Big Read News
THE
Mali crisis: What implications for Nigeria?
Vol. 3 No. 7
P. 3-6
P0LITICS
P. 16,41
Ebenezer Babatope at 70
What I learnt from Awolowo
www.nationalmirroronline.net
N150
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Henry Okah’s conviction
MEND plans offensive Militants: Disintegration of Nigeria ’ll start through us Orubebe, top govt officials barred from Niger Delta region
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Tells South Africans to leave Nigeria We are battle-ready for them –JTF
Henry Okah in a South African court, before his conviction
ACN/CPC merger
No plan to drop Buhari in 2015 –CPC ‘PDP out to truncate merger plan’
News
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Man survives plunge into lagoon ...as vehicle skids off 3rd Mainland Bridge P. 49
Illegal bunkering: JTF arrests 172, destroys 362 illegal refineries
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What’s new Interview
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Seven Days TALKING POINT OF THE PAST WEEK JANUARY 27, 2013
Again, fire guts NNPC pipeline
Corruption is fuelled by faulty judiciary –Jimi Agbaje
Mr Jimi Agbaje, pharmacist and politician, was the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 election in Lagos State. He is also a member of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG). He speaks about the state of the nation and his political future.
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Amaechi, Orubebe face-off: What the ‘combatants’ are not saying
of Newswatch newspaper hit the newsstands on January 19, 2013. The repackaged magazine, which is printed abroad, is expected to compete favourably with the best in the world, such as Times, Newsweek etc, especially in area of quality, volume and aesthetics. But that is not to say that the magazine will be relinquishing its beautiful prose tradition that it was known for.
As the 57th inauguration of the United States President begins in Washington DC, Barack Obama records another giant stride as he begins another term of four years. The President and Vice-President Joe Biden were both sworn
Chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Tony Anenih, is to appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts next week over an allegation that he inflated a N2.3 billion road contract while he was the Minister of Works. The committee is awaiting Anenih’s testimony to confirm a 2006
FG probes decay in police colleges, others
Why reduction of maternal mortality rate by 2015 is not achievable –Expert
World Population Prospects and the Institute for Health Metric Reports of 2010 published in 2012, Nigeria still ranks high on the list of countries with high maternal and infant mortality rates with a ratio of 545-630 per 100,000 live births on the maternal mortality index and 75 per 1,000 live births on the infant mortality index.
The Federal Government has set up a fact-finding committee to probe the income and expenditure pattern of the Nigeria Police College, Lagos and other training institutions of the force. This followed a television report which detailed the sorry plight of police trainees and the dilapidated state of the college’s facilities. It was gathered that the other institutions include the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano now upgraded to a university and the Police
Staff College in Jos, Plateau State. There are seven police colleges in Nigeria and new recruits are expected to undergo about 13 months training at the facilities. The committee was set up in Abuja during closed doors meeting that lasted for hours between the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) and the Police Management Team, led by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Victory Akingbade CEO/DANCE INSTRUCTOR OF JUST DANCE ENTERTAINMENT
MON
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ablaze at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Also in Gomari area, suspected gunmen burnt down Gomari II Primary School. The Maiduguri killings came barely 48 hours after gunmen laid ambush to Damboa Local Government Area, killing 18 hunters in the main market, while five others were also killed by suspected sect members in Kano.
report by the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF). Chairman of the Committee, Hon Solomon Olamilekan, disclosed the Committee’s decision to invite Chief Anenih at the weekend. Olamilekan recalled that the former Minister of Works was alleged to have stolen N2.3 billion earmarked for a road project in Nassarawa State in 2006.
I’m a dance instructor. It is because I’m a specialist in dance, video, choreography and dance training that I teach dance. My Mondays are strictly mapped out for dance class tutorials. But before the tutorials start, all the workers (choreographers) are already set for meeting, all for the progress of the firm and to also discuss some of our upcoming events and important issues.
TUE
If you think scandalous stories rob Nollywood star, Oge Okoye, of her sleep, then you are far from the truth. This wife and mother of two, says such things don’t bother her so long as they are false. She said her daring roles pose no problems to her marriage, among others.
At least 12 people were killed in serial attacks by suspected members of the Jamatul Ahlis Sunnah lid Daawa wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, in Jiddari Polo, Baga road and London Ciki wards of Maiduguri metropolis. This was even as gunmen also attacked Gomari II Primary School in Jere council area of the state and set it
in as stipulated by the constitution while the formal ceremonies held on Monday amid pomp and circumstance. Obama was sworn in in a small, private ceremony in the White House’s Blue Room, while Biden took his oath at his residence.
N2.3bn scam: Anenih to appear before Reps next week
Gunmen kill 12, raze primary school
–Oge Okoye, actress
Wellness
Readers and customers of Newswatch, the frontline Nigerian news magazine, will have every cause to smile as their darling publication is back with a bang. The rebranded magazine will hit the newsstands on February 15, 2013 in a 120-page colour on a mechanised paper. Interestingly, the Newswatch brand has equally gone daily with bumper edition as the maiden edition (starting with weekend titles)
leader, who had been accused of masterminding the October 1, 2010 bomb explosion in Abuja. The incident almost marred the 50th anniversary celebration of Nigeria’s independence. Okah faces a possible life sentence, according to South African judicial sources.
History as Obama begins second term
Tuesdays are visiting hours for clients and group rehearsals too. Also on this second day of the week, I ensure that I go to clients who want me to come over to their offices or companies to honour their events. We discuss fully if they want adverts done for them because that is part of what we do.
FRI THU WED
Life has taught me never to be in hurry for anything
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Newswatch…frontline brand returns with a bang!
A South African Court on Monday found the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, guilty of a 13-count charge of terrorism. The court has accordingly fixed January 31 or February 1 to sentence the ex-militant
This day is strictly for schools. I’m usually involved as a dance instructor or teacher. I have schools I teach between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is the day for group rehearsals for our shows and performance. I tag Friday free period because I’m always free but I could have jobs at times. However, it’s not all Fridays that I’m free.
SAT S
Applause
plosion. The fire broke out after officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, stationed to guard the facilities had engaged the vandals around Magboro who had come to the area to wreak havoc in a shootout. There were, however, no immediate reports of casualties and the NNPC had since shut the pipeline, which constitutes the main trunk of the System 2B pipeline network, for repairs.
Saturdays are aerobic times. It is called Dance With Vicky To Stay Fit. This is normally done between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. It is open for everybody, groups, clients and companies.
SUN S
Politics
A key Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline again went up in flames at Arepo village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State after an attack by suspected vandals. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, came barely two weeks after the facility was damaged by suspected vandals trying to steal fuel. About 60 people were reportedly burnt to death in the ex-
October 1 bombing: South African court convicts Henry Okah
Sundays are for church. I rest afterward but could go for events that are important and unavoidable most Sundays. I could be involved as a choreographer or crew at such events. *By Adaeze Amos (0802 301 2293)
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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
THE
Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
January 27, 2013
President Jonathan
Ihejirika
Nigerian troops in Mali
Mali war
What implications for Nigeria? The raging battle in Mali has attracted the interest of the world, particularly the ECOWAS member states, of which Nigeria, a ‘big brother’ in the sub-region, is not left out. Though, about 1, 200 troops have been deployed to help bring the country to normalcy and restore democracy, it is coming at a great cost. What is the justification for Nigeria’s intervention? And what does it stand to benefit after the Malian war? These are the focus of this report by Head, Special Investigations, Isioma Madike
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ollowing the French intervention in the Malian crisis, Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who had earlier pledged troops to help the West African neighbour to nip the crisis in the bud, deployed a contingent of soldiers, last week, for peacekeeping mission in that country. France had sent an initial 750 troops but has since tripled that to 2,300. The United States of America, United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, Denmark, and Canada have all pledged transport planes, and in some cases, logistical and training support. Nigerian government has maintained that Boko Haram has links with international jihad networks, especially al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), one of the leading elements among Mali’s Islamic insurgency. And the Malian government has equally used that claim as a basis of requests for outside help. Nigeria, the ac-
claimed giant in the West Africa sub-region, is expected to play a big brothers role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) force in Mali. Nigeria has reportedly supplied 1, 200 of the total force of 3,300 from the ECOWAS members and two air force jet fighters. According to President Jonathan, “the 1,200 Nigerian soldiers on peace mission to Mali would not leave until they restore democracy to the crisis-torn neighbouring country.” In the past, the country had footed the lion’s share of the costs of similar regional intervention forces. The President defended his action, saying that Nigeria had a direct interest in intervening in Mali, to among other things curtail the seeming links between Boko Haram and al-Qaeda’s northern African wing. “We believe that if we stabilise northern Mali, not just Nigeria but
NIGERIA CAN’T SLEEP WHILE MALI IS ON FIRE –OSEMEKA
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other countries that are facing threats will be stabilised. The terrorists have no boundaries. They don’t respect international boundaries,” he said. He added that his government’s action was to avoid the crisis spilling into other West African countries. “If we do not contain the problem of Mali, definitely it will affect other African countries and that is why Nigeria had to move fast. If the crisis is not properly checked, it has the potentials of increasing investment risks in the African continent. If the region was made stable, we would not have had those crises in Libya and Mali would have been better than what it is now. One fundamental problem in Mali is the issue of governance and religious extremism. The terrorist aspect and issue of hostage taking for the purposes of ransom and drug traffickers happened because of the crisis in Libya and of course the terrorists will always want to instigate crisis because they make money out of it,” he noted. In like manner, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, last week echoed the same sentiment, saying that Mali-trained terrorists had entered the country. “We are aware that most of the terrorists in this country today were trained in Mali. We are also aware that as we speak, there was still an influx of some chaps trained in Mali into the country,” the army CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
‘NIGERIAN ARMY IN SHOCKING STATE, LACK CAPACITY TO FIGHT ON FRONT LINE’
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The Big Read
Sunday, January 27, 2013
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‘If we don’t contain Mali crisis, it’ll affect other African countries’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 chief said, adding, “Nigeria will not only be supporting the resolution of the international community, but also enhancing its own security and that of its immediate neighbours by undertaking this operation. What we are going into could be described as peace enforcement; that is to bring peace with the use of force. And as to whether the operation will be conventional or insurgent, the troops should have a mixture of both because of the characters of the rebels.” The Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, has also defended the actions of the Federal Government, saying that Nigeria was the ultimate target of terrorists currently operating in northern Mali. “The deployment of Nigerian troops to Mali was in the best interest of Nigeria,” the Minister added. According to him, the government would do everything possible to ensure that the terrorists do not achieve their aim. “The events in Mali, if we don’t quickly stop it, will have effect on the whole of West Africa and Nigeria is the prime target. So, we need to act quickly, forcefully in Mali to stop them, to contain them, to destroy their capability to be able to launch any counter offensive within the sub-region,” he said. On the financial implication of the intervention in Mali to Nigeria, Ashiru noted that even though a number of countries and international organisations were involved, Nigeria would be expected to commit her funds initially into the operation but such financial commitments was in the interest of national security. “When you compare our intervention in Sierra Leone and Liberia to our intervention in Mali today, the intervention in Mali is to ensure the survival of Nigeria while that in Sierra Leone and Liberia was to enthrone democracy, rule of law and good order. “Those two places, the campaign there did not have any security impact directly on Nigeria as such. It is just that we wanted peace in the sub-region to ensure refugees did not flood to Nigeria. Even with that, they still came to Nigeria. So, these are part of the problems. But for Mali, our intervention is borne out of our own national interest, the survival of our own country because terrorists know no boundary. They have no boundary. They move anywhere. Once they are able to cause instability in that area, they move there and the ultimate prize is to destabilize the country. So, our intervention in Mali must be seen in that context, that is to ensure the survival of our country, it is to ensure that we contain the terrorists from spreading from northern Mali to come southwards. “As regards financial implication, that is why Nigeria did not act alone. It was not a unilateral action by Nigeria; it is an ECOWAS-led intervention, supported by the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN). There will be funding from all these organisations. Initially, Nigeria will have to throw in all sorts of funding but we have to do that in the context of our own national security. So, I don’t think we should bother ourselves too much about that; we should rather bother ourselves about the survival of our country,” Ashiru said. However, government action in the crisis of Mali, has elicited reactions. Why some approve of it on the premise of the argument of government, others have sharply disagreed, pointing out the financial and material costs and the inability of government to contain the Boko Haram sect. They have also argued that Nigeria ought to have a wider goal, just like the Western World, before its intervention to avoid the mistakes of both Liberia and Sierra Leone. Some have also question the rationale behind the government not airlifting her over 3000 trapped citizens in Mali while other African countries, poor or rich had done so. But, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on Foreign Relations (PACFR), Emeka Anyaoku, has come to the defence of government. He said that his panel was in support of Nigeria sending troops to Mali to assist the government there stop the advancing rebel forces. He said the insurgency by rebels seeking to dismember Mali along religious lines was not good for the West African region, hence, the need for Nigeria
French war plane in Mali
Ashiru
to participate fully in the concerted efforts of ECOWAS and the UN to quell the uprising and restore stability. According to the former Commonwealth scribe, “the situation in Mali poses a danger to the sub-region, including Nigeria. I mean if the situation in Mali is not resolved, Mali will become a hot bed for terrorism and for criminal gangs and their operations will threaten the region,” he said. Anyaoku may not be alone in this line of thought. Dr Aneze Chinwuba, an expert in international politics and government, also sees the involvement of Nigerian troops in the Mali crisis as a welcome development. He said: “It is what is expected of Nigeria and we have what it takes to be involved. We have well trained and equipped armed forces, an army, which can participate effectively in such international collaborations. Nigeria is fighting in Mali to deliver a message to Boko Haram group that the government will not look kindly on any effort by the sect to transform into a real fighting force, and that any serious attempt to cross the line more than they have done, Nigeria will battle them to the last man.”
Anyaoku
The Executive Director, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, in his reaction pointed to two schools of thought on this issue. The first, he said, explains why Nigeria should participate actively in such operations in Africa while the second kicks against it. He says the arguments that Nigeria should not just join the peacekeeping operations in Africa but play pivotal roles, and why efforts at such operations are not in the nation’s interest are both genuine justifications for or against the action. “First, as a PanAfricanist and human rights defender, I totally support Nigeria’s participation and to that extent, playing of leading roles in such operations. The major reason in setting up such operations is to save lives and protect the property of the people who live or do businesses in such society, including those of Nigerians. There is also the second reason, which is very crucial and this relates to our playing the big brother role. The two are the prime reasons for Nigeria’s interventions in such operations in Africa, and I do think that Nigeria has perfectly done very well in this regard. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
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Nigeria can’t sleep while Mali is on fire –Osemeka Irene Osemeka (PhD) is a lecturer in the department of History and strategic Studies with bias in Conflict Studies at the University of Lagos. She tells Isioma Madike in this interview that there ought to be an aggressive leadership to negotiations benefits before intervention is embarked on. How would you evaluate the Malian crisis, its implications for Nigeria and her intervention? Well, critics have particularly focused on Nigeria’s role in Mali against the background that the country has the Boko Haram issue to deal with, which looks like a battle the government is not winning so far because the sect is still very strong in the northern part of the country and government don’t seem to have any known strategy on how to deal with the crisis. But, we should also know that the Boko Haram issue is also caused by the Islamic fundamentalists, which is a similar situation to what we now have in Mali. The crisis in Mali, like I said earlier, has a religious dimension to it. However, Mali is part of West African subregion and we still remember the role Nigeria played in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. Nigeria’s intervention was crucial to bringing the crisis in those countries to an end. In fact, peace building efforts in those places where also spearheaded by Nigeria. So, Nigeria cannot afford to sleep while part of the sub-region burns. Must Nigeria be the one to spearhead the intervention? Much depends on Nigeria in the sub-region and the country had sponsored most of these in the ECOWAS being the richest country in the region. And whatever affect parts of the sub-region ultimately affects Nigeria and so would not be saved because part of it is on fire. That is one area that I want people to understand, and Nigeria just have to be proactive as far as peace keeping is concern because war in a neighour’s territory amounts to war in your area. And if the crisis in Mali degenerates, Nigeria would suffer more of its consequences than the Western world, especially France. France has investment in the subregion, no doubt, but has motherland France as an escape if all fails in Africa. But Nigeria has the whole of West Africa as its constituency. Don’t also forget that Nigeria has a population in the northern region that shares a lot in culture, language and particularly religion, which has a lot of influence on people because of its adherence. Because of this dimension, Nigeria has to play an important role in the Malian crisis. We should not also forget that the group had a link with Libya because most of their soldiers were
trained at a time by Muammar Gadhafi. So, there has been an existence of that relationship between Libya and Mali. And because Libya had trained a lot of soldiers who are not fully engaged, they have in turn found a place in Mali as mercenary soldiers and so you would understand that this crisis is connected to many countries. Don’t also forget that Mali shares boundaries with Mauritania and Senegal, all within the sub-region. How can you quantify the cost of this intervention? There is, no doubt, that Nigeria has many areas where it’s lacking, particularly developmental issues like power generation and infrastructure, especially roads, and the huge expenditure in Mali should have been diverted to such areas of need. But you see, how much development can you pursue and sustain under conditions of war? These are long term developmental issues. So, you cannot say the Malian crisis should wait to be resolve latter because the longer you wait the more complex it becomes. And once a conflict escalates such that actors are many, it becomes difficult to contain. But again, if Nigeria cannot muster the finance, it can rely on the funds from the international community to execute its interest in Mali. It just has to do what it is doing right now. I am aware that the country spent over N30 billion in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. But that was a mistake. America has higher interest in Liberia, for instance, because of its investments there. So, why can’t Nigeria rely on America to foot most of the bill in the execution of the intervention? We would have just provided the soldiers. You need a lot of money to maintain them, feed and make sure they are secured. In fact, this is one area America and France should have considered in the present crisis in Mali. What happens after the war? Where does Nigeria stand? We should forget that in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the US and France provided a lot of assistance, especially logistics. Even though Nigeria intervened, they were not able to do it solely and so, shared responsibilities with the super powers. And benefitting from the post-war projects, of course, were did Nigeria stand, for instance, where a Brit-
osemeka
ish company with all the technical knowhow for construction is bidding. Nigeria cannot compete with those super powers in that respect. Should there not be a kind of concession by recognising the role played by Nigeria? That is where an aggressive leadership is required. We had to have a lot of negotiations even before any intervention is embarked on. This is to let them know that we are also looking at investing in certain areas after the crisis. Not when intervention is over and you have achieved peace then you start negotiating that; all of these should be completed before you start in the first place. Nigeria is in a good position to discuss with both France and America and say what is there for us. See what we are spending and if we need to spend that much, there must be something in return when peace is achieved. It is another level of negotiation that would have help Nigeria in what I call a future of peace, at least to benefit in its investment in insuring peace in Mali. That should be part of what Nigeria should be negotiating for now. In fact, Nigeria ought to institute an aggressive propaganda so that other powers are aware that there must be some form of sharing formula that allows Nigeria some space to participate in rebuilding the Malian economy in peace era.
Intervention borne out of national interest –Minister CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 “But, on another plane is the question of enormous material and human resources involved in the execution of these operations. For instance, many Nigerians involved in these operations in the past, lost their lives while at the battle fields. The ugly implications of this are that the families of these men lose their bread winners, become orphans in the case of their children and widows with respect to their wives. Unfortunately, too, Nigerian government rarely ever pays commensurate allowances to the military men who participate in these operations. On most occasions, even the meagre allowances approved for them by the Nigerian authorities are not paid to the soldiers when released, at last, by the government. Instead, those at the helm of affairs usually cut the allowances into two or three and pay one-third to the soldiers or even refuse to pay them at all and pocket the allowances. This is one reason that counts against our participation in these operations,” he said. Ezike did not stop there. He also looked at the gains from such operations. “After fighting to restore peace in
Malian rebels
these countries and, at last, peace was restored, what economic gains does Nigeria or do Nigerians make in terms of taking part in the post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation processes that follow after? This has been the practice of
other nations even outside the geography of the African Continent, particularly the Western World. Does the Nigerian government use the opportunity to make case and openings for Nigerian business class to appropriate the situation
for investment or just to go and execute wars, gain global praise or acclaim and nothing more? Americans and other nations consider their primordial interests in participation in such wars more than the human rights elements. America’s intervention in such cases as Kuwait, Iraq, Libya and Egypt, was motivated by primitive economic considerations. Why would Nigeria not do the same? “The last concern raised by many Nigerians against our participation in such events, is the treatment of our citizens in such societies during and after the war. A clear case in point was the Liberian experience during which Nigerians in that country were maimed, killed, raped and had their flourishing businesses crushed. Several others were held captives and immensely terrorized by the Liberians. There are also others, who are aggrieved that Nigeria’s claim of bigness does not show in her treatment of her citizens in Nigeria. For instance, why would the Nigerian government not being able to resolve her domestic crisis or is it a case of a father who is well known for his Father Christmas benevolence but CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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The Big Read
Sunday, January 27, 2013
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‘Nigerian Army in shocking state, lacks capacity to fight on front line’
French soldiers in Mali
Toure
Chinwuba
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 his own family starves? Charity, this group of Nigerians insists, should begin at home. The ethno-religious crisis in Plateau State, the Boko Haram terror, land clash between Ezza and Ezeilo people of Ebonyi State and the careless loss of Bakassi Peninsular to Cameroun are all pointers to insincerity. The persistent crisis in the oil rich Nigeria and the social malaise created by humaninduced poverty, hunger, suffering and corruption in Nigeria also add up to the already ugly situation. For this group, Nigeria is akin to a man who pursues rats while his house is on fire,” Ezike noted. However, while Nigerians may still be at loss on how much this latest intervention is costing the country, the French government released information regarding its cost in Mali. According to estimates offered by French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, his country has so far spent over 30 million euros in the military intervention in Mali. In an interview, Le Drian said that at the moment the most expensive thing is the logistics and the transport of the troops. In spite of all these, there appears to be a disturbing dimension to the Nigeria involvement in Mali. There are speculations that due to lack of adequate training and discipline, the over 1,200 Nigeria troops presently in Mali may not be directly involved in combat operations. A UK-based newspaper, The Guardian, on
its website alleged recently that men of the Nigerian Army deployed in Mali lacked the capacity to fight on the front line. The paper quoted a senior source in Mali that the military contingent from Nigeria lacks the needed training and discipline to be relied upon to oust the Islamists from northern Mali, prompting suggestions that the role of the men would be limited to security and logistics. “The Nigerian Army is in a shocking state,” said the source, ‘in reality there is no way they are capable of forward operations in Mali – their role is more likely to be limited to manning checkpoints and loading trucks.” Could this be a blackmail to whittle down the enormous role of Nigeria in finding lasting peace to the sub-region? Mali, a neighbouring West African country, has been in the throes of Islamic insurgency since March 2012, when mutinous soldiers in Bamako, the capital, rose up in a coup, overthrowing the elected government of President Amadou Toumani Touré. The soldiers said they were angry over the government’s alleged mishandling of a rebellion by nomadic Tuareg rebels in the country’s vast northern desert. Following on the heels of the coup, the Tuareg rebels first seized much of the north and then were themselves pushed out by Islamist extremists. The ECOWAS intervention, codenamed Africa International Support Mission to Mali, is aimed at running
the rebels, believed to have links with al-Qaeda, out of town. Curiously, the Nigerian troops were ambushed on their way to Mali. Gunmen threw Improvised Explosive Devices at their convoy along Okene-Lokoja Road and went ahead to engage the soldiers in a gunfight, leading to the death of two soldiers. Many others were said to have been injured during the attack. A breakaway faction of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, later claimed responsibility for the attack. The new terrorist group, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan in a statement by its leader, Abu usamatal Ansary, said the attack on the soldiers was to warn the government against joining Western powers in their “aim to demolish the Islamic empire of Mali.” Though, the deployment of the Nigerian troops in Mali, has the backing of the National Assembly, analysts have been critical of the propriety of the country’s intervention in that country when the government has yet to find a solution to the Boko Haram challenge at home. The sect, like the Malian Islamist rebels, have for years held the northern part of Nigeria by the jugular, killing and maiming people, especially Christians in their quest to Islamise Nigeria. Although seen as a relatively open and stable state under President Touré, Mali, prior to the recent events, had deep-seated problems of poverty, maladministration and corruption, coupled with the relative under-development of the north of the country. The region is inhabited substantially, but not solely, by ethnic Tuaregs. Before now, Nigeria had intervened in the Liberian civil war. Ordinarily, the country would have been compensated for its role with deserved respect for rescuing Liberia and as policy, it ought to have profited in this respect. Regrettably, this has not been the case. Foreign policy, according to those who should know, is supposed to be driven by a goal. The Liberian adventure was costly and tasking. It gulped, according to the former Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) commander, General Victor Malu, an estimated $5 billion, human cost not included. To many, this was wasteful since Nigeria was not part of the reconstruction of post-war Liberia. The first major peacekeeping role, however, was that of Chad, which Nigeria undertook under the auspices of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). That operation cost Nigeria about $82million. This, according to Irene Osemeka (PhD), a lecturer in the Department of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos, was not a fair deal for the country. “Having spent so much in terms of human and financial cost, the country deserved to pick something positive out of Liberia; the same thing with Sierra Leone where many of our soldiers were either killed or maimed; no one can really quantify the cost of such interventions. This is why I believe that the Nigerian government should have worked out what it could benefit from Mali before sending her troops there. You don’t intervene blindly; the West does that and so, there is no reason why Nigeria should not do the same. It is the trend in the world today and we must not be left out. In fact, if you ask me, Nigerian government ought to have instituted a subtle propaganda towards achieving this goal by diplomatically negotiating with France on what it could benefit after the crisis. I support the intervention but with a sound reason. The US, for instance, led Operation Desert Storm to safeguard the oil wells in the Middle East. The Soviet Union also intervened in Afghanistan because it had to beat back the Mullahs, who were spreading doctrines that was regarded as contagious to communism,” said, the Don. Although Nigeria has been a driving force in establishing peace and security in the region through its role in ECOWAS, it has struggled with multiple internal conflicts that jeopardise its own security. Within Africa, Nigeria is dominant. The nation is Africa’s most populous country, the continent’s largest producer of oil, and its second highest troop contributing country for UN peacekeeping missions worldwide. Additional report from Charles Okeke (Awka)
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Dateline SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH THE PAST JANUARY, 27, 2013
Some of the arrested Otokoto ritualists
Otokoto: Day Owerri residents raged against ritualists KAYODE FASUA WITH AGENCY REPORT
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n 1996, the police in Owerri, Imo State arrested a man, Innocent Ekeanyanwu, with the head of a young boy, Ikechukwu Okonkwo. In the course of investigation, the police traced the buried torso of Ikechukwu to the premises of Otokoto Hotel, owned by a business man, Chief Vincent Duru, and uncovered a syndicate that specialised in ritual killing and the sale and procurement of human parts. Protests The horrifying discoveries sparked off violent protests in Owerri, which led to the burning and looting of properties belonging to suspected killers. Following the protests in which both the police and the state’s military administration were accused of aiding and abetting the crime of ritual killing, the state government set up a panel headed by Justice P.C Onumajuru, to investigate the case. The panel at the end of its assignment recommended the trial of the Otokoto syndicate members. The two sets of trials that went on for many years represented all that the state military administration had been able to do with the implementation of the Justice Onumajuru panel of inquiry. But other important recommendations of the panel, especially the aspects that required trial of some highly
placed people were discarded. Among those indicted by the panel was James Aneke, a navy captain and former military administrator of the state and David Abure, a former state commissioner and Onu Egwu Nwoke, the chairman of Imo council of traditional rulers whose palace was damaged by rioters. The panel indicted the Imo council of traditional rulers, as one of the remote causes of the riot. It said: “Chieftaincy titles which hitherto were veritable means of according recognition, and to some extent, giving reward for hard work, honesty and selfless service became bastardised and were conferred indiscriminately on all manner of persons, backgrounds and antecedents. Some were said to have encouraged fraudsters (419) and other anti-social activities for material gains, while others even engaged in such practices, thus lending social and traditional legitimacy to corrupt and rotten enrichment in society.” The biggest challenges before Colonel Tanko Zubairu, Aneke’s successor as military administrator of Imo State was what to do with Aneke, his predecessor. The Onumajulu commission identified several alleged malpractices and fraudulent acts carried out by the Aneke administration. It said:”The immediate past administration of Aneke was very unpopular with the people of Imo State.” The trials Vincent Duru, the proprietor of Otokoto Hotel, Owerri, and five others were put on trial over the Otokoto saga. They were detained at the Owerri federal prisons and charged with the murder of 11-year-old Okoronkwo whose
headless corpse was exhumed in the premises of his hotel. The other suspects are Leonard Unaogu, Alban Ajaegbu, Sampson Nnanito, Ebenezer Egwueke and Lawrence Ebo. Nine people initially testified before Justice S. O. Ekpe, who took over from Justice Gabriel Ojiako, the retired chief judge of Imo State, in the course of the trial. The trial started on December 9, 1996, with Hillary Ngozi Opara, the first prosecution witness. The court admitted the confessional statement of Innocent Ekeanyanwu, a gardener with Otokoto Hotel who later died in police custody. Ekeanyanwu was arrested with Okoronkwo’s head at Ikeduru. In his statement, Ekeanyanwu was said to have confessed to killing Okoronkwo and also implicated his boss, Duru, in the murder. Ekeanyanwu’s statement, according to Ambrose Nnah, a police sergeant who recorded it, was voluntarily made in Igbo. Nnah, who testified in court, June 17, 1998 as a witness, said that the statement was recorded in English and read over to Ekeanyanwu in Igbo before he thumb-printed it. Counsel to Duru and Unaogu objected to the admission of the statement on the grounds that the late Ekeanyanwu was said to have made it in Igbo, as there was nothing on the face of the statement to show that it was interpreted to him in Igbo, after being recorded in English. Tony Mogboh, SAN, and counsel to Unaogu, further objected on the grounds that the document was different from the one attached to the proof of evidence served on his client. He said the Igbo version ought also to be attached to avoid distortion. Ekpe over-ruled the objections. “There is no evidence before me that the statement was not made voluntarily. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Dateline
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
