I'll expose failures of ex-heads of states-JONATHAN by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62314

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

I'll expose failures of ex-heads of state—JONATHAN •Says Nigeria will get it right next month, nation will not break

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS KICK OFF

By Henry Umoru

B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, pleaded with Nigerians to vote him in for a second term on account of his achievements in the last six years. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, while inaugurating the Goodluck/Sambo 2015 Presidential Campaign Organisation, PCO, at the PDP Presidential Campaign office, Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja

Continues on Page 5

Flight cancellations weather related — NCAA >>16 COLUMNIST:

A prayer for my •P.19 land

Mr & Mrs CAMPAIGNS—ABOVE: President Goodluck Jonathan being received by Vice President Namadi Sambo, while the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu'azu (2r); Chief Tony Anenih (3l); Senator David Mark and Alhaji Ahmadu Ali (l) watch as the President arrived to inaugurate his campaign committee at the National Presidential Campaign Headquarters, Legacy House, Abuja, yesterday. BELOW: From right: Gen.Muhammadu Buhari, APC Presidential Candidate and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Chief John Oyegun; Aminu Tambuwal; Governors Ibikunle Amosun(Ogun)and Babatunde Fashola(Lagos); during the APC Presidential Campaign flag off, yesterday, at the Adokiye Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida & Nwankpa Chijioke.

>>11 There'll be no room for graft, insurgency under my reign — BUHARI C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—From left: Kenyan Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Engr. Michael Kamau and Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Amina Mohammed, being welcomed by President Goodluck Jonathan to the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

I'll expose failures of ex-heads of state —JONATHAN Continues from Page 1 promised to unfold to Nigerians what his government has done in the last couple of years that presidents and heads of state before him could not achieve.

I will expose my predecessors’ failings –Jonathan Jonathan promised to expose the failings of his predecessors including Buhari, which stunted the country’s growth and development. Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida had described his government as saintly compared to s u c c e s s i v e administrations in terms of prevalence of corruption, just as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, took a swipe at President Jonathan, accusing him among other things of squandering $55 billion crude oil savings left behind by his Administration.

President Jonathan, who noted that his administration has performed more than the previous ones with the nation’s economy as the largest in Africa, said: “When we start campaigns, we will confront them with what we have done as a government, we will tell them what they did not do when they were heads of state. Some people want to still keep these children as shoe cleaners, we must lift them up. Our children should not be used as cannon folders. They should be allowed to move forward to be governors like us. “We have everything it takes to run an excellent and victorious campaign. Our great party has demonstrated to Nigerians that it is the party with the broadest appeal. We are the strongest and the biggest. We have engaged the people of Nigeria positively with people-friendly policies,

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you’re making a commitment and difference in that person’s life —Zig Ziglar

NCE, a wise old botany teacher gave his young students an assignment to go out by the side of some lonely road and find a small, unnoticed flower. He asked them to study the flower for a long time. “Get a magnifying glass and study the delicate veins in the leaves, and notice the nuances and shades of colour. And remember: this flower might have gone unnoticed and unappreciated if you had not found and admired it,” he told his students. People are just like that unnoticed flower, too. Each one is different, carefully crafted, uniquely endowed. But you have to spend time with a person to realize this. So many people go unnoticed and unappreciated because no one has ever taken time with them and admired their uniqueness.

which have moved Nigeria forward." He continued: “We have sustained the democratic tradition. We have strengthened democratic institutions. We inherited a rather complex security challenge but we are waging a determined war against it. We are succeeding in preventing terrorists and insurgents from turning more of our communities into enclaves for their dastardly activities. “We remain fully committed to further empowering the security agencies to enable them win the war against terror. We have proven to the people that we are a party and a team that they can rely upon.

We have achieved much in four years “In the last four years, despite the security challenges we have had to contend with, Nigeria, under our watch, has made significant strides in every aspect. Our economy today is the largest and the strongest in the African continent, and a preferred destination for foreign direct investment. “We have focused on job creation and the expansion of opportunities for our teeming youth as well as interventions to promote Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. Through an internationally a c c l a i m e d transformational agricultural programme, we have re-established agriculture as a business, and a major driver of economic growth. “Today, not only is the

agricultural sector thriving, the value chains in the sector have been activated and have become productive. The country’s food import bill has been reduced, and the non-oil sector has witnessed significant growth. “We have expanded access to education by providing schools and facilities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Today, there is a Federal University in every state of the Federation, and every Nigerian child has been given the opportunity to go to school. “We have successfully privatized the power sector, a process that was adjudged by the international community of investors as transparent and credible. Our trains are moving again, from Lagos to Kano, from Lagos to Ibadan, from Port Harcourt to Enugu. “I am not campaigning to you who are already convinced. I have no doubt that you are all familiar with the achievements of this administration. But I have outlined a few of them to show that we are in a solid position to run a campaign based on our commendable record. Our creditable performance in the past four years should be our strongest selling point as we go to the campaign fields. “Flaunt our achievements in all parts of the country, tell the story of what we have achieved and let the facts and the figures be heard in every nook and cranny of Nigeria.”

Nigeria will get polls right next month

Speaking on next month’s election, President Jonathan who assured Nigerians that the country will get it right and will not break, vowed that those who foment trouble before and after the election would be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land, adding that campaigns must be issue-based and devoid of violence and thuggery. “You have all been invited to serve our great party in this capacity, in recognition of your loyalty, dedication, commitment to the democratic cause, and your outstanding individual talents. “I am fully convinced that not only are you up to the task individually or as a team, but that you also have all that it takesthe passion, intellect, drive, commitment, and the know-how to run a focused, robust and purposeful campaign that will further endear our

ticket to the electorate and bring us victory once again. “As we embark formally on the campaigns for our re-election, our party, the People’s Democratic Party will depend on you. I am also personally counting on you. I ask you to take on this assignment for your great party, for Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo, and also, more importantly, for the country as a whole. “Without doubt, the forthcoming elections mark a critical point in our nation’s history. The eyes of the international community are focused on the transition that lies ahead of us; the fifth postmilitary rule general elections that will be conducted under a civilian dispensation in Nigeria. “The world is asking: Will Nigeria get it right? My categorical response to that is: Yes, we must. And surely, we will. It is your duty to ensure that through your campaigns, and activities, this primary objective is not lost. “Our commitment to free, fair, credible, and violence-free elections remains unshaken. That should also be your commitment as we go to the field to seek the people’s mandate once again. “You must always remember that we are a party of democrats, not a party of hooligans. We are a party of patriots, not a party of renegades. We are a party of statesmen and women. We are a party of builders, not destroyers. We are a party of committed servants of the people. You must let our people see once again, that we are in this to serve and to move Nigeria forward, not to move Nigeria backwards. “In the coming campaigns and elections, we must see to it that Nigeria triumphs, and that democracy wins. No other cause can be greater than the Nigerian cause. Without Nigeria, there will be no President. “We have an obligation to consolidate our democracy, strengthen our institutions and project Nigeria positively

by running a disciplined, issues-based and civilized campaign. That is my charge to you all. “I am especially inspired by the positive energy, the optimism, and the enthusiasm among our party leaders and members. There may be issues arising from the party primaries, which have led to some of our members expressing grievances. But this is the time for all of us to come together and work as one family. At the end of the day, every one of us will be useful in one way or the other.

Campaign team must be civil, decorous

“In doing this, you must be civil, decorous and law-abiding. I have repeatedly promised Nigerians and the international community that as much as it lies within our powers, the coming general elections will be free, fair, credible and violence-free. I made that pledge with all seriousness and I fully intend to fulfil it. “As agents of the ruling party, all eyes will be on you during the campaign and elections. I, therefore, expect nothing but the highest standards of exemplary conduct from you as your worthy contribution to the fulfilment of our pledge of peaceful and successful elections. “Some other politicians and campaigners are threatening fire and brimstone. Do not join them. Some other parties are pulling down other people’s posters. That is primitive. Please, do not join them. Every Nigerian must be free to campaign anywhere. “Thugs, violence and malpractice or rigging must have no place in our campaign and electoral activities. Do not join those who threaten to start fires and turn them into infernos in our country. “I assure you and all Nigerians that whoever foments trouble before, during and after the elections will be promptly and decisively dealt with according to the law."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Fulani militia captures 16 Kaduna villages, displaces 10,000 By Luka Binniyat

ANCHOK—THE Atakad Community Development Association, ACDA, yesterday, said Fulani militia have captured 16 Atakad villages and killed no fewer than 180 persons, with 10,000 forced to become refugees since the violence started in 2013. Speaking at Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area, Kaduna State, during the burial ceremony of the assassinated District Head of Zangang in Atakad Chiefdom, near Manchok, Mr. Yohanna Shinkut, the National President, ACDA, Mr. Ishaya Kunden, said the world was not interested in their plight, even when, according to him, they formed part of the most traumatized of human society. Shinkut was said to have been ambushed and shot dead in his car near his Zangan home around 8p.m., last Saturday, by suspected Fulani gunmen. Most of Atakad land is located on the lush green hills and valleys of the lengthy Kagoro range of the highland in Kaura council of Kaduna State. It is about 250km South of Kaduna metropolis. Kuden said: “Since these invasions and killings of our people started on March 23, 2013, we have lost 16 villages to Fulani invaders. At the last count, 180 people have been killed.

Taken over

“Right now, Fulani men are fully settled with their cattle and families, in Mayit, Agwom, Zakai Gira, Tunga Magwot, Telak, Zakum and Kirim. Go there and see them. Their cattle are grazing on everything we left behind. “The world has forgotten about us, as if we are not human beings and as if are we not part of the most injured in human society. 10,000 Atakad natives are now homeless and are wondering from relations to churches and anywhere else they can get assistance. “The state government has done very little to help. Only the Churches and some nongovernmental organizations are coming in with relief materials for victims still hanging around. “All our children are out of school. Men cannot go back to their farms. It is horrible. All we are asking is for more soldiers and a few things to defend ourselves. We can return if we get that assistance.”

The overall Chief of Atakad Chiefdom, Chief Tobias Wada, in his remarks at the Baptist Church Manchok, venue of the burial service, said: “The people of Southern Kaduna must be united to fight this dangerous trend.

‘Their goal’

“They want to take over our hills and use it as a launch pad to invade Southern Kaduna. That is why they are killing our people in Sanga and chasing them from the hills. “Southern Kaduna people and those governing us cannot afford to see these series of murder of innocent keep on repeating itself. “I call on our brothers in Ganawuri, who are accommodating the Fulani in their lands, to see reasons to negotiate with us and the Fulani.” The burial was attended by prominent traditional rulers from Southern Kaduna, the clergy and a broad segment of Atakad and Maroa communities amidst heavy security mounted by the Nigeria police and the military.

Foiled attack

A security source said there was an attempt, Monday night, by Fulani militia to dislodge the military stationed on the border between Plateau and Kaduna states, from where the invaders usually sneaked into Kaduna State. The source said: “There was exchange of gunfire between our men and some marauders from Ganawuri, Plateaus State border that lasted till this morning. “We repelled them, and there was no casualty from any side. Had they succeeded, this burial ceremony may not have held.”

Transporting men and hay along Ningi Road, Bauchi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Man rapes neighbour's 8-yr-old daughter By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl. The suspect, Auwalu Abdullahi, of Tilden Fulani in Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State, was arrested by police detectives from Toro Division. Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, said the suspect was arrested on January 4. He said: “On January 4, at

3p.m., detectives attached to Toro Division arrested one Auwalu Abdullahi, aged 25, of Tilden Fulani in Toro council. “The suspect lured an eight years old girl, the daughter of his neighbour, into an uncompleted building and raped her. Scene of crime was visited and the victim was rushed to the hospital for medical examination where penetration was confirmed.”

Four arrested for theft, vandalism

Similarly, two suspected car thieves were also arrested by

128 children unaccompanied in Adamawa IDPs camps

HE National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has identified about 128 unaccompanied children in various Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in Adamawa State. The Head of NEMA Special Ad-Hoc Committee on IDPs in Adamawa State, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Yola, yesterday. Bello said so far, only seven of the children had been reunited with their parents or

relations. He said: “We have about 128 unaccompanied children as at last week. “So far, we have reunited seven children with their relations with the help of the International Committee for Red Cross and Red Crescent.” He expressed optimism that more of the kids would be reunited with their parents when normalcy fully returned to the area. He also said that it was not clear whether the children lost

their parents during insurgents attacks on their villages. Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, ADSEMA, Mallam Haruna Furo, said efforts were being made to bring home people who crossed into the neighbouring Cameroon during the attacks. He said some of the children might see their parents or relations among those to be brought back to Nigeria.

police at State Lowcost in Bauchi metropolis, according to Mohammed. He said: “On January 5, at 2a.m., police detectives attached to State Anti-Robbery Squad, while on patrol at State Lowcost, Bauchi, arrested one Abdullahi Musa, 25, of Railway Bauchi and one Lawal Mohammed, 32, male of Kafur in Katsina State. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects specialized in stealing motor vehicles and have confessed to stealing many vehicles, especially Honda Civic. “Further investigation also revealed that suspects are habitual criminals and have been convicted of similar offence and sentenced to imprisonment, where they met and became partners in crime. “In a related development, detectives attached to State Anti-Robbery Squad equally smashed a syndicate, which specialized in vandalizing Nitel cables on same day, 1:3a.m., while on patrol on Wunti Street, Bauchi.” Exhibits recovered from the suspects, according to Mohammed, include seven Nitel cables, two hack saw, and one cutting machine. He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—7

EKITI: Omirin dispels assassination attempt rumour zAs CP wades into Assembly feud By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—THE embattled Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Wale Omirin, has dispelled the rumour of assassination attempt on his life, just as Ekiti State Police Command has waded into the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly. The social media was awash earlier in the day with the story of an attempt on Omirin’s life and his party, All Progressives Congress, APC, issued a statement condemning the supposed development. Omirin, who spoke shortly after a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, yesterday, in Ado Ekiti, said nobody made an attempt on his life, describing the rumour as unfounded. Omirin, who disclosed that plans were on to reconcile the feuding APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in the House, assured that he and other 18 lawmakers belonging to APC would resume in the Assembly as soon as the coast was clear. The lawmaker said he had started speaking with security agencies, traditional rulers and prominent Ekiti indigenes on the need to reconcile the groups in the overall interest of the people of the state. His words: “I am a man of peace. I have always assured Governor Ayodele Fayose of my cooperation and that there was nothing like impeachment plan against him. As far as I am concerned, we are not in Ekiti to foment trouble.

Ready to partner Gov Fayose

“We are ready to partner the governor to move the state forward. He should not see us as enemies. We are ready to resume duty as soon as the process is complete and we feel the coast is clear.” Speaking on the assassination attempt on him, Omirin said: “Some people said they saw some strange faces around my house on Monday and I think that accounted for the rumour. But I want to say there was nothing like that.” Reacting to the rumour, the state Secretary of PDP, Dr. Tope Aluko, who dismissed same, said APC was noted for disseminating negative stories and comments. He said: “Everybody know that APC has a habit of accusing others of doing what they have in mind to do. We are using this opportunity to call on the law enforcement agents operating in the state to brace up. “They should dig deep into

the allegation. Perhaps, APC is planning something and they should watch out.” Meanwhile, state Police Commissioner, Mr. Lakanu, has assured the people of the state that police would always give them protection, irrespective of status or political affiliations. He said the command received a call from Omirin on Monday night that he was in the state and he lead a team of

policemen to his private house to give him protection and assure him that himself and his colleagues were safe. He said: “Omirin has even assured us in writing that he will not make inciting statements and that he will embrace peace.”

… as Fayose promises to pay outstanding salaries

In another development, the

Special Assistant to the Governor of Ekiti State on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has assured that the Ayodele Fayose-led government will pay all outstanding salaries and benefits of workers in the state. Olayinka said in a statement yesterday that the Fayose administration had been paying workers salary since its emergence in October 2014.

Fake Lagos CP Facebook account uncovered

HE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said it had uncovered a fake Facebook account bearing the name of its Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Aderanti. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, in a statement, said:

“The account in question, which is CP Kayode Aderanti, was recently introduced by one shadowy character as the authentic Facebook account of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commissioner of Police,

Lagos State Command, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, does not operate a Facebook account, either official or private. “Therefore, he advises all members of the public, particularly Facebook users, to ignore the said account as it does not belong to Mr. Aderanti.”

PROTEST: Victims of 2011 post-election violence, protest over non-payment of Federal and state governments compensation in Kaduna, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Man seeks dissolution of 22-yr-old marriage over threat to life

55-year-old civil servant, Mr. Olusegun Ofina, yesterday in Lagos, pleaded with an Igando Customary Court to dissolve his 22-year-old marriage to Omotayo over threat to his life. Ofina told the court that his wife used to attack him with knife, cutlass and other dangerous weapons whenever there was any fight or misunderstanding. He said: “My wife is a violent woman. She fights me with dangerous weapons anytime we quarrel. “She once poured boiling water on me, which landed me in hospital.” The petitioner described his wife as troublesome, who always engages in dangerous and physical fight with his mother, tenants and siblings. My wife always engaged members of my family in fight and even went to my family house to fight them. Omotayo, 41, also a civil servant and mother of four, accepted some of the allegations and denied others. She said her husband was not bold enough to take decision without seeking his family’s consent. She, however, begged the court not to grant her husband’s request, saying that she still loves him. The court President, Mr. R. Adeyeri, adjourned the case till January 26 for judgment.

Court dissolves 18-yr-old marriage over wife’s frequent partying

N Igando Customary Court in Lagos, yesterday, dissolved the 18-year-old marriage between Mr. Olukayode Atolagbe and his wife, Bisi over her frequent partying. The court’s President, Mr. R. I. Adeyeri, said all efforts to reconcile both parties failed and the court had no choice than to dissolve the union. Adeyeri ruled: “Both parties are no longer husband and wife. They are free to go their separate ways.” The petitioner, Mr. Olukayode Atolagbe, 47, had filed a suit seeking for the dissolution of his 18-year-old marriage over his wife’s frequent partying. He said: “My wife hardly stays at home as she frequently goes from one party to another, both on weekdays and at weekends.

z‘I attend parties to maintain customer base' “She cannot do without attending three to four parties a week; sometimes she will go for days without bothering about what the children will eat.” He described his wife as a “fighter and a trouble maker,” saying that she always fought their tenants and even himself in public, to the extent of tearing his clothes. “Before I built my house, our landlords always ejected us from our apartments due to my wife’s frequent fighting with either the landlords’ wives or fellow tenants,” he said. Olukayode said his wife would strip herself naked to swear on him, and that such curses had affected his life and businesses. He begged the court to

separate them, saying that he could no longer cope with her behaviour and that he did not love her anymore.

He slept with our tenant— WIFE

In her response, Bisi Atolagbe, 40, accused her husband of sleeping with one of their tenants. The mother of four said: “My husband is having an affair. I caught him red-handed with one of our tenants.” She, however, did not contest the allegation of frequently attending parties. “I attend parties a lot, especially those organised by my friends, relatives and my customers, so that they can continue to patronize me.”

She said her husband had planned to kill her. She said: “I saw my husband dropping something at my door and confronted him. He said it was rat poison. “But we had never seen any rat in the house. By the time I came down from my bed to see what he dropped, he had picked it and ran to his room.” The respondent said her husband could not take any decision of his own except he first consulted with his family. Bisi also accused her husband of starving her of sex, saying that he last slept with her in March 2014. She, however, begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish, that she still loved him.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

We won’t postpone Feb polls — INEC zSays polls in N-East‘ll be determined by security agencies zAs Police warn politicians to play by the rules By Joseph Erunke

BUJA — THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, rebuffed entreaties to postpone next month’s round of elections, saying it was financially and mentally set for the polls. The commission, nevertheless, affirmed that the go-ahead for elections in the troubled Northeast would be given by security agencies. Also yesterday, the Inspector General of Police, Sulieman Abba, vowed to deal with errant politicians who heat up the polity through negative utterances, saying he would show to them that no one could be above the law. The assertions at a workshop for the training of security agencies ahead of the general elections came as INEC said the conduct of election in the troubled Northeast would be determined by the counsel of security agencies. Chairman, INEC Electoral Training Institute, Dr Ishmaeal Igbani, who spoke on behalf of the commission in giving the readiness of the commission for the polls said the commission was comfortable with the fund it has at its disposal at the moment. He said: “Anytime there is election in Nigeria, there is always some form of tension. I have been around for a while and I don’t think it is something new. I don’t think people should be afraid. But it is also essential that we get ready just in case.” Lagos pastor, Tunde Bakare had last Sunday called for the postponement of the elections for the purpose of allowing tension among political gladiators to ebb. According to him, “it is also very important that we have peaceful elections, it is also important that voters come out to vote without fear. It is also important that the personnel who will work for us and the environment itself is peaceful and for it to be peaceful, it is important for the security agencies to be alert and ensure that they do what they are supposed to do.” He said a minimum of 50 personnel were being trained, adding: “We call this cascade training. After this training of trainers who will now go to their various security organisations to train others and so forth which will go down the line in that way. More will be trained in a more cheaper way.“

Elections in North-East

Speaking on the possibility of conducting elections in the North-East, he said: “Our work in the commission is to conduct elections; other people have been given that assignment. They are in a better position to answer that. But what I can tell you is that once the coast is clear we will hold elections. On the alleged paucity of funds by the commission to conduct elections, he said: “We are comfortable with what we have. I am just hearing of that for the first time. Nobody will postpone election. Why will it be postponed?" Commenting on the prospect of internally displaced persons in the Northeast voting, he said the INEC committee charged with finding a solution to the issue had yet to submit its report.

Police warn politicians

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, speaking through the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Monitoring, Mohammed Ghanzali, said the police, being the leading security agency for all elections, will enforce the rule of the law. He said: “If you (political actors) commit any offence, the agencies here will go back and ensure they cascade what they have learnt here today and you will be arrested and dealt with accordingly. So the politicians must play by the rules." Referring specifically to politicians planning to cause trouble in the course of the elections, he said: “The only thing is that we are going to deal with anybody that thinks he is above the law. All I am saying is that politicians should obey the law. “We are to make sure that we secure the area as the leading agency for election. We have nothing to say other than for them to obey the rules of the law. If they don’t obey the rules of law, we will deal with them in accordance with the law.”

Number of policemen to be deployed

On the number of policemen that would be deployed for the 2015 elections, he said: “The population of the area depends on the polling units

and the security agencies we have around. The commissioner of police in the state will be the one to deploy. He knows what is on the ground.“

On partisanship

Responding to allegations that the police was partisan, in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he said: “The police can never be partisan, that is why we are here as the lead agency to ensure that

we secure the area. If they want the police to be partisan, they would not have been called to ensure the security of the area. “All those that are voting have the party they want to vote for. So they have sympathy for the parties they want to vote for. We are just there to ensure there is law and order and that every stakeholder plays by the rules.”

SECURITY MEETING: From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke; Defence Minister, Alhaji Aliyu Gusau and Service Chiefs during a security meeting on the North-East chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Oil spill: Shell to pay Ogoni community N16.6bn zShell should implement UNEP Report – ERA

AGOS — THE Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, yesterday said it has agreed to pay the Bodo Community in Ogoniland, Rivers State, the sum of £55 million (about N16.6 billion) (N300 to £1) as compensation for damages caused by two oil spills in 2008. Shell said in a statement made available to Vanguard that the bulk of the money, about £35 million will, be paid to individuals who agree on the settlement terms, while the balance of £20 million will be for the benefit of the general community. According to Shell, “… a £55 million settlement agreement with the Bodo community in respect of the two highly regrettable operational spills in the area in 2008. “The £55 million settlement provides for an individual payment to each claimant who accepts the settlement agreement in compensation for losses arising from the spills, amounting to up to £35 million in total. “The remaining £20 million payment will be made for the benefit of the Bodo community generally.”

Shell should implement

UNEP Report — ERA

But a spokesperson of environment rights group, Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Phillip Jakpor, in a swift reaction insisted that the amount being paid by Shell is “a gross underestimation of the damages caused by the spills.” Rather than reeling out figures, the rights group urged Shell to “simply implement the UNEP Report on Ogoniland and allow an independent body to monitor the exercise.” Recall that in 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, recommended the setting up of a $1 billion fund to clean up contaminated land in Ogoni, on account of spills from its operations in the area. While Shell had regretted the spills and expressed willingness to clean up the area by providing its counterpart funding, the Federal Government’s inability to take action on the matter had frustrated its efforts to clean up the area. A spokesman for Shell, Mr. Precious Okolobo, had insisted last year that Shell “has made progress in addressing all the recommendations directed to it in that publication.” He added: “The majority of UNEP’s recommendations

require multi-stakeholder efforts coordinated by the federal government” and neither Shell nor “any other stakeholder is in a position to implement the entirety of UNEP’s recommendations unilaterally.” As a result, some 11,000 residents of the coastal Bodo community in Ogoniland, who said their land and wetlands were spoiled after two spills in 2008, sued Shell in a United Kingdom, UK Court in 2012. But settlement talks broke down after their lawyers rejected a compensation offer made by Shell, on the grounds that it was grossly inadequate. Judge Robert Akenhead had ruled in June last year that Nigeria’s Oil Pipelines Act, was adequate for compensating for spills, thus limiting the scope of the U.K. litigation to an assessment of actual damages caused. Shell’s country Chair/Managing Director, SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, was quoted as saying in the statement, “From the outset, we’ve accepted responsibility for the two deeply regrettable operational spills in Bodo. We’ve always wanted to compensate the community fairly and we are pleased to have reached agreement. “We are fully committed to the clean-up process being overseen by a former Netherlands’ Ambassador to Nigeria."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—9

ATTACK ON JONATHAN:

Obasanjo laid foundation for present crisis —Babatope, Esele, Odumakin, Opadokun By Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

AGOS — MIXED reactions, yesterday, trailed accusation of mismanagement of Nigeria’s oil revenue levelled against President Goodluck Jonathan by a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Many, who spoke were unanimous in accusing Obasanjo of laying the foundation that led to the current dire state of the economy. They, however, did not spare Jonathan for allegedly encouraging profligacy in the present dispensation. Those who spoke were a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; exPresident General of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Peter Esele; Publicity Secretary of Pan-Yoruba sociocultural organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and a former chieftain of defunct National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Chief Ayo Opadokun.

economy confirmed that the were all busy sharing the oil revenue without proper planning for the rainy day. "Nigeria is the only country where people gather to share money monthly without making concrete plans for wealth creation. I believe the former President is responsible for our problems. He said he assisted the man in becoming the President. Since he has described the man as a failure, he is also a failure. Since he is making us believe that the president is failure, it also means that he made the wrong decision. "There are other channels of communicating with the President rather this. However,

I don’t think there is any secret in all Obasanjo said because they had all been in the public domain. "My comment does not have anything to do with whether the President is re-elected or not. My focus is on the implications of the development on the polity. "The question now, should be on how to get the economy work. Whoever emerges the President would have to make to critical decisions on how to handle the situation. He would either borrow to run finance governance or devalues the currency. But it is going to be tough for whoever that is elected president because these are not the best of times."

"It is very clear to Nigerians He’s becoming a public that Obasanjo wants this nuisance—Afenifere Odumakin said: “It is the media that has been giving Obasanjo undue relevance. You are not helping this country by giving him that kind of attention. He is a man who spent all his years in government encouraging corruption. "During his administration, N560 billion was not remitted into the federation account and people are not asking questions. Nigerians must continue to hold their leaders accountable and they must continue to ask questions but with due respect, Obasanjo is turning himself into a public nuisance. He should spare us.

Obasanjo is after President’s downfall —Babatope

In his remarks, Babatope said: "Obasanjo has raised no issue and I have no doubt that this attack on President Jonathan is part of his plans to make Nigerians reject Jonathan ahead of the February 2015 election. "Obasanjo himself was President of this country twice, he should not be found making such statements or attacking an innocent man. Obasanjo himself would not have been happy if anybody attacked him while he was in office, but here he is attacking an innocent man. "There is nothing Obasanjo will say to change the minds of Nigerians towards voting for President Jonathan during the February elections. Obasanjo is an experienced man in government and he should not be the one making such statements."

Hold Obasanjo responsible for our problems —Esele

"The President has himself to blame for what is happening because he is the leader of the country. It has shown how the oil revenue is being managed. We all knew about the existence of excess crude account. The state of the

VISIT: From left: Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, MD/CEO, Bank of Industry presenting a copy of BOI Impact Magazine to Mr Ademola Olorunfemi, President, Nigeria Society of Engineers while Mr Kola Adeniji, MD/CEO, Niji-Lukas Nigeria Ltd and Mr Adetokunbo Akinsola, Regional Manager, North, Bank of Industry look on during a courtesy visit to the bank's head office in Lagos.

country to be in a crisis so that they will call on him again to come and save the country. That is what he is playing out.”

