Saturday, January 5, 2013 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

P. 12 Police arraigns Lagos to demolish kidnappers of Delta 50 buildings in commissioner, Eghagha Jakande Estate z z

Vol. 03 No. 3

P. 8

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DAYS TO GO

N150

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Alleged N6bn fraud

Sylva’s bid to recover property suffers setback

•As judge hands off suit

P. 6

INSIDE

MAGAZ INE

Nollywood star, Bisi Komolafe, buried

Ms. Jaie Rising diva talk gs women ng in bed w to fix them

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Relationships Can you be a full time house wife?

z z z z

Fashion

P. 17

• When choosing your skirt • Fashion rules for 2013

Celebrity

PDP BoT chair: Consensus candidate to emerge Tuesday •Anointed one yet to be decided

P. 6

‘No regrets closing down Jazzville’ P. 18

20 inmates escape in Ogun jail-break

P.10

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

January 5, 2013

Saturday Starter

Taking

Crackers

out of fireworks The inhabitants of Lagos Island, famed for their Yuletide firecrackers, shunned their signature displays during the last New Year celebrations. The reason was not far fetched. Twelve buildings and 15 vehicles were razed by a raging firecrackerinduced inferno on Boxing Day. With about 40 people injured, over 100 displaced, and 19 affected buildings, including a 30-year-old mosque, marked for demolition, Lagosians were understandably in no mood for bangers. Could reality have done what the Police ban on firecrackers failed to achieve over the years?

ractically everyone knows there is ban on the importation, sale and use of firecrackers or bangers (as they are commonly known) in Nigeria, but no one seems to care. Indeed, the importation and distribution of bangers, mini rockets, and large powerful display fireworks are prohibited in many states across Nigeria? Importers and suppliers who breach the provisions of the ban also face fines and/or imprisonment. Despite the prohibition, bangers are used indiscriminately, especially during festive seasons across Nigeria. And they have continued to wreak havoc on the property and psyche of Nigerians. Not only do armed robbers use them in place of guns to scare the wits out of their victims, especially during burglaries and car-jacking, their less-sinister use during festive seasons have cost thousands of Nigerians life, limb and invaluable property. Only on Boxing day, two lives, twelve buildings and property worth millions of Naira, which included 15 cars, were lost on Lagos Island in an inferno which started when someone reportedly threw a firecracker into a building in which firecrackers were stored. The resultant explosion resulted in a raging, unforgiving fire. Apart from the 12 buildings which went down in the blaze, 19 others, including a 30-year-old mosque have been marked for demolition. Forty people were also left with an array of injuries, some of them life threatening. More than 100

people were left homeless. Fire crackers, as well as other types of explosives, are subject to various laws in many countries, although fire crackers themselves are not usually considered illegal or contraband material. Usually the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of fire crackers are subjected to laws including safety requirements for manufacture, the requirement of a permit to sell or store, or restrictions on the use of firecrackers. According to Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, although there is no national legislation against the sale and use of firecrackers in Nigeria, state governments are at liberty to ban them in their states and the police commands in such states would be ready to help carry out such laws. Many states have indeed prohibited the sale and use of firecrackers. In the wake of the Lagos Island fire, an exasperated Governor Babatunde Fashola, had said, throwing up his hands in despair, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We make rules; we break them. All of these items are under one form of prohibition or the other and we have men and women at our various entry and exit points. How did they get in? How did they enter? Who shipped them? Who imported them and who cleared them? Who approved them to come in?â&#x20AC;? The answer to these questions is that if laws were laws in Lagos CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Starter

The perils of firecrackers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 State as with the rest of Nigeria, the Lagos Island fire would not have happened. The Plateau State Police Command also announced a ban on the sale and use of bangers on Friday December 21, 2012 as part of measures for peaceful celebrations of Christmas and New Year festivities. Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, stated emphatically that “Anyone caught selling or using explosives will be `knocked out’ by the police.” In the same vein, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Kaduna State Police Commands also warned residents that the law banning the use of fireworks during the Christmas and New Year festivities was still in force and that offenders risked jail sentences. In the FCT, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderenle Shinaba, gave the warning on Monday December 24, 2012. According to him, fireworks users may give terrorists a cover to perpetrate their evil deeds. “I have spoken on the existing ban on fireworks and I have called on parents to warn their children to desist from the use of it. These are such times that do not call for the use of such fireworks because criminals may hide under the cover of this celebration to act. And by the time you listen to the sound of some of these fireworks, it is like you are firing a rifle and it creates panic in the minds of the people. So this is not the time for it. “This is why I have been advising parents. Of course, we have been arresting offenders and arraigning them before the court. For those who will not listen, we have been picking them up and I want to reiterate that the ban on the use of fireworks is still in force and anybody caught, we will keep the person until after the New Year before we arraign him. In Wuse area, we caught two offenders and we are going to charge them to court,” Shinaba had concluded. But was anyone paying heed to these police bosses? Despite the ban in many states, the sale of bangers competed with sachet water on the streets of the major towns of Nigeria during the last Yuletide. Law enforcement officers also majorly looked the other way while Nigerians used bangers indiscriminately to celebrate the last Christmas and usher in the New Year. What are bangers and why are Nigerians so fascinated by them? A firecracker (also known as a cracker, noise maker, banger or bunger) is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang. Any visual effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper casing to contain the explosive compound. Fire crackers, along with fireworks, originated in China. Firecrackers are generally made of cardboard or plastic, with flash powder or black powder as the propellant.

Firecracker inferno on Lagos Island

Anything from match heads to lighter fluid have also been used successfully in making firecrackers. The key to loud firecrackers, however, although in part lying in the propellant substance, is pressure. The entire firecracker must be very tightly packed in order for it to work best. Firecrackers are used around the globe to enhance holiday festivals and mark religious occasions. They are widely associated with entertainment and aesthetics. In Nigeria, as in most parts of the world, it is a common tradition for people to celebrate the end of the year with fire crackers. They are usually used on New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) to herald the New Year (January 1).

During the last end of the year festivities, an interesting pace was set by the State of Osun, where a colourful firework display was used to usher in 2013. The 45-minute sporadic fireworks, which began at midnight, were enacted simultaneously in about eleven locations across the State. An elated Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the fireworks were meant to make the people happy. “The duty of any government is to make the people happy. I am satisfied that the people are happy and satisfied. As long as the people are happy, I am happy too.” Despite the fun in the use of fire crackers, however, there are many disadvan-

tages associated with their use. One of the major disadvantages of fire crackers is pollution; air pollution and noise pollution. Firecrackers, if not properly handled when they are used can also cause accidents and injuries. Experts have attributed firecracker accidents to proximity, curiosity and experimentation. The body parts most often injured in these accidents are the hands, fingers, legs and eyes. Firecracker accidents may also lead to loss of life. In India, 37 people died and no fewer than 60 were injured in September 2011 when a firecracker factory in Sivakasi area of the country caught fire. Also, eight persons, including six members of a family, were killed and12 others injured when a house where firecrackers were being illegally manufactured exploded in Yaqoobpur town in India. In 2003, a disastrous fire caused by fireworks in a Rhode Island nightclub in the United States, took 97 lives. Since it has been established without doubt that as much as firecrackers can light up the sky in celebration of special occasions, they can also wreak havoc of no mean magnitude, it is high time the Nigerian Customs Service answered the questions posed by Governor Fashola after the Boxing Day firecracker inferno on Lagos Island: “How did they get in? How did they enter? Who shipped them? Who imported them and who cleared them? Who approved them to come in?” Law enforcement agents also need to wake up and ensure that firecrackers are not used indiscriminately, but only for special occasions and with the necessary precautions and controls.

We use fireworks with precautionary measures in Osun –Okanlawon

ireworks and firecrackers are not all bad news. In the rest of the world, especially in Europe, America and Asia, they are used in controlled situations and spaces. Even here in Nigeria, fireworks have been used decently and with safety in mind. For instance, in the State of Osun, colourful fireworks displays ushered in 2013 in about eleven locations across the State. No mishaps were recorded. The Director of Communication, State of Osun, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, spoke on the use of fireworks by the state to herald the New Year and Hijra (Muslim New Year). Excerpts: What was the significance of using fireworks to usher in the New Year in the State of Osun? “We use fireworks to herald very special moments in the lives of our people. We know the significance of the New Year to both Muslims and Christians and Nigerians in general and we

any havoc. What more can a responsible government do than to excite the people and make them enjoy in the bliss of the special occasion. That is exactly our intention and that was what we achieved.

Okanlawon

thought there is the need to make the occasion very special. It was in that view that we use firecrackers. Our activities were well coordinated and the fireworks really added colour to the two occasions - Hijra (Muslim New Year) and the New Year. We are not doing anything out of place. It is a normal practice in all civilised countries of the world. It does not cause

But there are safety concerns associated with the use of fireworks? I must point it out here that safety was guaranteed on the two occasions. Whether we are using fireworks or not, we always put in place precautionary measures to ensure safety of lives and property. There was no crisis of any sort. It was an opportunity to bring everybody together. It was a clear departure from the past and you need to see how excited the people of the State of Osun were. The government wanted to make the people happy on the occasions and he achieved that with the use of fireworks to herald the celebrations. There was no pain. Rather, what we had was excitement.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Safety of fireworks

January 5, 2013

onsumer fireworks include sparklers and firecrackers. The tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns. It is important to note that water boils at 212 while glasses melt at 900 degrees Fahrenheit, a far cry from the degrees which some fire crackers and sparkles burn. It is therefore strongly advised to handle all fireworks with utmost care and in a safe non-inflammable atmosphere. Fireworks should be handled by professional pyrotechnics. Do not use consumer fireworks; especially indiscriminately. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. After the firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over, they may still be active. •Keep fireworks in a closed box •Follow the instructions on each firework •Light all fireworks at arm’s length •Stand well back • Never go back to a lit firework •Never put fireworks in your pocket

Saturday Starter

‘Firecrackers represent Yuletide’ Mrs Kehinde Adetu resides in Ikeja, Lagos. She sells firecrackers. In this interview with FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON, she aired her views on firecrackers. Excerpts:

“

Adetu

I have been selling fireworks for about five years now. Because I’m known with it, once the season comes people come to me for patronage. It’s somehow profitable that’s why I sell it. Besides children and even some adults love to use it. If abused, however, the consequences may be terrible and that’s why I always ensure that I talk to my customers not to throw it at people. Firecrackers are part of the Yuletide, only that some people just abuse them, which is very bad. And that is why I think government is not happy with their sale and use now, especially because of the the Jankara fire. But I don’t think firecrackers caused that fire outbreak; it couldn’t have been at all.”

Lagos Island: A celebration without its marks OSEYIZA OOGBODO

agos Island is one zone where every New Year is really welcomed with the lavish use of firecrackers. No expense is spared to ensure that the best of firecrackers are ignited when the clock strikes 12.01am, proclaiming another year. Such is the passion and zeal Lagos Island residents have for using firecrackers on New Year’s Eve that they look forward to it, plan towards it and are even said to engage in firecracker competitions. The eve of 1 January, 2013 will however go down in history as one that they did not observe their yearly firecracker rituals. From Ebute Ero to Idumota down to Jankara, Lafiaji, Dosunmu, Enu Owa, and so on, the expected sounds of firecrackers did not rend the air and announce the New Year. “There was an incident that happened here on December 26 that prevented us from throwing bangers. Anyone that threw bangers would be arrested because of the incident, so if there was any banger throwing, it was isolated incidents and not the festival-like atmosphere that usually obtains with all of us gathered together and throwing bangers in unison,” explained Saheed, a Lagos Island resident. Asked to clarify what he meant by incident, he replied, “That is not a secret. On Boxing Day, a building that had bangers stored in it exploded and

Barbecue...Instead of firecrackers

so we couldn’t be throwing bangers after such an incident that led to loss of life and property.” Rasak, another resident, confirmed that they didn’t throw firecrackers. He however added that he wasn’t too saddened that they didn’t. “There are some things that are more important than some others. We were all planning ahead normally when the building at Jankara exploded and changed our plans. Being that it happened right here, it affected us the most and we had to adjust accordingly. “Not throwing bangers last New Year’s Eve is not the end of the world.

There will be other New Year’s Eves and we can only pray to God that we should see many more.” One of the reasons Lagos Islanders use many firecrackers is because the prosperous ones among them buy the firecrackers in bulk and distribute them free. This piece of information was disclosed by Rasak. “The bangers we throw are not bought by us. That will just be like wasting money and we can’t be wasting money in these hard times. But there are some rich ones among us who buy the bangers and send them to us so we are able to throw them.”

Johnson

‘I hate firecrackers with passion’ Genesis Olanrewaju Johnson is a Lagos resident who had an unforgettable experience with firecrackers as a 12-yearold. He spoke to FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON. Excerpts:

“A

s a child, Christmas was one celebration that I looked forward to with all that characterised it, especially fireworks. I never saw anything bad in fireworks until one fateful Christmas evening. I went out riding my Chopper bicycle that dressed in my lovely Christmas clothes. Some of my mates who had asked me allow them ride on my bicycle before then threw a firecracker at me I didn’t know what hit me until I heard a big bang like an explosion. That night, I ended up in the hospital with a big scar around my tummy. I was about 12 years old at that time. Ever since, I developed a big hatred for firecrackers and I don’t even allow my kids to touch them for any reason. Another reason I object to firecrackers is because of their abuse. Apart from the fact that the environment is not safe for their use, especially because cooking gas and other highly inflammable substances are widely sold on the streets these days, armed robbers use it to scare their victims. For instance, some days ago, I witnessed an incident around Olowu/Toyin junction (Ikeja, Lagos) when a situation ensued between a commercial driver and a motorcyclist. I didn’t know what had transpired between them earlier, but the motorcyclist brought out a gun and shot in the air as a warning to the driver and zoomed off. There were some policemen close to the junction. I’m sure it took them some time to realise it was actually the sound of a gun and not a firecracker. If I had not seen the man pull out the gun and fire it, I would have thought it was a firecracker. For me, it is not safe to even make use of it all. It is better left for the military.”

NATIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP BoT: Consensus candidate may emerge •Anointed one yet to be decided TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, (left) and Commander, Special Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola, (right) at the official launch of the Special Task Force emergency telephone numbers, common prayers and salutation hand-bills in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Alleged N6bn fraud: Sylva’s bid to recover property suffers setback

•Judge hands off suit ISE-OLUWA IGE

he bid by former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Sylva, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) from confiscating his assets suffered a setback yesterday when an Abuja High Court judge, Justice M.M Kolo, yesterday handed off a suit he (Sylva) filed to that effect. The trial judge who had earlier granted an ex-parte order in favour of Sylva washed off his hands from the case on a day the federal government approached the court with an application seeking its order to invalidate the interim verdict. Justice Kolo who sat on the case as a vacation judge held that yesterday was his last sitting day as a vacation judge and that he would have no jurisdiction to further sit on the matter except it was reassigned to him. He consequently said that he would remit the former governor’s suit seeking to stop the EFCC from taking possession of his properties to the Chief Judge of the court. But before the judge announced his decision yesterday, Sylva’s counsel,

Benson Ibezim, had earlier told the court that both the EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) just served him their processes opposing his request in court and that he would need time to respond to them. Counsel to the AGF, B.A Saheed, told the court that he had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit. Counsel to the EFCC, O.O Otemu, submitted that pending the response of the applicant, the court should allow for an oral argument on the jurisdiction of the court. He further submitted that such would save the judiciary from mockery because of the two conflicting orders. Otemu also told the court that Justice A.R Mohammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on December 21 granted the commission an order of seizure and that order was yet to be vacated. He argued that it was an abuse of court process for the applicant to have approached the high court during the pendency of a Federal High Court order. Counsel to Sylva however told the court that the Federal High Court order was not served on them

and hence the need to approach the court for a restraining order. Otemu however responded that the December 21 order was pasted on all the affected properties and that it was also served on Sylva himself, adding that the high court should have been informed of the pending order before the ex parte order was granted. He therefore urged the court to vacate its December 27 order restraining the EFCC as the properties in question had already been seized by the anti graft agency. The presiding judge, Justice Kolo, held that he could not vacate the order and that the court was not aware of a pending order of the Federal High Court before granting the ex parte order. He further said that he could not sit over the matter any longer because he was a vacation judge and that Friday was his last sitting day as he would proceed on vacation today. Justice Kolo stated that he would remit the case file back to the Chief Judge of the high court to reassign it to another judge with an order of accelerated hearing due to the nature of the case. It is recalled that the EFCC had on Thursday taken possession of a mansion at 3 River Niger Street, plot 3192 Cadastral

zone AO, Maitama District Abuja; nine units (comprising six one bedroom and 3 two bedroom apartments) at 8 Sefadu Street, Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; 2 units duplexes at 5 Oguta Street, plot 906 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja. Others are a duplex at Plot 1271 Nike Street Cadastral zone AO5, Maitama District Abuja; a duplex at Phase 1 Unit No. 1 (Villa 1) Palm Springs Gold Estate, Cachez Turkey Projects Limited, Mpape, Abuja; 10 units of one room apartments at 8 Mistrata Street plot 232 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja; 5 units duplexes at Plot No 1070 Dakibiyu District Cadastral zone B10, Abuja; 16 units service apartments at Plot 1181 Thaba Tseka Crescent, Off IBB Way, Wuse 11, Abuja and 3 units of three bedroom flats at No. 1 Mubi Close, Plot 766. Cadastral Zone A01, Garki, Abuja . Sylva had in a sharp reaction said that the seized properties were not his own and that the Federal High Court did not grant EFCC order of temporary seizure but rather said that the anti graft agency should be put on notice. Hearing in the suit before the Federal High Court comes up on January 10.

head of Tuesday January 8 election of the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there was an indication on Friday that a consensus candidate may emerge. A reliable source and prominent member of the BoT who spoke with our correspondent said that there was 80 per cent assurance that the BoT chairman would emerge through consensus of all the BoT members. He also denied the speculation that someone had already been endorsed for the position among those jostling for the BoT chairman. His words: “If they don’t shift the date we are going to have the election on Tuesday and when we get there we will know what is going to happen. At present there are about 20 candidates jostling for the positions and we don’t have any anointed candidate yet. “Some of them includes are Chief Tony Anenih; Senator Ken Nnamani; Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu; Dr. Ahmad Ali; Senator Bode Olajumoke; Alhaji Shuibu Oyedokun and Alhaji Yekini Adeojo. There are many of them and they are all prominent people. “We have not zeroed the position to anybody. I think when we get to the meeting on Tuesday, we are going to get a solution on how the chairman will emerge.

When we get there for the election the candidate will come up. It is about 80 per cent possible that the BoT chairman will emerge through consensus arrangement. “As at today, we don’t know what will happen on that day and there is no anointed candidate yet. On that day I believe somebody will be thrown up and the consensus is going to be by all BoT members and we will get other aspirants to withdrawal.” Since the PDP BoT chairmanship position became vacant as a result of the resignation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the position in April last year, the race for the seat has been generating keen interest among the party’s chieftains. To many PDP leaders, whoever emerges as the chairman will play a crucial role during the 2015 general election, especially the one for the president. That is why every group in the party is doing everything possible to protect its interest and ensure that its preferred candidate clinches the chairmanship seat. In the last few weeks, some of the aspirants in their battle to clinch the position have begun to intensify their efforts at various levels to seek the support of the party’s gladiators. Some of them have criss-crossed the entire 36 states of the nation, taking their campaigns to the 120 members of the BoT ahead of next Tuesday contest.

Gunmen abduct PPMC Deputy Manager in P’Harcourt

he Police Command in Rivers has confirmed the abduction of a senior staff of the Pipelines, Products Marketing Company, Okrika Area Office, an affiliate of the Port Harcourt Refining Company. Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, the spokesman of the command, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Friday. Ugwuegbulam said that

the victim was a Deputy Manager at the PPMC, adding that the manager was abducted at Ozuoba in the outskirts of Port Harcourt on Jan.3. “The details of the incident are still sketchy. Our anti-kidnap unit has commenced investigation into the incident. We will give you more details as soon as we get them,’’ he said. He said no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction and no ransom had been demanded.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

EFCC arrests two undergraduates, six others over Internet scam OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two undergraduate Internet scammers and six other fraudsters at the upscale 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island in Lagos. One of the undergraduates, Hope Olusegun, a 25 year-old indigene of Okene, Kogi State, according to a

statement from the commission, claimed to be a student of Computer Science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia. He was arrested by operatives of EFCC over allegations of fraud and internet scam. The statement said that a petition by a concerned group alerted the anti-graft agency about the activities of Olusegun and his co-travelers at the elite 1004 Housing

Estate where the fraudsters engaged in fraudulent activities of obtaining money by false pretences and forgery. A search conducted by EFCC operatives at Olusegun’ s apartment is said to have led to the recovery of several items such as laptops, iPad phones, travelling documents, cheque books, flash drives, internet modem, and three exotic cars - a Mercedes Benz Jeep, One 4Matic Mercedes Benz Car and a Range

Rover Sport SUV. When asked how he came about the cars, Olusegun said the cars belonged to his sister who he claimed lives in the United Kingdom. The statement reads in part, ”Operatives of the EFCC also downloaded over 80 implicating documents from the laptops recovered from Olusegun. However, the Commission is making effort to track down other members of Olusegun’s syn-

L-R: Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and his deputy, Mr. Tha’anda Rubainu, during the homage by members of Christian Association PHOTO: NAN of Nigeria to the govenor in Gombe, yesterday.

dicate who are currently at large. “Tunde Wasiu Sodiq, another undergraduate and member of another syndicate with close affinity to Olusegun’s gang was also nabbed by operatives of the EFCC at the Housing Estate. Besides Sodiq, six other members of the syndicate were equally arrested. They are: Badmus Akeem O, Ajijola Oluwatosin Emmanuel, Adebesin Olalekan, Raji Resaq O, Ajibola Adeniyi and Adeboye Lamidi. “Their arrest was sequel to a petition on their notorious activities at the Housing Estate. Sodiq (23) hails from Lagos and claimed to be an undergraduate of Brandry University, Malaysia . The leader of the syndicate, Badmus Akeem, hails from Ayetoro, Ogun State and attended Oniwaya High School, Agege. He claimed to be a traveler who does odd jobs wherever he travels. “’I decided to move to Malaysia to further my education while I do “Hot jobs” as

Islamic scholar tasks leaders, Muslims on good leadership

Dana Air recommences operations A •May change aircraft type in six months OLUSEGUN KOIKI

even months after its fatal crash at IjuIshaga area of Lagos State with 163 victims on board and on ground, Dana Air yesterday recommenced scheduled operations with a flight out of Lagos to Abuja. The flight, which departed the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2) at 10:10am, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAA) at 11:05am. Also, there is the likelihood that the airline may change its aircraft type to Boeing 737 from the current MD83 aircraft it uses within the next six months. Onboard the aircraft were media men, Dana’s board of directors, aviation union leaders and the airline ambassadors like Basket Mouth, Harrisong, Dipp, Quba Dance Crew; the Nigeria’s street dance champions, among several other passengers. Speaking on the recommencement of the flight,

Dana’s Group Director, Mr. Francis Ogboro, assured the flying public of utmost safety in its entire operations. Ogboro, in an interview with aviation journalists in Abuja, described the June 3, 2012 incident as unfortunate and maintained that the accident had necessitated its resolve to enhance the maintenance culture of its fleet. He also disclosed that the airline might expand and change its fleet in the next six months, but insisted that the MD83 aircraft was still being flown in major countries of the world including the United States of America (USA). He said, “In the past six years that we commenced flight operations, we’ve never played with the maintenance of our aircraft and safety of the passengers and we will continue to do that to ensure that we give Nigerians a safe aircraft for our passengers to fly with. “We are expanding our fleet. It is not impossible that we will bring in some other

aircraft types as well. Hopefully, in the next six months we will bring in some new aircraft, may be Boeing 737 or others. But I re-emphasise again, there is nothing wrong with the MD 83 aircraft.” He also disclosed that the airline was considering collaborating with foreign investors who had indicated interest to partner with it. On the two months deadline given the airline to complete payment of compensation to all the families of the bereaved, Ogboro gave the assurance that the airline would meet the deadline, but explained that the payment of all compensation to the beneficiaries would not come from the airline, rather from the insurance companies. He assured that all the passengers on board the illfated plane were properly insured by its insurance companies both at home and abroad and that the insurers had made adequate arrangement to pay all the families involved in the crash.

So far, he informed that no fewer than 90 per cent of the bereaved families had been compensated with the $30, 000 compensation while about eight families had applied for the remaining $70,000 compensation as at two weeks ago. He said that the conditions for the final payment of $70,000 was not as stringent as the former and assured that every family would be duly compensated by its insurers. He said, “The payment of the insurance due to the crashed families is not something that will come from Dana Air pocket. We are fully insured. I can assure you that our insurance companies led by Lloyds of London have made adequate arrangement to pay all the families involved in the crash. “If after two months, payments have not been made, it’s not because Dana Air insurance has not come up with the money to pay.”

well. I just got back a week ago before the festive period and also produce music and manage artistes,” he claimed. On why he chose to live at the expensive 1004 estate where he and his friends pay N30, 000 daily, he said it was to avoid the stress that friends and relations could bring to him. “I didn’t stay on the Mainland in Lagos because of stress of friends when you just get back from abroad,” he said. “Sodiq said that the Range Rover Sport car which was recovered from them belonged to his mother despite the fact that the car bears his alias, “T.Wizzle” . He stated in his statement that the mother decided to customise the car’s number plate after the name of his first son. “Other items recovered by the Commission include laptops, flash drives, internet modem, cheque books and a host of others. They are to be arraigned in court soon.”

n Islamic Scholar, Alhaji Mufutaudeen Balogun, has advised political leaders to use their positions to better the lives of the people, rather than for selfenrichment. Balogun, who is the leader of Dairat Jafariyat Fitorikat Tijaniyat Islamic Organisation, Abuja branch, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja. ``Muslims, who find themselves in positions of authority, should use their positions to serve the people, rather than enrich themselves when the majority of the people are hungry and jobless. ``Leaders must realise the enormity of the trust Allah has saddled them with, and must begin to work according to the oath they have taken if they want to be free from the wrath of Allah,’’ he said. Balogun advised Nigerian leaders to provide infrastructure such as power, roads, shelter and security and urged the government to tackle inse-

curity and ethno-religious crises in the country headlong. He challenged Muslims, who are in politics, to live by example as taught by Prophet Muhammed. Using the analogy of the ant colony where the strong ones cater for the weak, Balogun reminded such Muslims that wherever they found themselves as leaders, they should provide the people with food and security. ``If the masses don’t feed well and live in comfort and safety, it will be a herculean task for the leaders to enter paradise. ‘’ The scholar called for ``personal and individual reforms’’ as a precursor to social and political reforms in order to achieve positive changes in the country. ``Nigerian Muslims must be exemplary in their utterances and behaviour,’’ he added. Balogun said that Muslims must lead the way by shunning materialism and corruption, and demonstrate the fear of God as enshrined in the Holy Quran.

NATIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

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Jakande Estate: Lagos to demolish 50 buildings MURITALA AYINLA

o fewer than 50 distressed houses in Jakande Estate in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area will be demolished by Lagos State government. Concerned citizens had raised alarm over the distressed state of buildings in the estate built by the

administration of former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, about 30 years ago, through the Lagos Building Investment Corporation, LBIC. The alarm was intensified by the collapse of a two-storey building on 21st of November, 2012, in the state which claimed the lives of two sisters and left their mother critically injured.

Worried by the state of other buildings in the estate, the government decided to conduct structural integrity test on them with a view to forestalling further loss of lives. Saturday Mirror gathered that the buildings marked for demolition failed the integrity tests carried out on them by the Lagos State Raw Materials Testing Agency.

Meanwhile, a stakeholder’s meeting was held at the Lagos State Security Command on Thursday and organised by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and presided over by its General Manager, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu. At the meeting were representatives of the LBIC, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASE-

2015: Politicians task INEC on election

ome politicians have urged INEC to ensure steady improvement in the country’s electoral process before the 2015 general elections. The politicians called for the improvement in the electoral process in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos. A former National Chairman of the Progressive Action Council (PAC), Chief Charles Nwodo, a defunct political party, advised INEC not to live on the successes it recorded in past elections, but should wake up to improve Nigeria’s electoral process. ``We expect INEC to wake up, not live on the glo-

ry of praise singers, who have ravaged our democracy right from presidency to local government level. “Prof Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman, should put the same ability he put and witnessed in Ghana elections and other fast developing countries to Nigeria election,’’ he said. Nwodo advised the Commission to embark on internal reform of the body, to flush out bad officials which Jega, on assumption of office, promised to do. He condemned the manner in which employment process was carried out at INEC. Nwodo said the employment process at the Commission lacked transparency.

He urged the Commission to embark on the education of the political class through adequate enlightenment campaign. A former National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr Denis Aghanya, advised INEC to amend the Electoral Act, to enforce internal democracy within political parties. According to him, INEC has taken noble steps to deregister ``paper political parties’’. “It should push further for an amendment of the Electoral Act, to enable it to enforce internal democracy within political parties. “That way, it would enable INEC to have a final say based on its findings in

‘Prayer alone’ll not guarantee promotion in the Army’ SEGUN ADIO

eneral Officer Commanding 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos, MajorGeneral Kenneth Minimah, has reiterated the resolve of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, to continue to promote hard work. He said prayers alone could not guarantee promotion in the service. Gen. Minimah said this yesterday in Lagos while decorating six newly promoted senior officers of his division. The newly promoted officers were BrigadiersGeneral Oluwatoyin Osimokun, Chikezie Ude, Olajide Laleye and Ibim Morrison Lawson. The two other officers promoted were Colonels Samuel Bitrus and Tabat Bitiyong. Gen. Minimah told all officers at the ceremony

that the Army Chief was leaving no stone unturned to reward good service and dedication to duties in the service. His words: “The senior officers being decorated today have proved to be very committed and dedicated officers and have been found worthy by the COAS to be so promoted. Many people say that with prayers they will be promoted, but I say that the Army headquarters are

well aware of soldiers and officers’ activities and is ready to reward them for their efforts, and not just sitting down and praying alone.” Responding on behalf of the decorated officers, Gen. Osimokun thanked the Army Council and the COAS for the honour done to them, promising that they would all continue to work towards achieving the set goals of the army chief.

