...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 62633

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015**

Mr & Mrs

Crisis, as Audu, Kogigov candidate dies

COLUMNISTS:

•P.19

Continues on Page 4

The enemy within

CMYK

•Lawyers divided, as Constitutional crisis looms•Life and political struggles of Prince Abubakar Audu•AGF should head to Supreme Court — News Analysis•Tinubu leads APC chieftains to burial today

Buhari now going solo•P.20

Under the military, the police graduallydeteriorated. It became possible to cite them forthe most heinous to the most trivial acts thatviolate the rights of the very citizens whosefriend they purported to be. See pages 38 & 39for the details in your soar away Vanguard today.

How the military under developedthe Police

NLNG University SupportProgramme

From left: Anthony Anwuka,Minister of State for Education;Mohammed Dewa, Chairman,Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)Governing Council; Babs Omotowa,MD, Nigeria Liquefied Natural GasLtd, (NLNG); Muhammad BashirSaidu, representing Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State; HMNnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Obi ofOnitsha and Chancellor of ABU; withVice Chancellor, ABU, Prof. IbrahimGarba at the commissioning of thenew NLNG funded N340m multi-userengineering laboratories at ABU,Zaria, weekend.

•Agbara bank robbery kingpin, Kelly Fotor (right) and venue of the weddingparty where he was arrested in Sapele, Delta State (left). See story on Page 7.

•Late Abubakar Audu, APC Governorshipcandidate in the weekend election in Kogi State,who died, yesterday.

Lagos robbery kingpin arrested at a party in Sapele LATE ABUBAKAR AUDU

By EmmanuelAziken, PoliticalEditor, Kingsley

Fanwo & BoluwajiObahopo

LOKOJA—THE waitfor a new governor of

Kogi State following lastSaturday’s governorshipelection turned into aconstitutional crisis,yesterday, after theleading candidate, PrinceAbubakar Audu died afterhe had taken a

FUEL SCARCITY:Forex frustratesproducts importation

N18,000 minimum wage: Preparefor war, NLC tells govs 8

11

Ooni-electleavesIlofi forcrowningtoday

...as weekly sale to BDCsfalls by $100m

8&9

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2015

Buhari assures on building of vibrant TV, media economy

INAUGURAL FLIGHT: From left, Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka, the Osolo of Isolo, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, MD/CEO, Med-ViewAirline; Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos and some other traditional rulers from Lagos State at a ceremony to celebrate Med-ViewAirlines inaugural flight from Lagos to London held at Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, Central London on Saturday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

PRESIDENT MuhammaduBuhari has assured that his

Administration will facilitate thebuilding of a vibrant televisionand media economy to unleashthe latent energy of the country’skey media and entertainmentindustry.

"As part of providing thisrequisite environment, thisAdministration will ensure a strictadherence to the plan to reach

100% digital TV penetration inNigeria by 2016, up from 49% atthe end of 2013. In other words,we pledge our commitment tobuilding a vibrant TV and MediaEconomy for the benefit of allNigerians," the President said atthe 35th anniversary of Silverbird,the country’s foremost media andentertainment company, in Lagoson Saturday.

President Buhari, who wasrepresented by the Minister ofInformation and Culture, AlhajiLai Mohammed, said Nigeriaplanned to use the Digital SwitchOver as an opportunity to diversifythe provision of channels andcontent. "Silverbird, with its rich

history will have to play a keyrole in this evolution oftelevision and entertainment toboost production, local content,employment of our everincreasing youth, contributesignificantly to the nation’sGDP," he said.

President Buhari said sub-Saharan Africa will have 46.46million primary DigitalTerrestrial Television (DTT)homes by 2020, that is 37.6million Free To Air and 8.86million pay TV, up from 9.27million at the end of 2013 and0.53 million at the end of 2010.

"Nigeria will be the largestDTT nation in Africa in 2020,

both for Free To Air - that is 9.07million - and for pay, that is 3.59million. As Silverbird seeks todeliver exceptional familyentertainment to this importantgrowth market, it will need toadjust its models to suit themarket conditions to achieve theobjective of maximizing the reachof the Silverbird Channel in theNigerian market, and that it willhave to do through a Free to Airmodel. The target markets forFree To Air are the 26-million-plus TV households, and thegrowth of DTT in Nigeria isaccelerating much faster than thegrowth in the pay- V market," thePresident said.

THE Vice-Chancellorof the National Open

University of Nigeria,NOUN, Professor VincentAdo Tenebe, hasadmonished directors of thevarious study centres acrossthe country not to workagainst the goals of theinstitution, warning thatsevere consequencesawaited those found to becharging illegal“administrative fees”, atvariance with what isstipulated by the Universityauthorities.

Professor Tenebe,whogave the warning at the 98thMeeting of the Senate ofthe University, in responseto allegations by somestudents that they werebeing overburdened by“illegal” fees in variousStudy Centers,emphasized that “no StudyCentre had the authority tocharge and collect fees fromstudents, as all chargesmust be paid into theauthorized account of theUniversity.”

The vice-chancellor saidthat everywhere in theworld, “Open and DistanceLearning programmers areexpensive to run because oftheir enormous flexibility”but that the FederalGovernment had gone along way in substantiallysubsidizing the variouscharges paid by students toensure that the burden wasnot passed on them. Andin spite of the high cost,NOUN has regularlyupgraded the system foreffectiveness, which hasbeen sustained over theyears.”

The vice-chancellorreiterated the University’scommitment to inculcateinto Nigerians moral valuesover and above greed andthe quest for materialpossession. In his worlds,“NOUN is conceived anddesigned to be a foundry forthe production of expertthinkers - graduates whoare intellectually trained tomake a positive impact ontheir society.”

NOUN’s i-learn, e-assessment and e-courseware technologiesare indicative of the fact thatin the next few years, theUniversity will become amajor centre of excellencein the world, and a pride toNigeria. The managementof NOUN in its quest tofight corruption, has madepublic the authentic fees asstipulated by the Universityand called on the studentsto check the website.

NOUN VCwarns studycentres onillegal fees

94 capital market operators risk certificatecancellation

By Nkiruka Nnorom

SECURITIES and ExchangeCommission, SEC, is set to

withdraw the licenses of about 94capital market operators, CMOs,operating in different categoriesof the market for failing to renderstatutory returns and complyingwith the new minimum capitalrequirement.

While all the affected operatorsare inactive, 18 of them are undersuspension for various infractions.Two of them, Oceanic TrusteeLimited and PHB AssetManagement, are undergoingliquidation, while one, UnicInsurance Plc, has no informationon its shareholders fund.

An operator in the capital marketis adjudged to be inactive if it hasnot executed any transaction in themarket for a period of six months.Also, operators in the market arerequired to render quarterlyreturns to the Commission. In anotice on its website, tagged, “Pre-Notice on Cancellation ofCertificates of Registration ofInactive Capital MarketOperators”, SEC gave the affected

CMOs until December 4, 2015 toprovide tangible reasons why theyshould retain their registrations asCMOs.

The SEC said: “The 94 CapitalMarket Operators were registeredby the Securities and ExchangeCommission for various functionsin the Nigerian Capital market.However, these CMOs haveconsistently failed to render theirstatutory returns to theCommission and may have beenunable to comply with the newminimum capital requirementsbefore the deadline stipulated bythe Commission, which expired onSeptember 30, 2015.”

The affected operators are 2AsAmao Consult, AIQ VentureCapital Fund Managers Ltd,Allbond Investment Ltd,Amalgamated capital Funds,Associated Investment Trust Co.Ltd, Bayhead Alpha Capital Ltd,Bluebird Capital Ltd, SeasonsTrust & Investment Ltd, SecuritiesSolutions Ltd, Securities Trading& Investment Ltd, SkylimitInvestment Ltd, SlamadSecurities, Stacoprime Capital,

Stock Investment Ltd, SynergyInv. & SEC Ltd, Taricol Inv. Ltd,Treasureline Interlink Ltd,Truevine Global Asset Mgt Ltd,Unic Insurance Plc, UTB TrusteeLtd, Ventures & Trust Ltd, VileoCapital & Asset Mgt, VisaInvestment & SEC Ltd, WestAfrican InfrastructuteInvestment Managers Ltd,WizeTrade Capital & Asset MgtLtd, WT Securities Ltd andZuma Securities Ltd.

Others are Boston CapitalInvestment Ltd, Brickfield RoadAssociates Ltd, Capital PartnersLtd, Capital Structures Ltd,Circular Trust Ltd, Citi Asset MgtLtd, Citizens Inv. & SEC Ltd,City Investment Mgt Ltd,Consolidated Investment Ltd,Consult and Capital Ltd, DakalServices Ltd, Deap Capital Mgt& Trust Ltd, De-CanonInvestment Ltd, DevelopmentBusiness Co., Dolbic FinanceLtd, EazyTrdae Concept Ltd,Equinox Asset Mgt Ltd,Express Discount Ltd, FisrtAlstate Securities Ltd andGombe Securities Ltd, amongothers.

THE Lagos Chamber ofCommerce and Industry,

LCCI, yesterday, expressedconcerns over the spate ofregulatory sanctions by theFederal Government and itsagencies, asserting that it was notgood for the country’s investmentimage.

A statement signed by LCCIPresident, Remi Bello, said: “Wenote the recent sanctions of N1.4trillion fine imposed on MTN bythe Nigerian CommunicationsCommission, NCC, on account ofnon-registration of SIM cards; N1billion administrative chargeimposed on Guinness byNAFDAC; penalty on Skye Bankto the tune of N4 billion imposedby the CBN; penalty on FirstBank of N1.9 billion imposed bythe CBN and N2.9 billionimposed on UBA by the CBN.”

LCCI said “Already, theperception and ranking ofNigeria as an investmentdestination is unsatisfactory. Forinstance, Nigeria ranks 169 outof 189 countries profiled in theWorld Bank Ease of DoingBusiness Report for 2015. It alsohas a ranking of 124 out of 140countries profiled in the globalcompetitiveness report of theWorld Economic Forum.

Regulatory fines notgood for investmentimage — LCCI

By Franklin Alli

By Benjamin Njoku

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 3

POCKET CARTOON4—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

IT'S UP TO YOUBY AYO ADIO

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

Crisis, as Audu, Kogi govcandidate dies

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

Continues from Page 1

BUHARI IN IRAN—President Muhammadu Buhari being welcomed bythe Iranian Deputy President, Mr Shariat Madari; Minister of Foreign Affairs,Mr Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr BabatundeFashola and Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu at theMehrabad Airport, Tehran ahead of the 3rd Summit of the Gas ExportingCountry's Forum in Iran, yesterday.

LIFE is tough but you are tougher, as long asyou never give up, you will always rise above

what life throws at you. It's up to you.

What you can control shouldn't control you.

The art of listening is being consciously abreastwith the needs of others— Take Heart Quotes

SOMETIMES we may feel inadequate thinkingwe are not doing enough, and our whole

existence is not as meaningful as a famous person, oreven some inventor. Each of us, have the power toinspire, guide, and bring entirely new insights to thelives of others. The way to do this effectively is throughyour life; your words and actions can either uplift orlimit others? For instance, we are surrounded withloved ones, friends, neighbours and colleagues,people who just need someone to listen, not giveadvice.

commanding lead overthe incumbent governor,Captain Idris Wada.

Audu contested theelection on the banner ofthe All ProgressivesCongress, APC, and hadwon 240,827 votes to beatWada who contested onthe platform of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP tosecond place. However,because of theirregularities that trailedthe election, polling wascancelled in 59 pollingunits, a development thatled to the declaration ofthe election asinconclusive. Audu'sdeath is anu n p r e c e d e n t e ddevelopment notenvisaged by theconstitution and theElectoral Act.

The circumstances ofAudu’s death in his

country home inOgbonicha were stillcloudy, yesterday, butsources disclosed that itfollowed complaints ofstomach ache thatcommenced aboutThursday.

His ill-health

Sources said thecondition which was firstnoticed in Lokojaworsened in his countryhome in Ogbonicha butaides were able to managethe prince to vote in theelection in which he wasstanding as agovernorship candidatefor the sixth time.

His condition, however,worsened late on Saturdayand by yesterday morninghe had died even beforethe result of the electioncould be declared. An

eerie silence envelopedthe country home asfamily members waited forthe results of the electionto be declared far away inLokoja.

Sources disclosed thatat least two doctors fromthe Federal MedicalCentre, Lokoja and othermedical personnel hadbeen attending to him inhis residence for sometime and were with himuntil he died yesterdaymorning.

However, it was notuntil about 2.30 p.m. thatsuspicion on the fate ofthe APC candidateemerged to the outsideworld. That was when anambulance from theFederal Medical Centrearrived to carry thecorpse, but theambulance eventually leftwithout the corpse of thelate Audu.

Among the earlyarrivals at the Ogbonichacountry home were hisrunning mate, JamesFaleke, Senator DinoMelaye, a formerminister, AbahHumphrey; seniorofficials of the AuduCampaign among others.

There were suggestionslast night that Audu, aMuslim, could be buriedas early as this morning.APC chieftains led byAsiwaju Bola AhmedTinubu are expected towitness the burial today.

Earlier yesterday, theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission,INEC, had declared theelection as inconclusivedespite the commandinglead taken by Audu overGovernor Wada, thecandidate of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP.

The INEC, returningofficer for the election,Prof. Emmanuel Kucha ofFederal University ofAgriculture, Makurdi,had announced Audu ashaving polled 240,827votes to top the election

with Wada scoring 199,514 votes.

He, however, declaredthe election inconclusiveon the fact that no partycould be declared thewinner since the numberof cancelled votes wasmore than the differencebetween the APC and thePDP.

Inconclusiveelection

Though the election waspeaceful across the threesenatorial districts, theelection was cancelled in59 polling units across 18Local Government areasof the state due to non-usage of the card reader,over voting, ballotsnatching, violence andother irregularities.

Kucha said: “Since thenumber of cancelled voteswas 49,953 while thedifference between thevotes scored by the APCand PDP candidates stoodat 41,353, the electioncould not yet be declaredas conclusive.

“Applying provision ofINEC guideline, page 22- 23 paragraph 4(m), theelection will be re-conducted in 59 pollingunits across 18 LGAs”.

The breakdown of theresult declared so farshows that the late Auduwon 16 out of the 21 LocalGovernment Areas of the

state while Wada won fiveof the LGAs.

The APC won in YagbaEast, Yagba West, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Lokoja,Kogi, Okehi, Adavi,Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Ankpa,Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu,Olamaboro and IdahLGAs; while PDP wonMopamuro, Dekina,Okene, Ogori/Mangogoand Omala LGAs

The result of the electionshows that all the majorgladiators won in theirrespective Localgovernments, with thelate Audu winning his LG,Ofu; his Deputy, Falekewon Ijumu LG; whileGovernor Wada won hisLG, Dekina; and hisDeputy, Yomi Awoniyiwon his LG, Mopamuro.

A further breakdownshows that the. Governorwon only one local

government in theWestern senatorial axisand two each from theCentral and Easternsenatorial axis of the state.

INEC, before the newsof Audu’s death, hadpromised to communicatea new date for the conductof the rescheduledelection in the affectedpolling units to theparties.

The following are theLGAs and numbers ofcancelled votes: Adavi2134, Ajaokuta 1406,Ankpa 6021, Bassa 742,Dekina 17,454, Ibaji 2665,Idah 310, Igalamela/Odolu 1501, Ijumu 705,Kabba/Bunu 1767, Kogi1689, Lokoja 2854, Ofu4679, Okehi 403, Okene676, Olamaboro 2046,Omala 2526 and YagbaWest 375.

Life and political struggles ofPrince Abubakar Audu

Continues on Page 5

By Kingsley Fanwo

LOKOJA—PRINCEAbubakar Audu

bestrode the politicallandscape of Kogi Statefrom its creation in 1991till his death yesterdaywhen he was about tomake it a triple asgovernor of theConfluence state.

Born 68 years ago intoa royal family inOgbonicha, Ofu LocalGovernment Area of KogiState, the late politicianshowed signs ofgreatness at a tenderage. His late father, HRHPa Audu Oyidi, OregoAttah of Igalaland wasthe paramount ruler ofOgbonicha-Alloma.

Prince Abubakar Auduwas the first electedgovernor of Kogi State in1992 on the platform ofthe defunct NationalRepublican Convention.He was responsible forthe laying of thei n f r a s t r u c t u r a lfoundation of the state.He was responsible forthe establishment of theKogi State University,Kogi State Polytechnic,Kogi State BroadcastingCorporation and many

other institutions in thestate. His first spell asgovernor ended withGeneral Sani Abacha’sdismantling of thestructures of the ThirdRepublic on November17, 1993.

In 1999, Auducontested and won thegovernorship election forthe second time on theplatform of the defunctAll Peoples Party, APPhaving defeated the lateArc. Stephen Olorunfemiof the People’sDemocratic Party. He wasa politician cherished bythe Igala people of KogiState.

His bid for re-electionwas truncated in 2003when he lost to PDP’sAlhaji Ibrahim Idris. The2003 loss heralded achain of loses in 2007,2008 and 2011. He wascruising to victory in hissixth governorshipcontest conducted onSaturday, against theincumbent governor,Capt. Idris Wada. Auduwas believed to havedied yesterday morningbefore the election wasdeclared inconclusiveyesterday evening.

Prince Audu was a

charismatic andflamboyant leader whowas never afraid ofconfronting authorities inhis lifetime. For manyyears, he was the leaderof opposition politics inKogi State, sinking hisresources into nurturingparties such as theNational RepublicanConvention, the defunctAPP, the defunct ActionCongress of Nigeria,ACN and lately, the AllProgressives Congress.He will be sorely missedby the politicalcommunity in theconfluence state.

His socio-economiccontribution in the stateis to date a point ofreference to thegenerality of the peopleand many aspiringleaders. Some of hismajor achievementsduring his first two stintsin office include theestablishment of threedifferent housingschemes for publicofficers consisting of over1,500 housing units inLokoja, thetransformation of Lokojatownship with asphaltroads, street lights,

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—5

Life and political struggles ofPrince Abubakar Audu

aesthetic roundabouts,the construction of inter-township and ruralroads, over 75electrification schemesand 50 water projects.

Others include thefounding of Kogi StatePolytechnic, theestablishment of atelevision station, radiostation (both AM andFM), a state newspaper,the transformation of thecolonial residence of

Lord Lugard into anU l t r a - M o d e r nGovernment HouseComplex, theconstruction of officeblocks for ministries asthe new state had nooffice accommodation,the construction ofshopping arcadecomplex to enhancecommercial activities,among others.

He was regarded as thefather of development inKogi State.

Continues from Page 4

KOGI: Constitutionalcrisis looms....Lawyers divided over freshpolls or conclusion of exercise

By CliffordNdujihe, CharlesKumolu, Gbenga

Oke & Omezia Ajayi

LAGOS—DIVISIONwas the lot of

lawyers, yesterday, overhow the country couldproceed with the KogiState governorshipelection following thedeath of the AllProgressives Congress(APC) GovernorshipCandidate, PrinceAbubakar Audu.

With results from the 21local councils of the state,Audu with 240,867 voteswas on his way to ahistoric third electoralvictory after six attemptsas his closest challenger,Governor Idris Wada ofthe Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) has 199,514votes.

However, instead ofbeing declared as thewinner of the election, theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission(INEC) announcedyesterday afternoon thatthe election wasinconclusive, saying thatthere would be re-runpolls in 59 polling units

which have about 49,000registered voters.

Audu died shortly afterthe announcement raisingquestions on how theexercise could beconcluded because thethe 1999 Constitution andthe Electoral Act are silenton what should be doneif a candidate dies whilethe election is on-going.

There should befresh election – Braithwaite

Speaking on the issueyesterday, SecondRepublic politician andlegal icon, Dr TunjiBraithwaite said thedemise of Prince Auducalls for a freshgovernorship election inKogi.

His words: First, it is sadthat Audu died. Ourthoughts are with hisfamily at this time.However, coming tomankind, life andactivities must go on. Ifthe front runner in anelection drops dead, thenext person with highervotes cannotautomatically be declaredwinner.

‘’The deceasedaccording, to INEC scoredhigher votes. Audu’sdeath calls for anotherelection. The incumbent,Capt Idris Wada willcontinue as governor untilanother election. Theremust be anotherelection.’’

Just anotherelection– Adegbuyi

Dr Braithwaite’s viewswere shared by Barr BisiAdegbuyi, a stalwart of theAfenifere Renewal group,ARG.

‘’There is nothing otherholding another election.APC should be allowed topresent anothercandidate. Since theelection has not beenconcluded, the deputygovernorship candidatecannot take his place, heis not the candidate,’’ hesaid.

The re-run pollsshould beconcluded– Basorun

However, ChiefOlorunfunmi Basorun,Second Republicpolitician and Secretary tothe Lagos StateGovernment underGovernor Lateef KayodeJakande, said the re-runpolls in 59 polling unitsshould be concluded andthe winner declared byINEC.

Reason: ‘’It is the partythat matters. The partysponsored the candidates.In 1999, when Alhaji AtikuAbubakar was nominatedas Vice presidentialcandidate, although theAdamawa governorshipelection had beenconcluded, the deputygovernorship-elect, BoniHaruna, stepped in. So,the INEC should conductthe election in theremaining polling unitsand declare the winner.’’

Audu’s runningmate should stepin – Quakers

In his reaction, MrNorris Quakers, SAN,said since the NigerianConstitution did notenvisage what hashappened, it makes ittricky and dicey.

He however said, “Inmy thinking, if you readsections 36, 39 and 40 ofthe Electoral Act asamended, I think theIndependent ElectoralCommission will have toconduct elections in thoseareas where they areinconclusive. What theparty that was affectedneeds to do is to allow thedeputy governorshipcandidate run as itsgovernorship candidatewhile a new deputygovernorship candidateis picked”.

Ticket belongs toAPC – Ngige

On his part, ChiefEmeka Ngige, SAN, said:‘’There is no lacuna. InAdamawa, after Obasanjopicked Atiku, who hadalready won thegovernorship election inthe state to be his runningmate, the opposition ledby Bala Takaya kickedagainst the decision topick Haruna as areplacement for Audu.The opposition went to theFederal High Court tostop it and the matterdragged to the SupremeCourt that it was right forHaruna, who wasAbubakar’s running mateto become the governor.The opposition demandedfor fresh election but thatwas rejected by theSupreme Court.‘’However, this is apeculiar situation. What ishappening now is acombination of a lot ofissues. In RotimiAmaechi’s case the courtruled that it was the partythat owned the ticket. Italso said that the partyowned the votes. So, sucha scenario may play upthis time again. Thesituation we have at handis called a recconditesituation in law. And itwill require a lot ofinterpretations. I foresee avery stormy and testingperiod for INEC. Thejudiciary will also be puton trial.

‘’In Amaechi’s case, hehad no running mate butsince the court had ruledthat the party owned theticket, Ikuru, who wasOmehia’s deputy, becamehis deputy. In my opinion,I will say that the APCowns the ticket. INECshould go ahead with theelections and conclude itbecause the votes belongthe the APC.’’

A source at the INECheadquarters in Abujasaid yesterday:“Ordinarily, thecommission wouldnormally cancel the pollsand fix another date forthe election, but since anelection has beenconducted, INEC cangive seven days to theparty to announce anothercandidate before theconduct of thesupplementary polls.”

LOGGING OUT—Late Audu arriving to cast his vote in the Kogi governorshipelection on Saturday. Photo: NAN.

KOGI SCENARIO:

AGF should head toSupreme Court

News Analysis byInnocent Anaba,

Head, Judiciary, Lawand Human Rights

LAGOS—THE deathof the Kogi State

governorship candidateof the All ProgressivesCongress, APC,Abubakar Audu, weekend,has brought to fore theneed for drafters of thecountry’s constitution andElectoral Act to be moreforward looking inpreparing thosedocuments to ensure thatall scenarios are capturedin the documents.

Today, the Electoral Actonly provides that in casea candidate dies before anelection, the IndependentNational ElectoralCommission, INEC, ismandatorily required topostpone the poll.

It stated in section 36“(1): "If after the time forthe delivery of nominationpaper and before thecommencement of thepoll, a nominatedcandidate dies, the ChiefNational ElectoralCommissioner or theResident ElectoralCommissioner shall,being satisfied of the factof the death, countermandthe poll in which thedeceased candidate wasto participate and theCommission shall appointsome other convenientdate for the election within14 days.”

But no provision wasmade for a situation,where a candidate diesduring election like whathas happened in KogiState. The Electoral Actand constitution did notgive the electoral body thepower to pursue a specificline of action in this kindof situation, particularlywhere an election isinconclusive as it is inKogi State today.

It will be recalled thatINEC had declared theKogi gubernatorialelection inconclusivefollowing the cancellationof the results of the pollin 59 polling units from 18of the 21 local governmentareas of the state.

Announcing thedecision on Sunday inLokoja, the state capital,the Returning Officer forthe election, Prof.Emmanuel Kucha, saidthe cancellation of 49,453votes in 18 localgovernment areas.

The issues that arosefrom of the Kogi scenarioinclude, should theelectoral body substitutethe governorshipcandidate with his deputy,who only emerged adeputy by being selectedby the gubernatorialcandidate?

It must be rememberedthat the deputy did notemerge the candidate ofthe party and his

ascending to thesubstantive position ofgovernor is only when hehas been sworn-inalongside the governorand death comesknocking or the governoris incapacitated, asprovided by section 181 ofthe constitution, whichprovides: (1) If a personduly elected as Governordies before taking andsubscribing the Oath ofAllegiance and oath ofoffice, or is unable for anyreason whatsoever to besworn in, the personelected with him asDeputy governor shall besworn in as governor andhe shall nominate a newDeputy-Governor whoshall be appointed by theGovernor with theapproval of a simplemajority of the House ofAssembly of the State.”

Interestingly, the Kogielection was declaredinconclusive beforeAbubakar Audu’s death,as no winner wasannounced by INEC.

So, what should INECdo?

The quickest andperhaps the most viable,which will placate anyform of protest and toserve as a precedence isfor the Attorney Generalof the Federation andMinister of Justice, toapproach the SupremeCourt straight away withan application for theinterpretation of theconstitution, so that theapex court can clear thecoast on what should bedone in the immediate,whether a fresh electionshould be held in the stateor the APC deputycandidate should stand inplace for Abubakar Auduor proffer the way forwardin the interim.

Then afterwards, theNational Assembly shouldamend the Electoral Acton what should happen,since amending theconstitution is far moreproblematic given theprocesses that must befollowed.

Also, to ensure that allscenarios are captured inthe Electoral Act, so thatwe are not left gaspingagain, when some otherthing happens in thecourse of election, theFederal Government,should also propose anamendment of the Act,which can be presentedas an executive bill to theNational Assemblyproposing the requiredamendments to the Act.

The makers of our lawsmust start being broadand forward looking andmake laws that will standthe test of time, so that wedon’t repeat the RotimiAmaechi’s case againstCelestine Omahia, whichthe apex court afteradjusting warned shouldnot be cited as precedent.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2015

Drug dealer stabs man to death in Imo

Police kill 4 alleged kidnappers duringgun battle in Rivers

Lawyerarraignedoverallegedimpersonation,forgery

By Daud Olatunji

By Jimitota Onoyume

By Chidi Nkwopara

Patient attacks medical personnel,others in Ogun

FUEL SCARCITY: Queues of jerry cans at NNPC Filling Station, along LASU-Isheri road,Isheri-Olofin, as fuel scarcity bites harder in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

By Onozure Dania

OWERRI—UMUELE—UMUELE, Umunakanu, in

Ehime Mbano LocalGovernment Area of Imo State,has been thrown into deepmourning, following the allegedgruesome murder of a memberof the community, Mr.Onyekaozuru Ezeji.

Vanguard gathered thattroubled started when Ezeji, abricklayer, went on a debtrecovery drive to the home of hisalleged killer, also a member ofthe community.

Although it was not clear atpress time how much was owedthe deceased bricklayer,Vanguard, however, gatheredthat the suspect, said to be anIndian hemp dealer, threatenedto summarily deal with Ezeji ifhe did not leave his premisesimmediately.

“A scuffle ensued midway intotheir shouting match and the manbrought out a sharp knife andstabbed Ezeji. He startedbleeding profusely from thewound sites” a witness whopleaded anonymity recounted.

The eyewitness said the IndianHemp dealer quickly invited acommercial motorcycle operatorto assist him move the woundedman to a nearby hospital.

He also recalled that the victimcollapsed and died before gettingto the anticipated hospital,following which the duo dumpedthe lifeless body of Mr. Ezeji onthe road side and fled.

“Officers and men of EhimeMbano Police Division quicklyrushed to the place as soon asthey got a report about theincident, and moved Ezeji’sremains to an undisclosedhospital morgue,” the witnesssaid.

Vanguard also gathered thattwo persons, including theyounger brother of the fleeingsuspect and the commercialmotorcycle operator, have beenarrested by the police, while themain suspect is still on the run atpress time.

While confirming the incidentto newsmen, the Vice Chairmanof Umuele kindred, Mr. EthelOgu, also said the town unionexecutives had severally advisedthe fleeing drug dealer to stopthe illicit trade but he refused.

PORT HARCOURT—FOURsuspected kidnappers lost

their lives weekend at Kaani inKhana local government areaduring a fierce gun battle withmen of the Rivers State policecommand.

LAGOS—THE policehave charged a 30-

year-old lawyer, StephenAnebere, before an IgbosereMagistrate’s court foralleged impersonation,forgery and stealing of£50,000.

The defendant, whoresides at Dominion Court,Ado road, Ajah, Lagos, isstanding trial on a nine-count charge bordering onconspiracy, impersonation,fraud, stealing, cheating,criminal breach of trust andforgery preferred againsthim by the police.

The prosecutor, InspectorRaji Akeem, told the courtthat the lawyer and oneother still at large,committed the allegedoffences between February2013 and September 2015.

He said the incident tookplace at ESCC education at16 Karimu Ikotun Street,Victoria Island, Lagos.

Akeem said thedefendant falselyimpersonated an officer ofESCC education, claimingto be the owner of theinstitution.

He also said thedefendant fraudulentlyobtained the sum of £50,000from students ofSunderland University ofUnited Kingdom under thepretext of being the ownerof ESCC Education UK inNigeria.

The prosecutor alsoalleged that the defendantdiverted the said money,property of ESCCEducation, Nigeria,affiliated to SunderlandUniversity of UnitedKingdom, to his personaluse.

He further alleged thatthe defendant onSeptember 3, 2015, atabout 2.50pm at thesame address above,forged an invoice tofraudulently obtain £870,which is equivalent toN240,000, from First Bank,Lekki branch.

When the charge wasread to the defendant, hepleaded not guilty.

Magistrate M. Kushamgranted the defendant bailin the sum of N 250,000,with two sureties, each inlike sum.

The case has beenadjourned till December 14for mention.

The state Police Commissioner,Mr Musa Kimo, who disclosedthis in a press statement Saturdaynight, said his men stormed thehideout of the kidnappers of theRegistrar, Ken SarowiwaPolytechnic, Bori, Mrs LilianDavies, for her rescue when the

hoodlums opened fire on them.The Police chief said during the

exchange of fire, his men gunneddown four of the kidnappers andsuccessfully rescued the hostage.

He said his men recovered alocally made pistol, onemagazine, 25 rounds of 7.62 live

•Rescue kidnapped Poly registrar ammunition and five cartridgesfrom the hoodlums.

The Registrar, Mrs Davies,was taken hostage lastWednesday along Yeghe-Boriroad on her way from the office.

The state police boss appealedfor support from the public torid the state of miscreants andhoodlums.

“We severally warned thesuspect to stop the illicit drugtrade, which fuelled influx ofunknown faces into our kindredat odd times, but he never tookthe warning before thisincident,”Ogu said.

When Vanguard visited the

palace of the traditional ruler ofUmunakanu autonomouscommunity, Eze Onyeji, his aidessaid that although he was not athome at the time, he quickly saidhe would not want to be drawninto the incident.

The mobile line of the Police Public

Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr.Andrew Enwerem, a deputysuperintendent of police, couldnot be reached before press time,for his comment, but anotherpolice source claimed thatHomicide Detectives had alreadystarted investigating the matter.

ABEOKUTA—A mild dramaensued midnight Saturday at

State Hospital,Ijaiye, Abeokuta,Ogun State, as a patient wentwild and beat up medicalpersonnel and other patients.

Trouble started when the malepatient (name withheld ), whowas admitted in the EmergencyTreatment Room,ETR, alongsideother patients rose from his bedat 11:05pm and reportedlylaunched attacks on the peopleon sight and vandalised theward.

Vanguard gathered that theattack launched by the patient,forced doctors, nurses and othermedical personnel on duty to takecover, and bolted of from theward.

The first victim of the attack by

the wild patient was his mother,who he allegedly beat up blackbefore attacking other patients .

Some patients who were able toescape the wrath of the violentpatient, sneaked out of the wardafter pulling out infusion needlefrom their vein, while those whocould not lift themselves gotbeaten by the patient.

However, some of the patientsand relatives who spoke withVanguard on anonymity, said thepatient was admitted followinghead injuries he sustained duringa face off with some unidentifiedsecurity men who arrested him atan odd hour.

“We were told that he had a faceoff with some security on the streetand sustained injuries on thehead,and was brought to hospitaland subsequently admitted and

given treatment. Just a fewminutes after the doctors andnurses attended to him,andpatients were asleep, he rose tolaunch attack on everything insight. His mother was the firstvictim, who he beat mercilessly,’a patient recalled

When Vanguard visited thehospital yesterday, traces ofbloodstain, which were a falloutof the attacks littered theground,as some of the patientsand relatives were seenrecounting their experiences.

Meanwhile, the MedicalDirector of the Hospital, KayodeOladeinde, when contacted,declined comment on the uglydevelopment,saying,”I am acivil servant and have noauthority to speak to the press,except I am permitted, so Icannot say anything on it.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2015—7

How drunken gang member shot dead 9 DSSofficials at Arepo —Agbara robbery kingpin

Gunmenabductclergyman,demandN6m asransom inRivers

LAGOS FRACAS: 8 in Police net for alleged murder

LAGOS—Leader of thedreaded gang of bank

robbers which had beenterrorising commercial banks inLagos and Ogun states in militaryuniforms has disclosed that hisgang never intended to kill nineofficials of the Department ofState Service, DSS, who wentmissing last September.

The suspect, identified as KellyFotor, an Ijaw native of Arugbo,Ondo State, was arrested lastSaturday by operatives of theInspector General of PoliceSpecial Intelligence ResponseTeam, SIRT, at a weddingceremony in Sapele, Delta State.

Gun battle with Policeand arrest

Vanguard gathered that thesuspect, who was at the ceremonywith some armed men, had a gunduel with the operatives which ledto the killing of one of thepolicemen, while Fotor and threeof his colleagues, were arrestedwith bullet wounds.

It was gathered that the SIRToperatives, led by CSP, Abba Kyari,who had been on the trail of the

R U M U J I —UNIDENTIFIED

gunmen, last weekend,abducted a pastor at Rumujiin Emohua LocalGovernment Area of RiversState.

The clergyman, PastorPeter, who also deals inphone accessories, wasaccosted around 8pm lastFriday and taken away toan unknown destination atgunpoint.

A source who related theincident to Vanguard,disclosed that theclergyman was justreturning from his businesswhen the strange visitorsinvaded and took himaway.

The source said before thearmed men kidnappedtheir victim, they harassedeveryone around theresidence and took all theirphones.

It also disclosed that sofar, the relatives of the victimhad established contact withthe kidnappers, disclosingthat the kidnappers weredemanding N6 millionransom to grant himfreedom.

Meanwhile, the policehave said they raided asuspected kidnappers’ hideout in Emohua LocalGovernment Area.

The men of the policeforce stormed a tick forestat the boundary betweenNdele and Rumuekpecommunities based onintelligence gathering andraided the safe haven forcriminal gangs.

Ndele of recent had beenin the front burner ofkidnap and criminalactivities.

Recall that last month, fiveteachers were abductedfrom Rundele secondaryschool and are yet to bereleased.

A senior police officer inthe area disclosed that theyarrested a native doctorsuspected to be the personwho made charms for theboys that had beenterrorizing the area.

It also said some charmsalready prepared were alsoconfiscated during theoperation that lasted abouttwo hours.

