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ICPC investigates Hajj stampede: Emir Man commits suicide Kebbi Chief Registrar Sanusi meets Saudi over unpaid 13 months ...after National Mirror broke salary authorities N29m fraud story

Diezani arrested in UK

• EFCC swoops on former petroleum minister’s Abuja home • FG begins extradition moves P. 7

Twin blasts rock Abuja P. 8

Man, 73, arrested over attempted Maiduguri attack: rape of daughter Death toll hits 23 Sex 12 of men’s best kept secrets Diezani

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Top Stories Defiled girl’s mother appeals A to Aisha Buhari 2

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Musician on trial for murder returns to custody in Lagos Eric Elezuo

…IGP orders Edo Command to reinvestigate case Sebastine Ebhuomhan

Chief Correspondent, Edo State

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mother has appealed to the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aisha Buhari, to help her find justice for her defiled daughter, even as the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has ordered a re-investigation of the case.

Mrs. Eghobamien, the mother of six-year-old Sharon Eghobamien, copied the President’s wife in a petition that she wrote through her lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi & Co., to the IGP and copied the United Nations Children International Education Fund (UNICEF), where she stated how her daughter was allegedly defiled by three students of the Edo State School of Nursing in Benin City, Kennedy, Paul Aghama and Jeffery.

According to Mrs. Eghobamien, the Edo State Police Command was set to prosecute the suspects after a diligent investigation, before the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone ‘5’, Musa Daura, suddenly demanded the case file, and took it into his custody after which the suspects boasted to her that the case had reached a dead end.

Mr. Afolabi alleged, “To our client’s greatest chagrin, she was told that the said investigation report contains, among other things, that her daughter, who is only six years old, is the one responsible for her broken hymen by using instruments to penetrate her vagina. This fact only points to one direction: that the boasting of the suspects was true.

“The question that is pleading for answer is who defiled this six-year-old girl having been confirmed by a doctor that she has been defiled, even as the little girl confirmed that she was defiled by the three students?” Afolabi asked rhetorically.

Afolabi further accused the Principal of Edo State School of Nursing and officials of Edo State Ministry of

Sharon

Health, the supervisory ministry of the school, of threatening her client to withdraw the case when they called her to come with her daughter to the ministry headquarters.

Meanwhile, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police at the Department of Finance and Administration of the Nigeria Police Force in Benin City to re-investigate the matter.

In a letter marked: CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.247/730 dated 18th September, 2015, the Principal Staff Officer to IGP Solomon Arase, Acting ACP Idowu Owohunwa, said, “I forward herewith a copy of letter dated 15th September, 2015 received from Olayiwola Afolabi & Co. on the above underlined matter. I am directed to respectfully convey the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you investigate and revert, please.”

n Islamic gospel artiste, Monsurat Yusuf (aka Alayo) is cooling her feet in police custody in Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun state after she was rearrested for jumping bail, having killed her alleged boyfriend, Eric Moses.

In March, Monsurat Yusuf, an undergraduate of a higher Institution in Abeokuta, Ogun State was allegedly accused of killing a fellow student, Eric Moses, in cold blood, in Abeokuta during a brawl over another girl Moses brought home.

Her arrest afterwards necessitated a bail process which was facilitated by a Lagos businessman who many believed was her music promoter. The matter was thereafter adjourned to October.

According to a source, Monsurat’s trouble resurfaced when she allegedly fell out of favour with her surety, as she fled home immediately she was let off the hook. Her surety, apprehensive of what the position portends, reversed his decision and notified the authorities that he could no longer hold fort for her.

Consequently, she was searched for, found and rearrested, and remanded in police custody at Eleweran awaiting her trial.

Meanwhile, Monsurat’s parents have blamed one Dare Zaka, a musical video director, of charming their daughter, saying that “Our daughter was a quiet girl that never disobeyed us. The moment she came across Dare Zaka, she became a changed person, and it was during this time that she got a colleague killed in school. Look at what this man has caused the family. He eloped with our child, and now she is back in police custody.

“We did not consent to their union, and he has misled our daughter. We were supposed to see the family of the deceased to facilitate an out of court settlement, but our daughter was nowhere to be found. It was Dare Zaka that took her away. He was busy taking her to media houses, parading himself as her husband and writing unprintable things about the man who has been of great help to the family when Monsurat was in prison.

“We are helpless. We do not want our child to go to jail; she is too young. Dare Zaka has really worsened the situation and made our daughter experience things that are far too much for her age.”

A source very close to the man that stood surety for her said: “When she killed her colleague in school, my boss came to her rescue and what she had to give in return was go about slandering her benefactor. Her failure to show up and the unprintable names she’s been calling my boss made him bow out of the bond he signed for her.”

An officer who pleaded anonymity at Eleweran Police Station confirmed her arrest, and said she will be in court soon where her fate would be decided.

‘Boko Haram has marked me for death’ Muda Oyeniran

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35-year old man who simply identified himself a Raphael has disclosed how Boko Haram insurgents burnt his stores, father’s house, offices, and thereafter killed one of his cousins, who was an undergraduate at the University of Maiduguri.

According to him, trouble started when he converted to the Christian faith contrary to the wishes of his father, family members and neighbours.

“A few months after my conversion to Christianity, I received several threats and warnings from the insurgents, telling me to revert to my former religion or face dire consequences. I received written threats saying I could only run but could not hide,

Raphael

which I took to the Police and they told me they would do something about it, but nothing was done. If they had done some-

thing about it, I wouldn’t have received the second note that said I could only run but could not hide,” he said.

“I was born in Maiduguri, Borno State, but my father was from Oyo State while my mother was born in Abuja. Both of them had been living in Maiduguri before I and my siblings were born. My father is a Muslim, and I was born into a Muslim home. I am into buying and selling of animal skins, a business I started after my National Diploma (ND) education at The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 2007/2008, and I have so many people working under me.

“In 2012, I lost my mum to illness, and towards the end of that year, I converted from Islam to Christianity. My father and all other Muslims around the neighborhood who knew my father were not happy with my conversion, because my father is one of the

leaders of the Islamic group, Nasru lahi fathi (Nasfat) branch in Maiduguri.

“I am a member of the youth association in Gwange ward, and I give them financial assistance and sometimes release my bus to them for developmental projects.

“I conducted my own investigations.

One of my neighbours whose brother received the same notes because of his conversion a few years ago was killed by an unknown killer.

“My family members and I have been marked for death, and everyone in the community denied ever knowing me or my family because they said I was one of the people supporting the youth with finance and cars to protest against them and kill their members.”

Raphael urged the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to intensify efforts in the battle against the insurgents in order to stop the needless loss of lives and property.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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Can bailout funds bail out distressed states?

The current cash squeeze suffocating the expenditure of many states across the country today is mostly self inflicted. What with unrealistic capital projects; over reliance on federal allocation based on oil rent; profligate spending and years of unwillingness to institute fiscal discipline. Many states are now hooked on life support provided by federal government bailout funds. While the situation appears bleak, there are reasons why the current scenario could be reversed to put states in better financial standing, writes NICK UWERU.

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hese days, being a state governor requires a nerve of steel. With federal allocations to state dropping in the last three years on account of the slump in oil prices in the international market, state governments have had to scrap at the very bottom of their purse to pay salaries, do capital projects and run governance. The public is well aware. But they are also impatient because they have bills to pay, too. By figures from Nigerian Labor Congress,

NLC, 27 states out of the 36 states owe backlog of salaries.

Going by development across the country, the situation may well have begun to spiral out of control.

Ilorin, Kwara State capital on Thursday, Muslim prayers for the Eid-el-Kabir festivity was brought to an abrupt halt when Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made entry into the ground along Unity Road. Most of the workers hadn’t been paid their salaries, one of the fall out of the cash squeeze

that has hit the states. Though state governor, Ahmed AbdulFatah, had begun paying some workers, the state workers say it was not enough. But with the recent trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over the alleged undeclared asset of the Senate President, the belief is that many Kwara workers were at a tipping point, needing little provocation to flip.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Starter

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‘27 states owe backlog of salaries’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

CBN: Released bail-out money

But the Ilorin debacle is just one out of the many acts of protest over the unpaid salary situation in the states. Last week, secondary school students in Osun State trooped to the streets on a Tuesday to protest the recent decision of the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to re-introduce Development Levies payment by students.

In Osogbo, Osun State capiytal, secondary school students staged a protest against the government’s policy. The students, apart from protesting the new fees, claimed that government asked students to produce their parents’ tax clearance before being allowed to school.

They insisted that such requisition was unacceptable. Students of Osogbo High School trooped out in hundreds and trekked from their school, through the Ogo Oluwa area to the Governor’s Office singing anti-government songs. Armed with leaves, the students were joined on the roads to the Governor’s Office by their colleagues in other schools. The Head Boy of Osogbo High School 1, Taiwo Oyewole, said the students were protesting because most of their parents who were government workers had not been paid for months, making it impossible for the parents to pay N4,500 for tax clearance. The students called on the state government to pay the salaries of their teachers and parents without further delay so that everything would go back to normal.

Opposition to bonds is political in some cases. But even where the bond is delivered, the application of the funds leaves much to be desired.

Addressing the students, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, the permanent secretary of the state ministry of education, stated that the tax scheme was introduced so that the parents could pay their taxes. He urged the students to go back to their classrooms with the assurance that the matter would be resolved. Parents and critical stakeholders are also miffed by the policy decision of the state governor. Aregbesola has been in dire strait over the state government’s apparent insolvency since last year. Huge tranches of salary arrears are being owed; most construction works, where it has not been halted are moving at slow pace.

For many observers, it was only a matter of time before the acute financial squeeze spirals into other critical social infrastructure like education. Though with a robust and ambitious education policy meant not only to drive schools enrolments bust also

ensure quality education, Aregbesola’s plans, like other state governors, was hit the global economic recession that saw to the slump in oil prices in the international market.

Like Osun, Ekiti State has had to reintroduce the same measure on the face of cash crunch crippling its economy. Attributing its decision to be a part of the resolutions arrived at during its recently held Education Summit, the Ekiti State government announced that students of public secondary schools would pay what it described as “a token” of N1, 000 per term towards educational development in the State. It added that that a sum of N500 proposed for primary school is yet to be approved.

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Jide Egunjobi, in a press statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, said that all stakeholders in the

education sector, including parents and teachers consented to the introduction of the Education Development Levy. But the commissioner insisted that the state government was only formalising what was already in practice. “Before now, secondary school students were paying N100 as PTA levy, N300 for Extra Lesson and N600 as Examination Fee while primary school students were paying N100 as PTA levy, N300 for Extra Lesson and N200 as Examination fee, making N600 per term,” said Egunjobi.

Apart from the Educational Development Levy (EDL) of N1,000, Secondary school students will pay N500 as Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy, N600 for Examination, N300 for Extra Lesson, making a total of N2, 400 per term while it is proposed that Primary school students will pay N100 as PTA levy, N100 for Extra Lesson, N100 for Examination, a total of N800 per term.

There are 178,263 students in the 879 public primary schools; 48,960 in Junior Secondary Schools and 55,677 in Senior Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, in all, 282,900. The commissioner reiterated government’s commitment to the restoration of the state’s lost glory in the education sector, saying; “Ekiti State recorded 36.5 percent performance in WAEC this year as against 25 percent last year and that only CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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‘State debts to banks may eat up bailout money’

Aregbesola: ...Owes salaries in arrears

happened because strict measures were introduced and teachers were greatly motivated and encouraged.

In Oyo, the scenario is similar. Ishaq Ajimobi, state governor, to the chagrin of most parents and other stakeholders cancelled government sponsorship of the final examination of the Senior Secondary Students. In its stead, it introduced N3, 000 levies for students desirous of writing the WAEC in Oyo State. The decision caught many parents unawares and expectedly, it drew anger. Opposition politicians have also been quick to use it to score political points.

Not only has the governor stopped WAEC fees, but also, the state governor re-introduced tuition fees in public secondary schools. These policies were last witnessed during the military administrations in Oyo State. In the new arrangement, primary school pupils will be paying N3,000 Education Development Levy per session, which will be paid in three instalments of N1, 000 per term.

In the face of this hardship, Federal government made bailout funds available for states. Fon instance, in line with the decision of the National Economic Council, NEC, recently, a total of 19 out of the 27 states affected by cash squeeze have so far benefitted from the workers’ salary bail-out package which is meant to enable them effectively pay the backlog of workers’ salary arrears.

According to Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Mu’azu, the money would be made available with 20-year tenure except Ogun which opted for 10 year tenure.

Earlier, states like Kwara, Zamfara, Osun, Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Abia, Adamawa, Ondo, and Kebbi had applied for and received various sums from the bail-out facility. Other states include Ekiti, Imo, Ebonyi,

Ajumobi: ...Halts WAEC fees payment

Ogun, Plateau, Nassarawa, Sokoto, Edo and Oyo which were granted in the week.

But the problem with the facility, according to some experts is that most of these states are already neck deep in debt to commercial banks. Most of these debts in bonds are heavy and as result, the states may resolve to use some of the bailout facilities to offset the debit.

Before the last governorship election, no less than seven states were heavily indebted to commercial banks with others still owing sizeable loans to banks. For instance, Kwara owes about N17 billion, being a carryover from when Saraki was governor.

Before and after the election, the bond was major talking point in both policy and political debates.The scenario in Kwara, largely typifies the ding-dong in most states where the chief executives have opted for loan facilities from the credit or bond market.

In Ogun State for instance, controversy over the propriety of obtaining loan facilities from the bond market has led to massive crisis. In 2010 under former Governor Gbenga Daniel, there was a stand-off between the executive and a section of the law makers when Daniels sought to float N100 Billion.

Tunji Egbetokun, then speaker of the state assembly insisted that there was no need t obtain the loan when the previous debt incurred by the state has not be fully paid. He was not only impeached as result of his opposition, he was, as he later claimed, hounded out of the state. Interestingly, Daniel’s successor, Ibikunle Amosun, then under the platform of ACN, joined in the fray, taking Daniel to task on the bond matter.

Ironically barely two years after, Amosun was back on the same path threaded by his predecessor. He made overtures to the state assembly seeking enabling law to obtain loan from the bond market.

Abdulfatah: …Shores up revenue collection

But like in the previous instances under Daniel, the hounds of opposition snapped ceaselessly at his heels. PDP, Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, and National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, railed against the move. Senator Adegbenga Kaka argued that state government should first determine the value and economic viability of the projects it wanted to embark on before taking loans for the purpose in order not to further plunge the state into financial problems.

In Osun, the controversy over Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, state governor’s decision to go for a N60 billion loan has continued to generate ripples as August, month of re-election for the state approaches. In fact, political opponents of the governor are looking to score political points on this as a means of ousting the governor.

But taken from another angle, state governors may not have a choice in the matter especially when money is needed to execute project. The bond market offers an alternative to steady federal allocation.

The bond market, also known as the debt or credit market provides a mechanism for long term funding of public and private expenditures. Unlike borrowing from the money market (banks and other financial institutions) the bond market offers comparative advantages in financing long term capital projects. It has lower interest rates and allows a repayment schedule of up to five years at the least.

With dwindling resources from federal allocations, poor internal revenue, IGR, profile, state governments more or less resorts to this form of borrowing much like the federal government of the country. Federal government bond is regarded as one of the most lucrative debt instrument in the international market. This is because of the steady income from oil, services and agric sectors in the country believed to be

in the upswing.

With similar regular stream of income from federal allocations, state government borrowings brings about little or no risks to buyers of the bond because the steady allocation is structured to pay the loan and the interest.

But the question for many observers is whether the money obtained from market is judiciously used by government, or whether opposition to obtaining bond by state government on whatever ground is right. “Opposition to bonds is political in some cases. But even where the bond is delivered, the application of the funds leaves much to be desired. So we may say that those opposing bonds for governments are speaking from the evidence of the application in this country,” explained Obed Awowede, economic policy analyst.

But with the current financial situation can the bailout facilities from CBN bailout the distressed states? Some states like Kwara say that the current scenario regardless of the debt burden provides it with a unique opportunity to broaden its economic base. On paper, the state consistently maintains an A+ rating from Bode Augusto and Co, a reputable accounting firm over the N17 billion bond obtained by the state. The state government has a list of project to show off for the money collected as bond. Even more, it believes that the recent challenges offers opportunity to expand its financial base. “In Kwara, we see the situation as an opportunity; an opportunity to expand our financial base,” explains Muyideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the state governor of Kwara.

He also stated that the recent financial squeeze did not come as total surprise to the state government. “In 2013 the governor CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Starter

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‘Bailout comes with new opportunities’ Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Fatah Ahmed of Kwara State says that the release of bailout funds for states should provide opportunity to expand state economies.

The federal government released bailout funds for salary arrears. There have been different stories from the different states. For Kwara what is the situation like?

We have been very lucky compared to other state because our level of arrears have not been that high. As at the time the bailout came, we were in two months arrears to state workers. That was why our bailout of N4.3 billion was one of the lowest in the country. But on the back of that, federal government also restructured our N15 billion loan from commercial banks into a 20 year bond at 14 percent. Now these loans were taken for between 20 percent and 24 percent. We were paying out about N700 million a month. With this restructuring, our monthly commitment on loan has come down to N206 million. Which means we will be saving about N500 million. But let us not forget that the N4.3 is also a loan at 9 percent. But unfortunately the bailout for the local government council has not been released.

So the bailout funds were supposed to be separate?

What other states did according to what we gathered was that they combined the outstanding at the local government councils and the outstanding at the state level.

Some of the requests were sent back and some, well, I don’t understand the dynamics. The reasons we did ours separately is that when you take a loan from federal government, they do what they call irrevocable standing payment order, ISPO. This means that whenever your money from FAAC comes it is deducted at source. Since this was a 20 year bond, we had to clear which tier of government would have its money deducted because in future, if another party emerges they may start arguing that we have taken all their money. Indeed the lower tier did not take any money from federal government. The federal government has now paid our component of it, that is the N4.3 billion. The local government component of that money is N5 billion. But that is yet to come. But as of Friday, 18, the governor still spoke to CBN to expe-

dite action on the money.

So you envisage that with the arrival of the money, all arrears will be cleared?

The state arrears have been cleared. Only outstanding salaries are the tertiary institutions and other revenue generating agencies. The state government position is that those stand alone agencies are revenue generating and should not rely on state government for subventions. Unfortunately that tradition has been established over the years. The governor is trying to remedy that.

The strategy here is that they have to get them down to sound footing supply them what they need and from there they can be self sustaining. For some of them, there are still one or two months outstanding.

But some have pointed out that the bailout may just be a stop gap measure given that most state like Kwara generates low IGR. Are there measure being put in place to make sure that the financial squeeze that brought about the bailout never arises?

In Kwara, we see the situation as an opportunity; an opportunity to expand our financial base. In 2013 the governor saw this problem coming when the US and China started looking out for alternative sources of energy. Then he started telling the Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, to increase the IGR. At that point we were still at about N700 million. They kept coming back with excuses that this is the best they can do. The governor then instituted a desk review of the money collection process. We discovered that we were losing about N5 billion annually, either through leakages or money going through the wrong pockets.

When went to study what other states have done and discovered that they were not relying on civil service structure to drive revenue collection. This is because you cannot give a civil service person a target. Some of them may achieve it but you cannot put a sanction in place. You can’t sack a civil servant. So the government then said that since the BIR have consistently failed on its N1 billion revenue target at the time, it went to the state house of assembly to abrogate the set up of the board and instead, set up the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS. It is still government owned. But it still has new terms of service. So in this instance you come on and sign up to new terms of service. So the feeling that when you get into the civil service only death can remove you does not arise here. So you come on and sign up to new terms of service. If you don’t meet up with your target in three months you are gone. It is just like the banks. The banks just give you target and if you can meet them you are sacked. We are still changing people process and technology

‘States must improve economic base’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 saw this problem coming when the US and China started looking out for alternative sources of energy. Then he started telling the Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, to increase the IGR. At that point we were still at about N700 million. They kept coming back with excuses that this is the best they can do,” Akorede said.

He further added that Governor Abdulfatah instituted a desk review of the money collection process. It was then discovered that the state was losing about N5 billion annually, either through leakages or money going through the wrong pockets.

“When we went to study what other states have done and discovered that they were not relying on civil service structure to drive revenue collection. This is because you cannot give a civil service person a target. Some of them may achieve it but you cannot put a sanction in place. You

can’t sack a civil servant. So the government then said that since the BIR have consistently failed on its N1 billion revenue target at the time, it went to the state house of assembly to abrogate the set up of the board and instead, set up the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS. It is still government owned.

“But it still has new terms of service.

So in this instance you come on and sign up to new terms of service. So the feeling that when you get into the civil service only death can remove you does not arise here.

So you come on and sign up to new terms of service. If you don’t meet up with your target in three months you are gone. It is just like the banks. The banks just give you target and if you can meet them you are sacked. We are still changing people process and technology, Akorede said.

How these measures will help can only be known in the fullness of time.

Nigerian workers: Owed backloog of salaries

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nick Uweru And Femi Adeosun

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ndications are rife that the federal government may have initiated process to extradite former minister petroleum resources under the administration of ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani Alison-Madueke who was on Friday morning, along with four others, arrested by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency.

Confirming arrest of the former high profile minister, the The Press and Public Affairs Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Joseph Abuku, stated that some arrests were made Friday but declined to disclose the identities of those involved.

Abuku, according to news report stated: “This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the

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Diezani arrested in UK • EFCC swoops on ex-minister’s Abuja home • FG begins extradition moves

National Crime Agency.

“The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual,” Abuku said.

It is not clear now if and when the ex-minister would be extradited to Nigeria.

But indications gathered by Saturday Mirror, yesterday showed that the federal government may have initiated process of repatriating the former minister sooner than later. For instance, men of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, were spotted around the Asokoro home of Alison-Madueke. It was also learnt that Ministry

of Justice had since approached the British High Commission with a view to hastening the process.

Barely four hours after the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was reportedly arrested in London, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have swooped on her Abuja home.

Sources at the commission told our correspondent that anti-graft agents arrived at the embattled ex-minister’s home, located in the Asokoro district of Abuja, and sealed the property Friday night.

According to an online news medium, Premium Times, an Abuja resident, who witnessed the raid, said, “I just left the place.

More and more of them (EFCC operatives) are arriving. Two Buses, three hilux trucks and about five saloon cars. They are breaking something inside.

May be doors.

“You can hear the noise.

There are two uniformed operatives outside and two at the backyard. I saw also a man brought in in a black Toyota Corolla with a video camera and immediately started video recording from outside the gate and then went into the compound. I observed that operation for about three hours before I left.”

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Friday arrested in London.

The former minister who was one of the kitchen cabinet of Goodluck Jonathan administration,

was arrested yesterday alongside four other people by the UK National Crime Agency.

The identities of the four other people arrested along with her could not be immediately as at press time.

Meanwhile, a London court has granted the former minister and the four other bail.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in his Independence Day address to Nigeria said he was intent on ridding the petroleum industry of corruption.

He said that already preliminary steps had been taken to sanitize the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be re-

duced to a minimum level.

“Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped,” he said.

According to him, in addition to sanitizing the NNPC, his administration has ordered for a complete audit of other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation.

The president harped on the need to maintain prudent housekeeping because it is needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices.

Twin blasts rock Abuja

• Many feared killed Omeiza Ajayi

A L-R:Acting Consul General, United State Consulate, Rehab Dhebreab; Senior Pastor, House on the Rock, Paul Adefarasin and Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, at the Media Briefing on Hollywood Drama “Captive” at House on The Rock Church in Lekki Lagos.

Inusa Ndahi, MAIDUGURI

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wenty three people were reported dead, with 39 others seriously injured in separate attacks that hit Maiduguri and its environs by suspected female suicide bombers.

Residents and eye witnesses told our Correspondent who visited some of the scenes that 20 people were killed at different places of Sajeri and Ajilari, outskirt settlements of Maiduguri.

The explosions were believed to have been perpe-

twin bomb explosion last night occurred in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with many feared dead.

The incident which occurred at about few minutes past 10pm sent panic among residents who feared the Boko Haram terrorist group might have invaded the area.

While the first one was said to have gone off at the Police Station near First Bank and another one was said to have gone off just few minutes after the first in another location close to the main market in the Area council.

It was not immediately possible to get the reaction of the police.

Spokesman of the FCT Police Command, Anjuguri Manza could not be reached.

Maiduguri attack: Death toll hits 23 • 39 injured as insurgents raze villages

trated by female suicide bombers on Thursday evening, while another attack on Usmanti and Fannamuri villages of Alau Dam area of Jere Local Government Area claimed three lives with several houses set ablaze.

Ajilari ward which is in the outskirt of Maiduguri had two days to Eid witnessed a deadly suicide bomber attack.

There was also another attack on a mosque which

left over 100 people dead with 97 others seriously injured.

The separate attacks of Thursday occurred simultaneously at about 7:30pm, precisely during Isha prayers.

Governor Kashim Shettima had already visited the scene where he condoled with the bereaved families of the victims.

He promised to upset all the medical bills of

the injured ones who are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Another eye witness, Mallam Ibrahim Bukar said the female suicide bombers, four in number, stormed the area. One of them targeted the imam of one mosque. The Imam and his two grandsons as well as one other person nearby who was also performing ablution were

killed in the incident.

The eyewitness said the other one also targeted the chairman of Civilian JTF, Mallum Badaru, who resides around Sajeri, but fortunately for him, the suicide bomber missed. The bomb exploded injuring the chairman of the Civilian JTF while killing of one other girl.

“The third female suicide bomber also detonated her own in front of a house near tea vendor (Mai Shai), killing many

people including occupants of the house.

Confirming the incident, the Zonal Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Northeast, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar told our correspondent on phone on Friday that 16 persons were killed in the multiple suicide bombing attacks at Sajeri area of Gomari within Maiduguri metropolis. He also added that over 30 people were injured.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Exhibitors Military Pension Board applaud extension of allays fears of mishap closing date T in forthcoming exercise E

Hajj Stampede:

Abuja Trade Fair:

xhibitors at the 10th Abuja International Trade Fair have applauded the organisers for the steps taken to extend the closing date.

The fair, which has its theme as ``Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Economic Growth’’, is designed to create a coherent and comprehensive business network.

The fair was scheduled to end on Friday but shifted to Monday by the organisers, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (ABUCCI).

The President of ABUCCI , Mr Tony Ejikonye, said the decision became necessary based on the clamour for extension by local and international exhibitors.

He said that the public holiday slated for the Independence Day and the long holidays were also the reasons for the extension.

Mrs Ngozi Okolo, an exhibitor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the extension would enable them to make more sales to cover the expenses they incurred from transportation and buying of the space.

Okolo suggested that for next year’s fair, the organisers should consider public holidays before fixing the date. ``I am happy for the extension of this fair because the first week witnessed low patronage, so with this new development, we might make more sales, ’’ he said.

Another exhibitor, Malam Ibrahim Abubakar, said the level of sales had increased as civil servants and the private sector had received their pay.

Abubakar said the organisers should ensure that the date for the next trade fair should be immediately after the end of the month. ``The patronage from buyers has increased drastically, I believe it was because salaries have been paid to workers so people have money to buy some things,’’ he said.

Emir Sanusi meets with Saudi Authorities

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he Chairman, Military Pensions Board, AVM Muhammed Dabo, has allayed fears of any mishap in the forthcoming military pension verification exercise scheduled to hold in designated centres between Oct. 6 and Oct. 20.

Dabo said this in Abuja on Friday while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming verification exercise for military pensioners in and outside Nigeria.

He solicited the cooperation of pensioners as adequate measures have been adopted by stakeholders to ensure a hitch free exercise.

The objective, he explained, was to improve on the administration of military pension in the country. ``It will help decentral-

ize the exercise and at each centre you have two biometric capturing machines that would be done simultaneously; it will reduce the time spent and the crowd and we believe it will go a long way in checking some these incidences of stampede or sleeping outside without any protection. ``Adequate security measures have been taken in various centres and we believe and pray that this exercise will be hitch free and we don’t envisage any bad incidence as it use to happen in the past. ``Those who are sick, we have made provision for the various team leaders, those who are hospitalize, to go to the various hospitals and get them verified even in their hospital beds.’’

According to him, the 2015 biometric verification will also make the exercise less cumbersome even as the population will become more controllable during the process.

He said the exercise had been designed for the convenience of the pensioners with specific dates allotted according to their rank brackets. ``Private to Lance Corporal and their equivalent in the Navy and the Air Force will start from 6 to 9 of October, 2015. Corporal to Sergeant and their equivalent in the other services, their verification exercise will take place from 10 to 13 of October, 2015 “Staff Sergeant to Warrant Officers and their

equivalent from the other services, is from 14 to 15 of October, 2015. ``While Second Lieutenant to Captain and their equivalent in other services, their date for the verification exercise is 16 of October, 2015 all across the country; Majors to Colonels and their equivalent in other services is on the 17 of October, 2015.

