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VOL. 25: NO. 61225 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 N150

I’m a thorough-bred Yoruba man—Obasanjo

By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political
Editor
M Y father, who was by every measure,
the most successful farmer in the
village and in the Ibogun area, was a proud
Yoruba man and he told me about Oduduwa,
the founder of the Yoruba nation. Papa had
heard this story from his own father, Baba
Alarobo, who had heard it from his father, Baba
Elesin. Papa said this story had been told for
hundreds of years in our family in this ‘father-
to-son’ way. Although, my father never stopped
teaching us Yoruba culture, proverbs and
tradition, he made us also respect the
language, the culture, traditions and way of
life of other people living in the village.
F or the first time since some Yoruba
leaders alleged in 2007 that his
Continues on page 5 President Obasanjo

ARMS SEIZURE:
FG orders red
alert at borders FOR BABA'S STORY AND NIGERIA @50•••
By Kingsley Omonobi,
Daniel Idonor, Godwin
Oritse & Ifeyinwa Obi

A BUJA—WORRIED
by the recent seizure
of arms and ammunition in
Apapa Ports, Lagos, the
Federal Government,
yesterday, ordered the
beefing up of security at all
the nation’s airports and
seaports and stricter
surveillance at border
posts.
The government gave the
Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

From left: Chief Obafemi Olopade, OFR, Chairman at the occasion; former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kuffour; Abyna-Ansaa
Adjei, author; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Mrs. Bola Obasanjo; former Governor of Jigawa State, and Senator
Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, representing the Senate President, at the presentation of the book 'Baba's Story: Nigeria is 50' , authored
by Abyna Ansaa Adjei, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

COLUMNISTS NMA blames Lagos

OWEI LAKEMFA DONU KOGBARA ‘How Nigeria
govt for strike, almost lost civil
French protests Corruption
can’t happen here threatens to join •Pg 6 war to Biafra' •Pg 5
update •Pg 19
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Arms seizure: FG orders red alert at borders
Continues from Page 1
order after a high level
security meeting between
the National Security
Adviser, NSA, General
Andrew Azazi (rtd), and top
security chiefs which lasted
over five hours.
This came as more facts
emerged on how an official
who was shortchanged on a
deal in the importation
leaked the information that
led to the interception.
A foreigner, Customs
agent of the importer and
one other person are
already in custody over the
incident.
Vanguard investigations
revealed that at the end of
the security talks, it was
resolved that all security
operatives at all border posts
be put on red alert, until and
after May 29, 2011
handover date.
At the meeting were the
Chief of Defence Staff,
Oluseyi Petirin; Director
General of the State
Security Services, SSS; and
Director General of the
National Intelligence
Agency, NIA.
Also in attendance were
the Inspector General of
Police, IGP, and other heads
of security agencies in the
country.
Vanguard sources said
that following the arms
haul, the Federal
Government had directed
stricter security presence at
the Apapa Ports, the Onne
Port and other major ports
across the country to
forestall the use of such
routes for arms shipments
into the country.
Navy placed
on alert
A highly placed security
source told Vanguard that
the Nigeria Navy has been
instructed to keep keen eyes
on most of the dreaded
routes in the nation’s
territorial waters to stem
any possible shipment of
arms into the country
through such routes.
“The Navy is put on the
alert and has been
instructed to strictly monitor
all the water ways so that
nobody can ship any arm
into the country. The
President is concerned over
the matter of arms
proliferation in the country
and he wants everything
possible to be done to
reduce it”.
President Jonathan had
told the United Nations
General Assembly, in New
York, last month that
Nigeria will spearhead the
campaign against the
proliferation of small arms
and light weapons stressing
that the presence of such
small arms in the continent
of Africa had led to the death
of millions of people.
Meanwhile, a retired
Army Colonel who spoke to
Vanguard on the condition
of anonymity said that
owners of the deadly cargo
had allegedly offered
monies to some
Government officials who in
the process of moving
money around short
changed an official who
then leaked the information
to the SSS and burst the
deal.
The Colonel explained
that the security agencies
made a mistake by
intercepting the container
and raising alarm over the
interception. He stated that
what the security agencies
ought to have done was to
ensure the clearance of the
containers and trail them to
their final destination,
noting that the owners of the
consignment would have
been arrested.
The war veteran told
Vanguard the war heads
were capable of causing
massive destruction if they
are detonated..
Vanguard also learnt that
security agencies were
working on the theory that
the Apapa Port shipment
was not the only one
dispatched to the country
and that other penetrating
inlets into the country like
the nation’s borders with
countries such as Seme,
Chad, Cameroon and Benin
would have been taken into
consideration as ‘Plan B’.
Security at airports,
border posts
Consequently, the source
said all airports, border
areas and many of the
seaports which hitherto
were looked at as less
harmful to national
security, are to be given high
alert status since experience
has shown that “those
behind these desperate
measures, would go to any
length to move in more
weapons and achieve their
aim.”
Speaking on the arms
seizure, former Chief of
Naval Staff Rear Admiral
Godwin Ombu (rtd) said it
was the responsibility of all
stakeholders in the port to
ensure a well secured
maritime environment. He
noted that there was lack of
cohesion amongst security
operatives in the port on the
recent illegal importation
of arms and ammunition .
On the volume of arms
import, the former Naval
"chief said that the current
maritime security agencies
will find it difficult to rise to
the present security
challenges in the ports if
they are not well equipped.
Ombu who spoke at the
Nigerian Maritime
Exposition 2011 meeting
‘How Nigeria almost lost
civil war to Biafra'
By Clifford Ndujihe,
Deputy Political Editor
L
AGOS— BUT for a
total overhaul of her
war strategy 24 months
into the gun-duel, Nigeria
would have lost the civil
war to the defunct
Republic of Biafra,
immediate past President,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,
said, yesterday.
Obasanjo, who co-wrote
the Nigeria war plan and
fought on the battle field,
spoke via a new book on
him entitled: “Baba’s
Story: Nigeria is 50,”
which was presented in
Lagos.
He spoke as immediate
past Ghanaian President,
John Agyekum Kuffuor, in
a chat with reporters at the
event, urged Nigerians to
organise credible polls in
2011 to boost unity,
stated that the issue of
maritime security is the
responsibility of every
stakeholder adding that
maritime security agencies
alone cannot cope with the
challenges.
He said “Maritime
security is the responsibility
of all stakeholders in the
maritime industry, and
security operatives in the
ports cannot cope with all
the security threat we
experience every day at the
ports. We as individuals, we
are not a security friendly
people, we are also not a
security conscious people.
“On the importation of
the illegal arms, there will
continue to be bad people
everywhere in every country
in the world and whatever
policies the government
brings these evil people will
find a way to circumvent
them.
“The problem we have in
the country is that we are not
security conscious at our
ports. Secondly, our
maritime security agencies
will find it difficult to get the
equipment to meet the
responsibility that is given
them.
“Thirdly and
unfortunately there is no
cohesion within our
maritime security agencies.
We do not speak together
and we have no avenue to
sit down and talk together
to analyze the situations, go
home and see what we can
do to pro-actively solve the
problem
NIMAREX will be one of
such forum that will bring
out these lapses so that both
the government and all will
know that we really must do
something about our
maritime security so that we
can checkmate such evil in
our society”.
Comptroller General of
the Nigerian Custom
Service, Alhaji Dikko
Abdullahi, who visited APM
Terminal to inspect the
seized containers hailed
security agencies that
intercepted the 13
containers of ammunition
for their diligence and
competence.
He said: “What I’ve seen
today shows that Nigerians
are very prayerful, but I
want to advise that one
stability and prosperity in
the country and to cement
relations between Nigeria
and Ghana.
Obasanjo explained in
the book authored by a
Ghanaian, Abyna-Ansaa
Adjei, how politicians
threw away the
opportunity to remain in
power after the partially
successful first coup of
1966 and how separatist
Biafra almost edged out
Nigeria in the 30-month
civil war.
The former President
said that along with Col.
Ilya Bisala, he
participated in writing the
appreciation and the order
for federal military
operations in the civil war,
noting that the original
time-line for the ‘police
action’ against Biafra was
three months, and a
Continues on Page 12
should trust our
government and have
confidence in our leaders,
that is the only way we can
move forward.
“The cargo did not come
with RAR or Form M. There
was an attempt to clear it
and it showed that there was
query in documentation.
So, we have a very solid
system. The irregularities
were detected during the
clearing process. I want you
to be rest assured that
investigation still continues
because we’ll not allow it to
be swept under the carpet
because this country
belongs to all of us”.
I’m a thorough-bred Yoruba man—Obasanjo
Continues from Page 1
biological father was not
a Yoruba man, immediate
past President, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, has
opened up on the matter.
Following comments
ahead the 2007 polls, that
the South-West, through
Obasanjo had held power
for eight years and as such
should not expect power
until 40 years later when
the other five zones would
have tasted power, some
Yoruba leaders alleged
that Obasanjo was
biologically an Igbo man.
According to them,
Obasanjo’s father was
Onyekwelu from Onitsha
in Anambra State and so
his reign should be viewed
as an Igbo reign.Unlike
Obasanjo, he did not react
to the allegation.
However, he has done so
in an unusual manner via
a book on him entitled:
Baba’s Story: Nigeria is
50,” authored by a
Ghanaian, Abyna-Ansaa
Adjei. The book was
presented, yesterday, in
Lagos.
Political history
of Nigeria
Obasanjo, in the 207-
paragraph book, traced
his ancestry and the
political history of
Nigeria.
Speaking on his
childhood, and growing up
days, he said on page nine
of the book: “I was born in
a village called Ibogun-
Olaogun in what was then
Abeokuta Province and
which is today part of Ifo
Local Government Area in
Ogun State. This village is
only 30 kilometres from
Abeokuta. As a child, I
lived in Ibogun-Olaogun
with my parents and my
younger sister, Oluwola.
Our childhood was a
simple one spent in a
typical Nigerian farming
settlement. Our village
had less than 50 huts built
with mud walls and mostly
thatched roofs and the only
jobs at the time were
farming or petty trading in
farm products.
“By age five, I had
started going to the farm
with Papa and that was
when he began to teach me
about the history, culture
and traditions of my
ancestors and our land.
Our village, though small,
was composed of other
ethnic groups such as
Itsekiri, Urhobo, Igbira,
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
Hausa, Igbo and Ijaw who
were also either petty
traders or farm hands. My
father, who was by every
measure, the most
successful farmer in the
village and in the Ibogun
area, was a proud Yoruba
man and he told me about
Oduduwa, the founder of
the Yoruba nation.
“Papa had heard this
story from his own father,
Baba Alarobo, who had
heard it from his father,
Baba Elesin. Papa said this
story had been told for
hundreds of years in our
family in this ‘father-to-
son’ way. Although, my
father never stopped
teaching us Yoruba
culture, proverbs and
tradition, he made us also
respect the language, the
culture, traditions and way
of life of other people
living in the village.”
With these words,
Obasanjo has replied his
opponents.
Also quoting from the
book Obasanjo also said:
“Let me tell you more of
what I learned about the
Yoruba history. Oduduwa
was the eldest son of King
Lamurudu of Mecca in
Saudi Arabia. Mecca is the
centre of the Islamic
world. Oduduwa
worshipped idols instead
of practising Islam.
"The elders of Mecca
were very unhappy about
this. There was a fight and
King Lamurudu was killed
and so Oduduwa and his
men had to leave Mecca,
making their way west.
“For ninety days and
nights they travelled
looking for a new
settlement. They finally
stopped somewhere, in
what is present-day
Nigeria, and built a town
called Ile- Ife.
“My cousin, Taiwo, told
me another story about the
Yorubas that his grandpa,
my Great Uncle Adebayo,
had shared with him. This
story regarded Oduduwa
as son of Olodumare, the
Yoruba creator-god.
Olodumare had sent
Oduduwa to earth to
create dry land over the
water and, by so doing,
founded Ile-Ife. It is,
therefore, no surprise that
many Yorubas regard Ife
as the centre of creation
and the cradle of
civilization.
“Oduduwa’s eldest son
was called Okanbi.
Okanbi had seven children
who became the pillars of
the Yoruba nation.
Okanbi’s third child
became King of Benin.
When Okanbi died, his
older children got the
lion’s share of what their
father left. Cattle, wives,
money, royal beads and the
crown were quickly shared.
His youngest son,
Oranyan, was given only
bare land.
“However, Oranyan
soon became the richest
amongst his siblings. This
happened because to get
any land to build or farm,
the older siblings had to
part with their ‘riches’ of
animals, servants, money
or royal beads. Oranyan
then founded Oyo and
became its first King.
Today, if you visit Ile-Ife,
there is a stone pillar
marking where this great
son of Yoruba is buried.
This pillar is called the
staff of Oranyan.
Other ethnic
groups
“My father made sure he
taught me about other
ethnic groups in Nigeria.
My childhood friend,
Adamu, with whom I
played all my childhood
pranks, was Hausa. His
grandfather, Papa Buba,
had moved from a place in
the North called Kebbi to
settle in our village, long
before I was born.
Oduduwa is to the Yoruba
what Bayajida is to the
Hausa and Daura in
Katsina State is their
origin. Chukwu was my
other childhood friend in
the village. He was an
Igbo, the son of Papa
Nkechi. Papa Nkechi was
a palmwine tapper in
addition to being a farmer.
“The Igbo people make
up one of the largest ethnic
groups in Nigeria. My
father told me the story of
how the Igbos came to
settle in Igboland. The
divine King, Eri, is said to
be the godfather of the
Igbo civilization. He was
sent down to earth by God
who, in the Igbo language,
is called Chukwu.
When he got to earth, it
was watery and swampy.
There was no dry place to
set his feet, so Eri told
Chukwu he had had a very
rough landing and, as
such, had settled on top of
an anthill. Chukwu sent a
blacksmith armed with
fire and charcoal to dry the
earth. Eri then settled in
the middle of Anambra
valley.
 6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
LECTURE: From left, Mr. Richard Akinnola, Coordinator, Dele Giwa Forum;
Mr. Tony Iyare, Special Adviser on Media to Edo State Governor; and Mr. Emeka,
at the Dele Giwa Good Governanece Forum-organised lecture.
NMA blames Lagos govt for strike,
threatens to join
By Chioma Obinna
T HE ongoing 10-
week-old strike em-
barked on by the Medi-
cal Guild, an association
of doctors working under
the employment of Lagos
State Government, yes-
terday, took another di-
mension as members of
their parent body, Nige-
ria Medical Association,
NMA, Lagos branch
C threatened to begin a 3-
day solidarity strike should
M ria—Which Way 2011?”
Y the state government fail
to meet their demands by
K November 3.
Addressing a press con-
ference in Lagos after an
emergency meeting of
NMA at the National
Orthopaedic Hospital,
Igbobi, the aggrieved
doctors warned that un-
less the government
changes its stance, all
doctors working in Fed-
eral public hospitals in
the state would with-
draw services for three
days from Wednesday,
November 3 to Friday,
November 5, 2010.
Lagos Chairman of
NMA, Dr. Edamisan
Temiye, alleged that the
Lagos State Government
NAFDAC cautions pregnant women
over illegal baby tonic
By Chioma Obinna
N ATIONAL Agency
for Food and Drug
Administration and Con-
trol, NAFDAC, has alerted
on the illegal manufactur-
ing of Baby Delivery
Mother Tonic, BDMT,
popularly called Abiwere
herbal mixture, warning
pregnant women in the
country to stop buying
and administering a brand
of easy baby delivery
tonic as it had been found
to be adulterated.
According to the
NAFDAC officials, the
owner operating under
had simply ignored the
striking doctors and by
extension ignoring the
wellbeing of the 17 million
people in the state.
Temiye explained that
the solidarity strike was
to sound a note of
warning to the state
government that the fact
that doctors in the fed-
eral health institutions
are working should not
be an excuse for not
addressing the crisis.
His said: “Maybe the
government feels that
... as LASU unions hold rally against
embattled VC
By Emmanuel Edukugho
L AGOS—ACADEMIC
and non-academic
staff of Lagos State
University, LASU, held a
protest rally yesterday,
seeking the implemen-
tation of the FGN/ASUU
Agreement 2009 and the
sack of the embattled
Vice-Chancellor, Profes-
sor Lateef Hussein, whom
the Lagos State House of
Assembly had passed a
vote of no confidence on
the name, M.A.
Adewunmi and Sons, was
found operating in a
dilapidated and unhy-
gienic building around
Agbeni Market in Ibadan
metropolis.
Harvard partners Lagos on human devt
L AGOS State Govern-
ment has signed an
agreement with the
Harvard Kennedy School
of Government to con-
duct an Executive Edu-
cation program for the
state.
The programme en-
titled Innovation for Eco-
since the federal health
institutions are working,
they can afford not to do
any thing. This will be a
warning strike.
'It's a national issue'
“There is a national
council of states where
governors meet. The
patients that are suffer-
ing in Lagos belong to
the Federation of Nige-
ria. They are not foreign-
ers. The president of
those people is Presi-
and urged Governor
Babatunde Fashola to
remove him from office.
As early as 10a.m.,
workers, lecturers of all
the tertiary institutions in
Lagos State had gathered
at the Eyo Square in the
centre of the campus
anchored by Senior Staff
Association of Nigerian
Universities, SSNU, LASU
chapter chairman, Ms.
Funmi Sessi to begin a
solidarity march which
took the striking workers
The Deputy Director
and South-West Zonal
Head of NAFDAC, Mrs.
Omosola Osinbajo con-
ducted journalists
around the company's
premises.
nomic Development,
IFED, will be conducted
by Harvard Kennedy
School Faculty member
and Chair, Professor
Calestous Juma in Lagos.
Disclosing this at a
meeting with top man-
agement staff of the
ministry, the Commis-
HONOUR: First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (left) presenting a Gender-
Friendly Governor trophy to Chief Josephine Ezogbodo, Bayelsa State
Commissioner for Education, representing Governor Timipre Sylva, at the
launching of Women for Change Initiative, Bayelsa State chapter. With them is
Bayelsa State First Lady, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva (right).
Bakare vows to mobilise
12m Nigerians against IBB
By Sam Eyoboka & Lagos, the fiery gospel
preacher and social cru-
Olayinka Latona
dent Good Luck sader, said: “If it re-
Jonathan, the health
minister is the same. L AGOS—CON-
VENER of Save
Nigeria Group, Pastor
mains the last drop of my
blood, I will resist the
candidacy of Gen. Ibrahim
“We also want them to
talk to the state govern- Tunde Bakare, yester- Babangida.”
ment to address the day, vowed to mobilise Continuing, Bakare
crises urgently. Gov- 12 million Nigerians to vowed that IBB will not be
ernment has never said campaign against the allowed to rule this
the demands of the candidacy of erstwhile country again, “because
doctors are outrageous military President, Gen- he annulled the freest
or not justified. eral Ibrahim Babangida and fairest election in the
“If they knew that the in next year’s election. history of the country and
demands were justifi- Delivering a lecture now without feeling re-
able and not outra- entitled The Interplay of morse about his action, he
geous, why don’t they Religion in the Leader- wants to come back
give them what belongs ship Failings in Nige- through the back door
and enslave the nation
to them?”
at the seventh annual again.
Adeleke Adejobi Foun- “We won’t allow that to
dation public lecture in happen again.”
Lottery: US targets 6,000
to the Badagry Express-
way slightly affecting
Nigerian immigrants
traffic flow.
Among the protesting
unions were Academic
By Vera Anyagafu America, through the DV
lottery which was man-
Staff Union of Universi-
ties, ASUU; SSANU; U NITED States Em-
bassy in Nigeria has
said that a total of about
dated by the US congress
in 1995 to open up a rare
avenue for legal migra-
National Association of
Academic Technologists, 6,000 immigrants from tions into the USA, ac-
NAAT; Colleges of Edu- Nigeria are being ex- cording to Boyette, has
cation Academic Staff pected to emerge from so far succeeded in en-
Union, COEASU; the US DV 2012 visa lot- couraging the legal mi-
Michael Otedola Col- tery. gration of individuals
lege of Primary Educa- Briefing newsmen yes- from third world coun-
tion, MOCOPED; Aca- terday at the Public Af- tries who ordinarily
demic Staff Union of fairs section of the Unit- would not have the pre-
Polytechnics, ASUP; ed States Consular-Gen- requisite to apply
Non-Academic Staff eral, broadstreet, Lagos, through the normal pro-
Union, etc.
Addressing the mam-
the consular officer, Boy-
ette Charity, explained
cess.
He emphased, “the US
moth rally, SSANU-
LASU Chairman, Funmi
that the target is based
on the fact that Nigeria
Congress encourages di-
versity of people without
Sessi, praised the cour- pulls the largest number sponsors, jobs or bank
age of the workers in of players, followed by accounts, but who pos-
fight for their rights, Ghana. sess a minimum of SSCE
insisting that they will
not give up their rights,
The United States of from all over the world.”
even with traitors on Adeferasin, others speak
the prowl.
at leadership conference
sioner for Establish-
ments, Training and
T HE 2010 edition of
the annual Excel-
lence in Leadership Con-
the Rock, Paul Adeferasin,
among other powerful
men of God.
Pensions, Mr. Jide ference, organised by The event slated to hold
Sanwo-Olu, said the Daystar Christian Center, from Wednesday Novem-
overall objective of the will have as speakers the ber 10 to Friday Novem-
course is to help founder of Ghana’s pre- ber 12 at Daystar Chris-
strengthen the capacity mier university, The Cen- tian Center, Oregun,
of Lagos State as a tral University College, Lagos is divided into two
strategic driver of devel- Ghana, Mensah Otabil, sessions, the general and
opment through science. Senior Pastor of House on the specialised sessions.

Rep gives awards
to Badagry students
By Olasunkomi Akoni
A S part of efforts to im-
prove the standard of
education in the state, a
member of the Federal
House of Representa-
tives, Mr. Samuel Se-
joro, representing Bada-
gry Constituency in La-
gos, has disbursed N7.
595 million as bursary
award to 908 students of
various tertiary institu-
tions residents in
Badagry.
Presenting the cash
award of N10,000 to each
of the beneficiaries at the
third annual bursary
award held at Badagry
Town Hall, comprising
310 students, Sejiro ex-
plained that the aim was
Mimiko urges women to protest naked
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
& Monsur Olowoopejo
against corruption
L AGOS—GOVER-
NOR Olusegun
Mimiko of Ondo State
identified defective up-
bringing and personali-
ty problems as key fac-
tors responsible for the
reason political leaders
often steal public funds
and engage in various
acts of corruption in pub-
C
lic offices.
Mimiko, however,
M
Y
urged women at differ-
ent levels to fully get in-
volved in political activ-
K ism by protesting naked
against all forms of in-
justice and corrupt prac-
tices.
He made the remarks
at the tenth National
Women Conference,
NWC, which was organ-
ised by the Committee of
Wives of Lagos State Of-
NUPENG threatens strike over sacked
Chevron workers
N ATIONAL Union of
Petroleum and Nat-
ural Gas Workers, NU-
PENG, yesterday, gave
Chevron Nigeria Ltd till
November 1 to reinstate
its sacked members or
face an industrial action.
Mr. Tokunbo Korodo,
Lagos Zonal Chairman
of the union, told the
Request to withdraw charge
against Anosike rejected
By Innocent Anaba
A Federal High Court
sitting in Lagos, yes-
terday, refused to grant
the request of the Attor-
ney-General of the Fed-
eration and Minister of
Justice, Mr. Mohammed
Adoke(SAN), to withdraw
criminal charges filed
against Fidelis Anosike and
four others before the court.
to assist the students in
addressing part of the fi-
nancial constraints in
their education.
The lawmaker, who
stressed that education is
pivotal in the develop-
ment process of any hu-
man community and the
nation at large, noted
that the problem of fi-
nancing education in
Nigeria is a serious one
as most parents and
guardians have less ca-
pacity in financing their
children’s and wards’
education.
The beneficiaries in-
clude students who are
indigenes of Badagry
studying in the state high-
er institutions such as La-
gos State University.
ficials, COWLSO, held in
Lagos.
Also at the conference
were: the state governor,
Mr. Babatunde Raji
Fashola(SAN); Lagos
State Chairman of the Ac-
tion Congress of Nigeria,
ACN; Delta State First
Lady, Mrs. Roli Udu-
aghan, and her Ondo
State counterpart, Mrs.
Oluwakemi Mimiko,
among others.
Defective upbringing
Mimiko blamed the
rot in the country on
what he described as
“defective upbringing,
collapsed value system
and weak family struc-
ture, which did not
help build require-
ments for the prudent
News Agency of Nigeria,
NAN, that the union
would carry out its threat
because its appeal to the
management on the mat-
ter had not succeeded.
Korodo said that apart
from the sacked workers,
Chevron had also failed
to recognise its union
executives at the Logis-
The Federal Govern-
ment had recently filed a
21-count charge of con-
spiracy and stealing of
over N3 billion worth of
property belonging to
Daily Times of Nigeria
against Fidelis Anosike
and his brother, Noel
Anosike, their company,
Folio Communications
Ltd, one Nicholas Okoye
and Gogo Kurubo.
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010—7
CONFERENCE: From left, Mr. Michael Itaghoje, President/Chairman, Chartered Institute of Stock-
brokers; Mr. Oladipo Williams, immediate past President, and Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, Lagos State Com-
missioner for Finance, during the Commissioner's investiture as a Fellow of the institute at its 14th
annual conference held in Abuja, recently.
Man
arraigned for
bringing is responsible
for leadership problems
bathing
hotelier
in the country today.
management of public
funds”.
He said: “It is only in
has personality prob-
lems and defective
background. The con-
“When a man steals
more than he needs,
you will discover that
with hot
water
this part of the world sequence brings about something is wrong
that leaders will steal sufferings for several with him. Until we have
more than three or four
generations' need. This
millions.
“The building of a
a solid family system, it
will be difficult to cure P OLICE in Lagos has
arraigned a 33-year-
old man, Seyi Peters, who
is very unfortunate. country starts with a Nigeria ’s perennial
Such a leader indeed family. Defective up- problems.” allegedly poured hot
water on a female oper-
ator of a restaurant.
NDLEA arrests 60-yr-old drug Peters was alleged to
have committed the of-
fence under the influ-
By Kenneth Ehigiator trafficker ed last year when I con- ence of alcohol.
Charged with assault
templated smuggling
N
ATIONAL Drug woman (names drugs. They gave me bit- before an Ikeja Magis-
Law Enforcement withheld)for a similar of- ter cola to swallow which trate’s Court, Peters
Agency, NDLEA, has ar- fence. I did, but I later changed pleaded not guilty even
rested a 60-year-old man According to the agency, my mind after the trial. as he wept profusely.
(names withheld) at the both suspects ingested a “Three weeks ago, I He told Magistrate D.
Murtala Muhammed total 189 wraps of heroin, was contacted by the T. Olatokun amid tears
Airport, Lagos, for drug weighing 3.140kg. same people and I that he lost control of
trafficking. While one ingested 83 agreed to do it for 10,000 himself.
Also picked up at the wraps, weighing dollars. Now I know that Olatokun granted him
airport was a 47-year-old 1.120kg, the other in- I have made a mistake.” bail in the sum of
gested 106 wraps of co- The woman suspect was N250,000 with two sure-
caine, weighing 1.920kg. to board a Virgin Atlantic ties in like sum.
It was learnt that the flight to London when she The prosecutor, DSP
Aruna Ebhodaghe, told
man, a transport admin- was caught at the scan-
istrator residing at Surul- ning point of the airport. the court that Peters
poured a pot of boiling
ere, Lagos, would have She would have been
tic Facility Affairs Ltd,
a contractor under
Chevron in Lekki, La-
been paid $10,000 if he
had succeeded in taking
paid 3,500 pounds had
she succeeded in traffick-
water on Mrs Patience
Johnson who had served
him some bottles of drinks
the illicit drug out of the ing the illicit drug.
gos. country. She said: “I needed in her restaurant.
He said the union He said: “My wife had money for my medica- Ebhodaghe said that Pe-
had planned to embark a surgical operation that tion because I am sick. ters got the boiling water
on the strike yesterday, cost about N1.5 million When I met the people from a nearby eatery, add-
but had to suspend it last year. I am still pay- in Lagos, they promised ing that he committed the
because of the appeal ing the debt I incurred to pay me 3,500 pounds alleged offence on Octo-
from other stakeholders from the medical bill. and I agreed to swallow ber 23 at 1, College Road,
in the sector. “All the same, it all start- the drugs.” Ifako, Agege.
Korodo said the union
had fixed an emergency
meeting for Sunday in
Abuja to map out strate-
Sanitation exercise: Lagos suspends
gies for the strike. restriction order for NECO
He said the workers
had earlier embarked on By Olasunkomi Akoni the November/ December adding that Environ-
a warning strike to con- 2010 National Examina- mental Health Officers,
vey the seriousness of its
demands to the company.
Korodo said: “The
L AGOS State Govern-
ment has suspended
the restriction order on
tion Council, NECO, ex-
aminations.
Governor Babatunde
men of KAI and related
officers have been man-
dated to go round and
strike is going to be to- movement for the month- Fashola of Lagos State bring residents of filthy
tal and will disrupt pe- ly sanitation exercise on approved the suspen- tenements and environ-
troleum products sup- October 30 and Novem- sion order but directed ment to book; while the
ply to the western part ber 27, to allow for free that the exercise be ob- L AWMA will deploy
of the countr y. NU- movement of examina- served by everyone. men and materials to
PENG will not allow its tion materials, invigila- Commissioner for the ensure quick evacuation
members to be used as tors and the students Environment, Dr. Muiz of waste generated dur-
slaves and dumped.” that will be partaking in Banire, disclosed this, ing the exercise.
8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
Visually
impaired
cleric
donates N5m
police post
By Ola Ajayi
I BADAN—AS a result
of rampant cases of
armed robbery within the
neighbourhood of Alaseyori
in Akinyele Local
Government area of Oyo
State, a visually impaired
prophet, Pastor Muyideen
Kasali has donated a police
post worth N5m.
The police post is to serve
no fewer than 12 villages
in the area. The villages are
Jarija, Bamidele, Logun,
Ojedeji 1 and 2, Saanu and
Sango-Ibon and other
surrounding villages.
According to the prophet
who has lost his sight when
he was three years old said
we should not leave
everything for the
government to do but all of
us must contribute our
quota to make life worth
living.
2011: Group
calls for
reformation
of police
By Dayo Johnson
A KURE—AHEAD of
the 2011 General
Elections, the Network on
Police Reform in the
Nigeria, NOPRIN,
yesterday called for
reformation of the Nigerian
Police for free, fair and
peaceful elections in the
country.
Its Chairman, Mr. Andy
Nkemneme, stated at the
opening of the Public
Tribunal on Police Abuse in
Nigeria arganised by
NOPRIN in collaboration
with National Human
Rights Commission,
NHRC and National
Committee in Torture.
Ijebu-Jesa
celebrates
Egboro day
A RRANGEMENT has
been concluded for
this year ’s Egboro day
celebration at Ijebu–Jesha,
Osun State, as approved by
the Kabiyesi his royal
Majesty, Felix Aribisala.
According to programmes
of event by Olukiran
Oluyemi and John Yemi
Ayeni, chairman and
secretary of the planning
committee, the week long
event will kick off on
November 1, 2010 with
inter-denominational
prayer and on November 2,
there will be an inter school
quiz competition, with a
football competition on
November 3.
AWARD—Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State (left) and Prof Oyelowo
Oyewo, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos during the presentation of
Class 2010 outstanding award to Governor Akala in Ibadan, yesterday.
Mr Muhammed Mundu, Zonal Comptroller, Oyo/Osun Customs Zonal Com-
mand (left) displaying goods seized from smugglers to newsmen in Ibadan,
on Wednesday. Photo by Dare Fasube.
CONMESS: Ogun
doctors begin strike
...accuse govt of insincerity
By Kolade Larewaju
A B E O K U TA —
GOVERNMENT
health care system in
Ogun State was yesterday
paralysed as medical
doctors in the state under
the aegis of the Nigeria
Medical Association,
NMA, began an
indefinite strike .
The strike followed the
alleged refusal of the state
government to implement
the Consolidated Medical
Salaries Scale,
CONMESS, among other
several other grievances
of the doctors.
It will be recalled that
doctors in the state last
month shelved their
strikes following a
directive from the national
headquarters of the NMA
to all striking doctors to
resume negotiations with
their respective state
governments.
Patients turned
back from hospitals
Many patients who
called at the state General
Hospital, Ijaiye,
Abeokuta, the one at
Iberekodo in Abeokuta
North Local Government
and the General Hospital
in Ijebu-Ode had to leave
without getting the
required treatment.
Addressing newsmen
yesterday which kick-
started the Association’s
one week long
"Physicians’ Week’’, the
State chairman of the
Association, Dr.
Adewunmi Alayaki
accused the State
Government of insincerity,
lamenting that
immediately the doctors
suspended the strike, the
state government also
suspended negotiation
with us.
”Immediately we
suspended the strike, they
(state government)
suspended negotiation
they were having. That’s
why in our SEC meeting
last Tuesday, the NMA
gave directive to all the
associate bodies that are
affected that they are free
to resume the strike”.
While appealing to
members of the public to
bear with the Association,
Alayaki lamented the
poor state of medical
facilities and poor
condition of service of
medical personnel in the
state.
Ogun govt
expresses suprise
Reacting to the strike,
the State Commissioner
for Health, Dr. Kunle
Salako expressed surprise
at the strike by the NMA,
saying “the Ministry of
Health is surprised that
the NMA is calling out the
doctors on
especially after the
meeting Ogun State
strike,
Governor, Otunba
Gbenga Daniel had with
all health workers on
Friday, 23rd October,
2010 and the commitment
by the governor to see
what can be done once
evidence of payment in
other states is presented
and the financial situation
of the state improves.”
Police arrest 2 suspects over
kidnap of Customs officer
By Kolade Larewaju
A BEOKUTA—TWO
suspects
kidnapped a 45-year-old
who
Superintendent of
Customs, Mr. Ekanem
John and demanded a
N250 million ransom have
been arrested by men from
the Ogun State Command.
The suspects, Emmanuel
Ogugua and Chidi had on
October 23, 2010
kidnapped John in Apapa
area of Lagos at about
10.00pm and took him to an
unknown destination.
Ogun State Police
Commissioner, Mr. Musa
Daura who paraded them
before newsmen yesterday
said the suspects later got
Adeoti, Ekiti Dep Speaker
laid to rest amidst tears
By Gbenga Ariyibi
A DO-EKITI—TEARS
were flowing
uncontrollably from the eyes
of relations, friends and
other sympathizers at Otun
Ekiti yesterday when the
remains of the former
Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State
House of Assembly, Mr
Saliu Adeoti was committed
to mother earth.
Even, the State Governor,
Dr Kayode Fayemi had to
cut short his tour from Abuja,
to pay his last respect to the
departed hero, could not
control his emotion as he
wept profusely beside the
grave of the former
lawmaker.
Adeoti died at the
University Teaching
Hospital, UCH, Ibadan,
Ondo CJ's appointment in
order, says MImiko
A KURE—AS Justice
Olaseinde Kumuyi
took over from retired
Justice Gladys Olateru-
Olagbegi as the new Chief
Judge of Ondo State, the
State governor, Dr
Olusegun Mimiko has
declared that the processes
leading to Kumuyi’s
appointment was
transparent and in line with
the established practice.
Administering oath of
office on the new judiciary
helmsman yesterday, the
Governor stated that the
S-West pensioners decline
screening invitation to Abuja
By Ola Ajayi
I BADAN—AS a result
of the untold hardship
experienced in past
pensioners biometric
exercises, about 20,000
pensioners from the South-
West have vowed not to
honour the invitation by the
Head of Service, Mr,
Stephen Oronsaye for
another screening in
Abuja.
The retired men and
women under the aegis of
in touch with the victim’s
wife and ordered her to get
across to them with N250
million else they would kill
her husband.
But three days after the
kidnap, Daura said the
police got a tip from a
farmer that “while he was
working on his farm along
the Lagos/Ibadan Express
way, he heard some
unusual sound by evening
time."
He said based on that
information, policemen
were deployed to the area
to comb the bush which
resulted in the suspects’
arrest. The victim was
rescued in a thick forest,
few kilometres away from
Sagamu.
Oyo State last Wednesday
after a brief illness.
His demise came just at
a time when his 24 other
members of the House are
on a tour to Germany for
legislative matters, except
the deceased and his
blossom friend, Mr Gbenga
Odebunmi, who had to stay
back and stood by the
deceased at the hospital bed
until he breathe his last.
Adeoti’s body was
brought into the town at
about 11.50am in a convoy
of vehicles, where he was
received by members of his
family, relations and scores
of Islamic clerics, led by the
State Missioner, Alhaji Liad
Adebayo and
President League of Imams
and
and Alfas in the state, Alhaji
Jamiu Kewulere.
objective of the present
government was to make
the judiciary in Ondo State
the best in Nigeria.
“Our dream is to make
Ondo State judiciary
number one in Nigeria. In
this direction, the Executive
arm of government will
continue to co-operate with
the judiciary to ensure that
this strategic arm of
government effectively
discharge the sacred duty
imposed on it by the
Constitution of our land,”
he said.
the Nigeria Union of
Pensioners, South West led
by its Chairman, Chief Eni
Olotu said his men “ in the
South West and other
pensioners across the
country reject this new
directive to come to Abuja
because of the toll it would
have on them.”
While speaking with
newsmen yesterday, the
union alleged that each time
they are called for
screening, it makes lives of
pensioners more difficult.