2012, during supervision of party primaries,’’ he said. The Lagos State Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Bishop Gabriel Omoruyi, advised INEC to ensure equal and level playing ground for all political parties. According to him, the idea where electoral officers join hands with parties in power to rig elections in their favour is not right. ``INEC truly has tried in the previous elections they conducted, but needs to strengthen very equal playing ground for all political parties,’’ Omoruyi said.

PA; Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA; Lagos State Raw Materials Testing Agency; Office of the Public Defender, OPD, LASEMA, Jakande Estate Association; officials of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA; Ministries of Housing, Environment, among others. The meeting was organised to find modalities on the demolition of the affected buildings in order to avert disaster or any possible collapse of buildings in the estate as well as look at ways to settle people to be affected by the demolition.

Oke-Osanyintolu who made the disclosure said the fact that the buildings had failed integrity tests and needed to be demolished to avert disaster. According to him, they are no longer fit for habitation and rehabilitation. Saturday Mirror also gathered that at the meeting, modalities for compensation and resettlement were discussed by the parties involved and it was agreed that another stakeholder’s meeting be fixed for Monday and Thursday to fine-tune final arrangement.

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NATIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

Police promotes 1,944 men

• IGP tasks beneficiaries on professionalism OMEIZA AJAYI

he Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has approved the promotion of 1,944 junior Police Officers within the rank bracket of Constable and Sergeant, to their next ranks. According to a statement issued by the police yesterday in Abuja and signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, the promotion exercise dubbed “New Year Gift” for members of the Police rank and file, took effect from January 1st, 2013. The

police explained that the affected officers had gone through various tests in order to ascertain their capabilities to deliver on their new mandates. “In line with on-going reforms of the Nigeria Police Force, all the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise had earlier attended and passed a special promotion course organised for them at the four premier Police Colleges located at Lagos, Orji-River, Kaduna and Maiduguri. The trainings were designed to prepare the personnel for the challenges and responsibilities of their new ranks”, the statement added.

While congratulating the newly promoted Inspectors, rank and file, the IGP charged them to see their elevation as a call to greater tasks and challenges, as they will be saddled with higher responsibilities. He urged them to be more dutiful, disciplined, courageous and patriotic in the discharge of the responsibilities of their new ranks. The statement added that: “The 1,944 beneficiaries of the new promotion are spread across all Police Commands and Formations within the country including the Force Headquarters, Abuja.” The statement added

that 204 officers were elevated from the rank of Sergeant to Inspector; 303 from Corporal to Sergeant and 1, 437 from the rank of Constable to Corporal. Mr. Abubakar has also reiterated his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of officers and men of the Force, particularly, those within the Inspectorate, rank and file cadre whom he described as the “foot soldiers” of the Force. The IGP further promised to continue to do his best in conjunction with other relevant organisations of government to promote their overall working conditions this year.

NSCDC promises to improve on performance

fforts aimed at securing government installations such as oil pipelines will be redoubled in 2013, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said on Friday. Mr Tolulope Afolabi, the Public Relations Officer of the Corps in Ekiti, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in AdoEkiti that NSCDC hoped to consolidate on its previous achievements. According to him, the security challenge facing the country is a moral burden on all security agencies. He said the responsibility should be seen as one

UNEP official tasks journalists on environmental issues

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) official has urged journalists to create awareness on environmental issues. Mr Cyrille-Lazare Siewe, the Scientific Affairs Officer of the UN agency, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Siewe observed that damage was done to the environment due to the lack of awareness and proper guidelines to safeguard the environment. Said he: “The article of the convention on environment addressed specifically media people to create public awareness on issues relating to environment. “This role we have to

play together; you have to play your role and we have to play ours. “When you have someone cutting down trees, he may not know that that may create a desert, and as a result, he will not have food and will not practise gardening around his house. “Few months ago, we were discussing Rio+20

issues, finding a way forward, talking about chemical pollution, biodiversity, endangered species and all that.” He urged African nations to be proactive in regulating issues that deal with the environment. The UNEP official observed that good quality water was still a problem in most African countries.

Don’t merge SARS with SCID, retired DSP tells IG

etired DSP Effiong Udoh on Friday urged the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, not to merge State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Udoh, who made the appeal in Port Harcourt in an inter-

view with newsmen, said the speculation in the force about the merger was unnecessary. He noted that the merger would amount to disbanding the squad, adding that SARS should be allowed to operate as a department. Udoh urged the IG to shun the differences among the police authorities and

allow SARS to operate independently, especially now that the country was facing security challenges. Udoh said it was improper to merge the SCID and SARS, adding that the squad was set up earlier with the mandate to combat robbery activities in the country. He said the name SARS

had `scared criminals to their bone marrows’, noting that operating under SCID would be a set back to the fight against robbery. Udoh noted that huge amount of money had been spent on setting up the department with adequate training given to members to combat robbery.

project that could not be handled with levity. He described the security situation as one that required the concerted efforts of all for the security agents to succeed. Afolabi, therefore, enjoined members of the public, irrespective of their calling to be partners in progress by furnishing the corps with information that could lead to the arrest of criminals. He said it was better to prevent every crime before it was committed through the assistance of members of the public in the New Year than it had been.

Police arraign security guard, 27, for assault, theft

L-R: Groom’s father, Barr. Adewale Kolajo; bride’s mother, Olori Mofoluke Adelekun; groom, Oluwatoyin Kolajo; bride, former Princess Tejumade Adelekun; bride’s father, Loja of Odo-Iju in Atakumosa Local Government of Osun State, Oba Adedoyin Adelekun; and groom’s mother and Director, Corps Mobilisation Dept, National Youth Service Corps headquarters, Abuja, Mrs. Foluso Kolajo, during the holy matrimony of the couple recently.

he police on Friday arraigned 27-year-old man, Moses Yero of New Karu, Nasarawa State, before an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court for alleged assault and stealing. Prosecutor David Udeh told the court that one Nasiru Hassan of Gowon Barracks, Abuja, reported the case at Wuse Divisional Police Headquarter, Zone 3 on Jan. 1. ` `Yero and four other men, presently at large, jointly assaulted Hassan, beat him up and dishonestly collected his Nokia handset worth N2, 000. ` “In the process, the sum of N18,000 was also stolen from Hassan by the accused persons,’’ Udeh said. The

prosecutor said that their offences contravened Sections 79, 265 and 287 of the Penal Code. Yero, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr Dickson Omaiye, Counsel to the accused, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal term, contending that his client had been in custody for three days. The presiding magistrate, Mr Aliyu Shafa, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum. Shafa ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and ``must be a civil servant of above grade level 4’’.

Don tasks Nigerian youths on civic responsibilities TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

university don and Vice Dean, Student Affairs of Howard University, United States of America, Prof. Segun Gbadegesin, has urged Nigerian youths to be alive to their civic responsibilities by complementing government’s efforts in making life meaningful to the citizens. Prof. Gbadegesin, while delivering a paper titled “Responsible Citizenship; The Youth in Focus,” at the maiden lecture series and launch of a youth focused group, “Think Oyo” held in Ibadan, also appealed to youths to cease from complaining, but provide leadership in their respec-

tive endeavours. “Civic responsibility is crucial to the success of any government if citizens are not fully engaged, government work is onesided and definitely impossible,” he said. While admonishing the group to contribute to the educational advancement of youths in Oyo State he noted that the challenge of “Think Oyo” as a group is to engage in collaboration and cooperative endeavours to rebuild Oyo State. Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr. Adedidan Alao who spoke on behalf of ‘Think Oyo’ group said that the organisation is a strategic private - public synergy aimed at creating bridges through networking and public participation.

REGIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH WEST

Jail break: 20 inmates escape in Ogun –Comptroller General FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

omptroller General of Nigeria Prisons Services (NPS), Mr. Zakari Ibrahim, yesterday finally broke his silence over the jail-break which occurred in Shagamu last Wednesday, declaring that only 20 inmates escaped. The Comptroller General spoke with journalists in Shagamu yesterday during the inspection of the facility at the prisons and described the situation as “unfortunate and embarrassing”. The Ogun Prison Command had earlier declined to comment on the situation when the news filtered into town on Thursday, thereby making it difficult to get accurate figure of inmates on the run. But the Comptroller General’s visit as well as his statement yesterday however, put to rest, spec-

ulations about the situation for which journalists had been left to speculate. Speaking with newsmen at Shagamu prison,CG Ibrahim said his visit to the prison facilities was to ascertain the truth about the situation as well as ensuring that things were done right. His words, “My visit is also to ensure that any staff found culpable face the full wrath of the law; we have set up committee that will give us full report of what happened. What I can tell for now is that we have about 20 escape and we have re-arrested about 4 of them,” he said. CG Ibrahim further explained that he had addressed the Warders at the prison facilities about giving total commitments to the service and that those were not ready must leave. Ibrahim also declared that should the on-going investigation into the

matter indict any of the warders of negligence, such a staff would be dismissed and prosecuted accordingly. Meanwhile, Saturday Mirror reliably gathered

from top officials of the prison service that the jail break occurred at about 4 a. m on Thursday. The source who does not want his name in prints further said that the

prisoners broke the back wall of the prison’s fence, while injuring some prison officials in the process of trying to escape from the prison. As at the time of filling this report, some

L-R: Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Ranti Adebisi; Speaker, House Assembly, Dr. Adewale Ominrin; and Secretary to State Government, Alhaji (Dr) Ganiyu Owolabi, during the swearing-in of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission (EKHSC) and Local Government Service Commission Board in Ado Ekiti, recently.

Agric institute workers demand removal of director KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he crisis in Ibadan- based Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), has taken a critical dimension as the academic and non-academic staff of the institute now call for the removal of the director and chief executive of the institution, Prof. Adefemi Ogunbodede, for alleged nepotism and misappropriation of their emoluments. The workers at the yearly annual congress and prayer session to begin the New Year held at the institute, staged a peaceful demonstration to protest alleged corruption and favouritism in appointments as well as casualisation of some of their colleagues, who they said had spent between eight and 10 years serving the institute. It will be recalled that the 92-year old institute at Moor Plantation, Ibadan, a research organ of the Federal Government with the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, the Min-

istry of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Council as supervisory agencies, has been embroiled in crisis with the junior workers on strike for the past seven years. The aggrieved workers claimed that a whooping N177.5 million meant for the payment of 17 months hazard, transfer and other allowances were allegedly

of the prison officials were said to have been undergoing interrogation by the police over the jailbreak at the facility located on Prisons Street, Isale - Oko area of Shagamu.

misapplied under Ogunbodede’s management. They also kicked against alleged disbursement of funds without reference to the audit department, and alleged running of the institute like a fiefdom by the director. Also, the workers were unhappy at alleged recruitment of kinsmen and acquaintances of Ogun-

bodede at the expense of more qualified applicants. The workers acting under the auspices of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff, and the junior Non Academic Staff sang abusive songs denigrating their boss and bore placards, some of which read: “Ogunbodede must go”; “All we are saying is

give us our rights”; “ Save IAR&T from collapse”; “Minister of Agric, OAU VC, please intervene and save IAR&T”. Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the ASUU in the institute, Dr. Olunfunmilayo Ande, deplored the apparent dithering of the authorities on the reports of the three panels set up to in-

vestigate the allegations against the director by the university, Agriculture ministry and the Ministry of Finance. According to her, the workers joint action became inevitable to save the system from collapsing, adding that there has been no meaningful research done in the institute since the inception of Ogunbodede’s administration.

Aregbesola names Tinubu, Soyinka, others Awo Centre directors

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has approved the appointment of pioneer members into the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors for the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance. The Osun-based centre has Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the head of the BoT. Members include the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka (Ogun); the founder, Aregbesola (Osun); former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Wale Omole (Osun); former Vice Chancellor of University of Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Akin Oyebode (Eki-

ti). Othe BoT members include Chief John OdigieOyegun; Dr. M Usman Bugaje (North); Prof. Mrs. Bolanle Awe (Osun) and Prof. M. A. Makinde, who is also the Director General and Secretary to the Board. Besides, the Board of Director is headed by Governor Aregbesola with Prof. Tunde Babawale, ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; human right lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa as external members. Internal members include the DG/CEO, Prof. Makinde; a Director of

Training and Research, a Director of Administration and Finance, a Director of Planning, Programmes and Linkages. A release signed by the Director General/Chief Executive Officer said the

eminent Nigerians selected into the centre’s BoT and Board of Directors were carefully chosen to match the personality and ideals of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The statement said

these tested and trusted Nigerians were congregated into the centre in order to help revive the legacies of Awolowo and sustain his political ideals of tue democracy and good governance.

Amosun condemns fuel stations in residential areas

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has condemned siting of fuel stations in residential areas. In a release by Funmi Wakama, Senior Special Assistant to governor Amosun, the governor disclosed this yesterday at Idiroko during his on-the-

spot assessment of Thursday’s fire incident which led to the death of three people, serious injuries to several others and valuable properties destroyed. Amosun warned residents against erecting illegal structures and ordered the Ministry of Physical Planning to en-

sure business owners comply with relevant laws in siting fuel stations. The governor, who toured the affected community in a cloud of dust, frowned at fuel tankers erected in front of private buildings and condemned reckless driving by some petrol tankers’s drivers.

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REGIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

SOUTH EAST

Enugu monarch seeks amendment of controversial autonomous constitution DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

he traditional ruler of Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North Local Government Area, HRH Igwe Moses Nnamdi, has asked Enugu State government to compel the Enugu-Ngwo community in Udi Local Government Area to expunge chapter V of its constitution that purports to suggest that parts of Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community is in control of the latter community. In a-four page statement made available to our correspondent, Igwe Moses Nnamdi of Enugu Urban 1 alerted the state government that despite the rulings on its white paper issued after a judicial panel of inquiry into the Enugu-Ngwo civil disturbances in 2005, the Enugu-Ngwo community has not, as ordered by the state government,

expunged chapter V of their constitution which claims that some parts of Enugu Ngwo community are located in Ajagu/ Agangwu community enacted as Enugu urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North local government area. The monarch maintained that as far back as 2005, the Enugu State gov-

ernment had on page 10 of its white paper issued after the work of judicial panel of enquiry into the disturbances by EnuguNgwo youths, stated that Igwe I.O.U Ayalogu of Ngwo Assa autonomous community in Udi LGA is not and cannot be the traditional ruler of another autonomous community in Enugu North LGA.

The white paper at its page IV stated that that Enugu Ngwo village which is located in Udi LGA does not have any of its own components in Enugu North LGA. The white paper expressly stated at its page IV that the Enugu State government shall set up a committee to re-write the Enugu-Ngwo constitution

and especially to delete chapter V of the old constitution of Enugu-Ngwo which claimed that Enugu Ngwo village has some of its geographical locations in Enugu North LGA. Igwe Nnamdi therefore asked the state government to pursue to a logical conclusion the implementation of the 2005 white paper recommendation to

L-R: Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu; Governor Peter Obi; Head of Service, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Stella Okunna, at an interactive session of the governor with civil servants in Awka, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

avoid another civil disturbance and to clearly confine the two autonomous communities to their distinct territories. Also reacting to a publication that placed a disclaimer on him as having ceased to be the ‘mere head’ of Ajagu/ Agangwu (Enugu Urban1), Igwe Moses Nnamdi stated that he has never held such position in his life, rather, that he was duly selected, presented and functions as the traditional ruler of enacted Enugu urban 1 autonomous community of Enugu North Local Government Area. A disclaimer had been issued on Igwe Nnamdi in a national daily (not in any Media Mirror publication), on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. The monarch therefore called on the general public to disregard the disclaimer on him, describing the publication as unlawful, libellous, worthless and offensive of Ngwo clan.

Imo agog as Okorocha’s daughter weds commissioner CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

he Ogboko Ideato South country home of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was agog, yesterday, during the traditional marriage between the governor’s first daughter, Uloma, and the state’s

Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Hon Uche Nwosu. At the event, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar described Governor Okorocha as the bridge between the South and North. The traditional wedding , which attracted the

crème of the Nigerian society would be solemnized at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Aladinma, Owerri today. Governor Okorocha, who expressed joy and gratitude to God for the gift of a wonderful family, also prayed God to grant the couple His blessings and

Obi approves N3000 bonus for civil servants CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

nambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday announced the payment of bonus of N3000 each to all civil servants in the state. This development comes at a time the civil servants have pledged their support for the governor. Announcing the bonus offer at the State Secretariat, Awka while addressing the civil servants, Obi said that his government will continue to cater for the welfare of workers. Governor Obi said the routine interaction he had

with workers was to demonstrate to them their importance to governance, as well as, listen and dialogue with them on the progress and development of the State. He reminded the workers that as stakeholders, they should always realize that the future of the state should be uppermost in their minds. Amidst thunderous applause and cheers from workers, he announced that each worker would receive extra N3000 in his January salary as additional Christmas package. The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra State,

Comrade Paddy Obianyo, commended the governor on his developmental strides. He also called on Obi to consider another increment in salary in the light of economic realities. Also speaking on the occasion, the Head of Service of Anambra State, Chidi Ezeoke, said the Obi’s administration has remained the best since Anambra State was created. Ezeoke said not only has the governor taken care of basic needs of workers, but that he has continued to show great attributes of leadership by his constant and persistent demonstration of love to both friends and the enemies.

successful marriage. He urged them to always love each other as well remain faithful to God in their marriage life. The traditional marriage ceremony also had in attendance Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Theodore Orji of Abia

State and Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto State, as well as Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Arthur Eze and many other dignitaries. Speaking at the event, Gen. Abubakar described Governor Okorocha as a good family man, a bridge between the north and

southern part of the country and a detribalized Nigerian with outstanding leadership qualities. The highlight of the occasion was when Uloma handed over the wine to her husband who gulped down the drink to the admiration of the cheering crowd.

Nsukka legislative Leader, Deputy impeached DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

he Nsukka Legislative Council has impeached Mr Onyebuchi Eze, Leader of House and Mr Festus Onogwu, Deputy Leader, for alleged poor leadership, gross misconduct and incompetence. Moving the motion for impeachment, Mr Nnaemka Aleke, representing Obukpa Ward, which was seconded by Mr Paul Omeje representing Alor-Ulo ward, said that incompetence of leader his deputy had stagnated the progress of the legislative council.

In the words of Aleke, “There is need to change the leadership of the council so as to move the council forward. The incompetence of leadership has stagnated the progress of the council. I hereby moved that the leader and deputy leader be impeached to enable the council breath fresh air,” he said. The impeachment was supported by fifteen members out of twenty members while three objected. Efforts by the impeached leader to adjourn sitting till January 31, 2013, was opposed by the fifteen members, leading to the impeached leader

and deputy to walk out on the House. Immediately after the impeachment, the councilors elected Mr Chukwu Ikeoha representing EheAlor Ward as the new Leader while Mr Nick Obayi representing Nkpunano Ward was elected as new Deputy Leader. The newly elected leader announced that the impeached Leader and deputy have been suspended indefinitely for walking away for their arrogance well as walking away from the sitting. In his acceptance remark, the new leader promised to give the council purposeful leadership.

REGIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

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SOUTH SOUTH

Dickson tasks Muslims on peaceful co-existence

overnor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has urged the Muslim community in the state to spread the message of peace and tolerance among the various religious groups in the country. The Governor made the call on Friday, when a delegation of the Bayelsa chapter of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Yenagoa. He implored the Muslim faithful to deemphasise those issues that tend to polarise the nation. Dickson pointing out that most of the differences being experienced were as a result of lack of understanding and the selfish tendencies of a few persons. In the words of Governor Dickson, “In your mosques and meetings, continue to preach the gospel of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence because every

part of this country needs the other part to move forward. The greatness of the country is our size, our population and diversity,” he said. Dickson, who felicitated with the Muslims on the New Year celebration,

thanked them for their continued prayers and support during the governorship elections that saw him emerge as governor of the state. He also expressed appreciation for their peaceful conduct, noting that

his administration’s commitment to the maintenance of peace and security had culminated in making Bayelsa one of the most peaceful states in the country. Dickson, who pledged to support the Muslims in the state,

based on their request, directed the leadership of the council to liaise with the Secretary to the State Government regularly. Earlier in a remark, Alhaji Isa Ogbotobo, the President of NSCIA, Bayelsa council, expressed

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (right) presenting a souvenir to Germany Chancellor to Nigeria, Mr. Steffan Witterwer, during the latter’s visit to the governor in Uyo, recently.

appreciation to the state government for sponsoring Muslims in the state on holy pilgrimage to Mecca. He said that 114 pilgrims embarked on the journey to the holy land from the State. Ogbotobo said the hajj report had been submitted to the Secretary to the state Government for onward transmission to the Governor. He appealed to the Governor to continue to extend his hand of fellowship to the Muslim community in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council commended the state government for its transformation in all sectors of the economy while predicting a bright future for the state in 2013. Ogbotobo also solicited government’s support to enable Muslims build a central mosque in the state, just as he disclosed that six plots of land was already available at Ogbogoro area of the state capital for the purpose.

Akpabio inaugurates commissions, boards, agencies

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has inaugurated 36 government-owned commissions, boards and agencies with a charge on the chairmen and members to take collective action to reposition the state for greatness. Governor Akpabio, who gave the charge during the inauguration of commissions, boards and agencies at Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo, further called on them to take action capable of sustaining the development tempo of the state. Congratulating them on their appointment, he said they were chosen based on their positive contributions, passion and devotion to the state. The Governor reminded them on the need to imbibe hard work and honesty, some sterling qualities which always single out an average Akwa Ibom person by bringing such to bear on their new positions. Akpabio acknowl-

edged that 2013 is a special and defining point in the life of his administration and stressed the need for them to work for all not for themselves alone, hinting that their sitting allowances had been in-

creased. He described Akwa Ibom as ‘a major artery to the country’s unity’ and harped on the need for members of the boards and agencies to entrench the tradition of account-

ability, His words, “‘In a bid to deliver the dividends of democracy, I enjoin you to work with bureaucrats and tap from their experience. Also Imbibe the spirit of inclusiveness.

Some of the inaugurated commissions include Judicial Service Commission, headed by Hon. Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua; Akwa Ibom Civil Service Commission by Obong Jacob J.

Obot; Akwa Ibom Local Government Service Commission- Arc. Otu Ita Toyo and Akwa Ibom State Independent Election Commission- Mrs. Gloria Ukpong, among others.

Court arraigns Delta commissioner’s kidnappers AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

our kidnap suspects, who allegedly kidnapped the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, have been arraigned before an Asaba Chief Magistrate Court. Eghagha was kidnapped on Sunday, September, 30, 2012 along Abraka-Asaba express way, regained freedom after 15 days in kidnappers custody, following payment of an undisclosed ransom. Eghagha’s police orderly was killed by the kidnappers while his driver sustained severe injuries, leaving Egh-

agha’s official vehicle riddled with bullets. Arraigned yesterday at the Chief Magistrate court presided by the Chief Magistrate Sylvester Ehikwe were Dennis Iyayi, 21, Odiri Uyovosisuohwo, 34, Roland Briggs, 36 and Tina Okome, 24 a female among them. The suspects were charged with two counts of conspiracy, unlawful kidnap and imprisonment of Prof. Eghagha in 2012. However, Ehikwe adjourned the case to January 31, 2013 and ordered that the three suspects should be remanded at Ogwashi-Uku Prisons while the female suspect should be remanded in Agbor

Prisons. Meanwhile, the Treasurer of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Delta State University, Abraka chap-

ter, Mr. Martins Denedo has regained freedom after three days in the kidnappers den. Denedo was kidnapped by about eight gunmen at

the gate of his residence in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA at about 1:00am on January 1 while returning from church after the New Year Eve service.

‘Edo fire service receives 79 distress calls’

he Edo Fire Service has said it received 79 distress calls on fire from members of the public in 2012. The Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Franklyn Agbonlahor, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin. He, however, said the organisation was ill-equipped to perform its statutory duties. Agbonlahor said that 30 of the calls were made during the harmattan season. “We lack adequate equipment as regards fire

fighting. “We have only one fire service station and one functional vehicle centrally located at the Ring Road in Benin City. According to him, ``The only fire service vehicle cannot serve any purpose. We are working but that is not how it is supposed to be. ``We have contained the spread of many fires. To contain harmattan fire, we have to use more than one fire service vehicle. ``This is what the people are naive about and at the end of the day,

the people mobbed our men. They destroyed the vehicles and fight our men. It is not the making of our men not to put out fire as quickly as possible, ‘’ he said. Agbonlahor lamented that staff of the service still received N10 as monthly hazard allowance, an amount he described as ridiculous. Agbonlahor, however, said the management of the service had complained to the state government over the situation.

Politics

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January 5, 2013

Jonathan

Buhari

Mark

Tinubu

Jega

Obi

Politics: Issues and events that will shape 2013 TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

ithout any iota of doubt, 2013 is going to be an interesting year in the political sector of Nigeria. In the new year, many issues are expected to shake the polity and the outcome of those events may either build or mar the polity. Considering various issues that came up in 2012, many Nigerians will watch with keen interest events that will shape 2013 for the better. Whichever way we look at it, examples of some of the major issues and events that will determine the situation in the new year are the emergence of a new chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT); registration and deregistration of political parties; merger of major opposition parties; Independent National Electoral Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (INEC) preparation for future elections, especially, the bid to forestall staggering elections; 2014 governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and State of Osun, and 2015 general governorship elections, insecurity and constitution review, among others.

PDP BoT contest At present all hands are on deck in PDP towards the emergence of a new chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party. The contest, which is expected to hold on January 8, has been narrowed down to about four major contenders, namely; former PDP BoT chairman and former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former PDP national deputy chairman (South), Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun and PDP chieftain, Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu. Although the BoT is an advisory organ of the party, many political observers believe strongly that the emergence of the BoT chairman will set the tone for the direction the ruling party will go in future elections. Some are of the view that whoever that emerge as the BoT chairman will play crucial roles in the emergence of who will fly the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential ticket in 2015, and obviously, that will impact on the political scene. Insecurity Security wise, Nigeria experienced a lot of hardships in 2012 as there were great records of killings, bombings and kidnappings in many parts of the coun-

try. Many Nigerians, especially those living in the North were killed in 2012 by the dreadful Boko Haram sect, while many political gladiators in the South also faced the wrath of kidnappers. Therefore, the federal government is expected to take a lot of measures this year to solve the security problems in the country. Needless to say how safe the environment is will go a long way in determining the political atmosphere in the country. Registration and deregistration of political parties One of the major issues that generated controversy in 2012 is the deregistration of political parties. Last year INEC deregistered about 35 political parties for not winning any elective positions at federal and state level. And if the words of INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is anything to go by, INEC is still going to deregister more political parties in the new year. Considering the rate at which some of the political parties were deregistered last year, political analysts are of the view that some of the deregistered political parties may team up to register a new party. It is also not unlikely that some of the deregistered parties may eventually join the bid by the major op-

position parties in the country to form a new party in the efforts to win the centre from the ruling PDP. Merger of major opposition parties If the words of some of the major opposition leaders are anything to go by, the three major opposition parties - Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which are at present engaged in merger talks may, before March 2013, form a major opposition platform against PDP. Apart from the three political parties, others such as All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party, Accord Party, among others, may join the train to form a political party to send the ruling PDP packing from Aso Rock come 2015. 2014 governorship elections One of the issues that will surely generate public concern is the preparation for 2014 governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and State of Osun. Governorship elections are expected to hold in the three states and politicians and political parties in the states are going to embark on a lot of political permuCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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January 5, 2013

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Nigerian Constitution is like a waste paper –Femi Aduwo T

here were lots of cases of corruption bordering largely on fraud by public office holders in 2012. What does that portend for Nigeria’s democracy? I may not totally agree that last year was characterized by a lot of corrupt practices. When you are talking about the issue of corruption, it is very subjective in some areas. There is nowhere in the world where there is no corruption. The difference is the political will of the leaders to fight it when it rear its ugly head. I think if we understand where we are coming from and the complex nature of our polity, you will understand why fighting corruption sometime is very slow. For example, when the case of James Ibori started, Ibori’s kinsmen protested, naked women were on the road to protest that their son was being persecuted. But when he was arrested in the UK, where were they? When Ibori was arraigned in UK, the UK government put a tag on his neck: ‘I am a thief ’. This is because he was already condemned, indicted and jailed before in UK since they have his record. When Tafa Balogun was undergoing trial and upon indictment, some people protested. You will now be wondering about the cultural and political undertone. Having said that, I think there are some grey areas that I think government is trying to make a kind of improvement on. Take for example the issue of the pension. Many people never paid any attention to what was going on in that particular industry. A task force was put in place and in less than three months, the task force has saved for the federal government, N221billion, with CBN. The same task force has the mandate to go through and check the records of 49 government agencies, parastatals and ministries and within three months they were able to retrieved N221billion. This is a task force that has no budget! I believe that by the time this task force moves to NNPC and some other agencies we will be talking of trillions of naira being saved for the federal government. Why has it been difficult for the government to prosecute the cabals behind these corrupt practices? For example a director in one of the government parastatals came to bribe the chairman of the task force with N1billion. He brought cash and the chairman of the task force handed over the director to EFCC. So, the prosecution lies with the EFCC and the judiciary, which they have started. The problem with the judiciary is that as long as you can get an expensive lawyers and dubious SANs, cases can be killed. We are not new to it in Nigeria and that is why some cases have been swept under the carpet. During Obasanjo’s administration many judges in Nigeria were thrown out because they were corrupt. There are many corruption cases that have been swept under the carpet after money have changed hands. Are you insinuating that Nigerian