“Brigadier Generals and above and their equivalent from the other services is on the 18 of October.

“While critically ill and hospitalized pensioners who will be unavoidably absent on the above stipulated dates will have 19 and 20 October, 2015; also all absentees from these dates are free to come to be verified on 19 and 20 October, 2015.’’

80 Boko Haram terrorists who have surrendered, in Borno State.

Ember month campaign: FRSC mobilises 2,000 marshals in Anambra

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he FRSC Sector Commander in Anambra, Mr Sunday Ajayi, has said that nearly 2,000 regular and special marshals of the commission will oversee the ember-month campaign in the state.

Ajayi in Onitsha on Friday said that more than 1,000 regular marshals as well as 1,000 special marshals had been deployed for the exercise.

He said that tens of patrol vehicles and motorbikes had been deployed;

while other was still expected from FRSC headquarters in Abuja for the success of the campaign. ``During this period I can bet, we will not have less than 1,000 staff on ground in addition to Special Marshals (Volunteer Marshals) we have over 2,000 people getting ready to work for us during the ember- month campaign. ``Then, we count on our stakeholders to support us. ``When we are talking of stakeholders, we have other security agencies;

we have the state government.

“We have the religious leaders, traditional rulers, who would have one role or the other to play in sensitising the general public and ensuring that our efforts yield fruit,’’ he said.

He said that the corps was getting support from sister security agencies such as police, civil defence and the army during patrols and surveillance.

Ajayi further said that the commission would involve religious leaders, tra-

ditional rulers and other stakeholders in sensitisation of the general public.

According to him, the ember-month campaign is meant to enforce traffic rules and regulations so as to reduce road crashes during the last quarter of the year.

The FRSC’s ember month campaign is in tadem with the Safer Road Initiative of the state government which Gov. Willie Obiano launched after the Onitsha oil tanker disaster of May 31.

he Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, on Friday said he held a meeting with Saudi Authorities on the ongoing investigation into the recent stampede in Mina, Mecca.

More than 747 Muslims, including 64 Nigerians, lost their lives and 805 others injured at a stampede on the way to Jamarat complex (stone throwing site) on Sept.24.

Addressing pilgrims during a visit to SouthSouth and South-East camps in Mecca, Sanusi said Nigeria had already requested from Saudi Authorities a fair and transparent investigation.

The emir said he had met with Saudi Minister of Hajj Affairs were he had promised a thorough investigation.

He said although the Saudi authorities had made adequate arrangement to avoid hitches, the exercise had encountered one of the worse stampedes in the history of Hajj operation. ``Vehicular movements were restricted in parts of Mecca on Arafat and Jamarat days all in an effort to have hitch-free movement to the stone throwing site. ``But unfortunately and as God wishes, there was stampede in one of the road leading to the stoning complex. ``All of us have our time.

No one can spend more than a second when it comes. The stampede cannot be stopped by anyone as that is an act of God,’’ he stressed.

The emir also said that NAHCON had received complaints on accommodation in Mecca and Mina from stakeholders, assuring that issues raised would be addressed before the next hajj operation. ``We have forwarded such complaints to the appropriate quarters and we are confident they will be addressed,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Secretary, Delta Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdulaziz Amori, said the two zones were not fully represented at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

He also said that pilgrims from the zones were not fully educated on Hajj activities due to insufficient preachers.

He, therefore, urged NAHCON to deploy more preachers to the zones next year to educate the pilgrims on hajj activities.

(NAN)

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Kukah advises FG to appoint selfless leaders

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he Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah, on Thursday, advised Federal Government to appoint leaders who would be able to implement its policies.

Kukah gave the advice in Lagos at a programme tagged ``The Platform Nigeria’’, organised by the Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos to mark the 55th Anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

He said leaders should be able to use government polices to develop the economy in spite of the fact that some of these policies might not make

the desired impact.

He added that ``government should review its structure of governance because it has affected the ability of past leaders to function well. ``The country needs leaders who will facilitate development of the policies and not accidental leaders who are in the office to loot the nation’s wealth.’’

Kukah described the zeal by leaders to steal public fund as the MTN slogan ``everywhere you go’’, adding that it was time leaders and their followers displayed positive attitude in all their endeavors.

MTV Base to broadcast Dance with Peter –Glo

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lobacom has announced that the popular urban youth music television channel, MTV Base, has joined the league of top broadcast stations that will be showing the Globacom-sponsored Dance with Peter Reality TV show currently ruling the airwaves.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MTV Base will broadcast the show on Sundays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting from Sunday, October 3.

The coming of MTV Base to the show makes it the fourth stations contracted by the next generation network, Globacom to broadcast the show as Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Africa Magic are already running the programme.

While Africa Magic Urban

(Channel 153 on DSTV) airs the show on Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., AIT broadcasts it every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The first episode of the show, highlighting the auditions held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Accra, Ghana, was broadcast last weekend, just as Globacom disclosed that the second episode showing this weekend would feature Port Harcourt and Benin auditions.

The winner of the show will win a brand new Toyota RAV 4 sports utility vehicle, N3million cash prize and the rare opportunity of featuring in PSquare’s next music video. The first and second runners-up will receive a Honda Civic car with N2million and a Kia Rio car with N1million respectively.

We destroyed 10 illegal refineries, seized 42 oil tankers –NSCDC chief

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it destroyed eight illegal refineries in three states and seized 42 oil tankers used in diverting petroleum products to the black market.

The Commandant General of the Corps, Alhaji Abdulahi Gana, told newsmen in his country home in Minna on Thursday that the operation was carried out between July and September. ``On Friday we destroyed three illegal refineries in

Rivers state; within the week we destroyed five in Bayelsa and another two in Abia,’’ he said.

The commandant general expressed dismay that the Federal Government was losing much more oil revenue to the operations of oil thieves than it was receiving.

He said that the corps would continue to safeguard the country’s critical infrastructure and national assets to ensure that its development efforts remained on course.

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US pledges to partner Nigeria for peace, stability

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he United States of America will continue to partner Nigeria to achieve peaceful co-existence and sustainable development especially in the country’s drive towards attainment of enduring democracy.

The acting Consul General of the United States Consulate in Nigeria, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab on Thursday told journalists at a press conference shortly before the premiere of Captive, at the House on the Rock Cathedral in Lagos that peace is not negotiable in any nation that aspires to achieve sustainable democracy and development.

Mrs. Ghebreab said her

country; the United States of America is in partnership with The Rock Cathedral to send a strong message that will change people’s lives. ‘’We are partnering on a theme to look at a purpose driven life. The movie, Captive shows how the struggle between hope and despair play out’’, Ghebreab said.

The American diplomat reminded all that societies learn from each other and in order to extend the American democracy beyond America, ‘‘we decided to share that experience with Nigerians through Selma’’.

It’s a long term commitment and that’s what we

are doing today to send the message about a purpose driven life which will help contribute to having a purpose driven nation.

The host of the event and senior pastor of House on The Rock, Paul Adefarasin earlier spoke on the need for Nigerians to live a purpose driven lifestyle too.

He said Nigeria, in her 55 years as an independent nation, has faced a series of challenges such as oppressive regimes, mis-governance and now terrorism.

He noted that the country has however overcome most of these challenges that posed great threat to us in the past.

Adefarasin recalled that the public premiere of the movie, Selma in the twi-

light of Nigeria’s general elections achieved a lot as the movie spoke to the subject of peace at a time when it appeared that Nigeria was going to disintegrate.

Also at the event was the former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, who expressed delight in the collaboration between the United States Consulate and House on The Rock.

According to Ezekwesili ‘‘the church plays an important role in nation building. We thank the US consular for this kind of partnership. Strategic partnerships matter. Partnering on such a day as our annual independence makes it much more relevant and is important for nation building’’. She said.

L-R: Charge d’ Affairs, U.S Embassy, Abuja, Mrs. Maria Brewer; Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Prof. Muyiwa Falaye; HOD, History & Strategic Studies, Prof. (Mrs.) Funke Adeboye and Professor of Economic History, Prof. Bayo Lawal, during a lecture of the Department of History and Strategic Studies on “The American Dream” delivered by the Mrs. Maria Brewer in Lagos, on Wednesday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL

Army provides free medical service to 300 Bakassi IDPs

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o fewer than 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bakassi local government area of Cross River on Friday benefited from the free medical outreach conducted by the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.

Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, Commander of the Brigade, said that the humanitarian medical outreach was part of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s vision on civil-military relations.

The IDPs are camping at Ikot Effiong/Obutong primary school in Bakassi local government area of the state.

Mohammed said that the Army decided to reach out to the IDPs because they needed adequate medical service to keep them in good health. ``We are here today to offer free medical treatment to the IDPs. When you look around and see where they are camping, you will believe that they need adequate medical care. ``We are here with our full medical team that will carry out different test on the IDPs and also administer them

with drugs. ``Earlier today, we also carried out a similar medical outreach in the barracks where the children/wards of soldiers and friends of the Army were equally tested and administered with drugs,’’ he said.

The commander advised the IDPs to have a positive outlook towards life, adding that the Army would always remember them in their activities.

NAN reports that the IDPs were tested for malaria, blood pressure, hepatitis, typhoid and fever, among oth-

ers, while drugs were equally administered to them.

Speaking, the Coordinator of the camp, Mr Aston Inyang, thanked the Army for their humanitarian medical outreach.

Inyang said that they were brought to the camp on Oct. 4, 2009, after the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on Aug. 14, 2008.

According to him, the camp has been neglected by the government and appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

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10 National carrier: Committee submits ...Commences small scale businesses for barracks community report

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he Ministerial Committee on Establishment of National Carrier has submitted its report to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello on Friday in Abuja.

The Committee was inaugurated on Aug. 25 in Abuja, and was given four weeks to complete its assignment.

Bello, after receiving the report, commended the Committee for keeping to the stipulated time and assured that the recommendations would be thoroughly studied and forwarded to the President.

She said that the Committee was inaugurated based on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to advice government appropriately on how to go about the establishment of a national carrier.

On when the national carrier would come on board, she said ``the report has just been submitted to me and I have not even opened it. ``Until I open the report and see the recommendations, I may not be able to say this is exactly what we are going to come up with.’’

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Abdulsalami Mohammed, said the team consulted widely before coming up with the report.

Mohammed said that the creation of the Committee had generated a lot of excitement and comments both in the print and electronic media, as well as social media networks since its inauguration.

He added that ``we consulted with a total of 74 stakeholders, ranging from airline operators to aviation agencies, service providers, financial consultants, institutional investors, aircraft and parts suppliers and former staff of Nigeria Airways Limited before coming up with this report.’’

Army bans civilian use of army uniforms Ubong Ukpong, ABUJA

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he Nigerian Army yesterday banned the unauthorized wearing of Army uniforms, accoutrement and kits by civilians and deserters of the Army, even as it is set to commence small scale business programmes for dependents of soldiers in the Barracks nationwide.

A statement through the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, said that Ex-Students of Nigerian Military School Zaria (aka Ex-Boys) in civil institutions were guilty of wearing army

uniforms and would henceforth face severe sanctions.

Usman said that the illegal practice of wearing Nigerian Army uniforms and kits by ex-boys apart from obvious security implications, impacted negatively on the image of Nigerian Army.

“It is pertinent to reiterate that wearing of military uniforms or kits on campus by anyone is absolutely unlawful.

“More worrisome, is the fact that most of the offenders are ex-students who have deserted the Army, and are not legally entitled to have military uniforms or items within their pos-

sessions.

“It is particularly important to mention that the ex-boys who left Nigerian Military School from 2012 when the school ceased to be a military institution, are expected to surrender their military uniforms and kits after graduation”, Usman said.

He urged the security departments of civil institutions and the general public to report suspected impostors to nearest Nigerian Army formations or Security Agencies.

Concerning the small scale business programme, tagged “The COAS Barracks Invest-

ment Initiative Programme (COAS BIIP)”, Usman said that the sensitization exercise is to commence in all cantonments and barracks across the country.

He said that the investment scheme was an initiative of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, as part of his welfare drive for officers and soldiers by engaging their spouses and dependants living in the barracks on income yielding agricultural ventures such as animal husbandry, fish farming, poultry and other profit making agricultural activities.

L-R: Younger sister of Late Gamaliel Onosode, Mrs. Henrietta Aganbi; Former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan and younger brother of Onosode, Dr. A.T. Onosode, during the later’s condolence visit to the Onosode home in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Sebastian Ebhuomhan

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he Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have beamed its searchlight on the alleged criminal activities of the Chief Registrar of Kebbi State Judiciary who was accused of forging orders of the Court of Appeal of Sokoto Division with the aim of steal N29m.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that the ICPC swung into action after National Mirror, exclusively, reported on August 9th this year a petition that was written and signed by a Benin-based lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi, the Principal Partner of Olayiwola Afolabi & Co., alleging criminal activities in respect of a

ICPC investigates Kebbi Chief Registrar

...after National Mirror broke story of alleged N29m fraud

case his chamber initiated from Edo State against the Kebbi State Government and other authorities earlier.

According to Afolabi, Abubakar Siddiq Bello, the Chief Registrar of Kebbi State Judiciary, criminally forged a Judgment Order of the appellate court in Sokoto State to reverse an existing judgment of the High Court of Justice of Kebbi State in the case of Faluyi O. Charles & Others Versus Nigeria Union of Teachers

of Kebbi State in Suit No: KB/HC/M86/2006.

However, trouble began for Mr Bello on Tuesday, May 26th, 2015 when he secretly wrote to set aside the judgment on the letterhead of his office, signed and sent same to the Head of Service of Kebbi State Government in Birnin Kebbi with copies to the Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council of Kebbi State, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress of Kebbi State and the Chairman of

Nigeria Union of Teachers of Kebbi State.

In a reply letter with Reference Number: ICPC/P/SS/625/2015; titled: Re: Need to Prosecute the Chief Registrar of Kebbi State Judiciary; signed on behalf of ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta by M. M. Abdullahi, delivered after a long wait by the law chamber and exclusively obtained in Benin City this week, the anti-corruption agency said it was already working on the petition.

Investment: 50 French companies to meet Buhari next week

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delegation of 50 heads of French companies are expected to visit Nigeria next week to explore business opportunities and establish bilateral links in the country, the French Embassy said on Friday.

A statement from Georges Vanin, First Counsellor, Political Affairs and Communication, Embassy of France, said the business delegation was the first of its kind from France to any African country.

The statement said the delegation was organised by the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), France’s leading network of entrepreneurs and the largest employer federation with 800,000 member firms.

According to it, the French companies on the delegation include those in the sectors such as building, transportation, environment, energy and sustainable cities. ``The largest economy and the largest population on the continent, the middle class is emerging in Nigeria, which demand new infrastructures facilities and equipment, but also in services and leisure.”

The statement quoted Mr Pierre Gattaz, President of MEDEF, as saying Nigeria is a land of investments and development for French businesses. ``Nigeria is a land of investments and development for French companies. Africa is our new frontier. ``We are friends and have much to gain by building strong, confident and sustainable business relationships. ``Although France has much to contribute to Africa, but Africa has so much to bring to France,” Gattaz said.

The statement said Gattaz would lead the delegation to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 5 before meeting with the business communities. ``Development opportunities for our businesses are significant and we hope that close bilateral links will be established during our trip to Nigeria,” Lucas said.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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Eweoya donates borehole to Oshodi primary school Oseyiza Oogbodo

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usinessman cum politician, Oluwole Benjamin Eweoya, popularly known as OBE, has explained why he recently donated a borehole to St. Paul’s Primary School, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos.

According to him, helping the needy and community development is the core of his desire to serve his community, Oshodi, where he grew up, and Nigeria by extension.

“There are obvious needs in St Paul’s and other primary schools in Oshodi Local Government Area and beyond,” he said. “The joy I have is my belief in competitive development. It gladdened my heart when I put up a sign post at Afolabi Primary School, Brown Street, Oshodi, and two weeks later, our Federal House of Representatives member saw the need to do the same for the neighbouring primary school.

“If we continue in this spirit of competitive development, in less than ten years, Oshodi LGA will be better than Eti-Osa or any other LGA in Nigeria.

I therefore use this opportunity to tell the people of Oshodi that development has come back home to our community.”

Also speaking during the borehole’s commissioning, Mrs Obadara, St. Paul’s headmistress, said, “We thank God for the provision of the water tank and scaffolding to ST. Paul’s. As we all know, water is a very essential need of humanity. So, this borehole will go a long way in meeting the various needs that water is needed for in our school.

“Mr Eweoya, whom God used to provide this water facility, is an old pupil of St. Paul’s. His act of selfless service is what has enabled him to provide this need.

You provided a timely need for us, and God Almighty will pay you back a million fold.”

2,000 jostle for 100 medical jobs in Ekiti Abiodun Nejo Ado-Ekiti

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bout 2000 job seekers yesterday besieged the Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board for screening and job interview for 100 vacant positions.

The Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr Kolawole Aina, said the applicants were jostling for 70 vacancies for medical doctors and the

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he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has warned drivers using fog lights especially at nights that they would be prosecuted.

Isah Seidu, an Assistant Corps Commander in Ijebu-Ode Unit, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

He was speaking on the sideline of a road safety enlightenment campaign organised for commercial drivers at the Olabisi Onabanjo Univer-

remaining 30 for nurses and other health sector workers.

Aina, who said job placement was an ongoing activity in the state to fill positions in consequential vacancies in the government health facilities, assured that merit and competence would be the determinant factors in the recruitment.

This, he said, was in view of the sensitive nature of the health sector.

L-R: Bushura Kolade; Former Executive Chairman, Lekki Local council Development Area, Barrister Ogidan Mukadasi OLaitan, Honorable Taiwo Ayedun; Principal of Correction Center School, Luqman Olaitan Ikotun; Team Leader, Epe, Edu Olawale (second right)and General Secretary, Team A+ volunteer, Adekoya Oluwasheunfunmi, during a visit to the School to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence day Celebration in Oregun, Lagos yesterday. PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED.

Bailout

Ondo workers protest non-payment of two months salaries

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ivil servants in Ondo State on Wednesday embarked on two-day warning strike following the non-payment of their two months salaries by the state government from the Federal Government’s bailout fund.

Organised labour on Tuesday in Akure gave the state government a 24hour ultimatum to pay all the outstanding salaries of workers or face strike.

The Joint Negotiating

Council, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress leaders took the decision at an emergency meeting of the unions.

The state JNC Chairman, Sunday Adeleye, insisted that workers would embark on two-day warning strike on Wednesday and Friday should the arrears remain unpaid.

The unions said Governor Olusegun Mimiko was no longer sensitive to workers’ plight despite collecting the Federal Gov-

ernment’s bailout package for salary payment.

Adeleye, who decried the payment of only one month, said the strike would continue because the agreement with the state government was to pay at least two months and the outstanding balance of May salary.

The unions directed all employees of the state government to comply with the directive.

Offices of government ministries and agencies at

driver to lose control.

“The excuse drivers give for this blunder is that fog lights enable long vision and gives a sense of security against night ambushes.

“However, this is very wrong as fog lights or ‘full’ headlights as is popularly called can distort the vision of oncoming drivers and pose the danger of crashes.

“We will not entertain any excuses. If your head lamps are bad, have them

fixed or replaced.

“The use of fog lights unnecessarily will now be enforced and I tell you that violators risk being fined up to N3,000 or face jail terms if found guilty,” he said.

Speaking on the enforcement of speed limit devices for commercial vehicles which began on September 1st, the FRSC boss said the enforcement of the scheme was still being mellowed.

“The enforcement of

the speed limiter devices on commercial vehicles has started since September 1st, but in a subtle way.

“Though we are not yet booking or giving fines, it is very important for drivers to embrace the scheme and have the device installed in their vehicles based on its benefits.

“The speed limiter guides the driver to conform to safe speed limits which helps to reduce the crash index ratio, fuel

Mimiko

the state secretariat, Alagbaka in Akure were under lock and key.

FRSC warns against use of fog lights sity (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

Seidu said that fog lights could cause accidents.

He said that the FRSC would not tolerate the use of fog lights, especially in the ‘ember’ months, when the corps members would be patrolling major highways on a 24-hour basis.

“It is a common occurrence during the night to see drivers abusing the use of fog lights which can cause the opposing

consumption and engine wear exerted by speeding.”

Seidu said that to ensure safety on the roads and to reduce crashes, drivers must undertake routine medical checks to ensure their fitness and also keep their vehicles properly maintained.

He said that the age limit for anyone to stop driving or possessing a drivers’ licence was 70 years.

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NGO proffers solution to incessant communal clashes in Taraba Justin Tyopuusu JALINGO

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non-governmental organisation, Rural Integrated Development Initiative, RIDI, has advised the Taraba state government to adopt peacemaking and not peace keeping approach as solution to incessant communal clashes in the state.

Executive Director of the NGO, Mohammed Tanko Danburam gave the advice yesterday in an exclusive interview with National Mirror in Jalingo.

Danburam who said he has mediated in various crises in the country, including the Jukun/Tiv crisis of 1992 and 2001, the Mambilla/Fulani crisis all in Taraba state and the Ife/ Modakeke crisis in Osun state among others said Taraba crisis required a sustained peacemaking initiative.

“What the state government is doing at the moment is peace keeping, which is not a permanent solution to the crisis. When you ordered traditional rulers to ensure peace in their domains, they will carry out your instruction, but you have not make peace. Government need to go down the root of the matter in order to find lasting solution.

“We need to change the mindset of our people.

Our elders must come out publicly to renounce violence and condemn incessant crisis in the state,” he said.

Danburam said he supported the call for a peace and security summit to fashion out ways of ending incessant crisis in the state to pave way for development, but that efforts must be made to change the mindset of the people toward violence.

“We must get our people to a level where they will be competing of developing their communities on their own, then they will not think of causing violence. In doing this, we must ensure justice for all, because you cannot have peace where there is injustice,” he said.

He implored the state government to embarked on integrated and all inclusive peacemaking initiative even as he urged the people of the state to see each other as brothers and sisters.

NORTH

OCTOBER 3, 2015

ASUU rejects calls for Adamawa varsity VC’s removal Livinus Menedi YOLA

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he Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, Adamawa State University chapter, has dissociated itself from calls to have the embattled Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor David Joshua Shall, removed.

The union which spoke

through its chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Song, yesterday in Yola, told pressmen that the body, had never at anytime joined the call for the removal of the new Vice Chancellor of the Adamawa State University (ADSU), noting that those rooting for the VC’s ouster do not wish the institution well.

Prof. Shall has been caught in a web of contro-

versy, following EFCC investigations over alleged sale of newly bought SUV’ at scrap value and other financial malfeasance by his traducers.

But ASUU, however is saying the institutions, under Prof. David shall, is being repositioned.

Thus, the group noted that the vituperations from entrenched interest, who are opposed to the changes being brought by the new helmsman, were

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

therefore out to crucify him.

He therefore called on all those who have resorted to blackmail to sabotage the change process in the institution to sheath their sword.

Song who explained that he has been in university system for a while to understand its politics stressed that the new VC was a victim of vested interest who are bent to get him out of their way.

Bulunkutu area in Maiduguri’s Jere Local Government Area (LGA) where six female suicide bombers stormed the Sajeri suburb killed-20-people on Thursday.

Kaduna to provide 770,000 units of school furniture

A za Msue KADUNA

T

he Kaduna State Gover nment yesterday said under its state of emergency on education, it will provide over 770,000 units of furniture in primary and secondary schools across the state.

In a statement issued

by State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, said government will be bearing the costs of procuring school furniture for the eight indebted local government councils whose furniture needs will be provided by the Kaduna Furniture Company.

Adamu who decried dilapidated school

structures and furniture in the state in the last sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party administration said the state of emergency on education within six weeks period would enable government to engage and resolve the pressing infrastructural and personnel gaps in schools.

Governor Nasir El-

rufai had declared state of emergency on education on Thursday at Independence Day celebration but said the ministry will announce measures on Friday.

The commissioner said: “To comfortably sit old and new pupils, the government has to supply primary schools with over 400,000 units of furniture.

The process is now at

the Tenders Board with companies selected on multiple source selective tendering process.

The contracting process to provide school furniture for the 15 other local government councils will be fast-tracked. The Junior Secondary and the Senior Secondary schools also require about 370,000 units of furniture.”

Borno IDPs relocation plans concluded Inusa Ndahi MAIDUGURI

T

he Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA) and its federal counterpart, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have concluded plans to relocate some inter-

nally displaced persons (IDPs) from the state capital, Maiduguri, to their hometowns.

Speaking after a courtesy visit on Alhaji Mohammed Kanar, the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, the Chairman of BOSEMA, Engr. Ahmed Satomi said arrangements have been concluded for the building of IDPs camps in

Bama, Monguno, Dikwa, Konduga and Damboa to facilitate the relocation of the displaced persons from already overpopulated Maiduguri.

He said the state government was ready to work with the federal government, particularly NEMA, to see that most of the facilities espe-

Taraba IDP returnees seek govt help Justin Tyopuusu JALINGO

I

nternally Displaced Persons in Taraba state who are returning home on the directive of Governor Darius Ishaku have appealed to the state government and other relevant agencies to come to their aid.

Chairman, Taraba Tiv Peace Initiative in Bali local government, Rev. Daniel Anum made the appeal while speaking to journalists on the plight of the returnees in Bali.

Anum said the appeal became necessary giving the hardships facing the people who are returning to their ancestral homes.

He commended Ishaku for the steps taken to ensure the return of peace in the state and appealed to him to look at the condition of the returnees who lost everything in the crisis and provide them with basic necessities of life.

“Life is difficult for us the returnees. Our main challenge now is food and shelter. We want to appeal to the state government to assist us with food and tents to hide our heads pending when rain will stop.

“Our houses have been destroyed and anytime it rains, we will have to look for ways of taking cover. Many of our children are suffering from malaria, cough and other diseases associated with cold. It’s a good thing we are back to our places, but life is becoming unbearable,” he said.

cially schools in Maiduguri, presently accommodating IDPs, are freed to return back to their former use.

Satomi said he was in NEMA office to seek areas of further assistance to the displaced persons, noting that the federal government, especially NEMA, has been of tremendous help to the state in the care of the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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POLITICS 13 Senate presidency and banana peel politics

Bukola Saraki

Lekan Adejuwon

T

he circus show in the leadership of the Nigerian Upper legislative House, the senate, reminds one of the proverbial banana peels which, to many watchers of Nigerian politics, has remained the bane of many occupants of the senate presidency since the birth of current democratic dispensation in 1999.

But for Dr Bukola Saraki, the Senate President of the 8th National Assembly, his dream of leading the 109 members of the Red Chamber may have suffered a terrible setback during the week as he was not only served with a bench warrant of arrest by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last week, but was docked last Wednesday on a 13 count charge bordering on false declaration of assets leveled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau CCB. Some have argued that the development is enough for the senate president to step aside as was usually the case in any sane society.

However, the former Governor of Kwara State, finally succumbed to the court’s summons after a frantic legal battle to stop his trial, a development which many viewed with suspect for the country’s No 3 citizen if he had no skeleton in his cupboard.

The Saraki saga, it would be recalled, started with his trial by CCB for alleged under-declaration and anticipatory declaration of assets scheduled to commence penultimate Friday, a development which many believed could have kick-started the Buhari war against corruption.

Saraki, an APC senator, who was alleged to have made false declaration of his assets,

was also accused of owning an American Express credit card account during his tenure as governor in abeyance of Public officials Act which forbids a public official from operating foreign accounts while in office.

But Saraki, in a deft political move, shunned the Code of Conduct Tribunal and asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the tribunal’s proceedings against him, stating that the tribunal was not competent to try him. However, the tribunal chairman issued a warrant compelling the Inspector General of Police to arrest the Senate President.

The warrant spurred Saraki to go to the Appeal Court, asking it to quash the warrant and to stop the proceedings of the tribunal.

However, the two courts on Monday, simultaneously, refused his requests, causing Saraki to finally appear before the tribunal.

Saraki’s latest move appeared not strange to some analysts but was reminiscent of a case brought against him by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police in April 2012.

The Senate President, who was then a two term senator, was invited by the police over an alleged N9.7bn loan scam, did not honour the invitation but was subsequently declared wanted. But instead of turning himself in, Saraki obtained an interim injunction restraining the police from threatening to arrest him or infringe on his rights pending the determination of the substantive suit.

But, in what could have been a voyage into a familiar terrain for Saraki, the courts were resolutely affirmative in prosecuting the senate president and his arraignment was

done last Tuesday.

