we're ready for polls — inec

...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 62336

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015**

Mr & Mrs

•Seepull-outinside

•P.28

COLUMNIST:

Continues on Page 6

We're readyfor polls — INEC•Consider implications — Security, PDP•What transpired at the Council of State meeting

2015ELECTIONS:Some specificissues cleverlyavoided

TONY ELUMELU: The manwho dared to be different

53

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING—From left, former Headsof State — Chief Ernest Sonekan, General Ibrahim Babangida, General MuhammaduBuhari, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal,Speaker, House of Representatives, and Senate President, David Mark during theNational Council of State meeting held at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Inset:From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Shagari and Babangida, discussig after themeeting. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida/State House.

NON-REMITTANCE OF N251.6BN:Forensic audit reportindicts NNPC, NPDC >>8

By Ben Agande

A B U J A — T H EI n d e p e n d e n t

National ElectoralCommission, INEC,yesterday, reiterated itsreadiness for theforthcoming generalelections even as strongpressures were broughton its NationalChairman, Prof. AttahiruJega by contendingforces at the NationalCouncil of State, NCS,

Elumelu atthe VaticanTony O. Elumelu, Founder,the Tony Elumelu Founda-tion; discussing globaleducation reform withPope Francis during theScholars World Congresshosted by the Pope in theVatican, yesterday.

Tinubu vs Bode George:It's battle royale

>>11

60reasons Iwon't voteJonathan,by Soyinka

'T

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2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 6, 2015 ————— 3 3 3 3 3

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POCKET CARTOON6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

Continues from Page 1

We're ready for polls —INEC

You are today where your thoughts have broughtyou; you will be tomorrow where your thoughtstake you.” Fill your mind with life-affirmingthoughts and tomorrow will find you farther alongthe Beauty Way — James Allen

STAYING motivated is a struggle, our drive isconstantly assaulted by negative thoughts andanxiety about the future. Everyone faces doubt anddepression. What separates the highly successfulis the ability to keep moving forward.

There is no simple solution for a lack of motivation.Even after beating it, the problem reappears at thefirst sign of failure. The key is understanding yourthoughts and how they drive your emotions. Bylearning how to nurture motivating thoughts,neutralize negative ones, and focus on the task athand, you can pull yourself out of a slump before itgains momentum.

CAMPAIGN—From left: Umar Nasko, PDP governorship candidate,Niger State; President Goodluck Jonathan, and Namadi Sambo, VicePresident, during the presidential campaign rally in Minna, Niger State.

to shift the polls by sixweeks.

Jega, who, insisted onholding the election asscheduled was, however,countered by servicechiefs present at themeeting who, accordingto sources, told him thatthey could not guaranteesecurity for the election.

At the end of themeeting, the commissionwas told to go andconduct its responsibilitywithin its legalframework. Thecommission is meetingtomorrow to review thedevelopments, sourcessaid.

However, Mr. KayodeIdowu, the Chief PressSecretary to INECchairman told Vanguard,last night, that nothingnew had come up.

All former heads ofstate with the notableexception of formerPresident OlusegunObasanjo were present atthe meeting which waschaired by PresidentGoodluck Jonathan.Those in attendanceincluded Vice PresidentNamadi Sambo, thepresident of the Senate,Senator David Mark;Speaker AminuTambuwal, governors,

and two former chiefjustices of the country-Justice DahiruMusdapher and JusticeAlfa Belgore.

As the meeting gotunderway, Jega briefedthe council on hisreadiness for the electionand was said to haveconfidently asserted thereadiness of thecommission for theelection.

He was, however,countered by the servicechiefs who claimed thatthey could not providesecurity for the elections.The service chiefs weresaid to have volunteeredthat at least 17 localgovernment areas inBorno State were stillunder the occupation ofterrorists.

In support of pollsas scheduled

All former heads ofstate with the exceptionof President ShehuShagari and ChiefErnest Shonekan, whoreportedly did notcomment, were said tohave advised that theelections should not bepostponed.

President IbrahimBabangida, it was

gathered, warned thatdisrupting the electionswould show a negativeportrayal of the countryand his point was echoedby Gen. AbdulsalamiAbubakar.

While the PDPgovernors urged for apostponement, the APCgovernors stronglybacked Jega on goingahead with the election.

A former Chief Justiceof the Federationpresent, it was learned,also told the meeting thathe had consulted all theother living former chiefjustices and that theywere all unanimous thatthe elections should goon.

Call for polls shift

But those who called forpostponement, notablyincumbent political officeholders from the PDP,were said to have raisedissues with INEC’splans. Among the issuesraised were that 34% ofthe Permanent VoterCards, PVCs had notbeen collected and theunreliability of the cardreaders. The PDPgovernors, it waslearned, argued that thecard readers beingdeployed for the electionhad never been testedbefore and that theyfeared that using themcould lead to chaos.However, the majorcontention was thatsecurity could not beguaranteed and thatpoint was pressed bothby the service chiefs andthe PDP governors.

As the arguments drewto an end with majorityof the members urgingthat the commissionshould go ahead asscheduled, the presidentwas said to have askedJega to go and consultwith his commissionersin the light of thediscussions.

At this point, Gen.Abdulsalami was said to

have insisted that a clearmessage should begiven to Nigerians thatthe council was notdivided on the issue andthat the commissionshould be charged to goahead with its statutoryresponsibility as itdeemed fit.

At the end of the seven-hour meeting, GovernorsRochas Okorocha, (Imo),Olusegun Mimiko(Ondo) and Bala Ngilari(Adamawa) were askedto brief the press on theoutcome of the councilmeeting.

Official statementGovernor Mimiko who

spoke first at the pressconference stated:“Council of State in ameeting close to sevenhours essentiallydiscussed the state ofpreparedness of INEC.INEC had the benefit ofinputs from councilmembers and securitychiefs and agencies.

He said: “And based onthe very exhaustivediscussion and pieces ofadvice, INEC which isc o n s t i t u t i o n a l l yempowered on the issueof election on the basis ofdiscussions at thecouncil was asked tobrief the nation afterconsultation with otherstakeholders and thenthe news will becommunicated to you”.

Asked if the councilagreed to a shift in thedate of the election,Governor Mimiko said: “Imade it absolutely clear,I am not the INEC chief,INEC will appropriatelybrief you based on themeeting we just had.

“INEC is going toconsult widely withstakeholders and comeup with a decision thatthey will brief the nationsoon”.

Mimiko emphasisedthat “the Council of Stateis essentially anadvisory body. M r.President in his wisdomhas invited INEC to briefus on the state ofpreparedness based onwhat INEC briefed andbased on perception ofcouncil members andsecurity agencies, INECwas properly advisedand you will hear fromINEC”.

Governor Okorocha,who was seated besidehim, insisted that hemust speak in order togive a broaderperspective on thedecision reached by thecouncil. He told StateHouse Correspondents:“National Council ofState advised INEC to goand perform its civicresponsibility which is toconduct elections. That iswhat we rose to agree, itwas a very challengingmoment, and INEC hasreaffirmed severally thatthey are ready, butbecause of concerns of

security agencies insome few localgovernments, Councilasked INEC to go andperform their civicresponsibilities, which isthe conduct of elections."

Asked if there was adecision as to change ofdate for the polls,Governor Okorocha said:“There is no decision asto change of date orpostponement at all. Butthe Council has askedINEC to go and performtheir responsibility."

On whether councilagreed on the use oftemporary voter cards,he said: “The temporaryvoters cards are beingexchanged for the newones and once you havegiven out your temporaryvoters card, that meansyou don’t have any more. So they are goingfor the permanent votercards, and the PVCwould be assumed tohave been distributedbefore Sunday that wasthe essence of the wholeexercise, and Jega hasreassured us that theyare equal to the task, in-fact, they are moreprepared than they werein 2011".

Asked if the report ofalleged resignation ofJega was tabled,Okorocha said: “No therewas nothing like thatdiscussed”.

He acknowledged thatthe PDP and APCgovernors are not on thesame page on the matter.

“As usual we will not beon the same page on anyissues of this nature. It isnormal that some will befor and others will beagainst, but the truth isthat we looked at theconstitution of Nigeria,that is the only bindingfactor when there areissues of disagreement.The constitution guidesevery one because that isthe fundamental law thatguides the whole nation’spolicies” .

He, however,emphasised that the APCexpects the elections tohold as scheduled.

Governors inattendance were those ofAdamawa, Borno(represented by theDeputy Governor),Kano, Osun, Imo,Nasarawa, Sokoto,Anambra and Abia

(deputy governor). Otherswere governors ofTaraba,Niger, Lagos,Bayelsa, Kogi, Rivers,Kaduna, Enugu,Ogun,Kebbi, Zamfara, Kwara,Katsina, Ondo, Plateau,Cross River, Akwa Ibom,Jigawa, Edo, Delta,Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo(deputy governor)Gombe.

The president of thesenate and the speaker ofthe House ofRepresentatives were alsoin attendance. Others inattendance were theMinister of FCT, BalaMohammed, Minister ofJustice, MohammedAdoke and the NationalSecurity Adviser, ColSambo Dasuki (Ret).

Earlier, before thecommencement of themeeting, a mild dramaplayed out when GeneralMuhammadu Buhariinitially refused to join thepresident and otherformer heads of state inthe president’s office as itis the tradition. It took theintervention of theSecretary to thegovernment of theFederation, Anyim PiusAnyim, the State Chief ofProtocol, Senator Mark aswell as the PrincipalSecretary to the President,Hassan Tukur to persuadehim to join the otherformer heads of state.

Meanwhile, theProgressive GovernorsForum have expressedsatisfaction with theoutcome of the Council ofState meeting.

A communiqué signedby Owelle RochasOkorocha and Chairmanof the forum expressedsatisfaction with theassurance issued by theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission,INEC and the NationalSecurity Adviser, NSA onthe state of preparednessfor the 14th and 28thFebruary Generalelections.

The Communiqué said:“The Chairman of INECassured Council thatINEC is ready to proceedwith elections scheduledemphasizing, in theirown words, that ‘ouraccomplishments are tosuch a degree that wecan conduct theelections. Comparedwith the 2011 GeneralElections."


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8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Forensic audit report indicts NNPC fornon-remittance of N251.6bn

Says NPDC owes $2.2bn in royalties, PPTQueries NNPC's payment of N575bn for kerosene subsidyCalls for urgent review, restructuring of NNPC operations

BRIEFING: From left: Deputy National Chairman, Accord Party, Mr Oke Adeposi,National Secretary, African People’s Alliance, Mr Samaila Sijawa and National Chairman,Peoples Democratic Movement, Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim during a press conference by theCoalition of Progressive Political Parties on this months' general elections, in Abuja,yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

By Clara Nwachukwu,Michael Eboh & Grace

Udofia

ABUJA —PriceWaterHouseCoopers,

PWC’s, Forensic Audit Report hasindicted the Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation, NNPC,and its subsidiary, the NigerianPetroleum DevelopmentCompany, NPDC, for failing toremit about $1.48 billion or N251.6billion into the FederationAccount between January 2012and July 2013.

The report equally discoveredthat the NPDC, the corporation’sproduction unit, owed about $2.2billion in royalty and petroleumprofit tax, PPT, while alsoquerying the payment of $3.38billion to NNPC as kerosenesubsidy

These were part of thehighlights contained in the audit,which looked into allegations ofunremitted funds into theFederation Account by the NNPCduring the period in review, aspresented yesterday in Abuja, bythe Auditor-General of theFederation, Mr. Samuel Ukura.

However, the report failed tostate the maximum amount to beremitted by the NNPC andNPDC.

Immediate reactionWhile the Minister of Petroleum

Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is also theChairman of the NNPC Board,has directed the corporation todefray the outstanding $1.48billion as well as the NPDCsignature bonuses and taxes, theDepartment of PetroleumResources, DPR, the industryregulator whose duty it is to collectthese fees on behalf ofgovernment, as yet has nodefence for its official negligence.

Alison-Madueke’s promptdirective to NNPC is beinginterpreted as an acceptance ofthe validity of the PWC report,while analysts insist it is anadmission of guilt.

Recall that that the forensicaudit is the fallout of formerCentral Bank of Nigeria, CBNGovernor, Sanusi LamidoSanusi’s explosive revelation thatthe NNPC had not remitted about$20 billion to the FederationAccount, sequel to his suspensionfrom office in March last year.

Sanusi, now Emir of Kano, hadtold a Senate Committee onFinance that the NNPC hadfailed to remit $20 billion to theFederation Account out of the $67billion it realised from crude oilsale on behalf of the FederalGovernment.

Audit findingsThe report put total gross

revenues generated from crudeoil liftings at $69.34 billion andnot $67 billion as earlier stated bythe Senate ReconciliationCommittee for the review period,while total cash remitted into theFederation Account in relation tocrude oil liftings was $50.81billion and not $47 billion as

earlier stated by the SenateCommittee.

PWC, however, recommendedthat the NNPC and NPDC bemade to refund a minimum of$1.48 billion to the FederationAccount.

The PWC report also indictedthe NNPC for its unsustainableoperating model, which it saidhad made it difficult for it to meetits monthly remittances to theFederation Account.

The report maintained: “Thecorporation operates anunsustainable model. Forty-sixper cent of proceeds of domesticcrude oil revenues for the reviewperiod were spent on operationsand subsidies. The corporation isunable to sustain monthlyremittances to the FederationAccount Allocation Committee,FAAC, and also meet itsoperational costs entirely from theproceeds of domestic crude oilrevenues, and have had to incurthird party liabilities to bridge thefunding gap.

“The NNPC providedtransaction documentsrepresenting additional costs of$2.81 billion related to the reviewperiod, citing the NNPC Act LFNNo 33 of 1977 that allows for suchdeductions. Clarity is required onwhether such deductions shouldbe made by NNPC as a first linecharge, before remitting the netproceeds of domestic crude to theFederation Accounts.”

Restructuring of NNPCoperation model

The report furtherrecommended an urgent reviewand restructuring of the NNPCoperation model, stating that thecurrent model which has been inoperation since the creation of thecorporation is unsustainable.

The report also queried thetransactions surrounding thetransfer of NNPC’s assets in eightoil wells divested by Shell, whileit indicted the NPDC of failing toremit dividends to the NNPC andultimately to the FederationAccount, as well as failing to pay$2.22 billion, about N377.4 billionfor Signature Bonus, PetroleumProfit Tax, PPT, and Royalty.

The report said: “According toNPDC former ManagingDirector’s (Mr Victor Briggs’)submission to the SenateCommittee hearing on the subjectmatter for the period covered bytheir mandate, NPDC generated$5.11 billion (net of royalties andpetroleum profit tax paid).

Oil Mining Leases“PWC relied on the legal

opinion provided to the SenateCommittee by the AttorneyGeneral (AG) on the subject ofthe transfers of NNPC’s (55 percent) portion of Oil MiningLeases (OMLs) involved in theShell Petroleum DevelopmentCompany (SPDC) divestments

which impacted crude oilrevenues in the period. TheAG’s opinion indicated thatthese transfers were within theauthority of the Minister ofPetroleum Resources to make.

“NNPC’s (55 per cent)portions of oil leases (OMLs)involved in the Shelldivestments related to the eightOMLs were transferred toNPDC for an aggregate amountof US$1.85 billion. So far, only$100 million had been remitted.PwC had expected a transferbasis higher than the US$1.85billion aforementioned.

“NPDC had done a self-assessment of PPT and royaltyand had unpaid self-assessedPPT and royalty to the tune of$0.47 billion related to thereview period.

“PWC did not obtain anyinformation that suggested thatNPDC has been assessed forPPT and Royalty for the reviewperiod.”

The report, therefore, insistedthat the NPDC should remitdividend to NNPC andultimately to the FederationAccount, based on NPDC’sdividend policy and declarationof dividend for the reviewperiod.

$3.38bn for subsidyon kerosene

The report further queried therationale behind the NNPC’spayment of $3.38 billion(N574.6 billion) for subsidy onkerosene, especially in light ofthe fact that letters obtained fromcertain officials of thePresidency and the Petroleum

Products Pricing RegulatoryAgency, PPPRA, showed thatsubsidy on kerosene had beendiscontinued since 2009.

The report said: “PwCdetermined from informationobtained from PPPRA that $3.38billion relating to Dual PurposeKerosene (DPK) subsidy costwas incurred by the NNPC forthe review period.

“PWC also obtained a letter,dated October 19, 2009, writtenby the Principal Secretary to thePresident, to the NationalSecurity Adviser, confirming aPresidential directive of June15, 2009, instructing thatsubsidy on DPK be stopped.

“PwC also obtained a letterdated December 16, 2010 fromthe Executive Secretary,PPPRA, to the Central Bank ofNigeria, CBN, governorclarifying that PPPRA hadceased granting subsidy on

kerosene since the Presidential di-rective of June 15, 2009.

NNPC refutes indictmentBut in a prompt response to the

audit findings, the NNPC wouldrather see the report as absolvingit from the $20 billion unremittedoil revenue as alleged by Sanusi.

A statement from thecorporation read in part:“…PriceWaterhouseCoopers hasabsolved the Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation (NNPC)of culpability over the allegationof non- remittance of $20 billion.

“What is due for remittance tothe Federation Account is $1.48billion Nigerian PetroleumDevelopment Company (NPDC)being signature bonus, taxes androyalties on the assets transferredto the Corporation’s upstreamsubsidiary, the NigerianPetroleum DevelopmentCompany.”


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10— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

ELECTION: Shun acts capable of truncatingprocess, Fashola urges Lagosians

Keyamopetitions IGPover continueddetention ofjournalistBy Evelyn Usman

Court directs Shell, others to preserve 45%participating interests in OML 25

NDLEA nabswoman withcannabis

By Evelyn Usman

By Innocent Anaba

LAGOS—HUMAN rightslawyer, Festus Keyamo,

has petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr.Suleman Abba, over thecontinued detention ofEmmanuel Fateman, anAssistant Editor and JosephJolayemi, a graphic artist withNational Waves Magazine.

In a letter dated December18, 2014, and signed on behalfof Festus Keyamo Chambersby Festus Ukpe, andBenedicta Obanye, Keyamoinformed the IG about whatculminated in the detention ofthe duo since December 16.2014.

The letter stated: “Sometimein August 2014, Jimmy Enyeh,the publisher of NationalWaves Magazine, as part ofhis journalistic duties,uncovered alleged suspiciousdeals regarding a contract ofN650 million awarded to A.AOil Company Ltd andpursuant to National WavesMagazine’s policy of fair and honestreportage, sought for his side of thestory through a letter dated 01/09/2014, entitled, ‘Request for reactionon collection of N650 million forunexecuted contract."

PORT HARCOURT—Anotorious Fraud Syndicate,

based in Rivers State, whichspecialises in swindlingunsuspecting members of thepublic using multi-national oilcompanies, has been dislodged

LAGOS—A Federal High Courtsitting in Lagos, has directed

Shell Petroleum DevelopmentCompany of Nigeria Ltd; Total E &P Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria AgipOil Company Ltd to preserve their45 percent participating interestsin Oil Minning Lease, OML 25.

Trial judge, Justice MohammedIdris, made the order after hearingarguments presented by Mr. TayoOyetibo, SAN, counsel to CrestarIntegrated Natural ResourcesLimited, which had complained tothe court against the defendants.

The judge ruled: “An order ishereby made restraining thedefendants/respondents, whetherby themselves, their management,servants, agents, assigns, privies,proxies, fronts or any other personwhomsoever called acting undertheir authority from proceeding orcontinuing to negotiate or engage LAGOS—THE police have

asked a Federal High Court

L A G O S — G O V E R N O RBabatunde Raji Fashola of

Lagos State, yesterday, imploredLagosians to shun acts capable oftruncating the electioneeringprocess, advising those yet to gettheir Permanent Voters Card, PVC,to ensure they got them from thedesignated points, with a view tovoting in leaders of their choice.

Declaring open the 2015 annualgeneral conference of theCherubim and SeraphimUnification Church of Nigeria, withthe theme 'God shall heal our land’at the headquarters of the EternalSacred Order of C&S, Egbe,Fashola the enjoined electorate toask questions from relevantauthorities if they suspected anyfoul play during elections.

Represented by theCommissioner for LocalGovernment and ChieftaincyAffairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye,Fashola said: “The time has comeagain when we are given theopportunity to choose those webelieve would assuage our thirstat all tiers of government.

LAGOS—A 30 year-oldbusinesswoman has

been arrested with driedweeds suspected to becannabis by officials of theNational Drug LawEnforcement Agency.

However in herconfessional statement thesuspect disclosed that sheaccepted to export thedrugs to Dubai in exchangefor a visa, adding also thatshe hid some of the drugsin the luggage of anotherlady who was visitingDubai for the first time.

The suspect identified asEbere Ohakwe Sandra wasarrested alongside oneObidike UgochukwuMaureen at the departurehall of the MurtalaMuhammed InternationalAirport, MMIA, Lagosduring the screening ofpassengers on an Etihadflight to Dubai.

“It is our duty to ensure thatour votes count and to makesure that nothing untoward isallowed to prevail before, duringand after the elections.. Thepeace for which the state isknown for during electionsshould be maintained.”

Describing the theme of theoccasion as apt, he urged thechurch to continue to pray for thepeace of Lagos in particular andNigeria in general.

In his remark, the SupremeHead of the Church, ElderSolomon Alao, appreciated

governor Fashola over what hedescribed as his ability to impartthe dividends of democracy onLagosians but was quick to addthat he should ensure that somelaudable projects of hisadministrations were completedbefore the end of his tenure.

in any transaction or contractcalculated or purported totransfer, sell, farm out or

otherwise charge, encumber,dealing, dispose of or divest thedefendants/respondents 45

percent participating interest in OilMinning Lease, OML 25, to any person,authority or agency pending thedetermination of the motion on notice.”

ALLEGED VANDALISM: Police ask court to stayproceedings

By Innocent Anaba

EFCC dislodges criminal gang in Rivers

sitting in Lagos to stayproceedings in the trial of 20 mencharged with pipelinevandalism and murder.