Aduwo

Mr. Olufemi Aduwo is the national coordinator of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG) and Country Director, Centre on Convention for Democratic Integrity (CCDI). In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he advises the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to collaborate with the National Identity Card Commission to produce permanent voter’s card. He also speaks on the state of the nation, corruption, 2015 general elections, among other issues. Excerpts: judiciary is corrupt? It is even dirty from head to toe. Many of the SANs are corrupt. We don’t need to pretend, corruption cuts across the length and breadth of Nigeria. We have dubious religious and traditional leaders. Recently, EFCC boss, Ibrahim Lamorde, said that some of the civil societies are involved in money laundering but some people did not believe him. What he said is true because any money you give to civil society is not taxable. So, that is why I have been clamouring that NGOs should pay tax and submit their account. For example if Dangote gives me N200 million as donation, the law allows it under deductable tax and that is how some NGOs are making a lot of money. So, if Dangote gives me money as a deductable tax, I may not account to government how the money is spent. Today many people are forming foundation to make money through donations to their foundation. So it is true that some NGOs are involved in money laundering. There is corruption virtually in every sector in Nigeria. There have been several calls for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution. Are you in support of the amendment? In the history of constitution writing in the world, I think Nigeria has written more

constitution than any other country. But if you look at the history of America, they have been using one constitution which is less than 30 pages. If the will is there, we need to do little things about the constitution to make it perfect. If people are saying that the constitution is a military arrangement, they are making a mistake because the constitution is an amended faction of the 1979 Constitution that was accepted by the 49 wise men, excluding Papa Obafemi Awolowo, who did not join them. The 1999 Constitution was the amended version of the 1979 Constitution with little difference. There are certain issues we should not be discussing presently in Nigeria. For how long are we going to discuss the issue of state creation? How many countries in Africa today are talking about state creation and local government creations? How many of the states in Nigeria today are viable? They should come out and tell us how viable they are when two-third of states in Nigeria is still borrowing money, including the one they are stealing, to pay the workers. If not for the federal allocation being produced by the oil producing states and taxes from Lagos State, how many of these state governments can produce N1billion. How many local governments in Nigeria can survive if federal government says no

more allocations to local governments from federal allocation? Today, many of the local governments in Nigeria are lagging behind in performing their duties and some of the roles of the local governments have been taken over by the state governments. If we can all sit down and agree on the issue of genuine fiscal federalism, every other thing will fall in place. In the days of Awolowo and others, at a particular time Papa Awolowo was paying five Shillings per day to workers in Western Region while the federal government was paying three Shillings. But today things have changed and Mr. President has to make announcement concerning minimum wage, which does not concern him. This is happening because we have a constitution that has become just like a waste paper. Let us have a genuine fiscal federalism like we have in the days of Papa Awolowo in the First Republic, when 50 per cent belongs to the regional government. There is no state in Nigeria that is not endowed with natural resources. There is diamond in Zamfara State. We have gold in some parts of the country and we have bitumen in Ondo State. There are a lot of loopholes in the constitution and we are where we are today because the government believes CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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POLITICS

January 5, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 they are okay with oil and therefore, bitumen should waste. Let every state generate its income through their resources and give federal government 50 per cent. If that is done, other things will fall in place and nobody will tell government that there are certain duties you are performing which do not belong to you. Why should government be involved in primary education under Universal Basic Education (UBE)? Why should government be involved in primary health care? Some gangsters and crooks are benefitting from the loopholes in the constitution and that is why they don’t want the constitution to be amended. You are one of the respected election observers in Nigeria. What is your view about the proposed plan by INEC to stop staggered election? I think our electoral law approves of staggered elections like holding National

‘Nigerian Constitution is like a waste paper’ and State Assemblies, governorship and presidential elections on different days. I have said it at different fora that staggering election does not help matters; it only puts more pressure on security and so much money is spent. INEC spent so much during staggering elections on security and other logistics and we cannot continue like that. In 2009, by God’s grace, my organisation was the first group to, in conjuction with INEC, organise voters’ education for Christian leaders at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos. We set a communiqué, which became a guide to many church leaders, considering the ways they spoke on the pulpit on voters’ education prior to the 2011 general elections. There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved for us to reduce election cost and to have credible, free and

fair election. We need to carry out proper voters’ education, have a genuine voters register and permanent voter card. I am of the view that INEC should collaborate with National Identity Card Commission to have a permanent voters card. We don’t need to be carrying unnecessary ID cards; let INEC and National Identity Card Commission work out a modality to produce a permanent voters ID card. What is the way forward for Nigeria? We have identified the issue of inefficiency in the administration of government and in our own lifestyles. I don’t want to call it corruption because the more you are having more government agencies fighting corruption, the more it rears its ugly head. For us to be able to fight corruption effectively, first of all there must

be transparency in government because most of our problems have to do with docility. We must start asking questions about how allocations are being utilised by ministries, government parastatals and agencies. People should be informed about the act of governance. Sometimes I pity Mr. President because he inherited a very complicated government because some people don’t want him to become President. Nelson Mandela has shown that to be a leader, there must be a sacrifice and he has shown to the whole world that today a black man can do what he has done for people of South-Africa. So, we need a leader and not only a president who can make changes. Nigerians should start asking public office holders serious questions.

elections. This year, many of the foot soldiers of President Jonathan and governors seeking second term will kick start business to drum support for their leaders. Many of the foot soldiers will also embark on strategic and massive campaigns to ensure that their candidature for 2015 is accepted by the people at the state and national level. Also, in some of the states where their governors are expected to leave office in 2015 after serving for eight years, many people have started showing interest in governorship seats. Therefore, many people may throw their hats into the ring for the governorship and other elective positions this year. Among states where attention will be given this year toward 2015 governorship race are Lagos, Rivers, Jigawa, Niger, Delta and Akwa-Ibom. On the the issue of presidency, some of those aspiring for the position are likely to kick-start the process by forming different groups and reaching out to political gladiators to emerge as their parties’ candidates and to have a smooth ride to the presidency. The agitation for 2015 presidency between the North and South is surely going to be one of the issues that may generate some interest as usual. Ahead of 2015 presideny, the North, South-South and South-East are seriously positioning themselves for the best of opportunities. While South-South is clamouring that President Jonathan should be allowed to run in 2015 for the zone to enjoy the presidency for eight years, South-East is agitating that the zone should be allowed to have a taste of it. There argument has always been that except for only six months since Nigeria independence in 1960, the zone has not had a feel of it. The North on their own part is saying that power should shift to the North come 2015 to balance the North-South rotational presidency agreement. Therefore, the leaders of each of the zone will surely kick-start the process of achieving their presidency. INEC’s preparation for election Ahead of the three governorship elections in 2014 and the 2015 general elections, INEC will embark on serious preparations. There main aim will be to

organize credible, free and fair elections. Constitution review According to the Deputy Senate President and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution will be completed in the third quarter of this year. Therefore, if things work out as planned by the National Assembly, the lawmakers are expected to commence debates on the constitution review in April. Therefore, the country may emerge with a reviewed

1999 Constitution, which many Nigerians have been yearning for, this year. Based on various issues raised during the federal, zonal, state and constituency public hearings organised by the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution, some of the issues that may be addressed in the constitution review are; state creation, gender discrimination, autonomy of the local governments, roles of traditional rulers, tenure of office of president and governors.

Politics: Issues and events that will shape 2013 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 tation and combination to outsmart one another. In Anambra State, Governor Peter Obi of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is expected to leave office in March 2014 after finishing his second term in office, while Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Rauf Aregbesola of State of Osun are expected to seek second term in 2014 on the platform of ACN. In view of the 2014 governorship elections, there is going to be lots of political campaign and those jostling for the governorship positions will privately or publicly declare their interest for the race. Among the three governorship elections that will take place in 2014, there will be more attention on Anambra State, where governorship primary is expected to hold this year to elect political party flag bearers for the election. Among those that seem to have interest in the Anambra governorship race are former governors of the state and members of the National Assembly, Senator Chris Ngige, Andy Uba and former member of the National Assembly, Senator Annie Okonkwo, among others. In the case of Ekiti and State of Osun, considering the outcome of the last October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, ACN and the PDP will do everything possible to outsmart each another in the election. At presence, ACN has a firm grip of the South-West and therefore, will do everything possible not to lose the two states. PDP on its own part will also work toward winning the two states as part of their plan to reclaim the South-West. 2015 general elections Though 2015 general elections is still about two years away, the preparations toward the 2015 election have started as politicians and political parties have started positioning themselves for 2015. Following the intrigues going on and the pasting of the second term posters of President Goodluck Jonathan in strategic places in Abuja on Tuesday, many serving governors and members of the National and State Assemblies are likely to declare this year for second term privately and publicly ahead of 2015 general

In your refreshingly different My quarrel with Jonathan —Asari-Dokubo It is no longer news that Asari-Dokubo is fighting President Goodluck Jonathan, what is unknown is why he has taken up this battle against the man, he gave total support to during the 2011 elections. Indeed, his grouse against the president goes beyond the surface and he tells all in this explosive interview that is vintage Asari-Dokubo. A snippet: “Obasanjo gave me more. Yar’Adua even did more. He gave me right to lift oil, 10,000 barrels. Almost every month I was getting 5,000 DPK until I disagreed with him. 5,000 tonnes of DPK at that time translated to N36million. Obasanjo offered to make me the first Director, Youth Sport and Women Affairs at the Directorate of NDDC, I rejected it. Because of me, Obasanjo awarded a contract worth N4.5bn in my village, Soku when I told him my people were suffering and he, a man from Abeokuta was enjoying. I am a king in my village. NDDC has also awarded another dredging contract in Soku. When the terrible flood came, Soku was never flooded. Under Yar’Adua, he awarded road construction project in my village. Even with all that, I spoke against Obasanjo government. In Obasanjo government, they wanted to do SSS recruitment, I went to him, spoke to him and he said bring a list and I gave the list, they went for interview. Luckily out of the 15 people, only two among them did not pass”. On why he is fighting Jonathan, he says, “as for Jonathan…”, Wait till tomorrow. It is explosive.

Killing of a heir apparent 2013 expectations

‘You can only catch me nude in Hollywood’ Furore has greeted the sudden Amid pillories on how events went in the Ijeoma Imoh, a screen diva, murder of the son of Oba-elect country in 2012, President Goodluck seems to know her onions. of Ode Etikan in Ilaje Local Jonathan spoke on prime TV last week Government area of Ondo State. The on what he intended to do for the nation Much as she distastes acting nude in the Nigerian prince, Oriloye, a 23-year-old, lost in the New Year. Despite skepticism on his life when attackers invaded his government’s promises so far, Nigerians setting, she would not mind the act in Hollywood since father’s home, three days to new are still demanding the dividends of the price and honour would year, and cut him down in a hail of democracy. In this detailed report, be right. In this interview, bullets. What could have precipitated we present the opinions of eminent the Nollywood actress who an attack on the son of a king-elect Nigerians on the shape of things to has featured in many home who would soon mount the throne of come this year, and what the Jonathan his forebears. We provide the detail administration should do to better the lot movies, takes you to her world. Keep a date with her. tomorrow. of the citizenry. These and many more available tomorrow in your

January 5, 2013

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Ms. Jaie Rising diva Sex talk 15 things women do wrong in bed and how to fix them

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January 5, 2013

azzville was a very popular joint. Do you regret closing it? No. Never. Absolutely not. In fact, I wish I had done it earlier. Actually, it closed when it should, that’s all. In the aftermath, the wilderness period, you’ll grumble, that is natural, and ask, ‘Did you ask me to close down Jazzville?’ And the reply was ‘Yeah.’ I have no regrets.

like Jazzville, it’s the same ambience, same atmosphere, same informality, but this time, it’s dedicated to a higher purpose. And we encourage it to be a platform for creative expression in terms of what God has put inside one, in spirit and in truth. And like Jazzville, it’s unplanned, unprogrammed, unstructured, very informal and anybody who’s anybody that comes in can sing and lead in praise and worship and share a word. The Bible says in Joel and it’s also repeated in the Acts of Apostles that “In the last days, I’ll pour My spirit on all flesh.” And the purpose of God pouring His spirit unto all flesh is so that they could minister unto one another. And at Praiseville, there’s no difference between the pulpit and the pew. The pulpit is the pew and vice versa.

Celebrity

Are you saying God told you to close it? Yes. I don’t think all that was really me per se. I just think that at some point in time, you’ll ask yourself where are you coming from, where are you now and where do you want to go? Is this what you want to do for the rest of your life? It came with dissatisfaction about the late nights and that it was all vanity. I lost interest in the late nights, the booze, the boobs. I just grew older and became more spiritually aware. And even in all that chronic madness and negative lifestyle, God was calling me. There was a call upon my life to get out of the mess. How did you get the call? It was delivered to me by God. How? There are some things you cannot explain. There’s no way you can explain spiritual matters carnally. It’s like there’s something telling you that if you’re going down this road, it’s a oneway road to perdition and destruction, come back. I heard a voice telling me it was time to give it up and I did. What impact did Jazzville have on your life? I believe you should ask what impact it made on people’s lives. For a lot of people, it was the place to be themselves. For many, it was the place to hang out and meet guys of like creative minds. It was a place that was totally unpretentious. It was me, it was my alter ego. I hated unnecessary formalities. You know Nigeria is a place that if something is easy, they make it hard. If it’s hard, make it harder. If it’s harder, make it difficult. If it’s difficult, make it impossible. That’s Nigeria for you. And my own way is if something is hard, make it easy. Life is already hard enough, why contribute to it? If you can make a difference in somebody’s life, make somebody happy, why not do it? The Bible says, “Do not withhold doing good from anybody.” If you can do your good today, do it, don’t tell the person come back tomorrow. At times, Nigerians are so hypocritical and I just hated the whole setup and for me, it was … look, at Jazzville, I was clearing tables, serving drinks, emptying ashtrays. It wasn’t about me but making people happy. How did people take the closure? Most of them were not happy. They couldn’t believe it. How did your wife take it? She was happy, very happy. Did you use to smoke and womanise when you were operating Jazz-

‘No regrets closing down Jazzville’

Muyiwa Majekodunmi became a celebrity by virtue of being the proprietor of Jazzville, a club where every notable Nigerian musician, including the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, performed. Popularly known as Majek, he made more news when he closed down Jazzville. He further made news with Jazzville’s conversion to Praiseville. OSEYIZA OOGBODO met him and he explained why.

ville? Let me say this very carefully. There is an unholy trinity in this business called entertainment. It’s booze, boobs and blues. Or wine, women and weed. It comes with the territory. You can’t avoid it. If you’re in the music business, you’ll fornicate, you’ll smokate and you’ll drinkate. I don’t know why. But it’s just that way. So you partook of those things too? Whether I like it or not, I did. It was good while it lasted, you know, but there comes a point in your life when you just say what’s all these, what are you getting from all these, nothing, and you give it all up. Some people say you are an SS by genotype, yet you were partying

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hard? No. I’m not SS. I’m AS. I’m AS. If I were SS and I was smoking and drinking, that would mean I actually wanted to commit suicide. After Jazzville, it took you some time to start Praiseville. Why? Were you thinking of what to do? Was I thinking? I was in a wilderness, I’m still in it, I’m not completely out of it. The most important thing is to obey that voice first. I obeyed that voice and went into a period of depression and withdrawal. I withdrew from everybody and everything. For years, I wasn’t involved in music, parties and events. I didn’t want to do anything with music. Then Praiseville started by divine order in July 2005. It started not because I desired it. It was just divine order. And just

Do you feel that both Jazzville and Praiseville have contributed to the music industry’s growth? You should answer that question, not me, I don’t know. I don’t like to brag, but virtually everybody and anybody who is anybody in the music industry today, the old brigade started off … not just music, but in terms of comedians and MCs, they had their baptism of fire here. Jazzville gave them an opportunity to hone in their talent, develop their repertoire, fan base and clientele. I believe we contributed a lot, although most people will not admit it, because once they go, they never come back. I’ve never gotten a thank you from anybody and I don’t mind. Maybe they believe we haven’t contributed to their lives, but I leave it to God, I leave it to posterity to determine what impact Jazzville has made on people’s lives. It’s left to them, not me. I’m just doing what God has asked me to do. God has given me a particular challenge, a particular anointing. I don’t have anointing to sing or play music instruments but the anointing I have is to bring a crop of people together and anoint them and make a team out of them. What have Praiseville and Jazzville actually done for you, considering that they have contributed greatly to the careers of many musicians and other entertainers? I’ve gotten a sense of fulfilment. Fulfilment not in terms of finance, believe me. Money? No. The fulfilment comes from the satisfaction of people being here, seeing the joy in their faces, seeing them express what God has put inside them. Can you imagine having so much and having nowhere to express it? God has given you a talent to sing or share the Word and you cannot do it in church because it’s a one-man thing we have there, I’m the founder, I’m the head. No, it’s not about you. What is fellowship? Fellowship is when we all come together and we can help each other edify ourselves. So many people on the pulpit should be in the pews and those in the pews should be in the pulpit. And here at Praiseville, we make the pulpit and pew one. Yeah, I say it and I act it. Believe you me, sometimes it gets so whoa! If you’re a typical church person, you’ll hate Praiseville, I’m telling you.

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January 5, 2013

Entervaganza

With OSEYIZA OOGBODO

Ms. Jaie set for good times I

08023755142 kingseiza@gmail.com

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

ollywood star, Foluke Daramola, has concluded work on her latest movie, Cobweb. The flick, which features many Nollywood stars and their upcoming counterparts, is scheduled to hit the cinemas next month. Speaking to Entervaganza, Daramola, who is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), said, “Cobweb is a story of passion and pain. It will soon be in the cinemas for public viewing. It was shot in Lagos, Abuja and some West African countries and basically treats the issue of parents imposing their desires on their children.” Some notable stars in Cobweb are Foluke Daramola, Olukayode Salako, Dele Odule and Funsho Adeolu. Others are Remi Olaosebikan, David Olamide and many upcoming artistes from Bosworth College International, Lagos.

f turn by turn is what the music industry is all about, then it means musicians blow and become successful one after the other. And at the rate she is going, Storm Records artiste, Ms. Jaie, is certainly set for good times. After making waves with her Kilou Popping song and its video, she is back with another single, Right Here, featuring her fellow label mate, acclaimed rapper Naeto C, Right Here is fast gaining ground and spreading around the world. And applying the turn by turn policy to her, it is indeed her turn to blow. Storm Records has the record of building successful careers for its artistes. Ikechukwu, Jazzman Olofin, Naeto C, GT Da Guitarman and General Pype are just some of the artistes Storm has turned into superstars. Ms. Jaie

Bimbo Oshin, others weep at Bisi Komolafe’s burial

Mighty Mouse seeks Africa’s progress

ike the old and wiry hand he is, Mighty Mouse, one of those who made Ajegunle popular as a city where resistance, protest music originates from, is still going strong in his desire to use music as a tool for liberation of the oppressed. It was for this purpose that he founded an annual event, Black Repatriation Concert, which as its name implies, seeks the return of all that was lost by Africa to the western world. “BRC is the sounding call for the repatriation of all the minds, skills, hands and funds that are needed to turn

things around for the best in Africa. Africa is the very cradle of humanity and it therefore doesn’t deserve to play second fiddle to the rest of the world,” he declared to Entervaganza. The first BRC held in December 1995 and the 2012 edition held at Eleko Beach over a 3-day period that began on December 24. “We will continue to hold BRC until Africa attains its rightful position among the other continents of the world. Without Africa, the western world wouldn’t be developed, so Africa too should be properly developed,” he said.

Goldie introduces new dance E

Goldie

Foluke Daramola’s Cobweb ready for cinema

ven as the azonto dance style continues to spread, sexy singer, Goldie, has introduced a dance style that might soon compete with azonto. Goldie used the medium of the video for her song, Skibobo, to project a dance style that people will soon be dancing to. For those who are still in the dark, all you have to do is watch Goldie’s Skibobo video and you won’t fail to notice the dance style which is sexy just like its creator. Already, the Skibobo video is receiving good rotation on TV and is being watched on Youtube. One thing is certain. If you liked Goldie before, you’ll like her more after watching Skibobo. And if you didn’t like her before, then you’ll begin to like her.

he last certainly has not been heard of the sudden death of Nollywood actress, Bisi Komolafe. Even as speculations continue to trail the actual cause of her death at the University College Hospital, Ibadan on the very last day of 2012, the only solid piece of information still available is that she is dead and has been buried. Her funeral service took place yesterday at St Mary Catholic Church, Okepaadi, Ibadan before the burial proper at Oke-Are Catholic Hospital Cemetery still in Ibadan. Shock, disbelief, pain, regrets and suchlike were the reactions that greeted the news of her sudden death. These emotions were also heavy at her burial. One of her colleagues, Bimbo Oshin, couldn’t hold back her tears as she wailed, “Bisi, Bisi, this was not how we discussed it. This was not how our plan.” Oshin wasn’t the only person in deep grief at the burial. All those present were in a very grave mood. Other Nollywood stars present there include Iyabo Ojo, Doris Simeon, Nike Peller, Akin Olaiya, Bimbo Thomas, Yomi Fash-Lanso and many others.

Late Komolafe

ENTERVAGANZA

January 5, 2013

CLASSICAL RYHMES

AIRWAVES LINK

Oruka

Murray-Bruce, Egbemode come on FRCN’s board M

edia icons, Ben MurrayBruce and Funke Egbemode, have been appointed to the board of directors of the Federal Government-owned Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria. While Murray-Bruce was made the board’s chairman, Egbemode is on the board. The disclosure of

Artist: Sunny Neji

the duo’s appointments was made by Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Murray-Bruce has successfully made Rhythm FM into an international brand while Egbemode is one of the few female editors in the country. She edits the Sunday Sun.

Murray-Bruce

Burna Boy capitalises on

growing success

Burna Boy

Chidinma continues to shine

TN Project Fame West Africa Season 3 winner, Chidinma, has won the esteemed Kora award for Best West African (Female). The event was held in Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire and was star-studded with international superstars Chris Brown and Rihanna in attendance, as well as P-Square. Chidinma’s award was presented to her by African soccer icon, Didier Drogba The 22-year-old songstress took the Nigerian music industry by storm in 2011 with her smash hit, Kedike, which was one of the songs produced by Ultima Limited as part of her recording contract as the winner of PFWA 3. She further exploded across the African continent and performed to her

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fans from Republic of Benin to Sierra Leone, Cote D’ivoire, Kenya, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Ghana etc, spending a great percentage of 2012 on the road touring Africa. Square Image Associates, a publicist close to Chidinma, however says her Kora award is just the tip of the iceberg and the beginning of greater things to come as she won’t rest on her oars until she becomes a renowned international star.

Drogbo (L) and Chidinma

ewsmaking singer, Burna Boy, is another artiste who is already executing his plans to remain relevant this new year. With his Like To Party still burning up the airwaves, Burna Boy has released another video, Tonight, bearing in mind that his brand has to capitalise on his growing success. Directed by the highly innovative Mex, the video is superlative in all its technicalities: lighting, costume, props, etc, and has kept Burna Boy in people’s reckoning in the right way, compared with the negativity he encountered when he had issues with Tonto Dike and thereby made the news for the wrong reasons.

Beat FM storms Ibadan

Chorus (2x) Oruka ti d’owo naa Di ololufe re mu K’o s’eni to le ya yin titi lai Titi lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai Verse 1 He who finds a wife has found a good thing And obtains favour from the Lord You’ve found the harmony through the song you sing, You can do anything you wanna, c’mon You are her father and her brother and her lover and her cover and her teacher and her everything She is your mother and your sister and your lover and your cover and your teacher and your everything Pre-chorus Oun ni imole aiye re So don’t take her smile away Oun ni alabaro re From today your wedding day. Repeat chorus (4x) Verse 2 It’s your wedding day, so be happy and rejoice Whatever they say, today you made your choice This is only where one and one is one Ololufe re, together you belong Repeat pre-chorus Oun ni imole aiye re So don’t take her smile away Oun ni alabaro re From today your wedding day Repeat chorus (2x) Bridge, adlibs, refrain, coda The Lord is your shepherd you shall not want He will lead you by the still waters, He’s always there, so you have nothing to fear (Come on say) Bye bye, bye bye to mommy Bye bye, bye bye to daddy You want to be with your wifey Bye bye, bye bye to mommy You want to be with your hubby, Bye bye, bye bye to daddy, Mommy don’t cry Cause your baby girl has become a woman Daddy don’t cry Cause your baby boy has become a man today Ba ba bye, ba ba bye Brother don’t cry, sister don’t cry Aunty don’t cry, uncle don’t cry Bye bye, bye bye to mommy Bye bye, bye bye to daddy You want to be with your wifey Bye bye, bye bye to mommy You want to be with your hubby, Bye bye, bye bye to daddy

t is official. Popular Lagos radio station, Beat FM, has berthed in Ibadan as part of its plans to be the major player in the radio broadcasting sector. It has already begun broadcasting there and listeners are getting a feel of what made the station popular in Lagos. It has now joined the league of Ray Power and Rhythm which already boast of several radio stations across the face of the country. And having forced its way into reckoning in the highly competitive Lagos market, Ibadan should be a piece of cake for Beat FM to conquer. Neji

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ENTERVAGANZA

January 5, 2013

BOX-OFFICE HITS

BRAIN BEHIND THE SCENE

Ibrahim Olusegun Oulara …

jango Unchained has been described as one of the best movies made in 2012. It is not the usual movie that just entertains, though. It also dares to confront racism as a potent force and a moving target, discovering horror and also grotesque comedy in the way a

Guniwood’s messiah

e came into the worldwide movie industry through Nollywood as an actor in 2002. Currently, however, he is more than just an actor. He is saddled as well with the weighty responsibility of developing the Guinea Conakry movie industry and has been trying his best to achieve that purpose. He is Ibrahim Olusegun Oulara and he was born in Nigeria in 1971. His mother is Nigerian while his father is from Guinea Conakry. Explaining to Entervaganza how it came to be that he is charged with the task of developing a whole country’s movie industry, he first cleared the air on how he got the appointment, making it clear that he didn’t lobby for it. “I was just minding my own business when my phone rang and the caller was the Guinea Ambassador in Nigeria. He invited me to meet with him and then told me that he would like me to go and develop the Guinea Conakry movie industry.

“I believe it’s because I’m a Guinean. When the ambassador came across the promo of my movie, The Project, which I produced in 2008, he knew from my name, Oulara, that I’m a Guinean and that’s why he called me.” Adding that he accepted to take on the project because he is passionate about the Guinea movie industry’s growth due to the fact he originates from there, he disclosed that “there was nothing on ground when I got to Guinea. The first thing I did was to audition, cast characters and begin rehearsals for a movie.” He has since shot a number of movies in Guinea, including Malgre-Moi (Despite Me) and Traces De La Trahison (The Trace Of Betrayal) and now plans to shoot a big budget flick that will star both Guinean and Nigerian stars and it would be shot in both countries. This, still, is in furtherance of his aim of developing the Guinea Conakry film industry known as Guniwood to international standards.

Oulara

arental Guidance is one movie that will educate families, and that’s its selling point that will draw audiences to see it. Old school grandfather Artie (Billy Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, meets his match when he and his eager-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandkids. Their only daughter, Alice (Marisa Tomei), is a successful businesswoman living with her husband, Phil, a cutting-edge inventor of electronic systems (Tom Everett Scott), and they have to travel. Desperate to have someone mind the kids for a week, Alice and Phil invite the parents down to Georgia, where the ever-bickering Artie and Diane attempt to impose tough love and traditional ideas about diet,

white landowner can maintain a black mistress, for instance, or tolerate the grumbling of a loyal servant, just so long as everyone knows he will have his dogs tear a runaway limb from limb. The story is about Django (Jamie Foxx) and Dr King (Christoph Waltz). King is a bounty hunter tracking a gang of outlaw brothers, and he enlists the aids of a slave, Django, who knows them by sight. D j a n g o starts the movie as a piece of property but eventually becomes Dr. King’s business partner and ally. He eventually takes the upper hand as well, as the pair trespasses onto the notorious Candyland, the plantation where Django’s wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), serves Southern aristocrat and sadist Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

education, leisure pursuits and discipline on cosseted modern kids raised in a liberal style. But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane’s old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old-fashioned games, it’s learning to bend, and not holding your ground, that binds a family together.

January 5, 2013

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Relationships

Why not?

n these age and times, it is becoming anathema for a woman to stay at home as a full housewife. Most people now see the concept of being a full house as an outdated concept which should be thrown into the dustbin of history. Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household. The partnership called marriage entails that both parties must be supportive of each other so that the marriage can work. The major idea behind being a full housewife, even if it is not being followed to the letter is that someone has to stay home to attend to the physical, psychological, social and emotional needs of the family, especially the children who are just growing up. Her role also entails nurturing the growth of the children through on the spot corrections of their ills since she is always around to correct them when necessary. There are many other reasons why some women may decide to be a ‘stay at home mum’, otherwise known as a housewife, while others may want to fully explore the working environment. Some of the common and popular advantages of being a working mother are that more disposable income is brought into the finances of the family by the woman. Also there is freedom to make independent financial choices with one’s own money by the woman, thereby creating financial independence which will bring the relationship to an equal footing to create a partnership in the marriage. It will also give the woman an opportunity to create and have a life outside the home environment, thereby giving her an identity outside being someone’s wife or someone’s mother. On the other hand, there may be discrimination in the workplace when colleagues find out that a woman may have a child and there is also the risk of being criticized for not being at home to care for the young growing child which may act as a form of

Can you be a full stigmatization for the woman. A woman will also have less time for herself due to the nature of working outside the home. On raising the kids, there will be the problem of finding good child care, coupled with the problem of juggling her work with caring for any child who is ill, and these will negate all the above mentioned reasons for her to work, especially being passed over for promotions because the woman spends official hours taking care of her children. A full housewife one the other hand, while staying at home, will definitely have more time for domestic duties and will always be there, a hundred percent for the family. It will be easier for the woman to create more quality time for herself and the household because she is the master of her own time since she answers to no boss. A stay at home mum will also spend quality time with her children and will always be there for her family and this will even give the man confidence in leaving his children with her when he goes to work, knowing full well that his child is safe and well cared for. The funny thing about being a ‘stay at home mum’ is that the common general perception of being lazy is generally attributed to women who would rather stay at home to take care of the family. This concept is basically gotten from the fact that it is assumed that since a full housewife does not go out of the house to earn added income for the home, especially if she has the qualifications to do so, then she must be lazy. This becomes even more glaring when she always has to ask the man, who is the bread winner for money to buy things for herself. Most full housewives are undervalued by their partners and the society at large. We forget that even though they are not being paid, the job they do cannot be quantified. Or how do we pay a person who works 24 hours every day as a cook, a social worker, a psychologist, a teacher and finally a homemaker? To me, I’ll say, there is nothing wrong with being a full housewife.