UNIBEN
Alumni
launches
Law book on
Ahonaruogho
By Simon Ebegbulem
B ENIN—A law book
in honour of the
President of the
University of Benin
Alumni Association,
Chief Richard
Ahonaruogho, has been
launched in Benin City,
Edo State.
The book entitled Judi-
cial Renaissance in Ni-
gerian Criminal Law
(1990-2009) was au-
thored by two young
graduates of the Faculty
of Law of the University,
Emmanuel Akpeme and
Stephen Azubuike.
Speaking on the occa-
sion, which attracted
dignitaries from the uni-
versity community, the
Vice-Chancellor of the
UNIBEN, Prof. Osayuki
Oshodin, noted that the
society had suffered im-
mensely in the hands of
kidnappers, adding that
launching a book which
dwelt on criminal law at
this point in time, was
timely.
Rivers raps
Abia govt
over
comments
on Amaechi
By George Onah
P ORT HARCOURT—
RIVERS State Gov-
ernment has criticised
Abia State government
over a comment on Gov-
ernor Chibuike Amae-
chi, for saying that Riv-
ers tax payers’ money
was used to aid the res-
toration of peace in Abia
State.
Rivers government
said Abia State's Com-
missioner for Informa-
tion, Mr. Anthony Ag-
bazuare was ignorant of
“issues concerning secu-
rity, an exclusive area for
Governors” and that when
Abia was ravaged by the
menace of kidnappings,
Rivers offered succour.
Rivers's Commissioner
for Information and Com-
munications, Mrs Ibim Se-
menitari, who was reacting
to the castigation of Amae-
chi by Agbazuare, told
newsmen in Port Harcourt,
yesterday, that it was incon-
ceivable for Agbazuare to
be so unruly with his
comments.
“Rivers State govern-
ment collaborated with
the Federal Government
in the rescue operation
of the kidnapped chil-
dren by providing the
intelligence and securi-
ty support that was used
to rescue the victims in
Abia State," she said.
From left: Ugo Amano, Eze Chidume Okoro, presenting the Most Export-Friendly Media award to Vanguard
Media Ltd., represented by the Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Emmanuel Ujah during the awards ceremony to mark
the Nigerian Non-Oil Export Conference, Exhibition and Awards at the International Conference Centre,
Abuja...Wednesday night.
Four arrested over Rivers Commissioner
of Power mother's murder
By Jimitota Onoyume
P
O R T cultists were arrested in
HARCOURT—THREE
persons have been
arrested in connection
with the murder, Tues-
day night of mother of
the Rivers State Com-
Nsadop, Boje communal clash
victims get mass burial
By John Ighodaro
C A L A B A R —
BODIES of the
victims of the Nsadop
and Boje communal
clash, were given a mass
burial in Nsadop,
Wednesday, amidst wail-
ing from the womenfolk
of the community.
The bodies, most of
them bloated, were
lowered into a mass
grave, dug at the centre
of the town by some of
the remaining youths in
Nsadop.
According to one of the
surviving youths, who
identified himself as
Politicians' attitude worries Oshiomhole
ByVictor Ahiuma-Young
B ENIN—EDO State
Governor, Mr Ad-
ams Oshiomhole, yester-
day, in Benin City, Edo
State, raised alarm that
the way politicians in the
country were unneces-
sarily heating up the
polity, could make one-
man-one vote a mirage
in the 2011 polls.
The Governor, advised
the political class and the
entire citizenry to reflect
on the unfolding politi-
Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 —9
Lawyer
arraigned
over
recruitment
of cultists
ByAustin Ogwuda
A S A B A —
SEVENTEEN
persons, including a law-
yer, who were arrested
in Asaba, Delta State, a
few days ago over al-
leged cult activities,
have been arraigned in
court.
State Police Public Re-
lations Office PPRO, Mr.
Charles Muka, con-
firmed this in Asaba, yes-
terday.
Although details of the
Photo: Abayomi Adeshida charge was not immedi-
ately ascertained, but
the PPRO, said “they
have been arraigned,
both the lawyer and the
sixteen others. Only the
driver of the vehicle was
exonerated because he
was innocent.”
Muka had on Monday,
missioner of Power, charms and a gown from gently intervene in re- said “sixteen suspected
Madam Lucy Wokocha at the suspects. cent clash in his Bugu-
her residence in Okposi In another develop- ma community, which Asaba on Sunday, Octo-
community in the state. ment, former Command- resulted in the arrest of ber 24, 2010 at 10pm.
The state Police Public er of Movement for the scores of his boys.
The former militant Policemen from 'A' Divi-
Relations Officer, Dr Rita Emancipation of Niger sion received informa-
Inoma-Abbey confirmed Delta, MEND, Soboma Commander, who al-
leged that a top politi- tion that cultists were
the development, adding
that the police recovered
Rich, aka Egberipapa,
has called on the Feder- cian from his village planning meeting along
sponsored some boys to Summit Road, Asaba,
a locally made pistol, al Government to ur-
kill him, said that the re- and promptly arrested
cent clash was not be- them."
tween his boys and those
loyal to the late Soboma
George as reported in EDHA
the media.
According to him, it confirms
was the politician, who
women in their massa-
sponsored some boys to
attack him in his Bugu-
transitional
Christopher, “the Boje
people left the forest cre. Every male wheth- ma residence because of council
where the combat was
and took a hidden route
er child, visitor, cripple
or blind was hacked to
his refusal to support his
second term bid, and he
had to flee for his life.
members
to our homes and began death by the Boje people
because they said they He said he had re- By Simon Ebegbulem
to destroy our houses. peatedly told the politi-
When we got wind of it wanted to exterminate us
cian that the seat he oc-
B
and came out from the from the face of Cross cupies in the local gov- ENIN—THE Edo
River map.”
forest, they laid ambush ernment area is rotated State House of As-
on us and killed us like Almost all the houses in sembly, yesterday, con-
among the various hous-
rats.” Nsadop were razed, ac- es in his Buguma village firmed members of the
cording Christopher.
Christopher said, the and it had been like that Transitional Councils,
Boje combatants "When they could not for years. who are expected to run
destroy the house of Mr
concentrated on the Rather than accept his the affairs of the 18 local
menfolk during the Ogon Etta, the Attorney explanation, the politi- government areas of the
General and Commis-
massacre and largely left cian he alleged, spon- state, before the council
the Nsadop women sioner for Justice, they sored an attack on him, elections are held.
climbed the roof, created also accusing security
untouched. The confirmation fol-
According to him, “the holes and poured fuel operatives stationed in lowed a request by Gov-
and set it ablaze," he his Buguma village of
Boje combatants only ernor Adams Oshiom-
selected men and left the added. being used by the said hole, in a letter dated
politician.
October 25, 2010, in
which he had sought the
confirmation of the list
submitted by him, fol-
lowing the dissolution of
the leadership of the 18
cal developments, espe- industrial unions to pay ment, the political class councils, last Monday.
cially on the choice of serious attention to oc- was busy, talking about The letter addressed to
language being used by
politicians, some of who,
cupational safety as be-
ing done to the issue of
zoning and capturing of
states, as if the nation
was at war.
the Speaker of the state
House of Assembly,Mr
he said had no pro- wages in the country, Bright Omokhodion,
grammes to develop and saying it was only the liv- He called on Nigerians read "may I respectfully
move the nation forward. ing that earn wages. to be vigilant and defend forward for confirmation
their votes, because “if
Oshiomhole also la- He spoke at the open- we get it wrong in 2011, of the House, the list of
mented, that workers in ing of a two-day seminar members of the Transi-
Nigeria may find it very
the country were in- with the theme “Safety at difficult to survive the tional Councils for the 18
creasingly being ex- Work: Issues and Chal- failure.” councils."
posed to life threatening lenges” put together by He lamented that work- "This is pursuant to sec-
and other hazardous en- Labour Writers Associa- ers in the country were tion 10, sub-section 4 (i)
vironment at their work tion of Nigeria, LAWAN, increasingly being ex- and (ii) of the Edo state
places and advised the in Benin. posed to life threatening Local Government
Federal Government, He noted that instead and other hazardous en- (Amended) law 2002,”
vironment at their work
employers of labour and of issues of the develop- places. he said.
 10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

C
M
Y
K
 Vanguard , FRID
FRIDAAY , OCTOBER 29
29,, 2010 —11

Group asks Delta guber

MEETING: From left; Governors Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, Deputy
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu and Founder of CNN & Chairman, United Nations
Foundation, UNF, Ted Turner, at a meeting of the Board of the UNF with Nigeria's Governors' Forum on
the power of Public Private Partnership in Nigeria's primary health care effort on measles & polio
eradication in Abuja, recently.
Robbers kill 3 policemen,
vulcaniser in Ekpoma
many of the bank’s em-
By Gabriel Enogholase
ployees and customers
E KPOMA—THREE
were also seriously in-
policemen and a jured in the operation,
vulcaniser were killed,
which lasted for about 30
yesterday, when armed minutes.
robbers stormed the They were rushed to
Ekpoma branch of a first Irrua Specialist Teaching
generation bank in Esan Hospital for urgent
West Local Government medical attention.
Area of Edo State. The armed robbers,
The vulcaniser, said to seven in number and
be having a meal in a heavily armed, came in
restaurant on the Auchi-
Benin highway, was hit
a Toyota Sienna Bus and
blocked all exit points
by a stray bullet.
The robbers were said
leading into the bank,
before embarking on the
to have made away with operation.
undisclosed sum of One of the private se-
money. curity agents attached to
It was gathered that the bank, described his
aspirant to dump PDP
By Festus Ahon Okiki, said the only way
Omo-Agege could
U GHELLI—THE
Urhobo National
Voters Assembly, UN-
achieve his gubernatori-
al ambition was for him
to dump the PDP for an-
VASS, has called on Oba- other party.
risi Ovie Omo-Agege, a "We urge Omo-Agege to
gubernatorial aspirant in dump the PDP and seek
Delta State in the forth- the mandate of another
coming 2011 elections, to political party to realize
dump the ruling Peoples his gubernatorial ambi-
Democratic Party, PDP tion because of the im-
for another political par- pending imposition and
ty. crisis in the ruling party,
The group in a state- PDP.
ment, yesterday, after its “With the electoral re-
meeting in Ughelli, Del- forms coupled with the
ta State, stressed the integrity of Prof Attahiru
need for Omo-Agege to Jega, the chairman of
dump the PDP, accusing Independent National
the PDP of being known Electoral Commission,
for the imposition of can- INEC and the one man
didates. one vote campaign, we
The group in the state- are sure the elections will
ment by its national be free and fair," the
chairman, Mr Desmond group said.
Lawmaker told to
account for stewardship
By Festus Ahon has done, such as con-
stituency project in the
three communities that
U GHELLI—THE
Isoko Action for
Survival, a socio-
make up the constituen-
cy.
“Where are the funds
survival as an act of God. contacted, saying, “I political group, has told meant for constituency
the member representing projects from the state
He said, “none of the have just lost three of my
private security men was men, who only this (yes- Isoko South Constituen- government in the past
cy 1 in the Delta State three years?" he queried.
killed or injured, but terday) morning booked
for arms”. House of Assembly, Mr "We are saying that if
three policemen were Benjamin Efekodo to he fails to give account
killed, and another was As a result of the devel- give account of his stew- of his stewardship to the
injured.” opment, all other banks ardship in the last three people, we will make
The Divisional Police in the area were forced years to the people of the sure that he does not get
Officer, DPO, Mr Joseph to close and suspend op- constituency or forget elected for a second term
Akpoloa, told newsmen erations for the day. his second term ambi- through legal means.
to come back later, when tion. “After 50 years of unsat-
The group in a state- isfactory governance,
ment by its leader, Mr Isoko people need resto-
Striking NIFOR workers Blessing Ojile, accused
Efekodo of non perfor-
ration, character, ethics,
national integrity by true
mance, adding “there is and compassionate lead-
lament poor funding by FG no sign of anything he ers," he added.
By Simon Ebegbulem that the strike action had
crippled activities in the 2011: Coastal communities
B ENIN CITY—STAFF
of the Nigeria
Institute for Oil Palm
NIFOR. The research in-
stitutes workers are de-
manding improved
endorse Mayuku for 3rd term
Research, NIFOR, Edo working conditions, up-
State, yesterday, lament- grading of facilities, By Emma Arubi register en-masse during
ed poor funding of the which they said were the voters registration ex-
institute by the Federal
Government, saying that
obsolete and to be placed
at par with university lec-
turers.
W ARRI—COASTAL
communities in
Warri South-West Local
ercise, adding that it was
the only way to ensure
the electoral victory of
the nation loses billions Mayuku in the 2011 elec-
Awanlemhen, said that Government Area of Del-
of dollars yearly from the the alleged failure by the ta State, have endorsed tions.
institute due to govern- Federal Government to Mr. Dan Mayuku for a Chairman of the forum,
ment’s neglect for staff fund Research Institutes third term in the state Mr. Collins Newuwumi
welfare and investment properly was a great House of Assembly, say- and the secretary, Mr.
in research. threat to the nation’s ing that he has brought Lucky Amola, commend-
Chairman of the Senior quest for food security peace to the Ijaw and It- ed Mayuku for accepting
Staff Association of and the vision 2020 sekiri ethnic nationali- their call to serve for a
Universities, Teaching agenda, adding "we ties. third term, noting that as
Hospitals, Research should not be different The communities under a vibrant member of the
Institutes and Associated from the universities and the aegis of Benin River House, his contributions
Institutions, SSAUTHRI- so what has been given Progressive Forum, to the development of the
to the universities should BRPF, charged the peo- state and projects
AI, NIFOR chapter, Mr- brought to his constitu-
Benedict Awanlemhen, be given to us." ple to ensure that they
ency were legendary.
who briefed newsmen, They reminded him to
regretted that despite all
the efforts made by staff
Jonathan urged to settle further use his legisla-
tive powers to facilitate
of research institutes in
the country to ensure that
ex-militant leaders’ rift the citing of more health
centres, portable water

M
the three months old R Ebis Moni,
strike action embarked member of the Del-
upon by staff of the 61
ta State Water-Ways Se-
research institutes in the curity Committee, has
country was called off, called on President
government had dis- Goodluck Jonathan, and
played “lackadaisical” other concerned leaders
to settle the rift between
attitude towards resolv- Chief Government Ekpe-
ing it.
mupolo, (Tompolo), and
Vanguard observed his former militant com-
manders over a misun- schemes and direct elec-
derstanding. tricity supply from the
He also called on Chief flow stations to host com-
Edwin Clark, Ijaw lead-
munities.
er, Timi Alaibe, Co-or- The forum acknowl-
dinator, Presidential Am-
edged the effective and
nesty Committee and qualitative representa-
Godsday Orubebe, Min-
ister of Niger Delta Min- tion given to the constit-
uency and charged May-
istry to help in settling
the matter amicably be- uku not to rest on his
fore it gets out of hand. oars.
12- Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

‘How Nigeria almost lost civil

war to Biafra'
Continues from page 5
maximum of six months
to cater for exigencies.
He said: “In our
preparations, we thought
the war would last only
three months, but to ensure
that we adequately provided
for all possible outcomes,
we allowed six months. In
the end, the war lasted 30
months, from July 1967 to
January 1970 and the
Federal side nearly lost the
war to Biafra.
“The Federal Government
won the hot field war while
Biafra won the propaganda
battle. It was the highly
successful Biafra
propaganda on pogrom,
genocide and starvation
that pitched Tanzania,
Zambia, Ivory Coast and
Gabon publicly on Biafran
side with the active support
of France and the Vatican.
“After the war had gone for
almost two years and with
the bombing of the Onitsha
bridge and the federal
LAUNCHING: From left; Mrs Nkolika Okoli, Head, Priority Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Mr Kehinde troops defeat at Owerri, the
Durosinmi-Etti, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and Mr Gbenga Ademulegun, people of Nigeria were tired
Executive Director, Commercial Banking/ Public Sector, at the launching of New Product Priority Banking, with this war matter. It was
at this point that the Federal
by the bank in Lagos, Wednesday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.
Senator petitions Jonathan
over alleged threat to life
By Ben Agande senator accused the
governor of giving out
Government decided to
overhaul its war machinery
and to inject fresh blood and
fresh ideas to the war front.”
Tracing the political
history of Nigeria in the 207-
paragraph book, he said
politicians had the
opportunity to organise
themselves and remain in
power after the first coup but
bungled it.
His words: “The first
strange thing about this
coup was that it was not fully
successful. Leaders of the
Army stopped it. This
means, the politicians could
have found a new leader and
stayed in power. However,
they were so scared of what
had happened that they
agreed for the head of the
army to take over the
running of the country. Gen.
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
became the Head of State.”
The former Ghanaian
leader, who led a large
delegation of his country’s
men and women to the event
prayed that Nigeria should
move up quickly to be the
epicentre of an evolving
united Africa.
He said: “Nigeria should
climb over quickly as one
great nation of one people
and the centre of evolving
one Africa. That is my wish
for Nigeria. There should be
more stability, more
prosperity.
I pray for a free, fair
elections, the outcome

A BUJA—THE N200 million to a select which will be acceptable to

PDP ward and local all in the country.”
S e n a t o r Kuffuor contended that
representing Ebonyi government executives
all in the bid to stop his Nigeria had the resources to
Central Constituency of excel because Nigerians
Ebonyi State, Dr. return to the senate. “are very energetic, goal-
Emmanuel Onwe, has According to him, getting people, very
accused Governor “Governor Elechi had in ambitious and very strong.”
Martin Elechi of his meeting with a few He noted: “Nigeria
planning to eliminate selected members of the should unite very strongly as
him in order to stop his Ikwo PDP executives on a nation and move forward
October 23, 2010, with that.”
re-election bid to the Kuffuor, who picked holes
senate. reportedly threatened to
withdraw from re- in the recent Transparency
In a petition addressed International rating of
to President Goodluck contesting the Africa as the most corrupt
Jonathan and National gubernatorial election in continent in the world,
Chairman of the Peoples the event that an Ikwo asked Africans to reject the
Democratic Party, PDP, man (read Senator “insult.”
LECTURE: Left, Dr Tunde Bakare,guest lecturer/convener, Save Nigeria Emmanuel Onwe)
Group (left) and Rev Mother Olive Sulola Adejobi, wife of the deceased, at Okwesilieze Nwodo,
which was made proceeds to run for the
the 7th Adeleke Adejobi Foundation Annual Lecture in Lagos, yesterday.
Photo: Biodun Ogunleye. available to journalists senatorial election in
Ebonyi Central.”
Ekweremadu
in Abuja yesterday, the
to flag off
N9.5bn road
Passage Court halts fresh PDP project
By Happiness Owolabi
M RS. REGINA
Ujunwa, 61, of
Umunzu, Amucha-
congresses in Enugu LAGOS—Deputy
President of the Senate,
Senator Ike Ekweremadu,
Ebeise, Njaba Local will next Monday flag off
Governmet Area, Imo the National Working construction of the second
State is dead. By Tony Edike representation in court to SAN.
Committee , NWC, of the But Justice Mohammed phase of a N9.5 billion road
be joined in Abba’s mo-
She will be buried on
November 4, 2010, in her
home town, Umunzu-
E NUGU—THE
Federal High
Court, Enugu, yesterday
party.
Joined as first and
tion.
Ruling on an oral
explained that having
earlier declined to grant
project reconnecting
communities in Ebonyi and
Enugu States which were
second defendants/ application by the an earlier ex-parte cut off during the Nigerian
Ebeise, after a funeral restrained the Peoples respondents in the
Mass at St. Patrick's plaintiff to file an ex- motion from the plaintiff civil war.
Democratic Party, PDP application brought by last Monday because he The road project being
Catholic Church, from conducting fresh parte motion, the
Abba are the presiding judge, Justice wanted the defendants to funded by the Federal
Amucha. congresses on Saturday Independent National Government, is being
Mohammed, said there be put on notice, it would
to elect new party Electoral Commission, be improper to grant handled by Setraco Nigeria
executives in Enugu is was compelling need
INEC and the National same yesterday Limited and was facilitated
State. to make an order to pre- by Senator Ekweremadu, a
Chairman of PDP, Dr serve the status quo un- (Thursday). statement by his Special
In granting the order, Okwesilieze Nwodo, who He, however, said if
the Presiding Judge, til the substantive motion Assistant (Media), Paul
ordered the dissolution of before the court was fresh congresses were al- Odenyi, said.
Justice Ramat the state executive lowed on Saturday (to-
Mohammed, said the heard. The communities to
committee of the party Counsel to INEC, morrow), there would be benefit from the road
injunction subsists, through a statement nothing for the court to project, he said, were also
pending the hearing of Wilfred Nwabude, and
issued by his media aide. Nwodo’s lead counsel, determine at the hearing the food producing
the motion filed before The faction of the party of the substantive mo- communities in the two
the court by a faction of Mike Ajogwu, SAN, had
led by one Reuben Ochi, tion, adding that the states. The road cuts across
the party under Chief opposed the application Oji River-Achi-Maku-
who has a pending made by the plaintiff court could not fold its Aw g u - N d e a b o r - M p u -
Vita Abba, whose State motion before the same arm and allow the con-
Executive Council was (Abba) through his lead Okpanku-Akaeze
court, made counsel, Justina Offiah, communities cutting across
Late Regina Ujunwa dissolved last week by
the two States.

Kidnappers hijack bus
with 12 passengers
By Anayo Okoli
A BA — Kidnappers
yesterday braved
the heat turned on them
by the military task force
operating in Aba, the
Abia state commercial
capital as they struck
somewhere along the
busy Aba –Port Harcourt
expressway, hijacking a
bus with about 12 pas-
sengers. Seven of the 12
kidnapped victims were
said to have been re-
leased while effort has
been intensified by the
military task force to res-
cue the remaining vic-
tims and arrest the kid-
nappers.
Unconfirmed report
said that a pregnant
woman who was one of
the victims was killed in
the process according to
information gathered at
the time of filing this re-
port late last night. It was
not also ascertained if the
bus was coming from
Port Harcourt or was go-
ing to Port Harcourt from
Aba. The incident, it
was learnt happened
close to a check point
being manned by some
operatives of the anti-
terrorist squad located
close to a refuse dump
site on the expressway.
But one of the senior
army officers involved in
the operation who said
he was speaking infor-
mally confirmed that
there was a kidnap inci-
dent on the Aba-Port
Harcourt high way on
Wednesday. However,
the task force is yet to
issue a statement on the
matter.
Aba which was under
the siege of kidnappers
was last two weeks “lib-
erated “ by the military
task force which was de-
ployed to the state and
which put heat on the
hoodlums. They have
arrested many suspected
kidnappers and scores of
them were said to have
been killed.
At the heat of the siege,
residents fled the com-
mercial city but with the
arrival of the task force
they were encouraged to
come back to the city.
The task force has also
invaded and destroyed
many identified opera-
tional camps and hide
out of the kidnappers,
especially in Ukwa West,
Obingwa and Ugwu-
nagbo.
SWEARING-IN: Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State (left) and Mrs. Lilian Asuzu, after being sworn
in as permanent secretary by the governor in Owerri, recently.
Opposition parties accuse Abia
environmental agency of intimidation
By Anayo Okoli the state environmental
U
MUAHIA—SOME agency, ANSEPA, of in-
timidating them and
opposition parties in
Abia State have accused slowing down their cam-
paigns by charging them
exorbitant fees for past-
ing their candidates’
campaign posters in the
streets of cities in the
state, especially
Umuahia .
Some of them alleged
that the General Manger
of ANSEPA, with
protection from Bakassi
Boys and even mobile
policemen, invaded their
offices and allegedly
carted away property
and cash.
The campaign
organization of Chris
Akomas had last week
complained that ANSEPA
brought some outrageous
rates to them, being fees
they were asked to pay
before posters could be
pasted. But the groups
asked the General
Manager of the agency,
Dr. Cosmas Ndukwe, to
show proof of payment of
such fees by other
aspirants, especially the
governor.
The Akomas Campaign
Organization warned the
general manager not to
allow himself to be used
to settle political scores.
Just yesterday, the cam-
paign headquarters of
Chief Ikechi Emenike,
who is aspiring for the
post of governor under
PDP and his supporters,
alleged that the same
Ndukwe led a dreaded
team of Bakassi Boys and
mobile policemen to
invade their office and
allegedly made away
with the sum of N3.5
million from the office.
They also claimed that
the Bakassi Boys and
policemen “maimed,
harassed and
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 —13
intimidated anybody
found in the office.”
In a statement signed
by Chief Ben Etie and
Mr. Egwuatu Egbulefu,
Emenike’s campaign
office claimed that the
money was removed
from the chairman’s
office, adding that
visitors to the office were
tortured and taken to the
Police Area Command
office in Umuahia and
detained for two days.
“We hereby condemn in
Ohakim calls for cooperation
to move state forward
By Chidi Nkwopara
O WERRI—IMO State
Governor, Chief
Ikedi Ohakim, has called
for a concerted effort in
building a solid
foundation for peace and
development in the state.
He spoke at the
swearing in of the new
Head of Service, HOS,
and 18 permanent
secretaries appointed by
the government.
Ohakim challenged the
officers to remain selfless,
transparent and avoid
corrupt practices in the
discharge of their offices.
The governor noted that
the administration had
created over 20,000 jobs,
including the 10,000
recently offered to
unemployed graduates
that have just completed
their interviews.
“Their letters of
appointment would be
given to them between
now and November 6,
2010. Your choice and
IN the NEWS
totality his action which
is aimed towards intimi-
dating and suppressing
us into accepting the il-
legality in dissolving the
PDP state executive com-
mittee and replacing it
with illegal one,” it said.
Chief Emenike’s cam-
paign office called on the
agency to render an
apology within seven
days to the group, while
also charging the police
commissioner to
investigate the matter.
appointment was based
on your personal
records,” Ohakim said.
He insisted that under
the new face of Imo
philosophy, the old
syndrome of corruption,
lack of transparency,
zonism, god-fatherism,
nepotism and other vices,
must take the back seat.
Chief Ohakim also
announced the re-
deployment of both the
new and old permanent
secretaries in various
ministries and
departments.
Responding on behalf
of the new appointees,
the HOS, Chief Evans
Uzokwe, thanked the
governor for finding
them worthy and prom-
ised to discharge their
duties with every sense
of responsibility.
Vanguard recalls that
the new appointment
brings to 32 the number
of permanent secretaries
serving in the state.
 14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

From left, Dr. Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director, Pfizer Nigeria & East Africa
Region; Dr. Mohamed Alamir, Regional Marketing Manager, UAE; Dr. Enrico
Liggeri, MD Pfizer Nigeria; Dr. Patrick Ajah, Commercial Director, Pfizer
and Mr. Maged Deghedic, Regional Marketing Director Vaccines, Africa &
Middle East, at Pfizer's scientific symposium on Pneumococcal Serotypes in Mr. Harrison Godwin, Brand Manager, Laundry, P&G West Africa (letf),
Nigeria, and launch of a new product, Prevenar 13 vacine, in Lagos, recently. and Saratu Gidado, Nollywood actress, at the launch of Ariel Prozim, a new
PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye. upgraded formulation of Ariel, held in Lagos, recently.

