Saturday, 28th may, 2016 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Vol. 6 No. 22 P.14

Saturday, May 28, 2016

National Mirror Online

LIVING

Abigail, trafficking victim who aborted 320 pregnancies, dies

@NationalMirror

N150

CRIME Pastor rapes 7-year-old girl P.43

We’ll shock the world–N’Delta Avengers

•Blows ‘heavily guarded’ NNPC gas, crude trunkline •Demands sovereign state, refuses pipeline contracts •Promises more attacks P. 9

President Muhammadu Buhari, Managing Director, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Sunday Olajide and others after meeting between Mr President and PHOTO BY ANAYO OPARA Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday.

Anxiety in military over attacks ‘Buhari unhappy with slow on pipelines pace of military response’

P. 10

Tiwa P.19

Sheriff must give way for peace in PDP —Jerry Gana P. 11 Sealxk 12 things men should stop worrying about in bed T

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MAY 28, 2016

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The entire management and staff of

Felicitate with our own amiable Governor of the State and his lovely Wife on his

ONE YEAR IN OFFICE

AS THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu with wife and Hon. Prince Ikechuwu Apugo, (left) GM, ASEPA

We salute your astute and pragmatic nature which has brought democracy dividends in all the senatorial zones of our great state. The Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own State. I pray God to give you more strength to pilot the affairs of this state and take you from glory to glory.

Signed

HON. PRINCE IKECHUKWU APUGO (Leader)

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MAY 28, 2016

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The scourge of medical tourism

Akwa-Ibom-world-class-hospital

Many influential Nigerians have penchant for seeking medical treatment abroad despite the fact that their ailment could be handled in our local hospitals. MUDA OYENIRAN in this report examines the recent directive by the federal government that it would no longer sponsor any Nigerian for overseas treatment.

ew years ago , Nigerians were amazed when they heard that former Vice- president Atiku Abubakar went abroad to seek treatment after injuring his ankle during an exercise session. Many Nigerians felt such a minor injury could be effectively handled in a Nigerian hospital. They had expected that the former vice president would lay good example by staying in the country for treatment in order to encourage many other influential Nigerians from seeking treatment for minor ailments abroad. The penchant of many Influential Nigerians from seeking treatment abroad has been a subject of discussion in medical circles for ages. At the drop of hat, many politicians and well-to-do Nigerians would happily travel abroad for medical treatment. Immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom state governor but now the Senate Minority Leader, Mr. Godswill Akpabio was se-

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‘Some people die in the air while being transported abroad’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

verely criticized for travelling abroad after sustaining injuries in a car crash last year Mr. Akpabio, who is the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, was initially treated at the national hospital, Abuja. His car had collided with a United States embassy vehicle after beating the traffic. Akwa Ibom government sources said the former governor preferred to seek medical help overseas than do so at a N30 billion hospital he opened shortly before leaving office in May. Unveiling the facility in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, in May 2015, Mr. Akpabio had told Nigerians the hospital was of worldclass specialist standard with ultra-modern medical facilities that would attract medical tourism to state. He said the hospital was equipped with “640 city scanners, digital mammography, endoscopy surgery, highly sophisticated intensive care units and medical gas plants with fully automated laboratories”. “We lose billions of dollars every year to medical trips abroad. We have also lost a lot of people, not because we don’t have the expertise in the country,” Mr. Akpabio said during the commissioning of the hospital. “We needed a hospital that can run at international standard. We also decided to have a hospital that would answer to the needs of Nigerians in terms of advanced health management. And that was why we built the Akwa Ibom Specialist Hospital,” he said He said the hospital was higher than a teaching hospital, and that it was a “quaternary hospital”. The governor said the entire hospital system was hooked up to the global system for best practice. “We are starting it with about six modular theatres with equipment, that if for instance you are doing a cardiological investigation on a patient, cardiologists from around the world can hook up to the theatre and see real time what is going on and make their contributions to the examination and operation,” he said. Mr. Akpabio also noted that instead of rich Nigerians and other nationals of West African countries to go abroad, it would be easier to visit the Uyo hospital. “Sometimes, people die in the air while being transported abroad for treatment. We wanted to shorten travel time for patients going abroad and at the same time get revenue for the state from health tourism,” he said . Also recently, the PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh who is currently standing trial over the arms scandal sought permission to travel abroad over his failing health. Metuh, in the application, stated that his decision to seek treatment abroad was informed by the advice of a neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja following the injury he allegedly sustained after falling from a chair at the national secretariat on April 26. However in his reply Justice Okon Abang also said he was sure that Metuh could be treated here in Nigeria like other Nigerians. “There is no evidence brought forth by Mr. Metuh that none of the teaching hospitals in Nigeria can treat him of his sickness. We have so many teaching hospitals here that can treat such illness,” he ruled. This perhaps informed the latest directive by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole when he declared that no Nigerian would be allowed to go abroad for treatment on government sponsorship from January 2017 . The minister, who stated this recently in

UCH, Ibadan (Insect LUTH ward, Lagos)

Uyo while inspecting facilities at the Akwa Ibom government-owned Ibom Specialist Hospital, pointed out that with facilities at the hospital, medical tourism abroad could be reversed. He said that visiting the hospital complex was an eye opener, and noted that there is no such complex like this anywhere in Nigeria” the minister said. “We will partner to make sure that it works and reverses medical tourism. People from Ghana and Togo can come to Nigeria for medical treatment. “We will start using this facility, with this facility, no Nigerian will be allowed to go abroad for treatment,” Adewole said. The minister also cautioned medical doctors against running a syndicate of sending people abroad for treatment for pecuniary interest but said that individuals could go abroad at their own expense if they wished but not on government sponsorship. President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigeria loses about $1 billion annually to medical tourism, which is more than annual budget of some states. President Buhari who spoke at the 56th Annual General Conference and Delegate meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Sokoto, said his administration will not encourage expending the nation’s

resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad especially when there is evidence of expertise in Nigeria. Represented by Minister of Health, Professor Isaac ‎Adewole, Buhari said his administration will not deny any Nigerian his or her fundamental human right, but will certainly not encourage expending Nigeria’s hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad especially when there is evidence of expertise in Nigeria. Medical experts have also condemned increased level of overseas medical treatments saying that it could affect the health individuals even as they advocates equipment of health centers in Nigeria with state of the art modern equipmen. This, they believe would would reduce the quest for oversea medical treatment by most Nigerians. Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee at the University College Hospital Ibadan, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, blamed the situation on lack of confidence in the Nigerian health system. He noted that some patients returned from treatment trips with more complications than those that existed from the initial diseases adding that it would be difficult for a doctor to complete what someone else started. Afolabi who discouraged Nigerians from seeking medical treatments abroad maintained that there was enough expertise in the

Medical tourisM is not soMething we are happy about because Most of the ailMents we take outside the shores of the country can actually be handled here. we see soMe of these hospitals over there approaching nigerian doctors to send theM cases which could be treated here

country. He said: “There are practical examples of medical errors and stress of the patients. These consultants are given advanced ailments which they have never seen before. It is only in Nigeria that patients wait for ailments to reach advance stages before seeking professional medical help. Treatments now become difficult and tricky for those experts as they have never seen such worse cases before and diagnoses now become trial and error because they had never seen peculiar cases before.” “For the restraint to be effective, government needs to build on expertise through training and retraining and make available conducive atmosphere for newly trained doctors to practice. Government should equip our hospitals with state-of the art medical equipment to the extent that these experts would be able to practice and discourage importation of obsolete equipment,” he added. A consultant dental surgeon at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Juwon Arotiba however noted that the cost of treatment, transportation, maintenance of the patient and accompanying persons, depleted Nigeria’s foreign exchange. He said: “There were inadequate and modern equipment, no well trained medical personnel and drugs and dressings were sad stories. But those stories are now in the past and anyone seeking medical tourism will be putting a lot of problems on himself.” “There are so many disadvantages wrought by this idea and I believe that a responsible government would not allow this to happen to its health sector. I can say that Nigeria’s health sector has improved considerably in many areas despite challenges faced by it.” “Nigerians now see travelling for medical treatment as a class issue to the extent that any little medical discomfort is treated abroad. If consultants refuse to give referrals based on

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‘Nigerian doctors are everywhere in the world’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

the fact that hospitals in Nigeria can handle such cases, the patients become insistent.” “But the medical consultant has the right to state in the referral note that the patient insisted on seeking help overseas despite the fact that such cases could be treated here in Nigeria. After patients return, there is the challenge of follow-up and feedback. It is not easy for a doctor to effectively review a patient whose case-history was not adequately monitored by home doctors,” he added. The chairman, Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter, Dr Buki Adewole has attributed the increased level of oversea treatment by Nigerians on the decay and dysfunction in the larger society. She noted that many patients were being exploited abroad, with many returning misdiagnosed after paying exorbitant bills adding that the government and Nigerians should take full responsibility of bringing the health sector to its desired level. Mr Samuel Adeyemi, the immediate past chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, urged government to re-orientate Nigerians on medical tourism. He said: “I believe that the health sector in Nigeria is ripe enough to take charge of the delivery of healthcare and government should do the needful by allocating more money to healthcare delivery.” The chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo state branch, Mr Olalekan Fashesin said Nigeria had enough manufacturing companies to complement tertiary health facilities adding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had certified over 50 companies to produce drugs locally in accordance with best practices. Mr Muideen Olatunji, Oyo State chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said the health sector in Nigeria could compete with its counterparts overseas. He said the Federal Government should take measures to reduce medical tourism to conserve foreign exchange and ensure the safety of Nigerians. Dr Benedictus Ajayi, the Group Managing Director of Eleta Eye Institute, said Nigeria was losing huge sums to medical tourism because of ignorance and inadequate healthcare facilities. Ajayi advised government to give tax incentives and loans, as in the agricultural sector, to further stimulate investment in the health sector. He said: “If the government encourages the private sector through tax incentives and loans like it is being done in the agriculture sector, then we would save the amount of money Nigerians pay outside.” The secretary general of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun state branch, Dr Adewunmi Alayaki, condemned the attitude of some doctors who referred patients abroad without consulting senior professionals in the field because of the “commission” the received from such referrals. He said: “Medical tourism is not something we are happy about because most of the ailments we take outside the shores of the country can actually be handled in this country. At times, it is because we don’t know where to go to. We see some of these hospitals over there approaching Nigerian doctors to send them cases which could naturally be treated here.” “The primary aim of a medical doctor is

Hospital in UK

to give the patient the best. If I know the ailment can be treated in UCH or LUTH, I won’t say because if I refer to hospital in India they are going to give me a rebate back, so I want to refer them. I have been approached by some of these hospitals. Personally, I am against it,” he said. Ajayii, however said the federal government had not done enough to boost healthcare delivery. He said: “Nigerian doctors are everywhere in the world, they go there because those people have equipment to work with while we don’t have here in the country. If the government wants to do well, there is nothing stopping them from establishing well equipped hospitals in the six geopolitical zones of the country. Orthopedic hospitals should be well equipped, if it is one in a zone, people will know and they will go there instead of going abroad. “It is not about personnel, it is about having the equipment to work with, the government should equip our expertise with the best facilities you can get anywhere in the world. We have to start the campaign for our members to refer to team of experts in higher centers. If your case cannot be handled in Nigeria, let it come from them. By the time we start campaigning about it, medical tourism will stop,” he added. The chairman, Management Board of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Professor Emmanuel Otolorin, said the process of treatment and not personnel were the challenges of Nigeria’s health system. Otolorin ‎alleged successive governments in the country of establishing health facilities based on political considerations. He said: “Nigeria is blessed. When you look at Africa, we have some of the best practitioners in Africa and even elsewhere in the world. Many of our doctors and nurses who have migrated are doing very well in a different environment where the input are; the

President Buhari

Prof Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health

processes are in place and the outcome is therefore appreciable. I worked in the UK for a while and I used to laugh when people will come from Nigeria to UK for a service and a Nigerian doctor is the one taking care of them. “So we have good healthcare workers but we need to put in place processes and systems that everybody will follow. The problem with us is that people take shortcuts and when you take shortcuts; the quality of services you provide will be not be optimal. So we need to stop taking shortcuts.” The Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences. University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulwahab Johnson called on the government to lay emphasis on curative healthcare. “Those people who embark on health tourism to India and China come back most times

dissatisfied. Quite a number of people get marooned with quack doctors and Indians who are quick at taking advantage of them,” he said. Dr Dayo Adeyanju, Ondo State Commissioner for Health, however, said there was a need for better specialist and teaching hospitals to provide specialized care for Nigerians. He said: “If the Federal Government can provide standard health facilities it will help to take care of critical ailments, such as heart surgeries, brain surgeries, cancer and others which our people are trooping out of the country to treat. “I believe that people don’t go abroad to treat common ailments, so the Federal Government needs to strengthen its health institutions and staff to be able to tackle special cases.”

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How foreign firms fleeced Nigeria of crude oil, gas worth $100bn —Falana Marcus FatunMole (ABUJA)

onstitutional lawyer, Femi Falana, has revealed how foreign firms in the country stole hydrocarbons (crude oil and gas) worth $100 billion, in connivance with their home country. Falana, who approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with evidence detailing how the theft were executed, expressed hope in the ability of the anti-graft agency to prosecute firms involved. In a statement he made available to journalists yesterday, caption “My Goodwill Message to the EFCC,” the Ekiti-born legal icon, said the commission would have taken the fight against corruption to a remarkable height in the nation, but for prominent personalities in the country who want the act to thrive, including “a former Attorney-General of the federation and an ex-Inspector-General of Police. While pretending to fight corruption under the rule of law, the vagabonds in power were able to suspend the trial of a few public officers who had criminally diverted over N2 trillion.” According to him, when the EFCC took off in 2004, it was able to prevent criminal suspects from frustrating their prosecution. He decried that the commission’s posture against corruption was subsequently compromised by the corrupt cabals in the country. He furthered that, haven taken over the criminal justice system, the people made sure that once a big man or woman was ad-

mitted to bail, the defence counsel engaged in dilatory tactics to wear out the court and the prosecutors. However, Falana particularly lauded current strides of the EFCC, including recent pronouncements of the nation’s courts against corrupt persons, resulting in about 160 convictions won by the EFCC, which he described as a record feat. He charged the EFCC to join President Muhammadu Buhari to demand a return of the huge sums of money hidden in the vaults of banks and invested in real estates of western countries. Besides, Falana said the recovery of looted wealth, which he said the EFCC is fully dedicated, is a popular cause, and that it is supported by all citizens. But, he reminded that the “powerful” beneficiaries of corruption are fighting back in a ferocious way, and that they would not win the battle “because there is no hiding place for them any longer.” The lawyer averred that to block the movement of stolen funds locally and internationally in the country, the federal high court had granted “Mareva injunctions and other preservative orders. “To aid investigation and prevent well-connected people from tampering with the investigation of serious cases magistrate courts have been granting detention orders of suspects. Both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, have rejected the clever designs of some accused persons to frustrate their prosecution at the trial courts,” Falana said. He also challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Of-

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fences Commission, ICPC, and EFCC to team up with the judiciary and ensure that proper investigations are conducted on corruption cases, especially those involving persons who see themselves as sacred cows. Falana opined the ICPC, which he said, has over 400 cases pending in the various state high courts, should urgently review such cases with a view to

charging the suspects with money laundering or other federal offences in the federal high court. With convictions already won by the EFCC, Falana noted that perception of the public is that the anti-graft agencies in the country are not succeeding “because the fat cats have remained largely untouchable. The picture has begun to change. Just

recently, a former commissioner in Adamawa state, local government officials in Kogi state and a former DG of NIMASA were convicted and jailed. With the religious application of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 our criminal courts have sped up the trial of criminal exposed persons. “Those who have stolen

the country dry and violated the human rights of the masses in the process will no longer be allowed to invoke the rule of law to hide their loot. It is high time the EFCC paid attention to the looting of the commonwealth by foreign companies and governments. Admittedly, the members of the ruling class in Nigeria are ‘fantastically corrupt.’

N19.7bn Fraud: Arraigmnent of ex-JTF Commander, Atewe, Akpolobokemi suffers setback Wale IgbIntade

he arraignment of a former Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF), Major General, Emmanuel Atewe and former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime and Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, over alleged N19. 7 billion fraud suffered a setback yesterday, before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The setback was due to the first accused person, Dr. Akpolobokemi, who objected to the reading of the 11 counts charge on the premises that he was never serve with the charge and proof of evidence. Akpolobokemi, Major General Atewe, alongside Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga, are charged before Justice Saliu Saidu’s led Court on 11 counts charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, stealing and fraudulent conversation of the sum of N19. 744, 041, 556 billion, to their personal use. At the proceedings yesterday, Akpolobokemi through his lawyer, Dr.

...adjourns till June 3

Joseph Nwobike SAN, informed the court that he was not aware of the arraignment before the court today. He told the court that he was just coming from the hospital to attend his trial in another criminal charge and that he was not aware of the new charge. He further informed the court that neither his lawyer nor himself, were briefed about today’s arraignment. Responding, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the accused person have never made himself available for the Commission since the last adjourned date at Justice Buba’s court. Oyedepo also informed the court, the charge sheet and proof of evidence had been served on the accused lawyer’s firm, Dr. Joseph Nwobike & Co., which was received by one of the lawyers in the firm. However, the court adjourned the arraignment of the four accused persons till June 3, when all of the accused would have been

properly served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence. The anti-graft agency in a charge, alleged that the former JTF Commander and other three accused persons, had between 2014 and 2015, in Lagos, used six companies, namely: Jagan Trading Company Limited, Al-Nald Limited, Jagan Limited, De-Newlink integrated Services Limited, Paper Warehouse Limited, and Jagan Global Services Limited, to commit the alleged acts. Count one of the charge reads; “that Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga, sometimes in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sum of N 8, 537,586,798.58 (Eight Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight Naira, Fifty Eight Kobo), property

of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act. While the count eleven of the change reads; “that you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga, between the 5th day of September, 2014 and 22nd May,2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud stole by fraudulently converting to your own use the sum of N1,147,723,362.42 (One Billion, One Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Forty Two Kobo), through Jagan Trading Company Ltd, property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C. 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

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Killings, sexual violence against children on the increase —UNICEF T

he United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, yesterday, expressed concern over increased violations of children’s rights. In a goodwill speech to mark this year’s Children’s Day, the international body said, such grave violations were very high in the North-East, Nigeria, In the message signed by Jean Gough, Representative UNICEF Nigeria, which was presented in Enugu and other parts of the country, he said the theme of this year’s Children’s Day, “Protect the rights of the child in the face of violence and insecurity: End child marriage”, was helping to shed a much needed light on the unprecedented levels of violence against children in Nigeria in the recent past and present. He observed that “in the North East, we have witnessed, and continue to witness grave violations of children’s rights - killings, abductions, sexual violence and use in suicide bombings by Boko Haram. More than 1.2 million children have been displaced - more than half of them below the age of 5. “However, children liv-

ing away from the crisis in the northeast are also at risk of violence. “The Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey (carried out by the National Population Commission, with the support of UNICEF and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), launched by government of Nigeria in September 2015, highlighted the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional violence suffered by children in Nigeria. “The survey estimates that half of all children in Nigeria experience physical violence, one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence before they reach the age of 18 years. Less than 4% get the help they need to recover.” “This year’s Children’s Day offers the opportunity to highlight the significant pledges made by the Federal Government, NGOs, religious groups and the media last September to join hands to end violence against children, and call for renewed efforts by all stakeholders to turn the commitments they made into action for

FG has not removed subsidy on Fertiliser —Ogbeh AdeolA Tukuru ABUJA

he federal government said, the present administration has not removed subsidy on the fertilizer input of the agricultural sector, in order to improve on the enabling environment for farming operations to thrive in the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh dropped the hint during his interactive meeting with the media men covering the ministry in Abuja. Chief Ogbeh gave an assurance that the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the ministry was still active but would only be mod-

ified to optimally cater for the needs of Nigerian farmers. He reaffirmed that this administration would not engage in any policy somersault. The Minister said, “Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) is alive, we are modifying it and we are not engaging in any policy somersault, we are going to widen it. We did not remove subsidy, if we stop subsidy, it will affect agricultural productivity”. sOgbeh posited that the present administration would rather subsidize agricultural inputs than oil; adding that the ministry had developed a soil nutrients map that indicates the type of fertilizer that will be suitable for specific soil requirement and urged farmers in the states to adopt the technique.

children. “In response, His Excellency, President Buhari had launched the Year of Action to End Violence Against Children on September 15, 2015 in conjunction with the National Priority Actions, which not only set out the key actions of national Ministries and Agen-

cies, but also of NGOs, religious groups and the media. He called upon all states to launch their own campaigns and every Nigerian to play their part in ending violence against children. “Progress has been made. Lagos was the first state to heed the President’s call, launching

their own campaign and priority actions in February 2016. Cross River will be the second in June 2016. Bayelsa state domesticated the Child Rights Act. Nine States, with funding from USAID and the European Union, have joined together to develop a model child protection system in order to trans-

late this essential Act into reality. 12 states will hold#iMarch4Children marches today to raise societal awareness on the prevalence and impact of violence against children. There is no better time than today to take action. Together, let’s end violence against children”, he added.

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) welcoming the special envoy from Niger Republic, Mr. Albade Abouba at the Presidential Villa, Abuja … yesterday

Another international carrier stops Nigerian route over blocked funds

olusegun koiki

arely two months after the Spanish carrier, Iberia Airlines suspended operations into Nigeria, due to its inability to repatriate its ticket sales fund back to its home country and dwindling passengers, another international airline has announced its plan to stop flying into Nigeria. The United States biggest airline, United Airlines yesterday, said it would stop flight operations into Nigeria from June 30, 2016. The airline cited poor financial performance, weakness in the energy sector and difficulties in sending home monies made from ticket sales as some of its reasons for the action. The airline, which commenced scheduled operations to Nigeria on December 13, 2010 as a result of the open skies

agreement signed between Nigeria and the United States to boost economic relationships between both nations, declared that it had been operating at a loss in recent time. Nigeria is the only African country the airline flies to from the US. United Airlines said in a note to employees during the week, said that the daily route from Houston to Lagos, had underachieved for years, but was kept alive because of its importance to Texas-based customers. The suspension of the Nigerian route by the airline would now leave Delta Air Lines from the US as the only carrier operating into Nigeria while Arik Air remains the sole carrier from Nigeria flying into New York in the US. The Head of Press, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India of the airline, Mr. Kevin Johnston in his response to an email sent to him by our correspondent,

confirmed the planned suspension of the flight operations of the airline by June 30. He however said, the airline would contact its passengers who had already booked beyond the closing to provide refund. He said, “United confirms that it will discontinue its service between Houston and Lagos. The last departure from Houston will be on June 29, and the last departure from Lagos, will be on June 30. “We have regretfully taken this decision because of the route’s poor financial performance. We will contact customers with bookings for flights beyond those dates to provide refunds. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.” Despite this stoppage, the airline said passengers could still fly to Nigeria on United’s trans-Atlantic business partner, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, through a connection in Frankfurt. It would be recalled

that Iberia Airlines had on April 18, 2016 announced the planned stoppage of the Nigerian market. The airline had cited dwindling passenger traffic for its suspension of Nigeria’s route. The carrier had stopped operations in and out of Nigeria since May 12. In a letter to its trade partners, the Regional Commercial Manager of the airline, Mr. Kola Olayinka, Iberia had said, it was a tough decision that had been taken by its head office following the wide acceptance received from passengers, especially those heading towards Spain and Latin America over the years. Olayinka disclosed that the carrier’s commitment to Nigeria, since it started operations in 2014, was never in doubt but noted that over the last few months, the airline had witnessed dwindling passenger figures to Madrid, its main hub.

