rivers crisis: senator abe shot, flown to london

...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 62056

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014**

Mr & Mrs

COLUMNIST:

•P.17

Continues on Page 5

RIVERS CRISIS: Senator Abeshot, flown to London

LES LEBA— P.40

•He was shot twice in the chest — Aide•We only used tear gas, minimum force — Police

Senator Abe being attended to in the hospital

My convoy was bombed in Borno — Senator Ndume

7....No, we shot at a suspicious convoy — Air Force

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME & EGUFE

YAFUGBORHI

PORT-HARCOURTTHE steaming po-

litical crisis in RiversState took a turn for theworse, yesterday, whenSenator Magnus Abewas allegedly shot in thechest twice with a rub-ber bullet at a rally of theSave Rivers Movement,

UGBORODO CRISIS LATEST: Gunmenabduct Ayiri Emami's 10-yr-old niece 12

7

Tukur,PDPNWCmeet today

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2—Vanguard,2—Vanguard,2—Vanguard,2—Vanguard,2—Vanguard, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, JANUARY 13,JANUARY 13,JANUARY 13,JANUARY 13,JANUARY 13, 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014—————33333

CMYK


CMYK

POCKET CARTOONVanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014—5

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

RIVERS CRISIS: Senator Abe shot,flown to London

Continues from page 1

THE chief beauty about time is that you cannotwaste it in advance. The next year, the next

day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as per-fect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted ormisapplied a single moment in all your life. Youcan turn over a new leaf every hour-if you choose— Arnold Bennett

When we see beyond the everyday seemingly tri-fling, to observing the beauty and miracle occur-ring in our lives momentarily, every experiencebecomes a gift that unwraps treasures to new be-ginnings and greater adventures, and a lever, thatlaunches into new vistas! This life is precious, makethe best of it.

A person should strive to consciously rememberat all times that everything that we desire in life isalready in existence, so why be limited by the ac-tions of another, an event, or circumstances. It isalways a choice to just be. Challenges and obsta-cles are stepping stones, we can allow ourselves tobe cowered by them or find the resilience to rekin-dle the flame of enthusiasm in finding newer andbetter solutions to uplift and improve upon our cir-cumstances.

After all as the saying goes, “where there is awill , there is a way” but an added value may beaccepting inner or divine guidance and doing allyou can possibly do but surrender your will to ahigher force. Keeping a beautiful heart is a way oflife for me... I do not know how to be anything elseanyway. And the gains from a loving heart is im-measurably beneficial in every way, if you let yourheart be a beautiful place of love, life becomessweeter and graceful!

a pro GovernorChibuike Amaechigroup at Obio/Akpor Lo-cal Council of the state.

There were conflictingaccounts, claims andcounter-claims over whoshot the serving senator,who has been flown toLondon for better medi-cation after first aidtreatment in two hospi-tals in Nigeria. While

Governor Amaechi’saides accused the policeof shooting Abe, the po-lice distanced them-selves from the act, say-ing that they do not userubber bullets and didnot fire any shot at theevent.

Also, there was an al-legation that the Minis-ter of State for Educa-tion, Mr. Nyesom Wike,directed the police to

disrupt the rally, whichthe minister denied.

The Chief of Staff, Gov-ernment House, PortHarcourt, Mr TonyOkocha, who claimedthat he was with theSenator when the Policeshot him at very closerange, said they alsofired teargas at them,adding that one of thecanisters of the teargashit him (Chief of Staff)on his leg.

Okocha said he had toescape into somebody’shouse in the neighbour-hood to save his life,adding that the Policekept on firing theteargas to dispersethose that were there forthe rally.

How we wereattacked— Okocha

His words: “This morn-ing was a huge surpriseto me. It’s the turn ofObio/Akpor Local Gov-ernment to host the SaveRivers Movement; wehad gone to Eleme andalso to Asari-Toru. Today(yesterday) is the turn ofObio/Akpor and as law-abiding citizens of Ni-geria we wrote to thepolice, informing themof our programme andthere was no negativeresponse. We chose Col-lege of Arts and Sci-ences because it’s moreexpansive, it could ac-commodate at least10,000 persons that willcome out of Obio/AkporLocal Government Areatoday (yesterday).

“At about few minutespast 12, I received a callfrom somebody; highly

placed, informing methat the Commissioner ofPolice had been reachedby the Supervising Min-ister for Education to dis-lodge our people todayand I couldn’t place it.About 4:30am, our menon ground, who wereleft there to secure thegadgets and facilities,called me to say that thepolice had taken overthe place. For God’ssake, we are defencelessfree citizens of Nigeria,we don’t carry arms.Save Rivers Movementis an organisation thatinsists that Rivers Statemust be saved, out tosalvage the state frompolitical buccaneers whowant to put Rivers Stateinto their pockets. Weare in the business ofsensitising our peoplefrom LGA to LGA. Youare aware of a groupcalled GDI, they gothrough all the LGAswith convoys of police,giving them all kinds ofprotection, including thecommissioner of police,he’s always in their con-voys, providing securityfor them and ensuringthat what they do in theLGAs are trouble-free.

“When they called meI couldn’t place it imme-diately so I had to gothere myself to seethings. I was smoked asif I was a rabbit. I raninto someone’s houseand unfortunately theman has children, theywere all suffocating,they were all dying. Sowe had to improvise,they said we should usecoke, some said kero-sene would work. Wehad to use all of that toensure that the man’schildren live. That waswhat I saw; I was quar-

antined in somebody’shouse.

“I was wonderingwhether it is the CP thatis the chief security of-ficer of Rivers State orthe governor. They saidthe CP ordered that weshould not gather and Isaid our rights to gatherand associate is inalien-able, you can’t take thataway from us.

“As I talk to you, aSenator of the FederalRepublic (Senator Abe)is lying critically ill inthe hospital. I learnt ar-rangements are beingmade to fly him out ofthe country. We were to-gether, he was even try-ing to make contactswith the IG when theyshot him point blank.Senator Magnus Abewas shot in the chestwith this their rubberbullet thing. My ownwas teargas shells. Ifthey were doing theright thing theywouldn’t be shootingteargas and be pickingthe shells, so they knewthey were doing thewrong thing. Theybrought in seven Ar-moured Personnel Car-riers inside the Collegeof Arts and Sciences. Tokill common criminals?Are we criminals? Theseare defenceless citizensof Rivers state and Ni-geria. We have ourrights and we are notaware of any court orderthat has taken theserights away or restrictedus from gathering.”

Continuing, Okochasaid: “I heard that ayoung boy in the com-pany of his mother, com-ing to church, suffocatedand died instantly. I alsoheard that one house atNumber 1 ElegbamRoad was burnt becauseof the canister of teargasshot into it. They said italmost burnt down butpeople came to help putthe fire out. A lot of peo-ple have been injured,there are people withvarying degrees of inju-ries. Look at MagnusAbe, a senator of the re-public, both of us weretalking to the police, wewere trying to explain tothem and somebody wasbold enough to shoot

him point blank. Ofcourse, they are work-ing on the orders of thecommissioner of police.”

Hospitalised Abecan’t talk — Aide

Meantime, Mediaaide to Senator Abe, MrHonour Sirawoo, toldVanguard that SenatorAbe who represents Riv-ers South East Senato-rial district, was first ad-mitted at a hospital in Dline area of PortHarcourt but was latertransferred to anotherhospital with betterequipment to handle hissituation after series oftests.

Sirawoo told Van-guard that he was notwith the Senator whenhe was shot but that herushed to the hospital tosee the Senator who wason drip and could nottalk.

Senator treated fortraumatic shock–Doctor

Dr Mackay Anyanwuwho administered firstaide to Senator Abe atKrisany Medical serv-ices, in D line where hewas first rushed to, toldnewsmen that the Sena-tor was treated for trau-matic shock.

He said: “The patientwas brought in a state ofshock, as evidenced bylow blood pressure. Hewas restless and hecouldn’t communicate orreason coherently. As afirst aid, we treated himfor traumatic shock be-cause the implication ofhis state was that therewas severe blood traumaand the amount of lay-ers affected could not bedetected immediately.This can only be donethrough haemorrhoidtests”.

....Abe hit by highcalibre weapon

"We have administeredoxygen treatment on himfor resuscitation and pri-mary medication, but wealso detected severe in-

Continues on page 42

ABE —Senator Magnus Abe being moved from the Kelsey Harrison Hospital in Port Harcourt tothe airport en route London for further medical treatment after being allegedly teargassed and shot bythe Rivers State Police at a pro-Amaechi rally in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014

Pregnant woman, 9 others burnt todeath as bus goes up in flames

BY EMMA ARUBI &AKPOKONA OMA-

FUAIRE

WARRI — TRAGEDYstruck in Effurun, Delta

State, yesterday, as a Delta City14-passenger town servicecommercial bus caught fire,killing 10 passengers includ-ing a pregnant woman.

Four people, including thedriver, survived. The bus washeading towards EnerhenJunction.

Vanguard gathered that thebus with number plate 14 C-74 DT burst into flames at about3.04pm along the ever busyPTI road near Emasodje junc-tion.

The accident caused seriousvehicular traffic as officials ofthe FRSC, military men andPolicemen retrieved the burntcorpses.

According to a survivor, whodoes not want his name men-tioned, tragedy struck imme-diately after a woman with afour-litre jerry can of petrol en-tered the front seat of the busagainst the agitation of the pas-sengers.

In his word: “I boarded thebus at PTI junction and we wereheading to Enerhen Junction.The driver picked a womanwho was carrying four litres of

what was suspected to be pet-rol. We protested as the womanboarded.

“Within three minutes, whatwe heard was an explosion. Imanaged to escape through thetrunk of the bus. I am short ofwords. My escape was a mira-cle.”

Mr. Ben Igbakpa, Commis-sioner for Transport, who visitedthe scene of the accident, wasspeechless.

He told Vanguard, when hefinally found his voice, “I wastold by a survivor that the firewas caused by a woman whoboarded the bus with fuel in a

four-litre jerry can.“He told me that some com-

plained, but she was allowed toseat in the front. I learnt that 10persons were burnt beyond rec-ognition, with the driver andthree others surviving.

“We will intensify our monitor-ing. We call on the operators totalk to the drivers to be very cau-tious. It is bad that someone willboard a bus with fuel, it is re-grettable.

“We mourn this unfortunateincidence, most difficult is thatno one can ascertain who diednow because it is a town service,it does not carry a manifest. Thestate government is sad that sucha tragic thing has happened.”

On his part, Mr. DicksonAmromawhe, state Co-Ordinator, Federal Road SafetyCommission, FRSC, Delta com-mand said: “There were foursurvivors. I got a call that a DeltaCity bus was on fire along PTIroad, so we mobilised and camehere.

“I, however, find it offensivethat youths restricted the fireservice truck that came for res-cue operation. I was informedthat on arrival, irate youthsstarted chasing them away thatthey were late. This is not thefirst time that they are doing this.

“Most painful is that even thepolicemen who came first wereinjured, one of he officers’ headwas broken by a stone thrownby the youths. Why are they do-ing this?

"Someone is coming for rescueand you are chasing him away.The state government should dosomething about this, it is nothelping the victims at all.”

At press time, the charred re-mains of the victims were packedin sacks ready to be taken toCentral Hospital Ekpanmorgue.

The burnt bus

Ex-policemannabbed forescapingfrom court’scustody

DUTSE — A 30-year-old retired police con-

stable, Ibrahim Safiyanu,of Gida Dubu in Dutse me-tropolis, Jigawa State, hasbeen apprehended by offi-cials of the Nigerian Secu-rity and Civil DefenceCorps, NSCDC, JigawaState command for escap-ing from a magistrate courtcustody.

The ex-police man wasarrested, weekend, in hishideout.

Disclosing this to Van-guard, the commandant ofNSCDC, Dr. MuhammadGidado said the arrest wasmade based on the war-rant of arrest issued to theNSCDC by the court.

Describing the escape asshameful, he said it was acapital blunder for a custo-dian of the law, servingor retired, to undermineand abuse the rules of lawthat he was paid to protect.

BY TINA AKANNAM

Fire gutsmarket,destroysshops inEbonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI — A MYSTERIOUS fire, week-

end, gutted the popularOphoke Ishieke market inEbonyi Local GovernmentArea of Ebonyi State, de-stroying property worth mil-lions of naira.

It would be recalled thatseven days ago same mar-ket was gutted by fire asshops within the marketwere razed.

An eyewitness, Mr. OgbuChinwendu, said the fireoccurred about 1 a.m. whenresidents observed thicksmokes coming out of apharmaceutical shop withinthe market, adding thatalarm was raised and peo-ple came out to put off thefire.

He said: “The way the firespread to other shops madeus to believe that it was notjust the usual fire incidentbecause while we weremaking efforts to stop thefire from spreading, peoplecould not do much until thefire service men arrived."

The State Commissionerfor Commerce and Indus-try, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike, attrib-uted the fire incident to anact of sabotage as it wasstrange that after one weekthat fire gutted the market,another was also recorded.

Bayelsa communities demand justiceover youth’s killing

BY SAMUELOYADONGHA

YENAGOA —THE People of Ayamabele and

Kalaba in Yenagoa Local Gov-ernment Area of Bayelsa State,weekend, staged a peacefulprotest calling on the police tobring to justice the alleged kill-ers of their son, late GodsgiftAtama.

The deceased, an indigeneof Ayamabele, was reportedlyshot dead on December 7, 2013while returning from hisgrandmother’s wake keep atAgbobiri by some persons, al-legedly from Akumoni com-munity.

Angered by the alleged in-action on the part of the policeto prosecute the alleged per-petrators of the heinous actwhom they claimed were ini-tially arrested but later set free,the indigenes of Ayamabeleand Kalaba communities, Fri-day, staged the peaceful pro-test.

The protest was staged sameday the state government wasplanting “Peace Trees” inOkordia and Biseni clans ashundreds of youths, women

and children clad in blackclothes, carrying placards andleaves marched on the only ma-jor road traversing the six com-munities of Okordia clan (link-ing the East/West Road).

The placards carried messageslike: “We No Want War, Let Jus-tice Prevail”, “Ayamabele VsAkumoni No Peace”, “GovernorNo Peace In Okordia”, “We HaveNo Confidence In Bayelsa Po-lice,” among others.

The protesters through theYouth President of Kalaba com-munity, Joel Monibo Joel, calledon the government to intervenein the matter in the interest ofpeace.

His words: “We are appealingto the state governor and the

Commissioner of Police to stepin and take the right action onthis matter.”

According to him, “On De-cember 7, 2013, one of our broth-ers, a youth of Ayamabele com-munity by name Godgift Atama,was returning from his grand-mother’s wake keep at Agbobiriand he was stopped by somepersons at Akumoni around oneof the bumps on the road andthey shot him dead.

“Not only that, after killinghim, they dragged his corpse toa remote corner of the Akumonicommunity. We had to invitethe special state security out-fit, Operation Doo Akpo andthey came and searched forthe corpse in Akumoni."

The protesting youths

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014—7

My convoy was bombed — Ndume

No ambition is worth the blood ofNigerians — JONATHAN

BY BEN AGANDE & HEN-RY UMORU

ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY— From Left: Supervising Minister of Defence, MrLabaran Maku; Rep Ndudi Elumelu; FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; PDPBoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Senate President David Mark; President Goodluck Jonath-an; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; Mother of the Pres-ident, Mrs Eunice Jonathan; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen Anyim PiusAnyim at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja,yesterday.

No, we shot at his convoy — Air Force

ABUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday,

said that no Nigerian should killor maim himself or herself be-cause of his presumed 2015 sec-ond term ambition, saying that"any ambition I have at any timeis not worth the blood of Nigeri-ans."

Meanwhile, President Jonath-an has told the National Chair-man of the Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukurthat he would require the sup-port of every Nigerian, not onlyhim (Tukur), to win the 2015 elec-tion if he would contest the elec-tion.

The President stated this at ameeting with Vice President Na-madi Sambo, Tukur, and othermembers of the National Work-ing Committee, NWC.

Jonathan spoke on the need forpeace in the PDP and warnedthat accusations and counter ac-cusations must stop.

He also said that he would"never, ever expect a Nigerian tospill a drop of his blood becauseGoodluck Jonathan has someambitions. Nigerians should al-ways preach peace and unity inall their engagements. This is theonly way the country will achievegreatness."

Speaking at a special churchservice to mark this year’s ArmedForces Remembrance Day,Jonathan reminded politiciansthat no ambition was worth theblood of innocent Nigerians, add-ing that if we continued to killourselves, there would be no na-tion to govern.

He said: "Sometimes I get wor-ried and embarrassed when Ihear provocative statements thatcome from very senior citizens;people that ordinarily will be per-ceived as senior citizens, who or-dinarily should know that theunity of this country is more im-portant than the interests of anyindividual or a group of individ-uals. And that the peace of Ni-geria is more important than anyinterest of individuals or groupof individuals. Some people evenencourage young people to takearms and fight themselves.

"I always say as a politician thatI pray all politicians should knowthat there will be no nation if wekill ourselves. If you want peopleto come out and vote, why do youthreaten them? If you threatenpeople they will stay in theirhouses and how will you winelection?

"In an occasion like this, weshould also admonish ourselvesthat we should preach peace andunity in all our conversations. Ifwe do that all our problems will

be resolved, our security issues willbe resolved. If all of us collectivelytalk about the unity of this country,about peace in this country, thenour country will progress and movein the direction we want the coun-try to move.”

The president noted that thisyear’s remembrance celebrationwas unique as it was coming at atime that the country is celebratingits 100 years of existence as a na-tion.

He paid tributes to members ofthe Armed Forces, saying that theirsacrifices had ensured that Niger-

ia remained one indivisiblecountry, despite the challeng-es it had faced.

"The Armed Forces Remem-brance Day is unique and thisyear's programme is moreunique because first Januarymarks 100 years of our existenceas a nation. It is not easy to gethere. The country faced a lot ofchallenges no doubt about that.Some of us witnessed the civilwar. For us who have survivedthis 100 years, some peoplepaid dearly for it, some peopleworked for it like the armed forc-

es. We know the challenges theyfaced during the civil war. But fortheir sacrifice, Nigeria would havebeen more than one nation. Theyworked for it, some died in theprocess while some died servingin wars outside Nigeria. Theseare the people that we are remem-bering today. We all have to emu-late them. Those of us who arealive, what we can do to honourthem is to ensure that whateverwe do, whatever we say, whatev-er song we sing is a song that willbring peace and unity to thiscountry.”

...holds marathon meeting with Tukur, NWC PDP members

BY NDAHI MARAMA

MAIDUGURI —SENATOR Mohammed Ali

Ndume representing SouthernBorno Senatorial District, yes-terday, escaped death by thewhiskers as a Nigerian AirForce, NAF, Jet allegedly mis-took his convoy for those ofBoko Haram terrorists andthrew explosives at it.