Bafarawa tackles EFCC

5 Hajj pilgrims kidnapped in Kwara over seized passport
By Demola Akinyemi A search party said to
have been sent to the
their BTA from the said
bank, they crossed to the
grims who were said to
have slept-off, could not A GAINST the back-
drop of Economic and
politicians.
Bafarawa, one of the
I LORIN—THERE was
pandemonium in Hajj
Camp, Ilorin, among
area to look for the
remaining four pilgrims
Vanguard reliably
other side of the road
where they boarded a
taxi-cab going to the
wake up until they
reached Ogbomoso, Oyo
State, and the driver at
Financial Crimes
Commission’s, EFCC, re-
cent advisory on alleged
politicians on the advi-
sory list, had asked the
EFCC Chairman to re-
intending pilgrims from gathered that the unsus- Hajji Camp located along gun point ordered them corrupt politicians, former sign, while the civil
Kwara State last night pecting victims from Adewole Estate to join to call their relatives to Governor of Sokoto State, society questioned the
when news filtered in Ifelodun and Ekiti local their colleagues for on- inform them of their Alhaji Dalhatu Bafarawa, commission’s criteria for
that five of them had government areas fell ward movement to Ilorin plights. denied yesterday, that his arriving at such verdict.
been kidnapped. into the hands of the International Airport After calling their rela- international passport was Attorney-General of the
One of the victims, who kidnappers when they where they would board tives, according to returned to him by chair- Federation, Mr. Adokie,
later surfaced, was said were returning from their plane for their sources, the driver, man of the Commission, also cautioned the Com-
to have been found stark where they had gone to journey to Saudi Arabia. however, asked them to Mrs Farida Waziri. mission not to unneces-
naked, and in a state of collect their Basic Trav- Few kilometers to the switched-off their hand- He said the return of the sarily heat up the polity
insanity by a good eling Allowance, BTA, Hajji Camp, the driver of sets and started driving passport was at the as it was not a law court
Samaritan at Iwo in for their journey from the taxi-cab was said to them to unknown desti- instance of the Federal that can pronounce a
Osun State, having been one of the first genera- have brought out a nation. High Court, Abuja. verdict.
earlier dropped off in tion banks along Taiwo substance and sprayed it Sources also added EFCC recently came Bafarawa said in a
one of the villages in road in Ilorin. into the taxi-cab, a that it was after the under attack from politi- statement that Waziri told
Ogbomosho by the kid- Informed sources development that re- second day that one of cians, the civil society and the BBC Hausa Service
C nappers since the previ- claimed that after the sulted in the occupants them could come out the Federal Government that she returned his
M ous day. victims had collected of the taxi to sleep off. from the bush at Iwo in after it posted the advi- international passport
Y Sources said the pil- Osun State in a naked. sory on alleged corrupt when it was seized.
K
2011: ANPP sets 3-Point
Agenda
By Suzan Edeh & country, Onu expressed
Happiness Owolabi regret that the country
was presently over-
N ATIONAL Chair-
man of All Nigeria
People’s Party, ANPP,
whelmed by leaders who
only saw leadership as a
way of putting them-
Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, selves at advantage.
has set a three-point The national chairman
agenda of tackling un- spoke during a solidar-
employment, insecurity ity visit to the Emir of
and poor infrastructure Bauchi, Alhaji Suleman
if the party wins next Adamu in his palace.
year’s presidential elec- Onu said his party,
tion. ANPP, is noted for having
Noting the need for credible leaders in all
credible leadership in the spheres of government.

UNIMAID VC sends SOS

to N-East govs
By Ndahi Marama Daura, said the states in
the North-East which

M AIDUGURI—THE
University of Maid-
uguri has appealed to
formed the catchment ar-
eas, have the greatest stake
in ensuring the develop-
states in the North-East ment of the institution.
to help the institution Daura said this appeal
build hostels for its stu- became necessary as the
dents to tackle growing construction of the hos-
accommodation problem tel could be done on build-
in the institution. and-transfer basis even as
Addressing journalists he acknowledged the sup-
at its 21st pre-convoca- port from Bauchi and
tion press briefing yes- Borno states governments,
terday in Maiduguri, adding that the two states
vice chancellor of the have donated lecture the-
university, Prof. Mala atres in the past.

From right: Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria plc, Mr. Alan F. Palmer; Finance
and StrategyDirector, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye; Human Resources Director, Mr.
Emmanuel Imoagene; and Sales Director, Mr. Paul Udochi, at the cutting of Cadbury
Bournvita's 50th anniversary cake at the largest gathering of mothers event
celebrating the brand's 50th anniversary in Lagos, yesterday
Ribadu previews plans for
education sector
A B U J A — quality assurance/
PRESIDENTIAL aspirant regulation, infrastructure,
on the platform of Action staff training and welfare,
Congress of Nigeria, ACN, research, student discipline
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and related matters.
yesterday, gave Nigerians a Ribadu said: “Let me say
preview into his plans for the straight away that I shall
country’s education sector. implement to the full the 26
Ribadu who spoke at the percent UNESCO
second National Joint recommendation on taking
Education Stakeholders office. Poor funding is a
Action Coalition, JESAC, major cause of decay in
Conference in Abuja education at all levels,
outlined, what he called primary, secondary and
“The Seven Central tertiary. Adequate funding,
Strategies” designed to carefully calibrated to
C make the Nigerian youth speak to differentiated areas
M “march into the future with of need, will revitalize
Y confidence.” academic and physical
The anti-corruption czar infrastructure and reverse
K the current woeful story of
who was represented by Dr.
Sunny Ugochukwu, in his poor performance in NECO
speech entitled, “Rise Up and other public
And Walk: Educating examinations.”
Nigerians For 21st Century Ribadu who lamented that
Challenges,” said his some children were being
administration would denied their right to
implement UNESCO education, due to inadequate
recommendations on infrastructure, also
education to the letter. promised that none would be
He listed his seven left behind in his
strategies as funding, access administration as there are
to qualitative education, plans to get every child,
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010—15
access to good education.
He said:”The physically
challenged shall be brought
in from the cold and
provided with training
specially tailored to their
individual peculiarities in
special centres to be opened
in all the six geopolitical
zones.”
Wondering why no
Nigerian university was
listed in the first 1000 in the
world in independent
rankings published recently,
he said: “My team and I
shall reverse this negative
trend by supporting
academic freedom and not
just university autonomy, but
also institutional autonomy.
I believe that members of
staff of higher institutions of
learning should play a large
role in how their institutions
are being administered. We
shall strengthen and also
work with the National
Universities Commission to
make illegal universities
history and also ensure that
universities offer only
courses for which they are
competent."
NOA chief
seeks defined
roles for
parties
A BUJA —DIRECTOR
General, National
Orientation Agency, NOA,
Alhaji Idi Farouk, has called
for clearly defined
guidelines to streamline the
number of political parties
that will participate in the
forth_coming election
debates towards the 2011
general elections.
Farouk who made the call
when the protem Chairman
of Nigerian Elections
Debate Group, NEDG,
Aremo Taiwo Allimi paid
him a courtesy visit to seek
NOA’s collaboration
towards the debate.
He noted that in a
situation where there were
63 registered political
parties in Nigeria, it was not
possible for every political
party to be national, hence
the need for only those
parties who field candidates
for election into offices at the
national level to participate
in the national election
debates.
16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
Constitution: Senate sets
up harmonization committee
By Inalegwu Shaibu
A BUJA—THE
Senate has
inaugurated a six-man
conference committee to
harmonize all the grey
areas in the bill for an Act
to alter the 1999
Constitution (Second
Alteration) passed by the
National Assembly on
Wednesday.
The six-man committee,
chaired by Senator Victor
Ndoma-Egba, was
inaugurated yesterday
by the Senate President,
Senator David Mark,
after the third reading of
the bill.
Other members of the
Conference Committee
are Senators Umar
Dahiru, Ikechukwu
Obiora, Sola Akinyede,
Abubakar Sodangi and
Idris Umar.
Senator Mark said:
“What is passed in the
House is different from
what we passed. This
committee is to
harmonize it.”
The Senate on
Wednesday amended 10
clauses from the first
alteration to the 1999
Constitution to
accommodate the new
time lines for the conduct
of 2011 general elections
requested by the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC.
The second amendment
to the 1999 Constitution
also allows for appeals
from governorship
election petitions to
FG, I'ntl agencies set
roadmap for N-Delta dev
By Chris Ochayi
A B U J A —
DETERMINED
to fast-track the
infrastructural
transformation of the Niger
Delta, the Federal
Government yesterday
reiterated its commitment to
collaborate with various
international development
partners to develop a
framework that would
facilitate a roadmap for
coordinated and effective
development of the region.
Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Elder Godsday
Orubebe, who announced
this measure while
declaring open a two-day
terminate at the Supreme
Court.
It further provided for
the conduct of elections
for National Assembly,
State Houses of
Assembly, president and
governor not earlier than
150 days and not later
than 30 days to
expiration of the offices
by the last office holders.
stakeholders’ forum on the
functional and capacity
needs of the Ministry of
Niger Delta Affairs, in
Calabar, the Cross River
State capital, said there was
an urgent need for an
effective collaboration to
enable the ministry deliver
its mandate to the people.
Noting that the
transformation of the region
could not be single-
handedly achieved by the
government or any
individual institution or
agency, the minister
assured that the
government was ready to
foster more opportunities to
address critical
developments in the
region.
Reps fault Oshiomhole on
dissolution of LGs
...accuse state lawmakers of collaboration
By Luka Binniyat
A
BUJA—EDO State
Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Caucus in the
House of Representatives
has declared the decision
of the government of Edo
State to dissolve local
councils illegal and
unconstitutional.
Rep. Friday Itulah (PDP/
Esan North-West), who
spoke yesterday on behalf
of the group, said
“Governor Adams
Oshiomhole’s unilateral
action to dissolve local
councils violates section 7
of the 1999 Constitution”
and must not be allowed by
the Judiciary and well-
meaning Nigerians to
stand.
Section 7 (1) of the 1999
Constitution states that:
“The system of local
government by
democratically elected local
government councils is
under this Constitution
guaranteed; and
accordingly, the
government of every State
shall, subject to section 8 of
this Constitution, ensure
their existence under a Law
which provides for the
establishment, structure,
composition, finance and
functions of such councils."
The federal lawmakers
also condemned the
collaboration of the state
lawmakers who, he said,
did not even form a
quorum to approve the
dissolution of the councils.
“Edo State House of
Assembly needed 16
...threaten to sanction IGP
over civil defence
By Tordue Salem
A
BUJA—THE House
of Representatives
Committee on Interior has
threatened sanctions
against the acting Inspector
General of Police, Hafiz
Rigim, for his persistent
calls on the Presidency to
scrap the Nigerian Security
and Civil Defence Corps.
Chairman of the
Committee, Rep. Jerimon
S. Manwe(PDP/Taraba),
who issued the warning at
a briefing yesterday, said
the IGP and the entire
Presidency lacked the
members to meet the
quorum to decide on the
dissolution of local councils,
but in this case of glaring
dictatorship, we had just 14,
instead of 16 Action
Congress of Nigeria, ACN,
lawmakers sitting to decide
on such a serious matter of
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
implications,” Itulah said.
powers to scrap the Corps.
“We heard that the IGP
wrote a letter to the
president calling for the
scrapping of the NSCDC,
and that a committee is
looking at it, but I can
assure the IGP that if he
continues pushing for this,
the National Assembly may
be compelled to take a
drastic action against him,”
he said.
Manwe said the Corps
was the creation of the
National Assembly, and
could only be scrapped by
the parliament, not the
executive or any ministry of
government.
 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 17

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18 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010
T HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the largest
and perhaps the best financed political party in
Nigeria. Its members hyperbolically refer to it as the
largest political party in Africa given its pervasive
influence and spread. With its control of about three
quarters of the 774 local governments, 26 state
governments and the federal government, the PDP is truly
a behemoth.
to bear on President Goodluck Jonathan to smuggle
amendments into the Electoral Act to allow for the use of
caucuses instead of congresses to select candidates for
the next elections. This was an ultra-selfish agenda, which
the governors tried to promote as a national goal, but the
Senate saw the proposed amendment as an attempt to
PDP: Saving Nigeria abridge liberal democracy as promoted by Dr. Jonathan.
We have seen how the internal power sharing formula of

from the behemoth

It is the proverbial colossus that bestrides the nation’s
political landscape and dwarfs the opposition in every sense
of the word. But whether the citizenry has benefitted from
the dominant position and influence of the party is a
different matter.
What is of interest to us is how the PDP has managed to
entrust itself and its activities on the national polity to the
extent that every internal problem of the party ends up
becoming a national headache. For over 12 years, Nigerians
have watched the party stumble from one crisis to another,
while their hope for quality leadership and sustainable
development remains forlorn.
As the country approaches the 2011 general election,
the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, the
collegiate of its state governors and the other powerful
interest groups are at each others jogular over how to
manage their ambitions and aspirations as well as that of
their cronies. The crucial issue of how to advance the
common good of Nigerians has been relegated to the
background. What is before the party and Nigerians is the
various internal squabbles on how to subvert the rules and
regulations that were made to promote law and order within
the party.
Not long ago, some pro-reform group, led by Alhaji
Aminu Masari and Chief Ken. Namanni, led a quiet revolt
in the party to the vision of its founding fathers but what
seemed to be an implosion ended up as a storm in a tea cup.
The leadership of the party and some state governors
are at each others throat on how to organise credible
congress elections to enthrone internal democracy to the
extent that candidates put forward for elections will reflect
the acceptable will of the electorate. The opponents of the
governors of the affected states argue that the cronies of
the governors, who control the party machinery are bent
on using the structure of the party as presently constituted,
to select their favourite aspirants for the forthcoming
elections.
Only recently, some PDP governors brought pressures
the party, otherwise called zoning has thrown up bitter
acrimony between the various nationalities in the country.
In the same way, we have seen how the governors of PDP
have become imperial lords in this present dispensation at
the expense of the collective interest of the country. The
general picture which the PDP has created and perpetuated
in the minds of Nigerians is that of a house that is
perpetually at war with itself and would not let its
neighbours enjoy decent peace and decorum.
It must be said that Nigeria’s experiment with democratic
governance is still at its infancy and bedevilled by
developmental and economic challenges that throw up sad
reminders of its past failures. While Nigerians expect the
lessons of the past to be a guide for the actions of the present
political actors, the inability of the self-acclaimed largest
political party in Africa to make its members recognise
that the policy of the winner takes it all can only lead to
jungle tactics. It is our position that the leadership and
members of PDP owe themselves the onerous responsibility
to impact the positive values of democracy on the citizenry.

OPINION
By Albert IGWE
Aba: Goodbye kidnappers,
ill-informed.
They say he who wears the shoe known
where it pinches him. The Governor
T presently is heart-warming
HE news coming out of Abia State

indeed. If media reports are anything to

go by, the reign of kidnap gangs in the
state is over as some of the brains
behind the crime have been exposed
and arrested while most of their foot
soldiers have been sent packing and are
presently on the run with security
agents hot on their trail.
In Aba, in particular, the mood is one of
relief as people are now beginning to
breathe the air of freedom and safety
once again. It is the kind of feeling you
get after a town has been liberated from
the siege of invaders. And indeed Aba,
together with some other towns and
communities in the state was not only
invaded by kidnappers, but held
hostage by these undesirable elements
who unleashed terror on law-abiding
citizens and rendered the economy of
the state prostrate.
It was a nightmarish experience for the
people while it lasted. That is why they
are sighing with relief and are in a
celebrative mood now that the nightmare
is over. Most of those who fled their
communities while the kidnappers held
sway are said to be returning in droves
and going back to their occupations and
pre-occupations.
Commerce which the people are
welcome sanity
famously known for is gradually
regaining its vibrancy. So is small scale
manufacturing. Both went into limbo,
no thanks to the activities of kidnappers
who made life unsafe and also made it
almost impossible for people to carry out
any form of business without being
attacked and kidnapped for ransom.
According to Lt. Col. Kabir Musa, the
spokesman of the Joint Military Task
Force (JTF) which was sent to flush out
the hoodlums and end their reign of
terror, the kidnappers had carved up
the state into different areas of operation
each controlled by a kingpin. The most
dreaded of these kingpins goes by the
esoteric name of Susu while another
identified as Obioma Nwankwo aka
Osisikankwu is regarded as their
overall leader.
In fact, it has been said that what the
kidnappers unleashed on the state was
akin to a warfare of the guerrilla variety.
It was as if they were determined to
completely undermine the authority of
government and turn the state into a
lawless kingdom where hoodlums and
other criminal elements called the shot.
With reports emerging almost on a daily
basis of one kidnap incident or the
other, the impression was created and
sustained in some quarters that Aba and
indeed many parts of the state have
become no-go-areas. This impression
was soon twisted out of logic to mean
that both the state government and the
state police command had lost complete
control of the situation and had in fact
relinguished authority to the
kidnappers.
Even the current leadership of the
Nigerian Bar Association had dared to
suggest that a state of emergency be
declared on Abia ostensibly based on
the worrisome development. Curiously
the body never raised a voice calling for
the same treatment to be administered
in places such as Borno, Yobe and
Bauchi where frequent Boko Haram
attacks continue to endanger lives and
property or Oyo where clashes between
rival factions of motor park gangs have
almost become the order of the day with
the state government and security
agents seemingly unable to arrest the
ugly trend. This is why I think the Abia
State government is right in dismissing
the call as mischievious, careless and
Theodore Orji-led administration had
after a careful study of the prevailing
situation come out with the verdict that
it was politically motivated. Indeed
recent events have confirmed that most
of the kidnaps incidents were in most
cases sponsored and fuelled by some
enemies of the state for both economic
and political reasons. For instance,
media reports had it that a local
government boss and some traditional
rulers were implicated in some of the
incidents and are already facing trial.
Same as a clergy man who failed to blow
the whistle on some kidnappers who
used a building adjoining his church as
a hide-away den for their kidnapped
victims.
Another curious factor worth nothing is
the fact that apart from Aba, the
kidnapping incident was more
pronounced in Obingwa, Osisioma
and Ukwa West Areas of the state where
some self-confessed opponents of the
Governor are said to have sworn to
make ungovernable. And for a long
time, these areas were dubbed the axis
of evil because of the prevalence of
kidnappings there.
Mr. Igwe, a lawyer, writes from Owerri,
Imo State.
 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 19

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NASB tasked on
international
reporting
standard
By Peter Egwuatu
T he management of Nigerian
Accounting Standards Board
(NASB) has been called upon to work
assiduously to achieve Nigeria’s
convergence with international
financial reporting standard within the
time frame set for it.
The captains of industry and key
members of the organized private
sector gave the advice at the sendforth
cerebration for the Executive
Secretary/Chief Executive of NASB,
Mr. Godson Nnadi, who is leaving the
organization after 20 years in the
saddle.
Speaking at the occasion, former
Chairman of NASB, Chief Olusegun
Osunkeye, counseled the new
leadership to build on the legacies of
their outgoing boss, by ensuring that
Nigerians are adequately educated
and enlightened about its activities
and benefits of financial reporting.
Osunkeye, observed that Mr.
Godson Nnadi has made valuable
contribution to the development of
Nigerian accounting standard board
having been in charge since 1990,
nurturing it from an insignificant
beginning as a private sector initiative
to a foremost Federal Government
parastatal.
According to him “ serving for 20
years as CEO of NASB and retiring
meritoriously surrounded by his
friends and past chairmen of the body
was a thing of joy.
Besides being the person that
recruited the retiring boss of NASB
boss in 1989, Osunkeye observed that
his interaction with him over the
period of service shows he is
tenacious, committed and dedicated
to his job while being intellectually
sound”.
While describing Nnadi as a
repository of history of NASB,
Osunkeye tasked him work with its
first Executive Secretary, Dr Simeon
Ogbechie to author a book on NASB
at 30 by 2012 to show how it has been
able to impact the financial services
sector over its life time.
He explained that every
organization must thrive on history
and that no better individuals can tell
the story of NASB than its first two
chief executives.
$198.90 -2.10
$2,842.00 25.00
$ 28.14 -0.21
$82.90 1.070.51
$81.89 1.33
CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING
CFA 0.2958 0.3058 0.3158
EURO 207.8588 208.5565 209.2542
POUNDS 234.2396 235.0259 235.8121
RIYAL 39.7227 39.856 39.9893
FRANC 155.0213 155.5417 156.062
DOLLAR 148.96 149.46 149.96
WAUA 232.7638 233.5451 234.3264
CBN Exchange rate as at 22/10/2010
L-R Mr Debola Seriki, Mr Quentin Crowe MD Marketer's forum and Mr Akin Sawyerr director ALTS consulting
during the Launching of the Chartered Institute of Marketer's U.K accredited Study centre in Lagos yesterday .
Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
Private sector credit hits
N8 trillion
By Naomi Uzor
T
he Managing Director of CRC
Credit Bureau Limited, Mr
Ahmed Popoola, has disclosed that
total credit to the private sector moved
up drastically from N1.5 trillion in
2006 to N2.8 trillion in 2007 and to
N8trillion in 2009. This is based on a
report carried out by the 2010 Doing
Business Report jointly released by the
World Bank and International Finance
Corporation (IFC).
Delivering a speech at the 2010
annual symposium of the automobile
and allied products sectoral group of
the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (LCCI), tagged (( Vehicle
Financing in Recession Economy: The
Best Model for Nigeria”, Popoola said
despite the impressive growth
recorded over
the years, the implication is that
growth has moved by almost 100 per
cent year on year since 2005,
but has not translated into improved
lives of the citizens.
However, he said, an interesting
observation of this growth is that credit
allocation was in favour of sectors with
least contribution to the real Gross
Domestic Product (GDP), as the
agricultural sector contributed 42 per
cent of the real GDP in 2009, the
proportion of banking credit to that
sector was a mere 1.4 per cent.
“Paradoxically, commercial banks
lending to agriculture in 1980, at the
outset of financial liberalization in
Nigeria was 7 per cent, manufacturing
which used to enjoy a sizable injection
of bank loans suffered a more
devastating shock. Total bank credit
to that sector plummeted from 31 per
cent of total credit to the private sector
in 1980 tol1.7 per cent in 2009. Little
wonder, the share of contribution of
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 21
manufacturing had also come down
to 4.17 per cent in 2009 and has
further declined to 3.93 per cent
by the end of the first quarter in
2010. General commerce,
telecommunications, oil/gas and
finance/insurance became the new
brides of the banking sector in terms
of credit allocation, accounting for a
total of 48 per cent” he stated.
Nonetheless, he said, the
interesting scenario of the whole
analysis is that, in spite of the banking
Stakeholders lobby FG to ban
e-waste imports
By Franklin Alli
N on governmental organisations and
stakeholders in the Electrical and
Electronic industry, have began lobbying
the Federal Government to ban the
importation of electronic and electrical
waste (e-waste) from abroad into the
country.
They are also seeking for the immediate
passage into law before 2011 the E_waste
Bill proposed to the National Assembly by
NESREA/Federal Ministry of
Environment.
In a communique issued and signed by
representatives of 13 NGOs drawn from
different parts of the country ( SRADev
Nigeria, Friends of the Environment,
Environmental Rights Action ,Waste
Management Society of Nigeria, River
Ethiope Trust Foundation, Port Harcourt
etc), the stakeholders called for immediate
ban on e-waste products into the country
, saying: “There is a lack of capacity to
handle electronic waste in an
environmentally sound manner in the
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consolidation exercise and the new
capitalisation of surviving banks, and
notwithstanding the efforts to ensure
that more people and businesses have
access to credit, credit penetration
remains low. It is perhaps little wonder
that, though there is increase in GDP
(economic growth), it has no translated
to economic development in form of
poverty reduction, employment
opportunities and wealth creation. The
Group Head; retail banking, Wema
bank PLC, Mr. Akilolu Ayileka, said.
country, leading to the release of hazardous
substances causing harm to human health
and the environment.”
The stakeholders further proposed
stringent penalty for law breakers and
offenders who continue to import e_waste.
In the communique, they further pressed
for the following: Urgent establishment of
“Refurbished Computer Programme
Initiative” as alternative SMEs schemes in
each of the e_waste hot spots (Ikeja
computer village, GSM village, Alaba
International markets and other hot spots
identified across the country) as a green
recycling industry for a sustainable
livelihood; Intense awareness_raising
activities and projects for all major
stakeholders and sectors including the
general public, informal sector, politicians,
civil society, industry and government;
Urgent capacity building on compliance and
enforcement for regulatory agents and law
enforcement officials like the Green Customs
Initiative and; Capacity building of the
informal sector (handlers) to harness
potential employment generation, economic
and entrepreneurship opportunities.

By Sola OGUNDIPE
O NLY those who suffer from
asthma or live with someone
who does would understand how
traumatic an attack could be.
Frifightening to say the least,
anasthmatic attack is best handled
when one understands the physiology
behind it.
An asthma attack can be caused by
over exertion (such as in physical
activity), exposure to an allergen or
severe stress. The lungs respond to
particular stimuli and become
inflamed, limiting the amount of
oxygen that can pass through and be
used by the body. The body increases
its production of a filmy fluid called
mucus that further inhibits an
adequate passage of air.
The body trying to correct for the
reduced air flow,is what is observed
as the specific symptoms. Outward,
physical manifestations of an asthma
attack often include wheezing,
coughing, laboured breathing, pale
skin, dizziness and/or fainting.
Severe attacks are characterized by
the same symptoms with an addition
You can survive an asthma attack only if you
know how
of tightened neck muscles and
expulsion of mucus. Most asthma
attacks come on gradually from a
matter of minutes to several days and
as they do, symptoms worsen.
Once an asthma attack is diagnosed
or suspected, it is important not to
panic and to create enough room to
Medical errors
persist despite
safeguards
S ERIOUS medical mistakes, like
performing a medical procedure
on the wrong person or wrong site,
continue to occur despite recently
implemented preventive measures.
A new study shows 25 cases of
procedures performed on the wrong
person and 107 cases of procedures
performed on the wrong site occurred
in a 5 1/2-year period in Colorado,
resulting in at least one death and
several complications.
The Joint Commission, which
regulates medical professions,
introduced a Universal Protocol for all
hospitals and outpatient facilities that
perform medical procedures. The
protocol is designed to reduce medical
errors and consists of three parts: a
pre-procedure verification, a surgical
site marking, and a "time-out"
performed immediately before the
surgical procedure. During the time-
out members of the team performing
the procedure confirm the
identification of the patient, the type
of procedure, and the procedure site.
Findings from the present study
emphasize a continuing and
concerning occurrence of wrong-site
and wrong-patient procedures in the
current era of the Universal Protocol,
leading to frequent patient harm and
rarely, patient death.
Researchers found the main factors
behind wrong-patient medical
mistakes were errors in diagnosis (56
percent) and errors in communication
(100 percent). Errors in judgment
contributed to 85 percent of wrong-site
medical errors and the lack of
performing a "time out" before starting
the surgical procedure was cited as the
cause in 72 percent of these mistakes.
• Asthma , a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways is often surviv-
able
be comfortable and not worsen
symptoms by feelings of
claustrophobia.
Every asthmatic is expected to
always carry an inhaler which should
be used promptly. Avoid taking any
cough medications or any
medications offered to you by a
stranger. Cough medication can
worsen symptoms and cause you far
more harm than good.
Anyone who has ever experienced
an asthma attack should realise the
importance of never trying to
diagnose oneself because some
asthma attacks appear similar to a
deadly form of allergic reaction called
anaphylaxis.
Surviving an asthma attack without
medication is possible. The first thing
to realize is to stay calm. This keeps
the chest muscles loose so more
pressure is not put on the lungs.
Use purse lip breathing, it is where
you sort of pucker your lips and
breathe in through your nose and out
with puckered lips, this helps to keep
you calm and from hyperventalting,
which only makes it harder to breathe,
get oxygen throughout your body and
makes you lightheaded and dizzy,
which you do not need at this time.
If you can carry some tea with you
it can help, but if not, caffiene can
help. It works as a dilator and what
the lungs need is to be open and
caffiene in any form can help open
up to a degree the air way passages
and help you breathe a little bit better.
Coughing, is needed to get the
mucous out of the air way passages
to breathe, so cough, and drink plenty
of water also for water thins the
Vanguard, FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 22
mucous and makes it easier to cough
up. Chest rub also can help seep into
the chest and help get the mucous
loosened so you can cough it up.
Rub the front and the back of your
lung area for maximum benefit. Steam
vapor can help loosen the air way
passages and help to get rid of mucous
plugging up the passages, so a small
steam vaporizer is good to have on
hand, but most run on electricity so
you would probably have to be at home
to get the benefits of that.
Essential oils of sage, peppermint,
ecualpysps, are good at opening up
the air way passages. By putting a
little bit on a cotton ballyou can get
relief from a clogged chest.
You can use one or blend the three
together for a synergy affect, which
enhances the effect of just one of the
essential oils. Peppermint has a
calming affect and that will help to
keep the chest muscles from getting
too tight.
Medical errors persist despite
safeguards
By Olayinka LATONA
A
S Nigeria joined the rest of the
world to mark e this year’s cancer
week, Minister of Health, Prof.
Onyebuchi Chukwu blamed the high
mortality from cancer on late
presentation to the hospital by
Nigerian patients.
Chukwu who stressed that the key to
combating the disease is through
massive awareness creations frowned
that the late presentation of patients
in Nigeria pose serious challenges on
the part of the ministry.
In a statement during the flag off of
this year’s International Cancer Week,
Chukwu disclosed that the Federal
government is seriously making efforts
towards tackling the problem of
increasing cancer awareness as well as
promoting the need for Nigerians to
go for regular cancer screening with a
view to detecting the disease early.
He alerted on the rising incidences
of cancer globally with developing
countries bearing about 80 per cent of
the global cancer burden.
Cancer prevention:
Care Totalis
advocates for
vaccination
A
CALL has gone to government
at all levels to emphasise the role
vaccines could play in warding off cer-
vical cancer which is described as the
number killer of women globally.
Managing Director of Care Totalis,a
non governmental organisation, Dr.
Winifred Osarunwese,while speaking
at the official opening of a cervical can-
cer screening and vaccination centre
in Lagos recently appealed to govern-
ments, individuals, corporate organi-
sations and the general public to in-
tensify efforts at sensitising women on
the need to imbibe vaccination as the
best means of avoiding the deadly dis-
ease.
She noted that due to poor knowl-
edge of preventive health, millions of
women have lost their lives to a dis-
ease that is preventable , stressing that
all hands must be on deck to ensure
that the ugly incidence is revised to
minimise the high rate of women los-
ing their lives.
Osarumwen also stressed that most
women are careless about their lives.
She blamed their attitude on lack of
awareness and ignorance. She stressed
that by the time most women present
their case at healthcare institutions, it
is often too late and there is little or
nothing healthcare personnel can do
to help the situation.
In her opinion, young girls should
be given papilomma vaccination,
stressing that any female child who is
vaccinated before having sex at all has
a greater chance of not coming down
with cervical cancer.
Women with multiple sex partners are
most vulnerable to the attack of the dis-
ease. Her words, ‘’The disease can be
contracted through sex”, warning that
sexual infidelity should be out rightly
discouraged among women.
Calling on the Nigerian media to
propagate and enlighten the public
more on cancer said “The changing
lifestyles, increasing obesity, smoking
habits and increase in alcohol
consumption have increased the risk
of cancer generally and particularly,
the three commonest in Nigeria:
breast, cervical and prostate cancers.
The Minister explained that Federal
government in line with the National
Strategic Health Development Plan has
also collaborated with other
stakeholders to develop a five-year
cancer control plan, according to the
minister, the plan includes;
comprehensive cancer prevention,
early detection through regular cancer
screening, early intervention and
palliative care to improve the quality
of life of cancer patients.
He further urged stakeholders and
the media to partner with the Federal
Ministry of Health by using their
various media to disseminate the
message of cancer prevention and
early detection through regular cancer
screening.
 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 23

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24 — V anguard, FRID
Vanguard, FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

