Binder1

News

Police investigate abduction of Wamakko’s brother

Vol. 5 No. 17

P.9

zz zz zz zz zz

Living

Grace Dare: Nigeria’s first Jihadi bride

P.37

zz zz zz zz zz

Politics

P.2

Impeachment: Ekiti APC lawmakers write CJ to set up panel

N150

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Governorship election:

APC, PDP in epic battle

P. 7

NYSC DG tasks politicians on peace Police deploy personnel IG orders restriction of vehicular movement

P. 8

P. 10

Sealxk T

15 sex questions you were too embarrassed to ask

P. 10

P. 32

Page

Top Stories Two

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

Impeachment: Ekiti APC lawmakers write CJ to set up investigation panel

• Gov. alleges foul play

T

he 19 lawmakers elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the Ekiti State House of Assembly has written to the state Chief Judge.

Justice Ayodeji Daramola, asking him to set up a panel to investigate allegations raised in the impeachment notice to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

At a special sitting held at Mary Hills Boys High School, Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the lawmakers said they relied on Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which empowers the Assembly to regulate their sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital, if conditions exist in the hallowed chamber that endanger members’ lives.

The Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe of Irepodun/ Ifelodun Constituency 1, explained that the sitting ought to have taken place in the hallowed chamber on April 7, 2015 but members were waylaid by thugs who mounted roadblock, threatening their lives with dangerous weapons, thereby making them to abandon going to the Assembly.

Relying on Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Adedipe moved the motion empowering the Chief Judge to set up the panel. His motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, representing Ido/Osi Constituency 2.

After debates, the lawmakers, in a unanimous vote, supported the motion directing the chief judge to set up the panel. The House adjourned to the next legislative day.

The seven-man penal to be constituted by the Chief Judge within seven days of receipt of the letter is to investigate

Anxiety mounts over reported death of four Nigerians in Georgia

N

igerian community in Tbilisi, a town in Georgia, are currently in turmoil over the reported death of four Nigerian students in the early hours of Thursday.

As gathered, the four Nigerian students were found dead in their apartment in Tbilisi after the property owner in which they live in fail to plug a gas leak.

A source in the Georgian town disclosed that the tragic incident happened about 3:00 AM in the morning. The victims, four in Number were students in the country.

The deaths were caused as a result of poor renovation on the part of their Landlords which resulted in the leakage of gas from the heater in the apartment.

Two of these students were final year Medical students due for graduation in July. “The Nigerian people have no embassy, consular premises or diplomatic mission in the country there is no proper representation as there are a lot of us studying here,” explained the source of the story.

According to the informer, this is the second incident.

The first were two girls in a city called Kutaisi who also died from asphyxiation.

As at press time, however, there is yet to be official pronouncement on the matter by government of Georgia.

Olugbemi

Omirin

Governor Ayodele Fayose and Deputy Governor Olusola Kolapo Eleka over allegations of gross misconduct raised in their impeachment notice.

The Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, presided over the sitting. But the state governor has alleged foul play. He said there was no sitting of the House anywhere. Rather, he said in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, that the House of Assembly was on recess.

Olayinka called for a disregard of the information be-

ing circulated by the APC that their lawmakers are sitting somewhere in Ado Ekiti. He added: “Of course, members of the House of Assembly can gather anywhere in the world to have social or political meetings. “Parliamentary business is done in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly. Besides, Dr Adewale Omirin, who claimed to be the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly was impeached on November 20, 2014 and he is in court, challenging his impeachment.”

he police on Thursday said that it deployed trackers after the killers of Lolo Alhassan, the General Manager of the Kogi State Property and Investment Company.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Shola Adebayo, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Adebayo said that the trackers had been mandated to track the gunmen who shot late Alhassan and another co-traveller in a bus belonging to Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Lokoja Diocese.

Late Alhassan and another were shot and killed on Tuesday at Ugboloko village by unknown gunmen while returning from a missionary trip to Oguma, Bassa Local Government Area. The gunmen opened fire on the bus and killed Alhassan and another female occupant instantly.

But Adebayo said that the police had obtained comprehensive eyewitness account, which might

be useful in arresting the culprits. He said no arrest had been made but the police would continue to comb the scene and the surrounding villages for the suspects.

Adebayo also said the other victims had been evacuated under police escort from the Oguma General Hospital to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

Meanwhile, the state government has commiserated with the Lokoja Diocese of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion over the death of Alhassan and other victims.

The Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, during a condolence visit to Bishop Emmanuel Egbunu of Lokoja Diocese described the death of the victims as sad and untimely. Awoniyi said late Alhassan, who had served the state meritoriously, died when her services were most needed. He prayed that God should give the bishop and the entire church members the fortitude to bear the loss.

Police deploy tracker after killers of Kogi top public servant T

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

3

Guber/Assembly elections:

How should we react to upsets at the polls?

As governorship and state assembly elections hold today, there is fear that there may be political upsets after opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, won the presidential election and majority seats in the National Assembly. With tempers flaring from both losers and winners of March 28 elections, what’s in stock for Nigerians, asks NICK UWERU.

S

ome seasoned election observers say that nothing can be more critical to the been declared. Winners would definitely emerge, even so would losers.

After the March election, much of the tension and heat ups in the polity were safety of lives and property than the first 48 hours after declaration of election results. So it was on March 28. So it would be, perhaps, some 24 hours from now substantially doused after President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat to his when results of the governorship and state house of assembly elections would have CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

4

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘There’s heightened tension over poll outcome’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Election materials must come early

opponent, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari. The question, however, is, would there be such understanding after the election results for today are released?

Across the country, governorship elections will hold in all but six states. These are Anambra, Edo, Kogi, Ondo and Ekiti and Osun states. While there will be no governorship election in the six states, the state house of assemblies are slated for the polls. This has raised high level of expectations, fears and anxiety and perhaps for good reasons.

Election periods in the country are normally volatile. With situation on ground across the country, there is indeed course for caution. Perhaps more than any other states, election results in Ekiti, for many observers, may just be the only panacea for peace.

Though governorship election would not hold, the state assembly seats are up for grabs. The state has been on edge after the emergence of its controversial governor against expectation. While the governor, a PDP chieftain, won the election, majority of its lawmakers are in APC, the opposition party. As at Wednesday, Ado Ekiti, state capital of Ekiti, was on complete lock down. 19 members of the state assembly, as gathered, have moved impeachment proceedings to have its state governor removed from office. In the days leading to today, the lawmakers, who had gone on exile, fearing for their lives had made bold re-entry into the state after the Presidential election toppled the ruling party, PDP. Fearing that the lawmakers may resume sitting and initiate impeachment proceedings, the state governor and party loyalists of PDP, allegedly, have since sealed of the premises leading to the state assembly ground.

The state governor is hoping to weather the storm, hoping that the election would help remove some his traducers from the state assembly. But the ensuing unrest continued unabated and took a turn for worse on Wednesday. One person, identified as Modupe Olaiya, was killed in Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Government Area of the state, as members of the PDP staged violent protests against the attempt by the 19 APC lawmakers to impeach the state governor.

Eyewitnesses told newsmen in Ado Ekiti that the APC lawmakers were coming from Osun State and had run into the barricade mounted by the protesters at Ita Ore, a border town between Ekiti and Osun States.

The victim was said to have sustained gunshot injuries, as the police fired several shots to disperse the protesters, who had already taken over the Ado-Ita Ore-

SRC must perform optimally

Agbaje, Ambode square up in Lagos

Election periods in the country are normally volatile.

With the situation on ground across

the country, there is indeed cause for caution

Ilesa road. However, efforts made by the APC lawmakers to have a sitting were aborted, as soldiers stationed at Ita Ore were said to have prevented their convoy from entering the state.

As the protests raged, a Hilux van with registration number AA 363 YEK, conveying gun-wielding thugs heading to the Assembly complex had a head-on collision with a police patrol van at the Secretariat road in Ado Ekiti where three of the thugs were said to have been arrested.

Aside Ado Ekiti, protests were also held in major towns such as Efon Alaaye, Iworoko, Aisegba, Ikere, Ise and Ogotun Igbemo. The protests stalled human and vehicular traffic for several hours as all major roads leading to the state were blocked.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

5

April 11, 2015

‘How to avert post election crisis’

Adekoya Boladale, a political scientist and scholar on good governance, is the Convener of Advocacy for Better Leadership, Nigeria. He says voters apathy for whatever reason is not peculiar to Nigeria.

Boladele

W

ith impressive turnout for collections of PVC, some experts still project that there will voters’ apathy. Should this be an expected permanent feature in an election or is just peculiar to our clime alone?

Firstly, let me state that the willingness of any voter to participate in an election depends largely on the confidence such individual reposes on the electoral system. Most voters feel is it merely a waste of precious time to cast a vote at the polling unit and at the end of it, the result does not represent the desire of majority. That is, rigged result. Secondly, security is a germane factor for everyone, when the lives and safety of voters cannot be guaranted, it

becomes a setback for such individual.

Another factor is the procedure the electoral body is adopting. Not everyone has the patience to stand in the sun or rain for hours just to vote especially when their is minimal expectation that the primary beneficiary of such sacrifice will return such goodwill in good measure. Most Nigerians have lost interest not just in the democratic process but in the politicians as well, hence, there is no motivating factor to continuously vote for them. Lastly, some people just can’t be bothered. They are not interested in politics, government or the way it is run, so they see the election day as a public holiday to relax, eat and have fun.

This isn’t just a Nigerian thing, neither is it peculiar to us but these factors are most common in the African political space where there is a mistrust between the electorate, the political class and the electoral body. If these factors can be minimized or worked on then we will see positive turnout in the numbers of voters during election.

Some say that registration and obtaining of PVC for majority of Nigerians may just stem from acquiring the document for security reasons.

To what extent would you agree with this?

I quite agree. I have friends who have gotten their PVCs with the sole intention of using it as a means of official identification. Most people with such intention are people who see themselves as apolitical. They prefer to hear the result of the poll on the television or read it in the papers. Either due to security issues at the polling unit, frustration or lack of trust in the system, they have

made up their mind to disenfranchise themselves.

The last few weeks or so have witnessed exodus of people moving back to their place of origin for fear of post election violence. What does this say of our voting culture?

I think the fear of the people is in order. It is not something I will encourage, however, due to the experience of the last election, it is important. Nigerians, especially those living in the far North and are from the South should as a matter of urgency head back home. Trusting the government to protect their lives is a risk too high to take. Post or Pre election violence shows the shallowness of our political maturity and tolerance, it also lends credence to the fact that we are deeply divided along ethno-religious line and as such not worthy of the appellation ‘Nation’. It shows that instead of getting matured politically we are retrogressing. The exodus of potential voters to a sort of safe haven is as a result of fear of the unknown and I think this fear was concretized by the after-event of 2011. It calls for urgent attention as every Nigerian deserves to live in any part of the country without fear.

Is there any reason why some voters may choose to register for vote only in their state of origin, return later to the place to vote for a candidate of his choice?

I strongly believe it all still boil down to fear and insecurity. The presumed outbreak of violence by disgruntled individuals who may not be favoured with the election result. Unfortunately for Nigeria the citizens believe they stand a better chance at staying alive in their state of origin than where they reside. It is not about some sudden affection for local politics but largely due to the move for survival.

What of the internally displaced

persons, IDPs, do you think that there is likelihood that this group of Nigerians may not vote?

The ability or inability of having an election in the recently liberated communities formerly under Boko Haram rule rest largely on the electoral body and the security forces. Yes, they are Nigerians and as such reserve the right to vote and be voted for, however, the free and fairness in that process coupled with security should be clinically evaluated. The registered IDPs in official centres I am informed have been mapped into the process. I think the major searchlight should be on the unregistered ones and those who couldn’t get accommodation at the IDP centers.

Even if they can’t participate in the presidential election at least, they deserve to vote in the subsequent ones.

Considering that all the above factors may reduce voters turnout, what would you advocate that we do for future elections to make for more inclusive voting and less of voters apathy?

A lot need to go into political education. The electorate must understand that the period of election isn’t about a supporter versus another or an ethnic group against another. Electorates must know it is between we, the masses and them, the politicians. The electoral body must also place severe punishment on hate campaign during election. Politicians spend lots of time and resources trying to outdo each other in despicable utterances. The signing of the peace accord is a good step but it is one that doesn’t hold enough water. I had advocated in one of my recommendations to the electoral body on keeping the peace during election and one of the recommendations is having such peace accord at ‘The Hague’. Let the International Criminal Court be actively involved.

Culled from Starter, Saturday Mirror, March 28, 2015.

‘Voters must show restraint’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Civil servants and traders, who had reported to their places of work, had to return home for fear of attack, while the commercial motorcyclists had a bad day as they were prevented from carrying out their businesses following the barricades that were placed on the roads by the protesters.

As result of the violent nature of the protests, the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, deployed Armoured Personnel Carriers and armed personnel to all the affected towns and trouble spots, while the House of Assembly complex was sealed off by heavily-armed policemen.

Ondo state indigenes must also watch their reactions after the election. With the outcome of the presidential election favouring APC and making a myth of the Olusegun Mimiko, the state governor’s fabled political Peterside, Wike – slogging it out in Rivers strength, there are clear indications that there might political forces with a view to sweeping the state assembly undoing. be upset in the state. Though the governorship election As the country goes to the polls today, His Royal polls are ongoing. Observers fear that Mimiko’s politics would not hold, the state lawmaker’s election is slated of exclusion against PDP stalwarts in the state, like Majesty, HRM, Oba Riliwan Akiolu, must be in for today. Already, there are reports that realignments of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, may prove the governors CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Nigeria must maintain respectability in comity of nations’ Igho Akeregha, president, Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, says that Nigerians must react with maturity during and after today’s election.

H

ow would you view the recent statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, threatening the Igbos if they failed to vote for a particular candi-

date?

Amongst royal fathers in Nigeria, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rowlands Akiolu is highly respected and revered. He has also served this country creditably as a high ranking police chief before he retired gracefully nd subsequently ascended the throne of his ancestors. As a civil society leader and human rights advocate, the comments credited to the Oba wherein he put pressure on the Igbo particularly, in Lagos to either vote for his preferred governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode or perish in the lagoon is to say the least, uncharitable, indiscretional and inconsistent with his high royal stool. The Nigerian constitution guarantees to all citizens, no matter your religion, ethnic background, language and believe, the right to freely choose a leader of your choice without let, fear or favour. What Oba Akiolu has done amounts to attempting to supplant the limited powers of a traditional ruler in place of the constitution which is the grund norm. The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO appeals to all citizens including the Igbo who are resident in Lagos to remain law abiding and vote for any candidate of their choice. The CLO is particularly impressed with the democratic freedom and template already set by outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan which has removed him from power as a sitting president and offered the All Progressives Congress, APC the opportunity of leading the country at the Federal level. The Oba or any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed has no right to blatantly undermine the current democratic gains and subvert the collective will of Nigerians to deepen their cohesion and integration for any personal or narrow interest. The beauty of democracy is the right of citizens to choose at any level, the political party and individuals that should oversee their sovereign. As an organisation, the CLO fully sign in to multi party democracy, plural opinion and unencumbered mass participation of citizens in the affairs of their country from wherever they live and work. The CLO however urge all Lagosians, including the Igbo to come out on Saturday April 11, 2015 to elect. Governor of their choice. Nigerian citizens have implicit confidence in the security services to guarantee the safety of all before, during and after the elections.

The presidential and National Assembly elections produced a major upset with the opposition party winning the presidential race for the first time in history. What gains or political capital should we make out of this?

The immediate gains and capital of the last presidential elections is the restoration of national pride. It also follows that Nigeria has opted to queue in the respectable line of nations of the world that have fully embraced transparent, free and fair elections. Gradually, Nigerian citizens are now

able to freely choose the leaders trough the instrumentality of technology of the permanent voter cards. The people also, now have the opportunity to reclaim their sovereignty from the greedy political class that have for many years stolen various bogus mandates to rule over the people and pillage the country’s resources and patrimony . It will now become increasingly difficult for politicians to manipulate the electoral processes for their personal gains. The consequences, which I see as advantages, would be that the country should witness more development in terms of performance and democratic deliverables from the ruling class. Otherwise, they would be rejected and shown the door at the next elections. Nigerians should be glad that in their lifetime, the country produced a leader like President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat and enthroned peace in the country. On the upset in the configuration in the National Assembly elections, I think it is good for democracy. The 7th national assembly was too preoccupied with pecuniary consideration that they could not pass important bills like the petroleum industry law, a new constitution and other people oriented laws that should have moved the country forward. I am sure the two legislative chambers have learnt their lessons, there is no more room for complacency and personal aggrandisement.. Nigerians have unshaded themselves and the fear of the ballot for politicians, is now the beginning of wisdom.

In the media, particular section of the country and the media still continue to pillory the PDP and its candidates, rubbing it in as it were, after the President conceded defeat in the last election. Is this a normal development in a democracy?

Unfortunately, the media became part of the problem rather solution during the elections. Eldridge Cleaver, a social philosopher posited that “You are either part of a solution or part of the problem “. A section of the media unfortunately has become an attack dog of politicians who are either proprietors or CEO’s of some medical houses. Regrettably, with the conclusion of the presidential and national assembly elections, some media organisations are still practising adversarial journalism aimed at further cracking the divisive emotions of the confederation’s nationalities . My advise usually to such journalists, is that if the Nigerian house collapses it would be on everybody’s head and there will be no place to even practise such junk reports. Incidentally, I am senior member of the Journalism profession and still in practice.

A lot of pundits say that the current upset in our political scene was enhanced by a more transparent, harder to rig election process. Do you think that this trend is sustainable?

The current trend is sustainable to the extent of willingness on the part of the APC to build on what President Jonathan has put on the table. But I must also warn that Nigerians will not accept anything less than free, fair and transparent elections in future. It is now time for the incoming General Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to walk the talk and fulfill it’s numerous promises to Nigerians. Politically, it is going to be an uphill task for any leadership of the country now, to offer Nigerians jankara or okrika democracy. The people will reject it and it can immediately lead to the fall of that

Akeregha system. What is evolving is good for us all and I encourage Gen. Buhari to live u to his much vaunted credibility. And the his time starts counting from May 29. Honestly, I do not envy Buhari’s job, I earnestly pray for his success. If he does not deliver in about two years, the tables will begin to turn against him and I may not be surprised that those who are currently hollering Sai Buhari could tomorrow turn around to say, crucify Buhari. I only hope he understands the enormity of what is at stake For the governorship, local government elections, how should the gains of the presidential election outcome be transferred to this lower tiers of government?

It’s easy. The Federal government should lead by example and the other tiers of government will fall in line and take a queue. I was happy when I heard the President Elect, Gen Buhari mention the financial guidelines in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government. His plan is to ensure strict compliance with those guidelines in the hope that this will stem corruption and critical leakages in those areas. If this is followed through, the states and local governments should be better for it and there could be real development. The issue of autonomy for the other two tiers of government is necessary if the people at those levels are to witness an accountable government.

As watcher of political development, how has this development in all affected your thinking and belief in the past?

I do not think that the past matter so much now, except that the lessons learnt are useful to shape the decisions of today and tomorrow. I am however optimistic that the ongoing political evolution has become multi dimensional.

The current open system has benefitted the APC now and in the next four years. The party also needs to know that Nigerians were able to reject the PDP because a process was thrown up that offered the opportunity for change. The point is that a system that benefits you today can also consume you tomorrow if you fail to keep your pact with the people.

The CLO has documented all the campaign promises of the PDP at the state levels and local government including that of the APC at the Federal level including other tiers of government. At the appropriate time, we shall hold the political actors to account. Therefore, the critical lesson for me, is that Nigeria has disappointed the doomsday prophets and forged ahead inspite the challenges. I pray for the country to be stronger and more progressive but beyond this, it’s time to punish impunity, corruption and savage crimes that is the bane of the country at the moment.

‘Losers should accept defeat’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 tenterhooks, over what he believes was a misquotation of his sincere intention for Lagos. His preference for one of the governorship candidates for Lagos is not an exact secrete. In what may remain as a controversy for a

long time, the Oba was quoted to have threatened royal curse on a voting bloc from a particular section of the country if they fail to vote for his anointed candidate.

A television and lots of online portals have aired this pronouncement to the chagrin of political chieftains of

both the candidate and his party chieftains.

While his royal majesty has battled to explain his utterances as not meant to be offensive with many seeing the Oba’s point of view, others have been insistent on taking offense. While the dingdong CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

7

April 11, 2015

Voters on the queue to cast their votes

‘Voters must show same spirit exhibited during presidential poll’

Ahmed, Ajibola – battling for Kwara

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Even, so there are still other issues that beg for over the matter may or may not alter the course of the election, there are, however, fears that the utterance may attention from government, security agencies and indeed just be the catalyst that may cause a post election crisis the electoral umpires if reactions after the election can be properly managed. In the course of the March in Lagos.

29 elections, there were perceived flaws in the election In the course of the March process that led to major fallouts. Smart card reader glitches, late arrival of election materials, intimidation 29 elections, there were and incendiary remarks are some of the factors that perceived flaws in the nearly marred the last election in March.

Though with the quick concession of President election process that led Goodluck Jonathan after defeat by President Elect, to major fallouts. Smart Mohammadu Buhari, there has been a lift in the card reader glitches, late atmosphere of tension in the country. As result, in the last two weeks, the country has been in the spotlight, arrival of election materials, what with the ongoing elections. So far, the country intimidation and incendiary has won plaudits on account of the peaceful elections conduct. remarks are some of the In a joint statement in Abuja, recently, a group of factors that nearly marred international observers commended President Goodluck the presidential poll Jonathan for exhibiting statesmanship by congratulating

the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The observation missions comprised the AU, the Commonwealth, the EU, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute.

The statement said: “The heads of international election observation missions commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in swiftly congratulating his opponent and paving the way for a historic peaceful transfer of power. “The heads of international election observation missions also congratulate General Buhari on his success and his appreciation of his opponent.”

The groups urged that the same spirit, which Nigerians exhibited at the national elections, should also be exhibited at the states elections on April 11.

They pledged to monitor the coming polls and appealed to the electorate to remain committed to the process.

“We call on the people of Nigeria to approach the upcoming governorship elections, which will also be internationally observed, with the same commendable spirit as demonstrated during the presidential election.”

Leaders of the missions are Prof. Amos Sawyer (AU), Dr. Bakili Muluzi (Commonwealth), Santiago Fisas (EU), Constance Newman (IRI) and Ambassador Johnnie Carson (NDI).

the same spirit, which

Nigerians

exhibited at the national elections, should also be exhibited on

April 11

8

NATIONAL NEWS

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Governorship election:

PDP, APC in battle royale

Lekan Adejuwon

A

s the second and final lap of the 2015 general election closes today, Nigerians across the states of the federation will go to the polls to elect candidates of their choice for the governorship posts and state Houses of Assembly.

Expectations are high that the two elections will add considerable value to the nation’s fledgling democracy going by the relative success recorded during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Although other political parties are fielding candidates in today’s election, the contest is arguably between the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress APC. This is not to underscore the elements of surprises that may play out in the course of the hot contest.

Unlike in the March 28, Presidential and National Assembly elections, at least, seven states will be on holidays today as election will not be held there. They include Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Anambra, Bayelsa, Ondo and Kogi States.

Election will also not be held at the Federal capital Territory, FCT. Many watchers of political events in the country have argued that the major upset that occurred during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly election where the 16 years unchallenged PDP monopoly of power at the centre was lost to the opposition, APC, will play a major factor in deciding the outcome of today’s election.

But like a Trojan warrior, the PDP has left no one in doubt that its head may be bloodied but would not bow even in the mist of looming band wagon effect the party’s defeat last month is already having on the polity.

In a consolatory message to the party’s supporters, PDP national chairman, Dr. Adamu Muazu, during the week has said: “The key to winning the remaining elec-

Adamu Muazu, PDP national chairman.

tion is heavy turnout and voting the PDP all the way.

There should be no tactical voting. Be consistent in your support for the party.

What we experienced in the presidential election is merely a hiccup which we must cast out in the gubernatorial polls.

The PDP currently controls 21 of the 36 states in the country. They are Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Benue, Plateau, Niger and Kogi.

Others are Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Ekiti and Ondo However, a closer look at how the parties and their candidates will fare in some states today cannot be entirely divorced from the voting patterns recorded two weeks ago.

In Lagos State which appears to be the cynosure of all eyes, the state is expected to have one of the most keenly contested polls due to its status as the nation’s commercial hub and the calibre of the competitors involved.

Mr Jimi Agbaje, running on the platform of the PDP is believed to be giving the APC candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode a good run, money for money.

Ironically, the outcome of the March 28 election has recorded a close margin between the PDP and APC and so, book makers are tipping Lagos as one state with the

John Oyegun, APC national chairman.

possibility of recording a major upset.

However, the emergence of APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, on March 28 may have altered the political equation in Lagos State as Lagosians have suddenly risen to identify with the power at the center.

Also, there were originally 15 governorship candidates in the state but only five are left as the other 10 stepped down for Ambode.

The aspirants are Adeshina Buruji of the Accord Party, Obadia Akinola of Independent Democrats, Ishola Aregbesola of Action Alliance and Babatunde Sarumi of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria.

Others are Abiodun Oyegunle of the African People’s Alliance, Victor Adeniji of KOWA Party, Adeshina Olayokun of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Sesan Olatunde of the New Nigeria’s People Party, Sylvester Eze of the Citizens Popular Party and Pauline Ojochide of the Progressives People’s Alliance.

OGUN: Though the contest is between APC and PDP, preelection rating has given the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of the APC an edge above his closest rivals.

His major rival as at today is the PDP’s candidate, Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.

Others, whose impact would not necessarily be

felt, going by the outcome of the presidential election penultimate week, include SDP candidate, Sen. Akin Odunsi, LP; Sina Kawonise, Prince Paseda of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Professor Olufemi Bamgbose of the All Progressives Grand Alliance..

For the main opposition party, the PDP, the intrigues, which trailed the choice of Nasir are still being felt even as some leaders of the party are flexing muscles with the candidate..

OYO: Unless the unexpected happens today Governor Abiola Ajimobi may break the second term jinx in the Pace Setter’s State if the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly are anything to go by Many people are of the belief that this may have a bandwagon effect upon today’s governorship election in the state, even though politicians in Oyo State generally have the notion that it is an anathema for a sitting governor in the state to serve a second term in office.

Even though five major contestants are in the race for the governorship of Oyo State namely the incumbent Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi of the APC; Senator Teslim Folarin of the PDP; Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord; Otunba Christopher Adebayo AlaoAkala of Labour Party and Mr. Seyi Makinde of the

SDP, it is generally believed here that Ajimobi holds the ace primarily in view of his performance in office and secondly as a result of the bandwagon effect of the Buhari victory at the federal level.

RIVERS: A fierce contest is expected between Nyeson Wike of the PDP and APC candidate, Dakuku Peterside, even as the PDP is still basking in the euphoria of its landslide victory in last week’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The PDP won the presidential election, holding the three senatorial seats as well as the 12 House of Representatives’ seats.

The PDP’s landslide victory came to the APC as a rude shock as the leaders of the party carried out series of protests in Port Harcourt last week to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the elections.

Rivers State has always been a PDP state; it is then not going to be a surprise if the party carries the day.

IMO: Imo State is the only state in the South East controlled by the APC under the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha, who is seeking a second term mandate. The state is one to watch in today’s election.

His closet rival and current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, is running on the platform of the

PDP. Although the odds are in favour of PDP going by last election result, Okorocha may spring a last minute surprise because of the Buhari factor and his record achievement in the past four years as the incumbent governor.

The Ndigbo are likely to support their only son in an APC federal government.

SOKOTO: In Sokoto State, the governorship contest is between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, of the APC and the former Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Senator Abdallah Wali, of the PDP. From the look of things, the voting pattern in the last Presidential election is not likely to be different as the APC did not concede any local government area to the PDP. KWARA: An interesting scenario is likely to play out in today’s election in Kwara State as the race to state Government House is expected to be a three-horse race between the ruling APC, the PDP and Labour Party (LP) out of the 16 parties that fielded candidates for the election. The governorship poll is expected to be the most keenly contested in the history of Kwara State.

The APC has the incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as the flag bearer; Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola for the PDP while Dr. Mike Omotosho is flying the flag of the LP. Omotosho, who is the coordinator of Jonathan Actualisation Movement, one of the support groups for Jonathan’s re-election, dumped the PDP for the LP after losing the House of Representatives’ ticket during the party’s primary.

