a month to retirement: kwara cp murdered

...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 61830

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013**

Mr & Mrs

Continues on page 5

LES LEBA

•P.33

DELESOBOWALE

•P.40

COLUMNISTS:

•P. 45

OCHEREOMENNANNA

•P.17

NOLLYWOOD @ 20: From left: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife,Patience; wife of the Senate President, Mrs Helen Mark; Nollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze (aka Aki) and President, ManufacturersAssociation of Nigeria, MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu, during a dinner to celebrate Nollywood @ 20, in Lagos, Saturday night.

N1.5trn bad debtsGET to know which 10 Nigerian banks are currentlysuffering from N1.5 trillion bad debts in addition to otherexposures to their customers in the Energy industry.

Some are probably so ashamed of loans that they refusedto disclose them in their yearly statements to theirshareholders.

All these and more in the March edition of Sweetcrude.Grab your copy in tomorrow's Vanguard!

Kwara CP murdered

‘I'm looking forward to my retirement. I’ll be out of the public glare forabout one year before I come out again. It will afford me time to be closerto my family. I have served Nigeria and I need to serve my family now’

BY EMMANNADOZIE, KINGSLEY

OMONOBI, TONYEDIKE & DEMOLA

AKINYEMI

ENUGU— BARELY 24hours after he told

Vanguard that he hadserved his countrymeritoriously and it was

A M O N T H T O R E T I R E M E N T :

Orderly, driver in stable conditionKillers have murdered sleep —IGP

BOKO HARAM:We did not declarecease-fire — Shekau...Threatens factional leader

•P.9Man, 30, killsfather in Ebonyi

—P.6

Police arrest 70 overmurder of LASU student

•Pg. 8

CMYK

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 — 3


CMYK

POCKET CARTOON

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013—5

LIFEWORDSBY PASTOR ITUAH

Kwara CP murderedContinues from page 1

LOVE is not dependent on someone orsomething outside of you. One chooses to be

loved in each moment as the moment unfolds,regardless of what happened in that moment —Cardwell Nuckols.

The experience of truth comes naturally foranyone who brings a loving attitude to others. Itburns brighter and brighter for there is only love!

Dhyan Giten made a remarkable observation thatis very revealing in the quest for a higherconsciousness or for anyone aspiring to live a morespiritual life. He said it is astonishing to realisewhat growing up actually means, it is to becomeone with Life. It means to find the whole Existencewithin oneself; it means to discover that Existenceis alive in your heart and being.

The song of a bird echoes one’s own inner voice,the beauty of a flower reflects one’s inner beauty, adog or an animal becomes an expression ofunconditional love and friendship, the majesticmountains create an ecstatic joy, and one discoversall the shining stars of the sky within the heart.

It is to realise that the whole Existence is alive,and that the underlying thread of consciousness isGod.” In a nutshell, love God, love thyself and lovethy neighbour.

See God’s hands....Those who joyfully leave everything in God’s

hand, will see God’s hand in everything.

time to retire to serve hisfamily, Kwara StatePolice Commissioner,Mr Chinwike Asadu,was murdered byassassins, Saturday night.His body was riddled withbullets 100 metres from hishome after seeing off hisguest.

His police orderly, AlohaOlaniyi and driver, OliverOmeh, who were with himat the time of the incident,sustained bullet woundsand are said to be in criticalcondition at the NationalOrthopaedic Hospital,Enugu.

The incident occurred atAmorji Nike, near thedensely populated AbakpaNike area in Enugu EastLocal Government Area

within the state capital atabout 10 p.m.

The PoliceCommissioner, whoreportedly visited his homein Enugu, weekend, wasdriving into his privateresidence when theassailants, who might havelaid ambush for him,attacked.

CP Asadu, according tosources, had a visitorwhom he escorted with hisdriver and a police orderlyposted to guard hisresidence from AbakpaPolice Division, leavingbehind the official escortteam that came with himfrom Kwara State PoliceCommand.

They were returning tothe house after droppingthe visitor when theysuddenly noticed a bus

trailing them as they turnedinto his street. The gunmenopened fire on them,killing the policecommissioner instantlyand injuring two of hisaides.

Before the gunmenescaped, they reportedlytook away the rifle of theorderly whose body wasriddled with bullets. Theorderly was shot on thechest, stomach, hands andleg while the driver wasshot on both legs.

Asadu was to retirenext month

Asadu was to retire fromthe Police next month. In atelephone chat with ourCrime Editor, Mr EmmaNnadozie, on Friday, heexcitedly spoke about hisretirement and how hewould return to Enugu torest after his meritoriousservice to the country.

He had said: “I’mlooking forward to myretirement. I’ll be out of thepublic glare for about oneyear before I come outagain. I’ll just be homeresting. It will afford metime to be closer to myfamily. I have servedNigeria and I need to servemy family now.”

Barely 24 hours after this,Asadu’s dream of servinghis family was killed by theassailants.

The CP was in PortHarcourt for the openingceremony of the PoliceGames and was said tohave decided to “touch hishome city, Enugu, on hisway back to Ilorin when themurderers struck."

According to a source,“the CP was driving intohis personal residence inAmorji Nike after droppinga visitor that night. He waswith a police orderly andhis driver at the time of theincident. Just about 100metres to his house theynoticed that a bus wastrailing them and beforethey knew what was

happening, the gunmenopened fire and killed theCP instantly.

“The gunmen escaped intheir bus before the CP’sescort team that was insidehis compound noticedwhat was happening.When the escort team andsympathizers rushed tothe scene, they met CPAsadu and his orderlies ina pool of blood. They wererushed to the NationalOrthopaedic Hospitalwhere doctors confirmedthe CP dead. The other twopolicemen are now onadmission at the hospital.”

Killers havemurdered sleep—IG

The Inspector General ofPolice, Mr MohammedAbubakar, in his reaction,yesterday, declared that thekillers of Asadu hadmurdered sleep.

Force spokesman, CSPFrank Mba, in a statementon behalf of the IGP said:“It is the belief of the IGPthat those who murderedCP Asadu have murderedsleep and they will find norest. They will find nocomfort and they will findno hiding place until theyare fished out and broughtto justice.”

According to Mba, IGPMohammed Abubakar“described the incidentleading to the death ofChinwike Asadu as mostunfortunate and heart-rendering. Particularlycoming at a time when the

Federal Government,through the securityagencies, has been doingeverything possible tostrengthen the security ofthe country and improvethe quality of protection forlives and property.”

Vanguard gathered thatthe Commissioners ofPolice of Anambra, Imo,Ebonyi and Abia StateCommands have also puttheir men on alert forpossible interception of thekillers.

Police launch man-hunt for Assassins

The State Police PublicRelations Officer, Mr.Ebere Amaraizu,confirmed the incidentwhen Vanguard contactedhim, yesterday, describingthe attack as veryunfortunate.

According to him, thepolice would doeverything possible to fishout the assailants asinvestigations into thebizarre incident havealready commenced.

The new PoliceCommissioner in EnuguState, Mr. TonyeEbitibituwa, was said tohave directed his men tolaunch a manhunt for thegunmen within andoutside the state capital.

Orderly, driver instable condition

Meanwhile, doctors atthe National OrthopeadicHospital, Enugu arebattling to save the twowounded policeofficers.The orderly whowas seriously battered bybullets, according todoctors, was said to be in astable condition after thesurgeries conducted onhim throughout Saturdaynight. The driver was alsosaid to be in a stablecondition.

Meanwhile, the incidentrattled the command,yesterday, as Asadu'sdeputy and other top policeofficers sobbed profusely atthe police officers mess,Ilorin when Vanguardvisited.

The officers, both maleand female, who all camein casual wears at about 1p.m wailed uncontrollably

There was no officialstatement by the commandat press time as the

spokesman of thecommand, OlufemiFabode, was said to beoutside the state on officialassignment.

It's shocking, unfortunate—Gov Ahmed

In his reaction, GovernorAbdulfatah Ahmed ofKwara State, described thedeath of the PoliceCommissioner as shockingand unfortunate.

Governor Ahmed, in astatement by his ChiefPress Secretary, AlhajiAbdulwahab Oba, said:“Late CP Chinwe Asadu,in the discharge of his dutyin Kwara State, contributedimmensely to thesustenance of peace in thestate and in the upholdingof our values as a state ofharmony.”

Ahmed also noted that itwas particularly painfulthat late CP Asadu hadbecome another index inthe annals of the growingnational insecurity, addingthat it had become veryexpedient for us as a nationto rally round in findingenduring solution to thenational malaise.

His last mediaassignment

The last mediaassignment of the slainPolice Commissioner wason February 21,2013 whenhe paraded six highwayrobbery suspects who hadbeen terrorising the statecapital and its environs.

Three of the suspectsfound to be experts inhighway robbery were alsosaid to have specialised instealing commercialmotorcycles from theirowners using groundpepper and other corrosivesubstances.

According to him,”threeof the robbery suspectsspecialised in motorcycletheft. They stealmotorcycles in Kwara Stateand sell them inneighbouring states.

“The hoodlums alwayspretend to be innocentpassengers to hire themotorcycle and put pepperor other corrosivesubstances into the eyes ofthe riders and take themotorcycles away fromthem. But luck has runagainst them.”

The Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market during the visit of Governor Babatunde Fashola,yesterday. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (middle); Commissioner forEnvironment, Mr. Tunji Bello (left); Director of Enforcement, Ministry of the Environment, OluwatoyinAdesina Onisarotu (2nd right); Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Mr. Babatunde Adepitan(2nd left) and President General, Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association, ComradeIkechukwu Animalu.

The late CPr ChinwikeAsadu.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Wukari yam market burnt during a sectarian crisis in Taraba State. Photo: NAN.

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE &DONALD ARJI

Police arrest 70 over murder of LASU student,Damoche

Man, 30, beheads father in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

Over alleged prophesy from a pastor

ABAKALIKI—EBONYIState Police command,

weekend, said it had arrested amiddle-aged farmer, Okechuk-wu Ogbonna, who allegedly sev-ered the head of his 60-year-oldfather, Ogbonnaya Okereke overalleged mystic issues.

Vanguard gathered that the in-cident which took place around5:30 pm last Saturday at Isun-diede village in Izzi Local Gov-ernment Area of the state saw the30-year-old suspect, who re-turned from Church, brought outa machete and proceeded to at-tack his defenceless father intheir residence.

Okechukwu, it was learnt, car-ried out the attack following aprophesy he received from thePastor of a Pentecostal church(name withheld) who allegedlytold him that his father was spir-itually manipulating his destiny,thereby making it impossible forhim to make progress in life likehis mates.

However, sources close to thefamily revealed that the suspectbefore committing the dastardlyact had displayed animosityagainst his father for not send-ing him to school or showing anyinterest in his future.

Confirming the arrest of the sus-pect, Ebonyi State Police PublicRelations Officer, DSP SylvesterIgbo, stated that the body of thedeceased had since been depos-ited at a mortuary while investi-gations were on to unravel theidentity of the pastor.

“When the suspect was arrest-ed he said he took the action be-cause of the prophesy he re-ceived from a pastor that his fa-ther was manipulating his desti-ny and that the reason he alsocommitted the act was becausehis father did not show any in-

terest in training him in school.”It was also gathered that bare-

ly two weeks ago at 1 EliasStreet, Abakaliki, a middle-agedwoman and a school teacher,Mrs. Joy Uchaji allegedly killedher two children with a machetethen fled to Lagos.

N384bnbenefit:Labouralleges 12PHCN staffkidnapped

BY VICTOR AHIU-MA-YOUNG

ORGANISED Labour inthe nation’s power sec-

tor weekend in Abuja, raisedalarm that no fewer than fourworkers of the Power Hold-ing Company of Nigeria,PHCN, have been killedwhile 12 others have beenkidnapped, with several oth-ers injured in less than twoweeks after the Federal Gov-ernment announced the re-lease and payment ofN384billion alleged workers’terminal benefits.

The union under the um-brella of the National Unionof Electricity Employees,NUEE, claimed the saidamount was not only ficti-tious, but used to deceive in-vestors that labour issueshad been resolved for themto sign agreement with gov-ernment.

At a briefing on the out-come of the union’s Nation-al Executive Council, NEC,meeting, the union handeddown a two-week ultimatumto the Federal Governmentto among others, withdrawthe announcement of whatthe union called N384billionterminal benefits, includingthe use of “sacked workers”to describe PHCN staff fail-ing which the sector will beshut down from March 15,2013.

Speaking on behalf of theunion, its General Secretary,Comrade Joe Ajaero, saidwhile over 12 members hadbeen kidnapped in theSouth East, four had beenkilled in the North East andseveral others, including un-ion’s chairmen sustainedvarious degrees of injury inBorno State among others.

Ajaero said: “NEC -in-ses-sion expressed worry anddisappointment at the pacethe Federal Government ismisinforming the generalpublic over payment of staffemoluments in the powersector thereby exposing ourmembers to serious securitythreats.

"NEC- session condemnsthe delay in completing thebiometric reconciliation com-mittee’s assignment whichshould have been conclud-ed within two weeks of its in-auguration .

"Consequently, the uniondemands that the committeewinds up its activities for theregularisation of casuals byMarch 15, 2013.”

Police nab 3 robbery suspects in Lagos

BY DONALD ARJI

LAGOS—THE Ilemba-Hausapolice division in Lagos com-

mand, has arrested three sus-pected armed robbers said tohave been terrorising Ajangbadicommunity in Otto-Awori LocalCouncil Development Area.

According to the police yester-day, one locally made pistol, atoy gun, an expanded cartridge,the sum of N1,3000, five black-berry phones and two laptopswere recovered from the sus-pects.

The arrested men are JohnsonBright 27, Ezike Chigozie 20 andEkene Bid 18, were allegedly

rounded up after robbing resi-dents of 29, Elaje streets in Ajang-badi of their belongings with alocally made short gun and a toygun.

One of the suspects, Ezike,claimed that greed led him intothe business. According to him:“Greed led me into this messwhen I accepted an offer to be amember of a robbery gang andbe paid N5,000 from every oper-ation by some group of studentsof an unnamed university whenI went to them to borrow moneyto retrieve my blackberry phonefrom my gambler friends but in-stead of lending money to me,they talked me over into robbery.

