Saturday, September 22, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Soyinka to Jonathan

You are suffering from bad conscience

P. 12

N150

Presidency to probe Aviation Minister Vol. 02 No. 41

Saturday, September 22, 2012

•Unions lift suspension • Arik refuses to fly ...Arik’s N7.2bn debt killing our business –FAAN

P. 7

KOGI GOES UNDER

Military kill 2 Boko Haram commanders, capture 8 INSIDE 15 yr-old girl defiled by police officer, raped by shop keeper

Fulani herdsmen unleash terror in Adamawa P. 54 P. 38

Benin ‘horse baby’ church relocates

P. 49

P. 8

Woman

Adesola Akindele ele Big ladies get more attention from men

P. 24

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Saturday Starter

The Internet and you

How to avoid Cynthia’s error Facebook, Twitter, Badoo, Google, Instagram, My Space.... These names have brought new realities into human existence. While they offer a new world of exciting and seemingly limitless possibilities, they also have a dark side, as aptly exemplified by the story of Cynthia Osokogu. Kayode Falade took up a wide range of experts on how to steer clear of the soft underbelly of the Internet

he sight is ubiquitous. Men, women, boys and girls, heads bowed, fiddling with GSM handsets, Ipads, Ipods, palmtop and laptop computers. A closer look would most often than not reveal that these people are busy accessing one social network or the other particularly Facebook and Twitter. The fad, if it may be so called, cuts across age and social strata. In the confines of homes, offices, commercial buses, private vehicles and even on the streets. It is there: the upsurge in the use of the internet by Nigerians. “When the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) was standardised and the concept of a world-wide network of fully interconnected TCP/IP networks called the internet was introduced in 1982 little did we know that it was going to form the basis for virtually all transactions in the world”, said David Isiavwe, President, the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN). He continued: “As the internet evolved and with its eventual commercialization in 1995, the emphasis then was on interconnectivity and performance. Nobody considered that the bad guys could explore this same network to wreck havoc of various degrees to interconnected information systems. “Today, virtually everything that we do, from government, banking, aviation, navigation, warfare, banking, health, telecommunication, power systems, etc have come to depend heavily on the internet. This depen-

dency will continue to increase despite the security concerns. “Access to the internet is increasing everyday in geometric progression, especially with the advent of mobile computing devices like the smart phones and tablets. Internet banking, e-commerce, e-government, mobile money transfer, e-learning etc are some of the internet based innovations and despite the security threats, the convenience they provide cannot be traded off for anything”. Though Isiavwe had observed that “nobody considered that the bad guys could explore this same network to wreck havoc of various degrees to interconnected information systems, it is sadly the case today. Of more frightening magnitude is the bad guys’ application of the crooked expertise to their fellow humans especially via the social media. Social media according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, employ web- and mobile-based technologies to support interactive dialogue and “introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communication between organisations, communities, and individuals,” adding that “In the year 2012, social media became one of the most powerful sources for news updates through platforms like Twitter and Facebook.” Dr. John Lekan Oyefara, who teaches Sociology in the University of Lagos explains further. “Digital interacCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Where Cynthia went wrong –Experts Dr. John Lekan Oyefara, senir lecturer of Sociology, University of Lagos.

Oluseyi Akindeinde, an Information security consultant answers the simple question: Where did Cynthia go wrong?

“C

here do you think Cynthia went wrong? What are the things she did not do which she ought to have done? I think generally a lot of us are prone to meeting somebody online and quickly becoming their friends. Since it is a social platform, even some people whom you have not seen in ages, you meet them and you want to meet up with them and all those kinds of things. What she should have done was perhaps try to look for a mutual friend to confirm the validity of the people inviting her if they really have goods for sale or not if they are really into that line of business. That thing could have helped. But unfortunately she did not do that. I think she probably must have had one or two mutual friends and could have confirmed the details of the people she wanted to meet if she had to leave one location for the other. It’s good to be sure that people are really what they claim they are. It’s good to confirm from other sources. You have to do this for even people who you know but have not seen for a while. It’s always better to confirm from a third

Osokogu

party. This is especially for the people you have not met but in Facebook communication.

ynthia must have trusted the friend so much for her to leave Nassarawa State where she was based to go all the way to Lagos in search of a friend she had never met. “It is lesson. It is good to make friends through these means but because you don’t know the intention of the unknown so there is need for great caution. Cynthia must have been naive for her to have trusted that much within such a short span without even knowing the person personally. “There is something you call socialisation. You know Cynthia was a daughter of a General and from her background, she must have had access to so many things and must have been given some high level of freedom and she must have lacked skills in terms of ability to be able to assess people properly. She trusted too easily. Even someone that has been close to you for years, you may not be able to trust that person just as in the case of some couple, who may have been married for years yet the wife or the husband may have extramarital affairs without the knowledge of the wife or husband. Humans have different colours, they are unpredictable. If her ability to assess was good, she would have invited the guy to come down to where she was rather than going to meet him.”

...She experienced the ugly side of digital culture Dr John Lekan Oyefara is a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos. He spoke with FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON.

ow would you describe the impact of digital interaction on the Nigerian society at large is it a plus or a minus? Digital interaction is another level of development that could be described as a by product of globalisation. Globalization has brought a lot of things to the system of which digital interaction is one of them. It is dynamic and multifaceted. We have various sites online like Facebook, Badoo, Twitter, Google, 2go and a host of others where people can relate and interact with one another to transact business and for other socialization purposes. As a matter of fact, some have met their life partners on the net while others have transacted businesses that had changed their lives for good online. Primarily, digital interaction is an advantageous and useful platform for the society. However, like other social realities, it has its own disadvantages; there is no social reality without its consequences. For instance, marriage is a social reality that is intended to give joy, friendship, companionship relaxation and lasting bliss but there have been many cases of love gone bizarre in some marriages that has led to very bitter ends. An example is that of a young banker who was murdered in cold blood by her husband that is, meant to give her joy some months ago. When you see them in their wedding attire, you will think that they will

live happily ever after but see how it ended so terribly. So there is no social reality without its disadvantages and the same goes for digital interaction. For instance, the case of Cynthia that was killed recently that you mentioned previously was one of the disadvantaged ones, you have some who have been victims of internet scam that have been defrauded by some people, and like I earlier said, some have benefitted positively from it as well. How has digital culture influenced our own culture? Don’t forget that culture is dynamic and that means it keeps changing from time to time. We have our traditional culture and Nigeria is now in a traditional stage. We are moving from traditional

culture. For instance, look at the culture of respect for parents, the culture of virginity. Most of these things are fading by the day. In today’s society, do we even talk about virginity again? There was also a culture of honesty which has also faded. I can remember when I was young, in the village, people would put their market down and use stone to tell you the amount and go away and people who wanted to buy would buy whatever they wanted to and put the money under the leaves and go their way even when there was nobody there to attend to them. Today can you leave your wares unattended to without people stealing Oyefara them? Thus our culture is fast fading to the modern and so we are in between and this has been on even before the the western culture and our own original CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

September 22, 2012

Dr Bernard Ikegwuoha is a senior lecturer at the University of Maryland in the United States. He spoke with FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON.

ow would you describe the impact of digital interaction on the Nigerian society at large considering the recent development in the case of the murdered Cynthia? I honestly can’t understand why every good thing of life that has been tested and working well in most western countries can not simply work out well with us here. Imagine the digital interaction that most countries of the world have used to their advantage in many areas of life such socialising, transacting businesses and a host of other things is now a source of bitter experiences here, it is indeed very sad. The only reason things are like this is because everyone is corrupt and this has led many people into doing and scheming terrible things. This has affected every facet of life and activities. Another reason is the fact that many of our youths are jobless and you know that a hungry person is an angry person and

‘It was youthful exuberance’ this has led many to coming up with evil schemes in the name of looking for what to eat. But in many situations than one, most of these people involved are not even from the poor class, you have a lot of them from the middle and rich class Apart from corruption, parental guidance is no more here. These days most parents are just too busy to attend to the needs of their children. When I talk of needs, it is not only in the monetary sense alone; they do not have time to attend to their moral and emotional support. In those days when we were growing up, when we wake up in the mornings, our parents would pray for us, call us different native names called Oriki and at the end of it all, they would tell you that you should always remember the son or daughter of whom you are. These days, parents don’t nurture children anymore; they don’t even have the time to do anything with them. All they do is drop money for them to use at their disposal but raring children involves more than that. This gap is what has affected the society so much.

What can be done to avert these ills? The thing to be done is for parents to be more alert to their responsibilities and take the lead in teaching and admonishing their children in all of these areas. You know that at a point in a child’s life, he or she will experience what is called

youthful exuberance but with proper monitoring and tutorials from the parents, they will improve with time. For instance recently in university of Ibadan here, a number of students were flushed out of the system because of poor performance and when research was carried out on why they could not meet up, it was discovered that over seventy percent of them were using blackberry. This means they were distracted and distraction they say is the greatest enemy of distinction. So it is majorly a parental factor. Parents should take the lead in attending to the emotional and moral needs of the children and not just the monetary aspect alone. We now live in a merciless society where death means almost nothing to the young ones of today. When we were growing up, crime rate was not as high as we now have. When you hear that someone is dead in the neighbourhood, fear will not even let you get there but these days there are dead people all over the place and our youths don’t see anything to it again and that is why we have unprecedented cases of crime and death.

caution. Every user of the social media must exercise caution in how they relate to people they meet online. He also advised that social media users should go the extra mile in confirming the claims made by their would-be friends or business associates. “One of the things one should endeavour to do is to confirm their claims from the mutual friends you have. One should try to ask questions like have you seen this person in the last three months, how is the person, what is he doing now and so on? This is to have enough information on the individual. You just don’t add somebody you have never seen physically and go and add to your list of friends. If they have their contacts or places of employment online, you could actually call to ask if such a fellow works there or live there. All these would help in deciding what to do,” Akindeinde warned. The information security consultant warned further: “If somebody is keeping so much information closed, then why do you want to accept their friend request? If somebody is a legitimate partner of friend he would not be keeping such information from you. If you want me to have interaction with you, you should at least give me certain information that I

will need to asses you. Some of them even use photographs of other people especially that of celebrities as their profile pictures. You don’t need to accept such people as your friends on Facebook or any other social network. These are some of the things they do and by the time you find out you discover that they are faceless people. One should also use all the social networking application on social media with a bit of caution.” Oyefara, however, added: “There are ways to go about it. The first one is at the domestic level; parents must get more involved in the lives of their children and start to teach them young on the values and ways of doing things. If you see all kind of things that these young ones do online you will be shocked. They need to enlighten these young ones from home on the good the bad and the ugly of these interactive tools and help them make the best use of them and maximise its advantageous potentials while abstaining from the disadvantages. It is important for it to start from home. Secondly, the schools can also do a lot. Right from the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, they all can do so much in inculcating good values into the minds of these young ones and to let them know the various pitfalls in using these digital platforms for bad things as well as the terrible consequences that could ensue if one does. Religion is another medium that could be used to address the situation to pass this vital information on. In churches or in mosques one could help them see the need to do things right and interact with people with proper intentions. For instance if you take a look at the handsets of some of our young ones, you will be shocked at the kind of funny things you will find there. Pornography and all what have you are all there. There is need for every hand to be on deck in righting the many wrongs of our society.”

Ikegwuoha

The Internet and you CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 tion is another level of development that could be described as a by product of globalisation. Globalisation has brought a lot of things to the system of which digital interaction is one of them. It is dynamic and multifaceted. We have various sites online like Facebook, Badoo, Twitter, Google, 2go and a host of others where people can relate and interact with one another to transact business and for other socialization purposes. As a matter of fact, some have met their life partners on the net while others have transacted businesses that had changed their lives for good online. Primarily, digital interaction is an advantageous and useful platform for the society.” However, as good as the merits may be, the downsides are now not only baring their angry fangs at the Nigerian public, they are gradually decapitating its numbers. In other lands especially the western world cases of crimes perpetrated through the use of the internet are no longer strange. Cases which are gory and blood curling have been recorded in these places. These and efforts to stem the tide had made governments and organisations educate their citizens on what and what not of using the internet especially the social media. This has not been so in Nigeria until lately when the nation was rudely made aware of the gory and blood chilling case of Cynthia Ozogwu, a 23-year-old post0graduate student and daughter of Major General Frank Ozogwu. She had left her home in Lafia, Nassarawa State for Lagos on the invitation of some friends she met on Facebook. They had a business deal. The young entrepreneur had bid her parents farewell and left for Lagos. When communication with her became impos-

sible, her apprehensive and now suspicious parents approached the police and she was declared missing. About a month later, her body was discovered at the mortuary of a Lagos Government Hospital. She had been sexually assaulted and then strangled. Further investigations revealed that the acts were actually committed by her Facebook friends. This was probably the rude awakening the Nigerian public needed to make it aware of the many dangers inherent in the seemingly harmless acceptance of a friend request on Facebook or even making public some pieces of information about themselves. Oluseyi Akindeinde is an Information security consultant. He is a partner in Digital Encode. To him there are two sides to a coin, hence the internet having its own down sides. This also applies to the social media. “The good side is that it keeps you connected to families and friends and some of your old colleagues. You can also get to see what everybody is doing. The downside is that you probably get to see people that you would have never seen so you don’t actually know them or what they are up to,” he added. However, to him, the watch word is

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Starter

‘There are two sides to the Internet’

web protection and all that so that if anybody wants to try and see if they could hack into your system, it becomes very difficult for them. Also, you do not visit any site. If I send you an email and you are not expecting a mail from me but I now send a link to you and say click here. You should not click anything except you know the person that has sent you the email. Again, one should be vigilant and observant. Then, awareness also matters a lot. People should be aware that it is not everything in the internet you should romance or click. Some of them are good while the others are bad. There are some you should avoid and there are some you should walk away from. Virus is there, worms are there and you do not want to destroy your system But it is not every time that one comes across people asking to be added as friends that they share mutual friends.

Oluseyi Akindeinde, an Information security consultant is a partner in Digital Encode, an IT security firm. He spoke to KAYODE FALADE on the good, the bad and the ugly side of Internet use.

hat is the percentage of Nigerians who use the internet? The influx of GSM handsets which have internet facilities have actually shot up the number of Nigerians using the internet. I don’t have the exact figures but I am sure that no fewer than 20 per cent of Nigerians are now using the internet. It is true that the internet has further reduced the world to global village. However, is it all good coming from the internet? Of course, anything that is good can also be used for evil. Yes, it can be said that the majority of the things from the internet is good. However, as in all things that are good there are some downsides to it as well. It has been good but it could be better. For instance the internet as it is being used now could be used for virtually everything. It is used commercial activities; people go to school on line, security and all that. And in anything like that there would be some individuals who would like to cheat the system either by buying goods without paying or perpetuating frauds. This is one of the challenges we have especially with the introduction of the cashless policy whereby everything will be done online, there would be fraudsters and there would be people who would want to cheat the system. Do you think Nigeria as a country actually possesses the facilities or wherewithal to actually practise the cashless policy? There are two ways to answer this. One can say yes and one can also say no. Why I say yes is that sometimes you don’t really know you are prepared for something until you try it. Just like when the mobile phone came in 2001 we were not sure there would be capacity to operate. There were a lot of teething problems but we overcame them. The same thing with this cashless policy introduced by the CBN. I think there is an opportunity for us to take advantage of the programme and see where it goes wrong. I will say that we are ready but because of the infrastructural challenges I will also say we are not ready. But by and large, I think it is better to give it a trial.

Coming to the social media, what are the good and bad sides? The good side is that it keeps you connected to families and friends and some of your old colleagues. You can also get to see what everybody is doing. The downside is that you probably get to see people that you would have never seen so you don’t actually know them or what they are up to. But hasn’t it taken over or threatening to take over the face-to-face

communication? But it has also helped. Gone are the days you would want to visiting somebody but you would not be sure whether or not that person was around or had travelled. For instance, you live on the Island and you want to visit a person on the Mainland, you would not know whether the person was around or not. You only get there to discover that the person is not around. But right now with chatting, BBM and SMS you can tell the person, if am coming to see at a particular time would you be around or not. What happens now is that you save cost, you save money and you save time. I would not say it is taking over; it is only complementing what we have. It is not as if people no longer visiting one another or people don’t go out again. No. It is just helping in that area to fast track everything. When somebody paid into your bank account you quickly get an alert. You do not need to go to the bank to confirm. It is facilitating a lot of things that hitherto would have been difficult to do. If one intends forging a relationship with persons they met online, what are the things to watch out for? One of the things one should endeavour to do is to confirm their claims from the mutual friends you have. One should try to ask questions like have you seen this person in the last three months, how is the person, what is he doing now and so on. This is to have enough information on the individual. You just don’t add somebody you have never seen physically and go and add to your list of friends. If they have their contacts or place of employment online, you could actually call to ask if such a fellow works there or live there. All these would help in deciding what to do. This is one of the few things people should do. What of if the person does not provide all these pieces of information? Then in that case you don’t accept the person as your friend. If somebody is keeping so much information closed, then why do you want to accept his friend request? If somebody is a legitimate partner of friend he would to be keeping such information from you. If you want me to have interaction with you, you should at

Akindeinde

least give me certain information that I will need to asses you. Some of them even use photographs of other people especially that of celebrities as their profile pictures. You don’t need to accept such people as your friends on facebook or any other social network. These are some of the things they do and by the time you find out you discover that they are faceless people. One should also use all the social networking application on social media with a bit of caution. Recently, some notable Nigerians including the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola raised the alarm that their names were being used on the internet to perpetrate fraud. How do we guide against such practice? Again it still boils down to confirmation. If someone gets in touch with you claiming he is the governor of a state or even President, it behoves on you to confirm. There is a saying that you trust people but you confirm. You have to confirm what anybody claims. So, confirmation is very key in that regard. The only way you can prevent hackers is to secure your own system. So, if you are going online at any time with your computer, handset or any other device, it is good to install some of these software that protect the system such as antivirus,

How easy is it to guide against hackers? It is quite easy. All you have to do is to do due diligence. All you have to do is to install some security apparatus You can install a lot of free antivirus application free firewall that one can get on the internet. How easy is it to hack? Sometimes it easy and sometimes it is not. If your password is not something that is unusual they might be able to hack it. But if your password is something they cannot easily get that would at least keep the hackers out. What are the security devices that one can install? You can install as lot of free antivirus application to ward off viruses, free anti virus detection soft ware, free firewall that one can get online especially for personal use and that would actually guard against people who may try to intrude into your system How easy is it to hack? It depends. Sometimes it is easy and some other times it is not. If your password is not something unusual then it may be easy for hackers to get in into you. For instance, using your name, your date of birth, that of your children as your PIN is dangerous. It always easy for hackers to hack. It can also be difficult if you decide to make your system more secured if your password is long enough that nobody can guess.

...The ugly side of digital culture CONTINUED FROM 4 influx of digital interaction, it is just that digital interaction has fastened up the fading of these culture and values. It has made them more rapid to fade. The wrong thing I think we are doing is to not protect our own culture. It is

good to assess the global world but also protect our culture. For instance, China would assess global world take the good in it and yet protect their own culture. That we have not been able to do. Look at all of us here now, none of us is putting on our traditional attire, even

your hair, none is braided; we want to look like them and they don’t want to look like us because they are comfortable the way they are. So I think what is left for us to is to protect our culture against all odds and this has to start from the homes.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

September 22, 2012

Arik Air crisis: Presidency to probe Oduah

•Union lifts suspension •Airline refuses to start operations •Debt killing our business -FAAN OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he crisis in the aviation sector which led to the suspension Arik Air on Thursday has taken a new twist as the Presidency may have instituted a probe of the aviation minister, Stella Ada Oduah. The probe, according to reliable Presidency sources, follows indications that some top government officials have allegedly been demanding extraneous cut in the stake of some airlines. Already, the Police, State Security Service (SSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are said to have been set in motion to begin some background work. The source also said that the minister might be summoned for questioning on Monday. Sources close to Arik Air had alleged on Thursday that the Aviation minister demanded a 5 per cent cut in the airline’s stake failing

which she would be hostile. The alleged involvement of the minister in questionalble requests is not the first in recent times. Investigation had revealed that a company she has interest in, SPG, was involved in the fuel subsidy scam which was uncovered by the House of Representatives Committee on fuel subsidy regime. The Hon. Farouk Lawanled committee which indicted Oduah’s company said that some claims made by the company, among other indicted ones, “could not be verified as the depots into which they purportedly dischared the products could not confirm receipt.” Meanwhile, the managements of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday said that the aviation unions had lifted the suspension placed on the operations of Arik Air over the alleged debt to FAAN.

But, the management of Arik said that the suspension of all its flight operations continued despite the lifting of suspension placed on its operations by the agencies. In a joint briefing spearheaded by the DirectorGeneral of NCAA, Dr. Hrold Demuren, at the FAAN’s headquarters, the managing directors of FAAN and NAMA, Mr. George Uriesi and Engr. Nnamdi Udoh respectively said that they had appealed to the unions to soft-pedal on their stands, which they (unions) had agreed to after an extensive meeting with their leaders in Lagos. At the meeting with the unions, Demuren said that the management of Arik Air was not represented. Uriesi of FAAN however, insisted that Arik was massively indebted to it to the tune of over N7bn and $38, 000 contrary to the claim by the airline that it was only indebted to it to the tune of N1.6bn. He emphasised that the

management was not in support of the action taken by the unions and described such as counter-productive most especially when the management was already looking for a way to recover its debts from the airline. He equally informed that Arik Air some time in the year wrote a letter to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which commenced the collection of aeronautical charges in March after the former concessionaire; Maevis Nigeria Limited was dislodged following controversies that trailed its operations that it should be exempted from the billings at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. He however described this as novel, saying that the IATA’s Billing Settlement Plan (BSP) was the best platform for the reconciliation of debts anywhere in the world. Uriesi explained that the issue that led to the grounding of the operations of the airline was yet to be resolved

by both parties, adding that government was not interested in killing any airline in the country. Also speaking, NAMA helmsman, Engr. Nnamdi Udoh said Arik Air remained its biggest customer and would continually promote its operations in order to remain in business. Demuren on his part said that in 2012 alone, NCAA had billed Arik Air N1.09bn on the 5 per cent ticket sales charge, which it deducts at source, adding that so far, it had been able to recover N970m out of the charges. Speaking on telephone with our correspondent, the

image maker of Arik Air, Mr. Banji Ola, said the airline was yet to be communicated to on the latest development, adding that it was yet to return to flight operations. Hundreds of passengers struggled to fly with the remaining existing airlines yesterday as the suspension of operations by Arik Air continues. In a related development, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi, has said that the massive debts owed it by Arik Air has prevented it from carrying out its obligations to the members of the public.

Alleged $620,000 subsidy scam: Farouk Lawan has no case to answer –Ozekhome EMMANUEL ONANI

s permutations on when the prosecution of Honourable Farouk Lawan over his alleged complicity in the $620, 000 bribe-for-clearance deal will commence, his lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has maintained that Lawan has no case to answer. In a telephone interview with Saturday Mirror yesterday, Ozekhome noted that, “Lawan has no case to answer, going by the indices of investigation.” It would be recalled that Lawan’s “confessional statement” to the police to

the effect that the controversial bribe sum was kept with the House committee chairman on Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba, has been punctured by Jagaba, who addressed a press conference where he threatened to drag Lawan to court if the latter does not apologise over the “misleading” claim. He noted that, “Hon. Farouk Lawan alleged that he wrote a letter to me attaching $500,000. That is callously untrue and in fact, calculated to smear my hard-earned reputation, a reputation I painstakingly built since 1999. I never received any letter, or money, or any other exhibit from Farouk…”

Jonathan presents 2013 budget October 4 –Iweala TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

L-R: Author of the book and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, and Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, who represented the Senate President, Sen. Nurudeen Usman, during the public presentation of a book on remaking Niger Delta Challenges and Opportunities in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Cynthia Osokogu: IGP promotes investigators OMEIZA AJAYI

he Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has promoted seven police officers and men who tracked down those responsible for the murder of a 24-year old postgraduate student, Cynthia Osokogu. The team is made up of ACP Damian Okoro; DSP Imoh Gregory; W/ASP Ogunmolasuyi Mariam; ASP

Agbaje Yakubu; Insp. Edoh; W/Sgt. Patience Biokoro and Sgt. Frank Okorobon. They are all drawn from the Area “E” Festac Division of the Lagos State Command. Mr. Abubakar elevated the policemen to their next ranks even as they were also accorded a civic recognition award by the National Orientation Agency (NOA). The event which held at the IGP Conference Hall within the Force Headquarters in Abuja saw Mr. Abubakar and

the Director General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, handing over medals and undisclosed sums to the members of the team. Late Miss Osokogu was the last and only daughter of retired Major General Frank Osokogu and his wife Joy. She was declared missing on July 22, just few weeks to her 25th birthday. According to reports, Miss Osokogu had gone to Lagos to purchase goods for her boutique in Nasarawa State and

also kept a date with a few Facebook friends who had allegedly paid her air fares. She was allegedly lured to a hotel in FESTAC where she was drugged, raped and killed. Her alleged killers have since been charged to court. They were said to be her Facebook friends who were part of a syndicate that specialises in luring young women to Lagos, dispossess them of their resources before raping and murdering them.

resident Goodluck Jonathan will, on October 4, formally table the 2013 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has disclosed. The minister, who gave the hint at a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, said timely presentation of the bill was in line with the president’s promise of getting the proposals ready by September as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of implementation of yearly budgets. She said government was doing everything to fine-

tune the proposals before the president will lay it before the Legislature and that talks were going on with members of the National Assembly on how best to ensure timely passage of the bill. “We will still fine-tune it before President Jonathan formerly presents it to the National Assembly. But the overall intention is that we want to reverse the trend of late implementation of budgets. The President wants to give the National Assembly adequate time to consider the budget”, the minister said. Although she did not speak on the details of the Appropriation Bill, OkonjoIweala expressed hope for its timely passage since discussions with the members of the National Assembly have been “very fruitful”.

NATIONAL NEWS

September 22, 2012

Military to terrorists: You can’t force your ideas on Nigerians SEGUN ADIO

hief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Olusegun Petinrin, has urged Nigerians with terrorist tendencies to channel their grievances through legitimate means by seeking elective office, even to the highest office in the land. This, Petinrin said, is a better way to make the citizenry share their ideology and possibly follow it. The defence chief said this yesterday in Lagos at

the commissioning of the dog centre of the Nigerian Army said to be the first of its kind in West Africa. It is located at Ipaja, Lagos State. Petinrin, who lauded the service for establishing the centre, urged terrorists to join political parties, sell their manifestoes and woo Nigerians to vote for them after which they could begin to make Nigerians see the world in their own ways. About 50 dogs were certified fit to sniff out and identify any Improvised Explosive Devise (IEDs), nar-

cotics, terrorists and other security risk items. Several blocks of flats for the officers and men as well as the 50 dogs were also commissioned by the defence chief. Said Petinrin: “Anybody or group has the right to have that aspiration to rule Nigeria by a certain set of rules. But the way to do it is to form a political party, contest an election and then the rest of us, even if we do not vote for you, we will subject ourselves to you. But for anybody or group who has not formed a political party,

has not won an election, to want to impose a type of rule on the country, it will never happen.” Speaking to journalists at the event, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Onyeabo Ihejirika, said the establishment of the dog centre is to enhance the capability of the service to deal with contemporary challenges facing the country. He maintained that introducing dogs to fight terrorism is informed by the sensory capability of the animal species.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, flanked by a cross section of community leaders, during the distribution and presentation of cheques for community development projects to 26 communities in the state, yesterday.

IGP orders arrest of abusers of siren •Launches 50 patrol vehicles OMEIZA AJAYI

ngered by the nonadherence of some motorists to the regulated use of sirens, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has again directed Command Commissioners of Police across the country to embark on the arrest of politicians or businessmen and other motorists who use sirens indiscriminately.

He lamented what he called a serious abuse of siren by unauthorised persons. Mr. Abubakar spoke yesterday during the official commissioning of 40 border and 10 highway patrol vehicles at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. According to him, banks and other companies that are not covered in the list of authorised users of sirens would henceforth be reprimanded. “Let me use this oppor-

tunity to warn that we have noticed a serious abuse of the use of sirens in the country. When you come to Abuja there are certain number of people who are allowed to use sirens. Therefore, all commissioners of police are hereby directed to check the abuse of sirens on our highways and state roads so that we can be able to control it and obey the law on the use of sirens. “There are certain cat-

egories of people who are supposed to use sirens: “Mr. President, the vice president, the Senate President, Speaker, their deputies, the state governors and the service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, GOCs, DIGs, AIGs, commissioners of police. Even where the police use siren, it is primarily when they are going for operation. You cannot just start using sirens like that. Therefore, enforcement is going to take place,” Abubakar stated.