By DaviesIheanmachor

By Ifeanyi Okolie

•Says gang made N28 million at Agbara robbery operation

gang, trailed Fotor to the weddingceremony after their last operationat Agbara area of Ogun Statewhere they robbed a bank and leftthree persons, including apregnant woman, dead.

Fotor, who sustained a bulletwound during the shootout, toldVanguard while he was beingtransported for treatment that hewas the leader of the South Southgroup of the gang.

He explained that the gang alsohad a Lagos leader who heidentified as Ossy, adding that hisgang was made up of 12 men,including himself, with bases inDelta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondostates.

Fotor also said his gang normallyteamed up with their Lagos groupfor operations, disclosing toVanguard that he and his gangwere formerly into sea piracybefore teaming up with Ossy.

According to him, Ossy is theleader of the pipeline vandals atArepo and Ikorodu areas.

Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac andAgbara robbery operations

Fotor also said he and his mentook part in the Lekki, Ikorodu,Festac and Agbra bank robberies,

adding that they made N28million from Agbara bankrobbery.

“I and my group got N14million share from the Agbaraoperation, while, Ossy and hisgroup got N14 million. I leftLagos by sea that day after thatoperation with my men back toIgbokoda, Ondo State, wherewe shared the money andeveryone got his share of theloot.

‘’It was Ossy’s men whousually pick out our targets.They were the ones who pickedout all the targets, my job wasto give support and my boat isvery big and my boat boy is aprofessional and knows hisway around the water verywell,” he stated

When Vanguard inquiredwho was the woman in thegroup, he explained that there was no woman in the gang.

He, however, said it was oneof Ossy’s boys who normallydressed like a woman duringoperations.

How the DSS operativeswere killed

On how they killed the nine

DSS officials, Fotor told Vanguardthat as commanders of the groups,he and Ossy never intended tokill the operatives when they werecaptured.

He explained that theoperatives stormed their hideoutwanting to rescue a woman whothey abducted from Festac.

He explained further: “ One ofour boys who was heavily drunkmet us while we wereinterrogating the suspects afterwe captured them and he openedfire on them.

‘’I was at their camp at Ikoroduwhen the DSS operatives werecaptured and they brought thembefore me and Ossy and theyknelt down and we interrogatedthem, but that guy, he was Ossy’sman. He was very drunk, walkedin and without asking questionsopened fire on all of them andkilled them. Neither myself norOssy ordered their killing, wenever wanted to kill them," heexplained.

Meanwhile, Vanguardgathered that Fotor and three othersuspects arrested along with himhave been transferred to Abuja,while SIRT operatives are stillcombing the area for othermembers of the gang.

NABBED: The suspects arrested over alleged murder of one Akeem Ajanaku at Enu-Owa/Ido Olowu area of Lagos Island.

By Esther Onyegbula &Ufuoma Tiveruahor

LAGOS—LAGOS State policecommand, weekend, arrested

eight persons for allegedlymurdering one Akeem Ajanakuwho was attacked at Enu-Owa/Ido Olowu area of Lagos Island.

The suspects, identified asAnimashaun Akeem, QudusAtakoro, Abduramon Onisemo,Muritala Oyejobi, Tabiu Mujib,Iyaniwura Idris, Tayo Oladimeji,and Segun Adeyemi, werearrested by the police at the sceneof the murder, while othersescaped.

Vanguard learned that onNovember, 15, 2015, at about 1pm,

Ido-Olowa/Enu-owa on LagosIsland, was invaded by thugsarmed with cutlasses, axes, gunsand other dangerous weaponswhich they used to attack oneAkeem Ajanaku.

According to Supol SegunAdebayo, who reported the caseat Central Police Station, Adeniji-Adele, Lagos, “the victim, AkeemAjanaku, was rushed to LagosIsland General Hospital by thepolice and other sympathizers;unfortunately, he gave up theghost.”

The case was later transferred tothe Special Anti-Robbery Squad,SARS, Lagos State PoliceCommand, for further

investigation.Vanguard gathered that

investigation is still on going toapprehend other members ofthe gang who are currently onthe run.

Suspects accountOne of the suspects, Tayo

Oladimeji, explained his role:“I was at home sleeping on aSaturday morning when I heardmy mum’s voice asking if I wontgo to work. Reluctantly, I gotup from my bed and headedtowards the bathroom to take mybath when I was arrested.’’

Denying the allegation,Segun said: “I don’t know

anything. I was in my shop thatMonday when policemen cameto arrest me, saying I wasinvolved in last Sunday’s fracason Lagos Island. The onlyencounter that I had was whensome unknown guys came to meat Oduduwa bus stop andcollected my wristwatch.

‘’Immediately I was arrested, Icalled my parents but I couldn’treach them and then police alsoseized my phone and brought mehere (Lagos command)thismorning. While I was in the policecustody, I was told that Major andPaulo called my mobile phone. Idon’t know the reason they werecalling me.”

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2015

N18,000 minimum wage:Prepare for war, NLC tells govs

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnbosco

Agbakwuru

COLLATION: From left: Resident Electoral Coommissioner (REC) for Kogi State, AlhajiHaliru Pai; Returning Officer for Kogi Governorship Election, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha andassistant to the Returning Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ayan, displaying INEC Form EC 8D, duringthe collation of Kogi governorship election results, in Lokoja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

•Plans to submit proposal for upward review

LAGOS — THE NigeriaLabour Congress, NLC,

yesterday warned that attemptsby the governors through theGovernors’ Forum to renege onthe N18,000 national minimumwage signed into law by formerPresident Goodluck Jonathan inMarch 2011, was an opendeclaration of war against theNigerian workers.

Congress equally told PresidentMuhammadu Buhari to prepareto receive the proposal for thereview of the minimum wage ascontained in the agreement,noting that the proposal wasdelayed because the NLCwanted to give the governmenttime to settle down before comingup with the demand.

While insisting that the abilityto pay even above the wage wasnot the problem of the economy,NLC recalled that the 2011national minimum wage cameinto existence after almost twoyears of agitation and eventualnegotiation by the tripartite ofgovernment (represented by thefederal and state governments),the Nigeria EmployersConsultative Association, NECA,representing other employers (inthe private sector) and organizedLabour.

NLC, in a statement by itsfactional President, Mr. AyubaWabba, told the governors toprepare for war and organisedlabour would have no alternativethan to mobilize to respondappropriately to this act ofaggression by the political classon workers’ welfare.

The statement read in part: "TheNigeria Labour Congress is

shocked by the statement creditedto the chairman of the GovernorsForum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari,that the N18,000 nationalminimum wage promulgated intolaw in 2011 was no longersustainable because of the fall inthe price of crude oil. Thegovernor, who was speaking onbehalf of his colleagues at the endof a meeting of the forum, alsoclaimed that the nationalminimum wage was 'imposed'.

"We wish to make it abundantlyclear that this attempt to reversethe national minimum wage is adeclaration of war against theworking people of this country,and we would have no alternativethan to mobilize to respond to thisact of aggression by the politicalclass on our welfare.

“For us in the Nigeria LabourCongress, we know as a fact thatability to pay minimum wages isnot the problem of the economy.What is the problem for states andother tiers of government is theamount many political officeholders and their unproductiveaides take away as wages. For theprivate sector, the greed toaccumulate more and more profitis also always a motivating factorto keep wages down.

"Similarly, we have been in theforefront of campaigning that thecost of governance at all levelsneeds to be drastically cut down,to free enough resources fordevelopment. The hundreds ofbillions of Naira our public officeholders continue to filter away inthe name of governance is whatis not sustainable.

“For instance, the annual costto the public purse of governors‘security votes’ which is anunaccountable drain on the publicresources, is worth severalthousands of minimum wages per

state. Secondly, Nigerians whohave the means to travel by airwould recall that in the last 6-10years, majority of, if not all ourgovernors, no longer usecommercial airline regular flights

as a means of transportationfrom one place to another. Theynow have ‘official’ aircrafts andhelicopters, which theymaintain at huge costs to thestate treasury.

"Their less 'fortunate'counterparts charter aircraftsand helicopters at the cost ofmillions of Naira to tax payersto attend any manner offunctions from marriages tochild naming ceremonies.

"States are in the poor financialstate they are in largely on thedevelopmental choices theyhave made; largely on the basisof priorities they have chosenwhich has nothing to do withthe public good. Workerssalaries cannot be sacrificed onthe altar of challenges of theeconomy which is not themaking of workers. It has neverhappened in the history of ourcountry, and it will not be saidthat it is during our leadershipof the Nigerian labourmovement that this calamity wasallowed to happen to Nigerianworkers.

“Governors and other politicaloffice holders were not electedand/or appointed to only go andshare proceeds from crude oiland petroleum products salesmonthly in Abuja. Any oneputting himself or herself out toserve does so on the assumptionthat he or she have intellectabove the average which wouldbe leveraged to provide goodand responsive governance tothe rest of the populace.

"In the 60’s when Nigeria didnot have oil as the main source

of our revenue, our fore bearersraised funds via efficient taxes,agricultural produce and otherforms of internally generatedrevenue to provide developmentand pay living wages to theworkers. Our current crop ofleaders, who put themselves upfor election to high governmentpositions, must deliver by payingthe working masses their due pay.This is not negotiable.

“As early as May 2015, we gavenotice that the N18,000 NationalMinimum Wage was due forreview, and that we would besubmitting a new proposal oncethe incoming government settleddown. We have been patient andwaited for the President Buharigovernment to appoint ministersand thus have full complimentsof officers to run the government.

"With the recent devaluation ofthe Naira, and the attendantincrease in inflation and cost ofliving, even without the lastminimum wage Act reaching themandatory five years when it isdue for review, we would havebeen justified to request forreview.

"Now the five years is here –we are at the end of 2015, andwith the cost of living being sohigh, we will soon table our newminimum wage demand to thefederal government. If the recentstatement by the GovernorsForum is intended to manoeuvrethem away from addressing thisimperative, then it is bound to failas we are ready to do battle toraise the living standard of theNigerian working people.”

BVN: Weekly FOREX sale to BDCsfalls by $100m

By Bababjide Komolafe

LAGOS — THE Central Bankof Nigeria (CBN) has said that

the introduction of the BiometricVerification Number (BVN) has ledto reduction in the weekly sale offoreign exchange to bureaux dechange by $100 million.

CBN Governor, Mr. GodwinEmefiele, disclosed this weekendwhile speaking at the annualdinner of the Chartered Instituteof Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

The CBN on October 22 directedthat from November 1, 2015, theBVN will be used as criteria forforeign exchange transaction byBDCs and banks.

This made it illegal for BDCs andbanks to sell foreign exchange toanybody without submission andverification of the BVN.

Speaking on the impact of thispolicy on the weekly foreignexchange sales to BDCs, Emefielesaid: "While it may be too soon tocompletely adjudicate on the meritsof our policies, preliminary signsindicate that we are headed to theright direction as a people.

“For example, we have managedto attain stability in the exchangerate at about N197/$1 sinceFebruary 2015, although some arenot happy with us for that action.Most speculators and rent-seekers

have been eliminated from theforex market.

“We have seen the number ofBDC operators who purchaseforex from the central bankevery week drop from anaverage of about 2,886 to justbelow 1,200 BDCs, therebygiving the CBN forex savingsof almost $100 million per week.This policy seems to havechased away unscrupulousBDC operators and allow onlygenuine operators to remain inthe market.

“CBN is mindful of the shortterm pain of some of its recentpolicy but pleads for theunderstanding of the public asthe policies are in the overallinterest of the country.

“The CBN would always actin good faith to pursue the goalof catalysing job creation as wellas promoting job creation andinclusive growth.

Given the sharp fall in oilprices, federation allocation tostates have dropped by anaverage of about N2 billionmonthly for each. Similarly,average inflows of foreignexchange into the CBN hasfallen to by about $1.3 billion permonth.

“This has led to a sharpdecline in our forex reserves

from as high as $37 billion as atJune 2014, to $30 billion. This alsoresulted to speculative attack onthe currency and round-trippingin the market. This incidenceforced us to depreciate the nairaby about 22 per cent, furtherleading to the gradual increasein inflation. All of these sloweddown growth.

“In order to ensuretransparency in thedetermination of the exchangerate and to eliminate the activitiesof speculators and rent-seekers,we closed the official central bankforex window in February andmoved all transactions to theinterbank market.

"Despite the significantreduction of forex inflows into thecountry, we continue to see theimportation of items such as eggs,tomatoes, tomato purri, rice, fish,margarine and oil palm. But weknow that Nigeria can producesome of these products if we setour eyes on doing so.

"Nigeria cannot continue onthis path of importing everythingand anything. Indeed, it is bothunacceptable and unsustainableand that was the reason wedecided at the central bank toprohibit items we can producehere from accessing forex fromthe central bank."

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2015—9

Siege toDasuki’shome: AGFappears incourt today

By IkechukwuNnochiri

ABUJA — THE AttorneyGeneral of the Federation

and Minister of Justice, Mr.Malami Abubakar, SAN, willtoday, explain to the FederalHigh Court in Abuja, why theformer National SecurityAdviser, NSA, Col. SamboDasuki (retd), has remainedunder house arrest, despite acourt order that permitted himto travel abroad for medicaltreatment.

The appearance of the AGFbefore the court was sequel toa summon issued on him byJustice Ademola Adeniyi.

Justice Ademola, who ispresiding over the trial of theerstwhile NSA, maintainedthat the AGF must appearbefore him to explain why thecourt order, dated November3, was flouted at the behest ofthe Federal Government.

The judge summoned theAGF after Dasuki’s lawyers,led by Mr. Joseph Daudu,SAN, informed the court thatarmed operatives of theDepartment of State Services,DSS, had since November 4,barred their client fromstepping out of his house.

Daudu told the court that theoperatives have continued tolay siege to Dasuki’s residenceat 13, John Kadiya Street,Asokoro District, Abuja, adevelopment he said made itimpossible for him to travel tothe United Kingdom to keepan appointment with hisdoctor.

The action of the DSS camea day after the court grantedDasuki three weeks medicalleave to travel abroad to takecare of his budding cancer,and return to the countrybefore November 26 for thecontinuation of his trial.

Dasuki is answering to afive-count criminal chargebordering on moneylaundering and his allegedillegal possession of firearms.

Meanwhile, the AGF, had atthe press briefing in Abuja lastThursday, justified the siegeto Dasuki’s home by DSSoperatives, saying the actionwas in public interest.

The AGF said the action ofthe government againstDasuki was not indisobedience to any courtorder.

Stressing that underPresident MuhammaduBuhari, “there shall not beflouting of court orders,"saying: “In some of thesecases, some of these highprofile culprits may beinvolved in multiple cases thatmight require investigation."

GET-TOGETHER: From left: Mrs Kemi Akinyemi, Editor, The Elite; Mr Steve Ayorinde, Lagos State Commissionerfor Information and Strategy; Mr Bolaji Tunji, Executive Director, The Sun newspapers and Mrs Funke Egbemode, ManagingDirector, New Telegraph newspapers when Mr Ayorinde was hosted by friends and colleagues in Lagos, weekend. Photo:Shola Oyelese.

Fuel scarcity: FOREX frustrates productsimportation •Marketers urged to reschedule cargoes

By Clara Nwachukwu &Sebastine Obasi

LAGOS — THE inability ofmarketers to access foreign

exchange from banks is said tobe frustrating the importation ofpetroleum products, especially,premium motor spirit, PMS, orpetrol, which is in very highdemand in the county.

As a result, the Central Bankof Nigeria, CBN, has been calledupon to look for ways and meansto make foreign exchangeavailable to marketers to ease thechallenges.

This is just as the FederalGovernment has pleaded withmarketers to reschedule their laytan, to bring forward the periodof arrival for their scheduledvessels.

Inadequate supply iscontributing to the lingering fuelscarcity that set in since the pastweeks despite concertedinterventions by the Ministry ofPetroleum Resources, NigerianNational Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, and oil marketers tosalvage the situation.

Furthermore, the fact that theN413 billion approved by theFederal Government as paymentfor outstanding fuel subsidywhich has not been approved bythe National Assembly, is nothelping matters, even asconsumers accuse marketers ofhoarding the scarce commodityto maximise profit.

Speaking on the development,Chairman, Depot and PetroleumProducts Marketers Association,DAPPMA, Mr. Dapo Abiodun,told Vanguard on phone,yesterday, that the reason whythe stakeholders’ intervention isnot yielding much success is dueto supply shortfall.

According to him, dailyconsumption is about 35 millionlitres despite claims to thecontrary, and NNPC alone cannotmeet this demand becauseNNPC is a supplier of last resortand not a major supplier.

“We consume more fuel inDecember alone; we consume aminimum of 35 million litres

because it is a holiday period andthere is a lot of movement in andout of the country. So it is not atime to play politics or toexperiment with numbersbecause marketers normallyprepare for December period.”

Non-payment ofoutstanding subsidy

Abiodun, however, noted thatsuch preparations had beenstalled due to the non-paymentof outstanding subsidy claimsand lack of access to foreignexchange.

He said: “Marketers have notbeen paid outstanding subsidy,although government hasapproved N413 billion, thehighest amount approved by anygovernment. But the NationalAssembly refused to approve,saying it was not part of thebudget. So, it had to be included

in the supplementary budget,which is yet to be approved.

“But while we wait, the CBNmust make available foreignexchange to marketers becausethere is no forex to pay ourcreditors, and we have been cryingout loud on this for months but ithas fallen on deaf ears. There aremembers who are willing to fundthe import with their money, butwhere is the dollar equivalent forit? And even if we source the dollarfrom somewhere, the additionalcosts will be factored into thesubsidy claims.”

Vessel reschedulingAnother marketer, who spoke in

confidence with Vanguard onphone, disclosed that governmenthad pleaded with three or fourmarketers, whose vessels werescheduled to arrive in December,to bring them forward this month.

He said: “Government toldthose with awaiting vessels forDecember, about three or fourof them, to reschedule their laytan and bring them forward tobefore the end of November.

He said the rescheduling ofthe lay tan is possible, as longas the vessels have been billedto arrive at a particular period,”adding that the supplyshortages will ease once thecargoes come in.

Also speaking, a spokesmanfor the Petroleum ProductsPricing Regulatory Agency,PPPRA, Mr. Lanre Oladele,said that sharp practices andthe desire to sell the productabove the official price of N87by some marketers isresponsible for the long queuesbeing experienced in retailoutlets.

Unemployment rate rises further•As agric sector dominates new job creation

By Emeka Anaeto,Economy Editor

LAGOS— Despiteimprovements in some key

economic indices, unemploymentrate has risen further in thirdquarter (Q3) 2015, making it thefourth consecutive rise inunemployment rate quarterlysince Q3, 2014.

National Bureau of Statistics,NBS, labour reports releasedduring the weekend showed thatthe number of unemployedpersons in the labour forceincreased by 1,454,620 duringthe quarter, resulting in anincrease in the nation’sunemployment rate to 9.9 percent in Q3 2015 from 8.2 per centin Q2 2015 and 7.5 per centrecorded in Q1 2015.

This came against a positivedevelopment in job creation asaccording to NBS Q3 job creation

report, about 427,000 new jobswere created within the sameperiod.

However, the report indicatesthat the new jobs created wasinadequate to match the over 1.9million new entrants into thelabour market within the period.

Further analysis of the labourreport also shows that there werea total of 20.7 million persons inthe labour force that were eitherunemployed or underemployedcompared to 19.6 million in Q22015, and 17.7 million in Q1 2015.

Highlights of the unemploymentand underemployment in Q3 2015show a continuous rise in theeconomically active population orworking age population (personswithin ages 15- 64) increasing from102.8 million in Q1 2015 to 103.5million in Q2 2015 and 104.3 milionin Q3 2015.

In Q3 2015, the labour forcepopulation (those within theworking age population willing,

able and actively looking forwork) increased to 75.9 millionfrom 74.0 million in Q2 2015,representing 2.6 per centincrease in the labour force.

The higher labour forcepopulation has doused theprogress made in job creationwhere total number of new jobsrecorded in the economy was475,180, a significant increase of42.5 per cent above 333,812recorded in Q2 2015 and a huge278 per cent leap against125,837 jobs recorded in thecorresponding period of 2014.

However, NBS said theincrease in the number of jobsin Q3 2015 was driven mainlyby informal sector jobs, whichaccounted for 90.2 percent of thetotal jobs created. It added thatthe informal jobs werepredominantly in the agriculturesector which usually turn outheavy in the planting season ofQ3.

CMYK

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2015

LFTZ tribunal: Community wantskiller bullet subjected to test

By MonsuruOlowoopejo

LAGOS — A witness at theongoing tribunal of inquiry

into the October 12, 2015 civildisturbances that led to thedeath of Managing Director ofLekki Worldwide InvestmentNigeria Limited, Mr. TajudeenDisu, has demanded that thebullet removed from thedeceased body be subjected toforensic test.

Counsel representing Idasoand other 12 communities, Mr.Bamidele Ogundele, made thedemands before the six-mantribunal constituted by Governor

Akinwunmi Ambode, chaired byJustice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi (retd) in Ikeja.

Ogundele argued the bulletremoved from the deceasedshould be “subjected to forensictest to ascertain whether it was theresidents or the police attached tohim that shot him. This is to ensurethat there is a permanent solutionto the lingering crisis.”

He noted that though the firearmcannot be easily identified but thebullet removed from the deceasedis veritable evidence from thecrime scene, arguing that theforensics experts have techniquesto identify a bullet from a specificfirearm.

The counsel to the communitystated that the residents werenot responsible for the death ofthe late managing director,adding that he must have beenallegedly killed by the securityofficers who accompanied himto the scene.

His words: “The late Disucame to the community with 12mobile policemen to oppressthe residents; violating theresidents' fundamental humanrights.”

The late Disu was said to havebeen shot in the neck. And thebullet was removed at the LagosState University TeachingHospital, LASUTH, Ikeja.

Lagos raises alarm over contaminatedpoultry products

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS— THE Lagos StateGovernment has warned

residents not to buy or consumecontaminated poultry productslike chicken and turkey currentlyin circulation in the state.

On the dangers inherent inconsuming such products, stateCommissioner for Agriculture,Mr. Toyin Suarau, who disclosedthis at the weekend, saidimported contaminated poultryproducts were seized and buriedby men of the Nigeria CustomService in Badagry but were laterexhumed by some unscrupulousindividuals with the intent to sellsame to some unsuspectingconsumers.

While receiving officials of theNational Orientation Agency,NOA, who came on the directiveof the Federal Government toappeal for support on how tosensitize the teeming populace

in Lagos on the danger posed bythis act, Suarau noted that theexhumed poultry produce werepoisonous and could lead to deathif consumed.

He said: “This visit by officialsof National Orientation Agencywas based on the circular receivedby NOA about the recentlyexhumed contaminated poultryproduce being destroyed byofficials of the Nigeria CustomService somewhere in Badagry.The need for sensitization on thedangers associated with

consuming these exhumedpoisonous poultry producecannot be overemphasizedespecially in view of the havocit poses to the public.”

In the same vein, the SpecialAdviser to the Governor onFood Security, Mr.Okanlawon Sanni, added thatthe state Ministry of Agriculturewould assist in mobilizing andsensitizing its poultry farmersand members of the public tobe their brothers’ keeper andbe alert to happenings aroundthem.

LASUTH to promote maternal health through artBy Chioma Obinna

LAGOS — THE Lagos StateUniversity Teaching

Hospital, LASUTH, and a Non-Governmental Organisation,Youth Orientation forDevelopment, YOD, will todayhold an art exhibition in Lagosto highlight the challenges

Nigerian women face duringpregnancy and afterdelivery.

The art exhibition tagged:“Invitation to Health: Acreative exploration intohealth on maternal and childhealth care/ mortality,” willshowcase paintings depictingall aspects of pregnancy care,

ante-natal, delivery and postnatal care.

Chief Medical Director ofLASUTH, who was representedby the Director Clinical Services,and Training, Dr. AdeoyeAdedokun, at the mediabriefing, described the numberof Nigerian women that die as aresult of child birth as "gory."

Aviationministerseeksseamless airconnectivity

By Lawani Mikairu &Daniel Eteghe

Judgewithdrawsfrom NIMASAex-boss suit

VISIT: From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; National Leader, All Progressives Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari; and wife of LagosState Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode during a courtesy visit by Mrs Buhari to AsiwajuTinubu, at his Bourdillon residence, in Ikoyi, Lagos, weekend.

LAGOS — MINISTER ofState for Aviation,

Senator Hadi Sirika, hascharged players andstakeholders in the aviationsector in Africa to explorethe benefits of the“Yamoussoukro Decision”for greater air transportconnectivity across thecontinent.

Sirika, who gave thischarge in Accra, Ghana atthe 10th African AirTransport Safety andSecurity Summit, weekend,noted that safe, secure andefficient customer focusedair transport systemremained the benefit ofsound aviation.

Sirika said connectivitywill play a critical role in thedevelopment of Africaneconomics which can beachieved by implementingthe ideas of Abujadeclaration that set a targetfor African airlines to reachworld class safety levels by2015.

According to the minister,“connectivity is vital forAfrican growth anddevelopment, supportingabout 6.9 million jobs and$80.5 billion in economicactivity and hoped that itwill closely knitrelationship with seamlessconnectivity betweenNigeria and Ghana in thenear future.”

Senator Sirika, who wasrepresented by the Directorof Safety in the ministry,Captain Taba Alkali, tracedthe relationship betweenGhana and Nigeria to overseveral decades which hasled to the exchange ofknowledge and friendshipthrough many bilateralpartnerships in the area ofpersonnel training,expertise and informationsharing.

He charged airlines tolive up to theirresponsibility of ensuringtravellers confidence in thesector though the serviceprovided to the public.

By Innocent Anaba

LAGOS — A FederalHigh Court judge,

sitting in Lagos, JusticeOfili Ajumogobia, haswithdrawn from thefundamental human rightsenforcement suit filedbefore the court by MrsBeauty Akpobolokemi, wifeof the embattled formerDirector General of NigeriaMaritime Administrationand Safety Agency,NIMASA, Dr PatrickAkpolobokemi againstEconomic and FinancialCrimes Commission,EFCC.

When the case came up,Justice Ofili-Ajumogobiasaid: “For personal reasons,I am handing off this case.Consequently, the case filewill be returned to the ChiefJudge for re-assignment.”

Other plaintiffs in the suitare Clement Akpobolokemi,Stephen Akpobolokemi,Julius Akpobolokemi andVictor Akpobolokemi whoare biological brothers of theformer NIMASA boss.

Their counsel, Dr JosephNwobike, in an affidavit insupport of the suit, hadaverred that: “On July 31,2015, fully armed operativesof EFCC, numbering about25, stormed the residence ofthe former NIMASA boss at6, Ondo Street,BananaIsland, Lagos State, withoutany search warrant.

"The EFCC operativesharassed them and coercedMrs Akpobolokemi to writeincriminating statementagainst her husband onaccount of his stewardship atNIMASA and without theorder of the court, blockedthe woman’s accountmaintained at United Bankfor Africa Plc while she wasinvited by the commission toreport at their office onNovember, 5, 2015.

"They further averred thatMrs Akpobolokemi wasnever a staff of NIMASA andhas never impeded theinvestigation of her husband.

"The four brothers alsoalleged that they have beenunder constant threats ofarrest, intimidation anddetention by EFCC on theaccount of being the brothersof Dr Akpobolokemi, whileJulius Akpobolokemi's bankaccounts domicile withEcobak Plc and Diamondbank Plc had been frozen,Victor Akpolobokemi’saccount maintained withFirstBank of Nigeria wasalso frozen by thecommission."

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—11

Ooni-elect, Ogunwusi leaves Ilofi for crowning todayBy Gbenga Olarinoye

History'llvindicateAregbesola—Osun APC

Police in Ogun rescue 4-yr-old kidnapped boyin Enugu

By Daud Olatunji

FG partners World Bank on solidminerals devt

O S O G B O — O O N I -ELECT, Prince

Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,will today be installed Ooni,few hours after leaving Ilofi,Iremo, yesterday evening.

It would be recalled that theOoni-elect began thetraditional rites at Ilofi, a placeof preparation for new Ooni,on October 30 and wasexpected to have left onNovember 19, after spending21 days.

Informed sources, however,disclosed that a few more dayswere added to ensure that allthe rites were completed beforethe coronation would takeplace.

It was also learned that thecoronation of Ogunwusi willnot be done in the open. Apalace source told newsmenthat the new Ooni will beinstalled in Ile Oodua,stressing that the new monarchwill be entering the palace forthe first time as an Oba today.

He added: “ In line with thedemand of Ile Ife customs andtraditions, his coronation will

hold behind closed doors.Only the Isoros and Ife chiefswill be involved but I canconfirm that it will be doneinside the palace."

In a chat with newsmen,former Special Adviser onYouth and Sports to OsunState Governor, Mr. BiyiOdunlade, confirmed that the

new Ooni will be crownedtoday inside Ile Oodua butadded that the event will notbe open to the public.

THE FederalGovernment has

expressed its willingness tocontinue to partner the WorldBank in the development ofthe solid minerals sector.

Minister of Solid Minerals,Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosedthis when he received a teamfrom the World Bank, led byits Country Director, MrRachid Benmessaoud, in hisoffice, weekend.

Fayemi, together with theMinister of State for SolidMinerals, Abubakar Bwari, atthe meeting, acknowledgedthe support of the financialinstitution to infrastructuredevelopment in the sectorthrough the ministry.

Fayemi, who noted that the

ministry had a properregulatory framework in place,however, said that there wasneed for additional work to bedone in the area of data.

He also hinted on the needto strengthen the informalsector, while also seeking toattract foreign investment.

He said: “In order to ensurethat the ministry is wellpositioned to be an enabler, alot needs to be put in place.Additional work needs to bedone on data. We need to knowthe quantity and quality of theminerals we have.

“We need to also attract thebig players. We need to knowwhy they are not here,” addingthat everything must be doneto actualise PresidentMuhammadu Buhari’s

mandate to move the sectorforward.

Earlier, Benmessaoud, whohailed the excellentrelationship between thefinancial institution and thegovernment of Ekiti State,during Fayemi’s tenure, saidthe team was delighted towork with the minister in hisnew assignment.

He stated that the bank wasmindful of President Buhari’semphasis on agriculture andsolid minerals as two criticalsectors that could boostrevenue generation andcreate jobs for the citizens.

Benmessaoud, who laudedthe administration’s plan todiversify the economy throughsolid minerals development,however, said that theexpected revenue may not be

A B E O K U T A —OGUN State

Police Command hasrescued the four- year -old boy, Steve Kanu whowas kidnapped twoweeks ago in Abeokuta,and has also arrested thesuspects.

The suspectedkidnappers had stormedthe Laderin home of Drand Mrs Mucipay Kanuin Abeokuta in a taxi andforcefully taken away theboy who was playingwith the family's puppyin the compound.

It was gathered that thekidnappers put atelephone call across tothe parents,threateningto kill the boy if they didnot stop involving themedia.

They reportedlydemanded for ransomafter allowing the boy tospeak with his parents tolet them know he wasalive and in captivity.

H o w e v e r, n e m e s i scaught up with thekidnappers on Friday, asthey were arrested bypolice operatives in avillage in Enugu, a tripof over nine hours fromthe scene of the crime.

Vanguard gatheredthat the suspects havesince been transferred toOgun State PoliceCommand in Abeokutafor further investigation.

Further findings

showed that the suspectswould be paraded duringthe week.

When contacted, OgunState Police PublicRelations Officer,Muyiwa Adejobi,confirmed the report.

He said the rescuedboy is doing fine, while

the suspects are incustody as at the time offiling this report.

The father of the victim,Mucipal Kanu,confirmed to ourcorrespondent yesterdaythat the boy has been re-united with them.

Three dead, several injured asrival cult groups clash in Osun

By Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO—THREEpeople were feared

dead, while some otherssustained varying degreesof injuries during separateclashes involving two rivalcult groups in Osogbo, andtwo opposing gangs in IleIfe, during the weekend.

Though the remote causeof the clashes could not beascertained, securitysources said two leadingmembers of the rival cultgroups started the fight thatlater led to the death of oneof their members at apopular pub located alongIwo/Osogbo road last weekThursday.

A reliable source, who

witnessed the genesis of theclash at the said pub,explained that a member ofa cult group that wasbelieved to be holding thereign in Osogbo at themoment attacked a memberof a rival cult group bybeating him up, when heinsisted on entering the pubagainst the advise of thosein the premises.

“After managing toescape, he went to twoneighbouring higherinstitutions to recruit morehands for the fight."

They later caught up withthe man and duringanother clash in Ile Ife, twopeople were said to havebeen killed.

ALL ProgressivesCongress in Osun

State has asserted that historywill vindicate its governor,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,regardless of what pessimistsand critics may have to sayabout his tenure.

It said that knowledgeablepeople in the country whohave seen through the qualityand content of Aregbesola'sprogrammes are alreadygiving their thumps up,especially on education.

This was contained in astatement made available tothe media in Osogboyesterday by the party’sDirector of Publicity, Researchand Strategy, Barr. KunleOyatomi.

The party was responding tothe award which the NigerianAssociation of Primary SchoolsHeadteachers presented tothe governor last week inacknowledgment of thequality and content of thegovernor ’s policy inenhancing primary schooleducation in Osun.

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

35TH ANNIVERSARY OF SILVERBIRD GROUP IN LAGOSPHOTOS: KEHINDE GBADAMOSI

From left: Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, representingPresident Muhammadu Buhari; Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate Prsident; ProfBen Ayade, Governor of Cross River State and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce,Chairman Silverbird Group.

The Murray-Bruce family cutting the anniversary cake.

From left: Hon. Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu and Mrs.Yvonne Kogolo.

From left: Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, with winnerof MBGN, and Miss Guinea

From left: Mr. Donald Duke, former governorof Cross River State and Mr Roy Bruce.

From left: Mr. Jonathan Murray-Bruce, Mrs. Leila Hargett and Mrs. EvelynMurray-Bruce.

From left: Mr Ladi Soyobe, Mr Bunmi Williams, and Mr Billy Murray-Bruce.

From left: Prince Adelusi Adeluyi, Mrs Murray-Bruce, and Mrs. Helen Hunt.

From left: Senator Bassey, Senator Aliyu Sabi,Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and Hon GbengaMakanjuola,

From left: Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairmanof Silverbird Group; Mr Haresh Santani, GroupGeneral Manager, Operations, Silverbird and Mr.Roy Bruce.

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—13

....As PDP contests Sylva’s eligibility

Bayelsa poll: Dickson campaign c'ttee faults surveypredicting Sylva’s victory

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y E N A G O A — T H ERestoration Campaign

Organisation, RCO, of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, candidate,Governor Seriake Dickson,yesterday, described as “fake” and“anticipated fraud,” the result ofa survey predicting victory for thecandidate of the All ProgressivesCongress, APC, Chief TimipreSylva, in six out of the eight localgovernment areas of BayelsaState.

According to RCO, thoughpreliminary investigation hadshown that the survey done by agroup known as Election Frontlineand made up of APC card-carryingmembers led by one MacPeppleJoshua, the purported outcome ofthe survey is made up of falsehood,propaganda and blackmail.

Election Frontline had, in areport, weekend, on a studyconducted with a select sample of1,000 residents across the eightcouncils said that 49.08 per centof the population of studyindicated their preference for thePDP while 45.51 per centpreferred APC.

The report, issued by the group’s

Survey Administrator, Joshua,claimed that the December 5election will not be won basedon the strength of the politicalparties but based on thecandidates.

Majority of the respondents,according to the report, prefersChief Timipre Sylva of the APCto the incumbent, SeriakeDickson, based on theantecedents of the two indifferent areas.

But the Director of Media andPublicity for the RestorationCampaign outfit, JonathanObuebite, dismissed the reportof the survey as beingsponsored by the APCleadership.

He said: “The so-calledElection Frontline simply sat inLagos and wrote its report whichunfortunately alluded that theAPC governorship candidate,Timipre Sylva, will win theelection. Ordinarily, thisunfounded opinion poll shouldnot merit a reaction from eitherthe PDP or the RestorationCampaign Organisation ofGovernor Dickson, but we havedecided to succinctly react to the

falsehood, propaganda andblackmail of the APC pollstersto set the record straight beforeNigerians and the internationalcommunity.