‘Policeman sentenced to death over killing of witness’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 And if a statement is made voluntarily, it is admissible in evidence. The objections are therefore overruled. I rule that the statement is admissible in law and should therefore be admitted as exhibit II,” he ruled. Statements from the nine witnesses who testified thus gave insights into how the crime was committed. From the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, it was not a wine tapper who reported seeing Ekeanyanwu by a stream, cleaning up his palms stained by blood from the fresh human head. It was Opara, a motorcyclist who alerted the police about the possession of a fresh human head by Ekeanyanwu. Opara told the court that he took Ekeanyanwu to Eziama, Ikeduru, on his motorcycle. He said Ekeanyanwu told him that he was visiting a relation. Opara said he discovered in the course of the journey that what Ekeanyanwu carried in a polythene bag was a human head, so he alerted the police at Eziama when Ekeanyanwu alighted. Ekeanyanwu was intercepted by the police on his way back in a 504 car and the human head was found in his bag. A receptionist in the hotel Margaret Acholonu told the court that Duru was actually in the hotel on September 19, 1996, the day Okoronkwo was beheaded. She also said two spots were dug at the hotel premises, adding that it was in the second spot that the body of Okoronkwo was exhumed. She also said that she saw Ekeanyanwu on the 19th of September with a black bag and that Ekeanyanwu told her that he was going to his village in Eziama. Sunday Onwuchekwa, a police sergeant, further told the court that he was in the office at the police headquarters, Owerri, on September 20, 1996, when Ekeanyanwu was brought with a fresh human head by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Iho police station, in Ikeduru. He said Ekeanyanwu was taken to Ifeanyi Anozie, an assistant police commissioner, at the CID, Owerri. According to him, Anozie directed that Onwuchekwa, ASP Aguobi, ASP Obasi Chukwu, leader of the team, DSP, C Nmezi and other ranks should investigate the matter. Onwucheka told the court that before the police took Ekeanyanwu to Otokoto hotel, he confessed to killing the boy at Mba River in Ikeduru and dumped the body inside the river. The police search team did not find anything at Mba River, according to Onwuchekwa. They returned to Owerri at about 7 p.m. September 20, 1996. The following Monday, the police team continued with their investigation, taking Ekeanyanwu to Otokoto hotel. The headless body of the boy had already been identified at the hotel before the police team arrived. Onwuchekwa said the corpse was covered with red mud, emitting offensive odour and that the mud was not fresh, but rather looked like it had stayed up to four or five days since it was dug. He also said that part of the sand had been removed and that one of the police officers used a stick to feel the inside, in the process of which he found a shallow grave where a headless body in a decomposing state was found. He said also that they discovered a stick tied with a cloth and that it was Ferguson Okoronkwo, a guardian of the deceased who identified the corpse to be that of Okoronkwo. When the case resumed, February 18 1998, J. C. Uwazuruonye, counsel to Duru objected to the admission of the stick with a cloth as exhibit in court. He said that he objected on the ground on pages 13A and 13 D of proof of evidence, the purported stick was not listed as one of the exhibit to be tendered. “The stick had doubtfully validity which cannot be tendered,” he said. The court agreed with him, so the stick was not tendered. On March 24, Onwuchekwa was cross-examined by F. A. Onwuzulike and B. N Chukwu, both defence lawyers recruited by the legal aid council for some of the accused who could not hire private lawyers. He admitted that Ekeanyanwu made a statement; he also made an oral statement. He said also that an investigation team came from Lagos while they were still investigating. The police officer said Duru came out while he was standing with Ekeanyanwu and shouted at Ekeanyanwu, “Have you implicated me?” Uwazuruonye reminded him that it was not for him to say whether it was reflected or not. Asked if he drew the attention of Anozie to Duru’s statement, he answered “yes.” Asked again if Duru’s
statement was contained in the report of the police investigation team, he said ‘no’, explaining that he only saw the report after the case was charged to court. A number of other witnesses testified for the prosecution. They included Laeticia Okoronkwo, mother of Ikechukwu, Sulaiman Idris Ibe, a retired inspector of police who claimed to have been on duty at Eziama police station when Opara reported the matter. A police photographer who took the shot of the head and body testified as PW7. He tendered negatives and photographs of the head as exhibit D and D1. He also tendered photographs and negative of the headless body as exhibit F1 and F2. Ralph Nwaiwu, the doctor who performed the autopsy on Ikechukwu testified as PW8. He admitted on cross-examination that he was not a specialist on pathology. On August 20, 1997, a different trial also began at a senior magistrate’s court in Owerri. In the dock are nine police officers accused of complicity in the murder of Ekeanyanwu. They are Ifeanyi Anozie, an assistant commissioner of police and Chukwu Obasi, an assistant superintendent of police. The others are Kevin Ezirim, Christian Nnazi, Clifford Odiaka, Felix Nnorom, Christopher Aguobi, Ignatius Igwe, James Ibezere and Josephat Nwosu. The white paper on the Otokoto crisis had recommended their dismissal and trial. In 1997, six persons were executed by firing squad following a judgment of Justice Emmanuel Nnodim. Duru’s son, Obidiozor, was one of them. In 2002, Justice Lawrence Alinor also sentenced three police officers to death by hanging at the Owerri High Court for roles they played in the death of Innocent Ekeanyanwu, principal witness in the Otokoto case. From the time the matter was taken to court on October 14, 1997, a year after the incident, the case suffered many adjournments, ranging from occasional absence of lawyers, the suspects, the presiding judge and even the transfer or retirement of judges. The then federal solicitor-general wrote a letter dated May 16, 1997, to the Imo State attorney-general ordering the accused persons to be released. He claimed that no prima facie case had been established against them. But Imo indigenes that got wind of the plan to release the suspects raised the alarm and another tension enveloped Owerri city before it was put under control, through the assurance by the state government in a radio broadcast that all the suspects would appear in court. The first appearance of the seven suspects in court was greeted by criticism from human rights activists in Owerri. Unaogu was given VIP treatment. He was conveyed in a new station wagon from the prison to court. Vincent Duru and other suspects were handcuffed into Black Maria from the prison to the court. Duru protested Unaogu’s VIP treatment. Imo indigenes attributed the VIP treatment to the influence of his brother, Laz, who was a minister then. Several judges handled the case. First was Gabriel Ojiaku, who later went on retirement in 1997. Simeon Ekpe, who replaced him continued. In fact, the prosecution was almost closing its case when Ekpe was elevated to the Court of Appeal. The case was stalled. Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme finally took over April 28, 1999. Final judgement And finally, an Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, sentenced seven persons including Chief Duru, alias Otokoto and Chief Leonard Unaogu to death, for their involvement in the brutal murder of Okoronkwo on September 19, 1996, at Otokoto Hotels Owerri. Also condemned to death for the same offence were Alban Ajaegbu, Sampson Nnamito, Ebenezer Egwuekwe, Rufus Anyanwu and Lawrence Eboh. In her over three-hour judgement, Justice Nwosu-Iheme described Chief Duru as “a hardened and unrepentant murderer.” Nwosu-Iheme said she found it extremely difficult to believe the stories told by Chief Duru to the effect that Chief Unaogu and himself did not know each other before this ugly incident nor ever regarded themselves as close friends. On judgement day, It took the presence of a special squad of combat-ready police men to keep the huge crowd that gathered within the premises of the Owerri High Court, in check. The atmosphere was charged. Justice Nwosu-Iheme’s judgment lasted for about three
Justice Nwosu-Iheme
and half hours and was summed up this way: “The soul that sinneth shall die,” as she sentenced the seven men to death by hanging. The judge explained that the weight of evidence was heavily against all the accused. “This is a typical case when a circumstantial evidence has proved a case of murder with the accuracy surpassing that of mathematics. It has left no one in doubt, of the connection between one accused person and others. It is to me a syndicated arrangement with clear division of labour,” she said. Singling out Unaogu, she said: “the sixth accused person, Leonard Unaogu could be described as essential part of the actor who orders for the heads of human beings as if he is ordering for goat heads. It is indeed an unfortunate case, a very intelligent man who chose to channel his intelligence the wrong way. The blood of Ikechukwu Okonkwo must be a very strong and powerful one that cried to God in high heavens.” “It is indeed condemnable, even God Himself condemned it when he said in Ezekiel chapter 8 verse 20 that “the soul that sinneth shall die.” The accused have demonstrated specie of wickedness surpassing those of Jezebel. The law is very clear on the consequences of these acts and the perpetrators will go in for it,” the judge proclaimed. Nwosu-Iheme said the prosecution had proved the case against all the seven accused persons and therefore found each of them guilty. The state counsel and defence lawyers concluded their addresses in October last year. The prosecuting counsel maintained that all the accused persons were principal offenders and should be convicted of murder as charged while defence lawyers especially J. C. Uwazuruonye for Vincent Duru and Amadi Obi for Leonard Unaogu, prayed the court to free their respective clients. Unaogu hurriedly told newsmen following the death sentence passed on him: “I am dying because I helped the less-privileged and widows in the society.” Then Duru said: “This is not a thorough judgment,” As for Anyanwu, “History will see the judgment as it is.” The death sentences ended the Otokoto saga. Relations of the condemned men burst into tears. But some other persons were happy. Unaogu’s two wives wept uncontrollably while Rufus Anyanwu’s wife fainted and was carried out of the scene by sympathisers. Uche Durueke, chairman of the SouthEast branch of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, which monitored the court proceedings said: “the course of the law might be slow. The day of judgment cometh. Today it has come.” But Uwazuruonye, defence counsel to Duru, said his client would go all the way to the Supreme Court to ensure that justice was done. The verdict brought the number of convicts on the Otokoto saga to 16.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
News
Sunday January 27, 2013
Henry Okah’s conviction: MEND back in the trenches
• Militants: Disintegration of Nigeria will start through us • Orubebe, top govt officials barred from Niger Delta region K AYODE FASUA, SAM OLUWALANA, PORT HARCOURT
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he Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has responded to the conviction in South Africa of Henry Okah, its former leader, declaring that the sentence will be the start of the disintegration of Nigeria. The statement also warned of disastrous consequences to befall the Federal Government and all of its officials since 1999. The MEND statement, dated January 23, was signed by “Comrade Azizi,” whose veracity or otherwise could not be ascertained at press time. “Nigerians as a whole will feel our presence when we finally decide to carry out our targets, which will not be restricted to the Niger Delta Region alone,” the group threatened. It stated that as a group, MEND had become more sophisticated than the level of
throwing “mere IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) or car bombs.” It noted that instead, the group had attained “capabilities which will take the Nigerian military another 10 years to reach.” The statement declared: “We are not on the same programme with regional agitators in the North or elsewhere; we will not hide our faces. Soon and very soon, Nigerians will get to see the structures (in the Diaspora and at home) as well as our new states, our regional commanders and new National Leader. Arresting and killing Henry Okah will change nothing.” The MEND further issued chilling warning on how it intended to fight back, saying, “to the Nigerian government, you have seen nothing; the disintegration of Nigeria will start through us and by us and we are well equipped for this task. “We have details of all the family members of the government (1999-2013) and our Diaspora Command will take care of that aspect; we
will get to them, we will skin them and post their remains to your doorsteps as compensation to the Odi people, except our resources are handed over to us without conditions.” MEND also warned Federal Government officials to stay away from the Niger Delta, with particular attention to the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry Mr. Orubebe Peter Godsday “(He) is hereby banished from Delta State and the region at large pending when he returns the money he stole, which was meant for the Niger Delta Development Councils and from various public offices since 1991,” the group averred. “To our natural resources, there will soon be a massive earthquake that will be triggered by our nuclear warhead; this earthquake will destroy the entire oil wells, oil pipelines especially to Kaduna refinery, oil installations, oil rigs and what have you; when it happens, which we know will be very soon, the government and
owners of these oil wells and installation will know it’s a different ball game,” the statement warned. It also threatened South African companies operating in Nigeria, saying “leave Nigeria totally, as there will be massive and aggressive campaign on all companies owned, operated and affiliated to the South African citizens or their government both in Nigeria and Southern Africa respectively.” Reacting to the MEND statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Joint Task Force. Lt.Col Onyeama Nwachukwu, warned against giving recognition to the group, adding that the group hitherto known as MEND has ceased to exist from the advent of the Federal Government initiated Amnesty Programme, which all the former members of the once –dreaded group has embraced. He alluded to the fact that all the former members of the defunct group have rescinded their membership and have been integrated into the larger society.
His statement obtained via a telephone text message read thus; “Firstly, I will like to correct an impression of the existence of any group known as MEND today. There is no group as such. The leadership of MEND in the dark days of the militancy in the Niger Delta, as we know, have embraced the Amnesty Programme by the Federal Government. “The threats you have mentioned are not unexpected because they are pocket of persons who have sympathy for Henry Okah who has been convicted by a law court in South Africa for acts of terrorism. JTF has zero tolerance for lawlessness and have since done its operational appreciation ready for moments like this. The man, was convicted by a court and if unsatisfied, he should pursue it legally. Any one found on the other side of the law will not be spared. “We urge all Niger Deltans and foreigners in the region to go about their businesses without anxiety or fear”
ACN/CPC merger: No plan to drop Buhari in 2015 MUYIWA OYINLOLA
•PDP out to truncate merger, says CPC
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major political party in the ongoing merger plan of opposition parties, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), has said that it had no plan to drop Buhari as its presidential candidate in the 2015 polls. Its spokesperson, Rotimi Fasakin, who disclosed this to Sunday Mirror last night during a telephone conversation, said that whereas the ‘merger talk’ was still ongoing and its presidential candidate had not been chosen, Buhari remained a credible Nigerian who had the interest of the country at heart. It will be recalled that Buhari, while inaugurating the CPC merger committee last week in Abuja, had stated that he would run for the office of president of the country if he was chosen by the parties in the exercise. Fasakin, while commenting on a recent publication (not Sunday Mirror) that Buhari and another major politician in the exercise, the National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is believed to be eyeing the
L-R: First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; President Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopian Minister of Transport, Mr. Deribe Kuma, during the arrival of Jonathan for the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of AU in Addis Ababa, yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE
Vice-Presidential seat, might be asked to drop their ambitions as personal sacrifices, said such issues did not arise. His words: “Who are these people saying this? This is the handiwork of PDP. They’re afraid of the merger plan and want to frustrate it.
They have moles everywhere and they have voted a lot of money to truncate the exercise. “The truth is this, PDP is afraid of Buhari, and they keep saying that he has no electoral value. In 2011, just before the election, he said
he was not going to contest but we prevailed on him and he did so in our national interest. “This issue about whether Buhari will contest or not, to me, is not an issue now, because merger talk is still in progress. PDP is just looking
for something to frustrate us, but they will not succeed”. Efforts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the CAN, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, proved abortive as he neither responded to the voice call nor the sms sent to his telephone for comments.
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JTF arrests 172 suspected oil thieves in Niger Delta EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA
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peratives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), in the last two weeks of the new year, arrested 172 suspects al-
legedly involved in illegal refineries and illegal bunkering operations in parts of the Niger Delta.
The agency said the suspects had since been handed over to prosecuting agencies for litigation. It also destroyed a total of 362 illegal refineries in parts of the region, including the destruction of seven vessels and three barges allegedly used in conveying stolen crude in Opobo river (Opobo/ Nkoro/Andoni local government) in Rivers State and Tomkiri, Brass council in Bayelsa State. Spokesman of JTF,Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu,in a statement issued yesterday said the illegal local refineries destroyed were at Kolokolo and Bisigbo in Warri South local government,Delta State. According to Nwachukwu the operatives also illegal refineries at Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw local government and Sangana ,Brass local government,all in Bayelsa State. The JTF also impounded 75 local wooden boats (Cotonou boats) conveying stolen petroleum products at Ogbokodo creek and Ugbokolo in Warri West local government,Delta State. The statement said the Commander of JTF,Maj. Gen. Bata Debiro .had unfolded his strategies in stamping out illegal oil bunkering in the coastal region. Debiro affirmed that he would not sit in the office as a lame duck ,stressing that he had embarked on an appraisal tour of troops deployment which included the Naval Forward Operational Bases(FOB) Brass,(Bayelsa state) Bonny (Rivers)and Escravos(Delta ). He said:”Nigeria is the only country where people engage in oil theft with the connivance of our country men. We must put an end to it.Oil theft is tantamount to economic sabotage and a threat to the economic security and future generations of Nigeria.”
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU JANUARY 27, 2013
Odi: 14 years after, residents recall trauma EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA
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ourteen years after the invasion of Odi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government, Bayelsa State. The locals say they are yet to get over the trauma caused by the federal troops. Not only that, the aggrieved people have filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, through their counsel, demand-
ing N20 billion compensation and other reliefs. They are hopeful of getting justice in the court after several demands and pleas on the federal government to rebuild the community that was reduced to ruins on November 19 and 20. At a resumed hearing on Friday, January 18, counsels to the community, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Luscious Nwosu (SAN) and Rabana Lawal (SAN), said the indigenes sought justice to correct a wrong done to their fundamental rights by the na-
Odi community
tion in the past. The community had insisted that those killed during the military invasion were simple community folks, including men and women, not militants as alleged in the reason for attacking the community. One of the prosecuting counsel, Adedipe, told the court said the position of Odi that those killed in the invasion were not militants as was recently affirmed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who noted that he visited the community as Deputy Governor to assess the situation then. Adedipe argued that those killed were responsible indigenes, stressing that as a community, they had the right to go to court to seek the reliefs as obtained in the current matter. The prosecuting counsel pleaded with the court to dismiss the argument of the counsel to the first and fourth respondents, being the President and the Attorney General, respectively, claiming that those killed were militants, describing it as an after-thought. Counsel to the first and fourth respondents, Nkolika Awa, had told the court that the matter was being pursued wrongly as the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the matter. Awa further said provisions were only made for individuals on matters of human rights and not community. The court later adjourned to February 19th for further hearing. It would be recalled that the military invasion at Odi led to the death of at least 2,483 innocent people, which included women, men and children. Many folks were injured,
traumatised and displaced. It was only the community’s primary school, former Post Office (Now Police Post), First Bank of Nigeria, Anglican Church and health centre buildings that were spared by the rampaging troops. However, majority of indigenes had rebuilt their houses from their hard-earned money. Though, immediate reason given for the attack was the murder of seven policemen by some lawless youths in the community, investigations revealed that the attack on the policemen apparently came from armed political thugs hired by politicians for the 1999 general election. After the poll in the state, the hired youths became “jobless” and were abandoned to their fate by their erstwhile benefactors. Against this background, they became a thorn in the flesh of law abiding residents in Yenagoa, But in September 1999, the government dislodged the thugs from their slum fondly called “black market” using a combined team of soldiers and mobile policemen. These lawless youths led by one late Ken Niweigha thus relocated to Odi to continue their activities. Sunday Mirror further gathered that during the ethnic crisis between the Ijaw and a group, Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC) at Ajegunle ,Lagos, Niweigha had allegedly cashed in on the crisis ,using Ijaw Youths Council(IYC) slogans for resource control, environmental protection and political autonomy to mobilize Ijaw youths to “ battle” in Lagos. Intelligence reports reached government CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
See what boil did to Fatimoh’s face …Requires over N6m for Indian operation OSEIZA OGBODO
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or no fault of hers, Fatimoh Jaji is ostracised by even people who are supposed to be close to her. Her predicament began when she was just four when a strange boil on her face developed into a condition which medical experts described as neurofibromatosis. “I was four years old when a boil developed above my right eye and as I grew older, it grew bigger. By the time I was eight years old, I was taken to LUTH and the doctors said it was better I was flown abroad. They said that if they treated me locally, there would be a recurrence of my condition.” Owing to her parents’ financial condition, Fatimoh could not be flown abroad to undergo the prescribed operation. Her parents therefore resorted to having the operation done at LUTH. Sadly however, three days after the operation, the strange boil re-emerged. Subsequently, the authorities at LUTH discharged her one month later. Fatimoh recalls, “they told us saying they could still do the operation again, but that we would have to pay for it again.” Fatimoh had ambition to go to school and become better placed than her parents, but the condition had made none sense of all that aspiration. According to her, the condition has destabilized her life. And she is also social stigmatised.
“There are some people who look away in revulsion when they see my face. They can’t bear to look at me. That happens to me constantly,” she disclosed to Sunday Mirror with resignation in her voice. The reason people can’t look at her is because the right side of her face is swollen as a result of neurofibromatosis. It is so swollen that it has covered all her right eye, has enlarged her nose and still hangs down grotesquely down to her neck. To make matters worse, there doesn’t seem to be medical solution within the country. “When the LUTH operation failed, we sought the assistance of the Lagos State Government and we were referred to LASUTH. At LASUTH, I was examined, and the doctors also said that it would be best if I went abroad for the necessary intervention. Even though she has been advised to travel out to seek better medical help, she hasn’t done so. “We cannot afford the cost,” she responded sadly. “It is millions of naira, six million at least, and we cannot afford it. I know if my parents had the money, they would gladly give it to me. If I had it too, I wouldn’t mind spending it just to make myself return to normal. Please I am calling on Nigerians to come to my aid so I can live a normal life,” she said as she broke down into tears. Sobbing uncontrollably, she said, “Tejuosho Diagnostic Centre has helped us to get in touch with a hospital in India and they said they can correct my condition with three operations over the course of a year. “For the first operation, I will spend five days in the hospital, recuperate there for two weeks, then I will return for
Jaji
the second surgery three or six months afterwards, follow the same procedure again before returning for the third. “Each operation will cost $7,500 aside the cost of flight tickets, accommodation and feeding. They also said I must come with a companion; so it’s two of us that will have to go together. Please I beg Nigerians to come to my aid.” If you are interested in helping Fatimoh Jaji, her bank account is: Jaji Fatimoh Aduke, First Bank Plc; 3061304265. You can also call her on 08136749528.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Sunday, January 27 2013
Odi:14 years after, residents recall trauma CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 that Niweigha was mobilizing youths to Lagos ,thereby creating tension. Against this background, on November 4, 1999, seven policemen led by Thomas Jokotola of the Yoruba ethnic stock visited Odi to investigate the planned action. Incidentally, Jokotola was among a combined team of security operatives that dislodged the miscreants in Yenagoa. The cops were said to have been reportedly held hostage by the thugs and later declared missing. The policemen were subsequently killed and it was widely condemned. President Olusegun Obasanjo was deeply saddened by the killing of the policemen. On November 10, 1999, Obasanjo wrote to the erstwhile governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, expressing his displeasure and threatened to impose a state of emergency in the state, if the killers were not arrested and prosecuted within 14 days. It was learnt that four days to the expiration of the two-week ultimatum, federal troops were mobilized to Odi and its neighbouring communities, creating tension. Not done, the East-West road was barricaded by the Orashi River at Mbiama junction and by the River Niger at Patani community. Shortly after, shootings a n d bur ning of houses were perpetrated by the soldiers at Odi. Some indigenes were lucky to escape before the soldiers’ invasion. The military invasion is still haunting the indigenes as they continued to agitate for the rebuilding of the community. Our correspondent learnt that a Federal Government College, Bio-technology Incubation Centre and dualization of the road leading into the community were established in the area to assuage their feelings. Speaking in an interview, an indigene of the community and rights activist, Gordons Abiama, said the suit against the Federal Government by Odi was justified, given the gross destruction of the community by soldiers. According to him, it was a gross violation of the people’s right to existence. Abiama said Odi might file an appeal to the World Court, depending on the Federal High Court. “I was Press Secretary to the council when the destruction and killings occurred. The President even apologized for what happened; he regretted that what the soldiers did was wrong .The Federal Government has not compensated us .The destruction of a whole community is criminal,” he explained. Continuing, he said “he people are very resilient; they have been able to pick up the pieces of their lives. They have rebuilt their houses.” Abiama regretted why a whole community should be punished for the crime perpetrated by a few persons. He recalled that the state government built a few prototype houses for the displaced persons in the community.
A health worker in the community, Timipre Tombiri, said their modest bungalow was reduced to ruins and that he ran away with his parents and siblings to a neighbouring community, Isampou, where they stayed in a classroom for about one month. Tombiri said his life was miserable, stressing that his uncle could not rebuild own burnt house till he died. In the same vein, an indigene of the community and Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Employment Generation, Timi Ogoriba, queried why the soldiers should destroy the community because of a crime committed by a few persons. Ogoriba, a foremost rights activist felt the best option was to seek redress in court. The government official lamented that he lost his sister during the military invasion. “If the Federal Government feels that they have ultimate fight, they should remember that God oversees everything. Through personal efforts, individuals have rebuilt their houses .The attack on Odi people was unprovoked.” Ogoriba said the ‘boys’ who killed the policemen were finally arrested and prosecuted in court “but they were not killed by government until they were freed.” When our correspondent visited the palace of the paramount ruler of Odi, King Shine Andrew Apre , he also collaborated that the suit by the community in court was justified in seeking justice after 13 years of the destruction. The retired civil servant said he was the headmaster of the community’s primary during the soldiers’ invasion. Apre, amid tears, recalled how Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa State governor sol-
diers burnt down his building, describing it as man’s inhumanity to man. The 65-year-old monarch said the community deserved compensation for the losses incurred during the crisis. He noted that the soldiers didn’t burn the primary school building, but they vandalized official documents. Apre also said he was able to collect his academic credentials, relevant documents and few cloths before his house was razed. The monarch said no money was paid to him as compensation till date. He went on: “I will plead with the Federal Government to rebuild Odi. If government was a single human being, it would have been difficult. Since the Federal Government is an embodiment of departments of government, they should rebuild Odi. On whatever issues that occurred between the police or the Army and innocent civilians, I will advise them to have sympathy on the community and rebuild it.” “I will appeal to government for the sake of humanity to rebuild the place. Again, some communities that suffered the same fate with Odi ,the Federal Government has compensated either by rebuilding them and providing funds to the community .Whatever happened in Odi was not caused by a unanimous decision of the people,” he appealed.
Adeyinminu on sick bed
This man needs N6.5m if he must live AYO ESAN
F
or Isaac Adeyinminu, it is not a pleasant way to spend life in retirement. After a meritorious 15-year service as Maintenance Engineer and head of maintenance crew at C & C Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, he had retired in 2009, hoping to enjoy the rest of his life in comfort. But fate has dealt him a cruel blow. Two years after he left his employers, the engineer now lies almost prostrate in his 260, Murtala Mohammed Way, Yaba, Lagos residence battling renal failure. The problem has been diagnosed to be chronic by St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. Since the ailment hit Adeyinminu in 2011, relations have been wheeling him to the hospital twice a week – Tuesday and Friday - for dialysis. He coughs out N70,000 weekly, that is N3.36 million per annum, to sustain life. Now, he has exhausted his savings as well as the resources of his wife. With a puffy face and heavy-laden heart on a couch in his living room, Adeyinminu said: “Doctors told me it has got to a stage now that I cannot continue with dialysis because of adverse effects; that I must do kidney transplant as soon as possible.” But the snag is that he needs N6.5 million for the life saving surgery. The hospital has written severally to Adeyinminu’s relations since the ailment was diagnosed. In one letter dated 27 July 2012 signed by Dr E.L Bamgboye, FWACP, consultant transplant/nephrologist at St Nicholas, the hospital said that Adeyinminu was diagnosed with “chronic kidney disease, secondary to hypertensive nephrosclerosis.” The hospital counseled “on the long term management options and advised that a live donor renal transplant confers the best ‘quality of life’ in established end stage kidney disease.” Bamgboye outlined the cost of renal transplant at St Nicholas at: •N5 million deposit covering the cost of all pre-transplant investigations in recipient and one donor including HLA Typing and Cross-match sent to the united Kingdom and Renal Angiogram in the donor; cost of donor nephrectomy and actual transplant surgery; post operative admission for donor and recipient for two weeks post-transplant; two weeks of anti-rejection drugs post-transplant. •N1.5 million for the first year for the recipient to remain on regular immunosup-
pressives to prevent rejection of the graft. “Even though not to be deposited, the unit would seek reassurance that he would have access to these funds (N1.5 million) over the period,” Bamgboye stated. “The renal transplant can be arranged as soon as a suitable donor is identified, preliminary investigations concluded and the necessary deposit has been made,” Dr Bamgboye said in the letter. Having exhausted all his savings on dialysis, Adeyinminu has no hope of raising this huge sum of N6.5 million except through public spirited Nigerians. Although his former employers gave him about N200,000 at the initial stage of the illness for dialysis, the company has washed its hands off the case saying his health is no longer its responsibility. Also, the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, the first tenant Adeyinminu brought to C & C Towers on Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, was not willing to assist. The sick man said following a letter for assistance he wrote to the company, its board met but decided that the NLNG should not treat individuals any longer. And Adeyinminu’s pleas to Governors Babatunde Fasola and Olusegun Mimiko of Lagos and Ondo States respectively, have not elicited any favourable response. In his letter to Governor Fasola dated 26 February 2012, Adeyinminu had pleaded: “Going through your record of human kindness Sir, I see myself as someone who can also benefit, since you don’t discriminate. I therefore seek your financial assistance for this surgery to enable me stand on my feet again. The good Lord will continue to bless Your Excellency Sir.” Adeyiminu has found a donor. But he lacks fund for the surgery. And the longer the surgery is delayed, the more his pains. The left hand on which an artery was joined to a vein for dialysis is almost dead. Yet you feel the rush of blood like a flowing stream in it. “I have been to hell and back,” he said, adding “It is traumatic.” Consequently, the traumatised man has appealed to Nigerians for assistance. “I want able bodied men and women to assist me now to raise N6.5 million before it is too late. I will be eternally grateful to such people. I have exhausted my savings. I live on friends now,” he said. He appealed to philanthropists and public-spirited Nigerians to send their donations to Isaac Adeyinminu, First Bank Plc, with account number 2012530290.
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News
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
1.1m forms UTME sold Tambuwal lauds Kukah, urges religious difficulties as •Sales closes Feb 26 been claimed and we would
MOJEED ALABI
T
he Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has formally announced that the sales of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination forms would end on February 26 while the Paper Pencil Test mode of the examination would hold on April 27 in all centres nationwide. This was disclosed yesterday by the Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, while fielding questions from journalists at a news briefing in Lagos. Ojerinde, who disclosed that a total of 1,000,100 candidates had so far registered, added that of this figure, only 4,000 would be using the new computerbased testing method (CBT) while the rest would use the PPT and DBT methods. He also debunked the allegations levelled against his organisation that candidates were having difficulties accessing its web page. “There couldn’t have
have registered as much as 1,000,100 within the last two months or so. Most of the hiccups experienced in very few places are those artificially created by unaccredited cyber cafe operators. “Once your cafe is not accredited by JAMB and you don’t have our special codes, there is no way you can access our site. Another issue is that of low bandwidth being used by some of these cafes,” Ojerinde explained. He noted that the issue of accreditation was to close the loopholes created by some cafe operators whom he accused of cheating students by generating fake numbers for applicants, adding that the body had improved its technologies to beat sharp practices. While debunking insinuations that the CBT system may fail owing to the peculiar perennial challenges facing the country such as epileptic power supply, the registrar said Nigeria cannot exist in a vacuum and so must prepare to meet the global growing demands
leaders to preach peace, harmony
S
peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday advised religious leaders in the country to preach love, peaceful coexistence and inter-religious harmony. This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam,
made available to newsmen in Abuja. Tambuwal gave the advice in Kafanchan during the thanksgiving mass and 60th birthday anniversary of the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah. The anniversary was organised by the Catholic Community of Anchuna Catholic Church in
Kafanchan council area of Kaduna State. The speaker urged religious leaders to emulate the exemplary conduct of Bishop Kukah whom he described as a humble and committed religious leader who has used his God-given talent and energy in building bridges across religious divides.