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Niger Delta Avengers blow NNPC facility •Vows to shock the whole world ...Promises worse attacks, demands sovereign state, refuses pipeline contract

Elo ogwara

iger Delta Avengers, the new militant group that has launched multiple attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region, has struck yet again. The group announced its latest assault on Friday, saying it blew up a gas and crude trunk line belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Warri, Delta State, late Thursday. The Avengers announced the attack via its Twitter handle. The group said that the facility was “heavily guarded” by the Nigerian military, in an apparent attempt to mock the Nigerian armed forces’ capacity to check its activities. According to a message sent out yesterday, the insurgents, claimed to have destroyed a trunkline belonging to the NNPC at about 11:45pm at a location close to Warri. “At 11:45pm on Thursday, @NDAvengers blew up other #NNPC gas and crude trunkline close to Warri. Pipeline that was heavily guarded by military. “The Niger Delta stakeholders’ meeting is an insult to the people of the Niger Delta. What we need is a sovereign state, not pipeline contracts. To IOCs, Indigenous Oil Companies and the Nigerian military; watch out, something big is about to happen and it will shock the whole world”, it said. The spokesman for the joint military tasks force in the area, Isa Ado, could not be immediately reached for comments, but security sources and residents in the area confirmed the attack. “We are in the process of accessing the incident and the cause and details are not yet available,” a military personnel deployed to the area said. Residents of the area said the attack on the crude pipeline caused an oil spill. Augustine Amaka, who resides in Warri, Delta State, said the spill that

followed the pipeline blast polluted the surroundings while soldiers cordoned off the area. Eric Omare, an aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and a youth activist, confirmed the incident on telephone on Friday. “Another crude pipeline was attacked Thursday night near Batan oil field in Warri,” he said. “There were two attacks on Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company and NNPC pipelines, following shortly after an earlier attack on Chevron in Escavos,” Mr. Omare said. The so called Niger Delta Avengers had rejected a meeting recently convened in Abuja by the federal government, warning of its readiness to carry out an attack that will “shock the whole world”. “The Niger Delta stakeholder’s meeting is an insult to the people of Niger Delta. What we need is a Sovereign State not pipeline Contracts. “To the IOC’s, Indigenous Oil Companies and Nigeria Military. Watch out something big is about to happen and it will shock the whole world,” the group tweeted on Friday. The group has launched several attacks on oil and gas infrastructure since February 2016, demanding a sovereign nation of the Niger Delta people. On Thursday, it claimed responsibility for an attack on a gas pipeline belonging to Chevron in Delta state. “We warned Chevron, but they didn’t listen. NDA just blew up the Escravos tank farm main electricity feed pipeline,” it said. The militants said the oil facilities were sabotaged following attempts by Chevron to carry out repairs of main Escravos crude oil pipeline it blew up earlier. A spokesperson for the group, Mudoch Agbinibo, had earlier this month warned the Nigerian government of further attacks if their demands were not met. Last week, Chevron’s Makaraba crude oil line was attacked on the offshore Okan manifold in the

region. The attack followed previous ones on the company’s facilities at Abiteye, Utunana and Makaraba platforms in Warri SouthWest area of Delta State

resulting in the loss of over 40,000 barrels of oil per day. Although there was no official security confirmation of the incident, as none of the top security operatives who could make

comments on it were unavailable as at press time, a reliable senior naval officer confirmed that an explosion had been recorded close to Egwa 1 area, which is the oil fields Batan com-

munity belongs to. The insurgent group has in recent times cost Nigeria’s crude oil output and gas production huge losses. (With additional report from PREMIUM TIMES)

A Volunteer Doctor, Iheme Oluma (right) attending to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) during a free medical outreach organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the Children’s Day at Wassa IDPS Camp in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Fuel, gas, oil supplies affected UdEmE akpan

he production and export of crude oil and natural gas as well supplies of fuel and gas may be crippled in the nation, as the Niger Delta Avengers has threatened to bomb many facilities in the coming weeks. The group of militants that greeted children for marking their day yesterday, said that the nation should expect “something big”, in the next few days. The Avengers who accused oil companies in the region are responsible for pollution and said the poor swampland region fails to reap any benefit from the wealth on which it sits. The militants, whose activities have slashed the nation’s oil production and export, posted a warning on Twitter to the army and oil firms: “Watch out, something big is about to happen and it will shock the whole world “. The militants intensified attack on the nation’s crude oil and gas pipelines operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on Thursday, this week. The spokesman for Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Eric Omare told Reuters that:”Another crude pipe-

line was attacked Thursday night near Batan oil field in Warri,” He added that: “There were two simultaneous attacks on (state oil firm) PPMC and NNPC pipelines.” The militant group tweeted later that they had blown up a gas and crude pipeline near the town of Warri that was protected by soldiers and operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The Avengers, who have given oil companies until end of the month to leave, said they want independence for the Niger Delta and have intensified attacks in recent weeks, pushing oil output to its lowest in more than 20 years and compounding Nigeria’s economic problems. Investigations showed that the development has also affected the supply of gas to thermal power stations in the nation. Many individuals, households and companies now have to generate their independent power at higher cost since the nation now generate, transmit and distribute less than 3,000 megawatts, mw of electricity. This level of electricity supply is said to be by far less than the nation’s estimated 12,800 mw peak national demand.

The government has responded by moving in army reinforcements but British Foreign Minister, Philip Hammond said this month, that President Muhammadu Buhari needed to deal with the root causes of poverty and anger about oil spills. The increased attacks showed that the efforts of the government with the militants have not yet yielded any meaning result. The NNPC had in a statement noted that the federal government and stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have resolved to work together to stop the recent upsurge in attacks on critical oil and gas installations and ensure security, stability and economic development of the area. The corporation had said that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, expressed the federal government’s readiness to check the resurgence of pipeline sabotage in the region. It had quoted Kachikwu as stating that all the stakeholders resolved that solutions to the incessant attacks on oil and gas pipelines are within the communities, stressing that com-

munities were now saddled with the responsibility of ensuring protection of pipelines within their domain. The apex oil company had said: “The Minister further stated that, it was resolved that violence was not an option in resolving the problems of the Niger Delta and that all threats from the region should end henceforth. He stated that there was need to reach out to all other stakeholders who were not part of the meeting to embrace peace and dialogue.” “The Niger Delta governors must be involved in providing lasting solutions to the resurgence of pipeline vandalism and there is urgent need to create business opportunities for the locals in the region.” “Governor Adams Oshiomole and other leaders of the Niger Delta region, who spoke at the meeting, urged the agitators to drop their arms and embrace dialogue as the Federal government was committed to the development of the area. All the stakeholders who spoke at the meeting reassured that they would take the message of peace back home in order to provide a win-win situation for the federal government and the Niger Delta region,” it had added.

ents must face processes of law to be reintegrated PAGE

NATIONAL NEWS

MAY 28, 2016

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Anxiety in military over Avengers

• May redeploy troops from N’East —Source • Threat to crush militants an illusion. Rather, military crushing the economy —Expert Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

he Nigerian military is said to be apprehensive over the renewed attacks on oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA. Top military sources close to the Service Chiefs and Defence Headquarters, DHQ, said that there are plans to redeploy some troops to boost the war to crush the threat Avengers. This is just as a crisis communicator for security agencies in the country, Yushau Shuaibu, said that the threat by military to crush the militants was an illusion. He worried that rather than crush the militants,

the military was crushing the economy. According to the military General, who confided in our correspondent on ground of anonymity, the Service Chiefs were very restless yesterday, after they learnt that the militants blew off another oil installation and vowed to “shock the whole world.” The group had yesterday, announced its latest assault, saying it blew up a gas and crude trunk line belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Warri, Delta State, late Thursday. The Avengers announced the attack via its Twitter handle. The group said that the facility was “heavily guarded” by the Nigerian

military, in an apparent attempt to mock the Nigerian armed forces’ capacity to check its activities. “At 11:45pm on Thursday.@NDAvengers blew up other #NNPC Gas and Crude trunkline close to Warri. Pipeline that was heavily guarded by Military,” the group tweeted. The DHQ had earlier vowed to crush the Avengers, after President Muhammadu Buhari said that they should be treated as Boko Haram terrorists. Director of Defence Information, DDI, Brig-Gen Rabe Abubakar, said last week that the military was not worried and that citizens and oil workers should not succum to the threats of the militants. Abubakar had said that

the military was ready for the militants, but btween that period and now, the militants have unleashed more attacks unapprehended. The source said, “ President Buhari was unhappy with the pace of military operations against the Avengers, these people have made more statements with their attacks than the military has done against the. “The Chiefs are not happy, but we already have so much in our hands in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East, where we have concentrated operations all this years. Now we are considering reploying some troops to boost operations in the Niger Delta and protect the

installations”, the General said. All efforts to reach the DDI to confirm the plans to boost operations in the region and the latest attack failed as his telephone lines were not reachable. However, Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, who was contacted, said that the DDI and Spokesman of the Operation Pulo Shield, Colonel Ado Isa, in the Niger Delta region, were in the best position to speak on these issues.

Convicted NIMASA boss, Omatseye seeks bail Wale IgbIntade

Nigeria Air Force Secondary School Ikeja, during 2016 Children’s day Celebration Parade in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Buhari’s emergence saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse — Minister The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said, the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president in 2015, saved the country’s economy from imminent collapse due to mismanagement and unbridled corruption. The minister made the remarks in Kano on Friday, during a courtesy visit to governor Abdullahi Ganduje, shortly before

the commencement of the Hausa language town hall meeting in the ancient city. “For the fact that God loves this country, if any other political party had won the election, there would have been no economy to talk about. “They wouldn’t have the courage or discipline to manage the economy,” he said. Mohammed said through prudent manage-

ment of resources and the introduction of creative ideas to block leakages, the president was gradually reviving the economy. He assured Nigerians that there was indeed light at the end of the tunnel. “This government more than any government, has been working very hard because this is one government that genuinely believes in the people. “It is one government

that really cares for the poorest of the poor. “For the first time, we have a president whose integrity is actually driving the country,” he said. He appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the change they voted for would be gradual, noting that the past one year had been spent in laying a solid foundation for the country. (PREMIUM TIMES)

The crisis communicator, Shuiabu, had cautioned that dialogue remained the best option to the issue in the Niger Delta, as this was used effectively by previous administrations. He said that the grandstandings by the Buhari’s administration against amnesty programme and contracting the security of the pipelines to them were costing the nation its economy, in view of the setbacks caused by bombing of oil installations.

onvicted former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Raymond Temisan Omatseye has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos, to grant him bail pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction. He was convicted by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on May 20. Omatseye, who is challenging the verdict, is praying the court to grant him bail pending the determination of his appeal he lodged at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division. According to him, given the number of years it takes to prosecute appeals, it is likely that he could have finished serving the prison term by the time the appeal is determined. Omatseye said he is a father of four children, one of whom is very ill and suffers from “severe medical conditions of epilepsy, atypical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation, artrial fibrillation, enuresis, severe learning difficulties and development delays” Besides, he said his wife stays full time in London with the sick

child to enable him get proper medical attention. In his wife’s absence, he has been providing parental care to the remaining three children in Nigeria. Omatseye pleaded that he would not run away if granted bail. He said, he was always in court during trial, adding that he was granted bail after his arraignment on self-recognition, having been a lawyer for 28 years. In its response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) argued that the issues raised by Omatseye ought to be determined by the appellate court. The Commission argued bail after conviction is only granted on the basis of very special and exceptional circumstances. “In the present application, no exceptional or very special circumstances have been shown to entitle the applicant to bail pending appeal. “The applicant has failed to show any special circumstances or reason to enable this honourable court to exercise its discretion in its favour and admit the applicant to bail. “We, therefore, urged this honorable court to dimiss the application,” EFCC said. Justice Ofili-Ajumogibia adjourned to June 6 for ruling.

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MAY 28, 2016

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SOUTH EAST

Sheriff must give way for peace in PDP —Jerry Gana AliunA Godwin ABAKALIKI

he leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Concerned Stakeholders, Prof. Jerry Gana, yesterday stormed Ebonyi State to solicit support of the Governor of the state, Chief David Umahi, on thier demand that the factional chairman of the Party, Ali Modu Sheriff, should give way for absolute peace to reign in the party. Gana, who is the Board of Trustees (BOT) member of PDP, made this known while briefing journalists in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, shortly after Project inspection with the governor which lasted about six hours to mark the 20th anniversary of the state, tasked all aggrieved members of the party to embrace peace to enable them reclaim power in 2019. The former Minister of Information during Ernest Shonekan’s administration noted that a lot of things have gone wrong in the country, and that PDP when united, will bring greater development and change the negative ‘change’ that are affecting the well-being of the masses in the country. He said: “Other concerned members of PDP and I are working very hard to ensure that there is peace in the party. Part of the reasons I am here in Ebonyi State is for us to speak to one another because I am one of those leading the Abuja group. We are not leading that group to divide the party, and that is not the point. “We did not only join the party, but we formed it, and we cannot destroy the party we formed. I am very, very confident that it will soon be over. I like to place on record the role of Umahi together with other governors, who are working very hard to ensure this.” Gana informed that the PDP caucus in the National Assembly and the governors from the party had met in Abuja, and agreed that PDP must continue to exist. He pleaded with Senator Ali Modu Sherrif to give PDP some peace, “for us to re-organise ourselves to move forward,” adding that congresses would be held within the next 90 days in areas where they

were not properly done. Gana disclosed that the “Abuja group” was only protesting certain fundamentals which were going wrong” and not interested in dividing the party. He said that the group was only avoiding the mistakes of 2015, and maintained that it was identifying with the Port Harcourt resolutions.

According to him, a National Convention that would give the party a new elected leadership would then be held. The former Minister of Information applauded Governor David Umahi for delivering good governance to the people of the state. “I feel immensely delighted to see good governance in action in Ebonyi

State. To me, there is always a great delight to see the combination of good leadership, good governance and development. The three things are linked.” He further described Umahi “as an excellent example of a good leader, who is giving good governance and producing good development.” Gana commended the

synergy existing between the Executive and the other arms of government in the state. “I see harmony in governance. The various aspects of government are working together, particularly the Executive and the Legislature,” he added. He appreciated the governor for selecting very good and competent com-

missioners, stressing that “they are people who know really what they are doing and are able to keep to target.” He noted that the projects executed by the governor were people-oriented projects that touch on the lives of people and maintained that “infrastructure is very important for development.”

Child trafficking has drastically reduced in Enugu —Ugwuanyi EmmAnuEl EzEh ENUGU

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, yesterday declared that the incidence of child trafficking and other vices against children have reduced to the minimum in the state. Ugwuanyi, who stated this in his speech at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration, said the decline in child trafficking was a result of collaboration between the government and so many other bodies. The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, noted that his administration, since inception, had continued

“to show commitment towards the proper intellectual and social development of our children.” He added that “this commitment is demonstrated by the efforts we are currently making to ensure the renovation of all the primary and secondary schools in the state and the provision of essential equipment, furniture and facilities for the benefit of our children. “The government has also taken steps to strengthen the relevant boards and agencies in the management of primary and secondary education to ensure more qualitative education and more conducive environment for the growth

and learning of our children. “Through the State Ministry of Gender Affairs, the government, and in partnership with relevant Federal agencies and non-governmental agencies, we have achieved a significant reduction in the incidence of child trafficking and other illegal practices

that affect the rights and development of children. “The Enugu State Child Rights Act is now before the State House of Assembly, and when passed, will provide important legal support for our efforts in this direction.” “We have also successfully sustained the Maternal and Child Health Care Programme which has

continued to earn plaudits from relevant local and international organisations. “However, despite these commendable efforts, we believe that the training and proper development of our children should be a collective responsibility of all adults and relevant institutions in the society,” he further stated.

Anambra PDP protesters demand certificates from INEC

ome leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State chapter, have vowed to exploit every legal means available to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issues them certificates of return. The aggrieved protesters were candidates of the party removed by the commission prior to the general elections last year on account of the Appeal Court judgment which has since been set aside by the Supreme Court ruling. The politicians, who belong to Ejike Oguebego-led faction, claimed that since they were the candidates of the authentic PDP in the state whose primaries were also supervised by the commission, they should be issued the certificates of return. However, waiting for 106 days after the Supreme Court order, the candidates stormed INEC Headquarters in Abuja for the second time in two months to demand their “certifi-

cate of return” The politicians, who came under the umbrella body of Committee of Anambra State PDP House of Representatives members-elect, arrived at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters as early as 8.30 am, with their supporters who stormed the venue in four buses. Activities at the commission were temporarily disrupted by the politicians, who carried placards with inscriptions like “INEC obey Federal High Court and Supreme court ruling”; “INEC do the right thing, give us certificates of return”; “INEC silence for 106 days is injustice.” Leader of the group, Mr. Anthony Offiah, regretted that four months after the Supreme Court judgment, INEC had not restored their right. The peaceful protest, he said, was the second in the last two months, to press home their request, which he said was simply: “issue us our certificates of return.”

CORRIGENDUM

The above INVITATION FOR BID could not be published on Friday, May 27, 2016 as scheduled. Any inconvenience is highly regretted.

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SOUTH-WEST

MAY 28, 2016

Repositioning LASU already yielding positive results —Ambode

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday said the conscious initiative of his administration at ensuring enduring peace and repositioning the state university is already yielding positive results. He said with the recent ranking of the institution as the best state university in Nigeria and the 11th overall best public university in the country, he would

continue to do everything to make the institution the preferred university of excellence in research and human capacity building in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. Ambode, who spoke at the 20th Convocation ceremony and installation of the new Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) held at the New Auditorium Complex of the Ojo Campus of the institution, said his vision was for the citadel of learning

to produce the next generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who will not be looking for employment but be job creators and employers of labour. To this end and considering the current unemployment statistics, the Governor said his administration has proactively instituted a programme that will enable fresh graduates become job creators rather than job seekers. He said: “This capacity

building initiative tagged “Ready, Set, Work” is targeted at final year students in Lagos State Tertiary Institutions. This programme will enable successful students get internship placements in high ranking corporate organizations arranged by us. At the end of the programme, those with best business ideas will get linked to major investors and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kemi olaitan IBADAN

renewed call has gone to the federal and state governments to quickly diversify into agro-allied economy in order to arrest the challenges of insecurity and unemployment staring the country in the face. The Chairperson, Shafaudeen Sister Daawah Circle, Sister Habeebat Abul-Hameed, who made the call yesterday in Ibadan during the 23rd anniversary of the association, also condemned paedophilia in the society. She similarly urged the youths to develop their entrepreneural skills for self employment and probable

job creation to help in the development of the nation. While lauding the Founder and Spiritual Head of the Islamic organisation, Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, for his investment in educational, economic and spiritual well being of members, she said, “we have block making industry, clinic and schools which are catering for the interest of members and outsiders, regardless of their religious inclinations.” Olagoke who spoke on “Dangers and Implication of Paedophilia on the Girl Child in Nigerian Society”, said the time has come to put a stop to this neuro-biological and psychological problem threatening the socio-design and corporate existence of mankind on earth.

‘No hiding place for child traffickers, perpetrators of domestic violence’

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode(2nd left), Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Olamilekan Adeola Solomon and others during the unveiling of the plaque to commission the newly constructed and upgraded Ajasa-Command Road, Ipaja with street lights, drainage and walk-way in Alimosho Local Government, Lagos on Friday, May 27, 2016.

Ooni, Osun Assembly urge children to believe in Nigeria Boladale BamigBola OSOGBO

he Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has urged Nigerian children to believe in Nigeria and be dedicated to the development of the country, just as Osun State House of Assembly urged parents to give priority attention to

early childhood education. Oba Ogunwusi stated this during the maiden edition of Children’s Day Celebration organized by the Ile Oodua and hosted by Olori Wuraola Otiti Ogunwusi, on Friday in Ile-Ife, Osun State. While noting that the level of patriotism in children was declining in the country, the Ooni urged leaders in the country to

intensify investment in the children. He said, “Children of the past believed so much in this country and that aided the growth of this country. Patriotism from the older generation children helped this nation so much, but the country no longer enjoys such today again. “Today’s children must also believe in this country, they must have

hope in this country. “The children are the future of this country; we can do more for the children. We should be more afraid of the children than even the adult because the level of investment in them will tell on this country. Leaders must move closer to the children and that is exactly what you have seen my wife and I do today.”

Amosun calls for protection of the Nigerian child

he Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has tasked parents, teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders across the country to see the protection and care of the Nigerian child as a collective responsibility. The Governor stated this yesterday at the 2016 Nigerian Children’s Day celebration held at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

Speaking on the theme, “Protect the rights of the child in the face of violence and insecurity: End child marriage,” the Ogun State Governor said the children are the future leaders. “This theme has come at the right time and all hands must be on the deck to care, provide and protect the Nigerian child from violence and insecurity,” Amosun said. The Governor also

seized the occasion to appreciate the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for creating the enabling environment for men of the Nigerian Armed Forces to operate, leading to the rescue of two of the missing Chibok girls. The Ogun State Governor further assured that the government is committed to protecting the right of all Nigerian children. Advising the chil-

dren, Governor Amosun enjoined them to focus on their studies, desist from all forms of violence and shun social vices, which he said, are capable of destroying and shattering their future aspirations. Highlight of the celebration includes a March past and presentations from students of various schools in Ogun State as well as members of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that the State Government would no longer tolerate any form of child abuse, domestic violence, child trafficking or violation of any law on the development of children in the state warning that perpetrators would be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law. Governor Ambode who was speaking at the Children’s Day celebration organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education at the Police College ground, Ikeja said that in the recent times, there has been a noticeable increase

in child abuse, raping, kidnapping , deliberate neglect and above all, child trafficking in the country. The Governor who said that these acts constitute serious criminal offences warned that his government would not tolerate any of these acts in any part of the state. He therefore warned perpetrators of these acts to desist as his government is battle ready to deal decisively with anyone caught in the act. The governor expressed sadness that this criminal act is becoming a norm in our society today rather than being an aberration.

Bolanle Awe tasks youth to be responsible citizens Kemi olaitan IBADAN

retired professor of Oral History, Prof. Bolanle Awe, has tasked Nigerian children to be determined to be responsible citizens. She gave the advice yesterday at the 2016 Children’s Day school debate and quiz competition organised by the Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative with the theme, ‘Your health in our hands’. She said any child that is neglected and not given required attention by the parents would end up becoming a social dissident. She said, ”It is good and ideal for parents to have time for children. You, children, also have a responsibility to your

parents and the society to be the best. “You are the future of the society and as such, you have to behave properly to your teachers and other people in the society. “You have to respect the elders. Some children can be rude; they will not greet the elders well. I urge you all to be responsible citizens”. The Executive Director of DOHAI, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Ajibulu, said health is wealth, hence should be given required attention. She said children are at higher risk of poor health delivery and fake and unwholesome drugs, stressing that this informed the NGO’s decision to focus on health issue during this year’s celebration.