Hardly had the former Kwara State governor entered the dock when a protracted legal argument ensued between his lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu and Rotimi Jacobs standing in for the Federal Government.

Explaining how Saraki ran to both the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court in Abuja with different applications all in a bid to stop the proceeding of the tribunal, Jacobs said: “My lords, having exhausted and overstretched the legal process and failed, the Appeal Court ordered him to come here and face his trial.

“This court should not be taken for granted anymore. The accused person was a member of the 7th Senate; they were the ones that made the law. They saw the lapses and their effort to sanitize our criminal justice system, modified the law to the effect that an accused must enter his plea first before raising preliminary objections.

That is what is provided in section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

In his defence, Saraki’s lawyer delved into another line of argument, contending that going by paragraph 18(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 constitution, the proceeding of the CCT could not be classified as a criminal trial.

He further argued that under the law, where the CCT found that a public officer contravened any provision of the Code of Conduct, such person could be punished by being asked to vacate the office he/ she occupies, disqualification, seizure and forfeiture of assets in contention, or made to suffer any other penalty as may be imposed by the National Assembly.

“This court is not empowered to try criminal cases. This tribunal is like a disciplinary committee that is meant to punish politicians, not a court where Section 6 of the ACJA applies”, Daudu, argued.

Having failed to persuade the tribunal, a visibly worried Saraki strode into the dock.

As the court clerk read the first count of the charge to him, the accused took time to lecture the tribunal on the appropriate course of action it ought to have taken before docking him over alleged false declaration of assets.

He complained that he was never afforded the opportunity by the CCB to clarify whatever disparity it observed in the assets he declared while in office as the Governor of Kwara State.

Saraki, who addressed the court from the dock, said: “I am a firm believer in the rule of law. I am happy that some of the good works the senate has done in justice administration have been made reference to. We were the ones that passed the Code of Conduct Bureau Act. “I just want to make this brief introduction to show you that I believe in the process of the rule of law. Section 3(d) of the CCB & Tribunal Act says that, if there is a breach in asset declaration, the CCB shall refer the matter to the CCT, after giving a defendant an opportunity to either confirm if those facts were true or not, then the matter shall be referred to the tribunal. I felt that the CCB should have called me according to the law because we have been talking about new Nigeria. We have been talking about Nigeria going forward.”

The embattled Senate President was granted bail on personal recognition by the tribunal which also adjourned the matter till October 21, 22 and 23 to hear Saraki’s preliminary objections.

Meanwhile, the Saraki saga has been a study case for academic discourse among some of the nation’s legal luminaries.

For Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and activist, the judicial system was flawed such that only the poor could be convicted while the rich continue to get away.

He added that once the government has created an enabling environment for people to expose corruption just as Buhari has done, and the anti-graft agencies are given the opportunity to prosecute cases of corrupt people, things will begin to change.

His words: “Under the current political and judicial systems, the rich are never harassed. Ours is the only country in the world where a rich man can suspend his trial. It does not happen in any modern state.

That you can ask for a stay of proceedings to suspend your trial for years. Or you go to a court to ask for an interim or perpetual injunction that you cannot be tried. The poor cannot do that”.

Speaking in similar vein, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), a Professor of Law who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on War Against Corruption, says a new genre of senior advocates now exists and their sole means of existence is to stall cases, especially corruption cases.

He said, “Many judges, in my view, foolishly in the past, played along with these senior advocates. They abandon the main case and concentrate on the preliminary objection, which may take perhaps a year or two. Meanwhile, the substantive issue of corruption is suspended.

The NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) in his submission said, “The Act is being enforced and it takes time to feel the impact. It is a federal law and is only effective in the federal courts and in Abuja only. It must be domesticated in the states for it to apply in the states.”

A new twist was added to the ongoing Saraki’s trial by Dr Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan in a Tweet recently.

According to him, the ongoing ordeal of the Senate President, may be an interesting soap opera. He says. “But to more discerning minds it is nothing short of a tragic comedy.

Over the years, Nigerian politicians fail over and over again to convince anybody that they actually learn anything from our checkered political history. “I am personally not a supporter of Dr Saraki and for good reason.

He spearheaded the demolition of the PDP and the eventual catastrophic electoral misfortune of the Goodluck Jonathan ‘s Presidency.

“Neither am I a detractor of the Senate President. However, as a veteran politician I accept that all is fair in love and in war and as they say the end justifies the means.

But what is currently going on is ominous and dangerous and will require wisdom and extreme tact from all the dramatis personae” If Saraki’s current ordeals eventually lead to his impeachment as the senate president, he would be joining the ranks of Evans Enwerem, Adolphous Wabara, Late Chuba Okadigbo who had fallen victim of the proverbial banana peel..

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POLITICS

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

My most embarrassing moment in politics –Abike Dabiri hard work and God on our side, we succeeded.

Former House of Representatives member, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who also served as Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, in the 7th Assembly makes a strong case for the establishment of Diaspora Commission and database to know the number of Nigerians living abroad, PATIENCE OGBO reports.

What is your take on the database for Nigerians in the Diaspora?

There is no database of Diaspora in Nigeria, we are only dealing with estimate, there is a need for a proper database, I challenge the university and the department to find a way for this.

There are many Nigerians suffering and doing well in the Diaspora, half of Sudan is Nigeria, Nigerians are doing well in Sudan, so there is a need for Diaspora database, which I hope this government will establish. The best professor anywhere in the world is a Nigerian it is annoying that what you hear about Nigeria is bad, such as prostitution, drugs, etc.

W

hy did you join politics?

I had just completed a programme at the Harvard University and was back to my job as a broadcaster with the NTA. I was facing some challenges with where to fit in. It occurred to me that I can put my knowledge into politics. One day, I decided to go to our party’s office in my ward at Ikorodu and I registered with the party. I asked about the meeting days and I started attending. I will sit among the women, the fisher mongers, the traders and elderly women and I will enjoy their company. I love sitting with them and we will talk and share ideas.

I decided to take another step and after three months, I went to meet our party leader and told him that I would like to contest to represent my constituency.

That time, the person representing my constituency had decamped to the PDP. I had the support from the women and they said if I did not win, they were going to strip. I contested with five men and I won.

There is a general belief that women do not support one another especially in politics but from what you said the women were behind you.

How did you achieve this?

It is not true that women do not support one another. It is usually women who come together to give support to their fellow women. What I have to say is that women who have found themselves in position of power should help elevate other women. Like I said, I showed concern I related with them. We bonded and that was the secret.

The PDP government under the leadership of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had the 35 percent affirmative action which made it possible and easier for more women to be appointed into political

What do you have to say about Nigerians in the Diaspora?

It is a case of the good, the bad and the ugly. Nigerians are one of the most illiterate migrants and US president, Barrack Obama said this. Let me start with the bad .We have about 600 Nigerians in India’s prisons, China is uncountable, there are many examples, in Libya, Ghadaffi was killing Nigerians like chickens; our people have been dying like chickens. The good thing is that Nigerians are the best in the world.

Dabiri-Erewa

offices, it seems so far that the APC does not have plans for women. Also, there is a decline in women elected in the present dispensation. What do you have to say about this?

This is a harsh question. The question I ask is it the number of women in political offices that matters or the quality of women? I am of the position that if we have women and their effects are positive and being felt, that is what matters. What I usually advocate for is that women should help other women.

What are you doing as a woman to impact on your fellow women where you are? Are you uplifting your fellow women where you are right now? I feel that women or anybody in leadership position should have integrity. The person must be upright and have the interest of the people uppermost in their hearts. That is what really is important.

Recently, you are accused of being indebted to a bank. What is your take on the allegation?

Well, my reaction was that after that story was published, I did not waste any time as I headed to the court to sue the newspaper and the bank for N500million.

They have since apologized. I wonder how they came about that story. I took the matter to court because I know I do not owe anybody.

What has been your most embarrassing moment with the press?

There was a time a publication was flying that I was sleeping with the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Masari.

When I saw the publication, I started crying and I went to him with the publication. He just laughed and he told me to relax that it comes with the job. He told me that more such publication will target me because of my position.

You have a Foundation, is the foundation for girls only?

Some people think the Foundation is for girls only but the Foundation is not for girls only. They have even accused me of being gender biased but in fact, we have two twin boys we gave scholarship to. I give mentoring to girls but the Foundation is for boys and girls.

Can you talk about being the chairman of the Diaspora committee?

You know we were in the opposition party at that time and they felt they should give me something. So they said let’s give her chairman on Diaspora.

I went to work because there was nothing to work with. I had to start from the scratch but with determination,

What are your achievements?

We brought back 24 Nigerians from Libya prison, one of them was a graduate of the University of Nigeria with his two children. Even in South Africa, Nigerians are the largest in South Africa prisons, some of them are not supposed to be in the prisons, the Nigerian government and the embassies should rise to protect them.

You are advocating for a Diaspora Commission and database. Why are these important issues to you?

Nigerians in Diaspora have great potentials. Only in 2014 Nigerians in Diaspora remitted about $21 billion apart from domestic finances. Federal Government ought to emulate other countries such as India, Tunisia, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Somalia, Benin and Senegal, among 26 countries that have domesticated Diaspora Commission. There are about 26 countries with full ministries or Commission for Diaspora, in fact, Diaspora Day in India is like their national day. There is the need to bring them to network and for them to bring in their expertise to bear in the country.

It is not because they are better but there is the need for synergy.

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

TALKING POLITICS ‘Ensure return of stolen funds’ —President Buhari

“B

y any consideration, corruption and cross-border financial crimes are impediments to development, economic growth and the realisation of the well-being of citizens across the globe.

“Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with international agencies and individual countries on a bilateral basis to confront crimes and corruption.

“In particular, I call upon the global community to urgently redouble efforts towards strengthening the

mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption and ensuring the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin.”

‘Saraki’s trial can rubbish anti-corruption war’

—Jackson Ojo, National President of Yoruba Youth Alliance

“T

he whole world is watching and monitoring everything now. We are suspecting a sponsored allegation against Saraki just because of his clever emergence as the Senate President as against the decision and calculation of some oligarchic and autocratic leaders in the APC.

“One thing I want people to be cautious of is the outcome of the Saraki travails. If it is not openly and transparently handled, it will boomerang on the party, the APC, and will eventually put the corruption crusade of Buhari into a serious ridicule.

“Saraki is not above the law and should not be treated as such, but they should allow things to operate transparently.”

“I make bold to condemn the travail of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in the hands of Code of Conduct Bureau.

Although, it is normal for the CCB to do its job without fear or favour and without minding whose ox is gored, this however be done transparently and without sentiments.”

‘Ambode’s cabinet list mediocre, self serving’

—Gani Taofik, Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary

“W

e also fault the nominations of Jide Idris, Akintola Benson, Anofi Elegushi, Ganiu Johnson and Folarin Coker because they had either been personal staff or relatives of a former governor of the state.

“Thus it will continue to be business as usual in the governance of the state as the state resources will continue to be superintendend by the former governor who is the incumbent governor’s godfather.”

“This list is so mediocre, self-serving, embarrassing that it cannot justify the delay and waste of days. Lagosians

should not expect any change from Ambode. By this list, his hands are tied.

He will only succeed to the extent that his godfather allows this list to serve Lagosians.”

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15

‘Nigeria deeply divided along religious, ethnic lines’ ­­— Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

“W

e have since our amalgamation in 1914, all through our independence as a sovereign state, not been successful in harnessing our plurality, diversity into a rainbow of peace and sustainable development. This is because, instead of allowing ourselves to be guided, to be propelled by national interest, we are bedevilled by the blind pursuit, self centred and parochial interest that often toe the lines of ethnic, religious and politically partisan considerations.”

‘NLC didn’t tell Saraki to resign’ — Factional President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba

“T

he NLC believes in the rule of law and we believe that whatever is right should be done. By our laws, the mere allegation that somebody has committed an offence, we don’t judge the person as guilty until it is pronounced by a court of law.

“To me, that would be following due process and the rule of law than to midway begin to make pronouncements and criminalise people. I think what is right should be done rightly.

“I think those statements cannot be credited to us. You can consult the people that have issued those statements, but certainly they are not from us. We believe in due process, we believe in the rule of law.

“We are championing the war against corruption. We also believe that we should follow due process in whatever we want to do. People should not be stampeded into making pronouncements on behalf of the NLC.”

‘Much noise, no action against graft’

— Dr Tunji Braithwaith, former Presidential candidate of defunct Nigerian Advance Party NAP

“W

e have heard a lot of noise being made about attacking corruption.

What has he done about attacking corruption four months after he was sworn in? The fact that we are having better electricity supply and the refineries are working cannot be what he has done.

“His (Buhari) body language, may be.

But what we got all this time is military news. “ To me, he wants to make sure that military opportunists, military looters, who are still very much around in the control and administration of this country directly or through their proxies are adequately handled.

“How many people have been charged

for corruption? Nobody. One military fellow, Sambo Dasuki, the former NSA has been taken to a Magistrates’ Court.

Put your two and two together if you are a thinker.”

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October 3, 2015

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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Cohabitation:

17

Dangerous trend displacing responsible union

The population of unmarried young men and women living together in cities and institutions of higher learning is increasing in geometric proportions, writes JULIET UMEH

F

or Gimba Emen and Jessica Ibrahim, his girlfriend, this may not be the best of times as love which welded their hearts in the past, when they ate, danced, drank and watched films joyfully, seems to have expired and like a candle light that is extinguished. Right now, Emen, a 28-year-old student, is cooling his heels at the Keffi Prison for allegedly jilting Ibrahim, who he put in the family way in the course of some swell months of exciting union. Now carrying a seven months’ pregnancy, outcome of their raunchy association, Ibrahim is hoping the court of law will definitely serve as a dispassionate arbiter by finding him guilty of unfaithfulness and maybe send him to jail.

In the submission of the prosecutor, Sergeant Samuel Okoro, Ibrahim reported the accused, who resides at Mararaba, at the Sani Abacha Road Police Station, Mararaba, Nasarawa State. According to him, Emen had in January approached Jessica for a romantic relationship to which she accepted, but the accused allegedly deceitfully made the complainant, who is not legally married to him, to believe that he would marry her.

“The accused cohabited with Jessica and impregnated her. Later he drove her

four years ago with the youngest child.

According to Peter, his ‘headache’ now is how to nurture those children because “I have tried all my possible best to legalise the union, but her father refused saying that both of us never lived in peace when we were together. But the union has four kids to show for it.

“Right now, people have been advising me to forget the lady and move on with my life. They said that it is possible she doesn’t want to be married for spiritual reasons which they said the father may be aware of. But deep down me, I am not thinking of woman anymore,” he said.

Also counting her losses after a heartbreak recently inflicted on by her ‘heartthrob,’ Deborah Egeh, a law firm secretary in Lagos, said she had been licking her wound all alone after losing a three-month-

out of the house without providing her needs,’’ stated the prosecutor. This offence, according to Okoro contravenes section 383 of the Penal Code, which prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders.

But making his defence, Emen, denied committing the offence, but confessed having sexual relationship with Jessica, though he said ‘in the past.’ The prosecutor however objected to his defence, saying that he was only trying to free himself from guilt.

When the case came up for hearing recently, the Presiding Judge, Mr Vincent Gwehemba, ordered that the accused be remanded in Keffi Prison until the adjourned date.

Though Emen and Ibrahim’s illegal union resulted in an unplanned sevenmonth-old pregnancy, Peter, a Lagos resident who resides at Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, is today a sad single parent of three children after his estranged partner he cohabited with returned to her parents.

Their union produced four kids, the eldest of which is 13 years old, but the woman left

The accused cohabited with Jessica and impregnated her. Later, he drove her out of the house without providing her needs.

This contravenes section 383 of the Penal Code, which prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders

old pregnancy that resulted from a broken relationship that lasted for six months with George, an Imo State-born driver in one of the popular South East commercial transport companies, whom she had hoped she would tie the nuptial knot with.

“Men are wicked,” the 41-year-old Egeh lamented, as she told her story to Saturday Mirror. “What didn’t I do for this man?

Ever since we started living together, he went to work with food because I woke up every morning to prepare his food despite the fact that I worked on Lagos Island. People in his office are my witnesses because they noticed that his life changed for good.

He didn’t give me housekeeping allowance; I stocked the house with all manner of food stuff and fruits which attracted his friends to his house because they were sure of good food on weekends. Even with all my efforts, he did not appreciate me,” she said.

From her story, when George got tired of her, he simply kicked her out, giving the excuse that his pastor advised him to stay away from women for the mean time.

However, Egeh’s grouse is that George still relates with other women despite the pastor’s ‘advice’; a proof that completely convinced her that the man had decided to dump her. “He also doesn’t want to come and meet my people to legalise the relationship,” she said.

Lovers’ cohabitation, also described as ‘couple’s life’, in spite of deluge of attacks against it by moralists, has remained a CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

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‘It’s a reflection of social imbalance’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

trend not only in the towns, cities and rural areas, but also a feature of social relationships in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Though historically, this practice’s origin was from Western climes, especially in European countries, but over there, students who are in love cohabit in same apartment in an institution throughout the duration of their course years. The potential partners live, dine and wine under the same roof; they sometimes assume the full responsibilities of real couples.

But on Nigerian campuses, the couple, conspicuously head over heels in love, actively experiment illicit relationship out of sheer desperation and interest to enjoy interpersonal sensual pleasure; later they progress by engaging in free and fulfilled sex like married partners.

Strangely and unbelievably, some parents in many cities in Nigeria, approve very close mutual relationship between young couples, hoping that such freedom affords the two time to be together and enable their relationships to go through purifying fire; but not a few say that it is not necessarily to prepare the couple for marriage, but to enable them understand the peculiar habit and secrets of man’s life.

Other factors some give as reasons for couple’s cohabitation include the extremely high cost of housing and today’s harsh economy. Some cohabit as a way of trying out marriage to test each other’s compatibility, while they have the option of ending the relationship without legal implications if they feel it is not workable.

Whereas, a few who cohabit do so hypocritically or with some sense of guilt, the trend has gone viral among students, especially those living off-campuses of tertiary institutions where accommodation is inadequate. In the course of getting facts for this story, Saturday Mirror saw students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, seeking accommodation outside their school campus. But the excuse of accommodation problem is what desperate student lovers harp on to start mutual relationship under the same roof. However, as ‘satisfying’ as the practice may be to them, the dangers it pose to their health and academic life may be too enormous control.

Ibrahim Abdulkareem, a medical student at University of Abuja, warned: “Such practice is dangerous for the future of the two young adults involved in the relationship. They are susceptible to various sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies that may result in serial abortions. Also, there is no viable assurance that the intimacy will end up in marriage.

He added: “Without mincing words, such a practice is unwholesome and condemnable. Aside the fact that the both are prone to various sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy; it is capable of distracting them from their primary academic responsibility,” he affirmed.

Also speaking about the ability of such ‘trial marriage’ to cause derailment in students’ academic pursuit, Tope Makinde, a University of Lagos student, maintained that such practice is capable of distract-

ing the primary purpose of studentship, which is to attain academic excellence. She averred that there is a wide gulf between education and romance, but any attempt to combine the two it will result in grave consequences. Rhetorically, she asked: “Have you ever come across a best-graduating student of a school saying that he or she lived a couple’s life to earn such meritorious feat? Therefore, I posit that the practice should be totally discouraged,” she concluded.

But inviting government intervention in the malaise is Kunle Olayiwola, a 400-Level Electrical Engineering student of University of Ilorin, who wants the political leaders and stakeholders in the education sector to establish a law against such practice. He said: “Some single male and female students in our higher institutions are now living together like married couples. This menace happens when sense of shame is dead in people,” he pinpointed.

Last week in his opening remark at a one-day summit on ‘Cohabitation among Students,’ organised by the Student Affairs Division of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, the ViceChancellor, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, condemned the prevailing cohabitation syndrome among students of tertiary institutions in the country. He condemned outright female and male students living together: “Cohabitation among students is a reprobate act that requires all hands to be on deck to arrest the ugly trend. Living

together and having sexual relationship without being married is a trend that has virtually eroded the level of morality among the youths, particularly students of higher institutions.

“Findings by researchers have proved that cohabitation among unmarried students has been on the rise and if deliberate and pragmatic steps are not taken by all stakeholders, including managements of tertiary institutions, parents and religious leaders, this anomaly will continue unabated and the society will ultimately suffer for it,” the vice-chancellor said.

“Myriads of reasons account for cohabitation in our society,” Cyril Azuka, a sociologist declared. “Although it is usually described as illegal, but it is a way by which a strong or an advantaged person tries to take care of the weakness or misfortune of another, though the benefactor may have some hidden agenda. Normally, in a society bedevilled with social imbalances or personal problems such as unemployment, hunger, homelessness and health problems, poverty and hopelessness, childlessness, marital failures or need for a future partner, anybody that professes as ‘messianic’ spirit may take lives of the weak for granted,” he explained.

Speaking from the angle of moral and religion, a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) and professor Islamic religion, Lakin Akintola, condemned the practice in its entirety. “They should not be called couples in the first place because

Findings by researchers have proved that cohabitation among unmarried students has been on the rise and if deliberate and pragmatic steps are not taken by all stakeholders, this anomaly will continue unabated and the society will ultimately suffer for it

it is illegal, it is un-Islamic, and it is Haram.

It is fornication if both of them are single and adultery if they are married. Such attitude encourages irresponsibility and abortion; it involves murder, the killing of the innocent. Such people are bad example to the young ones because they mislead them. They are socially irresponsible,” he averred.

“Every family is a unit; when a family unit is in order, it brings discipline and morality to the whole society. But when you refuse to form your own family, engaging in pre-marital sex or cohabiting, it is an anomaly in social responsibility ethics. So Islam does not support it and because it is barbaric and we don’t encourage Nigerians to be doing that.”

Also, Pastor Titus, senior pastor at Christ Perfect Church, Lagos, also condemned cohabitation, pointing finger of blame at tradition and culture for making the outlandish practice to grow. “So it affects the marriage demand and whatever that follows it and as a result of that a lot people are prevented from getting into marriage and that is why they cohabit.

“Another reason is economic situation, because even the tradition and culture’s demand on marriage is translated into financial and economic values and as a result of that, most people don’t have financial strength to face it and that may force them to decide to live together,” he said.

“Another reason why cohabitation is popular is lust of the flesh. This is when people are pushed by what they call ‘love,’ but it is actually infatuation,” he maintained.

Looking at it spiritually, Pastor Azubike also said: “Some people’s marriage may have been mortgaged spiritually. They will not know that they have been spiritually manipulated to cohabit, but they think it is just a normal thing not knowing they are being manipulated.

“Biblically, it is an evil and a curse to the union and the future generation. They are living under a curse whether they know it or not because they did not perform some rites to legalise the union. It is also insurrection to the word of God. There is therefore no excuse for such practice or union,” he concluded.

Patrick Anyanwu, a deacon in Assemblies of God also added his voice saying that the idea of intending couples cohabiting is not biblical. “For a young man or lady who has been betrothed, their parents can permit them to be together but not live together. Their meetings is not something that should be exclusively in private place because if they are Christians, children of God indeed, the scripture says it is bed undefiled and being that they are living in flesh as human beings and love has evolved in relationship, the tendencies of sex or immoral temptations might be there,” Anyanwu said.

“It is a trend actually in the society, but not among worshippers in Bible- believing churches that actually have the hope of making heaven.” If people feel they love each other, they shouldn’t be together until they are legally married,” he advised.

“An appeal to people’s conscience or psyche may go a long way in eradicating cohabitation, but if the critical needs of man: housing, food, education, health, love etc are provided, the temptation to look up to a person as saviour will be reduced,” Azuka stressed.

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Kerosene wars Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Eric Elezuo

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erosine, the most sought after cooking fuel in many Nigerian homes, seems to have made a dramatic return to filling stations, at very reasonable price of N50 per litre.

On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, directed that his stations should start selling Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) simply known as kerosene for N50 per litre. The fuel, which was dubbed ‘Buhari kerosene’, was said to be have caused long queues in some fuel stations as the pronouncement drove many out of their homes with cans of various sizes and colours en route filling stations where the product was sighted Most Nigerians see the move as a bid

by Otedola to key into President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to alleviate poverty in Nigeria since the Federal Government, through the Department of Petroleum Resources, had earlier directed that petroleum marketers sell kerosene at N50 in order to make it more affordable for Nigerians.

Otedola also substantiated our earlier revelations about the substitution of kerosene for airline fuel.

“This illicit act has been identified as the major factor contributing to the rising cost of kerosene in the country, and may also be the cause of some of the air mishaps we have encountered in the country in recent times.”

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Mirror

The planned distribution of the so called ‘Buhari kerosene’ is fraught with irregularities. How can this be sold in wholesale quantity to a few who are right now reselling to

others.

This has defeated the aim of the whole process

Kerosene bears some semblance to airline fuel which is what made it possible for some people to engage in the illicit trade.

The Forte Oil boss stated that while

HHK is sold by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), an arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the regulated price of N40.90k with the objective of

19

selling to the average Nigerian at the pump price of N50 per litre, major HHK dealers sell the product to poor Nigerians at the pump price of N125 per litre. And the development is attributable to the emergence of mushroom marketers who are desperate to make a killing by selling kerosene as Jet A1 fuel to major local and international airlines at the pump price of N140/litre or even higher.

As the product makes a dramatic come back, the problems of the average Nigerian family seems to return because the fuel, according to consumers is not only difficult to come by, but also difficult to buy where seen. And even when bought, the likelihood of the buyer parting with only the cost price is not guaranteed.

The fuel, according to petroleum expert, Mr. Clem Odichi, is not just about Otedola, contrary to speculations and what most Nigerians were made to believe. He said that the ability to sell at the N50 per litre is only available to few multinational companies such a Total and Mobil, which were prividged to import the commodity with a Proforma Invoice (PFI), obtained during the former administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Consequently, only the two major foreign oil marketers, along with Otedola’s Forte Oil could import at this moment, and sell at the price they are selling because the competition is not stiff.

“The sale at the N50 per litre price is not about the benevolence of Forte Oil. The privilege is spread to Total and Mobil CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

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Mirror

OCTOBER 3, , 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Fear of PMB, beginning of wisdom for kerosene dealers’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 Unlimited as well. The three companies are the ones selling at the N50 per litre rate, but is it easily seen to buy? Those companies thrived on a previous proforma invoice obtained long ago during the previous administration. This monopoly made it easy for them to sell at the price because there is no competition,” Odichi said.

The expert held that there is no possibility of the trend continuing because there is no solid provision made for the N50 sales, adding that the present situation is just a ‘flash in the pan’.

At the Ishasi area of Lagos State, there was been great pandemonium at the Total filling station as house wives, bachelors, fathers and children throng the station to seek the liquid gold. Much as the people cluster the tank, only a few seem to come out with their cans filled, prompting a woman to complain aloud that she had been at the station for upward of six hours without even the slightest hope of going home with the product.

I’ve been here since 5:30am, and this is almost 3pm, yet it is not even my turn.

The sellers are being selective in selling the product. If you are capable of giving something extra to the attendants, they will urgently attend to you, if not, the

possibility of your leaving here on time, or even getting the kerosene is something else. Again, the strong and able that can struggle through their way, and push others aside are privileged to get the product,” the woman who called herself Mama Odili said.

As the brouhaha continues at the station, cans began to fly high and above heads as well as curses from mouths that seemed seal. Everyone was talking at the same time, saying that the good tidings which the government meant for the people is fast turning to predicament. This is even as the product was sold in clear view of the ‘well to do’ person in large cans who turn around to sell in retail form to others, thereby questioning the rationale behind the largess “The planned distribution of the so called ‘Buhari kerosene’ is fraught with irregularities. How can this be sold in

whole sale quantity to a few who are right now reselling to others. This has defeated the aim of the whole process,” a buyer among the crowd said.

At Forte Oil, Ojuelegba, the situation appeared the same as buyers exchanged words with pump attendants over what they called selling by IM, which is interpreted to mean ‘Ima Madu’ or the ‘man know man syndrome’ prevalent in everyday living in Nigeria.

While the Buhari kerosene, according to Chief Otedola last, it is still left to be seen how Nigerian homes will be beneficiaries, as money bags are in the forefront of buying the product, and like typical capitalists are reselling at exorbitant prices. But a more excited youth, who was privileged to get the commodity after repeated efforts thanked the much touted change mantra of the present administration.

“This is a result of change. Change is

How much does he buy kerosene? If he sells at a lower price than he buys, how does he plan to cushion the effect of the loss on his profit margin? How does he rationalise this loss to shareholders

here, and it can only get better. The fear of PMB brought kerosene at N50 per litre,” he said.