According to a confessional

statement made by another sus-pect, Ekene said things fell apartfor him after the death of his par-ents in a car accident two yearsago when he was still at the vil-lage which made him to decideto find quick means of makingmoney.

“ I joined the robbery gang twoyears after the death of my par-ents when things became hardfor me, I joined so as to keepmyself from starvation.

Meantime, sources from theIlemba Huasa police divisionwho pleaded anonymity, toldVanguard that the suspects werehowever handed over to men ofthe Special Anti-robbery Squadfor further investigations.

THE Police has arrested notfewer than 70 persons in

connection with the death ofDamilola Damoche, a 400 lev-el student of the Lagos StateUniversity, LASU, who wasmurdered in cold blood lastThursday by suspected cult-ists.

Vanguard gathered that thearrest was made by a com-bined team of the Area E po-lice command who paradedthe streets of Ojo, Iba, PPL,Igbo-Elerin, Igando, Okoko-maiko, Iyana-Isashi and On-ireke communities to fish outthose involved in the clash.

The 25-year-old, who was afinal year Banking and Fi-nance student was brutallykilled few metres away to thegate of the institution afterwriting a test.

Meanwhile, some picturesof corpse suspected to be stu-dents of the Lagos State Uni-versity went viral on the In-ternet on Saturday, heighten-ing tension in the school andits environs.

Consequently, students ofthe institution have expressedfear that some cult membersmight want to avenge damo-che's death.

Speaking with the StudentUnion President, Ibrahim Tun-ji, who denied the death of

more students, stated that thecampus is calm. he said: “Ihave not received news of thedeath of any student. I left theschool on Friday and I cameback on Saturday. So Iwouldn't know if anything hadhappened. You know anyone

can fabricate any story but I don’tthink there is need for panic”.

The police as at the time of fil-ing this report, have transferredthe arrested suspects to the Spe-cial Anti-Robbery Squad for fur-ther investigations.


Detention:Court ordersIG to pay girl,14, N10mcompensation

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

Fire razes 10 house in Iyara area of Warri, Delta State. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Fire razes 10 houses in WarriBY EMMA AMAIZE, EMMA

ARUBI & AKPOKONA OMA-FUAIRE

WARRI—DISASTER struck,

weekend, in Iyara, asprawling area of Warri in WarriSouth Local Government Area ofDelta State, as a midday fire ren-dered many persons homeless

after destroying over 10 housesand property worth millions ofnaira.

The fire, aided by combustiblematerials in the affected homes,

consumed every property in sight.Men of the Fire Services in Warri

could not get to the affected housesto put off the fire because of inac-cessibility.

When Vanguard visited thescene, youths and sympathizerswith buckets of water mixed withsoap, were making frantic effortsto quench the fire, but to no avail.

David Etete, a youth leader inthe area said, “I was in the nextstreet when I heard shout thatthere was fire in my area, I rushedthere and we made efforts to con-tain the fire but there was little wecould do.”

Asked the cause of the inferno,Etete said, “I don’t really knowbut I think it is from electric spark,I was told that there was electricpower when it started.”

An unconfirmed source said thefire started because of explosionfrom a television set in the hous-es.

However, no life was lost in thefire outbreak.

BY EMMA AMAIZE

....Rainstormdestroys 200houses, renders5,000 homeless

AKWUKWU-IGBO, DELTA—RAINSTORM destroyed at

least 200 houses and renderedover 5,000 homeless at Akwukwu-Igbo, headquarters of OshimiliNorth Local Government Area ofDelta State, weekend.

Rainstorm pulled off roofs ofhouses and deposited them atdiverse places in Ogbe-Iyase,Ogbeani, Umuonai, Ogbeonihe,Umuekeke, Ogbeobi and Achalavillages in the community.

The traditional ruler of the com-munity, His Royal Majesty, ObiDavid Azuka, described the inci-dent as a calamity and called onthe Governor of Delta State, Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan, DeltaState Emergency ResponseAgency, Oshimili Local Govern-ment Council and other relevantagencies of government to cometo the aid of the victims.

Managing director of Haali-monwo Ventures, Akwukwu-Igbo,Mr. Jude Eziuno, whose compa-ny was affected told Vanguard,yesterday, on phone, “what hap-pened in Akwukwu-Igbo was acalamity. I can tell you that no few-er than 200 roofs were carriedaway by rainstorm.”

“The rains was severe andstormy. It started at about 5.30 pm,everybody in the community wasaffected, if it is not your house, itis your kitchen, toilet or shops infront of your house".

“There is wailing everywhere,we have never seen this kind ofhurricane before,” he added.

ASABA—THE Federalhigh court holden at Asa-

ba, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to payN10 million as exemplarydamage, following the brutal-ization and illegal detentionof a 14-year-old secondaryschool student in 2011.

The student, Amanda Atig-bi of Saint Paul’s GrammarSchool, Ebu in Delta State,according to the facts of thecase was handcuffed, torturedand kept in solitary police cellwhile in detention at Illah po-lice station, and denied accessto his parents or a lawyer.

Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun-Isola awarded the cost againstthe police authorities, on Fri-day, while delivering judg-ment in a suit seeking to en-force the fundamental rightsof the girl brought about by hermother, Mrs. Anthonia Atig-bi, describing the brutalizationmeted on the girl as act ofwickedness.

Mother of the girl had in a69-paragraph affidavit in sup-port of the originating motionstated that “that about 10amon Wednesday, September 21,2011, I sent the 1st applica-tion (daughter) to a dailymarked called Aja-ilo, Ebu lo-cated about one kilometreaway from my house to buyfish and other condiments withwhich to prepare a meal forme.

“That I was informed while1st applicant (daughter) wasbusy shopping for the items,she had an argument with the1st respondent (Mrs. PrisciliaAjamah) over the price of fish.That the argument degener-ated into an altercation andunexpectedly, the 1st re-spondent without any provo-cation whatsoever slapped the1st applicant.

“That in self-defence, the 1stapplicant responded with aslap and a fight ensued be-tween the two of them.

“That the 1st respondentvented her anger on the 1stapplicant by beating her upmercilessly into coma and sub-sequently threw her into apond of erosion water andforced her to drink the muddywater.

“That while the 1st applicantwas trekking home the 6th to9th respondents (police offic-ers) in company of the 1st re-spondent (Mrs. Ajamah) in anash-coloured Sports Utilityvehicle with registrationnumber Lagos CX 939 APPordered her to enter the car".


20 gunmen killed in Borno Army Barracks attack

MAIDUGURI—BARELY 24hours after the Boko

Haram sect denied a ceasefireand dialogue with the FederalGovernment, gunmen suspectedto be members of the sect at-tacked the Monguno MilitaryBarracks in Borno State. They were repelled by men ofthe Forward Operation Base,FOB, and Joint Task Force, JTF,who killed about 20 of the sectmembers in the early hours ofyesterday.

A statement issued by JTFspokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa,said gunmen came in four SUVvehicles and eight motorcycles toattack the military barracks atMonguno, a border town withChad Republic.

The town is 175 kilometresnorth of Maiduguri, the epicen-tre of activities of the Islamist sect.The clash lasted over an hour.

He said apart from killing someof the suspects, it recovered armsand ammunition, including 10units of Rocket Propelled Gre-nades, RPG, and two RPG tubes.

JTF's statementThe statement said: “Informa-

tion available to the Joint TaskForce operation indicated thatsome Boko Haram Terrorists at-tempted to attack a military bar-racks at Monguno, MongunoLocal Government Area, BornoState at 5am today (yesterday).

“The attack was repelled by theFOB and JTF troops at theoutskirt of the barracks. The en-counter led to the death of 20Boko Haram Terrorists.

“Three four-wheel vehicles andeight motor cycles used by theterrorists were destroyed. Armsand ammunition recovered in theclash include seven Kalashnikovrifles, 10 rocket propelled grendes,two RPG tubes, large quantities ofassorted ammunition and eight as-sorted magazines.”

In a related development yes-terday, JTF also arrested two topBoko Haram commanders thatwere allegedly responsible forthe Maiduguri multiple bombblasts of last Thursday, while 11governors were holding theirmeeting under the auspices ofthe All Progressive Congress,APC, party at GovernmentHouse.

The arrested suspects, accordingto the statement, are in JTF cus-tody undergoing interrogations.

In MaliMeanwhile, the global war

against terrorism in Maliclaimed two top Al-Qaeda com-manders where the one-eyed ter-ror leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar,

who masterminded the bloodysiege and hostage-taking atan Algerian gas plant in Janu-ary, was killed by Chadian sol-diers fighting in Mali.

This came barely 24 hoursafter another top commanderof Al Qaeda in the IslamicMaghreb, AQIM, AdelhamidAbou Zeid, lost his life in thehands of vengeance-seekingChadian troops who had lost12 of its men to the Islamistssect in Northern Mali.

Belmoktar is one of theworld’s most wanted jihadistsand his death has been de-scribed as a major blow to Al-Qaeda in the region and a tre-mendous moral boost to theChadian troops which hadsuffered heavy casualties inthe hands of the Islamistrebels which have been forcedto flee towns they had seizedin northern Mali.

ChadChad’s President, Idriss

Deby, had announced on Fri-day that his soldiers had killedanother Al-Qaeda com-mander, Abou Zeid, with 40other militants who died in amilitary operation in the Mali’sAdrar des Ifoghas Mountainsnear the Algerian border.

This was followed on Satur-day with another report byChad’s armed forces in astatement that “On Saturday,March 2, at noon, Chadianarmed forces operating innorthern Mali completely de-stroyed a terrorist base. Thetoll included several dead ter-rorists, including their leaderMokhtar Belmokhtar.”

Andrew Lebovich, a Dakar-based analyst who followsAQIM, said: “Both men haveextensive knowledge of north-ern Mali and parts of thebroader Sahel and deep so-cial and other connections innorthern Mali, and the deathof both in such a short amountof time will likely have an im-pact on militants’ operations.”

France, which led the airstrikes against the militants’mountain hideouts, has de-clined to confirm the killing ofeither Abou Zeid orBelmokhtar.

Similarly, Washington haskept mum on the killing ofBelmokhtar. A United Statesofficial and a Western diplo-mat said, however, the reportsabout Abou Zeid’s death ap-peared to be credible.

Shekau on ceasefire,dialogue with FG

Shekau, in a video message,denied reaching any ceasefireagreement with, or having adialogue with the Federal Gov-

ernment.His translated message

reads: “May the peace andblessings of Allah be upon youall. This is an important mes-sage to all people.

“There is this wicked ru-mour making the rounds thatwe have dialogued with gov-ernment of Nigeria whichled to a ceasefire on our part.We have also heard howsome of our operations andattacks are being credited tocriminals.

“As such the securityagents have been killing ourarmed members in the nameof criminals. We have seenhow our members who wereout on holy mission are be-ing attacked and killed withthe label of criminals.

“We are telling the worldthat whoever kills any of ourmembers in the name of be-ing criminals would surely beavenged unless such personrepents now. We are stating it

ment that Allah has prescribedfor their likes in the holy book.

“I want the world to knowthat we have no dialogue withgovernment. I have on severaloccasions attempted to passthis message across via theInternet and Youtube and welater realised that someagents of government keptremoving our messages fromthe net and preventing itsonline publication so that ourmessages will not be heard.

“They know that if theworld hears our position onthis fake dialogue, their ef-forts of deceit would be ex-posed.

Threatens Yobe,Borno, others

“We are also sending thisstrong message to the peo-ple of Yobe, Borno, Bauchi,Kano, Kaduna, Taraba,Adamawa, and any state, thatwhoever kills any of ourmembers should await agrave retaliation from us.

“God knows that we don’tkill unjustly except those thatconspired against us or thosethat directly fight us, or the

government that is wagingwar upon Allah and HisProphet. We will continuewaging war against them un-til we succeed in establishingan Islamic state in Nigeria.

“This message is preparedby me and targeted towardsclarifying the issue of cease-fire. We have never had anydialogue with anyone. Howwould we have had dialoguewith the government whenour members are being killedand detained in cells, bothwomen and children? Do youcall this dialogue?

‘We’re workers for Allah’“That is not dialogue or

truce in Islam. In Islam thereare conditions prescribed forus to go into dialogue, andthere are also situation inwhich we cannot go in to dia-logue. What we are doing nowis what is prescribed for us byAllah and his holy prophet.

“We are workers in the vineyard of Allah. We are not outto cause destruction, but cor-rect the ills of the society. AndAllah is more powerful thanall, and He has the might.”

As Boko Haram denies dialogue with FG

AQIM commanders killed in Mali, ChadBY NDAHI MARAMA &

HUGO ODIOGOR, withAgency Report

c a t e g o r i -cally that weare not inany dia-logue orc e a s e f i r eagreementwith any-one. And wehave neverasked any-body in then a m eAbdulazeezto representm e ,AbubakarShekau, theleader ofthis move-ment.

D e n i e sAbdulazeez

“I swearby Allah thatAbdulazeezor whateverhe calls him-self did notget any au-thority fromme to repre-sent me inany capacity.I do notknow him.

And if weperadven-ture en-c o u n t e rAbulazeezand hisgroup, Iswear by Al-lah we aregoing tomete out thegrave judg-

Vanguard, MONDAY, ,MARCH 4, 2013 —9

ACN slams Jonathan over Boko Harammenace

BY OIASUNKANMI AKONI

Contempt:Court adjournsOshodi Tapachieftaincy suitto April 18

Fashola visits shut Ladipo market

BY INNOCENT ANABALAGOS—ACTION Con

gress of Nigeria, ACN,has said that part of the rea-sons why the Boko Haram hasfestered was due to failure ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government, toshow leadership, as he hadstayed away from the affectedparts of the country, since thecrisis started in 2009.

The party, however, hailedthe progressive state gover-nors, under the aegis of AllProgressives Congress, APC,who visited Borno State lastweek, saying their pace-set-ting, courageous and compas-sionate action was a boost tothe country’s unity and a blowto anarchists.