“It is instructive to note thatthese same survey experts hadpredicted that the same Sylva

who was Bayelsa East senatorialcandidate of the APC in the2015 general election wouldwin but he lost woefully toSenator Ben Murray Bruce ofthe PDP and this is one of thereasons why people mustdisregard this latest survey by

the discredited Election Frontline.“Majority of Bayelsans have

spoken in clear terms that theywill re-elect Governor Dickson toconsolidate on peace, prosperity,development and security ofBayelsa State."

THE PeoplesDemocratic Party,

PDP, in Bayelsa State,weekend, revisited theeligibility status of AllProgressives Congress,APC, candidate in theDecember 5 governorshipelection, Chief TimipreSylva, in reaction to theposition of a concernedbody, the Truth Movementof Nigeria.

In a statement by the statePublicity Secretary of thePDP, Mr Godspower Keku,the party contended that theinherent issues raised bythe body were subsistingand had cogent foundationto render Sylva’scandidature null and void.

Truth Movement ofNigeria had said throughits Publicity Secretary, FredAmakom, that thoughSylva had been nominatedas the candidate of APC inthe election but that he wasineligible on account ofhaving been elected twiceas governor in 2007 and2008.

Citing constitutional and

legal precedent to back itsargument, the body notedthat Sylva having beenelected twice was no longereligible to contest as doingso would be at variance withprovisions of Section 182 (1)

(b) of the 1999 Constitutionas amended which statesthat “No person shall bequalified for election to theoffice of governor if he hasbeen elected to such officeat any two previouselections.”

Why Warri port channel can’tbe dredged now— NPA

By Godfrey Bivbere

THE Nigerian PortsAuthority, NPA, has

blamed the delay in thedredging of the channelleading to the port in Warri,Delta State, to the low levelof the river which makesthe siltation (rate of returnof sand to the channel afterdredging) level very high.

Managing Director ofNPA, Habib Abdullahi,who disclosed this at ameeting with journalists,said that the Authority hadcommenced the processleading to the dredging ofthe channel by engagingthe services of two firms todo the preliminary work.

Abdullahi, who was

represented at the meetingby the General Manager incharge of Public Affairs,Emmanuel Ebubuegu, saidthe two firms are RoyalAscony, which is looking atthe break waters, and AceConsulting that is workingon the pre-dredging.

According to NPA boss,“The study of geographytells us that at the lowercourse of the river, the levelof sedimentation is veryhigh. Incidentally, the portsof Warri, Calaber and PortHarcourt are all situated atthe lower course of river. Ifyou do not do somethingto address the hindranceproperly, you will always befighting with nature."

AWARD: From left: Vice President, Human Resources of Shell in Nigeria and sub-SaharanAfrica, Mr. Olukayode Ogunleye; Development Manager, Offshore Assets, Mrs. BeatriceSpaine; General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli and Managing Director, ShellNigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, at the Social EnterpriseReport and Awards ceremony in Lagos, weekend.

CMYK

14 —Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 15

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

DINNER: From left, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Chief Joseph Sanusi;President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, OtunbaDebola Osibogun, and Mr. Jude Monye, Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, HeritageBank Ltd, sponsors of the event, during the 49th annual Bankers' Dinner, at Oriental Hotel,in Lagos, weekend.

Continues on Page 43

BIAFRA: Leaders to meet Buhari on Igbo marginalization•Eluomunoh's statement on Biafra personal —Ohanaeze Youth Council PG•You’re saboteurs, MASSOB tells Ohanaeze

By Emeka Mamah,Anayo Okoli, Francis

Igata, Vincent Ujumadu,and Caleb Ayansina

ENUGU—THE meeting ofIgbo leaders summoned

yesterday by the South EastGovernors’ Forum, SEGF, todiscuss the security implicationsof the agitations by members ofthe Movement for theActualisation of the SovereignState of Biafra, MASSOB, and theIndigenous People of Biafra,IPOB, ended in Enugu with theleaders resolving to set up adelegation of Igbo elders to meetPresident Muhammadu Buharion the marginalisation of Igbo inthe country.

They also agreed to dialoguewith members of the MASSOBand IPOB groups with a view toending the protests now rockingthe old Eastern region.

The two factions of Ohanaezewere not however, part of themeeting as they were not invitedas the governors had reasonedthat inviting any of them wouldhave meant legitimising suchfaction.

The Enwo Igariwey leadershipof Ohanaeze had exhausted itstenure while the Ralph Obiohafaction was not properly electedeven as it was now the turn ofEnugu State to produce the newchairman of the pan- Igbo group.

Both MASSOB and IPOBmembers have been agitating forthe release of the Director of RadioBiafra, Nnamdi Kanu, detainedby security agents for running anillegal radio station.

A four-point communique readby Governor Rochas Okorocha ofImo State, at the end of themeeting on behalf of hiscolleagues read, “We agreed thatsouth-east governors should setup a committee to immediatelyaddress the impasse onOhanaeze leadership. After acompassionate review of therecent MASSOB/IPOB agitationsin the country, it was resolved thata committee be set up to dialoguewith MASSOB,IPOB as well asthe Federal Government with aview to finding a lasting solutionto the issue.

“The elders also examined otherissues including poor state ofinfrastructural facilities in thesouth-east, marginalization infederal appointments and othersocio-economic issues that impacton the economic development ofthe south-east and resolved tosupport the decision of south-eastgovernors to set up an economiccouncil and urged them tointerface with the FederalGovernment on remedialmeasures. A delegation of eldersof the south-east was mandatedto meet with the President of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria.”Earlier in his welcome address,

Governor Lawrence IfeanyiUgwanyi of Enugu State, said themeeting was a follow up to theearlier meeting of the South- Eastgovernors on November 17.

Ugwanyi said, “the meeting isa follow up to the meeting of theSEGF that we held last Tuesday,November 17, 2015, in this venueduring which we reached thefollowing resolutions on someissues affecting us as a zone; Toappoint a high level EconomicAdvisory Committee to harnessthe economic potentials of thepeople of the South East workingtogether. The governors areconcerned about the poor state ofthe Federal Government roads inthe zone namely the Enugu –Onitsha, Aba- Ikot Ekpene ,Owerri – Port Harcourt, Enugu –Port Harcourt, among otherswhich need urgent interventionby the Federal Government.

“On security, the issue ofMASSOB/ IPOB, was discussedand they resolved to consultwidely with Ohanaeze (Ndigbo),traditional rulers, developmentunions, clergy, and otherstakeholders on how to ensurelasting peace in the zone. Infurtherance to this, the South EastGovernors scheduled anemergency meeting ofstakeholders on Sunday,November 22, 2015, (yesterday)at Enugu.

“Attendance to the emergencymeeting includes all NationalAssembly members, allhonourable ministers and otherinvited stakeholders from thezone. The governors advisedMASSOB/IPOB to continue to toethe line of peace as this is the onlyway to ensure economicdevelopment of the zone. We aretherefore, here to discuss mattersarising from these resolutions andother issues that are of interest tothe zone. We ask God to guide

and direct our thoughts as we gothrough this function and I wishus all, happy and fruitfuldeliberations.

“I warmly welcome my brothergovernors of the south east andindeed everyone present at thisimportant meeting of southeastleaders and stakeholders.”

Roll callGovernors in attendance at the

meeting included IfeanyiUgwuanyi, (Enugu), DaveUmuahi (Ebonyi), Dr. NkemOkeke (Deputy Governor,Anambra State) and RochasOkorocha of Imo State.

Others were the Deputy SenatePresident, Ike Ekweremadu,former Governor Sullivan Chimeof Enugu State, former Ministerof Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, formerMinister of Information, ChiefNnaia Nwodo and former SenatePresident, Adolphus Wabaraamong others

Parallel meetingHowever, as the stakeholders

meeting was going on at theGovernment House Enugu, theEnwo Igariwey’s faction ofOhanaeze Ndigbo was holding aparallel meeting at the residenceof the Secretary General, Dr. JoeNworgu.

Briefing newsmen at the end ofthe meeting, President South-East/South/South Body ofProfessionals, Mr. EmekaUgwuoju said, “the leadership ofOhanaeze met with MASSOB,IPOB where we agreed tosummon a meeting of the Imeobi(the highest decision body) ofOhanaeze. Ohanaeze Ndigbourges MASSOB/IPOB tocontinue to be peaceful. Ohanaezeis the only channel to talk withMASSOB/IPOB on the agitationfor Biafra. We condemn therascality of Anambra StateChapter of Ohanaeze, ChrisEleumuno, on his recent attacks

on MASSOB, IPOB as he doesnot have the authority to speakfor Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”

Ohanaeze Youths faultEluomunoh

President General, PG, ofOhanaeze Youth Council, MaziOkechukwu Isiguzoro, hasfaulted statement credited to itsAnambra State Chairman, ChiefChris Eluomunoh, over the Pro-Biafra agitators, sayingEluomunoh only expressed hispersonal view and not that ofOhanaeze Ndigbo.

Recall that Eluomunoh had toldjournalists last week in Awka thatOhanaeze was not in support ofthe pro-Biafra groups, saying thatBiafra died in 1970 with thesurrender by General PhilipEffiong, to the Nigerian troops.

Eluomunoh said no rightthinking person would supportwhat he called the madness bysome youths, who were beingdeceived to engage in somethingthey cannot finish.

According to him, “You willnotice that Ohaneze has been verysilent on the issue of Biafrainsurgency, though the youthwing of Ohaneze has beenspeaking on it. Ohaneze, as theIgbo cultural group, cannotsupport Biafra and we dissociateourselves from it totally”.

But Isiguzoro who claimed hewas mandated by the SecretaryGeneral of Ohaneze, Chief JoeNworgu, to speak on behalf of theIgbo apex body, said Eluomunohdid not have the mandate ofOhanaeze to speak on the issue.

According to him, “it is only theIme-Obi Council that canempower the President orSecretary-General of Ohaneze tomake public the official positionof the Ohaneze Ndigbo on issuesas this.”

Olawepo-Hashimadvocatessingle digitinterest rate

ENERGY SECTORInvestor, Mr.

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim,has called for the loweringof interest rate in thebanking sector from itscurrent double digit figureto a single one to enableinvestors access finance atreasonable lending ratetowards the much neededdevelopment.

Olawepo-Hashim, whowas guest speaker at the 4thImperial College, London,Nigerian Student SocietySummit, weekend,regretted that the Nigerianmanufacturer could hardlybe competitive in theinternational market withthe unacceptable highinterest rate.

He said the prevailinginterest rate, which standsat 22 per cent, lowered thecompetitive chances of themanufacturer in relation towhat obtained in othercountries, like in “SouthAfrica, where it is 8.5 percent, in Egypt 7.8 per cent,in China 3.4 per cent andUS 2.33 per cent.”

The Chairman of BressonAS Energy dismissedexcuses on insecurity forthe high interest rate,saying, “Egypt has its fairshare of crisis like Nigeria,so insecurity cannot be areason,” adding, “there hasto be changes in lendingpolicy to lighten the heavyburden on themanufacturer.”

According to him:“Government should alsoensure that licensedDistribution Companies,DISCOs, are able to signPPA with the GeneratingCompanies, GENCOs, andIPPs for the supply of powerwithout the unduemeddlesomeness of theNigeria ElectricityRegulation Commission,NERC, amongst others.

He added that Nigeria "isa good destination forinvestment with a strongmiddle class, relatively highreturn on investment,"regretting its infrastructuregap was still a challenge.

At the London event wereformer Managing Directorand Chief Executive ofAccess Bank, Mr. AigbojeA i g - I m o u k h u e d e ,Managing Director ofSahara Energy, Mr. TonyePatrick-Cole, FormerMinister ofCommunication, Dr.Omobola Johnson, andExecutive Director ofBresson AS Energy, Dr.Funmi Olawepo-Hashim,Educationist, amongstothers.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 17

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

IN the Holy Bible book, Matthew 26:41,Jesus Christ advised his disciples to

“watch and pray” so that they would “notenter into temptation”. What God is sayingin this quoted passage is the necessity for allHis children to walk and tread inconsciousness in all we do because one singlemistake is more than enough to derail us,even in a well-planned journey. Nigeriansneed to pay more attention to this advicebecause forces of “darkness” still hoveraround us as a people and a Nation.

Some years ago, there was a major threatof this country [Nigeria] breaking up. Thatwas the fact that confronted us when theNigerian civil war broke out with the crackof the first bullet of that war coming from theFederal Government troops in a small villageof Garkem, near Ogoja, on July 6, 1967.

That avoidable war that was fought for twoyears led to about two million lives being loston both sides. Yet, we could not prevent itbecause we took too many things for granted.Things that bordered on human arrogance,corruption, nepotism, promotion of tribalegotism, uncontrollable greed of somenational leaders, total disrespect for rule oflaw and many other evils brought us to thepoint where the centre could not holdanymore. Sadlyenough, 45 years after thewar ended, all the national maladies thatled us to it are recklessly still at play, even atlarger level. If this is true, then the factremains that our inability to learn anythingfrom the calamity of our past while weseemed to have forgotten all the lessons ofthe failures of yester-years, we are most likelyto come face-to-face with the country

breaking up still. There are other indicatorsthat we may want to evaluate.

Towards the last days of OlusegunObasanjo's second tenure as president, theso-called “Police man” of the world, Americaand some European countries predicted thatif care was not taken, Nigeria may “break-up before the end of 2015”. However, 2015came and is almost gone without Nigeriabreaking up, many thanks to formerPresident Goodluck Jonathan's efforts at up-holding democracy. This success must notblindfold us into believing that the so-called“doomsday conspiracy of the false prophets”,as some Nigerians would like to refer to theprediction, is over. No, as long as theindicators remain germane in our everydaynational life, the nearer to the precipice theNigerian Nation gets. This is where we needto combine prayer for Nigeria not breaking-up to doing what is right for our prayers to beanswered. The truth that needs to be told isthat there is no way Nigeria will continuewithout falling apiece given the way we arebeing presently governed by thesefraudulent dealers parading themselves asleaders. I need to cite some pointers andcomments from a few notable God-fearingcitizens.

Speaking at the 25th Anniversary of theScriptures Union of Nigeria in Abuja onOctober 31, 2015, General Yakubu Gowon,former Military Head of State, warned of alooming danger to Nigeria. “We face greatconsequences, if we don’t follow the path of

OPINIONNigeria can still break up

By Godwin Etakibuebu

rectitude”, the most respected leader warned,adding that “if we do not arise to bring ouryouths into the path of rectitude, then theirfuture will appear gloomy, and, therefore, wecannot build a virile nation of trust, integrityand good governance”. He mentioned manyother calamities bedevilling the nation. Whatthat man of peace who fought and broughtpeace and unity back to Nigeria by declaring“no victor, no vanquish” at the end of theNigerian civil war, has just told us is thatunless we watch and pray over most of ournational behaviours as a people, we may sooncome to that point of total disintegration.

In addition, l read with adorable respect,the book of another principal actor in theNigerian civil war, Brigadier General GodwinAlabi-Isama, appropriately titled: THETRAGEDY OF VICTORY. He gave goodhistorical back-ground of both thecircumstances that led to the first-evermilitary coup of 1966 and the Nigerian civilwar, including an account of the militaryoperation throughout the war, with particularreference to the exploits of the 3rd MarineCommando - first commanded by the lateBrigadier General Benjamin Adekunle beforeGeneral Olusegun Obasanjo took over. In hisconclusion, he said that all the maladies like“corruption, tribalism, nepotism and otherevils which led to the first military coup ofJanuary 1966, and eventually to the civil war,”which ought to have been eliminatedremain with us till today”, adding: ”This IsWhat I Called Tragedy Of Victory”.

My summary in this work is to warn thatthe Federal Government of Nigeria has aresponsibility of showing good example inleadership to the remaining two tier ofgovernment – states and local authority. Theincumbent Federal Government needs toshow its sincerity, respect and totalcommitment to democratic ethos and ethics,

human rights and rule of law plus promotionof welfare of the Nigerian people. There mustbe paradigm shift from “languages of bodymovement” which can never be areplacement for sound and enduringeconomic policy, from unchartednavigational course on fight againstcorruption to a defined path of wealthcreation that shows in the lives of thecitizenry. A man [surrounded by a selectedfew of brain-washed sycophants] who isguided by myopic idiosyncrasy in running acountry of 180 million people with two-thirdof this population being internationallyproven egg-heads, can only push Nigeria toa precipice.

There is too much poverty in the land today.The Nigerian people are daily beingalienated from government’s securitymachinery which has failed to protect them,hence the emergence of tribal militias andcultists to “protect themselves”. This is thesame way the ‘’Mafia and Mafioso” startedin those hilly northern cities of Italy somedecades ago. By the time these groupsbecome well established, the “roads to NigerDelta militancy, Movement for theRestoration of Biafra, Arewa Defensive Front,Cattle Rustlers, Fulani Herdsmen, OduaPeople Congress and even Boko Haramwould have been paved with gold”. Theseare the fastest groups that can quicken thebreak- up of any country. So we need to watchand pray for Nigeria not to break-up. WillPMB walk Nigeria into this grace?

Worrisome indications emerged inthe past week that the Federal Gov-ernment might have placed whatwas described as “prohibition bytrade” on the importation of minielectricity generating sets, morepopularly known as “I better passmy neighbour”.

Breaking this controversial news toreporters, the Comptroller, FederalOperations Unit Zone A of the Ni-gerian Customs Service (NCS) inLagos, Mr Madugu Sani Jibrin, al-leged that government took this stepbecause the sets cause air pollutionwhich has a harmful effect on thelungs and the respiratory system.

While pollution and risks to therespiratory system are dangers as-sociated with all engines that use hy-drocarbon energy to operate (in-cluding all classes of electricity gen-erators) the extra risk of these tinygenerators is evident in the fact thatbecause of their popularity amongthe low income classes, they areused mainly in confined spaces.

FG’s ban on mini generator sets

Due to the inability of successivegovernments to provide adequateand reliable public power supply,low income earners, such as tradersand artisans, are forced to dependon these cheap generators in mar-kets, shops and at home in the vari-ous congested slums and low costurban housing areas. The amount ofsmoke these usually poorly main-tained generators pump into theatmosphere indeed poses great dan-gers to health. It often leads tocarbon monoxide-related deathswhich sometimes involve whole fam-

ilies. It also sparks off fire outbreaks.However, we view the ban on the

importation of these gadgets with-out providing alternative means ofpower supply to the poor and vul-nerable strata of our society as anact of insensitivity towards theneeds of the downtrodden membersof society.

If this policy is implemented, timemight come when it will be difficultfor the artisans and traders to sur-vive at all. How would the ordinarypeople be able to survive the heat ofthe dry season which is upon us ear-

lier than usual this year? This poli-cy is bound to be seen as unkindlytargeting the poor.

Besides, it will make the smugglingof these generators become evenmore lucrative and fuel more corrup-tion among Customs officials, espe-cially at the borders.

We believe it is possible to solvethis problem by encouraging Nige-rians to form groups to own andoperate bigger generators. It is alsoeven better if government providescleaner and renewable energysources such as inverters and solaroptions in the markets and dwellingareas while greater efforts are madeto find a permanent solutionthrough the provision of adequatepublic power supply.

We deplore the knee-jerk,militaristic attitude of governmentto problems. Before the importationof the mini generators is banned,government must first of all providealternative options to the low-income citizenry.

We need to watch and prayfor Nigeria not to break up

*PLEASE NOTE that the opinion pub-lished on this page last Friday was writ-ten by Sam Ekpe and not Mr Mantu aswrongly stated in the foot note---Editor

*Mr Etakibuebu, a commentator on cur-rent affairs, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—19

CMYK

Send Opinions & Letters to:opinions1234@yahoo.com

By Daniel Iworiso-Markson

Dickson as the real change Bayelsa

needs

IDEALLY, political contest for power ispremised on superior arguments and ideas which the people, as the heart of

democracy, could relate with as capable oftruly changing their socio-economicconditions in a just society where institutionsof government work in harmony with the ruleof law.

In an enlightened polity, such ideas arepainstakingly evaluated by the electoratewhich informs their judgement and choices onthe election day. And the ultimate objectivewould be to have a government which in thelong run guarantees a social contract in thepostulation of Rousseau or achieves Bentham’sutilitarian conception of the greatest happinessof the greatest number in the society.

These are the considerations which shouldagitate the minds of Bayelsans ahead of theDecember 5 governorship election whichpitches the incumbent Governor SeriakeDickson with his closet rival, Timipre Sylva ofthe All Progressives Congress, APC, in a con-test which the former, a candidate of the Peo-ples Democratic Party, PDP, has dubbed as be-tween “light and darkness”.

Beyond rhetoric, I think the understandingshould be reinforcing by now that the crucialelection is about the future of the state which isexpected to dictate a conscious attentionamong the voters on the challenges they faceand indeed the kind of leadership they deserve.Thus, the destiny of Bayelsans is in their ownhands to decide not just as mere civic duty onelection day but much more about a collectiveaction for sustaining a rebirth.

While Governor Dickson has beencampaigning on his record of achievements,asking the people to key into his vision of res-toration as witnessed in the record changes inthe various sectors of the state economy, Sylva’s

has only been more of promises of “change”,regurgitating his party’s campaign mantra.

The former governor, curiously, isn’t mak-ing much reference to his past tenure as ex-pected to, perhaps, corroborate and sell hisconvictions on the “change” he’s offering. Thisis unlike Dickson who is boldly and assertivelytelling his remarkable story of success in edu-cation, health, infrastructure, roads andbridges, job creation, ambitious diversificationof the economy as well as impactful govern-ance culture which underscores transparencyand accountability. A leadership based on per-formance which has made it possible to reviveeducation through comprehensive scholarshipand allied programmes and policies. Added

to it is an impressive record of lifting Bayelsafrom being in the bottom of the ladder beforeassuming office in 2012 to one of the best per-forming in the country today. This is nothingshort of an incremental record as it has since2013 achieved the sixth highest pass ratesamong Nigeria’s 36 states with 51 per centpass rate. Among the several feats in infra-structure provision, the historic Nembe road,against all odds, was constructed making itpossible to drive straight from Yenagoa toNembe for the first time since the idea wasconceived over 50 years ago. Just this week-end, while on campaign in Brass, GovernorDickson gave assurance of his administration’sresolve to award the multi-billion NairaNembe/Brass Road during the first quarter of2016, if re-elected for a second term in office.

The award of the contract as assured by theGovernor is in addition to the on-going Ogbia/Nembe road project and other developmentalprojects sited in the area.

These are the real change in my reckoning,especially by making education a priority asthe basis for true development as againstSylva’s proposition of a vague “change” neithersupported by his past nor can it be relied uponby his present characterised by inconsistencies.

The scenario is really scaring for Sylva tocontemplate another sojourn into GovernmentHouse in the state considering his locust yearsas governor. It is a sorry story the governor hasbeen telling Bayelsans on his campaign trailthat he’s still paying N2 billion monthly evenin era of liquidity crisis. Now, is this the kind of“change” Bayelsans deserve, to further plungethe state into debt without concomitant devel-opment to show for it?

These are the issues which informedGovernor Dickson’s repeated admonition toall and sundry that never again shall we havea profligate attitude to governance in the stateand the message is fast sinking in todifferentiate true change from a vague“change”. Interestingly, government’s successon multiple fronts anchored on integrity hascontinued to garner much goodwill, attract-ing an incredible support base which will likely

translate into a landslide at the critical elec-tion in December. We are beginning to see thispossibility as indicated in the widespread ap-proval and endorsements from core and stra-tegic nucleus of the entire stakeholders andthe generality of the people across the state,turning PDP rallies and the various town hallmeetings into carnivals. If anyone is still indoubt, the rally in Brass, Timipre Sylva’s homebase, has proven it all, with open andunrestrained, categorical endorsement ofGovernor Dickson’s re-election by everyinfluential leader, paramount rulers as well asall strata of the Brass community who cameout in such a large crowd as widely reported inthe media to express their total support for theirgovernor. It was clearly not about Dickson asit were but for the good work he has doneconvincing them of the greater benefits hissecond term will afford their communitycompared with what their own son was able todo as governor of the state for almost five years.That is the manifest change we are talkingabout which can easily be recognised as a prac-tical act of true leadership.

Sylva’s case is now worsened by the series ofdefection to PDP by APC members across thestate following the massive defection of theForum of Authentic APC Delegates, TimiAlaibe’s core loyalists, ably led by Senator JohnBrambiafa and Chief Alex Ekiotenne.

The finish line is already discernible whichis an inevitable victory for Governor Dickson,a worthy mandate for acceleration of the res-toration agenda in key areas, including theAgge deep seaport, Brass LNG, slated invest-ments in power generation, completion of theairport at Amassoma, now 60 per cent ready,on-going agricultural projects, the eco-indus-trial park at Gbaranmotu to create wealth forcollective interest of all Bayelsans. This is thereal change we can always trust the Contrimangovernor will deliver, the true change Bayelsaneeds.

*Mr Iworiso-Markson, a political analyst,wrote from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

I think the understand-ing should be that thecrucial election is aboutthe future of the statewhich is expected todictate a conscious at-tention among thevoters on the challengesthey face and indeed thekind of leadership theydeserve

I love Kano. It holds some ofmy best memories. It was the

city that introduced me to tradeunionism. I was a youth corperand had been rejected by someemployers when the then CivilService Technical Workers Unionoffered me a place for my prima-ry assignment. My boss, Com-rade Ibrahim Yusuf, taught methe ropes. Although a corper, thelabour leaders in Kano did not hesitate offering me the positionof Assistant Secretary of the JointAction Committee, JAC, of Trade Unions in Kano State. TheJAC carried out a prolongedstrike against the Abubakar Rimigovernment over Minimum Wagein the state.

When I visited Kano in Janu-ary 2012, it was a city under siege.My host, Isah YunusaDanguguwa, warned that Fridayhad become the favoured day forbombing by the Boko Haram ter-rorist sect. A few minutes later,he was called that the police sta-tion near his home had just beenbombed. There was a rush toleave the city before jumat whenthe terrorists became more active.

I was happy returning to the

The enemy withinbustling city this September. Icould not make out my old officein Gyadigyadi, off Zaria Road. Icould also not identify the area Ilived in Hausawa Zoo, off Zoo Road; everywhere has been builtup. But I met some old friends.

I thought Kano had recoveredwell from the terror attacks. Therenewed bombings last Wednesday which took 15 liveswere therefore quite devastatingto me. The attacks came a dayafter similar bombings in Yolawhich took 34 lives with 85 in-jured. These bombings are a starkreminder that we are at war, and must not lower our guards. Thealmost mute reaction of the inter-national community which seemsfully preoccupied with the No-vember 13 terror attacks in Paris,reinforced my position; that weare on our own and should expectlittle support from the internation-al community.

Although the Boko Haram arelocal terrorists, but they grew andwere cultivated in the fertile soilof international terrorism. In themain international arena, it ispartly a war between Sunnis ledby a Saudi Arabia coalition with

ISIS as its most venomous tip, and a Shiite alliance led by Iran.This war which is most pro-nounced in Syria, Iraq and Ye-men has been simmering since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

The West laid the foundation fortoday’s terrorism with its ColdWar creation of the Mujahedeenin Afghanistan, which gave birthto the Pakistani Taliban; its pa-tronage of Osama Bin Laden,which led to the creation of al-Qeda; its creation of al-Nusra andISIS, which have become mon-sters. Also, its destruction of theSaddam and Ghadaffi regimes inIraq and Libya, and near-destruc-tion of the al-Assad regime inSyria without much thought for their after effects, exacerbatedthe situation. The free flow of armsand battle-tested fighters in post-Ghadaffi Libya worsened thesituation in Mali and Nigeria.

With the mighty forces of Eu-rope and America unable to take

out the estimated 30,000 ISIS and al-Nusra terrorists, and be-ing edgy of the fight being takento their doorsteps, it means thatwe cannot look up to them. Oursalvation is not in their hands.

While the motives in the inter-national terrorist wars are a bitclear, those of Boko Haram areblurred. They kill believers andnon-believers; Christians, Mus-lims and traditional believers.They bomb churches andmosques, kill pastors and mal-lams; bomb homes and markets;schools and recreational centres.In their sowing death and de-struction without discrimination,they appear convinced in theirhearts and acts; but to the sanemind, these are manifestations oftroubled or controlled minds.

How do you negotiate with peo-ple whose motives are unclear;demands, cannot be understood;whose objectives are nebulous;who are convinced in the righ-teousness of their position, andare ready to die?

Following the kidnap of theChibok girls, we allowed in allsorts of foreign agencies andcountries in the hope that theywill help us rescue the girls. Butat the end, they left; some wouldhave also left behind their spies.The West and America followedup by denying us assess to arms.Even when we left the West topurchase arms from other coun-tries, they used countries likeSaudi Arabia to deny us flightacross their skies. When out offrustration, we took cash to buyarms from direct suppliers inSouth Africa, our money wasseized and we were ridiculed.

So we have to be self-reliant. The military and security forceshave made lots of sacrifices after

initially underestimating the ter-rorist and engaging them in con-ventional, rather than guerrillawarfare. Boko Haram is not aKanuri or North East problem, itis Nigerian. So all Nigeriansneed be mobilised and put on awar footing. The insurgents areembedded in our populace. Thebombers are likely to be sleep-er cells in the very places theybomb.

We need to let Nigerians knowthat we are in for a long drawnwar; that terrorism is not aninjury, it is a cancer that canspread and must therefore bestopped. We have had the goodfortune of early detection. Thesurest armour against terroristattacks are the people againstwhom they are perpetrated. It isthe people that can provide in-formation, intelligence andstrength for a successful war. They need to be aware that it isthey, not necessarily the securityforces, that are on the frontline.The populace need be mobilisedto take necessary proactive actions. For instance, if aNigerian has information ornotices a suspicious movement,he should know what to do, whoto contact or what phone numbersto call. Like President Muham-madu Buhari said in his reactionto the Yola and Kano bombings:“Vigilance is a potential life saversince security agents cannot beeverywhere to deter everyplanned attack…Citizen’s vigi-lance will therefore help to reducethe frequency of such attacks”.

The enemy has external fund-ing and support, it has backers,but essentially, it is within, and itis us, with the support of our neig-bours and the willing, that candefeat terrorism.

We need to letNigerians know thatwe are in for a longdrawn war; thatterrorism is not aninjury, it is a cancerthat can spread andmust therefore bestopped

20—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

OPINION

CMYK

Buhari now going solo

IN my articles during the presidentialcampaign, I had wondered aloud whether

a President Muhammadu Buhari wouldshare power with the touted National Leaderof the All Progressives Congress, APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I alsoanswered the question by saying thatknowing the professional and culturalbackground of Buhari, and against theprecedents of our political history, he wouldgradually relegate Tinubu to his proper placeas just one of the big men in the ruling party,on assuming power.

Those who were expecting Buhari to“share power” with him in line the mergerthat produced the APC, I warned, should beprepared for a different ball game if Buharibecame president. I even referred to theproverb: “those who dress up a masqueradeare usually the first to be flogged by it”. Iprognosticated that as soon as Buhariassumed power, his hordes of Arewakinsmen who were hiding in the shadowswhile Tinubu and Rotimi Amaechi wererebranding him, supplying him with thepropaganda fuel and profusely providing hiscampaign with endless funds, would emergeinto the spotlight and claim the place of pridein his government.

I also added that Buhari would graduallyrecreate the ruling party after his own image,and as we approach 2019, it will look morelike the Congress for Progressive Change,CPC, than the APC which Tinubu helpedhim to build into a winning political platform.These are no “predictions” but merely thepolitical punditry of a person who hasmonitored politics and power play in Nigeriafor over two decades as a reporter, writer andcolumnist.

Six months after taking the reins of power,Buhari has already gone solo. Tinubu is notexactly “irrelevant” yet, but Buhari is nolonger leaning on him for support. In fact,the President is already rebuilding the APCsuperstructure the way it will serve hispolitical purposes come 2019. Yes, Buhariwill run for a second term in 2019. Only deathwill stop that, and he does not look to melike the man that people like Governor AyoFayose and others were painting as teeteringon the edges of a sepulcher eight monthsago. Those who are doing their 2019 politicalcalculations on the basis that Buhari wouldnot run for a second term had better go backto the drawing board and start again.

The Buhari-Tinubu tag-team was still atwork during the rebellion of the “new PDP”faction of the APC in the National Assembly.

Yakubu Dogara and Senator Bukola Sarakihad trounced Buhari and Tinubu’s commondesire to impose Tinubu’s lackey, FemiGbajabiamila as Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives and Buhari’s flunkey,Senator Ahmed Lawan as President of theSenate by allying themselves with formerPDP colleagues to be elected to thoserespective offices. Eventually, Dogara suedfor peace by allowing Gbajabiamila and othercandidates of “the party” (Buhari andTinubu) to occupy principal offices of theGreen Chamber.

Saraki, who was determined to blindside“the party”, was however, forced to bow toBuhari when his assets declaration issuesuddenly surfaced at the Code of ConductTribunal, CCT, with the Tribunal’s Chairman,Danladi Umar seeming determined to nailhim. If not for Saraki’s case at the CCT,Buhari might have found it difficult to get

some of his prized ministerial nominees,especially Babatunde Fashola and RotimiAmaechi, approved by the Senate asministers.

Saraki became so eager to please thePresident that he not only beat a smooth pathfor the screening and approval of ALL thenominees, he also personally submitted thelist to the President in an elaborate but briefceremony at the Presidential Villa. Likemagic, Saraki got a big, though temporaryreprieve at the Supreme Court. FederalGovernment lawyers prosecuting himbecame less recalcitrant, which allowed theapex court to halt proceedings at the CCT toenable it look into Saraki’s appeal. Some evenbelieve Saraki might be let off the hook if hecontinues to play ball as he did in the easypassage of Buhari’s ministers. However, thatmight prove to be a mere small battle in anoverall big war.

Buhari made a very powerful and emphaticstatement with the appointment of Amaechiand Fashola as super-ministers. It is a boldpointer to the future of politics andgovernance within the APC and the nationat large. It was a major sidelining of Tinubufrom the government “pie”. Buharicontroversially grabbed for himself thenation’s cash cow – the Ministry of PetroleumResources. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister ofState will do the leg work as an obedienttechnocrat. Buhari will put another “trusted”Northerner in the Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation, NNPC, as GMD.With himself as the substantive Minister ofPetroleum and Chairman of the Board ofDirectors of the NNPC, Buhari will no longerdepend on second or third parties (as he didin 2015) for the funding of his 2019 politicalprojects.

With his appointment as Minister of

Transport, which also now has Aviationmerged into it, Amaechi will wield enoughpower and have access to enoughwherewithal to bring the South-South fullyon board for Buhari. Already, Buhari hadstarted early enough to woo the SouthernMinority zone with the second largest chunkof political appointments (both within andoutside his kitchen cabinet) after the North.With Amaechi, Buhari hopes to detach theSouth-South from the joint platform it formedwith the South East for former PresidentJonathan. The old North and SouthernMinority political connection will be restored.With that, Buhari will not need the SouthEast to win a second term in office.

In the South West, with Fashola as super-minister in charge of Power, Works andHousing, he would wield enough power andinfluence in the South West and beyond forBuhari not to need the special grace of BolaTinubu in 2019. Tinubu would be left to eitherreconcile himself with the new realities inthe new APC that Buhari has put in place orplease himself.

There is no knowing how far these scenarioswill eventually play out in the future. Willthe people of the South-South, who tend tosee Amaechi as a “betrayer” who helped topush out former President Jonathan accepthim as the man to take lead them to Buhariand thus, back to the North? Can theywithstand the impending stick and carrotmaneouvres, with those resisting it havingtheir political hides burnt by state agents,while those who succumb could smell federalgoodies?

What about the South West, Tinubu’s hard-won political kingdom – will Tinubu lie supineand allow his estranged godsons, Fashola,Fayemi and others run things as Buhari’sjanissaries? Or are we likely to see anotherObafemi Awolowo versus Samuel Akintolaface-off and supremacy contest? Or, willTinubu, somewhere along the line, swallowthe bitter pill of Fashola and Fayemi’s“treachery” and wait for another opportunityfor a payback?

For that matter, how secure is Buhari’sposition in the North, with a number ofinteresting permutations coming into playas we exit the period of uncertainty in theformative stages of his government? Whatwill Saraki, Atiku and others do as time goeson? And what can PDP still do in the Northnow that it has zoned its presidency to Arewain 2019?