But another consumer was skeptical of the situation, questioning the Forte Oil boss’ sincerity; “How much does he buy kerosene? If he sells at a lower price than he buys, how does he plan to cushion the effect of the loss on his profit margin? How does he rationalise this loss to shareholders? If there’s no loss then has he been selling at exhorbitant rates all these while? If yes, did he make the move out of ‘fear of Buhari? There are more questions than answers,” he said.

However, other filling stations still selling kerosene at untoward prices are not perturbed, saying that their market is still moving strong as customers are still coming to them. This is because most not everybody has the gut to stand a long time on the queue or even fight over what they can conveniently walk in somewhere and buy.

An attendant at Rabade Filling Station told Saturday Mirror that there is no cause for alarm.

“Our customers have not diminished.

They still come, and our sales have not diminished either. It is still business as usual,” he said.

While homes await kerosene in their individual places, experts warn that it is not yet uhuru.

Entervaganza

The Saturday Mirror Magazine

Sex talk 12 of men’s best kept secrets P.32

Fashion Stylish in black P.28

Relationships

Can you marry a sex worker?

P.32

e v e i v e n e G ... top actress

c I thought I would PAGE

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ELEBRITY

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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sing only in church —Jenny O Jennifer Ifeoma Fab-Obi, popularly known as Jenny O, she is a broadcaster cum musician.

In this exclusive interview with VICTOR UDOH, she speaks about her latest single, Shomara, on which she featured Double Wahala singer, Oritsefemi, her journey in music, and other sundry issues.

How did you venture into music?

I started singing in the church. And I never knew for once I was going to take music seriously because I thought it was going to be about singing in church only.

But I started hearing beats and developing professional interest in music.

Tell us about yourself.

Well, I hail from Imo State. I’m an only daughter with four amazing brothers.

One is a music video director. Jude FabObi. My parents are late. I am a TV host, OAP, voiceover artist, newscaster, writer and singer. I began my broadcasting career almost the same year I started out singing professionally. 2007.

How was your growing up like?

Growing up was fun. I had everything a little girl could ever desire, and I had a loving father who doted on me. I would say I was born with a silver spoon but lost it when my parents passed away. Things became hard but I resolved not to be looked at with pity but to survive as best as possible and become successful, so I began to pursue success. Well, back to my growing up. I never lacked for nothing, but as loving as my dad was, he was also very protective and while growing, my movement was restricted to certain hours. I was a tom boy, my four brothers had their strong influence on me but it wore off after some years even though sometimes I still find myself dressed as a tom boy.

From your point of view, what are the determinants that can make an artist successful in Nigeria?

First is the proper approach to people.

Some care little how they relate with people and tend to come off very annoying and rude. Well, it’s not a good idea if you wish to stay relevant and successful in the music industry. Another factor that should be considered also is what you’re

putting out, whether a song or video.

Ensure it’s something the audience would find appealing. Having faith and trusting God go a long way too.

Tell us about your song, Shomara, and working with Oritsefemi.

Let me start by explaining what Shomara means. It means ‘Are you mad?’

Don’t accept when someone tells you that you will not make it, instead you tell the person, are you mad, because you know you’re going to make it. Working with Oritsefemi was a great experience for me and he delivered on the song. Oritsefemi is a good example of one who succeeded despite the obstacles that confronted him.

While I was in the studio with Fliptyce, after I had recorded my verse, we sat there thinking of who would fit perfectly into the song and then Oritsefemi came to my mind and I called him and we hit the studio and in no time he was done with his verse.

Do you see yourself quitting your TV job when music starts demanding for more time?

I don’t see myself quitting TV. What I might do is start my own TV show so I would have my disposable time to produce and present my programme at whatever time I find suitable.

For someone who works with one of the busiest entertainment platforms, how were you able to make out time for the studio?

It is so tasking that I break down sometimes. But I just don’t know how to stop, so I find a way of planning myself so none clashes with the other.

Outside entertainment, what else do you do?

I guess entertainment is all I do. It’s a lot already. TV hosting, writing, MC, voice over, singing, radio presenting, and I am planning on opening a beauty and fashion house soon.

Apart from listening to your own songs, what kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to Beyonce, Tinashe, Jhene Aiko, Mariah Carey and Frank Ocean and a host of other artists.

What did working with Dede Mabiaku teach you?

I learnt a whole lot, mostly how to perform with a live band.

Should we expect collaboration with Dede anytime soon?

Yes, that’s very possible.

fault. I love to cook, watch movies, play games and gist.

You seem to have access to most of the artistes in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. How many of them do you intend to collaborate with in the future?

2face,Olamide, Cynthia Morgan, Davido, Phyno, General Pype and Patoranking .

Are you signed to any record label? If not, how are you able to handle your music promotion?

I am not signed to any label at the moment. I’ve just been pushing myself. It’s not been easy, but I guess the onus falls on me while I wait for a management deal or label to come.

Do you have plan to shoot the video for Shomara?

Yes I do. Shooting videos is not a new thing to me. I’ve already released the video of one of my songs, Follow You Go, and it had cameo appearances from many stars, including Sunny Neji, Dede Mabiaku, Felix Duke, K9, IK Osakioduwa, Buchi, Owen G and FunnyBone. The video was directed by my brother, Jude Fab-Obi .

Does your tight work schedule give you time for a love life?

Well, this one thing I’ll tell you is that whatever the situation is I will always find a way to make it work.

What is your personal philosophy of life?

Believe in yourself. Don’t wait for people to believe in you, because the moment you start believing in yourself, people would start believing in you.

Describe your ideal man.

God fearing, industrious, handsome, hardworking, caring, compassionate, self-confident, honest, faithful, loyal, Intelligent, mature, dresses well and has a positive attitude.

If you release an album right now, what would listeners get from it?

I would say the very best music, very good value for their money.

Would you marry an entertainer like you if one proposes? And why?

I don’t know if I can cope with having a husband who is an entertainer. There’s a whole lot that comes with this our job.

It would be too much for the kids. I rather just not in the public glare it saves you a lot of public drama.

Describe Jenny O on a good day at home?

I am fun, witty, sweet and caring to a

Apart from Fliptyce, which other producers have you worked with?

I have worked with Ex-O, Geamat, Kaka Igbokwe, Shogon and Young John The Wicked Producer.

As one who has hosted a fashion show, describe your fashion style?

I like trendy, and comfy. I believe as much as one would love to appear hot and sexy, it’s good to feel comfortable with what you’re wearing.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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08036961187 kingseiza@gmail.com

with

Oseyiza Oogbodo

Ali Baba returns with more advice … and they are shocking as usual hered ted. He knew who fat when they were separa ing teen giv Six of . d est fon ch lly rea it tight to his ne entertainer who’s the child, but he kept his endes ve ch ha n cat t me tha ic married. Some his advice on any top years on, they are still ng rty Ki pa a the at is n nt see s me mo the wife wa fancy at a particular ed marriages because . ncing with an ex. of Comedy, Ali Baba at ere of life, he has da sph ry other man’s poison. Wh eve in ced en Vastly experi “One man’s meat is an , on ide ati str rel ir tic the an ak advice on rom e and not bre chosen this time to some people will tak n me me .

So mb r. bo ove to tumble advice is the ld make some others ships, and as usual, his re e,” begins the cou sam the t tolerate what some me no ’t are can ips rs, sh sto “All relation of God, yes, pa the ng in bei or ple on peo igi the rel about r, “because ls tolerate. So it’s not advice from the maste one lady, twen- morta ile Wh e. sam the t no relationships are 2012, and not spirit filled.

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Shadow Boxer Elba, D’Banj and

Baba

t’s no longer news that one of Africa’s most popular musicians, Nigeria’s own D’Banj, recently released a single, Confidential, on which he featured internationally renowned actor, Idris Elba, who rapped on it, and Sierra Leone’s Shadow Boxer who also rapped on it.

What’s news now, though, is that Confidential, because of Elba’s presence on it, has now come to the notice of the international entertainment community, and it’s been generating a buzz with rave reviews

coming its way from top blogs.

Some of the blogs are Huffington Post, The Shade Room and Negro News France, and their reviews of Confidential bring back to mind the impact D’Banj made internationally as well with Oliver Twist and Mr Endowed Remix on which he featured acclaimed American rapper, Snoop Dogg.

Confidential’s music video is one of the videos scheduled to be on D’Banj’s visual EP, An Epic Journey, which will be premiered worldwide next week.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

CLASSICAL LYRICS

Afropop princess Katongo drops Baba video

W

ith support from tastemakers such as Nigeria’s Beat FM and Naija FM, Zambia’s Power FM, Hot 87 FM and Flava FM, as well as the UK’s BBC 1 Xtra for her single, JOY, fast-rising afropop princess, Katongo, returns with the visuals for her brand new single, Baba, produced by award-winning Zambi an beatmaker and songwriter, Chali Bravo.

Fun and flirty in essence, Baba is an exciting record that celebrates the African man. Already being described as one of the best international afropop songs of the year, Baba is simply good music for your listening pleasure, from its uptempo African drums to the catchy chorus to Katongo’s sultry vocals.

It’s also a welcome return for Katongo who is set to take African mu-

sic by storm.

Filmed on location at the renowned Orange Studios in London and directed by Krish Knightstar (Future Productions) and Katongo, the visuals are a bright and colourful affair, while remaining simple and sexy, as it visually expresses Katongo’s sentiment on Baba, paying homage to African men, represented by her lush leading man in the 3-minute long video.

Soon to embark on a nationwide UK university tour this month plus a South African tour scheduled for early next year, Katongo is hard at work, writing and recording her debut album, which is due to be released next year, and if JOY and new hit Baba are the indicators, her debut album will definitely be one to watch out for.

Katongo

Moelogo keeps rising, nominated for MOBO

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Moelogo

oming on the back of his 2015 NEA Awards nomination for Diaspora Artist of the Year and the success of his latest single, Do You Love Me, which is being championed by everyone from BBC 1 Xtra, Beat FM, Capital Xtra and Bang Radio to Africa’s leading online publications, Moelogo has now been nominated for Best African Act at this year’s MOBO Awards.

Ever since bursting onto the scene with his breakthrough single, Pangolo, Moelogo has been growing from strength to strength, from his debut EP, Moe Is My Name, Music Is My Logo, in 2013, and collaborations with DRB LasGidi and Fuse

ODG among others, to last year’s underground hit single, The Baddest, featuring Giggs, and Island Records-signed, My Sweetie, Moelogo has become a force to be reckoned with in the international afrobeat landscape.

Moelogo needs your help to make it into the final five nominees for the Best African Act, which will be decided by your votes! This year, the MOBO Awards head to Leeds’ First Direct Arena for the first time ever for their 20th award ceremony on November 4th.

Other nominees for the Best African Act category include Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Davido and Patoranking.

Abel-J drops Riddim Play and 7 Days

A

fropop star, Abel Junior Odachukwu Udogwu, aka Abel-J is signed to Maniac Entertainment and managed by Oryx Entertainment, a multifaceted entertainment/management label that has also worked with Project Fame West Africa Season 6 contestant, Gbemisola Rowland, Le’mmon, London Boyz, Clef Nite, Elajoe, Asha Gangali, Wendy Godfrey, Lil-Flow, Big Cakes, TB1, Plus-One, H-zone, Sam-Jamz, Hero, Wispa-Beatz, Nitegale, B-Sleek, Slick Joe, Victor Echo, Mr Benjamin, on promotions development or management and many more still listed.

The afropop act titles his new singles Riddim Play and 7 Days featuring Daizee Banger and music producer/singer, K-So-

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

lo. The singles were released last week.

He is currently working on his EP, Farm Boy, which will be out by the end of September and will be accompanied with a video for introduction.

“Artist development is our core interest and meeting this young and energetic producer-turned-artist, we decided to give him a try and listen to his sound, matching him up with super dancehall producer K-Solo on a dance beat. The official release singles, 7 Days featuring K-solo became a reality, followed by the konto-afrobeat tune by Daizee Banger, Riddim Play, is his followup single from his forth coming EP which is billed to be release by Oryx Entertainment Company,” says Olufemi, CEO, Oryx Entertainment.

Abel-J

Lorry

Artist: Chidinma featuring MI Intro Capital music It’s a Kezyklef production (MI) Yo MI I gat money locked up for days … raining Take the presidential seat no campaigning Even ma girl dey flex like ****** Goodluck tryna beef the boy you can’t pay me Chorus My money in a My money in a My money in a lorry I dey give God the glory Dey still dey dey worry I no get time for story We be getting money all day We be getting money all day We be getting money all day We be getting money all day … money all day Money in a lorry … lorry, lorry, lorry My money in a lorry I dey give God the glory… glory, glory Verse 1 (Chidnma) Chilling in a Lambo Enemies dey day see me as I nawo No time to check time as I nawo No time to see road and I jawo Buyaka buyaka o loke … gbos 21 salute loke … gbos … wait Hustle don pay Hustler lomo on a rampage Shey eti re wan Won ti gara tan Wa n ti so mi d’orin Omo wa n ni pe ma ko Sheti ri won won fe ri mi ton Won ti so mi dejo Tori ejo won ko Chorus My money in a My money in a My money in a lorry I dey give God the glory Dey still dey dey worry I no get time for story We be getting money all day We be getting money all day We be getting money all day We be getting money all day … money all day Money in a lorry … lorry, lorry, lorry My money in a lorry I dey give god the glory… glory, glory Verse 2 (Chidinma] Wan wa binu Tori mo ni mo capable Won tun binu Tori mo ni mo powerful Continue next week

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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Jeffrey is the latest music superstar in town … wins Project Fame N5m prize and SUV … all six finalists rewarded handsomely ...PFWA sends them forth with hit songs

Jeffrey

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he best way to describe this year’s edition of Project Fame West Africa, the eight annual consecutive edition, is to say that it has surpassed all previous editions.

All along, this has been the strength of PFWA. Each edition is better than all those before it. Each edition springs surprises that those before it didn’t. Each edition produces a set of talented music artists that end up making a vital contribution to the music industry.

And this year’s PFWA, which ended last week, has produced the fine boy, Jeffrey, as its winner, and enhanced him with N5m, an SUV and a recording contract worthy of his new superstar status.

But the good thing about PFWA is that virtually all the contestants are winners, though the finalists are the biggest winners.

So, while Jeffrey is the biggest winner, his fellow finalists too went home with considerable rewards. Pearl, second to Jefrrey, got N3m and a brand new saloon car. Anderson, third, got N2m and a saloon as well.

Ada, fourth, got N2m; Arewa, fifth, N1m; and Deinde, the sixth, N500,000.

The prizes are not a new PFWA thing.

Neither is the fact that previous editions have helped the contestants to create their own original songs which later on to

Anderson Pearl

became notable hits.

Probably the most notable thing about PFWA 2015 is that it has helped the finalists to collaborate with popular singers on remixes of their smash hits. This is a very brilliant move, as it means that the finalists are leaving PFWA with readymade hits that will enable them integrate faster into the music.

The remixes in question are the records that were performed by the finalists last weekend.

Jeffrey, the winner, and Yemi Alade, did the remix of Alade’s KISSING. Pearl, his runner-up, jumped on the continental hit, Kedike, with Miss Kedike herself, Chidinma, who also holds the unbreakable record of being PFWA’s first female winner.

Anderson and Praiz reworked Praiz’s Rich And Famous; Ada and Sound Sultan rehashed Sultan’s Area; Arewa and 9ice did justice to 9ice’s monster hit, Gongo Aso; and Deinde and Iyanya brought a different dimension to Iyanya’s Mr Oreo.

Considering that these remixes will soon be radio and TV favourites, PFWA 2015 might just turn out to be the edition that several of its graduates will storm the music industry with major force simultaneously.

And in a chat with the finalists, they all made it obvious that they are just rearing to go and prove their worth in the music

industry.

“Now’s the time to really prove what I’m made of,” said Jeffrey. “I realize that a lot is now expected of me, and that my every move will be thoroughly scrutinized, but I intend to live up to every expectation.

Others have done it before me, and I intend

Arewa

Ada

to follow in their footsteps.”

Speaking in the same vein, Deinde, the sixth in position of the six finalists, said his coming sixth or earning the least prize, will not have any negative bearing on how he’ll turn out in the music industry.

Deinde

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Road To Yesterday

s ’ e v e i v e n e G e Can it sav acting career?

T

he title of Genevieve’s movie, Road To Yesterday, is apt for many reasons. Though it’s just another title to many people, to Genevieve herself, the title must mean a lot.

‘Road to yesterday’ is a very poetic expression.

What does it mean?

You don’t have to have the intelligence of William Shakespeare of T S Elliot to understand what this expression means to one of Africa’s most respected actresses, Genevieve.

The meaning is quite clear and succinct.

Genevieve is seeking the path back to yesterday. Yesterday, which stands for the past, she was one of Nigeria’s most sought after actresses. She was in demand, the fans were numerous, people couldn’t get enough of her.

Today, which stands for now, the present, she’s no longer that hot property she was. Producers are no longer begging her to bless their movies with just even one scene of her presence. She’s still respected and still relevant to an extent, but that’s all due to past achievements.

And the thing about experiencing stardom at the level Genevieve has done is that such people want to remain like that forever because of all the perks that come with it.

Genevieve for instance, and her arch rival, Omotola, are no longer getting roles like they used to. Then,

Abudu

Genevieve

when they were getting those roles, Genevieve didn’t see any need to produce her own movie. She has now done so with Road To Yesterday, definitely with the hope that if it’s successful, her acting career will be revived.

RTY sounds promising on paper.

It’s about a couple that’s trying their best to save their marriage. It stars big names that include Majid Michel and Chigurl and will premiere in Lagos next month.

But will RTY save Genevieve’s acting career?

That’s the big question.

The Headies under massive attack F

Iyanya

ollowing the release of its list of its nominees this year, The Headies, founded

by Ayo Animashaun, has been attacked by Iyanya’s manager, Ubi Franklin, and extremely ambitious rapper, Vic O. Both Franklin and Vic O didn’t bother to mince words when castigating The Headies over the fact that Iyanya, DJ Coublon and Vic O were not nominated in any category.

Through Twitter, they came at the awards and its founder. While Franklin was a bit diplomatic, but nevertheless drove his point home, Vic O was expletive all the way.

According to Franklin, Coublon shoud have been nominated because he produced many smash

hits in the year under review.

Some of the hits are Woju, Laye, Applaudise and Duro.

While Coublon was the first person he spoke out for, he ended by speaking for Iyanya as well, declaring that Iyanya’s Mr Oreo should have been nominated as well.

In the same vein, Vic O claimed that he should have been nominated as well and that his non-nomination is unfair because he scored many hits, including Look Uche Face and Drake And Meek Mill Diss in the last year.

And expletively: “What the f**k? No nomination for me in The Headies. F**K @Ayoanimashaun.

F**k @The_Headies. F**k @HipTv. Politics in the industry.”

Fifty’s London premiere sells out in four days T

ickets for the world premiere of EbonyLife Films’ highly anticipated feature film, Fifty, sold out in four days, it has been announced.

Tickets for the opening screening at the Vue 7 Cinema, Leicester Square on Saturday, October 17th, and the additional screening at the Ritzy Cinema, South London on Sunday, October 18th are sold out.

Fifty’s four lead actresses, Iretiola Doyle, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Omoni Oboli and Dakore Egbuson, its director, Biyi Bandele, and producer, Tope Oshin-Ogun, are expected to attend both screenings.

Speaking about Fifty’s popularity, its executive producer, Mo Abudu said, “This is a moment for African storytelling. This is the objective for EbonyLife Films and we are overwhelmed by the reception for the film thus far.”

The production is Abudu’s quest to showcase African women coming of age, loaded with increasingly similar aspirations and dilemmas faced by their contemporaries everywhere, while yet navigating unresolved traditions and obligations.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Style & Glam

OCTOBER 3, 2015

le StyGlam

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and

with Yemisi Adeniran

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

G orge ous silhoue t te s of

F

or those who love modern shapes, asymmetry, clean lines, cuts and intricate designs, Bridget Awosika collection beckons. At first glance, the collection seems to be far targeted at the fashion forward lady but a closer look reveal pieces that can be adapted for every woman who wants to experience her style star moment. The collection provide high street of fashion for working and professional women as well as creative women who have basic need for affordable clothing that’s stylish, comfortable and classic.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

wore ple who o e P . g mournin ough riods of and passing thr sential e p r o f es ved ppy me most ess, re reser iewed as unha o a c e s b t fi e t v ha k dr re v k ou st, blac circumstance a er, they as a little blac rule of v a e p w e o h h t , n at hether to be a se days tside th old s. The oman. W ss is believed d w io them ou r le e b ht and b p a ig n e r g r io b in d h s m h k o a it c f the bla some glo ardrobe of a cing it w black colour is g dress, d out by enhan ew in t w The t. le o p fl m a o stan dinated. e widest marke her it or t r u to a c o fi s t u o t o c ir k r s h s u et t ie o r h r y o o o w t s e r s s le ak te cce trouse accessib your da orld. M shoes a w , d r e n n u a id o io s y h le s r b g u the fa keepin afforda er on yo ies while , long-lasting, e design iv t a e r jeweller e c il , versat tyle and with a slimming s or. d o o g tered f ka Just pic informal are ca r formal o

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashion

Stylis

Fashion

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

n frenzy

sh in

n frenzy

Style & Glam

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Fashion

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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Guest G

s n a e m e l y t ‘S simplicity’

7 ways to calm anxiety

As a secondary school student, she set out to be a doctor. However, she is now a fashion designer and an emerging rave at that. Ejiro Amos Tafiri spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN about her mission in the fashion world and what Nigerians should expect on the fashion scene this New Year..

What is style to you?

It means simplicity, creativity and everything that is natural and beautiful. It is having a great and an uncommon sense of dressing yourself and others up.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

God is my main source of inspiration and He has never let me down. I also get inspired by things in my environment, the people around me and happenings.

What do you have to say about your choice of design?

I chose ready-to-wear clothes because of the nature of most Nigerians and my kind of person. I am a simple person and easy going.

I love casual outfits and I guess they make an easy wear too. We pride ourselves in production of wearable clothing and accessories inspired by the vibrant, fun loving, joie de vivre culture of the Lagos people and the cultural diversity of its populace which spans the globe. Creativity and excellent craftsmanship are our watchword.

You model your designs time after time, why?

It is no big deal and I think almost all the designers do. It is an indication that you take delight in the work of your hands if you do. A good designer should design outfits that he can be proud to wear any day. This will excites him or her to design more and make adjustments and improvements where necessary. I do it, not for money but to promote my own work and of course to show that I take delight in them.

What should Nigerians expect from your label and fashion this New Year?

They should expect beautiful and uncommon designs from me and the entire fashion world. We will surely take them to the next level in style.

I

f you have any form of anxiety, you’re definitely not alone. According to experts, one in six of us has some form of this problem. Although there’s no onesize-fits-all solution, trying some of the following techniques could have a big impact on your anxiety levels.

Get moving: Yes, we all know that exercise is important. But did you know that experts reckon that if exercise was a drug, it would be one of the most cost effective ever made? Not only does exercise help us to produce mood boosting hormones, but it helps to burn off excess adrenaline, distracts us and helps us to get out of our heads. Another great reason to get moving there!

Tune into your feelings: Any physical sensations that go along with the anxiety, such as a racing heart or a nervous feeling in the belly, will often increase the anxious thoughts. This is because evidence shows that we often use thinking to escape our feelings; leading to an overactive mind and making us feel even worse. So why don’t you try tuning into your feelings. Where do you feel them? What are they like? Give all of your attention to how you’re feeling emotionally, as well as any sensations in the body. It’s far more effective to tune into our feelings than to try to escape from them by overthinking them.

Acts of kindness: When we’re anxious we’re often overly concerned about ourselves; whether it’s our health, our work, the way we look or our money.

An effective and simple way to help us to calm anxiety is to do something nice for another person. When we direct our attention onto helping others, not only are we diverting our attention away from ourselves, we increase our levels of feel good hormones. It’s a win for all involved.

In black and white: When you’re anxious, it can feel like being trapped, in hell, inside your own head. Anxious people can have a tendency to ruminate; mulling over the same worries and negative thoughts over and over. A fast and effective way to get some relief is by putting pen to paper and just writing it all

down. Write a stream of consciousness of any thoughts or feelings that come up for you. It’s amazing how once things are out of our heads, they can begin to appear less threatening and we can gain a clearer perspective.

Change your beliefs: When we’re anxious, it’s as if our brains are only noticing the negative things. The things that could go wrong, the dangers and the worse possible outcomes somehow just seem to come to the front of our minds.

Our brains are constantly filtering the myriad of information that comes our way each moment. This mental filtering strongly depends on our beliefs. This is psychological phenomenon called “cognitive bias” where we unconsciously find evidence to support our beliefs. The good news is that you can work to change your beliefs about things by changing the things that you tell yourself.

Being present: Being present is one of the fastest ways to calm anxiety and enjoy life in the moment. This is because a big part of anxiety is a fear or unease about what could happen in the future. When we practice being more present, it’s like exercising a muscle, the more we do it, the easier it becomes.

Just practice paying more attention to whatever you’re doing. When you’re eating, focus totally on the taste, colours, textures and aromas of your food. If you’re really focused on what you’re experiencing, it has the effect of calming the mind down and stopping you from worrying about the future.

Time out: Our bodies and minds are not adapted for this fast paced world where everything is going at full speed all day long. We need breaks and time out to function and feel at our best. An important thing to remember is that rest and activity are both equally important.

Make sure you schedule time for yourself throughout your day; some exercise, a walk outdoors, calling a friend, listening to music, etc. Treat these things with the same level of importance as your work and know that they are actually essential to your mental wellbeing, not a luxury.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

Male Essentials

31

08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@gmail.com

5 quick tricks to improve your fashion sense

F

ashion is a topic that preoccupies men more and more these days. They have realised that looking good is not a department that the ladies have exclusive control over. A sense of fashion is an asset in every aspect of a man’s life: business, personal and social.

While there are still some that will try to fight it, the reality is that a well-dressed man will get a second look.

Personality is important, but no one takes a quick look at you and says, “Wow, check out the sense of humour on that guy.”

In today’s world, to stay one step ahead, it’s important to look your best. That means developing your own sense of style. For a lot of men, that’s a scary thought.

But fear not, the five tips here will help you invaluably.

1) Listen to the experts There are far too many men who have gone through life having their style dictated to them by their mothers, then by their girlfriends, and then by their wives. There are also those men who escaped the trap of wearing someone else’s style only to find themselves with no style whatsoever.

If you’ve never taken a shot at creating your own style, a good place to start is with the experts. Pick up a copy of a men’s fashion magazine or log on to a men’s fashion website like AskMen.com. Instead of flipping straight to the sports editorial or the babe of the month, check out the fashion section.

Read a few articles and you’ll soon find that you’ve

picked up most of the basic rules: don’t wear light socks with dark shoes, always match your shoes with your belt, never wear anything too tight.

While you’re checking out those mags, check out the ads that you usually skip over. They’ll give you a good idea of where the trends are heading.

2) Get with the trends Fashion is all about evolving style. What’s in, what’s out. What’s new, what’s past. What’s hot, what’s not. But put all those cliches aside and being stylish is about looking good. It’s also about knowing what to wear right now.

But with trends changing faster than you can say fashion faux pas, how can men be expected to keep up?

A good place to start is to take a look at popular artists from the music, movie and TV industries. Look around for trendsetters and take some tips from them.

In particular, check out what they wear during awards shows and adapt it to your style.

If you’ve flipped through all the fashion mags, watched TV, tried wandering down the streets, and have still come up empty, you will never go wrong emulating the threads of celebrities such as Jude Law, Idris Elba, Tom Cruise, and Will Smith.

3) Go retro Fashion is a cyclical concept. What was once old

will soon be new again.

Remember when you were teased for your big rimmed glasses at school? Well, now you can wear them with confidence because they’re back.

While renewing one’s wardrobe is important, throwing old stuff out isn’t always a good idea. With vintage clothing being very trendy right now, you may be able to dig through some of your old clothes and find something that you never would have dreamed you could wear again.

Things to look for include logo T-shirts, patterned button-down shirts and motorcycle-style jackets.

Once your favourite wardrobe items, they’re back in style ... and you need to enjoy them while the trend lasts.

4) Stay in shape Fashion is not just about what you wear, it’s also about how you wear it. Take the same threads and put them on two different people: one who’s in good shape and athletic, and another who has a beer gut, round shoulders and a sunken chest. No matter what the clothes are, they’ll look better on the first

guy.

Taking better care of your body can be as simple as making a few minor changes to your diet and spending a couple of hours at the gym every week. The related benefits of being healthier are that you’ll feel better about your body, be more confident and, therefore, look better. Attitude stems from confidence, and a large part of style is attitude.