Jonathan has institutionalised corruption — Opadokun

In his submission, Opadokun said: “I will not want to throw the baby away with the bath water just as I do not want to pontificate over the genuineness of ex-President Obasanjo but I believe strongly that he has spoken the minds of every Nigerian. "I am not saying that Obasanjo is the best man to make such statements but these allegations are evident that Jonathan’s administration is a failure when it comes to corruption compared to other past administrations. “Ex-President Ibrahim Babangida administration whom many of us labelled the most corrupt government has come out to say he should be regarded a saint, a situation that has further confirmed that corruption has been institutionalised by the Jonathan administration. "The Jonathan-led administration has been making a fool of Nigerians and one begins to wonder what kind of society we are living in. But without mincing words, what Obasanjo has said in that regard is very accurate and it further confirmed that the Jonathan administration has failed."

Ebola kills 8,153 in S/Leone, Liberia, Guinea, others—WHO zAs Liberia plans to reopen schools By Sola Ogundipe & Gabriel Olawale

AGOS — THE worst Ebola outbreak on record has killed 8,153 people out of the total number of 20,656 confirmed, probable and suspected cases, a mortality rate of 39 per cent, even as Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has announced the reopening of schools in the country from February 2. Disclosing this in a statement, the World Health Organisation, WHO, revealed that 2,915 deaths have been reported from Sierra Leone, 3,471 in Liberia and 1,767 in Guinea. The current outbreak, which began about a year ago, has also claimed more than dozen lives elsewhere. The development which came

as a result of declined in the number of cases recorded daily has the latest figures showed the infection rate has dwindled to just three cases a day. Also, the US also plans to withdraw about half of its 2,400 troops six months after the virus struck, claiming 3,400 lives. On July 30,2014, Sirleaf ordered all schools to close their doors to contain the epidemic. Optimism has been increased by figures issued by the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). They show the country had no confirmed Ebola cases on 31 December and just 91 cases in the past 21 days. This compares starkly with the 979 cases in the past three weeks in neighbouring Sierra Leone where, UNMEER says,

“transmission remains intense” but the infection rate in Liberia is moving to a national average of just over three cases per day, it said on its Facebook page on Monday. US Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who visited the country, said the epidemic had reduced “to a few embers” and many of the soldiers there are now “bored because they have accomplished most of their mission.” “We can’t declare mission accomplished and withdraw too early here, [but] we can bring home a thousand or more of these troops now,” he told CBS’s Face the Nation. In another piece of good news for Liberia, the country’s football federation announced the resumption of competitive

matches. Musa Bility, the president of the Liberian Football Association, said the ban was lifted “with immediate effect” but he urged players to keep in mind preventative measures to halt the spread of Ebola. The incidence of Ebola has been declining in Liberia since midNovember, with Médecins sans Frontières closing one of its hospitals on 10 December after recording no new patients in six weeks. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced at the weekend that schools would reopen on 2 February but did not specify whether the measure would apply to the entire education system.

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Chief Registrar chased away from court premises

JUDICIARY STRIKE:

zAs Synagogue building collapse inquest suffers setback By AbdulwahabAbdulah, Bartholomew Madukwe & Ebele Okafor

AGOS—THE strike action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, took a disturbing turn yesterday as the striking union officials chased away the Chief Registrar to the Lagos State High Court and locked out Judges from their courtrooms.

Inquest suffers setback

The strike action also took its toll on the ongoing coroner's inquest investigating the causes of multiple death at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, guest house last year. The work to rule by the striking workers that commenced on Monday, according to them was to fight for the independence of the judiciary. This is the seventh time that the workers, will embark on such action but has yielded no result except promises from the authorities. In some instances, there were differences over such actions among the workers in the state judiciary and the Federal judiciary, where the latter refused to join the action until they were compelled by JUSUN officials. As at yesterday, some of the officials of the JUSUN, who were said to have come from Abuja to supervise the action locked all gates into the court premises with

keys and chains. The height of their action, was when the workers vehemently refused the plea to enter the premises by the state High Court Chief Registrar, Mr Olugbenga Ogundare, accompanied by the High Court Internal Auditor and Director of Finance and Administration who arrived the premises at about 9.05 am.

Judge rebuffed

Also, a Judge, (name withheld) was rebuffed by those officials mounting the gate, who insisted that the Judge cannot enter into the

premises, maintaining that proper notices were served before the commencement of the action. Efforts to speak with the Registrar was futile as he said he was not ready to talk on the issue. Already, the strike action has affected so many cases and other ancillary matters such as families whose wills were meant to be read yesterday by probate officials.

Bank's fate

Also, a branch of the Skye Bank located within the court premises were shut out of business.

Meanwhile, further proceedings into the coroner investigating the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church, Ikotun, Lagos was stalled as well. The coroner presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe had on December 23, 2014 adjourned till January 6, 2015. The inquest was instituted under the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 to unravel the cause of the building collapse which had a total of 116 allegedly killed when the six-storey building collapsed on September 12, 2014.

MEETING: From left: Director General, Campaign Committee, Senator Oluremi Tinubu 2015, Alhaji, Mutiu Are, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Mr Wale Edun, during the inaugural meeting of Restoration 2015 Re-Elect Sen. Oluremi Tinubu for Lagos Central Senatorial District, at her Constituent Office,Yaba, Lagos, yesterday.

Revisit party primaries, Bode George tells PDP leadership By DapoAkinrefon

AGOS—FORMER Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has called on the leadership of the party to revisit the just conducted governorship primaries held across the country by setting up a committee to look into other methodologies to handle the rancour-ridden primaries. George addressed party members at his Lugard office in Ikoyi on his return from the United Kingdom on Monday night. He said: “The PDP needs to revisit the process of our primaries. The National Working Committee of our party, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and National Working Committee must set up a committee to look into the primaries.”

Speaking further, he said: “We must revisit the primaries, it is a clarion call and I will make the move because it is not good for our party and it may cost us a lot. We are all aware that those in the opposition usually select their candidates but we in the PDP do not indulge in such. I am hoping that we will be able to calm all the frayed nerves.” He, however, expressed optimism that his party ’s candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, will defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC, in next month’s general election. According to him; “At home here, we have made the right and the wise choice in our party. The choice of Jimi Agbaje as our governorship candidate is the shining of light over darkness. It is a

triumph of the truth over falsehood, it is a noble attestation of the voice of the people affirming itself in vivid largeness.” While he faulted the APCled administration in Lagos state of allegedly letting down the people of Lagos, he said the Lagos State government must account for N30 trillion generated revenue for the state in the last 16 years. George said: “Here in Lagos, the PDP has listened and affirmed the choice of the majority of Lagosians. Yes, Lagosians want change. We want a change from the callous, self-centred 16 years of prodigal cronyism to a selfless, God-fearing and people oriented governance. Lagosians want a change from a cold-hearted, selfish and indifferent acquisitive

power-mongers to a government that protects the interests of the people and appreciate the fact that power must always be used with discipline and utmost sacrifice. We will ask them to account for the over N30 trillion generated revenue in the last 16 years, we will ask them to tell Lagosians how one man alone can be taking more than N5 billion from our collective treasury every month.” Stating the need for Lagosians to vote for the PDP in next month’s governorship election, he said: “Our campaign will be based on truth and observable logic. We will engage the APC on the high moral ground of polished enlightenment, we will offer sound vision, selfless service and missionary sacrifice.”

CAMPAIGN POSTERS: APC

decries Lagos CP's threat

By Evelyn Usman

AGOS—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, described threat by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP, Kayode Aderanti, to arrest any individual or agency who removes posters or billboards of political parties, as capable of generating crisis, if political parties decided to paste their billboards on unauthorised designations. In a swift reaction to the CP’s statement, the party’s spokesperson, Joe Igbokwe wondered why the CP decided to go ahead to bring the issue to the public domain, having had a prior meeting with the General Manager of the Lagos Synergy and Advertising Agency,LASAA, where he said the state’s position on pasting of posters and billboards of any kind was made known to him. He said: “Having heard from the MD LASAA and thereafter still went ahead to address a press conference threatening to arrest officials of the agency is unbecoming for anybody that is privileged to be a Commissioner of Police. "There is an existing law in Lagos regarding placements of adverts . You do not just wake up and start pasting adverts anywhere. You must seek permission from the statutory agency . As a rule, LASAA does not allow posters to be laid on major highways. Majority of those billboards you see are owned by private investors. "What the Commissioner of Police failed to tell them is that posters can be placed on the streets but not on major roads because they deface the aesthetic nature of our roads. Even APC does not place adverts on major roads. “ I don’t want to say that the CP is becoming partisan but he should understand that this is Lagos." Meantime,themanagementofthe Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency,LASSA, has expressed determination to defend and continue with its lawful duty of removing illegally pasted posters within the metropolis. It will be recalled that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. KayodeAderanti,hadearliersaidthe police would henceforth arrest staff oftheagencywhoattempttoremove any billboard or poster of candidates of the various political parties even if such was illegally deployed. Reacting to the statement, the Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. GeorgeNoah,yesterday,vowedthat the agency would not shy away from carrying out its statutory responsibility of removing election campaignmaterialsindiscriminately placed at unauthorized places in the state.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 —11

There'll be no room for graft, insurgency under my reign —Buhari By Davies Iheamnachor & Chioma Onuegbu

ORT HARCOURT— THE All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), effectively began his quest to become the next president of the country, yesterday. At separate functions in Port Harcourt and Uyo, he wooed the electorate in style with promises. While flagging off his campaigns in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Buhari said he will ensure that there are no rooms for corruption and insurgency, if elected on February 14, adding that the level of insecurity in the nation is deplorable. Speaking to about 40,000 supporters at the event, the former Head of State assured the people of Rivers State and the nation that his interest is for the nation to be free from all the terrible incidents that have heightened tension in the country.

He spoke as the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambawal said the country does not deserve the kind of administration it has at the centre, stressing that the level of insecurity and corruption is alarming. Tambuwal who said he made a right decision for defecting to APC said: “We don’t deserve the kind of leadership we have at the federal level. Today in the country we are witnessing high level of insecurity and corruption. Buhari is the best option for change.”

Professionals for job and wealth creation

Buhari assured Nigerians that he would assemble a team of professionals in the country to fashion out ways of creating jobs and wealth and ensuring security for the betterment of the country. His words: “I will ensure that there is no room for corruption and insurgency in the country. The level of insecurity in the nation is deplorable. We will assemble a

team of professionals in the country to ensure job creation, wealth and security for the betterment of the country. Everyone who has attained the ages of 18 and above should go and get his or her PVC, to be able to vote APC which is the best choice for the expected change in the country.”

Storms Uyo, vows to jail corrupt leaders

From Port Harcourt, Buhari headed for Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, for another rally at the Uyo Township Stadium where he spoke in like manner. Lamenting that corruption and insecurity had eaten deep into the fabrics of the society under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government led by President Jonathan, he said Nigeria has reached a critical stage when all hands must be on deck to change the corrupt leadership that has destroyed the country. His words: “We have a lot to do to secure this country. We have reached a stage when we must send PDP out. PDP must go. Enough is enough. I tried to find out in the last 16 years how much we have fared but discovered that we have lost. Now you said you have oil money but your money is being stolen by your leaders. But when voted into power in February 14, 2015, I assure you that Nigerian wealth will belong to Nigeria, nobody will be given the opportunity to steal your wealth

to invest somewhere else. We will draw a line when we come into power. Anybody who steals Nigeria’s kobo will find himself in jail.

I am still in office by God’s grace

The governor of Rivers State and the Director General of Buhari Campaign Team, Chibuike, who declined making much speech at the rally because the day was not for him, said: “I became governor by the grace of God and I am still in the office till today just by His grace. I remember by this time last year, they had collected money from the Federal Government to remove us from office but it was not possible by His Grace. As the governor of the state, I will continue to stand by the people of the state. I urge you to go for your PVC so that you can be eligible to vote during the election.” The governor also disclosed that some delegates to the rally from Khana and Asari-Toru Local Government Areas were attacked by unidentified gunmen on their way to the rally. A disclosure that the police confirmed, saying that one person was injured during the attack.

Oyegun presents flag to Dakuku

At the flag-off, APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, officially presented the party’s flag to it’s Rivers governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and his running mate, Hon. Asita O. Asita. He said the choice of Dakuku remained the best, adding that the whole country is envious of Rivers State because change had started from the state. He also said the country should vote Buhari for electricity and a corruption-free society, stressing that Buhari represents discipline.

APC presidential campaign holds today in Osun By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—THE Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola would today lead Nigerians in the great road procession tagged “Nigerians Walk for Change.” The road procession is coming up barely 24 hours after the APC kicked off its presidential campaign in Port Harcourt. The party in a statement released in Osogbo yesterday said that the State capital will be agog when tens of thousands of people take to designated streets in the state capital in a marathon walk from Government House at 7am through Oke-fia/ OlaiyaOdi-Olowo/Isale Aro through Gbemu Junction, Oluode Market, Boorepo- Aiyetoro and terminating at Osogbo City Stadium.

Akala, other LP candidates canvass vote in markets

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—PROMINENT candidates of the Labour Party in Oyo State including former Governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday went round Ibadan metropolis to canvass for votes in the 2015 election. Akala recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for LP. The former Governor who was warmly received by LP and made the party ’s governorship candidate visited popular markets in the city where he interacted with traders and market leaders.

Daniel is my political associate —Kashamu

By Etop Ekanem

B E O K U TA — CHAIRMAN, Mobilization Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the SouthWest, Prince Bur uji Kashamu, has said that a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was his political associate. “We are comfortable with each other and the fact that he was a twotime Governor and a senior in politics qualifies him as our leader but I am

a sensational and active leader,” he said. Kashamu told newsmen that the duo were not at loggerheads, although there might be little misunderstanding between the leaders. On the race for Ogun East Senatorial ticket, Kashamu said: “My leader, Otunba Daniel authorised me to contest based on our agreed formula-sharing. After due consultations and evaluations with party leaders and elders, given

the fact that Yewa in Ogun East had been marginalised for over 30 years, Gboyega Nasri Isiaka, GNI, was proposed by Otunba Daniel as the governorship candidate and was adopted by the party leaders and elders of the three Senatorial zones which are Ogun East, Ogun West and Central. “I then had no choice but to also lend my support. He contested against Hon. Amusan on the December 8, 2014, won and emerged as the party’s candidate."

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—13

Shun provocative utterances, Uduaghan urges Nigerians By Festus Ahon

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, told Nigerians to shun provocative utterances and actions capable of creating tension in the country. Speaking at the launch of the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem Appeal Week in Asaba, Uduaghan stressed the need for Nigerians to embrace dialogue. The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ovuozorie Macaulay, said: "The occasion requires everyone to reflect on the need to avoid violent conflicts in the society by doing everything possible to promote peace and harmony.” Enjoining the people to be fervent in prayers to God, so that the present security challenges facing the country do not escalate, Uduaghan called for prayers for "other countries in the world that are currently suffering from insurgency.” According to him, “The week-long programme which started today (yesterday) is designed to accord the armed

Bayelsa inaugurates c'ttee on power By Samuel Oyadongha

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has inaugurated the Bayelsa State Power Development Standing Committee to boost electricity supply in the state. Vanguard gathered that 18 years after its creation, most parts of the state, especially communities in the coastal enclaves, are yet to be connected to the national grid with most of the natives relying on generating plants. The Imiringi Gas Turbine, which hitherto supplied some communities in Ogbia Local Government Area in the East senatorial district and part of Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa Local Government Areas in the Central senatorial district, have since collapsed.

forces the honour they deserve for their sacrifices to their fatherland. We are gathered here to appreciate the sacrifices made by members of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the two World Wars, the Nigerian civil war,

other regional conflicts and the current fight against insurgency. “It is pertinent that we use this period to reflect on the need to avoid future violent conflicts in the society by doing everything possible to

promote peace and harmony at all times. I exhort all Nigerians to embrace dialogue and abstain from provocative utterances and actions that will create tension in the country as we prepare for the general elections.”

UNIBEN ASUU, students protest demolition of varsity's property by Edo govt By Simon Ebegbulem

SEMINAR: From left: Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), Commissioner for Justice, Delta State; Chief Paulinus Akpeki, representative of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Justice Z. A. Smith, Chief Judge of Delta State, during a three-day development course for lawyers in Delta State Ministry of Justice, in Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Nath Onojake.

DELTA GOV RACE: Ogboru picks Erebi as running mate By Emma Amaize

ARRI—LABOUR Party, LP, governorship candidate in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has picked the former President General of Isoko Development Union, IDU, Elder Peter Erebi, as his running mate. Ogboru is from Delta Central senatorial district, mainly Urhobo, while Erebi is from Delta South senatorial district, comprising Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities. An Isoko leader who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard, yesterday: “Chief Erebi was presented by a coalition of Isoko leaders in the three major political parties, who are aggrieved that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, opted for an Ijaw person as his running mate, whereas incumbent Senator James Manager, gunning for the Senate seat for the fourth time against a mutually agreed power rotation formula, is Ijaw.” LP chairman in Isoko South

Local Government Area, Ito Lugard, confirmed to Vanguard when contacted on phone that Chief Erebi had been picked as Ogboru’s running mate. He said: “The position of IDU is that Isoko people will

work for the political party that gives Isoko the deputy governor. Now that the Labour Party has done so, Isoko sons and daughters should work for the party. It is time Isoko leaders proved their leadership to the people.”

Cabinet shake up not due to rift with First Family —Bayelsa govt By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—THE Bayelsa State Government, yesterday, described as a “deliberate propagation of falsehood and the handiwork of mischief makers,” claims that the recent minor cabinet shake up in the state was due to rifts between Governor Seriake Dickson, President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan. The government in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel IworisoMarkson, said the minor cabinet shake-up was due to the need to inject new blood into the system of the presentation administration in the state. He said: “Contrary to the

reports, having been in the saddle for nearly three years and knowing that this is an election year, the governor decided to effect the shake up to inject new blood into the system to bring about the needed changes to impact more positively on the people of the state. “This was well captured in the government statement announcing the changes. In furtherance of his commitment to deliver more robustly on his administration’s restoration agenda, Governor Dickson has stepped up efforts geared towards re-organising the machinery of the government. “This is not the first cabinet shake up under the restoration government of Dickson and this will surely not be the last."

E N I N — MEMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, UNIBEN chapter and students of the university, protested on the streets of Benin, yesterday, condemning the demolition by the Edo State Government on Monday, of property given to UNIBEN by the government of Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, including the official residence of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin. They described the demolition as illegal. But reacting, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Henry Idahagbon, said: “We did not demolish UNIBEN property. We only took possession of Edo State Government property based on a court judgment of December 16, 2014.”

Rivers Reps candidate calls for ex-LG boss' arrest By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT—HOUSE of Representatives candidate on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, for Obio/Akpor federal constituency, Rivers State, Mr Tony Okocha, has called for the arrest and prosecution of former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Prince Tony Nsirim, for allegedly assaulting him. But in a twist of events, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement by media aide to the state Chairman, Mr Jerry Needam in defence of Mr Nsirim, alleged that Mr Okocha beat up the former chairman, a situation the party said resulted in his being hospitalised.

14â€”Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Jonathan at PDP campaign inauguration Vice President Namadi Sambo (right), and the PDP Chairman, Mallam Adamu Mu'azu (2nd right), felicitating with Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State (left); Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada (2nd left); Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, and Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State.

From left, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus; Director General, PDP Campaign Organisation, Chief Amadu Ali; Senate President David Mark, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, and the Vice President Arc. Namadi Sambo, welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan, during the inaugural ceremony of the committee, at the National Presidential Campaign Headquarters, Legacy House, Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu.

President Goodluck Jonathan, flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo and the PDP National Chairman, Mallam Adamu Mu'azu (3rd right); Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih (2nd right); Senate President, Senator David Mark (2nd left); Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio (left), and the Director General, Presidential Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali (right), standing for the rendition of the national anthem.

APC presidential campaign

General Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate (right); his runing mate, Professor Yemi Osibanjo (2nd right); APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, and Hon. Abike Dabiri, during the APC Presidential Campaign Flag-Off, yesterday, at the Adokiye Stadium, Rivers State. Photos: Nwankpa Chijioke

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right); Rivers State APC Governorship Candidate, Hon. Dakuku Peterside (middle), and his running mate, Hon. Asita Asita.

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right); his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former FCT Minister.

A huge crowd at the stadium.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 — 15

C M Y K

16 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Celebrities' look in 2015 I T IS no doubt that good looks can be a potential tool in celebrity business, so powerful it is that it can turn a no-name celebrity to a rising star, and potently make a rising star glow endlessly. Already in 2015, some celebrities have reeled out images that

have become big delight to the eyes of their fans after posting the stunning images which went viral on social media. Here is a list of some celebrities whose looks are rocking the social media at the moment.

Borno faces existential threat — Governor his state which were under the control of the insurgents. BUJA — GOVERNOR of Borno However, he declined to do so, saying State, Kashim Shettima has said that doing so would bolster the confidence that the activities of the Boko Haram of the terrorists. sect pose an ‘existential threat’ to the He said “because these lunatics feast people of the state in particular and in the oxygen of publicity; the more the North Eastern part of the country publicity they get the happier they in general. become. I don’t want to give them that Shettima, who described the Boko luxury. But I want to assure you that with Haram insurgents and their leader, 1,000 years of recorded history, Borno Sheik Abubakar Shekau as lunatics shall rise again in spite of all the who bask on publicity given to their challenges, believe me, In sha Allah.” atrocities to commit more crimes. Describing the leader of the Boko Haram He spoke to State House sect, Abubakar Shekau as “a lunatic and correspondents shortly after a security a deranged element,” who should not be meeting with President Goodluck accorded any respect, Shettima said the Jonathan at the Presidential Villa. actions of the leader of Boko Haram are The Chief of Defence staff, Marshal beneath the act of even an animal. Alex Badeh also vowed that the military He, however, commended the military would soon retake Baga which was which he said “are making efforts. I want seized by the Boko Haram last week. to leave it at that. I don’t want to pass any Shettima called for the deployment of negative comment. They are people with more troops to the region in order to blood running in their veins facing the contain the activities of the terrorists. insurgents and so I have to be respectful Shettima had been asked to comment of the institution.” on the number of local governments in On the abducted school girls in Chibok, the governor said the best person to comment on them is the coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, and the By Lawani Mikairu Director General of the HE NIGERIAN Civil Aviation Authority, National Orientation NCAA, yesterday, defended the recent Agency, NOA, Mike spate of flight cancellations and delays being Omiri. “They are my girls experienced by passengers at the nation's certainly, they are airports, attributing it to current adverse weather Nigerians, they are your conditions. girls as well. They are our A statement by “NCAA, therefore, wishes to advise all passengers to show understanding and daughters. So nobody has exercise caution when airlines are rescheduling monopoly over those girls, our hearts go to their and cancelling flights.” NCAA added that the airline operators are parents, we have offered strictly adhering to the regulatory guidelines succour to the girls.” He maintained that his enshrined by the Authority to conduct airline government and indeed operations in Nigeria in the interest of safety. the people of the state were NCAA had issued a weather alert to sensitise all pilots on the hazards associated with not resting on "our oars, and harmattan dust haze in flight operations at this would continue to support time of the year, thus serving as an alert as well the military by providing with quality as warning to aircraft captains to be aware of the them when obvious threat hamattan dust haze pose to aircraft, information available," noting that particularly in the areas of low visibility. despite the destructive “Harmattan, which is prevalent at the cessation of rainy season, leads to heavy fog, hence air-to activities of the terrorists, he -ground visibility is considerably reduced. As a was optimistic that they result, this makes airline operations unsafe and would be defeated. “I am an eternal optimist dangerous if not adequately put into and I am passionate too for consideration.” “All pilots are, therefore, expected to obtain that matter that we shall adequate departure, en route and destination have enduring peace very weather information and briefing from Nigerian soon with the very robust frame work on ground. We Meteorological Agency. don’t want to mention a date or anything but I believe our military is rising to the challenges of the time. “Our military will robustly By Johnbosco Agbakwuru respond to the challenges, BUJA — AHEAD of the February 28, I believe. Like I said earlier, governorship elections, youths from Mbutu I am an eternal optimist; we Mbaise, the home town of the Peoples Democratic have to hope for the best Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Imo State, Emeka against whatever odds.” Ihedioha, have constituted a 10-man committee to Despite his optimism, the oversee his campaign. governor, however, painted The committee headed by a cleric, Evangelist Leo a grim picture as he Nwigwe, was saddled with the responsibility of admitted that some local mobilising the people, especially in the rural areas. governments were under The committee was also given the mandate to source the control of the for funds that would facilitate required logistics for the insurgents. election. “We believe in spite of The committee's coordinator, Evangelist Nwigwe, after people’s pessimism, we are the inaugu- aration, said they would do everything going to get back the girls, possible to justify the confidence reposed in them. in no distant time,” he said.

By Ben Agande

1. Popular actress, Funke Akindele, fondly called ‘Jenifa’ by her fans, released this sensational

photograph of herself to promote her own reality show, Jenifa TV series which is said to kick-start this year, in 2015.

4. Nigerian Afro pop singer, Yemi Alade who came into the limelight after winning the maiden edition of the Peak Talent Show in 2009, has again reinforced herself as a real sexy diva, with her New Year picture which made huge expression about how hot her body is.

2. Daughter of Femi Otedola and International DJ, Cuppy is not left out; her face is one to reckon with anytime.

NCAA defends flight cancellations

Ihedioha's kinsmen constitute campaign c'ttee

Spontaneous TV personality, Stephanie Coker, appears stunning in this picture, charming as ever and it is not hard to believe her beauty contributes to the growth of her teeming audience.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 — 17

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18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 THERE are great reasons for concerns about Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, and any doubtful credentials in his forms for the 2015 presidential election. In an affidavit, Buhari told the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that all his academic credentials were with the Military Board. He had contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007, 2011. There were no issues around his credentials then. Why is 2015 different? The 2015 elections are being built on non-issues, Buhari cannot add to them with the manner he filled his form, though it is left for INEC to decide if the form is properly filled. “ I am the above-named person and deponent to this affidavit therein. All my academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/ 2015, are cur rently with the Secretary, Military Board as of the time of presenting this affidavit. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose ,” Buhari deposed in the affidavit accompanying his submissions to INEC. Unless stated elsewhere, Buhari should have declared the circumstances of the loss

More TTo o Elections Than Cer tificat es tificates Certificat of his credentials, cover them with the affidavit, and make the reference to the Military Board as an addition. The impression the deposition created is that the Military Board was in possession of the certificates, a practice many considered alien or peculiar to Buhari. “ The original certificate of any officer or soldier is only needed at the point of entry into the service either as a cadet officer entering the Nigerian Defence Academy, or the recruitment officers when interviewing recruits to be sent to the depot

for training. That is so, because they are needed to verify what were in the photocopies supplied by them or from the necessary examining bodies ,” a military source said, in absolving the board of responsibilities for Buhari’s credentials. Unnecessary as the controversy may seen, it is the responsibility of every candidate and each party to ensure that the credentials they present for the elections are complete and acceptable to the law. INEC would make the decisions on each case, aggrieved parties can go to court. After all, each candidate swore an affidavit to the effect that the information it is presenting to INEC is true. Where we think a candidate is running against the law, the courts would decide the matter. There are many contentious matters about the future of our country, even in the next four years, under the care of those we choose next month. We think that the contenders for our votes should be on the streets engaging the people. Outside name-calling and self-praise, none of the candidates is telling us how he would improve the lives of Nigerians in these harsh times.

OPINION By Austin Kwantagara

N every contest, there is bound to be a victor and a vanquished; a winner and a loser. In principle, to jostle for a political office among a horde of aspirants, is to consent to the fact that one person is bound to triumph and the rest are obligated by the rules of the game to accept defeat. Indeed this belief is a golden rule. It is not exclusive to politics. Even in the prominent fates that we adhere and believe in, a magnanimity in victory and gallantry in defeat especially, is what distinguishes real sportsmen from dilettantes and desperadoes. The outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in Adamawa State has exposed some politicians to belong to the latter category of sportsmen. A few disgruntled politicians and their hangerson, who lost in the race for the PDP’s ticket, have taken a new vocation, otherwise known as the pull-down-syndrome, by hacking down the winner and throwing venom at the party’s hierarchy. The tracks of the journey that culminated in the December 10 Adamawa governorship primaries are sadly being missed in the hysteria of the bitter defeat that the unsportsmanlike aspirants are finding hard to swallow. The outpouring of vitriol being orchestrated by a few individuals at the flagbearer of the PDP, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is a defective strategy. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Playing the victim by individuals who displayed crass sense of lawlessness and undemocratic tendencies from the very day the whistle was blown can be counterproductive for people who have always believed in eating their cakes and having it.