The contest today is no doubt a recurring supremacy tussle between Saraki dynasty and the people of Kwara State.

However analysts have tipped the incumbent Governor Ahmed, Senator Bukola Saraki’s acolyte, as standing a better chance of emerging victorious.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

April 11, 2015

9

Hate speech: We’ll investigate Akiolu –NHRC

By Patience Ogbo

N

ational Human Rights Commission has received petition against the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the chairman of the commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has said.

Mr. Odinkalu made the disclosure when he was reacting to questions from journalists during an interactive session towards the 2015 governorship and State House of Assemblies election at the CLEEN Foundation office in Lagos.

He said the petition is on Akiolu’s threats against the Igbos in the state.

His words: ‘’The Commission received a petition against the Oba of Lagos but my advice to La-

gosians and to Nigerians in general is that they should look at the positive outcome of this election and not dwell on the negative.

A great thing happened in Lagos State during the last elections that we are not talking about. Nobody is talking about the three House of Representatives seats won by non indigents in the state. To me, this is a big plus for Lagos that the state has become the centre of integration and a cosmopolitan state for Nigerians. We should talk more about things that integrate us not things that bring division.’’

Mr. Odinkalu said the Commission is worried about the rise of militia groups and the proliferation of small and light weapons that can result to

election related violence in volatile states like Rivers, Lagos , Benue, AkwaIbom,Imo , Bauchi and Ekiti.

He added that the Commission has mapped out strategies with security

agencies and private organisations to mitigate violence, before, during and after the election.

Mr. Odinkalu revealed that though the mortality rates during the 2015 election was 60 compared to

1000 in 2011, he decried the loss of lives including that of security operatives during elections.

He added that no Nigerian should die because of election.

He further assured Nige-

rians that the Commission was committed to upholding their rights and as such the Commission had begun training and retraining of staff to become more professional.

Former Vice President and chieftain of APC, Atiku Abubakar President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and Lamido Adamawa, Alh Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha during a courtesy call to the palace in Yola, Adamawa State on Wednesday, 08 April 2015.

Polls: NYSC DG tasks Rivers politicians on peace

P

oliticians in Rivers and their supporters have been advised to ensure that peace prevailed in the state during the governorship and House of Assembly elections today.

DirectorGeneral, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, gave the advice on Thursday in Port Harcourt while addressing NYSC members in the state. ‘’I want to use this opportunity to call on politicians in Rivers State that they should please plead with their supporters not to perpetrate violence during the elections,’’ he said.

Olawumi, however, assured no fewer than 4,631 corps members in the state, including those that would participate in the elections, of their safety.

He urged them to go about their electoral duties without fear, saying that it was part of their national assignment.

He advised the corps members against arguments with people on any issue whenever their lives were threatened. ‘’When you are under threat; if anybody threat-

ens you at gun point, don’t just argue, let him snatch whatever he wants to snatch way. ‘’Your security is paramount; go back and do your report and we make the report available to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and result of such place

will be cancelled,’’ he said.

The director-general also advised the NYSC members to alert security agencies whenever they sensed danger to enable security personnel rescue them. ‘’I want you to help us as far as your security is concerned. When you no-

tice that something is going wrong, just quickly make a call and we will get people to come and rescue you,’’ he advised.

He told the corps members to remain neutral while performing the electoral duties, saying, ‘’we want you as much as possible to be very neu-

tral, maintain your neutrality, do not be biased, perform your duty professionally’’.

In his contribution, Brig.-Gen. Koko Essien, Commander of 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, said dedicated security telephone numbers of military per-

sonnel on patrol duty would be passed to NYSC members on election duty.

According to him, once a call comes from any of three dedicated lines, the patrol team will know it is from an NYSC member in distress and will go for rescue operation.

Commuters stranded as petrol Jonathan mourns death of aide, Douglas crisis worsens in Abuja

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan said on Thursday that he was deeply saddened by the death of his Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas.

In a short statement signed

by Rueben Abati, the Special Adviser Media to the President, Jonathan extends his heartfelt condolences to the Douglas family and the government and people of Bayelsa State.

He described Douglas as one of the “ most distinguished sons (of Bayelsa) who served his country, state and the Niger Delta region, passionately and diligently, during his very impactful years on earth”.

Douglas, who passed away Thursday morning at the State House Clinic, Abuja, after a protracted battle with

cancer, was President Jonathan’s personal aide for close to a decade.

“The president will always remember him for his passion for work, excellence, inspiring creativity and outstanding commitment to his duties”, the statement said.

The statement further reads: “The president remains thankful to God Almighty for the brilliance and resourcefulness that Oronto brought to bear on every assignment as a loyal and dutiful aide during his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State and as Vice President, Acting President and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“President Jonathan believes that Oronto will remain a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian who seeks a life of service and achievement.

T

he fuel scarcity that resurfaced in Abuja on Monday is biting harder as motorists in the city queue for hours at petrol filling stations in search of petrol.

According to Freedom Online, the fuel queue disappeared from the stations immediately after March 28 elections.

The queue, which resurfaced on Monday in some of the stations, has spread across the city by Tuesday night.

It was observed that most of the filling stations that were having fuel before the Easter break had become dried.

Many commuters were stranded at different bus stops due to lack of commercial vehicles while the few ones that were

plying the road jerked up their fare by 50 per cent.

Hawkers of petrol in jerry cans cashed in on the scarcity and sold the product between N150 and N200 per litre, depending on bargain power.

Many obscure filling stations, especially in Suleja and on Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, sold the product between N110 and N120 per litre which is far above the regulated rate.

Only petrol filling stations within the city and those belonging to major marketers in other areas dispensed petrol at the stipulated N87 per litre.

At the NNPC mega station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Central Area, long queues of vehicles were on three lanes, blocking the entire road

and forcing motorists to drive against the traffic.

The situation was also the same at the Forte Oil, adjacent the NNPC mega station, where the queue stretched to the UAC fence early in the morning but later stopped selling.

The ConOil and Total filling stations opposite NNPC headquarters were also selling with long queues.

The queue formed a circle round through the Bureau of Statistics Complex to the Unity Bank building back to NNPC Towers, Abuja.

ConOil station, NNPC franchised station and another private filling station on Olusegun Obasanjo way were not selling.

10

NATIONAL NEWS

T

he Police in Sokoto State have commenced investigation into the abduction of the 60-year-old District Head of Wamakko, Alhaji Salihu Barade.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Barade was abducted at about 7 p.m on Wednesday at his livestock farm located in Majiya, an area on the outskirts of Wamakko.

The police spokesman in the state, DSP Al-Mustapha Sani, told NAN on Thursday that they were working with the police commands in Zamafara and Kebbi to track down the abductors. `We have since swung into action to determine his whereabout and we call for more useful in-

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police investigate abduction of Wamakko’s brother formation from the public,” he said.

Barade is a Senior Counsellor in the Sokoto Sultanate Council and younger brother to Gov. Aliyu Wamakko.

He was abducted alongside a former Secretary of Wamakko Local Education Authority, Alhaji Ango Garba.

Garba, who was later released by the kidnappers at Wallijan forest, near Gwandu in Kebbi, had since returned to

his family.

Efforts to speak to him had however proved abortive as his mobile phone was switched-off.

In his account of the incidence, Malam Bellon Barade, who is the farm’s manager, said the abductors drove to the farm in a green Avensis car at around 7p.m. ``They were four in number and one of them pointed a gun at my stomach and threatened to shoot me but he did

not shoot the gun. ``Also, one of them, who was driving the car stayed in the vehicle while the remaining three came out, all with guns. ``They later whisked them away and zoomed out of Wamakko to an unknown destination,’’ he said.

An elder brother of the abducted monarch, said the community had embarked on prayers for God’s intervention and

Barde’s safe release.

Alhaji Liman Tambari, who is also the Ubandoman Lokobi, appealed to the abductors on behalf of the monarch’s family not to harm him.

He solicited for prayers from the general public for the unconditional release of the victim.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the local council, Alhaji Ahmed Kalambaina told NAN that he was

liaising with all security agencies to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped district chief.

At the palace, the Sarkin Fadan Wamakko, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed and Barade’s driver, Bello Haruna, also prayed for the monarch’s safe release.

NAN reports that sympathisers have started trooping to the palace to offer prayers and words of encouragement to the local chief ’’s family.

Physician links cardiovascular diseases, stroke to cholesterol

D

r Okezie Emenike, an Abuja-based physician, on Thursday, said high cholesterol could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Emenike said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, high cholesterol in the blood could cause fatty deposits to build in the arteries making it narrower thereby restricting blood flow into the heart which leads to heart attack.

Emenike said that high cholesterol could also lead to blood clot in the arteries that could block blood supply to the brain resulting to stroke.

He explained that the body manufactured some level of cholesterol and gets the rest from food eaten while the genes determined how much the body would make on its own.

Emenike, however, said that excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and eating food high in saturated fat like red meat, egg and dairy products increased the level of cholesterol in the body.

He said that obesity and lack of exercise could contribute to the chances of having high

cholesterol which could endanger life.

According to the physician, risk of high cholesterol could be genetic; this genetic abnormality leads to the over production of cholesterol in the liver.

Emenike further said that some medicines, such as oral contraceptive to reduce water level in the body, were also causative factors of high cholesterol.

He explained that poor management of type 2 diabetes, kidney, liver diseases as well as underactive thyroid might also cause high cholesterol.

The physician added that age and sex contributes to risk of high cholesterol, stressing that women above 50 often have high cholesterol than men of the same age.

Emenike said that mental stress could also be responsible for the risk associated with high cholesterol.

He urged persons susceptible to the condition to always seek medical attention due to its risk factor to other illnesses. ``Adoption of healthier lifestyle, low fat diet and exercise reduce the chances of high cholesterol presence in the body.

Former Vice President and chieftain of APC, Atiku Abubakar, seeing off President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, at the Yola Airport, Adamawa State, Wednesday.

Nutritionist says cucumber detoxifies, hydrates

M

rs Jummai Hassan, a nutritionist at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, on Thursday said cucumber can serve as a healthy diet in building up skin cells and removal of toxic waste from the human body.

Hassan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that cucumber was suitable for digestive health and highly beneficial in stress management. ``Cucumber is an

edible vegetable fruit which comes from the cucumber plant and belongs to the same plant family of water melon and can be eaten raw or cooked. ``True beauty comes from the inside, the consumption and application of cucumber helps hydrate the skin and provides healthy skin cells, nails as well as hair,’’ she said.

She explained that health and beauty of

the skin depended on the purity of the blood than on the application of cosmetic products.

Hassan stated that slices of cucumber placed on the eyes could help in reducing swellings, puffiness and tiredness around the eyes after a long day work.

The expert explained that the skin absorbed water from the cucumber into the skin leaving it smooth and soft.

She stated that the consumption of cucumber cleansed the blood stream from toxic waste, keeps the skin hydrated and regulates the body’s inner temperature.

The nutritionist noted that cucumber could help support digestive health with a high water content of 95 per cent and fibre which facilitate the movement of faecese through the intestine.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police to deploy 18,000 security personnel in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara —AIG

M

r Bala Hassan, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 10, said on Thursday that about 18,000 security personnel would be deployed to provide security during today’s elections in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Hassan told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Sokoto that the security personnel had been briefed on the operational modalities for ensuring adequate security before, during and after the elections in the affected states.

He said that the zonal command had fin- tuned its method of operations to prevent any form of electoral malpractices.

“We have taken concrete security measures to improve on what we have done in the presidential elections in order to ensure peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections,” he said.

The AIG said that no crisis was recorded dur-

NATIONAL NEWS

April 11, 2015

ing the March 28 election and attributed the success achieved to the security measures put in place by the police.

Hassan directed the three commissioners of police under his supervision to ensure effective monitoring of the election in their respective areas of operations.

“We have done it in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections and we are battle-ready to do the same to enable eligible electorate exercise their civil responsibility through peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

He advised trouble makers to stay clear from the zone, adding that the police would deal ruthlessly with any person or group of people planning to breach the peace in the affected states.

“We will not tolerate any form of political violence as our anti-thuggery units are battle ready to exercise their constitutional responsibility,” the AIG warned.

11

Poll: We’re doing everything to be prompt, says Lagos INEC

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says it is doing everything possible to ensure that voters meet its staff on ground at polling units on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections come up on Saturday across the country.

Voters in many areas of the state, during the Presidential and National Assembly elections on March 28, arrived polling

units ahead of INEC officials, which delayed the take-off of accreditation in such places.

Mr. Femi Akinbiyi, the Head of Public Affairs, INEC, Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that the commission had put in place measures to prevent late arrival of its staff today.

He said that the commission had concluded the distribution of electoral materials to the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state for onward movement to the 245 wards, in a bid to achieve

its objective.

According to him, the early movement of the materials will allow electoral officers in each LGA to perfect all arrangements before the election day.

Akinbiyi said the step would enhance early arrival of materials and staff at the 8, 462 polling units on Saturday. ``We are doing everything possible to avert all delays on election day. ``The electoral officers will have enough time to do necessary work on the materials before the day,’’ he said.

Akinbiyi said that most activities ahead of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state had been transferred from INEC Lagos State office to the local government offices of the commission.

The spokesman said that the distribution of all materials had been monitored by party agents and observers for the purpose of transparency.

He urged all stakeholders to support the commission in its effort to conduct free, fair and acceptable elections.

IG orders restriction of vehicular movement for elections

T

he Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has ordered restriction of vehicular movement in the 36 states, from 8a.m. to 5p.m. for the governorship and House of Assembly elections holding today.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.

The statement explained that the measure was to ensure safety and security during the polls. ``There is no restriction of vehicular movement in the Federal Capital Territory as there is no election taking place there on the said date,’’ the statement said.

It added that the restriction excluded ``vehicles on essential duty such as Fire Service, ambulances and vehicles used by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and law enforcement/security agencies.’’

The statement assured that adequate security logistics and manpower had been strategically deployed to achieve conducive atmosphere for the polls.

It said that policemen on election duty had been properly briefed on their roles as stipulated in the Electoral Act. ``They are expected to be professional, nonpartisan, civil but firm in their approach and relation to the public.’’

Nigerian President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, receiving a congratulatory letter from the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, during a visit to the President-Elect over the weekend in Abuja.

Don tasks Buhari on implementation of confab report P rof. Iro Uke of the University of Abuja on Thursday urged the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), to implement the National Conference (CONFAB) report and other programmes that would engender economic development.

UKe, a Professor of Political Science, told the News Agency of Ni-

geria (NAN) in Abuja that the conference had made some worthy recommendations that needed implementation.

He noted regrettably, successive governments had always failed to execute full implementation of inherited policies and programmes.

“The incoming administration should religiously follow the imple-

mentation of policies; the problem with the system has been full implementation of policy goals.

“Even if the incoming administration did not organise the National Conference, it should study the report very well and see the aspects that will bring about economic development and transformation and implement them.

“They should com-

plete the implementation of all well-meaning programmes initiated by the outgoing administration,” he said.

NAN recalls that the conference submitted more than 600 draft proposals, among which were the creation of 18 states and an additional state in the South-East, bringing the number to six states per zone.

12

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

April 11 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

U.K. makes big oil discovery Italy court shooting: ‘Four dead, I man arrested’ t seems Britain could be sitting on a whole lot of oil.

Exploration firm U.K. Oil & Gas Investments said Thursday there may be up to 100 billion barrels of oil at an onshore site in south England, near Gatwick airport, a company spokesperson told CNN. That’s more than double the amount of oil pumped from Britain’s energy offshore North Sea fields in the past 40 years.

The company’s share of the total reserves are estimated at close to 9 bil-

lion barrels.

UKOG chief executive Stephen Sanderson described the discovery as a “world class potential resource.”

“This [find] has the potential for significant daily oil production,” he said in a statement.

But the find may not be as significant as it looks at first glance. The firm said based on similar sites in the U.S. and Siberia, only between 3% and 15% the total reserves would likely be recovered.

While that seems small,

one expert said it’s fairly typical that for technical and economic reasons, a far smaller proportion of possible reserves will be extracted Britain’s energy industry has suffered along with the rest of the world over the past six months due to a sharp drop in the oil price.

In February, trade group Oil & Gas UK said new investment in the North Sea would fall by about one third in 2015 as weak oil prices and rising production costs force

companies are forced to pull back.

At the same time, low energy prices are fueling a wave of tie-ups in the oil sector. On Wednesday, Royal Dutch Shell and British firm BG Group announced a £47 billion ($69.7 billion) merger.

That bid brought global M&A volume in the oil and gas industry to $112 billion so far this year, according to Dealogic -- nearly double the $61.4 billion registered over the same period in 2014.

Bruce Jenner to say goodbye to his male persona on TV I t has been claimed that Bruce Jenner is set to say goodbye to his male persona for good when he appears on a special edition of ABC’s 20/20 later this month.

The Olympic gold medallist and reality TV star, who is expected to address reports that he is undergoing a gender transformation, is said to be speaking to the show’s host Diane Sawyer in a two-hour one-off episode.

And it has now been further claimed by TMZ that the 65-year-old will finally bid farewell to his male self, and will ‘present himself ’ as a woman for the first time.

But the site has stressed - after allegedly getting word from sources close to Bruce - that he will not be dressed as a female or reveal his alternative name.

For the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, it’s thought to be less about his physical appearance, and more about his mental journey throughout this period of time.

It has also been claimed that he’ll open up about his realisation about his gender difficulties from

the age of five, in a series of pre-recorded interviews.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Bruce Jenner but they declined to comment.

ABC previously revealed details of the upcoming show, which is called Bruce Jenner: The Interview: it will be a twohour programme with Sawyer, and would be ‘farranging and exclusive’.

The revealing interview will air on Friday April 24, after months of speculation.

According to media reports, the former track and field star has told his family that he is transgender, and they are incredibly supportive of him.

Bruce, who won a gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, made headlines in February when People magazine reported that he had told his ex-wife, Kris Jenner, and his sons and daughters that he was becoming a woman.

The magazine said the family pledged their support and wanted him to be happy.

Media reports at the time said Jenner would

come out as transgender during an interview with Sawyer and that he would star in a reality TV show about his transition.

Bruce was seen out at the weekend taking a motorcycle ride, covering up in heavy-duty gear amid rumours that he has recently undergone breast augmentation surgery, as reported by RadarOnline.

‘Bruce had silicone breast implants put in a few weeks ago,’ Radar quoted an insider. ‘He went with a smaller im-

plant because he didn’t want to look ridiculous.’

When MailOnline asked his representative about the report, he replied: ‘No comment’.

And on Monday, he was seen out near his home in Los Angeles wearing red polish on his fingernails, as he went for a hike.

The former Olympian has yet to officially confirm his transformation, but in recent months has been gradually changing his appearance to a more feminine form.

A final farewell? Bruce Jenner is reportedly set to ‘say goodbye’ to his male persona as he reveals his female identity in his upcoming interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s 20/20 in late April

in Milan

A

gunman has been arrested after he shot dead three people at the Palace of Justice in the Italian city of Milan.

A fourth person was found dead at the court, from an apparent heart attack.

The suspect, Claudio Giardiello, was reportedly a defendant in a bankruptcy case. He was arrested in a Milan suburb after fleeing the scene on a motorbike.

The dead are said to include his former lawyer and a bankruptcy court judge. The shooting has prompted scrutiny of security procedures at the courthouse.

Questions are being asked about how Mr Giardiello managed to smuggle a weapon into a well-guarded building, use it several times and escape.

The suspect was arrested by carabinieri officers in Vimercate, about 25km (15 miles) north-east of central Milan, near the town of Monza.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said the “presumed assassin” was now being held at a military police barracks in the Milan area.

The sound of gunfire had sparked panic inside the Palace of Justice on Wednesday morning.

Hundreds of people poured down stairways towards the exits while police and military police officers searched for the gunman.

“All of a sudden we heard at least three or four shots,” lawyer Marcello Ilia told the AFP news agency outside the building.

“We tried to find out what was going on. There were suddenly lots of police officers who told us not to leave the room, they shut us in,” he said.

“After a few minutes we came out. They told us someone in a suit and tie was armed and at large in the court.”

Citing officials and witnesses, the newspaper La Repubblica reported that the gunman had been attending a bankruptcy hearing when a fight broke out inside the third floor courtroom.

He pulled out a weapon and shot the lawyer, named as Lorenzo Alberto Claris Appiani, as well as another man, who is said to have been a co-defendant in the case.

According to La Repubblica, Mr Appiani was a former lawyer for Mr Giardiello who was acting as a witness in the case.

The gunman then left the courtroom and headed to the office of appeals court judge, Fernando Ciampi, shooting him dead.

It is not known if the gunman had any links to the judge.

A fourth person was found dead inside the building after apparently suffering a heart attack.

Another two people were wounded and are being treated at a hospital.

After hiding inside the Palace of Justice for more than an hour, the gunman fled on a motorbike, according to La Repubblica.

Mr Giardiello was described as “aggressive” and “a little paranoid” by his former lawyer, Valerio Maraniello, in comments quoted by AFP news agency.

‘America is the real terrorist and my boys are the best’

B

oston Marathon bombers’ mother stood defiant in the wake of Dhozkhar Tsarnaev’s guilty verdict Wednesday, declaring in a message to a supporter that her convicted mass-murderer son is ‘the best of the best.’

The 21-year-old Tsarnaev was found guilty by a Boston jury this morning of all 30 counts - 17 of them carrying the death penalty - in connection to the deadly 2013 attacks.

But the bomber’s mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, continued asserting

Dzhokhar and his late brother Tamerlan’s innocence.

In a text message to her sons’ supporter Timur Rudaev, Zubeidat Tsraneav called the convicted killer ‘my precious boy’ before going on a rant against the US.

‘America is the real terrorist and everyone knows that,’ she wrote in the text, which was later shared on the Russian social media site VKontakte and sent to the news blog Vocativ.

‘My boys are the best of the best,’ Mrs Tsarnaev added.

She effusively thanked everyone who have been helping her family over the past two years and vowed to keep them in her thoughts.

‘May God reward them for supporting my precious boy,’ the mother wrote.

Rudaev, a resident of Grozny, Chechnya, uploaded

Mrs Tsrarnaev’s text onto a VKontakte group called Help Dzhokhar Tsrarnaev, which he reportedly launched back in 2013.

The Chechen national told the blog Vocativ Wednesday that he has raised at least $5,000 for Dzhokhar and his family.

Politics

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

13

Nigerians in search of new governors Lekan Adejuwon

B

arring any last minute hitches, Nigerians will today elect a new set of governors to occupy the covetous seats in different states of the federa-

tion.

The governorship and House of Assembly elections will signal the end of the 2015 general election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which kick-started with the presidential and National Assembly election held on March 28.

But unlike the previous election, only 29 of the nation’s 36 states will participate in the election as Ondo, Osun, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Bayelsa and Anambra, will be exempted, as they have at one time in the past, held staggered elections to elect their governors.

Out of the 29 states, as many as 23 governors have completed their maximum two terms while 6 governors would be seeking a second term. They are Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi; Governor Ahmed AbduFatai of Kwara State; Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha; Nasarawa State governor, Al-Makura and his Kaduna State counterpart, Mukhtar Yero.

In the build up to today’s state elections, a major political record was broken on March 28 when the ruling party, for the first time in the annals of the politics of Nigeria, lost to the opposition.

The development was seen by many as a major historical epoch because in the previous four republics, the Nigerian political landscape had always been dominated by an all-powerful ruling party wielding enormous power of coercion that opposition parties have virtually been relegated to the background.

The shocking termination of 16 year Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, monopoly of power at the centre by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, last month has halted the political calculation even as many PDP stakeholders are yet to come to terms with the unfolding reality.

One of the fall outs of the power shift in the country which may shape the election result in today’s governorship and assembly elections is the likelihood of a band wagon effect arising from the arrested development of March 28.

For instance there are media reports indicating a massive defection suffered by the ruling PDP to the APC ahead of today’s crucial poll in Kwara, Edo Niger, Ondo, Ekiti states among others.

This is as a PDP governorship aspirant in the 2013 governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, defected to APC last Wednesday.

In Kwara State former PDP governorship candidate Gbemi Saraki and the state PDP Youth Leader, Chief Segun Olawoyin, on Tuesday, formally defected to the APC. Both leaders addressed their numerous supporters to follow them to their new party.

In Edo State, former Governor of Edo State, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, same day, announced his defection to the APC The former governor who announced his defection in his Esan West local government was joined few hours after a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army Brigadier General, Idada Ikponimwen, defected to the APC in Benin.

Also in Niger State, over 5000 PDP members, including 10 immediate past local government chairmen of PDP defected to the APC. The APC in Plateau State during the week received the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in today’s election, Mr. Bagudu Hirse In Ekiti State, similar scenario is playing out as

Ambode

Senator Ayo Arise joined the APC. Unconfirmed reports say former Minister, Femi Aborisade, is also making moves to quit the PDP. These are some of the developments that are likely to shape the outcome of today’s election.

Another issue of serious concern is the pertinent question of whether the Nigerian electorate would come out in their large numbers to vote just as they did during the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago.

The concern is borne out of the fact that the majority of the voters are believed to be committed to seeing a possible power shift at the centre which was reflected by the outcome of the March 28.

In a related development, the seeming poor performance of state governors across the country may have engendered a form of voters apathy today going by the level of poverty ravaging many states in the past four years.

But some believed that today’s election would make a definite statement that politicians can no longer take Nigerians for granted as the power to fire or hire any political office holder lies in the hands of the electorate as demonstrated during the last exercise.

However a worrisome dimension especially in some flash points is the spate of violence that almost marred the presidential election which appears to have sent a dangerous signal in the minds of people of genuine apprehension of a repeat occurrence which claimed lives in some states such as Bauchi, Benue, Rivers, Edo and Ekiti states.

In Ekiti State where the state governor was locked in a fierce political battle of wits with some members of the state House of Assembly, it is doubtful if the tense atmosphere in the South-West state would be conducive for election to hold today.

Many Nigerians have expressed concern over the fight-to-the finish stand adopted by the two combatants in the dispute.

In Rivers State where scores were reportedly feared dead during the March 28 presidential poll, the governor, Rotimi Amaechi, may have anticipated a possible poll boycott when he recently appealed to the electorate to forget the violence that took place in the state during and after the election and come out to vote on April 11, assuring them of adequate security today.

He said: “On Saturday, I expect everybody to come out and vote. There will be no police molestation again, there will be no army harassment again, there will be no army harassment again.”

Pictures: Jimi Agbaje and Ambode

Agbaje

Meanwhile the INEC has reiterated its commitment on the use of card readers in today’s elections across the country against a groundswell of opposition of the electronic device in some parts of the country.

In a statement by the commission last Monday signed by the Secretary of INEC, Augusta Ogakwu, the commission said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission wishes to inform all Nigerians that card readers will be used for the April 11, 2015 elections.

“The provision of the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 general elections which outlined what to be done if the card reader fails and cannot be replaced by the commission within a specified time frame… ”The commission has reviewed the operation of the card reader in the 28th March elections, identified the challenges and has taken adequate measures to address them.”

INEC also hinted that one of the reasons why the card readers failed was because its officials failed to remove the protective film on the lens of machine as some of the devices failed to read the biometric data of voters who turned out to perform their civic duties.

Also, INEC’s resolve to repeat the use of card readers in today’s election has been commended by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP This is contained in a prèss release issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu.

The group hailed INEC for insisting on the “imperative of the use of card reader for the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.”

It said further that “It is our considered view that card reader is an antidote to ballot box stuffing, ballot box snatching and padding of votes, hence ultimate reduction of electoral malpractices and all manners of irregularities.”

CNPP then urged INEC to, as a matter of urgent national importance, rectify and take adequate measures to plug all the identified challenges and malfunctions of the card reader device.

In a related development, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, after commending INEC for the successful conduct of March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections said: “We are not asking for perfection, we are asking for improvement and Prof. Jega has shown that improvement . INEC should however learn from the mistakes of the presidential and NASS elections and perfect it.”

From all indications, it is obvious that nothing short of a near perfect exercise is expected in today’s poll.