Vanguard wins Presidential Export Award

*Apapa most export friendly port; Mersk Line service transport sector award
By Henry UMORU The awards were
conferred Wednesday, at
V A N G U A R D a ceremony which
Newspapers marked the end of the
has got the most friendly first edition of the
media award by the Nigerian Non-oil
Nigerian Export Exports Conference,
Promotion Council Exhibition and Awards,
(NEPC) in its first NNECEA 2010, which
Presidential Exporter- held at the International
of-the-Year Awards. Conference Centre,
According to a Deputy Abuja, from 25th through
Director in the office of 27th October, 2010.
the NEPC Executive In a statement signed
Director/CEO, Mr. by the Head, Public
Henry Ogli Otowo, the Relations of NEPC, Joe
awards are designed to Itah, while releasing the
confer due recognition list of winners of the first
on key players in the Presidential Exporter-of-
non-oil export sector, the-Year Awards, he
who have braved all odds noted that the agency
and challenges of the which is the apex agency
operating environment for the promotion and
and continue to enhance development of non-oil
Nigeria’s performance in exports from Nigeria
the international market-
came up with the
place by expanding their winners after ratification
exports in terms of
of the preliminary
value, volume and/or nominations by a
markets. selection committee that
Otowo, who doubles as
critically screened the
the Chairman of the nominees based on stiff
Award Committee,
criteria based on
explained that the authenticated
awards are also meant to
performance in the
recognise other various categories of
categories such as Trade
awards.
Facilitation, Export Other categories of
Education, Export
winners are Cocoa, Olam
Innovativeness, Pro-
Nigeria Plc for
activeness in Export c o m m o d i t i e s ,
Promotion (at the states
Indigenous exporter
businesses.
He explained that the
President's "E" Award
was created by Executive
Order of the President
on December 5, 1961, to
afford suitable
recognition to persons,
firms, or organisations
which contribute
significantly in the effort
to increase United States
exports. The statement
read in part: “It is the
mark of excellence for
any firm engaged in
exporting their
manufactured good or
service and for export
service providers.
“All "E" Award winners
receive a certificate
WOMEN IN EXPORT — THE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) signed in the name and
organised a sensitisation programme,recently at Sango-Otta for Women in Export. by the authority of the
From left: Mrs. Evelyn Ifeyinwa Obidike, Assistant Director and Co-ordinator, President by Secretary
NEPC Women in Export Development Programme, Alhaji Auwalu Yakasai, of Commerce, a lapel
Chairman/CEO,Danzago Investmet Ltd., Mr. Sabo Bello, NEPC, Area Controller
pin, and a white pennant
(North), who represented NEPC Exexcutive Director/CEO, David I. Adulugba
Esq. and Mr. Williams Ezeagu, Zonal Controller, NEPC, Makurdi at the event. with a large blue "E" on
it to fly over their plant
or office.”
Cotton Company statement, the NEPC in United States of
Limited; Manufacturing instituting the awards, America’s Presidential He also referred to the
case in Uganda where
of Leather, Mamuda was only adopting the “E” Awards for Export
I n d u s t r i e s , very best tools of export Excellence, which is one the Uganda Export
Promotions Board
Manufacturing of promotion that have of the most prestigious
Plastics, Eleme been successfully forms of recognition (UEPB)coordinates the
Presidential Export
Pe t r o c h e m i c a l s - practised in other offered by the U.S.
I n d o r a m a ; countries like the government to U.S. Awards annually.
Manufacturing of Foot
wears was received by
Women operate 80% of MSME
Asia Plastics Limited/Lee
Group, while woman
exporter of the year went

businesses — COMMISSIONER
level), Gender (Woman went to Saro Agro-Allied
Exporter-of-the Year) to Ada Chidume Okoro,
Ltd; for cotton as among others.
among others. commodities, the award According to the
went to West African male-ego, which date
W O M E N
constitute
Soboyejo.
Soboyejo, said this at back to the time when
the national population
NEPC holds packaging seminar for exporters between 50 and 80 per
cent of Micro, Small
the Women in Export
D e v e l o p m e n t
S e n s i t i s a t i o n
census was conducted in
some countries and
and Medium-Scale women were left
Enterprise operators Programme, organised
uncounted because of
T HE Nigerian importance of good therefore an essential globally, according to by the Nigerian Export
the Ogun State Promotion Council with the disregard for the
Export Promotion packaging and labelling element of product feminine gender.
Council (NEPC), in its in product and export development and Commissioner for the theme: “Building
Women Affairs and Export Capability, She called on women to
determined effort to promotion, noted that a market promotion. acquire education and
promote export and good quality product The CEO observed Social Welfare, Mrs. Competence and
Josephine ‘Tomi Competitiveness of training, which she
diversifying the nations without efficient that product packaging pointed out was a
has assumed a wider Women,” held recently
economy, organised a packaging is as good as at Sango-Otta, Ogun veritable tool for them to
one-day packaging State. gain knowledge and
clinic for exporters of She said: “Women improve on their
made-in-Nigeria constitute the largest businesses beyond their
products and the Small percentage of Micro, present levels of
and Medium Scale Small and Medium- operations.
Enterprises (SMEs) Scale Enterprise And speaking at the
manufacturers. They operators. They are very occasionn, the Co-
were called upon to essential because they ordinator, NEPC, Women
imbibe international are more involved in In Export Development
standards and trends in MSMEs. When you look Programme, Mrs.
packaging and labelling at the world, you will Ifeyinwa Obidike, said
of their products in order discover that the the programme was
to guarantee percentage of women in designed in line with
i n t e r n a t i o n a l MSMEs is between 50 achieving the Millennium
acceptability and and 80 per cent. So, you Development Goal N3.
patronage of these cannot really push them She said, “NEPC-
products towards export aside, because they are WIELP is aimed at
promotion, economic very hard working mainstreaming gender
and national people. perspective, using
development. “A lot of women who relevant, targeted support
Mr. David Adulugba, are into farming do not policies and services to
Executive Director/CEO know what to do with empower Nigerian
of NEPC, made this call their farm produce, women‘s capacity,
in an address to likewise those who are competence and
participants at the event into the cottage industry. competitiveness in non-oil
*Quality packaging export trade.
held at NEPC Area This is because most of
office in Lagos at the dimension in today ’s Scale Industries them are not looking at “NEPC-WIEDP
a bad product, which provides assistance to
weekend. The Area lacks both local and marketing world, and (SMIs), which form a the international market.
Controller/director large proportion of That is why this kind of participating Nigerian
international appeal, that it not only acts as a women in core critical
Lagos Area office, Mr. container of the physical manufacturers in workshop is organised to
acceptability and create awareness for export service areas;
Mohammed Ibrahim patronage. product but also Nigeria, are yet to
delivered the address on imbibe the culture of them on how to explore market intelligence,
He was of the view that communicates, gives capacity building,
behalf of the executive information and sells the efficient packaging like the opportunities.”
since packaging often According to her, the technical assistance,
director. acts as a product’s product/s, pointing out their counterparts in
Asia, Northern/South challenges facing market linkages, access to
Adulugba who salesman in the absence that most products of the finance, export advocacy
reemphasised the Small and Medium Africa and Middle East women include
of a marketer, it is tradition, culture and and trade facilitation.”
among others.
 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 25

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26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

as forging birth documents and
altering their official personal
Inside Africa’s records in the office! It is therefore
giant where not uncommon to find a Nigerian
employee with two different ages:
many are clinging the natural one, which is the
actual date he was born, and the
to the basics of artificial, which is the age he as an
adult declared for himself.
life, there is no life Apart from this whiff of criminality
outside which some otherwise honest
Nigerians are pushed into, the less
employment; to be honest ones, seeing no life outside
service, tend to ‘feather their nest
retired is like for the rainy day’ which is an
euphemism for corrupt
receiving a death enrichment. They face a situation
that the French are living much
longer leading the national
pension system into an annual $15
billion deficit. It also complains
that the ratio of active workers
paying into the pension system to
pensioners drawing from it, is
shrinking. It projects that the
pension deficit would hit at least
$130 billion by 2050 as the
population grows older.
But the populace see in Sarkozy’s
plan an evil attempt to erode the
country’s social benefits which
include long holidays, subsidised
health system and good collective
agreements that make it difficult

French pr
rench otests can’t
pro sentence except where if they are retired they go
without their gratuity or pension
for employers to lay off workers.
Many of those at the barricade feel
that they are not just fighting for
that in this case, for years. For instance, the 129,000

happen here the prosecutors

F RANCE has been aflame for
seven weeks as the President
Nicolas Sarkozy government took
on the people of France which
elected it. The primary reason why
the French are up in arms, the
proposal to increase retirement
age from 60 to 62 years, will shock
the average Nigerian. That is
putting it mildly; to many of them,
the reason will appear insane. Yet
the French people are so
passionate about it that they have
periodically grounded their
country with demonstrations
reminiscent of the historic 1968
student protests; over one million
people turned out for the protests
last week Tuesday.
The reason why the Nigerian
would jump for joy if pension age
were increased even by 15 years,
while the French would fight even
a two-year increase is not due to
cultural or racial differences,
rather it is socio-economic and a
reflection of societal
management. To the French,
pension is a great expectation when
the worker having given his youth
to service, eagerly looks forward
to the rewards that pension brings:
a more leisurely and enjoyable life
as a senior citizen. In contrast,
Nigerians are subjected to
deprivation, hardship and a high
level of dehumanization and
retirement automatically
translates to a further devaluation
of life and misery.
In Nigeria, jobs are quite scarce,
there is no social security,
unemployment benefits are
unheard of; the country’s huge
resources are privatised by the
political elites and their co-
travellers in uniform. Even for
those that become pensioners, their
pension stipend are usually
unpaid, sometimes for years. For
the few who get some pension
payment, the obstacles are so
much that some opt to forego their
money while a few who are
determined to collect their money
simply die on the pension queue.
and judges are less
visible
For ex-servicemen, things became
so bad that many began living
under bridges and became
professional beggars just to be
able to keep alive in Abuja, while
awaiting their pension payment. It
is said that ‘old Soja never die’ but
in Nigeria, they die on pension
queues.
So inside Africa’s giant where
many are clinging to the basics of
life, there is no life outside
employment; to be retired is like
receiving a death sentence except
that in this case, the prosecutors
and judges are less visible. In
practice, many retirees actually
die shortly afterwards as state
policy is to abandon the aged, the
retired and the helpless. The result
of this sub-human system is that
almost all Nigerians try to stay at
work for as long as possible even
if they have to commit such crimes
federal employees retired in 2007
by then President Olusegun
Obasanjo under his Civil
Service‘ reform’ measures, had
their entitlements unpaid for
years. Yet for many of them, they
are their families bread winner
and their situation is compounded
by the fact that their graduate
children remain unemployed for
years.
Given this state of uncertainty,
Nigerians are forced to make
demands on government to
continuously increase retirement
age and sometimes they go on
strike to achieve this. So today,
professors who used to retire at 60
years and spend the rest of their
lives writing books, being on the
lecture circuit at their own pace
and relaxing, have won the stiff
battle to increase their retirement
age to 70 years, while other
categories of university staff have
won the fight to retire at 65. Judges
who for decades have been bent
over the bench, want their
retirement age pushed to 75 years!
In France, Sarkozy is fighting the
political battle of his life. His
government’s argument is that
France has one of the lowest
retirement ages in the world and
themselves but also to preserve the
gains of their forebears while the
youths and students believe that
they are in the struggle to protect
their future.
The struggle between both sides
led to violent clashes, disruption
of land and air travel and fuel
shortages. All the one dozen
refineries in the French mainland
were affected while the
paramilitary forces played a cat
and mouse game with the
protesters; once they lift the
blockade on the some of the
depots, the strikers re-impose
them.
Sarkozy felt that once the
parliament passed the bill, the
wind will be taken out of the
strikes; the bill has been passed,
but the protesters are not about to
give up; they appointed new dates
of protests. Sarkozy who has tried
to live the image of a tough and
hard guy is in this case, a deficit to
his government. He also has a bad
image internationally for playing
the racial and religious card
against Muslims and expelling the
Roma people who are Europeans
with the right to live anywhere in
the European Union. Sarkozy is
bad news to social services.

T RANSPARENCY International (TI) is a

civil society organisation that
spearheads the fight against the dubious
practices that jeopardise the welfare of the
poor all over the world and prevent so many
countries from fulfilling their potential.
TI is famed for compiling an annual global
Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which is
based on extensive surveys (the respondents
are entrepreneurs and analysts who know
each environment well) and measures
public opinion about corruption within
various domestic public sectors (ie, on a
governmental level).
TI’s definition of corruption is “the abuse of
entrusted power for private gain”. And when
its latest CPI was released in Germany
earlier on this week, it was revealed that
Nigeria came 134th out of the 178 countries
that were assessed.
Last year, we came 130th. In 2008, we came
121st. This year, we scored a paltry 2.4 points
out of a possible l0 points (a score of zero
denotes stratospheric levels of corruption,
while a score of l0 would confer “highly
clean” status).
To put these figures into context: Ghana,
which appears at number 62 on the TI list,
got 4.1 out of l0 points, while no less than
seven other nations in the West African sub-
region (Burkina Faso, Liberia, Gambia,
Senegal, Benin Republic, Mali and Niger)
have achieved superior placements.
Meanwhile, Botswana (with 5.8 points)
came first in the whole of Africa while we
made it to number 28 (out of the 47 African
countries that were surveyed).
In other words, Nigeria, in addition to
plunging deeper and deeper into the mire
that is corruption with each passing year, is
also one of the more dishonest countries,
not just on the African continent but on the
face of the earth.
And, by the way, since we were outranked by
neighbours (Beninois, for example) who
have similar customs but are poorer than
we are, there can’t be much truth in the oft-
stated claim that corruption is linked to
culture and low wages.
The only consolation I can derive from this
embarrassing CPI report is the fact that we
did considerably better than over 40
countries, including Somalia (which came
last in Africa and the entire world and earned
Corruption
updat
updatee
itself a particularly pitiful 1.1 points...as
against the 9.3 points that were allocated to
the three countries - Denmark, New Zealand
and Singapore – that jointly shared the top
slot).
Too many Nigerians – whether they be
ordinary citizens or VIPs – have a
nonchalant attitude towards corruption,
despite being avid churchgoers and mosque
regulars. Theft is widespread and is not just
tolerated but admired, because ours is a
society in which success is more important
than integrity.
The thing that amazes me most is that so
many public servants don’t even bother to
hide the fact that their real incomes exceed
their salaries. Judges who don’t earn much
on paper openly send numerous children to
expensive foreign schools. Female ministers
suddenly acquire enough diamonds to open
jewellery shops. Guys who could barely
afford to rent one flat before they became
Governors leave office as proud owners of
massive property portfolios.
Nine times out of ten, these shameless
flaunters of ill-gotten gains are hailed not
jailed. And I urge anyone who doubts my
view that we should quit putting up with their
antics to please check out the TI website.
For those of you who cannot easily access
the internet, I am reproducing the following
excerpt:
“The cost of corruption is four-fold:
political, economic, social, and
environmental. On the political front,
corruption constitutes a major obstacle to
democracy and the rule of law. In a
democratic system, offices and institutions
lose their legitimacy when they are misused
for private advantage. Though this is
harmful in the established democracies, it
Nine times out of
ten, these
shameless flaunters of
ill-gotten gains are
hailed not jailed; and I
urge anyone who
doubts my view that we
should quit putting up
with their antics to
please check out the TI
website
is even more so in newly emerging ones.
Accountable political leadership cannot
develop in a corrupt climate.
“Economically, corruption leads to the
depletion of national wealth. It is often
responsible for the funnelling of scarce
public resources to uneconomic high-profile
projects, such as dams, power plants,
pipelines and refineries, at the expense of
less spectacular but fundamental
infrastructure projects such as schools,
hospitals and roads, or the supply of power
and water to rural areas. Furthermore, it
hinders the development of fair market
structures and distorts competition, thereby
deterring investment.
“The effect of corruption on the social fabric
of society is the most damaging of all. It
undermines peoples’ trust in the political
system, in its institutions and its leadership.
Frustration and general apathy among a
disillusioned public result in a weak civil
society. That in turn clears the way for
despots as well as democratically elected
yet unscrupulous leaders to turn national
assets into personal wealth.
“Demanding and paying bribes become the
norm. Those unwilling to comply often
emigrate, leaving the country drained of its
most able and most honest citizens.
“Environmental degradation is yet another
consequence of corrupt systems. The lack
of, or non-enforcement of, environmental
regulations and legislation has historically
allowed the North [the Western World] to
export its polluting industry to the South
[developing nations]. At the same time,
careless exploitation of natural resources,
from timber and minerals to elephants, by
both domestic and international agents has
led to ravaged natural environments.
“Environmentally devastating projects are
given preference in funding, because they
are easy targets for siphoning off public
money into private pockets”.
Last week, I said I’d respond to a reader’s
criticisms of Dame Patience Jonathan today.
But I got sidetracked by the CPI story, so those
of you who are interested in First Lady issues
should please bear with me till next week.
Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk
or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only). Please
kindly note that unless you specificially
request anonymity, your comments may
be published in Vanguard, with your
names and numbers or email addresses
attached.
 VANGUARD, ERIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 27

Aid ships reach Indonesia

tsunami zone
R ELIEF efforts have
been stepped up in
Indonesia as three aid
would help West
Sumatra’s government
to build temporary
homes, health facilities
and schools,
spokesman said.
his
ships reached the worst-
hit parts of the island
chain devastated by Nigeria, Ghana fly sub -Sahara
Monday’s tsunami. Africa flag at 2010 WWIEF
Rescue teams are now
at work on North Pagai
island in the remote By Emeka Aginam, in 12 worldwide innovative
Mentawai Islands off Cape Town, South Africa education awards at the
western Sumatra. ongoing capacity
More than 340 people
are known to have died. A S the competition
get hotter, two
secondary schools from
building event
The program which is
running in about 114
Hundreds are still
missing. the Sub Saharan Africa countries around the A senior Rwandan prosecutor is considering bringing terror charges against a former
Indonesia’s president countries, including world had attracted no manager of a hotel in Rwanda who saved hundreds of people from the 1994 genocide.
has visited the islands, Nigeria and Ghana are fewer than 500 World’s Rusesabagina, right, has been branded a ‘manufactured hero’ by Paul Kagame, the
which were inundated currently flying the most innovative Rwandan president [EPA]
after a 7.7-magnitude continent’s flag at the educators and school
undersea earthquake ongoing Microsoft
partners in learning
leaders including media
practitioners.
SERAP petitions Gaddafi over
triggered the tsunami
three days ago. Worldwide Innovative
Education Forum
Running for the first
time in the Africa soil,
Nigerians on death row
President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono holding in Cape Town, The forum is the
cut short a trip to South Africa. centerpiece of By Innocent Anaba release of Nigerians still authorities to accept the
Vietnam to oversee the The two schools Microsoft’s global on death row in Libya, provisional measures

S
rescue effort, flying in a including Odogbulu US$500 million Partners OCIO-Economic pursuant to the and the subsequent
helicopter loaded with Grammar School, Ogun in Learning programme, Rights and provisional measures release of many of the
food and other basic State, Nigeria and WA which helps teachers Accountability Project, granted by the African Nigerians on death row
necessities to the remote Senior High School, and school leaders to use SERAP, has petitioned Commission on Human in Libya.” “We are,
and inaccessible islands. Upper West Region technology as a tool for the Libyan President and Peoples’ Rights.” however, concerned that
Ghana are among one innovative teaching and Muammar Gaddafi, SERAP in the petition several more Nigerians C
There he met both
survivors and local hundred and twenty five learning in the 21st urging him to use his the Libyan leader, said, remain on death row in M
officials, promising the schools currently century knowledge “good offices and “we have welcomed the Libya and facing real Y
central government competing to win one of economy. leadership to secure the decision by the Libyan possibility of execution. K
 28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

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2010
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 54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
Cultural performances during the annual Olokun Festival organised by the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) in Badagry weekend.
Photo by Jimoh Babatunde
C class service standards
M which it offers its clients.
Y According to Loxley,
K Tourists storm Badagry for Olokun festival
Stories by Jimoh
Babatunde
T
ourists from the
West Africa region
joined scores of
members of Oodua
Peoples Congress (OPC)
led by Gani Adams for
the two day annual
Olokun Festival at the
Suntan Beach, Badagry
weekend.
The festival was flag off
Friday with a colourful
boat regatta at the water
front in Badagry
witnessed by teeming
followers of the OPC
across the nation as well
as the representatives of
the Lagos State
government.
Speaking with
Vanguard, Otunba Gani
Adams said Africans
should look inward and
find solutions to their
challenges. They should
also beware of people
who are embarking on
the dastard campaign of
cultural genocide
because they want to
destablise the continent
from its roots and
suppress it forever.
“It is fact that we
Africans, particularly the
youth and adolescent are
having a crisis of identity.
Many of our youths
desperately trying to
copy everything foreign
and Western. They have
made a great move with
the skin_toning or
bleaching that used to be
in vogue in the past of
there zeal to mimick
everything Western – the
dressing, language and
even the social beliefs
and value systems,” he
moaned. Saturday at the Suntan
Chief Adams noted Beach, the doting
coconut trees around the
that the efforts of the
Olokun Festival expansive beach turned
Foundation in the festival into
organising the event, remarkable picturesque
yearly, is to revive spectacle with thousands
awareness and build of traders turning out to
confidence in young seve the needs of
Africans about their millions of tourists at the
cultural roots. He looked beach for the festival.
back to what the festival As the wind blew,
has achieved since sometimes gently the
inception and noted that fanning tilt of the
the effort has not been in coconut trees seem to
vein. bow rhythmically to in
“The ultimate is to use the drumbeats and
our mother tongue to
study, from elementary
school to university
level, as it is done in
countries like Ghana,
Abuja Carnival names Igbinedion grand patron
T
Russia, Germany, etc. It he 2010 Abuja
is then we can claim to C a r n i v a l
be truly independent,” Management Committee
Gani remarked. has named a Nigerian
After the display of industrialist and
beauty by the various philanthropic, Chief
cultural groups both on Gabriel Igbinedion, the
water and land, Gani Esama of Benin as the
Adams led his followers Grand Patron of the
to pay homage to the national carnival.
Monarch of Badagry, the Performing the
Akran of Badagry, Aholu investiture that was
Menu Toyi I, who attended by friends of
thanked Gani Adams for the Esama of Benin and
his selfless efforts in the diplomatic
promoting African community among
culture. In his response, others, Minister of
Adams promised to take Tourism, Culture and
the festival to a higher National Orientation,
level. Alhaji Sadiq Abubakar
Earlier in the course of Mohammed, said that “
the festivity, a Yoruba We are gathered here
quiz competition, a today to add a very
beach football contest essential element to the
and the Olokun Beauty Nigeria’s national
Pageant took place as carnival ‘Abuja Carnival’
well as a street carnival to install a carnival
festival float, Royal Grand Patron”
Night, live_band According to the
performance and film minister who was very
screening. philosophical said,
On the grand finale on “Human beings are so
frenzy of the festivity.
Some of the Olokun
faithfuls, clad in
sparkling whites attires,
made specially for the
festival, sang and dance
to the admiration of
guests.
At the main arena of
the event, various dance
companies from several
parts of Nigeria and such
countries of the West
African sub_continent as
Republic of Benin,
Ghana and Cote D’voire,
adorning colourful
used to having support
in their buildings that
they often take for
granted, that a support
determines how much
weight a building can
carry; it determines
whether a building will
rise to storey level or to
be forever condemned to
remain a bungalow; in
bridges, it determines
how much traffic the
given bridge can carry
and it is thanks to
support, that man has
been able to bridge
troubled waters”.
“We are not only very
careful of how we choose
a Grand Patron who is
expected to provide
support to the carnival,
but we also hold the
personality in great
reverence”.
Alhaji Sadiq opined
that being a Grand
Patron of the Abuja
Carnival has two parts;
it is a call to service and
also an acknowledgment
Southern
Sun wins
award
By Dotun Ibiwoye
S outhern Sun Hotel
has emerged the
best 4-Star Hotel/Resort
and the best New Hotel
2010.
At the recent West
African Tourism &
Hospitality Awards-
WATHA 2010 in Accra
Ghana, Southern Sun’s
General Manager, Mr.
Mark Loxley was also
has given the CEO of
the year.
Despite the fact that
the hotel has only been
operating for less than a
Year and a half, in the
competitive market, its’
success story leaves
nothing to doubt about
its facilities and world
the hospitality strategy
of the hotel
consolidated its rating in
the hospitality industry.
costumes, tried to outdo “The Hotel had a
one another in their Strategic Intention to
continuously strive for
cultural performances.
Among the troupes Quality and Excellence
in Service, by firmly
were traditional dancers
from Ondo State, Edo committing to the
training and
State, Olokun Dancers,
the Zamgbeto dance from development of its entire
staff.” he said.
Ghana, Igunuko, Gelede
and Agemo dance from He received the
awards with gratitude
Lagos, Republic of Benin
and Togo. Other and used the
opportunity to Thank the
performance comprised
the Sango dancers and Management and Staff
of the Hotel for their
‘fire eaters ‘as well as
magical stunts by a support and
commendable hard
group from Cote D’voire,
among many. work.
of service already one ‘Grand Patron’ of the
rendered. carnival which he
Responding, Chief promised to use his time
Igbinedion thanked the and contact to position as
minister and the 2010 a world class event.
Abuja Carnival Earlier, the father of
M a n a g e m e n t the 2010 carnival, former
Committee, saying that Chief Justice of the
of all the recognitions Federation_Rtd. Justice
that he has received in Alfa Belgore, thanked
his life so far, he Chief Igbinedion for
cherished his national accepting to serve as the
award and the newest carnival Grand Patron.
Otunba Gani Adams with Dapo Awobolu of the La-
gos State Mininstry of Tourism and other invited
guests at the annual Olokun Festival in Badagry
weekend. Photo by Jimoh Babatunde
 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 55

UK Tourism
Ghana woos Nigerian tourists, investors Minister to
attend
Stories by Jimoh Ministers’
Babatunde
Summit at

G hana tourism
officials were in
Nigeria
week to market the
last
WTM
... organisers,
Obj commend
country as a destination
of choice for Nigerian Runsewe
tourists as well as
investors in the tourism
sector.
The country’s Tourism
Minister, Mrs. Zita
J ohn Penrose , the new
United Kingdom
Tourism Minister may b
Okaikoi led a strong asked to explain further
delegation of tourism the UK government’s
officials and major stated aim of replacing
hoteliers from the private Air Passenger Duty
to Nigeria for the (APD) with a per plane
annual Akwaaba Travel tax, which is expected to
fair staged in Lagos. generate more money for
At a media parley with the Treasury as it looks
journalists, Okaikoi their to reduce the UK’s debt.
tourism industry is one Air Passenger Duty
of the most important (APD) tax is increased
and fastest growing for the second year
sectors of the Ghanaian running the week before
economy. “It is the fourth World Travel Market at a
largest foreign exchange Ghanian Minister of Tourism, Zita Okaikoi with Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed time when the global
earner generating an Bola Tinubu and his wife during the press brefing of the Ghanian Tourism at the just concluded travel and tourism
average of US$1.6 Akwaaba Travel Fair held in Lagos. Photo by Jimoh Babatunde
C industry is under
billion in the last few M increasing commercial
years after gold, cocoa pressure, this difficult
and remittances from has a direct bearing on Y trading environment has
for investment in large, Golden Beach Hotels, private island .”
Ghanaians resident a g r i c u l t u r e , K
medium & small scale Samuel Debrah said their She added “At Golden led to a number of travel
abroad. It also manufacturing, Hotels and other types of coming to Nigeria is to Beach Hotels, we know companies already
contributes about 6.4 % construction, transport , accommodation facilities encourage tourism on the that traveling on failing this year with
to GDP” as well as the growth of of all kinds in Accra and West coast. business can leave you experts predicting more C
She added “as a service micro, small and nine other Regional She explained that the feeling strained and will follow. M
sector, Tourism is medium scale capitals for the business hotels under the Golden disconnected. A World Travel Market Y
labour_intensive and a enterprises particularly_ and the leisure markets. Beach Hotels like Busua refreshing welcome Chairman Fiona Jeffery
major job creator hotels, restaurants, Beach resort; La Palm drink on arrival makes said: “I am delighted
K
She added
especially for young entertainment/ “opportunities exist for Royal Beach and Elmina you feel at home; John Penrose will be
people, women and recreational centers, development of Beach Beach resort offer the wireless broadband taking part in this year ’s
i n d i g e n o u s handicrafts, souvenirs, Resorts along the best in leisure and internet access and ultra UNWTO Ministers’
communities. It is a local markets and coastline in Greater business. modern business Summit at World Travel
sector that is capable of shopping malls.” Accra, Central Region “The Busua Beach facilities keeps you Market.”
creating direct and While listing the resort is close to the oil connected and of course “His input and insight
and Western Regions of field in Ghana which will breakfast on the house
indirect employment to various tourism products Ghana.” in the role the UK will
Ghanaians. the country parades, the be ideal for investors and means you can start each play in the future of the
Speaking also at the those in the oil sector as day fresh and
“The growth of the Minister explained that briefing, the global travel and tourism
tourism sector, therefore, there are opportunities well as leisure travellers energized.” industry will be
representative of the as the resort has a invaluable.
Meanwhile, the
organisers of the annual
event has once again
Bartending academy will boost Nigerian economy commended
Nigerian
the
Tourism
D e v e l o p m e n t
A
into
s the momentum for
transforming Lagos
a megacity
home will be in Lagos.
Preceding IBAC are
many great academies of
that can provide trained
hands for the industry to
employ.
Corporation (NTDC) for
the country ’s well
designed stand last year
gradually goes into full international repute like: Apart from the and the prompt payment
motion, an institute to TheInternational establishment of the of its participation fee.
cater for the provision bartending Association – academy which will This commendation is
and setting up of founded in 1951 in have two expatriates, coming on the heels of
standards in the Torquay U.K; The Wesley Biron Alexander similar commendation
hospitality industry has London Bartending –Head of Operations and given by former
come on stream. Academy and the New Tristian Nicolas Dennis – President, Olusegun
The institute, the York Bartending Head of Training both Obasanjo weekend in
International Bartending Academy.” South Africans, De- Lagos at the annaul
Academy is established On what prompted Medeiros said Nigerian Akwaaba Travel Market.
to bridge the yawning them to take this economy has a lot to Chief Olusegun
gap in service delivery in pioneering step, De- benefit from the Obasanjo described
the hospitality industry Medeiros said there is academy when it finally Otunba Runsewe as a
in the country. The a dearth of skilled/ comes on stream in dynamic young man
Academy is under the trained manpower November. who has done a lot for
aegis of the African
The latest addition of the Starwood Hotels & within the industry and
Resorts in Nigeria, the Four Points by Sheraton tourism in this country.
Hospitality Limited in order to bridge the
(AHL).
in Lagos. lacuna there is need for
Mr. Oyindamola proactive action
Caesario De_Medeiros, called Standards. “What international standards.” because the few trained
MD/CEO of AHL and differentiates one He added. hands are recycled
one of the brains behind country from the next or He stated that the within the same pool of
the academy made this one city from the next is essence of the academy employers.
known at a press briefing how these three elements is to bring standards to The employer bears the
in Lagos. are packaged and the service and drink cost of training/
He identified three key presented giving each a segment of the re_training as theyknow
pillars fundamental to unique point of hospitality industry in best and not to the
an internationally differentiation but what Nigeria starting from international standard.
accepted hospitality defines an international Lagos. “To do this we This is also against the
sector. These are destination is the have set up The backdrop of the fact that
service, food and drink; adherence of its International Bartending there is no institution
these three together are hospitality industry to Academy (IBAC) whose
 56—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
Ajegunle Flood Victims
48 expectant
mothers among
1,008 Agbowa
camp inmates
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
T HE Lagos State Emergency
Management Agency
Relief/Resettlement Camp in
Agbowa, Ikosi Ejirin in Ikorodu
North Local Government Area,
Lagos where victims of Ajegunle
flood disaster are currently
taking refuge is a beehive of
activities.
Of the total 1,008 campers, 48
C are heavy with babies out of
M which camp doctors say six will
Y be delivered of the babies shortly.
The sleepy small town of
K Agbowa , hitherto calm and quiet
is now bubbling with the arrival
of the Internal Displaced People,
IDP, of Ajegunle at the camp.
Various moribund businesses
are said to have bounced back
to life, thanks to the patronage
of the IDP.
By last Wednesday when
Vanguard visited the camp, the
authorities said there were 47
students in Junior Secondary
Schools while 48 were in Senior
Secondary School with a total
of 205 primary school pupils.
Adding up to make 519 children
being catered for.
The number of adult males in
camp is 206 with 278 adult
females giving a grand total of
1,008 campers. Also, there are
50 government officials working
in the camp led by the camp
commandant, Mr. Wewe Ganiu
Adeboye. Their job is to ensure
that every requirement and need
for the campers to feel at home
are met.
Vanguard at the sick bay
The camp, located on one
hectare of land has the following
features: Administrative block
for members of staff, sick bay,
female and male dormitories, a
hall, five sets of toilets and
bathrooms each for male and
female campers, a kitchen and
dinning hall, a basket ball court
and a football pitch with a
standby generator to supply
electricity when there is power
failure.
When Vanguard visited the sick
bay, three patients were seen
receiving medical attention
from a team of health workers.
They were said to have been
treated for such ailments as
epilepsy, malaria and general
body pain. The names of the
patients were given as Samson
Agboniyi, a 13 year old boy;
Rilwanu Olarenwaju, nine year
old and Mr. Nwanja Uzoamaka,
a 35 year old man from Ebonyi
State .
One of the most outstanding
features of the camp is the new
Refugees at the Agbowa camp
Sleeping hall
theatre room where serious
surgical operation could be
If not for the carried out. The clinic was built
as a support to the Agbowa
state General Hospital which is
government’s located a few metres from the
relief camp.
generosity, I When asked if there had been
any serious health case on camp,
couldn’t have Wewe, the camp commandant,
said there had been none as at
been able to pay the time of the report.
From our investigation, it was
for the baby’s revealed that the campers seem
contented except the for the
delivery anxiety to reunite with their
families back home.
According to Mrs. Agbotu, an
indigene of Delta State and a
mother of four who is in camp,
the state government had tried a
lot for them by making sure life
is bearable to them all as they
give them three square meals, as
make shift clinic with its own
standby generator, fully well as 24 hours electricity
supply.
equipped with all medical
facilities including a surgery She said: “There is no problem
At the school
at all, we are feeling at home here
but as you know, no place like
home. We are looking forward
to reuniting with our families in
our homes.”
However, Vanguard learnt that
the state government was
already working on two other
relief camps located in
Ibeju_Lekki and Igando areas of
the State in addition to Agbowa.
When asked what the
constraints and challenges are
in the camp, Wewe said there
were no constraints but
challenges which were in two
folds: environmental cleanliness
and repeated damage to camp
infrastructure.
He said: “We are facing a
herculean task here, the IDP,
especially the children among
them often damage our
infrastructure, such as toilet
taps, the water pipes, and water
closets. We have to repair them
as soon as they are damaged so
Sick bay
as not to disrupt the plan of the
camp and also to prevent any
disease that could result from
lack of water supply.
“We also engage the services
of waste managers who work
round the clock to make sure
that the toilets and the
environment are kept clean at
all times.”
It was learnt that a cow is killed
every two days to feed the
campers.
A day before Vanguard’s visit a
new born baby was actually
delivered in the camp. The
mother, Mrs. Uchechi Victor is
a 22 year old native of Imo State
.
Commendation
for Fashola
Her husband, Victor, was seen
at the bed side of his wife at the
General Hospital.
Victor who was full of
commendation for the state
government for bank rolling the
entire medical expenses,
lamented that he was jobless and
would be glad if the state
government could employ him
as he was willing and able to
work.
He said: “If not for the state
government’s generosity, I
couldn’t have been able to pay
for the baby’s delivery. I really
thank Governor Babatunde
Fashola for everything, he has
been a wonderful governor and
a kind man.”
Also providing succour on
camp is the mobile clinic by
National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA,
Lagos State Emergency
Management Agency, LASEMA;
and Lagos State Ambulances
Services, LASAMBUS
Men of the Neigbourhood
watch are also on surveillance
to provide adequate security for
the campers.
 Vanguard
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FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 57

