Saturday, March 9, 2013

Lagos to experience 275 days of heavy rainfall P. 10

Vol. 03 No. 12

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Amosun swears in first female Attorney-General in Ogun P. 10

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Ajimobi presents N1m to family of P. 10 late Yes-O cadet

N150

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Jonathan gives condition for amnesty Boko Haram

...As ACF, AYCF differ on amnesty

P. 7 •Borno elders insist on amnesty • Boko Haram must embrace peace before amnesty P. 9 –Kano Bishop to Sultan •Middle Belt youths warn Boko Haram,

P. 7

FIRE GUTS KETU MARKET

say ‘Enough is enough’

P. 9

INSIDE

Zara

Battling ill health P. 19

Scene of the fire incident at Ifelodun Plank Market in Ketu area of Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

APC: More trouble brews over Ikimi’s role in logo imposition ...Tinubu, Buhari to meet on differences

No clue on Maina’s whereabouts –Police

•Yet to contact Interpol

P. 8

P. 8

Page

Top Stories

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 9, 2013

13-yr-old girl raped by father’s best friend P.50

Sullied joy in Katsina

P.37

From cart pusher to CEO •How cult member, drug addict turned Pastor •Spent 12 years for 4-year-degree

P.38

Businesswoman chops off salesgirl’s hand for N.3m theft P.51

Danjuma

Abubakar

How former Presidents, ministers awarded oil blocks without guidelines It is no longer news that 83 per cent of the nation’s oil blocks are in the hands of Northerners and that they were awarded without any clear guidelines. The news is that efforts are being made to prevent a recurrence through the instrumentality of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

UDEME AKPAN reports.

W

hen President Goodluck Jonathan sent the nation’s new Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB to the National Assembly last July, he did not envisaged much controversy and delay for some reasons. First, the former PIB had passed through many stages without much ado before lawmakers abandoned it.

Second, Jonathan seemed to have based the activities on the petroleum industry when he stated in the 2013 budget speech that much would be done to boost investment. Third, many stakeholders were familiar with

IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE FOR A MINISTER I DID NOT HAVE AN

TO HAVE AN OIL BLOCK.

OIL BLOCK BECAUSE WE PLAYED THE GAME

ACCORDING TO THE RULES. A FILLING STATION.

I DID NOT EVEN HAVE

OWNING AN OIL BLOCK

IS LIKE GETTING A GOLD MINE. IT AMOUNTS

TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT SHOWS THE HIGH LEVEL OF CORRUPTION AND INDISCIPLINE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATION.

–TAM DAVID-WEST the various issues as well as the relevance and the urgency for early passage.

Moreover, the Minister of Pe-

troleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke who expressed optimism for the early passage had stated that: “We have had to

review it in great detail and rework the bill to reflect as much as possible the entire spectrum of what we considered will be the substantial strategic framework for the petroleum industry and the amalgamation of over 16 laws in the oil and gas sector, that will carry this sector for years to come.”

Unfortunately, this was not to be. The PIB has probably generated much controversy than any other single bill in the contemporary history of law making in Nigeria. The important bill went through preliminary stages with minor opposition. The disagreement however reached its climax a few weeks ago when some northern legislators came out to state that they would not support the PIB as it was packaged to enhance the cause of the Niger Delta.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Ladipo Market: Lagos insists on 15 metres setback •Market may be reopened tomorrow if all conditions are met

MURITALA AYINLA

Man , 25, sodomises 10-yr-old boy P.50

I was an unwanted child –Toun Soetan

P.24

T

he last may not have been heard on the Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market as the Lagos State government yesterday insisted on the 15 metres setback to serve as work way for pedestrians.

The state government had on February 25 shut the market over high rate of environmental degradation in the market.

Hence, high profile Nigerians from the eastern part of the country, including the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, had appealed to the state government to re-open the market once the traders comply with government’s di-

rective on the massive cleaning of the market.

In another round of meeting between the traders and top officials of the Ministry of Environment, the state government called on the traders to map out strategy to address all the identified problems.

The meeting which commenced at 6pm was attended by the top officials of the Ministry of Environment led by Permanent Secretary in the Office Drainage, Engr Muyideen Akinsanya.

Also in the meeting was the chairman of Lagos Taskforce, CSP Bayo Sulaimon, chairman of Mushin Local Government, Babatunde Adepitan and directors in

the office of drainage.

Speaking on the 15 metres setback Akinsanya said the government is not out to disturb anybody’s business but to bring sanity into the market.

“We are not satisfied with the state of Ladipo, although you have tried yet the set back is not enough. It is just three metres instead of the specified 15. Those drainage channels were constructed between 1988-1989. They were not like that before. So, we want you to remove the shanties,” he added.

Sulaiman urged the traders to check the excesses of the touts disguising as security personnel in the market, saying that the

idea of turning the road to mechanic workshop would no longer be condoned.

Responding, the PresidentGeneral of Ladipo Market, Iyke Animalu appealed to the government to check the problem of social miscreants who extort traders, adding that they pay huge illegal fees to the touts in Mushin.

On street trading, he assured the government officials that the practice would be abolished, adding that proper waste disposal system would be adopted.

Some of representatives of the market, however, alleged that continued influence of its former president, Jonathan Okoli, is causing the problem in there.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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March 9, 2013

Saturday Starter

Tears of demolition

The bulldozers of the Lagos State Government are extra busy these days. First in Ijora-Badia, a sprawling shanty town, which is adjacent to Orile and Costain train stations, and later in the more upscale Itun-Omo Estate, in Odoragushin area of Epe, rumbling and rampaging bulldozers moved in, reducing hopes, dreams and futures to rubbles. In both cases, the government of Lagos State states unequivocally that, “Our intervention is a strategic one, to upgrade the quality of life.” But the affected communities are as bemused as they are traumatised. The refrain on every lip is “We voted for this government. Is this what we will get in return?” There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth among the landlords and residents who are saying with one bitter voice, “Fashola has finished us.”

THOMAS USHIE AND MURITALA AYINLA

T

he saying: “It is easier to destroy than to build” cannot be more apt. What took over a decade to build in Itun Omo Estate in Odoragushin Community of Eredo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, was reduced to rubbles in less than eight hours. The once lively community was reduced to ground zero. No fewer than 100 buildings were felled by rumbling and rampaging bulldozers of the Lagos State Government.

Expectedly, the landlords and residents did not find the fate that befell their community funny. The landlords claimed to have lawfully acquired the parcels of the land on which their buildings were erected. Government, on the other hand, has a different story. The land on which the community sprang up was marked as an industrial area in the master plan of Lagos State.

Until now, the landlords and residents of Itun Omo Estate had lived happily. Some of the mansions that dotted the estate could be compared to what is found in the highbrow areas like Banana Island, Victoria Garden City and other choice areas anywhere in Lagos and Abuja.

But their happiness vanished within a twinkle of an

eye. Before their very eyes, their sources of joy faded away as they helplessly watched bulldozers pulling down their palatial homes one after the other. Many could not hold back tears. Others who could not control their emotion fainted, seeing their once magnificence abodes crumbling. Those who could summon up courage managed to evacuate few of their properties from the buildings before they were completely brought down. They never had any premonition of being in the unenviable position of worrying about where to sleep, being proud owners of befitting homes.

But today, they are confronted with the reality seeking

shelter anywhere.

Many of the bulldozed buildings, some completed and others in progress, boldly bore their approved plan numbers, conspicuously written on them. But government insists these approvals were fraudulently acquired from town planning officials.

As early 8 am, a combined team of officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence Unit had stormed the community to enforce the demolition order.

Some of the residents who had left home before the arrival of government’s agents had to rush back home from their work places. Others said they travelled from as far as Ajah and Ogun State and other neighbouring towns to evacuate their properties.

On sighting the bulldozers, some of them jumped on the roofs and hurriedly removed them, either to use them to roof new buildings or to sell them off to recoup some of their losses. Some were too confused to take any purposeful decisions. They just sat there totally confused on the next line of action.

One of the evicted landlords told our correspondent that properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira were destroyed by government.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Starter

‘Fashola has finished us’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Mr Omosheni Tajudeen Debowale, one of the affected landlords told Saturday Mirror that he purchased the land on which he erected his dream home from one Alhaji Ashafa, who is popularly known as Oloye, in 2004 but built his five-bedroom bungalow in 2007.

With tears streaming down his face, he said, “I obtained all my papers validly from the government. When they began threatening us, we went to Alausa to have a meeting with them but we were told the Permanent Secretary of the Land Bureau was not around. They Effuru Emmanuel Edaema reschedule the meeting for March 13.

But today, March 5, they are demolishing our houses.

URTHER TO NOTICE O OF ARCH WHEREIN “They brought a white man to meaYOU WERE REQUESTED TO VACATE THIS PARCEL OF LAND ON OR BEFORE sure my land before this latest action.

It is sad that with my children and aged THE TH DAY OF ARCH YOU ARE HEREBY WARNED THAT UNLESS parents, I have been chased out of the building I laboured to build so as to have YOU REMOVE YOUR FIXTURES FROM THIS LAND ON OR BEFORE THE RD a decent life. It is painfully regrettable”.

DAY OF UNE THE EDERAL ILITARY OVERNMENT SHALL The level 14 officer of Ibeju Lekki Local Government Education Authority EFFECT THEIR REMOVAL WITHOUT ANY FURTHER NOTICE TO YOU AND added that, “I sought information about the land before commencing work on it.

SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY BREAKAGE LOSS ETC I went to the Office of the Surveyor General. I charted the land and was told the terest. land is free from government acquisi- taskforce boss, ASP Bayo Sulaimon who benefit through employment opportuni“They ‘fly co-ordinate,’ by taking the led the demolition exercise said govern- ties inherent in the project. tion and revocation.” chart of a location that is free of governHe said, “Before commenting on the Valuing his demolished house, Ade- ment would not sacrifice the land for the ment acquisition to dubiously get buildbowale said, “As at 2008, it was worth selfish interests of some individuals at demolition of their buildings, I think ing approval. It is like taking the survey about 6.7 million. I spent my life sav- the expense of the larger public, adding the question we should ask is: How did of Oregun in Ikeja to seek building apings to build a decent life for myself af- that the place is meant for an industrial they come here in the first place? The proval from government in Alausa in the ter all my years of labour. There really area that will serve the rest of Lagosians. place has been earmarked for a project same Ikeja.

According to him, if the industries and apart from that, they built without is something fishy going on here. The “To those who are building on governchart the government brought was dif- are established, the community and approvals and government cannot allow ment land, thinking that nothing will other people living in the area will also individual interest to override public inferent from the original chart. happen, government will rise up and Another affected resident said, take action one day. This is also a mes“Where does government want us to sage for both land grabbers and unsusstart from? People have taken loans to pecting buyers” build these houses, and in a twinkle of On the allegation of short notice, Suan eye, the houses are pulled down. Ah! laimon said that he had been to the place This is wickedness!” more than four times, adding that the last Mr Taiwo Quadri, who had barely time government officials came to the completed his four- bedroom bungalow community, they were chased away with when the bulldozers came in described charms and other weapons. the development as a great setback for “We have been on this matter for a him. very long time; they are only being eco“Everyone knows what it takes to nomical with the truth. I have been here build a house in this harsh economic more than four times. They build on govcondition. If one now struggles to build ernment land to whip up sentiment; they it and this happens, where and when were probably cajoled by these miscredoes one start again? It is painful, sad ants called ‘Omo Onile’ to quickly build depressing”. on government land, thinking that once A top official of the government, the structures are erected, nothing will who craved anonymity, spoke to Sathappen again. That is the strategy used urday Mirror at the demolition site by miscreants that are selling governsaid that the land where the structures ment land to unsuspecting members of were erected was wrongly acquired. He the public. People should seek informaOmosheni, in front of his about-to-be-demolished building said the building owners used what he tion from government on any land before termed ‘fly co-ordinate’ to fraudulently, paying or building on the land. If they obtain their purported building approvT IS SAD THAT WITH MY CHILDREN AND have genuine Certificate of Ownership als. before the acquisition by the governAGED PARENTS HAVE BEEN CHASED He said, “They must have been swinment, they will be duly compensated.” dled to acquire the land in the first Meanwhile, independent investigaOUT OF THE BUILDING LABOURED TO place. Both the left and right side of the tions by Saturday Mirror revealed town are designed to be an industrial BUILD SO AS TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE T that the land was meant for LAGBUS scheme. That is why government always factories, where Macopollo, the official IS PAINFULLY REGRETTABLE educates residents on radio to seek inmanufacturers of LAGBUS buses will asformation when acquiring land.” semble them.

MOSHENI Speaking with Saturday Mirror, the It was gathered that the LAGBUS boss

F

N . E43/35/T/19

27

J

M

1973,

1973,

F

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13, 1973

23

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

5

March 9, 2013

Saturday Starter Blame those who sold the land to you –Lagos State Govt and other foreign experts from the Marcopollo head office had visited the community several times in preparation for the establishment of the planned worldclass factory.

The tears are flowing even more freely in Ijora Badia, one of the slum communities in Lagos State where the situation seems more pathetic. Located in Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area,(LCDA) Ijora Badia is a shanty town and those who are affected by the demolition exercise are already at the very bottom of the societal ladder where life is an endless struggle to make ends meet.

Olori Edaema, one of those affected by the demolition, spoke to Saturday Mirror.

“The demolition affected me badly. The worst thing is that we were not aware that the caterpillar was coming to do this to us. I lost my properties. I only manage to rescue few things and before I knew it, the caterpillar had scattered everything.

We are all Nigerians. We are not foreigners. I have gone to the governor’s office to register my complaint. We are human beings but we have been treated like fowls and goats. All fingers are not equal that is why you see some people living in this kind of place. We all cannot live in big houses as the government people are living. But the poor people are also human beings like them. I am begging Fashola to have pity on the poor people. And if he does not want poor people in Lagos, he should dig the ground and bury all the poor people. That option would be better than what has happened to us now,” she wailed “Some people who went to night duty returned home only to see that all they have in this Lagos had been scattered. It is not good at all.”

Also speaking with Saturday Mirror, Ayo Olawande who is nursing a onemonth-old baby lamented the unsafe condition her baby has been exposed to as a result of the demolition.

She said, “Since our house was demolished, we have been staying here under the shade. Just look at my baby, she is just a month old but look at mosquito bites all over her. Just look at rashes all over her body. Is this what a good government should do to innocent babies?

I don’t know what to do to save me and my family from the situation we are now in. We just hope and pray that God would come to our rescue. It is not fair at all.

The government should find alternative for us because so many things has happened to me. I lost all my properties during the demolition. Since I have no place to hide my head, I lost my job because I could not settle down to prepare for work. It has been one problem or the other since the government pulled down our houses. How would I take care of my baby? Where would I bring the money to rent a house and cater for our wellbeing?” she wondered.

Another nursing mother, Joke Oyinlonyi said that she and her baby have been sleeping in the open since the bulldozers razed down the structures they called

LET ME SAY FOR THE IJORA

SCHEME THAT OUR INTERVENTION IS A STRATEGIC ONE, TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THERE. IT IS ABOUT A KILOMETRE TO ORILE AND COSTAIN TRAIN STATIONS AND WE INTEND TO ACCOMMODATE THE PRESENT OCCUPIERS IN NEW UNITS IN ADDITION TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WILL DESIRE TO LIVE THERE

–GOVERNOR FASHOLA

Fashola

their homes, rendering them homeless.

“We have been sleeping outside since this demolition took place. Things have not been easy at all with us. My baby is not even doing well. It is not a good thing to expose little babies like this to sun, rain and dirty environment like this.

The government should please help us and provide us with shelter. They should not leave us like this. No house, no food, nothing. We are just living as if we are animals or goats. It is not supposed to be like this. They did not even inform us to evacuate our personal effects before the demolition. Since the unfortunate incident, I have been wearing just this one shirt. It is not good for a nursing mother

at all. I was not at home when the bulldozers destroyed this place. For the sake of these little babies, innocent children, they should try and get us a place to stay,” she pleaded.

Esther Emmanuel, a septuagenarian, was an Ijora-Badia landlady before the demolition exercise. She said the exercise ‘broke the tree on which her entire family leaned,” while wondering “where will I go from here”.

She said, “I had two structures on this land and as you can see, none of them is still standing. They have both been demolished. I am now stranded. I don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t have who to run to for survival. I have been left here

in the cold, in the sun, day and night with nothing to cover my head.

“Where do you think that I have been sleeping? I have been living like this since they demolished my two houses. If the government that has everything in their power cannot help me, who else do you think can? I have been living here like this. If I want to sleep, I sleep here.

If I want to eat, I eat here. I do everything a human being should do right here in the open.”

Asked if she had a prior knowledge of the demolition exercise, she claimed ignorance. “I was not aware that bulldozers were coming to clear our houses.

Maybe other people were aware but for me, I was not. Nobody told me of anything. I was woken up by the noise of neighbours when the demolition started, as people were shouting “caterpillar, caterpillar.” It was very early in the morning and as I heard “caterpillar, caterpillar,” I ran out and discovered that houses were being demolished. I saw police and soldiers everywhere. I was not so scared because it has happened before.

“Immediately I saw the bulldozers bring down other people’s structures, I woke up my children and we started parking our loads out. Although I did not salvage all, I managed to take the im-

portant things out before the caterpillar reached my structures. The caterpillar did not destroy my personal effects but it brought down my houses. And that is why I am lying down here a sad woman. I had a 10-room structure here. I occupied a room and parlour, while the other eight rooms were let out. My survival majorly depended on the eight rooms I rented out. My tenants were paying N1,500 per month on each room. I was also selling soft drinks and small-small things (smallscale provisions) to complement the rent I was being paid from the rooms. But how I would survive now, I don’t know.

I look up to God. Only God can help us.

God can change the governor’s heart and he would provide us accommodation for the time being before the land issue is settled. My means of living is now gone.

I have not eaten since morning,” Madam Esther lamented.

“As I am here now, I don’t know anything again. I don’t know what to do next.

I am confused. Look at my legs, look at me. Mosquitoes and other blood sucking insects are feeding on me. I could not even take my bath this morning. I have cried, cried and cried and I am tired of crying. Can’t you see how I am resting hopelessly here? Do you still need to know how I feel right inside of me? It is a feeling of agony.”

Also speaking, Durojaiye Effuru, a neighbour who was on a condolence visit to Madam Esther Emmanuel said, “Those of us living across the big gutter were not affected by this exercise. I am here to sympathize with Mama Esther.

Since this demolition took place, we have been living in fear. We don’t know what is on the mind of the government. They have the power and the means and could move in anytime. We are therefore living in fear by the day. This kind of thing has happened here before not once or twice.

This one, they took us by surprise as there was no notice given to us.

“If there is a way, the government should put a concrete plans on ground and ensure that the people here are comCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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March 9, 2013

Who owns the land?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

pensated accordingly and settled down instead of this intermittent demolition and unsettling of the people.”

Effuru and many others are probably unaware of the fact that the Lagos State Government plans to build a low cost housing estate on the contentious land.

While commenting on the demolition exercise, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, had said, “Let me say for the Ijora Scheme that our intervention is a strategic one, to upgrade the quality of life there. It is about a kilometre to the Orile and Costain train stations and we intend to accommodate the present occupiers in new units in addition to other people who will desire to live there.”

When Effuru was informed of the governor’s plan for the new Ijora-Badia, he simply asked, “What would be the benefits of the new housing estate to those who have been living here for so many years?”

And even if the government wants to start the building of the low cost housing units immediately, they would have informed us earlier so that we could relocate and make appropriate adjustments.

But the bulldozers camped around this area on Friday and very early on Saturday morning, they gave us this sad weekend gift. Where they started the demolition, the occupants could not rescue any of their possessions. The police were everywhere and anybody who dared to challenge the demolition was arrested.

Some people were arrested and later released. If they want to relocate us, they should do so. If they don’t want, they should let us know instead of this constant embarrassment. Look at how they have left the people in the open, exposed to all kinds of things.

“They say the occupants of the land illegally took possession of it. Do they know the history of this place? The people that occupied this land originally were fisher men. So most of those laying claim to the land now are children of the fishermen. The first occupants were relocated to this parcel of land by the Federal Government during the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo between 1974 and 1975 when the National Theatre, Iganmu was to be built.”

On her part, the septuagenarian landlady, Madam Esther Emmanuel, said “I have been living here before Shagari came into power. That was in the good old days. Life was sweet at that time.

Who could ever imagine that life would become very bad and sad as it is now?

Things have generally become worse and it seems to be getting worse by the day.

Who would ever have imagined that government would treat the people it is supposed to care for this way? Life in those days was very sweet. It is not as bitter as it is now. That I am sitting in the sun, is it not bad? It is bad ooo! That I have not eaten since morning, is life not bad?

It is bad ooo! Ahhh!” the septuagenarian wailed.

“But I believe that things will be better in the future. Things must change.

Things will not remain this way for ever.

The good old days must come again for

DO THEY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE? THE PEOPLE THAT OCCUPIED THIS LAND ORIGINALLY WERE FISHERMEN. SO MOST OF THOSE LAYING CLAIM TO THE LAND NOW ARE CHILDREN OF THE FISHERMEN our children’s children. Things cannot continue this way. God forbid.”

Another victim, Esther Daniels, who spoke with Saturday Mirror said, “My children cannot go to school because of this demolition. It has finished my family. Look at my boys there sleeping on the ground when they are supposed to be in school. Is this a good life? Is this the kind of life we should give these children? I cannot just cry for these children. I have four children and they are all stranded here. Fashola should please help us out of this mess. The bulldozer came with heavily armed police men and we did not have the courage to evacuate our properties from the house as we were ordered out. If they cannot even help us, let them ensure that our children have a good life. Let our children go back to school. We are begging. No where to stay.

No money. Just look at us. I could not

rescue anything from the house and we are just stranded. We are pleading with the government, they should help us.

My husband’s father founded this area.

They were fishermen and stocked their fish around this area in those days. The government should please help us as we are all stranded. We voted for Fashola and this is not the way to pay us back.

We at Oke Luori voted en-masse for this governor. This area has been an ACN area and I don’t think this is how to pay faithful and loyal servants. We deserve better things. That is what we are begging the government for.”

Meanwhile, Saturday Mirror investigations reveal that the occupants of the land were given notice to quit by the then Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Lands Division, Mr. O.A Dosunmu, as far back as 1973.

The notice states in part:

THE FIRST OCCUPANTS WERE RELOCATED TO THIS PARCEL OF LAND BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE REGIME OF GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO BETWEEN 1974 AND 1975 WHEN THE NATIONAL THEATRE, IGANMU WAS TO BE BUILT

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

“Further to notice No. E43/35/T/19 of March 13, 1973 wherein you were requested to vacate this parcel of land on or before the 27th day of March 1973, you are hereby warned that unless you remove your fixtures from this land on or before the 23rd day of June 1973, the Federal Military Government shall effect their removal without any further notice to you and shall not be held responsible for any breakage, loss etc.”

Curiously, the Baale of Iganmu Alawo, Chief Lucas Owoseni, who confirmed that there was indeed a quit notice before the demolition, said that the notice was too short for the occupants to relocate The Ojora of Ijora land, Oba Fatai Oyeyinka Ojora has declared the support of the Ojora Chieftaincy family for the plans of the state government to develop a Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme on the wide expanse of land in Iganmu Alawo in Ijora.

Addressing a press conference at his palace on the issue, the monarch said the present state of facilities in the area is not conducive for human existence, explaining that the area has become a nuisance.

The Ojora said that some eight to ten years ago, the former administration in the state demolished the shanties that were in the area but that the structures returned after some time. The Oba appealed to the residents of Iganmu Alawo to cooperate with the State Government on the proposed housing project, adding that it would be of immense benefit to the whole community and the state. He also said that the fate of those displaced by the demolition would be determined by the State Government after it must have held consultative meetings with stakeholders including the land owners and the tenants.

According to the spokesperson of the Ojora Chieftaincy Family, Prince Obafemi Bashua, the present occupants of Iganmu Alawo are the tenants of the Ojora Chieftaincy Family who are the original owners of the land.

Prince Bashua stated that the land was never sold to them but that they are occupying it on leasehold which is the tradition with all land owned by the Ojora Chieftaincy Family. And anytime the government requests to make use of the land in the overriding public interest, the government’s request would be considered on its merit. The decision of the Ojora family to support the government in its quest to make use of the land is therefore borne out of the belief that it is going to benefit the entire citizenry.

Shedding more light on the proposed development in the Iganmu Alawo community, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Mr. Olusoga Odunlami said the land belonged originally to the Ojora Family and was released to the Federal Government to construct the Railways.

The Permanent Secretary added that the remainder of the land that was not used by the Railways was what was latched on to by the people who chose to settle on the land, which has reverted to the family after it was not utilised by the Federal Government.

According to the Permanent Secretary, after the demolition exercise, the land would be used to construct a Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme that would be available to low income earners and also provide opportunity of mortgage to the allottees.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

Amnesty: ACF, AYCF sing discordant tunes

ASUU flays UniAbuja over treatment of members KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

T

he National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Nasir Fagge, yesterday berated the authorities of the University of Abuja for barring ASUU members from using their national secretariat.

Fagge, in a release he personally signed and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, noted with dismay the use of security personnel to shut out members of ASUU, describing such action as undemocratic and infringement on freedom of association The Abuja chapter of the

union had organised a public lecture to commemorate 25 years anniversary of the institution which ASUU said was rejected by the authorities of the institution.

He said in the release that the lecture which was delivered by Professor Festus Iyayi , titled, “Twenty five years of Education at the University of Abuja: Achievements, challenges and Prospects,” lamented the poor governance culture in Nigerian universities.

He said that the University of Abuja has been drifting into a failed institution with lack of integrity in admission, examination, graduation, appointment and promotions of staff.

A ZA MSUE KADUNA

T

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s biometric data being captured at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) headquarters for his driver’s PHOTO: NAN licence in Abuja, yesterday.

Jonathan gives condition for amnesty, withdrawal of JTF from Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, told Borno elders that the only condition under which he would withdraw men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) drafted to the state to maintain law and order is if they would sign an agreement that no single life would be lost again in the state.

He added that if any soul is lost after the agreement and the withdrawal of the JTF, he would hold the elders responsible, adding that unless the elders put their house in order and prevail on members of the sect who are their children, to lay down arms and embrace peace, the Federal Government will not grant Boko Haram amnesty, not to talk of withdrawing the JTF. President Jonathan, who stated this at the MultiPurpose Hall, Government House, in Maiduguri while interacting with Borno stakeholders in continuation of his two-day working visit to Borno and Yobe states, the epicentres of Boko Haram activities, said: “If anyone of you (referring to Borno elders) want the Federal Government to withdraw JTF troops from the state, you should come and sign an agreement that if anybody was killed after signing the document, I will hold you responsible according to

the law of the land, I assure you that before I go back to Abuja, all men of the JTF will leave the state.”

But unfortunately, none of the elders could respond to the President’s challenge and condition.

The President added: “If Boko Haram insurgency is reducing gradually in states like Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger among others, but in Borno State, the situation is increasing, it is unfortunate, and this is because you the elders refused to come out and condemn the activities of the sect who are your children, this is not a time to be playing to the gallery.”

President Jonathan’s challenge was in response to the calls by Borno elders and other stakeholders at an interactive session, asking the Federal Government to remove the JTF from the streets of Maiduguri, as well as granting of amnesty to members of the sect who have been terrorizing the state.

Jonathan said: “The types of weapons the Boko Haram are using is very sophisticated that the Police cannot contain it, and that is why we have to bring in the JTF to face the challenge, no responsive government will want to waste its task payers money on JTF, but when the situation warrants, like in this case of Boko Haram, then we, as government, will not hesitate in spending our last kobo in order to bring peace.”

While explaining his aversion to bloodshed, Jon-

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athan said: “As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if one soldier or security agent was killed

by Boko Haram, it really pains me, and I will not condone such act, I will not celebrate the death of any JTF member or security agent anywhere in this country, so please talk to your children, who are members of the sect to lay down their arms for peace to reign” The President assured the people of the state that his administration would support the initiatives of the Governor Kashim Shettima-led administration, in the area of job creation through agricultural transformation, by partnering with the Lake Chad Basin Development Authority and the Lake Chad Research Institute for the betterment of the state through the enhancement of food security and income generation.

President Jonathan further reassured the people of the state of the Federal Government’s assistance to the state government to ensure that all the schools, places of worship, markets and stalls destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency across the state are rebuilt.

In attendance at the interactive session were top politicians, traditional and religious leaders, academicians and diplomats from Borno, including: first Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ali Monguno, former Governors Mohammed Goni, Ashiekh Jarma, Ali Modu

Sheriff, former Vice- Chancellor University of Maiduguri, Professor Nur Alkali, Borno State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Alhaji Baba Basharu, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, House of Representative members, members of the Borno State Executive Council and members of the business community.

While all speakers dwelt on the need to withdraw the JTF, whose presence they alleged, has aggravated the situation, Monguno insisted that the withdrawal of the JTF is not the solution to the lingering crisis, as according to him, “if not because of the presence of the JTF, I would not surrender my live to come to Maiduguri, not to even attend this forum.”

Earlier, Governor Shettima, told the President that the unfortunate insurgency spearheaded by the Boko Haram has left in its wake a heavy toll of death and destruction, pointing out that hundreds of human lives have been lost while hundreds of millions of naira worth of property destroyed, in addition to the unquantifiable loss occasioned by the crippling of businesses and other socioeconomic activities.

While thanking President Jonathan for the visit, he solicited for the Federal Government’s assistance in fighting against poverty, as according to him, the insurgency in the state and the North, was borne out of extreme poverty and social exclusivity.

he apex Northern socio-cultural organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday tactically rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s stand against granting amnesty to deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Reacting to President Jonathan’s declaration during his visit to Borno State, that his administration would not grant amnesty to the sect, the ACF spokesman, Mr. Anthony Sani argued that it is the responsibility of the government to bring Boko Haram leaders to the dialogue table.

While lending its support to the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, for amnesty to the sect as panacea to peace, the ACF said granting them amnesty would encourage them to denounce terrorism.

The ACF said: “The President may be right when he says the government cannot dialogue with a faceless group. Yet he cannot say it is not the responsibility of the government to find a way of bringing leaders of the sect into the negotiation table, however difficult.”

The forum said that the

activities of the sect have not reached the level of conventional war and as such, the use of force should be discouraged.

In a related development, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has lent its support to President Jonathan’s stance of no amnesty.

The AYCF, speaking through its National President, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, said that apart from President Jonathan’s claim that the Boko Haram sect is faceless, it would be setting a bad precedent and setting a course of perdition for the country if amnesty is granted to Boko Haram members.

Yerima told Saturday Mirror in a telephone interview: “What we are trying to do is setting a bad precedent. The case of Boko Haram is miles apart from the case of the Niger Deltas militants. I am a Northerner and if a group of people decides to unleash mayhem on the people, killing innocent Nigerians, then such set of people do not deserve any kind of amnesty.

“If amnesty is granted Boko Haram, armed robbers and kidnappers could as well be granted amnesty for their crimes against the state.”

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NATIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC: More trouble brews over Ikimi’s role in logo imposition •Tinubu, Buhari to meet again over differences

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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ll is not well with the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), as three of the merging parties have kicked against the imposition role played by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi in the choice of the new party’s logo.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has therefore directed its members in the merger committee to meet early next week to review the development with the hindsight of assuring it that the party’s interests are well respected.

This is also as two foremost leaders of the new party, General Mohammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may meet in Kano in the next few days to address the grey areas in the merger arrangement, particularly the need to end the intra party crisis in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) before the special party convention scheduled to hold next month.

Tinubu has been mediating between the Hanga Rufai-led and Tony Momohled factions of the CPC and has almost achieved a truce before last week Appeal Court judgment that gifted victory to the Momoh fac-

tion resulting in the expulsion of Senator Hanga and some of his allies from the party. This action has once more stoked the crisis in the CPC and has tended to derail the peace process already initiated by Tinubu.