14

POLITICS

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why I abandoned PDP for APC –Femi Olajobi Comrade Femi Olajobi is a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. The Ilupeju Ekiti-born politician, in this interview with LEKAN ADEJUWON, expresses his worries on the state of affairs in Ekiti State and his reasons for dumping the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Excerpts:

Y

ou’ve just declared your intention to defect from the ruling PDP to the APC. What informed the decision?

There are two reasons why I had to leave the PDP for APC. One is personal, the other is nationalistic. On a personal note, I joined the party in 2006 to see if we can build the party as a truly national party but the problem with PDP all over the country is that there is no discipline.

Somebody would leave the party, go to three or four parties like the incumbent governor. He was the governor when he was impeached. He went to the ANPP, from there he went to AC, from AC, he went to Labour Party and finally returned to the PDP and we held no primaries in Ekiti State. It was an ‘arrangee’ PDP primaries and all of a sudden we had Fayose was elected as the PDP candidate.

A distinguished son of Ekiti State and a former senator, Ayo Arise, took it upon himself and said that this party must not fall that we have to remain in the mainstream. He reconciled the whole 13 aspirants starting from his brother and the present Minister of State for Works, Prince Adeyeye. He reconciled all of them excluding Senator Gbenga Aluko who refused to be part of the reconciliation.

Immediately after he won the election he stopped picking Senator Arise’s calls. This is after he had promised him a senatorial seat and by the time Arise would go to the primaries, there was even no form for the congress election in three out of the five local governments You sound as if you are fighting another person’s battle.

No, I am not fighting another man’s battle. I am only stating part of the personal reasons why I am quitting PDP. I know Fayose like the palm of my hands.

In 2003, he stormed my village because he knew I was contesting for the House of Assembly though in another party. He said even if I won the election, he would not allow me. I was robbed at the collation centre on the day of the election.

How come you remain in the party?

We remained in the party because we felt we had to be in the mainstream. We felt that if Ekiti people had to be in the mainstream, some people had to chart the cause. So, we all remained. But by the time AC came on board based on the Ekiti Agenda to fight PDP, then there was a primary in the AC but unfortunately 13 aspirants out of 14 that contested felt

cheated because the exercise was not transparent and yet the party announced Fayemi as the winner of the controversial primary. 13 aspirants left the AC and joined PDP and we have been there ever since.

But why is this your move coming at a time when the PDP lost power at the centre?

Whoever knows me in Ekiti State knew that I never started my move today.

The very day that ‘arrangee’ primary happened at Eagle Event Centre, I wrote my Local Government PDP in Oye that for the next 1,640 days whether Fayose wins or not I don’t have anything to do with party arrangement. I will remain a member of PDP, I will be active in my ward but I will never be part of any arrangement whether to support the governor or against him. Because this is a person who wounded the PDP, got PDP out of power by supporting somebody who was to have a rerun in another party against his party, the PDP, till we lost.

After we lost and another party came in, he now came back to the party and when he wanted to be governor, he never allowed a smooth primary. So, it is about conscience to say is there any primary in the first place to foist this man on us?

That was what happened it was not a spontaneous action.

I can understand where you are coming from but what do you think of Ekiti in the current political equation, being, perhaps, the only PDP State in the South West?

Thank you for that logical question.

Ekiti can manouvre itself if the incumbent governor decides to give peace a chance. Ekiti is about the smallest state in the country with the same homogenous people. Believe me, since we know ourselves, there is nobody in Ekiti State that governor will say, “come and see me in any party”, representing any interest that will not want to be there. It now depends on how you want to handle the situation. We only need a good manager to take Ekiti State to the next level.

Another raging issue is about this impeachment saga. Do you think this is what Ekiti people deserve at this time?

I have not seen the impeachment notice either online or served to the governor physically and I know that if you are going to impeach somebody, it is not going to be a la carte. It is a process. That

Olajobi

people go to APC does not mean I cannot tell people the right thing. What I know is that in Nigeria today, impeachment is no longer possible under 60 days because if you are setting up a committee, the governor can say that committee does not follow due process. He may go to court. The court can say, okay, go and set up another committee which might take another two weeks. That means you are buying time which goes to tell you that it is not going to be possible in the next two months, the last life line of the present House of Assembly. But for anybody to tell me as an outgoing PDP man that House of Assembly members cannot come to Ekiti… We voted them to stay for 1,640 days. Under Segun Oni, we have 13/13 which has never happened in the annals of Nigerian political. He managed them to a level that we are all happy that Segun Oni is one of the best managers that ever was here. But people never sang his praise until he left.

But here is where you have the opposition. In Nasarawa State there are 33 members in the House of Assembly with only 3 APC members, the remaining 30 members were all PDP. The only time they made a move against Al-Makura, Governor Al-Makura was in Aso Rock to see Goodluck Jonathan and said these are the people who had been running government with me for the past 3 years.

And by the time Jonathan went through his case, he sent a warning signal to the House and that was the end of the matter.

It shows that Al-Makura is a very good manager. Can’t our governor manage a homogenous state like Ekiti? These guys, you know, have only six months.

Somebody can manage 30 people for 4 years and you cannot manage 19 people for 7 months. Just ask yourself the question: If you were in his shoes what

would you do?

But let us look at the issue from the governor’s point of view. He said there was a premeditated moved by the Speaker to make himself the Acting Governor even before his inauguration?

How can seven people impeach somebody who has 19 behind him. Seven over 26 is zero in any exams because it is not even up to one third and even the six out of the seven are those who want to have a piece of the cake. Six APC members just coming to reap where they never sowed. How can seven people impeach 19 members even in absential.

Where are they seated to raise their hands?

Another school of thought has it that in a situation like this, the court is there to intervene in the sense that the governor is having more than one pending cases in court. Don’t you see the action of the 19 lawmakers as politically motivated because by April 14, the Supreme Court will give a final judgement on eligibility. Why can’t the lawmakers exercise some patience till that date?

Before the issue of eligibility, there is the issue of illegal impeachment of the Speaker because it was after the Appeal Court judgement over election tribunal that the issue of eligibility based on the judgment of Appeal Court that now says is he eligible? That is for a higher court to decide. The case has been there ab initio; that he was illegally impeached. I never met Omirin one on one in politics, but I know him as an outstanding Ekiti citizen. It is not about person or party but about the general interest of Ekiti people.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15

April 11, 2015

‘Jonathan’s approach totally un-African’

Talking

“T

‘I’ll be the last man standing for PDP’

Politics

—General TY Danjuma, former Defence Minister, hails President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat during the last Presidential election he outcome of the election and the manner in which President Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari, is totally un-African, it is very important in the history of Africa.

“If Ojukwu did the same after the fall of Enugu, and conceded defeat to the federal troops he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed.

“President Jonathan has made history, set a record to be emulated by the rest of Africa and indeed the whole world. It’s an excellent thing he did.”

—Senate President, David Mark, refuting alleged plans to quit PDP

‘Lagos will fare better in a federal government controlled by its party’ — Vice-President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at Town Hall meeting

“O

ne of the great opportunities today is the fact that we now have the centre and we are in control of the Federal Government. It is a very crucial moment in the history of our state because this state has always provided leadership and direction in Nigeria.

“But we have always suffered because we have always been in the opposition.

Everything we have done has always been at a great cost. As Attorney-General in this state, I was in the Supreme Court almost 12 times, fighting for the rights of our state and each time we had to go there, we knew we could have settled it if we were in the same party as the centre.

“In 1999, we started a 270 megawatt Independent Power Plant in Ikorodu, which was the first in Nigeria. When we installed it, we thought it would provide Lagos with power but the Federal Government said no and that we should connect it to the national grid despite the fact that we paid for it.

“If we were in the same party at the centre, this would not have happened to us.”

“B

efore I go and sit down I have heard by way of rumour to start with in social media that I am decamping to APC. Social media is awash with that. If I will be the last man standing I will remain in PDP. “The rumour is just an unnecessary fabrication and I even heard that one of the papers yesterday had it as headline.

The media men must please make sure they investigate cases before they begin to publish it.

“Nobody has spoken to me from APC. I have no reasons whatsoever to leave PDP, no reasons. I have risen to where I am on the platform of PDP. PDP has a

manifesto and I believe in it.”

“Those who are leaving PDP now are fair weather friends of PDP. So they have gone (and) they have no problem. When PDP bounces back in few years in the next couple of elections or next election they will come back again to PDP. So they will move.

Those ones are not really the issues.

“So, the point I want to make is that I remain in PDP and I will try to restructure PDP, bring it back again.

This is democracy, there will be a winner and there will be a loser and the loser must accept it and the winner must accept it. It is not anything new for us.”

‘The wind of change blowing across Nigeria must blow over Ondo State’ —Chief Olusola Oke, former PDP National Legal Adviser, announcing his defection to APC

“I

have passionately resisted to be part of this change, I resisted the wind of change that was blowing until it almost blew me out. Now, I have surrendered, I can’t resist no more.

“I have come over not because PDP lost election, but I have come over because the wind of change blowing across Nigeria must blow over Ondo State. Let me commend you leaders for your courage, boldness in bringing about this change. “ In Ondo State, I know what you people have gone through because the forces

of darkness that want thestatus quo to remain but everything in life is constant but change is permanent.

“We have come to add value; we are not here to change. In 2012, when I took the courage to challenge thestatus quo, I titled my campaign ‘rescue mission’.

That rescue mission that I cannot accomplish, the APC has promised a platform for that rescue of Ondo State.

“No power of darkness will stop change from coming to Ondo State. Ondo State is the poorest state in the South-

west and we have no reason to be poor, because we have everything …, but our problem is lack of good leadership, lack of vision by those who are the privileged to preside over our affairs.

“They changed a good government and replaced it with bad government and today there is penury in the land; deceit, unemployment. No industry, no employment, no job, no contract are being awarded and what we have are broken promises, deception and corruption at its peak”.

16

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Living

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

17

The perils of nocturnal trips

In the face of myriad dangers associated with night travelling, Nigerians seem to have no choice. Faulty rail services, traffic snarl in day time and skyrocketing air fares keep the trend booming, even as people continue to lose their lives in droves, reports GBOYEGA ADEOYE

T

he daily hustle and bustle of Lagos goes on as usual. Traffic was still, sundown on a Monday, as exhausted workers returned home. Due to the logjam, a family of four spent three hours for a distance of five kilometers from their office to the airport. They were victims of the tailback, having missed their flights by a ‘crab’s blink.’ In the circumstance, night travel was the only possible way of reaching Kaduna cockcrow the second day. The family was at the bus station 6pm pronto, after meandering through the excruciating jam. The family’s experience paints a gory picture of what millions of Nigerians who travel in the night pass through daily.

The Federal Road Safety officials put the number of night death in seven digits.

“Night travelers in Nigeria are exposed

to the most excruciating pain. It is more like a death sentence. Yet, millions of people have now resolved to travel in the night simply because the options are limited. Fatal accidents, gang rape and armed attack are daily happenings on our roads,’ Bisi Olayori, a FRSC official told National Mirror.

He summarised the problems: ‘the roads are in extremely bad shape, there is no security, no highway medicare, armed robbers with sophisticated guns patrol the highways nonstop, no road signs, drivers are ill trained and are not subjected to medical fitness test, leading to the death of thousands of people yearly.’

The problems appear more than what Olayori portrayed. Victoria Kolade, whose family was traveling to Kaduna

that Monday, recalled that a blonde lady sat at the cash counter at the bus station, her eyes red and fatigued, probably from the day’s hard exertion. Her eyes were piercing and rude, she remembered.

Meager pay, employer’s exploitation and despair were etched on her face.

This reporter was also at the bus station when the Kolade family arrived.

‘Yes?’ the lady quipped with a frown, the kind usually shot at an unwanted guest in one’s private bedroom. She counted the fare and threw the cash in the

vault, almost with a furious bang. After scripting on the receipt, she asked for the passengers’ ‘next of kin’s cell numbers’ saying, with an air of apathy: ‘we take the phone in case you die.’ She was not looking at the payees. Few minutes later, she flung the receipts on the counter for the family to pick them. ‘Next’, she beckoned on the travelers on the queue, where this reporter stood.

Endless wait. The bus administrators announced departure for 7pm, only to be changed to 7.30, then 8pm, then 8.30pm,

The roads are in extremely bad shape, there is no security, no highway medicare, armed robbers with sophisticated guns patrol the highways, no road signs, drivers are ill trained and are not subjected to medical fitness test, leading to the death of thousands of people yearly CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

LIVING

18

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Do you know how you were made?

The science behind babies

YY The more sex you have, the more likely you’ll have a boy YY More girls are born in times of stress, more males after wars

E

veryone knows that once a woman hits 35, her fertility plummets and it’s much harder to get pregnant.

Right?

Well, staggering as it sounds, this assumption is based on figures that are 300 years old.

Yes, the statistics that inform modern fertility advice were gleaned from the birth patterns of pre-Revolution French peasant women.

How did this happen? French historian Louis Henry, who died in 1991, collected information from French parishes between the 18th and 19th centuries — crucially, pre-contraception — and this was used to calculate ‘natural’ fertility rates.

As a result, the fertility rate of a 35 to 39-year-old woman not using contraception is commonly assumed to be 34 per cent, compared with 48 per cent for those aged 20 to 24. From 40 to 44, it drops to 17 per cent and is less than 5 per cent by 45.

But in the 1700s, many older women would have been breastfeeding from a previous birth, which would have limited their ability to get pregnant.

Additionally, those over 35 may well have already given birth to six or seven children, suffering complications that

left them sterile. And, crucially, if women didn’t want more children they were probably avoiding sex altogether.

Clearly, they have little in common with modern women who have delayed starting a family by choice.

More recent and realistic figures show that the rates of conception in the first year, based on a woman having sex twice a week, is 82 per cent for 35 to 39-year-old women; while the chance of conceiving in the second year is 90 per cent.

For a 19 to 26-year-old, the chance of conceiving after one year is 92 per cent and 98 per cent after two.

But what if you just don’t want a baby, at least for now?

Nowadays, a huge percentage of sex does not lead to pregnancy, so there are clearly some reliable contraceptive options out there. The most popular options are condoms and the Pill — used by 22 per cent of all sexually active women.

But the Pill is most popular with younger women — used by nearly half of 16 to 24-year-olds.

Implants, injections and patches — known as Long Acting Reversible Contraception — are the choice of 7 per cent of women and nearly one in five 16 to

24-year-olds.

Five per cent of women using contraceptives rely on the coil, 2 per cent on the withdrawal method and 3 per cent on ‘natural’ methods — that is, timing sex so it doesn’t coincide with a woman’s fertile period.

Abstinence might have been the main form of contraception in centuries gone by, but is used by just 0.6 per cent of women now.

Can condoms be trusted? And what’s the likelihood of contraception failing?

The failure rate for condoms is given by manufacturers as 2 per cent when used ‘perfectly,’ a figure calculated from experiments in which volunteer couples monitored their experiences.

While many admitted having problems — from prophylactics that were put on the wrong way round to those that slipped off during love-making — in 2,248 monthly cycles where condoms were used for all sex there were just four pregnancies. From this, statisticians were able to arrive at the figure of 2 per cent.

Meanwhile, a 2002 study estimated a ‘typical’ failure rate of 18 per cent after

a survey of 7,643 women — who said they relied on condoms — revealed that 14 per cent had got pregnant after a year, presumably due to incorrect use.

It was adjusted upwards to take into account abortions that women hadn’t reported. Factors which increase the failure rate are being under the age of 30, having children already, or intending to have more children, cohabiting, and being poor.

For oral contraception used properly, the risks of pregnancy are 0.3 per cent a year.

For ‘typical’ use the rate rises to 9 per cent, taking into account mix-ups on dates, forgetting to take it or stomach upsets.

Again, factors that make it more likely you’ll get pregnant are being under 30, having children, or intending to have more children, and being unmarried.

With the withdrawal method, when practiced accurately the failure rate is estimated at 4 per cent, but for ‘typical use’ it soars to 22 per cent.

Without doubt, the Pill revolutionised sexual behaviour — a fact illustrated by the majority of women who rely on it.

But a warning came out in 1995 from the CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

April 11, 2015

19

‘Was your personality decided at birth?’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 UK Committee On Safety In Medicines which suggested that ‘third-generation’ pills (invented in the Eighties) roughly doubled the risk of blood clots in legs.

Understandably, women were alarmed, and even though they were urged to keep taking the Pill, many users stopped from the day of the announcement.

The morning-after pill became available over pharmacy counters in 2000.

Ten years later, a health survey found this had been used by 7 per cent of sexually active women in the previous year. But what stands out is use among the younger generation. More than one in five — 21 per cent — had taken it in the 16 to 24 age group, but only 1 per cent had used it twice.

Do you realise it’s always more likely to be a boy?

The figures speak for themselves — there are more boys born compared with girls. Approximately five extra boys are born for every 100 girls. This imbalance is just as well, as the male is definitely the weaker sex. Each year, an average male, no matter what age, has around a 50 per cent greater chance of dying before his next birthday than a woman of the same age. The result is that, on average, men live four years fewer than women.

Why are more males born after wars? Examining the ratio of boys to girls born from 1838 to the modern day, researchers reveal some fascinating fluctuations.

In particular, spikes in 1919 and 1944 show that more males are born at the end of wars. This trend has been found in many other countries.

While there are those who believe a greater force must be at work, ‘replacing’ the fallen with baby boys, there has been extensive research into this strange phenomenon and a number of more scientific explanations have been suggested.

One is that evolution has enabled women to have more boys in times of great loss of men as they will do better in a society short of males.

The most coherent explanation is that the sex of the foetus is influenced by the hormone levels of the parents at conception, with more boys being conceived earlier on in the cycle.

The peak fertile time for a woman is around two days before ovulation, but if couples have a lot of sex they are more likely to conceive before the woman reaches this peak, at an earlier point in her cycle.

Obviously during, and just after major wars, sex has to be crammed into brief periods of leave. So a couple will maximise opportunities for making love with intense bouts of activity, with less consideration to where a woman is in her cycle. So more conceptions are likely to occur earlier in the fertile period and therefore give a higher chance of having a boy.

This theory is backed up by another peak for boys in the UK in 1973. While there was no war on, this is when the average age of women at marriage was at

Babies

its lowest — 21 — and there was a surge of teenage pregnancies. It was a time of intense sexual activity in the young.

Clearly frantic fornication produces more boys. …And more girls are born in times of stress. While more boys are born at the end of wars, relatively more girls are born in times of prolonged parental stress — for example, as happened in New York in the wake of the destruction of the Twin Towers in 2001.

Prolonged financial hardship also produces a similar trend.

Researchers investigating miscarriages in California found that there were more miscarriages of male babies when the unemployment rates were higher between 1989 and 2001. So the most likely explanation for this pattern is that stress during pregnancy leads to more miscarriages of male than female foetuses.

Additionally, the flip side of the argument that more sex produces more boys is that less sex results in more girls — and stress, of course, is a well-known passion killer.

Could sneezing stop pregnancy? The ancient Romans believed that if you sneezed after sex, it would prevent conception.

Before developments in modern contraception, women would use extended breastfeeding to reduce their chances of conception, or alternatively employ internal barriers of herbs or wool soaked in honey or olive oil.

While it’s doubtful many of these practices were successful, a sponge inserted in the woman before sex followed by douching afterwards has been credited with bringing down France’s birth rate in the 1700s.

Condoms were invented in 1564 by Italian surgeon Gabriele Falloppio. Originally linen sheaths held on with ribbon, they were intended as protection against syphilis, which was called the ‘French disease,’ hence the English called them ‘French letters,’ a name that stuck into the 20th century.

Meanwhile, the French called them ‘la

capote anglaise’ — ‘the English hood’.

By the 1700s, they were made from animal’s intestines, and by the 1890s condoms came in thick rubber.

Was your personality decided at birth?

First-borns are ambitious, middle children are social butterflies, and the youngest are charming but less responsible It turns out, the order in which you were born can not only have an effect on your personality, but also your chances of academic success.

According to researchers, several theories suggest that where you are in your family determines who you are. The personality traits are also supposedly affected by whether parents have high expectations and how strict they were.

First born First-born children are expected to be higher academic achievers and more ambitious. They also have a stronger sense of responsibility and are generally more mature. They also tend to have better leadership skills. The explanation is that although they get a lot more affection and attention from their parents, their parents have higher expectations of the first child.

This works as a self-fulfilling prophecy: if there are high expectations placed on you, you are more likely to want to work hard and live up to these expectations.

Middle born Middle-born children apparently tend to be more co-operative, flexible and sociable. They are also able to make and maintain friendships easily. This is due to the fact that as a middle-born child, there aren’t the high expectations of the first child, nor the relaxed attitude accorded to the last child. As a result, they also tend to be less ambitious than their older brothers and sisters, and so will have a more relaxed attitude in life.

As middle children receive less attention than their other siblings, they seek out relationships and friendships outside of their family, and can be social

butterflies.

Last born Youngest children tend to be likeable and charming. Other traits they carry are that they are more creative than older siblings, and have a stronger sense of security and confidence.

As their parents have already had other children, they tend to be a lot less strict and are a lot more lenient with their youngest children.

Parents’ expectations will also be lower. As a result, youngest children will generally be less responsible and mature than older siblings, as they constantly feel like others will take the lead.

Only Child Only children tend to be academically-able, creative and resourceful. They are also mature and responsible, and dislike disorder and like to be in control. Being a parent’s only child, expectations are always high, but unlike a first-born, they never need to fight for the attention of their parents.

Not to mention, being in a household with only adults often leads the child to mature more quickly and copy the actions of the parents, rather than being moulded by siblings’ childish or youthful interests. But because they have never had to interact with siblings or companions of a similar age, they can have trouble relating to peers and can feel out of control when things in their life don’t go their way.

The researchers, however, note that these are just theories relating to order of birth. They add that gender, social status, age gaps between siblings and the number of siblings can play a huge role in determining traits.

“Some aspects may be true for you, or make a lot of sense, but it wouldn’t be the same for every single person around the world in your specific birth order.

“It’s important to remember that your personality and your destiny in life are not predetermined at birth.” (mailonline.com)

20

LIVING

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘The number of deaths is irritating’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

and then finally 9pm. Enquiries about the reason for the endless transition was seen as rebellion against constituted authority. ‘You don’t ask questions, your own is to get to Kaduna’, a burly barked at the travelers, trampling on some feet as he bullied through clusters of helpless passengers, some that had asked him why he could not keep to his own stated time of departure.

And like a huge python, the 42 capacity Brazil made bus finally meandered through the highway in Lagos in the darkening hours of that Monday. Very few street lights dotted the sideways of the Federal Highway, soon to fade into little distant stars as the bus ate up the 6km highway from Oyingbo on the way to Kaduna, about 2000 kilometers away.

Travelling in the night has its own culture. For example, a police orderly with an AK-47 is attached to every bus, the police man usually announce the departure with a gun shot into the horizon, travelers must switch off their phones, majority of the buses have no toilets and nomadic pastors usually accompany the passengers. The pastor’s routine is to preach to the congregation for the first few minutes before disembarking.

The pastor would drop on the way after saying the last prayer and receiving the voluntary donations from commuters.

As the bus inched away from Lagos, thick darkness began to envelop the sky, with the bus becoming literarily a tiny midget racing through the blind alley, only to be guided by the courage, brute doggedness and amazing sense of imagination of the man sitting on the wheel chair.

As time scurried by with the huge Lagos city vanishing into a far-flung image, the bus soon became a candle in the wind, blown forth in a zigzag.

From the driver’s cubicle, Bob Marley’s hit track, ‘life is one big road with lots of signs…..when you passing through, don’t complicate yourself ’ came with an irresistible force. The music, at least, gave the passengers a sense of immunity, even if false, from the raging lunacy of the driver’s killer speed. Passengers began to prattle away, some closed their eyes, trying to lure sleep, ignoring, albeit helplessly, the possible fatal accident and death that hunted us like an incubus beast.

Beside the reporter was a sweet lady, obviously in her early twenties. She was already seated before the arrival of the reporter at the bus station, so the idea of measuring her height and hip sizes were out of the question. Beauty could easily be bestowed on her nevertheless; her eyes were sharp and incisive, her lips like that of a princess, her colour was chocolate, her eyes were brown and her hair was long and blonde. The usual awe that surrounds beautiful women was her lot.

Who would say the first ‘hi’? Maybe the Ebony magazine the reporter was holding

FRSC officials at accident scene

might interest her? Maybe not? At last, something happened. She wanted to have a glance at the magazine, which I obliged.

We got talking. She was on her way to Abuja, as a University student. She had left Abuja in search of her mother, but on reaching the house where both had lived in years gone by when cell phone was a taboo, the mother had relocated to an unknown place, having broken away from her father several years ago. So, Helen decided to sneak out of her University to visit her mother without the knowledge of her father who lives in Abuja. After a futile search, she was now on her return journey to Abuja. ‘I didn’t tell my dad.

He won’t allow me to go. It’s painful I could not locate her’, she said. The sad thing about the lady was the fact that the previous year, her two brothers had left Abuja in search of their mother in a night bus. Unfortunately, they never returned.

Their corpses were later discovered at a mortuary in Ile-Ife, after a fatal night accident that took the lives of 40 people, including ten children.

‘I vowed never to travel by night. I lost two brothers,’ she moaned, the neon bus lights x-raying her eyes with images of grief etched in them led to the discovery that she had only one hand, having lost the other in a separate accident during a night trip from Abuja to Kano. ‘Hundreds of armed robbers were on the highway. They fired at our bus. The driver lost control.’

All thirty in the bus died except her.

Fuelling an emerging grim picture, another passenger said there were no road signs, the drivers are usually drunk,

they are poorly trained and worse still, it is as if police men usually abandon the nights for armed robbers to take control.

The situation is compounded by the lack of respect for travelers, evident by bus owners’ disregard for safety rules. ‘Some of them don’t have extra tires. The buses are too old. No toilet facilities and the requirement of medical fitness of drivers are ignored by bus owners,’ another passenger said.

Subsequent events confirmed their observations. For instance, few miles away from take-off point, the bus halted, disrupting the conversation. The bully driver jumped down, followed by a cynical co-driver. Both left the passengers for about one hour. They returned without any explanation. A passenger pounced on the driver: ‘You are a wicked man.

What kind of company is yours? You left without any word.’ The driver retorted: ‘hey, don’t talk to me anyhow, if not I will break your head o.’ The session became rowdy with some passengers surging to hit the driver, who in turn shot out a huge iron rod, promising to send any of the frustrated passengers to the mortuary.

Some that were used to the shameful, tragic drama of night travels chose to be spectators.

The bus had developed tire problems, but there was no explanation from the drivers or the two equally pugnacious bus conductors that they had returned to the bus station to source for the extra, indicating that the bus had no intention of driving through the over long distance to Kaduna with extra tires.

In 2004, road traffic injuries were the 9th leading medical cause of death in the world.

It kills millions of people yearly, higher than the number of people killed by malaria or diabetes

An official of the FRSC who does not want to be named said the number of deaths each night is ‘irritating.’ He said apart from the lack of lights on the highways, there are no traffic signs, no hospitals; no adequate training for drivers that ply the highways in the night, adding that the terrible situation mirrors the character and form of governance in Nigeria.

Andrew Magana, a teacher in the bus said he had been travelling in the night for close to two decades. He said people travel by night for so many reasons. He lectured that the bus owners constitute a powerful cartel that consciously works to frustrate government’s attempts at funding alternative means. A source at the Federal Ministry of Works told Saturday Mirror that transportation by waterways and railways are ‘constantly frustrated by some bus owners for their own selfish ends.’

Officials claim that in one night alone, over 5 million Nigerians are on the road, signposting the depth of associated hazards. For now, transportation by road remains the most common among Nigerians. But the deaths recorded each night appear a reflection of the general malaise associated with traveling by road in Nigeria.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, B.O Oyeyemi link the growing inevitable interest of Nigerians in road use to the ‘restrictive nature of the waterways, coupled with the near collapse of the rail system and the high cost of air travels’ which he said have exerted a lot of pressure on the road transport industry.

Though there is a grim global picture about road mishaps but the situation in Nigeria appears appalling. An expert on road transportation, Mr Yomi Fawehinmi in a paper he delivered not too long ago said that in 2004, road traffic injuries were the ninth leading medical cause of death in the world.

According to him, it kills millions of people yearly around the world the figure of which is said to be higher than the number of people killed by malaria or diabetes.

Entervaganza

The Saturday Mirror Magazine

a J ’ i D ... Doro-jinx

Relationships Sex talk Fashion 15 sexual Is it okay for guys to swap ‘wife stories?’