NAF authorities, however,said that the jet mistakenlyfired shots at Ndume’s convoywhile on the pursuit of someBoko Haram suspects whowere operating in the area atthe time Ndume was passing.

Ndume was said to be re-turning from Gwoza LocalGovernment where he hadgone to sympathise with thepeople over ongoing killingsin the area, when the incident

happened.Addressing newsmen at his

Maiduguri residence, Ndumesaid he travelled to Gwoza topresent a letter of appoinmentto the Emir of Gwoza, AlhajiIddrisa Timta, who was to beupgraded as a first class emiras well as visit Arbaku,Ngoshe and other remote vil-lages affected by Boko Haramattacks to condole with the vic-tims, adding that he was sur-prised when he was attackedby an Air Force jet.

Ndume said, “I thank Godfor sparing my life as the jetwhich I suspected was on mil-itary operation against BokoHaram dropped four bombs onmy convoy.

"I went to Gwoza. I notifiedthe police and military author-ities of my presence wherethey even assisted me withsecurity cover, and when I fin-

ished with my mission at about2:10pm, we started hearing ex-plosions. Initially, I thought itwas Boko Haram that wantedto attack me, but when we werethrown into confusion, the sol-diers attached to my convoyrushed to me and said it wasnot Boko Haram, but rather, anAir Force jet that was droppingbombs. We had to run into a mil-itary base close to the scene ofthe incident and take cover."

Ndume said he had reportedthe incident to the Chief ofArmy Staff, Lt Gen AzubuikeIhejirika, who he further add-ed, replied his text messagethus, "I hope no life was lost."

NAF’s Spokesman, Air Com-modore Yusuf Anas said inAbuja yesterday that its jet waspursuing some Boko Haramsuspects when it cited Ndume’sconvoy and mistakenly firedsome shots at it, and not bombsas alleged, describing the inci-dent as unfortunate.

Speaking on telephone withVanguard, the Director of AirForce Public Relations, AirCommodore Yusuf Anas, de-nied allegations that SenatorNdume’s convoy wasbombed.

Anas said that terrorists ofthe Boko Haram sect attackedthe Army Barracks in Gwozaand made attempt to over runit, adding that during thepursuit of the terrorists, thejets flew low and opened fireon a set of vehicles, about fiveor more of them includingHilux vans that were carry-ing the terrorists...But be-cause the aircraft could notascertain those in the vehi-cles, no further action wastaken. If Senator Ndume wasin one of the vehicles, it isunfortunate but the fighterjets were not in a position toknow the occupants of someof the vehicles who were flee-ing,” Anas said.

Tukur, PDPNWC holdemergencymeeting today

BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA—THE embattled National Chairman of the Peo-

ples Democratic Party, PDP, Al-haji Bamanga Tukur has sum-moned an emergency meetingof the National Working Com-mittee, NWC, for today.

There were divided opinionsyesterday on the agenda of themeeting following suggestionsthat President Goodluck Jonath-an, who has until now been thestaying power of the embattlednational chairman, has advisedTukur to resign. Nine out of elev-en members of the NWC presentat a meeting summoned byPresident Jonathan had voted forhim at that meeting to stepdown.

Some other sources disclosedthat Tukur may use the opportu-nity of the meeting to appeal tothe NWC members for reconcil-iation while others insisted thatTukur would use the opportuni-ty of the meeting to resign.

Vanguard learnt that membersof the NWC had at a meetingwith President Jonathan lastweek passed a vote of no confi-dence on Tukur’s leadershipstyle and thereby called for hisremoval.

At that meeting, the membershad taken turns to lampoon him,saying they have lost total con-fidence in him and stressed thatTukur was running a one manshow without carrying themalong, just as they accused himof turning his Wuse private res-idence to Wadata Plaza, NationalSecretariat of the party.


National confab: Why I wrote minorityreport — ASEMOTABY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE &

DAPO AKINREFON

AS controversies over the preparation and submission of a

minority report on modalities for theproposed national conference toPresident Goodluck Jonathan per-sist, the author of the report, Mr.Solomon Asemota, SAN, has toldVanguard why he wrote the report.

In a telephone chat with Van-guard, Asemota, who is a memberof The Patriots as well as the Sena-tor Femi Okurounmu-led 13-manPresidential Advisory Committeeon National Dialogue/Conference,said he wrote the report in the in-terest of the country, the success ofthe proposed conference and to en-sure that the exercise was not ‘tele-

guided’ like many numerouspast attempts.

He spoke as another memberof Okurounmu committee, Mr.Tony Uranta, flayed the Presi-dent of the Nigerian Bar Asso-ciation, NBA, Mr. Okey Wali,SAN, and Mr. Asemota overclaims that the President re-fused to receive Asemota’s mi-nority report.

Meanwhile, Igbo leaders un-der the banner of the IgboLeaders of Thought led by Pro-fessor Ben Nwabueze, SAN,has listed five points that shouldbe incorporated into the confer-ence modalities to make theexercise fruitful.

Shedding more light on thecontroversial minority report

that he wrote, Asemota said: “Iwrote the minority report. I want-ed to submit it through the com-mittee but they said it was un-acceptable to them because theyhave only one chairman of thecommittee and will only acceptone report from the chairman.So, I sent the report to the Sec-retary to the Government of theFederation, SGF, and the Presi-dent through DHL.”

Asked why he differed withsome of the recommendations ofthe committee, he said: “Wemust get the conference right. Iwas a member of the Constitu-ent Assembly in 1989 and themilitary tele-guided the process.Nothing came out of the draftconstitution that we prepared.

Nobody should tele-guide me af-ter my years of experience. Eventhe people, who are to tele-guideme are people who were enteringthe university when had alreadybecome SAN.”

Uranta flays Wali, Asemota

Speaking on the issue, Urantasaid: “One is appalled at the NBAPresident, Okey Wali’s use ofwords in the body’s statement re-garding the imminent NationalConference, because it is a lie thatPresident Jonathan refused to re-ceive a much-touted phantom mi-nority report when the Presiden-tial Advisory Committee on theNational Dialogue submitted itsreport. No other report, than thecommittee’s report, was offered tothe President. Wali is a lawyer. Canhe educate us on how you canrefuse/reject something you werenever offered.”

Faulting Mr. Asemota’s position,Uranta said “it is even more disap-pointing that a respected lawyer ofMr. Asemota’s standing can goabout bandying falsehoods to theeffect that he was denied the op-portunity to freely air his views per-taining to issues of representationand legal framework for the Na-tional Conference. He voted alongwith every other member on everyissue and he was in fact Chairman,PACND Sub-Committee on legalframework."

Uranta added that “The Patriotsdo not hold a monopoly of knowl-edge or wisdom, and their posi-tions cannot take precedence overthe desires of a large majority ofNigerians who are committed tothis National Conference holdingsuccessfully.”

Igbo leaders issue fivedemands

Also speaking, Igbo leaders ofThought, who reacted to the dia-tribe between Okurounmu andNwabueze, insisted that the com-mittee’s report fell short of the ex-pectations of Nigerians who desirea genuine national conference ofethnic nationalities.

In a statement by their DeputySecretary, Evangelist Elliot Uko,they said the issues that are up-permost in the minds of Nigeriansare: No ethnic nationality shouldbe left out of the National Confer-ence; the National Assemblyshould not have a final say on thedecisions of the National Confer-ence; the National Assemblyshould pass an enabling law to le-galise the National Conference asinherent powers of the presidenthas been successfully challengedin several courts in the past; Nige-rians desire a fresh constitution notan amendment of the Abacha Con-stitution; and the decision of theNational Conference must be af-firmed at a people’s referendum.

VISIT—From left: Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah, Chairperson House ofRepresentatives Committee on Diaspora , Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Sokoto State Commis-sioner for Information, Danladi Bako during a visit by the Chairperson House Committeeon Diaspora to the Bishop in Sokoto, weekend.

Death of 2Nigerianstudents inUkraine causesuproar

BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA—TWO Nigerianstudents at the Donetsk

National Technical Universi-ty, Ukraine, have died, afterwhat the Ministry of ForeignAffairs sources described ascircumstances bothering onalleged negligence on thepart of the hospital authoritieswhere they were admitted fortreatment.

The late students, TheresaOlaoluwa Oresanya, thirdyear Electrical Engineeringand Bede Olunna Ogbu, aMasters Degree Engineeringdied Friday, December 10 andWednesday, December 18,2013 respectively.

News of the death of the twoNigerians students was re-portedly relayed to the Em-bassy by the leader of Nigeri-an student association in thecity.

“The embassy immediately,informed he parents of the latestudents of the sad event, inline with procedure. The fa-ther of late Theresa Oresan-ya authorized that autopsyshould be carried out on theremains of her late daughterand that it should be conveyedto Nigeria for burial.

"The father of late Bede Ol-unna Ogbu indicated thatautopsy should not be carriedout on the remains of his son.He however requested thatthe corpse should be con-veyed to Nigeria for burial.The remains of late BedeOgbu was air- freighted to Ni-geria on December 29, 2013for burial.”

Health workers suspend planned warning strike

22 banks record N300.5bn profit in half year 2013 — CBN

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE &CHIOMA OBINNA

THE Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, has sus-

pended its five-day warningstrike planned for WednesdayJanuary 15, to Tuesday January21, 2014.

Disclosing the developmentyesterday in a telephone inter-view, Secretary General, JO-HESU, Comrade MarcusOmokhuale, said the decisionto stay action on the impend-ing strike was taken weekend,

following a meeting betweenthe unions and the Federalgovernment.

Omokhuale said: “Therehas been a response from gov-ernment so we are stayingaction on the warning strike.They asked us to put it (warn-ing strike) on hold in view ofthe outcome of the meetingwe held with them. All the is-sues at stake were articulat-ed and government hasasked for time to look into thedemands. There is a resolu-tion to that effect.”

Stressing that there was no

extension on the ultimatum,he stated that the JOHESUonly suspended the call forwarning strike so that govern-ment can honour its own sideof the agreement.

“Government has up tillWednesday or so to give us afeed back on how far they havebeen able to take action on ourdemands. Pending that feed-back, the warning strike hasbeen suspended and if gov-ernment is able to meet upwith its promises, there wouldbe no need to embark on anyaction.

BY PETER EGWUATU

THE Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, weekend, stated that the

banking industry recordedN300.5 billion unaudited profit forthe half year 2013, representinga 22.95 per cent increase over theN244.4 billion achieved in thesecond half of 2012.

This was contained in the sixmonth Financial Stability Report,FSR, ended June 2013 releasedby the apex bank.

The report stated that its inter-est income, which increased by13.47 per cent, largely accountedfor the higher profit level.

The industry liquidity ratiostood at 67.8 per cent comparedwith 68.0 per cent at end-Decem-ber 2012.

According to the CBN “Allbanks met the 30 per cent mini-mum regulatory liquidity ratiothroughout the review period.

During the review period, theCBN executed an Memorandumof Understandinmg, MoU, withthe Bank of Tanzania, and was in

discussions with the Central Bankof Sudan and the Swiss FinancialMarket Authority with the aim ofexecuting MoUs on supervisionand information sharing.

The CBN report further indicat-

ed that as at end-June 2013, ten10 banks had complied with therequirement for divestmentfrom non-banking activities, inline with the Regulation on theScope of Banking Activities and

Ancillary Matters. Six of thecompliant banks were issuedwith commercial banking licenc-es, while four were being con-sidered for the issuance of li-cences.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 — 9

I won't seek redress over my conviction— Bode George

BY DAPO AKINREFON

LAGOS — FORMERDeputy National

Chairman, South, of PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, ChiefOlabode George, has vowednot to seek legal redress overthe events that led to hisconviction by a Lagos HighCourt.

He also pledged to ensurethe restructuring of the PDP inSouth-West region just as heurged warring factions tosheathe their swords for peaceto reign.

George said this on arrivingthe country, weekend, throughthe Murtala MuhammedInternational Airport, afterholidaying abroad for twomonths.

The party chieftain, whorecently had the sentencepassed on him in respect ofcontract splitting by both theFederal High Court and theCourt of Appeal while he waschairman, Board of NigerianPorts Authority, NPA, reversedby the Supreme Court, wasreceived by party chieftains andloyalists as his plane toucheddown at around 6p.m. onSaturday.

Those on hand to receiveChief George, included thestate chairman of PDP, CaptainTunji Shelle; other state officersof the party, Senator Adeseye

Ogunlewe, Prince RemiAkitoye and Chief AdukeMaina, BoT member, amongothers.

George said: “I want to firstof all thank God the Almightyfor making today a special daybecause for five years, it hadbeen a dark cloud.

"I also want to thank God that

eventually, the truth has beenrevealed because it was not amatter of the judgement."

In its reaction, the LagosState chapter of PDP expressedexcitement over the return ofGeorge to the country after arelatively long stay in theUnited Kingdom, saying thereturn came after his acquittal

of by the Supreme Court.State Chairman of the party,

Captain Shelle, said in astatement that, “the return ofChief Bode George willfurther add impetus to ournow unstoppable movement towin the next governorshipelection.

Court re-assigns Otudeko vs Dangote land suitBY INNOCENT ANABA

LAGOS — THE ChiefJudge of the Federal High

Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta hasre-assigned the case by busi-nessman, Oba Otudeko againstAfrica’s richest man, AlikoDangote.

Both men are currentlyenmeshed in a legal battle over10.841 square meters of landwithin the Lagos PortsComplex known as the 5thApapa Wharf Extension.

The case was initially handledby Justice Ramat Mohammed,

but was transferred to JusticeOkechukwu Okeke, followingMohammed’s transfer out ofLagos.

However, Justice Auta has re-assigned the case to JusticeOkon Abang. The latestdevelopment was sequel toOkeke’s retirement from thebench of the court and the caseis to start de-novo (afresh)before Abang on January 21,2014.

While Otudeko, through hiscompany, Honeywell GroupLimited, is urging the court toadjudge him as the valid owner

of the land by virtue of a leaseagreement between hiscompany and the Nigerian PortsAuthority, NPA, Dangote isinsisting that the agreement wasneither turned into a deed norregistered in any Lands Registry.

Defendants in the suit are:NPA, Bureau of PublicEnterprises, PBE, DangoteIndustries Limited, AlikoDangote and GreenviewDevelopment Nigeria Limited.

Honeywell Group said in thesuit, that by an agreement, NPAleased the said land to it for fiveyears for the purpose of setting

up a bulk food handling facilityfor a consideration of N2.168million per annum, adding thatin keeping with the agreement,it paid the aforesaid amount andalso paid N290, 000 for thesurvey of the land.

It added that it took possessionof the land to the knowledge ofthe defendants and began therequired technical investigationsand expenditures necessary forthe setting up of the bulk foodhandling facility, which was tocost about $100 million.

But Dangote, in his statementof defence, argued that that thesuit was frivolous, vexatious andthat it constituted an abuse ofcourt process, adding that thesuit was aimed at truncating theapproved policy of theconcessionaire of seaports of theFederal Government and todeter the progress of works anddevelopment being carried outby Greenview Development onthe land.

He argued that no presidentialconsent was sought nor obtainedbefore the lease agreement wasgranted to Honeywell Group inrespect of the land, and that aspart of the privatisation andcommercialisation policy of theFederal Government, noticeswere given to the general publicin 2003 for the concessioning ofall the Nigeria seaports/complexes by the BPE.

Lagos Fire Service saves N165bnproperty in 1,537 emergencies

LAGOS — THE Director, La-gos State Fire Service, Mr.

Rasak Fadipe, said yesterday, theservice responded to 1,537 fireincidents out of the 2,015 emer-gency cases reported to it in 2013.

Fadipe said in Lagos that theservice saved about N165 billionworth of property in the process.

According to him, the emer-gency cases included those ofcollapsed buildings, accidents,people trapped in lifts and thosethat fell into pits and wells.

“We also had 372 false calls frommembers of the public during theperiod.

“We had 312 cases of fire; thehighest of such incidents was inJanuary 2013, followed by 194 inMarch and 193 in December,’’Fadipe said.

The director blamed most of thefire incidents to power surge,which he attributed to unprofes-sional technical works.

He said the agency had discov-ered that most residents engagedthe services of untrained personsin installing electrical applianceswhich were mostly sub-standard.

“Apart from sub-standard elec-trical products, over-loading ofappliances resulted in cases of fire

out-breaks.“When people carry out reno-

vation in buildings, they mustinclude all the electrical facilitiesin the renovation of such build-ings.

“People should always switchoff electrical appliances whenleaving their offices or when notin use at home.

Meanwhile, the director hasexpressed worries over recentincidents of fire caused by fuelladen tankers in the state, urg-ing the government to check thetrend.

‘Oandosupplies 130industrialcustomerselectricity inLagos’

Herbalpractitionerswant betterties withLagos

LAGOS — THE ChiefExecutive Officer,

CEO, Oando Gas andPower, Mr. BolajiOsunsanya, yesterday,said about 130 industrialcustomers had beenconnected to its gaspipeline grid for theirelectricity needs.

Osunsanya disclosed thisin an interview with theNews Agency of Nigeriain Lagos.

He also said thecompany had embarkedon the expansion of its gaspipeline in Lagos to ensuresteady supply of “clean,safe and environmentfriendly gas fuels.”

The target, he said, wasto keep the industriesrunning profitably.

The CEO disclosed that14 new customers wouldbe hooked to thecompany’s gas grid, oncethe expansion of the Ijorato Marina pipeline wascompleted.

“Illegal connection toelectricity can also causefire out-breaks. LagosIsland has the highestrecorded cases of firethrough illegal electricityinstallation. Such practiceshould be discouraged," hesaid.

THE Nigerian Unionof Herbal Medical

Practitioners, Lagos StateChapter, weekend, urgedGovernor BabatundeFashola to accord theirmembers better recognitionby providing them a landto build their hospital andmaternity centres.

The herbal practitioners attheir annual national con-ference accused the LagosState Herbal Medical Prac-titioners Board establishedby the Lagos State Govern-ment to regulate their prac-tice of not doing enough tofight their cause.

Speaking on behalf of theunion, the Iyalode-Generalof the Lagos State Chapter,Dr. Ogunpeju Ayoka la-mented a situation wherebythe state government wasnot doing enough to en-courage their practice astheir counterparts in otherparts of the country, par-ticularly in the Northernstates.

PRESENTATION: Mr. Charles Gerard, Corporate Affairs Officer, Vanguard Newspapers,presenting Vanguard newspapers to Mrs. Toyin Ayeni, PRO of SO-SAID charity home; DebbieIgbinoba (2nd right), Ngozi Isiekwena (2nd left), both of Vanguard's Advert Department, and others,during the presentation of gifts to SO-SAID charity home for vulnerable persons, at their permanentsite in Okota, to mark Vanguard Newspapers Advert Department end of year party, sponsored byJago and Gino (Sosaco Nig ltd), in Okota, Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014

ABEOKUTA — THEimmediate past governor

of Ogun State, Otunba GbengaDaniel has said he would soonevaluate the performance of hissuccessor, Governor IbikunleAmosun.

