Vol. 5 No. 49
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
TOP STORY
Our son is not Boko Haram
P.2
–Terror suspect’s family
National Mirror Online
SPORT
@NationalMirror
N150
NEWS
P.39
P.9
U-23 Nations Cup Ambode goes to war! begins in Senegal Bombards police with N4.6bn equipment
Kogi debacle:
Bar INEC from conducting polls, Wada tells court
P.8
It’s Audu’s son or nobody –Kogi APC lawmakers Nobody can hijack our votes –Faleke
Ag ba n P.2 i 0 President Muhammadu Buhari in group photograph with other Heads of Government at the opening of the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta yesterday.
Shi’ite procession hit by bomb in Kano
…as B’Haram kills cleric, 18 others in Niger Sealxk T
P. 6
35 funniest sex facts ever
P. 34
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Top Stories Our son is not Boko Haram 2
— Terror suspect’s family
F
amily members of Bello Chindo, who was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, allegedly suspected to be among the wanted list of Boko Haram, has called for the intervention of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Amnesty International for the release of their son. Members of family, in a letter to the Commission, signed by elder brother of the victim, Mallam Sodangi Chindo, and made available to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, said members of the family have made several efforts to secure the release of Bello Chindo, who they claim is innocent of the crime he is accused of. The letter said: “We don’t know what to do next as our hands are tied, and our aged parents have lost their sleep since the unfortunate event took place on the 8th of November, 2015.” It added that, the more days their brother spends in the custody of the Police, the more terrified and anxious family members become over his health. According to the letter, “We pray the Commission would intervene, and assist to secure the release of Bello Chindo, who is innocent and wrongfully arrested.” It could be recalled that Bello Chndo was allegedly arrested as a suspected Boko Haram member on his way to Benin Republic via Lagos on a business trip.
Boko Haram members wanted
Woman abandons six-day-old baby in Bauchi A woman, identified as Zainab Tukur, has allegedly abandoned her six days old baby under a tree in Bauchi. It was gathered that Zainab wrapped the newly born baby with a wrapper, and dumped it under a tree at Gungura village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. It was further learnt that luck ran out on the 30 years old mother, who was later arrested by the Police in Bauchi.
The Bauchi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, the mother and the baby has been taken to the General Hospital, Soro, in Ganjuwa LGA for treatment. He said “On 19/10/2015 at about 0800 hrs, following intelligence report, Police detectives attached to Soro Division discovered a six days old baby abandoned and covered with a wrapper inside a deep hole under the tree at Gungura Village in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State.” DSP Haruna added that discreet investigation led to
Tobacco manufacturers, users get riot act …smoke and go to jail!
T
he long arm of the law will soon catch up with people who smoke indiscriminately in public places with a fine of N50, 000 or six month imprisonment or both. The Senior Programs Officer, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Okeke Anya, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, at a one day workshop for the media towards supporting effective Tobacco Control (TC) in Nigeria organized by CISLAC. Anya added that for those who have business places, but did not provide designated smoking area, are liable to a fine of N100, 000. He stressed that non-designated smoking areas include: Clinics, hospitals, maternities, crèche, primary, secondary schools, universities, offices, stadium, shopping mall, market, police station and petrol station among others. The bill also proposed that companies that violate the eventual law be fined N1 to N5 million, while their chief executives may also be imprisoned for one or two years. Advertisement is totally banned under this law so one cannot just advertise; any celebrity that engages in tobacco advertisement therefore, will be fine three million or one year imprisonment. “The bill is also looking at packaging; 50 per cent of the package should be to warn people about the use of tobacco.
According to him, tobacco selling is not for any shop owner, you have to be licensed to sell tobacco. The minimum cigarette to be sold is a pack of twenty. This is to discourage minors’ access to it. The National Tobacco Act makes it mandatory to affix health warnings on tobacco product packing, bans the sale of cigarettes to minors under 18 years, strictly regulates tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion , prohibits smoking in public places including schools, airports and public buildings and introduce regulations in the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of tobacco products in Nigeria. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that six million people die every year from tobacco-related ailments globally- five million from direct smoking and over six hundred thousand from indirect or second hand smoking. This means it is not only the smoker that is at risk, but also people around him who are affected by his habit. It would be recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Tobacco Control bill into law, hours to the end of his tenure. Signing of the National Tobacco Control Bill into law was a giant stride to implement WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Treaty in Nigeria. The treaty saddled Nigeria with the responsibility of having a comprehensive tobacco control law that will protect the health of Nigerians from the havoc of smoking.
the arrest of the suspect, one Zainab Tukur, female and 30 years of Kirfi LGA, who incidentally is the mother of the child and that police has commenced investigation to ascertain the motive behind her act after which she will be charged to Court for prosecution.
…as mother of another abandoned baby shows up after five weeks Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI
B
arely five weeks after an unknown lady abandoned her one week baby boy at the residence of one Murtala Muhammed at the Railway quarters, Bauchi, the mother of the baby has appeared Speaking to newsmen at the residence of the ward head of Railway, whose wife nursed the baby, the resurfaced mother, Asiya Muhammad, who hails from Damaturu in Yobe State, said her action was as a result of the ongoing insurgency in her state which caused the disappearance of both her husband and her daughter. Asiya, who is about twenty years, further said the tension she found herself necessitated her decision to take the little boy to what she described as safe haven to prevent him from falling victim to the Boko Haram attacks in her state. Speaking on how she felt after she parted with the baby, the young mother said “it was the hardest moment for me in my life, as I never ate or slept well since that day.” While thanking the ward head of Railway for his humanitarian gesture of adopting the baby, Asiya Muhammad used the medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to support the IDPs from Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and other states to return to their states as earlier promised. In his remarks, the ward head of Railway, Malam Hassan Hussaini, said he had contacted the Police on the matter and they gave him the go ahead to hand over the baby back to its mother. According to the ward head, the baby who he named “Adu-Dardar” has spent five weeks in his custody.
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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UK deportations: Why FG should be worried
While a country may reserve the right to forcefully repatriate illegally resident aliens in its domain, many argue that there is an urgent need for the federal government to pay more than usual attention to the routine deportation of Nigerians, especially from the UK, given the human rights violations that are known to attend the exercises, writes NICK UWERU.
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hey could be mistaken for refugees fleeing a war torn zone; or internally displaced persons, IDPs, from any one of their camps dotting the Boko Haram besieged North East of the country. Indeed, the 50 or so dishevelled and unkempt looking passengers CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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‘Boko Haram’s terror status forcing deportation’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
at the Hajj wing, Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, are in distress, perhaps more than any IDP or refugee. These are the first instalment of an estimated 29, 000 Nigerians the United Kingdom government plans to deport to Nigeria. Before their deportation, they had high hopes of making in the UK. But for whatever reasons, they are in Nigeria, broke and broken. Deportation of Nigerian from countries across the world for one infraction or the other is not new. In fact, the Home Office, London, estimates that 1,000 people are repatriated to Nigeria annually. But for the current batch of deportees, there may be more to the decision to expel them by the UK authorities, say many concerned members of the Nigerian public. Igho Akeregha, national president, Civil Liberty Organisation, CLO, for the better part of last weekend, was on the track of the chattered airliner, PV090 which was scheduled to bring in the deportees by Tuesday. By its itinerary, the plane left London on November 23, 10:30 pm, Nigerian time and berthed Abuja, by 6pm, the following day. CLO, a human right activism group, had been alerted that the private plane was bringing a batch of 500 deportees who had been remanded in London into Nigeria. CLO had cause to believe that the manner of their repatriation grossly infringed on the right of the individuals. Even more, it was alleged by the organisation and some London based activists that the repatriated Nigerians were the latest victims of a deportation racket in the UK, involving Nigerian embassy officials and some collaborators in the UK foreign office. There are also talks, too, that Nigerians may have become targeted after Boko Haram, an insurgent group received ratings as world’s most deadliest terrorist organisation. The question for many, as a result of this is: could the proposed repatriation of Nigerians be part of UK’s plan to secure its homeland? Confirming the deportation, the media unit of the UK Home Office, which oversees immigration and travel in the UK, stated, “we can confirm that approximately 50 people were returned to Nigeria on a flight which arrived today (Tuesday).” The media unit also stated that the number was not 500 as earlier reported in the country. Rationalising the reasons for the deportation, the Home Office stated: “those with no right to be in the UK should return home. We expect people to leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, Immigration Enforcement will seek to enforce their departure.” But for Akeregha, the deportation is part of a noxious plan to mass evacuate Nigerians without recourse to due process. Earlier at an an impromptu media parley in Ikeja, Lagos, Akeregha stated that CLO has cause to believe that most of the Nigerians to be repatriated were victims of underhand dealings of a syndicate allegedly involving corrupt Nigerian immigration
Some of the deportees at the airport on Tuesday.
There are cases where people have been in Britain for decades. Some of them are not even Nigerians: they came to Britain on false passports originally, but the UK wants us to accept them all back to Nigeria officers and foreign collaborators in the UK office of the Nigerian embassy. “There is a need to draw the attention of President Buhari, the Controller General, CG, Immigration, CG, Customs and other relevant officers at the country’s entry point to the wicked plan by authorities in UK and corrupt officials at the Nigerian High Commission in UK to unlawfully deport some Nigerians on Tuesday 24, 2015,” said the CLO president. Though Akherega acknowledges the right of countries to repatriate illegal immigrants causing nuisance within their territory, he pointed out that where such actions are done, due process and transparency should be followed. CLO says that it is particularly peeved at reports that a certain deputy immigration attaché to the Nigerian embassy in London is being allegedly linked to corruption and fraud in the illegal deportation of Nigerians. It was alleged that the officer is believed to cream off the 3, 000 pounds paid on every deportee by the UK authority as means of ameliorating any sufferings of the deportee. CLO says that the theft of the money is being done with active conniv-
ance with some UK authorities. Apart from short changing deportees of their money, Ngere is also accused of going out of her way to lure unwary immigrant in UK into the trap where they are seized and deported straight to Nigeria while she takes the money allotted to the unfortunate individual so repatriated. “There are instances where immigrants whose papers expired or with minor hitches in their documentation and waiting rectification at the appropriate agencies in UK are made victims by Ngere,” added the CLO president. Saturday Mirror learnt that these activities have come under intense scrutiny of Alexia Thomas, chairman The Commonwealth Liberation Party, TCLP, in the UK. Through his activism, Virgin Atlantic, an international airline owned by Charles Branson, purportedly pulled out of the business of repatriating Nigerians from UK. But there are other reasons why the recent repatriation of Nigerians raise worries. For instance, some diplomats in London say immigration crackdown is indiscriminate and will tear families apart. Jon Hughes, editor of the Nigeria
Watch newspaper, said many people being removed had simply made errors in not applying for the right to stay legally. “Going into Peckham or Liverpool and pulling out people who have been in the community for many years will lead to hostility. We are talking about kids whose parents simply didn’t register them, people who haven’t regularised but who have been here 20 years. For people who have been here 20 or 30 years there should be some sort of amnesty,” he said. This may well be true concerning a certain Chioma, one of the many billed to be deported. “My auntie brought me here to take care of her children when I was 23. But when I came, what she told my parents is not what I was doing. She was using me as a prostitute and I didn’t like it so I had to run away. I have never taken any benefits from this country, and I have been working just to survive,” she added. With help, Chioma managed to get temporary leave to remain in the UK for three years. When that ran out, an extension was refused. She has been working for five years as a care worker and paying tax. She is afraid of what waits for her in Nigeria after so long. “I have never taken any benefits from this country, and I have been working just to survive. I don’t know where to go because Nigeria has changed. Where am I going to go after 21 years?” she said. In September, dozens of Nigerian care workers were arrested in immigration raids across London. Some had worked in the UK for more than a decade. They were taken to removal centres for allegedly overstaying their visas. There are fears among Nigerians in the UK that many of those picked up by the imCONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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‘Not all 29,000 people awaiting deportation are Nigerians’
Nigerians deported from UK
migration crackdown would have come to the country legally and be tightly knitted into their communities. But there are other reports which suggest that Nigeria’s government may have come under pressure from the Home Office to help pave the way for the deportation of an estimated 29,000 Nigerians believed to be living in Britain illegally. Olukunle Akindele Bamgbose, acting high commissioner to the UK, said his embassy was being asked to help remove people who were sick, had immigration appeals outstanding, had no ties to Nigeria after living for many years in the UK and who in some cases were not even Nigerian. “It’s a big issue for us here at the embassy,” he said. “There are cases where people have been here for decades. Some of them are not even Nigerians: they came to Britain on false passports originally but the UK wants us to accept them back to Nigeria,” Bamgbose said to a London newspaper. But Home Office declined to respond to Bamgbose’s claims, saying it did not comment on specific operational details or nationalities. A spokesperson added: “Those with no right to be in the UK should return home. We expect people to leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, immigration enforcement will seek to enforce their departure.” The drastic move was unveiled when the Nigerian vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, visited the UK in October. This move represents a significant ramping up of the UK government’s commitment to remove people it says have no right to be in the country. There are about 1,000 removals to Nigeria a year.
Other deportees.
The government recently outlined new legislation that will make it harder for people to live and work illegally in the UK, including forcing banks and landlords to carry out checks on immigration status. The immigration bill going through parliament will give police the power to seize wages of people without the right to work. The “deport now, appeal later” policy has so far applied only to those being deported because of criminal convictions, but UK’s home secretary, Theresa May, has promised to expand it to all immigration appeals. This will mean that people will be able to appeal against the decision to remove them only after they have been sent back to their country of origin. The only exceptions would be where there was a risk to the person’s life, such as in asylum cases. These developments have not gone unnoticed in Nigeria. House of Representatives, recently, directed its Committee on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs to liaise with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the British High Commission over the planned
deportation of 29,000 Nigerians from the United Kingdom. The resolution also urged the committee to if necessary, summon the British High Commissioner to Nigeria to explain the reasons behind the planned mass deportation. House members reached the resolutions following a motion bothering on matters of urgent Public importance brought by Hon Rita Orji (Lagos/PDP), drawing the attention of the House to the dangers of the proposed deportation of 29,000 Nigerians from the UK. “There are two million registered Nigerians who are citizens of the United Kingdom. We need to find out if these 29,000 people to be deported are part of the two million registered Nigerians living in the United Kingdom. The lawmaker also added that it is possible that many of the people planned to be repatriated may not be Nigerians. “They could have been other African nationals who went to the United Kingdom through Nigeria and are being seen as Nigerians
Having 29,000 fully established people striped of their livelihood, belongings and removed from their comfort zones and dumped on another society is quite a
dangerous development.
I urge us to get the
details and negotiate a way out
based on their point of origin.” “We now have to look at section 19 of the constitution which deals with foreign policy initiative and focus on seeing how we can resolve this matter diplomatically or reciprocate this unfriendly and malicious legislation targeted at Nigerians in the United Kingdom”. Minority leader of the House, Hon Leo Ogor (Delta/PDP) in his contribution, urged the House to thread with caution so as not to escalate a brewing diplomatic row between both countries. “I am convinced that this is one motion that requires utmost caution. It also requires that we engage in a serious high level consultation and negotiation to get the full detail of what is going on.” Ogor says he believes that the development affords the committee opportunity to liaise with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the British High Commission with a view to working out ways of salvaging the situation. “Having 29,000 fully established people striped of their livelihood, belongings and removed from their comfort zones and dumped on another society is quite a dangerous development and I urge us to get the details and negotiate a way out” Ogor said. The motion which called on the government of the United Kingdom to stay action on the deportation pending further consultation with the government of Nigeria was referred to the House committee on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs for further. The recent deportation of 50 Nigerians may well be UK’s answer to the Reps members motion.
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Another explosion rocks Kano
....Shi’ite procession hit by bomb • 10 dead, 27 injured Nick Uweru
WITH AGENCY REPORT
A
procession believed to be followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqub Zakzaky, the Kaduna based Islamist sect leader, to mark this year’s Arba’een symbolic trek has been hit by an explosion.
The explosion, according to reports, oc-
curred in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State. As earlier reported, the trek, which will terminate in Zaria, Kaduna State, started from Kano on Thursday. The trek is to last for seven days. However, on the second day of the trek,
yesterday, an explosion went off among the followers of Zakzaky. An eyewitness, Kabiru Umar Gumel, said that many are feared dead following the explosion. Other witnesses said they saw 10 people affected by the explosion as they were evacuated from the scene.
At least 27 others were injured. The group evacuated the victims and continued with the procession. Police Commissioner Muhammad Katsina confirmed the attack but he could not immediately give actual figure of those killed. However, the figure could not be established as
R-L: Senate president Bukola Saraki, Senate Leader Ndume and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio at the inauguration of senate Committees by the Senate President on Thursday at National Assembly, Abuja.
Navy parades vessel laden with 4,000MT stolen crude
T
he Operatives of the Nigerian Navy in Delta on Friday paraded MT Camilee Vessel laden with about 4,000 metric tons of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil. Eleven crew members apprehended aboard the vessel were also paraded at the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS), DELTA, Warri naval base. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, Commander, NNS DELTA, Commodore Raimi Mohammed
and other officers, paraded the vessel and the suspects. Suleiman said the vessel was apprehended for lack of valid documents, in addition to being in possession of the suspected stolen crude oil. The naval boss said the vessel and its crew members were intercepted on November 15 by naval personnel on routine patrol along Forcados offshore in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta. He said the suspects were currently being interrogated, adding that they would be handed
over to the appropriate quarters as soon as investigation was concluded. Suleiman said that the arrest was a major breakthrough in the war against oil theft and other criminal activities in the waterways. He warned those engaged in the illicit deal to desist from it, describing it as economic sabotage. Mohammed said that the Navy was determined to fight the illegalities in the territorial waters to a standstill with the use of state of the art technological equipment.
According to the Navy, the Capt. of the seized vessel (names withheld) admitted to the crime, adding that he had made about three trips conveying crude oil or refined product from Nigeria to Ghana and Cameroon. ``Before my ship was arrested by the navy, it was leaking and we run out of bunker and victuals. ``We also suffer in the hands of pirates while heading for Forcados to receive bunker and victuals from someone who promised to assist us,’’ he said. (NAN)
at press time. The purpose of Arba’een trek is to recall the trials and tribulations of the Household of the Holy Prophet dragged and chained in the scorching desert, barefooted, from
Karbala in Iraq, to Damascus in Syria, after the brutal killing of Imam Husain (AS), son of the Holy Prophet’s daughter Fatima, by forces of Yazid
son of Mu’awiyyah, 61 AH.
…as insurgents kill cleric, 18 others in Niger
N
igerien authorities said Boko Haram militants killed 18 people, including a local religious leader, in an attack on a village in the nation’s southern border area of Diffa . Justice Minister, Marou Amadou, who disclosed this in a statement said “Boko Haram has once again sent us into mourning”. “Eighteen villagers were killed, including the Chief Imam of the village whose throat was slit by his own nephew,” he said. Mr. Amadou said people were injured and a threeyear-old girl was abducted, adding that the army was pursuing the “terrorists in all nooks and crannies of the Lake Chad”. According to him, the gunmen stormed the vil-
lage of Gogone near the shores of Lake Chad on foot and fired indiscriminately on residents. The Diffa region had suffered dozens of cross-border strikes since January by the extremist group whose stronghold in NorthEast Nigeria lies a few kilometres away. A state of emergency has been declared there in a bid to boost security, but the attackers often manage to flee across the River Komadougou, marking the border with Nigeria. Meanwhile, Central African leaders at a regional bloc conference on Wednesday said they were raising 50 billion CFA Francs ($80 million) to help Niger, Chad, and Cameroon fight the militant group. (Reuters/NAN)
Wake up to your responsibility, Adeosun tells NAICOM
T
he Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Friday advised the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to rise up to its responsibilities and explore untapped potential. Adeosun made the call at a retreat marking the five years of NAICOM’s existence in Abuja. The minister, who was represented by the Director, Home Finance in the Ministry, Alhaji Kari Zakji, said “the insurance industry needs to be positioned to contribute positively to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creation of employment.” “NAICOM can help achieve this by cleansing itself of the bad eggs within itself and by improving its services to its consumers. “NAICOM as an organisation will be expected to make efficient use of the financial and non-financial resources available to it. “In this regard, my ministry will be looking to see a strategic, efficient and ef-
fective allocation and use of public resources.” Adeosun urged NAICOM to use the retreat to come up with a strategic master plan to strengthen and restructure the insurance industry. The NAICOM’s Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, said the retreat was an avenue for the commission to review what it had achieved in the last five years. “We have reasons to believe we can do more to ensure that insurance continues to be robust in the country. “We plan to critically review our achievements and decide the strategies to push forward and those to drop. “Also, we recognise the need for further deepening of the insurance market so we will brainstorm on strengthening the players and encouraging consumers to utilise the services being provided,” he said. (NAN)
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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SEC earmarks N5bn for National Investor Protection Fund
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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday said that the sum of N5 billion had been earmarked for its National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) to compensate investors for pecuniary losses. Mr Mounir Gwarzo, the SEC Director-General, disclosed this at a post media briefing at the end of the third quarter meeting of the Capital Market Committee (CMC). Gwarzo said that the fund would be for loses arising from the insolvency, bankruptcy or negligence by non-broker/dealer capital market operators. NIPF is a trust scheme established to compensate investors whose losses are not covered under the Investors Protection Funds being administered by Securities Exchanges and Capital Trade Points.
“This is a very excellent feat taken by the commission with its little resources as it has not been funded by the government,” he said. The director-general said that the N5 billion NIPF was set-aside solely by SEC, but said that going forward the whole market would contribute to the fund. He said that the country had joined an elite group of a handful of countries with this kind of investor compensation scheme. “While dozens of jurisdictions have functional investor protection funds run mainly by exchanges and their dealing members, Nigeria is now among only a few countries to have a National Investor Protection Fund,” Gwarzo said. He said that investor confidence suffered since the 2008 financial crisis
from which the Nigerian stock market lost 70 per cent of its value. Gwarzo said that investor confidence and the prevailing macroeconomic environment had been a major impediment to market recovery. He said that the fund was established to strengthen investor confidence because investors were equally critical for financial system stability. “This is why the protection of investors is a cardinal goal of securities regulators world-wide,” Gwarzo said. He said that the former board of the commission approved the establishment of the Fund and earmarked resources to serve as its take-off grant in 2011. According to him, the NIPF was incorporated on March 9, 2012 as a company limited by guarantee.
“To give effect to the establishment of the Fund, the commission, on April 15, 2015, promulgated and approved rules to guide
the implementation of the fund.” The director-general said that the commission would continue to pur-
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sue initiatives that would strengthen investor confidence to boost market liquidity. (NAN)
NHRC frowns at FG handling of IDP children’s education Livinus Menedi, YOLA
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he National Human Rights Commission has frowned at the dismal handling of the educational needs of children displaced by insurgency in the North East. The commission made the observation in Yola yesterday, when its officials visited, the Sangere IDP makeshift school, were over 1000 internally displaced children, attend School in that host community, lamented government’s dismal handling of the educational needs of IDPs. It regretted that educational rights which is a fundamental human rights has
however not been adequately addressed because of uncoordinated response of government and its agencies towards the plight of displaced persons living in host communities, especially educational needs of their children who are out of school. The commission’s state acting coordinator Ms. Grace Mamza, who spoke during the visit, said it has documented several lapses, indicating inadequate attention to the education of children displaced by insurgency, occurred in the North East. The NHRC officials who inspected donations of tents and other educational logistics it helped to facilitate to the Sangere IDP schools said
the visit to the school was part of its official engagement to provide protection support to victims affected by insurgency in the North East. “ We are here to assess the impact of some of the relief items, like tents and shelters we helped to secure for most of the camps in the state. And our concern has been the number of kids, who do not have access to education under their present conditions as IDPs. Unfortunately, in most cases a lot of this kids have been kept out of the school system due to government’s failure in most cases to provide alternative schooling environment for them,” she said.
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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
KOGI CONUNDRUM
Wada asks court to bar INEC from conducting polls Doosuur Iwambe ABUJA
K
ogi State Governor Captain Idris Ichala Wada has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking it to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] from conducting supplementary governorship election in the state fixed for December 5.
