NGF SHOWDOWN: Amaechi takes on Jang

...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 61905

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013**

Mr & Mrs

Amaechi takes on Jang

Continues on page 5

•Stop impersonating me — Amaechi•We'll see today — Jang

DUST-TO-DUST—Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State (3rd left), performing the dust-to-dust riteat the Islamic burial of his mother, late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, Iyaloja-General of Nigeria at the Ikoyi Muslim cemetery, Lagos,yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. More photos and story on Pages 7&14.

NGF SHOWDOWN:

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, POLITICAL

EDITOR & TAYE OBAT-ERU

LAGOS—GOVERNORS Rotimi

Amaechi of Rivers Stateand Jonah Jang of Pla-teau State were, yester-day, locked in a war ofwords over their claims tothe chairmanship of theNigeria Governors’ Fo-rum, NGF.

Amaechi, told his Pla-teau State colleague tostop impersonating him

COLUMNISTS:

•P. 54

OCHEREOMENNANNA

LES LEBA•P.34

DELESOBOWALE

•P.40

•P.17Sign death warrants,Jonathan urgesgovernors •P

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20 killed inrenewedBenin Citycult war

LAGOS STANDS STILL FOR MOGAJI

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2— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013—————33333

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POCKET CARTOON

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013—5

LIFEWORDSBY PASTOR ITUAH

Continues from page 1

NGF: SHOWDOWN:Amaechi takes on Jang

You’re going to come across people in your lifewho will say all the right words at all the righttimes. But in the end, it’s always their actions youshould judge them by. It’s actions, not words thatmatter – Nicholas Spark

EVERY moment is awareness and the privilegeto choose the next thought is very profound,

but it is going beyond, to living from the heart thatmakes it an awesome experience for me.

When you think about it, this ability is within ourreach. The choice to feel beautiful, to express lov-ing thoughts and to exhale joy and laughter! Thistransformation is ever expanding and it comes withit, a most exhilarating feeling of love.A sweet thing is easy to admire, sweet words areeasy to come by, but a sweet friend is rare and whenwe find special friendship, we nurture and natu-rally care a lot.

This much I know, a friend is like a lovely song,always endearing and meaningful, but the greaterillumination is the choice to love and the freedomto do so without a tinge ...this is beautiful affectionand devotion, a better expression of love.

FATHERS' DAY—President Goodluck Jonathan (M) trying his hands on a guitar presented tohim by the 2013 Father's Day organising committee during the Father's Day celebration at the Aso VillaChapel, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN:

as chairman of the Ni-geria Governors' Forum,NGF, and urged him tokeep within the boundsof decorum.

Jang in a riposte dis-missed Amaechi’scharge as funny. Jangreiterated his claim thathis endorsement by 19Northern governors wastantamount to an elec-

tion, boasting that hewas set to show his su-perior claim at a meet-ing of the forum he hassummoned for today.

The exchange followedGovernor Jang’s sum-mon of a meeting of theNGF for today ahead ofa scheduled meetingwith President GoodluckJonathan over disputeson the sharing of thefederation account forthe month of May.

Governor Amaechiwhile urging governorsto honour the meetingwith the president, how-ever, disowned the meet-ing of the NGF sum-moned by Jang.

Governors stickto their earlierpositions

Yesterday, several gov-ernors stood on theirprevious positions in theNGF. Chairman of theNorthern States Gover-nors' Forum, NSGF, Gov-ernor Babangida Aliyuof Niger State, it waslearnt, was outside thecountry and may notsend a representative tothe Jang meeting. Hiscolleague in BenueState, Mr. Gabriel

Suswam who is also out-side the country on offi-cial assignment, couldsend a representative toattend the Jang meeting.

“Any meeting called byGovernor Jang as chair-man of the NGF wouldbe honoured by Gover-nor Suswam,” an aidesaid. Several other gov-ernors, it was learnt,yesterday, stuck to theirknown positions on thedivision in the NGF.

Governor Amaechi in astatement yesterdaysaid: "On Saturday, June15 and Sunday, June 16,reports in the mediacredited to my brothergovernor, GovernorJonah Jang of PlateauState announced that hehas called for a NigeriaGovernors’ Forum meet-ing. Ordinarily I wouldhave ignored these re-ports as I do not imag-ine that as governorswho hold our people’smandate through thedemocratic process offree and fair elections,we would do anything toimpugn our integrity.

“However as Chair-man of the Nigeria Gov-ernor’s Forum, electedby my colleagues tosafeguard their integrityand that of the forum, ithas become imperative

for me to request mybrother, Governor Jang,to remain within the con-fines of decorum andcease to impersonate meand to stop paradinghimself as NGF chair-man. There is only onechairman of the forum,duly elected by a votetally of 19:16 on Friday,May 24, 2013.

“For the avoidance ofdoubt, I as chairman ofthe NGF have not calledfor any Governors’ Fo-rum meeting for Mon-day, June 17, 2013. Theonly meeting scheduledfor Monday June 17, isa meeting of all Gover-nors with His Excel-lency, PresidentGoodluck Jonathanscheduled to hold at9pm at Aso Rock Villa.All governors shouldplease ensure attend-ance at this meetingwith Mr. President.

This storm shallpass — Amaechi

“I wish to reassure mybrother governors thatthis storm shall pass andwe all will be reunited asone family committed toour nation’s unity andsupporting Mr. Presi-dent in his vision for aNigeria that safeguardsthe rights of all its citi-zens to good govern-ance and democraticnorms.

“Governor Jang is mybrother and friend and Iharbour no ill feelingsagainst him, but it isimportant that he stopsthis impersonation, as itcould threaten all thegood work we all havedone together.

“May I remind Gover-nor Jang that there is alegal action that hasbeen instituted againsthim by GovernorBabatunde Fashola ofLagos State to stop himfrom parading himself asthe chairman of NGF. Asleaders elected by our

people, Nigerians areclosely watching us. Wemust comport ourselvesaccording to the dictatesand principles of demo-cratic and lawful prac-tices and norms.”

We'll see today— Jang

Responding toAmaechi, Jang throughhis Special Adviser onMedia and Publicity,Mr. Ayuba Pam de-scribed Amaechi’s as-sertion as funny.

Asserting that he waselected by the majorityof governors and was inno way impersonatinganybody, Jang said:

“It is funny to say thata man who was nomi-nated by consensus bythe Northern governorswho are 19 and pre-sented to the largermeeting of the gover-nors would impersonateanybody. It is all aboutwho is in charge of theforum and tomorrow’s(today’s) meeting con-vened by Jang will showwho really has the sup-port of majority of thegovernors.

“We do not want to joinissues with GovernorAmaechi because he isstill a member of thegovernors’ family andjust like Governor Janghas said repeatedly, thisis a family problem thatwould be resolved ami-cably.

“All we can do is toappeal to GovernorAmaechi to extend thesame cooperation thatJang gave him when hewas the chairman of theforum to Jang. Jang wasalways among the firstgovernors to be in Abujaeach time he (Amaechi)called a meeting and weurge him to reciprocatethis. We even encouragehim to attend tomorrow’smeeting convened byJang because theagenda is for the benefitof every state”, he said.

No man rises by pulling others down, the onlyway you can go when you pull down is down. Theonly way to rise up is by lifting others up. If yourise by yourself, you rise alone.


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6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

...police arrest 10 suspects

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) accompanied by Prof. ComfortEkpo, Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, UNIUYO, during the inspection of property dam-aged at the institution following students' protest, last week.

20 killed in renewed Benin City cult war

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY—NO fewerthan 20 persons have been

killed in the past four days indifferent parts of Benin City, fol-lowing a renewed cult war be-tween suspected members ofEiye Confraternity and BlackAxe.

Over 10 persons were said tohave been arrested by the EdoState Police Command in con-nection with the incident.

It was gathered that some of theleaders of the groups are on therun following the collaboration ofsecurity agencies with the stategovernment to hunt for the sus-pects.

Vanguard was informed thatthe latest face-off was triggeredlast Thursday when members ofone of the groups went to thehome of one of the suspects cur-rently on the run, whose fatherwas said to belong to one of thewarring groups to resolve somemoney related issues. It waslearnt that while they were set-tling the issue, the suspect wentupstairs to fetch a pump actiongun and shot a member of therival cult group on the leg.

The victim was rushed to thehospital by his colleagues whilethe suspect fled. Consequently,colleagues of the victim mobilisedfor reprisal attacks, visiting thehomes of members of the rivalgroup.

It was learnt that the attack ledto the killing of a colleague of thesuspect who started the shootingat New Benin. As expected, thecult war escalated. There werekillings in Idu Owena, afterUgbowo, Isihor, Ugbiyoko, Tex-tile Mill Road, New Benin andIgbesanwa.

Vanguard was reliably in-formed that no fewer than 20 per-sons have been killed so far. Asa result, night life in Benin Cityhas been affected as people no

longer relax in bars in the eve-nings due to fear of being at-tacked by the rampaging cultists.

Oshiomhole summonssecurity meeting

Worried by the development, itwas learnt that Governor AdamsOshiomhole convened an emer-gency security meeting last Fri-day, asking security operatives tofish out the killers. Vanguardlearnt that about 10 persons have

been arrested so far while effortswere on towards finding a peace-ful resolution to the crisis.

The Edo State Police Commis-sioner, Mr Folounsho Adebanjo,who could not confirm the casu-alty figure, described the killingsas unacceptable and vowed thatthe police would deal with thesituation.

According to him, “we are notrelaxing at all. We are in searchof the leaders behind this. Somepersons have been arrested

while some are on the run. Thekillings will stop because our of-ficers are all on the alert now. Ican assure you that anybody ar-rested will be dealt with very se-riously.

“All security agencies in thestate are concerned. The gover-nor is equally concerned, resi-dents of the state are concerned.So we will not relent until we stopthis madness. It is very sad thatpeople no longer value humanlives.”

Two get life imprisonment for rapingPastor’s daughter

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

ASABA — A HIGH Court sit-ting in Ughelli, Delta State

has sentenced two persons, de-scribed as “notorious rapists,”Ernest Steve, 30 and Jerry

Godwin, 29, to life imprisonmentfor raping a 17-year-old daugh-ter of a Pastor.

The incident took place on No-vember 5, 2007 when the duobroke into the residence of theparents of the girl at Young Af-rica Close, Ovwian, armed witha gun and knife.

Prosecution told the court thatafter robbing parents of the younggirl of valuables, they went aheadand had carnal knowledge of thegirl (names withheld) serially,causing her severe injuries andpsychological trauma.

Delivering judgment, the trial

judge, Justice O. Tobi said theconfessional statements of theaccused admitted in evidenceduring trial passed the veracitytest and was not in doubt, say-ing the prosecution led by P. T.Daubry had proved the essen-tial ingredients of the three-countcharge preferred against the ac-cused persons.

The court declined the plea formercy by the defence counsel,Mr. M. Oshemele, on the groundof law and proceeded to handdown the mandatory punishmentfor the offence they committed asprescribed by law.

Pathologists probe death ofNgor Okpala 8

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI — A TEAM of pa-thologists from Imo State

Ministry of Health has beenput together to examine the cir-cumstances that led to thedeath of the Ngor Okpalaeight.

Commissioner for Health, Dr.Joe Obi-Njoku, who disclosedthis during an interview, saidgovernment was interested ingetting to the root of the inci-

dent.Obi-Njoku said: “Govern-

ment has set up a team of pa-thologists to probe the cause ofdeath of eight members of theNwosu family in UmuezeEgbelu Nguru in Ngor OkpalaLocal Government Area.”

The commissioner further ex-plained that the team drawnfrom the State's Department ofPublic Health, is headed by thePermanent Secretary in theministry.

Sea banditsmolest, robmarket womenin Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE

WARRI—SUSPECTEDsea pirates struck again

in Burutu Local GovernmentArea of Delta Delta State, rob-bing market women of moneyand foodstuff, weekend.

Vanguard gathered that fol-lowing the incessant attacks inrecent months, the Delta Wa-terways Security Committee,DWSC, Warri, was already li-aising with the Burutu LocalGovernment Council and se-curity agencies to checkmatethe hoodlums.

A source said: “The sea pi-rates attacked a boat fromOkwagbe, which was carryingmarket women and dispos-sessed them of foodstuff andmoney running into millionsof naira.

“The pirates trailed the boatafter closure of market to a linkcreek, shot sporadically intothe air and took all the moneyin the traders'possession."