Adamawa: Halting the bitter cacophony The trait they showcase today – which is akin to the character of a bull in a China shop – was the same thing that marked their actions from the very day that Malam Nuhu Ribadu decided to join the PDP. But a political party is an assembly of like-minded people seeking the advancement of their nation, state or community. It is not a personal fiefdom. For a party that is known to be highly accommodating, some mischievous individuals in its Adamawa chapter, are fighting as much as they can to keep Ribadu at arms length. The reason is not farfetched. For individuals who are so used to "business as usual", and feed from the wreckage of Adamawa’s underdevelopment, the coming of a man of Ribadu’s inclinations will never be a comforting development. Enter the party primaries. The same people who are crying wolf where there is none now were the same people who kept throwing spanners in the wheels of the party, in the runoff to the primary elections in Adamawa State. The first misbehaviour was the production of

It is also why those who were crying wolf are not complaining of time, because they were duly notified

a dubious delegates list which contravenes the rule of having the Congress Committee conduct the delegate congress and compile a list using the result. And, eager to push that illegality down the throat of the party and its leadership, those desperate politicians went ahead to publish that purported delegates list in what many now know to be in gross contravention of the electoral Guidelines of the party. Moreover, when the National Headquarters of the PDP sent a committee to conduct the State Assembly primaries, in accordance with the INEC and the party rules, the experience of the committee members became so harrowing and unbelievable because of the personalities that the committee itself blamed. It was something like an offshoot of a Nollywood blockbuster. The committee was intimidated, harassed, and even unlawfully imprisoned by top officials of their own party. In effect, the environment was not only uneven and dangerous for the conduct of free and fair primaries, it was the quintessence of the most heinous behaviour, so unbecoming of the status of people who have been in leadership in a state for that long. That horrendous experience of the Ambassador Tim Ihemadu-led committee has been well documented in the print and electronic media for posterity, as recounted by the committee, to the chagrin of the Adamawa people who, for mere selfish reasons have been made to look as most uncivilized, given bad name, and are now being described as backward when compared to the rest of the country all resulting from the actions of a selfish few. It was the nasty treatment meted out the

Ihemadu Committee in an attempt to manipulate the process of coming up with the party candidates that first raised the alarm. It was obvious, with the kidnapping of that committee during the State Assembly primaries that those desperate to hijack the process were not in politics for the benefit of the people. Not only was a level playing ground denied the aspirants in Yola, but even the safety of officials that would conduct the election became ominously undermined and compromised. The National Working Committee of the party, therefore, tapped into its powers provided in the Party’s constitution to move the primaries out of Yola. By way of answering those parroting a breach of constitutionality, it should be stated that the same constitution that directed the conduct of primaries at constituency headquarters, foresees the likelihood of special, yet unwarranted situations and therefore empowers the party hierarchy to name alternate venues of primaries, irrespective of location. It was for this reason that the party relocated primary elections of some ten states to the Federal Capital Territory. Adamawa was therefore not an isolated case, as some disgruntled individuals would want the gullible and ordinary people to believe. As stated in the Electoral Act, the party duly informed aspirants and INEC, of the change of venue ahead of time. It is also why those who were crying wolf are not complaining of time, because they were duly notified and given ample notice but angry with relocation to further their unholy mischief.

•Mr. Onuzuruike, a political analyst, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—19 —19

A prayer for my land

N just over a month, Nigerians will be going to the polls to elect a new president. Even though the stakes are quite high it does not look like a presidential election is around the corner. The campaign period seems all too short. More so for President Goodluck Jonathan whose presidency seems to be running on oxygen for the few weeks left, with little room to manoeuvre to say nothing of convincing the alienated voter. Of course, those who can have been raising tens of billions of Naira through clearly disgusting means for his re-election, including donations from governors still owing workers’ salaries for upwards of three months. Yes, war chests obviously meant to buy votes and supports are being made with billions of Naira. But where are the campaigns in the actual sense of it? On what issues are these campaigns based beyond namecalling and abuses? It is for this and similar reasons that this forthcoming election seems to have sneaked on us all. This is in spite of the fact that the campaigns had been kicked off in not-so-subtle fashion by President Goodluck Jonathan long before he actually indicated that he would be standing for another term. As

the incumbent candidate, the odds were on his side to dictate the terms of the election. But with very little going for him by way of achievements; with many unanswered questions staring him in the face, his re-election strategies have all but collapsed under the weight of his failures. He would certainly need all the props that Naira could provide where his record in office has failed him. While it was clear that the APC candidate was interested in running against President Jonathan again, it was far from certain he would emerge his party’s candidate. Indeed, he was expected to have a hard time of it given the keen interest of other party members in the race. In this sense, therefore, President Jonathan was well ahead of Muhammadu Buhari in the race for Aso Villa post May 29 2015. The keen support of his transformational ambassadors, and others of their ilk who beat the road traversing different parts of the country, ensured Nigerians were mindful if not interested in his return to Abuja. As the sitting president, it was expected Goodluck Jonathan would run on the bill of his party

in spite of attempts by those who thought another term for him would amount to a third term. Their objection was based on the simple but unconvincing reason that he had taken the presidential oath on two previous occasions even while one of these was in circumstances he could not have helped. He was obliged despite stiff opposition to finish up the uncompleted term of President Umar Yar’Adua who had died in office. Perhaps for reason of the opposition to his seeking another term after Yar’Adua passed, the president delayed announcing his interest in the February 14 presidential contest. But if the president’s hedging tactic had some fooled and guessing his political plans, his body language and the rent-a-crowd-like support of his TAN friends loudly proclaimed his interest in the presidency. Thus, when he finally made the announcement to run by getting his friends to buy his nomination form, it elicited a mere yawn from

2014 was the year corruption took on a new name and walked on all fours. A year of falling oil prices that crashed the Naira beyond the speculative knowledge of socalled economic experts

Nigeria on the cusp of greatness By Alex Akpodiete

HIS writer has in the past five years always opined that Nigeria is a great nation endowed with extraordinary people and inexhaustible non-oil natural resources. As with anyone or person with a great destiny, there are great challenges. How those challenges are surmounted also determine the actualization of the destiny. We have entered 2015, and our collective destinies are in our hands. How we surmount our joint problems, will determine whether we achieve greatness or succumb to the doomsday prophets that believe we will disintegrate this year. Our biggest challenge is Boko Haram because without security, there can be no development. From a speech of Late Nelson Mandela, we know that a stronger Nigeria can emerge out of the current insurgency challenges. Talking about speeches, the following speech is an insight about how the Presidential candidates think. There are really only two major candidates for the Presidential election on February 14, 2015. Yes some mushroom parties are fielding candidates but the four major political parties have made their positions known. The ruling PDP, APGA and LP are supporting the incumbent Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, while APC, a merger of three parties (), is fielding former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). Whether GEJ or GMB wins the election, it is beyond cavil that they will rule differently. Over 31 years ago, the APC flag-bearer (then 41 years old and now 72 years old), said the following: “There is ample evidence that rigging and thuggery were relative to the resources available to the parties. This conclusively proved to us that the parties have not developed confidence in the presidential system of government on which the nation

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invested so much material and human resources. While corruption and indiscipline have been associated with our state of underdevelopment, these two evils in our body politics have attained unprecedented height in the past few years. The corrupt, inept and insensitive leadership in the last four years has been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society. Since what happens in any society is largely a reflection of the leadership of that society, we deplore corruption in all its facets. This government will not tolerate kick-backs, inflation of contracts and over-invoicing of imports etc. Nor will it condone forgery, fraud, embezzlement, misuse and abuse of office and illegal dealings in foreign exchange and smuggling. Arson has been used to cover up fraudulent acts in public institutions. I am referring to the fire incidents that gutted the P&T buildings in Lagos, the Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, the Republic Building at Marina, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Capital Development Authority Accounts at Abuja and the NET Building. Most of these fire incidents occurred at a time when Nigerians were being apprehensive of the frequency of fraud scandals and the government incapacity to

Some youths have wondered why there is a contest between a septuagenarian and a younger one who has passed his golden years. They wonder when it will be their turn to rule

many who knew where he was headed all along. The greater interest was in who the opposition party would field against him, and even more, in the preferred running mate. That interest was given greater animus after the former military head of state went for a relatively unknown Yemi Osinbajo, a Christian from the South-west. This was contrary to the expectation that he would pick a muslim even if from the Southwest. The choice of a muslim as his running mate was eagerly desired in PDP circle. This would make his presidential ambition dead on arrival as it would have been the plank on which the PDP would launch its campaign against Buhari’s suitability for the office of president. That he did not go for the bait has terribly upset the electoral plans of President Jonathan. A clear indication that his campaign was surely intended to be based on issues no more better defined than the ethnicity, religious inclination and, now, educational attainments of his opponent. Little, if anything, on the record of his own achievement or lack of it while in office. With the applecart of the reelection plans of the ruling party candidate’s virtually turned over; with the opposition waxing stronger and the electorate yearning for a change in their material condition, the temptations are indeed high for party stalwarts to employ extralegal means to win. With the limited time available, any such manipulation is likely to be incompetently done. If and when this happens, the consequences are not likely to be pleasant. And this is why I pray and urge you, my reader, to join in the prayer for our dear country, that the next election would be fraud free.

deal with them. Corruption has become so pervasive and intractable that a whole ministry has been created to stem it..” Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, first speech of Dec 31, 1983, after deposing the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Of course, Boko Haram is a war, and a warning. One can digest the speech and deduce various opinions from it, especially since the General once stated that he does not believe in democracy. In his January 1, 2015 address to the nation, this is what President Goodluck Jonathan (now 57 years old, but a young 26 year old graduate at the time his opponent was ruling Nigeria), said to the nation: “The elections are very important for us as a country. Their successful conclusion will further strengthen our democratic institutions and place our beloved country even more firmly in the comity of truly democratic nations. Given the challenges that have characterized some previous electoral contests in our country, the eyes of the world will certainly be on the conduct and outcome of our fifth post-military rule general elections. I reassure all Nigerians and the international community of our firm commitment to free, fair and credible elections. My commitment to free elections and one man, one vote remains unwavering. Our administration has worked hard in previous elections to prepare all key stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the electorate optimally, to ensure a progressively improved electoral process in the country under my watch. We will continue to do so for the coming elections. We will continue to provide adequate funding to INEC and maintain the Commission’s independence and isolate it from any form of interference or meddling in its day-to-day affairs. This shall continue to guarantee its impartiality and ability to conduct more credible and acceptable elections. National security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections are peaceful and violence-free. The Nigeria

Anything contrary to this will not be in the interest of this country. Let the cowards and expired militants, their would-be protégés and hangers-on, sounding war drums learn from history and go quench their blood-thirst with peaceful occupations. War diminishes both the winner and the victor. But an unjust war diminishes the loser even more. If they fail to realise this, they and their household should put on their dancing shoes and be ready to dance to their own war chorus. The fate of the defeated awaits all who have brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. The year 2014 must rank as one of the worst for us as a nation. It was the year of insurgency, when marauding bands sent thousands of Nigerians to their grave in cold blood. Except for the years of the Civil War, it was the year the highest number of Nigerians became destitute as internally displaced persons in their own country. 2014 was the year corruption took on a new name and walked on all fours. A year of falling oil prices that crashed the Naira beyond the speculative knowledge of so-called economic experts, World Bank and IMF gurus, and past masters at coordinating economic woes. It was a year of impunity when warlords became keepers of our waterways and robber guarded the vaults. Although a year of great testimony for individual lives, 2014 was a calamitous journey for the largest black nation on our planet. It was the year when two-thirds of workers in the nation’s thirty six states were owed several months salaries and celebrated both the Christmas and New Year holidays in debt. But we shall reclaim our country from the pest. And no more shall the children of butchers feed on mere bones. May 2015 be the happiest yet for our land.

Police has already established an Elections Security Planning and Monitoring Unit. I am optimistic that with the cooperation of all law-abiding citizens of the country, our commitment to have a peaceful and violencefree election will be actualized. I will like to say this, once again, to my fellow politicians and political leaders. None of our political ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen, women and children. The improvement of their lives and living conditions ought to be our primary motive and the driving force of our quest for political power and leadership positions. Let us not promote sectionalism, disunity, intolerance, hate, falsehood or the malicious abuse of political opponents. Whatever we feel or seek, we must have a nation and a people before we can dream of political ambitions. Let us put the nation and the people first. Let us all conduct our electoral campaigns with the highest possible decorum and civility towards political opponents. Let us give INEC the fullest possible support and cooperation it requires to conduct credible and violencefree elections in 2015. After the 2011 general elections, some unpatriotic elements embarked on an orgy of violence, resulting in the destruction of lives and property. That will not be allowed to happen this time around. This government will act decisively against anyone who disrupts the public peace, before, during or after the 2015 general elections. All Nigerians, of voting age, are free to vote based on their convictions. It is our duty to defend and protect that basic right, and let no one be in doubt, we will.” Some youths have wondered why there is a contest between a septuagenarian and a younger one who has passed his golden years. They wonder when it will be their turn to rule. We are truly on the cusp of greatness. The world will judge of critically based on the outcome of the elections and our collective response.

•Prof. Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 — 21

By Babajide Komolafe

ureaux de Change operators in the country will pay about N750 million to the Central Bank of Nigeria to renew the operating license for 2015. Last year, the CBN, in addition to increasing the minimum capital requirement and mandatory caution deposits of BDCs, increased the licensing renewal fees of BDCs to N250, 000 from N10, 000. Consequently, the three million BDCs that met the new minimum requirement have to pay N250,000, hence a total of N750 million to the CBN before the January 31st deadline. Meanwhile a BDC operator, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe has called for a reversal of the increase in the license renewal fees, saying it is unfair for the CBN to be collecting such amount of money from BDCs. Gwadabe who is the Chief Executive Officer of Sabil BDC, Lagos, said, “The review of the CBN licences fees from N10, 000 to N250, 000 in July last year will give the CBN a large chunk of over N750 million to the non profit making institution .This I believe will further deepen the increasing difficulties we the genuine operators are currently facing under different CBN policy summersaults. Remember that BDCs operators have a compulsory deposit of over N100 billion with the CBN since July last year three percent saving interest. “I sincerely urge the management of the CBN to review the renewal fee from

BDCs to pay N750m to CBN as licence renewal fee N250, 000 to the initial N10, 000 naira to save our business from eminent collapse. This has become very urgent and necessary as the CBN

have no plan in the nearest future to see to the flight of BDCs operators.” In a statement on June 23rd last year announcing the

increase in minimum capital requirement to N35 million from N10 million, the CBN said “The CBN’s expectation is to have BDCs that are

From left: FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunni Adesina, during a meeting in Rome.

Importers, agents fret over new import policy in maritime industry By Godfrey Bivbere

n anticipation of new import policy by the federal government, importers and their agents have been making frantic efforts to clear their consignments from the nation’s ports to avoid being trapped. Vanguard’s investigation showed that many importers have been putting pressure on their agents to ensure that they take delivery of their goods. Uchu Block, Deputy National President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, who confirmed this development to Vanguard, said that they are making effort to ensure that his clients’ consignments get out of the port before the new policy is announced by the government because no one C M Y K

is sure of want will happen after the 31st of December. Block explained that government usually brings out new import policy at the beginning of every New Year and these policies tend to determine the direction of the import/export business. Activities at the ports since last week showed that there was rush by agents to ensure that they clear their containers before the 31st of December. The rush started some weeks ago when many Christmas goods were cleared for the season. Those who still have their goods in the ports were involved in last minute efforts to get them out before the end of the holiday period. At Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, freight forwarders who had issues on their containers, including Debit Notes (DNs) for so reasons were

eager to settle the matter as fast as possible to ensure that they not stay in the ports longer than necessary. Another agent who spoke with Vanguard, Dele Adebayo, said that he had to stay back in Lagos instead of traveling with his family to his village in Ekiti for the holidays. Adebayo explained that he had to shuttle between Lagos and Ekiti especially during days when the ports are not open. He noted that out of 10 containers of his client, he was able to clear seven and it is taking almost forever to get the remaining three containers at Tin-can Island port due to alleged under-payment. As at the time of filing this report, the agent was making frantic efforts to get the goods out port as soon as possible.

properly structured, effectively regulated, and well-capitalised to meet the objectives for which operators are licensed. In particular, the CBN envisages the following: The emergence of wellcapitalised and structured entities that can effectively perform the roles of Bureau De Change in the economy; Partnership between BDCs and renowned companies engaged in inward and outward money transfers in Nigeria. It is in expectation of this collaboration that the CBN as at 18 June 2014 approved the “Guidelines for International Money Transfer Services in Nigeria”. Under the Guidelines, Western Union, Monegram and RIA Financial Services have been authorised to carry out inward and outward money transfer services in Nigeria. And creation of robust and sustainable business franchises that are not dependent on rentseeking activities but are properly situated to compete in the foreign exchange market, and deliver superior values and returns.”

$173.60 $2,932.00

$14.64

$5.50 -$12.00

$0.38

$51.78

$1.33

$48.84

-$1.20

CURRENCY BUYING DOLLAR 167 STERLING 254.641 EURO 198.997 FRANC 165.608 YEN 1.390 CFA 0.293 WAUA 242.0204 RENMINBI 26.843 RIYAL 44.501 KRONA 26.738 SDR 239.394

CENTRAL 167.5 255.404 199.593 166.104 1.394 0.303 242.745 26.924 44.634 26.818 240.111

168 256.166 200.188 166.600 1.398 0.313 243.4696 27.004 44.767 26.898 240.828

CBN Exchange Rate as 6/1/2015

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

You have a right to compensation under the compulsory insurance cover which is supposed to be put in place by the owner of the vehicle whether okada, commercial bus, airplane, ship or other means of transportation

Reinsurance rates decline in Jan Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

EINSURANCE broker Willis Re said that Jan uary 2015 reinsurance renewals, the key market renewal for much of the globe, natural catastrophe reinsurance rates have continued to decline. The brokers renewals report, Willis Re 1st View states that catastrophe reinsurance rates have declined by around 10% for the renewals. Willis Re said change is the only sustainable course of action for many reinsurers, as competition at renewals pushes rates on catastrophe business down by 10%, but some evidence of a price floor is emerging the broker said. Reinsurers have been under threat from declining rates and pricing across lines of reinsurance business for almost two years now, with little in the way of losses to reverse the trend. 2014 has seen another year of almost record low levels of natural catastrophe losses and the pressure on most lines of business continues.

Alternative capital

Continued competition from growing quantities of alternative capital from third-party capital market investors is adding to the pressure and also forcing reinsurers to rethink established business models, as the leaner strategy of ILS managers begins to threaten market incumbents. It’s wrong to suggest that the inflow of capacity from the capital markets, into instruments such

Reinsurers have been under threat from declining rates and pricing across lines of reinsurance business for almost two years now

as catastrophe bonds, sidecars and other insurancelinked securities (ILS), alone is causing the pressure to rise for reinsurers, but it is a contributing factor. Added to the excess levels of traditional reinsurance capacity, plus the lower-cost of capital that is now being wielded by ILS specialists, the only natural result is for rates to keep declining. A 10% average decline would suggest that some regions and perils which are more commoditised and under more competitive pressure from ILS will likely have declined much more than this. This will likely be particularly evident in any U.S. catastrophe renewals at 1/1, where rates will be catching up with the steep declines seen at the June 2014 renewals. James Vickers, Chairman of Willis Re International said that the rate declines seen are not as steep as those witnessed in other recent rounds of reinsurance renewals. He said that this is partly because insurers are no longer happy to simply take the cheapest offering of capacity as they are keen to maintain a level of quality and reliability in their panel of reinsurance counterparts. That will bode well for collateralized capacity and ILS players as, for all the discussion of whether they will be here to pay claims in the future, the fact remains that the capacity is fully collateralized and held in trust so it is technically more secure than a reinsurers promise to pay from its balance-sheet or reserves. If a really serious catastrophe loss occurred it could well be traditional reinsurers that suffered the most and found it impossible to pay, as if they exhaust their reserves they could have nothing left to draw on.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

INSURAN

Whether Okada, danfo or airplane you have right to compensation A

RE you a passenger on okada, commercial bus, airplane, ship or other means of transportation? Are you a worker or vulnerable member of the public at a building construction site? Are you a regular visitor to a completed building used as business premises including government offices? Are you an employee of an organisation that employs more than 14 staff? You should know that if you or your relation sustains injury, death or property loss in or around any of the above mentioned premises or means of transportation, you have a right to compensation

under the compulsory insurance cover which is supposed to be put in place by the owner of the vehicle whether okada, commercial bus, airplane, ship or other means of transportation; the contractor of a building construction site; the owner/occupier of the premises of a completed building used as business premises including government offices; your employer being an employee of an organisation that employs more than 14 staff. Compulsory insurance entails that you will still be compensated even if you do not have any

insurance cover of your own and notwithstanding the fact that the scope of insurance cover of the vehicle that caused the injury or damage is third party only. You can also help your relations and loved ones who fall victim of any of the cases mentioned to pursue their compensation. Members of the public also have rights Compensation will also be paid to you as a member of the public for loss or damage to your properties or bodily injury, or death by a liable motor vehicle, aeroplane or ship, or at a building

MEETING: From left: Managing Director , Nigeria Accenture, Mr. Niyi Yusuf; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello; Country Director, Empretec Nigeria Foundation and former First Lady, Cross River State, Mrs. Owanari Duke; Chief Executive Officer, Multimix Academy, Mr. Obiora Madu and Managing Director, Oasis Group, Mr. Wale Adegbite, all council members, after the council meeting of the chamber.

SA pledges improvement in service delivery to customers M

ANAGING Director of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc Mr. Tom Imokhai, has assured that as a service organisation, his company will continue to improve on service

delivery to customers and business partners through value-added service delivery for customers’ satisfaction. Imokhai said that his company’s management has increased emphasis on introducing new customerfriendly products as well as expanding channel of reaching their scattered customer-base. He said, “We will continue to deploy strategies that will enable us fully exploit emerging business opportunities and also place the company amongst the first top five market leaders within the next three years.” Meanwhile Chairman of the company, Mr. Yahaya Sa’ad recently told shareholders that despite the continued harsh economic climate under which businesses operated in 2013 business year, the company recorded a gross premium of

N3.78bn just as it has paid out N1.07bn in claims to its genuine affected policyholders. According to Sa’ad, the gross premium recorded was N3.78bn against N5.38bn in 2012, a drop of 30%, clarifying however that of the N5.38bn in 2012, N2.81bn was impaired, making N2.57bn the effective gross premium for 2012. This was connected to the expected impact of the ‘No premium, no cover policy’ which became effective at the beginning of the year as well as the slow growth of the economy. Sa’ad hinted further that the company recorded a loss of N240m as against N1.05bn in 2012, noting thattheimprovementinperformance in comparison to the loss made in 2012wasaresultofcostoptimisation and prudent management of ‘no premium,nocoverpolicy’intheyear under review.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015,

CE & YOU construction site. In case of completed buildings, cover is provided for you as a member of the public if you sustained bodily injury, death or property loss as a result of fire, flood, storm, earthquake or collapse of the building. What you need to do to secure compensation Be sure that there is genuine compulsory insurance cover on the motor vehicle/okada that you board or the building where you work or transact business.

Indemnity insurance For the employees of both private and public sector organisations and the patients of NHIS registered hospitals, be sure that there is in place, group life and medical professional indemnity insurance respectively. Then, provide details of the vehicle/building/company/hospital through which the loss or injury occurred; provide details of the accident/incident that caused the injury, death or property loss forwarded to Insurance Consumers Association of Nigeria, INSCAN directly or through the FRSC, Fire Brigade, Police or LASTMA; then report to the insurance company that granted the cover (if any). Your authority Your right to compensation as a passenger in a motor vehicle, a carpenter, bricklayer, electrician or anybody at or in the neighbourhood of a building under construction, a business client in a completed building, a staff of a private or public organisation or a NHIS hospital patient are as indicated under the following laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Compulsory insurance entails that you will still be compensated even if you do not have any insurance cover of your own and notwithstanding the fact that the scope of insurance cover of the vehicle that caused the injury or damage is third party only

Insurance business For hospital patients - Section 45 of the NHIS Act 1999; for construction site workers - Section 64 of the Insurance Act 2003; for business clients - Section 65 of the InsuranceAct2003;formotorvehicle passenger - Section 68 of the Insurance Act 2003; and for employees - Section 4(5) of the Pension Reform Act 2014. it is worthy of note that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) - the agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria saddled with the responsibility for the administration and supervision of insurance business in Nigeria has approved the appropriate insurance cover for all the insurance companies in Nigeria to meet the requirements of the laws stated above. Therefore, as a passenger in a commercial vehicle, as a bricklayer, carpenter, or neighbour on a construction site, customer, employee of a private or public sector organisation, or patient in a hospital, you should demand for evidence of genuine third party motor

The amount of compensation available to you is in some cases limited by law and in other cases unlimited

ELECTION: From left: Publicity Secretary, Solomon Ikeanyi; General Secretary, Biodun Adebimpe; President, Kemi Adewole; Vice President, Taiwo Sonola; Treasurer, Lanre Akinsete; and Financial Secretary, Bunmi Arowosofe all newly elected executives of Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria. insurance from the driver, builder’s liability insurance from the contractor, occupiers liability insurance from the business owner, group life insurance from your employer or medical professional liability insurance from the NHIS hospital where you receive treatment. Level of compensation The amount of compensation available to you is in some cases limited by law and in other cases unlimited. Where the benefit is unlimited, your level of compensation will be the amount agreed between you and the insurer of the vehicle, the contractor, the house, the company or the hospital or as may be awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction. Compulsory insurance cover may be your only saving grace in the event of disability, death or property loss for you or your family member or to prevent a huge judgment debt on your company.

Leadway denies defaulting on insured’s claims

EADWAY Assurance Company Limited has denied reports alleging a default on its part to meet the obligations on a purported policy under which a Nike Oladunni Omorodion is claiming for loss suffered following firedamagetoapropertyat8Aduke Close, Maryland, Lagos. In a statement, the company said, “A Mrs. Oladunni Olunike Morenike is our insured, not ‘Mrs. Nike Oladunni Omorodion’ and we are aware she suffered fire damage to a property at 8 Aduke Close, Maryland, Lagos, which is not the insured property. “The property insured with us is another property at 5 Olaperi Street, Shonibare Estate, Maryland, Lagos. The property insured with us has not been affected by fire and is the subject matter of

Insurers warn over US terrorism cover W

— 23

ASHINGTON’s failure to renew a government scheme that guarantees terrorism cover jeopardises the economy, US businesses and insurance companies have warned. Underwriters cautioned that they may have little choice but to leave owners of skyscrapers, shopping malls and other property without terrorism insurance in the New Year, when a federal government backstop will come to an end. The Terrorism Risk Insurance scheme, set up after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks to ensure the continued provision of cover after the industry began to withdrew it, is set to expire as Congress adjourned Tuesday without reaching an agreement on its extension. Although the immediate consequences are unclear, some businesses said the end of the state subsidy for insurance could prompt them to reconsider new investments and construction projects. The Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism

(CIAT) — an alliance of retailers, manufacturers, utilities and other companies — said Washington had “let down American workers, American businesses and jeopardised US economic and national security.” Its members include United Airlines, Citigroup and Hilton Worldwide, as well as several trade bodies including the US Chamber of Commerce. Sean McGovern, chief risk officer at the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, which does 43 per cent of its business in North America, said: “It is extremely disappointing that Congress has not passed such an important piece of legislation.”