In a motion on notice filed at the registry of the court by his counsel, Chief Chris Uche[SAN], Governor Wada is seeking a consequential order of court directing INEC to rather conduct fresh governorship election in Kogi state within a specified period. Wada is contending that being the only surviving candidate with the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship election held
on November 21,2015, he is the winner of the said election and ought to be issued with a certificate of return by the INEC. He further asked from the court, an injunctive order restraining the All Progressives Congress [APC] by itself or its officers and members from holding a fresh primary election for the purpose of any supplementary or other election for the Kogi State governorship
election 2015. In the alternative, the plaintiff prayed the court to declare that by reason of the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the APC, the Kogi state governorship election held on November 21, 2015 and declared by the INEC [1stdefendant] as inconclusive has been rendered aborted, cancelled, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever.
L-R: Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Director Public Communication Mr. Emmanuel Abgegir and Director of Public Relations Mr. Peter Dama, at a meeting with Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
The plaintiffs further asked the court to declare that having regards to the provisions of section 141 of the electoral Act, 2010 [as amended], votes scored by a candidate who died during an election cannot be inherited by or transferred to a person who was not a candidate at the said election and who did not participate in all stages of such election, for the purpose of conducting such election. Besides, the plaintiffs asked for a declaration that INEC public notice dated November 4, 2015 for the holding of a supplementary governorship election for kogi state on December 5, 2015 is unlawful, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever. In his originating summons dated November 26, 2015, the plaintiffs posed the following questions for the determination by the court: Whether in view of section 178 t0 181of the 1999 constitution [as amended] and sections 31, 33, 34, 36, 85, 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 [as amended], the public notice
Nobody can appropriate our votes –Faleke
It’s Audu’s son or nobody, Kogi APC J lawmakers tell party Obiora Ifoh, ABUJA
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awmakers on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have threatened to impeach any candidate imposed to replace late prince Abubakar Audu by the leadership of the party, saying that it is Mohammad Audu or nobody. Addressing newsmen yesterday at the party national Secretariat, Alfa Momoh Rabiu, who spoke on behalf of the state lawmakers, warned APC not to make the mistake of bringing anyone else apart from the son of the late Audu. Hon. Rabiu said: “Based on our discussion, we have
taken a decision and taken our resolution to the national chairman. We are overwhelmed by the response from them them, but we are still waiting for a safe landing so that Kogi will not be doomed. “We told the national chairman that on no account should anybody be smuggled in to occupy that position which we worked for in conjunction with the late Audu without who, there will be no APC in Kogi state. “We present to the national leadership, Prince Mohammed Audu to replace his late father. It is not because he is the first son,but try him, he is very intelligent and equal
to the task. With him, we will have the Kogi of our dream. “We also resolved and we will appreciate if the leadership will understand that we came to complain to them with pains and tell them our position because of the commitment of our leader and we don’t want Kogi to be left in the hands of the PDP any longer. “We are the legislators and have told the national chairman our position that in any case anybody is smuggled in contrary to what we present to them, we know the best way to remove him. It is not a threat, but we told them that we have no intention of washing our dirty linen in pub-
lic. Removing somebody is just a two minutes job for us as lawmakers in the state. We want the change we worked for and we want Kogi to be part of the moving train. “We are the electorates and we know why we are here. There will be no solution to this problem without giving us listening ear. Prince Audu was the man who went through primary before nominating Faleke as his deputy. We are not asking Faleke to stay away from the ticket. We equally worked with him during the campaigns. What we are saying is that it should be Mohammed Audu/ Faleke ticket. The two of them must work together.”
issued by INEC dated November24, 2015 for the holding of a second/supplementary governorship election for Kogi state on December 5, 2015 outside the mandatory electoral timeline is not unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever.· Whether INEC as an Independent body and expected unbiased umpire can unilaterally act in liaison with the 3rd defendant [APC] to the exclusion of other political parties that participated in the governorship election in kogi State, particularly the 2nd plaintiff [PDP] on November21, 2015 and thereafter issue a public notice dated November 24, 2015 fixing supplementary election in Kogi State on December 5, 2015 and allowing the 3rd defendant to fill the vacancy created by the death of its candidate on the pretext of being notified by the 3rd defendant of the death of its governorship candidate on the election. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
ames Faleke, running mate to late Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in last week Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, has stated that votes won by his late boss and him in a joint ticket cannot be appropriated by another. Faleke made this point in a letter written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, asking the commission to declare him governor elect. “In law and logic, no new candidate can inherit or be a beneficiary of the votes already cast, counted and declared by INEC before that candidate was nominated and purportedly sponsored,” Mr. Faleke wrote through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun. Faleke, in a November
26 letter to INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, insisted that under Section 187 of the 1999 Constitution, he was duly elected as deputy governor of Kogi State. While expressing sadness over the demise of his principal, Abubakar Audu, the deputy governorship candidate said INEC had no right under the law to declare the election inconclusive. He accused INEC of deliberately creating what he called “legal conundrum” and urged the APC not to be a party to the action. “Assuming without conceding that INEC is even right to order a supplementary election, the votes already cast, counted and declared on Saturday, 25th November 2015, were votes for the joint constitutional ticket of Prince Abubakar Audu and his running mate”, said
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Osun Motorcycle Riders Association calls for ban on alcohol sale in parks Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO.
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s part of measure to prevent high rate of road crashes, especially during the ember months, all tiers of government have been urged to enforce ban on sale of alcohol in parks. Speaking to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, the Secretary, Articulate Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria, AMORAN, Ogun Chapter, Mr. Adedayo Akindele, said in advanced countries of the world with the history of safe roads, alcohol cannot be sold or taken near parks. He explained that the indiscriminate use of alcohol by commercial drivers and motorcycle operators alike was the main cause of array of avoidable deaths through road crashes in the country.
He said the Ogun State example of how the ban on alcohol in parks by Governor Ibikunle Amosun brought rate of road crashes to a very low level, deserves emulation by other states. Commenting on measures to cut cost of governance by President Mohammadu Buhari, Akindele, said the whole essence of change, as a mantra of the ruling party, was to enhance effectiveness in government business. The unionist maintained that the tenets of change in all its ramifications encompassed doing things in different ways to get better results for the good of all. According to him, Nigeria as a country could not afford to get it wrong at this critical moment of her history, urging Mr. President to do more to bring cost of governance down.
Ondo Rep donates patrol vehicles to police Ojo Oyewamide AKURE
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member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Baderinwa Bamidele Samson, has donated two Hilux Pick-up vans to the state police command to mark his 100 days in office. Baderinwa, who represents Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency, promised to donate additional two patrol vehicles to the command. He also provided 30 wheel chairs to the physically-challenged people and cocoa treatment chemicals, which included pesticides and herbicides as well as cocoa spraying pumps, to farmers. The lawmaker, who made the donation at Igbara-Oke, headquarters of Ifedore Local Government Area, said the vehicles would enhance the performance of the police to better secure lives and properties in the constituency. Recounting his achievements in the last 100 days, Baderinwa listed the extension of rural electrification to Aba-Aro community, provision of mechanised borehole for the CAC Grammar School, Odode-Idanre, grading and maintenance of the road leading to Ero Community. He said: “I did promise, while seeking votes across
the nooks and crannies of our constituency, to work tirelessly and selflessly to better the socio-economic lot of our people through competent and qualitative representation if elected into office. “This is my covenant with the good people of the federal constituency. Today marks the beginning of the official fulfilment of this covenant, which spans a period of four years. ”I believe the patrol vehicles will enhance the performance of policemen in the federal constituency. We need to assist law-enforcement agents to better secure lives and properties of our people. “It is also my belief that a thorough application of the empowerment items by our farmers will, no doubt, increase farm produce in the next couple of years. “In our estimation, if the chemicals are well distributed, over 200 farmers within the two local government areas will benefit from the largesse. It is important to state that all the enumerated projects and empowerment items are personally funded by me.” The projects were commissioned and presented to beneficiaries by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, represented by Sadiq Ibrahim, another lawmaker representing Fufore/ Song Federal Constituency, Adamawa state.
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Ambode hands-over N4.6bn security equipment to State Command, RRS
…urges FG to increase support to Lagos •The huge investment will not be in vain —IGP
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agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday handed over series of security equipment and vehicles to the State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), just as he charged them to ensure that the equipment are deployed effectively to tackle criminal activities, as Lagos residents will no longer accept excuses. The Governor who spoke at the official handing over of 100 4-Door Salon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three (3) Helicopters, two(2) Gun Boats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, Revolving Lights, Siren and Public Address System, Vehicular
Radio Communicators, Security Gadgets including Bullet Proof Vests, Helmets, Handcuffs, etc, Uniforms, Kits and Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for officers, put the total cost of acquiring the equipment at N4.765bn. He said with the new development, the Lagos State Police Command has been repositioned to compare to similar outfits in other modern City States, expressing optimism that the equipment will go a long way to aid security agencies respond faster to crime. “Our Police Command will have its operations significantly driven by the right technology and equipment that will match the emerging sophistication of
crime in our contemporary time”. “Members of the Police Command have been undergoing training to better equip them for the job. We have also rebranded the Rapid Response Squad of the State police Command to give them a new identity”. “Given the encouraging partnership and support of well-meaning citizens and corporate organisations, we are on course to making our State a safe haven only for law abiding citizens”, the Governor said. He however urged the officers of the State Police Command to ensure that the purpose for which the equipment was acquired is not defeated. “We say to whom much
is given, much is expected. Law enforcement officers are never ‘off duty.’ They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect the public at any time and place. Lagosians will not accept excuses”, he said. Governor Ambode also seized the occasion to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to further strengthen support for the state, noting that the security of the state reflects directly on the economic fortunes of Nigeria. He also urged residents to play their part by volunteering useful information on suspected criminals and activities that might lead to the breach of security in our communities to the Police through the state emergency hotline 112.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); flanked by the Minister for Interior, Lt.Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazua, rtd. (right); and Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, during the commissioning and handing over of Patrol Vehicles, Motorcycles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Gunboats, Patrol Helicopters to the Nigerian Police and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Ekiti labour, IPMAN compel petrol stations to reduce pump price Abiodun Nejo, ADO EKITI
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rganised labour and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ekiti State yesterday stormed no fewer than 30 filling stations in Ado Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti to ensure the outrageous and arbitrary pump prices of petrol were reduced. They insisted that no filling station should
sell the product for above N135 per litre to ensure fuel users were not made to continue to pay through their noses. Before yesterday, filling stations were selling the product for between N150 and N160 per litre and mostly at night, thus getting the product across to black market operators who in turn sell for between N180 and N200 per litre. Leaders of the picketing team, following a stakeholders meeting between labour and IPMAN which held on Thursday,
were Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Com Ade Adesanmi; his counterpart in Trade Union Congress, Com Odunayo Adesoye; Chairman of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Com Oluwole Jegede ;and IPMAN secretary in the State, Alhaji Subair Jimoh. The NLC and TUC Chairmen said that as much as they would not want the marketers to run at loss, they would not also fold their arms and allow the people to be cheated.
They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to move swiftly to bring to a halt the perennial fuel scarcity in the country which had become a recurring decimal, describing the scenario as burdensome. They urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to resolve the issue of discrepancy in the oil subsidy funds with the marketers and find means of resuscitating the moribund refineries to ease the burden of fuel supply in the country.
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10 Senator Sani to northern elites –Stop using Sir Ahmadu Bello’s name for political gains A za Msue KADUNA
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aduna Central Zone Senator under All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Shehu Sani, has lamented that instead of Nigerians, particularly, Northerners, to preserve Sir Ahmadu Bello’s legacy for prosperity, they were busy using his name for cheap political gains. Sani, who stated this when he paid a visit to Alhaji Sarki Mota, 89-year-old official driver of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, berated Northern governors and politicians for neglecting Sardauna’s driver. He said Nigeria would have being a better country if leaders emulate the virtues of Late Sardauna of Sokoto, Late Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe. Senator Sani, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts, said associates of quality politicians like the Sardauna, Akintola, Azikiwe, Awolowo, among others, should not be neglected. Responding, the 89-yearold official driver of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Sarki Mota, narrated how the Sardauna alongside his wife was shot dead by soldiers about fifty years ago. Alhaji Mota said Sardauna told him before his murder that he will not stay long on the earth but refused to explain further to him.
NORTH
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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PDP is dead and buried in Kaduna - Commissioner A za Msue KADUNA
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aduna State Commissioner for Local Government, Muhammed Bashir Saidu, yesterday declared that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is dead and buried in Kaduna saying the party will never resurrect. Speaking with journalists at State House, Kaduna, Saidu maintained that PDP had exhauted all its goodwill with corruption and bad governance adding that Nigerians will never forget the pains and
trauma of the opposition party’s sixteen years of misrule. Saidu, who is the immediate past Kaduna State Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, revealed that the present government will soon commence arraignment of treasury looters who stole the masses funds. He said the present administration of Governor Nasir El-rufai’s steps so far has rekindled hope for the common man as the dark days are over in the state. Saidu further revealed that the high level of stealing carried out by PDP
past government cannot be swept under the carpet saying the party used contracts to siphon billions of fund with no job don. According to him; “PDP can say anything but what the masses know is that PDP is dead and buried. The party has gone forever and for the good of Nigeria and Kaduna State in general. PDP will never resurrect in Nigeria and Kaduna State. “If PDP did not win elections when they were in power with all the government machinery, how can they win? What I know is that ,the party
short changed Nigerians and there is no way PDP will come back to power” Saidu added: “For example in Kaduna State, the past administration of PDP awarded contracts and collected the money without doing the job. The revelations we are getting about the activities of PDP’s last administration will shock you. The monumental stealing that took place by PDP administration is under investigation and we will soon hand over looters to security agencies for arraignment”
L-R: Acting Head, Public Affairs and Communication, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Mrs. Sade Morgan; Director, NBC, Alhaji Ahmed Mantey; Managing Director, NBC, Ben Langqat; Director, NBC, Laolu Akinkugbe and Executive Governor of Kwara State, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed during the courtesy visit to the Kwara State Government House by the NBC delegation recently.
Borno govt commends NEMA, security operatives for giving succour to IDPS Inusa Ndahi MAIDUGURI
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orno State Government (BOSG) has commended National Emergencycy Management Agency (NEMA) and the security operatives under the 7 Division, Nigerian Army for providing relief materials and adequate security to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in Monguno and Dikwa Local Government Areas of the state. In Dikwa alone, more than 40,000 people who were trapped by insurgents in the last one year have trooped into a resettlement camp recently following the activities of Boko Haram and the on-
going military operations in most communities affected, while another camp was also established in Monguno by the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA in collaboration with NEMA officials and security agencies including police. The commendation was made at the week end by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Usman Zanna in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital. Zanna said, following the ongoing operation by military under the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ in and around Dikwa axis and surrounding communities of Mafa, Marte, Kala Balge and Monguno lo-
cal government areas, IDPs were still trooping into the newly established camps, pointing out that apart from the effort the state government is doing by prompt provision of more than 60 bags of 50 kgs of rice and other condiments on daily basis, NEMA under the Zonal Coordinator, North East, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar and the Theatre Commander “Operation Lafiya Dole” Major General Yusha’u Abubakar, were doing excellent in complimenting effort of Governor Kashim Shettima towards the plights of innocent civilians who have become refugees in the own country. He said already government has released funds
to carter for the victims of the insurgency, particularly the displaced people mostly drawn from the affected council areas, noting that “the effort put in place by NEMA and other Humanitarian Agencies like the Red Cross among others and security agencies is highly appreciated. He added that, a team of medical experts have been dispatched to Dikwa camp to carter for those who were sick and to offer free medical treatment for IDPs who were mostly women and children, as according to him, the military forces and the government are doing their best to ensure peace return back to the affected communities.
Nasarawa deputy speaker tasks Christian pilgrims on peace Igbawase Ukumba LAFIA
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eputy speaker of the Nasarawa State House Assembly, Godiya Akwasiki, has tasked intending pilgrims from the state to nourish their spirits while in the Holy land in order to effectively propagate the message of peace, love and harmony when they return. Akwashi gave the charge during the orientation exercise for the state intending Christian pilgrims to Israel held in Lafia, the state capita. The Deputy Speaker, who is Leader of the state government delegation for the 2015 Christian pilgrimage, said the state government’s new policy of sponsoring only clergymen and Christian Religious Studies (CRS) teachers to this year’s pilgrimage was aimed at offering the pilgrims a firsthand experience on how and where Jesus Christ lived, worked and died. According to him, “The experience would inspire the pilgrims to spread Jesus Christ’s message of peace and love to worshippers and CRS students back in Nasarawa state. It wouldgo a long way to inculcate in the worshipers and students the habit of sustaining peace and love amongst themselves and in their various communities.” He then appealed to the intending pilgrims to justify the decision of the state government by being worthy ambassador of the state and country. “This year, most of you are seated here because of your religious affiliation and because of God. I don’t want you to abuse this opportunity given to you so as not to jeopardize the opportunities of others tomorrow,” he cautioned. Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Clement Udeh Magaji, said the orientation exercise was to enlighten the intending pilgrims on the do’s and don’ts of the holy exercise. .
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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Dilemma of Audu’s death in Kogi Lekan Adejuwon
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ust as the All Progressives Congress APC, was coasting home to a resounding victory during the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, the unexpected began to happen. First was the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the election was inconclusive as the number of votes between the presumed winner of the hotly contested poll, was less than the number of cancelled votes in the overall election result. But the party’s joy of winning the eventual Supplementary election was cut short in the early hours of last Sunday as the APC’s preferred candidate, Prince Audu Abubakar suddenly passed on. Audu, who led the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada in the election declared inconclusive by the Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha was said to have slumped and died in his home, Ogbonicha. He was aged 68. He polled 240,867 to beat Wada who scored 199,514 votes. However, the death of Audu has created a lacuna that many said, may lead to constitutional crisis as a result of controversies it has fuelled in the polity especially, on the issue of who steps into the late politician’s shoes. The dilemma arose from the 1999 constitution which obviously was silent on what should be the case in a situation where a governorship candidate dies before being declared winner of the election as was the case in the recently held election in the Confluence State. The fact that the election was declared inconclusive seemed not to have helped the matter either. For instance, Section 181(1) which is supposed to serve as a guide in the event of the death of an elected governor before taking oath of office, did not envisage that a governorship candidate would die in a situation where an election is declared inconclusive. The Section only stated inter alia; “If a person duly elected as governor dies before taking and subscribing to the oath of allegiance and oath of office and is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected as deputy governor shall be sworn in as governor and he shall nominate a new deputy governor who shall be appointed by the governor with the approval of simple majority of the House of Assembly” Palpable confusion and uneasy calm rented the air in the first 24 hours as no official statement was issued from all the concerned stakeholders in the unfolding scenario. It was obvious that the INEC had been plunged into confusion created by the constitutional logjam as a result of Audu’s death. Indications emerged that the electoral body in its first official reaction last Monday, was in a state of confusion as it prevaricated on the
sad news of Audu’s death and claimed that the APC was yet to inform the commission. A top official of INEC reportedly told Premium Times on condition of anonymity that ‘everyone is confused’ According to him, “We don’t know how to proceed at this point; we have been consulting extensively, but we have been unable to reach any conclusion. ‘Several meetings have been held but no conclusion has been reached. His claim was supported by the commission’s Director of Voters’ Education and Publicity, Ozaze Uzzi who said consultations were still going on and the commission would hold some meetings to reach a decision. “We should be able to say something between 24 and 48 hours”. He said However, a semblance of respite came to the quagmire created by the impending constitutional crisis on Tuesday when the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, cleared the air by saying the APC will substitute its candidate for the purpose of the supplementary election in Kogi Malami spoke in Abuja against the backdrop of the political stalemate created by the sudden death of the party’s governorship candidate before the election was declared inconclusive. The AGF, who was a guest of honour at a seminar organized by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, said INEC would conclude the election as scheduled. He also cleared the air that there will be no need for a fresh election in the state as being canvassed by a section of political and judicial analysts. But Malami was however silent on whether the APC should present Audu’s running mate, Abiodun Faleke as the automatic replacement for the election. His words; “The issue is very straightforward. Fundamentally, section 33 of the Electoral Act is very clear that in case of death, the right for substitution by a political party is sustained by the provisions of section 33 of the Electoral Act. “And if you have a community reading of that section with section 221 of the constitution which clearly indicates that the right to vote is the right of a political party and the party in this case, the APC has participated in the conduct of the election. “It is therefore apparent that the combination community reading of the two provisions does not leave any room for conjecture. “APC as a party is entitled to substitution by the clear provisions of section 33 of the Electoral Act. ‘Also section 221 of the constitution is clear that the votes that were cast in favour of the APC. Arising from that deduction, it does not require any legal interpretation On whether, Faleke should be the beneficiary of the replacement, the minister said; “It all depends on the appreciation of issues arising from the primaries conducted
Late Audu
before law. There was a first and second candidate. ‘That primary that had taken place over time had not by anyway been nullified and it is recognized by law”. He declared. Taking a clue from the Justice Minister’s categorical statement, the APC on Tuesday seemed to find its voice even as the party came under intense criticism by the opposition alleging that it was kow-towing to the AGF’s position as the party announced its decision to conduct a fresh primary to pick a candidate for the Kogi election. Speaking with reporters at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, the National chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun said the decision to hold a fresh primary was taken after the APC received a letter from the independent National Electoral Commission asking it to replace Audu. ‘It is in the public space already that the chief law officer of the republic has made known his views known on how things should develop from this stage on ‘He has made a pronouncement to the effect that all that is required is for the APC to go through the process of providing a substitute to our late candidate with the implication being that thereafter, the supplementary elections to conclude the process of electing new governor of Kogi State will began to be put in place so as a party, we are going to proceed with process organizing primary to provide a substitute candidate Abubakar Audu. ‘We are going to go into executive session now, to know the nature of the primary”. Oyegun said A strange development was however added to the debacle on Thursday as PDP claimed that its candidate should be declared the winner of the controversial election. Speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party said it was too
late for APC to change its candidate. Metuh who was a guest at the Ray Power Political Platform declared APC unfit to run in the December 5 supplementary election His words: ‘Our argument is simple; that it is too late for APC to change their candidate. Supplementary election can proceed but the contest should be between PDP and other candidates. “Since we have the spread, we should be declared the winner. That is what is expected. “It is not possible for INEC to ask APC to change their candidate. The worst decision was to order a fresh election where every APC would be allowed to have their primaries and everybody would be allowed to be given two weeks to prepare for the election “The decision of the national caucus of the party last night was that we are going to court. We insisted that the supplementary election will go on without the APC. On the question on which law the PDP is relying on, Metuh said; “we are relying on the combined reading of the constitution and the Electoral Act’ “The law says simply that if a candidate withdraws or dies before the conduct of an election, election should be postponed for two weeks and the party would be allowed to field another candidate “Then the same law provided if a candidate dies or withdraws after the conduct of the election, then the running mate would be allowed to be sworn in” “The last provision says that no party can substitute its candidate within 30 days of the conduct of the election. We have finished voting in an election the candidate of the APC died even before the counting but as the time they were counting the votes, APC did not have a valid candidate”. The late Audu by his death last Sunday may have created a protracted constitutional crisis requiring a prompt legal interpretation.