SEX TALKThis column is x-rated

This column is x-rated

15 things women do wrong in bed and how to fix them All most people hear about is how women are very complex sexual creatures and how it takes more to please a woman than it does a man. The general belief is that men aren’t as picky and don’t complain about sex as much as women do. As long as they’re getting it, then everything is okay. If that’s what you think, you may be on the wrong path. Men are a lot more complex than they are believed to be. They have a broad range of sexual needs, desires, fantasies, likes, and dislikes too, which are, quite unfortunately, neglected by women. Men reveal some of their sexual peeves and we offer suggestions on how to fix them.

roblem # 1: During foreplay and sexual intercourse, women tend not to touch a man enough. Sure, she may have her hands on him, but not everywhere he would like them to be. Solution: Ideally, you want her to touch your entire body with her hands during the course of foreplay and you would like for her hands to roam during intercourse as well. You may want to suggest a full body massage. If you really want to get creative and sensual at the same time, get some scented oils. Make sure that you’re on the giving as well as the receiving end. You don’t want to appear to be selfish and you always want to make sure she knows that you feel that you both should be pleased. During sex, if her hands aren’t moving enough, communicate with her and be specific. Ask her to rub on your chest, for instance. Make sure she also knows that nipples are a sensual area for men as well as women. Some women don’t realize this and men’s nipples tend to get neglected. Problem # 2: Women tend not to kiss enough. Kissing on the lips is not the problem, but women sometimes neglect the rest of the body. Solution: If you let her know that you like to be kissed all over, she’ll probably have no issues with doing it. The problem is that women are programmed to think that men only want blowjobs and sex. While these things are amazing and one or both are the ultimate goal, there are other things men like. So, the big solution is communication. Tell her what you’re looking for and be specific. Don’t forget to mention that tongues are wonderful! Problem # 3: No one is sure how it’s possible, but women tend to ignore men’s balls. They’re right there, hanging down for all to see when a man is naked. How they get ignored is a mystery, but some women seem to forget all about them. Solution: As a guy, you know that any sort of tender touch, whether it’s with the hands or the mouth, feel incredible on your balls. So what are you waiting for? Tell her! Problem # 4: Men aren’t totally selfish and insensitive. Part of a turn on for most men is pleasing the woman too. In order to do this, men need to know what their woman likes and dislikes. Women don’t usually volunteer this information and it becomes a guessing game.

Solution: The solution is very simple. Have a conversation with your partner about what she likes versus what she doesn’t like. This also gives you an opportunity to volunteer what you like and don’t like. Also, encourage her to communicate during sex or foreplay as to where she wants to be touched, kissed, etc. Problem # 5: A lot of men say that women are selfish. They want to be pleased, but don’t care to do much to please a man. Solution: Rather than becoming resentful, you should realise and try to understand that a lot of women buy into the idea that men don’t’ really care for foreplay and the only thing that they want is sex. The first thing you can do is tell you partner what types of things you like during foreplay. Get her stimulated up to a certain point and stop. Ask her to take a turn on you until you get to a certain stimulation point. Then you’ll take another turn. This is exhilarating for both people involved. Try it if you haven’t already. You’ll both be pleased with the results Problem # 6: A lot of women leave it up to the man to be responsible for safe sex. They leave it up to the man to have a stock of condoms. Whatever happened to women’s lib and taking control of the situation themselves? Solution: It’s important to remember that no one likes it when someone finds fault with them. So, this issue shouldn’t be posed as if she’s done anything wrong. Preferably, a good time to bring up the issue of condoms would be before sex ever occurs. If you have an opportunity like this and you’re talking about the possibility of sex, you may want to casually mention that it really impresses you when a woman takes the initiative to have condoms on hand. Since she wants to impress you, she will most likely purchase some to keep on hand. If you’re already sexually active with a woman, you can try the same approach. If she asks if it bothers you that you’re always the one responsible, you can say that it just impresses you when a woman takes the responsibility. She will also most likely take the hint without getting her feelings hurt. Problem # 7: A lot of men complain about the “dead fish syndrome”. That is pretty descriptive

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RELATIONSHIPS

January 5, 2013

time house wife?

CHINWE ANNIE AMAECHI 07028684481 chinweamaechi@gmail.com

God forbid

This column is x-rated and we all know that means that during sex, the woman doesn’t move at all. Solution: Tell her that you love to see her turned on and that it turns you on more. Ask her if she could get into it during sex a little more so that your bodies can move together. You can also explain that if she moves more during sex, it will increase the sensation for her as well. Problem # 8: Some women don’t appear to be very adventurous and only want to have sex in the missionary position. Solution: When you’re not in the heat of passion, ask them what sexual positions they’ve tried and which ones they like. Also, at this time, you can tell them which positions you like. Also, volunteer to try new and exciting positions that neither of you have tried. Problem # 9: Women aren’t aggressive enough during sex or foreplay. Solution: Did you know that a lot of women have never even tried being aggressive ? It may have never even crossed their minds. You could start by asking them if they’ve ever been aggressive during sex and tell them that once in a while, it’s a turn on for you. If they feel uncomfortable or unsure, reassure them that though it may feel funny at first, it might be exhilarating for them. You can start them out slow and tell them that you’d like to see them grab you and force you down on the bed. If that works out, you can move on from there later on. Problem # 10: Some women don’t make noise during sex. What does that mean? It might make you feel a little self conscious. Solution: Tell her that if she makes a little noise during sex, it heightens things for you and it also lets you know that you’re pleasing her. Be prepared that she may ask the same from you. Make sure that you’re prepared to deliver. Problem # 11: Some women aren’t open to experimentation and aren’t creative enough in the bedroom. They seem to be more than creative enough in other areas of their life, but in the bedroom they have little or no imagination. Solution: Tell her that you’d be interested in trying new things. Don’t expect her to come up with ideas right away as she might have some sort of mental block due to some sexual hang-ups that are beyond her control. If you can come up with some ideas that she’s willing to try, she may open up later and have some suggestions. Make it clear to her that you’re willing to hear and try things that she may suggest. Don’t be too freaky at first. Suggest things like having sex somewhere other than the bedroom. Try bringing food and drinks into your sexual experiences. Think the coolness of ice cream and the warmth of whisky here! If she’s receptive to these things, you

This column is x-rated can move up to bigger things later. Problem # 12: A lot of women don’t take the initiative to approach you when they want sex. Solution: This one can be a little tricky. First of all, before you approach her with this, make sure that you’re not approaching her or nagging her all the time for sex. If you are, she may not have had an opportunity to initiate sex. After you’ve established that you’re not too demanding, ask her if there are times that she has wanted sex when you haven’t suggested it. If the answer is yes, then tell her that you would love for her to come on to you. Tell her not to feel strange and that it would really turn both of you on. It’s important not to push this issue to much as it would be very easy for her to take this as she’s doing something wrong or even that she doesn’t want sex as much as you’d like her to want it. Problem # 13: There’s not enough dirty talk in the bedroom. Solution: This is another one that can be touchy. Some women feel very self conscious about this as they were taught that it’s not lady-like to say such things. It may sound strange to you, but it’s a very real situation to them. You can ask them if it’s okay if you talk to them that way in bed, but don’t get too raunchy at first. If they’re receptive to that, then try it and see if they like it then you can tell them that you enjoy that too. Be prepared that they may not know what to say. It’s another mental block in the bedroom that some women have. Don’t feel strange about giving her some suggestions. Problem # 14: She’s not spontaneous enough for you. Some women are too quick to get into a sexual routine. Solution: Try being the one to initiate sex spontaneously at an odd time. Don’t be afraid to turn the romance on a little bit to surprise and entice her. After doing that a couple of times and letting her know how much fun you had, tell her that you’d like to continue to be spontaneous like that. Give her some ideas such as having sex in different places or in the middle of the afternoon. Tell her that “quickies” are cool sometimes too. Make sure she realises that you’re not looking for a quickie all the time, but that once in a while, it can be exciting. Problem # 15: She wants to cuddle too much after sex; sometimes all night. Solution: Sorry, pal. There is no solution for this one. Anything that you try to do to get out of it is going to make you look like a total creep. So, just deal with it and realize that it’s something that makes her feel secure and special. Basically, suck it up, be a man and be her “cuddle bunny” for the entire night. . Good luck and most importantly, have fun!

hen women liberation and gender equality was the in-thing, a lot of women began to detest being called housewives. Those who could not quickly switch to being working-class wives took up more attractive titles like “Fulltime Mum”, “House Manager”, “Stay-at-home Mum”, or “Managing Partner”. The concept of being a housewife has become undesirable over the years and lots of women see the need to earn their own incomes, no matter how small. These days, it seems that a woman who stays home as a housewife is either lazy or just unlucky to get a good job. But should being a full-time housewife be such an undesirable phenomenon? A woman can be a housewife at her own instance or that of her husband. For instance, a man could insist that his wife must stay at home either because he believes he is too wealthy to have a working wife, or just to ensure she is financially dependent on him, or because he doesn’t want his wife to be exposed to the lustful ‘fangs’ of other men. As irrational as these reasons sound, this is the plight of many women. The housewife status could also be foisted on her by circumstances beyond her control, e.g: loss of a job or inability to get a good job. Whatever is the case, a housewife must focus on the benefits of being one in order to pay her role excellently, and to enjoy (not endure) it. In my opinion, the one and only reason that should compel a woman to be a housewife is for her to fully play the role of a mother during her child(ren)’s formative years. No doubt, a woman should cook her husband’s meals, serve him the meals herself and generally be at home to attend to him. But I believe that a working woman can still play this role, although maybe not as well as a housewife would. Although it is not wrong for a man to desire that his wife is home every evening to take off his socks, serve him meals cooked by her, give him a massage and all what not, I think it would be unreasonable for him to ask her to be a full-time housewife just to play that role. Moreso, it is distasteful for a man to ask his wife to stay home just to rob

her of financial independence or on the basis of his insecurity that makes him fearful that other men could take his wife from him. The commonly discussed disadvantages of being a housewife are: •Financial dependence – This is enough to depress a woman, especially where her husband is penny-pinching. •Monotonous lifestyle – This could turn the woman into a nagging woman. •No intellectual development – She won’t have the benefit of the intellectual stimulation a work environment provides. •Narrow social network – She may have very few friends, mostly fellow housewives in her neighbourhood. •Risk of being undervalued – Her husband, his friends, relatives and other people may look down on her. There’s a general low rating of housewives. However, the advantages of being a housewife are countless. In fact, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, research reveals that children who develop secure attachment with at least one parent and who receive high quality care during childhood are more likely to have higher academic success, lesser potential to engage in crime, better relationship skills and many other admirable characteristics. It is clear that no matter how much you pay caregivers/nannies/housemaids, nobody can take care of your children they way you would. For me, the greatest disadvantage of being a fulltime housewife is the lack of intellectual stimulation. Every human being needs continuous brain stimulation to be healthy and sound. This is why I do not subscribe to the idea of being a 100 percent full-time housewife. Simply put, I believe that a woman who has young children should not take up a regular 8am-6pm job, but should engage in some form of flexible job or business. This will enable her get the better of the two worlds. In order to create a balance and to merge the advantages of the two worlds, a woman who has young children should be a stay-at-home mum who has streams of income that she can harness while spending 60-80% of her time at home.

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman

“Don’t allow any man to kill your dream” For Sharon Olach Olachi George, the brain behind Ola Edo Fashion Label, en engaging in the unusual offers utmost fulfillment in life. L Little wonder she derives delight in designing for m men who are generally considered less fashionable. She told YEMISI ADENIRAN how she ended up wit with this choice plus her marriage of over a decade.

ou studied Mass M Communication at a the university. Why are you designing? into fashion designin I have a very strong passion for always wanted to fashion and I had alway be a designer right from my childfashion so much. hood days. I love fashio As a matter of fact, I started designing clothes from my Junior Class Secondary School Cla as 1, but you Nigeria, know, in Niger ria ia, what most perceive people perce eive as a designer who sews clothes. I is one w ho sew must mu ust let you know here tthat hat there is a huge difbetween a deference bet and a tailor. signer an designer, you As a de faced with lots are face challenges; you of chal being chalare b lenged every lenge passing day; pass you must go an extra mile with fashw ion else you io won’t make w a statement with your label. F o r how long ho have you be been in this business, and why Ola Edo as a label? I’ve been around for fo about five years now. But I have been into fashion retailing for tthe past 14 years. As for the seco second part of your question, my cho choice of that name has nothing to d do with Edo State, yet many of my clients pro-

nounce it as if I’m from Edo. The real meaning of Olaedo is golden Jewel. You see, my Ibo name is Olachi –God’s jewel. One particular day, I sent an apparel to my uncle and he was “whaoed” by it, he said: ‘from today, your name will be called Olaedo because you are such a special jewel’. That did it and it has been so ever since. What inspires you and what are the challenges you face in this business? Basically, my inspiration comes from God Almighty. It is not easy to be a designer. Apart from the inspiration from God, people around me also do. I get inspired by friends, shows, parties and even through television shows on fashion. People I see every day inspire me too. As for the challenges, there are a few of them. As a married woman with kids, coping with the work and the home front is not a joke. There are times you just feel like running away. Other challenges like electricity, fund, and manpower are there though not peculiar to me alone. I think it affects everyone. But things are improving. I believe in my country and trust God that He will make things work well in Nigeria. I believe electricity will soon become stable. Why are most of your designs for men? Many believe that women are more fashion conscious, why is yours different? Yes, Olaedo is different. But oh! Come on, I make female

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WOMAN

January 5, 2013

clothes too. I guess I tilt a little towards male fashion because I’m a tomboy. But seriously, I make cutting edge clothes for men. I wanted to be different; there is a huge space in the industry. Men find it very difficult to get what they wear or rather, they are so busy that they rarely visit designers, and ladies don’t pay more attention to what their husbands put on. So, that’s where Olaedo comes in. I want to fill the gap. It is not only women that are supposed to be fashionable; men deserve to be fashionable too Where do you source your materials from and how affordable are they? Basically, a designer must be equipped with good tailors, good materials and good environment to make a statement. Now, to the source of my materials, I source my materials from any part of the world. There is no limit or restriction. As long as the material is durable, colourful and unique, I go for it. I buy on impulse when it comes to materials. I can purchase a material anywhere I find it. The materials may not appear good to you, but when they come out in design, you will love them. Some of my clothes are affordable while some are not. But for the fact that I make ready to wear clothes, they come with different prices. You go for what you can afford. How has the business been like, and what stands Olaedo out? What stands me out is my cutting edge clothes for men. You would notice that at events, women would dress gorgeously, but the husband would be very shabby in his dressing. This is because men hardly have time to visit designers, and their wives don’t make much effort to dress them. So, that’s where Olaedo comes in. I want to fill the gap. It is not only women that are supposed be fashionistas; men deserve to be fashionable too. I take care of men who can’t get good clothes to cover their tummy too. For how long have you been married and how do you cope with managing your work and the affairs of the home at the same time? I’ve been married for 15 years now. It has not been easy combining the two, but I must tell you that my family comes first. Generally it is stressful, but what can a girl do. I think what makes things easy in a way is that for work; I’m doing what I love to do, or what I was born to do. I come up with my special idea; good structure, good sewing and I take it to the showroom. I try to avoid stress as much as I can. What does a client stands to benefit from you? I am always there when your tai-

lor disappoints you; when his or her phone is switched off, mine will be on. I’m not limited to any size of clothes. Once Olaedo opens, you are sure to get something to pick.

Keeping ABREAST

What regret do you have in the last five years? I regret that fact that Olaedo was not berthed 10 or 12 years ago. Olaedo is a late starter. Things would have been different if Olaedo were born earlier, but God’s time remains the best. Secondly, my tailors have practically turned me to a tomboy – I am made to talk like a man and work like a man. Lastly, I don’t have much time for myself and my family. I’m always busy. I hate being idle. What is your childhood like? My childhood was cool, but nothing special. I schooled when I was supposed to. That is all. What is your opinion about the fashion industry? Nigeria has taken over the fashion industry. I am very happy about what other designers are doing in Nigeria. With the Ankara fabric, there is no designer that is not fabulous. We are really making impact. Very soon, designers will be more appreciated. Things are gradually looking up. However, the best is yet to come in the Nigerian fashion industry. My advice to stakeholder is just that we should not lose hope. Things will definitely get better. What’s your advice to women? They should work hard as much as possible to make a mark. There is no housewifery in my dictionary. As a woman, you can work even work at home if you are not working for an employer. You can do marketing in your house, especially, now that the world is a global village. It is also important that women believe in their dream, their passion and strive to make it a reality. They should not allow any man kill that dream. How fulfilled are you? I thank my God for taking me this far. It is by his grace than an inner city girl like me would be a creative director who came out with all these designs. I’m grateful to Him. Most people, when they come to my showroom, ask to see the man behind the designs. They are always surprised to discover that Olaedo is actually masterminded by a woman. As for fulfillment, I’m not fulfilled yet because I want to see a situation where my label is being sold anywhere in the world. Then, I would be fulfilled. I’m yet to get there, but God willing, I will get there. I’m just happy because I am doing what I love to do. I would also say thanks to my clients who have been encouraging me. I promise not to disappoint you.

Identical twins give birth two hours apart in Ohio

all it a post-Christmas miracle, or an early New Year’s blessing. Identical twins Aimee and Ashlee Nelson, 19, of Akron, Ohio, gave birth Dec. 31 to sons about two hours apart at Summa Akron City Hospital. “I’m overwhelmed,” Marcella Farson, the twins’ mother, told ABCNews. com. “It’s wonderful. This is the best New Year’s that anyone could have ever given me. I think I’m still in shock.” Ashlee’s due date was Jan. 1, Aimee’s Jan. 6. But the young women ended up having two baby boys on the same day. Donavyn Scott Bratten was born first, with Aimee delivering around noon. Not long after, around 2 p.m., Ashlee gave birth to Aiden Lee Alan Dilts, the larger of the two boys. “She [Aimee] actually started calling me at 8:30 Sunday evening and said, ‘Mommy, I’m having these feelings, I’ve never had these feelings before.’ And I didn’t hear from her again until 2:30 in the morning. But by 3:30, we were on the way to the hospital. Things moved quite rapidly,” Farson said. Ashlee was still at home at this point and had no idea her twin sister, who was due after her, was already at the hospital going into labor. “Then I got a text from Ashlee,” Farson said. “I let her know we were at the hospital with Aimee. Then she calls me back 20 minutes later saying, ‘I’m going to go back to bed,’ and about five min-

utes later she thought her water broke. I said, ‘Sweetheart, get up and come join us.’ She got there about 6:30, quarter ‘til seven. It just progressed from there.” The nurses were joking with Farson, saying she needed roller skates to bounce back and forth between the sisters’ rooms. “I am so blessed they both wanted me there. Someone was looking down on me, allowing enough time on the two of them for me to be able to experience it with both of them. It just makes me well up thinking about it,” Farson said. The dads, Matthew Bratten, 20, and Cody Dilts, 22, are doing well, also. “The dads are holding up wonderful. I was able to step out and get the boys a good meal,” Farson said. “They’ve not left the hospital. The dads have been right by their side. I know both of them have stepped up to the plate. They’re all doing wonderful and I’m very proud of all of them.” When asked what the best part of being a grandmother to the new baby boys was, Farson said, “It’s a great addition because I’ve got all girls. They already had presents under the tree and both had stockings. They have their first ‘Hot Wheels’ sets waiting for them.” The boys and their mothers are being released from the hospital today. Culled www.abcnews.com

January 5, 2013

Parenting

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

Nine ways to make your New Year resolutions a family affair

re you tired of committing to New Year’s resolutions that you never keep? This year, try a new tactic and make it a family affair. Just pick a resolution to try with your kids. It’s a great way to do something together, and your kids will keep you honest. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Get your game on and exercise. Pick a day and start a regular exercise program. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as a family walk. Set a goal of three times a week. Or just get outside and play with your kids: soccer, sledding, basketball, baseball – it doesn’t matter what you do. The goal is physical activity and making it a habit for you and your family. 2. Read together. It doesn’t have to stop once your children can read. Let them pick a book for you to read out loud together. You read a page, and then your child can read a page. Think of the interesting dinner table discussions you can have about your book. If your kids are small, it’s always fun and educational to read to them.

3. Raise compassionate kids by volunteering. Check around your locality and find out ways your family can help. Help clean up specific places in your environment, visit and donate to orphanages, hospitals and prisons . Volunteer with a local charity walk or run. Ask about opportunities with your kids’ school or with local religious organizations.

4. Start a family savings plan. It’s never too soon to teach children the value of money and the importance of saving. So, make your plan and have every family member contribute, no matter the amount. It doesn’t matter if the money is earned through outside jobs like baby-sitting or if it is allowance money. The contribution is what’s important. After your money starts to add up, make plans to do something fun together or purchase something everyone can enjoy. Or better yet, continue saving for that trip to Disney World. 5. Learn something new. Have you always wanted to try your hands on something new and outstanding? What about scrapbooking, jewellery

Parenting

evaeh going soon just wanted a

Atkins was to be born enough. She helping hand,

making or sewing? Get your kids to try it with you and join in the fun. Follow up with your detailed findings from experts in these fields to see what they offer.

6. Conquer the clutter and get organized. A great way to start the New Year is to clean the house of clutter and clear your mind. Have your kids help, and go closet by closet and room by room. Separate the items you want to get rid of into bags to give away, throw away or put in a garage sale. Don’t wait; take your giveaways to a local charity and plan a garage sale for the spring. Now you can relax and enjoy your new peaceful home. 7. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Chances are good your kids are already learning this in school. So why not continue the practice at home. Use reusable sports bottles for water, cloth bags for the grocery store and washable cloth napkins instead of paper. As a project, try making a compost bin. Always recycle whatever you can. See what ideas your kids can come up with. 8. Cook with your kids. It can be something as sim-

ple as cookies or homemade pizza. Or plan a nacho/taco bar or a do-it-yourself salad bar. Try theme dinners like a Mexican, Italian or Chinese night. Have your kids help with shopping and meal planning, and then let them pick a night to plan the menu and prepare their own favourite foods.

9. Spend more time with family and friends. Slow down and unplug the TV, video games and computer. Tame your family’s schedule and enjoy a family game night. Plan a party and invite your friends. Just be sure to put this time on your calendar each week and enjoy each other’s company.

Tiny Feet

NAME: Tobiloba Omoloba

BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs Ajibade Omoloba AGE: 4 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.5 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

Infant in womb holds doctor’s Update hand just before her birth

evidently. She got one from her doctor, as seen in a photo snapped by her father just before her

birth via C-section. In the photo, Nevaeh grips Dr. Allan Sawyer’s hand even before emerging from her mother’s womb. “I just thought right away that it was a beautiful, amazing photo that I had never seen before,” Nevaeh’s mother, Alicia Atkins, said. “I knew it was special right away. “When my doctor broke my water, the doctor told my husband, ‘Hey, she’s holding my finger,’” Atkins said. ”He had my camera, and so they were able to capture the moment of her holding his hand.” When the Phoenix (Arizona, USA) mom first saw the photo

after birth, she couldn’t assess its specialness until she posted it on the Facebook page of her company. Even Nevaeh’s two older brothers, ages 2 and 3, were impressed. “Every time they see it on TV, they say, ‘That’s Nevaeh’s hand,’” Atkins said. The picture is only emerging now because Atkins kept it under wraps for weeks after the birth as she enlarged it to give as a gift to Dr. Sawyer. She wanted him to see it first, and wanted him to see it big. “I’ve never captured that picture before,” Sawyer said. “It’s really rare.” Finally, Atkins was able to

reveal the picture to the rest of the world. “We actually weren’t going to put a copy of the photo in our house because we didn’t know the reaction of people, whether it was too graphic or not,” added Atkins. But after all the coverage the picture attracted, she said, she and her husband changed their minds. Now, Nevaeh (or “heaven” spelled backward) will grow up with it. “We decided to put the photo in her room,” Atkins said, “so that she’ll always know how special it was.” •Culled from abcnews.com

www.

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January 5, 2013

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

When choosing your T

skirt

he skirt is a major garment of every woman for both formal and informal outings. And for it to add the needed glamour, you need to choose your style right. Below are some of your guiding tips: For a formal outing, let your skirt be simple and comfortable. They do not have to be too long, too short or tight as this will hinder your free movement. It you must wear a short skirt, make them kneel length and combine with a well tailored suit for a corporate appearance.

Slits on skirts have been made fashionable over the years. This was the case when â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Shabaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was in vogue. Mostly slit up to the thighs, these skirts are worn by the bold and the daring fashionistas. The long slit skirts are most appropriate for ladies with long and smooth legs who want to flaunt what they have. If you are not so endowed with pretty legs, opt for those with smaller slits. Full flared skirts and the A-line types are also gorgeous but most appropriate for informal outings.

STYLE & GLAM

January 5, 2013

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Fashion Frenzy

YEMISI ADENIRAN

f you must look good this year, you need to keep to some doses of favourable fashion tips. The first rule in the fashion world is the rule of colour combination. Colours are crucial to fashion, so, your colourful accessories must blend accurately. Despite the colour block trend in town, you must ensure not to combine dull accessories with dull dresses. For instance appearing in an all black outfit will send a mourning signal to your beholders. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do without accessories; they are like the icing on a cake. They add beauty to your look even in dull dresses. Fill your wardrobe this year with gorgeous jewelleries, belts, spectacles, shoes, scarves and others. If you are a fashion freak, you must be mindful of your figure. Avoid body

BEAUTY

Q&A

hugs if you have a big tummy or fold of flesh around your waist area. Do not also wear sleeveless, spaghetti outfits if your arms are big and are designed with stretch marks, they will end up putting admirers off your side. Do not also go near skimpy skirts if your legs are not straight or are dotted with visible spots. Overall, take your time to cover your flaws and flatter your endowments this year and you will rule your world all round the clock.

Your candid response to all fashion questions 51 fashion tips and tricks every girl should know When it comes to fashion and style, it sometimes seems that everyone and their mother (literally!) have tried-and-true tips and tricks they absolutely swear by. S0me are useful, while others are not. With that in mind, it is important that you are guided towards living the most stylish life.

1. Use white wine to remove red wine stains. 2. Wash new jeans twice before taking them to the tailor. Why? Because jeans will always shrink in length when washed. 3. Remove odors from vintage or thrifted clothing by spritzing them with a mixture of one part vodka, two parts water. 4.Remove white deodorant marks from a garment by gently rubbing the protective foam used on hangers against the fabric.

5. If yo with baby should be is comple 6. The dishwash 7. Alwa

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STYLE & GLAM

January 5, 2013

Facelift

ou get an oil stain on your favourite handbag, coat the mark y powder and let it stand overnight. By morning, the stain e gone. If a bit still remains, repeat the process until the stain etely gone. e best at-home method to keep diamonds sparkling: Liquid her detergent and an old toothbrush. ays organize your clothes light to dark from left to right in

Glam eyes Are you tired of using the same eye shadow colour everyday? Drop those boring brown eye shadow, black eye shadows and try something colourful this year. Yellow eye shadow, red eye shadow, orange eye shadow, purple eye shadow, Blue eye shadow the world of colourful shadows awaits you. But the trouble is how you can wear them cute. Which colour goes with which? The last thing you want is to look like a crazy girl with rainbow eye shadow on your face. So here are some tips you can follow: 1. Pair up complementary colours such as purple eye shadow and pink eye shadow, yellow eye shadow and green eye shadow, blue eye shadow and yellow eye shadow. 2. If you cannot figure out which colour goes with which one, the easiest way is to wear only one bold colour such as green eye shadow, yellow eye shadow or red eye shadow alone. These colours will make your eye pop instantly. 3. You can also use jumbo eyeliner pencil , just line them up close to your lashes. Follow the steps below to achieve the look you want with colourful eye shadow. For a soft but glam look: 1. Smudge a metallic blue cream shadow on your lids from lash lines up to your brow bones. 2. Use pale pink powder to the outer corners of your lids then blend outward. 3. Finish off with royal blue, loose powder and trace it along top of your lash lines. For a green goddess look: 1. Use green eye shadow. Apply it from lashes to creases and on inner corners of your lids. 2. Smudge blue green powder eye shadow on the inner half of your lids 3. Use a wet brush and dip into an aqua eye shadow and trace it along your top lashes.

your closet. Your eye will follow the color and thus help you stay organized. 8. Wondering about the quality of your cashmere? Gently stretch the body of the garment to see if it snaps back. A lower-quality cashmere wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

For a wild and bold look : 1. Brush gold shimmer powder eye shadow onto your lids from lashes to creases and on your inner corners. 2. Use your finger to tab a little metallic pink shadow onto the centre of your lids. 3. Apply melon eye shadow to the outer corners of your lids then blend outward.

January 5, 2013

Male Essentials

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08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@yahoo.com w

013 is going to be a macho year, a year for real men. And man, it must reflect in your dressing. if you are a real m best way to prove you are indeed macho. Jackets are the be Dress jacket of any style and no one will doubt Dr up in a fitted jack that that you are the man. Just take a look at tthe three celebrities, 9ice, J. Martins and D’Banj, on this pa page and you will see how a jacket can make you look like a man who orders, gives the order rs, not receive them. Mind being mach macho d you, ho is not basically about yo your physical our capabilities but you your intelligence ur intelligence e quotient.