US Police begin manhuntfor Nigerian's killers

NEW YORK — THE Policein New York have begun

manhunt of two suspects con-nected with the gruesome stab-bing to death of a Nigerian inBrownsville area of Brooklyn,the News Agency of Nigeria re-ports.

According to local media, thedeceased, Uro Ama Orji, 54,and a cab driver in the area,was said to have been stabbedin the eye with an umbrella.

After he had been wounded,his vehicle crashed into twoparked sport-utility vehicles atLott Avenue and Boyland Streetat about 5:30 p.m.

Orji, who resided in Queens,was taken to Brookdale Hospi-tal, where he was pronounceddead.

Following the development, a5,000-dollar reward was offeredfor information that could lead tothe arrest of the suspects.

The New York State Federationof Taxi Drivers offered a 3,000-dollar reward, while the groupof 100 Blacks in Law Enforce-ment Who Care offered another2,000-dollars.

Police said they were lookingfor a man and woman who werepassengers in the cab and seenrunning from the scene. A videoshowed the man getting out ofthe cab, opening the front doorof the vehicle and stabbing Orjiwith an umbrella.

“It’s clearly on that video. Youhave a female and male, and themale runs, the young lady walk-ing away, perhaps guilt got thebest of her.

Ex-EBSUstudent killed,3 othersarrested overrobbery

BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI— EBONYIState Police Command,

weekend, arrested an ex-stu-dent of Ebonyi State Univer-sity, EBSU, Abakaliki, HenryChukwu, including threeothers over their alleged at-tempt to rob staff and cus-tomers of Cabino GuestHouse, Abakaliki.

At a press briefing inAbakaliki, the State PolicePublic Relations Officer, aDeputy Superintendent ofPolice, DSP Sylvester Igbo,said the gang of robbers onsighting a team of policemenon patrol along AbrahamEnyita off Ogoja roadopened fire on them, result-ing to a gun battle that ledto the arrest of the suspects.

He said: “During the gunduel, one Henry Chukwupopularly known as Drama,an ex-student of Ebonyi StateUniversity, sustained bulletwounds and latter gave upthe ghost while being takento the hospital. In the proc-ess three suspects, Ude Oko,Nwokporo William, EmekaEseogor, were arrested.”

The police spokesmannoted that the body of thedeceased suspect had beendeposited at the FederalTeaching Hospital Abakalikifor autopsy.


Lagos stands still as Tinubu’smother, Abibatu Mogaji is buried

ALUMNIDINNER:From left— Prof.Wole Soyinka;Mr. DemolaAladekomo,President, LagosBusiness SchoolAlumni Associa-tion, and Dr.Enase Okonedo,Dean, LagosBusiness School,during Mr.Aladekomodinner in Lagos.

LAGOS literally stood still,yesterday, as the President-

General, Association of NigerianMarket Women and Men, AlhajaAbibatu Mogaji, who died lastSaturday aged 96, was buried atthe Vaults and Garden Cemetery,Ikoyi, amidst eulogies.

Late Alhaja Mogaji was themother of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,former Lagos State governor andnational leader of Action Con-gress of Nigeria, ACN.

Tinubu, who recalled his moth-er’s last moments, said: “On Sat-urday afternoon, she had herlunch. After that, she took herdrugs and rested.

"While resting, death came andsnatched my mother away. Im-mediately she died, I felt hervoid. She taught everyone shecame across contentment, loveand the act of sharing, especiallyto the needy.

“I will miss her lunch evenwhen I am full. I am very happythat she is my mother. She is avery successful mother and agood leader. She departed thisworld peacefully without takingus through pains.

“She is so kind and God wasalso kind to her. She is a goodthinker and a compassionate per-son. She has left a very goodlegacy for everyone.

“She did something when I wasthe governor of Lagos State thatreally touched me and that waswhen she asked me to considerthree women, who had chal-lenges paying their children’sWest African Examination Coun-cil, WAEC, fees.

“As a governor then, I beganthe policy of paying WAEC feeof pupils in Lagos State publicschools. Those are the things thatwill fascinate anyone about mylate mother.

“There are many lessons thatwomen can learn from her. Andone of the lessons is to be resil-ient, committed and industriousin order to help banish povertyin the country. She is a commit-ted democrat.

“She believes in the one-manone-vote campaign. She will voteand mobilise others to do so.Women must also be committedto the education of their children,which is the antidote for povertyin the country. Once we come out

of this, the nation will makeprogress.”

At 8:00am, the Alausa resi-dence of Mogaji became abeehive of activities, as hun-dreds of party loyalists, rela-tives and friends to her chil-dren thronged her premises tohonour her.

Roll callSome of the dignitaries at the

various events that led to theburial and Fidau prayers in-clude Alhaji Aminu Tambuwai,Speaker, House of Repre-sentatives; governors RaufAregbesola, AdamOshiomhole, IbikunleAmosun, Abiola Ajumobi andKayode Fayemi of Osun,Edo,Ogun, Oyo and Ekitistates, respectively; ChiefEmeka Anyaoku, former Sec-retary of the Commonwealth;Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Ma-jority Leader, House of Rep-resentatives; Mr. FemiOkunnu and Tom Ikimi.

Others were Mr. FemiPedro, former Deputy Gover-nor of Lagos State; Mr.Tajudeen Oluyole-Olusi, Ac-tion Congress of Nigeria,ACN chieftain; Chief Rasak

Speaker, Lagos Houe of As-sembly; Mr. Muiz Banire,former commissioner for en-vironment Lagos State, andAmb. Musiliu Obanikoro.

The wives of the south-west governors, led by DameEmmanuella Fashola, andchairmen of the 57 councilsin the state were also there.

FidauThe Fidau was conducted

earlier in the day at the Cen-tral Mosque, Lagos Island,before she was buried at theVaults and Garden Cem-etery.

The corpse was brought intothe Mosque at 11:24am, fol-lowed by a short sermon.

Alhaji Muritala Giwa, whodelivered the sermon, urgedTinubu, Tambuwal, gover-nors and the crowd at theMosque, to always eschewviolence and exhibit goodattitude.

Giwa said: “As the lateIyaloja General of Lagos im-pacted positively on the lifeof people, everyone shouldemulate such act.”

TributesTambuwal described lateMogaji as “a great womanand a great mobiliser ofwomen and an advocate ofpeople’s right.He said: “Her socio-economiccontribution to the nation willdefinitely be missed. She hasleft a vacuum in the nation.She was a special gift to thiscountry.”

A great nationalleader— Fashola

Governor BabatundeFashola of Lagos State, whois out of the country on anofficial trip, in a statementthrough his Special Adviseron Media, Hakeem Bello,

described her death as agreat national and personalloss.

Fashola said she was aforthright defender of thepeople and their right to eco-nomic empowerment, addingthat this trait had been im-bibed by anyone that had theopportunity or privilege tomeet her.

According to him, this pe-culiar trait was evident in thepersonality of her illustriousson and former governor ofLagos State, Asiwaju AhmedTinubu, a leader with thelove of the people at heart.

Fashola said: “AlhajaAbibatu Mogaji was afrontliner in the commercialdevelopment of Lagos State,particularly Lagos Island,which was formerly domi-nated by Lebanese andGreek merchants.

“She was one of the pioneertraders, who ventured intothe capital intensive andrisky business venture of im-portation of consumer goods,thereby breaking the mo-nopoly previously enjoyedby the foreign tradesmen andher business acumen at-tracted the attention of multi-national enterprises operat-ing in Nigeria then, who hadno option but to register heras a business partner anddistributor of their consumergoods in Nigeria.”

Describing the late Iyaloja-General as a great matriarch,Fashola said Alhaja Mogajidid not limit her businessand social networking to theconfines of Lagos State alone,she always sought the wel-fare of market men andwomen and ways of openingup more business opportuni-ties for them.

“This attribute of hers musthave informed the unani-mous decision of all commer-

cial traders regardless of eth-nic, religious or political per-suasion to select her as thepioneer Iyaloja/President-General of Nigerian MarketMen & Women. A position shehandled with utmost respon-sibility and diligence, he said.

Oshiomhole,Aregbesolapay tributes

In his tribute, GovernorAregbesola of Osun State said:“She was a good mobiliserand a very good organiser.She was a philanthropist,charitable and compassionate.She mentored us so much.”

Governor Oshiomhole ofEdo State, in his tributesigned by Mr. Peter Okhiria,his Chief Press Secretary,said: “I commiserate with you,my leader, and indeed withthe entire Tinubu family, onthe passing of your belovedmother, Alhaja AbibatuMogaji.

“I wish to offer the condo-lence of the people and gov-ernment of Edo State and mypersonal commiseration overthis loss.”

Abike Dabiri said: “She wasa mother per excellence. Iknew her from my days at theNTA, and my mother also hada shop and she was under herleadership. I covered her ac-tivities as a staff of NTA and I amever so amazed at her wealth ofknowledge and experienceand she doesn’t forget.”

Other dignitaries that paidtributes to the late matriarchof the Tinubu family wereGovernor Abdulfatah Ahmedof Kwara State, SenatorGbenga Ashafa, Chief SegunOni, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji,Mr. Femi Okunnu, Mr. MuizBanire, Mr. Henry Ajomale,Mr. Rasaq Muse, Joe Igbokwe,Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Okoya ;MallamA l i k oDangote,P r e s i -d e n t ,A l i k oGroup ofC o m -p a n y ;M r .AdemolaS e r i k i ,f o r m e rMinisterof Statefor Inte-rior; Mr.AdeyemiIkuforiji,

BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI & MONSUR

OLOWOOPEJO

THE OBI IKENCHUKWU FOUNDATION, LAGOSPUBLIC NOTICEPUBLIC NOTICE

The above named foundation, based in Lagos State, has applied for registration underPart C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

a. MS. GENEVIEVE NWABIANI IKENCHUKWU b. MISS TITI SANDRA OGUFERE

c. MR. GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE d. MR. JONAH OGUNNIYI OTUNLA

e. MR. CHARLES OFOKANSI ENWONWU f. DR. WALLACE EDAFE OGUFERE

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDATION ARE:1.To promote the welfare of women; protect them against abuse in general and domestic violence inparticular; and increase awareness in women and the general public, of the Incidence of, andprotection against, abuse and domestic violence; especially against women.2.To promote the welfare of young orphans; initiate action and tasks to ensure the efficientprovision to them of qualitative health, education and a good home; and improve upon their welfare.3.To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of women who have suffered domestic violence;young orphans and in particular, the advancement of education and the furtherance of health andwelfare of young orphans.4.To support the nurturing and development of the character of young orphans by promoting andorganizing charitable causes particularly in the areas of moral and religious education and byteaching and advising upon spiritual, intellectual and social values.5.If thought desirable, to found scholarships and exhibitions and to give prizes, donations, grants andawards to deserving women who have suffered domestic violence; and also young orphans and inany other manner, recognize excellence of such persons.6.To promote and organize cooperation in the achievement of the above purposes and to that end tobring together representatives of the statutory authorities and voluntary organizations in Nigeria or anyforeign organization or agency interested or engaged in the furtherance of the above purposes withinthe Federal Republic of Nigeria.7.To provide, endow, furnish and fit out with all necessary furniture and other equipment, and maintainand manage such buildings and other premises as may from time to time be required for the purposesof the foundation: i.e. to reorganize, reconstruct, renovate and equip such buildings or other premiseswhere necessary.Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, CorporateAffairs Commission (C.A.C), Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama,Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Mr. Austyne lyere Ologbosere (Legal Practitioner) Flat 4, Block A1, Karu Courts,Abacha Road, Mararaba, Nasarawa State

Signed: Mr. Austyne lyere Ologbosere (Legal Practitioner) Flat 4, Block A1, Karu Courts,Abacha Road, Mararaba, Nasarawa State


Reps orderarrest of1,652ExpressBank'scustomers

North-East youths huntinsurgents, says Presidency

ABUJA—PRESIDENCY,yesterday, hailed youths

in Adamawa, Borno andYobe states, who were said tobe fully co-operating with se-curity agencies to hunt andhand over insurgents to themilitary.

It said that having carriedout an assessment of the stateof emergency declared byPresident Goodluck Jonathanin the three states, normalcywas gradually returning tothe North-East of the coun-try.

The Presidency, in a state-ment by the Senior SpecialAssistant to the President,Public Affairs, Dr. DoyinOkupe, yesterday, said thatthe National EmergencyManagement Agency andBorno State government hadconfirmed that only 126 Ni-gerians had so far been dis-placed by the operations, not-

ing that the bulk of the refu-gees were Nigeriens.