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‘Godfathers, garrison commanders killed PDP’ Chief Raymond Dokpesi is Chairman, PDP National Planning Committee. He identifies the problems facing the PDP and the way forward. LEKAN ADEJUWON reports
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ou were just crying the other time on behalf of the PDP. You even apologized to the nation that yes, we did things wrong, we didn’t follow our rules. But is it in your place to shed tears when actually, the time these evils were perpetrated you were not an official of the party and perpetrators of these offences had all gone. How did you get this status? It is so obvious that people must take responsibilities for all the deeds of their predecessors, all those that are involved in leadership and those that are coming after then must also critically analyse where their predecessors have gone wrong. It is very clear that the Ike Ekweremadu report carried out a very incisive examination of the challenges that confronted the party and if you look at where the founding fathers positioned the party, you will see there is a sharp deviation from the objective. So, for those, who still believe in the PDP, for all those that want to rebuild and reconstruct the PDP, it is also important to know where we went wrong and reach out to those who are involved. Let me also remind you that some years ago, PDP reform was introduced and championed by the likes of Mallam El-Rufai but failed to see the light of the day. My question is; those who left the party are you doing anything to bring them back to the fold? Definitely we are looking at a very comprehensive reconciliation and first of all, we need to confess our sins and then beg for forgetfulness. Definitely after this conference, a massive effort would start to reconcile past members of the party. We will go ahead to recruit new members of the party and then, move the party forward. One of the questions that people may want to ask is that is it not bad enough for the PDP as a brand. Can the PDP really rebrand itself ? I mean, here is a party that has all the opportunity to endear itself to the people and they neglected, refuse or ignoreto take the appropriate step. What if Nigerians don’t even look at the face of the party and say we don’t want to have anything to do again with PDP. Have you not done bad enough that people may not want to look at your face again? I would say that this assessment is just unfair because, If you look at the 15 years of the PDP ‘s reign, I will envisage that quite a number of Nigerians would agree that there were tremendous steps taken
Dokpesi
at improving the country. A lot of developmental projects were embarked upon by the party. There are quite a lot of improvements in the standard of life of the people and the PDP did not fail in those areas. The PDP failed in the area of internal democracy, level playing ground within the party. For instance there is no basis why PDP should lost Benue State, Ortom was a minister under Jonathan and went back to APC because the playing ground was not level. If you go back to Kebi, it is the same thing, if you go back to Katsina, same thing. It was internal conflicts. PDP members voted against PDP for one offence or the other. There was impunity in the party because some people just felt they were the god fathers, they were the garrison commanders and they were in position to determine the fate of every other person. And in that way and manner, we ran into challenges and so on. Look at the much more developed countries, will the Torries in the UK said, because they have lost power they would jettison their name? In the United State the Republican would not go under because they lost an election, but they would go back to restructure, to identify what they did wrong. The PDP is the only party that still has its root up to the most remote part of the country. It is the only party that has membership across the entire country so, and therefore, all we just need to do is to re-invent ourselves, look at what we are confronted with and move the country forward. In your effort to rebrand the party, a notable leader in the north, General IBB was said to have declined to be a part of the rebranding process. Would this not affect your quest in the north? This is not to my knowledge. I am not aware of the fact that General IBB declined. I personally have met with him and I am very clear that the General was very happy and enthusiastic that efforts are being made to rebuild and rebrand the party to restructure it, identify the challenges and he personally expressed commitment that he would be at the conference.
I have a problem with this; I remember you quoted in an interview I granted you when you were the DG of the IBB Campaign Organisation. Let me ask you the question again, You have a PHD in Marine Engineering and I told you then, that much as you can market your PHD, you cannot market an IBB because IBB is a bad product. Why do you want to carry baggages to the PDP continuously.Those whose images are bad are those you are planning to rebrand or repackage. You are still carrying IBB, Ciroma. People who, the youths don’t want to listen to. What are you doing with these baggages that PDP cannot do away with? I will definitely not agree with you in that perspective. The truth of the matter is that I started by identifying the major challenges that PDP had which was moving away from the vision of the founding fathers and there is no way you can talk about the formation of the PDP without people like Mallam Adamu Ciroma, without people like General Ibrahim Babangida, and all the other leaders that formed the G-18, the G-34 and you cannot also do away with the very vibrant youths that we have right now. What do we do? It is to create a symbiotic relation, some sort of synergy with those people to know where we went wrong. For example, Adamu Ciroma is not coming in to say he is contesting for a party office today. He is not saying he wants to run for a political office but his very presence would also mean that the labour of our heroes past are not be in vain. So, its like; guide us, look at what we are doing. So, what we are looking forward to is to actually get where we have gone wrong with the vision of these founding fathers and the younger ones will be carried along in the rebuilding process. What is the role PDP will give to the young people? Will the elders take the back sit and allow the young elements to drive the process? Some persons may say, may be, the APC government seems not to have appointed the youths
into various position and PDP may try to take the advantage by pushing the young people in the front. What are you to say? The PDP in its 16 years of existence always recognize the youths and women as they both featured in critical positions and participated in governance, but I belong to a school of thought that says, that is not enough, a lot still needs to be done. For instance, you may say, a certain percentage of positions that we have in the executive, positions that we have in government should be held specifically for the youths to be able to ensure the involvement of the youth. So, the PDP is taking the advantage of the youths, believing in the vibrance and the agility of the youths to propel the economy. Of course, some of the youth leaders of the PDP are 60 years old in the past, it puts some question marks on this claim that you have for the youths for instance, we have elderly people being the youth leader of the PDP Cuts in) I am not aware of that. I am aware the present youth leader of the PDP he is around 36. But the one he took over from was above 60? Chairman, we are particularly excited that the party is re-inventing itself and we are hoping that the party is going to put itself down now as they would not want to make any deliberate mistakes. Let us see what are the takeaways from the PDP National conference? Quite a lot. Just know that it is a conference, it is not a convention but we are supposed to be looking at all the issues that affect the party as a whole. We are going to look at the past administrations and see what is wrong whether in our policies, whether in the manifestoes and the constitution of the party, how we should relate to each other with respect, we look at new direction and so on. We would actually understand the fact that since the past 16 years of civil rule, we are in power, we are not used to opposition, so we will have to also adapt and prepare ourselves as the major opposition in the interest of the people that is paramount. The PDP is created to serve the interest of the people, unfortunately, along the way some people hijack the party and that is why we need to continuously make apologies to the people. Now we have a bridge to be built; a bridge between the young and the old and the PDP is saying we want to open up our flanks to the younger ones so that when people who were leading before now are old and aging. What are the efforts and the lessons impacted on the younger ones. Are you going to introduce subscription on party members every month, every year so that they can have a say? Definitely the PDP for the first time, started biometric registration of members and we did a pilot scheme in Edo State. The constitution of the party stated clearly that every member of the party should pay monthly dues to ensure that we are equal joiners. The party belongs to all of us. We are running away from this problem of delegate elections where people are changed overnight.
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
TALKING POLITICS ‘We’ll conduct fresh primary to substitute late Audu’
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‘It’s too late for APC to change candidate’
—Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of PDP
— Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun
“I
t is in the public space already that the chief law officer of the republic has made known his views on how things should develop from this stage on “He has made a pronouncement to the effect that all that is required is for the APC to go through the process of providing a substitute to our late candidate with the implication being that thereafter, the supplementary elections to conclude the process of electing new governor of Kogi State will began to be put in place so as a party, we are going to proceed with process organizing primary to provide a substitute candidate Abubakar Audu. ‘We are going to go into executive session now, to know the nature of the primary.”
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“O
ur argument is simple; that it is too late for APC to change their candidate. Supplementary election can proceed but the contest should be between PDP and other candidates. “Since we have the spread, we should be declared the winner. That is what is expected. “It is not possible for INEC to ask APC to change their candidate. The worst decision was to order a fresh
election where every APC would be allowed to have their primaries and everybody would be allowed to be given two weeks to prepare for the election “The decision of the national caucus of the party last night was that we are going to court. We insisted that the supplementary election will go on without the APC. “The law says simply that if a candidate withdraws or dies before the conduct of an election, election should be postponed for two weeks and the party would be allowed to field another candidate “Then the same law provided if a candidate dies or withdraws after the conduct of the election, then the running mate would be allowed to be sworn in” “The last provision says that no party can substitute its candidate within 30 days of the conduct of the election. We have finished voting in an election the candidate of the APC died even before the counting but as the time they were counting the votes, APC did not have a valid candidate.”
‘Audu’s son is our governorship candidate’ ‘Declare me Kogi governor-elect’ — Daniel Isah, spokesman Kogi East APC leaders
“W
e have resolved to back Mohammed as a replacement for his father if the National Working Committee orders a fresh primary. “We don’t have any other candidate to field other than Mohammed Audu. We have all endorsed him and he is eminently qualified as a card carrying member of the party. “We have communicated this position to the National Working Committee for onward transmission to INEC,”
—James Faleke, running mate to late Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State.
“U
nder Section 187 of the 1999 Constitution, I was duly elected as deputy governor of Kogi State. INEC has no right under the law to declare the election inconclusive. INEC is deliberately creating a “legal conundrum” and I urge APC not to be party to the action. “In law and logic, no new can-
‘APC is entitled to substitution’
— Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN
didate can inherit or be a beneficiary of votes already cast, counted and declared by INEC before that candidate was nominated and purportedly sponsored. “Assuming, without conceding, that INEC is even right to order a supplementary election, the votes already cast, counted and declared on Saturday, 25th November 2015, were votes for the joint constitutional ticket of Prince Abubakar Audu and James Faleke. “Therefore, no new or ‘supplementary’ candidate can hijack, aggregate, appropriate or inherit the said votes. “I urge APC to distance itself from the “Greek Gift” being offered to it to nominate a new candidate for a planned supplementary election in 91 polling units. “The election has already been won and lost, and the party should rather support me in actualising the mandate already given to APC and its candidates.”
APC should fill Audu’s vacancy’ —Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
“T
he issue is very straightforward. Fundamentally, section 33 of the Electoral Act is very clear that in case of death, the right for substitution by a political party is sustained by the provisions of section 33 of the Electoral Act. “And if you have a community reading of that section with section 221 of the constitution which clearly indicates that the right to vote is the right of a political party and the party in this case, the APC has participated in the conduct of the election. “It is therefore apparent that the combination community reading of the two provisions does not leave any room for conjecture. “APC as a party is entitled to substitution by the clear provisions of section 33 of the Electoral Act. ‘Also section 221 of the constitution is clear that the votes that were cast in
favour of the APC. “Arising from that deduction, it does not require any legal interpretation ‘That primary that had taken place over time had not by anyway been nullified and it is recognised by law”. He declared.”
“T
he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted governorship election in Kogi State on 21st November 2015, which was declared inconclusive. “On November 23, 2015, the All Progressives Congress, APC, notified the com-
mission of the death of its governorship candidate in the election, Prince Abubakar Audu. “The commission has after due consideration of the circumstances, decided as follows: To conclude the process by conducting election in the 91 affected polling units as announced by the Returning Officer; “To allow the All Progressives Congress to fill the vacancy created by the death of its candidate; “To conduct the supplementary election on December 5, 2015. “Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all the 22 political parties participating in the Kogi Governorship Election that supplementary election in the 91 affected Polling Units shall hold on December 5, 2015.”
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November 28, 2015
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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Who is afraid of working mothers? A
Many career mothers find it hard to leave their kids every day to the care of unpredictable nannies or childcare facilities without feeling unloving or guilty of carelessness. But a new research carried at the Harvard Business School, USA, on working mothers, actually suggests that children see working mothers as role models and this helps them to be better achievers than kids of mothers that are not employed,writes JULIET UMEH.
laba Alape, a top manager in one of the telecoms industries in Lagos is blessed with wealth and material that signpost a successful life and a happy fellow. The 38-year-old man was brought up by his career mother, Alhaja Muyibat Bakare Alape, now retired, having completed her 35 years’ service as a civil servant in Lagos. Alaba pinpointed that despite his mother’s tight schedule as a public servant Monday to Friday for more than three decades, she never failed to care for him and his siblings while they were growing up. Well satisfied with the quality nurturing he received from her, he advised: “I want all mothers to emulate my mother. Today’s mothers never want to take up their responsibility in caring for their children and it’s affecting the society negatively because every individual has one thing or another to give back to the society, but the child whose parents didn’t give right attention cannot do that.” Also like Alaba, Chibuike Azuike, stated: “I was brought up by a working mother, a teacher, who compelled us to be with her whenever she was doing the house chores. Today, I can do all kinds of work in the kitchen, in the bedrooms and in our garden. I cut grass, trim flowers, plant crops and take care of our poultry. Before my wife comes back from work, I would have done most of the domestic chores if I were at home.” In the past years, only men played the bread-winning role while women were full-time housewives. The economy was buoyant then while free and cheap services were part of the trend making nobody or institution to really query the reason for being a full-time housewife, or blame a husband who says, “My wife should not work.” But today, the economy has continuously witnessed a downturn, inflationary trend high. Therefore, the society does not take it kindly with a woman who is not employed or engaged in any business. She is regarded by many people as lazy bone. When a husband asks his wife not to work, it is assumed that he is capable of meeting her financial needs. Excited and gullible women may be tempted to jump at such offer. After all, no wife wants to suffer, but to be pampered and made comfortable enjoying the service of house boys and girls, sleeping and eating. But such a
woman need remember that her daughters may not be as lucky as she was to marry a rich man, therefore they may have to cope with life on the other side. Mothers therefore must not be oblivious that they are to their children examples of what is right in character and morals. In a report published in June, the Harvard Business School, United States of America, sees career mothers as role models for their children who help them to perform better than their contemporaries. According to the report, daughters of working mothers are more likely to be employed, hold supervisory positions, and earn more money than the daughters of women who don’t work outside their homes. The researchers also found a statistically significant effect on the sons of working women, who are likely to spend more time caring for family members and doing household chores than sons of stayat-home mothers. Analysing data from two dozen countries, the researchers concluded that the daughters of employed mothers are 4.5 per cent more likely to be employed themselves than are the daughters of stay-at-home mothers. While this number may seem negligible, it is statistically significant at the 99 per cent level, meaning there is less than a one per cent chance that such a result is due to chance. Even more surprising, says Kathleen McGinn, a professor at Harvard Business School and the lead author of the study, is the effect that working mothers have on their daughters’ chances of being a supervisor at work. “We did expect that it would affect employment, but we didn’t expect that it would affect supervisory responsibility,” she said. Even after controlling for gender attitudes — to take beliefs regarding gender roles out of the equation — the researchers found that 33 per cent of daughters of working mothers held supervisory roles, compared to only 25 per cent of daughters of stayat-home moms. “What I take away is that employed mothers create an environment in which their children’s attitudes on what is appropriate for girls to do and what is appropriate for boys to do is affected,” McGinn says. Corroborating the report, Mrs. Debora Adewuyi, a psychology lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, highlighted a number of reasons to CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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‘Most working mothers know how to juggle things’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 substantiate the findings of the report. “When you educate a woman, you educate a nation. When you say somebody is a professional, it entails a lot of things —knowledge, integrity, responsibility, and ethical conduct. So an educated career person will teach, nurture and rear her children according to the knowledge she already has. She will make sure that they too become professionals. She will direct and liaise with other professionals in any career they have chosen,” she submitted. The mother of three boys confessed her children are performing excellently in their chosen professions because “when they were kids, I conducted a psychological test on them to determine their disciplines. This helped them to choose their subjects of interest which gave them a sense of direction. “Someone who is not a professional cannot do that. So, from junior secondary school three, when they are counselled on vocational career, they know the subjects they will offer and they are guided towards that profession. Experts are later employed to teach them towards such professions. How then will such children fail to achieve and be successful?” she asked. “Working mothers understand each child; even though they may be busy, they are focused, have targets, have better coordination with their children; even share their problems with them. When they get their progressive report from school, they discuss it with them. Then if there are lessons, they discuss the output with the lesson teachers to revitalise what he is doing in order to meet up with the target. Children that benefit from such attention will never be failures,” she says. “As a mother, I use for my kids generation theory, a philosophicalpsychological principle that guides in training and rearing children. It helps to make a child achieve better than the parents or the class teacher. Also some working mothers make their annual leave to coincide with their children’s vacation time in order to facilitate their travel abroad. Apart from school’s teachings and trainings, children are exposed to other learning opportunities outside the school and various professionals whose teachings enrich their knowledge. This is part of what is called fertilisation mobilisation; there’s also fertilisation concreting foundation for the school to build up and as the school is building up, they are supporting and the child has a great rapport with the parent and the schools. They know what it takes to get admission into the university, what it takes to do a professional course and other things and they train their children to that part,” she said. Many other people who spoke to Saturday Mirror are of the opinion that when a woman is working, her child learns how to relate with different people in his environments. “For the girls, they imitate
their mother as she affects her home positively, both financially and otherwise,” says Folashade Whyte, a radio presenter. In retrospect, she spoke about the period of her life when she was a growing child. “I remember a professor who raised three boys that cooked, cleaned and did everything in their home. You would not even believe that she had no female child. On a day I went into their house, I met these boys doing a lot of work. It was so inspiring,” she said. But Mr. Peter Igho, an aviation worker, put his own submission thus: “Career women use the same principle like teachers who won’t only stop you from making mistakes, but teach you the tricks of the trade.” He said that self-involved career women teach by example and their daughters try to develop the same workethic, get the same respect, and tend to value achievement. Some other people, who agree with the report, however believe it has to do with the individuals involved. A journalist, Mrs. Busayo Ashiru, is one of them. This mother of four said it depends on the concerned career person and the exposure given to the children. Highlighting some of the factors that make the children of career mothers to have the edge over their contemporaries, she said, “Career women are prone to exposing their children to a lot of teachings and use of educative materials such as toys that develop their manipulative or cognitive skills, outdoor recreational materials that boost their
about the children whose mothers are fulltime house wives, but are more successful than those born by working mothers. How do you reconcile that? One of them, Emeka Echefu, resident in Satellite Town in Lagos, thinks a child determines his degree of achievement and not necessarily through the overt or covert influence of his career mother. According to him, there are great disciplinarian stay-at-home mothers who engage their children in every household chores and monitor them to see that every assignment is carried out to the letter, unlike the working mothers that give instructions on what to do only to return home to meet these things undone. “The children play out their time until that woman returns from work. She is not there to enforce these rules or make sure that they are carried
I remember a professor who
raised three boys that cooked, cleaned and did everything in their home. You would not even believe that she had no female child social interaction, or events that sharpen their understanding very early in life. They take their children to boarding schools, although boarding schools have their disadvantages, but children from there tend to develop physically and intellectually faster. When you compare a child who is in a boarding school with the day school child, the latter is more assertive, bold and sociable because they are exposed to a lot of learning experiences and educational opportunities. Most house wives are laybacks; they put their brain on unnecessary holiday and free it from worthwhile intellectual exercise, but when a career woman goes out, she interacts with her colleagues, gets useful ideas and knowledge from her colleagues that are passed to the children to educate them more,” she submitted. However, some people who are against the findings of the report asked: What
out. All eyes should be on our children at every moment to monitor what’s going on with them until they become adults,” Echefu said. Mr. Echefu has Collins Ikeh as a supporter of his submission. The father of four boys and an international businessman with first degree in Business Admin from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka , Anambra State, said: “Psychologically and academically, housewives can be both educated and uneducated, but the fact that they spend more time with their children means that they put in a greater effort to train them. However, since they are not preoccupied with their job, they pay close attention to keep their children out of trouble. Almost fuming, Olajide Akinloye, a teacher told Saturday Mirror, “I can’t totally accept the report because it is not only the mother that provides models
for their children, but children are also shaped by the teachings they received from many other sources: adults, books, television, and movie heroes — although children grow up behaving well and responsibly primarily because they love their parents who also love them. They try to please them most of the time and be like them, but for this system to work well, the parents must have ideals of one kind or another. They also have to know what they expect of their children and communicate this to them clearly”. But a nurse in the emergency unit of Lagos State General Hospital, Broad Street, Lagos Island, who doesn’t want her name in prints, however thinks the research result reflects an isolated and not the global society because mothers and children used for the study came from elite class. According to her, handling children’s problem demands first-hand experience, living with them night and day, observing their various characteristics and not using book knowledge or facts gathered in university communities in America or ivory towers in Europe to represent children the world over. “In overseas, there may be a huge difference between a working mother and the one that is not working, but in Africa, it is not so, because no woman is unemployed, almost all are working, because many that are not in paid employment are into private businesses, buying and selling but the world still describes them as house wives because they combine this with the care of their homes, their children and their husbands and even children of neigbours every day. Do you want to tell me that they are not models of virtues that can result in making their children exemplars in academic or extra-curricular activities?” she asked. “The problem of raising children is complex and produces enough anxiety because no good parents will ignore their responsibilities for their children’s education because if they allow their growth to follow their individual paths instead of the parents permitting their capacities for learning and change to serve as a model, their children will find models and direction outside their parents’ jurisdiction and this may be counterproductive,” the nurse declared.
Entervaganza
The Saturday Mirror Magazine
Relationships
Should you admire others when with your partner? P.34
Sex talk
35 funniest sex facts ever P.34
Fashion
Cute goddesses from Ejiro Amos Tafiri P.23
Kenny
... top gospel act
c How I handle female fans PAGE
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28 , 2015
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ELEBRITY
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—Majid Mitchel Majid Michel is a Ghanaian actor born of a Lebanese father and a Ghanaian mother. Ever since he found mainstream success with his performance in the movie Divine Love costaring, Jackie Appiah and Van Vicker, he has never looked back. He spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on his exploits in the industry so far. Excerpts:
i
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my friends are always shocked to see me do all sorts in movies. Why did you drop your last name Erawack? Actually, the name Erawack was a title won by my father while working in India. I just chose to drop the name from my last name professionally How do you prepare for your roles? I do a lot of research, I investigate into the nature of the character I am to play and study my scripts very well before going on set. Also knowing yourself well and knowing how your expressions are means a lot. That means if need be, you stand in front of the mirror to study your expressions and use the appropriate one for the character you are to play. What was your mother’s reaction when you told her you were going to be an actor? My mom was alright, she never really cared what I did. It is not as if she does not care but she is sort of liberal and believes in me. Whatever I want to do is what she would let me do. I went to school for it and she paid for it.
How did you get into acting? I got into professional acting by chance. I was invited to join the modelling agency, Super Model Agency, on the behest of a next door neighbour. The director of the modelling agency, now a producer, invited me to participate in a new TV series (GTV), dubbed ‘Things We Do for Love’ where I acquired the nickname “Shaker” on the set. My role on ‘Things We Do for Love’ was to play a Lebanese boy. ‘Things We Do for Love’ became a success and propelled me into the mainstream. What was the feeling like the very first time you were on stage? I was very young and in school when I was asked to play in a national competition in Ghana. I was asked to play the Prince of England in a play called ‘The death of the King Horseman’. We had a lot of rehearsals and we had confidence and so it was not a case of shaking or fidgeting from the beginning. What was your first contact with Nollywood? My first contact was with OJ production that produced ‘Behind a Smile’ which I did with Jim Iyke and Nadia Buari. What informs the kind of script you decide to play in? I put into consideration the story line, the technical know- how and the educating and entertaining aspect of the movie. It has to be good. So far, which of the movies or roles you have played would you say is most challenging? It is one movie called ‘Agony of Christ ‘where I had to play a role similar to that of Jesus Christ. I find it most challenging because in that movie, I had to go through several torture scenes and I had to memorise a lot. It was more of an epic and it became one of the best epic movies. We had to be in the bush most of the time of the shooting and the weather
r
Are you married? Yes I am married. For how long have you been married? I have been married since 2004. How does your wife react to your randy roles on set? It is not easy. It is a little tough on her but you know she is human too. She watches my movies a lot and she is a great critic of mine. What attracted you to your wife the first time you saw her? My wife and I have always been friends in the same area. I married my friend.
was not conducive at all. But it was a nice experience. What is your background like, were you born with a silver spoon? I was not born with a silver spoon but we were nor poor. I lost my daddy when I was twelve and I lived with my mother. I am a very quiet person and we were ten children, six boys and four girls. I attended St. Theresa’s Primary School, and later, the elite Mfantsipim Boys’ Secondary School, When I was in secondary school, I was actively involved in theatre and I was a member of the school’s Drama Club. As a mem-
ber of the drama club, I received a Best Actor Award in one of our performances on Emancipation Day in Cape Coast, Ghana. What was the experience like growing up without a father at that tender age? My mother never remarried and we grew up with her. Growing up was quite tough but we coped. What kind of a child were you, were you stubborn? I was very quiet, very sober and shy. I never got into trouble; I never fought with anyone which was why most of
How do you handle your female admirers? It is not a big deal at all, because I have learnt how to handle this over the time. You just learn to handle relationships well and know how to manage people well and keep them in their places. Have you ever been embarrassed? Not at all, may be because I am not usually out. Why are you always not out? I am just a reserved person; I prefer to hide most of the time when I am not working. How would you compare Nollywood and Ghollywood? As far as I am concerned, they are both doing well, they are getting better everyday and we are getting well along.
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Cynthia Morgan defends Baby Mama cover art F
ast rising Nigerian music artist, Cynthia Morgan, recently came under fire from fans over the photo shoot for the cover art of her single. She says of the picture that caused so much ire, “It is a single art cover. So many people have their own opinion about something because we see things differently. For me, I was only trying to pass across a message to my generation and to the younger generation as well, but in that process a lot of people got it wrong and others got it right. I am an artist and it is my duty to pass across different messages either positive or negative. “There are so many people out there who think teenage pregnancy or giving birth at a young age out of wedlock is a cool thing without people knowing what it takes to be a single mother or parent.” Talking about her inspiration for Baby Mama, Cynthia says, “While growing up, I never knew my Dad, not until I was sev-
en years old, and I knew what effect it had on me psychologically. Only few children like me would come out normal because so many people will use this as a yard stick to become wayward and at the end of the day end up being single parents. The rate at which this trend is going even celebrities are falling victims so, I decide to do a song titled Baby Mama. Before dropping my single I wanted to do something that would get everyone’s attention so I came up with the photo shoot. Nigerians only saw the side of me smoking and carrying a baby but did not know that I was playing a double character. The first character was Cynthia, who carried the baby properly while the other was Rita, who has a baby at a young age and still continued living her life. I am an artist and I possess 100 per cent creativity, which makes my new single Baby Mama a campaign for young ladies. Now people tag me on Instagram saying: ‘My friend got married she is a wifey not a baby mama’, which makes me happy.”
