...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 62066

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014**

Mr & Mrs

COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

Continues on Page 5

Presidencydares APC

LES LEBA—P.40

•Threatens security measures against party•Directive to our lawmakers stands — Lai Mohammed•Senate remains non-partisan, says Ndoma-Egba•Directive capable of truncating democracy — Yakassai

SAVE RIVERS RALLY— Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi addressing the crowd at the Save Rivers MovementRally, weekend, in Bori, Rivers Sate. Inset: A cross section of the crowd at the rally. Photos: Nwankpa Chijioke.

GOVT SHUTDOWN:BY HUGO ODIOGOR & JOHNBOSCO AG-

BAKWURU

A B U J A — T H EPresidency and

the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) wereyesterday locked in awar of words over theopposition party’s direc-tive to its members toshut down the affairs ofthe Federal Govern-ment. This came as APC

House members, week-end, vowed to heed theparty's directive.

Flaying the APC’sthreat to resort to self-help over the crisis inRivers State, the Presi-dency vowed that appro-priate sanctions by secu-rity agents would be ap-

LCCI faultsCBN over risein CashReserve Ratio

7

Mu'azu, Obasanjo insecret meeting

OCHEREOMENNANNA

•P.47

14

Nigeriableeds as$1.7bngoes outweekly

Defection: Mark unwilling to declare senators' seats vacant14

CMYK

2— Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 —3

CMYK

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

CMYK

POCKET CARTOONVanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 — 5

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

GOVT SHUTDOWN:Presidency dares APC

Continues from page 1

LIFEWORDSBY PASTOR ITUAH

INSTALLATION—The Installation of Hon Yacoob Ekundayo AdedejiBush Alebiosu as the Otunba Fuwagbuyi of Ijebu by Alayieluwa, Oba SikiruAdetona, Ogbagba 11, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land tookplace at the Oba's palace, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, weekend. From left: OtunbaSubomi Balogun, Olisa Adeoye Adesanya and Chief Segun Osoba, formerGovernor of Ogun State with Oba Adetona at the event. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

I suppose there are many reasons we choose togive. But people who enjoy sharing with othersthe most do not share simply because they have aneed to get rid of something. Those who find thegreatest joy from giving have learned to give froma deeper place; they give from their hearts – SteveGoodier

SANTA Claus is becoming a universal symbolof giving. Millions of children write letters to

Santa each year in hopes that they won’t be for-gotten during his annual giving spree. In somecities around the world, they have programmes thatallow people to sort through these hand-writtenpleas, hopes and wishes and become “Santas” toothers in need. They choose a letter and respondhowever they can. Most anyone can play Santa.

“I like to go to their home on Christmas Eve,” onejoyful Santa said. One year he bought presents forfour children and a ham for their mother. Then headded this poignant observation: “The feeling youget is just incredible.”

Steve Goodier says: “ I admit it - I don’t alwaysget that feeling when I give. But then I don’t al-ways give out of untainted motivations. SometimesI give from other places. Sometimes I give out ofsocial obligation or out of guilt. Or I give with anexpectation for receiving back. But I give best whenI give from that deeper place; when I give simply,freely and generously, and sometimes for no par-ticular reason. I give best when I give from myheart.”

And isn’t it true? Opportunities to give from theheart are not limited to a particular holiday sea-son or cultural tradition. We can give it sincerelyand joyously.

Never stop doing little things for others, you willbe surprised that those little things occupy the big-gest parts of their hearts.

plied to any effort toderail the normal work-ing of government.

The APC in a sharprebuttal to criticismsover the directive issuedlast Thursday vowed to

press on with the direc-tive, saying that theweekend success of thepro-APC rally in RiversState was an indicator ofthe success of the direc-tive. The party, however,alleged that the impu-

nity it is fighting in Riv-ers State has also spreadto Gombe State where itclaimed its posters andbanners were beingbrought down by gov-ernment agents.

The prospect of theAPC having its way inthe Senate were, how-ever, downplayed at theweekend by SenateLeader, Senator VictorNdoma-Egba, SAN whosaid the Senate wouldconsider all issues with-out partisan considera-tion.

Elder statesman,Tanko Yakasai, mean-while, has flayed theAPC directive saying itwas capable of truncat-ing democracy.

Yakasai in a pressstatement issued inKano, yesterday, de-clared: “I pray that thiscountry will not reach astage where the reck-lessness of some mem-bers of the political classwill lead to the trunca-tion of our nascent de-mocracy.”

Meanwhile, a non-government group, Citi-zens Network for Peaceand Development in Ni-geria, CNPD, weekend,flayed the APC direc-tive, saying the partyhad put partisan interestabove national consid-erations.

We'll match ac-tion with ac-tion— Presidency

Special Adviser to thePresident on PoliticalAffairs, Alhaji Ahmed

Gulak while flaying theAPC resolution said itwas a recipe for anarchyand vowed that whateveractions were made to-wards self-help, particu-larly in Rivers Statewould be matched withappropriate reaction bysecurity agencies.

Gulak in a statementsaid: “The Federal Gov-ernment has directedthe law enforcementagencies to take seri-ously all statementsaimed at inciting vio-lence and disturbing thepeace.”

He said no responsi-ble administration wouldfold its arms and watchpoliticians incite theirsupporters to take uparms or resort to extra-judicial means to resolvedisputes when there arelegally establishedchannels for conflictresolution in the country.

Noting that the Fed-eral Government has aresponsibility to protectall Nigerians and ensurethat every Nigerian isfree to pursue his busi-ness and happiness inan atmosphere of con-cord and tranquility, hesaid: “The Federal Gov-ernment fully recognisesthe constitutional guar-antees of freedom ofspeech and freedom ofassembly, we regardsuch enshrined constitu-tional guarantees of ba-sic rights of Nigerians asthe pillars of democraticgovernance; we knowthat the full enjoyment ofsuch rights come withpersonal and civic re-sponsibilities on indi-viduals and groups, it istherefore regrettableand unfortunate, thatAPC which prides itselfas a progressive party,should go all out to in-cite its supporters to re-sort to self help to re-dress their grievances”.

According to Gulak,“this is a display of des-peration and crass op-portunism by a politicalparty that wants to winat all cost. There arerules of engagement andwe expect all parties toabide by such rulesrather than fomentingtrouble in order to gainmedia attention.

Our crtics areignorant — APC

The APC in a sharpreaction through its In-terim National PublicitySecretary, Alhaji LaiMohammed describedcritics of its directive toits National Assemblymembers to shut downthe Federal Governmentas those who are eitherignorant of the workingsof democracy or thosewho have chosen to play

to the gallery for pecu-niary gains.

Noting that the direc-tive was already havinga positive effect on thesituation in Rivers State,he noted that the mem-bers of the Save RiversMovement (SRM) wereable to, for the first time,stage a peaceful rallylast Saturday.

"This is exactly whatwe are saying, that Ni-gerians, irrespective oftheir party leaning, whowish to stage a peacefulprotest anywhere in thecountry must be able todo so without the policelooking away whilehired goons attack them.It is all about justice,fairness and equity,without which democ-racy will not thrive. Wewill be watching to seeif what happened onSaturday represents aparadigm shift in Riversor it is just a flash in thepan," the party said.

APC said there is noth-ing anti-democratic,anti-people or incitingabout the directive,which is aimed at end-ing the reign of impunityin Rivers State before itspreads to other parts ofthe country and trun-cates the nation’s de-mocracy, wondering whyit is so difficult for thePresident to act, for al-most a year, as a part ofthe country he waselected to govern goesup in flames.

"We hereby reiteratethe directive, which is aproduct of deep thinkingand robust debate withinour party’s NEC to saveour democracy, and wecommend our membersin the National Assem-bly for their unequivocalsupport for our stand,and for understandingthat filibustering or leg-islative non-cooperationare veritable tools of de-mocracy," it said.

The party said already,copy cat attacks and in-timidation of APC mem-bers have been launchedby the government andthe police in Gombe, be-cause they have beenwatching the impunitybeing committed in Riv-ers.

"All over Gombe, ourparty flags, billboardsand posters are being

vandalized by hoodlumsaided and abetted by thepolice. Our youth sup-porters are being ar-rested while our mem-bers are being threat-ened by the police andthe state government of-ficials.

"They say the non-ap-proval of the 2014 budgetwill pauperize Nigeri-ans, as if the yearlyritual of budget passingsince 1999 has benefitedanyone but the fat cats.In any case, of what useis a budget when thelives of citizens are atstake? Are budgets notmade for the people? Dothey understand thateven the budgets arebased largely on earn-ings from oil, which wecannot even produce ifthe violence in Riversescalates and spreads toother oil-producingstates?

We'll heed APCdirective — Osagie

APC whip in the Houseof Representatives, Rep.Osagie while giving hisreadiness to rally theparty faithful to heedthe directive told Van-guard:

“I am a member of apolitical party and I can-not disagree with myparty. All I can say rightnow is that even the deafcan hear, the blind cansee that this governmentis not only rudderless, itis involved in hugeillegalities andunconstitutionalities; ithas no respect for therule of law, neither doesit have respect for theright of citizens."

Senate'll be non-partisan— Ndoma-Egba

Senate Leader, Sena-tor Ndoma-Egba, SAN,however, countered theprospect saying thatsenators would look atissues in the Senatewithout partisan consid-erations.

“My experience of theSenate for the years thatI have been there is thatit is not a partisan insti-tution", he said.

6 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

How 20-yr-old varsity student boughtcannabis with tuition fee — NDLEA

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

LAGOS— A NIGERIANundergraduate, who

used his tuition fee to buy ahard drug, has been ar-rested for drug trafficking,National Drug Law Enforce-ment Agency, NDLEA, saidin a statement, weekend.

NDLEA said the suspect,Udiomeh Kufre Ita, a stu-dent of the Faculty of Man-agement Sciences at theRegent University inGhana, was arrested at theMurtala Muhammed Inter-national Airport, Lagos.

He was caught with 1.745kilogrammes of dried weedsthat tested positive for can-nabis, popularly called In-dian hemp.

The suspect was found inpossession of the drug dur-ing the inward screening ofpassengers on an AfricaWorld Airlines flight fromAccra, Ghana, according toNDLEA Lagos Airport Com-mander, Hamza Umar.

He said: “An undergradu-ate was found in possession

of two parcels of cannabisweighing 1.745kg during rou-tine search of passengers. Thedrug was hidden inside his

bag containing personal ef-fects. He was immediatelyarrested and the case is un-der investigation.

“The suspect, who report-edly gained admission intothe Faculty of ManagementSciences at the Regent Uni-versity is currently assistingnarcotic investigators as-signed to the case,” NDLEAsaid in a statement signed byits spokesperson, MitchellOfoyeju.

In his confessional state-ment, Ita was quoted as say-ing that he used his tuitionfees in purchasing the drugfound on him.

He said: “I spent my schoolfees on cell phone, smoking

hemp and attending nightclubs. I bought a cell phonefor N107,000 and spent myschool fees recklessly. Ithought I could make enoughprofit from the sale of canna-bis to offset the deficit in mytuition. I bought each parcelof hemp for 220 Ghana cedis.I did not know what came overme and I am afraid to go tomy parents. My father is aretiree.”

NDLEA said Ita hails fromAkwa Ibom State but grew upin the Federal Capital Terri-tory, FCT, Abuja.

NDLEA Chairman, AhmaduGiade, has described the ac-tion of the student as shame-ful and sad.

14-yr-old boy plans grandmum'skidnap, collects N150,000 ransom

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

ASABA — MEN of theDelta State Police com-

mand have arrested a 14-year-old boy for allegedlymasterminding the kidnapof his grandmother.

Ironically, the abductorsalso took away the boy along

with the grandmother andanother victim in the processof kidnap but dropped off theaccused before getting to theirhideout.

It was also not the first timethe boy had planned the ab-duction of his grandmother toenable him share from the ran-som.

State Police Public Rela-tions Officer, PPRO, Mr.Charles Muka gave a vividaccount of the incident.

According to him: “This isa case of conspiracy in whicha grandson, for the secondtime, planned his grand-mother’s kidnap.

“On 17th of this month inOleh, Isoko South Local Gov-ernment Area at 6pm, oneHope Evivie, a 62-year-oldwoman, was kidnapped withthe suspect, Julius Evivie,a14-year-old boy and VictoryOghenero, also a four-year-old boy.

"However, the suspect waslater dropped off on the roadwhile the victim was takenaway with the other four-year-old until January 25when they were releasedwithout ransom.

“Through information, theroles of the suspect was re-vealed and on interrogationhe confessed to receivingN150,000 for the role heplayed during the earlier kid-nap when N4 million ransomwas paid.

“The suspect will be chargedto court at the end of investiga-tion. Parents and guardians areadvised to limit informationabout themselves to their chil-dren, drivers and domestic serv-ants. This incident has re-af-firmed our (police) assertion thatall kidnappings have insiders’roles.”

Appeal court orders retrial ofchieftaincy case, 13 years after

OSHIMILI —THE legaltussle between Idoko

and Uwaile quarters in Oko-Amakom, Oshimili South Lo-cal Government Area of Delta

State, over the Onihe title isto continue in Asaba HighCourt, as an Appeal Court sit-ting in Benin City, Edo State,has ruled that the rights ofUwaile indigenes werebreached by the judgment ofHigh Court, Asaba, deliveredin November 1997.

The high court presided overby Justice Mathias Odita haddelivered the judgment ced-ing the right to the title to theIdoko quarters, even as theUwaile family’s lawyer with-drew mid-way into the pro-ceedings, thereby leaving theUwailke quarters without le-gal representation.

In spite of the withdrawal, thetrial judge went ahead and de-livered judgment in favour of theIdoko quarters, forcing theUwaile quarters to appealagainst the judgment ongrounds that they were not giv-ing fair hearing.

In a lead judgment deliveredby Justice Ibrahim MohammedMusa Saulawa, the court, whilenullifying the earlier judgment,noted that the lower court failedto accord the Uwaile quarters op-portunity to present their finaladdress which is a contraventionof constitutional provision,stressing that any judgment ordecision arrived at thereafter willamount to a denial of fundamen-tal right to fair hearing.

The court said that a hearingcan only be fair when all partiesare accorded opportunity to fairhearing.