The accused, Felix Yayu, IjouFaya, Yakubu Ebiwei, AugustineEbiwei, Tamara Dembofa, OweiAtile, Agbara Tiewei, RufusGodwin, Tiery Koiyetin, EbisSobijoh, Ibori Lawrence,Eberebu Ibori, AtinukeOdewale, Fatai Ishola, AhmedBashorun, Odewale Waheed,Susan Viana, Tuesday Filatei,Yeiyah Yellow and Ismail

Abdullahi, were also accused ofkilling nine police officers whileinvolved in oil bunkering at ArepoArea of Ogun State on May 24,2014.

The application for stay of proceedingsprevented Justice Okon Abang fromdelivering ruling on the no-case applicationfiled by the defence.

When the case was called, Abangannounced that he would no longerdeliver his ruling on the no-casesubmission as he had discovered anapplication for stay of proceeding in thecase file.

By Ifeanyi Okolie by operatives of Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission,EFCC.

Vanguard gathered yesterday,that three members of thesyndicate, identified as NwabuezeC. Nwabueze , alias, HRMEzeugo 1, his wife, Bridget

Nwabueze and Eze Izima Ngozi,alias Engineer Victor, wererubbed, when they allegedlyconspired to defraud an Architect,Austin Ilenre Emuan, managingdirector of Gothic-LenConsortiumLimited, to the tune ofN16.9million over a non-existingcontract.

Group mobilises support for JonathanLAGOS—A pro-Jonathan

political campaign group,Friends of Godknows IgaliSupport Group for Jonathan,has continued its mobilisationand sensitisation of variousethnic groups in South West forthe re-election of the President.

In continuation of its efforts,the coordinator of the group,Mrs. Veronica Durblen met withwomen leaders across South

West in Lagos.According to Durblen:

“Women and youths are themain beneficiaries of PresidentJonathan’s transformationagenda and the re-election ofthe President for a second termwill fully restore Nigeria’s lostglory.

The Niger Delta womanleader urged other womenleaders to preach the

achievements of the president inall markets, homes, in social circlesas well as other places and ploiticalwards, using the campaignmaterials provided by the groupto educate the electorate before theend of campaigns.

The group leader also explained thetime table for the various zonal town hallmeetings slated for the South West geo-political zone that was initiated by thegroup to further present the achievementsof the president.

Come out and vote,non-indigenes association's chiefurges members

ENUGU—THE NationalChairman of Non Indigenes

Cultural Association, ComradePeter C.J. Anigbogu, has called onits members nationwide to comeout and vote the candidate of theirchoice who they believe isdetribalised and also ready to workwith non indigenes in theirrespective states for furtherance ofdemocracy in Nigeria.

The chairman of the the groupwho spoke to newsmen in Lagosalso urged its members who areyet to collect their Permanent

Voters’ Cards, PVCs to as amatter of urgency do so beforethe stipulated deadline.

Distribution of the cards inNigeria has lagged ahead of thehotly contested poll on February14 that will pitch PresidentGoodluck Jonathan of the rulingPeoples Democratic Party, PDP,against former military ruler,Muhammadu Buhari of the AllProgressives Congress, APC.

Independent NationalElectoral Commission, INEC,extended its deadline for votersto collect their cards to February8.

SESSION: From left: All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Lagos,Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, President, Cosmopolitan Women's Club, Mrs. Fatima Tinubu,and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, atan interactive session with the Lagos 2015 governorship candidates, organized by the clubin Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 —11

60 reasons I won't vote for Jonathan—SOYINKA

By Japhet Alakam

Urges Nigerians not to sell their conscience

Clark's wifedonates N5mmedicalsupplies torural women

MEETING: From left: Lagos State Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Chairman,Chief Francis Akinkawe, President,YCE, Gen Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), andAssistant Secretary Geneneral, YCE, Prof. Bayo Olateju, during a meetingof the YCE, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube

LAGOS—NOBEL LaureateProf. Wole Soyinka has,

distanced himself from internetinterview, which claimed he hasendorsed President GoodluckJonathan for re-election, sayinghe has 60 reasons why he willnot vote for the continuation ofthis regime.

Soyinka who spoke yesterdayduring the presentation of 60finalists of the Vision of the ChildCompetition entitled: Road to

Sambisa at the Freedom Park,Lagos, also urged Nigerians tosearch their conscience and beobjective before casting their votesfor any of the candidates.

Addressing the students fromvarious schools across the country,Professor Soyinka said: ‘’It isimpossible to talk of today’selection without thinking of whathappened to your colleagues, yoursiblings, your peers in the villagecalled Chibok. It is not possible tothink of the future of this nation in

ELECTION: Southern leaders reiterate callfor Jega to resign

ABEOKUTA—OGUNCentral Senatorial

candidate of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, Dr.Bisola Sodipo-Clark,yesterday, at the Ofada andAgbado Primary HealthCentres both in Ogun Stateprovided several medicalsupplies for expectantmothers, nursing mothers andtheir children.

The Chairperson of theNational Ear Centre, Kaduna,took time off her busycampaign schedule to makethe donations, which werecarried out under theauspices of the NationalPrimary Health CareDevelopment Agency of theFederal Ministry of Health.The programme wascoordinated by Dr GarbaMainasara Mohammed,among other doctors.

At the event, medicalequipment, such as mosquitonets, vaccines, malariamedication, health-relatedconsultations and advice,were given.

the sense of responsibilitywithout that albatross calledChibok. Coming to the fore ofour contemplation, I think thatwhy I was being killed on theinternet is probably because ofthis very event because thosewho began to advertise my deathon the internet probably knowalready what I stand for over theelection which is also why allkinds of statements have beenmade.’’

Soyinka used the occasion toclear the air ons t a t e m e n t scredited to himabout theelections. Hesaid ‘’I havenever spoken aword about thiselection soanything whichyou read on theinternet asinterviews orr e c e n tstatements is notmine. Don’tbelieve it. Thereason is this,they advertisedon the internetthat I am dead,

so why should you believe it?’’He continued: ‘’I have at least

60 reasons for not voting for thecontinuation of this presentgovernment and those reasonsare here. Why I will not vote forthis government or encourageanybody to vote for thecontinuation of this presentgovernment is simply becauseyour colleagues, numberingover 200 were kidnapped; wesent them on a mission -education, enlightenment,examination, to rub minds withtheir peers and theydisappeared and thegovernment of the nation failedto show leadership. So, anybodywho says that I will vote or castmy vote or encourage anyone tovote for this regime must beliving in Sambisa forest.

‘’There has been failure ofleadership. Our children whoyou represent today have beenbetrayed. They were betrayedbecause no action orappropriate action was taken toretrieve your colleagues whowere stolen from under ournoses, 10 days before thisgovernment even accepted thatthey were missing."

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—SOUTHERNleaders, yesterday,

reiterated their call for theresignation of theChairman, IndependentNational ElectoralCommission, INEC,Professor Attahiru Jega,accusing him of acting ascript for the northern partof the country to declare thepresidential candidate of theAll Progressives Congress,APC, GeneralMuhammadu Buhari, rtd,from the north as winner ofthe yet to be conductedPresidential election.

According to the leaders,there were plans to rig the2015 election hatched by theNorthern Elders Forum incollaboration with ProfessorJega-led INEC. They said“as a responsiblegovernment agency, it is onlygermane that Nigerians,whose tax monies are usedto fund its operations, areproperly informed on thesecritical aspects of INEC’sactivities. We make bold tosay that Prof. Jega hasbetrayed public trust, respectand acceptance, sublimeattributes that are necessaryfor an impartial electoralumpire.”

The southern leaders onthe banner of the SouthernNigeria Peoples Assembly,SNPA, said Jega was

Accuse him of acting northern script

promoting an ethnicagenda by favouring theNorth against the South,with what they termed an

unholy conspiracy betweenINEC and the Northern Eldersto install a Northern Presidentthrough rigging.

By Ola Ajayi

JONATHAN'S ENDORSEMENT:Count us out —YCE

IBADAN—YORUBACouncil of Elders

popularly called IgbimoAgba Yoruba has distanceditself from last week’sendorsement of PresidentGoodluck Jonathan byAfenifere.

This stance was takenafter the council’s NationalExecutive Committeemeeting on national unityand solidarity which washeld at the Bodija office of

the elders.The elders’ position is in

tandem with that ofAfenifere Renewal Groupwhich also condemned thesaid endorsement byAfenifere.

The YCE meeting waspresided over by MajorGeneral AdeyinkaAdebayo (retd).

The elders who describedtheir association asapolitical said Afeniferewas a political party.


EPZ: Jonathan assures on completion before2019

By Emma Amaize

Delta gov poll, two-horse race, says OgboruBy Festusa Ahon

Why we cancelled Sapele 3,000-man march—GALLOWAY

Delta PDP group pledges supportfor Mutu's re-election

By Daniel Gumm

Aniomaengineersendorse APCcandidate forDelta North

ASABA—PRESIDENTGoodluck Jonathan has

pledged to complete the $16billion Export ProcessingZone, EPZ, project atOgidigben, Warri South-WestLocal Government Area, DeltaState, before the end of hissecond tenure in office.

He said that the project wasvery important to Nigeria as itwill generate lots of jobs for theyouths while the country’seconomy would get a boostfrom the investments byforeigners and Nigerians.

Jonathan, addressingmembers of Delta StateTraditional Council shortlyafter a presidential campaignrally in Asaba, said the project,which will be the biggest oiland gas investment in Africa,was dear to his administration.

He said that the projectwould be flagged off in thenext couple of weeks andappealed to the traditionalrulers not to relent in theirsupport for his administration.

President Jonathan informedthe traditional rulers that he

was seeking re-election asPresident of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria tocomplete the projects that hisadministration had started forthe benefit of the country.

The Obi of Owa, HRMEfeizomor II, who spoke onbehalf of the traditional rulers,

described President Jonathanas a performer whose projectshave transformed the lives ofNigerians and repositionedNigeria for faster economicgrowth.

The Owa monarch explainedthat with President Jonathan,Nigeria would get a betterdeal.

Earlier, the Ohworode of

Olomu, in his prayers, saidthey were satisfied with thefirst tenure of the Presidentand assured him of theirsupport and that of theirsubjects.

The meeting took placeimmediately after thePresident commissioned theultra-modern GovernmentHouse complex in Asaba.

A B R A K A —GOVERNORSHIP

candidate of the Labour Party,LP, in Delta State, Chief GreatOgboru, yesterday, describedthe February governorshipelection in the state as a two-horse race, insisting that hewas still in contact with theelectorate.

Ogboru, who briefednewsmen at his Abrakacountry home, said: “I willprotect the mandate of thepeople.” He thanked theleadership of the UrhoboProgress Union, UPU, forendorsing him as thecandidate of the Urhobonation.

Noting that the UPUendorsement had given himvictory in at least 10 localgovernment areas, he said hewas well positioned to governthe state. He expressed thehope that he would get therequired spread to clinch thegovernorship in the election.

Saying that elections were 75percent free and fair in DeltaNorth and Central, going bypast elections, he alleged thatelections were oftenmanipulated in Delta Southsenatorial district. He,however, said machinerieswere being put in place tocheck it in the Februaryelection.

Insisting that hisendorsement has not divided

the UPU leadership, Ogborusaid that some persons wereaggrieved because theircandidate did not get theendorsement of the Urhobo

apex body.Calling on the candidate of

All Progressives Congress,APC, Chief O’Tega Emerhorand his followers to join forces

with him, he said politics wasa game of interest. He said hisinterest was to better the lot ofall Deltans, adding that he hasa pan-Delta agenda.

INC drums support for Jonathan'sre-election

BOMADI—A WINGof the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, Bomadi LocalGovernment Area FederatedYouth Movement, BLGAFYM,in Delta State, has vowed thatthere was no going back on there-election of Mr. NicholasMutu into the NationalAssembly for another tenure torepresent the people of Bomadi/Patani federal constituency.

By Godwin Oghre

SAPELE—LEADER of apro-democracy group in

Delta State, Sapele 3000 ManMatch, Mr Guy Galloway, hasexplained the cancellation ofa proposed rally by the group,aimed at sensitising andpreparing the people of Sapeleand environs for theforthcoming general elections,saying it was due to securityreason.

Speaking with Vanguard inSapele, he said: “We gotsecurity report that politicalthugs and hoodlums hadplanned to take advantage of

the rally to cause mayhem. Wecouldn’t have gone ahead atthe expense of the lives of thepeople we had planned tosensitise."

IJAW National Congress,INC, has called on Ijaws

and other Nigerians to workhard for the re-election ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking at his inauguration

in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,Boma Obuoforibo, newlyelected president of thecongress, also laudedGovernor Seriake Dickson ofBayelsa State on his“remarkable achievements inthe state.”

He commended members ofthe National Executive Council,NEC, of INC and other arms ofthe congress for keeping theorganisation going after thedemise of his predecessor, ChiefTari Sekibo. He praised theelectoral committee thatconducted the bye-election,where he defeated two othercandidates to emerge victorious.

Obuoforibo invited his co-contestants and all Ijaw peopleto join hands with the NEC tomove the Ijaw nation to a higherlevel, promising to vigorouslypursue the creation of Oil RiversState from east Ijawland andToru-Ebe State from the west.

Urhoboleaders suefor peace

Delta Steelmust work—ORUGBO

The group said that itsposition was informed thedevelopment Mutu hasattracted to the region to savethe constituency fromdesperate politicians.

President of the group,Francis Akambi, in a statement,said: “At a time when the regionis faced with huge developmentgap, we are taking our messageto the electorate and mobilisingsupport for the candidacy ofMutu, who has attracteddevelopment to enhance theliving conditions of our people."

THE AllP r o g r e s s i v e s

Congress, APC, House ofR e p r e s e n t a t i v e scandidate for Udu,Ughelli North andUghelli South federalconstituency, Delta State,Mr Andrew Orugbo, haspromised to ensure thatthe Delta Steel Company,Ovwian-Aladja, wasrevitalized if voted intopower.

Speaking withVanguard, Orugbo saidthat the moribund steelcompany can providethousands of jobs ifresuscitated.

THE Urhobo Eldersand Leaders

Council, ULEC, underthe leadership of ChiefCyprian Onephrojire,has frowned at the recentdevelopment in UrhoboProgress Union, UPU,and its executive. Itappealed to the warringfactions to bury theirdifferences for the sakeof uniting the Urhobo forprogress.

ULEC in a statement,said that it wasdisappointing that theUPU executive which issupposed to unite theUrhobo nation was nowengrossed in a conflict ofdisunity.

THE national body ofAssociation of

Anioma Engineers, AAE,yesterday, in Lagos,endorsed the candidate ofthe All ProgressivesCongress, APC, Mr. KevinNjideaka, for Delta Northsenatorial seat in thecoming elections.

The association, underthe leadership of Mr JustusOsakwe, agreed thatNjideaka has all it takes tolead Delta North in theSenate with his wealth ofexperience.

Osakwe noted that in thepast 16 years, only oneparty has beenrepresenting Delta North,adding that it was now timefor better opportunities tocome to the Anioma peoplewith the APC.

MOBILE ADVERTISING FORUM: From left: General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTNBusiness, Mr. Ladipo Nylander; CEO, InTarget Mobile Advertising, Mr. Lazarus Muchenje;Ag. Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN, Mr. 'Tsola Barrow; Mrs. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka,GM, Enterprise Sales and CEO, Sponge Group, Mr. Dayo Elegbe, at the MTN MobileAdvertising Forum in, Lagos yesterday.


CMYK


MAMA IZOBOMary Kogoro,

105, is dead. Until her death, she was

the oldest woman in AragbaEkpe and othercommunities around.

She was a devoutChristian and communityleader.

According to Mr. IsaacIfite, head of the family, theburial ceremony would beannounced later.

Transition

Late Mama KogoroSenator Ekweremadu said heattracted the Water Project to helpaddress the water needs of thepeople permanently, noting thatit was regrettable that Oji River,which was the source of water forEnugu township had no portablewater of their own.

He explained: “We have donemany boreholes, but we believethat boreholes cannot solve thewater challenge in Oji River. We,therefore, came up with a newproject called Greater Oji RiverWater Project, which will provide

water everywhere in Oji River andenviron. The project has beenawarded; and we believe that thework will start very soon.”

Also inspecting the ongoingwork at the multi-million nairaYouth Development Centre atAchi, the Deputy President of theSenate said he planned with anItalian firm to run the facilities atthe Centre and similar ones heattracted in Awgu, Aninri, Udiand Ezeagu Local governmentareas.

NDDC denies awarding contract toFirst Lady

By Jonah Nwokpoku

THE NIGER DeltaDevelopment Commission,

NDDC, has denied media reportsthat it has committed its budgetto the 2015 elections, therebydefaulting on payment of staffsalaries as at and when due.

The commission also deniedthat it awarded the First Lady,Dame Patience Jonathan anycontract.

In a statement, the commission

denied that it ever gave her anymoney for the purpose of thepassage of the Commission’sannual budget.

The statement read: “Theattention of the Niger DeltaDevelopment Commission,NDDC, has been drawn to amischievous online news item bythe Sahara Reporters to the effectthat the scarce resources of theCommission have been put at thedisposal of certain politicians inAbuja and Port Harcourt, therebycompromising the salary of staff.

“Management hereby rebutssuch allegations as unfounded,untrue and sadly fabricated todent the good image and newreputation of the Commission.

"To say that the Commission isunable to pay salaries is not onlylaughable but very misleadingand perhaps aimed at draggingthe Commission into the politicalbattleground.”

On the award of contract to theFirst Lady, the statement said:“For the avoidance of doubt, theCommission has never given

money to the First Lady oranybody for that matter for thepassage of our annual budget,neither has NDDC ever failed topay the salaries of its staff as atand when due. The Commissiontherefore wishes to appeal topoliticians and their agents in themedia, to steer clear of NDDC andallow the Commission to focus onits mandate of providing a lastingsolution to the socio-economicdifficulties of Niger DeltaRegion.”

MHWUN members drag president to courtover NLC presidency

By Onozure Dania

ABUJA — AGGRIEVEDmembers of the Medical

and Health Workers Union ofNigeria, MHWUN, have draggedthe President of the union, Mr.Wabba Ayuba, and four others tothe National Industrial Court,NIC, Abuja Division, seeking anorder restraining Ayuba from

contesting the presidency ofNigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

The claimants, GeorgeKaiserye, Tubotamuno Abalibo,MHWUN, Akuku- Toru LocalGovernment Area, LGA, ofRivers State Branch andMHWUN Degema LGA Branch,are claiming, among others, thatMr. Ayuba, is ineligible to seekfor elective position in the

National Delegates Conference,NDC, taking place betweenFebruary 9 and 11, 2015, in Abuja,because his two-term presidencyof the union ended in 2013.

Other defendants areMHWUN, NLC; Minister ofEmployment, Labour andProductivity Registrar of TradeUnions.

The claimants are seeking aninterim injunction restraining thefirst defendant whether byhimself, his agents, servants,proxies or privies or otherwise,from presenting himself for orotherwise contesting the electioninto the office of President of NLCat the National DelegatesConference of NLC scheduled tohold from February 9, 2015 at theInternational Conference Centre,Abuja or at any other date orplace, until the determination ofthe motion on notice in this suit.

However, President of NIC,Justice B.A. Adejumo, directedthat parties to the suit be put onnotice, and adjourned the case toFebruary 19, 2015, for hearing ofthe motion on notice.

BRIEFING: From left, Mr. Ikechukwu Rowland, Director, Web Technologies of WSI AXON Mr. Bikram Kishor Mukhi, AssistantManager, International Sales of NETCORE; Chief Edwin Abamwa, Managing Director, Deborah Ogbonna, Email Marketing and HenriIkwuernesi, Head Business & Franchise Development all of WSI AXON during a press conference by WSI AXON in Lagos.

APGA Abia gov candidate alleges assassinationattempt

By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA — ALLProgressives Grand

Alliance, APGA, governorshipcandidate, in Abia State, Dr AlexOtti, has alleged an assassinationattempt on his life.

Briefing at his campaign officein Umuahia, Otti alleged thatsome men invaded his housedemanding to know if there weresoldiers in his home, saying “at10:58pm, Tuesday, some mennumbering 14 dressed in militaryuniform invaded my countryhome at Umuru Umuehim Nvosiin Isiala Ngwa South localgovernment area of Abia State,”

According to him, the men wereaccosted by a mobile policemanattached to him and the leaderwho identified himself as an ArmyCaptain, said they wanted to

confirm if there were soldiers inthe compound.

Otti wondered who sent thepurported ‘soldiers’ to his houseat such time and for what purposeless than 24 hours after the stategovernment alleged that he was

keeping fake military men.He denied going about with

“unapproved securityoperatives,” saying it would beunthinkable for him to usesecurity operatives to intimidateand harass people, noting “I

cannot be a party to any act thatcould truncate and disrupt anelection, when God has destinedthat I will win to deliver the peoplefrom years of deceit,unemployment, under-development and abject poverty.”

SeplatacquiresChevron oilassets forN67bn

By Michael Eboh,with Agency Report

S E P L A TPETROLEUM

Development CompanyPlc, yesterday, said it hadacquired Chevron NigeriaLimited’s 40 per cent stakein Oil Mining Lease,OML, 53 in the NigerDelta for $259.4 million,about N44.09 billion.

The company, in astatement to theinternational investingcommunity, also stated thatit has concludednegotiations to acquire 22.5per cent interest in OML55 for $132.2 billion, aboutN22.47 billion.

According to thestatement, the companywill be acquiring 56.25 percent of BelemaoilProducing Limited, aNigerian special purposevehicle that had bought a40 per cent interest in theproducing OML 55,located in the swamp tocoastal zone of southeastern Niger Delta.

“The Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation,NNPC, holds theremaining 60 per centinterest in OML 55, andSeplat’s effective workinginterest in OML 55 as aresult of the acquisition is22.50 per cent.