We are in for interesting times!

I TURNED on my television set on a seemingly brightmorning. The news was being read by an extra cheerful

newscaster. He took out time to throw banters with themorning crew already on set. Then he cheerfully read outthe news headlines. The first item was about another orderby our President to arrest some alleged looters.

By the third item, he cheerfully informed us that a bombattack happened at Yola yester-night and that the casualtiesare, wait for it, 32 certified dead and about 80 stillhospitalised. This surreal news was immediately skippedas the news crew commenced discussions on Anambra debtissue. I flipped over to CNN and there they were still carefullyanalysing the attacks in France four days earlier and howto ensure that the tragedy does not repeat itself.

Next port of call for me was the daily newspapers. Thefront pages did not mention this mass murder of Nigeriansliving in Yola. Knowing Nigeria well, the real death tollmay be closer to the death toll recorded in France, but thegeneral opinion of our purveyors of news was that thisgruesome mass murder was not headline worthy. Obviouslythere will not be any discussions by experts on how to preventfuture attacks. Even the social media was not helpful at all.Only one of my facebook friends posted the news with hisusual blithe attack on the President. I then did a rudimentarycheck and discovered to my chagrin that no officialstatement was issued by the Governor of Adamawa State.

Are Nigerians politicising mass killings ?He did not address the press. He did not address his people.He did not disclose his agenda to prevent future attacksand preserve the lives of people that he swore to preservetheir lives. Furthermore, no statement was issued by thePresident and none credited to his aides. Indeed there wasnothing. An eerie nothingness! It was reality check for me.Like Wole Soyinka in the “Telephone Conversation” I hadto step out of my cocoon. I checked the moving traffic frommy window. Touched my head and legs and like Soyinkacame to the same conclusion: It was real!

The poser then is: Has the basic humanity in Nigeriansbeen so abused that we can not even grieve for at least 32Nigerians that got massacred hours ago? Put in a differentway, has our penchant for playing cheap and twisted politicswith every issue under the sun so twisted our minds to theextent that we cannot start by grieving the loss of lives offellow Nigerians and thenproceed to discuss strategies foreliminating the scourge.Silence is never a strategy. Ittakes mass mobilisation andinformation to have a chanceof fighting terrorism.Information that can lead to theelimination, arrest andconviction of the terrorists canonly be found amongst the folksthat live amongst these

despicable men. If these common folks do not feel the angstin the populace, if they cannot see the blood these evil menspill, if they cannot see the lives that these terrorists destroy,they are unlikely to acquire the courage to come out andassist the security forces. If the common folks take thesemass murders in their stride the way our governmentappears to be encouraging us to do, then there is absolutelyno hope of their confronting these men of terror.

If the attacks on Paris had not happened four days earlier,I might not have observed how countries that have beenattacked react to such issues. The French had to pull outthe whole of their intelligence and security apparatus to goafter the terrorists. Arrests are being made on hourly basisand the public are being informed of the arrests.

Men have been declared wanted and their picturescirculated across the entire cyber space. The Presidentimmediately declared a state of emergency and statedunequivocally that France is at war. The news media hasbeen relentless. All shades of possibilities are beingdiscussed. All narratives are being examined and re-examined.

We have to develop the ethic of divorcing politics fromnational security and real and imminent destruction of thelives of our people. We have to face up to reality and realisethat we cannot wish Boko Haram away and that we have tocollectively observe and examine the atrocities they arecommitting on a daily basis and ultimately collectivelyengage these scurrilous elements and hopefully eliminatethem.

•Odikpo, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

By Emeka Anthony Odikpo

Buhari made a verypowerful and emphaticstatement with theappointment of Amaechiand Fashola as super-ministers; it is a boldpointer to the future ofpolitics and governancewithin the APC and thenation at large; it was amajor sidelining of Tinubufrom the government “pie”

It takes massmobilisation tohave a chanceof fightingterrorism

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Continues on page 22

COMMISSIONING - From left: Kayode Lawal, Executive Director; Bukola Awosanya, Group Head, Agric Finance;Yemi Adeola, MD/CEO and Abdulhadi Yau, Business Executive, North West, all of Sterling Bank Plc. at the commissioningof the Labana Rice Processing mill financed by the bank at Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

RSAs: PenCom's guidelinesto curb terror financing,money laundering

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

The National PensionC o m m i s s i o n(PenCom) has

disclosed that the draft guideline onthe 2014 Pension Reform Act forwithdrawals from Retirement SavingsAccounts (RSA) is meant to prevent thefund from being used to financeterrorism and money laundering. PenCom which cleared the air on themisconstruing of the RSAs by theRivers State Council of the Trade

Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in astatement, said that the voluntarycontributions into RSAs are meant toboost contributors’ final pension andnot a savings account that could bedrawn at will.

According to PenCom, “TheGuidelines will boost Government’sFight Against Financial Terrorism andMoney Laundering and nip in the budthe dangers that could arise shouldcontributors decide to use their RSAsto launder dirty money.

“The guidelines were designed to

put in place measures that will allowcontributors access a portion of theirpension savings for payment of equitycontributions in procuring first-timeresidential mortgages. Pursuant to thereferenced Section 89 (2), theguidelines provide the framework forthe implementation of the section. Itseeks to provide the operationalmodalities for pension fundadministrators.”

The Commission noted that the

By GODWIN ORITSE

Nigerian Shippers’ Council,NSC has faultedmounting opposition

against the International cargo trackingnote CTN, accusing the ShippingAssociation of Nigeria (SAN), theumbrella body for almost all shippinglines operating in Nigeria, of distortingfacts regarding the International CargoTracking Note.

According to the Executive Secretaryof the Nigerian Shippers’Council, Mr.Hassan Bello, ICTN is a global advancedcargo information system on all importsand exports adding that Nigeria is oneof the few countries that is yet toimplement it even though Nigerianimporters are unknowingly paying for itas shipping companies operating inNigeria charge ICTN fees.

Bello said that the shipping agenciesare only creating disaffection amongstakeholders, especially the organisedprivate sector by promoting falsehoodthat ICTN will add to the cost of doingbusiness. He explained that beforeapproving the ICTN, the FederalGovernment had seen the enormousrevenue leakages that were going on,both in the importation of dry cargoesand the exportation of wet cargoes. Bellosaid apart from blocking revenueleakages, the ICTN is also needed forsecurity reasons.

Countering the argument of SANconcerning who bears the administrativecost of ICTN, the Council boss said thatthe ICTN does not come with additionalcost to importers or exporters, ratherthe administrative cost is to be paid bythe shipping lines, whom he said hadfor long inputted the cost in the bills theygive to consignees in Nigeria.

“The shipping lines have been billing

Shippers’Council faultsoppositionagainsttracking note

Continues on page 22

Clears TUC misconception on withdrawal

CMYK

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

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Cover

Continued from page 21

Continues on page 23

Policy biases:

In the European parliament for instance almost 2/3 ofthem are male, although this has increased 16% to24% from 1997 to 2009, but nevertheless the female

demographic is still notably under represented. In nationalgovernments, the situation is improving steadily with theshare of women senior ministers in EU governments at 27%.The European Commission counts nine womenCommissioners (33%) and eighteen men (67%), the bestgender balance yet – up from 5.6% in 1994/1995.

In the United States of America, only 2 per cent CEOs ofthe Fortune 500 companies are female. And in the OECDcountries, women represent only 7 per cent of the directorpositions of leading and top companies. Similarly, there areno women on the boards of over 46 per cent of top companiesin OECD countries and only 23 per cent companies havemore than one woman on the company board. In UnitedStates of America, only 13 per cent of the board membersare women, whereas in Canada this percentage is as low as11 per cent. According to the statistics of EuropeanCommission, central banks of the countries in EuropeanUnion only have male governors and women only representabout 17 per cent of the main decision making units withinthe companies of these countries.

A factor responsible for the pro-male bias of policies is thatthere are too few women in the policymaking arena. Forexample, according to the Nigerian Minister of WomenAffairs and Social Development, the latest Nigerian censusrevealed that women constitute 49.9% of the nation’spopulation but only 2% of the policymakers.

The underrepresentation of women in the nation’sdevelopment processes in finance, business and investmentfronts renders 40% of the population inadequately positionedto contribute to the economic growth of the country.Alongside, women who seek fair political representation faceserious opposition and criticism

Sociocultural Biases

To many people, it just seems natural that women areworse off, because of their smaller size or their capacity tobear children. Men comfort themselves with the thoughtthat women need looking after. Hence, from the verybeginning, women have been perceived as a weaker genderin all societies and were not provided with equalopportunities. Today, women are still not considered equalto men and are subjected to violence and abuse, andprovided with less economic, educational, political, andhealth care opportunities.

Lingering nuclear family ideals, which many people arestill conditioned to believe is “natural” may play a part indeterring women from pursuing economic sovereignty,but also perhaps deterring men from granting thoseopportunities to women. In the nuclear family, gender rolesare thus defined: men are expected to be the primarybreadwinners and women are expected to be nurturers thatlook after children and the family as a whole.

In the western world, females are legally of equal statusto males; they have equal access to education, as well as allother services and amenities. But there are subtle and morediscreet forms of discrimination and prejudice when itcomes to granting more opportunities to women.

Males are still not only expected to be the primarybreadwinner, but under pressure to make more money thantheir spouses or risk appearing inadequate or unable toprovide. In other words, conventional nuclear familygender roles are still viewed to be the norm and they hurtwomen’s changes of economic mobility outside of thenuclear family. To state on the one hand that men are theprimary breadwinners and on the other hand that womencan go earn as much as they can, is confusing. And thisconfusion creates the continuing subordination of women’seconomic goals and aspirations to society’s ideals of genderroles thus, the gender gap persists.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT &ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION:

RSAs: PenCom's guidelines to curb terrorfinancing, money laundering

Guidelines on UnilateralWithdrawals from VoluntaryContribution from RetirementSavings Accounts (RSAs) byContributors will help todetermine the eligibilityrequirements, procedures anddocumentation required toenable RSA contributors toaccess and utilise part of theirRSA balances.

“The Guidelines is still adraft, the Commission willexpose it to stakeholders fortheir input in due course. TheTUC Rivers State Councilshould harmonise its positionon the issue and make usefulinput into the guidelinesbefore it is finalised. Also,TUC is represented on theBoard of PenCom, so workerscould use this channel toaddress their grievances.”

“Section 89 (2) of thePension Reform Act 2014provides that a Pension FundAdministrator may, subject toguidelines issued by PenCom,apply for a percentage ofpension fund assets in theRSA,” the Act states.

Section 4(3) states that“any employee to whom thisAct applies may, in addition tothe total contributions beingmade by him and hisemployer; make voluntarycontributions to his retirementsavings Account.” Section10(3) provides that “withoutprejudice to the previousprovisions of sub-section (2) ofthis section, any incomeearned on any voluntarycontribution made underSection 4(3) of this Act shallbe subject to tax at the pointof withdrawal.

However, TUC, River StateCouncil in a press statement,titled: “We will Shut Down ifPenCom Changes Rules onVoluntary ContributionWithdrawal Unilaterally andwithout recourse to theNational Assembly ’,threatened to embark onindustrial action against theCommission.

In the statement signed bythe State TUC Chairman,Comrade Hyginus ChikaOnuegbu, the Congressargued that en-blocwithdrawal of the totalVoluntary Contributions byan RSA holder is notpermissible until retirement.

The Congress argued that“the above is not only asignificant change to thecurrent practice but clearlyat variance with the spirit andintent of Section 10(4) of the2014 Pension Reform Actwhich allows withdrawals atany time from the additionalVoluntary contribution madeunder section 4(3) of thePension Reform Act 2014.”

It also stated that the aboveprovisions were at variancewith what obtains in theindustry now saying non-restrictions on withdrawalformed the basis ofContributors’ decision to savemore using their RSAs; assuch changing the rulesmidway would be inimical tothe interest of contributors.

“Subsequent withdrawals,after the above, shall be basedonly on additionalcontributions made into theRSA after the last withdrawal.The balance of 80 per centafter the above shall not beaccessed until retirement.TUC Rivers State willcommence the process ofshutting down the economyof Rivers state (without anynotice or ultimatum) ifPenCom goes ahead withthese illegal changes in theproposed guidelines withoutdue engagement of the TradeUnions and the workers theyrepresent, and without thedue process of law in aconstitutional democracy.”

importers and exporters for it,and they do not want to let go,they have been hiding such coston the final bills given toNigerian importers to pay,” headded.

SAN had last week issued apublic notice in which it raisedalarm that, the “implementationof International Cargo TrackingNote (ICTN) by the NigerianShippers Council will entail an

additional cost for importers inNigeria.” But the Shippers’Council reacted sharply byaccusing SAN of deliberatelydeceiving Nigerians andmischievously pitchingimporters against thegovernment. The ICTN, Bellosaid, is already part ofpayments that are alreadybeing made by importers to theshipping lines or the carrier.

Shippers’ Council faultsopposition against tracking note

Continued from page 21

LECTURE - From left: Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos, Mr. OmebereIyari;Vice President, West African Bankers’ Association (WABA)/ED, EcobankNigeria Limited,Mr. Dele Alabi; Guest Speaker and Managing Director/CEO,Financial Derivatives CompanyLimited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane; President, WABA, Rev. Ifeanyichukwu Nwade andManagingDirector/CEO, Financial Institutions Training Centre, Dr. (Mrs.) Lucy Newman,during the WABA anniversary lecture and Dinner in Lagos.

Solution for a prosperous society,poverty eradication, wealthcreation (3)

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 23

Cover

Continued from page 22

Every so often, the Nigerian nation is hard hit with petrolscarcity. This is because the nation has no refiningcapacity. Ironically, Nigeria is about the fourth

largest exporter of crude and the largest importer of refinedproducts. The nation's four refineries have long ceased tofunction making importation of petrol what the countrycannot do without.

In a period of low foreign exchange earnings from oil, the

Is there nothing good at about the socalled illegal refineries?

country is expending itsreserves in the importation ofpetroleum products. Thisaside, the fuel cartel is milkingthe country dry through fuelsubsidy. Yet, the Nigerianarmed forces, especially theJoint Task Force every sooften breaks the news of thedestruction of hundreds ofillegal refineries in the Niger-Delta region of the country.

The most recent is the reportby the Central NavalCommand last Wednesdaywhen it said its operativeshave destroyed eight illegalrefineries and about 300metric tons of productssuspected to be AutomatedGas Oil and Crude Oil atAkassa in Brass LocalGovernment Area of BayelsaState. Spokesman of thecommand, LieutenantCommander E.D Yeibo saidthe raid was led by theCommanding Officer,Forward Operating Base(FOB) FORMOSO, CaptainMusa Katagum followingintelligence report on theactivities of suspected oilthieves in the area.

The team, he said, was madeup of personnel from NavalBase Brass and soldiersattached to Nigerian Agip OilCompany. Yeibo said: “Atotal of eight refineries andabout 300 metric tons ofproducts suspected to beAutomated Gas Oil and CrudeOil were destroyed during theraid. The destruction was inaccordance with extantregulations of destroying in-situ when arrest was noteffected. The perpetrators fledthe objective area before thearrival of the militarypersonnel. Other itemsdestroyed include sevensurface tanks, 93 drumscontaining productssuspected to be AutomatedGas Oil, amongst others.”

According to him, “the FlagOfficer Commanding CentralNaval Command, RearAdmiral Apochi Suleiman whoarrived the scene of thedestroyed illegal refinery at

Akassa environs, commendedthe efforts of officers andratings of the Central NavalCommand for keying into theZero- Tolerance Campaign ofthe Chief of Naval Staff, ViceAdmiral Ibok-Ete Ibas againstillegal oil bunkering, crude oiltheft and other oil- relatedcriminalities in the Niger-Delta region.”

He added that there will beno hiding place for oil thievesin the Central NavalCommand Area ofresponsibility and warned oilthieves to desist fromillegalities and get involved inmeaningful businesses or facethe wrath of the law.

This certainly is not the bestof times for operators ofillegal refineries in RiversState as men of the NigerianNavy Ship, Pathfinder, arealready making good their

threat of putting thempermanently out of business.In fact, in the last two months,78 illegal refineries have beensmashed in various creeks inthe state.

According to CommanderShuwa AbdulrahimMohammed of the NigerianNavy Ship Pathfinder in thestate: “The heat is already onoil thieves and those runningillegal refineries in the state.The anti-oil theft war is on, nocompromise”.

He said his men will notrelent until all illegal refinersare flushed out. “We will smoke these oil thieves out oftheir hideouts. They will haveno peace unless they changefrom this illicit act,” he toldnewsmen at the base.

His men have continued tocomb all parts of the creeksfor oil thieves. Last Saturday,

while the Chief of Naval Staff,Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was at the Naval ShipPathfinder, CommanderMohammed’s men were atOloma community smashing illegal crude oil refineries.

Yes, the nation has beenbattling with oil thieveswithout success, yet theFederal Government has notthought of creative ways ofending the menace. If thereare operators in the informalsector of the Nigerianeconomy that have developedindigenous ways of refiningpetroleum products, would itnot pay the nation more toinvestigate the technologyused and adopt it for localrefining? Nigeria will bebetter for it if it employs localskills to develop the oilsector. Modular refineries arebeing used globally. Nigeria

could research into this localtechnology and use it toempower the citizenry. Ifthese local refiners areembraced, the governmentcould work with them and sellcrude to them for refining.This strategic engagementcould end crude oil theft. Bylegalising their operations,they will add to the stream ofpetroleum productsavailable in the country.Many of these refiners could,on the long run employ someof the unemployed youths inthe country thus creatingjobs and reducing the level ofunemployment in thecountry. This administrationprides itself as a governmentwhose economic policy is toelevate Nigerians andalleviate poverty.

Nigeria has the habit ofmissing out on greatopportunities. During thecivil war, Biafra used thesame technology to sustain itsstruggle for three years. Thetechnology employed by therebels to prosecute the warwas dumped and Nigeria lostout of the gains it would havehad at the end of the war.

Here again is a tryingmoment for the nation andopportunity like this springsup, all the nation's leadersand law enforcement agentsare seeing is the wrong sideof the coin. They are notasking how far the technologycan go in relieving the nationof the perennial fuel crisis ifit is developed. No, they arecriminals, they should beshot. Nigerian leaders need toput on a thinking cap andthink out of the box to savethe nation the pains ofendless queues at fillingstations every so often.

Shippers’ Council faults opposition against tracking note

According to the Council,“Whether the Shippers’ Councilintroduces cargo tracking noteor not, shipping companies willcontinue to collect this taxation,the $25 per container and all theother listings are expected tocome from the already existingfreight taxation collected by theshipping lines on Nigerianfreight. The ICTN comes withpayments that are alreadycollected or payable per

consignment, it is alreadyincluded as part of theconsignee’s payments.” Heaccused the shipping lines offorming a cartel and takingadvantage of many West andCentral African nations.

"They are trying to truncatethe ICTN because they are thesame shipping companiesdealing with all the 18countries in West and CentralAfrica implementing cargotracking note,” he added.

According to the Shippers’Council boss, the

administrative cost ofimplementing the ICTN inNigeria is very low comparedto what is paid in other Westand Central African countries.He disclosed that, in some Westand Central African nation, theycollect as much as 65Euro perTEU, while the lowest cost is35Euros.

“The ICTN in Nigeria isdifferent from those beingimplemented in West andCentral Africa, ours isAdvanced Cargo Declarationthat gives you a column where

you must put the BAF (BunkerAdjustment Factor) CAF(Currency Adjustment Factor)you must tell us what thesurcharge is -whether it is GRI(General Rate Increase) whichshipping companies do fromtime to time and they hide it,when you go for a shippinginvoice they will give you alump sum, it doesn’t tell youwhat the GRI or what the basicfreight is.

“Here in Nigeria, we arecharging $25 per TEU, whichis less than a quarter of the

65Euros charged by othercountries, but they are notworried about that because theyknow that Nigeria controls 75per cent of the cargoes,” hestated.

According to the Council,under the ICTN, containersattract a fee of $25 per unit, Rorovehicles, $10 per unit, breakbulk cargoes attract $0.2 perunit, while conventional/groupage cargo attracts a fee of$1 per freight ton. Similarly,while crude oil export attracts$0.1 per ton, both emptycontainers and non-crude oilexports attract no fee.

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Business & Economy

Guiness restates commitment to quality products,laments misrepresentation

Guinness Nigeria Plc hasagain restated its

commitment to continuouslydeliver quality productsthrough the application of thehighest standards of goodmanufacturing practice.

The company apparently isreacting to what, it said, weremisrepresentations by somescholars of the facts in theissue relating to the allegedinfractions in its rented off-sitewarehouse.

The matter is betweenGuinness and the NationalAgency for Food, DrugAdministration and Control(NAFDAC), which had writtenit on the alleged infractions.

NAFDAC had reportedlycommunicated to Guinnessthe infractions and fined it N1billion, a fact the company hadadmitted. A statement by theCorporate Relations Director,Mr Sesan Sobowale, said thatthe alleged infractions wererelated to a rented off-sitewarehouse where rawmaterials are stored.

“The said raw materials storeis not a production facility ora factory and the quality ofGuinness Nigeria productswas never in issue. NAFDACinsists that its authorisation isrequired before we can carryout the destruction of expiredraw materials or indeed in the

process of approval of newbest before date by themanufacturers of these rawmaterials.

“And we were in the processof engaging NAFDAC forclarifications and resolution ofthe issues before the privatecorrespondence fromNAFDAC to Guinness Nigeriawas clandestinely passed to ajournalist,” it said. Thestatement added: “Secondly,there was nowhere in thecorrespondence fromNAFDAC to Guinness Nigeriawhere it was stated that“during inspection they foundrodents in the factory.

“This is a false claim and anerroneous misrepresentation.Besides, Guinness Nigeria has

always maintained and upheldbest manufacturing standardsand practices in all itsoperations. This is attested toby the numerous compliantpractices certifications thecompany has received overthe years, including fromNAFDAC as recently as onDec. 5, 2014. Then, NAFDACawarded the company withthe Good ManufacturingPractice (GMP) Certificate forall of its products,” thestatement said, putting therecords straight.

“Thirdly, it is also patentlyfalse and misleading that ‘theproblem is on finishedproducts that were expiredand Guinness wererevalidating and recycling theproduct to the market’.

ICA urges CBNto amenddirective onpublishing bankdebtors

The Institute of CreditAdministration (ICA),

hasappealed to the CentralBank of Nigeria (CBN) toamend its directive tocommercial banks on thepublication of debtors'names in the nationalnewspapers as a debtrecovery tool.

The President of ICA, MrAdetunji Oyebanji, made theappeal at the institute’s 3rdNigeria Credit IndustryAwards on Wednesday inLagos. The CBN had in Aprildirected commercial banks topublish the names of debtorsquarterly in order to recover“bad debts”. He said that theplea to the CBN to amend thedirective should not be seenas the institute trying to holdbrief for the banks. Oyebanji,also the institute’s CouncilChairman, said the bodyviewed the CBN’s directiveand its subsequentimplementation by banks asstanding opposite the ethicsin credit management.

GroupcommendsCustoms fort a c k l i n gsmugglers inSouth East

COMMISSIONING - From left: Chief Olatunji Oyefuga, Minister of State for Environment,Ibrahim Jibril,Onirolu of Irolu-Remo, Oba Sikiru Adeyiga; and Programme Analyst, (Europe,Arab States and Africa), Montreal Protocol Unit, UNDP, Mr.Etienne Gonin, during thecommissioning of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants Plant in Irolu-Remo, Ogun State.

NASPAN set to grow GDP..as Nigeria loses $2.2b to shea smuggling

Although Nigeria is thelargest producer ofshea nuts in Africa,

accounting for about 40 percent of the 600,000 MT ofshea nut in West Africa annu-ally, accounting for almost60 per cent of world’s supplyof shea butter and allied de-rivatives valued at about$3.8 billion every year ac-cording to Global Shea Alli-ance, yet, the country is notbenefiting from the huge sheamarket because of low quali-ty of the butter and nuts.

To reverse the trend, theNational Shea Product Asso-ciation of Nigeria, NASPAN,is working to improve theoverall capacity of the sheaindustry in Nigeria. Speakingat a press conference in La-gos, the Vice-President,NASPAN, Mrs Mobola Sagoesaid despite Nigeria's greatpotential in the shea indus-try, it is currently lagging itsless endowed neighbours inthe optimal harnessing of thisresource as an export com-modity.

Sagoe said: “The Shea in-dustry is growing. We areworking on how to improvethe quality of shea in Nigeriabecause that has been hold-ing us back. We have startedtraining the women. Over 15million women across WestAfrica participate directly inthe Shea industry."

She stressed the need forgovernment to be part of theShea industry as Nigeria seeksto diversify her economy.

On the areas the govern-ment could come in, Sagoesaid government should in-vest in warehouses, bordercontrol to stop smuggling,processing centres and mech-anised techniques.

“The Nigerian Export Pro-motion Council has beenhelpful and it is in the inter-est of Nigeria that the qualityof the butter is grade A.

"Shea is found in 21 states inNigeria but we can only iden-tify four states - Niger, Kebbi,Oyo and Kwara - that producequality shea that can be ex-ported. If we are not able toexport, then we cannot

change the economy. Eventhe local market is bigenough now because the cos-metics industry is growing sofast. If they can all use shea,you will be amazed at howthat alone will change theeconomy before we talk ofexporting. If we get the gov-ernment on our side to im-prove the quality, train morewomen in the rural areas, wewill achieve much."

In some of these villages,there are no television setsso the women are cut off,meanwhile they are the onesputting food on a lot of peo-ple’s table.

Government needs to helpus strategize on how to helpthe women in health andsafety. Most times they getraped, bitten by snakes etc.Women go into the bush atabout 5.00am to pick thenuts. There is also a processfor picking shea nuts. It is allnatural; nobody planted

shea tree. It is a gift from Godand because of that, everysingle process of shea is nat-ural. The picking, boiling,processing are all natural.Shea nuts are not pluckedfrom the tree, they are al-lowed to drop by themselves.If they are plucked from thetree, you get low quality but-ter. Taking them to a process-ing centre is another issueentirely. The women are will-ing to pick because they knowthey will get good money butthey can only pick good nutsand get good nuts to the cen-tre if it is package well sopackaging was an issue. Sheanuts must be put in jute bags.So we are putting standardsin place.

“We are working on empow-ering women because with-out the women, there is noshea. Without the shea trees,we won’t have shea to pro-duce. We are also working onsecuring shea trees. For

years, shea trees have beencut down by farmers andcharcoal merchants and weare trying to stop that. Ittakes a shea tree about 30years to start producing butnow, NIFOR has come upwith a variety that can pro-duce in five – seven years.

The advancement of theShea industry in Nigeria isbeing promoted by Shea Ori-gin, USAID/Nigeria Expand-ed Trade and Transport(NEXTI) project, Bank of In-dustry (BOI) and NASPAN.

A 2010 USAID studyshowed that for every$1,000 of Shea nuts sold atthe farm gate level,US$1,580 in additionalhousehold income is gener-ated in the local economy.

Shea is needed all over theworld at the moment as asubstitute for cocoa, it is aproduct that if it is used inany skin care product, yousee the immediate result.

BY EBELE ORAKPO

A group, AnambraTradersAssociation has

commended the FederalOperations Unit, (FOU) of theNigeria Customs Service,(NCS),for reducing themenace of smuggling in theSouth East.

In a statement, PublicitySecretary of the group, Mr.Dede Uzor, said that the FOUin Owerri has been fearless inits fight against smuggling.

Chairman of Campaign forDemocracy(CD) of South EastZone and Publicity Secretaryof Anambra Traders havecommended operatives ofNigeria Customs Service,Federal Operations Unit,Owerri for its fearless feats infighting smuggling.

Uzor described the customsfight against smuggling as aduty in the interest of thepeople that should besupported by all well meaningNigerians.

Speaking during anexclusive telephoneinterview, he described theimpact of customs work in theSouth East and South Southregions as not only protectingthe economy, but alsopreventing loss of lives.

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 25

Being text of a paper delivered atthe 3rd Anniversary lecture of theRealNews magazine: Oriental Hotel,Lagos:

Introduction.I gave my commitment to the

management of RealNews magazinesince late May to deliver this thirdanniversary lecture, and we agreedthat given my tight schedule, I couldjust speak ex tempore or fromspeaking notes. However, I decidedto write down my thoughts a few daysago for the avoidance of doubt. Myapologies if you find this a bit tardy. Ihave taken liberty to slightly modifythe topic to reflect my central message.

The timing of this lecture isauspicious—coming in the 6th monthafter the inauguration of a newadministration, and also with a newfederal cabinet now in place. Beforethe government rolls out its fullagenda, this is a good time to beginour citizen duty of joining the evercontinuous discourse on the economy.Our focus for now shall be pre-emptiveand provocative— to challenge theBuhari/APC regime not only todemonstrate that it can manage theeconomy better than the PDP but alsothat it can lay the foundation forsustainably shared prosperity in apost-oil economy.

Let me make three quick points toprovide some context to our discourse.First, I supported PresidentMuhammadu Buhari (PMB) overJonathan not because I was convincedabout the credibility of the APCmanifesto (and I said so in my articlein January this year) but for threereasons. I was convinced that the lasteconomic team was bankrupting theeconomy and had no clue as to howto fix it. Second, PMB is the firstpresident of Nigeria under ademocracy to have seriously desiredthe job and struggled for it for over12 years. To me therefore, he musthave a few points to prove, and I waswilling to bet on a man whopurposefully wanted the job thanotherwise. Third, I was convinced thatit would be in the enlightened self-interest of the APC, once in power todo their utmost to keep power bydelivering on the economy unlike thePDP which had taken power forgranted. I am still confident that PMBcan deliver change (although as I hadindicated in my article in January, Ididn’t believe that any of the twoparties could deliver on theirmanifesto) but he and his team nowneed to run at the speed of a 1000 kmper hour. We must support them tosucceed by contributing when we can,and criticising when we must—toughlove! I am enjoying my status as ‘anindependent’ (I don’t belong to APCor PDP) and I therefore have theliberty to say it as I see it from thebalcony!

Second, I am happy that theministers are now in place, and Ibelieve the president has assembled

Can a New Buharinomics Save Nigeria?By Chukwuma CharlesSoludo, CFRAfrican Heritage Institution(AfriHeritage), Enugu

a team of eminently qualified andexperienced Nigerians. A moreimportant point is that it is a team of‘believers’—who share in the missionand vision of APC. So now that astrong team of ‘believers’ is in place,there can be no excuses!

Furthermore, I read in the mediathat the Vice-President, Prof. Osinbajoindicated that he is “responsible forthe economy”, and I believe PresidentBuhari deserves great commendationfor this fundamental delegation. Noquestion, the buck stops on Mr.President’s table. However, as Iargued in my article publishedJanuary this year – “Buhari vsJonathan: Beyond the Election”(which Vanguard newspaper stillposts on their website under a sectioncaptioned ‘The Soludo Debate’), Ibelieve the intention of ourconstitution is that the VP should bethe ‘coordinating minister of theeconomy’. Besides being the chair ofthe national economic council (NEC),our laws make the VP chair of majoreconomic institutions of the federalgovernment. Thus, once a presidentselects his VP, we should begin to havesome ideas about the possibledirection of economic policy akin to aparty in the UK naming its Chancellorof the Exchequer. Ours is a peculiarinstitutional design but to the best ofmy knowledge, these provisions havebeen undermined in the past (I havethoughts on possible amendment tothe constitution so that VPs are notautomatic successors to the Presidentin case of ‘accident’ and to shield theoffice from the distractions of day today politics to focus on the economyand no more). President Buhari hasrepeatedly stated his focus on “re-building” our institutions, and whereelse to begin the process of systematicdialogue on the economy than thestrengthening of institutions for doingso within government? There areother institutional structures it mustcreate/strengthen to consolidate andsharpen what Nigeria desperatelyneeds now: a War Room on theEconomy.

The rest of the paper is organizedas follows: In section II, wesummarize a caricature of the baselinestatistics on the economy that PDPbequeathed but which APC/PMB mustimprove upon. Section III shows thatthe ‘old’ Buharinomics of commandand control is a tried and failed policyand won’t work now. In Section IV,we hint at a few issues the newBuharinomics must take cognizanceof if it hopes to build a sustainable,shared prosperity for Nigeria. Weconclude in Section V.

Baseline Statistics: What is theAPC/Buhari Government trying to

saying goes, if you can’t measure it,you can’t improve/change it.

Government must strengthen theNational Bureau of Statistics (NBS)and preserve its independence toproduce and publish credible nationalstatistics. It needs serious funding. Ireally wish our policymakers can be alittle less careless or casual about theuse of official statistics. I criticised thelast government for relying on‘estimates’ by World Bank staff insteadof the NBS statistics. When I hear thenarrative so far in the media by thenew government regarding theeconomy, I take it largely as the kindof ‘usual propaganda’ new officialsdeploy to show that their predecessors“did nothing” and therefore lay theground for claiming that they are“doing everything for the first time inour history”. Fortunately also, thereare many people as well taking a hardlook at the numbers and recordingscores. At AfriHeritage, we aredeveloping a template for measuringgovernment performance. As Nigeriahas largely evolved into a two partystate in a democracy, I prefer to framethe discourse on the baseline as ‘PDP’slegacy and the APC’s challenge’.

Since it is the practice to blame thePDP for every ill that befell our countryin the last 16 years (and there aremany of them) it is also fair to creditthem with the positive ones. Accordingto data from NBS, one outstandinglegacy of the PDP is that in 16 years itheld sway, it more than doubled theGDP of Nigeria (indeed with averageyear-on-year GDP growth rate inexcess of 6% over the past 12 years,the GDP actually doubled within thelast 12 years. It met average annualgrowth rate of about 2% and raised itto 6-7%, led by the non-oil sector. Yes,non-oil sector, and the“diversification” reported in therecently re-based GDP happenedwithin the last 16 years. Will theeconomy more than double in thenext 12 years under the APC? For me,if only the APC can double the size ofGDP from about $550 billion to $1.1trillion in 12 -16 years, and further halfthe poverty index, Nigeria will indeedbe on course to be one of the largest10 economies in the world by the endof this century.

As at 1999 when PDP came to power,Nigeria was largely a pariah state stilllucky to have survived as oneindivisible sovereign, especially in thecontext of the struggle by NADECOand restiveness in many parts of thecountry. On corruption, TransparencyInternational scored it 1.6 out of 10and ranked 98 out of 99 countries in1999. Nigeria was listed among fourcountries that were non-compliant onthe anti-money laundering rules bythe Financial Action Task Force (FATF).We could not service our external debtand relied on stressful rescheduling,with all the intrusive donorconditionalities. Poverty wasestimated at 70%, and unemploymentat nearly 20%. The 1990s will go downin our economic history as the decadeof stagnation: when per capita income

‘Change’?Every team serious about ‘change’

starts with a clear identification of thebaseline from which it measuresdeviations/progress. Nigeria has had16 uninterrupted years of democracywith the PDP controlling the federalgovernment as well as majority of thestates. APC is now in charge at boththe centre and majority of the states.A minimum standard for measuring‘change’ is the extent to which APCgovernment beats the record of thePDP in measurable terms. As the

•Soludo •President Buhari

Since it is thepractice toblame the PDPfor every illthat befell ourcountry in thelast 16 years(and there aremany of them)it is also fair tocredit the partywith thepositive ones

Continues on page 26

Economy

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

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growth was zero. Average oil price inMay 1999 when President Obasanjotook over was $15.24 while stock ofreserves was about $5 billion.