Boko Haram: Military kills 2 commanders, captures 8

igerian security forces fighting the Boko Haram Islamist sect in the NorthEast of the country said on Friday that they had killed two commanders from the group and arrested eight other members in two separate incidents. This is according to reports from Reuters.

The sect has killed hundreds in attacks on security forces, government offices and churches since launching an uprising in 2009 with the aim of carving out an Islamic state. Agents from the secret service stopped a car at a check point on the outskirts of Maiduguri on Wednesday and the occupants

opened fire on them, said Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for the Joint Military Task Force in the North-Eastern city. He said security forces returned fire and killed the commanders. “The two sect members were top commanders coordinating the sect activities in Mubi and Yola, in Adama-

wa and Yobe states,” Musa said, He added that in a separate incident in Maiduguri, eight Boko Haram suspects were arrested. The details could not be independently verified and there was no immediate response from Boko Haram, which is based in Maiduguri.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP’ll win South-West back –Fayose YEMISI ADENIRAN

ormer governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has restated the determination of the People’s Demcoratic Party (PDP) to win back the SouthWest from the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) and the Labour Party. His declaration came barely a week after he was re-admitted into the PDP after a long time of absence. Speaking in an interview with our correspondent during the week, Fayose declared that the incumbency factor was not a criteria for returning into office after the next election. According to him, with commitment and the help of God, the PDP would win back the South-West. He said as far as he was concerned, nothing was actually impossible. His words: “Nothing is permanent. I am sure the ACN party never thought they could gain as much ground as they have gotten presently. One thing that is clear is that no one can be in power forever. This, everyone should know. In short, anything is possible.” His words: “The very day you start politics, you either start achieving or you start failing. I will not be one of

those who will say because a party is ruling now, it can hold it till eternity, No! In the North, CPC came and swept so many people off their feet. Who gave them the chance? No one. So, telling anybody that because he is in government today, he will be there indefinitely will be day-dreaming. To me, we will continue to work, trusting God that it is possible to turn the table around in the South-West.” The former governor who spoke about the travail that led to his ouster from the party a few years ago said his return to the party was similar to the case of one falling and rising again. He said during his travail, many of the members of the PDP tramped upon him, notwithstanding his position as a governor. He said however that with a strong will and dedication, he surmounted all the odds and remained steadfast in his commitment to the grassroots. He said it was the realization of his clout that made the party to come and seek for him after many years. While stressing that he had learnt his lesson, he declared that more than ever, he would continue to invest in the common people as that was his sustaining power today.

Politics

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fayose

Tukur

September 22, 2012

Daniel

Ladoja

PDP: Enlarging its family ahead of 2015 TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

he 2015 general elections may still be far away, but it is certainly not so to political gladiators. In fact, the intrigues and permutations ahead of the elections have started. At present, all the major political parties in the country are already putting their acts together for a successful outing in the elections that is still some two years away. While the opposition parties are strategically initiating a merger to send the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of Aso Rock in 2015, PDP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the seat of power beyond 2015. In view of the preparations by the ruling party to remain in power, its National Working Committee (NWC) led by its chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has been doing everything possible to ensure that members of the party remain in the fold. The party’s leadership has also initiated several peace moves to bring all the warring members who have left the party back to the fold. It would be recalled that at the beginning of the present republic, PDP, during the April 1999 general election won the presidential election and produced 21 governors. The Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Peoples Party (APP) produced six and nine governors respectively. Following the registration of many political parties ahead of the 2003 general

elections, some disgruntled members left the PDP, AD and APP to form different political parties. But despite the exodus of some members, PDP became stronger. During the 2003 general elections, PDP capitalised on the leadership tussles in some of the opposition parties, to win the presidential election and also extended its area of control from 21 states to 28, leaving only eight states in the hands of the opposition parties. Following the brilliant performance of the PDP during the 2003 general elections, other political parties woke up from their slumber. They therefore begun a merger talk on how to take over some of the states they lost to PDP and to possibly have a taste of the power at the centre. On the part of the PDP, there were succession crises and the party was divided into two major factions. While one was led by the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the other was led by Vice President Atiku Abubakar. In view of the crack in the PDP and other political parties, some major opposition parties and disgruntled members of the PDP, prior to the 2007 general elections, initiated an alliances move to weaken PDP’s strength in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Prior to the 2007 general elections, the alliance moves yielded fruit. Some disgruntled members of the PDP, led by Atiku and former PDP chairmen, Chief Audu Ogbeh joined the Chief Bisi Akande-led AD and some leaders of the APP and Action Congress of Democrats (ACD)

among others to form the Action Congress. In the same vein, the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, led some disgruntled members of the PDP to form an alliance with some other opposition parties. They emerged with the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA). Some PDP members also joined Labour Party and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to seek for political offices. During the 2007 governorship elections, many PDP governorship candidates who were denied gubernatorial ticket found a platform in some of the opposition parties to test their popularity. At the end of the election, PDP’s strength was redueced as they lost some states to AC, ANPP and PPA. PDP, after the election, through several court verdicts, also lost five states - Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states to opposition parties. After the election had been lost and won, some key members of the PDP who could not benefit from their defection or alliance returned to the party. The likes of Atiku, Governors Issa Yuguda (Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Chief Ikedia Ohahim (Imo), and many others dumped the respected platform upon which they contested during 2007 general elections to return to PDP. While PDP was still battling with their loss during and after the 2007 elections, some of its members also defected from the party in preparation for the 2011 general elections. The internal crises in the party, especially at the state levels, also forced

some state governors and party chieftain to dump PDP for new parties. With mass exodus of members, PDP lost the grip of some states like Ogun, Oyo and Imo to the opposition parties. In obvious awe of the consequence of the loss of its members, Tukur has since his emergence as the PDP national chairman championed the cause of bringing some of the party’s disgruntled members back into the fold. The Tukur-led NWC commissioned different reconciliation committees and tasked them to bring back all the disgruntled members who have left the party. In less than six months, the task seems to be yielding fruits as the reconciliation committees have virtually touched many parts of the country and persuaded some disgruntled members to return to PDP. In what seem to mark the return of some ‘generals’ back to PDP, former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, was formally re-admitted into PDP last week by the party’s NWC. The party, after its 315th regular meeting held at its national headquarters, resolved to ratify the readmission of Fayose into the PDP with effect from September 14, 2011. The NWC therefore approved a waiver for Fayose in line with the provision of Article 8(a) and Article 17.2 (g) of the PDP Constitution with effect from September 14, 2011. According to a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, with the granting of waiver to CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

POLITICS

September 22, 2012

‘N5,000 note will enslave Nigerians’ Alhaji Ado Shuibu Dansudu, the President of Arewa United Consultative Forum and National Vice Chairman of Arewa Youths Development Association, believes that the introduction of N5,000 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will turn many Nigerians into slaves. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the state of insecurity, 2015 general elections, sovereign national conference, resource control and other issues. Excerpts:

ow do feel you about the state of insecurity in Nigeria, especially the high rate of assassinations and bombings in the Northern part of the country? I feel very bad about the level of insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the North. I am not happy with the gross lost of lives. With what is happening in the North, many people have come to the conclusion that there is a hidden agenda behind the activities of Boko Haram. We believe it is not only Boko Haram that is behind the various assassinations and bombings in the country. There is no way the Boko Haram members will have access to some of the weapons and ammunitions they are using if there are no powerful and selfish people behind them. The discovery of a bomb factory in Kogi State and arrest of some non-Northerners as members of Boko Haram has shown clearly that it is a very serious hidden agenda against the North. What do you mean by serious hidden agenda against the North? The insurgency in the North is a hidden agenda to weaken the North; to weaken the Northern youths. Those behind the hidden agenda believe once they weaken the North, they can easily divide the country. The situation in the North is sympathetic because many innocent people have been killed during various attacks by Boko Haram. Many women have become widows and many children orphans. Something urgent must be done to provide solutions to the

Dansudu

insurgency in the North. You said there is a hidden agenda behind the insecurity in the North, but some are alleging that some prominent Northerners are behind the crisis… I don’t believe the Northerners are behind the problems because if they are behind it, the attack will not be carried out in Northern states. How can somebody be killing his kinsmen to prove a point? I don’t believe that some Northern leaders are behind the issue. And if there is any investigations that shows that Northerners are behind the problem, government should arrest anybody that is found guilty. Nigeria is where we are today because of tribalism, sectionalism and religious differences which they have used to poison many people’s mind. There is so much injustice and marginalisation in the country and that is the major reason behind many of the problems in Nigeria today. Government must find a solution to the insecurity problem. They must im-

prove on security by empowering all the security agencies. Nigeria security agencies must be provided with modern day’s equipment and ammunitions for them to be able to fight crime successfully. Government must provide more armoured tanks, helicopters and communication gadgets for the police. I believe that with helicopters, it would be easy for police to track down criminals during their operation. It is saddening that the government doesn’t care about the masses and that is why many Nigerians are being killed at different parts of the country because government cannot provide adequate security of life and properties. On yearly basis government is devoting billions of Naira to security but there is nothing to show for it considering the high rate of crime in the country. What is your reaction to the controversy over where the next president should come from? I don’t believe in rotational president. Tribalism, ethnic and religious sentiment are the causes of rotational

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

presidency and it is high time we ended it. What we should be thinking of is finding the right people to steer the ship of the country and not allowing mediocre take over public office in the name of rotating public offices. What Nigeria needs is a good leader and the person can come from any part of the country. We need credible people to rule this country. We need people with experience and integrity in public offices. It is high time we put an end to rotational presidency because it is drawing us back as a country. Another issue that is generating controversy is the call for the creation of state police. Do you believe in state police? I don’t believe in Nigeria having a state police now. We can have state police, but not know. Why? We cannot have state police now because of tribalism, sectionalism, religious and ethnic differences. In a place where the Muslims are in the majority, Christians are not safe and in a place where the Christians are majority, Muslims are not safe. Even as at today that we don’t have state police, there are some areas which people of some tribes cannot go to. Nigeria is not mature for state police now. We can get state police when we believe in unity without any ethnic or religious differences. What is your view about the plan to introduce N5,000 note by the CBN? At present the cashless economy policy is affecting many people in the country, yet CBN is talking about introducing N5,000 banknote. I believe the introduction of the N5,000 note will turn many Nigerians into slaves. I believe those behind the move are people who don’t mean well for Nigeria. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, should come out to tell us the truth about the state of the Nigerian economy. I believe Nigerian economy is in a bad state and that is why CBN is planning to introduce high denomination to increase the value of our money. At present many countries’ highest currency denomination is not more than 1,000. The highest denomination in Britain is 50 Pounds as strong as they are. The highest denomination in the United States of America is $100. In all the European countries, the highest denomination is 500 Euro. The highest denomination Japan has is 1,000 Japanese Yen. If our economy is good, why is CBN rushing to produce N5, 000 banknote? The introduction of the N5, 000 banknote is going to create avenues for some people to loot from the treasury and it is also going to open ways for some corrupt people to steal and take our money abroad. They want Nigerians to continue suffering because we have millions of people who have never held N5, 000 in their lifetime. The introduction of the N5, 000 banknote is not going to be in the interest of Nigerians and it will make more people to suffer. It is going to impoverish many people. What is your view about the several calls for a Sovereign National Conference? I don’t believe there is need for any sovereign national conference since we have the National Assembly, which is made up of the Senate and House of RepresentaCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

POLITICS

September 22, 2012

PDP: Enlarging its family ahead of 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Fayose, he is now cleared to enjoy all rights and privileges of a member of the PDP without let or hindrance. It would be recalled that following the circumstances that led to his exit from office prior to the 2007 governorship election, Fayose on his return after disappearing from the country for some months dumped the PDP to pitch his tent with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to send Engr. Segun Oni, packing from the Ekiti State Government House. He later contested for Ekiti Central Senatorial District under the platform of Labour Party and lost to the incumbent Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who contested on the platform of ACN. It was after he lost the election that he initiated his interest to return to PDP. With the granting of waiver to Fayose, it is believed that PDP is doing its best to remain the leading political party in the country in 2015. Many are also of the view that the re-admission of Fayose into the PDP fold is a deliberate plan by the PDP leadership to find an inroad into the South-West to take back the zone from the opposition parties. It is also believed that the granting of a waiver to Fayose will provide a soft landing for many PDP past governors to sheathe their swords and return to the party. Without any iota of doubt, 2015 is very crucial to PDP and the party is not ready to lose the grip of its ruling states. Apart from the issue of waivers, Saturday Mirror gathered from a reliable source that the Tukur-led NWC is also doing everything possible to lure some of its former and incumbent governors from opposition parties to dump their respective parties for PDP. According to the source, the affected serving governors are from Labour Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The three governors are from South-West, South-East and North respectively. Efforts are also being made to bring former Governors Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), and many former PDP national and state officers, considering the role they played in the loss PDP during the last general elections. It would be recalled that Daniel and Ladoja, who were members of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and Accord Party respectively used their clout during the last elections to frustrate the efforts of the PDP, thus causing the huge loss to it. It is believed that if the coming of the three serving governors to PDP becomes a reality, they would play a crucial role in PDP’s calculation to win back some of the states it lost to the opposition parties across the geo-political zones during the 2007 and 2011 general elections. To many political observers, the return of some of the disgruntled PDP members is going to be a mixture of good and bad. As far as they are concerned, many of them would possibly have positive or negative effects on the party, especially in the battle for political offices during party’s

primaries and general elections. Speaking to Saturday Mirror, a PDP chieftain, Senator Lekan Balogun, said the move by the PDP leadership to bring some of the disgruntled members to the fold is commendable, saying that it would make the party to be stronger. He therefore cautioned the PDP leadership not to attach any condition to the return of any of its former members. He said: “The move by PDP is a welcome development. The family should be fully reconciled even across South-West. Fayose is a populist and he should be encouraged to enjoy the benefits of the party. He is a populist and that is what the party needs now. The party needs popular mandate and people in South-West and across Nigeria. “All other party members who have left the party for one reason or the other should be welcome back into the party without putting conditions. I am not aware that Fayose was given any condition. So, others should be welcome back into the family. The more the merrier. That is what democracy is all about.” A member of the Lagos PDP executive, Chief Taiwo Kuye, said Fayose and many others are worthy to be brought back to PDP since many of them were forced out of it unlawfully. He believed that PDP plan to woo members of the opposition parties into its fold before 2015 general elections would make PDP to be stronger and capable of winning the next general elections across board. His words: “It is a good development for many PDP disgruntled members to return, particularly in the South-West. A lot of people like Fayose and many others are worthy to be brought back to PDP. He has the charisma and everything that has to do with developing the party. We also need the likes of Rasheed Ladoja and others back in the PDP. Some of them were forced out of the party unlawfully, so bringing some of them back is a good omen for the party and it is a welcome development. “The development will strengthen the numbers and the popularity of the party across board. It will make the party to be stronger and the reality of winning the election in 2015 will come to past.” In his view, the Ekiti State PDP Public Relations Officer, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, praised the maturity, boldness and sense of direction displayed by the national leadership of PDP under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, at pacifying aggrieved members and bringing them back into fold. “With the action of the NWC, Fayose is now cleared to enjoy all rights and privileges of members of the PDP without hindrances. The step will further boost the party’s image and reconciliatory efforts and as well enhance the electoral fortunes of the PDP in Ekiti State in 2014,” he said. With the granting of waiver to Fayose and the plan by PDP to win many other former party members into the fold many are looking forward to what would become of the party’s reconciliation. Will the reconciliation move strengthen or destroy PDP ahead of 2015? Only time will tell.

‘N5,000 note will enslave Nigerians’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 tives. I am not in support of the sovereign national conference because there is no way we can have two representatives at the same time. The National Assembly is saddled with the responsibility to make laws and since they are the one making the laws, what the people can do is to call their attention to what they want. Since we are the ones that voted them into office they must carry out our duties. So, coming up with a sovereign national conference will just be an exercise in futility. How would you react to the ongoing controversy over onshore, offshore and sharing allocation formula? Oil does not belong to any particular region; it belongs to the entire Nigeria. The money they used for drilling of the oil after it was discovered by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was Nigeria’s revenue from the sales of cotton and ground nuts oil from the Northern states and sales of cocoa from the South-West states. So, there is no way a region can wake up one day and lay claim to the oil that belongs to the entire country. It is an injustice for a region to be laying claim to Nigerian oil. The power supply which the oil companies are using to drill the oil is from Niger State in the North. Why is Niger State not giving special resources for producing power for

the entire country? We should stop this injustice. The oil belongs to Nigeria and not one region. It is worrisome that the money some of the local governments in the oil producing states are collecting as revenue is even more than the allocation some states are collecting from sharing of federal allocation. That is why there is no development in many parts of the country. I believe everybody should be given the same share.

Dansudu

In your refreshingly different National Assembly, sovereignty and the people’s aspiration

For peace to reign in the polity, Nigeria’s dwindling lot of activists have said the country should have a Sovereign National Conference. But to others opposed to this, sovereignty resides with the people as represented by the National Assembly. And the question is: is the National Assembly truly representative of the various ethnic groups in the country? We serve you with the details of the debate tomorrow.

National Assembly, product of corruption –Braithwaite

Last Monday, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, fiery Lagos lawyer, human rights activist and politician, turned 79. One would have thought the ageing lawyer would pull punches while discussing national affairs. Of course, this was not the case in this explosive interview. Hear him: the National Assembly by and large is a product of corruption… if we have our ways, we will disband them overnight”. He also spoke on growing up years, the allure of law and other national issues.

David Ugolor’s explosive expose

David Ugolor sounds familiar. He is the Edo State-based rights activist and friend of Olaitan Oyerinde, slain principal private secretary to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. For weeks, Ugolor was detained by the police on his alleged involvement in his friend’s death. Ugolor is out of detention and he speaks about his ordeal for the first time, Oyerinde’s death among other issues. It is a must read.

Chioma Ajunwa’s new “medals”

Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s only Gold medallist in the Olympics, has won another medal, but not on the track or field event. No. This came through the maternity ward. The multi-talented sportswoman made another first on August 27. She gave birth to triplets. To say she is overjoyed is to state the obvious. The birth was of course a miracle. According to her, she had to wait for five months before she started nursing the hope of bringing the pregnancy to term. Finally, the bundles of joy came and Chioma could not stop speaking about the ‘miracle’. For more about her fears and the trauma she faced before the birth, read her story tomorrow. These and many more available tomorrow in your

NATIONAL NEWS

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CBN bans banks from lending bad debtors JOHNSON OKANLAWON

L-R: Director of Works, Nigerian Army, Brig.Gen. Osemudiamen Osemwota; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, and Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen Raphael Isa, during the inauguration of the Army Headquarters Dog Centre, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Segun Adio

Jonathan is suffering from bad conscience – Soyinka TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

obel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Friday warned President Goodluck Jonathan against any further attempt to oppress the Nigerian people in anyway, as their right to protest remained inviolate. Soyinka gave the warning just as he declared that the president is suffering from a bad conscience. President Goodluck Jonathan is suffering Following the recent President Goodluck Jonathan’s condemnation of the peoples’ protest over the increase in the price of fuel in January,

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday took a swipe at President Jonathan, saying the President is suffering from a bad conscience. In a statement made available to Saturday Mirror yesterday, Soyinka who was reacting to the president’s condemnation of the protest by Nigerians over increase in the price of fuel in January, this year, said what is ominous in Jonathan’s distortive re-visit of the fuel subsidy protest is the attitude of self-commendation, from which one deduces a clear intent to repeat the same action if the people choose to exercise their right of assembly in the future.

OUR ERROR

Amb. Ajuji Waziri, CON

Alh. M.K. Ahmed, OON

In our publication yesterday, we erroneously referred to Alhaji M.K. Ahmed (OON) as Amb. Ajuyi Waziri (CON) and vice versa. We regret any embarrassment this may have caused the eminent Nigerians and the government of Gombe State.

His words: “The most generous response that can be given to President Jonathan’s recent statement on the people’s fuel subsidy protest is that he is suffering from a bad conscience. The worst -which I fear is closer to the truth–is that he is lamentably alienated from the true pulse of the nation, thanks perhaps to the poor, eager-to-please quality of his analysts, those who are supposed to provide him an accurate feel of the public mood. Since I have had the opportunity to contest this perception of the protest with him directly, it is clear what kind of interpretative diet he prefers. The nation needs all the luck it can get. “The president sent in the army and shock Police squads to forcibly seize and occupy grounds from a demonstrating public, a violation of the people’s rights as entrenched in the constitution, a right – as it happens – that has been further consolidated by a pronouncement of the courts of law. This should be seen as a grave danger to democracy, and a warning. Both the participants, and those who – myself included – even though unable to be present, lent both vocal and moral support to the demonstration, have been maligned and insulted by such reductionist reasoning. “The culture of public protest appears to be alien territory to President Jonathan, which is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that he has not only lived in this nation as a citi-

zen but served in various political offices. He has lived through the terror reign of Sanni Abacha whose ruthless misuse of the military and the secret service did not prevent demonstrations against perceived injustice and truncation of people’s rights.” Soyinka also disclosed that irrespective of the means which the government tries to use to oppress the people, the will of the people will always prevail. “We should not wait for a tragedy to happen before we serve notice that democracy is incompatible with the arbitrary deployment of armed forces against a people gathered or marching peacefully in freedom, articulating their grievances with or without accompaniment of songs, clowns, water sachets or bottled water. The reaction of the public to attempts at military intimidation is always unpredictable - government at the centre should know its limitations, act responsibly, and refrain from incursions that override even the expressed wishes of state governors, and the rights of a people rendered fractious by decades of misgovernment. “Let there be no further attempts at revisionism. The Nigerian people’s right to gather and protest remains inviolate. Gani Fawehinmi Park – and any place of choice for a people’s assembly - is a people’s space. It should never again be invested by menace and attempted coercion.”

ollowing their inability to repay their loans which were sold to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) by deposit money banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restricted banks from lending to 113 companies and 419 directors and shareholders. The CBN said it had taken the decision because the debtors which included Zenon Petroleum, MRS Holdings Limited, Arik Air Limited, Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Aero Contractors Company, Cross River, Zamfara, Kwara states among others, had refused to pay back their loans despite the purchase of the debts at an agreed price by AMCON. According to a circular made available on the website of the CBN, dated September 17, 2012, the restriction would apply to individuals, organisations, companies as well as principal shareholders and directors of companies where the outstanding value of loans

purchased by AMCON amounted to N5 billion or above as at the day of purchase, without regard to the actual amount paid by AMCON. The circular, which was signed by CBN’s Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. A. O. Martins, stated that “it has become necessary to stop debtors who failed to repay their loans to banks and had these loans subsequently transferred to AMCON, from further enjoying credit facilities from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) until they fully repay agreed outstandings to AMCON.” The CBN said the restriction, came into effect from the date of the circular and shall remain “until full liquidation of agreed indebtedness to AMCON”, warning that any bank that flouts the guidelines would be made to make an immediate provision of 100 per cent of total principal and interest outstanding in the account of the customer and related parties, in addition to whatever regulatory penalties the CBN may decide to impose.

Alleged N557m fraud: Ehindero, Obaniyi arraigned zGet N20m bail EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, yesterday, granted bail to former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Sunday Ehindero and his then Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget, John Obaniyi, in the sum of N10 million each and a surety in like sum. The sureties must swear to affidavit of means. However, in the event that these conditions are not met, Ehindero and Obaniyi are to be remanded in prison custody. Trial Judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi granted the two accused persons bail shortly after they pleaded not guilty to the six-count (amended) charge preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Their “no guilty” plea

followed the dismissal of separate preliminary objections filed by their respective counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and A. S Odariko. When their oral applications for bail were moved by their counsel, it was not opposed by prosecuting counsel, Paul Ameh Basi, who only urged the court to “impose such conditions as the court deems fit that will ensure the attendance of the accused persons for tria.” In his ruling, Justice Oniyangi refused the request to admit the accused persons to bail on “self-recognisance,” saying, “It is my view that their bail be tied to some conditions… Each of the accused is granted bail in the sum of N10m and a surety in like sum. Such surety should swear to affidavit of means and in the event that the accused persons are not able to meet the conditions for bail, they should be remanded in prison custody.”

Sport SQUAD LIST Goalkeepers 1. Gift Andy 12. Sandra Chichi 21. Rita Obeni Defenders

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Azerbaijan 2012: Flamingoes set for Canada test

2. Sarah Nnodim 3. Hauwa Abdullahi 5. Ugochi Emenayo 15. Victoria Aidelomon 17. Iheoma Amos 18. Ebere Okoye Midfielders 4. Oluchi Ofoegbu 6. Ihuoma Onyebuchi 7. Chidinma Edeji 8. Joy Bokiri 10. Tessy Biahwo 20. Eluemunor Ijeh Forwards 9. Aminat Yakubu 11. Yetunde Adeboyejo 13. Mabel Effiom 14. Halimatu Ayinde 16. Jiroro Idike 19. Chinwendu Ihezuo Coach Dedevbo Peter Flamingoes in training and battle-ready to tackle the Canadians today.

SAYO OGUNDEJI

s the 3rd edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup gets under way today in far away Baku, Azerbaijan, the Nigerian team otherwise known as Flamingoes, will be aiming to kick start the championship with a victory over Canada today. Nigeria is drawn in Group A along with the hosts, Colombia and Canada and the outcome of their opening match against the powerful Canadians will definitely give a reflection of how far the team can go in this tournament. For Coach Peter Dedevbo and his team, they would be aiming to improve on their record in the last edition of the tournament held Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 where they finished as quarter-finalists. The Flamingoes started the last tournament brightly, winning their entire group matches to book a quarter-final clash with eventual champions Korea Republic which they narrowly lost 6-5 in extra time. The present team had an easy passage

to qualify for this tournament with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Kenya and then following that up with 2-1 and 5-0 victories over Zambia respectively. The Flamingoes rounded off their training tour of Portugal with a 4-0 victory over Primeiro De Dezembro FC, courtesy of a hat trick from Halimatu Ayinde and a lone goal by Chinwedu Ihezuo. The Nigerian team failed to impress at the inaugural edition of this competition, but a run of good results in the second edition ensured the Flamingoes become the first African country to escape the group phase. Interestingly, head coach, Dedevbo was in charge of the team in Trinidad and Tobago and has disclosed his readiness to ensure his side makes it to the last four, adding that anything less of a top four finish would be regarded as a failure. According to Dedevbo who was an assistant coach for Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China PR, the players are aware of the importance of the competition and will do their best to write the country’s name in the history

Ogufere wants Enyeama to be focused P. 14

book. “We have had a positive preparation going by the results so far, but the tournament proper is a different ball game entirely and I believe my players are ready to take on whoever comes our way. “Our target is to go at least a step further than the last outing which obviously was an improvement if compared to the earlier edition, but we must make proper use of our chances and the players have promised to do the country proud,” Dedevbo who is currently manager of reigning league champions, Delta Queens, stated ahead of today’s encounter. Meanwhile, two of the players, Yetunde Adeboyejo and Halimatu Ayinde have promised to help the team achieve its ambition of lifting the trophy by delivering the goals as Nigeria prepares to make a positive start to the tournament. According to Adeboyejo, winning their first match is key to the team’s success. “Victory over Canada will boost our confidence going into the rest of the tournament, but we are aware of the threats posed by our opponents and we will do

FIFA to announce 2018 World Cup host cities on Sept. 29 P. 16

Flamingoes coach Peter Dedevbo

our best to curtail them,” she said. Ayinde, who bagged a hat trick during the team’s final game in the training tour of Portugal, stated, “We are here to help our country win this competition and I hope to score as many as possible goals to assist our team actualise this dream, and a win against Canada will definitely boost our chances of going all the way to the finals.”