According to the Presi-dency, this was contrary to areport that 8,000 Nigerianswere fleeing to Niger Re-public as a result of the emer-gency rule.

Youths’ effortThe statement said: “Per-

haps, most gratifying is thenew development where citi-zens, especially youths, arenow fully co-operating withsecurity agencies to huntdown these insurgents andhand them over to the mili-tary.

“Without doubt, theseyouths are the new nationalheroes, who have risen upto the occasion in an unprec-edented patriotic fashion towork together with their gov-ernment by going after theirtormentors.

“This is heart-warmingand clearly indicative of an

awakened consciousness ofcivic responsibility.”

It said that the presidencywas winning the war againstterror and terrorists, addingthat the results had proventhat opposition political lead-ers, who opposed the emer-gency rule and proscriptionof terrorist groups, were ac-tually clueless and blindedby their political pursuits.

The Presidency said: “Onemonth into the state of emer-gency declared by PresidentGoodluck Jonathan in somestates in the North-Easternpart of Nigeria, reports fromBorno, Yobe and Adamawastates are reassuring.

“Normalcy is gradually be-ing restored as a result of thegallant efforts of the ArmedForces, other security agen-cies and the co-operation ofthe local communities.

“Markets are being re-opened, children are return-ing to schools, sacked com-

munities are being re-inhab-ited, while commercial activi-ties in major towns in the af-fected states are approachingpre-insurgency period.

Displaced persons“Also, contrary to a report in

some media that 8,000 Nige-rians were fleeing to NigerRepublic as a result of theemergency rule, NationalEmergency ManagementAgency and Borno State gov-ernment have confirmed thatonly 126 Nigerians have so farbeen displaced by the opera-tions and that the bulk of therefugees referred to in the re-port were Nigeriens returningto Niger.

“It is, therefore, gratifyingthat Nigeria is winning thewar on terror and that the de-cision by President GoodluckJonathan to declare a state ofemergency in these threestates is timely, effective andstrategically unassailable."

BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA—PUBLIC Ac-counts Committee,

PAC, of the House of Rep-resentatives has orderedthe Economic and Finan-cial Crimes Commission,EFCC, to arrest 1,652 Ex-press Bank's customersover N12.293 billion debt.

Vanguard reliably gath-ered that the order, con-tained in a report of thecommittee based on 2003-2009 queries raised bythe office of the Auditor-General of the Federa-tion, was submitted justbefore the House went ona two-week recess lastweek.

The PAC report also in-dicted Nigeria DepositInsurance Corporation,NDIC.

BY EMMANOVUAKPORIE

Reps lobby as Housec'ttees shake up looms

ABUJA—FOLLOWING thelikely shake up in the House

of Representatives committees’leadership, indications emerged,weekend, that those that may bedropped or replaced have startedlobbying to retain their positions.

Some chairmen, who rode on theback of their godfathers to grabjuicy seats, were said to be send-ing emissaries to help them inter-cede.

It was gathered that since theSpeaker, Aminu Tambuwal, madehis speech while marking his sec-ond anniversary, members hadturned his house to a Mecca of sort,as they were not ready to takechances and, therefore, needed as-surances that they would not be af-fected in the imminent shake up.

Sources close to the office of theSpeaker revealed that when the in-flow of members was becoming wor-risome, Tambuwal had to abandonhis house for an unknown abode inAbuja.

Members were said to be con-fused over this situation when theycould not reach the Speaker. Someof the members reportedly sentfriends and associates of theSpeaker to intercede on their be-half.

Leadership of the House discov-ered that out of about 92 commit-tees, including ad-hoc committees,less than 20 were actually perform-ing, while others remained grossly

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EM-MAN OVUAKPORIE

incompetent.Among the committees adjudged to be

performing were the committees on Ap-propriation, Public Petition, Rules andBusiness, Finance, Science and Technol-ogy, Pension, Environment, Media andPublicity, Works, Aviation, Inter-parlia-mentary Relations and a few others.

Since the committees were inauguratedtwo years ago, some of the chairmen havenot held a meeting.

While some committee chairmen re-fused to allow their deputies perform,even when they were indisposed, otherswere said to have gone contrary to theprinciples of the legislative agenda,thereby dragging the name of the Houseinto mud.

However, the Speaker, who alluded tothese facts, assured Nigerians that some-thing had to be done fast and that anyerring committee chairman would besanctioned accordingly.

Tambuwal said that within the next twoyears, meaningful achievements wouldbe made in lawmaking for the purposeof good governance.

The argument was that if the Housecould achieve up to 65 percent with veryfew committees, it means that if 40 to 60committees were working, the Housewould have achieved its targets withintwo years in office.

Some members were even inquiringfrom journalists about the possiblechanges and soliciting for support, whileothers did meet very powerful members,who could help them talk to the Speaker,so they would not be affected.

Others, it was gathered, were strug-gling to get placements in more juicycommittees.


12 new NIC judges unqualified — TUC...calls for investigation

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

LAGOS — TRADE UnionCongress of Nigeria,

TUC, weekend, rejected the 12new judges for the NationalIndustrial Court, NIC, claim-ing they are not qualified tobe appointed judges of NIC,going by the Act setting up thecourt.

In a petition to the Presidentof NIC, TUC called for full in-vestigation into the appoint-ment of the judges, to ascer-tain why individuals, who didnot meet the requirementsspelt out for the appointmentof NIC judges were appointed.

TUC argued that all the new12 judges of NIC did not meetthe required qualifications

under Section 2 of the NationalIndustrial Court Act of 2006,which provides for the ap-pointment of legal practition-ers for the court.

TUC in the petition by itsPresident-General, Mr. PeterEsele, said it had confirmedthat none of the new judges ofNIC met the requirement ofthe law and therefore, werenot qualified.

The petition copied to Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan, read:“Sequel to the recommendationof NIC to President GoodluckJonathan on the appointment of12 new judges for NIC in May,2013 and to our utter dismay,the 12 new judges are not quali-fied under Section 2 of the Na-tional Industrial Court Act of2006, which provides for the ap-

pointment of legal practitionersof not less than 10 years stand-ing with ‘considerable knowl-edge and experience in the lawand practice of industrial rela-tions and employment condi-tions in Nigeria” or a graduateof recognised university of notless than 10 years standing andhas “considerable knowledgeand experience in the law andpractice of industrial relationsand employment conditions inNigeria."

Maku defends FG’s N6.2bn 'Internetspy contract’ to Israeli firm

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

LAGOS — FOLLOWINGthe outcry over the Fed-

eral Government’s plan tocontract the services of ElbitSystems, an Israeli firm to spyon Nigerian Internet users,Minister of Information, Mr.Labaran Maku, has defendedgovernment’s action, arguingthat the move was in the bestinterest of the country.

Speaking on the contract, atthe Democracy Audit organ-ised by the Save NigeriaGroup, SNG, in Lagos to markJune 12, Maku argued thatthere is nowhere in the worldwhere e-mails are not moni-tored by government.

At the 14 years DemocracyAudit, convener of SNG, Dr.Tunde Bakare, spoke on, 'FromHope ‘93 to 2013: How FarHas Democracy Brought Ni-geria?' noting that since thehistoric June 12, 1993 election,Nigeria had remained impov-erished and the problems lateMKO Abiola promised totackle remain unsolved.

While Maku said that theFederal Government was mak-ing progress in the areas ofpower supply by commencingthe building of 10 powerplants; stopping fertiliserracketeering to boost agricul-

ture; delivering 32 roads in2012; saved N118 billion fromghost workers, among others,majority of those at the event,hissed in disagreement.

Maku cited power, agricul-ture, education and transpor-tation as major areas, Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan’s ad-

ministration had fared well,two years into office.

Defending the Internet spy-ing project, he said: “Every-where in the world, e-mailsare seen by government. Even,the world super-power,America, spies on citizens'mails to checkmate the activi-

ties of unscrupulous elementscapable of threatening its in-ternal security.

"There’s no government allover the world that is uninter-ested in what comes in andgoes out of its territorialboundaries.”

LASIECdelineateswards,createsadditionalpolling units

BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI

LAGOS — CHAIR-MAN of Lagos State

Independent ElectoralCommission, JusticeAbdul Adeyinka (rtd),has explained that thecommission embarked onthe delineation of wardsand creation of addi-tional polling units in thestate, “to give the peoplea new sense of belong-ing.

"This is with a view toensuring more effectiveparticipation of people atthe grassroots in theelectoral process in thestate.”

Adeyinka, speaking atan interactive forum withstakeholders on the de-lineation of wards andcreation of additionalpolling units, at Ibeju-Lekki Local GovernmentArea of the state, said:“Two new wards and 84polling units were recom-mended for Ibeju-Lekkicouncil while three newwards and 55 pollingunits were recom-mended for Lekki LocalCouncil DevelopmentArea.”

LAGOS — NIGE-RIAN fathers have

been advised to wake upfrom their slumber andembrace their responsi-bilities as key players athome and the country atlarge.

Speaking during theFather’s Day celebrationin Lagos, the Vicar of St.Barnabas Church, Dio-cese of Lagos, AnglicanCommunion, Ven. AndyIheagwam, in his ser-mon: 'The Role of a Fa-ther in Church, Familyand Society,' said theaims and objectives ofthe country’s foundingfathers can only beachieved when indi-vidual fathers live up totheir various responsi-bilities as heads of fami-lies, not leaving same totheir wives.

Wake up fromslumber,cleric tellsfathers

BY OLAYINKA LATO-NA

UNESCO, UNNhold Science Fairand Experiments

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

THE UNIVER-SITY of Ni-

geria, Nsukka,UNN, in collabora-tion with UnitedNations Educa-tional, Scientificand Cultural Or-g a n i s a t i o n ,UNESCO, and In-ternational Unionof Pure and Ap-plied Chemistry,IUPAC, will host athree-legged Sci-ence Fair and Ex-periments for un-dergraduates andsecondary schoolstudents on themost recent ad-vances in methodsof teaching andlearning science.

The fair, whichholds from today,through June 22,with about 1,200students and 85teachers from sec-ondary schools asparticipants, willfeature a micro-sci-ence and globalwater experiment,mobile learning sci-ence workshop aswell as engineer-ing without bordersscience outreachtraining.


BY DAYO JOHNSON

ACN faults Fayose’s assassinationattempt claim

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

NURTWwarnsmembersagainstviolence

Says police must invite him

Obasanjo, Daniel’s feud cost us last guberpolls —Ogun West

ADO EKITI—ACTIONCongress of Nigeria,

ACN, has raised a poser overthe claim by the former gover-nor of the state,Mr. Ayo Fay-ose that his vehicle was at-tacked last week by a group ofsuspected political thugs alongAdo Ekiti -Afao Road.

The party also called on Eki-ti State police command to in-vite the former governor to ex-plain the veracity or otherwiseof his claim

The former governor, througha press statement by his cam-paign organisation gave detailof how the alleged attack wascarried out.

The ACN, however, faultedFayose’s claim, describing it assuspicious. The party main-tained that the present admin-istration in the state had in-vested hugely in security,thereby making the state oneof the safest in the country. Ittherefore called on the policeauthorities in the state to in-vite Mr. Fayose to substanti-ate the assassination claimswith a view to allowing themcarry out a proper investiga-tion into the matter.

The party in a statementsigned by its Publicity Secre-tary, Mr. Tunde Adeleke, won-dered why Fayose did not re-port the alleged attack to thepolice authorities in the state,

Teachers strike: NUT, Ekiti govt meeting deadlocked

ADO EKITI—AS the meet-ing of the Nigeria Union

of Teachers, NUT and EkitiState Government over thepayment of 27.5 per cent pe-culiar allowance was at theweekend deadlocked, thestate government has appealedto the striking workers to calloff their two weeks old indus-trial action.

Vanguard gathered that thestate government’s series ofmeetings with the leadershipof the union in the state with aview to resolving the ongoingindustrial action was to noavail until the governmentsought the intervention of thenational president of the un-ion, Chief Michael Olukoya.

The meeting presided overby the state governor, Dr. Kay-ode Fayemi could not achieveits desired result, as the stategovernment was said to haveoffered the teachers 15 percent professional allowancepledging to pay the remaining12.5 per cent when the financ-es of the state government im-proved

Olukoya was said to haveinsisted that the union was notready to shift ground on its

ABEOKUTA—LEADERSin Yewa-Awori in Ogun

West Senatorial District inOgun State, have lamentedhow the feud between formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjoand erstwhile governor of thestate, Otunba Gbenga Danielduring the last year generalelection cost them the covetedgovernorship seat.