P.32

questions you were too embarrassed to ask (2) P.32

Print shoes and sandals P.28

22

ENTERVAGANZA

Celebr ity Highly rated actress, Cynthia Agholor, tells OSEYIZA OOGBODO about her life as an actress and especially what acting has done for her.

You began acting as a teenager. How old were you then?

I don’t want to say it.

What’s wrong in revealing your age?

I don’t wanna say it. I was a teenager, period.

You are a Christian. Are you born again?

Yeah, I’m a born again Christian.

Is it possible to be born again in an industry such as Nollywood with all its vices and loose morals?

Why not?

April 11 , 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Acting has improved me very much —Cynthia Agholor

striving since I came back in 2005 to be up there. I’ve been working very hard with the grace of God and I know that

by His grace, I’m going to be where He wants me to be.

Would you then say you are as popular as Omotola or Genevieve?

No, you wo n’ t say that because I’m Cynthia, I’m on my own. I actually left the movie industry for five years, went to school, concentrated on modelling and came back finally after my youth service in 2005.

Since

Tell us your most challenging role.

I did a job, My Sister My Child, and I’ll say it’s been the most challenging because I played a triple role in it. I was a well-pampered teenager, on to a maltreated adult, then a selfemployed person who has made it. Three different characters in one movie.

So is acting fulfilling for you?

Of course. Acting is now business. The money is very good now, so you can say fine, this is what I achieved from acting, this is what I o w n from act-

But you have to kiss in movies and lie in bed with your male colleagues.

That’s not a sin. That’s acting.

Kissing someone you’re not legally married to?

It’s acting. You’re not doing it, you’re acting. Your feelings are not there.

But what sort of image do you think you are projecting when you are supposed to live an exemplary and righteous life as someone who has given her life to Christ?

Must I go about dirty because I’m born again? I need to look good so that when someone approaches me, they will say hey you look good. I now tell the person that hey it’s Jesus. Then I start preaching. Something has to attract somebody to come to me. So if I can preach to you the way I’m looking, and the way I am, and considering the fact that I’m an actress and I’m preaching to you and you have seen my movie and liked it, of course, men, if you look at yourself, you will want to surrender to God. For instance, I went to my friend’s church one day and the pastor, who knows me, introduced me after the service and people were like wow, if you can be born again in your profession, what are we waiting for?

How many movies have you acted in?

I can’t count oh. I’ve done quite a few as everyone is aware and I just can’t count them.

then, I’ve featured in many movies so I wouldn’t compare myself with others because they’ve been there and I was out for some years till I came back.

Are you undecided as to what you want between acting and modelling?

They are almost the same thing. I have the features, I model. I like modelling, and I faced it while I was in school because it doesn’t really take much of my time. I just do some runway, some calendar jobs, billboards and all that and then face my studies whereas acting takes a lot of time.

Anyway, it’s not about being undecided, it’s the same thing, it’s showbiz. I’m an MC too and I still do other things that are showbiz.

If you have the showbiz thing in you, you should be able to do anything showbiz. I

ing.

A n d all from getting paid for doing something you love do-

present too so I’m a presenter. ing.

Of all these jobs you do, which one has favoured you the most?

Well, I wouldn’t really want to say one has favoured me more because they have all favoured me in one way or the other. But I’ll say acting has improved me so much, you understand? Even though I lack my privacy sometimes, acting has exposed me, it has even actually exposed me to some of the modelling jobs I’ve done, MC and all that, presenting too, so let’s say acting is the overall for me because it is where people identified my talent and got to know who Cynthia is.

So where do you hope to be professionally?

Well, anywhere God takes me. I’ve been

What are those assets you have acquired?

I should now come and start saying my assets? I can’t tell you what they are but I know I’ve achieved. Financially too.

So you are a millionaire?

Well, I claim it, but then, I wouldn’t want to start using such words in the pages of newspapers. But I’m okay. I don’t have to be a millionaire. I feed myself, I have people under me that I feed, we’re comfortable, I’ve a home where we stay, you know, after going about, you come in and lay your head there, we have food to eat, so I’m okay, I’m comfortable.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

April 11, 2015

Dorobucci aftermath

Mavins suffer sophomore jinx

T

he sophomore jinx is one of the entertainment industry’s biggest problems. It arises when an entertainer or entertainers or production house or suchlike come up with a very successful piece of creative work as their first effort and are then able to follow it up with another really successful work.

And the way things stand right now, the hottest music crew in the country presently, The Mavins, can be said to have been afflicted by the sophomore jinx.

If you recall, The Mavins, which comprise Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID, D’Prince, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks and Di’Ja stunned the continent last year when their first single featuring vocals by all of them, Dorobucci, became a phenomenal success.

Since Dorobucci was so

huge, it was expected that their next effort would be massive as well. But that next effort, Looku Looku, isn’t.

Like Dorobucci, it was released last year. But unlike Dorobucci which became very popular even without a video, Looku Looku, even with a video, is yet to catch on, and as the days go by, its appeal seems to reduce, not for lack of airplay, but maybe it’s just not connecting with music lovers because of the sophomore jinx factor.

While Looku Looku is struggling to embed itself in music lovers’ hearts, other numbers by individual Mavin artists or a combination of some of them are doing very well.

Such numbers include Awww by Di’Ja, God Win

by Bello, Katapot by Banks and Adaobi by Jazzy, Banks, Bello and Di’Ja.

Why Banky W, Dr SID, Ikechukwu have gone into film

Banky

B

Dr SID

y now, it’s in the public domain that some music artists have gone for studies at the prestigious New York Film School as their first step in their desire to invade Nollywood.

With the number of such artists increasing by the day, Ikechukwu is the latest, Banky W and Dr SID preceded him, it’s pertinent to now address the issue of why they are taking the Nollywood step.

Di’Ja

Jazzy

Ikechukwu

And E-News can authoritatively reveal that these artists are preparing themselves for Nollywood because they foresee a situation whereby the music might stop paying, as it eventually does for most Nigerian musicians.

Already, the music is no longer paying as much as before for these artists so the earlier they find their way into other sectors, the better it might just be for them.

Bitter taste of failure

Jesse Jagz eats the humble pie

I

f there’s one prayer virtually everyone prays on a consistent basis, it’s to be successful, not a failure, because while the taste of success is very sweet, that of failure is the polar opposite, very bitter.

It’s bitterer still when you’ve tasted the sweetness of success, then had to taste failure, you’ll realize it’s so distasteful that you wouldn’t want even your worst enemy to taste it.

This is exactly the case of talented singer-rapper-producer Jesse Jagz. Through the machinations of the respected entertainment outfit, Chocolate City, Jagz rose to fame and prominence. He was courted by the A-listers of entertainment and his future was believed to be brighter still.

But maybe success went into his head, as it does into those of some entertainers, as he turned his back on CC three years ago and struck out on his own.

But he hasn’t done well on his own and has now retraced his steps back to CC.

Jagz

24

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLASSICAL LYRICS

E-NEWS

Reminisce on third Mummy Mi album, Kayswitch, Waje, others struggle Artist: Wizkid

Listen Eh na na na na Eh na na

W

Noella

Call her sexy?

Wiyaala Noella sparks internet frenzy

B

efore now, many people outside of Ghana did not really know the name Wiyaala Noella and the person it belongs to.

Right now however, the name and person have sparked a massive internet frenzy, and for what reason, the release of pictures of Noella in a bikini in different locations and poses.

Anyway, Noella is one of Ghana’s promising singers and her bikini pictures have been a sort of shock to many people because she previously didn’t have that sort of image and she has now taken it on at a time when she’s billed to perform at the 89th birthday of England Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, on April 21st at the British High Commission in Ghana.

Well, it must just be that she’s proving true to the title of one of her songs, Rock My Body.

hile some artists are finding it quite difficult to release albums, it seems some have mastered the art down to its finest details.

Kayswitch for instance is one artist who has made a name for himself and performed worldwide, yet he’s yet to release his debut album, how much more his sophomore.

Waje is another popular artist who has achieved so much. Though she became popular years ago, she just managed to release her debut album two years ago and since then there’s been no talk of any other album from her.

Yet another big name having album issues is Wande

O

She has released a superlative video for her critically acclaimed song, We Are Africa, and the video will certainly aid the song in spreading further.

The interesting thing now is to wait and see if Rubunu, formerly Debbie, can go on to become bigger than PFWA season 7 winner, Ugo, or even achieve her aspiration of becoming a critically and commercially successful artist, something which most of the PFWA alumni, and in fact the alumni of all Nigerian music talent hunts, find extremely difficult to accomplish.

O ni fe mi lokan O gbe oyun mi fun osu mesan O pon mi fun odun meta o O a mama mi O ni fe mi lokan O gbe oyun mi fun osu mesan O pon mi fun odun meta oh Mummy mi oh (4x) I will be there for you I love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will do anything for you Mama, I will love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will be there for you oh I love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will do anything for you Mama, I will love you forever Eh na na na na Na na na na na Eh mama, o nife mi lokan O gbe oyun mi fun osu mesan O pon mi fun odun meta oh O a mama mi O ni fe mi lokan O gbe oyun mi fun osu mesan O pon mi fun odun meta oh Mama ki lo fe ra? I will buy you Ferrari Mama ki lo fe ra? I will buy you Bugatti Mama se ile lo fe? I go buy two for Ghana B’owo se n wo’le wa, I go buy you all need Mummy mi oh (4x) I will be there for you I will love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will do anything for you Mama, I love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will be there for you oh I love you forever Mummy mi oh 904x I will do anything for you Mama, I go love you forever Eh na na na na Na na na na na

Kayswitch

Rubunu drops superlative We Are Africa visuals

ne artist who said she wants to make her impact felt in the music industry and who has now taken a bold step in achieving that aim is Project Fame West Africa season seven participant, Debbie Olotu.

But she is no longer known as Debbie Olotu but Rubunu. She has had the name change since last year, and that’s still part of her efforts to take over the game.

Now, her latest step is one that should surely pay her massive dividends not only nationally but also continentally and even worldwide.

Coal whose debut album, Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits, is one of the most successful debut albums ever in Nigeria still doesn’t know when he’s going to release his sophomore.

There are many more of them in this situation which is surprising because other artists, Olamide, P-Square, 2face and Timaya inclusive, are releasing their own albums easily.

And one artist who is now swaggering grandly into the midst of this latter category is Reminisce. He has announced that his third studio album, Baba Hafusa, which was supposed to be released in February will now be released at the end of this month.

Rubunu

Reminisce

Oya tell me tell me, why I no go love mama Oya tell me tell me, why I no go love mama Omo she make tea for me, and she buy bread for me Oya tell me tell me, why I no go love mama I love you mama yes, yes I love you yes Mama I will never leave you Till the end mama yes Mama I love you love you yes Yes, I love you mama mi E ba mi ki mama mi Iya Olubusayo Mama I love you love you yes Mummy mi oh (4x) I will be there for you I will love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will do anything for you Mama, I love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will be there for you oh I love you forever Mummy mi oh (4x) I will do anything for you Mama, I will love you forever

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

E-NEWS

April 11, 2015

25

Artists in very high demand

Olamide

2Face

S

uccess as an artist in the music industry worldwide is very difficult to attain. Thereby, for every popular artist, there are tens of thousands more who will never hit the limelight.

An industry that has many sub-sectors: production, management, etc, those in the other sectors become successful far more easily than the artists themselves.

So difficult is it for an artist to become a success that even if he, her has a sponsor to help him, her overcome the financial challenge which is the major challenge in the path of most artists, it is still no guarantee of success.

Suffice it to say that artists who eventually taste the sweetness associated with success are those who are able to persevere, suffer humiliation, make the necessary sacrifices and possess the necessary patience in abundance.

Most artists are never able to travel the long unpredictable road to the Promised Land. They bow out after investing much money and time and seeing no gains while suffering despair and deprivation to boot.

Some of them bow out of the music industry totally for other sectors that will keep their body and soul together and make them relevant to their sceptical families, friends and the society. Those who really have the music thing in their blood drift into music’s other sectors and quickly become successes there.

Examples of such failed musicians are Mista Daz who produced the smash hits, Faze’s Tattoo Girls and Dee Bee’s Collabo. Daz never dreamt of being a producer, but as an aspiring artist, things just didn’t work out for him. And when a producer, in the person of Paul IK Dairo, was a stumbling block to his recording career, he decided to go into production too so as not to have recording problems again.

But when he tasted success as a producer, he abandoned his singing ambition.

Another notable example of a failed musician is the popular media personality, Kenny Ogungbe. When he couldn’t make heads or tails of his own singing career, he began grooming other musicians. Now, after successfully grooming and guiding many music artists, he is gradually trying to make his way back to singing by featuring on the songs of some of his artists.

And it is this method, featuring, which is also known

D’Banj

as collaboration, that many struggling artists use to get their breakthrough.

Collaboration is a glorified form of backup singing.

While a traditional backup singer remains in the background, a collaborator doesn’t. He’s a guest vocalist and is given prominent credit alongside the actual recording artist and therefore basks in the same glory as the recording artist.

The artists who have traversed this route to success are quite many. But as easy a path to the top it is, not every struggling artist can avail himself of it as only the most talented artists are sought out by artists and producers for collaborations.

Two artists whose successes till date have been based on collaborations are Pasto Goody Goody and LKT. Goody Goody is one of the most exceptional ragga artists in the country. His ability to blend his raga skills into any genre of music made him the toast of every artist who wanted his song to sound better in the long run.

His list of admirers was long and comprised of music’ A-list artists that included Tony Tetuila, Slam and Princess Anne Inyang. You name the artist, they wanted Goody Goody. However, he has not been able to carry his phenomenal success as a featuring artist to his own solo career. He is still seeking his own major hit but continues to remain relevant due to his collaborations.

The funny thing about collaborations sometimes is that the featured artist becomes more popular than the song owner. This has happened severally, especially when the featured artist is already popular and the song owner is unknown and is trying to bask in the popular artist’s popularity.

It however boomerangs on him when his featured artist is later credited as the song owner in a society like ours that documentation and proper accreditation is a big problem.

That problem is really a monumental one because even the professionals make the mistake. Radio presenters who should know better will credit a song to 9ice when he was just featured.

Speaking of 9ice, he’s one of the most featured artists. When his own solo efforts refused to fly, he became popular through songs he was featured on, most notably 2-Shotz’s Make Dem Talk and Ruggedman’s Ruggedy Baba. And his collaborations paid off for him as they set

Oritsefemi

the stage for his Gongo Aso to stun the world.

Terry G’s first major appearance on the scene was as a featured artist on Kemistry’s Shake. Without a song of his own on air, he became celebrated and realised it was the way forward to carve a niche for himself. Consequently, he featured on a lot of songs, appeared in their videos and became quickly popular thereby.

Many other artists who have been in high demand for collaborations include the late Dagrin, Ruggedman, MI, Timaya, Pasuma, Flavour, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Oritsefemi, D’Banj, Don Jazzy and Davido.

But as many as they are, the undisputed king of collaborations is 2face Idibia. Unarguably Nigeria’s best and most successful urban music artist, his services as a featured artist have been in demand since he was even a member of the Plantashun Boiz.

Then, artists like Baba Dee and Tony Tetuila would single him out from his group to feature him, and it was the collaborations that began to build the 2face brand until it became what it is today.

26

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kunle Afolayan at war with ‘Igbo pirates’ A

t a time it’s believed that the Yorubas of Nigeria are against the Igbos, celebrated Yoruba filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has come out to stoke the fire further by making comments that many are saying are tribalistic.

While the actual cause of Afolayan’s comments is the hydra-headed monster, piracy, and people are actually sympathetic about the extremely negative effects of piracy on Afolayan’s business as a movie producer, such people still could not bring themselves to reconcile with his perceived tribalistic sentiments.

Afolayan’s comments which have dented his image somewhat came in a series

of tweets that immediately trended.

“You all sit on social media and run your mouth. Try and put your money into production and see how it feels.

Scream tribalism if you like.

“You want to know. OK. The pirates already have October 1 and have been threatening the distributor that they will release this week.

“It’s a fact that most of the pirates I see selling pirated CDs and DVDs are Igbo. One even threatened me after I seized my film from him.

Why? “We have written to the police, NCC and other agencies.

What’s the outcome? Nothing. Surely you’re waiting for me to come beg to feed my

family. Something drastic has to be done. Period. Crucify yourself if you want.

“May the wrath of God strike all of you. An average filmmaker out there put their all, I mean all into making the film and some MF enjoy …

“They have released Phone Swap, Tango With Me, 30 Days In Atlanta and many more.

Most of you patronize these criminals and come here to judge me. I’m really sorry if my Igbo friends and fans feel offended. I am just so bitter and pained. I am truly sorry.

“My distributor is Igbo.

I like and trust him but he mentions his frustration all the time. His kinsmen are on his tail. We are all frustrated.”

...Uche Jombo flays him A

Jombo

nd just as Kunle Afolayan claims that he’s frustrated, pained and bitter and that’s why he’s made comments specifically attacking the Igbos, one of his colleagues has given it back to him, saying Kunle should remember that without the Igbos, there mightn’t even be Nollywood.

That person is Uche Jombo and she must also be feeling as Kunle is feeling, especially as she’s Igbo, and her comments to Kunle were quite reprimanding and advisorial.

“Interesting to see anyone in Nollywood insult Igbos about piracy, since without them we might not even have Nollywood of today. Piracy is not a tribal thing. Every filmmaker is sad about piracy. It is a war we should all fight and hope to win one day. Accept what you cannot change. Change what you cannot accept,” Jombo said.

Afolayan

NAFCA 2015 gathers momentum T

his year’s edition of the prestigious Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards continues to gather momentum by the day and it has been announced that the historic Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles will be the venue for this year’s edition which will be the fifth.

NAFCA, which is recognized as Africa’s version of the Oscars, is expected to draw over two thou-

sand people from around the world to attend its highly anticipated ceremony on September 21st.

While last year’s NAFCA was held at another reputable theatre, Saban, in Beverly Hills, to a soldout audience, NFCA organizers say this year’s will surpass all previous editions in all ramifications.

Some of last year’s winners included Chiwetel Ejiofor for best actor in a leading role for his

exploits in Half Of A Yellow Sun. Best actress in a leading role went to Omotola Jalade Ekeinde for Last Flight To Abuja, best supporting actor to Ayo ‘AY’ Makun for Being Mrs Elliot and best supporting actress to Sonia Ibrahim for The Number One Fan.

Omotola

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

April 11, 2015

le StyGlam and

Readyto-wear with Yemisi Adeniran

E

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

from Odio Mimonet

ver since she launched her ready- to- wear collections, Nigerian designer, Odio Mimonet has become a household name. The goal of her label, she says is “to reflect beauty in the feminine form because each woman is unique and the clothes are meant to help enhance a woman’s beauty and style.” Besides, designs are to inspire and liberate as women across generations can express their own individuality and flair through their choice of clothes. As a constant focus, Odio Mimonet provides high quality designs and places for the everyday woman who needs clothes that are versatile and stylish. The models here speak louder than her thought.

28

STYLE & GLAM

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashion

Print shoes and

Fashion

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STYLE & GLAM

April 11, 2015

n frenzy

d sandals

n frenzy

G

29

etting a lovely girly look is not only achievable in dresses or outfits. It can also be made possible in lovely shoes and sandals. In recent time, we can all attest to this in the various designs of them in playful prints and florals that constantly dominate classy evenings and casual outings. Meanwhile, these beautiful foot wears can come in flats, kitten heels, wedge or even killer heels depending on the nature of the event in question and the wearer’s taste. More importantly is the fact that adequate caution needs be applied to their use cute and beautiful as they may look. For instance, you are bound to stop your look and your day should you make the mistake of wearing a print shoe with a print outfit. You will definitely look odd. As a rule, they are best appreciated on plain outfits.

Fashion Guest

30

STYLE & GLAM

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A true Christian’s style should be decent and Paper towels most hygienic way to dry your moderate’ hands –Study

To Mercy Osaghele, one of Nigeria’s thriving gospel musicians today, style is supposed to be decent and a way of preaching God’s gospel. She reveals more in this interview with YEMISI ADENIRAN

P A lot of Christians especially those that belong to the first set of Pentecostal faith see the new generation of Pentecostal churches as not conforming to the Bible where dressing is concerned.

What do you have to say?

That is what a lot of people say and I just find it hard to absolutely say this is wrong or right. To an extent, I will say they are right, while in a way, I will also say they may also be wrong. It all depends on what they are referring to.

No doubt some churches came first as the foundational Pentecostal churches but that does not mean the ones that come later or others that will come up in the future are not good or will be off the track of God. As far as the Bible even knows, it is not every one that calls God that will enter into the kingdom of God and really God will not judge anyone according or based on the church the person attended or belonged to while on earth but by the extent one has been able to live a pleasing life unto Him. That is why we should be careful of the way we judge people.

Only God knows who is good and who is not. No one knows the standard God will judge anyone with. All we have to

do is to try and live well and according to the instruction of God through His words in the Bible.

What do you think style should be for a good Christian?

Style to every good and true Christian should be decent and beautiful.

This is because our God is beautiful at all times and for every situation.

It should be simple, for Christ lived a simple life. It should be moderate because the Bible wants it so. It says all our appearances should be simple and moderate. You are not a true Christian if your taste is expensive and such that drags you into debt or makes you look odd in any crowd. It must not reveal your sensitive parts otherwise; you won’t be giving the impression that you are a child of God. Anything that confuses you with an unbeliever is not stylish as a child of God. Your appearance must preach decency, simplicity, humility, and moderacy. All must at all times be able to draw people unto Gd. It must tell them that your God is good and beautiful all of the time. That is why you must not appear wretched or ugly at any time.

aper towels are the most hygienic way to dry hands after going to the loo, a study has found.

Hand dryers, in comparison, tend to spray bacteria over the room and could infect people standing nearby, researchers discovered.

Worryingly, they tend to spray the most microbes up to 0.9m from the floor, the exact height of a small child who might be standing near the dryer when a parent is drying their hands.

And jet dryers – the more modern and powerful hand dryers - can spray liquid and bacteria up to 1.5m into the distance, it was revealed.

Researchers wanted to study the risk of bacteria being spread in the air when drying hands after visiting the toilet.

Organisms such as Salmonella and E. coli can easily be spread, as people often dry their hands before cleaning them properly.

Previous research has shown that usually after going to the loo, a person has around 200 million bacteria per square inch on each hand.

And hands contaminated with viruses can transfer them to five more surfaces or 14 other subjects.

The researchers looked at drying hands with single-use paper towels, a towel (where the same cloth is by multiple users), a warm air dryer, and a jet dryer.

The dryers were tested using three different tests: an acid indicator test using lemon juice, yeast, and a test to see how much bacteria was spread.

They found the powerful jet air dryer sprayed liquid from users’ hands further and over a greater distance – up to 1.5 m – than the other drying methods.

Jet air dryers also caused the greatest

spread of microbes into the air, both near and far, when tested with lemon juice, yeast and bacteria.

At a close distance away from the jet air dryer, researchers found 59.5 colonies of yeast, compared with an average of just 2.2 colonies for paper towels.

There were 67 colonies of yeast 0.2m from the dryer, compared with only 6.5 for paper towels.

And at a distance of 1.5m from the dryer there were 11.5 colonies of yeast, while there were none recorded when paper towels were used.

The research also looked at the height at which bacteria was spread by air dryers.

The greatest dispersal of microbes was found at 0.6 – 0.9m from the floor, the exact face height of small children who might be standing near the dryer.

The researchers concluded that parents should keep children away from the stream of air coming out of jet dryers to ensure that they are not unintentionally contaminated.

According to the researchers, “These findings clearly indicate that single-use towels spread the fewest microbes of all hand-drying methods.

“Cross contamination in public washrooms is a legitimate public health concern.”

The findings back up earlier research, which found that modern hand dryers are much worse than paper towels at spreading germs.

Researchers found 27 times more germs in the air around jet-air dryers in comparison with the air around paper towel dispensers.

They found also found five times more bacteria around jet-air dryers than warm air dryers.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

April 11, 2015

Male Essentials

08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@gmail.com

Step up your style (II) Continued from last week DRESS NICE Get a tailor—a few tweaks on most of your shirts, pants and denim can make a favorable difference in your overall appearance. Own an iron or a steamer—wrinkles make you look unprepared. Press and/or dry clean your work clothes for the same reason. Have a smart suit. Be able to recognize when ring-around-the-collar and nasty, yellow armpit stains have won the war on your favorite shirt. Oh, and own a good, clean pair of shoes and sneakers. Women really do notice these things.

STAND TALL Good posture doesn’t just make you look and feel more confident, it’s less of a reminder that you’re really just the least hairy of primates.

HAVE MANNERS And don’t be a conversation dominator, a one-upper, or someone who yells at the help. Call it manners, call it charm, either way, graciousness and the art of communication upgrade your goodlooking quotient tremendously.

BE ACTIVE Handsome feeds on blood flow, so

you’ll need to get yours up. In numbers that means a minimum of between 30 and 60 minutes of physical activity a day, according to the personal training staff at Travaasa Austin, an experiential resort in Texas that in specializes in fitness. Not only does this keep your muscles (or, okay, flab) toned, but it feeds your cells which results in better looking skin.

Sadly, swiping your finger up and down your iPhone screen doesn’t count.

If you haven’t joined the cult of Barry’s Bootcamp, Cross-Fit or Soul Cycle or are just gym-averse, don’t worry, here’s a secret: All you really need are these 5 easy-to-do at-home exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, squats and dips. Beyond that, use the stairs instead of the elevator and consider owning a bike. And if you want some gear, get a kettle ball because it’s every exercise that uses one works the mythical “core” section of your body.

GET AN OCCASIONAL FACIAL A facial is basically a massage on your face with lots of high-end gels and creams. If you’re going for an alwaysperfect, Hollywood face, Deirdre Brad-

ford, Spa director a the Four Seasons Los Angeles recommends them once a month, but she says otherwise, they’re just great at hitting the reset button on your skin after the dehandsomizing effects of long haul flights, late and boozy nights, colds, allergies and too much sun.

HAVE WHITE TEETH Your smile should be a curtain for an elegant dance floor, not be cover for a dental horror show.

According to Dr. Eda Ellis, one of Consumer Report’s top dentists in America, to make this so, you should brush twice a day with a soft bristle brush (electric or not) and floss twice daily, preferably with a water pick. Go for regular cleanings every 6 months, unless your dentist says you need more.

The best way possible to whiten your teeth is chair-side with a product called Zoom, and there’s this at home unit that

makes them white with fiber optins, and they donate dental care to kids in developing nations. Otherwise, take it easy on the all-day coffee and the after work red wine. Other teeth-staining culprits? Black tea, coca-cola, Red Bull, berries, tomato sauce, curry sauce, hard candy, gum and finally, popsicles.

Now you know.

Sexual issues & solutions

Experimenting with new forms of sexual play IV

H

aving gone through some ways by which we can experiment new sexual play like oral sex, fantasy and role play, we are going to take a look at another category in the new sexual play which is Shaving.

More and more people are becoming fascinated with shaving, the practice of shaving your partner’s pubic hair; either shaping it into different shapes or removing it completely has provento be another way of arousing both sexes. Don’t knock it until you try it! Shaving is an easy, safe and temporary way to begin exploring different forms of sexual play.

Hello Viewden, I had prostate surgery done about 6 months ago, cos the prostate was cancerous.

I noticed that since the time I had the operation, I have not had a good erection and in most cases no erection. Pine Lychi supplement was recommended by my doctor to help my surgery recovery and also to eliminate any future occurrence of the prostate problem again because eit was cancerous. What erection supplement can you recommend for me that I’ll use with the Pine Lychi supplement to give me strong erection? Yusuf Mr Yusuf you are right on the Pine Lychi supplement cos it’s a herbal supplement that gives quick recovery and improvement effect on diseases like prostate inflammation & cancer, cardiovascular issues and it also helps recover the body vigor. Pine Lychi supplement also helps with the issue of spermatorrhea (excessive or accidental ejaculation) and improves the quality and viability of sperm. This amazing supplement can be used alongside Vimax for a faster result to get a very strong erection and also to correct weak erection. Vimax, when used according to instruction gives a good result that is noticed in the first week of usage.