Mancini denies Balotelli bust-up P. 41

SPORT

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Presidential largesse: NSC, Paralympic officials on war path!

he passing week has been a turbulent one in our sports industry with another crisis raging as officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and managers of Nigeria’s Paralympic team who recently made our country proud at the London 2012 Paralympic Games are at daggers drawn. The furore this time is over the Federal Government’s largesse to the officials, and HT gathered authoritatively that the athletes with their officials are set to petition the Presidency next week over an alleged short-changing of their coaches by the sports ministry. And this recent action has necessitated many sports pundits to ask the pertinent question concerning when the NSC would learn their lesson after wasting almost N2.3 billion at the Olympics in London where Team Nigeria finished without a medal. Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, had announced monetary rewards to our Paralympians and their officials for making the country proud in London at a reception ceremony organised for them by the presidency penultimate weekend. Jonathan announced N5 million for gold medalists, N3 million for silver, N2.5 million for bronze medalists, N500, 000 for all ath-

Hard Tackle with

Andrew Ekejiuba anelsports@yahoo.com letes that did not win any medal and N2.5 million each for all the officials, coaches, secretaries, medical team members and the loaders. To the shock and bewilderment of some of the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to HT, they only received N500,000 when the bank transaction alert came. The three officials according to our investigation were paid N500, 000 as against N2.5 million announced by Mr. President. Speaking on the development, Monday Emokpae, President, Paralympic Committee of Nigeria expressed displeasure over the matter, but vowed to get to the root of the matter. HT’s frantic effort to get to hear from the Director General of NSC, Chief Patrick Ekeji, on what has led to this recent development

08023103605

proved abortive as his phone line remained switched off. With this disposition, the ugly incident confirms the deep-rooted nature of corruption in our nation’s sports and the situation would require a drastic overhauling for it to be whitewashed from the NSC. It’s almost a month and a week after the London 2012 Olympics ended with Nigeria posting her worst outing in 24 years at the global showpiece and the presidency expressing its dismay over Team Nigeria’s poor show, yet the overhauling of the ailing sports industry is yet to commence. Even the failed administrators instead of throwing in the towel by resigning their appointments are busy buying time in the NSC and hoping that nothing of such happens. Thus, many sport ana-

lysts want Mr. President to live up to his promise of overhauling the NSC after the London flop. This will definitely pave way for sound and articulate technocrats to take over and save our sports development from going into oblivion. Many sports-loving Nigerians believe that without much emphasis on tackling corruption that has continued to bedevil the development of sports in the country, no meaningful headway can be made in the industry. Nigerians at home and those in the Diaspora are anxiously waiting for the presidential axe to fall on these corrupt sports administrators. From whichever way one looks at this new Paralympics’ contro-

versy, what one sees is how greed is fast becoming a way of life in our sports industry. It is sad that we are increasingly building a society where many believe it is right and normal to make wealth without work. Everybody wants to buy a private house and ride the most exotic cars without sweat. There are government officials who would abuse public trust without fear of being sanctioned; with so many people likely to be on the take, it is no wonder that the world looks at Nigeria as the global headquarters of 419. And this is where the Sports Minister must rise now and purge NSC of controversial corrupt officials.

Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

SPORT NEWS

Bankers Games

Tussle for group leadership intensifies

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

Ogufere wants Enyeama to be focused IFEANYI EDUZOR

ormer President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Chief Jonathan Ogufere has advised Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, to remain focused when the team play Lone Stars of Liberia in the second round qualifiers of the 2013 Nations Cup to be

hosted by South Africa. According to the former NFA member, Enyeama is a very good goalkeeper and must rise to the occasion at all times and avoid losing concentration as was witnessed in Monrovia in the dying minutes of the first leg which enabled the host to level up in the encounter. “Enyeama is a very good keeper but it is like his recent movement to Israel has affected his performance.

“He should rise to the occasion and avoid losing concentration at the dying minutes which could be dangerous to Nigeria’s qualification for the Nations Cup,” Ogufere said. He commended the rebuilding process embarked upon by the Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi, and advised him to ensure he works on the defenders before the October second leg encounter with the Lone Stars.

nion Bank and First Bank which enjoyed impressive outings in their Week 3 matches have an opportunity this weekend to snatch the leadership of their respective groups as the current table topping teams are excused from games today in the 2012 Nigeria Bankers Games. In Group A, the Stallion Boys as Union Bank are known will be the likely beneficiaries of the fixture that granted Skye Bank a rest day while in Group B, First Bank have the opportunity to establish clear dominance as Standard Chartered enjoys a match-free day.

Union Bank with four points from two matches go into today’s match against Sterling Bank hoping to grab the maximum points to go in front of Skye Bank, the only team that has earned maximum six points from their two matches. A boastful Shina Lawal of the Stallion Boys attributed their win over Stanbic-IBTC to motivation in the dressing room after their opening game that ended 0-0 against Enterprise Bank. First Bank have an uphill task confronting record four times Cup winners, UBA who though are yet to bag maximum points after two matches. Peters Offong of First Bank however believes they are in the competition

to come first. “First bank have always been the first and we are ready to achieve that in this competition. Our midfield played to their strength in our last match and against UBA, it will be premium performance to ensure we moved top of the Group and retain the leadership,” Offong noted. In a match that can best be described a survival battle, Diamond Bank takes on Ecobank with the two sides seeking their first win while Enterprise Bank and Stanbic-IBTC Bank complete the week’s fixtures in another lower log clash. Ecobank and Stanbic-IBTC are yet to win a point in the tournament.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

SPORT

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ANC qualifier: Lawal calls for Eagles’ commitment

65 Nigerian footballers in Sudan

SAYO OGUNDEJI

n ex-international, Garba Lawal, says the current crop of players in the Super Eagles needs to show more commitment and dedication for the team to achieve any success as they prepare to take on the Lone Stars of Liberia in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The Eagles, who missed the last edition of the Nations Cup which held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, failed to protect their lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw in Monrovia a fortnight ago. Nigeria plays host to the Liberians in the return leg later on October 13 and Lawal who has over a decade experience with the senior national team expressed his dissatisfaction with the attitude of the players, and charged them to do their best each time they put on the national jersey. The former Julius Berger midfielder said, “The current senior national team players are not showing the type of dedication exhibited by the former players which is obviously why the results have not gone our way”.

Sepp Blatter

FIFA to announce 2018 World Cup host cities on Sept. 29 T he International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), confirmed on Friday it would announced the host cities of the 2018 World Cup in Russia next Saturday. FIFA President, Sepp Blatter and Russian Sports Minister, Vitaly Mutko, would jointly on Sept. 29 unveil the final 11 host cities among 13 candidates. The duo would announce the cities during a live broadcast on

Russia’s Channel One TV starting from 9:20 p.m. Moscow time (1720 GMT). “I can say with pride that whichever host cities are finally selected, we believe that the entire country will win,” Mutko said. Officials from FIFA and Russia, as well as Russian athletes, football stars and celebrities, would also attend the announcement ceremony. Russia was awarded the right

to host the 2018 World Cup in Dec. 2010. A total of 13 Russian cities, including Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-onDon, Volgograd, Krasnodar and Sochi are vying to host World Cup matches. Mutko said in April that FIFA had allocated nearly 700 million U.S. dollars to the 2018 World Cup.

Presidential Award: Vanzekin, Promise demand Beijing compensation SAYO OGUNDEJI

F Lawal

FFN plans to build more playing courts in South-West

ammed Kabiru, the Secretary Fives Federation of Nigeria (FFN) said the Federation planned to build more playing courts in the South-West zone to improve the sport in the country. Kabiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the federation was making arrangements with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the state government to execute the project. “The federation has noticed that the sport is becoming popular in the South-Western states and athletes, who play the sport,

are in need of a place where they can train. “We are glad that the sport is really gaining grounds in the zone because we are making efforts to recreate an environment where the game can grow higher. “We are corroborating with the NSC and also requesting for the support of the state government to make this project a reality,” he said. He said Ekiti and Lagos states had notified the federation about the need for a training court, adding that the issue was being considered.

ollowing the largess showered on the Nigerian sports men and women who won medals for the country at the just concluded 2012 London Paralympics Games by President Goodluck Jonathan, the 2008 Olympics silver medalists, Ambroze Vanzekin and Isaac Promise, have called on the federal government to extend the same gesture to the soccer men’s team. Jonathan gave monetary rewards and national awards to the physically-challenged athletes who won a total of 13 medals which include six gold medals at the London Paralympics Games placing Nigeria 22nd on the medals table and third in Africa after Tunisia and South Africa. The Samson Siasia-led side came close to repeating the Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold winning feat but were denied courtesy of Ángel di María’s lone goal for Argentina in the final of the competition and the team were neither rewarded nor recognised by the then administration. Both Vanzekin and Promise, who played important role in the

he Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency (Dr.) Tagelsir Mahgoub Ali, has revealed that 65 Nigerian footballers were playing in the country’s leagues. Mahgoub Ali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, moments after paying a courtesy visit to the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, in Abuja. The envoy said that the outstanding performance of the Nigerian players’ in both the elite and lower football divisions had brought fame to the Sudanese league. “That was why we treated Nigerian born striker, Endurance Idahor, like our own after he collapsed and died while playing for Al-Merreikh in Sudan. “Government officials from Sudan and our embassy here in Nigeria attended his burial,” Mahgoub Ali said. Idahor of Al-Merreikh FC collapsed after he was hit in the chest by a player of Al-Amal FC during a league encounter. The ambassador called for a ‘Nigeria-Sudan Sports Pact’ to further deepen cooperation between the two countries. He noted that such cooperation would go a long way in making both countries forces to be reckoned with in sports in Africa. Earlier, Abdullahi had said that the lessons of the London 2012 Olympics had necessitated a restructuring in the country’s sports sector. The minister said that experiences would be shared by both countries through exchange of visits, adding that the sports development pact would also fast track such relationship.

Vanzekin

team’s impressive run to the final, are of the opinion that their silver medal winning squad deserves the same recognition from the president. According to the duos who are obviously impressed with the president’s gesture, the team’s effort at the tournament must be rewarded, saying failure by the government to reciprocate the same treatment to their team will be unfair and capable of discouraging up and coming athletes.

Late Edurance Idahor

MAGAZ INE Fashion •Go pastel •Short ‘n’ ethnic

Sex talk •How to swing like a pro

Relationships •Are mothers-in-law really monsters-in-law?

Rachel

From Akwa Ibom, with love

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Celebrity

Midnight Crew became a household name with the unprecedented success of their song, Igwe. The group has released another album after it and they tell OSEYIZA OOGBODO the intricacies of becoming successful.

ow and why did four of you come together? It started when we were in Yabatech. That was where we met under the auspices of Original Choir which was the institution’s mass choir. We were members of that choir doing our thing until our session ended in 2001. But before we left, we were like wow; we’ve affected this small community because that very community knew there was a generation of students that left the school that did great things for God. So we were like, if we were able to shake this small community like this, it would be very good if we could shake the world. When you’re in a small community, you can make noise, but when you’re in the world, it’s so big that you have to make the loudest noise for people to know you even exist. So when we left school, we started Midnight Crew and we were about 11 in number. How come you’re now four? Some got married and their husbands took them to the United Kingdom (UK). Some got fantastic jobs in very good companies and they couldn’t cope with all the travelling and stress. We that we are left now, even if we were not in Midnight Crew, singing is what we would be doing. And this year now is the eleventh year that we’ve been on this project.

Why did it take you so long to hit the limelight? Everybody and everything has their time. So if you’re on a queue, just stay there. One other thing is when you’re on a queue, you’re on track, so when it’s your turn, and when God says it’s your turn, you will be justified. So we’ve been on the queue. Our first album was Fusion in 2001 and over the years, we kept on doing what we know how to do best. We did another album, Tungba Unlimited, that really didn’t come out well so we had to scrap it. So we kept on singing without an album. But later, we now repackaged our songs we had been singing, including some of those in the bad album into the Igwe album and everything was good. Anyway, if we had had sponsors from the very start, maybe we would have been popular faster. Even to release Igwe, no company stood by us, so I think God just decided to bless the work of our hands for being there over the years. Why does people’s turn come and then fade after? The thing is, when your turn comes, you don’t relent and go to sleep saying I have arrived. You keep giving your best, God then helps you and announces you to the world, and you keep on moving and don’t relax in creativity as things keep moving and times change.

‘Igwe made the difference in our lives’ Do you still have what it takes to drop another hit as massive as Igwe? By God’s grace. It’s only God that gives the gains. Some people, they are nothing, but if God decides to smile on you, He has, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it. So if God gives us another, we’ll not keep it. We’ll give it to the world because that’s what He wants. And there’s one thing, if God is blessing you, and you’re blessing Him back with your tithes and offerings, He’ll continue, though there are many things that will cause setbacks as even the Devil will not want you to get to your promised land. Igwe became a massive hit in 2008. But people say you recorded it in 2005. Is that right? It’s been a long time we recorded it. Since 2003. The same one that became very popular? What happened was that its initial production was terribly poor. But the fi-

nal one was recorded in 2007 and it came out in 2008. It wasn’t in 2005. The people who heard it in 2005 must have heard the old one. Who wrote this great song out of the four of you? Who produced it, how did it originate? It was written by the four of us in the sense that this person would say remove this, put that and sing it like this or like that. It was the same recording. The only thing that changed was the singing. How did you promote the album to success? It promoted itself. Even before it finally came out, they’ve been singing it in churches, more so as we too kept on singing it in churches even before we recorded it. We were not even particular about leaking it out because it was for God. And churches started singing it even before radio stations started asking for it. You keep saying you were perform-

ing. How were you getting performances since you were not popular? The way it works in the Church is different from that of the secular world. With churches, it’s a regular Sunday, Sunday service so if you’re not in this church this Sunday, you’re in another. Were they paid performances? Yes. You know churches, they’ll call it honorarium. They honour you with something. Compare your financial life before and after Igwe. Definitely if you were in a small room making noise, it is quite different from making noise through a megaphone or going to a radio house to announce. There’s a great difference. It’s quite better now. It’s easier to say you’re in gospel music. There’s a great change. More to the point, people say Igwe made you into multimillionaires. In the Christendom, we claim it by faith.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Entervaganza

With OSEYIZA OOGBODO

KSA Festival 2012 gathers momentum

08023755142 kingseiza@gmail.com

ll plans are now in place for Red Ball, an initiative of Senator Florence Ita-Giwa’s Children of Bakassi Foundation, to hold tomorrow at the Zinnia Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites. According to the Senator who is popularly known as Mama Bakassi, she conceived RB to draw attention to the problems of the neglected children of Bakassi and to thereby raise funds to care for them. “Red Ball is back,” Ita-Giwa told Entervaganza. “It couldn’t hold in the last two years because of the elections and all that. But it’s back again because it is for the children of Bakassi. It started eight years ago with the first 10 Bakassi children and it’s been a long successful story.” She added that Bakassi children are really in need of help to get proper education and she intends to use both RB and the foundation as the vehicles to raise the necessary funds to build schools for Bakassi children so they can have access to sound education.

he dates have now been announced for one of the biggest events in the year’s entertainment calendar, KSA Festival 2012 which encompasses the combined celebrations of King Sunny Ade’s 66th birthday, his 50th year on stage and the 35th anniversary of his crowning as the King of Juju Music. Disclosing the dates, Oloye Lekan Alabi, chairman of the KSA Festival 2012 planning committee, said, “an exhibition of KSA’s stagecraft such as his early records, music instruments, photographs, attires and costumes, etc, will hold on Monday, September 24th at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. “The first stage act comes up, God willing, on Monday, October 1st at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan with an all-star Evening With KSA show where 10 bands, namely Dele Abiodun, Kollington Ayinla, Salawa Abeni, Atokowagbowonle, Abass Obesere, Saheed Osupa, Yinka Ayefele, Jide Chord, Femi Opalemo and Omo Olope will entertain from 4pm till dawn.” He added that “an award/lecture session will hold at a date to be announced in October. The 50th year on stage anniversary will be marked with a two-day package of concerts at the golf course, GRA Ikeja, Lagos on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November from 4pm till dawn each day. “The festival’s grand finale tagged The Crown Show will hold in Ibadan on November 16th at a venue yet to be decided while the London and Washington DC versions of The Crown Show will hold in December.”

Ita-Giwa holds Red Ball tomorrow

Tesh Carter

blows hot

hese are surely good times for talented newcomer female rapper Tesh Carter. Despite the stiff competition she faces from more established names that include Muna and Eva, she is holding her own ground. The release of her new video and its success on air is enough indication that she is here to stay. Astutely,

she featured the first female winner of Project fame West Africa, Chidinma, in the video which is known as In The Air, and the collaboration has boosted her greatly. The fact that she was also featured by Phenom of Knighthouseon his Omo Naija Remix alongside other promising artistes has also added more grease to her elbow.

Rick Ross gives back to Nigeria

T KSA

op American rapper, Rick Ross, has taken from Nigeria. But he has now returned the country’s favours on him by also giving back in his own little way. He has released a music video that he shot in Lagos during his last performance visit to Nigeria in August. He released the video known as

Hold Me Back (Nigeria) just this week and it is already receiving massive rotation worldwide. Ross deserves a lot of commendation for shooting a video in Nigeria and we can only wait to see if his American colleagues who have also benefitted greatly from performing in the country will follow in his footsteps.

Ita-Giwa

ENTERVAGANZA

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLASSICAL RYHMES

AIRWAVES LINK

Royalty collection war

MCSN loses ground to COSON

or years now, there’s been an unending war between the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) over the right to be recognised as the country’s royalty collection society. The war has seen them squaring up to each other in court and even the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, has had to personally mediate in it. The raid last Tuesday of MCSN’s office and arrest of some MCSN officials by the Nigerian Copyright Commission has however given COSON the upper hand in the royalty collection battle. In a statement signed by Nseabasi Ukagwu of NCC’S Public Affairs Department, COSON was re-stated by the Director of Enforcement of NCC as the only collecting society approved for

Infinity

Olori Oko

Ayilaran Wiliki

music and sound recording. The statement added that in the Court of Appeal Suit No. CA/L/787/2008 Compact Disc Technologies Ltd and 2 Ors Vs Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Gte/Ltd delivered on 17th March 2010 held that for any organisation to operate as a collecting society it must be ap-

proved by the NCC. Efforts made to reach Mayo Ayilaran and Orits Wiliki of MCSN to get their reaction to the raid, arrests and MCSN’s declaration by the NCC as being illegal proved abortive however as Ayilaran did not pick his phone while Wiliki’s number didn’t even ring .

PFWA: Ella saved like a miracle

t was another night of excitement-laced tension last Saturday when another elimination show of Project Fame West Africa held to eliminate two more contestants. Kicking off the evening was a medley of Whitney Houston’s songs as a tribute to the great woman of songs who passed on earlier in the year. Then hearts skipped when it was time to reveal the five contestants with the least votes. In no particular order, Adetoun, Didi, Christian, Ella, and Oyinkansade turned out to be the contestants whose votes were not enough to keep them off the probation block. The five of them then repeated the songs they sang individually last week. This time it was not only to impress their fans but to impress the judges, the faculty and the remain-

ing contestants who will save one contestant each. Time came for saving and the judges saved Adetoun, the faculty freed Oyinkansade and from the three other contestants not on probation, two votes went to Christian and one went to Ella, leaving Didi and of course Ella as the eliminated

contestants. Then suddenly the judges pulled a surprise and chose to exercise their power of recall by electing to recall Ella. Wow! Ella could hardly believe her fate. She ran to the judges’ box and appreciated them with hugs and thanked them for the second chance. Hmmnn! Project Fame 5 has been characterised with so many twists and turns. Now, we have seven contestants at the finals, the race is tougher and the competition is tense. Will there still be any more twist and surprises? How will Ella deal with the contestants that did not vote for her? (No one else has been eliminated and recalled.) Will the judges be made proud for having saved her? So many questions that will be answered today when the show comes up on air again.

The rise and rise of Slick TV

n this age of internet TV, Slick TV is the latest one making a lot of noise as the one to watch. Like most internet TV channels, Slick TV operates by uploading its recordings onto the internet for people to watch. Prior to Slick TV’s appearance, Factory78 TV was the most popular such internet TV channel but Slick

TV is really challenging it for a huge share of the internet TV viewership. Some of its programming that has raised its profile include its promotion of Isaac Geralds’ listening party, exclusive interview with hot female hiphop artist Tipsy and its ongoing promo of Iyanya daring anyone to shake their waist better than him to win fantastic prizes.

Galaxy TV lands in Akure

ike its counterparts, NTA, STV and AIT especially that have TV stations all over the nation, Galaxy TV too is slowly but surely spreading out. One of Lagos’ most popular sta-

tions, it already has another one in Ibadan and information reaching Entervaganza has it that it has opened another station in Akure, Ondo State and that transmission has begun already.

Tipsy

Artist: Infinity Intro Hmnn I have seen the future Though I am not a prophet, hnhnnn Verse 1 In the book of Revelation There is warning for the nations He that has any ear let him hear What the spirit is saying Eh!! Pre-chorus Aisi n le olongbo Loun mu ekusako Yiyotekun n yo Ki ma e se tojo Agbakiwalojakoriomotutunwo Fitilayi to tan Imolewolewa Imoleti de Eh !! Chorus (4x) Olori oko shi n bowa On bowa On bowa ye Verse 2 A fo pin ina T’loun o pa fitila Ara re niopa Se bi aaro to bagbon eh L’ogunasotelekiipa, aye egbo Afoju di omoeniyan Olohun Oba Ikulon mu dani Iye iye Repeat pre-chorus Chorus (4x) Aye ile, aye ile Edumare baba Edumare baba Emuraemura.... Emuraemura.. Ye yeyeyeye Chorus (4x) Refrain Aye ile, aye ile Edumare baba Edumare baba Emura emura.... Emura emura.. Outro Oloriokonbo o Jagunmolunbo o Papa nlati n jotohuntohun Efufuti mi le titi E eh Oloriokonbo o, emura Oba a saya Oba aidigbolu Eni o digbolu o asi mu wo mu womu.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ENTERVAGANZA

September 22, 2012

BOX-OFFICE HITS

BRAIN BEHIND THE SCENE

he character of Dredd is not new to the cinemas. And as with a returning character in a sequel or a remake, there is always much anticipation and buzz and it is the same for this new Dredd. The buzz around it is so much that its commercial success at the box office is guaranteed. Dredd first appeared in theatres back in 1994 when Sylvester Stallone took on the role of the comic book character Judge Dredd in a science fiction action movie. In this remake however, Dredd scales back on the futuristic elements and puts an emphasis on the brutality in store for the Judge’s criminal victims. In this not-so-distant world, a judge has the power to decide your fate right upon capture — and usually, the sentence involves some type of ammunition being fired into the offender’s skull. Dredd is a grimy, smoldering, relentless 90 minutes that manages to inject its in-your-face fight scenes with an unexpected bit of humanity. This is in itself shocking, considering the buckets of blood spilled during Judge Dredd’s warpath, which begins from his very first appearance. This time around, Dredd is played by Karl Urban, a chiselled beast of a dude who balances the machismo with a healthy dose of one-liner comedy. A great central hero. To investigate a series of murders connected to one of Mega City 1’s most notorious crime

Animashaun

Ayo Animashaun … A publisher, producer, promoter

f a situation ever occurred whereby brains behind the scenes of the entertainment industry would have to be ranked and rated, Ayo Animashaun would definitely make the top 10, if not the top five, of that enviable list. Animashaun is not just another player in entertainment; he is one of those who call the shots with his multifaceted position as a magazine publisher, TV producer and show promoter. He is the publisher of the highly respected Hip Hop World magazine, executive producer of Hip On TV and the main promoter behind the Headies, Nigeria’s current premier music awards. His ongoing contribution to the entertainment industry is so immense that it can’t be quantified. He organised the still-talked-about Girls Nite Out that had only female performers and technicians, and it was at GNO that Mandy became

the first officially recognised female comedian. To have done this for the girls in an industry that is basically about the boys smacks of genius. It wasn’t only GNO that stood him out. Hip Hop World, blazed the trail in entertainment publishing and has remained a frontrunner till date since its inception over a decade ago. Transferring his ingenuity to the small screen, his programme, Hip On TV, is one of the hottest on TV because it is unique in its concept, it’s witty an educative, and it always has the latest news and gist about the entertainment world. Nowadays, he is known more for the Headies which was formerly known as the Hip Hop World Awards. The Headies is undoubtedly Nigeria’s best music awards presently and its success is down to Animashaun’s ingenuity.

ndrew Stanton, who helped write Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., co-wrote and directed this computer-animated comedy-adventure about finding a very small fish in a very large ocean. Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks) is a more-than-slightly paranoid Clown Fish who is extremely devoted to his young son, Nemo (voice of Alex-

figureheads, Dredd is partnered with an exact opposite: Cassandra (Olivia Thirlby), a new recruit who makes up for her lack of killer instinct with a mutant psychic power. She may not have the throat-ripping capabilities of Dredd, but once this girl gets in a baddie’s head, it’s over. Dredd is wary of his new sidekick potential — even more so when the challenge they face reveals itself. Cooped up at the top of a 120+ story building is Ma-Ma (Lena Hedley) whose operation will soon put a new drug — dubbed “Slo-Mo” — in the hands of every Mega City 1 citizen. To stop her, Dredd and Cassandra must slay her goons as they ascend the skyscraper. Simple premise, lots of bloodshed. ander Gould), the only survivor after an undersea predator swallowed up Nemo’s mother and her other offspring. It’s not Marlin’s nature to explore unfamiliar waters, but when he and Nemo are accidentally separated near the Great Barrier Reef en route to Nemo’s first day of fish school, Marlin gathers his courage and sets out to find his son. What Marlin doesn’t know, however, is that while Nemo was looking at a boat passing on the surface, he was caught in a net and given a new home in a dentist’s aquarium. As Marlin searches for his son, he makes friends with a friendly but absentminded Regal Blue Tang named Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres), a Great White Shark named Bruce (voice of Barry Humphries) who is trying to cut fish out of his diet, a beach-rat Sea Tortoise named Crush (voice of Andrew Stanton), and Nigel (voice of Geoffrey Rush), a Pelican who can take Marlin’s search from the ocean to dry land.

ENTERVAGANZA

September 22, 2012

CELEBRITY Choc Boiz FAVOURITES get verified

SHOWBIZ SNOOPS

Send your views and comments as SMS to 08023755142

D’Banj in awards war galore T

ne of the current aspirations of Nigerian celebrities is to get verified on Twitter, the extremely popular social networking website. And when they do, they shout about it, as if it’s the most important thing in the world. Little wonder therefore that the Choc Boiz made up of MI, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz and Brymo, and their management, Chocolate City, are currently in euphoria over the boys’ verification. Since all four boys were verified at the same time, it indicates that they had a hand in the verification. They however refused to confirm or deny if they lobbied for the verification which is alreadty being enjoyed by Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Tuface Idibia and a few others.

Yomi Peters

Time to ‘Getwet’ again

Favourite Food AMALA AND EGUSI SOUP Favourite Drink BEER Favourite Designer (Intl) TULLIANO Favourite Restaurant/Bar

Olu Maintain

AVENUE Favourite Day Of The Week FRIDAY Favourite Perfume ISSEY MIYAKE Favourite Fashion Item NICE SHOES Favourite Movie YORUBA MOVIES Favourite Brand Of Telephone ANYNICE ONE Favourite Quote PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL

or those who don’t mind getting wet to catch fun, it is time to get wet again as the second edition of Getwet Party comes up next Friday at Piccadilly Suites, Lekki, Lagos. An all-night exclusive pool party that will feature dance, music, modelling, fashion exhibition, Miss Wet 2012 and many pool games, star performers billed to thrill include Olu Maintain, Rayce, Tunde Ednut, Morachi, Dammy Krane, Iyanya, Slim Dee, Lineo, El-Phlex, Dpzle, Solid Star, T-izze, Jaywon, Minjin and LKT.

his is definitely a crucial time in the career of D’Banj who is aspiring to become an international artiste. Even as many continue to criticise the depth of his ambition, saying that it is impossible for him to pull it off with his style of music, D’Banj continues to prove them wrong with his successes. He released Oliver Twist to international acclaim and is now on the new Kanye West-promoted American album, Cruel Summer. Yet the critics continue to berate D’Banj, saying he is fast losing ground and that his latter single, Oyato, is not flying as it should because of that reason. They also add that his vocals on Iyanya’s Kukere Remix was a sham but Iyanya has since come out to say that he is satisfied with D’Banj’s performance on the remix. The remix gave his critics the opportunity to reawaken the talks of he can’t sing and that it’s Don Jazzy who has been helping him but he’s now exposed without Jazzy. Nevertheless, the true test of D’Banj’s real standing is now around the corner. He has been nominated for the MOBO and also the MTV European Music Awards and losing out on them to P-Square and Wizkid will only confirm that he is truly losing ground. But if he wins them, case closed.

Orange Carnival rocks Akwa Ibom

HIBISS RESTAURANT, ALLEN

Handset

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Carnival rockers

he third edition of Orange Carnival which began yesterday and ends tomorrow is to celebrate Akwa Ibom’s 25th anniversary, so says the carnival’s main promoter, Nelson Nse Abasi.

He added that, “that’s why we have called it the silver jubilee edition, because it’s holding its grand finale is on the day, September 23rd, that Akwa Ibom will mark 25 years of its creation. As such, it’s going to be a celebration of uncommon transformation of a state that was once in relegation.” Disclosing the highlights of the carnival, he said, “Apart from the carnival float, awards, symposiums, Orange Carnival Silver Jubilee will really tick because of its other innovative features. “There will be Orange Caricatures of popular figures, past leaders of the state since creation and top Nigerian celebrities that hail from Akwa Ibom. Free oranges will be shared to participants and guests through the Orange Campaign that will explain the need of citrus and vitamin C in oranges.” Adding that a commemoration album of indigenous hit songs celebrating Akwa Ibom’s 25years will also be released, he urged people to come to the carnival to have the fun of their lives.