Daniel also disclosed that thelong feud between him and hisestranged friend, formergovernor of Lagos State AsiwajuBola Ahmed Tinubu has beenresolved.

The former governor who wasflanked by former minister ofsteel, Shaafa Ishola, formerCommissioner for Information,Sina Kawonmse, governorshipcandidate in 2011 under PeoplesParty of Nigeria, Gboyega Isiakastated these at his Asokuderoquarters, in Sagamu, onSaturday.

He said: “Generally, let me saythat we are not here to evaluatethe administration of GovernorIbikunle Amosun.

“On the contrary, if youremember accurately afterelection in April 2011, I declaredthat the election has been fought,won and lost and the people ofOgun State should provide

FUNERAL: From left, second son of the deceased, Engr. Ayodele Alabi; first son, ChiefOladele Alabi; daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Omolola Yusuf, and another daughter, Dr.Wuraola Akinrinlola, during the funeral church service for late Pa Titus Alabi, at St. Luke'sAnglican Church, Esun-Ekiti, Oke-Ayedun Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State. Photo:Shola Oyelese

Osun PDP, APC trade words over INECregistration

OSOGBO — OSUN StateChapter of the Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP,weekend, raised alarm over thealleged importation of about 50buses loaded with people by theAll Progressives Congress, APC,for the INEC registration in thestate.

But the ruling APC describedthe allegation as not onlyunfounded but most

irresponsible.The PDP Chairman in the state

Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa in astatement made available tonewsmen, in Osogbo, stated thatthe ruling party had allegedlyperfected its plan to rig theforthcoming governorshipelection in the state.

Alhaji Olaoluwa said: “It wasdisheartening to know that asitting governor can bringhimself down to the level offraud. What Aregbesola had

perpetrated during theAnambra elections is what heis trying to do during thegubernatorial election inOsun.”

The PDP chairman alsowarned the Federal MortgageBank not to grant the N10billion loan to Aregbesola asthey will be doing so at theirown risk.

Alhaji Olaoluwa challengedGovernor Aregbesola toexplain what he had done with

the several loans he hadallegedly obtained while callingon security operatives to be morevigilant as the APC was allegedlyplanning to import people to thestate to cause crisis.

The APC in its swift reactionby the Director of Research,Publicity and Strategy, Mr. KunleOyatomi challenged theopposition PDP to go a bitfurther and prove its “latest andmost irresponsible allegation.”

His words: ”The PDP indeedneeds help because its scatteredhome has impacted negativelyon its psyche.

“The PDP, from all that emanatefrom its Osogbo office these daysshows that it is a collection ofnot just irresponsible politicians,but a dishonourable outfitunworthy of participating incivilised political engagement.

“For 90 months, the PDPgovernment lacked the vision toturn the fortunes of our peoplearound, but now has theeffrontery to challenge thecurrent APC government whichhas impacted on the lives of thepeople in all areas in just 38months.

“The good people of Osunwho Gov Aregbesola is servingfaithfully are fully behind hisgovernment and they areprepared whenever INEC callsthe shot to finally nail the coffinof what is left of PDP in thestate.”

The APC called on the PDP inthe state to stop disgracing theYoruba nation by playingdegraded and uncivilised politicsthat even motor-park touts willnot contemplate.

I'll soon evaluate Amosun’s govt — Daniel

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

Says quarrel between him and Tinubu now resolved

support for the newadministration.

“ For me, that is how it shouldbe, maturity in democracy andyou have seen that I have not yetevaluated the administration weare all talking about.

“I think at the point when hewould have spent three yearswhich is barely in few months,we all will be able to bring thefigure black and white and the

evaluating will be properlydone.”

Speaking on his relationshipwith Tinubu, Daniel said: “Ithink there was never a timewhen the relationship went a-wire publicly. I think the thingsthat happened were in therealm of politics.

"We were competing underthe same banner and I foundit convenient and auspicious

that we should play nationalpolitics and so, I left to join PDP,probably the aftermath of thatgame is what you saw playedout.

“But beyond that, we hadalways been very good friends,our friendship dates backdecades, so if we both woke upone day and say enough of thisfight, are you not happy, that ishow it happened."

Akinjide wades into S-West PDP crisisBY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — FORMERMinister of Justice, Chief

Richard Akinjide, SAN, haswaded into the crises rocking thePeoples Democratic Party, PDP,in the South West.

At a stakeholders’ meeting in

Ibadan at the Idi Isin residenceof the legal icon, weekend,leaders and elders of the partyin Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti,Ondo and Lagos states pouredout their grievances beforeChief Akinjide and somepoliticians of the party whoconverged on the venue of the

meeting.Before the commencement of

what could be described as aclosed door meeting, ChiefAkinjide appealed to all feudingparties to "sheathe their swordsfor peace to reign in the partyand our country."

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

Terminalbenefits:Electricityworkersthreatenshowdown

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & MICHAEL

EBOH

E L E C T R I C I T YWORKERS have

declared a showdown withthe Federal Governmentover the issue of terminalbenefits of staff of thedefunct Power HoldingCompany of Nigeria,PHCN, promising toplunge the country intodarkness today, by shuttingdown all powerinstallations across thecountry and also hold amass protest.

This was in spite ofclaims by the FederalGovernment that theentitlements of about 94.79per cent of former staff ofPHCH have been paid,leaving about 4,538 staffwho are currently beingvalidated and will be paidonce the verification isconcluded.

Joe Ajaero, GeneralSecretary, National Unionof Electricity EmployeesNUEE, told Vanguard thatthe protest and shut-down,initially scheduled to holdTuesday, had to be broughtforward today, sinceTuesday has been declareda public holiday.

NUEE’s grievancesListing some of the

union’s grievances,Ajaero said: “All thecollective agreementsentered into by the Unionwith Government in thepower sector have all beenviolated.

"Over 10,000 workers inthe power sector have notbeen paid a dime as theirseverance entitlement.“Over 25,000 workershave not received theirpension components.

"Over 5,000 workers whoretired statutorily are yet tobe paid their gratuity. Thedeath benefits of over1,000 people who died inactive service are yet to bepaid to their families.”

He insisted that no staffof the defunct PHCN hasbeen fully paid theirterminal entitlements,saying Nigerians shouldask the government toinform the public wherethe money that had beenreleased for the paymentof the benefits was beingkept.

However, the FederalGovernment faultedNUEE’s claims that about25, 000 PHCN staff are yetto be paid, saying that only4.5 per cent of thepurported workforce,representing about 4,538staff are yet to be paid.

Seme Customs boss reads riot act to officersBY GODWIN ORITSE

IN A bid to ensure thatsmugglers are not given a

chance to ply their trade in andaround the Seme border post,the Customs Area Comptrollerof Seme Comptroller Willy

Egbudin has read the riot Actto officers at check points in thearea.

Speaking to men and officersduring an unscheduled visit toOwode Border Station andGbaji check-point, Egbudinsaid the visit would enable himto get a first hand view of the

operational environment of theofficers and to help them toeffective plan and improvedstrategies to prevent loss ofgovernment revenue andimprove on the surveillance andinterdi- ction capability of theofficers.


No automatic tickets for 2015 polls—EDO PDP CHAIR

BY GABRIELENOGHOLASE

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN

BENIN—AHEAD of the2015 general elections,

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,in Edo State, has called on as-pirants vying for elective posi-tions on its platform, to disre-gard rumours that the leader-ship of the party had given au-tomatic nominations or anoint-ed some persons as its candi-dates in the election.

The party promised to conductfree and fair primaries, just asit urged all aspirants vying forNational and state Houses ofAssembly seats, to put the in-terest of the party first beforeother considerations, insistingthat the days of automatic tick-ets for any candidate was over.

State Chairman of PDP, MrDan Orbih, who addressed ameeting of Edo State PDP lead-ers and stakeholders, weekend,from Edo Central senatorial dis-trict in Uromi, Esan CentralLocal Government Area of thestate, said that the party wasserious about winning the stateback and would not want any-thing that would jeopardise itschances of achieving its goal inthe forthcoming elections intothe National and State Assem-blies.

He said: “Edo State PDP will con-duct free and fair primaries to electcandidate that will represent us.It is true that our opponent is awarethat in Edo Central senatorial dis-trict, if we hold elections 100 times,we will win 100 times. But thenomination is generating problem

and I want to say that ChiefTony Anenih has no favouredcandidate and has not en-dorsed any body.

“Anybody willing to contestis free to come. There is noendorsement, no anointing orpreferred candidate. Those

who have interest should goto the field are free to expresstheir desire. Elected partychairmen, ward chairmen atboth the state and national lev-el should not be seen or heardcanvassing support for anyparty candidate.”

Akpabio not nursing presidentaial ambition—A-IBOM GOVT

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right), being received at DeltaState Government House, Asaba, by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

LCCI picks holes on 2014 budget proposal

AKWA Ibom StateGovernment, yes-

terday, decried what itcalled a conspiracyagainst GovernorGodswill Akpabio in theguise of a phantom pres-idential aspiration by thegovernor.

Secretary to the StateGovernment, Mr. UdomEmmanuel, in a state-ment, described the con-spiracy as an “invidiouscampaign of calumnyand blackmail” to portrayAkpabio as nursing apresidential or vice-presidential ambitionagainst his earlier prom-ise of seeking a Senateseat in 2015.

The campaign, whichEmmanuel said was be-ing orchestrated in theprint, electronic and so-cial media as well asthrough bulk SMS, was

BY PETER EGWUATU& NKIRUKANNOROM

THE Lagos Chamberof Commerce and

Industry, LCCI, weekend,criticised the Federal Gov-ernment‘s 2014 budgetproposal, saying, "thehigh and disproportionateshare of the recurrent ex-penditure is clearly notconsistent with urgentneed to fix the huge in-frastructure deficit in theeconomy."

The Chamber also ap-pealed to the NationalAssembly to give consid-eration to the foregoingsubmission and ensure aspeedy passage of theAppropriation bill, espe-cially in the light of thetime lost to the consider-ation of the Medium TermExpenditure Framework,MTEF, last year, adding,“Delayed passage ofbudget has the negativeimplication of worseningthe problem of uncertain-ty in the economy. Theconsideration of the budg-et should be in the over-all national interest anddevoid of all forms of par-tisanship.”

LCCI's President, Alhaji

aimed at misrepresent-ing Akpabio before rightthinking members of thesociety.

He called on PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, hiswife Dame Patience, theGovernors’ Forum, thePeoples Democratic Par-ty, PDP, and Nigerians ingeneral to “discounte-nance the evil conspira-cy and campaign offalsehood.

“For the avoidance ofdoubt, we wish to statein clear and unambigu-

ous terms that GovernorAkpabio is not interest-ed in, and is not nursingany presidential or vice-presidential ambition.This campaign of false-hood and blackmail byunscrupulous politi-cians, who have no re-spect for truth, under-pins a conspiracy to mis-represent Akpabio andoverheat the polity.”

He added that Akpabiohad said several timesthat he had no presiden-tial or vice-presidentialambition.

Remi Bello, in a statementsaid: “The recurrent ex-penditure proposal in thebudget is 76.3 per centwhile the capital expend-iture is 23.7 per cent. Thehigh and disproportionate

share of the recurrent ex-penditure is clearly notconsistent with urgentneed to fix the huge in-frastructure deficit in theeconomy.

"This imbalance in the

structure of the budgethas the following implica-tions for the economy:Low investment in infra-structure; weak competi-tiveness and productivityof enterprises in the econ-

omy as infrastructure re-mains weak and risk ofwasteful spending andcorruption as recurrent ex-penditures are generallymore susceptible.”

Why I'llcontinue todeploysoldiers onstreets—Uduaghan

BY AUSTINOGWUDA

A S A B A — D E LTAState governor, Dr.

Emmanuel Uduaghan,yesterday, at an inter-de-nominational thanksgiv-ing service to mark thisyear’s Armed Forces Re-membrance Day, calledfor a peaceful society,saying that no amount ofblackmail would deterhim from protecting thelives of Deltans.

He charged Deltans toensure the maintenanceof peace, urging themnot to encourage or hidecriminal elements intheir midst, but to aid se-curity agents in fishingthem out.

He said: “I will notshelve my responsibili-ties, but will do the workI had taken the oath ofoffice for. Using the se-curity forces, I will do mywork of providing secu-rity for all Deltans. Let usensure a peaceful socie-ty, so that we will notneed to send securitymen to communities, tokeep security on ourroads.”

He decried the black-mailing of security oper-atives deployed to keeppeace in Kokori.


BY EMMA ARUBI &GODWIN ORITSE

Ugborodo crisis: Gunmen abductAyiri’s 10-yr-old niece

WARRI – DESPITEthe Abuja peace ac-

cord brokered by Chief ofNaval Staff, Vice AdmiralDele Ezeoba, to ensure thereturn of peace to oil-richUgborodo community inWarri South-West LocalGovernment Area of DeltaState, a twist has been add-ed to the crisis with the ab-duction of 10-year-old Hi-lary Eyengho, by gunmen,yesterday.

Hilary is the niece ofChief Ayiri Emami, a nota-ble member of Ugborodocommunity.

She was said to be return-ing from a church servicein the company of five oth-ers in their car, when theywere accosted by the gun-men on Mission Road,where she was singled outand taken away.

Speaking to Vanguard onthe development, Chief

Emami expressed dis-may that this could stillhappen despite thepeace brokered be-tween the warring fac-tions, alleging that theopposing camp inOde-Ugborodo hascontinued to destroyhouses of key membersof his group.

He called on the se-curity agents to fishout the abductors ofhis niece and dealwith them according-ly. He alleged that theopposing camp de-stroyed the homes ofthe 87-year-old moth-er of a member of Ug-borodo CommunityTrust, Mr. IsaacBotosan and that ofone Mr. Tunu.

Elder brother to theabducted Hilary, Mr.Besidone Eyengho,told Vanguard that thematter had been re-ported at the Police “A”

Division, Headquarters,Warri.

Speaking on the devel-opment, another elderbrother to the victim, MrKiki Eyengho, said hewas actually the target ofthe kidnap, adding thatthe inability of the kid-nappers to get him led tohis sister being abducted.

Kiki, it was gathered, isa nephew to Chief Ema-mi, who apparently livedand grew up with him(Emami).

He told Vanguard thatthe kidnappers' plan wasto have him killed as a re-sult of his closeness toEmami.

Kiki, it was gathered, isalso a member of the com-munity.

It was also learnt thathouses belonging to per-sons allegedly loyal toChief Thomas Ereyetomi,were demolished in Arun-ton in Ugborodo, by yetto be identified persons.

....As Omadeli calls for reconciliation

BY AKPOKONAOMAFUAIRE

WARRI—THE Ug-borodo Peace Com-

mittee headed by Mr.Macauley Ovuzorie, Secre-tary to Delta State Govern-ment, has been urged toreconcile all Ugborodoelders and ensure that avalid constitution was putin place, if lasting peace isto be achieved in the com-munity.

Pa Sandys Omadeli-Uv-woh, former Chairman,Ugborodo ManagementCommittee, in Warri, Del-ta State, who gave thecharge, yesterday, alsocalled on Ugborodo sonsand daughters to see thereconciliation as a goldenopportunity to sink theirdifferences and put allhands on deck to build theUgborodo of their dream.

Omadeli-Uvwoh com-mended the Chief of Na-val Staff, Vice Admiral DeleEzeoba, for speaking thetruth and tongue lashingthe Ugborodo elders at astakeholders meeting inAbuja, for being partisan inthe conflict.

He said: “I am grateful tothe Chief of Navy Staff, forhis wisdom. He spoke thetruth because we elders arethe real problem of Ugboro-do. If we had united andnot been greedy and self-ish, there would have beenno conflict.

“On behalf of the shame-ful elders of Ugborodo, Ithank the state and Feder-

al Governments forgiving us this project.I want the committeeto start its work by firstreconciling all theelders, because we arethe trouble, we seeUgborodo as our re-tirement benefit. If theelders are united, thenthe young ones andthe women will be

united. There will be nofaction because theyouths are the foot sol-diers of the elders.

“I use this medium tocall on all Ugborodo sonsand daughters to grabthis reconciliation oppor-tunity to bring enduringpeace, so that we can de-velop Ugborodo of ourdream."


APGA sweeps Anambra LG election

UNN crisis: ASUU chairman, 2 otherssuspended

BY TONY EDIKE

Why Orji should lead Igbo into 2015—PDP STALWART

UMUAHIA—AS a result ofpoor leadership qualities

exhibited by past leaders in theSouth East region, a call has beenmade for Governor Theodore Orjiof Abia State, to lead Igbo into2015.

According to a PeoplesDemocratic Party stalwart andformer aide to the governor, Mr.Ben Onyechere, this becameexpedient as the politicalprogression of a people or group

ENUGU—THE crisis trailingthe removal of Dr. Emeka

Enejere as Chairman/Pro-Chancellor of University ofNigeria Nsukka, UNN,Governing Council took anotherdimension at the weekend as thebranch chairman of AcademicStaff Union of Universities,ASUU-UNN, Dr. Ifeanyi Abada

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—THE ruling AllProgressives Grand

Alliance, APGA, in AnambraState has made a clean sweepof the local governmentelection held in the state onSaturday.

The party won 20chairmanship and 304councillorship seats in the 20local government areas whereelections were held. Otherparties won 14 councillorshipseats.

Election did not take place inNnewi North LocalGovernment Area and the stateIndependent ElectoralCommission, ANSIEC, hasfixed Saturday this week forthe exercise to be conducted inthe area.

The APGA new helmsmen atthe local government areas areChukwuma Umeoji (Aguata ) whopolled 55810 votes, HilaryUdeano (Anambra East)28,747votes, Simon Onuorah (AnambraWest) 12,228, Ikeobi Ejiofor(Anaocha) 14,934, CosmosOkonkwo (Awka North) 15,381,Azubuike Ilo (Awka South) 28,292,Paul Obiorah (Ayamelum) 11,531,Chukwudi Okeke (Dunukofia)17,702, Jude Mbaegbu(Ekwusigo) 17,563, EmmanuelIdemobi (Idemili North) 17,600and Henry Ezenwa (Idemili

South) 37,117.Others are Chigozie

Awugosi (Ihiala) 27,441,Emeka Onuorah (Njikoka)10,772, Ossy Iyiegbu (NnewiSouth) 28184, Victor Aguluo(Ogbaru) 23,119, DouglasEgbuna (Onitsha North)9,246, Ann Chukwuneke,7070, Fredrick Emekwe(Orumba North) 13,719, Jonh

Udeakpe (Orumba South)8,186 and Charles Okafor(Oyi) 24,190.

Wards where the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, woncouncillorship seat areAguata (one), Anambra East(one), Idemili North (one),Idemili South (one), Ihiala(one), Njikoka (one), NnewiSouth (one), Onitsha North

(two), Onitsha South (two), andOrumba South (one).