Guarantee scheme Insurers expressed hope that the new Congress would renew the scheme when it arrives for work in January. The main objector to the bill that would have extended the

scheme, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican, is retiring. Under the terms of the government guarantee scheme, insurers are required to offer terrorism cover but the federal government covers the bill following an attack. Although the state is able to recoup the costs over time via an after-the-event levy on the industry, critics have characterised the scheme as corporate welfare. Brokers said only a limited amount of terrorism insurance was available without government support. Underwriters are reluctant to provide cover because the risks are so unpredictable and hard to model and the losses are potentially catastrophic. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) said the failure to reach an agreement was “unconscionable. The threat of a terrorist attack against the United States is at the highest level it has been in a decade,” said David Sampson, the trade body’s president.

insurance. The relationship with the insured was effected through Standard Chartered Bank as one of our sales outlets and the insurance application form (which forms the basis of insurance) did indicate the address as 5, Olaperi Street, Shonibare Estate, Lagos and not 8, Aduke Close, Maryland, Lagos. “If an insured omits to insure a particular property, it cannot then decide to transfer the insurance of one to another by itself after a loss to the uninsured property. “Leadway Assurance is an insurance company with close to 45 years of service in the insurance industry in Nigeria. We understand that the value of our promise to our customers is in the claims that we pay. Industry statistics attest to the fact that we have the highest claims paid value and loss ratio that is far above industry average.

Industry statistics For the audited financial year ended 2013 alone, we paid over N10.9 billion in claims. According to verifiable industry statistics (the Nigeria Insurance Digest of the Nigerian Insurers Association), over N6.1bn in claims was paid in 2012 for its general business alone (the highest in the industry, with the next highest payer paying only N2.8bn). This indeed is why we are in business. We will however not be coerced or maligned into paying an unjustified/fraudulent claim and will insist on our legal rights against any defamation of reputation. The insurance industry is one that we are carefully building up with the help of each stakeholder. Therefore, there must be concerted efforts to ensure the growth of insurance rather than propagate further distrust and suspicion,” the company stated.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

Emerging stocks decline as Greece plans to drop Euro currency E

MERGING-market stocks fell for a third day and currencies slid as speculation that Greece may drop the euro reduced demand for riskier assets. A gauge of 20 developing-nation currencies slid 0.5 percent to a 12-year low. Sasol Ltd. (SOL), world’s biggest maker of motor fuelfrom-coal, dropped the most in two weeks and Petroleo Brasileiro SA paced a slump in Brazilian stocks. Dubai’s DFM General Index (DFMGI) led losses in the Gulf region as Brent crude retreated to the lowest level since May 2009. The ruble tumbled 5.4 percent. Turkish bonds and stocks climbed after a report showed the nation’s inflation rate dropped more than economists forecast. The MSCI Emerging Market Index slid one percent to 944.06 at 1:27 p.m. in London. While Greece prepared for elections this month that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said will determine the country’s euro membership, Der Spiegel magazine reported that German Chancellor Angela

Merkel is ready to accept a Greek exit. “It is a cautious start to the year,” said Neil Shearing, the chief emerging-markets economist at London-based Capital Economics Ltd. “The signs that problems are building in Greece are adding to an already long list of things for emerging-market investors to worry about.” Emerging-market stocks posted their first back-to-back annual decline in 12 years in 2014 as oil retreated to a bear market and prospects for rising U.S. interest rates curbed the appeal of higher-yielding assets. The ruble weakened in its first official trading of 2015 on lowerthan-average volumes. Hungary ’s forint and the Romanian leu retreated 0.2 percent against the euro. Gulf Stocks The DFM General Index tumbled 3.4 percent and Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index lost 3 percent. Nigeria’s gauge dropped 2.1 percent. South Africa’s Sasol slid 4.2 percent. Petroleo Brasiliero

tumbled 4.7 percent. Oil dropped for a third day as record supplies from Iraq and Russia bolstered speculation a

From left: Mr. Pradeep Kumar, Technical Director, Secure ID Ltd; Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, Bank of Industry, BoI; Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, MD/CEO, Secure ID and Mrs. Mabel Ndagi, Assistant General Manager, Large Scale Enterprises, BoI during the tour of Secure Industry by the BoI team in Lagos

Operators hail extension of recapitalisation deadline By Peter Egwuatu

perators in the Nigerian capital market have commended the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC over the deadline extension of recapitalisation of market operators to September 30, 2015. The commission had earlier put the deadline for recapitalisation of capital market operators on December 31, 2014. Some operators in the capital market had earlier been calling for extension of the deadline to one year. The Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, Emeka Madubuike, said that the extension was in order as the commission considered the over all interest of the capital market. According to Madubuike “The extension had become necessary in view of the ongoing uncertainties in the country’s economy, which had hampered market growth and development. SEC would have increased the market uncertainties and make things more difficult for operators and the economy if it had maintained the December deadline. He said the brokers needed C M Y K

time to pursue the options of mergers and acquisitions if need be to meet the requirments for the recapitalisation policy. The immediate past President of ASHON, Rasheed Yussuf, also supported the extension of the deadline saying, that in view of the ongoing political uncertainties in the country,

the regulators took right decision in order to allow the market correct the persistent fall of equity prices. It will be recalled that the SEC had announced the decision to raise the minimum capital requirements for capital market operators under a new minimum capital structure expected to come into effect by January 1, 2015.

Skye Bank strengthens support functions

S part of the initiatives to strengthen all cadres of its work force, Skye Bank has engaged the services of Optimum Continental Services, Strategic Outsourcing Limited and Integrated Corporate Services Limited, three top rated professional human resource management companies to manage its support function staff. The bank took the decision as part of the initiatives to position itself for excellent service and superior performance in the coming years. The bank noted that efficiency and excellent customer service will be key to winning in the market place in the years ahead. It acknowledged that the support functions are pivotal to the ability of the Bank to meet its growth objectives and as such need to be

global glut that’s driven crude into a bear market will persist this year. The Borsa Istanbul 100 Index increased 1.2 percent. Turkish Inflation slowed to 8.2 percent last

month from 9.2 percent in November, Turkey’s statistics bureau said in a statement on its website. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists was 8.8 percent. Turkey is a net-energy importer. All 10 industry groups in the emergingmarkets gauge fell, led by financial shares. Equity gauges in Poland and Czech

managed by professional human resource companies who have extensive skills and competence in this regard. To assure the welfare of the staff, who are mostly on the lower cadre, the bank insisted that a non - negotiable condition for taking over the support staff by the human resource companies is that the staff will enjoy the same terms and conditions as they did, when they were employed by their former employer, Skye Bank Resources Ltd. Under the new arrangement therefore, the affected officers who consist of drivers, security officers, tellers and other support staff have been absorbed automatically by the new employers on the same terms and conditions they enjoyed

UBA secures SEC approval for Rights Issue By Nkiruka Nnorom

nited Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, has said that it has secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to commence its rights issue. Application for the rights issue, which is being made to the existing shareholders, according to a statement from the bank opened on Monday, December 29, 2014 and will close on Thursday, February 5, 2015. The bank is offering the rights the ratio of one new ordinary share for every 10 previously held by the shareholders as Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at N4.00 per share. The bank had last year said that the undisclosed sum about to be raised would be directed towards shoring up its Tier 1 Capital. This approval by the SEC was further to the shareholders and Board resolutions authorising the bank to raise additional capital by various means, including a Rights Issue. It would be recalled that analysts at Financial Times

had projected N11.81k 12 month price targets on the shares of UBA in 2014. According to Financial Times, the 14 analysts offering 12 month price targets for UBA have a median price target of N9.53, with a high estimate of N11.81 and a low estimate of N7.50. It stated that the median estimate represents a 36.93 per cent increase from the last price of N6.96 as at close of business on September 23, 2014, adding that as at September 12, 2014, the consensus forecast amongst 24 polled investment analysts covering United Bank for Africa noted that the company will outperform the market. “This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Mar 04, 2013. The previous consensus forecast advised investors to purchase equity in United Bank for Africa,” Financial Times said in the report. The bank had in the first quarter ended March 31, 2014 exceeded analysts’ expectation.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 — 25

DIARY z ARTEMIS &ITEA Cosummit Berlin Mar 10-11, 2015 z TelecoDays

Prague Marriott HotelPrague Czech Republic Mar 23-24 2015 •Adewunmi

Preview

This new machine prints food!

NVENTORS of the 3D printer, the machine that can build anything from toy cars to handguns, have unveiled a new prototype they hope will revolutionise home cooking. The device, dubbed the “Foodini”, squirts out anything from pizza or pasta to cakes in a variety of shapes – from dinosaurs to spelling out names with letters. Different ingredients are built up in layers following selection of a design on the device’s control panel. The printing process is slow, but faster than regular 3D printing. Other than being capable of creating complex designs, such as very detailed cake decorations or food arranged in unusual shapes, the Foodini can be useful for recipes that require precision and dexterity, like homemade pizza or filled pasta. Currently, the device only prints the food, which must be then cooked as usual. But a future model will also cook the preparation and produce it ready to eat. C M Y K

•Uwaje

•Johnson

2014: Stakeholders take stock, list expectations for 2015 By Emeka Aginam

ESPITE improvements recorded in the Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology, ICT, industry in 2014, there were a number of challenges faced by the sector. For instance, consumers of ICT products and services, especially telecoms services were hit with consistent poor quality of service. From dropped calls, unsolicited commercial text messages to undelivered text messages, importation of substandard mobile devices, poor quality of service in the country remained unabated among service providers despite policies and regulations put in place by the regulatory agencies. M e a n w h i l e , telecommunications, a part of the ICT sector contributed hugely to the growth of the revised Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in 2014 which

I N S I D E

now stands at $580 billion. Recently during the Ministerial press briefing held in Abuja, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson had disclosed that the ICT sector contributed 10 per cent of the GDP, about $50 billion, giving the sector a huge boost. Between 2011 and now, the telecommunications sub-sector, according to Johnson attracted additional $6 billion

Ericsson supports smartphone users with license assisted access

The absence of ICT professionals on the boards of MDAs questions the nation’s desire to be part of the 21st century

investment. The minister, who said ICT contributed 19 per cent to service industry, further disclosed that the telecommunications sub-sector performed well in Foreign Direct Investment, FDI projects, as it attracted 24 per cent within the last eight years. Even with the positive improvement in the sector, stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT sector while taking stock of the year ended 2014 said that more still need to be done in terms of infrastructural upgrade if Nigeria must join nations of the world in the global competitiveness. Stakeholders speak: Despite rich network of professionals in the IT space in the nation, the stakeholders are yet to effectively leverage on the expertise and experience of Nigerian IT professionals. NCS faults non inclusion of IT professionals in board of MDAs The President of the Nigerian

Events, issues that shaped ICT sector in 2014

Computer Society, Prof. David Adewumi while faulting non inclusion of the IT professionals on boards of Ministries and departments, (MDAs) lamented non recognition of IT professionals in national honours list. He further faulted exclusion of IT professionals from 2014 national conference, saying that such posture by the government will not in anyway contribute to national development. ICT professionals excluded from decision making "Though quite a number of government agencies are dependent on ICT to carry out their functions, it is disturbing to note that ICT professionals are not involved at the board level in the top level decision making and policy formulation/ evaluation for most of such organizations.

Absence of ICT professionals The absence of ICT professionals on the boards of MDAs questions the nation’s desire to be part of the 21st century. It is pertinent to note that the ICT industry and profession was not represented at the 2014 National conference" he explained. Over dependence on foreign IT products Even with improved access to ICT and the Internet, activity in the ICT space , according to Jide Awe, Innovation and Development Advisor, is largely foreign driven and dominated. The prevailing funding and patronage scenario, he noted puts the local providers and industry at an extreme disadvantage. “Funding and

Continues on page 27

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

BY CHRIS UWAJE

2015 Cyberspace:

Cybersecurity implications for Nigeria (2)

N clear terms, should a National IT Framework Bill not supersede the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity obsession – currently searching in the dark? To home the above, do we or don’t we require and need a Cybersecurity University and a Cybersecurity Commission as sustainable platforms for responding to the mirage and infinitive Cyberspace issues? Emerging facts from several lessons of the digital natives and always-on evolution is that we now live in a “Software-First” world and perpetually connected with complex cyber threat where everyone is at risk. As we are all aware, at its origin, the Internet was not designed with security in mind rather it was created as a platform for research and military communications network. Today, relevant studies reveal that nobody knows the exact size of the World Wide Web, originated by Berners-Lee by inventing the HTML and HTTP Protocols. Evidence of the above also resides in the fact that in 2011, the World Wide Web Organisation commenced on a project codenamed ‘World-wideweb Index’ to evaluate and determine the number of WebPages in existence. Currently, no one knows – setting mankind on a guessing prey and making everybody to be at risk.

Infinitive process The evolution of man within the ‘humanity space’ is an infinitive process and unstoppable! In the same vein and thought process the Cyberspace has come to stay with mankind – incorporating Nigeria within the same space – and it’s an unstoppable bug! The Digital Natives with its alwayson presence and life acts are simultaneously the raw materials and victims of the giant digital prison-factory constructed all around the world - now known as globalization. Simply defined: Cyberspace is the ‘place between the places’ which are cumulatively viewed as the ‘unidentified space’ that allows electronic communication and content across multiple digital devices, platforms and across multiple digital pathways. This makes it possible to create, provide and deliver the illusion of instant communication better known as the Internet. This situation also helps to explain the current state, condition and crisis

within the IPv4 digital addressing resources, and the intervention of – those-who-know- to patch-up the digital space/cyberspace with the IPv6 digital addressing system with a storage of 340 trillion, trillion, trillion (Sextrillion). Just recently, we were served with the Sonny Motion Pictures Super-hack episode involving North Korea Vs Pentagon USA Hacking escapade and many more. Banks have been losing money to Cyber criminals for a long time. Truth is, ‘no one really knows how much!’ But, Phishing, Spam and Malware Statistics from CYBER SPAPE: Banks loose N159 Billion to Cyber Crime; Source: Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS PLC) ATM and e-Fraud attacks. Most phished brands statistics include: Paypal continues to be the most phished brand around, followed now with a long distance by Facebook which continues to be quite a lot under attack. 2015 will drive e-payment forward in Nigeria, inspite of all the challenges. This online shopping culture (mobile-shopping trend) will promote the outsourcing ecosystem and yield more employment space for the economy. Many people have started to buy games and spend more time in the social media websites, so the increase in attacking such web sites comes quite naturally. Others include: Worlds of Warcraft, Ebay, HSBC Bank, Tibia Guilds, Craigslist, Halifax, Bank of America, etc.

Should a National IT Framework Bill not supersede the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity obsession currently searching in the dark

Ericsson supports smartphone users with licence assisted access By Emeka Aginam

ECENT Ericsson ConsumerLab study conducted with more than 47,000 respondents across 23 countries, has revealed that only 41 percent smartphone users were highly satisfied with their indoor experience when browsing or accessing social networks. This drops to 36 percent for more dataheavy apps: watching video, TV or movies online. Addressing this app coverage challenge, Ericsson is first to give smartphone users the benefit of concurrent access to both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, by delivering the first License Assisted Access (LAA) small cells.

Wireless network users LAA is an LTE-Advanced technology that can improve mobile data speeds and reduce congestion, benefiting all wireless network users. Ericsson License Assisted Access, available in their small cell portfolio starting in fourth quarter 2015, enables carrier aggregation of licensed with unlicensed bands to effectively address growth in indoor data traffic. Speaking on the new development, Neville Ray, Chief Technical Officer, T-Mobile US, Inc., said: “With our LTE footprint now covering 264 million Americans, we look to innovations like License Assisted Access to help us drive an even better, more differentiated wireless experience. There’s approximately 550 MHz of underutilized spectrum in the 5 GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band and LAA is one of the technologies we plan to develop and use in our continuing efforts to provide our customers with superior network performance. We are excited to be working with major infrastructure partners, like Ericsson, to bring this technology to our customers in the nearfuture.” Also speaking, Peter Jarich, Vice President of Consumer and

Infrastructure services, Current Analysis, added that, “In our discussions of future 5G networks, a number of themes are front and center: network function virtualization, small cell architectures, use of higher frequency bands, and licensedunlicensed band aggregation. “The License Assisted Access that Ericsson is integrating into its small cell portfolio clearly

One of the great things about LAA is its ‘rising tide’ effect, increasing system capacity and making way for better service to all users in the area

foreshadows this 5G future. “ Ultimately, it’s all about optimizing the network to support diverse consumer applications, diverse user locations (indoors and outdoors), and diverse device types – including future IoT (Internet of Things) demands.” Using only 4 percent of the 5 GHz band, LAA , according to Ericsson could provide up to a 150 Mbps speed increase to smartphone users. Each additional 4 percent of available spectrum used will increase the smartphone data speed further. For Thomas Norén, Vice President, Head of Radio Product Management, Ericsson, “Consumers, businesses and industries are all transforming through mobility, placing ever greater demands on finite spectrum resources. So, we are very focused on innovations that improve app coverage while making ultra-efficient use of spectrum. One of the great things about LAA is its ‘rising tide’ effect, increasing system capacity and making way for better service to all users in the area, whether they have an LAA-enabled device, or are using Wi-Fi or cellular access.” Meanwhile, by applying LTE standards to the 5 GHz spectrum also used for Wi-Fi, users enjoy the security, reliability and carriergrade Quality of Service of LTE networks. At the same time, all available wireless resources are optimized. Ericsson is adding LAA to its indoor small cell portfolio including the Ericsson Radio Dot System for medium and large buildings and the Ericsson RBS 6402 Indoor Picocell for smaller buildings under 50,000 square feet.

CWG bags VMware solution provider of the year

OMPUTER Warehouse Group Plc (CWG) has been recognized as the Solution Provider of the Year and Renewals Partner for the Year in the entire West, East and Central Africa (WECA) at the annual VMware Channels award ceremony recently held recently in Johannesburg, South Africa. The award ceremony was organized by VMware, CWG’s Original Equipment Manufacturer partner, to recognize the dedication of her partners, acknowledged for outstanding achievements in sales, performance and customer satisfaction every year. According to the company, “The VMware Channels Award is to celebrate outstanding partners and the continual investment they make in developing their skills and capacity in order to better support VMware customers.” Speaking at the grand event

held in South Africa, Mark Reynolds, Head, Partner and General Business Lead, VMware, said that the awards portrays that “VMware appreciates the critical role partners play in helping its customers move to the cloud, embrace the software-defined Data centre and plot their path to the hybrid cloud.” CWG received the recognition alongside 16 other prominent peers across the continent. These include foremost global technology outfits IBM, Royalty OEM Partner of the Year (WECA); HP, as Royalty OEM Partner of the Year (South Africa), Dell as the highest Revenue contributor of the year (South Africa), Ubuntu as the outstanding OEM reseller (South Africa) amongst others. CWG, however is the only IT firm from Nigeria that was recognised.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 —27

Continues from page 25 support for ICT research and research linkages with industry also needs to be significantly improved,” he added. NCS lists expectations for 2015: For a way forward, he suggested that Nigerian content development in ICT, software entrepreneurship, inclusion, youth empowerment, digital gender mainstreaming and research should be given priority attention . He added that scaling up of promising initiatives would require strategic partnerships for faster, sustainable results. Pushing for collaboration between public and private sector as key, he further said that new software development and entrepreneurship initiatives addressing issues of funding and patronage should be encouraged and promoted. For the President of the Institute of software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Pius Okigbo Junior, the Nigerian ICT sector is still operating below its expected potential considering that several verticals are still reliant on foreign expertise and technical resources. Although he did not provide statistics to support his position, ICT sector in Nigeria, according to Okigbo is underutilized.

Skills deficiency “We still have a severe quality skills deficiency in the ICT sector in every possible area imaginable. Emphasis must be placed on bridging this gap. Unfortunately, this takes time,” he explained. Going forward in the current year, the ISPON President said that there is need to aggressively improve the quality and skill sets in the ICT sector. While consumption of foreign products impact negatively on the economy, he was of the opinion that greater participation of local ICT firm in big projects would contribute to the growth of the economy, adding that more ICT adoption at every level of government is imperative. For the apostle of software Nigeria, Chris Uwaje, the country could have done better if a more constructive and innovative strategy were deployed. Import dependent According to Uwaje who pioneered the Nigerian IT policy in the past, analysis of of national ICT landscape informs that our ICT strategy is heavily consumer oriented and import dependent. Further analysis of national ICT landscape, according to him does not inspire and support large scale innovation and creativity, and also does not promote knowledge clusters

•Okigbo

•Ajayi

2014: Stakeholders take stock, list expectations for 2015 and reward merit. Pushing for the creation of a special IT knowledge bank for innovation and promote national IT research development and mobile innovation competition, he said that the sector is currently not concerned about the poor state of ICT in Education with respect to curriculum, teachers’ intensive training and capacity building. With the sector not challenging innovation. For Nigeria to be part of digital economy, Uwaje suggested the reconstruction of the the National IT Policy by establishing a “National ICT Framework Bill, as the core

foundation and super-layers for Nigeria’s ICT Road-map and strategic focus for national development and global competitiveness. Calling for the establishment of the office of the Information Technology General of the Federation (ITGF), he said that there was need to encourage and promote ICT regulations that reduces foreign consumption and consciously prioritize local IT content and intellectual property. Transformation of NYSC into a National ICT Emergency Training Camp, retooling the national ICT curriculum and massive re-training for IT

Lecturers and ICT Teachers at all levels (From Kindergarten to University), making software engineering and development as national IT strategy, establishment of at least 10 Information Technology Knowledge Parks in 2015, ensuring that IT Professionals, Practitioners and Experts are represented at all board levels in Government, among others were among his recommendation as a way forward. Speaking from telecoms point of view, the President of Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr. Lanre Ajayi,

while giving his score of telecommunication in Nigeria said that a number of activities took place in 2014 that would drive the Broadband penetration efforts forward. Activities that promoted broadband in 2014 Those activities like the licensing of 2.3 GHz, the commencement of licensing of the 2.6 Ghz spectrum, commencement of the licensing for the Infracos, the migration of base stations management by some service providers to collocation companies and continuous investment by service providers in the ICT sector. Expressing optimism that phone subscription was growing to reach 100 % teledensity, he said that the broadband penetration also recorded some marginal growth but remains largely limited to urban areas. Expectations for 2015 Going forward , he noted that there was need to put further efforts and initiatives in creating the right enabling environment for service providers which include effort at eliminating double taxation, ease of procurement of right of ways, including Telecoms services on the list of permissible services for foreign exchange auction. Conclusion of 2.6 Ghz licensing and conclusion of Infracos licensing, commencement of licensing for 700 Mhz, according to ATCON President should be considered as a matter of national importance by the telecom regulator to further boast telecoms development.

Events, issues that shaped ICT sector in 2014 The year 2014 has ended successfully with tremendous improvements in the Nigerian ICT , especially the attainment of active telephone line connectivity of over 134 million and a teledensity of 96 percent. However, the year as ended, no doubt was an eventful in the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology ecosystem. Accordingly, it was characterised by lots of events and new developments and innovations. Emmanuel Elebeke in this reports takes a look at the various issues that made the outgoing year unique. By Emmanuel Elebeke

ROADBAND Council launches awareness campaign Earlier in the year, specifically in February, the Broadband Council launched an awareness campaign that will communicate the transformational benefits of broadband to all Nigerians to encourage its use and adoption. The Campaign tagged "Connected Nigeria, Connected Nigerians” was aimed at raising awareness and disseminate information on the benefits of broadband, including what can be gained by adopting broadband access. It was also to share information on how broadband is creating economic and social value for Nigerians.

The Broadband Council which had its third meeting in February, 2014 reviewed work done so far on the implementation of the Broadband Plan. It discussed the progress made with getting states to reduce or remove ROW charges and other related fees to enable operators have unencumbered means of laying fibre optic cables, which is critical for infrastructure development and quality of service. A full progress report is due to follow. NCC licensed 2.3-GHz In late February, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the sector’s regulator, announced Bitflux Communications as the winner in an auction for a 10-year licence to provide wholesale wireless access services in the

2.3-GHz band. Bitflux, a consortium of three firms (VDT Communications, Bitcom Systems and Superflux International), clinched the licence with a bid of $23.25m. This is even as telecoms service provider Globacom, lost out to BitFlux in the financial stage of the contest. Following the completion of a recent spectrum auction in Nigeria, experts noted that the feat represented a big step forward for the mobile broadband networks in the country. However, given the challenges and costs of maintaining the infrastructure for highspeed access, there was increasing attention from both the public and private sector to reducing overheads and improving infrastructure efficiency. Cyber Crime Bill Law The plenary session of the Senate in October witnessed the passage into law of “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Prohibition, Prevention, Detection, Response, Investigation and Prosecution of Cyber Crimes and for Other Related Matters, 2014”. The passage of the bill was sequel to Continues on page 28

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75 Nigerian students selected as Microsoft partners By Emeka Aginam

FFORTS to retool Nigerian students for 21st century learning environment using Information Communication Technology has started yielding the expected results as over 75 more students from 25 Nigerian universities have been selected as Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs) at this year ’s Microsoft Nigeria Student Partner on-boarding event which held at Elizade University, Akure, Nigeria. Currently active in over 100 countries around the world, and 27 universities in Nigeria, the Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) programme is an educational and promotional program to sponsor undergraduate students majoring in disciplines related to technology including Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, and Information Technology among others with the aim to enhance their employability and increase their awareness of Microsoft technologies. However, these Student Partners have been offered training especially in productspecific skills not typically taught in academia, including knowledge of Microsoft technologies.

From Left: Director, Developer Platform, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina Oyetosho; Microsoft Student Partner, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Dara Oladapo; Elizade University ICT Director, Mr. Andrew Abaye; Director, Elizade University Centre on Entrepreneurship, Professor Dayo Turton; Chairman, Elizade University ICT Committee, Professor Peter Oriogun; Vice Chancellor, Elizade University, Professor Valentine Aletor; Microsoft Education Technical Advisor, Joel Ogunsola and Technology Evangelist Microsoft Nigeria, Kendra Nnachi during Microsoft Nigeria Student Partner on-boarding event at Elizade University, Akure.

The Developer Platform Evangelism Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Oyeshina Oyetosho, who spoke at this year’s on-boarding event said that while the MSP program aims to increase awareness of Microsoft products, programs and initiatives, it consequently helps expand the user base of Microsoft products, and results in better availability of properly educated workforce

in those technologies. Explaining the selection process, Oyetosho said, “These MSPs were earlier selected as “Buddies” by the existing MSPs and have been monitored and groomed for the past several months and were selected upon their achievements and dedication shown over the period.” He reiterated Microsoft’s commitment to continually

drive skills acquisition and innovation amongst students across Nigeria. Earlier in his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Elizade University, Professor Valentine Aletor said, “In the global economy today, the knowledge sector is the fastest growing sector, with this growth being majorly accelerated by ICT.” According to him, ICT

doesn’t limit man’s capabilities; man limits ICT capabilities. He further noted that ICT helps to ensure youth employability in the commercial sector and Elizade University is interested and open to partnerships that will help to create start-ups and spinoffs from staff and students within the University.” On being an MSP, Dara Oladapo of The Federal University of Technology, Akure says, “This has been a life-changer for me. It has afforded me the opportunity to utilize my time learning all sorts of new technologies and sharing them with others.” Being an MSP is a privileged and honoured status for any student that would give them an advantage over fresh graduates entering the IT industry. Besides that, they enjoy opportunities and benefits such as having global portal access to the latest news, actions, events, worldwide forums, resources and photo gallery. Other benefits are attending technical events hosted by Microsoft, and receiving software giveaways, betas and resource kits, and other promotional items such as posters, flyers, campus launch kits and the likes to be used in campus.

Events, issues that shaped ICT sector in 2014 Continues from page 27 the presentation of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters’ Report on the Cyber Crime Bill referred to it for further legislative work by the Chamber a few weeks ago. The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Umaru Dahiru, presented the report before the Senate for clause by clause consideration and passage. NIMC complies with Datacard Group requirements Also in the early part of the year, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC it successfully carried out User Acceptance Test on the National Identity Smart Card facility, to ensure that it conforms to international standards and best global practices in tune with the defined objective of the NIMS project. FG introduces online platform, .ng This was followed by a directive to all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDA’s, to take the directive on harmonisation of identity management systems seriously because it forms the bedrock of the country’s plans to accelerate socio-economic development to remain globally competitive. In a message from the Secretary to the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim, titled ‘Presidential Directive on the Alignment of Data Capture, Verification and Authentication activities in government ministries, departments and agencies,’ Anyim said there was need for a single

version of truth on all personal information in the national Identity database, which all the MDAs can rely upon. NIGCOMSAT leased out DTH platform to PPTV Some time in the year under review, the Nigerian Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT, Ltd, announced the lease of its Direct To Home, DTH platform to Indegenous investor, Platinum Plus Television, (PPTV) Ltd. The lease, according the organisation was actually a formalization of a deal struck between the two companies in 2013. Rebased GDP In August, Nigeria rebased its GDP after two decades and came up with the fact that the nation’s ICT sector contributes over 10.56 per cent to the Gross Domestic

The story of year 2014 will not be complete without remembering the ugly episode of the dreaded Ebola Virus

Product, GDP. According to the government, the sector was left out in the previous rebasing exercise, during which the sector made no or little impact on the economy. eNigeria 2014 The Nigeria’s premier IT flagship conference, eNigeria was also held in the year under review. It was used to showcase and promotes the country’s viable ICT sector potential. The event attracted IT professional, service providers, government agencies from within and outside the country as well as stakeholders to brainstorm on the way forward in the emerging IT market. JSS1 student designs ‘helicopter’ A 22 year old man, Emmanuel Okekunle, designed a helicopter in his first year in Junior Secondary School, JSSI. Emmanuel, whose head is bristling with ideas, a senior secondary school graduate, with determination to succeed, invented different items that show promise of an upcoming technologist or engineer. ICT used to curtail Ebola scouge The story of year 2014 will not be complete without remembering the ugly episode of the dreaded Ebola Virus, which claimed so many lives, including doctors. But the Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, said the ability of Nigeria to contain the scourge was as a result of the availability and accessibility of ICT tools in the hands of Nigerians.