D’Banj

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ENTERVAGANZA

September 22, 2012

SHOWBIZ SNOOPS

Goldie, Prezzo drama continues W

hen Prezzo visited Nigeria and professed love for Goldie and yet she publicly refused to meet him, some people insinuated that they were meeting secretly. Such people now seem to have been proven right as Goldie has visited Prezzo in Nairobi, Kenya. On her arrival in Kenya, she was received by none other than Prezzo and even though her visit wasn’t publicised, gold fish have no hiding place so the on-today off-tomorrow couple were still spotted in each other’s company. Is their association all a publicity stunt, as people are now insinuating, or is it a real relationship of unfettered love? Only time will tell how this drama will finally play out.

Goldie

I-Crown reveals secrets of riches

Bethany

Bethany makes waves in UK

eeing music lads becoming superstars in a twinkle of an eye is a common phenomenon in the entertainment world. Just like Siamese twins, music and riches walk side by side. But there are some hidden facts to make money in music. And it is this and more revelations that Israel Ogundele better known as I-Crown discloses in his upcoming album, Music And Riches, which will soon hit the market. Heralding the album are two promotional singles off it, Serenade and Bugatti Money, both fantastic songs good for listening pleasure. The songs which have now become club bangers are lyrical masterpieces. Luckily for I-Crown, who is a songwriter, poet, record producer, entrepreneur and occasional actor, he has his own unique music style that stands him out from his peers. In 2008, he made his debut with As E Dey Hot which dominated the airwaves for a long time. In 2010, his quest to take his music globally saw him leaving the shores of the country for South Africa. And since then, he has continued to work hard to be among the top music acts making the country proud in Diaspora. But he’s back now and he says his return is to take over the music scene.

enowned gospel artiste, Bola Thani, who is popularly known as Bethany and is currently on tour in the United Kingdom (UK) has released a new single titled Iyanu. According to her, Iyanu is specially meant to be released in the UK for the listening pleasure of her fans based there who she wants to appreciate with something extra, hence Iyanu’s release. Bethany, who is also a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Mass Choir, earlier released another single, Halleluyah, in Nigeria, and it has amassed over 2,000 downloads from online listeners. She featured top-rated gospel saxophonist, Pastor Kunle Ajayi, on Halleluyah so it is not a surprise that it has been enjoying generous airplay on many radio stations including Wazobia FM, Beat FM and Rainbow FM. Also an ordained minister with RCCG, and a mass communication graduate, she is expected home soon to put finishing touches to her new album which she says will set the standard of how gospel music should be in worshipping God

I-Crown

Valentine

Obesere’s brother, Valentine, drops new album

ll is now set for the launching of Ijo Pinging, the new album by Fatai Akanbi Iyanda aka Valentine, younger brother of the popular fuji musician, Abass Akande Obesere. The album is scheduled to be launched in October in Lagos. According to the invitation card which was made available to Entervaganza, the chief launcher of the day is former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), while the host is the celebrant’s elder brother, Obesere. Babangida’s presence is expected from Obesere’s vow to lure the acclaimed statesman to the launching courtesy of his intimate relationship with him. Celebrated musicians such as Sule Alao Malaika and St. Janet among others are also expected at the event to entertain guests. Speaking on the contents of the album, Valentine said Ijo Pinging is a blend of hip-hop and fuji. He boasted that it will set the market on fire. His previous albums which include Oba Lola, Mr. Biggs and Fantasy are still doing well in the market.

September 22, 2012

‘Big ladies enjoy more attention from men’

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman

Adesola Akindele is the managing director of JPKingdom, a clothing outfit dedicated to the cause of plus-sized women in Nigeria and abroad. The University College of London graduate spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on her marriage, fashion exploits so far, and future plans. Excerpts:

here did you grow up and what was it like? I grew up In Lagos, had my primary and secondary education here before proceeding to the United Kingdom for my university education. Growing up was fun and very beautiful. I had everything I wanted and I thank God for that. My parents are wonderful, they were very strict with us, they minced no words on their stand on hard work, good morals and focus on making positive impacts in our time. We grew up with this, it became our daily slogan and I thank God, we are making use of this up till now. They spoilt us where necessary, spanked us as at when due and counseled us at the right time. I also had a good and favourable environment to learn from, friends and teachers in schools and, of course, the society in general. What’s your impression about the Nigerian society like especially with the youths’ urge to jet out of the country in search of greener pastures? I am passionate about my Nigeria but I would say there’s noth-

ing wrong in travelling out of Nigeria to have a feel of what life is like in other climes. Experience, they say is the best teacher. The only thing I would say is that they shouldn’t go with a mind set of not wanting to come back. We should learn to appreciate our country, our heritage and adopt whatever good

we see from wherever we go to better the lot of our nation. Specifically, for the youths, I will recommend self-employment. They should look inward and do something for themselves instead of a white-collar job. Yes, it is unfortunate that the country is not up to its expectation in this area but then, we must help ourselves in the best way possible.

Does this explain why you are involved in JPKingdom? Yes. I studied Economics, Business Studies and East European Studies. I have always tilted towards doing something on my own and the idea of JPKingdom, though a dream of a good friend, has always involved me right

from inception. It was born purposely to help the big-sized ladies who usually feel intimidated by their size and are limited by what to wear in terms of both outfits and footwears. We can’t be classified among the old; we are still in our youthful years; so, if we can do this, other youths should also exercise care to identify the areas they can ex-

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WOMAN

September 22, 2012

ploit. There are lots of things, fields to touch, if only they will be mindful of their environment. How would you rate the activities of JPKingdom since its inception? I would say it has been good and quite encouraging. I can categorically say it has indeed been filling the vacuum for which it was established. More plus-sized ladies are getting bolder and bolder unlike what it used to be. How have you been able to sustain the company especially in a competitive fashion environment that we are in Nigeria? I don’t want to sound religious but I must tell you, God has been our helper. Like you said, the environment here is very competitive but we have identified an area of specialisation and this, we are focusing on. We don’t want to go everywhere so as not to be nowhere and this has been working for us. Besides, there is a compelling reason for the whole idea and you know when you have a passion about something, it is not easy to be deterred. The CEO, Mrs Temi Abs-Owo, has a reason for this whole mission and that has been giving her the push. We are also aware of the fact that the business is a long term reward-returning one and we are ready to pay every price that it needs. For instance, we give discounts time after time over our new arrivals, not minding the effect of this on our own returns. We also hold annual events to create more awareness of the establishment and what it stands for. What we want to correct is the old rule that only slim girls have numerous wears to choose from. Now, plus-sized girls also have a variety wears, both formal and informal, to pick from. No longer should they make do with whatever they see. Is your organisation still operating solely online? We do largely but we now have a storefront at Ikeja where people can make their purchases. Apart from this, we run courier services that make people’s accessibility to their ordered wears easy. What is your clientele like? I wouldn’t say they are very highearning clients. Rather, I would say it is anyone who is a plus-sized and is ready to stand out despite all in any crowd. Our clientele cuts across the high, the medium and the low. It is anyone with a penchant for perfection because we are very affordable. How do you combine your job with that of being a wife and a mother? It has all been made possible or easy because I have an understanding husband and my ability to plan

my days ahead. This is where I always want kudos to be given to women. We combine too many things and we always strive to perfect all. When it is time to work, I work, when it is time to be a wife, I do and when it is time to play the role of a mother, I just switch on to play it. Women are actresses but this time around, we act genuinely. All glory to God for His help. Are there days you wish you were slim? I don’t think so. I am proud of the way I am and I have been exploiting it. I don’t envy slim ladies, I don’t despise them either. As a matter of fact, most Nigerian men prefer big ladies. We look more beautiful, dresses look better on us, we are more romantic. I can go on and on. It is only those who are yet to appreciate themselves that may be wishing to be slim. You can keep fit, everyone does this but to want to get leaner, I won’t think about it twice. Even when we go to events, big girls earn respect easily than slim ones. What does style mean to you? Style is something that comes naturally; it is not what you can acquire. You can build up your style but you can’t really acquire it. If it doesn’t come naturally, you will need people to be telling you ‘Oh! This is what you must wear now; this is not time to wear this. That is why celebrities abroad employ style consultants and some even have wardrobe consultants. They ask you what your occupation is and advise you on things that would suit you and what you should wear. It is whatever you wear that makes you proud and comfortable. It is also anything beautiful and appreciable; it doesn’t have to be expensive. What’s your philosophy of life? Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. What would you say to young women out there? They should be focused. They must have a vision, work very hard towards it and rely on God for help. For the married, they must be obedient to their husbands and play the genuine actress always. For the plus-sized, they must be proud of their features, wear everything that will make them look desirable always and be bold to make their expressions. Women, whatever the size, should eat well, sleep well and exercise well to keep fit all the time. Being big is not an excuse to be flabby.

Keeping ABREAST

Grandmother gives birth to her own grandchild

woman in her 50s has given birth to her own grandchild after becoming a surrogate mother for her infertile daughter. Cindy Reutzel, 53, gave birth to a healthy baby girl who will be brought up by her 32-year-old daughter Emily Jordan. Emily was 29 when she discovered two years ago she had cervical cancer. She was forced to have a hysterectomy. However, doctors saved her ovaries and mother Cindy offered to carry her daughter and son-in-law’s embryo Remembering the moment she discovered she no longer had a place where a baby could grow, Emily says: “I can’t describe what that was like after finding out you have cancer, after finding out your chance of ever carrying a baby is gone.” However, hope arrived in the form of mother Cindy, who offered to act as a surrogate for the couple. Just days after Emily’s 32nd birthday, baby Elle Cynthia Jordan was born. Cindy is not the first mother who, literarily, gave her daughter the gift of life. A 51-year-old grandmother in Brazil gave birth to her twin grandchildren in 2007, and there were other stories of women giving birth in their 40s or 50s and even 60s. Cindy had a vague recollection of those stories. So when doctors revealed that they had been able to keep Emily’s ovaries intact, she immediately offered to help, asking, “What if I carried your baby for you?” After a process that included psychological evaluation and hormonal manipulation to prepare their bodies, Kim eventually implanted Cindy’s uterus with an embryo created with an egg from Emily and Mike’s sperm. It was no easy process, with a regimen of hormonal shots. Work schedules were interrupted and vacations postponed. But Cindy was committed.

Mily Jordan with her pregnant mother Cindy Reutzel, who was a surrogate for her daughter

She says, “The thought of Emily and Mike not being able to have children and share that piece of their lives with someone just broke my heart. “I want Emily to have that connection with another human being like I had with her.” As her belly grew, people started asking Cindy about ‘her baby.’ However she was quick to correct them and reveal she was actually carrying her grandchild. Mike and Emily know there will really be no way to repay this kind of gesture. Emily adds: “This is a continuation of everything that she has done her entire life for me, which is to make sure that I have the best life possible.” Cindy, who is recovering well, even says she would consider doing it again. She adds, “When I watch both of them hold that baby and look into her face, it’s like everything I could have imagined wanting for them - better than I could have imagined. “This is what it was all about for me.” Culled from www.mailonline.com

September 22, 2012

Parenting

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Does that child really need a cell phone?

f you are a parent, you’ve probably already heard the plea. “Can I have a phone?” or, “Why can’t I have a phone?” No doubt about it: Cell phones are a great way to stay in touch anytime, anywhere. But is your child old enough for one? That’s a tough call for many parents, because it’s not just about the child’s age. So if you -- and your child -are having this debate, here are some considerations to keep in mind. You can’t beat the convenience. If your child has a cell phone, you can call or text him about where he is and what he’s doing, and your plans. You may also feel safer knowing where your kids are. And in an emergency, a cell phone can be crucial if your child needs to reach you -- or vice versa. That’s partly why many parents are buying their kids cell phones. Twice as many children have cell phones now as in 2004. Kids may see having a phone as part of fitting in with their friends. But there are also some potential downsides to consider.  Radiation Cell phones work by using radio waves. That’s radiation, though it’s not like what you would get from an X-ray or other medical use. Does that affect health -- especially if children start using them at a very young age, when their brains are still developing? In 2011, an international study showed no link between cell phone use and brain tumors in teens and adolescents. While waiting for more conclusive studies, there are ways to reduce your exposure: •Spend less time on your

phone. •When you’re on a call, use speaker mode or a headset.  Sleep If your child takes her cell phone with her at bedtime, will she actually go to sleep or stay up and text? Pediatricians are seeing growing evidence that cell phones, especially those that allow kids to text, can disrupt children’s sleep patterns. In a recent survey, four out of five cell-owning teens sleep with their phone on or by their beds, and teens who text are 42% more likely than those who don’t to keep their device close at hand at night in case they get a text. Sleep is important for growing kids. As a parent, you can set rules around this. A phone can’t wreck your child’s sleep if your child doesn’t have access to it after bedtime.  Teen Drivers and texting Texting while driving is a huge risk. It’s the most distracting task a driver can do while on the road. Research has found that talking on the phone -- whether hands-free or not -- affects driving ability as much as drinking alcohol. Emerging research studies are also indicating that a significant percentage of all traffic accidents are caused by drivers using a phone to text or call, Don’t assume your teen won’t use a phone while driving. In one survey, more than half of teens aged 16-17 who own cell phones said they have talked on the cell phone while driving, and a third of those teens who text admitted that they have texted while driving. So kids think they can text and pay attention to the road, but in real-

Parenting Murdered: Elizabeth Holloway, 9

ity they can’t. That’s dangerous. You need to have a serious talk with your teen about the risks. Follow up over time to make sure they get the message. And of course, make sure you behave exactly the way you’re telling them to. If they see you driving while texting (or talking), you’ve undermined the lesson you want them to learn.  More Than a Phone Cell phones can also put social media, videos, games, movies, music, and TV shows within reach. Are you ready for your child to have that kind of access? It’s like giving your child a mini-computer to use -- one that he can use out of the sight and hearing of responsible adults. On one hand, social interaction can be positive. It’s one way kids can learn to relate to other kids. But there is also the potential for an array of cyber crimes, social harassment via text, instant messaging, or other social media. There isn’t a lot of research yet on how cell phones affect mental and emotional health. But early studies show that frequent texting and emailing can disrupt kids’ concentration. It can also become compulsive, if kids start to be “on call” 24/7 to keep up with their friends.  When Are They Ready? In making the cell phone decision, you need to think beyond your child’s age. Maturity and the ability to be responsible are more important than a child’s numerical age. As your children become more independent, they are closer to needing a phone than younger children whom you still take everywhere. But how can you tell if your

child is mature enough for a phone? Look for the developmental signs. Does your child lose his belongings? Is he generally a responsible kid? Can you trust him? Will he understand how to use the phone safely? The rate at which kids mature varies -- it will even be different among siblings.” And think long and hard about whether your child actually needs rather than wants that phone. Remember to check the school rules too. Are students allowed to use mobile phones in your child’s school?  Monitoring your child’s phone Should you check who your child is calling and what she’s tweeting? Absolutely! Kids consider mobile devices to be personal

property. And they don’t want their parents snooping around. But parents are justified in saying, ‘I understand a phone can be used for good but it also can be misused. So every now and then, check to make sure they are using their phones responsibly and respectfully. Then make it an ongoing dialogue: ‘Have you gotten weird texts lately?’ ‘Do you get any calls that made you uncomfortable?’ ‘Who are you texting?’” The issue is really about educating children on how to use cell phones in appropriate ways. Cell phones can definitely be beneficial, as long as you know your individual child. Next week... 5 cell phone rules for kids •Culled from www.webmd

Tiny Feet

NAME: Goodman Tobalase Akande BORN TO: Mr and Mrs Oladejo Akande AGE: 3 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 5.3 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

Mother who killed daughter Update sentenced to 15 years in prison

mother who punched and kicked her nine-year-old daughter for 17 months until she eventually died has been sentenced to spend at least 15 years in prison for her death. Crystal Cardenas, 27, from San Diego, California (USA) pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder. Her daughter Elizabeth died in hospital after receiving a fatal punch and kick to her stomach. Elizabeth Holloway was choked, punched, kicked, burned and

thrown to the ground during the time she lived with her mother. Elizabeth’s father says, “I don’t know how you could do this to her. I just want justice. I’m not going to leave it in God’s hands.” The nine-year-old had been living with her father until September 2009, when she moved in with her mother, sister, seven, and one-yearold brother. Her mother inflicted slapping, punching, kicking, choking, stomping and actually burned her daugh-

ter. A few days before Elizabeth died, her mother punched her in the stomach with such force, she severed her intestine and bruised her pancreas. She vomited, lost feeling in her lower leg and told her half-sister she felt like she was dying. When she was rushed to hospital after passing out two days later, doctors said she died from internal injuries. •Culled from www.mailonline. com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

sacce oes, h ur s o ey red n u i o a b l o om shlc ibe escr of paste ou can c olour fa s. r p c e g rn tas up. Y hoic ckin er patte ide c nd make the blo w ries o w l o f s a ny ces ith ely s a c t e t w m a i h h e r t r g so xtr adop bri lou and t wi ust el co ave i clothes el. E colours t t m h ctive s s a a r a o p p ou el Go an end, lour n, y from past k shio on tr astel co re th i a ired colours? ht, the o f d loo M in . e p s an lig e nd. reen e c r n b a g b n o u d i h o e , o s n l S n a in ardr pink lway el co t a nine and nge, rent bu , will a to your w ent past a femi on go h r o y e , t in fer seas l yellow u a diff e flir hem bine dif this mor n t yo ; i ste m a h r n o ! s e p and i u f C l f f , iry and rs o t sty hing t nd a anyt ue colou girly, bu e classic tiful no sh a e r f re bl ar beau legant . Mo colours and E look look l s e r r t e ing. u s t ok f so e; pa stel colo for even wns lo l t b u o s a o g s t p l bu on ta oft chiff y. e, bu re. S natu r daytim silk or ation er l l we fo mbin e d j o e y c l r c i n u ll o in olo meta tiful shionisel c bold ok beau past fa h t , i o tw , so els l grea stels a Past p with

STYLE & GLAM

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashion Frenzy

ow, or n r F . r u eve it yo than will su assy r e s t t that d to e ho s ar ion item d ruffle e s s e il h n t dr te a ckta e fas hor e r co e on from cu r o h f t a o st they need, rn t r ju e o e c w g n y lon n be world o e ever o a n c f th are . they s. In a sexy resses ny o ing g ips; a n h i s t m d and ou s, se ur n d rt esse head-t crui ligious Sho n r d d n l r e ma ies a r ma en r ed fo as pro posh part and ev long fo ave opt h , c e h y s su dresses have offic ated b g divas l event e s l l n n o u a i n t i ti ndom iest you or spec e-knee nfec h the A o c f d h t e i tren dresses Below-t ed min And wi rs hav e l . t . f r n r r sho coming nd ruf popula p desig s. As fa a e o e e t l , r o ty ’s vity hom skirts eati nd m f today orter s r a e c l e c r cir s sh yo mor s fo me man toward e room dels. beco fabric, o s r o focu se m sm a kar d their it offer k at the e o , t shif y know ave a lo h he t t s s u a n. J u f and

BEAUTY

Q&A

Your candid response to all fashion questions How can I prevent my skin from sun damage? You can prevent sun-damaged skin by taking the following steps: •Apply a sunscreen before you go outdoors. Choose a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above, with a broad spectrum of protection against both ultra violet ( UV-A) and (UV-B) rays.

•Use a sunblock on your lips. Choose a product that has been specially formulated for the lips, with a sun protection factor of 20 or more. •Limit your time outdoors when the sun is at its peak (from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in most parts of the continental United States). •Wear sunglasses with UV light protection.

•Wear brim. •Be aw your skin well as so illness, h

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

STYLE & GLAM

Facelift You need a

concealer A

concealer is the one staple in a woman’s beauty arsenal that can dramatically change your appearance. When used correctly, a concealer can brighten a tired face, it can cover up blemishes and totally conceal under-eye circles. In fact, a lot of ladies use concealers primarily and skip foundations completely. But many are afraid of concealers because they don’t know how to find the right shade or apply it properly. It can be daunting, but once you know the basics and try the application process below, you’ll discover that a concealer may be your best beauty purchase to date. Pick the right one There are so many types of concealers in the market; choosing one can be daunting. A basic rule is to choose a concealer that’s yellow-based and a shade or 2 lighter than your skin tone. Don’t go too light or you will end up with the dreaded raccoon look. When to apply a concealer This depends on where you’re using the concealer. For under-eye circles, apply concealer first, then foundation. For blemishes and pimple coverage, apply foundation first or the concealer will be rubbed away in the foundation application.

long pants, a shirt with long sleeves and a hat with a wide

are that some medicines and skin care products can increase n’s risk of UV damage. These include certain antibiotics, as ome prescription medicines that are used to treat psychiatric igh blood pressure, heart failure, acne and allergies. If you

are taking a prescription medication and you normally spend a great deal of time outdoors, ask your health care professional whether you should take any special precautions to avoid sun exposure. Also, be aware that certain non-prescription skin care products containing alpha-hydroxy acids can make your skin more vulnerable to damage from sunlight.

How to Apply Concealer To properly apply concealer, follow these directions: 1. Apply several dots of concealer under the eyes close to the lashes. Apply a dot to the inside corners of the eyes. You can use your finger or, for best results, try a smallheaded brush with firm bristles. 2. Using the pad of your middle finger, tap in the concealer (always tap, never rub). Make sure to blend well. You can also use your index finger. There’s no real rule to it, but I find the middle finger tends to be more gentle. 3. Apply concealer on other uneven spots on the face – including the chin, and around the nose and mouth if need be - and tap in. 4. Apply another layer if you need more coverage. 5. Dust fine, loose powder over your face to set your concealer. According to makeup artist Scott Barnes in Allure Magazine, loose powder applied with a fluffy brush is “the secret to good concealer.”

STYLE & GLAM

September 22, 2012

Model

‘I’m determined but not desperate’ W

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Trendz

Although Queen Esther is new in the modelling profession, her visions and hope are quite high. She reveals some of these to YEMISI ADENIRAN in this close up.

hy are you into modelling? I am into modelling to make an expression. A lot of people have said I was good for the career and this has really propelled me into taking a step towards this. Besides, I love the fun that is associated with modelling, the preparations, the much fuss. I just love everything. Is it possible for a quiet girl to be a model? I don’t think so. A model is someone who definitely loves to be at the centre of a noisy crowd; someone who wants to be noticed and be celebrated. She is fun loving and seeks audience one way or the other. In short, a quiet person can’t just qualify as one because she is naturally sunk into her own world and into the crowd at all times. Are you saying you are a fun seeker? I love fun but I am not a careless seeker of fun. I love to play and party but in the very decent manner possible. I won’t go out of my way to get or seek fun. I am from a serious-minded home and I am trained to be serious with all that I am doing. Except God says so, my studies comes first and that is what is most important to me. Modelling is secondary but I will give it the best shot possible as the opportunity comes. All the same, I must stress here that I am not desperate. What is all the stress always about not being desperate? If one is desperate about this modelling profession, even about anything, no matter how good and worthwhile that thing is, he or she is likely to delve into something terrible. It is good to be determined and work hard but it is bad to be desperate. If you are desperate, you will put your hands in all kinds of unholy things just to achieve your aim. What are your future plans? God knows the best but I would say greater heights.

Cute ng W eveni s r a e w

YEMISI ADENIRAN

hether you are dressing for a charity ball event, African wedding events, work function or a New Year’s eve party, finding the best evening gowns for your glamorous life requires knowledge of fabrics, your body shape and the occasion. A cocktail wear or an evening dress is the formal dress that a lady wears after 8 o’clock at night. It can otherwise be called a night gown, dinner dress, ball gown, party dress and so on. It is usually matched with a shawl, bolero, jacket and so on. Meanwhile there are different kinds of evening dresses for different body shapes; if you are petiteshaped, don’t choose the long dress; knee-length ones will be better. Design on shoulder and sleeves should not also be too exaggerated. If you are slim, you can try any kinds of the sexy evening gowns, especially the mermaid gown. If you are a plus size and tall, you can wear long styles but with trimmed sleeves. Ensure not to display your flabby parts as this will end a turn-off. A sweetheart high slit flowing long dress with a single beaded strap across from left shoulder to under the bust around the bodice can be a good touch on whatever fabric you have chosen. At all cost, remember always that dressing to flatter is what is most important on any evening date. So, take note.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Male Essentials

08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@yahoo.com w

Branded stars O

ne of the th ways to make yourself fashionable is by personalising your fashion items having your name, initials, logo or by havin with printed on something you identify so something som mething m ething you wear. w Adeneye for instance Dayo Adene Da eye e has his h initial,, D, woven his traditional into h h i s caps. In own case, D u rella lla w wears a chain tha that has a s his initial, in nitial, D,

Do you need a beard? G

row a beard, not because you’re lazy, but because you’d like to look better. There are plenty of reasons to grow a beard. Maybe your face gets chapped. Maybe you need to show solidarity with your offensive line. Maybe you want to be president sometime between 1861 and 1913. Plus, according to a pogonologist (beard expert), Allan Peterkin, a professor at the University of Toronto and author of One Thousand Beards, the right facial hair can accentuate or minimize the features you were born with. Below are five examples of common problems, along with suggestions for using facial hair to fix them. Your philtrum is huge Solution: A relatively thick mustache will fill in the space, or go with a long, full beard to even things out

and draw attention away from that giant space between your nose and top lip. Your face is skinny Solution: A short, scruffy beard will add some width, fill in your cheeks, and convince any loitering raptors to move on. Your face is fat Solution: Grow out your beard and square off the bottom to create the illusion of a strong -- and single -- chin. And let it grow down your neck at least an inch and a half past your last chin. Your face is really round Solution: A goatee will elongate your face. Longer sideburns will help accentuate, or make it look like you have, cheekbones. You’re too good-looking

its pendant. 4kasibe crooner, Zeez, wears a jacket that has his name on it and rapper Naeto C wears T-shirts bearing the symbol of his label, Storm Records. You can be like these celebrities too by personalising one or more of your fashion accessories.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Relationships

Are mothers-in-law Not all

“L

et your mother come live with us? Never!” This is a common response from women who think that their mothers-in-law are the devil incarnate. This group of women prays to have kids and their kids to have wives, thereby automatically becoming mothers-in-law too. Funny isn’t it? They forget that there is a law of Karma which states that “what goes around comes around”. The problems couples face concerning mothers-in-law are varied and far - flung. Mothers-in-law from both sides can be problematic when it comes to the affairs of their children. But the problems are more felt by the daughters-in-law in African traditional settings. This is because it is expected that a woman will leave her family to get married into another family where she’ll be expected to live all her life as a wife and mother. My take on this is that all mothers-in-law can’t be that bad. Some are actually angels if you do ask some daughters-in-law. Lucky aren’t they? Well some of you can say that. For others, it’s not so much about luck but about positively taking things into their own hands and turning things around for themselves. They have put a positive spin on what some people believe to be an impossible situation. They have decided to make their situations more comfortable for themselves and everyone involved by, at least, keeping the peace. In fact, some mothers-inlaw and their daughters-in-law have even turned out as good friends. Effective and good communication skills are essential in dealing with different individuals who are living together under one roof. The relationship between both mothersin-law and their daughters-in-law who are living together under the same roof falls within this purview. There is the need for both parties to sit down to discuss boundaries of acceptable behaviour within the house. The daughters-in-law should not feel threatened with ‘the new woman’ coming into her home. One should be careful of building resentments. There is no benefit in harboring latent anger which has no basis for its existence in the first place. Another essential skill is know-

ing how to diffuse unnecessary tension through proactive and timely interventions by the husband. Good management skills are essential for the husband who must be an unbiased umpire. He must be seen to be above board by the two parties involved. House rules can be set either directly or indirectly by the man and this will help to keep personal violations to a minimum. For example, talking negatively to the children about either parent should be considered a strict violation of the house rules. Another is that if something happens that both parties can’t walk away from, they should talk about it with each other directly to resolve it. The mother-in-law may be an intrusion, but in most cases where she has to move in with her son, it is as a result of certain reasons. When a woman loses her husband through death or divorce, she often finds herself all alone in the world. Instinctively, she turns to her children for emotional support, especially her sons. Though she often may not have the intentions or desires to interfere with her children’s marriages, she becomes embroiled in a power struggle with her daughters-in-law. With desperation as her motive, she usually feels guilty for the troubles she causes, and yet cannot think of an alternative for her own survival. Wives can overcome some of the issues raised above by also being accommodating and being caring even in the face of adversity. Yes some mothers-in-law can take things to extremes when it comes to the issue of the same age old war between the two. Direct confrontation is not advisable for the daughters-in-law who in most cases will end up being the loser. In-law clashes are far from ideal. Although it is not necessary to become best friends with your mother-in-law, it is important to be on good terms with her. A wife who is truly committed to her marriage will overlook a lot of the excesses of her mother-in-law. She should not be over sensitive and anticipatory of remarks made by the mother-in-law. Even if your mother-in-law can’t see or refuses to acknowledge that she’s hurt you, you still can and should forgive her.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

How to swing like a pro  Show a Little Enthusiasm!