Macho year, macho mode

Hair loss dos & don’ts W hen mother nature knocks, she arrives early and means business. The process of male pattern baldness can commence at age 21, and by 35, over two-thirds of men will show some signs of significant hair loss. But life doesn’t have to leave you with a degenerating doughnut hole on your head. These yeas and nays are on target to set you free from the harrows hair loss. Do dry hair gently Beating up your hair with a rough towel and vigorous rubbing can cause serious damage. Physical force breaks off finer hairs, and newly emerging ones don’t even get a chance to survive. Use a super soft cloth and pat rather than rub the hair to rid it of excess moisture after bathing. Don’t use a bristled brush for styling

Styling time usually comes after a shower when hair is wet and in its most fragile state. Needless to say, tearing tracks down your scalp with a bristly brush isn’t the best idea. The only styling tool a man needs nowadays is his bare hands. Do keep hair short It’s time to say goodbye to those luscious locks you’ve been holding on to since college. Age is setting in, and things are thinning upstairs. Longer hairstyles only serve to accentuate what’s already gone, but a closer crop will maximize coverage, leaving no one the wiser. Mind you, hair for men is optional. Do try hair loss-prevention products Most treatments for hair loss leave much to be desired. Balding concealer (scalp spray paint) quickly comes to mind. But sometimes the most obvious and effective

choices for treatment get roped in with the fast fixes that don’t work. While other products have come and gone, tried-and-true Rogaine remains. Its special ingredient, minoxidil, is still one of the only scientifically proven methods for staving off hair loss and, yes, can even regrow hair. Don’t overdo it with styling products Gels, pastes and putties serve a purpose: They help smooth hair and hold it in place. But nothing is worse for drawing unwanted attention to a scarce scalp than glopping on goo. Strands of hair end up clumping together only to bare all for the world to see. Do use a thickening cream/conditioner That hairstyle may not be as thick as it used to be, but that doesn’t mean you have to shear it all off just yet. Conditioners and creams specially formulated for troubled

tresses can keep your secret under wraps by helping build and protect the shaft of the hair. Don’t panic or do nothing Shedding strands here and there is no reason to sweat. In fact, it’s 100% normal to lose as many as 100 hairs every day. If you’re really shedding your coat, chances are it’s happening so slowly you may not notice until the pesky process is well underway. Once balding has begun, don’t deny it. Seek treatment, personal or professional, and then move on to life’s more important problems. A hairy situation Hair loss is a long process and an emotionally painful one at that. But following a few realistic rules can shave away the sorrow, and indeed, even years off your face.

People

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January 5, 2013

Joseph Jikeme:

A passion for youth empowerment

one-day workshop on youths empowerment at the University of Lagos. Jikeme, a Fellow of Carrington Youth r. Joseph Jikeme, the CounFellowship Initiative, an initiative of the try Director of World Youth US Consulate General, Lagos hails from Alliance in Nigeria, is one of Igbodo in Ika North East Local Governthe energetic and resourceful Nigerian ment Area of Delta State. He has a Bachyouths working passionately toward elors degree in Political Science from the building the youths in contributing efUniversity of Education, Winneba, Ghana fectively to nation building. In the last and also an Associate Degree(NCE) in Scifew months, he has been interacting with ence Education from the Federal College of some youths and recently, he organised a

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Education(Technical) Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. He is a seasoned social worker and team leader of “Project Build a Village,” that works to identify the needs inherent within local communities in Nigeria and helping to proffer solutions to the needs. His team is currently working in the fishing community of Ilaje in Bariga Local Community Development Area (LCDA). He is also the Programme Manager of Ade Grange Child Foundation, owned bythe former Minister of Health, Prof. Adenike Grange, who is a seasoned Professor of Paediatrics. Having worked in different ways toward youths empowerment programme and rural development, Jikeme is of the view that for any country to develop, government must invest in their youths by creating an enabling environment that is supportive of innovation for the youths. “Good governance, access to health care, sound economic policies, an investment in human capital through access to education, and the creation of an enabling environment for investment are indispensable in attaining sustainable development in Africa. “African governments should invest in their youth by providing free and quality

Mor: Too legit to quit singing TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

aureen Ifeoma Okonkwo is a singer and songwriter of note. Her Rome was, however, not built in a day. Her success was born out of great determination and the discovery of her God-given talent as a singer. Today, she is a celebrated songstress. Okonkwo, popularly known as Mor, is one of those making waves in the Nigerian entertainment industry. She is a singer, songwriter and composer. Right from her tender age, Mor had always had a passion for music, having grown up singing in the choir to showcase her talent. Having discovered her passion for music she took part in a number of singing reality shows, such as X-factor UK and Project Fame West Africa. She later began writing and composing music until her prowess brought her in contact with a number of international producers who passionately collaborated with her on her debut album. Mor’s style of music is a blend of

soul, hip hop and jazz. She usually writes music that touches the heart and her kind of music has been critically acclaimed by artistes and industry watchers alike. Speaking on her adventure into the music world, Mor disclosed that her parents realised her taste for good music from her childhood days. “When my mum was pregnant, I was told she loved listening to music. She sings like an angel and her name is Maureen Okonkwo; I was named after her. My father, Richard Okonkwo is late. When I was three years old, they observed I always responded through songs whenever they talked to me.” Revealing the drama behind her stage name “Mor,’ she said that her name makes her unique. “Though everybody is unique in his or her own way, I like the word ‘Mor’ because everybody wants Mor(e) and that also goes for the title of my album. While growing up, I was inspired listening to LL Cool J, late Whitney Houston. In Nigeria, I also love the likes of Asa, Omawunmi and Nneka. Mor, who hails from Ibusa in Delta State was born in Lagos. She had her early education at Corona School Victoria Island and proceeded to Bells Secondary

School, Ota in Ogun State for her postprimary education. She later attended Greenwich School of Management in London and University of Hull in the United Kingdom, where she bagged a diploma and degree in Business Management and Information Technology respectively. Having being well-equipped with basic knowledge in Information Technology, Okonkwo after her graduation applied her training to the corporate world. As an IT expert, she was instrumental to the upgrade of the IT infrastructure of some of the new generation banks. Her passion for music made her to forfeit her lucrative job as an executive in a bank for music. “Before riding on the path of entertainment, I used to be a banker and I was also into IT. I studied Business Management Science and Information Technology at the University of Hall, London. I love music, I sing, I listen to music and I feel so alive. If I am sad, I just play music. I have a passion for it and I love what it does to people and the reaction I get from people listening to my lyrics or performing for them. I am not working now but I am enjoying myself. Music is my fulltime job and I love it.”

education and creating an enabling environment that is supportive of innovation. For example, youth lack start-up capital for business ideas and should be assisted in this area by their governments. This will lead to entrepreneurship and job creation. “Sustainable economic development depends on investment in human capital. Our greatest resource is the tremendous potential of the human person. I believe that economic development can be achieved through education, vocational training, the promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation and trade, a greater investment in the creation of employment and a more efficient and creative use of resources. “As forward-looking young people, we recognize that there exist pressing environmental issues, and we assert that these require human solutions. Sustainable development can be achieved only through a person-centred approach to each of its social, economic, and environmental pillars. Upholding the dignity of the person must be the primary goal of sustainable development and the means by which we create a sustainable world.”

January 5, 2013

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

Between my daughter and boyfriend Dear Igho, I know that any mother would agree and say the child comes first, especially in this day and age with abuse going on all around the world. My daughter is 10 years old while my boyfriend is 27. He does not live with us but sleeps over now and again. The problem I am having is my daughter does not like my boyfriend, as she has witnessed us arguing, me cry while he shouts and curses me. Now I am not giving myself the right for allowing him to stay in my life, it’s just that I love both of them. I would prefer them to get along and see how much I love them both. I do love my daughter more, just for the record, but the love I have for my boyfriend is different. Aunty Igho, I need the honest truth, do I need to get out of this relationship, and focus on my daughter? Should we just be friends? I need Dear Igho, I am dating a man who is in a relationship with another woman, and we openly talk about it. The other woman lives in Abuja and I am living in Lagos. We see each other on a daily basis, and we spend most of the time together. I love him with all my heart, and feel he is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. When this woman phones, I feel very bad and my moods changes and I end up saying things I don’t mean. I am always asking myself how can I fall in love with a man in this kind of situation and be fine about it. He says that he is willing to talk to her about it because in his culture that’s what they do – a man is allowed to marry more than one wife. I need your advice on how to deal with this because it might be his culture, but it’s not mine. Him having another woman in his life doesn’t make me love him any less, and I can’t go a day without him. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and he makes me happy. I love the fact that I am free around him. He is always there when I need him, and he is my friend. We share things about us that we don’t share with other people. We talk openly about anything and not feel bad about it. If this isn’t love, Aunty Igho, kindly tell what it is and how do I deal with this? Peju baby, Ilupeju, Lagos.

your help! Oritsemisan, Shell Quarters, Warri.

Dear Oritsemisan, I understand that children can feel threatened when a parent brings in “competition” to the family unit. But you and he arguing in front of her, and his verbal abuse is not only damaging to her, but to you, as well. She doesn’t like him because she feels she needs to defend you against him. If you think you must be in this relationship, I would advise you keep it separate from your daughter. In other words, see him when you have a babysitter, and keep him from spending nights at your house. Honestly, your daughter shouldn’t be allowed to prevent you from having a healthy, normal relationship with a man, but he doesn’t seem to be the guy who offers

that. If you want her to grow up to be a strong woman who doesn’t take abuse from a man, then you have to be a role model for her. What she sees is what she will expect in a male/female relationship when it’s time

for her to enter into one. You are an adult, she is not, and that makes it your responsibility to make this right for her sake. In some ways, she’s a barometer to knowing what’s good for you, even if you don’t.

I love him but he’s in a relationship Dear Peju, I think it’s love for you, but I can’t say what’s going on in his mind. You have a wonderful time with him, but he has divided interests. Granted, his culture sanctions more than one wife, but that isn’t acceptable to you. The problem with this sad situation is that the “ball is in your court”, so to speak. He seems to have no intention of having this other woman leave his life, or he would

have done it- at least, considered it at this point of his relationship with you. And if there’s an act of cowardice around it, that doesn’t speak well of him. Of course it hurts your feelings to hear him speak to her, because you become invisible during that time. And when you said things you didn’t mean, well, you probably meant them, only regret it afterward out of fear. You have no idea if your role in his life would be acceptable to her, and you don’t know if his side of the story is (to use a euphemism) accurate.

Sincerely, I’m afraid you’re going to have to decide if this arrangement works for you, sooner rather than later. And if it doesn’t, it would be better to leave the relationship before it gets past the point of no return. In other words, you’re willing to accept anything he offers to keep him in your life. If that were to happen, in some respects, you become a prisoner- and of your own making if you accept his terms out of need (neediness and desperation) rather than want. Goodluck!

He’s so irresponsible Dear Igho, I have been with my boyfriend since I was 17 and I’m 18 now. I just had a birthday and we have a three and half month old son. My boyfriend doesn’t help at all. When I was pregnant he clung to me, and now that I have had the baby he leaves for work early in the morning and gets backs at 3 pm and leaves to hang out with his friends. He’s 21 and he stays out till like 9:30 pm and then by that time, he doesn’t want to help out with the baby. He knows I am studying to be a doctor. He will go to sleep at 3 am, he hears the baby cry and wakes me up. Then we argue when he refuses to get up when he knows I have been with the baby all day. He always says he loves me but I don’t believe it. What should I so because I need his help. Bridget Johnson,

Port-Harcourt Dear Bridget, You may need his help, but getting it seems next to impossible. He was not ready to be a father (some men never are and some women, too), and he’s making that quite clear whether he wants to admit it or not. He thinks he can still have the life he wants, while you take on all the child care responsibilities. But this is what often happens when a pregnancy is not planned. The mother of the child is left to care for the child, and the father’s excuse is that he’s putting a roof over her and the baby’s head. Are there any alternatives to living with the father of your child if it comes to that? Can family help you? Your responsibility is to the baby, first, despite your boyfriend’s inability to accept his paternal role in your child’s life. You can’t force him to help you. Your only recourse,

if there are no family members to help pitch in with child care, is to pay for some relief so you can study and catch up on some sleep. It’s possible that, one day, you may decide that you have outgrown your baby’s father and you’ll need to move on to a more mature relationship. That may be fostered by the fact that you are getting an education that, eventually, might exceed his maturity, and intellectual level. And that may already be the case! That said, he is financially responsible for some of the child’s needs child support, and it may come down to making the hard choice to do what’s best for you and the baby. Stressing about this will put you in a powerless role, and you don’t want that to happen. If it does, he holds all the cards because you will feel helpless to make the changes to your life that better it, rather than drag it down. One last time, explain to him that you need some help in caring for the baby; it’s a bonding experience, but if he continues to object, or any effort he makes wanes as the days go by, look for outside help.

Living

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

January 5, 2013

Wishful world of daily jobbers Every beat of their heart throbs in anticipation of somebody to give them the day’s job. And the daily existence of their family depends on the possibility of being hired for the day. It is their meal ticket. As such, their survival instincts inevitably, consciously or unconsciously, put one simple but deep prayer on their lips: “Give us this day, our daily jobs”. THOMAS USHIE

t the LSDPC Estate, Isolo, Lagos, tens of able-bodied men of various ages gather across the concrete signage which welcomes residents and visitors to the estate, discussing in low tone as they wait in anticipation of their daily job. Although the estate gate is usually busy, buzzing with business activities and traffic snarls as commercial motorcyclists, although restricted, swivel through every available space to the consternation of the pedestrians, the daily sights and organisation of these skilled and unskilled workers attracted Saturday Mirror. Some were seated with their tools inbetween their legs. Some stood clutch-

Give us this day, our daily job ing their tools, while some squatted using their working implements as wedge, with anxiety bulging through their eyeballs which roll in all direction. As Saturday Mirror approached one of them, he quickly quizzed: “Which job do you have for us?” Curious, the reporter probed into the ability and versatility of the workers. One of them who share the same first and surname with the onetime Nigerian military Head of State, Murtala Mohammed, offered: “My name is Murtala Mohammed. We can do everything. Any job you want us to do, we can do it. If you want to dig and build soak-away (septic tank), erect building foundation, mould blocks, evacuate soak-away, or if you need workers to work on your building or building sites to clear the grass, fell trees, fill the foundation with red earth, mix concrete for decking, etc., we can do them. “As you can see, we are very many here, so are our crafts. We gather here every day waiting for people to hire us. We are also contractors and anybody that want us to handle some aspects of their building construction, especially the clearing of sites

and foundation construction, we can do it.” Why would these unskilled and some skilled workers choose to gather in one accord at a particular place, especially at the gate of an estate that witnesses so much traffic snarl? Kabiru Abdullahi offered an explanation, submitting that together, they pool up their skills to fend for their families. “If we were not together, sitting strategically, you would not have noticed us. Did we call you before you came to us?” he quizzed rhetorically. “It is because we are here together that you could walk towards us to ask us all these questions. When people are together, they can easily do things fast and well. That is why we chose to come together to work and earn our living. We are not competing with one another. We have one purpose – to earn our daily bread and to feed our family. I am married and I cannot stay at home for anybody to take care of my wife and children. Almost all of us here are married, so we are struggling to live our lives because the government cannot provide for all of us,”

Abdullahi added. Wandering what goes on in their mind and the sort of prayers they offer to “God” each day they leave their various houses to hustle for a living, Oke Ojomo, an electrician who hang out with his friend, Kevin Efosa, said that “it is just a simple prayer, for God to give us job each time we leave our houses to gather here. The country is very hard. It is getting even harder. Even the rich people are also complaining. If things were going well, we don’t have to wait here for days and so long to get a job. So, if we do not pray to God for provision, you are on your own. In Nigeria, we depend on God for almost everything. “Some of the people we have worked for don’t even pay us on time. The wage we bargain now is not the same as those we did bargain then. Things have changed. The country is hard. It is biting so hard that even the rich are also complaining. If the rich people don’t get money to fix their houses, damaged properties, embark on building projects and CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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January 5, 2013

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‘Tomorrow is pregnant, so we don’t give up’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 other things they need, we cannot have our own jobs, we would not be able to plan for our families, put food on our tables, pay our children school fees, etc. We would not be able to take care of our wives if other citizens are not making money. They would have to shelve aside those responsibilities for the immediate one like foods. So, the prosperity of other Nigerians, is our prosperity and we have no choice than to pray for more money to their pockets so that we could also have ours,” Efosa, a plumber who said he retired from the civil service 15 years ago, told Saturday Mirror while scanning through some pages of dailies at the Onipanu/Shomolu Roundabout. When the economy was good, there was a boom as their services was much in demand. Those who spoke with Saturday Mirror agreed that the poor economy is however having a multiplier effect, albeit, negatively, on them as they now wait several days, to be hired. Do you want to engage their services and wondering how much their labour is worth? Do not fret or be frightened as they do not ask for much. The “labourer” only “deserves his wage”. “We do not charge so much. We do not have a fix amount of charges. It depends on what kind of job you want us to do and the distance. Although we are always here, we do jobs for people as far as Ogun and Oyo states. Individually, the daily wage ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 Naira when you want to hire labour for” unskilled jobs, Mohammed stated. Chipping in, Usman Talabi who specialises on sinking wells and septic tanks, said that the higher the labour input, the higher the cost implication on those they render services to, although the jobs do not come every day. “We are here every day except we get a job that would take us out. It is not every day we come here that we are sure of securing jobs but we don’t give hope. That is the only thing that is sure. We believe in a better tomorrow and we pray for it. “I can manually sink a well and dig soak-away. If you want to do “krua-krua” (clear glass), my boys and I can do it. I have been in this business for more than 10 years and people who need these services on regular basis know me. I did not go to school. This is what I learnt from my former boss and this is what I know best. If you need a six-by-six soak-away, it will cost you N10,000 only. If it is 10x10, the price is N30,000 only. The price for casting is more because ‘that one na wahala’ (it takes too much time and trouble). So, it will cost N50,000 to construct soak-away with casting. If you want to sink a well within Isolo, we charge N150,000. If you want sink a well in Sango or Ikorodu, it costs more, from 200,000 to 250,000 Naira,” Talabi told Saturday Mirror Asked to explain the price differences, he said that the price is dictated by the depth or closeness of the water berth and the amount of labour invested into sinking the well. “In Isolo, you will not dig so deep before you see water. But in Ikorodu and Sango, we would have to dig several feet deep

Talabi

Efosa

Mohammed

Musa

Salif

Abdullahi

turbed as his faith is divine rather than physical, so, with abiding faith in the Lincolnean admonition, they keep “trying again”. “I am into tipper loading. I load sand, stones, red earth, into the tipper. I have four boys who work with me. We all wait here for those who would need our services to hire us for the day but most times, depending on the duration of the job. So, one job could last for four or five days. And when that happens, you will not see us at this gate. We would be on the field working. When the job is over, we could be fortunate to be linked immediately from there to another job. Yesterday, we waited here throughout without any job. Today, we are here again. If today is like yesterday, we would not fail to come tomorrow; we would be here again, Insha-Allahu (by the Grace of God) believing that tomorrow would be better. Tomorrow is pregnant with a lot of things so we don’t give

up.” Speaking with some of the hirelings who work with their superiors to earn their daily wages, the reporter enquire if they have been short changed but they responded in denial, insisting that since the labourer deserves his wage, they have always deserved and had theirs. “They always pay us immediately we finish the jobs. Our “oga”(boss) doesn’t cheat us,” a young man who simply identified himself as Musa, stuttered in “broken English.” Although smiling, his heart was obviously frowning as his eyes rove round in no direction while standing in the fierce and scorching sun that painted the fateful day hot. Musa was neither spared by the drowning dust nor by the carbon mono oxide emitting from all sorts of vehicles ranging from twowheeler to 18-wheeler trucks that maraud the Oke-Afa, Isolo Road to the NNPC depot, daily.

Cross section of daily jobbers waiting for the day’s job

before we can get water. It will require more labour, time and days to do the job in Ikorodu and Sango. That is why we charge more if we are called to do jobs in such areas. It is my job. I have been into it since I was very young and I know how to mobilise men to do it very well,” Talabi prided himself. Even though the so-called national cake has been elusive to majority of Nigerians who ought to have a bite of it, among these labourers and artisans, one lucky man’s pot of gold would benefit several others as they operate communally to ensure that their “communal cake” takes care of one another. However, not all usually benefit. Abdullahi Salif and his boys have waited all day long for two days for a day’s job but to no avail. Nevertheless, he has not given hope as “tomorrow”, he believes, would bring the much needed job. And if “tomorrow” turns out to be “today”, he is still unper-

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January 5, 2013

Anim

Who will save Citizen Anim? They call him Baba Bendel but his real names are James Anim. The once upon a time happy jolly fellow is a now a sad shadow of his old self: blind, crippled and poor. The sexagenarian told KING ODODORU his tale.

ames Anim is 64 years old. To other residents of the area he resides in Lagos, he is Baba Bendel an allusion to where he hails from. Anim is from Kwale, Delta State. But at the time he was so named by neighbours and co-workers, the current Delta State had not been carved out from the old Bendel State. The name has stuck since. Like practically all humans, Anim wanted the good things of life. He had dreams and aspirations which to him then could only be fulfilled in Lagos. Hence, 19 years ago, he departed his native Kwale for Lagos where he has remained since. He was educated up to Standard Six, the best that his humble background could afford him. However, it did not take long for him to realise that he needed more than that qualification to secure a good white-collar job in Lagos. But life must go on and so he got himself busied by cutting grasses and gardening for his daily bread. “Nineteen years ago I left my home town Kwale to Lagos where I believed my dreams stood a better chance of ful-

filment. But when I arrived in Lagos, it was not as I anticipated. I realised that I needed more than Standard Six qualification to secure a good white-collar job. But life must go on I can not not just sit idle and so I started cutting grasses and doing gardening for my daily bread. I was later employed as a casual staff by the Lagos State Government Ministry of Housing 15 years ago as a security man to oversee the safety of its property at Millennium Housing Estate, Ijaye, a suburb of Lagos.That was how I managed to feed myself and my family with the meagre wages I received.” Baba Bendel’s condition changed with the change of guard in the estate. “I continued in this employment until the responsibility of managing the housing estate fell on the shoulders of the elected Exco resident members of the estate. One of the responsibilities it took up was that of managing its own security. The security of the estate was then contracted to a private security firm”, he added. Since Baba Bendel was a casual worker of the state government and not an employee of the private security firm, he suddenly found himself out of job. And so life began a spiral fall for Baba Bendel. His life including that of his family took a nosedive. “Since I had no job, everything was practically affected. My family life, my children schooling, my health and all other things,” he noted. But this man did not give up. For him, the struggles of life continued. Fate is, however, not through with Baba Bendel. His sight failed him.

I was on duty one night when robbers came to the estate. In my struggle with them, I was beaten unconsciousness. My eyes were affected in the process. It gradually deteriorated until I became completely blind. This happened while I was still engaged under the ministry as a security man. Now that I am out of job and could hardly feed, there isn’t extra cash to pay for my medical condition.” According to him, he was diagnosed of cataracts. He became completely blind seven years ago. The responsibility of caring for the family is now on the wife. “My wife suddenly assumed the responsibility of the family’s up-keep. She tried a lot. She was really a blessing. But it did not last long as she took ill and died shortly after. This was the most devastating moment of my life, I hope and wished for the world to end. My wife was my only hope. Our son was too young to know anything.” However, the goodwill he had built in the past amongst the estate residents still worked for him. He and his son would have starved. The boy was not old enough to work. “The people in the estate who knew me before my condition worsened now came to my rescue. They give me money, food, and any other thing they deem good for me. That was how I have been surviving. As if that was not enough, one fateful morning in March 2012, as Baba Bendel descended the stairs of his two-storey apartment, he took a wrong step and in that thick darkness around him even though it was a bright day to every other person, hit the staircase, tumbled and rolled one step after another on the spi-

ral staircase until he crashed landed at the base of the stairs. “That day, I was trying to come down from my apartment as usual when suddenly I took a false step. The way I fell was very serious. I rolled many times I did not even know what was happening until I landed at the base of the step. It was when I tried to get up that I realised that I had a fractured leg. It pained me so much that I started to shout. Neighbours started to come in throngs. It was not my shout but they thought part of the building was collapsing and they had come out to see, but behold to their surprise they saw me in pains. Pain from not having ate that day, pain from remaining in darkness, pain from losing a loved one in death, pain from a hopeless situation and from a fracture right leg.” Again friends, neighbours and the estate management exco, rallied around to see that I got some medical attention. They took me to hospital and paid the bills. He has been to many places for treatment and is currently receiving treatment at a traditional medical home at Agbado-Ijaye area of Lagos State. Part of his current medical bill had been paid by friends and sympathisers, within and outside the estate. “The doctor said he would discharge me if I don’t pay his balance. My friends in and outside the estate have paid more than N100,000 medical bill with the balance of about N55,000. Where do I get that kind of money with my condition, I am left with nothing to eat and no body to bathe me. I even have to pay for people to bathe me. It cost N4,000 monthly. Sometimes the hospital staff had to contribute money to help me feed,” he said tearfully. His is a peculiar situation because he is blind and cannot walk; indeed he needs special attention. The hospital management had done their best to manage him but they can only do much. It is now about eight months since he was brought to Oluro African Science Hospital. Report has it that the hospital management threatened to take him back to the estate from where he was brought to the hospital because nobody had taken full responsibility for him. He has outstanding bills to clear with the hospital. His young son Sunday has been forced to do manual labour to assist in his father’s upkeep but this can only help to an extent. He is under pressure to raise N200 daily for his father’s feeding. Baba Bendel continued: “I eat once a day many times because the amount is meagre but how could I complain when it is as a result of the goodwill of the friends from the estate that the arrangement of my getting medical attention came about and my up-keep. Despite the many ordeals Baba Bendel had been through, one thing he has not lost is hope. Hope to be able to walk again, hope in his ability to see again, hope in getting back into employment, hope in being able to live a comfortable live, hope is the only thing he clings to. “Please help me tell the state government to assist me with the medical bill and assist me with food and shelter. I know if I have money I can see again because it can be treated,” he added.

LIVING

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘How Shina Rambo was killed’ The sparsely furnished room is a bedsitter. On the wooden bed directly under the sunlight pouring in from the unshod window is a well thumbed copy of the Holy Bible. The open pages of the Good Book were painted with ink. On the bed covered with a threadbare cloth is a slender man in a branded shirt which sleeves had been cut off. Slightly hidden by the door which is ajar is a pair of crutches, for Olusegun Kokumo Adaralese Raji known as Okuta, one of the armed robbers that terrorised the country for about 20 years, who is now bedridden: a result of a ghastly road crash around Badagry, Lagos on 3 December, 2011. Now an evangelist, Okuta in this concluding interview gave a detailed account of his last operation, the death of another armed robbery kingpin of his era, Shina Rambo, amongst others. K AYODE FALADE

fter his arrest barely two days after his first robbery operation, the then governor of Benue Plateau State, Mr Joseph Gomwalk convinced him to help arrest Umoru Meijeri, his boss and tutor. After a speedy and celebrated trial other members of his group were sentenced to die by firing squad while he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. This, however, marked Olusegun’s real conscious birth to the world of crime. “One evening, at the Jos prisons took the spoon we used for making eba: a very long and strong spoon and I hid it inside my tunic. When it was dark enough, I made for the well and hid inside it. It was a very deep well and it was lined with stones. So, what I did was enter it and shut the lid on myself. As I was doing this the guard dogs were barking furiously but I kept the lid on myself. As soon as I noticed some stillness in the air, I felt for one of the stones that was a bit loose, removed it and started digging towards the direction of the fence. As I was doing this, one of the big stones used to line the wall of the well gave way. But I struggled to hold on and still clung tightly to the others. After securing a better foothold I continued with the digging. This went on for some time until I felt I had dug the tunnel more than six feet. This would have made me pass the foundation of the prison wall. When my mind told me I had done this, I started digging upwards. After some time, I felt some spongy like things. These were the roots of the grasses that surrounded the well. I dug further and removed some of these thereby creating a hole which I peeped through. I was praying that this would still not be within the enclosure of the prison. But then I noticed that it was outside. Quickly I made the hole bigger, got out and ran as far as my legs would carry me. I then hid behind some rocks. Not very long after this, a man was riding pass on a bicycle. Swiftly I pounced on him, dealt him some hard punches and ordered him to strip. Once he noticed that I was in prison garb, he quickly complied. I asked him to wear mine, he put on the tunic. But when I asked him to put on the trousers he begged me with God saying none of his family had ever been to jail. Anyway, I also collected his bicycle and rode like hell out of the place towards Akwanga. “By then, my escape had been broadcast. From Akwanga, I boarded a train for Minna. In Minna, the first thing I did was to go to a hemp smoking joint. As I was smoking, I noticed some people starring at

me suspiciously. I left the place and found a way of boarding a vehicle to Ilorin. “When I got to Ilorin I felt save. From Ilorin I found my way to Ogbomoso. That was how I got to Ogbomoso. “When I got to Ogbomoso, I got formed a gang and started operating. By now I knew I was a criminal so I just continued. But it didn’t take long before we were arrested. We had gone to operate in Ilorin but we were caught and docked in court. But my grandfather was then an Assistant Director in Water Corporation. He was well known and connected. He now used his connection with the trial judge so I was sentenced to five years imprisonment for stealing instead of armed robbery. My partners were sentenced to death for armed robbery. I was taken to the Ilesa prison. I was discharged on 27 December, 1977. A year in the prison is not 12 calendar months as it obtains outside.” But how did he get to Lagos? After my discharge from the Ilesa Prisons, I was ashamed. I could no longer stay in Ogbomoso, so I came to Lagos. With the belief that Lagos is not for the slow witted, Okuta decided not to leave any stone unturned to make his dream of becoming a successful armed robber come to past. The first thing he believed he should was to fortify himself spiritually through the use of charms. “Immediately I got to Lagos, he continued, “I went into the occult. The first group I joined was the Ogboni cult. But I soon left when I discovered that they are not as powerful as we see them. They are cowards (shows the reporter the mark of initiation). Anyway, I left them when I committed another crime. Then people told me that I could only be saved by Awo Opa. This is their mark on my back (shows the reporter this also). I don’t want to say anything about them because they are very vicious. I need to protect my wife and children. After that I did Imule, Irele, Dariagbe, Gbarayile, and Adakeja. I was also initiated into the Oro cult. It was only the Egungun cult that I did not join. I have never been their fan. I was also initiated into the Ifa cult. My ancestral ogbe (Ifa corpus) is Ogbe Irete. My mother was Ona Ara. The Ona Ara bus stop in Abule Egba was named after her.” Not satisfied with being only members of different occult groups for charms and personal connection, he went into charms making himself. “I was so versed in charm making and their various uses that I was feared and revered. My charms were so potent that they claimed the lives of two of my children.” How did this happen? Okuta cleared his

throat and smiled sadly. “There was a day that I was coming from the war front (we call our operations war fronts), “he began, “I was so decked in charms that I was a moving arsenal of charms. That morning as I entered as I arrived home one of my daughters came to bid me welcome. The eight-year-old ran up to me and hugged me. She dried up immediately. The spirits of the charms had sucked up her blood. She died before the end of the week. It was very painful. I was wearing bante (charm apron). It could perform nine tasks. I could use to turn (transmutate) into other things like cat, snake, in short anything. It was this apron that sucked her blood. That of the other child was deliberate. It was only five days old. Then, i was always having brushes with the police. I was