After 16 years, several challengesremain and some have even worsened(especially insecurity). AlthoughPresident Jonathan’s regime had theworst economic management relativeto the resources at its disposal, it mustbe stressed that tremendous progresswas made in the aggregate 16 yearsof PDP government. Yes, it should haveleft more than $100 billion in reservesbut left only $30 billion (still about sixtimes of what it met). We also wish thatJonathan’s team did not leave Nigeriawith unprecedented rate of debtaccumulation. But, according tostatistics from NBS, the PDP handedover a $550 billion economy (largestin Africa and 26th in the world), with7.5% unemployment rate (better thanEuropean Union, France, Sweden,Belgium, etc although theunderemployment figure is muchhigher); 32%?? poverty rate (asclaimed by the former FinanceMinister, or 61%??: NBS needs toclarify this claim); a stock of reservesof $30 billion; GDP growth rateaveraging 6% over last 12 years; arelatively more diversified economy,with ICT penetration from 0.2% to over60%, and a new contributory pensionscheme now with trillions of Naira inpension fund. Our external debt isdown although total debt stock isescalating. Our Gini coefficient(degree of inequality) is not differentfrom China’s. Nigeria has consolidatedand stronger banking system thatcurrently finances both governmentdebt and the private sector, with arelatively vibrant capital market. Thecapitalization of the Nigerian StockExchange grew from less than N1trillion to N12 trillion as at handover.For the first time, Nigerian economyis now rated by credit rating agencies(Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s). Evenon corruption perception, Nigeria isfar better today than in 1999, and PDPcreated the two major anti-corruptionagencies— ICPC and EFCC, and asat 2014 TI scored Nigeria 2.7 andranked 136 out of 175 countries. PDPsecured debt relief for Nigeria,thereby relieving Nigeria from thestranglehold of the IMF/World Bankpolicy conditionalities. APC does nothave to negotiate with Washington onmany economic policies. The list islong. The point therefore is thatdespite the fall in oil price, APC isstarting from a much stronger basethan PDP did in 1999 and thechallenge now is to do far better. Inthe coming years, Nigerians will beasking APC to show us their figures!

Avoiding the Mistakes of the “Old”Buharinomics

Nigeria desperately needs the moralforce/Spartan discipline andleadership of PMB at this time to fightcorruption, terrorism, and hopefullybegin to reconstruct the values of apeople gone astray. On the economy,it is not going to be an easy transitionfor PMB. Igbos have a proverb thatone does not learn to use the left hand

at old age, but my prayer is that forthe sake of Nigeria, he would have todo so and quickly too. Many greatworld leaders have had to undergo thispersonal transformation to adapt andexploit the levers provided by how thereal world economy actually works inorder to prosper their people. Theformer socialist/communist regimes ofChina and Russia are makingtremendous progress on the move tocompetitive market economies. Manyof us started off differently, and Iactually made a career (with severalbooks and articles) as an unrepentantcritic of the IMF/World Bank’sstructural adjustment programmes(SAP) in Africa even while doing myhard core economics work. But wehave remained pragmatic intellectuals!

When PMB first came to power in1984-85, the nation was as well incrisis. He did so much within the shorttime especially on anti-corruption andrestoration of national discipline. Heinherited a command and controleconomic policy regime and deepenedit (capital, exchange, and pricecontrols; import licensing;indiscriminate ban on imports,rationing of essential commodities;government ownership and control ofso-called ‘commanding heights of theeconomy’—banks and insurance,telecommunications, airline, refineries,roads and transport, evenmanufacturing companies, etc). I recallthat it was something like a criminaloffence then to be in possession offoreign currency. Exchange rate,interest rate, petrol price and severalother prices were largely fixed. In theface of continuing shocks especiallythe fall in oil prices (in the face of hugedebt service payments), relative priceswere not allowed to adjust to restoreinternal and external balances. Rather,even more controls were imposed withall the gargantuan distortions in theeconomy (and industrial capacityutilization was largely below 20%) andas government could not pay salaries,massive retrenchment of workers wasundertaken, but the economic crisis

worsened and Nigeria was on thebrink of bankruptcy. The economyimploded big time. Unemploymentand poverty worsened. It did not work.The successor government faced littlechoice but to liberalize the economyunder the structural adjustmentprogramme (SAP) and Nigeria beganthe journey to a modern marketeconomy. Of course, the journey hasbeen chequered, and naturally is stilla work in progress.

Since 1986, Nigerian economy haschanged a lot and my reading is thatthere is a broad consensus oncontinuing progress towards acompetitive (probably alsocompassionate) market economyframework. From the snippets ofpolicy since the new governmentcame, there is a growing perceptionof nostalgia, reminiscing of the ‘oldgood days’ pre-1986. There seems tobe a growing tension between atendency to return to the past versusa progressive match to the future. Iam not sure how the new wine will fitinto the old bottle. T

Let me illustrate with a fewexamples. First, there is this sense ofambivalence as to whether to removepetrol subsidy or not; and whethergovernment is going to run refineriesin competition with the private sectorunder a subsidy regime orderegulated pricing. I am convincedthat PMB has the moral authority andlegitimacy to quickly remove thesubsidy and privatize the refineries.The fundamental case against subsidyremoval is not economic: it is the factthat the citizens do not trustgovernment to optimize the use of theproceeds for their welfare. If PMBdoes not deal with these issues NOW,I wonder when, if ever. Now thatprivate refineries are coming up, it istime to privatize public ones. It shouldhave been done years ago. The hugebenefits are not only economic, butalso an anti-corruption move. Letgovernment produce a credibleagenda of reforms for the sector andlet us have another focused public

debate on this subject. You may beamazed that even the so-called ‘manin the street’ now understands that itno longer makes sense. The fiscal costof keeping it is unjustifiable andunsustainable.

Second, one hopes that the report inthe media about plans to resuscitatethe moribund Nigerian Airways is nottrue. One thing the economy cannotafford at this time of crisis is to investscarce resources on prestige or whiteelephant projects when most federalhighways are not motorable (certainlynone in the South East is motorable)or when we need to be investing tensof billions of dollars per annum oncritical infrastructure. Third, thetreasury single account (TSA) is agreat initiative, and I congratulatePMB for that. However, we don’t haveto return to the past of having everypenny of government largelyredundant in the central bank. For aneconomy desperately in need ofstimulation, piling up idle cash at theCBN is not sound economics. Weshould deploy technology andtransparent rules to implement a huband spoke model of TSA whereby CBNis the hub while the commercial banksremain the spoke. Of course there aresome benefits of keeping it at CBN,including possible anti-corruptionoutcome but as a proverb says, youdon’t set your house ablaze becauseof the irritation of a rat in the house.We can rid the system of corruptionand realize all the benefits of TSA butstill not starve the economy of thenecessary liquidity.

Another minor point relates tocommunication and body languagethat jolts the market and underminesconfidence in the monetary andfinancial system. When it was widelypublicized on two different occasionswithin three months that “presidencydirects central bank to …..”, it gotmany players in the economyseriously worried. For sure, CentralBank is not a government unto itself,and despite the statutory ‘autonomy’or ‘independence’ of the Bank, it mustwork closely with the Presidency andeconomic agencies to coordinatemacroeconomic policy. Everyoneknows that the central bank or INECcannot survive without the supportand active collaboration with thepresidency but no one wants to hearthat the president has directed INECon how to conduct an election. Thereis a reason the APC promised in itsmanifesto to ensure CBNindependence. A central reason is togive the market confidence that theCBN will always act professionally andindependently to ensure price andfinancial stability. It is to avoid theAfrica’s Idi Amin phenomenonwhereby the government of the daymay ‘direct’ the central bank to ‘print’money or to take other steps injuriousto the economy because it wants toretain power. When the market knowsor believes that the central bank ismerely an extension of the presidencyand takes daily ‘directives’ from there,the Bank loses credibility and itsmonetary policy committee meetingsbecome meaningless. My fear is theprecedence: we can never imaginehow far future presidents can go in‘directing’ the central bank on whatto do with our commonwealth.

Can a New Buharinomics Save Nigeria?

Third, thetreasury singleaccount (TSA) is agreat initiative,and I congratulatePMB for that.However, we don’thave to return tothe past of havingevery penny ofgovernmentlargely redundantin the centralbank.

•Kemi Adeosun, Minister ofFnance

Continued from page 25

Economy

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015— 27

Banking & Finance

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

The launching of theCentral Bank ofNigeria’s Anchor

Borrowers Programme in faraway Kebbi state last weekrepresents the latest effort totackle one of the greatestchallenges to Nigeria’s foreignreserves and the value of thenaira, which is the hugeamount of foreign exchangespent on food importation.

For example, in the first halfof 2014, the country spent$2.66 billion or N524 billion toimport various food products.This represents 8.1 percent oftotal foreign exchange spent onimportation of visible goodsduring the period.Furthermore, the country spentabout $5 billion or N985 billionto import food in 2014.Meanwhile, the huge foodimport bill is dominated byimportation of rice, wheat andother commodities, which thecountry has the capacity toproduce enough quantity tomeet local demand.

While several policymeasures have been introducedto address this problem, thetrend has persisted. But facedwith the challenge of decliningexternal reserves due to sharpdrop in foreign exchangeearnings from crude oil,leading to devaluation of thenaira twice within six months,the CBN decided to confrontthe problem headlong withradical policy measures.

The most recent and notableof these measures is therestriction of the importation of41 items from the nation’sforeign exchange market. Thelist includes food items like rice,palm oil products, vegetableoils, tomatoes, vegetables andprocessed vegetable products,poultry and tinned fish. Thepurpose of the policy,according to the apex bank, isto encourage local productionof these products. “Theimplementation of this policywill help conserve foreignreserves as well as resuscitatedomestic industries andimprove employmentgeneration”, it stated.

The Anchor BorrowersProgramme

Realising that restricting theimportation of food productsfrom accessing foreignexchange will not automaticallytranslate to their localproduction, the CBN decidedto complement the policy witha programme aimed atboosting local production of riceand wheat, two of the fourproducts that dominates thecountry’s food import bill. This

FirstBankunveils newSME campaign

First Bank of NigeriaLimited has unveiled

its new SME Campaignwhich is specially designedto help SMEs grow theirbusiness with diverse productand service offerings.

According to theFirstBank’s spokesperson,Folake Ani-Mumuney,businesses require more thanloans, and the Bank makesavailable non- financialservices to its customers suchas access to administrativeassistance, translationservices, conferences,seminars, forums and otherbusiness support services.“We are determined topartner with businesses andpass on our own expertiseand knowledge to smallbusinesses across severalsectors in Nigeria. Ourexperience in business spansseveral industries andsegments. We understandthe position most of ourSME’s are in because we used to be in their situationand can provide valuablesolutions for their businessneeds. We care about thepath to success for ourcustomers, we have walkedthis path and have developedsolutions to ensure that theroad to success is as stableas can be for our customers”,she further enthused.

Sterling Banksecures $40mfacility from TurkeyEXIM Bank

In recognition of itscommitment to

international trade financeand investment amongindividuals and institutionsacross the world, SterlingBank has secured a$40million facility from theTurkey EXIM Bank.

The facility was granted byTurkey EXIM Bank followingthe conclusion of a duediligence on the Bank whichconfirmed it as a reputablefinancial institution withcapacity to meet itsobligations and a worthypartner through which fundscould be brought into thecountry for trade financeleading to the developmentof the country.

This further lays credenceto the rating of the Bank byMoody’s, a leading globalrating agency whichassigned a first-time localand foreign currency issuerand deposit ratings of B2with a stable outlook toSterling Bank Plc.

Forex: Banking on the ‘Anchor BorrowersProgramme’

is the rationale behind theintroduction of the AnchorBorrowers Programme (ABP).

Speaking at the launchingof the Programme, CBNGovernor, Mr. GodwinEmefiele said, “Nigeria’s foodimport bill is bothexceptionally andunsustainably high. The top

four import commodities,which include rice and wheat,consume over N1.0 trillion inforeign exchange annually.Furthermore, relying heavilyon food importation fuelsdomestic inflation, depletesour foreign reserves,displaces local productionand creates unemployment inthe country. Indeed, importdependency especially oncommodities of comparativeadvantage is not acceptableand sustainable fiscally oreconomically.

“The Anchor Borrowers’Programme would be adecisive model that willtransform Nigeria from one ofthe world’s highest importersof rice into a net exporter ofthe commodity in the short-to medium-term. It willundoubtedly complement the

system of production andinadequate funding for theestablishment anddevelopment of nucleus farmsand small farmers out-growerschemes. The CBN’s AnchorBorrowers Programme isdesigned to address thesechallenges.

The Programme is designedto create economic linkagesbetween farmers andprocessors, not

pesticides andother importantinputs to helpb o o s ta g r i c u l t u r a loutputs andproductivity.

T h eProgramme isexpected to linkover 200,000 riceand wheatfarmers withreputable millersfor off-take ofevery grain ofp a d d yproduced. Them i l l i n gcompanies havea d e q u a t ecapacity to meetNigeria’s ricerequirements,backed by

installed state of the artprocessing equipment.Ultimately, the quantum offunds to be channelled andthe number of farmers tobenefit from this programmewill increase as we extend theProgramme to othercommodities.

The implementation plan ofthe Programme involves athree-pronged approachincluding: Anchor OutgrowerSupport; Value ChainTraining for stakeholders; andRisk Mitigation.

This approach was adoptedto ensure that majorstakeholders in the industrywork closely with the FederalMinistry of Agriculture andRural Development, NIRSAL,insurance companies, CBNand other financialinstitutions to create theneeded linkages andtransparent ambiencerequired to sustainably growthe identified commodities.

Objectives of theProgramme

The Anchor Borrower ’sProgramme is expected todeliver some key outcomes infive years. The expectedoutcomes are: An increase inthe ratio of agriculturallending from 3.72 percent oftotal bank lending in 2014 to7.0 percent; An increase incapacity utilization of ricemills from the current level ofless than 50 percent to notless than 80 percent;Empower at least 1 millionfarmers in each of theselected produce under theprogramme; Create at least2,000,000 direct and indirectjobs in the processingsegment of the above valuechains; and ReduceNigeria’s import bill on theidentified commodities by atleast 30 percent annually overthe specified period.

Smallholder farmers shallunder the scheme beentitled to loans rangingfrom N150,000 to N250,000to assist them in procuringnecessary agriculturalinputs

Growth EnhancementScheme (GES) and advancethe status of manysubsistence GES small-holderfarmers to commercial orlarge contract growers withattendant increase inagricultural productivity andfarm income.

The ABP is aimed ataddressing the variousproblems militating againstlarge scale production of foodcrops in the country. Forexample, in the rice industry,despite the huge investmentwith the setting up of almost40 integrated rice mills, theindustry continues to suffer asa result of low yield ricevarieties, poor farm practicesand lack of good quality farminputs. Other challengesfacing the industry includenon-utilization of availablecultivable lands, manual

only to ensure increasedagricultural output of riceand wheat but also close thegap between production andconsumption by ramping upcapacity utilization in thenation’s integrated mills.

Details of the ProgrammeUnder the programme, the

CBN will set aside the sumof N40.0 billion out of theN220 billion Micro Small andMedium EnterprisesDevelopment Fund(MSMEDF) to be availed to

farmers at single digitinterest rate of 9.0 percent perannum.

Smallholder farmers shallunder the scheme be entitledto loans ranging from N150,000 to N250,000 to assist themin procuring necessaryagricultural inputs such asseedlings, fertilizers,

•Emefiele, Governor, CBN

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Corporate Finance

The Centre for HealthSciences Training,

Research and Development(CHESTRAD) International, aPan-African not-for-profitdevelopment institution, willnext month (December)formally present ‘I Will Give’,an innovative platform for themobilisation of resources forsocial development in specificareas to the Nigerians.

‘I Will Give’ platform, is aunique solution to expanddomestic financing throughorganised private giving insupport of social developmentand key activities ineducation, health, youthdevelopment and women’sempowerment.

Speaking on the goals of ‘IWill Give’, the President ofCHESTRAD International, DrLola Dare, said the platformwould help address the issueof inequalities in access toeducation, health and otherproductive inputs through itscrowd-funding strategy ofmobilising from the capacitiesthat exist in the middle classfor social-giving andharnessing them for thepurpose of African socialdevelopment.

VISIT - Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. RoyNaaman presenting a gift to the Executive Governor of LagosState, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode during a courtesy visit bythe Cadbury Nigeria leadership team to the governor inLagos.

Ethical stocks deliver better returnsby Asset Managers

BY NKIRUKANNOROM

Investing in ethical stocksis more attractive asthey deliver more

returns to investors comparedto other asset classes.

This was the position of assetmanagers at Capita AssetsLimited, in a data provided bythe company that trackedpercentage returns of variousinvestment options availablein the Nigerian capital market.

According to informationextracted from the data,average return by the commonbenchmark index of theNigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) over a seven-yearperiod stood at 3.71 per cent,while that of ethical fundsduring the same period was19.27 per cent.

The data, which covered theperiod between 2009 andNovember 6, 2015, analysedyear-on-year returns by theNSE’s All Share Index (ASI)and the NSE Lotus IslamicIndex (NSE LII). The NSE LIIis a weighted index that tracksstocks that comply with theIslamic rules on equityinvestments.

In an accompanying note tothe data, Head, assetsmanagement, Capital AssetsLimited, Mr. Azeez Adenle,said ethical investors couldhave the better of two worldsby earning good returns ontheir investments and stillkeeping to their beliefs,whether social, political,economic or religious beliefs.

“The amount of financedesignated as being ethicallyinvested in the UnitedKingdom currently exceeds £1billion. In the United States ofAmerica, over 20 times thisamount is invested ethically,including finance which isinvested in environmentallyfriendly projects andcompanies which are screenedusing moral criteria. Majorethical investment stockmarket indices includeCalvert Social Index, DowJones Islamic Market Index,Dow Jones SustainabilityIndex, FTSE KLD 400 SocialIndex, FTSE 4 Good Index andNSE Lotus Islamic Index,”Adenle noted.

According to him, contraryto assumption that insisting onethics and beliefs mightjeopardize returns oninvestments, ethical investorsactively invest in the stockmarket and make betterreturns than other averageinvestors.

He, however, noted that dueto the intricacies in equity

portfolio management and thespecialized nature of ethicalinvestment management,investors should seek advicefrom or engage professionalassets managers who possessthe know-how to handle theinvestor’s portfolio profitablywithout compromising hisinstructions.

According to him, investorscan also have a range ofchoices when constructing aninvestment portfolio that isbased on their beliefs andreligious leanings, includinginvestments in unit trusts,mutual funds, exchangetraded funds (ETFs),investment companies, privateplacements and public issues.

He pointed out that whileethical investments areusually identified with Islamicrules, ethical investments canalso reflect other religiousbeliefs as well as social,political and economicopinions of the investors,especially activists in somespecified areas.

He added ethicalinvestments could be inMuslim businesses and inconventional institutions andbusinesses which undertake todeploy funding from investorson ethical basis.

He outlined two broadstrategies for ethicalinvestment to include positiveand negative strategies,

saying that under positivestrategy, investors supportinvestment in companieswhich are particularly

approved of in terms of theirproducts, activities or businessmethods.

Fidelity Bank splashes N7m, duplexon Save4 Shelter promo winners

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

Fidelity Bank Plc hasgiven out a whooping

sum of N7 million, a duplexin Abuja and other consolationprizes to winners thatemerged in the second drawof its on-going Save4 Shelterpromo.

The winners were drawnfrom the six geo-politicalzones of the country andinclude customers that holdvarious categories of Savingsaccount with the bank. Someof the recipients of thegenerator sets, refrigeratorsamong others thanked thebank and called on others totow the same line of rewardingtheir customers.

Speaking at the event, theExecutive Director, corporatebanking, Mr AdeyeyeAdepegba, said having carriedout a research on the needs ofits customers discovered thatshelter took the centre list on

their pressing needs, addingthat as a way of rewarding itsloyal customers and toencourage savings culture,the bank took it as aresponsibility to makehousing funds available for itscustomers.

“Having given out oneduplex in Abuja, we have twomore duplexes to give out.The three houses are valuedat over N100 million, andN35 million cash and otherconsolation items valued overmillions of naira, would begiven to customers across thenation as rent supportgrants”, he said.

“As a strategy of financialinclusion as promoted by theCentral Bank of Nigeria(CBN), we are encouragingour customers and the generalpublic to save because thereis a relationship betweensaving and development,” headded.

Mr. Olisa Ozobialu, a staffof the National Lottery Rotary

Regulatory Commission(NLRC) who was present atthe draw said the process isvery transparent and givesevery customer an equalchance of being chosen, whichis in line with the commissionregulations.

Ozobialu called on otherstakeholders to emulate thebank so that more Nigerianscan boast of adequateaccommodation in the country.

To qualify for the bi-monthlydraw and be legible to win oneof the duplexes, the customeris expected to open a savingsaccount and grow the balanceto N50, 000 or top up existingsavings account with N50,000. Qualification for themonthly draws that entitlecustomers to win any of N2million, N1 million orN500,000, requires a customerto also open a savings accountand grow the balance toN20,000 or top up an existingaccount with N10,000.

Stanbic IBTCdelightscustomers fortheir loyalty

With the holiday seasonaround the corner,

Stanbic IBTC Bank haslaunched a two-month nationwide loyalty campaign in which both existing andprospective customers areoffered a new world ofopportunities, while alsodelighting them with valuablegifts for their patronage.

Executive Director, Personaland Business Banking,Stanbic IBTC Bank, ObinniaAbajue, said the initiative, thethird in the series, themed‘Never Stop MovingForward’, is designed toencourage Nigerians to freelyexpress the traditional Africanhospitality in the festiveseason by showering gifts andlove on one another. The listof such gifts, he said, shouldnot be limited to conventionalitems but should includefinancial gifts.

“Besides showcasing theessentials of the festiveseason, the highpoint beingthe sharing of gifts, thepromotion fits into StanbicIBTC Bank’s purpose ofmaking progress real todeepen financial inclusion inNigeria by making financialservices and products easilyaccessible to even a greaternumber of people, whereverthey may be.

Firm to launchplatform forresourcemobilisation

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 29

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30— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Homes & Housing

Nigeria’s built industryhas received a big

boost as Strong StructuralSteel, a new entrant in theindustry, promises to raise thecountry ’s constructionstandards.

The first phase of theinvestment is expected tobring foreign directinvestment of $36 million tothe nation’s economy. Theoperation will set up a state-of-the-art technology andproprietary building systemsand will be the foundation foran innovative construction/public works project that willresult in meeting the growingconstruction needs of Nigeria.

The company is targeting todevelop a market of qualityconstruction, buildingmaterials, and public worksproject, eliminating the needto import steel products andspecialised labour, which hascharacterised the country fordecades.

Strong Structural Steel, aUnited States steel fabricatorspecialising in the fabricationand erection of Class AStructural Steel,Miscellaneous Steel and PreEngineered Metal Buildings,will immediately hire 300local Nigerian employees.

The facility will provideproducts and superviselabour intensive affiliatedconstruction projects; projectsthat will engage thousands ofNigerians and consequently help to reduce the crime rate.The project is facilitated anddeveloped by Samano S.A.DE C.V Nigeria Limited.

Jose Salazar Tinajero,President/CEO of SamanoS.A. DE C.V. NigeriaLimited, said, “The Companyintends to establish private-public ventures that willbenefit the government’svision of economic growth andthe communities’ life quality.The company seeks toestablish and ramp up theoperations as soon aspossible. It plans to dominatethe technical aspect ofoperation with the StrongStructural Steel employeetraining program in the shortterm of 18 Months,” he said.

According to Tinajero, theinvestment is projected as ajoint ventures/partnership/affiliation with the Nigeriangovernment or designatedentity to establish a beneficialownership and operationalstructure.

Necessary legal consideration whenbuying property

Stories by YINKAKOLAWOLE

Immediatelytake physicalpossession ofthe propertypurchased. Thelaw says thatpossession is90 percent ofownership

DUE to the highlycomplex nature of

legal framework in real estatein Nigeria, it is very difficultto buy property without ahorde of “experts”attempting to sway you withtheir advice. In Lagos state,in particular, the steps takenwhen purchasing propertydepends on whether you arebuying empty land, anuncompleted building or acompleted building,according to RE/MAX, aleading global real estatefranchise company.

The firm here offers someadvice on legal matters toconsider when buyingproperty in the country.

Empty landOn the purchase of land, the

company’s advice is twofold -Registered Title andUnregistered title. UnderRegistered title, you have atleast two options: Registrationafter a private transfer i.e. inthe instance of a sublease,deed of assignment, etc.;Registration by virtue of adirect allocation by theGovernment i.e. In the case ofsublease or a Certificate ofOccupancy (C of O). UnderUnregistered title – There areabout six options: Sale by aprivate person who purchasedfrom a registered owner buthas himself not registered histitle; Sale by a private personwho purchased from anunregistered owner and hadnot registered his/her title;Sale by the Omo Oniles(Landowners) who have thetitle of a land that has beenallocated to them by thegovernment via Gazette or Cof O, but have not processedtheir C of O; Sale by the OmoOnile- who are selling landnot yet allocated to themunder the circumstancesmentioned above. The landhas not been excised and isstill technically undergovernment acquisition; Saleby the Omo Onile underacquisition but not undercommitment and; Sale by theOmo Onile of land underacquisition and which hasalso been committed.

Land covered by C of OTo purchase a land covered

by a Certificate of Occupancyor other registered titles, youmust undertake the followingsteps: Sight the originalregistered document;Conduct a search at the

relevant lands registry toascertain if it is the allotteewho is disposing of theproperty, how many yearsare outstanding on the life ofthe property (out of the 99years usual life span), if theproperty is encumbered i.e.mortgage, prior sale, longlease, outstanding taxes orrents, or revocation. If yourlawyer is satisfied with thesearch and physicalinspection of the Landconforms to the details onthe title documents, and thenit is time to draw up legaldocumentation of exchangeof the title and payments.Upon this exchange, it isimportant that your title isregistered at the relevantlands registry.

Among the documents forexchange, evidence that notax encumbrances exists overthe land must be presented.Clearance from thegovernment agencies that allland charges and otherdemands have been made is

the land/propertypurchased. The law says thatpossession is 90 percent ofownership. The next step isto register your title orinterest over the property atthe appropriate landregistry.

Registered landWhen you are offered a land

by a person who has boughtand has registered his/hertitle, you are to sight theoriginal registereddocuments, which in thatcase, will comprise of a Deedof Assignment, sublease etc.Conduct a search at the landsregistry at which the said landwas registered. Take all thesteps relating to thepurchase of land covered bya C of O.

In addition to the above, andmost importantly, you shouldget the survey plan attachedto the Deed of Assignment,subjected to a chart. Thetechnical reasons for this canonly be revealed on a moredetailed consultancy.

also essential. If there arebuilding plan approvals andland/soil tests, the resultsmust also be handed over atfinal exchange.

Prior to the exchange, andif you have not done so yet,a physical visit to the land isvery important. Once anexchange has been madeand payment for the originaltitles, conveying documentsand documents listed aboveare completed, then youshould immediately takeover physical possession of

Platinum Mortgage Bank donatesPolice station

Platinum Mortgage BankLimited (PMBL) has

donated a modern policestation with state- of –the- artfacilities and a Hillux patrolvan in Karu, Nassarawa State,to support the police shore upprotection of lives andproperty in the state.

At the commissioningceremony of Becky GardensEstate Police Station, financedby the bank, its ManagingDirector, Emmanuel Mbaka,reiterated the PMBL’s policy

of making security a priority intheir housing development.

According to him, themortgage bank has so fardonated six police stations tothe Nigeria Police Force inAbuja, Owerri and Abia State.He called on the Nigeria Policenot to relent in its fight againstcrime and in the protection oflives and property.

Commissioner of Police,Nassarawa State, SaniMohammed, who wasrepresented by the Deputy

Commissioner of Police, PaulGarba, appreciated themanagement of PMBL forhanding over a modern edificeto the police to support itsactivities.

He promised that officersthat will be deployed to thepolice station will ensure thesafety of occupants of BeckyEstate and its environs. He alsocalled on all well meaningNigerians and organisations toemulate the gesture byPlatinum Mortgage Bank.

Strong StructuralSteel set toelevate Nigeria’sconstructionstandards

BY NAOMI UZOR

COMMISSIONING - Paul Garba, Deputy commissioner of Police, Nassarawa State, cuttingthe tape, assisted by Engr. Emmanuel Mbaka, MD/CEO, Platinum Mortgage Bank, at thecommissioning of Becky Gardens Estate Police Station in Karu, Nassarawa State, donatedby the bank.

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 31

Insurance

CERTIFICATION - From left: Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission, SimonShercliff; Chairman, Board of Directors, Premium Pension Limited, Mr. Aliyu Dikko;Managing Director, Mr. Wilson Ideva; Business Development Manager, British StandardsInstitute, East and Africa, Vladimir Chenry and Professor Mohammed Kaoje Abubakar,Commissioner Inspectorate of PenCom during the ISO 27001:2013 Certificate Presentationto Premium Pension Limited in Abuja.

Stories by ROSEMARYONUOHA

Premium Pension Limited,a Pension Fund

Administrator (PFA) in thecountry has been certifiedwith the Information SecurityManagement Systemcertification, (ISO-27001:2013.), a first in thepension industry.

The certificate was officiallypresented to the company bythe British HighCommissioner at its corporatehead office in Abuja last week.

Managing Director/CEO ofPremium Pension, Mr. WilsonIdeva said that thecertification is a self-imposedduty by the company inensuring that its informationsecurity management systemmeets with the expectation ofits stakeholders especially it’shighly valued RetirementSavings Account, RSA,holders and legacy pensionfunds owners that haveentrusted their funds to themanagement.

Ideva said that thecertification furtherdemonstrate the company’szeal in ensuring the safety oflegacy funds owners, while asfor the board andmanagement the certificationis another indication of firstand a measure of its strongcorporate governanceanchored on global bestpractices.

Chairman of the company,Mr. Aliyu Dikko said that theachievement of the ISO-27001:2013 certification is avisible proof of the company’s

Premium Pension gets ISOcertificationcommitment to meetinternationally- accepted datasecurity standards.

According to him, being thefirst PFA in the country toachieve the certification wasattained through theforesight, hard work anddedication of the board,management and staff of thecompany who are seasonedprofessionals in the pension

industry.Dikko said that the

certification is to demonstratethat the company has placedinformation security as apriority, while assuringstakeholders that a bestpractice security system is inplace with strong compliancewith National PensionCommission, PenCom, ITStandard.

Dikko said that thecertification will enhance theconfidence of RSA holders,retirees, regulators andstakeholders that its systemand processes are among thebest in the industry.

Speaking at the event,Director General of PenCom,Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu,represented by itsCommissioner Inspectorate,Professor Mohammed KaojeAbubakar said that the awardis well deserved followingpositive contributions of thecompany to the ContributoryPension Scheme in the past11 years.

She said that the award hasplaced the company on ahigher and better ground inthe industry and urging thecompany to sustain themomentum and ensure that itcontinue to play its expectedrole in the pension industry.

Also, Managing Director/CEO, Digital Jewels Limited,Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa saidthat ISO-27001:2013 is aimedat instilling a continuousimprovement culture whichfocuses at securing andprotecting the informationassets of the company andcompliance to global bestpractice standard. Thecoverage of the standardextends across physical,technical and administrationsecurity.

She said the company hassuccessfully passed throughthe first and second technicalassessment stages asrequired by the BritishStandard Institute (BSI) as aprerequisite for the award ofcertification.

IEI Anchor Pension Managers Limited haspaid out N709,782,279.54 to retirees

under its management in the financial yearended 31st December 2014, its ChairmanBoard of Directors, Sen. Jonathan Zwingina,said.

Zwingina gave the figures while addressingshareholders of the company at its thirdannual general meeting held in Abuja lastweek.

He also said IEI Anchor Pension nowmanages pension assets in excess N39 billionfrom over 74,902 contributors.

“Our company has continued to growstronger in the last ten years, albeit slowlybut stronger nevertheless. It now has N32.3billion assets under management in 2013 toN39.03 billion assets under managementshowcasing a 20.84 percent growth between2013 and 2014. Our clientele base rose from63,574 in 2013 to 74,902 in 2014. The sumof N709,782,279.54 was paid to retireesduring the period under review” he said.

He noted that the return on investment forpension industry has been quitecommendable on a risk adjusted basis.

“We further reinforced our basis throughcontinued portfolio management, reviewingthe performance of our various funds andwhat instruments are necessary to delivergrowth. We also made choices on where toinvest, where to improve and where to divest.This was all with a view to delivering on

IEI Anchor Pensions pays out N709.8bnto retirees

sustained financial performance on thelong term” Zwingina said.

According to the Chairman, “Theintroduction of the Pension Reform Act(2014) has given a new lease of life tooperators and the industry as a whole.However, much is yet to be done onenlightening the public on the scheme andits many advantages as the enrolment of ameager 6.4 million employees out of anestimated 70 million working populationin the country leaves much more to bedone.”

He however lamented the poor state ofadoption of the scheme by the states andlocal governments.

Also addressing the shareholders, Mr.Glory Etaduovie, acting ManagingDirector/CEO said “The business world isnow customer-centric. We are too. We aredriving this with renewed zeal and zest. Ourcustomers are happy with us as our presentsize ensures great service delivery.

“We are benchmarking global standardsand our special purpose vehicle to achievethis is developing and growing the qualityof our personnel and human resources. Toachieve our dream of new heights ingrowing our market share, income andprofits, quality of personnel is notnegotiable with present competition.Motivation, staff development and trainingis heightened” he noted.

LASACO donatesICT equipmentto college

Lasaco Assurance Plc hasdonated ultra modern

information andcommunications technologyequipment worth millions ofnaira to the Federal Collegeof Dental Technology andTherapy, Enugu.

Making the presentation inEnugu recently, GroupManaging Director of LasacoAssurance Mr. OlusolaLadipo-Ajayi, stated that asa risk managementorganisation it behoves on itto insure the country againstignorance by partnering withthe government to fundeducation. According to him,as a pragmatic company, ourdefinition of insurance goesbeyond the orthodox ofinsuring life, goods, andother assets, to us supportingeducation is another fund ofinsurance with gooddividend for the society atlarge. Ladipo-Ajayi pointedout that education is toogermane for the commongood and therefore itsfunding should not be left togovernment alone, statingthat the ability of any nationto make giant strides is tiedto sound and qualityeducation of its citizenry.

He stated that the socio-economic life of the countrystand to gain tremendouslywhen government and thebusiness world collaborate infunding and supportingeducation, and urged othercorporate organisations tofollow suit.

According to him, whencorporate organisations investin education, it also stand tobenefit in form of goodresearch findings that can beturned to marketable product,and access to pool of qualityhuman assets that can driveits operations for good marketsuccess.

“We are motivated to donateICT equipment because of ourbelieve in what it can do. Oursuccesses as a company in therecent times received greatinputs from application oftechnology to our operations”,he pointed out.

Receiving the donationwhich includes 50 units ofdesktop computers, centralprocessing units (CPUs) anduninterruptible power supply(UPS), the Rector of theinstitution, Dr. (Mrs.) K.B.Sofoluwe, thanked LasacoAssurance management for itskind response to the school’sclarion call for assistance,particularly in replacing theschool’s obsolete ICTequipment.

CMYK

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

E-Commerce

STORIES BY JONAHNWOKPOKU

Ecobank Nigeria hasunveiled an onlinem a r k e t p l a c e ,

w w w. m y m a l l . c o m . n gtargeted at driving the growthof the small and mediumenterprises sector in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists atthe sideline of the unveilingin Lagos, Head, SMEBusiness for EcobankNigeria, Sunkanmi Olowo,said: “Mymall Nigeria is anonline platform where ourcustomers can open a shoponline. We have developed asite where they can rent ashop and then be able to sellto the whole world. Todayyou hear of Jumia and Konga,that is the kind of thing wewant to do for our customersso that SMEs who do nothave the money to build anecommerce platform, byvirtue of belonging toEcobank SME club, they canhave a shop which the bankhas developed for themthrough a partner and runtheir shops and sell to thewhole world. By doing that,they are able to expand theirbusinesses instead of justopening brick and mortarshops, which are moreexpensive, with this platform;they can do a lot more.”

To trade on the online mall,he said: “First, you have tobelong to an Ecobank SMEclub. This requires thecustomer to have an SMEaccount with Ecobank. If youhave any of our SMEaccounts, you are qualified tojoin our SME Club onlinemall. But even if you do nothave an Ecobank SME

Ecobank unveils online marketplace, Mymall Nigeria

account, all it takes is for youto approach an Ecobank orgo to the website and thenapply.”

Also speaking, DeputyManaging Director, EcobankNigeria, Tony Okpanachisaid: “Mymall Nigeria is awebsite where customers canpost their goods and servicesonline and sell. It is a way ofgiving access to our SMEcustomers to be able to reachmore of their customersacross Nigeria. We arecreating a platform for ourcustomers who necessarily donot have to have their ownwebsites like Jumia and

Konga. They can rely on themalls we have provided forthem. We also providepayment platform andlogistics for them so that theydo not have to invest inhaving their owninfrastructure before theytrade. We also know that as abank, our outreach is so wide,so we make it possible forthem to reach more marketsand enhance theirbusinesses.”