Why I married Ijeoma —Akpororo Morgan
My music is for the streets — Kenny Saint Best
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Kenny
ospel music star, Kenny Saint Best, has revealed that her reason for doing music is to reach out to the audience outside the church, as they need the message the most. She said: “Music is my first calling. It is my real profession, while politics takes second place. Nothing can take me away from music because it runs deep in my blood. In fact, every Sunday, I go from one church to another and sing. I don’t make noise about it because it is my life. “I set out to create a kind of gospel music that would be accepted by the average Nigerian on the street. I am talking about gospel music that has ‘street credibility’ – the type that deejays are happy to play alongside other kinds of music and even area boys (or street urchins) will be glad to listen to. “This is the reason why I have settled for gospel music: to reach out to this kind of people and spread the good news to them. Since they will definitely not come to church on worship days, the gospel has to reach them anyhow. And one of the ways to draw them closer to God is to present gospel music in a way that they will accept.”
Akpororo and wife
C
omedian cum gospel singer, Akpororo, who tied the knot with his sweetheart, Josephine Ijeoma Onuabughuchi, on Saturday, November 14, at the Eagles Club, Surulere, Lagos, has come out singing her praises. Akpororo said, “I’ve always told myself that I will never marry an entertainer because I know what the industry is. “Josephine is a beautiful and very intelligent lady. Her intelligence attracted me first. I also saw the wife material in her,
she is much focused and she inspires me a lot. Our courtship was not too long. I met Josephine last year, we started dating this year and I proposed to her August 2nd in my Church’s Ultimate Power Ministry at Okoko and on August 9th in a football pitch. I met Josephine last year but we became so close this year that we started dating. What really led me to her is that I discovered that she has great plans of her own aside dancing in the Xplicit Group.
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news
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Tuface gets chieftaincy title N
igeria musical icon, Tuface Idibia, was turbaned Tafidan Kudenda’ in Kaduna State earlier this
week. Tuface was turbaned at the palace of the traditional ruler of the Kudenda community, Gabriel Galadima, in Chikum Local Government Area. According to the traditional ruler, Tuface was honoured with the title because of his pet project ‘Voice No Violence,’ which has helped communities in the area to preach peace among themselves. “We were in dire need of real presence of peace advocates and programmes and Tuface came to the rescue and that is why we honoured him. “He has been outstanding in not only singing peace, but participating in actualising it,� said Mr. Galadima. At the end, Tuface thanked the Kudenda community and the traditional ruler for honouring him. “I will make sure this did not go in vain. I shall be a good ambassador of the Kudenda community,� the new Tafida said. Earlier, before the ceremony in Kudenda, Tuface made a courtesy visit to the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
Agbani Darego maintains her ‘sexy’ ‌flaunts beautiful gym body
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ormer Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) who later won the Miss World pageant in 2001, Agbani Darego, is working hard to gain sexier abs. Darego who was at the gym on Thursday, November 26, shared her photo after the gym session on Instagram with the caption, “Almost there‌â€?Share on Twitter
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CLASSICAL LYRICS
Miss Anambra represents Nigeria at Miss World Pageant
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he 65th edition of Miss World kicked off on November 21, with the arrival of the first contestants in Sanya, The People’s Republic of China, culminating with the Grand Finale on Saturday 19 December at the Beauty Crown Grand Theatre, Sanya. Beautiful and talented women from over 100 countries will take part in the pageant. The opening ceremony featured a glittering parade of nations, a welcome dinner for all of the contestants, a dazzling firework display and a night of dancing. Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2015, Unoaku Anyadike, is flying Nigeria’s flag at the competition.
Anyadike
Olamide Baddo loses dad
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ess than a week after the release of his 5th studio album, Nigerian indigenous rapper, Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Olamide Badoo has lost his father. The rapper shared the sad news with a post on his Instagram page, saying, “O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother; in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my father, and forgive his trespasses; and make me to see him again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Rest well Dad.. Forever in my heart â?¤ď¸?â€? Eniola Olamilekan Adedeji, who is Olamide’s younger brother and official DJ of YBNL Nation, has also shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram page with caption “Rest in perfect peace daddy đ&#x;™?đ&#x;™?đ&#x;™? May Allah accept ur soul nd forgive ur sins‌. I love u đ&#x;˜˜đ&#x;˜˜đ&#x;˜˜ u will forever be in my heart â?¤ď¸?â?¤ď¸?â?¤ď¸?â€? The two are of the same parents and both started their music career in Bariga.
Olamide
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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Is Toyin Aimakhu set for second marriage?
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alented actress, Toyin Aimakhu, whose two year union with Nollywood actor, Adeniyi Johnson reportedly crashed few months ago is allegedly set to have a wedding introduction with her new lover, Seun Egbegbe. The actress and her alleged lover, Seun have been said to be an item since the former made her debut in the film industry through a theater group to which Seun Egbegbe also belonged. Seun was widely reported to have confirmed the sizzling romance in a recent interview with popular lifestyle magazine, Global Excellence. “We may decide to marry.
It has been awesome in my life within the short period of time Toyin and I have been together again. Even for Toyin herself, her career is on high tempo. I’m sure we are meant to be together as partners.” A recent update to the romance saga is the alleged recent visit of the lovebirds to Toyin Aimakhu’s family which reportedly got the consent and backing of Toyin’s parents. This is said to have kick started the planning of a low-key family introduction. It is however not open to members of the public if Toyin Aimakhu and her estranged hubby, Adeniyi Johnson, have officially pulled the plug on their legal marriage.
Odunlade Adekola welcomes baby boy N
Adekola
Chiwetel Ejiofor for 2016 BIFAs honour
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ollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola, has joined the growing list of top celebrities who have welcomed a bundle of joy in the year 2015. The talented thespian and wife, Ruth Adekola, welcomed a bouncing baby boy – their fourth child – on Monday, November 23, 2015 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Odunlade Adekola joins popular celebrities such as Duncan Mighty, Tiwa Savage, Kash 11, D’Prince, Timaya, DJ Neptune, Omawumi, and many others who all welcomed bundles of joy in 2015.
Juliet Mgborukwe too
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ollywood actress, Juliet Mgborukwe has delivered a baby boy in the United States of America. The thespian, who is married to USbased Chima Ojukwu, shared photos of her bouncing baby boy on photo sharing app, Instagram. She captioned it, “My C.E.O is finally here, can’t believe I am now a mother, blessed with the most precious child ever right before Thanksgiving. Omg my heart is filled with joy, my close friends know how much I love kids and how I always wanted a child so bad but I had to wait for the right time and the right person, am glad God blessed me with d best man for this long ride…”
Mgborukwe Inset: baby boy
Aimakhu
Ejiofor
ritish-Nigerian actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, will be honoured at the 2016 edition of the British Independent Film Awards, BIFAs. The actor will receive the ‘Richard Harris Award’ in recognition of his contribution to British film industry. The award, which was introduced in 2002 in honor of the legendary, Richard Harris, is usually given in recognition of outstanding contribution to British film by an actor. Previous winners of the award include John Hurt, David Thewlis, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Daniel Day-Lewis, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Julie Walters and Emma Thompson. Chiwetel Ejiofor has featured in films like ‘Amistad’, ‘Dirty Pretty Things’, ‘12 Years A Slave’, ‘Secret In Their Eyes’ and many others.
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EVENTS
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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Celebrities file out for Naija FM Comedy Concert Popular Nigerian celebrities such as 2face Idibia, Basketmouth, Bovi and more turned out for the Naija FM Comedy and Concert held at Muson Center, Lagos, on Saturday, November 21, 2015.Other celebrities in attendance were Tee A, Wande Coal, Seyi Shay, Kcee, Harrysong, Francis Odega, Skiibii, Mr. 2kay, Koffi, Funnybone, Sexy Steel, Yung6ix among a host of others.
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Style & Glam
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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le StyGlam and
with Yemisi Adeniran
goddesses eir obsession with th d an ks ee Gr collections ar with the appreciate these to f you are famili s le ab be ll wi uettes of clothe orial, you e that the silho tic no from time immem d ul th wo wi u s Yo wa iro Tafiri. rare elegance. It from designer Ej that comes with y er ap dr this week with of t lo a rves style icons se i fir Ta were formed by at th ce and jersey Grecian theme es which fuse la on g in al this love for the ve re e bellishment and ts especially th Note the hand em s. irt sk these sexy outfi a ab Sh t of the 90s and silk chiffon. with a reminiscen e use of jersey th us pl ils ta de g beadin
(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com
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Cute goddesses from Ejiro Amos Tafiri
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Style & Glam
, same time us at the o r t o u m b la g ly e girlie and ts are lov ny be called s. Bracele n t ta a le c is e r c u w a o r y ’s b with efore a lady ly d d n n t or u o ie r r a f be m of wris drape r o t f a h y t n you must a s e t c s our wrist ashion pie riminate not again flexible f igns. If y c s is e d d y d e n h a T t or an rms he day. ferent fo er bracele dowed w if o d r r time of t in a n e a m n e they co you are e er, choos attire as ssion. If m, howev e li e bolder r s h p t y im ll e a b y n ir io ld a t u p o a e h c e s x iv e s is e that g best choic ill enjoy an endles k design ist, your w r en w u v o e open-wor r y e r , g o t ig beads r or b ge wris e , a r d id e n w v o a m a n ia h a wit r, d your ave gold, silve complimentary to d if you h types. An ther your choice is d n a le he fortab choice. W sure they are com n e costumes, outfit.
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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Fashion
t e l e c a r B
Fashion
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n frenzy
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Style & Glam
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Fashion
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Guest G
‘Toning up your skin is no big deal’ As far as actress Mide Martins is concerned, every responsible woman must strive daily to look good. She sheds more light on this with YEMISI ADENIRAN. Excerpts: Every woman around seems to want to be light-skinned. What’s your view about this? I see no reason to be desperate to be light-skinned. All the same, I will always encourage every woman to give a boost to her look as much as possible. Going to the extent of bleaching and having one’s skin damaged is not good and I won’t encourage that. Toning up your skin however is no big deal. If you are light-skinned naturally and you want to maintain or make your skin clear of dirty debris, I think it is okay. The only thing I wouldn’t support is having to go to the extent of creating fresh problems for yourself in the process. For me, if you are light skinned and you are careless with it, you will not only be dark, you will also appear distasteful and if you are dark naturally and you are bleaching with all kinds of things you see, you will not only damage your skin, you will end up with a bad skin too. Do you think black is beautiful? Of course yes. Black is beautiful but if not well taken care of, it may become very ugly. As far as I am concerned, everyone must be sure of what suits her and follow it. If you are beautiful in your colour, don’t work on it for another. If you are not, just try a little to make it better. It is responsible to strive to look better everyday. What would you say to ladies who wear revealing dresses? They should stop it and embrace modest and decent dressing. If they keep going about half nude, they should not bother anyone if they get raped. Indecent dresses are instrumental to the increase in rape incidents that occur daily today.
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10 things you’ve always wanted to know about your body
CONTINUED FROM LASTWEEK
6. Why is your heart on the left side? Like many of our organs, the heart is not in the very centre of the body but is located slightly to the left, behind the sternum (breast bone). The reason there are asymmetries in the first phase of our development is to do with evolution. As our digestive, circulatory and central nervous systems got more complex, Nature had to find ways of packing everything into our bodies. Having everything centrally located is an inefficient use of space. Some one in 10,000 people have situs inversus, where all the major internal organs are on the opposite side of the body from normal. Yet this hardly causes them harm! 7. Why do you get pins and needles? Typically pins and needles are caused by sitting in an awkward position. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not because it cuts off the circulation, but because it puts pressure on the nerves. Those prone to migraines may also get pins and needles in hands, feet or face. One theory is that some brain chemicals become more active, causing the brain to send confusing signals. Some people fear that pins and needles signal a stroke. But strokes cause loss of sensation, such as numbness, and come on suddenly. Persistent tingling can be a sign of nerve damage or diabetes — see a doctor if this occurs. 8. Why can you only wink with one eye? With a bit of training you could probably learn to wink with both eyes. Sometimes, people have a damaged nerve, due to injury or disease, and can’t wink. But most people should manage it with practice. The obicularis muscle,
which closes the eyelids, is supplied by nerves on both sides, so can be worked independently. If you can close both eyes, you can probably train yourself to wink. However, some people still struggle and find they can wink only with the one eye, which tends to be the same side as the hand they write with. In right-handed people, the brain’s left hemisphere is thought to be dominant — this hemisphere controls the right side of the body. So if you are righthanded, your left eye is likely to be the naughty one that winks! 9. Why does squinting make things clearer? Squinting reduces the amount of light coming into the eye. By limiting the rays that come through the top and bottom of the pupil, the light that does get in is ‘relatively undeviated,’ allowing rays to pass closer to the centre of the lens. This cancels out the effect of being long or short-sighted, where the light is normally deviated. As a result, the light focuses better on the retina, the layer of cells at the back of the eye that transmit images to the brain. It’s a bit like looking through a pinhole. 10. What exactly is a knot in the back? Many people complain of ‘knots’ in their back muscles, but is this description accurate? Essentially, it is a very localised tender area in a muscle. It can cause pain in other body parts, too. The tightness is thought to be the result of an irritated nerve. The muscle goes into spasm, or tightens, as a protective mechanism, and tends to become stuck. The best way to treat the pain is slow, firm pressure applied directly to the knot.
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Male Essentials W Do it yourself tricks 08036961187
with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@gmail.com
ith the new year now upon us, there’s never been a better time to sift through your clothing collection and sort the sartorial wheat from the chaff. After all, maintaining a carefully curated wardrobe gives you peace of mind and keeps you positioned at the top of your style game. For best results, you’ll need a guiding principle, and the old adage: ‘out with the old, in with the new’ hits the proverbial nail right on the head. That means shifting anything that’s not seen the light of day for a while to make room for your new key investments for 2015. Begin by asking yourself the following questions: have I worn it in the last eighteen months? Do I still like it? Am I realistically going to wear it again in 2015? If the answer to any of these is a no, then it’s time for it to go.
In with the new That said, while there’s bound to be a few questionable pieces that need chucking, not everything currently languishing in your wardrobe should be dumped. Some items of clothing are classic and timeless, while others can be salvaged, re-imagined and re-purposed. Although ‘out with the old, in with the new’ is your guiding principle, it’s worth bearing ‘waste not, want not’ in mind too. Just because that worn shirt or shabby pair of trousers hasn’t left the house in a while, it doesn’t mean it’s entirely useless. These days, there’s nothing a good tailor can’t do. If you’re still finalising your New Year’s resolutions, make sure one of them is to find yourself a tailor you can trust. Not only can they work minor miracles when it comes to suit jacket and trouser fit, they’re often a dab hand at reinventing some of your tired threads. Of course, that’s not to say that you can’t do most of these DIY renewals yourself – most require just a good pair of cloth scissors and some precise folding – but if you don’t want to leave anything to chance, then we would recommend visiting your tailor for the best possible results. 1. Long-sleeved short This is probably the most obvious entry on the list, but shortening longsleeved shirts to short-sleeved ones still seems to be a dramatically underused method. Appreciating that a good selection of quality shirts forms the backbone of any capsule wardrobe, most guys buy the same types of shirt each season, replacing older ones with new ones. But why not alter your old shirts into something for the summer ahead, rather than simply chuck them? We understand that the majority are still unsure about them, but if the last few spring/summer seasons have proved
post-customisation fraying works well with the ruggedness of the fabric. I f
4. Pick it up and put it in your pocket No matter what it is, if it’s got an interesting pattern on it – turn it into a pocket square. Everything from that old paisley shirt to those houndstooth cotton trousers to that plaid scarf is primed for a bit of pocket square DIY. You don’t even have to sew them into the shape of a square if you don’t want to. Simply cut out a large enough section, fold a few times and then stuff it into your pocket – you’re good to go. However, if you do want to create bona fide pocket squares then there are plenty of YouTube videos that provide step by step instructions:
any thing, it’s that short-sleeved shirts are no longer the preserve of the sartorially clueless. Provided your long-sleeved shirt already fits well, all you need do is cut each sleeve an inch below where you want the new sleeve to end and then cuff (fold a couple of times) the sleeves to hide the cut. Easy. This works especially well with old Oxford shirts in shades of blue, pink and green because the faded colour they take on in their old age plays perfectly into summer’s hazy pastel-inspired season. 2. Custom collars Sleeves aren’t the only customisable aspect of a well-worn shirt; you can modify the collar too. Whether your current collar has seen better days or you just fancy a change, altering it can give your shirt an entirely new look. This particular customisation might be better off in the hands of a tailor, depending on the fabric of your chosen shirt. If you’re going it alone, why not try creating an on-trend band/granddad collar by cutting off the existing point collar on your old denim or Oxford cloth shirts? This works well because the (inevitable)
your favourite pair of chinos or jeans, there’s no reason why they can’t be converted into shorts in about five minutes flat. Similar to shirts, your legwear just needs to be cut an inch or two below where you want the cuff to sit, and then neatly cuffed at the appropriate mark. The knees and hems of trousers are often the first areas to wear out, so this trick will bring your favourite pair back from the brink. If you’re looking for a slightly neater approach, use a sewing machine to hem your new shorts with a clean finish.
yo u r shirt is constructed from a finer, m o re delicate material, it’s better to bow out and book an appointment with your tailor. They should be able to alter the current collar (size or style) or create a new one entirely – try a contrasting colour or pattern to really breathe life into the garment. 3. Who wears short shorts? Unless you’ve worn the crotch out of
5. Change the buttons One of the easiest alterations you can make is to change the buttons on your existing pieces. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old work shirt, pair of chinos or even your trusty mac, switching the buttons for coloured or higher quality versions is a subtle alteration that makes a surprisingly big impact. Not only that, it takes no time at all and you don’t need any fancy equipment – just a needle and thread. There are hundreds of guides out there on how to sew on a button, and it’s a life skill that all men should learn. But perhaps the best advice we can give you is to remember that the existing holes left from the old button provide guidance as to where your needle should be going.
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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WOMAN e b o t y s a e t o ‘It’s n ’ r e v e r o f d e i mar r
Busayo Somide-Omosulu, is the Chief executive of Aujourd’hui Couture, a fashion outfit in Lagos. Also a trained broadcaster, she spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on her journey into the world of fashion, her exploits amidst other sundry issues. Tell us briefly about your family background? I am the last of a family of five. My parents are late. Before his death, my father was the Education Secretary of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area and my mother was also an educationist. She was the vice principal of a public government secondary school in Lagos. I was born and brought up in Lagos and had my primary and secondary school education in Lagos. I attended the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry for a diploma course before studying French at the University of Lagos. I have worked at RayPower 100.5Fm. I must also tell you about my uncle, Ambrose Shomide, who really cared for me since my father died. Why did you opt for fashion? I started as a broadcaster and worked in other corporate organisations. But I have this flair for fashion. My late mother, although an educationist, also had this passion for sewing, I believe I took that flair for sewing from her. In my quest for knowledge about fashion, I went to Stella Obey, a fashion designer at Magodo, where I was trained for a six months course. Before I completed the programme, I had already started sewing very well and could do a lot of things on my own. I would say I developed myself.
Thereafter, in November 2011, I opened my own fashion house close to Omole Phase2 in Lagos. What was your growing up like? I grew up in an average family. My par-
ents considered education as the ultimate gift they could give any child, so my late dad tried all his best to educate us all. And growing up, my mother as a very modest woman who didn’t believe in pampering
children raised us up with a very strict principle. Although she died before my father, her legacy was followed and adopted by my father. Right after her death, my dad took over, he pampered us a bit but tried to give us the best. Why are you in fashion, is it because it is the trend and/ or there is much money in it? Like I said, I have this passion for fashion and if the fashion industry for Nigeria is properly annexed, it’s a billion dollar industry. Again, fashion is a continuous thing and people will definitely wear clothes. Fashion also evolves every day. You will see different trends coming out and people want to look good and feel good, so, people spend more on their looks. Is your husband part of this? I am married to a very understanding man. My husband, Dr. Rotimi Omosulu, is a lecturer, a Ph.D holder and philosopher. I will say he’s very supportive of me, financially and otherwise; he really bought into the idea of the fashion business. There was a time my fashion house got burnt in June 16, 2012, somewhat due to the negligence of my staff. As I cried, my husband tried his best to make me stop, and that weekend we were able to renovate the shop. I thank God I was able to get back on my feet. Even clients were surprised when they got there the following Monday morning and saw everything back to normal. How would you describe life as a wife of a lecturer? It has not been easy. You have to be very rational and be able to defend your arguments when talking. You must be smart all the time to prevent yourself from self-embarrassment. Nevertheless, he has been a wonderful man, and the best thing to have ever happened to me. He is a good man. When we got married and the kids refused to come as normally expected, he was very much there for me. He was very
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I believe in a life that is not selfish, a life that allows others to live and live well. I
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Keeping ABREAST
The big boob backache epidemic
believe in a life that esteems honesty and hard work. supportive and I thank God today that the good Lord has answered our prayers, we have our son to show for this. What’s your idea of a responsible man? A responsible man must be close to his family, very supportive; he must be everything and above all, he must be God-fearing. A responsible man should be able to take care of his family needs; he must be there for his family when needed. My husband has all these qualities. Even when I am not there, I am assured that our son is in safe hands; in fact, he takes care of our son better than I do. They are best of friends. What do you think of broken marriages? Marriage is not a bed of roses; it’s not easy to be married forever. It is easy to do the wedding, but it needs to be sustained. Broken marriage is blamable on the two players involved; however, if they will be careful to always reach a compromise and not put the blame on the other, the marriage will be smooth and fun. What is your greatest achievement in life? Well, I won’t say I have achieved, but I am getting there. What is your philosophy of life? It is live and let live. I believe in a life that is not selfish, a life that allows others to live and live well. I believe in a life that esteem honesty and hard work. What new concepts are you bringing into the fashion industry? I am talking with fashion designers abroad and we are coming to some sort of partnership. I would say we have a lot of fashion designers that are doing great things and great jobs. They are good but new things need to be done in terms of local fabrics. I use more of local fabrics and do adire as well. I do tye-and-dye new concept. In the fashion industry, I won’t say something is new because most of these concepts we are seeing now have been there for years, they are just repackaging and rebranding them. However, I am looking at taking the fashion design to the next level by partnering fashion houses abroad, giving our designs that African outlook. I know many of them have people doing African designs but doing it in another designs is what I am talking about. We have different African designs. If we go to Ghana, we would find kitty fabrics, as well as different fabrics in various places. But I am looking at doing something different with adire. I want to transform the fabric in a way people will find it hard to believe that the fabric is an adire. How do you think government can assist the fashion industry? I would ask government to increase its support just like the previous government supported our dear entertainment industry, Nollywood. industry. Fashion industry has the potential; we have so many talented designers. There are many untapped areas in the industry that the government can tap into for revenue. It should support fashion designers by giving them loans. We have FADAN, the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria. So if the government can
support by giving us loans like they did to the Nollywood sector, it will really help. Who do you look up to in the fashion industry? In Nigeria I will say Joel Biliza. I love her works. Have you being inspired in any way by anyone here in Nigeria or abroad? Yes, former President Olusegun Obasanjo inspires me. I have read about him, listens whenever he speaks at different for occasions. He is also a spiritual father to me. This is a side that many people don’t really know. If you truly know him, you will know he is a true man of God. I have been following his teachings for quite some time; you hear him speak and see the motivational messages as he talks about his background. There is this story he talked about on how peer influence can make a child misbehave. He said when he was young, a friend of his ate fried fish and told him that if he also wants to be eating fried fish like him, he (Obasanjo) has to steal his mother’s money to buy the fried fish. So when he got home he went to his mother’s purse to steal money. Unfortunately, the next day, the woman selling the fish was not around. So when he got home the money was still with him. On reaching home, his mother welcomed him properly and gave him food to eat. The mother later called him to inquire about the money he took from her purse. He couldn’t deny it and simply told her that it was his friend that told him to steal it. That day, he was given the beating of his life, and ever since, he never spoke to that friend again. He said that really shaped his life, hence he became his mentor. I am currently writing a story about his foreign policies, his administration and he gave me the go-ahead. What is the most remarkable day of your life? It was the day I gave birth to my son February 21, 2014; it was such an emotional day because I had him through a Caesarian Section. I was not sedated; I was awake and saw everything. It was such an emotional day for me, reaching for him, holding him and telling him: “Welcome to the world; you are blessed, my son.” What is the naughtiest thing you have ever done? It was playing a prank on my classmates. then, when I was little,I used to love birthdays so much that I called every day my birthday. It was a joyous thing for children then. There was this classmate of mine then, Bimbo Babalola that I told through a page of my drawing book where I just designed a birthday invite saying the next day was my birthday. I was joking with it but she took it so personal that when she got home, she started crying that she must come for the occasion. She got dressed up by her sister; they even got a birthday gift for me. When they finally came (the day being Saturday), my mum was busy washing clothes while I was already asleep on the dirty clothes. When my mum discovered that it was a lie that I told, I was given the beating of my life.