PPA and UPP also won oneseat each in Onitsha North.

Acting chairman of ANSIEC,Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, whoannounced the results at thecommission’s headquarterscommended the people ofAnambra State for their peacefuldisposition during the election.

is squarely dependent on theirleadership which inadvertentlymust be selfless and acceptable.

In a statement in Umuahia,weekend, he said: “At thisjuncture, it has becomeunavoidable to tell ourselves thetruth such that we cancollectively advance the positionof lgbo in the scheme andcalculus of Nigerian politics.Governor Orji is not only an assetto Abia, but to lgbo in general.

“The time to apply sentiment

of civil war is over as eventshave completely over taken thatera with evidence for all to see.The acceptability of thegovernor by party leaders ofother ethnic groups goes a longway to prove that he ispositioned to galvanise Igbointerests in furtherance of our pushfor equity.

“His membership of the PDPcaucus is an eloquent testimonyof the veracity of his personalitywhich has added value in theattraction of federal presence to Abiaand Igboland in general.”

REMEMBRANCE: Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Abia State, Col. Sam Aboajah (rtd),Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, his wife, Mercy Orji, wife of the Speaker, LadyOkochukwu and Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Udeh Okochukwu, during anInter-Denominational Church Service by the state government to mark the 2014 ArmedForces Remembrance Day Celebration, at St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, Umuahia.

FG paysN361bn to43,375PHCNbona fidestaff

A B U J A — T H EF e d e r a l

Government has paidN361 billionentitlements to 43,375verified and validatedbonafide staff of PowerHolding Company ofNigeria, PHCN, as bothgratuity and pensioncomponent remitted totheir RetirementSavings Accounts, RSA.

The Bureau of PublicEnterprises, BPE, in astatement issuedyesterday by the Head,Public Communications,Mr. Chigbo Anichebe,said it remitted the saidamount to the Office ofthe Accountant-Generalof the Federation foronward payment to thePHCN staff.

He added that thecommittee chaired by thePermanent Secretary,Federal Ministry ofPower, was still workingtirelessly to validate theremaining 4.5 per cent ofthe work force.

“These are purportedstaff that the committeehas so far not been ableto obtain documents/information to validatetheir claims to being staffof PHCN. The union isvery much aware of this.Does the union wantgovernment to pay ghostworkers?

”As been pointed out onnumerous occasions, thechallenges being faced inresolving issues affectingthese outstanding 4.5 percent staff, include irregularstaff IDs, duplication instaff numbers and names,lack of or irregularRetirement SavingsAccount, RSA, pin andaccount numbers.

“In some cases, thebeneficiaries failed to signor thumb print their benefitstatements or insertedwrong passportphotographs. There werealso a few cases ofcorrupted biometric data orpictures.

“Some staff also failed tosupply the new NUBANaccount numbers. Allthese, the leadership oflabor are aware of, sincethey are members of thePresidential Committee onthe Resolution of PHCNLabour Issues,” theagency said.

BY FAVOURNNABUGWU

and two executive memberswere suspended for allegedlyworking against the interest oftheir members.

In a resolution reached afterits emergency congress atNsukka and signed by theActing Chairperson andSecretary of ASUU-UNN, Dr.Adibe Agbo and Jude Chukwurespectively, the union said Dr.Abada was suspended from the

executive committee for failingto take as priority the welfare ofmembers.

Suspended along with thechairman were Mr. TochukwuOmenma, Financial Secretaryand Mrs. Christy Obikeguna,Welfare Officer, while Dr. AdibeAgbo, Jude Chukwu, IfeomaNzekwe and Mr. Onah wereelected as acting chairperson,secretary, financial secretaryand welfare officer respectively.

ABUJA—THE NigerianCustoms Service, NCS, is

expected to approve promotionsin the category of deputycomptrollers general, DIG,assistant comptrollers general,ACG, comptrollers and othercadres this week.

Vanguard gathered that thecustoms authorities had submittednames of officers for promotion tothe ranks of DCG, ACG andcomptroller, which will beconsidered by the board in ameeting scheduled in Abuja.

All the zones except the SouthEast and South West, currentlyhave at least one DCG, whileNorth West has two. Thedistribution of DCGs and ACGsamong the six geopolitical zonesis as follows: DCG Makarfi, ACGMera, ACG Sulieman, ACGMohammed, and ACG Liman(North West). DCG Jatua, ACGMohammed, ACG Tahir, andACG Iya Umah are from NorthEast, while DCG Saka, ACG Aliu,and ACG Dan Ugo are from NorthCentral.

From the South West are: ACGAdewuyi, ACG Banke, and ACGDosumu, while DCG Atte, ACGGbemudu, ACG Wanikoro, andACG Iferi are from South South.The South East has ACG Nwosu,ACG Okafor and ACG Okoli.

It was gathered that in the listfor promotion submitted by thecustoms authorities to the board,

Customs board considers list for promotion to DIG

South East was also excludedfrom the DCG cadre, while SouthWest is tipped to get one DCG.Sources revealed that one of theDCGs from North West is billed

to retire in April.Competent sources said the

customs board had rejected therecommendation for promotionto DCG and ACG last year,when it was discovered that not

all zones got a fair share. Theboard, it was gathered, hadasked for another list,demanding balance, especiallyas all geo-political zones aresupposed to have at least oneDCG.

South East loses out

14-Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

Jang to CBN gov: You are not bigger thangovt

BY CALEB AYANSINA

2015: Jonathan ‘ll beat APC in the North,says Middle Belt group

ASUP plans protest rallies over alleged neglect

ABUJA—THE NationalAssociation of

Nigerian Students,NANS, weekend, called onthe Federal Ministry ofEducation and theNational UniversitiesCommission, NUC, towade into the crisis rockingAmbrose Alli University,Ekpoma, Edo State.

NANS also demandedthe removal of theembattled Acting ViceChancellor, ProfessorCordelia Agbebaku, overnon-qualification.

NANS in a statement byits Vice President, ExternalAffairs, Mr. PeculiarAsemota, expressed deepconcern over the trend ofevents in the university.

“This hitherto reveredcitadel of learning is beingrapidly plummeted downthe labyrinth of ignominyas favoritism and strongarm tactics now thriveabove merit,” it said.

According to NANS,academics and other alliedactivities at Ambrose AlliUniversity have not onlybeen stagnated, but is alsonow auto-piloted on areverse gear since May,2011 when Prof. Agbebakuwas appointed Acting ViceChancellor.

NANS explained: “At thetime of her appointment,Prof. Agbebaku was neithercompetent nor qualified toman the number one seatof AAU as she had notundergone the full process,rigours and discipline ofacademic development.

“Barring thecircumstances surroundingher appointment, despiteher non-qualification, itwas expected that sheshould leave office at theexpiration of six months, ifher appointment was notmade substantive, in linewith laid down rules.

“The zenith and pinnacleof academic research withthe confine of pupillageand supervision is theDoctor of PhilosophyDegree, which is necessityif an individual might befully grounded to copewith the dynamics anddiscipline of the academic.

“Whereas theprofessorial seat might beawarded for a plethora ofreasons that do not fit withthe prior assertion, in thecase of Prof. (Mrs.)Agbebaku’s leadership ofAAU, the cart has been putbefore the horse, littlewonder no progress isfeasible.

ABUJA—THE Middle BeltReconnaissance, MBR,

has said that President GoodluckJonathan would beat the AllProgressives Congress, APC,in the North to emerge a clearwinner in the 2015 presidentialpolls.

Speaking in an interview atthe weekend, coordinator of thegroup, Mr. Kuanum Terrence,said his group was alreadymobilising the minorities of theNorth to vote massively for thePresident.

According to him, the interestof the Middle Belt will be betterserved under PresidentJonathan’s administration.

ABUJA—ACADEMIC StaffUnion of Polytechnics, ASUP,

will this week embark on anationwide rally to protestgovernment’s lukewarm attitudeto polytechnic education in thecountry.

National President of ASUP, Mr.Chibuzor Asomugha, whodisclosed this yesterday, said therewould be a meeting of the Councilof National Officers within theweek in Abuja to decide when therally would kick off.

Mr. Asomugha said the rallywould take place in all the zonesand local chapters of the union forthe world to know howgovernment had completelyforgotten polytechnic education,alleging that children of those ingovernment were not in anypolytechnic in the country.

He said: “We will decide on therally, we will meet to decide. Nowwe are holding press conferences,we held one in Kaduna last week;this week, we will hold one inEnugu and next week in Zone B,Abuja, Nassarawa and Jos axis,then it will remain the South West.After that, we will decide when totell our local chapters to begin toembark on rally.”

ASUP had on April 17, 2013,embarked on strike to press homedemands on issues around poorfunding of polytechnic education

AAU crisis:NANS seeksFG’sintervention BY HENRY UMORU

A BUJA—FACTIONALchairman of Nigeria

Governors‘ Forum, NGF, andgovernor of Plateau State,Jonah Jang, yesterday told thegovernor of Central Bank ofNigeria, CBN, Mallam SanusiLamido Sanusi, that he was notin any way bigger than theFederal Government.

Consequently, Jang warnedthat the CBN governor mustmoderate his comments andutterances making the roundsthat President GoodluckJonathan had asked for hisresignation.

Jang, who noted that it hadbecome imperative for the apexbank governor to resign andgive way to someone that couldwork with President Jonathan,if he was no longer having agood working relationshipwith the President, consideringthe sensitive nature of his officeand the economy.

In a statement in Abuja by theNGF media office, signed byKassim Yakubu, Governor Jangsaid: “If the relationshipbetween the CBN governorand President Jonathan hasbecome frosty, it is only logicalthat the President becomesuncomfortable, knowing howsensitive the Central Bank is

Moderate your comments or resignto his transformationagenda.

“Moreover, we elected thePresident to run the countryand so we cannot be heldhostage by an appointee ofgovernment if it is true thatMr. President has asked forthe resignation of the CBNgovernor.”

According to Jang,Nigerians put their trust inPresident Jonathan to pilot theaffairs of the nation when theyvoted him in as President andshould, therefore, be allowedthe latitude to run hisgovernment withoutunnecessary distractions,especially from appointees who

serve at the pleasure of the FederalGovernment and the President.

He, however, called onNigerians to continue to watch outfor those usual beneficiaries ofconflict who would seek to makean issue out of this by bending thefacts to suite what he described astheir mischievous agenda.

and government’s disparitybetween polytechnics anduniversities.

However, after a meetingbetween the union andgovernment, the 13 pointsdemand of the union wasreduced to four, withgovernment assuring that thestriking lecturers’ demandswould be met within one week.

The re-assurance led to the re-

opening of the polytechnics onJuly 9, 2013.

ASUP boss accused theFederal Government of notshowing any interest inpolytechnic education, addingthat there was no sign thatgovernment was interested inimplementing the promisesmade to the union before thestrike was called off.

He added that government’scare-free attitude was a deliberateploy to deny polytechnic studentsof access to education.

He expressed surprise that thegovernment that had promised toimplement the promises made tothe union within one week beforethe strike was called off had turnedits back on the union seven monthsafter.

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJABUREAU CHIEF

He said: “There will be ashocker in 2015. We theminorities of this country havedecided that Jonathan mustcontest in 2015 because whathe is doing in the developmentof this country, it is only aminority that can do it. It is onlya minority that can feel the painof oppression that we haveborne over the years.

“Jonathan has given us hope,that a minority can rise tooccupy any position, even thehighest position in this country,the Presidency.

“Rising from a humblebackground to occupy thehighest seat in the countrygives minorities hope that theycan attain the highest position

in the land. He has given theminorities hope and we are goingto stand solidly behind Jonathanas Middle Belt Reconnaissanceand make sure that he wins asecond term.

“We are going to mobilise theminorities of this country to supporthim; to know that he is a minoritylike them and that their fate is tiedto his. Whatever affects him,affects them.

“We are going to go round tomobilise the people and tell themthat the challenge is not just forJonathan or Ijaw, Tiv, Tarok- allminorities must stand together todefeat those who believe that theymust oppress the minorities. “They must come out to supportthis democracy that PresidentJonathan has sustained.”

ZAKAT: From left: Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Babatunde Adepitan,Chairman, Advisory Board, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Alhaji Umar Abdul Mutallab,Sultan of Sokoto/special guest of honour, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, and Emirof Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, during the ninth Zakat distribution ceremony inLagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.


Residents pelt Gov Shettima as Modu Sheriff visits MaiduguriBY NDAHI MARAMA assembled at his UTC

campaign office to receive him,were chased away by securityoperatives.

However, despite efforts tostop him (Sheriff), the former

MAIDUGURI —GOVERNOR Kashim

Shettima of Borno State’sconvoy was, weekend, peltedwith stones, sachet water andsand following allegations thathe planned to humiliate hispolitical godfather andpredecessor, Ali Modu Sheriff,who was scheduled to visit thestate, yesterday.

Sheriff, who said he neverplanned to visit the state butfor the sudden death of theEmir of Shani, AlhajiMuhammadu Mailafiya, wasreceived at the Gombe airportby thousands of partysupporters from Maiduguriand environs.

He was led in a motorcade toShani Local Government Areaof the state for the condolencevisit.

Vanguard sources saidalleged plan to stop the formergovernor from enteringMaiduguri from Biu was foiledwhen it was learnt thatShettima reportedly mobilisedsecurity officials and CivilianJTF to force him back to Abuja.

This was just as Sheriff ’ssupporters in Maiduguri, who

governor stormed Maiduguriin a grand style as crowd,commissioners, members ofthe state House of Assembly,top politicians, as well asfederal legislators

accompanied him into thecity.

When Sheriff and hisentourage entredMaiduguri at about 3:30p.m., the residents

welcomed him with cheers asthey waved, chanting “theleader is back, the leader isback; we do not want KashimShettima’s style of leadership.”

Adamawa PDP warns against Tukur’s sackBY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA — ELDERS, Leadersand Stakeholders Forum,

Adamawa State Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, chapter hasmoved to save its own, the Na-tional Chairman of the party,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, pleadingwith President GoodluckJonathan not to sack him

It warned that anything to thecontrary would further escalatethe already lingering politicalquagmire in the party.

Condemning the vote of noconfidence passed on Tukur byother members of the NationalWorking Committee, NWC, theAdamawa State PDPstakeholders and elders, how-ever, stressed that the removalof Bamanga and the politics ofhis replacement would undoubt-edly open up other wounds inthe party that would be difficult

to address.A statement signed by former

Adamawa State governorshipaspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo onbehalf of the leaders andstakeholders, read: “As mem-bers of the Adamawa StatePDP’s Stakeholders andElders we condemn in verystrong terms the so-called voteof no confidence purportedlypassed on the National Chair-man of the PDP, AlhajiBamanga Tukur, by somemembers of the NWC of theparty.

“We also disagree with theirreasoning in calling on Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan todrop his support for the Na-tional Chairman.

“We recall with grave con-cern the same antic employedby the same members of theNWC, then led by PrinceOlagunsoye Oyinlola, to so-

called reverse the dissolutionof the Pro-Nyako-led KugamaEXCO in Adamawa State lastJanuary.

“We view the current act asanother attempt by the samereactionary forces that thentried to undermine the politi-cal standing of the NationalChairman and in the processalmost wrecked constitution-alism in our party affairs.

“The same forces are at itagain, trying to create need-less constitutional crisis forthe party in an election yearon the altar of self ego of theopponents of the NationalChairman. It is a well-knownprophetic saying that a housedivided against itself willsurely fall.

“We, therefore, plead withthe President to see the cur-rent action of the members ofthe NWC as an act principally

aimed at dividing the house andnot uniting it. They failed thenon Adamawa, they will fail nowtoo, on Nigeria.

“We further call on the presi-dent to also take account of thefact that the central oppositionto the PDP is coming from theso-called Hausa-Fulani coreNorth, to which Bamanga be-longs, many of whom are stillholding on to the PDP on ac-count of Bamanga’s leadership.

“The removal of Bamanga andthe politics of his replacement willundoubtedly unlock several chainsof events the final outcome ofwhich no one can fathom for theparty.

“Those who left the party did notdo so on account of Bamanga buton account of their own peculiarirreconcilable local politics in theirconstituencies. Bamanga becomesonly a convenient excuse forthem.”

CMYK

OPINION

16 Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014

BY JUMMAI CALEBS

*Ms. Calabs, a commentator on nationalissues, wrote from Yobe State.

Heady days for CBN governorHeady days for CBN governorHeady days for CBN governorHeady days for CBN governorHeady days for CBN governorTHESE are heady days for the

imperious traditional ruler of theNigerian financial system, SanusiLamido Sanusi, who for all intents andpurposes can best be described as theEmir, rather than governor, of theCentral Bank of Nigeria. The Kano-born prince, who has made it veryclear that his only ambition in life isto become the Emir of Kano, has beenconducting himself in the mostunprincely manner ever seen in aCBN governor. And being the kindof person he is, he will forever bragabout how he took on the President ofthe Federal Republic of Nigeria,rubbished him in public whilesupposedly serving as part of hisgovernment, and nothing happened!

How did things come to this sorrypass? As every Nigerian with accessto any media knows, Sanusi wrote aletter to the President insinuating theftof $49.8bn from the sale of the nation’scrude oil. A while later ‘His RoyalHighness’ admitted before the nationthat he had made a mistake in hisletter. Thereafter, the CBN governorwho likes and wants to be moreEuropean that citizens of Europe,failed to do what a typical public officeholder in Europe would do whenconfronted with such a grave failingat his duty post -resign from office.

The overly gentle PresidentGoodluck Jonathan—and everyNigerian knows that being too gentle

is one of the President’s faults—reportedly asked the CBN governorto turn in his resignation letter andperhaps proceed to wait in Kano toachieve his life’s ambition. It was thenthat ‘His Royal Highness’ beganquoting the Constitution (the sameConstitution he has repeatedlyviolated by refusing to present CBN’sbudget before the National Assembly),and talking of two-thirds of the Senate,and a spurious claim of threat to hislife. He even sent his media peopleto, in effect, gloat before Nigeriansthat, indeed, he is the 'Emir' of CBNand cannot be removed from office.

As his ‘powerless’ subjects,Nigerians that is can only be gratefulthat this CBN governor does not havethe same advantages of the Emir ofKano, whose throne he so sorelycovets. Unlike the very dignified Emirof Kano, this Emir of CBN has a five-year tenure that will soon come to anend. ‘His Royal Highness’ has beentelling whoever cares to listen that hedoes not want a second term at thehelm of the CBN. The moreimportant question is: Will anyNigerian, in his right senses, supporta second term of office for this divisive,unrestrained, and attention-seekinggovernor of CBN?