Good Girl Approach: Many of us have been taught that sex is not a high priority, so when your guy wants to do the horizontal tango, you make excuses or treat it like another chore on your todo list.  Pro Secret: They enjoy what feels good without reservation — and they show their partners how excited they are by engaging them with their speech and movements. They understand that diving into the sack with someone who isn’t into it is like sharing a “romantic” meal with someone who’s watching television.  Tantalizing Tip: Take the initiative! Wake him up with a below-thebelt kiss. Send him a naughty text message midway through the day. In bed, get into the moment by looking into his eyes and telling him how eager you are to be with him.

 Speak Up!

 Good Girl Approach: Your sack sessions hardly leave you invigorated, but you’re scared that any attempt to spice things up will make you seem like a tramp.  Pro Secret: Toss the dated worries — liking sex doesn’t make you a hussy; it makes you human. Tell him how much you enjoy it when he kisses that special spot, or mention something you’re craving in the heat of the moment! Just asking for something new can be a huge turn-on for both partners.  Tantalizing Tip: Pop open a bottle of wine and initiate a little game of truth-or-dare. Or surprise him with a spicy flick and point out the scenes you’d be open to trying. There’s a good chance he’d like to experiment, too, but is keeping it to himself because he doesn’t want to offend you.

 Love Those Thighs!

 Good Girl Approach: You hate your hips, your backside is less than baby-smooth, blah, blah, blah.  Pro Secret: They know that men love sex — he’s absolutely thrilled when your thighs are wrapped around him, dimples and all. He would never forgo what feels good to accommodate something as silly as a body insecurity or two.  Tantalizing Tip: Illuminate the bedroom, living room or even kitchen with candles, which give a soft glow that glides over perceived imperfections. Give him the visualization he craves and get off (pun intended) on the fact that you are the reason for every moan and squirm your man makes!

 Get a New Bedtime Script!

 Good Girl Approach: Your pillow talk doesn’t get much racier than a few “oh, baby’s” tossed in with a few “you feel so good’s.”  Pro Babe Secret: Men are competitive by nature, and they love to know they are the best at whatever it is they’re doing, including you. Porn babes know that just hearing a female verbally tap into the action is enough to make him explode.  Tantalizing Tip: Get comfy with the saucy talk by writing down some sexy thoughts and reading them out loud alone a few times. In bed, start small by giving him a play-by-play of the action, telling him what he’s doing to you or asking questions such as, “Do you like it when I [insert verb here] you?”

 Get a Little Uncomfortable! 

Good Girl Approach: You sleep

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

RELATIONSHIPS

September 22, 2012

CHINWE ANNIE AMAECHI 07028684481 chinweamaechi@gmail.com

really monsters-in-law? Almost

N This column is x-rated This column is x-rated in regular pyjamas or throw on a tee-shirt when it’s a little chilly. Sound exciting? Yeah, we didn’t think so.  Pro Secret: Men are visual creatures (that’s why porn babes are in business!). These gals work this to their advantage and don sexy lingerie and even (gulp!) keep their heels on during the deed, all to enhance the experience.  Tantalizing Tip: Slip on a thong underneath your yoga pants, or meet him at home in nothing but heels and a great hairdo. Surprising him with something new will show him that he’s worth the effort, which will spark his heart as well as his, um, interest.

 Pro Secret: While good girls are taught to deprive themselves, porn babes make self-maintenance a high priority.  Tantalizing Tip: Whether it’s a manicure, a blowout or just slathering on a luxurious cream before bed, do something that makes you feel and look good more than once a month. Feeling like you’re worth the splurge will not only boost your confidence, it will make you glow — and that’s hotter than any bustier on the market.

 Get Creative with the Merchandise!

 Good Girl Approach: You perform oral sex as a “gift” for whatever special day, or tell him that if he’s good, you’ll let him try a new position.  Pro Secret: Sexual desire is not a male-specific attribute, nor is it something that should be rationed. In fact, it’s practically as essential to a full life as food, water and shelter. Porn babes do things they know their partner will enjoy, while asking for what they want in return.  Tantalizing Tip: No one wants to feel like they are being manipulated or treated like a charity case, so keep the bureaucracy out of the bedroom. Find out what your partner likes, and as long as you are comfortable with it, give it to him generously. The only “requirement” you should have is that he reciprocate on the same level.

 Good Girl Approach: You have an idea of what works for your guy, which is why you do it again and again and…  Pro Secret: They know their partner has dozens of hot buttons — from his toes to the back of his neck — and that half the fun is finding out what works and what doesn’t.  Tantalizing Tip: Gently pinch or bite his nipples or kiss his chest and stroke his stomach gently with your nails. When you go below-thebelt, pay attention to all parts of the package.

 Be a Little Selfish!

 Good Girl Approach: You’re tired and overworked, and you haven’t visited your parents in ages. You’d love to get your hair done and go for choir practice, but you promised you’d run errands for your sister (again).

 Stop Doing Favors

o Nigerian will deny the existence of an age-long presumption that a married woman and her mother-in-law will always have ‘issues’, especially when the motherin-law visits her dear son and his family for a few days, weeks or months. These issues range from food and communication to money issues, and the longer the two women stay under the same roof, the more intense and destructive the ‘issues’ become. No doubt, a man cannot because of this presumption (which is more of a proven fact), deny his mother from spending time with him and his family from time to time. Also, only a foolish woman will demand that her husband places such an embargo on his mother. However, is it advisable for a man to accommodate these two important women in his life under the same roof on a permanent or semi-permanent basis? Let us analyse the root cause and identify the off-shoots of the motherin-law/daughter-in-law ‘wahala’. I am not aware of any folktale or historical account which explains the root cause of the bad blood which often exists between these two women. However, it is obvious that it is not a 21st century problem. Just as the presumption that “men are polygamous by nature” plays out before our eyes from time to time, many of us have witnessed or have heard of mother/ daughter-in-law quarrels, silent insults and even physical fights (yes, it is that bad!). This is why most young girls grow up hoping or wishing that they would marry a man whose mother is dead. This sounds like witchcraft, right? Well, let’s say that 70% of Nigerian women are witches. In my opinion, most of the mother/daughter-in-law ‘issues’ which we hear about arise because of the mindset which most men and women have developed based on the presumption that these two women cannot cultivate a healthy relationship. As the popular Bible verse says: “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh…”, it has been scientifically proven that the state of a person’s mind determines his words, actions and inactions at any given point in time. When a perception is strongly embedded in the subconscious mind, it plays out in two ways. First, it makes you interpret another’s actions to justify or prove the perception; secondly, it makes you act or react to others in line with the perception. For example, if in your subconscious mind, you see Mr. A as a liar, you will almost always perceive all his statements as lies. Even when he says “good morning”, your immediate reaction would be to look at the clock or step outside to see the skies to confirm what time of the day it is. This is why the ‘trio’ (the man, his wife and his mother) anticipate conflict whenever they are together. The man expects his wife to treat his mother badly, the wife expects him to show preference

to his mother over her, his mother expects him to favour his wife over her and expects ill-treatment from her daughter-in-law, and each one is ready to put up a fight to reverse these expectations. The anticipation is so intense that almost every girlfriend/potential wife gets cold feet when it is time to meet her man’s mother. Most of the big fights between the two women ensue when ‘mama’ comes to see a newborn grandchild (what the igbos call “omugwo”). The wife complains about how ‘mama’ carries the baby (as if ‘mama’ didn’t nurse babies in her own time); mama complains that her daughterin-law disrespects her and starves her whenever her dear son is not around, while ‘wifey’ wonders whether her ‘monster-in-law’ does not know the way to the kitchen (attitude!!!). The man is the chief recipient of these complaints and once his ears are full, he does all he can to avoid the women by keeping late nights and taking every opportunity to travel out of town. A good number of our home videos capture some catastrophic mother/daughter-in-law relationships which illustrate these negative expectations. In one of the movies, a woman accused her daughter-in-law of calling her a witch just because the daughter-in-law was singing “let God arise and His enemies be scattered” during her morning prayers. In another, the wife asked her husband to choose between her and his mother because he seemed to love his mother more. Fortunately, none of the movies I have seen encourages any of the two women to treat the other badly. The bad blood is so strong and infectious so that in most families, the tension extends to other members of the family – the man’s sister teams up with her mother, the wife’s mother teams up with her daughter, the man is torn between his two ‘main women’ and the children are left to carefully shuttle between the two camps. I have heard of a woman who got beaten by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law when they had some ‘food issues’. One may wonder why quarrels ensue over the size of meat or chicken which a wife puts in her in-law’s food, or the type of plate used to serve them, but these things do happen. Unless the man, his mother and his wife renew their minds and purge it of this unhealthy perception, they are bound to have avoidable clashes which can damage their relationships. However, this is a difficult task and only very few people have achieved the task. In my opinion, therefore, these two women are better friends when they are not permanently under the same roof. The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is one of those which are better nurtured ‘from afar’. It is easier to maintain mutual love and respect, and to prevent one from seeing the ‘many flaws’ of the other when the women are not co-inhabitants of the same home. So, should a man encourage his mother to assume permanent residence in his matrimonial home? Wisdom says no.

September 22, 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

I am single at 32

Dear Igho, I’m 14 years old. When I’m being asked out by a guy I agree but later drop them. What’s wrong with me? I’m now on a date with someone; please, what do I do to spice up or continue the relationship? Anonymous. Dear Anonymous, There’s really nothing wrong with you; what you’re experiencing has been and is being experienced by every other teenager, it’s a transitory stage. But I must be candid with you; don’t you think you want to walk when you should be crawling? At 14, spicing up a love affair is not what you need; rather, it ought to be gathering the necessary life skills to make your future better. Are you prepared financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically, socially and all ramification of life for the Herculean

At 14, how do I spice up my relationship? task ahead in a relationship? I don’t think so. Rather, I’ll advise you concentrate more on your studies, learn vocations like sewing, cooking and proper home making. This way, you’ll be equipping yourself for the future. However, I will not say that you keep the young man at arm’s length, but rather be platonic friends with him and do same with every other male who come your way. When you’re simply friends with males, they’ll reveal their true selves to you; you’ll learn more about men and how to handle them and when you’re ready to settle down in future, making a wise choice with God’s guidance will be easy. Again, dating at this ten-

Life partners needed Dear Aunty Igho, Please, help me publish my request. I’m a single mum but need a God fearing, honest, caring, goodlooking, working Yoruba man of 38 to 45 years for marriage. Interested man can reach me on: 08029726922.

Dear Igho, Thanks so much for granting my request. God will continue to guard and guide you at all time of the day. Amen. Kindly give me more publicity on your column; this will fasten my getting an interested lady who will settle down with me thanks.

der age is not ideal because the guaranty that you people will remain as an item when you become adult is very slim. By then, you’ll have better knowledge of what and who you want in life; you’ll end up hurting yourselves along the line. My dear, there are still years ahead to fall in and out of love and meet different persons, so why not build yourself into a woman a responsible man would die to have as a wife and not for frivolous purposes. Believe me, men are always ready to give an arm for a lady worth keeping; so don’t eat your future today, lest your today’s swagger will become tomorrow’s stagger. Wishing you the best ahead. 08174692554 Dear 08029726922 and 08174692554 I pray the Lord grants you much more than this desire. He’ll grant you pleasant surprises when you least expect it in Jesus name. Amen. Continue to hold unto faith. Cheers! NB: Interested men and women can respectively get in touch with the above persons. Thanks.

Dear Igho, I’m 32 years old, single and at cross roads because my mother has repeatedly said she will commit suicide except I give her a son-in-law. She’s the only surviving parent I have and don’t want to lose her but I don’t think getting married under duress is the best. I want to get married but I keep meeting men who drink and smoke and I can’t stand that in a man. My mum says there’s no big deal in them smoking and drinking provided they can take care of me and give her grandchildren. I’m so confused, please help me out. Rachael, Rivers State. Dear Rachael, I understand what you’re passing through and how you feel having journeyed through that path before. Please, I beg you in the name of God, do not settle for less simply because you want to please your mum; you’re the one who’ll live with the man not she. I’ll advise you remain patient; love will come your way soonest than you can imagine. As regards your mum wanting to commit suicide, I doubt if she will except she’s

actually tired of life and not simply because you’re single at 32. Have a heart-to-heart talk with her, make her understand that having waited for this long, it’ll be quite tragic if you make a horrible choice and either end up divorced or have an unstable home. Marriage is of and by God, if not, why do we have ladies and men who are very steadfast in the lord getting married quite late? It’s beyond the physical, so, I’ll enjoin you to be persistent in prayers. Meanwhile, make sure you work on your looks and communication skills. Look good, dress nice, keep your hair and nails very neat. In short, your hygiene must never be compromised. Also, make yourself available by making sure you are not tied down during the weekends. Be ready to mingle with other people by volunteering your service in church, attending honourable gatherings and making sure you’re not seen around in the company of a man all the time. If you’re often seen with a man, it will keep other men who are interested in you away. I call this intimacy without commitment, make sure you prevent it. Smile and enjoy life while remaining in the Lord and love will come your way. Wishing you marital favour ahead, cheers!

Help! I need flat tummy

D e a r Igho, Please, I need your help. I want you to tell me the exercise or product I will take to make my tummy and arms flat. Thanks. Worried lady. Dear Worried lady, The product to take lies in your subconscious: love yourself the way you are. When you get to love yourself, your shape and other body parts will not become a source of worry to you. This is not to say that you should abstain from exercise; you need so much of it to keep your health intact but shouldn’t be primarily for the purpose of a flat tummy or arms.

A physiotherapist advised you see him at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), that is, if you’re based in Lagos. According to him, you’ve to be examined first to be certain you’re in good health before he’ll know the exact kind of exercise to recommend. Send me a text message through the same line you used in sending me this mail identifying yourself so that I’ll refer you to him. Since you’re an ardent reader of this page and Saturday Mirror Newspaper, you wouldn’t have to pay for the services to be rendered to you. Looking forward to reading or hearing from you. Cheers!

Living

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

In many parts of Africa, Nigeria in particular, the death of a man comes with untold hardship for the woman. YEMISI ADENIRAN takes the accounts of three widows reflecting their sorry state.

ome months back, Biodun Ajao’s life was the stuff of dreams. As a business woman who enjoyed a maximum level of largesse from a loving husband, she travelled abroad, frequently, bringing in children’s clothes and toys from Brazil and other countries. She had cars and houses, and could lay claim to a few other landed properties all within the five years of her marriage. That was the peak. Unknown to Ajao however, a deep valley was not far from where she was. The valley, sadly, was a place of despair and tragedy. Ajao’s descent into sorrow began when, on August 23, the news of her husband’s sudden death reached her at her shop. “Of course, it could only be one of those tales by moonlight stories, I first thought. How could someone who just kissed me bye before going to work be said to be dead?” she said with a voice laden with emotion. But that was the truth. Her husband, Hammed Ajao, was said to have slumped and died almost immediately he returned to his office after seeing some visitors off. Though as Muslims, he was supposed to be buried that same day, he wasn’t because, his family who largely lived in Ibadan, Oyo State, had to be informed. An autopsy was conducted on the deceased and it was discovered that he died as a result of hypertension. At his burial, it was obvious that many of his relatives were unaware of his good financial status and were overwhelmed by the fact that he owned the apartment in which he lived with his wife and children. For a man of his age, having three cars parked in his compound meant a lot to the family. He must have been “stupendously” rich, they concluded. Hardly had the burial rites been concluded that they hurriedly arranged a meeting involving the widow and the members of the family present. “They insisted that I come with them to Ibadan to go and observe the three months of widowhood rite. They overruled the insistence of my own family’s take that I should observe it here in Lagos since my late husband had a house there. Because I did not want to argue with them and for the sake of myself and my three kids who were yet to understand the details of the incident, I followed them,” explained the widow. Meanwhile, her late husband’s family had their plans. “I was pained to discover that my husband’s siblings, led by one of his uncles had shamelessly come to Briscoe Motors where my husband last worked and attempted to collect his entitlement, claiming they were his next-of-

Olawuyi

Ogbonia

‘My husband’s family wanted to ‘inherit’ me’ kin. They told his boss that we were not legally married and so, should disregard me as his wife,” she recalled. But they ran out of luck when they were told that the deceased had filed a document stating the wife as his next-ofkin and the only person to be entrusted with his entitlements whenever the need arose. The company ‘s Managing Director made this known to them and asked them to take their leave as the company would operate only on what their late worker had indicated. Still desperate at their wits, they called another family meeting. This time, the aim, they stated, was “to keep their late brother’s business and properties running. “There, they suggested that I be inherited along with my husband’s properties by one of his brothers. His properties, they would sell off and establish something with it in Ibadan where I would live with the new husband. I told them straight away that I was not ready to remarry and that they should allow me get through with the widowhood ceremony first,” Ajao continued. If her adversaries were shocked at her response, they had their tongues tied to their mouths when they finally discov-

ered that their late brother had a master plan. Two days after the widow’s short but sharp verdict, the family’s lawyer came to inform the entire family of a written will by the deceased. “This was what instantly put the matter to rest. I did not know he had any will, he never mentioned it and I never thought of it. May be because of his health condition known seriously only to him or because of what he had seen his friend do, he had a will which stated all his properties, where and what they are and how he wanted all to be shared,” she said. Even when deceased’s Will appeared to be fair to his people, his widow was not spared of the harassment. Her words: “After the three months of widowhood rite, I was allowed to return to Lagos. I released two cars, a house in Ibadan and two landed properties in Ibadan to his family and decided to move on with my life. But my children started falling ill one after the other; we were being tormented by some strange movements around the house. We were scared of sleeping at nights. My in-laws insisted that I come down to Ibadan to observe some traditional rites and live there as

earlier suggested but I refused. I sold off the house, moved away from the vicinity and I have since had some peace.” Another widow, Josephine Madu, was not that lucky. When her husband died in a road accident three years ago, his family members accused her directly of killing their son. Her story: “They said it was because I had plans to kill him that was why I made him to be away from them. They made me to sleep in the same room with his corpse, disallowed me from taking my birth for the six months of widowhood rite. On the day he was buried, they made me to bath him and swear to die seven days after if I was responsible for his death. And as if this was not enough, they sent me away from his house with his children, saying they are all girls.” But they were oblivious of the fact that everything they took away from Madu’s widow was largely acquired from her sweat. “Of course, I am bitter. For two years before his death, I was the breadwinner of the family because he was out of job. They did not know this, they thought he went on a business trip whereas he went CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

LIVING

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tales of forsaken widows CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 for a friend’s party. I should have gone with him but I had to wait because that Saturday, our youngest child had to write her entrance examination into the secondary school and I had to be with her. I had resigned my fate to God and had resorted to picking up the pieces of my life together. I promised myself and my late husband to take care of the children for the sake of the love we shared. I never knew I could go through the ordeal. My parents, siblings and friends thought I was going to die but I thank God, I survived it.’ Mrs Stella Ogbonia, another widow who spoke with Saturday Mirror blamed the phenomenon on the peculiar culture and tradition of the Africa. “In Africa and Nigeria especially, women are treated as lesser beings as compared with their male counterparts and this is why they consider them to have little or no say in the affairs of the homes. More painfully is the fact that they are considered as a part of the property to be inherited when the man dies,” she said. She also spoke about the stigma widows suffer even from her environment and the society as a whole. “When I lost my husband a few months ago, I thought the world would come to an end. Almost everyone turned their back on me. Although it seemed people sympathised with me at least, with their presence around me when the incident happened, I soon discovered it was not something that would last long. On the night that he died, all my neighbours, except one refused to come even when I was screaming and shouting. But for some church members who came around, I would have been left alone with his dead body and the children. We believe he was going to wake up.” Suggesting a way out, she appealed to Nigerian lawmakers to take all appropriate measures, including legisla-

Widows

tions, to modify or abolish existing laws or regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women. “Besides, it is good for everyone to have the fear of God. The fear of God in us will always help us to deal with widows as our relatives and sisters in the Lord knowing full well that there is nothing we do on this earth that we are not going to be accountable for,” she added. From all indications, culture apart, one major sustaining factor of the continuous harassment of widows in the country today can be said to be the desperation by some members of the family of the deceased to take over possession of his property. But are the socio-political, cultural and legal systems totally blind to the rights of the widow? Not absolutely so. Apart from the law

which protects the rights of the widow, the two major religious have their own positive positions too. From the religious standpoint for instance as stated by the bible, Christianity preaches and teaches equality of men and women and so sees the wife of the deceased as one with legal and total right over everything the late husband leaves behind. It has stated clearly at marriage that the two players in the marriage are no longer two but one. They have both left their families to form their own, so, the business of sharing the late man’s property has nothing to do with any member of the family. Islam, of course, does not approve of cruelty against widows too. But that as it may, many unfortunately forget about what their religions say and adopt the local practices which are often times, at best, heinous.

For example, it is a well settled rule of native law and customs of the Yoruba people that a wife could not inherit her husband’s property since she herself is like a chattel, to be inherited by a relative of her husband. A part of Igbo land practises a law known as Oli-Ekpe, a tradition that permits distant male relatives of a deceased man to inherit his property in the absence of male children to the exclusion of female children. Like their Yoruba counterparts, they also support the idea of treating the wife of the deceased as a chattel. Hausa widows have the right, whether or not they have children, and the family of a Hausa widow’s husband has no claim on her after his death, since the Hausa are predominantly Muslims. The Islamic tenets of daughters inheriting half as much as sons do are applied.

‘Men should empower their wives before death comes’ Mrs. Abimbola Olawuyi, widow of popular broadcaster, Kola Olawuyi, is the president of an organisation dedicated to widows and the less privileged, Olawuyi Akande Kolawole Foundation. In this interview with YEMISI ADENIRAN, she speaks on the plight of widows and how the society can better their lots.

s a widow, how are you able to manage this foundation? OAK Foundation was founded by my late husband. It has been existing before he died. He was known to be committed to bearing the burden of people, both young and old, male and female, at some points in the discharge of his duties, he discovered the need to help widows. That was what informed the establishment of the foundation. It was easy for me to carry on because we had been into it together before he died. I had been involved with some widows, so, it became very unavoidable for me to let those women down. Really, as at when he died, I thought of letting go of the idea but I had to forge ahead

because I knew he held them very close to his heart and if I had to step into his shoes, I must do it in its totality. With your encounters with them, how would you say widows are treated? I would say widows have been suffering terribly. The society has no plans for them just as it has no plans for the elderly ones. It is to your tent oh Israel. The case of the widows, especially, is bad because there are different cultures and traditions that deal with them in the worst ways possible. Besides, it is generally assumed that any man who died was killed by his wife no matter how closely knit they were

when he was alive. Landlords even send them out once the mourning time is over. People don’t want to associate with them; even fellow women avoid them at times as if it is by their doing that their husbands die or that by associating with them, their own husbands will die. Men, of course, run away from them because they believe marrying a widow is a bad sign. Friends and families who see them with the widow will warn them seriously against such a relationship. The fear is that the man may die if he ends up marrying the said widow. They believe the woman may have had some kind of misfortune that would make everyone she marries die until she marries the seventh time.

It is that bad. What do you think is the best way out of this situation? I would suggest that men plan ahead of time. We are not saying they should prepare for death but it will be nice to have foresight as no one can determine when death will come. They should do this by preparing a Will, make sure their wives are financially empowered and carry them along in whatever work they do. This is what has kept me on, this is why I am not at the mercy of anyone who is likely to humiliate me. Women should not allow their husbands to ground them by making them full-time housewives.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

September 22, 2012

I’m now hapless and hopeless –Widow of slain commercial bus driver FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

ast Tuesday will not be easily forgotten by the Jacobs. It was the day they lost their breadwinner, Monday, a commercial bus driver in suspicious circumstances. Jacobs, described as unusual one for a commercial bus driver, met his death around 8.30 am along the Oworonshoki Expressway, precisely at Ilupeju bus stop. Jacobs who had been a commercial driver since 1994 and plied between Mile2 through Gbagada route had reportedly parked his vehicle at the bus stop for a passenger who wanted to alight when some officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and policemen swooped on him demanding the key to his vehicle. Apparently knowing the implications of releasing the key of his vehicle, Jacobs was said to have refused flatly to comply with the directives of the government officials. The situation, eye witnesses informed Saturday Mirror, degenerated into a row. In the ensuing scuffle, Jacobs allegedly slumped and died. It was a fate the Jacobs family are finding extremely difficult to accept. His younger brother, Ejima, while speaking to Saturday Mirror at their Roluga Street, Sholuyi area of Gbagada residence, blamed LASTMA official and the police for his brother’s death. “What we want is justice to prevail. The killers of my brother must be brought to book,” he said. Felix Okojie, another relation of the deceased who formally lodged the complaint disclosed to Saturday Mirror that his kin was in a good state of health and that policemen and LASTMA officials are to blame for his death. He insisted that his brother’s case would not be the first of such in recent times all in the name of enforcing laws. “This is just becoming too rampant and it is important for these so called enforcement agencies to be checked. Barely 10 days ago, a motorist was killed by these so called men of enforcement agencies and now my brother is also gone. “Are these laws meant for men or men for laws? The government just have to do something about the situation and there should be a way to checkmate these people before the situation gets completely out of hand. The killers of my brother must be brought to face the law and justice must prevail” Felix said in a tone of finality. He disclosed further that two of the police men who beat Monday to death had been arrested while the others are still at large adding that investigations are still going on, on their whereabouts. He vowed that he would never rest until those who killed his brother were apprehended and brought to justice.

Jacobs’ wife

No doubt, Monday will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him and especially his wife and six-year-old daughter. In tears, his wife, Faith Jacobs, told Saturday Mirror how loving and caring her husband was. “Monday was a gentleman who hated trouble. He was a loving and caring husband and father that you would always love to be around because of his humorous nature and easy approach to life. He showed me love and took very good care of our daughter and me. I don’t know why he had to die just like that” she added in tears. “LASTMA and the Nigeria Police have left an indelible wound on my mind and I doubt if I can ever forgive those who killed him. He was our breadwinner and benefactor. The family solely depended on the little money he made from the commercial transport service for our daily feeding. Since his death on that black Tuesday till now, I have been penniless, I don’t even know where to start from right now,” lamented the shattered widow. While speaking with Saturday Mirror, Mr. Gbenga Adebanjo, who has been the deceased’s landlord since 1993, remarked that Monday was a gentleman and a lover of peace. “Since 1993 that Monday had been living in my house as a tenant, I have

Jacobs

known him to be a commercial driver and unlike his other colleagues in that business, Monday was a gentleman driver and in all of those years I knew him, there had never been a day that he was arrested by the police for any offence. He was an easy going person and a lover of peace, very humorous and kind to all. I don’t know why he had to be the target of these unscrupulous enforcement agents turned murderers. It is quite unfortunate. According to Adebanjo, “if they had allowed the union of drivers take the actions they wanted to, it would have created a lot of troubles and chaos which we don’t want because Monday was one man loved by all and sundry for his ever happy disposition and easy approach to life in general. It is indeed an irreparable loss to us and we will not rest until justice is given to us over his death” Reacting to the issue of the law, Adebanjo in an angry tone noted that the state government has not been good to the residents of Gbagada in every way pointing to the bad roads that government had consistently promised to get repaired for the last eight years but with

nothing done. He further noted that even if the laws were made with good intentions, the manner in which the laws are being enforced has marred their good intents especially when human lives are being wasted in the course of enforcing them. Adebanjo also lamented that Monday’s death was about the third of its kind to the residents of Gbagada within a short span and the situation was becoming unbearable. Last year, one of our residents who was also a commercial driver was accosted by this same LASTMA and in course of accosting him, he slumped and died. Barely 10 days ago, another resident of Gbagada who lived in Pedro but worked as a battery charger somewhere close to Monday’s residence was also allegedly killed by a LASTMA official who was said to have been chasing after a supposed culprit in their car and in course hit the poor battery charger who was going on his own oblivious of the speeding car coming behind him. “Why us, what have we done to government to deserve this? They just have to find a way of checkmating these people before they kill everyone in the name of enforcing laws” Adebanjo told Saturday Mirror. Although the new law restricts the activities of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to their offices, and forbids the extortion of money from commercial vehicle operators in Lagos, investigations show that gangs of extortionists are still operating in different parts of the metropolis unchecked. At Onipanu Bus stop, some members of the NURTW in uniform were seen operating outside their offices, collecting levies, and forcefully selling tickets to commercial bus drivers. Across the road, three LASTMA officials were seen absorbed in their own discussions. They were clearly indifferent to the activities of the NURTW officials at the bus stop. A similar scenario replayed in Fadeyi and Ikeja areas: Touts were busy extorting money from bus drivers. Worried about the development, a commercial bus driver named Lateef said: “This issue of touts should not be left to drivers alone. If the government is serious about curbing their activities and that of the union, they must put structures in place to make sure this is possible. “Of course, we still buy tickets and pay levies at every bus stop. However, what I have observed since the new traffic law is that most of the touts now restrict their operations to early in the morning and late in the evening” added Lateef.