National Publicity Secretaryof ACN, Mr. Lai Mohammed,yesterday, said that the actionof the governors had reas-sured the people of Borno andYobe states, which are mostlyaffected by the Boko Haramcrisis, that their fellow Nige-rians had not abandoned themto their fate.

He said: “No part of Nigeriashould be a no-go area, espe-cially for the President, Com-mander-in-Chief.

LAGOS—JUSTICEOpeyemi Oke of a

Lagos High Court,Ikeja, weekend, ad-journed till April 18,2013, to hear the con-tempt proceedings bymembers of OshodiTapa family in Lagosover the Iga Oshodichieftaincy title.

The head of OshodiTapa chieftaincy family,Pa Fatai Amao Oshodiand a member of thefamily, Dr. MustaphaOshodi had filed Form48 against some mem-bers of the family to en-sure the enforcement ofa court order, followingallegations that somefamily members were al-legedly flouting thecourt’s order.

The allegedcontemnors, ChiefBabatunde Oshodi,Alhaji Rasaq Oshodi,Alhaji Sura Oshodi anda lawyer, VictorOtuyemi, were alleged tohave violated the con-sent judgment deliveredby Justice T. OjikutuOshode (rtd.) two yearsago.

In the judgment, thecourt had ordered thedefendants to vacate IgaOshodi and stop parad-ing themselves as custo-dians of the Oshodi Tapachieftaincy family and asCouncil executive mem-bers.

‘’Part of the reasons thisneedless Boko Haram crisishad festered was that the Presi-dent in particular had failed toshow leadership. By stayingaway from the affected parts ofthe country since the crisisstarted in 2009, for recedingbehind the safe walls of AsoRock fortress to celebrate inde-

pendence anniversaries, thePresident has unwittingly em-boldened the anarchists, whohave killed and maimed thou-sands.

‘’When Presidents in otherlands defy terrorists, it is notthat they don’t care about theirown safety, but that they sim-ply want their compatriots to

know that whatever fate be-falls them was shared by theirleaders. That was why Presi-dent George Bush of the USflew to Iraq in the heat of theinsurgency there, and Presi-dent Barack Obama also of UStravelled to Afghanistan evenamid threats. By the way, bothplaces are thousands of kilo-metres from the UnitedStates.”

Blames failed leadership on FG

BRIEFING: From right; Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Lagos State Commissioner of Informationand Strategy; Dr. Olatunde Williams, Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, La-gos State Ministry of Health, and Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, during the brief-ing on 2013 National Immunization Plus Days Exercise in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Insists on clean-up before reopening

LAGOS—GOVERNORBabatunde Fashola of La-

gos State, yesterday, paid un-scheduled visit to the Ladipospare parts market, in MushinLocal Government Area, shutlast Monday over violation ofenvironmental law, insistingthat the market must becleaned it would be re-opened.

In addition, he said the trad-ers must sign an undertakingthat never again will tradingtake place on the road or theedges of the canal.

The governor’s visit was toassess the situation of the mar-ket, following pleas by thetraders and the leadership of

the Igbo Council in Lagos Stateled by Professor Anya O. Anya,who visited the state House,Ikeja last Monday to presentthe new Council members tothe governor.

Fashola, who addressednewsmen and leaders of themarket unions, described thestate of the market and its en-virons as “massive degradationof a section of Lagos,” notingthat the good thing in the visitwas that the traders had seen thelack of caution in their deed, andwere ready to make amends.

Fashola said: “It is a massivedegradation of a section of Lagosand this is not acceptable. Peo-ple should not carry on like this.But what is, perhaps, worthyof note is that those who are

involved have seen the errorof what they had done hereand are ready to work with usto clean-up and I have saidhere that they must take thelead.

“The blockage of the canalposes a lot of danger and we areexpecting heavy rains this year. Idon’t want to come back hereto pick any dead body. Webuilt the canal and we mustmake it work by not trading onit or dump refuse in it.

“People told me that theypicked engine parts, spare-parts and other things from thecanal. It must stop.”

Also addressing the leader-ship of the Ladipo Auto Deal-ers’ Association led by itsPresident General, Mr.

Ikechukwu Animalu, Fasholamade it clear to them that be-fore government will reopenthe market, the traders mustclean-up the place and putmeasures in place to ensure thatthere was no trading on the roadsin the market.

As leaders promise to complyBY OIASUNKANMI AKONI


Urban renewal: Ladoja accuses Ajimobi ofinsensitivity

BY OLA AJAYI

Ogun Assembly crisis deepensBY DAUD OLATUNJI

Ogun PDP chair lauds members forresolving crisis

A B E O K U T A —OGUN State chapter of

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,has commended party faithfulfor their steadfastness duringthe internal wrangling of therecent past, thanking God thatno life was lost to the crisis.

Chairman of the party, Mr.Adebayo Dayo, commendedmembers “For their civilityand maturity, and for maintain-ing the highest level of re-straint through the period thecrisis lasted”.

Dayo said all the issues had

IBADAN—FORMER Governor of Oyo State, Senator

Rasheed Ladoja, has accused

Says Governor was unfair over demolition of shops, stalls

ABEOKUTA—THERE waspalpable tension in the camp

of Ogun State governor, SenatorIbikunle Amosun, over the crisisrocking the state House of Assem-bly. This is following the contro-versies trailing the composition ofthe Assembly’s Tender Board.

Vanguard gathered that, the al-leged threat of showdown by somemembers of the Assembly lastThursday, against the leadershipof the House, who were believedto be loyal to the governor, had giv-ing members of the governor’scamp sleepless nights.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of in-sensitivity with his urban re-newal programme.

He said that Ajimobi was be-

ing unfair by first demolish-ing shops and stalls belong-ing to traders before think-ing of building alternative

markets for them.Ladoja, spoke, weekend, at

an empowerment pro-gramme organised by a mem-ber of the state House of As-sembly, elected on platformof Accord Party, AP, Mr. NiyiAdeoye, at Agugu area ofIbadan.

To Ladoja, for any beautifi-cation exercise to have anymeaning, it must have a hu-man face.

According to the leader ofAccord Party in the state, itwas tantamount to puttingthe cart before the horse bychasing people away fromtheir means of livelihood.

It will be recalled that, the As-sembly held a rowdy session overthe composition of a tender’sboard, which was recommendedby the Independent Corrupt Prac-tices Commission, ICPC, over thepurchase of 28 cars, which werealleged to be illegally bought.

The Assembly had been dividedinto two, Pro and Anti governorlegislators. The development,Vanguard, gathered had sentdangerous signals to the execu-tive arm of government in thestate, who feared that it might af-fect it.

The House, which comprises 26

He said the governmentshould have adopted whatlate Chief Bola Ige did, whenhe first provided alternativesat New Gbagi and Alesinloyemarkets.

He said: “It is a fact thatmost of these traders thathave been displaced are us-ing the proceeds they madeto train their children, and forany government to removethem before thinking of whereto move them to is an act ofwickedness to these poortraders.

“I believe it is only reason-able that the governmentshould have provided alter-natives before driving themfrom their shops.”

members had 11 lawmakers, saidto be anti-governor, four were stillundecided while only 10 were forthe governor.

To counter the move by the anti-governor camp, his loyalists at theHouse, who were mostly at theleadership , were reported to haveconcluded plans to suspend threeof the ‘rebellious’ lawmakers.

It was gathered that the deci-sion to deal with the ‘recalcitrant’members was taken during ameeting after last week’s sessionat the official home of a leader ofthe Action Congress Nigeria, inthe state.

been resolved, saying “allparty men and women that areyet to join the winning trainshould come on board, so thatwe can work together in the in-terest of the party.”

According to him, now thatthe much-awaited declarationby the national leadership ofthe party on the State Execu-tive had been made, “it be-hooves on all genuine partymembers to join hands with usto take the party to the nextlevel and restore its lost glory.”

VISIT: From left: Immediate past President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. AzibukeOkwor; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Ni-geria, Mr. Olumide Akintayo; and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Sola Fasuba,during a visit to the Governor in Ado Ekiti.

New Ondo CP warns criminals

AKURE—WORRIED by thespate of robbery and bur-

glary in recent times in Akure,the Ondo State capital, the newPolice Commissioner, MrPatrick Dukumor, weekend,said henceforth, the state willno longer be friendly withcriminals.

Dukumor at his maiden pressbriefing in Akure, said he willsmoke out criminals from theirhideout.

He advised criminals to taketheir leave as he promised tomake the state “too hot” for themto operate.

“I am therefore warning allcriminals, be they armed rob-bers, 419nees, kidnappers,thieves, rapist, pipeline vandalsand bunkerers to either changefrom their criminality and be-

BY DAYO JOHNSON come good citizens or relocatefrom the state. I will makeOndo State very uncomfortableand unconducive for them.”

He promised to reducecrimes and criminalities to thebearest minimum, if not eradi-cated.


Fresh oil spill hits Bayelsa communityBY SAMUEL

OYADONGHA

N'Assembly'll unravel Oyerinde’skillers, Edo lawmakers assure

BY SIMONEBEGBULEM

Delta police declare war onkidnappers, armed robbers

YENAGOA—A FRESHoil spill has reportedly

hit Ikarama community inOkordia clan, Yenagoa LocalGovernment Area of Bayel-sa State.

Though the immediatecause of the spill could notbe ascertained, it was gath-ered that it occurred at a Ni-gerian Agip Oil Company,NAOC, facility conveyingcrude oil to Rumuekpe axisof Rivers State.

The spill, it was learnt, iscurrently spewing crude oilfrom three points into theenvironment; two spots ingaseous form and one bub-bling in liquid form, includ-ing the Taylor Creek Well-head (A).

Environmental group,ERA/FoEN field monitors,led by Mr. Alaba Morris, whowere at the site, said: “At thespill point close to the well-head along the pipeline, thepoint where the crude oil isescaping from the oil bear-ing pipeline is very visible,as the spot is open and thepipe is visible.

“Due to the fact that the lastspot was submerged with crudeoil, it was not possible to see thepipe from which the crude oilwas spewing. There were visi-ble signs that the spill sprayedhigh into the air before Agip low-ered the pressure; trees, grass-es and the immediate environ-ment of the spill sites clearlyshowed this fact as indicated bythe crude oil which soiled plants

and the surroundungs.“The spilled crude oil was

noticed on very high trees. Atthe third spill point, it was ob-served that the crude oil wasstreaming into the environ-ment through a furrow. If itrains heavilly, the crude oilmight spread into TaylorCreek. Crude oil sheen wasalso observed on the big bor-rowed pit about 15 metres

away from the leaking oilwellhead. The surroundingof the Taylor Creek WellheadA, which is leaking, hasmuch crude oil deposits andif not cleaned up might bewashed into the borrowedpit, and that is not good, en-vironmentally speaking.”

It called on the oil compa-ny to take urgent steps tocontain the spill.

BY FESTUS AHON

BENIN—ACTIONCongress of Nigeria,

ACN, lawmakers in EdoState, weekend, ex-pressed optimism overthe ability of the Commit-tee on Public Petitions inthe House of Represent-atives to ensure that Ni-gerians know the truth asregards the true killers ofthe Principal Private Sec-retary to Governor AdamsOshiomhole, late Mr.Olaitan Oyerinde.

It will be recalled thatthe House Committee, ledby Mr. Uzo Azubuike,held a public hearing lastWednesday, where all theparties, including Gover-nor Oshiomhole, ap-peared to make their sub-missions, following theemergence of two reportsby the police and Depart-ment of the State Securi-ty, DSS, on the investiga-tion into the May 4, 2012killing.

However, the memberrepresenting Oredo Fed-eral constituency of EdoState in House of Repre-sentatives, Mr. Rasaq Bel-lo-Osagie, who spoke tonewsmen shortly after hedonated internet facilitiesto Edo State chapter ofNigeria Union of Journal-

ists, NUJ, said the reasonwhy the House decided toprobe the reports of theinvestigation was to en-sure that Nigerians weretold the truth.

He said: “You can seethat we received contra-dictory reports on the in-

vestigation and it is anembarrassment to the en-tire nation. We have hadseries of killings in thiscountry that had beenswept under the carpetbut we have said that thisis a murder that cannot beswept under the carpet."

UGHELLI—DELTAState Police Com-

mand, weekend, said ithad since declared war onkidnappers and armedrobbers in the state, ap-pealing for public supportto succeed in the task.

Performing the founda-tion laying ceremony of anew police station at Ig-bodo in Ika North-EastLocal Government Area,embarked upon by thecommunity through selfhelp, the state Commis-sioner of Police, Mr. Ike-chukwu Aduba, said:“Every information givento the Police for the arrestof any kidnapper in thestate attracts N5,000 to theinformant.”

Aduba said some per-sons had received theaward, adding that DeltaState Government recent-ly released N2.5 milion to

complement the efforts ofthe command in informa-tion gathering, describingDelta as a flash point.

Maintaining that thepolice have a duty to pro-tect lives and property ofthe citizenry, he explainedthat community vigilantegroups were beingstrengthened for greaterefficiency. He said thatthose alleged to be collab-orating with kidnappershad been sacked.

He described theground breaking ceremo-ny for a new police sta-tion in Igbodo as a stepin the right direction andcommended the peoplefor the self help projectand appealed for compro-mise between the tradi-tional ruler and his sub-jects over the marriageissue that was threateningpeace in the community.He said; “every societyhas a history as well as aunique culture and tradi-tion.”

Ex-militantsto FG: Returnour guns,ammunition

W A R R I — L E A D -ERS of no fewer

than 315 ex-militantcamps in Delta State,who alleged that theirmembers were side-tracked in the ongoingdocumentation exercisefor Third Phase amnes-ty, have demanded thereturn of guns and am-munition they surren-dered to Joint Task Forceby former militants, be-tween January and May,2011.

The ex-militants, underthe aegis of Coalition ofOmitted Third PhaseMilitant Camps, COT-PC, Delta State, in astatement by their chair-man, 'General' Ebis Adu,said it was either theirmembers were includedin the list of ex-agitatorsor they would paralyzegovernment activities bycarrying out peacefulprotests and occupyingthe streets.