5) Be yourself The most important aspect of developing your own style is remaining true to yourself. Just because something looked great on that Versace model doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for you. If you’re uncomfortable in it, chances are it isn’t.

There are enough styles out there that everyone should be comfortable finding their own. Even if you discover that your own style isn’t mainstream, you’re better off respecting that realisation than walking around in a sheep suit that doesn’t fit.

Final word The ultimate point is that developing your own style should not be a chore. It should be fun. When you discover what works for you, you’ll see that striving to look your best isn’t work at all. It should come naturally.

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Angle

Male

Jide animashaun 08034710902 jidemashaun@yahoo.com

I

Why not?

’m a realist and I know that it’s a known fact that men love sex. You can call it what you will but the truth remains the same. I’m a man and I love sex a lot and I believe that a prostitute is an expert in her chosen occupation notwithstanding that the occupation may be repugnant to the general populace.

I know that social status and prestige are traits found in every man and a man that really loves his wife takes pride in showing her off to friends and every other person he comes across because she has become his jewel and he loves her and it may be difficult if not shameful for any man to say that his wife was once a call girl but the thing is that love conquers all and a man should be proud of any choice he makes in life and not dance to society’s dictates on the type of woman to marry or having to explain to friends and family on why that choice is taken.

When it comes to the issue of marriage for men, a lot of key issues would get looked into and one of these issues is the morality of the wife to be. Another thing we tend to pretend not to be bothered about but which I know a lot of men will attest to is how good in bed the wife will be. We may also look at how financially demanding the wife to be will be or is, as the case may be. It’s after all these things are put in their proper perspectives that a man can tell you categorically whether he can marry a prostitute or not. As we have female prostitutes, so do we have male prostitutes called gigolos. The bottom line to prostitution is that people go into it not because of any other reason but for financial or material gains.

But certain questions also need to be raised so as not to beg the issue of whether we can marry a prostitute. If a woman marries a man not because she’s in love with him, but because he helps her out with money, does that basically make her a prostitute? This is one question an average man would pretend to think deeply about before giving you an answer to when it comes to marrying a woman but in

Can you marry

most cases a lot of men already have an answer to that question.

For me, a prostitute is someone who has sex for money. And the same can be said of the case of someone who gets married for money which most people only call a gold-digger. If the understanding of a prostitute is generally anyone who solicit favours or gratification, usually in cash, in exchange for sexual relationships, then who is not a prostitute? Indeed, what percentage of the female folk can you term to be decent, self-respecting and responsible if we are to use society’s yardstick?

Most people believe that it is only when a girl resides in a hotel or brothel where men who are interested in paying for sex can meet with her and strike a bargain that a girl can be regarded as a prostitute but that is so wrong from my perspective.

What if a girl resides with her parents or is in attendance in a higher institution as a student, but gets picked up and dropped off regularly by different men for financial gains? Does that make her any different from the regular prostitute given that the same motive subsists? All these scenarios paint a vivid picture of sex for cash and not about manners and good behaviour which a good wife should have among other things. A lot of these prostitutes even attend regular religious programmes which may end up changing their orientation about sex, money and their bodies.

If we are to look at it critically from an outside point of view, does the fact that a girl sells her body for money make her a bad person especially when we know for a fact that many prostitutes are engaged in the illicit business through no fault of theirs since the choice is entirely out of their hands. I have met many prostitutes and ex-prostitutes in the course of my daily activities and I can tell you for a fact that some prostitutes can actually be well-mannered and of good behaviour outside the nature of their job. With my interactions with some of them, I can categorically say yes if she decides to leave the trade for something more acceptable to me.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

12 of men’s best kept secrets

1. We like to cuddle. Cuddling is

will call you.

all about mood and ambience. It’s peaceful to lie in someone’s arms in the dark with great music or even the low buzz of the TV (although that tends to distract) in the background. It’s nice to hear nothing but your lover’s breath against the backdrop of the evening or early morning. Holding someone close in bed also makes you feel very secure with one another and the relationship.

4. You’ll never understand our sports obsession. Some women

just about anything. You can be making a total mistake, but as long as you’re confident, it will turn out okay. This may explain why we are so clueless at what we are doing in bed, but we act like we know.

5. Sex in the shower is overrated. I once tried this, but the entire time I

2. We think we are good in bed. Men are taught that confidence solves

3. We want to bail the morning after a one-night stand. Do not

linger in bed hung over. I’m horrible when I’m hung over, so I am sure others are too. You can’t contaminate someone’s bed with that.

Do everything you can to get home and fester in your own bed. People have things to do over the weekend. Give each other a hug, wish each other well. Don’t say anything about calling, and don’t believe him when he mutters that he

love sports. But are they as obsessed with sports like guys are? I read about sports every day, and go over stats. And I do find myself telling my sisters about football teams of the schools they attend! There is no reason women wouldn’t understand or know sports like guys do if they were as obsessed. I just think guys across the board are more sports-obsessed than women are.

was trying to contort my body so that I could get ‘everything’ inserted correctly. That “up against the wall” variation is tougher than it sounds. The entire shower apparatus is so slippery, and then you have soap all over the place. It’s a danger zone. Plus, I do my best to keep my bathroom clean, but I don’t think I’d ever want to have sex anywhere near something called “mildew.”

6. Leave your baggage at the door. Guys are happy to help out their girlfriends with emotional issues. But if the baggage becomes apparent too early in the

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Female

Angle

JACQUI IWU 08165049669 email: amiicaregroup@aol.com

y a sex worker?

N

This column is x-rated relationship, then a guy will probably bail.

Also, baggage causes people to put pressure on or damage a relationship, so it may be doomed from the outset.

7. We are afraid of commitment. Commitment means that I’ve decided that the woman I’m settling down with is perfect and there is no one else out there for me. Commitment means I’ve found my soul mate, that I am completely secure with myself, and that there should be no going back. I don’t know about you, but all of that is pretty heavy. I think the old adage “Girls mature faster than boys” comes into play here. Commitment is a sign of maturity, and it just takes some of us longer.

8. Confidence is key in the bedroom. I know if a girl seems unsure of herself in bed, it gets distracting and starts to feel awkward. The best thing to do is to act like you have some experience, and not question anything. I think back to the advice my dad once gave my sisters and me when he snuck us onto the “premium members only” tennis courts at his club.

While we played, security goons watched closely, and my dad could tell that we were nervous: “Just act like you are supposed to be here, and they won’t ask any questions, he said.” Sure enough, it worked!

9. We play hard to get — and we know it. Sometimes, I just act like they have no chance, even though I might like them. I openly flirt with other girls in

This column is x-rated front of them, and talk about how hot other girls are in front of them. I make myself look really picky and difficult to get to. Then, I get really tender and give all of my attention to this girl who thought she had no chance.

10. We check out other women (even if we’re in relationships)

Sorry, but we notice a hot girl any time, any place. Hopefully, most of us don’t make it obvious, but we check out a cutie when we can. The worst is if your younger sister or best friend is hot, we’ll check her out too.

11. We fear growing older

As we get older, we gain weight, we lose our hair, we get tired faster, and younger guys look better in our presence. It’s especially painful for athletic guys who can’t quite do the things they used to do physically. We go through depressions, mid-life crises, etc...until finally, we just give up.

12. We say we’ll call even if we don’t mean it

We always say we’ll call, because it’s the nice thing to say. It’s almost as thoughtless as the “fine” answer when someone asks us how we’re doing. Would you rather us say: “Look, I’m not planning to call you?” And sometimes at that very moment we say we’ll call, we do mean it, but then after 24 hours we change our mind after sleeping on it…or another girl shows up and takes up all our attention.

Nothing wrong

ow, suppose that you are in a public transport travelling from one place to another. Seating close to you in the public transport is a nicely suited and attractive young man . At first glance, you conclude that he is a working class. The well-mannered disposition of the guy is simply too much for you.

You are interested in getting to know him better when he strikes a conversation with you and what begin as a casual conversation soon metamorphose into a full-fledged relationship.

Suddenly, you are contemplating on ending up with him. But, unexpectedly, out of the blues, come a rude shock.

Of all professions that he could be engaged in, he is a prostitute! What will you do? Will you go ahead and continue with your plans to get married to him or will you hurriedly put an end to the relationship? Before you give a straight-forward answer, either “Yes” or “No”, to this question, please ponder over this matter for a little bit.

How do you define a “prostitute”?. If the understanding of a prostitute is “anyone who solicit favours or gratification, usually in cash, in exchange for sexual relationships”, then what percentage of the male folk can you term to be “decent” in terms of morality?

Additionally, is it only when a guy resides in a “male hostel”, where “sugar mummies” who are interested in paying for sex can meet with him and strike a bargain, that a guy can be regarded as a prostitute?

What if a guy is in attendance in a higher institution as a student, but gets picked up and dropped off regularly by different sugar mmummies for financial gains? Does that make him any different from the regular male prostitute?

But, come to think of it, does the fact that the man sells his

body for money make him a bad person? Reemember that many prostitutes are engaged in the illicit business through no fault of theirs and the choice is entirely out of their hands.

Similarly, many prostitutes are compelled to continue to carry on their unholy trade by subtle deception or outright coercion.

Supposing you find a very expensive and valuable piece of jewel, a stunningly beautiful diamond which has been dulled into being almost unrecognisable by the dirty and muddy surrounding wherein you found it, what would you do?

You would certainly go to great lengths to ensure that you get possession of it, clean it up of all the dirt and mud and make it your own.

For the sake of true love. If a prostitute rules out marriage to you, you would be limiting greatly your chances of finding true love, which as we have established is as elusive to find as a precious diamond. If there is a strong resolve and willingness on his part to turn a new leaf for the better.

If there is sufficient evidence to back up his strong desire to change. In other words, he must give up, of his own free choice and withou t any prompting whatsoever, all vestiges of his erstwhile trade.

Above all, if he has a good relationship atmosphere and has compatible qualities, attributes, goals and aspirations as yourself, then you can marry him.

After all, prostitutes are human beings too. Certainly, not all of them are bad just as not all socalled “men of God” are actually men of God. Many are simply fakes and do not deserve to be called by that term. Hence, he or she who has no sin, let him or her cast the first stone. So, it is wrong to write off all prostitutes as being bad and unsuitable for marriage.

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WOMAN

s p l e h n o i t a n i m r ‘Dete e g a i r r ma work’ ‘As far as Mrs Tata Toe- Ekechi, an industrial mathematician turned banker is concerned, every couple going into the marriage institution should be determined to make it work. “I was determined to make success of the marriage and God is really crowning my effort with success. I believe determination on the sides of both individuals involved always work,” she told YEMISI ADENIRAN in this interview.

Marriage is not one of the easiest institutions to deal with. How have you been able to deal with the challenges of yours?

As a mother of three and a wife of a man who is ever on the move, it has been God that has been helping me to succeed

this far. There were series of challenges especially at those early years, but God and my determination to remain married no matter the situation and the condition has kept me on. I put God first in everything and I guess that’s why it has been possible

for me to overcome my troubles even to appeal to my in-laws. I was determined to make success of the marriage and God is really crowning my effort with success. I think with God at the background of my marriage and my determination to make

it work, my home has been able to stay till today. I believe determination on the sides of both individuals involved always work.

Do you think in-laws are responsible for broken homes?

In some cases, yes. Most wives are faced with all kinds of issues with their in-laws, in some cases, it is the mother inlaw, in others, it is either the man’s brother, sister or both. And where the wife is not accepted, it is only a matter of time for the home to break. The reason is that the man is used to his family and will always feel troubled to separate from them.

There are also cases where the problem comes from the wife’s side. In most cases, where the woman is financially more comfortable than the man and this is known to her family, they may push her against her husband. There many homes that have become broken because of this. That is where determination plays very important role in any marriage.

If the couples are determined to stay in the marriage, no turbulence can separate them. And determination cannot stand alone; it must go with God and godliness.

If you will pray well and take godly steps, the storm, no matter how strong will be put abbey.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Is it possible for a wife to satisfy her inlaws??

Terrible and difficult as most in-laws are, I tell you with God; it is possible to please them. I won’t tell you that I am married to a family where there are no challenges; we have our own little quarrels but we keep finding a way of settling them. I look at my in-laws as my own and try as much as I can to overlook bitter incidents. Like I said, I was determined to stay in my marriage, so, I believe I don’t have anywhere to go, and so, I stay.. My mother was always drumming it into our hears that we had no room left for us in our father’s house once we get married and it sunk into my consciousness.

So, I tried to do all to remain in marriage as much as I can and God has been my helper. I apologise for any wrong on my part.

There are times when my husband would say look, you are my wife, you are not supposed to do this to my people, I would go there to apologise. I was not even aware that my husband holds these things to his heart and like I told you, I could not hold back tears when he was talking about them in the public on the day he held a birthday bash specially for me.. I have to tell you that marriage has not been that easy but I just thank God for His teachings and His words for they have taken me this far. With a simple heart, a heart that is ready to obey God and her husband, a wife will win her in-laws to her side. Just don’t see yourself as being above them, or better than them.

Respect them also if not for anything but for the love you have for your husband and your desire to stay in the marriage to take care of your children.

You said your husband is always on the move. How then have you been coping with his kind of person?

I think my ability to come to terms with his way of life and why it has to be so has generally been helpful. He grew up in Ajegunle and he had always dreaded going back to slum. Since I know him, he is always working and hardly rest. If you ask him why? He would simply say “ I don’t want to go back to where I was before. There is no money and I have a lot of dependants.

I have to work hard to take these people to where they would be able to stand on their own. I don’t want to see poverty anymore.”

So, he had kept on working and I know he has achieved a lot in this direction.

Being a banker means that you are frequently away from the house. How do you balance the two?

The job of a banker and that of a mother are two different things. You cannot compare the two of them. When I am at the office, I do my job and once I am at home, I face my family. No woman is exonerated for blaming her broken home on the kind of job she has. No one expects your home front to suffer just because of your kind of work. You have to be on your toes all the time and I thank God that He has given me the grace to balance the two: keeping the home going and not lacking in my job.

I make sure my kids, and even my husband, are okay.

What is your advice to young female professionals out there who see marriage as a way of servitude?

I think with my experience, I would advise them not to see marriage as a way of caging a woman. Even some men feel so.

I think once God gives you the favour and chance to get married, no matter how educated you are or big you are, you should be happy and get set to enjoy yourself. There is nothing like being married. I have seen women who are more successful than their

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

I don’t like it when wives want to be at par with their husbands.

Respecting your man, no matter how big your

status is, will keep him on your side always.

male counterparts or their husbands, but there is nothing like being with a man.

There are many of things that go with it.

When you go out or in your office, functions or anywhere, when you say you are Mrs so and so, people respect you. They can say it is because you are someone’s wife that I am leaving you. But if you are not married, the respect is not there; even younger people would talk to you anyhow because they know you are single. So my advice is that once these guys start coming, they should give them the chance and when they come, we should deal with them with a simple heart. When a woman sees herself above a man just because of her position in the office, she won’t be able to keep her marriage. Pride, we all know goes before a downfall.

On a lighter mood, do you pick your husband’s call or read his text messages?

(Laughter) You want me to leave my children now? No. I have done it before and it didn’t feel good at the end of the day. So, I advise myself to desist from doing that to prevent myself from a heart attack Even when he ask me to pick it, I would say no.

I don’t also read his text messages. He is a man. Even if he is a cripple, women will still go after him not to talk of a man like him. My mother says what you don’t see or hear can not disturb you.

What do you think is the best approach to a blissful marriage?

You see, every family has their own peculiarities. Coming together to dialogue and discuss what the trouble is what couples don’t do. I mean bridging the gap of communication is very important. Besides, two captains, they say, cannot run a ship so, I don’t like it when wives want to be at par with their husbands. Respecting your man, no matter how big your status is will keep him on your side always. Since I I have been married, my husband has always been winning. And that is what my pastor said: allow him to win, leave the rest to God. If you say you want to boss a man, the next day, you would be outside that home. Even if you adopt any charm, be assured that it will run of its potency one day. The aftermath then will not be palatable. If you want your home to stay till death do you part, you have to give in to the man. A good wife is she who is calm when things are hot but after the coast seems clear, she takes her time to explain things gently to her husband. You don’t shout when your husband is shouting or try to rub shoulders with him like we have said. Even if you earn more than he does, you cannot become the man of the house.

In our culture, a man is a man, no matter what. This is what I do. I don’t preach what I don’t practice.

35

Keeping ABREAST

Iranian woman banned from tournament by husband

I

ran’s women national team captain, Niloofar Ardalan, has been banned from attending the Asian championships by her husband Mehdi Tutunchi, a sportscaster.

Ardalan was hoping to attend the Asian Futsal – a five a-side tournament – as captain, but she was banned from doing so by her husband who exercised his right under Islamic laws to allow his wife travel from home.

Ardalan could not attend as the championship, which ran from September 21 through 26 in Nilai because the date coincided with her seven-year-old son’s first day at school.

In a bid to advocate for a change in the Islamic laws, Ardalan went public to plead with the Iranian FA to allow her represent her country.

She told Iran’s NASIM News Agen-

cy: “I wish the authorities would pass a law for sportswomen so we can defend our rights in these circumstances.

“As a Muslim woman I wanted to raise the flag of my country, I wasn’t going there for fun.

“Boys have the issue of military service, which prevents those who have not completed their compulsory service from traveling abroad. A solution is found for them, and something should be done for women as well.

What is the difference between us?”

The national team captain said her passport expired and her husband did not sign the paperwork necessary to renew it. The husband is, however, yet to publicly speak on the issue.

The law in Iran states that a woman cannot leave her home without the consent of her male guardian. The law was formulated in the 1980’s after the Islamic revolution in the country.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

36

Parenting

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Is fast food good for children?

M

ore than fifty per cent of parents admitted that they often give into their children’s demands for junk food. But the next time you’re thinking about buying dinner on the go, bear in mind the impact it will have on your kids before the day is over.

Junk food will encourage your child to eat more The fats, sugar and salt in fast food draw kids like a magnet, largely because they appeal to a child’s “primordial tastes”. From an evolutionary point of view, humans are hard-wired to crave high-calorie food as a survival mechanism, so each time we see, smell or eat junk food, many chemicals and neurotransmitters are released in our body. When your child bites into a burger, his brain reward system gets activated since dopamine, which is the main neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and excitement, gets secreted. And then he will feel a complete lack of control and an intense demand from his brain for more, according to a study.

If that isn’t enough to convince you to ditch the takeaway, a study recently published just found that once children have eaten fast food, they consume more calories and fewer nutrients for the rest of the day. On days when kids ate

fast food, compared with days when they ate at home, adolescents and young children consumed an additional 309 and 126 calories, respectively.

Junk food will damage arteries immediately Experts have known for years that long-term consumption of junk food clogs arteries, but recently they’ve recognised that this damage begins the same day.

A study indicates that damage to the arteries occurs almost immediately after just one – that’s right, one – junk food meal.

Junk food will cause school work to suffer Diet has a significant effect on children’s study habits. Junk food and foods with high-sugar content deplete energy levels and the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time. If a kid is having sweets, chocolate croissants or sweetened beverages during the first break time at school instead of his fruit portion or his sandwich, he would definitely feel hungry within an hour and that would disrupt his concentration in class, and could affect his overall performance in school.

Junk food will make your kid depressed Eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats, such as

ParentingUpdate

A

recent study published in Pediatrics says that nearly 74% of deaths in babies younger than four months occurred in a bed-sharing situation.

The study looked at data from 8,207 infant deaths that occurred between 2004 and 2015. Among older infants (4 months to 1 year old), the rate was slightly lower at nearly 59 percent.

They advise parents to room share but not bed share.

Although possibly flawed, the studies have raised awareness of the need to cosleep safely.

Some parents chose to use a co-sleeper bassinet, which keeps baby within “arm’s reach,” but also gives baby his own space.

Other parents use co-sleeping separators to ensure that baby stays safe. While these contraptions aren’t necessary, they can add additional assurance to parents.

Regardless, it is vital that parents prac-

cold-water fish and nuts, leads to positive energy and moods – both of which derive from positive brain function. A diet high in fast food lacks these nutritional benefits, increasing the risk of depression.

Junk food will put your child off healthy food The artificial taste of junk food is thought to be addictive and children used to spicy junk food may have trouble adjusting their palates to relatively blander healthy foods.

“Another problem is that junk food tends to replace other, more nutritious, foods,” says a study.

“When children are snacking on chips and cookies, they’re usually not having enough fruits and vegetables, which will decrease their vitamin C and fibre intakes.”

Junk food will cause constipation Fast food typically lacks fibre.

The less fibre children consume, the more likely they are to develop constipation, which can cause abdominal pain and discomfort.

Will they know about it by the end of the day? Probably.

Junk food will make them irritable The high content of sugar in junk food causes fluctuations in children’s blood glucose levels.

This makes them edgy, sleepy

and irritable throughout the day and leaves them with no motivation to be active.

Junk food will ruin bedtime Having sugary drinks or fruit juice with dinner even twice a week can affect children’s sleep and wake-up cycle. The caffeine

from sodas acts as a stimulant, keeping them awake longer and negatively affects their metabolism. Studies have shown that moderate to high caffeine consumers [100 to 300mg of caffeine] have more disturbed and more interrupted sleep than low- or no-caffeine consumers.

Tiny Feet

NAME: Ogungbesan Demilade BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs. Ogungbesan, AGE: 8 days old BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.5 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

74 percent of deaths in babies caused by co-sleeping – Study

tice important safety guidelines when co-sleeping.

Guidelines for how to co-sleep safely •Breastfed babies seem to be the safest sleeping next to mom (versus near dad or another child).

•(Bottle-fed babies are safer in a separate sleeping space in the same room, since they sleep more deeply.) (4) •Baby should be placed to sleep on his back, on a firm mattress with tight fitting sheets.

•Do not have loose pillows or blankets near his baby’s face.

•Leave no space between the mattress and the wall where baby could roll into and get stuck.

•Do not co-sleep or put baby to sleep on a couch!

•No stuffed animals or bumpers in the bed.

•Parents who smoke (and moms who smoked during pregnancy) should not

bedshare.

•Parents who consume alcohol or drugs or are on medications that make them sleepy should not bedshare.

•Parents, who sleep very deeply, are obese, sleepwalk, or are generally less aware of baby’s presence and location while sleeping should consider a sidecar arrangement.

•Babies under one year old should not sleep next to other children.

•Baby should not be swaddled so that they can alert a parent when they are too close.

•Baby should not be overdressed (overheating is a risk factor for SIDS).

One big stumbling blockthe researchers observed to co-sleeping is that some parents feel like they have to do it all the time. But just like moms will practice baby-led weaning and fed their babies purees, the same can be said for co-sleeping. For example, let’s say you had some drinks or were out late night with

friends… that may not the best night to co-sleep. Or perhaps dad has strep throat or mom has the stomach flu. These might be instances when putting baby in her own sleeping space is better.

The point is you can be flexible with what works for your family.

Culled from www.mamanatural.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

37

Dear Bukola

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

No time to take care of my daughter

Dear Titi, am a divorced mother of one. I am in the process of sending my daughter to live with my parents. This is because I hardly have time to properly take care of her. I work in a bank. During the day, I drop her off at the Day Care and then pick her up late in the evening. It hurts me to take this decision but I am scared that she may pick up the wrong habits from outsiders. My parents are disciplinarians. I keep on pushing the date as I really don’t want her to go.

I

Dear divorced mother, Every child needs the attention of a parent or loved one to help them grow into loving adults. If this is absent, it does more harm than good. Like you said in your mail, you hardly have time to properly take care of your daughter. This might have been a problem but fortunately for you, you are blessed with parents who are willing to give their time to nurture your daughter…. Why on earth would you deny her that? Please let her have a proper upbringing with them but ensure you perform your responsibilities as a mother to her as often as you can.

Wish you both all the best.

I’m bored to death

Dear Titi, have a new job. Its great but I just hate the environment. It’s so remote. Nothing is happening. The nightlife is awful. The people here are very different and in my opinion very boring. I am specifically not mentioning the name of the town as I don’t want to sound prejudiced but I need to make things happen soon or else I would go out of my mind.

I

Dear Bored, share your pain because it can be very frustrating living in a place where everything seems to be isolated. What I would advise you to do is try to create some fun for yourself.

What are those things you like to do?

Make it happen and before you know it people who are as bored as you in that area would appreciate you for it.

Also, I hope the pay from the new job is worthwhile because if it isn’t, the best option for you might be to pack your bags and move out of the place.

We all want you to be happy so going out of your mind isn’t what should happen. Good luck with it!

I

My girl has another love Dear Titi,

I

am in love with a girl who stays in my home state while I stay in the Northern part of the country. We really have a lot in common. However, it is not all rosy as she is dating someone else who lives in the South-west. She has not seen him for a bit more than a year but in between this period I have seen her about four times. She says she loves me but she still hasn’t told the other guy. Should I believe her? Should I try to get in contact with the other guy and tell him? Do you encourage long distant relationships?

Between us, who does she really love?

Save me!

Name withheld

Dear Lover boy, ong distance relationship has a lot to do with love and trust. Like you said, you love this girl and you both have a lot in common, which is good. However, when the person you are in a long distance relationship with, is dating someone else other than you (whether they see often or not), then it becomes cheating. If she truly loves you, she should tell the other person it is over between them, that is her job to do and not yours. You should find time out to talk frankly with her so as to decide what you both want out of the relationship and who she would rather be with among the two of you. After this talk, the decision she arrives at would let you know who she loves more. Please note that long distance relationship is fine only if there is adequate trust and genuine love between both partners.

L

bukola.oyetunji@gmail.com. +2347012974472

My sister-inlaw is a pain in the neck I

Dear Titi,

know women usually complain about their Mothers-in-law but I don’t have a problem with mine. She lives abroad so I hardly see her. The person who is getting on my nerves is my Sister-in-law.

She is married with children but she never stays in her house. She always visits with her retinue (consisting of friends and all sorts of human beings) and she expects me to be at her beck and call. On a typical day, Just when I finish my chores and am about to settle down to read a really really good book or spend quality time with my husband, there she appears. I don’t have a House-help and I don’t need one but I am having second thoughts about getting help because of my Sister-in-Law. I have tried in a subtle manner to let my husband know how I feel but so far he is not getting the message.

Dear Overworked, That your sister-in-law visits your house whenever she wants may be simply because she feels welcome; this on its own is not supposed to be a problem. It only becomes a problem when - she doesn’t come alone but with other people who are not even family, expects you to be at her beck and call, then denies you of spending quality time with your husband. What you need to do is talk to your husband about how you feel; he is in the best position to handle his sister. If she were your own sibling, asking her to give you some space wouldn’t be a big deal but reverse is the case. Plead with your husband to take charge of this issue.

If he loves you and wants the best for you he surely would.

I’m attracted to a junior colleague

Dear Titi, am about to break a self-imposed rule by having an affair with a junior colleague.

I vowed not to have affairs at work after getting burnt. The girl I dated in a former job was also dating the CEO and I lost my job as a result of the affair. But this woman is hot hot hot and she has been giving me serious signals. Usually, I wouldn’t fall but I find myself drawn to this particular woman. We work in the same department and we often have to stay back when the others have gone.

I know that very soon something would give.

Dear Romeo, am happy your rule is self-imposed because that means it can be reversed.

That the other woman caused your job termination in your former place of work doesn’t mean this woman will do the same.

One important thing I would plead with you to do is proper findings to know if she isn’t dating anyone in the office. You should do this before you ask her out. Like they say, “Once beaten, twice shy”… I am very sure you wouldn’t want history to repeat itself.

Best of luck with it...

I My neighbours are from hell I F Dear Titi,

live alone but at certain times it appears like I share the apartment with a legion (My neighbors are the problem). Granted, I invite them for meals every now and then and I help them take in their clothes when it rains as well as take out their thrash but for crying out loud all I ask in return is that they help wash the dishes after they have a meal at my place. I also would appreciate it if they give me some privacy when I need to relax (or when my boyfriend visits from out of town) or not use my things without asking for permission. The fact is I don’t know how to broach the subject without sounding too harsh. I may hurt their feelings in the process. They are neighbors alright but they have also become friends. I am confused.

Dear Confused, rom your mail I gather you are the type that loves your privacy but also loves having people around when you want them which is actually not bad.

The problem with the arrangement between you and your neighbours/friends, however, is that they overstay their welcome. In this situation, what I would sincerely advise is that you communicate your feelings to them. It is your apartment so you should be able to enjoy it. When you invite them for meals, let them know as politely as possible that you would appreciate if they help you with washing the dishes.

Also when you need to relax, let them know (as respectfully as possible) that it is time for them to give you some time alone….