Im a 55 year old man that has very small penis. I got Vigrx plus and plump cream form you , which I have been using for the past 3 months and I have gotten my desired size. Can I stop using the products? Will my penis size reduce if I stop using?

Chidi Vigrx plus supplement when used with either maximus cream or Plump cream gives a very fast result that is permanent. If you feel you have gotten enough size,you can stop using and there is nothing to worry about as your penis size wont go down again if and when you

stop. We advise you take Vigrx plus once in 8 months to maintain the size you have.

I enjoy having ooral sex with my husband. Are there products you have that can make me enjoy oral sex more and what can I use that can put me in the mood for sex as I don’t easily get aroused?

Biola Yes, we do have an array of products to help you in oral sex. We have Chocolate body topping, dickalicious arousal gel, which you can apply on any part of your partner’s body and lick off and also the Deep Throat spray which desensitizes the throat. To get in the mood for sex, I will advise you get Germany sex drops with any of the arousal gels like, Spot on gspot, Mood arousal gel, Crazy girl, Liquid sex to mention but a few. Libigirl pill is also great I need to enlarge and fill up my breast cos I noticed it is sagging and it has drastically reduced after breastfeeding 3 children and I also need to tighten up my vagina cos it’s a bit slacky and my husband is complaining – Chioma Hello Chioma, it is natural your breast reduces and saggs after breastfeeding, but not to worry Breast Actives pill and cream will help fill the breast up and firm it as well and it is 100 percent herbal, so you need not worry as it has no side effect. To tighten your vaginam you can get O’natural tighening gel or Like –a virgin tightening gel.

Im a diabetic and slightly hypertensive 52 year old man suffering from very weak erection. The erection is so weak that it cant penetrate the vagina, please kindly help me, its affecting my marriage- Surv Alli Hello Surv, I will strongly advise you take either Vimax, X-again, or Rhino 7 with the Noto herbal tea which will give string erection on demand when used 30 mins before sex. The Noto tea helps lower the blood pressure and blood sugar to allow the supplement give a good result as per strong erection.

These are all we can take for this week. Adults who needs these aphrodisiacs can call 08034666358, 07059294782 or place your order at www.viewden. com. For further enquiries,send an email to us at: vieweden@yahoo.com, viewden@ymail.com.

Kemi Fawole (MD Viewden

VIEWDEN PRODUCTS (RANGE OF LOVE PRODUCTS)

32

April 11, 2015

Relatio

Angle

Male

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jide animashaun 08034710902 jidemashaun@yahoo.com

Is it okay for guys to Why not?

D

on’t get it twisted; a problem shared is not always half-solved. But be that as it may, it’s really part of male bonding to want to share what we’re going through, especially our domestic woes with other guys. Women may call it gossiping or what they will, but we call it sharing our problems and learning new tricks on the job of being a partner, lover and husband. It really is no easy street when you look at the fact that being a husband to an average woman takes the Wisdom of Solomon to navigate through that uncharted territory. Women will always be women and the stress we go through every day is enough to take an average man to his grave very early. Woe betides that man that thinks he can do it all alone when it comes to understanding women. You just can never understand them enough. Even Solomon in the holy books with all his wisdom complained about his women.

It is only a one in a million kind of man who’d go solo when it comes to issues of women and internalising problems we encounter daily from them. Be that as it may that every man portrays the image of solitude and maturity and given that we also always love to be seen as being in control all the time, the average man, even if he will never be caught dead admitting to this, almost always will have some very close confidants that he’d love to bounce ideas off once in a while so as to know that he is still sane and hasn’t gone mad from the daily issues and problems he encounters regularly from his woman. Truth be told, when it comes to understanding women, men are from Mars while women are from Venus. We are indeed worlds’ apart though we pretend otherwise. The way we handle issues are different. The way, manner or our approach to issues can hardly ever be the same. In fact, most times, those are actually what will reflect on who we really are.

On the other hand, because of the reason of bad advisers,

I’d say that it may not always be okay but I know that a lot of men are naturally not gifted to expressing themselves to their wife and will only do so with other men who they perceive to be going through the same issues they are having at home. A man who will keep quiet about sensitive issues bothering him without being honest and bold enough to tell his partner may ultimately get to a point from where he will “boil” over one day and react like a timed bomb in a very negative and aggressive manner. Men naturally need avenues to let off steam once in a while and we sometimes if not every time do that in the company of other men.

Whether it’s okay to complain, gist, inform or gossip as we may want to see it from any perspective, with other guys is a different ballgame entirely.

Women expect that once a man is married to them, he belongs to them and he shouldn’t hang out with the guys again.

They believe that our hanging out with friends can only amount to one thing which is to gossip about them. Yes it’s true that we almost always end up comparing notes about our domestic woes when we hang out. The truth is that who doesn’t. Personally, I’m not against spending some time out with the “boys” and comparing notes, but the truth is that we need to be careful of not getting the wrong advice ultimately in the process. There are so many bad advisers out there who don’t know their left from their right when it comes to handling domestic issues yet they are mostly the ones who are vociferous in groups where issues of women are discussed. They are the ones who will tell you that they can’t take the perceived insult from their wife while in truth they do take more than they will ever let out. The operative word here about this issue is taking any advice given with caution. Therefore methinks it is okay to do so if you trust the maturity of those you’re telling.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

15 sex questions you were too embarrassed to ask

P

artners would have to let each other know that they’re approaching their climax so that they can release together. If the effort becomes too mechanical or one begins to get frustrated with the other, continuing is not recommended. You could just take turns giving and receiving pleasure. Sex is not competitive sport!

10. When trying for a baby, is there such a thing as too much sex?

The general rule for optimizing conception is to have sex early (before ovulation) and often (at least every other day). Having intercourse more than once a day can diminish sperm count and probably doesn’t improve pregnancy rates.

11. How are you supposed to know if you smell a bit off ‘down there’?

If you think it doesn’t smell right down below, seek advice from your gynaecologist. Bacterial Vaginosis is an incredibly common cause of a fishy odour down below. Other causes include retained bits of tampons (you may gasp but this happens more frequently than you would imagine) or even cancers, which can re-

sult in an offensive vaginal odour. If in doubt, get it checked out.

12. He won’t go down on me. Help!

Once you feel like you’re in a continuing relationship with a man, it’s a good idea to talk about what you like in bed by having the conversation outside the bedroom. You can begin by asking him what his favourite sexual activities are and hope he returns the favour by asking you. If he doesn’t ask, you can pursue the topic by letting him know how much you enjoy receiving oral sex (among all the other things you love). The next time you’re having sex, you can see whether he moves down south. If not, it may require another conversation in which you can ask him more directly why he hasn’t offered to give you oral sex.

The answer may not be something you want to hear, but at least you’ll have the information you need to decide what to do about the relationship. If the relationship is in its early stage, you may want to cut your losses and begin searching again if oral sex is a bottom line for you. If this is a problem with a longtime partner or husband, you might want to ask him whether there is any room for him to

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

RELATIONSHIPS

April 11, 2015

onships

Female

33

Angle

JACQUI IWU 08165049669 email: amiicaregroup@aol.com

swap ‘wife stories?’

Absolutely not!

T

This column is x-rated compromise on this and integrate oral sex into your lovemaking since it gives you so much pleasure.

13. Should you try anal sex? Really.

This depends on the person. For some women, anal sex is a fantastic way to add an extra dimension to their lovemaking.

But for others, it’s a definite ‘no no.’ If it doesn’t feel good, then just stop. You should never do anything in bed that you’re not into. And no one should force you to give them pleasure that is not pleasurable to you! You are not a sex slave, are you?

14. What can be done if you’re too dry ‘down there’? ‘he female hormone oestrogen helps keep the vaginal walls lubricated so anything that impacts your oestrogen levels can have a drying effect. The most obvious cause is menopause, where dryness is a classic symptom. It is possible to replace lost oestrogen with topical oestrogen by means of a cream or gel applied locally to the tissues. Hormone levels can also dip post pregnancy, when breast feeding, or can be influenced by your choice of contraceptive. Skin conditions similar to those elsewhere on the body can result in vaginal dryness. Simple things like over washing the area or lack of foreplay can also play a role. Certain prescription pills or medical conditions can dry up the vagina,

This column is x-rated so it’s important to consider the bigger picture when trying to work out a cause.

The golden rule is don’t over wash, avoid lengthy baths and steer clear of douches and perfumed feminine hygiene products. Use a water soluble starch based lubricant gel for intercourse and regularly use vaginal moisturising products.

On a practical level, remember sex is a marathon not a sprint, so give yourself time to get into the mood, which will help with natural lubrication.

15. What can be done if you and your partner have mis-matched libidos?

This can be frustrating to both partners. The partner who wants sexual activity less frequently usually feels guilty for not wanting it more, yet the pressure they feel certainly doesn’t help them with their erotic attraction for their partner. The person with a higher libido may feel disempowered, since they feel their partner holds the keys to their sex life. They may also feel hurt and angry at the many times their partner declines an invitation or initiation for sex. They may feel rejected and/or abandoned.

Sex, like most other things in a relationship, has to be discussed in an open, non-judgmental and empathic manner, so that a couple can find a compromise that works for their relationship.

his topic is focusing on the men’s side but just like i do not agree totally with it, same is applicable to women complaining to their girl friends about their husbands... infact, the dangers are worse on the women side....due to women petty jealousy about their friends who are living a good life. Yes, get it right ladies....lots of you are always envious of your socalled friends...only God knows why women are like this....so if you are a woman reading this and thinking this is applicable to men only, learn from this....never –ever--- trust your friends with what is/are happening between you and your husband. Talk about other things but keep your husband’s issues away from your girl friends.. even if she claims to be a woman of God! Sorry but there are so many men and women of God these days that we hardly know whom God actually called and ordained for REAL!!!

Okay, coming to guys dishing about their wife’s issues with fellow guys who probably are friends, collegues what ever, I have personally over and over witnessed where such attitude ruined a happy home for most couples. When i talk about women being envious of their girl friend’s good life, i am yet to know what to label the men side of always advising their male friend wrongly each time he complains about his wife or lover. What do we call this ugly monster attitude of men especially single ones who are not married but have married friends?

Even during courtship, i have seen single male friends take over from their friend’s fiancee after advising the friend wrongly thereby breaking up the relationship and afterwards courting the same woman he blackmailed without the woman knowing he was dinning with the devil himslef. Oh yea...if you are a man and this is your expertise.... you are just devilish in nature and must be avoided by everyone.

Some men even make the stupid mistake of sharing bed and love tips with friends....what a lousy attitude guys.....very stupid thing to do!!! Why must you tell your friends how you and your wife make love?

Why must you even bring up the issue of your bored and lousy sex life with you and your wife before your Male friends? If you have sexual problems with your wife, seek the help of a counselor/therapist who

will protect your secrets and also give you lasting solution and not some kind of a white wash friend who claims to be your good/best friend.

You tell your friends your wife is so clingy and does not allow you to hang out late nights with your pals and you think such friends will give you a good solution? Cut the crap dude....think about this....

How would they allow your wife to keep you away from buying them FREE beer and peppersoup every night? They will by all means give you a bad soluiton that will create more fight between you and your wife to satisfy their stupid urge of spending more late nights with you and having their silly fun. Some will even go to the extent of asking you to send her to her parents to go and learn some good manners... the creeps!!! Bad friends every man ...not just married must avoid!!!

In a situation like this, honest male friends will feel bad about meddling and preventing your wife from spending more time with her husband rather than lash out on your wife. What they will do is to ask you to listen to your wife and make her happy. They will even caution you and make you to go home early each time you slack.

Have you not witnessed where a single man who wants to marry a girl dish out his fiancee before the friends over green/black bottles and isi-ewu and asking the the friends to decide if the girl is good for marriage? Jee-zzz!...some men really suck huh? You are an imbecile to do such a thing....yea...a dummy!!!

How can your friends tell you whom to spend the rest of your life with? Will your friends be the one to live with the woman when you marry her? Does the fact that you and your friends get drunk every night means you guys have the same destiny ? Ofcourse this is a great opportunity for those creeps who do not want you to get married and being tied down by a woman, those ones who hate you for always having the best girls in town when they don’t will play their secret evil cards.

Hey guys, keep your friends...get drunk every night if you want(as long as you can make it home)but never---ever—dish your wife before your friends!!!

34

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman

Widowhood is traumatic As far as Modupe Wigwe, a widow and a trained life coach is concerned, Nigerian leaders need to do more in the area of finding succour for its citizens who are traumatised from time to time. The brain behind Peak Performance Coaching Academy in Victoria Island, Lagos, Wigwe spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on life as a widow and her choice of becoming a life coach.

Excerpts: What led you into becoming a life coach?

I was married and lost my husband after some time. His death affected me in many ways. It is not an easy thing for one to have lived with one’s man for many years and suddenly lose that man. Widowhood is traumatic, especially in a country like ours. I am saying this because I found out that there were no support structures that could help one get out of trauma in this country, and that is really bad. For instance, if one is going through a certain trauma, it can affect one’s productivity at work. It can even affect the people around one and at the end of the day, the nation as a whole. Consequently, I travelled out of the country, trying to find out ways of resolving some of these issues. That is how I chose to be a life coach so I could use that as a template to assist others.

What does it mean to be a life coach?

What a life coach does is to help a client in whatever area of his or her life that he or she has an issue with. So, he or she can be more effective. A life coach helps you to work through life again. A life coach holds up a mirror, so you can see what is happening to you and then he

provides a guide for you. He doesn’t tell you what to do. Being a life coach is beyond being there for someone at a time of need. You need to understand why some people behave in a certain manner and what you could do to help.

Were you formally trained in this?

I was formerly into HR consulting but I later took time out to find out other areas of ensuring that the learning that people go through is beneficial to them. So, I started by trying to teach myself. After a while, I went abroad to do some further studies. I studied in the UK and I did cognitive behavioural therapy as well as Neuro-linguistic programming.

Neuro talks about our nervous system or mind, while linguistic has to do with the language we use to communicate it; and programming is the set pattern of behaviours that runs like a programme, which shows all that is going on in our minds. I am a master practitioner. Also, I did professional stress management and emotional freedom technique, among others. All of these put together have made me what I am today.

Who are the people that your services are meant for?

It is actually for everybody. Though we are targeting women, we also deal with things that are under-achieving and dysfunctional. What we do is to build capability. It is easy for you and me to acquire knowledge. For instance, you could be an IT expert, but knowing it doesn’t mean you will get any result. So, it is how you apply that knowledge. What are the things that can affect your ability to apply the knowledge gained? Trauma can affect your ability to apply your knowledge in any area. For instance, somebody who is shy may have all the knowledge, but may not be able to apply it until the shyness is dealt with. So, for us, it is building that capability and enabling people to be able to apply whatever knowledge they have such that they are effective and can get the result they desire. In this part of the world, a lot of stigma is attached to things like going for counselling or therapy but it should not necessarily be. So, because I want to be more effective, I can decide to deal with anything that may stop me from being what I want to be. Imagine somebody who beats his wife or someone who is quick tempered; this sort of cases

will limit the person’s ability to be effective. So, the best thing you can do is to find a way of addressing that. But in our society, we tend to think that that is the way the person is and you will even find people saying that people get angry easily in their families. But really, nobody is just that way. When your options are limited, you tend to think that that is the only behaviour that is available to you. But if you have more information or knowledge that helps you to understand that there are options to this behaviour. Then, your life will change; the result you get will change and the experiences you get will also change. All of these things affect the work place, the home front, relationships and society at large. So, I feel it is time for us to start paying attention to those areas.

How long have you been doing this?

I have been doing it on and off, for about two years now. But we are just starting out with the running of the training. We want a non-threatening environment, where people can freely express themselves and exchange ideas without the fear of stigmatisation. You see, some would want to hide their pains and not allow people the opportunity to

see that they are weak by talking about the issues in their lives. For instance, rape is on the increase in our society.

And since I started, I mean when I was doing it on and off, I have had to coach and counsel people who had been through this kind of experience.

Can you recall any remarkable encounter you have had since you went into this practice?

It was about a certain lady who was working in a corporate environment, but who had been raped by a gang of armed robbers. One day, she went home from work and later in the evening, some armed robbers broke into the house and raped her. She decided to keep the experience to herself without discussing it with anyone. I met her a few years after the incidence. I found out that it had really affected her life, her productivity and her work was suffering. According to her, her appraisal showed that she was rather aggressive and insubordinate. Her relationship had suffered a lot. When she finally opened up to me, she said the only reason she spoke with me about it was because I am a woman. She also said

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

April 11, 2015

Widowhood is traumatic,

especially in a country like ours.

I am saying this because I found out that there were no support structures that could help one get out of trauma in this country, and that is really bad that she could talk to me going by some of the things I had discussed in the class earlier that day. What struck me was that her HR was not aware of the challenges she was going through and how it was affecting her work. Also, there was no way the HR could help her because she didn’t even feel that HR was confidential enough. Besides, she didn’t want to be stigmatised. So, my concern then stemmed from how inadequate our system was becoming.

In other words, even if the HR is not equipped to handle it, it knows where to take this issue to, it will be of help.

But in a situation where none is existent, it means there is no intervention available for that person; so, the person has to live with that experience. Therefore, our courses give people the opportunities to work through whatever their issues are and learn how to deal with them.

How affordable are your services, especially when you consider the socioeconomic situations of the country?

When we talk about this, I think it is very relative. If I had lived with a certain kind of trauma and it has affected my life, I don’t think I would be able to quantify that. So, I would say it depends on the individual client. There are some people who would rather live with their traumas. So, if a particular training is N100, 000 for three days, they would rather buy some pieces of clothes for the same amount than come for the training. It depends on the individual’s priority. What we have done is to structure the training in such a way that people can get good discounts for booking in advance. They can also make a learning plan. For somebody who is trying to resolve a past trauma; the sort of training we will recommend will cut across; it won’t just be a oneoff thing. We have one that deals with resolving past traumas and another that deals with our internal dialogue.

How do I master my internal dialogue?

We converse with ourselves a lot. So, if you can master your internal dialogue, you will be more effective speaking with people. The first breakdown comes from our internal dialogue. If I see somebody and my internal dialogue goes like, “I wonder what this person is thinking of me; look at the way he is staring at me.” By the time I speak, I am coming out of all the things I had been saying to myself. So, for someone who is going through trauma, we will also recommend that he or she masters his or her internal dialogue. If I hadn’t gone through some of the things I had gone through, I doubt that I would have this vision. It has been a long jour-

ney getting here in the sense that all sorts of things had happened to me. I have had experiences that I consider strange or cruel.

How encouraging has the patronage been?

I would say the response has been absolutely fantastic. I believe we will gradually get there.

Do you think our society is really ripe for this kind of training to thrive?

I believe absolutely that we are. If you have been following issues in this nation, you would have discovered that Nigerians have been really traumatised in a lot of ways. Or what would you say of Boko Haram, the issues with the naira and dollar, and other security issues? If you hear a loud bang now, you will jump up. But we were not like this. What about incest? What about defilement? What about suicides and divorce cases? These were things that were unthinkable some years ago.

How would you describe women in the corporate world in Nigeria?

I think there are lots of opportunities untapped. And if we are going to tap into these opportunities, we need to learn how to manage ourselves. It is possible to tell yourself that the only way to get ahead would be to compromise certain standards, which is not supposed to be so. In essence, we need to learn to be able to manage ourselves to be able to get into the right positions or else, as a woman, you might find yourself compromising certain standards. I think that women have a lot to offer in Nigeria. I believe that a lot of the changes that we are going to see are going to come from women. I think women in Nigeria have not yet positioned themselves properly. We have more work to do. But when this work is done, the rewards would be immense. I also believe that any woman in any position of authority should endeavour to provide maximum result as this would encourage other women to climb up the corporate ladder.

How has life been as a widow?

The initial stage was really tough on me. It was really difficult snapping out of it, but somehow, I did and went abroad to do the courses I did. They helped me see life from another perspective entirely and I thank God for His mercies so far.

What do you miss about your husband?

I miss everything about him. He was a caring man and he did all he could to make his family happy but God knows best.

Keeping ABREAST

Are you beautiful or average?

• 96 percent of women rate themselves as average looking

G

iven the choice between ‘average’ and ‘beautiful’, which description would you choose for yourself ?

That is the question that has been posed to women in a new survey, and the results are shocking. Around the world, just four percent think they’re worthy of the glowing epithet!

Of the 9,397 out of 11,000 that answered ‘average,’ 84 per cent regularly have negative thoughts about their appearance.

A staggering 96 per cent of women around the world describe themselves as average, leaving just four per cent to admit they consider themselves beautiful.

The survey results, released this week, show women being faced with the choice of telling the world they see themselves as beautiful or average.

The researchers erected signs above doors to public buildings in five cities across the world, and filmed women’s actions when faced with having to walk through one or the other.

The vast majority of participants chose to walk through the ‘average’ door, corresponding closely with the survey results.

According to the researchers, feeling beautiful is a personal choice that women should feel empowered to make for themselves every day.

However, many found that when they had to behave in a way that revealed their image of themselves to the world - they balked.

Many said afterwards that they regretted their decision, and that it had affected how they felt about themselves.

One woman confessed that, “It was confronting to see these signs, and to have to choose, and be self -conscious of how you perceive yourself and if it lines up with how the rest of the world perceives you.”

Another said, “It was my choice, and now I will question myself for the next few weeks, maybe months.”

Another woman, laughing modestly, said, “I went through the average door. I didn’t even hesitate.”

Another participant, who chose ‘average’ admitted, “I regret my choice because it was different from what I live for and what I live.”

A woman also said she wished she’d chosen differently, saying, “I had rated myself as average and nobody else.”

Still another participant added, “Am I choosing because of what is constantly bombarded at me and what I’m being told that I should accept? Or am I choosing because that’s what I really believe?”

A woman who picked the average door, said, Beautiful, to me, is too far out of reach.”

The reseach is part of a campaign, which aims to “encourage women worldwide to reconsider the choices they make about their beauty and how those choices make them feel.”

The researchers urge women to embrace this personal choice, because when they do, it unlocks happiness and confidence that impacts women’s self-esteem.

Women following the campaign took to social media to express sadness that so many people felt the need to put themselves down.

Jo Fiddy, from London, tweeted: “Women we need to value ourselves more.”

Samantha Blundell, from London, posted on Twitter: “I decided to #choosebeautiful because if I don’t think it myself, no one else will.”

A user called @Raya_Was_Here, in Bulgaria, tweeted: “Knowing that it’s your decision to feel beautiful is so powerful. Once you realize that, no one can make you feel otherwise #ChooseBeautiful.”

Parenting

36

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression

Helping kids cope with nightmares

W

hen children are around two to three years old, their imaginations develop quite a bit and having fears becomes more common. They are now recognising that they can’t be protected from every disappointment or injury by their parents, and their sense of vulnerability increases.

Fears vary depending on the age of the child, but they are a natural part of growth and development all the way through the teen years.

Nightmares are often a reflection of a child’s current fears and challenges ... sort of like how adult dreams are often about stressors or unfulfilled wishes in their lives. Nightmares can also come up when there is a major transition going on - like a move of houses, a sibling’s birth, mum traveling, starting school, or a major stressor in the house. Most nightmares involve some anxietyproducing theme where the child is in danger and feels powerless to help themselves.

When to worry: Nightmares are normal, but very frequent ones are not. If a child is having nightmares three times per week or more, this is excessive and may be related to a more serious anxiety disorder or a sign of excessive stress.

If nightmares or fears interfere with daily activities like going to school independently or playing with friends, or create intense mood issues, clinginess, or extreme worries during the day, it may be helpful to talk to a child

therapist who specialises in anxiety to figure out the root of the problem and an appropriate form of treatment.

Tips: 1) Empathize with your child: Don’t try to minimize your child’s fears. Let him know compassionately that everyone feels scared sometimes. But don’t act as if his fears are a reality. For example, if he’s afraid that there is a scary bear in the closet, offer a night-light and leave the door open for comfort.

2) Be reassuring: If your child has a nightmare, go to his room immediately and hug and comfort him. Let him know he had a bad dream but it wasn’t real - it’s just a story in his head.

Encourage him to hug his lovey and go back to sleep. Remind him you’re right nearby.

If your child is fearful, let him know that he is always safe in his room and in your house. Tell him if necessary that mum and dad always lock the door and turn on the alarm before bedtime. Give him a visual of where mum and dad will be - right in their room getting their PJs on and brushing their teeth. Help him remember that Mom and Dad will check in on him from time to time to see when he falls asleep.

3) Avoid scary stuff: Avoid scary TV, movies, or books with frightening themes (dark forests, evil stepmothers, poison apples).

Watch out also for allowing your child to see the news or violent television, and save your serious conversations with your spouse for when your child isn’t around.

ParentingUpdate G

Kids pick up on more than we know, and if we’re talking about terrorism or the war, it may frighten them.

4) Give your child choices: Ask your child, during the day, to come up with a list of things that would help her feel safe at bedtime. Would she like the nightlight on? The door open? Would she like to pick a special security object? Would she like mummy to check on her after bedtime? This helps the child feel more in control of the fear.

5) Help desensitize your child to his fears: Help him face his fear in gradual increments.

If he’s afraid to go to sleep alone, start by making a mummy or daddy bed on the floor of his room and inch yourself a little farther out each night, eventually sleeping in the hallway. Allow him to get some good sleep with you nearby for several nights, which will allow his overall sense of fear to decrease. Once he’s successful with you in the hallway, you can promise to check on him frequently, but stop sleeping there.

Also, make sure to play frequently in his room during the day so it doesn’t become the “separation chamber,” but a place that he feels comfortable in.

6) Maintain loving, consistent limits: In order to help a child through fears, you’ll want to continue to stick to a nice early bedtime and keep him sleeping in his room rather than allowing him to move into your room. You want to help him learn to cope with and eventually overcome his fears, so if he comes to your room

or bed to sleep, he isn’t learning to overcome anything and this can start a terrible habit. The most surefire way to continue a fear is to avoid dealing with it, and the best way to conquer it is to desensitise the child in manageable chunks. While maintaining limits, avoid sounding stern or angry, though. The child should know that you are keeping up with the routine but are not getting angry and frustrated if possible.

7) Reinforce these points with your child in the morning: When your child wakes in the morning, make sure to point out that he was safe and cozy in his room all night and that you’re very proud of him for staying in his room through the night.

You can even offer a toy from the “magic toy box” (that has a bunch of junk toys -- balls, yo-yos, etc.) as a reward for his hard work.

Culled from momlogic.com

Tiny Feet

NAME: Anjolaoluwa Onikute

BORN TO: Mr and Mrs Jokotola Onikute AGE: 1 month old BIRTH WEIGHT: 2.8kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

Meet 19-year-old trapped in body of 2-year-old

irija Srinivas of Bangalore, India, looks like a toddler as she suffers from extremely rare medical condition called congenital agenesis of the bones. This rare disorder means she didn’t t grow bigger than a toddler.

The 19-year-old teenager weighs a mere 12kg while her height is 76,2cm. She can’t sit up because her head is so heavy in comparison to her body, and she is unable to lift anything beyond a cup of tea. Besides, even the simplest household chores are too tough for the girl and she also has breathing problems. The only outlet in Miss Srinivas’ life is painting, she is dreaming about a career as an artist to become independent and help her parents financially.

She says, “I don’t like anyone pitying me. I have shown everyone what my capabilities are. My mother helps me with

eating and other normal things. But while I’m painting and drawing, I need nobody’s help. I do it myself. I sell five to six paintings per month, which makes me between 8,000 and 10,000 rupees (N25, 575- N31, 968).

I have to look after my parents and I need to have the financial capacity to do that.

“I don’t want to be popular because of my rare health condition – I want to be famous someday for my art. I do not want sympathy, I want recognition.

I have an aim to achieve more in life. It’s my dream to go abroad and achieve

something big. People say many things about me, laugh at me and call me mad. But my family members treat me as a normal person and I have many friends of my age. They never tease me that I am a toddler. I am not sad for being too small and unable to walk or move like a normal person.”

Miss Srinivas lives with her family in Bangalore, where her father is a tailor and her mother devotes herself full-time to her care, making it hard for the family to get her even the most basic medical treatment. Her

mother, Nanda Baayi, says, “We faced difficulties from the beginning.

Even now, it’s tough for us to look after her.

“There is immense pain in our heart. When she was born, she was not like other babies.

When the doctors told us that her condition was permanent, it broke our hearts.”