His words: “Bishop Kukah is one religious leader who believes in the universality of the world and, therefore, dedicates himself to the service of humanity and unity of our country. ``I, therefore, call on religious leaders to emulate the bishop’s efforts in promoting inter-religious harmony.”
Orji Kalu alleges plans to print presidential campaign posters in his name
A
former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, said he has uncovered plots by his successor, Chief T.A. Orji, and some of his close aides to blackmail him by printing and pasting presidential campaign posters for 2015 in his name. Kalu, in a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser, Oyekunle Oyewunmi, dissociated himself form such posters. He said any poster proclaiming him as having declared for the presidency remains the handiwork of political enemies, who have become more desperate in the last few weeks. He said those behind the move are allegedly led by Orji’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Charles Ogbonna. Kalu said they perfected plans to roll out the posters all over the South East,
with the major aim of putting a clog in the wheel of the reconciliation efforts of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and to create confusion in the party. Kalu stated that he is not seeking any political office, for now, and does not need anybody to sponsor the printing and pasting of his posters. He said since Orji could not stop his re-admission into the PDP, he had adopted deceitful antics and actions to cause confusion between him and the leadership of the party. He advised the governor to face the reality and stop chasing shadows. He further stated that his decision to rejoin PDP was to add value and strengthen the party in Abia State, the South East and Nigeria at large.
NIGERIA IN BRIEF
R-L: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr. James Olotu and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Power Reform, Mr. Olarenwaju Egberongbe, during the vice president’s meeting with Nigerian Independent Power Project contractors NAN in Abuja, yesterday.
Maku commends Obi for quality projects in Anambra CHARLES OKEKE AWKA
M
inister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Labaran Maku, yesterday described as amazing the quantum and quality of developmental projects executed by the Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi. Maku, who led Good Governance Team that concluded inspection and
evaluation of governments and private sector projects in Anambra, said that it was a thing of joy that Obi had transformed the state since he assumed duty in 2006. He described the famous 165 metres Odor Bridge, linking the Awgwu and Amaokpala communities in the state as a wonderful project that should be commended adding that the project was the most amazing
Don urges FG to implement policies on agricultural extension
A professor in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Oluwasegun Adekunle, has urged the Federal Government to implement policies on agricultural extension for food sustainability. Adekunle, who teaches in the Department of Agricultural Extension, made the call yesterday while delivering a lecture entitled: ``Key to Unlock’’ in Ilorin. He said for any government to succeed in the agriculture sector, it must imple-
ment good policies on agricultural extension. “The country was involved in too much food importation which is detrimental to the agriculture sector in the country,” he observed. Adekunle warned against high wage bill of food importation and made case for agricultural extension as a key to unlocking the immense food potential in the country. He explained that a well focused
agricultural transformation programme was usually sustainable, provided it was targeted at the small-scale farmers. ``The Federal Government should ensure that small-scale farmers are involved in the design and implementation from the onset of farming activities. ``This should also be manned by efficient personnel and supported by strong extension services,’’ he urged.
he had seen constructed by any state government since the tour started. Speaking during the Town Hall meeting at Women Development Centre, Awka, Maku said that Obi had distinguished himself not just in the magnitude of projects he has executed, but more significantly in the area of spread of the projects down to the remotest parts of the state.
Editor’s note On page 25 of the Praise and Worship section in today’s Sunday Mirror, headline for the page should have read, ‘What it means when you eat in your dream, by Pastor Adewumi’ and not ‘What is means when you eat in your dream, by Pastor Adewumi’. We regret the inadvertent error.
Charles & Sylva consulting set to roll out Charles&Sylva Consulting, a Lagosbased outfit is set to roll out a new solution in consulting services in the country. Chief Operations Officer of the company, Gbenga Dasylva, said, “Charles & Sylva Consulting will create unforgettable positive experience for manag-
ers, oorporate bodies that are strategically positioned to affect lives”. He insists that the way the company was positioned was clearly defined right from inception. The consulting services involve the notion of management training as it does not only engage managers
and team leaders, but everyone involved in organisational activities. “We are committed to giving our clients great value for their money; we are overwhelmed by the support we have received so far and are hoping to get more as far as recommendations for our services are concerned”.
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Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER JANUARY 27, 2013
When you left university in 1978, you definitely must have had a Nigeria of your dream. Looking back now, would you say those dreams have been met? Definitely not. Don’t forget that the Nigeria that I was in 1978 was one where I was able to go to the university on a scholarship. I was in the university where we slept three in a room, ate three square meals a day for a token and graduating with a degree that could hold its own anywhere in the world. I am not sure that that is the Nigeria of today just taking the perspective of the university system. So the Nigeria that I was in 1978 is definitely not the Nigeria that we are in today. So that is not the dream I had. The dream I had at that time was a better Nigeria than I was experiencing at that time. But I think today one cannot say that is the case. The Nigeria of that time, I don’t even recall the issue of not having light; you know it wasn’t an issue. I can’t even remember how it was but power and security were not issues. We would travel from Ife in the night and didn’t have any fears. We cannot say the same for Nigeria of today and so for me in answering your question directly, definitely the Nigeria of today is not that of my dream. I had the dream of a better Nigeria.
Corruption is fuelled by faulty judiciary –Jimi Agbaje Mr Jimi Agbaje, pharmacist and politician, was the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 election in Lagos State. He is also a member of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG). In this interview with Ayo Esan, he speaks about the state of the nation and his political future. Excerpts:
What really is the problem with the country? Some people believe it is systemic, others say it is as a result of bad leadership. It is a combination of factors but for me the system does not even encourage bringing about the best and the brightest for our country. The system we run is a compromise one. It is a system of godfatherism, nepotism and mediocrity. That doesn’t help because it brings about the issue or, let me say, problem of corruption. That is why you have corruption. It is a system where values do not matter. These are some of the problems that we have today and that is the cause of the rot that we found ourselves. Are you saying there is no hope for the country? Yes, there is hope. Definitely, there is hope. I am one of those incurable optimists that believe Nigeria is going to change. And it is going to change in a way that people will be surprised because it is just to be in one or two unexpected areas that Nigeria will change. But definitely it will change. It will change because it is not a sustainable system that we run today, and something will change it. We are an enlightened people in this country. We know what is right and wrong. It is just that we are not yet decided as a people to take the right path. At a public lecture you delivered recently, you said that the country will
Agbaje
undergo reformation. How will that happen? The lecture has to do with the elite and the leadership. I think I was making it clear that the elite are those that are going to be mostly affected or, let me say, that are most affected when there is problem in the country. They are the ones that are in the best position to transform this country. It was a wake-up call to the elite to wake up and make that change possible if not for any other reason but for their self preservation because the truth is that they are the ones that would be hit most in the event that this country
continued to deteriorate. You mentioned the issue of corruption and one wonders why there is high level of corruption in the country. How do you see the trend? I think our judicial system is faulty. I want to throw the challenge to all those that are involved in the judicial system, the Bar, the Bench, the law enforcement agents and all. This is because you have a system that does not encourage prosecution. We run a system where you can play around with the system and drag on your matter for years indefinitely until all those
that are involved are tired of it. That is not a system that fights corruption and that is the way I see it. So we need to challenge all that are involved, the lawyers, the judges, the law enforcement agents. Why is it so? Why is it that in other countries of the world they are able to fix their cases. They said they are going to have cases in three days and they finish it within three days. If they allocate one week, they will finish in one week. When we allocate our own, we adjourn and we keep adjourning until everybody is CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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Interview
Sunday, January 27, 2013
WHEN WE WERE
FOR ME THE SYSTEM
HAVING ROBBERY AND
DOES NOT EVEN
WE STARTED KILLING
ENCOURAGE BRINGING
ARMED ROBBERS, IT
ABOUT THE BEST AND
DIDN’T STOP ARMED
THE BRIGHTEST FOR OUR COUNTRY.
ROBBERY.
THE
I THINK
WHAT MATTERS IS
SYSTEM WE RUN IS A
THAT YOU CAN BE
COMPROMISE ONE Agbaje
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
LOCKED UP Agbaje
‘I don’t support capital punishment for those guilty of corruption’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
tired. That is not a system and I think they should all be made to be responsible and made to return to the table and see how that system is going to work. Because when there are no deterrents then, everybody gets away with it. In Nigeria if you have money, you believe you can buy your freedom. Some people have suggested that we should have capital punishment for those found guilty of corruption. Do you support this? I am not in support of capital punishment. Personally, I believe that the moment people know that they would be caught and they would go to jail, they will change. It is enough deterrent. It is not until you kill people. When we were having robbery and we started killing armed robbers, it didn’t stop armed robbery. I think what matters is that you can be locked up. The problem today is that people don’t even believe they can be locked up. At best they will charge you to court and you get bail. Once you get bail you can begin to apply to go to Hajj or go for medical treatment. So it is just a big joke. Another issue in the country is the Boko Haram insurgence in the North. Recently, some northern leaders urged the Federal Government to dialogue with sect. What is your take on this? I think it is a carrot and stick thing. In the first place, if you want to go for dialogue you must know those you are dialoguing with. The person you are dialoguing with must want dialogue. And he will want dialogue if he knows that it is a process that is ongoing and he can actually be a loser. The only way he knows he can be a loser is to use the stick. The carrot is at the point where you say okay, I am only beating you but let us save your face and let’s talk at the table. At one point in time, you are going to dialogue because they (themselves) would surrender for dialogue but at this point in time I can’t say I know much about the intricacies of what is going on. I do know that it is a stick and carrot approach. As a pharmacist, you must be worried about the high rate of fake drugs in our market. How can we curb the menace?
I am concerned at the preponderance of fake drugs. The reality is that we need to check our distribution channels. We have a chaotic channel of distribution in this country and hat is not helping the fight against fake drugs. We must streamline the drug distribution in this country. Drugs are not sweets or other commodities that everybody should be handling. It should be left to those that are trained to handle them. Until we begin to streamline seriously the way drugs enter this country and in whose hands they are given, the problem will persist. Even those countries that have streamlined distribution channels still have elements of fake drugs entering their system. But because there is sanity, they are able to identify and withdraw those drugs. We have no system and until we streamline the distribution channels, for so long, we would be fighting this monster. What role do you think the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) could play alongside NAFDAC in curbing this problem? PSN is a stakeholder and an interested party in ensuring that the distribution is streamlined. It is NAFDAC’s responsibility of course to eradicate or at least minimise to the barest minimum the issue of fake and adulterated drugs. They can be partners in this process and also with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and the law enforcement agents in the country. Recently, some political parties were deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) which was the platform you used to contest the 2007 election was one of them. How do you see the de-registration of the DPA? My position is that the constitution does allow for freedom of association. I am not one of those people who advocate that we should have two-party system in this country. I believe in multi-party system. I believe people must have a choice as to where to go and how to associate. To that extent again, I am also conscious of the fact that we probably have too many parties but the reason why we have too many parties was because government was funding those parties. I am of the opinion that parties should be allowed to form. They should not be funded by
the government. Immediately you stop to fund them, you know it’ll get more difficult and many more people will run away from forming parties. Even those countries that people talk about like the United States do not have only two parties. United Kingdom has more than three parties. Even China has eight other parties apart from the Communist Party. This model of two parties is like going back to the military era where you have to take A or B. It is like a gang-up by the political class not to give you room to breathe. Countries across the world allow independent candidates, so what are we talking about? INEC has also suggested that after 2015, we should have our elections in one day. How do you see such a suggestion? If it is what they think they can cope with because it is a question of logistics. The only thing is that, God forbid, if anything goes wrong on that day, then everything collapses. I mean if you recall the 2011 election, the first elections were cancelled. If we had fixed all elections on that day we would have lost a lot of resources because all the ballot papers we would have to print again. The most important thing is for INEC to convince us by 2015 that they are up to the task of handling the logistics. In 2007, you ran an impressive campaign for Lagos State governorship. How were you able to achieve that? Again, people thought you would consolidate on that in 2011, but you failed to come out. Why did you stay away in 2011? I think in the campaign for 2007 governorship election, we were able to sync with the public. In other words, they saw us as genuine people who were after the development of the state. I think that helped in the campaign. We were able to sell ourselves for what we are and that also helped. 2011 was not for me simply because it was clear that Lagosians were satisfied with what they have. Some of us are not professional politicians who run for office just for running sake. We got into this because we believed we can make the difference. If you believe that there is a difference being made and that your coming in may in fact drag us back, it is only wise to stand
clear. We decided that it was not necessary to run. It is like you are giving Governor Fashola a pass mark. Now that he is completing his second term, should we expect you in 2015 Lagos gubernatorial race? The first thing is that I have to join a party because I don’t even have a party at the moment. Our constitution doesn’t encourage you to remain in politics if you are not in any party. I think the first challenge for me is to determine the political party I will join before we talk about 2015. It is after joining a party that I will now decide whether 2015 is possible or not. In the preparation for 2011 election, you were at the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) convention ground and we remember that an ACN flag was presented to you but you turned it down. Why did you turn down the overture from the ACN then? I was at the convention representing my party. The National Chairman of my party was invited to that convention. He stays in Akure and asked me to represent him at the convention. That was why I was at the convention. I was then representing the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA). The issue of taking the party’s flag would not arise because that would be totally out of character. If they send you on the platform of a party and then you go there and defect, because that would have amounted to a defection, so that definitely could not have arisen. In your search for a political party platform, are you considering the ACN? I just said that I am looking at the parties and I am trying to decide on which party I am to join. All options are open. What is your assessment of our democracy in the last 13 years? Very slowly in developing. We should be moving faster. I think we need more credible people playing politics. A lot of people are going to politics just to take over the resources of the state and that is dangerous for our politics. We need people who are going there because they want to make a difference in the lives of the people. To that extent, I would say that our democratic experiment is moving very slowly.
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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES JANUARY 27, 2013
WE CAN FAULT GENERAL OBASANJO IN SO MANY AREAS, BUT ONE AREA YOU CAN NEVER FAULT HIM IS HIS LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY. THERE ARE VERY FEW NIGERIANS
There are many things wrong with Nigeria –Babatope P 16, 41, 50
Orubebe
LIVING OR DEAD WHO LOVE NIGERIA AS MUCH AS
OBASANJO DOES –SENATOR DAVID MARK
Amaechi
Amaechi, Orubebe face-off: What the ‘combatants’ are not saying SAM OLUWALANA & GODWIN OKONKWO, PORT HARCOURT
T
he fall out of last weekend’s hot verbal exchanges between the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and the Governor of Rivers State-cum-Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum ( NGF), Mr Chibuike Amaechi, has shown that there is more to the altercation between the two prominent Niger Delta political leaders than meet the eyes. The issue, no doubt at the moment, is the hottest political development in the country, especially in the Niger Delta region where both personalities hail from. It is also noteworthy that the two dramatis personae are prominent members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that is fast growing in its notoriety to self-destruct through internal squabbles. Stake holders in the Niger Delta are of the opinion that it is unfortunate that the two personalities are managers of the people’s commonwealth at the federal and state levels and that they are dissipating so much energy and committing much resources that would have been channelled into the development of the country into this seeming unending war of attrition to
the detriment of the masses. As far as the issue of the East/West Road is concerned, both parties could have restricted themselves to the argument of the rehabilitation of the road without bringing President Goodluck Jonathan or his second term ambition into it. Governor Amaechi had genuinely reacted to the slow pace of work on the rehabilitation of the East-West road, especially the Bayelsa/ Rivers states axis, lamenting the loss of lives and hardship faced by motorists who ply the road, suggesting that the Niger Delta governors might be allowed to take over the rehabilitation of the road. The governor, it seemed, was irked by a recent tanker explosion on the road in which about 14 people died - one of the many disasters that have occurred on the road owing to its dilapidated state, saying that the nine Niger Delta states would take over the project in view of the alleged inaction of the Niger Delta Ministry. But Orubebe in his response took the issue out of context imputing political coloration when the matter was purely that of the development of a certain section of the country covered by his ministry. At a press conference in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, Orubebe stunned his audience and the rest of the country when he threw caution to the winds and alleged
that Amaechi was supporting the move to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from getting a second term ticket in 2015. He said, “in America, people within the same political party do fight, but once the president emerges, everybody will sheathe their swords and support the president to succeed so that America can get the best. But is that what our president is getting? That is not what he is getting. “Unfortunately, the man (Amaechi) has forgotten that it was by the grace of God that he became the governor of Rivers State. He has forgotten so soon. He has arrogated to himself, powers that he does not have. It is God that has powers. Today he sees himself as the governor of governors and he begins to feel that he is even bigger than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But I want to let him know that God is still God. He must have respect for the Presidency. He must have respect for the President of this country,” Orubebe fumed. “It is sad. It is unfortunate that people from the South-South, even governors, particularly Governor Rotimi Amaechi, have no respect for the President of this country. I think this is the right time we should let him know and I have decided to speak because this is the time to speak,” the minister added. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Briefly Tribunal dismisses petition against senator’s election Plateau North Election Tribunal at the weekend dismissed the petition filed by the Congress for Progress Change (CPC) against the victory of Senator Gyang Pwajok in the October 6 byelection in the district. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice A. A. Adebara, ruled in Jos that the petition was ``an abuse of court process’’. The CPC and its candidate in the election, Mr Tony Agaga, had urged the tribunal to annul the election on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the name of the candidate and denied him the right to contest. ICPC’s lead counsel, Prof. Sylvester Shekyil, had argued that Pwajok of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not validly elected since Agaga was denied the right to contest the election. But before filing the petition at the tribunal, CPC had brought another case at an Abuja High Court seeking the annulment of the election on the same grounds. In a judgment delivered on December 20, 2012, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Abuja Federal High Court, ordered Pwajok to “stop parading himself as the senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the Senate”. Ademola said only the court was constitutionally empowered to disqualify persons from contesting elections and that INEC was wrong to have conducted the election when CPC and Agaga had challenged the disqualification of the candidate from the contest. The judge also directed INEC to ``solve the problem and conduct a fresh election in 90 days’’. He also ordered INEC to include the names of the plaintiff in the ballot paper before any byelection could be conducted. The court, however, said that only the election tribunal had the power to cancel the election. While alluding to the Abuja judgment, the tribunal chairman wondered why the petitioners should be seeking for a relief they had earlier sought and obtained at another court. “Having obtained similar reliefs at the Abuja court, the petitioners should have withdrawn their case from the tribunal.
Bayelsa govt vows to complete 90% of ongoing projects Bayelsa State Government has promised to complete 90 per cent of ongoing projects in the state within one year. They include 41 road projects, 18 buildings and a diagnostic centre. Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Lawrence Ewrudjakpor, made the pledge in Yenagoa at the weekend when he conducted newsmen round some of the project sites. The tour is part of the activities marking Gov. Seriake Dickson’s one year in office. Ewrudjakpor said the decision of the administration to open up the state was to attract investors. “Our dream is to make Bayelsa the Dubai of Africa. Gov. Seriake Dickson has given us the task and it must be accomplished,” he said. The commissioner said when the Dickson administration came into office, the state lacked physical infrastructure and as such the government was determined to develop the state. Ewrudjakpor said the Dickson administration was determined to make Bayelsa to catch up with other states in the South-South zone in infrastructure development. The projects include the reconstruction and expansion of Ekoli bridge, Tombia-Etegwe road, Eradiri road and the Bayelsa Airport road.
Dickson
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Politics
Sunday, January 27, 2013
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There are many things wrong wit Chief Ebenezer Babatope (OFR) is a former Minister of Transport. He is at present a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain. Chief Babatope who clocked 70 years yesterday, speaks about his life and the state of the nation in this interview with Ayo Esan. Excerpts: How was your background like? It was like any other background any youth would have passed through. My father was a clergyman. I grew up in the Methodist Mission House and my father ensured that he impacted Christian education on us. I have never felt sorry that my father was a clergyman. When you were growing up, definitely you must have somebody that you were looking up to. Who is your role model? It was obvious that my role model was Papa Obafemi Awolowo when you talk about Nigeria. When you talk in terms of Africa, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was my role model. When we were in secondary school, then I added Professor Wole Soyinka. We all loved his way of doing things, especially his fight for the rights of the oppressed people of Nigeria. But Papa Awolowo was definitely my role model. I met Papa Awolowo at the age of 11 in 1954, at Ifaki when he came to address a political gathering. The Action Group members in the city then organised a reception for him and as a young star I was delighted to see Papa Awolowo the way he was marshalling out his points. I said God Almighty should make me to be somebody like Awolowo. When I was in secondary school too, my principal who is dead now, came to the classroom one day and asked what would be our life ambition as students. I remember saying to everybody that my ambition was to be the political secretary of Papa Awolowo. Twenty years after that time, I became the Director of Organisation of the party he led, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). You said Chief Awolowo was your role model and in 1978 you became the Director of Organisation of the UPN, an indication that you were very close to him when he was alive. How would you describe him? Papa Awolowo was a wonderful, great and highly disciplined person. He impacted knowledge on all his associates and all those who took him as their leader. He was exceptionally disciplined and exceptionally programmed. When he woke up between 4.30 a.m. and 5.00 a.m., he would have itemised what he wanted to do for the whole day. And he would achieve it. Apart from that, when it came to food items, Papa ate very little breakfast; he didn’t take lunch at all but in the evening he was there for his dinner or supper. The average number of hours he would spend on table for his supper would be three hours. This is because he believed that the food was important enough to be respected. That is why I have told people that even if the president of America came to visit Awo without giving his notice of coming during his dinner Papa would beg him to give him time to finish his food. He would spend three hours. He enjoyed taking his Ovaltine and honey. When you see Papa stirring his honey and Ovaltine, you would love to be a part of it. No food of Papa Awolowo contained pepper. But those of us who were
his associates, Segun Osoba and the rest of us, I mean Papa had these three journalists that he called the three Musketeers: Segun Osoba, Felix Adenaike and Peter Ajayi, who is dead now. They always took part with Papa in dinner. Then our leaders, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the late Chief Bola Ige, Olanihun Ajayi and later Abraham Adesanya, all would also take part in the dinner and so many other leaders usually joined Papa at dinner table. He was always very serious with his dinner. All of us would take Mama’s soup because it contained pepper and Papa would not take it because he didn’t eat pepper. Apparently he was a different person, and he was a stickler for time. If you invited Awolowo for a function and it is to start at 1 o’clock, by five minutes to 1 o’clock, Papa would be there. If you are not ready after 20 to 25 minutes, Papa would leave. He was highly disciplined. He wrote great books out of a disciplined mind. My March Towards Prison was written and then there was the volume 2, Travails of Democracy. The other was Adventures in Power. He couldn’t complete the third one which could have been titled For the Good of the Man. You cannot do this without being a disciplined person. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve under him because my life has been enriched with what I have been taught by the life and times of Papa Awo. You came into politics at a young age and you have remained in it till now. Looking at your participation in politics, do you have any regrets? I have no regrets at all. I have no regret for being a radical activist, a student leader, a trade union leader and whatever. I thank God for what He has made me to be. Even when Obasanjo as the military Head of State dismissed me from service alongside my other friends, I wouldn’t say so. Edwin and Benedicta Madunagwu, husband and wife; Comrade Ola Oni, Professor Bade Onimode, Professor Obafo Onoge. Ola Oni, Onoge and Onimode, they have died, we were all sent out of the university system. I also went to detention three times, twice under Gowon and the third time under Buhari. The one under Buhari took me 21 months to complete. Why must I regret because apparently that is part of the nature of being in a political struggle. Looking back, in the last 70 years, which day would you describe as memorable? Many days are memorable to me but the day that Nigerians voted for MKO Abiola as president even though the result was not released, was a very good day for me. I looked at the past and said so Nigeria could be this? In the First and Second Republic, you could not imagine that someone from outside the North would be voted for to be president of Nigeria. At a particular time in the history of this country, a feudal cabal in the North believed that Nigeria was simply an extension of their private family compound and so nobody can aspire to national leadership except you are from the
Babatope
North. We ended all the attempts that were made to stop Papa Awolowo from becoming president. If what obtained in 1993 were what obtained when Papa contested election in 1979 and 1983, he would have given this country a good, progressive and visionary leadership that everybody would be proud of. Those things did not happen because the cabal believed that anybody from outside the North must be stopped. But in 1993 they bowed and voted for Abiola. Not only that, even when we had an Abiola/Kingibe Muslim-Muslim ticket, the Christians all over Nigeria closed their eyes to that factor and voted for Abiola/Kingibe believing that was what could best be the match for the governing of Nigeria. Also, the day I became a lawyer and I was admitted and called into the Bar was my happy day. Conversely, what was your worst day? It was the day my mother died. I was her pet. She died in my final year in the university, at a young age of 53. I wept because she did very much for me. You mentioned the issue of 1993 election and the fall out was your participation in the Abacha government as a minister. This was seen as not too good by some people, especially in
Amaechi, Orubebe face-off: What the ‘combatants’ are no CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
Having ventilated his angst over Amaechi’s alleged political ambition, the minister now decided to respond to the issue that Governor Amaechi raised in his statement. According to Orubebe: “He (Amaechi) was saying that the governors of the Niger Delta want to take over that East-West road. The resources of Rivers State are so enormous, but I can tell that there are so many villages in Rivers State that have not been connected by road. Port Harcourt used to be the Garden City of this country. Today, Port Harcourt is a slum. You cannot move in Port Harcourt. I think that he should concern himself with utilising the resources that are in there to develop Rivers State and the people of the state. I expect him (Amaechi) to talk, if he is performing like Akpabio. If today the governor of Akwa Ibom State is talking about those things, I will tend to listen, sit down and reason with him, but not Governor Amaechi of Rivers state. He is only talking. Almost the roads he is talking of are abandoned. Nothing is going on in Port Harcourt. The people are crying. He should think of doing that.” However, despite his tirades against Amaechi, Orubebe inspected prog-
ress of work on the projects in Warri, Kaiama in Bayelsa State, Port Harcourt and Ogoniland in Rivers State and Eket and Oron in Akwa Ibom State two days later, an action that suggested that Amaechi’s statement had gotten to him and had galvanised him into action, a development that must have interested and gladdened the minds of the people of the region. However, after the inspection, Orubebe could only offer lame excuses for almost all the projects being undertaken by his ministry as there was certainly no noticeable progress in them, thereby confirming the statement made by his opposing gladiator, Amaechi, and much to the chagrin of the people of the state. According to Orubebe, the inspected sections of the road alone have 42 bridges, with 32 completed and 10 ongoing and 768 culverts, with 740 completed. Sand-filling is expected to be completed in June. He said that the recent collapse of parts of the road was caused by last year’s massive flooding. Amaechi, who was away in Houston Texas for an investment forum, responded to the alleged presidential ambition Orubebe alluded to, stating that he had no presidential ambition and that “those behind the rumour are those who don’t like Rivers State.” Chatting with journalists after the
forum and a town hall meeting, in far the task ahead of him was to govern dent of Nigeria. “The assignment I have for now is t er person thinks this man has ambit that is the reason for which Rivers Sta bad. I have said it that they don’t like R they should show us evidence that th comes to Rivers State they have tak security helicopters, agricultural ma Anything we applied for, they will ne plied for that we have successfully go explained. The loaded statement revealed tha ning battle with the agents of the F working against the interest of the s dential ambition. On the issue of the East-West road has been entrusted with that positio
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM OFR PUBLISHER All the Facts, All the Sides STEVE AYORINDE
MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BOLAJI TUNJI
SUNDAY EDITOR
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COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD
ADESOYE ADEKOYA
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ISE-OLUWA IGE
ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF
KAYODE BALOGUN JNR
SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
CALLISTUS OKE
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
FRANK OBOH
HEAD, GRAPHICS
The war to save Mali T
here is rekindled hope of salvaging and protecting the territorial integrity of Mali, the West African country and Nigeria’s distant neighbour torn by civil strife since January last year. With France, the country’s erstwhile colonial master, committing itself militarily to the conflict; and Britain, Germany, Canada and even the United States promising logistic and intelligence support in the multilateral rescue plan, getting the All African-United Nations-backed ground force in place to complement the efforts of the Malian armed forces seems all that is needed to send the warning signals to the rebels in the north that its mission to overrun the country and institute a Taliban-like regime with the full compliments of sharia jurisprudence in a secular country, is an exercise in futility. Indeed, reports last week indicated that French troops have liberated some cities in the northern part of the country hitherto seized by the rebels. To his credit, President Goodluck Jonathan has provided the needed impetus for mobilising the West African force by his decision to deploy soldiers in Mali penultimate Thursday to give a helping hand in the French drive to root out the rebels and arrest the threat they pose. Nigeria has committed 900 soldiers as well as jets to the anti-rebel operation; while Chad has confirmed sending 2,000 troops. Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo have equally pledged their commitment to the noble cause. They will, between them, mobilise 3, 300-strong West African troops, based on a UN Security Council resolution. Mali came under ferocious assaults from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the Al-Qaeda-linked Is-
lamist Ansar Dine, both Tuareg irredentist groups in the north of Mali, in January 2012. Armed with sophisticated weapons and experience from their exploits in the Libyan conflict that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, it was easy for the rebels not only to overrun the northern part of the country, which they since occupied, but to threaten Bamako, the nation’s capital. The anxiety from this unusual development accounted for the military seizure of power from President Amadou Toumani Touré on March 22, 2012. However, global and African pressures forced a negotiated settlement that ended in the enthronement of an interim civilian government headed by 70-year-old Dioncounda Traore in the embattled country. But the prospect of the institution of a Taliban-like regime in Bamako with the success of the revolt had persisted. Flashes of what to expect from such arduous Al-Qaeda-backed extremist administration are seen in the banning of music; public whipping of alleged adulterers; and the destruction of UNESCO-listed ancient Sufi shrines (considered as un-Islamic), among others, in the occupied north. That the occupied northern part of Mali had become the haven for training Islamist terrorists that are deployed to spread violence and mayhem in parts of Africa is another strong reason to deter the rebels. It is within the context of the larger security challenge posed by Islamist rebels that we support the globalised offensive launched to save Mali. Allowing the ‘Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)’ to have a foothold anywhere in West Africa, including Mali, portends grave danger for the sub region and, indeed, the entire African continent. Already, the presence of AQIM in northern Mali has exacer-
bated the insecurity situation in the turbulent Sahel region with many of the countries coming under serious anti-democratic and irredentist pressures. Nigeria, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic are examples of such threatened polities. It has been established that the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria enjoys strong support from the Islamist group. Not arresting the Malian crisis will further expose Nigeria to the likely influx of subversive elements and refugees from the embattled country (Mali), given the nation’s porous northern borders stretching hundreds of kilometers. But whereas the military approach might help remove the threat to the corporate unity of Mali, it might not address the socioeconomic-induced grievances of marginalisation and impoverisation constantly touted by northern Malians as the basis of the agelong insurrections targeted at the government in Bamako. Marginalisation has remained a common refrain in many multi-ethnic African countries, including Nigeria. As Nigeria’s example has shown, only political solution, which allows dialogue with the aggrieved, seems what is needed. The Malian political leadership must muster the political will to dialogue with the leaders of the rebel groups. We must warn of the consequences of humiliating the leaders of northern Mali and reducing the Tuaregs to the status of a conquered people. It must be understood that they are bona fide Malians. They must, therefore, not be completely alienated from the nation’s scheme of things because forcing them to live in the fringes of political power would turn them into permanent opponents of the government in Bamako.
