

Oyo, Bendel, Lagos, Kaduna,Kano, etc, who came to workhere. They looked at Plateau asthe centre of Nigeria. Plateauwas a state of hope for thehopeless. This is where peoplewould come to take refuge. Whyis it that suddenly, Plateau willnow be the one to take refugesomewhere?

On state policeThere used to be State Police

called ‘Yandoka.’ Yandokawere molesting people. Theywere agents of oppression.They were being used bychiefs, by the politicians inthose areas. We say neveragain shall we have anythinglike the State Police.

UNTIL his death onWednesday, Chief Solomon Larhad a goal he could not attain:stemming the raging crises in thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But for ill-health, Lar, who tookover from Protem Chairman ofthe PDP, Dr Alex Ekwueme asnational chairman in 1998,wanted the crises to be resolvedbefore the end of last month andwas prepared to cut short hismedical trip abroad to realise thequest. He did not hit the targetbefore he passed on.

His unfulfilled dreamLar said in a statement early

September by the ExecutiveDirector of Solomon LarFoundation, Mr. Adeyi Major:“The PDP cannot be divided. We,as a political class will not fail thecountry. There must be a way outof this storm. All those who meanwell for Nigeria will not want aspilt in the PDP. Nobody will prayfor a repeat of the 1966 politicaldisaster again.

“I am making efforts to cut mymedical trip short to return to the

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

Vanguard, FRIDAY OCTOBER 11, 2013 — 49

LIBYAN prime minister Ali Zeidan

Thursday said that he is‘fine’ after being freed bymilitants who kidnappedhim from a hotel in Tripo-li and demanded that heresign.

The kidnapping wascarried out by a militiaThursday in revenge forthe government’s role inthe capture of a top AlQaeda suspect by U.S.troops.

But Zeidan was re-leased six hours after heand two of his guardswere snatched from theCorinthia Hotel, wherehe lives, and returned togovernment headquar-ters.

After regaining his free-dom, the prime ministertweeted: ‘I am fine, thankGod. If the aim of the kid-napping operation wasfor me to present my res-ignation, then I won’t re-sign. We are taking smallsteps, but in the right di-rection.’

He told his cabinet: ‘Wehope this matter will betreated with wisdom andrationality, far from ten-sion,’ he said. ‘There aremany things that needdealing with.’

He later appealed forcalm in a television

Al Qaeda: Libyan PM freed by armed gangbroadcast, saying: ‘I hopethis problem will be re-solved with reason andwisdom’ and without any‘escalation’.

Britain’s Foreign Secre-tary William Hague ex-

pressed relief at thenews, tweeting: ‘I wel-come release of LibyanPM. We will work withLibyan gov on ensuringthe transition remains ontrack and insecurity isaddressed.’

THE White Housesaid Thursday Pres-

ident Barack Obamawould be open to a Re-publican plan for a short-term debt ceiling hike —but only if no conditionsare attached hold him to“ransom.”

White House spokes-man Jay Carney alsowarned Obama wouldnot accept another part ofthe evolving Republicanapproach to end a politi-cal impasse — negotia-tions on long-term budgetdeal before the federalgovernment is reopened.

Fast moving politicalmaneuvering on Thurs-day led to the first signsthat the imbroglio whichhas sent hundreds ofthousands of federalworkers home andsparked fears of a debtdefault, could be drawingto an end game.

House of Representa-

Shutdown: Obama toconsider Republican offer

tives Speaker John Boe-hner, caught between hisrestive caucus and fearsthe US could defaultwithout a deal to raise thedebt ceiling by October17, made the early run-ning. “Listen, it is time forleadership,” said Boeh-ner, emerging from ameeting with Republicanlawmakers to offer a six-week extension of US bor-rowing authority.

But the Republican planwould not end the partialshutdown of the US gov-ernment until Obama en-ters talks on a long-termbudget deal — a step theWhite House has so farrefused to take.

The White House react-ed to the debt ceiling of-fer cautiously, apparent-ly awaiting to ensure thatthe Republican proposaldoes not come with con-ditions attached.