Despite their relative poverty, her mother Nanda says she supports her daughter’s dreams of independence. “I am confident enough to tell that she can be self-dependent. It is her dream too.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

INTERNATIONAL LIVING

Grace Dare: Nigeria’s first known jihadi bride • • • • • • •

37

Grace Dare, who now uses the name Khadijah, is with ISIS in Syria Her heartbroken mother Victoria, issued a plea for her daughter to come home Says Grace was a devout Christian as a child and ‘loved to pray’ Grace has now become a terrorist poster girl and regularly issues threats She has said she wants to become the first woman to behead a Westerner Her Swedish husband, Abu Bakr, has reportedly been killed She is the only child that I have and the Devil took her away from my life, cries mother, Victoria Dare

S

he has joined the terrorists of Islamic State and regularly takes to Twitter to issue violent threats, including one in which she spoke of her wish to become the first woman to behead a Westerner.

But despite all that, Grace Dare’s heartbroken mother, Victoria, has called upon her daughter to return and says she wants her only child in her life.

Mrs. Dare also revealed that her daughter had been an equally devout Christian as a child but turned to Islam w “She loved church,” said Mrs. Dare in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC. “She had a Bible, she read the Bible.

She would sit there and pray and pray and pray.”

Dare, who was born in Nigeria but emigrated to the UK as a child, was originally christened Grace but, says her mother, the 22-year-old changed it after she began attending services at the Lewisham Islamic Centre in South London.

“When she became Muslim, I would get these phone calls saying, “Can I speak to Khadijah?” I said to her, what’s that about?

“She says, “Oh, that’s my name.” It was only the mosque people who called her Khadijah. I don’t call her that.”

Now living in Syria, Grace, who married a Swedish IS terrorist calling himself Abu Bakr almost as soon as she arrived, has reportedly been widowed.

Nevertheless, she continues to spread IS propaganda online and has been accused of encouraging other young women to travel to the Middle East, much like fellow British jihadi bride, Umm Layth.

Umm Layth, who was unmasked as a Glaswegian teenager named Aqsa Mahmood last year, has even offered advice to would-be jihadis on what clothes to bring and what they can expect from life with IS. But her family’s lawyer, who talked to BBC alongside Mrs. Dare and Renu

Grace (Khadijah) Dare

Begum, sister of one of three missing schoolgirls, says the reality is very different.

“There’s nothing loving about them and there’s nothing religious about them because they are ripping the heart out of our communities,” says Aamer Anwar.

“They are like paedophiles. They are groomers. They are getting their claws into people and ripping them away from the families who love and care about them.”

Mahmood, who, according to her family, was once a “kind, caring individual” and a “loving young woman,” is now helping to radicalise would-be jihadi brides herself, as well as issuing threats and encouraging Muslims to take up arms.

“Follow the examples of your brothers from Woolwich, Texas and Boston,” read a tweet she posted last year. “If you cannot make it to the battlefield, then bring the battlefield to yourself.”

Another blog post claimed that within two generations, the world would be un-

der the heel of an ‘Islamic Empire’.

“Know this Cameron and Obama, your countries will be destroyed and your kuffar [non believers] beneath our feet,” wrote the 20-year-old.

“If not you, then your children or your grandchildren. This Islamic Empire will be known and feared worldwide and we shall follow none other than the law of the one and only Allah.

“This is a war against Islam and it shall be known that you’re with them or with us. So pick a side.”

Grace (Khadijah) Dare and Mahmood are among the 22 British women known to be in Syria, but police believe there could be another 40 whose disappearances have not been reported.

Those who are there include Zahra and Salma Halane, the Manchester teenagers who have become known as ‘the Terror Twins’ and 45-year-old Sally Jones from Kent, who now goes by the name Sakinah Hussain.

“What they fail to understand is that they’ve been brainwashed by someone’s

ideology which is not the same as Islam,” says former radicaliser Yasmin Mulbocus.

“These women need to wake up. They need to discover the real sisterhood of Islam. They need to start questioning.

They are brainwashed so bad, they’ve lost their own soul.”

Anwar agrees. “The best way to defeat radicalisation is to find the ex-radicals and find out what changed them.

“You [would-be jihadi brides] are told that you are going to the Gates of Paradise, but when you get to Syria you will find out what Hell is really all about, because it’s there. It’s happening now.”

As for Grace Dare, she says she will never return home, despite her mother’s pleas. “I want you back, that’s what I said [to her],” says Mrs. Dare.

“I want you back in my life. She is the only child that I have and the Devil took her away from my life.”

(mailonline.com)

38

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘She denies me sex’

• He is a shameless drunkard. He drinks to the extent that he messes himself up by vomiting and defecating around the house —Wife • We both drink beer. She even took beer when she was pregnant with our first child — Husband

M

‘She sent armed robbers to kill me’

•I can’t kill him because he is our breadwinner. He takes proper care of me and the children —Wife

Stories by: Muda Oyeniran

A

57year-old man, Chief Solomon Fashade of 15, Robert street off Alaja road Megida, Ayobo Ipaja has told the Iyana Ipaja Customary court of how his 43-year old wife,Abosede Abiola Fashade of 13, Palace road, off AIT road, Alagbado allegedly sent a gang of armed robbers to kill him even as he urged the court to dissolve their union.

The petitioner who works at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Marina, Lagos disclosed that he met the respondent at Iyana Ipaja in 1998 said their union had been blessed with a 21 year-old male child named Pelumi Fashade According to him, the respondent who operates a beer parlour had become wayward shortly after their marriage saying he brought her male friends into their matrimonial home.

“When I challenged her, she told me that I only knew 20 per cent of her behavior and that I don’t know the remaining 80 per when we got married. I held a Bible to testify to what she said that day” The climax of the respondent’s misdemeanor, according to the petitioner, was when she allegedly sent a gang of armed robbers to kill him.

“On the night of September 17, 2013, armed robbers came to my

house to kill me. They came first for my car key and ask her to call me. The second time they came she woke me up and gave me two cutlasses asking me to go and face them. I then shut the light of the house. When they saw what I was doing, the robbers started hitting the louvers with hammer. Later they ran away”, the petitioner explained He said the investigation he conducted later in their neighbourhood revealed that his wife was the brain behind the robbery attack saying it was part of the respondent’s grand plan to kill him.

“Besides, it was the following morning that she took her children away and later packed her belongings and ever since then she has not returned back to the house”, he added But in her testimony in court, the respondent, Mrs Abosede Fashade said if he truly wanted to kill her husband she would have done so by herself instead of sending armed robbers to him.

“If want to kill him, it would have been easy because we sleep together, eat together and do most things together. So I can’t understand why accused me of trying to killing him. The cutlasses he talked about were the ones he uses to harass me whenever we have quarrel. So, those were the cutlasses I handed over to him when the armed robbers came”

She urged the court to warn the petitioner against spreading false allegation against her saying such action was tantamount to character assassination On the allegation that she was a wayward woman, she said her husband was only being jealous because as a beer seller, she had to laugh with her male customers adding that it was the petitioner that opened the beer parlour for her.

r. Daniel Ifeyinwa Imeri has dragged his wife, Mrs. Margaret Imeri before the Agege Customary court urging the court to dissolve their marriage.

According to the petitioner, the respondent has failed in her marital obligation as she was fond of denying him sex adding that she always claimed to be tired whenever he demanded for sex.

“She stabs me with scissors whenever I want to have sex with her by force. She once claimed I beat her between 11am and 2pm and she packed out that day. How can somebody I beat for three hours have the strength to pack her belongings”, he queried He also accused his fatherin-law who is a Pastor of taking side with her daughter whenever he reported her wrong doing to him. “He promised to intervene in the matter but he never did. However when I called him to remind him of his promise, he said I was insulting him.

The father later said I used 419 to marry her daughter because I did not pay the complete dowry”, he explained According to him, the respondent later reported him to a human right body. “I received a call in the midnight from a

human right activist whom my wife reported me to that I chased her out with a cutlass in the midnight about two years ago”, he said The petitioner added: She has also been threatening my life that I must go to the village to beg my father-in-law whom she said has been cursing me over non-completion of dowry payment But in a swift reaction at the court, the respondent described her husband as a very naughty and violent person saying he doesn’t have human feelings saying he doesn’t love him anymore.

“He beats me, he smokes, drinks alcohol. He beats me because he said I was stubborn.

He is a shameless drunkard.

He drinks to the extent that he messed himself up by vomiting and defecating around the house” However, the petitioner who continued with his testimony in court said both of them drink beer. “She even took small stout when she was pregnant with our first child”, he added In his remarks, the court president, Mr. P.A. Williams has referred the case for mediation in order to reconcile both parties.

‘He beat me and threw my things out’

• I watched a video of a guy wearing boxers on her phone. She also locks her phone. I believe she has skeleton in her cupboard —Husband

A

housewife, Mrs Grace Morgan has dragged his husband, Mr. Tomiwa Morgan before the Iyana Ipaja Customary court over the latter’s infidelity and constant fighting According to the petitioner, her husband flirts with different women saying he always lock his phone to prevent her from gaining access to his phone.

However, the petitioner the petitioner said his husband’s secret was exposed when some-

body called him in the middle of the night and he was fast asleep and could not pick the call. “On February 2 this year, somebody called him and I saw the name Mrs. Morgan.I picked it because I could not sleep. But when I picked it, the lady at the other end said ‘my love’. I told her that it was his wife and the lady dropped. That was when I knew that it was one of his girlfriends. When he woke up and discovered that I had picked his call, he beats me and threw my things out”

She said the respondent had always been secretive with his phone. “I have always observed him. He always locks his phone and I have always been suspicious of him wondering why he could be doing that if he does not have skeleton in his cupboard” However, in his testimony in court, the respondent also accused his wife of the same offence saying she also receives strange calls adding that she Continued on Page 39

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DIVORCE COURT

April 11, 2015

39

‘She has a child for another man’ A

n Osogbo Grade II Customary Court on Tuesday dissolved the 17-year-old marriage between Funmilayo Kareem and her husband Saliu, over adultery.

In his judgment, the President of the court, Chief Bolarinwa Popoola, held that the marriage ended when the petitioner left the respondent’s house had a child for another person.

“Adultery is and has always been a major cause of divorce.

This marriage is hereby dissolved with immediate effect,’’ he held.

Popoola awarded custody of the children who were above the legal age of six to the respondent and granted the petitioner right of access to see the children at any time.

Funmilayo, a mother of three, had urged the court to dissolve the marriage on the ground that her husband was a dirty man and always cursed her whenever they fought. ``The major reason why I want to divorce him is that he is a dirty man, and he fights and curses me a lot.

“I do not know how I became his wife, only God knows, I was forced to marry him, until now,

I do not know his people.

“About two years ago, he told me to follow him to a prophet, I refused to go, so he asked me to leave and I moved out since 2012 and we have been separated since then,” she said.

Kareem denied all the allegations and urged the court to grant his wife’s request.

“It is not true that she was forced to marry me; we knew each other for about a year before I married her.

“We even went to pay her bride price to her family. What actually happened was that she became adulterous and I reported her to her parents, they denied it.

“She claimed to be attending vigils, but I got to know that she was sleeping about; I once did not allow her to go for the vigil but she insisted and left without my permission.

“I went to the pastor and asked of her, the pastor denied seeing her and he called her, which was when she said she told me a lie to leave the house.

“The reason why she came to court is that she has a child for another man, she even left my house with the pregnancy,” he said.

(NAN)

‘He married a second wife without my knowledge’

A

housewife, Mrs Tamurat Alao has approach the Iyana Ipaja Customary Court seeking the dissolution of her union with her 42 year-old husband, Mr. Adesina Alao over the accusation that the latter took another wife without her knowledge.

The petitioner told the court that the respondent did not inform her that hee was going to take another wife saying she was surprised when he suddenly packed out of the house to live with another woman in their neighbourhood identified as Alhaja Afusat.

When I confronted him over his action, he beat me

mercilessly. There was a day I saw the photograph of Alhaja Afusat in my husband’s bag and when he knw about what I did, he beat me and almost killed me that day The petitioner further told the court that his husband borrowed a sum of N300,000 with the intention of using it to buy motorcycle adding that he never did saying the onus of repaying the debt has now fallen on her However she said she could no longer continue the repayment of the debt because of her financial state and the fact she now has to cater for the feeding an dwelfare of her children In his testimony at the

court, the respondent,Mr. Adeshina Alao said all the allegation leveled against him by his wife were true except the one in which she claimed that she has been helping him in the repayment of his debt saying she only pays the debt through her since she served as his guarantor.

On the allegation that he ran away with his lover, the respondent said he had to do so because his wife is very troublesome adding that she is in the habit of fighting with him on a daily basis.

He promised to continue paying a sum of N5,000 feeding allowance for the upkeep of his children on a monthly basis.

‘He beat me and threw my things out’

Continued from Page 38

also constantly lock her phone.

“I have asked her to open her

phone because she locks it all the time.

There was a time I saw a video of a guy wearing boxers on her phone and when I confronted her, she told me he was one of her friends on whatsapp. I am sure she was

there recording the video of the guy because the quality was so clear “As we were struggling with the phone, it fell down and got broken. But when she repaired it and she flashed the phone I discovered that she has deleted all the messages and the videos” According to the respon-

dent, when he reported the petitioner to her father, he got the shock of his life when he told him that she inherited her waywardness from her late mother.

However, the petitioner has prayed the court to grant her the custody of the children.

The case has been adjourned for further hearing

40

EVENTS

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Celebrities let their hair down at Gidi Culture Festival If there’s one event that celebrities have had real fun this year, it has to be Gidi Culture Festival which went down in Lagos last Saturday in celebration of the Easter season. Truly a festival as its name suggests, GCF was in two parts: games at the beach during the day and performances in the night. Kemi Adetiba, Fade Ogunro, Lynxxx, Victoria Kimani and Eva Alordiah were some of the celebrities who partook in the fun.

DJ Lambo and Victoria Kimani.j

Jimmie Akin and Adetiba

Waje and friend

Efya

Mariam

Fade Ogunro

Zainab Balogun

Eva Alordiah

Lynxxx and Nedu

OC Ukeje

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

April 11, 2015

Doctor Talabi has answers to your health questions

Write him today at prettyprevent@gmail.com or text 09099346165 (sms only pls)

Menopause I

f you see a woman in her fifties, howling at you, seeming irritable over what seems to be a simple matter, do not rush to judge her as being harsh or nasty.

She might just be displaying one of the cardinal symptoms of menopause mood swings. It is not really her, but the hormones playing a fast one on her.

What she requires is your understanding.

Many myths and hypothesis have been put up over the years to explain the period of menopause: survival of the fittest, grandmother’s hypothesis and the much cited “mother hypothesis,” which suggests that menopause was selected for humans because of the extended development period of human offspring and high costs of reproduction, so that mothers gain an advantage in reproductive fitness by redirecting their effort from new offspring with a low survival chance to existing children with a higher survival chance. Whatever the associated myth or belief, it is important every woman is well informed and prepared for this inevitable phenomenon.

Definition: Menopause, climacteric or Konenki (as labelled by our Japanese friends),is the state of absence of menstrual flow for twelve months in the presence of a U terus in a woman who hitherto has been menstruating.

Menopause and the period around menopause “Perimenopause” are natural stages of life. The term “postmenopausal” describes women who have not experienced any menstrual flow for a minimum of 12 months, assuming that they do still have a uterus, and are not pregnant or lactating. And in cases where menses ceased due to the surgical removal of the womb as a result of one medical condition or the other, symptoms of menopause may not occur as long as the ovaries are left intact. Ovulation, hormone production and regulation will continue until real menopause is reached. In contrast, when a woman’s ovaries are removed, even if the uterus is intact, the woman will immediately experience menopause which is both sudden and total; this is known as surgical menopause.

Generally, menopause is not a disease or a disorder, and therefore it does not automatically require medical treatment except it significantly disrupts the everyday life of the woman going through the experience. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55; though it has been shown to occur from as early as 30 years of age to as late as 61 years.

Varied perceptions are also the norm with menopause; while some view it as a medical issue, others see it as an expected life change, and some others view it as a period of doom.

Asian cultures associate it with liberation, and celebrate the freedom from the risk of pregnancy while the Indian women can enter Hindu temples and participate in rituals. In Africa, it marks the age where a woman technically enters the elder’s club, or reaches the age of wisdom.

Causes of menopause Age: as a natural corollary. The older you become, the closer you move to becoming menopausal Surgical induction: as explained earlier is another popular cause Premature ovarian failure: as the name implies is when the ovaries shut down prematurely, leading to an earlier than usual menopause.

While the cause of this may be unknown (idiopathic); smoking, high body mass index, some illnesses, race and ethnicity have been associated with early menopause. Some functional disorders could also speed up the period of menopause such as cancer of reproductive organs, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome. .

Mechanism of changes associated with menopause Menopause occurs because of the natural or surgical cessation of estradiol or oestrogen and progesterone production by the ovaries, which are part of the hormones that make reproduction possible and influence sexual behaviour. After menopause, oestrogen continues to be produced in other tissues, like the ovaries, bone, blood vessels and even in the brain. However, the dramatic fall in circulating levels at menopause impacts many tissues, from brain to skin, hence most of the symptoms experienced.

Signs of menopause Hot flushes: The most common of the complaints is the “Hot flashes” popularly referred to as “hot flushes”. It is a sudden feeling of hotness that may presents with sweating and red face ,rapid heart rate or chills. It is believed to be due to changes in circulation.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding: usually due to hormonal changes, vaginal atrophy, or a benign sore

(polyp) Decreased elasticity of the skin : associated with itching, dryness, tingling, burning, pins, and needles, or sensation of ants crawling all over the body.

Bloating: Oestrogen is important for maintaining the correct amount of water and bile in the body. As levels begin to change, water retention and subsequent bloating occur. Because the body produces less bile, digestion of fats may be impaired, and food may pass more slowly through the gut, resulting in build-up of gas and flatulence.

Cramps: can also be experienced due to the hormonal changes and this can present as period-type pain in the lower abdomen.

Depression /Anxiety: associated with Fatigue, Irritability, Memory loss, and problems with concentration, Mood disturbance, Sleep disturbances, poor or light sleep, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness.

Painful sexual intercourse: Decreased libido, Problems reaching orgasm Others are: Migraines, Breast atrophy, Back pain, and Muscle pain Treatments Thankfully, not all women will experience all the symptoms described.

Also some of the symptoms such as hot flushes will improve with time in most women. For those symptoms that persist or get worse, different measures are taken to mitigate the effect of menopause in order to make the woman have fulfilling post reproductive years. Such measures include uCounselling and Education uPsychotherapy uHormone replacement therapy(to be used with caution)

uPalliative cares Home palliative measures Lack of lubrication is a common problem after menopause. Vaginal moisturizers can help women with complaint of discomfiting permanent vagina dryness while lubricants can help if dryness is during intercourse.

In terms of managing hot flashes, lifestyle measures such as drinking cold liquids, staying in cool rooms, using fans, removing excess clothing, and avoiding hot flash triggers such as hot drinks, spicy foods, etc., may partially supplement (or even obviate) the use of medications for some women.

Osteoporosis or simply put, bone/ joint discomfort can be minimized by smoking cessation, adequate vitamin D intake and regular weightbearing exercise.

The risk of acute myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases rises sharply after menopause, but the risk can be reduced by managing risk factors, such as avoiding tobacco smoking, controlling hypertension, and controlling blood lipids and body weight.

Conclusion: The conclusion is to pamper and respect our women, for every woman is a treasure!

Next week we will be looking at male menopause or better still Andropause.

Let’s keep it a date You can chat with a doctor FREE at www.prettyhealthcare. com.ng. Every Wednesdays and Fridays (4-8 pm)

42

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Visit Kamuku’s alluring biodiversity park Kamuku National Park is definitely one of nature’s gifts to Nigeria. But it has largely remained untapped.

K

amuku National Park is one of the parks in the country created to protect, conserve, preserve a representative sample of indigenous species of plants and animal diversity in the North West of the country. The park also serves to monitor and evaluate changes caused by nature and human activities in the adjoining areas.

Kamuku National Park is located in the Western part of Birnin Gwari Local Government area of Kaduna State and bounded in the north by Kuyambana Game Reserve, Gangamai, and Goron Dutse in the North East, Mashigi and Kakangi in the west while Dagara marked the boundary in the South.

The park covers a total land area of approximately 1121 sq km and is the second smallest park in the country, yet very rich in terms of biodiversity.

The park maintains a reservoir of potentially valuable species and genotypes for improvement of crops, vegetation for agriculture, medicines and also provides a site for ecological education and research in conservation. It provides a site for Ecotourism and to encourage public visits.

The park can favorably be compared with any National Park in the world in preserving, protecting and conserving the North west natural heritage and cultural edifices that enliven them for future generations.

Originally, Kamuku National Park was gazetted as a native authority Forest Reserve by act no. 2 of 1936 under the then defunct Northern Nigeria Government. In 1999 the park was upgraded to a status of a National Park.

It also has some unique cultural significance with two major tribes of Gwari and the Kamukus who are predominantly farmers and pastoralist while others engage in vocational works and small scale trading.

The park is also endowed with old and ancient sites.

It has over 19 species of animal, some are endangered species with Kamuku being the only protected threshold in the North West Nigeria.

Among the Fauna resources found in the Park are Roanantelope, Bushbuck, Grimm’s Duiker, Oribi, warthog, Patas monkey, Green Monkey, Baboon,

and Elephant. Others are Crocodile, Monitor Lizard and many aquatic species.

Kamuku National Park is also rich in avian species of birds most of them are resident while very few are migratory, some of the birds are in the endangered list. A variety of insects’ reptiles and rodents are some of the faunal species that can be sighted in the park.

The park shares the same ecosystem and boundary with Kwiambana Game reserve in Zamfara State, separated only by a natural feature, “River Mariga”.

The park represents one of the best remaining blocks of the Sudan Guinea Savannah vegetation in the country’s protected areas. Though its flora is not fully documented, however preliminary studies have recorded over 200 species of trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers.

Among them, many species are of great medicinal values.

The park has rich close canopy vegetation of Savannah woodland type dominant species of isoberlinia, Afzelia, Daniellia, Detarium, Raphia. Among others and a few Lilly plant species.

The park is characterized by tall tough grasses during the remaining season; examples are Andropogon gayanus, penisetum purpureum.

Its rich eco-tourism heritage has remained a reference point. United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, resolution on “Promotion of ecotourism for poverty eradication and environment protection” calls on UN Member States to adopt policies that promote ecotourism, highlighting its “positive impact on income generation, job creation and education, and thus on the fight against poverty and hunger.”

According to the conservator of the park, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi, tourism is a private sector driven industry and based on this fact that the National park service was slated for partial commercialization, as part of an effort to achieve this plans, the park service has been calling for the private sectors to invest in its park Ecotourism. However the call seems to yield very slow result.

Abdullahi said while Kamuku National Park management is gradually developing its Ecotourism products, the park

Rare bird

Elephant

Rich biodiversity

is exploring all avenues to provide the needed facilities for Ecotourism. This is beside the management effort in keeping a cordial working relationship with support zone communities, so as to gain support for conservation and Ecotourism.

The Park has partner with Birnin Gwari Historical and Tourism committee to produce a well research historical document that can be of great important for promotion of Culture and tourism. Already the research committee has concluded its assignment and over 100 historical lyrics, sight and sounds has been identify. Additionally, the management in collaboration with an NGO had built a standard research center.

For visitors going to the park, there is the leased Kada Motel from the Kaduna State Government through the

Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The motel consists of 18 chalets of African architecture, a cozy restaurant, an exotic bar and a conference hall that can provide a convenient banquet. After the concession leasing, the park management has completed the renovation and the upgrading of the Kada Motel accommodation and facilities.

Due to the influx of visitors and the patronage from the vicinity communities, the National Park Services had built additional 3 chalets as an annex in the park head office. The management has also plans to build 3 more chalets within the year so as to provide independent visitors facilities.

The management has recently constructed a structure that serves as open Bar and recreation huts adding to the beauty of the Bar/Restaurant block.

The Motel has a restaurant,

Bar and banqueting facilities, continental, African and local cuisines are daily served from the Bar under a serene Bukka thatch structures.

However, the park is bedeviled by myriads of challenges like the absences of grazing reserves and Inadequate cattle routes as well as human activities. These pose a threat to the existence of Kamuku National Park as far as to Niger Republic. The Herdsman believes that Kamuku National Park forest has a kind of livestock feeds that multiplies their cattle population. These beliefs make grazers roam their cattle in the park.

These problems, regardless, Kamuku National Park is worth the experience, especially for people who cherish nature and want to observe animals in their natural environment.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

LEISURE

43

44

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Civil Service INEC reconfigures 4,000 card readers for April 11 elections in Sokoto –Official INEC reconfigures 4,000 card readers for April 11 elections in Sokoto State Official The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) says it has reconfigured over 4,000 Smart Card Readers for use in the April 11 governorship and state house of assembly elections in Sokoto State.

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity Unit of the commission in the state, Alhaji Musa Muhammad, disclosed to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday while commenting on the preparations for the polls. ‘’Over 4,000 card readers were deployed to the state for the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly polls, while 3,518 were actually deployed in the 3,035 polling units across the 23 local governments of the state.

‘’The rest were kept as back-ups, while 47 of the 3,518 card readers deployed were changed and the elections took place on March 29 in the affected polling stations. ‘’ All the 4,000 card readers had, therefore, been totally reconfigured and they are now being charged, while they are perfectly functional.’’

Muhammad said that the management of the commission had also held a meeting with all the electoral officials in the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said that the meeting reviewed the conduct of the March 28 polls, with a view to remedying all the observed lapses. ‘’ No fewer than 20,000 ad hoc staff would conduct the polls, some of those who conducted the last polls and were found wanting in any way were

either dropped or redeployed, to ensure their effectiveness. ‘’ We are ready for the polls in sokoto State and all the sensitive materials, including the ballot

papers, were now being sorted out. ‘’ We hope to start the distribution of the materials to all the 23 local government Electoral Officers anytime today, Thursday,

In Sha Allahu (by the will of God).’’

He appealed to the electorate and other stakeholders to remain calm, obey the rules and regulations guiding the conduct

of the elections.

Muhammad also urged the people of the state to come out en masse on April 11 and peacefully cast their votes. (NAN)

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left) addressing public servants during the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN meeting with Public Servants at the Bero Auditorium, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

NSCDC deploys 2,000 personnel in Jigawa

T

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said on Thursday it had deployed 2,000 peronnel for the gubernatorial, state and national assemblies elections in Jigawa.

The state NSCDC’s Commandant, Mr Muhammad Gidado, made this announcement in Dutse.

Gidado said the measure was to provide maximum security during the elections across the 27 local government areas of the state.

He said the primary responsibility of the corps was to provide security to all, including the voters, electoral officials and materials.

According to him, the corps has taken proactive measures to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections in the state.

Gidado urged the personnel to exercise high sense of professionalism in their conduct during the elections.

He, however, urged them to be neutral and impartial while discharging their

constitutional duties, saying that officers must be firm, fair and approachable to all participants.

Gidado, therefore, urged members of the public to cooperate with all security agencies for the smooth

conduct of the elections. ``I appeal to you to do the right thing in the interest of justice and fair play. ‘’Having been trained by the commission, you should work according to the guidelines and rules

for the conduct of an election,’’ he told the SPOs. The REC restated that those caught for not doing the right thing would be handed over to security agents for prosecution.

He, however, assured

the officials that allowances due for them would be paid promptly, adding that the commission would also ensure that there were adequate security presence at all polling units. (NAN)

BPE spends privatisation proceeds on workers’ payment

T

he Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has said that all the money realised by the Federal Government from sale of the 17 successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria was expended on the entitlements of the workers of the defunct monopoly.

The DG, who stated this in Abuja, recently, on a Radio Nigeria programme monitored by our correspondent was quoted to have said that

the management of labour issues in the power sector was more challenging but President Goodluck Jonathan directed and insisted that every one of the over 47,913 workers of the PHCN must receive every kobo of his or her entitlements.

According to the statement which was issued by the Head of Public Communications at the privatization agency, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, as a result of the President’s directive, all the proceed from the sale of the unbundled companies of

the defunct state monopoly were expended on the settlement of workers’ entitlements across the country.