First non bank based credit card debuts in Nigeria Still in 2014, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN ’s cashless initiative, received greater boost with the introduction of the first non bank based credit card in the country by a Lagos based company, 03 Capital Nigeria Limited. The launch becomes Nigeria’s commencement of credit card system without attachment to any bank. NATCOMS acquires NITEL, MTEL The Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, in December announced fresh acquisition of the national carrier NITEL and the mobile arm, M-TEl, by a group known as NATCOM. NATCOM is a consortium of seven Nigerian companies. It emerged the new owners of NITEL and MTEL by offering to pay $252 million, an amount said to have met the BPE’s bid price. Nigeria campaigns for broadband investment at ITU 2014 At the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, conference held recently in Qatar, the Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister for Communication technology, campaigned for investment in the area of broadband penetration. Speaking at the conference, Johnson stated that although much has been done in the sector, there was still a long way to go. She told participants during the fourday event that ICT has now become the next “oil and gas,” and Nigeria is a gold mine, hence the need for them to come and invest in Nigeria.

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We pass dividends of expansion to our customers — Debbie Akindele-Ojo Every Woman, which has become synonymous with Debbie Akindele-Ojo and vice-versa, was birthed from a casual suggestion by friends trying to comfort her protracted mourning session after the death of her mother. As far as Akindele-Ojo’s friends were concerned, she had all it would take for a fashion retail business: a knack for business, an eye for good pieces and credentials to get a bank loan to purchase her business premises. Off she had gone abroad for the first round of stocking, and the rest is 18 years’ worth of history.

By Morenike Taire

OW did that go? I ended up paying no excess luggage. I brought the dresses and by the end of that weekend we’d sold about 50% of the dresses. Another friend of mine had seen an uncompleted building. He said to me that why don’t I go to the bank to ask for money and buy that building. I went to the lady and I had this big wound on my hand. She said it was for her son (the building). The wound started to bleed, she asked me what was wrong and I just started crying. She put me in her bed and I slept. When I woke up she had her lawyer there.She called her son and told him she had met another child of hers. She gave me a 7-year lease at a very cheap rate.

Successful businesswoman She said it was to encourage me because she was a phenomenally successful businesswoman herself back in the day. She said the thing with women is that we do not know the amount of strength that we have and she said I was sure I could do it. Let’s talk about your customers. Were they friends of yours when you started? It was amazing to me that the first friend that bought from me did not buy from me for about four years. I would say that the familiarity that they brought into it almost killed the business. People that should ideally support and help you to build your business feel entitled. Those are the kind of battles I had to fight. I cut everybody off and made myself an example. If I took something I paid and they saw that I paid. C M Y K

How did you counter that? I would rather be firm. If you come into Every Woman and you do not have any money you will not take anything out How did the expansion come? My vision was to cater to women that were like meworking women who necessarily didn’t have all the money in the world. I think one of the remarkable things about Every Woman is that when we started selling in 1996 we were selling suits at 6,000, 8,000. We are in 2014 now and we are selling suits at 6,000, 8,000. As I got bigger I developed some influence and the power to get people to do me right. They would rather talk to me than a smaller store so that influence is passed to my customers. My tops now are cheaper because as we got bigger we pass all the dividends of our expansion to the customer. Was it difficult to expand? Were you afraid that maybe the first one was a fluke? It really wasn’t a fluke. It was a serious amount of hard work. As a perfectionist I would work hard at something and almost break my back doing it. I am a salesgirl; I’m a cleaner. I believe in the value of physical work. We just revamped the Surulere store and people were surprised to see me cleaning t h e floor. I believe those are the kind of things that God blesses, that if you prove yourself worthy of a blessing you stand a better chance of being blessed. What I am asking you to do is n o t

something I am not willing to do. Is the old lady proud of you now? I am a member of the family. Mama is older now; it is her son that is my landlord. He is the kind of person that if I get stuck in London I call him“uncle o!” He would say: “how much do you need to borrow?”The family has been very close. Apart from her, who has been like a mentor to you? My grandmother who is all that a woman should be: diligent, humble, a great cook, hygienic, a great achiever. At 80 she had to be persuaded to close her shop in Oke-arin and as soon as her children banned her she promptly started selling exercise books, adire, pencils and biros in front of her house. She didn’t see impossible.

Two bedroom bungalow She was a landlady five times over and she didn’t move out of her two-bedroom bungalow in Keffi. The kind of women that inspire me are those that people look down on. They are in the middle of Oke-arin, Apogbon but when push comes to shove all of us with our fancy cars and houses are not worth what they are worth. They are worth their weight literally in gold. They are not celebrated but the absence of such women is why the fabric of our society is torn. Why do you say that? Where are the grandmothers? They are no longer the moral compasses for all of us. They

Debbie Akindele-Ojo

have strong ethics. I was lucky to have some great women. Some of them have raised children on their own and nothing was missing. They didn’t raise vagabonds. Women that took care and took charge. What’s your average work day like? I try to get some exercise done, try and get some devotion done. It depends on where I’m needed. I go to the store that needs me the most but you never can tell, I can

My tops now are cheaper because as we got bigger we pass all the dividends of our expansion to the customer

just drop in. How many states are you in now? We had to close all our stores in the North . Boko Haram was threatening. What are the plans for the future? One of the things that I’ve learnt is that planning is not meant for mortals since nobody has a lease agreement on life. Whatever the future brings the God that I serve is ahead of me. If God says there will be Every Woman a hundred years from now to God be the glory. I’ve reached a stage in my life that if God did not do anything else he’s still done more than enough. Young people now all want to do entertainment because it’s easier. What would you say to young women now who want to go into business? They are making a lot of assumptions. The most important ingredient for success is the spirit of excellence. The generation we have now have a sense of entitlement and that is a recipe for failure.

Entertainment industry If you take the spirit of excellence into something it means you are willing to make sacrifices, put your head against the plough and keep pushing against all odds. I’m so proud of Nigerian entertainers, phenomenally talented people. My fear for them: what are you doing about your future? Before you came there were other people. It’s very rare in the entertainment industry to have a career that has longevity and consistency. It’s very easy to become a Majek Fashek. Where is Billy Ocean today? Get an education. Oprah signs all her checks including the checks of five dollars. She advised Toni Braxton to do the same but Toni hired an accountant because the money was rolling in. Toni Braxton has declared bankruptcy twice. Her accountant now lives in Buenos Aires. It takes education. The process of acquiring education is painful and strenuous. It’s not the degree that y o u actually get. What do you have on the back b u r n e r ? Success actually is the ability to sustain the lifestyle that you have become accustomed to for a period of time without you doing any work.

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incent Enyeama has been named the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year 2014, winning the award courtesy of overwhelming votes from readers of the football website. The Lille and Super Eagles goalkeeper led the field that included illustrious compatriots Ahmed Musa, Obafemi Martins, Mfon Udoh and Ikechukwu Uche. A joyful Enyeama, 32, accepted the award at his club in France on Monday morning. “I’m happy, really happy,” he enthused. “I want to thank my teammates at Lille, the Nigeria national team, my coaches, my wife, my fans, everybody who voted for me, who scream for me during matches to encourage me. And the journalists, without which nothing will be possible.” Enyeama is only the second player to win the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year award following John Obi Mikel’s dominance in the past two

24 hrs to Glo-CAF Awards:

It’s difficult to win awards — Enyeama

years. “I think it’s really hard for a goalkeeper to be recognized. I want to say to all the other goalkeepers that they have to work hard. If they work hard, with God, everything is possible,” he said. Coming off a season in France where he kept clean sheets in 21 matches (with 11 consecutive shut outs), the Super Eagles number one has

got big dreams. “I want to win every match. Everyday, I give my best to be better than yesterday,” he said. “My target [is] to be the best goalkeeper in the world. This is my dream, and I’m working hard for this. “In Nigeria, we have worked on basics and specific things. Our coach [Stephen] Keshi is very important.

ITTF recognises Toriola’s feat at CAF AWARDS: Amuneke roots for Enyeama Commonwealth Games •Enyeama

By Jude Opara, Abuja

HE 41-shot rally recorded by Nigeria’s Segun Toriola against Singapore’s Gao at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland has attracted the attention of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) after the rally was identified

•Segun Toriola

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as the best in 2014 by an American-based sports media, SportsNet. The rally, which was watched by millions of fans across the globe, has been adjudged the best sports play in 2014. According to the Chairman, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Adham Sharara, who made this known described the rally as the top three among the 100 plays of the year listed by the sports media. “My particular interest is to watch the Top-100 Sports Plays as shown by a network called SportsNet and I also like the top plays by ESPN. I particularly also enjoy the Top-100 “Sports Bloopers”. These are “misses”, own goals, terrible mistakes, funny incidents, etc. Of course the most amazing on SportsNet are the Top10 plays of the year. These are really something to watch and admire the skills and abilities of top sport stars,” he said.

HEAD of the Glo/CAF awards taking place this week in Lagos, Chief Coach of the national U-17 team, Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed his desire to see Nigeria ending the draught in the continental honours by the Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyama emerging as the African Footballer of the Year. Amuneke told Vanguard Sports in Abuja that his position for Enyama to clinch the prestigious award was not born out of sentiment but because of the sterling qualities of the goal tender whom he noted has been the

backbone of the Super Eagles. “For me personally as a Nigerian I will want Enyama to win it not just because he is a Nigerian but for what he has been able to do on the field of play in the past year. He has been very productive both for country and club and it will be a boost to our football and especially the upcoming players”. Amuneke who himself is a former winner of the award however added that the competition will be fierce because the two other players penciled for the final list are prospective winners because they have equally done well in their own rights.

•Amuneke

AFCON 2015: Equatorial Guinea appoint Becker as new coach A

•Becker

FRICA Cup of Nations hosts Equatorial Guinea confirm Esteban Becker as their new coach, replacing Andoni Goikoetxea. Argentine Becker, 50, had been in charge of Equatorial Guinea’s women’s team, who he led to the 2012 Nations Cup title. Becker has 11 days to prepare the team for the opening game of the Nations Cup against Congo on 17 January. Equatorial Guinea opted not to renew coach Goikoetxea’s contract, which expired on 31 December.

The country ’s football association (FEGUIFUT) claims Goikoetxea breached his contract by not travelling to Portugal with the team on 16 December. As a result Goikoetxea was sacked, a decision sanctioned by new FEGUIFUT president Andres Jorge Mbomio. Equatorial Guinea have just 11 days before they kick off the Nations Cup against Congo on 17 January. As well as facing Congo, Becker will lead his new team out against Burkina Faso and Gabon in Group A.

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2015 Nations Cup:

Tunisia’s Hatira misses out T

UNISIA midfielder Anis Ben Hatira will miss the Africa Cup of Nations because of a toe injury. Ben Hatira was assessed by medical staff in Tunis, who concluded the player would not be fit to play at the 17 January to 8 February tournament. The 26-year-old will return to his German Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin. Born in Germany, Ben •Hatira Hatira represented the country ’s youth sides but switched to Tunisia at senior level and has won four caps for the Carthage Eagles. Tunisia kick off their Nations Cup campaign in Equatorial Guinea on 18 January against Cape Verde. They will also face Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia in Group B.

Messi worth £68m more than Ronaldo •Messi and Ronaldo

esearch has shown that Barcelona ace Lionel Messi is the player with the world’s current highest market value, £68 million ahead of secondplaced rival Cristiano Ronaldo. A study conducted by the CIES Football Observatory used a complicated algorithm to determine the current market value for players based in Europe, using a number of variables including player performances, characteristics, level of competition, results of their respective teams and previous transfers. The study showed that Argentina skipper Lionel Messi s currently worth a whopping £172.6 million (R3 billion), comfortably ahead of second-placed rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was valued at £104.3 million (R1.8 billion). Chelsea duo Eden Hazard and Diego Costa follow suit, with Juventus sensation Paul Pogba rounding up the top five, with suitors needing to fork out a possible £56.4 million (R999 million) to pry the 21year-old away from his Italian club. The study included nine Premier League players in the Top 20, with eight of the highest-valued players in the top 20 playing in La Liga. Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski are the only two Bundesliga representatives in the Top 20, with Pogba the sole Serie A earner. The highest-ranked African player was Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, ranked in 45th place with a value of £25 million (R446 million), followed by Ivory Coast teammates Wilfried Bony and Gervinho in joint-68th position. Bayern Munich’s Moroccan international Medhi Benatia, ranked joint-87th, is the only other African

player in the Top 120. Current highest market value players in Europe: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) £172.6m 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) £104.3m 3. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) £77.6m 4. Diego Costa (Chelsea) £65.9m 5. Paul Pogba (Juventus) £56.4m 6. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) £51m 7. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) £49.4m 8. Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea) £48.6m 9. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) £47.8m 10. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) £47m 11. Neymar (Barcelona) £45.4m 12. Angel Di Maria (Manchester United) £44.6m 13. Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich) £40.7m 14. James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) £39.1m 15. Oscar (Chelsea) £39.1m 16. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) £37.6m 17. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) £35.2m 18. Isco (Real Madrid) £35.2m 19. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) £34.4m 20. Koke (Atletico Madrid) £34.4m

•Kunle Sonami, Ayo Ojuroye and Ojuroye Omobolanle

•Management staff of Bet9ja

•L-R: Kunle Sonami, Nwogu Benjamin and Ayo Ojuroye

Elephants hit camp in Abu Dhabi C

ôte d’Ivoire began their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations preparation in Abu Dhabi. National coach Hervé Renard directed their first training session on Tuesday afternoon at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Sports Complex, in the absence of Wilfried Bony and the Touré brothers who are expected to join the rest of the group shortly. However, injured Saint-Etienne duo Ismaël Dio-

mandé and Max Gradel made it to the United Arab Emirates and should be able to fully recover before the tournament kicks off. The Elephants will face Nigeria on January 11 and Sweden on January 15 in warm-up friendlies, before heading to Malabo where they will begin their continental campaign against Guinea on January 20.

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

MANY clerics who should ordinarily be in pursuit of souls seem to be making more progress on the soap box.

2015:

Clerics in political court

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

ESUS was with some close aides some months preceding His appointment with death when some pretentious stakeholders in the Jewish revival belonging to the club of Pharisees tried to nudge Him from proceeding to Jerusalem. Their reason was that President Herod, the Rome appointed ruler widely despised by many Jews would kill him. Responding, Jesus had told them, “Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” The description of Herod as a fox was perhaps a reflection of the widely held assertion at that time that the king was a cunning and crafty stooge of the colonial power that at that time held the Jews in captivity. That was in contrast to a strong animal like the lion which utilises awesome powers to subjugate his kingdom. Father Ejike Mbaka, the fiery Roman Catholic priest adored by many faithful of the church was perhaps trudging along the same line when last Sunday he fiercely denounced President Goodluck Jonathan in words beyond political damage.

•Oritsejafor: Mr. President's man

•Mbaka: Jonathan is bad luck

Mental problem

Destiny of Nigeria “I’m not saying that Goodluck is a bad man. He is a good man. But he cannot lead Nigeria. As things stand right now, from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, Jonathan should honourably resign quietly and let Nigeria be,” Mbaka had said. “The destiny of Nigeria is greater than Goodluck Jonathan. The Goodluck in Jonathan has become a bad luck to Nigerians. Whatever brought him in should send him back and let Nigeria be.” Mbaka had before that point given a rundown of what he perceived as the rot in the society citing unemployment, burgeoning insecurity, corruption among other things for his assertion. Summarising the failures of the administration to failure to deal with corruption and insecurity and his almost unequivocal endorsement of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mbaka had said: “There was a

time, the First Lady came here. We are not partisan; we welcomed her. We did a spiritual drama here. Lifted four birds to fly up, the main one that should fly up refused to go. I did everything possible and that one is the healthiest of them all but refused to fly and the spirit of God said, don’t disturb him.” “When God rejected Saul, David took over. Let me tell you, in the history of Nigeria, we have never experienced bloodshed as we have in the time of Goodluck. If Goodluck means bloodshed for Nigerians are you waiting until your own blood is shed? (shouts of No from the congregation).” The initial message of support given by Mbaka during the visit of the first lady is now being used as a basis to challenge last Sunday’s contrary message. Barrister Andrew Oru, a chieftain of the PDP and himself a Roman Catholic was vehement in his denunciation of the priest in an interview with Vanguard. “One or two weeks before he made this latest push, he was there praying for Mrs. Jonathan that they should have a second term only for him to turn around and do a volte face and begin to castigate Jonathan.

•Gumi: Wants Jonathan and Buhari out time there was an argument about pension fund – such billions. Who is talking about it now? Billions and we were hearing it… from excess crude oil money, where is the impact of the excess crude oil money? Now from oil boom, it has met a bad

But given Mbaka’s wide following in the region it was not surprising that Buhari’s supporters were in ecstasy as the tape and comments of Father Mbaka went viral

•Bakare: Versed in political prophecies

luck; it’s now oil doom. If my father will be my leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family be. All I’m trying to tell you is that we have not entered into any covenant with anybody.” His assertions were indeed worrying especially for purveyors of the Jonathan second term project given the claim that the Southeast remains the strongest base of the president. But given Mbaka’s wide following in the region it was not surprising that Buhari’s supporters were in ecstasy as the tape and comments of Father Mbaka went viral. Mbaka is highly respected among adherents of the Roman Catholic Church for his miracles and seeming bold confrontations with some of the country’s past and present political powers. He had in the past severally challenged political powers including former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu

State and his successor, Sullivan Chime. None of them got any advantages from their brushes from him. Just weeks before the Senate primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu even though not a Roman Catholic, had publicly sought Mbaka’s blessings and received it. Few days later the political grounds melted under his main adversary, Chime who subsequently faded away from the political scene. It was perhaps in that light that Senator Ekweremadu also took the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to Mbaka’s Adoration Ground few weeks ago. In a pronunciation that has since been taken against him, Mbaka had at that time assured the First Lady that her husband would win the election. Recalling that event last Sunday, Mbaka had said: “Last

Only somebody who has a mental problem has the capacity to say yes and no almost at the same time. Father Mbaka, I am a catholic but Father Mbaka is not the Catholic priest that we know and what he is doing, he is doing on behalf of a ministry and not on behalf of the Catholic Church,” Oru said. “Unfortunately, people around there are gullible. Father Mbaka is not a man of God that he professes to be, himself and Bakare are the president and vice-president of the pulpit wing of APC,” Oru said as he called for discipline against him. Remarkably, Mbaka is not the only Christian cleric that has come out in denunciation of the Jonathan second term project. Pastor Tunde Bakare who was Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election in which he was pitched against Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo has also flayed Jonathan. Bakare had almost consistently attacked the Jonathan administration and was at one time quoted as saying that he would not allow the president into his Later Rain Assembly. If Mbaka and Bakare are personally offended by a second

Continues on page 39

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—39

2015: Clerics in political court Continues from page 38 term for the president, Pastor Elijah Babatunde, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has taken his own crusade even to the president’s party, the PDP. While predicting the defeat of the president, in his own New Year message, Babatunde had said that the PDP would itself be unable to produce another president for the country in the foreseeable future. “President Goodluck Jonathan will be the last PDP president to rule Nigeria,” Mr. Babatunde, who is the church’s Primate, declared in an interview with a national daily, Daily Independent. The opposition of the above clerics, however, fades when compared with the immense support the president has received from the hierarchy of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. CAN president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor had come to be referred to as a member of the PDP given his staunch defence of the president on many issues causing friction between him and some other more moderate members. In 2011 the emergence of Pastor Tunde Bakare as Buhari’s running mate was of little consequence to many in the Christian community who stood in solidarity with Jonathan. Based on that Buhari had said that for him choosing a Christian clergy or even an ordinary Christian could be of little consequence.

Game changer However, the choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God may have become a game changer for many in the Christian community. Unlike Bakare who was dogged with controversies arising from his past political preachings and prophesies including the famous claim that President-Elect Olusegun Obasanjo would not be sworn in, Osinbajo is of a calmer but seemingly more cutting hue. Since his emergence, Osinbajo has been firing from all cylinders putting the PDP in an uncomfortable position of hitting at a senior and respectable Christian cleric. The involvement of clerics in the political arena is not limited to leaders of the Christian faith. The respected Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi had last October written two separate open letters to President Jonathan and Buhari advising the two of them not to contest the presidential election on the fact of what he claimed was the

tendency that their involvement could spur violence. His action was widely misunderstood in some circles especially as he was seen as being against Buhari. Responding to the misunderstanding against his assertion, Gumi had to issue a press statement in which he clearly affirmed that he did not have a bias towards any of the two candidates as he insisted that his intervention was simply to save the polity. “For the records, I am not a politician and I don’t have sympathy for any of the political parties. My commitment for those that are fair and following what I do is always to ensure that

If Mbaka and Bakare are personally offended by a second term for the president, Pastor Elijah Babatunde, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has taken his own crusade even to the president’s party, the PDP

the rule of law prevails in the conduct of all politicians and for the major stakeholders to avoid overheating our already saturated polity. “If some of my comments, which some considered nasty and against their political interest and pursuit, will ultimately alert our largely unenlightened youths and subsequently prevent the looming bloodshed I foresaw, then the abuses and allegations of compromise against my person will be my own sacrifice to this nation", he said. Responding to the claim in some circles that he was against Buhari, he had said: “I have not said, as reported during the groups visit to me, that General Buhari is also corrupt as purported and erroneously disseminated. In any case, it is not my duty to determine whether anybody is corrupt or not or to even pass a damning verdict on him. “May I state, however, that the content of my recent posting as clear as it is was publicized by some media outfits to deliberately mislead the public about my position, many viewed it as against Buhari or an indirect endorsement for Jonathan. “The records too are very clear. There is no Nigerian leader I persistently criticize and censor like Jonathan because of the deficiency in his leadership to address many serious national issues today, in some part of the country . “Criticizing Buhari will inevitably be seen as an act of blasphemy in the eyes of his supporters. They see anyone that speaks against what they believe

C-RIVER CENTRAL: By Milford Bekom

IRST, it started as a folktale, then it began to look like fiction and finally, began to assume a life of its own. The Senate seat of Cross River Central Senatorial District is actually the matter for discourse here where the dramatis personae are current Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) and Hon. John Enoh, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations in the House of Representatives. As has been affirmed in relevant quarters, Senator Ndoma-Egba has always been a loyal party man and has worked for and defended the PDP when it mattered most. Before the emergence of nPDP (New PDP) in the polity, prior to the convention where some renegade PDP governors staged a walk-out from the convention

•Jonathan: Dividing Nigeria's clerics in as a Jonathan man. This pathetic situation has to be reversed because the moment someone presents himself for leadership he is liable to criticism and answerable to people before God. “The fact that there is religion in politics and politics in religion is the reason why I believe it is a duty for me to be consistent in addressing issues of public interest and to ensure that no human blood drops for the sake of anybody’s ambition, including the ambition of Jonathan and Buhari. The intervention of clerics in the political arena irrespective of

Gumi’s assertion remains a controversial issue. The repeated visits of President Jonathan to the Holy Ghost convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has been flayed in some circles as an opportunity for him to extract sympathy from the members of that congregation reputed to be the largest Pentecostal congregation in the country. Remarkably, a senior pastor of the church, Prof. Yemisi Osinbajo is now the running mate to Buhari putting a dilemma for those who had in the past championed Jonathan as the Christian candidate.

History beckons on PDP

venue at the Eagle Square in Abuja, later to converge at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in the same locale. They were supposedly dissatisfied with the outcome of the convention. In the build-up to the party’s convention, a convention screening committee was set up with Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as the Chairman. The mainstream PDP loyal to President Jonathan was in the know that the renegade governors had weaved a plot to take over PDP. The PDP needed a trusted and loyal partyman, and Senator Ndoma-Egba stepped up to the task. As Convention Chairman, he successfully weeded the party of the elements of nPDP. The rest is history and today PDP is firmly in the hands of President Jonathan. Only recently, in the build-up to the PDP governorship

primaries in Ekiti State, with a record 19 guber aspirants, it was Senator Ndoma-Egba who was chosen by the PDP to serve as Chairman of the screning committee. He didn’t disappoint the party as he rejected several gratification offers from some aspirants so that the outcome of the exercise will tilt in their favour.

Weak candidate A major opposition party’s overtures to ensure that a weak candidate emerged from the exercise, so as to give them an edge during the guber elections, was turned down. Senator Ndoma-Egba ensured that the right thing was done and today, because of this singular act, PDP was able to again make an inroad into South West. Senator Ndoma-Egba has

always stood up for the party and how is the PDP paying him back? The party is allowing a Turk to overrun Senator Ndoma-Egba. Why can’t the party protect its own, you may ask? What with the undertaker role played by this young Turk in 2011 when the PDP selected Hon Mulikat Akande to be the Speaker House of Representatives? He, with the help of nPDP elements and two South South governors; one now in APC and the other still in PDP, bankrolled the Tambuwal project. He was later to be rewarded with a very juicy committee in the House of Representatives. Little wonder Tambuwal paid a thankyou visit to U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar same day in the guise of watching the Super Eagles match. Since then, the PDP and the Presidency have known no peace Continues on page 40

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

•Nkanga: Endorses Udom's choice

PDP is now free of bad influence

AKWA IBOM:

PDP people that believe they could stand alone or go into some other party to pursue their interest that is fine. What are the chances of your party’s candidate, Udom Emmanuel in the governorship election? He has very bright chances, not only that he has the chance I am also praying that he wins the election. You are here and regardless of what anybody has said, there has been a touch of difference in the lives of the people here. We have seen infrastructural renaissance in place, nobody can deny that. Whether it is the opposition or the ruling party would have seen that something has been put in place. Udom Emmanuel’s emergence was a result of a research. The area of zoning ended with what the party wanted, so that one was the first step. The party, PDP said it is in their constitution to support zoning and rotation of elective positions, so that one is there. If you are a good party person you will not go against what the party has said. If you don’t respect the party you cannot be loyal to the party. And as of now there are 3 senatorial districts and the other two have had it and it is only one that is left. So you don’t need to go to school to know that it should go to Eket district. But why do you think Akwa Ibom people are still agitating that he is imposed on them?

— Idonngesit Nkanga FROMER Military Administrator, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), is one of the renowned chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview he explained some of the disturbing political issues in the state in view of the 2015 general elections. Excerpts: By Chioma Onuegbu

ILL the defection of so many aggrieved stakeholders of the PDP in the state to opposition parties especially the APC not affect the party in the polls? As a matter of fact you don’t know how relieved we are in the PDP. You see when there is problem and even in the days of the Bible they said take Jonah out of the boat, so that the sea will be calm. That is what we have now, so whoever is in PDP we know is in PDP. Right now we are even saying we don’t want the ones that will be supporting Nicodemously. They come in the night and in the afternoon they are somewhere else. If you are in the PDP be loyal to the PDP and stay there. And when they talk of defection, you must have been in the party before you start defecting.

Some of the people that I heard have defected were not in the PDP. This is just the first time some of them are coming into politics, so if some of them crossed over to any other party that you are seeing, there are certain things to consider. Sometimes because you are in government for so long and you pretend that you are in that party in that government.