Consequently, the three-manjustices of the court held that thejudgment of the lower court de-livered on November 3, 1997 isnull and, therefore, set it asideand returned the case to theChief Judge of Delta State to re-assign same for further hearing,with a cost of N50,000 againstthe respondents.Street urchins in a fight at Mile 2 Oke, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Ogun policearrest 70suspects,recover 38bags ofhemp

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA — THEOgun State Police

command said, yester-day, it arrested 70 sus-pects from various crimi-nal hideouts across thestate and recovered 38bags of Indian hemp inthe state.

The state Police PublicRelations Officer,Muyiwa Adejobi, in astatement explained thatthe raid was done as afollow up to the com-mand’s earlier determi-nation to rid the state ofhoodlums and reducecriminality to its barestminimum.

He said: “The OgunState Police commandhas intensified raid ofblack spots or criminalhideouts all over thestate where almost 70suspects were arrestedweekend.

“The raids were di-rected by the Commis-sioner of Police, OgunState, CP IkemefunaOkoye and coordinatedby the Deputy Commis-sioner of Police incharge Operations, DCPMohammed Abdulkadiras one of the strategiesadopted by the commandto make the state inhab-itable for hoodlums."

The suspect, UdiomehKufre Ita

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 — 7

LCCI faults CBN over rise in Cash ReserveRatio

BY OMOH GABRIEL

LAGOS — THE Lagos Cham-ber of Commerce and Indus-

try, LCCI, yesterday, warned thenation over the recent raise in theCash Reserve Ratio, CRR, of pub-lic sector funds from 50 per centto 75 per cent.

It said it would have a profundnegative effect on the fragileeconomy as the raise would pushup interest rates.

A statement signed by AlhajiRemi Bello, LCCI President, said:“The recent review of Cash Re-serve Ration (CRR) on public sec-tor deposits with commercialbanks from 50 per cent to 75percent by the Central Bank of Ni-geria, CBN, would have pro-found effect on interest rates, fi-nancial system stability, the realeconomy and financial inter-me-diation.

"Current monetary policy re-gime is inadvertently reinforcingthe import dependence of theeconomy while penalizing do-mestic production.

“It is becoming increasingly dif-ficult to produce domestically dueto a combination of structural andmonetary factors. The incentive toimport is increasing while the mo-tivation for domestic productionis diminishing. It is impossible tobuild an inclusive and job creat-ing economy with this scenario.”

Short and long termimplication

Outlining the short and longterm implication of the policy onthe domestic economy, the Cham-ber said: “The immediate impli-cations of the new monetarypolicy stance are high cost of fundfor businesses, as banks adjusttheir rates to accommodate thenew monetary conditions; drawdown on existing loan facilitiesmay be put on hold as the banksstruggle to meet statutory ratio re-quirements; shock to the bankingsystem which may trigger finan-cial system instability.

"Nigeria has a strong public sec-tor economy which is also re-

flected in the balance sheet ofbanks; the financial intermedia-tion role of banks would be im-peded as the economy is beingdeprived of the surplus resourcesfrom the public sector.

"Financial intermediation is amajor function of banks in anyeconomy which makes it possiblefor resources to be channelled fromthe surplus segment of theeconomy to the deficit sectors atany point in time.

“It is important at this time forthe CBN to maintain a balancebetween its pursuit of low infla-tion and exchange rate stabilityon one hand and the need tostimulate the economy on theother. This is crucial in the lightof the worsening unemploymentand poverty situation in the coun-try.

“The limitation of monetarypolicy in fixing economic prob-lems that are structural in originshould be recognised. The thresh-old of monetary policy tighteningshould, therefore, be defined toavoid unintended adverse conse-

quences for the economy.“In stabilizing exchange rate,

demand and supply side issuesshould be addressed. The cur-rent approach is too dependenton demand management. TheFederal Government should ad-dress current concerns over fis-cal leakages, depletion of reservesand the running down of theExcess Crude Account.

Need for bettercoordination

"Greater attention should begiven by fiscal and monetary au-thorities to the fixing of the struc-tural problems of the economy,especially the high infrastructuraldeficit.

“Fiscal and monetary authori-ties should commit to improve-ment in infrastructure investmentto boost productivity in theeconomy and enhanceinclusiveness. There is a need forbetter coordination between mon-etary and fiscal policies.

“The widening gap between

the official and parallel marketexchange rates is detrimental tothe economy because of the in-centives it creates for round trip-ping and speculative activities inthe foreign exchange market.

"Finally, we maintain that thecurrent disturbing outlook for un-employment, poverty and in-equality in the country calls formonetary stimulus rather thanmonetary tightening.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, had last October with-drawn total of N1.2 trillion frombanks in two months when itstarted the 50 per cent Cash Re-serve Requirement, CRR, onpublic sector deposits.

Data from the Financial Mar-ket Dealers Association, FMDA,Economic report for last Septem-ber, wo months after the policywas introduced, showed that theCBN withdrew N955 billion frombanks as 50 per cent depositsfrom the public sector andN242.75 billion in Septemberbringing to a total of N1.2 tril-lion.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) congratulating Governor IbrahimShema of Katsina State (right) after his turbanning as Sarkin Fulani Katsina I by the Emir ofKatsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman at his palace, in Katsina, weekend.

Mu'azunot underprobe —PDP

BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA — NATIONALleadership of the Peo-

ples Democratic Party, PDP,said yesterday that its Na-tional Chairman, AlhajiAdamu Muazu, was notunder investigation, add-ing that he never embez-zled money as governor ofBauchi State.

This was made known bythe National Publicity Sec-retary of the PDP, ChiefOlisa Metuh.

Metuh said Muazu, likemany other former gover-nors, was invited by theEconomic and FinancialCrimes Commission,EFCC after serving for twotenures of eight years torespond to some petitions,adding that he was neverinvited again by the EFCCon any other issue.

Reacting to media reportsabout the national chairmanon the issue, Metuh saidthey were completely falseand baseless.

He also noted that thereports were part of the "thevicious scheme by the op-ponents of PDP to distractthe new national chairmanfrom his determination andcommitment to rebuild andreposition the PDP as thepre-eminent party in Ni-geria.’’

Metuh added: “However,for the purposes of theseopponents, the PDP wishesto state the following: thatthe true position is that atthe end of his tenure asgovernor of Bauchi State,Mu’azu, like many othergovernors who had com-pleted their tenures, wasinvited by the EFCC to re-spond to some petitions.Mu’azu was never invitedagain by the EFCC on anyother issue.

“The succeeding govern-ment, elected on the plat-form of the defunct opposi-tion ANPP in 2007, insti-tuted a panel of inquirywhich went ahead to issuea White Paper against Gov-ernor Mu’azu despite thefact that he did nor appearbefore it.

“In the exercise of his law-ful rights, Mu’azu chal-lenged the White Paper insuit number BA/295m/2009at the Bauchi State HighCourt. The suit was heardby no other judge than theChief Judge of BauchiState, Justice MohammedIbrahim Zango, who afterhearing all the arguments,set aside the whole findingsand quashed it."

I fasted for 10 months to be Rivers gov — AmaechiBY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT —GOVERNOR Rotimi

Amaechi of Rivers State saidhe fasted for 10 months, 6 a.m.to 6p.m., to be governor of thestate.

The governor, at the Re-deemed Christian Church ofGod, RCCG, camp pro-gramme in Igwuruta, IkwerreLocal Government Area of thestate, yesterday, said it wasfasting that made the court torestore his mandate ratherthan call for a fresh electionin the state.

He said: “I will evangelise.

I know most people will besurprised because I am not apastor. So, in this case, I ampart of the evangelism. One ofthe ways I have evangelisedis to repeatedly tell people mypast experience of God’s inter-vention, when I fasted for 10months, 6am-6pm, praying toGod to come down.

"That was how I became gov-ernor. I went to court. Insteadof the court to say, Amaechi goand contest election, the courtsaid Amaechi go and be thegovernor of Rivers State. Andbecause I make public my ex-perience, a lot of people nowbelieve that if they focus on

God, God will hear theirprayers. So, I am also evan-gelising by testifying to thepublic about the glory of Godin my life.”

He called on the church tocontinue to pray for enduringpeace in the state.

The governor also spoke onhis achievements so far as gov-ernor, adding that he will con-tinue to deliver the dividendsof democracy to the state.

He said: “We have employedmore teachers. We are doingbio-metric registration exerciseand that is why we are goingto pay them next month. Weshall pay them by installments

until the arrears are cleared. Iwill continue to serve the poor,I will not compromise on serv-ice delivery.

“What I want you (Chris-tians) to do is to pray for all ofus as a state so that we can comeout of the crisis plaguing thepeace of the state. Please, alsopray for those who have not re-ceived Christ to repent andchange from their evil ways.”

General Overseer of the Re-deemed Christian Church ofGod, Pastor Enoch Adeboye,urged people of the state to con-tinue to uphold the values ofGod Almighty and promote har-mony in the state.

...says it'll hurt economy further

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), being welcome by Bishop David Abioye and wife,Pastor Mary Abioye, to the Living Faith Church (a.k.a Winners Chapel Goshen), near KeffiNasarawa State Where the President Join to Warship Yesterday STATE HOUSE PHOTOS

2015: INEC timetable divides the North

BY EMEKA MAMAH, TONYEDIKE & CHARLES KUMOLU

.NEU, Yakassi, blast ACF, NEF

PROMINENT Northern so-ciocultural groups, the

Northern Elders’ Union, NEU,Northern Elders Forum,NEF, andthe Arewa Consultative Forum,ACF, and individuals are now atdaggers-drawn over staggeringof the 2015 general election time-table by the Independent Na-tional Electoral Commission,INEC.

The apex Igbo socio-culturalorganisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo,also pooh-poohed ACF andNEF’s stand on the staggeredtime table. Ohanaeze said it waswrong to question INEC for per-forming its legitimate function.

NEU specifically berated theACF and NEF over their standthat the commission erred by stag-gering the 2015 general elections,adding that the timetable was de-

signed to encourage electoral ir-regularities.

This is coming at a time whenthe pan Yoruba socio-cultural or-ganisation, Afenifere, said theACF and NEF’s positions werenot in the interest of the country.

Chairman of NEU, AlhajiAhmed Gusau in a telephone in-terview with Vanguard, said thatINEC had the constitutional rightto fix election timetable, addingthat only the National Assembly,NASS, could tamper withINEC’s position.

His words: ‘’The NASS is theonly organ that can tamper withthe timetable prepared by INEC.It is not the prerogative of eitherACF or NEF to tell the commis-sion what to do.

"Anyway, it is part of democracy.It is within their constitutionalpowers to air their views on anyissue. Anybody or groups withdifferent views or opinions canchannel their suggestions to the

NASS which is the only organthat can tamper with the timeta-ble.’’

Also speaking, Alhaji TankoYakassai, said : ‘’I am a memberof ACF. Whoever spoke for theforum on the issue must havespoken his opinion. ACF has notmet to discuss the issue. Whoeverspoke did so for himself and notfor ACF.

"It is impossible for INEC to con-duct five elections in one day. Wewill have logistic problems. Theproblems that will trail the hold-ing of the state House of Assem-bly, governorship, House of Rep-resentatives, Senate and presi-dential elections in one day willoverwhelm the country.

’’Nigerians do not concede vic-tory or do not accept defeat in anyelection. Anybody talking aboutholding five different elections inNigeria in one day is not seriousbecause it will be humanly im-possible to do so. I am speaking

from experience."They are not experienced

enough to understand the prob-lems. I have been involved in theconduct of elections in this coun-try in the last 60 years. If all elec-tions in this country are conductedsame day, the reactions that wouldfollow would swallow all of us.

’’We did not discuss the issuein ACF; it is not the consensus inACF. Media men make this mis-take of attributing one person’sopinion to the organisation hebelongs to.

"The ACF's statement quotedthe National Publicity Secretaryof the group as saying that ACFis not comfortable with the time-table. They can be uncomfortablebut that does not mean that ACFis against the time-table.’’

On his part, Professor AngoAbdullahi said there was noth-ing sacrosanct about the dates theelectoral body had chosen for thepolls just as a Second Republicpolitician, Dr. Junaid Moham-med said:

‘’The issue is not whether or notthe polls should hold same day;the issue is, how competent isJega and his team of compro-mised INEC men and women?In my own opinion, INEC is par-tisan. You will recall that Jegahimself had called for the amend-ment of the Electoral Act beforethe 2015.

But reacting to the issue, yes-terday, Secretary-General ofOhanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. JoeNwaorgu, said it was wrong toquestion the election timetablereleased by the INEC Chairman,Professor Attahiru Jega and histeam, saying they arrived at thedecision after due consultations.

“Professor Jega should begiven a free hand to run his elec-tions and give the nation a cred-ible poll. He should be respected,the politicians who don’t haveanalytic mind than Jega shouldmind their own job if they havejob at all.

G5 govs to PDP: It’s too late to returnSONI DANIEL, RegionalEditor, North & HENRY

UMORU

THE FIVE disenchantedgovernors of the ruling

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,who defected to the AllProgressives Congress, APC,last year, have dashed thehope of their former party toget them back to its fold.

The quintuplet, while react-ing to the setting up of a com-mittee by the National Chair-man, Adamu Mu'azu, to woothem back, said that it wasrather too late for them to thinkof returning to the party.

Three of the governors, whospoke to Vanguard, last night,pointed out that there wasnothing the party could do towin them back, as they werealready settling down in theirnew party and for good.

Kano State governor, MusaRabiu Kwankwaso, said it

amounted to sheer wishfulthinking for the party to im-agine that they would returnto its fold after all it did tothem.

Kwankwaso, who spokethrough his Director of Mediaand Press Affairs, Mr. HaliluDantiye, noted that althoughthe chairman of the party,Mu'azu, was his friend, it wasimpossible for him to go backto the PDP.

The governor said: “It is awishful thinking by what re-mains of the PDP to assumethat His Excellency, GovernorRabiu Musa Kwankwaso orany of the five governors willreturn to the party. No doubt,Mu’azu is a good friend toKwankwaso but it is late for thePDP.”

Adding his voice to the mat-ter, Adamawa State governor,Murtala Nyako, said it wasunthinkable for him or his col-leagues to return to PDP after

signing up for the APC.The governor disclosed that

he had already taken firmsteps to make APC the rulingparty in his state and was notin any way contemplating re-turning to the PDP.

Speaking through his Direc-tor of Press and Public Affairs,Mr. Ahmad Sajoh, Nyakomade it clear that he was pre-occupied with nurturing theAPC into a veritable tool fornational development ratherthan thinking of going back tohis former party.