He observed that reforms in the various sectors of the economy had generated employment as most of the privatized companies like WAPCO, Oando and the banking sector have through local and international expansion created millions of jobs, emphasizing that privatization was creating jobs.

The BPE boss said managing the various stake-

holders was one of the greatest challenges to the reform and privatization programme of the federal government.

He identified the various stakeholders in the reform and privatization programme as labour. Unions, players in the different sectors, prospective investors consultants/advisors and those he called ideologues.

According to him, to have a credible and successful transaction skilful management of the various stakeholders was required.

Dikki noted that the power sector reform and privatization was acclaimed to be good because of the high degree of transparency which stakeholders observed and led to the absence of any controversy about the outcome.

He said the cardinal objective of the government should be to provide an enabling environment for private sector investors to invest in such areas as roads and railways as it was the practice in developed economies.

Sport Onazi: ‘Football can unify, but bombs tear apart’ Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

April 11, 2015

45

I

n May 2014, Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi narrowly escapes death in Jos when he was targeted by a suicide bomber. That attempt on his life killed 118 others. Now Onazi wants an end to suicide bomb attacks

Shortly after the bombings in Jos, you said that the incident had left a terrible blemish and a deep scar. Has the memory faded?

The memory can never disappear. I recall vividly the chill when I saw the number of casualties. I only thank God for my life; grateful for the 20 minute grace God gave me that day. There is no moment when I hear about any bombings that this particular one doesn’t come back to me. I doubt it will ever fade.

Days later, three people died in another explosion that targeted fans watching the UEFA Champions League Final…

With more than 250 ethnic groups, football brings the people together. People who don’t speak the same language celebrate together when there is a goal. Innocent people are no more because of football. The government seriously needs to step up security across the country. I’m not here to judge the government, but I feel uncomfortable that the population suffered a lot. Football can unify but bombs tear my people apart.

The terror group involved, Boko Haram, has fought a five-year insurgency against Nigeria’s government, leaving 10,000 people dead last year alone. What do you think is the answer?

I just want to appeal to the government that this is a very important issue and they need to find an everlasting solution. The death toll from suicide bombings it’s human lives we are talking about here. There is no value for human life, it’s depressing.

We are living a life that we are not sure of tomorrow. It’s not even a natural disaster but a man-made disaster. Humans killing human’s makes it more sickening.

Why do you think so many footballers and other celebrities are reluctant to use their influence and speak up and demand an end to this?

I cannot speak for others, but it’s necessary for us to speak up. It’s easy for me to come out and say “I was lucky to escape” or “please protect Jos”. What about those in northern states like Yobe, Borno or Maiduguri? The other people who cannot talk? They all suffer. Some people feel safe in their “comfort zones” because the bomb does not affect them directly, but the death of a fellow citizen is unfortunately the sad end of one of us. I may live far away in Europe but above all I am one of them. I am not detached from the world around me or the reality of the damage going on a daily

Onazi

basis. Home is where the heart is because I still have my parents, my childhood friends and compatriots who eat and love football at home.

Attention has shifted towards general elections in Nigeria. Are you optimistic that the incumbent or incoming president may finally bring an end to the insecurity?

I hope so. But no one should play politics with the problem of insecurity. I want to play in front of a safe, happy and united country when I get the chance to represent my country. We all speak of growing old, to see our grandchildren, not our lives being cut short by cruel people. We need to act to save our country. I wish there is a button I can just press that will put an end to it. I put myself in the shoes of those victims. Nigeria is my country and I cannot wish death

on anyone. It’s a collective effort. The president cannot do it alone. There is a need for a holistic approach to solving this problem.

Football in Nigeria is blighted by problems on and off the pitch. There is a lot of soulsearching going after the team’s failure to qualify for the African Nations Cup. Where did it all go wrong?

We can’t point fingers, we failed collectively. The disappointment was obvious during the tournament. I did not watch it, that’s how low I felt because we should be playing in it.

National coach Stephen Keshi’s position is yet to be decided. Does this situation affect the players?

It does because one minute you have a coach, the next you hear something else.

We should have consolidated on our Nations Cup success and the World Cup run, but we failed to capitalise on the positives.

If things are stable on and off the pitch, we can fly high. If we play every game with zeal, collective dedication and team work I am sure we will return to the summit of African football. It is easy to talk, but first we must put our house in order and perform on the pitch.

You’ve been linked with a move to England this summer. How do you feel about that?

I have been linked with more than 10 clubs but I belong to Lazio. As a young footballer, I want to grow and play in European competitions. In life it has to be one step at a time. It could be with Lazio, but I believe God has a bigger plan for me, beyond the understanding of any man.

46

SPORT

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I have no regrets embracing karate — Jamiu

Jamiu (L) teaching one of his athletes, Tolulope Abe rudiments of karate

Ifeanyi Eduzor

I

n Nigeria today where the craze for football is high with many youths dreaming to be like Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo or planning to play professional football in Europe as an easy way to move out of poverty; one person who believes that he can make it in another sport apart from football is Naheem Olawele Jamiu, a seasoned Karateka.

Jamiu who said he had the opportunity of becoming a footballer because of his qualities as a good striker and dribbler which was discovered early in his life, decided to take to a form of martial art (karate) which has made him a house hold name in the country.

According to Jamiu who holds a 1st down black belt with more than 16 years experience in the game under the auspices of the Supreme Shotokan International Karate Academy located at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, headed by Shihan Ayo Idowu, his decision to take to the game was born out of the zeal to do something different from what his peers were doing and win laurels for the country in a sport dominated globally by Asians especially Japanese where the game originated from.

He posited that his interest in the game became more pronounced after watching movies of great karetakas like Bruce Lee, Ryu Narushima (The Dragon), Musashi, Gohkan Saki, Yusuke Fujimoto and Nicholas Pettas who specializes in such techniques as punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes, grabbling, joint locks, vital point strikes and karate blocks to defend

Members of Supreme Shotokan Karate Academy in a training

themselves against opponents which helped in developing his interest in the game.

Casting his mind back to when he started the game, he noted that he faced a lot of challenges both from his friends and relations who expressed surprise that he took to a relatively unknown sport compared to his friends that embraced football, but was quick to point out that his achievements over the years in the game has made him a toast of his friends, saying that he has no regrets jettisoning football for the martial arts.

“My becoming a karateka did not come without some hitches because those very close to me questioned my decision to take to the game when I have the opportunity of becoming a great footballer. But I told them that all of us cannot become footballers when there are a lot of sports we can embrace and become champions.

“Not minding my explanations, they kept on telling me to dump the game but I persevered and I thank God that today my perseverance has enabled me achieve success . Not only have I excelled in the game, a lot of people now come to me to teach them my techniques which has rekindled my interest to be amongst the best so as to be able to impact the knowledge of the game to others.

Jamiu who participated at the National Sports Festival in 2006, 2009 and 2012 as well as in big time invitational competitions in Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Abuja and also represented the country in karate competitions in Cameroon, Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana noted that stage fright nearly made him dump the game the first time he participated in a major competition but with sheer de-

termination and courage, he was able to overcome the temporary setback.

“My first day in competitive game was nearly marred by stage fright and I wanted to run away from my opponent who was more experienced than me. But at the interval my coach advised me to pick up courage because everyone passed through that stage. After his words of encouragement, I became more determined and then saw my opponent as being equal to me which made me complete the fight.

Although, Jamiu has represented the country in some West African countries where he made the country proud but he is not happy the way various sports administrators are relegating karate and other sports to the background in preference for football and was quick to point out that it is necessary for the country to emulate other countries and develop lesser sports as that is the only way to fight unemployment, crime and youth restiveness in the country.

“It is quite unfortunate the way various Sports Ministers have treated karate and other sports in the country. Many of them when newly appointed paint a picture that they will give equal attention to all sports but later they turn out to be Ministers of Football.

“While we recognize that football is the king of all sports in terms of its followership and entertainment, but there is the need for the government to take a cue from other countries and develop lesser sports because at major international competitions, football has only one gold medal while sports like boxing, swimming, taekwondo, cycling, karate, kungfu and others have many medals.

Speaking on the state of the sport in the country, he regretted that apart from the few tournaments organized by Karate Federation of Nigeria, corporate organizations has not deemed it fit to invest in the game which he said is capable of producing many medals for the country at international competitions and wondered why the country will not start now to invest in the game ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics when it is hoped that Karate will be an Olympics sports.

“I am particularly disturbed with the state of the game in the country because we are not getting any encouragement from any quarter. What we are doing is because of the love we have for the game.

When you go to all the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, you will see a lot of athletes participating in karate and if the government can give us encouragement, we will definitely excel.

This karateka who described his greatest weapon as knee strikes which he has used on several occasions to subdue his opponents, noted that although he has achieved some successes in his chosen profession, but he is not yet satisfied with his achievements because his target is to win a world championship for the country and be rated amongst the best karatekas in the world.

On how he intends to achieve this considering that the Japanese who invented the sports are still dominating it, he stated with confidence that the new technology and modern training facilities which he has been exposed to coupled with the fact that he has what it takes to face the best fighter in the world will enable him achieve his ambition.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

April 11, 2015

Drogba takes a stroll

47

MirrorGolf With Pius Anakali

Masters meltdown helped me —McIlroy

W

orld number one Rory McIlroy has described his finalround collapse at the 2011 Masters as the “most important day of his career”.

The 25-year-old Northern Irishman led by four shots going into the last day at Augusta but dropped six in three holes and ended up carding an 80.

“I learned so much about myself and what I needed to do the next time I got into that position,” he said.

McIlroy would complete a career grand slam with a green jacket on 12 April.

He won the US Open in 2011, the US PGA in 2012 and 2014 and last year’s Open at Royal Liverpool.

He goes into the first major of the year as favourite and would become the first Irishman to triumph at Augusta.

And he believes that experience four years ago makes him better equipped to handle the pressure.

Levy keen to defend Volvo China open crown

A

lexander Levy will face a host of European Tour winners when he heads to Shanghai to defend his Volvo China Open title in a fortnight.

Levy, who is attempting to become the first player in the event’s history to retain the trophy, is joined in the field by a number of champions from The 2015 Race to Dubai, including Gary Stal, Andrew Dodt, Trevor Fisher Junior and Richie Ramsay, who became the most recent winner in 2015 with victory in

the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco.

The field also boasts real strength in depth with no fewer than 13 of the world’s top 100 competing, including Volvo World Match Play champion Mikko Ilonen, Francesco Molinari and Marcel Siem, as well as many other big names such as 2011 Volvo China Open champion and former Ryder Cup star, Nicolas Colsaerts, five-time European Tour winner, David Howell, and another winner of this title, Simon Dyson.

Masters 2015: Making cut will be a triumph for Woods’

A Drogba

D

idier Drogba took advantage of the glorious London sunshine on Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Manchester City’s defeat at Crystal Palace saw Chelsea take a giant leap towards the Premier League title.

The Blues striker was spotted on his mobile phone whilst taking a stroll through the capital and the former Ivory Coast international looked cool in a pair of dark shades, black baseball cap and Nike trainers.

Drogba and his Chelsea teammates will be buoyed by City’s 2-1 loss at Selhurst Park on Monday night with the Blues now seven points clear at the top with a game in hand.

The 37-year-old replaced Diego

Costa during the second half of Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Stoke on Saturday after the Spain international was forced off with a hamstring injury.

Jose Mourinho’s side claimed victory to extend their lead at the top of the table courtesy of an Eden Hazard penalty and Loic Remy strike.

Drogba, meanwhile, has scored six goals in 34 appearances this term since returning to Stamford Bridge from Galatasaray in the summer.

He made his Premier League return for Chelsea in a 3–1 win away to Burnley, replacing winger Eden Hazard in the 84th minute at Turf Moor on 18 August 2014.

On 17 September he made the first start of his second spell, in

a 1–1 home draw against Schalke 04 in Chelsea’s first game of the Champions’ League group stage.

He scored his first goal in his second spell at Stamford Bridge on 21 October, converting a penaltykick in a 6–0 win over Maribor in the Champions League. Five days later, with Chelsea’s attack limited by injuries to Diego Costa and Loïc Rémy, Drogba started against Manchester United at Old Trafford, making his 350th appearance for the club.

Early in the second-half, he headed in the first Premier League goal of his second spell although Robin van Persie equalized in added time. He scored his 50th goal in European football against Schalke 04. Drogba is currently enjoying life in London.

s Tiger Woods prepares for his unlikely bid for Augusta glory, the struggling superstar has found support from three-time Masters winner and golfing legend Gary Player.

“If anyone’s capable of coming back its Tiger,” Player told CNN Living Golf ’s live web chat ahead of the opening major of the 2015 season.

Woods is returning to competitive golf after slipping outside of the world’s top 100, hit by poor form and then a back injury when he attempted his

Woods

latest comeback earlier this year.

After announcing an “indefinite break,” it came as a surprise when Woods said he would be teeing it up around an unforgiving course and under the full glare of the media spotlight.

Tuesday’s draw paired the former world No. 1 with European Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson and American Jimmy Walker for the first two rounds.

Tiger Woods has announced that his two children will caddy for him at the 2015 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta.

48

SPORT

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EPL Wilshere not for sale —Wenger

A

Grant wants

Pellwgrini

Pellegrini retained

G

hana coach and former Chelsea manager Avram Grant says Manuel Pellegrini should be given the chance to “correct his mistakes” and stay at Manchester City for next season.

Grant, who currently manages the Ghana national team, took over as Chelsea boss in July 2007 following Jose Mourinho’s departure and had his own contract terminated despite guiding Chelsea to the Champions League final, the League Cup final, and only missing out on the Premier League in the last match of the season.

According to Grant, a manager’s contract should not be torn up because of one poor season.

“I think it always depends on the person. If you know you have a manager you know can correct his mistakes and can correct the mistakes of others, he needs to stay,” Grant told Sky Sports News HQ. “And I have a feeling that Pellegrini is like this. If you feel that he cannot do it, don’t keep him.

“City were brilliant until January. They played really good football, but since then there have been a lot of ups and downs.

“I think that when you trust a manager you need to give them a chance, even when they’ve not had a good season. And especially, in this case, after last season where Manchester City did so well and had good

Madrid appeal Ronaldo’s booking

R

eal Madrid have appealed the yellow card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo for diving during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

The Portuguese received his fifth booking of the campaign, which would see him miss Saturday’s visit of Eibar to the Bernabeu, despite appearing to be brought down by Antonio Amaya whilst the score was still 0-0.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti remonstrated with the officials after the match and described the decision not to award a penalty as “incredible”.

Ronaldo went on to score his 300th goal for Madrid in just 288 games for the club as the European champions remained four points adrift of Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga.

Sherwood grateful for Spurs exit

rsene Wenger has said he has no interest in selling Jack Wilshere, amid reports that Manchester City are preparing to make a move for the Arsenal midfielder.

Wilshere, who has been sidelined since late November with an ankle problem, is set to make a return to competitive action for Arsenal at Burnley this weekend but faces a battle to win his place back given the team’s excellent recent form.

However, Wenger told a news conference that Arsenal had no interest in selling Wilshere, 23, and no longer had to countenance losing their best talent, as happened with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie in recent years.

“We are not in a position anymore where we have to sell our best players,” Wenger said. “We cannot make a case of any headline in any newspaper in a press conference from things that are not true.”

Wenger confirmed that, along with Wilshere, he will also have captain Mikel Arteta, full-back Mathieu Debuchy and long-time injury absentee Abou Diaby available for the Burnley game.

F

ormer Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood says he holds no grudges against his exemployers ahead of Saturday’s return to White Hart Lane with Aston Villa.

Sherwood spent six months in charge at the London club following Andre Villas-Boas’ departure in 2013 and will make his return needing points to keep Villa’s Premier League survival bid on track.

Having taken over at Villa Park in February, Sherwood says he is relishing the challenge of keeping the club in the top flight.

“I was pleased with what I did [at Spurs], but I respect the decision made by Daniel Levy and his board, they’ve been good for me,” he said.

“They only made that decision based on what they believe is best for the football club.

“They have to make that decision. I haven’t got to agree with it. I just move on.

“I thank them for not being there now as it is the reason I am at this fantastic football club.”

Wilshere

Mourinho: Wenger is right on Ballon d’Or

C

helsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he does not like the Ballon d’Or, the prize awarded to the world’s best player during a calendar year.

The Portuguese said he agrees with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger that football is concentrating too much on individuals instead of the team.

“He is against the Ballon d’Or and I think he’s right,” Mourinho, 52, said.

“In this moment football is losing a little bit the concept of the team to focus more on the individual.”

Mourinho, who has won seven league titles in four different countries and the Champions League twice, told the Daily Telegraph that it is the group that wins, not the individual.

He said: “For me, football is collective. The individual is welcome if you want to make our group better.

But you have to work for us, [it’s] not [a case that] we have to work for you.

EPL fixtures Swansea v Everton S’hampton v Hull Sunderland v Crystal P. Tottenham v Aston Villa West Brom v Leicester West Ham v Stoke Burnley v Arsenal Ronaldo

Mourinho

Crime Watch Police raid IED manufacturing depot in Enugu

T

he Police have identified the factory that manufactured the Improvised Explosive Devices that caused explosion in Enugu State during the March 28 elections. The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja before a closed-door meeting with senior police officers to strategise on security for the April 11 elections. Abba said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

He said: “The investigation into the incident has reached advanced stage. “We have identified even the factory where those IEDs were manufactured. “I think that alone is a big success.”

It will be recalled that the bomb explosion occurred at WTC school 1 polling unit in Enugu on the Election Day. The blast was said to have caused pandemonium as people, including staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission and voters, ran for safety.

Two other bombs also were said to have been defused by the anti-bomb squad of the state Police Command.

Indonesia: 2 Nigerians among 10 convicts to be executed together

M

uhammad Prasetyo, Indonesia Attorney-General, said on Tuesday in Jakarta, that the 10 death-row convicts, including two Australian drug smugglers, would be executed together. Prasetyo said this was to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the execution process.

“I think doing it at the same time is better in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and security,” he said. Prasetyo said a Jakarta court on Monday rejected a last-ditch appeal filed by Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran challenging the president’s refusal to grant them clemency.

Prasetyo said two other convicts from different cases, Silvester Anderson of Nigeria and Serge Atlaoui of France, were having their appeals pending. Prasetyo said legal challenges after the convicts’ failed requests for presidential clemency were unusual, but the government was willing to wait.

“It should have been over but when there are challenges we respect them,” he said.

The other convicts on death row are two other Nigerians and one each from the Philippines, Ghana, Brazil and Indonesia.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

April 11, 2015

Kidnapped boy’s family cries foul ... as police release suspects

Suleiman Abba, Inspector General of Police

Patience Ogbo

T

he Rivers State Police Command has released two suspects arrested in connection with the alleged kidnap of a 15 -year -old boy, John Idhodaye, in Port Harcourt.

Saturday Mirror reported last week that John a Junior Secondary School 1 student has gone missing since February 24 when he left his guardian’s home at the Eliozu East West Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for school at the GEOCO International School, Port Harcourt.

It was gathered that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit is investigating the case and four persons identified as Timothy Iluaka, Ebuka Ebueke, one Mofoni Adams and another man simply identified as Victor were arrested over the alleged kidnap after they found Idhodaye’s belongings in Iluaka’s apartment . The four suspects are tenants to John’s guardian.

Reacting to the alleged kidnap, the Rivers State police spokes person, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, stated that the police released the two suspects due to ill health.

“Two of the suspects whom I cannot disclose their names are receiving treatment in the hospital. They fell ill while in detention and we invited a doctor to check them.

It was based on the doctor’s recommendation that they need further treatment in the hospital that made us to release them for treatment.

John

“The family of the boy should be patient with the police because we are seriously looking for him. We advise them to be patient as we continue with our investigation.

Going to the press will not help them and they should not be ingrates going about saying that police are not doing enough to find the boy. Moreover this case was not reported as kidnap,” police PPRO said.

While the police said they are searching for John, family sources, however, stated that the police are not being truthful.

The source who requested anonymity said, “The police should stop lying and tell the world why they stopped tracking John’s number. They told us that they tracked his number to a chief ’s house and they were stopped from entering the house. The police tracked John’s phone number to a four bedroom apartment in Port Harcourt but the owner of the apartment refused to allow the policemen in. The owner of the apartment, one chief, called the DPO of Mimi-Okoro Police Division and the DPO stormed the four bedroom apartment with policemen in three patrol vehicles and told the Divisional Police Officer from Akporo police station who was there with his team to track John to leave the house. The police officer claimed that there was order from above for the police men to leave the house and stop tracking John’s number.

“We don’t know why this happened. We feel something is not right about this. Who are the police trying to protect? John left home that fateful day for school but he did not return home. John’s guardian found

his belongings in Mr. Iluaka’s apartment.

They saw John’s clothes, books, shoes, bags and other belongings including some household goods like TV and DVD John stole from his guardian’s guest room and kept in Mr. Iluaka’s room.

“When we demanded to know why the police released the suspects, the police became angry and they told us to give them space. We fear that they have released Mr. Iluaka who is the prime suspect in this case. Mr. Iluaka is highly connected and he is bribing the police.

“This man Iluaka is a suspected armed robber and kidnap kingpin. Since he moved into John’s guardian’s apartment last year, he has bought five exotic cars. First he travelled and when he came back, he brought a PASSAT car. The following week, he came back with a Toyota Camry car. Then he bought a Honda car. Shortly after, he came back and parked an Infinity Jeep then he bought a Lexus Jeep. We wonder what business he is into that he is purchasing all these cars.

“We suspect he has recruited John into armed robbery and the police should handle this case very well so that John and other boys they have recruited can be set free.

Iluaka has four boys living with him but they don’t have any means of livelihood.

The family source said they are appealing to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to look into the case as they have also written a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Zone 6 police command over the matter.

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

50

CRIME WATCH

April 11, 2015

18-year-old caught having sex with mad woman

D

etectives attached to the Oke-Odo Police Station, Ile-Epo, Abule-Egba area of Lagos State have started quizzing an 18-year-old man caught pants down having sex with a mad woman on the road.

The suspect, Chimaobi Peter, said he had not yet penetrated before the screams of the woman alerted people. But the woman’s family members said Peter had already penetrated. They also alleged that he decided to have sex with their aunt for ritual purposes.

One of them said: “When he was dragged off her, she couldn’t get up for more than three/four hours. “She was extremely weak. “There’s no doubt that he used something on her.”

Although police are itching to prosecute Peter, but the detectives need all the evidence they could get. One of the key crucial evidence is to take the woman, identified simply as Iya Rasheedi, to Mirabel Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to ascertain penile penetration.

The trouble however was that Iya Rasheedi refused to be cajoled or coaxed into going to Mirabel Centre. Some of her relatives said the investigators should give them time to get one of her five kids, who are all married and live in different in areas of Lagos, come speak to her.

“Once she sees any of them, she would follow them to the hospital,” said one of her relatives.

If the test is not carried out, Peter will go scot free. Denying vehemently that he penetrated, Peter blamed his action on being drunk and on a supposed curse that

Lagos CP Aderanti,

had been following him from his village.

Narrating his story, the suspect said he was drunk and was walking along the street when he saw the mad woman. She was stark naked.

He said that he felt his manhood roar to life and quickly removed his trouser.

As he pounced on her, she started screaming and struggling. Some local vigilante men heard her screams and rushed to the scene. They rescued her from Peter.

Witnesses said Peter penetrated the woman, but he had consistently denied it. He however said: “If not for the security men, maybe I would have had sex with her, notwithstanding that she was

screaming and struggling. “I don’t know what came over me.

“Please forgive me!

“I had a lot of things on my mind.

“My problems are bigger than me.

“I have nobody to help me.”

When police grabbed him, packets of Indian hemp were recovered from his pocket. He said: “My spirit is willing to serve God, but my flesh is always deceiving me.

“I saw the woman naked at Oke-Odo Pipeline. “I was even planning to go and sleep at Super when I saw her. “I removed my trouser and tried to force her to have sex with me. “She started shouting.”

Asked the sort of curse following him, Peter said whenever he succeeds and makes money, it would disappear. “He also said that his parents died, nobody wants to take care of him because “anybody that takes care of me, will suddenly die!

“I’ve been told to carry out sacrifice and libation on my grandfather and father’s grave.” An angry relative of Iya Rasheedi said: “The woman has five grown kids. “She has been mad for over 27 years. “The madness used to come and go. “Once it goes, she would cover her body and once it comes upon her, she leaves home and starts wandering.

“This condition of hers was what killed her elder brother. “He was going everywhere, seeking solution for her problem until he died. “Her husband disappeared and abandoned her after she went mad.” Investigators said Peter is looking at life imprisonment if found guilty since a mentally unstable woman cannot give consent for sexual intercourse.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NDLEA arrests five for forged visa clearance

N

ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Oyo State Command, on Wednesday paraded a 45-year-old unemployed graduate, Sam Oladiti and four others, for document forgery.

The State Commander, Mrs Omolade Faboyede, told newsmen in Ibadan that the individuals had collected the sum of N20,000 from one Kafayat Mustapha under the false pretence of obtaining an NDLEA Visa Clearance for her.

It was gathered that the other suspects included Olawale Lawal (38), Yusuf Kazeem (28), Olusina Adewale (39) and Bolaji Kayode (35).

Faboyede said that the complainant, Mustapha, discovered she was issued a forged document because it was signed with the name of a past NDLEA chairman.

According to Faboyede, the visa clearance is a requirement for travellers from Nigeria going to drug-source countries which include Thailand, India, Laos, Afghanistan and Colombia.

“NDLEA gets detailed information about a person with two guarantors and every other information that can lead to the arrest of such persons, in case of drug trafficking.

“Each state command carries out this process, but the issuance is done at our National Headquarters, which forwards the clearance to such embassies.

“It is not issued to an individual,” she said.

Faboyede said that some intending travellers to the drug-source countries try to get the visa clearance through others, because of the processing rigours. (NAN)

Police nab pastor who specialises in robbing churches •Says God understands when he steals from God’s house

A

pastor, who was arrested for always breaking into churches to steal musical instrument, said he decided to take to the crime because he knew that God would understand. The suspect, Pastor Tope Kolawole, said he never wanted to embrace robbery.

Kolawole said he had battled seriously within about taking to stealing from churches, telling himself that he was an ordained pastor, but another voice chided him to think of survival first.

He however decided to break into churches to steal musical instrument after some of his friends told him. He said: “I told my friend that I could not do what he asked me, especially since it involved my going into churches to commit this evil act!

“I also reminded some of them that I’m an ordained pastor.

“But my friend asked me what my pastor post had to do with my achieving my dream in life. “He also said that if I should steal from God’s house, God would understand that my problems led me into the act.

“When I got back home, I thought of it and decided to give the business a trial.”

The police said that Kolawole was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos Police Command Police on March 25, 2015.

The downfall of the suspect started after the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, received information that a group of men, suspected to be robbers, were breaking into a church premises along Shogunle.

Aderanti had immediately ordered the Officer-in-Charge of SARS, SP. Abba Kyari, to get a team of policemen and lead them to the scene. The suspect was caught at the Alive International Ministry premises along Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos. He was found in possession of some musical instruments.

The items are one power amplifier, two musical mixer, one keyboard, one stabilzer, two DVD players, and one 32inches Samsung plasma TV. The stolen items had been recovered and returned to the church. In-

vestigators have also discovered that Kolawole had once been arrested and remanded in Badagry Prison in 2014.

According to him, he was arrested and remanded by the Lagos State Task Force from Alausa division for unlawfully hawking on the highway. He said he spent a month in prison. He said he went into the crime because of frustration.

Kolawole added: “I went in to breaking and stealing from churches after I had nothing to do or nowhere to source money after I left prison. “I had a diploma degree as a pastor from Christ Apostolic Church Seminary School of theology in 2008, after which I was transferred to a branch of CAC Oke Iyanu at Alakia, Ibadan, Oyo State to practice as a pastor for three months.” Kolawole said that some of his friends, whom he met when he was selling on the highway, initiated him into breaking and entering into churches.

He said: “I began hawking phone accessories along Oshodi Road where I met some group of boys whose leader was

called Alausa. “They are into the business of buying and selling musical instruments.

“After my release, I went back to Oshodi to see my fellow guys. “It was then that Alausa, who had been assisting me financially, introduced me to the business.”

The suspect recalled his second operation, which occurred last year. He went to a church at Abule Egba area, where he stole a keyboard, two mixers and an amplifier.