BY EMMA AMAIZE

SERVICE OF SONGS: From right: Wife of Delta State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nelly Utuama;the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr.Beatrice Omeni; Chief Chinoye Daphey and Chairman, Transition Committee, Oshimili SouthLocal Government Area, Mrs. Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju, during the service of songs in hon-our of late Princess Selina Ebinum, Omeni's mother, at Obiaruku.


Uba begs Fashola tore-open Ladipo Market

THE CONTINUED closure of Ladipo Market in Lagos State, has been described as

a set-back to the livelihood of the traders and adrain on the state’s economy, as the Lagos State,Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has beenurged to re-open the market to guarantee thesurvival of the traders and revenue by the state.

Speaking, weekend, the Senator represent-ing Anambra South, Dr. Andy Uba, said: “Thecontinued closure of Ladipo Market, which isone of the biggest spare part markets in Africais not only a drain on the country’s economy,but has adversely affected the traders and theirfamilies.

“I believe the government had made its pointand the traders have also learnt their lessons.In the best interest of economic development,Ladipo cannot, but be re-opened," Uba said.

O W E R R I — A NImo State High

Court sitting in Owerri,has declared that theappointment of personsindicted in the WhitePaper on Imo StateUniversity, IMSU,Owerri, into positions ofauthority was “illegal,immoral, null, void andof no effect.”

Justice Ngozi Oparahanded down thejudgment in suit byIncorporated Trustees ofEvery Child EducationalA d v a n c e m e n tFoundation, against ImoGovernor and AttorneyGeneral and Commi-ssioner for Justice.

The court said, “Ideclare that the stategovernor's appointmentof persons who wereindicted in the saidWhite Paper dated June2009 into positions ofauthority isunconstitutional, illegal,immoral, null, void andof no effect.”

Saying that the WhitePaper on IMSU wasbinding on the state gov-ernor, Justice Oparaheld “the first defendant(state governor) is duty

Merger fall-out: You're a failure, PDP tells Okorocha .I’ve shamed PDP with excellent strides in Imo — Okorocha

By SONI DANIEL,Regional Editor, North

APPARENTLY an-gered by

his romance with thenewly-formed All Progres-sives’ Congress, APC, thePeoples Democratic Party,PDP, yesterday, descendedon the Imo State Governor,Owelle Rochas Okorocha,describing him as a failureand a disappointment to thepeople of the state.

PDP accused Okorocha ofsquandering the goodwilland support of the peopleby failing to deliver any tan-gible project nearly twoyears after he assumed of-fice, regretting that theymade a big mistake in en-trusting the state to the gov-ernor.

PDP National South-EastVice Chairman, Col AustinAkobundu (rtd), in a state-ment, challenged Okorochato point out any project hehad started and completedsince assumption office in2011, accusing him of be-ing clueless, unfocussed

and unprepared to tackle thechallenges of the state.

Akobundu said, “Under Oko-rocha’s watch, Imo has slippedinto the failed states category. Astate that was once celebrated forstrides in education, peaceful co-existence and environmental re-naissance has rapidly descend-

ed into a beehive for criminali-ty and ecological disaster as aresult of abandoned roadprojects by the Okorocha gov-ernment."

But Okorocha fired back at thePDP, calling them a bundle ofungrateful elements, claimingthat he had put the party to

shame by spreading monu-mental development projectsto all parts of the state unlikewhat obtained when the lastPDP governor held sway foreight years.

The governor, who spokethrough his Special Adviseron Media, Mr. Ebere Uzouk-

Appointing indicted persons ingovt is illegal, immoral — Court

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

From left: Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc;Chief Godspower Agbonifo, Chief Mary Agbonifo, National Chairman ofNigerian Breweries Distributors' Association and Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, MD,Nigerian Breweries Plc, at the NB Plc Distributors Awards 2013, in Lagos.Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

wa, warned that he wasready to use his membershipof APC to flush out PDP fromImo State and the entireSouth-East so as to pave theway for the emancipation ofthe geo-political zone and itspeople, who had been de-nied development for about15 years by PDP.

bound to implement it.“I make an order di-

recting the first defen-dant to disengage fromher services, all those

indicted in the saidWhite Paper. There shallbe costs assessed atN10,000 only,” the courtsaid.

Marketing Executive:

Company specializes in:

Qualifications:

Experience:

Remunerations:

To work all over Nigeria:operation base, Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt

Oil andGas/Marine Services /Fabrication /EnvironmentalProjects and Steel Structures.

OND/HND OR BSC inMarketing

2 to 5 years minimum

Attractive and Negotiable

Email resume with passport photographto [email protected]

VA C A N C Y

FOR SALE

SEME BORDER-LAGOS STATE.

FOR PURCHASE AND ENQUIRIES CONTACT

Mr. Israel Edogun -08091160187, 08035004681.

HONDA CRV 2009…................................................................1.3 MILLION.

TOYOTA CAMRY 98…. .....500,000.

TOYOTA CAMRY 2008.... .....1.2 MILLION

NISSAN PATHFINDER 2007… 1.2 MILLION.

HONDA IV-TECH 2006…… .800,000.

MAZDA 626 1999…… ....400,000.

TOYOTA TUNDRA 2008…… .1.5 MILLION.

MECEDES BENZ 190… ...…400,000.

LEXUS GX 470 2008……..............................................…1.4 MILLION.

TOYOTA VENZA 2008.................................................................1.5 MILLION.

TOYOTA HILUX 2008…...........................................................1. MILLION.

HONDA PILOT 2010……..........................................................2 MILLION.

TOYOTA HIACE 18 SEATER BUS 2009…..........................…700,000.

.........................................................

.........................................................

.....................................................

......................................................

.........................................................

....................................................

.........................................................

CMYK


N20bn unauthorised loan:Reps give AGF, DMO 30 daysultimatum for repayment

BY EMMA OVUAKPORIE

ABUJA—THE House ofRepresentatives Committee on

Environment, at the weekend, gavethe Accountant General of theFederation, Mr. Jonah Otunla and theDirector General, Debt ManagementOffice, Abraham Nwankwo a 30-daydeadline to ensure that N20 billion ispaid back into the Ecological FundsAccount, EFA.

The said amount represents theoutstanding loans given out to statesand local governments from theEcological Funds since 2010.

The legislators noted that the loanswere given without full disclosure andnon-approval of the NationalAssembly.

Chairperson of the committee, Uche

Ekwunife accused the AccountantGeneral’s office of “abuse ofprocesses,” wondering if theEcological Funds Office is “now alending bank.”

According to the committee, apartfrom the fact that the loan was givenwithout the authority of the NationalAssembly, the fund was alsomisapplied as it was strictly meant forecological and environmentalchallenges.

Also, the committee noted that therecipients of the loans ought to paywith interest since they have beenholding on to the funds for threeyears.

The House Committee also insistedthat states and local governmentsshould be on first line charge asregards the collection of their share

Minister berates FGCprincipal over e-library

of the ecological funds.Ekwunife said the state

and local governmentsshould have theirecological funds paidinto separate accountsso that the funds wouldbe utilised specificallyfor environment-relatedissues and would nothave to run to theFederal Governmentover every littlee n v i r o n m e n t a lchallenges.

The committeeobserved that thereleases to the NationalE m e r g e n c yManagement Authority(NEMA) should begiven their allocationson a monthly basis andnot quarterly as iscurrently the case inorder to ensureefficiency of operations.

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

MINISTER OF State for Education, Mr.Nyesom Wike, yesterday, berated the

principal of the Federal Government College, Kwali,over e-library project which the school sited milesfrom students’ classrooms and hostels.

The minister who was on a tour of facilities of on-going projects in the Federal Government Colleges,within the FCT, said he could not understand therationale behind siting two libraries in a schoolwhile some schools are still struggling to have one.

Wike also reprimanded the principal, Mrs.Celestina Omokhede for not officially informing theministry of its on-going library project, adding thatshe misled the government into investing funds ine-library in the same school.

Wike learnt that the school management has inthe last four years (2009) been pumping a minimumof N8 million each year into the school library yetthe library was far from being completed.

Works ministry commissions road, designoffice to save cost for FG

THE FEDERAL Ministry of Workshas commissioned a road and

bridge design office in order to reducecost and save the country about N500million yearly which hitherto was usedon design consultancy outside theministry.

This was disclosed by the Hon.Minister of Works, Arc. MikeOnolememen, when he commissionedthe newly established FederalHighway Design office with modernequipment in the Federal Ministry ofWorks headquarters.

Onolememen stated that when hecame in as the minister piloting theaffairs of the Ministry, he ensured thata full-fledged road and bridge designoffice was established, because anengineering ministry like FederalMinistry of Works needed to be self-sufficient on road and bridge designwhich the ministry has the capacity tocarry out.

The minister also stated that beforethe establishment of this office,engineers of the ministry had gone on

training in various institutions abroadand are already posted to the designoffice in order to demonstrate theirlevel of competency in the field.

He added that the young newlyemployed engineers also haveopportunity of being trained in thedesign office.

Earlier, the Director, Highways(Roads), Engr. (Mrs.) JosephineNnoruka, expressed gratitude to theHon. Minister for the approval of thedesign office which had never existedin the history of the Federal Ministryof Works

She said the ministry could now bedesigning various road projectsinternally which is another expressionof the agenda of President GoodluckJonathan’s administration intransforming the road sector in thecountry.

The occasion was graced by theMinistry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr.Abubakar Koro Muhammad anddirectors of the ministry.


IMMUNISATION: From left— Mrs. Morenike Williams, Chairman,Ikotun-Igando, Local Council Development Area; Governor Babatunde Fas-hola of Lagos State; Mr. Bisi Yusuf, member, Lagos State House of Assembly,representing Alimosho 1, and Mr. Jude Nzeata, Senior Sales Manager, MultiPro-Enterprise (HYPO), during the 2013 National Immunisation Plus Day inAyobo area of Lagos, weekend. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Man loses 4 children tohaemorragic fever in Kebbi

BIRNIN KEBBI—Adisease, suspected to

be Haemorrhagic fever,has killed four children ofAlhaji Lawal Buhari, onetime chairman of JegaLocal Government Area ofKebbi State.

Buhari told Vanguard inJega yesterday, the fourchildren, between theages of seven and 15,died within three dayswhen the fever attackedthem.

He said three of his chil-dren got infected fromone of them who died ear-lier from the infection. Hesaid he rushed the threeto the Federal MedicalCentre, Birnin Kebbi,where they died.

When contacted, theChief Medical Director ofFederal Medical Centre,Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim,confirmed the deaths, say-ing it was suspected to beHaemorrhagic fever andnot Lassa fever as somepeople thought.

He said the symptomsof the disease includehigh fever, rashes on thebody and weakness.

The head, clinical serv-ice at the Federal Medi-cal Centre, Dr. AishaAdamu, who had beenattending to the affectedchildren, said tests hadbeen carried out and sentto the World Health Or-ganisation, WHO, repre-sentatives.

She added that healthworkers had also beenmobilised for further testsand preventive measures,especially in Jega town.

Dr. Aisha said samplesof the tests had also beenforwarded to a qualifiedmedical facility in Irrua,Edo State, for more tests

while the results were yetto be released.

When contacted, Perma-nent Secretary in theMinistry of Health, Dr.Sani Ka’oje said: “Wewill get the final resultbefore making conclu-sions.”

Ka’oje, advised the au-thorities in Jega LocalGovernment Area to im-prove on environmentalsanitation, adding, “assoon as we are done onthis issue, we will liaisewith the local govern-ment council to improveon the environmentalsanitation in the area.”

BY SAAWUATERZUNGWE

Firms in court over trade names

THE Federal HighCourt sitting in

Benin has refused theplea for an interlocutoryinjunction filed by aBenin-based educa-tional firm, InternationalProject ManagementProfessionals, IPMP,against a sister organisa-tion, Project Manage-ment Professional Insti-tute, PMPI, to restrainthe latter from transact-ing business with the

current name.IPMP had gone to court

to seek for an interlocu-tory injunction restrain-ing PMPI from using thename and style “ProjectManagement Profes-sional Institute” to carryout project managementconsulting, pending thefinal determination ofthe substantive case.

However, the applica-tion in suit number FHC/B/CS/76/2012, was re-jected by the PresidingJudge, Justice A. M.Liman, who urged theparties to “buckle downto prosecute the suit ex-peditiously.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

PROPHETIC GRACE GLOBAL MISSIONThe general public is hereby informed that the above named organization has applied to theCorporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and AlliedMattersAct Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

1. Prophet Joel Edoho - President2. Pastor (Mrs.) Mfonobong Joel Edoho - Vice President3. Evang. Kufre Silas - Member4. Evang. Bassey Etim Job - Member5. Elder Patrick Ewona - Member6. Elder Clement Ekpor - Member7. Bro. Israel George Okpon - Member

1. To preach and teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His coming.2. To teach, preach; hold seminars, conventions, revivals, camp meetings, crusades,

workshops, and conferences on vital and practical Christian life.3. To prophesy, give revelations to people’s spiritual problems and to reveal the mind of God

to the people according to the word of God.4. To establish chapels, Churches round the world, house-fellowship centers, and to establish

mission houses and pastoral residence for our ministry.5. To take the gospel of Jesus Christ round the world to the glory of God.Any objections should be forwarded within 28 days of this publication to the Registrar -General,Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama,Abuja.

TheBelowListedPersonsHaveBeenAppointedAsBoardOf Trustees:

AimsAndObjectives:

Signed: F. M. ANOM

Ogbejok Chambers, Legal consultant

CMYK

OPINION


*Mr. Omenegor, a systems analyst, wrotefrom Toronto, Canada.