MAY 28, 2016

POLITICS

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13 Kaduna and one year of el-Rufai Tomorrow, May 29, the administration of Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai will clock one year. He was elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2015 polls, with a vow to make Kaduna state great again. In this report, AZA MSUE x-rayed the journey so far.

oliticians and lovers of democracy will from tomorrow be celebrating another annual democracy day which, usually falls on May 29, to showcase the gains since the return to civil rule when the military handed over in 1999. Though, observers are of opinion that the present government both at the federal and state would have performed better in this one year, if the only major source of the nation’s revenue, the oil price, is high and stable at the international market. Before the sacking of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last year’s general elections, expectations were high on the APC to deliver the campaign promises, which they believed can effectively turn around the fortunes of all for good. This hope continues as President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors are in search of solutions to the nation’s problems especially the economy, which has brought untold hardship on Nigerians. Many believed that Nigeria challenges are been caused by massive corruption by successive administrations, which has crippled the system. In Kaduna State, pundits believed that governor el-Rufai’s outing in the last one year has been impressive considering the programmes and policies he initiated to really bring Kaduna back to life. Analysts are of the opinion that, el-Rufai’s government in one year has brought the desire change and that there is hope of restoring Kaduna’s pride again. National Mirror chronicled el-Rufai’s steps, which keep hope in the people of state despite the economic crunch that, paralysed many states, making it difficult for them to even pay the workforce talkless of embarking on projects. Few weeks on assumption of office, el-Rufai in order to cut cost, reduced the state’s ministries from 19 to 13; appointed 13 commissioners where previous government had 24; slashed overheads for executive to 40%. The governor and his deputy also took pay cut and insisted that this will remain until things improve. As part of pulling investors to Kaduna, el-Rufai organised first Kaduna investment and economic summit tagged; ‘KADINVest’, which shows Kaduna is open for business. The investment drives yielded results following Olam groundbreaking for largest poultry in Africa in Kaduna. Also, the Dangote Group has decided to

build a tomato paste factory which will be supported by an out growers scheme for tomato farmers. The Flour Mills of Nigeria has chosen to target the production of maize, wheat and soya bean while the Reliance Group wants to grow rice in Kaduna. The governor signed Kaduna State 2016 Budget into law on 22nd December 2015, the first state to do so with budget size of N172bn, with N109.35bn as capital budget, more than 60% of the total. The budget was done on zero-based budgeting principle. To block leakages of public funds, el-Rufai implemented Treasury Single Account, TSA in three weeks and closed 450 accounts, remitted balance to Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The governor told participants in one of his town hall meetings held in Kachia: “Kaduna State implemented Treasury Single Account within three weeks. On 5 August 2015, Commercial banks were notified to close all KDSG accounts and transfer the balances to the CBN. By 1st September 2015, TSA was operational after the closure of 450 accounts, many of which the MDAs that opened them had forgotten about” “The government continued to make efforts to stop leakages of public funds. No cash collection is permitted by any government agency. All payments to the government to be made to banks or by electronic means such as POS and internet banking. On 5th February 2016, an IMF team led by Sailendra Pattnayak described Kaduna State’s implementation of TSA as a model for others to copy. “Zero-based budgeting: 2016 budget prepared on the zero-based budgeting principle that requires every item to be justified based on need and available resources, before it can be included in the budget. Vast improvement on the incremental budgeting system of old that created unrealistic budget” el-Rufai said. On education, el-Rufai school feeding programme fed 1.5m pupils every school day, school rehabilitation to repair classrooms, provide water and toilet facilities to 4,254 public primary schools have began. More than N6bn spent between September 2015 and January 2016 on school upgrade and provision of furniture. The school feeding in primary schools, provided 17,000 catering vendors who have on the average employ 4-5 staff. However, el-Rufai had abolished the collection of fees and levies in public primary and

el-RUFAI junior secondary schools which is to save Kaduna State parents N3 billion every year. Government has also prohibited the sale of forms to students seeking admission to public schools; all forms are to be given free. The governor had said, his government inherited school system where 50% of pupils seat on floors: “Schools are now being supplied with furniture, including chairs and desks .Recruitment of 2000 teachers in core subject areas: English, Mathematics, the Sciences and Information Technology” el-Rufai said. the governor is providing free uniforms in secondary schools and recovery of school lands from encroachers at Alhudahuda College and Rimi College completed. He did not leave the development of infrastructure out, as Zaria water progressing; solar street lights; township roads; rehabilitation of waterworks in Manchok, Saminaka, Kafanchan, Kaduna and eight other locations are in progress. el-Rufai had noted that, engineering designs and feasibility studies are ongoing for a Kaduna Ring Road project to link Eastern and Western sectors of Kaduna as 18 companies submitted bids to build a rail-based mass transit system for Kaduna metropolis; 12 of the companies including Alstom of France, Gauff of Germany and several Chinese companies have been approved for the next stage to submit designs, business plans and evidence of financial capacity. On the health sector, Kaduna State has taken the first prize twice in the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week for screening and testing 80,000 pregnant women for HIV in one week. 255 Primary Health Centres, one per ward, being modernised by the el-Rufai led administration. Through One Milion Lives programme, el-Rufai said general hospitals should be equipped with laboratories that can screen even unborn children to determine their gen-

otypes. The All Progressives Congress, APC administration, in the state also embarked on mass housing project and the governor has launched the building of 20,000 homes in the state. Governor el-Rufai said: “Preferred bidders selected for two five-star hotels; Cremona has been selected from six companies that submitted bids to construct three private grain silos” “Water resources get an additional N11.4 billion for projects such as Zaria Water and dams across the state. KDSG saved N1.18bn on the Kawo-Lugard Road contract by renegotiating the contract sum from N3.685bn to N2.5bn” the governor said. To tackle high level of unemployment in the state, el-Rufai’s direct jobs from School feeding, tailoring of uniforms, Kaduna State Enviromental Law Enforcement Agency, KASTELEA, teaching; school repairs. Kaduna State Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) to train 5,000 entrepreneurs in business skills and assist them to develop business plans that can be funded by the Bank of Industry. Kaduna Artisan Training Academy (KADAT) approved to train artisans with skills in construction industry trades with waste collection currently engages about 6500 youths. To generate much revenue, the administration had introduced tax codification law, the first of its kind in Nigeria. Under this law all taxes and levies and vests revenue collection will be handled by one agency with no multiple taxation in the state. Under security, el-Rufai’s one year in office had donated 51 motorcycles to the police and other security agencies, which according to the government is in continuation of previous support, including 107 vehicles and bullet proof vests. The governor launched and executed operations against cattle rustling and criminal gangs in the forest ranges around BirninGwari, in collaboration with neighbouring states and with the support of the military, the police and the State Security Service, SSS. In a bid to stop continuous killings in Southern Kaduna, the government set up the General Luther Agwai’s committee to look into the insecurity in the zone, and the processes and recommendations of that committee according to experts have reduced the intensity and frequency of the killings. Although, cases of kidnapping were reported in the state, which reports said government has acquired drones to track down kidnappers. Though, the main challenge of the el-Rufai government in the state is inadequate of funds to execute the volume of projects line up due to the failing of monthly federal allocation accrued to the state. To this end, the governor had restructured the state revenue collection agency to collect 4billion naira monthly. As el-Rufai administration begins a second year journey, political watchers are watching with keen interests on how he will bring dividends of democracy to the populace of the state.

www.nationalmirroronline.net MAY 28, 2016

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Sad end for Abigail, woman who aborted 320 pregnancies

Patience OgbO

bigail, one of the victims of a Libya based human trafficking ring operating in Nigeria, has died, days after she was rescued from a prostitution cartel in Libya.

Saturday Mirror had reported that Abigail, 26, was among more than 500 girls trafficked to Libya for prostitution by a Nigerian syndicate allegedly led by a couple, Alhaji Muritala Sanni and his wife Alhaja Lateefat Sanni, who are still on the run from law enforcement agents.

Tunde Oshokoya , a human rights activist and private investigator who worked with the Alliance of Rights Defenders (ARD), a nonprofit organisation based in Lagos involved in rescuing three of the trafficked girls revealed Abigail’s death. He said “It is with heavy heart that we announce Abigail’s passing. She died after a brief illness she came down with while she was in Libya. Since we rescued her, we took her for treatment but she gave up the ghost. “It is sad that ARD, an NGO took up the responsibility to rescue and rehabilitate trafficked victims without any assistance from government”. Barrister Ojay Akinwale, the Chief Executive Officer of ARD expressed sadness over the death and urged government to take human trafficking seriously. Saturday Mirror had reported that Abigail was among three trafficked victims rescued from prostitution in Libya by ARD. She had claimed in the interview that she was trafficked to Libya in 2013, after she was lured there to work as an Auxiliary nurse. She also claimed that she was forced to abort about 320 pregnancies for girls working for the prostitution ring in Libya. Abigail who was very ill during the interview had expressed fear that she would die if she exposed the Libya human trafficking syndicate. She added that soon after her rescue, she received a threat from the syndicate in Libya that she will die if she exposed them. In spite of the threat; Abigail went ahead and narrated her ordeal in the hands of the traffickers. She said “I was living in Bayelsa State. I am an orphan. My parents are dead and I live with my siblings. After my parents died, the responsibility to cater for my siblings fell on me as I was the oldest child. Sometimes in 2013, my sister’s friend Nursi came to our house in Bayelsa and saw me resting. She told me I was looking bored. Nursi then told me to come over to Lagos to meet her that she will introduce me to people that will assist me financially. I was interested and I travelled to Lagos

to see Nursi. Nursi took me to see Alhaja Lateefat and her husband Alhaji Muritala Sanni. They told me they can help me to make good money as an auxiliary nurse in Italy. “I told them that I had only worked as an axulliary nurse in Nigeria but they assured me that they have connections in Italy. They told me to pay N10,000 for passport. After I paid the amount, Alhaji Muritala took two other ladies with me to see an herbalist called Ewe. Ewe put gin in a concoction pot and missed it with a black fish. He gave three of us to eat the concoction. After we ate the concoction, Alhaji Muritala took us to the bus park and we travelled to Kano by road. We met other agents who later moved us by road through the desert to Libya. I was scared and each time I asked them when the plane will come to take us to ltaly, the agent will tell me that we have to pass through desert first. At the end, we landed in Libya and Alhaji Muritala told us that we have reached our destination. “They locked us up in one room with fifty other girls. We were not allowed to go out and they beat us mercilessly if we attempted to escape” Asked what she was taken to Libya to do for the trafficking syndicate, Abigail said she was forced to abort pregnancies for the girls. “I was later moved from the room where I stayed with other girls to a private room where I was locked up. Alhaji Muritala and his wife control two brothels. One is called New York Up and the other is called White House. “I was in New York Up alone in a room where they have kept surgical instruments for me to abort pregnancies. Each day, they bring girls to my room to have me about their pregnancies. Alhaja Lateefat does not allow the girls to abort when they are one month pregnant. She waited until the pregnancies are up to four months and then forced me to abort for the girls. These girls were deceived by the couple Alhaji Muritala and Alhaja Lateefat Sanni CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Gone tomatoes gone Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MAY 28, 2016

Mirror

...as the essential ingredient gradually disappears from stew pots

The prices of food items have hit the roof, causing many households to tighten their belts to an extent that is near killing. But why are tomatoes, of all items, the worst hit, and what are housewives, who are feeling the pangs most, doing to cushion the effects, asks ERIC ELEZUO.

n a recent commodity index report provided by Novus Agro Nigeria Ltd, agro-allied companies, prices of some commodities like imported rice, maize and garri, have continued to rise at various markets within the Lagos metropolis and across the country in recent weeks. In the report, an enumeration specialist with the company, Miss Avadoo Gaadi, said that the increase in the prices of commodities was due to a rise in the exchange rate of the dollar, the fuel price increase and insufficient rain, adding that traders were selling off the old stock of commodities at higher prices, because the demand for the available stock was high.

“Basically, the present commodity prices have been influenced by some factors such as the exchange rate of the dollar and logistics constraints caused by the fuel scarcity. “Imported rice and the cost of transportation from the ports to the markets have also contributed to the increase in the prices of a lot of commodities in the market. “Palm oil production is now very expensive and it is used for garri production, and as a result, the price of garri has increased. There are no rains and so there is scarcity of garri in the market. “Maize is not really in the market because of lack of rain. Traders are selling off old stock at higher prices basically,” Gaadi

said. She said that the prices of commodities have been on the increase since the beginning of the year, due to a totality of these factors, and tomato, which hitherto has not been affected, seems to be at the forefront of the hike in price In every Nigerian home, mostly during the weekends, tomato plays very important roles in the menu as various meals which the family could not prepare during the week as a result of the hurry to leave home, and the lateness of returning home, are easily made available at such periods. Such foods include but not limited to frying of eggs and other kinds of frying as well as preparing of stew for the proverbial Sunday rice. There are also other food delicacies, which use the tomato, thereby making the tomato a compulsory part of the home menu. However, today, all that have changed as the tomato has unceremoniously disappeared from the market stalls and by extension from menus and stew pots. This is a situation that has turned housewives to genius of some sort, as they initiate moves to keep the home afloat and the stew pots red. According to investigations, the basket price of tomatoes has gone

up to as high as N43, 000, prompting just a handful of about five pieces to cost as much as N500. This has subjected most homes to wonder if there will be an end to the present food crisis. Hitherto unconfirmed reports monitored by Saturday Mirror revealed that the present situation which made it impossible for the much needed recipe to be present in home menus is not unconnected to the a ravaging disease sweeping through the Northern states’ farms reputed for producing the red vegetable. He affirmed that in seven states of the north, an unknown disease was said to be ravaging farms. Some the states have been identified as Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Nasarawa. The disease was called Tuta Absoluta, aka Tomato Ebola. It was alleged that the disease was imported into the country from Niger Republic, and has affected the Southern states as well including Lagos. “In most farms of the north, a certain pest, which name I cannot give, is ravaging the crops, making it impossible for cultivation. As a result, farmers who are able to make out something out of nothing either decide to use it for CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Mirror

MAY 28, 2016

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘What’s Tomato Ebola’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

themselves or, when they sell, they sell at a very exorbitant price because the competition is no longer strong,” the source said. Mrs. Adeoye Kalejaiye is a housewife, who lives on 5th Avenue, FESTAC town, told our correspondent that since the outrageous price of tomatoes erupted, she had had to device a new means of making her stew red without actually going for the fresh tomatoes. “There is a particular red pepper popularly known as tatashe and atarodo. This is what we (I mean other women who also feels the pangs, but must keep going) mix with the regular tomato paste, and then we come out with resounding stew, thick and flavoured. It is just another means of beating the hard times which we did not contribute in bringing about,” she said. Another woman at the Alakija end of the Badagry Expressway told the Saturday Mirror that though she tries to buy the very costly tomatoes, she can’t afford to buy the quantity she was formerly used to, adding that to make for the lapses she had to use the packaged tomato paste, which according to her, is even becoming costly at the moment because of the excessive dependent on the product. “I still buy tomato, but not as before as I have to make up with tomato paste which has even added money since the tomato crisis. More so, the theory that has been introduced by Nigerian women has been very helpful. That shows the ingenuity of Nigerians, especially women at this time of challenge,” she said. Mr. Clement Okwuma, who claimed he was not initially aware

of the tomato crisis, narrated how he came to the eventual knowledge. “I use to give my wife a particular amount for stew every weekend, and I have come to know over time the quantity the amount produces. But to my surprise one weekend, I noticed that the stew was hovering at the very bottom; I raised alarm, and that was when I was given the hard to swallow tutelage. It was a situation I either have to live with or provide more money. But thank God, my wife has also learnt the tatashe-atarodo phenomenon,” he said. There is hardly any home in the urban area that is not affected at the moment. Most families have jettisoned some dishes that require the use tomatoes, pending the restoration of normalcy in the tomato kingdom. But the question stakeholders keep asking is what happened to the tomatoes being produced in most states of the south. They argued that if the tomatoes in the north are affected by pest in the north, what about the ones being produced in the south. Mr. Salami Odunsi, a community leader, who owns a farm at

Agboroko, along LASU/Isheri Road, said that because people have shun farming; that is why most food items are in short supply. He stressed that the more the population increase, the more there should be more people in the farms to produce what the growing population would, saying that the case is different here where everyone wants a white collar job or get into the entertainment for quick money. “Nobody, not even the youths want to engage in farming, even as the population keeps growing. So

Nobody, Not eveN the youths, waNt to eNgage iN farmiNg, eveN as the

populatioN keeps growiNg.

so who will produce the food we eat?

Sad end for Abigail! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

that they are bringing them to Italy to work as hairdressers and tailors. These girls are as young as 9 years to 15 years old and they are forced to sleep with men as old as firty years without protection. There was a day I was moved with sympathy and I assisted a 9 year old girl to escape. I got beating whenever I refused to abort for the girls. Alhaja Lateefat will use mopping stick to beat me mercilessly. “I have aborted three hundred and twenty pregnancies. The teenage girls also told me they used cumuber to disvirgin them before they are forced to sleep with men. These men

are usually criminals but Alhaja Lateefat and Alhaji Muritala do not care. All they are after is money and more money”. Abigail further narrated how she and other girls were forced to part with millions of naira before they were freed by the gang. She said “I became fed up with the situation in the brothel and I went to meet Alhaja Lateefat to give me freedom but she beat me up and said I have to pay her N2.4 million before I can go. I had to look for that money because she said that’s what the other girls paid and since I don’t have parents or any relations to send the money to her, then I should work for it if I want to get my freedom.

God helped me and brought two men to assist me pay. “These men are armed robbers and whenever they come to visit me, I take from their money and pay gradually until I paid up the N2.4 million. Alhaja Lateefat and her husband still owe me N1.5 million for the work I did for them. It is sad that I did not come back “with anything to show for my three years labour in Libya. They took my money and put this sickness in me. I became very ill after I went in January to tell Alhaji Muritala that I cannot continue work but he refused to pay me my money. I got help from a church through the assistance of Alliance of Rights Defenders(ARD)

who will produce the food we will eat? Everyone wants to be served, and so they preferred getting into white collar jobs and the entertainment industry, just because of making quick money and fame, but who will provide the food we will eat? He queried. He mentioned that lands; arable lands abound in every community, but no one wants to get involved in farming. He said that people should stop blaming the rise in the price of dollar and other sundry excuses for their laziness, adding that if everyone could just get a small garden at the back of his yard, the issue of hunger will be a thing of the past. “It has come to a stage where we blame everything on the dollar, and sometimes on bad government; these will always be with us. But bad government cannot affect one producing what he will eat in his own backyard, only laziness and pride can,” Odunsi said. While some state governments have declared emergency on the alleged disease, it is agreed that the earlier people realised the need to provide their own food, the better for everyone. to come back to Nigeria. “I and two other girls were brought back by air on March 11th. We are very ill and need government help” It was gathered following the revelations, the NGO petitioned the Inspector General of Police IGP Solomon Arase to arrest members of the fleeing syndicate and rescue other girls still held in captivity in Libya.” When contacted, the Zonal Commander of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person ( NAPTIP) Mr.Joseph Famakin stated that Abigail did not die in their custody. He said “I am just hearing from you that she is dead. The truth is that I don’t know who this Abigail is but we have reunited the trafficked victims with their families and so none of them died in our custody”

Entervaganza

The Saturday Mirror Magazine

Sex talk

12 things men should stop worrying about in bed P.36

Relationships What if your partner is an introvert? P.36

Fashion Frenzy Flirty Sandals

P.24

Saeon ... rising songstress

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MAY 28, 2016

ELEBRITY ELEBRIT ELEBRI TY

I thank God I’m still looking young

— Erelu Bukola Omo Daddy Afolabi Bukola Amoke popularly known as Erelu Bukola Omo Daddy is one of the promising and talented fuji musicians in the country. She paid a courtesy visit to National Mirror and spoke with VICTOR UDOH about her blossoming career.

What made you go into fuji music? I ventured into fuji music, because I love singing and since I discovered I can sing very well, I have so many followers of fuji music, who loves the way I sing. They love the way I sing especially being a female Fuji singer.

in Ekiti State that is why I titled it “stars” because I see people stars been buried. The other one is titled “season film” because I realized that people like to watch season film. And I thank God because these songs are really selling in the market.

If you have the opportunity to travel out of this country which country would you like to go? I will like to travel to Germany, Britain, Netherland and other European countries where we have more of Yoruba people. In Germany, we have many Yoruba people living there, and the little research I made, I think they cherish fuji music a lot there.

What is your advice to government as regard female fuji musicians? My advice to the government as regard female Fuji musicians is that they must come to our recues and help female musicians. Not only Fuji music but all form music because music is life. Without music society will not be lively. Music unity society, it brings peace. Music can be used to preach peace. I will advise the government to channel more resources on music, especially the female musicians.

How do you see the future of female musicians in Nigeria? I thank God that I am the first female Fuji musician that sings like Wasiu Ayinde in Nigeria and by God’s grace I will be the first to travel to European countries and sing. I believed that the future of female musicians in Nigeria is bright and great. What is your greatest challenge of being a female musician in Nigeria? The greatest challenge have been facing is most men will always say, I should use what I have to get what I want. That Is one of the biggest challenges I am facing as an individual. What inspire your singles Stars and Determination? What inspired me to do my album, I heard a dream and immediately I picked up my pen and wrote it down on piece of paper. The following morning I went straight to the studio to do the songs. When I released it the song immediately became a hit

What is your philosophy of life? My philosophy of life is to be good to people. Don’t keep enmity with people. Be free with people. Love your neighbor as yourself. Did your parents support your fuji music career? Yes they did. They are happy with my music career. They support my music because they notice that I have the talent. They discovered that I love singing. They know that I will be better off in music than any other thing. They really encouraged me. It is because of their support that I’m still in the business of music. What are the books you love reading? I love reading motivational books and books that inspire me to greatness because that is the place I draw most of my songs from.

Where do you see your music in the next five years? By the grace of God, I see my music gaining entrance all over the world. When did you start singing? I started singing since twenty

years. I thank God I’m still singing. But this time around I want to take my music beyond Nigeria and I’m looking at taking it to Germany, England and other European countries. I thank God I’m still looking young.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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s w ne MAY 28, 2016

with

Oseyiza Oogbodo 08036961187 kingseiza@gmail.com

Que Peller shines with Juru

quila records artist and magician, Que Peller, is presently having it good with his hot and sizzling video for his hit single, Juru, which is the follow-up to his also hugely successful Eleniyan video. Que Peller broke into the limelight after churning out hits like Juru and Eleniyan which are both still waxing strong and gathering a lot of momentum on all major media platforms, on dance floors and on the streets alike. The song Juru, which is produced by Young Jonn and mastered by Suka Sounds, is energetic and up-tempo, making a perfect fit with the vibrant, fun colors of the video which features dance routines choreographed by award-winning dancer, Kaffy. The director communicates and conveys a feeling by creating an implicit dance story through great execution and a play on colour and

Que Peller

Base One

composition. Juru features Que’s label mate Base One who adds his unique style

of rap to the song. The video is directed by Frizzle, with technical assistance from Kaffy. The styling

Moelogo features Davido, Sarkodie

ollowing the recent release of his sophomore EP, Ìréti, which has been championed by Apple Music/Beats 1, The FADER, BBC 1Xtra, Rinse FM and MTV UK among others, British-Nigerian afrobeat artist and MOBO awards nominee, Moelogo, has joined forces with Sony Music’s Nigerian pop star, Davido, and BET Award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie, to bring the official remix to his EP lead single, Penkele, premiered via Apple Music/Beats 1 and The FADER. Produced by P2J, Penkele (Remix) sees Moelogo collaborating with Davido and Sarkodie for the first

Moelogo

time ever to excellent effect. Keeping the original King Sunny Ade sample intact, Davido kicks off the remix with an opulent contribution in true Omo Baba Olowo fashion, while Sarkodie delivers a poignant rap verse in his trademark quickfire style, with Moelogo rounding things up in superb fashion with a glorious new verse. Easily two of the biggest artists to come out of Africa, multi-platinum selling artist Davido recently signed a worldwide deal with Sony Music to release his long-awaited sophomore album, and is said to be working with the likes of Young Thug, Wale, Tinashe and Rae Sremmurd.

Davido

Sarkodie, on the other hand, already has four albums under his belt, BET and MTV Africa Music Awards, and recently gave a keynote lecture at Harvard University. Moelogo, in his own right, is having an exciting year so far, with his captivating artistry and musicianship, and the infectious sensibilities and captivating flavours in his music, putting him in excellent company with Davido and Sarkodie. The last few weeks have seen him make his Boiler Room debut, support Wretch 32 and Avelino on their recent soldout concert at KOKO, and will soon be announcing his debut headline concert in time for this summer.

Sarkodie

is a collective effort by celebrity stylists Jekwu and Swanky Jerry, as well as Kaffy.

Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Stonebwoy, others for One Africa Music Festival

hanaian dancehall a r t i s t , Stonebwoy, is making major moves. About a month ago, he performed at Diaspora Calling! headlined by Grammy-winning artist, Lauryn Hill, at the King’s Theatre, Brooklyn, United States of America. Come July 22 this year, the Go Higher hitmaker will be performing at the Barclays Center, New York, United States of America alongside a number of highprofile African artists. The concert dubbed One Africa Music Festival will be headlined by Wizkid, and will see

Tiwa Savage

performances by the likes of Davido, Flavour, Iyanya, Diamond Platnumz and Tiwa Savage. It’s likely that Efya, R2Bees and Mr. Eazi who recently signed to Wizkid’s StarBoy WorldWide Records will perform also. One Africa Music Festival is powered by Upfront and Personal Event Management Company.