Reminiscences JANUARY 27 IN HISTORY 1926: England gets birth of television
John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of a television system in London.
1952: King Farouk dremoves prime minister
Prime Minister Mustafa Nahhas was removed by King Farouk of Egypt for failing to keep the peace. He was replaced by Ali Mahir.
1967: U.S. - Three Apollo 1 astronauts die
Three astronauts aboard Apollo 1 (Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II and Roger B. Chaffee) died while still on the launch pad as they were practising for a two-week mission in space.
1973: Vietnam war formally ends The Vietnam War formally ended when ministers from the United States, North and South Vietnam and the Viet Cong signed an agreement in Paris.
1980: Mugabe returns from five-year exile
Robert Gabriel Mugabe returned to Rhodesia, after a five-year exile, in preparation for the first elections in a soon to be independent Zimbabwe.
1984: Michael Jackson receives serious burns
Michael Jackson received serious burns to his head after his hair caught light while singing his hit ‘Billie Jean’ for a Pepsi Cola commercial in Los Angeles when the special effects went wrong.
1993: Wrestler, Andre the Giant, dies of heart attack
The wrestler, Andre the Giant (7ft 4in and 520 LBS), died of a heart attack after attending his father’s funeral in France.
2002: 1,000 die from stampede in Nigeria
Explosions at a munitions store cause a huge explosion in Lagos, Nigeria, which started a stampede of fleeing people, during which more than 1,000 people were killed.
2012: 12 injured as casino site collapses in US
At least 12 people were injured after a partial collapse at the construction site of the Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Opinion
SundayJanuary 27, 2013
Uncensored U nc
Sheriff S Folarin
E-mail: sheffie2004@yahoo.co.uk 08094217972 (SMS only)
T
he timing of this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is significant. Sixteen countries are gathered in South Africa to square up against one another in soccer contests that will ultimately produce a winner after three weeks. Among those nations are Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria and Nigeria. The four states mentioned have something in common: internal strife is tearing them apart! Islamic terrorists and Tuareg insurgents in Mali; Al-Qaeda in Algeria; Boko Haram in Nigeria; and the fearless M23 in DR Congo. As CAF Conman-in-Chief Issa Hayatou leads other soccer maladministrators to Madibaland to prosecute the so-called “African Unity Games”, African leaders also gathered in Abidjan and later Addis Ababa to explore ways of overcoming the security problems that are turning more African states into Banana Republics. The emerging situations particularly in the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali and Nigeria demonstrate a gradual (or in some cases rapid) paling into insignificance of sovereign power in the continent. In the senior division of the league of Africa’s Banana Republics are Somalia and Libya, which are already going stateless; while in the lower league is Guinea Bissau, where the army has banished democracy and has turned into a theatre of war. CAR tops the list of emerging failed
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The African War of Nations states. Here, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels of neighbouring Uganda, has since the end of the dynastic reign of Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa, been making incursions, which have forced the populations of several towns and villages to flee, while government forces struggle to contain the situation and more recently, the defence forces caved in while the rebels pushed government to the fringes. The CAR President, Francois Bozize had to cry out to the international community to come to his aid in overcoming the apparently more powerful rebels, which demonstrates the obvious fact that the government is at the mercy of the rebels. In neighbouring DRC, the M23, a rebel group made up largely of DRC army deserters and former Rwanda rebels in the 1994 genocide episode, has shown more military tenacity as it recently sacked Goma, the government’s stronghold and was going to force the Joseph Kabilaled administration out of power when the international community waded in. The most ridiculous about this particular DRC case was that the government military retreated and fled for the M23, leaving the people they swore to defend to their fate. Today, Kabila and his war commanders are at the beck and call of the invincible and audacious rebel M23 as the latter is the one drawing the course of movement in the peace talks. No wonder, the DRC people have launched a major outcry against the obvious powerlessness of the state in the face of national adversity. Mali is a member of ECOWAS where Nigeria holds sway as the “regional police”. Incidentally, since January 2012, several insurgent groups have been fighting a campaign against the Malian government for the independence of Northern Mali (Azawad). The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), backed by the Ansar Dine, an
Islamist group which can be likened to Boko Haram in aspiration and probably operations, is seeking to have Azawad as independent homeland for the Toaregs. They have taken control of the place since April 2012, chasing the Malian military far away from Azawad, and governing it as a separate entity in the face of the collapse of the government authority over the region. Coupled with a military coup and the goring of the Malian leadership by the young soldiers, Mali’s sovereignty is currently far-fetched. Mali is at the moment competed for by the civilian government, the mutineering National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDR) soldiers, the MNLA, Ansar Dine, and another vicious Islamist group called the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MOJWA), a faction of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The consequence is the plundering of the historic cities of the ancient Mali and Songhai Empires, such as Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu. Nigeria, the famed powerhouse of Africa is the most unlikely country to be cited in this category of Banana Republics. However, despite the disagreement with the doomsday prophesy of overzealous Western security analysts and reports that it would fail by 2015, the ominous manifestations in the polity in the last two years do not indicate otherwise. They affirm an earlier date. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) once ambushed it to surrender to its blackmails. The Nigerian State has been patronizing that one with amnesty running into billions of naira. After MEND came Boko Haram, an Islamist, more vicious terrorist group that has shown superior strategy, execution and firepower than the Nigerian military hitherto famed for heroic performances in UN, AU and ECOWAS security operations.
The Boko Haram group strikes at will, kills whomsoever it wills, and pushes the government’s buttons to the limits. Yet all government could do is offer lame and patronizing defensives as well as beg the group to sheathe its sword or agree to dialogue with it. Government accepts all trash from the confused group and seems to have lost the spanners to unscrew the state of insecurity. Smacking from the apparent loss of state force, other antisocial elements, including kidnap rings and robbery gangs now contend with the government for the monopoly (or de-monopolization) of the legitimate use of force. The recent increase in the spate of anarchy depicts a major defect in the social and political engineering of the African State. The dearth of role models among the states and leaderships in the continent has been the springboard for all sorts of nonsense taking place. Sit-tights who prefer to commit state resources and military might to regime security are sacrificing peace and unity on the altar of selfishness. Hence, they can do nothing in the face of national insecurity. The re-emergence of praetorian guards may be Africa’s fundamental undoing. Where civil society dies, the old bones of oppressionism will rise from the graves. A true commitment to democratic ideals and an exorcizing of the societal ghost of bad leadership will be a mileage to stemming the ominous tides. And what is even the difference between the failing African states and the failed CAF and AFCON where Hayatou and his company of fraudsters (sorted match commissioners, incompetent and compromised referees, as well as legion of zombies) would engender anything but unity among Africans? •Dr. Folarin is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Political Science/International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
Impressions from Good Governance tour in Abia DENNIS AGBO
W
hen the Minister for Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, conceived the idea of National Good Governance Media Tour, he said that the real intention of the project that involves inspection of projects embarked upon by both the present administrations of the federal, states and even the local government tiers, was to discuss performance in governance as the real issue of democracy. In Maku’s opinion, Nigeria’s 14 years’ experience of the present democratic governance would be meaningless if the people are not getting real value for their desire for liberal democracy in objection to military autocracy. He said that for a long time since 1999, the issue of politics has been dominating discussions more than addressing the dividends of democracy in terms of performance on projects that impact meaningfully and directly on the people. For Maku, performance on projects, either visible or invisible, is what the people desire more than the person or persons that govern them, and so suggested that what the leaders have been able to do for their people, using government fund should be thrown up and let the people make evaluations themselves
on how they have fared. He promised and has insisted that the media tours will not be a yardstick for comparing or contrasting state administrations but that all projects will be highlighted and decision or opinions about leaders and their administrations would be formed by the people concerned. In agreeing with Maku, I also admit that we have not been discussing developmental issues in Nigeria, rather issues of personality dominate the media more than what the politicians are doing for the society. It is either the flexing of muscles among major political stakeholders in a state is being discussed or calculations of how the next election would be conducted either at the federal level or at the state levels. Taking Abia State for an example, before last week when the National Good Governance team made up of the information ministry staff, journalists and representatives of the civil society, visited the ‘God’s own state’, the impression one had was that no meaningful development was taking place in Abia State except for allegations and counter allegations of Godfatherism and flexing of muscles between the state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji and his predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. Stories were equally told of how the issue of insecurity particularly kidnapping had
stalled development in the state. Truly, the spate of kidnapping in Abia State rose beyond imagination but with the combined efforts of the state and federal governments, the case has at least for now been brought under control if not eliminated. When Governor Orji spoke at the citizen’s forum, a town hall meeting that usually concludes the tour in any state; he said that kidnapping in now a mission impossible in the state. Though the governor himself admitted that the above two issues were distractions of his administration, particularly in his first tenure, he rose against them and has put lasting legacies in the area. The team was taken to projects like the Abia Diagnostic centre, the Eye centre and Dialysis centre. On the ground at Umuahi is the Judiciary complex, industrial and commodity markets of large capacity that is already in use, structures like the commissioners quarters, international conference centre, new state secretariat, house of assembly complex, Amachara General hospital, BCA complex, among other legacy projects. There are also so many road projects both in Umuahai and in Aba townships. Though it was difficult to visit all the projects embarked upon by Governor Orji, the team also visited federal
government projects sited within the state that complements the efforts of the state government. Such Projects as the NIPP Alaoji power plant, Gas turbines and Ohiya sub-transmission station, the railway rehabilitation and many more are projects that when full completed will accelerate development in the state. There is the Goemetric Power plant being put by Prof. Barth Nnaji as a private investment. Now the issues arising from the National Good Governance Tour are the practicality of governments at work despite political distractions. The tour has also made the world to know that sometimes governments are either under reported or misrepresented for different reasons. The Abia experience is a case study in this instance, where abinito, the world was made to believe that nothing is going there except violence. Governors like Chief T A Orji who are not used to propaganda are most times misunderstood. It is therefore important that emphases are laid on issues of development other than primordial sentiments while other political leaders who take excuses for non-performance should take a trip to Abia State and copy the ‘Ochendo’ strategy. •Agbo is National Mirror, Enugu State correspondent
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Applause LIFESTYLE, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 27, 2013
Life has taught me never to be in hurry for anything –Oge Okoye, actress If you think scandalous stories rob Nollywood star, Oge Okoye, of her sleep, then you are far from the truth. This wife and mother of two, says such things don’t bother her so long as they are false. She tells Adaeze Amos in this interview that her daring roles pose no problems to her marriage, among others. How does your hubby react to some of your daring roles? It’s not a problem or a big deal because he understands my job and what it entails. Can you therefore act a nude role? I won’t act a nude scene or role because of our culture and my family. A lot of scandalous stories have been written about you. How does that make you feel? I can’t really answer that because I don’t allow any inconsequential story or gossip worry me because I know that I’m in the public light. Some are there for you and others aren’t, so it isn’t much of a problem. Are you saying you are not moved or perturbed? Whatever scandalous stories that have been written about me don’t move me one bit as long as I know they are not true. Why should I make a fuss of such stories! They are baseless. What lesson has life taught you? I have been taught by life never to be in a hurry for anything. It will come when the time is ripe. I will never say never. What words do you have for up-and-coming acts and your fans? I will tell them what my mom usually tell me and that is: do that one thing you think you cannot do, fail at it, try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. I hold on to those words all the time. I’m giving the same words back to my fans and aspiring actors. Dream it, believe it, work towards it and it’s a done deal. When you are not on location, what do you usually do? When I’m not on location, I spend the time with my family. Of late, I have been spending a better part of my time visiting the less privileged homes, schools where I share my joy with them and meeting up with their needs in my own little way. I encourage the kids and let them know that if they take educa-
‘LIFE WAS TOUGH GROWING UP’
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tion seriously, the sky would be their starting point. I tell them to be getting ready for the new Nigeria because they are the future tomorrow. How many children have you? I’m blessed with two children. How do you balance your acting career with motherhood? It’s pretty difficult at some point but I have been able to put all in line and fill up the margin by striking up a balance in my home and place of work. I wouldn’t want any part to suffer. Everything has to do with planning and I have capable hands to look after my children when I’m not in town. How was your girl-hood like? My girl-hood wasn’t different from others, nothing out of the ordinary. My girl-hood was as good as the girl next door. I lived a quiet, prayerful and girlish life whereby I loved adventures. I tried out new things, partying and making new friends. Really, nothing much I can remember of. What other things are you into apart from acting? Nothing for now. I put in 100 per cent attention to my family and acting career; that is all. This is a handful already. When I’m into other things, it will be known to the media. But I wouldn’t forget to say that I have set up my non-governmental organization, which is known as Positive Life for Children Foundation. This is about to be launched. The foundation would be CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
STAGE FRIGHT IS NO LONGER IN ME –MARIAN MAKBERE, MISS TOURISM
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Applause
Sunday, January 27, 2013
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‘Life was tough growing up’ Call her Joy Burknor, you are right. Or better still Shani J, you are in order because that is her stage name. This diva who received a degree in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife says growing up wasn’t easy at all as her mother parted ways with her dad and she was raised by her father alone. She tells Adaeze Amos how difficult it was growing up without the love and guidance of her mother. You are a popular diva; how did you develop the passion for singing? Mine started right from childhood. I have the voice, so why not music? I’m sure you have heard my music. Many have because it is being played on the radio and television. I sing emotional songs. I could remember that I started singing in the church when I was young and I was rehearsing all the time. I also took up piano lessons because that also helped me to train my voice because my voice coach used piano to train me. That was how I developed it. I see my music as God-given. What inspires your songs? Life in general inspires my songs. To me, life is not rosy; it is full of ups and downs. There are times that God brings you out from terrible situations. He does that so that you can also help other people. The only way you can help other people come out is to sing about it. I do it through songs that would inspire, encourage people. Those are the things that inspire me. Life generally is full of challenges. People just want to hear some words to be encouraged. What inspires me is to be able to come out and minister to people because that to me is ministration. That is touching lives through music and not just singing jargons. One needs to sing to edify. When you talk of challenges of life and terrible situations, have you had any of such situations you want to share? Yes! For instance, I never knew my mother throughout the time I was young. I knew her just for a short period of my life. She and my dad separated and my siblings and I were raised by my father alone. You know when you are raised by a father alone, it wasn’t easy because he was always travelling to make a living. When I was eight, I was the one who stayed with my younger ones while my dad was away. It honestly wasn’t easy for me. When I had my menstrual period for the first time in my life, I never knew what it was. There was no mother to guide me and I couldn’t open up easily to my father about that. There was nobody I could confide in. I hid it from my father for a year. It was when he caught me one day and I had to lie to him that it was my first time. Growing up wasn’t easy in terms of my father playing roles of both father and mother to four children. The finances weren’t there. Getting money was daunting task and the kind of work my father was doing made him travel regularly. Life was tough then, I mean very tough. That was why and how I came to discover God early so that He could take me out of terrible situations of life. I thank God he has brought me out. I can relate with people who are not sure of what to eat the next day. Having gone through a lot in life and now things are a lot better, how do you wish to give back to humanity? I want to be able to impact into more lives knowing that there was a time it was tough for me. I got this thought in my head that when you allow man to use you, you become more useless but when you allow God, you become even more useful. God can use you to touch more lives effectively. That is what I’m busy with right now. Let people see the God in me. Let them know the kind of God I serve. That is what I tell God in my closet. I tell Him to use me; I’m available, whichever way he wants to use me. I don’t have a plan. He can change my plan. I’m flexible for Him to change. What is that fashion blunder that puts you off? It is the colour riot thing. Mixing different colours and at the end, you end up looking like a masquerade. Have you committed fashion blunder before? Definitely. You have high and low moments. It’s part of life. Today you may look very hot and tomorrow it becomes a different ball game.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
‘My hubby doesn’t frown at my daring roles’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 tackling the issue of the brilliant but less privileged children and children with special needs anywhere in Africa. Some of your colleagues’ marriages have crashed, and for others theirs are threatening to hit the rock but yours has endured. What do you do to keep yours stable? Nothing out of the ordinary. I have been holding on to God tenaciously. What have you been doing to pay back to humanity having attained your present height? I’m saddled with the prime responsibility of ensuring that less privileged children live a positive life and make meaningful impact in the society. I want them to become agents of positive change in Africa. I want to ensure I help them to discover themselves and become who and what they want to be n life. This I do by building and empowering them through scholarships, painting and renovating dilapidated facilitates in schools. Also by providing sandals, school bags, books, writing materials and other gift items to schools and orphanages. What determines your dress sense? The occasion. My outfit will surely go in line with the event. My nails, hair and make-up have to complement my outfit. What does style mean to you? Style to me is the expression of my personality, wearing what suits me, what really fits and being trendy too.
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Cocktail Whispers
Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan
0818 941 8761 e-mail: lumidezy@yahoo.com
JANUARY 27, 2013
Tunde Soleye, Nike Oshinowo end marriage? marriage. But They have had six years of blissful marr ria ia iage Bu ut if the latest information reaching Cocktail Whispers is anything to go by, then it seems that the marriage of celebrated businesswoman, Nike Oshinowo, and Dr. Tunde Soleye, is facing a hard time. Cocktail Whispers learnt that for a couple of months now, the former lovers have been living apart as they tried to sort out the issues between them. However, recent information revealed that the former beauty queen has finally packed out of her matrimonial home, signalling the end of her marriage to Dr Soleye. According to a source, Nike now lives in Victoria Island while her ex-lover is currently residing in Ikoyi. Interestingly, it appears that the high society lady and her ex-hubby are trying to make their split as scandal-free as possible. Cocktail Whispers learnt that though their marriage may have ended, the very gorgeous Nike Oshinowo and Dr Tunde Soleye are very much on talking terms. In fact, it was gathered that the former lovers still consider each other as friends.
Dangote acquires luxury yacht He has been dubbed the richest man on the continent of Africa. And it seems that billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, is living no one in doubt that he has what it takes to live the life of the rich. The latest gist in town now is that Dangote has just bought a luxury yacht said to be worth millions of naira. According to the information at Cocktail Whispers’ disposal, the new yacht, which is called Mariya, is custom-built for the multi-business owner. Dangote’s latest acquisition, it was learnt, arrived in Nigeria a couple of days ago and is currently sitting at Walter Carrington Crescent on Victoria Island, Lagos. It was also gathered that the popular businessman is very excited about the arrival of the yacht and might be cruising on it very soon.
Peter Okoye and Lola Omotayo welcome baby girl These are certainly a time of celebration for the one half of celebrated pop group, P Squire, Peter Okoye as Cocktail Whispers can reveal that he and his wife, Lola Omotayo have welcomed the arrival of their baby girl. Named Aliona, Cocktail Whispers gathered that Peter and Lola’s bundle of joy was given birth to in America a few days ago. Just so you know, Aliona is the couple’s second child as they already have a son called Cameron. He was given birth to in 2008. Feelers reaching Cocktail Whispers has it that Okoye, who is currently beside his wife and the new born in San Francisco, is so much excited and thrilled about being a dad for the second time. It would be recalled that Okoye, his wife and son have been away in America holidaying for a while now.
Zaaki Azzay gets UN Peace ambassadorial award After the alleged wife battery accusation by his estranged wife that seemed to have jolted his music career, popular Nigerian singer, Zaaki Azzay, now has a reason to smile and perhaps make peace and dish out more exciting music for his fans. According to the latest feelers reaching Cocktail Whispers, the torchlightcarrying music star was honoured with a United Nations Ambassadorial award. Zakky Azzay was among the few Nigerian celebrities decorated as UN peace ambassadors in Lagos a few days ago.
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
& ovies Music M Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan 08189418761 e-mail: lumidezy@yahoo.com
If you have go own in a music thrill music fans sas, then this ma have been waitin ey along the way. SarewaAfrica, a being packaged to cal talents into the
A year after, son opens up on Lekinson’s death, drug, career and women Wednesday, Jan 26, 2012 was one of such sad days when one woke up with the news that death has dealt the Nigerian entertainment industry a blow. That was actually the day Lekan Oladipo a.k.a. Giorgio Lekinson, a foundation member of the Yoruba genre of Nigerian home videos, lost the battle to cancer of the lung. Interestingly, Lekinson’s disappearance from the movie scene before he died early last year remains the reason some movie buffs still find it hard to believe that he is dead. It would be recalled that Lekinson, who would forever be remembered for his slangs and good interpretation of the role of a fraudster in most Yoruba films, battled with drug related problems and when family and friends thought Giorgio Lekinson had cheated death, the gifted actor passed on. Barely a year ago and when many people may be wondering if Lekinson left a grown up child who will step into his shoes, it’s amazing that Babatunde Oladipo, Lekinson’s eldest son, has picked up the trade where his father left it. With just three years in the industry, Armani Arante as the Yabatech graduate of Business Administration is popularly called, is leaving no stone unturned to hit the spotlight at one shot. Apart from picking roles in popular films like Omolabake, Oko Obinrin, Figurine, among a few others, Armani Arante is getting set to hit location for his personal film project that may come after premiering Irosun Meji, Lekinson’s last movie which he never lived to release. Recalling how he got into acting, Babatunde Oladipo said, “Apart from the fact that I picked after my father, to be a successful actor has been my childhood ambition but my father did tell me to finish my education before going to acting. My passion for acting grew when I started following him to movie locations. While in higher institution, I opted for Business Administration because of my love for banking job but life later played me its card as I’m back to my first love which is acting”. Little or nothing might have been read about the life and death of great Lekinson, Armani revealed the private parts of his father. “It’s no doubt that my father was a ladies’ man but it may shock you that my mother remained his only wife and they had two kids together, I and my younger brother, Abiodun. “My father’s drug problem could be traced back to when he went to India to study acting. On his return, my mother noticed his change of attitude and one day she caught him sniffing a white substance suspected to be cocaine, which led to a serious argument and fight. “All efforts by family members to persuade him to give up on the bad habit proved abortive. This affected his growing acting career and he was shut out of the scene for some years before he returned as a King in the old popular home video entitled Koto Aiye, in 2002. The dope thing messed up his career before he later quit. In 2007, Lekinson, who was a board member of Osun State’s Art and Culture during the time of Governor Oyinlola, was diagnosed of cancer of the lung. Many thought he would die but Lekinson survived the terminal illness that left him bedridden for two years. He fully recovered and bounced back in 2009 before he eventually died in 2012. “It was a natural death; my father did not die of any sickness as reported. On that sad day, Lekinson complained of tiredness and contemplating of going to the hospital the next day but his elder brother encouraged him to go that day, which he agreed, but he died on his way to the hospital,” Armani revealed. Speaking further about the life and time of Lekinson, who featured in countless numbers of popular home videos, his son said, “He was a trained actor who didn’t take nonsense. If I could recollect, the last thing he told me was, I should be wary of unnecessary intimacy, to always be myself. And Lekinson told me point blank that he needed a grandson. At the moment, we are planning a one year remembrance of his death and probably released his last personal film entitled Irosun Meji,” Armani added.
Nigerian Idol: Are hopefuls falling apa
There were some harsh words from the judges’ table last Sunday night, as Nigerian Idols went into the second round of the top 30, and saw some high-flying audience favourites come crashing down to earth after a series of disappointing performances throughout the night. After a stellar group performance of Bill Wither’s Lean on me, that saw many individuals shine, the second round of 10 failed to sparkle, and even the easygoing judges, Yinka Davies and Jeffrey Daniel, joined guest judge, Naeto C, in criticising the lackluster performances that occurred on performance night. Immaculate Victoria was the first on the chopping block for the evening, performing Blame it on the Boogie by The Jackson 5. “You lacked connection with the audience,” said Jeffery, as he told the young contestant off. Unfortunately, Kemi’s performance of Usher’s There Goes My Baby, followed along in the same vein, failing to impress the judges. Mr. Richie’s take on Bruno Mars’ Lazy Song failed to pass muster with the tough judges as well, and a bewildered Yinka had to tell the contestants to “calm down” backstage. The two strongest performers of the evening came from two unlikely sources. The bespectacled Dani Angus—nicknamed “the accountant” by Jeffrey—tried a diva song choice, and it worked. His choice of Mariah Carey’s We Belong Together, was surprising. However, Dani was able to eke out a few words of praise from the
high table. Moses Adigwe gave the str of the night, tackling Amy W Black and pulling it off with agreed: his performance sign tition was back in business. “ today is what we have been l The Nigerian Idol material i Daniels. Overall, it was not a very go Was it nerves or overconfide contestants? Are some favou this early stage? And what d final 10 vying for their own top 12? Tune in and find out t Catch Nigerian Idol on N City, ONTV, Silverbird and and Sundays. Afrobeat lege Femi Kuti, international per fery Daniel, from 80’s disco/ mar, and Nigeria’s soul diva the judges this season, with s bringing us the highs and t the competition. Guest judg on the show while Kuti com throughout the month of Jan The Idol grand prize is wo lucky winner will get N7.5 m cording contract also worth brand new SUV. Runners-up worth a combined total of N1
Mr. 2Kay dr of My Heart
This is a feel-goo music video buffs as Port Harcourt-based Records signee, Abiy known as Mr. 2Kay, h ing new video for h titled Beat of My He coming rapper, Hans Produced by Gra rected by London-ba benedion, the new m in the heart of Lond Mr. 2Kay’s Beat o a simple yet creativ video that will get y lock down.
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Your change is near, says Pastor Okereke
Praise Worship E-mail:richardeghaghe@yahoo.com
E-mail:titusanyanwu.2012@gmail.com
EDIFYING GOD
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Zoe Ministries founder, Anwuzia, stages comeback •Says, ‘I’m back for practical christianity’ RICHARD EGHAGHE
P
resident and founder of Zoe Ministries Worldwide, Rev. (Dr.) Patrick Ngozi Anwuzia, has said that he is finally back to the country for full ministration of the gospel of God. He said he is also coming to set the tone for practical Christianity and ensure greater signs and wonders in the lives of the people, for which the Zoe Ministries is reputed. Speaking in an interview with Sunday Mirror during the week in Lagos, the minister of God who has been abroad for some years now, maintained that the time has come for the manifestation of practical Christianity and greater signs and wonders for the people. “As an ordained and anointed minister and prayer warrior, raised by God with an end-time ministry and commissioned to preach and manifest the power of God for greater signs and wonders in the lives of people, the time is now for practical Christianity in the areas of prosperity in the body of Christ, evangelism, healing and delivering the captives. Towards this end, the clergyman called for the proper training and education of
pastors, as well as planning, coordination and control of their church activities, to remove their focus from materialism and worldly things. “There is the need for proper training of career pastors to show God’s glory upon their lives, especially in the areas of preaching, deliverance, prayers, signs and wonders, which cannot be underestimated in changing for good, situations, circumstances and even environment, no matter the complexities.” He expressed concern over the lingering security challenges confronting the nation, especially the Boko Haram insurgence, lamenting that evil men have permeated the hierarchy of the leadership of the country and that it would take only the grace of God to bring them to book. “I am shocked and disappointed over this development because Nigeria should have passed this stage, I see it as a design by devil to cause confusion and division in Nigeria and the only solution is fasting and prayer to destroy the powers of all the principalities and provoke the spirit of God to come down in all its might”, he said. Anwuzia is one of the pioneers of prosperity televangelism, with his style of preaching on television “arresting” so
Pastor Anwuzia
many souls, especially the women folk. Pastor Anwuzia, no doubt, added spiritual flavour and colour to soul winning Zoe Ministries, which has its headquarters at the Orile-Iganmu end of Surulere and branch at Ikeja. However, the church fizzled out of public glare, following alleged sex scandals and the shooting of the OgwashiUkwu-born founder, who was immediately flown abroad for treatment. On his return, however, Anwuzia kept a low profile.
Singer D’Bling turns pastor ADAEZE AMOS
N
ollywood act and popular singer, Lindsay Amaka Udeagulu, fondly known as D’Bling, was at the weekend sighted at O’Jez restaurant, Surulere, Lagos, preaching the gospel of Christ. Our correspondent observed that the diva was clutching a Bible as she preached the gospel to some young men. “My advice is that you drop this habit of drinking beer. It’s alcohol and God frowns at it,” she told them. The guys looked at her in awe as if to say, ‘see who is talking’ but that didn’t stop her. She continued: “Or better still, anytime you see me around, please don’t take strong drinks that are intoxicating in my presence.” They listened even as some wondered and asked in their minds whether Saul was
among the prophets? When asked what moved her into that kind of counselling that sounded more like a church sermon, this United Nations Peace Ambassador said that God has indeed touched her. “I have God’s calling in my life and this is the real me.” The men present couldn’t but looked at her in awe. “Oh yes, I have been called of God. The real me has the fear of God but you see, what people perceive of me is a far cry from what I’m saying, probably because of my appearance. They just see D’Bling, going here and there with her jewelry on. “But I think it’s high time people knew the real me. The real me is a God-fearing Christian, spirit-filled and down to the earth. It is no sin being a celebrity and a woman of God. There is nothing wrong in being a fashionista and a spiritfilled Christian.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Briefly Seven Catholic bishops call for far-reaching reform Seven Catholic bishops in England have joined Anglican, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu religious leaders in calling for “far-reaching changes in the global economy”. The bishops signed a statement by a lobby group, the Jubilee Debt Campaign, urging governments to cancel “unjust debts” and to introduce “progressive” taxation. The statement said: “Over the last 30 years there has been a series of debt crises culminating in the present one in Europe. A self-serving financial system has brought the global economy to its knees and we are now seeing the poorest people in our own society and around the world paying the price for this excess. “That is why we ask people everywhere to join in calling for a renewed Jubilee. Finance must be put back in its place as a means to human well being. We need far-reaching changes in the global economy to build a society based on justice, mutual support and community.” The bishops who signed the statement were Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark, Bishop Christopher Budd of Plymouth, Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton, Bishop Terry Drainey of Middlesborough, Auxiliary Bishop William Kenney of Birmingham and Bishop John Rawsthorne of Hallam. They were joined by 37 Church of England bishops as well as representatives of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Zoroastrian faiths.