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K
 58 — Vanguard
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FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

C
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K
 Vanguard
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FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 59

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60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
By J.O. EJUEYTCHIE-
OROYE
Continued from yesterday's pg 18
B RITAIN that once ruled Nigeria is not
a one party state. America whose
presidential system, Nigerians system is
based, is not a one party state. The large
number of parties said to have registered
not withstanding, the general feeling is
Nigeria is fast becoming a one party state.
One would have thought that with the AC/
ACN, ANPP and UPGA winning some
seats at both the state and national levels
in the 2007 elections, four whole years
after they would have become so organ-
ised and strong that the thought of Ni-
geria becoming a one party state would
not at all be contemplated/ entertained
anywhere in the country. It is highly in-
comprehensible that Nigeria with a popu-
lation of 150 million people – rich with
highly intelligent men and women -
would be in a position where her citizens
would have no choice but to accept one
ideology, that of the PDP. Freedom de-
mands that there be alternate/different
ideologies from which the people at elec-
tion would choose which ideology would
best promote their interest.
The challenge is therefore for politicians
to do their best for the country, especially
in the provision of the environment which
would enable Nigerians to exercise their
right of choice of ideology. The existence
of more than one party definitely gives
room for healthy competition among or
between the parties in the provision of
good governance. Therefore 50 years of
independence celebration should also
have as its goal the provision of the party
system that would best serve the interest
of the generality of Nigerians.
The second issue has to do with the great
powers being wielded by some individu-
als- this makes a mockery of the equality
of the rights of the individual enshrined
in the constitution, it also constitutes a
threat to the practice of true democracy.
Particularly noticeable is that of Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, the President and in
reality the Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces of Nigeria in the two im-
mediate past administrations. He actu-
ally makes himself a colossus striding
across the length and breadth of the coun-
try, dictating the tune with the 150 mil-
lion Nigerians minus one giving the im-
pression that they are comfortable with
the arrangement of dancing to his tune.
One must concede that the Chief is a
great strategist. This quality he very ably
displayed when it came to the election of
his successor in 2007. It was clear that
the emergence of Mallam Umaru Musa
Yar Adua of blessed memory as President
and that of Dr Goodluck Jonathan first
as Vice President and even as President
was all the handiwork of the Chief. Yet
the Chief was part of the administration
of the late General Murtala Mohammed
that took the hitherto strange measure of
purging the Civil Service, a measure that
not only brought untold suffering to mil-
lions of Nigerians but also succeeded in
destroying all that was good in the Nige-
rian Civil Service. With security of ten-
ure thrown over board, corruption crept
in to the Civil Service and with time be-
came part and parcel of the service. In
his eight years as President, inspite of the
huge amount spent on the all important
factor that affects the economy and life
of every individual in this country – en-
ergy remained unattainable, darkness
and all the ills that go with darkness pre-
vailed and are still prevailing. Needless
to mention the sorry state of education.
Although the then President established
his own university, the Bell University, the
few secondary schools owned and run by
the Federal Government – the Federal
Government Colleges were in ruin. His
government, but for public out cry, would
have sold them to private individuals in
the name of Public Private Partnership
(PPP). The Junior Secondary Schools
were phased out in the schools – an un-
About time we got it right (3)
Basically zoning places emphasis on
where the next President should come
from; the way the issue is being handled unfor-
tunately is doing nothing but emphasising
what divides us
instead of placing emphasis on what should
keep us together; thus, one of the lasting
legacies, if not the only lasting one the British
left us with, is now under threat
called-for measure. To show this was not
well thought out and through, so soon
after the Junior Secondary Schools are
being returned to the Federal Govern-
ment institutions once more. As far as
roads were concerned the Chief and his
first Minister of Works, Chief Anthony
Anenih will one day, either here or here
after, give an account of the billions of
naira voted for road construction and
rehabilitation. If Lagos – Benin Road is
unmotorable and his first Minister of
Works is from Edo State, it is only to be
expected that roads generally in Nigeria
during the eight years tenure of the Chief
would be nothing but death traps and
they were. No doubt the Chief succeeded
in some areas of governance. However,
this cannot be said of the areas that af-
fect the everyday life of the generality of
Nigerians. Since suffering did not abate,
indeed poverty was on the increase under
the Chief as Head of Government for two
consecutive administrations which were
near becoming three, if not life long, Ni-
gerians have a duty to call a halt to the
unlimited powers being exercised by the
Chief and all his likes. There is no justifi-
able reason for their enjoying such enor-
mous powers. Fifty years of rule by the
political class and the military should
constitute more than enough learning
period for us Nigerians. We should know
what is good for us and how our country
should be governed. Henceforth, Nigeri-
ans should therefore work for equality of
rights for all for an egalitarian society
where government is by the people and
for the people – a true democracy.
Our 50 years anniversary celebration
should coincide with Nigerians bidding
goodbye to the existing situation whereby
power is in the hands of a few over-bear-
ing individuals. Power should now be
made to rest with the people.
The third issue has to do with zoning
which has become the major pre-occu-
pation of the ruling party. Basically zon-
ing places emphasis on where the next
President should come from – should the
President come from the North where the
party is said to have zoned it to till 2015
or the South where the incumbent who
became President by divine intervention
comes from? The way the issue is being
handled unfortunately is doing nothing
but emphasising what divides us instead
of placing emphasis on what should keep
us together. Thus, one of the lasting lega-
cies if not the only lasting one the British
left us with is now under threat. It is true
that the British Colonial Administration
could have taken steps to ensure that no
one part of the country has obvious ad-
vantage over the other by dealing
squarely with the problem of minorities.
This the administration did not resolve.
Nevertheless they kept us together, that is
why we can talk of Nigeria celebrating
50 years of independence. It is good we
remain one, our size and population
make us talk of Nigeria as the giant of
Africa, though we are giant only in the
two areas mentioned and in no other
sphere.
At 50 the point should be made abun-
dantly clear that emphasis in consider-
ing who becomes number one citizen of
Nigeria is on ability to perform, compe-
tence and character trait and certainly
not where the person comes from. It is
because this position on leadership has
not be hammered on, nor has it been
shouted out loud and clear that Nigeria
is for only leaders that would meet the
aspiration of the people that one like
General Ibrahim Babangida under whose
administration our economic woes
started and who brazenly annulled the
only free and fair election Nigeria has
ever had can talk of coming back to con-
test for the post of president in Nigeria.
Similarly too, the apathy on the part of
the average Nigerian has also given room
for politicians to give the impression that
incumbency and place of origin are the
consideration that should/would give the
presidency ticket to President Goodluck
Jonathan. One is yet to see what areas
his months as Head of Government has
impacted positively on the lives of Nige-
rians generally. Are our roads in a better
shape now? Certainly not. Has the energy
problem been solved to an appreciable
level? Again the answer is no. What about
the problem of security? Kidnapping has
not in the least abated. That one comes
from the deprived area where the coun-
try’s oil resources come from need not be
and should not be an important consid-
eration for choosing who becomes Presi-
dent of the country, the fact that it is for
this reason America is seen to be inter-
ested in the candidacy of President
Goodluck Jonathan not withstanding.
After all America is only mainly inter-
ested in the protection of her investment
in the oil producing areas; there is noth-
ing altruistic in the position America is
said to be adopting. Moreover, it is obvi-
ous that the militants have not struggled
in vain, the people in the oil producing
areas can no longer be taken for granted;
henceforth, no responsible government
can afford to ignore the hen that produces
the egg – the golden egg – for the nation.
It is also a thing of joy that coinciding
with the problem of the militancy being
positively addressed, this started under
the late President Yar Adua’s administra-
tion, an indigene of one of the oil produc-
ing states by the grace of God has now
emerged the President of the country. The
Good Lord has caused to happen what
hitherto no one imagined could be a re-
ality in the foreseeable future. The as-
cendancy of President Jonathan at this
time can be interpreted as God’s way of
compensating the oil producing states,
especially the Ijaws, for decades of ne-
glect of the area by the government of the
Federation. However, for President
Jonathan to continue in that position in
the next administration, it is expected that
his election would be based on the ability
to perform he convincingly demonstrates
during the period prior to election day.
The Good Lord in His mercy has granted
the President a wonderful opportunity, he,
the President, has to prove that he is up to
the challenges of the position God has
entrusted to him. The late General
Murtala Mohammed was head of this
nation for only six months. He is today
celebrated as a hero. True enough his
administration did no little damage to
the Civil Service - a nation without a
strong, efficient, corruption free Civil
Service cannot but head for disaster –
also true too is the fact that some disci-
pline was immediately infused into the
public service as all were convinced that
a no-nonsense man had assumed leader-
ship position in the country. President
Jonathan has more than six months in
his present dispensation to demonstrate
in no unmistakable term the stuff he is
made of. The period available for him to
impact positively on the life of Nigerians
is even now being extended by INEC ask-
ing for a date later than January for the
2011 elections. Moreover, the President
has the benefit of a good education. Let
the President put all these to play. The
President is showing he had learnt a lot
from Chief Obasanjo and his many trav-
els. It is, however, in the interest of the
President to keep a balance in everything,
putting in place measures that would ac-
tually impact on the lives of his fellow
Nigerians certainly deserve to be ac-
corded great priority. Such measures are
what would ensure votes are cast for him,
this though is assuming that the 2011 elec-
tions would be free and fair. For the pur-
pose of emphasis, the point is repeated
that this time round the criteria for win-
ning election to the exalted position are
ability, capability, integrity and nothing
more.
The three issues highlighted, among
many others, are areas to which Nigeri-
ans are being called upon to get right this
time round. The general indifference on
the part of the average Nigerian, coupled
with sycophancy and love of worldly
pleasures on the part of Nigerians at large
have so far given Nigerians leaders who
have only succeeded in making the gen-
erality of Nigerians to groan. Enough of
our suffering, of our groaning. It can only
be enough if we endeavour to get it right
at least in these three areas highlighted
this time round. It is certainly high time
we got it right – 50 whole years of inde-
pendence. Haba!
Since we all – leaders and led alike – have
one way or the other contributed to the
present mess Nigeria is in, we all now
collectively have to work at getting the
country out of the woods by getting it right
now. It is in the light of getting it right
that attention is once more drawn to the
word of God in 2nd Chronicles chapter 7
verse 14 which says:
“If my people who are called by my name
will humble themselves and pray and seek
My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven and will for-
give their sin and heal their land.”
Nigeria needs healing; we all should play
our part to make Nigeria a land flowing
with milk and honey the Good Lord in-
tends it to be. Therefore we should re-
pent of our neglect in the past and ensure
we get it right from now on. The current
drift in Nigeria towards a one party state
needs be halted now; over bearing indi-
viduals who see themselves as calling the
shot all the time be brought to be in line
with what obtains in a truly democratic
state and election of all those to be in
authority right from local government
level to the post of number one citizen of
the country be based not or ethnic, sec-
tional or any other consideration but on
merit, that is, ability to perform and in-
tegrity. Our theme of celebration, there-
fore, is enough of backward and retro-
gressive ideas and practices, the thrust
now is getting it right – high time we did.
God help us all.
Concluded
Mrs.Ejueyitchie-Oroye, a commentator
on national issues, writes from Lagos.
 V anguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 —61

RMD: Cool, calm

and still charming
By Sam Umukoro inders pumping. a politician, they will not ob-
I was enthusiastic and that ject to being called that, but
helped me to overcome their good works will speak

R
ichard Mofe- whatever transitional crisis I for them. So, if you call me a
Damijo is the might have experienced. politician, yes, I am a politi-
epitome of cool. Now, the downside is that the cian because I’m trying to
Enduringly charming, waiting time is a bit longer for learn the ropes, making sure
he welcomed me into politics to translate from pa- that the people come first.
his office with that per into reality because of is- Now, in that regard, would
trademark smile that sues associated with budget- you say it has been worth
has melted many ing, bureaucracy and all that. your while, considering how
hearts. Despite his for- For me that is the biggest chal- busy you were before you got
ay into the murky wa- lenge. It’s a compulsory wait- into politics. Has it been
ters of politics, RMD ing time. worth your while?
has not allowed his Lawyer, theatre artist, con- It has been worth every sec-
cool factor to slip. Re- summate actor; would it be ond of my time because I think
markably honest and right to describe you now as I have touched quite a bit of
always happy to dis- a politician? lives that I can see directly.
cuss movies, litera- Well, in a sense. I don’t like Coming from a very suc-
ture, theatre, and you to reject the tag of being cessful background in terms
guessed right, politics; of what you’ve achieved in
RMD is one celebrity
who is not afraid to One of the the arts and your star status,
are you treated differently
articulate his position
on any issue. most compared to other people in
government?
What I love about
RMD, is the fact that
ambitious Well, from the point of view
of my Governor, I don’t think
he is a complete an-
tithesis to what you
tourism project so …
And being a star does not
might imagine.
How easy has it been
in Africa is affect…
I think that whatever it is
making the transition about to berth that you are becomes less sig-
from the creative in-
dustry into politics? in Delta state. nificant when you’re seating
in the exalted chambers and
Well, it hasn’t been a making policy decisions for
walk in the park, I over four million people. Per-
must confess. But like called a politician. It’s just haps where the preferential
every new venture I that the word politician con- treatment would come are in
get into, its a chal- jures images of a fraudulent areas that touch on my exper-
lenge. I guess the cir- person, somebody who lies tise of culture and tourism,
cumstances around from both sides of his mouth. because I run that portfolio.
which I joined politics I want to believe that I repre- Naturally, everybody would
also made it impera- sent the new breed of politi- defer to me. But in terms of
tive for me to be at my cians who are making the being treated differently, I
best. My mentor is the transition from being techno- don’t think so.
Governor and if you crats to become politicians. With the restiveness of the
get an opportunity like Now, the kind of politician Niger Delta, what difference
that, there is a tenden- that I am is the type that have you made in Delta state
cy for you to want to wants to see efficient service to attract investors and tour-
burn the midnight can- delivery. I believe that is what ists to Delta state considering
dle and surpass your is gradually becoming obtain- the rich cultural heritage of
mentor’s expectations able today as good gover- the state?
of you. I have not let nance in different parts of the One of the most ambitious
down the guy who has country, from Lagos, to Delta tourism project in Africa is
reposed so much con- to Rivers State; and all that is about to berth in Delta state.
fidence in me. This has as a result of young men who It is a water theme park;
helped because I went want to redefine the meaning there are about five of it in
in blazing with all cyl- of the word politician. So, if the world, and the sixth one
RMD you call Fashola or Uduaghan Continues on pg

INSIDE

Genevieve gets Fashola stands tall Glam ways to tie a silk

Hollywood mention @ the Coliseum scarf
62— V anguard
anguard,, FRID
Vanguard FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
RMD: Cool,
calm and still
charming
Continues from pg 61
is about to berth in the
Warri area, in Udu local
government area actually,
which happens to be my
local government as well.
That and a wild life park
which is being built in the
Asaba area, the
Uzo_Ugwashuku area of
Delta state, which we
call the Asaba Hilltop
game reserve and they
have a big file of
animals. So, once that
project takes off, that
would be perhaps my
biggest contribution to
the tourism industry.
Apart from that, having
to create a buzz in the
industry, a lot more
movies are being shot in
Asaba, whether it is
something I do or not, it is
under my watch. Natural-
ly, the credit goes to me
and the Governor has
created a wonderful
picturesque little town. He
has converted Asaba from
a very sleepy town to a
bubbly town that is very
hospitable and cinema
friendly, either during the
day or at night. I started a
programme called Delta
Time Quest which is aimed
at young people. Some-
body described the creative
art as the core of youth
attraction, modern media
and all of that, today’s
youth want to embrace
creativity or the performing
arts. So what we have
done is to do a hybrid of
American Idols but extend
it to comedy, dance, music,
and acting. We’ve done
two….music and comedy,
we are about to do acting.
All of this, for me, is not so
much as to take away the
guy who is an agitating
youth (I don’t like to use
the word militant) in the
THE TEAM
Ogbonna Amadi
Group Entertainment
Editor
Correspondents
Ben Njoku
Ayo Onikoyi
Yemisi Suleman
Lolade Sowoolu
Photo
Oscar Ochiogu
creek, but to stop others
from going in there, to
creatively engage those
who might find themselves
idle.
Do you miss acting?
I do, especially when I sit
down and watch a
production. One of my
desires is to start an elite
theatre group in Asaba.
Time and funds haven’t
given me the liberty to do
that. But what I derive joy
from now is making sure
that people are behind the
camera and wanting to get
a new pool of actors and
actresses and all of that. I
just did a 26-episode soap
opera called Inner City
which was completely shot
in Warri. I’ve been looking
forward to it been exposed
so that people can see a
slice of life in the inner city
of Warri. I’m very
passionate about Warri
and so I try to tell the story
of the place that gave me a
life. There are more things
to come from that area. I’m
going be telling a lot of
slum stories.
So are you going to
combine politics and
theatre?
Yes. That is never going
to go and I’m happy that
I’m in the cultural and
tourism ministry so that
RMD
One of my
desires is to
start an elite
theatre group
in Asaba. Time
and funds
haven’t given
me the liberty
to do that.
brings me back. And at
every opportunity I have, I
try to make sure that I stay
within the theatre. I’m like
a volunteer teacher at
FABA. FABA is the Film
and Broadcast Academy in
Ozoro run by the Ejiro
brothers. I’ve done my first
lecture there, so I intend to
do that. I also hear about
Emem’s Royal Arts
Academy and see how I
can come in there and do
a summer thing with them,
teach some people and just
pass on the knowledge of
what I have. So it gives me
a chance to get in touch
with my first love.
Films like the Figurine
and Ije have been taken
to the cinemas in Nigeria
and festivals around the
world. Do you really
think there has been an
improvement in the
quality of films churned
out?
Unfortunately, I don’t
think there is a remarkable
improvement in movies.
But, there is hope and the
hope is those little
sparks that you
just mentioned.
Ije and Figurine.
I just saw
Memories of my
Heart by Ini
Edo and you
know how you
get to a place
and you say,
I would do
20 or 30
minutes
out of
respect;
but I sat
through
the entire
movie and
I enjoyed it
myself. It
was such a
delight to
just be
able to sit
back and
watch a
movie that
I had no
stake in and
have a good
laugh. And that
was exactly what
happened. So, those
little sparks give you hope.
I like the editing of Ini
Edo’s movie, a little bit
rash in some areas but the
overall look and feel of it,
the stylistics of it, you can
see work in progress and
you just know that given
more opportunity, this
person can do better. It’s
like what is happening to
musical videos, the likes of
Clarence Peters go to
South Africa and get some
good education, come
back mean, it’s just
completely delightful and I
see those sparks
multiplying in the
nearest future.
What is emerging is a new
market, a new flow, a new
Nollywood, which like
every other development
takes place. It’s like the
rise of the independence
that happened in America.
It’s just that we’re seeing it
in a different light here. If
these people would not
take us seriously, if they
would not look at the
scripts and pay some
attention to details, let us
break out and show them
how it is done. I did that
13 years ago with Out of
Bounds. It was that same
outrage that we can do
things a little bit better.
Who would you like to
work with, who is that
one actor you admire…
Without a doubt, I don’t
need to think about it, it’s
Denzel Washington,
because I think his
intensity on and off screen
is amazing. He’s an
amazing guy and it
translates into everything
you do. If it’s not him, I
would love to work with
Will Smith because he
combines a deep intellec-
tual background with his
comedy ability and that
has also made him a
wonderful star, big box
office draw and credible
actor. The body of his
works comes with an
industry that is alive and
well, where the division of
labour is highly planted on
the ground. All of that will
begin to emerge, there are
people who are writers,
and known for writing and
hopefully we would begin
to deal with those people,
take their scripts and focus
on creating a new
Nollywood.

Bishop Oyedepo on
spending spree
B
ishop David Oyedepo is
a man of many firsts and
to whom making
record_making feats is like
breakfast. But the General
Overseer of Living Faith
Church (aka Winners Chap-
el) is not in the news again
over his couple of private jets
or over the issue of his church
having a sitting capacity of
50,000 people or 40,000 peo-
ple. The word on every lip
right now is the latest acqui-
sition of the Bishop, this time
not for himself but for his
Benita Nzeribe gets her groove
Benita Nzeribe
S ince Benita Nzeribe hit the
limelight sometimes in the
90s she has become a top
player in the industry. Known
for her down-to-earth ap-
Igwe Nwokedi honours Three Lebanese
T he Utokpo na Achalla,
Igwe (Dr.) Ezeoba Alex
Nwokedi, OON, honoured
three Lebanese in the pre-
mises of the 200- year- old
Utokpo Palace, Achalla, Awka
North Local Government Area
of Anambra State on Thurs-
day, October 7, 2010.
The installation ceremony was
to be one of the many activi-
ties lined up to mark this
year’s New Yam festival cele-
brated annually in the ancient
community but the entire ar-
rangement went solo as news
about the death of the United
States-based junior brother of
the monarch was broken.
The former Chairman, Anam-
bra State Council of Tradition-
al Rulers, Igwe Alex Nwoke-
di, who apparently was
mammoth worshippers.
The aging 350 fleet of buses
which convey worshippers to
and fro the Faith Tabernacle,
Canaanland, in Ota are al-
ready being replenished with
a new fleet. According to in-
formation filtering to the desk
of Society Watch, over 100
Mercedes Benz buses have
been bought and running.
Our sources hinted that 400
more buses are to be added
as the church plans to in-
crease the number of their
buses from 350 to 500.
proach to acting she quickly
became a toast of producers
and directors who flocked af-
ter her to get her in one role
or the other until the new
touched by the news, had to
make the swift decision of
changing the planned events
saying, “This year ceremony
should now be held in low-
key because of the sad news
of the death of my brother.”
According to some palace
sources, the late Dr. Nwokedi
was a practising medical doc-
tor in America. “He was plan-
ning to come home and build
a modern hospital in Achalla
here but his death has now cut
it off our line.” Said a be-
moaning palace source in
Achalla.
Meanwhile, what Igwe
Nwokedi thought was to be
low-key ceremony turned out
to be very elaborate as the
honourees, who are top offic-
ers of CCC Nigeria Limited,
David Oyedepo
storm of new faces swept the
industry. Word was that peo-
ple like Benita got swept
along in this storm as she had
to battle to get even a role in
a year.
But if the word reaching So-
ciety Watch is anything to go
by, it seems that era, that is, if
there was any iota of truth in
the rumour, is far gone as the
vivacious actress practically
sleeps on location these days.
While many of her colleagues
are thankful to get even a sin-
gle shot in six months the Ihi-
ala, Anambra State-born diva
has been globe-trotting from
one location to another to ful-
fill contracts.
Just between last month and
this month Benny as she is
fondly called by friends and
fans has featured in a movie
directed by Ugezu J. Ugezu
alongside top names like Ton-
to Dikeh, Yul Edochie and
Emeka Okoro. Immediately
after that she was found yet
again on the bandwagon of
Great Movies, shooting an-
other movie. Just how busy
and hot in demand could any-
one get?
an engineering and construc-
tion company that has been
noted for doing well in Nige-
ria, stormed the palace with
V anguard
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FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 —63
With Ayo Onikyoi
Femi Pedro shows up
F or sometime now the ami
able and genial face of the
former Lagos Deputy Gover-
nor, Otunba Femi Pedro has
been missing in action. The
handsome banker/politician
has not been seen for some-
time now in the social circle
until last week when he re-
surfaced at the Glo 1 interna-
tional submarine cable launch
dinner at Eko Hotel and Suites
Victoria Island, Lagos.
That event witnessed the
presence of the Senate Presi-
dent, Senator David Mark,
four state governors including
Governor Fashola of Lagos,
Governor Adam Oshiomhole
of Edo state, Governor Gben-
ga Daniel of Ogun state and
Osun state Deputy Governor
Erelu Obada, captains of in-
dustry and many others.
The highpoint was what
seemed like a big reunion be-
tween Gov. Fashola and Otun-
ba Femi Pedro as both wel-
Fashola stands tall @ the
Coliseum
The Coliseum honour Gov Fashola on Nigeria at
50th Anniversary
G
overnor Babatunde Raji
Fashola is the first man to
appear twice at the Grand
House Reception of the Nite-
shift Coliseum. A programme
whereby distinguished per-
sonalities are invited into the
bowel of Niteshift Coliseum
and treated to good music and
the refreshing ambience of the
club. Many notable Nigerians
retinue of security men who
shot sporadically into the air
while the ceremony lasted.
Femi Pedro
comed each other, embracing
and even exchanging some
pleasantries. But what was
noteworthy is that the duo did
not come close to doing much
together. Many felt the hug-
ging and giggling was just a
ruse to keep up a good face
as the situation between the
two is far from being cordial.
and non-Nigerians like former
vice president Atiku Abubakar,
President Goodluck Jonathan,
then a governor, Chief MKO
Abiola, three former Senate
Presidents, 16 state governors
and the former president of
Ghana, President J.J. Rawlings
have been guest of the club but
no one has made it twice yet.
According to the Guvnor of the
Coliseum, Ken Caleb Olumese,
Fashola’s choice came to them
as the obvious one to mark the
50th anniversary of Nigeria.
The governor became un-put-
down- able choice as a result
of his forthrightness, his vi-
sionary qualities, his commit-
ment and uncommon achieve-
ments. In his guinea-brocade
kaftan the governor strolled in
followed by a huge entourage
of the state cabinet.
After being welcomed by vet-
eran broadcaster, Taiwo Obil-
eye and being truly ushered in
by the Guvnor, Ohi Alegbe took
the podium to chaperon the
compere interactive session
where members of the club take
on the guest on several issues.
Like a rock the governor ab-
sorbed and rode the waves like
a good sport of surfing. When
even asked whether he is a
stooge of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, he rose up proudly,
answering “I don’t have a god-
father, what I have is a politi-
cal mentor. Asiwaju Bola Tinu-
bu is my mentor like Prof. Ebun
Shofunde, SAN, who gave me
my first job”.
 64— V anguard
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Vanguard FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
By Benjamin Njoku & Lolade Sowoolu

Genevieve gets Hollywood mention

N ollywood A-list actress
Genevieve Nnaj is surely
conquering the world with her
exploit. First she was profiled
on Oprah’s show as the
biggest movie star in Africa
and was quoted by Oprah as
“the Julia Roberts of Africa”.
Genevieve has gotten another
mention from Hollywood. The
latest issue of Hollywood
Entertainment Weekly (dated
October 15, 2010), features a
cover story on “The 50 Most
Powerful Entertainers” (in
Genevieve
Reggae legend Gregory
Isaac dies
Hollywood).
Genevieve is not listed there,
but there is a small sub-
feature on “Stars Around the
Emeka Ossai rules in Comfort Zone
W
ith the ultimate aim of
providing unequalled
entertainment for TV viewers
on a weekly basis, the Emeka
Ossai-led Golden Pyramid
Productions Limited, recently
two latest efforts, Comfort Zone
and Crossed Road.
In a chat with MWG, the
foremost actor and producer
explained that his outfit was
wholly set to give viewers
within and outside Nigeria, the
best of entertainment on both
terrestrial and cable TV.
World” which alludes to
Genny as “the Angelina Jolie
of Nigeria.”
the span of a decade, this 31-
year-old starlet has made
more than 110 movies and
The text on Genny reads: In launched a singing career.
productions that won four
awards at this year’s edition of
Terracotta, Ossai explained
that Comfort Zone is strictly a
situational comedy that
sensationally narrates the diary
of three good friends from
different backgrounds who
graduated from same
university.
“While two the pals have good
jobs and are hard working,
their other pal chose to be the
complete opposite. Aside

G REGORY Isaacs, the

Jamaican
singer whose smooth style
reggae
earned him the nickname “Cool
Ruler,” has died. He was 59.
Isaacs’ manager, Copeland
Forbes, said the singer died
Monday at his London home.
Isaacs had been diagnosed with
lung cancer a year ago, but
continued performing until
weeks before his death.
His wife Linda said Isaacs was
“well-loved by everyone, his
fans and his family, and he
worked really hard to make
sure he delivered the music they
loved and enjoyed.”
Born in a Kingston, Jamaica
slum in 1951, Isaacs began
recording in his teens, and went
on to produce scores of albums .
With his sinuous baritone and
romantic songs, Isaacs became
a leading proponent of the
mellow “Lovers Rock” style of
reggae. He hit his stride in the
mid-1970s with ballads like
“Love is Overdue” and “All I
Have Is Love.”
Later that decade he teamed
up with the Jamaican
production duo of Sly Dunbar
Dagrin is remembered
...as another death rocks the
players
music world pundits
T wo days ago, the music
industry remembered
popular rapper, late Dagrin
who would have clocked
twenty-six (26) on the 25th of
this month. Friends, colleagues
and fans of the rapper put up
one post or the other on social
networking site, Twitter, while
many others changed their
BlackBerry Messenger status
and or picture to that of the
deceased who died owing to
injuries sustained in a ghastly
motor accident on the 22nd of
April, this year.
Close pal and music brother
YQ, had set the tone on Friday
when he reminded all to say a
prayer for the deceased while
noting that his friend -Olaitan
Olaonipekun aka Dagrin the
Lyrical Wayray was six month
old in the grave. And while the
music players looked forward
solemnly to Monday, the
deceased’s birthday, another
young music genius bid earth
goodbye early Sunday
morning.
Osaze Omonbude aka Sazzy
was an Abuja-based producer
and aspiring rapper who had
worked with the likes of M.I,
Ruggedman and 9ice. He died
of sickle cell disorder and was
aged 26. The death of Sazzy
drew on several comments and
sympathy from many music
Speaking further, Ossai
maintained that Comfort Zone
and Crossed Road have
changed the face of TV soap/
comedy, since hitting the
airwaves, adding that both
productions had also brought
fresh faces on TV.
While shedding light on the
synopsis of both wave-making
Gregory Isaacs
and Robbie Shakespeare for
several hit songs including
“Soon Forward” and “What A
Feeling.”
“Gregory’s voice and writing
ability was wicked. He was one
of those soulful singers you
could sit and listen to for
hours,” Dunbar said Monday.
Isaacs was best known
internationally for the title song
from his 1982 album “Night
Nurse,” a club favorite which
later became a hit for Simply
Red.
and
who
tried to fathom
why the music
industry
seems to be
losing young
promising
talents.
A few radio
Dagrin stations joined
i n
remembering
the rap
s o l d i e r,
Dagrin, as his
s o n g s
dominated the
airwaves in
Lagos, where
Sazzy he lived. Also
a night out at popular hang out
spot in Lagos, Swe Bar, was
organised to celebrate ‘His life,
his music and legacy’ at his first
posthumous birthday event.
Dagrin’s death still sends
shivers down the spine of
many as his death drew
controversy and sympathy
together considering the
circumstances surrounding his
death and the post-death
release of the song titled ‘If I
Die’ which he recorded before
his death. Even though many
have taken solace in listening
to his songs over and over
again, a few still silently
wonder if the deceased didn’t
have a premonition of his
death.
squatting and feeding fat daily
on his pals, he gets into regular
troubles.
On the other hand, Crossed
Road, is a serious drama on the
every day challenges that Emeka Ossai
confront Nigerians, especially
the youths. Imagine a young
Fleece, only to meet a lady that
and innocent village boy happens to be his opposite in
migrating to the city in search
all spheres of life, thus began
of the proverbial Golden their twisted journey.”
Followers of this highly rated international
rapper are well acquainted with his typos and
outright blunders he makes of the English
...Celebrity playground language he tweets in.
hhe’s been RTed
(retweeted) several times
C yber space may be a virtual world
but it’s slowly transiting to one big
party where everyone is invited to
just because of this.
“You guys have GIVING
me the best gift an artist
jubilate, speak sense, spit venom or be can get...Understanding
outright silly. There are no VIP areas and and appreciation. Thank
everyone is free to walk the red carpet you.” - Kanye West;
Kanye
mingling with the Kanyes and the West rapper
Dareys; the Genevieves and the One more thing you can’t
Kardashians. Well, we’ve decided to take away from Kanye is
bring you a feel of what goes on on his sinister comments.
Twitter, the fastest growing and second You can’t but wonder what goes on in his head
most interactive social networking site sometimes. Take a look at this tweet he posted
after Facebook. Hope you like it. Welcome on Sunday evening.
to Twitville! “What’s better for devil worshiping- Iphone or
the Droid...Does Lucifer return text...is he or she
on Skype? Don’t wanna be sexist”
Sickle Cell campaign Now tell me what you make of this.
@Audu
Comedy club @DJZeez
“ It’s true and this
matter cannot go
l i k e
T he best most
people know Kingsley Elikpo to be is a singer
but this Fokasibe king is
this...I wanna
damn funny. BlackBerry
start some sort of (BB)phones are known
genotype testing
not to have long lasting
a w a r e n e s s batteries maybe because
campaign for young of the multi-tasking
people. We can capability of the phone.
avoid this disease” DJZeez being his
- Audu Maikori; ingenious self has
Chocolate City
proposed a way out.
Audu CEO. “I think I need to buy
This is one of the a car battery for my bb
tweets posted by
better yet a Mikano DJ Zeez
@Audu when the news of producer gen(erator)”
Sazzy’s death broke on Sunday. The post
is a thoughtful one and points in the way
to go to prevent avoidable pain. There Grounded by Arik
are a few known Nigerians who live
healthy and manage very hectic daily @saltofdworld
O
schedules in spite of the disorder. One yo state gubernatorial aspirant and Sodium
Brand Solutions boss, Abisoye Fagade, was
of such people who’s created a movement
stranded in Port Harcourt for five hours last
of sort to educate and motivate both
carriers and non-carriers of the gene is Sunday- no thanks to flight delay by Arik
airlines. The usually cool and collected boss tried
@tosynbucknor founder of s.h.a.r.e.
his best to stay that way in reality while the virtual
world of twitter helped create an avenue of
Kanye’s emotive escape. He tweeted:
“Arik, this aint funny anymore...5hrs delay?
second @Kanye Haba!!!”
I trust that his over 700 followers gave him
T
antrum-throwing-Kanye West was a good company while he tarried for his flight into
bit his mortal self on Sunday - at last
Lagos.
for the second he posted this tweet.
 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 —65

Glam ways
to tie a silk scarf
F or us in this part of the world the traditional way to wear a scarf is to tie on
the head. But a fashion statement can be made by tying your silk scarf on
your neck in creative ways.