Okuta

always under survallance. It was when the problems appeared insurmountable that soime elders advised me to make a charm that would enable me go scot free. It would however need a baby that had not been named. Since my wife had just given birth, i used the baby.” How did he convince the babe’s mother, Saturday Mirror would like to know. “No, it was not a physical thing. Would any mother agree to such a thing? I called the spirit of the child and he was used in the metaphysical realm. What happened was that the baby just died in the physical world,” Okuta explained almost tearfully. The former robbery kingpin is averse to dishonesty or any form of lie. Little wonder why his countenance changed CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

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LIVING

January 5, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 when asked about another robber who shook the country, a contemporary of his in the underworld, Shina Rambo. “Not that I just encountered Shina Rambo. He was a friend. He was always coming here (his residence). His real name was Ayinla. He was from Ile Pako compound, Oke Koto. His mother was a fishmonger and known as Iya Ayinla. She was from Abeokuta. We never operated together but he was my friend. “Rambo had charms. He was heavily fortified by his mother. He had two main charms: fear and asegbe (going scot free after committing a crime) they were done for him by his mother. When Rambo appeared everybody must feel jittery. “He was killed in 1993 by Policemen from Pedro Police Station. But even the policemen who killed him never knew that it was Shina Rambo that they killed. It is confirmed that Shina Rambo had been killed.” But what about a certain evangelist who moves around saying he is Shina Rambo? “Don’t mind him. He is a fake. Let us meet face to face. There are a few questions that I will like to ask him. When I heard in a particular year that there was a man snatching cars around Cotonou that was arrested and that he was Shina Rambo. I told the people around me then that he was not Shina Rambo. Later the man himself confessed that he was not Shina Rambo. “Shina Rambo and I met at a shrine. We call where hemp is sold and smoked shrine or arena. When we met initially we never had any relationship. It was just hell, hell – two gangster chiefs showing each other mutual respect. “However, we got to know more at Osokoto in Egun land. There was a man in the Benin Republic called Jibiti. He dealt in exotic stolen cars. It was there that we started fraternizing as one armed robber chief to another. We were meeting at Jibiti’s constantly when we came to dispose of the vehicles we snatched. “Jibiti which means swindling in the Yoruba language got his name from the way he deals with his customers: armed robbers. If you took 50 keke (cars) to Jibiti, he would go to them one by one, tap their bodies insisted that they are accident cars and then offer a ridiculously low amount for the merchandise. “At this point, there would be nothing the patron could do but collect any pittance offered by Jibiti. He would offer N100,00 for a car of about N2 million. He wouldn’t even pay at once he might give N30,000 and ask you to come back for it later. Of course you know that is the end. It was so bad then that all the gangs in Lagos then started going for cash. That was in 1992, 93, 94 and 95. If you recollect, car snatching was almost nil at that time. There were only seven gangs operating in the whole of Lagos then. I mean serious armed robbers and we knew one another. “Shina Rambo was not killed in operation. He was killed like just an ordinary man. The policemen who killed him did not even know. He was on his way to Lanrewaju Motors to buy a Pathfinder SUV when he was apprehended by the police on the Ojota New Garage Long Bridge. There was a police check point there in those days. It was the case that stopped them from staying there. “Rambo was not the one driving. When the police stopped them, they discovered a

Okuta

‘I made N1.2m in one outing’ lot of money in a cartoon in the trunk of the Datsun car. When they started questioning him on the possession of such huge an amount, an argument ensued and he attempted to disarm one of the policemen. It was one of the policemen at the other side of the road who shot him down. “They were able to get him because he was not with his charms. He was free of charms since he was not going for operation. As this was going on, the driver of the vehicle had jumped inside the canal and made his escape. The police just dragged his body into their vehicle. They first carried his corpse around and later dumped him into the canal when it was dark.” But how did you know all these? Okuta looked at the reporter sternly and said: “I say he was my friend and apart from that we have our own ways of getting information. At that place there place there were some people making cane chairs. They are still there till today. It was those people who perceived a stench and later discovered it was coming from a decomposing body. These people now made a report to the police. Incidentally they came to the same Pedro Police Station where those policemen who killed him came from. While they were reporting those in the cell overheard and they retorted that, “it was Shina Rambo’s body that you dumped there that was smelling” how did they know this. When Rambo’s partner escaped, he told the garage boys what happened. A fight later took place in the garage and some of the boys were arrested. It was some of those arrested who were in the cell that responded to the police when the people making cane chairs came there to complain. “Those policemen were later rounded up and arrested. I still insist that the one

parading himself around as Shina Rambo is a counterfeit. The police authorities were irked by their not knowing that Shina Rambo was the one killed.” Looking one again at the surrounding, one would hardly believe that this slight man had made so much money. What was the highest money he realised in a single operation, the reporter asks. The man looks into space apparently racking his brain, the his reply comes simply, “I had got N1.2 million in one single operation.” As if reading the reporter’s mind, he adds, “but I spent everything on charms. There is nothing to show for it except perhaps this house. It was even the police who helped fix the burglary proof to this building. They had to when I was also raided by a gang of armed robber. That was after I had left the trade though”. When last did you go out for an armed robbery operation? The bedridden man takes a long pause. His now frail arms that had once been the terror of law enforcement agents and hapless victims, are folded across his laps, he gazes once more into space yet for a longer period. After what seems like eternity, he coughs, makes an excuse and says: “My last operation was on 1 July, 1993. It was a Monday. It rained in the early hours of that day. It was a job involving bureau de change. One of their workers brought the job. The boy, a Ghanaian, said he needed the money to return to his country. He told us that the money would be hidden in women’s clothes and moved across AgegeOjurin. They usually move the money very early in the morning. He said that the money should not be less than N6million. He, however, demanded for at least N500,000. But I promised him that if actually we could get N6million we would give him N1million.

“We went to Chukwu in Ikeja to rent four Kalashnikovs. We tripped (dismantled) them so that we would reassemble them when we get to our destination. We left home around 7:30pm to lay ambush against the following morning. We first went to New Garage where they sell meat. There each person took a table and slept off. Not long after there was a commotion. The garage boys had been engaged in some trouble outside and they were being chased by the police towards our direction. This was bad. So we had to drop into the drainages and hide there until the commotion lasted. “Then, when armed robbery was not as rampant as it is now, fuel was being sold at filling stations early in the morning. “Initially, we had got ourselves a getaway car. But as we moved out early in the morning, a man was buying fuel at the fuel station and we noticed his Peugeot 504 was better. Quickly we snatched it. “We didn’t lay in ambush for a long time when we noticed some people bearing bags supposedly filled with women’s cloth. We knew it was the money. Quickly we commanded them to bring the money. But they refused. Hence we fired into the air. You know the place is close to a police station. On hearing our shots, the police responded. But there was a boy in my gang, Lafe Komo. He was a sharp shooter. Immediately the police started shooting at us, Lafe zeroed in on the one at the counter and brought him down. This further infuriated the police who were now bent on killing all of us. The money was already in the trunk of the car and we sped off. But the police would not let us be. They gave us a hot pursuit. The gun battle was fierce. When we got to Orile Agege junction we branched off to the right but the police still followed. The shooting was heavy. They were firing at us and we were responding. By the time we got to Mulero. It became face-to-face. Lafe got down from the vehicle and faced them. He had on a bullet-proof vest. But despite the charms he still had on, the police bullets penetrated his arms and his gun dropped on the road. They also got his legs. He went down. I couldn’t believe my eyes so I had to go out myself to rescue him. (It was later that I got to know that he had slept with a woman and that he had donned the charm without taking his bath and doing all the necessary things. This rendered the bullet-proof charm impotent.) Anyway, we all had on our bullet-proof vests but it was I went who got down the vehicle and covered him while others pulled him and dragged him into the car. We took off again. We abandoned that car, snatched another one, dragged Lafe into it and took off again. Eventually we escaped. “We went to Arowolo, Abule Egba by GTB. There was a particular house there which we made for. It was there we shared the loot. Armed robbers always give a share to owner of the place the split loot. The owner of the house was so impressed with the N20,000 we gave him that he asked us to be using his house anytime we want to do such a thing. We laughed at his foolishness and greed and his apparent lack of understanding of the working of an armed robber’s mind. We would mention him as an accomplice anytime we are caught. That was my last operation.

TOURISM

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

(CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, EDO STATE)

eginning with a roll call of all chiefs of the various guilds in order of sequence and seniority, the Igue festival offers the platform for the immaculate white attired chiefs to reiterate and demonstrate their loyalty and for the ruler, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediuwa, to clean the land. With the spicing of the 2012 festival by the presence of the Crown Prince, who doubles as the Edaiken N’Uselu or Oba-inwaiting, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa, the Isekhure leads other royal chiefs out for the presentation of Ewere leaf to Erediauwa in celebration of Ugie’Ewere. His undiluted loyalty is replicated by the other members of the royal lineage, who take turns to present their leaves. After the formal announcement by the Benin Traditional Council, the festival begins with Igue’Oba (the seclusion of the Oba) immediately after the Otue Igue’Oba (visitation by chiefs). This is followed by others such as the one by the extended royal family, Igue’Ivbioba. Remarkable activities include Ugie’Ewere (of chiefs paying homage to the Oba, who presents them with a bowl of kolanuts for prayer), Ugie’Emobo and the final celebration, Igue’Edohia (when the Oba comes out of seclusion). While there are different accounts of European travellers and missionaries’ impressions of the Ugie annual cycle of rituals, including Igue festival, there is no conflict, however, about how the festival came to being. This is in spite of the fact that it is being celebrated for about 1, 000 years now like the others. The Igue was created, historically, by Oba Ewuare the Great, who ruled Benin Empire from 1440 to 1473 after a very long and turbulent struggle to the throne, according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Ewuare is lauded as a key state-reformer. In the words of the renowned author and poet, Naiwu Osahon, Ewuare restored the annual cycle of royal ceremonies, the most important ones being Ugie Erha’Oba, in honour of royal ancestors and Igue, to strengthen the mystical powers of the king. The festival is the leading spiritual festival of the Edo people. It is a two week long thanksgiving festival to the head, as the focal point of anointing and centre of the human person. The head symbolises both the sacredness of creation and of the spirit entity in man. To quote the Isekhurhe, “It is to the head you raise your hands, in respect and adoration.’ The Oba goes into seclusion for spiritual purification during the period. The incantations of the Igue festival were developed by the Ihogbe family,” Osahon explains. Igue symbolises Oba Ewuare’s every aspect of varied experience during a long and deadly struggle to the throne as a brave warrior, Prince Ogun. It had to be. As the folklore goes in the mouth of true Benin sons and daughters, “Egbe Ewuare agie Oba se,” (that is, the definitive description of the Benin Kingdom Monarchy ends with Oba Ewuare). One of the remarkable experiences was his precarious escape from the city through Igogogin in Iyekogba, where the

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ugie: Celebration of a glorious tradition Towards the end of the year, Edo people both at home and in the Diaspora converge on Benin City for two festivals: Ugie and Christmas. The festival attracts tourists from across the globe.

Oba Erediauwa

Benin chiefs at the festival

army searched for him and made him to hide under plants. He plucked one of the leaves and held it with his mouth as protective cover to confuse the determined soldiers. That leaf, celebrated today as Ebe’Ewere in recognition of the virtues of Ewuare’s third wife, Ewere, traditionally symbolises love, safety, peace, dignity and luck; noble features that should be emulated by all women and girls. One of the most important ceremonies of the Igue festival is the Igue’Oba. It is the ceremony of the propitiation rituals for the Oba’s head. As Saturday Mirror investigation revealed, the rituals of the ceremony were steeped in age-long secrecy and mystique. They were often hidden from the public knowledge. Today, the rituals are usually conducted at the Ugha’Ozolua, the palace mall. It is located in the front court of the palace. It is the venue for most of the royal ceremonies. It opens with Omo N’Oba’s entry, which is heralded by the Ifiieto guild joined by other royal musical guilds such as the Ikpekete N’Ovah, Igbemaba N’Igue’Oshodin, Ikpema and Ikpakohen from Usen village etc. Igue festival began during the reign of

Oba Ewuare and featured annually thereafter. It was not celebrated between 1897 and 1914 when Oba Ovonramwen was exiled to Calabar by Sir Ralph Moor. It returned with the coronation of Oba Eweka II in 1914 and held before 1916/17 when Oba Eweka II refused to celebrate owing to the threats of disintegration Christian evangelisers’ activities brought upon the empire. But the courageous monarch had increasingly become labelled by his enemies and Christians of indulging in human sacrifice before then. When his accusers refused to believe his denials, Eweka decided to open the rituals for public scrutiny. This decision resulted in the demolition of some of the structures of Ugha’Ozolua. The allegation, though fuelled by the embarrassing influenza epidemic of 1918, tallied however with the Spanish Capuchin Mission Fathers’ account of August 10, 1651 that allegedly described the gory details of the decapitation of five men and five animals of every species found. The missionaries had strayed from where their guide ordered them to wait before they stumbled on the scimitars that were allegedly used for the decapitation.

They were promptly expelled from Benin upon the discovery. But their account was countered by that of Dutch traders on October 22, 1736 who described a spectacle of rich cultural display especially by the wives of Oba Akenzua I. During Igue’Oba, the Oba pays homage with Eben at the altar of Oba Ozolua, a great warrior who reigned between 1480 and 1504. He sits on the Ogi’ukpo, a dais on the throne chambers from where he invokes the power of God and the goodwill of his ancestors. After this ritual, the Ewaise guild purifies the Oba in a sequence that reveals the intensiveness of Igue festival with one ritual leading to another as Ogiefa N’Umuekpo takes over to sanctify the Oba. About 14 different herbs each with accompanying songs and incantations for the total wellbeing of the human mind, body and spirit are used for the purification rituals. An interesting aspect of the ritual is that some parts of the herbs are grinded on a wooden tool for the Ogiefa while some other parts are grinded on a stone for the Oba, in accordance with the tradition, by a virgin below the age of puberty. The success of the whole exercise marked by a dance by the Oba and Ogiefa certifies the Oba for another year on the throne. After the dance, the Ehondon and Isekhure assume control for the commencement of other rituals connected with the propitiation of Omo N’Oba’s head. As a prelude, the Oba prays with a bowl of kolanuts, holding a rope that is tied to all the sacrificial animals, all of which are handed over to the Isekhure, who in turn prays for the Oba and the royal family. From this juncture, the slaughtering of all the sacrificial animals by the Iwa’aranmwen, led by the Ehondon, commences immediately following which the Isekhure anoints the Omo N’Oba’s head, hands and legs with the sacrificial blood. Similarly, two female members of the royal priestly guild also ensure the anointing of the head of the Oloi. It was learnt that before 1897, leopards, goats, cows, and cocks were used in the sacrifices although the leopard was the ultimate sacrificial animal. Other guilds that are usually involved in the rigorous processes include the Ogbelaka royal bards, Igbemaba drummers, Isikhuan and Emehe palace women guilds as well as the different categories of important chiefs such as: Iyase (Prime Minister), Esogban, Eson, Ayobahan, Osuma etc who usually performs the Ugie ceremonial dance. In spite of the decision of Oba Eweka II to open the rituals for public participation, the fears in some people’s mind could still not dissipate. Yet, as Saturday Mirror’s investigation has shown such fears seem to be mere products of human imaginations.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

January 5, 2013

Diabetes, your eyes and vision W

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

hat Happens?

Diabetic retinopathy is the name given to the changes in the retina, which occur over a period of time in diabetics. The retina is the back part of the eye and is made up of cells, which are sensitive to light. It is fed by a network of blood vessels and it is changes in these which cause the difficulties with vision. The walls of the blood vessels become fragile and then start to break, leaking blood around them. Sometimes, before the walls actually break, the weakened area can be seen, by the person who examines the eye, to have ballooned out. If these break, the amount of blood which leaks out is fairly small, and the only symptoms may be a few areas of blurring or floating spots in front of the eyes. These may well disappear without treatment. Later the blood vessels may stop carrying blood permanently, and the cells in the retina will die from lack of nourishment. This kind of loss of sight is gradual but at the present time, it is permanent. When old blood vessels close down, new but abnormal ones will grow to take their place. They are unable to nourish the retina properly, and may grow into the transparent inner part of the eye, and further affect vision.

Why are regular eye tests important?

Most sight loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented. But it is vital it is diagnosed early. You may not realise you have anything wrong with your eyes but an opthalmologist will look into the back of the eye to detect any changes. Your eye has a lens and an aperture (opening) at the front, which adjusts to bring objects into focus on the retina at the back of the eye. The retina is made up of a delicate tissue that is sensitive to light. At the centre of the retina is

Sometimes diabetes can cause the blood vessels in the retina to become blocked. If this happens then new blood vessels form in the eye. This is nature’s way of trying to repair the damage so that the retina has a new blood supply. Unfortunately these new blood vessels are weak. They are also in the wrong place growing on the surface of the retina and into the vitreous jelly. As a result these blood vessels can bleed very easily and cause scar tissue to form in the eye. The scarring pulls and distorts the retina. When the retina is pulled out of position, it is called retinal detachment.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include: the macula, which is a small area, the size of a pin head. This is the most highly specialised part of the retina and it is vital because it enables you to see fine detail and read small print. The other part of the retina gives you side vision (peripheral vision). Diabetes can affect the eye in many ways. Usually it involves the fine network of blood vessels in the retina hence its name, Diabetic Retinopathy.

How can diabetes affect the eye? Temporary Blurring - Your vision can become blurred whilst your diabetes is being controlled. This is due to the swelling of the lens of the eye. Once your diabetes is stabilised it will clear. Cataract - This can occur in two forms. Young people with diabetes very occasionally develop a special type of cataract. Although their vision gets worse, it can be restored by surgery. Older people with diabetes can be especially prone to developing cataracts. Cataracts can be successfully removed by surgery and usually it is possible to insert a lens implant. However this is unsuitable for some people and you

would be told if this is the case. Diabetic Retinopathy - The most serious diabetic eye condition involves the retina and is called diabetic retinopathy. Background Diabetic Retinopathy - This condition is very common in people who have had diabetes for a long time. Your doctor may be able to see abnormalities in your eyes, but there is no threat to your sight. There are two types of diabetic retinopathy, which can damage your sight. Both involve the fine network of blood vessels in the retina. They are described below. Maculopathy - This happens when the blood vessels in the retina start to leak. If the macula is affected, you will find that your central vision gradually gets worse. You may find it difficult to recognise people’s faces in the distance or to see detail such as small print. The amount of central vision that is lost varies from person to person. However the vision which allows you to get around at home and outside (navigation vision) will be preserved. It is very rare for someone with maculopathy to lose all their sight.

 Blurred or double vision  Flashing lights, which can indicate a retinal detachment  A veil, cloud, or streaks of red in the field of vision, or dark or floating spots in one or both eyes, which can indicate bleeding  Blind or blank spots in the field of vision The Importance of Early Treatment Your vision may be good and you may not be aware of any changes taking place. Most sight loss in diabetes is preventable.  Early diagnosis is vital  Have an eye examination every year  Do not wait until your vision has deteriorated to have an eye test  Remember, however, that if your vision is getting worse, this does not necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy. It may simply be a problem that can be corrected by glasses.

What is the treatment?

Laser treatment is used which aims to save the sight you have, not to make it better. The laser is a beam of high intensity light that is focused with extreme precision.

LETTER

My fiance and I are both ashmatic Dear Mirror Doctor, I am an asthmatic patient so also is my boyfriend and we are planning to get married. I want to ask if there won’t be any problem when we get married. +23813---------45 Mirror Doctor Replies In answering your question, it is necessary for you to understand what asthma really means. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The result is difficulty in breathing. The bronchial narrowing is

usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments. Bronchial tubes that are chronically inflamed may become overly sensitive to allergens (specific triggers) or irritants (nonspecific triggers). The airways may become “twitchy” and remain in a state of heightened sensitivity. This is called “bronchial hyperactivity” (BHR). It is likely that there is a spectrum of bronchial hyperactivity in all individuals. However, it is clear that asthmatics and allergic individuals (without apparent asthma) have a greater degree of bronchial hyperactivity than non-asthmatic and non-allergic people. In sensitive individuals, the bronchial tubes are more likely to swell and constrict

when exposed to triggers such as allergens, tobacco smoke, or exercise. Amongst asthmatics, some may have mild BHR and no symptoms while others may have severe BHR and chronic symptoms. Asthma affects people differently. Each individual is unique in their degree of reactivity to environmental triggers. This naturally influences the type and dose of medication prescribed, which may vary from one individual to another. Asthma symptoms may be activated or aggravated by many agents. Not all asthmatics react to the same triggers. Additionally, the effect that each trigger has on the lungs varies from one individual to another. In general, the severity of your asthma

depends on how many agents activate your symptoms and how sensitive your lungs are to them. Most of these triggers can also worsen nasal or eye symptoms. Triggers fall into two categories namely allergens (“specific”), and non-allergens -mostly irritants (nonspecific). Once your bronchial tubes (nose and eyes) become inflamed from an allergic exposure, a re-exposure to the offending allergens will often activate symptoms. The following is a simple checklist of common asthma triggers: “seasonal” pollens, yearround dust mites, molds, pets, and insect parts, foods, such as fish, egg, peanuts, nuts, cow’s milk, and soy, additives, such as sulfites, and work-related agents, such as latex, epoxides, and formaldehyde. The basic fact is that if you are able to identify your trigger factors, you can live a relatively healthy life.

LEISURE

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

January 5, 2013

Super Eagles striker, Ikechukwu Uche (left) shoots towards goal under a challenge by Jordi Amat of Catalonia during a friendly match between Catalonia and Nigeria at Cornella-El Prat Stadium on January 2, in Barcelona, Spain.

AFCON: My fears for Eagles –Amoo

SAYO OGUNDEJI

he Super Eagles of Nigeria are one of the teams that will feature at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in South Africa and may have churned out impressive displays in a couple of international friendly matches played till date, but an exinternational, Fatai Amoo, says Eagles’ failure to qualify for the last edition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon could affect the team negatively. The Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the last edition of the tournament were dashed on the last day of the qualifying series as Guinea, who had been impressive during the campaign edged out Nigeria. And despite that disappointment and a change of guard in the technical department of the team, the team under Stephen Keshi, booked the ticket for this year’s final, beating Liberia 8-3 to qualify for the tournament billed to hold in South

Africa from January 19 to February 10. Under the new coach, the team has put up some impressive displays both in the qualifying series and friendly matches, the latest being the international friendly game against Catalonia. As part of the team’s build up to the tournament, the Eagles, who were majorly made up of domestic players, were able to hold Catalonia to a 1-1 draw in far away Spain on Wednesday. Prior to the game, Nigeria had defeated Venezuela 3-1 in a friendly game in November last year and Amoo who has followed the team’s progress since Keshi took over, is quite impressed with their performances. The former international who praised Keshi for giving equal chances to both the domestic players and their foreign counterparts added that such a decision would no doubt bring out the best in the players. According to the former Shooting Stars of Ibadan coach, the Eagles have the potential to go far in the tournament,

Ehiosun rues AFCON miss P. 42

but he believes that the teams that participated in the last edition have advantage in terms of experience. “One must give the team credit for holding their own against Catalonia on Wednesday because they are still trying out most of the players and I believe it will do their morale a whole lot of good. “The coach has done a good job with his style of giving every Nigerian the chance to represent the country, irrespective of where they ply their trade and I believe the team will be better for it. “Nigeria missing out of the 2012 tournament could hamper her chances in terms of experience and organization, but I hope the technical department should work hard so that we do well at the tournament. “The likes of Zambia, Ivory Coast, Mali and Tunisia may have the advantage going by their participation and experience gathered in the last edition, but the Eagles should be well motivated with the desire to win, if the right players are

Okara blasts NPL’s Idoko

selected,” he said. On how far he thinks the Eagles will go at the tournament, Amoo expressed his fears: “The group stage of an important tournament like the Nations Cup gives you the true picture and strength of each team as all the teams will come out fighting to qualify for the next stage. And I believe they can go all the way if they start the tournament on a good note. “The most important thing is to have all the players fit and psychologically ready for the battle ahead because all the teams who have made it to the tournament have the potential of lifting the trophy as we have seen with Zambia in the last edition.” Despite mixed reaction trailing the exclusion of the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins and Taye Taiwo who many believed would have brought their experience to bear on the team; Amoo said the coach must be given total support and not being distracted over those who failed to make the list.

Mancini plays down Mario row

P. 45

P. 43

SPORT

January 5, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Moving sports development forward in 2013

uring the eve of the New Year, many sports pundits went into their closets to take a retrospective view of the performance of Nigeria in major international sporting events in 2012, and possibly chart a way forward for the sector that has contributed a lot to the unity of the nation. Expectedly, HT was not left of this exercise which is aimed at identifying all the factors that made us look like a failed nation in the sporting arena. And with the coming of the New Year, we still have the opportunity to make amends by showing a clear departure from the past by preferring actions to mere rhetoric as we witnessed from the National Sports Commission (NSC) following Team Nigeria’s dismal outing at the London Olympics last year. As a kicker, aside the FIFA and CAF age-grade competitions; between this year and 2016 we have four major international events that will once again set the tone and gauge our prowess in the international sporting arena. Foremost among them is the Africa Cup of Nations which comes up this month in South Africa. It is a tournament we have won twice (in 1980 and 1994) and the fact that we did not even qualify for the last edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea should fire-up our players and the coaching crew to do what many soccer fans may see as ‘a mission impossible’ in terms of lifting the trophy for the third time. The second major event is the Commonwealth Games which comes up in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014 and the FIFA World Cup which holds the same year in Brazil. It is expected that the Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil, in 2016

HARD TACKLE with

Andrew Ekejiuba anelsports@yahoo.com will complete the calendar of activities for major international sporting events which Nigeria must engage in between now and 2016. On the way forward in 2013, it is worthy to note that sports development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of massive corrupt practices from the athletes, administrators and even the coaches. The media which is the watchdog of the society in this regard must be potent and alive to their duties in bringing to an end this cankerworm. Today, there is so much secrecy in the administration of sports in the country, while finances meant for the development of this sector are not released on time and at times not properly utilized. So, it is on that premise that the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolji Abdullahi, must endeavour to purge the NSC of failed and corrupt administrators. Frankly, those who run our sports should embrace it as it is for national interest, and not to grossly enrich themselves. It is on the aforementioned premise that I remember Godwin Kienka. He was one of the few individuals who meritoriously served sports all his life – as a player, instructor, tennis umpire, organizer, coach and author. How did he do it? Actually we need

08023103605

people like him in the new system of sports administration. Often, the NSC has complained of lack of sponsorship from Corporate Nigeria to support sports development, but the same NSC failed to understand that no serious corporate body can lend support to an institution that is entrenched in corruption, because at the end of the day, money meant for sports development will always find its way to the wrong hands. As a panacea, the Sports Minister should set up modalities and commence a total war against corruption in our ailing sports industry this year. He should take the bold step of inviting external audits to audit the accounts of all the sporting federations it controls and bringing those found guilty to book. This action will surely help in checking the issue of visa racketeering among sporting federations and seeing to the fact that genuine athletes are granted visas to represent the country in major international outings. Still on the way forward, there is need for the NSC to lay a solid foundation for sports development this New Year by paying attention to grassroots sports. It is from the grassroots that new talents are discovered for training

Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi

or grooming, but unfortunately, Nigeria has given so much attention and concentration to elite athletes’ development to the detriment of the up-coming stars at the grassroots. Following the re-composition of the board of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM), last year, it is expected that the body should swing into action by organising more competitions and discovering new talents. Today, with the poor state of sports development, we really need to catch talented athletes young and groom them to future stars, so as to have good products for national and international competitions. On a long term, the NSC should endeavour to employ the services of a world class Olympics Performance Director who will work closely with sports technocrats in the Commission in identifying and developing athletes on key sports, based on the principle of competitive comparative advantage. Shortly after the aforementioned, the NSC should go ahead

and recruit more world class coaches and elite athletes’ performance directors to train each of the athletes of the identified sports which the country has competitive comparative advantage over other countries. Also, the NSC should aggressively launch a Diaspora talent discovery programme that will enable the country utilize the services of our good athletes living abroad for major international competitions. We cannot forget the exploits of D’Tigers in last year’s Olympics whose players were majorly based abroad. Finally, our desire to excel in sports cannot be achieved if we do not pay attention to the development of sporting facilities and availability of a High Performance Centre in Nigeria. The NSC should work assiduously this New Year to actualize these dreams. In sports you never give up! Let’s get back to the drawing board in 2013 to develop a good structure and a corrupt-free system that will produce great athletes again for our dear nation.

SPORT NEWS

Ogun upgrades sporting facilities

Ehiosun rues AFCON miss

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

he Ogun State government says it will increase the utilization of its existing stadia at IjebuOde, Ilaro and Muda Lawal Asero by upgrading and maintaining their facilities, while the tracks and other facilities at the M.K.O Stadium Abeokuta will be completely overhauled. The state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, stated this while unfolding the plans of his government for the sports sector in the state in 2013.

According to the statement signed by the Press officer Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Rotimi Oduniyi, Governor Amosun also said the government will revive the “Catch them Young” programme in tennis, table tennis, track and field, football and swimming. Amosun also assured that schools in the state will be equipped with modern sporting facilities while the state’s moribund tennis circuit will be revived. He also added that efforts will be made to return the state- owned soccer outfit, Gateway United to the Nigeria Premier league.