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MAY 28, 2016

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saeon revisits Wizkid beef

ne of the defining points in Saeon’s music career is her widely known beef with Wizkid back in 2014. Then, after paying him N1.5m to feature on her song, Boogie Down, he refused to tweet its link and Saeon got so enraged by the refusal that she disclosed to the world how much she paid Wiz for the collabo. Her disclosure however led to a lot of backlash for her as many industry heavyweights refused to see it her way that Wiz should have tweeted on her behalf after being paid so much. Now, she has come out with a lengthy emotional piece in which she once again touched on the issue and how it affected her so much that she nearly gave up on music and even got death threats. “I started releasing music as far back as 2008, demos actually because I wanted to have stuff on the scenes before I was ready to go professional with music. “I remember partaking in a competition called The Underground in 2009 alongside about 9 other guys and I being the only female came out as the first winner and Queen of the Underground. It was empowering. I had won something. The name SAEON went from being on the lips of just my family and friends to lovers of Saeon music. “Emerging as the Queen of the Underground got me noticed on blogs which gave me a platform to keep releasing demos including Fever produced by the late Sazzy (RIP), Let It Go produced by IBK SpaceshipBoi, Recover From You ft Falz produced by JRS all of which were popular underground. “Fast forward a couple years, I came back to Nigeria. I was finally done with school, I plunged into the industry with no guide or mentor. I was an independent artist who didn’t know the industry or even take the time to study it. “I felt I was ready! I had my family’s support. In 2012, I did a cover to Brymo’s Ara and gained popularity for it after Brymo himself released it on the radio as the best cover he had heard, giving me an introduction to the industry. I remember it getting massive air play and people reference it till date. “I put out my first single, Lie ft Flowssick based on ideas like ‘you need to do something for the streets/clubs, you need to do something more Nigerian’ — because in all honesty, I sounded too foreign. And it got some attention. This should have propelled me but it wasn’t. Not like I had hoped it would. “Fine, people liked the record but the reaction wasn’t necessarily increasing the brand or SAEON Music Lover base. I didn’t have the numbers from before where I’d release something and get 10,000 hits in a day. My numbers weren’t growing. “I put out more songs, Jara and Nekunek produced by Tintin, Bust My Brain ft General Pype and Awada Erekere produced by GospelOnDBeatz. One thing was

‘I got death threats’

Wizkid

apparent. I wasn’t getting the reaction from before. I wasn’t being consistent with my sound. I had put out a sound that wasn’t true to me, something I couldn’t really keep up with and so I wasn’t ‘getting the formula’. “I was listening too much to people’s opinion on how and what kinda music I should make that my opinion became mute and nonexistent to me, causing my efforts to drown in the listener’s confusion as to what the SAEON Sound or Brand was. All this happened between 2012 and 2014. “I then released Boogie Down ft Wizkid. I did what I could to push it the way that I knew how to. It was doing really well on the radio and I needed it to pop off in the clubs and on the streets. This was months before I got signed. “Dare I say the record was growing to became a hit but came with a lot of controversy after I expressed my thoughts about not getting as much support as I had expected and was agreed on. I suffered the backlash from that as people came for me. Some people I knew and most that I didn’t. “I actually had a couple death threats and tons of negative comments sent my way. I pretty much was on my own. No one had my back. Not in public. I remember getting just 2 phone calls from a couple people I considered as friends but majority didn’t say a word. “It wasn’t like they were obliged to but it would have at least encouraged me. It

Saeon

was as though the entire industry was against me. It was one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever faced. “The controversy never started out as a publicity stunt but happened to take place just before I released my first body of work, I Am SAEON – The EP’, which was supposed to showcase my R&B strengths. Instead, it drowned in the controversy. To make things worse I had no support from the label as they held off completely from promoting me barely 5 months after signing me. “I wallowed in it. Honestly, it broke me. Not just the ‘altercation’ — for lack of a better word — but the fact that no one, not even the label stood with me, making me feel like I was wrong for spending my money and voicing out because I felt I hadn’t gotten my money’s worth. I felt even God wasn’t with me. “Now that I look back, I can admit that I was wrong, wrong for not being tactful in expressing myself and wrong for not being smart about it after the fact. I should have used the buzz from this experience to keep pushing out content because as they say. All publicity, positive or negative, is good publicity. “I could have even went in the studio and recorded a diss track (thank God I didn’t release it), I didn’t ride on that buzz because I felt I needed to pause as the controversies were trumping my artistry and God-given talent, causing the listener base and industry to focus on the negatives. I

didn’t want that to be the case for my career. I had to reevaluate. I had to regroup. I had to change perceptions and misconceptions. I had to let the music speak. “I went on the longest hiatus. Trying to deal, trying to encourage myself because that’s all I had, and my amazing family supporting me. But it became sour, I lost my zeal. Music had always been my to go place and I hated it. It brought me pain. I became so vulnerable. I hit rock bottom. I even found myself at a point where I was ready to quit music. I actually did. My passion for creating music died. I died. To self and to my past. “I told my family I didn’t wanna do music anymore. I started looking for schools. I wanted to leave the country. I wanted to get out the industry that had taken all of me and not given anything in return but a bad reputation. I was done. “It’s funny how man proposes and God disposes. I wanted something so bad that I didn’t take the time to really study its surroundings. Instead it studied my short comings and schooled me till it killed me. In that death to my self and my passion came a rebirth. I let go completely and found myself again. “I still have a lot to do and I work hard everyday to get to where I wanna be and even past it. I’m on my lane. I’m on a journey and this time it’s my journey. It is my prayer that just as I’ve found my lane, you will all find yours. You will find your #DéBè. You will find your Nigerian Dream and achieve it!”

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MAY 28, 2016

2Baba campaigns against political violence in Edo

hile in Edo state to receive his historic honorary Masters of Arts Degree from Igbinedion University, Okada, 2Baba seized the opportunity to launch the ‘Vote Not Fight’ campaign in the state. The highlight of his acceptance speech after being presented with the certificate was the clarion call for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo state. 2Baba, rounded off his speech with the display of the campaign placard for the cameras alongside the Vice Chancellor, Prof. E.E Osaghae, The Chancellor, Chief (Sir) G. O. Igbinedion, the Deputy

Chancellor and former Edo state governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and guest speaker, literary icon and governorship aspirant, Mr. Odia Ofeimun. He paid courtesy visits to some prominent Edo personalities in the race for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections - set for November 2016. He visited Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen - a PDP gubernatorial aspirant and Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the APC. 2baba formally introduced the Vote Not Fight campaign to the politicians and their supporters in the company of his entourage from The 2face Foundation, Hypertek Digital, Now Muzik and Etonyc

Entertainment Company, coordinators of the visit to Okada and Benin City. The pop icon enjoined everyone in the political space to promote peace in their words and deeds and contribute towards the goal of a peaceful and successful election. He presented them with Vote Not Fight t-shirts and special bottles of Campari. Both politicians commended 2Baba for his vision and commitment to the development of the society, reiterated their alignment with the ideals of the campaign and pledged to do their best to promote peace before, during and after the 2Baba elections.

Lagos rebrands with exhibition

LARA Art has unveiled Down The Rabbit Hole, a conceptual installation of light and photography by Logo Oluwamuyiwa ‘Logor’ Adeyemi, featuring excerpts from his widely acclaimed Monochrome Lagos and other works. Logor, a photographer and filmmaker, works predominantly

in ‘black and white’, taking the observer from ‘clash’ to ‘subtlety’, ‘noise’ to ‘calm’. This exhibition showcases the artist’s unique approach to conceptual documentation of the human carnival. Logor’s first major project, Monochrome Lagos, is a unique reflection on the city of Lagos that strips down the noisy colours of

Reni Folawiyo, Logor and Tokini Peterside

the busy metropolis. The works are a visual digital archive, a unique reflection on an old city, and an extraordinary exposė of its idiosyncrasies and aesthetics. Logor showcases the beauty of this extraordinary city in a poetic, mystical, mythical and romantic form, delivering a place to which none has hitherto been or seen. Logor’s is a fresh perspective on a well trod path, presented in enchanting portraiture and landscape photography. In its breath, freshness and daring, Down the Rabbit Hole achieves a true paradigm shift in how the city is presented and appreciated by a global audience, including local residents who typically rush past the unchanging beauty of this old town. Down the Rabbit Hole is Logor’s maiden exhibition with ALARA Art and doubles as the debut exhibition in the ‘ALARA Emerging Artists’ series. The exhibition has opened and runs until Thursday June 30th, 2016.

Project Fame’s Jeff Akoh releases Never Let You Go

ltima/960 Music is proud to announce that Jeff Akoh the crowd favourite and Winner of Project Fame Season 8, who has been in the studio cooking up hit songs with A-List producers like DJ Coublon (Kiss Daniel, Woju, that launched the then fresh artist into prominence); Oscar Herman-Ackah (P-Square’s - Collabo, Chop My Money, and its remix

Jeff

with Akon, and Simi’s Tiff); Cobhams Asuquo (Asa’s Fire on the Mountain, Mr Jailer, Darey’s Not the Girl and Timi Dakolo’s Wish), releases debut single, Never Let You Go. Jeff ’s Never Let You Go hits sound systems with a bang, as it’s one of the big tunes he’s been working on with Oscar. The romantic song is sure to have lovers swooning!

EVENTS

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MAY 28, 2016

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Music legends thrill at Space Legend

The Space Legend Series concert headlined by King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Onyeka Onwenu held last weekend and it was the talk-of-the-town. It was hosted by Patrick Doyle. Support performances were by Timi Dakolo, Orlando Julius, Gloria Ibru and Dede Mabiaku.

Lami Phillips

Aderonke Adebanjo

Ebenezer Obey

Japheth Omojuwa

KSA

Tosin Ajibade.

Ozzy Agu

Patrick Doyle

Timi Dakolo

Tonia Soares

Zoe Chinaka

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Style & Glam

MAY 28, 2016

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Fashion frenzy

Flirty Sandals B

eautiful and classy as colourful sandals are, many ladies are scared of wearing them. Meanwhile, they are very simple to indulge in, so, do not shy away from them and if you have a pair, do not hide them away in your closet. This is how to rock them day and night:: Most importantly, make the shoe the focus of your outfit. The more colorful your shoe is, the duller everything else should be. Pairing your colorful sandals with a plain t-shirt and jeans lets them stand out. You want to draw everyone’s eyes to your awesome shoes, not overwhelm them with an explosion of color Don’t be afraid to shamelessly colour coordinate though. A little pattern goes a long way, it’s true, but coordinating colours is a great way to tie your outfit together. For example, you could pair your red checkered sandal with a white sundress, red earrings and a dash of red lipstick and you’d look extremely classy and stylish. The secret to style is balance-keep everything simple except the piece you want the world to focus on. If your shoes are multicolored, pick a colour to focus on. Remember too, that black and white match with everything. Just remember to keep everything simple except for your crazy shoes.. If you are wearing a wedge that is more than four inches high, don’t, under any circumstances, wear them with shorts. Capris are fine. Jeans are fine. wearing super high wedges with shorts just makes you look trashy.

Fashion frenzy

MAY 28, 2016

Style & Glam

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MAY 28, 2016

SOCIETY Mirror

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with Deola Adeoti. Tel: 07055695565, mofat07@yahoo.com

Happy times for Maiden Ibru

ady Maiden Alex-Ibru, the publisher of Guardian Newspapers, and the widow of Alexander Uruemu Ibru, is happy now, and the reason is not far-fetched. Few days back, precisely on Saturday, May 21, 2016, the cerebral woman gave out her daughter, Osei Yvonne Tosan Ibru in marriage. Tosan, who is the third daughter of Maiden Ibru to be wedded in six years, got married to Jude Anthony Edema Awani, a London-based financial expert. The fairy tale traditional marriage of Tosan and Jude was held at Landmark Centre, Water Carrington Road, Victoria Island Annex, Lagos. The dress code for women was fuchsia pink wrapper and for the men it was gold cap on cream. Like the two previous mar-

riages of her two daughters, it is only the traditional marriage that will be done here in Nigeria. The white wedding will be in London on a date to be announced soon. Unlike the two previous marriages, however, Tosan was married to a Nigerian who is based abroad. Anita, who was the first to get married on Saturday, April 21, 2012, got married to a Ghanaian, Marcel Kouassigan. Omotuvie Alexia Ibru, her second daughter to be married had her wedding on Saturday, March 1, 2014, to Maxwell Herbert Leile of Richmond, United Kingdom. With her third daughter just getting married last week, Lady Maiden Ibru has her boys to contend with in terms of tying the nuptial knot.

Where is Emmanuel Uduaghan? W

here is former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan? This is the question on the lips of admirers and society watchers in recent times following his sudden disappearance from A-list social events. Before now, the name Uduaghan evoked awe in the oil-bearing state and he was the darling of many high-octane events. For eight years, he wielded power as he wished and rose to become

Budding designer, El-Charles Urhabor, holds Fashion Fair

ast-rising fashion designer and model, El-Charles Urhabor, the astute boss of El-Charles Dezigns will today light up Alagbado, a suburb in Lagos State, with his fashion fair. Slated to hold at the Mate Hotels in Alagbado, Lagos, the fashion fair is organized with the aim of challenging and arousing creativity in fashion practitioners in the area, providing youths with career alternatives by presenting them with glaring and pronounced benefits and influence the fashion industry provides. It’s also aimed at fostering networks among participants and potential customers showcase creativity in fashion styling, packaging and customer satisfaction. The fashion fair will be graced by top Nollywood stars like, Tina Mba, Wole Ojo, Michael Uchegbu and many others. The fair is remarked to be the first of its kind in Alagbado and its environs

On why he had chosen Alagbado as the location for the fashion fair, El-Charles says, “we feel that fashion designers and enthusiasts from Alagbado and its environs deserve a platform where they could showcase their creativities to potential customers and the general public”.

a prominent governor in the Niger-Delta region. But as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever. After his tenure expired, Uduaghan’s dominance in the corridor of power faded and he went into thin air. Since then, little or nothing has been heard of him. However, some tattlers are connecting his new found quiet lifestyle to the graft allegation that marred his stay in office. It would be recalled that reports went viral last

year that Mr. Uduaghan, a medical doctor by training, was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over fraudulent transactions. Though the accusation failed to see the light of the day, as the former governor has continued to enjoy his freedom, his whereabouts remain a mystery to many as he had since withdrew into his shell. While some said Uduaghan is abroad, others are insisting that he is in Abuja.

Abuja top Pastor gives out 32 cars to celebrate birthday T he Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, Kubwa, Abuja, Joshua Iginla on Sunday, May 22nd, 2016, gave out 32 cars out of which were 16 SUVs to celebrate his birthday. Iginla also gave out money running into several millions of naira to the aged, widows, orphanages and scholarships to orphans from nursery school to university. Six Nollywood actors and actresses got Hummer jeep 3 series, Mercedes G-Wagon and Mercedes CLS 550. They include Jide Kosoko, Francis Duru, Alex Usifo, Ngozi Osondu, Thelma Nwosu and Sunday Omobolanle, popularly known as Babaluwe. Artisans got generators and cash gifts while the widows got deep freezers, rice and cash gifts ranging from N150,000 to N1.5 million. Iginla said he had 782 widows and orphans he caters for.

“It doesn’t matter to me if I trek home as I have given even the car that I personally drive. “I can only drive one car and live in one house at a time. This understanding is what has taught me that when I die, others will inherit my assets. “The beauty of life is not in its duration but in its donation. I have not seen some of the beneficiaries before in my life or spoken to them. Iginla also said he gave cars to the Nollywood actors because many of them were poor but people erroneously think they were rich. According to him, the fruit of the Nollywood artistes were being reaped by pirates and challenged government to do something to arrest it. “The Nollywood actors and actresses are our ambassadors; they have projected the image

of this country positively,” he said. Kosoko, who confirmed he was meeting Iginla for the first time, commended him for his philanthropy. Iginla had, in 2015, given 18 cars and millions of naira as birthday gifts to people to celebrate his birthday.

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Fashion

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MAY 28, 2016

Guest G

‘Fashion is appealing when expressed simply’ As far as Amaka Osakwe is concerned, complexity complicates fashion and makes it unappealing. She explains this in her interview with YEMISI ADENIRAN.

11 surprising signs of depression

Shopping sprees: Is your shopping out of control? For some people who are depressed, it is not uncommon for compulsive buying -- in stores or on the Internet -- to serve as a distraction or self-esteem booster. But “retail therapy” is a short-lived high because it doesn’t address underlying depression.

hat does fashion mean to you? Fashion, to me, means putting on the right accessories and dress for any particular occasion. This means, knowing what occasion you are attending and dressing to meet the standard. You would agree with me that occasions require different dresses. For instance, the way I would dress to a party is different from the way I would dress to class or other related occasions. I can’t set out for a wedding and you will find me in a jeans pant. If it is a traditional or English dress, so to say, it would be a little gorgeous. When you know the occasion, then you know how to dress for it. What are some of the fashion materials you cannot afford not to have? I can’t do without my cream, soap and powder. In fact, for the cream and soap, I have special ones I use because my body reacts to many others. So, I use only the ones that best suit me. Talking about fashion materials, I cannot do without my earrings. I always feel a little bit confident with it. And like I said, the occasion determines what I wear. Most times I am on studs for lectures, but when it is a function like a wedding , I put on the dropping ear rings. What are your beauty tips?

I stick to a particular cream and soap; I am not really a heavy makeup person, but I wash my face every night before going to bed to remove the makeup and allow my pores to be free. One finds many people committing fashion errors. What do you have to say? Some put on one pattern on a different pattern and that is wrong. Once you are on one pattern, you stick to that pattern. For example, if you are on a leopard skin, you should not wear a striped material along with it. They commit so much error on make up too. Most people want to try very well on make up and they end up trying too hard and committing errors. My advice is to remain simple. Fashion gets appealing when expressed simply. If you can’t make up well, call your friends to assist you and you will achieve the effect you want. Because I am on the light side of making up, if I want to go for a special function and I want to look different, I seek the assistance of some of my friends who are better in it. Dressing in complexity makes one appear cumbersome. It is better to appear simple, that way one will appeal to people around.

Drinking heavily: Nearly a third of people with major depression abuse alcohol. If you feel that you need to drink to cope with anxiety and depression, you may be one of them. Although a drink may seem like it provides a lift when you’re down, alcohol is a depressant, so overdoing it can make depression episodes worse and more frequent. Forgetfulness: Depression may be one reason for feeling foggy or forgetful. Studies show that prolonged depression or stress can raise the body’s levels of cortisol. This can shrink or weaken the part of the brain associated with memory and learning. Excessive internet use: Do you prefer virtual social interactions to real-life ones? Spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet may be a sign of depression. People who overuse the Internet tend to spend their time on pornography, online community, and game sites. Back pain: Got a backache that won’t quit? Studies show that depression may be a risk factor for chronic lower back pain. One study showed that up to 42% of people with chronic lower back pain experienced depression before their back pain started. Risky sexual behaviour: Depression is more commonly associated with lost libido than with an increased interest in sex. But some people use sex to cope with depression or stress. Increased promiscuity, infidelity,

sexual obsession, and high-risk behavior such as unsafe sex can all be signs of depression. Exaggerated emotions: Often, people who are depressed show little emotional expression. Other times, they show too much. They can be suddenly irritable or explosive. They may express exaggerated feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worry, or fear. Gambling: Gambling can make you feel excited and revved up. But if you gamble more than recreationally, you may be depressed or you may suffer from a gambling addiction disorder. Problem gamblers are much more likely than others to be depressed and abuse alcohol. Shoplifting: About a third of shoplifters suffer from depression. For some people who feel powerless and insignificant from depression, shoplifting provides feelings of power and importance. It can also provide a rush to counter depression “numbness.” For people who shoplift because they are depressed, these feelings are more important than the item they are stealing. Smoking: Having trouble quitting smoking? Being depressed doubles your risk of smoking. Heavy smoking – more than a pack a day – and having a cigarette within 5 minutes of waking are common habits among smokers who are depressed, according to experts. Not taking care of yourself: What does fastening your seatbelt have to do with depression? Suddenly neglecting basic self-care can be a sign of depression and low self-esteem. The signs may be as small as not buckling up or brushing your teeth or as big as not tending to chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.

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WOMAN

‘Marriage is a make or break affair’ Honourable Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, a real estate consultant and founder, Shelter of Grace, tells YEMISI ADENIRAN about her pet project, her love for philanthropy and why marriages fail. Excerpts:

What’s your growing up like? My growing up was fun. Anytime I think about it, I smile. Whenever I remember all that I enjoyed as a baby, I always feel good. I was blessed with a wonderful father and a most loving and caring mother. Although things were not rosy all the time, we got along quite well. This was largely because our parents understood that their children’s needs come first. Interestingly, my father was a semi-literate, while my mother was illiterate. They were, however, bent on giving us quality education. My mother was always unhappy about the fact that she didn’t go to school; she was particularly unhappy because of all her siblings, she was always sickly. She was not someone who compromises however. Before you could get anything from her, it must be for school or for

something reasonable. She would call us pet names and praise us every morning. I was a very shy girl but my mother kept encouraging me to quit being shy. She never stopped talking about my beauty which she insisted being both inside and outside. She boosted my confidence so much. Though she wanted me to be bold, the way she raised us made me to be afraid of her. Till the day she died, I couldn’t look straight into my mother’s eyes despite the love and respect I had for her. My father was a disciplinarian, who spared nothing at ensuring that I turned out alright. Sometimes, my mother would feel like my father was being too harsh on me. He raised me like a boy because he wished I was a boy. He wouldn’t drop a standard despite the fact that I am a girl. Before he died, my father, who claimed he felt like

a fool when God gave me to him, confessed that there is a better plan for me. Till his death, he was so proud of me. It was much later that I found out that he loved me. He just did not want me to be over pampered and spoilt. My mother had me very late, and there was that tendency for her to spoil me, but she didn’t. What kind of girl were you when you were small? I was like every other girl, I love dancing, listening to music but I loved my books. Because I was in boarding school from my nursery, primary to secondary school, I always looked forward to coming home for holidays, to help my mother in her retail business. She was into textiles and once I came home, she would make sure that I woke up by 4 am, got dressed to follow her

to the market. Most times, I stayed there till evening before coming back home; she wouldn’t leave me at home. She kept me by her side always to have quality time with me every day. What was your childhood dream? I wanted to be a lawyer. As a little girl, I liked to represent other people’s interests. I liked to share and take care of people and though I was very fragile, I didn’t like trouble. I felt people listened when I talked. Then, I left secondary school and got admission to study Law. My mother felt I was too young, and should go for my ‘A’ level. Fortunately, I ended up studying business administration. My mother was really interested in me being an entrepreneur and always said I have sales skills. Everybody was comfortable with her; they could buy things from

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Marriage is a Make or break affair. one of the best things you can do for yourself when you Meet anybody, apart froM the physical aspect, is to intiMately know the level of the person’s relationship with god her and always trusted her judgment. She felt I had the same gift. Later, she ventured into real estate, which I am also doing now. How did you meet your husband? My husband played a fast one on me; he was my brother’s friend. Anytime, he visited my brother, he would tell me: Please, help me get a good wife like you. Whenever I asked him what he seeks in a woman, he would reply that he needed a good wife material like me. After a while, he asked me to marry him, but I declined saying that he was a difficult man. I told him I like soft-spoken, gentle guys. However, he always made me laugh. One day, he looked at me and said he wanted to tell me something. He wouldn’t look me in the eye, however. The following week, four of his friends called me saying they wanted to take me out for dinner. I didn’t have any choice than to go with them. He was there smiling at me. One of his friends said they had a message for me from one of their closest friends who loves me so much. They said he secretly adored me and was always singing my praises. They said he could not even sleep well and was desperate to marry me. What was your reaction? I was shocked and wondered who the person might be, and why he could not confront me personally. What surprised me most was the fact that all these while, he was there watching while his friends spoke on his behalf. I looked him straight in his eyes and asked him why he could not talk for himself ? He replied that I should just answer the questions the friends asked me. I told him that I would not answer the questions until he used his mouth to tell me himself. It was then he rose up to tell me of his love for me. He demanded my immediate response. I laughed and looked straight into his eyes and told him he is a big-for-nothing guy, who could not talk to a lady despite all he’s got. We both laughed over it. When we got into the car and in the presence of his friends, he went back to the same subject and asked whether I would marry him. I responded in the affirmative. I think it was tough for him to ask me out because he had often talked of his reservation about Mushin girls. As far as he knew, Mushin girls or ladies do not know how to love. Besides, he was raised by a single mother. I also told him of my fear that he is never serious about anything because he jokes a lot. Why did you finally settle down with him? I think because he always makes me laugh. I used to call him a comedian, while he would call me Iya Jesu, let’s pray. Obviously, I like to serve God. I think he used