Sunday Mirror/Babcock University Bible Quiz: Winners of January 20, 2013
• John Godwin (08057356446) •Gamaliel Joshua (08035223576) • Current and past winners can collect their prizes from the office of the Editor, Sunday Mirror, 151/161 Broad Street, Lagos anytime from Monday to Friday. Participants should always indicate their names when sending their entries.
QUOTE The spiritual is more important than the physical and joy is a spiritual force that terminates any evil Lindsay Amaka
WHAT IS MEANS WHEN YOU EAT IN YOUR DREAM, BY ADEWUNMI
–Pastor Olusore 25 CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT MURMUR, SAYS PASTOR OLUSORE
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Praise & Worship
Sunday January 27, 2013
Nigerian church, part of our success –British MP
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Nigerian church in London has won praise from the British Parliament for being “part of the success” of the community, just as she condemned acts scapegoating immigrants in the United Kingdom. A member of the British House of Commons, Margaret Hodge, gave the commendation at the Good Neighbourhood Scheme Awards where leaders and public servants were honoured in London by the Living Faith Connections, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Commending the RCCG local parish in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, the British MP said the church has been “part of our success, “ in a London community where according to her one in every five persons is an African or a Caribbean.
Speaking after receiving the GNS award, Hodge, representing the borough commended the church for supporting the work of the local councillors and said the African and Caribbean communities were “an important and growing part of a really wonderful place to live.” She said, “We must resist scapegoating immigrants and promote multi- racial, multi-ethnic and multi-faith community.” She argued that scapegoating exposes the wickedness of “the extreme right.” At the awards designed by Pastor Christian Adeoye, a long standing senior pastor in the UK, Nine dignitaries were honoured for their immense effort and contribution towards improving the lives of community members in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, UK.
The award recipients included local councillors, a headmistress and the Member of Parliament. The founder of the awards scheme and the senior pastor of LFC, Christian Adeoye, said the initiative was launched to celebrate the outstanding achievements of people in the community who had sacrificed time and effort to build a better, thriving borough. Pastor Adeoye said, “What shapes any neighbourhood or community is the people that are there – their hard work, commitment and tenacity.” He acknowledged that the community “is not there yet”. However, he said it was proper to honour people who had set examples by pouring so much into the community, driven by their desire for change and progress.
Obasanjo to chair BSN founder’s day
…as Adeboye prays for accountants, bankers RICHARD EGHAGHE
F
ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo will on Friday, February 8, 2013, preside over the fifth founder’s day annual lecture of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), with the theme: “Selfless Service: Key to achieving sustainable National Economic Growth and Development.” The programme features Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, one of Nigeria’s prominent professors of political economy and management expert, and a former presidential candidate, as guest speaker. The Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, is expected to be honoured at the event, with the award of ‘Selfless Service to God and Humanity’, along with the first Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier General Mobolaji Johnson, (rtd.) and Chairman/ CEO of Modandola Group, Sir Bode Akindele. The event, which holds at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, according to a release by BSN, will have Dr. Jackson Gaius -Obaseki, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as special guest of honour, while former Head of State and Patron of the Bible Society of Nigeria, General (Dr). Yakubu Gowon, is expected to attend as Father of the Day. His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, will also grace the occasion as the Royal Father of the Day, while captains of industries, among other distinguished personalities, are being expected. The Bible Society of Nigeria is a non-profit-making interde-
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‘I have God’s calling in my life’ CONTINUED FROM Page 23 Wondering what department of the vineyard has she been called into? “God has called me into counselling and deliverance ministry. You know I’m very strong spiritually.” She said her looks had nothing to do with her faith. Her golden hair and heavy jewelry, she said, don’t make any difference. “Normally people have the impression that you must tie your hair with scarf 24 hours of the day. No, that is not the only way of serving God. Holiness is right inside the heart. I don’t know why a lot of people are so judgmental. They are good in condemning the next person. The Bible says ‘thou shall not judge.’ “It is only God that has the power to judge a man and not a human being. You see this thing is in the heart, it is inside. Nobody should judge me by my physical appearance. God decides whom He calls and not human beings and He has called me,” she explained. But how is this actress and musician sure that it is the almighty God that called her? “I now have a personal relationship with God. I knew it right within me. This is not for critics to begin to talk about, it’s about you and God. I mean, by the time they begin to see the difference and changes in me, I know that people would be encouraged to embrace God.” This would really surprise a lot of people, “yes, I know but you don’t allow what people think or what they feel about you deter you from answering the call of God when he calls.” She added, “I think in the nearest future, I would be a pasto; that is why I have been telling God in prayer to give me the knowledge, wisdom and understanding on how to go about it. Reason being that if He gives me wisdom, knowledge and understanding, every other thing would fall into place.”
Why we pulled out of CAN –Catholic Church
Ex-President, Obasanjo
nominational Christian organization that translates the Bible into local languages, publishes, distributes and raises funds for Bible work. So far we have the complete Bible in 20 Nigerian Languages, the New Testament in 60 local languages and one book or another in 98 languages. She gives Bibles free to old peoples’ homes and orphanages, people with visual disabilities prisoners and women of easy virtue, among others. Meanwhile, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejaye Adeboye is scheduled to have a prayer session with all categories of accountants, bankers, auditors and personnel
C Pastor Adeboye
from financial institutions across the country. The programme is being held in view of current global social-economic uncertainties and predicaments, particular in the financial sector. The special prayer with theme, “Divine Treasure”, is scheduled to hold on Sunday, February 3, 2013, at the RCCG Headquarters’ Church, (Throne of Grace), Redemption Way, EbuteMetta, Lagos. Addressing a press conference in Lagos during the week, a close aide of the G.O and pastor in charge of Special Duties at the Headquarters’ Church, Pastor Goke Aniyeloye, said the programme was to further bring to pass, the prediction of Pastor Adeboye, that “in
this year 2013, many will be lifted up; many will be blessed and many will get wealthier”. He added that this could only come to pass with prayers. He pointed out that “God has spoken but we still have our own part to play and that is why “we are making use of the banking sector as a point of contact to the entire citizens of this nation. “We have the assurance from the almighty God through our father in the Lord that when others are falling, you will be standing tall this year; while others are failing, you will be succeeding; and for you to become an embodiment of success, you must have contact with the God of success”. He stressed.
atholic Church of Nigeria at the weekend gave its reasons for withdrawing its membership from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The Diocesan Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, at a news conference stated that the Catholic Church suspended its activities in CAN because it was too close to government. But the Director of Communication, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev Fr Raulph Madu, while speaking to a reporter of one of the national dailies maintained that the CBCN did not pull out of CAN, and that the body was only trying to clear some issues with National Christian body. He said that the body only withdrew temporarily from CAN, which will only last for a few weeks, adding that there was no squabble between the two religious bodies. According to him, “how can we pull out of CAN, we are just trying to iron out some issues with them, which are not palatable to us and it is only going to last for a few weeks. “We will always be in support of the National Body; some of our Bishops head CAN in some states, like Owerri, among others”.
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SundayJanuary 27, 2013
What is means when you eat in your dream, by Pastor Adewunmi Prayer presiding Minister, Pastor Segun Adewumi, in this lecture, explains the implications of eating in the dream. Excerpts:
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promised in the last Sunday edition of this paper to explain today, how believers are spiritually superior to the demonic agents consisting of witches and wizards, even at the realm of the spirit which is the intangible dimension of the earth. But as a result of enquiries especially about the implication of bad dreams, I have chosen to treat “Eating in the Dream” this Sunday; next week is when the nature, profile, duty and other activities of “The Guardian Angel” that protect and provide for believers will be explained.
We actually have three types of dreams. They are Natural Dream, Inspired Dream and Demonic Dream. Eating can happen in any of the three types of dreams. Implication of the eating depends on the type of dream where the eating took place. Eating could be a natural dream experience that has no consequence whatsoever in the life of the dreamer. The situation of the mind, hunger at bedtime and some other reasons may account for having meals in dreams.
Natural dreams
Falling asleep when dinner is being prepared and thus sleeping in hunger may lead to dreaming about the expected supper or any other food depending on how wide the mind wonders. Similarly, a constant exposure to the sight of a particular menu or dish to which one could have no access may lead to dreaming about such a meal. For example, a waiter or house help may dream of himself facing a whole roasted or fried chicken, which is certainly above his means and which he only sees when serving his boss. The constant sight of the dish coupled with the desire to eat it may cause him to have dreams about the dish. One may also eat in his sleep when he embarks on a fasting exercise to last several days. Dreams of eating may occur in the first few days because the body reacts to lack of food and results in fantasy of eating.
Inspired dreams: Eating the bread of life
Men of God could be inspired when dreaming by being given a spiritual object to eat. It is a fact that God marks his servant and sets them aside until they are
Adewunmi
needed for specific assignment. They are armed with the necessary weapons for the assignments at the commencement of their ministerial activities. The supper of Jesus Christ which is demonstrated as Holy Communion today is often given in dreams by Jesus Christ himself to convey power and approval. This is a common conversion experience among real Christians. It is very biblical too as shown in how Isaiah had mouth touch with a live coal through a Seraphim. “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the
voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me”. Isaiah 6:6-8 Similarly, John was given a little book by an Angel which he ate. It was sweet in his mouth but made his belly bitter. It was the authorities of his prophecy to the world. “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” Rev 10:10-11 It is evident that the power of the lord and indeed his authority could be bestowed in dreams by eating up the spiritual symbol of such authority.
Praise & Worship Eating in demonic dreams: Poisoning
One of the means by which Satan sow tares among the wheat is when poison is given as food in dreams. “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”. Ps 69:21 “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also”. Matt 13:25-26 Eating unusual objects like charcoal, black or red clay, human or animal waste, black soap, Kola nut, fermented or spoilt decaying meat, maggot or germs, hair etc in a dream connote poisoning for the dreamer. Poison may be directed at the body, mind or spirit. This is a classic way demonic sickness enter people’s lives. Mental illness, epilepsy, leprosy, tuberculosis, hypertension, migraine and some other deadly diseases are sowed when people eat any of the above in their dream. Though the diseases have natural causes, the chance of contacting them are made possible by certain manipulations at dream. Once tares are sowed on the spirit personality in a dream the victim attract the relevant forces in normal life and become easily vulnerable to these sicknesses. This situation can also cause Rejection, Dejection, Depression and other social problems. Stealing (especially Kleptomania) and other negative psychotic mannerism like drug addiction, alcoholism, love of violence etc are also inflicted through food poisoning. Faith and decent manner can also be removed in the same way, when the poison is projected against the mind of the person concerned. When one is to be delivered of an ailment such as ulcer for instance, care must be taken to prevent Satan from sending the tares removed from the body to the mind through food poisoning. If Satan succeeds in doing this, a strange negative behavior might replace the sickness the person has just been delivered of. This is like a mere transfer of the problem from the body to the soul. Prayer must continue until a dream reversing the situation is experienced. To become a witch, a person must have eaten the forbidden fruit and crossed the forbidden line into unrighteousness. Unrighteousness is achieved through the violation of sacred law. “For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off ”. Lev 17:14. See also Deuteronomy 12:23-25, Lev 7:26, Eze 33:24 and Acts 15:19 Satan induces his own to vio-
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late sacred law. When meat is eaten or blood is given (drank) in a dream, it is a direct initiation into witchcraft, sometimes blood is presented as palm-oil. The parallel that happens in the physical realm are with edible object like kola-nut and in fact any food item can be used. During initiation into a cult, kola-nut stained with the blood of the grandmaster and that of devotee is usually shared and eaten. The powerful witch present may manipulate the situation with magical power without anybody knowing. The devotee at night will find himself floating over his own body and joined by others will experience his first astral journey to the meeting place of the witches. Having eaten the blood of the grandmaster, the devotee is cut off from the presence of God and comes under the total control of Satan
Conclusion
In demonic dream, eating is defilement of the flesh same as having sexual intercourse in dream. Eating in dream generally abort blessing and cause promise and fail. It leads to having spirit of dishonor and ill luck. Eating in dream can cause stagnation and hatred; those that eat in the dream are the spiritual slaves. A spiritual slave is that person that has a mark on him or her which attracts the invasion of his or her life by the demonic agents. If one find some people paying undue attention of looking intently at him, most of the time such a one can be a spiritual slave. Demonic people easily identify him and would concentrate their attention on him especially if they board the same bus together. Whoever usually eat in his dream may also experience other bad dreams such as inability to climb the hill, finding oneself in an old school or old house, picking of snails and other dreams that cause delayed blessings and failure to the dreamer. The worst of such experiences is when the victim is pressed down at sleep. We also have those that meet with cobwebs or spider webs on the street in the day time. Whoever experiences any of the above needs prayer of deliverance? It is the way demonic agents manipulates and steal the destiny of the special people. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev12:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Rev 13:17 •For counseling, contact Pastor Segun Adewumi on 08039425631 Or Email: pastorsegunadewumi@gmail.com
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Praise & Worship
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sunday January 27, 2013
Your change is near, says Pastor Okereke In this message, the General Overseer of Global Success Ministries, Pastor Chima Okereke, a church in FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin Lagos, dwells on divine transformation as it concerns those God chooses to help. Excerpts:
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ob 14: 14 states that, “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time, will I wait till my change comes?” This is a great philosophy from a man who was once a multi-billionaire but suddenly became bankrupt. Job once had 10 children but just in one day, they were all gone. The best thing to do is not to give up, rather, wait for a change to the former state or to even something better than that. So, as he waited, truly, his change came in the book of Job 42:12-13. So, the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had 14,000 sheep, and 6,000 camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters.” When his change finally came, the Lord doubled all he had. If you go to the book of Job 1:3, you will discover that he had 7000 sheep but after his change, it multiplied to 14,000; he had 3,000 camels but after his change, it multiplied to 6,000, and he had 500 yoke of oxen but after his change, it multiplied to one thousand. Five hundred she-asses multiplied to one thousand. This story is an example of the type of change expected in our nation and in the lives of many Nigerians, who were once doing well but somewhere along the line, something happened and they lost their positions. But I pray for someone that in the name above every other name, be restored in double fold in Jesus’ name. Change is one major thing that is constant in life. Believe me, very soon, if you hold on to the faith in our Father in heaven, your change must come in Jesus’ name. Let’s see more examples of people who waited for their change and it came. Abraham is one good example of a man who waited for his change and it finally came. In the book of Genesis 12:1-3; God told him to get out of his father’s house unto a land He (God) would show him and that He would bless him. Abraham obeyed and in Genesis 13:2, riches actually started coming his way but Abraham had so many challenges. Pharaoh took his wife, and when that was over, there was strife between his herdsmen and Lot, his brother’s son. In the book of Genesis 14:1-19; the enemies came and took away Lot and his goods. He (Abraham) recovered all but the greatest challenge he had was that his wife was barren. In Genesis 15:1-6, God brought him out one night and showed
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he police have arraigned a church elder and five others before a Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged production and sale of methamphetamine, a narcotic substance. The accused persons are Elder Jerome Ukwa (63), Anslem Okolie (35), Augustine Umeodiegwu (48), Kenneth Aharawuma (27), Ejike James (30), and Patrick Okolo (54). They are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on the offence.
him the stars of heaven and said to him ‘that is how your children shall be’, he believed God and God counted it to him for righteousness, but many years passed and nothing happened. So, in Genesis 17:1-19; God changed his name from Abram to Abraham and his wife Sarai to Sarah. Actually, this spiritual secret is true that as long as he continues to answer that name given to him by his father, who was an idol worshipper, and his wife the same thing, the expected child would not come. Name is very important. I will speak on that next week. After changing their names, God said to Abraham, ‘Your wife shall bear a son and you shall call him ISAAC’, and Abraham laughed. I know that certain conditions are making a lot of people to doubt when you tell them that they will soon rejoice. I have good news for someone, before the end of this year; you shall laugh last in Jesus’ name. In Genesis 18:1-15; some great visitors came and announced to Abraham that the waiting is over. I prophecy to someone today, from now on your waiting is over in Jesus’ name! In Genesis 21:1-6; Sarah had to laugh last because God gave them a wonderful covenant son Isaac, when Abraham was hundred years old and Sarah ninety years old. They waited until their change came. There is someone out there, you have been waiting for all these years, possibly you have had promises that were not fulfilled, but this time around you shall soon celebrate in Jesus’ mighty name. Let’s take just one more example from the book of life. In Genesis 37:5-10; Joseph had a dream. That which signified that he would be a ruler over his brothers and one day, that even his father would bow to him. His brothers were angry and in Genesis 37:2030; his brothers planned to kill him but later changed their mind and sold him to the Midianites who later sold him to Portiphar. But in Genesis 39:20; Joseph, who was to be a ruler according to his dream was put in prison. He waited for his change to come. So, one day, Pharaoh, the King of Egypt had a dream and no one else could interpret his dream except Joseph. In that name above all other names, very soon Kings shall be in need of your services. When Joseph was brought into Pharaoh’s palace according to Genesis 41:14-44, Pharaoh told him the dream that he (Pharaoh) had, and Joseph interpreted the dream and even proffered solution to the famine that will befall the
land. and. S o , from that
day o n P h a r a o h made him Prime Minister er of Egypt. It did not take long, in n Genesis 42:5-9, his brothers came and bowed down to him. There is someone whose eyes have seen this message, I prophecy to you that hat your dreams shall never die in Jesus’ name. Okereke Your change shall surely come, but what do you do? In Isaiah 41:10; the Almighty God said ‘I will help you’, if you are waiting for your change to come, trust in the LORD because Jeremiah 17:5 says “Cursed be that man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, whose heart departeth from the LORD.” You cannot trust someone you do not love. In Matthew 22:37-40; “Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Your change must surely come this year as you love God and demonstrate this love to people who need your assistance which you are capable of rendering. You must stand firm and trust God until your change comes. All those people who had concluded on your case shall be disappointed because God has never closed your chapter. No matter how long you have waited, believe it, this time around you must celebrate. Habakkuk 2:3 says, “The vision is for an appointed time.” This is your appointed time. You just have to take a great decision to be more committed to God this year.
May the LORD bless you mightily. I love you all with the love of Jesus Christ. •For more enquiries; please send text messages only through the following numbers: 08067802407,08054076402 for prompt attention
Briefly
Holy Ghost Wonder service at GSM
A Holy Ghost Wonder service, with theme, “Divine Visitation” (1 Sam. 16:1-13), has been programmed for the first three Thursdays of the month of February 2013 by the Global Success Ministries (GSM). The programme which holds at the main auditorium of the church at plot 34, Global Success Street, FESTAC Link Road, Amuwo Odofin, comes up on Thursday 7th, 14th, and 21st of February from 7.00am prompt, each day. According to the spokesperson of the church, Sister Nkechi, the programme will feature powerful ministration by the founder and General Overseer, Pastor Chima Okereke; praise and worship session, special deliverance and anointing for ‘Greater signs and wonders’ throughout the year.
Church elder, 5 others arraigned They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts. The Police Prosecutor, Mr James Aernan, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2012. Aernan said that the accused who had been in the business of producing and selling methamphetamine, a narcotic similar to cocaine, were apprehended in No-
vember 2012, following a tip-off. The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons were arrested by a team of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives at Ilasa, Isolo in Lagos at a hideout where they had been producing the substance for several years. According to him, Umeodiegwu, the thirs accused is the major brain
Counsel to the first, third and fifth accused, Mr Benson Dakara, urged the court to grant his clients behind the production of the sub- bail, assuring that they would not Pastor Okereke during prayers jump bail. stance. In the same vein, Counsel to the Aernan told the court that one of the accused, Ukwa claimed to be an second, fourth and sixth accused, elder in a pentecostal church when Mr Ugochukwu Nwokocha prayed the court to grant his clients bail. they were apprehended. The prosecutor, however, opThe prosecutor said that about posed the bail application and three kilogrammes of the narcotic were recovered from the accused urged the court to remand the acand that they were subsequently cused persons in prison custody, pending the commencement of detained at the Ikoyi Prisons. their trial.
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Praise & Worship
SundayJanuary 27, 2013
Make love your watchword in 2013 –Pastor Oloruntimilehin Pastor Joshua Oloruntimilehin Daramola, founder of Omnipotence Mission of God, urges all to strive to live and love one another. Excerpts:
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rethren, people are created into this world to work for God and to help one and other. When a couple are being wedded, some priests say, “I hereby join you together to be one. NO. That which the priests pronounce unto the couple is what had been in existence from the beginning of the creation.
God created man and later created another with a rib person He removed from the man and put it in the body of the new human being. God did not name the human being but Adam, the first man created by, named the person woman. God created her to be helper to Adam and not as a wife. Based on this, Jesus Christ replied some people that there is no wife in heaven. The Bible says in Matthew 22 verse 23 – 30 “…Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. Lastly, the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her. Jesus answered and said to them, you are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven” It is in this world that we have the culture to have wife, money and other things. The culture came into existence when human beings were killing each other and people decided to let people
Pastor Oloruntimilehin
have his or her own wife or husband. Prior to the culture, what existed was that a man would see and meet a woman and produce without any condition. Then brothers and sisters were having sexual intercourse freely. The son could come and impregnate the mother. That was how the world existed at that time. Similarly, this still exists in the animal world where there is indiscriminate sexual intercourse among the animals. Some years ago, in Ayetoro in Ilaje area of Ondo State, they were not having
wives and husbands. Then the practice was in the night a woman would light a lantern at the entrance of her room indicating that a man was with her. No other man would come inside until the lantern was removed. And all the babies that came into this world through that practice became the responsibility of the community. It was about 30years ago that the practice was abolished. The world was in that kind of situation before. That why Jesus said there is no wife in heaven which also mean there is no children in heaven. God created everybody to be a friend and helper and take care of one another. Jesus emphasised the need and importance of love in the Bible. Matthew 22 verse 36 – 40 “ states “…And the second is like it; you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets” Jesus wanted people to know that their neighbours are their friends and they are to be taken care of. This is what people came to this world to do. Jesus further stressed in parable in Matthew 25 verse 33 – 40 “And the king will answer and say to them. Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me” Brethren, what I urge you to love one another. Do not look at your fellow human being as your enemy. There something we all have in common. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve. We should realise that we should love our neighbours as ourselves and be praising God always. This is my watchword for year 2013.
Archbishop of Wales blesses centre for autistic children Children with autism have welcome the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan to their new state-of-the-art school centre. He dedicated and blessed the £4.8m Marion Centre, built in the grounds of the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School in Cardiff, at its official opening. The two-storey building will accommodate up to 42 secondary school, aged pupils who have an autism spectrum condition. It has seven classrooms, two specialist rooms and a spacious hall which converts to a gym. Following a short service of music and prayer, the Archbishop and other guests joined the children in launching purple helium balloons, tagged with their names to see which would travel the furthest. The centre, which received its first pupils in September, is named after the late Marion Richards, who was a governor at the Bishop of Llandaff school and was passionate about special needs education. Praising the new building, the Archbishop said, “This is an imaginative and well thought out building which meets the needs of these children who deserve the best. It is named after someone who knew the importance of treating all people equally. I am sure the pupils here will flourish and reach their potential.” Headteacher of Bishop of Llandaff school, Revd Chris Hollowood, said, “The ways in which we have integrated the pupils into our school was the dream and we have done it. The way that pupils help to support the Marion Centre is transformational. But above all the pupils here have given us so much - they have helped us understand their condition and shown us that the world looks very different to some people.
Self-denial is key to destiny fulfilment –Pastor Bamidele Pastor Lai Bamidele, founder of Christ Glorious End-Time Evangelical Ministry, in this message, says, “Until you give up your association with some people and drop certain habits, you will not get to where God has destined you to be.” Excerpts:
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hortly, I will be showing the picture of what Sambalat and Tobias implies. Who is the man called Sambalat? The name Sambalat depicts a secret enemy. The name Sambalat in the Bible literarily means ‘the secret enemy’. According to what is written in the book of Nehemiah, Sambalat is an enemy of success, an abomination to the Lord; he is an enemy of people’s success. Now what do we mean by Tobias? Tobias is an Ammonite and a slave who found means to align with the priestly family. He was the leading opposition to the building of the wall of Jerusalem. He was the leading opposition against those who were rebuilding the fallen walls of Jerusalem. I want to ask you this morning. Who is that Sambalat, who is that Tobias that you are moving or working against you? Who is that Sambalat and Tobias that would not allow you to get to where God has destined you to get to? Today is a day of decision. Listen to me. I am talking about the story of a man called Nehemiah. Nehemiah took up a responsibility. What a generation of Jews could not achieve in 120 years, it took Nehemiah only 52 days to accomplish that. He rebuilt the broken wall of Jerusalem in only 52 years. I want to let you know today; maybe there is
someone who is listening to me now: what your ancestors could not achieve, what your linage could not achieve in your generation in the last 10 years, after this message, if I be a prophet of God, within the next 10 months, God will catapult you to that position, in Jesus’ name. Sambalat is an enemy of success, Tobias is a conspirator. So they are friends in crime. Now the third person was Jell, he was an Arabian and part of the enemies of the Jews. Listen to me today; every enemy fighting you in your place of work, every enemy contesting with your glory, every enemy fighting your future, every enemy that says you will not succeed, whosoever that has concluded from the pit of hell that you will not succeed this year, after listening to this message, God will overthrow them for your sake, in the mighty name of Jesus. I am talking to you about Sambalat because I want to open your mind of understanding. Many of you need to make up your minds today about who you choose to follow, about who you should choose to make friends with. There are people that need to leave your life; so that your life can move forward. There are certain things you need to drop so that some things can come your way. Listen to me today. I don’t move with people that I know have no future. I don’t relate with
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people that have no tomorrow because I know that I am destined to be great; because I know that I am destined to succeed. I was not born to end up small; I am not born to be in the least of the number. What is your decision? What is your mind? Are you ready to let go that Sambalat? Are you ready to forsake that Tobias? Until you take that step of faith, your life will not have meaning. Listen to me today, if Nehemiah had listened to the counsel of Sambalat and Tobias, he would not have been able to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. What they could not achieve in 120 years, it took Nehemiah only 52 days to achieve. Hear me today; what your forefathers could not achieve, if I be a prophet of God, after hearing this ministration, God will catapult you to that position, in Jesus’ name. •For counselling contact: pst_lai@yahoo. com, phone 08074484415, 08027502864 and 08161285586
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Praise & Worship
Sunday January 27, 2013
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Changing the filthy garment, by Pastor Muoka General Overseer of Lord’s Chosen Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazaus Muoka, in this message teaches on the garment of salvation and its significance and prays that the faithful should not be clothed in filthy garments. Richard Eghaghe brings you the excerpts:
Lord’s Chosen Choir. (Inset): Pastor Muoka
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SAIAH 64: 6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away”. Psalm 102: 26 says, “They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed”. There is nobody that will patiently read this message today that will remain the same. This is because there shall be change of garment. Today your problem in the likes of a garment must be changed. It will never be on your life any longer. Your problem and enemy that is behind it shall perish. Isaiah 61: 10 -11 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. ... For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations”. Today you shall be clothed with the garments of salvation, freedom, praise, honour, miracle, power and that shall be your portion in Jesus’ name. This garment is special. It is the garment of salvation? We know who has woven it, who has dyed it, and who gives it to His people. It is the best robe for the chosen ones. Not everybody shall be opportune to be thus clothed, but only those who truly belong to Zion by faith which is in Christ Jesus. These shall be clothed by the Lord Himself, and none can clothe as He does. This message is meant to change every filthy garment of trouble, that old dirty garment that have been constituting reproach and mockery in your life and in the lives of members of your family. Those garments made to cover your body but have instead exposed your nakedness and hence have put you into shame and ridicule. Those covering that have become a curse to you. I don’t know the curses following your family as old garment, but take note that whatever it may be that is causing reproach and exerting mockery upon you and all the members of your family, shall today be no more. By the operational work of the Holy Spirit the living God shall change all those
garments today and cover you with a new and white garment that will bring honour to you. The garment that will constitute beauty and grandeur in your life, the garment that if you put on today, your life will speak dignity, everything about your life will attract favour and blessing throughout this year in Jesus’ name. Do you know that after you have been changed today, that all the evil that negatively affect your life will be taken away. In fact, as you read this message, favour will follow you. I want to tell you that it is time for your favour, for your honour and glory because the good Lord has determined it. Psalm 102: 13 says, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come”. Yes your set time has come. There is a certain set time for God’s great actions. He has a set time for the discovery of His mercy, and He will not stay a jot beyond. There is a set time for deliverance, freedom and favour. From today I am assuring you, favour will follow you. I don’t know what you are passing through and the struggle in your life over these years. But from this set time your life will no longer be characterised by struggle in Jesus’ name. In this set time, something new will begin to happen in your life. Psalm 102: 16-17 says, “When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer.” Today, if you are poor, sick, oppressed or afflicted, God will regard your prayers because He is set to appear in His glory in your life. I want to let you know that in a day like this, nothing shall be by struggle, for God has decided to bless and change your situation in order to take the glory. I am assuring you that every prayer I will make on your behalf through this exhortation will make a change in your life in Jesus’ name. What old and new garments are. Old garments are old clothes, which are always dirty. This also symbolises an ugly situation. In our context today, these garments can be likened to those problems you and your family have been suffering for many years, those problems that have brought shame to your family, and even to you, those problems that brought reproach, mockery, that people would see and conclude that they know where you are coming from and will ridicule you. They will say, are you not the son or daughter of that poor
man, that man that has been sickly, that woman that has been suffering from diabetes and will conclude you will suffer the same. Beloved, today that mockery will cease. They may refer to your family as a home where nobody goes to seek for spouse, where people die prematurely, or even if one marries there, the woman will not stay at home and cannot bear children, and if they manage to have one child, the child will be imbecile or a sicklier. They will tell you that they know where you are coming from and could predict your end. As far as they are concerned, you are an object of mockery and caricature. Looking at you makes them draw a conclusion that you are a failure because nobody has made it in your family. But if these things are your experiences, consider them as old garment stuffs we are talking about that must be changed. Those things you and family are going through over the years, and crying are old garment. The garment I am talking about sometimes attracts hatred for some people. Whenever you come around people, they despise you with passion. And you will be wondering what you have done to them. You want to express your love, sometimes you say, ‘you know I love you, but when I am trying to love you, you will hate me the more’. Whenever you try to show them you love them, the more you are hated. These things have been there over the years, because the devil has placed a mark of hatred on you and members of your family. But, today it will be discarded as an old garment because that garment must be changed. That yoke shall be broken. Isaiah 10:27 says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing”. The burden of hatred, evil influences, sicknesses, lack of promotion, barrenness, etc shall be taken away from you. You shall be free on a new garment. Some of you, the old garment upon you may be terrible diseases such as HIV, cancer, diabetes, TB, moving object, kidney problem or HBP. For some it may be poverty, childlessness, mental disorder or it is from one sickness to the other. But if any of the above is your case, consider it an old garment that must be removed today. My God will change your old garment and replace it with a new one. God of Chosen is an expert in making
good new garment and today He will prove it in your life in Jesus’ name. A woman of 12 years total blindness came to church last week and God changed her garment of sorrow to joy. When she came on that day, everything she did was by assistance. She was assisted to sit down and walk as she could not walk freely by herself. During prayer ministration, a prophetic declaration came for her, and the Pastor said, ‘the blind woman who today was her first time of coming to this church will not go home blind again. God will change her sorrowful garment of many years of blindness and her sight shall be restored’ and true to that prophetic utterance, the woman immediately received her sight. In her testimony, she said that immediately Pastor mentioned her case, she felt a sensation and her eyes rolled many times, and before she could understand what was happening to her, she started seeing. Beloved, look at yourself today, all that have blinded your eyes and that of your family spiritually that have hindered you from seeing good things when it is coming, by the anointing of this message, the yoke shall be broken, your eyes shall be opened. I don’t know what you have been going through; it may be that over the years, you have been in abject poverty. Sometimes when you hear people testifying of breakthrough or see people living affluent life, you will begin to ask yourself whether you have done any unforgivable sin that has subjected you to misery condition. You will be asking why is it that your case has remained unchanged. Today because you read this message, that misery garment shall be changed. Sometimes when it appeared that you were about to have a breakthrough, maybe a good employment opportunity was coming your way, then suddenly it turned out to be a moonlight tale. This has been your case for many years but as from today the story will change because you are reading this message. Your story must change. All the people that are mocking you will turn around after this ministration and bow down before you. I am sure God is working on you now. Are you going through affliction, and people are telling you sorry? Sometimes people will attribute your problem to evil attack and thus will cast doubt of your survival. Those people are agents of the devil and not your creator. Today, your creator even the God of Chosen will do a new thing in your life and it shall spring up and a new garment shall cover you. Every evil personality ministering affliction to you will fall into the deep he has dug for you. All what they afflicted you with shall return to them. In the case of some people, their misery garment has been sin. They commit sin with impunity. They find it difficult to resist the urge to tell lies, drink alcohol, fornicate, commit adultery, cheat, steal, smoke etc. To them, stopping evil is like an impossible task. They are asking whether it is possible for one to stop telling lies, smoking, drinking alcohol etc. Whenever people who know them as drunk see them, they tease them as drunk. They will even mockingly suggest buying drink for them because they believe that their stock in trade is nothing but to drink. But that yoke must be broken by the reason of this message if only you can come to Jesus today, renouncing all your evil deed and accepting Him as your Lord and personal saviour. Matt 11: 28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Remember that you must come to Jesus for you to wear a new garment and be free. He is the only one that can remove your old garment infected by sin, disease and affliction, and put on you the new garment of life devoid of sicknesses and diseases. If you can come now, a new garment shall be given to you. Come and it shall be well with you.