• Curvier figures are fuelling pain in topheavy women as young as 20
Actress, Cosy Orjiakor, flaunts a well-stacked bossom.
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igger breasts are fuelling a backache epidemic among millions of young women, new research has revealed. The trend for curvier figures - which has seen both average dress and bra cup sizes increase in recent years - has created painful side effects, particularly backache but also joint and muscle problems. Fashion trends such as oversized handbags and high heels have also become factors that have led to one in five of women under the age of 40 suffering from joint, back or muscle pain. Nearly half of sufferers said the problems began when they were in their 20s - shattering the image that this kind of ailment is more likely to affect adults in middle age or beyond. A new survey found that: • Back pain is the most common pain affecting one in 10 well-endowed women • 6 per cent cited the shoulders as the most troublesome pain point • The same number confirmed they get the most discomfort from big breasts in their necks Nearly a quarter of people who suffer muscle and joint pain blame it on their ‘physique’. But fashion, as well as weight, could be part of the problem for younger women. Also, up to 28 per cent of women in their twenties, compared to 10 per cent in their fifties, are likely to damage their
joints and muscles by carrying fashionable larger handbags. And at least 16 per cent of younger women admit they suffer pains and aches from wearing uncomfortable shoes such as high heels. However, experts say weight was still a major factor. According to British nutritionist, Dr Sarah Brewer, body-shape and weight are a common driver for joint pain. “Studies show a clear dose-response relationship between BMI and pain - which is just a fancy way of saying the more you weigh, the greater the risk and severity of pain,” she said. “If a patient is overweight and complains of joint pain, the first thing any health professional will advise is that they try to lose some of that excess weight.” The problems of curvier body shapes are also a factor in women not exercising or participating in sports, as bigger busts can be uncomfortable which, in turn, mean they are not doing enough to prevent backache. Almost a quarter of women in their 40s admitted their problems were caused by excess weight compared to 13 percent of those in their twenties and 18 per cent of women in their fifties. Many older women put their aches and pains down to arthritis. “In the short term, rest is the right thing to do for something like a muscle sprain or strain, but for joint or back pain it is much better to keep moving as much as possible,” said Dr Brewer.
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Parenting
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Lagos adopts toddlers defiled by father’s co-workers Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression
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monitor their activities at home and in schools. “This present administration will assist the
he Lagos State Government has taken custody of the two sisters who were allegedly defiled by their father’s co-workers.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lola Akande, said the children had been rescued from the abusive environment and taken to one of the state’s homes for children for proper rehabilitation and care. The two victims, aged three and five, were staying with their father, Ayodele Ekundayo, who worked in a cement factory in the Fagba area of the state. Ekundayo reportedly left the sisters in the care of his five co-workers, who also lived in the factory with him. The men, whose ages range from 24 to 33, allegedly took advantage of the girls and defiled them. Ekundayo said he discovered the rape after his daughters started complain-
Tiny Feet
ing of pains in their private parts. The suspects were subsequently arrested and paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. In a statement on Thursday, Akande said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had taken custody of the victims, and would be responsible for their upkeep and education. “The ministry is working with the NSCDC to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime do not go scot-free and are prosecuted accord-
ParentingUpdate
A
group has urged the Nigerian government to criminalize the failure of parents to enrol their children in schools. The charge was given in Abuja by a nongovernmental organization, Paulash Initiative, during its programme to increase awareness of the impact of girl child education. The founder of the group, Folashade Okomayi, said unless the government makes non-enrollment of school-aged children an offence punishable by law, Nigeria will not be able to rid itself of out- of-school children.
victims’ father to be gainfully employed by enrolling him in one of the ministry’s skill acquisition centres to learn a vocation after which he will be empowered to practise the trade upon the completion of his training,” she added.
“I think what the government should do is that when children are seen hawking; or doing menial jobs during school hours; government should take them somewhere and trace their parents or wards,” she said. “If they punish one or two parents under a certain law that should be enacted for the purpose; others will take caution.” Mrs. Okomayi added that the rally was organised to enlighten Nigerians about the growing challenges facing the girl child in the country. “A lot of girls are still
ing to the law of the state,” she added. She commended the non governmental organisation that brought the children’s plight to public attention and urged Lagos residents to be vigilant and report any case of child abuse or domestic violence in their vicinity to the ministry. The commissioner, who promised that the ministry would assist parents whose circumstances made their children susceptible to molestation, enjoined parents and guardians to create time for their children and
NAME: Alabi Suad Atirayo BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs. Lekan Alabi AGE: 9 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.7 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com
Group wants parents punished for not enrolling children in schools
being subjected to the background in our society. When you talk about growing number of outof-school children, the greatest number of those affected is girls,” she said. “In terms of domestic
violence, girls are also mostly at the receiving end. The story is the same when you talk about child marriage.” Also at the event, a spokesperson of the Bring back our girls’ campaign,
Aisha Yesufu, said much needs to be done to bridge the gap between girls and boys in educational and other development tendencies. “Even in our homes, parents give more preferences to boys than girls. It is the girl that should take care of house chores like cooking, sweeping fetching of water; among other things, while the boys have more time for their books,” she said. Mrs. Yesufu who agreed that the country should criminalize non-enrolment of school-age children, and added that educational institutions should be upgraded.
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Schools in boxes
It’s said that he who builds a school has closed a prison. But when schools spring up at random at every available space with whatever facility or structure in the name of creating education, awareness and knowledge for the populace, but what kind of education do these shanties called schools provide. Are their quality of education same as the quality of facilities used or otherwise. ERIC ELEZUO writes.
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revolution undertaken by a former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande in the education sector in particular, during his tenure in the Second Republic remains a landmark in the multiplication of structures which serve as academic environment irrespective of how they look. Today, the trend has been sustained, not only among government institutions, but among individuals who believe that education is diamond mine that must be tapped. This idea has necessitated a revolution which has witnessed the proliferation of structures, most of which are equivalent to shanties, and some, worse, as schools to train and shape the supposed leaders of tomorrow. Ever since the administration of Alhaji Jakande as governor of Lagos State, when schools sprout out from every corner of the metropolis, shanties as schools have been the order of the day. Most of the schools, apart from land mass, have
nothing else to boast of in terms of facilities, equipment or structure. There are hardly even furniture to accommodate the teeming population of budding adults , who took advantage of the ‘free’ attached to the education provided by the administration. These inadequacies led to so many factors coming on board to give education, especially in Lagos, a negative reputation. These factors included the hiring of substandard and unserious tutors. The teachers were known to show lackadai-
sical attitude in the discharge of their duties. There was unwholesome truancy among teachers, release of substandard form of tutelage and the churning out of half baked students. This therefore, prompted parents to look elsewhere for better education for their wards, thereby giving rise to the emergence and proliferation of private schools. Private schools are ordinarily explained to reflect any academic institution owned by anybody other than the government. This is a practice observed mostly in capitalist states such as Nigeria. Much as the country permits the private ownership of institutions, including academic institutions. Today, academic institutions, especially secondary schools, have proliferated, but they exist in environment that could better be referred to as shanties. The shabby nature of these places, notwithstanding, they still attract patron-
Schools can never be enough. Honestly, the more the schools, the better the quality of education as each institution strives to outdo the other for the better
age. Mr. Richard Okwoka, whose daughter attends one of such schools declared that the reason behind the patronage of such schools lies in the need to cut cost, and get education at the least amount irrespective of the circumstances. “Truly, we know, or rather I know the shanty nature of where I enrolled my daughter, but honestly, I have little choice because the so called established ones with state of the art facility, charge cut throat fees, which somebody like me can hardly afford. So we sort of over look the decrepit nature of the buildings and facilities and get the education we seek,” he said. Mr. Okwoka, who is a petty trader, added that he is aware of better schools in terms of structural outlook around the environment, but could not dare them because of what they charge as fees, stressing that a child who wants to learn will learn, better structure or not. Saturday Mirror’s investigation reveals that the proliferation of these less than normal private schools, is not unconnected to the unconfirmed notion that there is untold wealth in running a school, especially if one is shrewd enough to shortchange staff in terms of paying them less than nothing as salaries and stipends. A school proprietor, who gave his name simply as Mr. Danmola, and runs a CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
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‘Do not despise little beginnings’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 certain Danoma Schools, confirmed that there is actually a level of financial balance attached to owning a school, stressing that with the attendant levies and charges that follow tuition fee, one can’t just resist the urge to set up an academic environment. He insisted that no one can ever reap the fruits of running a school immediately except the person does not give a thought for tomorrow. “Apart from knowledge impartation, school ownership is a profitable venture, indeed very rewarding though not from the very first day. This is because asides tuition fee, there are other fees attached which the reasonable proprietor harnesses to his own advantage. They necessitate the coming in of everyone into the business,” he said. He further stated that owning a school is just a function of access to a parcel of land, which is complimented with a few, scratchy and untoward blocks. According to him, the walls from within and outside are not plastered nor painted. He added that most of the floors are not cemented. “The chairs are hurriedly assembled pieces of wood, which come out awkwardly looking, and then a school has started,” he said. “Before you know it, students have started trooping in, and are identified with a uniform. The rest is history,” he added. Another parent, Mrs. Oyinlola, stated that the decrepit nature of the schools are not really the major challenge, but the reluctance of some proprietors to carry out development projects to move the school forward with the fees collected. She said that most of them prefer buying cars and living large to adding a block or window to their structures. ”Most parents know about the unkempt nature of the school before bringing in their wards. But the challenge lies in the inability of most shanty looking school owners to be pro-active in developing the school, structure-wise,” she said. But most stakeholders have questioned the rationale behind the emergence of shanty schools, which has snowballed into proliferation, saying that there should be authorities regulation the emergence of schools. “Yes, there are authorities regulating the emergence of private schools, chiefly among them is the states’ ministries of education in various states. Again, there are also bodies like with the local governments, communities and even wards where the schools are situated. These bodies include Local Education Department (LED), Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED) among others,” said Mr. Gabriel Moses,
an education expert. Mr. Moses further stated that these bodies are mandated to carry out sundry checks on schools to determine their viability and ability to stand the test of time. He argued however, that most times, the officials do not carry out the duty with
who does not want his name in print, explained to Saturday Mirror that the monitoring does not start from inception of the said school, saying that the schools begin operation on its own without prior consultation of any authority. He stressed that it is even after the insti-
All these schools that start in one day with state of the art equipment are not really
educationist-oriented schools.
They are schools built by politicians, for business
success at the back of their minds. “Often times, these bodies go round the environment to determine the schools in existence, and if they should actually be in existence. However, through gratification, the officials fall short of their assignments,” he added. But an official of LED attached to Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area,
tution has hit the ground running that they begin to make plans for registration and recognition. “All these schools come into existence even before the authorities get wind of them. As a result, there is no basis for shutting them down at the point of registration. So they get encouragement to do better,” he said.
Mr. Bolade Omoyele of AFED, Ajeromi District, argued that schools can never be enough, just like churches, saying that the more he schools, the better the quality produced because everyone will be under competitive pressure to outdo the other in a positive light. “I don’t even understand this proliferation issue as schools can never be enough. Honestly, the more the schools, the better the quality of education as each institution strives to outdo the other for the better,” he said. But does the need to have more and more schools and better education necessitates the outpouring of shanties without adequate, Mr. Omoyele said. “No, that does not explain it, but definitely one has to start somewhere. All these schools that start in one day with state of the art equipment are not really educationist oriented schools. They are schools built by politicians, most especially for business, and that is why exorbitant fees are charged, and manipulations become the order of the day during exams. But when a real educationist, knowledgeable and endowed with what it takes to give qualitative learning, wants to start a school, he can’t do so on the same scale with politicians or industrialists. So his zeal makes him start from somewhere – shanties,” he added. Another school administrator, Mrs. Oladapo James, collaborated the previous stance, saying that “Though school is also business, the educationist does not venture into it money in mind at first. Check out all the mighty schools of today; how did they start? Most of them started in shanties,” she said. A pastor at Afromedia area of Lagos cited an example using a school he called Holy Infant Schools. He said that the school started before his very eyes, in a mini flat, adding that at present, the school is a force to reckon with as it has developed with buildings, vehicles and every imaginable school equipment. “Yes, nobody wishes to reckon with anything during its teething stages, but the bible has said ‘despise not the days of little beginning’. A school like Holy Infant, located here In Afromedia, started in a mini flat, and most of us are aware of it, but today, can anyone call it a shanty? In fact, we should be wary of schools that just spring up developed. Every institution, academic or otherwise must have a history; a beginning,” he said. Every stakeholder, who spoke to Saturday Mirror, believes that though it is normal to have shanty looking schools, it should not be condoned, adding that a minimum requirement standard should be introduced to check the influx of substandard schools. However, some believe that those so called shanty schools are actually where the education lies, noting that most ‘big’ schools, with solid infrastructure have been closed down at one time or another for one extra-education activity or another, especially high scale malpractice.
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Dear Bukola
Having problems with your marriage, family, relationship, career or life generally? Help is at hand with Bukola Oyetunji, Relationship Expert, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author of Stranded With a Status and One Good Spouse Deserves Another. www.bukolaoyetunji.blogspot.com, Follow on twitter @bukolaoyetunji
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bukola.oyetunji@gmail.com. +2347012974472
My guy is getting on my nerves
Dear Bukola, am involved in an impossible relationship. I am dating a guy who always gets on my nerves. We are always flying at each other’s throat. He is always unreasonable especially when he sees me hanging out with other guys. He constantly checks my possessions to look for any evidence of betrayal. One day, he met a guy at my place and he threatened him. I haven’t heard the last of that. I know he paid for the place and all that but I need to have friends. I haven’t cheated on him though I kissed a guy several times but he doesn’t understand that I feel very lonely anytime he is with his wife. I wish I could end it all but I can’t because I have a wonderful sexual relationship with him. Whenever I resolve to end it, we always end up making love and I just can’t leave. What should I do?
I
I’m nasty to my girlfriends M Dear Bukola, y relationships don’t last. I am guilty of not taking romantic relationships seriously. I’ve this idea that every woman I meet is interested in only what she can get from me. As a result of the aforementioned, my relationships don’t last long and oftentimes I end up being really nasty and hurting my girlfriends. I have not had a steady relationship in a while as a result of my actions. I would like things to be different but where do I start? How do I break this cycle? Dear romantically guilty, rom experience I’ve come to realize that when people (especially men) find it very difficult to commit, one needs to delve into their past i.e., their upbringing, background and romantic relationship history. You did not put here what you experienced with your previous relationships or what growing up was like in your home. Without having this information, I think you should consider going for therapy. This is because when people fail
F
Dear Bukola, am typical example of a “successful man”. Before the age of twenty eight, I was already a self-made millionaire. Now at the age of forty-something I am quite comfortable but something is still lacking. This lack prevents me from maintaining decent relationships (people can be deceitful you know). I get easily impatient with acquaintances and I don’t date. I just have flings. If I had a normal relationship with my parents, maybe I would have been pressurized by them to get married or maybe they would have instilled the right values in me. The fact is that they don’t care I wasn’t good enough for them to keep. I was found in a dustbin as a baby and grew up in an orphanage where things were not perfect so I ran away. After that, I was on the streets for a long while where it was a situation of survival of the fittest. Life to me is mundane and empty. I am not suicidal but oftentimes I wish that I would exit the world sooner rather than later. I can’t really discuss all this with anyone as I am such a popular figure
I
to commit, they need to be properly evaluated. Being nasty to people who love you is one of the worst things that can happen because love is not easy to come by. If you continue this way, you may eventually end up with someone who doesn’t love you. The perception you have about ladies is all too common with single men these days but it is important you know that it is often times a wrong one. It’s true some women are after what they can get from a man but not all of them. To every rule, there’s always an exception. It is finding that exception that should be your major concern but first your mindset about women has got to change. This may be just what you need to break the vicious cycle you are in. You deserve to be in a loving relationship but that won’t happen unless you make up your mind to allow it happen. Resolve to allow a good woman to have access to your heart, I bet it you would end up wondering what took you so long. Best of luck with it.
Dear confused, think I do not need to mince words with you….. You are in a possessive relationship! This type of relationship makes people feel exactly the way you do right now, it is an unhealthy one. The pathetic thing with your case is that you put yourself in this situation. You are dependent on this man for almost everything still you went ahead to kiss another man though you said you never cheated on him. Do you think cheating is only when you have sexual intercourse with another partner? That the man checks your possession is probably because you gave him grounds to doubt you or because of where he is coming from... this is by the way. Now to even worsen things, he is a married man. What are you doing dating a man that belongs to another woman? This same man is not giving you the fulfillment you need cause like you wrote, you
I
are always at each other’s throat…. What were you expecting from a man that cheats on his wife with you? Before you started dating the man, were you not aware he is married? I wonder how you can complain of being lonely whenever he is with his wife because you must have known what you were getting into. I am happy that you sometimes think of ending the relationship, which means you know what is good for you. However, you decided to choose sex over making the right decision… why on earth would you do that? Is sex all that matters to you? For how long do you want to hold on to a man (married for that matter) simply because you have a ‘wonderful sexual relationship’ with him? Yes it is necessary to consider sexual compatibility in a relationship but it shouldn’t be the major reason why you stay in it. Do you mean you want to remain his mistress forever as long as the sex remains good? What if in the nearest future something happens and the sexual relationship becomes sour? The problem I see here is that your self-esteem is low. If not you wouldn’t allow sex tie you down to an impossible relationship. You need to love yourself… you deserve better than this. You deserve to meet someone worthy of having you as a wife. Wouldn’t you like settling down with a great man and be called ‘Mrs. Somebody?’ Forget about sex, it is not all that matters in a relationship. Make up your mind to let go of this man so as to start all over. Leave that house he’s paying for because it automatically makes you his mistress. You would be surprised how easily things will work out fine for you. Lastly, pray to God for forgiveness and redemption so that you would experience a divine grace that qualifies you for a better future. Wish you all the strength you need.
Things are not what they seem and I am afraid of my story going public. To the world, I am extremely fortunate and I have everything but it’s not true.
Dear successful man, quite connect with you because I understand where you are coming from. You’re not able to love because of your background; I am glad you were willing to share all of it. However, you need to learn how to love. You grew up without knowing love in the real sense. This is what has affected you this way; it’s that childhood love you never had that is lacking in you. The good news is that there is still hope for you but you have to take some important steps. Firstly, you need to forgive your parents for abandoning you. It is their loss because they would have been enjoying having a self-made millionaire like you as a child. You cannot out rightly blame them also because you do not know the circum-
I
stances they were in. It may have been so bad the only option they felt they had was to abandon you. Forgive them so that you can have peace with your past. Secondly, you have to stop transferring your aggressions to everyone around you. They are not responsible for what you went through as a child. You have to stop being bitter and impatient towards everyone. Not having your parents instill the right values in you is not reason enough for you to be unable to commit. There are many people with your background that got married to the love of their life and are with a great family today. It is only you that can decide how you want your life to be. Your parents were wrong to have left you to your fate; you therefore should not allow their absence stop you from making meaning out of your life. At forty-something, you should be happily married with children of your own – children you would shower with all the love you
never had as a child. This cannot happen if you don’t let go of your past and embrace your future. You are comfortable right now but you need a woman that would make you even more comfortable and responsible in your life. Don’t deny yourself of that. You deserve to be happy right now cause you were not happy as a child. Worthy of note is that your past did not stop you from becoming a wealthy man; this is because you ensured you survived against all odds. It is this same spirit I want you to utilize in your pursuit of lifelong happiness. You can only get this if you open up your heart to love. About wishing you would exit the world sooner rather than later, this is because you do not have people you live for. If you can do the things I have highlighted here for you (coupled with prayers), you would realize your life has just begun. All the best!
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Angle
Male
Jide animashaun 08034710902 jidemashaun@yahoo.com
Should you admire others
H
Be careful
mmm…this seems a dicey question to answer for any man especially when you juxtapose it to the fact that men naturally love admiring beautiful things and a well attired woman or a beautiful one whether we are with our partner or not is a sure sight for making our day extra beautiful because she’ll be adding more colours to it. Which man doesn’t like seeing beautiful sights to admire and which woman doesn’t like a man admiring her even if it’s from afar. It’s just the law of opposites attracting. Even our partner secretly would not mind being admired by other people whenever she’s looking good. It’s not being vain for them; it’s just something to make her feel good. I am one of those who find pleasure in admiring the opposite sex like most other men if the truth be told, though a lot of people pretend not to be doing so because they want to remain “proper” in the eyes of their partner and the larger society. It does give me a sense of doing the right thing by marrying my partner especially as I believe I’m yet to meet another woman who can give me the sexual high that she does when she smiles at me from across a room full of other women even as these women may not be bad or ugly themselves. The smile or glance my way with a little acknowledgement by her definitely most times will boost my self-confidence when I think of how sexually and intellectually desirable she is. Without being economical with the truth here I’ll say being in a steady relationship doesn’t stop men from admiring other women. It doesn’t always mean that we are interested in taking the woman being admired to bed if we’re given the opportunity. I’m not a saint and I don’t pretend to be one but I’ve sometimes had to decline open sexual invitations from women I’ve admired and told that they are beautiful. A lot of my female friends that I’ve discussed this topic with have asked me why “the pang of guilt” doesn’t come calling when I admire other women while with my partner but I’m always quick to point it out to them that noth-
ing is wrong with admiring anyone or anything as far as the admiration is harmless and won’t go beyond a glance or an honest comment on why a particular person is being admired by me without any deeper meaning in mind. I try as much as possible to let my partner understand that. It is not cheating or disrespectful because the admiration is open and done with sincerity so that it doesn’t affect my partner in a negative way. But I have also come to realise that the dangers of admiring the opposite sex when you are with your partner can be very enormous if care is not taken. Let’s call a spade a spade, in most cases there’s nothing cute about it because if truly you always feel the need to always check out every female in the room or anywhere else while with your partner, then you may want to deal with issues bothering on your own self esteem too. In truth it took some growing up on my part to realise that constantly admiring the opposite sex while one is with one’s partner can indeed also throw up issues that may affect your relationship adversely unless your partner is not only extremely mature but your relationship has also gotten to that “comfort” level where both of you are secured in your love and constant reassurances of love even while desirable, may not be need every time again to show each other the depth of your love again. Finally, for a lot of women really, it is deemed to be a disrespectful act and it does affect their self-esteem when we as men do that. We may see it as being “playful” but in the end we sometimes if not most times end up giving the wrong impression to the woman we have a relationship with. Our partner will go away even after we may have apologised for the act thinking “if only the environment was right, my partner would definitely have scored that one”. I’m sure that most times when we admire other women that is not an impression we’ll be happy to let our partner have about us. Therefore one has to be very careful if we have to openly admire members of the opposite sex while with our partner.