On what motivated Ecobankto venture into e-commerce,Okpanachi said: “Everycustomer these days wantsconvenience. Convenience is

all about easy access to beable to do your transactions.The days when people go intothe physical malls and officesto do transactions are almostover, people want to sit intheir offices and homes andbe able to do theirtransactions. Given that, weknow that e-commerce is nowthe way to go because peoplehave their electronic devicesthat they want to transacteasily with and still get thesame kind of experience andsatisfaction that they wouldhave derived if they had doneit offline. That is the trend thatis taking over the world."

Smartphone marker,InnJoo has

introduced a new flagshipdevice, the InnJoo2embedded with fingerprinttechnology.

The device which was

InnJoo2 with fingerprint technology debuts in Nigeria

unveiled at a press conferencein Lagos, is equipped withFingerprint 2.0 technologywhich is with the latestmodule of fingerprint detectorand recognition algorithm andwith a speed of 508PPI finger print resolution, it’seasier and quicker torecognize and record theusers’ finger print.

This new technologyenhances security for theuser.

InnJoo2 also sports a dual13-megapixel camera, a welladvanced camera. Bothcameras are adopted withSamsung CMOS Sensor, f/2.2aperture, 88 degreesshooting range, 5P lens, andBlue Glass IR filter, which canproduce sharp detailedphotos and full HD videoswith full-sided zero-delayshutters.

Speaking about the newdevice, Co-founder/CEO ofInnJoo, Tim Chen said: “Weare dedicated to bringing thenew technology to the market,with an affordableprice and premium qualitythe market is looking forwardto. We think as a normaluser while designing ourproducts, which defines the

new functions and the way weapply the new technology toour devices. As we see theincreasing demands for privacy and security forevery personal product, thefingerprint technology helps to satisfy those desirescompletely.”

He added: “InnJoo2 isdesigned in 2.5D full metalframe, 7.3mm thickness and126g weights. Adopted the world’s strongest Dragontrail glass touchpanel, it has 8 times ofhardness than its rivals anddisplays a stunning visualeffects with 5.0inch screen. The new device is alsoequipped with a powerfulOcta-core processor andrunning the Android Lollipopoperating system, 2GB RAMand 16GB flash memory which can be furtherexpanded to 64GB viamicroSD card. With the built-in 3200mAh battery with fastcharge technology, i t ensures a longer batteryusage. It is based onthe Android 5.1 lighterLollipop OS, InnOS allows abetter user experience for browsing the Internet,playing games, watching andvideos, listening to music."

Merck, a German science and technology companyhas announced the opening of its office in

Lagos, Nigeria. It’s the company’s first in the countryand part of its strategy to grow its market share in theWest African region.

This is also as it launches one of its products, theMuse Auto CD4/CD4% System, a compact and easy touse HIV/AIDS Diagnostic Kit, which is able to monitorthe progression of HIV/AIDS virus in patients

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, Merck’s ChiefExecutive Officer elect, Stefan Oschmann, said:“Nigeria is an evident choice for us. With a populationthat is known for its entrepreneurial spirit andinnovative ideas, this is a perfect match with Merck.Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has one of the fastestgrowing economies in the world and we believe thatthrough our high quality and innovative healthcareand Life Science specialty products and services wecan contribute to that growth.”

Also speaking, General Manager, Nigeria forBiopharma, Charles Ajibo said: “Nigeria is a veryimportant market for us and this will only increase inthe coming years. We plan to expand our currentportfolio in a steady pace and introduce many moreproducts that are targeted to the unmet medical needsof Nigerian patients and help them improve their dailylives.”

Merck enters Nigeria, introducestechnology to tackle HIV/Aids

Travelbeta raises$2m seed fund

T r a v e l b e t a . c o m ,Nigeria’s newest

online travel agency hasraised a $2 million seed fundbarely six weeks after itswebsite went live on the 1stof October, 2015.Travelbeta & Tours Limited,the controlling company ofthe flight booking platform,began operating as aphysical agency in July,2015 before switchingonline in October 2015 andhas generated $522,000 inrevenues since.

Speaking on theinvestment, Co-Founderand Chief CommercialOfficer of Travelbeta.com,Onyeka Akumah said: “Wehave raised a seed fund of$2,000,000 from a group ofNigerian Investors led byAltheus Limited who believewe can dominate theNigerian Travel Industry inthe next 3 years based on ourunique business model, thecapability of the teamleading this vision and thepotential of the market sizein Nigeria. We are also infurther talks with anincreasing number ofinterested investors outsidethe country who arebeginning to take Africanand in particular Nigeriantravel numbers seriously.”

Konga rewardscustomers withN2m

In a bid to showappreciation to its

teeming customers,Nigeria’s online mall,Konga.com has rewarded10 of its customers acrossthe country with shoppingvouchers worth N200,000each.

The lucky winners, whowere selected randomly aspart of Konga’s periodiccustomer reward programare: AkinbolarinwaAwujoola, Joan Jemilusi,Iranade Akinbolaji, LuckyIwuobe Dele, NgomaEmeka, Olamilekan Musbau,Martin Ayomide, BamideleSunday, Adewale Adelanwaand Zwalde Nanpak fromacross Lagos, Edo, PortHarcourt, Abuja and otherstates across Nigeria.

Konga’s Head of PublicRelations and BrandManagement, OlatomiwaAkande remarked on thesurprise reward programsaying, "At konga, wedelight in bringinghappiness to our valuedcustomers across thecountry. We value theunique opportunity wehave to interphase withhundreds of thousands ofNigerians."

OPENING - From left: Yetunde Faulkner, Head, Commercial, Renmoney; Rotimi Oyekanmi,Chairman, Board of Directors; Graham Lee, CEO and Ojoma Okotie, Head, Sales at theopening of Renmoney new retail branch at Ikota, Lagos.

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 33

CMYK

Economy

STORIES BY EMEKAANAETO, Economy Editor

Despite seeming ironclad positionof the

Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, backed by both thepresidency and the newlyinaugurated minister ofFinance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun,the short and medium termoutlook of the foreignexchange, forex, marketpoints to significant decline inthe value of Naira.

Vanguard investigations lastweek show that most ForexForward Contracts at theover-the-counter, OTC,market segment puts USDollar to Naira rate at steadydepreciation.

Forex or currency forwardcontract is a binding contractin the foreign exchangemarket that locks in theexchange rate for thepurchase or sale of acurrency on a future date. Itis essentially a hedging toolthat does not involve anyupfront payment.

In the One month forwardcontract last weekend one USDollar was quoted atN202.20, down from N201.57while three month contractwas N212.10, down fromN208.58. The six monthcontract depreciated week-on-week to N222.18, down fromN216.94 while 12 monthcontract showed adepreciation to N230.11,down from N228.76.

The depreciation recordedin the forward contract wascoming even at the backdropof a slight appreciation in thevalue of Naira against USDollar in the CBN-managedcurrency market segmentclosing the week at N198.53/USD1.00 as against N198.76/USD1.00 in the previousweek. CBN clearing rate andinterbank rate closed stable atN197/USD and N199.10/USDrespectively.

Financial analysts at CowryAsset Management Limited,a Lagos based financialinvestment house, whocorroborated thisdevelopment linked it to the

Naira faces tougher pricing inforward contractsfallout of the strictenforcement of therequirements of BankVerification Number,BVN, in transactions at thebureau de changes, BDCs.

In their research report onthe market they stated “thisweek, we expect the Naira tocontinue to slide against thedollar at the parallel marketsegment due to supplyshortage occassioned by theimplementation of BVN”.

Also another financialsector investment house,Afrinvest Group, lastweekend indicated thatNaira value would be facingsignificant bashing in theweeks ahead.

According to them “analysisof activities in the forwardsmarket shows traders arepricing the Naira within therange of N225.00 andN230.00 (1-year forward) asNaira is still believed not tobe trading at its true value”apparently referring to theCBN-managed valuation inthe official market segment.

At the parallel market lastFriday, Naira continued todepreciate against the dollar,trading for as high asN232.00/USD1.00.

Concluding on its forexmarket report for last weekAfrinvest said, “theincreasing activity in theparallel market has beenattributed to the full executionof the BVN requirement forfinancial transactions.

“Operators at the BDC havecomplained to the apex bankthat the requirement for theprovision of a customer ’sBVN before executing a forextransaction has driven a lot ofcustomers to the parallelmarket due to fears of theiraccounts being used formalicious activities.

“The reduction in activity atthe BDC has left the operatorswith large volumes of unsold

foreign currencies.“The BDC operators have

called on the apex Bank toextend the already passeddeadline for the complianceon the use of the BVN. Wedo not expect the CBN toreverse its stance on the useof BVN for FX transactionsand expect the currency totrend at current level nextweek”.

Reacting to the alleged fearsin using BVN at the BDCsDirector, CorporateC o m m u n i c a t i o n sDepartment of CBN,Alhaji IbrahimM u a z uwondered whyanybody shouldbe afraid of submitting BVNfor transactions, adding thatthere was no threat in givingBVN for foreign exchangetransactions.

Muazu had told Vanguardprevious week that “thisprobably has to do withpeople with illicit flows, andnot for fear of the BVN itself. And for people with illicit

flows, they are avoidingdocumentation, the way theyavoid the banks.

“To us, if not for the likelyimpact on the black market,it is a good developmentbecause it means the foreignexchange market is nowdemand driven. For example,if you go to the banks for‘Form A’ foreign exchange

transactions, it requires morethan the BVN.

Submitting BVN fortransactions is not a securitythreat. The BDCs cannotaccess the account details oftheir customers; they wouldjust have the BVN forreporting purposes.

“The BVN is just anidentity; the BDC cannot seeyour account details. It is justlike asking you to submit yourpassport photograph. And thepurpose is to make sure thatpeople don’t buy foreignexchange above the limitallowed by the law.

There is a limit of $4,000 perindividual per quarter. If oneperson buys $4,000 from oneBDC, and another $4,000 fromanother BDC, there is no wayanybody can verify it is thesame person. All these thingsare supposed to be controlledby the BVN. All we want toclarify is that there is nothreat in giving your BVN, itis an identity, in as much asyou can give your passportphotograph or even utilitybills, as required for operationof dormant account.

The new financem i n i s t e r ,Mrs Kemi

Adeosun, may have hit theground running but industryanalysts believe her successwould be predicated oncertain deliverablesconsidered key to goodperformance of the economy.

Following her confirmationby the Senate Nairametrics,a Lagos based economicinformation outfit soundedout some operators in theinvestment banking world toidentify the key performanceparameters.

Against the backdrop ofdomestic and international

Investment bankers outline economicblueprint for new Finance minister

controversy over themanagement of Nigeria’sforeign exchange market,Dolapo Oni, Oil and Gasanalyst at Ecobank Capitalexpects Adeosun to provideclear and concise informationon the country’s exchangerate regime and how it shouldbe managed going forward,including the tools and likelypolicy direction.

Oni also expects her to seekways to reduce the risk factorin the Nigerian lendingenvironment, adding that therecently established BankVerification Number, BVN, isonly one step as people needto have credit records andratings before they are

allowed tob o r r o w .This, hesaid, willh e l preduce ther i s kinvo lvedin lendinga n dcontributeto lowerl e n d i n gr a t e s ,noting thatthe primedriver ofl e n d i n grates willremain thecost ofgovernmentborrowing

but with adequate systemliquidity.

Financing Small andMedium Enterprises, SMEs,and agriculture, according toOni, are key but have beendone mostly the wrong way.The finance minister, hestated, needs to find morecreative ways for agricultureto be financed adding thatbanks have to be enabled tolend to the sector.

He also canvassed for taxbenefits for companies listedon the Nigerian StockExchange, NSE, as a way toboost listings in the Nigerianbourse.

On the tax matters anotherinvestment banker, DayoOduwole, former mergers andacquisitions analyst at JPMorgan said efficiency in taxcollection and the educationof the tax base are keymeasures along with gettingrid of multiple tax problems.

He also advised that therecould be reduction in tax ratesto boost sectors requiringrelief and encouragement.

Other key deliverables forAdeosun according toOduwole include adequatetransparency in governmentspending, down to a granularlevel as well as improvedbudgeting and actualmonitoring and benchmarkimplementation of budgetsand fiscal policies.

Oduwole also urged thefinance minister to set agendafor inflation targets.

•Emefiele, Governor, CBN

34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

NOTE: The first part of this series might create theimpression that this is political commentary.Even the Editor was alarmed enough to call me about

it. Readers need to understand the reason for the historicalsummary. Every promise involves two elements, the promiseand the entity making the promise. Nigerian political historyhas demonstrated that political alliances don’t last; and thepromises made are never fulfilled. APC is another coalitionwhose sustainability will determine the fate of the promises

What exactly did APC promiseNigerians? (2)

made to us. Please read on.

“The wife of the President,Her Excellency Aisha Buhari,has appealed to the ruling AllProgressives Congress not torenege on its campaignpromise of paying N5000 to 25million unemployedNigerians and giving schoolchildren one free meal aday.” PUNCH, November 11,2015, p 3.

We will return to thestatement credited to MrsBuhari later because it givessufficient cause for concernabout the promise and thepossibility that the rulingparty is already rethinking itspromise. All is certainly notwell – politically andespecially financially.

Meanwhile, there is anurgent problem – whichmight be related to thedisunity of purpose amongAPC leaders. It can besummarized in the question:what exactly did APC promiseNigerians? And whopromised it. President Buhariwas the beneficiary of thepromises Nigerians thoughtwere made to them. He wouldalso be the victim if the exactpromises he endorsed are notmade known to Nigerians andfulfilled.

Two “promises” havesuddenly becomecontroversial; and they neednot be. The two concernfeeding of school children,and N5,000 to be paidmonthly to unemployedNigerians. A credibility gap

is developing calling for thePresident to state clearly whathis government intends to doabout the two. It is likely thereare other promises, hastilytossed out during thecampaigns. Even if the APCand most Nigerians forget, thePDP will remind us. That is thebeauty of democracy; an activeopposition party should holdthe government to theirpromises.

Let me quickly summarisemy position on these issues.Those who persuaded Buharithat Nigeria could offer freemeals to over 20 million pupilsdaily and pay N5,000 to over25 million jobless people arecondemnable liars. I think Iknow them. Those promisescannot be fulfilled in 2015-2019. Nigeria will not be richenough for that.

“There is no such thing as afree lunch.”

American EconomicsProfessor, September 1964.

Chief Obafemi Awolowostarted the movement for“free” public services when helaunched the “Free Education”Programme in the old WesternRegion in the 1950s. That mis-branding of a laudable ideahad since created a lot ofproblems for us in Nigeria –including the two underdiscussion at the moment. We

now have “free pilgrimages”to Jerusalem and Mecca; aswell as free rides onExpressways. WhenObasanjo ordered that tollgates be dismantled he tookNigeria back to thenineteenth century. Whereelse in the civilized world canone drive free onexpressways usually built byraising bonds which had to berepaid from the tollscollected? Governments, at alllevels, have been deprived oftrillions of naira which shouldhave been collected from tollsand used to maintain theroads in good condition. Inmost countries, governmentsdon’t build roads. A Public-Private-Partnership, PPP,undertakes the constructionand maintenance withouttouching the public purse –except by paying taxes to thenation.

The gimmick involved incalling Public Education“Free Education” waspardonable when very fewNigerians had readeconomics or were literate.The Progressives shoulddiscard it. Nothing is free; notlunch for school children andnot N5000 for unemployedNigerians. Since the public isgoing to pay for it, the publicmust be told and shown in

writing what studies wereundertaken and whoconducted the survey todetermine that Nigeria couldafford to feed 20 millionschool children a meal perday and provide N5000 permonth to 25 million adults.

A major and exhaustivestudy was carried out beforeAwolowo launched the “FreePrimary Education”Programme. My eldestbrother, late Chief SanuSobowale, former AttorneyGeneral Lagos State underJakande, was PrivateSecretary to AlhajiAdegbenro, Minister ofLands and Labour in the oldWestern Region. Our familyhouse at Inalende Street, wasdirectly opposite that ofHohourable Lanlehin. I canrecollect the bulky documentwhich both brought home toread before the programmewas launched. It was detailedin every respect and the Headof Service, late SimeonAdebo, a consummate publicadministrator, made valuableinputs before the programmewas launched. The populationof school children then couldnot have been up to twomillion and they were allconcentrated in the region.That document would showthat “free education” wasfunded by a special levyimposed on adults –

irrespective of whether theyhad school age kids or not. Inother words, those withoutkids were subsidizing thosewith kids in schools. That waswhat made the mantra “Freeeducation” a lie. It was asubsidy programme. Now, wehave over 45 million people(kids and jobless adults)located in all states and LocalGovernment Councils ofNigeria. It is a mind-bogglingundertaking.

Nigerians therefore expectthat those who persuadedBuhari to promise one “free”meal per day to schoolchildren should immediatelypublish the study theyundertook before deciding itis feasible without imposingadditional levies on adults.Similarly, they shouldimmediately make availablethe study undertaken todetermine that N5000 permonth can be paid to 25million unemployedNigerians and how theysuggest that the programmecan be funded. We are leavinguntouched such questions as:how was it decided it shouldbe N5000 per day and notN10,000 or N20,000? Howwas the figure 25 millionderived given that thenumber of unemployedNigerians could be closer to50 million?

Those who handed Buharithose two “hot potatoes” havedone the President adisservice as the nextsegment will show….

Micro-Finance

The Managing Director ofSumptuous Africa

Restaurant, Mr. BonifaceImo-owo, has called on thefederal government toprovide all the necessarysupports to the small andmedium enterprises,especially those in the foodsector, by removal of doubletaxation.

He made the call whilereacting on the recent award,2015 Best of InglewoodAward in the AfricanRestaurants category by theInglewood AwardProgramme, won by hiscompany.

He said that there is needfor the government to setstandards, licence and carryout effective regulation in thesector to ensure the safety ofcustomers that patronise andeat food in public places.

Speaking on the award, hesaid: “the award came to usas a great surprise,

Firm canvases support for SMEsStories BYPROVIDENCE OBUH

considering the fact that ourrestaurant is just a year oldhere in California, but we aregrateful to God. We see thisaward as a great honour andan encouragement tocontinue to do what we aredoing right and to go the extramile to do more.

Indeed, there are otherrestaurants, but we made achoice to consistently focus on

giving our customers qualityservice and mouth- wateringdishes. Our strategy hasalways been to keep workingto meet the taste of ouresteemed customers.

Our plan is to makeSumptuous a householdname both here and abroad.We are also expanding ourmenu to suit our clients’ tastebuds”.

Nigerian womenentrepreneurs under

the aegis of NACCIMABusiness Women Group,NAWORG, have concludedplans to hold the largestexhibition of products, goodsand services ever at an eventbilled to take place in Decemberin Ogun State.

The exhibition tagged‘Promoting WomenEntrepreneurs ThroughNetworking’ will focus on

Women entrepreneurs plan exhibition in OgunBy JOSEPHINEAGBONKHESE

synchronizing women’seconomic potentials as tools forsocietal change and growth inNigeria. Briefing journalists ata pre-event conference held atthe MKO Abiola Trade FairComplex in Abeokuta, wherethe exhibition is expected totake place, Chairperson,NAWORG/National DeputyPresident, NigerianAssociation of Chambers ofCommerce, Industry, Minesand Agriculture, NACCIMA,Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said theevent will create a platform fornetworking and business

transaction, as well as learningabout each other’s productsand services, thereby leadingto business expansion andsubsequent growth of theNigerian economy.

“The Nigerian WomenEntrepreneurs Exhibition,NIWEX 2015, is being puttogether in collaboration withthe ECOWAS Federation ofBusiness WomenEntrepreneurs, FEBWE, andUplift DevelopmentFoundation, an initiative of theFirst Lady of Ogun State,Chief(Mrs)Olufunso Amosun.

The Oxford BusinessGroup(OBG), a

global publishing, researchand consulting firm has statedthat despite the overhaul ofthe nation’s Gross DomesticProduct (GDP) data after itsrebasing last year, Nigeriarequires significant privateand foreign investment toattain its economic and humandevelopment goals.

The firm noted that thoughthe nation is on track tobecome one of the world’s 20

OBG highlightspath to country’seconomic growth

largest economies by 2020,with average yearly growth ofseven per cent in the pastdecade, sustainedinvestments in key majorareas of services,manufacturing, agricultureand banking, would aid thenation’s sustainable growth.

Its latest publication on thecountry ’s economy, “TheReport: Nigeria 2015” andnew infographic entitled“Nigeria: a post oil economy”,the OBG puts a guide to themany facets of the country,including its macroeconomics,infrastructure, banking andother sectoral developments.OBG’s infographic is anessential, at-a-glance toolthat provides investors with afacts-and-figures summary ofNigeria’s latest economicdevelopment. Brief and to thepoint, it complements the in-depth, sector-by-sectorcoverage.

It revealed that with Nigeria

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 35

Media & Advertising

Nick Imudia, RegionalDirector, Nigeria andCentral Africa, AlcatelOnetouch, spoke toPrincewill Ekwujuru on there-entry of Alcatel into theNigerian market, itspropositions, global positionand new phone trends andother sundry issues.Excerpt.

Market positioning andNigerians expectation

Alcatel OneTouch isunexpected,down to

earth, irreverent andcolourful. We believe thatwhat makes technology smartis what you can do with itrather than what it can do.

Alcatel Onetouch is a globalbrand which has redefinedthe mobile mass market bymaking the latest mobiletechnologies accessible toeveryone. It is the first torecognize the mass market’sneeds and has since broughtchoice, variety and flexibilityto customers – from operatorsto consumers. By combiningits understanding of localinsights and control of theend-to-end manufacturingprocess, Alcatel OneTouchdelivers the best userexperience with innovative,feature-rich and highperformance mobile devicesdesigned with simplicity inAlcatel OneTouch views thedevice as a hub, meaning thatwe consider complete homeconnectivity when we aredesigning and producingevery product. We are aglobal base with more than100 offices in excess of 160countries, seven Researchand Development, R&Dcentres and carrierrelationships in all regionsaround the world.

Alcatel OneTouch is abrand within TCLCommunication, aninternational multiculturalcompany which designs,develops, and marketsglobally a growing range ofmobile and Internet devices.TCL Communication is apublic company listed on theHong Kong Stock Exchange(2618.HK) and part of TCLCorporation one of the largestconsumer electronicscompanies in the world.

Alcatel Onetouch produceseverything from featurehandsets to smartphones,modems and tablets,providing solutions to allyour mobile communicationneeds. It is the thirdTe l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n scompany to partner withGoogle in developing theAndroid Operating Systemand one of the first to produce

Nigeria internet market to hit N1.1trn by2017— Alcatel Regional Director

handsets that runs theMozilla Firefox OperatingSystem.

The Nigerian market entryAs the smartphone and

tablet markets have grown,especially here in Nigeria wewant to bring to the Nigerianmarket affordable, yetattractive and feature-richdevices in order to meet theneeds of our customers. Werecognise that every mobileuser needs and deserves adevice that offers goodperformance, beautifulaesthetics and richfunctionality. As such, we’llstrive to offer choice, varietyand flexibility to consumersirrespective of their budget.

We also wanted to ensurethat we had the correctinfrastructure in place inorder to get these devices intothe hands of our customers.

We believe that we nowhave the correct mix to growthe brand and make an impactin the Nigerian market.

Nigeria is a middle income,mixed economy andemerging market, withexpanding financial, service,communications, technologyand entertainment sectors:

In tech/internet connectivity in Nigeria has 38 percentpopulation online, which isapproximately 67.3million, 94percent mobile phonepenetration, 27 percent smartphone penetration.

Not only will the internet bethe fastest growth area forexpenditure, but it will alsobe the largest market that will worth US$5.6 billion in2017, ahead of TV (US$1.1billion) and sports (US$722million).

It will be great opportunityfor Nigerian market tomigrate from feature phone to

smartphone and get access tothe internet.

Marketing plans andcommunications

We have put downfundamental elements inplace when launching newproducts into the marketplace. This includes a focuson training of staff, a solid in-store presence with live/dummy devices, point of sale,promoters and theappointment of a fieldmarketing team as well as acompetent Advertising, PRand Social Media agency.

This will ensure a goodcustomer experience at storelevel.

Furthermore we haveintroduced an onlinepurchasing arm which tiesinto the strategy that sees alarge focus on onlinepurchasing and a strongdigital approach.

Once this solid foundationhas been built, Alcatel

OneTouch will embark on anAbov-the-Line, ATL campaignto build awareness with theconsumer.

Global overviewAlcatel Onetouch ,one of the

world’s fastest-growingsmartphone manufacturersisa global brand which hasredefined the mobile massmarket by making the latestmobile technologiesaccessible to everyone. It isthe first to recognize the massmarket’s needs and has sincebrought choice, variety andflexibility to customers – fromoperators to consumers. Bycombining its understandingof local insights and controlof the end-to-endmanufacturing process,Alcatel OneTouch delivers thebest user experience withinnovative, feature-rich andhigh performance mobiledevices designed withsimplicity in AlcatelOneTouch views the device asa hub, meaning that weconsider complete homeconnectivity when we aredesigning and producingevery product. We are a globalbase with more than 100offices in more than 160countries, 7 R&D centers andcarrier relationships in allregions around the world.

Alcatel OneTouch is a brandwithin TCL Communication,an international multiculturalcompany which designs,develops, and marketsglobally a growing range ofmobile and Internet devices.TCL Communication is apublic company listed on theHong Kong Stock Exchange(2618.HK) and part of TCLCorporation one of the largestconsumer electronicscompanies in the world.

Since brands get recognition throughthe experiences they are associatedwith, it is important to ensure that

their communications are developed to drawattention to positive emotions. Acommunication campaign that has done thiswell in the past few weeks and which hasgenerated talkability is the Chivita 100%‘Juice ball’ commercial. Currently runningon multiple communication platforms, thecommercial has endeared more consumersto the brand from market indications.

According to Emeka Nwosu, a marketingcommunications consultant with WingsConcepts notes that “the brand presence andgrowth of Chivita 100% juice from the houseof CHI Limited has of recent beenexceptional with the deployment of the‘Juiceball’ commercial that is now on everybroadcast station, social media space,billboards as well as sustained media articlesexposure in print publications”

For Olamide Ajayi, a sports content

‘Juice ball’ & effective communication in brand building

marketing executive, said, “the Chivita100% campaign has in recent timesattracted the attention of communicationexperts for its adherence to the principlesof great advertising. It is necessary toseparate good advertising from greatadvertising because when certain basicfundamentals are adhered to, greatcommercials are capable of arousing theemotion in a way that deepens the interestof the target audience and brings about alasting relationship and that is what Chilimited has done with this commercial”

According to Chi Limited’s Head ofMarketing, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya, “thesuccess of the Juice ball commercial inraising awareness on the amazing qualityand benefits of Chivita 100% is notsurprising because the whole campaign hasbeen designed and executed based on clearconsumer insight with the objective ofreaching consumers at the relevant touchpoints”

LG awardsscholarship to 10UNILAG students

In line with its drive toimmensely contribute

to raising the standard ofeducation in Nigeria, LGElectronics recently opened aCommercial Air ConditioningAcademy as well asawarding scholarships to 10meritorious students of thefaculty of Engineering of theUniversity of Lagos(UNILAG). Quintessentiallyaimed at enabling studentsgain the most up-to-date skillsand training in CAC(Commercial AirConditioning) - an evolvingaspect of air conditioning, thetraining Academy ispositioned to provideEngineering students of theUniversity of Lagos withnecessary skills and trainingin Commercial AirConditioning.

The scholarship schemewhich is in its third year isconducted annually by LG aspart of its Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR) activitieswith the sole aim ofempowering young people aswell as developing theeducational sector, ensuringthat youths who are the futureleaders are adequatelyempowered with the requiredfunds and assistance to enablethem achieve their dreamsand aspirations.

Bournvita,Indomie partnerfor ‘CelebrationCampaign’

Beverage brand,Bournvita, from the

stables of Cadbury NigeriaPlc, is squaring up with noodles brand, Indomie, forthe Bournvita CelebrationCampaign.

The partnership accordingtothe collaborators alignswith Bournvita’s commitmentto providing consumers withmore value and nutrition.

The Bournvita Celebrationcampaign is billed to last for3 months; October tillDecember. The campaignwill see the introduction ofspecially designed Bournvita– Indomie celebration packsin the market. The comingtogether of both brands forthis innovation is aremarkable development inNigeria’s food and beveragesector.

Speaking at the launch ofthe campaign at Cadbury’soffice, Ikeja Lagos,Managing Director, CadburyWest Africa, Mr RoyNaaman, said both Cadburyand Tolaram group, parentcompany of Indomie have thesame vision of providingnutritional vitality to familiesthrough their brands.

Imudia

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 37

38—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

How military under-developedthe Police

PROLOGUETrials, travails of society’smartial arm

By Adekunle Adekoya, GeneralEditor

THE nation’s current insecurityconundrum, epitomised by insur-

gency on one hand, and escalation in in-cidences of crimes like armed robbery, kid-napping, and assassinations leave every-one wondering just what has happenedto the martial arm of society.

Nigerians, 30 years old or less may nev-er know that the country once had a PoliceForce that citizens feared and respected.

Those were the days when truculent chil-dren giving their parents a hard time re-coiled when threatened with the refrain:“Police is coming!”

Then, law and order ruled everything inNigeria. Compared with what obtains now,

traffic was orderly, while people went abouttheir businesses with the fear of the law.In fact, whenever commercial drivers heardthat men of a section of the Police, the High-way Patrol unit was on patrol somewhere,sanity prevailed on the roads while thosewhose vehicle papers were not in ordertook cover. If two people had a quarrel thatwas about to degenerate into a fight, theyreined themselves in if there’s a threat to

call the Police. The beauty of Nigeria inthe 60s, 70s, and up till the 80s was thatyou could go anywhere at anytime, un-molested. Our urban centres, especiallyLagos and Port Harcourt had vibrant nightlives; people moved from one party or clubto another throughout the night withoutlet or hindrance, while petrol stations wereopen all the time, running a 24-hour serv-ice. Sure, there were crimes, and there were

uprisings, but the Police was up to the task.Just two examples will suffice.

The Agbekoya Uprising: The famedAgbekoya farmers’revolt took place aboutNovember 1968 to September 1969. It start-ed as a revolt against taxes levied by thegovernment of the defunct Western State,then under Brigadier-General AdeyinkaAdebayo as military governor. The farm-ers, who grew the cash crop, cocoa, hadtheir income slashed from about £120 perton in 1965/66 season to just £65. Then,government raised taxes, levying £3.50 peradult. Faced with dwindling income fromthe sale of cocoa, the farmers insisted they’llpay just 30 shillings. Coupled with politi-cal unrest which had led to a military coup

By Mike Ebonugwo &Bose Adelaja

From the mid-1980s while the nation was under military rule, the fortunesof the Police began to nose-dive through systemic incapacitation

Policemen at a checkpoint

Sometimes the re-sulting killings areblamed on accidentaldischarge by thepolice men involved.Other times, the po-lice find reason tojustify such killings

Continues on Page 39

IT is not exactly known whenfortunes of the Nigeria Police

as a crime-fighting force nose-dived, but there is palpable agree-ment that things took a turn forthe worse in the Force followingtermination of the Second Repub-lic, and summary retirement ofthen Inspector-General, ChiefSunday Adewusi. Adewusi wassucceeded by Adamu Suleiman,who in turn was succeeded byEtim Inyang.

Armed robbery was rife, and anotorious robber, Lawrence Ani-ni, a.k.a. Ovigbo The Law, ruledthe underworld, terrorizing Nige-rians in daredevil banditry andescapades. As Inspector-Gener-al, Inyang was embarrassed byformer military president, Gener-al Ibrahim Babangida, when, atthe end of a meeting of the ArmedForces Ruling Council, the pres-

ident turned around as he led oth-er officers out of the meeting ven-ue at Dodan Barracks and askedInyang: "My friend, where isAnini?"

By then, morale in the force hadplummeted to an all-time low, inthe aftermath of the travails offormer Force PRO, Alozie Ogug-buaja, whose experience becameiconic of the Police's travails. How-ever, a Divisional Traffic Officer,DTO, who pleaded anonymity la-mented poor treatment of the Ni-geria Police which has persistedover the years. According to her:‘’I was happy to join the Police inthe early 1980s. But I became sadfrom the 1990s over the predica-ment policemen were continual-ly exposed to in the course of theirjob. It was then I swore andprayed that no member of my fam-ily, if I can help it, will ever gothrough such a bastardised sys-tem. In those years, we were kit-

ted up quarterly at government’sexpense but because of corrup-tion in the system, many police-men today cannot help but ap-pear dirty and unkempt as gov-ernment no longer meets its re-sponsibilities as regards our uni-form. Many policemen cannotafford to own two or more uni-forms at a time”.

As regards working tools, some

of the policemen who spoke withVanguard said in spite of the factthat some philanthropists donateregularly to support the police,the unfortunate irony of it is thatthe government does not providefund to fuel or maintain the vehi-cles donated to the police. ‘’Howdo we combat crime in this re-gard? Do we fund investigationswith our personal money”?

Indeed, it has been argued inseveral quarters that the NPF isa product of the flawed Nigeriansystem and a victim of the proc-esses that gave birth to it. TheForce was established to ensureinternal security, especially theprotection of lives and propertiesof the citizens. This, it succeededto some extent in doing until 1983when it seemingly lost its rele-vance following the military coupd’etat that overthrew the SecondRepublic civilian government ofPresident Shehu Shagari. Themilitary authorities who were vis-ibly irked by the overbearing pres-ence of the MOPOL unit of thepolice simply went out of their way

to cut the Force down to size, rel-egating it in the process to theservile role of only enforcing thelaw in the breach. This demean-ing of the Force continued in suc-cessive military regimes such thatthe police was eventually forcedto evolve a process of its own sur-vival in the face of institutional-ised neglect.

For instance, former InspectorGeneral of Police, IbrahimCoomassie, in April 1998 berat-ed the military because “men andwomen of the (police) force havebeen serving under a harsh po-litical environment, torn betweenmilitary authoritarianism and civilsociety so much so that they havelost their civil traditions”.

Civiltaditions

In the same vein BenjaminOkereke Brownson, quotingClement Nwankwo et al in hisresearch report, “The Role of Ni-geria Police Force in the Admin-istration of Justice: Issues andChallenges”, averred thus: “Un-der the military, the police grad-ually deteriorated. It became pos-sible to cite them for the most hei-nous to the most trivial acts thatviolate the rights of the very citi-zens whose friend they purport-ed to be”.

And thus was born the processwhich led to the police becominga highly corrupt institution withits officers not only commercialis-ing the process of law enforce-ment but also taking pride in do-ing so, and in fact often defiantlymaking a public show of extort-ing money from those perceivedas having fallen foul of the law.

It soon emerged that the Policewhich was supposed to enforcethe law began increasingly to op-erate outside the confines of thelaw, thus building and promot-ing legacies of inefficiency, ille-gality and decadence.

Police barracksAnother pointer to how poorly

the police as a key security insti-tution is treated is the usuallyrun-down state of where most po-licemen and their families live:the Police Barracks. A visit roundto some police barracks in Lagos

Continues on Page 39

CMYK

in 1966, with Chief Ladoke Akin-tola killed, and Chief ObafemiAwolowo in prison, the atmos-phere in the region was charged,but it seemed the government wasimpervious to it. The farmers or-ganized themselves to resist pay-ment of the tax, and descendedon tax officials who mounted raidsagainst tax evasion.

To manage the situation, gov-ernment used force to pacify thefarmers and arrested some of theirleaders. In anger, the farmers,now organized into a fearful mi-litia attacked government struc-tures, and as a result, many offi-cials were killed. Court housesand government buildings wereattacked, prisons stormed, whilesetting free thousands of prison-ers alongside their jailed mem-bers in the process. The Policewas managing the situation as theFederal Government had itshands full with the civil war. Afemale detective went under-ground, infiltrated the Agbekoyaleadership, and in time, becamea paramour of the group’s mainleader. The information she gath-ered in the process led to the rout-ing of the Agbekoya leadershipand put paid to the uprising. Thefarmers’leaders arrested includ-ed Adegoke Akekuejo, Tafa Ade-oye, Folarin Idowu, MudasiruAdeniran and Tafa Popoola. Thatwas the Nigeria Police!