NOTORIOUS war-lord Charles Taylor

is to serve his 50-year jailterm in a British prison,ministers announcedThursday.

The former president of

Taylor to serve 50-year jail in UKLiberia was convicted bythe Special Court for Si-erra Leone (SCSL) on 11counts of war crimes andcrimes against humanity,including terrorism, mur-der, rape and using child

soldiers.UK justice minister Jer-

emy Wright said, ‘Theconviction of Charles Tay-lor is a landmark momentfor international justice.’

The controversial deci-sion to send Taylor toBritain could cost the tax-payer up to £80,000-a-year to keep him in amaximum security pris-on.

Last month Taylor losthis appeal against hisconvictions, which madehim the first former headof state convicted by aninternational court sinceNuremberg trials of Nazileaders after the SecondWorld War.

THE Security Council unanimously

adopted a resolution onThursday urging theUnited Nations to consid-er establishing a full-fledged peacekeepingforce in virtually lawlessCentral African Republic.

The landlocked, miner-al-rich Central AfricanRepublic, or CAR, hasslipped into chaos sincenorthern Seleka rebelsseized the capital, Ban-gui, and ousted PresidentFrancois Bozize inMarch. U.N. officials andrights groups say bothsides may have commit-ted war crimes.

“Your vote provides aglimmer of hope for the4.6 million men, womenand children in the CAR,”CAR’s U.N. AmbassadorCharles Armel Doubanetold the council after thevote.

Last month French For-eign Minister LaurentFabius warned that CARrisked becoming a newSomalia if it did not getimmediate support.

The resolution adopted

Security Council wantspeacekeepers for CAR

by the 15-member coun-cil calls on U.N. Secre-tary-General Ban Ki-moon to submit a reportwithin 30 days that wouldoutline possible interna-tional support to aplanned African Unionpeacekeeping mission toCAR known as MISCA.

THE United Kingdom’s government

has endorsed United Na-tions Intergovernmentalreport on global climatechange after the body pre-sented the most compre-hensive three volume as-sessment report of scienceof climate change everundertaken.

The report which dis-closed the fundamentalrole in reinforcing theneed to respond to chang-ing climate according toHague, “ will be used bygovernments around theworld to inform their re-

UK endorses UN’s IPCC reporton climate change

sponse to one of the great-est threats we face.”

He also stated that “TheUN IntergovernmentalPanel on ClimateChange’s latest assess-ment of the science con-firms that climate changeis already happening as aresult of human activity. The odds of extremeweather events, whichthreaten lives and proper-ty, have increased. Sealevels are rising, and iceis melting faster than weexpected. The IPCC’sreport makes clear thatunless we act now to re-duce carbon emissions, allthis will continue to wors-en in coming decades."

BY VERA SAMUELANYAGAFU

50—50—50—50—50—VANGUARD, VANGUARD, VANGUARD, VANGUARD, VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Hajj update from Saudi ArabiaHajj update from Saudi ArabiaHajj update from Saudi ArabiaHajj update from Saudi ArabiaHajj update from Saudi Arabia

MTN airlifts 15 customers to hajjFORMER MilitaryAdministrator of

Taraba and Oyo States, DrAmen Oyakhire has lamentedthe undue castigation ofIslam and Muslims as a resultof the un-Islamic activities ofBoko Haram in the country.

Oyakhire who is also adetective of Scotland YardFame, made this known whileaddressing Muslims onfasting and other acts ofworship in Benin recently.

He said: Boko Haramistshave continuously comeunder fire for a catalogue ofserious failings. The un-Islamic activities of the Secthave brought the impeccablereputation of Islam intotartars. Islamic Tradition hassince the emergence of Boko-Haram insurgency beenseriously vilified andbelievers castigated. Manycitizens have been killed byBoko-Haramist terroristseverywhere including placesof worship in Nigeria.