He also said he went to another church in Sango Ota, where he carted away a mixer and a keyboard. The fourth and fifth churches were located at Ojota and Oregun respectively.

The last operation at Alive International Ministry at Iyana Ipaja, saw his defeat.

He said: “I only break into churches whenever I’m broke. “I didn’t want to depend on my wife who is a nurse.

“I used to attend The Lords Chosen Charismatic Church, but left when my life was not making a meaning. “I had to move to the Redeemed Christian Church of God. “I once met a woman whose daughter was sick at the Holy Ghost Service and I prayed for the girl and she was healed.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crime Watch

April 11, 2015

51

Pastor’s daughter killed as arsonists set Baptist church ablaze

B

arely one week after an attack on a branch of Living Faith Church, popularly called Winners Chapel in Giwa, headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State by two unidentified arsonists, the Baptist Church at Gidan Maso village in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State has been set ablaze and the residence of the Pastor, Rev. Habila Garba, burnt by irate youths.

During the incident, which happened on April 1 at about 7:30pm, one of the Pastor’s daughters died of suffocation and most parts of the house destroyed as a result of the fire.

The President of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (rtd), told journalists on Tuesday in Abuja that the intention was to kill one youth, Yahaya Joshua, who converted to Islam but later on reverted to Christianity.

The full statement of General Dikko, entitled: “Another church torched again,” reads: “The Baptist Church at GIDAN MASO village of Rogo LGA in Kano State was set on fire by youths of the Village on 01 April, 2015 at about 7:30 pm.

The Church and all the properties were burnt down in the presence of the Christian Community despite all pleadings for them to stop the destruction.

The arsonists gathered cornstalks and put inside the Church in order to cause greater damage. This made the action to seem deliberate and for ulterior motives. “The Christians present exhibited

Baptist Church set ablaze

great Christian qualities by not taking the law into their hands by trying to stop them by force.

Rather than the arsonist to see rea-

son, they were infuriated which led to setting the house of the Pastor, Rev Habila Garba, ablaze as well. As a result of the fire, one of the Pastor’s daugh-

I was arrested because robbery is not my field, says suspect

A

former manager with a sachet water company located at the Ijanikin area of Lagos State said that he was arrested and his gang members escaped because he was lousy in robbery.

The suspect, John Uche, 22, said he was only arrested because robbery was not his field. Uche, presently in the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, said the devil lured him into crime, through “bad friends”.

He said they convinced him to join them in snatching phones from unsuspecting victims. Uche said: “I was arrested because robbery is not my field. “I’ve never robbed before. “This was my first attempt. “This is why escape was difficult for me and my colleagues escaped.”

Uche said he was a factory manager, collecting N3 per a bag of sachet produced. The workers who pack the sachet water are paid N2. He said: “I worked

with that company for four years. “I was sacked with other workers because the business was no longer booming. “I became idle. “I know that robbery is bad, but the devil made me to join the bad gang.”

The suspect was arrested penultimate week by the operatives of the Festac Police Station and transferred to SARS for further investigation. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu confirmed Uche’s arrest. Nwosu said Uche belonged to a three-man gang of robbers. He added that while Uche was arrested, two others escaped. He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Kayode Aderanti, had given the officer in charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari, a mandate to fish out the fleeing two members.

According to Uche, some of his friends invited him to help them in washing clothes at Maza-Maza because they were into laundry business. He added: “I didn’t

know they were robbers.

“One day, they said I should follow them to Festac area. “I didn’t know they were going for a robbery operation.

“We went to rob and collect phones in the streets. “One of them brought the only gun with two cartridges for the operation.

“It was an Awka made double barrel shot gun.” Uche said as they were moving around in the night, some security guards challenged and arrested them.

Uche said: “We’ve also robbed phones at Maza-Maza before this one. “The gang used to give me N3,000 for each phone sold.”

The suspect, who said he completed his secondary education in 2011 and wrote JAMB exams in the same year, further said: “My parents are dead.

“I have two brothers and four sisters.

“The guards, who arrested me, collected the gun that fell from one of our members, Friday.”

ters died of suffocation and most of the house destroyed.

“They also attacked and wounded Bawa Adamu and Aminu Dauda, who received machet cuts leading to broken arms. Others received similar wounds but of lesser degrees. “The cause of the barbaric act was to kill one youth, Yahaya Joshua, who converted to Islam but later on reverted back to Christianity. The youth had escaped on learning of the plan to kill him.

They therefore set the Church and Pastor’s house on fire and went about maiming and wounding any Christian they saw. The incidence was immediately reported to the Police and the District Head at Rogo.

At the time of filing this report on 3rd April, 2015, no information was received about the action taken or if any arrests were made. However, all the wounded know and can identify their attackers by name since they all belong to the same village. “The Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nigeriya is calling on the authorities to take the necessary steps to stem or stop all these harassments and molestations of innocent Christians for whatever reasons.

We have the right to belong to any religion of our choice and live anywhere in this country. We call on the authorities at all levels to rise up to their responsibilities to protect lives and properties of every citizen in this country.”

52

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH WEST

Vote rightly, shun inducement

— Lagos NOA Director Ayo Esan

A

s Nigerians goes into the various polling booths across the nation today to elect governors and members of the state assemblies, the Lagos State Director of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Alhaji Waheed Lawal has cautioned voters to shun inducement and vote rightly.

He made this known during a community dialogue programme on vital education organized by the Lagos Directorate of NOA as a way of enlightening voters on their role in today’s election.

Speaking at the occa-

sion, the Lagos State Director of NOA, Lawal urged the people to vote according to their conscience and to shun inducement whether in monetary or material terms.

He advised that if they receive money as an inducement to vote they would have sold the future of their children.

He urged them to look at the various candidates in the election and vote for the ones they think would benefit them and their communities.

Lawal said the country will gain more if quality people are put into various electable position saying that was why the NOA felt the need to educate the people on their role.

Lagos bakers, caterers canvass support for Ambode

A

s Lagosians troop out today to exercise their franchise in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter has called on its members to close shops The association also urged Lagosians to support the All Progressives Congress, (APC), governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the election.

Chairman of the association, Jacob Adejorin, told newsmen in Lagos that the association had screened the APC chieftains’ utterances and the disposition before giving him the nod.

“Against this background, the association has concluded he (Ambode) deserves our votes.

His wealth of experience, character, integrity and being a new bred politician, lend credence to this endorsement.

“We have, therefore, de-

cided that all bakeries in the state would be closed down on Saturday for all bakers to go out en masse and vote for our candidate,” he said.

Adejorin, however, urged Ambode to listen to the plight of bakers in the state, should he win.

“We are canvassing support for him because of the trust we have that he would continue what the present administration has started for us.

Under the present Babatunde Fashola’s adminis-

tration, the state government initiated the Bakers Youth Empowerment Programme, but till date, not much has been done on it.

“We are hoping that the APC candidate, if he wins, will make bakers’ welfare a priority and implement this programme to perfection because we are the food basket of the state.

Bakers are in need of empowerment in the form of sophisticated equipment, funds and training of any kind and level,” he said.

Jatropha oil to fetch Nigeria N10bn annually — Expert

N

ational President, Biofuel Farmers Association, Kayode Adebiyi, has said that Nigeria could get up to N10 billion annually from the export of Jatropha oil.

Adebiyi said in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria, that the country could also earn about N5 billion annually from domestic utilisation of the Jatropha biocrude oil.

“Through the supply of the oil to communication companies and industries for their power diesel alone, one can generate up to N5b billion. Just last year, the representative from a Japanese company came to Nigeria to request for 5, 000 metric tons of the oil on monthly basis.

So it can get up to N10 billion from such a business transaction,” he said.

The president urged the Federal Government to pass a bill of 10 per cent inclusion of Jatropha oil into any diesel powered engine including automobile.

“If the bill is enacted, it will encourage consumers to come to the processors and farmers to source for

the oil; there will be a flow of fund to the grassroots,” he said.

Adebiyi advised the government to direct the Bank of Industries and that of Agriculture to support relevant organizations with funds to produce more biofuel in the country.

“The renewable energy division under the NNPC should be mandated to work on Jatropha and relate with biofuel farmers.

The government can introduce renewable energy into secondary and tertiary curricula and mandate agric institutions to go into plantation of the crop to create awareness,” he said.

Adebiyi, however, noted that his organisation worked tirelessly to create awareness about the Jatropha crop and support farmers in the production.

“We are collaborating with NOA (National Orientation Agency) to bring the advantage of the crop to the notice of the public, we do sensitisation workshops, outreaches, radio jingles etc. But we need support financially to acquire land for planting.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (3rd left), Lagos State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Henry Ajomale (2nd left), Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Kayode Opeifa (2nd right), and other party chieftains during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship campaign rally at Agege, Lagos

Train kills man using earphone in Lagos

A

n unidentified young man with earphone on, was killed by a passenger train at Cappa area of Oshodi, in Lagos.

The man was standing on the rail track oblivious of the fast approaching train.

The Ogun-Lagos-bound mass transit train was leaving its Oshodi station to Mushin when the accident occurred.

The train had as usual,

sounded its horn repeatedly as it was approaching the railway crossing at Ilupeju Bye-pass for clearance of its track.

According to an eyewitness, the man who had his earphone on was apparently carried away with either the call he was receiving or listening to music.

“Obviously the man was not aware of the approaching train even as it blasted its horn, perhaps

because of the earphone.

“Before he knew it, he was already hit by the train and was not given any chance to escape.

“Immediately he was hit, the body was mangled as the train dragged it underneath,’’ the eyewitness said.

People standing by the rail track that saw the incident raised their hands over their heads in a show of pity for the deceased.

“The man has suddenly and unwittingly lost his life to sheer carelessness,’’ a passenger said.

It was not the first time a moving train would crush to death people standing on the rail track because of having their earphones on.

Among them was a lady in 2006, killed at Shogunle GRA railway crossing, while another one was killed in 2007 at Oshodi.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

T

he Bauchi State Police Command has issued a stern warning to Security Details attached to political office holders in the state, not to accompany their principals to the polling units or collation centers today.

The warning is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed.

The decision may not be unconnected with a feeler the command got that there are plans by some politicians in the

53

April 11, 2015

NORTH

Security details barred from polling units state, to disrupt the gubernatorial and state assembly elections in the state.

“It has come to the knowledge of Bauchi State Police Command that some desperate politicians are planning to disrupt the forthcoming Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elec-

tion on 11 April 2015 in the State.

“The command warns that it will not fold its arms and watch disgruntled elements truncate the relative peace in the state, which it is working assiduously to maintain.

“To this end, members of the public are ad-

vised to be law abiding and conduct themselves peacefully, by shunning all forms of electoral offences before, during and after the election.

“Again, on no account should uniformed private/ government security agents and voluntary organizations such as Boys Scout, Vigilante

groups, Boys Brigade, Peace Ambassadors and other quasi paramilitary organizations, be seen in uniform within 300 metres of a polling unit.

“The command further warns all security details attached to political office holders, to desist from accompany-

ing their principals to the polling booths and collation centers during the election.

“Finally, the Command wishes to reassure the public of its commitment to the provision of round the clock security before, during and after the general election,” it said.

Al-Makura dedicates leadership award to masses

G

ov. Umaru AlMakura of Nasarawa State, who was honoured with Leadership Politician Award of the year by the Leadership Newspapers, has dedicated it to the people.

According to him, “I am dedicating this prestigious Leadership Politician of the Year Award to the people of Nasarawa State for their steadfastness and support, despite the challenges thrown on our path in the last four years.”

Almakura used the occasion to restate his resolve to be in the vanguard for the masses.

The governor said he was humbled by his choice for the award, adding that he was threatened with impeachment in his first year in office and weathered eight other impeachment moves

by the state assembly in the past four years.

Mr. Durojaiye Hassan, who represented LEADERSHIP Newspapers at the event, lauded Almakura’s doggedness and commitment to the course of the common man in line with President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari’s doctrine of change.

“Having carefully navigated the political environment, you decided to be on the part of people who have been deprived of their legitimate rights in social distribution of amenities. ``By so doing, you have made Nasarawa State the fertile ground for the emergence of new social order and political awareness that gives rights to the poor, the peasant, women and the deprived.”

We’ll win all assembly seats in Kogi – PDP chieftain

A

People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), chieftain in Kogi State, Umar Muhammed, has expressed confidence that his party would win all the assembly seats in today’s election.

Speaking at the Government House, Lokoja, Muhammed said:’ We have put our house in order and we are fully prepared to win all the assembly seats in Saturday’s election.’’

Muhammed, who was

the former Legal Adviser to the party in the state, said that what happened in the presidential election would not repeat itself in the state.

He said that Kogi electorates have been mobilised to vote for PDP, urging the party’s supporters not to despair.

He said that the use of card reader was welcome by the party as it would give credibility to the elections.

L-R President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Emir of Katsina, Alh AbdulMumini Kabir Usman and APC Governorship Candidate, Alh Aminu Bello Masari during a courtesy call on the Emir in Katsina State

Tambuwal promises to explore solid mineral potentials T

he All Progressives Congress, (APC), gubernatorial candidate in Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, says he would explore the solid mineral potentials of the state in order to enhance the state’s revenue generation capacity, if elected governor today.

Tambuwal, who is also the Speaker of the House of Representatives, stated this while addressing the supporters of his party

in Bodinga, Yabo and Shagari Local Government Areas of the state.

He said that experts and competent companies would be engaged in the solid mineral exploration projects, adding that feasibility studies had indicated that the state was endowed with untapped variety of solid minerals.

“We will engage experts in the field of mining to enable the

state reposition its revenue generation for the common good of our people,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “You have done a lot in voting our presidentelect and already machinery that will ensure good governance has been put in place for implementation after the official inauguration (of the president-elect).”

Tambuwal urged APC supporters to cooperate with the Independent National Electoral

Commission, (INEC), to ensure peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

In his remarks, Gov. Aliyu Wamakko, expressed confidence in the ability of Tambuwal to guarantee good governance in the state and assured that the APC led administration would initiate people-oriented programmes aimed at satisfying the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

54

REGIONAL NEWS

April 11, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH EAST

INEC assures peaceful polls in Anambra

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), said it is fully prepared to conduct free, fair and credible House of Assembly election in Anambra State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Edwin Nwatarali, disclosed this recently in

an interview.

He said that sensitive materials for the election had been dispatched to the local government areas, and was distributed to the 4,608 polling units in the state yesterday. ``This will help to forestall late arrival of workers and electoral materials,’’ he explained.

Nwatarali said that the commission had evaluated the processes of March 28 elections and had noted the lapses, which it had addressed. ``The commission is very happy that it is only House of Assembly election that will hold in the state on April 11 and the task will not be cumber-

some. ``Some of the mistakes recorded in the use of the card reader have been addressed and the ad hoc workers have been reminded of what to do to forestall avoidable mistakes.

He noted that the commission has also directed ad hoc workers to ensure that the card reader bat-

teries are fully charged before the election and all other logistics problem taken care of. ``These plans include generators at Registration Area Centres (RACs), where card readers are expected to be charged, workers to arrive on time and electoral materials to be handy,’’ he said.

The REC advised the electorate to contact Electoral Officers immediately the need arose so that issues could be given prompt attention.

He assured that adequate security would be provided for the polls, especially for the protection of INEC officials and materials.

Group wants INEC ad hoc staff reshuffled

T

he Alex Otti Support Group (AOSG) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to reshuffle its ad hoc staff in order to ensure a credible outcome of the April 11 polls.

The Chairman AOSG, Mr. Uduma Kalu, made the call at a press conference in Umuahia, saying the group came up with this position because of its experience during the first round of the 2015 general election, in which General Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential polls.

He said they have received some disturbing information that over 80 percent of INEC ad hoc staff is being sponsored by PDP across the State.

“PDP pays them the ap-

Gov. Raji Fashola of Lagos with Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja, formally endorsing Akinwumi Ambode as APC governorship candidate for Lagos State recently.

CBN kicks against use of foreign currencies for local transactions

NIMASA: Interference, incompetence, T killed CVFF — Agbakoba

A

gainst the backdrop of series of allegations that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF) may have been depleted and diverted for other purposes by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), maritime lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba says undue government interference and NIMASA’s incompetence worked against the effective administration of the fund.

Agbakoba, who is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said, “The reason CVFF and ship acquisi-

tion fund is not going well is because of undue government interventions. It is not the function of the government to be a bank.

That is my point. And the management of CVFF is another addition to other numerous functions of NIMASA. “How many bankers are in NIMASA? Whether by reason of incompetence, inefficiency the funds are not available so why do they collect it when they know they won’t disburse? I said this because I know no one has benefited from the fund so far.”

Agbakoba however asked the President-elect, General Muhammadu

Buhari to ensure that his government builds indigenous capacity in the shipping sector.

“A task for the new government is to build our shipping capacity. We need about 5,000 ships of different classes from VLCC and others but the money will not come from the government coffers but what I need from the government is a guarantee.

“We don’t want government to say it is bringing money to float the national carrier but rather identify key players that can grow the maritime industry.

“For instance, the government can say in its

four years, it wants to build 5,000 fleet capacity ships and wants to do that by encouraging well established ship-owners to build ships and I don’t think ship-owners need CVFF but a guarantee.

“I think the government should as a matter of urgency establish a National Guarantee Agency (NGA) because if as a business man, the NGA looks at your paper and sees that they are correct, they can guarantee you to the international market that if you do not pay, they will.

That is how we can build our shipping capacity,” he added.

proved allowances meant to be paid by INEC,” he said..

He reiterated the allegations by Abia All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), that the March 28 polls were characterised by electoral malpractices hence the need to guard against recurrence.

“We condemn the manner the National Assembly election was conducted in the state on March 28 which featured late arrival of materials at the polling units, maltreatment and intimidation of election officials and party agents, among others,” he said.

The chairman vowed that Abians would vehemently resist any attempt to falsify figures in the governorship and House of Assembly polls scheduled to hold today.

he Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), has warned against the increasing pricing of goods and services as well as demand for payment in foreign currencies for domestic transactions saying it contravenes local laws.

The apex bank in a statement, said the Naira remains the only legal tender in Nigeria and warned that violators would be prosecuted.

“The attention of the Bank has been drawn to the increasing use of foreign currencies in the domestic economy as a medium of payment for goods and services by individuals and corporate. It has also been observed that some institutions price their goods and services in foreign currencies and demand payments in foreign currencies rather than the domestic currency

(the Naira), which is the legal tender in Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the attention of the general public is hereby drawn to the provisions of the CBN Act of 2007, which states inter-alia that “the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be legal tender in Nigeria…for the payment of any amount”.

“Furthermore, the Act stipulates that any person(s) who contravenes this provision is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine or six months imprisonment. This prohibition, however, is without prejudice to foreigners, visitors and tourists who are encouraged to continue to use their cards for payments or exchange their foreign currency for local currency at any of the authorized dealers’ outpost.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

April 11, 2015

55

South SOUTH

A/Ibom REC warns against giving polls materials to politicians

T

he Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Austin Okojie, has warned Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) for today’s elections in the state not to give the polls

materials to politicians.

Okojie gave the warning in Uyo at an interactive session with the SPOs handling the governorship and House Assembly elections in the state.

He said that there were

Peterside urges Nigerian students to vote APC

G

overnorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside, has charged students in both post primary and tertiary institutions in the state to be mindful as they vote today as their future depends on the choices they make.

In his goodwill message to Nigerian students ahead of the governorship election, Peterside commended students across Rivers State for the support and encouragement he enjoyed all through his campaign period.

“Great Nigerian Students! My name is Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a former Student Leader. I specially thank you for your support so far in the journey for the realisation of our shared vision of a greater Rivers State. Please come out on Saturday April 11 and vote for me (APC). Security is guaranteed”.

He told the students that the only way to reciprocate Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s kind gesture towards students and their parents in the last eight years was to vote for APC. He added that apart from encouraging Amaechi and the APC government with their votes, they would also be securing their future, particularly with regard to supporting education-friendly government that also promotes students welfare.

“As students in this state, you will agree with me that we have never had it so good. Today, we can boast of world-class schools with state-of-theart facilities, highly motivated teachers and an environment that is naturally agreeable to learning.

“We have also witnessed compassion as never before with the payment of bursary and scholarship to students here and abroad. Our governor does not discriminate, so he has also extended this benevolence to our non-indigene brothers and sisters.

allegations of irregularities and misbehaviour by the electoral officers in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

According to him, there are allegations that result sheets were taken to houses of politicians instead of handing it over to the presiding officers.

He said that people also

complained of late arrival of materials at the polling units.

“I don’t want the image of our commission to be dented or to create an impression that we are biased. We are supposed to be an unbiased umpire and when you receive these materials from the local government headquarters, take them direct to the poll-

ing units. ``We are going to have many election monitoring observers to monitor your activities. I appeal to you to do the right thing in the interest of justice and fair play. Having been trained by the commission, you should work according to the guidelines and rules for the conduct of an election,’’ he told the SPOs.

The REC reiterated that those caught for not doing the right thing would be handed over to security agents for prosecution.

He, however, assured the officials that allowances due for them would be paid promptly, adding that the commission would also ensure that there were adequate security presence at all polling units.

From left: Former governor of Bayelsa, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, President Goodluck Jonathan; Widow of the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Research and Documentation, Mrs Oronto Douglas & Vice President Namadi Sambo, during their condolence visit to the family in Abuja on Thursday.

Last polls results alter political calculations in Delta

T

he victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last presidential election would play a major role in today’s election as it has been upturning political calculations in Delta State.

Opposition politicians are already seeking realignment to be on the winning side.

The move is however rattling the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state which has Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as its flagbearer.

Although, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, was rumoured to have dropped his ambi-

tion and set for a huge realignment with Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of the APC, the LP guber candidate has since denied such move.

However, the bid to remain relevant in the new dispensation to emerge after May 29 is already leading some political gladiators in the state into mulling defection plans to the APC. According to impeccable sources, leading the early birds is Chief Ayiri Emami, an Itsekiri youth leader and the proponent of the Tony Obuh project during the last PDP primaries. It was gathered from sources that Emami may have pitched tent with the Emerhor camp.

Recent moves by some

disgruntled PDP faithful to defect to the APC thus abandoning the Okowa/ Utuaro project are giving Emerhor a fresh hope.

It was however gathered that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who had been severally accused by a few political elites of not showing enough commitment to the Okowa’s ticket has been upset by the development and is already pulling all strings to ensure PDP’s victory at the polls.

Uduaghan reportedly came out last week with full support of the Okowa ticket when he doled out millions of naira to Okowa’s campaign ahead of today’s poll.

Brig. Gen Cletus Emein,

Chairman, Izon Congress, had contended that Uduaghan would carve his name in gold if he remains steadfast with the PDP as the leader in the state by ensuring that the party wins the governorship election in the state.

“We are now in the season of defections following President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss in the presidential poll. We however advise and trust that Governor Uduaghan should be on record as standing firm in leading his PDP’s Okowa/Utuaro gubernatorial ticket to victory at the April 11 poll”, Emein said.

But a close ally of Okowa said that the PDP candidate is not losing any sleep over the reported mass defection plan. Rath-

er he is said to be waxing stronger and was holding town hall meetings around the council areas.

The source said that despite the ongoing political realignment and possible defections of some PDP chieftains from the party, Okowa still has more edge over others in the race going by the numerical strength of Delta North district in the state.

Sources said that one factor that would shape the election is the fact that Delta North where Okowa hails from has the highest local government councils with nine councils, followed by Delta Central which has eight and Delta South district which also has eight.

Quote

of

the

day

In a democratic system of government, the majority would have its way while the minority would have its say.

— Femi Falana (SAN), while advising the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, to take the impeachment notice served on him by the 19 All Progressives Congress members of the state’s House of Assembly seriously, saying the notice is valid before the law.

Saturday, April 11, 2015. www.nationnationalmirroronline.net

Paul Geroski on New Markets

P

aul Geroski’s The Evolution of New Markets, published by the University of Oxford press, is a 221-page book, inclusive of the Index. First published in 2003, it was reprinted in 2009 with copyrights exclusive to the University of Oxford Press.

In 1586, “Oxford University Press was established as a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford, Auckland, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Hong Kong, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Nairobi, New Delhi, Shanghai, Taipei, Toronto, with offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Oxford is the registered trademark of Oxford University Press in the UK and certain other countries.”

Research does not lay credence to the exact time the University of Oxford was established, but there is clear evidence to establish the undisputed fact that teaching commenced in Oxford in 1096. According to the University, “teaching developed rapidly in Oxford in 1167 when Henry the Second banned students of England from attending the University of Paris.”

The University of Oxford records that “In 1188, the historian Gerald of Wales, gave a public reading to the assemblies of Oxford Dons and around 1190, the arrival of Emo of Friesland, the first known overseas student, set in motion the University’s tradition of international scholarship links.

By 1201, the university was headed by magister scolarum Oxonie, on whom the title Chancellor was conferred in 1214, and in 1231, the masters were recognised as universitas or corporation.”

This summary of events confirms that teaching and scholarship have been the practice in Oxford in the last eight hundred years! Paul Geroski’s The Evolution of New Markets is one of the fortunate books published by the Oxford Press, just like the historic and the famous Oxford Dictionary and perhaps the dictionary of the

CFR

Book Review

Book Title: The Evolution of New Markets Author: Paul Geroski Publisher: University of Oxford Press Reviewer: Jimoh Ibrahim. CFR. Post graduate student of Strategy and Innovation, Said Business School, University of Oxford. events in the marketplace.

The book is a reward for the teaching years of Kenith Cowling, a teacher of teachers, and it goes to say again and again that the reward of teachers is no longer in heaven as Geroski deeply acknowledges and appreciates his advice and encouragement at all times. The foundation of what we all refer to as the authority in The Evolution of New Markets today dates back to, or in itself ‘evolved’ from the interest of the author in his days as a graduate student of the University of Warwick.

In the last few years, the teaching of ‘Strategy and Market Change’ and of recent ‘technology and competition’ by the author has a great influence on the author. Interactive sessions with his students give the author the opportunity of cross-fertilisation of ideas.

The author paid glowing tributes to his colleagues who are great intellectuals in the field and duly acknowledged some of his students and their impact in terms of encouragement in

writing the book.

The book’s contents are divided into six chapters, from the introduction to the growth of the market and the future. Explanation of the proper understanding of the evolution of the new market was provided in the list of empirical evidence on the list of figures, in addition to the contents, which again are well discussed specifically on pages 41, 44, 64, 65, 70, 71, 73, 150, 152, 179, 181, 183. We shall review this list of figures along with chapters.

At the introduction stage, the author took on the evolution of new markets and the creation of the universe.

He was particularly interested in the first three minutes of the events that happened after the creation of the universe. He posited that a proper understanding of the events of the happenings in the first three minutes of creation will lay a good foundation for the understanding of continuous evolving of the universe. According to him, “Our concern here is with what happens in the very early phas-

es of the development of a new market. Like the origin of the universe,” Geroski believes that those events involving the evolution of the new market cannot be said to be completely accidental. He says they are of systemic pattern. To him, no matter the stage or the differences in the historic pattern of evolution of the markets, there are common features.

Geroski submitted that what eventually happened in the market is traceable to the history of evolution of how that market evolved. To him, Steven Weinberg’s The First Three Minutes is useful as a chorology to whatever happens to the universe after the first three minutes of its creation.

The author drew interesting stories and used the ‘evolution theory’ to justify the happenings in the market and the flow of events in issues relating to the use of technology in driving specific markets. This he started with the historical evolution of the internet market, which he regarded as harbinger. He made a distinction between the new and the old economy in relation to the print industry, cars, radio sets and steel making. The new economy, according to him, is revolutionary and modern, very entrepreneurial, dynamic and expected to progress with technology. The old economy has developed to a point of tiredness and matured to the point of senescence.

The Internet, which is just a process of making many computers to work and talk to each other with an enhanced communication, first evolved in the 1960s. According to the author, the generic recherché project was largely supported by the US Department of Defence, which was motivated by a desire to economise on scarce computer recourses. This explains the appearance of the first Internet, called ARPANET, which the author explained grew quickly in 1970 to become NSFNET. In the 1990s, various networks emerged, which included some that linked one or two computers together, which is called local area network. This whole process, which led to an increase in the use of the Internet, also led to various developments of applications, which introduced new users and suppliers to the market.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Editor: GBEMISOLA OLUJOBI. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos.

Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Ondo State. ISSN 0794-232X.