Speaking at a colloquiumon 2015 political agenda inAbeokuta last Sunday, Chair-man of the forum, Dapo Okewho led other people includ-ing former commissioners forworks and agriculture, Lai Tai-wo and Tunji Akinosi disclosedthat, the region would come upwith a consensus candidate toface the incumbent governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun in thecoming 2015 governorship elec-tion in the state.

AKURE—THE Na-tional Secretariat of

the National Union ofRoad Transport Workers,NURTW, weekend,warned state chapters ofthe union against bicker-ing that may disruptpeace in the states.

Speaking in an inter-view with Vanguard, theGeneral Secretary of theUnion, Mr. ClementWetkur, said in Akurethat the present nationalexecutive of the unionwould not tolerate vio-lence associated withchange of leadership ofthe union at state level.

Wetkur was reacting toa threat by a faction in theOndo State chapter of theunion called PeaceMovement, that if thenational executive of theunion fails to dissolve thestate chapter there wouldbe blood letting and vio-lence in the state.

Disowning the faction,the national officer saidthe union took exceptionto such “ irresponsiblestatement from the factionand would take appropri-ate disciplinary action.

AKURE—THE 18 new com-missioners confirmed by

the Ondo state House of Assem-bly will be sworn in today byGovernor Olusegun Mimiko.

The ceremony is billed to com-mence by 11am at the Ba-bafunke Ajasin Hall, IgbatoroRoad, Akure. The state Houseof Assembly last Thursday con-

IBADAN—A notablechieftain of the Peo-

ples Democratic Party,PDP, in Oyo State, Sena-tor Lekan Balogun hassaid the coming togetherof the two ex-governorsin the state, SenatorRashidi Ladoja andOtunba Adebayo Alao-Akala will plunge theminto political irrel-evance.

He described as graveerror for both former gov-ernors to have failed tomake due consultationbefore engaging in ‘mar-riage of convenience’.

Balogun said: “Alao-Akala failed to consultwith those who workedfor him during the im-peachment that pavedway for him to be theGovernor in his first 11months, while Ladojadid not deem it fit toseek the opinion of thosewho stood by him.

instead of going to the press.“One would have thought

that the most reasonablething to do would be for Fay-ose to report the alleged at-tack to the police for neces-sary investigation. The Policeauthorities in the state havesaid it was not aware of any

attack since no report wasmade. We therefore urge the po-lice to invite the former gover-nor to substantiate the claim inorder to help them carry out aproper investigation,” the state-ment said.

The ACN added that a thor-ough investigation into the

claim becomes even more im-perative giving the fact thatthe present administrationtakes the security of life andproperty of every citizen se-riously, a development whichit said had reduced violenceand insecurity in the state tothe barest minimum.

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

AWARD: Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, receiving the VocationalExcellence Award from Rot. Kamoru Omotosho, District Governor on behalf of Mr. SamAmuka, Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, during the Rotary InternationalDistrict 9110, Distinguished Award for Service to Humanity, at Ikeja, Lagos, Photo: BunmiAzeez

request, more so, when thepresent Action Congress ofNigeria, ACN-led govern-ment used to pay the allow-

ance to the teachers for abouteight consecutive years.

Meanwhile ,the state govern-ment has pleaded with the strik-

ing teachers in the state tocall off the strike in the inter-est of the state.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI Obasanjo and Daniel who werefrom the same Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, locked horns over can-didates for the governorship of theparty in 2011 election leading tothe loss to Action Congress of Ni-geria, ACN, candidate SenatorIbikunle Amosun.

According to Oke, apart fromthe feud between former Presi-dent Obasanjo and ex-gover-nor Daniel which cost us thegovernorship seat in the 2011election, Ogun West is not po-litically organised and as such,it has leadership issues to re-solve.

Mimiko to swear in 18 newcommissioners today

BY DAYO JOHNSON firmed the appointment of thecommissioner nominees sentby Governor Mimiko.

The Speaker, Mr. SamuelAdesina, who presided overthe plenary said the House’sdecision on the confirmationof the nominees was unani-mous, sequel to their approv-al by the screening commit-tee of the House

BY OLA AJAYI

PDP chieftaincondemnsLadoja, Akalaalliance

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013 — 11

Govs go begging for revenue allocation—Uduaghan

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

Police pensioners task Okiro on pension funds

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Flooding: UN pledges assistance to Bayelsa, others

BENIN—SOME communities in the three

oil producing local govern-ment areas of Edo State,have commended the Ni-ger Delta DevelopmentCommission, NDDC, forameliorating their hardshipthrough the provision of in-frastructure.

They spoke during theinspection of on-goingprojects in the oil produc-ing councils of the state bythe state Commissioner forNDDC, Mr. HenryOkhuarobo and the EdoState Commissioner for Oiland Gas Ministry, Mr. Oro-bosa Omo-Ojo.

The projects inspectedinclude the N1.3 billionMedical Hostel at the Uni-versity of Benin, whichwhen completed will ac-commodate over 800 stu-dents, among others.

Spokesman for OfunamaIjaw community in OviaSouth- West Local Govern-ment Area, Mr. Don Bas, com-mended the commission for theconstruction of Udo – OfunamaRoad, which he said had broughta lot of relief to the Ijaws living inthe riverine areas of the state.

BENIN CITY—RETIREDpolice officers in the coun-

try have commended the ap-pointment of former InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mike Oki-ro, as the new chairman of PoliceService Commission and chargedhim to prevail on the National As-sembly to amend the NationalPension Commission Act 2004, soas to ameliorate the sufferings ofpolice pensioners.

President General of EldersClub of Nigeria, PENCOM re-tired Police Officers, Dr. MosesAjeka, who lamented the plightof police pensioners in the coun-try, during the inauguration of theEdo State chapter of the associa-tion in Benin City, weekend, saidpolice retirees are in the dark onwhat accrued to them from their

UGHELLI—COMMISSIONER repre-

senting Ughelli South,Udu and Uvwie Local Gov-ernment Area on the boardof Delta State Oil Produc-ing Areas DevelopmentCommission, DESOPA-DEC, Mr. Festus Utuama,has restated the commit-ment of the board to thewelfare and training of itsworkers.

Utuama, spoke whenworkers at the UghelliSouth area office of thecommission hosted him atOtu-Jeremi, urged theworkers to remain dedicat-ed to their duties, addingthat the commission wasdesirous to deliver on itsmandate of developing oilbearing communities inthe state.

Thanking them for host-ing him, he said the eventwas a show of love for himand his office, adding thatthe relationship betweenthe workers in the area of-fices of the commissionerswas cordial, promising hattheir demands would belooked into.

BY FESTUS AHON

DESOPADECcommitted toworkers’welfare—Utuama

YENAGOA—AS anxietymounts over the predict-

ed heavy rains this year withthe possibility of flooding inpart of the of the country, theUnited Nations, weekendpledged to provide technicalassistance to Bayelsa Stateand other states to mitigate

ASABA——DELTA Stategovernor, Dr. Emmanuel

Uduaghan, has reiterated theneed to revisit the issue of fiscalfederalism in the country, notingthat it was absurd that state gov-ernors, each time, virtually go ontheir knees, begging for theirshare of revenue allocation duetheir respective states in Abuja.

Soveriegn Wealth Fund

He equally faulted the manage-ment of the Sovereign WealthFund and suggested that statesshould be allowed to decide whatthey want to save and do withtheir savings in that direction sincethey are not appendages of theFederal Government.

Uduaghan spoke, weekend, inAsaba at a lecture to mark the 2ndanniversary of the fifth Assemblyof Delta State House of Assembly,tagged ‘Legislative Issues in Fis-cal Federalism in Nigeria.’

He said: “This is an issue that isdear to everybody in Nigeria.Sometimes, people say the man(Uduaghan) lives in Abuja andthat he goes to Abuja every day.Well, it is not that I love flying,thank God we have an airportnow. You know before, we used todrive to Benin for about one andhalf hours to take a flight to Abu-ja. It is because if you don’t go toAbuja, your state will not get itsdue. You virtually have to be onyour knees to get what is due toyour state.

“That would not happen if weare practising fiscal federalism butbecause we are not practising it,the states have to go to Abuja,struggle and beg for what is dueto them. I am sure many of youknow my thought on the issue offiscal federalism especially assomebody from the oil producingarea.

Not against SWF

“We are also not against Sov-ereign Wealth Fund, what weare against is the way and man-ner the fund is being managed.States should be allowed to de-cide what to save and what todo with their savings.”

Wants VAT law reviewed

Uduaghan also called for theimmediate review of the ValueAdded Tax, VAT law to enableeach state government collectVAT in their locality and remitan agreed percentage to theFederal Government.

He pointed out that it wasunfair that “we collect VAT onalcohol in Delta State and themoney is being shared to somestates in the North where alco-hol is prohibited. This is not ac-ceptable.”

BY GABRIEL ENOGHO-LASE

Communitieshail NDDC oninfrastructure

Faults management of Soveriegn Wealth Fund

Ekweremadu speaks

Also speaking on the occasion,Deputy President of the Senate,Senator Ike Ekweremadu, saidthat “unfortunately, while fiscalfederalism and enhanced re-source control have become a re-occurring decimal in the Con-stitution amendment processsince 1999, they have failed togarner the requisite support toscale through due to embeddedfears. But the fear of resourcecontrol is unfounded. Fiscal fed-eralism goes hand-in-hand withthe prosperity of every federalstate. Therefore, a paradigmshift is long overdue.

States mineralresources

“Instructively, every state ofthe federation, without excep-

tion, has more than enough tobe self reliant and economicallybuoyant. An analysis of mineralresources available in each statein commercial quantities showsthat Abia State has 19. The restare Adamawa – 13, Akwa Ibom –11, Anambra – 8, Bauchi – 35,Bayelsa - 4, Benue – 32, Borno –23, Cross River – 28, Delta 12,Ebonyi – 8, Edo – 11, Ekiti – 13,Imo – 8, Jigawa – 10, Kaduna –13, Kano – 20, Katsina – 23, Keb-bi – 10, Koji – 14, Kwara – 12,Lagos – 6, Nasarawa – 15, Niger– 17, Ogun – 11, Ondo – 6 Osun– 10 and Oyo – 13.

“Others are Plateau – 16, Riv-ers – 5, Sokoto – 10, Enugu – 11,FCT – 10, Gombe – 11, Taraba –18, Yobe – 15 and Zamfara – 8.

These do not include our richfarmlands and tourism potentials.Unfortunately, everything liesdormant in preference to freemoney.”

contributory pension schemeafter 35 years of service.

He expressed joy, however,that the appointment of Okiroas chairman of PSC may be thesolution to “our problem becausehe is an officer that understandsthe issues.” He added that theElders Club, which came intobeing in October 2010 is an um-

brella body of retirees, aimed atcorrecting the problems confront-ing retired police officers in thecountry.

He said: “We are the owners ofthis money. It should be givenback to us. We don’t even knowhow our money is administered;nobody knows how the money isbeing used. At the end of the

month, they only give you what-ever they like.

“Also, while in service, we con-tributed towards the NationalHealth Scheme. We are beingdenied the benefits now becausewe have retired. Having servedour fatherland for 35 years, weare supposed to be given what isdue to us till death.”

the likely impact of the im-pending flood and other relat-ed environmental issues.

United Nations Under Secre-tary-General for HumanitarianAffairs and Emergency ReliefCoordinator, Valerie Amos, gavethe promise in Yenagoa, while ona two-day working visit to inspectthe effects of the 2012 flood in

parts of the state.The UN Under Secretary in an

interview, said that the duty ofher office was not to provide anymajor engineering projects butto help identify what could bedone to help prepare the coun-try, state and people for whatwould come after.

LAUNCHING: From left: Director, Business Segments, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Lucas Dada;Nigerian Rap/Hip-hop Artiste, JJC and Chief Marketing Officer, Spinlet, Mr. Mark Red-guard at the Etisalat Spinlet Music App launch concert in Lagos.


From left: Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of Action Congress ofNigeria, ACN; Dame Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State, and Senator OluremiTinubu, during the seventh edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District TownHall meet-ing by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, entitled, 'Making the Sacrifice for Development,' inLagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

NASS insists on abolition ofjoint state, LGA account— Senator Ogbuoji

BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI — VICE Chairman, Sen-ate Committee on Appropriation, Sena-

tor Sonni Ogbuoji, weekend, asserted thatthe National Assembly was still working as-siduously to abolish Joint State and LocalGovernment Account, JAC, system in thecountry.