As a former director in thePresidency, Mr. Eric Teniola, wrote in

a recent public article, the personNigeria needs as CBN governorshould be “a cool-headed banker andan Economist who will not convert theoffice to a television studio.” This,undoubtedly, was a subtle but veryclear barb at ‘His Royal Highness’,the outgoing governor who indeedturned the office to a sitcom dramaand brought the high office intodisrepute during his tenure.

Besides the many allegations ofimmoral and gross misconduct

levelled against the outgoinggovernor of the CBN, ‘His RoyalHighness’ is on record as the mostprofligate CBN head the country hasever had. Minority Leader of theHouse of Representatives, Hon. FemiGbajabiamila (then representingLagos State under the ACN), oncedescribed the CBN under Sanusi as“spendthrift” and “bleeding theeconomy of the country.”

Hon. Gbajabiamila did not makethis comment without basis. As hisHouse of Representatives colleague,Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan (PDP/Yobe)said, “The moment I heard that theCBN governor, Sanusi LamidoSanusi, donated N100million tovictims of Boko Haram attacks inKano State, I quickly rushed to myconstitution to see if Yobe State was

no longer part of Nigeria. Thebombings happened in Yobe, beforeKano State. So, are we not part ofNigeria?”

Yet, in this divisive, insensitive, andindecorous manner, the outgoing Emirof CBN, hid under the corporatesocial responsibility of the institution,went around making moreunprecedented donations as if theCentral Bank of Nigeria had becomea relief agency.

In addition, Hon. Gbajabiamilaquoted section 42 of the 1999Constitution and other relevantstatutes in decrying Sanusi’s refusalto present CBN’s budget to theNational Assembly for approval. Hon.Gbajabiamila said, “Even the FederalGovernment brings its budget for usto approve; so if Sanusi says he doesnot need to do that according toSection 162 of the 1999 Constitution,then he thinks the CBN is above theFederal Government.”

It is indeed amusing that theoutgoing governor can today rely onthe Constitution he does not respectto retain him for a few more monthsin an office he has told the world heno longer wants. One would havethought ‘His Royal Highness’ wouldhave since left for Kano bag andbaggage, in order to plot hisemergence as the next Emir of Kano.

THE Joint Admission and MatriculationBoard, JAMB, has decided that candidatesin the 2014 Unified Tertiary MatriculationExaminations, UTME, would compulsorilyregister only one university, one polytechnic,one college of education and one innovativeenterprise institute. It is considered a solutionto challenges with admissions to higherinstitutions.Candidates formerly had a second preferred

institution. Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, JAMBregistrar explained, “From our experience,universities refuse to take students whomake them a second choice. Last year, vicechancellors of universities, rectors ofpolytechnics decided that students shouldonly pick one university, one polytechnic, onecollege of education and one innovativeenterprise institute when applying to writethe UTME. If they do not follow theseinstructions, they cannot apply.” Prof Ojerinde expects the move to solve the

admissions crisis. “We also hope that thiswill curb the admission crisis. Often, thereare spaces in tertiary institutions other thanuniversities, but everyone wants to go to theuniversity,” he said.What the JAMB registrar calls “admission

EvEvEvEvEverererererybody Wybody Wybody Wybody Wybody WantsantsantsantsantsUniversity PlaceUniversity PlaceUniversity PlaceUniversity PlaceUniversity Place

crisis” is not the fact that only one-third ofthose who applied for university admissionin 2013 got places. Extortion of candidatescauses the empty spaces in schools whileover applications, to some schools, is partof the crisis. The perceived difference in thequality of education different universitiesoffer informs candidates’ choices.Official discrimination against non-

university graduates is the biggest factor. Itstarts with the admission cut off points - 180and above for universities, 160-169 forpolytechnics, 150-159 for colleges ofeducation, and innovative enterpriseinstitutes. The impression is that candidatesfor institutions other than universities areinferior. The quality of facilities and teachingstaff in polytechnics, colleges of education

and innovation and enterprise institutesreflect the discrimination. Nigeria ratesteachers less intelligent than otherprofessionals. The low cut off point says so.Nigeria is already paying dearly for her

decisions. Fewer candidates are applying topolytechnics and colleges of education. Howwould we fill the gaps this would produce? According to UTME, in 2013, 1,670,833

candidates applied to universities, 28,977candidates to polytechnics, and 28,445 tocolleges of education for 520,000 places inover 128 federal, state and privateuniversities; 76 federal, state and privatepolytechnics; and 63 colleges of education.Polytechnics and colleges of education

candidates were 3.4 per cent of the applicationreceived. The 57,422 candidates for all thepolytechnics and colleges of education wereslightly higher than 52,608 applicants to theUniversity of Ibadan, which was the 10th mostpreferred university.Candidates’ choices reflect the premium

Nigeria places on university education. Theappropriate response should be policies thatwould establish the importance of eachsegment of education by its contributions tosociety.

CMYK


CMYK


RIVERS CRISIS: SenatorAbe shot, flown to London

Continues from page 5

ternal bleeding and highlevel haemorrhaging inhim. Another bad news isthat we also detectedthat the affected side isshowing severe swell-ing, which led me to theconclusion that he musthave been hit by a highcalibre weapon and myfears were confirmedwhen I was told that hewas shot with a rubberbullet”, he said.

Effort by the Save Riv-ers Movement to regroupat Rumuigbo Civic Cen-tre for the rally wasagain aborted by the Po-lice as Policemen cameand fired teargas to dis-perse the gathering. ThePolice later blocked thecivic centre part of theever busy Ikwerre Roadto traffic, a situation thatcaused gridlock on theother sections of the roadand the adjourning partof East West Road.

Senator Abe wasnot shot —Police

However, the PolicePublic Relations Officerin the state, DSP AhmadMuhammad, said it wasnot true that the Policeshot at Senator Abe withrubber bullets. Accordingto him, Senator Abe andthe Chief of Staff, MrOkocha “walked peace-fully” out of the venue ofthe proposed rally. Whileurging the press to givethe Police fair hearing onthe issue, he challengedmedia men to try to ac-cess Senator Abe to con-firm if he was shot.

The Police spokesmanconfirmed that the Policeused teargas to disperseyouths who were there,stressing that no bulletwas expended duringthe exercise. He also

said the Police had to dis-perse the gathering be-cause the organisers didnot apply for police ap-proval for the event.

“I want to state cat-egorically that the Policedid not fire any shot, nosingle ammunition wasused. We don’t shoot rub-ber bullets. We usedminimum force to dis-perse the gathering atCollege of Arts and Sci-ence, Rumuola. When Isay minimum force Imean smoke, teargas.

“Senator Abe alongwith the Chief of Staffwalked peacefully out ofthat place. I wonder whypeople now say that hewas shot at. I challengeyou Journalists, you havea social responsibility togo and see Senator Abeif they will allow you tosee him. You know theyare very good in tellinglies against the Police. Iwant to remind you thatthis gathering theyplanned to do today (yes-terday), there was no ap-plication for permit to thePolice neither was thereapproval. Based on thisreason we had to dis-perse them. You will re-call that we even pro-vided security for them inEleme because they ap-plied. When they gath-ered at the stadium weprovided security forthem because they ap-plied and the Commis-sioner of Police grantedapproval. You rememberChief Bisi Akande, Gen-eral Buhari, the gover-nor, etc, all of them wereat the programme at thestadium. Because theydid not apply for ap-proval for this pro-gramme that was why wedispersed the gather-ing,” he said.

Vanguard gatheredthat the Police moved

into the Arts and Sciencevenue of the rally onRumoula Road as earlyas 6am to start disman-tling canopies that hadbeen mounted for theevent. When they alleg-edly retreated, theyouths came back againto erect the canopies.Eye witnesses told Van-guard that the Policelater mobilised to thevenue this time heavilyarmed. They allegedlyfired teargas and rubberbullets to disperse thegathering.

Some members of thegroup who spoke to Van-guard under condition ofanonymity said they hadwanted to shift the rallywhich was originallyfixed for 12 noon toabout 9am, yesterday,before the Police abortedthe exercise.

Chairman of the SaveRivers Movement, AholuOkechukwu said the Po-lice lied when it said thegroup did not apply for

permit for the rally. Ac-cording to him, theywrote to the Police onJanuary 7 over the rally.

Wike’s convoydiverted

Meanwhile, at about10.20 am, the Policemounted barricades onthe two portions of theever-busy RumoulaRoad, diverting trafficheading to the two endsof the road to adjourningstreets. At about 10.28am, the SupervisingMinister of Education,Mr Nyesom Wike drovefrom Aba Road intoRumuola Road in a con-voy which included somesecurity vehicles. He didnot alight from the un-marked jeep conveyinghim. When his convoygot to the Police blockadeon the Oroazi end of theRumoula Road, it madea U-turn back to AbaRoad.

I didn’t disruptrally —Wike

Denying allegationsthat he asked the Policeto disrupt the rally, Wikein a telephone chat withVanguard said it hadbecome the tradition inthe state for his opponentto link him with any ac-tion of the Police. “So Iwas the one who told Po-lice to allow them to holdtheir rally at the stadium.I was also the one whoasked the Police to allowthem to hold their rallyat Eleme. Sometimes youpeople should not be ask-ing some questions”.

Reminded that his con-voy was on RumuolaRoad at about 10. 28 amyesterday, he said: “’ Yes.I was on my way toAhoada. I got to the roadbut the Police blocked it.I had to turn back. Didyou see me come downfrom my vehicle? Youmust have seen that I didnot come down from thevehicle.”

Reactions trail allegedattack on Abe

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, WAHAB ABDU-LAH, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH

ERUNKE

....Amaechi not Abe was thetarget –Rivers govt

LAGOS—THE politywas awash with ill-

feelings over the shootingof Senator Magnus Abe atthe Save Rivers Move-ment rally in Obio/AkporLocal Council of RiversState, yesterday.

Deploring the police dis-ruption of the rally andthe shooting of Abe, theRivers State Government,said Governor Amaechiand not Abe was the tar-get of the police.

Reacting to the incident,the All Progressives Con-gress (APC) urged Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathanto “urgently put an end tothe worsening reign ofimpunity in Rivers State,which is being carried outunder his watch by thosewho are obviously actingto impress him and theFirst Lady.”

The Chairman of theHouse of RepresentativesCommittee on Petroleum

(Downstream), DakukuPeterside, said the policein Rivers State had takenimpunity to new heightsand urged all men ofgoodwill must rise up todefend constitutionallyguaranteed right to free-dom of association andfreedom of movement.

However, the Senateyesterday, said it wouldnot comment on the inci-dent because the devel-opment had not got to it.

Senate spokesman,Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP,Abia South), told Van-guard in a telephone in-terview that since the al-leged action had notreached the upper legis-lative chamber, it wouldnot be proper to commenton the issue.

“As I am talking to younow, the Senate is notaware of what you aretalking about and so Ican’t make any pro-nouncement on the issuenow,” he said.

Ubani, Ogunadespeak

Two rights activists,Monday Ubani and WaleOgunade said the shoot-ing of Senator Abe por-tended a grave danger forNigeria’s polity, if suchdevelopments were notchecked.

Ubani who also is theChairman of the NigerianBar Association (NBA)Ikeja branch said: “Sena-tor Abe has been a strongsupporter of the state gov-ernor, Rotimi Amaechi, soI am not surprised aboutthat. But then it also in-troduces a more seriousdimension to this crisis inRivers State. Again, it alsobrings to mind the allega-tion that some peoplehave become targets andare placed on watchlist. Ihope these allegations arenot gradually becoming areality”

Ogunade, a Lagos-based lawyer and Presi-dent, Voters AwarenessInitiative (VAI), said “thepolice in Rivers Statehave been crying morethan the bereaved eversince the political crisisbegan in Rivers State.The way the police havebeen going about theiractivities in Rivers Stateshows that they are thePDP itself. They are cry-ing more than the be-reaved.”

Abe received bul-lets meant forAmaechi— RiversGovt

In a statement by theCommissioner for Infor-mation and Communica-tion, Mrs Ibim Semenitari,the Rivers State Govern-ment decried what ittermed as “another sense-less attack on innocent citi-zens in a continuous rapeof democracy by theJoseph Mbu-led RiversState police command,”

which she said GovernorAmaechi was the target.

Stating that “the unpro-voked shooting of Sena-tor Magnus Ngei Abe, iscause for worry and anindication of the lengththat the PDP is willing togo to silence opposingviews,” Ibim said: “TheRivers State Governmenthas it on good authoritythat Senator Abe took thebullet originally meant forGovernor ChibuikeAmaechi who was billedto be present at the event.This is disconcerting es-pecially in the light of re-cent revelations that thepresidency may be train-ing snipers ahead of the2015 elections and thatGovernor Amaechi is topon the list of those to beeliminated. In their bid todestroy, the Mbu led po-lice thought nothing ofharming innocent chil-dren. Five children are atpresent feared to be bat-tling for their lives as aresult of the impact fromthe tear gas fumes.

She continued: “TheRivers State Governmentwishes to request the Fed-eral Government and itsagencies to respect therules of democratic en-gagement in their mis-guided fight against thepeople of Rivers State andespecially save our nationfrom the unnecessarychaos into which federalagents like Mbu want toplunge it ahead of the2015 elections.

“The Rivers State Gov-ernment therefore reiter-ates its call for the re de-ployment of CP Mbu fromRivers State before heturns the state into agraveyard..."

Stop reign of impunityin Rivers – APC urgesJonathan

Also reacting, the APC,in a statement issued inLagos by its Interim Na-tional Publicity Secretary,Alhaji Lai Mohammed,said the call on Jonathanhad become even moreimperative, “following theirresponsible act of brig-andage by the police” atthe Save Rivers Move-ment (SRM) rally.

Berating the police fortheir conduct at the event,the party said: ‘’We under-stand that the exceptionalbrutal clampdown on theplanned rally by the po-lice, who seem to havenow surpassed even theirown act of brutalityagainst the people of thestate, was aimed at im-pressing the First Lady,believed to be due in PortHarcourt on the same day(Sunday),’’ it said.

The APC said there wasno way a Commissioner ofPolice in any state will beso bold as to be waging awar against an electedGovernor and his aides/supporters if he is not em-powered to do so byhigher authorities.

ABE—Senator Abe about to be taken to the airport by an ambulance.

CMYK


CMYK


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CMYK

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BY JOHNSON MOMODU

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator onnational issues, wrote fromLagos.

*Mr. Momodu, a pubic affairscommentator, wrote from Abuja.

ASUU: Looking intothe future

LET me make my position clear that I amnot a fan of President Goodluck

Jonathan because of my personal beef withhim. At the same time, my education andreligion do not require me to turn a blindeye when bare-faced lies are told againstany man because I am not his fan or I do notbelong to his party.

In blistering comments when he met withsome unelected and self-appointed, butrespectable elders a few days ago, the KanoState Governor and presidential hopeful,Rabiu Kwankwaso, of the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) took on Jonathan and torehim to shreds in the manner that smackedof the uncultured.

He said that Nigeria was drifting becausethe President lacked the competence andcourage to manage the affairs of the country.As is common with him whenever he holdsmeetings behind closed doors, the self-confessed traitor in the Northern Governors’Forum disclosed that though Jonathan hadreceived advice from leaders from withinand outside the country on how to putNigeria on the right track, he had refused tofollow them.

The advice came from people like formerUS Secretary of States, Hilary Clinton, andI suspect national leaders like OlusegunObasanjo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and, evenmaybe, General Muhammadu Buhari, butthe lily-livered and cowardly Jonathan, whohas no courage, listened to these qualitypersons and ignored them. So much for aman who has no courage!

If you doubted that Kwankwaso was not aman who betrayed people as he did toJonah Jang of Plateau State, see the mannerhe divulged details of a meeting he had with

Kwankwaso is right onJonathan, but...

Jonathan and other northern governors. Thewords from his leaky lips: “When we metwith the President, as Northern Governors,he told us that the former US Secretary ofState, Hilary Clinton, told him that asPresident he has to look at the issue of theNorth very critically. She noted that therewas an imbalance in terms of patronage,appointments and sharing of resources.

“He assured that he was looking at thosecomments and that was why he was delayingappointments into boards and so on. Sincethat meeting, we have not seen anything orchanges. So, it is my conclusion that thePresident lacks the capacity and courage todo the right thing.”

Hmmn. I doubt if a man who lackscapacity would have sat atop Nigeria aslong as Jonathan has done, even when allpolitical generals of note and theircounterparts in civilian clothing have doneeverything, including promising to makeNigeria ungovernable, to undermine hisgovernment. It is either he has capacity orsomebody with capacity is watching overhim and Nigeria.

Isn’t it again wrong in the faith ofKwankwaso to make the denigratingremarks he made about the leader of hispeople? Or, if I may ask, when all thesepolitical clowns finish rubbishing thepresidency they desperately crave for, whatwould they have when they get into office?

I remember once when the late sage,Obafemi Awolowo, was said to have beeninvited by former President Shehu Shagari,some of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)hotheads advised him not to go; but he toldthem he was going, not because Shagariasked him to come, but because the Presidentand Commander-in-Chief wanted to seehim. I think some of our ill-advised hotheads

today need to learn from that and notdenigrate an office they are jostling for.

According to media reports, the governorclaimed that the federal budget is heavilytilted in favour of one section of the country,pointing out that a situation where onesection of the country is suffering fromilliteracy, underdevelopment and miserywhile the other section has more thanenough is not good for national unity.

Is that so? So the President created theproblem of loafing youths all over the north,not the northern leaders who were in powerat the centre for most of our years as anation? Not the clueless leaders of Kano,including him who will be spending eightyears in power by 2015? Not his predecessorand sworn political foe who spent eightyears and both were unable to deal with themenace of joblessness in Kano?

But I must be fair to Kwankwaso to statethat he has, with some of his recent

initiatives in training the youths and evensending some abroad, begun a process thatmay turn the state around, if continued byhis successors; but I think he is myopic inputting the blame of Arewa at the doorstepof an Ijaw man. We know our problems andwe don’t have to lie about them in the nameof the politics of 2015.

What annoyed me most about thegovernor’s comments are the followingwords: “We have had enough crises in this

country and it is not right to plant seeds forcrisis in the future. Look at the North Eastthat was allocated N2 billion in the currentbudget. N2 billion is what Mr. Presidentallocated to non-APC states for supportinghim, while N111 billion was allocated tothe South East and South-South. This is notclose to fairness.”

With all due respect, the governor lied withstatistics like his kith, the politicians. Tostart with, how much has been spent on theAlmajiri programme in the North-east, andindeed the whole north? Was a similaramount spent to cater for those from theChristian north? Also, I read an interviewin the Daily Trust granted by Jatau, theChristian leader, and it was painful to hearthat no compensation has been paid for theschools taken over from them. On theAlmajiri programme, I’d like to know whatcommensurate programme is on going inthe South, or the Christian north for thatmatter.

Secondly, the hundreds of billions beingspent on insurgency or those budgeted forinsurgency this year, are they part of this N2billion calculated by the governor ’smathematicians or accountants? Beyondthe money, what about the lives of soldiersthat have been lost or may be lost? Howdoes Kwankwaso plan to calculate that inmonetary terms?