SAYO OGUNDEJI igeria international and Gençlerbirligi S.K. of Turkey striker, Ekigho Ehiosun, has said that the reoccurrence of the knee injury which has plagued him for sometime has made him unavailable for Nigeria, as the team intensifies preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations slated for South Africa later this month. The Super Eagles, though, failed to qualify for the last edition but have booked a ticket for this year’s finals and have been drawn in Group C alongside the defending champions Zambia, Bukina Faso and Ethiopia.

And the former Warri Wolves striker who has also featured for the senior national side since Keshi took charge of the team said he was looking forward to helping Nigeria wrestle the trophy from Zambia, but the injury has dealt his ambition a big blow. Despite his absence, he however tipped his colleagues to make the country proud. “It has been long Nigeria won a major tournament, but I think the current squad has the potential to go all the way to win the trophy. “It has been my dream to represent my country at this tournament, but the injury has denied me that opportunity and all I can do now is to wish

Ehiosun

the team the very best and hope they come back home with the trophy,” Ehiosun concluded.

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SPORT

January 5, 2013

Okara blasts NPL’s Idoko

ice-chairman and General Manager of newly-promoted Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, Nembe City FC, Meremu Okara has launched a scathing attack on the spokesman of the club owners association of the NPL, Mike Idoko. Idoko had released a statement this week criticising erstwhile NPL chairman Baribote Victor Rumson, who had called on Nigeria’s sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi to resign following the country’s failure to win a single medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. Baribote had also fingered the minister as one of those behind his removal as NPL chairman. “Baribote missed the point by saying the minister masterminded his removal. As managers of clubs we know what is good and best for us and we realised late that with the Baribote-led board, the Nigerian (premier) league is heading to the rocks. And for him to allege that the minister masterminded his removal is to say the least insulting to the honourable minister. “The NPL under Baribote was never elected in the first place as no election took place when the

court sacked (Davidson) Owumi. The Club Owners gave him the mandate believing he will bring relief to the comatose league. Title sponsorship became a problem and the clubs were made to bear the brunt of the lack of sponsorship,” the statement from Idoko explained. Okara has now declared that Idoko’s statement is “out of order” and is now asking him to resign his position at the Ondo State Football Agency. “Idoko should resign as the Director of the Ondo State Football Agency and take up a position as a ministerial spokesperson in the crisis rocking the NPL board,” Okara told supersport.com. Okara accused Idoko of lacking the locus standi to speak as a club owner since his appointment with the Ondo State government is that of director of football and not chairman of Sunshine Stars. “Idoko is neither a club owner nor a director of Sunshine Stars so he cannot speak as a club administrator. The real club owners are questioning his position on the so-called interim management committee. “Article 1.94 of the rules and regulations of NPL states that

Flying Eagles converge for AYC

Idoko

government functionaries should not be part of club management. “As an insider we are aware of all that transpired in Abuja during the purported congress on the NPL but I have decided to remain quiet in the best interest of Nigerian football,” he said. He further called on the football community to ignore Idoko whom he accused of defending an illegality he had benefited from.

igeria’s under 20 football team, the Flying Eagles will begin preparations for the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) when they open training camp in Abuja tomorrow. Head coach, John Obuh has called up 20 players, as the side commences preparations for the AYC. The invited players have been directed to report to the team’s training camp in Abuja today. “We always want to do the country proud. We know what Nigerians want and that is the trophy in Algeria. We will strive to do our best in the championships,” Obuh said yesterday. The Flying Eagles are the defending champions and are drawn in Group B along with

debutants Gabon, Mali and DR Congo. The team will subsequently set up a training camp in Tunisia at least three weeks prior to the championship which kicks off on March 16 in Algeria. Among the goalkeepers invited are Samuel Okani, Jonah Usman and Jacob Abobo , while invited defenders are Ikechukwu Okorie, Chizoba Amaefule, Shehu Abdullahi, Kenneth Omeruo, Aliyu Mohammed Goyi and Abubakar Hassan. Invited midfielders are Moses Orkuma, Abduljaleel Ajagun, Ovboka Agboyi, Uche Agbo and Chidi Osuchukwu, while the strikers include, Alhaji Gero, Yahaya Adamu, Bright Ejike, Umar Aminu, Harrison Egbune and Sikiru Alimi.

Table tennis: Coach wants provision of better training facilities

he National Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Nasiru Bello, yesterday called for the upgrading of facilities at the Knock-Up Hall of the National Stadium. Bello, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the provision of better facilities would enhance the development of the sport. He said the use of modern facilities in the training of athletes would enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts in other countries.

“You cannot detach the facilities athletes train with from their output; in fact, training facilities determine the performance of athletes in international competitions. “Training with modern facilities will help them to have a good understanding of what to expect at the international level,” Bello said. According to him, additional facilities such as tables and bats will further aid the training of table tennis players. Bello, however, noted that the problem of illumination in the Hall had

been taken care of with the installation of fiber elastic zinc during the EKO 2012 National Sports Festival. “There is need for us to have more tables and bats to accommodate the number of players who turn-up for training, because the hall is now bright,” he said. The coach said that young athletes could not afford to buy good bats for themselves, because “they cannot afford to do so,” adding that providing them with bats would enhance their interest in the game.

GFN president promises to provide modern gymnastics equipment

he President of Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN), Adeyemi Foluso, yesterday said the federation would provide modern facilities for the training of gymnasts in 2013. Foluso told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone in Lagos that providing the facilities would help talented gymnasts to attain international standards. “We are blessed with abundant talents in gymnastics so, what we need to do is to provide an enabling environment for their

training to sharpen their skills. “Providing enabling environment means standard equipment for producing quality gymnasts, coaches as well as judges to meet international standards,” he said. The president also said there was need for elite athletes to participate in subsequent National Sports Festivals, noting that it would spur newly discovered talents to reach their peak in time. “The participation of elite athletes could be used as a

yardstick to measure the performance of the upcoming ones and encourage them to put in more effort to be like them. “I believe that if we make the National Sports Festival open to professional athletes, it will generate healthy competition and improve the standard of sports in the country,” Foluso added that it was only through such healthy competitions that developing sports at the grassroots could be boosted and the athletes would gain international recognition.

Flying Eagles in training ahead of the African Youth Championship.

…As Amaefule rates team high SAYO OGUNDEJI

ne of the Flying Eagles defenders, Chizoba Amaefule, says his side remains the team to beat at the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) slated for Algeria in March, while adding that the entire team will do all within its power to ensure they win the title. The Flying Eagles under the tutelage of Coach John Obuh defeated South Africa 4-2 on aggregate in October to qualify for the AYC and will have the likes of Mali, Congo DR and Gabon to contest with in the group stages of tournament. While the team will begin

camping for the championship tomorrow in Abuja, Obuh has named the influential defender among his 20-man list to prosecute the event. And Amaefule who has been instrumental to the team’s qualification for the tournament is of the opinion that Nigeria parades some of the best players on the continent and he is optimistic the team will go places going by their impressive performances during the qualifiers. “We are all excited over the prospect of retaining that title the team won during the last edition and given our displays during the qualifiers, we stand a better chance of achieving that,” the Dolphins of Port Harcourt defender stated.

SPORT

January 5, 2013

No joy: Shaun Wright-Phillips (second right) looked downright miserable after scoring against Chelsea

Football’s worst habit

Why are players not celebrating after scoring against former teams? N ot celebrating goals. What the hell is that about? It’s football’s newest, most annoying trend. A club dumps you, you score against them in what should be a moment of great joy – the equivalent of a giant two fingered response – and how do you deliver it? You stand with your hands by your side and shrug your shoulders… Shaun Wright-Phillips wasn’t wanted by Chelsea. They paid a lot of money for him, they paid him a lot of wages… but they ditched him. And yet when he scored the goal after 78 minutes that gave QPR unlikely hope at the bottom of the table, a goal that brought about the most unlikely result of the season, how did he show his moment of joy? He didn’t. The same with Adam Johnson when he scored an important goal for his struggling new club, Sunderland against his oil rich previous employers who didn’t want him, Manchester City. Now, we can understand it if that club and their supporters are dear to your heart. If they gave you a chance when nobody else did. If they rescued your career. Or if your old auntie used to wear the club colours under her pinny, but goalscoring is the best thing to do, the hardest thing to do. It is the object of the game. Failure to celebrate it is a fake act of respect to a club that sold you. Joe Cole didn’t celebrate against West Ham when he scored for Liverpool recently, which is quite handy really when

you see how things are turning out. Nor did Glen Johnson. But both began their careers at West Ham. Carlos Tevez apparently wouldn’t have celebrated if he’d scored for Manchester City at Upton Park, but giving his recent run of goals that was never likely. And that’s a bit rich too given that he didn’t really hang around. It’s hardly the same as the great Denis Law scoring for Manchester City with a goal that relegated Manchester United. Now that we can understand. One theory is that players are scared of retribution, with fans abusing them on Twitter or football forums. But surely they are more thick-skinned than that. As one supporter posted recently in an online social media: ‘Has it just got silly now with players doing this? I mean, I totally get Ronaldo not celebrating against Sporting, or RVP vs. Arsenal, but SWP not celebrating a massive goal for his new club because it was against a side that basically just ruined his career for a few seasons?’ Another added: ‘I can understand RVP not doing it, because he was important for Arsenal. And I hope Ronaldo doesn’t celebrate if he scores against us. But people like Joe Cole, SWP etc are nothing players who won’t be remembered by their former teams in 15 years.’ But not everyone agrees. Another posting by another football fan reads: ‘He’s showing respect to his former fans, friends still at Chelsea and the club, fair play to him’. Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will not celebrate scoring against Manchester United when he plays against them

for Real Madrid in the Champions League. ‘I won’t celebrate if I score against United. I still speak with Ferguson. I miss him a lot, and I miss Manchester United. I felt very good there, it was like a family,’ he explained.

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History: Joe Cole (left), a player with a rich Hammers history, can be forgiven for not celebrating

‘I had six great years there and am still friends with my team-mates. It is thanks to Manchester United that I am here playing for Real Madrid. Without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.’ In another forum, Digital Spy, Allafix writes: ‘Utterly fake. Like badge kissing. Footballers are mercenaries, they should be loyal to the club they play for. ‘They don’t need to show this by kissing a badge, and they don’t need to show respect to a previous club by not celebrating a goal. ‘It’s the most natural thing in the world to celebrate a goal. It’s not showing disrespect to a previous club’s fans to do so.’ Culled from www.dailymail.co.uk

Pledge: Cristiano Ronaldo (left) has promised he will not celebrate if he scores against Manchester United

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SPORT

January 5, 2013

Mancini plays down Mario row

oberto Mancini has dismissed his training-ground altercation with Mario Balotelli as “nothing special”. The Manchester City manager was pictured angrily confronting his striker during training on Thursday, raising new questions over Balotelli’s future at the club. But Mancini told a press conference that Balotelli will not face disciplinary action and the incident will not spell the end of the 22-year-old’s

Eastlands career. “We were playing a game and Mario kicked his team-mate. I told him to leave the pitch, he said ‘no’, and I took his shirt and pushed him from the pitch. That is what really happened - nothing special, no fight. “These are things that can happen, usually between players. This was different because I wanted him to leave the pitch for what he did against another player.” Asked whether he would now look to sell Balotello,

Mancini said: “No, no, no, no. This is not important - it doesn’t change my thoughts on this. “I will give him another 100 chances if possible, if I think he can change. I am here for this. Sometimes I am upset with him, but I give him another chance, sure. He is 22 and he can make a mistake.” Mancini has more often than not backed his fellow Italian despite a series of high-profile incidents - on and off the pitch - since the striker’s 2010 arrival from Inter.

Push and pull! Roberto Mancini (right) and Mario Balotelli raged at each other on Thursday.

Capdevila plots Barca’s fall Falcao not going to Real, says Cerezo

spanyol defender Joan Capdevila believes his side can pose problems for Barcelona in their La Liga clash tomorrow. Barca has been in impressive form this season and has conceded just two points from their 17 matches played so far. In contrast, Espanyol are third from bottom with just 15 points to their name. However, veteran defender Capdevila is optimistic of his side’s chances when they

meet Barca at Camp Nou. “Barcelona are the leaders in the table and are away ahead of the rest. But, some day they will have to lose. They will not always win. “We are very conscience of the team we face, they are having a great moment and they are a great team. But, eventually they will concede points and we will try to make them cede some points this Sunday. “It will be a difficult and complicated task and be-

No time frame on Terry’s return –Benitez

helsea interim manager Rafa Benitez says he has no idea when club captain John Terry will return from injury. The former England captain has been out since November when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez fell on his knee during the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Terry was due to make his comeback against Sunderland on December 8; however, a number of setbacks in training stopped him from doing so and have continued to prevent him from returning. Speaking ahead of his team’s FA Cup thirdround tie against Southampton today, Benitez told reporters: “I talked with John on Wednesday morning and he is getting there and can start to do the warm-up with the team soon and then we will see how he will progress. “Talking to the doctor,

Terry

the problem is a build-up of fluid on the bone. So at this stage we have no idea when he will be back.” Terry is not the only absentee for Benitez, with Chelsea set to lose John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses to the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Goalkeeper Petr Cech is also sidelined for “two or three weeks” and is expected to miss both legs of Chelsea’s Capital One Cup semifinal against Swansea.

cause of this we will confront them with maximum concentration and knowing all the while that it is possible to take points and win at Barcelona,” Capdevila said. Following Espanyol’s disastrous start to the season, Javier Aguirre was brought in to replace Mauricio Pochettino at the end of last year and after three draws and one win under their new coach, Capdevila is hopeful his side’s fortunes are taking a turn for the better.

Redknapp claims Sneijder offer

ueens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp claims he has been offered the chance to sign Inter Milan’s unsettled star Wesley Sneijder. The Dutchman is in dispute with the Italian giants and has not played since September, and that has seen him linked with a January switch. No bids have materialised, but Redknapp has revealed that QPR have been invited to make a move for the 28-year-old. But Redknapp insists his wages, which he claims are £200,000-a-week, are too much for them. “I was asked by one agent if I wanted to sign Sneijder. “Of course I do. However, he’s on about £200,000 a week and now he wants to join QPR? “I won’t name the agent, but let’s just say I think a deal is unlikely,” Redknapp said.

tletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has quashed speculation linking Chelsea target Radamel Falcao with Real Madrid. Falcao’s impressive performances this season for Atletico has led to many clubs reportedly showing interest in his services, including Los Blancos and the Blues. However, Cerezo has made it clear that there is no substance to the suggestions made on Punto Pelota that his star player is set for a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu. “I want to say that it is false that Falcao has an agreement with another team. I say it is false because I have (not) spoken to anyone regarding this subject. “It is absolutely false and a lie. It is one thing to joke but it is another to make a something out

PREMIERSHIP TABLE TEAM

PTS

1. Man Utd

2. Man City

3. Tottenham

4. Chelsea

5. Everton

6. Arsenal

7. West Brom

8. Liverpool

9. Swansea

10. Stoke

11. West Ham

12. Norwich

-10

13. Fulham

-5

14. Sunderland

-8

15. Newcastle

-12

16. Aston Villa

-24

17. Southampton

-11

18. Wigan

-17

19. Reading

-17

20. QPR

-19

EURO BRIEFS

Ba completes Chelsea move

emba Ba has completed his move to Chelsea yesterday after the Senegal striker signed a three-anda-half-year contract from Newcastle for an undisclosed fee. Ba, 27, who will be eligible for selection for today’s FA Cup third-round match at Southampton, will wear the number 29 shirt.

Falcao

of nothing. Above everything, I don’t like having words put in my mouth that I have never said. “Like (club general manager) Miguel Angel Gil said, Falcao is our player and he has won the right to make his own decision. He has a contract with us and there is no need to neither talk nor invent anything else.

Allardyce welcomes Cole deal

est Ham manager Sam Allardyce has welcomed the return of Joe Cole to the club after the 31-year-old midfielder completed his move from Liverpool. Cole is back at the club where he started his career and has signed an 18-month contract after leaving Anfield on a free transfer. Allardyce said: “It’s a good one for us. I think that somebody as talented as Joe and as enthusiastic about playing football and not all about money, as most transfers seem to be about today, is a pleasure to bring back to the club and give the oppor-

tunity he is looking for. “I think that we will give him that and hopefully he will grasp it with both hands and produce some of the outstanding ability and quality that we know he has and do that for us during the period of time that his contact is with us. “If we can extract the best out of him again then it will be a fantastic signing for us at West Ham. “He is somebody that is coming back home from where he started. He has realised his dreams here of being a footballer and it’s great to have secured the deal and really great that he chose us.

Demba Ba

Wenger flags interest in Holtby

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he is interested in signing Schalke’s young star Lewis Holtby, but refused to say whether they would bid for him in January or wait until his contract expires in the summer. The 22-yearold midfielder has attracted interest from a host of clubs around Europe, and will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season after declaring his intention to refuse any new deal from the Bundesliga club.

Ramos: Real will miss injured Pepe

ergio Ramos believes Real Madrid could struggle without Pepe, who is expected to be sidelined for at least a month. The powerful defender underwent ankle surgery earlier this week and could be out of action for up to four weeks.

January 5, 2013

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January 5, 2013

Custard producing and packaging as a cash cow T

he patronage of custard powder is fast gaining currency especially among the urban elite who prefer it to pap because it has longer shelf life, tastes better because of the flavours and essences added during its production and generally looks better packaged. It is a very convenient breakfast for busy urban housewives, spinsters and bachelors. The market for custard is urban based. It is fast expanding because of the steady rural urban immigration in search of jobs and better things of life. Because in these areas the inhabitants are ever in a hurry in pursuit of whatever their daily objectives are, the tendency among them is to rely heavily on fast foods. For those who care to cook, food items like custard come readily handy. Because of this and the exploding population, the demand for such food items (custard inclusive) will continue to be on the increase. Despite this, the price of custard has been on the increase because there is not enough supply to go round and to bring down the prices. Hence the need to establish more cottage and smallscale enterprises to blend custard. The major raw material for the production of custard is corn flour, which constitutes 90-92 per cent of the total input. Others are flavours and essences (0.5per cent), starch (8.5per cent) and food colours (0.5per cent). For packaging, plastic containers of various sizes can be used so as to cater

for different segments of the market while cardboard cartons and sachets are used to package the products. Marketing could be done by the appointment of distributors and agents. The essential equipment and machinery needed, apart from the spares, are the following: 1. Dryers (electric ovens) 2. Millers/Grinders 3 Mixers 4 Scale etc The equipment above can produce 3632MT per annum. Higher production capacity can be achieved if so desired working extra shifts or adding further equipment are the market demand dictates. Four distinctive processes are involved during production. They are: 1 Drying of ingredients 2 Grinding or milling of dried ingredients 3 Mixing 4 Weighing and packaging for sales For a cottage scale enterprise envisaged in this highlight, a maximum number of 10 people will be required for the effective operation of the business. These include the owner- manager, chemist, supervisor, clerk, factory charge hands, etc. This project can be located anywhere in the country. A three-bedroom flat or bungalow will be needed as accommodation for a start. As businesses grows one can think of owning his own land and building.

Estimated project cost Rented accommodation (depends on location)

N600, 000

Machinery and equipment

N2, 500,000

Motor vehicle for distribution utilities N1, 000,000 (standby generating set etc) Preliminary and pre-operating expenses N100, 000 Working capital

N2, 000,000

Contingency (say 10%)

N500, 000

Total estimated project cost

N6, 700,000

The above cost can drastically be reduced depending upon which project cost components the promoters already has. The working capital includes the cost of procuring packaging cans (plastics) labels and other operational expenses, as well as raw material provisions for three months. Recent research findings indicate that is a very lucrative business. Being a food item that is in high and continuous demand, the experts in the business have shown that one can obtain the following projected benefits from the proposed investment. They are as shown below. Return on sales-73-75per cent,

breakeven point 65-80 per cent; Return on investment 75-76 per cent and payback period between one and two years. For detailed information contact the writer. You will be able to obtain a comprehensive and bankable feasibility studies report; investment advisory services; sourcing of project funds, total turnkey arrangement, procurement and installations of quality machines, development of export markets, setting up of management and accounting structures for the project.

Courtesy: Uba Godwin, ubagodwin@yahoo.com

January 5, 2013

ONE CAN START

SEKINAH L AWAL

SOAP MAKING

rs. Stella Akande is a business woman. Her business is located in Ikorodu area of Lagos. She started over 15 years ago in Minna, Niger State, where she learnt almost everything she knows about the business. Akande studied Petroleum Product Marketing at the Petroleum Technology Institute, Warri- Delta State and has worked for many nongovernmental organisations and pet projects such as that of the former first lady of Niger State, Mrs. Kure, current Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, among others. “When I learnt soap making, we were taught only one method. Today, however, I know more than 30 different methods of soap and cosmetics making. As a good student, one must be ready to do further research and read more on what one has learnt. Although it’s not easy, with great determination, one can make good living out of this business.” The HND holder is now the Managing Director of Stellon Products which has many variants of the Stellon Solution Therapy on its stable. It has various soaps and cosmetics for different treatments. According to Akande her major achievement in life is having the opportunity to live life to the fullest and impact knowledge on other people. “I would say I give glory to Almighty God for achieving many things in life. Now I am a married woman with children and I have a business of my own. I also find it very fulfilling teaching others how to fish,” she added. Her advice to budding entrepreneurs is that they should not allow money or lack of time to be a barrier to them in any way. “They only need to have the zeal and determination to make it. One can start this soap-making business with as little as N2,500 (two thousand five hundred naira).” She, however, added that there is need to create the needed awareness through the words of mouth. “Let people know what you are up to, have a target market. For instance, one can start with the low income earners, then move up to middle income people and on and on. Rome was not built in a day. It is a stepby-step thing. With time, one will break even,” she advised. Looking ahead in deep contemplation, Akande, now a guru in the business of soap and cosmetics said, “I want the younger generations to know that hard work pays.” Recently, she did an exhibition of her range of solution therapies; natural soaps and cosmetics. To those who have used her products,

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WITH AS LITTLE AS

N2,500 AND THEN MOVE UP TO THE LARGE SCALE

‘Soap making is a money spinner’ it was an occasion for champagne-popping and back-slapping. They all testified to the effectiveness of her Stellon Solution Therapy, recommended to others and commended her tenacity of purpose and doggedness. “My husband and children have been very understanding because they know what I am out to achieve. Personally, I have been rewarded for the lifting I contributed to people I helped and still helping to train

through the Lagos State’s women and poverty alleviation programmes.” “The business can employ thousands of people of various tribes because these are essential products needed on daily basis by all. Some people see this business as a lay man’s job but we have made wealth from it and have been able to empower many, both old and young who would have been jobless, becoming menace to the society. And we must give commenda-

tions to the Lagos government for its effort.” She also called on other state governments to emulate Lagos government in this laudable project. “I had gathered a lot of experience working in different states. There are so many people living in Lagos and so many companies here. That was why I had to come here to explore the business opportunities available. I started with little and move on gradually from clients of low to medium and high income earners. I had gone round the entire major zones of this country and that is a lot of business experience for me, “Again, when you are doing this work, you would be tempted to do certain things to either make more profits or get more customers, most especially for those operating in an environment where majority of one’s customers are low-income earners. These include adding some chemicals to make the liquid soap for instance, looks thicker; I will not encourage people to engage in this because it has its disadvantages.” Akande explained that one can actually be well-remunerated through the business of soap and cosmetics making with further and continuous research and adequate branding and marketing. Akande called on upcoming entrepreneurs to engage in further research so as to be up-to-date in their field of endeavour. “For those into soap and cosmetics production, extra care must be taken in handling the chemicals as some of them are very corrosive and can be very harmful.” She advised that soap-makers should always wear protective gloves, nose-masks and be cautious while mixing the chemicals. “All chemicals must be properly-labelled and stored in a cool dry place which is out of reach for children.” Because some of the chemicals look alike, she advised that anybody who is into this business must ensure that all chemicals are welllabelled and kept properly. Akande also cautioned people on the need to always look out for the expiry dates of the chemicals in order to have a good end product. “Soap and cosmetics making is a lucrative business if adequately planned, executed, packaged, branded and marketed.”

Crime Watch Crime Watch

P. 51

Christmas tragedy: Man stabs elder brother over party cow

BRIEFS

NURTW member sentenced to one week community service for assault

member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Segun Sipeolu, was yesterday in Lagos, sentenced to one week community service for stabbing a bus conductor with a broken bottle. In addition, Sipeolu, who lives at No. 56, Sipeolu St., Palmgrove, was also fined N7, 000 for a charge of assault. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence. A Somolu Magistrates’ Court which gave the judgement ordered that the NURTW official should report daily for the community service. “Based on the evidence before this court, I hereby sentence you (Sipeolu) to one week community service and a fine of N7, 000 for assaulting a bus conductor with a broken bottle,’’ Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi said. Earlier, Prosecutor Akinlebi Adegoke told the court that Sipeolu had on Dec. 28 stabbed one Morufu Yusuf with a broken bottle. “Sipeolu had at 6.00 p.m. at Onipanu Bus Stop demanded N200 from Yusuf, a bus conductor, before he could be allowed to pick any passenger. Yusuf refused and consequently was stabbed with a broken bottle on his right shoulder by Sipeolu,” he said adding that the offence contravened Section 56 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The court also sentenced one Mudashiru Bankole, 49, to a week of community service for assaulting his nephew. Osunsanmi ordered him to pay N10, 000 fine in addition to the community service. Bankole pleaded guilty to the charge.

Man, 33, charged with murder, remanded in prison

33-year-old land speculator, Yemi Sotunde, was on Friday remanded in prison custody by an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly committing murder using hired assassins. The Police Prosecutor, ASP Paul Etusi, told the court that the offence was committed on Dec. 8, 2012 at about 3.30 a.m. at Ile-Isaewo in Abeokuta. He said that the accused and the deceased, one Oludayo Oyewole, had a dispute over land issues and he (Sotunde) threatened to kill him. “My lord, Sotunde threatened Oyewole that he was going to kill

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January 5, 2013

I lost my teeth to police beating –Okada rider alleges

What began as a mere stop-and search exercise by the police degenerated into a bloody situation that was tension soaked. How did Sunday Joel lose his teeth? SEGUN ADIO

ut for Providence, last Christmas would have been bitter for residents of Market Street, in Shomolu area of Lagos State. It was two days to the Yuletide. Some commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders, numbering over a dozen had gathered chanting war songs and threatening fire and brimstone over alleged inhuman treatment of one of their own. Moments before the Okada riders gathered to ponder what next line of action they would take, it was alleged that some law enforcement agents in the area had gone on enforcing the state’s ban on commercial motorcycles in the metropolis. In their raid on violators of the law, the policemen had reportedly chased the Okada riders to the area and seized their prized assets from them. Some motorcycle owners, who were not in any way using their machines for commercial purpose were also ‘touched’ by the law enforcement agents. One of the people in the latter category was Sunday Joel. Joel, 22, runs a commercial motorcycle in Shomolu area of the state. But since the restriction of movement of the motor bikes in the state, Joel had devised means of parking his machine in Market Street, and return to his Imota home at the end of the week. But on Sunday, December 23, 2012, Joel chose to stay behind in Shomolu for the Christmas period when he intended to make more sales in his trade. That fateful day, being a Sunday, around 8:00 a,m, Joel chose to repair his motorcycle not far from his temporary abode. Unknown to him, however, the law enforcement agents were raiding the community for violators of the ban on Okada ride in major highways in the state. As he rode the machine through the crowded street, Joel was reportedly flagged down and his Okada forcefully taken from him. It was reported that the law enforcement agents used iron rods, batons, and other items to seize the Okadas from their riders. Upon sighting the advancing policemen, Joel thought they were going for a different operation but unknown to him the raid was on Okada riders, irrespective

Joel

of where they were ridden. As he tried to make the U-turn, two of the advancing policemen dashed towards him and allegedly subjected him to thorough beaten. In the process, Joel reportedly lost some of his teeth and also his Okada to the police team. Some other victims too were subjected to various degrees of torture and harassment even as their Okadas were seized from them and some even had their money seized alongside their motorcycles. It was also reported that all the Okada operators whose means of livelihood had been taken from them gathered at Anu Oluwa Po Street in the area pondering on what to do next. They were however reportedly prevailed upon to seek dialogue with the law enforcers and not take laws into their own hands. It was also alleged that before the end of that day, some of the Okada owners had to part with some money to retrieve their seized assets. Speaking with Saturday Mirror from his hospital bed, Joel claimed that he was the only one on his Okada and had his helmet on when he ran into the law enforcement agents. “Anyone that knows me in that area knows that I do not ply my trade on the expressway let alone do that on a Sunday morning. Naturally, I go for church service on Sundays and I just wanted to deposit my Okada to the repairer for him to carry out some repairs on it before I go to church. “But as I rode the Okada towards the mechanic workshop, I just saw these policemen numbering about eight wielding various kinds of clubs and sticks. Already they had seized several Okadas but I told myself that mine would not be seized.

That was when I wanted to make a U-turn and run away from them. But two of them ran towards me and held me down on top of the Okada and started beating me with all kinds of things in their hands,” Joel said. According to the bachelor, he later discovered two teeth had been lost to the battering he allegedly received from the law enforcement agents. Joel claimed some good Samaritans came to his rescue after the policemen had left and taken him to the hospital. Speaking on his own ordeal in the hands of the law enforcement officers, a 54-year-old man, identified as Baba Junior recounted how he received similar fate in the hands of the policemen a day before Joel’s beating. “I was going to the next street to get for myself Suya around 9:25 p.m. when I was accosted by two policemen demanding to conduct a search on me. I told them I had not committed any offence to have warranted that but they insisted on taking me to their station,” he said. Baba Junior claimed that when nothing incriminating was found on him, he was asked to pay his way out of the station. Saturday Mirror called the Divisional Police Officer of Alade Police Station, but his lines were switched off. A constable at the station, however, told our reporter that claims of illegal extortion by Okada operators in the area are sheer farce. “It is normal for law breakers to make claims that were unfounded. I am not in the know of any time anybody in this division demands of any amount to secure release of any item seized by us,” the constable said.