Position in the party We should ask them what and what position have they held in the party? What have they really done that we can say yes, this was the PDP man that did this. Some of them were just in government, just working as civil servants and when they retired they decided to go into politics. This is the first time they are actually choosing a party that we are hearing about. And number

two I read in the local paper that about 28,000 defected to APC. Even this new stadium that we built that is 30, 000 capacity. Can you imagine the place they use as secretariat which is less than half a football field and they said 28, 000 have defected. Even that old stadium will not accommodate 28, 000, so how would that have been? This state up till this time is about 98 percent PDP, so if you see a few

C-RIVER CENTRAL: Continues from page 39 what with the daily embarrassment the leadership of the House doles out to them. Done with House of Representatives, the next theatre is the Senate. These same forces have yet again recruited him as their trusted ally in reneging on party decisions. Delegates and party supporters that came for the process of electing their standard bearer were overwhelmed by those determined to skew the process of genuine representation. Yet, the PDP and the Presidency folded their hands

Udom Emmanuel’s emergence was a result of a research. The area of zoning ended with what the party wanted, so that one was the first step

As a matter of fact agitation and imposition come from the vocabulary of opposition. That is the truth because if the party has said, it should go to Eket Senatorial district, why should somebody from Uyo Senatorial district stand up and agitate? So that agitation is unacceptable. A matter of imposition we know that in this state, earlier on there were some other people that seemed to be favoured, how come we didn’t talk about imposition at that time. Is it when Udom came that imposition came? We know that the matter of who will succeed Akpabio did not just start.

Who succeeds Akpabio There were some body languages that people felt it should go somewhere but the truth there is if the establishment so to say is with me, I won’t call it imposition, if it is with somebody else I will say they are imposing somebody. Some say that the people of Akwa Ibom are opposed to President Jonathan for not doing anything for the state or the South-South. Do you agree? As a matter of fact I can tell you that the South-South has unanimously said that Mr. President is going back. I can say this from the position of authority. I am the Chairman of the SouthSouth People’s Assembly and the very first shout that he should be given a second chance came from me. I was the one that made that announcement on the television, appealing to other Nigerians to give him a second chance. Sometimes we make blanket statements. It will be nice to call Mr. President and say sit down one day and say this is Jonathan’s administration and then take it sector by sector and look at the past presidents that we have had, there is no sector that you will say ah, this president did better than Jonathan including President Obasanjo that just finished.

History beckons on PDP and watched while all these transpired. Precedent, unfortunately, is being set here and, please note that: *Anybody can upstage anybody and the party will watch from the sidelines. *Anybody can rebel against the PDP and expect being rewarded with a higher position. *Senator Ndoma-Egba could have received gratification for his personal gains when he served as Chairman Screening Committee for both Ekiti governorship primaries and PDP mini Convention. The PDP would have lost Ekiti and the

party as a whole may today not be in the firm grip of President Jonathan. *PDP does not reward loyal members but disloyal members. Senator Robert Baird of USA spent about three tenures serving as a Senator on wheel chair. The party did not allow any young Turk loaded with millions of dollars to upstage and outrun him. Methinks there is still a window for the right thing to be done as history beckons on PDP.

*Apostle Milford Bekom wrote in from Obubra in Cross River State.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, JANU ARY 7, 2015 — 41 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA JANUARY

Pregnant for my violent lover Dear Bunmi,

I took her in and she seduced my husband DearBunmi,

HEN a junior colleague was having personal problems, especially with her landlord, I let her move in with me and my husband. She’s young enough to be our daughter and I enjoyed her company. It was to be a temporary solution until she found alternative accommodation. Unfortunately, I’ve just discovered she’s been sleeping with my husband even after she moved out. I’m devastated, I feel like such an old fool! Tessy, By e-mail. Dear Tessy, ’m sorry this has happened to you - it will take a long, long time for you to recover from this double betrayal. I’ve never been one for rushing in fancy-free women into your home

with an able-bodied husband around, no matter how sorry you feel for her. But never think of yourself as a fool. You’re a kind, generous, warm-hearted woman who should deserve admiration and respect. It’s your husband and your so-called friend who are the fools - for betraying you. The only regret here is that you brought both of them together. You need to move on with your life and discuss how hurt you feel with your husband, and how you can repair the trust in your marriage.

You need to move on with your life and discuss how hurt you feel with your husband, and how you can repair the trust in your marriage

At just over 50, he’s off sex! Dear Bunmi,

Y husband and I are both in our fifties and our sex life seems to have died a natural death. Other than this, we’re really comfortable with each other. I’ve tried talking to him about it and have asked if he’s no longer interested in me that way or if he has someone else he’s making love to. But he always reassures me that he loves me very much. In spite of his assurance, no matter what I say, nothing seems to work and I’m getting increasingly fed-up. There is nothing physically wrong with him and we have no worries over work or money as the children have finished school. Is there anything I can do to

bring our love life back? Patience, By e-mail. Dear Patience, ontrary to popular belief that it’s the wife who always has a ‘headache’, it’s often the man who decides to stop having sex in long-term relationships. We just don’t hear about it because no one talks about it. There are many reasons your man could go off sex. You didn’t mention what your sex life was like before but if your husband has never had a particularly high libido, ageing doesn’t help. Levels of testosterone fall and he may be experiencing erection problems (common in the 50s) but be too embarrassed to tell you.

Encourage him to get a full medical, including a check of testosterone level as supplements can make quite a difference. Once he’s been given the all-clear, try a different approach. Don’t wait for him to initiate sex, just do it. Encouraging him to have sex might reignite passion. Also encourage him to tell you what his secret turn-ons are and indulge them if you can. Domesticity dampens desire for a lot of men and he may need the promise of a spicy, fresh scenario to get his interest (and him) aroused. If all else fails, why not see an expert together? lastly, if he’s willing, you can try oral sex to ease him back into penetrative sex.

Will he ever leave his wife? Dear Bunmi,

met a married man whilst I was away on a course from work. We got really friendly as we chatted about all sorts of things. He told me he was married but that it wasn’t working. He invited me out with him and his wife, but I didn’t want to come between them, so I made an excuse not to go. We then started a relationship we both agreed would be short-lived. Towards the end of the course, he told me he wanted to leave his wife. The course ended a while back and I’m not sure if he’s left his wifes I miss him a lot and have this insatiable need to know what happened. Abike, By e-mail.

Dear Abike, hy don’t you get in touch with him again if you know how - you have to know the end of this interesting story. But you have to take things very carefully. Because you’re right to think you could come between him and his wife at a tricky time in their relationship. If it’s the case that he and his wife have indeed parted, he won’t be ready to make another relationship yet. He’ll still be recovering from the split and could well end up breaking your heart without meaning to. Contact this man simply as a friend. If he’s still with his wife, then, back of! If he’s not, carry on being his friend until he’s recovered. And, after that, who knows what might happen?

Y boyfriend of four years is so possessive and jealous that I sometimes fear for my life. He thinks I’m having an affair if I just pop out to the market or if I stop to talk to a man - any man. I’ve left a few times only for us to make up again. Now I’ve just found out I’m expecting a child for him and he’s ecstatic. Only, he’s got even more of a hold on me now. He watches me like a hawk and could be verbally abusive. He doesn’t look like a man I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I don’t want an abortion. Please help. Nike, By e-mail. Dear Nike, o you want your baby to be brought up in an abusive environment? Be firm with your man that you’re not putting up with his jealous and possessive behaviour any longer - and if he carries on, walk out or enlist the help of people who can talk to him. The problem with excessively jealous people is that they can’t change. Even when they’re with the ugliest partners, they still accuse them of two-timing. Life is too short to spend your life dodging the blows of a partner with a problem. ‘Think before you leap' should be your watchword here.

I should be the one doing the dumping! Dear Bunmi,

OR the two years we were together, my boyfriend was violent and uncontrolling. I recently found out he has another girl who he also beat up. When I confronted him, he turned aggressive, accused me of being too controlling and called off the relationship as he no longer trusted me. How could he do this to me? I love him so much though he has promised me another chance. Becky, By e-mail. Dear Becky, urely, you’re putting me on! Who should be giving

who another chance? You make it sound as if you’re in the wrong, and your boyfriend needs to forgive you. But you’re the one who’s been badly treated here. Run as fast as your feet can take you from this violent man and be grateful he’s dumped you. You need to raise your selfesteem to realize you don’t deserve to be abused like this. If he could show the same violence with another woman, he’s the one with the problem, not you. Get out more and interact with both male and female friends. Sound their opinions on matters of the heart before plunging into another relationship. Violent men seldom change.

Is my problem unusual? Dear Bunmi,

S my problem unusual? I’m with my second boyfriend and we get on very well but when we make love, I never get really worked up, though he does. Is it my fault or his? Should I end it and find a better lover or do you have pointers on how I could improve my sex life? Ndidi, By e-mail. Dear Ndidi, t takes two to have mind-blowing sex and both of you need to work at it. According to sexologists, you could transform a tried sex position instantly by adding a pillow. This makes any position more ‘doable’ and comfortable. Also try turning around. Our instinct is to lie with our heads and feet pointing in the same direction, even if we’re not face-to-face. Try moving so you’re head-to-toe. If you always have sex by night, then do it when you usually don’t - in the morning or in the afternoon on weekends. Try it somewhere new as well. The bathroom, 100, kitchen - try making love anywhere but the bedroom where you normally do it. Lastly, it’s been proved that playing with temperature can be very arousing. To add a thrill to oral sex, suck an ice cube before heading south! To give the opposite thrill, take a swig of hot tea. Good luck!

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

42 â€” Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

ON: Maiduguri Prison on fire (inset is the Comptroller General of Prisons, Mr. Peter Ekpendu)

Prisons now at the mercy of external attacks, jail break By Charles Kumolu

ANANIYA Abasiya (not real name) is not a conventional prison officer. Although he was posted to Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, he was forbidden from entering the prison yard. It may sound unbelievable but that is the true story. He is not statutorily permitted to enter the prison yard. Abasiya is a Prisons Arms Guard, who unlike the typical warder is armed and trained on arms usage to guard the prisons and suppress violent uprisings within the system.

Violent uprising For him and his colleagues and other men of the Nigerian army who were stationed in front of the Maximum Security Prisons, October 10, 2014, started like every other day until about 5pm when their presence inside the yard became inevitable It was a situation that needed the Arms Squad, hence Abasiya and his colleagues quickly dashed into the prison facility.

The scenario inside was riotous prompting them to release gunshots and tear gas as well as unleash sniffer dogs among other measures to bring the situation under control. The prisoners had revolted against the system leading to the ensuing commotion which led to the death of unspecified number of prisoners, who had attempted to escape as a result of the melee. It was gathered that the prisoners went violent for what they termed the consistent withholding of items supposedly belonging to inmates by the Deputy Comptroller of Prison in charge of the Kirikiri Prison, DCP, Mr. Kayode Odeyemi. Inspite of this, the government account suggested that inmates only protested against unfavourable conditions. Specifically, blame for the incident was placed at the door step of an inmate who violated the prison rules and incited his colleagues. The Kirikiri incident did not happen in isolation as there

were many that preceded it, even as many more had taken place since the October incident last year. In February, 2014, Koton Karfe Prisons in Kogi State was attacked by armed men, resulting in the escape of 119 inmates. The gunmen used dynamite to blast open the walls of the prison, though 43 were said to have been rearrested. The Edo State Command of the service also had its share

The rise in prison attacks is unarguably at a critical point, where so many questions and groundswell anger have come up

in April of the same year when an attempt was made to free inmates being conveyed to Oko Medium prison from court in Benin, Edo State. The suspects had trailed the two Vehicles conveying the inmates from court along Sapele Road to Airport Road where they were stopped from overtaking the vehicles conveying the suspects. Eighteen inmates who were being conveyed by the Green Maria were high profile inmates whose offences range from robbery to kidnapping. On the heels of that, came an assault on Ekiti Prisons, which led to the escape of no fewer than 320 inmates. The 60-man squad who stormed the facility at 10.30pm, it was gathered arrived in Hilux trucks, armed with dangerous weapons, such as cudgels, cutlasses, AK 47 rifles and charms. The gang was said to have employed the use of dynamite to bomb the main gate before they gained entrance into the prisons yard. They equally killed all the 20 sniffer dogs tied in front of the gate.

Barely a week after, no fewer than 270 inmates of the Minna Medium Prison, Niger State, escaped on December 6, 2014 after an attack by gunmen. The incident occurred about 4 p.m when convicts were released to take a stroll within the prison yard. Following the attack, 270 of the 323 inmates were said to have escaped.

Weapons and bullet proof vests Three members of the gang dressed in long flowing gowns were said to have disarmed the Prison officials, broke into the record room, armoury room and carted away some weapons and bullet-proof vests. It was also gathered that the gunmen were close to 20 and divided themselves into groups. Some of the gunmen took strategic positions round about the facility while the 10minute invasion lasted. Before the incidents recorded last year, similar attacks took place in Maiduguri, Kano, Bauchi, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Benin among others. Indeed, deadly jailbreaks are not new occurrences in the country. But opinions are presently not divided that it has taken a dangerous twist this past year. In the last five years, Vanguard Features,VF, found out that nearly 3000 prisoners

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014 —43

A damaged portion of Koton-Karfe Prison

Prisons at the mercy of external attacks, jail break Continues from page 42 jailbreaks and attacks. Supporting that in a piece titled: Nigeria Reveals Wave of Jailbreaks, the BBC said: ‘’More than 2,000 prisoners have escaped over the past five years in Nigeria, officials say, mainly as a result of attacks on jails by the Islamist militant Boko Haram group. Almost 500 prisoners escaped in the city of Maiduguri in 2009. A total of 2,251 prisoners have got away and most of them are still at large, officials say.’’ The rise in prison attacks is unarguably at a critical point, where so many questions and groundswell anger have come up.

Government’s reactions People are particularly saddened that each time such thing occurs, the responses from the Federal Government often fall below exceptions. So weak and empty are the government’s reactions to these, that the confidence of the people regarding its capability to curb the menace is now reducing. Findings showed that apart from calling for an investigation into the circumstances that led to the invasion, ‘nothing more concrete had been done to find those responsible for the incidents. On that matter, the government had particularly asked the then acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, Mr. Aminu Sulley, to investigate and explain within two weeks how a sizeable number of AK47 rifles got into the prison and why the only sanction meted on the erring officer was a mere transfer. “A situation whereby it is

established that a prison officer connived with external forces to take a sizeable number of AK47 into the prison and the only sanctions you can give to such officer is to transfer him is sad; and so, acting CG, I want you to investigate that matter and report back to me within two weeks,” Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro had said on the issue. Eight months after, VF can authoritatively state no other word has been heard about the probe. The same step has also been taken on the Ekiti incident, where a panel of inquiry was set up to uncover those behind the attack. “At the moment I don’t want to attribute the occurrence in Ado Ekiti prison to some conspiracy theory or attack by insurgents. We will get to the root of these attacks through a multi-sectional investigative panel put in place to find out the culpability or otherwise of those suspected to be involved and when we are through we

So weak and empty are the government’s reactions, that the confidence of the people regarding its capability to curb the menace is now reducing

will appropriately inform the Nigeria public,”Moro said during the commissioning of 12 convenience rooms built by United Bank For Africa, UBA, for Ikoyi Passport office of the Nigeria Immigration Service. For most Nigerians, the situation calls for urgent actions considering the far reaching implications of the trend.

National emergency President Joint Action for Social Justice, JSJ, Comrade Deji Adebola told VF that the trend should be treated as a national emergency, adding that the prisons are now at the mercy of invaders. ‘’A situation where a prison facility that is meant to house dangerous and convicted people, becomes a place where people can invade successfully at will, then there is so much danger in the country. It confirms that there is no security anywhere,’’ he noted. ‘’What we have seen so far is an exposition of the workings of the security operatives in the country. All the various security agencies suffer from acute incapability, occasioned by lack of training and inadequate personnel. The government must act fast now. There is no other time than now else we will loose grip on the affairs of the nation.’’ Further investigation by VF among the personnel of the NPS, confirmed some of the fears raised by Adebola. A staff who pleaded anonymity told this reporter that some of the incidents are not often jailbreaks, adding that many were external attacks. ‘’We are at a critical point. Criminals and hoodlums no longer have regard for the system. The weak points in the service have become exposed to the extent that attacks are

carried out on the prisons at will. We lack the equipment required to forestal such attacks. The attackers carry more sophisticated weapons.So it would be suicidal for us to face them,” he stated. Continuing, he said, ‘’We the Arms men, need more training on handling of sophisticated weapons. Soldiers have been drafted to support us, but that is not enough. Latest weapons should be provided because the types of crime we contend with is unlike in the past. Our men should not be expected to guard the prisons that house terrorists and other types of criminals with light weapons.

Payment of leave allowance If we are well positioned for this, the attacks would no longer take place. Our morale is also low. The nation is also aware of that of the soldiers, ours is also a challenge. For so many years now, our leave allowances have not been paid and we are aware that the government made provision for it,’’ he added. Also speaking on the matter, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, blamed the spate of jail

breaks in the country, on neglect of the NPS by the Federal government. He noted that the prison was set up to serve as a rehabilitation centre for inmates, and so, deserved adequate attention, adding that government had lost concern for this purpose. Fagbonhungbe also stressed the need to relocate prisons, so as to create adequate accommodation for inmates. “Some of these prisons have old structures and were built years ago, with a minimal capacity; but as time progresses, the number of criminal cases increases, and so, the prison cannot house the same number of inmates. “The prison system has completely been abandoned by the government; they are overcrowded and the inmates are not given the necessary attention. The prison structures in place are in a bad shape; a prison that was built for about 500 inmates, now houses over 1000 inmates. Fagbonhungbe also stressed the need to separate convicted criminals from those awaiting trial, in a bid to avoid breeding more hardened inmates. “Although the prison is not a place of rest, it however, requires certain minimum living standard for its inmates,’’ he added.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Scientists worry over paracetamol ‘skin rash’ J

UST over a year after the National Pharmacovigilance Centre of the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC issued a public alert over the association of Paracetamol, a.k.a. Acetaminophen, with risk of a rare but serious skin reaction, the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has again warned about the potential hazard of the commonly used analgesic. Paracetamol is the most common drug ingredient and is found in more than 600 different over-the-counter, OTC, and prescription medicines. The drug is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. It relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation and swelling of the joint. Towards the end of November 2014, the FDA issued a "guidance for industry," about the "rare but serious skin reaction" that can occur on the ingestion of paracetamol. The reaction, it was gathered, can happen the very first time the drug is taken, or suddenly even if a person has taken paracetamol (or a drug containing paracetamol) many times before. First there's "acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis." That looks like a form of psoriasis, with a pus-filled red rash that can appear on the upper part of your body and even on your face. Then there's Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, SJS, a devastating condition that usually begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful purplish rash that can spread to the eyes and ears. This is followed by blisters and actual detachment of the upper layer of the skin! “SJS is like a burn from the inside out, which is why people who suffer with it

•Regulatory agencies have cautioned about the risk of a rare skin reaction from use of paracetamol are often treated in hospital burn units,” it was gathered. After this, the Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis,TENs, and Acute Generalised Exanthematous Pustulosis, AGEP, occurs. All are potentially fatal. When the SJS skin lesions cover over 30 per cent of the body it's called TENs, that can cause extensive peeling of the skin that's so bad that some people do not survive. Common symptoms of the skin reaction are skin reddening, blisters and rash. NAFDAC had warned that Acetaminophen, a common active ingredient to treat pain and reduce fever, that is included in many prescriptions and over the counter, OTC, products (including paracetamol) causes the mentioned skin reactions.

The Agency had observed the difficulty in determining how frequently serious skin reactions occur with acetaminophen, due to widespread use of the drug, differences in usage among individuals, and the long period of time the drug has been on the market. “In view of the above, health care professionals should be aware of this risk and consider acetaminophen, along with other drugs already known to have such an association, when assessing patients with potentially drug induced skin reactions”, the NAFDAC had warned. An overdose of paracetamol can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of paracetamol for adults is 1g (1000 mg) per dose and 4g (4000 mg) per day. Taking more paracetamol could cause damage to the liver.

JOHESU picks holes in Yayale Report By Gabriel Olawale

HE Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU has expressed dissatisfaction over the report of Yayale Ahmed Presidential Committee of Experts on Inter-Professional Relationship in the Public Health Sector, YAPCEPRPH. The report which is expected to provide lasting solution to unhealthy rivalry among health professionals came under criticism following what they described as it being one-sided. The committee which was set-up by President Goodluck Jonathan and led by a former Head of Service, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed to look into the unhealthy rivalry among health professionals recently submitted a report that identified 50 areas of conflict among health workers in the country. In a reaction, the Union which comprises all health workers except doctors, described the report as onesided and favouring their counterpart. In a jointly signed statement by the all member associations of the Union,

Genetic engineering turns malaria parasite into vaccine candidate

• President Goodluck Jonathan made available to Vanguard Health & Living, VHL, the groupb stated: "It is necessary to inform the Federal Government that we out rightly reject the very biased and one-sided Yayale Ahmed Presidential Committee of Experts on Professional Relationships in the Public Health Sector(YAPCEPRPH) in both public and professional interests. "From all intents, the report only seeks to further marginalise our members and

compromises the future of generations of our members who will be permanently made sub-servient to their contemporaries in medicine. “We strongly demand this report which is not in tune with national development and interest be immediately withdrawn for public good and the future of the health sector," it was noted. The Union, however described the establishment of office of chief medical adviser to the president as a way of reintroducing the concept of SurgeonGeneral as demanded by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA. "Also on the issue of creation of national healthcare commission to replace professional regulatory agencies and regulate tertiary health facilities is clearly out of line and a design to institutionalise confusion. JOHESU wondered how one commission was being proposed take over the functions of 15 different professional regulatory councils as well as regulate the activities of 55 Federal Health Institutions as presently constituted.

TEAM of scientists at Seattle BioMed is making progress on developing a genetically engineered version of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum that could act as a vaccine. The logic behind this approach is rooted in the origins of vaccines, which trace to 1,000 C.E., when the Chinese used scabs and pus from smallpox sufferers to infect healthy people. The human immune system is based on its ability to recognize pathogens. It has a strong intrinsic ability to recognise intruders and attack them, but the multitude of potential invaders—bacteria, viruses, parasites—have ways to circumvent our defenses. Intruders get in, get established and we get sick while the immune system mounts a proper defense. Malaria is a single-celled parasite, not a bacterium or a virus, but the immune system fights it the same way it fights everything else. If we could train the

• Possible malaria vaccine in the works. immune system to recognize malaria and take it out before it gets established in the body, we could confer immunity. We could have a vaccine for malaria. Unfortunately, two things have made efforts to develop a malaria vaccine largely fruitless so far. Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly species, and the focus of the BioMed team’s efforts. Second, this is an extremely cunning and stubborn parasite. Medicines that effectively kill the parasite are few (you can count them on one hand) and many of them come with nasty side-effects. The parasite develops resistance quickly, further limiting the selection of anti-malarial drugs usable in any given location. The BioMed team’s plan is to intervene before the cycle can get started in the first place. Any incipient malaria infection has a brief window of vulnerability, right after a mosquito has delivered the parasite to the blood stream but before the parasite has taken refuge in red blood cells and begun to reproduce. The BioMed team would like that Plasmodium vanguard to find itself in a bloodstream already rife with antigens waiting to tag the parasite for termination.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—45

Peterside, Wike pledge special focus on Ogoni if elected gov By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT—THE governorship candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, have each promised special focus on Ogoni areas if elected as governor in next month's election. The governorship candidates in their separate speeches at this year ’s Ogoni Day organised by the mainstream Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People,MOSOP, in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state, also sued for peace. Chief Wike, who thanked the Ogoni for the support they had given his campaign, called on Rivers people to unite and restore the state to what he termed the mainstream politics. Assuring even development of the state and equitable distribution of state resources, Wike congratulated them for the successful celebration of this year’s Ogoni Day. On his part, Peterside, who said the Ogoni Day was like home coming for him, recalled how the Ogoni struggle, led by

Edo deputy gov faults PDP's allegation against Oshiomhole By Simon Ebegbulem

E N I N — DEPUTY Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, has described as arrant nonsense, the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state that Governor Adams Oshiomhole expended N142 million to commission some recent projects executed by the state government. Odubu, who reacted to the allegation by the state chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, at the annual Ikaba festival at his Urhomehe country home, Orhiomwon Local Government Area of the state, said: “The allegation is arrant nonsense. The Oshiomhole we all know will not spend more than one or two million on such occasion. Because of his nature, we did not commission all the projects we executed because he felt that would help to avoid wastages."

the late Ken Saro Wiwa, shaped his concept of social justice. Peterside, who grew up in Bori, said that the Ogoni struggle at a point became his life, noting that when he was appointed Commissioner for Works in the state, he ensured that internal roads were tarred in the area. “Mr. President,(referring to MOSOP president), I have drunk from the waters of Kpor.

I have participated in farming in the farmlands of Nyortem, Zaakpon and Kaani. So, if they talk about social justice, I understand what it means. “This place (Ogoniland) gave me the formative days of my life. As a boy growing up on the streets of Bori, I admired the courage of the Ogoni people, their resilient spirit and industry. I can tell you that those rare qualities in the Ogoni which I observed while growing up in Ogoniland

inspired me to the point where I am today. “The Ogoni struggle became my life and my life became intertwined with the Ogoni struggle. That was why when I had the opportunity to serve as Commissioner for Works of Rivers State, I personally, with the support of the governor, constructed for the first time, all roads in Bori. Today, the roads I constructed in Bori are a living testimony of what I will do if given the opportunity to serve."

EXCO MEETING: From left: Mr. Abdul Oroh, Commissioner for Agriculture; Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon, Chief of Staff to the Governor; Mr Jerry Obazele, Head of Service and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, at the first Executive Council meeting of the state in tne New Year, yesterday.

Bayelsa monarch berates Mbaka over comments on Jonathan By Emem Idio

ENAGOA—THE Paramount Ruler of Akipelai community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Chief Asara Asara, has berated clergymen who have turned their pulpits into campaign arenas, describing the trend as “mischievous and dangerous

for the country’s democracy.” Asara, who was reacting to recent comments by Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka on President Goodluck Jonathan, in his country home in Akipelai, advised the clergy to focus on their divine calling of preaching the message of salvation to mankind rather than getting involved in politics. He said: “The likes of Mbaka are money conscious and have turned churches into business

centres and are obtaining money for the performance of miracles.” He stressed that unguarded utterances by the clergy will make even the saints to withdraw from churches. Asara advised the clergy to desist from making inflammatory comments on candidates and political parties to avoid causing disaffection among the people as elections draw near.

8 Delta communities threaten showdown with NPDC over MoU By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—EIGHT host communities to Oil Mining Lease, OML 30, in Ughelli North, Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas of Delta State, have vowed to shut down operations of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, should the company fail to implement the terms of agreement it reached with the communities in September 2014.

President Generals of the eight communities, under the aegis of Forum of Communities Executives of Flow Station in OML 30, in a statement, said that they would withdraw all service staff of OML 30 communities in the next seven days if the company fails to implement the terms of agreement. They said: “While we have fulfilled our part of the terms of agreement, NPDC has flouted almost every part of the accord reached with OML 30

communities.” When contacted, NPDC Director of Community Relation, Mr. Dahiru Abubakar, who signed the agreement on behalf of NPDC, said though the matter was within the purview of his department, he does not have the mandate to speak on issues relating to NPDC within host communities. At press time, efforts to reach the Manager, External Relations, Mr. Ugo Atugbokoh were unsuccessful.

TAN hails Urhobo on support for Jonathan, Okowa

ELTA State Director of Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, Prince Ned Nwoko, has hailed the Urhobo for dropping their threat to vote against President Goodluck Jonathan in retaliation for the governorship ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, going to Delta North. Prince Nwoko said that the Urhobo should also drop their opposition to the candidacy of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who, he said, represents equity and inclusiveness in the politics of Delta State. In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Prince Nwoko, said TAN was mobilising support for both Dr. Jonathan and Dr. Okowa in Delta State with firm assurances that all the three senatorial districts in the state would remain solidly behind the PDP.

Oarhe lauds Falae over position on Edo SDP

HE Social Democratic Party, SDP candidate for House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency, Edo State, Mr Dickson Oarhe, has hailed the national leadership of the party and its national Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, for placing the party on the foot of legality. Oarhe, who briefed newsmen, yesterday, thanked the party leadership for being social democrats which only exists in SDP, and the national secretary, Dr. Abubakar Gombe, for their stand that the party was not a dumping ground for desperate politicians. He said: “I am excited that by the position of the national leadership of our great party, and particularly with the decision by Chief Falae which is in my favour that I remain the authentic candidate of the party for the House of Reps election."