Sajoh noted: “A lot of waterhas passed under the bridge.It is no longer about who leadsthe PDP but about the cred-ibility and ability of the par-ty’s leadership to provide Ni-geria with development op-tions.

“Governor Nyako has al-ready taken firm steps to ef-fectively position the APC asthe ruling party in Adamawa

State and there is no goingback on it. Building the APCinto a veritable tool for nationaldevelopment is the governor’smajor concern for now.”

Meanwhile, Governor IbrahimShema of Katsina State said, yes-terday, that nobody can stampedePresident Goodluck Jonathan todeclare his interest in contestingthe 2015 election, saying thatJonathan would make his inten-tion known at the appropriatetime.

Shema also said that the recon-ciliation being initiated by theNational Chairman of the Peo-ple’s Democratic Party, PDP, AlhajiAdamu Mu’azu, will lead to thereturn of Governors AbdulfatahAhmed of Kwara; AliyuMagatakarda Wamakko ofSokoto; Musa Kwankwaso ofKano, Murtala Nyako ofAdamawa and Chibuike Amaechiof Rivers states, who decampedto the opposition, All ProgressivesCongress, APC, to PDP.

Nigeria'llreach itsdestination— Jonathan

ABUJA — PRESI-DENT Goodluck

Jonathan, yesterday, reiter-ated that despite the chal-lenges facing the countryin various facets, the coun-try will reach its destinationof greatness.

Speaking at a churchservice at the Goshen City,the Headquarters of theWinners Chapel, PresidentJonathan said what theNigerian leaders needwere prayers for them tolead the country aright.

He expressed the com-mitment of his administra-tion to do the right thingsat all times for the country.

The President stated: “Iam not here to make a for-mal speech as we havelearnt to talk very little, justlike the Bishop said in hissermon, your prayers havebeen helpful.

I request that you con-tinue to pray for this coun-try. Bishop, thank you foryour message, it has beenvery instructive.

”As I listened to your mes-sage certain things werebeing reflected. I assure youthis country will cross thebridge. Yes, we have chal-lenges as a nation. Eventhe most developed nationspass through stages some-times even more challeng-ing than we face today. Butwhat happened, yesterday,(Saturday) in South Africawill be the story of this na-tion.

"Those of you whowatched that match willknow that it is not easy atthe beginning, it was as ifNigeria was going to bedemolished, but all of asudden the young mencame very strong and wewon.

”That is how it will be withthe story of this country!With your prayers and com-mitment we will get to thedestination. The promisedland has never been aneasy one for any nation, itwas not easy for theisraelites and I promise thatmyself and my colleagueswill continue to do what isright for this country.

"The bishop said it all thatas mere mortals, there maybe errors, but our commit-ment to do what is right istotal.

"We will do our best butlike I always say whateverI do I should be able to tellGod why I did it. All whatwe require is your prayers,and Nigeria will get to itsdestination,” the Presidentsaid.

In his remarks, BishopDavid Abioye commendedPresident Jonathan forsigning the Same-SexMarriage Prohibition Act,saying it will serve as agood example to other Af-rican countries.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 — 9

Ribadu acknowledged my trial waspolitical —BODE GEORGE

Workers fail to resume at LUTH

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE &CHIOMA OBINNA

Labour,employersmeet overstrike threat

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

Demolition victims slam N100bn suit onAGF, IG, others

BY MONSURUOLOWOOPEJO

THANKSGIVING: From left: Mr Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo State governor,Chief Bode George, his daughter, Oyinkan and his wife, Roli, during the thanksgiving service for Chief Bode George, atChrist Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

LAGOS—WHAT could betermed a graveyard peace

returned to public healthinstitutions, weekend,following the end of the three-day warning strike called by theJoint Health Sector Unions,JOHESU, on Friday last week.

The union leaders have vowednot to enter into any newagreement with government.

Meanwhile, peace remainselusive at the Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital, LUTH, IdiAraba, Lagos as health workersare still at loggerheads with theinstitution’s management.

Reacting to the outcome of thestrike in a telephone chat withVanguard yesterday, Chairman,Federal Area Council, Lagos, Mr.Stephen Ibe said the three-daywarning strike was 100 per centsuccessful.

He said: “We are happy that thestrike was 100 per cent successfulbecause all the hospitals andagencies were under lock and key.

“We coordinated all the hospitalsand agencies and all the workerscomplied. They quietly wenthome. It was a peaceful protest tolet the government to know thatwe were ready to stay for moredays if they fail to implement thealready signed agreement.

“Most of the workers wereasking that we embark on anindefinite strike immediately afterthe expiration of the 14 daysperiod we earlier gave to thegovernment.”

Asked if the meeting held withthe Government was successful,Ibe explained that the Union wastired of entering into any newagreement.

“We don’t want to believe in anynew agreement again. All we

As health workers end 3-day warning strikewant is for the Government toimplement the circular (skippingof CONHESS 10) as they didfor the doctors and the agreementalready signed by both partiesshould be implemented.”

Ibe who sympathised withfamilies of patients who lost theirlives during the strike said

Government should be heldresponsible for the deaths.

Among the health facilitiesvisited in Lagos weekend, onlyat LUTH were the workers stillon strike.

It was gathered that themanagement of the hospital willbe meeting with the striking

workers today.Confirming the development,

Chairman, Medical and HealthWorkers Union, LUTH branch,Mr. Rotimi Akerele, said themeeting would determinewhether the workers wouldcontinue with the strike or not.

L A G O S — F O R M E Rnational deputy

chairman of the rulingPeoples Democratic Party,PDP, Chief Olabode Georgehas said that former Economicand Financial CrimesCommission, EFCCchairman, Nuhu Ribadu onceacknowledged that his trialand conviction were politicallymotivated.

To this end he insisted thathis conviction by a LagosHigh Court was politicalconspiracy to get him out of

BY ABDULWAHABABDULAH

the politics of the Southwestand the country.

George who spoke after athanksgiving church serviceto celebrate the SupremeCourt judgment that set asidethe lower courts’ guiltyverdict over his allegedcontracts splitting case, saidall that transpired under hisleadership as the chairman ofthe board of the NigerianPorts Authority, NPA, wereguided by the long standingadministrative circular whichis still in use today by theauthority.”

According to him, the

immediate past chairman ofthe anti graft body, Mrs. FaridaWaziri, however, tried him incourt, in spite of the fact thatthere was an advice againsthis arraignment in court by alegal officer of the commission.

His words: “Even NuhuRibadu in his heyday at theEFCC boldly stated thatwhatever problem was at theNPA was a systemic issue andnot of fraud.

"He advised that those whohad political issues with BodeGeorge should go and sort itout with him."

LAGOS—VICTIMS ofpolice demolition exercise

in Lagos have dragged theAttorney-General of theFederation, Inspector Generalof Police, Commissioner ofPolice, Lagos State and theMinistry of Police Affairs to theFederal High Court in a N100billion suit over the violationof their fundamental human

rights.Also joined as respondents

were: Attorney-General of LagosState, Lagos State Taskforce onEnvironment and SpecialOffences Unit, Lagos StateMinistry of Physical Planningand Urban Development, LagosState Lands Bureau and AreaCommander, Area K Policecommand.

The Nigerian Police Force onDecember 16, last yeardemolished 1,500 structures

erected on 65 hectares of land inthe three communities-AraromiAle Extension, Mowo Phase 11and Atinporome, accusing theowners of the structures of tres-passing on its land.

The suit with case No.FHC/L/CS/1779/13, was filed by 23 per-sons on behalf of themselves andon behalf of the landlords andresidents of Araromi Ale Exten-sion, Mowo Phase 11, andAtinporome communities.

LAGOS—EMPLOYERSin the nation’s

construction industry aretoday meeting leaders of theNational Union of CivilEngineering, Construction,Furniture and Wood Workers,NUCECFWW, to avoid a shutdown of the sector by theworkers.

The union, last week issueda seven-day ultimatum to allthe construction companies inthe country to end allegedprotracted negotiation onimproved welfare for workersand other working conditionsor the entire industry wouldbe shut this week.

The union in a letter to theemployers’ body under theumbrella of the Federation ofConstruction Industry,FOCI, dated January 20,2014, accused the employersof impoverishing the workersthrough deliberate frustrationof the 2013 National JointIndustrial Company, NJIC,negotiation.

PHCN to clearworkersterminalbenefits

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJABUREAU CHIEF

ABUJA—THE federalgovernment is to resolve

pension terminal benefitsissues of the Power HoldingCompany of Nigeria, PHCN,workers in the next twoweeks.

The Bureau of PublicEnterprises, BPE, said inAbuja, weekend, that itsofficials would commence atour of designated centresacross the country beginningWednesday, this week toaddress residual issuesrelated to the settlement of theterminal benefits of theworkers.

The bureau said: “This isin line with the Bureau’sdetermination to ensure thatall residual issues related tothe settlement of the terminalbenefits of staff of the defunctPHCN are resolved followingthe privatisation of the formergovernment monopoly.”

It said that the tour wouldbe co-ordinated by theTechnical Sub-Committee ofthe Committee chaired by thePermanent Secretary, FederalMinistry of Power, set up bythe Federal Government onthe Settlement of PHCNTerminal Benefits.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

Ogun APC crisis: Speaker, others maylose out

Fayemi seeks re-election, names Daramola campaignDG

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

2015 elections: Police train 60,000 officers

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

S-West PDPmeets inKashamu'shouse,endorsesJonathan

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA—SPEAKER ofOgun State House of

Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi andother members loyal togovernor Ibikunle Amosun maylikely be consumed in the feudbetween Amosun and nationalleader of the All ProgressivesCongress in the state, ChiefSegun Osoba.

A reliable source toldVanguard that shortly after theNational Executive Council,NEC, ratified the harmonisationin the party, the leadership hasstarted shopping for more loyalmembers of the party to replacemost of the lawmakers who weregiven tickets in 2011 by Osoba.

There has been simmeringcrisis in the APC in the state asOsoba and Amosun were atloggerheads over the control ofthe party machinery.

Adekunbi and 17 others whowere selected by Osoba and otherparty leaders won the electionunder the platform of defunctAction Congress of Nigeria,ACN, as members of the stateHouse of Assembly.

It was gathered that out of the17 defunct ACN members, onlytwo were originally from theAmosun group while 16

OSOGBO—IN readiness forthe 2015 general elections

in the country, over 60,000 anti-riot mobile Police officers arebeing trained at the PoliceMobile Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

The Police officers who arecurrently undergoing trainingwere drawn from the 36 statesof the federation and they willbe deployed next year duringnationwide general elections.

The Commandant of thecollege, Mr. Jackson El-Ekoh,a Deputy Commissioner ofPolice, told newsmen,weekend, that the training wasto make police effectivebefore, during and after thevarious elections scheduledfor this year and 2015.

El-Ekoh, who said the

ADO EKITI—AFTERkeeping mute for

sometime on whether or nothe will seek re-election tothe position of number onecitizen of the state comeJune 21 ,this year, EkitiState governor, KayodeFayemi, has finally brokenhis silence, saying he isseeking re-election.

belonged to Osoba group, beforesome of them were lured overby the governor’s camp.

But in the lobby and schemingfor who controls the leadershipand structure of the House ofAssembly, it was learnt thatAmosun decimated the Osobagroup and was able to ‘buy’ overthe six PDP and three PPNmembers.

Thus, the plan by the party tomake Suraju Adekumbi, fromYewa North the Speaker scaledthrough, but, the party failed inthe choice of the deputy speakerslot as it’s candidate Hon. AdijatOladapo-Adeleye wasdramatically replaced byAmosun’s man .

A reliable source toldVanguard that, the Osoba

group has vowed to replace all themembers tagged disloyalincluding the Speaker for pitchingtent with Amosun during thecrisis.

Sequel to the move to replacethem , anxiety has gripped someof the members as they may likelydump the governor for Osoba tosalvage their sinking ships.

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE training would be in batches,disclosed that the 700 officersand men in the first batchstarted receiving theirtraining last Friday.

According to him, thetraining was at the instanceof the Inspector General ofPolice, Mr. MohammedAbubakar who he said gave adirective to ensure propertraining for all Police officersthat will participate in thefuture elections.

He said that apart from acombat course for theparticipants, other aspects ofthe training to run for threemonths per batch wouldinclude specialised coursesin Electoral Act,Fundamental Human Rights,The Rule of Law, Democracyand Conflict Resolution,Crisis Management, Disaster

Management and Operations,Bomb Awareness, ImprovisedExplosive Devices andEvacuation among others.

The Police boss who read a riot

act to the officers said those whofail to meet up with the standardof the Police after the trainingwould be demobilised back to theconventional arm of the Force.

Fayemi in a statementpersonally signed in AdoEkiti, yesterday, a copy ofwhich was made availableto newsmen equallynamed a current memberof House ofRepresentatives, Hon.Bimbo Daramola as theteam leader and Director -General of his campaignorganisation

The IndependentNational Electoral

Commission, INEC, hasdeclared June 21, this yearas gubernatorial electiondate, while that of OsunState will hold in August.

Fayemi in the statement,said: “Following theground swell of support byleaders and members ofour party as well as thegenerality of Ekiti peoplefrom the nooks and cranniesof Ekiti State and in theDiaspora, it is with a

profound sense of gratitudeand responsibility that Itoday accept the calls byour people to seek re-election for a second termin office.

“ You have made the calls,and today I have opted toact in deference to thosesacred calls by throwingmy hat into the ring for afree and fair contest for theexalted office for a secondterm.”

A B E O K U T A —LEADERS of the

Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in the South West, ata stakeholders meetingheld at the Ijebu Igbo,Ogun State country homeof the party’s Organisationand MobilisationCommittee Chairman forthe zone, Prince BurujiKashamu yesterday,endorsed PresidentGoodluck Jonathan for the2015 presidential election.

The PDP leaders alsopassed a vote of confidenceon the new NationalChairman of the party,Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu andas well voted for thecontinuation in office of thePDP National Secretary,Professor Wale Oladipo.

The former minister ofworks, Adeseye Ogunlewewho moved the motion forJonathan’s adoption for asecond term in 2O15 andfor the adoption of hiscandidacy by the SouthWest, said the Presidentwas the most qualified flag-bearer the party could fieldin the forthcoming poll.

He said: “PresidentJonathan is performingwonders.”

A party chieftain, OtunbaTola Odulaja seconded themotion which wasapproved by a voice vote ofthe PDP stakeholders at themeeting.

The PDP NationalAuditor, Alhaji Adeyanju inhis speech declared thezone’s support for Jonathanin 2015.