Here are a few great ways to wear those silk scarves that are so light and airy.

Look 1
—Use a
crystal
brooch, ring
or scarf pin
that is in
vogue now to C
hold your M
scarf in the Y
K
front. The
scarf clips are
great to use.
1

Look 2
Look 4 —If you don’t
—Another have a scarf
way to wear 2
pin or brooch,
the long ob- try wearing
long scarf is that long
just drape it oblong scarf in
around your the Grace
neck and Kelly style by
shoulders holding it
and then let across the Look 3
it hang down front of our —Try tying a
dramatically neck and then small square
in front. bringing one scarf around
4 end around to your neck as a
fall down your choker or a
right front side longer oblong
and then bring scarf can be
other end knotted in
around your front and
neck to fall hang straight
down your left 3 down. The
front side. smaller silk
scarves look
great with a
scarf pin to
secure them
in place.
 66 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
Peace in sight
for Anambra
PDP
— Page 67
By Henry Umoru
A FTER spending 126 six
days in office as the
National Chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, having assumed office
June, 17, 2010,
Okwesilieze Nwodo left the
country Monday October 18,
Dr.
2010 for the United States of
America, USA to rest.
According to Nwodo’s
Special Assistant, Media, Ike
Abonyi, the former governor
of Enugu State was on a
private visit to the United
States, adding that was
expected to use the trip to
embark on a retreat aimed at
rejuvenating him for the tasks
ahead in the ruling party.
“While in the US, the National
Chairman is to participate in
a sober reflection retreat
aimed at refocusing him for
C Babayo; National Organizing
the enormous challenges of
M the forth coming Party
Y primaries, the nationwide
K campaign and the general
elections. Dr. Nwodo left
Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport aboard
British Airways traveled with
his wife Dr. (Mrs.) Dorathy
Nwodo. The National
Chairman is expected back in
the country by the end of the
month.”
But since he left the shores
of the country, unfolding
political events at the Wadata
By Ehis Osajie
C huks Ugwoke is Enugu
State Commissioner for
Information, Tourism
and Culture. In this interview
with Vanguard, he spoke on the
alleged frosty relationship
between PDP chairman,
Okwesilieze Nwodo and the
state governor, Sullivan Chime
and the crisis in the state chapter
of the party. Excerpts:
It is alleged by associates of
Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo that
Governor Chime is fueling the
crisis in the party. What do you
have to say on this?
Well, if you say “associates”,
then it is difficult for me to
expose the interests of those
making the unfounded
allegation. If you don’t unmask
the accusers, I’ll tell you their
selfish pursuits. But be that as it
may, it is cheap blackmail to
accuse the governor of fuelling
any crisis. In any case, we see no
crisis in the state PDP, we see
pursuit of personal motives at
play. To the best of my
knowledge, Governor Chime
and Dr. Nwodo enjoy good
rapport. If there are grey areas,
I believe that both men can sit
down to sort things out.
What does the governor stand
to gain by fuelling any crisis in
his own state? Even Dr. Nwodo
had at different fora before and
since becoming the national
PDP CRISES:
The rage against Nwodo
*Jonathan
Plaza, National Secretariat of
the party and in his home state
show that the former National
Secretary of the Party is
Nwodo should come home to sort
out his problems — Ugwoke
chairman paid glowing tributes
to the governor for ushering in
peace in Enugu State. Ditto for
the low and the high in our Coal
City State? So, would His
Excellency, Governor Sullivan
Chime now prefer crisis to
peace? Will he prefer to set his
state on fire and go on seeking
means to extinguish it? It doesn’t
make any sense. Or was he the
one who initiated the purported
and ill-advised dissolution of
the state chapter of the party?
Is it true that the genesis of
the conflict is the determination
of the governor to return all
elected political office holders
on the PDP platform?
We must draw a line between
reality and propaganda. In
Enugu, we don’t play to the
gallery and we won’t descend to
such low quality rumour by
some negligible persons. At a
recent well-attended meeting of
all stakeholders from the 17
local government councils, the
governor made it quite clear
that it is up to each constituency
to elect its own representatives
at the primary elections. He
advised current political office
holders and other aspirants to
consult with their people. He
Problems
of our
underdevelopment
— Page 68
*Nwodo: Under fire
embattled. In fact, there is
war against in the house and
in Enugu State for daring to
sack the Enugu State
*Ugwoke
ended by saying that it is, for
him, to convince those who
would be the delegates to give
him another chance to fly the
party’s banner if and when he
finally declares.
Nwodo, it is equally alleged,
wants the governor to concede
Executive Committee.
Those moving against
Nwodo
This time, the stones are
Enugu North for him and that
he wants his wife for the
Senate seat?
The national chairman of the
party has consistently spoken
about the need to encourage
internal democracy, about
giving democracy a decent
image and about allowing the
people to pick their flag bearers.
What you’ve just said negates
this gospel that has won many
converts. That’s why I said that
those who always allege don’t
often reveal to us their selfish
agenda. The national chairman
says the people must choose
their representatives. Governor
Chime had always been an
advocate of this process of
election, not selection. Ditto for
other PDP members. So, where
is the problem?
Why are people now talking of
conceding certain positions or
an entire senatorial district?
Nigeria is his turf now, not one
out of 109 senatorial districts.
Please, we shall do well not to
personalize political issues. If
Her Excellency, Dr. Nwodo
aspires to go to the Senate, she
Continues on page 68
87 ways politicians rig election:
How Jega
aims to block
them
— Page 69
being thrown within the roof
of the plaza by same
occupants, not the ordinary
ones, but by those who are
piloting the affairs of the party
with members of the National
Working Committee, NWC.
Besides the National
Chairman of the party, other
members of the NWC are the
Deputy National Chairman,
Mohammed Bello Haliru;
National Secretary, Abubakar
Kawu Baraje; Deputy
National Secretary, Musa
Secretary, Uche Secondus;
National Legal Adviser,
Olusola Oke; National
Financial Secretary, Tukur
Mani; National Auditor,
Samuel Ortom; National
Treasurer, William Makinde;
National Publicity Secretary,
Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali;
National Woman Leader, Mrs.
Inna Maryam Ciroma and
National Youth Leader,
Muyiwa Collins.
Other members though, not
mandatory for them to always
be at meetings are the Zonal
National Vice Chairmen, such
as Chief Olisah Metu (South-
East); Senator Paul Wanpana
(North_East); Yusuf Agade
Ayitogo (North Central);
Chief Edet Okon Nkpubre
(South South); Danladi
Sankara (North West) and Alh
Tajudeen Oladipo (South
West).
All these members came on
board with the former
National Chairman, Prince
Vincent Ogbulafor and
Nwodo inherited them. He
had no choice than to work
with the NWC members.
Barely nine days after
Nwodo left the country, the
centre could no longer hold
at the Wadata Plaza. Angered
by what NWC members
described as his alleged
overbearing attitude, non-
consultation with members,
especially on very critical
party issues as well as
arbitrary dissolution of state
executives without carrying
other members along, the
Deputy National Chairman,
Haliru Mohammed Bello on
Monday led the National
Secretary, Abubakar Kawu
Baraje and the National Legal
Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke
on protest mission to
President Goodluck Jonathan.
They were there to “report”
Nwodo to the leader of the
party. The meeting was held
in the night. They were said
Continues on page 68

Peace in sight for Anambra PDP
*As political godfathers sheath their swords
By Vincent Ujumadu
A FTER many years of
political turbulence the
peace that eluded the
Anambra State chapter of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
seems to be at hand.The state
chapter of the party has until
now had the negative reputation
of being the only state chapter
of the party not to have held an
accepted State congress since
the first congress that ushered
in the first elected political
office holders of the fourth
republic in 1999.
Indeed, at the beginning of
the present democratic
dispensation, Anambra was
virtually a one party state with
PDP in control. It formed the
government at most levels and
produced most members of the
state and national assemblies.
However, the interference of
godfathers in the administration
of the then Governor Chinwoke
Mbadinuju who was in office
from 1999 to 2003 brought a
lot of distraction such that the
government lost its focus. The
resultant effect was that the
popularity of PDP began to
drop in the state such that by
2003 when another election
was due, it became obvious that
PDP might not win election in
the area if it re-presented
Mbadinuju. That was how Dr.
Chris Ngige who initially
wanted to contest for the senate
was drafted by one of the
godfathers, Chief Chris Uba to
contest for governor on the
platform of PDP. The result of
what transpired between the
godfather and godson arising
from certain agreements
eventually led to the
unprecedented abduction of
Governor Ngige. It was the first
time that a sitting Governor
under full cover of the security
forces would be abducted by a
civilian.
Even before 2003, PDP was
already losing grip of the state
and this was how All
Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA) emerged as the party to
beat in the election of that year.
Surprisingly, after the 2003
gubernatorial election, the
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) declared
PDP as the winner and it took
Mr. Peter Obi who contested on
the platform of PDP three years
to regain his mandate. This
finally put PDP in disarray and
its members began to form
factions that were busy
challenging the authenticity of
the various groups. The final
blow was when Dr. Andy Uba
was removed as governor after
barely two weeks in office after
the 2007 election as the
Supreme Court declared the
landmark judgment that Mr.
Peter Obi’s tenure would run till
2010.
When it was time for the
February 6, 2010 election, PDP
was still in a disorganized state
that its members could not
present an acceptable flag
bearer to challenge Obi of
APGA. Many members of PDP
even worked against the party’s
candidate, Prof Chukwuma
Soludo during the election and
again, the result is now history.
Indeed, the happenings in
Anambra PDP were always a
challenge to any national
*Mbadinuju
*Chris Uba
chairman of the party that
emerged. Chief Audu Ogbeh
could not solve the problem. His
successor, Prince Vincent
Ogbulafor who was the national
secretary under Ogbeh, could
also not resolve the crisis as all
attempts he made failed to
achieve the desired result. The
national secretariat repeatedly
constituted committees to
mediate the repeated crises that
engulfed the state chapter.
Indeed, it is alleged that the
Indeed, at the
beginning of the
present democratic
dispensation,
Anambra was virtually
a one party state with
PDP in control; it
formed the government
at most levels and
produced most
members of the state
and national
assemblies
factionalisation of the party in
Anambra State was stoked by
some party officials at the
national headquarters who
supposedly benefited in terms of
financial patronage from the
diverse groups.
Under Ogbulafor, there were
the Chuma Nwofor committee,
*Ngige: Left the party
*Andy Uba
the Jim Nwobodo committee,
the Jerry Gana committee and
the Ogbu committee and none
of them achieved the desired
result of ensuring the return of
peace in PDP.
When Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo
became chairman, the situation
in Anambra PDP still starred
him in the face and he vowed to
solve it once and for all,
warning that if his attempt
failed, PDP might decide to
forget Anambra State and leave
it in the hands of the opposition.
That was how he appointed the
30-member caretaker
committee headed by Chief
Emmanuel Nwaeze to find a
lasting solution to the problem
of the party in Anambra State .
In fact, the Nwaeze
committee that preceded the
successful congress was the fifth
attempt in two years by the
national leadership to ensure
the return of peace in the
troubled Anambra State branch
of the party. Like the previous
ones, members of the committee
reached out to the major
stakeholders and dialogued
with them on ways of moving
the party forward. It was the
success of that effort that paved
the way for the successful
congress as even those who
were initially skeptical of the
committee observed the good
intentions of the national
chairman to return peace in
Anambra PDP.
The enthusiasm shown by
stakeholders and other party
members during the
committee’s first meeting it
convened in Awka was an
indication that there was hope
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 67
for peace because most political
aspirants realized that it was
only in an atmosphere of peace
that they could achieve their
ambitions. For instance, for the
first time since the 2007 general
elections, all the leaders of the
various factions under the
facilitation of the Nwaeze led
committee converged to find a
way forward for the party that
had remained in disarray for
years as a result of leadership
crisis.
Nweze’s speech on that
occasion really touched the
hearts of the stakeholders and
that marked the beginning of
the process for the return of
peace as most people present
were given opportunity to suggest
ways of correcting the
imbalances that had existed in
the party over the years. In an
emotion –laden address to them,
Nweze said:
“It is painful that a state like
Anambra with great potentials
and which has produced great
Nigerians in various fields of
human endeavour, can get
embroiled in such an intractable
internal crisis that had portrayed
us as incapable of governing
ourselves. This is most
unacceptable. We need to
quickly put all these ugly
experience behind us and move
forward for the sake of the
people of Anambra State, our
party and Nigeria .
“With the emergence of Dr.
Okwesiliweze Nwodo as the
new national chairman, the
party has begun to sing a new
song in Nigeria. Hope is being
rekindled and the ugly practices
of marginalization, exclusion
and lack of internal democracy
are being squarely addressed.
The story cannot be different in
Anambra.” That speech seemed
to be the tonic needed by the
members to toe the path for true
reconciliation.
Nweze said further that
although his emergence as the
state chairman may not have
gone down well with some
highly respected leaders of PDP
in the state, those who felt
aggrieved should sheath their
swords and support the dialogue,
peace and the clear vision he
has brought.
Some of the stakeholders who
spoke expressed their
preparedness to cooperate with
the chairman, adding that what
caused the problem in the past
was the deceit by those who were
appointed to superintend over
the affairs of the party, but had
personal agenda which led to
the unending crisis.
According to them, no genuine
politician would oppose peace,
adding that as long as the
committee met the aspirations
of majority of PDP members in
the state, it would receive
maximum support from the
members
But as Nwaeze was reaching
out to the stakeholders to see the
need for PDP to regain its
wining formula, Benji Udeozor
headed to an Abuja Federal
High Court asking it to declare
the committee illegal, arguing
that his group was still the
authentic state executive of the
party. This put on hold the
efforts of Nwaeze and his
committee, until INEC directed
that PDP must conduct
congresses in some states,
including Anambra because
congresses were due in those
states.
The INEC decision apparently
consolidated Nwaeze forcing
most members of the party to
sink their differences leading to
his election elected him the
state chairman at a successful
state congress of the party held
last Monday in Awka. Other
people elected at the congress
were Chief Cosmos Agagbo who
emerged the deputy chairman,
as well as three vice chairmen
from the zones. They were Chief
Chuba Egolum (Central), Chief
Kenneth Emeakayi (South),
Chief Emma Mbamalu (North),
Mrs. Susan Ekwunife, state
secretary and Ngozi Agudosi
the publicity secretary. Other
key officers include Mrs.
Genevieve Ekwochi who was
elected the new state woman
leader and Hon Chief Clems
Ezika as the state legal adviser.
Most of the top shots of the
party in the state, including the
party’s candidate in the February
6, 2010 election, Professor C
Chukwuma Soludo, former vice M
president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Y
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu,
among many others hailed the K
emergence of Nwaeze as the
chairman.
Nwaeze’s advantages
The major advantage he had
was that he had never been
associated with any of the
factions sponsored by the major
stakeholders and godfathers.
For the first time since the crisis
began, there was jubilation at
the gathering of PDP members
unlike what used to happen in
the past where thugs would
waylay perceived opponents of
their groups after meetings.
At the congress which was
supervised by a former member
of the House of Representatives,
Mr. Chijioke Edoga from Enugu
State as the returning officer, a
team from the Independent
National Electoral Commission
(INEC) observed the exercise
In his speech, the South East
zonal chairman of PDP, Chief
Olisah Metuh, said the party
was grateful to the former vice
president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu
for coming together as a team
again to move Anambra PDP
forward.
Metuh reminded the new
officers that whoever
campaigned for them before the
congress was no longer
important, adding that what is
important is that the state has
conducted the best state congress
ever in Anambra State.
The new chairman of the
party, Nwaeze, described the
outcome of congress as the wish
of the people of the state.
According to him, “this is a new
era and it is not going to be a
cash and carry affair in Anambra
PDP again.”
He called on members of the
party to rally round the new
executive members to enable
them return PDP to what it used
to be in the state, adding that the
days of imposition of candidates
on the party were over.
“There is no way the
stakeholders, elders of the party
and other financiers will sit
down to allow the party being
sold to one individual in a state
where you have political egg
 68 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
I N his own analysis of why
Nigeria has been
crawling annoyingly
while it should be running fast
after Independence, President
Jonathan saw the failure of
leadership as the greatest
obstacle to the desired growth -
political and economic. Perhaps
our President shares the views of
those Western European leaders
of the 1930s who believed that
the economic system would be
favourable if only ‘earnest and
God-fearing men are in
command of its destinies‘. Such
attitude then bred a policy of
‘wait and see‘, or in late Bola
Ige‘s ’Sidon-look’ attitude.
President Jonathan, in perhaps
a curious mood of confidence
has assured the nation that the
problem of effective leadership
could end within the next fifteen
years. He noted, to me
apologetically, ‘that the desire
to entrench the needed
development could only take
root, when the nation begins to
elect good leaders, especially in
the next 15 years. Only then will
the country become great among
the committee of nations‘. There
is little doubt that the President
Jonathan‘s homely truth in
front of his Bayelsan folks
might have come as a
disappointment to those who
believe that the Messiah has
been found, not in Nazareth, but
in Bayelsa State.
Many Nigerians who see in
President Jonathan the virtues
of a great leader are becoming
C disillusioned by the quality of
M speeches of Mr. President on
national issues and important
Y policies. Hear President
K Jonathan on problem of
unemployment, a scourge
ravaging the country with its
dire consequences. ‘The
unemployment issue is a
problem and I have informed
the National Economic Team
to look critically at ways of
solving it and engaging the
teeming youths of the nation.
We will try and stimulate the
economic activities that will
allow companies and industries
Nwodo should come home to sort out his problems —Ugwoke
Continues from page 66
is richly qualified. It will be up
to the delegates from Enugu
North senatorial district to
choose her or their preferred
candidate.
Some claim that the Governor
does not accommodate other
senior party members from the
state in the affairs concerning
the state and that he does not
relate with them, does not call
The rage against Nwodo
Continues from page 66
to have told the President that
as NWC members, they were
kept in the dark on unfolding
political issues which
culminated in the dissolution
of Enugu and Ogun states
executives committees.
Nwodo’s ‘sins’
Prior to the Monday meeting
with the President, Vanguard
gathered that some NWC
members had complained
when Nwodo held a meeting
with state chairmen of the
party without their knowledge.
Following their complaints,
Nwodo had to apologize to the
NWC members.
Other issues as gathered
to thrive and be established to
absorb these youths. We at the
Federal Executive Council will
dedicate the rest of this year to
discuss these issues and solve
them`.
From all indications, it would
appear that the President is not
totally aware of the enormous
problems of unemployment or
his advisers are giving wrong
interpretation to the threat to
security through day and night
armed robberies, killings and
kidnappings by jobless youths.
To many observers on
Nigerian national issues, the
issues discussed by the President
in his state of origin are too
serious to be glossed over
casually. Some see in the
President‘s reactions to many
issues as those of a leader who
has reached the height of his
political career effortlessly. He
is already occupying a position
that calls for serious hardwork,
systematic and strategic
planning, deep experience and
extensive communication art.
However, he is already there by
providence.
The unemployed troubled
mind would expect an assurance
that if his leader is elected,
certainly a decent job is waiting
for him in any part of the
country. The restless youths of
Bayelsa have in mind that any
type of amnesty would take care
of his life at present and in
future. The assurance would
include packages that would
recognize his right to be a
partner in the production of oil
and gas in his environment. The
question of resource control is
still rife and carries a load of
danger if not seriously
considered. The seemingly
peaceful atmosphere in the oil
troubled region should not
encourage a policy of ‘hold on
for sometime’ because the
President is a son of the soil.
Perhaps, as many thought, the
President should have used the
opportunity of his visit to his
native State to announce his
plan (if any) for curbing mass
unemployment in the country
and even probably does not
have the phone number of the
chairman.
When you make a blanket
assumption, then the door to
open discourse is limited. If you
name any senior party member
who alleges that he is not
accommodated, then I’ll be in a
better position to speak more
frankly and autrhoritatively.
There were wide consultations
during the last two
councillorship and local
include an allegation that
Nwodo’s wife was trying to
usurp the power of the
National Woman leader when
the former organized a fund
raising event without properly
informing the office, which
ordinarily was in charge.
Though the office of the
Woman leader was invited,
but it was gathered that the
National Woman Leader,
Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma
complained to other NWC
members on the issue.
Another complaint as
gathered by Vanguard were
statements by Nwodo as soon
as he came on board, which
members alleged were too
harsh. The said statements
were the reason members
Problems of our
underdevelopment
and especially among the
restless but militant Ijaw Youths.
President Jonathan, whether
he likes it or not, will have to
declare his stand or that of his
government on Resource Control
– one of the pillars of true
Federalism. The advocates of
true Federalism are not thinking
only on oil and gas and the
impact of its revenue on the
Federal Budget, but also the
implication of the Federal
Government taking over the
taxing responsibility of the
States. Economically, States
are treated as appendages of the
Center, subjected to the indignity
of queuing in Abuja every
month for the dole. This idea of
propping non viable States has
encouraged fiscal
irresponsibility in many States.
Another salient point is the
carriage of heavy burden of
governance by the Federal
Government to its detriment to
perform efficiently for political
and economic development.
The poor condition of the
Nigerian State has been
responsible for non inclusion of
Nigeria among the G20
members. It is sadly observed
government elections we’ve had
under Governor Chime. In each
of them, there were wide
consultations where
stakeholders from each local
government council assembled
on a chosen date to pick their
candidates. The governor only
sat in as a moderator. Now, let
me give you an instance: during
the last local government polls,
the governor said in the first
state-wide forum that it would
be desirable if the 17 chairmen
pushed for the killing of the
On_line registration as
proposed by the Chairman.
Members of the NWC were
said to be out of the process.
Sources said the chairman
ought to have talked less.
NWC members are
representatives of the states,
and it will not be out of place
if they show loyalty to their
governors, who were
instrumental to making it
possible for them be at
Wadata Plaza. It was
gathered that this was exactly
what reared its head at the
NWC meeting where the
issue of governorship
candidates emerging first
almost scattered the body.
Some of the governors are
plotting against the National
Chairman along side some
party chieftains following the
that at the time the President
Jonathan was not eloquently (as
expected) expressing his
government stand on some
national issues, the Vice-
President was facing the
international audience in
Oxford, appealing for the
admission of Nigeria into the
wealthy and influential club G-
20. The Vice-President Sambo,
in his political and economic
innocence, put up a powerful
but strange argument for
Nigeria‘s entry into the powerful
club of the rich which included
the Eight richest nations of the
world.
At Oxford University, Vice
President Nnmadi Sambo
pleaded the case of Nigeria‘s
role in United Nations Peace
Operations, political and
economic reforms (?) and
economic growth rate of about
six percent. The Oxford audience
(presumably included some
grandchildren of those who
once colonised us) was
appreciative, even if not
convinced by the logical
presentation of the Vice-
President, an architect by
profession. The G-20 is a club
were given another opportunity
to complete some of the projects
they had started but ended by
saying that it was still up to the
people to choose their leaders.
At the end of the polls, six of
them did not return. In his own
Udi Local Government Area, I
was present when the current
chairman was brought to be
introduced to him after the
stakeholders had settled for
him.
So, when few people allege
sack of state chapters. The one
in the front burner is that of
Enugu. From the on set, even
Nwodo knows that the
governors are very powerful
within the fold of the party if
he can recall the role his state
governor, Sullivan Chime
played when the issue of
waiver came up. Without the
waiver, he would have been
stopped from replacing
Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor
as PDP national chairman.
Chime showed that as the
leader of the party in Enugu
State, he must ensure that the
controversial waiver issue was
resolved and through him, the
State Chairman, Vita Abba
wrote to the National
Secretariat through the
National Vice Chairman,
South East, Olisah Metu and
the matter was sealed. All is
now history.
of the rich and the richest
countries of the world. They
represent countries with high
income per person, developed
transportation and
communication services,
developed health and insurance
services and are mostly
manufacturing nations with
balanced economies. They are
also self-sufficient in agriculture.
Nigeria sadly is on the other
side of political and economic
development. Annual income
per head is dismally low,
economic and social
infrastructures are under-
developed, and manufacturing
base is weak. It relies on
abundant oil and gas where
revenue accruing to over 90
percent of export earnings.
Nigeria is a poor country whose
economy has been mismanaged
over the years. The excellent
investment opportunities have
been affected by unstable
political atmosphere and threats
to security of life and property.
But Nigeria could change to
merit admission into the
prestigious Club of G-20. In
sympathy with our Vice-
President, we have to be in a
decent Club to achieve greatness.
If I were a presidential
Candidate, I would go for a
massive investment in the
underfunded real sector of the
economy. I would concentrate
on building new roads and
maintaining the old ones. I
would see that the all states
capitals are linked together by
road, rail and water. I would
support home industry and put
more money in the hands of
households to stimulate demand
of home produced goods.
My last appeal to the President
and the Vice-President is to
tackle the issue of
unemployment seriously
through government action in
stimulating dormant demand.
Possibly, the Vice-President as
an architect can look at the
deformed structure of the
country.
that they were not
accommodated, then you
wonder whether what they
wanted was to be asked to
nominate a chairmanship
candidate and the councillors
without the inputs of other
stakeholders from their local
government councils.
Again, if you talk of “senior
party members”, I would love to
ask if that categorisation came
about because of their ages or
standing in the party. If you say
that the governor does not relate
with them, I ask, how? If the
qualification is status or service,
then I’ll tell you that all of them
are members of the Enugu State
Council of Elders which
Governor Chime set up. From
Senator Ken Nnamani to Chief
Nnia Nwodo, Dr. Okwesilieze
Nwodo, Senator Jim Nwobodo,
Prof. Barth Nnaji as well as past
military governors of Enugu
State origin who served in any
state, former ministers of Enugu
State origin, retired Justices,
past and present chairmen of
the state council of traditional
rulers, academia among others
too numerous here, are all
members of this Council. They
meet formally and informally
with the governor. Again, I ask:
what kind of relationship do you
mean or do those alleging want?
The season of politics is here
and there must be intrigues
excited by preferences and other
primordial interests. What I
believe that no elder of
conscience will accuse Governor
Chime of is lack of humility and
respect for elders. I urge you to
carry out your own independent
investigation.