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

I'll focus on industrialization, says Okorocha

Urhobo 'll vote candidate, not party— EX-MILITANT

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has assured the people of the state of his administration’s determination to focus more on industrializing the state if he is re-elected. The governor, who disclosed this during a rally at Enyiogugu Central School/ Ngor High School Umuneke, said industriali-zation would go a long way towards offering employment to the teeming unemployed youths in the state. Governor Okorocha said his administration, having focused more on health sector and free education, would now turn to eradication of poverty in the state through massive industrialization. He assured the people of Enyiogugu of the readiness of his administration to transform Enyiogugu market to a modern market and Aboh Mbaise into a mega city, noting that the state government would soon embark on construction of some of the rural roads in the area. In his speech, CommanderGeneral of Governor Okorocha’s Campaign Organization, Ihukwumere Alaribe, assured the governor that All Progressives Congress, APC, would win all the elective positions in the forthcoming elections. An APC chieftain in the area, Chief Ben Akalefu, said he was in APC to contribute his quota towards the development of the state, especially to ensure the victory of Governor Okorocha. In their separate speeches, the APC candidate for Aboh

By Oboh Agbonkhese

former Niger Delta militant, ‘General’ Israel Akpodoro, has said the electorate will vote personality and not political party in the forthcoming Delta State governorship election, insisting the successor to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan must be an Urhobo man. The Urhobo-born exmilitant, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos, is also the National Vice President of the Phases 2 & 3 Presidential Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government. According to him, “the Urhobo people, who make up Delta Central Senatorial district, constitute the largest homogeneous entity in the state, with the largest number of registered voters,” noting that “a free and fair election will produce a governor of Urhobo extraction.” Akpodoro, who also is the founder of Urhobo Youth Forum for Change, UYFC, said the support for an Urhobo governor had no link with any political party. Akpodoro is famous for his partnership with former President, Musa Yar’Adua, in disarming of militants in the Niger Delta region.

Mbaise State Constituency, Pascal Nwogu, and Chief Matthew Nwogu, who is contesting for Aboh/Ngor

Okpala Federal Constituency and the Senator for Owerri Zone, Uche Onyeagocha, expressed optimism that they would win with a wide margin, so that the oppositions would not have

reasons to go to court. No fewer than 500 members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Mr. Tony Mbakwem, who defected to APC, were presented to the governor at the rally for recognition.

Youths tasked on entrepreneurship By Vincent Ujumadu

WKA—A LAGOS-based entrepreneur, Dr. John Erinne, an engineer, has urged young school leavers to focus on self-employment and entrepreneurship as a valid answer to the growing unemployment in the country. Erinne said this while delivering a paper entitled Economic Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship, which he delivered at the lecture series of Okija InHome Club in Anambra State. He observed that in the current situation of

joblessness and despondency facing Nigerian youths, graduates of technological, scientific and business/management disciplines, in particular, were well-placed to face their future without necessarily waiting for white collar jobs. According to him, with reports showing that unemployment rate in Nigeria grew above 37 percent in 2013, it became imperative for Nigerian graduates to look in the direction of self-employment, which, he noted, usually paid off with determination and hard work.

He said a lot needed to be done at all levels, from individuals to governments, to intensify effort and focus more critically and intensively on the Small and Medium Enterprises, SME, sector which, he argued, remained the best platform for the desired change, based on experience elsewhere. Erinne added that graduates wishing to become entrepreneurs must explore existing government programmes, especially in the area of training and capital financing to avoid pitfalls of their failed predecessors in the same line of business or enterprise and ensure good management practices and self-discipline.

Okowa/Otuaro, team to beat in Delta —Former LP gov candidate

Niger Delta activist and Labour Party, LP, candidate for Warri North constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly in 2011, Mr. Felix Adanse, has told his supporters to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the February 21 election. In a statement yesterday, Mr. Adanse said the emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as PDP’s candidate for the Delta State governorship

poll and the selection of Kingsley Otuaro as his running mate was the best thing that had happened in the history of the state. According to him, “both of them are grassroots mobilizers and will be sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of Deltans. I want to use this medium to appeal to Deltans to vote massively for the PDP at the February 21 polls. “I want to also urge all my

supporters in Warri North to vote for PDP, as our former party, Labour Party, LP, cannot take us to the Promised Land. Okowa/ Otuaro is the team to beat. “We can no longer be in a party that has no future for majority of Deltans. I wish to, on behalf of all my supporters, congratulate Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his running mate, Kingsley Otuaro for their emergence. Come February 21, Deltans will massively vote them into office.”

On judiciary workers' strike?

HEY ought to have a second thought before embarking on this strike. Is it that their pockets are filled with money? Some of us are yet to recoup Christmas expenses. Some of those organizing this strike have friends or relatives that are directly affected.— Mr. Okechukwu Geoffrey, Lawyer.

EOPLE are in detention and are supposed to have their bail perfected. This strike will keep them in jail. If it is the state that bears the cost of the buildings they use, what then is the essence of asking for financial independence?—Mr. Sebastine Chuka, Lawyer.

HE judgment obtained through the singular effort of Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) made it imperative for all stakeholders within the system, including the NBA to support, encourage and, if necessary, join JUSUN in this fight, which no doubt is for the overall public good.—Chief Morah Ekwunoh, Lawyer.

E just entered a new year, the court have to settle down first. Whoever is advising them to go on strike at this moment, I think that person does not mean well for Nigeria. The government may term it to be sabotage and I will not blame them.—Mr. Anozie Emelike, Lawyer.

E must have complete separation of powers. What is happening in Rivers State is because the judiciary is attached to the executive. We talk of separation of powers so that the judiciary can stand on its own and work properly.— Mr. Idahosa Idahosa, Lawyer.

HE strike has paralyzed many things. Litigants are loitering about the court in a state of disappointment. Some people will have to spend more time in jail. We can only appeal to JUSUN to come to the roundtable with the authorities and courts should be opened.— Mr. Tunde Okunola, Lawyer.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015— 47

Plateau govt urges NLC to shelve planned industrial action By Marie-Therese

Nanlong

OS—PL ATEAU State government has described the planned industrial action by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as a misplaced priority and asked the union to shun such action as it was detrimental to its developmental efforts. Addressing newsmen in Jos, the state capital, yesterday, the Special Advisern on Special Duties to Governor Jonah Jang, Mr. Yakubu Jang, said that the proposed strike would retard the efforts of the government in moving the nation forward. “I am surprised at the planned NLC strike in three states including Plateau. The national leadership of the NLC coordinating the strike for state NLC shows that it has some political undertone. “NLC should allow Nigeria to solve her problems one at a time instead of retarding the efforts made at moving the nation forward. It is worrisome when people plan strike when the country is going through economic downturn and

insecurity. “Plateau people should put on their thinking caps and join in seeking solutions. Plateau like other state governments is in debt due to population growth but bond has been floated to bail the state out of the debt burden “As we know, most states in

the country are not viable. Plateau is repositioning to ensure improved Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. Owing staff salaries is not deliberate but due to dwindling allocations to states,” he said. Jang also urged the state workers to continue to be patriotic and pray for a peaceful elections as the state

government was doing everything possible to ensure that the citizens do not go through hard times. He then assured that citizens would soon rejoice as the government had a strategic development plan which would ensure quality infrastructure development, equipment and staffing so that the state would be more viable.

SECURITY MEETING: From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, and Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Bala Ngilari, at a security meeting with President Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

FG expresses gratitude over support in fight against Boko Haram A BUJA—THE Federal Government has expressed gratitude to its bilateral and multilateral partners and other friendly nations for their cooperation in its efforts to defeat and uproot the terror group, Boko Haram. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Aminu Wali, expressed the gratitude during a debate on “Threats to international peace and security” held at the UN Security Council chambers in New York, weekend. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media Affairs, Alhaji Bashir Baba, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. The minister said that with sustained international support and the government’s unwavering determination, the threat posed by Boko Haram would be history. Wali said that Nigeria had been working closely with its immediate neighbors - Chad, Cameroon, Niger and the Republic of Benin, to create a multinational joint task force to combat insecurity in the sub region. Wali added that the Federal Government had put in place legal and regulatory frameworks to make it extremely difficult for

terrorist groups and criminal networks to operate in Nigeria. He warned that the war against criminality was an ongoing one and called for more cooperation from Nigeria’s neighbors and international partners. He said the cooperation was needed to close all available spaces for terrorist groups.

Wali acknowledged the positive roles played by the UN organs such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC; Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force, CTITF, and the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate. During the debate, which was chaired by Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chadian Foreign

Affairs and African Integration Minister, member nations were advised to enhance strategies and cooperation to prevent terrorism. They were also urged to build the capacity to secure their various borders and intensify investigations and the prosecution of terrorists and organised criminals.

UNILORIN VC asks INEC to introduce e-voting in 2019 By Demola Akinyemi

LORIN—THE Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to introduce electronic voting in the 2019 general elections. Ambali said that if UNILORIN could conduct elections for the new executive of the Post Graduate Students’ Association,

PGSS, successfully, there was no reason why INEC could not do so, and urged the commission to take a cue from the institution by using Electronic Voting Process, EVP, for the polls. Ambali spoke during the swearing in of the new executives of the PGSS. He was represented on the occasion by Professor Clement Bewaji. He said that it would have been possible to adopt EVP in the 2019 elections if the chairman of INEC

and other stakeholders in the nation’s electoral body could visit the university to know how the EVP was successfully used so that the process could be improved upon. According to Ambali, the EVP was less cumbersome and easy as the losers and winners would gladly accept the outcome of the election since it was foolproof, credible and transparent.

Birnin Kebbi LG procures 2,500 water pumping machines for farmers

IRNIN KEBBI—THE Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area in Kebbi State has procured 2,500 additional water pumping machines worth N7.5 million for distribution to farmers in the area.

The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa DanIllela, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday. Dan-Illela explained that the machines would be

distributed to registered farmers in electoral wards in the area. According to him, the Agriculture Department had been mandated to ensure equitable distribution to beneficiaries.

Catholics hold Religious Education confab in Makurdi

AKURDI—NO fewer than 1,000 delegates are expected at the Annual Conference of National Directorate of Religious Education for Catholic Dioceses of Nigeria scheduled to hold in Makurdi between January 12 and January 16. The conference will be hosted by the Abuja Ecclesiastical Province that comprises the dioceses of Makurdi, Otukpo, Idah, Lokoja, Lafia, Gboko, KatsinAla and the Archdiocese of Abuja. The Provincial Chairman of the conference, Rev Godwin Agberagba, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in an interview in Makurdi, Monday. Agberagba said the conference, which was to review the religious education curriculum in schools owned by the church, would take place at the Pope John Paul Pastoral Centre, Makurdi. He said the review would set the stage for effecting changes in catholic school programmes in the country.

SURE-P: Interns

commend Jonathan over GIS training

By Bashir Adefaka

BADAN—THE three-day graduate internship training organised by Graduate Intensive Scheme, GIS, of the Federal Ministry of Finance for Oyo State interns has ended. The programme, during the closing session, was greeted with commendations by benefiting graduates to President Goodluck Jonathan. Under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P as part of the Transformation Agenda of the President, the GIS was established to up the standard and employability of graduates in the country through a oneyear programme at the end of which they would become clear with expectations of employers and be fully equipped for challenges of workplaces. Vanguard further learned that for the one-year period that the interns are meant to undergo the mentoring programme, the Federal Government takes responsibility for all financial implications, including trainingallowancesandthemonthly salariesofN30,000perinternpayable to them in their various firms or organizations of deployment.

48â€”Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

DECORATION: Representative of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay (left), being decorated by the State Chairman, Nigeria Legion, Lt. Col. Daniel Amara, during the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem appeal week, in Government House, Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini

LAUNCH: From right, Chairman of Legion, Col. Alimi Samotu; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Senator Bayo Salami, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, and Commandant, Engineering Construction Company, Ede, Brigadier General, AG Adeyemi Gbenga, during the launch of 2015 Emblem of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, at Government House, Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday.

SERVICE: Proto-Presbyter, Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Very Rev. Stephen Adegbite; Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche; Media and Public Relations Officer, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, and Chaplain to the Prelate, Very Rev. Rufus Atolaye, during the New Year Church Service, in Lagos.

DONATION: From left, Sgt. Emmanuel Oyetade, ASP Vincent Obiagba, Ifako International Secondary School Head Girl - Fadugbagbe Boluwatife; Head Boy - Ebube Donald; Insp. Ebudola Ilori, and ASP Anthony Ali, during Ifako International Schools 2014 CSR/Founders' Day programme/donation of signage to Agege Police Station, Pen Cinema.

VISIT: Lagos State Governor, Mr.. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right), and the Air Officer Commanding, AOC, of the Air Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Olutayo Oguntoyinbo, during his courtesy visit to the Governor, at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos.

VISIT: Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel team during a recent visit to the Arrows of God Orphanage, in Ajah, Lagos.

PILGRIMAGE: From left, Pastor Adebayo Abiodun, Team Leader; Prophet Somuyiwa Ololade, Mrs. Olufunke Abiola, Prophetess Maria Oladipupo, Mr. Elias, Tour Guide; Prophetess Faremi, Prophetess Yinka Oganla, Mr. Babatunde Vaughan, and Apostle Amos TURBANNING: Yan Tauri group, dancing during the turbanning of managing Faremi. Squatting, from left, Ms Blessing Oguare,Deaconess Bosede Akindoyogbe, and director, Bauchi Radio Corporation,BRC, Alhaji Maigari Khanna, as the new Bukola Pearse, during pilgrimage to Israel, organised by Unique Pilgrims Tours, and led by Mrs. Mary Oyedokun. village head of Katabarwa, in Shira lga of Bauchi State.

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By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

BUJA—LESS than 24 hours after the Conference Credential Committee, CCC, for next month's National Delegates Conference, NDC, Elections of Nigeria Labour Congress, released list of contestants dully cleared for the election, the congress has now been enmeshed in a crisis that is threatening to tear it apart. Some leaders of the private sectors unions are accusing the public sector union of betrayal and fielding candidate for NLC presidency instead of leaving it for the private sector unions to slug it out in line with the norms. Already allegation of external influence to ensure certain

Crisis rocks NLC over next month's election candidates are elected is spreading like wide fire. In fact, the presidency is being accused of working with some officials of NLC to influence the election by ensuring that its preferred candidate succeeds the outgoing President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar. But the General Secretary of NLC, Mr Peter Ozo-Esor denied the allegations of external influence, stressing that the present leadership of NLC was not aware of any government preference. However, some Private sector unions told Vanguard that under normal circumstances, the out-going NLC President

who came from the public sector would hand over to somebody from the private sector as had been the case. According to them, “Even though it is not written, it is a general norm that once a private sector union president serves two terms of four years each, the public sector will be elected president for eight years.” It was gathered that this understanding had been on for a long time which made the outgoing president Omar, from the public sector to succeed Adams Oshiomhole from the private sector. According to the aggrieved private sector unions, “When

Oshiomhole was leaving, Abdulwaheed Omar from the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, contested with Fidelix Edeh of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU. It was not that there were no qualified private sector unions, but because it was the norm.” The aggrieved private sector unions are threatening fire and brimstone over the alleged plot to hand over the presidency of NLC to another member of the public sector union, warning that “such move would weaken NLC solidarity.” It is being insinuated that a private sector union leader would be difficult for government to control. Vanguard gathered that some of the aggrieved unions are threatening not to cooperate with NLC should the plot to

replace Omar with another private sector union succeed. Meanwhile, Dr. Ozo-Eson insisted that “ we have no division; we act as one unlike many other organizations. We never considered whether one is from South, East, West or North. There is no cleavage, people indicate interest, our duty is to facilitate the process.” Three of the candidates that have been cleared to contest the position of the president in the election are Joseph Ajaero of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Igwe Achese of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Waba Ayuba from Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN.

NOTE: From next week, Labour Vanguard will be bringing details of the intrigues ahead of the election.

We've not received reports of threat to Fr Mbaka's life — POLICE By Francis Igata

NUGU—THE Enugu State Police command has refuted claims by Enugu-based Catholic priest who is also the founder of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Father Camillus Ejike Mbaka, that his life is in danger. The cleric had alleged that some people were threatening his life after he blasted President Goodluck Jonathan's government on New Year eve. He had claimed that Mr. President Jonathan surrounded himself with very corrupt public officials, hence he turned blind eye to their corrupt activities while millions of Nigerians were suffering daily in abject poverty and endless insecurity. Mbaka made the declaration while delivering a sermon tagged, “From Good luck to Bad luck” during the end-of-year Adoration mass which held from night till dawn at the Adoration Ground, Emene, Enugu. But reacting to the cleric alleged threat to his life, Enugu state Police command, dismissed the claims as baseless insisting that ‘if’ Mbaka’s life was in danger, he should have reported to the Police for appropriate action. Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu,DSP, said, “We do not have any report by Fr. Mbaka over threat to his life. We have not received any complaint from him.”

Delta speaker begs House workers to end strike

PEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Onwusanya, yesterday called on the striking workers of the state assembly to end their strike, as 99 percent of their demands had been met. The Speaker said the remaining one percent of the demand; the outfit allowance would be paid in a few day's time. According to the speaker, the workers’ call “for removal of clerk of the House is ill-motivated and indicates external forces influencing the workers. There is no need for strike now; the workers have enjoyed benefits now than before.” He added that the management would continue to give priority to workers welfare. C M Y K

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Gov Orji presents N102.4bn 2015 budget to Abia Assembly By Anayo Okoli

M U A H I A — G O V E R N O R Theodore Orji of Abia State, has presented a budget of N102. 4 billion for 2015, to the state House of Assembly, for approval. The budget is 12 per cent less than 2014 N115.3 billion budget. Tagged “Valedictory Budget”, Governor Orji said it was targeted at completing ongoing projects within and outside the state. Presenting the appropriation before the members of the House of Assembly, Orji explained the budget was made up of estimated recurrent expenditure of N62.2 billion and capital expenditure of N40.18 billion. According to him, the appropriation bill showed a decrease of about 12% below the 2014 budget of N115.3 billion, which required prudent measures for its implementation. He attributed the decrease to the global fall in crude oil price, noting that the 2015 fiscal year would usher in greater

By Vincent Ujumadu

PRESENTATION: Governor, Theodore Orji of Abia State presenting the 2015 Appropriation Bill to the Abia State House of Assembly in Umuahia. With him, from left are, Hon. Asiforo Okere, Deputy Speaker and Rt. Hon. Ude Okochukwu, Speaker. discipline aimed at making the state better for all. Governor Orji announced that the 2015 appropriation bill was expected to provide for the completion of all ongoing projects; put in place job creation and poverty reduction, including physical and human infrastructure, stressing that

it would help in transforming the state in areas like security. The governor said the budget was premised on the frame work of International Public Sector Accounting Standard, IPSAS, and structured along a Medium Term Expenditure Framework, “With the

projections for years 20152017, using the year 2013 as the base year”. Receiving the budget, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Right Honourable Ude OkoChukwu assured the governor that the House would give the appropriation expeditious consideration.

Shareholders remove Goodie Ibru from board of Ikeja Hotel ...Appoint KPMG to conduct forensic audit By Peter Egwuatu

A G O S — SHAREHOLDERS of Ikeja Hotels Plc, yesterday at a court ordered Extra Ordinary General Meeting, EGM unanimously removed Mr. Goodie Ibru as Chairman and as a director of the company. The shareholders also appointed KPMG firm of Auditors to carry out forensic audit of the company. The meeting which was occasioned by a Federal High Court order was delayed by one hour because shareholders were prevented from entering the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, earlier scheduled for the meeting. ''The delay was allegedly due to the fact that Mr. Goodie Ibru obtained an injunction against the conduct of the meeting from another Federal High court in Abuja. The meeting was however held one hour after the scheduled time outside the

Anambra REC seeks partnership with security operatives on free, fair election

premises of the hotel as allowed by the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA 1990, where shareholders appointed one of the directors, and Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, as interim chairman of the company Olaoluwa, who is currently the Managing Director of Bank of Industry, BOI presided over the meeting that led to the appointment of audit firm, KPMG Nigeria Limited, to conduct forensic audit of the management of the affairs of the company from the 1999 to 2014. At the meeting, the shareholders through voting approved all the four resolutions proposed that: “Mr. Goodie Ibru be removed from office as director; Mr. Olumide Braithwaite be appointed as director of Ikeja Hotel; Mr. Tunde Saumi be appointed as director and KPMG be appointed for purpose of carrying out forensic audit of the

management of the affairs of the company, forensic audit of the share register and verification of the funding and payment for the shares of the company or holders, directly/indirectly of shares that amount to 2 per cent or more of the company’s issued share capital.” Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Boniface Okezie, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN said “ We are at a stage where there is no hope. Goodie Ibru knows that if we hold this meeting, the views of the majority will supercede his own, so he ran to Abuja to get a counter injunction. ''We have a superior legal authority to hold this meeting. For the past six years, no dividend, we only received 10 kobo dividend in 2009 which was paid in 2010 and Goodie occupied the whole 8th floor of Sheraton Hotel without payment. Let him give way so that the

company can be run in a profitable manner. We want a change; the company must be salvaged from this mess. ''For the past five or six years, no returns for shareholders, even the people that contributed immensely to the growth of the company, he did not put them on the board. We have three companies as subsidiaries but they refused to pay dividend. ''Our percentage is about 68 per cent of the total holding while 6.7 per cent is his own percentage and corporate governance does not permit him to be executive chairman as well as managing director of a public quoted company. He violated the law, he should have taken a position of honour by resigning. We have advised him to resign to put his son there and he remained adamant. We don’t know how long we will continue to suffer from this mismanagement.'

WKA—THE new Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Edwin Nwatalari, yesterday visited security operatives in the state and solicited their support to ensure free, fair and credible election in next month’s general elections in the state. The REC visited the state commissioner of police, Mr. Hassan Hosea Karma, the state director, Department of State Service, DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi and the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ben Dikiro. He called for cooperation among the security chiefs in the state, noting that Nigerians were looking up to all the agencies connected with the elections to live above board. Nwatalari said the commission had put in place measures, including the introduction of card reader, properly trained staff, ICT, among others to ensure that the polls were not only conducted in a free, fair and credible manner, but the outcome accepted by the generality of Nigerians, including the winners and losers. The director of DSS, Mr. Felix Okiyi in his speech, charged INEC, to avoid any act that could mar the election, insisting that the success or otherwise of the polls largely depended on the electoral umpire. Okiyi pledged that his command would do everything required constitutionally to ensure that the elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and emphasized the need for the top hierarchy of the electoral umpire not to indulge in any act that could mar the exercise. At the state headquarters of the Nigeria Police, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Karma, said the police would ensure free and fair election next month. Also at the NSCDC, the commandant, Mr. Ben Dikuro, called for cooperation among the various security commands in the area.

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BRIEFS Iraqi troops killed in twin ‘ISIL attacks’

More objects found in AirAsia wreck hunt as black box still missing S

EARCH teams scouring the ocean for the wreckage of an AirAsia jet found two new metal objects yesterday. Meanwhile, nine days after the plane crashed officials say there is still no sign of the crucial black box flight recorders. Bad weather continued to hamper the search, and while conditions eased slightly on Tuesday, high waves and strong currents prevented divers from going deep into the waters to look for the plane’s wreckage on the bottom of the Java Sea. Indonesian officials believe they may have located the tail and parts of the fuselage of the Airbus A320-200 30 meters below the surface, but have been unable to properly investigate the debris so far. Flight QZ8501 plunged into the water off Borneo island on Dec. 28, about 40 minutes into a two-hour flight from Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore. There were no survivors among the 162 people on board. Jakarta has launched a crackdown on its fastgrowing aviation sector since the crash, reassigning some

WO attacks by three suicide bombers have killed at least 30 Iraqi soldiers and security personnel in the country’s western Anbar province. Yesterday’s attacks, which security sources said were undertaken by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), targeted an army checkpoint and a mosque on the same day the Iraqi army marked its 94th anniversary. Security sources told Al Jazeera that at least seven soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in a morning attack involving a car bomb at an army checkpoint at the Wadi Houran bridge near the town of Haditha. Later on Tuesday, two suicide bombers, followed by gunmen, struck a mosque in the town of al-Jubba town, where soldiers were believed to have been resting. At least 10 soldiers and 13 security personnel died in the attack and subsequent clashes.

Female suicide attacker hits Istanbul police station

US navy personnel holding talks near a helicopter upon arrival back from their search operation for the victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 at the airport in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia, yesterday. officials and tightening rules on pre-flight procedures in a country with a patchy reputation for air safety. “Divers were ready on the ship but the challenges were currents and waves,” the head of

Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, told a news conference in Jakarta on Tuesday evening. He said a U.S. navy ship located two more metal objects using sonar

signals, though it is not known yet if they are part of the missing plane. Those would add to the five large objects, believed to have been part of the plane, detected so far.

Republicans take control of US Congress after eight years

EPUBLICANS are set to take control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in eight years.

Germany politicians protest ‘Islamisation’ of Europe

OLITICIANS and celebrities in Germany have joined a media campaign against Pegida, a group protesting against what it sees as the “Islamisation” of Europe. Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and retired footballer Oliver Bierhoff were among 80 figures to back a petition in German newspaper Bild. It comes after rival rallies took place across the country. Some 18,000 people attended one antiimmigration rally in Dresden on Monday. There have been weekly protests by the Patriotic Europeans

•Former Chancellor Helmut Schmid against the Islamisation of the West (Pegida) since October. But counter demonstrations have sprung up, with thousands marching in Berlin, Cologne, Dresden and Stuttgart.

New and re-elected senators and all representatives will begin the swearing-in process at midday. At the top of the Republican agenda is approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, a challenge to Barack Obama’s healthcare law and a trade deal. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner is facing a leadership challenge from several more conservative members. Among those challenging Mr Boehner is Texas Representative Louis Gohmert, who earlier said it was time for a change after “years of broken promises”. But Mr Boehner has already won a vote of R e p u b l i c a n representatives and would need to lose dozens of additional votes from his party to be ousted as speaker. Some Republicans have decried the leadership fight as a distraction from the party’s newly won ability to pass legislation. The party won a majority in the Senate

female suicide bomber has blown herself up in the Turkish city of Istanbul, injuring two police officers, the city governor says. She hit a police station in the tourist hub of Sultanahmet. Reports say one of the officers has died of his injuries. Governor Vasip Sahin told Turkish TV that the woman spoke English with “a thick accent”, but her nationality and identity remained unknown. No group has yet said it was behind the attack, the second on police in a week. Police arrested a man who threw grenades and fired a weapon at officers near the prime minister’s office last Thursday, but no-one was injured in the attack. The bomber in the latest incident was reported to have died in the attack. Police have sealed off an area in the historic district, where the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia museum are located. Mr Sahin said the woman entered the station and told police she had lost her wallet before detonating the bomb.

Belgian rapist Van Den Bleeken refused ‘right to die’

•Mitch McConnell now takes control of a still sharply divided Senate during November’s midterm election. But they have been angered by recent solo actions by Mr Obama including an executive action on immigration policy and a major shift in US policy towards Cuba. Congress will convene at noon (17:00 GMT), as required by the US Constitution. A vote on the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, a controversial oil pipeline extension on hold for years, is already expected in the House later this week. The legislation may have enough support to pass Democratic blocks in the Senate.

Belgian man serving a life sentence for rape and murder will not be allowed to have doctors end his life as he has requested, the justice minister says. Koen Geens said he was respecting the latest medical advice of doctors treating Frank Van den Bleeken, who is unable to control violent sexual urges. Van den Bleeken will be moved to a new psychiatric treatment centre, he added. Belgium is one of three European countries that allows euthanasia for terminally ill people. But Van den Bleeken’s case is the first involving a prisoner since the assisted dying law was introduced 12 years ago. His request to undergo euthanasia won approval from Belgium’s Federal Euthanasia Commission last September, after years of requests for the state to help him end his life.

Palestinian jailed for murder of Israeli teenagers

N Israeli military court has handed three life sentences to a Palestinian convicted of organising the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Hussam Hassan Kawasme was also ordered yesterday to pay $63,000 in compensation to each of the three families. Kawasme was arrested in connection with organising and financing the June 12 kidnapping of the three teenagers that triggered a series of events which helped lead to Israel’s deadly 50-day offensive against Gaza. The bodies of the three Israelis were found three weeks later.