But Jonathan and the federal governmentapart, what exactly are the northerngovernors and local government chairmendoing with the huge sums they take monthlyfrom Abuja? Is governance all about doingnon-creative things like building roads,bridges, schools and other things that areby-products of sitting in office?

For me to agree with GovernorKwankwaso and to believe that he is rightconcerning Jonathan, he should do morethan he has done this time and not cut apicture of a man who enjoys sharingconfidences in the open.

For me to agree withGovernor Kwankwasoand to believe that he isright concerningJonathan, he should domore than he has donethis time

ASUU has resumed duties, aftersix good months of lost mann

hours, in productivity and othercollateral damages, in the form ofaccidents and deaths. The lossescannot be quantified, for example;counterparts of final year students,in the private universities, aremonths into their National YouthService programme.

Now that the strike is over, let usexamine this ASUU - governmentrelationship dispassionately, andin the process offer solutions, that,we hope, will help prevent futurere-occurrence, that is; if heeded byall parties concerned.

The standard industrialrelations structure comprises ofthree bodies; The government, Theemployer and The employee.Ideally, where(when) there is adispute between the employer andemployee, the government servesas the mediator but in cases, wheregovernment is the employer, likewe have in ASUU, arbitrationbodies are set up, and if these failto work, the matter is referred tothe industrial courts. Throughoutthe five months period of strike, wedid not hear that any of theseprocesses were activated. If, thiswas the case, it means thatsomething is wrong with the wayour system works.

Labour and Employerrelationship is not all aboutfighting. In fact, the fewer thefights, the more productive theworkers. It is important that, all

parties realize the essence of atrouble free work calendar.

There is supposed to be anunderstanding of the facts onground, as it affects the ability ofthe business to function, both onthe side of the employer andemployee. Under such conditions,it is the obligation of the employerto explain the challenges facing thebusiness and how it affects theinterest of the workers. Therefore,there must be effectivecommunication between theemployer and the representativesof the workers.

Clearly, this was missing in therelationship between governmentofficials and ASUU. ASUU as abody, has intellectuals in itsmembership, convincing them tounderstand government's inabilityto fulfil its obligations should notbe a problem. Why was it difficultfor government to lure ASUU toits side? My take on this, is that,there was no openness or sincerityof purpose on the part ofgovernment. If ASUU isconvinced- with clear proofs - thatgovernment, from generatedincomes, cannot meet itsobligations, they would not havegone the extent they did, in callingfor a strike action.

However, when government isengaged in open profligacy,channelling funds, that are meantfor educational development, tofrivolous projects, they are boundto face resistance. ASUU membershave seen the colossus called,corruption and how it has takenover the country - pension funds,

petrol subsidy, NCAA, oil thieveset al. They also know that if thesewastes are halted, there will beenough fund to tackle thechallenges of university education.If this is the situation, thegovernment, should havenegotiated with ASUU on the basisof their determination to tacklecorruption, with clear action plansoutlined and convincing enough tomake the ASUU sheath its sword.Henceforth, government must bemore forthcoming on the state ofthe economy and how income isallocated and managed. All formsof secrecy, that is associated withgovernment's management mustbe discarded. If you come open toASUU, the association will beopen to government. If both partiesare truly convinced aboutgovernment's inability to perform,it will be fool hardy to engage instrike actions. I repeat,government must be open andsincere.

We have all been shoutingabout true federalism and

the need to devolve power from the

federal to the states; I find it verydifficult to understand, why stateuniversities should be dragged intoa matter that is purely federal.What is the relationship betweenstate universities and the federalgovernment's inability to perform?It is not the responsibility of thefederal government to run stateuniversities. If state universitiesfulfilled their own part of thebargain, why not allow them runtheir programmes, like the privateuniversities. I do not think, it isright, just as; it is not right for thefederal government to fixremuneration for state employees.State governments, must begin tothink of ways, to make theiruniversities, truly independent.ASUU must not force states, tonegotiate under the federalgovernment conditions. In fact, thesilence of the state governors,throughout the period of the strike,was disappointing. They saw it asthe federal government's burden,even opposition groups used it asa weapon against the federalgovernment. We should know whento draw the line between politicsand good governance.

ASUU on its part, has to showcommitment. It must add value tothe system. What has been itscontribution to the enthronementof good governance? It is not onlywhen matters affecting its welfarecrops up, that it goes on strike. Theassociation is made up ofintellectuals, the beacon of hopeto the masses, they should lead theway to a progressive society. Theyshould be in the fore front to checkthe excesses of politicians, surely,the people need leadership in thisdirection.

ASUU must also begin to lettheir curricula reflect the needs ofthe Nigerian society. That is howit is done in developed societies.

They must research and come upwith solutions to the multitudes ofproblems besetting this nation.Curricula, that will make thestudents come out of the universityand hit the ground running. Thereshould be no lip service, a lecturermust be assessed solely on hiscontribution to researchdevelopment, in his field of study.

These researches must alsofactor in, roles to be played byprivate businesses andgovernments. I believe, if theuniversities come up with viableresearch programmes, findingsupport and back ups will not be aproblem.

It is important also, foruniversities to begin to think ofways of generating revenueinternally. They could formconsortium of consultants, presentproposals and bid for jobs like theircolleagues outside. As it ispresently, it is not possible forgovernment to satisfactorily meetthe demands of our universities,those that cannot adjust to thepresent reality will surely lagbehind. It is important that ouruniversities brace up to thesechallenges. In recent times,universities abroad teach studentshow to run their own business andeven encourage them to start fromschool. In an MBA class atWharton School, America, 75percent of the students areentrepreneurs and self employed,adding real value to theirenvironment. That should be ourdirection.

All parties - government, ASUU- must know their responsibilitieshenceforth, and not give room toavoidable strikes.

ASUU must alsobegin to let theircurricula reflectthe needs of theNigerian society.That is how it isdone indevelopedsocieties


WHAT is your reaction tothe decision of former

President Olusegun Obasanjoto withdraw from the activitiesof the PDP because of ChiefBuruji Kashamu?

I do not want to get into thatkind of discussion because it willbe a whole night of another letter.When you go to the market placeto discuss your family matter,then you are gone. This is a PDPproblem, we will discuss it in thePDP enclave, it is not meant forpublic consumption.

We will do the analysis andfind out where we went wrong,what happened, how ithappened and how we canprevent it from happening in thefuture. That is the way I wastrained. But if it was against theopposition, I will say it in theopen.

This is a family issue that mustbe discussed at the familymeeting because these areserious issues that must bediscussed in-house, so that wecan correct the anomaly.

Correcting theanomally

So, I do not want to get into thequagmire of saying who is rightor wrong. My grandmother usedto tell us if you go to the marketplace to criticise your parents,then you will have to rethinkwhether to return to that houseor not. So, for me, it is an issuefor the PDP family.

There is not doubt that thereis crisis in the PDP within theSouth-West but where do youwant to start from consideringthe fact that you have been awayfor sometime?

When you have been part of asystem, no matter how long youhave been out you will know howto handle situations when youcome back. We need to sit downand X-ray all the problems.

For me, having been part ofthose who built the party, allthese things happening havehappened before. There isnothing new under the sun butwe must be fair and honest toourselves. At the meeting, we willlock the door and tell ourselvesthe truth.

On the issue of what we are

•George: Nigerians not ready for APC's experimentation

going to do, we suggested thatthere should be a caretakercommittee to reconcile all thewarring factions in the South-West before heading to the zonalcongress. Let all the warringfactions calm down because Iknow all that happened buteverybody is important.

My mission now is to beg allthe aggrieved members. TheYoruba are politicallyknowledgeable people and verysophisticated politically. If you goand explain to them, they willunderstand because they knowwho is lying to them. It is possiblefor us to chart our course.

We know there are no zonalexecutives for the PDP in theSouth-West, we will resolve that.With all the silly mistakes thathave been made in the party,how can there be peace? I amhappy the president is now at thesteering wheel, we will meet andwe will tell ourselves real family

issues. We are not going toapportion blames but we will statecategorically what needs to becorrected.

On the five PDP governorswho defected to the APC

I have spoken to some of thegovernors who were so angryand left. I cracked a joke to themthat you are a landlord here;suddenly, you were so angry thatbecause some rats have infestedyour house, you decided to goand become a tenant somewhereelse. Now, when the landlordneeds his house, what wouldyou, tenant, do? We will bestupid to say we do not have crisisin the PDP.

I also want to beg the aggrievedgovernors; they must know thattwo wrongs do not make a right.They were initially correct aboutthe dissolution in their states butthey were wrong in jumpingship. We are all humans but wewill talk.

On APC’s perceived threat toPDP in 2015 polls

I have said it before thatGeneral Buhari and Bola Tinubuare like day and night, they cannever meet. This

No human being is like God,to err is human, but to forgive isdivine. We (PDP) must sit downas a party and ensure that wehead in the right direction andforget about whistling in thedark.

How do you see the SupremeCourt’s verdict which set asidethe lower courts’ ruling againstyou in the Nigeria PortsAuthority (NPA) allegedcorruption saga?

I want to first of all thank theGod Almighty for making thatday a special day because for fiveyears, it was a dark cloud. I alsowant to thank God thateventually, the truth has beenrevealed because it was not amatter of the judgment, whichwas very well written andcaptured. One thing thejudgment did to me was that itgladdened my mind andreinvigorated my commitment tothis country that there is hope forthis country and that there arestill people in this country whocannot be bought.

If you recall, most of the timesthat I said we did not commit anycrime, but it was a convolutedconspiracy. Can you blame theopposition for capitalising on it?People within the PDP familywere part and parcel of theconspiracy. The enemies withinare worse than the enemies from

experimentation the APC Armywants to start, we started it in1998. You can still see the frictionwithin the PDP. If you thinkNigerians are ready forexperimentation, it is false, it willnot be possible.

The APC leaders have not evenallocated offices to themselvesand that is where the crisis willstart. Do you think Nigeria isready for that?

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PDP: Obasanjo’s withdrawal isa family affair — Bode George

Continues on page 47

CHIEF Olabode George, a former national vice chairman (South) of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was recentlyabsolved of graft conviction by the Supreme Court which set aside a Lagos High Court ruling. In this interview, Georgesaid former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s decision to temporarily withdraw his activities from the PDP at all levelsremains a PDP affair. While picking holes in the decision five governors of the PDP to defect to the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) and begged them to return, he said the APC would not constitute a threat to the PDP in 2015. Heexpressed satisfaction with the apex court’s verdict and said he does not begrudge any one involved in the conspiracyagainst him. Excerpts:

BY DAPO AKINREFON

This is a family issue that must bediscussed at the family meetingbecause these are serious issues thatmust be discussed in-house, so that wecan correct the anomaly

outside because how could ithave happened? First, there wasno law existing, a federal agencywent to Lagos State, they knowthe political opposition to us, butthey were part of the conspiracy.It is a lesson.

That has come and gone butnothing happens without theknowledge of the Almighty God

•Begs G5 govs to return to PDP•2015: Nigerians not ready to experiment with APC


2015: Nigerians not ready to experiment with APC

Continues from page 46and it was that faith that kept methrough. I was given a cup ofvinegar to drink while in prisonbut God turned it into a cup ofhoney and so, who am I tocomplain? It is now historical butthere will be a day of reckoning.What can I say but to thank GodAlmighty?

I almost lost hope thinking thatthe whole judiciary was rottenand corrupt but I am stillconvinced that there are good

cannot take revenge becausevengeance is for God.

Do you intend to sue anyone?People have been telling me to

sue but I leave all to God. Evenwithin the PDP, they directedsome of our party members totake me to court asking that myname should be struck out as amember of the Board of Trustees.

Who directed them from theparty secretariat? It was thenational chairman.

Where were they when I built

IT was alleged that thepresident skipped from

physically presenting the 2014budget because of threats ofheckling in the House ofRepresentatives. Was it so?

Well, there is no substance tothat. Nobody has spoken to anymember of the House ofRepresentatives who admitted ofany such plan to embarrass thepresident. So, I won•ft buy intothat.

What is your perception of theletter by former PresidentObasanjo to PresidentJonathan?

Well, I see that letter in badtaste. Absolutely in bad taste. Idon't think we should govern thiscountry on the pages ofnewspapers. As a former a headof state, I don't think it was properfor him to have written that letter.

Moralplatform

More so, I don't think that hehas a moral platform to stand inwriting that letter, consideringhis own antecedent. Trulyspeaking, I think he should havefound another avenue to conveyhis feelings to Mr President. It isnot Mr Jonathan that is there, butthe institution which is thePresidency. It is wrong todisrespect it. He (Obasanjo) wasthere and God knows how manyyears. Nobody could have writtenhim that kind of letter. Nobodywould have done that and gotaway free.

With this development now,how would you expect the sittingpresident to respond to theletter?

Obasanjo's letter in bad taste— Sen UgbesiaSENATOR Odion Ugbesia , who represents Edo Central in the Senate is theonly Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senator from his state. In this interview, hetalks on current national issues among which are the face-off between formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan and issuesconcerning the 2014 budget and his own political future. Excerpts:

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAK-WURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

•Ugbesia: Obasanjo's letter in bad taste

people in the judiciary who stillhave integrity. Once there is nojustice, there will never be peace.

Like I said, I have no malice, Ihave no hatred towards anyonebut the story must be told so thatthe younger ones coming mustbe able to learn that if you liveon the path of perfidy, you arenot going to last long, there willbe a day of judgment. So, myreaction is that I have left thatbehind me because it was a rareprivilege to have gone to theuniversity of life. I am back. I

the party in the South-West? Ifyou look at those whoperpetuated it and sold it to theenemy camp, none of them todayis in any position of responsibility. I do not believe that NuhuRibadu was part of the conspiracybecause he absolved himselffrom their conspiracy. I willcontinue to talk about it to educatethe younger ones but someday,what goes around, comesaround. So, I do not intend totake any legal action againstanyone.

,I don't think we should govern this

country on the pages of newspapers, as aformer a head of state, I don't think it wasproper for him to have written that letter

,

I wish he could ignore him, justcompletely ignore him becausethey said silence is golden.

But most Nigerians wantPresident Jonathan to respondto issues raised by the formerpresident in the letter•

(cuts in) He has written suchletters to almost all the heads ofstates and presidents in the pastand considering what he himselfdid while in the same office, mostof us are questioning his moraljustification in his latest letter.What is it that he is accusing thesitting president of doing that hedid not do? Like I said, I wishPresident Goodluck Jonathancould ignore him. That is the

truth of the matter.Given the increasing tension

in the country, do you fear thatthe prediction from Americathat Nigeria would collapse in2015 could come true?

No. I believe Obasanjo reallyhas his personal motive in doingwhat he did. I don't think it hasanything to do with the predictionby the Americans that the countrywould disintegrate in 2015. ButI will say that the presidentshould consider the letter as awakeup call, if anything. Thepresident has to be more carefulin dealing with people likeObasanjo.

What do you mean by wakeup

motives around him.Who ever thought thatObasanjo could do athing like that? Nobodythought that he wouldone day accuse thepresident of those thingshe mentioned in theletter! Take the issue ofcorruption in the oilindustry becauseObasanjo was thepresident and ministerof petroleum for a longtime but now the countryhas a serving minister inthe petroleum industryunlike duringObasanjo•fs time.

What is your reactionto the call by the AllP r o g r e s s i v e sCongress, APC, to theNational Assembly toimpeach PresidentGoodluck Jonathan foralleged grossmisconduct?

I think it was areckless statement.Whoever made thatstatement, I think it was

reckless. The constitution is veryclear on what impeachableoffences are. Allegation ofmisconduct by somebody or by a

former president is not enoughto waste the NationalAssembly•fs time. We have tohave concrete evidence in ourhands that the president hasbreached this or that part of theconstitution to warrantimpeachment but nothing so far

has been found. Nothingimpeachable has been found sofar. So, I think it was a recklessstatement by whoever made thatcall.

I will say that as politicalleaders, we should all exerciserestraint, calling for theimpeachment of the president,writing letters to Mr. Presidentis not the demonstration ofpolitical maturity at all.

Everything he (Obasanjo) hasbeen doing amount to politicalrecklessness, and that is not goodfor this country at all. This countryneeds a level of maturity in ourconduct in our general behaviorbecause if this country falls apart,it is not just Jonathan that willsuffer but all of us that will suffer.

If we don•ft want Jonathan torun in 2015, all we need do is torun against him if he runs. It ishis inalienable right as enshrinedin our constitution to seek re-election if he so desires.

What issues in the polity doyou think pose the greatestthreat to the stability of thecountry?

What is happening now, ifallowed to continue, willheighten the anxiety about 2015,there is no doubt about that. Butagain, we must tread cautiouslyin approaching 2015.

Elections, campaigns andeverything can be conducted inthe most peaceful manner if wethe political leaders exercise somerestrains in our conducts and inour utterances.

Given your interest in the past,would you be participating in thenext governorship election inEdo State?

Unfortunately, thegovernorship election in EdoState is not in the same year withthe Senate election. 2015 is for

Senate and the governorshipelection in Edo State is around2017 or so. So that for now is adistant contemplation, 2015 isthe bird at hand.

On epileptic budgetaryprovisions for projects toconstituents?

This year they (ministers) willput something, next year theywill not put something, that iswhere I have problems withsome ministers, because theydon•ft know where the shoepinches. They don•ft probablyknow where this place is in themap of Nigeria.

That is why I said and I willcontinue to say it without apology,that some of these ministers haveno business being ministers in apolitical situation because theydo not know what it is torepresent a people. They werenot voted for and I am sure manyof them did not vote at any timein this country, they don't evenhave voters•f cards because theywere picked.

call?Well, that the president should

begin to see from the letter thatthere are people with sinister


CHIEF Bode George, thepreeminent leader of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP inthe Southwest was careful to playdown the latest eruption in theparty on his return to the countryon Saturday night. “It is aninternal affair of the party,”George said as he was accostedby journalists, weekend.

Just before he touched downafter a two month holiday abroad,it emerged that former PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo had writtena letter to the national chairmanof the party, Alhaji BamangaTukur to withdraw himself fromthe activities of the party on thebasis of his unwillingness toassociate with Chief KashumuBuruji who he alleged to be asuspect running away fromjustice in the United States ofAmerica.

“Since I stick in my practice ofparty politics to the hallowed andcherished principles enunciatedabove, I take this opportunity tolet you know that while Icontinue to remain a card-carrying member of PDP, I cannotand I will not subscribe to awanted habitual criminal beinginstalled as my zonal leader inthe party; a criminal for whomextradition has been requestedby the US government,”Obasanjo said in the letter toTukur dated, Tuesday, January 7,2014.

PRINCE Kashamu Buruji yesterday explained that the

attacks on him by formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjowere because of his unflinchingsupport for President GoodluckJonathan adding that Obasanjo’sletters were spreading hispopularity beyond measure.