Communication like I said is important in this situation you are in. Cheers!

I

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38

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

divorce court

‘My husband is sexually weak’

• I bought him drugs to correct his sexual weakness but he refused to take them. We have been living separately for over four years now because he refused to find solution to his problem —Wife

A

39-year-old fashion designer, Mrs Farotimi Titilayo, has appealed to a Lagos Customary Court sitting in Ikorodu to dissolve her eightyear marriage over alleged neglect and sexual denial by her husband.

The 39-year-old, who resides at Nosiru Street, Eyita in Ikorodu area of the State told the court that her husband identified as Amos, denies her sex before they both separated.

“My husband was sexually imbalance before I left him in 2011; I reported him to his family

M

rs. Bola Bamigbola has prayed an Igando Customary Court to dissolve her 10-year marriage over frequent demand for sex, and rape by her husband Bola said that Taiwo, her husband, beat her up anytime she refused to have sex with him, adding that after the pounding, he would still have his way against her consent.

“My husband can sleep with me up to six times in a day; he does this everyday but anytime I tell him that I am tired, he will beat and rape me.

“I have reported him to his family members who told him to reduce it to four times a week but my husband refused to comply.

“Because of our constant fighting and disturbance, our landlord gave us a quit notice,” she said.

She said that Taiwo, 39, was a jealous husband who always sus-

A

n Islamic cleric, Ibrahim Olateju has told an Abeokuta High Court that he was seeking the dissolution of his 10-year marriage because his wife, Rukayat, was allegedly a traitor.

Ibrahim, who spoke under oath in the witness box, said that the marriage had produced two children, aged five and three.

The suit is being heard by Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje of the High Court III in Isabo.

Olateju told the court that they (couple) had been living peacefully before he lost his job in January 2010.

“We never had any problem until I could not perform my financial responsibilities as the

but they pleaded on his behalf.

“I bought him drugs to correct his sexual weakness but he refused to take them.

“We have been living separately for over four years now because he refused to find solution to his problems.

“I want this court to officially divorce this marriage because I want to move on with my life; I don’t want to bear his name anymore,’’ she said.

The respondent was, however, not in court despite been served the court’s notices on three different occasions.

In his ruling, the Court President, Mr Olu Adebiyi, noted that the court would not continue to delay hearing of the case as Amos has been absent from proceedings severally.

He added “we will still serve the husband one more time to see if he will attend the next court date.’’(NAN)

‘He has sex with me up to six times in a day’

• Anytime I tell him that I am tired, he will beat and rape me. I have reported him to his family members who told him to reduce it to four times a week, but my husband refused to comply —Wife • What causes the frequent fight between us is that she comes home late and I need her to be close to me —Husband pected that his wife was dating another man.

“Anytime I did not come home on time, he would accuse me of being with a man,” the woman said.

She also accused Taiwo of lack

of care, saying that he gave her N500 to feed the family for some days.

Responding, Taiwo, a trader, said, “What causes the frequent fight between us is that she comes home late and I need her

to be close to me.”

He said that he cared for his family and regularly gave out feeding money except when he had poor sales. The respondent, however, told the court to grant his wife’s wish, saying that he

‘My wife is a traitor’

• We never had any problem until I could not perform my financial responsibilities as the head of the home due to loss of my job. She refused to understand how bad things were for me. She made me an object of ridicule before our neighbours and family members —Husband head of the home due to loss of my job.

“She refused to understand how bad things were for me. Rukayat will fight me to the extent that I will rely on our neighbours to come to my rescue.

“Apart from the fact that she betrayed my trust in her, she made me a subject of ridicule before our neighbours and her family

members.

“I was thinking things will change but was surprised to come back home on May 5, 2010, to see that she had packed out with our children and my belongings, “ he alleged.

The complainant disclosed that his investigation revealed that Rukayat had relocated to her mother’s house in Abeokuta.

He further explained to the court that he made futile efforts through their (couple’s) parents and relatives to persuade his wife to return home.

In her address, his Counsel, Mrs Olayemi Yusuf, alleged that despite the fact that Rukayat was served with summons and hearing notices, she refused to appear in court.

was no longer interested in the marriage.

The couple has two children, aged nine years and four years.

The President of the court, Mr. R.I. Adeyeri, adjourned the case for judgment ” By the attitude of the respondent (Rukayat) and evidences before this court, it is obvious that Rukayat is no longer interested in this marriage.

“In the instance case my Lord, I humbly urge the court to grant the prayers of the complainant by dissolving the marriage on the ground that it has irredeemably broken down, “she pleaded.

The defendant, who had been absent in court since the commencement of the case in June 2012, was not represented by any counsel.

After the oral address by the counsel and testimonies of Ibrahim, the judge, thereafter, reserved judgment on the mater.

(NAN)

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

‘My husband is out to ruin me’

divorce court

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39

• I gave him my ATM cards, so it enabled him to withdraw my money at will. I was so blindly in love that I could not see that he was a gold digger and that he was out to ruin me completely —Wife • It is true, she assisted me in my business and I paid her by showing true love to her, but she is just too hard for my liking. —Husband

“

I married my husband when he had nothing. I fed him, clothed him. I bought two buses for him for commercial use; he sold one and kept the money from me.

“I gave him my ATM cards, so it enabled him to withdraw my money at will. I loved him passionately. I leaned on the promises he made to me not knowing that they were all fake”, a 28-year-old woman told an Orile Agege Customary Court, Lagos.

She wanted her six-year marriage terminated over desertion and adultery.

Mrs Maria Igbaji, who lives at 10, Oyewole Road, Orile Agege, said, “All the money he realised from the transport business, he kept it away from me.

“While I was busy providing for the upkeep of the house, he was busy saving the money he realized from the business.

“I was so blindly in love that I could not see that this man is a gold digger and that he was out to ruin me completely.”

The mother of one said her husband told her in Dec. 2011 to go to her village for Christmas not knowing that he had another plan.

Her words: “My husband told me to go my village in Dec. 2011 for Christmas. After the festive period, he called me to say I should not to come to Lagos yet, that he wanted to pay for another accommodation for us.

“When it was almost a month after he called me and I didn’t hear anything from him again, I came to Lagos without telling him. But to my amazement, I found another woman in the house.

“My husband told me that he didn’t love me anymore and that I was now stinking. Since then, he abandoned me and our child at home and left for an unknown place. ” I still love him but I cannot force him on myself but before I leave him, he should settle me for all I went through while trying to please him.” Maria, in tears, said she wished she could draw back the hands of time, and wished it never happened.

Mr Benjamin Igbaji, 35, a business man who lives at Echura Estate, Banana Island, B8, told the court that he left the house because his wife wanted to control him.

“She nags a lot, she does not listen to me, she accuses me wrongly, and she always wants

to do what pleases her and not what I want.

“It is true, she assisted me in my business and I paid her by showing true love to her but she is just too hard for my liking.

“I left the house because of her trouble, I don’t love her anymore and I can’t change my mind about that. “I want her to leave my house and go back to her parent’s house,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Court President, Mr Joseph Adewusi, adjourned the case for judgment.

‘He uses my money to chase other men’s wives’

• He is so lazy. All he knows how to do is knocking married women’s doors at night and chasing single ladies in the neighbourhood. I established him, but he ruined the business because he was spending all the money on his concubines. —Wife • I may not have money but I am caring. I protect the family, take care of them while she brings home money.

—Husband

H

e goes after anything in skirt, be it old enough to be his mother or she is of our child’s age. “I have become a laughing stock, even in the church. I made all efforts for him to stop this disgraceful act but he won’t listen.

“He collects money from me and uses the money to chase other men’s wives.

I am tired. I don’t want the marriage anymore”. These were the lamentations of Mrs Comfort Oladepo. She spoke in her evidence-in-chief before an Orile Agege Customary Court which she prayed to end her twenty five-

year marriage to her husband, Kayode, who he accused of adultery, lack of care and drinking habit.

The 44-year-old nurse, who lives at 9, Shodipo Street, Papa Ashafa, Orile Agege, stunned the court when she said her husband not only refused to work for 20-years, but he also used her money to chase other men’s wives.

“My husband refused to work for 20 years; so I was the one feeding, paying house rent and clothing the family including my husband”, Comfort stated.

“He is so lazy. All he knows

how to do is to drink to stupor, knocking married women’s doors at night and chasing single ladies in the neighbourhood.

“I established him, but he ruined the business because he was spending all the money on his concubines.

“As if that was not enough, he asked my friends and my young and older siblings out.

“I have endured for twenty years; I want to stay alone so that I don’t have a husband. He is useless. I see no reason I am still with him.”

Meanwhile, Kayode, 54, told the court that when he was working,

he provided for his wife and children.

“I may not have money but I am caring. When one of our children was sick, I was with him for three months in hospital, doing all what his mother could not do”, the respondent said.

“I protect the family, take care of them while she brings home money.

“I still love my wife and I will always love her, I don’t want the dissolution”.

The court president, Mr Joseph Adewusi, adjourned the case for judgment.

‘I beat my wife, threaten her with boiling water for refusing sex’

A

40 year old man, Saliu kehinde has told the Ikorodu Customary court that he physically abused his wife Shakirat(32) whenever she refuses to have sex with him. He also stated that he usually threatens her with boiling water on such occasions but that he had no intention of bathing her in hot water.

Shakirat had approached the court seeking the dissolution of their 10 year marriage blessed with two children According to her, Saliu usually beat her whenever she returned from work and I told him I was too tired for sex or for any flimsy excuse. “I want the court to dissolve our marriage and give me custody of the children”, she said

Reacting to the wife’s allegation, Kehinde who resides at 9 Fatai Oloko Street, Haruna Ikorodu assented to the claim that he used to beat her whenever she denied him sex and if she came home late from her trading business “I merely boiled the water so I could threaten her with it. I had no intention of bathing her in the water.

She refuses to cook for me

when she is pregnant. She also told me to look for another wife.

Kehinde promised to stop beating or threatening his wife adding that he was willing to take her back if she wants to stay with him The court President Olu Adebiyi has adjourned the matter for possible reconciliation

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40

EVENTS

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Celebrities honour 2face at Fortyfied concert Last weekend, African Queen singer, 2face Idibia, held a concert in honour of his ongoing fortieth birthday celebrations.

The concert held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos and was hosted by A-list comedian, Basketmouth. Needless to say, 2face’s celebrity friends were legion at the concert which was appropriately tagged Fortyfied. DJ Jimmy Jatt, Keke Ogungbe, D’Banj and Don Jazzy were some of those celebrity friends.

Baskethmouth

Abibat Taiwo

2face and wife, Annie

Gbenga Adeyinka

Don Jazzy and Korede Bello

Olu Maintain

D’Banj and 2face

Jimmy Jatt, D1, Wizkid and Keke

D’Banj and Don Jazzy

KSB and daughter, Edwina

Florence Ita-Giwa

Seyi Shay

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

41

Tetanus I

remember how a Resident Doctor from the United States who was visiting Nigeria for the first time got transfixed on the spot when she saw a man on the hospital bed twisting furiously, stiffening and relaxing intermittently.

The man, almost bending double, had a squeezed face and locked jaw. Possible diagnosis did not readily come to her mind.

In fact, tetanus was buried somewhere very deep in her medical vocabulary at the time and it took a while for it to be dragged out.

That is how rare tetanus infection can be in the developed world. It is barely seen again. But in Africa where tetanus vaccination is still being taken for granted in some quarters, tetanus is still a significant problem. The neonatal variety, especially, is common in villages or even cities where umbilical cords are contaminated by traditional birth attendants who severe the cord with any available razor blade. Unfortunately, it is also this set of babies whose mothers don’t get immunized against tetanus infection during pregnancy.

Definition: Tetanus, also known in ancient circles as ‘lockjaw’ is an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. It is an anaerobic bacterium i.e. can survive without oxygen, thus it is found in soils, dust, rust, manure and other dirty materials. The bacteria, on entering the human system, produce a very powerful toxin known as tetanospamin which has a predilection for the nervous system.

Here, it binds with motor neurons - the nerves that control muscle movementresulting in involuntary stiffening and spasm of muscles. Muscle spasm could be fatal if it involves the respiratory muscles, arresting breathing and leading to death. Infection with tetanus occurs almost exclusively in unimmunized people. One (1) in ten (10) adults infected with tetanus will die from it. For newborn and people older than 65 years, the mortality is even higher.

Causes: The tetanus bacteria commonly gains entry into the body through deep

puncture wounds from dirty objects such as rusted nails. In babies the commonest route is via a contaminated umbilical cord. Other diverse means of getting contaminated with the organism are: •Tattooing and body piercing •Use of injections drugs like Heroine •Burns injury •Crush injuries and compound bone fractures •Gunshot injuries •Animal bites •Infected leg ulcers •Ear infections

Symptoms: The symptoms of tetanus start after an incubation period ranging from 8days to several months; the longer the incubation period the milder the disease.

Severity of the infection also depends on the site of the infection, with infections around the head being worse.

The symptoms are that of uncontrolled muscle spasms, affecting practically every muscles of the body, sparing only the heart muscle because of its electrical

nature. It starts by squeezing the muscles of the jaw and locking them up, resulting in the characteristic ‘lockjaw’. On the face it squeezes the muscles and produces a grin- like expression called ‘risus sardonicus’. It also commonly leads to -stiffened abdominal muscles and stiffened neck muscles, resulting in difficulty in swallowing -spasms of the respiratory muscle which can make breathing a difficulty Quite often, generalized body spasms occur over several minutes. This could be triggered by a loud noise, light touch or bright light, hence the need to nurse tetanus patients in a quiet dark room away from triggering stimuli.

Unfortunately, strong and prolonged spasms of the body have been known to break the bones or the spine of the victim Other symptoms include High temperature Profuse sweating High blood pressure Fast heart beat

Treatment: Technically, there is no cure for tetanus as Tetanus toxins usually bind to nervous systems irreversibly. Therefore, treatment involves more of supportive care to keep the patient alive long enough for the effect of the toxins to wear off.

This is in addition to •Use of tetanus immunoglobulin to neutralize circulating toxins yet unbound to nerve cells •Appropriate wound cleaning to prevent further growth of tetanus spores •Antibiotics to kill the toxin-releasing bacteria •Tetanus toxoid to prevent future infections And •Sedatives/muscle relaxants to control spasms

Prevention: Since the discovery of the tetanus vaccine by P. Descombey in 1924, the incidence of tetanus has fallen drastically around the world, becoming almost nonexistent in developed world.

Tetanus toxoid is highly effective against tetanus infection, but does not last a lifetime, hence a fully immunized adult requires a booster dose every 10years The vaccine is included in the national immunization regimen. Contained in the Diptheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT) trivalent, it is taken by children a few weeks after birth till they are about six (6) years old, completing five doses in all.

Detailed Regimen: Tetanus toxoid (TT) or DPT as the case may be should be given in the following instances •For children from six (6) weeks to six (6) years •For adolescents about 11-12 years •For an adult every ten (10) years as a booster •For someone with a wound who has not taken TT in the last five years •For someone with a wound who cannot remember the last time he or she took TT •For pregnant women And •For anyone who in the opinion of the physician will benefit from a shot of TT

Conclusion: We may well conclude by saying that: Never take a dirty wound for granted!

If you are sure you need to take a TT, take a shot!!

If you are not sure you need to take a TT, take a shot!!!

You can chat with a doctor FREE at www.prettyhealthcare.com.ng. Every Wednesdays and Fridays (4-8pm)

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

TOURISM

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Well of Forgetfulness ...at Point of No Return

Original Spot, Slaves Spiritual Attenuation Well

T

o cross over to the “Point of No Return”, you will need to hire a boat from the jetty where slaves were taken away 4:00am every day to the other side to work on the plantation or be shipped to their final journeys abroad. Rows of coconut trees planted by the slaves are still along the shore where you will take a boat.

Along the roads, white stones are arranged to mark the exact route the slaves walked on, chained by shackles in a single file.

Through the journey to the “Point of No Return”, you will notice a well and close to it is a landmark that reads, “Original Spot, Slaves Spiritual Attenuation Well”, built by all the chiefs in Badagry dealing on slave business who came together at that time to cast a spell in the well, a kind of black magic which

brings forgetfulness. Nobody has drank from this well in over 600 years and the rainbow looking shadow cast over the water will make you wonder if the spell is still potent.

An incantation the slaves were also made to read before they are shipped away is present at the

Point of no return

location. A drink from the well and reading the recitation present at the scene is meant to aid forgetfulness. The recitation By The Sold Slaves reads: “I am leaving this land, My Spirit leave with me.

I shall not come back now, My shackles do not break.

It is the shackles that hold the ship down.

My ancestors bear me witness, I shall not return.

This land shall depart, My soul do not revolt, My spirit go along with me.

I depart to that land unknown I shall not return.”

Another twenty minutes’ walk will bring you to the “Point Of No Return.” Two slanting pillars with iron casts visible from afar leads to final path through which numerous slaves have been taken against their will to unknown destinations.

Though slave trading was stopped by the British West Indies in 1863, it continued till 1886 in Badagry.

The Town, Badagry is indeed an ancient city, and a visit to the slave museums can be a bitter sweet experience!

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

LEISURE

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From the

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Civil Service

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Man commits suicide over unpaid 13 months salary Osahon Julius YENAGOA

T

ears flowed freely in the home of a middle aged engineer with the Bayelsa State Water Board, Peter Ogiero, who committed suicide by taking a popular insecticide ‘Sniper’ over unpaid 13 months salaries by the state government.

Ogiero took his life on Tuesday after waiting in vain for 13 months without salary and without a kobo to take care of his family and his failing health, as government failed to meet its financial obligations to the board’s employees.

It was gathered that the deceased, a father of four, whose only means of livelihood was his salary, succumbed to frustration after he was diagnosed to be hypertensive. He had a stroke about one year ago when he found it extremely difficult to care for himself, let alone his wife and four children.

A neighbor, who was seen wailing uncontrollably, told our Correspondent that in the midst of the man’s travail, his second wife (who he married after the death of his first wife) abandoned him and left for their village along with three of their children.

The only child, a teenager, that stayed with Ogiero in his state of penury and anguish, who was simply identified as Wilson, depended on charity for survival, as his mother was said to have died before Ogiero married his second wife.

When our Correspondent visited the home of the deceased at Okaka in Yenagoa metropolis, relatives and neighbours has removed his remains while some were still wailing uncontrollably and crying their eyes out.

Some of the mourners who managed to talk amidst tears narrated how the man and his family lived in penury and how he committed suicide out of frustration.

A niece of the deceased, who gave her name only as Tina, said the deceased had

been suffering from stroke for over 12 months.

Said Tina, “The stroke was caused by too much brooding due to the fact that the state government has been owing him salaries for 13 months. This state of affairs has caused a lot of issues in the deceased’s home. At a point, when his wife could no longer bear the situation, she had to run away from home with his three children to their village.

“Wilson and I were staying somewhere else before. We only came on the directive of the family to take care of him when it was discovered that his second wife, who was living with him, abandoned him in his trying times. That was how Wilson and I came to Yenagoa to take care of him. We least expected that he was going to die just like that.”

Narrating how Ogiero was living when he was alive amid sobs, Tina said the situation was so awful and precarious that the deceased found it extremely difficult to get money to buy drugs recommended by doctors.

She added, “We hoped upon hope that the situation would ameliorate and that the government would pay him the salary they owed him but all to no avail.

“When salary did not come, we tried to manage with the little money given to us by the deceased’s sister, uncle and sometimes by his colleagues. But this did not suffice as it was not coming regularly. So, at a point, we found it really hard to buy him drugs and food sometime.”

She said as they were hoping that things would get better someday, they had no inkling that the deceased had his own plans - to free himself from the frustration he was enmeshed in.

She said on the fateful Tuesday, while they had gone out to look for what Ogiero would eat before taking his drugs, they returned home to see him lying on the ground, gasping for breadth.

Not long after, Ogiero,

who before his travail, took families’ problems as his, gave up the ghost, Tina said.

“That was how my uncle died. On a close observation, we discovered that he drank Sniper to take his own life out of frustration and poverty.”

Ogiero’s colleague at the Water Board, who identified himself simply as Raymond, also corroborated Tina’s account.

Raymond said, “My friend was strong and healthy before the state government stopped paying us salaries. The situation led to his frustration and this in turn led to an increase in

his blood pressure which later resulted in stroke that worsened his frustration.

“As of now, we are being owed 13 months salaries.

The head of our agency has made several efforts in writing and appeals to the state government to pay our salaries and allowances but to no avail.”

Raymond said it was not just only him and the deceased that were owed, it also affected over 150 workers in the corporation, adding that some of them had worked in the Board for more than 15 years before their recent travail.

He said worse still, many of the workers at the board had worked for close to 15 years as

casual workers, without regularization, lamenting that the government had been treating workers of the Board with disdain and scorn.

Raymond said, “The situation under which we operate is simply appalling.

We are human beings with responsibilities but the government treats us as if we are sub-human beings.

This is supposed to be a restoration government but we are treated with disdain and scorn. Our salaries are not paid as at when due. As I speak with you, the government is owing us 13 months salaries. Another month has ended, making it 14.

“At our various homes,

we are no more worthy to be called fathers because we cannot meet up with our obligations as fathers.

We have been turned into vegetables. This is not what we bargained for when we took up appointments with the corporation. We are no more able to provide food for our families, let alone pay our children’s school fees.

“We are appealing to the government to come to our rescue before more of our colleagues go the way of Ogiero. We are also calling on the government to rally round up the family of our deceased colleague so that the children can have some respite.”

L-R: Chairman, Committee on Education, Kano State House of Assembly Honourable Baffa Babba Dan-agundi; Deputy Governor and Honourable Commissioner for Education, Kano State; Head, Government and Community Relations, Etisalat, Mohammed Suley-Yusuf and Head, Regional Sales, North, Nigeria, Mukadas Babangida, during the cutting the tape to commission a solar power installation by Etisalat at Girls’ Government College, Dala, Kano State, an Etisalat-Adopted School on Tuesday

Kogi LG workers to receive N45bn from bailout fund

K

ogi Government said on Thursday that N45 billion of the N50.9 billion its bailout money would be spent on the payment of outstanding salaries of 21 local government councils’ workers.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, made the disclosure in Lokoja in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Mike Abu.

The statement said that he made the clarification during a stakeholders meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Council.

It said that the balance of N5.9 billion would be used to pay the August and September salaries of workers in the state civil service.

The statement said that

Awoniyi while confirming that the total money due to the state was N50.9 billion, said the challenges facing its early release was being resolved.

It appealed to workers to exercise more patience, saying that they would be the greatest beneficiaries of the funds when it was finally released.

It attributed the inability to pay workers to a sharp drop in the allocation from the federation account and dismissed the

insinuations of mismanagement being speculated in some quarters.

The statement said that Awoniyi used the visit to commend the people of the state’s Central Senatorial District for their mature conduct in the just-concluded governorship primary of the APC. It noted that the action had further reinforced the confidence of the leadership of the party in the people of the area.

(NAN)

Sport

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

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45

African Games

How Team Nigeria shattered records in Congo Ifeanyi Eduzor

T

he 11th edition of the All Africa Games (AAG) which ended last Saturday in Brazzaville, Congo produced a result which surprised many Nigerians as “Team Nigeria” recorded her best finish in eight years at the African version of the Olympics.

With a total of 144 medals made up of 47 gold, 56 silver and 42 bronze medals, Nigeria finished second behind the continent’s sport powerhouse, Egypt, displacing South Africa in that position.

Team Nigeria’s placement on the final medals table was exciting as it also surprising to many, as expectations in various quarters were quite modest on the eve of commencement of action in Brazzaville.

The last time Nigeria posted good performance in the COJA was in the 2003 Games in Abuja when as host she finished tops on the medals table, but instead of maintaining the momentum, the country dropped to a distant fourth four years later in Algeria, trailing Egypt, Algeria and

...positions for Rio 2016 Olympics South Africa.

Prior to the finals of the 2015 Games, the country was at a stage in the seventh position and later climbed to number four behind Egypt, South Africa and Algeria, but when medals started rolling in from special sports, the tide changed and Nigeria became the toast of other countries.

While sports like football, which continually gulps the bulk of financial allocations, failed to meet expectations with the U-23 team winning a consolatory bronze medal and the Super Falcons not finding their feet in the third place match against Cote d’Ivoire, special sports put up a good performance, providing the highest gold medals for the country.

Aside wining gold, the country’s Para-Lifting contingent went further, setting as much as five world records, a feat that was not recorded in any other 21 events on parade at the fiesta.

It is on record that before Team Nigeria arrived in Brazzaville, some countries were

already winning medals in such sports like fencing, archery, shooting and swimming which made many doubted the ability of the country to improve on its third place finish in Maputo, Mozambique four years ago.

Apart from this, Nigerians were concerned about the poor preparation of athletes ahead of the Games with many concluding that the contingent was going to the central African country on a jamboree.

However, the performance is an indication that with proper planning and determination, Nigeria can rule not only Africa on the field of sports, but become a force to be reckoned with at the world level.

Although, Nigerians have been celebrating the good result with President Muhammadu Buhari leading the list of eminent Nigerians and corporate organisations that have been congratulating the team for a job well done with the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Al- Hassan Yakmut, saying that the country should

not be carried away by the result, this could only be sustained when necessary modalities are put on ground to develop the country’s sports.

While it is true that second position is quite celebrating considering the number of athletes that participated in the games but there is need for the country to begin in earnest preparations ahead of the 2019 Games in Lusaka, Zambia to enable us avoid playing second fiddle again but target becoming the overall winner.

In doing this, the country’s sports administrators must follow the advice of President Buhari and develop such sports as swimming and fencing which account for many medals at not only the African Games, but the Olympics.

In other to consolidate on the Brazzaville achievement, there must be a cordial relationship between the NSC and the athletes to avoid a repeat occurrence of what happened few weeks to the games when Team Nigeria was hit with series of withdrawals

by top stars who claimed the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) was treating them unprofessionally following their poor outing at the Beijing World Championships.

The biggest threat came from Blessing Okagbare, accused of feigning injury and was reportedly banned from competing at next year’s Olympics for choosing to skip the African Games. Although Okagbare staged a surprise come back in Congo where she helped power the 4x100m women relay team to gold, but the deed has been done and Nigeria could not add the women’s 100 gold medal to its collection of medals for the first time in 50 years.

For the country to avoid playing a second fiddle in Zambia, it must not only build on the foundation laid in Congo but also look at the marked improvements by some home- based and junior athletes just moving up the ranks.

Athletes like Amusan Oluwatobiloba who took the 100m hurdles gold and others should be monitored to maintain their winning form in four years time.

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MIRROR SPORT

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mourinho: This is the worst period of my career

Johnson charged with child sex offence

J

ose Mourinho has described Chelsea’s stuttering start to the season as the “worst period of his career.”

The current Premier League champions are 14th after seven games where they have collected just two league victories. Their poor form was underlined by a 2-1 defeat at Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday and manager Mourinho believes it has never been as bad for him during his 15-year coaching career.

“I define it as the worst period in my career with the worst results in my career, which I see as a fantastic experience,” said the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss ahead of today’s home game with Southampton. “It is not one I want to repeat. I want it to finish today, but it’s a good experience in my career.

“It comes too late. To come after 15 years is too late. It should come after three or four. But it’s something that’s helping me to be better. It’s a great negative experience. It’s the worst results. I’ve had big challenges all the time. But it’s the worst period: I’ve never lost so many matches, that’s a fact.

“When I am top of the league and the second team are a point behind that’s the pressure I like. I don’t like the pressure where we are, but I cope well with it. It’s always about the next match.

Mourinho

Madrid celebrates Ronaldo’s all-time ‘record’

R

eal Madrid have honoured Cristiano Ronaldo for becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer, despite most record books putting him level with Raul.

The club awarded the striker a trophy in a ceremony attended by his family and teammates at the Bernabeu yesterday.

The 30-year-old scored what Real believe

is his 324th goal for Madrid in a 2-0 win over Malmo in the Champions League on Wednesday, surpassing Raul’s mark.

But many have Ronaldo at 323, with the mystery goal in question coming in September 2010; a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad, where his 74th minute free-kick deflected off the back of compatriot Pepe and flew into the corner of the net.

Ronaldo

Johnson

S

underland winger Adam Johnson appeared in court yesterday at a pre-trial hearing on child sex charges.

The 28-year-old England international attended proceedings at Bradford Crown Court.

Johnson has been charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming.

He has previously denied the charges. He will go on trial at the same court in February.

Johnson was originally suspended by his club in April, before being reinstated and featuring in their final five games of the last Premier League season.

Born in Sunderland, he began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City in 2010, then to Sunderland for £10m in 2012.The winger has also played 12 times for England.