SEX TALK
This column is x-rated
35 funniest sex facts ever
Let’s continue talking about sex - the good, the bad, the plain ugly and the downright funny... 1. British spies stopped using semen as invisible ink because it began to smell if it wasn’t fresh. 2. A single sperm contains 37.5 MB of DNA information. One ejaculation represents a data transfer of 15,875 GB, equivalent to the combined capacity of 62 MacBook Pro laptops. 3. Male fruit flies rejected by females drink significantly more alcohol than those that have had a successful encounter. 4. Seven Viagra tablets are sold every second. 5. The German for “contraceptive” is Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel. By the time you’ve finished saying it, it’s too late. 6. The American Psychiatric Association listed homosexuality as a mental illness until 1973. 7. The best-selling work of fiction of the 15th century was “The Tale of the Two Lovers,” an erotic novel by the man who later became Pope Pius II. 8. A single human male produces enough sperm in two weeks to impregnate every fertile woman on the planet. 9. In 2008, archaeologists in Cyprus found a 7th-century curse inscribed on a lead tablet that said, “May your penis hurt when you make love.” Nobody knows who made the curse, or why. 10. The founder of match.com, Gary Kremen, lost his girlfriend to a man she met on match.com. 11. Gymnophoria is the sense that someone is mentally undressing you. 12. A female chimpanzee in a fit of passion has the strength of six men. 13. At the 2012 London Olympics, which lasted for 17 days, the athletes were provided with 150,000
free condoms- approximately 15 each. 14. The “G-spot” was nearly called the Whipple Tickle- after Professor Beverley Whipple, who coined the expression that we know today. 15. Many people wrongly believe that orgasm and ejaculation occur at the same time. Not always. In fact, some men don’t ejaculate until several seconds after orgasm. And some men who are physically unable to ejaculate might find that they are still able to have orgasms. 16. For most men, orgasm is inevitable after a certain amount of stimulation occurs. According to sex researchers, Masters and Johnson, 75 percent of men reach orgasm after two minutes or less of masturbation. 17. Following on the heels of the Masters and Johnson research, a study from the University of Chicago found that 75 percent of men reach orgasm consistently in their sex lives, while just 50 percent of women could say the same. 18. Although men might be more likely to reach orgasm during intercourse, their orgasms tend to be shorter than women’s. 19. The world record for the longest time spent masturbating to orgasm is 6 hours 30 minutes for a woman, and 8 hours 30 minutes for a man. 20. Some women faint when they come and, in very rare cases, have had heart failure and died - which might explain why the French refer to orgasm as ‘le petit mort’ (the little death). 21. When men orgasm, their brains release chemicals (including prolactin) that can bring on tiredness. So it really isn’t his fault when he rolls
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Female
Angle
JACQUI IWU 08165049669 email: amiicaregroup@aol.com
s when with your partner? P
This column is x-rated over and starts snoring. 22. Hate the wet patch? Be glad you’re not a lady whale. Male whales generate the highest volume of semen in the animal kingdom - about 20 litres per ejaculation! 23. Some ancient Egyptians believed that the god Atum created the world by masturbating - and that the Tigris river was also formed by the semen of a god. 24. Is struggling for that first-class degree really worth it? A German study found that 62% of women who’d been to university said they sometimes had trouble reaching orgasm, while only 38% of those who hadn’t been to university experienced problems 25. Semen moves faster than any man can run. The average speed of ejaculation is 28 miles per hour, which is almost exactly Usain Bolt’s world-record maximum running pace of 27.79 mph. 26. Different religions recommend different times for people to engage in marital coitus (and, presumably, orgasm). For men, the following recommendations were made: Persian traditions: Once in 9 days, Hindu authorities: 3–6 times per month, The Koran: Once per week, The Talmud: Once per day to once per week (depending on occupation) Martin Luther, founder of Protestantism: Twice per week. 27. While orgasms usually result from genital stimulation, orgasm can occur from nongenital stimuli as well, including 1) thinking of an orgasm; 2) orgasms experienced during meditation; 3) orgasms produced by stimulating any part of the body, including mouth, lips, nipples, anus, shoulder, or toe; 4) orgasms during childbirth; 5) orgasms during defecation and “forceful urination; and (6) one woman reported having orgasms while brush-
This column is x-rated ing her teeth. 28. Seventy percent of ‘death during sex’ have occurred during extramarital intercourse. Though orgasms don’t seem to be directly linked to heart attacks, the physical exertion leading up to an orgasm could trigger heart stress—especially if the man is married but is with a non-spouse in an unfamiliar setting after consuming a big meal and alcohol. 29. While orgasms have been linked to pain relief, they can also cause headaches known as “orgasmic headaches.” Physicians note that these are similar to headaches after exercise and are caused by a temporary rise in blood pressure and muscle spasms of the neck and scalp. 30. San Francisco’s Centre for Sex & Culture organizes an annual masturbate-a-thon. The participants meet at the center and masturbate for charity. 31. The book The Fundamentals of Sex claims that it is possible for some women to experience orgasms up to 100 times in an hour. 32. A 175-pound man participating in vigorous sex for 30 minutes expends a mere 63 calories. If he had spent the same time jogging, he would have used 288 calories. 33. An orgasm burns just 2–3 calories, though a person can burn around 50 calories in the activity leading up to the orgasm. 34. For men, having an orgasm two or more times a week is a sign that he is more likely to live longer. 35. When former vice president of the U.S., Nelson A Rockefeller died of a heart attack during sex with a much younger woman in a hotel room, people began to wonder if orgasms caused heart attacks or “death in the saddle.”
No harm in lookery!
eople are meant to be seen and admired. Lots of people tend to take time in preparing their entire body image for different reasons. Some do so to be happy and please themselves...others do it so that they can appeal to those they will meet when they go out. If you are with your man or woman and someone who dressed to kill comes along or passes by, there is absolutely no harm in him/her looking and admiring. No matter how much you try to conceal your admiration, it does not make sense when you see something that appeals to you and you pretend about it. The issue here is that, most times when people do this, they over do it or at times go overboard and thereby hurting their partner’s feelings. You cannot take your girlfriend out to a party and when you get there, you see a girl you like and lo, you now abandon your girlfriend and stuck to the girl you have crush on at the party. This is damn insane of you!! In this case, you have done your admiration wrongly. Even if you have no long term plans with your girlfriend and secretly looking for a new woman and the lady you just met at the party attracts you, you do not have to be stupid. It is allowed to mingle when you go to parties so what you can do is probably, go over to the new girl and greet/meet briefly. If you are smart and the girl is one of those ladies who go to parties to search for new catch, you could exchange phone numbers and you quickly go back to attend to your girl friend. You do not take your girlfriend to a party and you keep talking and dancing with someone you admire at the party neglecting your girlfriend. If i were the girl i will pour red wine on your face in front of everybody and walk out on you right there for all to see what a jerk you are. Also, as a lady you do not accompany your man to a party and because you are so pretty and every man’s dream becomes stupid and agrees to dance with every man that ask you for a dance. Listen, men do this all the time...they
will dare your man and still come to ask you for a dance but it is left for you to agree or not. Your man might be quiet and watching how you will react to this so, if you are reasonable, you should never go out with your man and all you do is flirt with every man that tells you how beautiful you are. This is damn annoying and if i were the man, i will leave you there and go home alone. Talking about men telling you how beautiful you look....do not fool your self with this cheap talk ladies. When a man wants a woman by all means one of the frequent idle talk is to sing how pretty and beautiful you are even when you yourself know you do not meet up. So do not be carried away with this nonesense from men. Infact most men size up their women to know how respectful they are when they go out together. They watch and observe how you carry yourself and mingle with the opposite sex. Definitely there will be men who appeal to you when you go out with your man but looking at them does not harm. If your man gets angry because you look at men, then he is so insecure and this is a red flag that he is trouble. There is absolutely nothing wrong in a woman seeing a handsome man and admiring him when in company of her partner. The admiration becomes wrong if she starts misbehaving with the man she is admiring in the presence of her man. Anyone who looks good can get complemented and admired by anyone so if as a man or woman you cannot deal with this when with your partner, get a good grip on yourself and grow up. If you are a man with your wife/woman in a car and she slaps you for looking at another woman while driving, stop the car and politely ask her to get out of the car. Next time she will behave. It is absurd to start a fight with your partner for simply admiring someone else. Good looking and decent people are meant to be admired...so get used to it and be appreciative of God’s hand work. If you allow such issue to destroy your marriage or relationship, it means you are a flake!!
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
divorce court
‘My wife has gone mad’
• The trouble is too much, my wife and her people know they have committed an atrocity. As I speak with you right now, my wife is wandering, stark naked, on the streets. You can send any court official to come with me and see it practically. The embarrassment is beyond me, I need an urgent divorce that will detach me from her —Husband
A
business man, Mr Chibuzo Ogaeze has pleaded with an Ojo Customary Court in Lagos State to urgently dissolve his marriage to his wife, Chika, because she had gone mad. Chibuzo told the court that his 26 -year-old wife ran mad following her alleged involvement in extra-marital relationship which was a taboo in his culture. “The trouble is too much, my wife and her people know they have committed an atrocity. As I speak with you right now, my wife is wandering, stark naked, on the streets. “You can send any court official to come with me and see it practically, the embarrassment
‘My husband is a pathological liar’
• ·
It was ten years after our marriage that I knew the woman he called his cousin and her children were his wife and children. My husband lied that he was going to Abuja for a training programme. I was surprised when I was told that he now lives in Mushin in a police woman’s house —Wife Since I am the busy type, anytime I left the house, my wife always suspected me —Husband
Stories by Mudashiru Oyeniran
M
y husband is a pathological liar, it was ten years after our marriage that I knew the woman he called his cousin and her children were his wife and children. My husband lied
that he was going to Abuja for a training programme. I was surprised when I was told that he now lives in Mushin in a police woman’s house,” embattled housewife, Rashidat Adeniyi, told an Orile-Agege customary court. The husband, Toyin Adeniyi, 50, denied the allegations. Toyin, an engineer, said, “Because I am a handsome man, ladies fall for
me, so it can be one of the strategies to cause quarrels between us that she heard those lies. “I left the house because I owed a year rent and I told my wife that I would come for her and the children when I am back on my feet,” he said. Rashidat pleaded with the court to dissolve her 19-year-old marriage over two years deser-
‘My wife is an incurable flirt’
• She sleeps around to make money. She has no shame or respect for her marital status at all.I have been forced to send her out of our matrimonial home and the children are still with me as we speak —Husband
A
middle-aged man, seeking a divorce from his wife of four years, Ariyo Sule, told a Grade “C” Customary Court, sitting in Iseyin, Oyo State that his wife, Mope, is an incurable flirt who slept around with many men for money and other forms of gratification. Sule who prayed the court to dissolve the marriage that has produced two children, added that his wife began cheating on
him shortly after he lost his job and was incapable of providing for the family. “She sleeps around to make money. She has no shame or respect for her marital status at all. I have been forced to send her out of our matrimonial home and the children are still with me as we speak. I will ensure that I take good care of them. I want to appeal to this court to do justice by pronouncing us
divorced legally,” Sule appealed to the court. Ruling on the prayer of the appellant, the President of the court, Raimi Oyegbenle, said that the defendant who had refused to appear in court, had written to the court to consent to the dissolution of the marriage, stating all efforts to reconcile the couple by their families had proved abortive and therefore the court had no choice but to annul the marriage.
tion by her husband. The 33-year-old computer analyst, who lives at 33, Alaramimo Street, Orile-Agege, told the court that her husband left the house two years ago for a police woman’s house. She told the court that it was after ten years of marriage that she knew that her husband had a wife and children before she married him. The mother of three asked the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her the custody of the children. Meanwhile, the husband said he still loved his wife, and not in support of the dissolution. “Since I am the busy type, anytime I left the house, my wife always suspected me. I haven’t told anyone that I am a widower,” he stated. Toyin explained that the police woman the wife was referring to was just a friend. The court President, Mr Joseph Adewusi, told the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case to for judgment
is beyond me, I need an urgent divorce that will detach me from her,” he said. The business man said that the four-month-old baby in the possession of Chika was in doubt. ‘’She left my house in August 2014 without pregnancy, so she cannot deceive me. I have returned her things she left in my house through this court. I don’t want her to come to my house for any reason.” He further told the court that his wife always went mad after child delivery, adding that this development usually prompt him to take her to the psychiatric hospital while delivering. “The problem is spiritual because of her atrocities; I have taken possession of the other three children. In fact, the baby with her should be taken away before she harms her,” he said. He said that though the marriage had produced four children, he could no longer bear the union because it was getting embarrassing and unbearable. “I am ready for the refund of the bride price of N10,000 I paid,” he said. However, the wife, who currently lives with her parents at 7, Simeon Chinoye Street, Ojo, Lagos, earlier told the court that the allegation by the husband was false. “My husband is only looking for excuse for his actions. Since we met in 2008, he has been maltreating me because he is older than me by far. “The problem started when he brought his family members to stay with us. His family members have earlier objected to my getting married to their brother,” she said. ‘’He abandoned me during my last pregnancy, but since he says he is no longer interested, so be it. I don’t want to lose my life. She, however, appealed to the court to impress on her husband to allow her access to her children, provide the agreed monthly allowance of N5,000 and desist from embarrassing her in public. The Acting President of the court, Chief Joseph Ogunmola, directed the court clerk to go with the petitioner to investigate the claims of Chika before the next hearing. He added that the dispute over who owned the last baby should be looked into. He adjourned the case to for further hearing
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
‘Facebook ends 11-year marriage’ A
n Ado Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved an eleven-year-old marriage as result of Facebook adultery. In his judgment, Joseph Ogunsemi held that it was clear from the available evidence before the jury that both parties are living apart; the union has broken down irretrievably. Businessman, Muyiwa Owolabi (42) and his wife, Tinuola (40) had been undergoing a turbulent period when the wife allegedly became addicted to her serial boyfriends on Facebook. Muyiwa filed a petition before the court accusing Tinuola of serial adultery and sexual escapades through the social media. Tendering evidences to substantiate his claim, Muyiwa also accused her of lack of care for their two children, Folajimi (11) and Timilehin (7). Muyiwa accused the respondent of using social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to connect with different men with whom she eloped. He tendered computer generated evidences of her conversation with lovers urging the court to dissolve the union. A Nokia C3 phone with which the respondent was alleged to be communicating with her lovers was also tendered alongside printouts of pictures and text messages exchanged with the men in
question. But Tinuola, who denied any amorous relationship with the men she was alleged to be going out with, told the court that Muyiwa was in the habit of beating, and starving her, alleging that he seized her phone on “mere suspicion.” She also told the court that the petitioner was not in good terms with her family urging the court to dissolve the union. The court held that the issue of adultery was overwhelming given the evidence tendered by the petitioner. On the issue of custody of the children, the court granted Muyiwa custody holding that from evidence adduced by the petitioner, he was adjudged to be in a better position to take care of the two children. Citing Section 21 (1) of the customary law of Ekiti State, Ogunsemi said the court is duty-bound to examine evidence of who would take care of the children better among the two parties most especially if the child (ren) in contention is/are yet to reach the age of eighteen. The court also ruled that the respondent (Tinuola) cannot be denied access to the children as they will be free to spend part of their holidays with her while the petitioner must be put on notice. In concluding the judgment, Ogunsemi held that any of the parties dissatisfied with the court verdict is free to file an appeal within 30 days of delivery of the judgment.
divorce court
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‘I caught my wife with her lover’ • She was not expecting me to come home at that time, else she would not have invited her lover —Husband
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n Orile-Agege Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved a 20-year-old marriage of a pastor who had accused his wife of adultery, stealing and threatening his life. Pastor Olufemi Adewumi, 44, who lives at 12, Ajiboye Close, Ile-Iwe, Agbado Oke-Odo, Agege had came to the court seeking the dissolution of his marriage to Fatimo, his wife. Ruling in the case, the Court President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, said that the marriage had broken down irreparably. “Since the inception of the hearing, the woman failed to appear before the court; a court
summon was served to her, but she failed to come. “The court cannot continue to wait for the woman that failed to honour the court. “So, the marriage is dissolved today. You have ceased to be husband and wife, you shall go your separate ways unmolested,” he said. Omilola granted custody of their two children, aged 12 and 15 years, to the man. “Take care of the children and ensure you see to their well being,” he said. The pastor had told the court that his wife was adulterous and kept bad company.
“I caught my wife and one of her lovers in her house sometime in 2013. She was not expecting me to come home at that time, else she would not have invited her lover,” he said. The petitioner had also told the court that his wife kept bad company and he tried in vain to keep her away from her bad friends. He said that money also got missing in their room on some occasions and described his wife as a fetish woman who threatened his life. “I want the dissolution of the marriage and custody of my children,” he had said
‘We fight everyday’ ‘My brother caught my husband defiling our daughter’ A • I am no more interested in the marriage —Wife n Ikorodu Customary Court sitting in Lagos, has dissolved the marriage between Adekoya Opeolu and his wife, Bukola, barely two years after they tied the knots. The annulment of the marriage was reached by the Court president, Olu Adebiyi, who also ordered that the wife must refund the N1.4 million Opeolu, a 32-year-old driver, spent on the wedding. Opeolu who resides at Ewu Elepe Road in Ikorodu, was the one that dragged his wife to the court, said he was fed up with the marriage and could no longer cope with his wife’s constant fighting and arrogance, especially towards his family members. Bukola who did not object to the divorce request by her
husband, also told the court that she was fed up of the marriage as well because they were always fighting. “I am also fed up, we fight every day since the beginning of the marriage, I am no more interested in the marriage,” Bukola said. She however begged the court to compel her husband to take full responsibility of the five month old child the shortlived union produced. Ruling on the divorce, Adebiyi said: “The court hereby, officially, dissolves the marriage. The custody of the five-month-old baby boy from the marriage is hereby awarded to Bukola. The petitioner is to pay N5, 000 monthly to the respondent for the feeding of the only child of the union.”
• The case in question was instituted to tarnish my image —Husband
A
demola Odunade, the President of Mapo Customary Court, in Ibadan has dissolved the marriage between Nike and Segun Akingbade on account of incest between the man and his daughter. Odunade said that in the interest of peaceful co-existence, the union between Nike and Akingbade had been terminated. “Akingbade shall, therefore, pay a monthly feeding allowance of N10,000 for the upkeep of the four children in addition to being responsible for their education and other welfare,” Odunade said. Nike told the court that
Akingbade was having carnal knowledge of their daughter, who was also their first child. “My brother,Taiwo Adewale, caught Akingbade red handed when he was having sex with the daughter in question. “He had on a number of occasions proven his irresponsibility on this and many more matters,” Nike said. Akingbade denied the allegation that he was involved in incest with his daughter and accused the court of bias. The defendant had urged the court to discontinue the trial because he had no trust that he would get fair hearing from the court. In a letter to the court, Aking-
bade said the arbitrator was threatening him with seven years imprisonment without investigating the authenticity of the allegation. “During trial, the court didn’t allow me to express myself well and the case in question was instituted to tarnish my image. “I have started moves at the High Court of Oyo State to seek redress. “I want to advise this court to put all trials in respect of this matter on hold pending proper investigation. “I also urge the court to compel the plaintiff and her brother to stop spreading unsubstantiated rumour,” Akingbade said
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What if you go mad?(II)
od forbid! It is you that will go mad! It is not my portion! I can see you are already ‘mad’ at me This exactly is our attitude to people in our midst who have the misfortune of suffering one form of mental derangement or the other. Much unlike the way we regard other chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, we tend to see people with one form of mental disorder or the other as being possessed by the devil. We therefore ostracize them, we hide them, we don’t want to be associated with them and are even too ashamed to take them to where they will get proper medical care. To us, this set of people are either suffering from an evil arrow shot at them by an unforgiving enemy or a repercussion of an evil deed of theirs previously. Interestingly, some people believe just a thin line divides sanity and insanity and that every day a good number of us move perilously closer to the ‘other ‘ side than we may want to think. In Nigeria for example, some studies have suggested that more than 60million members of the population have one form of mental illness or the other that require attention.
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CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
Treatment: This is where we get it wrong most times. When the symptoms of mental breakdown surface, our natural reaction is denial. We try to cover up in a bid to protect the family name. We also view visiting a psychiatric hospital a taboo. Rather, we take the victims to native doctors, spiritualist or churches, where they are restrained, flogged or even abandoned. At the end, these poor individuals do not get the required care on time and their chances of making an appreciable recovery dwindle significantly. Though a chronic disease, a number of people with mental disorders treated at standard facilities have recovered enough to live a normal life subsequently. In Nigeria at the moment, it is believed that the mental health sector is seriously underserved, with fewer personnel, fewer facilities and fewer materials than sufficient for the population. Government obviously needs to do more.
Still, the available psychiatric hospitals record a high degree of success for those who present to them early. The treatment modalities include Drug treatment: medications such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics may be considered as treatment in mental disorders. These may be administered on outpatient basis or in severe cases while the patient is on admission. These drugs may not cure but will improve the symptoms significantly. Psychotherapy: a form of talk therapy, psychotherapy emphasizes talking about the conditions and life situations that must have led the patients to that point in time. Such sessions could be between the psychotherapist and the individual, with a group of individuals or even with family members who are expected to give social support to the victim. It helps the patient to learn about the precipitating factors and the coping mechanism for the condition.
Brain stimulation: a good example is electroconvulsive therapy, which involves application of electric shocks to the brain to stimulate it, especially in people unresponsive to other forms of treatment Rehabilitation: is a popular form of treatment for alcoholics and drug addicts. Its aim is to assist affected individuals in stopping these dangerous habits with minimal side effects to them. All modes of treatments combined or separately require patience and time to have lasting effects. Prevention: To prevent mental illness, steps should be taken to control stress. Efforts should also be made by people with family history or previous mental illness to avoid trigger factors. In addition, Pay attention to warning signs Seek help early Make routine medical checks a habit Avoid all drugs of addiction Pay attention to yourself by sleep-
ing well, and eating well Keep healthy and friendly relationship Conclusion: So we wouldn’t go mad. Thank God! As we would henceforth guard our sanity jealously and prevent the vagaries of life from snatching it away from our hands. Most importantly we would from now lend a helping hand to the mentally ill among us and ensure they regain not just their senses but their lives also. Tips Take any family member with symptoms of mental disorder to the hospital immediately Seek help early if you notice such symptoms or you have life challenges that may trigger them. Avoid recreational drugs and keep your children away from them. Report cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities. You can chat with a doctor FREE at www.prettyhealthcare.com.ng. every Wednesdays and Fridays(4-8pm)
Sport
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Senegal agog as U-23 Nations Cup begins
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U-23 national team training ahead of the championship in Senegal
Ifeanyi Eduzor
F
ootball fans across the continent will from today be treated to another round of good football artistry when the U-23 African Cup of Nations kicks off today in Senegal. Originally known as CAF U-23 Championship, it was later changed to U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, similar to the senior version, Africa Cup of Nations. This will be the second edition of the quadrennial international age-restricted football championship organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the men’s under-23 national teams of Africa. The tournament will be held in Senegal between 28 November and 12 December 2015 with a total of eight teams namely; Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Mali, Zambia, South Africa and Tunisia participating. The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2016 Summer
Olympics men’s football tournament in Brazil. Originally scheduled to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo between December 5–19 2015. However, CAF changed the host nation and requested Senegal to host the tournament instead and the tournament dates were also changed later. The eight teams have been divided into two groups with Group A to be based in Dakar, the Senegalese capital while Group B will be based in M’Bour. Senegal as the host nation will play the opening match against South Africa in the 60,000 capacity Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor before meeting Zambia and Tunisia who are in the same group with them. Nigeria are in Group B comprising Egypt, Algeria and Mali will begin their campaign on Sunday with a match against fellow West Africans Mali at the 5,000 capacity Stade Caroline Faye in M’Bour. They will also battle Egypt on December 2 in
the same venue and three days later play their final group B match against Algeria in Dakar. To ensure a successful campaign in the championship, Coach Samson Siasia invited a 21 man crack squad to ensure the team not only emerges victorious in the competition but also book a ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympics. Siasia whose team had their final camping in the Gambia ahead of the competition listed four foreign based players who will join their home based counterparts to prosecute the championship. Some of the players who made his final list are; Taiwo Awoniyi from German second division side FSV Frankfurt, Junior Ajayi of Tunisian club CS Sfaxien, Isaac success from La Liga side Granada as well as midfielder Azubuike Okechukwu, who is based in Turkey. Also in the list are Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmanuel Iwu, Sincere Seth, Seun Oduduwa, Zaharadeen Bello, Seun Olubayo, Chizoba Amae-
fule, Ebuka Iroha and Ndifreke Effiong amongst others. It is expected that Nigeria which missed the last Olympics will make up for that qualification for the event which the country won in 1996 when Kanu Nwankwo inspired side led the team to beat Brazilin the semifinals and the Argentina in the final. Although many football fans has described Group as the group of death, but considering Coach Siasia’s pedigree at the U-23 level , it is expected that he will lead the team not only to good finishing in the group but a glorious outing in Senegal. Already, Coach Siaisia has promised Nigerians that his team will not disappoint in Senegal
and expressed hope that they are capable of picking one of the Olympics slots at the end of hostilities. Speaking shortly after his team departed Gambia for Senegal, Siasia noted that he has selected the best team to represent the country in the championship, saying; that all the players are eager to make Nigerians proud and avoid a repeat performance of London 2012 Olympics in which the country failed to qualify. Siaisia while acknowledging that his team is in a difficult group, posited that they only respect their opponents and will approach each match with a different strategy to ensure they keep the country’s flag flying in Dakar.