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AFRICAN NEWS

Kenya ‘ICC defence witness’ in Ruto’s trial murdered A

man found dead in Kenya over the weekend was a key witness for Deputy President William Ruto at his trial in The Hague, his lawyer has said. Meshack Yebei’s decomposed body was discovered in western Kenya after he was reportedly abducted on 28 December. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said Mr Yebei declined to enter its witness protection programme. Mr Ruto denies charges of crimes against humanity over violence which erupted after the 2007 election. He is the most senior government official to be tried by The Haguebased court since its formation more than a decade ago. The ICC dropped similar charges against President Uhuru Kenyatta last month, alleging that prosecution

witnesses had been intimidated and had changed their testimony. Mr Kenyatta maintained he was innocent, saying the prosecution had no case against him. Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has ordered police to carry out a “speedy and thorough investigation” into Mr Yebei’s murder. His family said over the weekend that he was killed to prevent him from appearing at The Hague, but there was no official confirmation at the time of his involvement in the deputy president’s trial. Mr Ruto’s lawyer Karim Khan has now written a letter to the head of Kenya’s Criminal Investigation Department, saying Mr Yebei had been a “critical witness” who had been referred to the ICC’s Victims and Witness Unit for protection.

OUTH Africa’s Roman Catholic Church has welcomed a donation of about

$40,000 (£26,000) by President Jacob Zuma to translate the Bible directly from Hebrew

HREE ruling party activists have been shot dead by gunmen in a bar in eastern Burundi, police

•William Ruto denies orchestrating some of the violence that followed disputed elections in 2007 “It’s our strongly held view that an attack on any witness constitutes an interference with the proper administration of justice and indeed an attack against William Ruto,” Mr Khan said. “The news of his abduction and murder is both shocking to us and a matter of grave

and Greek into isiZulu. Current translations lacked the “idiom and music” of isiZulu,

•It is expected to take 10 years to complete the translation

Ebola: New vaccine trial begins

CIENTISTS at Oxford University have begun immunising healthy volunteers with a new Ebola vaccine. In September last year, a separate trial of another Ebola vaccine got under way in the city. This latest trial involves 72 volunteers aged 18-50. Initial tests in monkeys showed the vaccine, developed by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, gave

complete protection against Ebola. The volunteers in Oxford are the first humans to receive the vaccine. Dr Matthew Snape, from the Oxford Vaccine Group, part of the University of Oxford Department of Paediatrics, said: “We aim to immunise all participants within a month. The more vaccines and more manufacturers there are working on this, the better. The main aim is

Burundi CNDD-FDD supporters shot dead in bar

concern.” The ICC’s registrar, Herman von Hebel, said Mr Yebei had been offered safe residency in a new place, but he returned to Eldoret - a town in western Kenya which had been badly hit by the violence which following the disputed 2007 election.

S/African church welcomes Zulu Bible translation funds

BRIEFS

to understand the safety profile of the vaccines.” The trial involves volunteers receiving an additional booster dose one or two months after the initial injection. Similar small trials will also get under way in the US and three African countries unaffected by Ebola. The first dose is designed to prime the immune system with the second booster dose to enhance the immune response.

Bishop Mlungisi Pius Dlungwane told the BBC. Mr Zuma’s mother tongue is isiZulu, the main language spoken in South Africa. The Bible was translated into isiZulu during white minority rule, but from other languages. Racial discrimination officially ended in South Africa in 1994 when the-then liberation movement, the African National Congress (ANC), swept to power. Bishop Dlungwane told BBC Focus on Africa that the donation by the Jacob Zuma Foundation was a “start” in the effort to translate the bible from the “biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek”. It would take at least a decade to complete the translation, he said. The South African Bible Society had translated the Bible from isiXhosa - the second most popular language in South Africa - to isiZulu in the 1950s, the cleric said. “The language flow, the idiom and music is not there. It’s not the kind of language that we speak everyday,” he added.

say. Five men dressed in army fatigues tied up the CNDD-FDD party supporters before killing them on Sunday night. They then went to the CNDD-FDD office in Gisuru, near the border with Tanzania, and burned the party flag. Party spokesman Onesime Nduwimana blamed “the extremist fringe of the opposition” bent on sabotaging elections due later this year. He told the AFP news agency that he feared they wanted to destabilise the country by “sowing hatred” and provoking revenge attacks. The attack follows heavy clashes last week in northwestern Burundi between the army and rebels who officials say crossed from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. On Monday, an army spokesman said 95 fighters from the so-far unidentified rebel group had died during the fighting in Cibitoke province. Col Gaspard Baratuza said the motive of the rebels was not immediately clear but there were suspicions the group might have been planning to disrupt the elections. Burundi is recovering from a brutal civil war that ended with President Pierre Nkurunziza’s election in 2005.

Gambia’s Jammeh reshuffles cabinet after coup attempt

AMBIA’S President Yahya Jammeh reshuffled three major posts in his government, state television reported, a week after a failed coup attempt in the West Africa nation. No reason was given in the report late on Monday for the changes at the ministries of foreign affairs, information and transport, but they follow an attack by gunmen on the capital, Banjul, when Jammeh was out of the country late last month. Neneh MacDouall-Gaye, a former information minister, has been named as foreign affairs minister. Sheriff Bojang, managing editor at The Standard newspaper, was named information minister. Bala Garba Jahumpa, the outgoing foreign minister, will now head the transport ministry. Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, has accused foreign-based dissidents of being behind the coup bid. Security forces have made a number of arrests but few details have been released, stoking fears of abuses in a country with a poor human rights record. Prosecutors in the United States on Monday charged a Texas businessman with bankrolling and trying to lead the coup with the support of a former U.S. Army sergeant.

Libya pays heavy economic price as fighting takes toll

HE central bank is burning through its foreign reserves and many government services are being cut as Libya reels under the effects of a collapse in oil revenues caused by factional fighting that threatens to tear the country apart. With the oil price plunging and no sign of an end to hostilities, economic options are few. Experts say the bank, which is struggling to remain neutral amid the fighting, might have to devalue the currency sharply to meet the public payroll. As the fighting has knocked out most oilfields and ports, oil exports have fallen below 300,000 barrels a day, less than one fifth of the 1.6 million barrels Libya was pumping before Muammar Gaddafi fell in 2011. Since then, the country has been in turmoil as the rebel brigades that helped overthrow Gaddafi are now fighting each other for power and are backing two competing governments.

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•Emeka Edward and George David

I went into robbery to save my mother’s life — Robbery suspect By Esther Onyegbula

INETEEN-year-old Eme ka Edward, a secondary school drop-out who was arrested by the Police in Lagos, has confessed to have joined a robbery gang in order to raise money for his mother’s health condition. The Rivers-state born suspect, who was full of remorse, further blamed his indulgence on the demise of his father four years ago, lamenting that the tragedy saddled him with the responsibility of catering for his ailing mother and siblings alone. Edward was arrested on December 5, 2014, during an operation with two other suspected members of his gang ; George David and Kelvin aka Intelligence. The robbery gang was said to have been terrorising residents of Alagbado area of Lagos and its environs before it was smashed. Report said the three-man gang stormed Alaso area in Alagbado at about 8pm,where they dispossessed their female victim and her children of valuables including cash. Along the

line, the woman was said to have managed to escape and alerted residents of the robbers’ presence. Sensing danger, the robbers were said to have hurriedly left the apartment. But unknown to them, the residents had laid ambush for them. While George David and kelvin Intelligence managed to escape, Edward was not that lucky as he was apprehended by the residents who were said to have beaten him to a pulp before the arrival of policemen. In this interview with Crime Alert, he denied claim by the victim that his gang members attempted to rape her, stating that they only held her wrapper when she attempted to escape. Confession: During preliminary investigation, it was discovered that Edward lives in the same vicinity with their victim. Asked if there was any specific reason for choosing the victim’s apartment among other apartments in the area, George replied: “ I did not know that was where we were going to operate. “I live at 25 Quadri Adebambo Street, Alagbado. George also

lives in the same neighbourhood. On that fateful day, I was on my way to see a friend named Alfa , when I met George and Kelvin. They told me they were going for a robbery operation and invited me to join them. They did not promise me an exact amount. They only said that the loot would be shared equally among us. On arrival at the designated apartment, Kelvin and George went inside with guns while I was behind them. We met a woman in the sitting room with

In fact I had succeeded in escaping from the building but I was caught along the route I took because the children recognised me

her three grown male children . To my shock, I recognised one of the children and quickly informed George that Kelvin. But before we could decide on what to do, one of the children mentioned my name. We were distracted at that moment. As if that was not enough, their mother escaped through the back door. As she was leaving, George attempted to hold her by the wrapper but the wrapper fell off the woman’s waist. She also fell down but kept running and shouting thief! At that point, we felt it was no longer safe to continue the operation and we fled in separate directions. In fact I had succeeded in escaping from the building but I was caught along the route I took because the children recognised me".

My ailing mother made me do it Continuing, he said : "I have never gone for any robbery operation since I was born. This was my first. My ailing mother made me do it. She is not directly involved. What I meant is that I went into robbery to raise money for her medical bills.

My misfortune began after the death of my father, four years ago. I was forced to drop out of school because there was no means of furthering my education. Being the eldest child, I tried my hands on several maniac jobs. All I could save was used to pay for my mother's operation because sher gave birth through caeserian operation . Recently, I got a call from my mother, informing me that she had been ill. She said that her stitched tummy had opened and that she needed some money to go to the hospital for treatment. From her tone, I noticed she was too weak to even speak. It was while I was contemplating on how to raise money for her condition that I met kelvin and George. My intention was to take whatever came out of the operation to my ailing mother the next day. Unfortunately, that was never to be”, he lamented. His confessional statement as gathered, led operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud, SARs to the gang’s hideout, somewhere around Orile – Agege area , where George David was apprehended. Operatives were said to have further visited a hotel around the area where leader of the gang, Kelvin reportedly lodged, only to discover that he had disappeared. But a locally made AK 47 magazine loaded with 1.6m calibre cartridge and travelling document belonging to Kelvin, were reportedly recovered in the hotel room . It was also discovered that Kelvin was a student of the Ebonyi State university.

Kelvin lured me into robbery—suspect On his part, 27 year-old George David, told Crime Alert that that the fleeing leader of the gang, Kelvin, lured him into robbery. David who claimed to be a tricycle operator, revealed that Kelvin had intended to leave the shore of the country had the operation been successful. Hear him: "Kelvin and I are from the same home town in Delta state. He is a student at the Ebonyi State University but resides in Abakaliki. He usually stayed with me any time he visited Lagos. The last time he came, he told me that he was travelling to South Africa but that he was looking for some money to make up his fare. In his bid to raise the money, he started selling his property. I even bought his plasma television for N15, 000. I knew he is an armed robber because he confided in me. He told me also that members of his former gang had been arrested and had therefore decided to form his own gang. If I had known, I would have continued with my tricycle business, where I had peace of mind."

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60—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

FALLING OIL PRICES: Edo to cut costs By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that his government will cut costs and block leakages as part of measures to survive the expected drop in the revenue accruing to the state from the federation account as a result of the crash in the price of crude oil. Speaking at the state’s first Executive Council meeting in Year 2015, the governor said 2015 will be very difficult, adding that the government will still sustain the progress made in infrastructural development, noting that it was how the little resources available were managed that mattered and not how much the state earns. He said: “I know we had to go through a very difficult period last year. There is no question that there is a huge gap between our revenue projections and actual receipts from the federation account arising from alleged oil theft but also a huge gap existed between our projected local revenue and what was actually realised. “With the sustained general reforms, we have decided that some of the gains of this government will be consolidated. It is very clear that we are going to face very serious challenges this year. As at the time we passed our budget, it was based on about $78 per barrel and the Federal

Government which acted later, had to review its figure downwards twice and at the last count had chosen to adopt $65 per barrel. “It is not clear whether this unstable market price is going to continue on a downward trend or whether we have seen the worst of it or whether we are likely to experience a marginal increase in price but what is obvious is that this year ’s revenue will be far less than

expected and for me, it is not to overstress the issue whether the volume of oil theft is avoidable or unavoidable. “Whether we know the thieves or we do not, whatever is the case, the receipt from the federation account is likely to suffer a huge fall. There is nothing anyone can do about that. It is beyond our control.” To survive the tough year, Oshiomhole said: “We are going to renew our commitment

to cut costs and block leakages as much as possible and ensure that all taxes that are collected are actually reflected in the revenue of government. We will ensure that all leakages in the tax collection chain are blocked. “Also, we are going to sustain the progress made in other areas where we have made improvements. So, it’s going to be a tough year, but as they say, tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”

APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in River State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, displaying the governorship flag presented to him by the Chairman of the party, Chief Odigie Oyegun, during the APC presidential campaign inauguration at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Nigerians in France hold pro-Jonathan, Wike rally in Paris By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT— NIGERIANS in France have held a rally to drum support for the election of President Goodluck Jonathan and the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike. Coordinator, Wike Diaspora Campaign Group, France, Mr Ukrakpo Henry, in a statement, said they had closely monitored political developments in the country, adding that the re-election of President Jonathan will take the nation to a greater height. Noting that Wike will impact positively on Rivers State if elected governor this year, Ukrakpo said they took time to critically assess the candidature of President Jonathan and Mr Wike before coming up with a position. “Nigerians in France had a rally in the city of Paris to mobilise support for the reelection of President Jonathan and Mr Wike. The Wike

Diaspora Campaign Group enjoins all Nigerians at home to vote for the duo of Jonathan and Wike for President and Rivers State governor

respectively. “President Jonathan deserves another chance. His administration diligently implemented its agenda for

national transformation in priority areas, that include the expansion of national infrastructure, agricultural development and education."

It's too late to fish for another candidate in Rivers —ELDERS C'TTEE By Davies Iheamnachor

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Elders Reconciliation Committee has called on all aggrieved members, chieftains and elder statesmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state for urgent unity and reconciliation ahead of the forthcoming general elections, saying that it was too late for the party to fish for another candidate to fly its flag in the state. The elders, drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state, who spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, appealed to all genuine and patriotic members of PDP and indigenes of Rivers State to

close ranks and work together as one united family in order to be victorious in the elections. The elders who described Chief Nyesom Wike as a child of necessity, said that the

ultimatum given by some elders of the party was not in the interest of democracy. The elders said Wike should be allowed to win the election, stressing that rotation of the governorship seat will be effective after Wike’s tenure.

Rep dumps Edo PDP for SDP By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN—THE member representing Etsako federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Abubakar Momoh and a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Rasaq Momoh, have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Social Democratic Party, SDP. They dumped the PDP with

their supporters in Auchi after accusing the leaders of the PDP in the state of skewing the party primaries in favour of their preferred candidates. Consequently, Abubakar Momoh has picked the senatorial ticket of the SDP for Edo North senatorial race. He will face Chief Francis Alimekhena, the APC candidate and Mr. Paschal Ugbome, who defeated him in the PDP primaries.

Delta LG bosses to work for Okowa's victory By Festus Ahon

SABA—AHEAD of the February general elections, the 25 local government area chairmen in Delta State, under the auspices of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, yesterday, declared their resolve to work for the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. The 25 council chairmen, who were elected under the platform of the PDP, said they were the foot soldiers of the party at the grassroots, adding that they have the capabilities to deliver the party in the general elections. Acting Chairman of ALGON in the state, Mr Itiako Ikpokpo, shortly after a solidarity visit to Senator Okowa at his campaign headquarters in Asaba, said: “What is important is for us to mobilise effectively for Okowa and other PDP candidates in the February elections.”

...Ex-militants express support

OMADI—NIGER Delta ex-militants have thrown their weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship flag-bearer in Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, in the forthcoming general elections. The ex-militants have also resolved to work for Okowa, describing his victory at the primaries as the choice of the people. Speaking with newsmen in Ughelli, the Delta State Chairman, Phase 2 of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Muturu, said: "It is imperative for exagitators to support Okowa for the governorship poll as he is a tested political leader with the people at heart,“ adding that their support for Okowa was born out of his readiness to lead the state to the next level.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 — 61

Hayatou, others arrive for Glo-CAF Awards A

LL is now set for the 2014 GloCAF awards gala night scheduled to hold tomorrow at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria. Illustrious sons and daughters of Africa who have distinguished themselves across the world playing or administering the game of football in the last one year will be honoured at the event, rated as Oscars of African Football. The awards are the most prestigious in Africa, conferred on outstanding players, coaches, supporters and administrators by the continents’ highest football authority and bankrolled by one of Africa’s biggest brands, Globacom. Many of the award recipients, sports dignitaries, government officials and football administrators led by the President of CAF, Mr. Issa Hayatou and executive members of the continental body, CAF have started

arriving in Lagos for the ceremony. Globacom, in a press statement in Lagos on Wednesday, said that “the Glo-CAF Awards 2014 will parade the greatest African football legends, including the new African Footballer of the Year and winners in 12 other categories.” The categories include African Player of The Year (Based in Africa), National Team of The Year, Club of The Year, and Coach of The Year. Other categories are Women’s National Team of The Year, Women’s Footballer of The Year, Most Promising Talent, Referee of The Year, Legend of The year, Fair Play Award, Platinum Aw a r d a n d Africa Finest XI. CAF recently released the final list of three shortlisted players competing for the prized African Footballer of the Year awards. They are Nigerian Vincent Enyeama who currently plays for Lille in France, three times African Player of the Year, Manchester City

Amokachi Continues from BP for Abu Dhabi on Thursday where they will take on Cote d’Ivoire on January 12. They will also tackle Sudan on January 16 in Dubai. Amokachi made his startling revelation to AfricanFootball.com moments after he saw his team of players from the domestic league come from 2-1 down to beat NYSC FC 5-2 in

their first warm-up match on Monday. “I cannot pick the 19 players when everybody came off season. Even we the coaches came from off season. But we just have to keep working but definitely there are five or six players who have shown that they would make the team but everybody else are on the thin line between going and not going for the two

and Cote d’ Ivoire Midfielder, Yaya Toure, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

•Hayatou

Messi Continues from BP The 27-year-old missed an open training session attended by thousands of children on Monday and later started following Chelsea and some of the club’s top stars Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis on Instagram. games,” he declared. “When you have two games to play and you are preparing for ten days name doesn’t count, it’s the player who is fitter who makes the team because you need results.” He added: “This is a team who have been on off-season. For players you can see them, some of them are still over weight but for the little time that we have been here we are trying our best.

Uduaghan leads PDP governors, sports stars to Jonathan’s re-election novelty match BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

S part of campaign strategies for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, a national support group, Gio15, is organising a novelty football match in Asaba, Delta State. According to a statement signed by the Chairman, National Organising C M Y K

Committee, Ejike Obioko, the novelty match which will hold January 14th at the Squash Club, Government House, Asaba, is one of the group’s way of appreciating President Jonathan’s strides in sports and women development. The match will have in attendance Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

who is the Chief Guest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, National Women and Youth Leaders, legislators, PDP governors, APGA governors, serving ministers, Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Jay Jay Okocha, Ann Chiejine, top Nigerian artistes and Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, who will be the compere at the occasion.

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Sneijder: Galatasaray demand £15m from Man U

Prince Ali to challenge Blatter for Fifa presidency

ANCHESTER United have been told by Turkish giants Galatasaray that they will have to stump up £15 million if they want to land the signature of Wesley Sneijder, according to the Daily Express. A number of top European sides are said to be keeping a close watch on his situation in Istanbul, but it is United and Serie A giants Juventus who are thought to be leading the pack for his signature. United have been tracking Sneijder for a while and Louis van Gaal has been eyeing another major spending spree, which could eclipse their total outlay last summer. Juventus had reportedly made an offer of just £1.5m to grab a bargain this month with an 18-month deal worth an estimated £3.5m contract. However, Sneijder ’s agent, Guido Albers, suitors will need to pay significantly more to take him from Turkey. “Galatasaray don’t want to sell Sneijder,” agent Guido Albers told Bugun TV. “Wesley loves the club and its fans. Neither he nor his wife want to leave Istanbul. “If Juve are really interested, then they

Sharapova opens season in style

ARIA Sharapova opened her 2015 season by winning nine straight games in a 6-0, 61 win over Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan on yesterday in the second round of the Brisbane International. The top-seeded Sharapova wrapped up the first set in 23 minutes and led 3-0 in the second before Shvedova held serve, raising her arm in mock triumph. Shvedova had a breakpoint opportunity in the next game, but couldn’t put away an overhead and Sharapova responded with a backhand winner down the line.

•Ali and Blatter

IFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein will challenge incumbent Sepp Blatter for the leadership of world football’s governing body. The Jordanian Prince, 39, will stand as a candidate at Fifa’s presidential election on 29

May, where Blatter, 78, will seek a fifth term of office. Prince Ali said: “It is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport. “The headlines should be about football, not about Fifa.”

Gerrard set for LA Galaxy

•Sneijder should talk to Galatasaray and pay the 20m Euros buy-out clause in his contract. “Not 5m Euros, nor

10m Euros or 12m Euros. They need 20m Euros. They have no need to talk to me, as I’m not the one who can sell the

player. “In any case, I can confirm that so far no offers have come in and Wesley is happy at Galatasaray.”

•Gerrard

Sociedad defeat ignites crisis in Barca W HEN Real Sociedad scored against Barcelona after just one minute on Sunday night, television cameras honed in on the Barcelona bench, where coach Luis Enrique had left almost £200m worth of his squad. Neymar turned to Lionel Messi and said: ‘You had better get warmed-up’. The star player’s joke at the expense of his manager was symptomatic of the chaos that currently reigns at Barcelona. They began 2015 in turmoil after the Court of Arbitration upheld FIFA’s ban on them signing players for the next 12 months and are now in full-blown meltdown with Messi one of several senior players at loggerheads with Luis Enrique - who has been given two games to save his job. The players’ biggest complaint towards the manager, who is yet to name an unchanged

DEEP THINKING ... Barca stars, Messi (l) and Xavi searching for answers. team this season, is that they don’t know where they stand with him. Messi, Neymar and Dani Alves were all given two extra days’ holiday over Christmas only

to then be told when they returned that they had not trained enough to play the first game of the year. Messi’s desire to play in every match – something that Pep

Guardiola nearly always made sure he did – means he took the decision badly and failed to show for training on Monday complaining of gastroenteritis.

IVERPOOL cap tain Steven Gerrard is on the brink of finalising an 18-month deal to join Los Angeles Galaxy. The 34-year-old will sign a contract worth about £6m across the full term of the deal, making him one of the highest earners in Major League Soccer. An announcement is expected this week following Friday’s shock news that Gerrard will quit Liverpool at the end of the season. He will be available to join the Galaxy once his Reds contract expires in June. David Beckham famously spent five years at the LA club until 2012, while Gerrard’s ex-Liverpool teammate Robbie Keane currently plays for the Galaxy. While MLS has a salary cap structure, each club has three designated player places, which they can use to sign star players. The retirement of 32year-old Galaxy captain Landon Donovan, MLS’s all-time top scorer, has paved the way for Gerrard to join the league as one of its top earners. Gerrard’s deal is worth around £4m a year - or about £76,000 per week. The 2015 MLS season runs from March through to October. The full fixtures list will be announced on today. C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 — 63

Dream team, F/Eagles for 2015 Super 4 T HIS year’s Super 4 will involve the four teams to represent Nigeria in continental competitions while a special invitation has been handed to the country’s U20 and U23 teams. Champions Kano Pillars and Enyimba will fly Nigeria’s flag in the

CAF Champions League, while Warri Wolves and Dolphins will feature in the Confederation Cup. Officials informed African Football.com that plans have been finalised to stage the competition in Abuja between January 22 and February 2. The round-robin tournament will prepare the country ’s representatives in both

the Champions League and Confederation Cup as well as the national U20 and U23 teams. The Nigeria Premier League is not expected to begin earlier than March 7 and so the need to stage the competition to prepare Pillars, Enyimba, Dolphins and Warri Wolves for qualifying matches in the continental competitions in February.

Man United set to grab £16m Dortmund midfielder

•Siasia

C M Y K

ANCHESTER United are close to landing Borussia Dortmund star Ilkay Gundogan after the German outfit hinted that they would rather sell the player than see him leave on a free next summer. The 24-year-old has made no secret of the fact that we would one day love to make a move

to the Premier League with United boss Louis van Gaal expressing his interest in bringing the player to Old Trafford. However, according to these latest reports in the Daily Express, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool may also rekindle their interest in the central midfielder during the January transfer window.

READY... World's fastest man, Usain Bolt takes off from the block.

2015: Same mission, same goals — Bolt

SAIN Bolt, the world’s fastest man, targets his usual fast times, staying fit and repeat as World Championships sprint double king in 2015.

The two-time Olympic Games sprint double champion said, “New Year, Same Mission, S a m e Goals,workneverstop, ForeverFaster in 2015”

Bolt won the 100m and 200m at the Moscow World Championships in 2013. The year before he repeated his Olympic Games 100/200 success from Beijing in London.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Pinnick throws Eduok out of Eagles’ camp P

Messi fuels Barca exit talk A

FTER the departure of Andoni Zubazaretta and Carles Puyol both left their roles at Barca on Monday speculation about further exits is rife as things turn sour at the Nou Camp. Lionel Messi set tongues wagging about a possible move to Chelsea on Monday. A day after being left out of Barcelona’s starting team to face Real Sociedad, Messi fuelled rumours that he wants to leave the Nou Camp. Continues on Page 61

Awards: It’s difficult to win – Enyeama Pg 36

ECSTACY: Emem Uduok (10) is mobbed by team mates after scoring against Ghana Olympic team at the match marking the opening of Uyo International Stadium. Home-based Eagles beat Ghana 1-0.

RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has ordered Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt star Emem Eduok out of the camp of Super Eagles’ B, preparing for two international friendly matches in the United Arab Emirates. “We are not happy with the cloud of controversy over his transfer issue and it is a terrible distraction to the team and Nigeria football generally. “Telling him to leave the camp does not mean we are indicting him. We will carry out an investigation and whoever is found guilty, be he/she an agent or player manager or an official of his club, will be duly sanctioned,” Pinnick said at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja. The NFF President has mandated the Chairman of Technical and Development Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu to conduct an investigation into the matter and report back to the Executive

Hayatou, others arrive for Glo-CAF Awards — Page 61

Committee at its meeting in Lagos on Thursday. “We have to do this (send the boy out of camp) to serve as a deterrent to others. We are not blaming the player for anything yet; investigation will unravel who is guilty. But the distraction and controversy the matter has generated is not good for the camp.” The Super Eagles B are preparing to face 2015 Africa Cup of Nations – bound Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and will then play Sudan in Dubai on January 17.

•Pinnick

•Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan friendlies

Amokachi: Eagles

not ready

UPER Eagles stand-in coach Daniel Amokachi has said only five players in his squad of 24 are fit and ready as they prepare for test matches against Sudan and AFCON-bound Cote d’Ivoire. The Eagles will depart

Continues on Page 61

•Amokachi

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Gemstone (5) 7 Horrify (5) 8 Tooth (5) 10 Oath (5) 12 Trap (3) 13 Old-fashioned (5) 15 Exhilaration (7) 17 Worn (6) 19 Sheep (3) 20 Fall (7) 23 Prophet (4) 25 Dejected (4) 26 Denied (7) 30 Ballad (3) 31 Loathe (6) 34 Abraded (7) 37 Cash (5) 38 Groove (3) 39 Liability (5) 40 Revolt (5) 41 Rescuer (5) 42 Fishing-basket (5)

DOWN 1 Javelin (5) 2 Walked (5) 3 Avoided (6) 4 Ascend (4) 5 Compete (7) 6 Stick (5) 9 Garland (3) 11 Chosen (7) 13 Thick (5) 14 Symbol (5) 16 Wonder (3) 18 Postponed (7) 21 Twelve (5) 22 Harmony (5) 24 Told (7) 27 Breach (3) 28 Death (6) 29 Twist (5) 32 Sum (5) 33 Drain (5) 35 Massage (3) 36 Expensive (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Basic 7, Else 8, Unruly 9, Draft 11, Pad 13, Lot 15, Amen 16, Sad 18, Aide 19, Attempt 20, Tail 22, Tent 23, Natural 25, Rued 27, Toy 28, Dawn 30, End 31, Log 33, Penny 36, Divide 37, Ewer 38, Pagan.

DOWN: 1, Gleam 2, Bed 3, Spa 4, Cut 5, Orb 6, Flood 10, Feat 11, Pasture 12, Defined 13, Literal 14, Testing 16, Strut 17, Decay 18, Apt 21, Lad 24, Role 26, Undid 29, Women 32, Win 33, Pep 34, Nag 35, Year

How to Play Sudoku

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.