According to him, BokoHaramists are ignorant ofIslam. Islam regards life assacred. They are violentdeviants who have hithertojettisoned or ignoredparticipation in any dialoguewith Government. Theywould eventually do sobecause they have noreasonable choice. Therational application ofintegrity and intellectproduces peace for mankind.Peace is not just the absenceof social tension but thepresence of justice whichIslam symbolises. There is nopeace for the wicked. Woe toevery sinful liar. Peace isfundamentally required forgrowth and development.

The Islamic scholaradvised Muslims never torelent in the pursuit ofknowledge as it remains acatalyst that restores humandignity.

True Muslims arecommanded to continuouslyseek knowledge througheducation, formal andinformal, because it is thefoundation of wisdom, lightand power being a catalystthat restores human dignity.Education is life. It is a greatresource for empowerment.It produces knowledge forpublic good. The Holy Quran emphasises knowledge inseveral verses coupled withthe Prophetic proclamationthat a scholars ink is more

BokBokBokBokBoko Haro Haro Haro Haro Haramamamamam activities ha activities ha activities ha activities ha activities havvvvve bre bre bre bre broughtoughtoughtoughtoughtIslam tIslam tIslam tIslam tIslam to disreputo disreputo disreputo disreputo disrepute —e —e —e —e —OyOyOyOyOyakhireakhireakhireakhireakhire

precious than a Martyr's blood.It is desirable for people tolearn from one another in thesame way iron sharpens iron.

True Muslims understandclearly from knowledge andexperience and greatlyappreciate the inimitable factthat this world is basically heldby four invisible pillars:notably, the unusual wisdomof the Learned, theimpeccable justice of theGreat, the immutable prayersof the Righteous and theimpregnable valour of theBrave.

He also urged Muslims to beconscious of their health byeating good and balanced dietin order to be mentally andphysically healthy toparticipate effectively in allacts of ibadah enjoined byAllah.

We live in Nigeria, a countryin West Africa, with a growingpopulation of over onehundred and sixty millionpeople who are often prone todiseases, trepidation, hungerand poverty because of underdevelopment caused by badand insincere leaders.Muslims should eat a varietyof healthy meals from the fivedifferent food groups, rich in

nutrients and balanced dietsto be mentally and physicallyhealthy to participateeffectively in fasting andother acts of worships.

Balanced diets help to lowerblood pressure such aspotassium, calcium andmagnesium. They preventand reduce the occurrenceof diseases such as cancer,diabetes and heart relatedproblems. Prevalent amongthe many diseases that oftenkill Nigerians are cancer,diabetes, hypertension,malaria, typhoid and aidsbecause education andhealth are not treated asissues of priority bygovernment.

Almighty Allah appreciatesthe value of good health formankind and pronouncedcure for diseases for HisProphets in six Chapters inthe Holy Quran, notably, Q11-7, 914, 1057, 1782, 2680 and4144 respectively. Muslimsmust be very careful withhealth matters because onlythe healthy and living candiligently and faithfullyworship Allah. The deaddoes not praise Allah.Reasonably socialise and bemerry, Oyakhire said.

THE General Manager,MTN Customer care,

Hajia Fehintola Mustaphahas said that the leadingmobile network is poisedtowards rewarding itssubscribers throughdifferent promos and givingback to the society.

Leading 15 out of the 17Muslim lucky winners toSaudi Arabia on Holypilgrimage, Mustapha statedthat the rewardingcustomers with all-expense-paid Hajj trip to SaudiArabia was one out ofseveral other promos aimedat giving back to itssubscribers who haveremained on the nextwork.

Mustapha stated thisshortly before the luckywinners were airlifted byEmirate airlines to SaudiArabia recently.

According to her, all thepilgrims will be staying in a5-star hotel near haram inMakkah with all estacodespaid.

Fielding questions from

newsmen, she stated that•gMTN is targeted towardsenriching people’s lives. Inthe last Ramadan, we rolledout a promo for the Muslimfaithful which entailsdownloading ‘callers tunes’with a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to SaudiArabia for the Hajj ritesincluding staying in a 5-starhotel near haram in Makkah.So, 17 of them emergedwinners and out of thatnumber two did not showup. S, it is just aboutrewarding our customersthat have stayed on ournetwork for so long and toshow that we love them andappreciate them and wantthem to continue on thenetwork.•h

She stated that similarpromos are available for theChristian faithful.