The Ejigbadero(Jimoh Ishola) Case

Another case in which the Po-lice discharged itself splendidlywas the murder case involving aLagos socialite and land specu-lator, Jimoh Ishola, alias Ejigba-dero, in 1975. A man, one RajiOba was shot dead in a tussleover a parcel of land in Alimoshoarea of Lagos on August 22, 1975.The wife of the man told the Po-lice that Ejigbadero was the cul-prit. But Ejigbadero had whatcould be called a cast-iron alibi.August 22, 1975, in the evening,when Raji Oba was killed, Ejig-badero was hosting guests at aparty, celebrating the naming ofa child born a week earlier. Hewas as connected as any couldbe then, with friends in high plac-

Trials, travails of society’s martial armlice, and part of the Niger CoastConstabulary became the South-ern Nigeria Police. The two Po-lice forces were not merged until1930, when the Nigeria PoliceForce was formed, with head-quarters in Lagos.

Abdication: However, as Niger-ia marched forth as a state, itsPolice Force seemed to have beenabdicating its responsibilitieswhile the state accommodated theabdication by creating parallel in-stitutions, instead of excising thetumours of ineffectiveness andstrengthening the force. Over theyears, basic Police functions havebeen taken over by other organi-zations created solely for that pur-pose. Along the line, for instance,the Highway Patrol Unit and theMotor Traffic Division of the Po-lice got weakened through under-funding, personnel shortage, andpoor morale. The road transportsector became riotous, while civi-lized use of the roads took theback bench. Motor accidents, withconcomitant losses of preciouslives became the order of the day.As a result, concerned citizensadvocated ameliorative meas-ures, principally aimed at restor-ing sanity on the roads. Thus, theFederal Road Safety Commis-sion, FRSC, was born to performwhat used to be a routine policefunction, managed by officers andmen of the Highway Patrol andMTD. In like manner, the Spe-cial Fraud Unit of the Police,which still exists, now has its func-tions duplicated with the settingup of the Economic & FinancialCrimes Commission, EFCC. This

ing to re-invigorate the force.Relative to the population, there

are not enough Policemen. For apopulation of about 160 million,305,000 policemen, of which onlyabout 260,000 are deployed, ac-cording to the Inspector-Generalof Police, Solomon Arase, are in-adequate to secure the environ-ment. Some towns and cities, be-

cause of their population, willneed more policemen than oth-ers. Lagos, for instance, has33,000 policemen deployed for apopulation of 20 million. That av-erages one policeman to about 600people. By comparison, New YorkCity, in the USA has a popula-tion of 8.06 million, but has 34,000uniformed officers deployed, sup-ported by 17,000 other employ-ees in the New York Police De-partment — 51,000 workers in all.That averages one policeman to235 persons, and if the technolo-gy and infrastructure of the US isfactored, effective policing is as-sured. Thus, the nation needsmore policemen.

Having more policemen will notbe enough; they must be educat-ed, well-trained, and well-paid.

They must also be well-kittedand well-equipped. Today, it isdifficult to see two policemendressed exactly alike; regulationdressing has receded in the Po-lice in recent times. Further, Po-lice stations should be computer-ized, and equipped with the lat-est ICT gadgets to enable themgather, store, and retrieve infor-mation on any person or place,real time. All Police stations na-tionwide should be hooked to acentral database connecting divi-sions, area commands, state com-mands, zonal commands, andthe central IGP secretariat.

Continues from Page 38

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—39

es both in the military and thePolice and in high society, but wasnevertheless arrested for the mur-der. The Police cut through hisalibi, thoroughly investigated thecase, and charged Ejigbadero tocourt. A verdict of guilty was re-turned, and he was sentenced todeath. He appealed his convic-tion up to the Supreme Court,which upheld the conviction in1978. He was eventually execut-ed in March 1979. If the Ejigba-dero saga happened now, theodds are that Raji Oba’s deathwould probably not be thorough-ly investigated while Ejigbaderowould have gone scot free.

Nigerians thus wonder whathad gone wrong with their PoliceForce whose officers and mensolved cases with just their witsthen, compared with now. WithGSM, internet, Police trust funds,Rapid Response Squads, andmore, files of unsolved cases aregetting bulkier by the day. We stillask, and will continue to ask: Whokilled Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Olag-baju Odunayo, Suliat Adedeji,Marshall Harry, Bagauda Kaltho,Jerry Agbeyegbe; Funsho Wil-liams, Godwin Agbroko, BayoOhu, and many more others?

Oldest stateinstitution

The Police is the oldest institu-tion of state in the country; its or-igins date back to 1861 when theColony and Protectorate of Lagoswas proclaimed by the British.Needing a martial instrument toback up the administration, a 30-man constabulary was estab-lished. 18 years later, in 1879, theHausa Constabulary, with 1,200men was formed. 35 years afterestablishment of the Lagos Con-stabulary, the Lagos Police wasestablished in 1896. Before that,the Niger Coast Constabulary wasformed in Calabar in 1894 underthe newly proclaimed NigerCoast Protectorate. In the north,Sir George Taubman Goldie’s Roy-al Niger Company set up a con-stabulary for itself in 1888, withheadquarters at Lokoja. When theprotectorates of Northern andSouthern Nigeria were amalga-mated in 1914, part of the RoyalNiger Company Constabularybecame the Northern Nigeria Po-

is also not to forgetthe National DrugLaw EnforcementAgency, NDLEA. Itsduties used to be thatof the Narcotics Divi-sion of the Police.Somebody mused re-cently that if the statecontinues with its Po-lice in this fashion,very soon, theremight have to be dif-ferent bodies to han-dle homicides, armedrobberies, and othercrimes!

Restoration timefor Police: The Policeas an institution is indire straits and thenation must wake upto this reality by mov-

If the Ejigbade-ro saga hap-pened now, theodds are that RajiOba’s deathwould probablynot be thorough-ly investigatedwhile Ejigbaderowould have gonescot free

How military under-developed PoliceContinues from Page 38

•Mobile policemen during one of their training sessions

revealed that they are nothingshort of ghettos or slums. Indeed,life inside the barracks approxi-mates the Hobbesian descriptionas being nasty, brutish and short.In summary, the average policebarracks is not a place worthy ofhuman habitation. But becausethey have little or no choice, po-licemen are virtually compelledto live in such degrading places.

A visit to a Police barrack be-hind the Customs office, Ikeja,revealed how wastes from theseptic tank find their way into liv-ing homes. The reporter noticedsome of the structures were di-lapidated, coupled with the filthyenvironment.

Humiliatingsituation

Some of the officers who spokewith Vanguard said their welfareis nothing to write home about.For example, as soon as an offic-er is posted to a new station, hisbelongings are thrown out with-in two weeks in order to createspace for the one taking over fromhim. This humiliating situation issaid to be responsible for theyounger policemen desperatelyseeking money through all meansto be able to afford befitting ac-commodation.

Vanguard also visited somePolice barracks at Ajeromi Ifelo-dun, Keffi, Obalende, includingQueen’s Barracks Apapa. Find-ings revealed that the accommo-dation for the men varies from ex-ecutive to low-cost, and this de-pends on rank and to some ex-tent, godfatherism.

An average policeman praysnever to fall ill or sustain injuriesas existing medical centres in thebarracks leave much to be desiredbecause they are poorly run and

maintained. ‘’Anyone rushed tothe police hospital stand little orno chance of survival because thehealth centre is nothing but awhite elephant project,” saidsome of the policemen. Indeedmany observers are of the viewthat the prevailing plight of thepolice, especially the dearth oftheir operational equipment andpoor welfare can be traced to theirpoor performance or inability todischarge their duties creditably.

Education and literacy in theForce: Another important factoris the educational status of mem-bers of the Force presently be-lieved to be embarrassingly poor.Investigations reveal that manypolice men are barely literate, areason why they have limitedgrasp of what their duties entail.

According to the leadership ofInternational Society for Civil Lib-erties & the Rule of Law (Interso-ciety): “The Nigeria Police Force(peopled by over 370,000 officers),going by modern policing tech-nology, is no longer haunted bylack of manpower but lack of ma-chine power and its competenthandlers.

For instance, it is an indisputa-ble fact that up to 95% of the Forcepersonnel, particularly from con-stables to Inspectors, are not com-puter literate. Also, most of the so-called Investigating Police Offic-ers in over 6,500 field formationsin the country including state CIDoperatives fear computers andtheir hardware and softwaremethodologies.

The Nigeria Police Force as thecountry’s general overseer of in-ternal security must be re-focused,socially re-engineered and recon-structed to enable her face com-petently the mounting internalsecurity challenges such as inter-nal terrorism; violent, cyber andadministrative crimes.”

CMYK

40—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Continues on page 41

•Afenifere made a big mistake supporting Jonathan

•I’m happy I didn’t venture to PDP but SDP

ELDER statesman, veteran journalist and political leader, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, wasappointed in 1984 by then Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari as ManagingDirector of Daily Times Limited. Following his stint in journalism, Osoba entered thepolitical fray and served twice as governor of Ogun State, 1992 to 1993 and 1999 to 2003.In this interview, the leave as is intrepid reporter dissects the composition of the federalcabinet, asserting that in most cases round pegs are in round holes. Excerpts:

Babatunde RajiFashola wasthe face ofACN (ActionCongress ofNigeria) thatwe used as abrand in 2011to regain ourlost ground inthe Southwest

As one of theleaders of YorubaLand and as anelder statesmanof Yorubaextraction, I willsay thatPresident Buharihas thrown a bigchallenge, agargantuan one,to the YorubaNation by thechallenge givento our ministers,and I don’t wantto be sectional

WHAT is your perspective on the allocationof portfolios to ministers by the

president?The President has, through this allocation of

portfolios, answered the questions andallegations levelled against him as northernisinghis government. My feeling is that we now havea highly balanced distribution of governmentalfunctions by the president.

Given the assumption that most of theministers were the president’s direct nominees,do you envisage the ministers ever beingdisloyal to him?

I would say that the President has pickedpeople he has observed over time or thosewhose track records he looked into and believethat they are people with pedigree for thedelivery of government activities andperformance. For example, Babatunde RajiFashola was the face of ACN (Action Congressof Nigeria) that we used him as a brand in 2011to regain our lost ground in the Southwest.Besides his performance as governor, he wasfully involved in the presidential campaigns,and he headed many committees. Take forinstance the first meeting of the governors tofashion out a merger of ACN governors, CPCgovernors and Governor Rochas Okorochacoming from APGA was held in Lagos. I was in

CABINET: Buhari has challenged theYoruba to perform — Osoba

By Bashir Adefaka

•Osoba

the merger committee, and there weredivergent views. At the time that we were nearlybreaking forth, Fashola was mandated by hisfellow governors to come and address us. Afterhe addressed us, we unanimously agreedimmediately to adopt the broom. I give that asjust an example of his involvement andinfluence in the making of the APC. RotimiAmaechi, I can say, was also the face of theparty (APC) in the Niger Delta.

I know his involvement, I salute his courage,I know the hell that he went through and Ithank God the APC won because, ProfessorWole Soyinka, who is very close to RotimiAmaechi said the then Federal Government(of Goodluck Jonathan) sent a message toAmaechi about his engagement and the mightof the Federal Government but that he neverdelivered the message to him.

And he didn’t mention what the messagewas….?

I don’t know the message, but it must havebeen a very difficult, dangerous and deadlymessage. I thank God for Amaechi that APCwon. And for what President Buhari has done,the combination of two of them as strong partymen with remarkable ministries is a signal ofthe President’s respect for the party, forperformance and for those who delivered andrisked everything for the party to win thepresidency.

Having identified thesuperlative roles andperformances of Amaechi andFashola would you have beendisappointed if the local politicsin their states had deprivedthem of the roles that they nowhave?

I had occasion one time tomake a statement to express mydisappointment andunhappiness about thedestructive actions anddamaging and destructivemoves weaved by spin doctors.I will call them so, as their aimwas to destroy the image andpersonalities of Fashola andAmaechi. I wasn’t happy aboutit. Fashola has displayedcourage.

The law of this country saysnobody should be judged guiltyuntil he is found guilty and theperson is innocent. I wasn’thappy that they were brandingFashola as corrupt with awardof N78 million website contract,which he himself, might noteven know anything about. Atthat level, that kind of contractwould probably be handled bysome lower level officers.

In the case of Amaechi havinggot through all that he wentthrough in facing the might ofthe Federal Government, infacing former President Jonathanand in facing the wife, PatienceJonathan, who is also from RiversState, I was amused by NyesomWike now going for the jugularand by that I mean that Wike didnot learn from history by settingup a kangaroo commission ofenquiry.

If the governor of Rivers State,Nyesom Wike, is a student ofhistory, he could have knownthat former President OlusegunObasanjo also set up suchkangaroo commission of enquiryovernight and found former VicePresident Abubakar Atiku guiltyand the white paper came out aday after. Turaki (Atiku) went tocourt and the Supreme Court

ruled that commission of enquiry is not enoughto disqualify anybody from holding public office,that only a court of competent jurisdiction canconvict a person and will now bar him fromholding public office.

Commissionof enquiry

His commission of enquiry therefore was ofno value.

I know people who got to be governors butwho were banned from holding public offices.Adamu Mu’azu was once banned from holdingpublic office. Former Governor Kwankwaso ofKano State, now a senator, was once bannedfrom holding public office.

We have had all those mushroom commissionsof enquiry and people in future should learnfrom history. You don’t just set up or spindamaging and destructive information justbecause you want to destroy somebody. At thispoint, Ebenezer Obey’s song applies, wherehe sang that no matter what you do that peoplemay feel is good, they will never be satisfied.And the Bible says, “Judge not so that you shallnot be judged.” With what you measure, it shallbe measured unto you too.

CMYK

Continues from page 40

CABINET: Buhari has challenged the Yoruba to perform

VANGUARD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—41

The SDP is apartypromoted byAfenifere butup till todaythe chairmanof the party,Chief OluFalae and Ihave never satdown todiscuss theaffairs of SDP

Imagine the typeof altercationsbetween somepoliticians overthe issue ofsharing moneythat theycollected fromJonathan? If Ihad been part ofthat scam, myname wouldhave beentarnished evenmore

Do you consider the leadership of thePDP to be unpatriotic given the spateof claims by the PDP against the newadministration?

That is the function of opposition, to arousethe government….

...But is this opposition constructive?They will continue to make noise. They are

drowning and when somebody is drowning,he will be struggling and holding to anythingthat is available (laughs). That is the problemwith them (PDP). President Buhari hasdisplayed a highly thick skin in his behaviourso far. He hasn’t allowed himself to bestampeded in any form. They called him‘Baba go slow,’ he said thank you. He tookhis measured step to arrive at what he wantedto do.

Can we see your foray into the SDPas a sabbatical?

I don’t want to talk politics. I just talkgovernance. The President is in office andwe should all face governance, bear with himand cooperate with his administration to takeNigeria out of the unfortunate situation thatwe are now. That should be our focus.

However, perhaps it is important to let youinto what exactly you want to know by thistactical question trying to extract what my aimswere for joining SDP in the last generalelection. I had series of meetings with PapaAyo Adebanjo and Chief Adeniwun Ajayi inthe first part and I was part of the team thatworked towards MKO Abiola’s mandate,which was one of the reasons I becamegovernor in 1992.

I found it convenient therefore to join theSDP than to go to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and I am happy that I didn’t ventureto join the PDP otherwise, I wouldn’t havebeen able to survive the kind of politicalmudslinging that happened within the partyover the issue of Jonathan’s money. Imaginethe type of altercations between somepoliticians over the issue of sharing moneythat they collected from Jonathan? If I hadbeen part of that scam, my name would havebeen tarnished even more.

Accusingfingers

But like I said earlier, this is not the time tostart pointing accusing fingers but to bury ourdifferences and work to protect the interest ofYoruba as a race and Nigeria as a whole. Asan individual, I am ready to play a serioussupporting role in rescuing the Yoruba racefrom the position that we find ourselves now.We need somebody we can all rally round asa leader, whoever the person is.

The role of Afenifere prior to the 2015general elections suggested the group wassupportive of the PDP. Sir, also given thatthe leader of the SDP, Chief Olu Falae is amajor leader of Afenifere, do you findyourself caught in a trap?

I am not an officer in Afenifere. You have totalk to somebody who is probably part of theAfenifere executive.

I became involved in the Social DemocraticParty (SDP) at the late hour during the 2015elections but what I observed is that tacticaland strategic errors were made by theorganization during the last general election.Most of our elders, who have been trying toshowcase the philosophy and ideology ofChief Awolowo ought not to have supportedformer President Goodluck Jonathan in thelast general elections without doing someserious discussions and consultations. TheSDP is a party promoted by Afenifere but up

statesman of Yoruba extraction, I will say thatPresident Buhari has thrown a big challenge,a gargantuan one, to the Yoruba Nation bythe challenge given to our ministers, and Idon’t want to be sectional. I will only analyzethose who are party members. The success ofFashola will be a measure of the future ofSouth West and Yoruba in the politics of thisnation. I believe that we must all, therefore,rally round party members who are now inthe cabinet especially from the South West ofthe country. This is so because it is bigchallenge that Buhari has thrown to us andthe onus lies on us to perform.

Where is the place of constituencyprojects usually embarked upon by theNational Assembly……?

(Cuts in) I hope the President willdiscourage this idea of constituency projectswhere you allocate boreholes, solar energy tomembers of the National Assembly. The mainfunction of National Assembly members is tolegislate and they should now be confined tospending more time on making laws forgovernance of the country and leave thePresident and his team to execute projects.

If Fashola and Amaechi can collaborate andbe able to revive Warri Port, a very extensivePort but totally empty now and underutilized,that will relieve Tin Can Island and Apapa.Onne and Port Harcourt are underutilized.There is no reason goods going towards theEastern part of the country should not berthin Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar or Warri, allof them with high-quality facilities to handlecargoes to decongest Lagos and the nonsensethat is happening in Apapa will stop.

Industrialhub of Nigeria

I trust Fashola. We Yoruba have no choicenow than to rally around him. Because theparty members in South West that have beengiven major challenges are Fashola, Fayemi,Shittu and by extension Rotimi Amaechi inthe South South. We must go all round tosupport them to succeed. Yoruba peoplealways don’t want crumbs. They want nets tofish themselves. Yoruba was the industrial hubof Nigeria in the old Western Region. Whatthey want is the ability for the industrialists inthis part of the country to deliver.

What did we have in 1999? We had YomiEdu as Minister of Environment, Mrs Adelajaas Minister of State for Defence (Navy) andanother man from Oyo State as Minister ofCommunications. Later we had Martins Kuyeas Minster of Commerce and Industry. They

were mostly ministers of state. Now we havekey ministries where performance is going tobe measured…

(Cuts in) You said the South West now haskey ministries where performance will bemeasured and, earlier, you said Fashola hasthe key. Now, what are the keys?

They have to be focused. From my ownexperience with President Buhari, he appointedme the Managing Director of Daily Times inJune 1984, 31 years ago.

Politicalconnections

At that time, Daily Times was virtually deadbecause the Shagari government of NPN,National Party of Nigeria politicized everythingin the country and young people who hadpolitical connections were the ones in control.

When I was appointed the Managing Directorand Prince Tony Momoh was appointed GeneralManager of the Times Publication Division, theHead of State at that time, Buhari, displayedtotal delegation of all our functions. Throughoutthe period that he was Head of State, he neverfor once day invited me to discuss what I wasdoing in Daily Times. There were those whowere complaining about the massivereorganisation that Prince Tony Momoh carriedout in the publication division and we had toweed out all those tainted with political leanings.And they were power centres but Prince TonyMomoh closed his eyes, did surgical operation,cleaned the place off. All those who were writingpetitions to the Office of the Head of State andso on, both Buhari and Idiagbon were throwingthe petitions into the dustbin. So, within oneyear, I was able to take Daily Times from lossand balance the accounts in the first year. Bythe second year, we were back to profitabilitybecause we were given total freehand. What Ihave noticed of the President now is that hehas the ability to delegate as long as he hasconfidence in you and he has displayedconfidence in young party people who are inthe cabinet now like Rotimi Amaechi, Fayemi,Shittu and Fashola.

Would you say it is the same confidence thathe displayed in the young lady from your stateof Ogun, who is entrusted with the highlychallenging Ministry of Finance?

I don’t know her enough. That is why I talkedabout party people. I have never had any directdealing with her. In the case of finance, I hopenow that budget has been taken out of theMinistry of Finance, the President will now haveto do a delicate balancing to ensure that SenatorUdo Udo Udoma and Mrs Kemi Adeosun willwork as a team to ensure successfulperformance.

•Osoba

till today the chairman of theparty, Chief Olu Falae and Ihave never sat down todiscuss the affairs of SDP.And I’m serious about this,that since I got involved inthe SDP before the lastgeneral elections, ChiefFalae and myself have neversat down to discuss the affairsof the party. I’m telling you.The organization turned itselfinto a spare part by going tosupport Jonathan in the lastelections. There was noconcrete agreement betweenthe leadership of the partyand the former president inthe first instance…

What does the ceding ofkey portfolios to South Westby President Buhari mean?

As one of the leaders ofYoruba Land and as an elder

CMYK

42 —Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—43

BIAFRA: Igbo leaders to meet BuhariContinued from Page 16

You’re a saboteur, MASSOB tellsOhanaeze MEANWHILE MASSSOB, hastaken a swipe at OhanaezeNdigbo, over its decision to disownpro-Biafra group, describingOhanaeze as a saboteur.

Ohanaeze, through its chairmanof Presidents in the seven Igbo –speaking states, Dr. ChrisEluomunoh, had last weekdescribed the Biafra agitation bysome youths as madness.

Reacting, the National Directorof Information of a faction ofMASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu,described the utterances againstBiafra agitation as selfish andirresponsible.

Madu said: “The wideacceptance and consciousness ofBiafra can never be thwarted ordislocated by disgruntled Igbo.How can a self -acclaimed Igboleader openly and shamefullydisown and condemn Biafra,which is the living symbol of Igbosurvival? MASSOB still believesthat Ohanaeze Ndigbo cannotdisown Biafra because the nationalleadership is still silent on thisissue. But if finally it does, the Igbonation will also disown and expelthem from Igboland.”We are not in support of anyviolence – Anglican Church

Meantime, The Church ofNigeria, Anglican Communion,yesterday, said it would neversupportd any call or agitation thatsought to jeopardize the onenessof the country, saying it was notin support of the ongoingagitation.

The Primate, Church ofNigeria, (Anglican Communion),the Most Revd Nicholas Okoh,believed that this and otheragitations could be addressedwith good leadership, urgingpeople to be grateful to God forthe gift of life.

Okoh, who spoke in aninterview with Journalists at the2015 Adult Harvest ThanksgivingService with the theme; ‘HowCan I Repay The Lord For AllHis Goodness To Me’, at theCathedral Church of the Advent,Life Camp, Abuja.

Okoh contended that lack ofunity threw up differentchallenges at the nation.

He said; “This also called forunity, which is much lacking inour country, there is no unity inour country. So, we call for love,for oneness and we pray toexperience it in our country forus to actually develop and moveforward. Showing gratitude toGod also means relating tohuman beings gratefully.”

Unemployment, frustration

Similarly, the Archbishop ofEcclesiastical Province of Enuguand Bishop of Enugu DioceseAnglican Communion, the MostRevd Emmanuel Chukwuma saidthe church would not support anyform of violence, blaming theprotest on the failure of elders.

He said most of the elders hadlost their integrity and moralstanding to mentor the youngones, arguing that until thefrustration of the youth wasaddressed through employment,this kind of agitation might notcease.

According to him, “Biafraagitation that you are seeing inthe South East is a completereflection of the failure ofleadership of the elders. Elders

in the South East must wake upto know that the young onescannot be overriding the authorityof the elders, and that calls forcaution, unity and good exampleby the elders. Most of the eldershave lost their integrity; they havelost their authority and stance.This is the time, we should beginto think on how we can gatherthe youths, give them thatconfidence and be able to leadthem aright.

“I think most of these childrendid not see Biafra, they arefrustrated. So we should thinkand address their unemploymentto address their frustration andalso address their indiscipline.

Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce artistes thrillMakurdi residents

M O B I L E TELECOMMUNICATIONnetwork, Globacom, weekendheld its musical concert, GloSlide ‘n’ Bounce, in Makurdi,Benue State, treating thecity’s residents to a rare nightof unprecedentedentertainment.

Artistes lined up for theshow by Globacom includedAfro hip hop star Burna Boy,alternative soul singer BezIdakula and the duo of

Marvin Records sensationalsingers, Di’Ja and ReekadoBanks. They lived up to thebilling, entertaining the hugecrowd at the Royal Choice InnHotels, venue of the show.

The compere of the show wasEnugu-based fast-risingcomedian, 2CanTalk withmusic supplied by DJ XGee.The show was described byresidents of the city as thebiggest entertainment event inthe city in the last four years.

Ogbe to chairCBAAC Int’llecture inNsukka

MINISTER OFAgriculture and Rural

Development, Chief AuduOgbe, will tomorrow, chair the2015 edition of Centre forBlack and African Arts andCivilization, CBAAC,International DistinguishedPublic Lecture.

The lecture will hold at thePrincess AlexandriaAuditorium of the University ofNigeria Nsukka, UNN,Nsukka Campus, EnuguState.

The lecture entitled,' R e c o n s t r u c t i o n ,Transformation and AfricanUnity in the 21st Century,',would be delivered byProfessor Horace Campbell, anEmeritus Professor of AfricanAmerican Studies and PoliticalScience and the Director ofPan African Studies at theSyracuse University, New York,United States.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of CBAAC, Dr..Ferdinand Anikwe is billed toChair the 1st Meeting of theBureau of the 4th Pan AfricanCultural Congress (PACC4) tobe held in Harare, Zimbabwefrom November 26 - 28, 2015.

44 —Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

FUEL HOARDING: Dramaas DPR uncovers 2petrol stations

By Demola Akinyemi

ILORIN—THE Department ofPetroleum Resources in Kwara State yesterday,

wielded its big stick when it dispensed fuel to mo-torists and motorcyclists on long queues free ofcharge at two filling stations caught hoarding theproduct in Ilorin.

The federal agency had before now, severelywarned petrol stations across the state to desist fromhoarding the products and sell to the people in or-der to alleviate the transportation sufferings untilnemesis caught up with two petrol stations yester-day.

Recall that residents in Ilorin have in the past twoweeks been facing acute shortage of the products,resulting in long queues at a few petrol stationsdispensing the product, particularly NNPC, whilemany others closed,forcing many people to embarkon trekking long distances to their destinations.

One of the errant stations, Alkad and Sons Ni-geria Limited, situated on Olorunsogo, Ilorin, wascaught hoarding a total of 2,300 litres of fuel, alsoknown as Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.

In the same vein, Nasmut Nigeria Limited, lo-cated at Otte in Asa Local Government Area of thestate, a suburb of Ilorin, was also found to be hoard-ing a large volume of petrol, after which the DPRoperation controller ordered that the commodity besold to members of the public free.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the surveillanceteam of the department swooped on the stations,following a tip off by concerned citizens that man-agement of the station was hoarding the commod-ity.

Acting on the intelligence, the team, led by Op-eration Controller of DPR, Mr Salvation Philip, dugup the station’s stock and uncovered 2300 litres offuel in AlKAD and Sons Nigeria limited, while thestation had allegedly told distraught buyers that ithad exhausted the stock.

El Rufai to publish names ofpersons allocated school land

By Luka Binniyat

BENUE GOV

TUSSLE:

Tarzoor headsto SupremeCourt

New VC forFederalVarsity, Dutseemerges

M A K U R D I —DISSATISFIED

by last week’s dismissal ofhis suit challenging thevictory of Governor SamuelOrtom at the Court ofAppeal, PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP,governorship candidate inBenue State in the lastgeneral elections, Dr.Terhemen Tarzoor, has saidhe would approach theSupreme Court for finalarbitration on the matter.

In a statement issuedyesterday in Makurdi byhis Press Secretary, Mr.Terhemen Hwande, thegovernorship candidateexpressed displeasure atwhat he described as the‘questionable ground’upon which his appeal wasdismissed.

Tarzoor was quoted asstating that his decision toresort to the judiciary forlegal interpretation as towho was constitutionallyqualified by law to be acandidate of a politicalparty in an election was inthe best interest of thecountry’s democraticexperience and promisednot to compromise hisposition for any reason.

By Peter Duru

DUTSE—THE Pro-Chancellor and

Chairman, GoverningCouncil of FederalUniversity Dutse, JigawaState, Prof. TaoheedAdedoja, has announcedthe appointment of Prof.Abubakar Musa Kundiri asthe new Vice Chancellor.

He is to succeed theincumbent vice chancellorwhose tenure will expire inFebruary, 2016.

Professor Adedoja saidKundiri scored 91.1 percent to come first, ahead ofProfessor Salisu AbdullahiKazaure who scored 81.4per cent and Prof. ZakariMuahmmed of ABU Zaria,who scored 70 per cent toemerge third in the contest.

Adedoja explained that24 professors applied forthe VC’s job, adding that11 were short listed by thecouncil, while three wererecommended by selectionboard after a rigorousinterview.

By Aliyu Dangida K A D U N A — G O V E R N O RNasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has vowed to

publish names of persons allocated school landswhich he had started recovering through demoli-tion of property on the allotted lands in Zaria andKaduna metropolis.

Spokesperson of the state governor, SamuelAruwan, who disclosed at a press conference inKaduna yesterday, said the ongoing recovery wasnow being implemented in Rimi College, Kaduna.

He said: “Rimi College was founded in 1941 asSaint John’s College. The school occupies 24.387hectares of prime land.

“Previous governments eventually excised a totalof 3.19 hectares, which they gave to private indi-viduals.

‘’The school also lost its students’ hostels whichwere converted to offices for some state and federalagencies.”

On when government will make public names ofthose allocated lands in the school, the spokesper-son, who did not give a tentative date, said: “Thepromise will be fulfilled, it is in the interest of trans-parency, and the government considers it prudentto publish the names of the individuals."

“The government is aware that some of the 38beneficiaries of the allocations took no steps to de-velop their plots because they had reservationsabout building on school property.

“Government hopes that our elite would subscribeto a consensus that preserves and respects the in-tegrity of social assets like schools and hospitals.Take it from me that the public will get to knoweverything and nothing will be hidden.”

...gives product free to motor-ists, motorcyclists

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—47

Bayelsa: Dickson tasks FG, security agencieson credible poll

By Samuel Oyadongha

Edo 2016: Oshiomhole assures on APC's victory

US-based audiologist provides freemedicare to 500 in Bayelsa

By Simon Ebegbulem

Delta doles out N324.1mlifeline to traders, farmers

WARRI—A non-governmental organisa-

tion, Niger Delta Care Incorpo-rated, Hearing and Vision Chari-ty, facilitated by Delta-born Unit-ed States- based audiologist, Dr.John Oyiborhoro, has offered freemedicare to over 500 patients inBayelsa State.

The free medicare, which heldat Covenant Faith Proof Minis-tries, City of Truth, Yenagoa, wit-nessed a huge turnout of peoplefrom Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo,Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and oth-er neighbouring states.

Leader of Niger Delta Care In-corporated and organizer of theprogramme, Dr. Oyiborhoro, not-ed that the programme turned outto be the best since it began manyyears ago.

Oyiborhoro stated that he wasdelighted that the programmereached out to the needy in thesociety, disclosing that in 2016 hisorganisation will bring more med-ical experts from the United Stateswith a view to reaching out to moreunderprivileged persons withhealth challenges.

He commended Starkey Foun-dation based in the United Statesof America and owned by BillAustin, for always donating the

Lawmakerstask Ndokwayouths onsecurity fund

THE Deputy Speaker,Delta State House of

Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi,and Mr. Azuka Azaka, repre-senting Ndokwa East andWest, have called on youthsin Ndokwaland to be activemembers of their communitiesso that security funds could beproperly appropriated to en-sure peace in the communi-ties and safety of government’sinstallations.

Osanebi gave the charge,yesterday, when he met withyouth leaders, community vig-ilante group leadership andanti-cult volunteer corps lead-ers in his office in Asaba, thestate capital.

He told the youth leadersthat the Operation Feed YourNeighbour Fund, to be re-leased by the state govern-ment, was to ensure securityof pipeline installations, sup-port the education of the less-privileged, empower youths tocheck vices and criminal ac-tivities within the communitiesand boost the effectiveness ofthe vigilante and anti-cultgroups.

Y E N A G O A —GOVERNOR Seriake

Dickson of Bayelsa State hascalled on the Federal Governmentand the international communityto prevail on all institutions thathave a role to play in the conductof the forthcoming election in thestate, including security agencies,to be above board in the dischargeof their duties.

Dickson, at the inauguration ofthe Advisory Council of theRestoration CampaignOrganisation chaired by SenatorNimi Barigha-Amange inYenagoa, weekend, said the callbecame imperative in view of thealleged brazen manner membersof All Progressives Congress,APC, have been boasting to usefederal might to rig the election.

He said such utterances andshow of impunity by theopposition have clearly shown thatthey were not only unprepared forthe election but envious of theachievements of hisadministration and were,therefore, bent on plunging thestate back to its infamous past ofinsecurity and violence.

“Members of the oppositionparty, APC, with their conductsare hell-bent on igniting crisis inthe state, knowing full well thatthey cannot win the forthcominggovernorship election. They haveperfected their rigging plans andthat is why we are calling on the

Federal Government and theinternational community to pre-vail on all institutions that havea role to play in the conduct ofthe election to be above aboard.

“The PDP is known for peaceand that is the message we arepreaching in all the communi-ties in the state,” he said.

He said that the PDP would

continue to enjoy popularsupport from Bayelsans for along time because of its well-structured grassroots-orientedpolicies and programmes.

Such policies, he noted, hadhelped in alleviating thesufferings of the people as beingtestified by the rural dwellerswho trooped out to identify withhis campaigns in all nooks andcrannies of the state.

Dickson explained that theadvisory council would havebeen inaugurated earlier but forthe untimely death of ChiefDeipreye Alamieyeseigha, whowas billed to be its chairman.

He, however, said the councilwould continue to function evenafter the election as a foremostcaucus to provide policydirection to the PDP and itsgovernment.

BENIN—GOVERNORAdams Oshiomhole of

Edo State has said that the 2016governorship election in thestate would be the easiest for hisparty, the All Progressives Con-gress, APC, noting that he willhand over to another APC gov-ernor who has passion for thestate.

Oshiomhole, in an interviewwith Vanguard, said: “I am veryconfident that the person thatwill emerge after my tenure willbe one that has passion for thestate, who has managerial com-petence to drive and ensure thatthe state witnesses more growthand development than duringmy time, because what we havedone over the years is to redis-cover this state and give ourpeople confidence that Edo isviable.

“Today, the Edo man has re-gained confidence. There is no

By Festus Ahon

ASABA—IN line with itsresolve to minimize poverty among its citi-

zens, Delta State Government, has disbursedN324.1 million as loan to over 200 cluster groupsmade up of traders and farmers across the 25 lo-cal government areas of the state.

Disbursing the interest free loan, through theState Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises De-velopment Agency, DSMSMEDA, Executive Sec-retary of the agency, Mrs Shimite Bello, said thegesture was part of efforts towards driving theprosperity agenda of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’sadministration.

Disclosing that the money was part of the N2billion Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, MSMEfund, she said: “We have been able to give peo-ple money across the 25 councils of the state. Thisis not the end because Governor Okowa is pas-sionately committed to the wellbeing of all Del-tans."

question now that the state iscapable of developing and thatwe can do something about theproblem of infrastructure, flood-ing, restoring integrity to publicschools and public health caresystem. The challenge before thenext governor now is to work onsome feeder roads we have notdone. The next governor will notneed to work on Airport Road,or Akpakpava Road but he canconnect all the adjoining streets.

“With the roads we have donein the last seven years, if thePeoples Democratic Party, PDP,did half of that number in 10years, then we would have add-ed those ones to the ones we

“I am confident that the nextgovernor will come from APCbecause the PDP has neither themessenger nor a credible mes-sage."