Group A
Group B
Senegal
Egypt
South Africa
Algeria
Zambia
Mali
Tunisia
Nigeria
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MIRROR SPORT
Orlean Invest Limited, setting the pace in football development
T
he “beautiful game” as it is called continues to attract the young and old to its stadia or football arenas on weekly bases; supporting and encouraging social cohesion and competiveness world over. According to Forbes the 20 most valuable soccer teams in the world are worth an average of $1.16 billion, and are constantly in need of talented young players to sustain these teams at the top with the prospect of earning millions of dollars for themselves. Beyond offering employment opportunities to thousands of Nigerians, Orlean Invest realizes the opportunities inherent in the vast human resource abundant in Nigeria especially in the youths and made the decision to harness and nature them for the opportunities in the world of football hence the birth of “The Football College Ltd, Abuja”. The purpose of the Academy is to create a new reality to promote and develop opportunities for young people who often have to face difficult situations. As one of their numerous corporate social responsibility functions, apart from supporting the renovation of hospitals, roads, schools etc, the company founded Football College under the tutelage of its chairman, Gabriele Volpi, to empower youths in the country. The football academy which was duly registered in Nigeria on the 28th of March, 2012, has Captain Damir Miskovic a director of the company as its chairman and Alhaji Hussaini Garba as Director. The college was established under the sound and robust management skills of a highly experienced administrator in the person of Kumbi Titiloye and technically operated by a team of skilled expatriate and local coaches such as Croatian Bozidar Matijevic , Boris Pucici who is currently seconded to Mozambican national team, Renato Pilipovic and Italian Gobbo Renzo as well as Nigerian Ahmed Lawal Dankoli who are all qualified Uefa Pro-License coaches with and advanced diploma and Bachelor degrees in coaching respectively.. The establishment of the Football College Abuja is in no doubt an initiative targeted at ensuring that youths combine football with education, especially those from financially challenged
backgrounds which will provide opportunity for them to realize their educational and football dreams in life. The academy has its corporate office located at the Maitama District Abuja where all administrative works are carried out and the players camped at the Serene Sunny-vale homes, equipped with locker rooms, study center, canteen and other indoor facilities all managed by a Camp Commandant and other academic staff who also reside with the players. The youths train at the very well-kept training pitches at Abuja National stadium with world class training kits and multi-seater transport buses to ease mobility, among other numerous state of the art facilities. Everything about the Football College from the management, staff, and amenities to the pedigree of coaches signifies quality. Mr. Volpi is proud to say that “All modern Ideas to develop football young stars begin with FCA”. Witnessed by remarkable growth overtime, FCA operates an open door policy in their players recruitment, screening exercise and trials which attracts at least ten players per day with an average of three thousand participants per annum. The exercise is managed by skilled expatriate and local coaches taking potential enrollees through trial assessments ranging from fitness and endurance test, strength, skills and creativity with the ball, passion for the game, speed, team work, good and timely decision making among others, which gives them an edge to predict the potentials of players who could absorb knowledge to develop their skills to become future professionals. The staff of the academy work as a team aimed at success. The academy now has more than 50 young players in camp apart from those that have graduated to the national U-17 team, U-23 team and national league teams and European teams. Having focused on developing the skills of young football talents combined with the pursuit of their educational qualifications, the remarkable success of the Football College Abuja suggests that Nigeria may have discovered the secret of elite player development. It is worthy to mention that more than 10 players of the academy have played for the Nigerian national teams among them are
Members of Abuja Football Academy in group photograph.
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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TGTC: Oladapo, Otunla win, pick Las Vegas ticket
Gen IBM Haruna (m) presenting trophy to Banjo Obaleye and Jimmy Ahmed at the TGTC in Abuja over the weekend.
T
his year’s edition of Transatlantic Golf Team Challenge came to a thrilling end at the IBB International Golf and Country club in Abuja over the weekend with the team of Oladapo Olaide and Dapo Otunla emerging the winner. To come top in the keenly contested 36-holes competition, the pair of Otunla and Oladapo grossed a total of 121-stableford points to beat nineteen other pairs who took part in the competition. Excited by the outcome, the winning team promised to give Nigeria a worthy representation in Las Vegas, United State of
America next year where the world final of the competition has been scheduled to hold. Though the outcome of the two-day competition turned in favour of Otunla and Oladapo, the pair of Mirabel Edozie and Amaechi Chigbo, also gave a good account of themselves, grossing a total of 121-stableford points but lost on count back to the winning. The team of Oludare Bello and Dipo Sanya also reenacted the exploit of the famed Citec golf teams but their effort this time around was not enough as they returned an opening 54 and a closing 65 to come in the third position, while Team Infinity Homes of Banjo Obaleye and Jimmy Ahmed came fourth.
The pairs of Esosa Ojomo and the former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola completed the top five teams in the competition. Other notable golfers who took part in the competition are Okey Igwe, the Vice Captain and his pair, Kevin Allonso, Club captain, Hamid Abbo and his pair, Sanni Anka among others. Speaking at the events prize giving ceremony, Remi Olukoya, TGTC representative in Nigeria said the need to grow the game of Nigeria and laundering the nation’s image through golf outside the country necessitated putting the competition together. The event was sponsored by Lenovo and Delta Airline.
Ikoyi Ladies champion vows to build on victory
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he newly crowned champion of Ikoyi Ladies Open Golf Tournament, Chinyere Joy Frank, has vowed she would build on the victory to enhance her golf career. The Ikoyi Open was Frank’s ever top prize victory in a tournament since she started playing golf in 2009 and she said that it was a significant achievement in her golfing career. Frank, a member of Air Assault Golf Club, Port Harcourt playing off handicap 9 garnered 82 gross in Day 1 and 81 in Day 2 to dust teenage Diana Osmond 83 gross in Day 1 and 84 gross in Day2, while Rachael Danjuma scored 81 gross in Day 1 and 87 gross in Day 2 to place second and third in that order. Commenting she said, “This is the first time I’m coming tops in a tournament since I started playing golf in 2009. This victory only means that I have to sit up and not to relax so that it does not seem like it was a fluke.” The young Naval officer/
golfer however, appreciated the interesting challenge from other players while the tournament lasted adding that, “I birdied in holes 10, 11 and 12 to snatch the victory.” Also commenting on the tournament, the Ikoyi lady Captain, Edna Anukwuem, affirmed that, “The ladies Open is quite significant because it brings the lady golfers in Nigeria together,” just as she commended everyone that made the tournament a success.
She said that the committee would go back to the drawing board and ensure it improves on the grey areas as well as build on the successes recorded in the tournament. The Lady Captain concluding expressed her profound gratitude to the sponsors as the NNPC, GT Bank, Eterna Plc, AMNI International Petroleum, FREDAP, Wheatbaker Hotel Southern Sun, Lakeem Suites among others for their supports.
McIlroy: ‘Next 10-15 years is my time’
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ory McIlroy celebrated his Race to Dubai victory with his mother, father and girlfriend Erica Stoll. Anyone thinking this was a wasted year for Rory McIlroy should think again. After collecting his third Race to Dubai crown in four years, the Northern Irishman is taking stock of a 2015 season in which he won four times but failed to add to his quartet of major
titles. The setback of his July ankle injury, picked up playing football with mates, cost him the chance of defending his Open Championship at St Andrews and effectively ended his hopes of claiming a third PGA title in August. It ripped the heart out of his year and Jordan Spieth and Jason Day filled the vacuum left by the 26-year-old’s misfortune.
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
MIRROR SPORT
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
10,000 athletes for FEPSGA Games Ifeanyi Eduzor
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bout ten thousand athletes and officials will storm Owerri, the Imo State Capital for the 34th edition of Federation of Public Service Games to be hosted by the state. The Games which commenced with a two day PreGames seminar held yesterday and today at the International Conference Centre Owerri will be officially declared open by the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who has promised to be personally present for the flagging off of the Games while there will also be a road show to create awareness for the Games. President of the Federation, Dahiru Hassan told Saturday Mirror that all logistics has been put on ground to ensure the successful hosting of the event which is being organized
for the first time in the South Eastern part of the country just as he announced that a total of 14 scoring events will be competed for at this year’s championship. “We are happy that Imo State is the first South East State to host the championship and with what we have seen on ground, there is no doubt that we are going to have a successful tournament. “Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has assured us that he will be personally present to declare the championship open and with the type of support we have received so far from the state; we are going to have an exciting tournament. It would be recalled that at the last edition held last year in Akure, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps emerged the overall winner of the championship which brings together civil servants in both the Federal and State Civil service.
Wenger assures Iwobi of Arsenal role
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rsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has assured Nigerian striker, Alex Iwobi of a chance to prove his mettle at the London club. Iwobi joined Arsenal while still at primary school, and signed a new long-term contract in October 2015. He made his competitive debut for the club at senior level on October 27, 2015, starting in a 3–0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the round of 16 of the League Cup. He made his Premier League debut for the Gunners four days later, appearing as a substitute against Swansea City but has yet to play again ever since. Wenger gave a scathing assessment of Iwobi’s performance after the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in October noting that the Nigerian and the two other youngsters who started on the day for Arsenal; Glen Kamara and Ismael Bennacer were not yet “ready” to play for the first team.
Finals of Atiba U-13 tourney holds tomorrow defeated Net Breakers 1-0 in the first semi- final match to book a place in the finals while PM Sports recorded a 2-1 victory rrangements have been over Nice Babes in the second concluded for the finals semi- final match. of this year’s edition According to him, the finals of Atiba U-13 Cup competition which will have the Chairman slated for Sunday, November, of National Union of Road 29 at the Jalisco Sports Center, Transport Workers Union, Oshodi, Lagos. Organizer of the tournament, Oshodi Branch, Alhaji Sulaimon Bush as the special guest Prince Adewale Atiba of Atiba of honour will attract ex- interGlobal Concept, told Saturday Mirror that which kicked off on nationals such as Mike Dominic, Bremner Alada amongst the 5th of September will come others. to a close with the final match “We have put all logistics on between FC Success of Mushin ground to ensure a successful and P.M Sports FA of Akowonjo while the third place match will final. We are also expecting be between NET Breakers FC of some ex- internationals who Ikorodu and Nice Babes Oluwole will be on hand to encourage FC of Ebute- Metta respectively. the players excel in the round He explained that FC Success leather game”, he stated.
Ifeanyi Eduzor
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U-23 Nations Cup:
Imenger cautions Dream team against complacency A
Iwobi says Wenger’s stance has since changed revealing that the Frenchman wants him to stay on at the club following several reports linking him with a loan move away from the Emirates Stadium. “Arsene Wenger has spoken to me. He said he wants me in and around the first team as he doesn’t want me to go on loan. “I believe my future at Arsenal is bright and I just have to be patient and wait for my time,” Iwobi told supersport. com.
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Dream Team VI celebrate after scoring a goal in a match
Ifeanyi Eduzor
Iwobi
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s Africa U-23 Nations Cup kicks off today in Senegal, former Super Eagles player, Barnabas Imenger has charged the Coach Samson Siasia led side to avoid complacency to enable them pick a ticket for Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Dream Team VI will on Sunday at the 5,000 capacity Stade Caroline Faye in M’Bour meet Mali in their first Group B match of the competition. They will also battle Egypt on December 2 in the same venue and three days later play their
final group B match against Algeria in Dakar. Imienger told Saturday Mirror that while it is true that Siaisia invited the best U-23 players to prosecute the championship but there is the need for the team to take all their matches serious to enable them be among the best three teams that will pick ticket to the Olympics. “I’m happy with the caliber of players Siaisia is going to Senegal with but my advice is that the team must take all matches serious to enable them survive the Group stage; and once they are able to do that, the sky will be their limit”, he stated .
NTF denies athlete’s abuse
Imenger who is also the General Manager of Glo Premier League side, Lobi Stars, reminded the team to avoid those mistakes that made Nigeria lose out in the qualifiers of London 2012 Olympics and concentrate on how to foist the country’s flag in the football event of Rio 2016. “My advice is that the team must avoid those mistakes that made Nigeria miss the football event of London 2012 Olympics. They should neither be afraid of Egypt or Algeria but approach games against those two North African sides with all seriousness to enable them survive the group”, he concluded.
Ifeanyi Eduzor
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he present leadership of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation led by Grand Master George Ashiru said their Primary objective is to take Nigeria taekwondo to the next level by developing the sports beyond its present level in Nigeria and Africa. President of the Federation, George Ashiru who also doubles as vice president of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union, made this clarification while reacting to the accusation of abuse of some of their athletes during the camping exercise of the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. He told National Mirror that this clarification become necessary, so as to prove that the athletes are integral part of the Taekwondo family and are never at anytime relegated to the background which prompted the Federation to swing into action immediately a formal petition was received by the board. “My attention has been drawn to several media reports
Action recorded at a recent taekwondo championship bordering on athletes’ abuse issues during the All Africa Games camp. “I would like to state categorically state that, taekwondo family is one unified body and has progressed tremendously in the past few years. Our sport has grown in leaps and bounds by the positive actions of all members of the family at every level. “Like all organizations and groups, we also have a few misunderstanding; both serious and less than serious issues to deal with. All such issues have been
receiving the required attention by the appropriate organs of the NTF and then the Board itself which also includes allegations referenced in an atmosphere of fairness and due diligence to all concerned. Ashiru concluded by saying that the goal of the board is to ensure that they maintain the integrity of the sports and camaraderie of members in an atmosphere of peace, justice and equity even as he I would appealed for calm, patience, and understanding by the taekwondo family.
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NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Crime Watch
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NDLEA arrests six suspected drug traffickers Olusegun Koiki
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ix suspected drug traffickers have been apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with 13.410kg of substances that tested positive for narcotics by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba gave the names of the suspects as follows; Gabriel Chidimma Juliet, 25, caught with 2.900kg of cocaine in duty free bag; Anagbogu Churchill Okwudili, 48, ingested 47 wraps of cocaine weighing 940 grammes and Enenchi Jerome Oguejiefor, 36, concealed 5.500kg of cannabis inside fufu. Others are Ani Kennedy Tochukwu, 32, who packed 21 wraps of cocaine weighing 350 grammes inside jeans trousers; Eletamuzor Celestine Kenechukwu, 28, caught with a kilogramme of ephedrine inside hair attachment and Okpala Vitus Arinzechukwu, 35, caught with 2.720kg of cocaine. Apart from Eletamuzor Celestine Kenechukwu and Enenchi Jerome Oguejiefor that attempted to export ephedrine and cannabis to South Africa and Dubai others were apprehended smuggling drugs into the country. The suspects attributed their involvement to the financial rewards offered them and the agency has commenced investigation into the cases. The only female suspect, Gabriel Chi-
Roli George, Ag DG, NDLEA dimma Juliet who resides in Abuja reportedly told narcotic investigators during interrogation that she was given the drug by her boyfriend in the United Arab Emirates. “Since I left secondary school in 2010, I have been trading to sustain myself. I buy goods in Dubai and sell in Abuja. It is un-
fortunate this time around that cocaine was found in the bag my boyfriend gave to me in Dubai” Juliet who hails from Imo State stated. Anagbogu Churchill who is a freelance journalist said that he was frustrated into dealing in drugs.
Man jailed for duping, jilting lady
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42 -year- old man who dumped a 49 -year-old lover and secretly went and married another woman has landed in prison custody after he failed to refund the money the ex -lover allegedly gave him to set up his business in Lagos State, western Nigeria . He was charged before Isolo Mag-
istrate ’s court with obtaining under false pretence and remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri. According to police , Gerald Onuimo allegedly defrauded his jilted lover , Christiana Ojukwu, by obtaining N450 , 000 from her under false pretence. It was gathered that Onuimo met Ojukwu five years ago and he gave
her false hope of marrying her, which prompted her to give him the money to invest in his business. The incident happened at Fasehun Street in Ago Palace Way Okota , Lagos where they met and lived. When Onuimo ’s business eventually picked up , he secretly went and married another woman without Ojukwu’s
“The kidnappers called again, saying they want N32 million as ransom before freeing the old woman, but I told them that we cannot afford that amount and that we could only raise N600,000, which is the proceeds from the landed property”. “Though, they were still adamant, but they said they would look into it. So, we are hopeful and looking forward to our mother’s release.”
Siasia
Kidnappers of Samson Siasia’s mother reduce ransom amount
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hese kidnappers are a terrible set of individuals. The kidnappers of Samson Siasia’s mother have called the Siasia Family notifying the family of their reduction of the ransom amount from N150 million to N32 million. Ma Beauty Ogere Siasia, 72, was abducted nine days ago by armed men in Odoni Village. Siasia’s brother, Demie Siasia said the kidnappers called Wednesday ;
“I graduated from the London School of Journalism in 2005 and I am a freelance journalist. I have been in Brazil for about two years and my standard of living is very poor. My condition was such that I could not afford return ticket to visit my wife and children in Nigeria for about two years. It was frustration from my inability to discharge my responsibility as a father and a husband that led me into drug trafficking” he stated. Churchill hails from Anambra State. Enenchi Jerome who is a patent dealer also blamed his friend for his condition. “I was managing a patent medicine shop in Port Harcourt before I travelled to Dubai in search of greener pastures. After seven months of fruitless search for job I returned to Nigeria poorer than I left. This was the beginning of my problems. “In my desperate search for a way out, a friend of mine in Dubai requested that I should send cannabis to him and that he will give me money to help myself. This was what happened and I used fufu to cover the drug still it was detected and was caught in the process shipping it” he stated. Enenchi hails from Enugu State. Ani Kennedy Tochukwu said he wanted to raise some money from drug trafficking. “I am a factory worker in Brazil for about one and half year. My meagre earnings could barely sustain my daily needs until a friend introduced me to drug trafficking. This is my first time” the suspect who hails from Enugu stated.
knowledge and later informed her that he had got married. Jolted by his betrayal , Ojukwu asked Onuimo to refund the money she gave him to equip his shop in 2011 since he had breached their agreement. Onuimo reportedly refused to refund the money and told her that he had offered her his services worth more than the amount over the years. He also said there was no agreement between them that he would refund her money. Ojukwu went to the police at Ago Palace Way and reported the matter and Onuimo was arrested and charged to court where he pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko , granted him bail in the sum of N 100 , 000 with one surety in like sum. Onuimo was remanded in prison pending when he will perfect his bail. The matter was adjourned till 12 December , 2015. When our reporter contacted Onuimo on why he breached their agreement , he said Ojukwu was far older than him and too fat, as such his family did not want her.
Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com
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Crime Watch
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Policeman shoots corporal wife to death
Herbalist abducts, turns A minors to sex slaves
Akpan-Okon
Esther and Felicia
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wo stolen kids that were rescued by the Cross River State Police Command on Thursday said they were made s.ex slaves by a herbalist, Emmanuel Akpan-Okon, who held them hostage for four years. The kids, Esther Wisdom and Felicia Destiny, both aged 11, said in the four years that they were held hostage, the herbalist raped them almost every day. Akpan-Okon (42) was arrested by the police following a tip-off that he specialised in the preparation of charms for armed robbers. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fadairo, said the rescued kids were abducted from their parents separately from Onitsha, Anambra State, and Auchi, Edo State. He said: “On November 16, 2015, we
Petty thief caught, stripped and forced to walk stark naked on streets of Lagos
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ccording to the fellow who shared these photos on his timeline, the young man above was alleged to have stolen, but was caught by concerned citizens at Alapere area of Lagos today. He was thoroughly beaten and thereafter stripped naked and forced to walk stark naked on the streets with his loot.
raided one Emmanuel Akpan’s home in Akamkpa, in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, based on a tip-off. We gathered he was into the preparation of charms for armed robbers and treatment of criminals with bullet wounds. During the raid, we saw two little girls in his house. One is Esther Wisdom and the other, Felicia Destiny. They are both 11 years. On enquiry, we found out that they were abducted four years ago. Wisdom was stolen from Onitsha while Destiny was stolen from Auchi. We are making efforts to see how we can locate their parents. The victims claimed that he had been having regular s.ex with them.” Destiny said she was in primary four when she was
abducted, adding that the herbalist had raped her many times. She said: “I was in primary four when he took me away from my home. I remember that my mother lost her sister and when she was going for the burial, she told the man, who was a commercial motorcycle rider, to bring me to her village. That was how I found myself living with him. I used to tell him that I did not like s.ex, but he continued.” Also, Wisdom said: “He has been having s.ex with us regularly. He gives us food to eat and promises that one day he will take us back to our mothers.” Akpan-Okon, who is from Akwa Ibom State, said he abducted the girls because their mothers could not cater for them. He said:
“While staying in the same compound with Wisdom’s mother at Onitsha, I observed that she had problems bringing up her nine children. This girl, Wisdom, was always with me when I was staying in their compound. So, when I wanted to leave Onitsha, I took her with me without telling her mother. When I left Onitsha with her, I went to Auchi, and was riding a commercial motorcycle as a means of livelihood. Where I stayed in Auchi, Destiny was always coming to play with Esther. I also noticed that Destiny’s mother had many children. So, when I wanted to leave the town, I took her along. I had s.ex with them and I know it is bad in the sight of God. I have a girl child who is with the mother. I will not be happy if she is treated this way.”
Corporal attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Adeyinka Olokor, has shot his wife, Ajoke, dead. The killing took place in Dopemu area of Egbeda, Lagos State on Tuesday. According to those privy to the incident, Olokor mistakenly shot Ajoke on the thigh while she was sleeping. He was said to be removing his pistol from his uniform when it went off. Olokor, who has since been arrested, has three kids with his wife. Ajoke, who is from Ondo State, is attached to Elere Police Station in Lagos State. Until her death, she was a Corporal. The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed the development. Offor said: “It was an accidental discharge. “The officer returned from work and was trying to remove his service pistol from the holster. “He didn’t know it was corked. “In the process, it exploded and hit the woman in the lap. “She was rushed to hospital and confirmed dead.”
Olokor
Mother gets sentence over abandonment
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n Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 40-year- old mother to one month community service for abandoning her two little children at a railway crossing in Ilupeju. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, gave the order following the guilty plea of the mother and her appeal that the court should be lenient because one her children was sick. ``You are hereby sentenced to one month community service at the Children Center, Idi Araba, Lagos, where you must perform any duty assigned to you for two hours each day for the next one month.
``Under the child right law, it’s an offense to abandon your child to the government to care for them,’’ Osunsanmi said. She added that the convict should report at the Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation center after serving her sentence. ``You are to report to the WAPA office at Alausa, where you will be trained to be self-sufficient and how you are to appropriately care for all your children. They are your responsibility,’’ Osunsanmi said. The chief magistrate also ordered that the children be kept in the government children’s home. Earlier, at her arraignment
on Nov. 24, the prosecutor, Insp. Simon Imhonwa, told the court that the offence was committed on Aug. 10 at about 3:00pm. ``Adeeko abandoned her children aged 13 and 15, and absconded without any care. She exposed them to harm and exploitation. ``She could not reasonably explain the reason for her action,” Imhonwa said. The prosecutor said the case was reported at Alakara Police Station and subsequently to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development. He said the offence contravened Section 276 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011. (NAN)
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
MASSOB threatens to drag Buhari to ICC over directive to shoot protesters
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he Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has vowed to drag President Muhammed Buhari and the leadership of the Military to the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC), if any of their members is shot by Nigerian soldiers. The Nigerian Army had recently directed all its General Officers Commanding (GOCs) across the country to apply the rules of engagement on Biafra agitators, MASSOB and members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB). But in a statement by the MASSOB Deputy Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, the movement said the directive was only meant to intimidate its members in order to give up the struggle for freedom, even as it urged the President who is the Commander-In-Chief (C-in-C), and who approved the rules of engagement to study the United Nations Charter thoroughly to know the implication of his directive.