“Seplat is paying $132.2million for its 22.5 per centinterest in OML 55, afteradjustments. It has alsoadvanced certain loans of$80 million to the othershareholders of Belemaoilto meet their share ofinvestments and costsassociated with Belemaoil,”Seplat said.

CMYK

THE FEDERAL Governmenthas awarded a N986 Million

contract for the construction of theGreater Oji River Water Project tosupply water to every home in OjiRiver Local Government Area,LGA, of Enugu State.

Deputy President of the Senateand Senator representing EnuguWest Senatorial District, Chief IkeEkweremadu, disclosed thisduring a projects inspection andcampaign tour of Oji River LocalGovernment Area.

Addressing his constituents,

Ekweremadu attracts N986m water project,canvasses votes for PDP

CMYK

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 — 17

OPINION


By Chris Okotie

OPINIONBreaking the jinx of transition violence

*Rev. Okotie, a pastor-politician ,wrote from Lagos.

IT is our lot to run tension-soakedpolitical transition programmes, often

marred by violence instigated by thepolitical class. In other democracies, noelectioneering is quiet either, but thetension generated revolves around theheated arguments of contenders and theanxiety that the difficult choices theyepitomize, in the options they present tothe electorate.In our peculiar circumstance, rather thanpresent sound, alternative policy choicesto the voters, our politicians play up theethno-religious card, which invariablyoverheats the system, and sets the stagefor violence. The campaign slogans weread and hear, rather than define theplatforms of the office-seekers to enable theelectorate make rationale choices, merelyexposes their ideological emptiness.Rather than throw up great ideas thatchallenge the status quo, we see hateadvertisements directed at opposingcandidates.The campaign of calumny has taken anew dimension in this election, promptingfears that whatever the outcome of thepresidential elections, the nation wouldmost likely be on fire. The Abuja PeaceAccord was signed to allay such fears;though it committed the contestants torunning peaceful campaigns,enforcement of such an agreement isobviously difficult because it carries nolegal sanctions against violators of thepact.We hear President Goodluck Jonathan say

repeatedly that his election is not worththe blood of anyone, but blood is flowingstill, despite the Accord. It seems that theagents of destabilization were angry at theAbuja Peace Accord because the ensuingspate of killings, vandalisation, verbalviolence, explosive smear campaign andcharacter assassination under the watchof the political class, makes mockery of theAccord.This is happening because our country hasrefused to embrace a new paradigm.Smaller countries like Ghana, Zambia,Botswana and Malawi have run seamlesstransitions, in which the incumbents weredefeated. These nations didn't fall apart.Here, evil men are promoting the falsenotion that the nation would disintegrateif the President loses, as if the generalelections are not actually about testing themechanism of peaceful politicalsuccession.Perhaps, owing to long years of Army rule,we seem to have grown accustomed to agarrison mentality. We get worried whenthings run smoothly; normality is fearedas an abnormality because of our chaotic

management of public projects.The Independent National ElectoralCommission, INEC, had four years toprepare for this election. About 12 days tothe first poll, it is still saddled with aneedless crisis of PVC distribution. As atlast week, millions of registered voters areyet to have their PVCs, prompting thePresident's National Security Adviser,Sambo Dasuki to call for a shift of thegeneral elections. What else is the recipefor chaos?INEC always claimed that it got all itneeded to organize efficient, free and fairelections. Where then is this discordanttune coming from? The call for thepostponement of the elections for fear thatabout half of the voters may bedisenfranchised is clearly anembarrassment.In fact, coming from a key official of theruling party, who chose a Chatam Housemeeting in London as a platform to call forthe poll shift is worrisome, because it hassent a wrong signal that Nigeria typically,is incapable of organizing crisis-freeelections. Thank God, another top rankingwestern official, US Secretary of State,Senator John Kerry stopped-by some daysago to add his voice to the growing calls,opposing the proposal for a shift of the polls.If the INEC assured us that the electionswould not be postponed, the Presidentought to have come out forcefully toreassure Nigerians that, whateverproblems the Commission is facing

regarding PVC distribution would bedecisively overcome with the help of thefederal government.In the absence of that, it is now difficultnot to believe the expressed fear of theopposition APC that the call forpostponement of the elections is a ploy ofthe PDP, to enable it regain lost steam, soas to head-off imminent defeat in thecrucial presidential elections. Like mostof its public relations challenges, Aso Rockdidn't handle this well.Evidence of the PDP's poor publicperception management is the President'sbelated visit to Bornu State in the midstof his campaign, after dithering formonths since the Chibok Girls' abduction.Sometimes, the terrible mistakes in thePresident's public response to criticalnational issues, makes one wonder whatkind of advisers he has.Visiting wounded soldiers in Bornu State,the hot-bed of terrorist activities for thefirst time since a slice of our territory wasoccupied by Boko Haram in that region isin-defendable. It demonstratesunwittingly that Mr. President values hisre-election more than the pains of hispeople.Whatever the case, Nigerian's must avoidviolence and conduct themselvespeacefully. Elections are not a do-or-dieaffair. Politicians will come and go, butthe nation remains.

Elections are not a do-or-die affair.Politicians will comeand go, but the nationremains

THE annual World Cancer Day - February 4 - isset aside by the World Health Organisation,

WHO, to raise awareness on cancer, encourage itsprevention, detection, and treatment, passed quietlywith appropriate speeches that have been recycledover the years. This year, political campaigns seizedthe spaces, taking the global event lower in ournational attention notches. Cancer is a globalepidemic, becoming the number one killer ofmankind in 2010. One-third of the world’spopulation would be diagnosed with cancer in itslifetime. It is projected that by 2030, one in everytwo persons will be diagnosed of cancer in theirlifetime.

According to the WHO, over 100,000 Nigeriansare diagnosed with cancer annually, and about 80,000die - 240 Nigerians daily or 10 Nigerians hourly.The Nigerian cancer death ratio of 4:5 is one of theworst globally. Cervical cancer which is 100 per centpreventable kills a Nigerian woman every hour.Breast cancer kills 40 Nigerians daily (30 daily in2008). Prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men daily(14 daily in 2008). These three common cancersalone kill 90 Nigerians daily, due mainly to poor

Cancer – Not BeyondUs

infrastructure. Nigeria has no Mobile CancerCentres and no single Comprehensive CancerCentre; most Nigerians have no access to optimalcancer treatment. A Comprehensive Cancer Centrecosts about $63 million, while a Mobile CancerCentre costs about $600,000. Nigerians spend $200million annually on treatment abroad, enough toestablish three Comprehensive Cancer Centres orto acquire 300 Mobile Cancer Centres. The outcomefor Nigerians who seek treatment abroad is oftenpoor because of late detection. Cervical cancerunderscores the fact that cancer is preventable.Cervical screening is painless and takes only about

five minutes.Pre-cancer changes are easy to treat by an

outpatient procedure lasting 15 minutes. Cervicalcancer is disappearing in the West but remains thenumber one cancer killer of African women. TheNational Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme,a non-governmental initiative, pioneeredcommunity-based, mass cervical cancer screeningcampaign in Nigeria. With limited resources, over100,000 Nigerians were screened and treated andawareness created since 2007. Its effort significantlycontributed to 15 per cent reduction in cervicalcancer deaths in Nigeria, from 26 women daily to22 daily, between 2008 and 2012, WHO said, asignificant improvement, given that WHO projected25 per cent increase in cervical cancer deaths in 10years.

Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy(CECP-Nigeria), a private initiative has a short-termgoal of deploying 37 Mobile Cancer Centres, onefor each state and FCT Abuja; for cancer preventionand early treatment in rural Nigeria. The defeat ofcancer is not beyond us, if private and publicresources are polled to tackle it.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 6, 2015—————1919191919

CMYK

By Clement Udegbe

•Mr. Udegbe, a legalpractitioner, wrote fromL a g o s .

By Prince Abugo

Goading Nigeria into 2015electoral violence

Now that Okowa is running with Otuaro

There is a way that seems good toa man, but at the end it leads todestruction ----King Solomon ofIsreal.

THIS time in six years ago, ifany one told the political

juggernauts in the North Eastirrespective of their partyaffiliations, that their zone willbe boiling by 2014;that theywould have over 3000 InternallyDisplaced Persons; that theirgirls would be kidnapped, andheld against their will for overfive months and running, andthat Maiduguri would one daybe a target of insurgency fordestruction, they would laugh itoff with a wave of hand.

It was convenient at that time,for political leaders in the northto threaten that the blood of themonkey and the baboon wouldflow if they lost the 2011elections, even as obvious andimminent their loss at thatelection was. Some of themthreatened that they wouldmake the country ungovernableif their wishes were not grantedby Nigeria, and so on. Today, theevents and trends in our politicalexperience suggest to many, thatthese men had no foresight, andmost of them are still at the helmof affairs displaying the same lackof foresight, and understandingof the enormity of the changethat has occurred in the psyche

of the averagely educatedNigerian in recent times.

It becomes more alarming tonotice that the same type of lackof proper assessment of what ittakes to keep the peace of a peoplein the political struggles amongleaders, have started creepinginto the lexicon of South SouthNigeria political stake holders.One of them in APC, threatenedrecently, that if they lose the2015 elections they would forma parallel government. It seemsvery obvious that these men donot know the implications ofwhat they say, because theyhave no first hand experience ofa civil war. They forget that youdon’t throw a stone into themarket, because it could hit yourown mother; That he who digs apit, falls into it , because what aman sows against the righteoushe shall reap; And that NoNigerian deserves to die for theinordinate ambition of anyingrate in power!

It is therefore in order to saveourselves from these men, whowould check out very quicklyshould they set the nation onfire, leaving us to bear the bruntof their mess, that it has becomeexpedient to look at how they aregradually goading ourgovernment into electoralviolence in 2015.One dangerousskill our politicians haveacquired and perfected is the artof shouting wolf, when there is

none within the vicinity, just tostampede and distract thegovernment in power, and to scoredangerous cheap political points.

A few cases will help us forexample. First, way before theAnambra, Edo, Osun, and Ekitigubernatorial elections underPresident GEJ, politiciansscreamed that they do not needsoldiers near polling areas, andthe communities duringelections. But President ignoredtheir cries, and did the rightthing by flooding such stateswith armed Police and Soldiersduring those elections, whichenabled the people to choose theirleaders in the freest and fairestgubernatorial elections since thehistory of this nation in those states.

Now, eleven days to the

Presidential elections, the APChave started screaming, andthreatening thunder andbrimstone if soldiers are used tokeep peace during the electionsin the hope that they would beable to deceive the President.

But with the President’sexperiences of electoral violencein Katsina, the home state of hisopponent, Plateau, Bauchi andGombe states, all in the north,during his campaigns, it willonly be wise to use soldiers to keepthe peace during the elections inthese states, and other violenceflash points like Rivers, Lagos,Imo, and Edo States. These areincidentally, APC states, andmake it difficult for one not to linkthe APC with violence. If a man’sfingers were cut off for pastingthe President's poster in a state,what will become of thesupporters of the President shouldhe win elections in such a state ?

The President should ignore thewolf cry of politicians, in theinterest of the voting public, andcommon man, and flood theplaces with soldiers to give uspeace during the elections.

Second is the painstaking effortby the INEC and their agents tocause electoral violence using thedistribution of PVC cards. Whileit is true that PVC cards are nowavailable in many states, theproblem lies with the advancerigging through its distribution.In Ajegunle, Ojo and Ejigboareas, the practice is to askregistered voters who they wouldvote for, where they say PDP,they would be told that their PVCcards were yet to arrive! This is

capable of causing violence, andmust be addressed by INEC,instead of bragging that the cardsare there and people should andget them. In Ejigbo, the advancerigging was completed when theyhad only one registration centre atthe Ile – Ewe primary School forabout 3000 persons, and theofficers closed as early as 4pm afterregistering just a few people, withthe result that thousands weredisenfranchised!

Meanwhile, INEC does notseem to have any answer to whatwill become of voters where theelectronic card reader packs up!

Third is the wicked destructionof opponent’s bill boards andposters which appears like astandard practice in APCcontrolled states in the north, andin the south of Nigeria. It isshameful to observe that one canonly find un-mutilatedbillboards of the President andJimi Agbaje, the PDPgubernatorial candidate onlyalong Federal Roads. We heardthat Advertising Practitionerswere warned that their licenseswould not be renewed if theyserved the opposition PDP!

The loss of money used formutilated or destroyed postersand billboards can causefrustration of the opponentswhich can result in violence.Appropriate sanctions must beapplied against contestantswhose supporters are caught insuch electoral malpractice.

The goading to violence muststop!

WHEN ethnic, sectional primordialsentiments becloud a person from

seeing politics as a platform for service,values become desecrated, choice ofelectorate castrated, competence andcontent of a candidate’s character becomeswatery; politics of bitterness, thuggery,poverty, corruption, encourage festeringpersonal greed. Several educatedilliterates pollute our politics and values,and men without conscience defecate onour collective inheritance. The article ofJesutega Onokpasa, published inVanguard, on Friday January 23 2015,page 18, was tasteless.

Describing the PDP primaries as “bizarregubernatorial primaries” and saying “theircandidate may be popular amongpoliticians but that does not translate intoelectoral acceptability across Delta” isOnokpasa’s mischief to achieve tribaldesire because the 2014 PDP primaries wasfree and fair unlike previous ones thatdivided the party for negating internaldemocratic mechanism.

Onokpasa used tribal sentiments intainting Okowa by making Otuaro an issueby instigating Isoko, itsekiri and Warri-Urhobo against Okowa's candidacywithout regard to the fact that a runningmate is the chioce of the principal afterconsidering loyalty and compatibility. Isokonation did not vie for the deputy governorbecause there were was no contest.

That is why ethnic chauvinist mustrespect Okowa’s choice because Otuaro’schoice could have gone to a tribe in DeltaSouth. Okowa has regard for all ethnicgroups, including Isoko. The claim that“what does Otuaro emergence portend for

the future political fortunes of itsekiri” isprovocative because you cannot love Romemore than the Romans. This statementinvokes the sad memories of the 1997 Warrifratricidal war to score political points.

Deltans are behind this ticket despite theactivities of ethnic bigots, who use tribalismto score political points. Onokpasa mustnot drag others into this barren pool ofstagnation with the claim that “Isoko havejust been told that they are second classcitizens…they are not even recognised inDelta South, in passing them over for theslot…they have once more been relegatedto the background and treated as mereappendages”.

Onokpasa cannot speak for Isoko nationand other ethnic groups in Delta State. Weare not as gullible and unreasonable ashe portrayed us we had Otobo, Mafeni,Okpozo, Stella Omu, Gen. Omu, and Gen.Ogomudia, among others, who haveoccupied several offices; the SSG of thestate is from Isoko. We must not bloat theoffice of Deputy Governor as if that’s theonly important office left when Okowa is

elected Governor. Onokpasa as anopposition politician used ethnic jingoismto hoodwink electorate in achieving hisethnic agenda. The tribal tirades that“Isoko are left with a straight forwardchoice; either stay with those who have noregard for them or be pragmatic enoughto realign with their Delta central cousins”is deceptive. The Delta central cousins ofthe Isoko have never supported Isokoaspiration. What has Urhobo done forIsoko to warrant their support as cousins?Isoko separated from eastern Urhobobecause of marginalisation, whichcontinues till date. This ethnic opium failsbecause a good friend is better than agreedy cousin is. The chairmanship ofWarri south-west and a senatorial bid ofUduaghan, which he withdrew from, areno excuses not to support Okowa.

The instigation of itsekiris Isoko, Ndokwaand other ethnic groups against Okowaare tribal centred. The claim that senatorialseat was “captured by the Ijaw incircumstances constituting an utterhumiliation of the incumbent Governor”is a poison chalice to instigate Ijaw andother ethnic groups. This castrated mentaldehydration can set the state on fire. ThePDP as a national party recognises theplurality of the nation hence itsupportsrotation of power to give a sense ofbelonging to others.

The assertion that “in completely cuttingof Delta central from the ticket, Delta PDPhas merely brazenly bit the fingers thatfeed it….any governorship ticket in Deltathat does not include Delta central eitheras governor or deputy governor is a recipefor electoral disaster and utterly doomedto woeful failure”, was the main reasonof instigating other ethnic groups for Deltacentral benefit. This mental drain isunfortunate.

Delta central must abandon theselandmines if others must win their trust,all are equal as there are no first class orsecond class ethnic groups. This mentalitymade the Hausa-Fulani believe they areborn to rule. Delta is a multi-ethnic stateand Urhobo cannot desire a governorwithout others. If we buy this poisonedchalice then Hitler-style ethnic puritanismthat pushed the world to a precipice willhaunt us.

We must disregard this mental drain tobring inclusive leadership to every ethnicgroup as partners. The defunct Deltaprovince lost its unity and comradeshipbecause Urhobo failed to promote unityand leadership.

That Okowa ticket is “not a Delta North/Delta South ticket” but “Ika/Ijaw ticket” iscry of a divorced woman who never seesanything good in her former husband. ThePDP delegates voted Okowa as theircandidate and claiming that “his mannerof emergence amount to unfair humiliationof eminently qualified aspirants fromAniocha/Oshimili” is unacceptable.

His claim that: “In the entire Ndokwanation, it is studiously told it is a secondclass part of Delta north and should seekits destiny with its brother from old Deltaprovince now made up of Delta central andDelta South” are divisive venoms that arebarren. Onokpasa in his verbal diarrhoeanever faulted Okowa’s integrity,competence, and pedigree, he knew asothers that Okowa's competent to governDelta State because he cherishes ourdiversity and believes in our unity asstrength. That is why we should supportPresident Jonathan and elect Dr. IfeanyiOkowa as Governor. This is how to tell triballocust eaters that our diversity and unitycannot be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism.

•Mr. Abugo, a member, publicity/media,Delta PDP Campaign committee, wrotefrom Uzere, Delta State.

If we buy this poisonedchalice then Hitler-styleethnic puritanism thatpushed the world toprecipice will haunt us; wemust disregard thismental drain to bringinclusive leadership toevery ethnic group aspartners

The Presidentshould ignore thewolf cry ofpoliticians, in theinterest of the votingpublic, and commonman, and flood theplaces with soldiersto give us peaceduring the elections

RIGHT OF REPLY

CMYK



CMYK

Manufacturers invest N483bnacross sectors despite powerchallenges — MAN

By Franklin Alli

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

CBN Exchange Rate as at 05/2/15

DOLLAR 167 167.5 168 POUNDS 251.9529 252.7073 253.4616 EURO 189.4448 190.012 190.5792 FRANC 180.4448 181.1202 181.6609 YEN 1.4192 1.4235 1.4277 CFA 0.2689 0.2789 0.2889 WAU 233.3106 235.2951 235.9975 RENMINBI 26.6999 26.7974 26.8778 RIYAL 44.4338 44.5668 44.663 KRONA 25.4569 25.5331 25.6094 SDR 235.2863 235.9908 236.6952

$55.70 1.54

$49.65 - 2.00

$164. 15 -0.75

$2,721.00 -3.00

$14.37 -0.08

Our membercompaniesplaced priorityon investing inplants andmachineriesand spare partsfor retooling

VISIT: Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr.Mounir Gwarzo (2nd right); Executive Commissioner (Corporate Services), SEC, ZakawanuGaruba (left); Managing Director/CEO of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS)Plc, Kyari Bukar (2nd left) and Head of Operations (CSCS), Mr. Joseph Mekiliuwa duringa visit of the CSCS officers to SEC’s headquarters, in Abuja.

MANUFACTURERS Association

of Nigeria, MAN, saiddespite the challenges ofpower supply in thecountry, companies un-der its fold invested atotal of N483 billionacross the twelve indus-trial zones in the countryduring the first half of lastyear.

MAN, in its EconomicReview for the first sixmonths of 2014 releasedto Vanguard, said: “De-spite the unstable supplyof electricity coupledwith high cost of fundswhich limited the poten-tial of the manufacturing

sector as at mid-year, neverthe-less, an estimated total of N483billion was invested across sec-tors; industrial zones and on as-sets meant to increase manufac-turing contribution to theeconomy.”

“Ogun industrial axis topped the

investments with N376.57 billion,representing 78 percent of the totalinvestment in the manufacturing forthe first half of 2014. This is followedby Kano Sharada/Challawa andOyo/Ondo/Ekiti/Osun zones withN19.8 billion and N19.2 billion re-spectively. River industrial zone hadthe least of about N72.3 million orabout 0/1 percent of the total invest-ment for the period” said MAN.

According to MAN, the invest-ments went into plants and machin-ery/ spare parts; land and building,vehicles, furniture and fittings aswell as new constructions of otherinfrastructures.

“Our member companies placedpriority on investing in plants andmachineries and spare parts forretooling; with overall objectives ofincreasing and improving theirproductive capacities.

Oil risestoward $55,outlook stillfragile

OIL rose toward $55 abarrel, yesterday,

recovering from part of theprevious session’s slide afterChina took steps to pourliquidity into the world’ssecond-biggest economy;although traders and analystssaid oil’s outlook looked weak.

Crude snapped a four-daywinning streak onWednesday, when the U.S.government said crudeinventories increased by 6.3million barrels, rising for afourth consecutive week to hita record high. The marketgained support yesterday fromoptimism that steps by China’scentral bank to pour in freshliquidity would spur demandfor energy in the second-largest oil consumer after theUnited States.

Brent crude rose 83 cents to$54.99 a barrel having fallenmore than a dollar intra-dayearlier and settling 5.5percent lower on Wednesday.U.S. crude added 60 cents to$49.05. “It will be some timeyet before we see anysustained trend reversal in oilprices. There’s no basis for asustained recovery at themoment,” said Carsten Fritsch,analyst at Commerzbank.”

The market remains highlyvolatile. Oil began to rise lastweek from near-six-year lows,in part due to a downturn inU.S. rig activity that couldeventually dampen rapidgrowth in shale oil production,only to tumble on Wednesday.