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that to sweep me off my feet. As a philanthropist and a politician, how do you manage your family? It is difficult because each needs more than 24 hours a day to thrive well. I will just give all to God who has made it all worked. There are days I felt like spending more time with my family, there are other times I also felt like spending more time out there with my commitments. Somehow, however, I tried balancing all and it keeps working. All the glory be unto God Almighty. One thing that I think has continually worked for me is the fact that I am into all that I do because I love doing them. The message here is that we must never forget that the primary reason for being alive is to love one another as God first loved us. And in whatever capacity we are endowed, we should ensure that we are a blessing, and live a life of blessing. At those times you feel you are running alone and you are scared of how everything you desire will work out well, God is always there to take care of everything. What is Shelter of Grace all about? It is an empowerment and training center, a voice for the voiceless, especially women. It is however not restricted to women because we have a lot of men that we have trained in different fields like agriculture, fish farming, mechanics, shoes making and so many other things. What do you think is responsible for broken marriages in Nigeria? I think everybody should pray for good luck and grace to marry the right spouse. Parents must especially pray for our children and this must start from when they are little. Marriage is a make or break issue for most people in life. One of the best things you can do for yourself when you meet anybody, apart from the physical aspect is to intimately know the level of the person’s relationship with God. It is good to marry somebody with the fear of God and this can be well achieved if the person inquiring is also close to God because it takes someone who is in God to also know the stand of the other person. It is also important for couples to agree on the way to sail the boat of their homes. For instance, you cannot be newly married and live apart. You must also believe in each other’s visions and missions. What other advice do you have for couples? Let’s always put God first. Moreover, we must curb greed because there is so much competition all over the world. And a lot of our young girls want it all in one day; they don’t have time to go through the process. Once you pick a partner, believe in him or her. Above all, find ways of communicating with each other always. After studying Business Administration; why did you decide to go into politics? After studying Business Administration, I studied Real Estate and Mortgage Banking which is what I am still doing now. I’m a Real Estate consultant and Developer. Politics came out of my desire to serve God. It started like a ministry and I made up my mind that I want to give my life to God and live the Christ-like life as much as I could. At the time I made that call, so many things were not right in my life, and so when anybody asked me, I would tell them all I want is an inner peace. For me, peace is priceless, but the peace I crave for comes from knowing and loving my God and giving Him all, no matter the challenges I am going through. I know He is bigger than my problems. I realised I can reach out to the children and thereafter started reaching out to the community. Funnily enough, I ventured into politics because of voluntary services, I just wanted to be of help and I am glad

Keeping ABREAST

‘Women don’t NEED monthly periods’

•Modern medicine means there’s no need for menstruation at all, doctor claims

or most women, periods are a fact of life. Every month they suffer bloating, cramps and irritability as they menstruate for up to a week. But one doctor says modern medicine means women don’t actually need to do this at all - and more and more women are taking contraceptives constantly to avoid having a period. Dr Elizabeth Micks, an obstetrician gynaecologist at the University of Washington, Seattle, said, “In general, I think views are changing really rapidly. That need to have regular periods is not just in our society any more.” The Pill, implant or injection all alter hormone levels, so eggs are not released from a woman’s ovaries. This means her womb does not shed its lining every month in a period. If taken as directed, women can appear to menstruate on the Pill because some types have 21 days’ worth of hormones, and seven ‘sugar pills’ - which do not contain hormones at all but simply remind the woman to take it as part of her routine. Other brands only provide 21 pills and tell women to take a seven day ‘break.’ In this time, they will experience a bleed which resembles their period. But it is in fact artificial - and caused by withdrawal of the hormone rather than as a result of the lining of the womb shedding after ovulation. Dr Micks said pills were only designed in this way because of a historical quirk - as the person who invented them was Catholic. “He believed if women continued to have periods while taking the Pill, it would be seen as more

palatable to the Catholic church. But there is no biological need for this break, and women can simply take the Pill continuously, meaning many will not get their period,” she said. Leila Hanna, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Queen Mary’s Hospital, London, and BMI The Sloane Hospital, agreed with Dr Mick’s view. She said any of the hormonal-based contraceptives can make a woman’s periods lighter or stop them. “Women can take them back to back and this stops the number of cycles. It’s completely safe, it doesn’t affect fertility. In fact, women can continuously take hormonal contraceptives for years at a time,” she said. “People think it might hurt their fertility but there is no medical basis for this. It’s an old wives tale. The Pill is protective rather than damaging.” However, some women may experience breakthrough bleeding as the womb lining sheds slightly, while others may feel bloated if they run several packs of the Pill together. Hanna added that the method is not a ‘one-size-fits all’ and while most women will see their periods become lighter and less frequent, some will still menstruate. And though the Pill increases the risk of cervical and breast cancer, remaining on hormonal contraception can help with other problems. She said: “It can reduce endometriosis which is very painful. For women who are anaemic, it will stop them losing blood, so could help.”

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MAY 28, 2016

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divorce court

‘I don’t think my husband is normal’

• After beating me he comes back to his senses and says he did not know he beat me. Also many times, he forcefully makes love to me. There was a time that he went to his village and on his return he told me that he must make love to me that night —Wife · My wife starves me of sex for a month and since l don’t have any girlfriend, l force her when l am at the peak —Husband

trader, Folake Adewale has pleaded with an Alakuko Customary Court to dissolve her seven-year marriage for alleged frequent beating and forceful sexual intercourse. Folake, 42, who lives at 26, Ogundipe Street, Alakuko, a suburb of Lagos, told the court that her husband frequently beat her. “I don’t think my husband is normal because after beating me he comes back to his senses and will tell me that he did not know he beat me. “Also many times, he forcefully makes love to me. “There was a time that he went to his village and on his return he told me that he must make love to me that night, l rejected him. “Because of that I did not sleep for three days so that he won’t have his way and because

‘She built a house without my knowledge’ • My wife is not sincere with me. She hides so many things about herself from me. I cannot cope with her secretive ways any more. Please separate us —Husband • I did it because of his infidelity —Wife

Lagos Island Customary Court has dissolved the 17-year marriage between a transporter, Haruna Amunikoro, and his wife, Alimotu, after he complained that his wife built a house without informing him. Granting the husband’s request, the court President, Awos Awosola, said that the effort of the court to reconcile the parties failed, as Mr. Amunikoro insisted on divorce. “The marriage between the two parties is hereby dissolved with effect from today in accordance with the Lagos State Customary Court Law, 2011, Order 3, Rule 7, as amended. “The custody of the first child and only son, Anus, 15, is awarded to the father while that of the two girls, Simiyat, 10; and Aishat, 7, remains with the wife. “The petitioner should pay

the children’s feeding allowances of N10,000 on a monthly basis through this honourable court and should also be responsible for the children school and hospital bills. “However, both parties are granted unhindered access to the child/children at any reasonable time of the day,’’ he ruled. Mr. Awosola also ordered the petitioner to give the respondent N250,000 compensation within seven days of the judgment with which to start her new life. Mr. Amuniloro, 42, who resides at No. 91/93 Odunfa St., Lagos Island, in his petition, told the court that his wife, a trader, bought a plot of land in Ikorodu and built a bungalow on it without letting him know. “My wife has also started giving out tricycle and motorcycle to riders and they pay for

them on instalment, which is the same business that I do. “I have warned her severally to stop the business but she would not listen. On two occasions she has stabbed me with a kitchen knife and a scissors. “My wife is not sincere with me. She hides so many things about herself from me. I cannot cope with her secretive ways any more, please separate us,’’ he pleaded with the court. Alimotu, who did not deny the allegations, said she started being secretive with her husband because of the sudden change in his behaviour and his infidelity. She told the court that their marriage which was once blissful took a different turn in 2012 when they rented their own apartment. “We were staying in my husband’s family house before we rented our own apartment

in 2012, since then my husband has been unfaithful to me. “He brings different kinds of women into our matrimonial home and sleeps with them on our bed. “Whenever I confronted him, he beats me. On three occasions my husband beat me to a pulp and stripped me naked. “I joined him in doing the same business because it is a lucrative one, but since I started it, I have had no rest of mind,” she said. Alimotu, who had consistently prayed the court to reconcile them as she still loved her husband, however, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage without further delay. “Since I have been begging my husband and his family for so long and nothing positive have come of it, please dissolve the marriage so I can go on with my life,’” she said. (NAN)

he is fetish and dangerous, I don’t trust him,’’ she said. She told the court that her husband burgled her wardrobe and stole all the money she kept there, noting that her husband stole her money at will. She also said that she pays for the house rent and buys her child’s food. “My husband has threatened me times without number that he will kill me, so l want the court to dissolve the union so that l can have peace,” she said. The respondent, Kehinde Adewale, 45, a butcher, admitted that he use to forcefully make love to his wife because she use to deny him his right. “My wife use to starve me with sex for a month and since l don’t have any girlfriend, l force her when l am at the peak. “I pay for the rent and provide for the upkeep of the family, l have not stolen her money before and l don’t beat her,” Adewale said. Adewale said that in spite his wife false claim against him, “I still love her. The court president, Chief Awos Awosola, adjourned the case for further hearing.

‘He seized our three-monthold baby’

• It is child abuse to deny such a baby access to his mother and wrong to also chain down the mother under any disguise —Court

Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan has dissolved the marriage between one Tawakalitu Suleiman and her husband, Mohammed, over the latter’s seizure of their baby. The President of the court, Mr Ademola Odunade, held that seizing a three-month-old baby from the mother constituted a crime against God and humanity. “It is child abuse to deny such a baby access to his mother and wrong to also chain down the mother under any disguise. “You are very lucky that other parties concerned in the matter have prayed the court to temper justice with mercy. “The case has already gone beyond mere marriage dissolution and has now attained a criminal nature. CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

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‘He does not give me money for food’

divorce court

MAY 28, 2016

PAGE

• It became so bad that I started begging for food from co-tenants. I turned very skinny for lack of food, so I had to run back to my sister to feed my baby and myself —Wife · She is not faithful to me —Husband

26-year-old tiller, Akachukwu Abana has pleaded with an Ojo Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 18 -month marriage over infidelity and threat to his life. Akachukwu told the court that his 25-year-old wife, Tina was still in contact with the man she had a baby girl for before he met her. “My wife, who has an 8-month-old boy for me, has become insincere, she continues sending messages to the man she told me that they had separated before I met her. “Not just that, she turned herself into a complete liar, she is not faithful to the marriage, she also developed the habit of fighting naked in public,” Akachukwu said. According to him, he did not know that she had a baby for another man until she became pregnant for him. “She brought the baby girl she had for another man to me and I accepted the situation because of the sympathetic story she narrated to me.” When asked by the court’s president, Mr Hakeem Oyekan, if he formalised the marriage with the girl’s parents, he said her violence discouraged him. “I met with her father and owned up the pregnancy but I refused to proceed with the marriage because she was still seeing her former man and also became a public fighter,” he said. He, therefore, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage as he was no longer ready to bear the public disgrace and infidelity. The wife, however, debunked the husband’s claims saying she was not catered for by the husband since she became pregnant and after delivery. “My husband refused to give me money for food before going out every day, it became so bad that I started begging for food from co-tenants,” Tina said. She added that she was not fighting with any out-

sider except her husband in trying to demand for feeding allowance right from when she was pregnant. “The condition became so terrible that I turned very skinny for lack of food so I had to run back to my sister to feed my baby and myself,” she said. Also testifying, the elder brother of the man, Daniel Abana told the court that he acted on behalf of their late father to mediate but the girl was too violent. “My brother brought the girl to me already pregnant and I faulted his action, I still went with him to see the girl’s family but she is too troublesome,” he said. According to the father of the girl, Mr Charles Agwada, I warned my daughter about her wrong actions but I cannot throw her away. “It started when she got a job in Alaba, I never knew she was living with another man after the first experience she had with one boy. “I have appealed to the second boy to come and marry my daughter properly, it was when I cautioned her about her behaviour that she left my house without my notice,” he said. The court president advised the husband to go back with his brother and see the family of the wife to formalise the union. “The marriage started on a wrong foundation and that must be corrected before any success can be achieved, I need the elders from both families to collaborate. “Any marriage that did not have blessing from parents faces challenges, both of you are too young to begin on a bad footing especially when children are involved,” he said. He also cautioned the parties to be careful not to cause problem for the innocent children that were already involved. He gave them grace period to reconsider reconciling and adjourned the case for further hearing. (NAN)

‘My wife is having affairs with many men’ • I saw her enter into a house with a man hugging and kissing. —Husband • My husband was the one cheating me, I once heard his conversation with the lady he impregnated that he would send money for her ante-natal —Wife Muda O yeniran

n Igando Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved a six-year marriage over heavy drinking and adultery. The President of the court, Mr Rasak Adeyeri, said that all efforts to reconcile Samuel Ajibode, a businessman and his wife Rebecca had proved futile. He said the court had no option than to dissolve the union for them to go their separate ways. “Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to go their separate ways,” Adeyeri ruled. The Petitioner, Samuel Ajibode (53), had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of the marriage over wife’s infidelity and excessive alcoholic consumption. He told the court that his wife was a slut, who was in the habit of cheating him. “My wife is having affair with many men, I saw her

enter into a house with a man hugging and kissing. “But, she is now accusing and fighting my first son for telling me that she is dating the man,’’ he stated. Ajibode described Rebecca as a drunkard, saying that she often gave alcohol son to drink and both would start misbehaving after. He accused Rebecca of always maltreating her step children. “Rebecca detests her step children, she does not give them food and she once poured hot water on my first son and also beat my second son to stupor.” He said that Rebecca was a troublesome woman and that due to this, “I had to leave the house for her and moved to my brother’s house’’. The petitioner said that Rebecca also colluded with his tenant, a herbalist, to sell his house. “That day, I saw three people in my compound inspecting the environment. I accosted them and asked them what

‘He seized our three-month-old baby’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 “In any case, both of you are no longer husband and wife from today and Mohammed shall pay a monthly feeding allowance of N5,000 for the upkeep of the child,” the judge stated. Earlier, Tawakalitu had told the court that her husband chained her down and took her baby to an unknown destination. “I don’t exactly know why

Mohammed treats me that way. “Please, help me take my baby from him and let me go my way,” Tawakalitu had pleaded. But in his defence, Mohammed said Tawakalitu was mentally ill and needed to be chained down to allow for medical treatment. “I am local physician and she was brought to me as a patient. I cured her. I told her people that I will marry her and con-

they were doing in my compound. “One of them said he came to show his brothers the house he wanted to buy from my wife and my tenant,” he said. He begged the court to dissolve the marriage as he was no longer interested and that he had fallen out of love. Rebecca, 33, a food vendor, denied the allegations but accused her husband of infidelity. “My husband was the one cheating me, I once heard his conversation with the lady he impregnate that he would send money for her ante-natal.’’ She explained that Samuel had tried many times to sleep with his own daughter and that she was always the hindrance. Rebecca said further that Samuel usually did not drop enough money for feeding and that was why she did not give her step-children food. The mother of three, however, begged the court to save the marriage because she was still in love. tinue to cater for her and they agreed. “Unfortunately, she still experiences the condition occasionally because she inherited it and so I had to take the baby from her to prevent his being harmed. “I gave the child to my mother who takes good care of him,” he said. Witnesses, who appeared in court, also claimed that Tawakalitu had a mental challenge. (NAN)

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MAY 28, 2016

Parenting

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

Home remedies for skin rashes in children CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

inally, if the diaper rash is severe it could be a bad case of thrush. Tea tree oil can be tried, along with reducing baby’s intake of any sugary foods. Some websites advocate applying the tea tree oil undiluted, but I prefer to dilute it just a little with some olive oil. I use equal drops of the tea tree and olive oil and then apply with a cotton ball to the affected area. Then air dry as much as possible. Don’t let a bad case of thrush go too long without seeing a doctor. It can get ugly really fast. (By the way, the tea tree can be purchased almost anywhere, including Wal-Mart and other major retailers.) Eczema For eczema we have had good results with eliminating food allergies and all irritating chemicals from our home. Seventh Generation makes really great household cleaners and detergents that reduced our ezcema problems by more than half. We especially have problems with dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners, so getting those out of our house was a good move. Also add a good source of omega-3 fatty acids to your babies diet, in ways recommend-

ed or approved by your pediatrician. We started giving our youngest CorOmega packets as early as possible. They come in good flavors and have benefits for more than just the skin. Finally, when we do have flare-ups, they can be managed by applications of olive oil massaged lightly into the skin (sometimes with a little tea trea oil mixed in), or by pastes of nutmeg, honey and water. Despite what I said earlier about not liking petroleum products, we have one child whose worst bouts of ezcema only respond to liberal applications of Aquaphor. I refuse to apply it to anyone else, but sometimes you do what you must. Another friend of mine has recommended Noxema and I’ve read good reports of this on the internet. Allergic Skin Rash When one of our kids (or adults even) gets into pet dander, mold, or any of our other major allergens, the resulting rash is horrifying to see. Wash immediately with running water! Then soak in an oatmeal bath for awhile if tolerated. After that, we love the Benadryl spray they recently introduced (follow prescribed guidelines for application, especially in babies and very

ParentingUpdate

ndonesian President Joko Widodo, on Wednesday signed an emergency decree on child sex offenders to be chemically castrated and planted with microchips. The regulation was issued following no less than two rape and murder cases in which the victims were teenagers. “Extraordinary crime requires extraordinary measures,’’ Joko said, announcing the new law at the presidential palace. The government has described recent attacks on teenagers as a “crisis.” Mr. Joko said in his address that the attacks had disturbed public order. “The decree also allows judges to

young children). Unfortunately, the Benadryl spray seems to sting when applied to the skin, so we use the Dermoplast skin relieving spray first and it seems to anesthetize the allergic reaction enough to allow for fairly pain-free usage of the Benadryl. Once the first reaction is past, you can use olive oil, aloe vera, vitamin e, or other natural oils to soothe and moisturize the area until it heals. Absolutely avoid any perfumes or dyes on a child who is already having an allergic skin reaction. Psoriasis I have found only two products for psoriasis that seem to do any good for us: dead sea salt scrubs, and the oil from a very unique soy candle made in South Carolina. The dead sea salt scrubs can be found in health food and body shops fairly easily, but the candle has to be purchased online or direct from the supplying store in Pawley’s Island, SC. Their website is www.soycandlecreationsinc.com. I also hear that they are making an actual body lotion from the same soy processing they use in their wax. I am addicted to the candles, though. Ringworm Yes, my step-son has actu-

ally brought this one home and given it to the baby. And fortunately for us, the basic over-the-counter anti-fungal creams worked like a charm for eliminating the ringworm. For others, though, it isn’t so easy. Try tea tree oil (again

straight or diluted depending on your own research), or raw apple cider vinegar. Both can be applied with a cotton ball several times daily until the infection clears up. I’ve also read about applying liquid bandage over your topical treatment and leaving on for a week before peeling off. Apparently the fungus dies off from lack of oxygen.

Tiny Feet

NAME: Fiyinfoluwa Tobalase Oladejo BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs. Oladejo AGE: 8 days BIRTH WEIGHT: 2.5 kg

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Child rapists face castration, death sentence in Indonesia hand down life sentences or death sentences to people convicted of child rape,’’ Mr. Joko said. He said that the minimum sentence would be 10 years. “Convicts can be micro chipped for easy monitoring by authorities and their names may be published,” he noted. This month, a court on Sumatra Island sentenced seven teenagers to 10 years in prison for raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl in April. In another case that sparked outrage this month, two men were arrested on the outskirts of Jakarta for allegedly raping and killing an 18-year-old girl by assaulting her with a wooden hoe. (dpa/NAN)

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MAY 28, 2016

Mirror

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Heavy burden of Junkies

While most family members relate with each other in a caring and loving manner, persons abusing hard drugs tear their families apart by subjecting close relatives to horrendous pains, reports JULIET UMEH

lorunkemi Street in the Shomolu area of Lagos State was thrown into disarray last Monday, May 16, when a 27-year-old man identified as Mfom John, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, allegedly sent his twin brother identified as Israel John to an untimely death. Report has it that Mfom stabbed his brother more than 70 times in different parts of the body on that day. According to their relatives and co-residents, the suspect had always threatened to kill Israel whenever he had disagreement with his co-twin. He eventually carried out the dastardly act around 6.00am, while the victim was sleeping and a third occupant of their room, Christopher, was in the kitchen. Christopher reportedly claimed he was roasting groundnut in the kitchen when Mfom killed his brother. While speaking with the press, their elder brother explained that the duo had been a thorn in his flesh ever since he brought them to Lagos to enable their mother have peace in the village. “I planned to set up businesses for them. But since I brought them from the village, it has been from one trouble to another. I have never had rest. I never knew this would happen. I don’t know how I will inform my mother in the village now,” the brother lamented. However, interim reports revealed that the accused person had always been overbearing and on hard drugs.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident. Meanwhile, it was a festival of tears when a heartbreaking and an unimaginable incident took place again on the same Monday in Potiskum, Yobe State as the state’s police command arrested Adamu Mai Bisco, 28, for allegedly hacking his mother, father and sisters to death with a shovel while they were sleeping in their home. Report from the state’s Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Toyin Gba-

Adamu Mai Bisco, that kill his parents and siblings

the victims were fast asleep, picked up a shovel, attacked and killed his father, mother and two sisters. The incident took place at about 1.00am,” said the PPRO. He explained further: “Upon receipt of a distress call, police moved in and arrested the suspect, recovered the exhibit while the suspect is still being interrogated. “Interim investigation reports revealed that the suspect is a drug addict as he confessed to have consumed illicit drugs. The bodies of the victims were evacuated to the hospital for medical examination. He however had been charged to court.” Other sources in the community where the incident happened, said the parents of the suspect had threaten to report him to the police for allegedly being a member of Boko Haram. “I gathered that the parents said

This boy killed Two of my children and seT our family house ablaze. while we were Trying To recover from ThaT

problem, he suddenly appeared again early This monTh and ThreaTened

To kill me, i ran To The palace of my TradiTional ruler for safeTy.

degesin, said the suspect is believed to have carried out the dastardly act under the influence of hard drugs. PPRO said the culpable homicide that took place in the old Bataiya area of Potiskum contravenes section 221 of the Penal Code Law. “Apparently under the influence of marijuana and Tramol capsules, the suspect, without any provocation, as

they would report him to security as a Boko Haram. He did not take that threat lightly and so decided to kill them while they were all asleep,” a source disclosed. Last month, the entire Igbo-Ukwu community in Agua¬ta Local Government Area of Anambra State was thrown into mourning, when a boy, who was identified as Ejike

Nwank¬wo, allegedly attacked his mother, Mrs. Christiana Nwankwo, dragged her into a well and rained blocks on her. The woman died be¬fore help could come. Before this ugly incident, the same boy had in Septem¬ber last year killed his two siblings, dumped their corpses inside the same well and set their family house ablaze. According to report, a day before she was murdered, the mother had explained that her son, Ejike, had made life miserable for her. “This boy killed two of my children and set our family house ablaze. While we were trying to recover from that problem, he suddenly ap-peared again early this month and threatened to kill me, I ran to the palace of my tradition¬al ruler for safety. By the time I returned home, he had already dumped two bags of my palm nut in the well, and used palm frond to cordon off the entrance to my home. I am appealing to the law enforcement agents to come to my aid,” the earlier report said. ¬ The paramount ruler of the community, Igwe Martin Eze, lamented that before the dement¬ed boy could be arrested, he had already wreaked the threatened havoc, by kill¬ing his mother. Sadly, further report revealed that the late Mrs. Nwankwo who had before her untimely death been tak¬ing refuge in a neighbour’s home had decided to go home around 8.00am in company of another of her son but unknown to her, Ejike had laid ambush for them and immediately she stepped into the compound, he pounced on them, overpowered and dragged her towards the well. It was further gathered that the CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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MAY 28, 2016