Meanwhile, at the last meeting of the enlarged merger committee, which include all the opposition governors, two ANPP governors of Borno and Yobe were absent and no reason was given for their absence. Saturday Mirror also gathered that the National Chairman of the ANPP, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu including some members of his National Working Committee have tactically distanced

themselves from most of the meetings where the merger issues are discussed.

Chief Ikimi, an Edo State-born ACN chieftain is the chairman of the merger committee and he has the singular honour of donating his Maitama, Abuja residence for most of the meetings of the committee in which he also presides.

An ANPP source who was also at the Tuesday meeting where the logo was unveiled said that Ikimi favoured the ACN in the deliberations that resulted in the choice of the ‘broom’ in the logo. The committee also favoured the choice the CPC slogan of ‘change’ while the ANPP was left to

contend with just a mere colour of its flag.

According to the source, “in spite of the fact that the ANPP commands more grassroots presence and controls larger number of states in the North, yet the party was treated with ignominy. The outcome of the meeting was orchestrated and the script was written before hand only to be read that night.

“My party has however resolved to be part of the merger but we will not stand and watch other party subsume us into their planned agenda. We are aware that one of the parties resisted our joining the merger but should we be treated unequally in the merger, we may chose to opt out. The agenda behind the merger is to end the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but we are yet to achieve that and inequality has already begun creeping in. It is quite unfortunate.”

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is also a member of the merger committee, told Saturday Mirror that the new party’s logo, slo-

gan and motto was unanimously adopted after the meeting of the larger committee and the opposition alliance governors which ended late on Tuesday.

On the imposition of the party’s logo, slogan and motto on the merger committee by the governors, Mohammed noted that the committee has been working in harmony with the alliance governors, noting that no member of the committee objected to the logo, slogan or motto of the new party when it was presented for adoption at the meeting.

He said: “Only the merger committee has the final authority on any issue about the proposed merger, the governors explained that all the decisions the governors arrived at in their own meeting was presented to the larger committee for approval and we all deliberated on them and arrived at a consensus on the ground that there must be give and take by all the intending merger political parties.

Saturday Mirror also learnt that some members of the CPC were not in support of the slogan, ‘Justice, Unity and Peace’ and had lobbied for it to be changed.

Ogene congratulates new NGE president

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Best Man Games Limited, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe; wife of British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Julie Pocock and Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh during Securities and Exchange Commission International PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA Women’s Day seminar in Abuja, yesterday.

‘Police has no clue on Maina’s whereabouts’

•Yet to contact Interpol OUR REPORTER

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he Nigeria Police has no clue yet on the whereabouts of the absconded Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team PRTT, Dr Abdulrasheed Maina, Saturday Mirror has learnt.

Saturday Mirror also learnt that the Force may have not contacted the Interpol as there are feelers that Mr Maina has yet to flee the country.

A security source who said his colleague was a member of the Task Team but who pleaded anonymity however said since Mr Maina was a close friend of the Police and the Department of State Service,

it is difficult to believe that the police do not know his whereabouts.

The source told Saturday Mirror: “A friend of mine who is also a colleague served on that team. The last time I checked, the police was yet to contact Interpol but you can also ask them to see if things have changed in the last few days.”

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, did not immediately respond to telephone calls or text messages sent to his mobile phone.

Senate President, David Mark had weeks ago issued a warrant for Maina’s arrest but the police said it could not immediately bring Maina to book as he

had fled. It could not however say where Maina fled to.

When last month the Senate drilled the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, for his failure to produce Maina, the IGP reportedly promised to go after Maina with the International Police (INTERPOL), to help track him down wherever he may be hiding abroad.

Maina

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eputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene has felicitated with new president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Femi Adesina, over his triumph at the recently concluded election of the Guild.

The felicitation was contained in a letter personally signed by Ogene and addressed to Adesina and made available to Saturday Mirror.

While congratulating Adesina on his election, Ogene said: “Given your noble antecedents, it is my earnest

hope that you shall deploy your enormous goodwill in pushing the frontiers of the Guild, such that at the end of your tour of duty, you would have elevated the practice of journalism to new and enviable heights.”

He added that although Adesina would be faced with daunting challenges, “especially with the rise of the New Media, wherein citizen Journalists operates without scant regard for the attributes which define real journalism,” he had no doubt as to the ability of the new NGE president and his team to deliver on their mandate.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

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Bishop to Sultan: Boko Haram must lay down arms before amnesty AUGUSTINE MADU WEST KANO

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L-R: Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson, wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elisabeth Sonubi during the 2013 International Women’s Day celebration at Valley-View Auditorium, Isale-Igbein in Abeokuta...yesterday.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Nigeria scores low in forced marriages, reproductive health •Nigerian NGO makes global top 10 social enterprise list

TOBORE OVUORIE

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igeria scored low on forced marriage of underaged children and adolescent, youth and reproductive health as the world yesterday marked the International Women’s Day. Timed to the celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8, global advocacy group Women Deliver yesterday announced New Incentives, a Nigerian based nonprofit group as one of the top 10 global social enterprises that benefit girls and women around the world.

This was as global advocacy group Women Deliver yesterday announced New Incentives, a Nigerian based nonprofit group as one of the top 10 global social enterprises that benefit girls and women around the world.

The Africa Health, Human and Social Development (Afri-Dev) Alliance and Africa Coalition On

Maternal, Newborn And Child Health have called on African Heads of State to uphold the African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child, and implement an Africa wide abolition of exploitation and abuse of millions of girl children through “so called child marriage”.

The call was made yesterday during the sitting of the United Nations Commission at the UN headquarters, New York, during the evaluation of the status of women, where it was discovered that violence against women is still a major factor hindering the growth of many African countries, including Nigeria.

Summary findings from the latest scorecard and analysis indicated Nigeria as one of the 30 countries where between 30 and 75 percent of underage girls are forced into ‘marriage’. This, it indicated is also a major contributor to the high mortality incidence in the country.

Nigeria again scored low in the category for adolescent, youth and reproductive health as she was grouped alongside nations with high adolescent fertility but which isn’t being properly managed as a result of forced marriages and other violence against women and the girl child.

These countries are Chad, Somalia, Central African Rep, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Guinea, Niger, Zimbabwe, Congo, DRC, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Gambia, Benin, Ethiopia, Uganda and Burkina Faso.

New Incentives is one of the world’s few conditional cash transfer nonprofits. It provides women living on less than $0.30 per day the opportunity to earn an income on the “condition” that they invest in some aspect of their own human capital – health, education, or other family or household needs.

By offering women the opportunity to invest in themselves and their families, New Incentives helps prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, en-

ables at-risk adolescent girls to pursue secondary school, and more.

Drawn from 25 semifinalists, more than 13,500 votes were cast online to select New Incentives and the other winners. The nine others include: Black Girls Code based in the United States; Educate2Envision International, Honduras; G3Box, Kenya; Global Health Media Project; Teen Revolt, USA; Torath Production, Qatar and MENA (Middle East and North Africa); Voice 4 Girls, India; Wedu, Bangkok, Thailand; and Woman To Woman Foundation in Uganda.

Each finalist will receive a scholarship to this year’s edition of the Women Deliver international conference which would hold from May 28 to 30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , where they will compete in the first ever Women Deliver Social Enterprise Challenge.

In Kuala Lumpur, representatives from the 10 winning social enterprises will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges, who will select the winner of the 2013 “Global Solution Award.”

Diamond Bank lends out N70bn to small scale businesses RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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bout N70 billion has been granted out as loan by Diamond Bank to customers so as to salvage Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSME).

This disclosure came Thursday in Calabar when

the head of Diamond Bank MSME, Mr. Chidimma Nnadozie spoke with newsmen at the 28th Enterprise series of the bank.

According to him, even though Diamond Bank have sunk that whooping amount, right from 2009 when the initiative kickstarted, the bank still have about N35 billion to disburse

for the MSME, adding that though the cardinal objective of setting up a bank is to make profit, Diamond Bank is still passionate in its quest to turn around the fortunes of its dear customers.

He stated that Diamond Bank, being a financial institution desirous of boosting the economic well being of Nigerians, in its magna-

nimity shoved aside every obstacle like collateral security, which in the past often times hindered customers from accessing loans, adding that the criteria for qualifying for the loan includes a rolling business, a premises where one runs his business and a operating an account with the bank for not less than three months.

pparently excited

by President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration in Maiduguri that there will be no amnesty for the Boko Haram militants, the General Overseer of Calvary Life Assembly, Bishop Ramson Bello has charged the revered Islamic leader, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III to direct the faceless extremists to first lay down their arms before pressing a case on their behalf for amnesty.

The Sultan was reported to have asked the Federal Government to consider amnesty to members of the sect as part of measures to find lasting solution to the sect’s hostilities in the Northern region.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday Mirror, Bishop Bello, said he finds the request by the Sultan irritating, due largely to the killings be-

ing perpetrated by Boko Haram in violation of the ceasefire purportedly declared sometime ago.

While faulting the Sultan’s position on the grounds that it is the sect that should ask for amnesty and not the Caliphate, Bishop Bello pointed out that the Sultan’s statement could carry weight, if he was speaking on behalf of the sect and not merely offering suggestion.

His words: “In my thinking, Boko Haram militants should consider laying down their arms, approach the relevant authorities for amnesty, by so doing, Nigerians would begin to take them serious that they are ready for peace.

“In the alternative, their sponsors should come out openly and do the negotiation for them, but if the Sultan is so concern, he should declare his position and then take over the negotiation himself, because it is obvious that the sect is being sponsored by known characters and there is no way you can grant amnesty to people you don’t see and have no contact with.”

Enough is enough, Middle Belt youths tell Boko Haram A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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socio-political group, the Middle Belt Youth Forum (MBYF), yesterday threw its weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan’s stance on the call for amnesty for Boko Haram, warning the sect that enough is enough of its terrorist activities.

In an email statement to Saturday Mirror by the forum’s National Youth Leader, Hon. Jonathan Asake , the group said that the call for amnesty by the Sultan of Sokoto was one of the consistent pressure mounted on President Jonathan by some Northern cabal to either frustrate any attempt to label Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, or to force government to reward the sect.

The MBYF said that the startling revelations by Senator Ita Enang on the floor of the Senate during the debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) further exposed the hypocrisy and irrespon-

sibility of Northern leaders.

The statement reads in part: “These agitations has always given us a clue as to who the sponsors of these terror groups are, otherwise how could anyone begin to call for “immediate amnesty” for a group that has maimed and killed thousands of people, particularly Middle Belters and Southerners resident in the North going about their legitimate businesses for no just cause, with property worth billions of naira destroyed?”

The forum wondered if it not shameful to discover that 83 per cent of Nigeria’s oil wells are owned by Northerners, “but yet no programs, scholarships or other efforts that are put in place to improve on the plight of the Northern masses.”

It added that but for Gen. T.Y. Danjuma who has put in place a foundation for charity and has been involved in the development of education in Nigeria, no other Northerner has impacted positively on the lives of the Northern masses.

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REGIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH WEST

EKSU student killing: NANS tasks IGP on killer cop ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened yesterday to deploy available means to ensure that justice is done in the killing by the police of a 400-level student of Ekiti State University, Mr Seyi Fasere. Chairman, NANS Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Ekiti Axis, Comrade Damilare Bewaji, also urged the federal government to set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the murder of the student who the police arrested, tied his hands behind his back, tortured, shot dead and later paraded as an armed robber.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Bewaji said that the police action, apart from being criminal, was “the height of display of incivility and irresponsibility by the Nigeria Police Force.”

Charging the InspectorGeneral of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, to ensure the matter was thoroughly investigated, NANS said, “We shall fully mobilise all needed resources to ensure that justice is done and that the culprits are brought to book.”

They also called for serious sanctions against a ‘notorious’ police officer

known as ‘Akobi Esu’ who is attached to Oye-Ekiti Divisional Police Station over his boast that he actually pulled the trigger that snuffed life out of the late university student.

NANS also urged human rights groups and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to rise up in defence of the family of the slain student “so that the matter would not end

Aregbesola rescues 10 accident victims in Lagos

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t least 10 people were on Friday rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja on the order of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State for urgent medical attention after suffering various degrees of injuries in a fatal road accident.

Aregbesola was headed to Osogbo from Lagos when his convoy came upon an accident scene in-

volving two passenger vehicles in which many passengers sustained serious injuries at the Maryland area of Lagos.

A commuter bus marked Lagos KRD 583 XC was said to have rammed into a BRT Bus marked 109 leading to many people, especially in the commuter bus, sustaining serious injuries.

Aregbesola, who supervised the rescue efforts of

the way of other extrajudicial offences that had been committed by the police in the country.”

It would be recalled that the commercial vehicle which the slain student boarded from his Ilupeju-Ekiti home to school in Ado-Ekiti ran into a robbery operation at OyeEkiti which forced the occupants of the bus to run away for safety. the victims, also led the efforts to convey the injured passengers to the teaching hospital in Ikeja where he spoke with officials of the hospital and pleaded with them to immediately give the victims urgent medical attention.

Director, Osun State Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said the governor is appealing to motorists all over the country to be safety conscious as many promising Nigerians have been sent to early graves through road carnages.

But Fasere was unfortunate as the police apprehended him, tortured him, tied his hands and later shot him dead on Friday morning under the pretext that he was one of the armed robbers that attacked their station and a bank in the town.

However, a a 72-year-old woman, Mrs Victoria Adewuyi, who boarded the commercial bus alongside

Fasere and three other passengers, exonerated the slain student who she described as a victim of circumstance.

Adewuyi told journalists at Ilupeju-Ekiti that the slain Fasere and other occupants of the bus raninto the bush where they lay face-down for about 45 minutes before the gunfire between the police and the robbers subsided.

Amosun swears in first female Attorney-General

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gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday swore in Barrister Mrs Abimbola Ibironke Akeredolu as the first female AttorneyGeneral (AG) since the creation of the state in 1976.

He also swore in Barrister Mrs Patricia Funmilola Oduniyi as Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary.

The Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy were administered on the new officials by 9.15am.

A statement by Funmi Wakama, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor

on Media, said the inauguration ceremony was attended by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Mrs Olatokunbo Olopade and immediate past AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), and held at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta.

Amosun observed that this was the first time the entire top positions of the justice system in the state would be manned by women. He urged Akeredolu and Oduniyi to see their inauguration on “the day the world is celebrating International Women’s Day as a call to service.”

Ajimobi presents N1m to family of late Yes-O cadet

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L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Head of Service, Mrs. Kehinde Famosaya; wife of Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Modupe Owolabi; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi and wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, during the 2013 International Women’s Day celebration, in Ado-Ekiti, recently.

Lagos to experience 275 days of heavy rainfall DAYO AYEYEMI

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oing by the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) for 2013, Lagos State will experience heavy rainfall of high intensity and thunderstorm for between 249 and 275 days this year with intermittent stoppage between February and August.

Briefing journalists on the frightening prediction, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, said it has been predicted that the rainfall would commence between the first and second week in March, with a margin of error of three days.

He added that the prediction was further confirmed

with the rains which, he said had come in torrents on Saturday/Sunday of March 2nd – 3rd, as well as of Monday 4th respectively.

He explained that Lagos is expected to record 1722mm with marginal error of between 21mm and 179mm and added that thunderstorm has also been predicted to occur during the rainy period of June, July,

August, September and October.

As predicted last year, using the SRP, Bello stated that the pattern of Lagos and South-West states rainfall this year would not be different from the 2012 predictions, noting that one of the widely discussed transboundary issues across the globe currently is the climate change challenge.

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, yesterday presented a cheque of N1 million to the family of the late Miss Bolaji Ogunnike, a YES-O cadet attached to Egbeda Local Government Council who lost her life in an accident recently while on official duty.

Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Abimbola Adekanmbi and the Chairman, Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Gbenga Olayemi, the governor presented the cheque to the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Margret Ogunnike at their Ogbere-Idi Osan residence.

In a release issued

by Dr. Festus Adedayo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and made available to Saturday Mirror, Ajimobi de-

scribed the death of the YES-O cadet as ‘very unfortunate and tragic.’ He said that the amount presented to the family was not meant for compensation but to lessen the pain of the family as “no one can compensate for loss of life.”

Ajimobi said he felt very concerned about the incident and that he had earlier directed the Chairman of Egbeda Local Government to pay a condolence visit to the family.

While expressing appreciation to the governor for the gesture, Mrs. Ogunnike and the elder sister to the deceased, Miss Modupeola Ogunnike, described Governor Ajimobi as a caring, sympathetic and humane leader who attached value to the life of every citizen of the state.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

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SOUTH EAST

Alleged resignation: Imo dep gov still in office CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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ontrary to speculations that the Imo State Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, has resigned from office following allegations of contract scam, Saturday Mirror can authoritatively reveal that the embattled deputy governor is still in office and performing his assigned duties.

Agbaso resumed at his Twin House office in Owerri yesterday at 8am before leaving to inspect some road projects going on along Port Harcourt Road. It would also be recalled that he had, lately, been the subject of a probe instituted by the state House of Assembly.

It was alleged that he was fingered in the improper award and execution of road contracts especially the ones that concerns JPROS International Nig. Ltd, a con-

As House committee recommends ‘vote of no confidence’ on him struction firm handling road projects in the state, when he was Commissioner for Works and Transport.

Meanwhile, the sixman ad-hoc committee set up by the Imo State House of Assembly to in-

vestigate the allegation of contract scam against the deputy governor submitted its report to the House on Thursday night.

Chairman of the adhoc committee, Hon. Simeon Iwunze, alleg-

edly recommended a vote of no confidence to be passed on the deputy governor for his involvement in the contracts.

The committee found the deputy governor guilty of the allegations levelled against him and re-

ported that Joseph Dina of JPROS International Nig. Ltd transferred the total sum of N458 million in two installments to accounts nominated by the deputy governor.

Dismissing the defence put up by Agbaso

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State(left) with the former President of Ghana, Jerry delivering a lecture at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka ,yesterday

during the hearing, the committee said the deputy governor’s claims were “totally inconsistent with the facts and documentary evidence brought before it. He lied over matters within his personal knowledge and thereby put his credibility in doubt in the eye of the committee,” the committee reported.

It was gathered that House is yet to serve the deputy governor with the impeachment notice as only 10 members have so far endorsed the document.

But a reliable source close to Government House told Saturday Mirror yesterday(Friday) that the deputy governor actually tendered his resignation to the Governor Okorocha two days ago, but the Governor has not accepted it.

Enugu corps members to undergo compulsory vocational training DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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enceforth, every National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Enugu State will be made to undergo vocational trainings. The aim of the scheme is to make the corps members acquire complementary skill that will help them

excel in life.

The state’s NYSC coordinator, Mr. Hilary Nasamu, dropped the hint during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2013 batch A corps members undergoing orientation in the state.

He said that the vocational and entrepreneurship training has become obligatory for the corps members after the scheme

was approved by the state’s NYSC board. He added that the vocational training will enable the corps members become job creators instead of job seekers at the end of their service year.

He also said that corps members would be engaged in language lessons to enable them communicate effectively with the people of their host com-

munities.

“They (corps members) will also go through leadership training, paramilitary drills and selfdefence training. Platoon competitions in sports and social activities have also been arranged for them to relax and develop their talents through healthy competition,” Nasamu disclosed further.

He also thanked the

Committee accuses Anambra community leader of diverting relief materials NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

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he seven-man committee on Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State flood disaster has accused the chairman of Okpoko community caretaker committee, Hon. David Chukwu Ekezie, of diverting majority of relief materials donated to displaced persons.

The relief materials were donated by both government and various

organisations during and after the flood disaster in various parts of the state last year.

Secretary of the committee, Rev. Dr. Daniel Orji, who raised the alarm yesterday at Okpoko, near Onitsha, said the committee was satisfied with the distribution methods of the relief materials in other communities of Ogbaru except Okpoko.

Orji said their attention was drawn to the scandal by some of the flood victims and dis-

placed persons who vented their grievances on Ekezie’s antics. Orji further disclosed that upon investigation, the

committee realised that several food items, nails, bags of cement and other relief materials were missing.

Mrs Bernice Anoke is dead

W

ith gratitude to God for life very well lived, we announce the transition to Glory of Our Sister, Mother, Grand Mother, Great Grand Mother, In-law and Namesake, MRS BERNICE ADAEZE ODII ANOKE whose death occurred on Monday, Febru-

ary 25, 2013.

In a release by Chief Robertson Odii , she was aged 81.

The late Mrs Anoke is survived by very many Children, Grand Children, Great Grand Children ,Inlaws, Brothers and Sisters.

Her burial arrangement is in progress.

state government for assisting in the facelift of the orientation camp, appealed for further assistance in supplementing the feeding of the corps members in camp, and also asked for drugs for the camp clinic.

In his address, Enugu State Governor, Sullivan

Chime, who read President Goodluck Jonathan’s address at the event, said the federal government was committed to providing the enabling environment to keep the scheme viable and assured of the corpers’ safety wherever they were posted in the country.

Anambra groups protest over land grabbing

A

wka Development Union (ADU), a group based in Awka, the Anambra State capital has condemned in strong terms the alleged encroachment on ancestral lands of the people of the community by people they claimed are speculators acting under the guise of the state government.

During a protest march organised to protest against the encroachment, ADU claimed that lands which the community handed over to the state government for development have found their way into the hands of private

persons.

At the march, another group, Okwanka, also berated the land grabbers for chasing the indigenes and rightful owners of the land away from their ancestral heritage.

Speaking at the rally, Comrade Obi Ochije said, “The youths have been restive over this matter and that is why we have decided to embark on this peaceful protest. We do not want to cause any violence.”

Buttressing their claim, the Okwanka also circulated a map showing that indigenous people were being chased away from their ancestral lands.

12

REGIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH SOUTH

Good governance tour: Maku, A’Ibom SSG, UNIUYO VC in war of words TONY ANICHEBE UYO

eral government’s assistance to the institution.

Prof. Ekpo listed the

lack of funding of the university as major reason for its poor state.

She told the minister that the federal government has been unfair to

the university because it has not been given a take-off grant since in-

A

mild drama played out yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, when the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, engaged the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Obong Umana Oko Umana and the Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort Memfin Ekpo in a war of words.

The Good Governance Team, in continuation of its nationwide tour, was in the state to inspect ongoing projects. At the permanent site of the UniUyo, the VC conducted the team round the complex and lamented the lack of fed-

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (left), presenting a souvenir to the Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency, Chris Cooter, during a courtesy call and signing of MOU with the state government on teachers training in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Bayelsa officials pay recommended tax rates, says gov’s aide EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

I

t has been learnt that top civil servants and political appointees in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government pay between 7 and 20 per cent of their total salaries as personal income tax in line with the 2011 Amendment Law of Personal Income Tax. It was also learnt that medical and health workers, Niger Delta University, Amassoma and State College of Arts and Sci-

ence staff, who receive commendable salaries, also pay higher taxes to boost the revenue profile of the state.

Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Treasury Accounts and Revenue Matters, Timipre Seipulo, disclosed the information to journalists yesterday in Yenagoa, the state’s capital, adding that the state government was also reviewing the revenue laws empowering ministries and government to collect and spend revenue.

With the new law, the governor’s aide said all revenue collected by the ministries, departments and agencies would be paid into government’s account.

Investigation by Saturday Mirror revealed that an array of civil and public servants in the state have been lamenting over tax deduction on their February salaries. Our correspondent gathered that the monthly revenue profile of the state has hit N800 million from the former N300 million.

Seipulo also said junior civil servants pay lesser tax in the new tax law, stressing that the government would soon open a separate bank account

where proceeds from taxes would be lodged for subsequent projects in the state.

“In the state, workers are not properly taxed within the existing laws.

Rather, what was done was a flat deduction of four, five, six and seven per cents and tax laws in the country do not support such practice.

Personal Income tax law has been there for a long time,” Seipulo stated, and added that “the revenue profile of the state will improve if government engages the services of consultants to collect taxes from the private sector and the oil firms operating in the state.”

Dickson tasks contractors on projects EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

B

ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday tasked contractors handling various projects in the state to speed up work to ensure the timely completion of their jobs.

The governor said the state government would not allow any of its projects to suffer setbacks occasioned by the impending flood disaster

predicted by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

Dickson, who spoke yesterday in Yenagoa at a meeting with contractors, said the call was borne out of his administration’s commitment to the aggressive development of the state. He used the occasion to assure the people of the state of his commitment to consolidating on the achievements recorded in the last one year.

“I am quite pleased with the pace of work that I have seen. Very soon a date will be communicated to you through the various supervisory ministries for the site inspection of all major works including the ones we inherited,” Dickson said.

While he commended some of the contractors for their performance, he frowned at the slow pace of work on some of the projects.

According to him, no

contractor has an excuse not to deliver on the promises made as the state does not owe any of them money. Governor Dickson. “So far it’s been good but you can all do better. There are a few projects that are not meeting up with the schedule. To the best of my knowledge, there is no contractor we have given a job that we owe. In this new Bayelsa, if we give you a job, just know that we will fulfill our obligations,” he concluded.

ception, despite the fact that it runs the highest number of courses.

Enraged, the minister took the VC to the cleaners, saying that the dilapidation in the institution was due to her lack of vision.

Obong Umana’s effort to intervene in the verbal assault on the VC was met with even hotter words from the minister who told the SSG to keep his mouth shut.

Maku stated that UniUyo was receiving its own level of funding and nobody should expect that it will be funded like first generation universities.

The Good Governance Team also inspected other projects including the Ibom Tropicana and Ibom International Airport.

Ogoni elite furious over non-implementation of UNEP report CHRIS NEWMAN PORT HARCOURT

S

ome elites of the oil rich Ogoni kingdom in Rivers State are angry with the federal government over its believed nonchalant attitude to the implementation of the approved United Nations Environmental Programme {UNEP} report.

National Coordinator of Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Comrade Celestine Akpobari, who made this known in Port Har-

President Jonathan

court, said that they will soon manifest their anger to the Federal Government of Nigeria if the entire Ogoni land, which has been polluted from oil spillage by Shell, was not cleaned up according to the recommendations of the UNEP report.

Akpobari said that the Ogoni people have been patient with the federal government which has maintained silence over the environmental devastation that has kept the people in abject poverty over the years.

The group also accused President Goodluck Jonathan of not ensuring the immediate implementation of the UNEP report, even though he is a Niger Delta indigene.

Akpobari also called on the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to come to their aid by ensuring the speedy implementation of the UNEP report and the subsequent clean-up of the entire Ogoni kingdom.

Politics

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 9, 2013

13

2015: Can opposition cage Jonathan?

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

T

hough the 2015 presidential election is still about two years away, the contest for who occupies the Aso Rock Presidential Villa come May 29, 2015 has started in earnest.

In the last few months, there have been series of permutation, horse trading and political gimmicks targeted at 2015.

At the moment, political parties, geopolitical zones leaders, ethnic groups, politicians, technocrats, among others are watching with keen interest and strategically positioning their candidate towards scaling all odds to become the president in 2015.

Since the beginning of 2013, a lot of political events have been pointing to the battle for 2015. The last week Friday ruling of an Abuja High Court, which cleared President Goodluck Jonathan to run for presidency in 2015, without any iota of doubt has kick-started the battle for the exalted seat in 2015.

An Abuja High Court, last week Friday, had declared President Jonathan eligible to contest the 2015 presidential election if he so desires.

Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, while delivering judgment in a suit brought by a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, challenging Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the election, ruled that the president’s assumption of office in 2010 as a result of the death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was in fulfillment of the constitutional provision.

The judge maintained that going by the express provision of Section 137(1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, he is eligible to contest for the presidency in 2015.

He noted that President Jonathan’s tenure as president started running in May 29, 2011, when he took the oath of office and not on May 6, 2010, when he assumed office after Yar’Adua passed away.

Justice Oniyangi ruled that: “After the death of Umar Yar’Adua, there was no election or by-election. President Jonathan was merely asked to assume the office of the president in line with the doctrine of necessity. He was not elected as the president but was made to assume office by virtue of Yar’Adua’s death.

“Having exhausted the late president’s tenure, he sought for his party’s ticket and ran for the office of the president successfully in the 2011 general election. He is therefore currently serving his first tenure of office and if he so wishes, he is eligible

to further seek his party’s ticket through the party’s primary election and to run for office in 2015.”

With the court ruling many people are of the view that the coast has been finally cleared for President Jonathan to seek reelection in 2015. But some political analysts seem to be dissatisfied with the court ruling and therefore several opposition members, especially from the North, have started mounting pressure to stop Jonathan from contesting in 2015.

As part of the measures to truncate Jonathan’s second term ambition in 2015, some Northern leaders have embarked on what is termed “Operation stop President Goodluck Jonathan at all cost.” There are various reports that powerful Northern elite, uncomfortable with Jonathan running in 2015 are working assiduously to adopt new strategies, including instituting another case against the President.

Expressing their dissatisfaction over the ruling of the Abuja High Court, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), through its spokesman, Mr. Anthony Sani, disclosed that the case against Jonathan would be taken to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

His words: “Constitution allows for maximum period of eight years and that if the President contests in 2015 and wins he will be in office for more than the maximum of eight years. They cite the cases of the six governors who had reruns and the Supreme Court judgment which made the periods before reruns by the six governors to count. So, they submit that the remaining period of President Ya’Adua which President Jonathan completed should also count.

“In that case, he is not eligible to contest in 2015. The case has not been decided yet. I believe such are some of the dilemmas the President has found himself; the burden of honour, trust and confidence as well as the court case.”

Those kicking against Jonathan’s return based their views on the one-term agreement allegedly signed by President Jonathan with the PDP governors prior to the 2011 presidential primary election as revealed recently by the chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Dr. Babangida Aliyu.

Aliyu had said: “I recall that at the time he was going to declare for the 2011 election, all the PDP governors were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind. And I recall that some of us said given the circumstances of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and given the PDP zoning arrangement, it was

Jonathan

expected that the North was to produce the president for a given number of years.

“I recall that at that discussion, it was agreed that Jonathan would serve only one term of four years and we all signed the agreement. Even when Jonathan went to Kampala, in Uganda, he also said he was going to serve a single term.

“For now, President Jonathan has not declared a second term ambition and we must not speculate based on those who are benefiting from the campaign. I think we are all gentlemen enough so when the time comes, we will all come together and see what the right thing to do is.”

Commenting on Aliyu’s claim, the ACF spokesman said having agreed to spend one term, most Nigerians would not expect the President to swallow his words of honour and trust and contest in 2015, considering that he is an embodiment of national ideals and moral values. He said the issue at stake is not a matter of constitutional right but of honour, trust and confidence.

Countering the claim that Jonathan signed an agreement to serve for only one term, the Acting National President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Joshua Benaimasia, challenged Aliyu to substantiate his claim by producing a copy of the agreement.

His words: “Babangida Aliyu owes it a duty to make the agreement Jonathan signed that he is not going to seek re-election in 2015 public. It is only such document that can portray Jonathan as a person who is not honouring his words if he decides to seek re-election in 2015.

“Maybe the time is not ripe but we need a document to show that Jonathan would be acting in breach of such agreement if he decides to run for the presidency of the country in 2015.

“The truth is that everybody has a right to aspire for the highest political office in the country. Jonathan too is free to run unless he has mortgaged that right to other people that he cannot run again. But the question is why is the issue of agree-

ment coming up now since Jonathan has not told anybody that he is going to run in 2015? He has not said that he is contesting but I will like to sight the document like other Nigerians.”

As part of the measures to stop Jonathan, the anti-Jonathan camp has started reaching out to some power brokers in the North, such as former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among others to align and scuttle Jonathan’s second term presidential ambition. As at today, the PDP is alleged to be at the pocket of the presidency and therefore those fighting against Jonathan believe that it may be difficult for them to stop the President from running in 2015.

In this vein, Saturday Mirror learnt that some Northern leaders are in serious talks with the leaders of the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) on the possibility of using the party as a viable platform to stop Jonathan from realising his second term ambition.