The winners who flew tothe holy land in Emirateairline lauded MTN forhelping them to realise theirdreams of going to hajj forthe first time.

•The 15 lucky winners of MTN Hajj trip

•Osun state pilgrims in Madinah•Urges Muslims not to relent in pursuit of knowledge•Urges Muslims not to relent in pursuit of knowledge•Urges Muslims not to relent in pursuit of knowledge•Urges Muslims not to relent in pursuit of knowledge•Urges Muslims not to relent in pursuit of knowledge

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YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D -V E RT S AT OU R

L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E —VA N G U A R D

M E D I A L I M I T E D ( L A G O SOFFICE) K I O S K

4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S ,L A G O S .

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—51

FG to developherbs, plantmedicines—Chukwu

ABUJA—DETERMINED to meet

the health needs of thepopulace and raise therevenue profile of thecountry, the Federal Gov-ernment, yesterday, saidit will ensure that herbaland natural medicinesare optimally developedto the benefit of man-kind.

Health Minister, ProfOnyebuchi Chukwu whosaid this at the flaggingoff of Herbs, Health Foodsand Natural ProductsExpo otherwise known asHerbFest 2013, inAbuja, said it was timeNigeria followed the foot-steps of China, Ghana,India to optimally exploitherbs and natural medi-cines endowments to thehealth and economic ben-efits of Nigerians.

The exhibition whichtook place at the RawMaterials Research andDevelopment Council,Maitama, Abuja was or-ganised by BioresourcesInstitute of Nigeria. Theevent was graced byprominent Nigerians in-cluding Presidential ad-viser on Inter party Af-fairs, Senator Ben Obi,former governor of ImoState, Chief IkediOhakim and delegationsfrom the United States ofAmerica, US, South Africaand Kenya.

Represented by the Di-rector General of Na-tional Institute for Phar-maceutical Research andDevelopment, NIPRD,Prof.K.S Gamaniel, theminister noted that “theFederal Government isdetermined to ensure thatthe nation derives boththe health and economicbenefits inherent inherbal medicine practiceand promote its develop-ment.”

He said, “the inaugu-ration of the two commit-tees was necessitated bymy strong belief in thepotential of herbal medi-cine to provide additionalavenue for the improve-ment of the health statusof Nigeria and on theneed to ensure that thenation joins other coun-tries such as Ghana,China and India thathave taken giant stridesin the development ofmedicinal plants for thebenefits of their citizen”.

In her remarks the Per-manent Secretary, Minis-try of Science and Tech-nology, Mrs Rabi S.Jimeta, disclosed thatefforts are being made toevolve a means of inte-grating traditional medi-cine technologies andpractices.

By CHRIS OCHAYI

08053068728

,

,

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY OCTOBER 11, 2013

If I were Keshi...

EAGLES can win the match in Addis Ababa onSunday. A draw is possible.

And they can, as well, lose it. Sometimes, insports, a better team loses. It happens in both teamand individual events. A lot of factors cause this.

You can lose to a weaker team when you underratethem. With all your finesse and techniques, afighting team, with guts and stupendous will,overpowers you. A team endowed with technicalprowess can lose to a team full of determination. Ahungrier team can shock a team with superior skills.A team full of highly technical players but whosefitness is poor can lose to a fitter team. A good teamcan lose on their bad day; when luck runs awayfrom them.

Surely, you must have watched a match in whichplayers from a team attack consistently, hitting thepost three or four times but eventually losing to aside that soaked all the pressure and converted onlyone chance that came their way. Football is funny.Weather can make a seemingly good team lose to aside more adaptable to it. A team with high qualityplayers can lose to a team better coached or a teambetter prepared. I can go on and on to enumeratewhat can make a favoured team lose to another ratedlower.