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‘Drug abusers need help, compassion’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

other son managed to escape by scaling the perimeter fence after which he raised alarm. But before help could come, Ejike had already rained blocks on his mother in the well till she died. Reports from close neighbours also had it that the accused had always lived on hard drugs. Although, the matter had been reported to the police and the body of the deceased taken to the morgue, Igwe Eze blamed the sad incident on the absence of rehabilitation centres for mental¬ly sick persons. He said in devel¬oped countries, the likes of Ejike would have been taken out of the streets and rehabilitated before he committed the dastardly acts. He called on the Federal Govern¬ment to build more facilities for the mentally-challenged so as to reduce cases of murder, sui¬cide and homicides which are prevalent. Reacting to the various drugs-induced slaughters, Dr. (Mrs.) Pedro of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, said there might be varied reasons an individual may want to harm or kill another person, which include infidelity, relationship issues, business deals gone sour, promises not kept, sibling rivalries and others; but while some commit these crimes without the influence of a substance, others need to use these substances to perpetrate the acts as the drugs impairs their sense of judgment. Explaining the relationship between substance abuse and illegal killings, she highlighted the effects of substances, saying that abuse usually affects the perception, mood, judgment and consciousness of the individual who uses them. “During the intoxication phase, depending on the substance used, it can cause disinhibition and euphoria; and increased energy or ability can lead to the individual committing various crimes ranging from rape to robbery and even murder,” she explained. She continued: “The withdrawal phase too which is when the level of the substance is reduced in the system has many symptoms which can lead to crime also, as this phase comes with intolerable side effects. Co-morbid psychotic symptoms like persecutory delusions which is when the individual sees everyone as being against him or her or wanting to harm him, or hearing voices of unseen people in clear consciousness (auditory hallucination) and in some cases voices commanding him to do certain acts can contribute to the committing of crimes.” She however, pointed out why young people are engaging in substances. “Societal factors like unemployment

have led many young people into various crimes and substance use, availability of the substances at every nook and cranny of our environment, stigmatisation towards a victim by people who see them as failures and also the punitive measures in place for such people in our own environment - all contribute to the problem,” Dr. Pedro averred. According to the head of clinical services, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Education and Rehabilitation Unit at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Kaduna, Dr. Ebiti Williams, over six million bottles of codeine are sold on a daily basis in the North West part of the country. NDLEA report of 2010 also showed that over 11 per cent of people in the North West zone use drugs. He also said due to the rise in drug addiction, young people make use of cough syrups to make themselves high. “We have had few newspapers reports where people kill owners of pharmacy shops or chemists because they refused to sell codeine to them,” he said. Psychologically, Mr. Akin Gabriel, a clinical psychologist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, who also spoke to Saturday Mirror believes that there might not be increase in drug-induced killings but that it could be that more people are now opening up unlike before because families and environment are becoming more dynamic. “In the past when such thing happens especially among family members, it is usually shielded in secrecy to protect the integrity of the family and such will not be reported. But now, the family and environment are becoming more dynamic,” he explained. Stressing on the effects of hard substances, he said: “Definitely, psychoactive substances, including Indian hemp, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and several other psychoactive that we have today influence behaviours negatively. People that use these drugs claim to use them for some personal good reasons. They will either say it calms them down, makes them happier, makes them focus more, makes them feel energetic and stuff like that. But we know that most of these psychoactive substances have negative effects on the function of the person,” Mr. Gabriel

stated. He also noted that Indian hemp especially, has been directly related or associated with the development of symptoms of mental illness. “Much as people will publish some reports about personal satisfaction without mental illness, the long-term use of hard substances eventually begins to manifest symptoms of mental illness which includes hallucinatory experiences and other forms of such abnormalities, including delusion. This includes having abnormal believes,” he said. However, the psychologist described delusion as thinking and beliefs not based on any fact. “More-over, these people that have this experience may also be hearing some voices threatening them, like ‘don’t worry; we will kill you today; you will die; we are going to get you.’ “These abnormal hallucination experiences are as a result of mental illness. Unfortunately, those affected believe the delusions and thoughts and by so doing, they begin to get unduly cautious and suspicious. They begin to sleep poorly, and suspicious in their dealings with people so that they will not ’kill’ them. They will not sleep very well at night; instead of sleeping they wake up so that they get the person that wants to ’kill’ them because of the thought.” Perhaps that was the case of one

The long-Term user of hard subsTances evenTually begins To manifesT sympToms of menTal illness which includes hallucinaTory experiences and oTher forms of such abnormaliTies, including delusion

of those drug addicts, who committed murder, because he claimed that he heard a voice that asked him to go and kill his twin brother. Perhaps, his perennial use of hard drugs had affected him to the extent of hearing strange and evil voices. Explaining the psychological implications of individuals who have developed mental illness as a result of the use of drugs, he said: “The number one implication is that they are extra-vigilant and they are watchful in their interactions with people especially when eating food within the family so that they will not be poisoned. Then, they will also go to bed with dangerous weapons so that if these ’people’ come at night they could attach them and kill them. But at times, the evil voices and delusion might go on continuously and their feelings of fear and anxiety will become associated with this and then the patient would think or say before they kill me let go and kill them.” Unfortunately, Mr. Gabriel pointed out that most of the victims are close relatives like parents and siblings of the patients. They will accuse them of being witches trying to destabilise their destiny. He however offered a fundamental advice: “In most cases we have seen these killings; let it be established that they are actually having these experiences and not using them as an excuse to carry out evil and escape from culpability of the crime. Psychologist must ensure that they had these experiences before saying what actually happened.” However, Dr Pedro offered a way forward: “Let there be creation of more awareness on the effects of psychoactive substance use and its varied physical and mental health consequences and also the socioeconomic effects as well as where to seek help out of addiction. Let there be stricter laws on use of these substances.”

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MAY 28, 2016

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Having problems with your marriage, family, relationship, career or life generally? Help is at hand with Bukola Oyetunji, Relationship Expert, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author of Stranded With a Status and One Good Spouse Deserves Another. www.bukolaoyetunji.blogspot.com, Follow on twitter @bukolaoyetunji

bukola.oyetunji@gmail.com. +2347012974472

Dear Bukola, he cousin of my ex whom I lost my virginity to said that he is in love with me and that he wants to have a relationship that would lead to marriage. He didn’t know that I dated his cousin before he asked me to be his girlfriend but now he knows, he still wants me. Anonymous Dear Anonymous, f I got you right, you are thinking of getting married to the cousin of the man you lost your virginity to? If I may ask you, is that family the only place where you can get men to date from? I wonder why you are still considering having a relationship (and probably marriage) with the cousin of the man you lost your virginity to. No matter what, the other cousin i.e., your ex, that knew you first will see you as his used product. He can’t respect you no matter how hard you try. You also did not mention if you are in love with the new guy but even if you are, please let go of the feelings you have for him. Situations like this can be overlooked in other parts of the world but Africans frown at issues like this. If you want to keep your self-respect and dignity intact, move out of this family and let another man from another family entirely win your heart. Do you also know that the love your ex’s cousin claims to have for you is questionable? Men are very egocentric so he may not really know what he’s getting into yet. With time and other people’s opinion (especially that of family members when they get to know of your past relationship with his cousin), he may have second thoughts of getting married to you. This is why it is better you let go of the relationship now so that you do so with your self-respect and dignity intact. I wish you all the strength you need.

I don’t know where my boy friend lives

Dear Bukola, am eighteen years old. I really do not know much about the guy I am dating. I don’t know where he lives. I don’t know what he does for a living. When I ask him personal questions, he avoids me. He does the visiting and that’s when we have sex even when I am not in the mood. Sometimes, he forces me. I got pregnant in September. I asked him for money for abortion. He refused and I had to use my money. I am really fed up. Anytime, I want to end it, he has different ways of making me continue the relationship. Sometimes, I am inexplicably drawn to him. At such moments, I feel like I love him. Anonymous

Dear Anonymous, ou are a very young woman but from your mail, I see you have been through a lot relationship-wise. I am surprised that you have been very intimate with a man yet you know little or nothing about him. How did that happen? You wrote that you both have sex only when he visits, are you saying you do this under your parent’s roof or you stay alone? A man who did not disclose his personal informa-

Dear Bukola, I am nineteen and I am still not dating anyone. Am I normal? Dear teenager,

hat you are not dating anyone at nineteen is not a crime. There is time for everything.

tion to you does not deserve to see your pants because he probably has some things he is hiding from you. I am really not happy about the situation you put yourself because you are too young to be experiencing such. A man that forcefully sleeps with you to the point that you got pregnant does not deserve you. Even though it is bad of you to have committed abortion, I believe he should have taken responsibility no matter what. This is when you should have shown him the door out of your life. Anyway, since you wrote you are fed up with the relationship, I think it is high time you had a long talk with him. Challenge him to give you all the personal details of his life he’s been hiding from you. You deserve to know where he lives, where he works or what he does for a living, some members of his family (if not all), his friends, neighbours and every other necessary information you should have about him. If after this conversation he is still adamant on not giving you access to his ‘private’ life, you have to cut all ties with him. He is not helping you become a better person at all. All he is

doing is reducing your self-esteem. He’s taking away your youth and before you know it, you may have done series of abortions for him. I guess you know how dangerous that may be for your future. You need to love yourself. If you adequately love yourself, you will know that you deserve better than you are getting right now. Don’t let anyone treat you like a sex toy that they use and dump anytime they feel like. If you stop allowing him to have sex with you, I bet it with you, you won’t see him again. That’s the only thing he likes you for. A man who loves you will not want to hurt you the way this man does. Once again, I plead with you to make up your mind that you want something better with your life than this man is giving you. He is only manipulating you into continuing the relationship with him because you have not totally made up your mind about him…. It’s definitely not because you love him. Such a man doesn’t deserve a bit of your love. Lastly and most importantly, STOP having sex with him…. That’s the weapon you can use to get rid of him. All the best.

It is even better for you if you are still trying to gain admission into the university or you are still in school. Focus your energy more on making your life meaningful. If you are not interested in having a serious relationship yet, make sure you are doing something

meaningful that can make you a very wonderful person for the one you may eventually go into a relationship with. So don’t be scared, there is nothing wrong with you if by this age you are not dating anyone. I assure you when it is the right time for you, you will know.

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MAY 28, 2016

Male

Jide animashaun 08034710902

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Angle

What if your partne F

No cause for alarm

or most people, introverts can be really strange people since they are very reserved and quite hard to understand. In truth it does not mean they are bad people or anything like that. It is just the way they are because they love their privacy and value it way more than an extrovert would. Coping with and living with someone like this can be very difficult but not impossible. A different style of communication is the most striking and significant thing about dating an introverted partner. In most cases when your man isn’t asking you questions or isn’t joking or a bit gregarious, the chances are high that he is probably not interested in you as a woman or in a long lasting relationship with you. With introverted men, it’s absolutely different. They talk less, but whenever they say something it’s really important to them. Introverts simply don’t waste time on silly talk all in the name of trying to get to know their partner better. This behaviour cuts across both gender and for a lot of people who cannot understand why someone else can be like this, it’s a panacea for a relationship to go downhill fast enough. There is this common mistake most people make when dealing with introverts. They think they can change their orientation and temperament. You can’t change their temperament and it’s no use struggling with their personality. Being pushy is indeed the worst strategy you can choose. You won’t stir up your partner by asking him thousands of questions or telling jokes. Most probably your partner will retreat more into their shell to save his or her sanity. You shouldn’t urge your partner to do anything or embarrass him, especially in public. It’s very hard to change yourself and it’s almost impossible to change another person. Please remember this because being different is good, and appreciating how your partner differs from you can add a richness to your life you don’t have on your own. Rather than working to change the other person, it’s important to realize how your mate is changing you simply by being part of your life. Once you know where your mate

is coming from, you can much more easily travel down life’s road together. On one hand, the thing is, most relationship experts and unwanted advice givers will tell you that there is no such thing as a flawless pairing and I cannot say that I do not agree. But in truth, one can still minimize points of conflicts if one works hard at it. Conflicts in any relationship is inevitable and we will only be deluding ourselves to be thinking otherwise. It is no fun and nobody looks forward to it, but chances are pretty good that if there’s never any conflict in your relationship, it’s because one or both of you are avoiding it and in the long run, it’s simply a latent volcano awaiting to erupt at any time. It does indeed become daunting for two opposites to work well together even if the popular believe is that opposites always attract, but on the other hand, once you understand it’s not all about you but about both of you working together, it makes it easier to manage conflicts that may arise from being opposites in character and less of a personal attack on differences of opinion and lifestyles. In fact, once you start noticing your partner’s energy levels and how they recharge, you’ll want to encourage what they need so you can have more of them at their best. It’s important to note here that being introverted and extroverted are not just synonyms for being shy and being outgoing, because there can be outgoing introverts and shy extroverts. The main difference between these two temperaments that people do not realize comes down to how emotional energy is gained. Introverts gain energy and recharge by spending time alone, while extroverts gain energy by surrounding themselves with others. Therefore, in spite of their differences, introverts and extroverts can make great romantic partners. For it can be a case of opposites attracting. What one partner lacks, the other more than makes up for. They balance each other out. So if your partner is an introvert and you are not, there shouldn’t be cause for alarm.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

12 things men should stop worrying about in bed

ondering if something about your sex life is abnormal? Chances are some of your concerns are absolutely normal! Women don’t like chest hair on a man: Who told you that? Every woman is different, of course, and many male models and actors bare hairless chests. But some women actually prefer a manly chest of hair. Women in one study rated men with chest hair as having more sex appeal

The size of a man’s penis means a lot to most women: In one survey, only 1% of women said penis length is “very important.” Only 20% even rated it “important.” More than half said it didn’t matter at all. Width didn’t matter to them, either. The same survey found that only about a third of women called penis girth “important.” Average length of a man’s penis: The average length of an erect adult man’s penis is five to six inches. That’s almost double its soft average length of

about 3.5 inches. The good news is that most men hover around this measurement. So what are you worried about? A woman’s sexual satisfaction depends on her partner’s ability to bring her to orgasm: False! Studies show that many women do not mention orgasm when asked about their most satisfying sexual experiences. Instead, they talk about feeling loved, passionate, happy, aroused, erotic, and connected to their partner. Most couples enjoy sex less when the man wears a condom: False! In a major survey, people said having sex while using condoms was just as positive as having sex without condoms. Condoms also didn’t affect whether they had an orgasm. How many married men aged 50 to 59 say they haven’t had sex in the past year? 21%. That percentage rises to 34% of married men in their 60s, and 54% of those in their 70s. So how is yours different?

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MAY 28, 2016

Female

Angle

YEMISI ADENIRAN 08029894772 email: ydiran@yahoo.com

er is an introvert? F

This column is x-rated How long do men typically take to reach orgasm? Five minutes! That was the average in a study of 500 couples from different countries. Turns out you were worrying yourself silly over nothing! There’s no remedy for Premature Ejaculation: Wrong! Medication, condoms and frequent sex are tried and tested remedies for PE. Doctors sometimes also prescribe the “pause and squeeze” tactic. To do this, a man pulls out when he’s about to ejaculate. He then squeezes the tip of his penis. Wearing a condom also can increase the time it takes to ejaculate. And some sex therapists recommend having sex more often as a way of making a man’s body more in the habit of sexual pleasure, which may help.

This column is x-rated of aging and are less likely in men who don’t have high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, and who manage stress and emotions well. And you thought you were different! Not reaching or keeping an erection may require treatment if it ever happens: False! Occasional misses happen. Things like being very tired or drinking too much can make that happen. But if a man has persistent erection problems over three months, he should check in with his doctor, not worry about it!

Men with erection problems should not drink: False! Studies have not linked moderate drinking and erectile dysfunction. Drinking too much, whether it’s just one night or part of a long-term pattern, can slow or spoil an erection. Older guys tend to have more trouble with alcohol’s effects on their Most men will have erection erections. Men taking medication for trouble at some point: True! When ED should get a doctor’s advice about you add all kinds of cases, mild to drinking. severe, many men have erection issues at some point. In one study, that As men age, they may need more happened to 52% of guys sooner or stimulation to reach orgasm: True! later. Most cases were not severe. Reasons for this can include lower levErection problems are often linked els of testosterone, side effects from to age. For example, they’re more some drugs, and health problems. Howcommon at 70 than at 30. But erec- ever, there is no age limit on having a tion problems are not a routine part satisfying sex life!

Tolerance please!

rankly speaking, dating an extrovert, definitely, is more fun than dating an introvert. Extroverts are livelier and ready to ignite life into your world. Introverts, on the other hand, are reserved, sometimes strange and hard to understand. They tend to keep things away from you and want you to go the extra mile to make the relationship interesting. It’s a lot of work having to date them and if care is not taken, they can bore one to death. However, if one will resolve to take him the way he is, dating him can be advantageous. One would only ned to know how to go about coping with them. One major thing to do is to over look his silence. A different style of communication is the most striking and significant thing about dating an introvert. Though it can be boring to be in a company of a lover who hardly talks, you need to get used to it. When your man isn’t asking you questions or isn’t joking, you are pushed to easily conclude that he is most probably not interested in you as a woman. This, however, is not so with an introvert. It’s absolutely different. They talk less, but whenever they say something it’s really important to them. It is not as if they are not interested in you, they simply don’t waste time on silly talk. Just try and draw them into sensible talks. If you’re dating an introvert, you will rarely have severe conflicts and fights. Introverts never act and speak rashly. They need a lot of time to reflect on things; therefore their responses are deliberate. Chances are you’ll forget about the argument, but your sweetheart can start talking about it in several days. When you really want to settle a conflict, adopt a patient behaviour. An excessive pressure will only lead to distrust and resentment. Their style will end up rubbing off on you even if you are the violent type. Because he is not the partying type; so, it’s just a given that he will be withdrawn at that your party. Introverts don’t lack communication skills and they aren’t anti-social; they just need less time socialising. You should also be ready to spend a great amount of time at home watching films or reading. Spontaneous and unplanned events are highly stressful and unwelcome for introverted people. You won’t go out every day, but if your leisure time is properly planned, your guy will be more confident and comfortable. What many do not know is that introverts, with time, can be converted into

an extroverted nature. But being pushy is indeed the worst strategy you can choose. You won’t stir up your partner by asking him thousand questions or telling jokes. Most probably, your partner will retreat to save his sanity. You shouldn’t urge your partner to do anything or embarrass him, especially in public. Just as it is very hard to change yourself and it’s almost impossible to change another person. Remember it. But if you will gradually and patiently deal with him, you will eventually drag him or her out of his or shell and right on your side. Introverts need more time to recharge their strength and energy. Stillness and solitude are essential things they will always need. Thus, don’t minimise the importance of time and try not to take it personally. If you aren’t able to adjust to this need, your relationship would be rather disastrous. While extroverts are often superficial and pretending, introverts say and do exactly what they mean. In other words, you stand to enjoy honesty all through your time with introverts. Introverts are always honest about their feelings and thoughts. They focus their attention on people they are interested in. If you’re dating an introvert, you can be sure you’re the only one in his life. Moreover, introverts tend to stay in long-lasting relationships since they’re very picky when choosing a girlfriend. No doubt, it’s awfully hard to accept his strangeness and those odd traits. For instance, when you want to go to a party, he wants to stay at home. Or, you’re overflowed with emotions and your partner just can’t take it. An introvert’s ways are most times 100 per cent poles apart from yours. Most times, they are moody because they are utterly introspective and sensitive to their feelings. You should give them a lot of time to process. Remember that a compromise is a pledge of any healthy and long-lasting relationship. Try to be tolerant and overlook what you consider as his errors because, he will get better with time. The fun of any relationship rests firmly on the quality of efforts, great work and compromise devoted by its players to make it worthwhile. Just a little understanding and sacrifice will help your relationship flourish and work out. Don’t forget that love is about accepting but not changing a person. It’s up to you to create a wonderful world with your peculiar partner. A little bit of tolerance, indulgence, commitment and indifference are all that you need.

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MAY 28, 2016

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Steven Johnson syndrome

ew days ago, the media was awash with the story of a new infection in town. Known as Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS), everyone was concerned about the possibility of a new outbreak that can spread from person to person. The name Steven Johnson syndrome also sounded big, making people to believe that if it is an infection, it must be a terrible one. What? It has infected Steven and Johnson, who else is safe. Thankfully, the various ministries of health stepped in to douse the tension and assured the people that contrary to popular belief, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have another outbreak on our hands.

What it is: Steven Johnson syndrome is a life threatening disease of the skin and mucous membranes that leads to separation of the skin layers -epidermis and dermis. It is a rare medical emergency that mostly require admission into intensive care unit .It is more common in adults when compared with children, and there is a higher incidence in women.

to the disease than others. By far the most common cause of SJS is medications. Reaction to some drugs, when severe can lead to SJS. There are many of these medications. The one we can easily relate with is reaction to Sulphonamides. You may have heard of people reacting to Septrin or Fansidar. These reactions though mild may become severe and leads to SJS if the individual persists What it is not: in taking the particular Steven-Johnson is not an medication causing he infectious disease, though reaction. Other causes of SJS it sometimes has its origin are in infections. It is also not a 2) Infections: such as HIV, contagious disease that will hepatitis, Pneumonia etc spread from one person to 3) Cancers another. Lastly, it is not a In a good number of cases, common disease, especially in the cause may not be easily this part of the world. indentified. Causes: SJS is believed to be a disorder of the immune system that is linked to the genetic makeup of an individual. Hence, some persons are more predisposed

Symptoms: The onset of Steven Johnson may be heralded by non specific symptoms such as Fever Fatigue

Tiredness Sore throat etc. Afterwards, more severe symptoms appear viz: Facial swelling Skin pain and peeling of skin Tongue swelling Blisters on the skin, mouth, nose, eyes etc

Prevention: Not much can be said in the way of prevention for Steven Johnson syndrome, except that individuals who have reacted to a particular drug in the past should desist from taking it again. This is because subsequent reactions are usually more severe than Treatment: the initial. Such individuals Steven Johnson treatment should also if possible warn is mainly supportive and their family members against symptomatic and may involve taking similar medications. Furthermore, certain more than one specialist. Because of the excessive skin groups of people, especially loss, treatment is similar in Asians are more susceptible some ways to the treatment to SJS. These groups of people of burns patient. Most are advised to undergo genetic importantly, treatment should testing to determine their start with the stoppage of the risk. In addition; they should particular drug or agent that avoid taking drugs that people caused the reaction in the first commonly react to in their place. Other measures include: environment. Fluid replacement Conclusion: Wound management I think that is about all we Eye care need to know about StevenMedications such as pain Johnson Syndrome; enough killers, antibiotics etc. to put our mind at rest. We now know it is a very severe depending on the symptoms The success or otherwise of disease, but a rare one. And it these treatments depend on the is definitely not the next Ebola surface area of skin affected, the quality of care and the You can chat with a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immune system. In doctor FREE at www. severe cases SJS can lead to death even with the best of prettyhealthcare.com.ng. management. Every Wednesdays and Fridays (4-8pm)

Sport

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MAY 28, 2016

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UEFA Champions League final

Real, Athletico set for battle of San Siro

the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, where Real Madrid won 1–0 on aggregate. A look at the performance of the two teams indicates that while Madrid has been rated as the second- highest offensive team in La Liga, Athletico holds the record as the highest – rated defensive team. While Real scored 110 goals in the Spanish League this season; the second highest in the five major European Leagues (Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France) , trailing only Barcelona. Athletico on the other hand conceded only 18 goals in 38 League matches, the fewest goals allowed per match in the five European major Leagues. The fact that both teams finished second and third in La Liga with 90 and 88 points, respectively is evidence of what to expect in today’s explosive encounter which fans has already duped attacking football verses Diego Costa defensive game.

IfeanyI eduzor

thletico Madrid will be having revenge at the back of their mind when they confront Real Madrid in today’s all Spanish Uefa Champions League final to be decided at the San Siro Stadium, Italy. The 2016 final will mark the first time a final has been held at the San Siro where neither of its tenants will be able to win the competition, as Milan and Inter both failed to qualify to any European competitions by their performance in 2014–15 Serie A. Besides being from the same city and vying for the Champions League title, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid don’t have much in common. Real Madrid is the rich and powerful club filled with some of the world’s biggest stars. Atletico is the humble, down-to-earth team that thrives on the hard work of mostly unknown players. Also while Real Madrid is a perennial champion rich in tradition, Atletico is looking to establish itself as a top contender even though it doesn’t carry the same financial clout as Europe’s top teams. Football fans all over the World are already expecting a worthy final reminiscent of the 2014 finals when Real Madrid ran away with a 4-1 victory after extra- time. However, this might not be the yardstick to measure today’s cracker because both teams have undergone some reorganization since that last meeting two years ago. Today’s final will be the sixth tournament final to feature two teams from the same association; the third all-Spanish final, and the second between teams from the same city, fielding exactly the two teams that faced each other in the 2014 final. The all- Madrid final also guaranteed Madrid becoming the most successful city in the European Cup with 11 wins and 17 final appearances, and also in all UEFA club competitions with 16 wins, overtaking Milan with 10 wins and 16 final appearances in the European Cup and 15 wins in all UEFA club competitions. To get to today’s final, Real Madrid who are gunning for their 11th title, having won the championship in 1956, 1957, 1958,

Rolando

1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2014, recorded a 1–0 aggregate win against Manchester City. Atletico, on the other hand, reached their third European Cup final after defeating Bayern Munich on away goals (2–2 on aggregate) after knocking out Barcelona in the quarter- final. Their previous two European Cup finals in 1974 and 2014 both ended in defeats, to their semi-final and final opponents, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively. The team have also played in three Cup Winners’ Cup finals (winning in 1962, and losing in 1963 and 1986) and two Europa League finals (winning in 2010 and 2012), with their most recent Europa League triumph in 2012 led by current coach Diego Simeone. It is expected that today’s match will not only be interesting but difficult because of the caliber of players paraded by both teams. While Real Madrid

will be counting on their highest goal scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo who netted 16 goals in the championship, their neighbours will be relying on Diego Costa who has 8 goals in his kitty to do the damage at the San Siro. While Madrid’s gaffer, Zinedine Zidane who scored the winning goal for the team in 2002 final will be aiming to become the seventh Coach to win the title as a player and manager, joining Miguel Muñoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff, Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Rijkaard, and Pep Guardiola, Athletico handler, Diego Simeone will have the

chance to join fellow Argentineans Luis Carniglia and Helenio Herrera as the only non-European coaches to win the European Cup/ Champions League. If they win the Champions League today, they will join Juventus, Ajax, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea as clubs to have won the three main European club competitions. Apart from the 2014 final, won by Real Madrid 4–1 after extra time, the only previous Madrid Derby matches in European competitions were in the 1958–59 European Cup semi-finals, where Real Madrid won 2–1 in a replay, after a 2–2 aggregate draw, and in

Winner of this year’s finals will earn the right to play against the winners of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup. They will also qualify to enter the semi-finals of the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup as UEFA representative.