Other participants said it wastoo soon to expect a sustainedprice rise.

“I think prices will consolidatearound these sorts of levelsbefore moving lower. It takes alot of time for fewer rigs totranslate into lower oilproduction,” said ChristopherBellew, a senior broker atJefferies Bache.”

A workers’ strike in theUnited States at nine plants,including seven refineriesaccounting for 10 percent of thecountry’s refining capacity.

Nigeria loses N1bn daily torice importation

By Favour Nnabugwu

The Special Adviser to thePresident on the NewPartnership for Africa’s

Development, NEPAD andAfrican Peer ReviewMechanism, APRM,Ambassador Mrs. FideliaAkuabata Njeze, says Nigerialoses N1billion daily to riceimportation.Mrs. Njeze stated this at a one-day stakeholders forum on theestablishment of the Nigeria/ECOWAS rice sector policy andregulation advocacy platformheld in Abuja on Wednesday. She also added that due to theimportation of rice, Nigeria hasbeen exporting jobs andfinancial resources meant for thetransformation of the domesticrice sector in the country.While commending theCompetitive African RiceInitiative program CARI fororganizing the event, she saidthe effort would complimentgovernment efforts to end riceimportation into the country.The project is implemented byGIZ, Technoserve, the JohnKufuor Foundation and KilimoTrust and in joint partnershipwith FMARD, NEPAD, FAOand ECOWAS aimed atresolving the importation of riceinto Nigeria and West Africansub-region which is close to 50percent of rice from foreigncountries outside the shores ofthe African continent. Head of Programs CARI, StefanKachelriess Matthess, said asparts of CARI implementationagenda to empower small scalerice farmers in Sub-SaharanAfrican, CARI has contributed3.3 million dollars to theproduction of rice in Nigeria,

which is 40 percent of theimplementation cost agreedwith the private sector ofNigerian partner that willcontribute the remaining 60percent of the implementationcost. Mr. Stefan alsoexplained that the CARIprogram is beenimplemented in three otherAfrican countries; Ghana,Tanzania and Burkina Faso byGIZ, Technoserve, the John

Kufuor Foundation andKilimo Trust and in jointpartnership with FMARD,NEPAD, FAO and ECOWASwhich began 2013 and willrun till 2017.The idea is aimed at reaching120,000 African rice producersin the four African countriesinvolved.Earlier, the Chairman of theoccasion, Mr. Kingsley OlusolaOlurinde noted that the major

constraint in the production ofrice in the country was lowproductivity and poor qualityof milled rice as the demandfor rice in Nigeria is about fivemillion tones yearly, and thedomestic production is lessthan three million tones whichmakes the importation of riceinto the country more than twomillion tones.He stated the need to improvethe quality of locally made rice

to internatioal standard ,adding that the introductionof dry season production willsee rice been produced twicein a year and the introductionof lowland and irrigated ricewill see the production of riceincrease to six tones/hectareas compared to upland ricewhich is two tones/hectare.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015—23

Accommodation, food services sec-tors’ potential not well captured —NBS

By Jimoh Baba-tunde

THE National Bureau ofStatistics (NBS) has

stated that the great po-tential of the accommoda-tion and food services sec-tor for contributing tothe Nigeria’s economy,specifically in the area ofjob creation, is yet to be fullyembraced.

In its latest data re-leased last month , theNational Bureau of Statis-tics (NBS) revealed thatthe total number of personsemployed in accommoda-tion and food services sec-tor have been on the risewith the total number ofpeople employed in thesector between 2010 and2012 totaling 374,508.

According to the reviewof the Nigerian accommo-dation and food servicessector, the NBS noted thatglobally, the services sec-tor is a multi-billion dollarsector, “however , in Ni-geria, the most economi-cally active of the services’sector’s development isfound in the accommoda-tion and food services.

“In 2010, the number ofpersons employed by thesector was 342,794 but thefigure increased by 44,804or 13.07 per cent to 387,598in 2011 but reduced by13,090 or 3.38 per cent to374,508 in 2012.”

A breakdown based onsex category revealed thatin the three years span,Nigerian male dominatedwith 200,061 employed in2010, which increased by33,693 or 16.84 per cent to233,754 males employedin 2011.However, it de-clined by 26,482 or 11.33per cent to 207,272 em-ployed in 2012.

There was a steadier in-crease in the Nigerian fe-male category, whichranked second highestwith 111,201 employed in2010, it increased by 9,555or 8.59 per cent to 120,756

in 2011 and increased by7,898 or 6.54 percent to128,654 Nigerian femalesemployed in 2012.

The review added thatregardless of the growth in this industry specifi-cally in the area of jobcreation, the nation is yetto fully embrace the indus-try as a major economicplayer and a source of na-tional income.

“Based on the rebasedGDP figures, the accom-modation & food servicessub-sector contributedabout 0.45% of the nation’s

Interior of Dover Hotel, Ikeja. National Bureau of Statistics said the great po-tential of the accommodation and food services sector not fully embraced

Marriott Int’l opens ProteaHotel Select Ikeja

By Etop Ekanem

total value of goods andservices in 2010 and 2011and 0.49% in 2012.”

Across the three years,the sector’s gross earningswas dominated by incomefrom accommodation,which totaled atN343,040.23 million in2010, grew by N7,843.63million or 2.29 per cent toreach a gross income ofN350,883.86 million in2011.

THE President andMan aging Direc-

tor (Middle East and Af-rica) of Marriott Interna-tional, Alex Kyriakidis,has revealed that thechain’s growing footprintacross the Middle Eastand Africa is a response tothe potential they observedin the region.

Speaking at the officialopening of a 117-roomProtea Hotel Select inIkeja recently, Kyriakidissaid the Marriott Interna-tional is currently seeingstrong GDP growth acrossSub-Saharan Africa whichtranslates into opportunityfor our industry.

“Nigeria is one of our keymarkets and presents tre-mendous opportunity forus with the existing hotelswe have in Lagos as wellas the strong pipeline ofhotels that are coming upby 2018.”

According to Protea Ho-tels Director of Sales, Mar-keting and Revenue,Danny Bryer, Nigeria’srapidly growing economyis prompting the need formore hotels, adding: “Ni-geria is Africa’s largesteconomy with numerousindustries supporting on-going economic expan-

sion.We consider Nigeria to

be one of our most impor-tant development marketsand we’d like to double thenumber of Protea Hotelshere in the next five years.We have absolutely nodoubt that the hotel will berunning at close to capac-ity within a couple ofmonths.”

Speaking on the hotelmanagement team, Mr.Patrick Ilodianya, theManaging Director ofSkye Shelter Fund added:“The partnership withProtea Hotel provides bestpractices in comfort, healthand safety in our hotel andreinforces our commitmentto consistently deliver in-ternational hospitalitystandards at the rightprice.”

On his part, Mr. ObiNwogugu, CAPIC FundManager stated: “We areexcited to add Protea Ho-tel Select Ikeja to our chainof hotels; it complementsour objective to develophospitality infrastructure inunder-served marketsacross Nigeria and WestAfrica and we are confi-dent that it will meet theglobal standard of serviceand comfort demanded byour business travelers.”

CMYK



INSIDE

2015 ELECTIONS:

Page 26 Page 28 Page 27

DESPITE the ban onsachet water at the

campaign ground, unrepentanttroublemakers are said to havedevised other strategies ofhurling missiles at their foes onthe podium.

It was as such not surprisingthat yesterday, the Joint TaskForce, JTF in Yenogoa carriedout a show of strength alongthe major highways of the townwith the objective of telling thetroublemakers that theauthorities were set for them.

While President GoodluckJonathan remains almostuniversally popular among hispeople, a sharp division hasarisen among his supporters.The cleavage is essentiallyformed by the differentallegiances to his wife, Mrs.

Patience Jonathan and one ofhis closest political disciples,Governor Serikae Dickson.

The trouble between bothparties is the common gistamong stakeholders.

In various states where shehas campaigned for herhusband, Mrs. Jonathan hassufficiently worked the crowdto the obvious satisfaction ofher husband.

Campaigntrain

So satisfied is Dr. Jonathanwith the campaign stumps ofhis wife that he has recentlytaken it as a habit that wheneverhe is called upon to speak thathe now almost brings his wifeforward to first speak.

However, as the campaigntrain berths in Jonathan’s homebase today, his wife is bound

to be an issue following Mrs.Jonathan’s allegedmeddlesomeness in thepolitical affairs of the state.

Ahead of today’s visit, thecontending factions in the statechapter had publicly showntheir distrust and exposed whatwas claimed as covert plans tohumiliate one another.

There were allegations thatthe camp of Mrs. Jonathan hadrecruited men to jeer at thegovernor during the rally. Theallegation was strong enoughfor those sympathetic to thegovernor to issue a counterthreat warning Mrs. Jonathannot to come for today’s event.But it is doubtful the First Ladywould succumb to that threatespecially given her strongpolitical appendages across thestate.

Whatever is the cause of themalaise is not known, but somestakeholders trace the

differences to before theemergence of Dickson asgovernor when he chose hispresent deputy, Admiral JohnJonah over Dr WaripomoweiDudafa, special assistant(domestic matters) in thepresidency.

DELTA: When Ogboru,Omo-Agege flex muscle

By Emmanuel Aziken,Political Editor

Continues on page 26

As Dickson movedto reinforce his ownstructures, the firstlady last Octoberresigned herappointment as apermanentsecretary drawingthe battle linebetween her andDickson

•Jonathan: Stirring contradicting views in Bayelsa •Dickson: I won't talk about my boss' wife

Jonathan’s Patience in BayelsaSACHET water is banned at today’s rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State because of fears it could be used as missile bycontending forces in the camp of the president wanting to settle scores at therally ground. Why is there trouble at home?

Dickson’s choice of a deputywas said to have been stronglyopposed by associates ofPatience, but with the deeddone, there was apparentlylittle she could do in order notto present a divided house inthe more contentious fight tostop Timipire Sylva. Theappointment of Mrs. Jonathanas a permanent secretary in thestate civil service afterDickson’s emergence was oneof the acts said to have beencarried out to placate the firstlady.

However, that it seemed, wasnot enough as not long aftertrouble resurfaced barelymonths after. Associates ofDickson alleged a covert scriptto stop him from a second termthrough the use of Dudafa.

As Dickson moved toreinforce his own structures,the first lady last Octoberresigned her appointment as apermanent secretary drawingthe battle line between her andDickson.

Closeassociates

A number of associates of thefirst lady who got appointmentin the state through hergoodwill followed her inleaving the Dicksongovernment.

The crisis reached a newclimax on January 5, 2015when two close associates of thefirst lady, the Commissioner forLocal GovernmentAdministration, Marie Ebikake,and the Special Adviser onSpecial Projects, Remmy Kukuwere relieved of theirappointments. Kuku was alsocoordinator for Mrs. Jonathan’sNGO activities in Bayelsa.

Days later, Governor Dicksonbanned the activities of theTransformation Ambassadors ofNigeria, TAN in the state.

The group which has beenvery effusive in singing forPresident Jonathan’s re-election was banned in thestate according to the governorto stop its divisive policies.

“Those claiming to becampaigning for the re-electionof President GoodluckJonathan, but are insteadengaged in promotingsubversive activities andinciting crisis and divisionwithin the Peoples’ DemocraticParty (PDP) in the state, to movetheir activities elsewhere.”Dickson affirmed that Jonathan

OSUN GOVERNORSHIP:Anxiety all over againSome specific issues

clerverly avoided


ATMOSPHERE of theancient town of Ughelli,

headquarters of Ughelli NorthLocal Government Area, DeltaState was charged lastWednesday as residents of thearea rolled out drums towelcome their two sons, ChiefGreat Ovedje Ogboru andObaisi Ovie Omo-Agege toUghelli in continuation oftheir campaign tour of theState.

The people who throngedthe Ekiugbo/Warri Road,Market Road, Isoko Roaddown to the Ughelli TownshipStadium, likened thecampaign team to a triumphantentry.

As the convoy drove throughthe town, the people came outjoyfully waving their hands,dancing and chanting“Ogboru our Governor; thePeople’s General” and “ObaisiOmo-Agege; the betterSenator in waiting”. Childrenwere not left out as many ofthem tried running after theconvoy to catch a glimpse ofthe duo of Chief Ogboru andObais Omo-Agege.

Moved by the show of love

being displayed by thepeople, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege who hails from Orogunin the local government area,stepped down from his car towalk some distance with thepeople in a show ofappreciation of their love forthem.

Traders left their stalls whilemotorists and motorcyclistswho were not on the convoyvoluntarily joined with songsof solidarity and joy as theychanted songs such as“Ogboru na you be our man,na you be our governor; ObaisiOvie Omo-Agege, theawareness politician we saluteyou.”

The two prominent Urhobosons were welcomed withcannon shots as they arrived

DELTA: Ogboru, Omo-Agege show muscleGREAT Ogboru, wasthis week adopted bythe Urhobo ProgressUnion, UPU as itscandidate for the DeltaState governorshipelection. Days beforethe adoption heshowed hismobilisation capacitywhen his campaigntrain touched groundat Ughelli

Continues from page 25

Jonathan’s Patience in Bayelsa

did not need a support groupat home.

The “subversive actions” ofthe group it was learned mayhave been that the group wasbesides promoting Jonathan’sre-election also sowing seedsfor the emergence of Dudafa asgovernor in the 2016governorship election.

The governor ’s opendeclaration of war was said tohave enraged his traducers inthe Patience camp leading toallegations of a plot to pelt thegovernor with sachet water attoday’s rally. Dickson is alsonot helped by the fact that hehas not followed the steps of

By Festus Ahon

•Ogboru: The Urhobo hope

his predecessors in sharingmoney a development that hasmade beneficiaries of suchlargesse in the past to takeposition against him.

Contendinggroups

While a number of thecontending groups have beenfaceless, the National RebirthInitiative led by Mr. JoeAmbakaderimo, which had inthe past strongly backed thepresident warned thetroublemakers not embarrassthe president.

“We are as such surprised thatwhen it was expected that allhands should be on deck in the

project towards actualisingsuccess for the president in thepolls, that a few mischiefmakers are trying to use theplatform of the President’scampaign in his home state topursue this selfish agenda,”Ambakaderimo’s NRI said in astatement condemning plans touse today’s rally to settlescores.

Meanwhile, Dickson hasrefused to open up on theissue. In an interview on stateradio he was taciturn on theissue saying: “I have a policyof not discussing my boss’ wife.She is our mother, our sisterand our wife and she is entitledto all courtesies and respectdue her.”

dream of a better Delta for allwas realized.

“There will be crisis if theyattempt to rig me out this timebecause this is the timechosen by God. We areexperiencing kidnappingsbecause the government ofthe day emerged throughkidnapped votes and we won’ttolerate that next month,” hewarned.

Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agegewho is the Delta CentralSenatorial candidate of theLabour Party in his speech,said; “I strongly appeal to youto vote for Labour Partybecause it is the best and it isthe only party that has yourinterest at heart. I can assureyou that all Deltans will rejoicewhen Chief Great Ogboru iselected and sworn-in as DeltaState Governor on May 29th”.

According to him, “there’s

massive poverty in the landwhich the ruling party has notbeen able to address but willbe adequately tackled by aLabour Party government.Ogboru is the best person todo this because he will be ableto create jobs for theunemployed”.

Successfulbusiness

Omo-Agege said Ogboruwas a a successful businessman, who was being moved bypassion to serve his people.“Ogboru is a philanthropistwho has been creating jobs forDeltans even in his privateestablishments”, he added.

“We are not supportingOgboru because he is anUrhobo, but because of all thegovernorship candidates, heis the best man for the job whowon’t discriminate alongethnicity,” Omo-Agegestressed.

Speaking on his senatorialambition, he promised give avibrant representation at theNational Assembly whenvoted in as Senator torepresent Delta CentralSenatorial District,emphasising that “LabourParty has people-orientedmanifesto which will befollowed religiously to ensurean equitable spread of thedividends of democracy to allDeltans”.

While appealing to thepeople to spread the messageof hope for all Deltans, heurged to collect theirPermanent Voter Cards andvote wisely.

Omo-Agege saidOgboru was a asuccessful businessman, who wasbeing moved bypassion to serve hispeople

•Omo-Agege: Left PDP to join forces with Ogboru

the Ughelli TownshipStadium, which was alreadyfilled to capacity withsupporters.

The governorship candidateof the Labour Party, ChiefGreat Ogboru whileaddressing the people said; “Iwant to assure Deltans thattheir dignity as a people willbe restored when I assumeoffice as in May 2015”.

While urging them to votefor Labour Party, he said theparty was the only party thatcould guarantee the provisionof “basic amenities,rehabilitation of socialinfrastructure like roads aswell as security of life andproperty”. He expressedoptimism that the peoplewould be happy when their


From left, Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako; Osun State Governor,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and former Head of State General MuhammaduBuhari,during the National Council of State meeting, at the State House,Abuja. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida.

National Council of State meeting in Abuja

From left, former Head of State General MuhammaduBuhari (retd), and Osun State Governor Ogbeni RaufAregbesola

From left, Rivers State Governor, Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi; Ogun State Governor, IbikunleAmosun; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Yobe State Deputy Governor,Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu,

From left, Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Jigawa StateGovernor Alhaji Sule Lamido, and Kaduna State Governor Alhaji RamalanYero.


WITH the Presidentialelection about one week

away, the amusing gyrations ofthe political gladiators continueunabated. There is little doubtthe suffering masses arepresumed to be enjoying themacabre daylight dance in themarket. The Boko Haraminsurgents (murderers) alwaysmake their presence felt by thedastardly acts of the femalesuicide bombers (an innovationin Nigeria).The good news is thatthe country’s‘ neighbouringStates in ECOWAS havepromised to help in subjugatingthe insurgents. The moralquestion is whether it is right tocontinue to hurl bombs or maimourselves when others areoffering their lives to ensure oursurvival as a nation. It wouldhave been better if our helpersfound us a united nation.

Inspite of the media efforts ingetting the political gladiators tofocus on specific issues, the risingtempo of the current debate is onthe personalities of PresidentJonathan and his challenger,Major General Buhari (rtd).

Both contestants are not newto power – through democraticelection (Jonathan) and throughCoup (military democracy),Buhari. The issue should havebeen on the use of power andthe enjoyments of democraticdividends under PDPgovernment since 1999 and whatBuhari and his party will giveNigeria in 2015 and after. Sofar, the topic has been gliblytackled by the two main parties,thus, deepening the confusion. It may be necessary at this time,to put a halt to the drift towardsdeep misunderstanding andconfusion.

The main issue is that theeconomy has been mismanagedsince the return of Democracyunder the ruling party PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) of whichDr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan isthe current leader. Even beforethe awful disclosure of ProfessorCharles Soludo (formerGovernor of Central Bank underObasanjo), there is clearevidence that the economy has

Some specific issues cleverly avoidednot been wisely managed asexpected and that the majorityof the Nigerian people have notbeen enjoying “good life”.

What are the facts of life? Atpresent, about 70 percent ofNigerians are living below thepoverty line and unemploymentrate is above 24 per cent andabove 30 per cent among theyouths. Significant statisticalfigures show the value ofpetroleum products between1999 and today. The pumpprice of gasoline (premium motorspirit) commonly called ‘petrol‘which was N26 in 1999 is nowN87; diesel (AGO) sold for N19in 1999 compared with today‘scost of N155; kerosene in 1999was N17 per litre as compared

with the present subsidized priceof N50, if available. It could beargued that the rise of pump price(by litre) of petroleum productcould be attributed to importationof products to supplement shortsupply from dilapidated localrefineries.

The fact that a major oilproducer and exporter wouldbecome an importer of thecommodity it produces inabundance calls into a seriousdoubt, the ability of the economicmanagement team of the nation. And to make it worse, subsidy isbeing paid to the importers of therefined products, product byproduct while it could be cheaperto refine in neighbouringrefineries where a barrel of crudeoil would give more than tendifferent products.

The stench from the saga fromoil subsidy, which has caused thenation more than N2 trillion isstill on. Mrs. Hillary Clinton,during her visit to Nigeria oncedoubted the economic wisdom ofimporting refined oil products bya leading exporter of crude oil,and the economic stupidity ofpaying subsidy on imported oil.

The question of payments onimports would depend on howstrong the currency of theimporting nation is. Commonsense economics woulddictate that an import-dependentnation (like Nigeria) would gofor a strong currency to overcomethe situation if the need arises.

Far from it, the ruling party hasproved not to be a friend of astrong currency. Between 1999and 2015, the value of thenational currency has movedfrom N102 to the dollar to anuncertain figure of N168 andN210 to one dollar. How arethe mighty falling. There aredifferent rates for the dollar, theofficial rates and the parallelrates. Thus, Nigeria will appearto be operating a multiple systemof foreign exchange system in itseconomy, i.e. one rate for theCentral Bank, another for inter-bank and another for the Bureaus(BDC).

Since 1999, the FederalGovernment, State Governmentand the Local Governments haverelied on oil money for eighty percent of their revenue. Thatsource of revenue hascontributed to the fiscalirresponsibility of the executivesand the frivolities of thelegislatures all over the country. Neither the Federal, State norLocal government has shownexceptional ability (except LagosState) to grow internallygenerated revenue to match themonthly contribution from oilrevenue . Even the FederalGovernment under the crafty buthard working Minister ofFinance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has started to shoutausterity measures at the sign oflow oil revenue. In fairnessto the duo of Obasanjo and

Iweala, something was“illegally” siphoned from oilmoney into Excess Crude Oilaccount - now a likely saviour.

Unfortunately, the funds in theillegal Excess Crude Oil Accountmeant for “Power” Plants couldnot withstand the onslaught ofpowerful States under Yar`Aduaand President Jonathan. Muchof it had been distributed beforethe cruel blow to oil bonanza.