And it is against this background that I warn andat the same time plead with the Eagles not tounderrate Ethiopia on Sunday. It is against thisbackground that I insist on a sound tactical approachto the game.

Against an improved Ethiopia whose passinggame can exhaust the Eagles in a weather that maynot be conducive to our players it will be suicidal toplay total football, the one they call massive attackand massive defence, throughout the 90 minutes ofthe game.

If I were Stephen Keshi, the Eagles manager, Iwould, first divide the game into two or threesegments and adopt different strategies for eachsegment. The way you play away matches couldbe different from home games. And the character,discipline, strength and weaknesses of theopposition determine your own approach.

Against Ethiopia, therefore, it is simply naturalthat the home team, inspired by the home support,could go full blast on kick off. You could pull stringsto contain them and after 20 minutes or there about,

you attack because, at this time, they would haveslowed down, especially if they do not score in thoseearly minutes of incessant attacks. Naturally, theycannot continue with the same pace. After thoseearly minutes, their endurance could drop and that’s

the best time to attack. You could score at this time.And when you do, you close up the game becausethey would naturally throw more men in front toequalise. The opponents will now be doing morerunning and you try to contain them. The way to dothis depends on the coach. One attacker can falldeeper and the midfield would be tighter with thedefence. It is closing up the game and notnecessarily being totally defensive. If it works out,another goal can be created through the counterattack, otherwise in the last ten minutes of the half,when the struggling team would again be droppingin endurance again after their possible incessantattacks, you could open up the game and attack. Soyou could first close the game, explode after 20minutes, close the game again and explode in thelast ten or five minutes. The score line, however,determines a lot in the way you switch these

strategies. But, having watched Ethiopia, they don’tplay the kind of power game that may compel youto try to contain them first. They pass the ball andmake short runs that could knock you out of yourstride. If their shooting is as good as their passinggame, they could beat any team in Africa. Becauseof their character, Eagles could attack them on theblast of the whistle. I could use power game. Position,power and pace will be my catch words. With directplay that could aggressively take the game to theirhalf I could overpower them and score first. But Imust be mindful of the weather and fitness level ofmy team and will also strictly work out segments inthe game- when to close the game and when toattack – otherwise you could score one or two goalsfirst and later concede more. It happens in football.

The Eagles have the players to win the match andtheir experience should count. They have thesupport of the government, that of the footballfederation and the Nigerian people. A good matchplan could earn them victory. A poor one can makethem lose. Remember how I started. A team withsuperior players can lose to one highly determinedand hungrier. May it not happen to us in Ethiopia.Amen.

Deborah Nwakaego Okpala goeshome

THE Quicksilver of Nigerian football, SylvanusOkpala and his family members will today, in

Mkpologwu town in Aguata Local Government Areaof Anambra State, commit to mother earth, theirbeloved mother, Nwakaego Okpala. Governor PeterObi, who has been supportive of ex Rangers players,will likely attend the burial according to his aide onsports Arthur Egbunam. Ex Rangers players andsome teammates in the Green Eagles will also attendthe burial. The Nigeria Football Federation will alsobe represented. Okpala won the Nations Cup as aplayer in 1980 and as an assistant coach to Keshiearly this year in South Africa.

May the soul of his mother rest in peace. Takeheart my good friend, fondly called Hafia in Enugu,nicknamed Quick Silver in Eagles by late ErnestOkonkwo and called Oba Benin and Idi Amin bythose who followed him from his primary andSecondary school days as a first class footballer.

A win is the only option against Eagles — Ethiopian coachETHIOPIAN national football team has been in

camp since mid- September preparing for a clashwith Nigeria in their crucial first leg World Cup play-off that will take place at the Addis Ababa stadium onSunday 13 October. Cafonline.com spoke with the headCoach Sewnet Bishaw ahead of the match.

What are yourexpectations for Sunday’smatch?