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Sunday January 27, 2013
Praise & Worship
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Running without a message –Pastor Samuel Fiery shepherd of Global Grace Church, Pastor Samuel Daniel, laments that some men of God just flaunt miracle-making before the congregation and neglect their main duty which he says is to teach the undiluted word of God. He, therefore, urges erring pastors to retrace their steps if they have wandered away from their calling. Excerpts: People are opening ministries; they say, “God called me.” The question they need to clarify is, what has God called them to do? Has God called them to do miracles, healings or what? Has God called them to put hook on a nets and catch fish; after the ‘fish’ is caught what do you do with the fish? Today, many men of God are like that character in the Bible called Ahimas, who are overzealous to carry a massage to King David but turned out to be a faster runner who had no message. When we talk about Ahimas running without a message, there was this time in the Bible when there was trouble in the land of Israel. King David was in trouble. His son, Absalom, wanted to overthrow him and become the King of Israel. As a result, David abandoned his throne and ran away from the palace for his dear life. But God promised to restore the king to his throne. When God decided to crush the enemies of King David and restore His chosen King, there was war in the land and Absalom died in the process even
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though his father had instructed his soldiers that his rebellious son’s life must be preserved. The soldiers who discovered Absalom’s body were saddled with the task of choosing the right messenger with ability to convey the unpleasant news to King David. Who could package the message in a many that would not attract the king’s anger. Ahimas had been a good and fast messenger who knows how to deliver. He was a great man of God. In today’s society, he knows how to organise and hold crusades in different cities but there is no message. The leading soldier told him, “Ahimas, this time around you have no message let me send another person to go.” But Ahima elected on his own accord to carry the message across to the king. Meanwhile the soldier decided to send second messenger who they believed is more competent to deliver given the precarious situation. This other messenger however does not have the speed that Ahimas is reputed to possess. Ahimas picked speed just like today’s minsters would employ modern tools of evangelism and bombard many cities in the name of Chris; he ran with amazing velocity to the King David but he lacked the ability to deliver the message. Standing side by side to the King, he could not deliver any message. The King saw him and said, “Ahimas, I know you are a man with a message. What is the tiding? But he could not deliver. So the King told him to stand aside; and that was the end of Ehimas; we did not hear about him again in the Bible. But when the main man that has the message turned up, the King heard the right message and broke down in tears. Why? Because the man with the message has been to deliver a message and it touched the King’s heart. Today, we have lots of Ehimas in our society. You have a healing gift, no doubt about it, but does that healing gift qualify you to become a Pastor? It is true that the gift will take you to where you belong; but when it comes to having a church, a Pastor must have a message. The key thing is the message, not the miracle. Miracle is good and it is one of the benefits of the children of God, but when God sends or calls a man, he gives that man a message. For example, when God was sending Moses to liberate the Israelite in the land of Egypt, he told him to perform some miracles and also exploit the avenue to tell Pharaoh that God wants him to let His people go. God said that if Pharaoh and the Egyptians fail to obey the first time of the miracle, they would obey when they witness the second miracle. And that was why God did a lot of miracle in Egypt. Each time he cause a miracle to happen, they will call him and ask, “What do you need?” Then Moses would say, “Let my people go.” That was the message God gave to Moses. To lose his people that were in bondage to come back and worship God the way He want them to. Today as Christians, we are spiritual Israelites. The same way it happened in those days, it is happening today. What is the message today? The Apostles came with the
message of reconciliation. But here is a fall away. Now we are saddled with the task of restoration, to restore us back to the message. The Bible is telling us to come back to where we have fallen. Lots of people are even tired of going to church; people are pursuing miracles. Like I said earlier miracle is good but whether you like it or not miracles are for baby Christians. For any true believer there is a miracle within you and that is the real miracle. If you believe the word of God you are a miracle yourself. Those healing gifts are children’s bread. No real adult would love to be fed on children’s food. Children’s foods are sugary, too sweet; but adults go on bitter, spicy foods and bonny food. Many people have been reacting when we said they should not use the gift of God upon their lives for money making. But we will not stop telling you the truth. No matter how hard you may find it to believe, the truth remains the truth. Brother, if you have been using your gift to make money stop it. What of you woman Pastor, if you have been warned renounce it, humble yourself before God and God will lift you up. That has not taken the gift God has given to you. If you are the one that owns a church and wears the mantle, remove the mantle and allow your husband to take over as the paste and head while you become a member and God will rejoice for your sake. What about people that a having titles, all those are manmade things, bible warned against those things in Mathew 23; it say, “Beware when men will begin to give you titles;” because you will become pompous. All those titles Rabbi, His Eminence will make you feel proud. True servants of God will be humble at all times. I am not saying that there are no good ministers of God around; we have them, if you meet them you will know. They are everywhere but because the wrong ones have overshadowed them, it is very difficult to identify the true ones. If you meet them they have the word. But the Ahimas of our generation will not speak the word even if they have it, just because of money and what they will eat and drink. When they teach the word they will not teach people that a woman should be a woman, hence you see women who are dressed like men. The Bible forbids a woman to wear anything that pertains to a man or the other way round. Today, some are ignoring those teaching because they want large congregation which translate to large offering. We see people with tattoos on their skin; Bible says that is a sign of one that is dead. A true child of God will not put tattoo on his body. You see that in the book of Leviticus 19. Tattoo is a mark of death, the Bible warns against it. If you are a child of God do not join the world to do what they are doing. You are different; you called for separation, therefore separate yourself. Be humble and be a child of God. Finally, I want to advise my beloved servants of God to preach the truth and reconcile lost souls to our heavenly father. Because at the end of the day, God will ask you how many souls have converted? Come back to the bible truth, hold on to the truth as stated in the book of Romans as follows: “I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice wholly acceptable which is your reasonable service; And be not conform by this world but be ye transformed by renewing of your mind.” Christ has come to transform our thinking so that our thinking will go back to the heavenly father. We are children of God and we should act like God; God is not a sinner. God is not a hypocrite, an armed robber, a deceiver, a lesbian, gay, a confident trickster or any of sorts; so we should not be like those. •For counseling contact Prophet Samuel via email globalgracechurch@yahoo.com ; www. Global Grace Church.org or phone 08060143296 and 08164392405
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Praise & Worship
Sunday January 27, 2013
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You shall preach the word with evidence –Pastor Chidi TAI ANYANWU
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t the beginning of the year, Pastor Chidi Anthony, General Overseer of King in Christ Church, Ajao Estate, Lagos, promised to kill poverty in the life of his church members in year 2013. To this effect, he had thrown an invitation to all that care to a series of teaching which he assured, would hand prosperity key to every participant. The teaching series began on Sunday January 7; and given his miracle-making prowess, the auditorium was filled to the brim. The overflow facility was also crowded. On the pre-arranged seats sat people whose faces revealed great expectations. Prior to the arrival of the servant of God, the choir leader did a good job of raising a couple of worship songs and leading the gathering into the mode to receive from the benevolent God. Seeing that the mood was right and the people were eager to receive, Pastor Chidi mounted the pulpit and declared, “As it pleases the Lord I am going to teach or preach on the keys or tablet that can kill, unlock the doors of riches and launch you into prosperity, your next level. At the end of the day you will say bye to poverty.” But first, he noted that there was to clear the air about some apparently misconstrued questions. Is prosperity meant for a child of God? Is a child of God supposed to enjoy the good things of life? Is it out of place for children of God to have weighty pockets that always jingle with cash? Are children of God supposed to have sound health? Supplying answers to the questions, the Pastor invited the congregation to read the scripture in the book of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thought that I think towards you says the Lord of host; the thought of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Capitalising on that bit of scriptures, he insisted that the thought or wish of everyone is that it might be well with oneself. “The Bible says that the thought God has of you is of peace not of evil to give you and expected end. By extension any man that has peace is a man that is able to take care of his responsibility, he pointed out. “If you have not eaten since yesterday, no amount of anointing that will flow here today will likely to affect you, except you are peacefully disposed. May be your landlord stormed your apartment this morning and handed you a quit notice or he had said to you, ‘if you failed to pay your outstanding rent to-
morrow I will throw your things out on the street;’ it is obvious that your mind will be troubled because of his treats. “And when anointing is released, you are most unlikely to catch it because you will not be focused. You don’t have a relaxed mind, you are confused and peace has left you.” Further stressing his points, the servant of God observed no woman who has been married for about five years and she has still no child that would be at peace. That is obviously that woman’s plan for her marriage. “If you are a young man here, you have clocked 40 years of age and you still do not a car; that is not what you wish to be. No human being will ever pray to suffer in life. No young lady will ever pray to marry a poor man. “That is not the thought God has for you. The Bible says that the thought God has for you is the same thought you wish for yourself, he stressed. “If God’s wish for your live is for you to have a prosperous life, a peaceful and a joyful mind; why are good things of life far away from some of us? What is that power that is hindering you from realising your wishes for your life? Doe it means that God did not uttered those words or wishes? Is it your fault or that of your enemy that all is not well with you? Sliding into prophetic mode, he I release fire upon the powers that had kept any person in the congregation stagnant, in the name of Jesus. “I do not know what you are wishing yourself. My own wish is that one day, Obama will leave America and come down and kneel before this altar for my prayer. But if you are able to catch the rehma in this message, whatever you wish yourself will locate you, in the name of Jesus. Just to point out that God actually wishes his people prosperity, the pastor cited a portion in the book of Ecclesiastics which says, “My eyes have seen evil that the slaves are riding the horses and the sons and daughters of Zion are walking on bare foot.” He explained that the richest people in your villages and places were unbelievers. That, he stressed, is not how it supposed to be. On that premise, Pastor Chidi said, “I came today to transfer wealthy. Right now, I am collecting that that wealth and return it to your families. Whether the devil likes it or not, today is a day of wealth transfer; listen to me, they have reigned for long.” He further declared, “You family has been waiting for a voice; your kindred has been praying for a voice; and your
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village has been asking God for a voice. Today, I prophesy to someone, God will raise you as that voice; you will be that voice whether they like it or not, in the name of Jesus.” Pastor Chidi also cited the book of Psalm 35: 27 “Let them shout for joy and be glad. Yea let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants.” You can now be sure that your prosperity gives God pleasure. Again, he took time to expand the word for further exposition and emphasis. “Let me tell us why some of us find it very difficult to win converts. If you father, for instance, you have a father who is an unbeliever and you tell him, ‘Daddy you will go to church with me tomorrow y’, after you had given him a Pathfinder jeep as his birth day present. You discover that your daddy will wake up by 4.00 am ready to follow you to church.” A young, he added, who was evangelising two ladies told the girls: “If you serve my God he will give you car, rich husband and more.” But not convinced and obviously unenthusiastic about the preacher’s looks, One of the girls retorted, Why can’t this your God start from you? The embarrassment of the preacher was a big shock and an insult to God, Pastor Chid told the congregation. “And I promised my God that I am
coming back to preach this gospel to those girls. Two days late, and it was in 1988; I had washed my infinity jeep till it glistened. I then selected my best suit, entered into my best pair of shoes and carry my giant Bible; I drove down to the house of the ladies. “Incidentally, the ladies were in front of the house so I park almost dangerously close to them. One of them said are you stupid, I said that I am not stupid, and gave glory to God. Having perked my car, the servant of God said that he took time before he alighted from the expensive jeep. “I deliberately brought my legs slowly out of the vehicle to allow them to feast their eyes on my elegant shoes. “When I finally got out, I clutched my impressive large Bible very close to my chest and I greeted them nicely and began to preach the live saving word of God. I made sure that I said the Lord is good and each time I said that the girls will jump up and reply all the time. He asserted, “It is marvelous when you preach the word of God with evidence. When you say the Lord is good, people will look at you and know that indeed the Lord is good. I prophesy to 538 people reading my message this morning, before the end of this year you will preach the gospel with evidence, in the name of Jesus.”
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Praise & Worship
SundayJanuary 27, 2013
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Your season of dryness is over Hope for Hopeless with Pastor Goke
Aniyeloye
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ave you ever witnessed a season of dryness either in your life or in the life of a plant, land or in a woman? In the life of a plant, it withers. Remember the parable of the fig tree in Luke 13:6-9. It lost wetness, moist, nourishment, shed its leaves, bore no fruit and it withered. I come against this in your life in Jesus name. You must be productive. Dryness in the life of a land indicates drought, infertility, dryness, dust gathering, desert, barrenness, wastness and absence of rain. Remember the parable of the sower, as recorded in the book of Mt 13:3-9, particularly in verses 5 and 6. It reads: “(5)And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: (6) but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.” Whatever situation that will make you sow on dry or infertile land,
I curse it out of your life by the mighty name of Jesus Dryness in a man or woman can either be physical or spiritual or both. A state of complete loss of faith or personal contact or relationship with God. Where your prayer or devotional life seems meaningless and fruitless. A situation where all your enemies are around you and you are rather helpless. A state of complete lack of ideas, stagnation, and where nothing is working out well for you. Call it the condition of winter where life seems dull and going through the motions of a daily routine with nothing cheerful to report home about. A state of unproductively; where life seems frustrating, meaningless, and fruitless Certainly, this is a reproach and never God’s wish for his children. When a man ought to become proud of his children who should be occupying high positions he is instead there, still feeding the children as they are jobless. After giving them good education and all, he wallows in abject poverty and rejection and still struggles to feed them. When a woman ought to become a proud mother or get married, she is still there wearing a long
face, still searching for a child or a man to call her own. But today, I stand on the rock of ages and by the anointing of God upon my life, I declare that the season of dryness in your life is over now by the mighty power of Jesus. Ecclesiastes 3:1&2 say “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. I have come in the name of the almighty God to declare to somebody reading me now, that your season of harvest has come. That season of dryness you have been experiencing all this while, you will see no more. God almighty, the unchangeable changer, has decided to turn your situation around for good. How? Because you have decided to hearken to the voice God and thread the path of righteousness. Let’s quickly take a look at the book of Psalm 1:1-3 which read: (1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth
he meditate day and night. 3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The implication of this is that there is nothing that is as good as knowing God and nothing endears God to come to your situation other than seeking Him diligently. The case of Sarah in the book of Genesis 18:1-14 is very instructive. Even where all hopes were lost on Sarah ever getting pregnant at a very ripe age, God proved book makers wrong. At the appointed time, Sarah had a son. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Certainly none. So why don’t you commit your life to God and let that season of dryness stop? He is the God of possibilities. He can send all your enemies, all the Goliaths on your path on errand or to sleep for you to have your way and enjoy His divine favour, if you will run away from sin and abide in Him. See how He sent the enemies away to favour the four leprous men in 2 Kings 7:1-8, when they were starving and faced with the devil and the red sea. God can also make it happen in your life today.
Christians should not murmur, says Pastor Olusore In all situations, learn to give thanks to God. For only a thankful heart can get the best of the Kingdom of God. This is the focus of a recent message by Pastor Israel Olusore, presiding minister of Livinglight Church International, Lagos. Excerpts:
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ohn 6: 60 states, “Therefore, many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying, who can understand?’ and when Jesus himself knew that his disciples complained about this, he said, ‘Does this offend you? What if thou see the son of man ascend where he was before? It
is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words I speak to you, they are spirits and they are life but some of you do not believe’; for Jesus knew in himself who they were who did not believe and who should betray him and he said, ‘therefore, I say to you, that no one can come to me unless he it has been granted to him by my father.” Look at verse 66 from what happened? Many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. They went back to their old associations. They left because it was hard truth. They were not ready to embrace, to behave the kingdom way. Now look at verse 67; what did it say? “Jesus said to the twelve, will you also go away and do you too desire to leave me? In other word, you can leave; everybody can leave; as long as I have the kingdom, I have the father. The word is a mystery. Everybody can leave but as long as you have God, everything will come back to you. The next verse, 8 says, “Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the word, the message of internal life.” It is a message, not the miracle; because the message will turn you to a miracle when you embrace it; when you start to behave the kingdom way. And the Bible says concerning those days that they took knowledge that they have been with Jesus. Very soon, the world will begin to take knowledge of you. Never let
your joy to be stolen. May the spirit of joy ever be with you? Remember the kingdom of God is not about meat and drink; it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. If that is missing in your life, you cannot possess the kingdom. If the devil can steal your joy, he has stolen your life; he has destroyed your destiny. It is not a physical thing. The spiritual is more important than the physical and joy is a spiritual force that terminates any evil. Joy in your heart will take you to the next levelgratitude. You must be grateful that you have God in your life. Gratitude is a requirement in the kingdom. The ungrateful never have access to the kingdom of God. 1Thessalonian 5:18 says, “In everything, give thanks... In everything give thanks; not for everything, let us see that verse: “In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Oh! I have just been defeated; God is the reason why you have not been destroyed. That is why he says, in that situation, give thanks. He did not say for that situation. There is a difference between ‘in everything’ and ‘for everything’. A lot of people only thank God for good things. They don’t thank God in every situation they find themselves. God did not say you should thank him for the destruction of your car. But thank him that it is the car that has been destroyed and not your life. Then He will now create an opportu-
nity for a better car to come for you. You can’t murmur and complain and possess the kingdom. One who murmurs will never secure God’s presence. You must be joyful to get God; you must be grateful to get God. The Bible, speaking, says, “Neither murmur ye and be destroyed as some of them did and were destroyed by the great destroyer. Nor complain as some of them did and were destroyed by the destroyer- 1 Corinthians 10:10. So there is a destroyer standing by the side of one who murmurs. I pity people that are ever murmuring, because the more you murmur, the more things get worse. The marriage of husband and wife always complaining and murmuring against each other won’t last. That bad situation will not get worse, in Jesus’ name. Don’t complain, rather, turn it into praise. The Bible says, ‘in everything give thanks.’ Make praise happen. Psalm 675-7 says, “Let the people praise thee Oh! Lord; then the earth will yield thy increase. You never generate result until you begin to give Him praise. So until praise happens, the earth will not yield increase. That man said even though nothing is happening, I know what will make things happen. I will praise the Lord. •For counseling contact info@livinglightng.com or 08028425555
email: phone
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Letting go; leaving the past behind Family FORA wit Pastor N. C with
Amaefula
E-mail: familyfora@yahoo.com Phone:08033062027
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or I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jer. 29: 11 “Moses my servant is dead: now therefore arise go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.” Jos. 1: 2 Hello Readers, We have been discussing issues on ‘Yes I do, more than just a vow’ but let’s take a break and talk on ‘letting go your past so as to gain your future’. Suffice it to say that a lot of marital relationships today have been marred by reason of holding hard to the ugly past. Nothing is as permanent as change. Change is natural to our existence and common to all creation. Everything changes including you, and nothing can stop these changes. The only way to leave the past behind is to accept the fact that nothing in our lives will remain the same. Our acceptance of this fact will assist us to develop realistic levels of expectation and minimize our so called disappointments.
Why must you let go your past?
• Except you let go your past, you cannot come into your present, and your inability to occupy in your present guarantees your
loss of the future. •The memories of the past can influence your actions in the present and jeopardize your chances in the future. • Your conclusions of the past may be parochial in the present and makes you unmarketable in the future. •As changes occur, what led to failures in the past may be repackaged in the present for success in the future. With the above assertions, would you rather hold to a past that will not be beneficial in any way or let go the past and face the present with a right attitude to achieve a better future? I presume that your answer is on the affirmative. Then consider the following attitudes for a more rewarding future.
Right attitudes to your past
•Don’t be a victim of your past. The experiences in your past are not for your destruction but for your building. However it is only achievable by your right attitude. Do not accept to be a victim of your past but be in charge and become a victor. •Do not dread your past. You must overcome the fears in your past to avoid a repetition in the present which will ruin your future. The right attitude should be to study what lead to those mistakes and strategize your position to avoid a shortfall. •Do not be threatened by your past. With a good understanding of the reason for the ugly past, you will develop a better attitude that will make you not to be vulnerable in the present thereby gaining your future. •Accept your past but refuse to remain in your past. The past should not be swept
under the carpet. On the other hand, it should rather be accepted as what happened to equip you better for impactful living both to yourself and your regeneration to come. •Examine your past with sincere objectivity. You must learn to convert that ugly past to a case study. Tell yourself all the truth that existed in that past but refuse to be weighed down by it. You have everything it takes to be a winner and I authoritatively declare you as one. •Dictate flaws in your past. There are questions you must sincerely ask yourself and also give an honest response to them. This will be a guide in the present and a rule in your future. •Appreciate the good things, courage and strength in your past. You must understand that you survived that past for a purpose. God’s hand was in that escape. Everyone that passed through it was not successful enough to survive. However, you did. So, you are brave, courageous and exceptionally favored. Look at that hidden truth. •Harness the positivities in your past. Do you know that however terrible you feel about your past, there were so many positive ventures in it? Therefore do not becloud your vision with the negativities but pull the chaff from the grain and you will be amazed what quantity of edible food you have for your consumption. •Develop your past for a better tomorrow. You are not born to be causality in life but a conqueror. Your past can become a reference point for your future. So your ability to develop it will make you a consultant to others who are victims of such
situations. So do not let that opportunity to slip off your hand and do not deny others the privilege of gaining from your wealth of experience. From the text: “Moses my servant is dead.” God opened a new chapter in Joshua’s life. There is always a new chapter after our past. It comes with new responsibility. After Moses’ death, there was thirty days morning. Our mourning the past has an expiring date. Irrespective of the hurt and wounds, life must go ahead. There is always a proper time to mourn our losses or disappointments. Also there is always a time to move towards new things. We must make a choice to start living and making progress again. We all have a past but glory be to God we all have a good future according to God’s word. Jeremiah. 29: 11 Even when you feel unprepared for a change, God knows when you are ready. When we feel we are not ready, we are more likely to totally lean on God. When we are self sufficient we tend not to need God. The old things of today were things of yesterday and the new things of tomorrow will become the old things of the future. There is always a new horizon for our lives, so let go the past. In order to take hold of a new thing, we must let go of the old and allow ourselves time to get acquainted with the new. •For Counseling and Prayers: Email: nneomamaefula@yahoo.com or call +2348060315052, +2348187464031, +2348052157173
Making your marriage a miracle –Rev. Izuchukwu Rev. Chukwudebelu Izuchukwu, presiding Minister, Assemblies of God Church, FESTAC 11, gives nuggets for making your marriage work. Excerpts:
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arriage is so close to God’s heart that He could sacrifice anything to sustain it. When our progenitors (Adam and Eve) corrupted themselves thereby becoming ashamed in their nakedness which ought not to be, God sacrificed an innocent animal to cover their nakedness cum shame. Friend, do not work against anyone’s marriage, your relationship or concern notwithstanding. You could end up a sacrificial lamb. As at the time of this writing, one of my daughters came under the dagger of divorce which was engineered by the husband’s siblings. Every counsel by my wife and I to them fell on deaf ears. Adam blamed God for his wife; since then, He withdrew from giving men wives. He refused giving any other man wife but rather asked him to find by himself to avoid apportioning blame on God. It is only a man that finds a wife that shall enjoy the good in marriage as promised by God. He who finds a woman instead of wife will have himself to blame forever. There are many women but few wives. In the market of marriage, women are in every store but wives are scarce. As you read more, you shall find the characteristics of both. If truly one has genuinely found a wife which God says is a good thing, the fruits the marriage bears are the proofs. The taste is always in the pudding. If what a man found is a wife, he cannot be slapping and battering her. Some years ago, God taught me the best lesson on this ‘good thing’ stuff. He gently asked me to bring out the naira note in my pocket. I did. He asked if I could slap or quarrel with it. Your answer is as good as mine. To fight your wife considered a ‘good thing’ by God is a slap on redemption. Very importantly, if a wife slaps or batters the husband, she is also abusing the ‘good thing’. We
have seen few marriages where the wife is physically stronger than the husband and so deals with him. In the early eighties, I lived in same street with a woman who was given to beating her husband mercilessly. All effort by their kinsmen and women to checkmate her proved abortive. As a matter of fact, on a given day, she beat up two young men that came up against her hubby. That amazed the neighbours so much that she turned out a threat to many. The men were literally rescued from her arms. The fear of that woman was the beginning of wisdom for every man in our area then. Ironically, this woman was a mother of eight children including grown ones, yet she had unusual strength. May your wife not beat you in Jesus name! Friends, man is incomplete without a woman, vice versa. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you loves his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she revers the husband. Eph. 5:32-33. ‘By what God showed me even before I got married, if a man is found hitting himself on the road, he should be put in chains and sent to a psychiatric home for examination. The reason is because from God’s point of view, man and his wife are one body’ – Bishop David Oyedepo. Marriage is truly a great mystery. When you understand its mystery and live by it, you command mastery over its miseries. Marriage was not ordained to bring misery. Satan, the evil one is solely behind every misery found in marriage. It takes mystery to handle misery. As a matter of fact, it is to be enjoyed and not to be endured. Often people respond with statements like, ‘I am patching the marriage’; ‘I am managing it whereas you are not a manager of negatives. The truth is that these marriage managers are actually damagers in disguise. Your picture is the
future to feature in. if you have all it takes to be comfortable without a wife or husband, it’s a concern. Each time I see expired bachelors, I become uncomfortable. I mean a man who is biologically sound yet a bachelor in his forties. Sometimes I wonder if he is a Eunuch. From the part of the country, it is an issue of concern to one’s kinsmen when he remains unmarried until forty. Such a person is seldom allowed to contribute his ideas in communal meetings. As at January 5, 2009, I was in a meeting with my kinsmen and this issue played out. One of us who was 46 years old yet a bachelor was commanded to shut his mouth and sit down for not being responsible enough to talk to responsible married men. In my commission, Assemblies of God worldwide, in spite of a minister’s anointing, intelligence or eloquence, without a wife, he cannot be ordained. By implication, he is limited by all standards. He will not be allowed to assume a position of leadership. As a matter of fact, if the minister’s wife is out of his station for a long period, the new rule requires him to vacate the pulpit. •For counseling contact: Revd Chukwudebelu Izuchukwu, Presiding Minister, Assembliesof God FESTAC 2, email izuchukwudebelu@yahoo.com or phone +2348028390885+2348056027044, +234704414424.
Rev. Izuchukwu
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Praise & Worship 33
Sunday January 27, 2013
Wives talk less and pray more! Christian Relationship with Taiwo
Odubiyi
E-mail: info@pastortaiwoodubiyi.org.uk
Wives talk less and pray more this year. I wrote the book ’30 Things Wives Do That Hurt Their Husbands’ to help marriages and foster good communication and behaviour between husbands and wives. It is to help couples understand each other better, learn the principles of a successful marriage, know the things that are wrong and learn to avoid them in order to have a good relationship. There are wives who misbehave towards their husbands. Some hit their husbands, abuse and even curse them. And surprisingly, they treat strangers better than they do their husbands. These demeaning treatments are not right. You might say, “He does not deserve my respect because of what he does!” Yet, you should give it to him because you are married to him and besides, God wants you to respect him! And, if I may ask, didn’t you promise him on your wedding day to honour, respect and cherish him ‘till death do you part’? If you did, then pray for the grace to do the right thing even if it seems difficult. Yes, your husband might have offended you but when he does, it goes to reveal his imperfection, just as no one is! There are better ways to handle offences. Also, there are wives who insist on their rights. And I ask, ‘Is it your right you want or your marriage?’ If they want their marriages, then these unwholesome behaviours and attitudes must give way.