BY CLEMENT OMENEGORReturn of Anenih and thepolitical sycophantsWITH the emergence of Chief Tony

Anenih as the Chairman, Board ofTrustees of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, after many months of political horsetrading and scheming, political sycophantswho had before now vilified him on thepages of newspaper and levelled falseallegations against him are alreadyscrambling for spaces in the newspapersto congratulate him. Reason for all thesesycophantic displays by these failed anddisgruntled politicians is nothing but tocurry undue favour or protection fromAnenih ahead 2015. They have just realisedthat Anenih as BoT chairman will beinfluential and strategic in PDP politics in2015. So, the current barrage ofcongratulations to Anenih borders on therat race for political relevance and survivalin 2015.

Surprising is the calibre of politicianscongratulating Anenih now even after theyhave written him off politically followinghis sudden removal as BoT chairman ofthe party by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in2007 and his party ’s loss of Edogovernorship election last year. So guesswho first congratulated Anenih after hisre-emergence? It was Chief Orji Uzor Kalu,the former governor of Abia State who hadbeen desperately seeking for politicalrelevance and attention after many yearsof being in political wilderness followingthe collapse of his Progressives PeoplesAlliance, PPA, after the 2007 generalelections. Some weeks ago, Kalu claimedhe has returned to the PDP with the issuance

of the party membership card to him by theparty executive in his ward. However, theclaim was promptly refuted by the partyleadership in the council area, state and thezone. Recently, thousands of party membersfrom his zone, Abia North, staged a peacefulprotest to Government House Umuahia overthe claimed return of Kalu to PDP. But sincehis claimed re-admission into the party,Kalu has not attended any of the partymeetings anywhere in the country, not evenin Abuja, which puts a lie to his claim ofhaving been re-admitted into the party.

It also appears Kalu has abandoned hisNjiko Igbo group and Igbo Presidency 2015crusade to float another political party? Maybe he has realised that the trick cannot work.But what are all these schemings, intriguesand inconsistencies by Kalu all about? DidKalu want to use his sudden congratulatorymessage to Anenih to find his way back toPDP through the backdoor after partymembers in his state rejected him? Maybehe has forgotten that Anenih and the rest ofNigerians know him more than he knowshimself. Is it not the same Anenih whomKalu alleged was planning to kill him whenhe(Kalu) was governor of Abia State? Kaluhad then alleged that Anenih told his deputy,the late Chuma Nwafor, in Abuja that he(Anenih) would kill Kalu. And as if that wasnot enough, Kalu went further to allege thatAnenih, as Minister of Works, mismanagedthe huge sum budgeted for the Enugu/Port

Harcourt road which was impassable foryears. But when called upon to substantiatehis allegations against Anenih, he was notforthcoming with any concrete evidence.

Rather than do this, he reportedlyrushed to the Oba of Benin's Palace

with his mother to apologise to Anenih. Sowhere is integrity in all this? Anenih is tooexperienced a politician to be flattered orcarried away by Kalu’s sudden volte face.Such message looks more like a Greek Giftthat must be received with caution.Nigerians and PDP members certainlywould be surprised to read a congratulatorymessage from Obasanjo to Anenih over thelatter’s re-emergence as BoT Chairman,considering the former disgracefullypushed out the latter from office some yearsago. If anybody has told Obasanjo beforenow, that Anenih would return as BoTChairman at this time, Obasanjo wouldnot have believe it. But here is the irony oflife.

Or will anybody be surprised to readabout Senator Andy Uba or his brother,Chris Uba’s sending a congratulatorymessage to Anenih on his re-emergence aschairman of BoT on the pages ofnewspapers in the days ahead? It was thesame Chris Uba and his brothers who tookAnenih to the cleaners during the Anambra2010 governorship election over Anenih’sperceived support for the emergence of

former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof.Charles Soludo as the PDP candidate for theelection against their wishes. Theyreportedly colluded with other forces withinthe PDP to ensure that Soludo lost at theelection. They called Anenih names andwarned him to steer clear of Anambrapolitics.

Just watch it. In the days ahead manywithout integrity and desperation forrelevance will rush to take advertorials onthe pages of newspapers to congratulateAnenih, especially as the Anambragovernorship election 2014 is fastapproaching. They will do everything humanpossibly and otherwise to warm their wayinto his heart just to curry immediate favour,forgetting that a killer might forget, but theman in whose house the grave is locatedhardly forgets.

Even Works Committee members in theHouse of Representatives who recentlysummoned Anenih to appear before themover some issues during his tenure asMinister of Works will now make a u-turnand join the bandwagon to congratulate himover his re-emergence as BoT Chairman.

So, there is need for Anenih to be wary ofthese political sycophants who would stop atnothing to get what they want, because theydid not truly mean well for him and the party.

They are more of chameleon than humanbeings and must be closely watched aheadof 2015 to ensure their ulterior motives, whichcan be detrimental to the success of the partyand the people, does not see the light of theday.

IT is important the Federal Governmentknows its assets, at home and abroad. It isequally important that efforts in that directionattain the level of seriousness that matchesthe importance of the assignment.

We do not see such attention to details inthe announcement Minister of Information,Mr Labaran Maku made about an inter-ministerial committee to take inventory ofall Nigeria’s properties abroad.Maku said the committee to be headed bythe Foreign Affairs Minister, had membershipfrom the Ministry of Lands, Housing andUrban Development; Bureau for PublicEnterprises, the Bureau for PublicProcurement, and the Nigeria Institute ofInternational Affairs, would evaluate assetsof the Nigerian Navy, Foreign Affairs,Nigerian Ports Authority, and other agenciesabroad.

The aberration should not be allowed. Theminister gave no figure of membership of thetravelling committee. There were no detailsof the duration of the assignment, or thefinancial implications of the assignment,especially considering the calibre of officialson the committee.

Most importantly, Section 85 (4) of the

VVVVVerifyingerifyingerifyingerifyingerifyingGovernment AssetsGovernment AssetsGovernment AssetsGovernment AssetsGovernment Assets

Constitution is explicit on powers ofinvestigating the properties of the country,wherever they may be. This is simple audit.

“The Auditor-General shall have power toconduct checks of all government statutorycorporations, commissions, authorities,agencies, including all persons and bodiesestablished by an Act of the National Assembly. (6) In the exercise of his functions under thisConstitution, the Auditor-General shall not besubject to the direction or control of any otherauthority or person”, the section states. Whyignore the Constitution just to create anotheravenue for waste?

Each of the nearly 600 ministries,departments and agencies, MDAs, includingthe armed forces and paramilitary services,

have Finance and Accounts Departments, withcompetent auditors from the Auditor-General’s office. There is no need for a specialcommittee to do a job that is lawfully assignedto that office.

According to Section 85 (2), “The publicaccounts of the Federation and of all officesand courts of the Federation shall be auditedand reported on to the Auditor-General whoshall submit his reports to the NationalAssembly; and for that purpose, the Auditor-General or any person authorised by him in thatbehalf shall have access to all the books,records, returns and other documents relatingto those accounts.”

Lapses in auditing accounts of MDAs,matters the National Assembly ignores, isresponsible for making routine accounting ofgovernment properties seem extraordinary.The junket Maku suggested would neitherfulfil the constitutional requirement norachieve anything meaningful.

Should government assets be verified? Yes,at home and abroad, following stipulatedconstitutional provisions. Anything less is acontinuation of the wastes that leaves thecountry without resources to provide basicfacilities.


CMYK


,,

OPINIONBY MAGNUS ONYIBE

Mr. Onyibe, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Pope, monarch, leadershipand Nigeria (2)

Continued from Fridayviewpoints

OBVIOUSLY, the rumors of his purported death in anIndian hospital that was awash in the mainstream

and social media until his sudden appearance last weekmust have damaged his self esteem and causedpreventable anxiety and political tension for the goodpeople of Enugu state.

The same applies to the governor of Cross Riverstate,Liyel Imoke who till date is ostensibly on a longvacation since last year but allegedly managing his failinghealth abroad like Sullivan Chime.

Although,the duo of Chime and Imoke may not havebreached the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeriabecause they observed the due process of takingextended leave of absence from work,they need to bereminded that it is exemplary leadership quality ,respectfor their lives and moral duty for them to consider steppingaside if their ill health would be exacerbated by the burdenof office and if their long absence from work any time infuture would cause avoidable anxiety to theirfamily,friends and political constituents.

While Pope Benedict XVI might have renounced thePapacy on account of failing health,King Edward VIII ofEngland did it about seventy seven(77)years ago for love-something monarchs don't do.

Interestingly,there is a resemblance which the

abdication speech by King Edward VIII on January12th,1936 bears with the renunciation speech of PopeBenedict XVI ,february,11th 2013 .In a radio broadcast,theking announced "l have found it impossible to carry onthe heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge theduties of king,as l would wish to do,without the help andsupport of the woman l love"The difference in thespeeches is that while King Edward abdicated the Britishthrone for love of a lady,Pope Benedict is renouncing thePapacy due to advanced age and love of the church.

According to history of the English royalty,the abdicationpaved the way for the king to marry the love of his life,MrsWallis Simpson,an American socialite who was previouslydivorced and married to Mr Simpson.The king's brother,Bertie took over the throne but when he died,as he hadno sons but only daughters,and Edward had nooffspring,the eldest daughter of the late king,QueenElizabeth II , became the queen in 1952.Thisperhaps,explains why a queen instead of a king is themonarch in England today.

Similar to Pope Benedict's situation,the British PrimeMinister at that time , Stanley Baldwin felt that themonarchy's action threatened to weaken the monarchy

like the Catholics are now concerned that the Holy Father'srenunciation is taking the church into paths unknown inover six centuries for which the Vatican is in quandary.

Coincidentally,like King Edward VIII ,who historianstestify "just wanted to be like everyone else" by falling inlove and marrying a two time divorcee , who could havebecome the Queen of England had he not been forced toabdicate,Pope Benedict XVI might have made a decisionto concentrate on his intellectual and scholarly life as heis probably the only Pope in contemporary history to havewritten a book thereby relieving him self of themonumental task of administration of over one billionCatholics world wide which being the Pope entails.

Then again,we may never really know until and unlessthe Pope in retirement authors another book detailingthe reasons for making the amazing decision.

Be that as it may, it seems to me that the decision byPope Benedict XVI to renounce office due to incapacityarising from advancing age,is a leadership decisionwhich all leaders and indeed men and women of goodwillacross the world must strive to emulate for the good ofthe organization ,entity or government that they lead.

Cardinal Arinze put it succinctly in his reaction to thePope's resignation by saying on Youtube "Pope Benedictmay be teaching us more than we realize". How true!

Concluded

‘Kidnap value?' No need!

BEING from Abia State, I come fromthe Niger Delta. At least, that is what

the legislation that established the NigerDelta Development Commission(NDDC) says, though those from the“True Niger Delta” (Rivers, Delta,Bayelsa and, to a lesser extent, AkwaIbom) would laugh at those of us fromAbia, Imo, Edo and Ondo States withthe question: “How many oil wells doyou have?”

In those earlier days when kidnappingwas popularised within the “True NigerDelta” both as a tool for criminality andagitation for “resource control”, acolleague of mine here in Vanguardcame to work one Friday in full “NigerDelta” regalia, bowler hat and all. As heapproached me, I jibed:

“Old boy, the way you are dressedtoday it seems you want to kidnap me?”

He looked at me from head to toe andanswered: “But you have no kidnapvalue!” Slowly but surely, kidnappingas a crime spread from “True NigerDelta” to all parts of the South East and

South-South. In my native Abia State, avicious cell of this crime developedaround Aba and surrounding villages.One felon, Obioma Nwankwo, betterknown as Osisikankwu (the tree that’smightier than the palm tree) mounted areign of terror and even succeeded inforcing banks, markets and businessesto close down and people to flee the

legendary commercial town.In fact, Osisikankwu was already

transforming into a political figure, ashe started making demands for politicaland economic concessions to his Ngwapeople as one of his conditions to liftthe siege.

That was when the Governor,Theodore Orji, went for broke. He

FOR the first time in the history ofthis nation, a federal budget was

passed by the two arms of the NationalAssembly and forwarded to thePresident of the country with one agencyof government – the Securities andExchange Commission (SEC) - givenzero allocation in the 2013 Budget.

This was due to the personal vendettaagainst Ms. Arunma Oteh, the DirectorGeneral of the SEC, whose brushes withmembers led to the disgrace of Hon.Herman Hembe and some members ofthe Ad Hoc Committee of the House ofReps on the Capital Market over allegedbribe demands.

When that Committee wasreconstituted with Hon. Ibrahim El Sudias Chairman, it recommended thatOteh should be removed because shewas “not qualified”. Following PresidentJonathan’s refusal to abide by theresolution the House decided it wouldnever have anything to do with SEC solong as Oteh remained its DG. It wasbecause of this and a few other reasonsthat the budget was delayed on thePresident’s desk for two whole monthsbefore he reluctantly signed it into lawlast week Tuesday.

I am asking Oteh to voluntarily stepdown because the SEC is bigger thanany individual. The House of Reps is

In those (will I say “good” old days)kidnappers had their eyes out for thepolitically highly placed or connectedindividuals, including their relations.They also carefully chose those they feltwere “wealthy”.

Sometimes they even sent spies to bigevents, such as special church services,weddings, fundraising ceremonies,burials and any celebration that drew inthose eager to show off their materialaccomplishments and report back. Itbecame a case of “the rich also cry”. Therich from the South East and South-Southeither stayed away in the safety of Lagosand Abuja, or they came home only withthe full compliment of armed mobilepolice escorts which they paid throughthe nose to acquire.

After a respite, kidnapping has notonly returned in full force, it is in factnow a national fad, even though Edoand Delta remain the flaming flashpointsof this high crime. Last week Friday, Iwoke up as usual at 5.00am and startedconsulting my ipad for news. I cameacross a chilling story leading page sixof Vanguard: “Kidnappers abduct fiveLagos-bound passengers along Benin– Shagamu road”.

According to the story, armedkidnappers blocked the express roadwith a lorry and the first bus that cameup bore people from Warri going toLagos. They abducted five of thepassengers and released the driver anda passenger to go and break the newsof the crime. Then they got in touch withthe families of their victims and startedmaking silly ransom demands.