Bishaw: We have neverreached the World Cupfinal before but we believethere is time for Ethiopia toget a place in that globalfootball bonanza. This yearwe have reached thisdecisive group of ten wherewe have only two matchesto play to make the WorldCup finals. It is a do-or-diesituation. I personallybelieve that on Sunday wedon’t have any other optionthan to win

The Nigerians are highlyfavoured to go throughbut you sound confident ofa win over a strongopponent, why is that?

I know that Nigeria isone of the football powerhouses of Africa. They haveappeared four times at theWorld Cup finals in 1994,1998, 2002 and 2010. Butone must be aware that it’snot always the strong sidethat wins in the footballcompetition. The results are

determined after 90minutes. We are theoutsiders from the start.Nigerians didn’t get thisbig name by one stroke.Our successive wins in thequalifiers have given usbelief and we have risenon the FIFA ranking.Within Africa we havealready begun to gainreputation. So now wetarget to win over thestrong Nigerian side andaim to take our country tothe World Cup finals.

The home fans expectyour words to be realized.

This is a football match.We go to the pitch to win.But this doesn’t mean thatthe team that really wantssuccess the most will win.If there is a set- back, wehave to accept it. This isfootball. We will doeverything possible to winbut if that is not realizedour home fans mustprepare themselves toaccept the result as it is.

Some of the nationalplayers had the

continental clubcompetition. Due to thisthey were not togetherwith others. Did this affectyou?

Well almost all playershave been together since

mid -September. At first wehad two times training ina day but now we do onlyonce a day. Their conditionis quite good, the spirit ishigh and they are highlyinspired to make history for

their country andthemselves.

Your side’s top strikerGetaneh Kebede isinjured. Do you think hewill be ready for Sunday?

Yes, Getaneh had injuryproblem while playing forhis club in South Africa andhas been sidelined forsome time. After joiningthe national side this weekI didn’t get an assurancefrom the doctors that he will

be fit to play the comingSunday. He is a key playerfor us but if he is not fit wehave others equallycompetent strikers. Thegood news is that all otherplayers are in goodhealth. Saladin Seid,Shimeles Bekele and AddisHintsa who are returnedfrom their clubs are in goodform. So there is no worryin the absence GetanehKebede.

Keshi

•Bishaw

A team endowed withtechnical prowess canlose to a team full ofdetermination

Vanguard, FRIDAY OCTOBER 11, 2013 — 53

No eNo eNo eNo eNo exxxxxcuses not tcuses not tcuses not tcuses not tcuses not to beat Ethiopiao beat Ethiopiao beat Ethiopiao beat Ethiopiao beat Ethiopia— — — — — EaglesSUPER Eagles’ stand-

in captain, VincentEnyeama, has declaredthat they will have noexcuses for not makinga positive result in thefirst leg of their WorldCup qualifier playoff tieagainst Ethiopia onSunday.

Lille’s number onesquashed fears thatEthiopia’s high altitudecould have adverseeffect on the Eagles. Hesaid that they aretraining hard to keeptheir chances high.

Enyeama also saidthat the Eagles areaware of the stakesinvolved in the gameand that to secure theWorld Cup qualifierticket they have to winat the Addis AbabaStadium on Sunday.

“We just have to keepworking hard, it’s themost important game forthe year and we reallyknow what’s at stake inBrazil and we have to bethere.”

“We just have to win,it’s not going to come ona platter of gold or a bedof roses. We just have towork hard and train hardand we will get theresult we want,” he said.

The return leg of thegame will be played onNovember 16 at the UJEsuene Stadium,Calabar, where theEagles have never lost agame.

Eagles storm Addis Ababa tomorrow morning

N I G E R I A ’ Sdelegation to

Sunday ’s 2014 FIFAWorld Cup finalelimination fixture, firstleg encounter betweenthe Super Eagles andWalya Antelopes ofEthiopia will arrive inAddis Ababa onSaturday morning.

NFF GeneralSecretary, BarristerMusa Amadu disclosedon Thursday that theBoeing 787 Jetliner,which has beenchartered for the trip,

will depart the NnamdiAzikiwe InternationalAirport, Abuja at 1.40amon Saturday and touchdown at the AddisAbaba Airport minutesafter 8am, Ethiopiantime. Ethiopia is twohours ahead of Nigeria.