Women by nature like things to be properly done. By this, we want to check and correct situations, things and people - including our husbands. It’s okay to want things to be done properly, after all, we are builders according to the Scriptures, but we need to be careful not to overdo things as this could cause problems between us and our husbands. I am sure many wives could relate to this: I like my husband to concentrate on driving when he is behind wheels. (By the way, I drive and have been doing so for many years but driving is not one of my hobbies. No. I drive only when I have to. I especially salute women who drive interstate!) But, while he is driving, my husband could simultaneously be making calls and engaging in serious talks with a passenger in the back seat! Many women have told me their husbands also do this. There was even a time he was composing a text message while driving! (Men are just wonderful!) I would tell my husband he needed to concentrate on his driving, but he would respond, “I’m concentrating.” (Really!) I would sigh, obviously upset. This had been the situation many times and although my husband was keenly aware I didn’t like him doing other things while driving, he would yet do it again! One day, he repeated this driving behaviour. I began to think of how to tell him my displeasure, and I knew I had to choose my words with care in order not to offend him. (By the way, wives must watch their words and tone of voice; choose them with care.) Suddenly, I heard God speak into my heart, “Don’t talk. Leave him alone. You have made yourself clear enough.” I reasoned with God in my heart, “But if he continues like this, he could have an accident and I don’t want him to learn the
hard way! I care about him, and what happens to him!” God told me, “He will not have an accident. Pray for him and don’t expect anything bad; I’m able to keep him from harm.” Since then, I have gone to near-complete silence. Now, even if he is doing four things at the same time, I just tell him, “Please be careful”, or I ask “What do you need to do so I can do it for you?”, and I quietly pray for him. God has been faithful and true to His words - my husband has never had an accident! I believe that many women are like this: we all mean well but without realising it we appear to complain too often, thereby giving us the cloak of‘nagging’ wives! It’s time to change; pray more and talk less! Perhaps you think you married the wrong man and that is why you behave the way you do; you can’t tolerate him. Or maybe the sight of him irritates you, like a wife said to her husband in my presence. I had to tell her to keep quiet. Some husbands also believe they married the wrong women. If you believe that the person you married is not the right person, then you may never be able to make the marriage work! Let’s look at the issue of spouses who believe they married the wrong man or woman. These people hold back from their spouses because of their negative mindsets which resulted from their negative experiences in their marriages. They react by withholding love or refusing to respond properly to their spouses. They become sad; clearly unhappy in their marriages. They express their frustrations by being nasty to their spouses and making them miserable. In their lonely hearts, they are still searching for the ‘right person’. Stop searching! Stop chasing after shadows;
grow up!! You chose to marry that man or woman in the first instance and now he or she has become your husband or wife, and “…till death do you part!” Let’s not forget that God said in Malachi 2: 16(NIV), “I hate divorce.” What you need to do is: 1) Change your attitude; 2) Accept and 3) Respond the right way to the person you’re married to…”Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2Corinthians 2:11) (KJV) There is no situation or challenge that cannot be overcome or survived, and I repeat – no situation is too hard for the believers to overcome: financial problems, extra-marital affairs or the like - as long as the couple is willing to stop giving excuses, change attitudes and work on their relationship. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1Peter 5:7-9) (NLT) Couples need to realise that Satan will try to attack their marriages to upset and bring them down both spiritually and physically; rob them of joy, peace and fulfilment; and throw the whole family into confusion. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1Peter 5:10) (KJV) (From the book: 30 Things Wives Do That Hurt Their Husbands)
A call to pray Shepherd Life with Bishop Kingsley
Enakirerhi
P
rayer is the connecting rod between man and God. It is the livewire of Christianity. It is conveyed in the spirit realm through Jesus Christ our mediator. Christianity that is not borne in the pool of prayer is bound to suffer stiff persecution and severe defeat. The world in general rests in the brink of economic, political and even religious crisis. And as we dwell painfully in this critical time, you need not to be ignorant of the devices of the adversaries. It is true that perilous times will be here and the love of many will wax cold. It is also true that amidst all these flamboyant, vain promises by the failing human government, the scripture purposely suggests that we should be on the watch. “Keep on the watch for your adversary walks to and fro seeking for someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8). Be on guard praying, not chewing your mouth. We should know that in this Satan-infested world where agony, poverty and oppression are the tools of the devil, a world where Satan and his cohort are angrily at-
tacking the remaining seeds of the woman (Rev. 12:17); One must seek for swift escape for his dear life. This is possible through prayer. Unfortunately, many Christians whose pelvic girdle is supposed to be braced with “Corrosive” and effective prayers have given in to the spirit of lukewarm attitude. On daily basis, have they skipped prayer in their schedule? Return from where you have fallen. This is a general call to go back to your first love (Prayer). We are living in the injurious time and injurious things are happening everywhere. Prayer is the answer. You need to communicate to God, you need to submit all you have to him, you need to attract heavenly favour and stop functioning mechanically. These can be achieved through effective prayer to God. The world has grown very wicked, competitive and dangerous. Everybody is looking for supernatural encounter and super connection. The best connection is to be connected to God by calling on His name in Prayer. The scripture says in Micah 4:5 “For all the people, for their part will walk (call) each one in the name of its gods; but we (Christians) for our part, shall walk (call) in the name of the Lord”. The truth is, if you don’t communicate with God through prayer, certainly Satan will communicate to you through sickness, loss and all forms of oppressions. Nature itself does not entertain vacuum. Everybody must call on the name of his gods, but for (Christians) our portion is the Lord.
Every man born into this world by a woman has a fight of destiny to wage. Job 14:1. Whether you agree with me or you disperse the truth with a wave of doubtful hand, it must be spoken without fear of contradiction. Nobody is too righteous to be tempted. In the battle between Goliath and David, Goliath on the onset cursed David with the name of his gods. Eventually, David responded back by positioning him (Goliath) in the fearful and strong hands of Jehovah. 1 Samuel 17:43-45. Tell me, what is Goliath doing with his gods in the battle field? That is just the picture of life. There is need for every Christian to revitalize his/ her prayer life in this New Year. We are in a continuous, fierce contest, not with flesh and blood but with principalities, powers and rulers of high places, including our business places, work environment, educational environment, enemies masquerading with the deceitful face of friendship. Know that the devil will not give up. You can only make him give up on you through fervent prayer. Sometimes in the Church, when you dance, clap, even listen to messages he listens with you. But when you touch the dial code of heaven through prayer and speaking in strange tongues, he runs into utter confusion. He knows this and that is why he’s determined to stop you from praying. Many Christians have found themselves pray without ending with Jesus name and even saying Amen. This is called
prayer lost in transit. Others find it difficult to control their running mind every time they kneel down to pray. Overwhelming majority of Christians are not serious with prayer anymore, these are casualties in the Church. Victims of critical conditions! Pray with understanding and pray in harmony with God’s will. If there are people to pray, surely there is a God to answer. However, remember to pray in faith. (James 1:6-8). On the contrary, the prayer of the abominable man is distasteful before God and any prayer offered to God without Jesus as the mediator ends up in the air. John 14:13; 2Cor. 1:20. Esther prayed, Elijah Prayed, Joshua did the same, Daniel was a man of prayer, Jesus soaked his ministry in prayer, the early Church confronted severe persecution with prayers, thus they prevailed. In Nigeria today, there is so much insecurity. The only way to really deal with this problem is to go to God in prayer. The situation of things requires earnest prayers. We have talked too much; let us now engage in fervent prayers for divine intervention. How often do you pray daily and how long do you stay up with your mind entrenched in fervent prayer? Prayer changes things. I mean all things. It shapes the future and influences the moment. If you have not been praying before now, God is calling us to go back to prayer. Until we pray, we will not see changes.
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The roadmap for life A
young Christian packing his bag for a journey said to a friend, “I have nearly finished packing. All I have to put in are a guidebook, a lamp, a mirror, a microscope, a telescope, a volume of fine poetry, a few biographies, a package of old letters, a book of songs, a sword, a hammer, and a set of tools.” “But you cannot put all that into your bag,” objected the friend. “Oh, yes,” said the Christian. “Here it is.” And he placed his Bible in the corner of the suitcase and closed the lid. The Bible is your best companion roadmap for life! The Bible is called the good word of God” (Luke 11:28; Heb 4:12; 6:5). It is the book of the Lord (Isa 34:16); the book of the law (Neh 8:3; Gal 3:10); the Holy Scriptures (Rom 1:2; 1 Cor 15:3; 2 Tim 3:15); the Scriptures of truth (Dan 10:21); the Law of the Lord (Psa 1:2; Isa 30:9); and the oracles of God (Rom 3:2; 1 Pet 4:11). The Bible is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17); the Word (James 1:21-23; 1 Pet 2:2); the Word of Christ (Col 3:16); the Word of life (Phil 2:16); and the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15; James 1:18). The Bible is compared to seed that is sown (Matt 13:3-8,18-23, 37, 38; Mark 4:3-20, 26-32; Luke 8:5-15); and to a two-edged sword (Heb 4:12). The Bible is your roadmap for life and all success! We are warned, never to add to or take away from the Bible (Deut 4:2; 12:32; Rev 22:18, 19). It is God’s tool for giving human beings true conviction of sin (2 Kings 22:9-13; 2 Chron 17:7-10; 34:1-33). It is the standard of the God’s judgment (John 12:48; Rom 2:16) which must never be handled deceitfully (2 Cor 4:2). A writer said: “What makes the difference is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but how many times
Holy Inquiry with Pastor Paul
Nkirukah E-mail: pstpaul11@yahoo.com
Dear pastor, Can sin be an obstacle to blessing? I am asking this question because someone was telling me that I am not blessed because I committed sin. Felix from Ogun State. Dear reader, To start with, your question looks or rather sounds childish, in the sense that everybody knows that, sin can deprive people of their blessings. Anyway, there is no need of talking too much. Let’s find out from the world of God below for better understanding. Jeremiah 5 : 21 – 26 reads; Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not, 22 Fear ye not me? Saith the LORD will
and how thoroughly the Bible has been through you.” It must be read with humility (James 1:21) and with a hunger for truth. We do not judge it, it judges us! We approach it with awe and it contains the words of life. It is the revelation of God and His plans for our lives and planet. The words of Scripture must be followed because they are pure (Psa 12:6; 119:140; Prov 30:5), true (Psa 119:160; John 17:17), perfect (Psa 19:7), precious (Psa 19:10), and quick and powerful (Heb 4:12). The Bible makes the simpleton and morose to become wise (Psa 19:7). The word of Christ is sanctifying (John 17:17; Eph 5:26), producing faith (John 20:31), hope (Psa 119:49; Rom 15:4), obedience (Deut 17:19-20). The Bible cleanses the heart (John 15:3; Eph 5:26) and the ways (Ps 119:9), and keeps the obedient from destructive paths (Psa 17:4). It promotes growth in grace (1Pet 2:2) and the building up in the faith (Act 20:32). It is comforting (Psa 119:82; Rom 15:4), bringing joy to the heart (Psa 19:8; 119:111). The Bible is mighty in its influence. It is a devouring flame (Jer 5:14), a crushing hammer (Jer 23:29), a life-giving force (Eze 37:7; Acts 19:20), a saving power (Rom 1:16), a defensive weapon (Eph 6:17), and a probing instrument (Heb 4:12). The Bible remains the book of the ages (Ps 119:89; 152; Isa 40:8; Matt 5:18; 24:35; 1 Pet 1:25) and the food for the soul (Deut 8:3; Job 23:12; Psa 119:103; Jer 15:16). Ignorance of the messages of the Bible is perilous and deadly (Matt 12:3; 19:4; 22:29;
John 20:9; Acts 13:27; 2 Cor 3:15). The word of God brings healing to our souls. Proverbs 17:22 states: “A merry heart does well like MEDICINE.” An article in The Birmingham News, titled “Laughter: Prescription for Health,” reveals: “at some point during laughter, your body issues a prescription from the pharmacy in your brain.” The Bible, believed and obeyed, would stipulate healthy lifestyle. God wants to “renew your youth like the eagles” (Psa 103:5). The Biblical statement penned by Moses about 1490 BC: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev 17:11) is acclaimed as the most accurate, scientific statement ever written about the blood! “It is the blood that carries on all the life processes of the body. It is the blood that causes growth, builds new cells, grows bone and flesh, stores fat, makes hair and nails. It is the blood that feeds and supports all the organs of the body. If the blood supply be cut off from an arm, that arm will immediately begin to die and rot. It is the blood that repairs the body. It is the blood that clots wounds, that grows new flesh, new skin and even new nerves. It is the blood that fights disease. When they give you a vaccine against a disease, they give you a shot into your blood stream.” For thousands of years, doctors treated people by a practice called “bleeding;” whereby illnesses were believed to be curable by removing the patient’s blood. Many people were literally bled to death
Answer these questions and win a prize 1.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Where is this verse in the Bible?
2.
Jacob has how many children?
3.
Paul wrote how many Bible books?
in medical ignorance! It was during the early 1900’s that Dr. Lister discovered that the blood provides the body’s immune system. Indeed, the life of the human being is in the blood! The Bible has been correct all along!! Biblical prophecies are precise and accurate to the smallest detail. There were over 300 prophecies fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ: where He would be born (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7); time of his birth (Dan 9:25; Luke 2:1-2); how He would be born (Isaiah 7:14); flight to Egypt (Hos 11:1; Matt 2:14-15); preceded by a forerunner (Mal 3:1; Luke 7:24, 27); his triumphant entry (Zech 9:9; Mark 11:7-11); betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12; Matt 26:14-15); dividing his clothing (Psa 22:17-18; Matt 27:35-36); none of his bones shall be broken (Psa 34:20; John 19:32-33, 36); His pierced side (Zech 12:10; John 19:34); buried with the rich (Isa 53:9; Matt 27:57-60); His resurrection (Psa 16:10; 49:15; Mark 16:6-7); and His ascension to God’s right hand (Psa 68:18; Mark 16:19; 1 Cor 15:4; Eph 4:8). You can never go wrong when you do just exactly what the Bible teaches. Bible-compliant Christians have become an endangered species, almost extinct! Read the Bible and practice it well until you become the walking Bible that others read! (2 Cor 3:2). Harris concluded: “No one ever graduates from Bible study until he meets the Author face to face.” •Tunde Ojewole, Ph.D., is the University Pastor and Associate Vice-President for Spiritual Life, Babcock University. For enquiries: ojewolea@babcock.edu.ng; 08058299434/08060376577
Answers to January 20, 2013 Quiz
•Please, be informed that the first correct entry via text message wins the prize. See next week’s column for answers to the quiz. Send your answers with your names to 08054238905. Gifts: courtesy Babcock University.
1.
Jochebed, Exodus 6:20
2.
Aquatic animals, Genesis 7:21-23
3.
Elijah-16; Elisha- 32.
Can sin hinder blessing? ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves therefore toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? 23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone, 24 Neither say they in their hearts, let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest, 25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you, 26 For among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait, as he that setteth snares, they set a trap, they catch men According to the scriptures above, in verse 25, it says that your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from, I hope you know that good things here means your blessing? That means that your sin is an obstacle to God’s blessings, and it went further to say that your iniquity have turned things around or turned to
contrary in your life. Let’s also take a look at another scripture below for a better understanding. Lamentations 3: 39 – 44 reads; Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD, 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens, 42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned, 43Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied, 44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. With the verse 44 of the above scripture, it is very evident and obvious that sin can delay or stop answer prayer thus sin can cover heaven that our prayer should not pass through, or don’t you know that if your prayer cannot pass through to God, God will not hear your prayer, and if he cannot hear your prayer, how do you think he will answer you? Well, don’t you think that it is only sin that can hinder prayers, because there
are other reasons that can also hinders answer prayer though time will not permit me to list them all for you, but one of them is, when you pray or ask anything that is not in line with the word of God, the prayer cannot be answered. Another thing is lack of faith as the book of James in James 1 : 6 and 7 reads; But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed, 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. My dear, with all the scriptures above, I think you can be well convinced or agree with me that sin is an obstacle to God’s blessings even though it is not the only thing that can hinder blessings. However, not to worry, there is something you can do when you commit sin to be able to open your heaven. See, 1John 1 : 8 – 9 which reads; If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our ourselves, and the truth is not in us, 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness. You have heard it all.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
ot what it takes to hold your reality television show and s in the language of the Hauay just be the opportunity you ng for to shine and make mon-
a TV reality show in Hausa, is o discover unheard young musie shine of stardom.
e art?
rongest performance Winehouse’s Back to h aplomb. The judges alled that the compe“What you have done looking for all night. is back.” said Jeffrey
ood night in Idolville. ence that struck the rites leaving Idols at does it mean for the coveted space in the this weekend. NTA Network, Sound TVC on Saturdays end and new judge, rforming artist, Jef/dance group Shalaa, Yinka Davies, are suave host Ill, Rymz, the lows throughout ge, Naeto C, will be mpletes his U.S. tour nuary. orth $100,000, and the million in cash, a reN7.5 million, and a p will receive prizes 10 million.
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od piece of news for s M&M can reveal that d artiste and Grafton ye David Jumbo, also has released a smashis amazing single eneart, featuring up-ands Mills. afton Records and diased director, Nosa Igmusic video was shot don. f My Heart’s video is vely shot crystal clear your replay button on
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Hausa reality TV show, SarewaAfrica, in the works SarewaAfrica, S Af i which hi h has h Hajia H ji Habiba H bib AbubaAb b kar Ismail as the Executive Producer, is located precisely in the quiet serene of NASS Quarters at Zone E Apo, Abuja. According to the information made available to M&M, the Hausa reality TV show will be aired
on llocall TV network t k and d a cable bl TV. Right Ri ht now, arrangements are in top gear for the debut of the television programme in June 2013. You would also be glad to know that participation in the forthcoming reality television comes with mouth-watering prizes up for grabs by the
contestants. According to the organisers of SarewaAfrica, there is a brand new KIA Cerato Saloon car and N2.5 million worth of recording contract for the winner. Similarly, every participant will go home with good prizes. If dishing out captivating lyrics in Hausa is, therefore, your talent-based area, then be prepared for the auditioning and casting which will begin in March.
L.O.S parts ways with Bankhead Entertainment what likely In w In hat ma hat may y like li ike kely kel ly come com ome e as a ssurprise urpr ur priise ise to to music mus usic ic fans, fan anss, Hip-Hop/R&B Hip ip-Hop Hop/R /R&B /R &B B super group, L.O.S, has announced that it is parting ways with Bankhead Entertainment with immediate effect. Having collaborated and achieved some success over the years, both parties have now decided to part ways amicably and by mutual consent. Yung, Briss, Bridge and Tomi Thomas - collectively known as L.O.S (Loud On Sound) - exploded onto the scene in the latter part of 2011 with their Shank-featured hit single, Magic, and have not looked back since. 2012 saw the release of three hugely successful and excellent records, On Fire, Pamparampe and ‘Bad Guy P’ with the group headlining a sold-out concert at the Federal Palace Hotel in July while touring all across the country with the likes of Samsung, Spinlet and Hennessy, among others. L.O.S closed out the year with the release of the hugely anticipated and long-awaited music video for Bad Guy P to rave reviews from fans, critics and new audiences alike. They also opened for Chris Brown on the Nigerian leg of his world tour to end a defining 2012. The four artistes are now under record label L.O.S Music, which will work closely with Storm Records, with Setop Media handling all management enquiries. They are already preparing for the release of a massive remix of their latest smash hit Bad Guy P featuring two very special guests. That monster remix will be followed, soon after, by the group’s debut E.P as well as future solo projects from all four group members. In essence, it is going to be a very exciting 2013 for L.O.S and L.O.S Music.
Soul singer, WAJE, makes acting debut in Tunnel
Julius De Genius Agwu to release autobiography If the information at M&M’s disposal is anything to go by, then hugely talented comedian, actor and musician, Julius Agwu, is at the moment putting finishing touches to his autobiography. M&M gathered that the autobiography which Julius is said to be currently working on, will be unveiled to his fans and others on his 40th birthday on April 7. It was also learnt that the forthcoming book, which is yet to be titled, is being edited by award-winning poet and writer, Toni Kan. Interestingly, while Julius’ autobiography is in the works, the amazing entertainer is also planning to launch his TV show, Jokes Apart, which he has been working on for five years, on that day.
Entertainment lovers would be excited to know that Nigerian sexy soulful singer, Iruobe Waje a.k.a. WAJE (Words Aren’t Just Enough) is an all round entertainer. Not only is she a talented music diva, she also has what it takes to be a screen goddess. This may be the reason why the singer, who is known for captivating vibes, is currently on a movie set to showcase her acting talent in a new flick. M&M gathered that WAJE is currently starring in a new movie alongside Femi Jacobs, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Patrick Doyle. The movie, which is currently being shot in Lagos, is tentatively titled Tunnel, and is being directed by Stanley Ohikhuare. This will be the debut movie of WAJE, who is a popular Nigerian singer. The film tells the story of a young pastor, Lade (Femi Jacobs), and his wife, Shade (Waje). The two have a daughter who falls ill, and they must battle to save not only their daughter, but also their troubled marriage. According to reports, the soundtrack of the movie was sung by WAJE. The movie is due in April.
Desmond Elliot directs new Yoruba movie You may not have seen him in Yoruba movies. But Nollywood star actor and producer, Desmond Elliot, surely has what it takes to hold his own in that sector of the Nigerian film industry. Well, it will interest you to know that Desmond Elliot has directed a Yoruba movie, entitled Unforgivable. The flick was produced by Dayo Amusa, with a lineup of movie stars such as Mike Ezuruonye, Dayo Amusa, Bukky Wright, Desmond Elliot, Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Thomas, Iyabo Ojo, Ibironke Ashaolu and Wale Alabi. Unforgivable is currently in post-production and according to a source, it will be in cinemas later this year. The new movie tells the amazing story of Damola (Mike Ezuruonye), a man who is blinded by his pride, and who cannot accept the undiluted love given to him by his wife, Sewa (Dayo Amusa). Sewa sacrifices everything to keep her home in order and satisfy her husband in every possible way. Richard (Desmond Elliot) is a cultured man who lacks the courage to express his feelings towards the woman he loves. The movie promises to be an exciting one.
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Romance in the workplace may lead to marriage or loss of job
L
anre is a handsome dude who gets admiring glances from females anywhere he goes. He has this captivating smile that makes women flock around him like moth to a flame. He enjoys all the attention and takes full advantage of it by having one or two harmless flings with female colleagues in the office. Most of the time he tries to keep it light with no strings attached and in a month or two, the romance fizzles out and he goes ahead to pick another female who has been subtly making passes at him. His friend, Biodun, had called him aside to caution him against being romantically involved with the ladies he works with but he defended himself by asking him, “Where do you want me to go and catch my fun when I spend virtually 40 hours a week here in the office? I leave home as early as 5.30 in the morning and then get home latest by 10.30 p.m., six days of the week. When do I get the time to meet interesting women except in the office, abi you no wan make I find wife?” He asked defensively. With that in mind, he decided to change his strategy and approach when chasing the ladies and that was when he met Lola. Lola is a beautiful girl he bumped into in the Accounts section when he went there to pick a cheque for his boss. Initially, when he saw her, he noticed that she was not giving him the admiring glances he normally got from the females and he knew instinctively that this one was different from the other ladies. All the same, her attitude piqued him and he took it up as a challenge. He tried all the tricks he had in his bag on how to woo a lady but Lola didn’t budge. In desperation, he threw in his last card which was a marriage proposal if she would consider a serious relationship with him. That was when she agreed to go out with him. He dated her seriously for a while, but as usual, he got bored and picked up another lady to toast. When he told Lola that it was over between them, she cried and begged him not to break up with her but he refused. The poor girl was devastated and even missed work for some days. She had earlier confided in a friend in the office who equally carried it to the office grapevine that she was getting married to Lanre. Now she was wondering how she was going to face her colleagues in the office or the snide remarks she was sure would follow. She then vowed she was going to get back at Lanre for this humiliation. Unknown to Lanre, Lola was a cousin to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of their company. So he was shocked when he was called up
My name is Kehinde. I am 30 years of age and live in Lagos. I want a rich, honest and handsome man that can take care of me, between 40 and 60 years old –08129533649. I am Samuel, 29 years old. I need a beautiful lady for a serious relationship –07063562591. Kazeem Adekunle is my name; I am 32 years old, from Lagos State. I am 6.3ft tall, dark-complexioned and an engineer. I want a working-class lady, between 23 and 30 years old, who is a Muslim and ready for marriage –08179562336. My name is Victor, 35 years old, 5.6ft tall and a businessman from Enugu State. I need a serious and lovely woman of 30 years old and above for a tight relationship that will lead to marriage –07086451964. A model
to the Chairman’s office to answer a few questions. The GMD was so angry with him that he didn’t even give him the chance to explain but dismissed him on the spot for sexual harassment of ladies in his company. This time around, Lanre has bitten more than he could chew and wished he had listened to the advice of his friend. The phrase “don’t dip your pen in the company ink” is a well-worn cliché, yet we still see office romance spring up among colleagues working together in the office. Office romance can swing either way, it can work well and may even lead to marriage or it may end terribly bad and cause either or both parties their job. Romance in the workplace takes place virtually in every company that has both male and female co-existing during working hours. It’s even more rampant when you have a larger percentage of young singles working closely together. It’s more like putting the yam and the goat in the same barn; sparks are bound to fly! Office romances can be fun and successful too. Take for instance, the United States President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. They met when they both worked at a Chicago Law firm, and Michelle was assigned to mentor Barack while he was a summer associate. They married in 1992 and have continued to work together throughout the rise of his political career. Well, everyone may not be as lucky as the Obamas. Where the worry usually lies is not in the beginning of the relationship but how will this relationship end. Does it end in marriage or will it affect your jobs when the romance gets awry? First of all, it’s good practice to keep your social and business lives separate and that means not letting a romantic relationship affect the quality and efficiency of your work. When business and pleasure get intertwined, it can cause trouble on the job. As much as possible, keep the sparks between you and your lover toned down and never show undue affection to each other in the office or in front of colleagues if you don’t want to brew jealousy or accusation of favouritism, especially if this relationship happens to be between a boss and a subordinate. Simply keep the relationship strictly out of bounds during the working hours. So if you’ve got your eye on a co-worker but don’t know whether you should make a move, I’ll advise you to proceed carefully. Handle your office romance the right way and you might live happily ever after; screw it up and you could wind up looking for a new job; the choice is yours!
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&
Weddings Engagements CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS JANUARY 27, 2013
Wosilat Okoya’s daughter, Bisola, weds Jide
B
eautiful Bisola Denjonwo and her beau, Jide Tokan, were joined in a nikkai ceremony at her uncle, Chief Rasak Okoya’s spacious compound located along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos last Saturday. Bisola was led into the arena by her step father, Otunba Demola Seriki. She looked elegant in her lovely sleeveless flowing wedding dress with silver sequins. Jide matched his beautiful bride in a three-piece blue suit. The mother of the bride, Wosi-
lat Okoya, was equally exquisitely dressed as ever. She did not hide her joy as she watched her daughter being given out in wedlock, which is the prayer of every mother. As expected, the ceremony was very colourful and well planned. Guests attended the occasion beautifully dressed in different eye-catching outfits and the venue was exquisitely decorated in gold and white colours, with lights. Bisola is the first daughter of Wosilat Okoya, the younger sister of bil-
lionaire industrialist, Chief Okoya, and step-daughter of former minister of Agriculture, Otunba Demola Seriki. Jide Tokan is a businessman said to be into construction and building. The couple is already blessed with a child. It was gathered that the wedding would have taken place about two years ago but at that time, Bisola was reportedly pregnant and they had to put the ceremony on hold. The bridesmaid were all stylishly dressed in lemon-green mono strap gown matched with slim gold belt. They include Elite Model boss, Elohor Aisien, style correspondent with ThisDay Style Magazine, Funke BabsKufeji, Akunna Nwala, Saffy McFoy and Erhi Nakpoberuo. The ceremony was well attended by dignitaries such as the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji-Fashola and his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Adefulire, former First lady of Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Daisy Danjuma, Otunba Olasubomi Michael Balogun, Grace Egbagbe and Hajia Abah Folawiyo. Others include former governor of Lagos State, Brigadier Raji Rasaki (rtd) and his wife Fatimat, Royal Majesty, Queen Pelebo Banigo, the wife of Ebitimi Banigo, Amanyanabo of Okpoama Kingdom, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Abiola Atanda (Madam Kofo), Chief Mike Inegbese and his wife, Nkiru Anumudu, his Royal Majesty, the Osile Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuosho, among others.
You have a story to tell us about your wedding/engagement, or your new born baby. You can call this line 08051980588
BABIES OF THE WEEK
Ifesinachi Karen Adanma Duru was born at Matthew Maternity Hospital, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos to Fabian and Elizabeth Duru. She was delivered at 2:30 p.m. and weighed 3:01 kg. Elizabeth revealed that, “during the pregnancy, I ate lots of fruits like orange, pineapple and watermelon. I also drank enough blood tonic. I preferred eating rice, beans and plantain.” Were there obvious physical body changes during the pregnancy? “The only obvious physical body change was my protruding tummy. I also looked more beautiful,” she stated. What do Ifesinachi’s parents love about her? Elizabeth said, “She is beautiful and hairy.” What do her parents want her to become in future? “We want her to become the First Lady of a president or governor by the grace of God,” stressed Elizabeth. What is the meaning of Ifesinachi? “It means Gift from God,” Fabian disclosed.
For Faith and Kenny, friendship in Law School blossoms into marriage
T
he families of Arigbe and Umenyi joined in the celebration of the new beginning of their children, Faith Arigbe and Kenny Umenyi, as they were joined in holy matrimony recently. The conjugal blessing took place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Victoria Island. Captivating Faith was stunningly dressed in her lace wedding attire with a sheer venice lace neckline, pleated satin cummerbund and chapel length train. She harmonised her bridal look with beautiful multi-pearl drop earrings, a cathedral-length lace-edged veil and a bouquet of lush cream roses. Kenny looked dapper in his white tuxedo paired with a black bow-tie and trouser. The couple, family, friends and guests later moved to Harbour Point, venue of the reception which was beautifully decorated in golden colour, red, rich cream roses and lights which created a sparkling night effect. The couple as well as guests had no dull moment as
they were treated to nice music, delicious, assorted meals and drinks. Faith and Kenny met at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja in 2007 after which they became friends. However, years later, Kenny proposed to Faith and she accepted. Today, they are one flesh. The lovebirds performed their traditional wedding at the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a celebration of love and culture. Faith looked superb in her George wrapper and blouse which she accessorised with coral necklace while Kenny wore cream traditional attire paired with a chiefly red cap and coral beads.