The cruel oil blow (to somegood omen) will, no doubt, leadto depression in the Nigerianeconomy which has refused tomove from its dependence on oilfor its sustenance and growth. To sustain the 2015 Budget, theFederal Government willcertainly deep its hands into whatis left of Excess Crude OilAccount, Sovereign WealthFunds and other savings. Somemeasures might includeborrowings and more directinvestments. The problem iswith a nation which is noted forfrugality and impunity in itsattitude to spending money, thefuture looks bleak. If eighty (80)per cent of revenue is devoted torecurrent expenditure, what isleft for education andinfrastructural development?

If the Federal Government hasnot been able to advance beyondPresident Jonathan‘s refixing therailway system, renovating theairports, creating moreuniversities and schools and re-investing in agriculture (creditsto Jonathan‘s government) in thelast four years, then, much isrequired. Jonathan‘ssupporters are saying Give usanother 4 years to complete thejob. The battle cry of theOpposition is “CHANGE”perhaps from the dreary past anddepression of the future.

But, Nigerians would beinterested to know if there wouldbe a radical change from thecurrent fiscal and monetarypolicies. What will be theappropriate policy on Power andOil? The ultimate answer isneeded on overall strategy forSecurity and Prosperity. This isthe current charge to theOpposition.

Inspite of themedia efforts ingetting the politicalgladiators to focuson specific issues,the rising tempo ofthe current debateis on thepersonalities ofPresident Jonathanand his challenger,Major GeneralBuhari (rtd)

PERSPECTIVE of theopposition in the country?

Nigeria needs an oppositionparty that is big and it is goodthe APC is providing it. Theopposition provides the checkand balance for sustainingdemocracy. In the last 16 yearswe did not have one. But there isone now.

Nigerians want change,infrastructural development. Butis our party, the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP providingthese things? My answer is yes.But no government can address

How Jonathan is fighting corruption — Ekiyor

2015 ELECTIONS:

Dr Chris Ekiyor is currently the Commissioner ofCommerce and Industry in Delta State. In this interviewhe gives a critical appraisal of the administration ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as thesecond war time President the nation has ever hadbecause of the challenges of terrorism in north easternpart of the country Excerpts:

By Jimitota Onoyume all these problems in twentyyears. It’s a gradual thing.

The military with their decrees,created more states, localgovernments, thus expoundedour burden of recurrentexpenditure. Infrastructure didnot expand with the burden ofexpenditure. The hospitalsystem failed. I am a medicaldoctor, the hospitals werenothing to write about then. During the military the value ofour naira dropped, naira wasdevalued. Obasanjo came as acivilian president, noting muchwas done to redress the problems,YarAdua came set the template

for rule of law. Then camePresident Goodluck Jonathanunder challengingcircumstances. It was a struggleto confirm him as president evenwhen the constitution was there.

President Jonathan and thePDP have done so much interms of transforming Nigeria. And nothing much has been saidon these things but there is stilla lot to be done. You see roads,the East West road is almostcompleted, universitiesestablished in six years, therailway transport system hascome back.

Jonathan is the second war timepresident of the country. He is acivilian, never trained in themilitary but he is fightingterrorism which is the mostdifficult war because you don’tknow your enemies. Under thiswar situation he is stillperforming, design for Nigerbridge is on, same with the

Coastal road in the Niger Delta

CorruptionI have listened to the policy of

government on corruption.Under Jonathan we see avigorous effort to fight corruption.We are running a cashlesseconomy already. Once moneymove under questionablecircumstance you arequestioned. Most stategovernments are doing this now.I am a Commissioner, gone arethe days cashier pay contractorsand bring the rest to the office ofthe boss. Everything is cashlessnow. Investigation takesprocesses to ensure nobody isjailed wrongly.

Health sector, was bad. Butunder Jonathan the sector isgetting attention. We saw the laststrike, how Jonathan handled it.The President insisted that atechnical committee be set up toresolve the rot in the education

•Ekiyor: Backs Jonathan

sector. The money was paid to aspecial account to resolve thechallenges in the educationsector. The APC is not analternative to the PDP.

CMYK


Just as you could judge a book byits cover, so you could put a tag onmany Nigerian artistes of today bythe kind of music they do, but notthe enigmatic Rex Suru. By listeningto him, you get a feel of reggae, thenhighlife with a breezy Afrobeattemperament but Rex is much morethan that.

He would tell you he does Afro-roots reggae but when you listen tohim confusion sets him because ofthe spectrum of the beat and sound.He started his music career in theUnited States but now back home inNigeria to re-invent himself.Weekend Groove recently met upwith the debonair musician whospoke about his career, his musicand how the voice of God spoke tohim about his kind of music:

CMYK


What God told me concerningmy kind of music – Rex Suru

Professionally, I started in the late 90s and I promoted myselfon the streets of San Francisco, Beckley and Oakland. I latertook a break and this is my second coming.

What was it like getting your music to be accepted by theUnited States audience?

The United States is a very good place. I started as an origi-nator of Afro-roots music because I was determined to do onlyoriginal music. After promoting myself all by myself, I realisedthat hardwork pays because there was usually a huge turn out

of people at my gigs. And it motivated me more. I broke evenand I was satisfied with the turn out because they

comprised of people from all ages and races.In 1997, I had a street performance. The

then Mayor of San Francisco, FrankJordan walked up to the stage andsaid, ‘Rex, we need more of youin this city’. At the early stage, mymusic was well accepted, but I stilldidn’t get where I wanted to be.

The lyrics in my music are verygreat, positive messages and I’venever swayed. My music was ac-cepted in the United States but Ilacked the resources to give it agrand promotion and the push Ineed. So, these compelled me tocome back home. In doing the

kind of music I do, what real-ly matters is having a band

that sticks with you.These days, musicians

rarely have bands. Allthey do is go to the stu-dio and do their songs...?

It’s the new generationand they will eventuallyreturn to the order ofthings. In clubs in theUnited States, you’ll dis-cover that most peopledon’t want to listen topre-produced music,they prefer live music.Acoustics and instru-mentals are the coreof music.

With the advent ofthe new generationdigital music, it’s rareto get a band becausemost musicians arenot even good at

Confessions of a US-based Nigerian artiste

CAN we know a bit about you? My name is Rex Suru. I’m a

native Nigerian. I started music in theUnited States soon after I got there inmy junior years in college. I’ve had theinspiration since then and I was deter-mined to follow through. I started pro-ducing music in the early 90s and myfirst production was called ‘Will like tolive and not to die’.

Most people loved the music and thatgave me more inspiration and belief thatthis is the path I must follow. Since then,I have produced three albums and I’vebeen promoting them locally in theUnited States, but I decided to bring itback home. I realised that most Africanmusicians in the United States that hada breakthrough started from home.

Africanmusic

As an African doing music in the Unit-ed States, it is difficult to break into theAmerican music scene because they havea different style. As someone with anAfrican background, the music willsound more appealing back home.

I realised a lot of great acts are fromNigeria, so I decided to come back homeand introduce myself to my people.

When did you start doing music pro-fessionally?

Continunes on page 32

What mobiledevices doworld leadersuse?

Why I featuredSound Sultan, W4,Cynthia Morgan inmy new single—Mcvance

Rex Suru

Nse Ikpe Etim,Kalu Ikeagwu,others shine inThe Green Eyed

By Ayo Onikoyi & JulietEbirim


Continues from page 31

playing instruments, how do you hopeto get a band in Nigeria?

It’s a big world. Some youths are wiserthan their peers. There are some youthsin music schools learning how to playmusical instruments and most of themare looking for bands to play with.

Most people desire the joy of livemusic and that’s what we are trying tobring back. I do not think the old wayswill just fade away, because a lot ofpeople still yearn for it and I’m one ofthose willing to provide and revive it.

We appreciate what is currently goingon musically in terms of technologicalrevolution, but I believe we have toimprove our skills and contribute forposterity, not for the moment.

How did you discover your genre ofmusic?

My genre of music is Afro-roots reg-gae. Afro in the sense that I’m an Afri-can and the roots of my music are basedon traditional African rhythm.

TraditionalAfrican rhythm

All the creative force that comes out ofme is a rhythm, the way I talk, laugh,walk etc. Reggae is what I love doing.

What inspired your coming up withthis genre of music?

That cannot be explained, it is what itis. One day, I was working in the UnitedStates on a scaffold and I asked Godthat if I could have a band, what wouldI name it. And I heard ‘Cherubim Vibes’meaning the vibration of angels, that’spositive vibrations.

Was it influenced by your Cherubimand Seraphim background?

It could be. But what I heard from Godon that day was ‘Cherubim Vibes’.Though I was raised in a Cherubim andSeraphim church as a young boy inLagos, I’m in a different church rightnow, though I believe all churches are

the same.I also asked Godwhat I would

name myrecord labelwhen I haveone and Iheard ‘Houseof Rhythms pro-duction’. Since

then, I’ve beenusing those names

in affili-

What God told me concerningmy kind of music – Rex Suru

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK

Synopsis

ation to my music.How do you intend to get your reg-

gae based music into the hip-hop heartsof Nigerians?

Reggae never dies. It inspires people,the youths especially.

Why do you think people shy awayfrom playing reggae?

They ‘re not shying away, they onlylack the inspiration. Reggae music nev-er dies, it only goes through a transition.

How do you get the inspiration to com-pose?

Usually, the base is the rhythm andsometimes, I hear sounds. I’ve workedwith different producers, sometimes I tellthem what I want and at other times, Ijust let them do their thing. The base isthe driving force behind the rhythm.

How do you view the Nigerian musicindustry?

When I came in 2012, I was challengedwith the way things were going. Eventhough some people might haveproblems with the lyrics of most Nigeri-an songs.

Personally, I was impressed andmotivated. I thought about what to do tobreak through and I came up with thesong ‘Lagos Boy’. I did a few otherreggae songs too.

Most people are of the opinion thatNigerian songs lack evergreen quali-ties ...?

Opinions vary and I do not condemnanybody, but I appreciate the efforts ofNigerian musicians. We need to moti-vate and encourage our youths.

These days, there’s lot of sexuality inmusic, but your music seem to bespiritual, what’s your take on the infu-sion of sex in music?

A whole family cannot be alike, thereare things that distinguish each person.

Posteritysake

I can’t ask them not to talk about sex,but I do those songs that evoke thespirituality in them and calls them back.

Which of your three albums is partic-ularly dear to you?

I had to reproduce my first two albums.Production-wise, they lacked quality butthe messages are very important. So nowthat I have more experience, Ireproduced them to im-prove thequality f o rpos- t e r i t y

sake. Mylast album is

perfect and up-to-date. I love all my

albums.As a married man, how

has doing music affected yourmarried life?It has in a way. I had problems in the

past through music and hanging outwith negative people and it affected myfirst marriage. But this is my second mar-riage.

My first wife is a good person and Irespect her a lot. I respect my currentwife even more. Marraige doesn’t real-ly affect my music production, but helpsme choose my friends carefully.

It makes me separate my music busi-ness from family business. I love my wifevery much.

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. WEDDING RINGER·30 DAYS IN ATLANTA

· ANNIE·SEVENTH SON

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SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURTSponge Bob : 11:00am,12:25pm,5:30pm,Selma : 3:30pm,6:00pm,8:30pmGreen Eye : 11:00am,3:05pm,7:10pmLaggies : 12:00pm,2:10pmBarbie In Princess Power : 11:00am,2:10pm,The Wedding Ringer : 12:50pm,5:15pm,7:10pmJohn Wick : 11:20am,1:50pm30 Days in Atlanta : 11:45am,2:00pm,4:05pm,6:20pm,8:30pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRISelma : 11:45am,4:15pm,8:45pmLaggies : 10:35am,4:35pm,8:35pm,Barbie in Princess Power : 10:15am, 12:15pm,1:45pmThe Wedding Ringer : 12:35pm,6:35pm,John Wick : 2:35pm,8:40pmAnnie : 2:00pm30 Days in Atlanta : 6:40pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYOGreen Eye : 11:40am,1:45pm,3:50pm,6:00pm,8:10pmThe Wedding Ringer : 2:00pmAnnie : 11:30am,1:45pm,4:00pm,6:15pm,8:30pmChampagne : 12:20pm,2:20pm,4:15pm,6:10pm,8:20pm30 Days in Atlanta : 3:50pm,6:10pm,8:25pm

OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABASponge Bob : 10:05am,11:45amSelma : 4:05pm,6:30pmBarbie in Princess Power : 10:35am,5:05pm,9:10pmLaggies : 12:10pmThe Wedding Ringer : 3:30pm,7:25pmJohn Wick : 9:20pmSeventh Son : 11:40am,1:20pmAnnie : 10:00am30 Days in Atlanta : 8:50pm

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOSThe Wedding Wick : 3:40pm,9:30pm,11:40pmJohn Wick : 11:40am30 Days in Atlanta : 4:10pm,8:25pm

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURTThe Weeding Ringer : 2:20pm,7:40pm30 Days in Atlanta : 7:00pm

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGUThe Wedding Ringer : 4:30pmAnnie : 11:20am,3:40pm,6:00pm30 Days in Atlanta : 7:30pm

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOSThe Wedding Ringer : 4:35pm

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANOThe Wedding Ringer : 12:05pm,3:30pm6:40pm,8:35pmJohn Wick : 12:05pm,4:05pm,8:05pmAnnie : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:30pm3O Days in Atlanta : 2:25pm,4:30pm

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,APAPAThe Wedding Ringer : 2:25pm30 Day in Atlanta : 8:00pm

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURTAnnie : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:50pmThe Wedding Ringer : 3:55pm,7:40pm30 Day in Atlanta : 10:20am,4:50pm

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDAThe Wedding Ringer : 10:00am,8:30pmFILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABARAnnie : 11:50am,8:15pm

Movie schedule from January 16th - 22nd 2015

SpongeBob goes on a quest todiscover a stolen recipe that takeshim to our dimension, our world,where he tangles with a pirate, whohas his own plans for the deliciousdelicacies.

Rex Suru

CMYK


CMYK


A BUJA—NIGERIANWomen have decried

the poor attitude of NigerianParliamentarians towardsaddressing Gender BasedViolence, GBV, in the country,describing it as ‘insensitive’.They said their attitudes weredemonstrated through thelack of commitment exhibitedin the passage of the ViolenceAgainst Persons (Prohibition)Bill (VAPP-BILL) in to law.

The National Presidentof the InternationalFederation of WomenLawyers, FIDA, Barr. HauwaShekarau alleged thatviolence against women had

Women decrylawmakers’attitudetowards GBVin Nigeria

By Caleb Ayansina no meaning to them(some lawmakers),adding that they werefoot-dragging on theVAPPBILL, because theywere not directly affected.

Shekarau was speaking at aone day sensitizationworkshop on Violence AgainstPersons (Prohibition) Bill for100 Women organised by theFederation of Muslim WomenAssociation of Nigeria(FOMWAN) in conjunctionwith the IPAS, in Abuja.

The VAPPBILL is to addressvarious forms of violenceagainst persons particularlywomen.

She explained that section 55(1), (d) of the Penal Code

applicable in the NorthernNigeria provides a man tochastise his wife (s), addingthat the law had Islamic undertones, but it was not beingstrictly followed as it was laid-down in Islam.

Shekarau, who is also theSenior Policy Advisor for theInterparty Advisory Council(IPAC),emphasized that “thistype of law needs to bereviewed; it should not be

allowed in a civilizedsociety.”

FIDA Bossmaintained that poor

judicial response toperpetrators hadeven made theGender BasedViolence (GBV)goes worse, ast h eperpetratorsg l o r i f yt h e m s e l v e s ,saying “it is just

to pay smallmoney for fine,

that is if they doanything about it.”

According to her,“Women are the victims

of this violence; it affectsthe rich and the poor, thehighly educated one and theilliterate. It is a global issue,

and this necessitated theVAPP Bill.”

She expressed dismay thatthe bill passed by the Houseof Representatives on 14March 2013 took up to a yearbefore it was transmitted to theSenate for concurrence,adding that nothing had beendone since the bill passedthrough the second readingon the floor of the UpperChamber on 16 October 2014.

All these setbacks, accordingto her, depict the seriousnessattached to the plights ofwomen in the country.

“What does it takes totransmit a bill that it took a yearfor the Senate to take it up.Violence against women hasno meaning to our lawmakers,because they are not directlyaffected. “The bill was passedby the House ofRepresentatives on 14 March2013 and transmitted to theSenate, as we were made tobelieve after the passage, itpassed through the firstreading on the floor of theSenate on 15 March 2014. Thesecond reading was on 16October 2014 and since then,nothing has happened.”

She urged women todemand from politicians, whowere coming to seek for theirvotes, their commitment onthe passage of the VAPP Bill.

NO fewer than 15women traders at Isolo

area of Lagos were recentlyempowered with free wares bythe International Inner WheelClub of Isolo in Lagos.

The exercise which waspreceded by an evaluation of thetraders’ lines of business,according to Mrs RonkeSolomon, President, Inner WheelClub of Isolo, was in accordancewith the organisation’s theme forthe year 2014/2015- ‘Light thePath’.

“Inner Wheel is a philanthropicorganisation, solely out to servethe needy. We always look outfor ways by which we canassuage sufferings, and this isone we have identified. We arelighting the path for theseindigent women to be able to feedtheir families.

“Already, we have lecturedthem. This is not the time to buyaso-ebi or whatever but toexpand their businesses with thelittle we have given them,”Ronke said.

Further counselling thewomen, she said, “With passionon your side, you can achievewhatever you dream of. We canonly help boost your capital butthe power to grow your businesslies solely in your hands.”

•President, Isolo Inner Wheel, Mrs Ronke Solomon(5th right) and Mrs.Olayinka Ayanwale, executivemember(3rd right) with club members and some of the market women at the event in Lagos.

Club empowers market women with free waresBy JosephineAgbonkhese

Speaking at the exercise whichwas in commemoration of theJanuary 10 celebration of theInternational Inner Wheel’s91stanniversary worldwide,Ronke recalled that most of thewomen empowered last year bythe organisation had maderemarkable progress.

“There is a particular womanwho sells slippers and who weonly had to empower withN10,000. Fortunately for her, itwas during the yuletide. Shemade a lot of profits and cameback testifying that she had beenable offset debts, buy clothes forher children and still grow herbusiness,” she said.

“January 10 of each year marksthe founding day of theInternational Inner Wheel inManchester by Mrs MargaretGolding who has made all of ourphilanthropic work possible.

Today, Inner Wheel exists in

103 countries/geographicalareas and has more than103,000 members. Itconnects members in variousnations, all working touphold its objectives whichinclude encouraging theideals of service asdemonstrated by the InnerWheel Club of Isolo.Worldwide, the organisationis fighting for theadvancement of women andchildren,” Alhaja OlayinkaAyanwale, a foremostexecutive of the Inner WheelClub of Isolo added.

AS part of creating aplatform for expanding

of garment and textile industryin Nigeria, the Dutch textileand design company, VliscoGroup, has signed aMemorandum ofUnderstanding with the FederalGovernment of Nigeria recently.

The Memorandum ofUnderstanding between VliscoGroup and the Nigeriangovernment is to collaborate

Vlisco Group signs and support Vlisco Group’s fourbrands (Woodin, Vlisco, Uniwaxand GTP). The Nigeriangovernment in December 2014approved a major revitalisation andreform of its Cotton, Textiles andGarment (CTG) sector.

According to the CEO of Vliscogroup, Hans Ouwendijk, “Wecommend the Nigerian governmentfor its focus on revitalising thiscritical sector.

The new policy enables the Vlisco

What does it takesto transmit a billthat it took a yearfor the Senate to

take it up? Violenceagainst women hasno meaning to our

lawmakers

This is not thetime to buy aso-ebi or whateverbut to expand

their businesseswith the little wehave given them

CMYK


MoU with Nigerian governmentGroup to invest in Nigeria and tocontribute to the building of a vibrantCTG sector. Nigeria is Africa’slargest consumer market and theopportunity to fully deploy ourbrands and business models inNigeria provides a major boost to ourgrowth ambition.”

‘’The MoU is expected to yieldbenefits for the Nigerian economyin terms of economic diversificationand job creation in line with theGovernment’s Industrial Revolution

strategy. Vlisco Group’sactivities are expected togenerate more than 10,000 jobsin Nigeria in the medium term.

This will catalyse growth andjobs in Nigeria across theentire value-chain from cottonto fashion’’.

The Director of Actis FashSawyerr, also said that, “Weapplaud the Nigeriangovernment’s focus onrevitalising its CTG sector and

Investment, OlusegunAganga, while commenting onthe MoU, said, “TheGovernment of Nigeria isdelighted to welcome thisinvestment and partnershipfrom the Vlisco Group intoNigeria.

We are determined to rebuildthis historically importantsector with its job creationimpact across the entire valuechain from cotton fields to

ONE of Nigeria’saccomplished broadcast

journalists, Funke TreasureDurodola, will present herdebut book Memories ofGrandmato the public onFriday 30thJanuary 2015 at the

Durodolapresents

memoriesof grandma

Freedom Park (Old ColonialPrison), Hospital Road, Lagos.

To be reviewed by Dean,Faculty of Arts, University ofIbadan, Prof. Aderemi Raji, thepublic presentation will bechaired by a former Minister ofHousing and Urban

Development, Hon. ChiefMrs Mobolaji Osomo.Special guests of honourinclude: Chief Mrs.Bolajoko Doherty(Proprietress BolaImmaculate Schools,Ibadan); His Eminence,Dr. Samuel K. Uche(Prelate, MethodistChurch of Nigeria); andDr. Eddie Iroh (FormerDirector General, FederalRadio Corporation ofNigeria).

Currently the GeneralManager of Radio OneFM (103.5), Durodola hashad a consistently shiningcareer in Nigeria’s mediaterrain. Over the years,she has workedextensively on health,women, children andyouth-related projects.

She has heldappointments as CountryP& Twith UN IRINRADIO on a five-projectalong the West AfricanCorridor.