The delegation willcomprise of 23 players,four coaches, eightbackroom staff, Membersof the NFF ExecutiveCommittee, officials ofthe National SportsCommission, Membersof the NationalAssembly, NFFManagement and someSecretariat Staff, stakeholders, media

representatives andmembers of the NigeriaFootball SupportersClub, all totalling 263persons.

NFF’s advance party oftwo persons, in AddisAbaba since Tuesday,has been workingassiduously withofficials of the NigeriaEmbassy in Ethiopia totidy up all arrangementsfor the delegation.On Thursday, theadvance party met withofficials of the EthiopianFootball Federation toverify reports that theEFF was determined tostop Nigerian supportersfrom going into thestadium with theirdrums and trumpets on

DStv’s SuperSport showcasesEagles in Addis Ababa

AFCON champions,Nigeria’s Super

Eagles, will flaunt theircredentials in AddisAbaba, on Sunday, whenthey confront Ethiopia, inthe first leg of the finalround of the Brazil 2014FIFA World Cupqualifiers.

The continent’s premiersports network,SuperSport, willbroadcast the titanic clashin the spectacularpictures of HighDefinition live from2.30pm CAT on SS3HDand SS3.

All eyes will be on theSuper Eagles to maintaintheir prestige aschampions after featuringwith the best in the worldat the last FifaConfederations Cup, inBrazil.

It’s another opportu-nity for Stephen Keshi to

make history as the firstNigerian to qualify twocountries for the WorldCup after his 2006 featwith Togo.

I n t e r e s t i n g l y ,SuperSport’s broadcastwill be backed with crispaudio and surroundsound capabilities of HD.

According to Mr FelixAwogu, GeneralManager of SuperSport,the company will equallydeploy its top talents andcrew to ensure perfectproduction that willcomplement theexpected action on thefield.

SuperSport will alsoproduce and broadcastwhat promises to be thebiggest match to beplayed by the Afconchampions this year, attheir fortress, the U.J.Esuene Stadium,Calabar, when both sidesconverge for the crucialsecond leg.

It will also be availablein SuperSport HighDefinition.

match day. EFF officialsdenied this.

A member of theadvance party said onThursday: “Addis Ababais quite busy inreadiness for themeeting of AfricanHeads of State andGovernment, and majorhotels are fully booked.But the NFF madearrangements muchearlier and all membersof the delegation will becatered for.”

A c c o m m o d a t i o n ,transportation, securityand match ticket detailshave been resolved andthe NFF expects no hitchas the Eagles confronttheir 2013 Africa Cup ofNations victims in theAntelopes’ backyard.

Super4 returns!Three cities are said to

have expressed interest tohost the Super Four of theNigeria ProfessionalFootball League (NPFL)scheduled to hold at theclose of the on-goingseason. The Super Fourwil also accommodate anall stakeholders’ talk shopand capacity buildingaimed at fostering greaterconsensus.

Salihu Abubakar, theChief Operating Officer(COO) of the LeagueManagement Company(LMC) declined to revealthe bidding cities but onlysaid, “It is not Lagos, it isnot Aba and it is not Kano”.He then said that theSuper Four has been re-packaged to bring greater

excitement to fans andbenefits to potentialsponsors.

On the date for thetournament, Abubakar saidit will hold one week afterthe close of the 2013season. “The four topteams of the Glo PremierLeague will enjoy a week’sbreak at the end of the on-going season and return toa yet to be agreed venuefor the Super Four”,disclosed the LMC official.

One of the innovations ofthe new Super Four, hefurther disclosed will bethe use of electronicadvertising boards on theperimeters. “One of thenew things on the plate forthe Super Four will be theuse of electronic perimeter

advertising panels whichwill enhance the ambienceat the venue and alsodeliver quality value to oursponsors”, explainedAbubakar.

While pointing out thatthe Super Four is open tosponsorship, he addedthat such sponsors will bebrands and businesses thatare not in competition withthe title sponsor of theLeague.