His words: “The enemyof Jonathan is my enemy.So, if you are the enemy ofPresident Jonathan for asecond term, you are theenemy of the nationalauditor.”

He blamed the problemof imposition of candidatesin the zone for the PDP lossof the 2011 election in theSouth West.

BIRTHDAY: From left: Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Speaker, Ogun State Houseof Assembly, Hon Suraj Adekunbi, wife of the Ogun State governor, Olufunso Amosun, thecelebrant, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, his mother-in-law, Deaconess ChristianahOdesanya and the governor's elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, at the cutting of thebirthday cake to mark the 56th birthday of Governor Amosun in Abeokuta. Photo: WumiAkinola.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 —11

2015: Uduaghan bars commissioners frommaking political statements

2016: Edo South APC urges unity among Bini leaders

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

Pirates attackAgip tug boat,abduct engineer,captainin Bayelsa

Ugborodo community tasks new EPZc'ttee on transparency

ASABA—FOLLOWING theuproar generated by the

statement credited to the Secretaryto Delta State Government, MrOvuozourie Macaulay, to the ef-fect that he was not aware of anyagreement between the Aniomaand other parts of the state for apower shift, the state governor, Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan, has orderedall his commissioners, includingother political appointees, to re-frain from making further com-ments on the matter or any otherpolitical issue relating to 2015 gen-eral elections until the appropri-ate time.

It was gathered that the gover-nor handed down the order at arecent State Executive Councilmeeting in Asaba, during whichthe ongoing feud betweenMacaulay and the state Chairmanof the ruling People’s DemocraticParty, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi,on power shift controversy, wasexhaustively discussed.

Confirming the ban on the com-missioners, Senior Political Advis-er to the Governor, Chief IghoyotaAmori, in response to an enquiryon the issue, said: “There is nofeud between the SSG and statechairman. It is an internal PDPmisunderstanding, which is nor-mal in any election year when po-litical interest is high.

“The leader of the party in thestate, Governor Uduaghan, hasadvised that they sheath theirswords. We shall cross the bridgewhen we get there. No cause for

alarm at all. PDP remains one.Both of them (Macaulay andNwaoboshi) are leaders intheir own right.”

Meantime, a group, Grass-roots Movement, IGM, hascalled on the state chairmanof PDP, Chief Nwaoboshi, toaddress issues raised by Mar-culay on the power shift con-troversy, rather than heapinginsults on him.

Chairman of the group Mr.Sunday Elueni, in a state-ment, yesterday, challenged

other governorship hope-fuls from Anioma, as wellas their leaders, to respondto Macaulay’s argument.

He said: “He (Macaulay)merely pointed out theflaws in the strategiesadopted by governorshipaspirants and other Anio-ma leaders in their bid toswing the pendulum in fa-vour of Delta North sena-torial zone, come 2015.

“How can Anioma nationbe talking of marginalisa-

tion despite the massive in-frastructural development inthe area? Are the Aniomamore marginalised than theIsoko people? Why shouldthey be talking about ethnic-ity instead of telling Deltanswhat they hope to achieve inthe state?”

The IGM boss advised thatrather than resorting to fouland negative words, all gov-ernorship hopefuls shouldchange strategy and focus onissue based campaign.

BENIN—AHEAD the 2016governorship election in Edo

State, the leadership of All Pro-gressives Congress, APC, in EdoSouth senatorial district of thestate, weekend, called on the Binisto speak with one voice in order toproduce a consensus governorshipcandidate that will take over fromGovernor Adams Oshiomhole.

But the deputy governor of thestate, Dr. Pius Odubu, the Politi-cal Adviser to the Governor, MrCharles Idahosa and APC WomanLeader, Madam Modino Emovon,who are key leaders of the partyin the zone, shunned the meeting.

Vanguard learnt that they decid-ed to shun the meeting when theyfelt that the conveners were usingthe platform to front for one of thegovernorship aspirants from thezone.

Consequently, the leaders, underthe aegis of Edo South Consulta-tive Forum, constituted a commit-tee to meet with those who absent-ed themselves from the meetingwith a view to ensuring that they

attend the next meeting of thegroup. The weekend meetingwas held at the residence offormer governor of the state,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

However, in a communiquéby the convener of the meet-ing, Chief Odigie-Oyegunand Secretary, Isaiah Osifo,the forum said that “ a uni-fied Edo South senatorial dis-trict will offer a formidable

platform to coordinate ourcollective destiny as a peo-ple, as politicians and asdemocrats. Our individualaspiration and ambitionwill better be realised if weembrace the culture of uni-ty, regular consultations,discussions and meetingsof like minds in our sena-torial district.”

Denying backing any

particular governorship as-pirant, they said “the forumis not designed to support orsponsor a particular candi-date for any elective office atany level. The platform willbe available to all aspirantsto political offices to exercisetheir rights within the rulesand regulations of our greatparty.”

...as Odubu, others shun meeting

BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

WARRI—THE Eghare-Aja and Chairman,

Ugborodo Community Coun-cil of Elders, Eghare Welling-ton Ojogor, Warri South-WestLocal Governmrnt Area ofDelta State, has charged theChairman of the reconstitut-ed multi-billion dollar Escra-vos Processing Zone, EPZ,

Project Committee, Mr.Austin Oboroegbeyi, to befair and transparent, fol-lowing his appointment.

Ojogor, who spoke atOde-Ugborodo, throughhis Special Assistant,Prince Ojogor Anderson,commended Delta StateGovernment for reconsti-tuting the committee.

He said it was only in anatmosphere of openness

and responsibility that thenew committee can carry eve-ryone along and mend fenc-es, following the crisis thatrocked the volatile oil hostcommunity.

“All sons and daughters ofUgborodo should adhere tothe resolution of the stategovernment and create anenabling environment for theEPZ project to succeed,” hesaid.

YENAGOA — SUSPECT- ED sea pirates, again

struck, weekend, attacking atug boat belonging to the Ni-gerian Agip Company, NOACin the Nembe creeks in Bayel-sa State. An engineer and thecaptain were reportedly kid-napped.

The attack, it was learnt waslaunched by seven men, sus-pected to the pirates.

The whereabouts of the ab-ducted oil workers, accordingto a security source, remainsunknown. “They took them toan unknown place. Nobodyknow their whereabouts,” thesource said.

The source who spoke anon-ymously, said that the incidentoccurred close to Peter’s townin Nembe creek.

“The tugboat was comingfrom Port Harcourt, RiversState to Brass maybe to loadpetroleum product at the ter-minal. But suddenly, gunmenwho were about seven innumber double-crossed it andboarded it,” the source said.

According to him, the tugboat had about six crew mem-bers at the time it was attackedby the hoodlums.

He said while four otherswere dispossessed of their val-uables, the captain and theengineer were taken away.

Another gang on Sunday re-portedly assaulted a passen-ger boat at 12noon.

Victims of the attack weresaid to be returning to Akassaafter a church service in TwonBrass in Brass Local Govern-ment Area of the state.

The bandits were said tohave removed the engine ofthe boat and dispossessedtheir victims of their valua-bles.

The state Police Public Re-lations Officer Mr. Alex Akhig-be could not be reached atpress time for comment.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE: From left: Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government,Mr. Udom Emmanuel; Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and the deputygovernor, Mrs. Valerie Ebe, during the Special Thanksgiving Service by the Emmanuelfamily, at Qua Iboe Church, Nigeria, yesterday.

RETRACTION

On January 3, 2014edition of our news-

paper, we published an ad-vertorial titled “Re-ThreatTo Multi-Billion Gas Indus-trial Complex At Ogidig-ben, Delta State: Unwhole-some meddling In Ugboro-do (Odidgben) Communi-ty Affairs,” where some un-complimentary remarkswere made to the person ofan elder statesman, Pa Ay-omike.

We have since discoveredthe publication, as it per-tains to Pa Ayomike, as in-correct and as such, retractthe said portions of the ad-vertorial that referred to PaAyomike, in its entirety. We,therefore, tender an unre-served apology to Pa Ayo-mike, an elder statesman,and regret any injury thesaid publication may havecaused him as we hold himin high esteem.

Editor.

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

12— Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 —13

CMYK

14 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

Defection: Mark not in a hurry todeclare senators’ seats vacant —Findings... as 52 Senators warn against looming crisis

BY SONI DANIEL & JOHN-BOSCO AGBAKWURU

ABUJA — SENATE President,David Mark, is not in a hurry todeclare vacant the seats of mem-bers defecting from the rulingPeoples Democratic Party, PDP, tothe opposition All ProgressivesCongress, APC, findings haveshown.

But threats by some influentialpersons within the National As-sembly to annul the defectingmembers’ seats have forced nofewer than 52 senators to writethe Senate President not to moveagainst any of them who wantedto move to any party of theirchoice.

In a joint letter, which was made

available to Vanguard last night,the senators noted with concernthe threats by elected and un-elected persons to declare vacantthe seats of lawmakers leavingthe PDP for other political par-ties.

But a competent source in theSenate said that although the is-sue of annulling the aggrievedPDP members’ seats had beencropping up regularly, Mark didnot want to drag his name intothe mud by declaring any defect-ing senator’s seat vacant.

“The Senate President enjoysthe support of majority of thesenators across party lines andwill, therefore, not want to shoothimself on the foot by playing tothe gallery of some politicians.

“Although some officials would

want the action to be taken in or-der to save their jobs, the SenatePresident being mindful of theconsequence of the action, wouldnot want to do anything that mightunduly heat up the alreadycharged political atmosphere inthe National Assembly,” thesource said.

Reminding the Senate Presi-dent that defection was not a newthing in the Nigerian politicalhistory, the senators asked himnot to support any plan to causeany setback to the current politi-cal dispensation in Nigeria.

The senators described thethreats to declare vacant the seatsof defecting senators as mischie-vous and capable of undermin-ing the independence of the leg-islature and taking away the man-

date given to them as representa-tives of the people.

The lawmakers also drew theattention of Mark to the suit pend-ing at Abuja Federal High Courton the matter, saying that in thetradition of the NASS, the mattershould not be a subject of discus-sion or debate on the floor of theSenate.

The senators said: “We herebynote that this is not the first expe-rience in the Senate where somesenators have moved to politicalparties of their choice as a resultof one reason or the other,whereas, such has not caused anypolitical tension or intimidation.

“It is our resolve that the Sen-ate should maintain and sustainthis principle and precedence.

“It is our resolve that we do notsupport any attempt that the seatof any senator proposing to de-fect to another political party bedeclared vacant except by recallprocess from their constituents orby pronouncement of a court ofcompetent and final jurisdiction,rather than politics of intimida-tion, harassment and commentthat could jeopardise the peace-ful co-existence of Nigeria.

“Finally, we enjoin the leader-ship of the National Assembly tocontinue to accommodate all leg-islators irrespective of their views,believing that our country can onlymake progress when we tolerate,respect one another and the ruleof law.”

Among the Senators, whosigned the letter to Mark were:Chris Ngige, George Akume,Abubakar Bukola Saraki, MagnusAbe, Wilson Ake, MohammedDanjuma Goje and AlhassanAisha Jummai.

Others whose names were in-cluded on the lists were: Moham-med Ali Ndume, AhmedMaccido, Kabidu Gaya, ProfOlusola Adeyeye, OluremiTinubu and Solomon Ewuga.

Obasanjo, Mu'azu in secret meeting in Abeokuta

ABEOKUTA — THE new National Chairman of the Peo-

ples Democratic Party, PDP, AdamuMu’ azu was, yesterday, locked ina two-hour secret meeting withformer President OlusegunObasanjo, at the latter’s HilltopMansion, in Abeokuta.

Mu’azu, arrived Abeokutaaround 3: 30p.m. in a convoy offour vehicles and headed straightfor the meeting without speakingto newsmen. He also did not speakto waiting reporters when he leftthe residence at exactly 5: 35p.m.

The closed door meeting, had in

attendance, Senator Andy Uba,who was a senior aide to Obasanjoduring his administration, formerPDP National Auditor, BodeMustapha, among other associ-ates of Obasnjo and Mu’azu.

Mu’azu’s visit, it was learnt, wasnot unconnected with the crisisrocking the party upon whichObasanjo last year decided to sus-pend himself from activities of theparty at all levels.

Mu’azu was appointed last weekby the National Executive Commit-tee of the party following the res-ignation of the former ChairmanBamanga Tukur.

Mu’azu, a former governor ofBauchi State for eight years hadpromised to reconcile all aggrieved

members of the party.Although details of their discus-

sions were not made known, ahighly placed source told Van-guard that Mu’azu beggedObasanjo for support ahead of the2015 elections.

But a governorship aspirant inthe state, Kayode Amusan whilespeaking with newsmen, said thathis visit was not unconnected withthe crisis in the state chapter ofthe party.

Amusan described Obasanjo asa strong factor to reckon with inthe country’s polity, stressing thatit would be difficult for anyone tocome on board the affairs of theparty without visiting the formerpresident.

”Baba has ruled this nation forhow many decades? So, you can'trule him out in this country. Ofcourse, in a democratic dispensa-tion, there must be re-grouping,there must be alignment and theremust be re-alignment, and that isit.

’’No matter what the disagree-ment, there is need for him to goround and put things together.”

Commenting on the likelihood ofresolving the crisis in the OgunState chapter of the party whichformed the basis of Mu’azu’s visit,

Amusan told journalists that“the issues of the past are still lin-gering, you all know where theparty structure is. The new chair-man will have to look into that.”

FG blastsstates for notaccessingN41 billionUBE fund

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

ABUJA — THE FederalGovernment, yesterday,blasted state governors forrefusing to access the N41billion counterpart fund forthe implementation of Uni-versal Basic Education,UBE, in their states.

Supervising Minister ofEducation, Barr. NyesomWike, who expressed gov-ernment’s disappointmentat the 11th Quarterly Meet-ing of UBEC Managementwith Executive Chairmen ofState Universal Basic Edu-cation Boards, SUBEBs, inOsogbo, Osun State, saidit was sad that the moneywas yet to be accessed bystates, lamenting that thesituation was unhealthy fordevelopment of basic edu-cation in the country.

The minister, in a state-ment by the Principal Pub-lic Relations Officer ofUBEC, Mr. David Apeh,weekend, said he was par-ticularly worried that a lotof improvement could bedone in existing schoolsand new schools estab-lished across the countrywith such huge funds notaccessed by states.