A Certified MediaTrainer and recipient ofnational and internationalmedia awards, includingthe Nigerian Media MeritAward, Durodola has alsobeen a finalist in the

CNN/ Multichoice African Journalistof the Year Awards.

A Literary Tribute to anEndangered Custom

Durodola is one of the fortunatefew who enjoyed that rare

privilege of meeting all their fourgrandparents alive and subsequentlybonded with them. But of the quartet,it is Durodola’s maternal grandmawho helped to nurture the middle-class town girl into a culturally awareadolescent.

Memories of Grandma are theauthor’s recollections of a noteworthychildhood lived with her parents inIjebu Ode and vacations spent in OdeOmu, her maternal grandparents’rural homestead.

Written from the point of view of acurious teenager, the book showsDurodola’s journey of culturalimmersion in a world far removedfrom the westernized settings of aconventional school and one in whichher grandma is the ever-willing tutorand coach.

More than anything, however,Memories of Grandma is a literarytribute somewhat to the no-nonsenseapproach to child rearing in the20thcentury, especially in Nigeria’ssouthwest region, in an era when thedisruptive pair of InformationTechnology and globalization had notreared their heads. That’s the worldDurodola was raised in.

CHIEF Executive Officerof Africa’s leading

beauty brand, House of Tara -iconic for setting up the firstmake up studio andestablishing Nigeria’s firstmake up school in 2004 wason CNN African Voices, aweekly show that highlightsAfrica’s most engagingpersonalities, where shespoke inspiringly about herpassion and business.

Inspired by her stepmother’sbeauty routine and her workas a makeup artist during hertime at the university, shesays she was inadvertentlydrawn to cosmetics, afterseeing “ what makeupactually does to a woman in

‘House of Tara was inspired by my step-mother'By Esther

Onyegbula terms of self-esteem andconfidence.”

While talking about herpassion for teaching, Tarasaid: “I am still a teacher, theonly thing is that this time, I’mnot teaching maths orEnglish. I’m teachingenterprise: I’m teachingmakeup artistry as a platformfor enterprise.”

Making a difference toyoung lives is all part of themission for the 37-year-oldcosmetics queen.

“There are certain thingstelling you that you cannotmake it; that you will not makeit; that Nigeria is not a placewhere people make it,” saysTara Fela-Durotoye. “I beg todiffer.”

She also revealed that theTara beauty range was born

out of her frustration at thelack of suitable cosmeticsavailable in Nigeria,“Importers didn’t knowexactly what was right forNigerian women,” she says,“so I want to fill the gap whileencouraging pride in home-grown glamor.”

“A lot of the Tara productsare named after either beautyicons or beauty philosophiesin Africa,” says Tara Fela-Durotoye. “For us it’s aboutsharing the world andsharing our culture to theworld.”

Tara also harped on thebrand’s achievements,saying; “Today we have about14 make-up schools across thecountry where people havebeen trained to become make-up artists. I can confidently

say that for 80 % ofthe make-up artiststhat are activeplayers in theindustry today,either workinga sentrepreneursor workingw i t h i no t h e rb e a u t yb r a n d s ,a r etrained byHouse ofTara. And Ithink forme that isthe greatestjoy.”

•TaraFela-Durotoye

fashion. We are lookingforward to implementingthis strategic partnershipwith the Vlisco Group”.

Hans Ouwendijk alsorevealed that ‘’The Groupwill participate across thesector value chain fromsourcing of cotton, textileprinting, wholesale, retailand e-commercedistribution, garmentmanufacturing andsupporting andpromoting Nigerian fashiondesigners’’.

More thananything,however,

Memories ofGrandma is aliterary tribute

somewhat to theno-nonsense

approach to childrearing in the20thcentury

diversifying its economy. Webelieve this significantagreement with Vlisco Groupwill be highly beneficial toNigeria, job creation and to theVlisco Group. We will provideour support to both parties todevelop the intended benefitsand economic impact across thetextile value chain in Nigeria.”

In his opening speech, theHonourable Minster ofIndustry, Trade and

CMYK

CMYK



CMYK

With PRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE OSUAGWUPRINCE [email protected]

08050498513

IF there were to be a‘first dog’ in theUnited States ofAmerica, it would be BoObama. Bo, a malePortugese water dog, isprobably the most ‘googled’dog on the internet. He isafter all the US President’sdog.

In the same vein, mobiledevices used by publicfigures all over the world,are garnering muchattention in recent times.And with the upcomingelections in view, Glamtechspotlights some politicalfigures all over the worldand their mobile devices.

President GoodluckJonathan

What mobile phone doesMr. President use? Thatinformation might be theexclusive privilege of closeaides and family, but itmight be safe to say thatJonathan or someone in hisfamily has a soft spot for theapple brand.

Lavishwedding

Recall that guests at thePresident’s daughter’swedding lavish weddinglast year, receivedcustomized iPhones.Perhaps GEJ got a fewcomplimentary iPhones.

Gen. Muhammadu BuhariIt would seem to an online

observer that the differencebetween GEJ and GMBmoves beyond their politicalparties and ambitions totheir preference for mobiledevices.

GMB’s most famouspicture with a mobile devicefeatures the 73 year oldGeneral working with whatseems to be a SamsungGalaxy note 10.1.

Pres. Barrack ObamaObama is reportedly fond

of his dog, Bo. But he is alsoquite fond of his blackberry.In 2009, the US Presidentreportedly told newsmenthat security agents weretrying to “pry it out of myhands.” He eventuallysettled for an encryptedphone. However, newsreports say that PresidentObama is rumoured to beconsidering switching to an

What mobile devices doworld leaders use?

Android-based smartphone.The Wall Street Journalreported models fromSamsung and LG are beingtested by the White Houseas viable alternatives to theBlackBerry.

David Cameron

The British Prime Ministeris also a Blackberry lover.Remember the famous selfieof Cameron, Obama, andDanish Prime Minister HelleThorning-Schmidt at NelsonMandela’s funeral? Thatwas a blackberry! But it

turns out it wasn’tCameron’s but the DanishPM’s. Cameron himself hasbeen photographed quiteoften with his BB, althoughnothing beats the famousselfie!

Angela Merkel

The GermanChancellor’s mobilebecame the mostfamous phone inworld politics whenit emerged inOctober last yearthat the NSA hadbeen monitoring thechancellor’s calls.But she has at leasttwo phones sheuses on a regularbasis: the one thatwas allegedlymonitored by US

NigeriaPresident,JonathanGoodluck

GermanyChancellor,Angela Merkel

By Laju Iren

intelligence services, aNokia 6260 Slide, wasreportedly used for partymatters only. For stateaffairs, Merkel uses aBlackBerry Z10, fitted withan encryption chip bySecusmart.


FREE KEROSENE: Residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of LagosState scrambling for free kerosene, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Pregnant woman, 7 othersdie in Onitsha auto crash

Woman allegedly stabshusband to death in Bayelsa

YENAGOA—A 28-year-oldwoman has allegedly

stabbed her husband to deathat Akenfa, a suburb in Yenagoa,Bayelsa State capital, followinga disagreement.

The deceased, identified asHenry Gagariga, a legalpractitioner, was said to be inhis early 30s. The incidentoccurred at the couple’sresidence along Ebisam Road,Akenfa.

The woman, whose name wasgiven as Victoria, according to

a security source, is currentlybeing detained at the StateCriminal InvestigationDepartment, CID.

She was said to haveallegedly stabbed her husbandin the neck with a kitchen knife,following a bitter quarrel over“a minor domestic issue”yesterday.

The couple, according tosources, had co-habited forsome years as live-in loversbefore legalizing their union inYenagoa last June.

Gagariga was said to havedied in the hospital he was

rushed to after losing a lot ofblood. His body had beendeposited at an undisclosedmorgue in the state capital.

Victoria, daughter of aretired director in the stateMinistry of Information, issaid to be a staff of BayelsaState Council for Arts andCulture.

Police Public RelationsOfficer, Bayelsa Command,Asinim Butswat, confirmed theincident and arrest of thesuspect.

The matter, he said, had beentransferred to the State CID.

By Samuel Oyadongha

Luxury bus kills 11 cowson Akure-Owo Expressway

ONITSHA—NO fewer than seven persons, including apregnant woman, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State,

lost their lives, while about 15 others sustained variousdegrees of injuries in an accident involving a tanker andother vehicles.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, occurred whena fuel-laden tanker, descending Awka Road, had brakefailure and rammed into vehicles at Anambra BroadcastingService, ABS/Awka Road traffic light junction.

According to the source, the driver, in a bid to avoid moredestruction, crushed a blue Mitsubishi bus, fully loadedwith passengers, and then hit four tricycles.

A source said: “The pregnant woman was standing at thebus stop, perhaps waiting for a bus, when she was crushedby the tanker. Others were mostly passengers in the fourtricycles that were hit in the multiple accidents”

Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, theInland Town Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Cosmas Eze andthe Onitsha Central Divisional Police Officer, Mr. IsaAbubakar, all battled to save lives.

Officials of Fire Service rushed to the scene of the crashto prevent the petrol tanker from exploding.

By Nwabueze Okonkwo & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

BAUCHI—TRADEGY struck, yesterday, as gunmenkilled a senior civil servant at a mosque in new G.R.A,

Bauchi State.It was learned that the suspect, known as Babangida

Garba, a staff of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs,was killed by the gunmen while, resisting their kidnapattempt.

An eyewitness said the gunmen tried to force Babangidainto their vehicle, but he struggled with them.

The witness said: “After the early prayers around 6am,gunmen came to the premises of the mosque and waitedfor their victim.

“The victim struggled with the gunmen in an attempt toresist abduction. This infuriated them and they shot him.”

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police,Lawal Shehu, said the gunmen stormed a mosque at thenew G.R.A, opposite Larema Hotel and killed one

FAILED KIDNAP ATTEMPT:Gunmen kill man in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

Babangida Garba.He said the 53-year-old staff of

the Ministry of LocalGovernment Affairs in BauchiState was killed when he resistedbeing kidnapped by thegunmen.

The police boss added that apolice sergeant attached to theFederal Highway Patrolsustained injuries in theencounter and was nowresponding to treatment.

UGHELLI—THE renewedcult-related killings in

Ughelli and its environs hastaken a twist with the killing ofan Ughelli-based businessmanat a popular drinking spot at theUghelli axis of the East-WestRoad.

The victim, Mr. MichaelOnajiyovwi, alias Onamike,who specialized in the sale ofelectrical parts, was shot at hiswife's drinking bar.

Though details of his killingwere sketchy, a witness toldVanguard that the gunmen,numbering three, shot him atclose range and leftimmediately without collectinganything.

Confirming the incident, anexecutive of the UghelliVigilante outfit, nicknamedBakassi, said the incident mightbe a fallout of the cult-related

Suspected cultists kill businessman in Ughelliclashes that had rocked thetown of late.

At press time, attempts toreach the state Police Public

Relations Officer, CelestinaKalu, was unsuccessful as callsto her phone were unansweredand SMS un-replied.

By Perez Brisibe

By Dayo Johnson

AKURE—NO fewer than 11cows were killed early

yesterday by a luxury bus onAkure-Owo Expressway inOndo State.

Immediately the news filteredto Akure metropolis, miscreantsmobilized themselves andremoved the cows before dawn.

They hijacked buses and othervehicles plying the road toconvey the dead cows to hiddenplaces where they quarteredand shared the meat.

Fight broke out among themiscreants over how manypeople should share each dead

cow and who should take whatpart of its body.

Eyewitnesses said the bus,marked Anambra KPP 158XA,was heading to Lagos fromAbuja when the accidentoccurred at Sebi Petrol Stationin Akure, along theexpressway.

The Fulani herdsmen weresaid to have fled into the bushimmediately the crashoccurred for fear of beinglynched.

It was also learned that thedriver and the passengers in theluxury bus fled the scene, afraidthat the Fulani herdsmen maymobilize to attack them.


CHARLES Soludo claims tobe writing a three-part

treatise on “Okonjo-Iweala andthe missing trillions”. However,his first installment, which hit theInternet on Sunday, February 1,2015, is so full of casuistry andsubterfuges that, whatever elsehe subsequently dishes out willequally carry so much fire butvery little light. In this connection,Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, theCoordinating Minister for theEconomy and Minister ofFinance, is advised to repudiatefurther temptations to wasteprecious time in dignifyingSoludo’s tantrums with thebenefit of any response.

Soludo claims to be the mostest,to be the best Governor of theCentral Bank Nigeria ever had.Although he tries to authenticatethis wild claim to central bankingquintessence, by citing laudatoryletters from former PresidentsObasanjo and Yar’Adua, as wellas the ocean of tears shed by hispersonal staff as he was shoedoff the CBN in thinly-veileddisguise, the claim, like manyothers in his self-serving piece,is fatuous, and flies in the face ofverifiable facts.

Circumscription ofphysical freedom

One of the men responsible forplundering the Police PensionsFund to the tune of billions hadbuilt a place of worship in frontof his residence, and was givento daily distributing N20handouts to the beggars andhungry folks who, like beesaround a honeycomb, regularlycongregated in his front forsuccour. Those unfortunate dregsof society shed copious tears onthe day law enforcement officersclosed in and carted the pen-totting rogue into detention, hisphysical freedom circumscribed

appointments in the service ofour nation remain sources ofinspiration to an entiregeneration. As I wish you evenmore astounding successes in theyears ahead, it is my fervent hopethat you will readily avail us ofyour distinguished service whenthe need arises in the future.”

The question to ask is this: IfSoludo’s performance at theCentral Bank was superlativeand unprecedented, why was hedenied a second term despite thephalanx of lobbyists heaggregated to that selfish andunjustifiable end? The fact is that,in spite of all his attempts atwhitewashing his stewardship atthe country’s apex bankinginstitution, a meretricious statuestands in testament to theappalling legacy he left behind.Demonstration!

Revelationsand conclusions

Olusegun Adeniyi was theSpecial Adviser to PresidentYar’Adua on Communications.His memoir on the Yar’Aduapresidency, entitled Power,Politics & Death: A front-rowaccount of Nigeria under the latePresident Yar’Adua (Prestige,Lagos: 2011) posits Soludo as theCentral Bank Governor underwhose watch epical corruptionwas allowed to blossom in thebanking industry. Before goingahead to quote Mr. Adeniyi’s

Anambra State.Soludo himself is not unaware

of the diplomatic practice ofasking people who will not bemissed to proceed to hell in sucha way that they look forward tothe trip. At the CBN, he hadObadiah Mailafia, a Cambridge-educated social-scientist, as hisdeputy with responsibility formonetary policy, foreignexchange operations, investmentmanagement, research, statistics,and cooperation withinternational institutions. Dr.Obadiah earned a B.Sc. (SocialSciences) from the Ahmadu BelloUniversity, Zaria, and an M.Philfrom the Ecole Nationald’Administration (ENA-IIAP),Paris. In 1995, he completed aD.Phil at the University ofOxford, specialising inInternational Economics andDevelopment.

When, for whatever reason,Soludo concluded that Mailafiawas standing in his way, hecontrived to have the manremoved, by presenting hisapprehension to PresidentObasanjo who, post-haste,appointed Mailafia one of hisSpecial Advisers. Mailafia got asugar-coated letter ofcommendation for his services tothe CBN; he went on to serve aspresidential special adviser, onlyfor the stint to end in a matter ofmonths.

with handcuffs and leg irons.Soludo quotes this letter of

commendation from PresidentUmaru Musa Yar’Adua: “As yourtenure as Governor of the CentralBank of Nigeria comes to aglorious end, I write on behalf ofthe Government and people ofNigeria to place on record ourdebt of gratitude to you for yourdedicated service anduncommon sense of duty overthe past five years. I am confidentthat your worthy antecedents inthe CBN and in prior

revelations andconclusions on the matterat hand, the point must bemade that Soludo has notbothered to controvert orcontradict anythingwritten about him in thebook which was publishedfour whole years ago.

According to Adeniyi,while the name of Mr.Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,

the then Managing Director ofthe First Bank of Nigeria, wassubmitted to Yar ’Adua aspossible successor to Soludo, thepresident agonized over givingSoludo another term, givenmounting representations to theeffect that the glorious picturesthe man was painting about thebanking industry were incorrectand misleading.

In the event, Yar’Adua settledfor Sanusi and shunted Soludoaside, well before the details ofthe rot the man left behind

Soludo and his missing trillions

Mammah, the consummate bankerbows out (1935-2015)

BORN on August 15, 1935into the family of late

Mammah Ugochukwu(father) and Late EuniceAkudiye Mammah (mother)of Umukadi, Umuoho MpamEkwereazu in Ahiazu MbaiseLGA Imo State, the youngAugustine UgochukwuMammah; AU Mammah, ashe was fondly called, startedhis early education at St.Patrick’s School, Ekwerazu-Mbaise in 1947 where hedemonstrated an exceptionalbrilliance when he passedentrance examination intoNational School of Commerce,Oguta in 1954.

On graduation in 1958, hejoined the UAC Limited, Josas a salesman and worked fora few months before leavingfor Bank of West Africa Limited(now First Bank of NigeriaLimited) as a clerical staff inJuly, 1959. His quest for moreknowledge made him resignhis appointment with FirstBank in August 1964 andtraveled to England where heobtained a Higher NationalDiploma in Business Studiesfrom Stockport Polytechnic,Lancashire, England from1966 – 1967.

Superlativecompetence

In 1969, he securedemployment with NationalWestminister Bank Ltd, as aCredit Analyst beforereturning home to Nigeria in1973. Upon his return, hequickly got a job fromCooperative & CommerceBank (CCB) Enugu as aManager of the Ogui RoadBranch of the Bank. Due to hisdedication and superlativecompetence, he movedquickly through the ranks tobecome a Senior Manager in1976, Assistant GeneralManager in 1985 and DeputyGeneral Manager in 1989before retiring to private lifein 1991 after an illustriouscareer.

Augustine UgochukwuMammah was very active inchurch activities, he was anexcellent family man and agood Christian father, whosecommitment to the activities of

the church was well knownand worthy of emulation. Hewas the maiden PastoralCouncil Chairman of Christthe King Church, MpamOwerre, Mbaise-Imo State.He was also a member ofAhiara Diocesan PastoralCouncil for several years. Hewas a foundation member andchairman Ekwerazu East-Mpam Community Bank.Perhaps due to hisdistinguished background infinance, his pleasantpersonality and integrity, heserved as Treasurer to manyorganisations.

In appreciation of his noblerole in the Catholic Church,St. Mark’s Station of Maria –Assumpta Cathedral Owerrihonoured him by making hima Patron of the Station in 2002.He was further honoured withan investure as a Knight of St.Mulumba (KSM) Mbaise subcouncil, where he rose to 3rddegree in the order. Hisprolonged illness cut short hiselevation to the 4th Degreebefore his demise.

A.U. Mammah was quitesociable as he demonstratedhis capabilities in the followingclubs and associations wherehe belonged:

•Peoples Club of Nigeria,•Prison Club, •UmunnaMbaise Mutual Aid, •MpamDevelopment Union, OwerriBranch, etc

A.U. Mammah was notfound wanting in traditionaland customary matters.Though he avoidedacceptance of the numerouschieftaincy titles offered him,30 years ago he did accept thechieftaincy title ofOnyechukwu Tere Mmanu ofOhafor Abam by HRH Eze I.JOkorafor-Onyerubi of OhaforAbam AutonomousCommunity in Abia State. Hewas involved in CommunityDevelopment in the MpamCommunity and other placesclose to home.

Successfulbusinesses

Remarkably, ChiefAugustine Mammahempowered so many peopleas a top notch Banker. Manysuccessful businesses in theSouth Eastern Nigeriabenefited from the patriotic

disposition of this humblegentleman. Furthermore,he assisted many peoplewith employment andoffered numerouspersonal scholarships toboth the clergy and laypeople. In 1966, he gotmarried to former MissPetronilla Anosike inManchester, UnitedKingdom. This couple hasremained a positiveinfluence and role modelto many young couplestoday. Their union wasblessed with eightchildren – four boys andfour girls (all alive today).

TRIBUTEBy Ethel Igboeche

By Chuks Iloegbunam

CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

became publicknowledge. Inasking Soludoto leave, theunsavouringeffects of hisdismissal werecushioned withthe presidentialletter of“commendation”quoted aboveand his“drafting” to gocontest electionfor thegovernorship of

In asking Soludo toleave, theunsavouring effectsof his dismissal werecushioned with thepresidential letter of'commendation'

•Augustine Ugochukwu Mammah

Sheikh Liadi Orunsolu, Imam of Egbaland cuttingthe tape while from right Imam Shuaib Akiode,Chief Imam of the Mosque Alh Sawaliu Asubiaro,the donor, Chief Tayo Oluwole and Imam M. OloniImam of Ijaye and other watch

40—40—40—40—40—VANGUARD, VANGUARD, VANGUARD, VANGUARD, VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Lessons from Qur’anic recitationcompetition in Auchi

THE Prophet said,“Allah created Adam

in his image, sixty cubits(about 30 meters) in height.When He created him, Hesaid (to him), ‘Go and greetthat group of angels sittingthere, and listen what theywill say in reply to you, forthat will be your greetingand the greeting of youroffspring.’ Adam (went and)

“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [inreturn] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a likemanner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, anAccountant.”(4:86)

What greetings can do in Islam

THE recent concludedQur ’anic Recitation

Competition held at Auchi, amuslim growing cosmopolitantown in Edo State, played hostto the Muslim Ummah duringthe Quranic recitationcompetition which attractedvaried levels of people withover thirty states of thefederation and also twohundred and fifty-one (251)young males and femalesMuslim youngsters thatcompeted in the recitation ofthe Holy Qur’an.

Apart from the exciting aspectof the exercise during whichvarious prizes were wonranging from millions of nairato cars hosted by the Edo StateGovernment, the 29th editionfollowed an earlier edition alsohosted by the state in 2009 andfacilitated by the Centre forIslamic Studies of the UsmanuDanfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Among the distinguishedroyal fathers that graced theoccasion was H.R.H Dr. (Alh)Muhammad Sanusi II SarkinKano, the Emir of Kano.