Past Winners of UEFA Champions League 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004

Olympic Marseille AC Milan Ajax Amsterdam Juventus Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid Manchester United Real Madrid Bayern Munich Real Madrid AC Milan Porto

2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Liverpool Barcelona AC Milan Manchester United Barcelona Inter Milan Barcelona Chelsea Bayern Munich Real Madrid Barcelona xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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MAY 28, 2016

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Minister, Nigerian Army, others laud Unity Polo

Shane

Rio Olympics: Shane raises Zika virus fears

hane Lowry has become the latest golfer to raise doubts over whether he will play at the Olympics this summer due to the Zika virus in Brazil. Lowry says he will seek medical advice but is “not going to take any chances” over Zika, which is linked to brain deformities in newborn babies. Masters champion Danny Willett has also expressed concerns over participating in the Olympics because of the virus, while

Australians Adam Scott and Marc Leishman have already pulled out. “Obviously I really want to go but there is a decision to be made,” Lowry said. “I am recently a married man and I have to learn a lot more about the virus. I have to speak to the medical people from the European Tour and the doctors back home and I am going to listen to medical advice”, he concluded.

Cancer battle driving my career – Southgate

att Southgate says having testicular cancer gave him extra incentive to achieve success in his golf career. The 27-year-old, who had surgery to remove the cancer last year, finished fourth at the Irish Open last Sunday. “Playing in front of a crowd and hitting great golf shots, I just live for that,” he said. “Cancer opened my eyes to how much I really wanted to do this and that’s why I got emotional when I finished. All that hard work paying off is the best.” Southgate had to play on the

second-tier Challenge Tour last year while helping to look after his two-year-old niece, who is suffering from leukemia.

Southgate

L-R: Commander, Guards Brigade, Abuja, Brigadier-General M.S Yusuf ; Chairman Guards Polo Club, Senator Kabir Jubril, and Murtala Aliyu of Abuja Trademark team, runner-up of the Guards President Cup at the 2016 MTN Unity Polo Tournament at Guards Brigade Polo Ground in Abuja last Sunday

viation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of Defence, Major General Dan Ali and former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, were among dignitaries who commended MTN and other sponsors for the success of the Unity Polo Tournament 2016 that ended last weekend with Abuja Rubicon emerging top winner. The IT giant led other corporate firms as the main sponsors of the tournament that has for the past seven years been hosted by Guards Polo Club to mark the return of democracy in the country.. Senator Sirika, who led his Rubicon team to retain the event’s biggest prize, the President Cup, said MTN had demonstrated its commitment to polo since the company started operation in Nigeria 2001. “We must give credit to the sponsors and partners whose support has ensured that the tournament grew to be the biggest

polo event in Abuja,” Sirika declared. Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General M.S Yusuf, who was one of the special guests of honour at the finals, saluted the winners for their sportsmanship and urged corporate organisations to emulate what he called MTN’s leading role at engaging the teeming Nigerian youth positively. “Nigerian Army has an enduring tie with polo that has brought honours to Nigeria and with the support of the corporate sector, we are ready to contribute our quota to the promotion of polo and sports generally in the country,” Yusuf remarked. Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, First Vice President of Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) Dahiru Bagiwa and former chairman of First Bank Plc, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, among others. Defending champion Rubicon

out ran Trade Mark 6-4 ½ in a closely fought final game to retain the President’s Cup at the weeklong festival. The battle for the medium-goal Guards Brigade Trophy that pitted eight equally matched teams was won by the rampaging Almat Group team that scored a record 26 goals in an impressive campaign, leaving the hard-fighting Dattaku side to settle for a runner-up finish. It was an all local derby affairs in the low-goal Guards Challenge Cup with four Abuja-based teams jostling in a round robin format that ended with DY Farms team and Alhusna Travels side finishing winner and runner-up respectively. “We are particularly indebted to our numerous sponsors and partners like MTN and others for their unflinching supports that ensure the successful hosting of this prestigious polo tournament,” Abuja Guard Polo Club Chairman, Senator Jubril said in his closing remarks.

Edo FA, Esmas Ventures sign MoU Bishop Okonkwo’s tourney excite coaches

he Edo State Football Association and Esmas Ventures have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the organisation of a football tournament to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the creation of Edo State. The signing ceremony, which took place inside the boardroom of the football association at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, had board members of the association and representatives of Esmas Ventures in attendance. Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboya, signed on behalf of the association while the Chief Operations Officer of Esmas Ventures, Smarts Ebhodaghe, signed for his company. Part of the agreement terms in the MoU is that Esmas Ventures would source sponsorship and also provide logistics support to

the association for the smooth organisation of the tournament billed to hold in August 2016. The exercise tagged “Edo at 25 Football Tournament” would feature a team each from the eighteen local government areas in the state, playing the preliminary round in their respective senatorial districts to qualify to the state level. Speaking at the occasion, Frank Ilaboya said anniversary tournament is part of the ongoing efforts by his board to revamp the fortune of football in Edo State. He enjoined all Edo sons and daughters as well as residents of the state to support the tournament as the 25th anniversary celebration is a thing of joy for all. Also speaking, Smarts Ebhodaghe assured the board members that his company would play its role in this partnership professionally to make the tournament a success.

IFEANYI EDUZOR

oaches whose teams are participating in the on-going 14th annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football Competition has praised the standard of play

Bishop Mike Okonkwo

exhibited by the teams even as they appealed to other religious leaders to emulate the Presiding Bishop of “The Redeemed Evangelical Mission’’ and organize similar championships aimed at helping the youths develop their talents. Some of the coaches who spoke to Saturday Mirror noted that since the maiden edition of the most popular grassroots football competition in the country, many football talents has been discovered through the championship. “We are happy with what Bishop Mike Okonkwo has done in empowering the youths through the annual football competition and the level of competitiveness witnessed since the commencement of the championship. “The tournament which is now a house hold name in the country has not only helped the youths exhibit their talent but also helped in nurturing them to become future champions and that is why we are

appealing to other religious leaders and well meaning Nigerians to sponsor similar championships as a way of helping the teeming youths of the country. Meanwhile, in some of the matches played in week 3 of the tournament, Omole Fc played a goalless draw with Sansiro Fc , Shamar Eleven lost 0-2 to Young Eleven while the game between Young Vessels and Eko Fc ended 0-0 just as FC Bethel International recorded a 3-2 victory over Young Talent 99 Fc. However, action will continue today in the competition when Soccer Star will take on Potters Fc while Pennel Fc locks horn with Wonderers Fc. In the other matches for today, Revelation Sanctuary will be up against Blue Liner Fc, Elegant Fc will take on Current Fc just as Kakanki Fc will test the might of Seer Samba with Great Africa United meeting Gbagada Fc in the last match of the day.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Injured Nadal, pulls out of French Open

ine-time winner Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open because of a wrist injury. The Spaniard had progressed to the third round with a straight-sets win over Facundo Bagnis on Thursday; his 200th Grand Slam victory. In a hastily- arranged news conference in Paris yesterday , just 24 hours before he was due to face compatriot, Marcel Granollers, he said he risked more injury, if he continue the game. “In my last match, I played with an injection. And in the evening, I started to feel more and more pain and today I felt I could not move my wrist.” “Nine times in my career I

have been able to be healthy here in Paris and win this tournament,” said the 29 year old Nadal.

Nadal

“This victory means a lot for us as you know the league (NNL) is starting this weekend, we are confident that it will serve as a booster for us to go on to do well in our first game in Lokoja and the rest of the games, I think is the best way to start the season. “We are looking forward for the season to start. We will continue to work towards getting better as the season goes on, there’s more understanding in the team now, when all hands are on deck, then one will continue to pray for luck and victory which I believe God will give us,” the former Super Eagles striker said. Kogi United will be taking on Shekarau Babes in Lokoja today in the Nationwide League.

Guinness World Records issues certificate to Chinedu IfeanyI eduzor

igerian Harrison Chinedu who on March 6 set a new World record for the greatest distance with ball balanced on the head has received a certificate rectifying the record by the Guinness World Records Headquarters in London. The Cambodian based professional footballer, trekked a distance of 48.04 kilometers in 6 hours, 15 minutes to break the previous record set by Indian soldier, Naib Subedar Azad Singh, who in 2014 traveled a distance of 45.64 km (29.85 miles) to erase the record set by Abdul Halim of Bangladesh who traveled a distance of 15.2 km on October 22, 2011 and additional 35 minutes to set the new record. Disclosing this during a World press conference organized by Rafiu Ladipo Foundation who sponsored the event, founder of the foundation and President General of Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, noted that with this development, Harrison apart from being a recognized World record

holder, now has the right to wear the logo of Guinness World Record anywhere in the World even as he appealed to corporate Nigeria to endorse him as their brand ambassador. “We at the foundation are happy that a Nigerian has entered the Guinness World Record. When he achieved the feet, it took the World body only 16 days to ratify his record which ordinarily would have taken three months. Since then, we have been waiting for the certificate and I am happy to announce to Nigerians that the certificate has finally arrived the country which officially confirmed his achievement. “With this development, I am appealing to Corporate organizations to take advantage of this and sign him as their brand ambassador because he has put the name of Nigeria in the World map”, he stated. A delighted Harrison while expressing gratitude to Nigerians for their support throughout the period he was preparing for the event, commended Rafiu Ladipo Sports Foundation and betnaija for making him achieve his life ambition.

Harrison Chinedu with President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Hiddink Rafiu Ladipo

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Siasia picks Awoniyi, Okechukwu 18 others for Suwon tourney

Fed Cup victory, good way to start League – Jatau ogi United Head Coach, Ishaya Jatau has described his side’s Federation Cup victory over Ekiti United as the best moment to prepare for the new Nigeria National League, NNL season starting this weekend. The Confluence state club on Wednesday in Benin edged out their Nationwide League opponent on penalties after 1-1 full time as goalkeeper Shola Sheshere saved two penalties for Kogi United. The victory according to Jatau would set a good tone for his team as they get set to host newly promoted Shekarau Babes FC, Kano today in Week One of the NNL in Lokoja.

MIRROR SPORT

MAY 28, 2016

ead Coach of the Nigeria U-23 team, Samson Siasia has selected 20 players made up of 12 home -based and eight overseas based professionals for next month’s Suwon Invitational Tournament in South Korea. The list is dominated by players who featured against the Brazil U-23 in a friendly in that country two months ago, which Nigeria won 1-0, while two new faces; Emiloju Julius and Abdulrahman Taiwo broke into the team and winger Saviour Godwin also makes a return to the team after a long absence. Other players who made the team are; Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Sincere Seth, Ndifereke Effiong, Segun Oduduwa, Stanley Amuzie, Erhun Obanor,Saturday Erimuya and Usman Mohammed. Also selected are; Stanley Dimgba, Sodiq Popoola, Ubong Ekpai,

Abdulrahman Taiwo, Nathan Oduwa and Tiongoli Tonbara. Addressing the players after its friendly game on Thursday at the practice pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja, Coach Siasia charged those selected for the trip to see it as an honour. “That you were selected does not mean that those not selected are not good. We simply want to give everyone enough opportunity to justify why they should be part of the team to the Rio Olympics.” To those who were dropped, he told them not to see themselves as not being part of the plans of the technical crew, but a clarion call to work even harder, as the team will be going to the United States of America for its final camping exercise where the best will be selected for the Olympics. The delegation of 20 players and 10 officials will be led by NFF Executive Committee member and Chairman of the NFF Media

Siasia and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande. The group is expected to depart Nigeria for Korea Republic on Monday, 30th May aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight, and arrive in Seoul on Tuesday.

CAF bans Giwa, 4 others for 5 years

onfederation of African Football, CAF, has slammed a five-year ban on factional NFF President, Chris Giwa and four of his supporters thereby confirming and extending the same five-year ban placed on them by the Amaju Pinnick- led Nigeria Football Federation. Apart from Giwa, the four others affected by the continental ban are Muazu Suleiman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong. In a letter signed by CAF’s Secretary -General, Hicham El Amrani and dated May 27th 2016 and copied to NFF’s Presi-

dent Amaju Pinnick, the letter stated that the ban forbids

them from all football related activities for 5 years.

Enyeama extends Lille contract

ormer Nigeria short- stopper, and Lille of France goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has signed a new deal that will keep him in the north of France till 2019. An announcement in the clubs official website noted that it is proud to extend Enyeama’s contract for two more seasons and that the 33 years old Nigerian goalkeeper, will continue to defend the post of the club till 2019. The French club explained that they have decided to agree a renewal with Enyeama because he is a big influence in their dressing room in terms of “his experi-

ence in international games, his leadership, and of course, his immense talent.” Lille’s training centre Director Jean-Michel Vandamme believes that keeping Enyeama at the club is “fantastic” news considering his quality. “Vincent is an exceptional lad both on the field, and also outside. Continuing to work with a player of his calibre and a man of his quality is something fantastic for the club. He still has a bright future and showed that again this season. He is happy at LOSC and feels like home for him,” said Vandamme.

M’ Basketball: Bayelsa, C’ River emerge Equatorial conference champions IfeanyI eduzor

eams from Bayelsa State and their Cross River State counterpart has emerged winners of the Equatorial Conference of the 18th Milo Basketball championship decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Stadium, Enugu. The curtain raiser was the girl’s final which featured Marist Comprehensive Secondary School, Uturu, Abia State and St. Jude Girls secondary school Amarata, Bayelsa State. St.Jude girls took control of the match from the first quarter and never relented until the final whistle with scores at 26-11 in their favour. In the boy’s category, Government Secondary School, Barracks, Cross River State proved a hard nut to crack for Ritman College, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The boy’s

Students of the Victorious School celebrate with their trophy

from Cross River took the lead in the first quarter with a narrow 7-4 lead, recorded 20-15 lead in the second quarter and a slim 24-23lead in the third quarter before sealing their victory with 35-32 in the final quarter. Speaking after the final, Enugu State Commissioner for Sports, Charles Ndukwe commended Nestle for continuous sponsor of the championship which he said has been able

to engage youths in the country in meaningful activity. Branch Manager-South East Nestle Nig Plc, Boladele Odunlami noted that for nearly 20 years Milo has been at the forefront of basketball development in Nigeria through Milo secondary school basketball championship, producing many top athletes in the sport, promising that it will be sustained.

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LEISURE

MAY 28, 2016

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MAY 28, 2016

Crime Watch Pastor arrested for raping seven-year-old girl

StorieS by Patience ogbo

phone dealer at the Alaba International market, one Joseph, who is popularly referred to as ‘pastor’ has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping his neighbour’s daughter, a 7-year-old grand-child (names withheld). Saturday Mirror learnt that the alleged rape took place at 19, Adejanju (civilian barrack) at Mechanic bus stop, Ojo, Lagos. It was gathered that the crime was exposed after a teenager told the victim’s mother, Nene Oguchint that Joseph (aka Pastor) had defiled her 12-year-old daughter. It was learned that the police took the victim to a private hospital in AliBaba, Isashi, after the case was reported and the test confirmed that she has been sexually abused recently. The victim said, “The first time that pastor raped me, was the day my siblings and I went inside uncle pastor’s room. When we entered, he told my little sister, Amaka to take my brother Victor outside. When they went outside, Uncle asked me to sit on his laps, removed my pants and his trouser and started putting his penis inside my bum-bum. Later, white substance began to come out from his penis. After he finished, he gave her N10. “The second time was in the afternoon, I was in the passage alone, so, Joseph started calling me to come in a very subtle voice, I thought he wanted me to run some errands for him, so, I went inside his room and he did the same thing to me. After he finished, he gave me two slices of bread.” The mother of the victim, Mrs. Nene is however accusing the police of complicity in the case. She said, “The police took my daughter to a private hospital in AliBaba, Isashi, where a test was conducted and it was discovered that she has been sexually abused recently. After attempts to persuade me to settle the case failed, the police officer incharge of the case said that if I want the case to be charged to the court, I should be ready to pay money for transportation to Badagry Magistrate’s court. “On Wednesday afternoon, the police officer in-charge of the case hurriedly took us to Badagry Magistrate’s court after he heard that human rights were interested in the case. Unfortunately, we got there late and the case could not be heard because the court didn’t sit, so they referred us to Ojo Magistrate’s court. I don’t understand how the police is handling the case anymore as the IPO said I won’t be going to the court with my daughter. Since

Chinedu, the child’s father

The child

Nene, the child’s mother

the incident, several of Joseph relatives, including an Anglican Reverend have been calling, asking us to name our price

that they would pay anything for the case not to go to court. Joseph, who was initially denying the allegation that he

didn’t do it, later started begging me to forgive him and that I should withdraw the case”.

Police investigate passenger’s death in luxury bus

olicemen attached to the Homicide Department State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit Panti, Yaba are investigating a 56-year-old, Eze Gabriel, a luxury bus driver for allegedly crushing one of his passengers to death during a scuffle at the Ojota area of Lagos State. Saturday Mirror gathered that the driver of the luxury bus belonging to Bonny Way Transport Company was arrested alongside the conductor identified as Okwudili Odo. Saturday Mirror learnt that the driver of the bus took off from Jibowu Park at about 11pm, heading for Abuja. But trouble started after two of the passengers started arguing over who to sit on a particular seat and in a bid to stop the scuffle; the suspects allegedly pushed the deceased identified simply as Sunday off the moving vehicle and in the process, the bus rammed over him, killing him on the spot. The driver, however denied killing the passenger. He said, “I loaded from Jibowu to Abuja. On the way after

Fadeyi, I heard some of the passengers quarreling. One of them was calling on the conductor to come and show him where he would sit. When the conductor got there, he discovered the person that sat down had no ticket where the seating positions were indicated, while the man standing had already bought his own ticket. When the passenger that was sitting down was asked to stand up, he refused. When the argument became unbearable, I parked at Ojota under bridge to intervene, only for some hoodlums to appear from nowhere with dangerous weapons and surrounded our vehicle. Three of the hoodlums forced the door of the vehicle open, came inside and forcibly collected a bag, which contained my driver’s license and other documents. They even threatened to set the bus ablaze for daring to park at their territory. The driver attributed the accident to handiwork of the devil and appealed for leniency. He said. “I have been driving for 36 years without record-

ing any incident of death. If the man had told me he didn’t have money, I would have carried him for free. Look at the problem he has put me into. I tried to move the vehicle away from the area that made the hoodlums to jump down. The passenger without ticket also jumped down, holding unto the conductor. I didn’t know when I mistakenly rammed over the passenger. My intention was to move the bus forward, stop and come back for the conductor.” It was learnt that the passenger died on the spot, while the luxury bus conductor sustained injury. It was gathered that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad who were stationed at Ojota removed the remains of the passenger and took the injured conductor to a nearest hospital where he was treated while the driver reported the case at Ogudu Police division, from where the was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Yaba.

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

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Crime Watch

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MAY 28 , 2016

Mystery as three-year-old boy goes missing in Lagos StorieS by Patience ogboS

arely two weeks after a lady abducted two toddlers from the Ajegunle area of Lagos state, abduction has occurred. This time, of a three-year-old boy, identified as Oluwapamilerin Eyintomilayo. The sudden disappearance of the boy has thrown residents of Ijanikin area of the state in confusion, as the family is obviously in anguish and yet to fathom why anyone would want to hurt them by abducting their son. Saturday Mirror gathered that the toddler who was abducted during the day, was said to be playing with other children in front of their house at No 3 Iga-Ogun street, Ijanikin. The mother of the toddler, Mrs. Olayemi Eyintomilayo narrated how her son was abducted. She said, she had gone

Pamilerin

to the hospital to receive treatment on May 21, leaving the toddler in the custody of her neigh-

bour, but she was shocked when she got back from the hospital to learn that her son was nowhere

by the Rural Urban Development Initiative (RUDI), condemned the police authority for their alleged silence over the killing of the young man. Mr Agbodimu Musbau the chairman of RUDI said, “It is very sad that one week after the alleged killing of this young man, Gafar Ayoola by policemen attached to the Denton police station, the police authority has kept quiet and has not contacted the family. Also, his corpse has not been released to the family.. The family has been left in the dark agonising over the gruesome murder of their son. Has Nigeria gotten to the level where police will kill somebody they arrested and nothing will be done about it? We demand that the police authority in Lagos state invites the family and prosecute the policemen involved in this gruesome murder” Gafar’s father, Mr. Suliaman Ayoola narrated how his son was allegedly tortured to death. He said “I got a call from one of my sons that the policemen from the Denton police station, led by one policeman identified as Taiwo, arrested my son for wandering at the Oyingbo area of the state, where he had gone on an errand for his mother. I ran to the station the next day from my house, at Okoafo Badagry to the Denton police station. I met

the policemen at the counter and asked them to let me see my son but they told me that my son was never arrested and brought to their station. I asked them to let me see Inspector Taiwo, and they said there was no policeman by that name in their station. I asked to see the DPO( Divisional Police Officer), SP Saheed but they told me to go the SCID Panti to look for him there but I refused. The policemen brought out their entry book and I checked but my son’s name was not there. The next day, I went back to the station and met a lot of people from Ebute Metta who had stormed the station. They told me my son has been tortured to death on Friday night. They were ready to burn the station as they demanded for justice. I had to pacify them. Later,

to be found. She said, “Pamilerin is my second child. He is a preparatory class one pupil of Covenant of God School but was abducted on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at about 5pm. I had returned from the hospital, where I had gone to receive treatment. The last time I saw him was before I left the house to Ademola hospital. I went to the hospital to receive treatment because I had burns on my left hands. I asked my neighbour’s child if my son was inside their room, he said yes and so I went to the hospital. “Usually, he plays within the compound. He doesn’t go out to play neither does he follows strangers. By the time I came back from the hospital I discovered, he had gone missing as he was not within the compound. Up till now, none of my neighbours, who were around could say they saw him at any point in time. I started living in this house, five years ago. That Saturday morn-

ing while doing the house chores, I washed his school bag in preparation for school on Monday. Seeing his clothes, shoes and everything remind me of him. Please the Lagos state government should help me rescue my child” The boy’s father, Niyi Eyintomilayo, said the family had searched the entire neighbourhood for his son, but they could not find him. He said “I was in my place of work when I got report that my son was missing. When we reported at Ijanikin police station on Saturday, they said we should come back after 24 hours, which we did. That night we searched all the neighbouring communities like Alasia, Adio, Gbagidi, Otto-Awori but we didn’t see him. We also reported to the Oba of Ijanikin, and the Oloto of Ijanikin. Despite our efforts, we did not see him. We don’t know who would want to hurt us like this. We appeal to his abductors to release him. He needs his parents”.