”Nothing can justify thesituation where billions ofnaira meant to expand ac-cess and improve the qual-ity of basic education deliv-ery are deliberately left un-accessed and, therefore, un-utilised, while the problemsfacing effective basic edu-cation delivery continue tostare at us as a nation,”Wike lamented.

Wike, who was repre-sented by the ExecutiveSecretary of UBEC, Dr.Dikko Suleiman, explainedthat both conditionalMatching Grant as well asthe non-conditional specialeducation fund from UBEChad been neglected bystates and the FederalCapital Territory, FCT.

He, however, noted thatbasic education in Nigeriawould soon begin to expe-rience a new era of trans-formation and pragmaticachievement, following theappointment of Dr.Suleiman as the new ex-ecutive secretary of thecommission.

Suleiman, appointed re-cently by PresidentGoodluck Jonathan as thesubstantive Executive Sec-retary of the commission, isa seasoned educationistand a former ExecutiveChairman of Katsina StateUniversal Basic EducationBoard, SUBEB.

Executive SecretaryUBEC, in his remark, pre-sented by the Deputy Ex-ecutive Secretary (Serv-ices) Professor RashidAderinoye, said the meet-ing was crucial and pre-sented another opportunityfor members as leadingstakeholders in basic edu-cation to exchange ideasand emulate good practicesin the state.

INSPECTION: From left, Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, inspecting KanoDrainage Improvement Project on Murtala Muhammed Way, weekend; Commissioner ofWorks and Housing, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, and the Managing Director of Kano Roads Mainte-nance Agency, KARMA, Abubakar Jibril. Photo: Govt. House, Kano

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 —15

Sultan urges leaders to seek knowledge on leadershipSOKOTO — THE Sultan of

Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adAbubakar, weekend, urgedleaders at all levels to seek forknowledge on leadership.

Abubakar said this at thelaunching of a book entitled,“Leadership in Islam,” written

by Alhaji Modibbo Ibrahim.Abubakar, who was repre-

sented by Alhaji Isma’ilAbubakar, District head ofGumbi, said, “it is very neces-sary for the leaders to seek forknowledge for that will givethem the right way of leading

the society.“The main frame of any soci-

ety is the quality of their lead-ers and it can only be achievedby leaders that have goodknowledge of leadership,” hesaid.

The Sultan commended the

author for the sacrifice he madeto remind the people of the im-portance of knowledge in lead-ership.

Speaking at the event, theVice Chancellor of UsmanuDanfodio University, Sokoto,Professor Riskuwa Shehu,

NSGF urgessecurityagenciesto stopkillings byBokoHaram

ANAN pledges amenities for host community

MINNA — THENorthern States’

Governors Forum, NSGF,has asked security agenciesto end the killing of de-fenceless citizens, espe-cially in the North-East re-gion, where suspectedBoko Haram members havecontinued their bloodycampaign since 2009.

The forum’s Chairmanand Governor of Niger, DrBabangida Aliyu, statedthis yesterday in Minna,noting that members of theforum were seriously con-cerned at the renewed at-tacks, which have killed 18persons aroundMaiduguri.

“The forum is particularlyalarmed that the shootingto dead of 18 persons inNjaba, Mude, Kwaljiri andKaya villages in Borno fol-lowed the same pattern asprevious midnight attackson towns and villages inthe region,” he said.

According to a statementsigned by the governor’sChief Press Secretary,Danladi Ndayebo, Aliyudescribed the fresh attacksas horrendous, callous andinhuman.

He also called on secu-rity agencies to halt the in-cessant clashes betweenFulani herdsmen and farm-ers in the region.

The governor commiser-ated with the families of thevictims and prayed Al-mighty God to grant eter-nal rest to the deceased andquick recovery to those whosustained injuries duringthe attacks.

Aliyu called on securityagencies to do more to pro-tect the lives and proper-ties of citizens, and alsoensure that those perpetrat-ing violence in the regionwere brought to justice.

He reiterated the pledgeof the forum to continue towork with other tiers of gov-ernment to bring an end tosecurity challenges con-fronting the nation.

commended the author for thegesture, saying, “the booktouches the lives of the peoplethe society.”

The author said that he wrotethe book as his contribution to-wards entrenching good lead-ership in Nigeria.

BY TAYE OBATERU

JOS — THE Association ofNational Accountants of Ni-

geria, ANAN, has pledged com-mitment to the development ofKwali community in Plateau Statewhich hosts the permanent siteof its training arm, the NigerianCollege of Accountancy.

President of ANAN, AlhajiSakirudeen Labode, who dis-closed this at re-commissioningof the administrative complex ofthe college, said a motor-park, abank and and a market would beconstructed in the village, as partof its corporate social responsibil-ity to the host community.

He said the association was

determined to contribute its quotato the development of the com-munity and opted for providingthose facilities which were cur-rently lacking to improve the well-being of the people.

He said the commissioning ofthe administrative complex waspart of the development of thepermanent site of the college to

ensure that necessary facilitieswere available for its full opera-tion.

Prior to the commissioning,large lecture halls with a com-bined capacity of 4,500 students,male and female hostels, a shop-ping complex, among others, hadbeen provided at the permanentsite of the college.

OPINION

16 Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

BY JOHNSON MOMODU

*Mr. Momodu, a commentator on nationalissues, wrote from YBenin, Edo State.

Jonathan bashing: RJonathan bashing: RJonathan bashing: RJonathan bashing: RJonathan bashing: Rescuing Fescuing Fescuing Fescuing Fescuing Fani-kani-kani-kani-kani-kaaaaayyyyyode frode frode frode frode from selfom selfom selfom selfom selfCHIEF David Oluwafemi Adewunmi

Abdulateef Fani-Kayode (Femi Fani-Kayode, for short), former Special Assistant(Public Affairs) to former PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo; former Minister ofCulture and Tourism, and former Ministerof Aviation, is truly a remarkable fellow.Whenever he speaks or writes, he poses anintellectual challenge as to where to drawthe line between normality andabnormality. The instances are numerous,but his last outing: “The gutless eunuch andthe lion king”, published in The Nation ofFriday, January 17, 2014, raised criticalissues which the psychiatric communitymust tackle in the interest of the nation.

For the benefit of those who may not haveany knowledge of the background andupbringing of the former Minister, FemiFani-Kayode was born into an educated,well-to-do family. He had the opportunityof a good education and successfullygraduated into the legal profession. Then,he went off the mark and has never been thesame since then. The truth, however, isthat it is strongly believed that a largenumber of psychologically ill patientssuffer from recidivism- meaning that theyare never totally healed.

However, it would be a colossal error tothink that Fani-Kayode is an insane personwho should, therefore, be treatedaccordingly. Of course, if he were, theasylum should be his permanent home andNigerians would not take seriouslywhatever he says. He would probablyneither have been appointed by Obasanjoas a presidential aide nor passed the Senate

screening to become a minister of theFederal Republic of Nigeria (some believethat there are many Nigerians in such highpositions who cannot pass any psychiatricscreening). If Fani-Kayode werecategorised as insane, his actions andutterances would not be legally actionable.

Granting Fani-Kayode the benefit of thedoubt, we must concede that he is a normalhuman being-although with some personalidiosyncrasies - who, like the rest of us, mustbe held accountable for his own actions.After all, apart from alleged acts of crassimpunity and corruption when he heldpublic office, Fani-Kayode was really notdeclared mentally ill by any qualifiedpsychiatrist. Besides, he has been activelyinvolved in politics, initially as a memberof the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) beforemoving to the All Progressives Congress(APC) from where he has become the mostvitriolic critic of the Jonathanadministration. Indeed, neither the PDP northe APC has perceived Fani-Kayode as anunstable person.

The thrust of Fani-Kayode’s article ofJanuary 17 was to paint PresidentGoodluck Jonathan as a weak leader whohad failed to carry out his primary functionsof protecting the lives and properties ofNigerians, especially those in the NorthEastern states of Adamawa, Borno andYobe. His main goal was to demonstrate topoliticians from the North that thePresident did not care about them and thathe (Jonathan) was working against their

interests. To drive this point home, he reeledout unsubstantiated statistics and figuresof lives lost and properties destroyed sincethe war against insurgency in the affectedstates.

The article was full of Fani-Kayode’sbitterness against President Jonathan whomhe accused of insensitivity to the plight ofthe children of those areas of the Northaffected by the Boko Haram insurgency. Hewondered whether “the President wouldhave been so unperturbed and detachedfrom the whole thing if the children whowere killed in their school just weeks agohad been from his Niger Delta area.” In hisview, President Jonathan wanted “the Northto burn and Northern blood to be spilt.”He accused the President of having failedin his sworn oath of office to protect thelives and properties of those in the areasaffected, “if the government can sit backand watch the locals slaughter themselveswhile they [sic] continue to drinkchampagne in the Villa.”

There can be nothing more inciting thanthe open declaration that a country’sPresident is watching while her citizens arebeing slaughtered or that the President,himself, is part of an agenda to slaughterthe very citizens he was elected to protect.That, precisely, is what Fani-Kayode hasdone in his publication, which amounts totreason, if the accusation turns out to bebaseless.

Given Fani-Kayode’s background andantecedents, what he wrote should not be a

surprise. The only surprise is that thesetreasonable materials were published by anational newspaper, The Nation, whoseproprietors want to grab power at all cost.Otherwise, how can a newspaper of thatstatus be party to the accusation of thePresident in a so-called conspiracy to“encourage and create turmoil and chaosin the North just to ensure that they [sic] areexcluded from voting in 2015” Thisnational newspaper is also guilty of treasonand incitement. And, unless they canestablish the veracity of the allegations,both Fani-Kayode and the newspaper oughtto take responsibility for their action andface the wrath of the law.

To show the gravity of Fani-Kayode’saccusations, as they affect national stability,the Jama’atu Nasir Islam, a powerfulIslamic organisation in Northern Nigeria,recently issued a statement, accusingPresident Jonathan of waging war againstMuslims through the operations againstBoko Haram. To a large extent, one mightsay that Fani-Kayode is succeedingbecause the organisation is on the samepage with him. They do not seem to careabout what happens to this country in 2015and beyond, as long as they have Jonathan’shead.

If recidivism is anything to go by, it maystill be necessary to persuade Fani-Kayodeto return to Ghana.

A YEAR after they were tortured - one ofthem died - and their suspected attackerswere strutting the streets in sheer defianceof the law; justice may come to three wom-en assaulted in Ejigbo Central Market. TheLagos suburb gained a place in the mapwhen about 1,000 people perished in its ca-nals while fleeing the Ikeja bomb blast 12years ago.Ejigbo is 16km from Ikeja, the state capi-

tal. It is not to be confused with Ejigbo inOyo State, 177km from Lagos. Ejigbo, La-gos, has a local council area authority, al-most its own local government area, a po-lice station, a traditional ruler, representa-tives in the state and national parliaments.Yet the authorities had no interest in theincident, which was on social media sinceFebruary 2013. The women were tortured;pepper and other foreign objects werestuffed into their genitals. They allegedlystole pepper from the market.Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution states

that, “Every individual is entitled to respectfor the dignity of his person and accord-ingly, no person should be subjected totorture or to inhuman or degrading treat-

Ejigbo: Injustice Prowls,Ejigbo: Injustice Prowls,Ejigbo: Injustice Prowls,Ejigbo: Injustice Prowls,Ejigbo: Injustice Prowls,Justice CrawlsJustice CrawlsJustice CrawlsJustice CrawlsJustice Crawls

ment”.Worse than this violation is the conniv-

ance and indolence of the police. It tookpressure from Arise, a human rights group,and conversations on the social media forthe Lagos State House of Assembly to stir.The police only acted after Inspector Gen-eral of\ Police, in Abuja, 555km from Ejig-bo, sent a special team.Suspects have been arrested, but when

and how would justice get to the victimsand their families? The lawlessness and im-punities that abound in Nigeria thrive on

fear the authorities create by abandoningthe people to hoodlums who with theirown laws fill the vacuum official indiffer-ence generates. Assuming the womenstole, under what laws were they pun-ished? What are the powers of vigilantegroups? The concerns are nationwide.In Makurdi, eight farmers were charged

to court for allegedly stripping a widow,Mrs. Ann Adikwu, and parading her at amarket square in Orokam, Ogbadibo Lo-cal Government Area of Benue State. Theytook her pictures, which, like in the Ejig-bo case, they circulated. The men were herlate husband’s relations who had issueswith her. She said they also stole herclothes, money and jewellery. It was the social media again that brought

attention to the plight of Mrs. AlexandraOssai, who lost her seven-month pregnan-cy after her Lebanese boss Kaveh Noinereportedly kicked her on the stomach. Thepolice in Lagos ignored the case until thePresident ordered“investigation for sanc-tions and remedial action.” We cannot runa country where hoodlums are the law. Lo-cal authorities, as well as Abuja, share inmaking Nigeria governable.

CMYK

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Police permit not requiredfor rallies in NigeriaBY FEMI FALANA, SAN

IN January 2012, the massprotests against the so-called

removal of fuel subsidy were vi-olently disrupted by the policeand the army personnel. Duringits recent industrial action the Ac-ademic Staff Union of Universi-ties had cause to direct its mem-bers to embark on protests todraw public attention to the un-derfunding of public universitiesin Nigeria. The police dispersedthe protesting academics withtear gas. A fortnight ago, a polit-ical rally in Port Harcourt, RiversState was brutally suppressed bythe police. In justifying the vio-lent attack, Mr. Joseph Mbu, theRivers State Commissioner ofPolice claimed that the rally wasunauthorized as the convenersdid not obtain police permit.

Infringement offundamental rights

Since the disruption of publicmeetings and rallies is an in-fringement of the fundamentalright of Nigerians to freedom ofassociation, assembly and ex-pression it is pertinent to drawthe attention of the authorities tothe state of the law on publicmeetings.

Under the Public Order Act(Cap P42) Laws of the Federa-tion of Nigeria, 2004 the powerto regulate public meetings, pro-cessions and rallies in any partof Nigeria was exclusively vest-ed in the governors of the re-spective states of the Federation.Thus, by virtue of section 1 of theAct the Commissioner of Policeor any other police officer couldnot issue a licence or permit for

to their members to hold unityrallies throughout the country toprotest the rigging of the 2003elections. The request was re-fused. There was a violent dis-ruption of the rally organized inKano on September 22, 2003 onthe ground that no police permitwas obtained.

In a suit filed at the FederalHigh Court against the Inspec-tor-General of Police the Plain-tiffs challenged the constitution-al validity of police permit underthe Public Order Act and the vi-olent disruption of the rally. Indefending the action the Defen-dant contended that the conven-ers of the rally did not obtain apolice permit.