The physical appearance ofthis Royal father on the shoresof Auchi Kingdom set thiswriter on a specific search atclose quarters to really find outthe enigmatic characteristics ofSanusi Lamido Sanusi duringthe ceremony: protocol wasn’ton my side, but his remarks atthe closing ceremony, publiclyrevealed that the occupant ofthe Kano Royal Palace is a

thorough bred of his ancestors.Quoting fluently from the

Holy Qur ’an and thenunfolding them in an enticingdiction, one is not left in doubtthat he is a scholar of soundIslamic tutorage, an inspiringmotivator in totality of the versesof the Qur’an.

Religiouslight

Hear him: “I am grateful to mybrother, the Otaru of Auchi andthe governor of Edo State. Aswe celebrate the participation,it isn’t enough to read theQur’an, we should know whatthe Holy Book enjoins us to do,it’s not enough just to memorizeit, but should follow and practiceit, it’s not an ordinary book, it isa religious light.

We have people killingpeople somewhere, they are nottrue believers. Is theresomething wrong in the

teaching of the Qur’an? It isthe responsibility of the stateto protect its citizens, any partthat is not liberated must beliberated. The Qur’an is themost noble doctrine. We haveto fight for the integrity of truebelievers, the day of silence is

over, our religion must not bedistorted. If your enemy comesto attack you and you don’tfight back, God will not helpyou. Pray, arm yourself and thestate must protect you, until wecitizens are ready to die,defending ourselves and thisis the clear exposition in theQur’an: you must be consciousand work for the rights andencourage the education of thegirl child.

Finally, the doctrine of theHoly Qur ’an must beencouraged further by reallybeing true practitioners andthis Thousands of listenersechoed Allahu Ahkbaah. Thiswriter felt a rebirth nostalgiaand wondered whether theinsurgents wreaking havoc inthe North East of the countryare really Muslims.

The Shehu of Borno, HisEminence Abubakar UmarGarbai El-Kanemi, the Royalfather of the day called on the

entire Muslim Ummah torededicate themselves to theteachings of the Qur’an, prayfor peace in the country andcommended the Otaru of Auchifor his endless pursuit inpropagating the growth ofIslam.

Governor Adams AliyuOshiomhole, the Chief Hostsaid, our traditional rulersshould remain the pivot ofunity of the country: “If we canunderstand the teachings ofthe Holy Qur’an and adhereto them, there will be peace inthe country.

Unless we keep to thedoctrine of the Qur’an, peacewill continue to be far away.Some of our utterances are toochallenging. We have to builda country wherein the ordinaryand classified people can livetogether. I call on the politicalclass to learn from our royalfathers the spirit of oneness”,he said.

In addition to the variouscategories of winners,Comrade Adams Oshiomholeannounced prizes for thefemale and male first positionwinners, ranging from a carand cash prizes, to textilematerials for the entirecontestants.

H.R.H Dr. (Alh) MuhhamadSanusi II, CON, Sarkin Kanowas the main personality of theouting as this was his maidentrip to Auchi Kingdom since hisascension to the throne as Emirof Kano.

Commissioning of Oke-Ona Egba Central mosque Commissioning of Oke-Ona Egba Central mosque Commissioning of Oke-Ona Egba Central mosque Commissioning of Oke-Ona Egba Central mosque Commissioning of Oke-Ona Egba Central mosque Pix: Wunmi AkinolaPix: Wunmi AkinolaPix: Wunmi AkinolaPix: Wunmi AkinolaPix: Wunmi Akinola

Alhaji Fatai Opebiyi (PS) Information, representativeof Governor Ibikunle Amosun unveiling the plaguewhile Sheikh Liadi Orusolu, chief Imam of Egba LandImam Noah Sodeinde, Owu kingdom, Imam ShuaidAkinode Imam, Oke Ona Egba look on.

A Cross section of the Imams at the events

said, ‘As-Salamu alaikum(Peace be upon you).’ Theyreplied, ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaikawa Rahmatullah (Peace andAllah’s Mercy be on you).’ Sothey increased ‘waRahmatullah’ The Prophetadded, ‘So whoever will enterParadise, will be of the shapeand picture of Adam. Sincethen the creation of Adam’s(offspring) (i.e. stature ofhuman beings) is being

diminished continuously upto the present time.” (Sahihal-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book74, Number 246)

‘His Image’ means thatAdam has been bestowedwith life, knowledge, powerof hearing, seeing,understanding, but thefeatures of Adam aredifferent from those of Allah,only the names are the same,e.g. Allah has life andknowledge and power ofunderstanding, and Adamalso has them, but there is nocomparison between theCreator and the created

thing. As Allah says in theQuran: “There is nothing likeHim, and He is the All-hearer, the All-Seer”(V42.11), Allah doesnot eat or sleep, while Adamused to eat and sleep [Moredetails in Fath Al-Bari, vol.6.page 108,9 and vol.13, page238,9]. Source: (Tafsir byDr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-DinAl-Hilali, and Dr.Muhammad Muhsin Khan, P:123)

The Prophet (peace andblessings of Allah be uponhim) said: “it is notpermissible for a man toforsake his Muslim brotherfor more than three days,each of them turning away

from the other when theymeet. The better of them isthe one who gives thegreeting of salaam first.”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari,5727; Muslim, 2560). Thisapplies especially if thebeliever is a relative becauseforsaking relatives is an evengreater sin.

So, if you are in a situationwhere you have not spokento a Muslim for more thanthree days due to anargument or other squabble,‘Assalamu-Alaikum’ can helpyou take the first steptoward mending thatrelationship.

‘Assalamu-Alaikum’

We have to fightfor the integrityof true believers,the day of silenceis over, ourreligion must notbe distorted

By Malam Abudah

CMYK

42—Vanguard,42—Vanguard,42—Vanguard,42—Vanguard,42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6FEBRUARY 6FEBRUARY 6FEBRUARY 6FEBRUARY 6,,,,, 20 20 20 20 201515151515

BITSBits NLC election:Whither ideology?

JUST before the nationgoes the polls for thenational elections, members ofthe Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC, will go to the polls to electnational officers to run the affairsof the central labour organizationfor four years.

The conference is howevernot about elections, it onlyprovides an opportunity for theleadership of the NLC to reviewits activities and set an agendathat would be beneficial to theworking class.

However, the NLC in the lastfour years seems to have lost itsideological focus completely.

Unlike 1988 when the NLCwas polarised along ideologicallines and its subsequentharmonisation, which producedComrade Paschal Bafyau, as acompromise candidate, no oneis clear of ideological focus of theNLC in the current dispensation.

Thousands of workers are indistress as salaries are unpaideven by the federal government.

Some state governments havenot paid their employees formonths, yet they mount therostrum to campaign for re-election.

What has the NLC done in the

area of voters’ education? Notmuch if you ask me.

Rather, what we see aredesperate moves to get electedinto the National AdministrativeCouncil, NAC, of the NLC. Therecannot be a better time forNigerian workers to elect a leaderwith a vision. A leader who isgenuinely committed to theworking class struggle.

Workers need a leader who iswell informed on issues ofeconomy and politics. How willthe leadership of the NLC tacklepoliticians on the issue of securityof lives and property beyond merepress releases?

Many of those who have beenkilled are either workers in theinformal or the formal sector.These are the issues whichrequire urgent and informedposition from the Central LabourOrganization.

On January 6, the list ofcontestants were released and itis clear that the main posts to becontested are that of thePresidency which is beingcontested by Joseph Ajaero of the

Forum backsAjaero forpresident

A FORUM of SouthernNigeria Labour

Leadership, has thrown itsweight behind the ambition ofthe Deputy President of NigeriaLabour Congress, NLC, andGeneral Secretary of theNational Union of ElectricityEmployees, NUEE, ComradeJoe Ajaero, to become the nextpresident of Congress.

In Communiqué issued at theend of its meeting on Friday,January 23, 2015, at Lafia hotel,Ibadan, Oyo State and signedComrade Ade Obatoye of NLC,Ekiti State and Comrade JohnOdigie of Lagos NLC, said “atthe end of the meeting,participants resolved thatcomrade Joseph Ajaero, theNational Deputy President ofthe Nigeria Labour Congressand General Secretary,National Union of ElectricityEmployees, is the mostacceptable candidate amongthe contestant for the positionof National President of NLCconsidering his pedigree,credential, credibilityexperience and antecedents.

By Funmi Komolafe

GOVERNOR AdamsOshiomhole has

approved the payment of 27.5%Teachers’ Special Allowanceand implementation of otherdemands of the Nigeria Unionof Teachers, NUT, in the state.

Also, the Governor hasapproved the payment of theNovember and December, 2013salaries of over 322 teachers ofOvia North East LocalGovernment Area.

The other approved demandsof the NUT which werepresented on their behalf by theNigeria Labour Congress, NLC,include payment of 10% salaryrelativity increase and theconsequential 27.5% TSA therefrom and payment of financialbenefits of the last set ofpromotions approved forPrimary School Teachers;

Meanwhile, the Governor alsodirected the payment of themonthly salaries of workers ofEdo Line Transport Companywith effect from January, 2015;

Governor Oshiomholedirected that full implementationof all the approvals must bedone with immediate effect andnot later than the last day ofJanuary, 2015.

Oshiomholeapproves 27.5%allowance forteachers

National Union of ElectricityEmployees, NUEE, Igwe Acheseof the Nigeria Union of Petroleumand Natural Gas Workers,NUPENG, and Wabba Ayuba ofthe Medical and Health WorkersUnion of Nigeria, MHWUN.

The other post to be keenlycontested is that of Auditor where eight candidates are vyingfor three seats. The deputy andvice presidents have been electedunopposed.

With the current state of theeconomy where the take homepay has failed to take workershome, the leadership of the NLCmust be ready to respond to theneeds of workers.

Can NLC leaders move beyonddemand for increases in wages? What are the options profferedby Labour? It has also been thatof their 16 posts being contested;only one is being contested by awoman. So where are the women?Is the non participation of womendue to some frustrations by theleadership of the trade unions? Does it mean that women aredeliberately shut out of theelection?

Affiliateunions

The NLC and its affiliate unionsare aware that the InternationalLabour Organization is interestedin seeing women in positions ofauthority in the trade unions. So,wither Nigerian women workers?

Perhaps more disturbing is theallegation that unions have beenrushing millions of money intothe coffers of the NLC to boost thenumber of union delegates toconference.

The question should be asked,why these unions have held backtheir contributions to the NLC.

Could this be due to a lack offaith in the out-going leadership?Are such union leaders rushingto finance due NLC for personalgains? The February 9 to 11election is one in which workershave to be vigilant. Thoughrepresentation is by delegates,how were they chosen and whoseinterests do they represent?

NLC workers during a protest march. (Inset)Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC president

With the currentstate of the economywhere the take homepay has failed to takeworkers home, theleadership of theNLC must be readyto respond to theneeds of workers

NLC delegates conference, not all about election — Aremu

A VICE President ofNigeria Labour Congress,

NLC, and General Secretary ofthe National Union of Textile,Garment and Tailoring Workersof Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has saidthe National DelegatesConference, NLC, of NLC,holding between February 9 and11, 2015, goes beyond electionof officers.

At a briefing, Aremu said“NLC Delegates Conference issignificant to the working classbecause it features agendasetting, assessment of the stateof Congress, proposedconstitutional amendments anddebate and adoption of Motions

on critical issues affecting theworkers namely wages, security ofwork, employment, pension,health and safety among others.”

He called on the ComradeAbdulwahed Omar-led NLC tokeep to the spirit and content of ademocratic NLC Constitution andavoid any action capable ofcreating crisis in the NLC on theeve of the historic 11th DelegatesConference, saying “as a productof credible, free and fair election,the masses of Nigerian workersexpect the NLC President to keepto his oath of office by ensuringthat the coming election is held inaccordance with the sprit andcontent of the Constitution ofNLC. Any action in the contrary

will be deemed illegal,unconstitutional andunacceptable.”

Free and fairelection

Aremu urged NLC to obey itsown rules, stressing “NLC’s voicedemanding for free and fairelection in Nigeria cannot berespected if it does not obey itsöwn rules. He that seeks equitymust do equity and must comewith clean hands.”

He recalled that NLC wasformed by Nigerian workers in1978 and has successfullyconducted 10 DelegatesConferences. Of the 10

Delegates’ conferences, three (3)were special DelegatesConferences as fall-outs ofmilitary disruption ofindependent and autonomousdemocratic union process; 1977/78 (Murtala/Obasanjo militaryregime), 1988 (IBB regime) and1999 (AbdulSalami regime),following Abacha’s dissolution ofthe NLC executive in 1994.

The highpoint of the DelegatesConference is election of the new17 National Officers that include;President, three DeputyPresidents, five Vice Presidents(1 reserved for Chairperson ofNational Women Commission ofCongress), Treasurer, FinancialSecretary, Trustee, three Auditorsand two Ex-Officio.

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

CMYK



Bayelsa contractors drag Agip to court

By Samuel Oyadongha

MadamWanogho-Duku forburial

Burutu legis-lative armimpeachesMajorityLeader

YENAGOA—PIPELINEsurveillance contractors

from Obama, Okoroma inNembe Local GovernmentArea of Bayelsa State, havedragged Nigerian Agip OilCompany, NAOC, before aFederal High Court sitting inPort Harcourt, Rivers State,claiming N3 billion asdamages for breach ofcontract.

The plaintiffs are claiming inthe suit that Agip reneged ona contractual agreement

entered on May 24, 2014between parties, by opting outof the contract outside theterms of the contract.

The contract was for aretainership of surveillanceservices against oil thieves andpipeline vandals on Agip’spipeline network within theObama Operational Area inOkoroma, Bayelsa State.

They are asking the court todirect Agip to pay them N500million being arrears forservices rendered, for theperiod between June 2014 and

October 2014, under the termsof the anti-crude oil theftsurveillance agreement.

They also want the court toaward the sum of N3 billiondamages against thedefendants for breach ofcontract and undueinterference.

*An order of injunctionrestraining the defendants bythemselves or by their servantsor agents, from furtherinterfering or inter-meddlingwith the lawful commercialtransactions or business of the

plaintiffs or however interferewith the payment of theirlawful service entitlement.

According to the plaintiffs,NAOC reportedly breachedthe valid N500 millionsurveillance contract for theprotection of oil pipelinesalong the creeks withinNembe Local GovernmentArea, Bayelsa State, as the oilcompany reneged on its pre-existing obligations to theplaintiffs under the anti-crudeoil theft surveillanceagreement, after insuring over

Seek N3bn damages for alleged breach of surveillance contract

THE final burial ritesof late Mama Gold

Wanogho-Duku, aged 80,will hold tomorrow atOrogun, Ughelli NorthLocal Government Area,Delta State.

A statement by her son,Prince Efe Duku,Personal Assistant toChief Great Ogboru,governorship flag bearerof Labour Party, said thefuneral service will holdat Orogun PrimarySchool play ground.

She is survived bychildren and grandchildren.

Late Wanogho-Duku

THE MajorityLeader of Burutu

Local GovernmentLegislative Arm, DeltaState, Mr Joseph Alubeze,has been impeached by theHouse for allegedincompetence anddivulging of confidentialmatters.

The House consequentlyelected Trust Edumogrienas the new Majority Leaderfollowing a motion movedby Churchill Botu andseconded by Fred Afoegbaand was unanimouslyadopted.

The impeachment waspresided over by the Leaderof the House, WilliamElagha while othermembers said the actionwas long overdue as theHouse cannot afford tohave a principal officer whodivulges official secrets.

70,000 barrel production a day.They are further contending

in the suit that Agipsuspended the existingsurveillance contract followinga directive by Bayelsa StateGovernment mandating oilfirms in the state to awardsecurity contracts to an outfitowned by the government.


FUTA: From left— Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun, Bursar; Dr. Modupe Ajayi, Registrar, bothof Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA; Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Chairman, FUTA/Akure Partnership; Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor; Professor Adedayo Fasakin,Chairman, and Dr. Femi Oguntuase, Librarian, all of FUTA, after the inauguration of theImplementation Committee of the new School of Health and Heath Technology recentlyapproved for FUTA, in Akure.

Aba mega mall forcommissioning next month

By Eric Ugbor

THE Red Card Movement,a youth campaign body

that advocates civicresponsibility, has askedNigerians to use their vote asa ”red card” to banish badleaders from the polity.

Jade Oshikoya, the group’sTeam Coordinator, said: “Theconcept of the Movement isborrowed from football.

“Just as a referee holds outa red card to dismiss playersfrom the pitch for bad

behaviour, the voter ’s cardimbues voters with the power toremove bad leaders.”

He said the movement wouldcontinue to boost a culture ofaccountability in all tiers of go-vernment via its online platform.

Nigerians urged to use votes as ‘Red Card'

SEPLAT PetroleumD e v e l o p m e n t

Company Plc hasannounced the conclusionof negotiations topurchase 56.25 percent ofthe share capital ofBelemaoil ProducingLimited, a Nigerianspecial purpose vehicle,SPV, that completed theacquisition of a 40 percentinterest in OML 55 fromChevron Nigeria Limited.

It said the balance of 60percent is held byNigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation,NNPC, Seplat’s effectiveworking interest in OML55 as a result of theacquisition is 22.50percent.

A release said theconsideration for Seplat toacquire its 22.50 percenteffective working interestin OML 55 is US$132.2million afteradjustments. Theadjustments to theconsideration, it said,include a deferredpayment of US$11.6million net to Seplatcontingent on oil pricesaveraging US$90/bbl orabove for 12 consecutivemonths over the next fiveyears.

The company has alsoadvanced loans of US$80million to the othershareholders ofBelemaoil to meet theirshare of investments andcosts associated withBelemaoil.

Seplatinvests inBelemaoil

MADAM ComfortAgbejimi, 87, is

dead.Christian wake-keep

held yesterday atElesaade Compound,Oke-Oba, Arowomole,Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Funeral service willhold today at MethodistChurch Cathedral,Arowomale, Ogbomoso.Interment at MethodistCemetery will follow.

She is survived by asister, many children,grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Transition

AWKA—YOUTHS havetaken to the streets of

Awka, Anambra State capital,to protest alleged presentationof multiple candidates byPeoples Democratic Party, PDP,for National Assemblyelections in the state.

The protesters blocked thebusy Enugu-OnitshaExpressway, causing trafficgridlock and later marched tothe state headquarters ofIndependent NationalElectoral Commission, INEC,blocked the entrance andchanted war songs.

The youths displayedplacards with inscriptions suchas “No to multiple candidates

Youths protest alleged PDP’smultiple candidates in Anambra

for PDP,” “We say no to fraud,”“Enough of this illegality,”“INEC should speak out now,”among others.

Speaking with reporters, theyouths threatened to take thelaws into their hands if therelevant agencies and INECfailed to act immediately tocorrect the alleged anomaly.

According to their leader,Mr. Ikem Maduagwu, if thestate government, the police,INEC and other relevant lawenforcement agencies fail toaddress the situation, theywould have no option than tocause mayhem in the state.

They demanded that INECshould, within 48 hours, stateclearly who the authentic PDPcandidates were in the stateand formally announce samein news media in the state.

… as PDP blasts APGAMeanwhile, the state

Coordinator of Goodluck/

Sambo PresidentialCampaign Organization,Chief Okey Ezenwa, at theinauguration of thepresidential campaigncoordinators for the 21 localgovernment areas in Awka,said APGA had been ridingon the back of PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to woovoters to its side, saying sucha thing would no longer betolerated.

He said: “Our opponentshave been going abouttelling people to vote forAPGA for the senate, Houseof Representatives andHouse of Assembly and votefor Jonathan where his nameis written.

“We see this as deceit. Theymerely want to ride on theback of President Jonathan towin the other elections. Weare prepared to win theforthcoming elections inAnambra State in its totality.”

ABUJA—NIGERIAN-basedAfrica Finance Corporation,

AFC, has commenced theground-breaking of the $900million (about N153 billion),Kpone Independent PowerProject, Kpone IPP, in Ghana.

The Kpone IPP project,according to a statement byAFC, is to be implemented bythe Cenpower GenerationCompany Limited, while AFC isthe Lead Project Developer,Mandated Lead Arranger andlargest equity investor in theproject, which reached financialclose in December 2014.

Commenting on the ground-breaking milestone, Mr. AndrewAlli, President and ChiefExecutive Officer, Africa FinanceCorporation, said the projectwould help in addressing theinfrastructural challenges inAfrica and also boost energysupply in Ghana.

He said: “We are delighted tohave reached this stage, which

represents a truly transforma-tional investment for AFC anda unique infrastructure projectfor Africa. The project promisesto play an important role inaddressing Ghana’s futureenergy needs.”

Also speaking, Mr. OliverAndrews, Executive Directorand Chief Investment Officer,AFC, said: “At AFC, we arevery proud to take a leadingrole in this landmark project.

“Once complete, Kpone IPPwill become the largest powerplant in Ghana, and willaccount for approximately 10percent of the country ’sinstalled capacity. We areproud to play a part incontinuing to bridge Africa’sinfrastructure divide.”

AFC said the project wouldbe the largest IPP in sub-Saha-ran Africa, and as a CCGTplant, it would be amongGhana’s most fuel-efficientthermal power stations.

AFC flags off N153bnKpone IPP project

By Vincent Ujumadu

ABA—THE first phaseof the $300 million mega

mall project at Osisioma, AbiaState, under construction byGreenfield Assets limited, willbe commissioned next month,the Group Managing Directorof the company, Mr. PaulObanua, has said.

Obanua, who disclosed this

yesterday when he receiveda team from the NigerianSociety of Engineers, led bythe President, Engr. AdemolaOlorunfemi, at the premisesof the mega mall, said theproject would be the biggestin Africa.

He said the mall would bethe first in Africa with a dryport of 30,000 square metrebonded warehouse.