Buruji who spoke during amedia interaction following anOgun State PDP stakeholders’meeting in his Ijebu Igbo countryhome vowed not to ever recanthis support for Dr. Jonathan.

“Jonathan is a good president,he is loyal to Nigeria, he’s acomplete gentleman, transparentand a believer in due process.We are ready to go the extra milein delivering the South West forhim,” he said.

“You ought to know the strategyof Obasanjo, that Obasanjowanted to hijack me fromJonathan, that if I don’t supportJonathan in South West, theSouth West would be easier forthem. How many times has hecalled me? How many timesObasanjo has sent people to methat why am I so stubborn? Manythat he had sent, I did not answerthem because I am not a betrayer.

“When I love somebody andbelieve in the leadership ofsomebody, whatever happens Iaccept that I will go with theperson. I believe in theleadership of Jonathan, I believein the government of Jonathanand in his transformation agendaand I believe in his wise

“It’s only Jonathan that canopen his mouth and say don’tsupport me again. What I’mdoing is for the party, forJonathan and the country.Jonathan is a good president, heis loyal to Nigeria, he’s acomplete gentleman, transparentand a believer in due process.We are ready to go the extra milein delivering the South West tohim. You know when it comes tomobilizing the people, I’m agrassroots person. I’ve alreadyopened offices all over the SouthWest.

In Ogun State over two millionregistered in the last election butonly 400,000 voted. In each state,I have registered in my data over20, 000 supporters. Tell me whichgrassroots does Obasanjo have?The last election we did, they beathim flat. I have 80 per cent of PDPleaders in Ogun.

PDP leaders mum as OBJ/Burujiface off thickens

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN,POLITICAL EDITOR, DAPO

AKINREFON ANDCHARLES KUMOLU

•Obasanjo: I cant associate with Buruji

I'm beingattackedbecause ofJonathan— Kashamu

•Buruji: I served Obasanjo in the past

The letter follows earliercomplaints by Obasanjo in anearlier letter to PresidentGoodluck Jonathan where hepointed to Buruji as amongsuspicious characters who heclaimed had taken positionaround the presidency and werenow directing the affairs of state.

Buruji, a billionairebusinessman burst into nationalconsciousness shortly before there-election of Otunba GbengaDaniel as governor of Ogun Statewhen the crisis between him andformer President Obasanjobegan to take shape. Buruji sidedwith Obasanjo and became aninstrument through whichObasanjo supposedly took thestructure of the party away fromDaniel. Buruji has confessed toluring support to Obasanjo usinghundreds of cars and other

incentives to stakeholders.For whatever reasons, Buruji

and Obasanjo parted ways in theapproach to the 2011 election andhave been on opposite sides ofthe political equation in theirnative Ogun State. Buruji wasallegedly instrumental to thedisplacement of Obasanjo’snominees in the nationalexecutive of the party throughcourt actions and other means.Buruji has also sided with thenational chairman of the partyand is known to be one of thearrow heads in the defence ofTukur’s controversial leadershipof the party.

PDP leaders keep mumon feud

When contacted by Vanguardto comment on the imbroglio,former Caretaker Committee

chairman of the party in theSouth-West, Chief Ishola Filanisaid “no comment.” On his part,a former Minister of Power andSteel, Elder Sola Oyelese toldVanguard on the telephone thatthere are no plans to dissuadethe former president fromcarrying out his threats.

Oyelese said, “I do not thinkthat is a big deal because alreadyTukur is already begging him notto withdraw his activities from theparty. The chairman of the partyis already pleading with him.”Also, former South-West Vice-chairman of the party, AlhajiTajudeen Oladipo said “I havenot been making publiccomments but at the appropriatetime, I will talk.”

A former national secretary ofthe PDP, Chief Remi Akitoye toldVanguard that the leaders aremaking efforts at ensuring thatChief Obasanjo rescinds hisdecision.

Chief Akitoye said “the eldersand leaders of the party havedecided to take up the matter sothat there will be peacefulresolution. People like ChiefObasanjo, Alex Ekwueme andother elders of the party shouldnot be allowed to go. A meetingis going to hold in Abuja withinthe few days and all issues thatwill make PDP stronger, will bediscussed.”

Chief Bode George on his partsaid: “I do not want to get intothat kind of discussion becauseit will be a whole night of anotherletter. When you go to the marketplace to discuss your familymatter, then you are gone. Thisis a PDP problem, we will discussit in the PDP enclave, it is notmeant for public consumption.”

“We will do the analysis andfind out where we went wrong,what happened, how ithappened and how we canprevent it from happening in thefuture. That is the way I wastrained. But if it was against theopposition, I will say it in theopen.”

CHIEF Olusegun Obasanjoyesterday insisted that the national chairman

of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur should addressthe issues raised in his letter saying that entreatiesto him to reconsider his withdrawal from the partywere wrongly based.

Obasanjo spoke following pleas from Tukur andallegedly from President Goodluck Jonathan onhim to reconsider his withdrawal from the party.

Noting that he had raised issues and conditionsfor him to involve himself in the affairs of theparty, he said that the national leadership shouldaddress those issues in its stead.

Among the conditions raised by Obasanjo inhis fiery letter was that Buruji should be broughtdown from his place of prominence in the affairsof the party. Obasanjo had said that he would

Ball is in Tukur’s court — Obasanjonot subject himself to the leadership of a suspectfleeing from justice in the United States.

Obasanjo who spoke through his media aide,Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye said: “President Obasanjowrote a letter and in that letter there wereconditions, there were issues he raised and he isa member and card carrying member of PDP buthe is not going to participate in activities of theparty until the issues he raised are addressed.”

“So the question should not be to Obasanjo,your question should be to the people whoreceived the letter and to how they are going toaddress the issues he raised.”

“The letter said until certain issues areaddressed. The letter is very clear, “I am withyou, I remain a member, but I will not participatein your activities until you address the issues.The question is has he addressed the issues?"

BY DAUD OLATUNJI


CMYK


In reaction to the famousletter written to PresidentGoodluck Jonathan by formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjoa former Minister of Informa-tion and Ijaw leader, ChiefEdwin Clark replies.....

Comments

Joe: Does Edwin Clarkhave the courage to write a

sitting president? Because hehas the cover of a sittingpresident…he has the temerityto write this letter. He shouldadvise GEJ to investigate theHaliburton and Siemen’s casesrather than making glibreferences to them. I cannotunderstand why a presidentwho is aware of fraudulent actscommitted against his country;and refuses to do somethingabout it will continue to talkabout it.

Loveontopover: Clark shouldnot turn Jonathan’s presidencyto an Ijaw-emancipationpresidency. If he does that,Nigerians who voted forJonathan the first time notbecause he was Ijaw but a goodNigerian, won’t be so keen todo it again. So, Edwin Clark should simplyback off! Obasanjo helped togive the minorities a voice andhope in Nigeria when he

Clark’s open letterto Obasanjo

not, really, high time Nigerianshad found a common route topatriotic nation building? Otherpeople in developed countriesare busy fortifying theirstructures and the only thingwe can think of in this countryis how to create mallicioussentiments to continually holdthe progress of this country atransom. Enough is enough!!!

Abiodun Ayodele: I think it istime to get the true picture ofthe reasons why our country,Nigeria has refused to be in thelist of developed countries. Thewealth belonging to over 180million people is in the handsof the very few. Theymasqueraded as friends of thenation while they are enemies.Anyway our God will lead usright and take us to the promiseland.

Ekenwan Akwagbe: ThoughChief Clark is not better thanGen. Olusegun Obasanjomorally and in all other spheresbut his (Chief E. K. Clark’s)letter sums up the trueObasanjo. The interesting thingis that for those of us who knowE. Clark closely as Ijaws, he isthe Ijaw version of Obasanjo inevery way. It is unfortunateObasanjo, ‘pot’ gave opportu-nity to Chief Clark, a”kettle” todress him down by thatsubversive and self-servingletter he wrote to the veryunassuming PresidentJonathan.

sources told Vanguard thatTukur “will lose his position onJanuary 16, as his exit is now aforegone conclusion.”

Comments…Davies Osagie Eweka: At this

point of heat in Nigeria’spolitics and politicking by theelite against the backdrop of2015 general elections, if Tukuris a problem to the smoothrunning of PDP and its capacityto win the forthcoming generalelections, Tukur should quit

Celestine Okoro: Would theexit of Tukur calm frayed nervesin PDP? Or would thedissenters further demand thedivestment of GEJ’s 2015presidential interest. Time willdefinitely tell. But it appearsthe PDP belligerents arewinning.

Farrybeckyns67: One way totest the progress and viability ofa company, political party orprivate businesses, is to checkhow long the managers stay intheir positions. Most People’sDemocratic Party, PDP, chair-men do not stay long in office.Most of them are often linkedto corruption directly orindirectly and they are alwaysshielded by the presidency.

Partyaffiliations

Did we hear anything aboutthe allegation of corruptionagainst Ogbulafor the formernational PDP chairman? Whatabout the oil subsidy scam thatinvolved the son of AhmaduAli, another former PDPnational chairman? There isnothing good in the party andthey have nothing to offer. Theywill continue to stifle Nigeria.All Progressives Congress,APC, is not better. We needcredible independent candi-dates to contest for the presi-dency of Nigeria. Peoplewithout party affiliations or tiedto the apron string of pastleaders. Above all, Nigeriansshould vote without sentiments.Our destiny is in our hands.

Honsyl Global Group UK:When will our leaders focus onthe masses and not personali-ties? Has Tukur’s chairmanshipof the PDP led to increased

employment figures in thecountry or reduced povertyamidst massive official corrup-tion. GEJ should focus on themasses and every otherpolitical benefit will be availableto him.

Jean Gerard: Well, let’s waitand see how the dramaunfolds. Those clamouring forTukur’s removal all havehidden agenda. However, hisremoval or not will not stopGEJ from being the party’s flagbearer in the next presidentialelection.

Ebeano Williams: Directly orindirectly, Tukur may be one ofGEJ’s joker cards and he mayhave a magic wand to win theopposition that is why those inthe opposition are fighting hardto remove him. He has shownhis loyalty to the office of thepresident on many occasionsand that shows that he is a trueparty man who can die todefend his boss. So GEJ mustbe very careful for his replace-ment as this may determine theoutcome of his 2015 ambition.

Henry Asede: The fact is thatmany Northern Governorswanted Tukur to execute theNorthern agenda of “Powermust go back to the North” buthe refused. He should becommended for his detribalizedposture. Goodluck should becareful choosing Tukur’ssuccessor as the North andtheir ‘follow-follow’ partners areup in arms to take over AsoRock that they have occupiedfor more than 35 years withoutany reasonable achievement.Nigerians should be carefulwith 2015, no zone should beunderrated and no zone shouldoverrate their strength, thingshave changed from what itused to be in the 60s.

Beneth Ozor: It is normal ifthe ruling party’s slightestadjustment of election winningstrategy attracts nationalattention. The differences inmanagement style of differentmanagers may not meanmanagerial incompetence ofany of them. It is very clear thatmajority of PDP’s governors donot like the management styleof Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and ifchanging him is the only

solution to restore peace in theparty at this point, so be it aslong as it is respectfully done!

Obomni: GEJ’s traducers arepretending that Tukur is theirproblem. However, Tukur is nottheir main problem. Theirproblem is actually how toremove and replace GEJ, andthey feel Tukur is a majorobstacle to the actualization oftheir plan. GEJ shoule takenote of this fact.

Moses O: Jonathan should becareful of replacing Tukur. Heonce said his replacement, willmake GEJ vulnerable and Isense the remaining aggrievedparty members who are yet todefect may be tying their jokercard to the ousting of Tukur andin a Chairman they canmanipulate to do their bidding.This will make Jonathanvulnerable to in fighting thatmay leave his PDP ticketswinging like a pendulum.

Pheels: To some people GEJis slow but I believe everybodyis important. If he decide toexhaust all avenue to reconcileand treat the dissatisfaction bythe stake holders Tukur shouldbe replaced.

Replacement likehouse boys

During OBJ’s tenure PDPchairmen were replaced likehouse boys. We should appreci-ate the fact that there is animprovement in our democracyin this regard. Just like LGAchairmen, governors and otherelected officers are important,the party chairmen are alsoimportant.

Agunganga: OkwesiliezeNwodo was speedily replacedby Jonathan. What is wrong inreplacing Tukur? He appearsnot to be popular with a greaternumber of PDP members. Hissack will be a good riddance.

Aniwetalu Emmanuel: Tukuris like a wife who is only nice toher husband but not in goodterms with her husband’sfamilies. Such marriage willhardly work. My advice toTukur, is that he should justback down and move on withhis life.

helped Jonathan to where he istoday. No-one should forgetthat!

Iam awori andYoruba:Jonathan has replied and hisreply had been noted by allNigerians. Why is Pa EdwinClark, getting himself in-volved? What point is he tryingto prove? Asari Dokubo hasreplied and now Edwin Clark,maybe the next open letter willnow come from Oritsejafor andDame Patience Jonathan. Asone of the elder statesmen inNigeria, he does not have toget himself involved. Heshould have kept his emotionsand perhaps find a way toresolve the matter with the twoleaders.

Fordman 07: I was reluctantat first to read this letter havingread so many open lettersrecently but I must say mystomach was full after readingthis…thanks a lot Chief forthis....I await rebuttals fromhypocrites..but this is factualbalanced reply...Thank youonce again

Macben Idam: This ‘divideand rule’ game is, continually,tearing this country apart. Is it

years! Almajiri schools, railtransportation, light rail fromKaduna to Abuja that enabledpeople to live in Kaduna andwork in Abuja, customs chiefsince Yar’Adua etc. Yet theyhated him more than anything.They lack the capacity tosurvive without power for justeight years, yet the Ibos aredoing well even without testingthe centre for close to 43 years.We know very well that OBJ isonly doing the bidding of thenorth which is to weaken GeJtowards 2015, but thank God heis clearly losing the battle of theletters. Get should just bewareof his next antics which maycome in the form of ill intendedreconciliation.

Presidency shopsfor Tukur’sreplacement

The Presidency has finallymoved against the NationalChairman of People’s Demo-cratic Party, PDP, AlhajiBamanga Tukur, as it is nowcertain that it is shopping forhis replacement. Reliable

Tukur may be one of GEJ’s jokercards and he may have a magicwand to win the opposition that iswhy those in the opposition arefighting hard to remove him

Osita MikeOkafor: Greatstuff Chief! It ison record thatGEJ has donefor the northmore than anyof their sonsthat were incharge for 38

COMPILED BYOLUFEMI [email protected]

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Israelis pay tributes to Sharon ahead ofstate burial today

THE body of formerIsraeli Prime Minister

Ariel Sharon was laid instate at the nation’sparliament yesterday ,where citizens can paytheir respects ahead of amemorial service. He willbe buried today in amilitary funeral on his farmin southern Israel.

Sharon, a toweringmilitary and politicalleader, died Saturdaysurrounded by family aftereight years in a coma. Hewas 85

A convoy of cars carriedhis coffin to the Knesset,where President ShimonPeres will lay a wreath onit.

After the viewing, a statememorial ceremony isplanned for today. Worldleaders including U.S.Vice President Joe Bidenand former British leaderTony Blair will attend thememorial, which will befollowed by a funeralprocession.

The latter will include astop in Latrun for a specialmeeting of the IsraelDefense Forces that willend with a military funeralat Sharon’s ranch,Shikmim.

Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahudescribed him as a warriorand a political leader.

“He was, first andforemost, a warrior and acommander, among theJewish People’s greatestgenerals in the current eraand throughout its history,”Netanyahu said Sunday.

“He was dedicated to the

security of the state fromhis youth, as a youngfighter in the War ofIndependence, andafterwards as acommander.”

“The state of Israel bowsits head on the passing offormer Prime MinisterAriel Sharon,” Netanyahusaid in a statement. “ArielSharon played a centralrole in the struggle for thesecurity of the State ofIsrael over all its years.”

The same decisions thatmade him a controversialfigure during his lengthytenure as a military manand politician were back ondisplay in the initialreactions to his death.

These moments includehis role as defense ministerduring the 1982 war inLebanon. During thatconflict, he was heldindirectly responsible byan Israeli inquiry in 1983for the massacre of

hundreds of Palestinians atthe Sabra and Shatilarefugee camps. He wasforced to resign.

He also raised ire in theArab world by encouragingIsraelis to build settlementson occupied Palestinianland, but later did an

about-face and pushed forthe historic withdrawalfrom settlements in theWest Bank and Gaza,which were turned over toPalestinian rule for the firsttime in nearly fourdecades.

President Shimon Peres

made an addresseulogizing his “dear friendArik Sharon,” calling himby his well-knownnickname.

“He was an outstandingman and an exceptionalcommander who movedhis people and loved them.And the people lovedhim,” Peres said.

But Hamas, thePalestinian movement thatruns Gaza, paints Sharonwith a darker legacy.

“We deal with the deathof Sharon as an end for thecrimes he committedagainst the Palestinianpeople,” said IsrarAlmodallal, spokesman forHamas in Gaza. “Thebiggest crime was theSabra and Shatilamassacre in Lebanon, andwe deal with Sharon as acriminal person.

“We will not forgiveSharon any way oranother,” he said.

UN concerns mount over besieged SyriansTHE UN humanitarian

affairs chief hasexpressed deep concernfor communities cut off inSyria by months of fightingbetween government andrebel forces.

Valerie Amos told theBBC she had heardaccounts of near starvation,including in the capital,Damascus.

Baroness Amos said shehad spoken to thegovernment about trying toget humanitarian access.

She said the situation inthe country was getting

worse by the day and shehad heard horrific tales ofsuffering.

The situation on theground keeps shifting, buta confidential UNdocument leaked to the

BBC in late December saidmore than a quarter of amillion Syrians are stuck in“besieged or hard toaccess areas”.

Starving an area is a war

crime. In Syria, food is aweapon of war used by allsides as they try to gainground militarily, says theBBC’s Lyse Doucet.

Mediators meet S/Sudan’s rebel leader

MEDIATORS pressedfor a ceasefire in

South Sudan asgovernment troops foughtfor control over the lastrebel-held town.

Envoys from the UnitedStates and South Sudan’sneighbours met onSaturday with Riek Machar,the former vice presidentwho heads the rebel forcesthat have been fightinggovernment troops for thepast month, the rebels said.

“The American Specialenvoy to South Sudan andSudan, Donald Boothtogether with [regional]mediators travelled to anundisclosed location inSouth Sudan to meet DrRiek Machar,” said a

statement signed byMachar’s former press

officer Miyong G Kuon.There were unconfirmed

news reports thatmediators would meetPresident Salva Kiir onMonday.

The meeting withMachar comes as talks inthe Ethiopian capital AddisAbaba appear to bestalling.