In dismissing the contention ofthe Police the trial judge, theHonourable Justice Chinyerestated inter alia: “The gist of theprovision in section 1 of the Actis that the Governor of each Stateis empowered to direct the con-duct of all assemblies, meetingsand processions on public roadsor places of public resort in thestate and prescribe the route bywhich and times at which theprocession may pass.

Licence ofthe governor

Persons desirous of conveningor collecting any assembly ormeeting or of forming a proces-sion in any public resort mustapply and obtain the licence ofthe Governor. The Governor candelegate his powers to the Com-missioner of Police of the State orto other police officers. Personsaggrieved by the decision of theCommissioner of Police may ap-peal to the Governor and thedecision of the Governor shall befinal and no further appeal shalllie therefrom.”

On the inconsistency of policepermit with sections 39 and 40 ofthe Constitution and Article 11of the African Charter on Humanand Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap A9)Laws of the Federation of Nige-ria, 2004 the learned trial judgesaid: “In my view, the provisionin section 40 of the Constitutionis clear, direct and unambiguous.

It is formulated and designed toconfer on every person the rightto assemble freely and associatewith other persons. I am, there-fore, persuaded by the argumentof Mr. Falana that by the com-bined effect of sections 39 and 40of the 1999 Constitution as wellas Article 11 of the African Char-ter on Human and Peoples’Rights, the right to assemblefreely cannot be violated withoutviolating the fundamental rightto peaceful assembly and asso-ciation. I agree with Mr. Falanathat violation can only be doneby the procedure permitted bylaw, under section 45 of the Con-stitution, in which case there mustbe a state of emergency properlydeclared before theses rights canbe violated.

I also agree with Mr. Falanathat the criminal law is there totake care if protesters resort toviolence in the course of demon-stration and that once the rightsare exercised peacefully, theycannot be taken away. The Pub-lic Order Act so far as it affectsthe right of citizens to assemblefreely and associate with others,the sum of which is the right tohold rallies or processions ordemonstration is an aberration toa democratic society. It is incon-sistent with the provisions of the1999 Constitution. In particular,sections 1(2),(3),(4),(5) and (6),2, 3 and 4 are inconsistent withthe fundamental rights provi-sions in the 1999 Constitutionand to the extent of their incon-sistency, they are void. I herebyso declare.”

Permit forpublic meetings

After declaring the provisionsof the Public Order Act which re-quire police permit for publicmeetings and rallies illegal andunconstitutional the FederalHigh Court proceeded to grantthe following reliefs:

•A declaration that the require-ment of police permit or otherauthority for the holding of ral-lies or processions in Nigeria isillegal and unconstitutional as itviolates section 40 of the 1999

Inspector general of police, Mohammed

Constitution and Article 11 of theAfrican Charter on Human andPeoples’ Rights (Ratification andEnforcement) Act (Cap 10) Lawsof the Federation of Nigeria,1990.

• A declaration that the provi-sions of the Public Order Act(Cap 382) Laws of the Federa-tion of Nigeria, 1990 which re-quire police permit or any otherauthority for the holding of ral-lies or processions in any part ofNigeria is illegal and unconsti-tutional as they contravene sec-tion 40 of the 1999 Constitutionand Article 7 of the African Char-ter on Human and Peoples’Rights (Ratification and Enforce-

public meetings and rallies intheir states, Olufunmilayo Ade-keye JCA (as she then was) hadthis to say: “On a proper perusalof the provisions particularly sec-tion 1 subsection 1-6, and sec-tions 2-4 there is nowhere thename of the Inspector General ismentioned in connection with theissuance of permit for the pur-pose of conducting peaceful pub-lic assemblies. Such applicationis to be forwarded to the Gover-nor within forty-eight hours ofholding such. The Governor maydelegate his powers under theAct to the Commissioner of Po-lice of the State or any superiorpolice officer of a rank not belowthat of a Chief Superintendentof Police as applicable to this casein hand.”

On the fundamental right ofNigerian citizens to assemblefreely and protest without licenceor permit, Adekeye JCA, pro-ceeded to hold as follows: “Thepower given to the Governor ofa State to issue permit under Pub-lic Order Act cannot be used toattain unconstitutional result ofdeprivation or right to freedomof speech and freedom of assem-bly.

The right to demonstrate andthe right to protest on matters ofpublic concern are rights whichare in the public interest and thatwhich individuals must possessand which they should exercisewithout impediment as long asno wrongful act is done…

FEMI FALANA

any meeting or rally without theauthority of the governor. In oth-er words, no police officer wascompetent to issue a permit forholding any public meeting orrally or cancel any such publicmeeting or rally without the au-thority of the governor of a state.

In the case of All Nigeria Peo-ples Party & Ors. v. InspectorGeneral of Police (2006) CHR181 the Plaintiffs being regis-tered political parties requestedthe Defendant, the Inspector-General by a letter dated May21, 2004 to issue Police Permits

To be concluded tomorrow

,

,

Map ofNigeria

ment) Act (Cap 10) Laws of theFederation of Nigeria, 1990.

•A declaration that the Defen-dant is not competent under thePublic Order Act (Cap 382) Lawsof the Federation of Nigeria,1990 or under any law whateverto issue or grant permit for theholding of rallies or processionsin any part of Nigeria.

•An order of perpetual injunc-tion restraining the Defendant(the Inspector-General of Police)whether by himself, his agents,privies and servants from furtherpreventing the Plaintiffs and oth-er aggrieved citizens of Nigeriafrom organizing or conveningpeaceful assemblies, meetingsand rallies against unpopulargovernment measures and poli-cies.”

Completely dissatisfied with thejudgment of the Federal HighCourt on the issuance of policepermit the Inspector-General ofPolice appealed to the Court ofAppeal. Upon hearing the casethe Justices of the Court of Ap-peal unanimously affirmed thejudgment of the Federal HighCourt. With respect to the pow-ers of governors to authorize theissuance of permit for holding

Public Order Act should be pro-mulgated to compliment sections39 and 40 of the Constitution incontext and not to stifle or crip-ple it. A rally or placard carryingdemonstration has become a formof expression of views on currentissues affecting government andthe governed in a sovereignstate. It is a tread recognized anddeeply entrenched in the systemof governance in civilized coun-tries – it will not only be primi-tive but also retrogressive if Ni-geria continues to require a passto hold a rally. We must borrow aleaf from those who have trekkedthe rugged path of democracyand are now reaping the divi-dend of their experience.” (SeeInspector-General of Police v. AllNigeria Peoples’ Party (2008)WRN 65).

In his contribution to the judg-ment of the Court of Appeal Mu-hammad JCA confirmed thatpolice permit is alien to a demo-cratic society when he reiteratedthat: “In present day Nigeria,clearly police permit has outlivedits usefulness.

The Public Order Act so far as it affects theright of citizens to assemble freely and associ-ate with others, the sum of which is the rightto hold rallies or processions or demonstra-tion is an aberration to a democratic society

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NWAKA —I, formerlyknown and addressedas Nancy EkwutoziaNwaka, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. NancyEkwutozia Iyoh. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

ABBAH—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Abbah EyumAnita, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. ElaigwuEyum Anita. All formerdocuments remainvalid. NAFDAC andgeneral public pleasetake note.

M E R S H A K — I ,formerly known andaddressed as RoseNanbam Mershak, nowwish to be known andaddressed as RoseNanbam Yusuf Kwarsen.All former documentsremain valid. FederalMinistry of Tourism,Culture & NationalOrientation and generalpublic please take note.

ELENG —I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss AbigailBassey Eleng, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Abigail BertramAgbong. All formerdocuments remainvalid. National YouthService Corps (NYSC)and general publicplease take note.

NGWU —I, formerlyknown andaddressed as MissNgwu NgoziPrincess, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Ekenyere NgoziPrincess. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O D E J O K E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissFolasade OyeyemiOdejoke, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Folasade OyeyemiAkomolafe. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

AMADI —I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss DivineNhabinuchi Amadi,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Divine MunachisoIke. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O M O D O N — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissNgozi YvonneOmodon, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Bar(Mrs.) Ngozi YvonneAugoye. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

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46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

Tinubu’s aidefaults Clarkover state-ment onYoruba race

SPECIAL Adviser onMedia to former

Lagos State Governor,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Mr.Sunday Dare, yesterday,called on erstwhile Minis-ter of Education, ChiefEdwin Clark, to refrain frommaking denigrating state-ments against the Yorubarace.

Dare, who alleged thatClark had said the lack ofleadership among Yorubawas obvious, noted that thestatements were targeted atTinubu, former PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo andother Yoruba politicians,who were opposed to Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan’sleadership style.

Dare, who noted this in astatement, said: “The re-cent diatribe launched byChief Edwin Clerk againstthe Yoruba people in one ofthe national dailies fits intothe trend of vitriolic attackson any perceived oppo-nents of the President,Goodluck Jonathan. For hisproper education and en-lightenment, this reactionis necessary so that beforeit’s too late, Edwin Clarkwould rescue himself fromdestruction.

“His recent commentabout the lack of leadershipamong theYoruba was tell-ing but not so much againstYorubas but as to the Chiefhimself. Who ever madehim an expert on theYorubas needs to rescindthat appointment? Clark isnot competent to utter sucha comment. He would bebetter advised to tend to hisown house and put that inorder instead of remarkingon the quality of a homethat he sees from a far andcannot enter exceptthrough the kindness of theo w n e r .“Of course, we all know thathis remark was an at-tempted broadside againstAsiwaju Bola Tinubu,Olusegun Obasanjo andother leading Yoruba poli-ticians who have refused tojoin the Jonathan choir.Clark is afraid that the pro-gressive party, APClaunched by AsiwajuTinubu and otherprogressives throughoutthe nation possesses thepolitical clout to dislodgehis ethnic kin from the AsoVilla. Thus, Clark hatesTinubu and all those whospeak up against the miss-governance taking place.

“He hates AsiwajuTinubu not because ofTinubu’s or the APC’s poli-cies or programmes. Clarkis ignorant of what AsiwajuTinubu and the APC standfor.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 — 47

OPINION

,

Curbing the menace of speculators

*Mr Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of Agric.Abeokuta, Ogun State.

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

NO doubt, housing is one of the basic comforts of life. It notonly provides shelter for the people, the possession of a

house confers a sort of social security and dignity on the owner.Sadly, our governments have failed to give Nigerians goodand affordable houses. Worse still is our comatose mortgagesystem, which offers no succour either, going by the exorbitantprices of houses usually, being put out for sale.

The land speculators, popularly known as Omo-Onile oftensell landed property illegally to unsuspecting members of public.Not only that, when construction work begins, thesemischievous people extort fees in-discriminatory and if anyonedares challenge them, he is vulnerable to violent attacks. InLagos and some metropolitan states, the problem iscompounded by the alleged active involvement of sometraditional rulers - obas and baales .

Many Lagosians became the latest victims of landspeculators, as residents of Atinporome, Badagry area of Lagos,contended with 200 policemen from the Lagos State PoliceCommand, when they demolished over 500 buildings worthbillions of naira, which were erected on a land marked forconstruction of a police estate.

The police was said to have acquired the property abouteight years ago, having obtained the Certificates of Occupancy(C-of-O) from the Lagos State Government, to enable it buildan estate for senior police officers. Unfortunately, nothing wasdone on the land after obtaining the C-of-O, thus creating aroom for the Omo-Onile to resell the land to needy propertybuyers as the residents, claimed that they acquired theirproperties from Omo-Onile. Before the latest demolition, the

police authorities alleged that they had issued two evictionnotices, but the residents refused to leave. While some of theresidents claimed that they were not aware that the policeactually purchased the land, others alleged that a law courthad given an injunction, restraining the police from takingpossession of the land.

Recently, the Lagos State Government took a more decisiveaction, through an amendment to the state’s criminal law, bydealing with persons who engaged in fraudulent landspeculation, for prosecution. The state’s new criminal lawensures that assault, manslaughter and murder constitutecriminal offences. The state also launched the ‘Code of Conductof Estate Agency Practice in Lagos State’, under the LagosState Real Estate Agent Transaction Department.

Before the introduction of this new law, it has been taken forgranted that landed property cannot be stolen which, in thereal sense was not true but has only aided unscrupulous peopleto sell third party properties. That is why the Lagos State Houseof Assembly should be commended for passing a bill to curbillegal acquisition and selling of land by indigenous landspeculators. The Lagos State Properties Protection Bill 2013also contains the punishment to be meted out to offenders.

Aside Lagos, the ugly activities of land speculators are everembarrassing in other states of the federation. More pro-activeapproaches should be deployed to tame what has now turnedout to be a social, economic and financial crime. To begin with,property agents should be made to have a registered office - arare prescription in many states - which encourages mischievous

persons to dupe innocent people and quickly change base in ajiffy.

An agent should be made to maintain accessible record ofhis/her business and ensure that a prospective purchaser takesphysical possession of the property paid for within a period,except otherwise stated in writing by explaining the necessaryobligations. This is a necessity going by the frequent demandsfor payments by customers before their preferred property isfound. In most cases, many people ended up being duped thisway!

Again, the existing provisions of the Land Use Act that vestthe ownership rights of all land in state governors, which areheld in trust for all citizens, is not helpful. Rather, what I thinkshould be of utmost importance to the people is a proviso thatguarantees easy access to incontestable procedure and titleperfection documents.

Government officials should be closely monitored to ensurethat they do not collude or abet fraud. This was the assurancegiven by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissionerfor Justice, Ade Ipaye, when he said, “Fraudulent staff,especially in the Land, Housing and Judiciary ministries, whoaid and abet criminals outside in landed matters will be usedto set example of how committed we are to checking fraudulentcases in landed property in the state". Other states in the countryshould follow suit.Stiffer penalty should be imposed on thosefound guilty of land speculation.

AS we begin our historic journey intothe new, pre-election year with its

promised political tumult, I wish tocongratulate the All Progressives Congress(APC) for its great success story so far.When Senator Bola Tinubu of the defunctAction Congress of Nigeria (ACN), hispartner, Major General MuhammaduBuhari of the defunct Congress forProgressive Change (CPC) and theNational Chairman of the defunct AllNigerian People’s Party (ANPP), Dr.Ogbonnaya Onu, started the mergermoves that spawned the APC, few whowere conversant with Nigeria’s history offailed mergers expected the venture tocome to this juncture where APC is almostco-equal rival of the ruling People’sDemocratic Party (PDP).