Ogbuoji, who stated this while fieldingquestions from journalists at a media forumorganised by Ebobyi State council of NigeriaUnion of Journalists, NUJ, in Abakaliki, re-vealed that the idea behind the abolition wasto ensure financial autonomy to all the localgovernment areas in the country.

He argued that the Joint State and LocalGovernment Account, JAC, system had overthe years created financial imbalance in boththe receipt and expenditure of federal allo-cations meant for local government adminis-tration in the country and also hampered theoperation of LGAs as the third tiers of gov-ernment.

Ogbuoji, who represents Ebonyi SouthSenatorial District in the National Assembly,wondered why some governors were stillopposed to the idea.

He charged them not to be jittery over thedecision of the Senate to ensure local gov-ernment councils got financial autonomy.

According to him, the initiative will notonly ensure even development across theLGAs, but also strengthen the need for pub-lic officers within the local government ad-ministration system to be fully accountablefor resources accruable to them from the Fed-eration Account.

He said: “The position of the Senate is thatthere should be financial autonomy to the lo-cal government areas.

“The Senate wants to abolish the joint stateand local government account because theysee it as getting the local government tiedto the apron strings of the state and makingit very difficult for local governments to op-erate freely.”

Anambra marketinferno: Rep wantsNEMA, SEMA toassist victims

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — FOLLOWING themidnight fire that gutted

Ekwulobia Main Market in AguataLocal Government Area of AnambraState and property worth millions ofnaira destroyed, the member represent-ing Aguata Federal Constituency in theHouse of Representatives, Mrs.Eucharia Azodo, has solicited the as-sistance of National Emergency Man-agement Agency, NEMA, and StateEmergency Management Agency,SEMA, to enable the victims start theirbusinesses again.

About 100 traders were affected bythe fire which completely destroyed theelectronics section of the market andsome nearby houses.

Addressing the victims at the burntmarket, weekend, Azodo observed thatthe affected traders had lost all theirlife savings and, therefore, needed life-line to enable them continue their busi-nesses.

Azodo also said she would sponsor amotion under matters of urgent publicimportance at the National Assemblyfor possible Federal Governmentassistance because of the level ofdestruction. and to ensure that NEMAintervened without unnecessary delay,in view of the hardship being faced bythe victims.

Sign deathwarrants,Jonathanurges govs

BY BEN AGANDE

A BUJA—P R E S IDENT Goodluck

Jonathan has called onstate governors not to shyaway from signing deathsentences passed on con-victed criminals saying thatas leaders, their responsi-bilities include doing boththe “sweet and the uglypart” a long as it was sanc-tioned by law.

In a message at the VillaChapel to commemoratethe Fathers’ day celebra-tion, President Jonathanexpressed worry that disci-pline which used to be thehallmark of the family wasgradually being erodedbecause of negative influ-ence of modernism.

He said: “These days,because of modern life, dis-cipline is almost gone. Dis-cipline can be in variousforms. It can be throughadmonition. A magistratecan just admonish and al-low the accused to go. Theextreme form of punish-ment is capital punish-ment.

“In the case of capitalpunishment, the state gov-ernors will sign the deathsentence. Some governorssometimes find it difficult tosign the death sentences. Ihave been telling the gov-ernors that they must signbecause that is the law. Thework we are doing has avery sweet part and a veryugly part and we must per-form both. No matter howpainful it is, it is part of theirresponsibilities.”

The president said fatherswere expected to be rolemodels, noting that chil-dren would want to be liketheir fathers. He said fa-thers must not fail to disci-pline their children whennecessary.

He added: “I want tourge all of us who are fa-thers to discipline our chil-dren. No matter what youdo, even if you show loveand provide the needs ofthe family, if you don’t dis-cipline your children, it isnot good. So for us as par-ents, it is important for usto let our children constant-ly know that it is good totake the right path. It is goodfor them to know that theymust be upright.”

Earlier in his sermon, thePresident of the Church ofChrist in Nigeria, Rev. SojaBewarang, said if Nigeriamust move forward, thoseworking with the Presidentmust refrain from stealingpublic funds and must behonest."


CMYK


ISLAMIC BURIAL RITES FOR LATE ALHAJA ABIBAT MOGAJI

From left: Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Gov.Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Chief Bisi Akade, National Chairman ACN; Asiwaju BolaTinubu; Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; OtunbaHenry Ajomale, Chairman ACN, Lagos State; and Chief Tom Ikimi, ACN Chieftain, at theburial of Late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria and mother of AsiwajuBola Ahmed Tinubu. Pix: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor, Lamidi Bamidele and Bunmi Azeez.

From left: Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Former Commonwealth Secretary Gen-eral; Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Gov. Adams Oshiomhole ofEdo State.

From left: Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, Deputy Governor of Osun State; AlhajaFatima Tinubu; and Mrs. Funso Amosun, First Lady of Ogun State.

From left: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; and AremoOlusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State.From left: Chief Demola Seriki, former Minister of State for Defence; Chief

Rasak Okoya; Justice George Oguntade (rtd) and Alhaji Alaba Oniru,Borokini Adinni of Lagos.

From left: Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Abou, Baba Adinni of La-gos; Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State;and Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives.

From left: Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly; FemiGbajabiamila, Minority Leader, House of Representatives; Alhaji LaiMuhammed, Publicity Secretary, ACN; Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House ofRepresentatives; and Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, Member, House of Representa-tives.

From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and Senator AjimobiAbiola, Governor of Oyo State .

CMYK


CMYK

OPINION

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Mr. Nyong, a journalist, wrote from Uyo,Akwa Ibom State.

BY TONY NYONG Etete Peters: A template foradministrative excellenceRIGHT from the advent of Prof. Etete

Peters’ administration as the ChiefMedical Director of the University of UyoTeaching Hospital, media reports on theinstitution have taken multifariousdimensions. His leadership model has notonly saturated the airwaves, but also filledvolumes of newspapers and magazines.The different shades of media opinion onthe development strides of Etete Peters arecorrect; the Chief Medical Director hassired sterling and tangible developmentprogrammes in the only Federal healthinstitution in Akwa Ibom State, and themoving spirit behind the great revolutionis only but a reference point to futureadministrators and succeedinggenerations.The whole of what represents the Universityof Uyo Teaching Hospital has been dottedwith arresting architectural magnum-opuswith all aspects of underdevelopmentconquered, and the civil service itself re-invigorated in a most unprecedentedmanner.The list of projects undertaken by Peters areso phenomenal, the infrastructuraldevelopment spell-binding, while the wholeof the institution has been dotted witharteries of roads. The staff now have a future,and exude the kind of self-confidence thatwas always lacking in public institutionswhen people used to feel that their job wasnot secured because such institutions couldfold up at anytime due to poor management.Life has been injected into the healthcare;

the patients now smile to the hospital, andback home thrilled by the kind of servicesand treatments they receive in the hospital,courtesy of this single individual who hastransformed the place to a one-stophealthcare provider.The recent visit of the Minister of State forHealth, Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate, for aforum on prevention of mother to childtransmission of HIV and AIDS providedan auspicious opportunity for publicappraisal of the enigmatic personality ofProf. Peters, defineable at the levels ofadministrative sagacity, intellectualcandour, characteristic leadership, socialengineering and the progressive tilt thatseems to grace his credentials.Dr. Ali Pate said after inspecting theachievements in the teaching hospital, thatgovernment can save more than 500 livesby paying more attention to the expansionof health services and also, that the countryshould not apply theoretical solution topractical things as proper information iskey to knowledge.But despite the giant strides of this medicalicon, one of the challenges confronting thehospital is inadequate funding. Accordingto an anonymous staff : "If the hospital iswell funded, it will go a long way to assistthe hospital acquire more moderndiagnostic equipment which will drastically

reduce the exodus of elite to foreign nationsfor medical care, and improve the qualityof health care provided to patients.Prof. Peters, a trained medical doctor,astute administrator, and a statesman wasborn in Ikot Ekpaw, in Mkpat Enin LocalGovernment Area of Akwa Ibom State to ahumble family. Although, he grew up inthis unknown part of the world butgradually he crept into the world of thefamous.

It is safe to assume thathundreds of millions of the nation’s

budget is appropriated to the health sector;on average half of such budget provisionsreleased to the health institutions are lostto the elite through excessive greed inappropriation of the national resources tothemselves. This simple assumptionconsiders that, firstly, it took years ofunpatriotic administrations for the healthinstitutions to decay to their pitiable levels,and two that accessibility to quality serviceswere largely dependent on the patrioticinstincts of the administrators of theinstitutions. Yet, in the case of Peters, thereis no doubt that he belongs to the new andemerging brigade of Nigerians who are notafraid to enthrone young and brilliantpeople at the apogee of classical leadershiparound the world.

The University Teaching Hospital in theperiod of its existence has an overlappinghistory of a list of Chief Medical Directorswho would be remembered differently. Theresult of their comparative analysis is thatthe contributions and achievements of theyoung Prof. Peters is 12 times larger. Thestaff have also spoken, and their rating isnot different. With goodwill, none of themamounts to discrimination, let alonepersecution. For his colleagues, it is not howsuccessful, but how effectively successful iswhat ranks the Peters’ administration thehighest.Some of the outstanding achievementsrecorded again by the administration ofProf. Peters is the installation of a Toshiba16 multi slice C- T Scanner in the RadiologyDepartment, putting the UniversityTeaching Hospital in the league of centrespossessing the technology wonder toolexpected to redefine and reshape medicaldiagnosis in this part of the country.The commissioning of the Diana-AbasiOrthopedic Theatre by the Akwa Ibom StateGovernor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, isanother plus. The Governor during the visitfound out that Peters’ achievements wereawesome by almost any other standard.Considered a reformer, it was again likehis predecessors only managed modesttweaks based on the biggest overhaul theTeaching Hospital, under Peters, hasundergone. He seems to have been uniquelylicenced to harangue the staff on the detailsof delivery.

FOUR days ago, Minister of Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gave federal agenciesthat withheld N58 billion from theConsolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, up tilltoday to remit the funds. She did not name theagencies or warn of possible punishment fornon-compliance.

Even if the money is recovered, the Ministerknows she has performed miserably in thisinstance. What is the purpose of the exercise?Is it enough to recover money that was stolenfrom the CRF account? Does she realise thatshe could be dealing with a wider spreadpractice?

“We have identified about N58 billion of suchmonies which rightfully belongs in the CRF. Thisunwholesome practice has persisted despite theefforts of the Office of the Accountant Generalof the Federation, OAGF, to encourage theagencies and the affected banks to do the rightthing,” she said. “The objective of thisconspiracy against the national interest is clear:to keep government monies indefinitely inaccounts earning interest for individuals.”

· If N58 billion was discovered whichagencies were involved?

· Which banks colluded with them?· Should the Minister not have them?

No Naming, NoNo Naming, NoNo Naming, NoNo Naming, NoNo Naming, NoShamingShamingShamingShamingShaming

· Is the Minister protecting the banks andagencies?

· Would not naming them serve the public’sinterest?

· Is it no longer a crime to divert moneyallocated to a certain purpose?

· Who has been earning the interest thataccrued to the money?

· Would the money be recovered withinterest?

· How long has this been going on?· Could other agencies have been

involved?· Why does the Minister beg agencies to

comply with the law instead of enforcing it?· What punishment awaits the fraudsters?

· How would fraudsters in governmentbe deterred when they are not punished?

The threat to close accounts of the agenciesinvolved, in all banks, is not a punishment.They probably have other accounts theinvestigation did not uncover. An accountsclosure would only hurt activities of theagencies and the public, definitely not the fatcats.

It is a shame that government agencies haveso much money that all the officials thinkabout is how to keep the money forthemselves. The Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, the NationalAssembly, and all those who have oversightfunctions over these agencies have failed. Ifthey had stringent measures for protectingpublic funds, these perennial scams wouldhave been stopped over the years.

Nigerians would want the agencies, theirofficials and the banks that engaged in thefraud named and the appropriate lawenforcement engaged to prosecute them forthe crime. Any other approach would denyNigerians, whose funds they were fiddlingwith, justice and the suspects theiropportunity to explain how they set outdecisively against the law.

CMYK


CMYK


OPINIONBY NATHANIEL ABARA

*Mr. Abara, an economic expert, wrote from Lagos.