Kidnapping no longertargets the rich

You know the import of this.Kidnapping is no longer targeted at therich. Most people who travel by publicbus fall into that class formerly regardedas having “no kidnap value”, but timeshave changed! If they can do this to minibus travellers what will they do to peopletravelling home in their Sport UtilityVehicles (SUVs)? So, beware.

Kidnap-for-ransom has gone out ofhand. It is about time we as a communitythreatened by a few (though ever-increasing) hoodlums put all hands ondeck and defeat it. What happened inAbia three years ago is proof that whenthere is a will there is always a way outof any problem.

Arunma Oteh should step asidewilling to wreck the economy and acrucial federal institution regulating acapital market that trades with trillionsof Naira worth of funds belonging toNigerians and foreign investors. It is apath of honour for Oteh to quit ratherthan give them the pleasure of forcingthe President to sack her. It is thecivilised and honourable thing to do.

The President can also break thedeadlock by giving her another job whichdoes not require any encounter with thewitch-hunting federal lawmakers.

Ms. Arunma Oteh, SEC DG

brought in the Joint Military Task Force(JTF), the same force that had all butbroken the backbone of the militants inthe Niger Delta, to smoke outOsisikankwu and crush his well-oilednetwork of kidnappers. For some time,the body snatchers kept away from AbiaState, even though some relocated tovillages (including my village, Abiriba)and continued to wreak havoc.

Kidnap-for-ransom hasgone out of hand. It isabout time we as acommunity threatenedby a few (though ever-increasing) hoodlumsput all hands on deckand defeat it. Whathappened in Abiathree years ago isproof that when thereis a will there isalways a way out ofany problem


,

,

IT is a name perpetuallyframed in infamy for the

betrayal of the Righteous One. Judas Iscariot, the kiss and tellassociate of Jesus Christ wasperhaps disappointed by thedetermination of Jesus not touse His seemingly magicalpowers to overpower theRoman colonial powers whoruled over ancient Palestine .

By choosing the meek life,Jesus disappointed Judas, anaccountant who perhaps sawhimself as a shoo-in forMinister of Finance in thekingdom he expected Jesus toestablish after driving away theRoman powers. It was suchambition of money and powerthat drove Mr. Iscariot towardsthe path of betrayal and aperpetual place in the hall ofinfamy.

So, given the combustibleeffect of money and power, it isnot surprising that a GovernorJudas or more of such may haveinfiltrated the ranks of theNigerian Governors Forum,NGF. Chairman of the newlyformed Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP Governors Forum,PDP GF, Governor GodswillAkpabio of Akwa Ibom Statemade the revelation lastTuesday during a courtesy visitto the national chairman of theparty, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Intimating the national

•Akpabio: Where is Governor Judas? •Tukur: Backing Akpabio's onslaught •Amaechi: Chairman of NGF

God’s will against Governor JudasTHE awesome power and bearing of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF had in the recent pastraised concern among some stakeholders in the polity. Now an internal discord driven by externalpower peddlers is about bringing the once powerful body to its knees

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN,POLITICAL EDITOR

chairman of his agenda,Akpabio who was reportedlyappointed by the partyleadership in concert withpresidency officials, said:

“What the PDP is trying to donow is to cleanse its house; totry to identify the ones they callJudases and say to them ‘goout, the train is moving’. Wewill ask them not to remain

standing otherwise we willcrush them,” the Akwa Ibomgovernor, popularly known byhis associates and followers asthe agent of uncommontransformation said. Theidentification of Judas orJudases in the midst of thecountry’s elitist GovernorsForum was an unprecedentedeffort by the ‘uncommontransformation’ agent.

That Governor Akpabio waschosen for the challenging jobof rooting out the Judases inthe PDP would have been basedon some traits found in him,even above his fellowgovernors. Governor Akpabio’sremark was understandablywelcomed by the nationalchairman who himself, hadlately been in battle against theNGF, in a confrontationapparently instigated by theJudas or Judases in the midst

of the governors.The governors or the Judases,

according to sources had beenplanning to root out Tukur asnational chairman arising fromthe mutual differences betweenhim and the majority of themembers of the governors’body. Governor Akpabio’sassertion last Tuesdayapparently revealed to all that

he, Akpabio, was undoubtedlynot in league with thegovernors who are opposed toTukur.

The NGF had had cause toconfront Tukur on severaloccasions and most recently, onthe sustenance of the partyexecutive in AdamawaState.The NGF led by GovernorRotimi Amaechi had forced theparty’s NWC to reverse itselfon the earlier decision todissolve the Umar Kaguma ledexecutive.

Following the reversal of thedissolution, it also emergedthat some governors wereallegedly against the secondterm ambition of the president,a plot, many newspapersreported earlier last week, wasbeing championed by GovernorAmaechi.

Amaechi, however, had in thepast denied such suggestions,

saying that his assertions onthe performance of thepresident were aimed towardshelping the president who isfrom the South-Southgeopolitical region.

Once Governor Akpabio gavehis agenda of rooting out thejudases in the governors’ bodyto Tukur and the NWCmembers gathered lastTuesday, the national chairmanheaved a big sigh of reliefindicating in his response thatAkpabio had touched on anissue that had worried thepresident. “I can now tell Mr.President to sleep well."

"Now, if he has been sleepingfor three hours before, I caneven ask him to start observinghis siesta regularly,” thenational chairman disclosed.

Regularsiesta

Given that Akpabio did notidentify the Judas or Judasesamong the Governors Forum,permutations would only be aguess work. It is, however,certain that Governor SerikaeDickson, a close associate ofPresident Jonathan who wentthe extent of appointing thepresident’s wife as apermanent secretary is not oneof them.

Governor Dickson has beenprofuse in supporting Akpabioin his agenda of crushing theJudases, pulling out several

pages in the newspapers toidentify with the chairman ofthe PDP-GF. There are otherswho would also not fit themould of Judas as imagined bythose in authority at the partysecretariat.

Among them are GovernorsIbrahim Shema of Katsina Statewho by several accounts wasthe party’s choice to replaceAmaechi in the abortedelection of last Monday.

Shema is also being touted asa possible running mate toPresident Jonathan in 2015being that he is in his secondterm. However, the sameworries that have been raisedabout the incumbent vice-president, Namadi Sambo arealso being raised about Shema.

Compilationof Judases

The question asked by severalstakeholders and probablyJonathan minders is, the extentto which Shema can bolsterJonathan in the far north.Though Governor Shema hasbeen praised for performingabove many of his peers, hispolitical clout outside Katsinaremains an issue.

Others that would beexcluded in the compilation ofjudases in the NGF includeGovernors Theodore Orji ofAbia, Gabriel Suswam of Benueand Martin Elechi of Ebonyi.

Governor Orji’s proclivity tothe Jonathan agenda has beenlargely predictable since hechampioned his state’s“liberation” from the allegedhold of a mother and sondictatorship.

As nearly every one knows,Continues on page 47

Some are affirming that one man’sJudas is also another man’s Jesus


THE two front-runners in Kenya’s

presidential electionhave been holding theirfinal rallies in Nairobi,ahead of Monday’s vote.

PM Raila Odinga anddeputy PM Uhuru Ken-yatta are favourites to suc-ceed President Kibaki, inthe first poll since thepost-2007 election vio-lence.

Tens of thousands ofpeople attended the ral-lies in central Nairobi.

President Mwai Kibakihas urged Kenyans to

THE Roman CatholicChurch marked its

first Sunday in nearlyeight years without a pa-pal blessing, as cardinalsgathered to elect a newleader of the 1.2 billion-member faith in one ofthe most troubled periodsof its history.

The windows of the pa-pal apartments overlook-

Cardinals converge, selectnew Pope

ing St. Peter ’s Squarewere shut, which is nor-mally the case only whena pope is outside Romeand delivers the Sundayblessing elsewhere.

There was no papalblessing of any kind, thefirst time the church hasbeen in such a state oflimbo since Sunday, April3, 2005, the day afterPope John Paul died.

“It’s strange, verystrange to come to Rometo St. Peter’s Square andnot to hear the Angelus(Sunday blessing) of thepope, especially becausethe pope is still alive - it’sa unique situation that weare living through,” saidFabio Ferrara, who wasone of the few people inthe square at noon.

86, the queen is knownfor her robust health. Shewas last hospitalized in2003 when she had aknee operation. Thespokesman said thequeen was at the KingEdward VII Hospital for

BRITAIN’S QueenElizabeth went into

hospital in London onSunday with symptoms ofgastroenteritis, a Buck-ingham Palace spokes-man said on Sunday.

All the monarch’s en-gagements for the comingweek, including a trip toItaly, have been canceledor postponed as a pre-caution, the spokesmansaid.

The queen had beendue to visit Italy as a guestof President Giorgio Na-politano on March 6-7. At

Queen Elizabethhospitalized

precautionary assess-ments and may remainthere for a couple of days.She was last at the hos-pital last year, visiting herhusband Prince Philipwho was treated for abladder infection.

MITT Romney saysit “kills” him that

he’s not president. But hedoesn’t blame Super-storm Sandy, New JerseyGov. Chris Christie oranything else on his lossto President BarackObama—except his cam-paign’s failure to connectwith minority voters.

“I lost my election be-cause of my campaign,”Romney said on “FoxNews Sunday” in his firsttelevision interview sincehis November defeat,

Romney rues WhiteHouse defeat

Kenya election: Odinga andKenyatta hold final rallies

vote peacefully on Mon-day and for the losers toaccept defeat.

Already, all the candi-dates have promised torespect the result of thevote and urged their sup-porters to refrain from vi-olence.

The election is the firstto be held under a newconstitution, adopted in2010 in an attempt toavoid a repeat of ethnicclashes in which morethan 1,200 people werekilled and an estimated600,000 forced from theirhomes.

FIGHTING has broken out between

government forces andrebels in central Sudan,as both sides said yes-terday , in a possible es-calation of violence thathas hitherto been concen-trated closer to the Afri-can country’s borders.

Rebels of the Justiceand Equality Movement(JEM) from the westernregion of Darfur said theyhad launched an attackon the army in North Ko-rdofan state.

JEM and two other Dar-fur rebel groups formedan alliance with a rebelgroup from southernSudan, the SPLM-North,in 2011 to try to toppleveteran President OmarHassan al-Bashir.

Clashes between rebels, armyerupt in central Sudan

Fighting with the armyhas been so far mainlylimited to Darfur as wellas South Kordofan andBlue Nile states border-ing South Sudan, whichseceded from Sudan in2011.

The state of North Ko-rdofan is closer to theSudanese capital Khar-toum and a large produc-er of gum arabic, a sub-stance extracted from aca-cia trees used by the foodand drinks industry andan important sourcesearnings for cash-strapped Sudan.

JEM said it had seizedthe western area of WadBahr in North Kordofanfrom government forceson Saturday.

“not because of what any-one else did.”

The former Massachu-setts governor refusedplace blame on Christie,who some Republicanssay elevated Obama inhis embrace of the presi-dent in the wake of thestorm. Romney said hisinability to win over blackand Hispanic voters—and the damage done bythose disastrous “47 per-cent” comments—ulti-mately derailed his WhiteHouse bid.


,

,

BY HAMILTON ODUNZE

,

BY DAVID ATTAH

,All hail King Eagles

*Mr. Odunze, a commentator onnational issues, wrote from La-gos.

TRIBALISM is a barrier toprogressive democratic

dialogue in Nigeria. A few weeksago, I wrote an article forVanguard newspapers. The titlewas “Obasanjo says the darndestthings.” In this article, I wasgenerally critical of leaders whoonly understand Nigeria’sproblems in retrospect. In fact, Ialluded that this has become atrend with Nigerian leaders. Theycorrectly identify the problemswith Nigeria only once they leaveoffice and lack the politicalpower to positively change thelives of Nigerians. Doing so offersthem an easy path tostatesmanship and transformsthem into kingmakers thatNigerians should revere andfollow. To buttress my point, Iused Obasanjo as an examplebecause of his recent statementmade at Valparaiso University inIndiana. He said that theproblem with Nigeria and Africais corruption and a lack ofinfrastructure.

I do not wish to comment onthis issue again. I have covered itextensively in my previous write-up. And, as a matter of principle,I do not write sequels or follow-ups. Otherwise this article wouldhave been a sequel or response

Tribalism - a barrier to progressivedemocratic dialogue

to some of the comments madeby readers. For instance, onereader wrote that an Igbo manwill never be president of Nigeria.Considering that I was critical ofNigerian leaders not as an Igboman, but as a Nigerian who isdeeply worried about the futureof Nigeria and its citizens, Iwondered what such a commenthad to do with the opinion Iexpressed in that article. The onlyfact revealed by that reader’scomment is that tribalism is abarrier to any type of meaningfuland progressive democraticdialogue in Nigeria.

However, I partially agree withthe comment. An Igbo man willhardly be president of Nigeria.The only way an Igbo man canbecome president is if Nigeria’spolitical landscape allowsprogressive and honest dialogueabout the future of the country.When Nigeria’s politicaldiscourse begins to revolvearound real democratic values,and when Nigerians begin tomake political decisions based onwho is suitable to tackle theproblems that face them, onlythen will the chances of an Igbopresidency be realistic.Obviously, the current system ofquotas, zoning and desire fortribal dominance does not allowthe discussion of real problems.

Besides enhancing the chances ofIgbo presidency, a politicalsystem based on real democraticvalues will offer Nigerians theopportunity to choose from thebest of its citizens.

No other form of governmentoffers its citizens the privilege tochoose from the best amongstthem besides democracy based onsound principles. That was whyWinston Churchill said“democracy is the worst form ofgovernment, except for thoseother forms that have been triedfrom time to time.” To promotethis very important democraticidea, the system must allowhonest, open and unbiaseddialogue about the future of theNigerian society. JonathanCasper captured this notion whenhe wrote that “free expression,

openness and honest dialoguesare crucial to the process of truedemocracy. For any nation tosurvive the sophistication ofdemocracy it must allow thesevalues to reign supreme.” That ishow a democracy survives. Thatis how the collective dreams andthe collective aspirations of anysociety are achieved.