Apart from the forces against Jonathan from the North, some governors, especially those who are nurturing the ambition of running as presidential or vice presidential candidates in 2015 are believed to be working against the president’s aspiration. In recent time, the relationship between Jonathan and some governors is like that of cat and mouse and it is this development that led to emergence of Governor Godswill Akpabio-led PDP Governors’ Forum to weaken the power of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

The NGF is believed to be working against the interest of the presidency and the ruling party despite the fact that the PDP has 23 members out of the 36 members of the NGF. Opposition parties are also not taking it lightly with Jonathan as they are working assiduously with the formation of the APC, which comprised the merger of CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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POLITICS

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Don’t reduce political parties, allow them to evolve with time’ Dr. Tanko Yunusa is the national chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), founded by the late human rights activist and radical lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi. The former NCP vice presidential candidate in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, speaks on his party’s running battle with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the recent deregistration of NCP and other political parties, among other issues. Excerpts:

H

ow has National Conscience Party (NCP) being faring since the death of its founder, Chief Gani Fawehinmi?

The NCP has grown from the demise of our great founder, the late Chief Abdulganiyu Fawehinmi. At a formation stage, we use to have nomination of credible comrades into key positions but now we have moved to electing members into key positions because of increase in membership. I can tell you authoritatively that there is no political party in Nigeria today that has respected internal democracy like the NCP. The late Chief Gani led the party for 10 years. Dr Osagie Obayuwana took over then came Barr Femi Falana, and then my humble self on July 9, 2012, in the State of Osun, all through internal election supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The NCP has experienced a lot of growth.

At the last election, we had 24 governorship candidates, several Senate and House of Representatives’ candidates; that is growth. We contested in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections; that is growth.

Even though there are challenges in the area of funding, there is room for improvement Why has it been difficult for any Nigerian to step into the shoes left behind by the late Gani Fawehinmi?

The answwr to that is verysimple. It is because people refused to be just, fair, equitable in their dealings. Most Nigerian leaders are sentimental; they take decision based on ethnic or religion consideration and not looking at the people as the

Yunusa

same and one. An injury to one is an injury to all. Late Chief Gani saw all people as one and the nation growth was top on his agenda.

How do you see the de-registration of political parties, including your party, the NCP? For us we have a history. We support multi-political system where the right of every Nigerian is protected under the constitution. The issue of de-registration of political parties is unconstitutional and section 78 of The Electoral Act is anti people. What is the sense of deregistering a political party today then re-register another one tomorrow? Political parties should be allowed to evolve with time. You can see what is happening between the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) that is the way it should go What is your take on the ruling of the Federal High Court that threw away the case you filed against INEC over deregistration of NCP? It was a judgement that we all have an appreciation about but then we will continue the struggle. The NCP has a history

of struggle and our struggle has always being towards defending the interest of the people. We started as a movement; we were not even registered as a political party but gradually we took the matter up to the Supreme Court and eventually we were registered as a political party, that process is about to start again with the ruling of the Federal High Court. We are starting all over again and on the same matter we will continue appealing the matter until we get to the Supreme Court.

In your own view, why is the opposition weak in Nigeria?

The fact is that the people are weak. The government of the day has made it so difficult for survival that you can only find favour in the government. The action of the people has been remote-controlled and they could not shake it off. This has affected the opposition, greed for position has also affected the opposition with lack of fund to mobilise their people while the ruling party spend funds from the treasury at will. But I think we are picking it together now How do you see the verdict of the court last week giving President Goodluck Jonathan the nod to run for presi-

dency in 2015?

Well, that is the ruling of the court. But the fact is that every person should be able to hold on to his words, that makes you a trusted man. As far as we are concerned, it is the people who decide on who leads them.

I am only disturbed that our leaders cannot be trusted whenever they make commitment. Like the President was alleged to have said that he would run for only one term. What we are seeing is different now.

How would you assess President Jonathan-led administration and do you think Jonathan should run for presidency in 2015?

For me there is nothing to asses at the moment; everything remains the same.

The level of corruption is unprecedented and people are killed every day. The Kwara State Police Commissioner was killed in front of his house. If a CP can be killed just like that, what happen to the common man?

The youth are crying for jobs. Everything is upside down. The list is endless.

At present the North and the South are battling for the presidency on issue of rotational presidency, justice, fair play and equity, what is your take on this?

The fact is it is not about North or South; it is about a capable and qualified individual that can lead, elected by the people and not on sentiment ethnic or religion bases.

We need someone that can put the nation first and the rest would follow Do you support the North’s resistance that President Jonathan must not run in 2015?

As I said, we need a qualified and capable person, in respective of which part of the country he or she comes from.

Last year, the NCP formed a shadow cabinet, what prompted the action and what is the present state of the shadow cabinet?

The shadow government is up and running and we have just concluded working on an alternative budget for the Nigerian people, which would be made known to the nation very soon now that the President has signed the budget in to law How do you see the recent emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC)?

It is a welcome development, but the new proposed party needs to quickly put its act together and be very mindful of fifth columnists among their rank and file, who may be planted to break up the union.

Do you see APC as viable alternative to the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

Every political party is an alternative to the PDP as long as the game is played fairly, in the right scenario where each political party has equal chances. All the political parties could perform where there is a level-playing field in the polity.

Will the NCP form alliance or partner with the APC for 2015 general elections?

Interestingly the NCP initiated the idea of a merger or alliance during the 2007 elecCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

POLITICS

March 9, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 tion under the group called Coalition for a New Nigeria (CNN). I was the secretary of the group, we opted for an alliance. That is still the position of the NCP. And any alliance would be fashioned under a program, that is the abolition of poverty and provision of jobs for the youth and not only to win power Considering the number of political parties in Nigeria, it has been canvassed that we practice two-party system, like it was in the Second Republic.

Do you support the idea?

There is nowhere in the world where democracy is practiced that practiced you have only two parties, not in the USA that have more than 100 political parties nor in the UK. I just came back from Benin Republic; they have a population of nine million people with over 100 political parties.

15

‘Allow political parties to evolve with time’ We have over 170 million people with 25 political parties. You don’t reduce political parties, you allow them to evolve with time that is the beauty of democracy Are you not really worried about the state of insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of the country?

It is a source of concern. The Northern leaders, including my humble self, just concluded a conference organised by the Northern Initiative for Development (NID) to examine the root cause of the spate of insecurity and proffer solution. It is our position that the government has a lot to do in terms of providing for and protecting the people.

What is your take on the proposed centenary anniversary of Nigeria be-

ing spearheaded by the Federal Government?

It is a waste of resources, even though the government said it would be financed by the private sector. They should use the money to provide enabling environment for our large unemployed youth to get jobs, to improve power supply, construct good road, build hospitals among other things, then we can celebrate.

Do you subscribe to the view that Nigeria should disintegrate or break up?

To whose advantage would that be? I don’t support it because our strength as a nation is in our diversity. If only we could do what is right for the people; abolish poverty, treat everyone equal, all this agitation would disappear.

Yunusa

this is the first time a President will come from the South-South, so I believe there is nothing wrong in allowing Jonathan to run for two terms.”

Three-time governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Ogun State, Ogbeni Lanre Banjo, is of the view that Jonathan has every right as a Nigerian citizen to contest and that right must and should be exercised.

Said he: “Frankly speaking, the premise on which the suit was brought was malicious, an abuse of court process and was probably instituted by a clown. First, if Umaru Yar’Adua did not die and after eight years, Jonathan decided to contest, who will say he could not contest since he was vice president now seeking to contest the highest office in the land. Secondly, his assumption of the office as the President after the demise of the late President Yar’Adua was a doctrine of necessity and not as a result of emerging winner in any election. On that premise, Jonathan has every right as a Nigerian citizen to contest and that right must and should be exercised. Therefore, the judgment of the Court is in order.

“After all, the North has spent 40 years in power with nothing to show for it, especially when one considers the plights of the majority of my Northern brethren, in whose names they have ruled. This North today, South tomorrow should be discouraged. In 2015, can a Southerner be bold enough to campaign in some part of the North when campaign begins. The only Southerner that can campaign in the North is Jonathan with the mighty power of the Federal Government. This is a serious issue.

“Jonathan has the federal might. Nobody can stop him from contesting. Whether he would win the elections or not would be determined by Nigerians. Nobody can deny him his rights to contest. If he loses the PDP ticket, another party will take him and PDP will lose the national election.

However, Jonathan can never lose the ticket of PDP. Natuional Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Chief Anenih are there to fix it for him, but I continue to pray that they would not be able to fix Nigerians and by extension, Nigeria, for him.”

Also speaking to Saturday Mirror, Second Republic Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari and member of the Board

of Trustees of the ACF, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, believes strongly that the principle of zoning and rotation of the presidency between the South and the North should be accepted.

His words: “I am in support of rotational presidency because it will give every part of the country the opportunity to produce the president. It will be fair if every section of the country is given the opportunity to taste power at the centre and I will suggest that rotation of public offices should also be applicable at local and state government levels. Rotation of the presidency is going to be in the interest of the country

and all those that are after the interest of the country should support the rotational presidency.”

As the battle for the 2015 presidency continues to gather momentum, many people are watching with keen interest what would be the lot of President Jonathan in 2015. Will he run for the presidency? If he runs, can the opposition against his second term stop him from getting the PDP ticket? If he gets PDP ticket, can he defeat the opposition party in presidential elections? If he wins, will he be able to govern the country effectively? These are questions begging for answers.

2015: Can opposition cage Jonathan?

four major opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and a section of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to send the ruling party packing in 2015.

Having seen the handwriting on the wall that a lot of forces are gathering against his re-election, President Jonathan, in conjunction with some PDP gladiators and pro-Jonathan groups have returned to the drawing board to re-strategise and ensure that Jonathan returns for a second term in office in 2015. One of such strategy is the emergence of a one-time chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP and former Minister of Works, Tony Anenih, as the new BoT chairman.

Anenih, popularly known in PDP circles as “Mr. Fix It,” is seen by the pro-Jonathan group as the man who can fix Jonathan’s second term bid and deliver.

Though Jonathan is yet declared his interest to run for the 2015 presidency, but the body languages of the President and the national leaders of the PDP have shown clearly that President Jonathan will fly the PDP ticket in next general elections.

But with the various gang-ups against Jonathan’s return to Aso Rock gaining momentum, the question begging for answers is: Can the gang-up against Jonathan succeed? While some people believe that no Jupiter can stop Jonathan from running in 2015, some are of the view that power should shift to the North.

Speaking to Saturday Mirror, the Secretary of the Southern Forum and former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Dr. Dejo Raimi, said President Jonathan will complete two terms in office, saying that nobody can stop him from contesting for the presidency in 2015.

His words: “There is nothing wrong for somebody from the oil producing area of the South-South to be President again in 2015. The Nigerian constitution permits two terms. Jonathan is going to do two terms whether the Northerners like it or not. The North should forget about producing the President in 2015. Nobody can stop Jonathan from contesting for second term.

He is from the South-South and 80 per cent of the country revenue is from the SouthSouth. Since Nigeria gained independence,

In your refreshingly different

Reign of mushroom varsities Recently, the National Universities Commission (NUC) announced that there are 33 unlicensed and as such, illegal universities still operating in Nigeria.

This set of institutions, it is now found, has been joined by a number of universities in neighbouring West African countries, as they have satellite campuses in Nigeria. Sunday Mirror presents a lot of revelations tomorrow on the influx of illegal universities and why the authorities are hamstrung in checkmating them

A godfather and his godson The face-off between Abia Governor, Theodore Orji, and his estranged godfather, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, has apparently worsened.

The quarrel got to a head last week following a report that the Abia State University where Kalu bagged a degree while he was governor, announced that it had withdrawn its certificate once awarded the former governor. The university’s decision has become controversial as many read politics into the decision of the ivory tower. However, we take an analytical look at the love gone sour scenario between a godfather and his godson, recalling how Kalu helped Orji out of prison custody to become governor in 2007.

Asadu’s last moment Last Saturday’s killing of Kwara Police Commissioner, Chinweike Asadu, in his Enugu native village, has raised many questions begging for answers. His grieving immediate family members, some of who witnessed how he was gunned down, gave graphic detail of the dastardly act. It is a must read.

Dateline

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Murder of Dikibo Way back in February 2004, prominent PDP chieftain, Aminasoari Dikibo, was murdered under befuddling circumstances.

We revisit the gory incident and tell you how it all happened.

Passion

‘Man with whom I’ll like to play romance’ Amina Atairu though an actress, a model, TV presenter and media consultant, studied Law at the University of Benin.

She reveals in this interview the person she would choose to act a romance role with if given the opportunity to make a choice.

She tells you tomorrow.

These and many more available tomorrow in your

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March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MAGAZ INE Blessing

...Riding to stardom

Sex talk What’s happening in bedrooms this year?

z z z z z z

Relationships Should you stick to an abusive partner?

z z z z z z

Fashion •6 tips for lovely nails •Flatter your figure

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March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘I got into Nollywood by luck’ Blessing Patrick is one of the hot actresses in Nollywood. She is also a model, fashion designer and writer. Having appeared in several movies, she is in demand for more and she tells OSEYIZA OOGBODO how she began her multiple careers, her plans and challenges among others. Excerpts:

Y

ou are an actress, model and fashion designer. How do you combine them all?

If you have a passion for the things you do, combining all of them and getting the best out of them will not be a problem. That’s because those things are the things you love doing. Combining acting, modelling and fashion is therefore not a problem for me. I just find a way to strike a balance.

Which comes first for you: fashion, modelling or acting?

Hmmmn … all of them come first … but it depends on which comes when I’m available.

There’s always a lot of talk about acting nude. Can you act nude?

What a question! I cannot act nude, but I can act sexy and I bet you it will come out better than nude.

Do you get passes from movie producers and actors alike?

The entertainment industry is spiritual but most people are blind to that fact. Be you a dwarf or whatever you look like in the business, you will get passes. Getting passes is not new again.

How did you get your breakthrough in Nollywood?

I must say I got into Nollywood by sheer fortune. Though I always had the desire to act, I didn’t really do anything about it. But a friend invited me for an audition and I got a role and that was it and the rest like they say is history.

What is your view of acting?

Acting means a lot me. Acting is my life and I get challenged and inspired whenever I’m presented with a movie script. In simple terms, acting brings out the best in me and I’m so happy that I’m acting because I always wanted to be a movie star right from when I was very young.

What are your plans as an actress?

I intend to go very far, as far as God wants me to. I also would like to leave an indelible mark on the scene. I want to make a lasting impression that everyone will know me by and I am seriously working towards achieving that.

How many major movies have you been part of ?

I have been part of several which are out now, although more are yet to come

by His grace. I have featured in World

Of A Prince, Enter The Place, Wave Of Glory, Blast Of The Mafia, Sexy Vampires and Masquerade Dancer, to mention a few.

Have you been getting acting roles as you expect?

Yes I have been getting roles as expected and I say glory be to God because it’s not easy! When I first ventured into the industry, it was quite hard, but not anymore. Everything falls into place with time as long as you are dedicated.

The keyword is patience. A lot of young actors want to become superstars overnight forgetting you have to earn it, you have to work for it. That’s what I did and it has paid off for me by God’s grace.

What kind of script brings out the best in you?

I give my best to any movie I accept to do. I like challenging roles because I like people to see me in a different light and to be confused when they see me playing different roles and cannot exactly say if I am the one playing the role because I look different and because I play the role very well. I can fit in every role because that’s what makes me an actress, but I think I will really love to do a story of a born again girl filled with plenty of Holy Spirit in her!

What was growing up like for you?

Growing up for me was okay even though I got to learn faster than my peer groups. My childhood was interesting because l grew up before my mates and if am asked to put it into words, l would say it was wonderful because l started doing what my mates were not doing at the time. I was always with my mother who was a great fashion designer and I practically learnt all that l know in fashion, designing and making of clothes. Who knows why my mother made it compulsory for me to learn how to make use of a sewing machine when l was only a child? Perhaps she knew that she won’t be with me for long. My mother left this world when l was only a teenager, but she left me with a legacy and today I’m who l am because of that.

How challenging has acting been thus far?

There have been challenges encountered thus far but I don’t see them as challenges because you have to pay a price to get to the top. His grace has always been sufficient for me as a child of God.

Celebrity

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March 9, 2013

Entervaganza

With OSEYIZA OOGBODO

08023755142 kingseiza@gmail.com

Another illness hits the glitz world E

Chidinma

How I handle pressure, by Chidinma

O

ne of the characteristics of the entertainment industry is pressure: pressure to become successful and to stay successful. Sometimes, the pressure is so much that entertainers resort to stimulants, especially marijuana and alcohol, to cope with it.

And speaking with Entervaganza recently, Kedike crooner Chidinma admitted that the pressure exists indeed.

“It’s a lot of pressure, trust me. Most of it is heartbreaking but it’s the life that I chose. I wasn’t forced into music, I came in myself, I decided it’s the direction I want to go, so I just leave everything in the hands of God, really.”

She added that, “anytime I travel, nobody’s there to look after me, nobody, no family members, I put myself in God’s hands. I tell Him ‘I am in Your hands and nothing bad must happen to me’ and I’m really grateful to Him. Initially, when I travelled and I fell sick and my mom was like you couldn’t do this but I said don’t worry I would do it and somehow, I didn’t know where the strength came from. I can work two days and even a week at a stretch and not even eat much.

It’s just God doing it.”

Naeto C to tour America

S

equel to the unprecedented success of his song, Tony Montana, Naeto C is embarking on a tour of America. Tagged Tony Montana Promo Tour, the tour is expected to begin in Canada on March 22 and round off in the US on May 4.

Cities Naeto C is scheduled to perform in are Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto in Canada and Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Detroit in the US. His fans in other Canadian and US cities might however also have the opportunity to see him perform as there are plans to add more cities to the tour schedule.

ven as the entertainment industry is yet to recover from the sad news of Damino Damoche’s murder last week Thursday, a murder which came on the heels of the deaths of Goldie and Justus Esiri, the industry has been hit by more sad news.

This time around, it concerns rising musician, Zara Gretti. Tipped to be one of the industry’s shining stars soonest, that dream is now hanging in the balance for her as she is reported to be battling a very serious health condition which affects normal activity.

Gretti’s last hit was Teno, a song that broke borders. Primarily based in the US, but always making regular appearances in Nigeria to promote her fledgling music career, she is presently undergoing treatment for the condition.

Gretti

Ghanaian stars Samini, Majid Mitchell rock GPTBFS

I

t was another Ghanaian invasion on Glo Presents The Big Friday Show as Ghana musician and actor, Samini and Majid Mitchell respectively, were the main attractions. While Samini was the studio guest, Mitchell was pranked.

As usual, other segments of the show were also hot. Kesse, the week’s upcoming artiste, was told to consume a huge bowl of garri to get the chance to promote himself on the internationally acclaimed show.

Vlogger Stephanie was in her element as she reported the latest news on celebrities, movies and music. Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie paid a surprise visit to Glo subscriber Nana Sakyi Djan which was planned by his friend, Sharon Manor.

There were also the Ask/Reply and Big Friday Show Countdown segments on the show which was shot in Accra, Ghana.

Mitchell

Naeto C

ENTERVAGANZA

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March 9, 2013

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CLASSICAL RYHMES

AIRWAVES LINK K

Laide Bakare’s latest move

Y

oruba Nollywood actress, Laide Bakare, is really going hard at it nowadays.

She has been breaking newin all her endeavours ground gr recently and has just broken another.

She has joined the reality show train and now her own reality show, My which, as is the Xperience, X format of reality shows, basic ba will be about her day-today existence. tence My Xperience is just the latest of Bakare’s ambitions indication indic as an entertainer-entrepreneur.

In the entertainment industry currently, it is no lonworldwide world to be just an enters ger sufficient tainer. taine Entertainers also have to s to have a realen be entrepreneur

Bakare

istic chance of surviving in the highly competitive, volatile and unpredictable entertainment industry, and Bakare is following that trend admirably.

Some of Bakare’s recent moves that are setting her apart from her colleagues are her latest movie, Jejere, and the establishment of her own record label, Simline International.

Jejere broke newground by featuring proverbial musician, 9ice.

Being 9ice’s first appearance in a movie, Jejere instantly became talked about and it is doing well currently.

Simline International also signed fuji hip-hop artiste, TCode, and has since released TCode’s Azonto Fuji which is also doing well.

Nigeria, South Africa battle at AMVCA today

O

ne of the highly anticipated awards ceremony this year, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, holds today. Created to recognise and celebrate African film and TV talent, AMVCA will be hosted

by Nigeria’s IK Osakioduwa and Zimbabwe’s Vimbai Mutinhiri.

As with all awards, the focus has shifted away from ‘the awards is holding’ to ‘who wins what and who wins big?’ Will it be Nigeria or South Africa in their perpetual battle to prove their superiority on the African continent?

While South Africa’s Otelo Burning has the most nomina-

tions, 14 in all, Nigeria’s The Mirror Boy has 11. But Nigeria’s Man On Ground, Two Brides And A Baby and Maami have nine, seven and five nominations each respectively while South Africa’s Skeem also has five.

There’s no doubt that the two countries’ multiple nominations have set the stage for what will be an epic battle between the two of them with the nominations of other countries like Cameroun, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia as side attractions.

Mutinhiri

Cossy Orjiakor drops album Orjiakor

N

ollywood bad girl, Cossy Orjiakor, has released her music album. Simply titled Nutty Queen, the album doesn’t even have her popular name, Cossy, on its front jacket. Nonetheless, it’s one of the rated albums in Alaba presently and it is marketed by one

of Alaba’s biggest marketers, Uba Pacific.

Unlike other actresses who went into music, Cossy hasn’t really been bashed by critics.

She has released several singles and some videos over time and there hasn’t been much hullabaloo over her singing ability.

Idibia

African Queen Artist: Tuface Idibia

Verse 1 Just like the sun, lights up the earth, you light up my life The only one, I’ve ever seen with a smile so bright And just yesterday, you came around my way And changed my whole scenery, with your astonishing beauty Ah, you could make a brother sing You ordinary thing, a supernatural being I know, you are just brighter than the moon Brighter than the star, I love you just the way you are.

Chorus And you are my African Queen, the girl of my dreams.

You take me where I’ve never been, You make my heart go ting-a-ling-a-ling, oh ah You are my African queen, the girl of my dreams And you remind me of a thing And that is the African beauty Verse 2 Out of a million you stand as one The outstanding one I look into your eyes, girl what I see is paradise You captivated my soul, now every day I want you more How can I deny this feeling I’m feeling inside No one can ever take your place Can ever take your space, That’s a fact I cannot erase And you, you are the one that makes me smile Makes me float like a boat upon the Nile Repeat chorus

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ENTERVAGANZA

March 9, 2013

BOX-OFFICE HITS

BRAIN BEHIND THE SCENE

Novia

Charles Novia … entertainment heavyweight

C

harles Novia is definitely one of the biggest brains behind the scenes in the Nigerian entertainment industry. He is a producer, director, author and music promoter.

Like most brains behind the scenes, he also started out as an artiste – acting, rapping and doing stand-up comedy – but he didn’t make much headway as a performer.

And since he was always bustling with ideas of how to take the Nigerian entertainment to the next level, it was only natural that he should go behind the scenes instead.

Behind the scenes, he has done so much more for the industry than he might ever have been able to do as an artiste.

His movies have set the stan-

dard for others to follow.

As a music promoter, his record label, November Records, was a major player in the music industry and was behind the much-talked-about return of Majek Fashek to the country some years ago.

His latest movie is Alan Poza and it is already being talked about because Novia, like other great producers like him, do not shoot movies every other day.

Alan Poza is, in fact, coming after a sort of hiatus for him and since a new production has been expected from him, it is basking in that limelight of anticipation now.

Some of his other movies are Missing Angel, Caught In The Middle and Covenant Church.

T

he Incredible Burt Wonderstone is one movie that should set the box office alight. It is a movie about magicians and magic and magic is a definite box office attraction. Previous movies about magic that have been very successful include Aladdin.

So there’s a lot of buzz around

A Novia (in cap) on location

s its title already indicates, Dead Man Down is a movie that has a lot of violence in it. Violence in all its ramifications: oppressive violence, vengeance

TIBW so it should do well too. Additionally, its plot revolves around broken friendship, rivalry, competition and many other daily and human elements and emotions that also draw audiences to cinemas to watch a movie.

Great movies sometimes come from simple storylines, and that is TIBW for you.

TIBW’s lead chara c t e r, B u r t W o n d e r stone, and his friend, Anton Marvelton, are a successful magic act in Las Vegas.

Their partnership however comes to an end when Anton is injured by Burt during their hotbox trick and Anton consequently moves to the Far East. When Burt is overshadowed by a popular street magician Steve Gray, he must convince Anton to return in order to reclaim his lost glory.

violence, senseless violence and so on.

DMD’s lead character is a fella simply known as Victor. He is very violent and his violent tendencies stem from his burning desire to exact revenge on crime boss Alphonse who destroyed Victor’s previous happy existence.

Things however take an interesting turn when Beatrice, a lady who is aware of all Victor’s violent moves against Alphose, threatens to expose him if he doesn’t help her in her own desire to revenge Alphonse’s bad deeds towards her.

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Relationships

If he loves you, he won’t hurt you

N

othing is worth dying for, most especially love. If he loves you, he’ll want you to live for him and the love you both profess to have for each other. It is funny but also heart rending that with so many deaths and injuries caused by domestic violence both women and men will still choose to stay with their partners. Yes, men too. You will be surprised at what some men are going through.

One of the reasons why so many people stay in an abusive relationship is because they believe that they love their partner so much that they are willing to forgive them. Some others think that if they leave their partner, they will be nothing without them because of their low self esteem.

Most people stay because they believe that person gives them everything they need.

They also believe if they leave them or tell someone about what they are going through, they will lose everything their partner gives them. For them, the benefits outweigh the cost.

Whatever the scenario is, thinking along this line will be applying what I’ll call the cost-versus-benefits principle. And this principle is not new at all, especially in this part of the world.

Another reason is what I’ll call the appeal-to-force principle. Most people are so afraid that if they leave their partner, that person would find them and hurt them even more or maybe kill them. They also think that their partner would always be hunting them.

A lot of the times, people are afraid that if they move on, their partner may seriously hurt them with other forms of abuse apart from the physical abuse which may hurt them more, so they elect to stay.

In some cases either women or men choose to stay because they are afraid that their partner might hurt or kill their loved ones. So when making a decision they think of all the consequences that their decision might lead to in the future. What they don’t realise is that by hanging on in an abusive relationship they might end up losing their life.

Should you stick to

Another fact we have to look at is that most times people may not have enough resources to make the decision of leaving their partner. They also might not know how to ask for help because they are so afraid. Some are even encouraged to stay within that abusive relationship because they don’t have people that are close to them that would take them in and help them. Some people are so afraid that they don’t talk to anyone so they never find out that there so many places and people you can talk to that are there to help you.

The ‘Change Principle’ is also a well known excuse that people, especially women use when making a decision in whether to leave or stay in an abusive relationship. Most people believe that the abuse, whether physical, emotional or psychological that they are going through in a relationship is just a passing face that will pass away so they would never do anything about it.

By the way they act or talk about it, it becomes obvious when you see the person being abused, that he or she is in a denial state whereby he or she will believe that the abuser will change. Even when you try to help them out they won’t let you because they are so into that believe or denial state of being.

There are so many reasons why a person stays in an abusive relationship, but whatever those reasons are, domestic violence is wrong in every way possible and you shouldn’t let it happen. Whether you’re a teen or an adult you shouldn’t let anyone hurt you in anyway.

People should value their life because that’s the most precious thing someone has and once it’s gone you would never get it back so why let someone ruin it for you. Because you love the person or because you’re scared of them doesn’t mean they have the right to hurt you. There are so many people that are out there to help you, but they are not going to go look for you, it’s up to you to ask for help.

My take as a man is that if he truly loves you, he won’t hurt you in any way. And if any kilt or kin or friend tells you to endure, ask that person if he or she values your being alive?

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

The 2013 Sex Survey results What’s happening in bedrooms this year?

How happy is your partner with your sex life? How happy are you? What turns him/her on the most about you? Is s/he the best sex of your life? Are you, his/hers? These questions (and much racier ones) featured in the new survey about sex. We can’t stop talking about the results!

1. A healthy sex life is a must For both men and women a healthy, happy sexual relationship is crucial: Overall, 93 percent of respondents agreed on the importance of a good sex life. More than half of men reported that sex is extremely important, compared to 40 percent of women who reported it is very important.

2. We’re having predictable sex More than 50 percent of women and 68 percent of men described their sex life as predictable, very predictable or extremely predictable. Men rated sex position as the most predictable (54 percent) aspect of their sex lives, while women chose location (67 percent). Close runners up for both men and women are duration (49% of women; 43% of men), foreplay (45% of women; 43% of men), time of day (43% of women; 46% of men) and technique (47% of women; 42% of men).

3. But it’s not so bad - we’re still happy!

While married sex may be predictable – that doesn’t mean couples aren’t happy with their under-the-sheets action. Especially husbands: 80 percent of men reported being very happy or happy with their sex life, compared to 60 percent of women.

Men Think Women are Happier Than they Are While 79 percent of men think their wives/ girlfriends are happy or very happy with their sex lives, only 60 percent of women say they actually are. Women, on the other hand, sell themselves short: 55 percent think their husbands/

boyfriends are satisfied, while 77 percent of men rate themselves as happy or very happy.

4. Sex is better after marriage...but not after kids While over a third of men say their sex life got better after marriage, a third of women say their sex life was better before and a quarter say there’s been no change. However -- the sexes agree (52 percent of women; 49 percent of men) that they had hotter sex before they had kids. More than a third of men and nearly a third of women report that there have been no changes post-children, while 8 percent of women and 22 percent of men say sex actually got better after kids!

5. Yes, we’re in the mood We want sex -- right now! Or at least, men do: 35 percent of men are currently in the mood to have sex, which is significantly higher than women (11 percent). Another 55 percent of men were in the mood within the last 7 days -- and that’s when women catch up: 43 percent of women were in the mood within the last week.

6. Men tech-flirt more While about 3 out of 10 married persons have sext/emailed sexy messages -- it’s men who techflirt more with their partners. Men not only sext more (32 percent vs. 20 percent of women), email or BB flirty dirties more (36 percent vs. 18 percent of women) -- but they are over two times more likely to Facebook a sexy note.

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RELATIONSHIPS

March 9, 2013

23

CHINWE ANNIE AMAECHI 07028684481 chinweamaechi@gmail.com

an abusive partner?

Run for your life

S This column is x-rated 7. Men and women are turnedon by love What gets us going? For both sexes -- it’s love! Fifty-nine percent of women and half of men surveyed report feelings of love for their partner turns them on.

However, it’s true that men are mostly visual and women lust after the sentiments: 49 percent of women report their partner saying nice things to them as a fire starter, while men prefer the dirty talk (46 percent) over their partner complimenting them (28 percent). The biggest turn on for men, though? Sexy clothes (51 percent).

8. How many partners have we had?

A quarter of men have slept with 6-10 people, while over 30 percent of women have slept with 2-5 people. However, a fifth of men and women report only sleeping with one another!

9. We both have sex out of obligation Fifty-seven percent of women and 39 percent of men report having sex out of obligation at least sometimes -- but it’s the guys who initiate action more often.

Over half of men surveyed report they initiate sex all of the time or most of the time. Around a third of women and men report they initiate sex equally.

10. Every man’s wish list The most popular desires on men’s sex wish list? That their partner would initiate sex more often (42 percent) and have more oral sex (41 percent). Other top lusts include saying sexy things (28 percent), more foreplay (27 percent) and that their wife would orgasm easier (29 percent).

11. Every wife’s wish list If women could have their partner do more of something in bed – it would be foreplay (35 percent). Women also want their husbands to say more loving and

This column is x-rated sexy things (32 percent; 21 percent), last longer (28 percent) and have more oral sex (22 percent).

12. What turns us off Both women (49 percent) and men (37 percent) say stress causes them to lose their desire for sex more than anything else. Other top distractors include exhaustion for women (46 percent) and having an argument with their spouse for men (29 percent). A third of women and a fifth of men say lack of romance is a factor, too.

13. Men check up on their partner more 1 in 5 of men and women surveyed admitted to cheating on their spouse -- but men cheat more (28 percent vs. 13 percent) However, men are less trusting: 34 percent have checked their wife’s phone sometimes or often for evidence of cheating, compared to 20 percent of women.

14. Men, watch out for your wife’s ex-boyfriend Men are significantly more likely to have an affair if they would have zero chance of getting caught (32 percent vs.

13 percent of women). Who would it be with? Women say an old flame (39 percent). So men, be wary of ex-boyfriends/ husbands of your wives/girlfriends.

15. Men watch more porn than we think they do 42 percent of women say their spouse never watches porn, while only 21 percent of men report never watching porn.

Men are also more likely to admit to just watching porn alone (75 percent vs. 33 percent women).

16. Men marry the best sex When it comes to picking a partner for life, men are more likely to marry the girl with the hottest moves: 68 percent of men said they married the best sex of their life, compared to 45 percent of women.

ometime ago, Nigeria was traumatized with the news about an ex-Skye Bank staff who was brutally murdered by her husband. It is such a pathetic story and there are many of such incidents which do not receive that much publicity.

The painful fact is that no matter how much we criticize and punish the husband who murdered his wife and no matter how much we come up with ideas of what the woman should have done to escape from her abusive husband; nothing can bring her back to life.

We expect people to learn from the incident and avoid recurrences, right? But, is there any guarantee that women will on the basis of the sad incident (and other similar ones), leave their abusive partners? Is it okay for a woman to “hang in there” in the name of love?

Let us agree at this point that there are different types and degrees of abuse, and people suffer them in various combinations.

Verbal abuse occurs when one person uses words and body language to inappropriately criticise another person. It makes the victim feel he/she is not worthy of love or respect, and that he/she lacks ability or talent. Unfortunately, verbal abuse is not easily recognised as abuse, and therefore it can go on for extended periods, causing severe damage to the victim’s selfesteem and self-worth Psychological abuse (also known as mental abuse or emotional abuse) occurs when one person controls information available to another person so as to manipulate that person’s sense of reality. It often contains strong emotionally manipulative content designed to force the victim to comply with the abuser’s wishes. It may be emotional abuse in this sense when it is designed to cause emotional pain to victims or to “mess with their heads” in attempts to gain compliance and counter any resistance. Like verbal abuse, psychological abuse is often not recognised as abuse early on and can result in serious psychological after effects.

Physical abuse occurs when one person uses physical pain or threat of physical force to intimidate another person. It involves slaps, pushes, beating, punching, kicking, hair pulling, scratching, and real physical damage sufficient in some cases to require hospitalization.

Sexual Abuse includes any sort of unwanted sexual contact perpetrated on a victim by an abuser. It involves inappropriate touching with or without intercourse. Sexual abuse also occurs if one partner has agreed to a certain level of sexual activity and

another level is forced upon her (or him) without prior explicit consent being given. Sexual abuse is often coupled with physical abuse (or threat of physical abuse) and emotional abuse.

When the issue of abuse in relationships is discussed, the primary focus is physical and sexual abuse.

This is understandable because it is presumed that verbal abuse and psychological abuse can be tolerated, except in extreme (and rare) circumstances where the victim starts to lose his/her mind as to require rehabilitation. People argue that there is nothing like sexual abuse in marriage, and we shall address this issue in another edition. In the meantime, let us agree that there can be sexual abuse in marriage.

Undoubtedly, love and abuse are two unrelated parallel lines which ordinarily should not meet. So how do we explain the hateful and horrifying manner in which some people treat their partners? How much provocation can justify slaps, beatings and stab injuries? More importantly, how safe can a woman be if she remains with a partner who constantly abuses her?

Of course, it seems easier to advise a single woman to leave her boyfriend/fiancé than it is to advise a married woman to leave her husband on account of abuse. But is abuse part of the “worse” contained in marriage vows? And must the death referred to in “until death do us part” be caused by one’s spouse?

In my opinion, no woman should stay in an abusive relationship in the name of love. Once a man starts to slap, beat, punch or push you, run for your life! If he is just a boyfriend or fiancé, break up the relationship immediately and don’t look back.

Even if it is just a few days to your wedding, just know that a broken engagement is better than a broken marriage/divorce. Of course, he will come begging (in tears), promising to change. Do not be fooled. What is the guarantee that he will change?

Don’t get me wrong, I believe in forgiveness and love. But wisdom tells you that if you break your leg from a fall caused by sitting on a faulty chair, you should not attempt to sit on the same chair again.

The greater challenge is where the abuse is by a spouse. I also don’t subscribe to divorce, so I will not be quick to tell a woman to file divorce papers on account of physical abuse. But I also will not tell her to remain in her matrimonial home and love her husband “until death do them part”.

So, should love keep you stuck to an abusive partner? Not closely!

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March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman I was an unwanted child Toun Soetan, gospel artiste of international repute, can be described as the proverbial rejected stone that became the corner stone of the same family that rejected her. She told YEMISI ADENIRAN her unusual story.

–Evangelist Toun Soetan

H

ow old is Evangelist Toun Soetan and what was your childhood like?

I was born precisely 60 years ago. I went through rejection as a child because my father, a medical doctor, now late was looking for a male child after my mother had had about five girls.

It was like if you have another girl, it would be the end of this relationship.

On the day she fell into labour, she was on her way to Lagos. it was raining very heavily and she gave birth to me. When the news got to my father, she was told not to come back home with me. So, for the first 21 years of my life, I did not set my eyes on my father. I was brought back to Ibadan, my mother is from Iwo while my father was from Kwara State.

I was named Alimotu Shadia Karimu.

In other words, I lived the first half of my life as a Muslim with my uncle.

My maiden name was Adigun, but my uncle’s surname was Karimu. I grew up in the midst of hostility, jealousy, strife with names like omo ale, omo ti ko ni baba, the omo ale used to be my surname then. My mother, a strongwilled woman, very focused, took up the finances of my education and did all within her power to give me a good care. One day, however, the situation became too hot for me that I demanded some explanations concerning my painful experiences from the people around me. I did not know where the courage came from. The bitterness was getting too much for a young girl like me and I sought for a way of escape. There was never a day that I did not cry. One day, I asked my mother of the names she gave me when she had me and she said, Olatoun, Temitope, Temitayo, Oluwaremilekun. I told her to drop the Oluwaremilekun because I believed it was going to continue to remind her of the pain of having me.

Although I was not a Christian then, I did not like the name because of the circumstance that surrounded it. I mounted a lot of pressure on her and when it was getting too much, she decided to take me to my father. Amidst everyone in Ibadan where I lived, I was the only one who looked like an outcast because I did not resemble anyone

Soetan

there, not even my sisters. He was in the theater when we got there. So, we had to wait for about three hours.

Isn’t it strange that a medical doctor would act the way he did?

It was indeed strange and I think

because of his position then, he could not see his situation from the point of a medical doctor. All he wanted was male children like his fellow friends. He had us to the tune of 28 children all in the bid to have male children. He was working at an hospital called Akerele

Nursing Home, this was situated at 52, Tokunbo street, Akerele in Lagos. When he came out, I saw my own picture. I saw the person I looked like; he was tall and very handsome. In spite of all that had happened, I fell in love with him, I got up in awe. He looked at me for some

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minutes and said, “Who asked you to bring her here?” That called for war and of course, a battle was let lose.

My mother wouldn’t take any of his insults and got up to face him. People around meddled into the case, they pacified my mother and at the end of the day, she took her leave. She beckoned on me to follow her, but I refused, I said I was going to stay with my father. So, she left and I followed my father home. I did not know I was heading for a second phase of pain. The woman at home tried her best to care for me but you know, there is nobody’s care that can be like one’s own mother.

I had a lot more to contend with especially because those kids at home were boys and they were not ready to accept me as their elder sister. So, it was very tough. My father was not helping matters too. He was not pleased with the fact that I was not happy and would say all kinds of hurtful words like “Why are you always sad, if you like, hate your brothers, they will do well right in your life time.” When I couldn’t bare it any longer, I decided to go back to my mother.

What kind of a person was your father?

At the time I was with him, I saw a man who was not responsible. May be because we were many, he wouldn’t pay our school fees and many other things. This was not the case with my mother. I never owed school fees all the time she was footing my schooling.

So, I went back to her and she saw me through my secondary school but you know because she was an Alhaja, she stopped funding my education after I completed my secondary education.

She said she couldn’t continue, she asked me to look for a man if I wanted to continue. I joined the Orita – mefa Baptist church Ibadan, an English speaking church. I got born again there, that was in 1974 through a song rendered by the church choir then. I joined the choir and sang along with them. It was while I was there that my potentials came to bare. A family, the Ogunjis, fell in love with me, adopted me and took care of me. It was a way of escape for me because there was no way I could have coped with the hostility at home. They were all Muslims and if you would not pray and fast the way they do, and you would be calling or praying the Christian way, only God would save you. So, I decided to live with this family. I lived with them until I got married. They gave me out in marriage. Although my mother was there, my father also came from Lagos, the Ogunjis gave me out and not any of them.

How has your music ministry fared?

It has been wonderful. My first recording, “New Life” came out in 1983.

I had a break after then because the band then were always fighting. In the midst of that confusion, I received the song that brought me into limelight, “ Iye Ree” “Darling Jesus” and “Sese ninu mi dun.” It was the choice of everyone at weddings, revivals and all of that. My watchword is in the word

WOMAN

March 9, 2013

of God in Isaiah 1:19 which says if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land. Up till now, this has worked for me. I don’t run for fame, it runs after me to the glory of God. I receive calls from all around the globe, I sing outside the country more often. Appointments are always lined up for me and I just try to keep up with them. I don’t lack anything good, all because of simple obedience. The Lord sent someone to me once to tell of the reason why I should hold on to His word and not to mere songs: this is because songs can end but His words have no end.

How did you meet your husband and how would you describe your marriage experience?

I got married to my darling husband, Deacon Titus Soetan, an accountant with Baker Filly Nigeria, an auditing firm in 1980. We are blessed with four children. We met in the church, we courted for about five years before getting married. I wanted a preacher, hot and outspoken, he is cool and very reserved. He is shy, I am shy and I was wondering the kind of combination we would make. But I thank God all has been wonderful right from the first day. He has been very supportive of my ministry especially when the marriage was very new and I had to attend to my ministry. He would stay with the children, even when they were under a year, fed them, kept them clean at a time when there were no pampers. He has been awesome and I thank God for him. He knows my needs, I don’t ask him before he caters for them. He gives the best, wears the best, sent all the kids to the best schools. We eat anything but our passion is to impact on others positively. God’s grace has been sufficient for my marriage. What I lost at childhood, I’m enjoying till today.

God made all my enemies licked my feet. Today, I am their breadwinner to the glory of God. Even my father apologised before he died.

What’s your view about motherhood and how do you think it can be made better in Nigeria of today?

Motherhood is about mentoring, modelling, monitoring, mothering and not murdering as we have it today.

A lot of mothers have murdered their children , many are still doing by their careless and ignorant ways of raising and tutoring them. I mean, all these girls walking around naked, where are their mothers? I’m annoyed with mothers. There are cases of mothers befriending their daughters’ boyfriends and getting pregnant for him at the same time the daughters did. We have widows taking over their benefactors’ husbands and the latter crying all over the place, village life has ceased, virginity is no longer celebrated, sex, which used to be a sacred topic is now discussed as carelessly as we do of balance diet. It is all shameful and I ask again what are mothers doing? We need to do something. If we will take more time to devote to our children and God, all will be well with us, our children and the society as a whole.

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Keeping ABREAST

Hypertension in pregnancy increases risk of renal disease –Study

W

omen with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are at higher risk of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease compared with women without the disorders, according to a study.

“We found that women with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy were at higher risk of end-stage renal disease than women without complicated pregnancies,” writes the researchers.

Hypertensive disorders such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancy can have a major impact on the health of the mother and baby and are risk factors for death. An estimated 5% to 10% of pregnancies are affected by hypertensive disorders. Kidney function can be affected.

Researchers looked at data on 26 651

women in Taiwan with hypertensive disorders in their first pregnancy to determine whether there was an increased risk of end-stage renal disease compared with a group of 213 397 women without the disorders. The women were 19 to 40 years old and did not have a history of hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease.

The incidence of chronic kidney disease was almost 11-fold higher in the group with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy compared with the women without the disorders. End-stage renal disease was 14-fold higher in the cohort with hypertensive disorders. The risk for women with preeclampsia was higher than for those with only gestational hypertension.

Culled from www.scinecedaily.com

Night shift work may raise type 2 diabetes risk in women –Study

A

study of two groups of women found that those who worked rotating night shifts were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women with regular hours, and the longer that they worked a rotating shift schedule, the greater their risk.

“The association is quite strong and very consistent between the two cohorts,” said the study’s senior author..

“For nurses who spent a couple of years working rotating night shifts, there was a minimal increase in risk.

But, for those with a very long duration of rotating shifts, the risk was almost 60 percent higher. This provides pretty strong evidence that the longer the rotating night shift work, the greater the risk of diabetes,” he said..

During the 18- to 20-year study period, 6,165 women in the first group and almost 4,000 women from the second group developed type 2 diabetes.

When compared to women who hadn’t done rotating shift work, women who did one to two years of shift work had a 5 percent increase in type 2 diabetes. Women who worked shifts for three to nine years had a 20 percent increased risk, while women who toiled 10 to 19 years on rotating shifts had a 40 percent greater risk of type 2 diabetes compared to women who didn’t do shift work.

Although the study wasn’t designed to figure out why rotating shift work might increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, There are likely both biological and behavioural reasons. Rotating shift work disturbs the body’s natural time clock (circadian rhythm), which, in turn, disrupts the body’s ability to balance its need for energy. The study affirms that this can cause higher levels of glucose and insulin resistance, which are hallmarks of type 2 diabetes.

Culled from www.healthday.com

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March 9, 2013

Parenting

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

How to be a good husband to your pregnant wife P

regnancy is a wonderful but difficult time and a wife needs some support from her husband. As the father of the baby you have a responsibility to aid your wife so the baby has the best conditions possible to grow in. This is also a time for you and your wife to bond as you enjoy the beginnings of parenthood together.  Get her some prenatal care. Adequate prenatal care is the most important factor in your baby’s overall health and the sustainability of the pregnancy. Make sure she takes her prenatal vitamins and follows the physician’s recommendations regarding diet, exercise and what to avoid.  Be positive and as relaxed as possible. Pregnancy and preparing for a baby can be extremely stressful. Help ease her worries and plan for the future together. Avoid stressful situations and if possible, take some of the extra work and stresses upon yourself so she can rest helping the baby grow in an unstressed environment as the hormones and emotions can be passed on to the child.  Help her with the house-

hold tasks. She shouldn’t be doing any heavy lifting, cleaning with foul-smelling chemicals or overexerting herself so take over with some of the household chores and let her rest or do less labor-intensive tasks.  • Cook healthy meals and exercise. Eating healthy is extremely important however cooking daily may be one of the last things on her mind. Help out by cooking well balanced meals and providing lots of nutritious snacks.  Assure her she is beautiful.

Pregnant women can go through a lot of emotional highs and lows.

With a rapidly changing body she may be feeling ugly or down on her appearance. Reassure her that she is beautiful and what she is doing is amazing.  Talk out your plans for the baby and communicate well with everything. Knowing that you are on the same page will help make the process of everything from the actual birth to raising your child run more smoothly.  Offer to take her to her prenatal appointments. She should attend a prenatal appointment every four weeks until she is 28 weeks pregnant, and then every two weeks until she reaches 36

ParentingUpdate

H

elping your kid kick the pacifier habit may prevent painful ear infections, one of the most common childhood ailments, a new study says.

The researchers found children who continuously sucked on a pacifier had more cases of ear infections than those who didn’t.

The study divided 484 chil-

dren ranging from 7 months to 18 months of age into two groups, asking the parents of one group to restrict the time their child used a pacifier for several months.

These parents were told about some of the drawbacks of using pacifiers, such as a higher risk of tooth misalignment and the possible link to ear infections.

The study found that those children who cut back on the use

weeks. If you have a vehicle, ask if she wants you to take her to and from the appointment.  Get her to take a nap when she is feeling tired. Carrying a baby and excess water means a lot of extra weight, and she is likely to feel tired more than usual. Having a short nap will help recharge her batteries. If she has other children, offer to look after them so she can go to bed.  Help her with the practical things. As her pregnancy progresses, she may struggle to do many of the routine jobs she used to do before. Offer to help with the housework, do the grocery shopping or help with the kids. She will appreciate the extra pair of hands, especially as she gets closer to her due date.  Give her a massage. Early research indicates massage is beneficial for both mother and her unborn baby, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Even a basic massage will help her relax. Swollen ankles are common in pregnancy due to excess water; massage can offer relief from this swelling. She should seek advice from her doctor before receiving any type of massage. It is also important to note, many massage therapists

will not massage a pregnant woman during her first trimester, as this is a critical period in the baby’s development.  Spend time with her that is not baby-related. While she will be looking forward to having her baby, she is also likely to feel neglected. Make time to talk to

her about things other than the baby, or go out together and do something that does not revolve around the pregnancy.

Tips and warning  Avoid taking over completely. Remember pregnancy is not an illness and she will still want to do many things herself.

Always ask her before you do anything to avoid upsetting her or making her feel a burden.  Prepare yourself for mood swings. Hormonal changes in pregnancy can make a woman act out of character. If she gets angry or upset, try not to take it to heart

Tiny Feet

NAME: Angel Ariella Arinze

BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs Jude Arinze AGE: 3 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.7 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

Pacifiers linked to ear infections – Study of pacifiers had 33 percent fewer cases of ear infections than those children who didn’t.

The researchers don’t advise banning pacifiers altogether, but say parents should limit pacifier use once the child is past the age of 6 months. At that point, pacifiers should only be used to soothe the child to sleep, and should be discontinued completely after 10 months of age.

This may be of some dismay to many parents, who rely on pacifiers to help their child gratify the sucking instinct between meals and calm them when they are upset.

Some 75 percent to 85 percent of children in Western countries use pacifiers, the study reports.

The researchers therefore recommends that pacifiers “do not cause any medical problems” and can be used safely to satisfy a child’s sucking instinct.

The Finnish researchers are unsure why the use of a pacifier

might lead to an ear infection, but theorized it may have something to do with the change in pressure equilibrium inside the ear caused by the sucking.

Ear Etiology Ear infections generally occur when the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat and nose, becomes blocked, often from a cold or allergies.

If the fluid-filled tube becomes infected with bacteria, it can lead to swelling and pain in the ear. Ear infections can be treated with antibiotics, but often reoccur.

“Ear infection is the number one reason why a sick child goes to a pediatrician,” says the lead researcher. “It’s a $3 billion problem in the United States.”

Previously, he says, researchers had found a higher rate of ear infections among children who used pacifiers and attended day care, attributed to the pacifier getting passed around and becoming more likely to pick up an infec-

tion. But it was unclear whether it was the pacifier itself causing the problem.

Evidence mounting now, he says, seems to be implicating the pacifier more directly.

“Based on the previous study, I tell parents, don’t let their kids in day care use a pacifier,” he says.

“Now, I would recommend they don’t use them at all — especially in children prone to ear infections.”

“There are very few things we can do, most parents can’t take kids out of day care, can’t change their family history,” he adds.

“But if you can take pacifier away and drop the incidence of ear infections by at third, that’s a good thing.”

According to him, the pacifier might act as a receptacle for viruses, or the sucking pressure may bring up bacteria from the throat that could infect the middle ear.

•Culled from www.healthcare.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

March 9, 2013

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

E

very lady loves clean and attractive nails. The biggest challenge with that just-polished look is that it fades all too fast. Luckily, these little tips work the wonder you need.

Treat them always using the right tools When your nail chips or breaks, you don’t want to pull at it with your fingers or teeth. The best thing is to pull out the right tool, neatly clip the break and then file it even with a quality emery board. Purchase a few nail care kits and keep them handy.

Start with clean nails for long-wearing polish. When you are ready to polish your beautiful nails, start by cleaning them as thoroughly as possible. Use a fast drying nail primer to remove the oil and dirt on your nails.

Apply thin layers and paint the tip A thin layer of paint over the tip of your nail will prevent chips and keep the manicure looking great.

Sparkles are pretty and durable New polishes featuring sparkled finishes are extremely popular and attractive. They are also surprisingly durable.

The particles in the polish cling to your nails, and that helps extend the life of your manicure.

Clear topcoats for protection Once the manicure is complete, finish the job with a lovely clear topcoat. You don’t have to buy special polishes, either. Reapply the top coat every other day to keep the polish fresh and free of chips.

Be patient You simply cannot rush through a manicure. Nails should be allowed to dry for at least 45 minutes before you start handling objects, and you should allow plenty of drying time in between coats. Once the polish is dry, dip your hands in cold water and apply lotion. This will create a slippery surface until the nails dry completely.

28

STYLE & GLAM

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashi

BEAUTY

Q&A

Your candid response to all fashion questions Cute tops for you Hidden button down blouse A hidden button down blouse is, as the name suggests, a blouse with buttons hidden beneath the points of the collars. This gives the blouse a more formal look than other styles of button down blouses. Hidden button downs should be worn in materials that provide structure and

appear well tailored.

The peasant blouse The peasant blouse became popular in the United States in the 1960s, and was based off of clothing designs from European countries including Poland and Romania. The original styling of the peasant blouse started off with white cotton, puffy sleeves, cinching at the

wrist, and ber of styl of designs embroider Peasan go well w bottoms o

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ion Frenzy

STYLE & GLAM

March 9, 2013

W

hether you’ve got big breasts, a tummy or absolutely no waist to show off, you still can be beautiful. Just follow the following guidelines and you will sure look your best: For big breasts Big boobs are great if dressed well.

Avoid anything with a high neckline like polo necks or small round neck, it will make you look like you have one big boob! Also avoid wearing baggy tops to cover up your boobs as it makes them look bigger. Wear vnecklines and scoop necklines to give your boobs definition and shape. If you struggle to find tops that fit your boobs and the rest of your body, rather select fitted button down blouses that fit your waist and then wear them open with a cotton camisole underneath. This will draw the eye down the body instead of acros.

To hide your very wide hips Dressing for your body shape is about dressing for balance instead of covering up.

If your bum is your widest point, balance it

d a square-shaped neckline. As time evolved, so did the numle options for a peasant blouse, and today there are hundreds s of all different patterns and colors. They commonly feature ry or beading as well, representative of the hippie era. t blouses are designed to give off a casual, carefree look and ith jeans, capris, shorts, and skirts. It is suggested that the of an outfit be more tight fitting when wearing a peasant

out by emphasising your shoulders or your bust by wearing tops like halters, square necklines. Your tops and blouses need to emphasise your waist so it shows the natural balance between your shoulders or boobs and hips and bum.

Hiding your tummy Try dresses in a print. Print does wonders to disguise a flabby stomach. You won’t know what is fabric and what is flesh.

Stylish dresses will also make a big difference. Try wrap dresses in fabrics that don’t cling too much or styles that fit just under your boobs and gently skim over your tummy To create curves • Avoid wearing anything baggy as it will make you look shapeless.

• Select clothing that emphasises your shape by wearing jackets, tops and blouses that are nipped in the waist.

• Avoid wearing long jackets. Either select a fitted cropped jacket or a knee length tailored coat.

blouse in order to balance out the look, as this style is meant to be loose and free flowing.

The wrap blouse The wrap blouse is a great style for women of all body types, as its design does a great job of concealing areas women often hope to keep covered.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

29

Facelift Tips to a sparkling face Skin care starts at home Enjoying a monthly facial is an excellent idea. Having your, face, neck and shoulders massaged for an hour and a half will most definitely put you into a state of euphoria and your skin will feel revitalized and renewed. And for those of you who haven’t got time for a full treatment, you will be pleased to know that the New York style facial is now available, which takes only 15 minutes, perfect for a quick lunch hour treat. Making time for a facial is important, but more so it is of the utmost importance to maintain this caring act at home. Your skin needs twice daily nurturing to keep it clean, moist and protected and it only takes ten minutes a day.

Easy as ABC A good skin care regime is neither complicated nor laborious. A quick 1, 2, 3 step is a great start. This means a twice daily cleansing, toning and moisturizing. it only takes 5 minutes each time, that’s just 10 minutes a day.

Cleanse: Use a liquid, cream or foam cleanser. And gently massage your face to remove all dirt and make-up. Then rinse. Do not use soaps as they can be overly drying and also clog pores.

Tone: After cleansing saturate a cotton pad, and stoke over face and neck, this will work to remove the last traces of cleanser and also close your pores.

Moisturize: Apply your cream with upward motions to both the face and neck.

Avoid eye area.

This is all you need to get you well on your way to a healthy and more radiant complexion.

Your only young once!

This might be the case, however there is absolutely nothing wrong from being in denial of your age for as long as you fell fit!

For those concerned about skin maturity or maybe suffer with problem skin there are extra steps that you can take to ensure healthy skin.

A weekly exfoliation will uncover fresh new layers of skin. Look for exfoliators that contain enzymes as these will dissolve dead skin cells without being too abrasive. This will give your skin a healthy glow.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

30

March 9, 2013

Male Essentials

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OLUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

W

hat was known to be everyday fashion of yesterr years is presently gaining resurgence, esurgence, taking us down memory lane ne once again.

Cummerbund is one of such. h.

Cummerbund is a wide sash with horizontal pleats worn around the waist and fastened at the back with a buckle, button, velcro or simply tied as partt of male ensemble.

The Cummerbund started ed in the past as Military emblem but ut later spread to civilian use amongst mongst school band boys, grooms and their train/entourage, gentlentlemen attending dinner parties ties and so on.

The pleats of a cummmerbund had the original al purpose for holding tickett stubs, receipt say and even n for catching occasional food crumbs at dinner parties.

However, its’ contemporary usage is purely aesthetics. It gives your waist a narrow look, thereby making your legs appear longerr than they really are. It can n be worn to a wedding or din-ner party.  They must be worn n with the pleats facing up.  Do not wear a belt with h it, suspenders are allowed.  Preferably, leave your ur tuxedo unbuttoned while le you have a cummerbund on, n, so as not to bury it inside.  Choose a colour that comcom mplements your tie (bow, a better bettter be option) and pocket square.

Cummerbunds

Why looks matter (2) •Continued from last week Clothes affect how much money you make Poll dubbed the “Well-Dressed Men Survey” was conducted in 2011 by a wellknown men’s retailer, and several gems were unearthed. For instance, 75% of Americans believe well-dressed men earn higher wages than the less-polished.

Also, 22% of male participants confessed they’d probably make more money if they dressed better. Amazingly, Americans already seem to know the sway clothes can hold over career. And just by mastering a few style secrets, three out of four people agree you’ll be reaping more dollars at your job.

Another Michigan State University study found that “good-looking” people earn up to 8% more than the “averagelooking” who, in turn, make 5% to 10% more than the “plain-looking.” Of course, apparel plays a big part in this. We men are labeled as handsome or ho-hum based on our looks, and this directly affects how much coin we amass in our lifetime, so it pays to dress well. It should be noted that

donning a top hat and cane doesn’t mean strangers will start handing you $100 bills on the street. Instead, your immediate reward is commanding a certain degree of respect at the workplace. Then your longterm prize is living a heightened sense of stylish self, which will ultimately earn you more cash in your career. To achieve the look we’re talking about, think dapper.

The gear you need to make more money: Business attire, which includes a collection of high-quality suits (gray, navy, black, and khaki, for starters), an assortment of top-notch ties, Italian leather shoes and suede loafers, and accessories such as classic cuff links, pocket squares and a premium pen. These items demand more respect from coworkers and they tend to instill more charm in the boardroom.

Clothes affect how people treat you When you first meet someone, they instantly assess everything about you. They can sense if you’re sad, nervous, threatening, or possibly even gassy (possibly).

If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, you may know what I’m getting at. Across

history, humans have had to gauge meaning quickly. Does that dinosaur want to eat me? Does this girl want to have sex? Is that a banana in that caveman’s pocket, or does he plan to club me atop the head with a concealed bone? Over time, people have grown really good at judging situations fast. Interestingly, the same holds true with clothes. People judge your outfit in a fraction of a second. You walk through the door and -- bam -- they’ve already formed an opinion of your attire and of you.

Style tips to win respect from strangers: The most important rule here is to always wear outfits that are you. If you don’t believe in your attire, no one else will. This is not to say that you aren’t a complex and multilayered person who experiences different moods on different days. If your temperament calls for a dangerous night, opt for a black leather jacket. If you’re feeling debonair and can’t shake Sinatra from your head, reach for a suit and tie. Always trust your gut and wear what you feel, because people can sense when your getup has you glum -- and we want you owning the night.

•Concluded

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

March 9, 2013

Dear Igho

TTel: e 08023924679 (SMS only) ighomit@gmail.com

Having difficulties with relationships, family, work or any other aspectt off your life? lif Help is at hand with TOBORE IGHO OVUORIE

He prefers his girlfriend to our marriage!

Dear Madam Igho, My husband and I recently got married. He’s in the military and currently on a course in the United States. I visit him in the US from time to time when I’m permitted by my boss, and I go with our son. I love him dearly, and I can’t see my life without him. When we were just dating, I never had any problems with him talking to other females as friends. Last year, I went to visit him and I found on his phone this girl he’s been talking to who’s supposed to be his best friend. He was telling her he loved her and that things between them wouldn’t change, whatever that meant. I got really upset. I didn’t talk to him, and you can say I exploded in the end. After a while, I confronted him about it and I told him how I felt. I just wanted all friends to be a Face-book thing. He knows how I feel and I can’t seem to get over it. Every time I see her

pop up somewhere on his page I get really mad. He continues to talk to her and I wish he would just stop but he’s making it pretty clear to me that he’s not. I don’t know what to do or how to feel anymore!

Mrs. Akinola,

Ikoyi, Lagos.

Dear Mrs. Akinola, What he is doing, and the things he has said to this woman are destructive to a marriage. If the situation were in re-

How do I trust him again?

Dear Igho, I’ve been with my boyfriend for a couple of years now, and he’s been wonderful to me. I love him. He made mistakes sometime ago but has been working hard to regain my trust. The thing is, I haven’t been able to trust him and often find myself saying extremely hurtful things to him. As in, he’ll say “I love you so much and I just want you to see my efforts and how much I give to you, and I want you to trust me.” I’ll say “Thanks but go be with someone else.” He told me, today, that he wouldn’t give up one of his friends for me -- a girl

he is very close with. So I automatically told him to stop talking to me.

It broke his heart. I know I am pushing him away, but how do I trust him again? What can I do about this?

Enny Shobo, Unilag.

Dear Enny, He’s been wonderful to you, yet you can’t forgive his infractions? You didn’t say what they were, but if he gets this praise from you, on some level you have to think they aren’t all that bad. I think when you’re wonderful to someone, you show you love that person in words and

Should I stop making out with him?

Dear Aunty Igho, There’s this guy who is a friend and has been for over two years.

Within the past six months, we have started making out, and other things – not sex yet because I don’t want to until I am in a committed relationship – which I have told him. I do love him, and that’s another reason

I won’t have sex with him. I don’t want to get more hurt than I already would. We are very close. We talk about everything and are comfortable with each other, and things are never awkward. I have strong feelings for him, told him, and he says it doesn’t feel like the right time for him right now, and he doesn’t know if we will ever be more than mere

in deeds, yet understand that we are flawed human beings, and we will not always do the right thing. This friend of his is important, and he’s drawn a line in the sand. Perhaps, he sees it as you’re trying to control his life, and now you’ve gone too far. If this friendship with her is on the up and up, you’re included if you want, there should be no problem. I think you know if they have something other than friendship going on, because you seem like an astute young woman. It doesn’t have to be a threat to you if you can be objective.

To be candid with you, this bitterness you have over some past behaviour issues, on his part, will erode and, eventufriends. Should I give up hope that we will be anything more than we are right now? Should I stop making out with him, or should I just wait and see where things go from here?

I always thought if we were doing what we are doing, there had to be feelings involved.

Desperate chic, Abuja.

Dear Desperate chic, He wants to be a free spirit, and being in a committed relationship is not on his mind. Of course you, absolutely, must stop the physical part of this relationship! It will only make you more, emo-

verse, I think he’d find it disconcerting, as well. Whether he was reassuring this “best friend” that the marriage would not interfere with their close bond, or they have more going on than you realise; you’ve expressed your concerns, yet he dismisses it as your problem. This isn’t a marriage. With that attitude –it’s a dictatorship!

My opinion is: it’s inappropriate to tell her he loves her, coupled with the statement that, in a sense, says you won’t come between them. Marriage is a commitment between two people to put each other first – and be sensitive to the needs of the other. I don’t know if he sees her in person, but to make this other woman his “best friend” when he’s married to you, is not only hurtful, it seems to be a deep-seated need he has but at your expense!

Having female friends is fine, but he’s in another country, and your participation in the friendship is not possible.

If this is a pattern with him, he needs to know that it’s not acceptable for you to feel his priorities are elsewhere, and especially when you and his son are on another continent. That’s really all you can do at this point. His selfish behaviour does not speak well of him.

ally, kill the relationship. It will create an imbalance that cannot be righted.

In a sense, with him standing up to you over this friend, it shows he’s not easily manipulated, has a backbone, and that’s a good thing! Any man who gives up a legitimate, non-threatening relationship because his girlfriend can’t rise above silly jealousy issues is foolish. It sets a new precedent that is almost impossible to reverse.

Here’s my word to you: use a level head when deciding what it is you want. Do you want to hold a grudge and let this relationship fail, or do you want to be wise and show that you are a self-confident woman who does not need to be in the driver’s seat 100% of the time? Again, forgive and forget, or let him go find someone who won’t expect unreasonable demands. tionally, attached to him, and you end up feeling worse than if you do stop.

Indeed, humans have sexual urges, and it often overrides common sense. It’s a mistake to give in under these circumstances. You’re not looking at it as sport, and nothing more. You’re a sweet and loving person, and you want him as your boyfriend, not a Fair Weather Boyfriend (FWB). He’s not willing to take that leap, and that’s when firm boundaries need to be in place. If you don’t protect your heart, then who will do that for you? He’s going to get what he wants- only if you allow it. It’s a black and white decision to me. No grays. Friendship only and start looking at other options with other guys.

Wishing you the best ahead!

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March 9, 2013

V

itiligo is a condition in which your skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the colour of your skin, hair and eyes.

Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or no longer form melanin, causing slowly enlarging white patches of irregular shapes to appear on your skin.

Vitiligo affects all races, but may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. It usually starts as small areas of pigment loss that spread with time.

There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of treatment is to stop or slow the progression of pigment loss and, if you desire, attempt to return some colour to your skin.

The main sign of vitiligois, pigment loss that produces milky-white patches (depigmentation) on your skin.

Other less common signs may include: • Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard • Loss of colour in the tissues that line the inside of your mouth (mucous membranes) • Loss of or change in colour of the inner layer of your eye (retina) Although any part of your body may be affected by vitiligo, depigmentation usually develops first on sun-exposed areas of your skin, such as your hands, feet, arms, face and lips. Genitals also may be affected. Although it can start at any age, vitiligo often first appears between the ages of 10 and 30.

Vitiligo generally appears in one of three patterns: • Generalised. In this most common subtype, pigment loss is widespread across many parts of your body, often symmetrically.

• Segmental. Loss of skin colour occurs on only one side of your body. This type tends to occur at a younger age, progress for a year or two then stop.

• Focal. De-pigmentation is limited to one or a few areas of your body.

The natural course of vitiligo is dif-

Vitiligo ficult to predict. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In most cases, pigment loss spreads and can eventually involve most of the surface of your skin.

Treatment Medical treatment for vitiligo isn’t always necessary. For some, skin colour returns without treatment. For others, self-care steps, such as using sunscreen and applying cosmetic camouflage cream, may improve the appearance of your skin. For fair-skinned individuals, avoiding tanning can make the areas almost unnoticeable.

Depending on the number, size and location of the white patches, you may decide to seek medical treatment. Medical treatments for vitiligo aim to even out skin tone, either by restoring colour (pigment) or by destroying the remaining colour.

Treatment for vitiligo may take as long as six to 18 months, and you may have to try more than one treatment before you find the one that works best for you.

Medical therapies •

Topical corticosteroid therapy.

Corticosteroids may help return colour to your skin (repigmentation), particularly if the medication is started early in the disease. Milder topical corticosteroid cream or ointment may be prescribed for children and for people who have large areas of de-pigmented skin.

It may take as long as three months of treatment before you begin to see any changes in your skin’s color. This treatment is easy and effective, but your doctor needs to monitor you closely for side effects, such as thinning of the skin (atrophy) and streaks or lines on your skin (skin striae).

• De-pigmentation. De-pigmentation may be an option for you if you have vitiligo that covers more than half of your skin. De-pigmentation therapy lightens the unaffected parts of your skin to match the areas that have already lost colour.

Lifestyle and home remedies Certain self-care tactics may help you care for your skin and improve its appearance: • Protect your skin. If you have vitiligo, particularly if you have fair

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

skin, use a sunscreen that protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Sunscreen helps protect your skin from sunburn and long-term damage.

Sunscreen also minimizes tanning, which makes the contrast between normal and de-pigmented skin less noticeable.

• Conceal imperfections. Concealing cosmetics may lessen the appearance of the white patches and help you feel better about yourself, especially if your vitiligo patches are on exposed skin. You may need to experiment with several brands of concealing cosmetics before finding a product that blends best with your normal skin tone

Coping and support The change in appearance caused by vitiligo can affect your emotional and psychological well-being. You may experience emotional stress, particularly if vitiligo develops on visible areas of your body, such as your face, hands, arms or feet. You may feel embarrassed, ashamed, depressed or worried about how others will react.

Young people, who are often particularly concerned about their appearance, can be devastated by widespread vitiligo.

Certain strategies may help you cope with vitiligo. Consider these tips: .Make a good connection. Find a doctor who’s knowledgeable about vitiligo. A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in the care of skin.

• Learn all about it. Find out as much as you can about vitiligo and its treatment options so that you can participate in making important decisions about your health care.

• Communicate your feelings.

Let your doctor know if you’re feeling depressed. He or she can refer you to mental health providers who specialize in helping people deal with depression.

• Confide in loved ones. Seek understanding and support from your family and friend

LETTER

My skin is multi-colour Dear Mirror Doctor, I am a 20-year-old university student, dark in complexion. I realise that some years ago, I started becoming facially discoloured (fair at the cheeks and eye region). Currently, it has become so pronounced that I have become an object of ridicule and taunt. I get embarrassed and depressed while walking as people often turn reacting so strangely. I want to know if there are cosmetic products in Nigeria that I can conceal and camouflage this unwanted

fairness and give me an even black skin tone. Help me before I do something stupid to myself. I am tired of living this way. +234816------33 Mirror Doctor replies, My dear, you don’t need to do anything stupid to yourself. Considering the description of the skin discoloration, I suspect you have a condition called vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a condition in which your skin loses melanin, the pigment that de-

termines the colour of your skin, hair and eyes. Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or no longer form melanin, causing slowly enlarging white patches of irregular shapes to appear on your skin.

The natural course of vitiligo is difficult to predict. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In most cases, pigment loss spreads and can eventually involve most of the surface of your skin.

Depending on the number, size and location of the white patches, you may decide to seek medical treatment. Medical treatments for vitiligo aim to even

out skin tone, either by restoring colour (pigment) or by destroying the remaining colour.

Corticosteroids may help return colour to your skin (repigmentation), particularly if the medication is started early in the disease. Milder topical corticosteroid cream or ointment may be prescribed for children and for people who have large areas of depigmented skin.

There are cosmetic products in Nigeria that you can use but first, my advice to you is that you need to see a dermatologist (skin doctor) for proper evaluation and confirmation that it’s actually a case of vitiligo. He will do the necessary examination and initiate appropriate treatment.

Living

A section of Amassoma road cut off by the flood

When flood ravaged the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State last year, despite the material loss, there was joy that no life was lost. The situation may, however, change in the aftermath of the flood.

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

B

ayelsa State may soon be faced with acute shortage of food and mass unemployment if prompt measures are not taken to address the challenges.

These are fallout of last year’s flood that submerged the state, destroyed houses and farmlands.

Crops worst hit by the flood included cassava, plantain, yam, maize and pawpaw which are major staples in the oilrich region. Unlike other states such as Kogi and Benue, where some of the affected communities now use their coastal areas for farming, Bayelsa has a distinct feature – its land cannot be cultivated at the moment; neither do the people have access to potable water.

Many people in the state are currently homeless as a result of the unprecedented flood.

Most thatched homes built by mainly the less-privileged in communities affected by the flood had been washed off.

Consequently, no less than 30 percent of children are out of school in the affected towns. They are either taken out of the state by their parents or have been denied access to education by their parents’ inability to meet their immediate educa-

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 9, 2013

33

Post Bayelsa flood ‘My people still roam about homeless’

tional needs.

Investigations by Saturday Mirror also revealed that if urgent measures are not taken in the state, a recurrence of the disaster is likely given the meteorological predictions of heavy downpours this year.

Most homes in Bayelsa are still sitting on water which further raises concern over the health of residents of affected communities.

Currently, thick clouds are hovering over the state, daily, with a few downpours already recorded this year.

The flood ravaged Ekeremor; Kolokuma/Opokuma; Nembe; Ogbia; Sagbama; Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa; while only Brass was not much affected in all the eight local government areas making up Bayelsa State. A similar situation was last recorded in 1969 in the state.

Speaking on the effects of the calamity with Saturdfay Mirror in his palace, the monarch of Otuoke, the small agrarian town of President Goodluck Jonathan, HRH Lot Justin, said he had just been resettling in his home, which is at the foot of the Otuoke River.

“It is not more than four weeks that I came back here and I am still packing in.

HRH Lot Justin Ogiasa

I have not even moved in completely. You can see things for yourself in the house.

The flood covered the whole of the ground floor. It was never expected because we had never seen something like it before. So, we thought it was something that would just go quickly. Every property around here was affected. We tried to arrange some

of our things on what we mounted in the house, but the effort was to no avail.

They were all covered by the water. All the doors in the house need to be replaced because of the nature of the water. It was a very difficult experience. My ground floor was completely submerged.

“The challenges on ground are that Otuoke itself is a very small village. God knows how he was able to raise somebody from a little place like this to become Nigeria’s President. The houses of my people were all covered. They have not got the money to come back. The people are still roaming about, homeless. At the very dead point of the flood, everybody moved into the university area. It was the only area that was not too flooded in the town.

“When the water went down and the school wanted to open for academic activities, the people had to leave. Only God knows how those people that have not got home to live till now manage to cope with the situation.

“Another major problem before us in Otuoke is that our farms were washed off by the flood. The seedlings we could plant this year are no more. So, there are CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

34

LIVING

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ladipo Market closure: A mixed grill

Ladipo Market canal before the demolition of attached stalls

Govt has not been fair to us –Traders It serves them right –Residents T he atmosphere is charged. The roads are deserted save for some stranglers who stare forlornly at what used to earn their livelihood.

Something is, however, almost stifling: the ubiquitousness of policemen. Major junctions and roads, nooks and crannies are almost overshadowed by the presence of the security agents and the paraphernalia.

Welcome to Ladipo market, located in Mushin area of Lagos, the hub of motor spare parts sale in the South of the Sahara now less than a ghost of its former self.

The market was not like this until two Mondays agio when the Lagos State government put it under lock and key.

The Lagos Government said it took the action to stop public nuisance that the market has become and to correct the mindless degradation and pollution of environment.

It was also reported that the State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, visited the market prior to its closure decried the wanton degradation of the environment and filthiness of the area. He was also reported to have warned that if nothing was done, the market would be shut. And shut it was eventually.

However, some of the marketers

That the popular Ladipo Market in Lagos had been shut by the state government is no longer news. Its closure has, however, been a tale of one man’s meat, another’s poison between the traders and the residents of the area. FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON reports.

claimed ignorance of the notice of the closure of the market saying that they were not given any prior notice as to the closure. Others however think the whole thing is a political game plan to chase the Ibos away from the market.

Samuel Ihenekwe popularly known as Chisam who has been selling auto spare parts in the market for over 15 years said he is not happy about the closure of the market. Although he is of the opinion that the government is doing the right thing, he thinks the approach is wrong.

“Government is doing the right thing but the way they are going about it is what I find faulty. You know there is a way to make people do things not when you treat them like animals. Imagine the way we are being treated and harassed by the task force officials. They harass us, they molest us chasing us at every opportunity and shooting sporadically into the air to scare us away. It is really embarrassing and demoralising. Since the

closure of the market, things have been so difficult that money to feed is not there.

Responsibilities are there waiting for one at home, yet nothing to help solve the situation. It is really sad” said Ihenekwe in frustration.

Chika Victor thinks the whole exercise is more political than the issue of environmental cleanliness that is being levelled against them.

“I think Fashola is just using the issue of cleanliness as a camouflage. The issue is political. This is not the first time they have been shutting down this market.

Year in year out, government keep coming telling us to do this, to do that and at the end of the day, they will collect millions from us as settlement only for the same situation to repeat itself again. It is not just fair. Now what we were reliably told was that Fashola said that for the market to be opened, we have to agree to the Baba Oloja being appointed to head the market and be at the helms of affair

in Ladipo market. Why can’t the Baba Oloja go and head Idumota market where his Yoruba people are. It is not just fair on us” Chika pontificated angrily.

Nonetheless, when Saturday Mirror visited the area on Thursday, stern-looking armed security men with Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were seen at different locations as they blocked and restricted movements of people.

A visitor to the area would mistake the sight for war period. Residents were even barred from making use of the roads while policemen did a thorough body search.

The once congested area was deserted and only security men and those that had something else to do around were allowed to walk through the affected areas.

Some of the traders, looking frustrated, were seen hanging around the area.

The situation seems to be getting tougher for the marketers by the day as the only song on their lips at the moment is hunger over the closure of their source of livelihood.

Onyeka Okechukwu who is also a dealer in spare parts bemoaned his lot.

“We are hungry and if nothing is done to salvage the situation soon, things may get out of hand. I am a Political Science graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and since my graduation, I have not been able to secure any job which was why I decided to join my brother in this business to earn a living for myself. Now that the market is shut, I wonder what government wants us to do.

Agreed, what they want us to do is not a bad thing but the measure they are taking is just too drastic and the situation is becoming unbearable” says Okechukwu.

According to him, the situation is even more aggravated with the presence and attitude of the task force officials who are manning the place.

“The task force officials now use the opportunity to raid marketers. They collect bribe from those of us who can afford to go into the shop to sell market to customers. What about those who have nothing to offer? What do they expect us to do? The government should please try and tamper justice with mercy and open the market for us before things starts to get out of hand.

“Just the other day, one of the guys selling spare parts at the other end fell and died. He died in the rush when the police officials were chasing us away from the environment. Although, the said guy was sick because he had no money to take care of himself, he had to come around thinking that he could make some sale to get money to take care of himself. But this was not to be as he died in the rush. Things are really getting out of hand. The government should please open the market for us before we will all die of hunger” stated Okechukwu in strong emotions.

Another trader, Emeka Nwanju, who spoke with Saturday Mirror regretted the closure of the market. He said the traders were taken by surprise by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

March 9, 2013

35

‘Traders have turned our houses to shops’ that the commissioner was on in the area during his inspection tour of drainage projects across the state in preparation for the 2013 rainy season when he saw the mess the traders had made of the community.

“In Ladipo Market, the traders have taken over the road, carrying out commercial activities and dumping refuse indiscriminately in the drainage channel. You can see what they have turned this market into. You can see the environmental nuisance created by the spare parts dealers. Government is not going to allow this. Any moment from now, we are going to seal off the market indefinitely, if they do not comply with the state environmental law,” he had warned.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 government.

“In fact, what is going on is bad and pathetic. The Lagos State Government is bent on exploiting us. Last time, they closed the market and asked us to pay some millions of naira and we paid the amount before they opened it. This time around, they have closed it again on the ground that the area is congested and dirty.”

Another trader, Emmanuel Odigwe berated the action of the Lagos State Government on the sudden closure of the market, describing it as punishment.

“Government just wants to punish us.

They are accusing us of operating under a dirty environment without considering the injury they have caused us in the area of financial loss. If you look round, you will see that the area is not dirty as they claim. We do our weekly market sanitation to ensure that the entire area is clean. We have cleaned up the whole place yet they are not opening the market for us. As you can also see, we have destroyed all the attachments that were along the canal as they said we should do. We are very hungry and you know that a hungry man is an angry man. I just hope this will be over soon before things get completely out of hand” While the traders bemoan their fate and government is justifying its action, residents of the area are supremely delighted.

One of the residents living on Akintunde street, one of the streets around the area, however, expressed joy at the market’s closure.

Mr. Bode Adebiyi said it was a welcome development as the traders have turned the area that is meant for residential purpose to full market, a situation that has made it difficult for the residents to have free entry and exit on business days.

Adebiyi pointed out that though the traders are doing their legitimate businesses, they should not use it to breach other people’s rights.

According to him, the problem with the market is that it has reached a stage where it is supposed to be given a permanent solution.

“I think it is high time government gave them a more spacious place and move the market away from here because the whole place is congested and it is badly affecting those of us who are residents here,” he said.

He added that though the traders are rendering services to the people, it should not be at the expense of the residents peaceful living.

“Although the traders are rendering services to the people, that should not be allowed to reach the point where the residents will no longer live their normal, peaceful life.” He stated that the indefinite closure of the market should serve as a warning to some of the traders who see the roads meant for the people as market and warehouses. “I am not saying that the government should drive them from the place, but the closure should serve as a warning to those

The canal side of the market now after the demolition of the attached stalls

who decided to convert government road to market and do not bother about what the road users are going through on daily basis”.

Saturday Mirror learnt that the state government had held several meetings with traders and warned them about the deteriorating state of the market and its surroundings.

It was also learnt that the traders might not have been taken by surprise the state government was said to have given them two weeks to clean the market or face the consequences.

Few days before the closure, the state’s Commissioner for the Environment had said that arrangement had been concluded to close the market. He had said then that the government was concerned about the environmental nuisance the spare parts dealers in the market were causing.

“The environment is seriously polluted and degraded with oil. Surrounding canals are filled with full and half engine parts and human waste,” he had observed.

Saturday Mirror further gathered

My colleagues have not been helpful enough –Chukwuemeka Nwogu, trader

H

ow long have you been in this market?

I have been selling auto spare parts here for about 10 years.

How has the closure of the market affected you?

I am not happy at all about the closure of the market. It is a good thing to keep our environment clean and we are really doing our best. Although I know some of my colleagues have not been cooperative enough, the measures of the government are too drastic. At least, so far we have done all that is required of us to do. All we can do now is to plead with the government to open up the place before we all die of hunger.

“The most painful part is the attitude of the task force officials. They chase us at will and will not even let us go anywhere the area while they also use the opportunity to collect bribe from some people to allow them make sales. What about those of us who have no money to give to them.

Sometimes they chase us and harass us shooting in the air sporadically. Some few days ago, one of the traders at the other end of the market who had been ill with no means of treating himself fell and died.

I think the guy came around that day with the intention of looking for a way to make a sale so as to take care of himself when the police officials started the chase. In the course of the rush, he fell and died.

Government should please open the mar-

ket for us before we all die of hunger.

What is your association doing on the matter?

We have an overall body called LACEC but I think they are not doing enough. In some cases I think they are not helping matters.

Why did you say so?

They know the rules of the market and what government wants from us and in some cases they are the ones who will collect money from people to even break these rules. For instance, the government says they do not want any attachment but the same body will collect money from people and give them a space in these areas where attachments are that the government does not want. The situation is really devastating. What the government wants is for the good of all but I think their approach us what I am not happy with.

Chukwuemeka

Samuel

Govt’s approach is harsh –Samuel Ihenekwe, trader

H

ow have you been coping with the closure of the market?

It has been very tough. We are hungry and stranded. We have done all the government ask us to do and we can only pray for our market to be re opened as soon as possible before everything get worse. We are losing money on a daily basis and we cannot even afford food to eat on a daily basis.

How do you see the demands of the government?

I do not think what the government wants from us is bad but the approach is what I think is harsh. This is not the first time the market will be shut down and each time it is shut, we pay money for its reopening. Government is doing the right thing but the way they are going about it is what I find faulty. You know there is a way to make people do things not when you treat them like animals. Imagine the way we are being treated and harassed by the task force officials. They harass us, they molest us chasing us at every opportunity and shooting sporadically into the air to scare us away.

It is really embarrassing and demoralising. Since the closure of the market, things have been so difficult that money to feed is not there. Responsibilities are there waiting for one at home, yet nothing to help solve the situation. All we can just do is to plead with the government so that we can resume normal business again.

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March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘We still can’t bury our dead’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 already concerns. Right now, many of my subjects do come here to complain that they visit their land after the water has dried up. They say they are ready to clear the land for farming but there is nothing to plant,” the monarch said.

One of the victims in Gbaramotu town, James Domeze, said: “We are blessed in this land but we cannot enjoy diverse resources we are endowed with. The farms are the only hope of poor people like me; I do not benefit much from money of our oil. Now, the farms have been overtaken by water and the seedlings gone. We are in urgent need of help from government and donors.”

Bayelsa has a coastal and estuarine setting and a lot of her communities are almost completely surrounded by water; hence, the enormous damage that accompanied the flood.

While the flood lasted, socio-economic activities were grounded; all schools were closed for over a month while living conditions of the affected persons worsened as a result of astronomical rise of the cost of food.

There were fears across the state over possible outbreak of diseases because of foul-smelling water that enveloped virtually all its towns.

During the period the flood lasted, a major problem common to all the communities was that there was no land to bury their dead.

“The dead did not die as a result of the flood, but they died at a very challenging time. We didn’t have mortuary to keep them, while it is compulsory we bury them. Our health facilities were crammed by people. Everything was just in disarray,” said Anthony Grace, a resident of Agudama.

After spending weeks at camps hurriedly established by the state government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), many of the people began to return home with barely few or no belonging to continue their lives.

Mr. Nesini Clarkson is the Chairman, Community Development Committee of Yenagoa community in the state capital.

He appealed for urgent aid for his people, many of whom he said were still homeless. “Actually, the last flood was unprecedented in the history of Bayelsa. Many places were affected by the flood. Most of our houses collapsed during the flood.

The state government tried by providing refugee camps. After the flood, we are expecting government to make some provisions for post-flood victims.”

He noted that although the state government set up the Flood Relief Committee whose Chairman unfortunately died in a helicopter crash within the state, impact of the committee, he stated, had not been felt by the victims. “No tangible thing has been done by that committee because the Chairman’s death. Maybe, they are trying to put in a new person to make sure that it now start working.

“During the flood many NGOs came to assist us. But, now, we are faced with the

challenges of how the building destroyed could be rebuilt and displaced families resettled,” Clarkson told our reporter.

He added that most children in the community were sick while many of them were being treated of infections that came with the flood. He however stressed that nobody died as a result of the flood.

“It is painful however that many of our people have not got a place to live in. We are really in need of help. We also appeal to government to help with our canals. There must be good drainage, while those building new houses should raise their foundation very high to avoid recurrence,” he pleaded.

Yet in Amassoma, “about 30 per cent of children are still out of school as a result of the flood” said a head teacher of Ogon St Stephen’s Primary School, Mr Malaka Apama. He said people in the community fled as a result of the flood. According to him, houses of many of the victims had fallen and they were forced to either stay away from the town completely or squat with relatives which make it hard for their children to return to school. He added that “many of the children, including their parents were not in the community, because they are homeless.”

David Idekwulobi is a Junior Secondary School 3 student of Pheku Secondary School Swali, in Yenagoa. He narrated his family’s ordeal during the period of the flood.

“The flood was unexpected. When the flood came and we didn’t have anywhere to go, my parents took my siblings and I to our home state, Imo. They left everything we had behind to the flood. We were there for over two months. I, however, was enrolled there in a private school to continue my education for the term. I didn’t want to miss my final exam.

“I plead that government assist the people that lost their properties to the flood while many of children like me that are still out of school be resettled to allow them continue with their education.”

A Senior Secondary School (SSS) one student of the school, Micheal Juliet, appealed to the people to be proactive.

“The flood was a great disaster. Many people lost their belongings to it. My family had to leave our house for another community because of the flood. Before we could save anything in the house, water had covered everywhere. The worst of it all was that we were unable to come to school for five weeks.

“My fear is that we should avoid recurrence this year. You know, when the water came last year, there was a lot of dirt everywhere; the water was oozing out foul odour because of dirt dumped anyhow by our people. So, I think we should avoid dumping of refuse anyhow,” Juliet counselled.

In Ammassoma, community that hosts the Niger Delta University in the state, “about 30 per cent of children are still out of school as a result of the flood” said the head teacher of Ogon St Stephen’s Primary School, Mr Malaka Apama.

He said people in the community fled as a result of the flood. According to him, houses of many of the victims had fallen and they were forced to either stay away

One of the houses affected by the flood in Yenagoa

from the town completely or squat with relatives which make it hard for their children to return to school.

Chief Wiphant Philip is the spokesperson, Council of Chiefs, Ammassoma.

He told Saturday Mirror in an interview that, “the flood had destroyed so many of our house-hold property and our economy has been so much negatively affected by the flood. The impact is unquantifiable. So much destruction had taken place. We are really at the mercy of God and plead that government and well-meaning persons and organisations come to our aid. All the mud houses have been destroyed. Many of our people are yet to get accommodation.

The flood has caused a lot of hunger in our community. We need food-stuff and other things that can help us get back to our normal lives.”

Speaking on the effects of Flood Relief Committee set up by the state government, Philip declared that the community had not seen any impact made by the committee.

“No tangible thing has been done by that committee because the chairman died. Maybe, they are trying to put in a new person to make sure that it now starts working,” he added.

One of the victims of the flood in the community, Alameibi Janet, put her experience thus: “I am a widow and farmer with three children. I had my mud house washed off when the flood came. I left with my children to my uncle in Tombia. I spent barely five weeks at the place when I came down here. It has not been easy taking care of my children while I live with another family at the moment. My three children have not resumed school yet. Fending for them is a difficult task for me as our farm, which is the main source of our livelihood, has been eroded by water.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, had ordered members of his cabinet to directly supervise distribution of relief materials donated by government and well-meaning individuals to flood victims in the state.

Dickson gave the directive following complaints that materials meant for the victims were being diverted.

He was said to be aggrieved that some officials of the flood committee were accused of diverting the relief materials as well as discriminating against the victims.

On 14 November, an advanced team of IITA experts visited Bayelsa to determine the extent of damage in the region.

Led by Dr Richardson Okechukwu, the team held meetings with the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Thomas Commander, and other officials and also visited affected areas in the state.

Both parties agreed to step up action to save the state from imminent food crisis.

“We need to act and act fast to save these farmers from food crisis,” says Dr Okechukwu.

“An immediate response demands IITA to send improved cassava cuttings, plantains and maize to the state in the next one month. These crops are part of the food basket for the people of the state. More importantly, the maize varieties to be deployed are early maturing and will help farmers to recover and adjust quickly by offering them food on the table,” he added.

But, the population to benefit from this gesture is yet to be determined.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is one of the organisations that rose to the challenge.

According to Emergency Officer of the agency, Olusoji Adeniyi, the agency worked directly with NEMA to build capacities of its personnel to meet the demand of the period.

“We support them with equipment to make sure that once they get the early warning sign which meteorological agency gives them, we call them together and alert them on the possibility of flood,” Adeniyi remarked.

He also added that health institutions in the state were supported to ensure the people of the areas were immune to diseases associated with such disaster.

“We did that for a couple of months in Bayelsa, Anambra, Delta and Kogi which were affected by the flood,” he stressed.

UNICEF, according to him, also assisted in ensuring children of the affected areas had temporary learning shelters and educational aids.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

“I briefly left my wife to get the needed items from a nearby store. But when I returned to the hospital premises, I saw some nurses and patients staring at me. Many people were sympathising with me for something they were reluctant to say. I entered the ward and looked at my new baby. What I saw made me burst into tears.”

JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

W

LIVING

March 9, 2013

hen 25-year-old Dahiru Umar married his 19-year-old wife early last year, what he hoped and prayed for was for her to conceive and give birth to their first born child.

His excitement leaped greatly when his wife, Zainab, announced that she had conceived and that it would not be long before their baby comes into the world.

He looked forward to her due date with great expectations.

Umar began buying some of the things their unborn child would need. He went into overdrive mode and worked his fingers to the bones in his petty trading to ensure that everything both mother and infant needed was ready.

He also ensured that his wife received antenatal care at the General Hospital in Malumfashi Local Government Area towards her safe delivery and the wellbeing of the unborn child.

The due date finally came on Sunday March 3, 2013. His wife went into labour and was rushed to the hospital. As the labour progressed, he was asked to get

37

Sullied joy in Katsina •As baby girl is born with ‘two heads’ some items that would be needed by the woman and labour and the baby that was being expected.

He says, “I briefly left my wife to get the needed items from a nearby store.

But when I returned to the hospital premises, I saw some nurses and patients staring at me. Many people were sympathising with me for something they were reluctant to say.

“I entered the ward where my wife lay, and looked at my new baby. What I saw made me burst into tears.”

The baby, a girl, was strange looking.

She had what appeared to be two heads with a cleft palate and stunted fingers.

She had virtually no eyes. Indeed, she was such a sight that many gathered to catch a glimpse of her.

Speaking on the baby’s condition, Dr Ahmad Bala, a paediatrician, said the baby needed maximum medical examination to ascertain the real nature of her condition.

According to Bala, “the medical examination would include physical checks, X-ray and other diagnosis that would equip a physician to properly diagnose on her abnormality.”

Umar, who spoke with newsmen at his Unguwar-Sodangi residence a few days after the birth of the unusual baby, said his wife went through a normal labour process before giving birth to their daughter.

He, however, said that his wife had experienced some minor illnesses during her pregnancy.

He said sympathetic hospital workers

told him that they could not offer any medical assistance beside the delivery.

“The hospital workers assured me that my wife was in stable condition but that the baby would have to be referred to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, near, Zaria,” Umar said.

He appealed to the state government, wealthy individuals and Non Governmental Organisations to come to his aid towards paying the child’s medical bills in the quest to make her a normal baby.

According to Umar, he would need the help due to his financial status as his petty business is worth only about N5, 000.

Succour was said to have come almost immediately when the state House of Assembly member representing Malunfshi constituency, Hon Abdullahi Mahuta, reportedly agreed to foot the bill for the baby’s treatment.

When Saturday Mirror paid another visit to the residence of the Umars, they were said to have gone to ABU Teaching Hospital to give their baby the needed medical attention.

Medical experts have, however, stated that the baby’s condition is not actually a case of having two heads, but something which is commonly known in medical circles as Encephaloceles.

According to experts, the condition known as Encephaloceles refers to “saclike protrusions of parts of the brain and meninges through openings in the skull.

“This rare birth defect occurs when the neural tube, in which the brain and spinal cord form, fails to close completely during foetal development. Skin or,

less often, a thin membrane, covers the sac outside the skull.

“Encephaloceles can occur in the base of the skull, the top or back of the skull, or between the forehead and nose.

“Diagnosis of the condition involves an analysis of the nasal fluid for a protein called beta-2 transferrin, which is most only found in cerebrospinal fluid.

CT and MRI scans may also be required to determine the location and severity of the leakage.

“The most acceptable treatment option for such a condition is surgery to repair the protrusion. If only cerebrospinal fluid and the brain lining are in the protrusion, the repair is usually quite simple. With brain matter in the protrusion, the repair is the same.”

Experts maintain that it will help to alleviate pressure problems on the brain. This alleviation of pressure will minimize brain damage as the infant grows.

“To keep the pressure under control, a shunt in the skull helps alleviate fluid buildup. After the surgery, treatment depends on the problems the patient develops. Some require therapy to deal with paralysis and mental retardation.”

About one in every 5,000 babies worldwide are said to have such condition.

Medical experts say that proper levels of folic acid have been shown to help prevent this condition when taken before pregnancy, and early in pregnancy.

They recommend that women who may become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.

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LIVING

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From cart pusher to CEO

•How cult member, drug addict turned Pastor •Spent 12 years for 4-year-degree TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

B

ut for Providence or self determination, Olakunle Soriyan might have become a street urchin despite being born with silver spoon.

Though, Soriyan, had taken many decisions in life which he has lived to regret, his being a Principal Transformation Strategist of the Olakunle Soriyan Company and a Pastor at Fountain of Life Church, now has told another story.

For a man who spent his youthful days managing social vices ranging from gang-violence to drug addiction, tasting everything from chewing gum to cocaine and embracing the lowly status of a refuse collector and road-side local fumigator; as well as a cheap barbeque man, despite being born with the proverbial silver spoon, Soriyan has really come a long way.

“I was born very well in a very good home. In 1982, when I was in Form 3, I had a Mercedes Benz car that took me to school every day. If you had a regular Mercedes Benz 230 taking you to school every day at that time, you were a very rich man. In those days, people who were upcoming drove Volkswagen Beetle cars while successful people drove Mercedes Benz. Volvo was driven by middle class and it was only comfortable people that drove Mercedes Benz.

“OG 1415 R, yellow car, was a supreme machine respected everywhere took me to school every day and brought me back.

So, I was born with something like silver spoon. But my father managed a polygamous system, which had inbuilt capacity to self-destruction. If I have enemy and I can know the enemy, I will not advise him to marry a second wife. It is one of the greatest exercises of futility. But that was my own story,” he began his story.

“I gained admission into a secondary school at the age of nine. I passed common entrance while I was in Primary Four because I was extremely brilliant and I got to secondary school as the youngest in my class; I was nine years old. I finished secondary school without any discipline because I was young and in boarding house, I could not appreciate discipline. So, it wasn’t long that I finished secondary school that I couldn’t gain admission and I ventured into many social vices, from drug addition to all many vices.

“By the time I gained admission, I joined a cult and it was not an interesting life. By the time I was in 400 Level as Economics student, I was not in my final year because I was doing seven to nine carryover courses per semester from Year 1. I had tasted everything from chewing gum to cocaine. So by the time I was in 400 Level, I could not talk normally because I always salivated and my words would drop and I was a cult member.

Olakunle Soriyan, by all means, is a silver spoon kid. But he became a refuse collector, house to house fumigator and eventually the Chief Executive Officer of a money spinning venture. What could have led this uptowner into ventures usually associated with the dregs of society?

“I got to a point where my nuisance value on the campus had increased so much and I had become something close to a virus. And on campus the only way to deal with virus is by rustication. I left the university proudly because I felt that academic was good riddance to bad rubbish. I was convinced that academic

I did another four years making eight years for a four year degree and yet the school did not give me my certificate. I remained in that school pursuing my certificate for 12 years.

About four years ago or there about somebody committed suicide in UNILAG for having extra year, then it dawned on me that extra year could kill. I had eight extra years, which means I must have died

Soriyan

could not define my own future and I am still correct. But I have also learnt that while academic cannot make anybody, it can support and that support is worth getting. I left the school two months to final exams. My decision was a heart break for my family. But I left.”

Having wasted four years at the Lagos State University (LASU) without anything to show for it, Soriyan rather than sitting down to think about how to pick up the pieces of his life continued with his deviant behaviour.

His words: “One year after I left school I gave my life to Christ and that was the point of change in my life. If I had given it to Sango or whoever, I would have said it proudly. My story was that I gave my life to Christ and the only way I can define my life from that point is that I went mad and by that madness I have done a lot of great stuffs.

“First of all, I returned to the same school I had left to start from the scratch. again; same faculty, same course, same lecturers but children for classmate and

eight times.

But how did he spend 12 years for a fouryear-programme?

“I did 12 years on campus studying one course in the same school because I needed to get my degree. For eight years I was trying to get my degree, after the first four years, I left and did another four years. In fact after the first four years in a lot of the courses I did, I didn’t know whether it was a conspiracy or not but there was no even trace that I did those courses. So, I had to do them again the third time.

“So tactically speaking, it is like I did 100 Level three times, 200 Level three times, 300 Level three times and 400 Level three times. It was in the 12th year that the school gave me my degree, which was Third Class. If it was even a Pass, I would still rejoice and give testimony because at that point what I want was a degree. I got that degree and moved on.”

Sharing more light on his success story, the Principal Transformation Strategist of Olakunle Soriyan Company, revealed that his journey to greatness in life was

very rough but he was able to achieve his present status through the help of God and hard work.

His words: “I was a refuse collector in Lagos State. Before pushing cart from house to house became popular in Lagos State, I am the one that started it; nobody pushed cart and refuse before me. When I did refuse collection and saved some money, I began to fumigate from house to house; carrying fumigation machine as an undergraduate in LASU. I moved from there and began to sell barbeque at Charley Bus Stop in Gbagada.

“The night I started I was arrested

by Operation Sweep for illegal hustling, which is understandable. They brought me back the next day and everything was burnt. So, I had to start all over again. Doing that barbeque, I made my first N1 million. That is history now. By God’s grace today I am married to a queen and I am not doing badly.

“If you read my profile you are going to see nothing but my story and my journey of pains and struggle and how I have come through because the truth is that what role has providence played? Is there any human being that can delete providence from his success? Providence is the difference between me and the pepper seller on the street. I can tell you that I am a planner and strategist but I have made most of my biggest breakthrough not thorough strategic planning but by error, trial and Providence.

“So, I understand the limit of the human brain that he doesn’t deliver so much human value. It helps us to think and talk in a particular way that gives us attention but in the final analyses our opportunity are in the hands of providence.”

Having tasted what life is all about, the cult member turned Pastor who is fondly called PK can confidently talk about shame, failure, transformation, renaissance, success and greatness.

His passion for a better society was the brain behind the establishment of Olakunle Soriyan Company, a researchdriven nation-building and total management firm single-mindedly focused on using original and home-grown methodologies to solve complex problems peculiar to businesses, government, families, youths and individuals in Africa and the so-called Third world.

Soriyan, despite graduating with a ‘Third Class’ in Economics is a voice to be reckoning with in some sectors in the country, especially in the corporate world has become critical to the interest of very intelligent business and corporate leaders, opinion leaders, top government officials at various consulting and training intervention as well as cabinet retreats.

Today, credible people from profit and non-profit organisations from diverse sectors and industries consistently engage Soriyan as Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, Negotiator, Mediator and even a Preacher.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

TOURISM

March 9, 2013

39

Soapstone images of Esie: Work of gods or man?

K AYODE FALADE

M

any consider it a mystery. Others are simply confounded. Whichever way, the soapstone images of Esie, Kwara State remain in a class of their own.

If you have been to Kwara State, have you been to her Igbomina part? If the answers to these questions are in the affirmative, then answer these too: Have you been to Esie and have you heard about the “strange” carved images which have projected the small sleepy town internationally?

For those who do not know, Esie is an Igbomina Yoruba town in Kwara State. It is about 48 kilometres South -East of Ilorin and 128 north of Ife. Esie is internationally known as a home of 800 soapstone figures.

The stones, mostly of which are in different stages of decapitation, have one origin: it is unknown.

What is, however, known is that their etymology is etched deep in myths and mystery. Indeed, nobody knows how these stone images exactly came about but a few explanations have been offered by inhabitants of the city.

This is one of them: A group of rebellious settlers from another part of Yoruba land had approached the monarch of Esie, the Elesie and sent words to him that they were coming to settle down in his town.

But to their chagrin, this group did see anyone to welcome them at the town gate.

This, according to legend, made them decide to settle outside the town.

As time went on, however, they became a threat to the town of Esie and her people.

They began to undermine the administration of the monarch and were about to rebel. One day, however, they were no more. The god of the land had turned them to stones. They became stone statures.

This, the legend continues, explains their (the stone images) being in various stages of human activities which include farming, home keeping, meeting and even child birth.

There were over 1,500 of them.

Another legend has it that the progenitor of the town was a hunter. One day he went hunting deep into the thick forest.

There he discovered these images at the foot of a tree.

The man could not fathom the occurrence of such number of images, their shapes and mass; he fled.

A delegation of brave hunters now came with him to the place another day and moved the images to their current place of abode.

That is why a reigning Elesie (monarch of the town) is forbidden in seeing the stone images.

However, once in a year a fiesta of a sort is organised in the town to celebrate the stone images which some people have now venerated.

However, most of these soapstone figures have lost either heads or limbs. They appear to represent a variety of people.

Some are men while some are women. A particular one, adorned with the tall cap neck and wrist beads was said to be their king.

Some attributes are , however, common to the statutes. These, archaeologists suggest, their being a work of art and not transformation of human beings to stones.

These common traits include the following: facial marks of three horizontal lines between the eyes and ear, some have vertical lines on the chin, Some have striations on the face, majority wear necklaces and bracelets. However, no two of the over 1,500 soapstone figures look exactly the same.

They differ in facial features, hairstyles and dresses .

There are figures of women, holding swords, and quivers of arrows; no single soapstone figure is less than 60cm in height.

Virtually all the Esie soapstone images are located in National Museum Esie.

The National Museum, Esie, in Kwara State, is the oldest in Nigeria, according to the Director-General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Usman. It is also reputed to have the highest collection of soapstone images in Africa.

And, according to the Minister of Cul-

ture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, since 1945, the museum has been moving from one developmental stage ge to another.

According to its Education Officer, icer, Ms. Victoria Folurunso, Esie Museum m is community-based, and was established hed in 1945 by the colonial governmentt to house the about 1,500 soap stone images ages that were introduced to the public in 1933

by Inspector for Oro Area of the Church rch Missionary Society, Mr. H.G. Ramshaw. w.

Folorunso explained that the images are called soapstone because if water torches any of them, it would foam and become slippery.

Historically, the museum is sited at the spot where the sculptures were discovered in 1933. The site was formerly a groove.

The museum also features ethnographic collections, carved with wood, and they include the Epa mask, Sonponna, Ere Ibeji, Sango’s mortar and an Ifa bowl.

Epa mask is one of the most popular masks found among the Ekiti and the Igbomina people. The festival is marked every August for agricultural output and human fertility. Though most Epa masks are carved in women replica, there are a few that depict male warriors.

Sonponna is the Yoruba god of small pox and its image at the museum has white dots all over, representing how small pox infection looks on its victim. The image is common among the Yoruba speaking people.

Ere Ibeji is regarded as peculiar, in the sense that when it appears in a pair, the belief is that the twin children being represented have died. When it is single, it is believed that only one died. In essence, the Ere Ibeji is meant to immortalise departed twins.

Sango mortar is designed with a bold plate on it and it is mostly found among the Yoruba. It is used by the god of thunder, Sango for warfare and prayers.

According to the curator, Mr. Emeka Ibechiozor, the over 1,500 stone images are representations of men and women presided over by the stone king (Oba Era). The

objects range in height from 14cm to fro 120cm and weigh 12 between 0.55 b kg and 104 kgs; k while the reprew ssentations are engaged in dife fferent activities, with some playw ing musical instrument, while many are armed with arrows, machetes, and other unidentified objects.

Ibechiozor pointed out that p though th h some commoners are represented, most of the objects depict well-to-do personalities as attested to by their rich attires, heavy beads and well designed head gears.

“The diversities in their perspective and cultural traits attest to a highly developed and complex civilisation which must have emanated from contacts with other centres of civilisation in Africa,” he added.

The museum is affiliated to the West Africa Museum Project, International Council of Museum and other organisations.

Beside the soapstone images in Esie, similar stone images have been reported in places like Ijara and Ofaru, both in Igbomina Village near Esie. Esie Soapstone images and Ikom monoliths or Akwanshi of Cross River State are two examples of stone figure in Nigeria.

Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs in the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx of fluids, but without melting. It has been a medium for carving for thousands of years.

40

LEISURE

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 9, 2013

41

Confusion still reigns as 2012/13 NPFL season kicks off A typical t i l Nigeria Ni i P Premier i L League action. ti INS INSET: NPFL secretary, Tunji Babalola.

SAYO OGUNDEJI

N

igeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is set to kick off this weekend, but stakeholders have expressed doubt over the readiness of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the body led by Hon. Nduka Irabor to run a well organised and hitch-free league.

Executive Secretary of the league body, Tunji Babalola, confirmed to Saturday Mirror on Thursday night, that Rangers of Enugu and Enyimba of Aba fixture is the Star Match of today.

The former Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board chaired by Victor Rumson Baribote was voted out of office in Abuja in December 2012 and a 13-man committee to oversee the affairs of the body was inaugurated on December 27, 2012.

Since the change in management, the new committee has been faced with major setbacks because of internal feud and lack of finance.

And, having changed the name recently from NPL to NPFL, the Irabor-led IMC is faced with a whole lot of challenges as regards repositioning the league to rate among the best in the continent.

While the former chairman of the NPL, Baribote, has challenged the change of name for the nation’s top flight, unnec-

essary fight between Warri Wolves and Rangers over the ownership of the 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations sensation, Sunday Mba, has also drawn ugly attention to the plight of Nigeria’s football.

The IMC changed the name of the elite division from the NPL to NPFL, but Baribote has described the change as illegal.

“Did the congress sanction the change of name from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL)?” queried the ousted chairman.

“Only the congress consisting of the 20 premier league clubs can approve such a change because the league is owned by the clubs and not appointed officers.”

The 2011/2012 league season ended in September 2012, but the troubles rocking the body seem unresolved with the postponement of the draw for the 2012/2013 season earlier in January.

However, when the House of Representatives Committee Chairman for Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaya, brought all the parties involved in the League together at the National Assembly, he succeeded in resolving the matter to an extent. Eventually, the delayed NPL or is it NPFL kicks off today with a top drawer game between Rangers and Enyimba, and it is expected to be rounded off by September 29.

Despite this intervention, it is not yet uhuru as stakeholders have expressed divergent views concerning the IMC, with

Semi-finalists emerge at NNPC/Shell Cup P. 42

many of the opinion that the new kick off date may suffer another postponement.

“They have told us that the league will kick off this weekend, but personally I am yet to see anything pointing to that possibility as many of us still feel the league may be postponed again,” Chairman, Kano Pillars FC, Babangida Tukur, said regrettably.

According to Tukur, who failed to hide his displeasure with the manner at which the IMC has been handling issues relating to the league, the incessant postponements by the body is not only capable of denting the country’s image in the international community, but will also affect the local teams involved in continental engagements negatively.

The foremost administrator, however, added that challenging the body on their administrative lapses was absolutely impossible since they were not elected into the positions in the first place.

“We are all aware of the challenges facing the league in general but this continuous postponement will affect all the teams negatively as it denies them of proper planning and we are not sending good image to the outside world.

“Teams playing in continental competitions will be badly hit because failure of the body to be flexible with the new fixtures may spell doom for these teams and nobody can really challenge them be-

Onigbinde at 75, calls for viable grassroots sports development P. 43

cause they were not voted into office but were handpicked,” he said.

Dolphins of Port Harcourt chief coach, Stanley Eguma, also expressed doubt over the commencement of the league, but assured their fans on the readiness of his side irrespective of the decision of the league body.

He, however, challenged the Irabor-led IMC to ensure that issues relating to welfare of players and officials and corporate sponsorships are taken care of.

“Though we are not yet certain whether the league will kick off as planned, but the team is ready mentally and psychologically irrespective of what happens this weekend.

“I am aware that the league management is facing different challenges, though many clubs seem not to have confidence in the body, but they should try their best to position the league in the right direction, which obviously should take care of issues relating to welfare of players, officials and most importantly, the sponsorship problems,” Eguma added.

Media officer of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, Jimoh Bashir, has however, said that his side benefitted from the long break as it afforded the team opportunity of playing more friendly matches, which to him helped the players to blend more as a team.

Beckham is a winner –Cantona P. 45

42

SPORT

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Time to rebrand Nigerian football

T

he history of Nigerian football dates back to the early part of the twentieth century when Baron Mulford, a Briton, introduced the game in the country and in order to facilitate its development he organised weekly matches between European and Nigerian youths in Lagos. It was from there, the popularity of the game soared, spreading to other parts of the country like Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

Having gained acceptance, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) was established in 1945 to help in the organisation of the game and this followed immediately with the introduction of Governor’s Cup, (which later became known as the FA Cup), as the major national competition.

In 1959, the NFA became affiliated to the continental body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the world football ruling body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

After independence, the following year, the administration of Nigerian football fell on the shoulders of Nigerians, with Mr. Godfrey Amachree becoming the first Nigerian Chairman of the NFA. Since then, Nigerian football has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the game, especially in its administration.

And it was because of the aforementioned fact that necessitated this piece, which many football pundits across the coun-

HARD TACKLE with

Andrew Ekejiuba anelsports@yahoo.com

try have alluded to, following the victorious outing of the Super Eagles at the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Aside the victory, the criticisms that ensued against the administrators in the Glass House of Nigerian football, as a result of the purported resignation of Coach Stephen Keshi, confirmed that something definitely should be done to save the image of our football and make it attractive to sponsors.

Only recently, ex-international, Clement Temile, took a swipe at the standard of our local league and attributed the sudden downturn on poor management and organisation of the game in the country.

According to Temile, there is a huge gap between how football is being administered in the country, especially when compared to other developed football-playing nations. But, he was quick to add

08023103605

that things can still turn around for good if free hands are given to the coaches, more so, if the support and confidence is there for them to tap into.

From the foregoing, it is clear that we still have a way out of the woods if the administrators are willing to humble themselves and learn.

Currently, there is so much corruption in our soccer system, and as such, corporate organisations are finding it hard to swim in such stinking water. Many of the administrators only think of what will line their pockets, than devising positive strategies that will move the game forward.

As if that is not enough, the NFF board spends so much time and energy deliberating on issues that tend to divide the football fraternity, than developing the game.

The end result has been dismal outings by our various national teams, except for few victories as

a result of the determination of our players to break-even.

The sporting media which is supposed to be at the vanguard of checking the excesses of these green-eyed fools in the Glass House of Nigerian football, are still not doing much in their professional calling, thus leaving the administration of our football gasping for salvation.

As a kicker, how did we get it all wrong? What is the way forward? And how can we device a better strategy that will help rebuild the game that unites the diverse people of Nigeria?

The answers to the aforementioned questions can be gotten, if we can rebrand our football, so as to be able to surmount all the numerous challenges confronting it.

A school of thought defined rebranding as a marketing strategy in which a new name, term, symbol, design, or combination thereof are created for an established brand with the intention of developing a new, differentiated identity in the minds of consumers, investors, and competitors.

However, in the case of rebranding Nigerian football, a lot of radical changes must be applied for us to get the desired result.

Beginning from the administrators of the game, to the referees, coaches and the players, a lot of re-orientation would be needed so that our football development could be able to compete favorably with

other top football-playing nations.

Sometime last year, I was in Owerri to watch a league game involving Heartland FC and a visiting team. I was fortunate to be in the same hotel with the match officials and in the night after the encounter, the kind of discussion that emanated from these officials brought tears into my eyes.

I remember vividly, how the centre referee boastfully told his colleagues how he made questionable decisions in a match he officiated some years ago in one of our notorious football cities.

He further revealed that he had to award a dying minute penalty in favour of the home team to compensate for the huge money he took from the hosts and evaded being beaten by irate fans.

However, referees of such low character put our football in bad light, and as such, it is the belief of HT that such officials should be shown the exit door in our rebranding process, especially now that the league is kick-starting.

A lot of quality seminars and workshops from football technocrats in FIFA are needed to rebrand Nigerian football, if NFF is serious about moving our football forward.

A corrupt-free football culture is what should drive our game and not vice versa. Nigerians want to see an NFF that is absolutely committed to promoting football excellence, transparency, discipline and national pride.

SPORT NEWS

Dolphins clear air over report credited to Emah IFEANYI EDUZOR

N

igeria Premier League side, Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt says they are not happy with a report credited to its former captain, Godwin Emah, on why he left the club.

A newspaper report last week stated that Emah left the club because he was frustrated by the current head of the technical crew, Stanley Eguma.

However media officer of Dolphins, China Acheru insists Emah did not make that statement and perhaps was misquoted.

“I sincerely do not think Emah made that statement because nobody frustrated him out of the club.

“He joined us from Ibom Stars in 2000 and served us like a loyal servant for

thirteen seasons and won the League in 2004 and 2011 and the FA Cup in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

“But the thing is after thirteen years, age began to take its toll on him, so he started playing fewer games for the team which is just natural in football,” Acheru said.

“Maybe he wanted to play more games but he should have realized that as he was getting older, the team was getting younger players so he thought he was being frustrated out of the team, but that is not true.

“Emah Godwin is a Dolphins legend and our success story cannot be told without him as his efforts won us six of our seven trophies so far. If he really made those statements then he was misguided or else the club wants to believe he was misquoted.”

Semi-finalists emerge at NNPC/Shell Cup ANDREW EKEJIUBA

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emi-finalists have emerged at the ongoing NNPC/Shell Cup 2013, following the successful completion of the quarter-final matches of the competition in four centres across the country.

The four qualified teams are Government College Ibadan, Purple Crown College Enugu, Government Arabic College Gwale and Government Secondary School, Wuse, Abuja.

To reach the semifinals, Government College, Ibadan, defeated Henson Demonstration Secondary School, Benin, 10-9 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Sagamu Centre.

At the Port Harcourt Centre, Purple Crown College Enugu defeated Annunciation Secondary School, Ikere-Ekiti 1-0 to book a semi-final ticket, while at

the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna, Government Arabic College, Gwale, Kano, defeated Government College Maiduguri 2-0.

The last quarter-final match was played between Government Secondary School, Wuse, Abuja and Sani Dingyadi Memorial Secondary School, Sokoto.

It ended 1-0 in favour of GSS Wuse.

According to the organisers of the competition, all the semi-final matches would be played in Lagos on March 22 at 2pm and 4pm respectively, between the four qualified teams.

Meanwhile, Henson Demonstration Secondary School, Benin, Edo State are still ruing their ouster in this year’s competition after losing to Government College, Ibadan, in a match which was played at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu.

The Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s boys obvi-

Action recorded during one of the group stage matches of the ongoing NNPC/Shell Cup involving Government College, Ibadan (in red shirt).

ously underrated the Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s boys whose level of discipline and determination paved the way for their 10-9 victory through spot - kicks after the match ended 2-2 apiece.

Eitor Abdul of Henson Demonstration Secondary School scored the opener at the 30th minute before Malomo Taofik of Government College redeemed the team’s hope of qualifying for the semi final after he nodded into the net Lawal Shola free kick in the 61st

minute.

Abioye Osas increased the tally for the Edo team in the 63rd minute and two minutes later, the Oyo State boys equalized.

As the match progressed to an end, officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Education had already began to complain that the Edo boys were over aged basically because of their height and physique, but little did they know that they will emerge victorious, 10-9 on penalties.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

March 9, 2013

43

Onigbinde at 75, calls for viable grassroots sports development C the game to the next level.

“My prayer this day is that our football administrators should be awake to the reality of our situation and make things right.

“They should come up with programmes that will develop the game of football in Nigeria by

organising programmes that will keep us ahead of our opponents,” he said.

The veteran coach who clocked 75 on March 5 also pleaded with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and private organisations to focus on long term plan for the country’s soccer to develop.

Anambra partners Rojenny, as games village gets N30m face-lift

declared: “I can see a silver line in the horizon with Governor Peter Obi at the helm of affairs in the state”.

Prince Noel Ezenwa, a former deputy governorship candidate in the state, under the National Democratic Party (NDP), described the governor’s move and contributions as a credible and commendable gesture. He also expressed the hope that Obi would do a lot more of this gesture before leaving office in the next one year.

Responding, the proprietor of the Games Village, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, said the Governor initiated a revolution that elevated the state to a pride of place and urged other leaders to emulate him.

Ezeonwuka who gave the assurance that the fund would be judiciously managed to achieve the desired goals, described Obi’s contribution as a spring board, adding that in the next few months, full sporting activities would commence in earnest at the games village.

He recalled that Obi had during his campaign days, promised to partner with the Rojenny management towards improving more sports facilities in the state, adding that apart from this donation, the governor equally did what Napoleon could not do when he built Justice Chuba Ikpeazu Statium in Onitsha recently to recover the first ever Onitsha Stadium which was converted to Onitsha North Local Government headquarters and another stadium in Onitsha South council headquarters.

He expressed optimism that in the nearest future, Anambra and other neighbouring states shall produce world class athletes from Rojenny Stadium who will dominate athletic events from the rest of the world.

hief Adegboye Onigbinde, a former Super Eagles Head Coach, has said that the country’s football profile can only be enhanced through a viable grassroots development programme.

The CAF and FIFA instructor made the remark

in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday against the backdrop of his 75th birthday anniversary.

According to him, his wish for Nigerian football is for the authorities to fabricate positive programmes that will take

Entrance of Rojenny Tourists and Games Village, Oba, Anambra State. INSET: Governor Obi.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA AND NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

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nambra State government has announced a donation of N30 million to the management of Rojenny Games/Tourists Village, Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, as part of its determination to partner with the management in giving the moribund games village a face-lift.

Governor Peter Obi who presented the cheque for the amount at a brief ceremony, shortly after inspecting the facilities on ground, said the gesture was part of his administration’s policy to resuscitate all the collapsed infrastructures in the state, both private and public owned properties.

The Governor regretted that such a huge investment single-handedly put up by an individual has been allowed to waste away for years without government intervention and reinstated the com-

mitment of his government to continue to support sports and individual developmental initiatives.

He explained that government is strategically building and renovating sports facilities across the state for effective harnessing of abundant sports talents, aimed at restoring the status of the state as a pace-setter in sporting activities.

The governor said this would equip youths adequately to explore their potential and discourage them from crime and anti-social activities, adding that the donation was just the beginning of good things to come.

Governor Obi gave the assurance that he would personally attract companies and investors to assist in rehabilitating the stadium, including the fixing of the tartan tracks to boost athletic activities.

He then urged other interest groups to support the venture.

The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dr. Edozie Aroh,

said when resuscitated, the facilities would be used to train talented athletes of various categories, adding that competitions and championships could also be hosted there as was the case before the collapse.

According to the commissioner, “the contribution of N30 million by the state government is just a step in the right direction, adding, we shall put other facilities in place to keep all our youths busy and at the same time divert their attention from crime”.

A former Speaker in the old Anambra State House of Assembly, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Enechukwu, while thanking the Governor for the intervention, said the government had given a new definition to governance, having been rebuilding a new state that is expected to set a pace for others in all sectors.

Enechukwu who noted that for the first time, the dream and vision of the founding fathers of the state are being realised,

Onigbinde

Lagos Polo: Shoreline silence Linetrale Delaney IFEANYI EDUZOR

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ola Kareem put up a good performance to help Ironclad Shoreline record an 11 – 8 upset win over defending champions Linetrale Delaney in the Majekodunnmi Cup, as the Lagos Polo International Tournament heads to its homestretch.

Marcelo Pasqual scored in the dying minutes of the fifth chukka to hand Delaney an 8-7 lead but a late rally by the Shoreline enabled them score two quick goals through Kola Kareem in the sixth and final chukka. The atmosphere that greeted the result was similar to the one on Wednesday when Anadariya beat Fifth Chukker, last year’s finalists in the same cup.

Earlier, Lagos Goodfel-

lows continued their match for glory by beating HST 10½ – 3 in the Low Cup as former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Wale Edun, played a circuit breaker role for the Goodfellows by curtailing the moves of the HST parading the Mdehli brothers, Mohammed and Kareem.

Thomas Usher scored two 40-yards penalty to give Goodfellows a 2-½ lead but Ali Bajarwhi’s 60 yard shot rolled in slowly to the goal to give HST a slender a½ - goal lead.

Usher scored another penalty from 30 yards just before the lively opening chukka came to an end.

Wale Edu’s son Tobi then put his name on the scorers’ sheet by scrambling in a shot soon after, it was Usher again who scored a high goal shot from 30 yards to give the Goodfellows a 5- 2½ lead.

Nigeria can produce tennis stars in 3 years –Douglas

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n International Tennis Registry (ITR) coach, Kolawole Douglas, says Nigeria can produce players who will surpass the records of their counterparts from other countries, within the next three years.

Douglas said this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the oneweek Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Junior Tennis Championships in Lagos.

“I have watched three games played in the Futures Category and I see a bright future for these vibrant young players.

“I see that they all have

good talents which leave them half way through, but they still need more coaching sessions. I see that most of them have got the basics and hopefully in three years, if properly directed, will perform exceedingly well,” he said.

The ITR coach said that the country in the past produced champions in West Africa but they have recently dropped in ranking.

Douglas added that the past glory could be restored with the quality of current players and urged them not to relent in developing themselves in the sport. The championships end today.

SPORT

44

March 9, 2013

NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

with

Andrew Ekejiuba

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

anelsports@yahoo.com

08023103605

NPFL gets new management company

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Enyimba’s dare-devil striker, Josiah Maduabuchi (left) looking set to crush Rangers in Enugu.

he Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will now be managed by the League Management Company (LMC) Limited. The Chairman of the LMC Limited, Honourable Nduka Irabor, confirmed this latest development yesterday.

“The Nigeria Professional Football League will now be under the management of a company. The company will be known as League Management Company Limited. The participating clubs and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are the board of directors.

“The company will ap-

Maduabuchi on Heartland revenge mission ambush Nembe City in Owerri against Rangers H

E

nyimba of Aba skipper, Josiah Maduabuchi, has fired up the rivalry between his club and Rangers ahead of today’s derby, by stating that he is on a revenge mission against the Coal City boys in Enugu.

The fast rising striker was to have joined up with Rangers in the new season before he made a U-turn to the Aba club because of the bullying tactics of Rangers coach Okey Emordi.

“I am on a revenge mission in Enugu because of the way Emordi treated me

while I trained with Rangers. I will ginger my boys because it is war. The old man is fond of bullying players, raining abuses on players, he scolds the players. Why would he ask a professional player to roll on the floor?

There are times he would threaten to beat players.

This cannot be accepted even at a football academy.

“This is a fight we must win. I know warriors don’t make noise.

They chant their war song (Enyimba Enyi!Nzogbu Nzogbu,Enyimba Enyi!!), that means the elephant

Adepoju tasks NPFL interim board on league

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utiu Adepoju, a former coach of 3SC FC of Ibadan, yesterday urged the interim board of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to ensure a well-organised competition.

Adepoju revealed that a hitch-free league season was all he expected from the NPFL board.

“All the professional league needs is a crisisfree season where all that

is needed is provided.

“This is because a hitchfree league goes a long way in making the competition exciting to watch.

“And television stations will then desire to buy rights to show the matches,” Adepoju said.

He further hoped that with the delay in the commencement of the 2012/2013 season, the league would be better organised.

Adepoju however ap-

marching down all opponent. Our bows and arrows are ready. We cannot allow ourselves to be defeated.

“We are going back to Aba with all three points.

We will win 2-0,” Maduabuchi vowed.

He said Enyimba are a bigger club than their hosts today.

“Enyimba is a bigger club than Rangers. Enyimba have won the CAF Champions League backto-back, a feat which no club in Nigeria could achieve any time soon,” NPFL FIXTURES Today’s Match Enugu Rangers v Enyimba Sunday, March 10, 2013 Heartland v Nembe City Nasarawa Utd v El Kanemi Akwa United v Dolphin Sharks v Warri Wolves Wikki Tourists v Kano Pillars

Sunshine Stars v Kaduna Utd Bayelsa United v Lobi Stars 3SC v Gombe United ABS v Kwara United

pealed to football clubs to ensure they pay their players their sign-on fees promptly, so that they do not become disgruntled.

eartland striker, Happy Okuoka says his side will teach Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) debutants, Nembe City some fundamentals of modern football as they commence their 2012/13 season.

The match which is slated for the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, will see the Naze Millionaires play hosts to Nembe City tomorrow and Okuoka, who will be making his debut for the CAF Confederation Cup campaigners said his side will spell the visitors’ name in the encounter.

“Of course, we’ll teach Nembe City some football basics at our slaughter ground in Owerri. We’re not underrating them, we know they have some quality players in their fold but that won’t stop us from spelling their name.

“The encounter will be my first league match for Heartland. It’s a game I need to focus on, not to allow it weigh me down but maintain full concentration.

“I’ve played bigger teams than Nembe City, be rest assured I’ll add my name on the scorer’s sheet but the number of goals I can’t say right now,” he said.

point a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) some time later.

But at the moment, a former secretary of the league board, Salihu Abubakar is the Chief Operating Officer (COO),” said Irabor, a former Nigerian lawmaker.

“Remember we were appointed to help restructure the league and our intention is to help nurture the league in the best professional way before handing it over to the clubs.”

The chairman of the LMC Limited also assured that host clubs will no longer

pay the allowances of match officials as the league company will take up that responsibility from this season.

“We have averted a crisis with the match officials just few hours from the start of the league. So the league season will commence unhindered as the LMC Limited will take full responsibility of paying indemnities to the referees and match officials,” Nduka stated.

The 2012/13 NPFL season will kick off today when Enugu Rangers play hosts to Enyimba.

Asuquo faces 3SC hammer

Philip Asuquo (left) in action for 3SC.

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igeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, 3SC have slammed a query on midfielder Philip Asuquo after leaving the team’s camp for three months.

Asuquo, however, returned to the Ibadan-based club on Thursday and the management of the club are now ready to make him pay for his truancy.

A top official of the club confirmed that the club learned that the midfielder went to Turkey for trials without the club’s permission.

It is now certain that the former Kwara United man will miss 3SC’s opening game at home against Gombe United tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Oyo State sports commissioner Dapo Lam Adesina has tasked 3SC to win the league and play international football next year. He reminded the team that they promised to win the league and get a

continental ticket last season, but failed to accomplish it despite all the motivation from the state government.

“We must lift a trophy this season because we are tired of staying at home and not travelling to Mozambique or Tunisia and you know what this means.

“No more Father Christmas because we have been treating you fine since August 2011, when we came on board but you have not repaid us and we are not happy about this.

“Though you are doing well, that is not enough; you have to turn around the club by ensuring we play international football next year. We have the players to do this.

“Win us a continental ticket or the league and see what we will do for you.

What has never happened in the history of the team, you will receive. I promise you that,” Dapo Lam Adesina told the players.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

March 9, 2013

Fabregas: Barcelona will be ready for Milan clash

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esc Fabregas is confident that Barcelona will rise to the occasion in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16-tie against AC Milan.

The midfielder has admitted that losing the first leg 2-0 was a huge blow for the Catalans, but he has little doubt that Barca can turn things around at Camp Nou. “The team is fine. We suffered after the match against Milan. Our confidence went down and we felt that against Madrid in the Copa del Rey and the league,” Fabregas said at a press conference.

Fabregas

“However, nobody doubts we can do it again, that we can turn it around. But it all depends on us. On big occasions, these players have always been there. The players are more than capable of playing in big games.

“If we win and play well it could be an incredible boost for the team. We have to be clever and we can’t just play with our hearts, but with our heads as well. This generation of players is due for a historic comeback.”

The Blaugrana host Deportivo today before taking on Milan on Tuesday.

Dzeko may leave City –Mancini

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anchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits striker Edin Dzeko could leave the club in the off-season.

The 26-year-old has scored 12 goals in 23 appearances for the reigning English Premier League champions this term.

But he is believed to have grown frustrated over being largely used from the bench, recently confirming he is keen to return to the Bundesliga one day.

“Edin is an important player for us. At this time we have not spoken about the transfer market as there are still 10 games to go.

“But in June anything can happen. If a player asks me to leave, we will evaluate the situation.

This applies for all players.

Dzeko

“Dzeko, for me, is a great player. In Italy he could score more than 20 goals a season but he would cost 20 million euros, maybe more,” Mancini said.

Mancini however played down the severity of his training-ground clash with Mario Balotelli prior to the controversial striker’s January move to AC Milan.

“Those were lies reported by the tabloids and PREMIERSHIP TABLE photographers who were TEAM P GD PTS here, because there was ab1. Man Utd

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16. Southampton

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18. Aston Villa

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solutely nothing,” he said.

“We were playing a training match, we were playing in opposing teams, he made a foul and I shoved him and sent him away.

“Mario has improved but I think he won’t change at all. He will continue to make faults even when he is 30.

“But the important thing is that he understands that he can and should give more on the field, because the best is expected from a player like him every time.”

Arsenal deny takeover rumours

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rsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says he is in the dark over speculation of a takeover of the Premier League club by a MiddleEastern consortium.

American Stan Kroenke and Uzbek-born Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov are the major shareholders in the Gunners and Hill-Wood does not expect either to be keen to sell their interest.

Questioned on rumours of a supposed £1.5billion takeover, the

chairman denied any knowledge of an approach.

Hill-Wood said: “I have heard nothing and I don’t think anybody knows anything about it at the club.

“It all seems a bit of a waste of time.

“If there is this consortium, they can’t make any progress unless they attempt to get in touch.

“So I can’t say if there is anything to it or not.

“But even if they did make an approach, my understanding is our two major shareholders do not want to sell.”

45

EURO BRIEFS Cakir: I was right to send Nani off

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Ferguson

Rooney going nowhere, says Fergie

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ir Alex Ferguson is adamant that forward Wayne Rooney will still be at Manchester United next season.

The 27-year-old’s future at Old Trafford has been the subject of intense speculation since he was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up for Tuesday’s Champions League secondleg clash with Real Madrid.

Ferguson preferred Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck as his starters that night, with Rooney reduced to a cameo appearance from the bench.

And the plan worked well at first, with United 1-0 up and on course to progress, before conceding twice after Nani was controversially sent off.

The United boss has previously left big-name players out of key games as a prelude to their departure and Rooney has been speculatively linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the past few days.

However, speaking ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, Ferguson said of Rooney: “He will be here next year; you have my word on that.

“The issue you’re all going on about in the papers is absolute rubbish. There is absolutely no issue between Wayne Rooney and I. To suggest we don’t talk to each other on the training ground is absolute nonsense.

“There are no issues with the player and he will be involved on Sunday.

Wayne understood the reasons for not playing him. It was completely tactical and tactically we got it right. We don’t always but we definitely did on Tuesday.

“Danny Welbeck is the best player we have in terms of operating in a double role.

“We had to choke Xabi Alonso’s ability to control the game, which Danny did, and that took away Alonso’s control of the game and his ability to go further forward and be an attacking player.”

ontroversial referee Cuneyt Cakir claims he has no regrets over sending off Nani in Machester United’s Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid.

The Turkish official came under major scrutiny following his decision to show a red card to the Portugal international in the second leg of the crucial European encounter, for what seemed like an honest attempt to bring down the ball.

No about-turn for Carragher

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iverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists he will not postpone his retirement plans as he prepares to make his 500th Premier League appearance against Tottenham.

Carragher announced last month that he will bring his glittering 16-year career at Anfield to an end in May.

Carragher

Martinez focused on Everton clash

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igan manager Roberto Martinez insists his side will not be distracted by the prospect of a visit to Wembley when they take on Everton. The two sides will go head-to-head in an FA Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park today hoping to secure a last-four berth and a day out at the national stadium.

Beckham is a winner –Cantona

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avid Beckham’s experience and desire to win will be “useful” in Paris SaintGermain’s quest for titles this season, according to former Manchester United team-mate Eric Cantona. The 37-yearold has slotted into Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield in recent weeks after his January move and the Frenchman believes his experience will be vital in their title hunt.

The former England captain has made three appearances since joining Carlo Ancelotti’s side and Les Parisiens are currently top of Ligue 1.

They are also through to the quarter-finals of the

Beckham

Champions League and French Cup and, despite Beckham’s inability to play in every game; Cantona believes it is still a fantastic coup for the cash-rich club.

“Big players who have a lot of experience always bring something with

them.

“Beckham might not be able to play in all the games but his experience will be useful.

“He’s aware that he’s got a natural responsibility, he’s a winner who is capable of getting a message across,” Cantona said.

46

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘There should be policies to protect local production’ Austin Asimonye is the Vice President (Western Zone) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Chief Executive Office, Austin Laz & Company. He spoke with select journalists on the manufacturing sector and other matters. STANLEY IHEDIGBO was there.

Excerpts:

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spite that we have signed a lot of bilateral trade agreements, we should try to have a way of couching our own policy to protect our production here.

Asimonye

s a representative of an advocacy group, what is your the plan for the economic development of the country this year?

Our plan is keying into the government’s policies. The government seems to be sounding up some good drums that they want to help some industries and the manufacturing sector. If implementation of its policies is well carried out, as an advocacy group we believe it will impact more positively, particularly in the automobile sector. Recently, the government said that it is trying to evolve a loan policy where the interest rate would be zero per cent, because of what some of our members are doing.

For example, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, the first indigenous company now making, made in Nigeria vehicles, big luxury vehicles, medium buses and cars. So that is a good one, a recommendable one on the part of the government. On the part of the manufacturers generally, I think the Bank of Industry (BOI) is making some waves as well. There is no country where an industry succeeds without good financial support. So, we believe that when financial assistance gets directly to the right target audience, which are the manufacturers, at the right interest rates it will help a great deal in making us achieve our visions and we are looking forward to a situation where the manufacturing sector will have a good percentage growth.

very great threat but unfortunately for those of us who are Nigerians, we cannot run away. We are prepared to march ahead despite the situation; it therefore means that strategies become the order of the day. I know quite alright that in some sections of the country, the economy has gone down very seriously. In my company for instance, I know that our operations, our inflow from the northern states have gone down seriously because of the insecurity in some parts of the north. Then, strategic planning should be within the areas in the southern states. How then do we increase our turnover, that is, what we are losing from some of those sectors? How do we make it up from the sectors that are more tolerable security wise? One aspect that we are looking at is strategic planning. Generally, nowhere is safe, even the South-south, but we have to keep going and praying along.

With the recent security challenge that has ravaged the country for some time, how do you think that most economic plans for the year will be achieved?

It is a very serious matter but one policy I know which I operate on is that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. The issue of insecurity is a

With the influx of foreign goods, how do your members cope with market competition?

The influx of foreign goods is one of the dangers Nigerian manufacturers and producers are facing, because the cost of production here is quite high. So, it is a very big problem and for majority of the goods, so many producers cannot just

survive. So, we are appealing to the relevant agencies like NAFDAC and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to control most of these things. A deliberate government policy should also be put in place. Fiscal policy should be put in place to discourage much of the importations of these goods and services.

It is not too difficult to take a census or to sample goods that are being produced here and such goods; government should have a deliberate policy from the Ministry of Finance to cut down the tariffs while hiking the tariffs of the imported ones. That is the simplest way to discourage it and it takes some good patriotic and political will to do that. I encourage them to do that for the good of us all. I agree that the world is a global market right now, but we have to look at our position, we are a consuming nation. We must realise that there was a time when those exporting to us right now had a closed market, and they did not allow goods from outside their country to flow in. China for instance, for decades of years, did not allow goods to flow inside. They had a closed market. Now they are competing with Africa, they say Africa you can export to us and we can export to you, whereas they know that Africans are not producing. So, we that know that we are just consumers should have deliberate policies too, de-

What have you done as a group or as an individual towards the said policies to either minimise or curtail the influx of these foreign goods?

MAN is just a pressure group. What we do is that we play advocacy role. This hinges on persuasion. We have to persuade the government, we have to reach out to them, make them to see facts, particularly as facts coming from the stakeholders. At times, they listen, at times they don’t. When we are talking of government, you know, we have local, state and federal. At the federal level for now, it seems the Federal Government is doing well, because I think we are enjoying its confidence and I wish to use this opportunity to commend them, because they have recognised us. They are recognising our inputs; they call us from time to time and most of our suggestions have been taken into consideration. For the various states where the chairmen of various chapters are meant to liaise with the different levels of the government, well, some of the governors listen while some don’t even know that such viable groups like MAN exist. In such places, we have real problems because our advocacies work less.

In some places where they are listening to us, our thanks go to them. So we are trying our little best but it depends on the disposition of the various regimes.

Have government policies in any way been favourable to your sector, if yes, how?

Yes, government policies have been favourable in most cases. It is one thing to put up a policy, it is another to implement. So, on occasions where they have been kind hearted to enact good policies and implement them in terms of fiscal policies that favoured us we commend them. But the right enabling environment has not still been put in place by government, I make bold to say that, because what most manufacturing companies have been doing is operating in what we call run-in, rush-out, amidst multiple taxation, amidst the use of eminent domain by government, the use of excessive power, the use of masculine government power to oppress the people, to extort money from them through different taxes and those that put nails on the road. Every day, one form of taxation or the other will come.

In these areas, government policies are a minus, so, government should do something seriously about it.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

March 9, 2013

Polythene bags: Money spinning venture I ntroduction

Polyethylene bags or shopping bags are needed in all households, food centers, community trades, drycleaners, restaurants, bookshops, food processing centers, packaging firms, supermarkets, petty traders, bakeries to mention but a few. They serve also as a venue for corporate advertisement. Different sizes, shapes and colours are seen and used for different purposes.

Product demand The demand for this product is very extensive and occurs on a daily basis.

It is therefore imperative that the supply should be sustained to satisfy the ever- increasing demand. Market survey reveals that there is a high demand

by Nigerian businessmen, and that traders from the ECOWAS sub region also come to Nigeria to buy in very large quantities. This means that more investors into this line of enterprises will carve a niche for themselves readily.

Raw materials The raw material required for this project, which are abundant locally, include polythene sheets or basic petrochemical products such as Escorene, Luplen, Dow, and B.A.S.F etc. Polythene sheets may be obtained from extruders who produce low-density or high-density polythene materials.

The petrochemical product mentioned above can be obtained and extruded at a token fee. They can be obtained from chemical dealers or the NNPC. The required machinery and equipment for the project are nylon-cutting and sealing machine, hanger, scissors, transformers, punching blades and the punching machine.

Locally fabricated machine & equipment are recommended for this project. These machines are very strong and compact enough and may be installed in a room measuring about 12ft x 12ft.

This implies that the project can take off in just a room.

Production process The production process is very simple. The nylon-cutting and sealing machine are set to the required dimensions. This will depend on the size of

nylon product the investorr may want to have at a time e.g. bread wrappers, shopping bags, laundry undry packs etc.

The polythene sheets are then fixed on the hangers and drawn rawn into the machine after which hich they are cut and sealed autoutomatically when pressed with the foot or automatic cutting g& sealing machines.

For shopping bags, the he produced materials are then en packed into hundreds into the he punching machine, which can an punch up to 300 bags at a time, me, thereby opening up handles for the bags.

The decoration printer is then used to make the desired inscriptions.

The products are then packed into bigger polythene bags and sold on a wholesale basis.

Project location The project can be located in any part of the country. The basic factor to put into consideration when setting up the plant is firstly how to ensure that trained hands are employed.

Secondly, the project is to be set up in strategic area, especially in highly populated zones.

Thirdly, ensure that there is regular supply of electricity, since this is a very small project, it can as well be combined with another cottage enterprise if there are sufficient funds.

Financial benefits from the project are attractive. With a total investment of N15.1 million, a total of over N75 million turnover is envisaged within the first year of operation. The gross profit (projected) should be N8.7 million by the second year of operation.

This figure would increase to about N58.24 million by the fifth year.

The projected cash flows, return on investment and payback period, based on our analysis are very impressive.

Financial projections N’000) Preliminary Expenses

500

Machinery & Equipment

7,500

Working (Variable)

5,550

Accommodation (Rented) (variable)

1,500

Total

15,050

Courtesy: Uba Godwin, ubagodwin@yahoo.com

48

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Eguabor

Fire fighting equipment business is an unusual one FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

I

t is usual for most business men and women to pray for sales. For someone who deals in fire fighting to do this may sound weird but it is the reality.

With the prevailing situation in the country, they, however, may not pray for quick business as cases of fire outbreaks pervade the land.

The axiom, prevention is better than cure, may have also helped the thriving of the business as people no longer wait for fire gut their homes, offices or businesses before procuring fire fighting equipment. Now, Nigerians are gradually becoming more aware of the significance of fire extinguishers and fire protectives not only in the offices but also homes.

While speaking with Saturday Mirror, Frank Eguabor, the Managing Director of Chiman Fire Protector located in the heart of Ikeja disclosed that the business has now become lucrative.

According to Eguabor, who has been into the business of fire fighting equipments for over 15 years, the business is not the type of business everyone could just delve into. It is not business as usual.

“It is not just a business but a career that requires a lot of passion, training

and experience over the years. Some get into it just for the money they want to get out of it but it is beyond that. You need to have a passion for what you do and you need to be trained and skilled in it because that is what will give you the niche and edge above others who are just in the business for the purpose of making money. It is a life saving career,” he added.

Eguabor disclosed that for one to become solidly grounded in the business, it requires going through the training as a fire fighter which requires time and interest to gather all the necessary experiences one would need as backup on the business.

“As a professional, your ultimate goal is to rescue people and help save their lives not just making your sales as a business man. You need to enlighten them on the need to have the equipment in homes and in their offices so that fire outbreak can be prevented. It is also important to teach them how to use the equipment when the need arises. That is why apart from selling them, we also offer after sales training for our clients” explained Eguabor.

On the viability of the business and level of lucrativeness, he remarked that the business is quite a lucrative one.

“In the past, majority of our clienteles were corporate organisations especially in the oil and gas sectors but

IF YOU MUST DO THIS BUSINESS, YOU

HAVE TO LEARN ALL THE RUDIMENTS AND GET PROPER

TRAINING, OR BETTER STILL, EMPLOY A

PROFESSIONAL WHO KNOWS THE TERRAIN VERY WELL now, several cases of fire outburst have intensified the demand for these equipment and made the business more lucrative than it used to be. It is a lucrative business but requires a huge capital and proper training,” he further stated.

He noted that the business is one that requires as much as N800, 000 on the low scale and as much as N10 million or above on the high. You need space at a very visible area where your stock will be, you also need enough money to clear your goods at the port because these equipments are imported. We make orders for them from abroad and that is why it is very capital intensive” Another thing to note in making

the business successful is to always ensure you teach your customers how to use the equipment and how to care for them. Sometimes, they may have the extinguishers at home but unknown to them, into may be expired and when an outbreak comes, they use only for them to discover that it is not working. That is where the need to teach them comes in. Some are not expired but they don’t know how to use them while some do not know where and how to refill the ones that have been exhausted. We also teach them the different types of equipment to use for different types of fire outbreak, for instance, if a fire outburst is electrical, All these are part of what we do to make our customers stick with us for more patronage” he noted.

While encouraging would-be investors to come invest in the fire fighting equipment, Eguabor also warned that the business is not like every other business, “It will be nice to have more people investing into this area of business but it is not a business for every body.

If you must do this business, then you have to learn all the rudiments of it well and get the proper training or better still employ a professional who knows the terrain of the business very well so that success could come your way in it,” Eguabor, however, warned.

Crime Watch Crime Watch P. 50 13-yr-old girl raped by father’s best friend

BRIEFS

41-yr-old man docked for allegedly impersonating a police officer

T

he police have arraigned a 41-year-old man, Gabriel James, before a Kubwa Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly impersonating a police officer.

The police prosecutor, Igonor Ocholi, told the court that the accused was apprehended by a police patrol team in Kubwa on February 11, 2013.

Ocholi said the accused, who was dressed in police uniform, also carried a toy gun, and introduced himself as ``Cpl Gabriel James’’.

“The accused used the toy pistol to intimidate one Joy Okafor in Kubwa village,” Ocholi said.

The prosecutor said the accused committed the offences of “impersonating a public servant, dressing in the uniform of a public servant and criminal intimidation.”

He said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 132, 133 and 397 of the Penal Code, but the accused pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the accused, Zakari Benjamin, prayed the court to grant his client bail, saying that the offence, for which “the accused is standing trial is a bailable offence.”

Man to do 300 hours community service for mutilating friend’s genitals

A

Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has sentenced an unemployed man, Zakare Mohammed, to 300 hours of community service for inflicting injuries on the genitals and face of his friend, Idris Ibrahim.

The magistrate, Mrs O.M. Ajayi, who delivered the judgment, said that after considering the evidence before her and the guilty plea of the accused, she found him guilty as charged.

Ajayi said that because of the severity of the injuries sustained by his victim, Mohammed must do 300 hours of community service.

Prosecutor Daniel Ighodalo, had told the court that the accused committed the crime around 8 am on March 1, 2013, at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Oniru Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

Ighodalo explained that on the fateful day, the accused had begged his friend, Ibrahim to give him some portion of the meat which he had just bought from the market.

He said that Ibrahim acceded to the request but asked Mohammed to exercise some patience and allow him to cook it first.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 9, 2013

49

Armed gang shoots vigilance group leader

Saka Abiola Balogun was shot severally by an armed gang. Reason: he was alleged to be heading a group obstructing the bandits from perpetually holding the area at the jugular.

Balogun

FISAYO FALODI

R

esidents of Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. This is because of the recent upsurge in the activities of men of the underworld in the area.

In the last couple of months, several houses had been raided, with occupants having various tales of woes to tell.

At the moment, some of the residents, especially those working on Lagos Island, fear to return home after the close of work. Reason: Fear of attack from the bandits.

On several occasions, many of them had been attacked while returning from work. Sometimes, the robbers would storm the area and shoot sporadically into the air to cause pandemonium among the residents. When efforts to get adequate security from law enforcement agencies seemed remote, residents set up vigilance groups who defied the chilly nights to patrol the streets.

A couple of weeks ago, four suspected robbers stormed Olorunda Street in the area and dispossessed motorists of their valuables. Many shop owners were also robbed. The renewed incursion of the men of the underworld in the area triggered robust monitoring of the area by the vigilance group.

Apparently trying to curtail the activities of the vigilance group, a gang of suspected robbers reportedly stormed the residence of leader of the vigilance group, identified as Saka Abiola Balogun. The vigilance group leader lives at Holy Peace Street, on Irepodun-Ojokoro.

On Tuesday, 26 February, 2013, Balogun was in his house with his family

when a five-man gang stormed his residence after forcing their way through the fence in the compound.

Balogun, was asleep at the time the robbers came. It was reported that when they forced his door opened, he was subjected to series of questioning.

He was accused of preventing the robbers from having a field day in the community. The leader of the robbery gang reportedly informed Balogun that because of his group’s insistence that they (the robbers) would not carry out their activities as they pleased, he (Balogun) would have to pay for his group’s actions.

While Balogun was still in talks with the robbers, their leader reportedly produced a shotgun from his back pocket and shot him thrice.

By whatever reason, the bullets failed to penetrate Balogun’s body. This irked the robbers the more. When they realised that he could not be felled by bullets, all five of them reportedly swooped down on him and started hitting his head and body with iron rods and other weapons they came with. And they did not stop until he fell down unconscious. He was soaked in his own blood.

The boom from the gun fired at Balogun attracted his men, who were keeping watch over the area and they quickly made for their boss’s house. As they raced towards Balogun’s house, they were also making a lot of noise apparently to scare the assailants.

On hearing the advancing noise from the vigilance members, the robbers hurriedly fled Balogun’s apartment and vanished into the thick night.

Balogun, who is the Commander of Zone C vigilance group in Lagos State, is still receiving medical attention in the hospital.

Narrating his ordeal to Saturday Mirror, Balogun claimed that but for divine intervention he would have been dead by now.

According to him, “When the robbers forced their way in, they first went to my wife’s room and informed her that they were out to kill me because the vigilance group was always disturbing them from operating in the community.

“My wife pleaded with them not to kill me, but they turned deaf ear to her pleas and locked her in. The robbers thereafter came to my room and asked me to open the door. They threatened to break the door, but I refused to open it for them.

“When they realised that I was not ready to open the door, they forced it open and hit my head with iron rod. They asked for the whereabouts of my children and I told them they had gone to school.

“The robbers said that my end had come. They said I had been a thorn in their flesh and that I needed to be killed to pave the way for their unhindered operations in the community.

“Just shortly after that, they shot me three times and I fell down. It was the sound of the gun heard by other members of the vigilance group that attracted them. As the members of the vigilance group were approaching the house, the robbers fired several gun shots in their direction and then fled.”

The Irepodun Community Development Association (CDA) has, however, condemned the attack, while urging the police to intensify their patrol in the area.

The association also appealed to members of the community, particularly youths, to report suspicious persons or movement to the appropriate authority for prompt action.

It was said that some weeks before the attack, the vigilance group arrested a suspected armed robber and handed him over to the police. The suspect is a landlord’s son in the community. It was gathered that he was arrested again for the same offence and six laptops, many mobile phones and an undisclosed amount of money were recovered from him.

Also speaking with Saturday Mirror, Chairman of the Irepodun-Ojokoro Community Development Association, Mr. Tajudeen Babatunde Ogunbona, who expressed worry over the recent armed attacks in the locality, called on law enforcement agents to investigate the attack.

Ngozi Braide, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, when contacted promised to get back to the reporter but never did as at press time.

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

50

CRIME WATCH

SEGUN ADIO

D

isbelief was the word at Arepo in Ijoko area of Ogun State last Wednesday, when a man, identified as Semiu was arrested by law enforcement agents. He was alleged to have raped of his best friend’s teenage daughter.

Semiu, 45, and the girl’s father, Kolawole Ayinla had reportedly been friends for ages now. It was reported that Semiu was the only friend that accompanied Ayinla when the latter was taking his wife’s hand in marriage.

Ever since Ayinla married his wife and mother of the rape victim, their friendship had grown.

The two friends, who live a couple of houses apart, also reportedly have unrestricted access to each other’s houses and families.

On his part, Ayinla seldom stays at home because of the nature of his work. It was reported that anytime his friend travelled, Semiu, a father of five, was always at Ayinla’s house apparently trying to keep the company of Ayinla’s wife and children.

Unknown to Ayinla and his wife, there is more to Semiu’s constant trips to their house than meets the eye. It was reported that Semiu soon started sending his friend’s 13-year-old daughter, Abibatu (not real names), on errands while he asked her to keep whatever balance was remaining.

On many occasions, Semiu, it was gathered, would send the teenager to get him an item and would ask her to keep the balance of the money, which sometimes could be N1, 000. This went on for quite a while before Semiu made known his intention.

Before long, Semiu worked his way into Abibatu’s heart as the teenager came to admire and adore her father’s friend more, apparently because of the strange gestures the man always extend to her alone among her father’s children.

However, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in early February, 2013, Semiu reportedly went to his friend’s house while that latter had travelled as usual.

March 9, 2013

13-yr-old girl raped by father’s best friend

...in father’s bedroom

Semiu and Kolawole Ayinla are friends or used to be friends.

However, Semiu has now been accused of defiling Ayinla’s daughter not once, twice, but thrice and in no other place but her father’s bedroom. Abibatu is only 13 years old.

Abibatu

As fate would have it, only Abibatu was at home. It was a perfect opportunity for the father of five to do the unexpected.

With a promise of a ‘big’ Christmas gift to the innocent girl, he reportedly had carnal knowledge of her. He was said to have defiled the girl on three occasions before the bubble burst.

Sharing her experience, Abibatu claimed that the man, after the first in-

tercourse with her, though promised to buy a lot of Easter gifts for her, he also threatened to kill her should she report what transpired between them to anyone, including her parents.

The girl also claimed that Semiu carried out the dastardly act in her father’s bedroom on the three occasions.

However, last Monday, 4 March, 2013, the defiled girl suddenly began to devel-

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

op some complications in her anatomy which necessitated that she be taken to the hospital.

The teenager was reportedly taken to a private hospital at Ijoko, where doctors had to refer her to the Ifo General Hospital. It was there that doctors confirmed that some damage had been done to her vagina as a result of forced and unprotected intercourse with her.

After persistent questioning, the girl eventually owned up and declared that her father’s friend, Semiu, had forcefully had carnal knowledge of her on three occasions.

By the time Ayinla got to his friend’s house, he was no longer there. However, Semiu was eventually picked up by law enforcement agents attached to the Ifo Police Station, Ogun State on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. He is currently cooling his heels in their custody.

Speaking with Saturday Mirror on telephone, Ayinla, the raped girl’s father, said that he trusted his friend such that he usually handed over his family to him anytime he would be away from home.

He said he had no faintest idea that his own only friend could rape his daughter. When asked where his friend raped his daughter, Ayinla declared that it was right in his own bedroom when no one was at home.

“I thought he was my friend but I never knew that he was a devil. He got the chance to move close to my family because I always asked him to help me oversee their affairs any time I am away.

I never asked Seki to go to his house, but he chose to rape my daughter in my own house when I was away,” Ayinla said.

Initially when he was arrested, Semiu reportedly laid all the blames of his actions on the handiwork of the devil, saying that it was unlike him to do such a thing having fathered five children and with a wife in his house.

“I am like a father to Kola’s children and he is to my children, but all I can say is that the devil had done this which they accuse me off. This is highly regrettable and I hope my friend would forgive me of this,” he reportedly said.

A police source at Ifo Police Station confirmed the arrest of Semiu but declined further comment on the matter.

Police arraign man for allegedly sodomising 10-yr-old boy

T

he police have arraigned one Kabiru Danladi, 25, on Friday before a Kasuwar Nama Upper Area Court, Jos for alleged homosexual activities with a 10-year-old boy.

According to the Police’s First Information Report (FIR), the accused allegedly committed the offence on February 20 at about 4 p.m.

The FIR stated that, on the same date at about 5 p.m, one Nafisatu Salihu reported to the ‘C’ Divisional police station that the accused had a sexual intercourse with the victim through his anus.

It stated that the complainant informed the police that when she came back from the market, the boy was nowhere to be found.

“But when the boy later resurfaced, he told her that it was the accused that took him to an uncompleted building to have sex with him.

The FIR said the offence was contrary to Section 275 of the Penal Code.

When the charge was read out, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The counsel to the accused, Mr. Ahmed Shehu, applied for the bail of his client, saying that he was presumed innocent until proved otherwise.

Shehu assured the court that his cli-

ent would provide competent surety and would not jump bail as he had a lucrative business in Jos. The Police prosecutor, Mr. Ashiru Ibrahim, however, objected to the bail application on the ground that the matter was still under investigation and had generated public interest.

Ibrahim said the accused might tam-

per with the on-going investigation if granted bail.

The judge, Malam Mustapha Hassan, however, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N150, 000 with a competent surety who must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to April 10, 2013, for further hearing.

Man, 33, docked over alleged N.95m scam

A

33-year-old man, Bolaji Ogundeji, who allegedly obtained N954,000, under the guise of supplying lead ore, was on Thursday in Lagos charged before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court.

Ogundeji, who resides at No. 10, Sangobiyi St., Ijegun, Lagos, is facing a twocount charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

The prosecutor, Felix Ifijen, told the court that the accused had on Oct. 6, 2010, collected N954,000 as mobilisation fee from Bolta Bond Company to supply lead ore with 70 per cent BP quality.

Ifijen said that the offences were committed at No. 15 Bishop Kale close, Victorial Island, Lagos.

He said that Ogundeji, who was introduced to the company by a broker, Mr

Franklin Udan, had claimed to own a mining business in Nasarawa, and could supply any quantity of the commodity if required.

“Ogundeji, however, did not make the supply,” the prosecutor said.

Ifijen said that later in September 2011, the accused gave the company an Access Bank cheque No. 12323020 for N500, 000, but this was dishonoured because of lack of funds in the account.

Crime Extra

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 9, 2013

51

Businesswoman chops off salesgirl’s hand for N.3m theft SEGUN ADIO

M

edical practitioners are currently battling to save the life of a 25-year-old salesgirl, Kikelomo, after her wrist was reportedly cut off by her employer, one Alhaja Fatimo Aregbe.

Aregbe lives at the Idi Iroko border, in Ogun State but owns and operates several wholesale shops in the town and at other border towns like Sango-Ota and Owode.

Kikelomo reportedly joined Alhaja Aregbe’s employ some seven years ago when she left secondary school and could not raise enough cash to further her studies.

It was reported that Kilelomo, a native of Igbo Ora in Oyo State, had been in charge of her boss’ stall at Owode in the last three years where she remitted proceeds on a weekly basis. All financial remissions are however done through her boss’s account in a new generation bank.

On her part, Aregbe reportedly shuttled between Nigeria and the West African coast for her business. Though Aregbe keeps a permanent apartment at Ketu, Republic of Benin, she also keeps an apartment at Idi Iroko Road. She hailsfrom Aiyetoro in Ogun State.

It was gathered that on Friday, 15 February, 2013, Alhaja Aregbe returned from her frequent travels and summoned her sales representatives, from all over her shops, to her apartment in Idi Iroko. She had reportedly been away from Nigeria for about six weeks.

It was claimed that the businesswoman had information from her bankers that the deposits from her Owode shop had not been forthcoming as before. It is the shop Kilkelomo manages. Of the seven sales representatives that manage her shops, only three of them reportedly honoured her invitation for the meeting. Kikelomo was one of them.

It was said that the other four had been given a clean bill of health and asked to remain at their posts by Aregbe. The three who made it to the meeting were the ones whose bank transactions were in question.

Having waited at the woman’s lobby for about three hours, the three salesgirls were reportedly summoned to the boss’ sitting room and scolded for their alleged financial impropriety as reported by her banker. Kikelomo was alleged to have short-changed her boss to the tune of N300, 000.

Kikelomo, was however reported not to have taken kindly to the accusation. She was said to have thrown caution to the wind, demanding that her boss name the banker that made the allegation against her. Alhaja Aregbe definitely would also not take kindly to her an employee accused of financial impropriety shouting on her.

Alhaja Fatimo Aregbe could not find her money, a whooping N.3m. Whodunnit?

She pounced on Kikelomo, one of her salesgirls, and cut her hand off.

Grace, one of the three salesgirls summoned by Aregbe told Saturday Mirror on telephone that she too was alleged to have diverted N130, 000 for her personal use.

The Cotonou-born Grace who denied the allegation said that Alhaja Aregbe asked each of them to refund the money claimed to be missing in their respective shops before the end of the said week.

“When Mama told us that we stole her money as she was told by the bank, every one of us was shocked. She threatened to jail us if she did not get the money she claimed we stole by the end of that week.

That was when Kike got up and had a shouting match with Mama. It was during the shouting match that Mama picked the axe she was using to cut dried fish and aimed it at Kike’s wrist and cut it off,” Grace added.

Once Kikelomo’s wrist was almost severed from her body, Aregbe reportedly hurried down the building and organised how

she would be ferried to the hospital.

It was reported that moment after the incident, Kikelomo, now in a pool of her own blood, fainted only to be revived at a hospital said to be at Sango Ota in Ogun State.

While Alhaja Aregbe reportedly released her car key to a vulcanizer beside her house to convey the bleeding Kikelomo to the hospital she claimed she needed to get some money in the bank. She claimed she would join them at the hospital once she was through with the banks. She never did.

Grace continued, “By the time Kike’s wrist was cut, blood spilled all over the apartment as she was wailing in agony. The two of us there were helpless until two men came from downstairs to rescue the situation. Kike was hurriedly taken to a hospital at Sango Ota in Mama’s car. Mama did not go with them claiming that she needed to get some money at the bank. But ever since we heard that she has not shown face at the

hospital,” Grace said.

Kikelomo was reportedly moved from the Sango hospital by her family to an undisclosed location on Tuesday, 19 February, 2013.

One of Kikelomo’s uncles in Lagos reportedly went to Owode apparently hoping to meet with Argbe, but the woman had not been seen since. The uncle, identified as Alaba, reportedly told some sympathizers at Owode that Kikelomo is responding to treatment at a hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Aregbe’s two phone lines were switched off when contacted on phone.

However, a man who craved anonymity but claimed to be a Aregbe’s neighbour said he heard the shouting match between the employer and her employees on the fateful day. But he said he never gave it any serious meaning until Kikelomo’s voice was heard wailing in agony.

SEGUN ADIO

According to the statement, Naval sentries at the Navy Gate were attracted to the shout of a woman for help after she was attacked and her bag snatched by the bandits.

It was reported that the bandits tried to escape on a motorcycle through Navy Town Gate.

“A sentry fired a warning shot but, they refused to stop. The sentry had no option than to shoot. One was killed, while the second escaped,” it added.

According to Omodara, preliminary in-

vestigation showed that the bandits were among those terrorising residents of Satellite Town in recent times.

The Nigerian Police, Agboju Division was invited to recover the body of the dead suspect for further investigations.

The Commander NNS WEY, Commodore Emmanuel Yakubu, however warned criminals operating within the area to keep off, as the Nigerian Navy is out to ensure security of lives and properties in the area.

Naval Sentries kill bandit

N

Nigerian Navy sentries have shot dead a suspected bandit at the Navy Town Gate Ojoo, Lagos State while his partner-in-crime reportedly escaped.

In a statement by Lt. Commander Jerry Omodara, Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command and made available to Saturday Mirror, the bandit attacked some residents of Satellite Town around 6pm of the fateful day.

52

REGIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH

Strike: Jang seeks interpretation of ‘no work, no pay’ in court JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

T

he National Industrial Court will on April 21, 2013 decide on the suit brought before it by the Plateau State Government seeking interpretation of ‘no work, no pay’ status of the Labour Act. The state government had last year invoked the policy during the local government workers strike in the state and insisted that the workers would not be paid throughout the period that they were on strike, a position which the workers rejected, prompting the government to seek judicial interpretation in the court.

At the resumed hearing of the case in Abuja, Governor Jonah Jang said although he had resolved to settle the industrial dispute between the government and State

Chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) amicably out of court, the Industrial Court must interpret the contentious ‘no work, no pay’ clause.

Through the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Edward Pwajok, Jang told the court that the state government and the labour leaders

would sit in a round table to resolve issues on the outstanding arrears of the affected workers, but prayed the court to state in clear terms whether workers can go on strike without proper notice.

Addressing the court, Pwajok said, “We are in court because the court is created by the Constitution of Nigeria to interprete certain provisions

of the law, and we want clarification too from the law on the issue of ‘no work, no pay,’ whether you can remain at home and government will still pay you. The court needs to determine that, but on the other issues, we will continue to discuss with our workers as we have to continue to motivate them.”

The presiding judge,

Justice Babatunde Adejumo admonished the workers through counsel to the respondent, Gani Adetolakashim (SAN), to shift ground and understand the plight of government towards overcoming the industrial disharmony.

He commended the Plateau State Government on its desire to resolve the dispute once and for

all.

Speaking to journalists, Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Paul Wai, charged the labour leaders not to be instigated against the state government by those he described as anti-Jang campaigners, but show strong commitment towards resolving the issues.

NESREA seals off construction firms in Nasarawa IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

T

he National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed off facilities of two construction companies working in Nasarawa State for failure to comply with environmental laws.

The facilities put under locks by officials of the agency are those of TRI-

ACTA Construction Company in Lafia, the state’s capital, and the quarry as well as the main yard of the ENL Consortium Limited both located along the Lafia-Akwanga Highway.

NESREA’s Deputy Director, Land Resources and Watershed Monitoring, Godwin Atsegwasi, who led the team for the exercise told journalists that the construction companies were operating without complying

with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act of 1992.

He stated that most construction companies in the country do not comply with environmental laws, especially the EIA Act, and that they do not mind the effects of their activities on the environment.

“It is only in the oil and gas sector that we see companies striving to comply with the EIA act.

The construction companies in Nigeria are only interested in picking up the contracts, bulldozing the forests, polluting our waters, producing gaseous emissions and polluting the environment.”

He pointed out that there was nowhere in the world where the environment would be allowed to be polluted as it was being done in Nigeria. He said the sealing off of the two companies was part of NESREA’s mandate of enforcing environmental laws.

“NESREA wrote enforcement notices to TRIACTA and ENL at least three times within the last two years but

they didn’t regard our requests. Now, they have to pay a non-compliance fee of N1 million each in line with the provisions of the EIA act before their premises would be unsealed. If they fail to comply, we will institute legal action against them,” he said.

The sealing exercise, which started at about 6am, took staff of the companies by surprise.

Most of them resumed to find the main entrances to their premises under lock and key. Management staff of the two companies were however not on ground to comment on the sealing of their facilities.

Yobe records 361 measles cases from January to date –Dep. Gov.

T

L-R: Benue Sate Governor, Gabriel Suswam; Methodist Archbishop of the North, His Grace, Most Rev. Joseph Job and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammed Belgore, at the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations lecture in Kaduna, recently.

Katsina SUBEB approves N11m for primary teachers training refund

T

he Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has approved N11 million for 525 teachers undergoing in-service training in the state. It is said that the fund is for refund of registration fees and other expenses of the

teachers in the training..

The Executive Chairman of the board, Alhaji Suleiman Dikko, said this in Katsina, yesterday.

Dikko, however, explained that those to be refunded were the teachers who got approval of the board for the in-service

training.

He called on the affected teachers to report to SUBEB’s headquarters in Katsina along with their Identity Cards, registration receipts/bank tellers and admission letters.

The executive chairman urged the primary

school teachers to continue to dedicate themselves to their responsibilities.

He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to the welfare of teachers as well as to the transformation of primary education sector in the state.

he Yobe State government has said it recorded 361 cases of measles with four deaths in 14 out of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state from January to date.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Press Secretary to Yobe Deputy Governor, Mr Musa Alaraba, in Damaturu, yesterday.

The statement said that the four deaths were recorded in Nangere Local Government.

It stated that Potiskum recorded 87 cases, Tarmuwa 37, Nangere 33, Bursari 30, Jakusko 29, Bade 27, Fika 25, Fune 24, Gulani 22, Nguru 20, Karasuwa 12, Giedam eight, Yusufari six, and Damaturu one. It stated that 357 children were treated and discharged,

while four died out of the 33 cases recorded in Nangere Local Government. The statement described reports that 87 children died in Potiskum as misleading.

The statement further stated that the state Ministry of Health introduced integrated measles campaign alongside the routine immunisation. Acording to the statement, ``The figure represents total number of cases recorded in Potiskum and there was no single death in Potiskum, all the victims were treated and discharged. As a deliberate policy, the ministry took advantage of the routine Immunisation Plus Days to administer measles’ vaccines to children who missed the initial immunization,” it said.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

53

NORTH

Boko Haram: CPC BoT member faults Sultan’s call for amnesty HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

A

member of the Board of Trustee of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and former Com-

missioner for Works in Benue State, Dr. Joseph Orkar has disagreed with the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar II, over his call for amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect.

Orkar made his displeasure known yesterday in a chat with Saturday Mirror in Makurdi.

The CPC BoT member however hailed the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan that

the Federal Government cannot go into negotiations with the sect he described as ‘faceless.’

He said that the mediatory role played by the Sultan was questionable. He argued that the

call for amnesty for the group at this time was in bad faith after many lives had been lost due to terrorism perpetrated by the sect on innocent citizens in the northern part of the country.

He also asked the federal government to urge the Sultan to reveal the identity of members of the group before any meaningful dialogue could be initiated.

Kano Ezeship crisis deepens as Ohanaeze disowns traditional ruler AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

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s the leadership crisis rocking the Igbo Community in Kano State continues to rage, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state yesterday descended heavily on Chief Boniface Ibekwe, Eze of the factional group, describing him as nothing but a fake traditional ruler of Ndigbo in Kano.

The pan-Igbo organisation in the state then warned Ibekwe that he should stop parading himself as Eze Ndigbo in Kano as he was never at anytime legally installed as such.

According to a statement from the Kano secretariat of Ohanaeze signed by its chairman, Chief Tobias Michael Idika, and titled ‘The Enemy Within’ and made available to journalists, the statement says in part that “Following recent developments in

Kano as it concerns Igbo leadership and representation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano State chapter is compelled to make a number of clarifications and this

T

ited status to fill their pockets at the detriment of the integrity and morality of the Igbo race.”

The statement said questionable characters are

awarded chieftaincy titles under a confused arrangement without following the due process spelt out in the Igbo constitution.

Idika alleged further

that the emergence of Ibekwe as Eze did not also pass through the traditional norms and that he impose himself on the Kano Igbo community.

L-R: Wife of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Asmau Luka; wife of Nasarawa Governor, Salamatu Al-Makura; wife of Secretary to the State Government Zainab Abdulmumini and other women at a peace rally in Lafia, Yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Malaria: Jigawa earmarks N112m for supply of insecticides, chemicals he Malaria Booster Control Programme (MBCP) in Jigawa State said it had earmarked N112 million for the supply of insecticides and chemicals for Indoor Residual Spray in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the state’s Ministry of Health, Alhaji Mati Aliin Dutse, yesterday.

Ali said the amount was provided for the procurement of chemicals, knapsack sprayers,

is in our bid to restore the Igbo norms, culture and covetous heritage which are being decimated by queer characters who are hell-bent in using unmer-

protective clothing and other kits to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.

He said the programme had concluded plans to conduct residual spray in three selected local government areas of the state under its Vector Control project.

Ali said the exercise was part of a comprehensive campaign designed to control malaria in the state.

In the words of Ali, “A bidding exercise for the supply of the chemicals has been conducted on

Thursday, during which seven pharmaceutical firms participated in the process. Insecticides and chemicals will be supplied for the Indoor Residual Spray session for this year in three local government areas of the state,” he said.

Gov. Lamido

Wammako, health minister, call for peace, unity of Nigeria

T

he Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, have stressed the need for Nigeria to remain a peaceful and united country.

The two officials spoke at a joint press briefing as part of Chukwu’s twoday official visit to Sokoto yesterday.

Tthe minister was in Sokoto to inaugurate and inspect a number of health-related projects executed by the state and Federal Governments.

According to him, in spite of the myriad of ethnic, religious and cultural differences, the nation can still remain

peaceful and united.

In the words of the minister, ``We have potential of unity and Nigerians, especially the ordinary ones are already living together peacefully and harmoniously.

We need to talk more on what unite us. We are all one and there is no difference,’’ he added.

Governor Wamakko, on his part, said the diversity of the Nigerians was supposed to be source of strength not weakness.

Said he, ``We need to further build stronger, viable, veritable and united Nigeria. We must also endeavour to bequeath a more united Nigeria to even yet unborn future

generations.

Without peace and unity, there will be no meaningful development in the country,’’ Wamakko said.

The governor commended the Federal Government for its renewed commitment to the health sector in the past few years.

Gov. Wamakko

54

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

March 9, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

New Pope: Election begins Tuesday

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oman Catholic cardinals will begin electing a new Pope on March 12, the Vatican has announced after 115 cardinals gathered for talks.

Pope Benedict XVI stepped down last month after nearly eight years in office, becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years.

The 85-year-old blamed his failing health for his inability to carry on.

Under the rules of the secret ballot, or conclave, cardinals will vote until one achieves a two-thirds majority.

Correspondents say no one candidate stands out as Benedict XVI’s likely successor.

The vote will be preceded by Mass on Tuesday

morning, with the first ballot due in the afternoon, the Vatican press office said.

Vatican staff have been preparing the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave will take place, installing the two stoves that will produce white smoke from burnt ballot papers when a new pope is elected.

The last election in 2005 took three days, and correspondents say the number of meetings this time is being seen as a reflection of the many challenges facing the Church.

Despite the vows of secrecy, Italian newspapers have been publishing what they say are leaked details of debate among cardinals on problems faced by the Church.

U.S. jobs growth sends shares, dollar higher

A

n unexpectedly sharp rise in hiring by U.S. employers in February sent world shares and the dollar higher yesterday while U.S. Treasuries fell as investors bet on a solid recovery in the world’s largest economy.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to Wall Street gaining on the data with the S&P 500 on track for a sixth straight daily gain and the Dow set to scale fresh peaks.

Nonfarm payrolls surged by 236,000 jobs last month, the U.S. Labor

Department said, easily beating forecasts for a gain of 160,000 and driving the jobless rate down to a four-year low of 7.7 percent.

“This was a strong number and one of those rare cases where we were firing on all cylinders,” said Jacob Oubina, senior U.S. economist at RBC Capital Markets in New York.

“Having said that, this will likely not mean much for Fed policy as they will need to see more than one month of strong numbers and if it is sustained.”

China warns against Korea escalation

C

hina has appealed for calm on the Korean peninsula, hours after North Korea said it had scrapped all peace pacts with the South and threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes.

China, the North’s only major ally, said all sides should continue to talk and avoid “further escalation”.

Pyongyang has reacted angrily to another round of sanctions imposed by the UN over its recent nuclear test.

The sanctions restrict luxury goods imports and banking activities.

Beijing provides fuel, food and diplomatic cover

to Pyongyang.

It has repeatedly voted in favour of UN sanctions imposed over the nuclear programme, but enforcement of the measures in China is patchy.

Hua Chunying of China’s foreign ministry told a news conference yesterday: “China and North Korea have normal country relations. At the same time, we also oppose North Korea’s conducting of nuclear tests.

“China calls on the relevant parties to be calm and exercise restraint and avoid taking any further action that would cause any further escalations.”

Mourners walk beside the coffin containing the body of Venezuela’s late President Hugo Chavez on display during his wake at a military academy where his body will lie in state until his funeral

British queen heading back to work after illness

B

uckingham Palace officials say Queen Elizabeth II will resume her royal duties next week after a brief illness.

Officials said yesterday that the queen and her husband Prince

Philip plan to attend a Westminster Abbey service Monday to mark Commonwealth Day with another event scheduled later in the week.

The 86-year-old monarch was hospitalized overnight on Sunday for

treatment of gastroenteritis. It was her first hospitalization in a decade.

Officials said the queen’s overall health remains good and she is not cutting back on her activities, although taxing

overseas travel has been reduced.

The 91-year-old Philip has been treated for heart disease in recent years. He has said he plans to attend fewer events and to scale back his charity events.

Bin Laden son-in-law to face conspiracy charges in New York court

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son-in-law of Osama bin Laden was yesterday arraigned in a federal court in New York, where he is charged with conspiracy to kill Americans.

Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a militant who appeared in videos representing al Qaeda after the September 11, 2001 attacks, was arrested in Turkey and brought to New York City to stand trial, U.S. government sources said.

Abu Ghaith is one of the

highest-ranking al Qaeda figures to be brought to the United States to face a civilian trial.

“Among other things, Abu Ghaith urged others to swear allegiance to bin Laden, spoke on behalf of and in support of al Qaeda’s mission, and warned that attacks similar to those of September 11, 2001 would continue,” according to the indictment, which was announced on Thursday.

It accuses him of act-

ing in a conspiracy that “would and did murder United States nationals anywhere in the world,” listing actions before and after September 11, 2001.

Authorities said Abu Ghaith would be arraigned yesterday morning at District Court in downtown Manhattan, only blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder previously had

announced plans to try defendants in the September 11 attacks in the same courthouse, but public opposition forced him to back down, and the trials were moved to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Abu Ghaith initially was picked up in Turkey, deported to Jordan and brought to the United States in the last few days in an operation led by Jordanian authorities and the FBI, the sources said.

French citizens ‘among Mali jihadists’

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Frenchman was captured among jihadists fighting international forces in northern Mali and is being extradited to France, the French defense minister said yesterday.

French forces are dealing with “determined terrorists” in Mali, said Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, speaking to French radio station Europe 1 from the African nation’s capital, Bamako.

And the presence of the French citizen among

them, as well as a FrenchAlgerian man who was arrested last weekend, demonstrates how northern Mali had become a magnet for extremists, he said.

“This shows that there existed a kind of terrorist war network, which would welcome young people in search of a radical destiny, as some have done in Afghanistan or Syria,” he told the radio station.

The French-Algerian man, who was sought by French police, was detained by Malian officers

in northern Mali, Le Drian said.

He was extradited Thursday to France, he said.

“We knew that this part of Mali was potentially the sanctuary of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. We were not mistaken, this is the case,” Le Drian said. “We are dealing with determined terrorists, who are heavily armed and who are waging significant battles and inflicting major damage.”

Islamist extremists carved out a large haven in northern Mali last year, tak-

ing advantage of a chaotic situation after a military coup by the separatist party MNLA. The militants banned music, smoking, drinking and watching sports on television. They also destroyed historic tombs and shrines.

French involvement in the conflict began on January 11, the day after militants said they had seized the city of Konna, east of Diabaly in central Mali, and were poised to advance south toward Bamako, the capital.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEWS FEATURE

March 9, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Prior to that, the Northern governors had established a committee to advise them on the contents of the bill. Specifically, the Ahmed Mansur-led committee was tasked to study, identify and advice them with implications of the PIB for the northern states. Specifically, the committee reported that: “on top of the 13.5 per cent statutory derivation from the Federation Account, the mandatory Federal allocation to the Ministry of Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), levy of three percent of oil operations and the huge amount of federal funds being spent on the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, the new PIB is adding 10 percent of the profit of all oil and gas companies to the Niger Delta states and communities.”

It noted that the PIB did not explicitly recommend the supply of gas to the region who desires to apply it for the socio-economic development. The committee also felt uncomfortable with the proposed establishment of a national oil company, the National Gas Company and the National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation.

Consequently, close watchers of developments at the Senate did not expect a smooth sail for the PIB when the second reading started last Tuesday for some reasons. First, the senators were already divided along two major lines. While some, especially South South legislators were in favour of the PIB; their northern counterparts were completely opposed to the bill because of some factors. They argued that it was not proper for the PIB to confer excessive powers on the Minister of Petroleum Resources, allocated 10 per cent funds to host communities and failed to provide financial autonomy for the National Frontiers Exploratory Agency vested with the responsibility to carry out oil and gas exploration in the nation.

Reacting, the Niger Delta leaders who felt cheated started to probe into the ownership and control of oil blocks in their region only to uncover that influential northerners control 83 per cent of them.

For instance, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang who called for the abrogation of the blocks warned that the situation was not acceptable.

The questions most people ask asking are: Who are these influential northerners? Which are the oil blocks? What are their values?

A document displayed by Enang identified the northerners to include Alhaji Mai Deribe, General T. Y. Danjuma, Mallam (Prince) Sanusi Lamido, Alhaji (Col.) Sani Bello of Kontangora, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi and Alhaji Aminu Dantata. Enang said that Deribe from Borno State owns Cavendish Petroleum, operator of the OML 110 with average revenue of about N4bn monthly.

He said Lamido is majority shareholder and director in Seplat/Platform Petroleum, the operators of the Asuokpu/ Umutu Marginal Field while Danjuma remains the undisputed promoter of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, SAPETRO, who is also the Chairman of Eni Nigeria Limited.

Available records showed that SAPETRO partnered with Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, TUPNI, and Brasoil Oil Services Company Nigeria Limited to become the

55

How former Presidents, ministers awarded oil blocks without guidelines

Lukman

Bello

THESE OIL BLOCKS ARE LOCATED ONSHORE (LAND)

AND OFFSHORE (WATER) WITH SOME BILLION BARRELS OF RESERVES THAT CAN SUSTAIN COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. operators of OPL 246.

Enang stated that Bello owns AMNI International Petroleum and Development Company, the operators of OML 112 and OML 117. The legislator stated that the former Minister of Petroleum and former Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC Secretary General, Lukman manages AMNI oil blocs and with very key interest in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal.

He stated that: “Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a company owned by Indimi runs three oil blocs: OML 115, the Oldwok field and the Ebok field; Dantata’s Express Petroleum and Gas Limited, operates OML 108, while OML 113 allocated

MOST FORMER

by Emeka Offor, which was sold to Addax Petroleum.”

Available records showed that these oil blocks are located onshore (land) and offshore (water) with some billion barrels of reserves that can sustain commercial production for several years. A source at the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR who preferred not to be named put the value of the blocks at billions of dollars.

A source in the Ministry of Petroleum stated that: “This should be expected because most former Presidents or Heads of States intervened in the allocation of the blocks without any clear guidelines. They just gave the blocks to whosoever they

PRESIDENTS OR HEADS OF STATE

INTERVENED IN THE ALLOCATION OF THE BLOCKS WITHOUT ANY CLEAR GUIDELINES.

THEY JUST GAVE THE

BLOCKS TO WHOSOEVER THEY WANTED WITHOUT TAKING ADVICE FROM ANYBODY. to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited is owned by Alhaji Wahab Folawiyo.

Enang stated that: “Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo, the operator of North East Petroleum Limited, is the holder of the OPL 215 licence. The company was awarded the blocs OPL 276 and OPL 283 and closing thereupon a Joint Venture Agreement with Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC Oil and Gas. He stated that INTEL is owned by Atiku, Yar’Adua and Ado Bayero and has substantial stakes in Nigeria’s oil exploration industry both in Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.

Enang remarked that: “Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous oil exploration industry in Nigeria with six oil blocs, while OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited, owned

wanted without taking advice from anybody.

A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Tam David, in a telephone interview with Saturday Mirror put the blame for the lopsidedness in the allocation of the blocks on former President Ibrahim Babangida. David-West stated that the General Muhammadu Buhari regime which he served as Petroleum Minister did not award any blocks without due process.

The former minister stated that: “It is very unfortunate for a minister to have an oil block. I did not have an oil block because we played the game according to the rules. I did not even have a filling station.

Owning an oil block is like getting a gold mine. It amounts to billions of dollars. It shows the high level of corruption and in-

discipline in the leadership of the nation.”

David-West however called on the Federal Government to investigate the development in order to correct the anomaly and injustice. He called also called on stakeholders, especially the National Assembly to draft the PIB in a manner that would be impossible for ministers and Presidents to have such enormous powers in the management of the nation’s oil blocks in future.

This is in line with the position of Niger Delta leaders. For instance, the Ijaw National Congress, INC, tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to revoke the oil blocs.

The President of INC, Chief Joshua Benaimaisia accused the northern governors and others for fuelling the anti-Niger Delta activities in the National Assembly. Benaimaisia stated that: “Another war is in the offing in the Niger Delta if the PIB is not passed as it is. This is total respect for the owners of the resources and we may be forced to ask for total resource control. As he puts it: “We are demanding Jonathan to revoke all oil blocs in the country. Let them bring all the issues to the table so that we can discuss it. We want a national conference. If the PIB bill fails and derivation is not approved for the oil communities, no more oil exploration will take place in the region until things are done properly.

The Prof. Pat Utomi-led United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, also demanded that the Federal Government scrap ownership of all oil blocks in Nigeria. Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, UNDEDSS, through its Secretary-General, Mr. Tony Uranta, said that government should scrap ownership of all oil blocs and begin at zero point to re-allocate them in the spirit of fairness and equity.

The new PIB was consequently committed to the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream and Upstream, Gas and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal for further legislative work. The committee has six weeks to conclude public hearing and report to the entire Senate. The Senate President, Senator David Mark seemed to be impressed has appealed to his colleagues to be guided by their sense of patriotism than any other considerations.

Quote

of

the

day

If Northerners overcome their differences and work in unison they can get the presidency in 2015.

But if they allow cleavages along ethnic and religious lines to get better part of them, then they may not get it. In which case, they will have nobody to blame but themselves.

National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, speaking on the North quest to produce 2015 presidency

Saturday, March 9, 2013. www.nationalmirroronline.net

Taking the Atlantic Basin initiative forward (II) T he reason for the comparative success and failure of trade agreements is wide-ranging. Some (ASEAN for example) have been effective historically precisely because they are non-interventionist and their resolutions non-binding (though this is changing with the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN Free Trade Agreement); while others have failed to get off the ground, such as the Indian Ocean Region Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) because it was exclusive (leaving out Pakistan) and dependent less on shared interests in a vast region than the fluctuating leadership interest of the three regional poles (India, Australia and South Africa).

Success is dependent on a strong political organizational urge, most notably visible in the case of Europe after the Second World War. The utility and intended focus of the Atlantic Basin Initiative,13 encompassing the states of the North and South Atlantic regions, should be examined with the above in mind: How and where might it succeed where other pan-regional initiatives have failed?

In summary, several ideas lie behind the Atlantic Basin initiative: One is geographic, to link states which share a common ‘boundary’ in the Ocean, a basin which accounts for no less than 70 percent of global trade and 80 percent of foreign direct investment flows.

with President Olusegun Obasanjo hexcellency2011@yahoo.com

THE 2000S SAW AFRICA ENJOY ITS BEST POST-INDEPENDENCE GROWTH DECADE ON RECORD. BUT NOT ONLY IS THIS STILL WELL BELOW ITS POTENTIAL, IT’S NOT FAST ENOUGH TO MEET THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT ASPIRATIONS OF ITS YOUNG PEOPLE Another is to link states which share values as well as interests, principally around democracy, human rights and economic openness. There is not only a need to protect the gains made across the region in political and developmental terms, but also to extend these in ad-

dressing challenges including criminality, maritime security, and energy around which practical consensus has proven elusive.

And a third is to try and break the impasse which confounds contemporary international relations on key issues in-

SPORT EXTRA

Amoo lauds NFF over Mexico friendly SAYO OGUNDEJI

F

ormer national team coach, Fatai Amoo, has praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for organising quality friendly matches for the Super Eagles, saying such trend will bring out the best in the senior national team.

The Eagles who became champions of Africa following their impressive outing at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa are scheduled to participate in this year’s FIFA Confederations Cup billed for Brazil in June, but will take on Mexico in May in an international friendly ahead of the tourna-

ment.

The Stephen Keshi-led Eagles are in Group B alongside, Tahiti, Spain and Uruguay and the former international praised the federation for their efforts in securing such Grade A match for the team which according to him, will put them in better shape ahead of the tournament.

“The NFF must be commended for their efforts in securing these friendly matches for the team because playing against some of the best teams in the world will help raise the confidence level of the players, especially as they prepare for an important tournament,” he said.

The former coach of Shooting Stars of Ibadan also called on the team not to un-

cluding the Doha trade round or environmental management and in developing a new approach which breaks the link (or at least better matches) development and natural resource use.

Some of these problems are not likely to be resolved by a system where interests count more than values, where fragmentation defines the global scene, and where problem-solving requires (but seldom achieves) better integration between government and other actors.

As the former Spanish President Jose-Maria Aznar, noted at the inaugural meeting of the Initiative in Sao Paolo in April 2012, most of these challenges are primarily political in nature. When the politics improves, countries grow and develop, such as across many states in Latin America, from Chile to Colombia, but notably not including Argentina which remains blighted by cyclical crisis And where ‘all economic problems,’ as he put it, ‘are political problems, all political problems need a political response.’

From an African vantage, this approach has a number of advantages.

The 2000s saw Africa enjoy its best post-independence growth decade on record. But not only is this still well below its potential, it’s not fast enough to meet the financial requirements and employment aspirations especially of its burgeoning number of young people.

TO BE CONTINUED

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Today’s Matches Norwich v Southampton 15:00 QPR v Sunderland 15:00 Reading v Aston Villa 15:00 West Brom v Swansea 15:00

Sunday, March 10, 2013 Amoo

derrate Kenya when the two sides clash on the 23rd of this month in Calabar, saying Nigeria remains the team to beat following their AFCON victory.

Newcastle v Stoke 15:00 Liverpool v Tottenham 16:00

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