We now have, on paper, a classicdominant two party system. It is safe toassume that when the presidential electioncomes up early next year, it will be a straightfight between the PDP and APC, with mostof the minor political parties going intoalliances with either of the two majors forthe coveted prize.

At this juncture, the momentum is stillon the side of the APC. The traffic is stillheavy from PDP to APC, with occasionaltrickle in the opposite direction. The PDP

APC must shine or perish

has leaned out. It has never been this lean.The PDP of today is much smaller than wehave ever seen of it. It is an advantageand a disadvantage at the same. It is anadvantage in that the volatile moleculesin its midst have moved away, and theparty is in a much better position tomaintain a disciplined front if the newleadership proceeds with maturity. It is adisadvantage because it is no longerevident if PDP will win a credible, fairelection were the polls to be stagedtomorrow. However, the party’s prospectsare very positive because it is still the rulingparty, with the gamut of incumbency factorssolidly lined up behind it.

The APC, on the other hand, has a muchbigger challenge. Apart from managing itshuge successes and uniting the factions

created by the new accruals from PDP withits old faithful, the APC is yet to undergoits ultimate litmus test: a rancour-freeelection of candidates, especially thesubstantive national executive council,presidential ticket, governors and state andfederal legislators. While PDP is likely tohave a relatively easy ride on this count,the APC must work hard to prevent large-scale decamping back to the PDP,especially in the states of the former G5PDP governors. PDP may be waiting inthe wings to take back what was theirs.

The APC must now shine or perish. Itmust proceed to convince right thinkingNigerians that it is a better alternative to

the PDP that has ruled the nation sincethe dawn of the renascent democracy in1999. It must demonstrate this both in termsof politics and governance. The APC is amuch more diverse political entity than thedefunct ACN and CPC, where one mancalled the shots based on his personalpolitical interests. APC is led by a collegeof leaders. Therefore the party must comeup with a system of power sharing that isbased on democracy and consensus. Anyexperiment in imposition will let all hellloose.

We are waiting to see if APC will continueto mimic PDP by zoning party offices. Orwill it make a difference by simply throwingcontests open for the best candidates toemerge through the wishes of thegenerality of members? If we wake up to

hear that the presidency, for instance, hasbeen zoned to the North or West orelsewhere, then it shows the Party hasnothing different to offer than PDP.

Making governace difficult: APC mustalso retrace its steps fromthe ill-advised strategy of makinggovernance difficult for the PDP as its ownidea of opposition.

Rather, it should demonstrate how thenation can be more effectively governedin vital areas such as the war on corruption,transparent handling of the finances of thenation and prudent management of theeconomy. It must prove that Nigerians aresafer in the hand of APC than PDP, ratherthan always threatening violence and itsstates being seen as the main centres ofterrorism, crises and insecurity. If they areable to do this, Nigerians will see the partyas a promising alternative and will be gladto transfer power from PDP to APC come2015.

But what we are seeing appear to bemore in consonance with the old agendaof some disgruntled northern leaders tomake governance difficult for PresidentGoodluck Jonathan after they failed to grabpower back from him in 2011. It is thisagenda of deliberately creating crises witha view to attracting media sympathy thatGovernor Rotimi Amaechi is staging fromtime to time in Rivers, while the PDPFederal Government responds by helpingitself to some impunity using stateuniformed agents. It was the same agendathat Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila deliberatelydeployed by calling the Deputy MajorityLeader of the PDP in the HouseRepresentatives, Hon Leo Ogor “MinorityLeader” when it has not yet beenconclusively proved that PDP is indeednow the minority party in the House. As alawyer, Gbajabiamila should have known

better since the courts have imposed vitalinjunctions pending final verdicts that willmake clear which party is the top dog inthe NASS.

The APC is likely to lose more face if itsucceeds in getting it members in theNational Assembly to scuttle the federalbudget and block the approval of theService Chiefs and the screening of newministers over the Rivers crisis; a crisis inwhich both Governor Amaechi and hispolitical foes in PDP are equally culpable.The Rivers crisis is a normal politicalmuscle-flexing. Assuming that the APChas the clout to cripple legislative activitiesin the National Assembly, it would besacrificing the legitimate duties of theparliamentarians on the altar of politicalpower struggle in one of our 36 states. Itwould be forcing the federalparliamentarians to abandon the duties forwhich they were elected simply becauseof a political crisis Amaechi started byundemocratically removing an elected localgovernment chairman in Rivers State.

Previous officialassignments

It would be a different ball game if, forinstance, President Jonathan’s ministeriallist arrives for confirmation, and all APCsenators rise in unison to oppose all thenominees that are facing investigation forstealing public funds while they were intheir previous official assignments. Thatwould be a laudable move that would showAPC is against corruption.

If APC continues with the strategy oftrouble-making as a means ofdemonstrating opposition, it has to bear inmind that no responsible government willsit back and allow troublemakers andanarchists to take over the public arena.The law enforcement agents will do theirjob, especially when supporters aredirected to resort to “self-help”. Thecontinued sabre-rattling by Buhari,Junaidu Mohammed and Nasir el Rufai,threatening violence and bloodshed unlesstheir political interests are met will neverhelp the new mega party.

Nigerians must resist the antics of theseuncivilised politicians. APC should rein inits hotheaded members immediatelybecause this is the time to market itself toNigerians as a better product than PDP.

Trouble-mongering and threats arecounter-productive as marketing tools.

If APC continues with the strategy of trouble-making as ameans of demonstrating opposition, it has to bear in mindthat no responsible government will sit back and allowtroublemakers and anarchists to take over the publicarena

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

WHAT is your reaction to thedirective of the APC to its

senators not to give passage to thebudget?

My immediate reaction is that theSenate as an institution sees issuesfrom just one prism, and that is theprism of national interest.

My experience of the Senate for theyears that I have been there is that itis not a partisan institution. Yes, wewere elected on the platform of politicalparties, but the moment you assumeyour seat on the floor, it is Nigeria thatmatters, that Nigeria that counts.

We have never been partisan and Idon’t see us being partisan now, notat this critical time of our nation’shistory.

You can say from outside that youwould heed, but when you are on thefloor, you are a senator of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria, not a PDP senatoror an APC senator. It is the nationalinterest.

If the APC senators decide to heed,what would you as the Senate Leaderdo? The House majority leader hassaid they would heed. Are you notfrightened?

Are they saying that the securitychallenges that we have, that weshouldn’t have heads of the respectivearmed forces?

But what of the budget? They are sodetermined on that?

They said they should stopeverything.

Budget forNigerians

You see the budget is not for PDPmembers only, Labour Party membersor APGA members only. The budget isfor Nigerians.

It has been said that it is an act offrustration on the part of theopposition with the government inchecking the acts of impunity inRivers State?

The Rivers situation has becomepartisan. Hasn’t it? It has becomepartisan.

But they blame the PDPadministration for the partisanship,that security men protect some ralliesand breakup those against the PDP?

Ogun State is not PDP but is it anydifferent?

But Rivers State is the issue now. TheState House of Assembly cannot meetin its designated building?

The issue of Rivers State is a bit morecomplicated than you are making itsound.

First of all, don’t forget that at onepoint in time, the National Assembly

Govt Shut Down: Senators are not partisan —Sen Ndoma-Egba, Senate LeaderSENATOR Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, the leader of the Senate in this interview asserts that senatorsirrespective of political leanings would not be moved by party sentiments in consideration of theirduties.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN,POLITICAL EDITOR

took over the affairs of the House ofAssembly of Rivers State. Has theNational Assembly been properlynotified of the circumstances underwhich its functions were reverted to theRivers State House of Assembly?

But don’t you feel worried bysuggestions that elements in the PDPare manipulating the crisis in the state

to favour their goals?I don’t want to dwell on the issues of

Rivers State because having taken overthe functions of the Rivers State Houseof Assembly, there are a number ofissues that haven’t been resolved andif I make any comment now it wouldbe pre-empting or prejudicing thoseissues, so I wont want to dwell on

Rivers State House of Assembly. Butthe core of the APC statement is thatgovernment and governance shouldbe grounded and my simple reactionto it is that as senators of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria we are elected onthe platform of political parties, but themoment you are on that floor, there isonly one prism through which you seeNigeria, and that is the prism ofNigeria.

So, if the APC members in theHouse of Representatives stop thepassage of the budget, what wouldyou do?

I can only talk for the Senate and inthe Senate, we see Nigeria through theprism of Nigeria, not through the prismof partisanship.

,

,My experience ofthe Senate for theyears that I havebeen there is that itis not a partisaninstitution. Yes, wewere elected on theplatform of politicalparties, but themoment you assumeyour seat on thefloor, it is Nigeriathat matters

•Ndoma-Egba: Senators are nationalistic

I AM a member of a political partyand I cannot disagree with my party.All I can say right now is that even

the deaf can hear, the blind can seethat this government is not onlyrudderless, it is involved in hugeillegalities and unconstitutionalities,it has no respect for the rule of law,neither does it have respect for theright of citizens.

It is only reminiscent of events of themilitary days and a case in point iswhat is happening in Rivers State.

It is so sad that we have foundourselves in a democracy under a

Why we are shutting down government— OsagieAPC House WhipTHE All Progressives Congress Whip in the House of Representatives, Rep. Samson Osagie haspledged the readiness of the party members in the House to heed the directive of the party inshutting down the affairs of the Federal Government. He said:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN,POLITICAL EDITOR

regime that cherishes unconstitutionalacts. $10.9 billion is missing and that

is about two years budget of theFederal Government of Nigeria, it isno joke.

Let nobody deceive anybody, it isequivalent to two years budget of thisgovernment. Between the CentralBank Governor, the minister offinance, they cannot account for it.

Is that not farce? Never in the historyof this country, even under militaryrule have we found this type of lack oftransparency of government.

It is obvious and clear that under thePDP, Nigerians have suffered a lot andthat even at that they want to continueto hold on. The choice really is forNigerians.

•Osagie: This is no joke

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 — 49

match at the Cape TownStadium this year.

Keshi enjoyed a longand distinguished ca-reer as a player in Ni-geria and Europe, be-fore going on to manageTogo, Mali and then theSuper Eagles, which heguided to the 2013 Afri-can Cup of Nations title,subsequently beingnamed as African Coachof the Year.

But he was hard-pressed to think of toomany other matches sim-ilar to Saturday night’sgoal fest.

“It was something veryunique. It happenedwhen I was in Mali, 2010Nations Cup, againstAngola in the first game,we were four goalsdown, 12 minutes, wecame back to score fourto tie 4-4.

“This one was some-thing else though. I justwant to say thanks to myplayers for the characterand the mentality thatthey brought in the sec-ond half, they’re justawesome.”

Keshi said the secret tothe stunning fightbackwas to pay less respect

KeshiContinues from BP to their opponents after

the sides came out forthe second half.

“This was not us play-ing in the first half. Itwas like we gave toomuch respect to Moroc-co. They are a goodteam, but we have to beourselves and we haveto take our game tothem.

“In the second half Iwanted to see differentcharacter, I wanted tosee the same characterthat we brought into theBafana Bafana game (a3-1 win in the groupstage which knockedSouth Africa out), ormore.

“So they came in andthey said, we are notgoing home, we want tobe here for the final,and that’s what hap-pened.”

Morocco coach HassanBenabicha blamed hisside’s second-half capit-ulation on the lack ofpreparation the teamhad before the tourna-ment.

“Coming into thistournament we did nothave any friendly match-es, we came into thiscompetition and faced a

big team of the calibre ofNigeria and with such agreat coach,” said Ben-abicha.

“Going forward we canstart preparing for the2015 Afcon, which takesplace in Morocco.

“Our objective there isto do everything in ourpower to put in a goodshowing and eventuallylift the cup.”

Nations Championshipin South Africa.

The Super Eaglescame back from threegoals down to defeat theMorocco 4-3 in a thrill-ing quarterfinal matchin Cape Town, whichwent into extra time.

Abdullahi said theteam showed passion,discipline and commit-ment, which are hall-marks of the Nigerianspirit.

“With the kind of over-whelming joy that fol-lowed the victory acrossour country, one cannotbut feel that perhaps,these players are des-tined to win the trophy.”

He also disclosed that

Minister

Cumba’s Lounge, anight club owned by aNigerian businessman.

The entire set up wastypically Nigerian as theclub was populated bygreen-white-green col-our. The Super Eaglesjersey suddenly becamethe hottest property asthose who could notwear it used the Nigeri-

Continues from BP the NSC would offer theteam the princely sum of100,000USD if they beattheir next opponent andqualify for the final ofthe CHAN tournament,which is for players inthe domestic leagues ofparticipating countries.

The NSC had earlieroffered the team an in-centive of 100,000USDif they beat Moroccoand qualify for the semifinal, which they did ina dramatic manner yes-terday. The ministersaid the team would getthe money before theirnext match on Wednes-day.

Abdullahi stated theincentives are Govern-ment’s way of motivat-

ing the players to givetheir best and triumphover their opponents.He added that if the“boys qualify for the fi-nal and go ahead to winthe trophy, they can beconfident that a grate-ful nation will remem-ber for a long time tocome that they, withtypical Nigerian gritsand determination,have extended ourdominance of Africanfootball.”

Nigerians in Cape TownContinues from BP an flag as head ties, ties

and the like to identifywith the Nigerian fans.

Inside the pub, themusic was Nigerian asrecords by popular Ni-gerian artistes like 2faceIdibia, PSquare, PrinceIce, Whizzkid, Flavouramong others blaredfrom loud speakers.

The revelers dancedas if there was no tomor-row.

Falconets grabWorld Cup ticket

NIGERIA became thefirst African team

to qualify for the 2014FIFA U-20 Women’sWorld Cup, after beatingSouth Africa 1-0 onSaturday inJohannesburg.

Striker AdeboyejoYetunde scored the onlygoal of the match in thefirst half to powerFalconets to a double andbook their ticket for theglobal championshipcourtesy a 7-0 aggregatewin.

With a 6-0 win from thefirst leg, the Falconetsconfirmed their superiorityover the Basetsana bysilencing them at theirbackyard to maintain theirimpressive record of beingthe only African team tohave qualified for everyedition of the global youthwomen’s championshipsince its inception in 2002.The visitors sat back andcontained the constantpressure from their hoststo cruise to victory in thesecond leg clash of thefinal round of thequalifying series.

DIEGO Maradonasays Pele will “al-

ways be second best” tohim and has discreditedthe Ballon d’Or Prixd’Honneur he receivedin Switzerland last week.