INTERVIEW

Nigeria football is on right track —Okumagba

Prince Vincent Okumagba is the National President of Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club. In this interview with IFEANYI EDUZOR, he speaks on the level of the country’s football since independence and plans to make the Supporters Club more innovative. Excerpts Nigeria on Thursday celebrated 55 years as a sovereign nation; are you satisfied with the level of the country’s football since independence?

Well I would not say that I am entirely satisfied but we must give glory to God because we have come a long way and there is no doubt that football in Nigeria is developing. We know there have been some changes here and there and I believe that with these changes, the country’s football will do better. Having said this, I want to tell you that I am not entirely satisfied because we are all witnesses to what has been happening in our football in the last two years. After we won the Nations Cup in 2013, I thought we would take it up from there but it seems our football has been nose diving ever since. We were not able to defend the title this year and just recently we had a new coach whom we hope will lead us to the promise land we are all looking forward to.

Looking at the present board of the NFF, would you say they are capable of moving the country’s football forward?

I believe that the present NFF board led by Amaju pinnick is doing well. When you look at what they are doing with the local league, you will appreciate their desire to reposition our football

because when you have a very strong league it will impact positively on your national team which I believe will happen very soon. So I am really impressed with what the board is doing. You can see that the level of our football has gone up and our league matches are now televised live while national team coaches have been sent to London for refresher courses. With these innovations, teams can now win away matches which did not happen in the past.

You should also not forget that the current NFF board comprises of young and vibrant men full of ideas and I believe our football will eventually blossom.

You have led supporters club to various countries supporting the national teams; can you share with us some of your pains not seeing the Super Eagles play in the last Nations Cup? Well, it is very painful that we were not at the last Nations Cup especially when as defending champion; one would have thought that we are going to defend the title or at least get to the semi-final but unfortunately, we couldn’t qualify.

Our non qualification was very painful and caused a lot of pains to our members but I don’t want us to remember it. You know that when your team is not playing well, you won’t be happy or when

they are supposed to score goals, they won’t score as was the case when we went to Tanzania, you won’t be happy but this is our country and we have to keep on supporting the team. Although there were a lot of pains, as I said earlier but we as members of the supporters club will continue to support the team whether they are playing well or not. I believe that with our support and commitment of both the players and the coaches, the team will do well.

But most importantly, we have to give the coach all the support and enough time to perform before we start judging him so that if at the end he fails, he will take the blame.

Nigeria having celebrated 55 years as an independent nation,

what are we expecting from the Supporters Club?

We at the leadership of the supporters club want everything to be new. You know we have a new government in place that preaches change and as members of the supporters club we must be innovative. We must come up with a new concept that will endure us to the nation and to the football family we are supporting. For us you should expect that we are going to fine tune a lot of things in the supporters club in a very short while which I hope will impact positively on the club.

What satisfaction do you and members of the club derive in supporting the national teams?

What motivates us is the love we have for our country. We know that we have no other country except Nigeria and that is why when any of the national team is playing we are always happy that our team is doing well. Although it costs us money and time but we believe that‘s what we can offer to our country and we are happy doing it. Supporters club is recognized all over the World and when you wear the Green White Green, it gives you joy. So we are like ambassadors of this country.

How would you describe the two friendly matches against Congo

and Cameroon slated to be played in Belgium?

I am delighted that the football house is organizing high quality friendlies for the Super Eagles which will help the team. When you watch our game in Tanzania you will discover that the Super Eagles were not playing as a team because they have not actually played together. The two friendly matches is a welcome development because it is against quality opposition. Both countries are forces to be reckoned with in African football and playing it at Stade Van Roy in Belgium is a very good idea. I believe it will help us and am going to be there.

What is your message to the Super Eagles?

My message is that they should be united and play well to make the country happy. They should realize that when they are in the field of play, they are representing about 170 million Nigerians.

They should put aside their personal differences and take a cue from the supporters club which at 57 and older than Nigeria is one big and happy family. Though we came from different diverse cultures with different languages and religion but we are Nigerians and that is what Supporters Club preaches which we want the players to imbibe.

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MIRROR SPORT

OCTOBER 3, 2015

MirrorGolf

With Pius Anakali

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Ryder Cup

Woods may be vice captain

T

iger Woods has told USA skipper Davis Love that he could act as a vice-captain at next year’s Ryder Cup if he fails to make the team.

Love thinks that Woods will qualify automatically if he enjoys a good run of fitness but added that the former World No 1 has expressed his willingness to help the team in any way he can.

Fourteen-time major winner Woods has struggled with injuries over the last few years and announced earlier this month that he had undergone back surgery for the second time and would not be back in action until early 2016.

The 2016 Ryder Cup is at Hazeltine and, speaking at an event held a year ahead of the biennial match against Europe, Love said

City star, De Bruyne, expecting first child

K

evin De Bruyne has announced he is expecting his first child with girlfriend Michele Lacroix.

Just weeks after swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League in a £54million move, De Bruyne spoke of his delight at the news on Twitter on Monday evening.

He said: ‘I can’t wait for my little one to know how lucky he is to have this woman as his mother!!’

Lacroix revealed the sex of the baby with a message on Instagram: ‘One great man in my life, second on the way.’

De Bruyne’s long-term girlfriend has travelled to various sporting events to support the Belgian star, including the World Cup, in Brazil, last summer.

Manchester City’s record signing has hit the ground

running at the Etihad, netting in his last three matches in all competitions.

However, De Bruyne’s inclusion in the team has coincided with two defeats in their last two for City.

Despite the team’s poor form, De Bruyne has netted both of City’s goals in matches against West Ham and Tottenham.

Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs said he has now quadrupled his wage since leaving the German outfit.

Allofs admits it was impossible to keep hold of their star man following City’s big-money offer.

Speaking to Die Welt, he said: ‘We spent a long time weighing up all our options and trying to keep Kevin at Wolfsburg. But at some point, we reached the conclusion that it would be best to allow him to move.

De Bruyne is often described as one of the best modern day playmakers due to his wide range of passing and longrange shooting skills.

He began his career at Genk, where he was a regular player when they won the 2010–11 Belgian Pro League. In 2012 he joined English club Chelsea, where he was used sparingly and then loaned to Werder Bremen. He signed with Wolfsburg for £18 million in 2014, and in 2015 he was named Footballer of the Year in Germany. Later that year, he joined Manchester City for a club record £55 million.

De Bruyne made his full international debut in 2010, and earned over 30 caps for Belgium. He was part of the Belgian squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

he expects Woods to be involved in some capacity.

“I think Tiger, if he is healthy for the whole year, will be fine,” said Love. “If he is in and out, does not get to play a whole lot of tournaments, it will be tough for him to make the team.

“He was showing signs before the last surgery that he was playing well and he desperately wants to make the team, he does not want to be an assistant captain. He wants the uniform but he wants to play and he wants the bag.”

Regarding possible vice-captains, Love added: “Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, they have all said ‘we will do whatever it takes to help you’, and we have them on the list.

Woods

Molinari sent back to school

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ormer Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari will have to return to the European Tour qualifying school for the first time since 2008 after calling an early end to his season.

Molinari, who partnered his brother Francesco to World Cup victory for Italy in 2009 and in Europe’s win at Celtic Manor a year later, was due to play in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

However, the 34-year-old wrote on Twitter on Thursday: “Unfortunately I had to pull out from Dunhill Links and the remaining events for personal

reasons. My next tournament will now be Q-School.”

Molinari, who made three visits to the qualifying school before winning three tournaments to top the Challenge Tour rankings in 2009, is 154th on the Race to Dubai with only the top 110 retaining their cards at the end of the season.

The two-time European Tour winner, who came back from a serious wrist injury to finish 40th on the money list last season, has failed to record a top-10 finish in 2015 and is currently ranked 279th in the world. He was ranked a career-high 14th in October 2010

Clarke is EurAsia Cup captain

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arren Clarke and Jeev Milkha Singh have been announced as the team captains for January’s EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.

Clarke will have the opportunity to test his mettle as Europe captain ahead of next September’s Ryder Cup, and he will do so against a long-time friend in Asia captain Singh.

“We have known each other a very, very long time,” said the Northern Irishman. “We have played together on tour for most of our careers.”

The second staging of the event, following a 10-10 draw in 2014, will take place at Kuala Lumpur’s Glenmarie Golf and

Country Club from January 15 to 17.

Clarke added: “Both teams that are assembled will be desperate to win the EurAsia Cup for the first time - when we get to Kuala Lumpur Jeev will be trying to kick my butt and I will be trying to kick his. It’s going to be a great week - the guys are really looking forward to it already.”

Singh said: “It’s an honour to be offered the EurAsia Cup captaincy and I am very excited by the prospect of leading what I hope will be a very strong Asian team. It is a special event.

“I’m looking forward to going up against Darren - I’m going to have a lot of fun with him.”

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MIRROR SPORT

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Finalists emerge in VCN U-15 tourney

Ifeanyi Eduzor

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inalists have emerged in the second edition of the on-going VCN U-15 football tournament.

In an entertaining semi- final match decided at the Jalisco Play ground Oshodi, Fortune FA defeated Bora FA 5-4 penalties after their game ended 0-0 at regulation time while TAO FA recorded a 1-0 victory over Smart Strikers to book a ticket in the final.

Sponsor of the tournament, Victor Nwaribeaku of VCN Sports Limited told Saturday Mirror that the final which comes up on October 18th at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos is aimed at to discovering quality players in the mould of Austin Jay Jay

Okocha, Victor Agali, Taribo West, Adokiye Amiasiamaka, Segun Odegbami, Kanu Nwankwo, Christian Chukwu, Micheal Dominic, Bienda Alada and Victor Ikpeba amongst others.

Coordinator of the championship, Prince Adewale Atiba of Atico Global Concept while commending the teams for exhibiting good spirit of sportsmanship promised that the finals will be more entertaining.

Eventual winner of the grassroots football tourney will go home with a golden trophy, gold medals and N200,000 while the first and second runners- up would get N100, 000 and N50, 000 respectively beside prizes for the Most Valuable Player, Best behaved team, Best coach, Highest goal scorer and Best Goal keeper.

All Stars FC commiserates with Mbakwe

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embers of the All Stars Fc of Lagos; comprising of ex- internationals and former national team players has commiserated with the immediate past Vice President of the club, Chuks Mbakwe over the death of his wife, Sharon Ashiltiya Mbakwe (Nee Alahirah).

In a statement by the club signed by its President, Kingsley Anosike, the club regretted her death at a time when her services is mostly needed by both the club and the country.

The statement appealed to the widower to take solace with the fact that his late wife is resting on the bosom of the Lord even as it regretted that the vacuum she left behind will be very difficult to fill.

Late Sharon, a former handballer, died on August 23 after a brief illness and has since been buried at her husband’s country

C

hairman of Journalist estate Arepo, John Ajayi and his Voera Estate counterpart, Kehinde Adeyemo have revealed that residents of the estates decided to play an annual novelty match every October 1st to foster unity, love and harmony in the community.

They stated this after this year’s edition of the novelty match that ended in favour of Journalist Estate’s team noting that the two estates are friendly and see every resident as brothers.

“The game will continue to promote unity, love and fellowship in Arepo, where we have nothing less than 19 estates and when other estates see the way Voera and Journalist Estates

Training Tour:

NFF hails Argentine embassy as Eaglets depart

T Sharon

home, Ebi village, Isi- Achina, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

She is survived by two children, an aged mother, brothers, sisters and other relations and would be remembered for touching many lives and her social activities during her life time.

Arepo community gives reasons for independence game Dare Akogun

Golden Eaglets in a training session

come together, it will also inspire them to cooperate with us,” Ajayi stated.

The chairman of Voera Estate, Kehinde Adeyemo said as the host of the match, they always invite people from other estates but only Journalist Estate responds and they appreciate the oneness among the people of the two estates.

He pointed that the match is an opportunity for them to pass information about the issues that affect the community.

During half-time of the game, the issue of the bad state of roads in Arepo and the resident’s plans to rehabilitate it was discussed even as they hoped that Ogun State government will come to the aid of the community as it is one of the fastest growing community along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway axis.

he Nigeria Football Federation has praised officials of the Embassy of Argentina in Nigeria for the excellent service rendered for the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, ahead of the team’s training camp in that country.

“The Embassy of Argentina was very much co-operative.

They did very well to attend to our team within one week - a process we understand normally takes several weeks. We appreciate the Ambassador and other officials of the Embassy for their support,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sansui, said Meanwhile, reigning world champion Nigeria began the journey for the defence of their

FIFA U-17 World Cup title on Thursday, when Coach Emmanuel Amuneke led a delegation including 25 players out of Abuja for their pre-World Cup training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Golden Eaglets would spend about two weeks in Argentina where they hope to play a couple of friendly matches against their Argentine counterparts and U-20 teams of either Racing or Boca Juniors after which four players would eventually be dropped from the squad that would represent the country at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 to be held between October 17 and November 8.

Team captain Kelechi Nwakali tops the list along with nine

others who were all in the squad that secured the team’s ticket for the World Cup at the last Africa U-17 Nations Cup in Niger Republic including strikers Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ebere Osinachi, Kingsley Michael and Orji Okonkwo, defenders John Lazarus and Halilu Lukman and goalkeepers Udoh Akpan and Benjamin Amos.

Winger Taiwo Alimi and Chinedu Madueke, who missed out of the tournament in Niger Republic, are in the mix along with new lads like Ibe Tobechukwu, Ejike Ikwu, Tochukwu Okoli, Udochukwu Anumudu, Chiaha Chisom, Funsho Bamgboye, Yunusa Abdullahi, Agor Chukwudi, David Enogela, Michael Edidiong, Samuel Opeh, Joel Osikel and Gavi Thompson

NIS director rates institute high Ifeanyi Eduzor

D

irector of the National Institute For Sports, Dr. Chukwudi Kingdom Eke has described the institute charged with the sole responsibility of producing coaches in the country as world class even as he assured that efforts would be intensified towards maintaining its goal of producing quality coaches for the country.

He told Saturday Mirror that the school since its inception has produced quality coaches that have won laurels for the country; saying that his priority is to ensure that the school is repositioned to compare favourably with similar institutes in the world According to him, the management of the school is taking its elite athletes development

Yakmut

programme serious which necessitated the setting up of a committee to review its operation, promising that when the committee submits its report, a road map will be developed on how to make the programme more effective.

Eke while congratulating Team Nigeria for good performance at the just concluded All

Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut for their interest in sports development in the country even as he appealed for upgrade of sports facilities in the country.

“I am happy with what the President and the Director General of NSC are doing in sports development in the country which contributed to Team Nigeria’s performance at the All Africa Games. Although we did not come up tops but coming second calls for celebration.

“We were in Congo Brazzaville and saw the excellent facilities they put in place for the Games and I want Nigerian Government to emulate them and upgrade our facilities”, he concluded.

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Crime Watch

49

NDLEA declares own officers wanted A

Ex-lawmaker’s kin felled by gun men

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has declared two of its officials wanted for allegedly “working” with suspected drug traffickers.

The officers – Superintendent of Narcotics (SN) Daniel Goska and Chief Narcotic Agent (CNA) Ndubuisi Ughor – were said to have suddenly disappeared and kept away from duty after the arrest of some suspected drug traffickers.

Dayson-Eddie Ifeanyi Chukwu and three others were arrested during the period.

After over 21 days that the Agency didn’t see the men, it became worried.

But a preliminary investigation carried out on the drug suspect was said to have indicted the two fleeing officers, forcing the Agency to declare both of them wanted.

The agency had also immediately stopped the indicted officers’ salaries.

The NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said: “The Agency ordered the stoppage of salary of the two officers after they absconded from duty since August, 2015. The officers have been declared wanted following their sudden disappearance after a drug suspect was nabbed with 74.4kg of narcotics at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu.”

The Chairman of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, said the NDLEA believes in the rule of law and would treat anybody indicted under the law equally.

Giade further said: “The Agency has taken necessary steps by stopping the salaries of the officers and declaring them wanted. Winning the war against illicit drugs demands that while dislodging drug cartels; we must ensure that members of staff

Goska

comply with best practice at all times. Efforts are ongoing to charge the officers in line with the rules of engagement. The Agency is moving forward and will continue to purge itself of undesirable persons who are deficient in discipline and integrity.”

While stressing that the Agency has made remarkable progress both in drug control

Ughor

as well as respect for the rule of law and would resist any attempt to reverse the wheel of success, Giade added: “Preliminary investigation has indicted the officers for conspiracy, aiding and abetting. They absconded from duty following the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker, Chukwu and three others who are being held for unlawful exportation of 74.4kg of narcotic drug. The

officers were last seen on their duty on August 7, 2015.”

Giade said according to the NDLEA rules, absence from duty for 21 days was punishable by dismissal.

The Agency has called on members of the public with useful information about the whereabouts of the fleeing NDLEA officers to report to the nearest office of the Agency.

46-year-old man, Yinka Mamowora, has been shot dead while he was cutting his hair at a barbing salon near his house in Oshodi, Lagos.

An Ogun Polytechnic graduate and a relative of Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora, former Lagos East representative in the senate, the deceased popularly called Mamok was an aide of the treasurer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos chapter, Musiliu Akinsanya, otherwise known as MC Oluomo.

It was said that Mamok’s attackers numbered no less than seven, stormed Mosaku Street where he was cutting his hair at a barbing salon near his house on motorcycles, and fired shots at him on sighting him.

After killing Mamok, eyewitness said his assailants dragged his dead body out of the salon and laid it on the roof of his Honda car before they took flight.

Dozens of the deceased’s friends have meanwhile taken to his Facebook page to leave their condolences.

One Saliu Ere wrote: “R.I.P to my big bro Olayinka Mamowora.”

Three charged with robbing man at gun-point T hree unemployed men -Olawale Babalola, Oluwafemi Olawale and Akeem Mukaila -- were on Wednesday arraigned in Lagos on charges of robbing a man of his goods at gun-point.

Babalola, 22, Olawale, 27 and Mukaila, 23, whose addresses were not disclosed, are being tried for conspiracy and stealing at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde

Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 7 at Ibese, Owode, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Olatunde said that the accused conspired to rob one Mr Olarenwaju Oyedumade of his goods valued at N250,000.

He said that the accused unlawfully entered the complainant’s shop with guns, and threatened to shoot him if he refused to comply.

“The trio entered the complainant’s shop and pointed guns at him, threatened to kill him if he refused to cooperate.

“They carted away varieties of phones valued N250,000,” he said.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant sighted the accused in Ikorodu, after three months of the robbery.

The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 285, 297 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos

State, 2011.

The Section 297 prescribes a 20- year jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr O.A. Aka-Bashorun, adjourned the case till Nov. 11 for mention.

(NAN)

Police arrest 56 Boko Haram suspects in Kogi

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he Police in Lokoja, Kogi State have arrested 56 persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Ojukwu, made this known to newsmen in Lokoja on Tuesday.

Ojukwu said the suspects were arrested at the popular Boko Haram Junction at Angwa Tiv in Obajana village, a suburb of Lokoja.

He said the suspects were picked up from their various hideouts on September 19.

Ojukwu said the police action

was triggered by a gun attack on a police patrol vehicle in Obajana area by some of the suspects on September 4, adding that a police inspector was killed during the attack.

He said the junction had served as haven for criminal elements that had been killing

and maiming innocent people for years, disclosing that dangerous weapons and drugs were found in their possession.

The commissioner said that the suspects would be charged to court very soon.

Ojukwu also showed the corpse of a robbery suspect who was felled by police bullet at Odu

village in Dekina Local Government Area during a shoot-out.

The corpse was presented to the newsmen alongside other robbery suspects recently arrested at different locations in state.

The commissioner said his men were trailing other suspects that participated in the Odu village robbery operation.

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

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Man, 73, arrested over attempted rape of daughter Ojo Oyewamide Akure

A

73-year-old man, Agidi Omolola, has been arrested by detectives from Ondo state police command for attempting to have canal knowledge of his daughter. The incident occurred at Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Saturday Mirror learnt the sus-

pect invited the victim into his room and reportedly removed her underwear, attempting to defile her.

But an elder brother of the little girl caught their father in the process and quickly raised the alarm.

The case was immediately reported at the Ijare Police Station where a team of detectives was mobilised to the scene.

The suspect was moved to the station where he was interrogated and

Vigilance group kills kidnap suspect T

wo kidnap suspects were intercepted by members of a vigilance group in Kogi State, who killed one of them and arrested his colleague.

The Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Thursday in Lokoja, said the suspects met their waterloo while escaping with their victim, Mary Ocheje.

Ojukwu said that on September 16 at about 8pm, the suspects forced their way into Ocheje’s residence at Owele area in Ankpa, blindfolded and took her away in her Honda car.

He added: “While escaping, the car developed fault.

“The suspects abandoned the car and snatched a motorcycle from its owner.

“But unfortunately for them, the owner of the motorcycle alerted his fellow villagers through his mobile phone that he had been robbed of his motorcycle.”

Ojukwu said the youths of the village, Imere in Igalamela Local Government Area, had gathered to discuss the incident when the suspects and their victim suddenly appeared.

He said the youths, who were mostly members of the village vigilance group, pounced on the suspects and beat them up.

The commissioner said one of the suspects, Ibrahim Yakubu, died in the process, while his accomplice, Wada Mustapha, was arrested.

He said the villagers later called in the police who took charge of the situation.

Their victim, Ocheje, described her encounter as “shocking”.

She said the suspects from their conversation knew her, her husband and

other members of her family.

Ocheje, who claimed to be the Chief Agricultural Officer in Ankpa Local Government Council, said the suspects collected five mobile phones, including her own, before kidnapping her.

She said her abductors made her to walk bare footed over 20 kilometres when the car developed fault before they decided to snatch the motorcycle.

The surviving suspect, Mustapha, who said he was lured into the operation, told the police that two other members of their gang were on the run.

He said his junior sister and one of Ocheje’s children were classmate.

The Commissioner promised that the other members of the gang would be arrested and charged to court.

subsequently detained.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident, disclosing that the victim’s brother identified as Muyiwa was the one who saw the suspect while he was about defiling the innocent girl.

Ogodo said the suspect quickly rushed inside the house and drank a substance suspected to be poison before the arrival of police.

He explained that the suspect was writhing in pains when he got to the police station and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital, having taken a poisonous substance.

The police spokesman described the incident as unfortunate, advising parents and guardians to take care of their children.

He warned randy men in the state to be careful or be ready to face full wrath of the law.

Ojukwu

Court remands 18-year-old for allegedly escaping from police custody

A

n Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday remanded in prison an 18-year-old, Sunday Akpan, who allegedly escaped from police custody with handcuffs while being transported to the court.

Sunday, who resides at Agboye Estate, Oduntan Street in Ketu area of Lagos, is facing a four-count charge bordering on escape from lawful custody and assault.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, ordered that the accused should be kept behind bars until the next date of adjournment.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie told the court that the accused had on Sept. 12 at about 8.30 a.m., knowing full well that he had been charged to court, escaped with hand-

cuffs from lawful custody. ``Sunday and the Investigating Police Officer were in a taxi on Akilo Road on their way to Ikeja Magistrates’ Court when he committed the offence. ``He pushed the police woman and jumped out of the moving vehicle to an unknown destination,’’ the prosecutor said.

Ihiehie said all efforts to locate him that day proved abortive until the next day when the brother of the accused came to the police station to see him. ``When the police told Emmanuel Akpan, the brother of the accused that Sunday had escaped from custody, he burst into tears. ``After interrogation, Emmanuel

finally confessed and disclosed the hideout of the accused which led to his re-arrest.’’

The prosecutor said the accused had previously been charged to court for assault. ``On Sept. 7, the accused with another man still at large, assaulted one Mr Alex Alumona of Agboye Estate. ``Sunday hit the victim with a plank on the head and he fainted,’’ Ihiehie said.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 106(a), 106(b), 170 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 106(a) stipulates the highest punishment of seven years imprisonment for escape from lawful custody.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Police arrest woman for selling own baby for N100,000 in Enugu Emmanuel Ezeh Enugu

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he Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Enugu State Command, has arrested a young woman, identified as Nchechi Isioko, from Mpu in Aninri Local Government Area of the State for allegedly attempting to sell her baby for one hundred thousand Naira (N100, 000).

Nkechi was yesterday paraded alongside some prostitutes and pipeline vandals.

It was gathered that the suspect had collected the sum of N100, 000 from one Mrs. Blessing Egbo before operatives of the NSCDC arrested her and the suspected buyer.

She claimed that Mrs. Egbo initially gave her part payment of N10, 000 naira, and later completed the money.

She further confessed that she later gave back the N100, 000 to Mrs Egbo after she was advised not to sell her own baby, adding that she wanted to sell the baby because she needed money to treat herself.

Speaking while parading the suspects, the commandant of NSCDC in Enugu State, Mr. Lar Stephen Zwali, warned pipeline

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Crime Watch

vandals to look for another business, saying his command had intensified surveillance.

He disclosed that the suspects were caught at Nenwe in Animri Local Government in the night while they were vandalising the pipelines.

The NCSDC Commandant further told journalists that though the NNPC repaired the pipelines before it commenced pumping of petroleum products to its depot in Enugu, his command had informed the corporation of the development.

He further advised human traffickers and prostitutes to find another business, warning that his command was committed to stopping their illegal business.

The Chairman of the Committee on Child Adoption and fostering in Enugu state and Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Enugu state Province, Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, who also spoke to reporters warned that the state would no longer be conducive for human traffickers and prostitutes.

He stated that the state governor, ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had directed them to stop prostitution and illegal sale and adoption of babies.

Three nursing students to face rape charges ... for serially defiling 6-year-old girl

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hree students of School of Nursing, Benin, have been accused of raping a 6-year-old girl whose mother runs a shop in their school campus.

The suspects, Kenneth Egbai, Paul Aghama and Jeffery were accused of sexually assaulting Miss Sharon Eghobamien, a 6-year-old pupil of Eriya Group of Schools, Ihogbe, Benin-City, Edo State.

The sexual assaults according to Mrs. Rachel Eghobamien, the victim’s mother was found out on May 25, 2015 following the girl’s frequent complaints of abdominal pain and constant urinating and defecating.

Mrs. Eghobamien reportedly pressed her daughter to reveal information about any man who was molesting her. The little girl was said to have told her mother that each time she was playing in the shop while her mum was away, Kenneth Egbai, Paul Aghama and Jeffery would lure her to

Sharon

their hostel to rape her.

The victim’s mother reported the alleged sexual assault to the police at Esigie Police Station, and subsequently the three nursing students were arrested.

It was said that medical examination conducted on the victim at Central Hospital Benin revealed that her hymen has been

broken following penetration.

However, the suspects who were released way back and have not been charged with rape were said to have petitioned higher police authority in the state alleging that Sharon used a foreign object to break her hymen, and they had no sexual contacts with her.

Boy, 2, abducted by mother’s apprentice

Fake property agent in court over stealing

•Mother agonises, begs police to recover son

A

F

n Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Wednesday granted N100,000 bail to Fatai Yusuf, 48, charged with fraudulently obtaining N150,000 from a widow.

Yusuf, who resides at No. 4, Adetayo St., Ketu in Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of fraudulently obtaining money on false pretence and stealing preferred against him..

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat granted the accused bail with two reliable sureties in like sum.

As part of her bail conditions, she said the sureties must be gainfully employed and their addresses must be verified by the court.

Sule-Amzat then adjourned the matter to Oct. 13.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie had told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 28, at Ojota in Lagos.

He said that the complainant, Mukaila Medinat, a civil servant, had approached the accused, after the death of her

husband, to help her secure an accommodation. ``She met the accused, who introduced himself as an agent for the owner of a ‘property for let’, and told him she needed an apartment at Alapere. ``Sometime in March, she gave him N250, 000, being a deposit on the amount the accused had asked for the apartment.’’

Ihiehie said that after the complainant gave the accused the money, he failed to provide her the apartment.

He said after series of phone calls from the complainant to return her money, the accused then returned N100, 000 to her.

“The remaining N150, 000 has not been returned and anytime the complainant demanded for her money, the accused threatens her,’’ the prosecutor said.

Ihiehie said that the widow was now in a dilemma as the landlord of her present accommodation had issued her a quit notice.

He said that the offences committed contravened sections 312 and 285 of The Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Patience Ogbo ustina Ogar, mother of a two year old boy simply identified as David has appealed to Nigerians to help her track the whereabouts of her baby after he was alleged kidnapped at the Ajegunle area of Lagos state.

She has appealed to Nigerians and the police to help her find her son.

Fustina Ogar, the mother of the abducted boy, a fashion designer, said her new apprentice identified simply as Ayomide allegedly kidnapped her son from her shop at on September 17th three days after she came to work for her.