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Continues tomorrow on pg 18

Constitutional role for Civil society-mediaorganisationsAS we jostle with other top nations in the global

marathon, 2013 presents Nigeria an unprecedentedopportunity to create a “fourth estate”, a new arm ofgovernment, and the cornerstone of civil societyorganizations (CSOs) inclusive of the independentmedia. The Transformation Agenda demands aTransformation Constitution which incorporates a rolefor CSOs and creates a governance quadrangle, a newpartnership embracing the existing legislature, theexecutive, the judiciary and a new “house of civilsociety”, to be called The Council of Civil Society(CCS). This “bridge house” between the governmentand CSOs, is the house of solidarity for Nigerians.

The CCS will operate at all tiers of government. CCSmembers will not compete with elected representatives.Rather, the CCS will complement the legislature andthe executive, playing an advisory role, contributingcivil society perspectives to issues and mobilising socialorganisations and citizens to fully support government.This model views citizens as partners, not subjects tobe ruled – the dependency or ”feeding bottle”approach. We propose that the council should work infour interest-based groups, namely, the media, whichis also embedded in the women, youth, and otherinterests group. Once a year, each legislature willdeliver to its CCS “A State of the People Address” tooutline how legislative work impacts the people theyrepresent.

Calls abound for strong institutions. Many concernedNigerians call on citizens to participate actively inpublic affairs. They remind citizens that governmentalone cannot address the challenges facing thecountry. But an ordinary individual does not influencethe almighty government, anywhere. All over theworld, citizens reach big governments through theirCSOs. For Nigerian citizens to play active part in theaffairs of the nation, the role of our civil organizationsrequires constitutional recognition. This recognitionis the single most effective and efficient way to committhe close to 1,700 branches of government at all tiersto join hands with organized civil society to tap intothe energy of participatory democracy. This solutionmay appear radical. But as Albert Einstein said, ”wecannot solve the problems that we have created withthe same thinking that created them.” We thereforeneed to seriously reconsider our continued adoptionof the three arms model of governance.

The new Council will complement the legislature toexercise oversight in Ministries, Departments andAgencies (MDAs), especially in budgetimplementation and projects monitoring. Thelegislature will therefore have more time for its primaryduty of making and changing laws. The CCS will act

as “watch and work dog”, compelling the civil serviceto sit up and mobilizing CSOs and citizens toparticipate in social service delivery.

At the grassroots, we recommend that the CCSmechanism anchors the proposed financial andadministrative autonomy for local governments.Accordingly, the 774 local CCSs will work with theirrespective elected chairmen, their deputies, thesupervisory councilors and the local bureaucracies toexecute social contracts for the people. Funding foreducation and health services should be a first chargeon the allocations and revenues of each localgovernment. The nation would thereby avoid the hugerisks of simply allowing the local governments to collecttheir allocations directly without an appropriateframework for revenue and expenditure transparencyand holding the local tier accountable.

Evidence dating back to about 6,000 years showsthat transparency assumes precedence in anysuccessful creative and development endeavour. Therewas the first biblical declaration at creation “Let therebe light: and there was light.”

IT is a long-established fact that thoseat the helm of affairs in Nigeria are

simply incapable of learning the lessonsof both recent and distant history of ourcountry. It is said that those who fail tolearn from history are condemned torepeat its mistakes. It is because of thisthat we run around in circles rather thanmake progress in a linear trajectory.

If our politicians were sensitive to thebasic political impulse of Nigerians, theywould have known by now that as far asthe question of tenure of office isconcerned, our people have longdeveloped a locked mindset towards anyattempt to tamper with it. We say no,whether you are talking of tenureelongation or tenure truncation. In otherwords, the issue of tenure for electedpublic office holders as enshrined in theConstitution of the Federal Republic ofNigeria 1999, which provides for amaximum of two four-year terms, is asettled matter.

The last thing a Nigerian wants to hearis “tenure elongation”, whether it comesin form of ex-President OlusegunObasanjo’s “third term” or PresidentGoodluck Jonathan’s six-year single termadded to his ongoing four years.

It baffled me that the SenateCommittee on Constitution Amendmentled by the Deputy President of theSenate, Ike Ekweremadu, proceeded toinclude the issue of tenure in its recentlyconcluded exercise. We are all livingwitnesses to the fact that tenure mattersalone derailed the entire ConstitutionAmendment Bill of 2006. PresidentObasanjo, by puckishly inserting anextra term of office for himself andgovernors, made it impossible for otheragreed items for amendment, including

Leave tenure matters alone

an extra state for the South East Zone,to become constitutional enactments.

We also remember very vividly, thatPresident Jonathan quickly exhaustedhis goodwill and started his journey intothe hot soup of public criticism when hehinted that he would send a Bill foramendment of the constitutionrestricting elected chief executives(president and governors) to a singleterm of six years each. It was, therefore,a thing of considerable surprise (andtypical double standards of politicians)

when Ekweremadu’s committee cameout with this six-year single term andreceived a scathing rejection of it fromthe same presidency that had proposedit. The reason was obvious:

Ekweremadu’s committee had, rathernaively (if not childishly) asked thepresident and first term governors tograciously and voluntarily forgo theirsecond term “as a national sacrifice” andallow the six-year to start in 2015!Ekweremadu and his group did not tellus what “national sacrifices” they wereprepared to make to set an example forthe president and first term governorsto follow. Sacrifice is a noble idea,provided the person calling for it is notthe one to make it for others to enjoy!

And the Presidency, by rejecting it,exposed the ulterior motive behindGEJ’s original proposition of the idea:he obviously intended to benefit from itsince he did not specify that it shouldstart from 2019.

I am totally opposed to single terms,whether it is four, six or ten years.Equally, I am obdurately against makinga law to truncate the political rights ofanyone or add through impunity, to thetwo-term tenure entitlement. I believein the maxim that says: “one good termdeserves another”.

Most presidents and governors work

very hard during their first term and usethe second term to arrange a gracefulexit. Either way, they are forced to, asmuch as possible, balance the scales andreach as many of the political interestsor stakeholders in the polity as possible.One term will encourage dictatorship orvengeance. Once a leader with an axeto grind is elected he simply uses hissix years to do his worst knowing he willnot go back to the people for renewal ofmandate.

People often bemoan the “secondterm syndrome”, whereby two years intothe first term politicians are alreadyinvesting valuable time and resourcesto grab a second term. The only thingwrong with it is that in our renascentdemocracy some politicians do take thisto extremes. The cheering news,however, is that as the polity maturesthe negative attributes of ‘second term

I AM exhilarated that the war on terror is now going exactly the way I hadcampaigned on this forum. First, the Federal Government suddenly slammed

its door on amnesty for Boko Haram, choosing to crush them first before returningto that issue later. The effect is there for all to see.

One of the desirable effects of the military assault on the terrorists is that someyoung people in Borno State have formed what they call “JTF Civilians”. Armedwith basic, simple weapons, they move in groups, apprehending known membersor supporters of Boko Haram and hand them over to the Joint Military Task Force(JTF). I say Bravo! Go on, young people; retake your state, your motherland fromforeign-sponsored enemies of your people, your country. The future belongs toyou. Do not allow these devils to steal it from you! I am delighted that more peopleare buying into the war on terror, rather than listen to political blackmailers.

Bravo, Borno’s ‘JTF youth'

syndrome” will gradually give way.Two-term tenure is the rule, not the

exception in most matured democracies.Apart from enabling the electorate torenew or reject candidates at the polls,it promotes constant engagement withthe people. Democracy is a game of thepeople. Leaders must regularly returnto the people to renew their legitimacies.In the US, the four-year electoral cyclehas been designed into two-yearsections: the presidential election yearand the Mid-term, when mostlegislators and some governors returnto the electorate for mandate renewal.Stretching the period to six years willsmack of “political starvation”. It isusually popular in civilian dictatorshipssuch as Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe andHosni Mubarak’s Egypt.

The groundswell of opposition to theEkweremadu committee’s suggestion isnot surprising. That the House of Repssays no to it means it is dead on arrival.The Senate must quickly delete that itemfrom the constitution amendment processor it may, once again, ensure the failureof the process.

The groundswell of opposition to the Ekweremaducommittee’s suggestion is not surprising. That theHouse of Reps says no to it means it is dead onarrival. The Senate must quickly delete that itemfrom the constitution amendment processSen. Ike Ekweremadu

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013 — 55

“No, we don’t havemoney ... yes you have”

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,What happened in Namibiawill remain a black dot in thehistory books of not only our

football but our sportinghistory as a nation

I bet the last has not been heard of the diplomaticembarrassment suffered by Nigeria as a result of the

Eagles decision not to honour their FIFAConfederations Cup engagement over match bonuses.

In far away Malabo, the news hit me courtesyEURONEWS and I was taken back, totally shocked andashamed.

Maybe I should rewind.I first heard it mooted in Kenya that Skipper Vincent

Enyeama was threatening a show down over the 5,000dollars winning bonus, claiming that he and hiscolleagues were not briefed. I then made enquiries onlyto be told that in a meeting Coach Stephen Keshi hadwith the NFF President, he was told about the financialposition of the NFF that also led to the reduction in thenumber of back room staff of all the national teams.

Though Keshi made a case for his dropped coacheshis plea was turned down “ for now” and he then decidedto assume the emoluments of one of them.

It was my belief therefore that Keshi should have toldhis players and explained the financial position of theNFF. Despite that, the NFF President went ahead andmet with the players in Kenya and explained to themwhy the bonus had to be slashed.

My happiness was that Coach Keshi was reported tohave told the players to accept the situation. This to mewas key because he had a strong hold on the playersand there was no way the players were going to strikewithout his approval.

While all the meetings were going on prior to a majormatch, I considered it a great distraction. I believed theplayers should have been focused and concentrated. Didthis affect their showing against Kenya? Anyway, wemanaged to win and this was enough, for now.

It was when I returned to Nigeria that I was told thatdespite the meetings and assurances, after the matchthe players refused to collect the bonuses, saying that itwill be “resolved in Namibia”

Before Namibia, the Kenyans favoured us greatly byholding Malawi in Blantyre and all we needed was tobeat Namibia and qualify for the next round with only amatch to spare, yet these Eagles again subjectedNigerians to mental torture before managing a late draw.This is not the team that should hold us to ransom, thisis not the team that should blackmail this nation on theeve of a major FIFA competition.

Perhaps a military regime would have called their bluff,

disbanded them for their ignorant belief that they aredoing us a favour. Thousands of countries will pay withan arm to be part of the FIFA Confederation Cup.Millions of players world wide will do anything to beafforded this pedestal to showcase their wares to therest of the world, yet our own players can afford toselfishly short circuit FIFA logistics, waste seats reservedfor them in a plane cancel hotel reservations in order toforce their believed due.

Let it be said here again that the NFF NEVER PAID10,000 Dollars as winning bonus. Running into the worldCup and given the perceived need for motivation, theFederal Government set up a Presidential MonitoringCommittee under Governor Amaechi thatCOMPLEMENTED the Nigeria Football Federation with5,000 dollars.

I was in a meeting that recommended a return to statusquo the moment the Amaechi committee was no more,yet the board of the NFF believed they could go ongiven the availability of funds. How come the sameplayers that have benefited all the jumbo largesse whenit was available now refuse to believe there is no money?

If the players and their officials know what we do notknow, they should come out in the open. Enough of

baseless allegations bordering on“NFF officials areeating fat while we are suffering” this has to be proved,substantiated. In Kenya while the players were busyrejecting 5,000 dollars the First Vice President of theNFF Chief Mike Umeh signed and collected 1,200Dollars as his due for the period!

My shock was complete last Saturday when I readthat it was the coaches who instigated the players to goon strike because for everything the players collect, theycollect double! That some back room staff whose bonuseshad been cut are now using the players to fight back.

I thought we had grown beyond those days of strikesand threats and blackmail perpetuated by National teammafias. What happened in Namibia will remain a blackdot in the history books of not only our football but oursporting history as a nation.

Here in Malabo, the leader of the Tunisian delegationsaid “Nigeria has money” that is why we can afford topay such “extravagant” bonuses for “mere qualifiers”.The Tunisians pay 3,000 Euros for away victories, 1,500Euros for away draws and home wins and nothing forhome draws, (some Eagles back room staff were gettingas much as 8,000 dollars for victory and half of that fora draw whether they played at home or away!)

Their players do not fly business class like ours, nordo they get 100 dollars daily camp allowance which theEagles get.

Yes, we are not Kenya, Botswana, Central AfricaRepublic, Congo…….and other countries who pay 1000dollars and less for bonuses, but can we for now boastplayers who are considered in the top 100 in worldfootball?