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CRIME WATCH

January 5, 2013

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I thought my British passport would help me through –Man who hid drugs in soap bars SEGUN ADIO

lawole Ayokunle Akanle owns a dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, having been born and lived in the European nation some forty-two years ago. In spite of his high standard of living in the UK, Akanle still loved Nigerian greatly. He would show his love for fatherland when he relocated back to the country in 2007. Upon his return to Nigeria, Akanle settled into trading where he deals in the sale of computer products as well as clothes and shoes to earn a living. Akanle could not be said to lack basic things of life even with his relocation back to Nigeria. Akanle, married with four children, was still unsatisfied with his current status. He surely wished and hoped to improve on his current living standard and did not hide his desperation at not being wealthy now and also aspiration to make it big in life at all cost. His British birth soon placed him in good stead to reach his set targets. During some discussions with some friends recently, Akanle was urged to leverage on his British citizenship and make quick money with it. With a successful drug trip to the European nation, Akanle was assured of a handsome reward. He soon gave in to the 3, 000 Pounds promised him should he successfully ferry the consignment to the UK. Akanle dropped all options of concealing the banned substance to London, and instead opted to have the banned drugs neatly wrapped and concealed inside soap tablets. With 11 locally-made soap tablets, Akanle concealed 630 grammes of cocaine at the basement of his travel bag. he had hoped to fool European anti-narcotics agents that he preferred to bthe with his Nigerianmade soaps. He was wrong after all. A few days to last Christmas, Akanle was scheduled to take an Arik Air flight to London but was apprehended after close observation. In his confessional statement, Akanle claimed that he chose the soap tablets on the believe that the drugs would not be detected. According to Akanle, “I was born in London. I lived in South East London

Olawole Ayokunle Akanle and Nicholas Ugochukwu Ezika, are cooling their feet in the custody of the NDLEA. What got the two men into the illicit drug business?

The seized drugs

Ezika

Akanle

until 2007 when I came back to Nigeria. I am a trader, selling laptops, clothes and shoes to earn a living. I was contacted to smuggle the drugs by a friend. He told me that since I have a British passport and had lived there, it will be easy for me to handle. They also told me that the

drug was neatly concealed. He promised to pay me 3,000 pounds excluding all travel expenses. That was how I got involved,” he said. Same day just as Akanle was being ushered into the NDLEA office, another drug courier, Nicholas Ugochukwu

Ezika, was also apprehended for same offence. Unlike Akanle, Ejika was arrested for ingesting 62 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.130kg. He was billed to board an Egypt Air airline flight to Malaysia. Before now, Ejika used to sell auto parts at Nkpor, Onitsha, in Anambra State. But sometime early last year, Ejika’s shop was reportedly demolished for road expansion. But rather than take to legitimate means of making money, Ekija opted to courier drugs. Apparently the lure of $3, 000 was too tempting for him to ignore. In his desperation to make money, Ejika reportedly ingested the substance at Onitsha and headed to Lagos for his Asian tour. In his confessional statement before anti-narcotics agents, Ejika claimed that his sudden change in fortune made him go into the illicit gtrade. His words, “I am an auto parts dealer at Npkor, Onitsha. I was doing fine in business until my shop was demolished. After the demolition, it was difficult to take care of my wife and only child. I had no option of survival than to accept 3,000 dollars to smuggle the drugs. I ingested the drugs at Onitsha and came to Lagos to board my flight to Malaysia. I was ignorant of the fact that drug offenders are liable to death in Malaysia. It was after my arrest that I discovered the risk involved in my action,” Ejika said. In his reaction to the arrest of the two suspects, Chairman of NDLEA Alhaji Ahmadu Giade expressed delight over the arrests. In the words of Giade, “I am very happy with the arrests particularly the prevention of the second suspect from death in Malaysia. It is good that we detected the drug here. Apart from the death penalty he would have faced in Malaysia, we have also protected the image of the country from disrepute. I urge members of the public to join in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. We have saved many young people from similar premature deaths and we hope to do more to protect lives in the days ahead,” the anti-narcotics czar said. According to Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesman for the agency, investigations are still ongoing to unravel the cartel of the two suspects and that both would be charged to court upon completion.

Police arraign housewife for alleged fraud

he police yesterday arraigned Rose Elaigwu, a housewife, before an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud. The accused is also standing trial for joint act, criminal breach of trust and cheating. Police Prosecutor Abdullahi Adamu told the court that

the accused was reported at the Wuse Zone 3 Police Station on Jan. 2 by Umar Abdul of the Nigeria Postal Service, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Adamu said the accused connived with one `Madam Cash’ and one Mohammed, both now at large, to collect N300,000 from the complainant under the pre-

tence of getting work for him at the Nigeria Customs Service. Adamu added that the accused went further to issue an appointment letter to the complainant, which he later discovered to be fake. The counsel to the accused, Mr Oni Julius and Mercy Jugu, urged the court to grant the accused bail, citing

Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that a person is assumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty. Oni said the accused would not interfere with police investigation, and urged the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms. Senior Magistrate Nefisat

Ibrahim granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum. She said the sureties, one of whom must be on Grade Level 9, must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case to Jan. 22 for further hearing.

Crime Extra

Christmas tragedy: Man stabs elder brother over party cow What ordinarily would have been happy re-union of family members and a day of feasting ended up sad and bloody for the family of Chief Titus Omilani of Ijoko, Ogun State. Two of his sons engaged each other in a macabre fight. SEGUN ADIO

t was a black Christmas for the family of Omilani of Olorunda area, a suburb of Ijoko town in Ogun State when two of their sons reportedly engaged in fierce confrontation which left one of them critically wounded. Every December 25 Chief Titus Omilani always received and entertained all his children at his residence. The period is often used for Omilani’s five children (all male) and their wives to seek strong family ties and make merry along side. The elderly man had until December 2010 been the one to buy the cattle with which all his children would feast on at the once-a-year family party. After that year, Irewole Omilani, the first child of the family had taken it up upon himself to buy his father’s preferred cattle for the annual get-together. Irewole lives at Ayobo area of Lagos State. But what used to be a love feast for the family turned sour two weeks ago. Two of Omilani’s children reportedly engaged each other in a fierce quarrel. One was said to have stabbed his sibling on the neck, resulting on the attacked being hospitalised and still lying critically ill. As he used to do, the eldest son had reportedly telephoned their father to inform

him that the cattle for the family party would not come quite early as planned. Irewole had, however, reportedly assured his father, that the animal would be available on Christmas eve. Last year, the third son of the family, Olanrewaju, who works and lives with his family in Osogbo, Osun State, had arrived at the family house a week before Christmas. It was reported that when he came and did not see a cattle that would be slaughtered for the celebration, Olannrewaju questioned his father why that was so. The old man reportedly assured him that his elder brother, who had taken up the challenge to purchase the animal for celebration, would send it down on Christ-

mas eve. Then came Christmas eve and Irewole still had not come with the promised cattle. Around 2:00pm on the Christmas eve, Olanrewaju reportedly walked up to his father to register his fear that the whole family might be let down as his elder brother had still not come home with the cattle. Olanrewaju reportedly told his father that he was on his way to Abeokuta to get another cattle in case his elder brother refused to get one. The patriarch of the family reportedly did all he could to talk Olanrewaju out of carrying out his plans, with the firm belief in his eldest son’s promise to bring the promised cattle. Olanrewaju refused to

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January 5, 2013

hearken to his father’s pleas, but picked his car and went to get another cattle. Within two hours, Olanrewaju reportedly surfaced with a big bull, to the chagrin of other members of the family. Then came the D-Day. On the Christmas day, Irewole did not come until a little after midday, by which time, butchers were almost done with Olanrewaju’s bull. By the time the truck bringing Irewole’s cattle drove into their father’s compound, everyone there apparently knew that trouble lurked around the corner. Truth to their suspicion, Irewole, on seeing what was going on, became furious. He reportedly walked into his father’s living room to enquire on who had gone ahead to buy the cattle. On hearing that Olanrewaju was the one that bought the cattle, Irewole’s anger reportedly quadrupled. It was reported that both brothers do not see eye to eye. At that point, Irewole reportedly ordered the butchers to stop what they were doing, but Olanrewaju refused to be browbeaten by his elder brother. A heated argument soon ensued between the brothers. Efforts to pacify them reportedly became unsuccessful as the argument soon turned into exchange of blows. Just as their father was trying to call on some elderly neighbours to help calm frayed nerves, Olanrewaju reportedly grabbed the knife of one of the butchers and stabbed his brother on the neck. Irewole soon slumped which Olanrewaju took to his heels. A family source who pleaded anonymity told Saturday Mirror that Irewole was immediately rushed to a hospital at Sango area of the state. In the words of the female family source, “It was really the devil at play. Actually, the two of them had been at loggerheads for a long time and we have done a lot to settle them, but they remained irreconcilable. But what happened that day was clearly like a spell because the matter should not have degenerated into that if Ire had listened to Daddy’s advise,” the woman said. It was reported that while Irewole was being rushed to the hospital, Olanrewaju managed to whisk his wife and children into his car and leave the area. He was reported to have returned to base. Efforts to make the father of the warring brothers shed more light on the incident were unsuccessful. He only uttered: “Leave me alone and do not add to what had happened. It is a purely family matter and we will resolve it,” he said.

Man in court for allegedly caressing another man’s male organ

25-year-old man, Bala Abubakar of Tipper Garage, Nyanya, yesterday appeared before a Karu Upper Area Court for allegedly caressing another man’s `male organ’. Prosecutor Umar Mohammed told the court that on Jan. 3, Abubakar at about 1.00 am, jumped over a fence and entered Sani Shamsudeni’s room of same address. “He then slept close to Shamsudeni, who was fast asleep and started

romancing his male organ. When Shamsudeni woke up, Abubakar took to his heels until he was pursued and arrested,” he said. Mohammed said that the offence contravened Sections 95 and 342 of the Penal Code. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying: “I followed a friend into the house to sleep and when we were sleeping, I drew up the blanket to cover myself very well.

When the complainant woke up, he asked who came to sleep in his room and he was told that I was the one. That was what happened,” Abubakar said. The Judge, Umar Kagarko, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum. He said that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case to March. 13, 2013, for hearing.

January 5, 2013

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REGIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

NORTH

Al-Makura threatens litigation against Nasarawa PDP chairman diagnosed fifteen years ago as arthritis. The governor accused Chief Iliya of been among the people that squandered the riches of Nasarawa State, claiming he has records to bgack up his claims. In the words of AlMakura, “If a chairman of a party that is considered a big party which

led government for thirteen years could be part and parcel of the people who have squandered the riches of this state, then at the appropriate time he will be prosecuted or called to order.” He alleged that Iliya was one or among the people that got huge amount of money to construct some projects including

the state School of Nursing, Lafia, that has been left uncompleted for more than five years. “He is one of the beneficiaries of the monies that have just been thrown away in the 500 units’ housing estate project that has been comatose. It was only when I came that I stopped the payment of such wastages which he

was part and parcel of,” Al-Makura alleged. When contacted on a mobile phone, the state PDP chairman, Chief Yunana Iliya, told our reporter that he was ready for the governor’s litigation and went further by describing the governor’s allegations as borne out of frustration as he lacks the art of governance.

asarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko AL-Makura has threatened litigation against the state’s chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Yunana Iliya, over an alleged diversion of projects funds into his pri-

vate pocket. Governor Al-Makura stated this at his private residence in Lafia, the state capital, when journalists paid him a visit shortly after returning from a foreign trip in the United Kingdom. Al-Makura was in UK for over two weeks where he had a surgery on his hips which was wrongly

JAMES ABRAHAM

Insecurity: Jang urges security agencies to be alive to duties

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

JOS

lateau State governor, Jonah David Jang, has called on security agents in the country to wake up to their responsibilities of protecting and safe guarding the lives and property of the people Governor Jang made the call yesterday while launching the Emergency Telephone Numbers, and Distribution of Hand Bills of Emergency Numbers of security agencies to the public put together by members of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis. Jang who commended the STF for coming out with such initiative to assist the public in handling security issues, also decried the federal government’s position on who has the right to set up judicial commission of Inquiry stating that the state had submitted recommendations on past crisis in the state to the federal government

Members of the newly inaugurated Adamawa Agricultural Policy and Implementation Working Committee at their inauguration in Yola, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

but was not implemented. The governor called on the people of the state to tolerate and learn to live in peace with each other . Also speaking at the ceremony, the Gbong

Gwom Jos, His Royal Highness Gyang Jacob Buba condemned the attitude of some religious leaders whom he said resort to ungodly preaching on the pulpits to promote acrimony in the state. The monarch warned

that henceforth any community resident in the state that refuse to work with the traditional institution but resort in litigation will not be recognized. He indicated his commitment to work with security agencies in the

state to end insurgency. In his welcome address ,the Commander of the Special Task Force, Major General Henry Ayoola, said the launching of the emergency numbers became imperative due to the global insecurity chal-

in the last year. Addressing journalists after the prayer meeting in Kaduna, state corps commandant, Idris Haruna, who spoke through his Public Relations Officer Superintendent Michael Oguntuase said the exercise was in line with Commandant General, Professor Ade Abolurin’s nationwide directives for the corps to pray for the personnel and nation in general. In the words of Oguntuase, “Commandant General Abolurin directed that all the formations throughout the nation to pray for the corps and the nation for peace. Kaduna

State command observed their combined special prayers for peace in 2013. It was a joint prayer session ,both Muslims and Christians participated. The insurgency in Kaduna state and other parts of the country,we are

lenge affecting Plateau and the country at large, adding that the STF has map out ways of ensuring that the hot lines reach all the look and corner of the state for quick dissemination of information . He said The STF just like other security agencies requires intelligence information from members of the public for the attainment of its mandate which is to restore back lasting peace to the state Ayoola said that the hand bills would serve as an avenue to the people for passage of information especially in emergency situations The numbers according to the STF commander includes that of the police and also the federal Road safety corps would serve as a catalyst to concentrate the existing synergy amongst securities agencies to acutualise the peace the state desires.

100 Kebbi victims to Kaduna NSCDC goes spiritual undergo corrective polio Terrorism: A M surgery ZA SUE KADUNA

he Kebbi State government has said that about 100 Polio victims in the state would undergo corrective surgery. The surgery would take place at the National Hospital, Abuja, next month and would be jointly sponsored by the state government and Rotary International. Senior Special Assistant to the State Government on Health, Alhaji Abdulnasir Argungu, told the reporters in Birnin Kebbi that the government would provide feeding, transporta-

tion and other logistics for the patients. According to him, “the corrective surgery itself would be conducted at no cost to the victims and the government.” Argungu commended Rotary International for sponsoring the surgery, stressing that the surgery would help the victims to move around. He called on persons living with disability to avail themselves of the surgery. It is reported that 40 polio victims from the state went through corrective surgery last December.

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command has gone spiritual in addressing the insecurity challenges confronting the nation. The command, yesterday in Kaduna, held an interreligious prayers aiming to address the menace of terrorism in the country. NSCDC said the joint prayer session by both Muslims and Christians in the state became imperative in view of the spate of security challenges been experienced

praying that it should not repeat itself in the year 2013,” he said. It was reported that Haruna had directed NSCDC officer to 10 mosques in the metropolis to offer prayers for the crops and the nation in general.

Abolurin

REGIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

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NORTH

Bauchi lawmakers begin review of public procurement law

auchi State House of Assembly has begun the review of the State Public Procurement Law. The exercise is designed to conform with the peculiarities of the state. The Head of Administration and Finance,

Bauchi State Due Process Office, Malam Umar Sani, confirmed the exercise on Thursday in Bauchi. Sani said while exchanging views with members of the state Coalition for the Improvement of Public Expenditure Management, that the process

would not negatively affect the contents of the law. “The public procurement law is being reviewed and would soon be passed. “It has got to do with the structures of the procurement entities but has not affected the contents of the law,” he

said. Sani said it took the U.S. government more than 200 years to perfect its procurement reform. He, however, expressed optimism that the state’s reform process would not be long. Sani said the state recorded success

in the service delivery due to the current Public Tender system where contracts were awarded through public bidding. He also noted that the provisions of the Appropriation Law assisted in the implementation and monitoring of the state

budget. The delegation was led by the State Programme Officer, Centre for Information Technology and Development, Malam Isa Garba. He had earlier said the coalition’s visit was to acquaint members with the activities of the office.

Laimdo assures on sustaining growth in Jigawa SEGUN ADIO AND ABDULLAHI ODEY, DUTSE

igawa State Commissioner for information, youth, sports and culture, Alhaji Ibrahim Gumel Babandi

has reiterated the determination of Governor Sule Lamido to further bring smiles to their faces this New Year. Alhaji Babandi gave these assurances in his Dutse office while addressing residents of the state on

the plans of the state government for 2013. The commissioner used the occasion to highlight some of the achievements of the PDP-led government in the state in the last year, saying Governor Lamido, during

the year in review, delivered in his pre-election promises. Babandi identified some of the completed projects to include the state secretariat, the High Court complex, the School of Nursing, the official residence/office

Transition Committee Chairman, Bakori Local Government Area, Alhaji Aminu Magaji (right), presenting grinding machines to beneficiaries of International Fund for Agricultural Development user groups at subsidised rates in Bakori, Katsina State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Southern Kaduna groups declare support for Yero, Bajoga A ZA MSUE KADUNA

rominent groups under the auspices of Southern Kaduna Local Government chapters of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) Youth Wing yesterday declared support for the new Kaduna State governor, Dr.Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and his deputy, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga. Governor Yero and his deputy’s emergence followed the death of late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa who died along with immediate past National Security Adviser ,Gen.

Andrew Azazi in a navy helicopter crashed in Nembe , Bayelsa State while returning from burial funeral of the father of president Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Research and Documentation,Douglas Oronto, recently. Bajoga’s nomination was kicked against by various groups like the Coalition of Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals, Coalition of Southern Kaduna Youth saying that his choice was political plot to take away Peoples Democratic Party state chairman seat from the late governor Yakowa’s Southern zone and silent them before 2015 polls. However, addressing a

press conference on Friday Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria, Southern Kaduna and national coordinator SOKAPU, youth wing, Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki and Sabastine Luka called on youth to rally round the state government. In the words of Sarki, “We are using this medium to declare our support for the administration of governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and his deputy, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga and we called on all Southern Kaduna youths to rally round him and disregard any call against the government by any individual or group so as to assist him in moving the state forward.

Comrade Sarki continued, “In regards to the appointment of Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga as the deputy governor, we equally respect and support the decision of the governor, as it is his constitutional right to do so by choosing him as his deputy, we believe it was done in good faith and was born out of the desire to take the state to enviable heights. Ambassador Bajoga is a bona fide indigene of Southern Kaduna with every right and qualification to be appointed deputy governor of our dear state and we know very well that he has the interest of Southern Kaduna people and that of the state at heart.”

of the Deputy Governor and the School for Gifted children. In the words of Babandi, “As much as 2012 was hectic with lots of activities, the administration of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) was able to complete major projects which are all new,” he said. Babandi also used the occasion to admonish the opposition in the state to be constructive in their criticisms, urging them to assist Governor Lamido to move the state forward. Looking ahead into 2013, the commissioner said it will be a year of consolidation of the major achievements of the state government, which all places Jigawa as prime Destination target for businesses. Babandi said some of the completed projects were commissioned by notable personalities in the country, including President Goodluck

Jonathan, Governors Rotimi Ameachi and Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Rivers and Katsina states, respectively and former Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon after whom the state NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp was named in honour of being the founder of the scheme. During the year under review Babandi said two thousand five hundred (2500) kilometers of intra and township road were constructed including two hundred (200) kilometers of feeder roads to link the villages to their various local council Headquarters. Continuing, Babandi, “Education and Health were also accorded top priority with renovation of existing schools and health centres and the provision of material and human resources for both sectors as well as other necessary requirement”, he said.

Adamawa inaugurates agric policy committee

damawa State Governor Murtala Nyako has inaugurated a 13-man agricultural policy and implementation committee to enhance farming in the state. Speaking at the occasion yesterday, Nyako said the establishment of the committee would support economic development policy of the state government. His words, “The inauguration of the committee is in line with the state government’s policy of agricultural development as the centrepiece of its economic development. “It will also readdress issues militat-

ing against the smooth and successful transformation of the agricultural sector in the state.” The governor said successful agriculture transformation programme was the only way of eradicating poverty. Chairman of the committee and deputy governor of the state, Bala Ngillari, thanked the state government for giving members of the committee the opportunity to serve. ``I assure you we will be committed to the confidence reposed in us, especially in transforming agricultural development in the state,” Ngillari said.

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Swiss bank to close after US fine

witzerland’s oldest bank is to close permanently after pleading guilty in a New York court to helping Americans evade their taxes. Wegelin, which was established in 1741, has also agreed to pay $57.8m (£36m; 44m Euros) in fines to US authorities. It said that once this was completed, it “will cease to operate as a bank”. The bank had admitted to allowing more than 100 American citizens to hide $1.2bn from the Internal Revenue Service for almost 10 years. Wegelin, based in the small Swiss town of St Gallen, started in business 35 years before the US declaration of independence. It becomes the first foreign bank to plead guilty to tax evasion charges in the US.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

January 5, 2013

Other Swiss banks have in recent years moved to prevent US citizens from opening offshore accounts. US Attorney Preet Bharara said: “The bank wilfully and aggressively jumped in to fill a void that was left when other Swiss banks abandoned the practice due to pressure from US law enforcement.” He added that it was a “watershed moment in our efforts to hold to account both the individuals and the banks - wherever they may be in the world - who are engaging in unlawful conduct that deprives the US Treasury of billions of dollars of tax revenue”. Otto Bruderer, a managing partner at the bank, admitted that Wegelin had sheltered US clients from tax between 2002 and 2010, and said it was aware that its conduct had been “wrong”.

Pakistani girl shot in the head for being educated, leaves UK hospital T he Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban and treated in Birmingham, United Kingdom, walked out of hospital yesterday, three months after she was gunned down at point blank range for standing up for women’s rights. Looking frail but firm on her feet, Malala Yousafzai, 15, hugged and waved goodbye to staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where she has undergone months of life-saving surgery to re-

move the assassin’s bullet from her brain. She will continue her rehabilitation at the family’s temporary home in the West Midlands before undergoing major reconstructive surgery in a few weeks. Malala’s bravery has moved the world in the months since she was targeted by the Taliban in Pakistan for heroically speaking out for women’s rights and freedom of access to education in the country. In October last year a

Taliban hitman burst onto her school bus in Swat, northern Pakistan, and shot her at point-blank range. The bullet entered just above her left eye and ran along her jaw, ‘grazing’ her brain. It was later removed by surgeons in Pakistan before she was flown to the UK for specialist treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The Taliban have vowed to target her again.

Medics said that Malala will be re-admitted later this month or early February to undergo reconstructive surgery on her skull. She will visit the hospital every week to attend out-patient clinical appointments where doctors will assess her progress. Medical Director Dr Dave Rosser said: ‘Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery.

Chavez battles lung infection in Cuba hospital

enezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez, is suffering from “complications” brought on by a “severe lung infection” which developed after surgery, officials say. Chavez, 58, had his fourth operation for cancer in Cuba on December 11, 2012 and then developed a respiratory infection. In a statement from Caracas, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said the infection had “led to a respiratory insufficiency”. Chavez is due to be

sworn in for another term in office on January 10. “Chavez has faced complications as a consequence of a severe lung infection,” said Villegas. The president has not been seen in public since having cancer surgery in Havana, prompting persistent speculation about his condition. The information minister was among a number of Chavez’s political allies who have urged people not to believe what they called lies about his health.

Church of England drops gay bishop prohibition

he Church of England has dropped its prohibition on gay clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops. The announcement, from the Church’s House of Bishops, would allow gay clergy to become bishops if they promise to be celibate. Conservative evangelical Anglicans say they will fiercely resist the development in the synod. The issue has split the church since 2003 amid a row over gay cleric Jeffrey John becoming Bishop of Reading. John, now Dean of St Albans, was forced to step

down from the role after protests from traditionalists. He was also a candidate for Bishop of Southwark in 2010 but was rejected. Evidence emerged that this was because of his sexual orientation. Evangelicals have warned they would be willing to bring in bishops from overseas to avoid serving under a gay bishop. The Church has already agreed to allow people in civil partnerships to become clergy, provided they promised they would remain celibate, and repent for active homosexuality in the past.

Family support: Malala Yousufzai in her hospital bed with her father Ziauddin and her two younger brothers Atal Khan (far right) and Khushal Khan (centre)

Kenya ‘fake police chief’ charged

Kenyan man has been charged after allegedly pretending to be an Assistant Commissioner of Police for five years. Joshua Waiganjo is said to have sacked and recruited police officers in Rift Valley province

during this time. He denied two counts of impersonating a police officer, one of illegal possession of police uniforms and one of robbery with violence. He was reportedly uncovered after flying on a police helicopter to inves-

tigate a massacre of officers. In November, at least 42 police officers were killed by cattle rustlers in the Suguta valley - the most deadly attack on police in the East African nation’s history. After pleading not

guilty on all four charges, the case was adjourned to allow Waiganjo to seek medical treatment for diabetes, local media report. Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told Nairobi’s Capital FM that Waiganjo had not been paid a salary by the police service.

China journalists battle censors

ournalists at a leading Chinese newspaper have called for a propaganda chief to resign, in a rare protest against censorship. Prominent former staff and interns at the Southern Weekly urged the official to quit after he changed an editorial into a Communist Party tribute. They accused him of being “dictatorial” in an era of “growing open-

ness”. The row comes as the website of a liberal journal was closed, after it ran an essay urging political reform. The influential online magazine, Yanhuang Chunqiu (or China Through the Ages), had called on China’s leaders to guarantee constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and assembly. Correspondents say the censorship row is an early

test of whether China’s new leaders, announced in November, will be open to reforms. The row at the Southern Weekly - known for hardhitting investigations and testing the limits of censorship - erupted after a new year editorial calling for guaranteed constitutional rights was changed at the last minute to one extolling the virtues of the Communist Party. In two open letters, 35

prominent former staff and 50 interns at the paper have demanded the resignation of the provincial propaganda chief in Guangdong, Tuo Zhen. They said the move amounted to “crude” interference. “If the media should lose credibility and influence, then how can the ruling party make its voice heard or convince its people?” a letter yesterday, said.

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Must I run for every election? That will be an unnecessary distraction. Former director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili, denying the allegation that she is planning to contest the Anambra State governorship election later this year.

Saturday, January 5, 2013. www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gender equality as a core development objective F or the reason of its importance in all aspects of human development and particularly in Africa, gender equality is an issue that will keep on recurring in our consideration of development, growth and wealth creation. It is not only a core development objective in its own right and morally imperative, it is also smart and good economics. To under-educate, under-empower and under-utilise fifty per cent of any population does not sound nor seem right. It is bad economics. It is also monumental abuse of human rights. It has been aptly said that women rights are human rights. For the wholesomeness, harmony and stability of any society, the white and black of the organ of the society, as represented by men and women, must be jointly played together. In all areas of human endeavour, men and women can play joint and complementary roles to ensure adequate and complete production to satisfy the entire community or the society. Educating and empowering women alongside men as economic, political and social actors can change and enlarge policy choices, make institutions more representative of a range of voices and

with President Olusegun Obasanjo hexcellency2011@yahoo.com close the gap normally inherent in diversity. Although there are generally global improvements in gender equality situations, there are still crying needs for increased efforts for improvement in some communities, particularly in Africa, Latin America and Asia. These improvements must take place for the next generation to reach the optimum height of development and growth and make institutions more representative. Beginning must be made in education, particularly girl child education as the

panacea to banish gender inequality. The disadvantages placed in front of women must be removed and the gap must close. Women education makes for better population management, children upbringing and value inculcation. Life expectancy will be increased because infant mortality will be reduced. Again, on the economic front, there will be productivity gains. Forty per cent of global labour force for women is not enough. It should be almost equal percentage for men and women. Pro-

SPORT EXTRA

No Sunderland move for Obi

igeria international, Joel Obi will not be moving to English Barclays Premier League club, Sunderland in the winter transfer this month. According to Obi’s agent, Renzo Contratto, the player remains an important playing member of Italian Serie A club, Inter Milan. He also clearly stated that Obi will not leave Inter Milan this January. But Contratto is not ruling out a possible move to England in the future for the Nigerian youngster. “It will be very difficult this winter for him to go to England or any club because right now he is a very important player for Inter.

“In the future Obi wishes for the possibility to move to the Premier League but not at the moment,” Contratto was quoted as saying by a foreign media report. Earlier this week, Sunderland were linked with a move to prise away the midfielder from Inter Milan. The Black Cats were also said to be exploring a loan option to sign on the 21-year-old Nigerian, who will miss out on appearing at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. The midfielder is reportedly valued at 5 million euros. Obi has made just one Serie A appearance for the NerInter Milan’s Joel Obi (left) battles Cicero Moreira Jonathan of Parma azzurri this term owing to a during the Serie A match between the two clubsides at Stadio Ennio season blighted by injuries. Tardini, Parma, Italy on May 2, 2012.

ductivity will also be raised if women have their talents developed and made to acquire skills in science, technology, maths and engineering. The women of Africa who are more than men in smallscale farming enterprises will increase agricultural production with better education, better skill, availability of finance and access to land. When women make money, most of it is spent on the family. Improved financial income for women will mean better food and nutrition, education and health for their children. Equal access to economic opportunities means better income for the family and elimination of poverty. But finally, there must be equal opportunity at the Board of Directors level and at the political decision level. Where there are critical mass of women in these two areas, quality of decisions has been found to be better and decisions tend to be more for general public, servicing overall interest and more balanced both in terms of interests covered and time consideration. Women bring femininity and a relatively lower predisposition to corruption into economics and politics.

English FA Cup FIXTURES Today’s Matches Brighton v Newcastle United 12:30 Aston Villa v Ipswich 15:00 Crystal Palace v Stoke 15:00 Fulham v Blackpool 15:00 Man City v Watford 15:00 Peterborough v Norwich 15:00 QPR v West Brom 15:00 Southampton v Chelsea 15:00 Tottenham v Coventry 15:00 Wigan v Bournemouth15:00 West Ham v Man United 17:15

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