Pope Francis to appoint 19new cardinals

POPE Francis is toappoint 19 new

cardinals next month,including churchmenfrom Haiti and BurkinaFaso, reflecting hiscommitment to the poor.

Cardinals, who wearred hats and robes, arethe most seniorclergymen in the RomanCatholic Church belowthe Pope.

Sixteen of the newappointees are under 80,making them eligible toenter a conclave to electthe Pope’s successor.

The new cardinals will

be formally instated at aceremony, known as aconsistory, on 22February.

The three clergymenover 80 come fromSpain, Italy and theCaribbean island of StLucia. They will assumethe title cardinalemeritus.

‘Humbling moment’Pope Francis named

his new cardinalsduring his weekly,Sunday address toworshippers gathered inSt Peter’s Square.

Iran nuclear deal to enter into force in January

AN interimagreement to freeze

Iran’s nuclearprogramme will enter intoforce on 20 January,2014,report has said.

The deal, agreed intalks with world powers

in November, envisageseasing of someinternational sanctions onTehran.

US President BarackObama welcomed thenews but said more workwas needed to strike a

long-term deal. Hethreatened new sanctionsif there was a breach.

The West accuses Iranof seeking nuclearweapons, but Tehranhas consistently deniedthat.

The EU’s foreignpolicy chief CatherineAshton said the worldpowers would now askthe United Nations’nuclear watchdog(IAEA) to verify thedeal’s implementation.

•South Sudan’s VicePresident Riek Machar

•Late Israeli former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon

•UN Scribe, Ban KiMoon

VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardCLASSIFIED

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CMYK

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY JANUARY 13, 2014

,

,Agbim...Oh...Agbim

FOR a country that is on the ascendancy infootball, one that is getting used to winning,

Saturday was a disaster, to say the least.Don’t get me wrong. I am also of the opinion that

South Africa may remain a good hunting groundfor us. I know a lot of teams who had lost theiropening match and had gone ahead to lift thetrophy, yet the way I am feeling now as Mali scorestheir second has necessitated this view point.

Agbim puts butterflies in my stomach. WheneverI see him beween the sticks, I lose hope. Duringthe decisive second leg match against Cote D’ivoirein Abidjan, as Agbim let in two goals and wasfrantically prancing around on the way to concedinga third and throwing us out of the competition, Iput a call through to League supremo Emeka Nwani.

What Emeka told me then, was what he told meon Saturday. That Agbim is notoriously match rusty,Has never played in the league in two seasonsgoing, yet here he is a regular in Super Eaglessquad.

As early as the seventh minute, Agbim timed hiscross wrongly and we escaped going behind. Fourminutes later he prostrated as the Malians camecalling and the ball flew into the net. There after, itwas the same Agbim I know, one who is very poorat crosses. Agbim is the exact opposite of Enyeama.When defenders mess up, you expect the goalkeeperto cover up. Not Agbim. In our case, when thedefenders are brushed aside, it is a goal. Clean sheetdoes not exist in the Agbim dictionary of goalkeepingterms.

The second goal came exactly as the first, from anangle that the goalkeeper is expected to cover. Notour Agbim. Before the attacker let fly, Agbim wasalready on the floor.

When substitutions were being made, I expectedAgbim to go, not when Keshi had not taken solid

goalkeepers along.He may be captain for all I care.He may have leadership qualities, but not solidgoalkeeping ones. If he had, he did not display themon Saturday.

This is the goalkeeper that may be considered forthe world cup as a substitute?

The Eagles did not raise their game. As earliersaid, all is not lost. A déjà vue situation is on thecards. We expect the Eagles to bounce back fromthis very difficult situation by winning their nexttwo matches and qualify for the quarter finals.

MIKEL AND THE “FRENCH CONNECTION”

This story on the front page of Complete Sports,Saturday led to the sub editor sorrowfully castingthe above headline. An in depth analysis of how

the 41 countries voted, reveals far more. Forinstance, only ONE (Nigeria) of the Englishspeaking countries of Tanzania, Ethiopia, S.Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Somalia, Ghana, SouthSudan, Liberia, Malawi and Sierra leone votedfor Mikel.

In fact, of the above twelve, EIGHT of them votedfor Toure as the best in Africa, TWO voted him assecond best, while the remaining TWO had himon the third position. In conclusion, it is rather theENGLISH BETRAYAL rather than the FRENCHCONNECTION that ruined Mikel!

Imagine Somalia not rating Mikel at all, whileEgypt gave him 2 points and 10 to Toure. Ghanagave Mikel five points and gave Toure 10. SouthAfrica gave Mikel 4 points and Toure 10. Even theNigeria voting which was realistic did not favourMikel in that Coach Keshi scored Mikel 10, VincentEnyeama 9 and went ahead to give Toure 8. ( If hehad known, he would not have scored Toure atall……don’t laugh)

Over all, Yaya Toure ran out such a convincingwinner with over 100 points over Mikel aftercoming first on the cards of 28 of the 41 coacheswho voted and was second with 9 points on thelist of seven coaches.

Mikel only won in Nigeria, Sudan,Liberia andZambia and as argued in the case of Nigeria eventhose countries made it tight for the Nigerian pointswise by making Toure come second on their rating.

Overall, I think Mikel did well. The argumentthat it is an individual award, and the preferencefor goal scorers did not help his chances. HoweverNigerians can take consolation on a night whenwe nearly scooped everything………but the bigone.

Win some, lose some.See you next week.

Agbim puts butterfliesin my stomach. When-ever I see him betweenthe sticks, I lose hope

Tiote confused at disallowedgoal

NEWCASTLE midfielder Cheick Ti-

ote revealed he could notunderstand referee MikeJones’ decision to rule outhis stunning strike in Sun-day’s 2-0 defeat againstManchester City.

The Ivory Coast interna-tional looked to have can-celled out Edin Dzeko’sopener when he drilledhome from distance in the34th minute, but afterspeaking to assistantStephen Child, Jonesruled out the goal, muchto the disgust of the Mag-pies faithful and managerAlan Pardew.

It appeared that Jonesand his official ruled thatYoan Gouffran - who wasstood in an offside positionwhen Tiote struck the ball- was interfering with anopponent by distractingManchester City goal-keeper Joe Hart.

“I don’t understand whythe referee didn’t give thegoal,” Tiote told SkySports.

“I think it was Gouffranwho was next to the goal-ie but he didn’t touch it. I

DISAPPOINTED . . . Newcastle United’s midfielderCheick Tiote celebrates scoring a goal beforerealizing that it had been disallowed during theirmatch against Manchester City at St James’ Park .Man City won 2-0. Photo: AFP

don’t know why the assist-ant referee decided togive offside.

“That’s football, weneed to accept it and goforward.

“I’m so disappointed to-day but I think we playedwell and that’s the mostimportant thing. We cantake it on to the nextgame.”

NIGERIA midfielder Sunday Mba

has sets his sights onplaying at the WorldCup after making hisdebut for strugglingFrench Ligue 2 side CABastia in their 3-0 homeloss to Niort on Friday.

The 25-year-old, whoscored the winning goalfor the Super Eagles atthe Africa Cup of Na-tions in February lastyear, endured a frustrat-ing time while seekinga move away from hisnative Nigeria.

After almost a year ofnegotiations Mba com-pleted his switch fromWarri Wolves to the Cor-sican outfit in December.

“It was a very frustrat-ing time after the NationsCup, training hard butnot getting the chance toplay competitively,” hetold BBC Sport.

“I feel so much re-lieved now knowing eve-rything has been sortedand despite a lot ofcatching up to do.

“Hopefully now I canget back on track and getmy career going againand just be happy to beplaying.”

Mba has been criti-cised by local media andfans for rejecting thechance to represent Ni-

Mba resolves to do wellin France

geria at the African Na-tions Championship(CHAN) to sign for astruggling French side.

CA Bastia are bottom ofthe Ligue 2 table withonly nine points from 19matches and they couldbe relegated at the endof the season.

“I know what is atstake here and that theclub could go down butI’m prepared to give mybest to help them stayup,” said Mba.

“It’s a challenge forwhich I’m prepared forand no matter what de-cision you make in life

people are going to finda way to criticise you.

“My immediate targetis to start playing assoon as possible and tomake important contri-butions that will helpour league position.”

He also added that hedesperately wants regu-lar football to boost hischances of playing at theWorld Cup in Brazil.

“My dream is to playin the World Cup withNigeria and to fulfil thatdesire I have to keepplaying and regain myconfidence, “ he added.

•Mba


Brazil World Cup: SuleimanHabuba rates Africa’s reps•Speaks on life after CAF

HE was given a gold badgeto sit on the VIP stage dur-

ing the Glo-CAF Awards onThursday night in Lagos. Buthe preferred to sit where hewould interact with manyfriends including his col-leagues in the media.

It was the first time SuleimanHabuba would be attending theCAF Awards as an ordinaryman. But is he one? The formerDirector of Communications onlyresigned last year and had achance to move to InternationalOlympic Committee but he pre-ferred a private life havingserved football at such top heightfor a decade. He is still servingfootball from a different perspec-tive. He is a FIFA instructor anda football consultant. And withthe World Cup going to Russiain 2018 and Qatar 2022 after theexpected spectacle in Brazil thissummer, Habuba may have his

hands tied to football matters.Mustapha Fahmy, the former

Secretary-General of CAF hiredhim as head of communicationsand Habuba remains grateful tothe Egyptian football adminis-

trator who is now FIFA’s Com-petition Director.

It delighted many in Africanfootball to see Habuba in Lagos.He was busy exchanging ban-ters. And the media men hadpart of him too.

Asked at the red carpet howlife is after retirement from CAF,Habuba smiled. “You can see foryourself that I’m from you guysnow. I’ll sit with you and enjoythe Awards ceremony withoutrunning around trying to satis-fy you guys and making suremany other things are put inplace.

How would Habuba rememberhis stay in CAF?

“It was interesting and at thesame time challenging. Meet-ing people from all parts of theworld with different perspec-tives in the football business,exchanging ideas, trying tobuild brands, effecting the com-munications duties were all in-teresting. You get some thingsright and err in some and moveon from there. That’s life to me.”

Habuba holds Mustapha Fah-my in a high esteem and says“the man was my source of in-spiration and I wish him wellanywhere he is especially nowthat he is in FIFA.

On what he feels about Afri-ca’s representatives at the Bra-zil World Cup, Habuba says “Iexpect that they will do well ifthey prepare well. Note thatmany African players play inEurope where they play againstmost of the players that theywill meet in Brazil. That putsthem in good psychologicalposition. And if they use thatand their physical attributes totheir advantage they will havegood stories to tell in Brazil.”Habuba is now a FIFA instruc-tor and football consultant

NFF

a fifth World Cup.It is left to be seen if Keshi

will recall skipper JosephYobo, who has seen limitedaction at Turkish clubFenerbahce after he fell downthe pecking order, andEngland-based striker OsazeOdemwingie.

has had a major fallout withKeshi after he wassensationally overlooked forthe 2013 AFCON.

It would also be interestingto see some of the otherplayers Keshi is nowconsidering for thetournament.

Ukraine-based midfielderLukman Haruna, ChineduObasi, Raheem Lawal andJoel Obi are believed to beamong those to be given achance to fight for a place onthe flight to Brazil.

Nigeria’s World Cuptraining camp will open onMay 25 most likely in Keshi’spreferred choice of Miami inthe United States of America.

They take on Mexico onMarch 5 in a warm-up matchin the United States ofAmerica.

The Eagles are drawnagainst Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in thefirst round of the World Cup.

Eagles' wives

Continued from backpage


Green, Chairman MediaCommittee of NFF, High ChiefEmeka Inyamah were unani-mous in banging the dooragainst the WAGs in Eaglesparticipation in the World Cup.“Their presence in the teamwill be a distraction. It’s notpossible. No. They’ll not be al-lowed near the team in theWorld Cup”, Barrister ChrisGreen shot back to the ques-tion on whether the WAGswould be allowed when theEagles battle Argentina, Iranand Bosnia Hezegovina in Bra-zil.

“This is the only opportunityNigerians derive joy from theEagles. We should not toy with

it and distract them with thepresence of their wives andgirlfriends. Its a sacrifice theplayers will make for the na-tion’, Green emphasised.

Chief Inyamah added that theEagles should learn from pastexperiences when ClemenceWesterhof allowed WAGs intheir debut in USA ’94. “Wepaid dearly for it and cannotallow a repeat in Brazil”, In-yamah said. Barrister Greenadded that not allowing WAGswas part of the Code of conductwhich they introduced to theEagles. “The C Of C is notpunitive. It is a handbook ofdos and don’ts. It is not new."

CHAN: Keshi

this type of thing happeningbut I am certain that they nowknow that they have to satisfythemselves and have confi-dence in themselves, becausewe have lost the openinggame and we have to forgetthat and fight for qualificationfrom the remaining twogames.”

Keshi said most of the play-ers were playing at the bigstage for the first time and it

showed in the manner theyplayed, adding that he hasbeen talking to them and hewas sure that the result willshow in the second game.

The Super Eagles looked abetter side in the second half,and Keshi said he simplyasked them to loosen up andenjoy their game instead oftrying to impress the coach,the fans, the nation and evenscouts.

“The team will definitely getbetter.”

Brazil 2014 World Cup:

Nigeria to lose unsold matchtickets by April 1 — Wakanow

BY TONY UBANI

NIGERIA’s Brazil 2014World Cup ticketing

agents, Wakanow, have saidthat the country would lose allits unsold match tickets onApril 1. World football govern-ing body, FIFA, has allocated3,000 tickets to Nigeria, whichmust be paid in the secondphase of the ticketing rounds.The Super Eagles are pitchedagainst Bosnia, Iran and Ar-gentina in Group F of the Bra-zil 2014 World Cup. Speakingat an event to intimate thepress on the ticketing proce-dure for the World Cup, offi-cials of Wakanow, the NigeriaFootball Federation’s (NFF)ticketing and travels agent forthe Brazil 2014 World Cup,disclosed that since the saleof tickets began in Octoberlast year, only 100 of the 3,000Nigerian tickets have beenbought by football fans. Ac-cording to Wakanow’s ChiefMarketing and Products Of-ficer, Stella Obinwa, “FIFAwould retrieve all the unsoldtickets on April 1 and reallo-

cate them to countries, whosecitizens still need the tickets.Those tickets would be soldduring the third phase of theauction beginning from April15.

“Nigerians like the lastminute way of doing things,but FIFA has a time table forall its events and would notwait for any country that de-cides to do things differently.

“The impression Nigerians’apathy to the purchase of tick-ets is sending to the world isthat we are not interested inwatching the World Cup livein Brazil, but I know that isnot the case.

Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo favourite

REAL Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is the odds-

on favourite to win the FifaBallon d’Or on

The Portugal captain, 28, isnamed on a three-man short-list for the prize, along withBarcelona’s Lionel Messi andFranck Ribery of Bayern Mu-nich.

The trio were chosen from a23-man long list, with theworld player of the year to becrowned at a ceremony in Zu-rich.

Winners of seven other

awards, plus the Fifpro WorldXI team of the year, will alsobe announced.

Nadine Angerer (Germany),Marta (Brazil) and AbbyWambach (USA) are in therunning for the women’sworld player of the year prize.

Former Manchester Unitedboss Sir Alex Ferguson is vy-ing with ex-Bayern Munichcoach Jupp Heynckes andBorussia Dortmund’s JurgenKlopp to be named men’scoach of the year.

Globacom Director of Events and Sponsorship, Bode Ope-seitan (l) and Suleiman Habuba during the CAF Awards

•FIFA President, Blatter


CMYK

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How to Play Sudoku

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line canhave two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (alsonine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within abold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1through 9. This means that no number can appear twicein any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, divisionor multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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

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VVVVVanguardanguardanguardanguardanguard,,,,, MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDACROSS3 Stick (5)9 Entertained (6)10 Bird (6)11 Soar (5)12 Roster (4)15 Rodents (4)17 Built (7)20 Bow (3)21 Quilt (5)23 Always (4)25 Record (4)26 Old-fashioned (5)28 Damp (3)30 Varied (7)33 Hero (4)35 Caribou (4)36 Prevent (5)38 Physician (6)39 Language (6)40 Principle (5)

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ACROSS: 1, Attest 5, Impart 9, Aroma 10,Rankle 11, Plague 12, Eagle 14, Iced 17,Try 18, Here 20, Dared 22, Rider 23,Fainter 24, Towed 26, Peril 29, Hear 30,Her 32, Date 33, Hades 35, Editor 36,Nudged 32, Lever 38, Dogged 39, Welder.

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NFF demands 40-man WorldCup list from KeshiTHE Nigeria

F o o t b a l lFederation havedemanded a 40-man listfrom coach StephenKeshi preparatory to the2014 World Cup inBrazil.

The NFF technicalcommittee have askedKeshi to make availablea list of players fromwhich he will pick hisfinal 23-man squad forthe World Cup in June.“We expect the coach tosend through this list atthe latest after theCHAN,” a member ofthe committee informedM T N F o o t b a l l . c o mIt is expected that thecore of this 40-mansquad will come fromthe bulk of the playerswho featured at the2013 Africa Cup ofNations and also quali-fied the country toContinues on Page 55

NFF slams door on Eagles’ wives in BrazilBY TONY UBANI

THE Nigeria FootballFederation has

emphatically ruled outWives and Girlfriends,WAGs, of Super Eagles

from being part of theBrazil World Cup for theteam. Chairman

Technical Committee ofNFF, Barrister Chris

Continues on Page 55

CHAN: Eagles succumbedto pressure – Keshi

SUPER Eaglescoach Stephen

Keshi pointed topressure and a lack ofbig game experience

•Keshi

after seeing his wardslose 1-2 to Mali in theirfirst group game at theongoing African NationsChampionship in SouthAfrica.

The Super Eagleslooked discomfited formost of the game as theylet in early goals in bothhalves, although asecond half resurgenceled by substituteGbolahan Salami almosthauled them back in it.

Keshi said thepressure on his boys washuge, “The pressure wasmassive and I expectedContinues on Page 55

Stoke City 3 Liverpool 5Newcastle 0 Man City 2Hull City 0 Chelsea 2Cardiff City 0 West Ham 2Everton 2 Norwich 0Fulham 1 Sunderland 4Southampton 1 West Brom 0Tottenham 2 Crystal P 0Man Utd 2 Swansea 0

EPL Results

Team Name P W D L F A GD Pts1 Manchester City 21 15 2 4 59 23 36 472 Chelsea 21 14 4 3 40 19 21 463 Arsenal 20 14 3 3 39 18 21 454 Liverpool 21 13 3 5 51 26 25 42

EPL Table

Nigeria tolose unsoldWorld Cup

match ticketsby April 1

P.5

5P.5

5

Ballon d'Or WHO THE CAP FITS ••• Ribery, Ronaldo or Messi, who'sWorld's best footballer? See story on page 55

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