By James Ezema
T HAT the June 12, 1993
presidential election,
which was annulled by former
military President Ibrahim Ba-
bangida, had been adjudged
Nigeria’s freest and freest elec-
tion is no longer in doubt. Ever
since, conducting a credible
election at the local, state and
federal levels remained a mi-
rage.
Different reasons had been
adduced why polls were rigged,
especially in favour of a ruling
party, mainly in states of the
federation, with some analysts
particularly worried that at
local government level, no op-
position political party ever
wins the ruling party.
Though most Nigerians ap-
plauded the appointment of the
current Chairman of the Inde-
pendent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, Professor
Attahiru Jega, in recent times
there has been heightened pessi-
mism over the preparedness of
the electoral umpire to conduct
credible, free, fair and transpar-
ent elections where losers of
elections will not need judicial
intervention because, to them,
the voice of the people through
their votes was heard loud and
clear.
In view of the many promises
made by previous electoral
umpires in the country in the
past which never changed elec-
tions in the country for the
better, Nigerians have been
expressing fears that the pres-
ence of Resident Electoral Com-
missioners who presided over
election that were so far up-
turned by the courts in the
current INEC remained a threat
to acceptable polls outcome in
the country.
Despite the seemingly grow-
ing uncertainties over the pre-
paredness of INEC to conduc-
tion next year’s following re-
quest for extension of time for
the forthcoming elections by
Prof. Jega’s new INEC, the
commission may well be on the
part of making history.
At a roundtable discussion on
“The Importance and Sanctity of
Votes in the Electoral Process in
Nigeria” organised by the Unit-
ed States International Visitors
Leadership Programme Alumni
Association, Lagos, Nigeria,
Tuesday in Lagos, the commis-
sion for the umpteenth time
gave graphic details of its
readiness to depart from identi-
fied loophole in past flawed
elections in the country.
Incidentally, the event was
chaired by Charismatic female
politician, Senator Joy Emodi,
who in her remark as chairman
of the occasion alleged that she
has been intimidated, threat-
ened in the course of her
political career as a woman and
recently, according to her, lost
her second term mandate to the
Senate through judicial manip-
ulation of the judiciary at the
behest of an opponent she
claimed did not participate in
the Senatorial election.
Drawing from her past experi-
ence in a male dominated
political environment like Ni-
geria, she encouraged more
women to join politics in order
to contribute their quota in
ensuring that women get the
best and contribute to national
development to take care of
future generation of Nigerians.
For her, the sanctity of votes is
a must and she was quick to
note that anything that would
lead to better awareness in the
campaign for credible election
should be supported by all. Just
as Senator Emodi equally in-
sisted that religious groups,
non-governmental organisa-
tions and individuals must join
the crusade for credible election
particularly in 2011.
Aware of these challenges, the
INEC boss, represented by La-
gos State Resident Electoral
Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle
Ogunmola, at the roundtable
87 ways politicians rig election:
How Jega aims to block
them
*Prof Jega discovered 87 ways of rigging
political discourse shocked the
audience when he revealed that
the commission had discovered
and documented 87 rigging
methods employed by Nigerian
politicians in rigging previous
election. Though he did not
reveal the rigging techniques
for obvious reasons, he quickly
noted that the commission has
devised ways to thwart such
dubious ways of manipulating
polls outcomes.
Probably in attempt to check
one of the rigging methods,
during the voters registration
exercise later in the year, the
commission has vowed to owed
to produce a credible voters
register devoid of flaws wit-
nessed in the one used during to
2007 general elections. To
achieved this, Jega at the event,
disclosed that a direct data
capturing (DDC) machine will
be provided for each polling
unit to remove some of the
problems of the past. He further
disclosed that INEC has fully
developed new registration soft-
ware that is completely owned
by the commission for the
exercise. According to the com-
mission, the software has been
and is currently being vigorous-
ly tested. “The significance of
the new software is that it will
tackle many of the lingering
challenges that had questioned
the credibility of our voters’
register. The system will no
doubt lead to improvements in
the accuracy and convenience
with which the Register can be
revised and updated. There are
comprehensive guidelines for
registrations. Worthy of note
are the sanctions stipulated in
the Electoral Act 2010 for
registration offences and the
resolve of INEC to enforce
them. There is a plan to
establish a “situation Report
Room” so that stakeholders can
inform INEC about voters reg-
istration problems as they de-
velop and thus enable INEC to
respond to issues as they arise.
The INEC chairman added:
“The truth remains that the
main trajectories of rigging
elections in Nigeria have been
well documented and studied
and can be effectively coun-
tered.
“Let me inform you that when
the new commission was put in
place, there was a retreat at
Obudu. The commission’s re-
*Sen Emodi: Claimed to have been
rigged out of the Senate
Probably in
attempt to
check one of
the rigging meth-
ods, during the
voters registration
exercise later in
the year, the com-
mission has vowed
to owed to pro-
duce a credible
voters
port was studied by members of
the commission and in the
report there was indication that
there are about 87 ways of
rigging elections that were dis-
covered and since that time
INEC has been doing every-
thing possible block those loop-
holes.
“Most of these things (rigging
methods) has been documented
and we are looking at all these
ways and are blocking those
loopholes and I want to assure
you that there are several things
in the registration procedure
that will make us detect those
who carry machines to their
homes. There is no way they can
remove the time the registration
was done because if you register
at 9 a.m. the machine will
record it that you registered at 9
a.m.”, he explained.
For INEC, the registration
exercise must be credible and
the commission has insisted it
will ensure that the lapses of the
past were completely removed.
“For example, the new direct
data capturing machines is a
clear departure from other ma-
chines used in the last registra-
tion exercise because, this time
around, there are certain things
that will be done to make
multiple registration difficult,
and also, there are sanctions for
registration offences apart from
the fact that the personnel the
Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 69
*Falana: Says electoral process must be
redefined
will be used will not be party
agents and that will ensure that
we capture a lot of people”,
said.
One other unique aspect of it,
the INEC had further explained,
“is the deployment of one
machine to each polling unit.
This will remove the problems
of the past where people were
always having problems during
election time locating their
names in specific polling unit.
Since it is one machine per
polling unit, it will remove such
problems and you go to where
you were registered definitely
you will find your name there”.
According to Prof Jega, fol-
lowing controversies generated
by 2007 voters’ register, “INEC
sampled 100 polling units from
19 randomly selected state. The
results were alarming and in-
clude, among others massive
inadequacies, underage regis-
trants, hundreds of blank or
blurred photographs and multi-
ple registrations by the same
persons. There is therefore the
need for fresh voters’ register”.
In tackling the problem, he
said the commission has “devel-
oped new registration software
that is completely owned by
INEC for the exercise which has
been and is currently being
vigorously tested. The signifi-
cance of the new software is that
it will tackle many of the
lingering challenges that had
questioned the credibility of
voters’ register. The system will
no doubt lead to improvement
in accuracy and convenience
with which the Register can be
revised and updated”
The INEC chairman furthered
assured that over 3060, 000 ad-
hoc staff required for the regis-
tration exercise will be tracea-
ble just as payment to them
shall be done through their
bank accounts, saying that the
commission has established a
working relationship with the
NYSC directorate and the NUC
with a view to engaging youth
corp members and senior Fed-
eral university students as ad-
hoc staff.
The Independent National
Electoral Commission under
the Leadership of Prof. Jega has
shown it was ready to meet the
yearning of Nigerians on free
and fair elections in 2011. Jega,
at the event also promised that
the number post election litiga-
tions would reduced drastically
in 2011 as candidates would be
satisfied by it work.
Earlier, at the roundtable
discussion, which took place at
the Afe Babalola Auditorium,
University of Lagos, Akoka,
human rights activist and law-
yer, Mr. Femi Falana promised
to investigate the allegation by
Senator Emodi that her oppo-
nent who was declared winner
by the Appeal Court did not
participate in 2007 the Senato-
rial election.
Mr. Falana had also cau-
tioned that unless the role of the
security agencies in the elector-
al process must be redefined,
alleging that some of the agen-
cies were used in the past to rig
elections. He also took a criti-
cal look at the role of the
judiciary, faulting the tribunals
and Appeal Courts in some of
their judgment in post election
litigations, particularly in Ekiti
state where it took the court
nearly four years resolve elec-
tion dispute between former
Governor Segun Oni and Gov-
ernor Kayode Fayemi of the
state.
He said: “talking of sanctity
of votes, our sister (Senator
Emodi) has challenged us, and
I’m going to investigate it, that
somebody who never contested
with you was proclaimed the
Senator of your zone. But the
sadest aspect of your case, and I
though you were going to
mention it, is that that legal
rigmarole was also three years.
I mean someone, ran in an
election and you do not know
the actual winner until after
three or four years. I can’t
understand it. It has never
happened anywhere in the world.
Just last week, the Court of
Appeal finally proclaimed Faye-
mi winner of the 2007 governor-
ship election in Ekiti State after
42 months.”
According to Falana, credible
polls was not about INEC
alone, “government officials,
those of us who are privileged,
ad-hoc staff of INEC and the
media, have we come to the
stage where we regard injustice
to one as injustice to all? And
until we get to that stage, we’re
not going to get it right. And
that is the problem of the
sanctity of votes”, Mr. Falana
noted.
70 — VVANGU
ANGU ARD, FRID
ANGUARD, FRIDAAY, OCT OBER 29, 20
OCTOBER 20110
National Assembly and challenges of fair representation
By Emeka Umeagbalasi
I
N 1954, Nigeria opted for
Federal System of govern
ment, which was retained by
subsequent constitutions
including the constitution of
Nigeria 1999. The federalism started
with three regions in 1946/51, four
regions in 1963, 12 states in 1967, 19
states in 1976, 21 states in 1987, 30
states in 1991 and 36 states and 774
local government areas in 1996. At
the 1994 Constitutional Conference
and in the 1995 Draft Constitution,
Nigeria was divided into six geo-
political zones of the North West, the
North East, the North Central, the
South East, the South South and the
South West.
50 years after, it is entirely correct
to say that there is no equity in the
Nigerian federalism, especially in
the areas of distribution of national
wealth, both human and material
wealth, and creation and allocation
of states and local government areas.
It is on the basis of the foregoing
that we critically examined how the
Southeast geopolitical zone had
fared in the Nigerian federalism in
the past 50 years and sadly observed
that the zone had been brutally
maltreated in many areas including
fiscal allocations and allocations of
States and Local Government Areas
to the zone. For instance, it is a
universal tradition that population,
not landmass, is used when creating
states and local government areas,
but in Nigeria’s case, the reverse
seemed to be the case.
A thorough check at the allocation
of states and local government areas
per geo-political zone in Nigeria
shows that the Northwest is allocated
with seven states, the Northeast six
States, the North Central six States,
the South South six states, the South
West six states, whereas the South
East got five states. In the area of
Local Government creation, out of
the 774 Local Government Areas in
Nigeria, the Northwest got 180
LGAs, the Northeast 122 LGAs, the
North Central and the FCT 117
LGAs, the Southwest 137 LGAs, the
South South 123 LGAs and the
Southeast 95 LGAs. Also the old
Kano State, comprising Kano and
Jigawa States got 75 LGAs (Kano -44
and Jigawa -31) as against South-
east’s 95 LGAs. Lagos State with a
population of about 14million got
mere 20 LGAs.
In the area of fiscal allocations, the
story was and still is the same. In the
block allocations totaling
N16.447trillion generated and
shared among the three tiers of
government in Nigeria between 1999
and 2007, a period of 8 years, the
following observations were made:
the South South got N2.5trillion, the
South West N1.410trillion, the South
East N918bn, the Northwest
N1.72trillion, the North East
N1.169trillion and the North Central
N1.119trillion.
Kano State got N370.93bn as
against Lagos State’s N331.9bn.
*David Mark, Senate President
Also, out of the sum of N339bn spent
on Federal Roads in Nigeria
between June 1999 and September
2002, the three geo-political zones in
the old North got N192bn as against
N147bn spent in the three geopoliti-
cal zones in the old South. In the
area of the sum of N147bn spent in
old South, South South got N63bn,
South West N54bn and South East
N30bn.
Furthermore, the use of North
South formula in determining the
Presidency of the country is grossly
lopsided, anachronistic and a threat
to
Nigerian
federal-
ism. Over
The use of North South
the years,
this dead
formula in determining the
formula Presidency of the country is
has
perpetual- grossly lopsided,
ly kept the
Presiden- anachronistic and a threat to
cy to two
old
Nigerian federalism
regions of
“North”
and “West” and perpetually
sidelined two other important old
Regions of “East” and “Mid West/
Middle-belt”. The foregoing burning
issues formed the backbone of our
letter to the South East Governors’
Forum, dated October 1, 2010 and
titled: Nigeria At 50: It Is Time To
Think Home. Also, in recognition of
the legislative powers entrusted in
the hands of the National Assembly
by the 1999 constitution, we
addressed another important letter to
them, dated October 13, 2010.
As we all know, history only
recognizes landmark achievements
recorded by persons and bodies
including parliaments. History
records the late Lord Denning as a
INSIDE
Nigeria will gain by
becoming member of IDLO
—Emelonyee — 71
—Emelony
Rep Seat: Anxiety as S/
Cour
Courtt re view
review
pre-election case —73
*Deji Bankole, Speaker, House of
Reps
great expansionist Law-Lord in the
UK. History also remembers the
second Republic National Assembly
of Nigeria for enacting the African
Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights and the National Open
University of Nigeria Acts in 1983.
History has also taken notice of the
enactment of the Nigeria Police
Service Commission Act of 2001, the
EFCC and ICPC Acts of 2000/2001
by the fourth Republic National
Assembly of Nigeria. History does
not seem to record the mere passage
into law of Appropriation and
supple-
mentary
Appro-
priation
Bills.
There-
fore, we
want to
place it
on the
parlia-
mentary
and
public
records that there is need to
constitutionally divide Nigeria’s six
geopolitical zones into a 42- state
structure in the following way: North
West-zero State, North East one
State, Southwest one State, South
South one state and South East two
states.
The monumental imbalance
inherent in the number of and
allocation of LGAs will also be
redressed in such a way that the
Northwest that has 180 LGAs will be
disallowed more new LGAs, while
other geopolitical zones especially
the Southeast zone should be
directed to create more LGAs to catch
up with the Northwest that already
has 180 LGAs.
The “principle of uniformity”
viewss the longes
longestt
created by the 1976 Local Govern-
ment Reforms may be invoked in this
respect. The grossly lopsided
revenue sharing formulae should be
reworked as well. While we reject in
its entirety the allocation ( in
principle) of the Nigeria’s Presiden-
cy on the basis of “North South”, it is
our humbly view that the 1999
constitution, should be altered to
provide for the rotation of same
among the six geopolitical zones on
the basis of a single term of five
years.
Though it is less than eight months
to the end of the life of the present
National Assembly, but the sooner
these issues are critically examined
and incorporated into our mother-
law, the better for the Nigerian
federalism. The Nigerian concept of
democracy shall be “a democracy
with local contents that is not
repugnant to the international
standards”.
Our second reason of writing this
piece is to draw the public attention
to some fundamental legislative
activities that appeared to have been
lying unattended to, before the
Hallowed Chambers of the National
Assembly. For instance, it is a public
knowledge that some important
provisions in the Nigeria’s Criminal
Statues including Statutory Liability
Offences, especially those under the
Federal jurisdiction, still contain
“colonial jargons and expressions”.
In some, monetary penalties spelt
out or graded in the 60s and the 70s
still bear “shillings,” “one hundred
naira”, “two hundred naira”, or “six
months imprisonment”. This
explains why in most cases, the trial
magistrates rather than ordering the
convicts to pay, go home and commit
no more crime, end up sentencing
them, thereby congesting the already
overcrowded prisons in our country.
The Nigeria Police Act, for
instance, still bears “colonial
jargons” and “expressions”, dating
back to April 1, 1930 when it was
originally enacted. Same thing
applies to the Evidence Act of 1945,
the Criminal Procedure Act and
Code of 1950s, the Criminal Code
and the Penal Code of 1950s, the
Prisons Act of 1971, to mention but a
few. It may be correct to say that no
holistic amendment had been carried
out on these important pieces of
legislation since 1958 codification of
same, yet Nigeria is said to have had
many republics of National Assem-
bly.
While Nigeria is believed to have
ratified a number of important
international treaties on human
rights, humanitarian laws and other
international laws, most of them are
yet to be domesticated in accordance
with Section 12 of the Constitution of
Nigeria 1999. Also, worrying is the
continued pendency of some
important public-oriented Bills
before the Hallowed Chambers of the
National Assembly. Such Bills are
“Criminal Justice Bill” meant to
collapse the Criminal Procedure
Legislation (Criminal Procedure Act
Continues on page 72
 Vanguard,
anguard,,, FRID
FRIDAAY, OCT OBER 29, 20
OCTOBER 20110 — 771
1

INSIDE

Nigeria will gain by becoming member of IDLO —Emelonye

By Innocent Anaba IDLO’s intervention will not be State.

M
R Uchenna Emelonye, is
International Develop
ment Law Organisation,
IDLO, Manager,
Governance, Institutional and Justice
Reform Programmes. IDLO is an
international inter-governmental
organisation with the mandate to
pursue the establishment of rule of law
as an essential pre-condition for
economic and social development and
the achievement of human security.
Emelonye’s mandate include
overseeing IDLO’s rule of law and good
governance initiatives in developing
countries, countries in economic
transition and in those emerging from
armed conflict.
In this interview, he spoke on the
programmes of the organisation in
Nigeria.
Excerpt:
What is the International Develop-
ment Law Organisation?
IDLO is an intergovernmental
organisation that promotes legal,
regulatory and institutional reform to
advance economic and social develop-
ment in transitional and developing
countries. Founded in 1983 and one of
the leaders in rule of law assistance,
IDLO is based in Rome and has 22
countries as Member Parties with 10
other countries in the process of
becoming Members.
What programme is IDLO imple-
menting in Nigeria?
With financial support from the
government of Netherlands, IDLO is
implementing a multi-year peace
building and conflict resolution
program in Nigeria. This initiative is in
response to the solidarity call by the
President of the Nigeria for internation-
al support and technical assistance in
mitigating incessant conflicts in
Nigeria. The pilot project is focused on
the Plateau State conflict.
What is the background of this
programme in Nigeria?
Nigeria is one of the largest countries
in the world with an evenly split
population of Christians and Muslims.
In the last decade, there has been an
explosion of violent conflicts.
In Plateau State alone, between 1990
and 2010, more than 5,000 lives may
have been lost, about 10,000 people
displaced and property worth millions of
Naira destroyed in conflicts. The most
recent crises that erupted in Jos in
January and March 2010 and sporadic
incidents between April and August 2010
may have claimed over 1000 lives
comprised predominantly of women and
children.
These latest and other incessant crises
with the attendant human and material
loss have placed on the agenda of
international development practitioners
the dangerous slippery slope of conflicts
in Nigeria. Amplifying this global alert
was the call for international assistance
by President Jonathan Goodluck during
his first official visit to the United States
as the Acting President.
What is the philosophy behind IDLO
intervention in Nigeria?
prescriptive but rather will generate and
instigate participatory home grown and
community owned solutions to the
conflict in Nigeria and, in this pilot
phase, in the Plateau State. IDLO
operates only in full collaboration with
national authorities; its role is enabling
rather than directive; and its activities
are consistent with national ownership
of development strategies. IDLO
understands clearly that legal change
occurs at multiple levels in society and
to address these different levels, it
provides technical assistance to state
institutions as well as to civil society.
What exactly will IDLO do in
Nigeria?
To facilitate a crisp understanding of
the background to the conflict in Plateau
State, IDLO is conducting a synthesis of
the reports of seven separate Judicial
Commissions of Inquiry set up by both
the Federal and State governments to
investigate conflicts in Plateau State
between 1990 and 2010. The synthesis
will enable IDLO to harmonize the
outputs of these inquiries into one
advocacy and policy piece. This
document will serve as a basis for a
holistic understanding of the complexi-
ties of the conflicts and as a program-
matic platform for appropriate IDLO
intervention.
Following the publication of this
synthesis, IDLO will convoke several
national and international peace
dialogue and analysis sessions between
the leadership of the different religious
and ethnic communities in Plateau
State. The first in the series is a ‘Peace
Dialogue Session’ planned in Rome Italy
in December, which will be attended by a
gender and youth disaggregated
representatives from the Christian,
Muslim and ethnic communities in
Plateau State.
Apart from the national and
international dialogue sessions, are
there other interventions planned by
IDLO?
IDLO will also convene several
community based/grassroots ‘healing
and forgiveness’ sessions that will
facilitate the transition from personal
process of forgiveness towards group
processes of reconciliation. The premise
behind this component is that if
psychological wounds of victims are not
healed, they are more likely to become
perpetrators of crime down the road. As
such, IDLO will support people in their
healing process by enabling them to
work through their difficult emotions
and rebuild trust and confidence
through grass root initiatives aimed at
healing and gaining peace of mind.
As an intergovernmental organisation
focused on law, what is IDLO law
based approach to this programme?
A preliminary examination and
critical investigation of conflicts in
Nigeria reveals a high probability that
the root causes of these conflicts and the
frequency of their occurrence are not
unrelated to fundamental legal issues
*Uchenna Emelonye
bordering on indigenship and
citizenship. The 1999 Constitution
recognizes freedom of religion and
confers on every citizen the right to live
in any part of the country; however, the
Constitution is mute on the issue of
indigeneship, which seems to be
addressed by State laws. Pursuant to
certain State laws, a person becomes an
indigene of a State if any of his/her
parents/grandparents are from that
L-R: Delta State Attorney General, Chief Victor Otomiewo, President of
the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, Delta State
Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, and Delta State Chief Judge,
Justice Rosaline Bozimo at the 2010 Law Week celebration of the Warri branch
of NBA, recently.
In practical terms, anybody whose
parents are not from a certain State
cannot acquire the indigeneship of the
State, irrespective of being born in the
State and regardless of the duration of
his/her residence in the State. Since
benefits accruable to an indigene and
non indigene of a State differ substan-
tially, for instance in terms of tuition
fees in State universities, customary land
ownership, appointment to a federal
position etc, the indigene and settler
tension has become a breeding ground
for crises in Nigeria. IDLO will convene
legal experts from Nigeria to research
on the legal gaps surrounding
indigeneship and citizenship questions
in the country. These legal experts are
expected to generate answers to
questions such as: Who is a settler? Who
is an indigene? Which Nigerian is a
settler and which Nigerian is an
indigene? When does a settler become an
indigene?
Do you have national civil society
stakeholders involved in this pro-
gramme?
This program is developed in
collaboration with civil society
stakeholders in Nigeria including IDLO
Nigeria alumni association comprised
of a total of 169 Nigerians that have
benefited from IDLO’s global capacity
building initiatives. Others are the
Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre; the
Open Society Justice Initiative; the
Constitutional Rights Project; the
League for Human Rights; and the
National Peace Foundation. This
program will also be implemented in
liaison with the Institute for Peace and
Conflict Resolution and the Plateau
State Government.

EDITORIAL TEAM
Innocent Anaba
Wahab Abdulah
72 -- VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
VANGUARD LAW & HUMAN RIGHTS
National Assembly and
challenges of fair
representation
Continued from page 70
and Criminal
Procedure Code), the
Criminal Statues
(Criminal Code and
Penal Code) and some
aspects of the Evidence
Act into one jet-age
Criminal Legislation.
Others are the Anti-
Terrorism and the
Freedom of Information
Bills.
It is also on records
that Nigeria has not
incorporated into her
Criminal Justice
Legislation and
Administration the
electronics-generated
pieces of evidence. This
has allowed Nigeria’s
security agencies,
especially the Nigeria
Police Force to continue
to use the stone-age
tools in criminal
investigations and
enforcement. It is a
common knowledge
that where Bills are not
originated from the
Executive in the form of
“Executive-sponsored
Bills”, they can come in
the form of
“Private_member Bills”
and where such Bills
are passed and the
Executive withholds
assent for 30 days, the
lawmakers can pass
them into law by two-
thirds majority.
The consequences
associated with being
unable to put Nigeria
on the right footing
with respect to Criminal
Justice Legislation and
Administrations are
very damaging. For
instance, we have kept
wondering what would
become the fate of some
criminal suspects
arrested, arraigned and
remanded in connection
with the Nigeria’s
Golden Jubilee Day’s
bombings in Abuja, the
FCT. Questions have
been asked as per what
criminal charges that
are actionable would be
preferred against them
since the Anti-terrorism
Bill is still lying un-
legislated before the
National Assembly. Our
Constitution prohibits
trial of the offenders
outside the written
offences and punish-
ments, or meting out
punishments heavier
than that contained in
the criminal statues,
which must relate to the
offences allegedly
committed, or using
retrospective criminal
legislation in the trial of
criminal suspects.
It is also our observa-
tion that while Nigeria
still retains death
penalty in his criminal
legislation and her
Judge-made laws,
especially in the areas
of treason, property and
violent crimes, her
white-collar criminal
legislation still contains
punishments that can
LAW VANGUARD
& HUMAN RIGHTS LAW IN PIX
NCICC holds seminar on Rome Statute
NIGERIAN Coalition for the International Criminal Court, NCICC, during the week, in Abuja, held
a one day seminar on the outcome of the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court, held in Kampala, Uganda, from May 30-June 11, 2010; and Nigeria’s Roles in
Promoting International Justice in Africa.
The seminar brought together, notable members of the bench, the bar and civil society organisation.
best be described as Participants brainstormed on how to engage the National Assembly to ensure the domestication of the
“simple offences international instrument and the benefits Nigerians would derive from the Statute, when it becomes
part of our national law. Photos by Innocent Anaba
punishments”. While
the hand of a cow thief
in Nigeria is chopped
off, a white-collar
criminal who steals the
entire monthly
allocation of his or her
State is put in the
protective custody at
the Ikoyi Prisons, under
the guise of “six months
imprisonment without
hard labour ”. Stiffer
Penalties other than
death penalty or capital
punishment ought to
have been the case in
these areas, in
accordance with the
international standards. L-R: Dr Samson Ahmed, Chairman, National
Lenient penalties L-R: Justice C.C. Nweze of the Ilorin Division of Committee on Torture and Dr Jibrin Ibrahim,
contained in the EFCC, the Court of Appeal and Justice Walter Onoge of Executive Director, Center for Democracy and
ICPC and Code of the Supreme Court Development and co-Convener of NCICC.
Conducts Acts should
totally be overhauled,
while capital punish-
ment in our Criminal
Legislation relaxed.
As per the Presiden-
cy’s recent written
request for the second
amendment to the
Constitution and the
amendment of the
Electoral Act of 2010,
we urge the National
Assembly to ensure that
the public interest is
placed above any other
interest. For instance,
the universally
acceptable norms
guiding internal L-R: Mr Chino Obiagwu, National Coordinator,
democracy with respect Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP and L-R: Mr Olawale Fapohunda, Legal Resource
to political parties’ Convener of NCICC, Miss Adaeze Nnaemezie of Consortium and Prof Deji Adekunle of the
primaries must be Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and Prof Peter Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies,
provided for in the said Akper, who represented the Attorney General of NIALS.
amendments. Let the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN.
credible Electoral
College and 'one adult
Nigerians and Nigerian Police(2)
one vote rule.' The
amendments in the
Electoral Act must be in
tandem with the
provisions of the
Constitution of Nigeria By Ayo Opadokun at critical analytical sessions that superior police
I
officers do expect returns from junior officers; and
1999 as to be amended. failure to perform may mean the junior ranks will
There must not be any T is possible to get away with
anything in Nigerian if you can be subsequently posted to “non-lucrative” routes.
inconsistencies between Again, we know that it is possible for the IGP to
the would-be amended pay the bill. Police and even meet with his deputies, assistants and commis-
some Military officers are now rented for all
Electoral Act and the sioners to set down a new rule of engagement or
Constitution as to be manners of ridiculous or condescending activities operational orders over crime control and
including using them as temporary aide de camp
amended. And the prevention. For example, if the IGP is willing to
controversy as for to smart guys to impress their girlfriends, as arrest and curb the menace of extortion, let him try
recently exposed by some soft-sell magazines. to enforce the following among other measures
whether the Constitu-
tion of Nigeria 1999 as CHECKPOINT AS EXTORTION CENTRES and let us watch the consequences.
However the most offensive and humiliating (i) Publish telephone numbers, and email
amended could be addresses of each Divisional Police Officer all over
assented to or not by matter at hand has to do with the illegal toll
collection/extortion centres called checkpoints all the country in the major media channels so that
Mr. President must be Nigerians who have hitherto watched helplessly
resolved either over the country. The recent revelations that the horrific and wrongful conduct of the police
monthly toll collection by police in the Eastern
politically or legally officers can register their complaints with concrete
and all hands must be states is running to billions of naira is illustrative. video recordings of such encounters. The public
The situation is most unlikely to be different in
on deck to avert any should also be asked to send the recordings of
constitutional crisis, or other parts of the country. One is not equally such poor behaviour to designated police email
unaware that some people, including top leaders addresses at both the state and zonal division
disruption of the May levels that cannot be manipulated by any one. Let
29, 2011 Handover, or of government and those of the police, regale us
with the mantra that Nigerian police have always the zonal leadership provide effective supervision
eruption of any physical to ensure that complaints are attended to
violence no matter the excelled at peace-keeping operations outside the
country. Let us be frank with ourselves. reasonably and effectively. Technology can be
magnitude. used to permanently record these sordid events
Therefore, it is our The fact is that while the United Nations usually thereby significantly making denials by the
provides reasonably tight supervision and control
call on the National particular officers and their superiors pretty
over police deployed, there is at best perfunctory difficult. (ii) Decide effective sanctions,
Assembly to take note of and self-serving control and supervision on
the fact that history and including suspension and dismissals, against any
Nigerian police serving locally. Even if you pay a DPO in charge of any road block where there are
Nigerians are watching Nigerian Police Constable N50,000 per month, he
over the proceedings in proven recorded tolls extortion through whatever
would ordinarily still extort money. The leadership means. It should no longer matter whether or not
their Hallowed is uninspiring and always ready to compromise a checkpoint was legal or not. The recent ghastly
Chambers. And it is our with evil. That is why many of them are dubiously accident at the Lagos end of the Lagos/Ibadan
fervent prayers that the loyal to any political authority, rather than the road on August 15 was a painful reminder of how
leadership in the Constitution, provided the political authority can the police can in their dubious denials exhibit
pay. For example, most Nigerians believe that the
present National their callousness against the people they are paid
Assembly will still do issue of police extortions on the road and in other to protect. And it is a regular occurrence that
places is unofficially approved by the police
things for which it will when there are no accidents as recently witnessed
authority. Otherwise, the police leadership could in Lagos, there would be accidental discharge
be remembered and have been able to establish permanent acts of
have its name crafted in against defenceless people by police forcing a
effective sanctions. It has been painfully revealed commercial driver to pay illegal money to them.
the gold-tower.