Maradona and Pelehave been going at eachother ever since they re-tired from the game, andthe Argentinean has nowtaken offence to the spe-cial award his long-timeBrazilian rival received atFifa’s Ballon d’Or ceremo-ny.

Pele was awarded theBallon d’Or Prixd’Honneur after being in-eligible to win the origi-nal Ballon d’Or duringhis playing days, as it wasthen only for those plyingtheir trade in Europe.

Maradona, currentlythe Dubai sports ambas-sador, is having none ofit.

“How can you say thatPele received the Ballond’Or before me? I re-ceived the award [likethat] in Paris [in 1996]. Soto make Pele the first one

Maradona slams Peleto receive the award beforeme is a huge mistake,” hesaid.

“According to me, Pelewill always remain secondbest in football when com-pared to Maradona. Lookat it this way, in his owncountry, Brazil, Pele is thesecond best sportsman af-ter Ayrton Senna [theformer F1 driver].

“Pele will always be sec-ond, be it in internationalfootball or in Braziliansports. The sad thing isthat he is second best andhe will continue to stay inthat position.

“While presenting theaward [this year’s Ballond’Or] to Cristiano Ronal-do, Pele uttered his nameas ‘Cristiano Leonardo’.This just shows where hebelongs.

“I am happy with what Iam doing for football andfor myself. I am content liv-ing in a home in Dubai,but Pele lives in Fifa.”

LIBYA progressedto the semi-finals

of the African NationsChampionship afterbeating Gabon 4-2 onpenalties following adeadlocked 120 minutesof football on Sunday.

The MediterraneanKnights scored fourpenalties on the trot atthe Peter Mokaba Stadi-um, while Gabon’sAlain Mpanga andSokambi Taty missedtheir efforts.

The game startedbrightly and Gabonshould have been infront as early as thethird minute but theman nicknamed “Play-station” in his home-land, Ntsitsigui Awouta,tried to make too fancya move when he wasone-on-one with theLibyan goalkeeper Mo-hamed Abdaula.

Promising 21-year-oldmidfielder SamsonMbingui almost put Ga-bon in front in the 14thminute when hewhipped a seemingly

Libya guns down Gabon 4-2

unstoppable free-kickover the Libya wall, butit cannon off the cross-bar and went over.

A minute later, at theother end, Libya weregifted the biggest

chance of the game sofar when a defensivemix up by the Gaboneseled to the ball landingat forward Almoatasem-bellah Mohamed’s feet.

However, the No.16couldn’t covert with thegoal at his mercy, whileBoubacar Toure also didwell to get finger tips to

AUSSIE OPEN KING.....Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka kisses the trophyafter defeatingt Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the men’s singles final of the 2014Australian Open in Melbourne on January 26. PHOTO: AFP

50— Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 — 51

CMYK

52— Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 —53

CMYK

54 —Vanguard, MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2014

,

,

In Dammam, Keshi’ssuit Matas a great Li

ON Saturday, three goals down, I had promised my friends that I was not going towrite about the match. “ Win some, lose

some,” I surrendered.My phone went crazy as messages and mails

flooded in. There was so much concern regarding amatch many considered to be “jazz induced”. Yeswe could be beaten “…. but we should not be dis-graced” a friend screamed.

Three goals that again exposed our goalkeeperafter some dreadful defending . Was Keshi going tosubstitute Agbim? I said I was not sure, but that inaddition to substituting Agbim, he needed to alsosubstitute not less than four defenders! ( Laughter )

Another friend went back to Saudi Arabia and theDammam miracle in 1989. I said it was possible,after all I am a living witness to that great come-back, four goals down and just thirty minutes to gothe Flying Eagles clawed their way back to beatUSSR on penalties, a victory that kept me and IkeddyIsiguzo of the Vanguard to lose our voices throughincessant screaming and singing as we made ourway back to Riyadh 25 years ago, but for that to bea reality, they needed to lift their game……..

Saturday is history. My son Daniel summarized ithilariously when at the final whistle he said “ Dad-dy, Keshi is on drugs…..”. first time I have heard ofa coach being on drugs on the bench and the effectintoxicates his players on the field……..( Laugh-ter…)

Yes today we can afford to laugh and salute the socalled “ Nigerian spirit and resilience….” Yet mustwe go through hell to get to heaven’s door? Waitingto hear from the Coach on what really happenedand what he told his boys at the dressing room evenas Ken, Bob Lee, Ayo, Mrs Emah, Daniel, Sanusi,Gboyega,…..all concluded that since God was aNigerian, this, was His doing……

For the future we must brace ourselves for a situ-ation where for every one goal that Agbim will con-cede, his colleagues will score two!

As the match wore on, I thought it was also timeto move ahead, destination Brazil. Go back twenty

years to Calabar where Ette Effanga reigned su-preme. Ette Effanga was the boss of the Cross RiverReferees Association. On this day one of his refer-ees made a controversial call and the official of theaffected team ran to Ette Effanga to complain. Whathe got as response startled him.

“ …My friend you are complaining about the ref-eree, look at your dressing. See how your opposi-tion is neatly dressed with every thing to match.Your jersey is tattered, the numberings an apology,already you have been beaten psychologically andyou are here complaining about the referee……”

Chief Jonathan Ogufere former WAFU boss andPresident of the Sports Veterans Association of Ni-geria took a look at Keshi during the FIFA Draws inBrazil and liked what he saw. “ Paul” he said “ Keshishould be suited during the world cup” I remembermentioning it during our last Technical Committee

meeting, even as Onochie Anibeze, Group SportsEditor of the Vanguard also mentioned it last week.

He will not want Coach Keshi to use his trademark track Suit during the World Cup. “……He candress better than that. He should be corporately at-tired”

Readers may have a different view, just as thecoach reserves the right to wear what he wants (Don’t laugh……)

Why has the signing of Juan Mata causing Ar-sene Wenger so much pain? The man who his fansbelieve will win the league this year to banish eightyears of agony has not slept since it was rumouredthat Mata was on his way to Old Trafford. Wengermoaning was reverberated by Pellegrini, theManchester City Manager who is also tipped to winthe league.

I thought they said United was down and out?that they were finished? Just wait till Rooney andVersie come back…just wait they ain’t seen nothingyet ( Laughter…….)

I go back to Onochie on his brilliant column won-dering why a South Africa that boast world champi-ons in Rugby, Swimming, golf and athletics, a coun-try that is doing well in tennis, hockey, boxing andcricket can go hysterical when we beat them in foot-ball, our “solitary sport”

Watching China’s Li Na win the Australia Openon Saturday took me back to Onochie and how ten-nis was dead here. For two weeks I have followed asport that has made young men and women fly theflags of their country with pride, including the SouthAfrican Kevin Andersen, the competition’s 19th seed

A sport that has thrown up promising youth inabundance, opening doors of fortune andfame…….Cibulkova of Slovakia, , Bouchard of Can-ada , Halep of Romania, Stephens of USA and Geor-gina Muguruza of Spain to mention a few of theladies prospects…….not for us such opportunities.

Abeg , don’t let me spoil your day. Savour theEagles victory and another great comeback in thehistory of our football…….

See you next week

THE Deputy President of the Senate,

Senator Ike Ekwere-madu has congratulatedthe Super Eagles of Ni-geria on their victoryover Morocco to book asemi-final place in theongoing CAF AfricanNations Championshipin South Africa.

Senator Ekweremaduwho however faulted thelackluster spirit exhibit-ed by the team in thefirst half, especially inthe defence line, com-mended the Eagles forshowing enormouscharacter and determi-nation in the second halfand extra time of thegame.

He said: “The SuperEagles have just rekin-dled reminiscences ofthe Damman miracle atthe 1989 FIFA WorldYouth Championship inwhich Nigeria upturneda four goal deficit to winthe defunct Soviet Union

Ekweremadu, Elegbeleye, Ndanusacommend Eagles

in a breathtaking quar-ter final encounter.

Also, The Director Gen-eral of the NationalSports Commission,Hon. Gbenga Elegbel-eye, has urged SuperEagles Team B to win theongoing Africa NationsChampionship (CHAN)for the sports-lovingPresident (Dr.) GoodluckEbele Jonathan.

According to him, thegoodluck of the Presi-dent is already shinningon the Nigerian team inSouth Africa after theteam qualified for thesemifinals of the CHANtournament against Mo-rocco on Saturday in adramatic fashion.

He described Eaglesvictory as a ‘miracle’ asthey fought tooth andnail to run away with a4-3 victory after first halfdisappointing 0-3 defi-cit.

“This team is good

enough to win the tro-phy. They have shownthat they have the char-acter to win the tourna-ment. The President issolidly behind the teamand also happy withtheir performance so farin the competition. TheNational Sports Com-mission is also happywith the team and thetechnical crew,” he said.

President of the Nige-ria Olympic Committee,Engr Sani M. Ndanusaalso poured encomiumson the Super Eagles andtheir crew urging themto display that teeth-gritted determination intheir semi final matchand go on to win the tro-phy.

‘’There is no doubt thatyou made history in thisCHAN. It is not completeuntil you bring the tro-phy back to an apprecia-tive President GoodluckJonathan.”, Ndansuasaid.

EX-GREEN Eaglesgoalkeeper Em-

manuel Okala on Sundayin Awka said Super Ea-gles’ forward UzoenyiEjike should get a placeon the team’s squad toJune’s FIFA World Cupin Brazil.

Okala said that Ejikewas one of the most tal-ented footballers of hisgeneration.

He noted that the wingforward had only beenunfortunate not to haveleft the shores of the coun-try for greener pasturesabroad.

“Uzoenyi is a rare playerwho has not made it toEurope. He fears no de-fence and urges his col-leagues on.

“He will be a great as-set to team head coachStephen Keshi if hemakes it to the World Cupfinals in Brazil, becausehe is just too goodenough for the mundial,”the former national un-der-17 team assistantcoach said.

Okala who was full ofpraises for Ejike, describ-ing his performance as

Uzoenyi good enough forWorld Cup, says Okalaspectacular, also said theNigerian team deservedall praises for their dra-matic comeback victoryagainst Morroco.

Super Eagles had onSaturday won 4-3 againstthe Atlas Lions, after trail-ing 0-3 by half-time.

The former Rangers In-ternational FC goalkeep-er pointed out that whatactually turned the gamearound for the Eagles was

the motivating spirit ofEjike who kept the Mo-roccans busy.

“Ejike really deservedhis Most Valuable Player(MVP) award, and it is akind recognition of hisefforts.

“But, overall, the Eaglesshowed the great Nige-rian spirit, determinationand patriotism, and thesecombined to win thegame for us."

•Uzoenyi

Chief Jonathan Ogufereformer WAFU boss and Presi-

dent of the Sports VeteransAssociation of Nigeria took a

look at Keshi...Keshi should besuited during the World Cup

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 —55

CMYK

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Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. 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.

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YESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSTODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLE

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YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

VANGUARD,VANGUARD,VANGUARD,VANGUARD,VANGUARD, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDACROSS2 Feel (5)7 Snake (5)8 Restrict (5)10 Go in (5)12 Vehicle (3)13 Quilt (5)15 Lived (7)17 Peruser (6)19 Rotter (3)20 Deciphered (7)23 Couple (4)25 Face (4)26 Dedicated (7)30 Conifer (3)31 Ebb (6)34 Dishearten (7)37 Wagon (5)38 Vegetable (3)39 Keen (5)40 Madness (5)41 List (5)42 Spree (5)

DOWN1 Rascal (5)2 Avarice (5)3 Raved (6)4 Nobleman (4)5 Parted (7)6 Collier (5)9 Frenzied (3)11 Regain (7)13 Hang (5)14 Insipid (5)16 Unhappy (3)18 Contrition (7)21 Eater (5)22 Passage (5)24 Chorus (7)27 Strive (3)28 Erase (6)29 Reimburse (5)32 Colour (5)33 Amusing (5)35 Enclosure (3)36 Secure (4)

ACROSS: 2, Fetch 7, Glee 8, Unsaid 9, Erase11, Car 13, Rid 15, Omen 16, Big 18, Tallied20, Pier 22, Dump 23, Rotated 25, Cost 27,Lad 28, Mere 30, Tie 31, Dad 33, Reset 36,Severe 37, Unit 38, Train.

DOWN: 1, Gleam 2, Fee 3, Tea 4, Hue 5,Ask 6, Tibia 10, Soil 11, Compact 12, Reverse13, Reduced 14, Dripped 16, Banal 17,Glued 18, Wed 21, Rot 24, Tame 26, Oiled29, Rabid 32, Wet 33, Bet 34, Sea 35, Tun.

We vowed not to gohome yet — Keshi

Minister stakesanother N16m forEagles S/final match

Nigerians close downbars in Cape Town

Continues on Page 49

ONCE the dust hadsettled after Ni-

geria’s stunning 4-3 winover Morocco in a Chanquarterfinal match at theCape Town Stadium onSaturday, Super Eaglescoach Stephen Keshiwas left to reflect on oneof the greatest games hehas ever been involvedin.

It was a breath-taking90 minutes which show-cased the best of Africanfootball. The game pro-duced seven goalsscored, nearly all ofthem brilliantly execut-ed, as the West Africanteam turned around athree-goal first-half def-icit against a Moroccanside which very muchplayed its part in whatcould well be the bestContinues on Page 49

AN extremely elated Minister of

Sports and Chairman ofthe National SportsCommission, MallamBolaji Abdullahi has ap-plauded the fighting

HUNDREDS of Nigerians kept late

nights here in CapeTown as celebrationsover Super Eagles victo-ry over Morocco contin-ued till early hours of

Sunday across the city.Reveling Nigerian soc-

cer fans were joined bytheir friends from SouthAfrica at various nightpubs, particularly, theContinues on Page 49

spirit of the Super Ea-gles of Nigeria, whichbeat the Atlas Lions ofMorocco yesterday toqualify for the semi finalof the ongoing African

COOLING OFF ••• Super Eagles’ players cooling off in the pool of theirhotel on Sunday morning

CHANGabon 1 Libya 1 (Libya win 4-2 on penalties)

FA CupChelsea 1 Stoke 0

RESULTS

It’s Eagles, Black Stars s/final

SUPER Eagles willrenew their

rivalry with Ghana whenboth teams clash in thesemifinal of the CHAN on

January 29 at the FreeState Stadium. Ghanadefeated Congo D.R lastnight to set up an all WestAfrican nation match.

CMYK