LIVING

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VIOLATED! 15 yr-old girl defiled by police officer, raped by shop keeper Chidinma Olosota (not real names) is your run-of-themill 15-year-old girl at a first glance. A closer scrutiny, however, reveals a troubled teen. She has been sexually abused serially by those least expected. K AYODE FALADE

he April sun was going to bed. Somewhere around Isheri, a Lagos suburb, a 15-year-old girl too was hurrying homeward. She wanted to arrive home before dusk. Suddenly, she struck her foot against a stone half buried in the earth. The teenager hissed and made to continue with her journey. But one of her footwear did not obey her. A strap had snapped in one of the flip-flops that covered her dusty feet. Chidinma Olosota (not real names) hissed and moved on. After taking some steps, she decided to wait for a mobile cobbler to rectify the situation. She looked around and sat at the front of a house. It was a decision that would affect her life. Not long after, a young man approached her, offering to help. The unsuspecting girl took the extended hand of help. A few hours later she had been raped. Not only that, she was prevented from leaving the house. Two days after, Chidinma struggled home to her already exasperated parents who were beside themselves with worries over the disappearance of their daughter. After showing her face at home, she was bundled straight to the church where the pastor lectured her on the gains of being an obedient child. It was the return of Chidinma’s father that exhumed any dirt the teenage girl thought had been buried. The man insisted that he be taken to the house she spent two days. Reluctantly, the girl led her father to the house she spent the last two days. As soon as the father sighted the young who allegedly housed his daughter for two days, he was overcome by emotion and a shouting match ensued. Invectives and insults were hurled from both sides. Irked by the insolence demonstrated by the young man, Chainman’s father made for the Isheri Police Station to report the matter. At the police station, the matter was assigned to an elderly police officer who is also said to be the Station Officer. The officer, according to a petition signed by 25 rights groups, Mr Ajayi, blamed the girl for the rape “because she ran away from home.” Also, she “was severely beaten by Inspector Ajayi with her father’s approval on the ground that she

caused what happened to her”. Meanwhile, that was just the beginning of other harrowing experience which the girl would go through in the hands of this particular law enforcement agent and his colleagues. “Inspector Ajayi then asked that Chidinma (not real name) remain at the police station for a couple of hours in order for her to ‘calm down’. Confident that Inspector Ajayi held a position of trust, Mr Olosota (not real name) complied with the instruction and left for work hoping that his daughter would soon be allowed to return home. Whilst at the police station, a number of police officers on duty sexually assaulted her, some fondled her breasts and others verbally abused her. All of these took place in the presence of Inspector Ajayi and another female officer who goes by the name of Happiness,” alleged the petition which copies were sent to the the Inspector General of Police, Lagos State governor, Lagos State deputy governor, Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Divisional Police Officer, Isheri Police Station, Lagos, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WARA) and the Attorney General of Lagos State. It continued: “Chindinma (not real names) was held at the Police Station all day till late in the evening without being offered any food. When she pleaded with Inspector Ajayi to release her to return home, he paraded around the holding cells threatening detention with the male inmates. Ensuring that she was frightened enough, Inspector Ajayi took her back to his office. In his office, he told her to write her statement and as she was writing, he was robbing her back telling her that he wants her to undress, when she refused, he threatened her. In her words: ‘Inspector Ajayi locked his office and told me that he

wants to have sex with me and if I don’t agree, he will detain me till tomorrow and carry me and the boy to court so that I will go to prison’. Apparently scared, she allowed him have his way. Right in the police station and right on the police desk, Inspector Ajayi raped Chidinma (not real name). At 9pm, Miss Chidinma (not real name) was released to go home” Chidinma confirmed the incident to Saturday Mirror adding that when he gave her a sachet of table water after and then allowed her to go home. She added that when she got home, she just went to bed without informing anybody of the incident. The petition, however, alleged further that: “Inspector Ajayi did not take down Chidinma’s statement or the statement of the perpetrator and did not advise her to visit a general hospital for the necessary medical examination immediately after rape. He didn’t even open a case file for her. He only invited her and her father to the station the next day to go for a pregnancy test at Calvary Hospital, Omole Phase 2”. But the teenage girl’s ordeal did not end there. On May 16 she was also raped. This time, the perpetrator is an acclaimed brother of a shop owner at Reality Plaza, Isheri. Her account: “A boy called IK now took us to the house. As we were going my friend excused herself saying she was to run an errand for her mum. Ike and I continued. When we got to the house, IK asked me to come inside but I refused. He now begged me to come and that he did not want to bring his sister’s phones outside. On getting inside, he asked to sit and offered me a newspaper. He told me he was going inside to bring the phone. When he came back, he knelt beside me told me

that there was no phone but that there was something he needed from. I asked him what. He then went inside again and brought a knife and asked me to pull off. He said he is a cultist and that he had done it before, that he would kill me and throw my body away in the night. When I refused he pressed the knife on my tummy and neck. When I saw blood, I started pulling off. I had on a gown and a pair of shorts. As I was doing that the N5, 000 which I kept in my knickers fell out and he picked it He asked me to lie down and I refused so he finally pushed me down and raped me.” At the last incident, the girl could no longer hold it in. She returned to the shop with the aid of some good Samaritans and raised some dust. When her father got wind of the incident, he asked the daughter again to go to the police station, but she refused. On further probing, she finally owned up on why she did not want to return to the police station: she had lost confidence in the police. That was when she opened up and told her father about her harassment by the officers and eventual rape by Ajayi. Saturday Mirror was at the said police station but everyone contacted declined to speak. Our correspondent was directed to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer. Frequent visits and calls to the officer, however, yielded no results. Twice her phone was picked by her orderly who promised to relay the message to her. A message to the effect was also sent to her via her facebook account. Saturday Mirror was also at the office of the Officer in Charge (OC) Human Rights of the Lagos State Command Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amhedu, who is a lawyer. CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

September 22, 2012

VIOLATED! 15 yr-old girl defiled by police officer, raped by shop keeper

Chidinma

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 Amhedu, who declined to speak with the press because he was not in a position to do

so, said his office was aware of the matter. He also directed our reporter to the PPRO. However, a source in the Human Rights unit disclosed to Saturday Mirror that the matter was actually brought to the attention of the unit and that it was taken up and investigated. The source added that the Commissioner of Police had been advised on the matter. Probed further, the source who disclosed that the unit has in its fold many lawyers of long bar experience added that during investigation, the victim, her father and the suspects including the police officer alleged were invited for interrogation. “It was then that we discovered that the girl was wayward and that the father was

only trying to use her to extort money from Ajayi and the Nigerian Police. “It is true that Ajayi flogged her but he never raped her as claimed”, it added. Asked how they came about their conclusion, the source continued: “In front of everybody we asked the policeman to strip and he did but he was not wearing the type of underwear the girl said he had on. We also sent a police officer to his office, it was not as the girl described. There was no television set and there was no couch. The girl was just lying “We have reprimanded Ajayi. The police have no right to administer corporal punishment which he did by flogging the girl. We have recommended that he be sent

on a six months course on human rights. We have also charged the first suspect to court. Though he claimed, he did not rape her; the girl was a minor then, hence could not give consent. That is defilement. He has been charged to court and remanded in prison custody” The source also dismissed the claim against the third suspect, IK, saying he was culpable and that the girl’s father also wanted to exploit the young man and his sister. The source, however, reprimanded the girl’s father accusing him of wanting to use his daughter to exploit the said police officer who was actually his friend before the incident.

‘I was raped by the policeman’

hat is your name? My name is Chidinma (not real name). I like reading novels and playing football. Which football Club do you belong to? I don’t belong to any football club. I only train with them. I am 16 years old a student of …. I am in SSS III. I am an Arts student. Do you want to be a professional footballer? No. I just love playing the game. Can you tell me what happened to you? The second man is Ajayi, the policeman who my father took me to. After they arrested the man whom I stayed with, they locked him up and asked me to sit down somewhere. After this my father left. After some time, they also allowed the man to go. But after he had gone I was now thirsty and hungry. So I demanded to see Mr. Ajayi, who now called my father on the phone. I didn’t hear what their conversation was but he later handed me the phone where I begged my father. He now said that I would be taught a lesson. After this, Ajayi said I should pull off

Louisa Ono Eikhomun is the Executive Director of Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative.

hat steps did you take? I referred her case to the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP). A petition was subsequently filed to the Commissioner of Police and other agencies were copied. Also the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State governor, his deputy and others. After the petition, the police started threatening the father of the girl. They even said that he must follow the suspect (the police officer) to the Area Command. But we told him to ignore them. He went to the police station to report a rape, nobody documented the case, no one asked him to write a statement, the victim did not write any statement, the suspect too

my dress. I asked him why and he said if I didn’t do it, he would take the boy and me to court and we would be jailed. I refused to take off my dress and he wanted to take the dress off. I began struggling with him. And during the struggle, he pushed me on a table that is inside the office and raped me. Did you shout? No, I did not. I only struggled with him. What happened next? After he finished he asked me to go home. What time was this? It was around 10pm. Did you tell your father when you got home? No. I just went to sleep. How did the third one happen? Some days after, I needed to buy another GSM hand set. I asked a friend of mine to accompany me to a shop to buy it. On getting to the shop, the woman there said she did not have the ones for N5, 000 with her at the shop but at home. She said that if I didn’t mind her brother would take me there and that I should go and pick my choice. A boy called IK now took us to the house. As we were going my friend excused her-

self saying she was to run an errand for her mum. Ike and I continued. When we got to the house, IK asked me to come inside but I refused. He now begged me to come and that he did not want to bring his sister’s phones outside. On getting inside, he asked to sit and offered me a newspaper. He told me he was going inside to bring the phone. When he came back, he knelt beside me told me that there was no phone but that there was something he needed from. I asked him what. He then went inside again and brought a knife and asked me to pull off. He said he is a cultist and that he had done it before, that he would kill me and throw my body outside in the night. When I refused he pressed the knife on my tummy and neck. When I saw blood, I started pulling off. I had on a gown and a pair of shorts. As I was doing that the N5, 000 which I kept in my knickers fell out and he picked it. I told him that the money did not belong to me but to my father. I just told him that so that he would return the money to me but he did not. He asked me to lie down and I refused so he finally pushed me down and raped me. After he finished, he said if I should

open my mouth and tell anybody about what happened, he would kidnap one of my sisters and that my daddy would pay a lot of money. I promised not to tell anybody and he allowed me to go. When we got there we saw the woman and we asked of IK the woman said he had not returned. I returned to the shop and told the woman that IK raped me and collected my N5, 000. I even showed the madam where IK stabbed me. The shop owner went out to call a pregnant woman whom she called her sister and one Bini guy. They asked her to call IK but he refused to pick his calls. Eventually when he came they asked him to come in and they locked the door. She now asked whether he knew me or not and he confirmed that he knew me. They now asked what happened to me but he said he did not do anything. How did your parents know? When I got home I told my parents. My father now asked me to go and report to Ajayi, the policeman but I refused. When he was trying to force me to go, I then told him what Ajayi did to me. That when we now told his friend who introduced us to the human rights people.

‘Her life is in danger’ did not write. The ethics of the police have been breached in the first instance. The victim was not also taken for treatment. The said police officer only took the girl to one private hospital for pregnancy test. But after the petition had been submitted we took the girl to the Military Hospital, Yaba because Lagos State doctors were on strike then. She was attended to by the hospital personnel and all the necessary tests and examinations were conducted by a female doctor and the results came out. It was HIV negative and pregnancy negative. Right now we have the medical reports which the police said was delaying the prosecution of the case. The Officer in Charge (OC) Human Rights invited the parties involved: the victim and the suspects. We met them at the Police Command and the victim identified

them. She was asked to describe how each incident took place which she did. She was even told to describe the underwear of the police officer involved. The first suspect admitted he had carnal knowledge of the victim but with her consent. This goes to show the fact that many people are not aware of the position of the law on having sexual intercourse with a minor. A minor cannot give consent. But the police officer kept denying. He only said that he did his job and that the father brought her to be disciplined, which he did. But why would he keep a young girl in a police station from morning till 10:45pm? Is that due process? Why would he not incident a case of defilement that was brought before him? Why would he not take the victim to a hospital for medical attention and tests within reasonable hours?

These were the questions that were put before him by the human rights officer, DSP Amhedu. Thereafter, IK was arrested, the shop owner was arrested and the medical report was collected from the hospital. What was the reaction of the victim? The victim needs help. In fact she and her family need help. They are being stalked and harassed by almost all the officers in the station. Initially when the case broke, they were all begging and kneeling down saying she should withdraw her complaints. Now, unknown faces follow them around. In fact her life is in danger. She had to stop school for a while for her own safety. The father too had to be taking precaution on where to go and when to go. It is affecting his job as an estate agent. She can no longer go to school because she is being stalked. Strange faces are following her. Her safety is in question.

LIVING

Stories of approaching flood were first taken with a pinch of salt by most residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Now, they are wiser as many communities in the town were completely sacked by the angry flood. ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

o many a resident of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital the month of September 2012 is one month that is eventful. Many people especially those living along the River Niger were held spellbound by a rampaging flood which led to the loss of domestic animals, crops, houses, vehicles as well as properties worth millions of naira. The situation, which led to panic in the state, was compounded by rumour peddlers and mischief makers who instilled fears into the people by sending text messages on the danger inherent in the over flowing River Niger. It started like one of those things were meteorological agency normally warned of the impending flood. Unfortunately, this time event over took the situation as this became a different story when people woke up in the morning on Tuesday, September 17 in Lokoja to witness what could be described as a replica

September 22, 2012

Flood destroys hopes and dreams in Lokoja of the day of Noah of Biblical time as flood took over adjoining communities such as Seriki-Noma, Adankolo, Ganaja and Gadumo leaving several un-prepared residents homeless. The disaster which left the inhabitants of lokoja,Bassa and Ibaji Local Government Areas of the state agape ate deep into many of people especially those Lokoja are already moving in a droves to their villages for fear of further escalation of the water surge. The disaster brought to bear many strange things with invasion of dangerous reptiles like snakes and crocodiles into some homes especially those living near the river bank. This unknown situation has prompted those whose houses were yet to be affected by the flood to abandon their homes for another place within and other the state capital. One of the residents of Gadumo community, Mallam Hussein Abubakar who is a journalist working with the state radio had his own share of the natural disaster as he was bitten by a snake in the cause

of struggling to evacuate his property from his house when the flood overran his area. The disaster which came barely 35 days after suspected terrorists killed 27 worshippers at Ottite in Adavi Local Government Area snuffed life out of a 78-year-old woman in Adankolo, a surbub of Lokoja. The old woman was said have been left by the family at the wake of the invading flood to go and source for an alternative accommodation when the angry torrent swooped on her while she was struggling to come out of the room having waited for her family to come back from their search. She was said to have been completely drowned in the flood before the arrival of her kin. This has attracted a lot of sympathy as residents threw caution into the air and jumped into the dreaded flood and later found the already dead old woman. The Lokoja residents have been thrown into confusion as the flood has restricted movement of vehicles in the town as well as shortage of drinking water. The road leading from Lokoja to Abuja has also come under a severe threat while

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the Lokoja to Ayangba road which is the gateway to the East and South-South part of the country has been submerged by the flood. The development has made entrance in and around the state capital to be difficult for motorists and residents that wanted to escape from the calamity. The flood has also submerged the Lokoja greater water works that serve the colonial city. The Commissioner for Water Resources, Hadiza Onotu, and her Works counterpart, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, bitterly expressed concern when they visited the places affected by the disaster. Onotu allayed fear of possible outbreak of epidemics as the water flow station was forcedly shut down. The inhabitants have started facing difficulty as the safest source of getting has been closed. When Saturday Mirror visited the affected communities, many people were seen packing the remains of their belongings which they struggled to snatch from the flood. One of the victims, Mr. Andrew Paul, a resident of Adankolo said the flood swept away his motor-cycle and a small Yamaha generating set. He said, despite the effort by the fishermen who volunteered to search for the missing items on the river, those things could not be found as they were said to have gone far. Paul was not the only victim who recounted his loss. Another one, Mr.Peter Oguche, a business man and a female football club owner(Oguche Babes). Oguche lost virtually everything he laboured for including the two star hotel and his football camp in Ganaja along Lokoja/ Ayangba road. They were completely swept away by the flood. It was, however, another comic situation in the whole saga as petrol marketers who refused to sell fuel thereby causing artificial fuel scarcity dearly paid for their greed when the flood dug up their underground tanks buried in the ground. The hoarded fuel was wasted. The state government has directed pupils from some primary schools in Lokoja as in Ibaji where the flood swept a half off to a relief camp. Governor Idris Wada who visited the flood sites directed the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) to compile names of the affected persons and forward them to the state government for possible compensation. The state government in the interim has started providing succour in form food items and mats to the various camps in the state as a temporal measure to alleviate the suffering of the people.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

September 22, 2012

Vidic wants Anfield respect

Mancini

Mancini denies Balotelli bust-up Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has resolutely denied reports of another bustup with striker Mario Balotelli ahead of Sunday’s visit of Arsenal. The Italian forward was left out of the City squad for Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, which they lost 3-2. His omission sparked claims the temperamental youngster had once again fallen out with manager Mancini. But the boss insists that was not the case and confirmed

Balotelli, as well as striker Sergio Aguero, are fit to start when City host the Gunners in the Premier League. “This story is totally false,” said Mancini. “Mario went in the stand only because we started to play with Carlos Tevez in attack and we couldn’t have three strikers on the bench. “There has been no argument, and no row. Absolutely not.” Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri seems certain to miss Sunday’s encounter with his former club.

anchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has called for a sense of perspective ahead of what is certain to be an emotionally-charged clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The Premier League encounter, always one of the most fiercely-contested in the English calendar, is the first home game for the Merseyside club following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report into the 1989 disaster. Liverpool are planning to honour the memory of the 96 supporters who lost their lives during the FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest, but there are concerns any tributes could be overshadowed by the actions of a minority of visiting supporters. Centre-back Vidic has joined Red

Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson in issuing a plea for all involved in Sunday’s game to show respect for each other, and knows the eyes of the world will be on Anfield. “Football is important, but it is never more important than life, any life,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in England or Serbia or any part of the world, but football has had to deal with many tragedies too. “There is a lot of history with these two clubs. We have some history as well, we have some tragedies, just like Liverpool. We should respect each other because we are big clubs and clubs that are respected in the world. “We have to show an example and be on top of the bad situation and behave well and, I would say, be an example,” he said.

Tello on verge of new Barcelona deal

ristian Tello has revealed that his agent is in advanced talks with Barcelona over a new and improved contract. The versatile attacker’s current deal is due to expire in the summer 2013, and Tello has reportedly attracted the interest of a number of foreign clubs. Nevertheless, a transfer away from Camp Nou does not seem to be an option for the winger, with a contract extension on the

horizon. “The contract renewal is going well. Barca are in talks with my agent and I hope it’s a done deal soon,” Tello said. The 21-year-old attacker came through the ranks of the Barcelona youth academy, and made his official first team debut in November 2011. He has since developed into an integral first team member at the Catalan giants.

EURO BRIEFS

Rooney to miss Reds’ clash

anchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Wayne Rooney will miss Sunday’s trip to Liverpool. It had been suggested Rooney, who has been sidelined since the win over Fulham last month with a gashed thigh, could make his return from injury for the clash with Liverpool.

Rooney

Wenger vows not to rush Wilshere

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he will not consider rushing Jack Wilshere back into his first team until he has had “at least ten full days of training”, as he makes his long-awaited return from injury. Wilshere, 20, returned to full training with Arsenal on Thursday and is edging closer to making his first start after months of agonising treatment and recovery from an ankle, knee and foot injuries.

Barry wants defensive strength in Man City

Podolski wanted Van Persie’s stay

ngland midfielder Gareth Barry admits Manchester City need to improve their defensive record if they want to retain their Premier League crown. City have won just two of their five competitive games, coming from behind to beat promoted Southampton on the opening weekend and then seeing off QPR 3-1.

ukas Podolski has admitted he would have preferred to begin his Arsenal career alongside Robin van Persie. The Germany international has scored three times in five Premier League games for the Gunners as they look to plug the gap left by the Dutchman’s departure to Manchester United. Podolski scored in Arsenal’s 6-1 demolition of Southampton last weekend and, despite Van Persie’s exit, the 27-year-old is already feeling at home in north London. “For me it was better if he had stayed,” Podolski said. “He is a world-class player and I hoped that he stayed and we played together but he made a decision and it is the team of Arsenal that is important. “When I came on the first day to the club everyone made it easy for me. “Not only the team but those around the team: the coaches, the physios, the president and all the staff make it easy for me. I feel happy at Arsenal. It is good for me. “The team and Arsene Wenger

PREMIERSHIP TABLE TEAM Tello

Clarke to replace Odemwingie

W Podolski

make it easy on the pitch. Last week we played very well. This is the style of football that I like - we play with one or two touches.” Podolski is happy with the way he has started his Arsenal career, but refuses to get carried away with ideas of scoring a hatful of goals and winning trophies in his first season.

est Brom manager Steve Clarke is confident that he can replace suspended striker Peter Odemwingie, following his red card against Fulham. The 31-year-old will be forced to watch from the sidelines for the next three Premier League games, having being dismissed during his side’s 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage for kicking out at Sascha Riether. Odemwingie begins his ban today when his side take on Reading, but West Brom manager Clarke believes he has sufficient reinforcements in his squad. “(Romelu Lukaku) could come into the picture,” he said.

“He’s been in my thoughts since the minute he came into the club. “But I’ve said before that I’ve been delighted with Shane Long and the decision to take him off at Fulham was purely tactical. We couldn’t get enough support to him in the first half and then when we went down to 10 men we needed a different type of forward in Romelu. “And I’ve got Markus Rosenberg chomping at the bit, so I’ve got plenty to chew over before the weekend. Peter is out for three games and I’ll concentrate on those we have available. I will decide on the best team to play against Reading,” he concluded.

PTS

1. Chelsea

2. Man Utd

3. Arsenal

4. Man City

5. Swansea

6. West Brom

7. Everton

8. West Ham

9. Fulham

10. Tottenham

11. Newcastle

-1

12. Stoke

13. Aston Villa

-1

14. Wigan

-4

15. Sunderland

16. Norwich

-5

17. Liverpool

-5

18. QPR

-7

19. Reading

-4

20. Southampton

-9

SPORT

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why I set up Rojenny Tourist/ Games Village –Ezeonwuka

Ezeonwuka

Chief Rommy A. Ezeonwuka is the first and only Nigerian to own a private stadium in the country and today sporting activities in the venue have nosedived. In this interview with ANDREW EKEJIUBA and NWABUEZE OKONKWO in Onitsha, he spoke on his pains over the collapsing edifice and the need for a total overhaul of Nigerian sports sector. Excerpts:

ou are the first and the only Nigerian to own a private stadium and games village of this magnitude. How do you feel over such an achievement? I feel happy and fulfilled. I want to also add that it is the handwork of God because I began this project about 30 years ago when I was just 23 years old. Initially it was like I never knew what I was doing and it is only now I realise that it was my own part of contributing to the development of sports in my dear country. I praise God for everything that is presently here at the Rojenny Tourist/ Games Village in Oba, Anambra State. What really motivated you to venture into building this edifice? It was my love and enthusiasm for sports development that drove me this far in building this Games Village. Initially many people saw the project as a worthless venture, but I was not deterred. Aside natural wisdom, which motivated me to commence the project, I happened to have travelled far and wide starting at the age of 17 years and it was in some countries I visited that I discovered the importance of tourism, leisure and games. The economy of most parts of the developed world is being sustained through tourism and sports and felt it could be replicated in my country. Really, I had that vision that someday, Nigeria would become

a tourist country, so I had that opportunity to establish this Games Village. How profitable is it to own an edifice like this in Nigeria? To be frank, in the present day Nigeria, there is no profit in this business because you can see that only few activities are going on here. What I did here is a long term investment which can only yield dividend after so many years ahead. But I feel fulfilled that I have set up this for future generation of Nigerian sportsmen and women to use to train. How is government supporting you in this regard? My answer is nobody is supporting me here because I’m a victim of negligence in sports, but I’m not worried because even the government stadia across the country are not taken care of like the Abuja National Stadium that was recently overgrown with weeds and that of the National Stadium in Lagos. Since government has failed to maintain theirs, going to assist in the maintenance of a privately owned stadium may even be a bigger problem for them to tackle. Can you enumerate the major matches you have hosted here? This stadium has hosted seven continental matches (CAF competitions) which saw teams and countries like Egypt, Alge-

ria, Morocco, Angola, Cote D’Ivoire and others playing here during the days of Jasper United and Udoji United. And it is on record that this is first privately-owned stadium to have hosted seven continental matches including a Nation’s Cup qualifier in Nigeria. I want to also reveal to you that it was at the Games Village here that the 1993 world conquering Golden Eaglets were camped for two years and three months under Coach Fanny Amun. The team had the likes of the Babayaros, Kanu Nwankwo, Wilson Oruma and others that made up that squad. They camped and trained here for that period and I was like a father to them. I put them on special diet and even gave them scholarship as way of motivating the players, especially those of them that wanted to further their education. I did all these because some of the parents of the players wanted to withdraw them from camp as they preferred their wards to be educated than playing soccer. So I was convinced that giving them scholarship to further their education will really help the players’ actualise their dreams of having good education. So I am proud that it was from this Games Villages that they were nurtured before they went to Japan ’93 U-17 World Cup to conquer the world and brought honour to the nation. Now government knows how I took care of the players, why can’t they give me more teams to camp here so that I would continue to contribute my own quota for sports development in Nigeria? Instead they go overseas to camp our teams and since then our football is on a free fall. Even, the products of that Japan ’93 Eaglets squad were part of the Super Eagles team that won the Atlanta’96 Olympics soccer gold. What is the capacity of the stadium in Rojenny Games Village? It is a 60,000-sitter capacity and the largest in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country. Do you own a club here? No, I don’t own a club here because it would be costly for me to bear. Maintaining the facilities here is a herculean task and combining it with a club will be suicidal without support from government or from the private sector. Even, the private individuals that own clubs are battling to sustain their clubs as against what is obtainable in Europe and other developed football playing nations of the world. Secondly, it has been very difficult for me to keep maintaining this place because of the cost implication. You can see that a swimming pool, basketball court, tennis court and a standard football stadium are all here and I remain grateful that God whom I serve still keeps this place open

MY ANSWER IS NOBODY IS SUPPORTING ME HERE BECAUSE I’M A VICTIM OF NEGLIGENCE IN SPORTS. BUT I’M NOT WORRIED BECAUSE EVEN THE GOVERNMENT STADIA ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE NOT TAKEN CARE OF. EXAMPLES ARE THE ABUJA NATIONAL STADIUM THAT WAS RECENTLY OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND THAT OF THE NATIONAL STADIUM IN LAGOS ALSO. for the meagre business going on here. What is really responsible for the poor maintenance culture of stadium facilities which our sports administrators have imbibed? There are so many sycophants in government especially from the administrators of sports and also massive corruption in that sector. Our government does not work with creators, technocrats and inventors. They want to copy the developed world in all spheres, but they fail to understand that the developed world thrive on transparency and good vision. Governments in the developed world go even an extra mile to back up creators, technocrats and inventors to keep their economy going which is the reverse here. Aside the aforementioned, government here always doesn’t support people with vision, so how can the country progress in terms of sports development and others? Our sports ministry needs total overhaul and those administrators destroying our sports should be shown the way out. What really do you mean; is that there is no money to maintain these facilities? CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

September 22, 2012

NSF: Zamfara, Sokoto pick zonal tickets NPL: El-Kanemi to recruit 15 new players T he football and cricket teams from Zamfara and Sokoto states have qualified the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF). Both states are to represent the National Sports Commission (NSC) Zone six (11) at NSF to be hosted by Lagos State, from November 27 to December 9. They qualified on technical grounds: Zamfara football team picked the ticket because Kebbi soccer team was disqualified for abandoning the match, while So-

he management of newly promoted El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri has said that the club would recruit 15 new players for the 2012/2013 Nigeria Premier League season expected to begin in October. Chairman of the club, Zanna Mala, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri. Mala said the club had already concluded transactions with some of the players, while efforts were being made to get the others. “We plan to recruit 15 new players to beef up the team in all departments for the league. We have concluded formalities for the recruitment of some of the players, while we are still making efforts to get the others,” Mala said. Mala said that the state government had upgraded facilities at the El-Kanemi Warriors Sports Centre, Maiduguri,

koto cricket team went through, having walked over Kebbi team. NSC Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Shehu Gusau, explained in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the technical officials awarded the match to Zamfara because of pitch invasion. The teams had a score line of 3-3 before fans of Kebbi invaded the pitch, forcing the abandonment of the match. According to him, that result was cancelled and three points

awarded to Zamfara. “In line with rules, the three maximum points was awarded to Zamfara team after Kebbi fans forced the match to be abandoned,” Gusau said. Gusau also said that the Sokoto Cricket team won on technical ground after a “walk over” against their Kebbi rivals. In the handball event, Sokoto also emerged winners, when the match with Kebbi was abandoned because of Kebbi fans’ unruly conduct.