Five thousand dollars even by world standard is a lotof money, when you add it to return tickets, five starhotel accommodation and feeding, camp allowances……

The NFF says it is broke. That they do not get onequarter of their budget from the federal government.They say verify from the National Sports Commission,ask the Presidency. They say they have been borrowingmoney to meet their programmes. Are the players sayingthis is not true to warrant such a disgraceful andmercantilistic stand?

Must our footballers don the toga of touts, who damnthe consequences of their actions as long as they can getsqueeze out money albeit illegally?

Assuming the players had a case to prove,(?) was thatthe best way to go?

EaglesContinues from BP

Brazil 2014 World Cup: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopiareach play-offs

CÔTE D’IVOIRE,Egypt and Ethiopia

reached the play-offs in theAfrican qualifiers for the2014 FIFA World Cup af-ter wins over Tanzania, Mo-zambique and South Afri-ca.

A 4-2 win in Tanzania re-sult gave Côte d’Ivoire anunassailable five-pointGroup C lead over Moroc-co, who triumphed 2-0against bottom side Gam-bia in Marrakech on Satur-

day. Substitute WilfriedBony sealed victory for the2006 and 2010 FIFA WorldCup qualifiers with a goalthree minutes into stoppagetime at the Benjamin Mka-pa Stadium in Indian Oceancity Dar es Salaam.

The other five goals camein a thrilling first half withAmri Kiemba giving Tanza-nia the lead on two minutesand Russia-based beanpolestriker Lacina Traore level-ling. Reigning AfricanFootballer of the Year Yaya

Toure nudged the visitors infront midway through thehalf, before Thomas Ulim-wengu equalised and Tourestruck again by convertinga penalty just before half-time.

South Africa took onEthiopia before a sell-out25,000 crowd needing atleast a point to stay in con-tention and an attackingapproach paid off on 34minutes when Parkercracked a half-volley wideoff Jemal Tassew into the farcorner.

But the Walyas Antelopes- 19 places below BafanaBafana on the African rank-ings -levelled just beforehalf-time when GetanehKebede rifled the ball intothe net from close rangeafter a scramble.

The decisive goal cameafter 70 minutes when Park-er fluffed an attemptedclearance off an Ethiopianfree kick, sending a flyingheader past goalkeeperand captain ItumelengKhune into his own net.

Ajibade wins Cyclefestchampionship

SODIQ GodwinAjibade of Oyo

State powered through asprint finish to emerge aswinner of the 2013Cyclefest Championshipat the National Stadium,Surulere on Sunday.Caleb Kalizibe (Bayelsa)and Goodnews Cifford(Rivers) emerged 1st and2nd runners-uprespectively.

In the WomenProfessional category,Rivers state swept thestakes as the trio of GloriaOdiase, Rita Aggo andRosemary Marcusemerged tops in thatorder.

In a post race chat, avisibly excited Ajibadesaid that ,” I am veryhappy with the organisers– CycleShop and GSK-for providing this

opportunity to compete. Ilook forward to more ofsuch with moregovernment involvementso that Nigeria cancontinue to grow in thesport and become a forceto be reckoned incycling. I thank God formy previous experiencein Algiers, Mozambiqueand at the Garden CityGames.”

The cyclists rigorouslyraced a total of 270kilometre stretch of road,with minor rainfall on theLagos terrain, startingfrom the NationalStadium and through theBar Beach to Bourdilonup to the Third MainlandBridge. The racecontinued through Ikeja,AgegeMotorWay andterminated at the NationalStadium.

want to be the victimsthis time,” said the Celt-ics defender.

On his part, Tahiti strik-er, Steevy Chong Huesaid that they were notgoing to be awed by theirmore illustrious foes.

.“For an amateur playerit is a dream to face thebest players in the world.However for it not to be-come a nightmare wehave to keep working re-ally hard so we are readyfor the first game,” hesaid. Action from the Tanzania vs Cote d'Ivoire match

56 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

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HAVING entered theSenate, would you say

you were prepared to serve?I am from a political family.

There is no time that we are notready to serve. We have beenserving at the state and at thenational levels for a long timenow, so we have been in theprocess trying to bring succourto the people and I don’t knowhow more ready you want meto be?

For one, my husband has beena very visible active player, butif he hadn’t gotten the supportfrom home and theunderstanding, I don’t think hewould have been able to go thisfar. Is it a familiar or anunfamiliar terrain? It is a

I am the new faceof labour— Sen Oluremi Tinubu•Says she is not in the race to succeed Fashola

SENATOR Oluremi Tinubu made history in 2011 when she became thefirst woman to follow her husband into the Senate. Her advent into theSenate followed her remarkable stint as First Lady in Lagos Statebetween 1999 and 2007 during which time she used her New EraFoundation to advocate many good causes, one of the most enduringtoday, being the One Day Governor.

Now senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs. Tinubu in an interviewsaid she is now using the legislative platform for her advocacy againstsocietal injustice. Senator Tinubu who spoke following the presentationof her mid term report to constituents, was careful to assert that thefaçade of grandeur and gentility around her should not erode her longhistory of activism in the public cause.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN,POLITICAL EDITOR

today, I look at the youngpeople and my concern is forthe young, not for the old.

What kind of Nigeria do wewant to leave for them? A goodparent would leave aninheritance for the children butwhat inheritance, what legacydo we want to leave for theupcoming generation? Whatthey see is corruption. We seeour children doing a lot of thisyahoo-yahoo business, a lot ofkidnapping, cultism and I amworried.

If we go wrong we should behonest enough to say that wehave done wrong. The GermanChancellor was sayingyesterday (Friday) that hergeneration had done wrong tothe young generation.

But look at Nigeria if Europe

you don’t have to dress intowels and deceive them, butthey know who are theirs andyou can see me with the rapportI have with the common manand my heart is saying, who isgoing to give them justice?

Who is going to fight theircause? So I want to see thatsocial security is directed to theyoung person. I want to seethem have access to free healthcare, to go to school, to havethree square meals on thetable. So my request is verysimple. My request is thatpeople can live like very decenthuman beings. They don’t haveto keep begging for food, theydon’t have to sleep under thebridge. That is my concern.

What is your stance on thebill for a special status forLagos?

You know the senate turnedit down they said it cannot beincluded in the constitutionamendment but by the Graceof God we will have it. Whenwe have the right governmentfor Nigeria, they will know theneed why Lagos should begiven that special status asGeneral Murtala Muhammedrecommended years ago forLagos, Port-Harcourt and Kano.

What is the fate of the 2013budget?

What can I say? Being inopposition whatever your viewsare, they are not evenrespected. To me, that is theway they want to see it becauseone day, Senate will be cryingfoul, the next minute you don’tunderstand what is going on.

So, they go and forth with thebudget. And the budget that ispassed, does it translate intoanything? At the end of the daythey ended up declaring stateof emergency, so I am just as

familiar terrain for a long timenow. We have paid the price toeven be here today. I will tellyou it’s like maybe this batterythat they used to have in theU.S., that is Eveready, whereyou want to be and whatcapacity you want to serve. So,I am always ready.

What is your primaryconcern in the senate?

This wasn’t the Nigeria that Igrew up to love. I keep sayingit that I was not from a verywealthy family, but we werecomfortable, we were the thenmiddle class, we could aspire,we could dream to be whateverwe want to be. I am here todaybecause that dream kept me,but when I look at what we have

is saying they have sinned byaccepting that they didn’tcreate jobs for the youngpeople and we Nigerians arestill lying under SURE-P, weare still lying under SovereignWealth Fund. I am concerned.

My greatest challenge in thesenate is that out of the 56committees, opposition, ACNonly has three chairmanships.

I am the vice-chairman of theSenate Committee on Labour,Employment and Productivityand some people would say, Odo labour people who are inthe struggle dress the way Iam? But I say, this is the newface of labour, and it is in myblood. If you fight for thecommon good for the people

confused.If just one man could

transform Dubai it doesn’t takea lot of people to…and that iswhy Nigerians must lookcritically on Jonathan in 2015or whoever PDP chooses.

Lagos is Lagos today becausesomebody sacrificed. You allknow what Lagos looked likeafter military government, butwe tend to forget. We see thebridge that Fashola has justcommissioned and we thinkthat is how Lagos used to be.No, it wasn’t.

You almost talk like acomrade?

I am a comrade. I said thatthis is the new face of labour, itis in the blood. I also came fromthe trenches.

Juicycommittee

I never talk about June 12.Everybody would givethemselves all the accolade andI will just look. I paid dearly!

Why are opposition senatorsalways desirous of gettingjuicy committee positions inthe senate instead ofremaining in the opposition?

If I wanted a juicy committeeI wouldn’t be in the Labour,Employment and Productivitycommittee. I can only speak formyself and I have been arookie in the Senate and Ididn’t know about the juicinessof the committees until I learn.

For me, I am quite satisfiedwherever the Senate Presidenthas put me, but ACN we wantto work. You were absent whenthe Senate endorsed thepresident’s proclamation ofemergency rule in threeNortheast states. I would like

to know how you would havevoted if you were present givenyour party’s opposition to theproclamation?

The state of emergency camerather too late, after securityvotes had been wasted andcould not be accounted for.

To me, I look and see thepretence, and these are not thethings you would want to say.

It is still the more you look,the less you see and I just praythat a lot of innocent lives arenot lost. So, it is still chasingshadows. The problem withNigeria and terrorism is thelevel of poverty. Until it isaddressed, people are stillgoing to be aggrieved, they arestill going to be angry. So, myview on state of emergency? Inever supported it and I stilldon’t. I don’t believe in it.

Are you running for theoffice of governor?

Even to run for this office, itis this press that started it.

So can the press start itagain?

No don’t start it oh! Truly andtruly speaking it is never myambition to run for governor ofLagos State. Remember, myhusband did it for eight yearsand I was not an outsider to it.It is not a place for the tenderhearted, it is a lot of work togovern Lagos and I am not thetype that don’t put hard workinto whatever I do. I don’t thinkI have the strength to say thatI want to govern the presentstate of Lagos. There is still alot of work to be done in Lagos,a lot of work.

*Tinubu: I am a comrade

Truly speaking it is never my ambition torun for governor of Lagos State.Remember, my husband did it for eightyears and I was not an outsider to it

This interview was conductedbefore the death on Saturdayof Mrs. Tinubu's mother-in-law, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.


CMYK

VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguard

CLASSIFIEDUDE—I, formerlyknown andaddressed as MissUde CarolineNnenna, now wish tobe know andaddressed as Mrs.Onuorah CarolineNnenna. All formerdocuments remainvalid. FederalPolytechnic Oko, andgeneral publicplease take note.

DIKE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Dike MaureenAdaobi Obiageli, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Opara MichelleChibuife Divine. Allformer documentsremain valid. NnamdiAzikiwe University,Diocese on the Niger(Women Ministry) andgeneral public pleasetake note.

N K W O C H A — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissNkwocha TheresaEbere, now wish to beknow and addressedas Mrs. OrucheTheresa Ebere. Allformer documentsremain valid.UNIBEN, NYSC andgeneral public pleasetake note.

AREMU —I, formerly

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Oladipo, now wish to

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Oladipo. All former

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as Miss Ezinne Eunice

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Confirmation of Name My correct name isOseazor Okoh, but some ofmy documents bearOseazor PrayerNwachukwu Okoh. This isto confirm that OseazorOkoh and Oseazor PrayerNwachukwu Okoh is oneand same person. I nowwish to be known andaddressed as OseazorOkoh. All formerdocuments remain valid.General public please takenote.

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01- 8737025

ADVERTHOTLINE

NORTH Koreayesterday offered

high-level talks with theUnited States to easetensions on the Koreanpeninsula, but the WhiteHouse said that any talksmust involve Pyongyangtaking action to show it ismoving toward scrapping itsnuclear weapons.

The offer came only daysafter North Korea abruptlycanceled planned officialtalks with South Korea, thefirst planned talks in moretwo years. The Northblamed the South forscuttling discussions thatsought to mend estrangedties between the rivalKoreas.


•Nelson Mandela

Mandela’s health serious but improving— Zuma

NELSON Mandelacontinues to recover

in hospital from a lunginfection but remains in aserious condition, SouthAfrican President JacobZuma said yesterday.

Mandela is engagingwith his family and seeingimprovement from therecurring lung infectionthat forced him to spend aninth day in the hospitalyesterday , the presidentsaid.

Zuma said Mandelaremains in serious

condition but that over thelast two days his doctorshave said that the

improvements in hishealth have beensustained.

Zuma said Mandela“continues to engage with

family,” according to theprepared text of a speechreleased by the president’soffice.