Family petitions AIG over son’s death in police custody

amily of 19-year-old Gafar Ayoola, who was allegedly tortured to death by a policeman attached to the Denton police station in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos state, are calling on the police authority to arrest and prosecute the police man over the death of the young man. Saturday Mirror gathered that Ayoola a barber was arrested by a policeman identified simply at Taye on April 29, this year at about 8:30am at the Oyingbo bus stop, while running an errand and was taken to the Denton police station over allegation of wandering, the family said. The family stated that the policemen took Ayoola to their station, where they allegedly tortured him to death. Suliaman Ayoola, the father of the deceased who spoke with Saturday Mirror over the phone, said he was shocked over the demise of his son but sadden that one week, after his son was allegedly tortured to death, the police authority has not invited the family. Saturday Mirror gathered that the family has since petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 police command, Onikan, Lagos and the Public Advice Centre at Alausa, over the killing of Ayoola. The petition, which was written on behalf of the family

Late Gafar

Gafar’s mother, Mrs. Ayoola

I met with the DPO, and he told me what happened. He said we should forgive the police over the demise of our son. I pacified the others and we left”. Mr Ayoola is appealing to the police authority to investigate the killing of his son. “The police at Denton police station killed my son by torturing him to death. He was a barber. I learnt that after they tortured him at the station and he could not breathe, the officers informed the DP0 that my son was dying but he told them that they should drag him in the cell that be was pretending. They left him and he died. The police after ensuring that he was dead took his corpse to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The police took his

corpse to the mortuary. I am appealing to the government, and to the authority in the police to assist me. I don’t want the police to continue killing innocent people”. The Lagos police spokes person, SP Dolapo Badmos denied allegation that Gafar was tortured to death. She said “The report that he was tortured to death is untrue! It was learnt that barely after he was arrested to the division, he complained of feeling sick and he was rushed to the hospital. It was while he was receiving treatment that he passed on. The leadership of the force is keen about entrenchment of and respect for human rights, and also abhors any form of torture. Therefore, I believe no officer will do such”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MAY 28, 2016

Nasarawa assembly to support NAGIS law Igbawase UkUmba, LAFIA

asarawa State House of Assembly yesteray said it was ready to give accelerated hearing to the bill seeking to give legal backing for the establishment of the Nasarawa Geographic Information Service, NAGIS. Chairman of the house committee on Lands and town planning, Hashimu Jibrin Gurku, stated this during a one-day public hearing on the bill for a law for the establishment of NAGIS in Lafia, the state capital. He was optimistic that when the bill is passed into law, it would reduce the frequency of litigation on landed properties, increase revenue accrual to the state and as well add value to property as a result of proper documentation. He said: “It is equally important to stress

that this noble gesture is what is obtained in modern policy drive where detailed land use platform is harnessed to drive social change and economic prosperity.” In a submission, the state commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Sonny Agassi, said after four years in existence, it was worrisome that NAGIS was yet to have the backing of a law establishing it. Agassi assured that when the bill seeking to establish NAGIS is passed into law, it would give it a platform to compete globally and open a new vista for land administration and revenue generation. Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Etsu Karu, Baba Panya, solicited for a clause to provide for the setting aside of a percentage of what accrues from acquisition of land titles for the development of the areas from where such revenues are generated.

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NORTH

100 Borno girls offered foreign scholarship in female university InUsa ndahI, MAIDUGURI

ne hundred girls from different parts of Borno State are to be given fresh scholarship to pursue degree programmes in various disciplines at Ahfad University for Women which is the longest serving private University in Sudan as it has been in existence since the last 50 years in Khartoum, capital of Sudan. Spokesman to Governor Kashim Shettima, Isa Gusau, said in a statement emailed to journalists on Friday that the scholarship followed an agreement reached between Governor Kashim Shettima and President of Ahfad University, Professor Gasim Badri when Governor Shettima led a delegation to the school in Khartoum, Sudan, on Thursday with demands for slots for female citizens of Borno State. The university which be-

longs to a family with a generation of educational scholars in Sudan is a non-profit institution which has been awarding scholarships to female citizens of over 20 countries, the state said. Gusau explained that after persuasions by Governor Kashim Shettima, highlighting challenges faced by Borno State as a result of the negative impacts of the Boko Haram insurgency which has adversely affected the educational sector. Both parties agreed that 100 female citizens of Borno State are to be admitted into the school in the next academic session on 50-50 scholarship basis. President of Ahfad University for Women, Professor Gasim Badri announced the award of scholarship to 50 female citizens of Borno State to pursue different Degree courses while Governor Kashim Shettima announced that the Borno State Government will sponsor another 50 women to pursue Degrees in Medicine at the University.

... 50 to study medicine

Governor Kashim Shettima who was accompanied by the Charge D’ Affairs and Nigeria’s acting Ambassador to Sudan, Mr Abu Giwa Ibrahim, described his meeting with President of the University as the highest point of his visit to Sudan. Shettima said he has bias for female education because women in Borno State have been left behind for many years in terms of education. ‘If you educate a woman,” Governor Shettima said, “you educate a nation.” The Governor said the Ministry of Higher Education will ensure that all the 27 local government areas as well as multi religious and ethnic groups in Borno State are fairly represented in the selection of the 100 women to be sent to Ahfad University which is an institution that admits only women. He said when the fresh students are brought on board, they will add to the existing 60 women currently studying med-

icine in two Universities in Khartoum, Sudan, under the full scholarship of the Borno State Government. Governor Kashim Shettima said even though he knows that his successor will take most of the political glory of harvesting the girls as medical doctors, he was happy to lay the foundation for another era of massive human capacity development of female citizens in Borno State. Our correspondent reports that the University has its roots traced to a private Elementary School for Girls established in 1907 before it became a College for Women in 1966 while in 1995 the Sudan National Council for Higher Education granted full university status to the institution making Ahfad University for Women (AUW) not only the oldest and largest private University in Sudan but also the only private female university in Africa.

Jigawa gets new police commissioner

new Commissioner of Police has assumed duty in Jigawa State. He is Muhammad Mustafa, formerly in charge of police anti-bomb squad at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. A statement on Friday by the police spokesman in Jigawa, Abdu Jinjiri, said

the new police commissioner solicited the support of the public in performing his duties effectively. The statement quoted Mr. Mustafa as saying that security was everyone’s business, and urged citizens to cooperate with the police in fighting crime and criminality in the society. (NAN)

Children at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium during the 2016 Children’s Day Celebration in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

700 rural Bauchi women to benefit from skill acquisition training ezekIel TITUs, BAUCHI

o fewer than 700 rural women from the twenty local government areas of the state are to benefit from a skill acquisition training programme under the auspices of the Bauchi State First Lady. Flagging off the skill acquisition training pro-

gramme at the government house in Bauchi, the Governor’s wife, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar said that her office in collaboration with the ministry of women affairs and child development in its complimentary effort, packaged the training programme for rural women to serve as value to existing trades and addition to modern skills.

Represented by wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Fatima Nuhu Gidado, she said that women who are the bedrock of family survival, are the most vulnerable, hence they need special attention. “The state government in its almost one year in office is vigorously pursued the noble objective of empowering women and youths towards self

reliance and improving internally generated revenue despite paucity of funds.” “Addressing poverty from different dimensions would no doubt create an atmosphere of peace, development and quality lifestyle in the state,” Hajiya Hadiza said The wife of the governor said that the women will receive trainings in

modern skills such as poultry, rearing of ruminants, quilt making, pastry and fashion, adding that experienced skilled teachers were selected to train the women for a period of five days. She urged the women to seize the opportunity and avail themselves in all the centres designated for the training and appealed to them to pay attention to

all that will be taught. In her address at the occasion, the commissioner of women affairs and child development, Asabe Hamma said that the training will take place in three centres across the twenty local areas of the state, which include northern zone in Shira , Southern zone in Bauchi and Central zone in Darazo LGA.

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SOUTH SOUTH

Osunbor joins Edo governorship race

ormer Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, had said that he will contest in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). Osunbor told newsmen in Abuja on Thursday that he was back in the race by popular demand of the Edo people. It will be recalled that Osunbor was elected governor of Edo in April 2007, but the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal declared the election invalid on March 20, 2008. He said during his stint in the Edo Government House, he left his footprint in the area of infrastructure, civil service reforms, CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UCHENNA CHIBUEZE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALIUNA UCHENNA CLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to notify the general public that my correct name is OLOKO YETUNDE HABIBAT and not OLOKO YETUNDE OYINKANSOLA. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

health and education. “I also fought for the accreditation of 30 out of 31 degree awarding courses in the Ambrose Ali University. “Since governance entails continuity, Oshiomhole continued with my legacies and I promise to continue from where he stopped.’’ On whether Oshiomhole had an anointed candidate, he said: “At a meeting in March, Oshiomhole publicly declared that he had no anointed candidate, and I believe him even if you don’t.’’ He said although there were lots of qualified candidates in the race, Edo people should vote for the “first among equals’’, adding that he would bring his experience to bear as a professor and senator. Osunbor brings to nine the number of aspirants vying for the Edo number one seat on the platform of the APC. The gubernatorial primary will come up on June 18. (NAN)

LOSS OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY This is to notify the general public of the loss of Certificate of Occupancy registered as Number 17 at Page 17 in Volume 2004 p at Land Registry, Ministry of Lands Lagos State, belonging to Bolanle Atolagbe and situate at Magodo Residential Scheme, Shomolu Area of Lagos State. Dated 2nd day of August, 2004. If found contact the owner.

CHANGE OF NAME

MACBUBAH: formerly known and addressed as MACBUBAH KENNETH KENULE now wish to be known and addressed as ENOCH KENNETH KENULE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ADISA: formerly known and addressed as ADISA SADIQ YUSUF, now wish to be known and addressed as ADISA SADIQ AJAO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NOSA AKENZUA, ASABA & DENNIS NAKU, PORT HARCOURT

elta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has felicitated with children in Delta State on the occasion of the 2016 Children’s day. The Governor’s message was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, wherein the Governor charged children to be good ambassadors of their parents, shun vices and be of good behavior so that they can have a brighter future. The statement reads: “I felicitate with the children of Delta State and children all over the world on this auspicious occasion of Children’s Day celebration. Children’s Day is an event celebrated in many places

across the world. The day is simply set to honour children and minors. “The theme of this year’s celebration: “Protect the rights of the child in the face of violence and insecurity: End child marriage” is quite apt in the face of terrible treatments being meted to children globally. “I want to reassure our children that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better and prosperous Delta for all of our people. The statement further said: “Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our state, the Okowa administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and education for all our children.” According to the Gover-

nor, the task of training a child should not be left to parents alone because when a child becomes irresponsible, the child will become a problem not just for the parents but for the society at large. In another development, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has assured children in the state that his administration would continue to invest in education and social services with the aim of giving them a bright future. In a message to mark this year’s Children’s Day, Governor Wike said his administration remains committed to the provision of a secure environment for children to develop under an atmosphere of love, peace and hope across the state. He noted that in line with his commitment to quality education for the children

and youths, his administration has commenced the phased rehabilitation of prominent secondary schools in all the three senatorial districts of the state with a view to introducing boarding school system of education. The governor added that his administration flagged off the construction of the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park to create a facility for recreation for Rivers children and the entire family, the first of its kind in the history of the state. He called on children in the state to look forward to a brighter future as his administration is committed to their welfare, security and right upbringing. While wishing the children a happy Children’s Day, the governor assured them of his love and friendship at all times.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZEONU: This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly spelt and stated as EZE UCHE instead of EZEONU GARADINE UCHECHUKWU and my correct date of birth is 4TH SEPTEMBER 1982 not 22ND MAY 1983. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as EZEONU GARADINE UCHECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Children’sDay:Okowa,Wike charge children to be good ambassadors

OWOSHILE: I, formerly known and addressed as OWOSHILE MARIAM ABOSEDE now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNTULU OWOSHILE MARIAM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known as SONOIKI FUNMILAYO ARINOLA now wish to be known as AKANNI FUNMILAYO ARINOLA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/ DATE OF BIRTH

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as MISS AFOLAKE SHERIFAT ANIFOWOSE, now wish to be known as MRS. AFOLAKE SHERIFAT IGAYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. OLAGUNJU: I, formerly known and addressed as OLAGUNJU MODUPE OLAWUMI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as APATA MODUPE OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MAY 28, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH I, formerly known and addressed as DAMIAN PAUL AND OTIH DAMIAN PAUL now wish to be known and addressed as OTIH PAUL ONYEBUCHI. My correct date of birth is 27th July, 1989. All former documents remain valid. U.B.A. Plc and General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

LAWAL: I, formerly known and addressed as LAWAL KUDIRAT TOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as FARO OLUWATOYIN KUDIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

TENIOLA: formerly known and addressed as TENIOLA IBIRONKE, now wish to be known and addressed TAIWO SIKIRAT TENIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OJARIKEH: formerly known and addressed as OJARIKEH ONOME now wish to be known and addressed as ONOME ASUEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BALOGUN: I, formerly known and addressed as BALOGUN SAKIRAT now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN SHAKIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike (left) in a handshake with the Gbenemene Tai, King Godwin Giniwa, at the inauguration of Sakpenwa- Bori road in Rivers to commemorate the governor’s one year in office, in Eleme, Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

… as C’Rivers partners Canadian firms to establish Nigerian-Canadian School

RICHARD NDOMA, CALABAR

rrangement has been concluded by the Government of Cross River State to partner Canadian firms in the establishment of a Nigerian-Canadian International School with the intentions of ensuring that people Cross Rivers wishing to acquire a university degree in Canada do so expressly without any hitch. Governor of the state, Senator Ben Ayade, made the remark while speaking at the May 27 Children’s Day celebration which took place at the UJ Esuene Stadium,

Calabar. Ayade, who said that he was Conveying a message from President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, stated that establishment of the schools are part of his administration’s policy thrust to ensure that it encouraged qualitative education in Cross River State, adding that education remained a bedrock of any given society. “I inspire you that the Cross River Government has children as our key agenda that’s why in preparation for your future; we have decided to partner with some Canadian firms to establish a Nigerian-Canadian International

school here in Calabar.” “The intention of that programme is to ensure that all of you who pass out would have direct admission to universities in Canada under the sponsorship of the state government,” Senator Ben Ayade stressed. In her goodwill message, Wife of the Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Linda Ayade, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Stella Odey, said that the state was already keying into child protection by adopting this year’s Children Day celebrations themed, ‘Protecting the rights of the child in the face of

violence and insecurity’, and urged parents and guardians to do more to protect the children from the scourge of child violence. Also speaking at the ceremony, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Hon. Godwin Etta, disclosed that Cross River State was part of schools that emerged in the just concluded Copa Coca Cola competition in the state, adding that the state has been included among schools expected to compete in Port Harcourt. He stressed that the state Ministry of Education was doing everything humanly possible to raise the bar in sporting activities.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MAY 28, 2016

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

PAGE

Life after White House for the Obamas •Nine bedrooms and space for Secret Service

resident Barack Obama and his family plan to move to a mansion in the upscale Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, a mere two miles from the White House, when he leaves office in January, according to people familiar with his plans. Mr. Obama, who has said his family will remain in the capital until his daughter Sasha completes high school in 2018, will rent the 8,200-square-foot, nine-bedroom home, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal his plans. The house — valued around $6 million, according to several real estate websites, with an estimated monthly rent of $22,000 on Zillow — is owned by Joe Lockhart, a former press secretary and senior adviser to Bill Clinton. Mr. Lockhart was until this year the managing director of a communications and political consulting practice he founded, the Glover Park Group, but has moved to Manhattan to become executive vice president for communications for the National Football League. Mr. Lockhart and his wife, Giovanna Gray Lockhart, an editor at Glamour magazine, would not comment on the matter, referring queries to the White House. Jennifer Friedman, the deputy White House press secretary, also declined to comment on the president’s plans, first reported on Wednesday by Politico. The move will put the Obamas in one of Washington’s wealthiest ZIP codes, in a secluded precinct backing up to Rock Creek Park that is home to diplomats and a focal point of the capital’s cocktail-party circuit. The home itself is luxurious; photographs posted by Washington Fine Properties, which listed it when it sold in 2014, show spacious rooms with hardwood floors, white marble countertops, his-and-her master bathrooms and a terrace with formal gardens.

It also has an “au pair suite” that could be suitable for Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mother, who has lived with the family in the White House. The location appears to meet Mr. Obama’s need to accommodate the Secret Service contingent that remains with a president after leaving office. A gated courtyard on the side has space for several vehicles and the addition of a guardhouse. The neighborhood already has a sizable security presence because of its proximity to the stretch of Massachusetts Avenue known as Embassy Row. The Obamas will live down the block from the embassy of Oman and the European Union ambassador to the United States, and around the corner from Gérard Araud, the French ambassador known for entertaining often at his Tudor Revival mansion. “It’s a very quiet neighborhood; that’s part of the reason why all of us like it there,” said Tony Podesta, a well-connected Democratic lobbyist and brother of John D. Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman. Mr. Podesta, who lives two doors from the house the Obamas will rent, invites neighbors for pizza parties in his backyard, where he has a pizza oven. Several times a day, a line of parked taxis snakes down the street, their occupants drawn to the Islamic Center on the block for Muslim prayers. As news of the Obamas’ housing plans became public on Wednesday, journalists and news photographers flocked to the block. “My housekeeper was a little freaked out,” Mr. Podesta said. While the Obamas still own a home in Chicago, the president said in March that his family would remain in the Washington area until Sasha, who attends the Sidwell Friends School, graduated from high school. The Obamas said this month that their older daughter Malia, who graduates from Sid-

well next month, would take a gap year before enrolling at Harvard. Mr. Obama’s future home has a rich history. It was built in 1928 by F. Moran McConihe, a real estate developer who played an important role in the expansion of Kalorama and served in the General Services Administration under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was bought by Capt. Charles Hamilton Maddox, a veteran of both world wars, who in 1912 designed and tested, inflight, the first successful radio equipment used in Naval aircraft. His daughter, Muriel Maddox, acted alongside Marlon Brando in the movie “The Men” and wrote a number of romance novels. The neighborhood has long been home to prominent politicians,

including Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding, Herbert Hoover and Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Last year, Donald H. Rumsfeld, a former defence secretary, sold the house in Kalorama that he lived in throughout

the Bush administration. Residents describe the neighborhood as an oasis of residential calm in the middle of a bustling city. “You can get almost any place in Washington that you want to go to in 15 minutes, but on the weekend, it’s like you’re in the country,” said Bart Gor-

don, a former Democratic congressman from Tennessee who is now with the law firm K & L Gates and will soon be the Obamas’ next-door neighbor. “He’ll be welcomed to the neighborhood; I just hope he doesn’t get too rowdy.” (Culled from The New York Times)

US president lays wreath at Hiroshima memorial •Becomes first sitting U.S. President to visit site

arack Obama called for a world without nuclear weapons on Friday as he became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. Some 140,000 people were killed when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city on Aug. 6, 1945. A helicopter and motorcade brought Obama to the Hiroshima Peace Park Memorial, where he spent a short time in the site’s museum and then solemnly placed a wreath at the arched monument. Obama reflected on the day “death fell from the sky and the world was changed,” telling a gathering of survivors and officials that a “wall of fire destroyed a city and demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself.” Obama did not apologize for the U.S. actions and instead paid tribute to “all the innocents killed

across the arc of that terrible war,” saying that “their souls speak to us” and “mere words cannot give voice to such suffering.” The president evoked the horrors of the war to lay out his vision of a world without nuclear weapons. “We have a shared responsibility to look directly into the eye of history and ask what we must do differently to curb such suffering again,” Obama said. “We are not bound by genetic code to repeat mistakes of the past — we can learn.” The words he inscribed in the memorial site’s guest book echoed that message: “We have known the agony of war. Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace, and pursue a world without nuclear weapons,” Obama wrote. Before visiting the memorial Obama met with

U.S. servicemen and their families at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Hiroshima. He was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy. He called the servicemen as the “backbone of our alliance” and told the troops his visit to Hiroshima was an opportunity to “honor the memory” of all those who were lost in World War II. “It’s a testament to how even the most painful divides can be bridged,” Obama said. “How our two nations — former adversaries — cannot just become partners, but become the best of friends and the strongest of allies.” The White House had stressed Obama would not apologize for America’s use of the bombs in brief remarks at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. While an apology would please some in Japan, it would undoubtedly alienate Americans back home — especially giving the

trip’s timing just ahead of Memorial Day — who credits the bomb with ending the war. Several survivors of the bombing have said they’re not looking for an apology — just change. “The movement to abolish nuclear weapons hasn’t progressed and in order to raise the momentum we’re hoping that President Obama’s visit will do just that,” 73-yearold Kunihiko Iida told NBC News. Calling the atomic bombing “an inflection point in modern history,” Obama earlier said his visit to the memorial will underscore “the sense of urgency that we should all have” toward nuclear disarmament. “It’s not only a reminder of the terrible toll of World War II and the death of innocents across continents but it’s also to remind ourselves that the job’s not done,” he said Thursday.

Quote of the day

“They are not sure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements, but they’re rattled by him, and for good reason, because a lot of the proposals that he’s made display either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude” —American Preisident, Barack Obama, on how world leaders feel about American presidential candidate, Donald Trump

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The domain of strategy Saturday, MAY 28, 2016. www.nationnationalmirroronline.net

he domain of strategy is the corporation or the organisation. This is what I call the ‘centre of activities.’ This can involve the whole company or any part thereof, particularly in the case of specific restructuring, which may relate to marketing, operations, research and customer loyalty. It is taken for granted, as a general rule, that the organisation provides the general direction in the form of vision, mission, goals, objectives and broad course of action on specific terms of engagement. Sometimes, the direction of activities may be in the form of competition. Here, things like innovation, accelerated innovation, imitation, resources, skills, and competitive advantage come into practical encounter to accelerate growth or warm activities. The centre of activities may also be around all stakeholder interests in the form of review of issues arising from employment, communities of operation (CSR), customers, regulators, and investors. It may also be in the form of performance for all measures and time horizons. Here, the key indicators are financial measures, short-term, longterm, or social measures. We deploy the strategic performance unit to coordinate the action booklet for feedback on reflections on management encounter on specific issues in the strategic road map. The domain of strategy, or in my words, the ‘centre of activities’ of strategic engagement in an organisation is interesting. It is the centre of gravity. And in my view, this is where the opinion of Professor Isaac Newton becomes relevant in the science of management. “For it is now safe to predict that the domain of strategy can only be sustained if the force of the base of support is con-

CFR

Those who will do effecTive sTraTegic alignmenT and expecT effecTive managemenT of The corporaTion as a resulT, and more imporTanTly, Those who will drive sTraTegy, musT have adequaTe knowledge of how To engage sTraTegic drivers tinuous. This is because an object of the domain of strategy will fall if the centre of its mass lies beyond its base of support.” The applied force on the object (domain of strategy) must be equal to the rate of change in momentum with time. The force (determination) is necessary to maintain the motion (domain of strategy or centre of activities that will achieve the goals) if all is to be well in the organisation. In military (war) strategy, the force (determination of the soldiers to fight the war) is necessary to maintain the motion (operation to end the war). And when the centre of the mass lies beyond its base of support, it becomes a matter of concern for the capacity to achieve the desired result. What needs to be done is to change tactical approach in the form of increased support for the force (the sol-

diers) in the form of importation of more combat hardware and massive reforms in the welfare of the soldiers. It may also involve strategic engagement of the geomorphology or a redefined approach to climatology in specific cases. America would not have lost the Vietnam War if it had paid attention to these strategic matters. The domain of strategy required in this particular case includes, apart from the military tactical strategy, financial measures, long and short term time horizon and some sort of social measures. These are more of priorities than all stakeholder meetings at this time! Strategic engagement in the centre of activities requires the six P’s. For instance, we Plan to win the war with good base support for the gravity of our force; we Position our force for safety; we will build our

fort to enemy disadvantage as we Ploy to launch strategic advantage with modern equipment in tactical attack, we Pattern our strategy on capturing the enemy with minimum causality, the Philosophy is that we must end the war. And in doing all of these, our Process must involve effective information management for the benefit of our soldiers and all the stakeholders, for which we require the loyalty of all. The CEO in a management environment must appreciate not only the use of the Six P’s, he must know when to use them. For instance, you cannot Position in the market when you do not have Philosophy. You cannot Process when you have no Plan. So also, your failure or refusal to Ploy with strategy of innovation will give you competitive disadvantage. A CEO cannot Position in the market when his Process is weak. The Process includes the offshoot of the Plan and the need for effective strategic alignment of the strategic kits. We cannot run away from Plan, for we already know that the consequence of not planning is actually planning to fail. If we Plan, we must know how to run the plan through the other five Ps. The joy is in the result and the burden is in the lack of knowledge, or not knowing what to do. Those who will do effective strategic alignment and expect effective management of the corporation as a result, and more importantly, those who will drive strategy, must have adequate knowledge of how to engage strategic drivers. So the strategist must drive and allocate resources to himself as the General first. The strategist must also know and understand the workings of the Strategist as Architect, the Chess master, the Orchestra Conductor and the Expedition Leader. These attributes will determine whether the strategy will succeed or not.

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