I know that we are living in aworld of so called born again butlike I said during the 7th anni-versary, when a woman is foundguilty of serial adultery in thecommunity and 10 years latershe says I have repented, I amnow a Pastor, I shall commit nomore adultery, can you entrustyour wife to such person?

“I know Edo people will an-swer that question in a resound-ing manner. Nobody can returnEdo to Egypt and PDP cannotbe the answer.

hearing aids used for the pro-gramme, just as he acknowl-edged the challenges encoun-tered in transportation and per-sonnel in the bid to ensure thatthe 2015 programme met the tar-get audience.

have done.The problemwe are havingin Edo todayis that PDPcannot showyou one cleanroad withstreet lightsand drainagesthey did that isstill there. Theonly ones youcan see arethose Ogbe-mudia did. Ifthe PDP hadlaid somefoundations,we wouldhave gone fartoday.

48—Vanguard, MONDAY , NOVEMBER 23, 2015

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblicalor English proverbs are unacceptable. Address your sayings to:

editor@vanguardngr.com

I have sown a riga without a neck. Let him who cuts aneck for it put it on.

- Hausa proverb

Judiciary and forgotten cases oflooting

THE court is where justice is expected to be served, but not here

in Nigeria. Many of our judges arevery corrupt. Rather than bring thesehigh profile corrupt people to book,they allow them walk freely by grant-ing them bail and interlocutory injunc-tions that inevitably foreclose their ar-rest. As things stand today, the situa-tion will remain with us for a long timeto come.

Chukwuma Dioka. Owerri2347054911808

Single tenure of five years The word democracy according to

Fela Ransome Kuti means “ Demon-stration of Craze”. Nigerians will agreewith me that truly our political envi-ronment is becoming crazy and thespirit of corruption has eaten deeplyinto the lives of our leaders and theyare trying to inflict the coming gen-eration with such negative characters.Many greedy leaders have forgottenthat only God can rule forever. A sin-gle tenure of five years is good so thatthe craze for first, second and thirdtenure will be over. National Assem-bly should please do something abouttenure elongation.

Steadfast Foundation 08121945298

Nigeria @ 55 Nigeria is 55 years and we are still

grappling with the problems of badroads, lack of job opportunities, cor-ruption, kidnapping, assassinations,delay in payment of pension/ gratu-ity, flooding, terrorism and a host ofother vices. These are clear indicationsthat our past leaders have not doneenough to meet the yearnings of thecommon man. Despite the abundantnatural resources bestowed upon usby the creator, the sad truth is thatmost Nigerians are still living in ab-ject poverty. This ought not be. Thetransformation of Nigeria should begeared towards meeting the immedi-ate needs of the common man and notabout lofty ideas that do not makemuch meaning to them. What is gov-ernance if the needs of the majorityare not promptly attended to?

Anonymous 08153089490

Edo cult crisis I dont see why any sane human

should be a member of an anti- socialcult which derives pleasure from caus-ing mayhem in the society. It showsthe extent to which our society has de-generated

Emmanuel writes in from Edo State

Police brutality and harassment The menace of police brutality and

harassment in LagosState has reached an alarming level.This negates the avowed zero toler-ance for road blocks throughout thenation by the current Inspector Gen-eral of Police,( Solomon Arase ). It iscommon to see police officers extort-ing money from motorist.

The surprising aspect is the shoot-ing of innocent citizens under littleprovocation. The police usually claimthat the person wanted to disarm themor what ever. Journalists are not leftout in these brutality by policemen. Iappeal to the Inspector General of Po-lice to kindly do something urgentlyto stop this naked reign of terror.

Kola Olawuni, writes in fromApapa, Lagos State.

Still on police brutality The Inspector General of Police, Mr.

Solomon Arase should please lookinto police brutality in this country. Thekilling of innocent citizens by the po-lice is unacceptable. The InspectorGeneral of Police promised to dismissany officer found wanting in the kill-ing innocent citizens or accidental dis-charge which is usually used as coverfor killing innocent persons.

A soul for a soul, such police offic-ers should be killed also for shootinga defenceless citizen to death. PoliceService Commission , IGP and Presi-dent Buhari should take note

Anonymous +2348063897516

Fraud in Nigerian banks Banks must put measures in place

to fraustrate any attempts to fraud byinsiders who have tricks up theirsleeves. They must be proactive ratherthan allowing loopholes that can beeasily exploited by greedy staff.

K.C. 07035010016

Power supply and energyPower supply and energyPower supply and energyPower supply and energyPower supply and energydevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopment

With a population of 170million anda flunctuating mega watts of 4200,there is no miracle for ‘stable’ powersupply! With Nigeria’s population,experts emphasise that the nationneeds70000mega watts which is along way to go in the energy sector.Why can’t each state generate up to360mega watts, in two years? Therewon’t be development if the countrylacks stable power supply.

Tony Ogun-Amahwe+2348051112924

FG bans importation of gen setsNelson Ilevbare

THIS is scandalous! How can they dothat? Nothing has been put in place

yet the whole country is still in darkness.If that’s the case, let them ban anythingcalled generator or plant from the lowestKVA to the highest KVA in Nigeria. Thenthe rich and the poor will feel it together.

Emmanuel EjereIndeed it’s a capital madness. It’s only

the low income Nigerians can afford “Ibetter pass my neighbour”. When will ourso- call government stand by the lowerclass Nigerians? Buhari should stopplaying games with people. Ban all formsof generator importation from the lowestKVA to the highest KVA.

Kendo WhiteEven in advanced countries where

electricity supply is regular and availableto all, that type of generator is still beingused. The ban doesn’t make any sense.

Samuel OkaforWhat any reasonable FG should do is to

place a ban on the importation of the goodsthat can be produced locally and not onthe goods we can’t produce. Placing a banon small generator that we can’t produceis a sign of wickedness and selfishness.

Abel David

This is a very inconsiderate move by theFG, the height of political insensitivity, anignoble response to national poverty. Whyis the government always eager to banthose products widely used by poorpeople? They ban ‘OK products’, they banused cars, now they are banning ‘I passmy neighbour’? And they are using healthhazard as a valid reason.

What a ludicrous and prepostrousexcuse! Meanwhile, the minimum wageis not up to 20k. What nonsense! So poorpeople should sleep and sweat indarkness. How can Buhari be this wicked?I’m interested in change but not at theexpense of the poor! Take down the policy!

Chijioke OrguFunny and insensitive Government

banning small generator because itscauses air pollution and affects the lungs.So all the big Lister generators that usewater as coolant and the rest are palatableto the air and repair lungs abi? Visionlessgovt! putting the cart before the horse.Stablise power and see all brands ofgenerator business become bad businessand you see them no more in the market,instead of wasting govt time and energypursuing generator importers.

Wind of revolt in S-East: Why Biafra mustrise gain -Protesters

Deboy

This must be the most articulated,audacious and inspiring report on

the Biafran movement in any independentpaper in Nigeria so far. It’s clear everyonewith eyes to see and ears to hear is nowwell attuned to Biafra and the restorationof its freedom. With the current events allover the world, it’s left for Biafrans to marchon and let every part of the world andpeople of conscience be continuously andmore elaborately educated on why this isthe time for Biafra to leave Nigeria. Wemust speak aloud of our differences in theNigerian contraption and the atrocities,indignities, and genocide we have facedand endured and will continue to face asmembers of the British contraption. Thankyou Nnamdi Kanu for being the light ofnot only Biafrans, but all lovers of freedomand indeed the shackled black race.

OcheBiafra is a land- locked country with no

access to the sea So interesting to see howthe smaller tribes that were included inthe Biafra map are just watching from adistance. Now, it is certain that whateveryou do to someone today, someday it willturn back at you, you will pay the price atthe long- run.

If Biafra succeeds in gainingindependence from Naija. what willhappen when these smaller tribesincluded in the Biafra map start protestingdominance of the Igbo as the case withIgbo and Hausa now, and strive to gaintheir own freedom from Biafra. Would theIgbos allow them to go?

We all know the mind of a typical Igboman, the romance with the South Southwill not work because the Igbo man is goodin domineering other tribes smaller than

them. Just as the Igbos are scared of Yorubaand Hausa dominance in Naija, that ishow the Calabar, Akwa Ibom, Ijaw,Urhobo, Itsekiri, Benin, Kalabari, Opobowill be scared of the Igbo domination inBiafra land if they succeed in gainingindependence from Naija. We arewatching the drama as it is unfolding.

$2.9bn arms deal: Mystory, by Dasuki

Onu Samuel

Dasuki is joking. Instead of beggingu the yaun. Buhari Muhammed

Buhari will teach you lesson.KwuameIt seems the judicial system in Nigeria

is dying, if not how can a President beordering the arrest of someone. The othertime, he said he will follow due process ofthe law and now he is giving orders as ifwe are in a military era. For thosesupporting this impunity, you areencouraging evil and evil you will get. Theman is already in court, why not amendthe charges to reflect the new allegationsor do the president think he can courtmarshal people in a democraticdispensation?

One question that keeps coming up iswhy the emergency in Dasuki’s case?Justice they say, is slow but steady. Whendid Mr. president study the report givento him before concluding to order arrest?He was given a report on Tuesday andwhile receiving the report, ordered arrest.This can only be described as dictatorship.When Amaechi was indicted, he wascompensated with a ministerial postwithout any further investigation, nowDasuki is indicted, his arrest was ordered.Nigeria who is fooling who?

We can no longer pay N18,000 minimumwage, Govs cry outPrince 76

N18,000 ( lesa than $100)as a salaryfor four weeks for an adult of

workable age is disheartening and worsethan slavery... Now, the slave masters wantit reduced. I cry for Nigerian masses!

JumpingbrookLet me ask, if they ca no longer pay

N18,000 minimum wage, where on earthwill APC/Baba Buhari bring the N5,000daily for the unemployed plus feedingallowance for school children,Hmmmmmm, this CHANGE go turnCHAIN soon.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 49

VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardCLASSIFIED

EYO—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss WinifredNkoyo Eyo, now wishto be known andaddressed as Mrs.Winifred NkoyoSunday. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Addition of Name

I, formerly known andaddressed as Mrs.Ejembi Alice, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Ejembi-Omale Alice.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

DURU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Duru ChinyerePriscillia, now wish tobe known andaddressed as AjasaChinyere Priscillia. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

ITA—I, formerly knownand addressed as MissAtim Cobham Ita, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Atim Cobham Kosoko.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

U T I T O F O N — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissUtitofon Linus Peter,now wish to be knownand addressed as MissMiracle Linus Peter.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

MUSA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss ChristianaMusa, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. Christiana EyoIta. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

IME—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Mr. Ime SundayUdo, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mr. PaulinusJohnson Udoh. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

Confirmation of Name

This is to confirm thatAnthony EdemEffiong and AnthonyEdem Assadien is oneand the same person,now wish to be knownand addressed asAnthony EdemAssadien. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O F O R B U I K E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissOforbuike UjunwaIrene, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. NwokediOforbuike UjunwaIrene. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

J A C I N T A — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissJacinta Ezechukwu,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Jacinta Ezelue. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

IKWUKA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss FranciscaIhuoma Ikwuka, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Francisca IhuomaChukwuma Anosike.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

O B I J U R U — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissObijuru EzinneChinaemerem, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Ogbonna EzinneChinaemerem. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

SIMON—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss ErinmaSimon, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. Idigba OlaErinma Lovelyn. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

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Confirmation of NameThis is to confirm that

Sunday Olanrewaju

Paul is the same person

as Shobitan

Olanrewaju Paul. All

former documents

remain valid. General

public please take note.

PHILIPS—I, formerlyknown as ElizabethEhimema Philips, nowwish to be known andaddressed asElizabeth EhimemaEgesionu. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

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A N U M U D U — I ,formerly known asMiss Philomina O.Anumudu, now wishto be known andaddressed as Mrs.Philomina ChimezieIkpe. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Confirmation of NameThis is to confirm thatArthur Iwekuba andStephen Iwekuba isone and the sameperson, now wish to beknown and addressedas Stephen ArthurIwekuba. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

S T E P H E N — I ,formerly known asMiss Imaobong NseStephen, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Imaobong EmmanuelEtim. All formerdocuments remainvalid. NYSC andgeneral public pleasetake note.

ARAUSI—I, formerly

known as Christie

Ozawo Arausi, now

wish to be known and

addressed as Christie

Ozawo Eze. All former

documents remain

valid. General public

please take note.

A L I G W E K W E — I ,formerly known asMiss OnyinyeAligwekwe, now wishto be known andaddressed as Mrs.Onyinye Obi. Allformer documentsremain valid. ZenithBank Plc and generalpublic please take note.

IKENSIEGBE —I,formerly known asRufus IfeanyiIkensiegbe, now wishto be known andaddressed as Rufus

Ifeanyi Ike. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Confirmation of NameThis is to confirm thatBosede RuthEgwuonwun andBosede ChukaEgwuonwun is oneand the same person,now wish to be knownand addressed asBosede ChukaEgwuonwun. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

O K PA R AU G O — I ,formerly known asGloria ChidimmaOkparaugo, now wishto be known andaddressed asChidimma GloriaNwaneri. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

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AWUTA—I, formerlyknown as AwutaShinjawa Zirra, nowwish to be known andaddressed asAbubakar ShinjawaZirra. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Correction of nameI, OlasunkanmiO l u w a s h o l a f u n m iAdeniyi, hereby statethat my correct name isOlasunkanmi SholaOmoola. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

M I C H A E L — I ,formerly known asMiss Michael BridgetObuego, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Godfrey BridgetObuego. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

A D E S O K A N — I ,formerly known asMiss AdesokanAdebimpe Comfort,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Ibrahim AdebimpeComfort. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ONONAYIMUE—I,formerly known asMiss OnonayimueSunday HannahOnome, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Bebetu HannahOnome. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

UDOYE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss NnekaCelestina Udoye, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Lady(Mrs.) NnekaCelestina Ezenandu.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

ODEGA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Odega PatriciaEkene, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. OnyejebosaPatricia Ekene. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

OJAGBIGHRU—I,formerly known andaddressed asOjagbighru DevenoTessy, now wish to beknown and addressedas Ojagbighru DevenoTheresa. All formerdocuments remainvalid. First Bank Plcand general publicplease take note.

OZOR—I, formerly

known and addressed

as Henry Isioma Ozor,

now wish to be known

and addressed as

Stanley Isioma Uzoka.

All former documents

remain valid. General

public please take note.

Reconciliation of NamesThe names MordiCordelia and MordiViolet Nkem belong toone and same person.I now wish to beknown and addressedas Mordi Violet Nkem.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

Confirmation of NameThe names OkaforTorsh Ucheuwa andOkafor UcheuwaOnuwa refer to oneand the same person.I now wish to beknown and addressedas Okafor UcheuwaOnuwa. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ANAELE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Patrick .C. Anaele,now wish to be knownand addressed as FelixA n a e l eNwaemegbulem. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

Confirmation of Name

OKHIHAN—This is toconfirm that OkhihanMaria is the sameperson as AkhigbemenMaria, but now wish tobe known andaddressed asAkhigbemen Maria.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

Confirmation of NameThis is to certify thatthe names Okafor VeraChinelo and OkaforFlorence Ogbonnerefer to one and thesame person as OkaforVera Chinelo. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

DAPHEY—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss. DapheyO r e r h i m eEmmanuella, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Sada OrerhimeEmmanuella. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

50 —Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015—51

ABUJA-MEMBERSof the House of

Representatives, Thursday,tasked the Federal RoadsSafety Commission, FRSC,to be proactive in managingthe use of roads by heavyduty vehicles as well asperforming the functions ofa professional road safetyorganisation.

This resolution followed amotion entitled “need toaddress the menace ofcontainer - carrying trailerson Nigerian roads”sponsored by Rep.Nkeiruka Onyejeocha,PDP, Abia.

In her submission, thelawmaker noted that thesafety of lives and propertyof Nigerians has been amatter of discoursefollowing numerousaccidents around thecountry involving trailersconveying containers.

“A recent accident wherea container laden trailerskidded off the Ojuelegbabridge in Lagos and landedon two vehicles, killingmore than 10 personsinstantly is a majorexample. It triggeredmultiple accidents withfleeing motorists andcommuters sustainingvarying degrees of injuries,“she said.

According to

Reps ask FRSC to regulateReps ask FRSC to regulateReps ask FRSC to regulateReps ask FRSC to regulateReps ask FRSC to regulateuse of trailers use of trailers use of trailers use of trailers use of trailers

Wants FCT to expand major roads to ease traffic

By Emman Ovuakporieand Johnbosco Agbak-

wuru

Onyejeocha, the ongoingoperation code named“operation scorpion” whichaims at arresting trailerswith un latched containershas not yielded desiredresults for commuters.

Also, the House urgedthe Federal CapitalTerritory, FCTAdministration to expandmajor roads in the city toeasy incessant gridlockoften experienced byresidents and visitors.

The resolution was sequelto a motion entitled “urgentneed for expansion and reopening of roads in theFederal Capital Territory toease the incessant gridlockand hardship to residents”sponsored Rep AhmedYarima. The House, whichcalled for the re-opening ofroads within the metropolisthat were closed toinsurgency also demandedfor the completion of Waru,Wusa, Karishi road to givealternative route to the city.

Moving the motion onthe floor, Yerima noted thatdifficulties faced byresidents of the city werefurther compounded by theclosure of some of the roadsbecause of the fight againstinsurgency.

He said that thecontinued closure of theroads was a distortion of theAbuja master plan andcompounded the trafficsituation within the city.

MPC meeMPC meeMPC meeMPC meeMPC meets tts tts tts tts todaodaodaodaodayyyyy•TSA, CRR, Dom. Accounts on the cards

By Emma Ujah, AbujaBureau Chief

THE Monetary PolicyCommittee, MPC, of

the Central Bank ofNigeria, CBN, will hold its247th Meeting in Abujabetween today andtomorrow to review effectsof the Single TreasuryAccount policy on banks,among other policymeasures.

Sources said thecommittee is expected tocome out with far-reachingpolicy decisions on theCash Reserve Ratio, CRR,which was reduced from 31per cent to 25 per cent inSeptember.

The CBN had also inSeptember announced 30per cent and 13 per cent forLiquidity Ratio and theMonetary Policy Rate ,MPR, respectively, when itassured that the TSA hadno negative effects onbanks. Since then, theimplementation of the TSA

had taken tolls on cashavailable to banks such thatsome are now reportedlystruggling to remain afloat,a situation that could forcethe MPC to act quickly onhow to bring some respiteto the sector.

The fall in the prices ofcrude oil in theinternational market has leftthe nation’s economystruggling, with fears thatmany banks with largeexposures to the oil sectorcould suffer large-scalenon-performing loans inthe short to medium terms.

Another issue that wouldlikely come under review isthe domiciliary accountspolicy where much foreigncurrencies are said to havebeen trapped. It wasgathered that the CBNGovernor, Mr. GodwinEmefiele, has come underimmense pressure to lift theban on the operation ofdomicilary accounts.

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OKON—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Mary ImehOkon, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. Mary UmanaUsoh . All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicshould please takenote.

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E D J E B A R E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissEdjebare VivianOghenevwarhe, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.O m a f u v w eOghenevwarhe. Allformer documentremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

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ARIGBE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss DeborahArigbe.now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. DeborahGegere. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

IGBIGBI—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss BlessingIgbigbi now wish to beknown and addressed

as Mrs. BlessingEnebeli. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O M U G H E L E — I ,formerly known andaddressed asOmughele Victorianow wish to be knownand addressed asYalaju AkporherheVictoria. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

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ADOJUTELEGAN—I,formerly known andaddressed as MissOluwaseun JemimahAdojutelegan, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Oluwaseun JemimahShodiya. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

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Confirmation of NameThis is to certify thatAwhibi OkeogheneGodstime, AwhibiOkeoghene, AwhibiOke and EfeobareOkeoghene is the sameand one person, butnow wish to be knownand addressed asAwhibi Oke. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ZIGBEYE—I, formerlyknown and addressed asZigbeye Bainmene nowwish to be known andaddressed forthwith asJigbeye Telaite. Alldocuments bearing myformer names, ZigbeyeBainmene remain valid.Zenith Bank, otherbanking institutions andthe general publicshould please take noteand for record purposes.

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ENEH—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Eneh PhinaNkechinyere Cynthia,now wish to be knownand addressed asOhaegbulam PhinaNkechinyere Cynthia.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

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CALL:

0802828968908035449960

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Enyimba pocket N30mENYIMBA have

pocketed the sumof 30 million Naira (about$150,000) for winningthis year ’s Nigerialeague. Enyimba skipperChinedu Udoji was at theTeslim Balogun Stadiumin Lagos yesterday to re-ceive a dummy cheque ofthe prize money from Ni-geria league boss ShehuDikko.

It is the highest amount

Akwa Utd players get cars for Fed Cup winAKWA United play-

ers and officialswill be rewarded withcar gifts by the state gov-ernment for winningtheir first FederationCup.

The Promise Keeperswon a historic first Fed-eration Cup yesterday atthe Teslim Balogun Sta-dium edging out LobiStars 2-1 in the final.

A club source also saidthat Micheal Eddid-iong, a member of theGolden Eaglets squadthat came tops at the lastFIFA U-17 World Cup inChile, who is an indi-gene of the state, willalso benefit from thegesture.

“Each player will get acar for their effort in win-ning the FederationCup. Also Micheal, theGolden Eaglet playerwho made the squad toChile, will also be re-warded by the state gov-ernment.

"The players wereaware of this before theycame down to Lagos forthe final and I believe itreally motivated them togive their best.”

Akwa Utdwas Abdulafeez Awakanwho doubled Akwa‘slead in the 70th minutewhen he powered homea shot beyond the goal-keeper from the top ofthe 18-yard box.

Substitute BarnabasImengar Junior pulled agoal back for Lobi instoppage time from abrilliantly struck freekick.

Incidentally, bothteams clashed on the fi-nal day of the Nigerialeague season a weekago with Akwa also win-ning 1-0 to stay up in theNigeria premier league.

Sunshine Queens wonthe Women’s version ofthe Federation Cup af-ter they defeated Bayel-sa Queens 3-1 on pen-alties after full timescores stood at 1-1.

Last year, SunshineQueens lost to RiversAngels in the cup final.

Benitezstrained relationshipwith the team’s seniorplayers, including Cris-tiano Ronaldo.

Benitez replaced Car-lo Ancelotti in June,with President Florenti-no Perez claiming themanagerial changewould breed “momen-tum” in the squad.

However, both thetrainer and patron weresubjected to resignationchants by their own fans,who also waved whitehandkerchiefs, duringthe Clasico. Castillaboss and club legendZinedine Zidane andtraining director VictorFernandez – the latter ofwhom has plenty ofcoaching experience inLa Liga – have beentouted as early frontrun-ners to replace Benitez.

Continues from BPContinues from BP

FCT backs Onyedinma for second term

ever paid a Nigerialeague champion.

Enyimba topped the20-team championshipafter they recorded 70points from 38 matches.

They will representNigeria in next year’sCAF Champions Leaguealongside runners-upWarri Wolves, who fin-ished their campaignfour points behind Eny-imba.

THE Board of theFederal Capital

Territory Football Associ-ation (FCTFA) says it isthrowing its support forthe ambition of theChairperson of the Ni-geria Women FootballLeague Chief (Mrs.)Dilichukwu Onyedinmato retain her position in

the forth- coming elec-tions into the board ofthe league.

Chairman of the Asso-ciation, Alhaji MusaSaeed Talle, told jour-nalists in Abuja over theweekend that the boardarrived at this decisionafter properly reviewingthe achievements ofMrs. Onyedinma in thelast four years.

“The board of the FCTFA during its meetingheld at the weekend ,took a critical look at theperformance of the Ni-geria Women FootballLeague vis-a vis theChairperson of theBoard in last four years,and we came to the res-olution that she had per-formed excellently well,considering the achieve-ments recorded by thevarious national womenteams within the periodunder review.

“Not minding theharsh environment shefound herself in the lastdispensation, it takesthe doggedness of peo-

ple with great passion,and determination toachieve the feat theboard recorded. We haveno option than to en-dorse her for the secondterm in the office.

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

AKWA United mid- fielder, Abdula-

feez Awakan, has beenvoted the Most Valuableplayer of the 2015 Fed-eration Cup.

The talented star whoscored the second goalas the Promise Keepersbeat Lobi Stars to wintheir first title was re-warded for his impres-sive performance in thecompetition.

His teammate, FridayUbong, also picked thetop scorer’s award.

The forward scored sixgoals in the competition.

Akwa United beat LobiStars 2-1 to win the com-petition at the TeslimBalogun Stadium, La-gos yesterday.

...Akwa Utd’sAwakan, Ubongwin MVP, Gold-en Boot Awards

game and playing cham-pagne football.

“The truth is the totalopposite though as weonly recorded one victo-ry in five games, includ-ing a home defeat toUganda, and were ab-sent from the 2015 Afcon.

“Moses Simon, Syl-vester Igboun, ChimaAkas, Paul Onobie, She-hu Abdullahi, CarlIkeme, Odion Ighaloand Austin Obaroakpoamong others are newplayers that now star for

Continues from BP

now a priority competi-tion for Nigeria as it isconsidered a full inter-national tournament anda team’s performancethere will count in theFIFA rankings, whichwill be one of the yard-sticks to use to seedteams for the final roundof the qualifying tourna-ment for the 2018 WorldCup.

Nigeria occupy a dis-appointing 59th place inthe FIFA rankings andwill need to garner somegood wins to enjoy a bet-ter rating and invariablya more favourable drawfor the World Cup qual-ifiers.

CHANContinues from BP

Olisehthe Super Eagles. Thatwere not the case in therecent past and it is re-freshing to see and bepart of their team build-up.

“I am quite optimisticabout the progression ofthe Super Eagles andjust as we welcome theapplause that have beenshowered on the team bythe fans, we also wel-come constructive criti-cisms towards the teamthat simultaneously offersuggestions at how itcould be done better.”

Imo Gov hostsvictorious EagletsIMO State Governor

Rochas Okorochawill host coach Em-manuel Amuneke andfour of the victoriousGolden Eaglets who hailfrom Imo State in Ower-ri today.

The Eaglets are IkwuEjike, Udochukwu Anu-mudu, Kelechi Nwakaliand Christian Ebere.

Earlier this month, Ni-geria won a fifth U17World Cup in Chilewhen they defeated fel-low Africans Mali 2-0 inthe final. SkipperNwakali was named theMVP of the World Cup.

Amuneke then assist-

ant coach was also re-ceived by Rochas whenthe Eaglets won the 2013U17 World Cup in AbuDhabi.

•Udoji, Enyimba skipper

•HAIL THE CHAMPIONS... Victorious Akwa United FC players celebrate with the Federation Cup trophy after beating LobiStars 2-1 yesterday in Lagos.

•Amuneke

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 53

Ighalo: We didn’tdeserve to loseto Man U

NIGERIA strikerOdion Ighalo has

said his EPL clubWatford deserved atleast a draw againstManchester United onSaturday. Watford fell 2-1 to United.

Ighalo was broughtdown for a penalty in the86th minute which wasconverted as theequaliser by TroyDeeney, but he wasdenied a goal byManchester Unitedgoalkeeper David DeGea in the added timeof the game when hisgoal-bound volley wassaved.

Skipper Deeney thenconceded a last-gaspown goal for Watford togo down.

The former Granadastriker, who has netted

seven times in the EPLthis season, said thoughthe team did not startwell, they recoveredwell enough anddeserved at least a pointfrom the game.

“We didn’t deserve tolose the game toManchester United.Though we didn’t playso good in the first half,we did much better in second half and deserveat least a point in thegame,” he lamented.

“The result didn’treflect the play, but westill thank God.Manchester United area big team and teams notas big as them tend to have some problemsplaying them at thestart, but we were muchcomposed and played better in the secondhalf.”

CONTEST: Odion Ighalo of Watford battles withChris Smalling of Manchester United at VicarageRoad on November 21, 2015 in Watford. Man Uwon 2-1.

Suarez: Wedidn’t expect tobeat Madrid 4-0

LUIS Suarez hasinsisted that

Barcelona’s 4-0 victoryover Real Madrid in theClasico on Saturday“was a cluster of manycoincidences”.

“We didn’t expect towin 4-0,” he said.

“We always said itwould be a tough game,but we did a verythorough job from thefirst minute.

“[On whether theresult reflected the gapbetween the two sides],no.

“It was a cluster ofmany coincidences.

Madrid are one of thebest teams in the world,but we took advantage oftheir mistakes.

“Leo [Messi] is morethan happy to wear theclub’s jersey again, forthe game and victorythat the team earned.

“There wereopportunities [for me] toscore [a third] goal, butI didn’t have any specialinterest in scoring ourfifth goal.

“[On whether Madridare out of the title race],no. We’re six pointsclear, but the season’svery long and Madridare a great team.”

Van Gaal: Yes,Man U wantRonaldo back

LOUIS van Gaal hasconfirmed for the first

time that ManchesterUnited want to re-signReal Madrid starCristiano Ronaldo.

“Yes, we are looking atall players, not justRonaldo,” he told BBCSport after United’s 2-1win at Watford onSaturday.

“But these players aremostly ungettable. WithRonaldo, let’s wait andhope.”

Ronaldo spent sixyears at Old Traffordbetween 2003 and 2009,scoring 118 goals in 292appearances andwinning three

consecutive PremierLeague titles, plus aChampions League in2008.

City were ‘clumsy’ againstLiverpool — Delph

FABIAN Delph b e l i e v e s

Manchester City were‘clumsy ’ in their 4-1home defeat toLiverpool.

“Fair play to Liverpoolfor the way they cameout but we looked tooclumsy,” Delph told CityTV.

“Obviously the newmanager they’ve got hasimplemented a system topress high. We expectedthat and we knew whatthey were going to comewith.

“We were off in the first45 minutes; then theperformance in thesecond-half was a bitmore positive - a bitmore direct.”

Enrique: Barca werefar superior to Madrid

LUIS Enrique says heis revelling in “di-

vine glory” after wit-nessing his Barcelona

side defeat Real Madrid4-0 in the Clasico on Sat-urday.

“The win tastes likedivine glory. It was amemorable matchagainst our eternal ri-vals. We both have thesame objectives, but theyknew we were far supe-rior. We did what wewanted to do.

“I didn’t see [Madridsurrender]. What hap-pened was that we wereat a higher level and su-perior in many areas ofthe pitch.

“We carried on creatingchances after we scoredour first goal. It was avery, very complete firsthalf.”

Allegri: ‘Juve not great’

MAX Allegri admitsJuventus “did not

have a good perfor-mance, but we weresolid”to beat Milan 1-0.

“It was a very compli-cated match becauseMilan defended welland caused us problems.At the same time, weshould’ve moved theball better between thelines and it was not agood performance, but asolid one. The important

thing was to win and goahead of Milan in theSerie A table. We’ve got

to improve in terms ofdecision-making and notrushing the final ball.Itmight not have been agood game, but it wasimportant to be solid."

Terry urges Chelsea toclimb up the table

JOHN Terry hopes Chelsea’s win over Nor-

wich can kick-start their sea-son.

“We’re delighted to win,”Terry told Chelsea TV.

“Relieved as well. Pickingup three points has been a

really good feeling. Goodperformance to top it off aswell. Hopefully we can putourselves on a good run ofgames now and climb upthis table. We can build onthis now and hopefully getanother win on Tuesday.”

Allegri Enrique

Delph

Gaal

Suarez

CMYK

54 —Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 — 55

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How to Play Sudoku

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

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

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

FRIFRIFRIFRIFRIDDDDDAAAAAY'S ANSY'S ANSY'S ANSY'S ANSY'S ANSWERSWERSWERSWERSWERSTTTTTODODODODODAAAAAY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLE

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015

CMYK

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS1 Restraint (6)5 Church (5)9 Supple (5)10 Guard (6)11 Ascended (6)12 Lukewarm (5)14 Grumble (4)17 And not (3)18 Speed (4)20 Giant (5)22 Sickened (5)23 Sunbathing (7)24 Precipitation (5)26 Weary (5)29 Guide (4)30 Couch (3)32 Appointment (4)33 Senior (5)35 Deceive (6)36 Front (6)37 Keen (5)38 Stretch (6)39 Modern (6)

DOWN1 Boil down (6)2 Reiterate (6)3 Aperture (4)4 Temptress (5)5 Seat (5)6 Crowd (4)7 Mail (6)8 Itched (6)13 Aimed (7)15 Firearm (5)18 Inflexible (5)19 Principle (5)21 Fruit (3)22 Insect (3)24 Toboggan (6)25 Bird (6)27 Devastate (6)28 Proper (6)30 Whine (5)31 Postpone (5)33 Paradise (4)34 Unusual (4)

ACROSS: 4, Satan 7, Hymnal 9, Pod 10, Rid12, Night 13, Scum 15, Dirge 17, Repose 19,Used 20, Scene 22, Tap 24, Deluded 27, Pev 28,Seedy 31, Area 33, Abated 35, Water 37, Pull38, Scrap 39, Din 41, Key 42, Delete 43, Glued.

DOWN: 1, Thesis 2, Impure 3, War 4, Song5, Adieu 6, Achieved 8, Lido 11, Disturbed14, Mend 16, Read 18, Peep 21, Clerical 23,Pest 25, Leaf 26, Deep 29, Educed 30, Yelled32, Awake 34, Arid 36, Aped 40, Net.

Benitez faces Madrid sackRAFA Benitez will re

portedly be sackedby Real Madrid eithernow or in June after los-ing the confidence of theclub’s board.

According to Marca,the Coach no longer hasthe backing of Los Blan-cos following their 4-0Clasico defeat to Barce-lona at the SantiagoBernabeu.

In addition, the boardare reportedly of theopinion that the side lack

an identity and are de-teriorating with each

game, with successivelosses cancelling outtheir statistically-impres-sive start to the season.

Consequently, Madridare now believed to beconsidering Benitez’sposition, the only issuebeing whether to pull theplug now or at the endof the season.

There have also beensuggestions that theformer Valencia and Liv-erpool boss has aContinues on Page 52

Oliseh: Eagles‘re making progress

Akwa Utd shock Lobi, win Fed Cup

*Federation Cup

Enyimbapocket N30m

SUPER Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh in

reviewing his fivemonths in charge of thenational team, submittedthat the Eagles are mak-ing progress under hiswatch.

The former defensivemidfielder revealed inan article on his websitethat it has been chal-lenging coaching a na-tion with 170m peoplewho are football analystsand coaches, but the re-sults have been promis-ing.

The Eagles haveplayed eight games,with four wins, threedraws and one loss, scor-ing nine goals and con-ceding two under Ol-iseh.

He argued that therewasn’t any specialachievement of late, theSuper Eagles will wantto emulate, but the teamis growing steadily.

“One would think pri-or to taking charge ofthe Super Eagles, Niger-ia were winning everyContinues on Page 52

—Page 52

Van Gaal: Man Uwant Ronaldo back

•Ronaldo

Terry urgesChelsea toclimb up thetable —P.53

CHAN Eagles resumetraining in AbujaNIGERIA home-based Super Eagles will

resume training for next year’s CHAN inAbuja in the first week of December, officials haveannounced.

The 2015 CHAN will be hosted by Rwanda fromJanuary 16 and Nigeria have been drawn along-side Niger, Tunisia and Guinea in the group phaseof the biennial tournament reserved for playersplaying in their home leagues.

An official informed: “The players will regroupby the first week of next month and will break forChristmas before they reconvene for a trainingcamp overseas.”

Dubai and a country close to Rwanda are beingconsidered for this training camp. The CHAN is

Continues on Page 52

Akwa Utdplayers getcars for FedCup win —P.52

AKWA United up staged favourites

Lobi Stars 2-1 yesterdayto win this year’s Niger-ia Federation Cup.

Akwa United, who ap-peared in their first-evercup final, will representNigeria in next year’sCAF Confederation Cupon account of this histor-ic cup triumph.

Nomso Edo put AwaUnited with a well-takenfree kick after 36 minutesafter Friday Ubong wasbrought down on top ofthe Lobi box.

Lobi, cup winners in2003, chased the gameafter the interval, but itContinues on Page 52

*Oliseh

*Benitez

*Terry

—P.53