If these were the guidingprinciples of Nigeriandemocracy, my opinion aboutObasanjo would not have beenseen from a tribal perspective,especially when my criticism ofhim had no tribal connotation.When the values that promotetrue democracy, as Casperoutlined, are absent, the ultimatelosers are the people. It isobvious that Nigerians are theultimate losers in the currentsystem.

When the values that Casperoutlined are not the guidingprinciples of any democraticsociety, the ultimate losers are thecommon citizens. On the otherhand, the winners are the currentcrop of leaders and politicianswho have zero interest inimproving the lives of commonNigerians. They have traded theprogress of Nigerians for selfishinterests. They prey on the mindsof that reader who commentedthat an Igbo man will never bepresident of Nigeria. It isdepressing that the very elementof diversity that makes othernations great has been turnedinto a disadvantage in Nigeria.This is the handiwork of leaderswho have discerned that whenthe real values of democracy are

plugged into the Nigerianequation, they have no businessleading and looting Nigerians.

Do you remember who firstpreyed on the nature ofNigerians as tribal irredentists?

The British colonial masterswere the first to prey on Nigeriansas tribal beings. The Britishcolonialists knew that theNigerian tribal nature gave themthe opportunity to exploitNigeria’s natural resources.Today, many of us blame theBritish for bringing people ofdifferent cultures and heritagestogether as a nation. Yet, we failto see that Nigerian leaders havecontinued to benefit from theBritish legacy. Nigerians aredivided as a people.

This is why when the argumentthat a Nigerian revolution isimminent is made, it isreasonable for one to argue thattribalism stands in the way of anall inclusive revolution that willsave Nigeria in its currenthodgepodge form. In fact, it willnot be outlandish to argue thatthe prospect of ethnic cleansingis more realistic than theprospects of an all inclusiveNigerian revolution. But let usgive credit to the current crop ofNigerian leaders who realise thisfact. They know that the idea of aNigerian revolution isimpractical. They also know thatif the Nigerian revolutionhappens, Nigeria will neversurvive as a united nation.

THE cheery news that the SuperEagles of Nigeria against all odds, havebeen crowned the new king of AfricanSoccer with their victory over Burkina Fasoin the finals of the 2013 African Cup ofNations, has been heard in all the footballregions of the world.

Here at home, the echos of the sweetvictory will be heard in every nook andcranny because of its meaning andsignificance. The reason is not far-fetched.In one single stride, the Super Eagles havetaken Nigeria 19 years out of soccerwilderness to limelight. What a feat!

For us in Nigeria, football is the greatestnational passion and a tremendousunifying factor, a bridge over our numerousdivisive forces as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. This is why football elicitsthe interest of most Nigerians, young orold, big or small.

As we bask in the euphoria of the heroicvictory therefore, it is important that wespare sometime to distil and reflect on thelessons inherent in the entire episode,particularly the resilience of Coach StevenKeshi and his faithful soccer ambassadors.

Throughout the entire course of thechampionship, including the preparatorystage, Keshi became a Philosopher andPreacher of sorts on some virtues implicitin life such as strength of character andpositive mental attitude. It was like adialogue of the deaf as nobody seemed tobe listening to his admonitions but he wasunrelenting.

Interestingly, the Super Eagles and theirhandlers we celebrate and eulogize today,were yesterday caricatured, derided andcalled names. Nobody gave them anoutside chance of even qualifying fromtheir group let alone winning the cup. They

For the Super Eagles,it has been a triumphof determination overcynicism; while therest of us wallowed indespair, the KingEagles and theirhandlers waxedstronger in faith andspirit

*Mr. Attah, a commentator on nationalissues, wrote from Lagos.

were harangued and variously describedas “Super Chickens”, “Featherless Eagles”and “Wingless Eagles”, etc.

The one that amused me most was thecartoon of a little boy who went to court toseek a court injunction to live neither withhis mother or his father. Asked why by thepresiding judge, the boy said it wasbecause the mother and father beat himevery so often. Asked further who then hewould like to live with? The boy answered,the Super Eagles because they beatnobody. Can you imagine!

Thank you King Eagles for freeing usfrom the suffocating grip of negativism andcynicism. We are really grateful to you fora gift so precious, something to love andcherish and something different from themisery and despair we feel from the dailydose of stolen billions, armed robberies,kidnapping and other myriad of socialmalaise. What is more, you and yourdedicated handlers refused to be distractedby the barbed and irritating criticisms ofpundits and analysts. Rather, thesecriticisms fired your spirit which hasproduced the result and handsomedividend we are celebrating today.

It will be recalled that these pundits, forwhatever reasons, dissipated so muchenergy in drawing parallel between youand your fore-bearers who won the AfricanNations Cup 19 years ago and hastilyconcluded that you were inferior to them.To begin with, there is no rational basis forthe comparison. You are just starting andhalf of your players are debutants.

There is no need to mention names asthese impatient pundits know themselves.Today, some of them are singing a swansong. In fact, some have been bold enoughto apologise for their hasty predictions,while only a few still remain defiant andunrepentant. That is neither here or there.

It can’t change anything now but suffice itto say that in the battle of wits, the SuperEagles and their handlers are the winners.They fought many battles on and outsidethe field of play and won all of them.

For the Super Eagles, it has been atriumph of determination over cynicism.While the rest of us wallowed in despair,the King Eagles and their handlers waxedstronger in faith and spirit. Their avowedintent was to win the Nations Cup.Happily, they have achieved their supremeobjective and nobody can deny them theglory which richly belongs to them and byextension, to all Nigerians both detractorsand supporters.

What is really important now is for all ofus to emulate the worthy examples of ourglorious soccer ambassadors. This isreminiscent of John Kennedy’s inauguraladdress as President of the United Statesin which he passionately enjoined hispeople not to think of what America cando for them but what they can do for theircountry. It is important also to stress thatpeople imbued with sense of character likeSteven Keshi has demonstrated, are likepossessed creatures, men and women inthe thrall of belief so powerful that theyignore all else, including criticisms,

however barbed and discouraging. Thisis similitude of what Margaret Mead oncesaid: “Never doubt that a small group ofthoughtful, committed citizens can changethe world”. Yes indeed!

Negative thinking limits the potentialsof what we can do. Think positive, believe,have faith. What is more, be patient, bediligent and you will overcome. Thedanger is that if the impression of what weare, is reduced by shallow or demeaningimages, that impoverishment pursists fora long time if not nipped in the bud.

Happily, the “Big Boss”, Steven Keshihas shown us how to nip negative thinkingin the bud through sheer strength ofcharacter and unshakeable determination.I salute your courage and the dedicationof your young soccer ambassadors. Youare winners by every consideration.

It is plausible to allude our cynicimpotence, discouragement and despairto the myriad of social problems we haveendured over the years and having stayedfor so long in bad situations, we feel thatgood times are gone for ever. No! Keshiand his all conquering boys have provedthat with faith and determination, trials andtribulations can be overcome.

As a distinguished speaker once said“history is not yet done with its explorationof what it means to be human especiallythe image of our limits and possibilities.

On this note, all Nigerians are invitednot only to hail the heroism of the KingEagles but to share in their optimism thatour lost glory will soon return in all facetsof our national life.

That is to imply that the Super Eagles’victory is capable of ushering in a new erain Nigeria. In this wise, the FederalGovernment’s transformation agenda thistime around, should go beyond rhetorics.Our newly crowned kings of African soccerhave shown the way.

When thevalues thatpromote truedemocracy areabsent, theultimate losersare the people; itis obvious thatNigerians are theultimate losers inthe currentsystem

Vanguard, MONDAYVanguard, MONDAYVanguard, MONDAYVanguard, MONDAYVanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, , MARCH 4, , MARCH 4, , MARCH 4, , MARCH 4, 2013—512013—512013—512013—512013—51

Film academy plans youthsempowerment programme

MAGNUS FilmAcademy, a major

player in the film industry,has designed anempowerment programmeas its corporate socialresponsibility, CSR, aimedat taking the youths off thestreets of Lagos andgetting them meaningfullyengaged.

The training programmewhich enjoys the supportof the Lagos State Ministryof Youths Sports and SocialDevelopment is billed tohold at the Ikeja Youthcentre between March andApril 2013. Theprogramme packageentitled: “film making andmedia practice training”entails training on acting,voice modulation,directing, cinematography,editing, scripting (screeninterpretation and screenplay), the Art of makingdocumentaries, as well ascontinuity and filmproduction management.

Speaking on this novelevent, managing directorof Magnus Film Academy,

Mr. Cyril Odenigbo,whose company recentlyconcluded a similartraining programme at theEnugu training centre,Enugu State, said theprogramme is open toevery youth with desireand willingness to take upcareer in the film industry.

Odenigbo explained thatpart of the motivationbehind the programmewas the fact that the filmindustry in Nigeria lacks aformal training and as suchthe vision of the filmAcademy is to create a solidplatform for talented youthsto master there craft andprovide the opportunity tobuild a career in filmproduction and directing.

He stressed that the filmmaking and media practicetraining is a youthempowerment schemedesigned to reach out to theless privileged youths andmembers of the public whodesire to take up careers infilm making and mediapractice but are hinderedby the high cost of training.

Motailatu Church International Sub-HeadquartersSuperintendent, Superintendent (Dr) Israel Akinadewo;CAN Chairman Osun State, Superior Evang. (Dr)Abraham Aladeseye; and other ministers of God; at thefoundation laying of Motailatu Church Cherubim &Seraphim Worldwide, Osogbo, Osun State

L-R: Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN, DolaBamgboye; Member, Lagos Polo Club, Femi Akande;and Senior Manager, Master Brand, Emamoke Ogoroat the Black Tie Nite; part of the activities of 2013 MTNLagos Polo Tournament at the Civic Centre in Lagos

Captain Dave Rollo of United States Navy andcoordinator of Obangame Express 2013, presenting aplaque to Captain Adeseye Ayobanjo, the NigerianContingent Commander and Commanding Officer NNSThunder, at the end of the exercise in Douala Cameroon

VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardCLASSIFIED

OWINJE—I, for-merly known andaddressed as MissOwinje SandraJolomi, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Adiotomre SandraJolomi. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

OKORRO—I, formerlyknown and addressed asMiss Okorro Stella OlaO l u w a t o y i n l o b aAbosede, now wish to beknown and addressed asMrs. Osaji Stella OlaO l u w a t o y i n l o b aAbosede. All former docu-ments remain valid. Gen-eral public please takenote.

ERUKAKPOMREN—I, formerly known andaddressed as MissEjiroghene BenedictaErukakpomren, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Ejiroghene BenedictaUghagha. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

EGWUMBA—I, for-merly known and ad-dressed as MissEgwumba JovitaUchechi, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Onyenege JovitaUchechi. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ALIH —I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Alih RabiyetuBlessing, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Ibrahim RabiyetuBlessing. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

OFILI —I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss OnyinyeBridget Ofili, now wishto be known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Onyinye Bridget Uwa.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

MBAEYI—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss MbaeyiChioma Anthonia,now wish to be knownand addressed asMrs. SamsonChukwusa ChiomaAnthonia . All formerdocuments remainvalid. NYSC and gen-eral public please takenote.

FUROKO—I, for-merly known and ad-dressed as MissJosephine OkuboereFuroko, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Josephine OkuboereChekwas . All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ADELOYE—I, for-merly known and ad-dressed as MissOluwaseyi FolashadeAdeloye, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Oluwaseyi FolashadeOmafokpe . All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

AMINU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss YetundeMoriam Aminu, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Yetunde MoriamOyeh. All former docu-ments remain valid.General public pleasetake note.

ANEKE —I, formerlyknown and ad-dressed as MissAneke EvelynOgonna, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Anunobi EvelynOgonna. All formerdocuments remainvalid. Federal Medi-cal Centre Asaba,Nursing and Mid-wifery Council of Ni-geria and generalpublic please takenote.

ADOGBEJI—I, for-merly known and ad-dressed as MissAdogbeji Felicia Ese,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Gelor Urhuemu FeliciaEse. All former docu-ments remain valid.NYSC and generalpublic please takenote.

ENUJIOKE—I, for-merly known and ad-dressed as MissEnujioke Agatha Ify,now wish to be knownand addressed asMrs. Agatha IfyRobert Nwajei. Allformer documents re-main valid. NYSC andgeneral public pleasetake note.

EZE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Eze NgoziBlessing, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Blessing NgoziChukwurah. Allformer documents re-main valid. DiamondBank and generalpublic please takenote.

OBI—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss ObiChikaodili MaryRose,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Obiude ChikaodiliMaryRose. All formerdocuments remainvalid. Nwafor OrizuCollege of EducationNsugbe, Federal Air-port Authority of Ni-geria and general pub-lic please take note.

CHUKE —I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss OluchukwuSantina Chuke, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Manasseh OluchukwuSantina. All formerdocuments remainvalid. UNN, Nsukka,NYSC and generalpublic take note.

EDEH—I, formerly knownand addressed as EdehHenrietta Chinenye, nowwish to be known and ad-dressed as NnamaniHenrietta Chinenye. Allformer documents remainvalid. University of NigeriaTeaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, School ofDistance Learning and Con-tinue Education Institute ofManagement and Technol-ogy Enugu, First Bank ofNigeria and general publicplease take note.

OKUDAA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Okudaa JaneThatcher Chinyere,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Ikeokwu JaneThatcher Chinyere. Allformer documents re-main valid. Generalpublic please take note.

EZEWUZIE—I, for-merly known and ad-dressed as MissEzewuzie ChiomaGeraldine, now wish tobe known and ad-dressed as Mrs.Okpalanukwu ChiomaGeraldine. All formerdocuments remainvalid. NYSC and gen-eral public please takenote.