Mocha insisted that the clamour for an independent nation for the people of former Eastern Region is a legitimate demand, wondering why the Nigerian President would be pushing for independent Palestinian and Western Sahara from Morocco, but jittery over demand by Biafra agitators for a sovereign nation. He insisted that MASSOB and IPOB’s struggle was backed by UN and African Union Charter which stated that “September, 13 2007, the UN Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday and called for the recognition of the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination and control over their lands and resources.” Continuing Mocha said that the relevant Article one of the charter also stated that “Indigenous peoples have the right to the full and effective enjoyment of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms recognised in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal declarations of human rights and international human rights law.
Demons are occupying Enugu Govt House – Archbishop Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU
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he Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday disclosed that a powerful demon is dwelling at the Enugu State Government House. The Archbishop spoke in Agbani, at the burial ceremony of former First Lady of Enugu State, Nnenna Agnes Nnamani. The event was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, former deputy governors, Okey Itanyi, Sunday Onyebuchi, and many other politicians in the state. The immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime, was how-
ever, absent at the burial. Chukwuma, who cautioned Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi against moving to the Government House, said plans should be made to demolish the government house or “we chase the demon away.” Nnenna is the wife of former Enugu Governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani. Archbishop Chukwuma, who presided over the burial service attended by many other bishops and priests, said the demon was targeting the governors and their wives. He observed that Ugwuanyi and the wife loved each other so much and that once they moved into the Government House, the demon would destabilize them.
SOUTH EAST
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Trouble brews between IPOB and MASSOB Chris Njoku OWERRI
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rouble is now brewing between Chief Ralph Uwazuruike led Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following Chief Uwazuruike’s call on the Federal Government to ignore IPOB empty threats. It was learnt yesterday that IPOB leaders summoned their members to a meeting with other groups to examine the comment made by Chief Uwazuruike on Thursday. Addressing scores of loyalists and friends of MASSOB who stormed Owerri
for the third anniversary of the exit of Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Chief Uwazuruike stressed that if there is any group that should be feared in Nigeria, it is MASSOB. He said: “We are not operating from any foreign country. The so called Radio Biafra, London, was opened by MASSOB in London and Nnamdi Kanu appointed as the Director, after MASSOB had operated Voice of Biafra International in Washington DC for three years. “The purpose of Radio Biafra, London was to showcase the marginalisation of Ndigbo,” Uwazuruike added. According to him MASSOB knows the desires of Ndigbo, and how to achieve them, pointing out that
those who are threatening fire and brimstone today were once members of MASSOB before they were expelled due to their violent behaviours. However, it was learnt yesterday that following the statement credited to Chief Uwazuruike, the camp of IPOB and factional members of MASSOB, including other pro-Biafra groups are meeting to address the comment. Saturday Mirror learnt that IPOB, already, had warned Ohanaeze and some Igbo leaders to steer clear of their activities as they may be treated as saboteurs. Speaking to our correspondent in Owerri, a member of a faction of MASSOB, who pleaded anonymity, frayed at Uwazurui-
ke’s statement, saying that the leader of MASSOB was the actual person that has been castigating Igbo freedom fighters to impress other tribes. “Uwazuruike is the only that has been blackmailing the IPOB leaders to remain relevant. “This was exactly what some of our leaders did for Ndigbo to lose the civil war, and they are doing it again to sabotage the efforts of those who want to liberate our people. They did it to Ojukwu, and they are doing it to their son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the source said. He vowed that the agitators would view some comment made by some Igbo leaders as sabotage when the time comes. “We are going to treat them as saboteurs.”
NYSC members at a tug of war at the Umunya temporary site near Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday.
…as Uwazuruike calls for Kanu’s unconditional release – Says, ignore their empty threats
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he leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has passionately appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release the Director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He made the appeal yesterday, while addressing scores of loyalists and friends of MASSOB, who stormed Owerri for the third anniversary of the exit of Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu. Notable personalities are the event were Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who
was the Special Guest of Honour. He was also accompanied to the event by more than 70 persons. Others include Alhaji Yerima Shettima, president Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Prof. Alu Danladi, Ambassador John Fashanu, Alhaji Abdullahi Zaria, Alhaji Sale Hassan, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, Alhaji Zallari Bello and Alhaji Aminu Gwaru. Speaking at the occasion, Chief Uwazuruike urged the Federal Government to ignore their empty threats, stressing that if there is any group that should be feared in Nigeria, it is MASSOB. The MASSOB leader explained that his group knows the desires of Ndigbo, and how to achieve them,
pointing out that those who are threatening fire and brimstone today, were once members of MASSOB before they were expelled due to violence related behaviours. He urged the relevant authorities to release unconditionally all those held for propagating the issue of Biafra, both IPOB and Zionist Movement, saying they are neither murderers nor terrorists. He added that what they are doing is mere ‘garagara’. Uwazuruike was not particularly happy at the way Ndigbo castigate, vilify and blackmail their leaders to impress other tribes, pointing out that Ndigbo take delight in killing their leaders
to emerge as the new champions. He declared: “Ndigbo are now second class citizens in Nigeria. They will soon be relegated to the third class. Ndigbo blame the Hausas and the Yorubas for their misadventure. Unfortunately, Ndigbo do not see any reason to blame themselves. Today, Ndigbo in their usual character, want to decimate MASSOB. They want to be the new champions. They believe that since MASSOB has hyped Biafra through non-violence for 16 years that they will achieve it through violence and they threaten fire and brimstone. Speaking at the occasion, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha explained that he was able to learn a lot from the late Ojukwu, especially his wisdom and capacity to understand issues at any period in time.
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Akwa Ibom trains emergency workers for ambulance services
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he Akwa Ibom Government has commenced training of emergency response workers for its proposed ambulance services in the state. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dominic Ukpong, said this in Uyo. He said those successfully trained and given certificates would run the state’s emergency medical programme. Ukpong, who presented certificates of attendance to 20 successful trainees, said only those who scored 84 per cent in the examination were certified. He added that, “in emergency training, there is need to maintain standard. Emergency workers are needed everywhere in the world but only the best can help the injured.’’ The commissioner said the certificates given to the trainees were renewable after two years and advised those who could not score the cut-off mark to read and prepare well for the next examination. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the planned ambulance service would cost the state government N500 million to take off. The service would likely take off in 20 of the 31 local government areas of the state as pilot project. He explained that the service would have a functional three digit telephone line, trained drivers and trained paramedics to resuscitate unconscious patients before reaching the doctors. The service would ensure help gets to people in all parts of the state pending when the state would provide primary healthcare in communities, the commissioner said.
SOUTH SOUTH
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sylva campaign accuses PDP of importation of thugs Osahon Julius YENAGOA
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head of next Saturday’s gubernatorial poll in Bayelsa State, the Sylva/Igiri campaign organization, has again raised alarm over alleged importation of criminal elements into the state Government House with a view to use them terrorize voters on election day A statement by its Media and Publicity Director, Nathan Elba, said they also have it in good authority that unknown persons and the mastermind of the killing of an APC member in Ekeremor, were taking refuge in Government House. The statement reads, “We once again have to draw the attention of the
press to some salient issues concerning the upcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State. Only last night at a debate organized for the governorship candidates in the state, the PDP candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson, again spoke extensively about his government’s zero tolerance for crime and criminality in the state. In fact he went further to say that his government would not harbour criminals in Government House. However, on the contrary, we have it on good authority that not only are wanted persons given refuge in Government House Yenagoa, there are even alleged criminal activities going on in the guest houses located within the Government House precinct. For instance, the alleged masterminds of the kill-
ing of an APC leader in Ekeremor LGA is said to be holed up in one of the guest houses there. Secondly, information at our disposal indicate that the PDP has imported some fierce looking thugs from nearby states, who were driven into the state in Coaster buses, escorted by a detachment of Security men attached to Government House, Yenagoa. These thugs are to wear the police and military uniforms being sewn in the Government House Guest Houses as we already alerted the security operatives about in an earlier press statement. In the light of the above, we are still calling on the Security agencies to probe these allegations and get to the root of the matter in order to forestall violence and protect the integrity of the forth-coming elec-
tion.” Egba noted that another worrying development is PDP Campaign team’s penchant for collecting innocent rural dwellers Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC), on payment of One thousand naira or less in some cases. He said in other cases, the PDP government’s agents has been in the habit of collecting PVC numbers of innocent women who are lured to attend the Governor’s Wife’s programmes with financial inducements. “The pertinent question is, what do they want to do with other people’s PVCs or their PVC numbers? The other issue is the amount of uncollected PVCs from the recent Voters Registration update currently in the hands of PDP ward coordinators.
A hostage rescued by the Nigerian Navy, Mrs. Tokoni Trustgod (right) discussing with officers of Nigerian Police Force, Csp James Ejure (left) and DSP Richard Ogwuche, shortly after being handed to police at the Naval base in Yenagoa, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Bayelsa PDP accuses FG of attempts to divert amnesty fund for Sylva campaigns Osahon Julius YENAGOA
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he Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, carpeted the Federal Government over an alleged moves o divert funds from the Amnesty program to support the governorship election of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva. The Director of Publicity of Dickson Campaign Organisation, Jonathan
Obuebite, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday alleged that acting on directives from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, the Special Adviser to the President on the Amnesty Programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd) has been asked to release the sum of N2b from the Amnesty Programme accounts to support Sylva’s election. Obuebite said the allegation has a “strong con-
viction” as reliably gathered by PDP intelligence network and corroborated by “authoritative source at the Presidential Villa in Abuja”. He claimed in the statement that the funds would be released today or latest Monday and has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently investigate the allegation. He stated that while the SGF and other friends of Timipre Sylva at the Presidency are right to support their friend in his guber-
natorial aspiration, the decision to divert funds from the Amnesty Programme was totally wrong, noting that the funds in question were public funds meant for the payment of school fees of ex-militants who are undergoing training abroad under a special Federal Government amnesty scholarship programme in addition to other ex-militants at home who also benefit from the funds as accrued stipends owed them.
Ayade swears in commissioners in C’River –names self Culture, Tourism Commissioner Richard Ndoma CALABAR
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overnor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Friday, assigned port folios to 28 Commissioners. The governor also assigned the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to himself Ayade went further to assigned the commissioners to various ministries. Among the Commissioners assigned at the event are; Barr. Joe Abang as commissioner for Justice, Chief Offu Ebiregor Ayia, Ministry of ICT, Engr. Dan Osim-Asu , Ministry of Works, Hon. Gabe Odu Orji Ministry of Water Resources and Hon. George O’ben-Etchi. Ministry of Solid Minerals. Others are; Hon. Francis Etta, Ministry of Int’l Donor Corporation Mr. Oliver Orok, Ministry of Sustainable Development, Hon. Onoh Ulafor, Ministry of Local Govt Affairs, Mrs. Rosemary Archibong, Ministry of Information & Orientation, Engr. Mike Eraye - Ministry of Environment and Victor Adugba Agwu, Ministry of Special Projects & Special Duties. Prof. Anthony Eneji is commissioner for Agriculture and Mr. Sunday Achunekang, Ministry of Rural Transformation, Establishment & Training. Others include; Hon. Saviour Nyong, Ministry of Transport, Dr. Alice Alok Ekwu, Ministry of Climate Change, Mr. Edem O. Effiom, Ministry of Social Housing, Hon. Godwin Ettah, Ministry of Education, Barr. Chris Nja, Ministry of Gas Resources, Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong, Ministry of Finance. Mr. Asu Okang is assigned to the Ministry of Youths & Sports Development, Mr. George Ekpungu, Ministry of New City Development, Dr. John Inyang, Ministry of Lands Development, Mr. Peter Akan Egba, Ministry of Commerce & Industries and Mr. Thomas Udam, Ministry of Power. Mrs. Stella Ereme Odey, Ministry of Women Affairs Dr. Inyang Asibong, Ministry of Health, Hon. Itaya Nyong, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ntufam Edim Inok Edim is assigned to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Paris remembers terror attack victims with tricolour flags
…featuring shirts, balloons and even BRAS •Francois Hollande called for everybody to hang flags outside their homes and promised to wipe out ISIS
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efiant Parisians have been showing their support for the victims of the horrific terror attacks by raising the Tricolour flag outside their homes as the city held a memorial service in the Invalides building. Locals without flags used a variety of items, including shirts and bras to hang out of their window to symbolise the colours of the national flag in solidarity with the 130 people who died as well as those who were injured in the Paris terrorist attacks exactly two weeks ago. The city was awash with the familiar blue, white and red colours of France after President Francois Hollande made a special request for everybody to hang flags from their homes. The scenes brought back scenes reminiscent of the day Paris celebrated VE Day on May 8, 1945. At the memorial service, the French leader gave a defiant speech, vowing to destroy the brutal jihadi group ISIS, who claimed responsibility for the devastating terror attacks. ‘We will not give in either to fear or to hate,’ said Hollande in the courtyard of the Invalides buildings in cenCHANGE OF NAME
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tral Paris, speaking to 2,000 dignitaries and those injured in the violence. ‘To all of you, I solemnly promise that France will do everything to destroy the army of fanatics that committed these crimes,’ he said. Thousands of police and soldiers continued to flood the city, because of fears of further attacks. The service took place at Les Invalidies, the palatial set of buildings in central Paris where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried, and which contains the National Army Museum. The ceremony began with the president’s arrival on a cold and misty day to the sound of the national anthem La Marseillaise being played by the Republican Guard. The parents of British victim Nick Alexander, who died in the Bataclan massacre, said ‘words cannot express the sadness we feel at the loss of our precious Nick’ as they prepared to attend a memorial service in the city. Some 1000 people attended, including friends and family of those who were slaughtered around the Stade de France, the Bataclan music venue, and bars and restaurants. Islamic State suicide bombers wielding Kalashnikov assault rifles caused the bloodshed, and at least one of those responsible is still on the run. CHANGE OF NAME UGWA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWA JULIET LILIAN OBIANUJU, now wish to be known as MRS. EMEDOSI JULIET LILIAN OBIANUJU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
AKINTAN: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLUBUNMI BOSEDE AKINTAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. OLUBUNMI BOSEDE OYETAKIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME KWASHE: I, formerly known and addressed as KWASHE GABRIEL LAKUR, now wish to be known, called and addressed as LAKUR GABRIEL EZEKIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.
A minute’s silence will be held, and the names of every single victim read out. More than 350 were also severely injured in the attacks – the worst terrorist outrage in the history of modern France. Hollande said: ‘130 destinies had been stolen, 130 laughs that will never be heard again,’ adding that they had come from more than 50 places in France and 17 countries. The majority of the victims were under 35 years old, he said, highlighting that the attacks targeted popular nightlife areas of the French capital, including bars, restaurants and a concert hall. ‘It’s because they represented life that they were killed, it’s because they represented France that they were slaughtered, it’s because they represented freedom that they were massacred,’ he said. Among the crowd were
some of the 350 people injured in the attacks, many in wheelchairs. French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said: ‘The president has asked people to take part by decorating their homes with the blue-white-and-red. ‘We have tried to suggest something that will let every French person take part in Friday’s ceremony.’ The parents of Nick Alexander, who died in the Paris attacks, today said ‘words cannot express the sadness we feel at the loss of our precious Nick’ as they prepared to attend a memorial service in the city. Barry and Sheelagh Alexander said they were thankful for the ‘outpouring of love from around the world’ for their 36-year-old son, who was murdered in the Bataclan theatre massacre. The merchandise seller was one of 89 people killed when gunmen stormed the
building midway through a rock concert. His parents said in statement: ‘Words cannot express the sadness we feel at the loss of our precious Nick. ‘This is just the beginning of a long road where we will have to get used to the absence of his physical presence around us - a physical presence that we loved so much, that made us laugh, that we loved being with, and always held us close wherever he was. ‘We will get through this with the love and strength of our beloved family, friends and colleagues, and the support of so many people we have never even met. ‘The outpouring of love from around the world has been a great comfort to us and makes us even more proud to have had Nick as our son. We will love and miss him forever.’ Despite the patriotic spirit that will be expressed by
millions, not everyone has accepted an invitation to the ceremony. Some victims’ families think the government did not do enough to improve security after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks in January, in which 17 people and three terrorists were killed. They called for a boycott of the day of mourning, suggesting that it was too easy for IS terrorists to travel to and from Syria, and to amass weapons. At least nine people who took part in the attacks are now dead, but a manhunt is underway for Salah Abdeslam, 26, who hired cars and hotel rooms for the cell. He is thought to have abandoned his own suicide mission, and was last seen heading towards his home city of Brussels. With him was Mohamed Abrini, 30, an accomplice who is also missing and said to be ‘extremely dangerous’.
Millions of shoppers send online sales soaring for Black Friday • •
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In New York, shoppers had spent $1.1 billion online by 5.pm Thursday The total is expected to be $1.7 billion - 22 percent higher than last year
illions of American shoppers determined to bag a bargain ahead of Black Friday sent online sales soaring on Thanksgiving. The record number of online sales - up on last year - came ahead of the familiar scenes of mayhem in bricksand-mortar stores up and down the country today. In New York, bargain hunters had spent $1.1 billion online by 5.pm on Thursday, according to Adobe Systems Inc. But the total figure is expected to be around $1.7 bil-
lion - a 22 percent jump on last year. The National Retail Federation said 135.8 million Americans are expected to shop in stores or online over the four-day weekend. However, consumers overall appear to be tightening their belts. The amount of money consumers spent over the past two years has steadily declined, dropping 11 percent to $50.9 billion in 2014. Retail analysts suggest that online deals are cutting into sales in traditional big box chains like Macy’s, Walmart and Best Buy who have done
everything to entice shoppers through the doors. Jeff Simpson, a director at Deloitte Consulting LLP’s retail practice, surveyed shopping centers in North Carolina and saw smaller crowds than expected for Black Friday. He said, “Across the board, much less traffic than was anticipated,” he said. ‘Much, much slower.” And, despite consumers having the right financial climate to shop - with lower fuel prices and lower unemployment rates - retailers still face
challenges. Mall traffic is in the midst of a long-term slowdown. Last year, The National Retail Federation had forecast 140.1 million consumers would hit stores and e-commerce sites - 4.8 percent more than actually turned out. This has prompted fears that foot traffic in stores may be down this year too. In a bid to cope, some stores have offered less on Thanksgiving weekend and focused on specials throughout the month instead.
Quote of the day The target date was unrealistic following the fact that the asymmetric warfare, which Boko Haram is prosecuting against Nigeria, was not such that could easily be stamped out. —Executive Secretary of the Centre, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), while briefing the press in Abuja.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015. www.nationnationalmirroronline.net
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University of Cambridge: 800 years of educating leaders (II)
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ne of the many achievements of the University of Cambridge is that University of Harvard is named after one of its old students, John Harvard. This is in addition to the university producing the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, Robert Walpole and thirty other foreign Heads of State and Presidents, including Presidents of India, Ireland, Zambia, South Korea, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, along with Prime Ministers of India, Burma, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Poland, Australia, France, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malta, Thailand, Malaysia, and Jordan. Many of the former students of the university that have made names in history apart include Emily Davies, founder of Girton College, the first residential higher education institution for women, John Haden Badley, founder of the first mixed-sex school in England; and Anil Kumar Gain, prominent 20th century mathematician and founder of the Vidyasagar University in Bengal. The three signatories to the United States Declaration were former students of the University of Cambridge. This is in addition to at least nine monarchs, including Edward VII, George VI, King Peter II of Yugoslavia, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Sofía of Spain. The university has also educated Charles, Prince of Wales among other world famous royals. Beyond the previous record of number one in the world, the University of Cambridge was again in 2001 and 2008 ranked number one by the UK Government Research Assessment Performance. In 2005, the university again was reported to have produced more PhDs per year than any other British university and specifically 30% more than the University of Oxford. The university is also closely linked with the development of the hightech business cluster in and around Cambridge, which forms what is known as Silicon Fan or ‘Cambridge Phenomenon.’ With over 300 active companies, Silicon Fan was reported to have the second largest venture capital after Silicon Valley. In 2006, Cambridge Silicon Fan maintained over 7 billion US dollars. The Wikipedia has on record a very vivid account of how events played out in the historic University of Cambridge, especially in the famous Economic and Greek departments. It is impressive to see that the great professor of economics, John Maynard Keynes, of the famous Keynes Theory of Perfect and Imperfect Market, was also a product of the university. It
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In 2005, the university was reported to have produced more PhDs per year than any other British university and specifically 30% more than the University of Oxford
was only in recent times that scholars developed such a theory to include internalisation of firm resources in the Theory of Specificity. The famous writer, Professor Desiderins Erasmus of the sixteen century also inaugurated Greek studies at the University of Cambridge. Great Professor of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell, is also on the university’s list. According to Wikipedia, “In the humanities, Greek studies were inaugurated at Cambridge in the early sixteenth century by Desiderius Erasmus during the few years he held a professorship there. Seminal contributions to the field were made by Richard Bentley and Richard Porson. John Chadwick was associated with Michael Ventris in the decipherment of Linear B. The eminent Latinist, A. E. Housman, taught at Cambridge but is more widely known as a poet. Simon Ockley made a significant contribution in Arabic Studies. Distinguished Cambridge academics in other fields include economists such as John Maynard Keynes, Thomas Malthus, Alfred Marshall, Milton Friedman, Joan Robinson, Piero Sraffa, and Amartya Sen, a former Master of Trinity College. Philosophers Sir Francis Bacon, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Leo Strauss, George Santayana, G. E. M. Anscombe, Sir Karl Popper, Sir Bernard Williams, Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal and
G. E. Moore were all Cambridge scholars, as were historians such as Thomas Babington Macaulay, Frederic William Maitland, Lord Acton, Joseph Needham, E. H. Carr, Hugh Trevor-Roper, E. P. Thompson, Eric Hobsbawm, Niall Ferguson and Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr, and famous lawyers such as Glanville Williams, Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, and Sir Edward Coke. Religious figures at the university have included Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury and many of his predecessors; William Tyndale, the pioneer biblical translator; Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicholas Ridley, all Cambridge men, known as the “Oxford martyrs” from the place of their execution; Benjamin Whichcote and the Cambridge Platonists; William Paley, the Christian philosopher known primarily for formulating the teleological argument for the existence of God; William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson, largely responsible for the abolition of the slave trade; leading Evangelical churchman Charles Simeon; John William Colenso, the Bishop of Natal who developed views on the interpretation of Scripture and relations with native peoples that seemed dangerously radical at the time; John Bainbridge Webster and David F. Ford, theologians of significant repute; and six winners of the Templeton Prize, the highest
accolade for the study of religion since its foundation in 1972.” In Literature, famous English poet, John Milton studied at the university. Professor Wole Soyinka of Nigeria also made the list of famous scholars of the William Churchill College. Wikipedia also records important writers who studied at the university to include the prominent Elizabethan dramatist Christopher Marlowe, his fellow University Wits Thomas Nashe and Robert Greene, arguably the first professional authors in England, and John Fletcher, who collaborated with Shakespeare on The Two Noble Kinsmen, Henry VIII and The Lost Cardenio and succeeded him as house playwright of The King’s Men. Samuel Pepys matriculated in 1650, ten years before he began his diary, the original manuscripts of which are now housed in the Pepys Library at Magdalene College. Lawrence Sterne, whose novel Tristram Shandy is judged to have inspired many modern narrative devices and styles, was admitted in 1733. In the following century, the novelists W. M. Thackeray, best known for Vanity Fair, Charles Kingsley, author of Westward Ho! and Water Babies, and Samuel Butler, remembered for The Way of All Flesh and Erewhon, were all at Cambridge. Ghost story writer M. R. James served as provost of King’s College from 1905 to 1918. Novelist Amy Levy was the first Jewish woman to attend the University. Modernist writers who attended the university include E. M. Forster, Rosamond Lehmann, Vladimir Nabokov, Christopher Isherwood and Malcolm Lowry. Although not a student, Virginia Woolf wrote her essay A Room of One’s Own while in residence at Newnham College. Playwright J. B. Priestley, physicist and novelist C. P. Snow and children’s writer A. A. Milne were also among those who passed through the university in the early 20th century. They were followed by the postmodernists Patrick White, J. G. Ballard, and the early postcolonial writer E. R. Braithwaite. More recently, the university has educated the comedy writers Douglas Adams, Tom Sharpe and Howard Jacobson, the popular novelists A. S. Byatt, Sir Salman Rushdie, Nick Hornby, Zadie Smith, Robert Harris and Sebastian Faulks, the successful action writers Michael Crichton, David Gibbins and Jin Yong, and contemporary playwrights and screenwriters such as Julian Fellowes, Stephen Poliakoff, Michael Frayn and Sir Peter Shaffer. To be continued nextweek
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