It was gathered that the kidnap was initially reported at the Tolu police station at Ajegunle but was later transferred to SARS Ikeja.

Miss Ogar, while narrating how her son was abducted, said, “It was one Sunday Egeabor, a well known family friend that brought Ayomide to me as an apprentice. He said he knew Ayomide at his former office at Apapa about two years ago.

He said Ayomide was a cleaner in the company but they lost contact.

“He said he met Ayomide at Ajegunle and she pleaded with him that he should help him get a

David

fashion designer shop where she can learn. Ayomide paid N25, 000 and promised to bring her photograph and other things.

“That fateful day, Ayomide came to the house in the morning so I told her to take my son to the shop while I wash clothes at home. I never suspected any foul play because this is not the first time I will be giving my apprentices the opportunity to cater for my children.

“My older son ran home to inform me that he went to the shop but could not find Ayomide or my son. I called Ayomide on her mobile number and she answered me that she was on her

way to the shop. After a while, I called her if she had gotten to the shop but her number was switched off. I ran to the shop but Ayomide and my son were not in the shop. I asked around and my neighbors said they had not seen them. I became worried and called Ayomide’s number repeatedly but the number did not go through as she had switched off her phone.

“I went to report to the Tolu police station at Ajegunle but nothing came out of it. The case was transferred to SARS. The police arrested Mr. Egeabor but he said he does not know where Ayomide lives or her family members. He is in SARS custody helping to track Ayomide.”

Asked who else could possibly want to kidnapped her son, the mother said, “I cannot remember fighting or quarreling with anybody that they will turn round to hurt me by kidnapping my son. I am devastated because my trust for people led to my son’s kidnap.”

The Lagos State police spokesperson DSP Joe Offor when contacted, said it is too early to comment on the kidnap.

“I don’t want to talk about this kidnap because we are investigating. We do not want to jeopardize the life of the boy and if this gets out, the girl can escape,” he said.

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OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Investment Profiles with Godwin Uba ubagodwin@yahoo.com 08034494437

Instant fortune from Instant Noodles I nstant noodles have more or less become a staple in Nigeria, especially among children. It can be prepared in just a few minutes. The high food demand, due principally to the increasing population and urbanisation, the severe shortage of time on the part of bachelors, spinsters and working mothers, the general change in feeding habits and increasing westernisation have combined to make the eating of instant noodles very popular.

Instant noodles have repeat sales tendency and the transportation cost per Naira value of the product is low. So apart from producing to satisfy local demand, one can embark on export to earn scarce foreign exchange. Currently in Nigeria, we are aware of only one or two producers. So there is more than enough room for new entrants into this line of business.

RAW MATERIALS The major raw material is wheat powder having ash content of between 0.5 and 0.4%. Others are carbonic salt, common salt and lard (oil). Carbonic salt water gives the noodles special stickiness, elasticity, smoothness and taste, while lard is for frying. Common slat helps make the noodles homogeneous, regulates the stickiness and adds salty taste.

Other flavouring or seasoning additives include onion powder, MSG, Hydrolysed vegetable protein (preferably soybean-based), chilli powder, phosphoric acid, salt, starch powder, etc. The noodles can be fortified by adding industry-approved quantities of such vitamins as B and D. The flavourings (called soup) are usually packed separately in small cellophane before being enclosed in the packaged fried noodles.

For packing, one needs poly-cellophane (300 mm x 190 mm), carton boxes (which may contain about 30 pieces) and packing tape. One can see that virtually all the raw materials needed can be obtained locally. The rest can be imported.

EQUIPMENT The machinery and equipment needed are: Noodle making machine Measuring and cutting equipment Fryer Cooling equipment Accessories- steam boiler, edible and heavy oil tanks, kneader base, chimney and furnace materials.

they are packaged in polycellopahne bags measuring 300cm x 190cm before being packed in carton boxes containing 30 packs of noodles. The cartons are cello taped and the instant noodles are ready for the market after they have been inspected for form, quality, colour and weight.

The first four items will be imported and come in one block. Utilities like electricity (35kwh), heavy oil (40kg) and steam (200kg) are needed. A standby generator of appropriate capacity is a must to ensure adequate power supply.

PRODUCTION PROCESS Nine distinct processes are involved in the production of noodles and these are briefly described below. Wheat powder and additives are dissolved in carbonic

chine, the noodles curl and are now put in cases in order to prevent deformation during frying. The cased noodles are fried. This process eliminates moisture, secures a permanent form for the noodles and promotes the process of alphanisation. This takes 1 to 1.5 minutes at a temperature of 140oC-150oC. The fried noodles are then cooled with air in order to solidify the lard (oil) used in frying, which has now fixed on the surface of the strip noodles. After this,

This project is highly recommended to serious industrialists as it will attract financing from industrial development banks because of its profitability, innovativeness, value added advantages, future prospects and overall effects in the development of the economy salt solution for about 10 to 15 minutes making sure that the quantity of water and salt is such that the required viscosity is maintained, as this is influenced by atmospheric temperature.

The noodles are now cut and the weight calculated, bearing in mind dough thickness, weight and the conditions under which the dough was made. The cut-measured noodles are now steamed. During this process, the protein in the dough changes to alpha-protein because of heat.

This makes the dough strips stickier and smoother in just one minute and under the steam pressure of 1.5-2.5kg/cm.

On getting out of the measure cut ma-

LABOUR The total number of people needed to run one shift of production is 18 and includes workers of various skills. Being a food processing business, the investor should ensure proper hygiene and adequate recruitment and training of the relevant skilled line staff.

IMPLEMENTATION Implementing this project will take the following steps: Commissioning the preparation of a comprehensive feasibility study Acquisition and development of the project site Erection of the factory and buildings Sourcing for funds Purchasing project vehicles Recruiting and training relevant staff Purchasing and installing the machinery, equipment and necessary utilities Test running and commissioning of the factory for commercial operation.

Food processing is the industry of the future, particularly in a country where the relevant industrial raw materials are abundant. This project is highly recommended to serious industrialists as it will attract financing from industrial development banks because of its profitability, innovativeness, value added advantages, future prospects and overall effects in the development of the economy.

PROJECT COST It is estimated that the sum of N38 million will be adequate to set up the project.

This comprises

Pre-investment expenses

750

Land and buildings 9,900 Machinery and equipment 13,482 Utilities (transformer, vehicles, generators etc) 7,250 Working capital 3,500 Contingency 2,388 Total

37, 270

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Igbo community in Kano loses traditional ruler

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digbo community in Kano has lost to death its traditional ruler in Kano, Igwe John Chiejina Nnaji, Eze dioranma 1V. The unfortunate was formally announced by the Igbo Community Association leadership in Kano yesterday.

In a press statement, jointly signed by the president of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Kano, Chief Chris Chukwubuzor Azuka and the Secretary, Chief Damian Obisike, on behalf of the Kano State Chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Igbo community, the body regrets to announce the passing away of the traditional ruler in Kano.

Among other things, the statement recalled how Nnaji emerged as the fourth traditional ruler of Ndigbo in the ancient city of Kano after he successfully scaled through rigorous selection processes to succeed the late Igwe Barrister O. T. Nnadi, the Ezedioranma the third.

The late Nnaji, according to the state-

ment was formally presented to the public as the traditional head of Ndigbo by the Igbo community at the popular Ado Bayero Square in Sabon Gari, predominantly occupied by the non-indigenous community on August 15, 2009, but was officially crowned on November 30, 2009 at same venue.

Until his demise, the late Onyendu Ndigbo was a silent operator, as well as a humble diplomat, who spent the past six years engaged in promoting peace, unity and progress of the Igbo Community in Kano State.

In addition, according to the statement, he promoted friendship and co-operation between Ndigbo and other communities in the state. While mourning his sad exit, Ndigbo leadership called on all Igbo in Kano to remain calm and to continue to promote peace, unity and welfare of the Igbo community in line with the aspirations of the late traditional leader, Igwe J.C Nnaji.

SOUTH EAST

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NSCDC invades ‘baby factory’ hotels in Enugu Emmanuel Eze Enugu

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Enugu state command yesterday paraded six girls whose ages range from 15 to 24, and who were recovered from two different brothels.

The girls were also paraded with proprietors of the brothels; Chief George Obike, owner of Star Palace Hotel located at No. 4 Mission Avenue, Coal Camp Enugu and Azubuike Aneke, owner of Zubynet Hotel, 26 Okpara Avenue Enugu, who were alleged to be engaged in the illicit business.

The arrests were made through the combined ef-

forts of NSCDC and the Enugu State Child Fostering and Adoption Committee headed by Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Enugu State Province.

The girls are: Esther Ani (23) SS2 student from Agbani, Enugu State; Ifeoma Agbo (21) JS3 student from Ezzamgbo Ebonyi State; Lovett Mbamalu (18) SS2 student from Ifitedunu Anambra State, Ogbu; Gloria (15) SS3 student from Effium, Ebonyi State; Chinaza Okoye (18) SS3 student from Agulu, Anambra state, and Aku Udeze Favour (24) SS3 student from Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State.

The girls, who are mostly school drop outs, were alleged to have been kept in the brothels where men pay N1000 per night to sleep

with them in order to impregnate them.

Subsequently, they were allegedly held until they put to bed before they were released after their babies were sold.

The girls, who spoke to our correspondent, however, noted that they were in the brothels for prostitution only.

The proprietors of the brothels, Obika and Aneke, however denied that they were engaged in ‘baby factory’ business, insisting that they run the brothels as prostitution ring where girls pay N100 per night for lodging.

The NSCDC also paraded a woman identified as Nchechi Isioko from Mpu in Anirmri Local Government Area of Enugu for allegedly attempting to sell her baby for One Hundred

Thousand Naira (N100, 000).

She was said to have concluded plans to sell the baby to one Mrs. Blessing Egbo for N100,000 before operatives of NSCDC got information, and arrested her and the suspected buyer.

The NSCDC similarly paraded pipeline vandals at the headquarters of the NSCDC in Enugu yesterday.

Speaking while parading the suspects, the commandant of NSCDC in Enugu State, Mr. Lar Stephen Zwali, warned pipeline vandals to look for another business, saying his command has intensified surveillance.

He averred that the suspects were caught at Nenwe in Animri Local Government in the night while they were vandalising the pipelines.

Parties urge Obiano to begin process for LG elections

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bout ten political parties operating in Anambra State have called on Governor Willie Obiano to begin the process for the conduct of the local government elections without further delay. Their argument is based on the fact that it would not be proper to create a vacuum as the tenure of the incumbent council officials would expire in January next year.

In a statement issued by chairmen of the political parties in the state, they observed that the delay in releasing the time table for the conduct of the local government elections by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), was not a healthy development.

The Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Com-

rade Luke Ezeanokwasa, and chairman of Peoples Democratic Congress (PDC), Prince Isaac Onuka, who addressed journalists in Awka on behalf of the parties, recalled that the last local government election was conducted after 11 years of pressure mounted on the various administrations in the state, insisting that the people at the grass root level would not want to experience such abnomality again.

Other chairmen of political parties that signed the statement include Paul Asika of ADC, Kaje Igwah of UPN, Kate Okafor of ACD, Mathias Amaeke of PPA, Aeron Igweze of AD, Bath Igwedibia of Accord Party, Samuel Anidike of NAPPP, Edward Okoye of FDP and Patrick Dim of DPC.

Faces at the sharing of Our Daily Manna (ODM), to commensurate the Nigeria Independence Day which was tagged One Nigeria, One ODM.

Customs impounds drugs, furniture worth N226m

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he Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri has recorded various seizures comprising a truck with 843 cartons of fake drugs, and another truck containing furniture and furniture components with a Duty Paid Value of #226,380.000.00 According to the unit, 843 cartons of imported fake drugs are: 696 cartons of fake imported Lubumol and 153 cartons of tramodol analgesics amounting to a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N163,260,000.00 The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit,

Comptroller Dimka Victor David, who disclosed this to newsmen at the premises of the NCS, Imo-Abia Command in Owerri, where he showcased the exhibits, said that they were confiscated on the Eleme/Aba road on September 22 this year.

He said that the eagle-eyed men of the unit, who have traditionally kept vigil on the nefarious activities of die-hard smugglers, also seized 303 cartons of glass dining table, 1,936 pieces of side stools with a DPV of N63, 120,000 on the same axis, warning that the Nigeria Customs Service

would never rest on its oars until smugglers and their collaborators are flushed out from their hideouts in all nooks and crannies of the country.

“We are worried at the upsurge of smuggling in this country despite obvious shift penalties for culprits. The NCS is not sleeping and will ever remain awake to its responsibilities and the persistent cases of smuggling shows how terrible, greedy and deviant people can be, and since the smugglers have learn to fly without perching, we (the NCS) have also learn to shoot without missing,” he

cautioned.

Dimka, who subsequently handed the fake drugs to the Director General of the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Ahmed Ali (Rtd.) to the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, through the Imo State Coordinator, Mr. Mmamel Victor, for in-depth investigation and final action, said that the driver of the truck conveying the offensive drug had been arrested, and is being investigated.

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Pauker’s aide, supporters defect to APC

Osahon Julius YENAGOA

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s the gale of defection continues to hit Bayelsa State, the Special Assistant on domestic matters to Senator Emmanuel Pauker, member representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Hon. Osomikime Blankson, has urged Bayelsans to sack the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state, calling for massive votes and support to the All Progressive Congress(APC) in the forth coming gubernatorial elections in the state.

Blankson, who spoke at the APC party secretariat in Yenagoa, on Friday when he led over 1000 of his supporters to the leadership of the party in the state, said the reasons they finally left the party was because the party lacks internal democracy.

He described the PDP as a party full of expired politicians, who can’t win elections even at their ward unit, adding that the leadership of the party in the state has battered the people with lies, deceit, empty promises and under development of the people and state.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the manner of the leadership of the PDP in the state, adding that because of the role of his boss in the party, some of them have been witch hunted and expelled from the party for no genuine reason.

The youth leader stated that the same thing happened to the flag bearer of the APC for the forth-coming gubernatorial election, Chief Timipre Sylva, when he was still a member of the party, but he left to another party and he’s now on a mission to reclaim his stolen mandate, noting that democracy has come to stay in the state and any attempt by politicians to frustrate others will not be condoled any more.

“Sylva’s ordeal was his stolen mandate, we supported him even while he was in the PDP, some of the reason why some of us do not have a face in the state is because we were with him, and Thank God he has emerged as the APC flag bearer to get his stolen mandate back. It is important to support and stand by him to achieve his

SOUTH SOUTH

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Okowa mourns Onosode, describes him as gift to Delta, Nigeria Osahon Julius YENAGOA

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elta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has described the late industrialist and boardroom guru, Deacon Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode, as a gift to Delta State and Nigeria as a country.

He stated this on Friday when he paid a condolence visit to the Onosode family at their Surulere residence in Lagos. Okowa, who poured

encomiums on the man popularly called Mr. Integrity, admonished the widow, Mrs. Susan Onosode and other members of the family not to weep for too long, but to give thanks and praises to God for giving such a wonderful person to the family, Delta State and the country.

“The event of the passing of our beloved daddy, no doubt is painful, but I would advise that this is not the time to cry, but a time to give praises and

thanks to God for giving us somebody like him.

“His name will continue to resonate in the mind of all Nigerians as a man of integrity. The corporate world will continue to remember him, and he lived his life to the glory of God. He is a vessel of honour, and we are all proud of him. So we thank God for his life and for giving him to us,” Okowa said.

In his response to the family’s request for an enabling environment

when the events for the funeral rites will begin later in October, assured that the state will not only provide adequate security, but also be part of the funeral activities.

Earlier, Okowa had signed the condolence register where he wrote: “Our Daddy, an accomplished technocrat, man of integrity, and a gift to Delta and Nigeria. He was a vessel of honour to us all in Delta State.

Adieu, our good father.”

Delta State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa with Mrs Susan Onosode, widow of the late industrialist and technocratic, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode when the Governor paid a condolence visit to the family house in Surulere, Lagos...Friday.

NUT shuns C’River NLC, TUC strike Richard Ndoma CALABAR

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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Cross River State branch, yesterday said it would not join the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (NLC/TUC) in the state for obvious reasons.

Speaking in a symposium organised by NUT in collaboration with Bloom Consulting in Calabar, Chairman of the state NUT, Mr. Eyo Nsa-Etim,

who also doubles as the Vice Chairman for the state NLC, pointed out that the teachers union was not invited for the meeting when the decision to call members of the NLC and the TUC out for strike on October 2, a situation which would cripple the state’s work force. ``For now, we are totally not involved in the strike. We have some programmes at hand, and if we join them in the strike now, we cannot celebrate our world teachers’ day coming up on October 5.

``Also, the state government is trying to solve labour problems in the state. We believe that the state government ought to have been given a little time to respond to the issues raised by NLC and TUC. ``We may join along the way, but I think the present government is still new and deserves some time to put things in order. ``Their reasons for the strike is that government had failed to pay promotion arrears, no promotion of civil servants, no release of deductions from salaries, no funding of ministries, department and agencies among others,’’ he said.

Nsa-Etim maintained

that the organised labour decided to embark on strike without informing the NUT in the state. ``We cannot take part in what we did not originate. NLC and TUC would have given the government a little time before embarking on strike,’’ he said.

According to him, the backlogs of arrears been demanded were incurred by the previous administration in the state.

Saturday Mirror gathered that the symposium was organised to celebrate teachers for their roles in molding the character and development of children

Kidnapped AAU professor found in shallow grave Eric Elezuo

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he Edo State Police Command has arrested five persons in connection with the kidnap and murder of Professor Paul Erie, who went missing in June 2015. Late Erie, a professor of Agricultural Economics at the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpom,a Edo State, was reportedly kidnapped on June 16, and was never found until Thursday (Independence Day), when some of the apprehended criminals took the Police to Igbanke village, where a shallow grave in the forest yielded the remains of the professor.

According to a press release by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Stephen Onwochei, there were eight kidnappers, but three are still on the run. The statement gave the names of the arrested hoodlums as Awulu Samson, Lucky Owuadegbe, Jeremiah Amayo, Chucks Edobor and Stephen Usiagwu.

The statement also revealed how the Police had to relocate to Igbanke village after unsuccessfully trying to unravel the case when the crime was initially committed, on the orders of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Chris O. Ezike.

The team subsequently arrested the five kidnappers finally between 15th and 25th of September, a development which yielded results.

The Edo CP used the medium to convey condolences to the family of the professor, as well as the management of AAU, Ekpoma. He also assured the general public that the police will continue to ensure the safety of citizens in the state.

As at the time of filing this report, the police was already carrying out forensic analysis on the exhumed body of the

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OCTOBER 3, 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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55

Russia launches 18 attacks in Syria

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ussian jets have launched 18 attacks inside Syria over the last 24 hours, according to the country’s official news agency, despite international concern about the military campaign.

The Tass news agency reported Friday that Rus-

sia had “conducted 18 sorties against 12 facilities of the Islamic State terrorist group,” quoting Igor Konashenkov, the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.

But international officials and some people inside Syria doubt that Russia is limiting its attacks

to ISIS. Friday marks the third day Russia has carried out airstrikes in Syria.

An international coalition is urging Russia to immediately cease attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians and focus instead on fighting the ISIS terrorist group.

The joint statement adds new emphasis to global concern about Russia’s true aims in Syria -- and whether it is concerned primarily with attacking ISIS or with propping up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and protecting its military base in Syria.

Taylor Swift donates $50,000 to cancer baby T oshi Davidson was a backup dancer for Taylor Swift’s 1989 tour, but the superstar recently showed that she was the one who had his back.

The singer donated $50,000 for treatment for Davidson’s 13-month-old nephew, Ayden, who was diagnosed with cancer.

Davidson posted on social media about the tot’s condition: “They are still running tests to find out the stage and how far it has spread.” A GoFundMe page offered additional info.

“He was just diagnosed with cancer yesterday after being in the ICU for over 2 weeks,” the page said. “At first, doctors be-

lieved he had pneumonia after they found fluid in his lungs.”

The goal was set at $20,000, and Swift logged on to offer her donation.

“Baby Ayden, I’m lucky enough to perform with your uncle Toshi on tour,” the singer said in the comments with her donation.

“All of us are praying for you and your mama and sending so much love your way. Love, Taylor.”

Davidson expressed his appreciation on Instagram, saying Swift was “an angel and my family and I can’t thank her enough.”

“She is such an incredible human being,” he wrote. “This will help Lil Toshi in this time of need.”

Swift

been carried out during a parade in Melbourne on Anzac Day -- a national holiday honoring the country’s war dead -- in April this year.

The boy, who admitted directing the jihadist plot and encouraging others to take part, was just 14 when he planned the brutal slaying. He cannot be identified because he is a minor.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, head of England’s North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said the boy’s role was “quite shocking,” consid-

ering he was “extremely young.”

“I think it shows that the ideology, if you’re open to it, it takes no prisoners ... there are certain people who fall into the seductive propaganda of some of the ISIL stuff that’s pumped out on social media.

“He’s been caught up in that, he’s explored it and he’s escalated into an attack plan, and a credible one, which is an extremely dangerous thing to do.”

According to authorities, the attack was to have

“We express our deep concern with regard to the Russian military build-up in Syria and especially the attacks by the Russian Air Force on Hama, Homs and Idlib since yesterday which led to civilian casualties and did not target Da’esh,” said the statement, jointly issued late Thursday by the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, Germany, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Da’esh is another name for ISIS. “These military actions constitute a further escalation and will only fuel more extremism and radicalization,” said the statement, which was on the website of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Russia said Friday that it did not carry out any strikes against civilians in Syria.

“I would like to stress that there were no strikes against civilian infrastructure, especially against buildings where there could have been or were peaceful residents,” Igor Konashenkov, the Defense Ministry spokesman, told reporters in Moscow.

Russian warplanes carried out two airstrikes Thursday targeting the training camp in Idlib of a Syrian rebel group sup-

ported by the CIA, a rebel commander told CNN. “Our training camp is located in Jabel al Zawia in Idlib, and we have been receiving military support from America to help fight Daesh in Aleppo and Idlib,” said Hassna Haj Ali, the commander of the northern division of Suqur al Jabal brigade.

The group has been fighting ISIS in northern Syria for over a year.

Ali said no one was killed by the Russian airstrikes.

However, Syrian activist Khdaier Khushfa in Homs told CNN via Skype that 17 civilians had been killed in Talbiseh and 11 others in Zafaraniya by the Russian airstrikes Wednesday, and 46 people had been critically wounded.

“We are very concerned of what will happen next.

Civilians I spoke to are very scared,” Khushfa said. “It’s like after five years since the revolution started, we are back to ground zero.”

Senior defense officials from Israel and Russia are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Tel Aviv to address the coordination between the two militaries in the region, the Israel Defense Forces said Thursday.

Next week’s meetings will be part of a two-day visit by a Russian military delegation, according to the IDF.

on charges of conspiring to commit a terrorist act; he has not yet entered a plea.

Alerted by their counterparts in the UK, Australian police closed in and found “the knife, the flag, and the martyrdom ... script,” Mole said.

The boy, who is now 15, was known to have behavioural problems, but his parents, who are divorced, are said to have had no idea their son had been radicalized until police became involved.

The British-born teen-

ager had managed to convince 18-year-old Besim that he was much older and had a history of radicalism, testing the Australian’s religious knowledge and determination to carry out an attack.

“He’s put himself in the space of authority and Besim has accepted that,” said Mole. “That’s the mask of social media -you can, if you [behave] in the right way, ask the right questions, you can show yourself to be that sort of mature person that Besim was ... looking for to give him some guidance.”

Terror mastermind, 15, jailed for life

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police officer beheaded in broad daylight on one of the most solemn days of the year, as thousands of people gathered to pay tribute to the sacrifice of soldiers in past wars.

It’s a grisly crime that -- if carried out -- would have shocked Australia to its core. And it was plotted by a schoolboy on the other side of the world.

Britain’s youngest terror mastermind has been jailed for life for orchestrating the beheading, which was to have

been carried out in person by his co-conspirator, Sevdet Besim, from Melbourne; the pair had set out the details of the deadly outrage in thousands of messages sent using an encrypted app.

But the plan was foiled, police say, when they were called in after the teenager threatened to behead teachers at his school in northern England, prompting counterterrorism experts to crack the encryption code on his smartphone. Besim awaits trial in Australia

Quote of the day “Some state governments are already diverting the bailout fund approved by the Federal Government to pay workers salaries.”.

— NUT General Secretary, Ikpe Obong.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2015. www.nationnationalmirroronline.net

BACK PAGE

SURE-P: A mission to mars!

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n 2013, the total amount of money paid into the account of the last administration’s SURE-P was 2.5 billion dollars. Note that the payment was made directly by Nigerians and not from proceeds of sales of oil as many erroneously believe.

Rather, oil was used to make money from the pockets of Nigerians. This money was paid by every Nigerian.

Once you buy petrol in any petrol station, a certain amount of money will be deducted from your purchase price and the money will be given to SURE P. How many Nigerians know this?

The total amount collected from Nigerians and remitted to SURE P in this manner was 500 billion naira at the exchange rate of one dollar to two hundred naira. Out of the said amount, the Board of Directors of SURE P spent one billion naira for their board allowances and travelling expenses. SURE P was forced on Nigerians with the aim, according to government, of providing infrastructure in the form of good roads, intervention in health and educational facilities for the people, if the goals and mission of 2020 millennium were to be achieved.

Nigerians cried that they did not need SURE P, and for five days, they went into all forms of demonstrations. Their frustration came from the concern that they could not trust the government with their money and that they were better off as they were at that time without SURE P. Rather than using the referent leadership model, the Jonathan government opted for the coercive style and simply told the people that there was no negotiation!

Government made it clear that Nigerians just had to provide the money that was the source of income of the almighty SURE P. The Jonathan administration simply displayed, in clear terms, what the famous professor of strategy, Peter Drucker, described succinctly in the following terms: “There is nothing as useless as doing effectively that which should not be

CFR

The establishment of extra government departments is totally unnecessary if we trust the main departments of government. What is the work of the Federal Ministry of Works if we have to fund FERMA to do their job? done at all.”

I say this because it was simply useless to have established SURE P. Jonathan’s government displayed hyperbolic aggression against the people that voted her into power by simply doing effectively that which it ought not to have done at all.

SURE P did not have professional skilled people to manage it. From the context of programme design, there was no entry strategy, preparation, risk mitigation, stakeholders’ engagement and financial management. The complexity of managing such a programme was consumed in the paradox of its reality. The government did not listen to the people that elected her to office. Political legitimacy was totally irrelevant to it. The people had no option than to wait and exercise the power of the rule of the people at the appropriate time, which they did by voting out that government at the last elections.

Only in a country like Nigeria could a programme of such magnitude be established without moral and legal legitimacy from the people. This predictive behaviour of the Jonathan government was not far from a mission to Mars!

In terms of outcomes, SURE P was not only inefficient but also ineffective. The funds expended on the programme were a colossal waste, and like many of Jonathan’s government’s projects, it was a classical reflection of knowledge failure.

It is an undeniable fact that many projects failed in Nigeria even before SURE-P, but we selected the SURE-P programme because of the source of its income - the common people of Nigeria.

There is no assurance that many more programmes will not go the way of SURE-P in Nigeria, especially with the high level of systemic failure that seems to plague the nation.

But it is our respectful opinion that whenever the people of Nigeria say they do not want a particular programme, government should not force it on them, especially when it is clear that the Nigerian people will pay for such programme. There is no gain in not respecting the opinion of the people.

SURE-P would not have been necessary if there was no systemic failure.

Otherwise, why was SURE-P established to do the job of established government institutions? For instance, why should SURE-P be the one fixing the roads when there is a full fledged Ministry of Works? This is a clear case of lack of trust in government institutions and more particularly in the government. If government cannot trust its own establishments and superintending ministers, and is continually establishing hopeless institutions, it not too difficult to see that the motive behind such establishments is not too far from corruption! Otherwise, how best do we explain the resignation of the first chairman of SURE-P within such a short time and the resignation of the second chairman so closely on the heels of his predecessor?

The establishment of extra government departments is totally unnecessary if we trust the main departments of government. What is the work of the Federal Ministry of Works if we have to fund FERMA to do their job? This is nothing but a clear case of systemic failure.

Why do we need SURE-P when it is too clear that the job they will do is primarily assigned by statues to a specific ministry? Is it the case that we cannot trust the established ministry or is it a reinforcement of the argument of systemic failure?

We are very concerned and worried as successive governments continue to re-establish the same institutions without regard for effectiveness and efficiency. If the presidency is recreated in another format and is headed by another person, how will the president feel, or indeed fare?

Integration is imperative!

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