LAW
LAW &&HUMAN
HUMAN RIGHTS
RIGHTS
Rep Seat
Seat:: Anxiety as S/Cour
S/Courtt re view
viewss the
review
longest pre-election case
By Ise-Oluwa Ige
A
five member panel of the
Supreme Court is sched
uled to take legal argu
ments and give instant
judgment, on October 21, in a four-
year old pre-election dispute
between Mr Bassey Etim and Hon
Emmanuel Obot. The duo had locked
horns since late 2006 over who
between them was the valid
candidate of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, for the April
2007 election into the Uyo Federal
constituency seat at the National
Assembly.
The dispute is not only one of the
longest surviving pre_election cases
in the country today, it is also one of
the most controversial and most
politicized cases in recent times that
had given the judiciary a bad image.
For instance, on every fundamental
issue battled at different courts in the
case, there were records of two
conflicting judgments.The Supreme
Court itself agreed on June 3, this
year, that it is one case that had
dragged for too long and embar-
rassed the justice system but that it
was helpless to take any position on
it during the last legal year.
Although, the apex court assured
that the case would be heard and
resolved on October 21, 2010, the
litigant fighting from outside, Obot,
would not take that. Reliable sources
said that Obot cashed in on the
frosty relationship between Hon Etim
and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Dimeji Bankole to
solicit for Dimeji’s assistance to push
out Mr Etim from the House of
Representatives.
Etim was said to have fallen out
with Speaker Bankole for being
sympathetic to those routing for his
investigation over sundry allegations
of corruption involving billions of
naira. Indeed, Speaker Dimeji
Bankole had sworn in Obot to
replace Hon Bassey Etim, who
contested and won the April 2007
election into the Uyo constituency
seat of the National Assembly at a
time when the legal issue of whether
or not Obot was ever a candidate of
the PDP in the election was a subject
of litigation before the apex court.
The decision of Speaker Bankole is
still generating a lot of controversy
in the polity. For instance, Transpar-
ency International, the global civil
society organization, promoting
transparency in elections, public
administration, procurement and
business had condemned the action
of Bankole in the case.
Several interest groups also
descended on the Speaker and
called on the apex court not to take
the matter lightly. Although
Transparency International had
asked Bankole to retrace his step on
the account that the legal implica-
tions of what he did in the case
amounted to deciding the case which
was still pending before the
Supreme Court, he did not heed the
advice.
But what exactly is the case
between the duo of Etim and Obot?
About four years ago, the PDP
conducted a primary election for its
candidates jostling for its ticket for
the Uyo constituency seat at the
National Assembly. Obot’s name was
first submitted to INEC as winner of
the primary poll. But the ruling PDP
later applied to substitute his name
with Bassey Etim upon information
that an indictment had been entered
against him.
Obot protested but PDP said that it
had done justice in the case, a
development that resulted in the on-
going lawsuit. Specifically, Obot, in
his suit, asked the Abuja Federal
high court to issue him an order
quashing his indictment and a
separate order restraining PDP and
INEC from substituting him as
candidate for the Uyo constituency
INSIDE
election. The high court, in its
judgment, quashed Obot’s indict-
ment but refused to restrain both the
PDP and INEC from substituting him
on the ground that the act sought to
be restrained was a completed act.
Instead of going on appeal, Obot
went before an Uyo Federal high
court to ask for the relief he could
not get in Abuja but had to withdraw
the case when Bassey and PDP
informed the court that he was
forum-shopping.
Obot later came before the same
Justice Abimbola Ogie of the Abuja
Federal high court who delivered the
first judgment with a fresh applica-
tion on the issue of substitution
which the court earlier refused to
grant. Strangely, Justice Ogie who
had already given a final order on
the issue reversed herself as if she
was sitting in an appellate capacity
over her earlier verdict.
Both PDP who is contending that
Obot had been expelled from its fold
and Etim Bassey who claimed that
the judge had no jurisdiction to sit in
an appellate capacity over her first
judgment went on appeal. But while
this matter was on appeal, Obot took
the controversial Abuja Federal high
court verdict before the Akwa Ibom
Election Petition Tribunal and the
Appeal Tribunal, asking them to
declare him the winner of the
election on the strength of the
pronouncement therein that he was
the rightful candidate.
Bassey Etim and PDP challenged
the jurisdiction of the election
petition tribunal to entertain the pre-
election dispute touching on
substitution of candidates. The panel
of justices that sat as the Akwa Ibom
Election Petition Tribunal in Uyo
agreed with them and threw out the
case for want of subject-matter
jurisdiction. Obot went on appeal
before the Calabar division of the
Court of Appeal which ordered the
tribunal to re-hear the case on its
merit. In the final analysis, the
tribunal which earlier said it had no
jurisdiction also reversed itself and
gave judgment in Obot’s favour.
Of course, when PDP and Etim
went on appeal before the Court of
Appeal, Calabar, the appellate court
did not waste time to confirm the
tribunal’s judgment as okay.
Immediately he procured the
favourable judgment, he wrote
letters to both INEC and Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Dimeji
Bankole to issue him certificate of
return and inaugurate him respec-
tively.
But Obot deliberately concealed a
fundamental fact in his letter to
INEC and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives to the effect that
the case which he claimed to have
won in all courts started as a pre-
election matter and that it is the
Supreme Court rather than the Court
of Appeal that has the final say on
the issues in contention.
He also refused to disclose that the
controversial Abuja Federal high
court judgment on which back he
(Obot) rode to procure judgment at
the Election Petition Tribunal, Uyo
and the Calabar Court of Appeal is
already a subject of litigation at the
Supreme Court.
Besides, he also refused to draw
the attention of INEC and the
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives to the fact that litigation was
still on-going in the case and that
since both of them have the right of
appeal, it would be prejudicial for
the electoral umpire to take any
action, for now, on the issue. Former
Chairman of INEC, Prof Maurice
Iwu specifically said that he was not
confused.
He said the practice of the
commission was to act on the
judgments of the Supreme Court in
cases of pre-election matters and the
verdicts of the Court of Appeal in the
case of post election matters.
"O ye who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in
the state of Muslim" (Qur'an 3: 102) 08036688535 e-mail:
isholaism@yahoo.co.uk
Hajj and its prohibitions
By Mujidat Abubakar
T HE focus of the pil
grimage is Ka’ba
which was rebuilt by
Prophet Ibrahim (peace
be upon him) some 4000
years ago. Today, Ka’ba
stands in the middle of
a large courtyard of Mas-
jid-il-Haram or the sacred
Mosque. The courtyard of
Masjid-il-Haram con-
tains, besides Ka’ba, the
Muqam-e-Ibrahim (place
of Ibrahim) and the foun-
tain of Zamzam.
Ka’ba is the first house
ever that was built for the
worship of One and Only
God, Allah. It is also
called “Bait-Ullah”
(House of Allah), “Bait-
ul-Ateeq” (the Oldest
House), and Baitul
Ma’amur (Inhabited
House).
Muslims, all over the
world, face towards
Ka’ba to offer their
prayers. This house and
the places around it have
several signs that have
been manifested by Al-
lah. Every inch of this
land testifies to the fact
that Allah never destroys
those who offer sacrific-
es. To commemorate Al-
lah’s signs and to en-
hance their faith that Al-
lah truly fulfils His prom-
ise, Muslims have been
ordered to pay homage
to the Ka’ba and these
other Signs of Allah. Al-
lah the Exalted, says in
the Holy Quran:
“Surely, the first House
founded for man-
kind is that at Bec-
ca (the valley of
Mecca), abounding
in blessings and a
guidance for all peo-
ples. In it are mani-
fest signs; it is the
place of Abraham;
and whoso enters it,
enters peace” (3:96-
97)
Prophet Ibrahim
(peace be upon him)
laid a foundation
stone for a commu-
nity in a deserted
place on the order of
All-Mighty Allah.
He settled his wife,
Hajarah, and his son, Is-
maeel, at this place.
There was no water at
this place and it was not
a part of any thorough-
fare. The ultimate goal of
this unparalleled sacri-
fice was that the place
should serve as a centre
of universal guidance;
that from the progeny of
Ismaeel living in this
area would come the
greatest prophet whose
advent marked the sole
cause for the creation of
this universe and who
would be a mercy for all
mankind. The teaching
V ANGU ARD, FRID
ANGUARD, FRIDAAY, OCT OBER 29, 20
OCTOBER
(15 Dhul-l-Qadah, 1431AH)
that he brought down
would be for the entire
world and for all times.
In spite of having no
sign of any provisions at
this place, Prophet Ibra-
him’s (peace be upon
him) expectations were
superceded. Allah made
provisions for water at
that place. Slowly the
place became populated
and was called Mecca.
He fervently prayed to
Allah to make this house
the “Place for Humanity”.
There is a black stone
in the north-eastern cor-
ner of the Kaa’ba. This
stone is called Hajr-e-
Aswad (Black Stone).
This stone was probably
part of a meteoroid that
fell near Mecca on a
mountain called Abu
Qubais. At the time of
construction of Ka’ba,
Prophet Ibrahim brought
it down and placed in
the corner of the Ka’ba as
a great sign and a mon-
ument. Anyone who per-
forms pilgrimage is ex-
pected to kiss this memo-
rial stone. This stone is
Allah has
made the
Kaa’ba the
inviolable
House as a
means of sup-
port and devel-
opment of man-
kind
•Kaa'ba
part of Allah’s mark and
is a sign of Him being
the Supreme Being. One
loves things that belong to
one’s beloved. The same
philosophy exists behind
kissing the stone. This
stone has no power and it
provides neither benefit
nor harm to anyone.
Prohibitions
It is forbidden to have
a hair cut during Hajj or
to wear sewn clothes.
Pilgrims should offer Fi-
dya (redemption) if he
has to wear sewn clothes
or have to shave his head
due to illness or lice.
2011 0 — 73
Hunting is forbidden
during the pilgrimage
days. If the pilgrim hunts
during these days then
he has to offer the sacri-
fice of one animal. If he
has hunted deer then a
lamb should be sacrificed
and of ostrich is hunted
then camel should be
sacrificed. If one cannot
offer a sacrifice the he
should feed six poor peo-
ple and if that is not pos-
sible the he should fast
for three days. Allah says
in the Holy Quran:
“O ye who believe! Kill
not game while you are
in a state of pilgrimage.
And whoso amongst you
kills it intentionally, its
compensation is a quad-
ruped like unto that
which he has killed, as
determined by two just
men from among you, the
dame to be brought as an
offering to the Ka’ba; or
as an expiation he shall
have to feed a number of
poor persons, or fast an
equivalent number of C
days, so that he may taste M
the penalty of his deed.
Y
As for the past, Allah for- K
gives it; but whosoever
reverts to it, Allah will
punish him for his of-
fense. And Allah is
Mighty, Lord of retribu-
tion.
The game of the sea
and the eating thereof
have been made lawful
for you as a provision for
you and the travellers,
but forbidden to you is
the game of land as long
as you are
in a state of pilgrimage.
And fear Allah to Whom
you shall be gathered.
Allah has made the
Kaa’ba the inviolable
House as a means of sup-
port and development of
mankind, as also the Sa-
cred Month and the of-
ferings and the animals
with collars. That is so
that you may know that
Allah knows what is in
the heavens and what is
in the earth, and that Al-
lah knows all things well.
Know that Allah is severe
in punishment and that
Allah is also Most Forgiv-
ing, Merciful.” (5:95-98)
74 — Vanguard
anguard,, FRID
FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

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Udochukwu Obioma. (4) Miss Nneka former documents documents remain Okonkwo. All former
Uchechukwu Obioma. (5) Miss Kamsiyochukwu All former documents
remain valid.General r e m a i n valid.General public documents remain
Obioma. All former documents remain valid. valid.General pub- please take note. valid. NYSC and gen-
General public please take note. public please take
note. lic please take note. eral public please take
note.
NNAJI— I, formerly OBIDAH— I, for- GANDONU—I, for-
known and addressed ANI — I, formerly merly known and ad- AGAH —I, formerly IKWUOMA —I, for-
merly known and ad- merly known and
as Miss Priscilla known and addressed dressed as Miss dressed as Miss known and addressed
Ukachi Nnaji, now as Miss Ani Modester Theresa Ene Obidah, as Miss Agah Nkiruka addressed as Miss
Gandonu Ashiat O n y i n y e c h i
wish to be known and Ifesinachi, now wish to now wish to be known Ashake, now wish to be Joy, now wish to be
addressed as Mrs be known and ad- and addressed, as known and addressed, Ikwuoma, now wish
known and addressed, to be known and ad-
Priscilla Ukachi dressed, as Mrs Mrs Theresa Ene as Mrs Adeogun Ashiat as Mrs Ngene Nkiruka
Njoku. All former Iwelumor Modester Otokpa . All former Joy. All former docu- dressed as Mrs
Ashake. All former Onyinyechi Nwosu.
documents remain Mary Ifesinachi . All documents remain documents remain ments remain valid.
valid. The Nigerian former documents re- valid. Kaduna Poly- ESUT, NYSC and gen- All former docu-
valid. Lagos State Poly- ments remain valid.
Stock Exchange and main valid. General technic and the gen- technic and the general eral public please take
general public please public please take note. eral public please take note. General public
public please take note. please take note.
take note. note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
AGHA — I, formerly ONYENWE —I, for- ABAH— I, formerly — This is to confirm that UWOZE — The Family
known and addressed as merly known and ad- EKUNDAYO — I the name Ogunleke formerly called
known and addressed formerly known and ad-
Miss Henrietta Chioma dressed as Miss as Miss Abah Olusegun James is one and UWOZE family of
Agha, now wish to be Onyenwe Chidiebere dressed as Miss the same person as Leke
Etevie quarter, Ozoro
Veronica Oyilonye, Ekundayo Opeyemi Olusegun James. That I
known and addressed as .C, now wish to be now wish to be known now wish to be known and Isoko North Local Gov-
Mrs Henrietta Chioma known and addressed as Feyisayo, now wish to addressed as Leke ernment now wish to
and addressed as Mrs be known and ad-
Umeh. All former docu- Mrs Nwobi Chidiebere Owoicho Veronica Olusegun James. All be called OGHORIE
ments remain valid. In- C. All former documents dressed as Mrs former documents remain
family. All former docu-
Oyilonye. All former Opeyemi Feyisayo valid. Ladoke Akinola Uni-
stitute of Management remain valid. Institute of documents remain versity of Technology, Fed- ments bearing bearing
and Technology Management and Tech- Agunbiade. All former eral Medical Centre UWOZE family remain
valid. Ministry of documents remain
(IMT)Enugu, ,NYSC nology (IMT)Enugu, Education Abuja and Makurdi ,Medical and valid. General public
and general public please NYSC and general pub- valid. General public Dental Council of Nigeria
please take note.
general public please please take note. (MDCN) and general pub-
take note. lic please take note. take note. lic please take note.

IGBO— I, formerly KALU— I, formerly EGUONO — I, for- INYANG — I, for- ELIGBUE I, formerly EZEYIGHU I, formerly
known and known and addressed merly known and ad- merly known and ad- known and addressed known and addressed
addressed as Miss as Pharm. Ngozi dressed as Miss dressed as Dr. as Miss Eligbue Amaka as Mr Insurance
Eucharia Chika Igbo, Kalu Urum, now wish Mamuyovwi Ese Inyang Bassey Mary, now wish to be Ezeyighu,now wish to
now wish to be to be known and ad- Eguono, now wish to Offiong, now wish to known and addressed be known and ad-
known and ad- dressed as Pharm known and addressed be known and ad- as Mrs Allor Amaka dressed as Mr Insur-
dressed as Mrs. (Mrs.) Ngozi as Mrs. Mamuyovwi dressed as Dr. (Mrs.) Mary. All former docu- ance Currency
Eucharia Basil Chika Nwokeocha Ejindu. Omovie Okuguni. All Porbeni Fumudoh ments remain valid. Ezeyighu Ayenuku. All
Amusuo. All docu- All former documents former documents re- Bassey Offiong. All Delta State Civil Ser- former documents re-
ments remain valid. remain valid and main valid. The general former documents re- vice Commission, main valid.Ministry of
General public general public please public and the Authori- main valid. General Asaba and general pub- Education, INEC Delta
please take note. take note ties to whom it may con- public please take lic please take note. State and general pub-
cern to take note. note lic please take note.

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERTS
AT OUR LAGOS ISLAND OFFICE
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(LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S , LAG O S .
75 Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010
FRIDA
Ogun Police arrest soldier with 20 bags of Indian hemp
By Evelyn Usman
T HE Ogun State Police
Command seemed to
be living up to its promise
of making the state too hot
for smugglers in both
contraband goods and
hard drugs who use the
state as transit route,
following the arrest of
some suspects with
substances suspected to be
Indian hemp.
Surprisingly, one of the
suspects identified himself
as a serving personnel of
the Nigerian Army. The
suspect who gave his
name as Samuel
Okwubusu, serving in
one of the Army formations
in Lagos, claimed to be a
Corporal with Force
number NA048645.
He was reportedly
arrested with twenty bags
of weeds suspected to be
Indian hemp, last
Tuesday, at Otakpele, a
IGP Ringim goes tough on banks
over bullion vans
Acting Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz
Abubakar Ringim
•Bullion van
...... soldier arrested for attempting to rape a lady
S AME day, a soldier
was arrested for
allegedly attempting to
rape a lady in a bush at
Abule-Osun area of the
state.
Reports said the
desperate shout for help
from the lady alerted
passers-by at about 8pm.
However, people were
afraid of responding to the
distress call for fear of
falling prey to what they
black spot near the
Nigeria/Benin republic
border in Imeko area of
the state.
Spokesman for the
Ogun state Police
command, Mr
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an
Assistant Superintendent
of Police (ASP)explained
that the Okwubusu was
intercepted by a team of
Anti-Crime Patrol
policemen attached to the
office of the area
commander, Ilaro, in his
Mercedes Benz 200 car
with plate number GU
817 AAA, at about 8pm.
42-year-old Okwubusu
who hails from Aniocha
local government area of
Delta state, upon
interrogation, according
to Adejobi, “ confessed
that a friend contracted
the conveyance of the
goods to Lagos for sales
to him”
The arrest, Adejobi
stated, “ will send a signal
apparently considered to
be a trick by armed
robbers to rob them.
It reportedly took
policemen on patrol from
Trade Fair division to
rescue the lady whose
identity was given simply
as Rosemary, a resident of
Festac, from her
tormentor, a commercial
motorcyclist.
Rosemary during
investigation, reportedly
to all and sundry that
Ogun state is not a transit
or hiding place for any
criminal because the
Commissioner of Police,
Mr Musa Daura has put
necessary Anti-crime
strategies in place to rid
the gateway state of
crimes and criminalities”
Crime Alert gathered
that the suspect has been
handed over to the
Nigerian Drug law
E n f o r c e m e n t
Agency(NDLEA) for
further investigation.
Investigations would also
be carried out on whether
he is actually a serving
personnel of the Nigerian
Army.
Adejobi therefore, called
on members of the public
to always avail the
command with
information that could
help it in the fight against
crime and criminality in
the state.
A CTING Inspector-
General of Police,
Hafiz Ringim, may soon
clamp down on banks
that defaulted in the
deadline for the
purchase of amoured /
bullet proof bullion vans
for movement of cash in
preference for armed
policemen.
To this end, he has
directed strict
compliance with an
earlier directive by
police authorities that
policemen across the
country attached to such
banks be withdrawn
without delay. The
Police boss was quoted
as saying, “I can no
longer continue to
sacrifice the lives of my
officers because of their
negligence.
I need the men and
officers to protect
Nigerians and Nigeria,
and I know banks are
part of the society, but
they have to help the
Police to help them”.
told policemen that she
mounted the motorcycle
with a view to avoiding
the traffic gridlock on that
route , only for the rider
to divert into the bush and
attempted to rape her.
Surprisingly, the
motorcyclist was said to
have identified himself as
a personnel of the
Nigerian Army, where
upon investigation, he
was discovered to be
• Suspect by the vehicle
Man shot dead in Lagos traffic
U NKNOWN gunmen
struck last week in
Fadeyi area of Lagos,
killing a middle-aged
man. It could however not
be ascertained whether
the gunmen were hired
assassins or armed
robbers as detectives from
the Homicide section of
the State Criminal
Investigations
Department (SCID),
Panti, Yaba ,are
reportedly investigating
the case.
The deceased , Baiyeku road, Ikorodu
identified as Mike Isi, was
driving in his Nissan
Blue bird car with plate
number BH 460 MUS last
Friday, when the
unexpected occurred at
Oweh street junction.
Time was 8.45pm.
There were however,
different accounts of how
the late Mike Isi met his
sudden end.
A version of the account
had it that he was shot
during an altercation with
his assailants over right of
way, while another
version claimed that the
gunmen who drove in an
unmarked Volvo car ,
started shooting
sporadically on reaching
Oweh street junction, in
attached to the Central
Vehicle Department of the
Nigerian Army Ordinance
Corps , Ojo Military
cantonment.
...........Road accident
claims two
A commercial
motorcyclist and his
passenger were
Wednesday crushed to
death along the Lagos/
Ibadan expressway.
the process of which Isi
was hit by a stray bullet.
Several persons were
residents claimed they
woke up to meet it inside
the gutter. However,
reportedly injured in the policemen attached to
resultant stampede as Iyana- Ipaja division are
they ran for safety. The said to have visited the
late Isi’s body, according scene and removed the
to police sources, was corpse to the general
deposited at the Lagos hospital, Isolo.
State Teaching Hospital
mortuary, Ikeja for
.. soldier arrested for
autopsy. attempting to rape a lady
Same day, a soldier was
... As another lifeless arrested for allegedly
body found in a bush attempting to rape a lady
Ilado community along in a bush at Abule-Osun
area of the state.
was thrown into panic last Reports said the
Friday, following the desperate shout for help
discovery of a lifeless from the lady alerted
body of a man in a bush passers-by at about 8pm.
path. The deceased, who However, people were
was later discovered to be afraid of responding to the
one Onah Daniel , was distress call for fear of
reportedly found with falling prey to what they
blood all over his body.
apparently considered to
The circumstances be a trick by armed
surrounding the death of robbers to rob them.
the 27-year-old Daniel, a It reportedly took
commercial motorcyclist, policemen on patrol from
is still a puzzle to the Trade Fair division to
police. He was rescue the lady whose
reportedly on his way identity was given simply
home the previous night as Rosemary, a resident of
when he met the Festac, from her
unexpected. tormentor, a commercial
The corpse was later motorcyclist.
removed by policemen Rosemary during
from Ikorodu division, to investigation, reportedly
the Ikorodu General told policemen that she
hospital mortuary. The mounted the motorcycle
case, as gathered, is also with a view to avoiding
being investigated by
detectives at the
the traffic gridlock on that
route , only for the rider
Homicide section of the to divert into the bush and
SCID. attempted to rape her.
Surprisingly, the
... Another female motorcyclist was said to
corpse found have identified himself as
Similarly, the corpse of a a personnel of the
lady was found same day Nigerian Army, where
in a gutter along Baruwa upon investigation, he
road in Ipaja area of was discovered to be
Lagos. The identity of the attached to the Central
lady could not be Vehicle Department of the
ascertained and the Nigerian Army Ordinance
circumstances Corps , Ojo Military
surrounding her death cantonment.
was also not known, as
76 — Vanguard , FRID
Vanguard FRIDAAY , OCTOBER 29, 2010
YOUR LUCK TODAY
LEISURE
By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
TAURUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and By Richard Eromosele tal. Autopsy report re-
pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on
your nerve tomorrow when effects of full-moon’ll come
to play. T HIS is a piece of
Developing the vealed, she died of “LEP-
TOSPIROSIS” because
advice for some of the can was infected by
GEMINI: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble us who have the habit of washing habit the dried rat urine.
tomorrow, either at home or along your career/business drinking and or eating The lessons of this is:
lines, should be well taken care of today. Be very open. anything even without Straw” on the internet. It refrigerator of the boat. wash every canned liq-
washing. is the story of a woman in The next day, she was uid before you drink and
CANCER: YOUR best bet today is to seek important Recently, I came across North Texas, USA who taken to the hospital af- wash every fruit before
co-operation of influential people and that of your ter drinking the canned
this piece titled: “Wash went on boating taking you eat.
spouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are, the liquid. She died a few
better for you. Them First or Use a with her cans of liquid
substance placed in the days later at the hospi-
LEO: IF others want you to conclude an important
financial transactions that can possibly be done today,
you’ll need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not TERROR MUDA in The Governor's daughter By Kola Fayemi
be as conducive as today.

VIRGO: IT’S important you don’t take things and

people for granted now because they may not be as co-
operative tomorrow as they are now. Be more loving.

LIBRA: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of

understanding within your working arena today,
tomorrow’s full-moon may turn the whole thing the other
way.

SCORPIO: HERE is an exciting day that will climax

tomorrow. After a long time, others will see how passionate
you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please.

SAGITTARIUS: IF your desire is to make money today,

you will need to be less emotional and prepare for
domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life.

CAPRICORN: GOOD relationship between the moon

in Capricorn and lucky Jupiter in your star sign will bring
you good opportunities. Be less argumentative.
KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Princess Shii’ By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: THIS is your day when things will go

according to your plans. Financial success indicated but
if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring
disappointment.

PISCES: THE moon in your star sign that encourages

you to be as assertive are likely to oppose you tomorrow.
Try to be more friendly.

ARIES: HAPPENINGS within your working arena

should be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable
trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you
are more practical about your health. Be more loving.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological
Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos dadadekola@yahoo.com
VIRGINIA
What,s my
immediate future?
Dear Joshua,
I am interested in what you are doing.
Please tell me what I should expect concern-
ing my immediate future. Would I succeed
travelling abroad for business ?
Olabode. Mushin.

Dear Olabode, HI-Life by Lawrence Akapa

Few years back you have started a very
longer (years) great cycle of success and
happiness, and this year you will be mov-
ing closer to the peak of the said cycle;
meaning that your 42nd year on earth will
be much more better than all your previous
ones on earth.
Then because of transiting lucky Jupiter
in Sagittarius – your Solar 9th house of trav-
elling and distant affairs you can be success-
ful at acquiring visa and have a fruitful for-
eign travels.
However that is not to say that there will
not be any challenge during the year. Actu-
ally like it happened about six/seven months
ago when work and accident related issues
were the major challenges.
 Vanguard
anguard,, FRID
FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 77

C
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 78—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

World Club Championships: African champions to face Pachuca

F IFA on Wednesday at
its headquarters in
Zurich made the draws
for this years World Club
championships to take
place in the United Arab
Emirates. According to
the pairings Africa’s rep-
resentative TP Mazem-
be or Esprrance of Tunis,
will face CONCACAF
champions Pachuca of
Mexico on December 10.
In case of victory the Afri-
can representative will
then play Brazillian side
Porto Alegre, who are
champions of the CON-
MEBOL region in the
semi finals.
Pachuca Club is one of
the biggest clubs in Mex-
ico and in the last ten
years have won five na-
tional titles, and have been
four times Central Ameri-
can champions. In 2006,
the club was the first in
Mexico to make its impact
in the Copa Sudamerica-
na. The competition will
hold form the 8 to the 18th
of December, 2010.

Participants: United
Host country (United between Seongnam Il- considering
Arab Emirates): Al Wah- hwa Chunma (KOR)
da and Zobahan (IRI) £12m move
Europe (UEFA): Inter Africa (CAF): Winner of
Milan (ITA) the African Champions for Reina
South America (Con- league between Tout-

mebol): Internacional
(BRA)
North America (Conca-
caf): Pachuca (MEX)
Asia (AFC): Winner of
the Champions League
Controversy trails
Octopus Paul’s death
T HE death of World
Cup oracle Paul the
Octopus has sparked a
C rash of conspiracy theo-
ries claiming that the oc-
M topus was already long
Y dead before his demise
K was reported on Tuesday.
Paul became a global
phenomenon after suc-
cessfully predicting eight
consecutive results dur-
ing this summer’s World
Cup in South Africa.
Chinese film director
Jiang Xiao had been mak-
ing a film about the ceph-
alopod seer’s exploits, but
during her research be-
came convinced that the
real Paul had died dur-
ing the tournament.
She told The Guardian
that she believes Paul ac-
tually died two days be-
fore the World Cup final
_ and was quickly re-
placed by an impostor.
“I am 60 to 70 per cent
Puissant Mazembe
(DR Congo) and Espe-
rance of Tunis (TUN)
Oceania (OFC): Hek-
ari United (PNG)
•Octopus Paul
sure that Paul died on
July 9 and the Germans
have been covering up
his death and fooling us
for a long time,” said
Jiang, who is making a
film about her claims en-
titled ‘Who killed Paul the
Octopus?’.
“We have been keeping
in touch with the German
aquarium ever since the
beginning (of production)
but it seemed to me that
they were afraid,” she
added.
M
ANCHESTER
United are be-
lieved to be interested in
making a move for Liv-
erpool goalkeeper Pepe
Reina.
The Red Devils’ cur-
rent No 1, Edwin van
der Sar, turns
40_years_old on Friday,
and manager Sir Alex
Ferguson is expected to
be on the hunt for a re-
placement for the Dutch-
man.
Now The Mirror
claims that the Scot is
keen on bringing Reina
into the ranks at Old
Trafford.
The former Villarreal
man was previously re-
ported to be in line to
hold talks with the club’s
new owners to address Wesley Sneider: Inter Milan midfield maestro
his concerns.
Governor’s Cup: More Nigerians bow out
By John Egbokhan second round match at the the Ivorian but his exit has Candy Idoko 6-1,6-1, while
Lagos Lawn Tennis club, further dented any hope of Kingsley Enosoregbe was
Onikan. a Nigerian winning the stopped by Raven Klaasen
T HE dream of Nige
ria’s highest
ranked player in the
Clifford retired in the
second set of his match
against Ivorian Valentin
men’s singles title.
Also biting the bitter
taste of defeat were Abdul-
of South Africa in a game
that ended in straight set of
1-6, 0-6..
ongoing Governor’s Cup Sanon in a game that he mumini Babalola, who lost Also Samuel Omoile
Futures II, Clifford Enos- lost 3-6, 0-5. Clifford who in straight sets of 2-6, 2-6 to could not survive the heat
oregbe was cut short injured his wrist in the Karan Rastogi of India. from Ivorian who beat him
yesterday after injury course of the match, was Another Indian, Ranjeet a game that ended 5-7, 7-
forced him to abandon his hitherto expected to beat Virali-Murugesan beat 5, 6-4

GUILTY: Jack Wilshere is dis-

missed after his late challenge Wolves boss blasts Wenger
on Birmingham’s Nikola Zigic

T HE debate over Ar
sene Wenger ’s de-
fence of tough tackling
Jack Wilshere has been
re_opened after he was
warned by Wolves.
Wenger has been a vo-
cal critic of the rough chal-
lenges that have caused
a string of serious injuries
in the Barclays Premier
League.
But he was accused of
double standards when
he defended Wilshere
over his horrific tackle on
Birmingham’s Nikola
Zigic which earned him a
red card.
Now Wolves chief exec-
utive Jez Moxey has hit
out at Wenger, insisting
the Frenchman is talking
nonsense.
He said ‘It is an abso-
lute nonsense. Well, I
hope he hears this: keep
your mouth shut. Play the
game, play aggressive, let
everybody play.
‘Wilshere and Wenger’s
other players are going to
make similar challenges.’
Moxey, whose own club
have been heavily criti-
cised for their physical
approach, added: ‘I had
a big, wry smile listening
to Arsene Wenger trying
to defend Jack Wilshere
for the challenge.
‘All he said was exactly
the same as every other
manager has and yet he
is one of the managers
who goes on the front foot,
moaning and complain-
ing and bitching about it
because it is unfair on his
team.’
 Vanguard
anguard,, FRID
FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 — 79

C
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 V anguard , FRID
FRIDAAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010

Sneijder tipped for first FIFA Ballon d’Or

D ESPITE the heart
break of losing the
World Cup final with the
Netherlands, Wesley
Sneijder is the bookmak-
ers’ favourite to walk
away with the inaugural
FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
The attacking midfielder
was on the losing side in
Johannesburg on July 11,
when Spain defeated Hol-
land 1-0 to claim their first
ever World Cup title.
Spanish midfielders
Xavi and Andres Iniesta
are also strong contend-
ers for the prestigious
prize, but the presence of
the Barcelona pair on the
shortlist could split the
pro-Spanish votes to
Sneijder’s advantage.
More significantly, the
26-year-old Dutchman
enjoyed a glittering de-
but season at Inter Milan
that culminated in an un-
precedented treble of the
Italian league title, the
Coppa Italia (Italian
Cup) and the European
Champions League.

NFF comes under FIFA scrutiny

By Ben Efe travelers on the board of
the NFF. The case came

N IGERIA Football
Federation will
come under FIFA scruti-
ny today as its executive
committee, examines the
recent happenings that
saw Aminu Magari and
his elected board resume
office, after being kept in
hiatus by a court order.
FIFA had given Nige-
ria an October 26 dead-
line to put its football
house in order, otherwise
Nigerian football will be
put in a permanent
freeze, pending when
the country meets the cri-
teria for FIFA member-
ship. The NFF was en-
tangled in a web of legal
intricacies, after former
footballer, Harrison Jalla
C dragged the federation
M to court for contravening
laid down electoral pro-
Y cedures. Jalla secured a
K court order barring the
conduct of the election.
But the election went
ahead in defiance of the
court order.
That action led to the
quashing of the August
26 elections throwing
out Maigari and his co-
up before a Federal High
Court, Lagos Monday,
October 25
Following the discon-
tinuation notice by the
National Association of
Nigeria Footballers, pre-
siding judge, Justice
Okon Abang struck out
the case and the Aminu
Maigari-led board re-
turned to the office. But
legal experts believe the
board is still not free yet
as the court was yet to
vacate the earlier order of
nullification of the elec-
tion.
“The Nigeria Federa-
tion will be examined
this weekend. By then
FIFA should be able to
come out and say if it is
satisfied with the situa-
tion on ground,” said a
FIFA media statement on
Thursday.
The FIFA executive
committee has been
locked in 48 hour meet-
ing that would be con-
cluded today, after which
FIFA president Sepp
Blatter will speak on sev- HAMMERING ON •••West Ham United’s Carlton Cole vies with Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross (L)
eral matters affecting during the league cup fourth round football match at Upton Park in London, England
football development

ACROSS DOWN
VANGUARD SUDOKU GAMES 1 Address (6)
5 So be it (4)
1 Snub (6)
2 Use (8)
8 Conscious (5) 3 Relative (6)
TODAY'S PUZZLES YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 9 Wrath (3) 4 Mollified (9)
10 Drive (4) 5 Judge (7)
11 Edge (4)
12 Weird (5) 6 Lake (4)
13 Feverish (6) 7 Deadened (4)
16 Naked (5) 8 Day (3)
18 Cheese (4) 14 Usual (9)
20 Tree (3) 15 Wicked (3)
22 Transgress (3) 17 Expire (3)
23 Colour (3) 19 Depraved (8)
24 Mirth (4) 20 Beer (3)
25 Pour (4) 21 Encourage (7)
28 Give (6) 26 Demure (6)
30 Hobo (5) 27 Discussion (6)
32 Warmth (4)
33 Assistant (4) 29 Footwear (4)
34 Epoch (3) 30 Story (4)
35 Memorise (5) 31 Skewer (3)
36 Flat (4)
37 Figurine (6)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 3, Leapt 9, Rancid 10, Lariat 11,
Titan 12, Slip 15, Vice 17, Secured 20, Tor
21, Dared 23, Spin 25, Pier 26, Liked 28, Art
30, Defence 33, Reel 35, Rota 36, Begin, 38,
Maiden 39, Revere 40, Duvet.
DOWN: 1, Gross 2, Antic 3, Lit 4, Edited 5,
Plan 6, Tan 7, Limit 8, Steer 13, Leisure 14,
Pupil 16, Correct 18, Dated 19, Pep 22, Diver
24, Nip 27, Desire 28, Aroma 29, Tepid 31,
Noted 32, Eaten 34, Menu 36, Bed 37, Net.

e-mail:
•Sudoku Games produced by Golddust Ltd, United Kingdom.
TUNDE SMATT in JUST FOR THE MONEY rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

How to Play Sudoku

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can
have two of the same number).
Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also
nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a
bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through
9. This means that no number can appear twice in any
block, column or row.
No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division
or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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