Lagos schools get handball equipment

T ElKanemi Warriors’ coach, Kelechi Emetole

ahead of opening the new football season. El-Kanemi Warriors were the 1991 and 1992 FA Cup champions before their relegation to the professional league in 2007.

he Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA) has begun the distribution of equipment to schools to develop the sport at the grassroots. Technical Director of the LSHA, Toyin Aluko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the equipment comprised goal posts, balls and nets which had been given to some schools. “Right now, we have been

able to give schools like the Army Cantonment Junior Secondary School, Ikeja, and others the equipment we purchased to encourage students to play the game. “As I am talking to you, we have five pairs of goal posts to be distributed to schools in Bariga, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ikorodu, Badagry, and Epe Local Governments. “We have told our coaches

to go round these local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and identify a school in each to install the facilities. “We are interested in raising a team in each of the local government areas and LCDAs,’’ she said. Aliko urged schools around the areas to make good use of the facilities for the sport’s development.

‘Why I set up Rojenny Tourist/ Games Village’ CONTINUED FROM 42 The sycophancy in governance and the inability of government who are the sole driver of sports in the country to create an enabling ground to partner with the private sector to develop sports is the bone of contention here. Those in government (sports administrators inclusive) are only after what will line their pockets and not interested in developing sports. At the end, all these money which were budgeted for our sports development are stashed away in foreign banks courtesy of these corrupt sports administrators in government, which is bad. Also, fear of the unknown regarding our sports administrators partnering with our private sector is another major factor militating against our sports development. And I feel that the day government puts an enabling environment for the private sector to come in, would be the day our sports development will have a new lease of life. What then can government do to check corruption in sports? There are many practical ways to go about it by setting a monitoring team or task force that will make sure that money released for a sporting event or project is well utilised. For example, if I say I have the largest privately owned stadium in Nigeria, you will know by visiting the place to authenticate the claim, so government knows what to do to curb corruption. And to add to that, the services of investigative sports journalists could also help in this regard because that will help to expose the activities of these criminals. Are you impressed with the quality of the Nigeria Premier League?

I WANT TO ALSO REVEAL TO YOU THAT IT WAS AT THE GAMES VILLAGE HERE THAT THE 1993 WORLDCONQUERING GOLDEN EAGLETS WERE CAMPED FOR TWO YEARS AND THREE MONTHS UNDER COACH FANNY AMUN. I’m not impressed because the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) died about eleven years ago because of lack of quality sponsors backing the league and the inability of the administrators in NPL to check the movement of our star players to foreign clubs. This has led to the drought of stars in the league and fans no longer have interest in watching it. Remember a few years back when Rashidi Yekini returned to the Nigerian league towards the twilight of his career, fans started trouping back to watch our league. Today, you can see that there no stars to watch and because of this factor, our league is on a free fall. Even when a star is discovered in the league today, tomorrow the club will sell him out to a foreign club to make money. The European league is thriving be-

cause they have stars and that is why they buy players with huge amount of money. Here, no club can afford to buy a player with such outrageous amount of money talk less of owning a stadium. Take a look at Stephen Keshi’s performance so far as the Super Eagles gaffer; do you think he is on track in his rebuilding process? The man must be under intense pressure. If I open up and tell you what Keshi may be going through, then you must sympathise with him because this is a country where highly-placed individuals always want to impose players on national team coaches. During the days of expatriate coaches this was checked because as foreigners they never allowed such. My experiences with the Eaglets when Fanny Amun was in charge comes to my mind here because we forbade anybody from imposing players on the coaching crew then; whether military or civilian, and that was why the team succeeded. Though there was great urge to do that, but I supported the team in checking that because the imposition of players affects Nigerian coaches and the weaklings among them often fall prey to this. Aside that imposition of players distorts the selection of quality players that would represent the country in major international competitions by the coaching crew. The Super Eagles will be battling next month, the Lone Stars of Liberia in the final game towards qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa; what do you envisage would be the outcome of that game? I cannot bet a dime that Nigeria would win or vice versa because the foreign-

Ezeonwuka

based players invited would like to play with great caution so as not to get injured. Remember this is a country that has football administrators that look elsewhere when a player plying his trade abroad is injured while on national duty. The cases of Emmanuel Amunike and Dosu Joseph are good examples and recently that of Yekini who was abandoned by his country before his demise. So, if Keshi invites these foreign-based players, they would like to play safe thereby denying the team the ability to play with full steam. So I can advice Keshi to invite and concentrate his rebuilding process with home-based players who are ready to give out their best in any international engagement.

LEISURE

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK  Inadequate output of blood from the heart. Certain conditions such as any of the various diseases of the heart muscle, an abnormal heart rhythm or a decrease in blood volume may cause inadequate blood flow from your heart. Loss of balance (disequilibrium): Disequilibrium is the loss of balance or the feeling of unsteadiness when you walk. Causes may include:  Inner ear problems. Abnormalities with your inner ear can cause you to feel like you are unsteady while walking, especially in the dark.  Sensory disorders. Failing vision and nerve damage in your legs are common in older adults and may result in difficulty maintaining your balance.  Joint and muscle problems. Muscle weakness and osteoarthritis — the type of arthritis that involves wear and tear of your joints — can contribute to loss of balance when it involves your weight-bearing joints.  Neurological conditions. Various neurological disorders can lead to progressive loss of balance.  Medications. Loss of balance can be a side effect of certain medications, such as anti-seizure drugs, sedatives and tranquilizers. Other dizzy sensations such as floating, swimming or heavy-headedness Other “dizzy” sensations that are more difficult to describe may include feeling “spaced out” or having the sensation of spinning inside your head. Your doctor may refer to this as nonspecific dizziness. Some causes include:

Dizziness

crease your risk of getting dizzy include:  Age. People older than 65 years old are more likely to have medical conditions that cause dizziness. They’re also more likely to take medications that can cause dizziness.  Taking certain medications. Some medications, such as blood pressure lowering drugs, anti-seizure medications, sedatives and tranquilizers can cause dizziness.  A past episode of dizziness. If you’ve experienced dizziness before, you’re more likely to get dizzy in the future.

LIFE SAVERS If you experience dizziness, consider these tips:

 Medications. Blood pressure lowering medications may cause faintness if they lower your blood pressure too much. Many other medications can cause nonspecific feelings of dizziness that resolve when you stop the medication.  Inner ear disorders. Some inner ear abnormalities can cause persistent, non-vertigo-type dizziness.  Anxiety disorders. Certain anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks and a fear of leaving home or being in large, open spaces (agoraphobia) may cause dizziness.  Low iron levels (anaemia). Other signs and symptoms that may occur along with dizziness if you have anaemia include fatigue, weakness and pale skin.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). This condition generally occurs in people with diabetes who use insulin. Dizziness may be accompanied by sweating and confusion.  Ear infections. Sometimes, ear infections can cause dizziness. This type of dizziness will go away when the infection clears up.  Overheating and dehydration. If you’re active in hot weather, or if you don’t drink enough fluids, you may feel dizzy from overheating (hyperthermia) or from dehydration. This is especially true if you take certain heart medications. Resting in a cool place and drinking water or a sport drink will usually help ease the dizzy feeling. Risk factors: Factors that may in-



Be aware that dizziness may make you lose your balance, which can lead to falling and serious injury.



Avoid moving suddenly.



Stand up slowly.



Fall-proof your home by removing tripping hazards such as area rugs and exposed electrical cords. Use nonslip mats on your bath and shower floors.



Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy.



Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery if you experience frequent dizziness.



Use good lighting on stairs and where you walk if you get out of bed at night.



Avoid using caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. Excessive use of these substances can worsen your signs and symptoms. CONCLUDED

LETTER

Is somatoform curable? Good day ma. Could you throw light on the medical term somatoform disorder, and is it curable? 08038------63 Gboko, Benue state Mirror doctor replies. Somatoform disorder is the name for a group of conditions in which the physical pain and symptoms a person feels are related to psychological factors. These symptoms can’t be traced to a specific physical cause. In people who have a somatoform disorder, medical test results are either normal or don’t explain the person’s symptoms. People who have this disorder may have several medical evaluations and tests to be sure that they don’t have another illness. They often become very worried about their health because they don’t know what’s causing their health

problems. Their symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other illnesses and may last for several years. People who have a somatoform disorder are not faking their symptoms. The pain that they feel is real. There are different types of somatoform disorders. Somatization disorder usually involves pain and severe neurological symptoms (such as headache, fatigue), digestive symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea) or sexual symptoms (such as pain during sexual activity, loss of sexual desire, extremely painful periods in women). Hypochondriasis occurs when a person believes that normal body functions (such as a grumbling stomach) or minor symptoms (such as a common headache) are symptoms of a very serious disorder.

To a person who has hypochondriasis, a grumbling stomach may mean stomach cancer or a headache may mean a brain tumour. Body dysmorphic disorder occurs when a person becomes obsessed with a flaw in his or her physical appearance that is either a minor flaw or a flaw that doesn’t exist. He or she constantly worries about the perceived flaw, which can be any part of the body. Wrinkles, hair loss, weight gain, and size and shape of feature like the eyes, nose and breasts are all common concerns for people who have body dysmorhpic disorder. Conversion disorder is when physical symptoms that are similar to a neurological disorder develop, when no neurological disorder is actually present. Paralysis of an arm or leg, vision loss, hearing loss and seizures are common symptoms. Stress

may make the symptoms worse. Like many medical problems, somatoform disorders often run in families. They also tend to come and go over time. Although there is no known cure for somatoform disorders, they can be managed. Treatment focuses on helping the person who has the disorder to live as much of a normal life as possible, even though he or she may still have some pain or other symptoms. Fortunately, a somatoform disorder will not shorten a person’s life. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medicine for some of your symptoms, but in many cases you will not need medicine. Seeing your doctor for regular checkups is the most important part of your treatment. Your doctor will tell you how often he or she needs to see you. You may feel frustrated if your symptoms continue, but remember that somatoform disorders can be very difficult to treat. Your doctor will do his or her best to help you maintain your health.

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Shoe-making is a low-risk business’ FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

t this period when unemployment seems to be the order of the day, it is very important to think of becoming an employer of labour rather than being employed. Yinka Oduwobi, the managing director of Simsworth Creations, no doubt had good foresight when she went into the cobbling business some 14 years ago at a time when it was not even fashionable for ladies to go into the shoe-making business. Today, she has made a fortune out of the vocation and has also moved to some other areas of endeavour with the resource she realized from the shoe-making business. While speaking with Saturday Mirror, the Yaba Tech graduate of Food Technology disclosed that she had to go into the shoe-making business as a result of unemployment after she graduated from school. “After my graduation in Yaba Tech, I searched for employment and for good two years but I couldn’t get one and I said to myself; why can’t I create a job for myself and others instead of searching for a job that seems not to be forthcoming and that was how I went for a training in shoe-making as an apprentice,” stated Oduwobi. “Because the business is a maledominated one, I decided to carve a niche for myself, which would be my unique selling point and that which would set me apart from

A PROSPECTIVE OPERATOR MAY BEGIN BY ACQUIRING AN OUTLET OR APARTMENT FOR THE BUSINESS.

AFTER THIS, ABOUT N200,000 WILL BE ENOUGH TO ACQUIRE THE TOOLS AND MACHINES NEEDED FOR THE JOB my contemporaries and that was why I learnt the art of shoe-making and bagmaking as well. I f you bring fabric of your choice, I will make a pair of shoes and a matching bag with it that will meet up to the standard desired.” Oduwobi further noted that shoemaking business is quite a lucrative one because shoes are essential to life. “You cannot move around without shoes and for those who work, especially ladies, as they need good and presentable pairs of shoes for office, parties and even casual outings and we do all these and with the fabric of your choice, which makes it even more unique.” According to Oduwobi, it is a business that requires formal training in form of apprenticeship and it also requires strong passion because it involves dealing with people from different backgrounds and walks of life and

Oduwobi

“as such, you just have to learn how to deal with all these people politely and respectfully too.” In terms of capital to commence the business, Oduwobi explains that the amount required will solely depend on how big or small the person wants to start. If you do not have money to start big, you can as well start small. After undergoing the necessary training, a prospective operator may begin by acquiring an outlet or apartment for the business. After this, about N200,000 will be enough to acquire the tools and machines needed for the job,” explained Oduwobi. She further noted that one of the challenges inherent in the business has to do with meeting up with production deadlines from customers. She noted that s constant hard work is inevitable if one is to make a success of the busi-

ness. She said, “There are times you get bumper orders such that you would need to increase your pace of production. This, coupled with an eye for details, helps in achieving success. The job is not for lazy people, who are not ready to work. You have to be determined and be rugged, if you are to succeed.” Oduwobi noted that she buys most of her raw materials locally but that another challenge is the unstable nature of power supply in the country, requiring that one would always need to source for one’s power, “and this affects the cost of production.” She further told Saturday Mirror that the business booms during festive periods while between January and March, sales are low. Oduwobi added that the business is a low-risk business. “Generally, it is a low risk business simply because everybody needs to wear shoes out of his or her house every day. Elementary knowledge of the business teaches that if you are selling something that people need, you will always have an entire human race worth of potential customers. However, the idea is not just to set up a shoe company, but it is necessary that a new brand needs to bring something fresh to the market. Indeed, the best way to make it with a small-scale shoe business is to carve a niche and offer something that big brands may not be offering. Particularly, create a new design that will attract both the common man and the wealthy customer to your business,” explained Oduwobi.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Investing in integrated agro-project

ntroduction

There is need for the country to address the issue of self-reliance in food production. Every Nigerian should thank God for His immense blessing of the country with natural resources. The climatic condition of Nigeria has made it that the country can make money from different sectors of the economy. It is imperative to note that in a developing country like Nigeria, where there is unemployment, agriculture is there to offer good employment opportunities to many. In this brief investment proposal, the writer discusses on how to start animal husbandry to earn a living. Realising the importance of agriculture, the present government has made available, through some financial institutions, some agricultural funds for development of the sector. For one to benefit from these funds there is need to have good investment proposals. One may not have the opportunity to start on a large scale but on a small scale with the intention to grow in the near future. Investment in agriculture is capital intensive but that does not mean that one cannot commence investing with small amounts.

of epidemic in one will not affect or will have a very little effect on the investor.

Purpose of investment Farm animals include all those animals, which man has domesticated and are produced for benefits. For generations, man has produced animals for certain purposes, which include prestige, food, income, sports, labor and laboratory purposes. For many years in the country, some kept animals mainly for prestige purposes. They had herds of them and would neither sell them for money nor kill them for food. They were happy to be recognized with having a large flock of animals. This ideal was uppermost in the minds of chiefs and other natural rulers some years ago. Today, the attitude of farmers has changed towards keeping animals as an economic venture. Farm animals are kept for food, which may be got as eggs, meat and milk. Whatever purpose any investor may have, animal farming can offer employment opportunities to teeming unemployed youths and at the same time earn substantial income to the investor.

Project concept

Project location

The concept considers investment into domesticated animals. It looks at opportunities of integrating different types of domesticated animals. Instead of concentrating on only one type of animal (like poultry), an investor combines so many animals so that the risk

The project can be located in any part of the country. There is no part of the country where the animals cannot survive provided the animal feeds are given at the appropriate quantity and time. Profitable animal combination Mainly the species of farm animal

fall within the aves and mammalian. They include poultry (comprises of all the domesticated birds e.g. chickens, ducks, turkeys, goose, swans, guineas, pigeons, ostrich etc, swine, horses; rabbits, goats, sheep, cattle etc). All these can form a complete combination. However, it depends on how much is available for the entire project. The investor should therefore be able to decipher the purpose and combination to make, which depends wholly on available investment funds. It is however advisable to have a large number of animals in the stock to spread risk of epidemics.

Space requirement There is need for the investor to make provision for a large space for the animals. Each of the selected animals should have separate accommodation built inside a large space of land. If there is enough capital, the large space of farm will be given dwarf fencing with security post for security reasons.

Livestock management The management of poultry, goats, rabbits, pigs, cattle, horses, herds etc involves a lot of technical issues. The type of management depends wholly on the species and stock of animals that the investor wants to adopt. The management involves both the intensive, semi-intensive and extensive methods of management, which cannot be discussed here. The feeding approach to be adopted in the project depends on the stock intended to introduce.

Animal Nutrition Animal feeds can be classified as Basal (energy) feeds, supplements, concentrates, roughages, carbohydrates, fats & oils, proteins, and organic matter or minerals. The running of livestock has been made easy because you can obtain these feeds in ready-made state. Alternatively, one can set up a feed meal processing (feed mill) plant to provide immediate food by processing the domestic wastes and other into usable form.

Cost estimate From our financial analysis, an investor can go into the project with the sum of between N5 million and N7 million and above, depending on the scale of the proposed farm. Detailed cost will be developed after the requisite feasibility studies.

Stocking of quality species There are now very good species for poultry, cattle, pigs, goats and sheep for profitable animal husbandry business.

Investment analysis Livestock farming is very profitable. However, it takes some time to mature. The actual returns on investment, payback period and other investment appraisals will be applied when the prospective investor has discussed with us to know the stock and level of operations.

Courtesy: Uba Godwin, 08034494437, E-mail: ubagodwin@yahoo.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

People Yetunde Fawehinmi:

A story teller

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

etunde Fawehinmi, a daughter of the late foremost human rights activist and lawyer,

Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), has many passions. They include providing a better qualitative education for Nigerians and writing stories. To drive her passions and actualise her dream for the Nigerian child, she established Leaves Green School eight years ago in Lagos. Yetunde had both her primary and secondary education in Nigeria before proceeding to England for tertiary education. There she earned herself a degree in Economics. She lived in England for about 16 years where she worked as Nursery School Manager in some schools. “I worked for many nursery schools in England for so many years and I rose to be a Nursery School Manager. So I thought that if I could make parents in England that came to our school happy, I should be able to help Nigerian parents and educational system by my own input and take Nigeria to a greater height,” she added. Apart from being a school owner, Yetunde also has a special interest in teaching her pupils how to think

and write stories. It was this passion for writing stories that made her to write a book titled; “Ranga,” which she launched last Saturday alongside her 40th birthday in Lagos. “In my school I teach children how to think to write a story from the depth of their heart; to dream out the story and write it down. I see a lot of Nigerian parents buying a lot of foreign books for their children and I found out that there is a gap between children and their literature in Nigeria. This motivated me to write my book, Ranga. “Ranga is about African folktales. I come from Ondo so I used some names from Ondo. There is Idanre hill, where there is always a mountain climbing festival. There is also Owena farm. The book is just to teach the children that there is always time to play and time to read their books as well as to encourage parents to tell their children bed time stories whenever they have time to spend with their children,” she said. Speaking on the need for improve-

Joe Agbro Jr: Promising writer

OSEYIZA OOGBODO

all him a promising literary light and you won’t be wrong. His first published book, Served, definitely indicates that he’s a very promising writer who just might soon be up there in the ranks of other great writers like Odia Ofeimun, Wole Soyinka and Niyi Osundare. He is Joe Agbro Jr and his literary baby, Served, is a memoir of his experiences as a youth corps member in Ebonyi State while participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2004 and 2005. It details his journey through ‘Sharon,’ the NYSC camp in Ebonyi and working as a teacher in semi-rustic Ezzaland, his place of primary assignment. “I love writing. I love putting words together to make beautiful sentences that captivate people to read them. Writing is very important to me because writing analyses a topic properly and if anyone should then read that write-up about that topic, he will

understand it.” Talking about Served, he said, “It is my own way of giving back to the society. People hear a lot about serving the nation through the NYSC. They look forward to it and Served will help them in that as well.” Writing a book is never an easy proposition but Agbro claims writing Served wasn’t too difficult for him. “It was not too difficult to write as I made notes intermittently during service year and knew I was going to write a book about my experience.” And on how long it took him to write it, he said, “I finished the first draft in three months in December 2005. During that period, I worked like a maniac, typing furiously on a desktop computer I bought while serving. I usually left anything I was doing to write whenever there was electricity to power the computer.” “Served is unique, and I am not blowing my own trumpet. What makes it unique is the fact that it contains undiluted facts. Every part of the story as well as the characters in it is

real. In fact, I sometimes feel naked realising how much of myself I’ve put in there.” And insisting on his love for writing, he disclosed that, “There’s definitely going to be another book from me but for now, I plan to ensure as many people as possible get to read Served. “I’ll like to say many Nigerians that ought to be reading are not reading. But, for the few that still read or want to read, I think it’s the proper job of the writer to continue churning out stories.” Disclosing that Served would be released internationally in both soft and hard versions in December, he added that “its public presentation comes up next Wednesday at the Lagos Country Club. Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State is billed to deliver a lecture on the topic, Re-addressing the role of youths in nation building. Many other dignitaries will also be in attendance and I’m looking forward earnestly to the launching which will herald its release into the market.”

ment in the Nigerian education standard, the economist turned educationist, stressed the need for the review of the school curriculum and adequate training for teachers. Her words: “I think the basic curriculum of public schools should be reviewed. I think schools should focus more on how to teach students to read and write. Without a child understanding how to read and write very well, there is no way a child will understand what he or she is being taught in school. “We need to train our teachers because they have great influence on their students. We need to train the children very well. Necessary facilities and good resources must be put in place for educational development. We must also encourage practical teaching. “Teachers must cultivate the habit of teaching the students more about the Nigerian culture. We are in Nigeria and we need to teach our children about our culture. Children should know about their cultural heritage. People all over the world know that Nigeria is rich in culture and that is why they want to come for our festivals.” To Yetunde, clocking the age of 40 years is remarkable and worth celebrating. “I feel exited at 40. I am happy to have good family and friends around me and I just thank God that He is awesome and I thank God for everything,” she said.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

September 22, 2012

Benin ‘horse baby’ church relocates Rivers justifies ban on street trading CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

ivers State government has said there is no going back in the banning of street trading in Port Harcourt and some other parts of the state. It insisted that the ban is in the interest of the affected parties. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, yesterday. Semenitari explained that street trading is not a function that thrives in societies populated by people who are reasonable. “There is no sane society that would allow its citizens to sell their wares along highways and in the streets because traders are supposed to do their business in properly designated areas,” she added.

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN CITY

ollowing our report last Saturday of the delivery of a horse by a woman in a Benin-based church, the World Liberation Ministry International, our correspondent visited the church on Wednesday morning to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the claim but found a wide-open, yawning church auditorium with no human presence. As our correspondent discovered, the concerned church had promptly relocated from its former location on the old Benin-Sapele Road to Limit Road, a new, makeshift location on the other side of the new BeninSapele Road, obviously owing to the unprecedented heat, pressure and doubts that the miracle claim has elicited. It was reliably gathered that the landlord of the residential building housing the church, a medical doctor, had given the church a quit notice

over the doubtful miracle. It was further gathered that one of the tenants of the house whose name could not be obtained as at press time had already packed out in protest against the disturbances that the occupants have been suffering as a result of the

church’s activities and following the footsteps of the occupant, who was described as the oldest tenant, others are said to have notified the landlord that they are also prepared to move out at anytime. But the General Overseer of the church,

Evangelist Silver Wealth Iyamu, denied all these findings while speaking on his mobile telephone earlier this week. He said he merely packed the chairs and other church properties out of the small church to the new location because the old place was becoming too

small for the congregation to use. He further stated that the woman that allegedly gave birth to a horse in his church was yet to show up contrary to his expectation even as he could not tell when or whether she would ever show up.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left) Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III (middle) and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Akwa Ibom State chapter, Bishop Cletus Bassey at the Governor’s Lodge in Uyo, recently.

Ogun group decries campaign against Amosun Ekiti plans recruitment of workers ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State government has said arrangements are ongoing to begin a recruitment exercise to fill vacant positions in its civil service. This was made known by the State Civil Service Commission boss, Alhaji Afolabi Ogunlayi. The commission, Ogunlayi said, was currently holding series of meetings with all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to determine the exact number of available vacant positions in the civil service. Ogunlayi said the recruitment exercise would enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the public service.

gun Patriotic Forum (OPF), a socio-cultural organisation, has decried the persistent criticisms of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s government, noting that such is capable of slowing down the pace of development in the state. President of the Forum, Seyi Shodipo, who made this remark in a chat with reporters at Soji compound, Abeokuta, Ogun State, described as mischievous and frivolous the statements credited to the opposition parties in the state that the Amosun administration was slow in meeting the aspirations of the people as well as alleging that the government spent N2.7bn on chartered flights and foreign trips in the past 16 months. The Forum, which took a look at the series of criticisms levelled on the administration of Amosun, said that

the aim of the opposition parties in the state was only to distract the governor from performing his duties. He described the opposition parties’ statements as misguided, misleading and incredulous, pointing out that in as much as the people of Ogun remained disen-

chanted with the inglorious eight -year rule of the PDP in Ogun State, no amount of misrepresentation of the Senator Amosun led ACN administration will incite the people against the Government. Shodipo, who cautioned the opposition parties to desist from

seeking relevance where none exists, urged them to join hands with Amosun to show concern towards the search for a sustainable growth in the state’s economy. He also asked them to support all government efforts aimed at making life more meaningful to the people of the state.

Senator Amosun

Councilor gives free eye surgery to community TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

s part of his determination to give dividends of democracy to people of his ward, Hon. Adetayo Adegbembo, Councilor for Orire Ward C in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, has embarked on a four-day Free Surgical Operation and Workshop Programme for people of his ward. Speaking at the commencement of the programme at The Hosanna Hospital in Festac Town, Hon. Adegbembo, called

on public and corporate organisations to come up with programs that will directly or indirectly impact lives of the citizenry. His words: “Health they say is wealth for every human endeavor and if a nation is sick every of its citizen is sick. In a nation where the health system is almost at zero level, minor or major surgical activities will be unaffordable. Therefore, there is no doubt that many families will benefit from this program and at the end, they will be grateful to Association of Rural Surgical

Practitioners of Nigeria (ARSPON) and the Hosanna Hospital for this unique surgical operation. “The first time I heard about this program was during my courtesy visit to The Hosanna Hospital and to other business organisations and residential associations with some of my party leaders. When the medical director of this hospital informed us that a program like this was being proposed for the people of the ward and the local government, I was overwhelmed with

joy because I know that there are so many lives in our community that are in dire need of one surgical operation or the other and the funds for such operation are not available. Once again, I say a very big thank you to ARSPON. “Furthermore, the administration of Comrade Ayodele Adewale in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government has been in the forefront of good affordable health care to the people of the local government and this is another milestone in his support for healthy living.”

REGIONAL NEWS

September 22, 2012

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Suswam commissions 42 vehicles to relieve rural dwellers HENRY IYORKASE

Mark tasks FG on Kogi, Anambra border dispute ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

he Senate President, David Mark, yesterday called on the Federal Government to intervene in the face-off between Kogi and Anambra states over the controversial oil well which both are laying claims to. Senator Mark who was in Lokoja to visit victims of the flood disaster in the state capital said the issue ought to be amicably resolved by the government so as not to allow the situation degenerate into chaos. He described the flood as a monumental disaster.

MAKURDI

overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has said declared his administration’s sincerity in alleviating poverty even as he commissioned 36 buses and six Nissan vehicles purchased at N248, 400,000. Suswan at the commissioning ceremony yesterday also reiterated his resolve to fulfil his earlier campaign promises to create wealth and eradicate poverty in the state. The governor made the declaration at IBB Ssquare in Makurdi. He also stated that it was the desire of his administration to eradicate poverty in the land since the people had graciously entrusted their destiny in his hand to steer the affairs of the state for a second term. Governor Suswam further asserted that the loan which gave birth to the purchase of the vehicles was obtained from the Infrastructural Bank plc and advised the

beneficiary Benue Links Nigeria Limited to make judicious use of the vehicles with a view to repaying back on time. Suswam also enjoined the management of the mass transit to ensure that the vehicles ply routes especially in the rural areas in order to ease the problem of people at the grassroots.

He noted with dismay the plight of rural people in the face of skyrocketed transport fares and urged the mass transit to ensure that their fares are low as compared with others so as to give succour to the peasant farmers who are main producers of food in the state. This, he added, would go a long way in stabilis-

ing the cost of food items. Earlier, the General Manager of the transport firm, John Baka, said the additional purchase of the vehicles would greatly improve the quality of transport services to the people of the state. He noted that the proceeds from the first batch of allocation of Federal Government mass tran-

sit loan scheme to the state would be repaid in no distant time. He, however, observed that proceeds so acquired from the vehicles would be judiciously preserved and repaid according to the agreement just as he further requested the government to acquire 10 units of 59-seater Marcopolo buses.