I M O — M E G AProgressive Peoples

Party, MPPP, has called onthe judiciary to curtail theexcesses of politicalparties, to save thecountry’s democracy.

The call came on theheels of what it termed theunwarranted activities ofPeoples Democratic Party,PDP, resulting from itsprimaries in the state.

In a statement by theNational Chairman ofMPPP, Mr. Dare Falade,the party claimed theactivities of PDP anddevelopments within itduring its congresses andprimaries in Imo andother PDP states posed aserious threat to Nigeria’sdemocracy and politicalstability in the state.

MPPP, in the statement,said: “As key actors in thepolitics of Imo State andNigeria, we observed withgreat dismay thefraudulent manner inwhich figures that did notreflect actual valid votescast in Imo PDPgovernorship primarieswere declared.

“Handing over the partyflag to somebody, whenthe matter over whoactually won theprimaries is still in court,is a form of impunitywhich the judiciary mustcondemn and punish.”

MPPPtasksjudiciary onparties'‘excesses'

By Sebastine Obasi

CMYK

CMYK



‘EVERYTHING I havetoday is because of

Africa. I was born here, wentto school here, I work hereand I’m achieving some levelof financial comfort here.”

Tony Elumelu is widelyrecognised as one of the mostinfluential corporate leaders inNigeria and indeed in Africaand beyond. His two-decadecareer in the banking sectorcovered almost all areas ofbanking and brought him tothe top ranks of the UnitedBank for Africa (UBA), one ofthe most successful banks inNigeria and Africa.

His path to success hasdemonstrated his strategicvision, innovative thinkingand hard work. Tony’s visionand success goes beyondNigeria. He once said “as achild, as a student, as a youngprofessional and now as anentrepreneur, Africa hasalways been the centre of mydreams, my aspirations andmy prayers”.

Africanentrepreneurs

As he said, “the future isAfrica and together we willcreate the Age of Africa; theage when Africa will be knownin other spheres of humanendeavour beyond crime,squalor, war and diseases,when African companies ledby African entrepreneurs, cantake centre stage in the globalcorporate arena”.

By his career andachievements Tony is animportant role model for youngmen and women across thecountry and the commitment.The future is truly in the handsof young people who have thesame entrepreneurial spirit,who are equally focused andare ready to work hard andmake a difference.

As a business leader, Tony is

also an avid supporter of publicservice and a philanthropist. Hehas served and continues to serveon many governmentcommitments, giving back to thecountry in terms of policy advice.He also helps emergingentrepreneurs, providing themwith the opportunity to developtheir business ideas and skills.

Tony is a visionary leader witha strategic mind. A visionaryentrepreneur and philanthropist,born, raised and educated inAfrica, Mr. Tony Elemelu hasbeen responsible for creatingbusinesses across the continent,in sectors critical to Africa’seconomic development.

Economicdevelopment

He serves as chairman of HeirsHoldings Limited, chairman ofaffiliated company, Transcorp,Nigeria’s largest listedconglomerate, and is the creatorof the Tony Elumelu Foundation,dedicated to catalysingentrepreneurship across Africa.

In his early career, Mr. Elumeluturned the financially distressedStandard Trust Bank into a top-five financial services player inNigeria. In 2005 he led the largestmerger in the banking sector insub-Saharan Africa, acquiringUnited Bank for Africa and UBAtoday operates in 19 Africacountries, as well as New York,London and Paris.

He is the founder of the TonyElumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded not-for-profit organisation (NPO) that isdedicated to the promotion andcelebration of excellence inbusiness leadership andentrepreneurship across Africa.

Elumelu holds the Nigeriannational honour, the Commanderof the Order of Nigeria (CON).New African Magazine recentlylisted him as one of the 100 mostinfluential people in Africa.

Elumelu was born in Jos,Nigeria, in 1963. He has twodegrees in Economics from

Nigerian schools. His Bachelordegree was from Ambrose AlliUniversity and he has a Masterof Science degree, also inEconomics, from the University ofLagos. He is an alumnus ofHarvard Business School’sAdvanced ManagementProgramme. Tony Elumelumarried Awele V. Elumelu, amedical doctor, in 1993 and hasfive daughters. He has foursiblings including the Hon.Ndudi Elumelu, a member of theNigerian Federal House ofRepresentatives.

Career: In his early career,Elumelu made a name for himselfwhen he acquired and turnedStandard Trust Bank into a top-five player in Nigeria. In 2005,his corporate reputation as anAfrican Business Leader wassealed when he led the largestmerger in the banking sector inSub-Saharan Africa to acquireUnited Bank for Africa (UBA). Infive years he transformed it froma single-country bank, to a pan-African institution with over7million customers in 19 Africancountries.

Following his retirement fromUBA in 2010, Elumelu foundedHeirs Holdings, which invests inthe financial services, energy, realestate and hospitality,

agribusiness, and healthcaresectors; all of which help tocreate economic prosperity andsocial wealth across thecontinent.

In the same year, heestablished the Tony ElumeluFoundation, an Africa-based andAfrican-funded, philanthropicorganisation dedicated to thepromotion of excellence inbusiness leadership andentrepreneurship, to enhancethe competitiveness of theprivate sector across Africa.

In 2011, Heirs Holdingsacquired a controlling interest inthe Transnational Corporation ofNigeria Plc (Transcorp), apublicly quoted conglomeratethat has business interests in theagribusiness, energy, andhospitality sectors. Elumelu wassubsequently appointedChairman of the Corporation.

Elumelu serves as an Advisorto the USAID’s Private CapitalGroup for Africa (PCGA) PartnersForum. He sits on the NigerianPresident’s AgriculturalTransformation ImplementationCouncil (ATIC). He is also vice-chairman and a key driver in theformation of the NationalCompetitiveness Council ofNigeria (NCCN), and serves asCo-Chair of the Aspen InstituteDialogue Series on Global FoodSecurity. He additionally chairsthe Ministerial Committee toestablish world-class hospitalsand diagnostic centres acrossNigeria, at the invitation of theFederal Government.

Privateenterprise

In 2012 he was awardedCommander of the Order of theNiger for his service inpromoting private enterprise. In2013, Mr. Elumelu received theLeadership Award in Businessand Philanthropy from theAfrica-America Institute Awards.He was also named AfricanBusiness Icon at the 2013 AfricanBusiness Awards.

In 2003, the FederalGovernment of Nigeria conferredthe national honour of Memberof the Federal Republic (M.F.R.)on Mr Elumelu. In 2012 he wasawarded the prestigious nationalhonour of Commander of theOrder of the Niger (C.O.N.) forhis service in promoting privateenterprise.

Elumelu presently serves as amember of the Global AdvisoryBoard of the United NationsSustainable Energy for AllInitiative (SE4ALL) and USAID’sPrivate Capital Group for AfricaPartners Forum.

He sits on the NigerianPresident’s AgriculturalTransformation ImplementationCouncil and serves as Co-Chairof the Aspen Institute DialogueSeries on Global Food Security.He played a leading role in theformation of the NationalCompetitiveness Council ofNigeria and now serves as itsvice chairman.

Tony O. Elumelu is the voicecrying in the Africa businesswilderness for Africans to look inword and imbibe the spirit ofknowledge economy to developAfrica.

TONY ELUMELU:

The future is Africaand together we willcreate the Age ofAfrica; the age whenAfrica will be knownin other spheres ofhuman endeavour,when Africancompanies led byAfricanentrepreneurs, cantake centre stage inthe global corporatearena

By Omoh Gabriel

•Tony Elumelu

The manThe manThe manThe manThe manwho dared towho dared towho dared towho dared towho dared tobe differentbe differentbe differentbe differentbe different

CMYK

CMYK


Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2014 — 55

LAUNCH: From left: General Secretary, Onitsha Main Market Traders Association, OMATA,Chief Nwabueze Egwuatu; Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Enugu, Mr. ChijiokeMbagwu; Chairman, OMATA, Chief Innocent Agudiegwu; Leader of the Women Wing, OMATA,Mrs. Grace Okonkwo and the Zonal Head, FCMB, Awka, Mr. Chike Okeke, at the launch ofFCMB’s Personal Business Account product at the Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State.

LOKOJA—KOGI StateGovernment has described

the death of the Publisher of KogiAffairs newspaper, Chief KolaToluhi, 52, as a very big blow onthe journalism profession.

The deceased was a formerreporter with Vanguardnewspapers.

Kogi State Deputy Governor,Yomi Awoniyi, stated this when hepaid a condolence visit to thefamily of late Chief Toluhi, whodied in an auto-crash alongLokoja – Okene road Wednesdayevening.

Awoniyi said “The governmentand people of the state mourn withheavy heart the death of theveteran journalist. Toluhi was acolossus, an embodiment ofdevelopmental journalism, whoknew his onions.”

Awoniyi who said the death hadcreated a vacuum that would bedifficult to fill, urged the family andcolleagues he left behind to takesolace in the fact that the latepublisher left an indelible mark inthe journalism profession.

“I had known Kola for over twodecades. I am proud to say he tookthe journalism profession to anenviable heights that we are proudof in the state and I urge the

By Boluwaji Obahopo

Kogi govt, NUJ mourns death of ex-Vanguard reporter

members of the NigerianUnion of Journalists, NUJ,Kogi State Council, toimmortalize the good qualitiesof the late publisher by beingnoble and upright in thedischarge of their profession”.

Awoniyi prayed God to grantthe deceased eternal rest, andassured of the stategovernment’s support to the

family he left behind.Also reacting, the state

Chairman of the NUJ, Alhaji AliAtabor, said the death came as ashock to the council.

“Kola was an epitome of hardwork, a true professional, whotook the journalism profession tothe peak. I pray God to grant thefamily he left behind the fortitudeto bear the loss,” he said.

Island Club inaugurates new board trustees

LAGOS—THE chairman of Island Club, Lagos, Prince

Ademola Dada, has disclosedthat six new board trustees havebeen added to the existing sevento enable the club functionmaximally.

Speaking at the inauguration ofthe new board of trustees, Dada,stated that the tenure of the boardis now ten years and the change

is in accordance with theamended Rule 26 (iii) of the clubs’constitution.

According to him, Chief SunnyOdogwu, Elder Olakunri, AlhajiS.O Babalola, Engr. SamuelAdegbayibi, Chief AlexDuduyemi and Chief LaiOlumegbon were elected into theboard following the unanimousapproval of the General Meetingof the club on November 13, 2014.

“These distinguished membershave joined the Board of Trustees,they comprise the followingeminent members: Prof JohnGodwin, Alhaji Musiliu OlaiyaAnibaba, Chief Olusola Faleye,Chief Adebayo Alabi Adejumo,Alhaji Yaya Quadri and ChiefAnthony Mogbonjubola Soetan.

“The Honorary GeneralSecretary of the Club, Otunba DijiVera-Cruz, will serve as theSecretary to the Board.

”The current managementcommittee is working relentlesslyto make the Island Club betterthan it was when the committeecame on board about three yearsago. I sincerely hope the Boardwill function normally and meetregularly such that its memberswill contribute to the progressof Nigeria’s Premier SocialClub,” Prince Dada said.


CMYK


CMYK

Continues from BP

his decision to include thehighest goal scorer at thejust concluded Super 6competition, ChristianObiozor of Kano Pillars andKingsley Boby-Sokari ofEnyimba International ofAba was not because of theabsence of goal poachersbut, to engendercompetition among thestrikers and bring out thebest in them.

The former internationalalso commented on theoutcome of the two leggedinternational friendlyagainst the TunisiaOlympic team where hisboys lost the first game 5-3before winning the secondtie 3-0.

“I will rely more on thehome based playersbecause those playingabroad can easilydisappoint you at the last

Siasiaminute and if that happens,everybody will behandicapped.

“We have prepared theboys for the qualifiers evenas we are aware that thereis still room forimprovement and we willcontinue to shape up theteam. We have to blend theplayers that went to Tunisiawith those who played theSuper 6 competitionbecause we don’t wantsome of them to think thatthey have been ignored”.

However Siasia hintedthat one area that needsmore work is the area ofdefense, especially, as itconcerns properunderstanding between thegoalkeeper and hisdefenders.

On the preparations forthe qualifier, the Olympicsilver medalist said baringany unforeseencircumstances, the team willgo for another internationalfriendly, and from therethey can head to Gabon.

midfielder HélderBarbosa, who takes home250,000 euros everyyear.

The 24 - year - old hassigned a three - and - a- half year deal withAEK, and that means hewould have pocketed 1.4million euros(equivalent of =N= 310million) at the end of hiscontract.

ChrisantusContinues from BP

FORMER SuperEagles captain,

Nwankwo Kanu hasurged Nigerian youths toreciprocate PresidentGoodluck Jonathan’sreward culture in sports,saying such hasovershadowed theprevious ‘handshake’where sportsmen whobrought honour and glorywere not remunerated.

“Every Nigeriansportsman who winslaurels for this country isrewarded with cash,national honour to plan hisfuture.

“This is unlike in the pastwhen ‘Presidentialhandshake’ was all onegets for his sweat”, Kanusaid.

“This is beside the factthat President Jonathancreated the enablingenvironment that aidedsuch feats,” Kanu posited,urging youths to standbehind the President in thecoming poll.

The former Arsenal ofEngland, Ajax Amsterdam,Inter Milan forward whospoke in Lagos gleefullyrecalled that PresidentJonathan equally recordedlaudable feats in the areaof infrastructuraldevelopment and healthcare.

“The Jonathanadministration has done sowell in sports just as it hasexcelled in health care,infrastructure, transport,energy and agriculture.

“My life after football hasbeen largely dominated bybusiness. This makes meto travel a lot so I’m in aposition to know that ourairports now conform withthe best in the World.

“Our roads are now ingood shape and so manynew ones beingconstructed and old onesrehabilitated.

“I’ve been able to visitsome university teachinghospitals and most of themconfirm of thisa d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’ sdetermination to turnaround our hospitals."

Kanu extols Jonathan’s scorecard in sports•Ex-Eagles captain cites Presidents sports reward disposition

•President Jonathan •Kanu

By Ben Efe

PLAYERS of thenational women

team, the Super Falconsare getting restless asthe Nigeria FootballFederation is yet to givethem the green light tokick start theirpreparations for theFIFA Women World Cupbilled for June inCanada.

This is just as theirmajor opponents inGroup D of thetournament havestepped up theirtraining. The USA havebeen in camp, workingout strategy and playingfriendly games.

“It is worrisome that wehave not started ourpreparation is yet tocommences,” saidFalcons captain EvelynNwanbuoko during achat.

She added that herteammates were gettingrestless as they were

Women World Cup: Falcons restlessover inactivity

determined to make animpressive outing at theWorld Cup.

However, chairpersonof the NFF womencommittee DilichukwuOnyedinma attributed

the delay to the forthcoming generalelections.

“ We [NFF] are waitingfor the General electionsand want them [Falcons]to exercise their civicrights. The NFFconsidered these factor,not wanting anydistractions when theyresume camping.” theNFF board memberdisclosed.

The Falcons are drawnin group D with the USAtwice world champions,Sweden and Australia.

•Ordega

By Jude Opara, Abuja

MINISTER andChairman of the

National SportsCommission (NSC), Dr.Tammy Danagogo will onFriday meet with thepresidents of sportsfederations in Abuja.

Although no reason wasofficially given for themeeting, Sports Vanguardgathered from insidesources that it will not beunconnected with the 2015All Africa Games comingup in Congo Brazzaville inJuly.

Also the meeting which

Danagogo meets withfederation presidents

we learnt will not includesecretaries of thefederations will equallytake a look at preparationsfor the 2016 summerOlympic Games to bestaged in Rio, Brazil.

Recall that at theinaugural meeting of thenewly elected board of theNigeria OlympicCommittee (NOC),president of the NOC,Engr. Habu Gumelemphasized on the needfor the federations to begintheir preparations for thevarious internationalassignments.

THE 2015 AbesanCup programme will

officially get underway onFebruary 17 with the drawand Press conference.

Coordinator of the event,Tayo Adeyemo said thedraws of the competitionwhich began in 1999 isscheduled to take place atSaint Bernadette School,Gowon Estate, Ipaja.

Adeyemo said a total of36 grassroots clubs fromLagos and Ogun statesare expected to take part

36 clubs for Abesan Cup drawin the draw to becoordinated by thetournament grand patronMrs. ClementianDoregos.

He revealed that thenumber of participatingclubs was increased from32 to 36 in order to giveopportunity for moreteams who were eager toparticipate in thecompetition which hashelped to discoverhitherto hidden talents inthe country.

DARE Gbadamosiand Shakirat

Adebayo both of IsheriSenior Grammar School,Ojodu Berger, Lagoshave won this year ’sKandaval Inter-SchoolTable Tennischampionship taggedKandaval Cup whichheld at the school playground yesterday.

Both studentsdismissed their

Isheri Grammar School wins 3rdKandaval T/Tennis tourney

opponents in threestraight set to win thecoveted prizes.

While Gbadamosidefeated his opponent,Agboola Martins fromJubril Martins GrammarSchool, Iporin 11-6, 11-2 and 11-4 in the boyscategory, Adebayo senthome her opponent,Grace Kalu from WesleyGirls Senior School Yaba11-10, 11- 4 and 11-6.

Afcon: It's Ghana/I. Coast final•As fans mar semi-final clash

THE Black Stars ofGhana cruised to the

final of the 2015 Africa Cupof Nations the hard way.Although the four-timeAfrican champions beathosts, Equatorial Guinea3-0 in a tempestuous semifinal encounter. The WestAfrican neighbours willnow face Ivory Coast inSunday’s final.

Goals from Jordan andAndre Ayew, either side ofa Mubarak strike sealedthe match for theGhanaians.

The match was held upfor more than 20 minutesfollowing crowd trouble.

The home crowd showed

their displeasure withproceedings when theythrew missiles onto thepitch early in the secondhalf, but Ghana continuedto boss proceedings andshould have added to theiradvantage with chancesfor Andre Ayew and KwesiAppiah around the hourmark.

Andre Ayew killed offany slim hopes NzalangNacional had of acomeback when he turnedhome the third goal in the75th minute, capitalisingon some good work by thehard-running Appiah.

There was a prolongeddelay with less than 10

minutes to play when alarge contingent ofGhanaian supportersmoved down out of thestands to place themselvesbehind the goal their sidewas attacking in the secondhalf, due to missilethrowing aimed at themfrom home supporters. Thematch was eventuallyrestarted and completedwithout further incident.

Equatorial Guinea willnow take on DRC in thethird-place playoff onSaturday evening inMalabo, while Ghana willface the Elephants of IvoryCoast in the final onSunday evening in Bata.

CMYK


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: 01-4544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Advert:[email protected]

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

How to Play Sudoku

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

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

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

THURSTHURSTHURSTHURSTHURSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSTODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLE

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS:1 Bombards (6)5 Ascends (6)8 Storm (8)9 Placed (4)10 Employ (3)12 Door (5)15 Sour (3)17 Puzzle (3)18 Fairy (3)19 Runner (3)20 Normal (5)21 Meal (3)22 Fish (3)23 Pastry (3)24 Child (3)26 Jugs (5)29 Bow (3)33 Rod (4)34 Illnesses (8)35 Respect (6)36 Performer (6)

DOWN:2 Openings (5)3 Sluggish (4)4 Discolour (5)5 Drink (5)6 Purposeless (4)7 Concise (5)10 Disrupt (5)11 Expel (5)12 Ooze (5)13 Brownish -grey (5)14 Cries (5)15 Frequently (5)16 Deceit (5)25 Gas (5)27 Mammal (5)28 Annoyed (5)30 Bizarre (5)31 Lake (4)32 Seed (4)

ACROSS: 1, Pair 4, Pat 6, Bags 8, Stable9, Squeak 10, Ask 12, Drain 14, Stout 15,Serum 18, Mighty 20, Unable 24, Edged26, Sense 28, World 30, Dew 32, Safari33, Actual 34, Fees 35, Son 36, Dash.

DOWN: 2, After 3, Rubbish 4, Plea 5, Tusk6, Blunt 7, Gradual 11, Sou 12, Dim 13,Net 16, Rye 17, Mug 19, Iterate 21, New22, Adopted 23, End 25, Doe 27, Snaps29, Leads 30, Dies 31, Warn

CMYK

Afcon: It's Ghana/I. Coast final — Pg 61 Continues on Page 61

Chrisantus seals N310m AEK Athens deal

FORMER Nigeriay o u t h

international MacauleyChrisantus did notagree to a pay cut beforefinalizing his transfer toAEK Athens.

And it has been

suggested that the exHamburg youth - teamerwill pocket around400,000 euros at theGreece powerhouse.

The Golden Bootwinner at the 2007 FifaUnder 17 championshipwas to earn 400,000Euros per season atTurkish club, Sivasspor.

Much is expected fromChrisantus, as he is nowthe highest paid playerat the Yellow - Blacks,ahead of Portuguese

•Chrisantus

By Jude Opara, Abuja

CHIEF coach of thenational U-23

team, Samson Siasiasays he will rely moreon the home basedplayers to prosecute theforthcoming 2015 AllAfrica Games qualifieragainst theircounterparts fromGabon on February 20 inLibreville.

Siasia told VanguardSports in Abujayesterday that even ashe does not know muchabout the Gabonese, heis hopeful that with theplayers currently incamp, he will be able toget the desired resultfrom the game.

He equally added that

I’ll play Gabon withhome-based players— Siasia

•Siasia

Continues on Page 61

Women WorldCup: Falconsrestless overinactivity— Pg 61

INFRINGEMENT: Ghana's forward Kwesi Appiah (R) vies with Equatorial Guinea's goalkeeper FelipeOvono during the 2015 African Cup of Nations semi-final match in Malabo, last night. Ghana won 3-0.Photo/AFP

we're ready for polls — inec

Documents

state house

nationalcouncil of state

soyinkatcmyk2 vanguard

3cmykcmyk4 vanguard

general muhammadubuhari

general ibrahim babangida

senate president

elumelu atthe vaticantony