EDOKWE—We, formerly known and addressed asEDOKWE family of Obiuno Otolo Nnewi, NnewiNorth LGA, Anambra State: Rev. Fr. HycinthEdokwe, Chief James Edokwe, Mr. JohnjoeEdokwe, Mr. Dominic Edokwe, Mr. EdozieEdokwe, Mr. Eloka Edokwe, Mr. Monday Edokwe,Mr. Aloy Edokwe, Mr. Chibuzo Edokwe, now wishto be known and addressed as CHUKWUKWE fam-ily: Rev: Fr. Hycinth Chukwukwe, Chief JamesChukwukwe, Mr. Johnjoe Chukwukwe, Mr.Dominic Chukwukwe, Mr. Edozie Chukwukwe,Mr. Eloka Chukwukwe, Mr. Monday Chukwukwe,Mr. Aloy Chukwukwe, Mr. Chibuzo Chukwukwe.All former documents remain valid. General publicplease take note.00

EGBUNU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss JoanUnekwuojo Egbunu,now wish to be knownand addressed asMrs. Joan UnekwuojoMbramizi. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OU RL A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D

M E D I A L I M I T E D ( L A G O S O F F I C E ) K I O S K4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE

01- 8737025

ADVERTHOTLINE

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4 , 2013

,

,

…As match commissionersgo back to school

tive costs.A popular football parlance says a na-

tions national team is as good as itsleague, a saying that has never appliedhere due to our tradition of dependingon wholesale on foreign based stars.Happily, the Nations Cup success hasproven that stars do exist in the domes-tic league that can hold their ownagainst the foreign armada, that is whythere is greater emphasis now on thedevelopment and proper administrationof the league.

This takes me back to the Match Com-missioners seminar, a yearly ritual thathas to evolve. Last year, the Linus Mbaled Resource Persons went as far assetting questions and including prac-ticals in the seminar that was meant tograde and classify the Commissioners.I want to believe that this year we willmove a step further.

There is need to eliminate the stateby state appointment of match commis-sioners , now that our league holdspromises of a brighter future. I want tobelieve that from this season the NFFand the NPL will have the courage toappoint only those match commission-ers that know what match commission-ing is all about. Men and women withvisible signs of livelihood. Honest, whowill not faint at the sight of fifty thou-sand naira only to resurrect and turnthe rules and regulations up side down!

I believe I can say the same thingabout referees. Who will worry if wehave only twenty qualified referees torun the league? It happens in the En-glish Premiership. Let it happen here.We should start now to classify the ref-erees and the match commissioners.

Match commissioners and refereesappointment committees must learn toignore calls for appointments based onstates and number. If we must appointreferees from Abuja alone, so be it aslong as they are competent. We shouldnever yield to the claim that “……sincethe league started no referee has beenappointed from one state or the oth-er….”

March 9 is tomorrow. Good luck Ni-geria.

See you next week.

I have been reliablyinformed that the Ni-

geria Football Federationhas concluded arrange-ments to hold a pre-sea-son Match Commission-ers seminar in Abuja thisweek. What this tells meis that the March 9 kickoff date of the Premierleague may be a realityafter all.

Just last week, somenotable and informedfootball administratorswere mandated to go takea look at some stadiumsbegging for approval be-fore the commencementof the league.

There has been one bee-hive of activity after an-other as all parties con-cerned have been in-volved in meetings anddialogues to guaranteethe kick off that has come months too late.

Coming on the heels of government’spromise to release some grants to theManagement Committee to start theleague, and in an effort to guarantee ahitch free kick off, the House of Repre-sentatives Committee on sports waded into broker peace by inviting ousted Chair-man Chief Rumson Baribote and the NFFleadership to a dialogue that I gathereddid not really go as planned.

Despite the muscular efforts by theHonorable Minister of Sports and Chair-man, National Sports Commission Mal-lam Bolaji Abdullahi to resolve the issue,selfish considerations, blackmail, mer-chantilistic and anti patriotic tendencieshave become the bane of such efforts.

That not withstanding, as earlier ar-gued, my confidence rises by the day, mybelief is strengthened that the league isdue for a take off at last.

Immediately after the Nations Cup,there was this sudden belief in the do-mestic league, one that drew some blankswhen it was reported that due to the noncommencement of the league no homebased star was likely to get a call up byStephen Keshi for the March World Cupdate.

How do you invite players who havebeen inactive for five months or more?

Sadly, the Nigeria league may be theonly one in the whole world that is yet tokick off its current season. Those with theopinion that this season could bescrapped are humbled by the need toproduce representatives for continentalcompetitions next season.

Otherwise put, to scrap the leaguemeans to lose a whole year in the historyof our football both locally and in the con-tinent. I will not mind the above statedposition if there was any guarantee thatour league will be better off for it. As itstands the kick off of the league will be awelcome development in the short term.But what happens after the 200 or so mil-lion naira promised by the NationalSports Commission runs out? By my es-timation one match is expected to costabout three hundred thousand naira,(match Commissioners and referees in-demnities alone) multiplied by the num-ber of matches not including administra-

THE dominance ofSouth West states in

table tennis continues atthe maiden Pastor EnochAdejare Adeboye Nation-al U-20 Table TennisChampionship, as Ondoand Ondo claimed the ti-tles at the one-week tour-

Ondo, Oyo win Adeboye U-20 National TableTennis Championship

nament held at Redemp-tion Camp, Lagos/IbadanExpressway.

In the men’s final, On-do’s Ojo Onaolapo was infine form against hercompatriot, Adewale Fag-bamila as he won 4-2 toclaim the title, while

Oyo’s Funmi Ajala an-nounced her emergencewhen she defeated Fati-mo Kazeem 4-2 also to liftthe coveted trophy.

The final match was pre-ceded by a seminar titledMaximising The Poten-tials Of Nigerian Youth InTable Tennis Towards The2016 Olympic Games.

Match commissioners andreferees appointment com-mittees must learn to ig-nore calls for appointmentsbased on states and number


CMYK

CMYK


Stop stabbing NFF

he was primed for sack bythe NFF during the AfricaCup of Nationstournament in SouthAfrica. He said, “I believeenough is enough of hisblackmail of the NigeriaFootball Federation.

We won the NationsCup in South Africa andeveryone is happy. Whycan’t Keshi thank God forthe success and share thejoy of all Nigerians? Whatis he constantlycomplaining andcriticizing the Federationfor? Did he just assembleplayers and fly them toSouth Africa and won theCup? Was the NFF notbehind him? Were thereno people who playedgreat roles and sacrificeda lot for the success of theteam as well?”

Anyansi admitted thatas part of their oversightfunctions, the board heldseveral meetings with the

Continues from BP coach in South Africa andquestions were raised asto why the team wasperforming belowexpectation early in thetournament.

“After our first two drawsagainst Burkina Faso andZambia, the NFF was putunder pressure by a lot ofNigerians whodemanded to know whythe Super Eagles hadperformed belowexpectations. During thistime in South Africa,meetings were held bymembers of theFederation to work out away to improve theperformance of the team.Keshi himself was a partof these meetings.”

The Enyimba bossdenied that the boardever lost faith in the teamand the technical crewduring the tournament.“After our victory againstEthiopia, everyone knewwe needed a lot much

more to overcome Coted’Ivoire. To show ourfaith, support and beliefin Keshi and his players,we gave $30,000 bonusesto all players and CoachKeshi received $60,000.This bonus should nothave been since the teamshould have earned$5000 for each draw and$10,000 for the win,making it $20,000 for theplayers and $40,000 forhim.

“So, he should behonest to himself andstop his criticisms of aNigeria FootballFederation that providedhim a platform tosucceed. He should stopstabbing the NFF in theback by putting himselfunder the spotlight andcast the NFF in bad light.His success is oursuccess, so there’s noway we are not going tobe supportive of him andgive him all theassistance he needs to dowell.”

activities will be positivelyimpacted while the Gameslast.

CSP Mba revealed thatthe athletes will becompeting in 28 events,three of which are non-scoring. The three venuesinclude the LiberationStadium which will also hostboth the Opening andClosing ceremonies, thenew Adokiye AmiesimakaStadium and the Agbani

Police GamesContinues from BP Derego Sports Complex; all

in Port Harcourt.The 25 scoring events

featuring at the Games areathletics, football,badminton, boxing, chess,cycling, baseball, golf,handball, hockey, judo,karate, kick-boxing,swimming, scrabble,squash, table tennis,shooting, taekwondo,tennis, tug-of-war,volleyball, weightlifting,wrestling and wushu kunfu.

Kenya

regain fitness and theSuper Eagles game willcome too soon.”

“Besides, it is only fairthat he concentrateswith Parma at this pointin time.”

Mariga’s absencecould open the door forIsraeli-based midfielderPatrick Osiako and GorMahia anchormanAnthony Akumu tofeature in midfieldalongside VictorWanyama and Peter‘Pinches’ Opiyo.

Continues from BP

Lagos Polo Int’l Tournament: Ibah emergeDansa Cup winners•as Trojan retain Lagos Open Cup

ADDO Ismail scoredthree of his side’s

goals as Kano Ibahupstaged Lagos Ericsson8-5 to win the Dansa Cupat the Lagos PoloInternational Tournamentyesterday.

In the final of the LagosOpen Cup of the double-phased tournamentwhich will resume on

Wednesday Tavia Trojanbeat Goodfellows/Ark 5-4to retain the trophy withSantiago Cernadasproducing a man of thematch performance forthe Trojan.

Defending championsEricsson rallied from agoal deficit to lead 2-1after Damien Duncanreplied twice following

Murtala Aliyu’s openinggoal from a 40-yardpenalty.

Duncan broke awayfrom the roll-in of thesecond chukka but couldnot connect his shot at thevital area thus allowingAliyu to clear.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470;Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Advert:[email protected]

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

e-mail: [email protected] to Play Sudoku THE VIGILANTE

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.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

FRIFRIFRIFRIFRIDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSTODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLE

Sudoku

VICE-CHAIRMANof the Nigeria

Football FederationTechnical Committee,Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, has hit out at theHead Coach of theSuper Eagles, StephenKeshi, over the‘disdainful anddishonest’ statementscredited to him in recenttimes.

Anyansi, who is alsothe chairman of two-timeAfrican champions,Enyimba Football Clubof Aba was leader ofdelegation of theNigerian contingent tothe pre-Afcon camp inFaro, Portugal and thetournament proper inSouth Africa.

In an exclusiveinterview withEnyimbaFC.net, the soft-spoken Anyansi couldnot hide his displeasureas he criticized CoachStephen Keshi for, as he

Stop stabbing NFF in theback — Anyansi tells Keshi

Police Games: 4,200 athletes,500 officials storm P/Harcourt

•As IG assures on fair officiating

MD Abubakar

Continues on Page 55Continues on Page 55

put it, “spending toomuch time ridiculingand damaging theimage of the NigeriaFootball Federation

(NFF)” since thetriumph of Nigeria at the2013 AFCONtournament in SouthAfrica.

Anyansi wasparticularly miffed bystatements credited tothe coach, alluding that

KENYA and Parmam i d f i e l d e r

Macdonald Mariga islikely to sit out theupcoming highlyanticipated 2014 WorldCup qualifier away to

2014 W/Cup qualifier: Kenya’s Marigaout of Nigeria clash

Nigeria, after failing torecover from injury.

The Inter Milanmidfielder, who is onloan at the StadioTardini, was stretcheredoff after pulling a

muscle, three minutesinto his full debutagainst Genoa in aleague match threeweeks ago.

A source close to thefamily confided inGoal.com that the playeris still nursing an injury.

“[Mariga] wont beavailable and theHarambee Starstechnical bench hasbeen informed of thatdevelopment. I believehe will be fit very soon,but should need time toContinues on Page 55

FOUR thousand twohundred Police

athletes and 500 officialsare in Port Harcourt, thecapital of Rivers Statefor the 10th BiennialPolice Games beginningtoday through 9thMarch, 2013, in threedifferent venues in theGarden City. This wasmade known by theDeputy Force RelationsOfficer, CSP Frank Mba,at Force Headquarters,Abuja .

Speaking on behalf ofthe Inspector-General ofPolice, IGP MDAbubakar, CFR, NPM,mni, the ForceSpokesman informedthat the athletes arePolice men and womendrawn from PoliceCommands and

Formations across thecountry, to representZones 1- 12 Commandsof the Nigeria PoliceForce and ForceHeadquarters. Thepresence of theseathletes he said, willadd glamour to the sociallife of the people of PortHarcourt and itsenvirons. It is alsoexpected that economic

Paul Bassey's column on Page 52

ACROSS4 Vain (5)7 Staggered (6)9 Shelter (3)10 Odd (3)12 Cattle-farm (5)13 Cradle (4)15 Melody (5)17 Agile (6)19 Volume (4)20 View (5)22 Label (3)24 Waned (7)27 Child (3)28 Stadium (5)31 Alcove (4)33 Smoke-stack (6)35 Degree (5)37 Rouse (4)38 Crest (5)39 Sheep (3)42 Felt (6)43 Poor (5)

DOWN1 Uproar (6)2 Purify (6)3 Through (3)4 Fairy (4)5 Respond (5)6 Rare (8)8 Mute (4)11 Host (9)14 Tie (4)16 Scorch (4)18 Encounter (4)21 Consist (8)23 Vegetable (4)25 Couch (4)26 Sketched (4)29 Pass (6)30 Corrects (6)32 Urged (5)34 Information (4)36 Depend (4)40 Fish (3)

ACROSS: 1, Grip 4, Cap 6, Gasp 9, Rim 10,Strainer 11, Alas 14, Oil 16, Reply 19,Renowned 21, Lever 23, Defender 24, Large27, Lid 31, Pure 33, Critical 34, Sue 35, Reed36, Ode 37, Deal.

DOWN: 2, Rite 3, Plan 4, Confined 5, Part6, Grave 7, Ail 8, Small 12, Frail 13, Under14, Owl 15, Level 17, Pride 18, Yearn 20,Definite 22, Red 25, Amuse 26 Greed 28,Echo 29, Find 30, Data 32, Rue.

KING OF SPORTS: Action recorded at the Lagos Int'l Polo Tournamentyesterday as Kano Ibah beat Lagos Ericsson 8-5 to win the Dansa Cup

CMYK

a month to retirement: kwara cp murdered

Documents

love god

o n t h t o r e t i

tomorrows vanguard

8cmyk2 vanguard

senate president

ones inner beauty

better life

morespiritual life