Plateau bye election: Opposition shops for consensus candidate JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

pposition political parties in Plateau State have perfected plans to field a consensus candidate in the forthcoming senatorial bye-election in the state, it was learnt yesterday. Saturday Mirror learnt that the move is to enable it confront the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the bye-election slated for October 6. Sources close to the opposition in the state made up of 24 political parties informed Saturday Mirror yesterday that a com-

mittee had been set up to pick a consensus candidate from among the leading opposition candidates that emerged winners during their primaries The source said: “we have realised that no single party in the state now can confront the ruling PDP in the forthcoming bye election and succeed. That is why we in the opposition have decided to team up and we are working on an arrangement to produce a single candidate to be able to defeat the ruling party. Once the arrangement is concluded, we will make the name of the preferred

candidate open to members of the public” Saturday Mirror learnt further that among those being considered are former Military Administrator of Delta State and Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) candidate, Col. David Dungs; former governorship candidate and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Ambassador Chris Giwa; former Plateau State Commissioner for Justice and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Mr Yusuf Pam, former member of House of Representatives and Labour Party (LP) candidate.

Meanwhile, seven political parties have so far been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to participate in the byeelection. Spokesman of INEC in the state, Mr Bencyn Ikpe, who confirmed the number to Saturday Mirror yesterday in Jos listed the parties as: PDP, ACN, LP, CPC, APGA, ANPP and DPP. According to him, there is no going back on the October date for the election as the commission has put everything in place to ensure its success.

Adult education: Bauchi enrolls 71,126 Taraba committed to polio eradication – Commissioner

he Taraba State government has reiterated its commitment to the total eradication of poliomyelitis and other child killer diseases in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Mustapha Gabdo, stated this on Thursday in Mutum Biyu at the launch of the 2012 Polio Eradication Campaign. He said the choice of Gassol as venue for the exercise was prompted by a recent discovery of a polio case in Wuro Ward of the local government council. Represented by the Special Adviser to the governor on Health Matters, Dr. Alfred Kobiba, he said Gassol had the highest number of children that were yet to be vaccinated

he Bauchi State government said that it had enrolled about 71,126 adult learners in adult literacy classes, to enable them obtain certificates in basic and post literacy education. Malam Yusuf Mohammed, the state’s Literacy Coordinator, Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education (ANFAE), gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Friday. Mohammed said that enrolment cut across the 20 local government areas of the state and that it was part of government’s efforts to boost the educational status of the people. He said that the voluntary classes had recorded impressive turn out of both male and female trainees. “The figure we are having is impressive and indicates that lots of adults, who were not able to acquire the basic

education during their childhood age, are massively turning out to participate voluntarily. “In 2011, we had about 38,297l candidates that wrote examinations. In 2012, we have about 44,932

men and 26,194 female for the exercise, including those at the women centres,” he said. Mohammed explained that classes were also held at women skill acquisition centres, where partici-

pants acquired vocational and educational training. He said that the classes were conducted voluntarily and without fees, adding that some learners were enrolled for three years while others

went for one-year education. Ibrahim said that learners were encouraged by their instructors to continue their education in the agency’s Institute for Adult Education.

Intending female Muslim pilgrims from Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, during the state’s Amirul Hajj’s tour, in Akko Gombe on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

September 22, 2012

Katsina is not broke – Governor’s aide Kano partners Ja’iz Bank on info systems AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

he Kano State government has signed an agreement with Millennium Agama Consortium and Ja’iz Bank Plc for the establishment, implementation and operation of Kano Geographic Information System, KANGIS. Under the three-year Public Private Partnership agreement, Ja’iz Bank Plc will invest N500 million in the project and will serve as the lead collection bank. Speaking shortly after formalising the agreement, Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso stated that the project would go a long way in unbundling the vast economic potentials of the state.

JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

atsina State is not broke and the ongoing infrastructural development is an evidence. This was said by the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Community Development, Yusuf Bindawa. Bindawa, was reacting to an allegation that the state was broke and could therefore not afford to celebrate silver anniversary of its creation. Bindawa said that government decided not to have a fanfare but low-key celebration by choice and not because of financial problems. He said the state took the decision to have a prayer session in the three senatorial zones today, with supplications to be made for continued peace, stability

and progress of the state and country in general. He said 68 Imams would be invited from the 34 council areas and prayers would be held in the state capital while

a dinner would also be held on Sunday to mark the state’s 25 year anniversary. On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Religious Af-

fairs, Lawal Danhaire, called on Muslims and Christians alike to pray for the “peace, progress, and prosperity of our state and country.” Saturday Mirror re-

ports that the state was created along Akwa Ibom on 23 September, 1987 by the then military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

L-R: Executive Director, Services, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Malam Idi Mukhtar; Executive Director, Operations, KRPC, Mr. Ian Udoh and Senior Editor, Nigeria Television Authority, Alhaji Ibrahim Kajuru, at a news conference on the commencement of production of Ero-Solvent at KRPC in Kaduna on Thursday . PHOTO: NAN

Obi funds committee on Orimili State Dons back embattled UNIZIK VC NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

gbo leaders and deans of faculties of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State have unanimously debunked the speculations making the rounds that the ViceChancellor of the University, Prof. Boniface Egboka, is into financial recklessness and misappropriation of funds belonging to the institution. Their reactions followed an internet publication which alleged that Egboka is awarding contracts to his relations at inflated costs, thus creating an avenue to siphon the public funds into his private pocket, through a conduit pipe.

NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

he agitation for the creation of Orimili State from the present Anambra State received a boost as Governor Peter Obi doled out N3 million to the state committee to ensure the realisation of the desired goal. The chairman of Idemili zone of the committee, Leo OnyekweluAtanmuo, who disclosed this to the chairman of Idemili North Local Government Transition Committee, Chief Raphael Asha Nnabuife, during a courtesy call in his office at the council secretariat, Ogidi, said the committee at the state level has made a tremendous impact so far to the authorities concerned. Flanked by other executive and members of the zonal committee, including Luke Onyekonwu, the administrative secretary of Anambra State chapter of OhanaezeNdigbo; Felix IkennaOkeke, secretary; Moses NtuoyiOkoye, PRO; Dr. Mike

Omenugha, Mr. Mike Anierobi, Sir Fredrick Okeke, Sir Dan Igbokwubili and AdolOkwesilieze, Atanmuo further disclosed that the committee at the state level is headed by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe. Onyekwelu noted that the committee members believed that Orimili State, which is about 10 existing local government areas of the present Anambra State, includ-

ing Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Oyi and Dunukofia, if carved out from the current Anambra, would be more appropriate than other states under agitation because according to him, its population of about 1,866,569 based on 2006 census figure, which is higher than Bayelsa State of 1,704,515 and equivalent to Nasara-

wa State with a population of 1, 869,377. He contended that with its headquarters at Otuocha, Orimili State would be more appropriate than the proposed Urashi which is itching to take Ogbaru which is a part of Anambra, Njaba which is itching to take Ihiala which is also part of Anambra, Adada which is itching to take Ayamelum which is part of Anambra and Equity which com-

prises parts of the present Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu states. Also contributing, Onyekonwu, the state Ohanaeze Administrative Secretary disclosed that the leadership of Anambra State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is solidly behind the agitation for Orimili state, adding that the committee having been launched at the state level, would soon be launched at zonal levels.

Group, Okonkwo hail Okorocha at 50 OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

s the governor of Imo State, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha turns 50 this weekend, an Igbo socio-political action group, the Committee 21 (C21) and its president, Senator Annie Okonnkwo have challenged him to remain persistent in his trailblazing approach to governance in his state. The C21, in a statement by the media aide to its president, Collins

Ugwu, said: “Your attaining 50, just after our ever resilient chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, did will stand to reassure those you serve that indeed an alert mind from a big heart is driving the peculiar momentum of governance in Imo State.” While calling on the governor to remain persistent in bringing smiles to the faces of the people of Imo State, the group said that with the giant strides of Okorocha, it

is expected that his critics would abandon “their reverse motion” and join hands with him in taking Imo State to greater heights. Okonkwo also emphasised Okorocha’s “free education at all levels to Ndigbo Imo, unusual in the history of the SouthEast zone has become an unbeatable cuisine, the aroma which we pray should disturb the nostrils of our brother governors to return to their governance kitchen immediately.”

Gov Okorocha

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Crime Watch

P. 54

Armed Fulani bandits raid Adamawa border community, kill four

BRIEFS

Man, 52, bags 6 months imprisonment for picking Senator’s pocket

n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 52-year-old man, Mohammed Lawal, of Gwagwa Village to six months imprisonment for picking a senator’s pocket in one of the hotels in Abuja. Magistrate Ann Akobi sentenced the convict without an option of fine after listening to the First Information Report on the one-count charge to which the accused pleaded guilty. Police Prosecutor Abdullahi Adamu had told the court that the matter was reported at Wuse Zone 3 Police Station by Abdullahi Kabiru of Prescort Village, Abuja on Sept. 18. He said the convict, under the pretence of begging, picked Sen. Emmanuel Nkwocha’s pocket as the Senator made his way out of the venue of a function in Abuja. The prosecutor said that when the convict was caught he immediately dropped the money he picked from the Senator’s pocket. Adamu said that during investigation, the convict confessed to the offence, which ``contravenes the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code’’. Magistrate Akobi said the convict having pleaded guilty to the charge the court would not fail to carry out its duty as enshrined in the law.

Cleaner, 22, bags one year imprisonment for theft

n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a cleaner, Ifeanyi Ohamara, 22, of Zone 5, Kabayi, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, to one year imprisonment for theft. Senior Magistrate Ann Akobi, however, gave the convict an option of N2,000 fine. Police prosecutor Abdullahi Adamu had told the court that the case was reported at the Wuse Police Station by James Okpe, a security guard attached to Prof. Sylvester Monye. He said that Ohamara worked as a cleaner in Monye’s residence at 7 Bimbu St., Wuse 2, Abuja. Adamu said that between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20, Ohamara stole his masters N48,000, a wall clock and a drinking cup. He said that during investigations, the cup and wall clock were recovered from Ohamara and he confessed to stealing the money. The prosecutor said that Ohamara’s offence contravened the provisions of Section 289 of the Penal Code. Ohamara pleaded guilty and begged the court for mercy, `` I work as a cleaner in the house, the woman who contracted me is responsible for my salary but she has not paid me for two months now.

Crime Watch

Herdsman kills friend over N1,000 deal Muhammed Moto and Abdullahi Muftau shared other things in common apart from their friendship. They were both herdsmen and traders. Now, one of them is no more. He was killed by the other. What could have made a man to kill his friend?

SEGUN ADIO

uhammed Moto is currently cooling his heels at the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Oyo State Police Command, Iyaganku, Ibadan. He is being investigated over the death of his friend, Abdullahi Muftau, during a scuffle. Moto, a dealer in livestock, plies his trade at Iseyin, in Oyo State before the incident that sent him into police custody. The sad event, investigations show, occurred on Tuesday, 21 August, 2012, in a bush at Iseyin, a town in the northern part of Oyo State. Prior to his death, Muftau had reportedly told Moto of his intention to offer for sale a GSM handset while Moto too signified interest in the item. Both, it was reported at buying and selling the handset at N4, 500. But Moto would not pay the sum wholesome. He, instead, paid the sum of N3, 000, leaving out a balance of N1, 500, and promising to complete the balance in due course. Muftau reportedly gave Moto the handset waiting the day his friend would balance up. However, the following day after the handset transaction, Muftau reportedly visited Moto at his stall, demanding to want to buy a lamb from him. Having indentified the lamb of his choice, Muftau

reportedly untied the animal and informed Moto of his intention to purchase the animal. Just like the telephone handset transaction that existed between them the previous day, both friends reportedly struck a deal for the animal for N2, 500. Moto told reporters that upon agreeing on the price, the deceased took away the lamb without any deposit, like he did for the phone the previous day. Apparently well aware that he was indebted to Muftau to the tune of N1, 000 a day before then, Moto, an Ilorin-born herdsman reportedly refused to challenge the deceased when the latter decided to go away with the animal without mentioning when he would pay or terms of payment. Speaking on the matter, Moto, in impeccable Yoruba claimed that his indebtedness to Muftau did not make him raise any eyebrow when he decided to take away the lamb. “I first wanted to challenge him for not saying anything but something within me just told me to leave him. I also told myself that it was more or less a relief of the debt I owed him. But I still asked myself about my balance of N1000. Because this is the second transaction I had with him I played it down and carried on,” Moto said. Trouble then started five days later when the deceased reportedly stormed Moto’s stall in anger to report of the disappearance of the lamb he purchased from

his friend. Muftau then begged that they both go in search of the lost lamb. Moto, however, refused to leave his business to chase a missing lamb about town. “When I told him I could not abandon my cows and follow him to look for his ram, Muftau then said I should return the phone to him. He said if I did not return the phone to him he would make trouble with me. That was the beginning of my problem. I did not know he was serious until he refused to leave my place and decided to follow me about,” Moto added. The two friends soon engaged in fierce confrontation. They later went into the bush to express their anger in fisticuffs. “Unfortunately for me he (Muftau) brought out a cutlass which he had hidden in a pouch under his clothe and attacked me with it. But I disarmed him with the rod I use for directing cows. To say the truth, I later picked up the cutlass from the ground and used it on him. He fell and died,” Moto concluded. After the deed, Moto headed straight to the nearest police station and handed himself over to the law enforcement agents. He was immediately arrested and a team of policemen were dispatched to the scene of the incident. Muftau’s corpse was later picked up and taken to a mortuary. Moto was also reportedly quickly whisked to Ibadan to prevent a reprisal from the deceased’s friends and relatives. However, the police are still working on how the duo found their ways to the bush where they engaged each other in the mortal combat. A police source disclosed that investigation had not shown that the deceased ran a food canteen or had an occasion to celebrate to inform his purchase of a ram. The deceased, the source added, must have attempted to play a fast one on the suspect to maximize his profit on the phone sold to him. “How can you sell your phone yesterday and come today to pick a ram without dropping a kobo? It shows he deliberately wanted to do business with the deal. It is done everywhere by greedy traders. Unfortunately, he is dead and no more now to defend this claim because what we are talking about is based on what the suspect is saying. That is why we always advise people not to toy with their life. Now he is gone, he cannot rise up to disclaim what the suspect is telling us here,” the source said. Acting Police Public Relations Officer of Police of Oyo State Command, Daniel Oboyi, confirmed the incident. Oboyi said Moto is still in the custody of the police and that investigation of the matter is near completion. “Soon after we are through with the on-going investigation, the suspect will be charged to court. We only want to ensure that all grounds are covered for the sake of justice,” Oboyi maintained.

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CRIME WATCH

September 22, 2012

Scene of the clash

Day inter group clash overran Lagos community z We are on top of the situation -Police SEGUN ADIO

s at the last count, two men had joined the long list of casualties of an inter group war that is fast consuming the Oyingbo and Otto areas of Lagos Mainland. Akeem Omisore and one Dayo, popularly called D1, were killed after they were allegedly attacked by suspected hoodlums while seeking their daily bread. On his part, series of prayer sessions had been held for the recovery of another victim of the attack, 24 years old Wasiu Alarape, who is now lying critically ill at the emergency ward of the Lagos Island Hospital. He was brutally inflicted with machete cuts in the mayhem that rendered the Otto area of the state a nogo area for the past week. Omisore met his untimely death on Wednesday, 19 September, 2012, while sitting at his kiosk by the railway line at Oyingbo opposite the famous Mainland Hotel. Omisore, 25, used to sell beverages and other daily items. Omisore was single before he was gunned down by his assailants. In the latest onslaught, areas such as Otumara, Otto-Ilogbo and Otto Central were not spared. There had been a reported protracted battle of supremacy between the Apapa Road boys and Fagbayimu boys all in the Mainland area of the state. Some key leaders of these notorious groups had been apprehended and remanded in police custody at the state’s Special AntiRobbery Squad, Ikeja. The mayhem was temporarily halted until it reared its ugly

head last Wednesday. On that day, some hoodlums suspected to be from the Apapa Road group allegedly launched attacks on Otto, shooting sporadically into the air. That was when a bullet hit the said Omisore killing him on the spot. The late Omisore’s corpse had already been taken to Ile-Ife, Osun State, his home town, for burial. While residents fled in opposing directions so as not to be

victims of bullets, Alarape was reportedly caught by some of the assailants where he was hiding under a shelf. He was taken for one of the Fagbayimu boys. Upon sighting him, some of the assailants reportedly inflicted several machete cuts on him and left him in the pool of his blood. Upon realising the police on the way, the hoodlums took to their heels, while Alarape groaned under

the cuts sustained in the attack. He was soon rescued and rushed to the Lagos Island hospital. The assailants were also reportedly subjected many women and the elderly people to untold hardship. While the onslaught lasted, some of the hoodlums were said to have looted some shops by the rail line and snatched residents’ mobile telephone sets in the process. When Saturday Mirror called Alarape’s father phone, he was said to be busy arranging how to move his injured son’s property away from the shop. But a female family member who picked the phone and claimed she had been with Alarape at the hospital since the incident, said the young man was responding well to treatment. “We thank God for his life. Wasiu is recovering well and has opened his eyes now as I speak with you, but his father is at Otto,” she said. Speaking on the latest attack, Chairman of Otto-Ilogbo/Otto Extension Community Development Association, Musbau Ishola Agbodemu, told Saturday Mirror that the menace was beyond what the association could handle. Agbodemu then called on the state government to cause a stakeholders’ forum for the area where all parties would be made to write undertaking to let the sleeping dog lie. “We have sent repeated appeals to the government on this issue. I think the death of these two gentlemen and the property worth millions of naira that were either stolen or destroyed by the hoodlums will serve as a wake-up call for our political leaders to act fast,” he said. Speaking with Saturday Mirror on phone, Divisional Police Officer in charge of Iponri Police Station, Mr Olusokan, urged residents of the affected areas to go about their normal businesses, saying, “our men are everywhere trying to track down the criminals that carried out this crime. We are on top of the situation. The area is calm now”.

End of the road for bank robber z Others flee with bullet wounds

SEGUN ADIO

uesday, September 18, 2012, was a day traders at the Palm Grove bus stop, Lagos would live to remember probably for the rest of their lives. It was the day three suspected armed robbers stormed their domain. It could not have been that the market men and women at the scene of the incident had not heard or witnessed a robbery scene before; it was the manner of operation that struck them with untold dread. It was just past noon and the market women had displayed their wares. Among the sea of heads that were window-shopping were the three robbers but from different sellers. Unknown to the women attending to them among their patrons were men who had underneath their caftans assorted rifles. The robbers were apparently after a man who just entered an old generation bank to make large withdrawal. Apparently the robbers had a fore

knowledge of the amount the man was coming to the bank to withdraw. But fortunately for the man, he was said to have had a change of heart and decided to withdraw just N80, 000. While the man transacted the business in the bank, the robbers, at different points continued to window-shop. Once the man emerged from the bank, the robbers regrouped and reportedly swooped on him while he was trying to open his car. They reportedly asked him to surrender the money or lose his life, an order to which the man complied immediately. Once they were in possession of the money, the robbers raced to a point where they had earlier parked a motorcycle. The three of them climbed the motor bikes and raced towards Obanikoro area. Just about that time, a team of policemen in a Hilux van was advancing towards the direction of the fleeing robbers. Sighting the law enforcement agents, one of the robbers shot sporadically into the air to disperse the

gathering crowd and later towards the advancing police vehicle. The law enforcement agents also responded and shot the one sitting at the back of the motorcycle. The other two still managed to speed on until it became clear to them that they could not move fast with their hit colleague. Their hit colleague was immediately pushed off the motorcycle for them to make faster their escape. That helped them as they were able to speed off fast, leaving their dead colleague for the policemen to deal with. The police team did stop to pick the dead robber and took him to Pedro Police Station. A corporal in the team that chased the robbers said, on condition of anonymity, that the remaining two robbers managed to escape. “We did our best to get them but it was the time there was a traffic build-up at the place. So it made their movement easier, but we carried the dead one to the station,” he said.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Crime Extra

OWOLABI ADENUSI YOLA

o fewer than four persons were reported killed on Wednesday in Bandawa, a community under Numan Local Government area of Adamawa State when they were attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a gun raid. The residents of the community which shares border with Taraba State said that they were ambushed by the Fulani men who invaded the community in wee hours of Wednesday. The village head of Bandawa, Mr. Franis Mbula, who conducted Numan Local Government officials around the vandalised village, said the attackers were unknown gunmen adding that many families had fled the area for the fear of another attack. He told the government officials that many families were missing as a result of the invasion but efforts were being made to trace their whereabouts. Addressing the villagers, the Head of Service of Numan Local Government, Mr. Kenneth Sakiyo, expressed shock at the invasion. He told the villagers that the local government would continue to work closely with security agents to check the activities of the men of the underworld. Sakiyo who enjoined the community to remain calm but vigilant promised to forward the reports of the ugly incident to the state government for necessary action. A number of the victims that were attacked have, however, been hospitalised and are responding to treatment. The principal medical officer of the hospital where they are receiving treatment said that while government was grappling with problem of the flood disaster victims and it was surprising that some people would still engage in the attack of others. The villagers who spoke to reporters also expressed bitterness over the attack and appealed to government to continue to monitor the activities of armed bandits As at Thursday another victim of the attack was reported to have died. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammed Ibrahim, confirmed that there was an attack perpetrated by some Fulani gunmen at Bandawa community. He said that two persons were confirmed death during the attack adding that effort are being made to bring the perpetrators of the act to book Meanwhile, Chief Moris Mesa, the Ajiya Bandawa who doubles as the National President of Badanwa Community, has described the killing of innocent people as a barbaric act that should be condemned by any peace loving Nigerian. According to him the community of Bandawa has been existing for over 200 years without witnessing any communal clash between the Fulani and other ethnic groups in the Bachama Kingdom. He explained that the recent attack came on when the community was try-

A victim on hospital bed

Armed Fulani bandits raid Adamawa border community, kill four The peaceful and laid back Bandawa community of Adamawa State last Wednesday tasted the bitter pill of ethnic violence when armed marauders believed to be Fulani stormed their village killing no fewer than four people and wounding several others.

Another victim

ing to recover from the recent flood that ravaged their settlement. “On the fateful day around 1.30 am, I received a distressed call that my community had been attacked by unknown gunmen. I wondered who these attackers might be since we don’t have any grouse with our Bachama neighbours. I tried to find out but some of those who saw the attackers said that they were Fulani. “But I was told that a 14-year-old girl was killed. Also two other men were shot and a woman was also shot on her breast. I made a distress call to the DPO of Nu-

man to come to our aid and he responded promptly. I was told that before the police arrived at the scene, the gunmen were already through with their dastardly act and had left. “People at the scene told us that those who tried to escape by boat during the attack capsized into water but were later rescued. However, I alerted Numan Head of Service and the youth leader who mobilised for the evacuation of the victims to the Numan Hospital. “Out of those rushed to hospital two were confirmed dead. There is no reason

why the Fulani people should attack us because we have no rift with them. We are close to the Fulani historically. They call us their brothers. Why must they start killing us now?” he queried. But some of the affected victims of the alleged attack said to be carried out by Fulani who spoke to our reporter expressed fear on how their area was attacked. Thirty years old Eugene Moses, a father of two who survived the attack with several machete cuts, narrated his ordeal. “Around 2am I was sleeping when some people entered my room and attacked me with cutlass hitting me on my head but I struggled I stood up at that time they were making effort to cut off my head. This I defended with my left hand,” he recounted. Moses explained that the attackers were communicating to themselves in Fulde and dressed in black clothes with masks on their faces. But Christopher Jacob, 50, lost is only son Ceaser Jacob. Speaking to our reporter, Jacob said he escaped death but the purpose of his living had been cut away as his only son who was 30 years old was killed. “My hope of living has been dashed. My belief is that Ceaser will bury me but today I am the one burying him,” he lamented. Jacob said that the state government sent some of its representatives to them while in hospital before his son died adding that the only thing that would make him happy is for government to bring the Fulani attackers to book It was a black day for Mr Isaac Moses who lost his wife Celestian Isaac and 14-year-old daughter Ahuntiya Isaac. Moses, 35, said that he would live to nurse the wound inflicted on him by the Fulani marauders who he claimed killed his wife and daughter for no reason. He called on the government to live to its responsibility by bringing to book those that armed the Fulani men with sophisticated weapons.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

September 22, 2012

Quote

the

day

We are stepping it down for now, putting it on hold to give room for public enlightenment and adequate consultation with the people by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the initiative. Dr Rueben Abati, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity on why the presidency has suspended the planned introduction of the controversial N5,000 note.

Saturday, September 22, 2012. www.nationalmirroronline.net

Job and wealth creation in Africa (II) T

he need to assess the challenges and highlight the opportunities for Sustainable Wealth and Job Creation in Africa cannot be overemphasized. This is because it remains by far the most worrisome challenge of most African countries at the moment. Everywhere we turn to in Africa, the story is the same. Unemployed young people are in huge numbers. The lack of opportunities for them to unleash their creative energies positively has turned them into desperate young men and women, unfortunately becoming readymade tools for unwholesome activities. The memory of the ‘Arab spring’ is still fresh in our minds and it tells an apt story of what our continued footdragging on lifting the critical mass of people above poverty levels can unleash suddenly and destructively. Dr. Kaberuka has told us an eye-witness story of how it all began in Tunisia. “That Africa generally is experiencing positive growth within its economic frontiers today is no more news. That we survived the global financial crisis with very little effect is also not in doubt. What is, however, worrisome is the fact that substantial gains achieved on the economic front and the high economic

with President Olusegun Obasanjo hexcellency2011@yahoo.com growth rates in GDP terms have not been matched by corresponding improvement in the living standards of our people. It seems that the richer our countries become in GDP terms, the more our people get enmeshed in poverty. It is clear that in addition to GDP as a factor of measure of growth, we need another factor of measurement of the well-being and improved living standard of our people. This was noted in the recently launched 2012 Annual Report of the Africa Progress Panel of which I am a member. The report stated that coun-

tries across Africa are becoming richer but whole sections of society are being left behind. After a decade of buoyant growth, almost half of Africans still live on less than $1.25 a day. Wealth disparities are increasingly visible. The current pattern of trickle-down growth is leaving too many people in poverty, too many children hungry and too many people especially young people without jobs. Governments are failing to convert the rising tide of wealth into opportunities for their most marginalised citizens. Unequal access to health, education, adequate food

SPORT EXTRA

Di Matteo slams Twitter cowards over Mikel’s Juve mistake

helsea boss, Roberto Di Matteo, has slammed racist Twitter abuse directed at his midfielder John Obi Mikel. The Nigerian shut his Twitter account earlier this week after receiving abuse via the social media network following Chelsea’s midweek draw with Juventus. The abuse occurred at around the same time Mikel deleted his Twitter account, although Chelsea insisted the 25-year-old had not been aware of it and had been intending to leave the social media site in any event. “His intention was to close the account anyway. So it was a good reason to close it. “The social media world, especially Twitter - because it’s anonymous and so on - it’s a dangerous vehicle to express yourself.

“I don’t think it’s fair. If somebody has to express his opinion, he should put his face to it,” Manager Di Matteo said. The abuse of Mikel occurred after his mistake helped Juventus come back from 2-0 down in Wednesday night’s Group E game, something for which the midfielder immediately apologised. News of the tweets about him emerged on the same night Lazio fans were accused of directing monkey chants at Tottenham’s black players in the sides’ Europa League clash at White Hart Lane. Di Matteo added: “There are a lot of campaigns against (racism) and we have to try our best to fight it in every possible way. We should try to make the people understand that it hurts other people, chanting and things like that.”

and nutrition, water and sanitation is reinforcing wider inequalities. Smallholder agriculture has not been part of the growth surge, leaving rural populations trapped in poverty and vulnerability . Although the report pointed out that Africa has seven of the world’s fastestgrowing economies, with 70 per cent of Africa’s population living in countries that have averaged economic growth rates in excess of four per cent over the past decade, it was quick to observe that many countries are not on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, flagging slow progress in areas such as child nutrition, child survival, maternal health, and education. The need for equitable growth is all the more critical, because of Africa’s “profound demographic shift”, which will see the continent’s population double in three decades, and continue to rise into the second half of the 21st century. The report highlighted that, today, there are 70 million more Africans aged under 14 than there were a decade ago. Over the next decade, that number will rise by another 76 million.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Fixtures Today’s Matches Korea DPR v Gambia 13.00 France v USA 15.00 Nigeria v Canada 17.00 Azerbaijan v Colombia 20.00

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Today’s Matches Swansea v Everton 12:45 Chelsea v Stoke City 15:00 Southampton v Aston Villa 15:00 West Brom v Reading 15:00

AYC Qualifier Mikel

South Africa 1 – 1 Nigeria

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Editor: GBEMISOLA OLUJOBI. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos. Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Ondo State. ISSN 0794-232X.