Irabor

EnyeamaEmenike

Chioma Ajunwamarks spor tsshow for Makokostudents

(L-R) Elderson Echiejile and Ahmed Musa ofNigeria line up for the national anthem

FEMALE students fromMakoko, a slum in

Lagos, will todayparticipate in a swimmingand basketball clinic thatcould inspire them to taketo sports as a liberation toolfrom the exigencies of theirarea and other vices thathave not helped thedevelopment of many ofthem.

It is one of theprogrammes marking theInternational Day Of TheGirl Child in Nigeria today.

The International Day OfThe Girl Child is a UnitedNations observanceprogramme meant toincrease their awarenesson gender inequality andcreate more opportunitiesfor girls. And today’sprogramme will attempt todo just that for the studentsof Makoko who will be atthe Basketball court of theNational Stadium and theSwimming Pool at thenearby Teslim BalogunStadium for the sportsprogrammes that willinclude a talk show, filmshow, basketball andswimming clinics.

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013—55

CMYK

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470;Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Ag. Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

How to Play Sudoku

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line canhave two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (alsonine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within abold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1through 9. This means that no number can appear twicein any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, divisionor multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

YESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSTODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLE

Sudoku

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

VANGUARD,VANGUARD,VANGUARD,VANGUARD,VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

ACROSS: 2, Scorn 7, Youth 8, Stain 10, Rapid12, Art 13, Until 15, Deduced 17, Reaper 19,Nun 20, Tussock 23, Eyed 25, Howl 26, Default30, Law 31, Yellow 34, Nominal 37, Learn 38,Tug 39, Yield 40, Sight 41, Egret 42, Store.

DOWN: 1, Borne 2, Strip 3, Charlet 4, Raid5, Staunch 6, Sited 9, Arc 11, Densely 13,Urged 14, Taped 16, Duo 18, Runaway 21,Koala 22, Clown 27, Delight 27, Fan 28,Teller 29, Motif 32, Ledge 33, Order 35, Mug36, List.

ACROSS1 Neat (4)4 Merriment (3)6 Chop (4)8 Harmony (6)9 Negligent (6)10 Barrier (3)12 Expect (5)14 Unfasten (5)15 Lead (5)18 Profession (6)20 Climb (6)24 Maxim (5)26 Portion (5)28 Boat (5)30 Moist (3)32 Mendicant (6)33 Fly (6)34 Enthusiasm (4)35 Child (3)36 Fete (4)

DOWN2 Renovate (5)3 Projectile (7)4 Loving (4)5 Standard (4)6 Mortal (5)7 Pad (7)11 Donkey (3)12 Curve (3)13 Golf-peg (3)16 Weapon (3)17 Headgear (3)19 Attain (7)21 Pen (3)22 Layer (7)23 Spot (3)25 Poem (3)27 Correct (5)29 Inn (5)30 Summons (4)31 Bitter (4)

ETHIOPIA qualified for the play-offs ahead of SouthAfrica in their group despite having to forfeit three

points for fielding an ineligible player against Botswana.They won all three of their home matches in the group,including a 2-1 victory over Bafana Bafana, as part of anincredible home record where they have won ten anddrawn three of their past 13 matches in Addis Ababa,with victories in each of their last eight. Nigeria struggledto score despite going unbeaten in their group, nettingjust seven in six games, and drew two of three awaymatches at Malawi and Namibia.

Nigerian fan

Ethiopian fan

INCREDIBLE RUN!

No eNo eNo eNo eNo exxxxxcuses not tcuses not tcuses not tcuses not tcuses not to beato beato beato beato beatEthiopia — Ethiopia — Ethiopia — Ethiopia — Ethiopia — Eagles (P(P(P(P(P.53).53).53).53).53)INSIDE TODAY'S CENTRE-SPREAD Eagles storm Addis

Ababa tomorrow morningDStv’s SuperSportshowcases Eagles inAddis Ababa

Super4returns!•Full fixtures intoday's SportsVanguard

•DetailsInside

Mba

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE