Saturday, September 15, 2012

Cashless policy

P. 8

CBN backpedals on nationwide applicationn

Vol. 02 No. 40

INSIDE

Celebrity

P. 18 beenP. 18

It’s rough –Eyo

Woman

2015: Three govs

may defect to PDP

Saturday, September 15, 2012

N150

Anti-Islam film

Security beefed up in the North

...Diplomatic zone, Abuja too •Protests in Jos, Katsina

P. 6

Tears as relations, friends bid Levi Ajuonuma farewell

P. 24

I was stubborn –Ego

2015

Northern elders reject zoning P. 7

P. 8

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Niger State governor, Aliu Babangida, during a meeting between the president and Northern governors in Abuja on Thursday.

P. 39

Impeachment:

You can’t stop Reps, court tells Jonathan Ex-minister arrested over alleged oil theft

P. 12

P. 7

2

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

KELANI

September 15, 2012

InThe

Spotlight

3

Tunde Kelani is an icon in the world of film making in Nigeria. He holds a diploma in the Art and Technique of Filmmaking from the London International Film School, London, and his outfit, Mainframe Film and Television Productions, has churned out very good films that document Nigeria’s rich culture.

In this interview with FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON, he speaks on the Nigerian film industry, the challenges of being a film maker and Yoruba language and culture among others.

Excerpts:

Nigerian films, not of world standard

H

i n a l e K

ow does it feel to be referred to as one of the best film producers in the country?

I take that to be a compliment. I am just me and I enjoy doing what I am doing.

How long does it take you to produce a film?

It involves a lot of sacrifices because once I start work on a movie, every other thing has to be put on hold. To get a movie done takes me at least a year from conception to the completion. For instance, as I speak with you, I have about four projects I am working on and I have started some since two years ago but they are being delayed by paucity of fund. The one I will complete first is the one I am able to raise fund for first, the circumstances and all other factors.

How would you rate your movies? Would you say that they have attained international standard?

No, I will not say that they are up to that standard yet. We are yet to have a representation of all our films outside Nigeria.

How do you mean?

What I mean is that from the standpoint of rating internationally, I would not say my films are there yet.

For instance, The Thunderbolt was on the African and Californian film list and even they sent me the copies of those who bought the film. There have been universities like Harvard and some others who have got copies for their libraries. But we are not there yet. The films are still low budget; they are not really standard international films.

But don’t you spend enough money in the production of your films?

You cannot compare a $30 million budget film with a $100, 000 budget film. We are still far way behind. If I

have $500, 000, I will make a film that will compete very well internationally.

How do you source the money to produce these films?

We lose a lot of money on Arugba and certainly we have not made anything on Maami. We do films that cost so much but we don’t make such money back most of the time and the infrastructures are not there. The structure too is collapsed. We don’t have marketers anymore. It’s a big challenge we have.

What about making money on these films through the cinemas?

The cinemas are available but they are elitist and secondly they are very few. How many cinemas do we have in the whole country? We have about 150 million Nigerians and we don’t have up to 100 cinemas. To be CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

4

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tunde Kelani’s works revolve around the Yoruba culture and tradition. He is also proudly African.

The celebrated film-maker, however, has one dress habit: he does not wear briefs. He also has a rare love for water.

FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

H

ow was growing up like?

When I was growing up in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the environment was very friendly. I was a very adventurous child and I loved water. There is no river in Abeokuta, even in Lagos, that I did not know or go to because of my special attraction to water. If not for God, I would have drowned in any of the rivers that I frequented as a child.

Why were you always attracted to rivers or do you have a link with the marine world?

I don’t know, really. (Laughs) Maybe I have a link with water. I cannot explain the reason for the strong attraction I have for the river and this is evident in my movies. As a matter of fact, I was still telling my friend recently that if we have time, we should go fishing. I just love water, and I always like to be around it. I have fished in the whole of Abeokuta, I have fished in Ijede, and I have fished in Ibadan, Victoria Island and even in Osogbo.

My attraction for the water is really strong and that is one of the things that prompted me into doing a movie on Osun Osogbo festival titled Arugba. As a young child, this love was so much that my friends and I would code rivers so that my parents would not know what we were referring to and stop us from going. You would hear us say, “Let’s go to number eight”. They would not know that we were referring to a river; they would think it was an address.

As a child, did you know that you would end up being a film maker?

I had always known I would end up in anything photography and I had prepared myself in that line all along.

Initially, I wanted to be a photographer and you know that there is fusion of all the art practice. You have art, photography, performing art, architecture and all what have you in one. That’s what excites me about film making, it is all encompassing. Having been interested in language and culture, theatre photography and all, I knew I would end up in this. This interest prompted me into moving around and mingling with all the close artistes.

For instance, there is no Osogbo based artiste that I don’t know. Most of them are my friends. Again, because of my interest, I also spent quite a lot of time with most of these theatre practitioners like Oyin Adejobi, Kola Ogunmola, Hubert Ogunde, Ade Love, Moses Olaiya, Wole Soyinka, Kola Akinlade, Femi Osofisan, Niyi Osundare and a

Kelani with his dad as an infant

...young man

...now

Why I don’t wear pants –Tunde Kelani

host of others. You can see that these past experiences reflect in all of my works.

So, I have always known what I wanted to do in life and I started on it early. I could not have been anything else because I inherited all those traditions from all these people. I had the opportunity to mingle with them when they were alive. This has helped me this far.

What was your parents’ reaction to your choice of profession?

The greatest role my father played was when I joined Dr. Okubanjo and Associates. What attracted me to him was that he organised an exhibition in London and I applied. He interviewed me and asked me to go and bring my father.

I did but what I appreciated most about that situation was the fact that at that time, I was already working and earning a salary with which I took care of my father. But Dr Okubanjo was not going to pay me, yet, I opted for it because of the passion and love I have for the arts and my father seeing my strong interest in it obliged me.

How old were you when you got your first camera?

I was about 12 years old or so. I never took a shot with it though because it had a factory fault. When I got to the secondary school I bought another one and when I was in my final year I bought a more professional camera. If I was to be keeping an archive of cameras, they would have been so much but my flaw is that I don’t keep them, I give them out.

How did you meet your wife?

I have never discussed my family on the pages of any newspaper. It is by principle. I respect them because a huge part

of the success I have today is as a result of the great support I have got from my family members and friends: both my immediate and extended families as well as my friends who tolerated my excesses as a selfish film maker. Without them I could not have achieved this much. They suffered along with me from the days of very humble beginning and they tolerated me. The children and their mother suffered along with me. There was a period for 10 years, we had no house and we lived in Mainframe and they grew up not having many things. As a film maker, I knew we have to face the reality. We have never driven the children to school, we had always told them to go on their own.

They grew up without that luxury. As a matter of fact, I was always away; I was never around when all of my children were born. It always took serious prayer for me to be able to make it down on their naming ceremony. It was as serious as that. I never took my wife to the hospital for delivery; I don’t know how to do it.

I owe a lot to them all for standing this much by me and tolerating me and the nature of my chosen profession. It is a big sacrifice.

A source disclosed that you do not like to wear underpants, how true is this?

How can you wear pant in this heat?

I’m not wearing pant and I don’t wear pant except when in the UK or the US and the weather is cold.

What about boxers?

I don’t wear any and I don’t even like the shape of boxers; it’s useless. However, pants may be functional because I swim with it. The swimming trunk is pant too.

When I step into the airport and the cool breeze touches me, that is when I remember I am not wearing pants. I I just go to a shop and buy pants and socks. But once I’m back to Nigeria, you will not see them again.

I have never seen you in suit.

Why? I did when I was younger and I have asked for forgiveness of God on that because it was a sin for me to.

How? I am sorry because at those times I wore them because it was compulsory for me to. For instance you cannot attend an interview without being dressed like that, but honestly I was sorry that I wore them when I did.

I don’t even know how to knot a tie.

Those times when I used to wear them, my father used to knot the tie for me and I would just keep it so. Anytime I needed to wear it again, I would just carefully wear it so that the knot would not get losened. My reason is, if you wear a suit, you have definitely denied somebody of an income and you would have created unemployment in your own local environment in; you have fuelled another country’s economy by wearing those things. Normally I don’t like the concept of aso-ebi (uniform) but because it is our own and it boosts the local economy, I am happy with that. You cannot create employment if you do not use the concept of what God has given you to generate it. What God has given us is our culture and tradition and this must reflect in all we do, including our choice of dressing. That is why I am very passionate about it.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

September 15, 2012

5

‘There are too few cinemas in Nigeria’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 able to make back the money on films, we need, at least, 1500 cinemas which we presently do not have.

In the United States, there are about 2000 cinemas.

Besides right now, the sharing formula is against the producer. The producer gets 30 per cent while 70 goes to the cinema and others. We cannot survive like that.

Of all your movies which is your favourite?

All of them are because we had various challenges in making them and each movie has its peculiar challenges. So, I find it difficult to say this is my favourite.

All my movies are my favourites.

Your 2001 production, The Thunderbolt, treats the issue of unity in Nigeria. Three years after, Nigerians are still divided along ethnic lines. Do you see any end to this challenge and how do you think national unity can be achieved?

I think the issue of unity in Nigeria is part of our diverse nature. We are created in a way that we have the best land mass. Nigeria is a blessed country. We have a country that has everything anybody can wish for – from the Sahara Desert through the forest area; oil producing areas; the creeks and then straight into the Atlantic Ocean. This is really wonderful. We are to use our diversity as strength, as a means of development but it appears as if we are using it negatively.

I think our challenge has to do with leadership and governance. The system we are using is obviously not leading us anywhere. We seem to be heading in the wrong direction. After about 52 years of independence, we realise that we are actually not going anywhere. It is up to us to find a process of re-orientation and try other systems. I think we should be bold enough to do that.

Thunderbolt, for me, was a great opportunity to look at two great Nigerian cultures: the Igbo and the Yoruba. The project came about when Professor Adebayo Faleti, being a Yoruba scholar, occasionally comes across the same question. Some people doubted if he could ever write anything in the English language. He wrote the book about Thunderbolt, which I came across and it falls within my project called From Print to Screen. I decided to explore this. Most of the body of work that I have done can be categorised into fiction or adaptations.

Thunderbolt is an adaptation. Sometimes, people ask me if I am going to graduate into making films in the English language. They sometimes wonder if I can do anything in the English language. For me it is not a question of the language, but also the culture.

If you are making a film, you have to set it at a place, about a people. These are the important issues. The book which was written by Adebayo Faleti gave me the opportunity to use the English language in a legitimate way. In a setting where the wife is from Igbo culture and the husband Yoruba, the language of communication in such a home is often English. That gave me a genuine opportunity for the characters to speak in English. Also, the husband’s mother who is not educated in the Western sense, had to speak Yoruba anytime she’s in that home. And conversely, the wife’s father, being Igbo, speaks in English whenever he is in that home. It’s a mixture of almost everything.

How would you rate the standard of movies in Nigeria?

The industry is in transition and in terms of brand, Nigeria has a positive brand. There is a lot of work to be done so as to move the industry to the next level.

We need to work on the area of infrastructure, training and creation of cinemas.

Why do you think the government is not using the movie industry to generate national revenue for the country?

The industry is not well structured. Before we can think of generating national revenue from it, we have to first build the structure and then the government and other parastatals can come in to support the industry and get the desired results.

Most of your productions have socio-political elements and the richness of the Yoruba culture in them. How close are you to your roots?

Kelani I respond to my cultural environment. I don’t make films just for the sake of it. I believe that one’s work HE CINEMAS ARE AVAILABLE should be functional to the society one operates in.

I’m inspired by my cultural experience. I was born BUT THEY ARE ELITIST AND and raised in a culture dating back over 3,000 years.

Naturally I feel at home using aspects of that culture VERY FEW E HAVE ABOUT in addressing contemporary issues. That culture is MILLION IGERIANS AND my window to the world. I experience other cultures and I believe I should also pool mine in this globalisWE DON T HAVE UP TO ing world. Yoruba culture is even more than scientific.

I was privileged to be a member of a team consisting CINEMAS O BE ABLE TO of Professor Wale Abimbola, Professor Akinwunmi MAKE BACK THE MONEY ON Ishola, and Professor Ajunwon at a time. They wrote the Nigerian candidature to Ifa knowledge system and FILMS WE NEED AT LEAST suggested it for inclusion in UNESCO. This is a reality today. Professor Akinwunmi Ishola addressed a world CINEMAS media conference in Ibadan on 22 September, 2009, to announce this phenomenon to the world.

This for me is a milestone. Ifa will be recognised as a legitimate knowledge system of the Yoruba. I can see lots of positive outcomes from this. I see the Yoruba developing our alpha-numeric from this Ifa signature.

We will be able to apply science to most of these things.

We can use this Ifa signature in a limitless number of ways to express ourselves. This is knowledge. This is science. This is a people’s philosophy. We are not even talking now about the spiritual aspect of it. If the spiritual practitioners of Ifa have to give their blessings, they can be approached for that. But there is a lot more scientifically and artistically. For me, culture is a way of life. It is so because my being is made possible because of my culture. Without my culture, there will be no Tunde Kelani. Before a person can be whatever he or she is, they must be fuelled by their culture and tradition. Wherever I go at any time, I am a representative of my ancestors and that is what I reflect all the time. Anytime I am out there, I don’t send myself, some people sent me.

Kelani

T

150

’

.W N

. T

, 1,500

There are tales of sexual harassment pervading the movie industry. Have you had your share of it?

The film industry is a disciplined profession and there is no time for that. But again, it also depends on who the producer is and what he or she stands for. For me, I have no such time on my set.

Have you ever acted?

Yes, I did a role in ‘Mr Johnson’. I was the house boy to Mr Johnson.

How did you feel when you went on stage?

You know, being a cast in an internationally produced film such as that makes you a superstar. So, since then, I have been very careful not to be cast by anybody because they would have to go and speak to my agent because I am an internationally paid actor.

100

,

,

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN A CULTURE DATING BACK OVER

3,000 YEARS. NATURALLY I FEEL AT HOME USING

ASPECTS OF THAT CULTURE IN ADDRESSING CONTEMPORARY

ISSUES.

THAT CULTURE IS MY

WINDOW TO THE WORLD

If you were not into film making, what would you Have you started your own production when be doing? you acted in Mr Johnson?

You would find me in information technology because Yes. I was still with Hubert Ogunde at that time even I love gadgets a lot. though we had started our own company at that time.

6

NATIONAL NEWS

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Anti-Islam film

Security beefed up in the North

BY OUR REPORTERS

S

ecurity was beefed up in some states in the Northern part of the country yesterday to forestall a breakdown of law and order over the anti-Islam film shot in California, but which has fuelled protests in Libya.

Men of the Joint Task Force who have been fighting the spate of terrorism in that part of the country have been stationed in strategic parts of the different states to ensure safety of lives and property.

Major areas covered by our correspondents include Kaduna, Kano,

Borno, Kogi, Katsina and Plateau.

In Kano, more armed personnel were deployed to the streets of Kano more than before.

The armed personnel were stationed in strategic locations in patrol vehicles and combat outfits.

The anti-riots policemen of the Kano State Police Command were more than double the original one in the last 48 hours as they intensify patrol of the city.

Our correspondent noticed aerial surveillance of the city by men of the NAF 303 Flaying Training School.

Armoured Personnel Carriers of the Kano Com-

mand of the Nigerian Police were also strategically stationed for action in the event of any unpleasant situation.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, Magaji Majiya, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the Command had taken all necessary measures to secure the state.

His words: “Some proactive steps, including fortifying identified flash points with security personnel have been taken”.

Observation by our correspondent revealed that the apprehension over the development is more pronounced among nonnatives and non-Muslims

before the Friday congregational prayers.

They fear that a possible outbreak of violent protests might ensue.

The situation in Kaduna is not different as men of the JTF were also stationed in some strategic areas to control any outbreak of violent protests.

Although the city remained calm as at the time of filing this report, it was deserted following the fear that there might be violence.

A text message had been passed around suggesting violence.

The text message reads in part: “Muslim brotherhood & WAMY (World Asso-

L-R: Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Commandant National Defence College, Nigeria, Real Admiral T J Lokoson; Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, and Guest Speaker/President, Republic of Cote D’ivoire, Alassane Quattara, during the inauguration lecture of National Defence College Course 21 in Abuja, yesterday

…Security blanket around Diplomatic Zone, Abuja OMEIZA AJAYI

A

pparently guarding against being caught unawares by hoodlums who may want to launch attacks on foreign embassies in the country, there was a heavy presence of Nigeria security operatives at the Diplomatic Zone in the Central Area of Abuja yesterday.

A combined team of security operatives drawn from the military and the Nigeria Police mounted strategic positions around the embassies while the United States Embassy building, currently undergoing physical expansion, was a no-go-area.

The development came even as some residents of the FCT stayed indoors for fear of a violent response to the film produced in the United States of America and considered as offensive by Muslims.

There had been widespread circulation of text messages in the city, urging residents to be on the alert as some groups were said to have concluded plans to launch attacks on the city.

Saturday Mirror correspondent who went round some streets in Jabi area of Abuja observed the unusual presence of a couple of policemen at the residences of expatriates and embassy staff in the area.

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar had on Wednesday directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Intelligence and Commissioners of Police in charge of the various Police Special Squads such as the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Special Protection Unit (SPU) to step up security for embassies and foreign personnel.

Except for those who had appointments at some of the Western embassies, it was difficult accessing some of the buildings as the gun-totting security operatives kept people about 50 metres away from

the premises.

A security source told Saturday Mirror that they had intelligence reports pointing to the fact that some people wanted to take the laws into their hands.

“There are hoodlums who wanted to use the opportunity to loot. It may not have been here at the embassies, but even within the city. However, it was necessary that we also guarantee the security of the foreign personnel. As you know, this is not far from the United Nation’s Common Office which was attacked last year by a suicide bomber. So, we cannot just leave anything to chance”, she said.

•Protests in Katsina, Jos ciation of Muslim Youths) asked muslims to protest (on Friday after their prayer) over the anti-Islam film acted in U.S.” correspondent who went round the town observed that many commercial shops were under lock and key as traders stayed in their homes for fear of protests.

In Lokoja, Kogi State, security men took over strategic locations yesterday to avert any protest.

Men of the JTF who were heavily armed took over Lokoja and moved in a convoy from one angle of the ancient town to another.

The Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, in the state, DSP Amadi Nwaneri, said the heavy security presence was a normal routine in the state in view of the security challenges facing the country.

He however warned that the state police command would not tolerate any attempt by any group of people to forment trouble.

Although securitymen were still on hand to forestall violent protest in Jos, the Plateau State capital, some Muslim youths yesterday took to the streets.

The protest which nearly turned violent was the second as members of the Special Task Force on Jos crisis had on Wednesday stopped some Muslim youths from demonstrating over the same incident.

But despite the refusal of members of the security force, the youths numbering over 1000 protested.

Saturday Mirror learnt that shortly after the Friday congregational prayers, some muslim youth regrouped to carry out the protest but were resisted by members of the security force in the state.

At Old Bukuru Park area and Bauchi Road area, sporadic gunshots were heard as security men tried to disperse the protesters.

People ran helter skelter as shop owners hurriedly closed their businesses and returned home.

It was learnt that one person was shot in the stampede that followed.

The situation in Kat-

sina was similar to that of Jos as youths in their hundreds yesterday in the state staged peaceful demonstrations over the American film that stirred controversy some four days ago.

The youths, including children and handful of elderly men, went from one major street to another chanting anti-Western slogans and calling for prosecution of those behind the movie.

They lamented that it was wrong for such a film to be allowed to be produced in the first place, and that something must be done to check such from occurring in the future.

But the protest had caused much panic especially among non-indigenes that were in their offices and business places.

The situation led many to close shop while others hurriedly left the paths where the protesters followed.

Before the demonstrations, Saturday Mirror observed heavy presence of police and other security agents moving around the state capital, with the road to the Government House heavily guarded.

Security presence was also noticed during the Friday prayers by Muslim faithful, with vehicles being randomly checked at some streets and at government buildings among other public places.

Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson in the state, ASP Shehu Koko, said the protests were peaceful and orderly and that permit had been gotten from police before the protests began.

Koko said police was on ground throughout the entire protest duration and that security was not breached in any way.

According to him, despite the preaching in the mosques by Islamic scholars some youths went and regrouped shortly after the Friday prayer to carry out the protest and were dispersed by the security agency in the state.

He disclosed that no life was lost in the process and as at the time of filling this report normalcy had been restored to the area.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

September 15, 2012

7

Alleged oil theft: Ex-minister arrested FRANCIS EZEM

L

ess than 24 hours after his tank farm managed by Integrated Oil and Gas Limited was shut by the State Security Service, operatives of Maritime Guard Command, last Friday, stormed the premises of Genesis Worldwide Shipping and picked its chairman, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, former Minister of Inte-

rior over alleged oil theft.

The security operatives disclosed that the sealing off of the facility was sequel to the discovery that the content of a vessel ‘M. T. Grace’, which was alleged to be carrying undisclosed quantity of products, was found in the ex-minister’s tank farm. In an operation that lasted several hours, operatives of the Maritime Guard Command under the control of the Nigerian Maritime Administration

and Safety Agency, but made up of the Police and the Nigeria Navy, arrested the former minister over alleged discovery of stolen petroleum products in his tank farm located at Ibafon jetty in Apapa.

Shortly before he was taken away, Captain Ihenacho told some news men who witnessed the arrest that some powerful Nigerians were out to ruin his business without any just cause.

He however remarked that he was not afraid because his hands were clean.

A member of the team who identified himself as a staff of NIMASA said, on the condition of anonymity, that they had instructions from ‘above’ to arrest the former minister in his capacity as the chairman of the tank.

According to him, the content of MT Grace was actually found in his tank

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State giving a souvenir to Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) after a courtesy call on the governor in Government House, Uyo, recently.

Excess Crude Account hits $8.03bn •As FG, others share N570.6bn in August TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

E

fforts by Federal Government to stabilise the nation’s economy through fiscal and monetary measures are already achieving some measure of results as the Excess Crude Account savings rose significantly in August to $8.03 billion, a figure that represented over $1 billion in excess of the level of savings in the Account last June.

This is even as the three tiers of government shared N570.61 billion from gross revenue of N564.89 billion earned in the month under review from various revenue sources.

The excess in the amount shared over the gross revenue was met through the N26.21 billion used to augment the shortfall in accrued revenues to the Federation Account during the month.

A major feature of the income-expenditure profiles of the Federation Account during the period under re-

view was a sharp shortfall in crude oil exports earnings which dropped from N825.39 billion in the previous month by about N260.51 billion in August.

The decrease in revenues was linked to decline in crude oil production occasioned by a dip in Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and Modified Carry Arrangement (MCA) as well as a declaration of Force Majure at Bonny Terminal and shutdown of Belema Gas Plant and Trans Nigeria Pipeline.

Briefing the media at the end of the month’s Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting yesterday in Abuja, Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, said the build up in the ECA was the result of fiscal retrenchment measures adopted by government at all levels to boost savings.

He explained: “The gross revenue of N564.884 billion received for the month was lower than the N825.396 billion received in the previous month by

N260.512 billion. This was due to a drop in crude oil production and lifting operations as a result of Force Majure declared at Bonny Terminal and shutdown of Balema Gas Plant and Trans Niger Pipeline as well as decrease in Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and Modified Carry Arrangement.

“The distributable statutory revenue for the month is N440.792 billion.

There is augmentation of N26.214 billion as a result of the shortfall in revenue. In addition, the sum of N35 billion is proposed for distribution under the SURE-P programme. Also distributed is the N7.617 billion refunded by NNPC. The total revenue distributable for the current month (including VAT) is N527.743 billion. There was exchange gain of N367.425 million,” Otunla stated.

A further decomposition of the revenue accruals on sectorial basis showed that both the minerals and nonmineral sectors suffered serious decline with the min-

farm and so he was needed to give some useful information that would facilitate proper investigation of the matter, especially as it concerned the real owners of the cargo since the tank farm was only meant for commercial storage for third party customers.

“The issue is really beyond NIMASA because we are acting on the orders of the Presidency, which has been properly briefed on the discovery of the stolen products in his farm”, he noted.

The operative, who warned that they might resort to force should the minister hesitate in yielding to the arrest, insisted that nothing would stop them from effecting the arrest.

It was however gathered that following the closure of the tank farm, security officers arrested four top managers of the company and detained them at the Shangisha office of the SSS and were not released as at the time of filing the report.

Captain Ihenacho had told the security operatives that arresting him was

2015: Northern elders reject zoning TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

eral revenue ebbing by about N194.63 billion to N451.85 billion from the N646.47 billion earned in July.

Similarly, the non-minerals revenue component also recorded a shortfall of about N65.89 billion, dipping to N113.04 billion in August from N178.92 billion in the preceding month.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government through consensual agreement with other tiers of government set a $10 billion target for the ECA by the end of the year as part of steps being taken to achieve a stronger financial system stability and create a strong buffer for the economy in the face of the increasing volatility of the international oil market and depressive signals from the global economic environment.

At the June FAAC meeting, the Minister of State had stated the imperative of shoring up the ECA base in view of the ugly debt crisis situation in the Euro zone, Asian and American economies.

wrong since NIMASA was just a maritime administration agency not charged with the constitutional duty of arresting citizens.

He said arrest could only be effected by the police.

He had also told the security operatives that the products which were alleged to be stolen had the clearance of the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Ports Authority, the Navy and NIMASA and wondered why any tank farm operator would suspect that a product that had been cleared by the entire relevant security agency could be stolen.

Managing director of Integrated Oil and Gas, Mr. Tony Ihenacho, had, while reacting to the allegation of receiving stolen products, said in a telephone interview that the company’s facility by its very nature did not receive products.

According to him, “what the company does in the shipping parlance is ‘throughputing’, which means storing products for third party customers.”

T

he Northern Elders Forum (NEF) yesterday dismissed the zoning idea for the 2015 presidential elections.

On the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution, the forum called for dumping of the “costly” presidential system of government.

The group also called for a review of the onshore-offshore oil dichotomy debate, lampooning the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF Mohammed Adoke for demanding a close to the debate on the matter.

Northern governors had insisted that the formula had slashed the distributable funds from the Federation Account to all tiers of government.

The group made these points at a strategy meeting chaired by second republic Minister of Power, Chief Paul Unongo.

Speaking to journalists on the meeting, spokesperson of the forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said

that the 2015 presidential contest should be thrown open to all regions.

“The contest should be opened to an Itsekiri man, Uhrobo man or a Tiv man.

The question of allocation of position based on regions should be thrown away,” he said.

According to him, “The question is the issue of politics as we understand it particularly when it comes to elections. There are rules for elections and the elections will be contested on the basis of those rules, so let it be and that is what it will be in 2015.”

On the political committee inaugurated at the meeting by the convener, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, the forum’s spokesman said the committee is supposed to look at the politics of Nigeria and see how the North would fit into it.

The former Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, described Nigeria as “bad copiers” of the presidential system of government as practised in the United States.

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NATIONAL NEWS

September 15, 2012

2015: Three govs may return to PDP

• Tukur begs other defectors to return to fold OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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fforts of the current leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to woo back enstranged members have started recording success with indications by some of the affected former party members of their desire to apply for waiver.

Among those expected to return to the party include three serving governors who were members of the party but defected to other parties to contest election.

Affected governors are from All Progressive Grand Alliance (South East), La-

bour Party (South West), and Congress for Progressive Change (North).

The on going consultations which the presidency is brokering has reached an advance stage and a source confirmed that the Presidency is in affinity with one of the state governors to support him in the elections.

There is also an advanced discussion In relation to one other state from the South-East where the governor will take advantage of the factionalisation in the party and the chances of higher office in 2015.

It would be recalled that former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, was

within the week granted waiver and given permission to return to the party.

Information available to Saturday Mirror also has it that former Ogun state governor, Gbenga Daniel and his Oyo State counterpart, Lamidi Ladoja will soon be granted waivers.

The national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has been putting finishing touches to his expected nationwide tour to familiarise with all factions of the party in all the states with the message of reconciliation.

Yesterday, he made a passionate appeal to aggrieved members of the party who had defected

into different camps of the opposition to return to the PDP fold.

Tukur said the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP would make special arrangement for members willing to rejoin the party to feel comfortable on their return, promising to engage them in the ongoing reform within the party with special roles to be assigned to them.

Tukur said he accepted the onerous challenge of leading the ruling party not to acquire fame or fortune, but to give back to Nigeria much of what the country had offered him all along to become who he is today.

President, Association of Health Information Management of Nigeria (AHIMN), Wole Ajayi, (l) with Dr. Isiaka Suleiman of the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, during the 36th annual scientific conference of the association at LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, recently.

Cashless policy: CBN backtracks on nationwide application SEGUN ADIO

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thers states of the federation may have to wait until the end of 2013 before the cashless policy introduced in Lagos by the Central Bank of Nigeria gets to them.

This was revealed yesterday by Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo.

Lemo was guest speaker at the 2012 Nigerian Navy Accounts & Budget Branch Finance Seminar held at the NNS Quorra auditorium, with the

theme “Embracing Federal Government Financial Sector Reforms for the Rapid Transformation of the Nigerian Navy.”

The bank chief revealed that the apex bank was wrong in projecting that the policy would have gone round the country by the beginning of next year.

He said that unexpected challenges forced the backtrack and shift in date for the roll off of the policy outside Nigeria’s commercial capital.

His words: “We started implementation in Lagos, hoping that since Lagos is the miniature Nigeria, if we can get it right in

Lagos, rolling it out in other parts of the country will not be a difficult task.

We had intended that we would conclude the pilot run by the end of this year, so, from January 2013, we will roll it out nationwide.

I must confess here that we may have to push that far more than the given time. We noticed that there are some challenges.

“We still have a long way to go. Nigerians in Lagos are not even doing enough financial transactions required let alone other parts of the country.

We should have minimum of 200,000 POSs in Lagos each of them having five

transactions a day on the average. So, we should actually be having about a million transactions a day in Lagos totaling billions of naira. With this we still have a long way to go and that is why we may have to remain in Lagos until the end of 2013.”

Speaking at the event, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim enjoined members of the Nigerian Navy to embrace the government’s cashless policy which he believed would be beneficial to the armed forces and the generality of the citizenry at the end of the day.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Newswatch: Ray Ekpu, Agbese, others agree to respect restraining order KAYODE KETEFE

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he four ex-directors of Newswatch magazine, Messrs, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade yesterday agreed to refrain from taking any action in violation of an interim court order restraining them from further acting on behalf of the publishing company of the magazine, Newswatch Communications Limited (NCL).

It would be recalled that the court had on September 6, 2012, restrained the former directors from acting on behalf of Newswatch through themselves or their agents.

The lawyer for the said former directors, Mr. Akinkunle Oyesanya, SAN, gave the undertaking on behalf of his clients that the latter would not overreach the court order at the resumed proceedings of the suit instituted against the directors, by NCL. The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, had at the last adjourned date restrained Ekpu and three others as well as their agents and privies from acting on behalf of NCL, publisher of Newswatch.

The judge had also restrained the four ex-di-

rectors and their agents or privies from declaring a trade dispute in accordance with the Share Purchase Agreement between them and NCL. The court further restrained Ekpu and the three others from making any forms of publication on behalf of Newswatch Communications Limited in respect of the Share Purchase Agreement, SPA. In his ruling, Justice Abang further directed that Form 48 should be served alongside with the order; the implication of which is to render the respondents, Ray Ekpu and the three others, liable to be committed to prison for contempt of court if they refuse all or any part of the court orders.

The suit with no FHC/ CS/1054/2012, also has Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR and Global Media Mirror Limited as co plaintiffs with the four directors as co-defendants.

The plaintiffs had instituted the substantive suit with a view to restrain the defendants from taking measures that may be inimical to interest of the NCL. At the proceedings yesterday, after the defendants’ lawyer, Oyesanya, had given an undertaking that his clients would maintain status quo.

‘Tukur committed to Jonathan’s transformation agenda’ OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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eputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, has eulogised the sterling qualities of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the party saying that he is positioned to assist the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver dividends of democracy through his transformation agenda.

In a congratulatory message to Alhaji Tukur who turns 77 today the former sports administrator also described the national chairman as the icon of Nigerian democracy.

Dr. Jaja describes Alhaji Tukur as accomplished

and successful businessman, technocrat and politician who has devoted his life to the development of Nigeria.

He also noted that Alhaji Tukur as chairman of African Business Roundtable exhibited his acquired years of business acumen to pilot the affairs of the group and its various recommendations assisted government in very many great ways in solving the country’s economic problems.

“As governor of old Gongola state now split to Adamawa and Taraba states, Alhaji Tukur within the three months he was in office transformed the big state and upon which subsequent governments built upon”.

Politics

Jonathan

Ojukwu Ralph Uwechue, President-General Ohaneze Ndigbo

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

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he contest for who becomes Nigeria’s president on May 29, 2015 is presently creating division in the South-East geo-political zone of the country. At present Igbo are not united on whether to produce a presidential candidate or pit their tents with the incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.

In the last few days the issue of the 2015 presidency has come up again and several Igbo leaders and groups have been baring their minds on Igbo presidency in 2015. While some are in support of their kinsman becoming the president, others are of the view that the zone should forget about producing the president and give all the necessary support to Jonathan, if he decides to run for a second term.

Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in May 29, 1999, the agitation for rotational presidency has been one of the crucial issues as all the geo-political zones have always been expressing their interest in producing the president.

During the April 1999 presidential elections, as a means of compensating the Yoruba over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the death of the acclaimed winner of the election, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, two Yoruba prominent sons, former Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and former Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae, contested in the election and Obasanjo was declared winner.

The battle for Obasanjo’s successor in

2015:

Shattering Igbo presidency’s dream again?

2007 created a lot of crises as the North, South-South and South-East geo-political zones showed interest in the presidency.

After a lot of permutations, Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua from North-West emerged as the president. With the emergence of Yar’Adua (North) and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (South-South) as president and vice president respectively in 2007, many people believed then that the emergence of the duo would provide a soft landing for the actualisation of the Igbo 2015 presidency.

The political calculation later changed in 2010 as a result of Yar’Adua death, which threw up his deputy, Jonathan, as president. President Jonathan later emerged as an elected president during the April 2011 election, making him to be the first president from South-South.

Constitutionally, it is believed that

President Jonathan has the legal right to run for the 2015 presidency and in view of this the president’s foot soldiers have been campaigning vigorously for Jonathan’s second term ambition.

In view of various efforts toward achieving Jonathan’s second term, the Igbo seem to be leading the campaign as some notable leaders of the South-East have started endorsing him. Some Igbo leaders and groups, since a recent visit of the president to Anambra State, have been drumming support for Jonathan and they have made it public that Igbo would throw their weight behind the president if he decides to run for presidency come 2015.

Kick starting the Igbo’s endorsement for Jonathan, business mogul, Chief Arthur Eze, said President Jonathan deserves a second term to complete some of

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 15, 2012

9

the laudable projects his administration has commenced. He added that allowing Jonathan to serve for two terms would help the Igbo in producing a Nigerian president from the South-East region after Jonathan’s exit in 2019.

His words: “We have noted the progress your administration is making in the power sector and in infrastructural development. We know that there would be no meaningful progress in these projects within your first term, which ends in 2015. It is equally worthy of note that these projects need to be given full attention to ensure their successful completion. We are therefore proposing and hereby endorsing you for a second term in office to enable you complete the projects that you have started.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo took eight years; we are calling on you to take another four years as one term is too short for you to finish the job you have at hand. You can consider giving power to the North after your eight years, so that they will return it to the South-East after their own eight years.”

Although some kicked against Eze’s position, arguing that he was against 2015 Igbo presidency dream, various comments by many prominent Igbo leaders in the last few days have shown clearly that Igbo would likely throw their weight behind President Jonathan if he decides to run for a second term in 2015.

The Ijele Ndigbo and leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, is of the view that the position of the Igbo on the 2015 presidency would depend on whether or not there is vacancy in Aso Rock.

Also endorsing Jonathan, former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, said President Jonathan would be supported for 2015 presidency by the Igbo if he fulfills the promises he made to the electorate.

Said he: “We (Ndigbo) supported Jonathan during the last election. If the constitution allows him to contest again and he decides to run, I do not see why we must withdraw our support if he performs. So, I am saying that if he fulfills the promises he made and excels, we may support him, but if he does not fulfill his promises, it will be difficult to support his re-election.”

While some have started endorsing Jonathan for a second term, some are of the view that there is no going back on Igbo 2015 presidency.

Speaking to Saturday Mirror, the national leader of Citizen Peoples Party (CPP), Chief Maxi Okwu, said there is no going back on Igbo 2015 presidency.

“All those who are making that premature endorsement are the usual political merchants. That is their trade and they do it for every person in power. And they do it without thinking of the Igbo national interest. We of the new thinking in Igboland are making a claim for the presidency come 2015. So, anybody who go about to endorse anybody now without wide consultation is on his own.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

10

POLITICS

Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, a human rights activist and social crusader is Ogun State governorship candidate of Congress for Progress Change (CPC) in the last general election.

Apart from being the spokesman of Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), he is the spokesperson for National Action Coalition (NACO).

In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, Okunniyi said merging the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with CPC will rekindle the hope and confidence of Nigerians. He also speaks on the call for a Sovereign National Conference, 2015 general elections and state police among other issues.

Excerpts:

W

hat is your view about the controversy over the call for a Sovereign National Con-

ference?

I think by the latest actions of some indigenous federating units and states in the country - Ogoni, Bakasi, Biafran, Yoruba people etc - we are gradually getting past the era of the quest for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) into a period of self determination and political autonomy. It is merely a matter of proper organisation, synergy and time. The United Nations law, which is binding on Nigeria and the international community, identifies indigenous populace, which demonstrates its desire for political autonomy anywhere in the world. Such a community can approach the United Nations for recognition. That will be the new line because it is now very clear to us that these military apologists and protégés at the National Assembly are bent on standing in the way of the popular will of the diverse federating people of Nigeria, who were forced into one country by colonial Britain. I think we are fed up trying to convince them to facilitate a constituent assembly or peoples’ convention.

Do you think the SNC will solve the crises in the country?

Obviously, the SNC would have been the first step in resolving the fundamental structural crises of the country. It is supposed to be the foundation and template upon which every other national question will be negotiated and settled. It would have become Nigeria’s popular conflict resolution mechanism and the pillar for political and constitution reform of social differences, perceived injustices and mis-

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Okunniyi

ACN, CPC merger’ll rekindle hope in Nigeria –Okunniyi trust in the country. Nigeria, today, has no popular constitution consensus and agreement. So, Nigeria has no constitution but a decree, which is a mere law, and worst still a military law. The law forecloses popular agreement among federating component parts , which defines what is called Nigeria by the forced amalgamation of the territories and areas around the popular Niger River in 1914.

SNC or what we term Peoples’ Convention or Constituent Assembly of the various natural units in Nigeria would have made political agreement possible and every other problem would have been resolved. But today, we run a false democracy and constitution. The implication today is that we are yet to transit to a democracy by the subsisting Decree 24 operating in Nigeria. The present civil rule was foisted on the country in a hurry as a political 419 by the military. All over the world, Nigeria is the only country where baton was exchanged between the military and civilians without a proper constitutional conference to guide its democracy and emergent government. We

are also the country at this age, whose civil rule is operated on a military decree and its civilian legislators would want to defend their military legacy with their opportunistic lives though they know the truth.

There is a bone of contention over which zone should produce the next president in 2015. What is your view?

The controversy clearly shows that the country is not homogenous in spite of the cover up and pretence of opportunists in government. Some of us always aspire that we make Nigeria cohesive as much as possible but Nigerians have to be allowed to discuss and agree on their political unity and democratic template before any election. What the military did in 1999 was to foist elections on the country without a democratic, political conference giving birth to a peoples’ constitutional agreement. What the military used in conducting the 1998/99 elections was an electoral act promulgated by the military. So the so called quasi democratic structures you have now even preceded the emergence of the 1999 Constitution. So you can see

the flaws in our civil rule. So, given Nigeria’s heterogeneity as a union, we need to device an agreed means of giving a sense of belonging to all the stakeholders in the country. The North-South dichotomy will always remain there.

How would you react to the leadership tussle in the CPC? Every human formation or society is made up of differences of interests and aspirations. So, conflict is always a permanent feature of the human race. However, the most important thing in life is the management or resolution of the differences. I am yet to notice any meaningful leadership tussles in CPC. The national leader of CPC is still Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, while the national chairman recognised by the party and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains Prince Tony Momoh. However, it is only in a dead party you won’t find struggles for control. CPC today is the most respected party in the country despite all the antics of its enemies within and without, and it will soon overcome CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

POLITICS

September 15, 2012

11

2015: Shattering Igbo ‘ACN, CPC merger ’ll rekindle hope in Nigeria’ presidency’s dream again?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 whatever plots of those afraid of it. There is a merger plan, which is also going to boost the fortune of the party as political pundits and Nigerians are already eager to have an unbeatable ticket of CPC presidential candidate and ACN vice presidential candidate to restructure the country and save it from an imminent collapse. I think other progressive parties should immediately join the efforts.

Why do you think opposition party is weak in Nigeria?

Self interest above party interest! That was what affected the plan to build a common mega platform in the race in 2011.

Do you foresee the ongoing merger talks between ACN and CPC materialising before 2015 general elections?

All things being equal and with past experience and lessons there is 90 per cent possibility that it will happen by 2013. It will rekindle the hope and confidence of Nigerians in progressive politics . I can see from all indications that CPC is set for the progressive merger.

Do you see the opposition parties sending PDP out of Aso Rock come 2015?

That is the aspiration of majority of Nigerians and I think that is very possible if the merger is sealed in good time.

Parties like All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) should also be encouraged to come in in this current build up.

There is a notion that the Yoruba are presently marginalised at the federal level, considering appointments into strategic public offices. What is your view?

Of course, that is glaring, but if we are able to get the political autonomy within Nigeria, marginalization would be less of our worries. Why do you need an overbloated centre if power is devolved equitably in our federation. It is unfortunate that what we run today in Nigeria is not the appropriate functioning federalism but a military unitary civil rule sustained by the military protégés in the National Assembly. If we fail to restructure Nigeria now we may never have such an opportunity again. Therefore, I am about to put out a very profound book on Nigerian national question to help clarify the thought of those operating our state power at the moment so that they can realise the need to rework the foundation of Nigeria for functionality and workability.

This new work which will be published by December is titled: “Nigeria in search of Political Stability - A critique of Nigeria’s constitutional explorations: 1861 - 2011.” It is going to be a super roadmap to a new Nigeria.

There has been a lot of agitation for creation of state police. Do you support the idea?

Yes, but we must first restructure Nigeria away from the current 36 artificial and non-viable states created by the military as jobs for the boys and as fake federating units operating without state constitutions. However, decentralised or regional policing will help enhance security in a

federation which we aspire to be. When people talk about governors abusing state police there is an erroneous assumption that those states shall be without constitutions and constitutional/political agreement guiding those states within our federation. That is a dangerous assumption because if you give anybody power of policing a state without a state constitutional conference and agreement, you will ultimately make him a dictator.

The key operating thing is a state constitution based on a popular agreement of the people; this will help to guide the use and operations of both the police and local governments, which are usually the prerogative of the federating states in a federation.

You are among the leading voices in the call for the review of the 1999 Constitution. Why do you think the constitution should be amended?

I believe in total replacement of the constitution not amendment. The current Nigerian constitution is neither amendable nor amenable to becoming a Peoples’ Constitution given its dictatorial origin.

A constitution is not imposed but agreed by constituent units. So, no amount of alteration can make the Decree 24 falsely tagged Nigerian Constitution become a true constitution not to talk of Peoples Constitution. The National Assembly is just wasting the time and resources of the country over a futile venture. Every constitution is legitimised by the popularity of the procedure and process giving birth to it and not by panel-beating the content or its provision. I think I said that much to President Jonathan in Abuja during the presidential retreat with the civil society.

We need a Constituent Assembly to give us a Peoples’ Constitution.

What is your view about the recent intention of Ogun State government to raise N100 billion bond?

I do not support it. The state government should be more creative and consultative and less combative. I think they will need to consult on how to be more ingenious and resourceful. I still have my gubernatorial masterpiece and blue print, which I scripted when I contested as CPC governorship candidate in 2011 intact and I refresh it regularly. It is a matter of time we shall get there but I think Ogun will fare better if there is regional autonomy and Nigeria is restructured.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

the right to contest and he can defend his right. So, whether Jonathan will contest in 2015 or not is PDP’s problem and not our problem. Some of us are not in PDP. So, anybody in Igboland who prematurely proceeds to making any endorsement is on his own. By PDP zoning method, if Umaru Yar’Adua had survived till 2015, it would have been the turn of Southern Nigeria to run in 2015. So all the indices are not in his (Jonathan) favour; the 2015 presidency is very open,” he said.

Considering the population of the Igbo and the role they played in Jonathan’s victory during the 2011 presidential election, some are of the view that the Igbo will play a crucial role in who becomes president in 2015 whether President Jonathan contests or not. Therefore, it is believe that it is too early for Igbo to endorse any presidential candidate.

The national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, said that it is too early for Igbo to be talking about endorsement of any presidential candidate.

His words: “I feel that our people should have proper sense of measurement of issues. Endorsement for presidential election of 2015 is too early for people to talk about. No doubt we gave him absolute support in 2011 and we are not regretting it because it was a consen-

sus decision by all the stakeholders in South-East, including APGA. Nobody would deny that Igbo made it possible for him to become president in 2011 and if he wants to run in 2015, I don’t think Igbo should be talking about endorsement in 2012. When we get there, we will see how things have fared and we must take stock; the interest of the Igbo would not be reduced to personal interest of individuals.”

As the battles over Jonathan’s endorsement continues many people are looking anxiously at what would become of the fate of the Igbo in 2015, considering that several efforts by the region to produce a president since the beginning of the present Fourth Republic has not yielded any fruit.

In the past general elections, several Igbo indigenes, such as the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu among others, took part in presidential elections and they all performed woefully during the poll.

With the way things are now, chances are that the dream of the Igbo to produce the president of the nation in the coming election, may just remain unrealistic. Except, perhaps, a miracle happens, with the house divided, even a very strong candidate may be unable to get the required support to see him through.

In your refreshingly different Nigerian hospitals: Why none is suitable for First Lady

Amid nationwide anxiety over the state of health of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is reportedly hospitalised in far-away Germany, Nigerians are again made to ask questions on why the wife of the President could not be treated in any of the country’s first-rate hospitals. Apart from the teaching hospitals, there are the federal medical centres and the states’ specialist hospitals which are being funded with the tax payers’ money. But rather than perform optimally, most of the hospitals are mere consulting clinics. Despite huge budgetary allocations to the health sector, why are Nigerian hospitals yet to get their bearing? We tell you tomorrow.

Ogoni and the self-rule game

The moment appears auspicious for the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta region, whose protest against environmental degradation from oil companies occupies a strategic place in the Nigerian history. However, a factional leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, recently stirred a hornet’s nest when he declared that the Ogoni were on the verge of declaring self-rule. But now, the vociferous voices of those agitating appear to have receded.

What happened in-between? And what is the future of the Ogoni people under President Jonathan, who hails from the zone? Keep a date with your vendor.

Amazing world of a blind author

Remigius Ayochukwu Igboanusi is totally blind, but has written two books.

The two books are textbooks, and while one was written for the blind, to assist those learning Braille learn faster, the other was borne out of his love for children, for it is a book of rhymes. Meet this visually impaired man who has worked studiously, to overcome a challenge

‘‘I’m I’m nott bothered botthered d about ab boutt what wh hatt gossips say’

Queen Ure Okezie, a banker for more than a decade, is an interesting personality.

Though at one time or the other enmeshed in controversies, she says she is unfazed.

This diva, who is an ex-pastor, a celebrity and the ex-wife of Soul-E, is back in the news. She, in this no holds barred interview with Sunday Mirror, revisits issues that put her on the spot. From her short-lived marriage, to her moments as church pastor, and her encounters with Pastor Kris Okotie, Queen Ure simply puts you on the edge.

Okunniyi

These and many more available tomorrow in your

12

NATIONAL NEWS

September 15, 2012

Impeachment: You can’t stop Reps, court tells Jonathan EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, refused to grant an order to restrain the House of Representatives from proceeding with its purported moves to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, owing to alleged poor implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act. Delivering his ruling, presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the court must first and foremost establish the fact that there is indeed a process of impeachment on-going before it can entertain the suit.

This, according to Kolawole, is with a view to preserving the doctrine of separation of powers and principle of non-interference with the consti-

tutionally-spelt out functions of the Legislature.

Besides, the court further held that by virtue of section 143 (1) of the 1999 constitution, a resolution for impeachment of a sitting president must be made by both chambers of the National Assembly (Senate and House), before it is deemed legal and constitutional.

In the instant case, however, Justice Kolawole maintained that the exparte application failed to join the Senate as a party, thereby rendering the process inchoate and unsuccessful.

Kolawale said: “This may not be the proper occasion for this court to grant ex parte order against the 2nd and 3rd defendants, as the reliefs sought by the plaintiff largely benefits the president.”

Consequent upon this,

the order was refused, while the judge adjourned the matter sine die; he transferred the case file to the Registrar of the court to enable the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta reassign same.

It would be recalled that the National Chairman of the African Liberation Party (ALP), Dr. Emmanuel Osita Okereke, had approached the court via a motion ex parte praying it to stop the lower chamber of the National Assembly from removing Jonathan over alleged poor implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act. Specifically, Okereke urged the court to determine whether by virtue of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the National Assembly could commence impeachment proceedings against Jonathan on grounds of

not achieving a hundred per cent implementation of the 2012 Budget, even when the financial year was still running.

He maintained that such moves at the time had the potential of distracting the president from executing programmes for the benefit of Nigerians.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, House, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice and President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a supporting affidavit to the originating summons, the plaintiff averred that the move to impeach the president for allegedly failing to achieve 100 per cent implementation of the 2012 budget in July 2012 is heating up the polity.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Terrorist attacks: Catholic bishops call for more vigilance

T

he Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on the federal government to be more vigilant in its efforts to checkmate terrorist activities in Nigeria.

The bishops made the call in a nine-point communiqué they issued on Friday, at the end of their conference in Umuahia.

The communiqué stated that being more vigilant, especially at the borders, would help the country to checkmate ``any foreign sponsors of terrorist activities in Nigeria’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President and Secretary,

Northern women attack Na’Abba, others over Jonathan OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo (l) and Rear Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters, at the Account and Budget Branch of the Nigerian Navy Finance Seminar at NNS QUORRA, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday.

Minister warns Almajiri project contractors IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

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n a bid to meet the limited three months target given

by President Goodluck Jonathan to all federal ministries, the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday warned the contractors handling the Almajeri Project over delay and negligence of their duties.

The minister who warned the contractors during an interactive session with them in Abjua urged those that were affected to expedite actions in

meeting up with the goals of the federal government.

Wike said “UBEC has given us reasons why they think that some of the contractors are not performing and contractors have given us reasons too and some of those reasons conflict. We don’t know who is telling the truth and who is lying “I have signed performance agreement with Mr. President and I have a time by which am supposed to deliver certain key things; we can’t begin to give excuses.

“We have Almajeri project, and we know how im-

portant it is to Nigerians; we have to get them ready to be handed over to states so that they would start the enrolment of these our children who are on the street; we have also told Nigerians that Mr. President is trying to improve the quality of education in schools; that all the federal government colleges should have befitting libraries that would be well furnished. In that way we will improve the reading culture. You can’t go to school where there are no libraries; you expect the students to perform

wonders, some of these students are from poor homes” The minister wondered why Kano,Taraba and Benue states had not allocated any sites for the projects and urged the contractors in charge to sort out the problems with the states governments and commence work within two weeks.

CBCN, Most Revs. Ignatius Kaigama, and Alfred Martins, respectively signed the communique, entitled: ``Promoting authentic development in Nigeria’’.

It noted that Nigerians were living in fear and tension as a result of terrorist attacks.

According to the bishops, kidnapping, murders and armed robberies, had left many killed and maimed in different parts of the country.

The conference also called on security agencies and the government at all levels ``to wake up to their duties to protect and defend the life and dignity of everybody in the country”.

olitical leaders in the North, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives , Umar Ghali Na’Abba came under fire yesterday as women activists from the North cautioned them to desist from any “unwarranted” attack on President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, the leader of the Northern Women Activists, Hajia Binta Kuraye, who led other activists at a press conference in Abuja said Na’Abba lacked the moral justification to cast aspersions on the president.

According to Hajia Kuraye, rather than distracting President Jonathan,

Na’Abba and other leaders from the North should concentrate on how they can join forces with the Federal Government in its efforts to tackle security challenges in the country, especially in the northern states.

The women also said that the 2015 general election should not be allowed to overshadow the needs of majority of Nigerians even as they plead with the political class to allow President Jonathan to continue with his transformation agenda.

Na’Abba, a staunch supporter of the president in the run-up to the 2011 general elections recently declared that the North would not vote for President Jonathan in 2015 because the President had done “lots of things wrong to the North”.

‘Rush for imported materials injurious to economy’ YEMISI ADENIRAN

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here’s the need to reduce the rush for imported materials especially clothes, if Nigerian economy must improve.

The Chief Executive Officer of JP Kingdom, Mrs Temi Aboderin-Owoyemi, made the declaration while announcing the company’s new designs for plus sized women at the weekend.

According to her, local

production and patronage of clothing materials had a way of improving the economy.

“They do not only save the nation of foreign exchange but also promote its culture,” she said.

Relating this to her clothing line which is strictly committed to curvy ladies, she said women who are of bigger shape needed to appreciate themselves and make bold expressions with their wears.

Sport

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 15, 2012

13

SAYO OGUNDEJI

A

fter the Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 2-2 draw by the Lone Stars of Liberia in Monrovia in the first leg of the final round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last weekend, a former ex-international, Bright Omokaro, has urged the technical crew of the team to do away with the unpatriotic foreign-based players and focus on the home-based ones who are willing to go the extra mile to do the country proud.

The Eagles who were initially leading by 2-1in the explosive encounter played at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium lost so many scoring chances before the unexpected happened at the 66th minute when Sekou Oliseh cashed-in on a mistake by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to give the Liberians a chance to draw level.

Omega Roberts of the Lone Stars had opened scoring in the 7th minute of the encounter while goals from Nosa Igiebor and Ikechuchkwu Uche put the Eagles in front in the early part of the encounter.

With the result, Nigeria stands a good chance of qualifying for the bi-annual competition with a two-away-goal advantage and will host the Lone Stars next month for the second leg of the qualifier to decide which country picks the ticket for the tournament to be held in South Africa in January 2013.

Though, Nigeria failed to make it to the last edition of the tournament held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Omokaro is optimistic the Eagles will see off the visitors to grab the ticket this time.

The former Eagles defensive strong man however called on the Stephen Keshiled coaching crew to focus on the homebased players who according to him are ready to give their best for the country unlike their foreign-based counterparts.

He also expressed satisfaction with Keshi’s initiative of building an entire home-based team, stressing that the future of the national team lies with players who ply their trade in the country and not the unpatriotic foreign counterparts who usually fail to live up to expectation.

“Securing a 2-2 draw away to Liberia is a good result by all standards which gives the team a realistic chance of making it to South Africa, but they must be ready to beat the Liberians who will be coming to Nigeria with the mindset of causing an upset.

“Keshi has done the right thing by building a solid home-based team and the right thing he should do is to do away with unpatriotic foreign-based players who are not ready to give their best to the cause of the nation.

“Many of us started playing for the Super Eagles while plying our trade on the local scene and with the Nigerian league getting better by the day, it is high time

Foreign-based Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie(right) breaks into Guinean half during their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the two countries in Abuja on October 8, 2011.

Omokaro blasts unpatriotic foreign-based Eagles our coaches comb the league for more talented players.

“As far as I am concerned, players like Mikel Obi who was lucky to have had some successes not by his talents, but by playing for a big club and Taiye Taiwo who have not added anything positive to the team must lose their places to homebased counterparts who are ready to help

NSSF president calls for restructuring of Shell Cup P. 14

the national team achieve success,” Omokaro said.

He further cautioned the Eagles against being over confident, saying the visitors would prove a hard nut to crack.

“The Eagles must try to avoid the kind of mistake that happened against Guinea which denied the country a place at the last Nations Cup and go all out for

PHCN adamant over Okunowo’s burnt mansion P. 16

victory, irrespective of what the visitors would throw at them.

“Playing at home sometimes comes with its own pressure, but we have the quality to get the needed points, which obviously will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians who have been supporting the team over the years,” the former New Nigerian Bank of Benin player concluded.

Di Matteo confirms Terry, Cole return P. 43

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September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Glo Soccer Academy and the quest for sports development

N

igeria’s past exploits in sports worldwide may look unquantifiable and a herculean task for pundits to make a comprehensive retrospective list of great men and women who had used their God-given talents to write the country’s name in gold through sports.

In boxing for example, Dick ‘Tiger’ Ihetu, Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey, Nojeem Maiyegun, Obisia Nwankpa and Samuel Peter top the list of pugilists who made the nation proud during their careers, which spanned over several years of service to their fatherland.

In football, which has been acclaimed worldwide as the king of all sports, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, Haruna Ilerika, Rashidi Yekini, Christian Chukwu, Peter Rufai, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba and Nigeria’s most decorated footballer of all-time, Kanu Nwankwo, will remain evergreen in our country’s soccer history.

Coming to athletics the exploits of Sunday Bada, Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya, and Nigeria’s first individual gold medallist at the Olympics, Chioma AjunwaOkparah, have shown that they are worthy sporting ambassadors of our great country.

Today, sports development in Africa’s most populous black nation, Nigeria, is on a terrifying free fall (football inclusive), while members of Corporate Nigeria and other multinational companies are busy declaring huge profits and milking the environment in which they do business dry.

Hard Tackle with

Andrew Ekejiuba anelsports@yahoo.com The most painful aspect, which relates to the plundering of their business environment is that they have nothing to show for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as against what is obtainable in other parts of the world where companies are the drivers of sports development through quality sporting programmes and sponsorships. And the fallout of this anomaly has led to many of our idle youths who are supposed to be encouraged to make a living through sports becoming deviants and the dredge of the society.

The dare-devil and desperate ones among them have also turned to become full-blown criminals expressing their bitterness and anger to the society that is supposed to show them light.

In the light of the aforementioned and the questionable state of our sporting prowess, this may have prompted one of Nigeria’s telecommunication giants, Globacom, to lend its support to the development of our country’s football through its Glo Soccer

08023103605

Academy.

Speaking during a press conference held to formally launch the project on Tuesday in Lagos, Globacom’s Director of Events and Sponsorships, Bode Opeseitan, said the Glo Soccer Academy was conceived to discover and train talented young footballers in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic.

He said the company is “proud to float the Glo Soccer Academy, which is expected to discover young talents, teach and groom them to become world-class footballers who can compete with their contemporaries elsewhere in the world and shine like trillion stars”. And HT sees this initiative as commendable because it is in line with Nigeria’s recent quest for repositioning our dwindling fortune in sports (and football in particular).

As our culture in this weekly column, HT has been at the vanguard of taking to the cleaners that bunch of green-eyed desperadoes killing our sports while also giving kudos to those who are making efforts to raise our sports

from obscurity. And it is on that premise that the Glo Soccer Academy must be supported to see the light of the day.

HT gathered that the concept of the Academy is a TV Reality show conceived to provide a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for young talented footballers (males) between the ages of 14-17 years to kick start their career in professional football and also to offer subscribers the opportunity to participate in selection and elimination process of those involved. It is also aimed at hunting and training talented young footballers thereby building strong affinity with the youth who are the future leaders.

Aside the aforementioned, the Academy is designed to scout and screen through key locations in West Africa thousands of promising youngsters out of which 33 talented finalists will be camped in a soccer academy in Lagos and trained by celebrity coaches from West Africa and Manchester United for five weeks. From this lot, 16 participants will emerge as the best of the pack with mouthwatering pecks including cash prizes, scholarships and a training tour of the Manchester United Soccer Schools in the UK. One of the final 16 players at the Academy will win the ultimate prize of N5 million for emerging as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the competition with a GBAM Scholarship worth N750,000 while the rest will win N1 million and GBAM Scholar-

ships worth N750, 000 each.

From the foregoing, the gains of such an academy cannot be overemphasised because it will guarantee the preservation of our country’s football future where the products will be of immense benefit to our football development and also serve as a reservoir of talents.

Secondly, the academy will guarantee education for the players, so that they would be able to meet the future challenges outside football. It could be recalled that the issue of our ex-internationals getting good jobs on retirement has remained a huge problem for our ailing sports industry, but with proper education of our upcoming footballers, this cankerworm would be whitewashed from our country’s soccer history.

Surely, the coming of the soccer academy will guarantee an atmosphere where talents would be adequately harnessed to maximise business advantage of football in an organised system and this is what our football development needs most following the drought of sponsors.

Finally, this laudable initiative is a huge challenge to corporate bodies and individuals doing business in the West African subregion to wake from their apparent slumber and support as many as possible sports. The ball is now on the court of many youths in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin republic to make utmost use of this opportunity provided as a first step towards realising their potentials.

A stitch in time saves nine!

SPORT NEWS

Bauchi wins Shema Cup NSSF president calls for restructuring of Shell Cup IFEANYI EDUZOR

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

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P

auchi State has emerged the winners of the 2nd edition of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema U-17 football competition for boys organized by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON).

In an entertaining encounter decided at the Katsina Township Stadium, the team defeated the host team, Katsina by 5-4 penalties after the encounter ended 1-1 at regulation time.

Declaring the tournament closed, the Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Alhaji Mannir Ibrahim Talba commended YSFON for its efforts over the years to develop sports at the grassroots even as he pledged the state government’s support to the body in its bid to discover

Shema

hidden talents in the country.

In his speech at the occasion, the zonal coordinator North West zone 1 of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Ademola Areh, who represented the Minister of Sports, urged the NFF to partner YSFON in developing football at the grassroots just as he charged other states to emulate Katsina state and sponsor more competitions by the body.

resident of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, has called for the reorganisation of Shell Cup which is an arm of school sports, but controlled by a consultant.

He told our correspondent that the Shell Cup is not transparent in execution and until it is properly restructured in line with sports and education development the competition will continue to dwindle.

“I don’t normally want to talk about Shell Cup because the whole issue lacks transparency. I as the NSSF president and my entire members including those in the states have series of complaints against how the Shell Cup is being executed.

“For a competition that has been going on for 14

years, I expect better organization and development.

For instance, the amount given to participating states for logistics and execution of programmes is N100, 000 per state for 14 years. It was when we resisted last year that N20, 000 was added to make it N120, 000. And as the coordinating body at the federal level, we get only N250,000 to mobilize all our members from the states.

How far can that go for us to bring together our members from all over the states because we are not stationed in Lagos alone,” the NSSF President said.

Saturday Mirror gathered that Segun Odegbami is the consultant in charge of Shell Cup and Mallam Mohammed revealed that he is not impressed with the way he runs it.

“The history behind it is not interesting and noth-

ing to talk about at all and the way the man behind it is handling it personally does not impress me. If we want to do things, let us do the right thing. I am worried because Shell has been spending lots of money and we highly appreciate it.

“In those days, enough balls were given even at venues to states and after the competition, even if a state loses it gets balls, jerseys etc to keep for training. Now, hardly a state or a zone competing receive free balls. The whole materials enjoyed by schools are reduced both in quality and quantity. Instead of improvement, the standard and impact is reducing by the day,” Mohammed said with a tinge of regret.

As to whether the reduction in materials and support fees are due to reduced funding from Shell, the NSSF President said: “We

Mohammed

at the NSSF have no direct access to Shell, it is the consultant that has so; I do not know if Shell has, reduced or increased funding over the years. The consultant knows better. We are consulting and will hold a meeting with all our member states and it is at that forum that a final decision will be taken on Shell Cup, even if it will be advisory to the consultant,” he concluded.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 15, 2012

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16

SPORT

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oreweme makes case for special sports IFEANYI EDUZOR

L NFF President, Aminu Maigari.

Asagba tasks NFF on grassroots football development IFEANYI EDUZOR

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etired FIFA badge referee, Prof. Babatunde Asagba, has charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to focus more on developing the game at the grassroots rather than concentrating their efforts on winning laurels.

He told our correspondent that it is unfortunate that Nigeria which was revered as one of the top football playing nations in the world could not qualify for the last Nations Cup and is still struggling to qualify for the 2013 Nations Cup to be hosted

by South Africa, warning that unless grassroots football is developed, the country’s football will continue to witness a slide.

Asagba who is a FIFA/CAF adviser as well as a senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan noted that football in other countries of the world is developing at a fast rate because they embraced grassroots developmental programme and expressed surprise that the NFF is still lacking in that aspect.

“It is unfortunate that Nigeria which was once rated as no 5 team in the world is not even rated as the best team in Africa.

“There is the need for NFF to be serious about developing the game at the grassroots because that is the only way to re-position the game. The football house must emulate other countries whose football is now growing by encouraging the development of the game at the grassroots where talents could be discovered and nurtured,” he concluded.

iaison Officer of the National Sports Commission, Lagos office, Tayo Oreweme, has spoken of the need to pay more attention to the development of special sports even as she commended members of Paralympics team for making the country proud in London.

Nigeria’s Paralympics team won 6 gold, 5 silver and two bronze medals at the just concluded Paralympics Games in London to place 22nd on the medals table.

She told our correspondent that more efforts should be made to develop disable sport considering their exploits in London which she said made Nigerians forget the dismay outing of the country at the London 2012 Olympics.

Oreweme, while commending the athletes for being worthy ambassadors of the country enjoined them not to give up in their training as doing so will make them lose form.

“The Paralympians really made us proud in London considering the poor outing of our ath-

NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

A

Yakubu Adesokan displaying the gold medal he won during the just concluded Paralympic Games in London.

letes at the London 2012 Olympics and they must be encouraged to win more laurels for the country.

“My advice is that they should not be carried away by their suc-

cess but rather be focused and concentrate on their training after the victory song in order to maintain their winning form,” she said.

PHCN adamant over Okunowo’s burnt mansion

M

ore than seven weeks now that fire from Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s office at Capital Building, Ring Road Ibadan gutted and razed down the multi-million naira duplex of ex-Super Eagles player, Gbenga Okunowo, PHCN appears non-chalant about the incident.

The incident that occurred on 22nd July 2012 has rendered the former Barcelona defender homeless forcing him to stay in hotels or with friends.

Counsels to Okunowo, Rotimi Alli and Ibadan-based popular legal practitioner, Jibril Mohammed, who is also the lawyer to the late Rashidi Yekini, have disclosed to newsmen in Ibadan that officials of PHCN had admitted that the fire actually emanated from their compound before jumping into Okunowo’s duplex who was their next door neigh-

London flop: Administrator gives recipe for sports development

bour when officers of Oyo State CID interogated them.

Mohammed also hinted that they had made all necessary efforts to get adequate compensations for Okunowo but PHCN seemed not to be showing good concerns over the matter.

Okunowo, while speaking with the sporting press at the Obafemi Awolowo training ground of Allstars FC, the team that he trained with to keep fit, lamented the hardship he was going through after the fire had destroyed all he had laboured for in his entire career.

“I’m only going to beg the PHCN to be prompt with whatever they want to do on the incident, as words cannot quantify the hardship I’m going through since Sunday July 22 the ugly incidence happened,” Okunowo lamented.

Sad ex-Barcelona and Eagles star Gbenga Okunowo inside his burnt building

Also speaking in the same vein, Dimeji Lawal, who is coordinating All-stars FC was dejected over the plight of the exfootball star, saying, “Nobody has come out to assist Gbenga Okunowo since fire burned down his properties, not even the NFF”.

sports promoter and proprietor of Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra State, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has said that the only panacea for achieving a stable growth in the sports sector in the country is to return to the era of catching sports men and women young.

He said one way of doing this is by re-opening our shut sporting activities within the school system to the extent that any public or private school which does not inculcate sporting activities into its curriculum would be closed down by the appropriate authorities.

Reacting to Nigeria’s dismal performance at the just concluded 2012 London Olympics, Ezeonwuka suggested that parents should withdraw their children or wards from any school where there are no basic facilities or skill acquisition centers.

He attributed the current high rate of crime among our youths to near collapse of sports in Nigeria. Ezeonwuka who is also partnering with Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports and Anambra State government to establish a sports academy inside the games village, emphasized that idle and porous minds arising from lack of sporting activities are responsible for high crime rate in the country.

He further blamed sports administrators for the country’s woeful outings in international competitions and lamented that school sports in Nigeria has died natural death.

Ezeonwuka said that the collapse of sports in the country brought youth restiveness such as Boko Haram, kidnapping and armed robbery, saying that with sports, youths can be kept busy.

Bankers Games: UBA battles Standard Chartered Bank in star match ANDREW EKEJIUBA

R

ecord time winners of the Nigeria Bankers Games (NBG) football event, United Bank for Africa (UBA) returns to the pitch today to confront group leaders, Standard Chartered Bank in what is easily the star match of the day as teams in Group A go into sec-

ond round of matches.

Both sides met twice in 2011 with UBA winning 1-0 at the group stage and Standard-Chartered reversing the score line in the most important tie that decided the third place winner.

Fans are thus gearing up for what has been dubbed ‘the battle of familiar foes” in the Banking Games circle.

UBA’s Rilwan Adewusi re-

flected on the 0-0 draw with Diamond Bank last week and said they under-rated the Paschal Dozie boys.

For Lawrence Ojo of Standard Chartered Bank, their 3-1 drubbing of Ecobank is a reflection of their team and contended that “we have always been the team to beat in this competition.

But luck has never been on our side, but we believe this year

will be an exception. We played better, we dominated every part of the game and you can see the result. UBA will not survive our game plan when we play them in the next match”.

Union Bank, the Stallion Boys will play Stanbic IBTC while Enterprise Bank and Fidelity Bank will chase the three points as Diamond Bank plays Elephant Boys of First Bank.

MAGAZ INE

Relationships

•Domestic violence: Can men be victims?

Sex talk •Want to boost your jiggle?

Try these

Fashion •Before you wear the tube dress •Let’s go partying

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A free spirit

18

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Celebrity Eyo Eminue became famous following his participation in Project Fame West Africa (PFWA) in 2010. Now promoting his new single, Wedding Day, in this interview he tells OSEYIZA OOGBODO about the ups and downs of the music industry among other matters. Excerpts:

W

hat’s been happening to you since you left PFWA? Since I left the Academy in 2010, I’ve released two singles and shot one video. The first single is Show 4 Ur Eyes featuring fast-rising rapper Maytronomy. That has been on air for a while and received rave reviews. But I thought I should do something different this time around so I released another single titled Wedding Day. On the first day of its release, August 23, it was a trending topic on Twitter. Right now, we are planning the video and so far so good the journey has been rough and tough but it’s the only tough that can survive so we’re tough and we’re still here and kicking.

How has the journey been?

The fact that you get to meet people who promise to work with you or for you and at the end of the day, get your money and don’t actually do anything for you is a tough one. I’ve experienced a whole lot of that right from the beginning. But it happened that I also met a couple of people who are interested in me. And they are passionate about my music and me. So I’ve gotten into good hands. I’m now managed by one of the best hands in the industry, Emem Ema of One Management, and I’m also very closely associated with Cornell Udofia.

A whole lot of things are going on now and I believe we are now getting to that point whereby we’ll have that break.

How well would you say you have made use of the opportunity given you by the PFWA? The same platform I was given was the same that every other person in the Academy too was given. You’ve gotten the exposure and the requisite training so I believe MTN Project Fame has really been a sound platform and if I fail, that will be my own doing, not theirs, and that’s why we’re making sure we’re in the eyes and ears of people. We’re putting music out daily and doing our best to make sure we get the best out of what the platform has offered.

What is your view of the music industry then?

It is evolving. Like 10, 12 years ago, it wasn’t the way it is now. It is beginning to generate funds for the artistes.

Now you hear of applications like Spin-

‘It has been rough and tough’

let where an artiste has to register and then before you get the artiste’s song, you have to get the application on your phone and download and you can’t transfer such songs to another person.

So music is beginning to pay.

But how is the industry with regards to you?

With regards to me, let’s say we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, because it was like we were nowhere and now we are beginning to be everywhere. There are a whole lot of events lined up for me. There’s a video coming up, radio interviews, and because of all these, I believe we’re getting there.

Would you say there’s a secret that successful artistes like Tuface and MI know that makes them hot?

I’ll tell you that I may not necessarily know the formulas that they used but I tell you that there’s one big secret that is not really a secret. The God factor. Na God dey do make person blow. At the end of the day, you could sing and be the best vocalist in the world, but if God is not there … You know how many

scandals Tuface has passed through. It’s been a rough ride for him when it comes to scandals, but at the end of the day, because God’s hand is on his head and he’s blessed, he has survived them all. That’s the God thing. MI is blessed too. A whole lot of them out there wouldn’t be there without God. God sets one up and sets one down. I believe that God is the only key. You have friends and associates to help you out but God sends them to help you. So, it’s God finally.

You won N1m and a car through PFWA 2010. What did you do with them?

My car is in a very good shape. I maintain it and take very good care of it because it’s what moves me around. It’s my first baby. The money, yes, has been invested in my music and my brand. We’ve done a whole lot of rebranding, photo sessions, studio recordings, interviews where you had to go on air and grease a couple of palms, so the money has been invested in the brand, not necessarily, totally in the music, but in the brand. The brand is not involved in just music but also movies and modelling and a whole lot of other things.

Can you say that within a period of time you would be as successful as either Tuface or MI? Everything lies in the hands of God. Yes, I want to be as big as Tuface but you can’t really say that there’s a certain time frame that they too put in their work to get to where they are.

They worked very hard. Annie Macaulay is a very good friend of mine, so I know when she was going out with Tuface when he wasn’t big then.

And then I wasn’t even thinking about music at that time. But look how far Tuface has come. It’s over 10 years.

Sound Sultan is celebrating 12 years on stage. That’s a long period, but we are ready to do the time. I’ve been in music, not necessarily in the limelight before Project Fame. But let’s say Project Fame brought me out, so let’s say this is my second year officially as a professional artiste. But two years is not too big. Davido came out and he’s out there already. Chidinma too is out there. It took Iyanya five years to get that good song Kukere, but he’s had it already. However, there’s still no time frame. When God says it’s your time, it’s your time.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

September 15, 2012

Entervaganza

With OSEYIZA OOGBODO

Music fiesta brings Fally Ipupa to Lagos

08023755142 kingseiza@gmail.com

Tolu Oke

takes Nollywood by storm

O

TERH AGBEDEH

O

n September 30, the eve of the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Effrakata Entertainment is set to put some sunshine into the hearts of Lagosians.

The Lagos-based firm is planning to stage a pre-Independence musical fiesta, tagged: ‘Africa Unity Concert’, with a potpourri of world class acts of African descent that would come together under one roof to celebrate the nation’s independence.

This is largely aimed at not only uniting and celebrating Nigeria but the continent as a whole through a unique African brand of music, boosting her culture and tourism potentials.

The concert is billed to hold at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Among artistes billed to perform are: Fally Ipupa, who is a singer, songwriter and the “baddest” Ndombolo dancer in the business. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he presently lives in Paris. He used to be a part of the band of Koffi Olomidé, Quartier Latin International, from 1999 to 2006 before embarking on a solo career. His first album was ‘Droit Chemin’ released in 2006, and his second album ‘Arsenal de Belles Melodies’ (A2BM) was released in 2009.

Ipupa, one of the fastest rising African music acts, is not new to Nigeria. He has visited a couple of times and was recently in Lagos, for the MTV Live show held at Tribeca on Friday, April 1, 2011.

He will be on stage alongside other Nigerian artistes like J. Martins, Ara the female drummer, Ashley Stephanie of Cameroun and a host of others.

Ipupa

ne of the beautiful faces in Nollywood, Tolulope Oke, has made a new movie, Bi Ala, (Like A Dream) which promotes family values in the society.

The movie was premiered recently in the United Kingdom (UK) recently and Tolu, who is basking in the euphoria of the success of the film premiere, stated that Bi Ala was well received by the Nigerian community in London.

According to her, the premiere opened a new chapter in her life as a lot of people trooped out to the venue to show her love.

“The support was so overwhelming.

I didn’t expect the magnitude of acceptance given to me, in view of the fact that the film is my first production. The management of Naija FM, headed by Kent Uche of Godfather Promotion, really gave me a lot of support. They made the event a tremendous success”, she said.

Tolu, who has featured in several flicks, including Awure Eni, Agidi, Akoba Waidi, Omo Oko, Kutu Kutu, Itusile, Score and Tee Kay, all in the Yoruba genre of the industry, explained that she was encouraged to produce Bi Ala because of her love for family values and the urge to impact positively on the younger generations.

She started her professional career in acting after graduating from the University of Lagos where she read Sociology.

“I started acting in high school when I was in Ibadan Grammar School. We had a group then called Jolly Good Sisters”, she said.

Her entrance into the Yoruba film industry in 2006 saw her going through the tutelage of two of the popular actors, Funsho Adeolu and Muyideen Oladapo.

“They really showed me the ropes”, she said of the notable actors.

Oke

Tuface, Tiwa Savage rise up for Bakassi children TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

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frican Queen crooner, Tuface Idibia, Tiwa Savage and Timi Dakolo are few among the entertainers billed to support Senator Florence Ita-Giwa’s pet project, Foundation for Children of Bakassi as she holds a Red Ball event.

The event, which will hold at the Zinnia Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites promises to be thrilling even as the artistes emphasized the need to rise up for displaced children.

Over the years, the Red Ball has been the principal fund-raising vehicle for the foundation which caters for hundreds of displaced Bakassi children. Since the ceding of parts of Bakassi to Cameroun, the plight of the children has further wors-

ened.

“I am determined and I still remain absolutely resolute to cater for the needs of these innocent children who are victims of political machination and geographical dispute until they are properly resettled,” Ita-Giwa said.

An international fashion show will also be on parade.

Meanwhile, the management of Vlisco has indicated interest to partner with the Red Ball event. The frontline textile manufacturing firm will provide eight outfits for the Middle East Afro Fusion fashion show. The fabrics will be worn by famous Nollywood celebrities.

A statement by its Head of Channel and Trade Strategy, Simi Belo, informs that Vlisco creates premium Dutch designed wax prints that embody African identity.

Ita-Giwa (4th left) and Tuface (4th right) flanked by some Bakassi children

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September 15, 2012

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CLASSICAL RYHMES

AIRWAVES LINK

Nigeria’s Got Talent goes on air tomorrow A

fter much anticipation, the Nigerian edition of the Got Talent franchise, Nigeria’s Got Talent, will finally begin showing on TV from airing is commencing after the nationtomorrow. Its ai wide auditions held to discover extraorwi dinary talents. din Viewers might be about to experience some good times on TV as the best posso sible hands have been chosen to present sib and judge the show. an Andre Blaze, the smooth talking and suave on-air personality is to be the su show’s presenter while seasoned entersh tainment industry personalities Dan tai Foster, Kate Henshaw and Yibo Koko are Fo the judges. th Will NGT live up to the hype of its predecessors in other countries? pr Adaora Mbelu, NGT’s project manager, believes it will. “We had an overdose of talent during the auditions. In Warri, we had an eight-year-old ballet dancer who totally stole the heart of the judges wh with her form and style. We had a magiwi cian in Ibadan that amazed us with his cia tricks and kept us wanting to see more. tri I’ll let you watch out for the rest.”

I’l

The judges

IK’s six tips for searching ladies

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omen who are searching for men to walk them down the aisle now have a counsellor who is willing to put them through the necessary ropes. This counsellor is an unexpected one nevertheless, he might just know what he’s talking about as he’s a man of the world and is successfully married.

He is also a household name in Nigeria and Africa and is none other than the on-air personality who became popular as Wild Child but now prefers to be known simply as IK.

And in line with his new calling, he has released six tips to help single ladies get hooked.

1. Learn to do solo trips. It’s just easier for most guys to step to a girl on her own than one in a pack of girls.

2. Make friends with married women. They know what guys want more than your single friends (that’s why they’re married).

3. Be careful not to be too independent. Learn to gain from your man’s presence in your life.

Guys need to be needed.

4. Drop guys that take all your

time without really ly chasing you. They block other guys.

No IWC: Intimacy Without Commititment!

5. Make an effort. Try to look nice. e.

Work out. Guys like ike babes. Get that Don King hair done, stop forming rming ‘Oh Naturale.’

6. Don’t give it all up.

Leave some for marriage. arriage.

Perfect the art of giving previews. Nobody pays ays for free stuff.

IK

PFWA: Sonia, Chinyere shown the door

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t was another elimination show last Saturday, and the contestants’ fates as usual were determined by you the viewers’ votes.

And your votes for the week landed Musulyn, Chinyere, Sonia, Christian and Didi on probation. And they had to sing their way to survive and escape the claws of elimination.

So, one after the other they performed again the same songs they did last weekend. Musulyn did Angelique Kidjoe’s Adouma and Chinyere’s was Omawumi’s Love Nwantintin. Despite ill health, Sonia belted out Onyeka Onwenu’s Dancing In The Sun, Christian sang Shina Peters’ Afro Juju and Didi performed Sir Rex Lawson’s Adure.

After thorough deliberation, the judges, Ade Bantu, Bibi Brew, TY Mix and Cobhams Asuquo (guest judge) saved Musulyn and the faculty opted for Christian. The other contestants then voted and Didi got three votes.

Chinyere got one vote but sadly, it wasn’t good enough to save her, so she

and Sonia were the ones not saved.

But to everyone’s surprise, there was an unexpected twist when the hosts Joseph and Adora announced that the judges have the power of recall and can bring back one deserving eliminated contestant. Who will that lucky eliminated contestant be?

Bigiano

Shayo Artist: Bigiano Verse 1 First of August na the date o Na so me and ma friends Sit down we relate o Say make we gather people come jubilate o Cos na my success I dey try celebrate o You see You can’t afford to come late Cos my gate go dey close like eight o And if you come so quick Girls dem yapa you can start to relate o And if you wan to chocolate o PolI and drink already don circulate o But if you feel intoxicate o Sit down in a place and start to dey maintain meanwhile No fighting in this place o Cos if you do you go enter police case o All my guys don shack I can start to dictate If you love yourself, give yourself brainy straight o Pre-chorus Holy go dey flow like fire Shayo go dey flow like water Anything you want make una order Cos I get everything to make u surrender Chorus (2x) U no go fit invite una come my party Make una no shayo Shayo don dey holo Everybody dey kolo All of una must shayo Verse 2 This party no be joke o All the place just dey full of smoke o All the boys wey dey down don dey toast o Even all the girl eyeballs don compose o Bend your waist and take it slow o Dance to the beat as Bigiano dey flow This na my time make I spend my dough Even if I like i go smoke igbo o U never hear this on your radio MTV Base go love to play all of my video Alaba go sell I go carry all my money go Ghana must go meje must full of owo University dem dey shout Bigiano Polytechnics don dey hala Bigiano London people don dey find Bigiano American, Jamaica lo Repeat pre-chorus Repeat chorus (2x) Bridge This party no be joke o Wound ya, kill ya by yourself Wound ya, kill ya by yourself Wound ya, kill ya by yourself Chorus till fade

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ENTERVAGANZA

September 15, 2012

BOX-OFFICE HITS

BRAIN BEHIND THE SCENE

Hope Obioma Opara … film festival organiser

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ne of the many brains behind the scenes making sure Nollywood continues to develop is Hope Obioma Opara, co-founder of the yearly Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF).

Now in its third year, Opara insists that “Nollywood needs more film festivals to grow. They open and will still open up Nollywood to the rest of Africa and the world.”

And that is what EKOIFF is doing.

He discloses easily that its first and even second editions “were to introduce it to the world, and the process is still ongoing because a lot of Nigerians still don’t know how it works.

“We have spent time enlightening those who care to know that a film festival is an industry of its own aside from preproduction, production and postproduction of movies. Festivals are progressive as the years go by, so the second edition was easier than the first in terms of film submissions, venue, publicity and attendance.”

Speaking more on the benefits of film festivals, he said, “The fact is that a film festival is a good platform to foster the growth and development of film business in the world today y. We need film festivals to expose our local ocal filmmakers to new developments in terms of producing films that will attract international distribution bution and co-production oduction to increase ase the milemileage and nd patronage of ourr local movies in the global village. A film festival estival allows movie stakeholders akeholders to have one on n one interaction with each other and this his enables synergy, cogy, p ro d u c t i o n s and collaboraollaborations.

“Film lm festivals have film markets where move ies are e traded, thereby by contributing ing to the Nigerian igerian e c o n o m y.

Hundreds dreds of thouhousands of

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tickets are sold at major international film festivals and thousands of visitors pay for hotel accommodations, transportations and other services, enriching the states and countries hosting them.”

One of the lessons he has learnt from the previous two editions is the best time to hold EKOIFF. “We decided to effect a change in the festival hosting month from July to November because of the heavy rains we experienced last year. Movement in Lagos becomes a major problem whenever it rains. We don’t want our visitors to have the funny experiences and chaotic traffic problems associated with heavy downpours.”

Disclosing that EKOIFF is an international affair, he said, “From its inception, EKOIFF has been registered on the World Film Festival Network.

This means that the highest authority governing the activities of film festivals, the International Film Festival Summit (IFFS), recognises EKOIFF. Our foreign partner is the co-chair of the European section in Paris. He is on the board of European Film Academy and has one of the biggest film festivals networks in the world.”

He however added that “it is tedious to stage an international film festival because it’s usually a weeklong-multitasking event that includes workshops, panel discussions and film markets.”

Opara

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he wildly successful film franchise adaptation that has grossed nearly $700 million worldwide to date returns in its highly anticipated fifth installment, Resident Evil: Retribution, written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, in state-of-the art 3D. Its lead character, iconic action heroine Alice (indelibly portrayed in all the five films by Milla Jovovich) starts it off right from where she was last seen

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he Inbetweeners, a big-screen blowup of the popular British TV series about a quartet of hapless high-schoolers, centres on the bookish, brainy Will McKenzie (Simon Bird). He is the prudish charmer of the bunch and the glue that holds this foursome together as he tut-tut-tuts his way around a bikini-and-boozy hot spot on Crete where they’ve come to celebrate the end of high school.

The remaining misfits who have been with him from the beginning are Simon (Joe Thomas), the sweet

at the end of Resident Evil: Afterlife - on the deck of the mysterious ship Arcadia where she hoped to find more survivors of the plague.

Instead, she is sucked into the fight of her life as her former ally, Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), and a fleet of the nefarious Umbrella Corporation’s V-22 helicopters swoop in with orders to shoot to kill her.

Meanwhile, the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice, finally penetrates into the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her own mysterious past as she delves further into the complex.

Without a safe haven, she continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington DC and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true.

Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun. boy still obsessed with his high school crush; the sexcrazed Jay (James Buckley); and the big lug/cougar-loving Neil (Blake Harrison). Carli (Emily Head), the object of Simon’s affection in high school, is headed to Crete too, just not with him.

If there is a guiding principle at work here, it boils down to how rude and raunchy things can get as the guys’ friendship is tested by their desperate bid to find someone, anyone, to have sex with.

The mood is set when they slip into matching Tshirts ordered specifically for the trip — bright pink and plastered with something unrepeatable here, but it has to do with their main mission in Crete, which is sex, with women.

Remarkably, girls do come into play as more than just babes to bed. They are a very likable crew led by Alison (Laura Haddock), the impossibly beautiful blond who is also impossibly smart. Go figure. She’s already got a Greek boyfriend but connects with Will on some strange cerebral level.

Lucy (Tamla Kari) is also lovely and has the patience of a saint when it comes to Simon’s ongoing infatuation with Carli, one of the running gags.

And Jane (Lydia Rose Bewley), plussized and proud, is a brassy hoot.

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CELEBRITY FAVOURITES

September 15, 2012

SHOWBIZ SNOOPS

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Darey’s Soul Muzik signs female artiste

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J. Martins

Safarie

Favourite Food

SEMOVITA AND VEGETABLE SOUP Favourite Drink ORANGE JUICE Favourite Designer (Intl) CHANEL Favourite Restaurant/Bar CALABAR KITCHEN Favourite Day Of The Week SUNDAY Favourite Perfume CHANEL N5 Favourite Fashion Item SUNGLASSES Favourite Movie 24 Favourite Brand Of Telephone Handset BLACKBERRY Favourite Quote YOUR PAIN IS YOUR PAIN, YOUR JOY IS YOUR JOY, NO ONE CAN SHARE THEM WITH YOU

resumes Europe tour next month

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here have been reports that J. Martins’ tour of Europe was disrupted at some venues by placard-carrying disgruntled fans. This is true but it has been confirmed that it has nothing to do with the artiste directly.

According to Anthony ‘Don T’ Anifite of Now Muzik, his management label, J. Martins’ passion for African music knows no boundary as evidenced in his collaboration with Cabo Snoop of Angola on his Good Tym video.

Thus it was no surprise that he embarked on the tour of Europe with Fally Pupa of Congo who also happens to be his friend. Unknowing to J. Martins and the Netherland-based organisers, Congolese in the Diaspora had vouched not to allow Fally Pupa perform anywhere in Europe because he is perceived as pro-government. They insisted he does not take sides with the people of Congo rather he sings the praises of the president of the country. Thus, wherever he is billed to perform, they would gang up to disrupt the show. It happened in London, Amsterdam and Germany.

However, the protesters always assured J. Martins and the organisers that they had no issue with them except that Fally be taken out of the show.

Eventually, J. Martins performed at the shows.

Although it had been suspended for now to sort things out, the organisers have resolved to resume the tour next month.

ollowing in the footsteps of Mavin Records, Empire Mates Entertainment, Trybe Records and Chocolate City, Dare ArtAlade’s Soul Muzik has also signed a female artiste named Zaina.

Describing her, ArtAlade who is better known as Darey, said, “she is a supremely talented singer, writer and performer who has worked with some of the best brains here and abroad and is a fierce entertainer who wants to make music fans happy.”

On her own part, Zaina, who was previously based in Atlanta, USA, said, “I’m here to stay, to play my part and add my voice to what’s going on in my great country.”

And to prove that they mean business by their association, Zaina and Soul Muzik have released two of her singles, Lolola and Totally Yours, immediately to push her into the competitive Nigerian music industry. Her album is scheduled for next year.

Zaina

LYRIKZ releases debut video

LYRIKZ

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fter almost a decade in the music industry, talented singer and songwriter, LYRIKZ, has finally released a music video.

The video, which was shot by acclaimed director, AK One, is that of

his official first single, Gen Gen, which was released recently and is doing appreciably well.

Speaking with Entervaganza, LYRIKZ couldn’t hide his joy. “Releasing a music video is the aspiration of every artiste and I’m so happy because it has taken me a very, very long time to release my very first video. I had to bid my time and be patient because videos have to be world class to do well now.

So I had to really take my time to get it right.”

Saying that he intends to make a difference in the industry with his Indieflavoured style of hip-hop and R & B, he also claimed that he is working on collaborations with his more established colleagues including Rayce, Flowsickk and Solid Star.

“I have spent close to 10 years researching how to become successful and I now know the best way to go about it.

That’s why I’ve now dropped my video to create awareness for me before I start releasing my collaborations with my colleagues to finally penetrate into the inner circle of successful musicians.”

UK firm backs ‘Boycott Dana Air’ petition

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K-based record label and management company Titans Entertainment has officially come out in full support of the current petition to boycott Dana Air and stop it from flying in Nigeria again.

According to the statement by TE: “With the Federal Government of Nigeria lifting its suspension of the airline and the airline allegedly trying to stop any investigations into the cause of the crash in June, it is

now more imperative than ever before for us all to stand firm in our support of all the families that lost their loved ones on that ill-fated day at the hands of the callousness of Dana Air and make sure Dana Air never shows such disregard for human life again, by supporting the ‘Boycott Dana Air’ petition.”

TE also released a song, So Long, which is dedicated to the crash victims.

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ENTERVAGANZA

September 15, 2012

23

SHOWBIZ SNOOPS

Noni Zondi breaks into Nigerian market

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Zondi

Isaac Geralds bounces back

he is gradually coming up in the music industry but she has been tipped already for great things. Some refer to her as Lil’ Kim. Others say she is like Nicki Minaj.

Not just a vocalist but a superlative performer as well, Zondi is a bundle of talents; talents that she’s using to make a way for herself. And she’s now steadily penetrating into the lucrative Nigerian market from her United Kingdom (UK) base.

Her main promoter, JJC, is a Nigerian so it’s not surprising that the South African-British rapper, singer and dancer is collaborating with Nigerian artistes, collaborations which have increased her visibility and acceptability in the country.

Some of the Nigerian artistes she’s worked with are ice Prince, Wande Coal, MI, Wizkid and P-Square. She also brought the roof down at the recent D’Banj concert in London.

Miss Brighter Future pageant to hold in Lagos

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romising musician, Isaac Geralds, is forging ahead with his music career after the disappointment of losing out on the prizes on offer at last year’s Project Fame West Africa where he was a contestant.

Recently, he made it clear to everybody that music is his career choice with a listening party to officially launch his new singles. The gig was attended by Joke Silva, Ayo Adesanya, Sola Kosoko, Ige, Kaffy, Timi Dakolo and many others.

Geralds’ first performance was Oluwa Is Involved, a gospel tune that appropriately described God as the Almighty.

His last performance was of Number One, a song which is expected to be one of the biggest hits in town soon.

He also used the opportunity to disclose that there is no looking back for him as far as music is concerned and that he is eagerly looking forward to devoting his time fully to it once he rounds off his course in Media and Communication Studies.

Ailemen

elen Ailemen a model and actress is putting finishing touches to her plans to hold Miss Brighter Future beauty pageant in Lagos.

According to the leggy beauty that is in demand herself for both runway and photo modelling, she decided to organise MBF to affect society positively and to help ladies like her make their dreams come true.

“The idea for MBF came to me for two reasons. One is that ladies are always coming up to me to ask how they can become super models. And the other is that I was once a beauty queen, Miss Independent, so I know the benefits of being a beauty queen. It opens doors and I wouldn’t be what I am today if not my beauty queen reign.”

Still speaking about MBF, she claimed it’s unique because “we won’t send the contestants away after the pageant but start grooming them all to become world class models. It’s not only the contestants that will benefit from this opportunity.

Several of the girls who put in for the pageant but don’t make it to the finalist stage will also be chosen for this special grooming.”

P-Square unfazed by purported May D legal action

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t seems the last has not been heard of the P-Square, May D imbroglio. Reports have emerged that the former business partners are headed to court to settle their differences. The court option is reportedly being championed by the latter who is allegedly aggrieved at how he was treated by the famous twins.

But when reached on phone to comment about the purported legal action, P-Square’s publicist, Square Image Associates, not only claimed ignorance of it but denied its existence.

“We are not in court with May D. There is nothing to go to court about. That’s all we can say at this juncture.”

May D flanked by P-Square

Now Muzik premieres Crystals’ debut

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igeria’s Premiere artiste management company Now Muzik, has released the debut single of 2012 Star Quest winners - Crystals Band titled Gbe Sun Mo Mi. The hit single which was produced by renowned producer OJB Jezreel is a certified ‘club banger’.

According to Anthony ‘Don T’ Anifite’ of Now Muzik, “it has been a delight

working with such energetic and talented young entertainers. They exhibit a high level of commitment and are currently working tirelessly on their album project”.

The band was formed in fame land during the competition in April 2012 and it consists of one male rapper (Ugwudike Romeo), two female lead vocalists

(Aluebho Civian, Afolayon Atinuke), a drummer (Oghenakhogie Emmanuel), a keyboardist (Onibudo Daniel) and a bass guitarist ( Inyang Godwin).

Having signed to Now Muzik, they have performed at shows including, but not limited to, Nigeria Star Trek in nine cities across the country and the anniversary of Metro FM.

Silva

Joke Silva for Great Women Lecture

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s the Great Women Independence Lecture 2012 approaches, seasoned actress, Joke Silva, has been named among the influential women who will be speaking on issues affecting womanhood and the way forward at the event.

The actress, alongside others, is expected to speak on the topic: Sustaining the gains of women in leadership. The conference is to hold on October 27, 2012 at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Explaining the rationale behind her choice for the lecture, Laurelsize Company, the organisers of the event said she was picked based on her unprecedented success in the entertainment world.

According to them, she is to be joined in the lecture by erstwhile Information Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili, Dr. Keziah Awosika, Barrister Comfort Ogunye, Mrs. Adenike Graig, Chief Mrs. Laraba Shoda, Susan Eyo and many others.

The special guest of honour for the event is her Excellency Chief Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, the first lady of Ekiti State.

The event is designed to celebrate Nigeria’s 52nd independence, womanhood and sustainability.

Also the brain behind the famous Great Women Award, the organizers said its major dream is to keep supporting women as they are the stronghold of our homes and the nation at large.

In time past, notable Nigerians such as Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Ogun First Lady Mrs. Amosun, Barrister Ada Akpunonu, Bukky Wright and Joke Silva were also recipients of the award.

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September 15, 2012

Woman

y r e v a s I wa d l i h c n r o b stub o r a b g O o – Eg For 12 years, everyone, including Lagbaja, her boss, enjoyed her sonorous voice. One day, however, she decided to call it quit and this shocked everyone. It’s been some four years now and Ego Iheanacho-Ogbaro kicks on. The beautiful and petite singer spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on her growing up years, her journey into the music world, marriage and life after she left the ‘masked one.’ Excerpts:

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hen you left Lagbaja four years ago, some believed you had a problem with him? What happened?

Not in any way. We had a good relationship and we still have. He was not just a good boss to me; he was a brother and a mentor. We were friends and still are. My decision to leave the band, not him, was to move forward in my own music career. There were no hard feelings. Like I said, I only left the band, I didn’t leave him. You all know that when an apprentice stays with his master, he eventually graduates to go and practise on his own.

That was the scenario between us. We had no fight or quarrel.

Many must have thought getting married would disrupt you music career?

That would be a wrong conception.

Music is my passion and my husband and others around me know this perfectly well. My husband has always given me his full support, so, my marriage can never be a hindrance to the success or continuity of my career.

How would you describe the journey since 2007 that you left the Crooner band?

I will say it has been tough. But what does anyone expect? Leaving one comfort’s zone is never an easy thing. I’d been with the Crooner band for a decade and some years; I was used to their style; I was at home with my job; I had lots of followers, admirers and fans because of what I did. The thought of leaving alone was scary, painful and hard to take. All the same, it was something I needed to do. It was a step I must take. One thing that helped me was my excitement about the future. I was eager to do my own thing and I was certain of its success. This helped me a lot and really, it has kept me going. As I have said earlier, it is not easy to leave a place one has enjoyed for long and for years, especially people you understood and the ones who also understand you well. But if an apprentice will not strive to work towards his graduation, he will be referred to as a laid back person. I am not, so when it felt so painful to go, I knew it was important to let go of emotions. The more I felt like questioning my reason for leaving that is the more the thought of condemning my action, the more urge I had to move on. I have established Indigo, my own band, and I thank God for how He has been helping me.

Did you study music or at what point did you realise your musical gift?

Although I have always been familiar with music right from my childhood, I never thought I would make any career out of it. I did not study music in the university neither did I go to any music school, even to learn about it. I grew up, like I said, in an environment where people sing and listen to good music. That was all. God has only helped me to discover my in-built talent. But I have always loved music as a growing child. When I left the secondary school, it was more or less my hobby. All the while I was growing up, I love music but I never took it so seriously as to have thought it would become a source of income to me. It was when I joined Colour band which later became Lagbaja’s band. It became something worthy of being taken seriously. Then, I started going for shows

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and I was making money from it. I was like, so, this simple thing could be as much rewarding. I paid more attention to it and since then, I have invested time and other resources to it. It has been worth the while.

How simple would you say the music profession is?

When I said simple, I did not mean that it was an easy career to come by or to delve into. What I meant by that is that in my own particular case, music is a talent for me. I was born with it and honestly whatever success that might have come from it to me was not something I really worked for as much as people work for it and other careers. I mean, before you will become a doctor, pharmacist, banker and even a professor of any chosen field, you must have burnt lots of candles, had ceaseless vigils and so on. But I was only made to discover it within me, tap into it and make money and fame with it. This is why I will continue to bless God because I didn’t work for this but He has seen ahead of me and bestowed upon me a gift that would make life beautiful for me. Music is not an easy career to delve into, there are many people involved in it.

So, to make a name or keep your head above waters is surely a serious work.

I don’t have to state how the number of young and good musicians whose first album struck everyone when it was released and what has become of them now. It is not easy; it requires a lot of hard work, focus and strong determination to succeed.

From whom would you say your musical influence came from?

My mother is first. She loves music very much and I guess I got this from her. Other artistes that inspire me back then were Chris Okotie, Onyeka Onwenu, Michael Jackson, Boney M, Dede Obi, Abba, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and so many other respectable ones who have actually made a huge success of their musical career.

What kind of a child was Ego? I was a very stubborn child, I am still because I always want to have my way. I can also tell you authoritatively that I was a lively child; I am still a lively girl. No matter how stressful a particular situation was, I just kept on, I never allowed it to weigh me down. Simply put, I was a happy-golucky girl.

Can you say that you still possess these attributes?

Yes, I still do. I am still very lively; I guess people around me can also attest to this. And I still won’t allow any troublesome situation to get me depressed.

As a married woman, do you still push to have things your way?

It’s my nature, but you know this don’t come to be because I am joined with someone the entire world and heaven describe as my head, my boss whom I should love and respect. Well, he knows my kind of person, he loves me for who I am and we have a way of

WOMAN

September 15, 2012

dealing with issues as they come. I respect him as a husband, friend, lover and a brother. He will go out of his ways to please me and I try my best to do same. Speaking factly, there are so many traits that one needs to force herself to drop if a marriage must succeed. This I know and have kept in my left hand, so I don’t use it to eat.

What is style to you?

It is a way of life. A way a person chooses to appear and be perceived.

My style is bohemian. You know the bohemian style in the fashion world has individualistic peculiarities, it allows the wearer to express herself in a particular way that is simply different from others. The bohemian style is free-spirited, so, it allows not just a free expression but free movement with which you can express more glamour. I don’t copy people and I am not crazy about the existing fashion item or whatever on the fashion scene, I appear in those things that suit me and make me exude confidence wherever I find myself. Whatever conclusion you make, I believe it should come from a person’s total appearance. I mean the hair, the dress or shoes must not be taken in isolation. A person’s style must come from his or her total outlook.

For about seven years now, you have been stuck to dreadlocks.

Why? Like I said, my style is free-spirited. This particular hair style gives me a high level of freedom when it comes to maintenance. Locks is easily maintained. I can wash it by myself, I can style it anyhow I like, it’s simply perfect for me. Mind you, it does not mean I will wear this permanently; I may decide to change to something else tomorrow. But right now, this is what I love. I chose this particular style to express my kind of music and the kind of life I want to live - a bohemian life, a kind of life that actually comes from the mind.

What is that fashion item you can’t do without?

It is wristwatches. I love wrist watches more than I love dresses. I can’t go anywhere without it, I will feel incomplete; I believe it adds elegance to my outlook.

What advice do you have for young women like you?

I would advise that they see themselves as work-in-progress, especially for those who are in one career or the other. If they are married, they should not allow their fame to get into their heads, they should not allow it to come between them and their husbands and his families.

They should give adequate attention to both and seek his advice and opinions on the steps they want to take.

If they have children, they must be there for them always as they we will all give an account about them one day when we face God. Besides, if we train them well, we will have peace of mind just as the society at large will, too.

25

Keeping ABREAST

Illicit Drug Alert: Woman loses arm to flesh-eating bacteria from bath salts

Meth on the first day

A

New Orleans woman’s experiment with the illicit drugs dubbed “bath salts” cost her her arm -- and nearly her life -- after she was ravaged by flesh-eating bacteria that invaded an injection site.

The 34-year-old woman, Meth Orchins showed up at a Louisiana hospital complaining of pain and redness on her right forearm, where there was a puncture wound the woman admitted was a needle stick. She said the symptoms started two days after she injected bath salts at party.

Doctors gave her strong antibiotics for a skin infection and she seemed to get better. Two days later, however, the patient was still in pain. On closer examination, doctors discovered growing redness, sloughing skin and a smelly drainage, the report said.

Suspecting a growing infection, doctors immediately sent the woman into surgery. They quickly discovered dead

Meth shortly before the surgery

muscle surrounding the injection site in her forearm, and an infection moving so fast doctors could see it killing healthy tissue in its path, the report said.

The damage spread so fast that by the time she made it to surgery, doctors had to remove her entire arm, shoulder, collarbone and breast to save her life All over the world, sound warning have been made to ban bath salts as it has been related to necrotizing fasciitis caused by streptococcus bacteria. This leads to a dangerous flesh-eating infections that can kill quickly, with victims requiring surgery within an average of 25 hours of admission in order to survive, according to one study.

“The best treatment is prevention with public, street-based education and early detection,” wrote the lead researcher.

Culled from Hivehealthmedia.com

Benefits of cancer screening outweigh the risks –Research

T

he benefits of breast cancer screening programmes far outweigh the risks, according to research.

Screening saves thousands of lives even though it also results in many women wrongly being told they have tumours.

Recently the effectiveness of this screening programme has been called into question, with several high-profile scientists claiming they cause more harm than good.

Now a study has concluded that the benefits of the X-rays far outweigh the risks - which can include healthy patients needlessly having to undergo distressing surgery or chemotherapy.

‘It reports results from screening millions of women, and confirms that the screening services are delivering the benefits expected from the research studies conducted years ago.

‘In particular, it is good news that lives saved by screening outweigh over-diagnosed cases by a factor of two to one.’

It concluded that for every two women saved by the scans, one would be wrongly diagnosed.

This hugely detailed, impressive piece of work supports the widely held view that breast screening saves lives by helping to detect breast cancer early.

Culled from mailonline

26

September 15, 2012

Parenting

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Help your child prepare for back-to-school

I

t is time to get ready for a new school year. Buying notebooks and scoping out sales is the easy part. There are less tangible things you can do as well. Here are nine ways you can help your child - and yourself get ready to go back to school.

1

. Re-establish school routines Use the last few weeks of the holiday summer to get into a school-day rhythm. “Have your child practice getting up and getting dressed at the same time every morning,” suggests school psychologist, Kelly Vaillancourt, MA, CAS. Start eating breakfast, lunch, and snacks around the times your child will eat when school is in session. It’s also important to get your child used to leaving the house in the morning, so plan morning activities outside the house in the week or two before school. . Nurture independence Once the classroom door shuts, your child will need to manage a lot of things on his own. Get him ready for independence by talking ahead of time about responsibilities he’s old enough to shoulder. This might include organising his school materials, writing down assignments, and bringing home homework.

Even if your child is young, you can instill skills that will build confidence and independence at school. Have your young child practice writing her name and tying her own shoes. . Create a launch pad “Parents and teachers should do whatever they can to facilitate a child being responsible,” says Pfleger, who was named School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association in 2012.

At home, you can designate a spot where school things like backpacks and lunch boxes always go to avoid last-minute scrambles in the morning. You might also have your child make a list of things to bring to school and post it by the front door. . Set up a time and place for homework Head off daily battles by making homework part of your child’s everyday routine. Establish a time and a place for studying at home. As much as possible, plan to make yourself available

2

during homework time, especially with younger kids. You might be reading the paper or cooking dinner, but be around to check in on your child’s progress. . After-school plans School gets out before most working parents get home, so it’s important to figure out where your children will go, or who will be at home, in the afternoons. You might find an afterschool programme through the school itself. If possible, try to arrange your schedule so you can be there when your child gets home during those first few days of school. It may help your child adjust to the new schedule and teachers. . Make a sick-day game plan Working parents also know the trials and tribulations of getting a call from the school nurse when they can’t get away from the office. Before school begins, line up a trusted babysitter or group of parents that can pinch hit for each other when children get sick. And make sure you know the school’s policy. You may have to sign forms ahead of time listing people who have your permission to pick up your child. . Attend orientations to meet and greet Schools typically hold orientation and information sessions before the start of each academ-

5

6

7

ic year. These are good opportunities for you to meet the key players: your child’s teachers, school counselors, the principle, and most importantly, front desk staff. . Talk to the teachers Of course, teachers are the reason your child is there.

When you talk to your child’s teachers, ask about their approach to homework. Some teachers assign homework so kids can practice new skills while others focus on the accuracy of the assignments they turn in. Ask for the dates of tests and large assignments so you can help your child plan accordingly. For instance, if you know a big test is coming up on Friday morning, you will know to keep things simple on Thursday evening. . Make it a family affair Together, you and your child can plan for success in school. For instance, sit down with your child to create a routine chart. Ask your child what she wants to do first when she first gets home from school: play outside or do homework?

Her answers go on the chart.

The more kids have ownership in creating a routine for themselves and setting expectations, the more likely they are to follow it.

8

9

•Culled from WebMD

3

Tiny Feet

4

NAME: Oluwaferanmi Ayomide Ogunrinde BORN TO: Mr. & Mrs Eniola Ogunrinde AGE: 8 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.5kg

Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

ParentingUpdate

First child to receive stemcell trachea transplant doing well after two years

O

n the day he was born, Ciaran Finn-Lynch’s lungs collapsed and he was rushed to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, where he was diagnosed with long segment tracheal stenosis, a condition which leaves sufferers with a very narrow windpipe and difficulties breathing.

At six days old, Ciaran underwent major surgery to reconstruct his airways, remaining in intensive care for a further four months.

When Ciaran was two-anda-half, a metal stent used to hold his airway open eroded into his aorta, causing airway bleeding. He underwent more surgery to replace the damaged part of his trachea with part of a donor trachea, and was finally able to leave hospital after eight months.

In November 2009 a metal stent began to erode into Ciaran’s aorta, again causing a severe bleed.

In March 2010 he underwent the pioneering transplant, just four weeks after a donor trachea was found in Italy.

The donor’s organ was combined with Ciaran’s own stem

cells at the Royal Free Hospital, and couriered to Great Ormond Street Hospital. This procedure was Ciaran’s only option, and was the first to be performed in a child.

The follow-up of the procedure, carried out in 2010 at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), shows that the new organ has strengthened and does not appear to have induced any signs of rejection. The 13-year-old boy from County Down in Northern Island has continually to breathe normally, grown to 11 cm in height and has returned to school. He does not require any anti-rejection therapy.

The two-year follow-up shows that the graft has not triggered any immune rejection response in the patient and has formed an adequate lining. The windpipe has not yet achieved normal rigidity but, nonetheless, is allowing Ciaran to lead the life of a normal teenager. The team expects that his body’s natural tissue repair mechanisms will continue to strengthen Ciaran’s trachea over time.

•Culled from www.singularityhub.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

September 15, 2012

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

P

arties come time after time but they’re always special! To have maximum fun at your next party as you will be at the center of attraction, you need to consider these tips: 1.

Don’t be afraid to wear bright colours.

2.

Cast your inhibitions aside and slide on a sexy frock or romper in hot pink, electric orange, or even neon yellow. It’s your night, do it to it!

3.

If you just want to go for a suggestion of colour, try a little black dress with a lovely bright

hued shoe.

4.

Wrap yourself up like the gift you are, and present yourself like a stylish treat.

5.

You don’t need it all hanging out, but you can be a little daring with a slightly sheer top or a high hem.

6.

Shimmer and sparkle, it’s your night!

7.

Light it up in lovely sequins or beaded embroidery.

The point is to show out and wear something that’s fun and reflects your personality

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

28

STYLE & GLAM

Fashion Frenzy

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Before you wea YEMISI ADENIRAN

T

ube wears are you’ve got a gr straints you nee

Assess your ch cordingly

Small-busted wome need serious underga tage. Your natural sh dress.

Look for bonin

A proper, quality-in

BEAUTY

Q&A

Your candid response to all fashion questions I’m the Maid of Honour in my best friend’s wedding and the dresses she picked out are strapless. I feel uncomfortable in strapless dresses because they give me a bulge by my armpit. I have been weight training and doing cardio religiously for years now, but have never been able to get rid

of this “armpit fat.” How can I tone that up? – Stephanie.

Your problem is not uncommon with many women. First, let me just discuss the exercise portion of the equation and then we can go into what could be the underlying problem. Let’s start with the resistance training aspect of your programme. For your objective of decreasing

body fat a sistance t an expert If the f pist, you

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 15, 2012

ar the tube dress

sexy; they’re bold but are tricky unless rip on the proper fit. Here are some reed to consider before wearing one:

hest and support yourself ac-

en find tubes easier because they don’t arments, but a curvy figure is an advanhape reinforces the construction of the

shape even on the hanger. “No shapeless sacks!”

Wear a bra

STYLE & GLAM

29

Facelift

Even if a dress has plenty of infrastructure, spilling over could be a possibility. If the dress alone is providing you with support, that’s risky. A push-up bra with an underwire technology and plenty of room will make you feel comfortable.

Check for slippage When you’re in the dressing room, raise your arms and bend over to make sure you don’t fall out. Sit down to test for comfort.

Scrutinize your rear view: An ill-fitting bodice can pinch the skin, causing bulges at the back and sides.

Long, luxurious hair

ng on the bodice

nfused tube outfit retains an hourglass

and maintaining/increasing lean muscle mass, metabolic retraining circuits are probably your best solutions. A visit to t will just be the best. fat is still visible after you have consulted your physiotherashould not be discouraged from going ahead with your pro-

L

gramme. You can get a transparent, net-like fabric that goes with your skin colour to wear underneath your strapless dress. Just ensure that it is an elastic fabric that will hold your excessive armpit fat very firm throughout the event. You may begin to wear it even before the event as a means of keeping the area fit and firmer.

ong, vibrant and healthy hair is a woman’s pride any day. Growing it, however, is a luxury and can be at the same time determined by genetics. But if these guidelines will be strictly adhered to, it can become a dream-come-true.

1 Start hair growth on a healthy head of hair. Trim split ends. Damage travels up the hair shaft if it is not trimmed early. Hair products that claim to stop hair damage only seal the ends temporarily.

2 Wash hair once a week to remove oil buildups that block the hair follicle. Washing every day dries out the hair cuticle.

3 Use moisturising conditioners to disentangle hair. Rinse conditioner with cool water to make the cuticle lay flat. This prevents damage and adds shine.

4 Use hot oil treatments at least once per month if you have coarse or curly hair that tangles easily.

5 Do not brush hair while it is wet because it promotes breakage when hair is most delicate.

6 Allow your hair to air-dry or wet-set it on smooth plastic rollers, and sit under a hood dryer in lieu of blow drying.

7 Avoid drying bleach, peroxide and dye.

Cover gray hair with henna. It is available in shades from red to black and adds healthy volume to the hair shaft.

8 Substitute steam rollers for hot irons or use thermal heat protecting sprays before flat ironing or hot curling hair.

9 Cover your hair with a swim cap to avoid the drying effects of swimming pool chlorine or sea salt.

10 Wear your hair in a style that reduces the need for daily styling and limits exposure to sun rays and wind. Braid your hair, or wear it in a loose ponytail or bun. Tightly pulled ponytails and buns add stress to the roots of hair.

11 Reduce or avoid the use of chemical relaxers or curly permanents.

13 Cover your hair with a silk or satin scarf or cap before lying down. Friction with bed clothes may cause damage to your hair.

14 Do not use tight rubber bands, metal hair jewelry or any clips that pull or snag your hair.

30

STYLE & GLAM

September 15, 2012

Model Juicy and attention-giving as the modelling career is, Atueyi Uju, a young and aspiring model is bent on gaining academic excellence. ‘I will not compromise my education for modelling, no matter the financial gain,’ she tells YEMISI ADENIRAN in this interview.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Trendz

‘I won’t be carried away by fame’

H

ow did you get into modelling?

All the while, my parents said I had always loved to be at the centre of attention and when I began to grow up, I confirmed this by my activities in school since my primary school days. I was always part of all the beauty parades, cultural shows and so on until people around me began to tell me what all of these were about – modeling.

Have your parents been in support of this?

Yes, they have been. My parents are liberal-minded as long as we, their children are conscious of lifting up the good reputation of the family. They are exposed and ever ready to give their support to whatever thing that is decent and profitable. They have stood solidly behind me and this is helping me greatly.

How do you plan to combine this with your education?

Well, I don’t intend going into it fully while in school. I have told my parents that my education will come first and that I will stick to it. During vacations, I may try to do one or two jobs if it will also not coincide with my studies. I believe there is time for everything and that with God, all things are possible.

No matter how famous this career made me, I have made up my mind not to be carried away.

I will not compromise my education for modelling no matter the financial gain.

Who are your role models?

Watching Naomi Campbell while I was in secondary school greatly inspired me. Oluchi Orlandi is another role model I treasure so much.

What are your physical attributes that you think have been giving you an edge over others?

My greatest assets are my legs and my shape that people say is sexy.

YEMISI ADENIRAN

A

nkara manufacturers and fashion designers have found an answer to the yearnings of lovers of eclectic African wax print in what they tagged street couture, an interplay of beautiful designs and colours.

Colour is powerful; colours are fraught with symbolism, and cultural influences. The Ankara fabric itself is blessed with raw, geometric lines, traditional wrap shapes, bold metallic studs and edgy industrial hues that come to create a truly modern vibe that adorns the image of the wearer.

Latest colours range from earthy browns, brassy gold and bronzes, to brick reds and shocking pinks, and fresh acid blues and greens.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

September 15, 2012

Male Essentials

08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@yahoo.com w

Why not a colour block? G

one are the days when wearing mismatched colours was seen as a fashion faux pas. Nowadays, it is definitely cool and trendy to wear as many colours as you like without fear of being seen as unfashionable. Presently y, you y can wear as many colours as you like and d you won’t be seen as causing a ‘colour riot’.

Rather, you will be seen as colour blocking R and you will be complimented for com for it. Frankly, colour lo ur blocking makes suave and mak akes you look loo ok appealing. pictures on app ppeal alin ing g. The Th he this some celebth his page off rities who have cor lour blocked tell you so.

So, why don’t you y start colour blocking colou ur too?

How to iron your shirts (2) St Step 2 Next you can iron the Yoke. Push the N tapered end of your ironing board into tape so that the yoke is flat across the sleeves s point. Pull the sleeves down to open the p the seams and keep the shirt flatter. up th Step 3 St You can then move onto the collar.

Yo Spread it out flat, give it a steam or spray Spre that the fibres are softer, stretch it out so th and then simply run the iron along it, making sure that you are pressing on mak heel of the iron. the h You don’t want a hard crease around Yo collar when it’s folded back in place, the c just press the iron on the centre back so ju the collar to help it keep its natural of th shape. shap Step 4 St When it comes to the main body of W the sshirt you can make the whole task much easier by doing up the collar. This muc will hold the shirt in place when it is pulled over the tapered end of the board pulle

and helps to keep the point nudged into the sleeve.

Iron the placket first – pull at the collar whilst running the iron backwards, this will open up the seams and keep it smooth. Slowly work your way around the rest of the body of the shirt, making sure that you are constantly steaming and pulling the seams to keep the fibres relaxed and the shirt tensioned – thereby avoiding ironing in more creases. *Top tip – Don’t wear your shirt straight away, let it cool down and dry out for a few minutes before you pull it on* Finally, when storing your shirts, make sure you leave them enough room to hang correctly – you don’t want to have to re-iron a shirt because it’s been crushed in your wardrobe. Do up a couple of the buttons to help it keep its shape.

Concluded

32

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Relationships

Domestic violence: Yes

I

t is a widely held assumption that women are always the victims and men are always the perpetrators in the act of domestic abuse and violence. What do you call the acts of a woman that is very quick to hold on to the shirt or tie of her partner in an argument or even is quick to slap or throw objects at her partner? Or say things that are of a very emotional nature which will affect the man in an adverse psychological manner? Unkind and very cruel words hurt and their emotional impact affects men more than they ever show their partners.

I once lived in a house where I had a couple as neighbours. The above question was one which we could never ask then because it became a daily occurrence for me to go separate the couple most times at night when I came back home from the office.

Yes, the husband was daily going through domestic abuse/violence because the wife was a very aggressive and violent woman and most of the root causes of the quarrels had to do with sex. At other times it was her acclaimed dislike for the man’s family coming to visit or even calling him on the phone that’ll lead to calls of the man shouting or screaming at the top of his voice that neighbours should come and separate them. That the man most times would claim he didn’t want to beat her, even when we almost always have to remove the halfnaked deranged wife off him, was proof that he was going through domestic abuse and physical violence, because he had bruises and other cuts to show that he’d passed through the shadow of the valley of death and he was already fearing his known evils.

You may laugh as you will and say that what I’m saying is fiction or that men like that are few and far between. You may also believe if you want to; that is, it is not possible for women to do such. Think what you will, but I want to assure you that even if most of the physical abuse or domestic violence a lot of men are going through are not so well known or openly discussed, a lot of men are going through them.

Very little is known about men who are in a relationship in which they are being abused or treated violently by women, and there are many reasons why we don’t know more about this. Firstly, the incident of domestic violence is seen by the society primarily as a crime against women, instead of seeing it for what it is, a crime against humanity and human dignity.

In addition, it has taken so long to create awareness through advocacy and support to encourage women to see it as a crime against their dignity that virtually nothing has been done to encourage men to come out too to talk about being abused.

To a lot of people, the idea that a man can even be abused or violated in a relationship seems very farfetched and unthinkable that most men will not even attempt to report the situation. Yet if we look closely at a lot of relationships, we will see through cracks of domestic violence and abuse perpetrated against men too.

The dynamics of domestic abuse and violence between both sexes are also different. The reasons given, the purposes for the act and the motivations are also often different that to understand the issues involved will take more than a half page in a national weekly to explain. The impact of the act is often different too. Most times, a man seen with a black eye or a cut is automatically assumed to have been in a fight with another man or may have been injured in an act that had nothing to do with a woman. And when some actually come out to report that they are being abused violently by their partners, most people that should help them are so astonished by the report that excuses are given for the act and the men end up feeling stigmatized.

The act of humiliating a man in front of other men by their partners can be more devastating than physical abuse and to most men, is the worst form of domestic abuse and violence anyone can ever perpetrate. So to answer the question above, I’ll emphatically say yes.

SEX TALK This column is x-rated

Want to boost your jiggle? Try these 1.

Be confident

etc. This is the sure-fire way Exuding confidence is the to better sex time and time sexiest thing any woman can again! do to turn on her man. Take control and be sure about 4. Engage in foreplay It’s easy to forget that what you want and how you foreplay is all part of your want it done. sex life. Make sure you have enough foreplay with 2. Enjoy each other’s your partner until you’re bodies Give each other compli- both ready for intercourse. ments. Paying special at- Prolong it by putting your tention to a person’s less fa- clothes on, go out for a drink vourite bits make them feel or a meal. Keep the evening desired and sexy. Body confi- going on as long as you can until you have to run home dence is sexual gold! for the most intense sex ever!

3. Talk.

One of the best sex tips is to tell your partner what you’re enjoying and why, what could be done to make the sex better; faster slower

5. Surprise your partner

Put on some sexy lingerie one evening after work and wait for him. Don’t let him touch you. Dominate and

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

RELATIONSHIPS

September 15, 2012

CHINWE ANNIE AMAECHI 07028684481 chinweamaechi@gmail.com

Can men be victims?

It’s possible

W

This column is x-rated lead him to the bedroom.

This column is x-rated

in front of him and slowly take off your clothes. Don’t allow 6. Drink coffee him to touch either Research has indicat- this will turn him on ed that a couple of cups even more. of coffee could well boost the female libido. 9. Choose the right Even if that’s not 100 music Having the right percent guaranteed, the caffeine will im- tunes playing in the prove your concentra- background can imtion - very important if prove your bedroom you’re getting hot and experience. The right steamy in the bedroom. rhythm will make your lovemaking far more 7. Turn off the TV enjoyable. Try Marvin You may love watch- Gaye’s Sexual Healing ing what your favourite for starters. soap opera characters are up to or even keep- 10. Warm and cold ing up with the latest kisses If you are kissnews on TV. But TV is a bit of a passion killer. ing or doing other Hit the off button and sensual things with pay attention to each your mouth, try popping an ice cube in other. your mouth halfway 8. Do a strip-tease through. The sensaIt doesn’t have to look tion as it goes from professional, as long as warm to cold will you move seductively drive him wild.

henever the issue off domestic d ti abuse/violence is discussed, our minds immediately tell us that the victims are women. However, the truth is that some men also experience the slapping, kicking, boxing, tongue-lashing, stabbing and the likes which a lot of women receive from their husbands. The reason why we hardly hear about these ‘abused men’ is simple – men are supposed to be the strong partner, the one in charge; therefore, a man’s admission that he is a victim of domestic abuse/violence will definitely not stir up pity, rather, almost everyone who hears his story will express shock, disgust and disrespect.

Let us see the definitions of different forms of abuse again: Verbal Abuse occurs when one person uses words and body language to inappropriately criticize another person. It makes the victim feel he/she is not worthy of love or respect, and that he/she lacks ability or talent.

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 recognized 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.

It is much easier to agree that a man can experience verbal and psychological abuse

ffrom his hi wife, if b but it seems unthinkable for one to imagine that a woman can physically or sexually abuse her husband. Whenever the topic of our discuss is thrown open, you hear answers like “how can?”, “impossible!”, “never!”, “of course not!”, etc. It just seems incomprehensible, right? How can a man just stand and watch his wife hit him without maiming her? How strong can a woman be to have the ability to physically abuse her husband without dying in the process? Well, I doubt that we can get honest answers because the men who suffer domestic violence hardly open up to discuss their experiences.

The general assumption is that men who are victims of domestic violence/abuse are weaklings. However, the reality which a lot of us have constantly failed to accept is that the highest place of vulnerability any person can suffer is within the marriage institution. No matter how strong you think you are, your spouse can make you display a level of weakness you never imagined. What point am I making here? It is quite simple: not all victims of domestic abuse/violence are weaklings.

If you ask a lot of women who have abusive husbands why they don’t fight back or use harmful objects on their husbands, they will tell you it’s because they love them (their husbands) or because they believe the abuse will end one day.

Some have no answers because they don’t even know why they don’t retaliate even when they know they are strong enough to.

In the same vein, quite a number of the men who experience domestic violence/ abuse do not to pay their wives back in the same coin, not because they are weak, but because they understand that women are not punching bags and that violence can never. As stupid as it may sound to you, this is a good reaction to domestic abuse; two wrongs don’t make a right. TThere are exceptions to every rule and the issue of domestic abuse is no exception.

Men who suffer domestic abuse are very unlikely to admit that they are victims.

They would rather keep the abusive acts of their wives to themselves, and if per chance, suspicious neighbours, friends or relatives confront them, they are quick to deny or explain the issues away. Let’s call a spade a spade; abuse is abuse, no matter who suffers it.

So can women actually be perpetrators of domestic abuse/violence against their husbands? Unfortunately, they can.

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September 15, 2012

Dear Igho

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Help, she has turned me into a nanny of my university education with the condition that I must live with her which I agreed to. Instead of fulfilling her promise, she turned me into a nanny; while she went back to school to advance her studies in her field. I begged her to enrol me in a computer training centre or hair dressing saloon but she refused. My problem now, is I go through emotional trauma whenever my mates tell me that they are now in the university. Please advise me, should I go back to my parents or stay with her.

Please, I need an urgent answer.

Worried girl.

Dear Aunty Igho, I’m a 19 year-old-girl. I completed my secondary education last year with the hope of gaining admission into the university this year through

legal means.

As a result of my parents’ inability able to afford the fees, before I finished writing my SSCE, a relative of mine promised to take care

Re: Tolerating a flirtatious partner Ma, I want to commend you on what you wrote recently about infidelity. In fact, you really got it. Every point you wrote about the flirtatious partner is really cor-

rect because it happened to me and we are now separated after he packed my property out of his house. I went to court to file for divorce after he beat me in the presence of my father; he even

Am I still a virgin?

D e a r Igho, I am a 17-yearold girl.

W h e n I was younger, around seven or eight years old, I was lured by two boys of about 12 and13 years to have sex with them not knowing what sex was.

I gave myself to them, but the act wasn’t for long though after the sex, I never experienced any bleeding and I have not yet started my menstruation. Since then, I have never had sex with anybody. Please I want to know if I am still a virgin. Please reply now.

Worried teenager.

Dear Worried teenager,

I must commend you for being virginity conscious; please, keep it up and ensure you keep yourself until you get married. I wouldn’t be able to tell if you are still a virgin or not because when some ladies get deflowered, they do bleed while others don’t. I’ll advise you go to a hospital and request a doctor or nurse help you check if your hymen is still intact. Please, in case it is broken, still keep yourself. When you do, you’ll remain a secondary virgin and your vaginal passage will be as tight as that of a virgin on your wedding night and while married. The utmost is keeping yourself; it’s the best gift you can give your husband.

Cheers!

Dear Worried girl, I really do understand the dilemma in which you are but I want you to know that you’ll pull through. Admitted, your aunt has not been and is not being straightforward but I’ll suggest you bring what is going on to the notice of your parents and other relations who can really intervene. If after doing this

wanted to kill me if not for God. Like you stated in your response to the person who wrote you, the judge said I caused most of the things that happened to me by tolerating his flirtatious attitude. Like you stated, the judge said no woman should tolerate a flirtatious partner. Thanks so much for leading people in the right path.

she yet refuses to fulfil her promise of sending you to school or at least to a computer school or learn a trade, I’ll advise you go back to your parents; at least, you were feeding and had shelter over your head while there.

I don’t know what part of the country you reside in because your letter to me didn’t indicate it but if your aunt still sticks to her selfish action of keeping you as a nanny while she adds value to herself career wise, I’ll advise that before leaving Lagos for your parents’ home, you decide on the exact trade you want to learn, know how much it will cost and call me. I, through Saturday Mirror will help you actualize that dream.

Even after learning a trade, you can still go back to school while supporting yourself with whatever skills you have acquired. Above all, take everything to God in prayers. He knows the end before the beginning thus will direct your path. Please, let me know how everything turns out; I’m particularly interested in your case. God bless you.

Need a God-fearing, mature woman for marriage Please help me publish my request. I’m Olumuya Ayobami Olaiya. I reside in Lagos and I’m into business. I need a God fearing, matured woman for marriage. She must

be a business woman, widow not divorcee, and live in Lagos. Interested women between the ages 32 to 55 years only can contact me on this line: O8O88668947.

Torn between my master and mother Dear Igho, I am into business but my feeling is not there because I was forced into business and now my mother is asking me to return to school. I am crying silently in my soul because I don’t know how my master will feel if I tell him that I want to quit the business. Please tell me the reality, what should I do?

Chuby, Lagos.

Dear Chuby, It’s so nice knowing that there are still considerate people like you in Nigeria who put others before them. But when it comes to decisions that will affect your future, please, without

throwing your conscience to the dogs, put your future before feelings. You already stated it; your feeling is not in what you’re currently doing because you were forced into it. So why not move over to that which you’ll love.

But let me ask, do you really want to go to school or you simply want to please your mum? If your answer is yes, then take the giant strides especially as you have people who are ready to support you. If no, please, discover exactly what you enjoy doing and go for it.

The greatest injustice you’ll do to yourself is to live your life according to the dictate of others and try pleasing them for the rest of your life.

Do you think they will do same to you?

As regards your master, when you have decided on what to do, see him personally in company of some of your relations; preferably the same people who handed you over to him to learn the trade, thank him, show genuine appreciation for the time spent with him and let him pray for you before you leave his presence. Your people should buy at least a bottle of wine when going to him, that way, though he’ll miss you, he’ll be happy that you have great regards for him. Even while in school, don’t be too far away from him, that way, he’ll be ready to assist you in whatever way whether you need it or not. Do let me know how it goes. Wishing you best ahead!

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EVENTS

September 15, 2012

35

Pomp as Oyinlola weds Olumide Last Saturday, former Miss Oyinlola Ajayi of the National Mirror was joined in holy matrimony with Mr. Olumide Oyebadejo of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Lagos. The event was attended by family, friends and well wishers.

The couple signing the certificate of marriage

Mrs. Feyisola Makinwa and father of the bride, Mr. Oyewumi Ajayi The couple at their traditional engagement.

Parents of the groom, Mr. and Mrs. Oludeinde Oyebadejo

L-R: Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, National Mirror newspapers, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the couple and Mrs. Tope Ayorinde

L-R: Editor, Sunday Mirror, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Editor, National Mirror, Mr. Seyi Fasugba, and Production Editor, Mr. Pade Olapoju The groom’s men, Lukman Ogunwolu, Idowu Oladejo and Gbenga Meshida

Head, Audit, National Mirror newspapers, Ademola Ishola (left), and Editor, Saturday Mirror, Gbemi Olujobi

L-R: Oyebola Ajayi, Ibukun Ajayi and Izehi Ajayi

Bride’s maids, Moronke Ojo, Sarah Oyeleye and Abimbola Kasali Photos: YINKA ADEPARUSI Ms. Olubusola Oyebadejo (left) and Mrs. Abosede Ogunsanwo

36

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 15, 2012

Segun

SEGUN ADIO

T

he dust generated by the murder of Dele Oroja, head of tricycle operators in Meiran, a suburb of Lagos, recently allegedly in the hands of a police officer is still far from settled.

At the No 3, Odu Oroja Crescent home of the deceased, wife and relatives of the Dele are still finding it hard to grapple with the stark reality that their breadwinner is no more.

There are a lot of gory tales to tell by those in the one room apartment of the Orojas. In what looked like a swap of fate, Dele who was allegedly murdered by a killer cop, identified as Biodun Adekunle, could be said to have laid down his life for that of his younger brother, Segun Oroja.

Segun, who drove the tricycle that Dele rode when he was shot, was meant to have suffered that fate but for his late brother.

Speaking with Saturday Mirror, Segun claimed that while he rode the tricycle towards the Meiran Junction beside the police station on the fateful day, in company with his late brother, he had no premonition that it was the last time he would set his eyes on his brother alive.

“When we approached the junction where the policemen used to collect their N50 from the operators of the Marwa ( as tricycles are called) I told my brother that he should give me money to give the policemen but he said they all knew him that they would not collect money from us. But when we got there, I was flagged down and asked for money.

My brother showed the policeman his face for recognition, but the man would not listen.

“I then came down also to join my brother when the policeman asked me to park off the road. What I saw was that the policeman just cocked his gun and threatened to shoot me if I moved,” Segun alleged.

But knowing what a trigger policeman could do, Dele reportedly advised

Living

Deborah

Obanubi

Murder of Keke Marwa driver

‘My brother offered to die in my stead’

When the unit head of tricycle operators at Meiran, Lagos State, Dele Oroja, was felled allegedly by police bullets last week, little did anyone know that he paid the supreme price for the life of another man: his younger brother. his younger brother to take to his heels and leave him alone to iron out the issue.

Segun continued: “After I had parked well off the road, the policeman ordered me to submit the papers of the Marwa, but my brother told me not to worry.

When the matter was degenerating into an argument, the policeman threatened to shoot if I go inside the Marwa, cocking the gun. At that stage, my brother urged me to run away and that I should leave him and the Marwa with them.”

Segun claimed that moments after he ran away from the spot, he heard two gun shots but never imagined that it was his brother that was being shot by the same policeman that had earlier threatened to shoot him (Segun).

Deborah, 18, is the deceased’s wife.

The widow, who could barely speak when Saturday Mirror visited her, murmured repeatedly that she was made a widow at her tender age.

“My husband was a gentle man and could not hurt a fly. He never quarrelled with anyone and that makes me wonder how he could be a victim of police bullets,” Deborah said in tears.

A neighbour of the Orojas, who claimed to have been sexually harassed by policemen attached to the division, Raimat Omotayo, is a nursing mother.

Speaking to Saturday Mirror, Omo-

tayo claimed that a policeman sexually harassed her even while she told them she just put to bed.

“About three months ago when I newly put to bed, I walked a friend of mine to the bus stop around 8:00pm. That was how two policemen with arms accosted me on my way back and asked me what I was selling. I replied him I annoyance that ‘what did I tell you that I am selling.’ The policeman replied, ‘you have breast and buttock,’ wanting to pinch my breast. I shouted but the policeman pressed my breast and said, ‘you claim you just delivered baby but there is no milk in your breast.’”

Omotayo further claimed that the policeman in question asked that she followed him to a hotel and gave her N2, 000 but she collected the money and went home, promising him that she would soon be back, but never to return to him.

Sanmi Obanubi also had a story to tell of his ordeal in the hands of the law enforcement agents.

Obanubi, 22, claimed that on Sunday, September 2, 2012, just four days before Dele Oroja’s murder, two policemen extorted N10, 000 from him while coming from where he works as a casual worker while on holiday.

Obanubi, an indigene of Ondo State,

told Saturday Mirror that while he walking home around 10:00pm, the two policemen accosted him and said they wanted to search his pockets and bag which he obliged them. Obanubi continued his ordeal in the hands of the cops from there, “In the process of searching my pockets and my bag, they brought out N10, 000 meant to be delivered to someone in my pocket. They brought it out and also seized my phone. But Obanubi claimed his phone was returned to him while the money was taken away as he watched helplessly.

Saturday Mirror could not get in touch with Chioma Ajunwa, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station as she was on leave.

But a senior police officer at the station, who craved anonymity, rebuffed the allegations, saying that Meiran area was a notorious place before now and that the criminals there and their family do not want too much police presence.

His words, “When people come with all these kids of allegations, let them come forward to substantiate them and point at the policemen they claimed harassed them. I tell you these are people that are not comfortable with police presence in this hitherto crime-prone area.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

September 15, 2012

37

Escaping the fangs of cancer Cancer, no doubt, is bad news. A very bad one.

However, it does not necessarily signify the death knell if certain steps are taken FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON reports.

D

ebbie Idiagbonya had always believed she was in good health until that fateful morning in May 2011 when she discovered a lump in her left breast while bathing. A lump! That was the beginning of her journey into the world of cancer.

“I had thought I was in good shape of health, until that fateful morning in May 2011, while having my bath, intuitionally my hand felt my breast and I felt something in my left breast.

“A lump? It couldn’t be! God, it just couldn’t be! This denial was, to say the least,” said Idiagbonya as she went down memory lane to recount her sojourn into the world of cancer.

As a medical technician, Idiagbonya said she had always been conscious of so many things including checking her breasts constantly for any lump.

“I’ve always been aware of the fact that cancer is real and it is important to always check because I know when it is at the lump stage, it is removable.

“On realizing that I have a lump in my left breast” she continued, “I went for a screening at the Cancer Prevention Institute at Ishaga very close to my office.

I did cervical cancer and breast cancer screening’ On screening, Debbie was confirmed to have a lump in her left breast and another one on her chest.

“After the screening, it shows that I don’t have cervical cancer but I have a lump growing in my left breast and one small one on my chest. I was advised to go for the FNA which is the Fine Needle Aspiration Technology and the doctor told me that there was no malignant cell found in the lump meaning that the lump I had was not cancerous. In June, I did the surgery to remove the lump in my left breast” However, two months after the lump surgery, Debbie further disclosed that the small lump detected in the chest grew big, even bigger than the one in the breast.

But because I have gone for FNA before, I didn’t bother to go for another one again, I just went ahead and do the surgery on the one on the chest and afterward did estology which I did not do for the first surgery I had. By the time the result came out in December last year, what was written on it was Invsersal Doctal Cassinoma and as at last year it was grade two. The worst had happened; I have cancer of the breast!”

Being a lively girl with the ability to smile even at the point of death, Debbie kept all her troubles to herself for fear of worsening the already terrible condition of health of her father who was paralyzed at the time. She started growing

Idiagbonya with her diseased breast

Adeoti survived cancer

skinny. But it was not for long.

“At a point, I couldn’t hide it anymore I had to tell my dying father and my mother the very unpalatable news. And you could guess their reactions, panic and frustration were written on their faces. This was in July. My birthday was 1st of August and that day, I felt the world would collapse and simply eat me up as I received a call from my younger sister while at work that my father had passed on. My father died perhaps out of the frustration of the news I had given him earlier on my state of health. It was such a trauma for me” At this point, Debbie became completely frustrated and helpless because raising N6 million within a span of two weeks considering her present circumstance was a total mirage.

“At this point I felt like dying and became so helpless. I told my best friend, Michella Jonathan, and she came to me

and told me that I could not keep this to myself anymore that I had to go public and fortunately because she is an online journalist and a blogger, she started the campaign with her blackberry phone with my picture where I was doing screening.”

Michella Jonathan shared with Saturday Mirror the ordeal they went through getting Nigerians to believe that it was not a scam.

“When I started the campaign, the response was really low because a lot of people thought it was scam but after a while especially when Ruggedman came to visit and I posted the pictures of him and Debbie on Twitter and Facebook, then, they started believing and response started coming. They started contacting us for assistance till we were able to complete the N6 million target” explained Michella.

However, they were able to raise the

N6 million for her surgery and Debbie has commenced her chemotherapy.

However, for Debby, like all cancer patient, her fear now is would she survive this? Cancer is a terminal ailment with very few survivors.

“I am just praying and urging Nigerians to please join their prayers with me so I could come out of this alive. I am very grateful for the massive assistance that has been rendered to me in the area of finance and all I need now is prayer” remarked Debbie.

That notwithstanding, there have been some survivors of this deadly disease. Some years back, Sola Adeoti the former Managing Director (MD) of City Express Bank and the daughter of Chief Adedoyin, the chairman of Adedoyin group of companies were once afflicted with cancer.

Recalling her experience, Adeoti said: “My ordeal wasn’t like every other because usually with chemotherapy the cells decrease, but not so in my case as I was told that instead of the cells decreasing and dying, the reverse was the case. The treatment was fuelling the cells! This was tragic and death seemed so certain. My oncologist told me the implication; and by the time I did my sixth chemo, I was told there was nothing that could be done anymore; my body could no longer tolerate any more sessions.

The cells had increased by 100 percent.

They told me they didn’t think I could survive any more chemo and there was no alternative treatment! So, I prayed, regained my strength and went back for more chemo. By then my thyroid gland had been thoroughly damaged and I just lost weight and became very skinny. At that point there was nothing the doctors could do, so I was discharged. I knew they had given up on me, but all I could ask for was a miracle. “God help me,” I prayed over and over again.”

Adeoti continued “after all said and done and death seemed inevitable, all I could ask Good for was a miracle and he sure did. Pastor Adeboye; my daddy in the Lord was contacted by my husband for help and after telling him that I had been sent home to die , the next day, Daddy came over to the UK, laid his hands upon me and prayed the cancer out of its roots. Two days later I went to see my oncologist and she confirmed that there were no more traces of cancer cells inside of me. She was astonished; she’d never had such a case before, she said. My response to her was “I serve a strange God!” Here I am today telling my story today.

Undoubtedly, being positive about the situation is one o the essential ingredients of surviving the deadly ailment.

Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu is also a cancer survivor and she noted that keeping a positive spirit is a key in overcoming the deadly ailment.

“However, it is pertinent to mention that by the time of confirmation of the malignancy, I had gathered myself, shut out emotions and was ready for whatever it would take to make me free of the affliction” she noted.

38

LIVING

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

...during her school days

Wunmi

How undergraduate fell to armed robbers’ bullets in Ogun It was to be a simple night out with her male friend but Wumi Adebayo never made it back to her residence. She became a victim of armed robbery. How come this 21-year-old was the only causality of a robbery raid of three houses at the Golden Estate of Ijebu-Ode Ogun State?

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

U

ntil the late hours of Sunday when she went to bed, Wunmi Adebayo, a 200 level undergraduate of English Language at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun in Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State never knew that death was lurking around the corner.

If she had known that acceding to her male friend’s request to spend the night at his Golden Estate residence would be the end of her, she would definitely have declined. She probably would have preferred spending the night in her own room and make the visit another day.

But Wunmi died while she was being rushed to the General Hospital, IjebuOde for treatment after she had been shot by armed robbers who invaded the house where she was passing the night.

Saturday Mirror gathered that Wunmi and her male friend whose name was given as Victor had decided to pass the night of Sunday 9 September, 2012 in the house of Victor’s friend, Kunle Budakas who lives at the Golden Estate in IjebuOde apparently to escape the punishment of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which had seized power.

The three of them were students of TASUED and occupants of Budakas’ compound are predominantly students of the same university.

At exactly 4a.m on Monday morning,

Wunmi’s corpse

a five-man armed robbery gang stormed the house; they coerced all the occupants to surrender their valuables which included money, laptops, GSM handsets, jewellery among other items which they carted away.

With Wunmi however, were expensive jewellery; wrist watch, necklace with pendant as well as a ring which were all made of gold. Having stripped her of her expensive GSM phone, the robbers demanded for her gold jewellery.

But the 21-year-old Wunmi would not release her prized possession to the marauders. She was said to have put up a stiff resistance. She raised the alarm which caught the attention of the leader of the robbery gang who barked out the order for her to be shot. The robbers obeyed their leader and opened fire on her.

The robbers’ bullets caught Wumi fully on the face shattering it.

With the assistance of the Vice Chairman of the Golden Estate’s task force, Omotayo Yinusa (a.k.a. Oluomo), Wunmi was rushed to Alajo Hospital within the estate after the robbers had left.

But the management of the hospital would not have anything to do with the wounded youn woman; she was referred to the state General Hospital where she eventually died.

Wunmi, who was described by her friends and associates as jovial and kind hearted was later in the day buried at Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State according to Islamic rites.

Prior to the raid on Budakas’ house where Wunmi was shot, Saturday Mirror gathered that the robbers had also raided three other houses in the area in an operation which was said to have lasted more than three hours.

The premises of one Arasa, a musi-

cian and that of one Aboki Ahmed were said to have been raided around 1a.m, while a Cherubim and Seraphim church where the robbers demanded for the church proceeds from that Sunday was equally raided around 3; 30am before they proceeded to Budakas’ compound where they killed Wunmi.

As if that was not enough, Saturday Mirror further learnt that the armed robbers returned for another round of operation again on Monday night and struck at the house of one Mama Lugo who sells turkey, chicken and other frozen foods within the same Golden Estate.

A car, Susuki Parelo of one of Mama Lugo’s tenants was said to have been stolen by the robbers.

The matter, however, had been reported at the Atan Police Station in Ijebu-Ode. As at the time of filling this report, Saturday Mirror gathered that four members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) who guard the estate have been arrested by the police following their refusal to honour invitation extended to them over the robbery incident that occur in the estate in which Wunmi was killed.

Speaking with Saturday Mirror, the State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the robbery incident as well as the arrest of the four members of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC), adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Ikhemefuna Okoye, had ordered a full scale investigation into the matter.

Adejobi, who emphasised that “every offence committed leaves a trace” however, stressed that the robbery has given the police a serious challenge to change “our tactics of operation and we are going to unravel it”.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

September 15, 2012

39

Ajuonuma

Levi’s elder sister crying at the funeral

Tears as relations, friends bid Levi Ajuonuma farewell CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

I

f tears could bring back the dead, then the former NNPC Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma, would have returned from the land of the dead yesterday with the torrent of tears from relations and friends as he was buried in his home town Eke Awalla in Isiekenese, Ideato South LGA of Imo State.

Ajuonuma was among the victims of

the last 3 June, 2012 DANA airline crash that occurred at the Iju area of Lagos killing 153 passengers on board and many other people on the ground.

His body arrived his compound in a Mercedes Benz ambulance with plate number TOS 7 around 2pm. On sighting the vehicle bearing the remains of the NNPC spokesman, sympathizers who came from far and wide wailed and wept profusely for the departed NNPC spokes man.

Preaching a sermon at the funeral service, Pastor Ezekiel Jimoh of the Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM) enjoined

people to always do things they could be remembered for when they are gone.

He urged the bereaved family to never weep like people without faith but to always put God first in everything they do while alive.

Speaking earlier, the elder brother of the deceased, Chief Emmanuel Ike Ajuonuma, expressed sadness on the death of his Levi whom he said should have been alive to look after him and the entire family.

He described the lifting of the suspension of DANA air line by the Federal Government as unfair to the families of

the victims of the air crash despite their protests.

He denied knowledge of any involvement of the DANA air line authority in the burial arrangement, adding that the bereaved families are yet to receive any assistance from the airline.

In the same vein, the elder sister, Mrs. Chioma Paulin Nkachukwu, while expressing regrets over the death of her brother called for the proscription of DANA airline in the country. “That airline is not fit to go on air again in the country as an airline company.”

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Deziene Alison Maduaeke represented by the NNPC Director in charge of Finance, Mr.Benard Otti, said that they are in the state to complete the final leg of Levi Ajuonuma’s journey to mother earth.

He described his death as a great sadness adding that it should be a lesson to everyone on earth.

He advised the family to emulate Levi’s quality of life adding that the passion he had brought to his profession and the change he brought not only to the NNPC but to the oil industry all over the world would make one to believe that he had fulfilled the purpose for which God created him.

Policeman’s wife delivered of triplets

I accept wholeheartedly the magnanimity of God – Father NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

T

he Nigeria Police Force seems to be harvesting multiple birth children as the wife of Okwudili Mbah, a corporal attached to Idemili Divisional Police Headquarters, Ogidi, Anambra State, gave birth to a set of triplets on Thursday, September, 6.

This is coming on the heels of the birth also of a set of triplets by the Olympic gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Meiran Police Station, Lagos.

Though the babies, two males and a female, were delivered through a caesarean operation at the Grace Specialist Hospital and Maternity, a private hospital based at Nkpor, near Onitsha, their father, Mbah said he accepted wholeheartedly the magnanimity of God. Already, the triplets have been named Chibuikem (God is my strength) (male), Chimaobim (God knows my heart)

The Mbah triplets

(male) and Chinagolum (God is my mouthpiece) (female), even before they were discharged from the hospital on Monday, September 10, barely four days after their birth.

The Divisional Police Officer at Ogidi, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu, described the development as miraculous and thanked God that the triplets and their mother,

Mrs. Juliet Ifeoma Mbah, are in good health.

Uzuegbu disclosed that he had already asked officers and men of the division to make voluntary contributions for the upkeep of the triplets.

Another police officer at Ogidi, Tony Onah, praised God for blessing the couple with three bouncing babies at a time

and prayed that their health condition should remain stable as they grow, even as he solicited for financial assistance from individuals, groups and corporate organisations for the upkeep of the triplets.

Speaking to reporters at the hospital, shortly after they were discharged, the parents of the triplets, Mr. and Mrs. Mbah thanked God for giving them the bundles of joy as their third issue.

They disclosed that their first child, Chidera (what God has written) a male was born in September, 2007, while the second, Amarachukwu (God’s grace) (female) was born in March, 2010.

The medical director of the hospital, Prof. Nworah Obiechina, who gave them a clean bill of health, said their pre-natal medical scan showed only two babies in their mother’s womb, adding that during the delivery, he made preparations for the two shown by the scan, only to discover shortly after that there was a third one.

40

LIVING

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

O

n Wednesday, 12 September, 2012, Nigerians woke up to behold the bold and screaming headlines on most newspapers their electronic counterparts the mysterious birth of a horse by a woman in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The church, World Liberation Ministry International, where the reported birth of the beast took place is located on the old Benin—Sapele Road of the city.

Saturday Mirror also learnt that the new generation church which prides itself as the place for miracle seekers holds deliverance session every Tuesday. It was at the session held the previous day that the birth occurred. It was right inside the church.

According to reports that have been generating mixed reactions in the city, worshippers of the church were said to have taken to their heels during the session that the horse was delivered.

The woman reportedly screamed and bled profusely during an intense prayer session before delivering the animal. Although it was not stated whether she delivered with the help of any member of the church or birth attendants, the church’s General Overseer, Evangelist Silver Wealth Iyamu, said he was amazed at what came out of the woman.

He reportedly told journalists that during prayers a revelation came to him that there was a woman with an issue and that something was blocking her womb.

He was further reported to have said he couldn’t confirm whether the horse was dead or alive because he didn’t go near it.

“I can’t describe the object. We have seen people that vomited several things during our service but not this type of thing.

God has been blessing our ministry with prophesies and miracles,” he claimed.

As expected, the church premises has since turned into a Mecca of a sort as people continue to rush there to catch a glimpse of the church and its ‘wonder baby’ just as the situation has given way to rumours surrounding the pregnancy and birth.

One of such rumours is the claim that the woman had been barren for 11 years even as it was further speculated that she carried the pregnancy for a long time before giving birth in the church.

However, the identity of the woman who gave the strange birth has remained a mystery.

Also, curiously, no one has stepped forward to declare to have seen the woman or known her just as the head of the church has since refused to speak with the press or the public on the matter.

However, Jerry Uwaifo, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Chief Medical Director of Central Hospital in Benin City, debunked the claim, describing the reported birth as fraudulent.

He said it is not possible, biologically for a human being to give birth to a different species of animal.

Following the news report, the church auditorium, a 12x12 spaced sitting room, initially built as an extended shop or garage to a large building and which can hardly sit up to 50 people on single chairs, has since turned into a tourist site as miracle seekers, especially young and old barren women, jobless youths, wealth seekers as well as unmarried men and women have been flocking there since the Tuesday that the news broke out.

The ‘baby’ purportedly delivered

Controversy trails Benin mystery birth z Whereabouts of beast’s mother unknown z I need her more than you. I am expecting her – Pastor z Church turns tourists’ site The story, like a bad rumour, spread like wild fire in the dry season. A woman has given birth to a horse. However, that is what it has remained: a story. SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN tries to locate the mystery woman and her ‘baby’.

Edo State Gov. Adams Oshiomhole

When Saturday Mirror visited the church again on yesterday afternoon, our correspondent was not allowed, as usual, to see the General Overseer to respond to some questions that could have cleared the air on the matter.

A man who introduced himself as the Personal Assistant of the GO and who identified himself as Prince Onos Jon Ogbovoh said his boss was in prayer ahead of Friday’s All-night Prayer Programme of the church at Limit Road, its permanent

IGP Muhammed Abubakar

location under construction.

Efforts to speak with the General Overseer on his mobile telephone line proved abortive as it was switched-off. Replying the correspondent’s text message sent to his mobile telephone, Iyamu said, “I need her more than you. I am expecting her.”

Speaking with our correspondent, Ogbovoh confirmed that the church had no name, contact address and telephone number of the woman that gave birth in the church, contrary to the expectation of the

public. He said the pastor was however expecting the woman to come back soon for thanksgiving, which particular date and time he could not give.

Ogbovoh added: “I have been reading various reports since. I even watched a TV programme today on the issue casting doubts on the miracle. I called them later to speak with them. It is true. However, we don’t have the woman’s name and address because she came here like many people that come here to seek miracles and left thereafter. This type of miracle is very common here especially during our Tuesday and Friday prayer programmes. If you are still in doubt, I invite you to come to our all-night prayer today and see for yourself.”

A few of the church members (including a woman that granted a television interview) claimed to have recorded the video process of the birth with their telephones.

Some of them initially demanded N80, 000 from journalists before they could be given a copy of the recording, but Ogbovoh emphatically denied that the church has any recording of the birth on Friday.

Information about Evangelist Silver Wealth Iyamu, is scanty even as those who know him claim, however, that he is not new to this kind of controversy.

The allegation could not be confirmed however as Saturday Mirror could not meet him to ask him.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

September 15, 2012

41

My Wigan’s spell made a man of me, says Moses

V

ictor Moses reckons he is made for Chelsea after completing his transfer from Wigan.

The £9million summer signing has started only one match this season - ironically against the European champions for Latics on the opening weekend of the season.

But the former Crystal Palace star, who moved to the DW Stadium in January 2010, is finally in line for his Blues debut in today’s West London derby against QPR. “I feel like I am back home - I feel excited to be here again - but it has been good being away,” said Moses, who was born in Nigeria but moved to London at the age of 11.

“Playing at Wigan developed my character.

“Roberto Martinez is a great manager and he loves to play football. Having a manager like him encourages you to

play the football in the right way and carry yourself in a more professional way. It was great working with him.

“Even last month, Roberto (Martinez) was always talking to me to get the transfer speculation out of my head. He just wanted me to concentrate on the football.

“Now Di Matteo likes to play football the same way! They are similar. I think that will make it easier for me to adapt at Chelsea,” he said.

The Blues finally got their man with their fourth bid to add another young attacking force to their summer signings.

Moses knows he must fight to win a first-team place - and wants to make the same early impact in his Chelsea career as £32m Eden Hazard.

“He is pretty impressive,” he said of his fellow 21-year-old.

“He has still got loads to prove but you can see what he

has done in the three games he has played in the Premier League. He is a great player and he can make it even bigger than he has so far.

“I have played in the Premier League before - it is not my first time. When I do get my chance, I have just got to go out there and grab it.

“It depends where the manager is going to play me. I am comfortable playing anywhere up front. I just want to enjoy myself and play football,” Moses enthused.

He has been handed the No 13 shirt, which was previously worn by Germany superstar Michael Ballack.

“I kinda like the number,” Moses smiled. “Any number I get I am comfortable with. To get the 13 is great - God willing, it will be lucky.”

The closest former England youth player Moses had come to playing for his new club was

Moses is excited to be back in London, where he grew up.

sitting on the bench during the 4-1 UEFA Super Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid last month.

He was probably lucky not to go on.

“It was quite a shocking result,” he said, “but we won the Champions League last season so every team is going to want to come out and beat us.

“We had a bad game, but we have just got to move on and look at the next game.”

That next game is the highly-charged fixture with QPR. But, amid the pre-match tension, Moses will seek out two Rangers players - his former Palace team-mates Clint Hill and Shaun Derry.

“We will probably have a little chit-chat and see each other on the pitch,” he said.

Moses’ footballing education will continue with his Champions League debut against Juventus next week and then the Africa Nations Cup in January if Nigeria sees off Liberia next month.

But he said: “If you look at what Chelsea have done over the last five years - to be part of it is a great thing for me. They have won a few medals.

“If I can win more that would be great for me and the club.”

Culled from Mirror.co.uk

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Today’s Matches Norwich City v West Ham 12:45 Arsenal v Southampton 15:00 Aston Villa v Swansea15:00 Fulham v West Brom15:00 Manchester Utd v Wigan15:00 QPR v Chelsea 15:00 Stoke City v Manchester City 15:00 Sunderland v Liverpool 17:30 Sunday, September 16, 2012 Reading v Tottenham 16:00 Monday, September 17, 2012 Tango! Victor Moses (left) battles Mikel Obi in his final Wigan appearance against Chelsea.

Everton v Newcastle 20:00

SPORT

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September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Top 10 charitable football stars!

Footballers, all over the world, earn big money and are known for their extravagant lifestyles. Interestingly, some of them are devoting a large chunk of their earnings and time to charity works. In this piece, SAYO OGUNDEJI takes a look at some of them and their contributions to humanity.

Samuel Eto’o (Scholarships, health care and education)

S

Didier Drogba insp inspiring children in his native country, Cote D’Ivoire.

Didier Drogba (Hospital and peace in Ivory Coast)

D Michael Essien with a kid.

Michael Essien (Foundation to help children in Ghana)

idier Drogba is an Ivorian footballer who currently plays as a centre forward for Shanghai Shenhua and currently the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d’Ivoire national football team. The former Olympique de Marseille forward has given back to the society in so many ways and one of such is his charity organization called “Didier Drogba Foundation” a hospital situated in his hometown of

M

ichael Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Real Madrid, and on a season-long loan from Chelsea. He has been a symbol of hope and inspiration for many Africans with his Michael Essien Foundation (MEF).

The foundation aims to create opportunities and hope for the underprivileged in the Awutu Breku area through the provision of basic community amenities and opportunities for various groups through different projects and activities.MEF also provides basic necessities and medical care for the underprivileged youths in Ghana.

Craig Bellamy (Football foundation in Sierra Leone)

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raig Bellamy, a Welsh footballer who plays as a forward for Cardiff City and once captained the Welsh national team for four years after taking over from Ryan Giggs in 2007, but stood down in January 2011 due to injuries.

On 6 May 2008, Bellamy announced plans for the building of the Craig Bellamy Foundation for disadvantaged children in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He also visited the war-torn West African country and has invested £1.2m of his own money since 2007 to help build a not-for-profit football academy in the Kono region and, along with Unicef, a national league in a country where the existing top-flight league has been suspended due to lack of funds. The Academy aims to create a stable and positive environment to encourage development in three core areas – athletic, academic and personal – with each given an equal focus.

Kanu with some of the children in his foundation.

Nwankwo Kanu (Heart Foundation, UNICEF)

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ootball icon, Nwankwo Kanu, is undoubtedly Nigeria’s most decorated footballer. The former Super Eagles skipper started the ‘Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation’ in 2000, to help underprivileged African children and young adults living with different heart ailments in Nigeria and other African countries obtain the cardiac surgeries they need.

Recipients include young children who would not survive to see their fifth birthday without correctional procedures and many who would not live a normal life expectancy, without the surgery needed.

Abidjan. He set up the Foundation after a close friend, Stefan, died from leukemia.

As a result of his benevolence towards the poor, Drogba was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Goodwill Ambassador.

Jack Wilshere (Jack Marshall Brain Tumour Support)

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he Arsenal midfielder is the brightest young talent in English football. His support and donation to Jack Marshall, a young boy who was suffering with a terminal brain tumour made the difference in the life of the patient. Though Marshall finally lost his battle to the disease, but the Arsenal midfielder has kept close to the family and shared his sadness on Twitter.

Wilshere’s support of Jack Marshall and his Brain Tumour Fund undoubtedly raised the profile of Brain Tumours and without a doubt led to thousands of people donating towards Jack Marshalls fund and other related good causes.

Zinedine Zidane (Organised matches to fight poverty )

Z

inedine Zidane is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest footballers of all times and he is currently a Unicef Good Will Ambassador in the effort to end poverty all over the world.

He has organized matches in some of the poorest countries of the world like Bangladesh and playing a charity game to raise funds for the benefits of children suffering from AIDS in Thailand which certainly reflects what type of individual Zidane is. His charity work also included raising funds for earthquake victims in Algeria.

Dirk Kuyt (Foundation for disabled children)

D

irk Kuyt is far removed from the stereotype of the modern day Premier League footballer. The Dutchman may be living the dream, having made the remarkable journey from the small seaside town of Katwijk to grace both Champions League and World Cup

amuel Eto’o , a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a striker for Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala is known for his philanthropist gesture having establish many charity organizations across the continent.

Eto’o , who is the highest earning footballer in the world, at £350,000 per week under his current contract has his philosophy focused on increasing the living conditions, health care and education as well as encouraging social integration of not only Cameroonians but the entire continent of Africa.

finals, but he has never forgotten his roots.

Away from Anfield, his passion is the Dirk Kuyt Foundation, which has helped change the lives of children with disabilities from as far afield as Holland, Brazil, Nepal and Ghana since it was launched in 2006.

Ballotelli in company of some disabled children.

Mario Balotelli (Cash to homeless and helping bullied kids)

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espite his young football career has been characterized by mischief, Mario Balotelli, who plays for Manchester City and Italy, surely is humane after all.

Currently, he gives 50% of his salary to kids in Africa, which shows a little different personality from what people believe regarding him.

Billy Sharp (LJS Luey Jacob Sharp Foundation)

W

illiam Louis “Billy” Sharp is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest but currently on loan from Southampton. In October, 2011, the Southampton striker’s two day old son Luey tragically passed away from a condition known as Gastroschisis and the Luey Jacob Sharp Foundation was setup to raise awareness of the condition and support other families affected.

Just two days following the death of his two-day-old son Louie Jacob, Sharp netted a superb volley to open the scoring against Middlesbrough in the 14th minute. He celebrated by taking off his jersey, unveiling an undershirt that read “THAT’S FOR YOU SON” and was not awarded the usual yellow card by referee Darren Deadman for his emotional celebration.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EURO BRIEFS

Mancini waits on Aguero

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anchester City striker Sergio Aguero could return to action as the champions visit Stoke this weekend. Last season’s top scorer has been out since suffering a knee injury in the seasonopening defeat of Southampton at the Etihad Stadium last month.

Aguero

Fletcher back for United

S

ir Alex Ferguson has named Darren Fletcher in his squad for today’s match against Wigan Athletic as the Manchester United midfielder continues to make good progress. Fletcher has had a long spell on the sidelines due to a career-threatening bowel condition, but has been building his fitness in recent weeks and played 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek.

Howson eyes England call-up

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orwich City midfielder Jonny Howson is hopeful that a consistent run in the Premier League could boost his chances of an England call-up. The 24-year-old watched Roy Hodgson’s men beat Moldova and draw with Ukraine as team-mate John Ruddy sat on the bench as back-up to Joe Hart in their World Cup qualifiers.

Howson

Allardyce hopes for Noble deal

Di Matteo confirms Terry, Cole return C helsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed Ashley Cole and John Terry will be fit to play Queens Park Rangers today.

It will come as a welcome boost to Chelsea; with both players returning from ankle problems as the team look at retaining their lead in the English Premier League.

“They’ve recovered, had a couple of days training and we expect them to be available for today,” Di Matteo said.

In what promises to be a muchtalked about game, it could potentially see QPR defender Anton Ferdinand facing Terry for the

Allerdyce

first time since their court case in the off season.

The Chelsea captain was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence after a confrontation between the two players last season, with the England defender found not guilty.

His team-mate at club and international level, Cole, was called upon as a character witness by Terry’s defence team during the trial.

After opting not to conduct pre-match handshakes during the clubs’ second meeting of the season last term, Di Matteo confirmed they would go ahead on Saturday.

iverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he did not consider trying to bring Michael Owen back to Anfield.

The former England international was linked with a move back to Anfield prior to his switch to Stoke after the Reds failed to bring in a replacement for Andy Carroll before the close of the transfer window.

However, Rodgers claims the ex-Reds striker was never on his radar as he wants to give some of the young players at the club a chance to impress.

“Liverpool didn’t consider Michael Owen,” Rodgers said.

“If we didn’t get the targets that we hoped to get in the transfer window, I was going to go with what I had.

“There’s no point putting money into the academy and

A Di Matteo

Man City commences work on academy

Mancini

M

anchester City have began to work on their state-of-the-art academy which would be ready for the start of the 2014/15 English Premier League season.

The training facility will also be available to the first-team and will be built adjacent to Etihad Stadium on an 80-acre site, with BAM Construction, part of the Royal BAM Group, chosen

B

Rodgers

then not giving young players a chance. Look at the impact Raheem Sterling has made as a 17-year-old. All I’ve given him is an opportunity and he’s gone on and taken it.

“We’ve got a number of other young talents and hopefully over the coming months we can see them and see how they flourish.” as their construction partner for the project.

The City Football Academy as it shall be known, will provide a centre for up to 400 young players as well as housing the new training base for the first-team and operational functions.

Former Arsenal, Inter Milan and Juventus midfield Patrick Vieira, now a football executive at Manchester City, believes the project is not only a hugely exciting one but necessary in helping to shape the future of the club.

“What I find really exciting about the project is that before designing the facilities they have been to the football world, the basketball world and the NFL world, so a lot of hard work has been done around the project,” Vieira said.

“That is why I believe it is the best project around in all sports because people have spent a lot of time travelling around the world and trying to capture the best in every sport and bring it here.

43

Wenger demands commitment, cools Drogba talk

Robben: I Rodgers had no Owen interest need to be more selfish L

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am Allardyce is anxious to avoid a repeat of the lengthy talks with former goalkeeper Robert Green as he aims to tie Mark Noble down to a new contract at West Ham United.

Discussions over fresh terms for midfielder Noble have already been going on for some time, with his current deal set to expire next summer.

SPORT

September 15, 2012

ayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben believes he needs to be more selfish on the pitch to find his best form again.

The Netherlands international has received his fair share of criticism in recent years for his individualistic style of play.

But the former Real Madrid winger believes his selfishness is what makes him such a dangerous attacker.

“I have to return to the basics.

It might sound a bit strange, but I have to become more selfish again.

“I have to make individual actions and gain confidence.

Just go for it. I had a few moments during pre-season where I thought ‘that’s the old Arjen’.

“I never reached top form last year because I had adapted my game subconsciously,” Robben said.

Robben is doubtful for Bayern’s Bundesliga game against Mainz after he picked up a groin injury on international duty with the Netherlands.

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted his players must show total commitment - or else they must leave the club.

Wenger has already seen key players Robin van Persie and Alex Song exit in the summer, while full-back Bacary Sagna has expressed his frustrations with life at Emirates Stadium.

But the long-serving Gunners boss has a clear message for anyone who is not happy in their role at Arsenal.

“I believe any player or any employee always has to defend the company he works for. And if he is not completely happy with it, then he has to go somewhere else.

“That is basically what I think.

That is what I say to everybody. It is also important you understand what people feel about the club and their job. It’s always important to have good communication with them,” Wenger said.

He has also stressed that he has no intention of trying to lure Didier Drogba back to England from China.

Drogba left Chelsea for Shanghai Shenhua on a lucrative free transfer in the summer after helping the Blues win the UEFA Champions League in dramatic style at the end of last season.

Wenger, though, claims the Gunners are not preparing to go back into the market for the former Marseille frontman, who gave their defence so much trouble during his eight years at Chelsea.

Allegri backs banned Conte

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C Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri believes Antonio Conte’s absence is hurting Italian football.

Juventus coach Conte was handed a 10-month touchlineban earlier this summer for his failure to report two instances of match-fixing during his spell in charge of Siena, and Allegri struggles to comprehend how his colleague must feel.

“Conte? There are rules and they must be respected. I have faith in the law and the Federation. I admit that I feel sorry for Conte, though, and I really mean that,” Allegri said.

Wenger

“Conte’s absence is a real loss for the league.

“In these days I’ve been asking myself how Conte must be feeling, but I can’t even imagine it to be honest.

“I want to wish Conte good luck. Sincerely. It’s really a shame not to see him on the touchline.”

Juventus won their opening two Serie A games without Conte.

Massimo Carrera is in charge of the Serie A champions while Conte is suspended.

44

LEISURE

September 15, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

September 15, 2012

Dizziness

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efinition: Dizziness is a term used to describe everything from feeling faint or lightheaded to feeling weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo.

Dizziness is one of the most common reasons adults visit their doctors — right up there with chest pain and fatigue. Although frequent dizzy spells or constant dizziness can keep you from doing much of anything, dizziness rarely signals a serious, life-threatening condition. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms, but is usually effective.

Symptoms: Dizziness can usually be more specifically described as one of

the following sensations:  The false sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)  Light-headedness’ or the feeling of near fainting  Loss of balance or unsteadiness (disequilibrium)  Other sensations such as floating, swimming or heavy-headedness A number of underlying health conditions can cause these problems. Some of these conditions disrupt or confuse the signals your brain receives from one or more of your sensory systems, including your:  Eyes, which help you determine where your body is in space and how it’s moving  Sensory nerves, which send messages to your brain about body move-

ments and positions  Inner ear, which houses sensors that help detect gravity and back-andforth motion Causes: The way dizziness makes you feel — such as the sensation of vertigo, a feeling of faintness or feeling as if you’ve lost your balance — provide clues for possible causes. Specific triggers, such as certain activities or positions, may give clues as to the underlying cause of your dizziness. The duration of any dizziness episodes and any additional symptoms you feel can also help pinpoint the exact cause.

Vertigo: Vertigo usually results from a sudden or temporary change in the activity of the balance structures in your inner ear or in the balance structures’

connections into the brain. These connections sense movement and changes in your head position. Sitting up or moving around, may make it worse.

Sometimes vertigo is severe enough to cause nausea, vomiting and balance problems. But, the good news about vertigo is that it generally won’t last long.

Within a couple of weeks, the body usually adapts to whatever is causing your dizziness.

Causes of vertigo may include: A change in the position of your head, often when you turn over in bed or sit up in the morning. This is the most common cause of vertigo.  Inflammation in the inner ear.

Signs and symptoms of inflammation of your inner ear include the sudden onset of intense, constant vertigo that may persist for several days, along with nausea, vomiting and trouble with balance. These symptoms may be so severe that you have to stay in bed. It may be associated with sudden hearing loss.  Meniere’s disease. This disease involves the excessive build-up of fluid in your inner ear. It’s characterized by sudden episodes of vertigo lasting as long as several hours, accompanied by fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.  Feeling of faintness: Dizziness may make you feel faint and lightheaded without losing consciousness.

Sometimes nausea, pale skin and clamminess accompany a feeling of faintness. Causes of this type of dizziness include:  Drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). A dramatic drop in your systolic blood pressure — the higher number in your blood pressure reading — may result in light-headedness or a feeling of faintness. It can occur after sitting up or standing too quickly.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

LETTER

Dear Mirror Doctor, I had a child three years ago and my breast is so flat and my tummy is still protruding. I have also been urinating more frequently especially at night, drinking water a lot, and I have also emaciated. I have stretch marks on my tummy. I did not have my baby through operation. Please doctor, I need your help. +234816--------59 Mirror Doctor replies, Welcome to motherhood. Flat breast is not a problem as there are different ways to enhancing your breast. You may buy a very good ‘bra’ to give you the support and desired effect. As for the protruding tummy, in the absence of an underlying disease condition, exercises will suffice.

Next, the symptoms of frequent passage

I have flat breasts, stretch marks of urine especially at night, drinking plenty of water, and associated weight loss are in line with diabetes. It will do you good if you go to the hospital for proper evaluation, diagnosis and management.

As for the stretch marks on your tummy, note that skin does not bounce back if it’s been stretched by rapid growth due to pregnancy, excessive weight gain, or extreme weight loss. Instead, it becomes decorated by a form of scarring called the stretch marks or striae. Stretch marks often start off as reddish or purplish in colour and then become glossy skin that appears streaked in silver or white.

Stretch marks occur when the elastic middle layer of skin called the dermis

is stretched. Stretching leads to a breakdown of connective tissue, inflammation, and then scar formation as the injury heals. It’s the scarring that causes stretch marks to appear. Stretch marks are common during puberty and rapid growth spurts in adolescence (they typically heal by the late teens or early 20s), pregnancy, excessive weight gain and obesity, when muscle mass increases rapidly and stretches the skin (like during bodybuilding), and sometimes when individuals use topical or high doses of ingested steroids for many weeks or months. Stretch marks are not a health risk but can be cosmetically unappealing.

Men and women can get stretch marks on several areas of their bodies, including the abdominal area, thighs, hips,

breasts, upper arms or lower back.

There are some treatment options for stretch marks, none of which work very well. The degree of success with any treatment will be impacted by your age, your skin tone and even your diet. Treatment options include use of cream or laser therapy to address unwanted stretch marks.

Another is over-the-counter products treatments. These are available but not particularly effective. Moisturizers can help with appearance and itchiness. Sunless tanning products can help mask stretch marks.

It’s best to be in the care of a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist. He or she can determine which treatment approach is best for you.

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September 15, 2012

‘Tracking device business is for intelligent minds’

FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

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echnology has improved over the years on a global scale and Nigeria is not left behind in the changes as well. The security circle is also one of such areas that are currently enjoying improved technology.

Presently, with the use of a device, you can track about anything and with good results.

For those who are wise and who appreciate the need for safety, especially in this world of increasing insecurity, they have tapped into the business of tracking devices.

For Sammy Salami, the managing director of Trackluv Limited, based in Lagos, investing into the business is a wise idea with lots of prospects.

He added that since the nature of the business is still not well known in the country and competition low, it is an opportunity to go into such a venture.

While speaking with Saturday Mirror, this Computer Engineering graduate disclosed that it takes a lot to be in the tracking business. According to this Yoruba entrepreneur, it is vital for one to have a sound background in the area of Information Technology and one must also have some level of managerial and entrepreneurial skills to be able to do the business successfully.

ON A LOW SCALE BUDGET, ONE WILL NEED BETWEEN N800, 000 AND N1 MILLION TO START OFF. THEN YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER THE COMPANY WITH THE NCC AND CREATE A BASE STATION FROM WHERE YOU TRACK ITEMS FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT “It takes quite a lot to be in this business if one must succeed in it. First, one must have a splendid background in IT. Secondly, the person must possess a registered company, which must also be registered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and lastly, good managerial and entrepreneurial skills have to be there too,” he offers.

He further explained that tracking is not only limited to cars but that one could actually track anything with this device.

“Anything can be tracked. Ranging from pets to humans to cars to buses to trailers and heavy duty construction equipments like pail loaders, bulldozers and dumpers. Even helicopters and aircrafts can also be tracked.”

What will it cost a potential investor to start such a business?

“The business is quite capital intensive; on a low scale budget, one will need between N800, 000 and N1 million to

Salami

start off. Then you will need to register the company with NCC, attend trainings and create a base station from where you track items for fleet management.

You will also need to recruit trustworthy installers and staffs. And you must be ready to work round the clock. It is not a business for the lazy and unintelligent minds. You have to be alert at all times,” he said.

One wonders what units constitute

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the target market or potential clientele and Salami readily gave a clue: “Communication firms are potential investors. Security-conscious individuals are also potential investors,” said Salami.

Like many other business, tracking business is not without its peak sales periods and off peak sales periods.

Sammy noted that between August and January, higher sales are usually recorded than at other periods of the year.

He added that any Tom, Dick or Harry is a potential client as long as the quest for security exists in such persons.

Salami also disclosed that all tracking devices for now are imported and the concept is not so known yet because of the poor level of awareness within the country, which he says basically forms part of the major challenges of the business.

“Like every new business, there are bound to be challenges. For this business, one major challenge is the orientation of Nigerians towards personal and asset security. People are not particularly interested in investing in things like that. However, this is the same problem insurance had when it newly came, so I am optimistic that this will also change with time. As a matter of fact, it is already changing.

“Secondly, because of the security implications, it is sort of difficult to advertise and this has made the awareness level really low. A lot of people are yet to know about it but I believe that with time, it will become very well known and the demand for it will be high.”

Nevertheless, Salami noted, the business is quite lucrative and “things can only get better as time goes by.”

He further stated that it is also very important to be courteous and polite to those you work for and to give them quality service because “it is when they are satisfied with your service that they will refer others to you.

“You know in a business such as this, referral is key and for you to be able to get that from your clientele, you need to make them happy with the quality of the service you offer them. If they are satisfied, they will be happy to refer others that they know to you. So that is very vital.

Speaking on the environment that could be described as conducive for such business, Salami noted that “the location of your office is almost inconsequential to the service you render because the use of these devices is for various places. Your office may be in Abuja and you need to install some devices for someone in Port Harcourt and so you have to go. So the location of your office has very little impact on the business itself. What you need to have is the contact of people who are interested and willing to secure their assets and properties.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

September 15, 2012

Investing in PVC pipes & fittings producing plant F

or any nation to grow, there is need to look inwards for production of the basic needs of the populace. The basic needs of any country are food, shelter and clothing. Any serious investment into any of these three basic needs is usually viable and profitable. The proposed project is grouped into shelter, which is a very profitable investment.

Product nature PVC or Vinyl, as it is commonly called, is used in the variety of commonly consumer products. Vinyl is used in building products such as vinyl ceiling, PVC pipes, windows and doors, roofs etc. It is established amongst scientist that there is no other plastic that possesses such direct environmental and human friendly as PVC throughout its entire product lifecycle.

The world all over has moved towards PVC products such as PVC pipes, PVC windows and doors and ceilings because it is rated as the most environmental friendly. It requires no painting, it is also termite proof, fire proof, typhoon rated, excellent security and above all, excellent value for money.

Apart from PVC pipes and fittings, an investor can diversify into PVC windows, doors and ceiling production.

PVC windows, doors and ceilings have been proved to give a house its distinctive look.

From outside, they give the house its personal characteristics and inside they give the house the right look it needs and the aesthetic appearance. It is an established fact that PVC products are easy to maintain, anti-fungi, economical, easy to install, excellent endurance to varying weather conditions and also 100% mechanically recyclable.

Product demand and uses Due to all these advantages, PVC products are used widely by different industries ranging from construction industry, automobile industry, electrical industry, advertising industry, civil industry, woolen industry, air-conditioning and refrigeration to mention but few.

From research conducted, Nigerians have fallen in love with PVC products and the demand has gone up tremendously. As a result, many of these

products are imported from oversea producers, since the very few Nigerian producers cannot meet up with the rising demand for the products. Many more investors are required in the country to boost supply and cushion the effect of huge, expanding local demand.

Generally, any investor into this venture should not entertain any fear of loss, since the market is available in Nigeria and other ECOWAS sub regions.

Product standard According to the International Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA), the internationally-acceptable standard must be applied in any part of the world.

This recognition is vital to manufacturers because it provides some assurance of consistency amongst regulatory authorities referencing these standards for compliance purposes.

There are various stipulated standards for production of water pipes, drain, waste & vent pipes, process pipe, sewer pipe, folded PVC pipes etc. There are colors usually used for PVC pipes and there are recommended color codes.

The implication of these standard requirements is that any prospective investor in Nigeria needs professional advice of consultants.

Production requirements To invest in this project, prospective investors need to have at least 2 plots of land for takeoff.

The machines required for the setting up of this project include- Hot/Cooling mixer, automatic loader, twin screw extruder and calibrating system, vacuum & calibrating tank, water-cooling tank printer, haul off, cutter and stacker.

The project needs constant power supply, therefore there is need to make arrangements for standby power generating sets.

The basic raw materials for the project are PVC resins and master batch. All these raw materials are locally available.

For the required manpower, the number will depend on the following departments-research & product development, design & manufacturing department, testing/inspection & quality control department, marketing, accounts & administration and production delivering & installations. There should be other

supporting staff.

Production technology The production technology is also very easy to operate. Briefly, the thermoplastic PVC powder (PVC resins) is compounded, melted and stabilizers added and extruded into the size(s) and colors of pipes required.

Cost and profitability estimations Based on the cost evaluation, the sum of about N75 million will be required to set up the project and make provision for working capital & other operational expenses for a minimum of six months.

The profit margin is very encouraging with over 68% return on investment within the first three years of opera-

tion. The payback period is within two years, if well managed.

Critical success factors For success of this project, any prospective investor (s) should make sure that the following conditions are metmanufacture products of quality exactly as per customers specification and requests; offer products that meet varied preferences of customers; provide accurate, quality dimensions; assist customers from initial design to final production and also installing as well as offering advice on any modifications where and when necessary.

Courtesy: Uba Godwin, 08034494437, E-mail: ubagodwin@yahoo.com

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September 15, 2012

People Sylva Nze Ifedigbo: Veterinarian writer

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

D

r. Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, to many, is known by the trade he practises, a Veterinary Doctor. He, however, has another skill begging to be noticed. He is an avowed writer.

He has developed his various skills and talents to become a writer, columnist, Public Relations practitioner and a publisher.

Ifedigbo hails from Agulu Town in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. He attended School for the Gifted Gwagwalada, Abuja and later proceeded

to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2007.

Because of his passion to add value to life apart from being a Veterinary Doctor, Ifedigbo went outside the corridors of veterinary medicine to obtain much professional training.

Ifedigbo over the years has written many articles in national and international newspapers and magazines and he has also published many books.

Speaking on what motivated him into writing and his latest book; ‘The Funeral Did Not End,’ the Veterinary Doctor cum

writer said writing to him is more than a job or a hobby.

“For me, writing is more than a job or a hobby. It goes way deeper and permeates every aspect of my life such that my every conversation, the expression on every face I see, the news on the radio, every circumstance I find myself in, is a story and they all provide the inspiration to write.

“I didn’t really set out to write a collection of short stories. Indeed when you get the book you will find that there is no conscious central theme running through all of it. Over the years, I have been writing stories, for various publications and writing contests and then an opportunity came to publish them into a collection and from a pool of close to 30 stories, the publisher worked to select the 20 in the collection. I am however currently working on a full length novel. So I will say this book is significant as it marks a stage in my writing journey and is in many ways the fictionalisation of my conversations with my y country.

“The Funeral Did Not End” is a collection of 20 stories that peerr into the fabric of the Nigerian Society, offering ffering a delightful insight into the everyday day life of Nigerians. The stories are varied ied in scope and theme and run the gamut,, from politics to

Cjay: Optimistic in his calling OSEYIZA OOGBODO

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ne of the many musicians out there trying to blaze a trail for themselves in the competitive music industry is Cjay. Like the average Nigerian, he is always optimistic and believes that success is his portion despite the obstacles now in his path.

“I am sure I will be a success in this music game. I am very sure because I know that Tuface, MI and co started out just like me, struggling to make ends meet. And if they could blow, then I am sure I will eventually blow too.”

Talking about the challenges he is facing is an easy proposition for him. “The most difficult challenge every upcoming artist like me has is financial. Recording and promoting a song requires a lot of money which is not readily available.”

According to him, if the necessary money was available, he would become a star overnight. “It’s easy to become popular in one day,” he stated. “All it requires is for one to settle all the right people and before you know it, your

name will be everywhere as they will be shouting your name up and down every second.”

He however insists that he won’t let money be a problem to his success.

“There are many ways to go about reaching the top of the music ladder. Those who have money are able to climb the ladder faster. But those who don’t have money just require wisdom in ascending the ladder of success. As for me, I am taking slow and steady steps because slow and steady wins the race.”

Describing himself as very talented, he added that “talent is not everything in this industry. Talent can only help you part of the way. If you are talented and you don’t have any backing or you don’t know your way, your talent will die with you.”

Speaking about his efforts, he said, “I’ve been making gradual progress in the industry and I thank God for what I’ve achieved so far. I released my first single, Smact It, about four years ago and it made me a little famous. While promoting it, I began to know much more about the industry. Although the way every musi-

cian thinks is that their first single should make them successful, it is virtually impossible as you keep making more and more name with each new release until you finally blow like a bazooka.”

Now, he says it is his time to indeed blow like a bazooka. “My latest single is Low Low. It is the song that will make me into a household name. It is my fourth single and it is already enjoying so much success compared to my previous singles that I am now assured about my future. Like every successful song, it is actually promoting itself because people love it and are thereby spreading it themselves on my behalf.”

religion as well as culture, demonstrating in a fascinating way, the problems, challenges, struggles and potentials of greatness embedded in the Nigerian spirit. I am not so much with the school of thought that fiction must teach something. For me, I expect readers to enjoy the stories and take away whatever appeals to them most,” he explained.

Speaking on some of the ups and down in publishing in Nigeria, Ifedigbo said: “Writing and publishing in Nigeria is pretty challenging. For starts it is difficult to find anyone who survives just on writing so you find many writers maintaining a full time job and struggling with their writing on the side. And unlike the other arts, such as acting and music, writers are not as celebrated. The state of our publishing industry is another not so happy story.

“The dearth of publishing houses interested in publishing creative writing as opposed to school text books is a major low and has hindered the discovery y talents. Those are of many a l l on the down side.

On the up side is the sense of accomplishment when you get published.

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REGIONAL NEWS

September 15, 2012

49

A/Ibom guber: Court throws out suit against Akpabio EMMANUEL ONANI

Amaechi tasks journalists on reporting

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overnor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in Uyo has urged journalists to see their profession as sacred which should be exhibited in public trust.

Amaechi, who was represented by Mr. Tele Ikuru, his Deputy, made the observation at the ongoing 8th National Conference of the Guild of Editors with the theme, “The Nigerian Editor and National Security”.

Amaechi said because journalism was a trust, it imposed serious responsibility on the media professionals, editors and reporters alike, in the collective effort to build a strong and virile nation.

According to him, positive reportage will promote national interest and boost meaningful development.

ABUJA

A

suit brought by a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Francis Okon, seeking to invalidate the nomination of Chief Godswill Akpabio as governorship candidate of the party, was yesterday dismissed by justice Abdul Kafarati of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The plaintiff, Okon, had argued that the January 15, 2011 primary election that produced Akpabio as PDP’s candidate was null and void.

He predicated his argument on the basis that he was the authentic candidate of the party in the state, having so emerged in an earlier primary exercise conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP. Accordingly, he invited the court to hold that he is the party’s gubernatorial candidate and by extension, the winner of the April 26, 2011 poll

in the state. He further urged the court to hold that the January 15 exercise was discriminatory, as he was not informed of a re-run primary.

In his ruling, Justice Kafarati held that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit, by virtue of the fact that the plaintiff lacked the locus

standi to commence the suit in the first instance, since he did not participate in the disputed primary election. Kafarati maintained that section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act bars the plaintiff from challenging an election he was not party to.

The judge therefore agreed with the submis-

sions of Akpabio (3rd defendant) and PDP (2nd defendant) that the plaintiff lacked the locus to initiate the suit, praying same to be struck out for lack of merit.

The court held: “A member of a party has no legal right to be nominated by his party; nomination is purely

the domestic affair of a party. “I therefore hold that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the suit. The plaintiff ’s case has no merit, which deserves to be dismissed and is so dismissed with N50, 000 cost to the 1st and 2nd defendants and N1,000, 000 to the 3rd defendant.”

Oyerinde: Court awards Ugolor N5m for police detention SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN CITY

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he Nigeria Police Force would have to cough out the sum of N5 million to the human and environmental rights activist, Rev. David Ugolor, for his continuous alleged unlawful detention by the former in connection with the murder of Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

This has become so after an Edo State High Court on Friday awarded the sum as the cost

of aggravated damages against the police for the arrest and detention of Ugolor for about 46 days without prosecution. In her judgment, Justice Esther Edigin also ordered the police to stop forthwith any further arrest of the applicant.

The judgment was sequel to an earlier ruling by the court on August 16, 2012, in which an order was made for the immediate release of the activist since there was no charge brought by the police against him then.

The court was surprised therefore that more than two weeks after the order,

the police still held on to Ugolor without charging him to court in clear infringement of his human rights and constitutional provision.

Instead of obeying the court order, the police merely applied for an extension of time to respond to and argue its case against the motion on notice filed by Ugolor’s lawyer, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, who sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Force for breach of fundamental human rights of the detainee.

Afolabi had also argued that the police had continued to violate the fun-

damental human rights of Ugolor even after operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) arrested and paraded the alleged killers of Oyerinde.

It will be recalled that plain cloth security operatives arrested and detained the activist July 27, 2012 after one of the suspects in its custody allegedly named him as sponsor of the murder of Oyerinde.

Counsel to the police, Mr. David Abuo, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement, while stating that “the defendant will appeal the judgment.”

US Convention: Democratic Party invited me – Tinubu insists OLUSEGUN KOIKI

We’ve kept our promises to workers – Amosun

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gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said his administration had kept his promises to workers by implementing the National Minimum Wage, paying their salaries as and when due and creating a work-friendly environment for them.

In a release by Funmi Wakama, Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Media, Amosun disclosed this during the swearing-in of two Principals-General at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

It says Amosun explained that it was a deliberate policy of his government not to owe workers’ salaries. “This informed our decision from the very first month in office to augment the monthly federal allocation of the local councils with about N500 million,” he said.

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he national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Bola Tinubu, has said that he was properly invited for the just-concluded National Democratic Convention, in Charlotte North Carolina, United States of America.

Tinubu insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party, which has been carrying the rumour about his invitation to the US, lacked the moral right to question his invitation.

He stated this yesterday on arrival from United Kingdom at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

He said that rather than the ruling party focusing on properly governing the Nigerian people, addressing issues bordering on poor governance, the failed privatization process of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and put food on the table of the average Nigerian, they delved into an issue,

L-R: Bade Taylor, member Club Arcade of Nigeria, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Taiwo Taiwo and President of Club Arcade of Nigeria, Alhaji Tajudeen Ekeomode, during a courtesy visit to the former president in Abeokuta, Ogun State recently.

which does not add any value to the upliftment of the country.

He added that his attendance of the convention had drawn unnecessary attention from the ruling party that had lost touch with the essence of true people-oriented gover-

nance.

He described his attendance of the convention as a great opportunity to discuss with great minds, stressing that ideas are central to the development and sustenance of democratic institutions.

He said, “It is unfortu-

nate that we have not been able to distinguish between public contact and a proper democratic convention. There is a great exhibition of Nigerian ignorance and those scavenging power in its corridors. They do not even appreciate the fact that

we fought for democracy.

During the struggle for this democracy, there was a lot of precedence and people outside this country are still watching us.

I was at the convention, I was invited properly, who are the people asking me to prove anything?”

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Wada cautions Kogi indigenes over disputed oil well ADEMU IDAKWO

Nasarawa PDP advised to undergo X-ray IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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he Nasarawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been advised to undergo a total X-ray of its party machinery to determine reasons behind its failure at the 2011 governorship election in the state.

The party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) secretary, Senator Wali Jibrin, gave this advice yesterday during the expanded executive meeting of the party in Lafia, the state capital.

He said the X-ray, when conducted, would give reasons that led to the party’s failure in the state governorship poll of 2011 especially by revealing those persons who were anti-party activists.

LOKOJA

K

ogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada, yesterday said his state and Anambra State have the same status in the controversial Orient Company, which has generated bad blood among neighbouring communities of the two states.

Wada, in a press statement through his deputy, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, yesterday appealed to the community to ignore all the provocative pronouncements or actions from any quarter regarding the explorative activities of the company in Kogi State.

“I am calling on the Ibaji people not to take laws into their hands concerning the activities of the Orient Petroleum Resources Plc and the oil well in their community. Instead, they should make sure the installations are well protected because we (Kogi and Anambra) are already co-investors,” he stated.

Orient Oil Company,

which is allegedly owned

by Anambra State and some wealthy and prominent individuals in the state, was recently commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in Aguleri in Anambra State but has been generating controversy since then as the Odeke community in Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi were also laying claim to it.

It will be recalled that Kogi and Anambra states

have been at logger head over the oil wells in Kogi State allegedly cornered by the powerful indigenes of Anambra State.

While re-affirming his resolve to ensure the oil well returns to the state, the governor stated that the state’s confidence in the Federal Government’s attempt to resolve the issue and warned that the host community should not resort to acrimony and violence.

Gov Wada

Conmen taking over Kogi property business – Board chair ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

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he General Manager of the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board, KSTPD, Mallam Abdul Odaudu, has raised the alarm over activities of conmen who are masquerading as workers of the board and exhorting money from property developers.

Odaudu said this yesterday while responding to the public outcry on the activities of some town planners in the

state allegedly approving illegal buildings and development plans in exchange for monetary benefits thereby distorting the town’s plan.

The general manager said he did not rule out the possibility of some of his staff ’s involvement in the nefarious activities. He, however, called on residents of the state to forward names of anybody found wanting to his office, adding that there were procedures for sanctioning erring officials of the board.

He equally disclosed

that it had come to the notice of the board that some unidentified men posing as field workers had been collecting illegal fees and gratifications from property developers without any authorization.

Odaudu therefore called on the people to ensure that anybody who claimed to be planners employed by the state government should show their identification card as proof before transacting business with them or report same to the security agencies.

He said the board had been faced with serious challenges in terms of working implements and tools, which according to him, had hampered its activities in the state.

“In fact, we have been operating manually and this has also affected our job in some ways, as we have no working implements to execute operations with,” he lamented.

The general manager therefore appealed to the state government to come to their aid by providing the facilities so as to improve their work.

Adamawa sacks 7 LG administrators Bauchi NGO graduates 50 girls in vocational, basic education

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he Coordinator, Re p r o d u c t ive Health Initiative and Support Association (RHISA), Kingsley Kamalu, on Friday said 50 female students would graduate from its vocational and basic education classes.

Kamalu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Bauchi that the students, aged between 13 and 17, began the one-year courses in September 2011.

He said that the programme was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Northern Education Initiative (NEI).

T

he Adamawa State Government on Friday announced the removal of seven Development Area Administrators from office with immediate effect.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SGF), Mr. Kobis Thimnu, in Yola.

The statement listed the affected development areas to include, Dumne, Gangdu, Kojoli, Vulpi, Nasarawo, Yola Central and Guyuk South.

It did not give any reason for their removal but directed the affected administrators to handover to the secretaries of their respective development areas.

The statement said the state Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Dr Salihu Bakari, had informed the state House of Assembly of a decision by the SGF directing the ministry to withhold monthly allocations of the affected de-

velopment areas.

It recalled that the administration of former Gov. Boni Haruna created

the 37 development areas out of the existing 21 Local Government Areas of the state to facilitate

development at the grassroots.

The law creating the development areas man-

dates a 20 per cent monthly deduction from local government allocations to the development areas.

L-R: Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Oluseyi Petinrin, during the visit of a high powered delegation on assessment to Joint Task Force camp in Maiduguri, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

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51

Kano donates relief materials to Niger Republic flood victims ABU spends N288m annually on environmental prevention – VC

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he Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, has said that the institution was spending close to N288 million annually on preservation of its environment.

He stated this at the “ABU 50th Anniversary Tree Planting Campaign” tagged ‘Greenbelt Initiative’ held at the university’s main campus in Samaru- Zaria on Thursday.

The Vice-Chancellor said: “The institution is spending approximately N24 million monthly to maintain the sanitation of its environment and to nurture the young forest.

AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

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he Kano State government has donated some relief items to floods victims in neighbouring Niger Republic. The relief materials include 15 trailers of food and textile materials to cushion the hardship of victims of the recent floods in that country.

The donation followed a request made by the Niamey governor, Kane Aichatou Boulama, during the just-concluded Kano/ Niger Economic Summit, held in Kano. Meanwhile, Governor Kwankwaso of Kano has also said that his government would forward all the resolutions reached at the end of the just-concluded first Kano/ Niger Trade and Investment Summit to the Federal Government to accelerate implementation of the bilateral agreements.

Announcing the donation during a dinner, orga-

nized in honour of Niger Republic participants at Governor House, Kwankwaso said the food items consists of five trailers of maize, five trailers of corn and five trailers of millet as well as 500 tones of fabrics.

He explained that the Kano State government

had found it necessary to donate the items to show concern to the flood victims and prayed to Allah to prevent future occurrence.

It could be recalled that the flood has affected more than 500 people in Niamey, the Niger capital, most of who are tak-

ing refuge at temporary camps.

In a related development, Kwankwaso has directed all the 44 Interim Management Officers (IMOs) to start selling reserved food items to the people at affordable prices.

He explained that gov-

ernment had provided the food items to assist people, especially the less privileged in the society, saying that similar arrangement would be implemented in the next farming season, where government would buy the commodities and sell during the dry season.

LG polls: Kebbi SIEC distributes 1.6m ballot papers, voter cards

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he Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission has begun distributing 1.6 million voter cards and sensitive election materials ahead of Saturday’s council poll in the state The Chairperson of the commission, Hajiya Ada Kaoje, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

Kaoje said the commission had concluded plans to ensure that all polling units would receive the

materials to avoid delay on Saturday.

She said a stakeholders’ meeting was held prior to the distribution of the materials as well as resolutions on other election matters to avert crisis.

“The representatives of political parties were present during the meeting and all grey areas were identified and discussed to ensure peaceful conduct of the election,” she said.

She said 1.6 million ballot papers had been

printed for the election, adding: “all political parties were satisfied with the preparations, especially on matters of security.”

Also speaking, the state Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Alhaji Boyi Isah, expressed the position of the opposition on the forthcoming election, saying, “we have agreed and are satisfied with the method of distribution of ballot papers by the commission.”

Gov Dakingari

Kidnap saga: Court orders hotelier out of prison NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

Rep marks one year in office with gifts to constituency CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Eucharia Azodo, has marked one year in office, dishing out gifts to members of her constituency.

Mrs. Azodo, a former Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, gave out 20 motorcycles, 44 giant coolers, 14 deep freezers, 5 grinding machines, 40 GSM phones, and 500 kva stabilisers, among other items to be shared among her constituency members at a ceremony held at the Ekwulobia stadium.

Speaking during the ceremony, Azodo promised that she would continue to give Aguata people effective representation in the House of Representatives, as well as take care of needy ones in her area.

A

n Idemili High Court sitting at Ogidi, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, yesterday granted an application for bail filed by the proprietor of Arthur Garden Hotels Limited, Nkpor, near Onitsha, Prince Christopher Udoh.

In his ruling shortly after hearing the leading counsel to the applicant, Frank Molokwu, with M. C. Ilondu, S. O. Chukwukelu and Uche Darlington Okeke, Justice Anyachebelu noted that, after taking time to study all the documents relating to the charges against the applicant, including the police case file and the statement of the first accused, one Chinedu, to the police, he discovered that Udoh was not linked anywhere in the kidnap allegation, except that kidnappers were alleged to have been found in his hotel, which is yet to be proved.

Justice Onochie, who further stated that, from the pool of evidence filed before the court, includ-

L-R; Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeoma Nwobodo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Barr Joe Mmamel, Deputy Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, Group Head, Public Sector-Enugu, FirstBank, Mrs. Nwanneka Okolo, Business Manager, Public Sector-Abakaliki, FirstBank, Chris Onwudiwe and Alvin Ochang Public Sector-Enugu, of the bank at the cheque presentation ceremony on the partnership between the bank and Enugu State government for the forthcoming Enugu Cultural Festival held in Enugu, recently.

ing the counter-affidavit from the state counsel opposing the bail application, he could not find anything to deny the applicant bail.

He therefore granted him bail in the sum of N5 million with three sureties in like sum, adding that each of the sureties must produce their statements of account in the bank, two passport photographs, affidavit of means and proper means

of self identification, either national ID card, driver’s licence or international passport.

He said he associated himself with the earlier decision of his colleague, Justice J. I. Nweze who on Tuesday, August 29, gave a similar order at Otuocha High Court that Udoh should be released on bail from the police custody.

Udoh and his brotherin-law, Prince Godwin Onwukwe, had been ar-

rested by the police in Enugu State on August 9 and brought down to Anambra State where they were detained at the State Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) headquarters, Awkuzu for allegedly allowing his hotels to be used as a kidnappers’ den.

However, his brother-in-law, Onwukwe was granted bail by the police few days later, while Udoh remained in the police

cell till Monday, September 3 when the police, in defiance of the August 28 High Court bail order, arraigned him before an Ogidi Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Mrs. Pauline Chinwuba, who remanded him and one other accused person, Chinedu, in prison custody because according to her, the court had no powers to entertain any bail application or to grant him bail.

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Crime Watch P. 54 Man lures, rapes teenager with N300

BRIEFS

Rivers Police kill robber, recover arms

Crime Watch Octogenarian found dead three days after disappearing

CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

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he Rivers State Police Command has killed a member of an armed robbery gang following a gun fight at the Rumukwurusi area of Port Harcourt The incident started at about 2.00 am yesterday morning when the police received a distress call that the gang, comprising four young men, had attacked and dispossessed one Engineer Olusegun of his belongings.

According to the police PRO, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam who confirmed the incident: “Immediately, patrol teams were mobilised and swiftly drafted to the area.

On getting to the scene, they were engaged in a fierce gun battle by the hoodlums. In the ensuing gun duel, one of the hoodlums later identified as Emenike from Abia State was fatally wounded.”

He said they recovered one AK 47 rifle, 93 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and three cartridges from the unfortunate Emenike , while the other members escaped.

“Investigation continues to track and apprehend the rest of them.” gang”wuegbulam assured.

Adereni

3 killed as soldiers storm Owerri kidnappers’ den

Prince Benjamin Adereni was not a man of small means in IleIfe, Osun State. But when he disappeared into thin air he was looked for like a needle in a haystack. His remains were later found bloodied and mutilated. Who could have done this to an 82-year-old man and why?

CHRIS NJOKU

SEGUN ADIO

OWERRI

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here was tension in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday morning when soldiers stormed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout, killing three people.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident which caused heavy traffic gridlock along the ever-busy Control Road occurred when a team of soldiers from the 32 Field Artillery Brigade stormed the hideout in response to a distress call and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.

The sources further disclosed that residents in the crime-prone area, were awakened by the early morning shooting that threw the entire area into panic as they scampered for safety.

However, youths numbering over 50 barricaded the scene of the incident to protest the killings which they claimed were extrajudicial.

The aggrieved youths confirmed that one of the deceased was a contractor in one of the buildings around the area and was killed in error. “If we don’t show our grievance, these senseless killings won’t end.

We can’t continue to watch while innocent people are killed by trigger happy security operatives”.

N

o doubt that Prince Benjamin Adereni would have loved to join his ancestors peacefully. Being butchered and dumped into a bush definitely would not have been his wish to bid the world farewell. But that was how his life ended.

Adereni, 82, lived with his family at No 36, College Road, Ile-Ife in Osun State.

Some weeks before he met his untimely death, Adereni had battled to fix his faulty Mercedez Benz car, but could not raise enough money for that purpose.

Luck however smiled on the old man when one of those owing him reportedly sent some money into his account. With the alert on his phone, he hurriedly left for the bank at Lagere area of the ancient town on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. His main objective was to meet his auto mechanic early in the shop to begin work on the long-abandoned car.

While hurriedly having his bath, Adwereni’s wife had reportedly prepared her husband preferred breakfast of pap and moin-moin. But surprisingly to the wife, he asked her to keep the breakfast

until when he would return from the bank.

It was reported that on his way to the bank, Adereni received a phone call which made him alight from the intra city commercial bus he had boarded from his house. His conversation on the phone did not last long as Adereni reportedly joined another bus to his bank.

That was the last Adereni’s family heard of him.

When he did not return home as planned, his children went to check him at the auto mechanic workshop but they were told that their father had not showed his face there that day.

That was the beginning of the search for the octogenarian.

On the second day after Adereni left home, the case was reported at the Ile Ife Police Station, where the Crime Officer was tasked to find the prince. He was assisted by vigilance group members and a couple of men from the family of the deceased.

Three days after, at a farmland belonging to Adereni, his lifeless body was discovered along a bush path. By that time, his body was already decomposing and marks of machete cuts were notice-

able all over his body. His remains were immediately deposited at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife. A police source, who was part of the search team that found Adereni’s corpse, spoke on phone.

His words: “We could not believe our eyes when we suddenly saw the body in a bad state. The machete cut on his head which was already covered by thick blood showed that some wicked people deliberately matcheted him to death, leaving me to wonder why these people chose to kill such an old man, a prominent prince in the town for that matter,” the source said.

It was learnt that two days before the deceased left home he had received several phone calls, for which the wife had been inquisitive. The deceased, it was further learnt, had calmed his wife down that there was nothing wrong.

But one of his children spoke with reporters at the family residence on the condition of anonymity based on his lack of authority to speak to the press.

He claimed that his late father had a few days to the incident attended what he called a reconciliation meeting with some people following the sale of a land belonging to him by a head of a community.

“My father told me that he rejected the plea of those who called the meeting to let go. He said he decided to reject the plea so that it won’t give others confidence to tamper with his property in the future. I recall that he took me to the property amounting to 75 hectares. He said the land belonged to his maternal grandfather and he was in charge of it as the eldest son of his mother who inherited the land from her father,” he said.

Three people had been reportedly arrested in connection with the murder of the prince.

Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Folasade Odoro, confirmed the arrest and detention of the trio at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Osogbo which, according to her, was in line with investigation procedure to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

She however clarified that the arrest of the suspects was not tantamount to finding them culpable as investigation is still in progress.

Her words, “I need to say this without fear of contradiction that they are not found to be the people behind the crime.

At the same time we have not absolved them as the investigation is the only means that will throw light on the whole matter. Investigation, world over, has a standard procedure which is exactly what we are following on this matter.”

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SEGUN ADIO

U

CRIME WATCH

September 15, 2012

ntil the autopsy report of the circumstance leading to the death of Jimoh Fasasi is released, no one may be able to know exactly the root cause of his untimely death. Fasasi reportedly died on Wednesday, 12 September, 2012 after an alleged battery by suspected policemen. Fasasi, 50, became a grandfather only two weeks ago. An elaborate naming ceremony was held to the effect.

Fasasi was a driver with the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), which he reportedly joined about 12 years ago. He was attached to Station Base 2, General Hospital section on Lagos Island. Fasasi lived with his family at No 55, Coker Street, Off Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos.

A family source claimed that Fasasi made his journey to and from work daily with a motorcycle, and Saturday Mirror investigations also revealed that virtually all LASAMUBS drivers make their journey to and from office on motorcycles to ease their movements.

But on that fateful day, around 6:50pm, Fasasi, who was on his way home from work on his motorcycle, reportedly met his death in the hands of those meant to protect him from bodily harm.

The deceased was reportedly to be in his LASAMBUS uniform at the time.

When he got to Barracks Bus Stop at Western Avenue, Fasasi ran into a detachment of policemen on daily patrol of the area. He was reportedly on a prohibited section of the ever-busy road.

When the policemen sighted him with the motorcycle, he was flagged down and as a law abiding citizen, Fasasi stopped to answer the law enforcement agents.

Upon his stoppage, Fasasi was reportedly told that he had committed an offence against the state government by riding a motorcycle on a highway in contravention of the new traffic law in the state.

The law enforcement agents reportedly asked Fasasi to submit the keys to his motorcycle, claiming that it had been impounded.

Apparently seeing himself as a Lagos State government worker and in uniform of LASAMBUS, for that matter, Fasasi reportedly engaged the law enforcement agents in heated argument.

The argument later resulted in a brawl.

A colleague of Fasasi, who was part of the first people Fasasi alerted when he was being rough-handled, but who pleaded anonymity, told Saturday Mirror that when the argument started between Fasasi and the law enforcement agents, he was beaten with the police batons and hit with gun butts.

“Around 6:50, he called us to say that policemen had arrested him at Barracks Bus Stop. When he was stopped by the police, he was asked to submit his motorbike to be taken to the police station. He was also asked to come with them to the station. But the deceased argued with them that he was an official of the Lagos State government showing them his ID card. However, the policemen refused to listen to him. He told us all these on his own phone as they were embroiled in the argument,” the source said.

The source said he told the late Fasasi that he would mobilize some of their

53

Death of a grandpa: Police, friends shift blames z Policemen killed him – Colleagues z No, he died of epilepsy – Police Jimoh Fasasi was a staff of Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS). He never had a history of any ailment. But after a brawl with policemen, he was found by the roadside foaming in the mouth. The police said he died of epilepsy.

Fasasi

colleagues in the area to the scene of the incident.

“While we were on our way, his phone called into our line again, but this time, it was a woman’s voice that we heard.

Before we could ask who the woman was, the woman shouted that he was using a man’s phone that was currently dying by the roadside at Barracks Bus Stop. She claimed she just dialled the last number on the phone. She shouted that we should rush to the spot because the man on the ground was already foaming in the mouth,” the source said.

Continuing, “When we got there we saw foam in his mouth. We wanted to ask what happened to him but no one around was ready to talk. We later saw the woman who claimed she used Jimoh’s phone to call us. She claimed that she saw the phone in his pocket. But he was unconscious by the time we got there. What we later observed was that it appeared that the man was hit with a hard object on the forehead.

“We quickly rushed him to a hospital but by the time we got to the hospital,

the man was dead. While some of us were at the hospital waiting for doctors to attend to him, some of our other colleagues went back to the scene of the incident. It was there that some traders close by told them that the man was hit with something by the policemen,” the source said.

Asked whether Fasasi was suffering from an ailment before his death, the source continued, “He had no disease to the best of our knowledge. We just returned from a medical test which was conducted at regular basis. If he had a disease, the LASAMBUS would not have employed him in the first place,” the source concluded.

It was wailing and gnashing of teeth at the house of the deceased. Saturday Mirror could not talk to the wife, but a family member, identified as Kunle, claimed that his uncle was hale and hearty that morning before he left for work.

“I do not understand what is going on. The man was not sick at all. It is just his death that we heard back home. The

wife and children are too devastated to talk to you,” Kunle said.

Speaking on the incident, spokesperson for Lagos Police Command, DSP Ngozi Braide claimed that the policemen did not hit Fasasi with the butt of the gun. She claimed the policeman in question was a Traffic Warden who does not carry arms.

Braide claimed further that the policemen were on legitimate duty arresting commercial motorcycles violating traffic rules. She claimed Fasasi was arrested alongside other uniformed men riding the banned machines on the highway.

She further said that Fasasi was begging that his motorcycle be not impounded by the policemen before he called his colleagues at their station.

According to Braide it was at that point that Fasasi slumped and started foaming in the mouth and ear. Braide said though the autopsy report of his death was not ready as at the time, yet people who saw him believed Fasasi must have suffered from epilepsy.

54

Crime Extra

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 15, 2012

SEGUN ADIO

T

he notoriety for which Ponraele area of Abule-Ijesha, in Lagos State is known reared its ugly head, not too long ago, when one of the warlords there raped a teenage girl.

A man in his 30’s, Alabi, lives around Silva Street beside Ponraele. Ngozi Akpan (not real names) also lives in that neighbourhood with her mother. She is 16 years old. Ngozi finished her secondary education at Angus Memorial Secondary School, Shomolu last May. She, like many of her peers, is studying to write the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) examination. She hopes to read Accountancy at a university of her choice.

Her mother, a teacher, is a single parent having been allegedly abandoned by her husband who is a bank worker. Ngozi, while in secondary school, was already in a relationship with another teenager who lives some streets away from her own house. The boy is said to be well known to her mother as her boyfriend.

Ngozi’s mother does not allow her daughter to mix with too many women or girls in their neighbourhood, but one of the lucky few that she allowed her to sit around with is Alabi’s wife, Kafayat. Once Ngozi returned from school, she was always in company with Kafayat in Alabi’s house until her mother returned from work.

But unknown to her mother, Kafayat’s husband, had other reasons he allowed his wife to open his doors for Ngozi. Also unknown to Kafayat, her husband had started making love advances to the young girl.

But Ngozi always told the man off.

A day before Alabi reportedly raped Ngozi, he gave the young girl N300 while she complained to Kafayat, his wife, that she was hungry and her mother was not around. Ngozi thanked Alabi and went to eat that day. That very evening, Alabi reportedly met Ngozi on the street and asked her to call his number. She did not call him.

Late afternoon the following day, Ngozi’s boyfriend came around to see her. While the two of them were together talking, her phone rang. It was Alabi that called her.

Alabi reportedly asked Ngozi to see him immediately at an uncompleted building called Agenebode on Mosuro Street in Ponraele area.

Ngozi, who spoke with Saturday Mirror tearfully on phone begins her story from there, “Para usually asked me out

Akpan

Man lures, rapes teenager with N300

•Insists on continuity

Ngozi Akpan (not real names) is 16 years old but unlike her fellow teenagers she is a sad girl. Reason: an acquaintance in his 30’s who raped her is insisting on having an affair with her and no help seems to be coming her way. but I told him I have someone I am dating.

That day he raped me, I was with my boyfriend and he called me that he wanted to see me. Because he always gives me something when I need it, I could not but answer him, but I did not know he had an ulterior motive for me. I lied to my boyfriend that

I wanted to go and see one of my friends who was owing me money. So I went to see him.”

When she got to the spot where Alabi was waiting for him, the man questioned her why he did not call him the previous day as he directed her to do. While the

young girl was trying to feign excuses, Alabi allegedly told her that he would sleep with her but would take care of her well.

She continued: “When he told me that he would sleep with me that day, I told him I would not do such a thing with him. He then pushed me inside the uncompleted building and asked me to lie on top of a mattress there. He overpowered me and removed my cloth and raped me.”

Asked whether people were there and if yes, why did they not come to her rescue, she said, “Some people were close by and I cried at the top of my voice for them to help me, but no one came. They were afraid of that man and the place we were.”

When Alabi finished with his heinous act, he reportedly gave Ngozi N500 and asked her never to tell anyone or he would deal with her. Ngozi returned home with blood all over her cloth. The boyfriend she left about an hour ago was about going when Grace appeared weeping profusely.

She immediately narrated her ordeal to her boyfriend. The boy, furious and confused at the same time, reportedly went to narrate the whole incident to her mother.

She told Saturday Mirror that her boyfriend stopped seeing her after that day, saying he could not continue with the relationship.

Ngozi’s mother, investigations revealed, chose to keep sealed lips over the matter.

Efforts to speak with her was futile as she would not pick her calls. But Ngozi claimed that Alabi is still calling her phone that she should let them begin a proper relationship.

“My mummy cried like a baby that night, but she did not report the matter at the police station. I think she is afraid of Alabi because he is one of the bad boys in Ponraele. They can do anything, but my mummy left everything to God. My surprise now is that Para is still calling my number asking me to date him again,” she lamented.

A neighbour of the Akpans, said to be her mother’s friend, Iya Ibeji, told Saturday Mirror that the mother confided in her about the case.

“When my friend told me of the rape against Ngozi, we all advised that she report the matter at the police station, but she would not, apparently because she is afraid of Alabi because he is a notorious person known to everybody,” the woman said.

Grace is seeking the assistance of law enforcement agents to make Alabi stop asking her out and leave her alone.

Hotelier mugged by hoodlums SEGUN ADIO

O

moseni Bello runs Las Palmas Hotel at Fadeyi, Lagos with his brothers after the demise of their father, the original owner of the hotel, some years back.

So, on a daily basis, Omoseni shuttles between Fadeyi and his Morocco Road home. As an hotelier, Omoseni does not leave the hotel until late in the night. With the almost 12 lanes highway, Omoseni would not go all the way through the Jibowu end of Ikorodu Road to get to his house, but use the pe-

destrian bridge at Fadeyi Bus Stop. That is normal routine every evening.

But on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, Omoseni, as usual left the hotel for his house after the day’s job. The time was some minutes past 10:00pm. Just as he descended the pedestrian bridge and heading towards the bus stop, suspected hoodlums, numbering about 10 allegedly swooped on him. They warned him against fleeing else he would be shot.

Omiseni claimed the suspected robbers were bearing various kinds of firearms.

Hence, at gunpoint, they ordered Omoseni to surrender all in his possession, but the hotelier would not give in to

‘mere threats.’ He reportedly told them that he could not surrender what was with him. Without wasting time, one of the hoodlums Omoseni identified as Lekan Raji, allegedly told Omoseni that he would get killed and labelled an armed robber if he dared argued with them.

At that point, the hoodlums allegedly started hitting the hotelier with the clubs and kicking him with their boots. Omoseni yelled at motorists and passersby to come to his aid. But no help came from anywhere.

However, while the attack was ongoing, men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) stationed at under Fadeyi Bridge

noticed what was going on ahead of them. Apparently hearing the noise coming from the men slugging it out some hundred yards ahead of them, the law enforcement agents raced to the scene in their Hilux van, blaring the siren as they went.

When the hoodlums noticed the advancing policemen, they took to their heels, vanishing into the dark. Omoseni ended up parting with N20, 000, his GSM handsets, expensive cneclaces and some other valuables.

After he was rescued by the policemen, Omoseni was advised to report the matter at the nearest police station.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

55

September 15, 2012

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Special tribute Prime Minister Ato Meles Zenawi: A brother and friend

T

he vanity of life and its concomitant emptiness often remind us every day that we are but passengers in the train of life and, one day, we must get off the ride when we have reached our destination upon the expiration of our time. All those who believe in the existence of the supreme divine being whom we Christians call God and Moslems call Allah, subscribe to, by way of our faith that getting off the ride is not by our choice but that of the Almighty. I say this because given the gluttonous nature of man and her insatiability to desirable things, if the time, when and how we will demise were left for us to decide, most of us will like the ride to be longer.

For Meles Zenawi though, our affection and affinity for him have provoked in us, especially me, a feeling that the ride has been however shorter than expected. Here again, I run into an intellectual cul de sac with Long Fellow, one of the greatest philosophers of our time, who eloquently admonished us to make our lives sublime, so that when we depart, we leave behind an indelible mark on the sand of time, because it’s not how long we live but how well.

On August 20, 2012, a short but subdued broadcast on state television, told Ethiopians, all Africans and indeed the world that this visionary leader of the past 21 years has died. Zenawi passed on in a hospital in Brussels at the age of 57.

When the end comes, we will be remembered for our deeds and actions while on earth. After we depart from this world, it will be what contributions, what impact we have made, and what legacies we are leaving behind. For me, Zenawi was a towering figure in the political scene of Africa.

Family members, friends, well-wishers, both in his country and beyond, have shown great outpouring of grief and sadness on the passing to glory of this great African leader.

We remember him for many things that he stood for and represented both at home and within the continent of Africa. He distinguished himself amongst his peers as he tried to make his country better than he met it. This is also true of few other African leaders who feel challenged and highly committed to

with President Olusegun Obasanjo hexcellency2011@yahoo.com

HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AMONGST HIS PEERS AS HE TRIED TO MAKE HIS COUNTRY BETTER THAN HE MET IT doing well for their countries.

My writing is for the purpose of reflection on the life and selfless service of a brother, colleague and a friend and to celebrate success, achievement, performance and great leadership at a time that Africa is suffering from leadership deficit. My writing is for others and indeed all of us to learn the right lessons and face squarely the challenges which stare us in the face. Meles did not live for his death to be mourned; he lived for his life to be celebrated. We celebrate him for his committed services and outstanding leadership to his family, his community, his country, his region, his continent and indeed his world. He impacted on every facet as a family man, a freedom fighter, a consummate visionary leader, a pan-Africanist, a great thinker and an acclaimed world leader in his own right.

He was thorough in everything he undertook, clear-minded and far-sighted, remaining focused, open and ready to dialogue on any issue. Zenawi had a gift of analytical and emotional intelligence.

A rarity in leadership qualities as combined gift. At home, he passionately believed in unity of his country based on democracy, even development, justice, equity and human security. He anchored his socio-economic programme on agriculture and rural development, education and youth employment, power and

infrastructure. For almost a decade, his leadership led to an economic growth rate of double digit annually and thereby turned a country mired in poverty, despair and unrest to a nation politically united in fulfillment and full of hope.

Ethiopia became one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Although he was from one of the minority groups north of the country, by his even-handed and fair-minded political and socio-economic policies and programmes, he endeared himself to all tribes. That was sagacity and creativity in leadership style and one that is imperative in the 21st century Africa – satisfactory management of diversity for common interest and development.

At the regional level, he believed in and worked for good neighbourliness, regional peace, security, development and cooperation. Although not a rich country by any standard, Meles made his country to contribute to peace in Sudan, and assistance to Rwanda during the gloomy days of genocide. He sent troops to fractionalized Somalia. He was a great pillar of support, hope and confidence in his region of IGAD and East Africa. What he had, he shared. In the words of a Western journalist, “where others wasted development aid, Ethiopia, under Zenawi, put it to work”. Consequent upon which, as I earlier stated, over a ten year period,

GDP grew by 10.6% a year, according to World Bank figures.

Meles Zenawi was to me a brother, a colleague, a comrade, a friend and a confidant whose views I cherished and respected. He exhibited maturity and moderation on almost all issues under discussion. I was particularly enthused and impressed by this leader because I still recall with reverence and venerating nostalgia of a young medical student in the 1970s when I was a military Head of State of Nigeria who underwent the metamorphosis of revolutionary fighter to emerge as a true democrat when his country needed a broad-minded, all-inclusive national leader.

He took over the leadership of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) from me in the African Union (AU) and kept its flag flying. He made specific and significant contributions to the growth and progress of our continental organization, AU, for which he will be remembered for a long time to come.

He represented AU at the Group of 8 and Group of 20 because of his outstanding leadership rather than for the strength or means of his country. He endeared himself to some Western super powers who thought of him as a credible African leader they could do business with. He negotiated, on behalf of Africa, at the Climate Change Conference. He was a consummate and impressive negotiator. He was a straight shooter. He was humble and unpretentious. You knew where he was going, said what he meant and meant what he said. He was always firm and strong.

In the past, Ethiopia gave to Africa history, civilization and resilience against colonialism. Today, Ethiopia has given Africa a leadership model worthy of emulation. If Africa will make the 21st century its own, then Africa needs more of leaders like Ato Meles Zenawi.

I pray that Zenawi’s legacy may continue to be sustained in Ethiopia, his region and indeed in Africa. I pray that God may grant his family, friends and well-wishers the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Meles will be missed in the different roles he had played.

May Meles Zenawi’s gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

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