S/African leaders want Zimbabwe pollspostponed

SOUTHERN Africanleaders on Saturday

told Zimbabwe to ask itscourts to extend a July 31deadline to hold elections,amid high tensionbetween President RobertMugabe and PrimeMinister Morgan

Tsvangirai over the timingof the vote.

The summit of the 15-nation Southern AfricanDevelopment Community(SADC) in theMozambican capital cametwo days after Mugabedeclared the election day,

a date immediatelyrejected by Tsvangirai, hispartner in coalition andmain political rival.

Mugabe had argued hewas following an orderfrom the ConstitutionalCourt to hold the electionby the end of July.

Swiss to back criminal probeagainst NSA leaker

SWISS President UeliMaurer said yesterday

that he doubted EdwardSnowden’s claims abouthis activities as a CIA manin Geneva and would backa criminal investigationinto the secrets leaker ifSwiss prosecutors called

for one.Ex-CIA operative

Snowden broke cover inspectacular fashion earlierthis month, unmaskinghimself as the source ofleaks about U.S.government surveillanceprograms.

N/Korea offershigh-level parleywith U.S

Iranians count on president-elect Rohani tobring change

THOUSANDS ofIranians celebrated on

the streets in the earlyearly hours of yesterday ,counting on moderatepresident-elect HassanRohani to follow throughon promises of betterrelations abroad and morefreedom at home afterrouting hardliners at thepolls.

A mid-ranking Shi’itecleric, Rohani is an IslamicRepublic insider who hasheld senior political andmilitary posts since the 1979

revolution and maintaineda good rapport throughoutwith theocratic SupremeLeader Ayatollah Ali

Khamenei, Iran’s mostpowerful man who has thelast word on all the bigissues.

Supporters rally for Turkey’s Erdogan amid protests

TURKISH PrimeMinister Tayyip

Erdogan rallied hundredsof thousands of supportersat an Istanbul paradeground yesterday as riotpolice fired teargas severalkilometers away in the citycentre to disperse anti-government protesters.

Erdogan told a sea offlag-waving supportersthat two weeks of protestshad been manipulated by“terrorists” and dismissedsuggestions that he wasbehaving like a dictator, aconstant refrain from thosewho have taken to thestreets.

Riot police fired teargasinto side streets around thecentral Taksim Square ashe spoke, trying to prevent

protesters fromregrouping after hundredswere evicted from theadjoining Gezi Park, thecentre of the protests, lateon Saturday.

“They say ‘you are tootough’, they say ‘dictator’.What kind of a dictator isthis who met the Gezi Parkoccupiers and honestenvironmentalists. Is theresuch dictator?,” Erdogansaid to roars of approvalfrom the crowd.

“The attitude across

Turkey with the pretext ofTaksim’s Gezi Park is notsincere. It is nothing more

than the minority’s attemptto dominate the majority .

Al Qaeda confirms its Mali commanders’ death

AL Qaeda’s NorthAfrican wing

(AQIM) yesterdayconfirmed the death of two

Mauritania’s ANI newsagency said.

The death of Abou Zeid,who made millions ofdollars kidnappingWestern hostages over thepast decade, had alreadybeen announced “withcertainty” by France inMarch after clashes withits troops in northern Mali.

of its senior commandersin Mali earlier this year,veteran jihadistAbdelhamid Abou Zeidand brigade commanderAbdallah Al Chinguetti,

Deadly blasts rock southern Iraqicities

A wave of car bombsin southern Iraq has

killed 30 people as thecountry grapples with aspike in violence andprolonged politicaldeadlock, sparking fearsof a sectarian war.

A total of sevenvehicles rigged with

explosives went offyesterday in five citiessouth of Baghdad, thecapital, during morningrush hour, leaving 56people wounded inprimarily Shia Muslimareas of Iraq.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and hiswife Emine wave hands at supporters as they arriveat a rally of ruling AK party in Istanbul yesterday


FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN AT THE WEDDING OF EVANS AND RHODA

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and the couple, Evans Bapakaye Bipialakaand wife, Rhoda Sika, during their wedding reception at the Civic CentreMoscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday. Pix: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Former First Lady of Rivers State, Mary Odili (right), supervising the cakecutting by the couple, Evans and Rhoda Bapakaye Bipialaka.

Sir Peter and Justice Mary Odili, former Governor and First Lady of RiversState.

Senator George Sekibo (right) with the couple, Evans and Rhoda BapakayeBipialaka.

From left: First Lady, Anambra State, Margaret Obi; Abia State First Lady,Mercy Orji; and former First Lady of Bayelsa State, Margaret Alamieyeseigha.

CMYK


CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013 —63

ISLAMIC PRAYER FOR LATE DOSUNMU

From left: Olaitan Dosunmu (daughter); Alhaja Modinat Dosunmu (widow); Chief(Mrs.) Modupe Dosunmu (widow ), during Islamic prayer for late Senator WahabDosunmu, at Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former governor of Lagos State, with wife and Chief BolajiCole (right)

From left: Mr. Gboyega Oladipo, Alhaji Rasaq Okoya and Dr. Abayomi Finnih

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

LAGOS — FORMERSecond Republic

minister, Senator WahabDosunmu, who died last weekin the United States, wasburied, yesterday, in Lagosafter a carnival-like proces-sion through some majorroads in the commercial city.

The remains of the deceasedwhich arrived the MurtalaMuhammed Airport aboard aVirgin Atlantic aircraft in theearly hours of Sunday, wasmoved in a white casket borneby an Ebony ’s EscaladeSports Utility Vehicle, SUV,from the airport in a convoy ofover 50 cars to Eko Club,Surulere, Lagos, wherefriends, family and associatespaid him their last respects.

The body was later conveyed

amidst tight security providedby officers and men of the Ni-gerian Police, Lagos StateTraffic Management Authority,LASTMA and VehicleInspection Office, VIO, anddriven to 21 Oshodi Street,Epetedo Area of Lagos Island,the family compound of thelate Dosunmu.

From the family compoundthe remains was taken to theYoruba Tennis Club, Onikan,where more dignitaries paidtheir last respects.

Among those who spoke atthe Yoruba Tennis Club werechairman, Senators Forum andcolleague of the deceased inthe Fourth Senate, SenatorKhairat Gwadabe; GovernorBabatunde Fashola who wasrepresented by Head of Serv-ice, Mr. Segun Ogunlewe;first elected Governor of Lagos

L- R : Sen. Khairat Gwadabe, Sen. Iyabo Anisulowo , and Sen. Femi Lanlehin duringthe Islamic prayer for Late Wahab Dosunmu

Olabisoye Dosunmu, daughter, addressing members of the Yoruba Tennis Cllub duringthe Islamic prayer

State, Alhaji Lateef Jakandewho was accompanied by hiswife.

Also present were formerDeputy National Chairman,Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,Chief Olabode George;Senator Iyabo Anisulowo;Senator Kemi Lanlehin;former Nigerian Ambassadorto Ghana, Senator MusiliuObanikoro; Senator BiyiDurojaiye; former PDPgovernorship candidate inLagos State and Director-Gen-eral Nigerian Ports Authority,NPA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu; aformer commissioner in theBola Tinubu administration ofLagos State, Mr. HakeemGbajabiamila; Lagos PDPchieftains, Dr. Yomi Finnihand Deji Doherty, amongmany others.

The eldest son of the

deceased and three of thedaughters also paid tribute totheir father. AderonkeD o s u n m u - A k e r e l eemphasized her father ’sconstant admonition. Whilequoting her late fatherrepeatedly, she said: “It isimportant that we live a lifethat matters.”

Burialat Ado town

After the encomiums at theYoruba Tennis Club, many ofthe sympathizers followed thefamily to Senator Dosunmu’sprivate residence at AdoTown, Ajah where he wasburied near a mango tree at4.30pm shortly after Muslimfuneral prayers.

Dosunmu was a chieftain ofthe defunct National Party of

Nigeria, NPN and served asMinister of Housing in theSecond Republic and was oneof the leading lights in theNational DemocraticCoalition, NADECO, whichfought for the actualization ofthe June 12, 1993 presidentialelection believed to have beenwon by late Chief MoshoodAbiola.

Dosunmu was elected to theSenate on the restoration ofdemocratic rule in 1999 on theplatform of the Alliance forDemocracy, AD, butsubsequently decamped to thePDP before the end of histenure. After the Senate heserved as Nigeria’sAmbassador to Malaysia. Hedied in the United States lastweek after a brief illness.

Encomiums as Wahab Dosunmu is buried

L-R: Mr Saheed Dosunmu, Ayodeji Dosunmu, Olaitan Dosunmu, Mr OlasupoDosunmu, Wasilat Dosunmu, Sekinat Dosunmu, during Islamic Prayer forLate Wahab Dosunmu at Yoruba Tennis Club Lagos.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

YESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSTODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLETODAY'S PUZZLE

Sudoku

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

Eagles go forTahiti's jugularFIFA Ranking: Nigeria 31 Tahiti 138Kick-off: 8pm

Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia reach play-offs Page 63Brazil 2014 World Cup

TODAY in the Brazilian city of Belo

Horizonte, Africanchampions, the SuperEagles will begin theirConfederations Cupchase with a Group Bmatch against Tahiti,who are the championsof Oceania.

Sixty three years ago,the Brazilian city wasthe location for one ofthe biggest upsets infootballing history,USA’s win over Englandduring the 1950 FIFAWorld Cup. Should Ta-hiti emulate that result,shock-waves will be felt

across world football.Eddy Etaeta’s Tahiti

have been in Brazilsince 7 June, while Ni-geria touched down eight days later, lavingmany to think that theextra preparation timebenefit the islanders?

The Super Eagles willbe looking to take anearly lead at the top ofGroup B by giving theirgoal difference a signif-icant boost against ateam who are 107 plac-es below them in theFIFA/Coca-Cola WorldRanking. With Uruguayand Spain lying in wait,

Stephen Keshi’s sidewill be looking to puttheir part-time oppo-nents to the sword. Ta-hiti meanwhile are dar-ing to dream.

This is the pair’s firstmeeting at internation-al level, although theydid square up at theFIFA U-20 World Cup2009 in Egypt. Nigeriaprevailed 5-0 on thatoccasion, a first-roundmatch held in Cairowhen Obiora Nwank-wo, Ibok Edet, KehindeFatai, Nurudeen Orele-si and Daniel Adejowere on target.

Nigeria are one oftwo undefeated sides inthe FIFA Confedera- Continues on Page 55

•Mikel Obi

tions Cup, the other be-ing Denmark. The Su-per Eagles went unbeat-en in their previous par-ticipation in 1995, earn-ing one win, two drawsand losing only on pen-alties to Mexico in thematch for third place.

Eagles defender, EfeAmbrose said that theEagles are ready for theTahiti tie

“It is a match we knowwe need to win and, todo that, we need to befully concentrated. Wecannot afford to takeany chances. Big shockshave happened beforein these kind of tourna-ments and we don’t

ACROSS: 2, Catch 7, Sleep 8, Swamp 10,Appal 12, Orb 13, Arose 15, Monocle 17,Streak 19, Nip 20, Ringlet 23, Iota 25,Door 26, Evident 30, Err 31, Govern 34,Shirked 37, Merit 38, Art 39, Divan 40,Creek 42, Gloom.

ACROSS1 Ado (4)4 Label (3)6 Huge (4)8 Coarse (6)9 Tell (6)10 Plaything (3)12 Change (5)14 Rot (5)15 Noise (5)18 Golf-club (6)20 Astonished (6)24 Called (5)26 Throng (5)28 Artless (5)32 Appalled (6)33 Soundness (6)34 Remain (4)35 Pin (3)36 Lean (4)

DOWN2 Customary (5)3 Propose (7)4 Acid (4)5 Inter (4)6 Worth (5)7 Satisfy (7)11 Possess (3)12 Serpent (3)13 Fish-eggs (3)16 Vase (3)17 Barrier (3)19 Erect (7)21 Males (3)22 Unyielding (7)23 Expire (3)25 Chopper (3)27 Tired (5)29 Essential (5)30 Halt31 Assassin (4)

DOWN: 1, Alert 2, Cease 3, Appear 4, Cram5, Swooped 6, Amble 9, Arc 11, Longing 13,Astir 14, Orate 16, Nil 18, Kindred 21, Tower22, Grant 24, Averted 27, Irk 28, Tomato 29,Charm 32, Venom 33, Ridge 35, Ire 36, Dial.

CMYK

NGF SHOWDOWN: Amaechi takes on Jang

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Transcript of NGF SHOWDOWN: Amaechi takes on Jang