Chidera Iwuagwu was born at Madonna Hospital, Awka to Ogbonna and Faith Iwuagwu. She was delivered at 1:23 a.m. and weighed 3:25 kg. According to Faith, during the pregnancy, “I craved for moi-moi and I also ate enough fruits.” Speaking about her obvious physical body changes, Faith stressed that, “I looked more beautiful; however, I had swollen legs.” What irritated her during the pregnancy? “I was irritated by the smell of drugs,” she revealed. What do Chidera’s parents love about her? “She smiles a lot. We also love the way she eats and sleeps,” Ogbonna said. What do her parents want her to become in future? “We would want her to become a medical doctor,” said Faith. What is the meaning of Chidera? “It means what God has written stands,” Ogbonna added.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
38
A Fashionista’s
World JANUARY 27, 2013
Stage fright is no longer in me –Marian Makbere, Miss Tourism
Marian Makbere is a fashionista that has made the country proud. She won the Miss Tourism crown and had represented the country in beauty pageants. She beat 56 white beauty queens to win Miss GlamSmile in Malaysia. In this interview with Adaeze Amos, she speaks of her experience in Malaysia and her duties as Miss Tourism. Excerpts: Can you tell us more about yourself? I hail from Bayelsa State and I’m studying Pure and Applied Chemistry at the Niger Delta University. My statistics are 33, 26, 36. I grew up in Bayelsa State, right inside a community of Igbogene-Epie, Yenogoa. My childhood memory is honestly green. Back then when I was six years old, I still remember how I used to dress up in my mother’s attire and catwalk down the roadsides. I would also watch moving cars while I did my catwalk. I would continue doing this until I was tired for the day and I would come home and undress. Would you say God was shaping your destiny for what you are today (a beauty queen)? Yes, I think so. God was preparing me for my modeling career which has materialized today. If you had seen me then, you would have laughed at me but today, those catwalks I was rehearsing took me out of the shores of this country and I was able to do my catwalk well in far away Malaysia. That is what destiny can do in one’s life. My childhood behaviours garnished my passion for pageantries. Coupled with inspirations I got from watching fashion TV. When I grew up and it downed on me that I have some attributes of a beauty queen, I enrolled in a beauty pageantries and I came out with beautiful and diamond-studded crown. What is Miss Tourism international all about? It is a beauty pageant that is organized on the eve of every new year and after which the Miss Tourism of every country would contest with other beauties around the globe. Miss Tourism International has been on for 16 years now. The 2012/2013 edition was the 16th year of successful occasion. The recent edition had delegates from over 56 countries and it is often celebrated in Malaysia. I didn’t win Miss Tourism International but I won Miss GlamSmile beating 56 contestants to it. I enjoyed being Miss Tourism Nigeria because it gave me the platform to
contest with other international beauty queens.
beautiful.
How was the pageant in Malaysia? A lot of things happened> I got to the host country at the right time. I did so many mini shows in KL City and some of the states close by. I saw a lot of tourist sites and traditional houses. I ate their foods including Indian and Chinese foods> I got to see the diversity in culture and traditions of other 56 countries. The pageant kept all the contestants struggling for the top.
Did you have stage fright? Talking about stage fright, I dealt with that a long time ago when I started participating in beauty pageants newly. So, stage fright is no longer in me. It’s no longer in the dictionary I carry.
You came home with Miss GlamSmile crown, what does this mean? Miss GlamSmile Malaysia is one of the most prestigious title that Miss Tourism International gave for grabs for the 56 delegates. The title was adopted by a Glasmile Dental Clinic in Malaysia and Belgium. They are responsible for smile redesigning, teeth veneers, changing of the entire teeth formation, teeth whitening and any teeth or smile associated problems. And a Nigerian representative in the person of my humble self was found worthy of the title for she had the most beautiful Glamsmile. What gave you an edge over others? What gave me an edge over others was the genetic fact that I was dark skinned. So, it was so easy to stand out as we were just two African dark skinned ladies represented. My mode of conduct and participation I exhibited in all the activities done in camp gave me an edge over others as well. Were you intimidated in anyway? I hardly get intimidated in anything although the pageant turned out to be a little bit racial but I still kept my shoulders high. I contested with white beauty queens but I found my dark pigmentation more charming. It’s good to be dark skinned because black is indeed
What is your selling point? My selling point is the actual fact that I have the ability to absorb and tolerate people. Another quality I consider my selling point is the fact that I’m outspoken and people find it easy working with me. What lapses do you think our beauty queens have back home? As for pageantries in Nigeria, Nigerian beauty queens are not having lapses but some of them need to be groomed. What are your duties as the Miss Tourism Nigeria? My duties are promoting tourism and culture starting from the grass root. Improving and standardizing tourist sites here in Nigeria and promoting them through the media so as to attract investors and tourists from all over the world. I will also need to work with Ministry of tourism and culture in this direction. But now that you are Miss GlamSmile, what are your duties? It’s a different office but my duties are some how similar. I’m now their brand ambassador for a year. And being a face of Miss GlamSmile and a promoter of it, I have to make sure I put smiles on the faces of people. Reach out to the under privileged, set up a foundation that would be focused on just the Nigerian girl-child. I will also be glad cultivating smiles in the hearts of the orphans.
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Opinion
Sunday January 27, 2013
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Waiting for the mega party
espite its motley colour, the rainbow is united in mission. Perhaps this is what Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, and former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), have been trying to prove. As with the pleasurable stream of buzz in the esophagus of a veteran drunk, so is the excitement elicited by the joint resolve of a rainbow coalition of many opposition parties led by Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). In that merger involving no fewer than six political parties and other groups, which will in essence transmute to a mega party, the message the opposition, in unison, seeks to pass to ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is that, the latter’s boasting of ruling the country till thy kingdom come is no more than a ruse. After all, a former national chairman of the party, Vincent Ogbulafor, while still in control, had publicly boasted that PDP would rule the country for 60 years without break. Apart from the ACN and the CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), though limping from the effects of the Judas role played by some of its governors who defected to the ruling PDP, has fallen in, to join the proposed mega party, which its midwives hope to deliver in June this year. It is equally noteworthy that not a few parties, patently jaded by the recent hammer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which proscribed them for their feeble look, are also making negotiations to be part of the mega party, waiting to make its debut. However, the PDP, being the ruling
party, has swiftly moved to dismiss the seriousness of those mooting the proposed mega party, describing them as strange bedfellows who are fated to fall apart in the tradition of selfish ambition and disconcerted principles. Invariably, reference is being made here, to the seeming incompatible personalities and character traits of Buhari and Tinubu. While some see Buhari as Spartan, frugal and steely in convictions, they rate Tinubu as the direct opposite, saying he is a flamboyant politician and an unbeatable schemer whose loyalists and foot soldiers are never in want. All said and done, it is still an indubitable fact that no two human beings can be the same but they can only at best be made of the same stuff. But in the event of parallel behavioral attributes, what welds in the sideways are mutual understanding, maturity and the impulsive joint-modelling by the common goal under pursuit. This is to imply that apart from Tinubu, Buhari is still going to be confronted with other persons of political gesticulations that he may find impervious or curiously pesky; yet the demands of his toga are that he must learn to accommodate. Same way, Tinubu is still going to be faced with characters as stubborn and miserly as a cave gobbling, who will make things worse with unbridled fundamentalism; he is still bound to accommodate them, knowing that they are united by the same goal. But what the mega party’s rooters should look out for is the banana peel couched in the wise saying of interna-
tional warfare that “alliance breaks once the common enemy is defeated.” By way of recapitulation, have the ACN and the CPC paused to think of why their plan to merge ahead of the 2011 presidential election fizzled out in embryo and on a seeming sour note? What sort of disagreement in the run-up to the failed move to merge that made Buhari, a retired army General, weep like a baby? Clearly however, that alliance broke right before the common enemy. And almost effortlessly, PDP candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, chuckled in his cruise to victory. Then, it was learnt that the ACN insisted that for the two parties to merge in what had then become a fire-brigade approach to allying, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who was then Buhari’s running mate must sign a post-dated resignation letter, to mean that in the event of victory, he would resign as Vice-President for an ACN person, for the sake of equity required by any true alliance. The Buhari camp, it was learnt, was averse to the move more so as the cleric-turned politician reportedly vowed he would not resign for anyone. But now, the scenario is different and the circumstances, a different kettle of fish. So for the duo of Buhari and Tinubu, it is a game to watch on their arousing turf of a proposed mega party.
Chidoka and the laurels
Between last year and now, awards of honour have been coming in torrents for the Corps Marshall of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka,
Kayode de Fasua ua
kayodefasua@nationalmirroronline.net (07043855192; SMS only, pls)
over the efforts of the FRSC in the onerous and unenviable task of ensuring safety on Nigerian roads. The most remarkable in the laurels given to young Chidoka came from the World Bank, which in conjunction with Sub-Saharan African Transportation Programme, rated Nigeria’s FRSC as the best institution in West Africa, helping to avert deaths on the roads. Only last week too, the Hallmark Newspapers voted him the ‘Public Officer of the Year’. Also, the Leadership Newspaper has proposed FRSC for an award of ‘Government Agency of the Year’ while the SUN Newspapers has named Chidoka ‘Public Servant of the Year’, in a ceremony scheduled for February 21. And here is an FRSC that was recommended to be merged with the Nigeria Police! For this, a former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, had reacted: “Nowhere in the world is a performing organisation killed. The Corps was going moribund before the arrival of this Corps Marshal and with his feat, the corps has come to stay.” His word, it is hoped, will not fall on deaf ears.
A quintessence, Ebino Topsy @ 70 FOLU OLAMITI
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hief Ebenezer Babatope, any day stands out in a crowd. Avuncular by disposition, Ebino Topsy as he is fondly called by close friends and associates is cerebral while his oratorical prowess commands instant attention. He is open hearted, always warm, down to earth and ever focused. For me, the story of progressive politics in Nigeria can never be properly narrated without a fair reference to the roles played by this very ebullient and egregious politician, both in the past and in the present dispensation. Who would not remember the vibrant days of Babatope in the politics of Nigeria’s Second Republic? He was the chief spokesperson for Africa’s best organised political party; the Unity Party of Nigeria. With the power of pen and shrilling voice as the UPN’s curator, Babatope, brazed by the spirit of the progressives was a main torment for then ruling defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). In those days, Babatope crowed like a cock, bleated like a sheep and often times roared like a lion against perceived misdemeanours of the ruling party. Babatope was simply a huge toast in the camp of the progressives in the Second Republic. His reputation soared beyond the coast of the south-west where he operated, whirled through the southeast, the home of late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Middle Belt where Chief Solomon Lar was contending, the cultural city of Kano where Mallam Aminu Kano held sway and then the Borno Empire which produced the only Nigerian politician who played politics without bitterness, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri. He spoke in political terms and officially too for the great
men who laid the basis for growth of democracy in Nigeria. Babatope! Oh what a man, what a speaker, what a politician, what a bundle of wit. To say that Babatope thought Nigerians the art of speaking for political parties is like stating the obvious. He laid the standard for office of National Publicity Secretary of parties as we come to know today. His own voyage into politics and the manner of his rise is a good study on how a politician should be baked Babatope did not join politics because he wanted to raise a fortune. He was a worker and a philosopher at the University of Lagos, so immersed in the propagation of progressive ideals rooted in the Carl Max doctrines before he got located. He was a columnist too. Unknown to him, the Tsar of Progressive Politics in Nigeria, Papa Chief Obafemi Awolowo secretly held him in high esteem. That was when Awo was pioneering a political group known as Committee of Friends, preparatory to the lifting of ban on politics in 1978 by then military government. Awo’s political team was complete long before full stream politics took off to establish the Second Republic in 1979. He specifically sent for Babatope to join the team which eventually metamorphosed into the great UPN. It was a party that gave Nigeria a robust visage on what politics should be Babatope has helped Nigeria in many ways. At a critical point in the post Second Republic Nigeria, he was part of the strong men who engaged in the brinksmanship that steered the ship of state from hitting the rock. He helped the Military government of General Sani Abacha to obviate the political crisis which pushed Nigeria to the edge of a clifhanger. He is a leader of leaders in his home state, Osun and an elderstatesman in his country Nigeria. A man like Babatope, so genuine and highly spirited in the struggle for
Nigeria’s survival deserves 70 applauses as he celebrates his 70th birthday today. This is because he remains in the class of Nigeria’s last of the titans, given the experiences he carries as a politician and a leader I have had a long standing close relationship with the celebrant who I call Egbon. His candour and quick wits endeared him to me. He is unassuming and full of surprises for anyone so close to him. I enjoyed part of his attitude to make surprises a year ago, specifically on 6 January, 2012, the day I committed my mum to mother earth at Alade Idanre. The week of burial was very turbulent for me as I make preparations for visitors to my home town. It was a week Nigerian’s went to war with their government in protest against the plan to remove subsidy on petroleum products. There was no fuel anywhere, just as chaos in the land looked stout enough to rubbish all arrangements we had made for the burial. I was demoralised and helpless. But then, people like Babatope surprised me with their morale lifting presence. I could not hold my shock when he suddenly turned up in company with one of my uncles, Chief Akanni Aluko. Today, I am paying homage to this great man who loves his country and the people so dearly. It is the reason I found this tribute on Babatope very compelling. My close relationship with egbon Ebino is spanning four decades now. His younger brother Segun Babatope has always been my buddy. We hit it together as a bosom friend with the former Governor of Ekiti State Segun Oni in the early 70s. During our days of friendship one thing led to the other and I grew to know Egbon Ebino. Segun and I were always toying with familiar pranks as bachelors. Then, Egbon Ebino though responsibly rascally used to warn and remind us that our fathers
were servants of God. Today, Segun and I owe the Almighty God much gratitude for making us to accept Jesus Christ just after we got married in 1980. I joined the Tribune stable as a reporter and got the rare opportunity to become Papa Obafemi favourite reporter covering his political activities and that made me to get closer to Egbon Ebino. As the functional Director of Publicity and Propaganda for the UPN, Egbon became so dear to Papa Awolowo because he found in Papa Awo, a dependable and adorable leader. To say the least, he became one of Papa Awo’s adopted children. Awo loved Babatope so much that he picked his tuition fees for law degree programme in the United Kingdom. For that reason, Egbon Ebino would for ever remain a dye hard disciple of Awo dynasty. If you are looking for a pure undiluted Awoist, you don’t need to look elsewhere, he is Egbon Ebino. He sleeps, dreams Awo! He drinks,eats thinking of Awo. He has kept the faith and his numerous writings have been educating the young ones who are itching to read informative materials of the sage Awo. Egbon Ebino is an elder with full milk of human kindness. He is always willingly to offer assistance to anyone that comes his way. But nature is powerful and so Babatope will not remain the vibrant youth he has always be. He is now 70! Now, what can I say on a day like this that Egbon is 70 than to say I thank God for knowing you. I am grateful for your brotherly support to me during my moment of ups and downs in the Tribune. Your words of wisdom and encouragement saw me through my 32 years sojourn at Imalefalafia. •Olamiti is of the Independent Corrupt Practics and other offences Commission (ICPC)
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
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Politics
Sunday, January 27, 2013
h Nigeria –Babatope the situation the country is now? I believe that a country does not die economically. The only punctuation mark I have is that Nigerians have not learnt a lesson from the Nigeria-Biafra war. When I was in the university, I was exceptionally pro-Biafra. I was pro-Biafra because I felt that, like I said earlier, a group of people never believed that Nigeria must have a southern leadership. Every little thing that happened was interpreted in the manner of North, South and then with advantage to the North. There was a time the North was absolutely in control of the Military. We felt it was wrong and that is why many of us at that time as undergraduates joined in the struggle to have Nigeria as a confederal state. Now things are changing, even though you can see some people trying to rewrite Nigerian history, I want to advise Nigerians, particularly the youth, that they must ensure that what is operating now remains with Nigeria. That is, any person born of a woman can be leader of Nigeria. The moment Nigeria changes from that then the country is finished.
the South-West. Could you relive what led to that situation? I have told a lot of story about this. That serving Abacha did not come with the Abiola election in 1993. What happened was that there was a coup that was led by Abacha, Diya, Jeremiah Useni and all of them. They removed Shonekan and then they said they were going to have a government. First it was to be a short term government. They now invited political pressure groups to send in people to join the government. The Obafemi Awolowo political family was contacted. A meeting was held in the late Pa Alfred Rewane’s house in Ikeja Lagos where four of us, myself, Mrs Osomo, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, were chosen by the Awolowo group to go into government. When we got to government, certain things developed which in fact militated against those of us who wanted to serve as honest Nigerian citizens and who wanted to represent our political group or political family. So we left government after 14 months and went into our various homes. It has nothing to do with Abiola or no Abiola. The arrest of Abiola which is quite unfortunate and which eventually led to his death was something which was decried by everybody. Even when we were in government we decried it.
Some people believe that being an associate of the late Chief Awolowo who was known for his liberalism or a progressive, your choice of PDP which is regarded as conservative was wrong. How will you react to this? I have told many of my friends, including journalists who had interviewed me, that no political party in Nigeria, can say it is a progressive or an ideological based party. Not one or a single party. Don’t forget that the late Chief Bola Ige wrote the manifesto of all major political parties in the country today. Apparently, there is nothing you can charge PDP for as being conservative that you can’t charge the ACN or CPC or you can charge the ANPP. Precisely, we should be praying that one day, Nigerians will turn to what we had in the First and Second Republic when there were ideologically oriented political parties. Right now there is none. Many of my colleagues in ACN are still my friends. For instance, it is difficult for me now at the age of 70 to start jumping ship. What lessons or examples are we giving to the younger people? That we are jumping from the PDP to this or that party. It is arrant nonsense. If I leave the PDP today, I will retire to my house and play my domestic politics very well, eat my pounded yam, which is typical of Ijesha people and then wait for when God would say I should come homeI tell you that no party is ideological except we are deceiving ourselves. There is no progressiveness in any political party. There are individuals in these parties who are progressives, you can’t deny them. You cannot say Segun Osoba, Bola Tinubu, the late Lam Adesina, Bisi Akande are not progressives. They too cannot say that Babatope, Tunde Adeniran, Martins Kuye, Senator Omilani, Olu Alabi, Dayo Abatan, and Yemi Faroumbi are not progressives and we are all in the PDP. They cannot also say that Professor Jerry Gana who came from a progressive tradition to become senator in the second republic is a reactionary or Solomon Lar who was governor of the NPP and was the pioneer chairman of the PDP is a reactionary. These are people of progressive bent.
When you were young, what was your expectation of a future Nigeria? Would you say what you had in mind then tally with
Unlike in the Second Republic our political parties now lack clear cut programmes and manifestoes. What has that to say
ot saying
r away Texas, USA, the governor said n Rivers and not to become the presi-
to govern Rivers State and if any othion, it is that person’s business. So if ate is being denied of everything, too Rivers State. If they like Rivers State, hey like Rivers State. Everything that ken away. Even ordinary waivers for aterials, they wouldn’t grant the state. ever approve. There is nothing we apotten, absolutely nothing.” Amaechi
at Amaechi had been having a a runFederal Government who have been state because of his purported presi-
d, the governor responded, “Orubebe on to superintend over my state and
eight others in terms of development and I have not seen one project in my state. I doubt if any of my colleagues has told me that he has seen one.” Basically, everybody in the future will answer the question - What have I done in the number of months or years that I have held a particular public office entrusted to me. I have told him to tell us how far he has gone and who are the contractors, what is the process by which the contractors were chosen?” Amaechi went as far as suggesting an accountability debate between him and the minister. “I am open to a debate and I am ready to tell Orubebe that for every project that he shows me that he had completed, I will show him 10 projects in Rivers State that Rivers State Government has constructed. I usually tell them that the problem with me is that I am not an old man, I am equal to the task of confronting any of his (President) subordinates who confront me on issues that are mundane.” While notable stakeholders sympathise with Amaechi over this situation which they believe had at best been a cog in the state’s attempt to march effectively towards effective development, they however frowned on Amaechi’s attack and on President Jonathan and his Abuja officials. On his alleged confrontation with President Jonathan, the governor had noted in his latest comment that the President is a good man who surrounds himself with bad lieutenants. He said: “It is not that the President is bad, he is absolutely a good man, but those people around the President continue to give that impression,
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about our democracy? We are getting to that stage now, because Nigerias are now asking questions and that is very important. Look at all elections that had been held after 2011. In those elections people have been asking questions. They have risen to let everybody know that they are aware of what is going on and are going to vote according to their conscience. Look at how the people of Ondo State rose up to vote for Mimiko because they recognised that Mimiko was doing the right thing, he was doing well. He was executing programmes that would enhance the people’s welfare. Go to Akure and see the wonders that that young man has performed. With Nigerians becoming highly politically conscious and are asking questions, you find out that we are going to have a situation very soon when we will have issue-oriented political parties. That is what we are waiting for and that is what we are going to get. What do you think is really the problem with the country? There are many things that are wrong with Nigeria. As I said in the past, we didn’t have correct political leadership as a result of that cabal that I talked about. Secondly, we have a situation where people are so self contented that they forget things too easily, especially the intellectuals. Something that happened yesterday is quickly forgotten today, so history is being subverted. If we are able to ensure that we live up to the yearnings of Nigerians who have the power ultimately, the country will not have problems. But unfortunately we are not doing it. Look at the National Assembly, the Senate is doing very well. I love what those lawmakers are doing. I am not saying the House of Representatives is doing badly but for God’s sake, the House of Representatives should stand up and convince Nigerians that the Farouk matter is not just being made to fade away. I am not saying they should punish Farouk but they must get at the bottom of the issue and take decision that will make Nigerians to love them. You said you were happy when a southerner for the first time won the presidential election in 1993. Now a southern minority, Goodluck Jonathan, is the President of Nigeria. How will you assess his government? Jonathan’s government has not done anything which is criminal. His government has done things which I believe have been within the normal pattern of what we have been seeing in Nigeria since independence. Jonathan is thriving, I can say that, not because we are from the same political party. If he was not doing well, I thank my God, I will take my biro and write a letter to him. But believe me the young man is doing his best. The man is trying his best. Nigeria is a difficult country to govern politically. In Nigeria because of the volatility of politics, people are prepared to sacrifice and crucify a ruler who is unable to prove to them why the action that ruler is taking has become necessary. Jonathan is trying and where there are lapses he should cover up. For example, he said something recently, that this year the government will do everything to ensure it meets the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians. That is good enough. That is a clear-cut statement by him that things are not going on well. He wants to correct them and so we should give him all the encouragement to do it. We should wish him the best of luck. There was a time you aspired for the office of secretary general of your party. At the convention ground you were manoeuvred and schemed out. How do you feel about that development? I don’t feel bad about it. One thing we should talk about is CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
they fan the ember of hatred and dislike because that is how they will succeed and make their money; that is how they will be relevant and unfortunately the President has not seen that. He needs to see that. “For the President I owe him a lot of respect and regard, he is a very good person. I have told him personally that for him, I see him as a very good person, the problem I have is that some of his lieutenants need to be able to account for what they are doing in different ministries. “For any man to ascend to that office he must have passed through a lot of challenges, for him to overcome those challenges and become president, it makes him qualified. I do respect the President and I challenge anybody that says I disrespect the President to show me evidence of disrespect. I don’t think having a contrary view amounts to disrespect. So the President as a father must be ready to accept contrary views.” The statement, according to certain sections of the region, questions the sense of judgement of the President and also puts a question mark on the ability of his officials to manage state affairs. David Iyofo, Amaechi’s spokesman and Chief Press Secretary, who incidentally hails from Delta State just like Orubebe, had before the governor’s reaction from Texas, swiftly reacted to Orubebe’s statement describing it as ludicrous, thoughtless and bizarre ranting. He said he would not have responded to the comments but found it necessary to do so because of the deliberate attempt by the minister to “divert CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
GROWING UP with
Aunty Angela growingup5@yahoo.com
Hello children, How are you finding your studies? I believe that you have been reading your books and doing your homework. I wish you a wonderful week of learning.
WHO INVENTED WHAT…? Otto Frederick Rohwedder developed the first automatic bread-slicing machine
R
ohwedder was an American inventor and engineer who created the first automatic bread-slicing machine for commercial use. He was born on July 7, 1880 in Des Moines, Iowa and he was the youngest of three brothers and a sister. He studied optometry and graduated in 1900 with a degree in optics from what is now the Northern Illinois College of Ophthalmology and Otology in Chicago. Rohwedder pursued a career as a jeweller, opening and operating three jewelry stores of his own in St. Joseph, until 1916. Convinced he could develop a bread-slicing machine, he sold his jewelry stores to fund the development effort and manufacture the machines. However, in 1917 a fire broke out at the factory where Rohwedder was manufacturing his machine. It destroyed his prototype and blueprints. With the need to get funding again, Rohwedder was delayed for several years in bringing the bread slicer to market. In 1927, Rohwedder successfully designed a machine that not only sliced the bread but wrapped it. He applied for patents to prorotect his invention and nd sold the first machine to a friend and baker, Frank Bench, who installed it at the Chillicothe Baking Company, Chillicothe, Missouri in 1928. The first loaf of sliced bread was sold commercially on July 7, 1928. Sales of the machine to other bakeries increased and sliced bread became available across the country.
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SPORTS QUIZ
H
e is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Chelsea. He can play in a variety of positions, but he has mostly played as a left winger. He was born in Lagos on December 12, 1990 and moved to England at the age of 11. He has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, but opted to play for the Nigerian national team as opposed to being fully capped for England. He attended Stanley Technical High School now known as the Harris Academy in South Norwood, during which time he was scouted playing football in the local Tandridge League, where scouts from Crystal Palace approached him. The scouts were so impressed that he was offered a place in the Eagles’ academy, which he accepted. His £2.5 million transfer to Premier League side, Wigan Athletic, was completed after Palace went into administration. He scored his first goal for Wigan on May 3, 2010 against Hull City. On August 24, 2012, Chelsea announced that the transfer of this player had been completed. He made his full debut for Chelsea when he started the League Cup
game against Wolves and scored his first goal after 71 minutes. The game finished 6–0 to the Blues. On October 31, 2012, he was named Man of the Match in the game against Manchester United in the League Cup, a game Chelsea won 5–4. He was selected to play for Nigeria against Guatemala in February 2011, but the friendly was cancelled. He accepted a call-up in March 2011 for Nigeria’s games against Ethiopia and Kenya. However, he was ruled out of those games because his application to FIFA to switch nationalities was not received in time. It was announced on November 1, 2011 that FIFA had cleared him and Shola Ameobi to play for Nigeria. He was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Question • What is the name of this player? • Which club does he play for? • What jersey number does he wear for his club? • What jersey number does he wear for his country?
DID YOU KNOW? Rohwedder
In 1939, Rohwedder sold his patent rights to the Micro-Westco Co. of Bettendorf, Iowa and joined the gcompany. He became vice-president and sales manager of the Rohwedder Bakery Machine Division. In 1951 at age 71, he retired from Micro-Westco Co. known as the “father Rohwedder is know of sliced bread”. He d died in Concord, Michigan on Novembe November 8, 1960 and was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Albion. Rohwedder’s honours and legacy • R o hwedder had seven h d patents approved from 1927-1936 having to do with bread-slicing and handling. • His original bread-slicing machine is now housed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
Ikogosi: The meeting point of warm and cold spring
I
kogosi warm and cold spring is located in Ekiti West Local Government, Ekiti State. It is situated in a valley and from the surrounding hills rises the warm spring. Tourists to the state are irresistibly charmed with the beauties of Ikogosi where warm and cold water coming from different sources flow separately to join in a pool but each retaining its thermal identity..
QUOTE Life doesn’t count for much unless you’re willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a better world. Even if it’s difficult, even if the work seems great, even if we don’t get very far in our lifetime. Children, you can send your contributions and pictures through this email address growingup5@yahoo.com or call telephone number: 0805 198 0588
–Barack Obama
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Fox
•Foxes are smallest members of dog family. •The fox is an alert, carnivorous mammal with pointed snout and ears and a bushy tail or brush. •A fox generally consumes around one kilogramme of food every day. •They are known to store their food for latter consumption. •They live two to three years but can survive for 10 or more years in captivity. •They are active at night. •Female fox gives birth to four to five young ones once in a spring season. •The fox usually hunts alone, rather than in packs like wolves or dogs. •They hunt their prey live and kill the prey quickly. •They are of medium size; male fox weighs 4-8 kg while female fox weighs
MAZE
RIDDLES What can pass before
the sun without making a shadow? Answer: The wind or the earth What can you sit on, sleep on, and brush your teeth with? Answer: A chair, a bed, and a toothbrush.
Please find your way through the maze starting from the entrance to the exit point. Have fun.
What did the traffic
4-6 kg. •Male foxes are 67-72 cm in length and females are 62-68 cm in length. •The tail of a male fox is 40-44 cm while the female tail is 37-41 cm. •They feed on wild birds, poultry, rodents, reptiles, insects, fish, fruit and various small animals. •Male foxes are called dogs or Reynards. •Females are called vixen. •Baby foxes are called kits, pups, or cubs. •The most common type is the red fox (Vulpes) •Foxes are celebrated for their craftiness •Their fur colour varies, but the tail is always tipped with white, and the legs, feet and tips of the ears are always black.
BRAIN TEASERS light say to the car? Answer: Don’t look I’m changing. Why do bees hum? Answer: Because they don’t know the words. Why did the boy bury his flashlight? Answer: Because the batteries died.
POP
JOKES Back to school
Hollandia
A mother says to her daughter, “Did you enjoy your first day at school?” The daughter replies, “First day? Do you mean I have to go back there again tomorrow?”
Teacher: “If a person from Nigeria is called a Nigerian, then what is a person from Holland called? Bright: “That is very easy ma. A person from Holland is called Hollandia.”
Watch my drinking
God’s time
Ochuko: Akpos, why are you drinking in front of the mirror? Akpos: My doctor told me to watch my drinking.
Judge: Brume, you stole a wall clock in the church. Why? Brume: My Lord, God’s time is the best.
What word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly? Answer: Incorrectly Which is correct to say: “The yolk of the egg is white” or “The yolk of the egg are white?” Answer: Neither. Egg yolks are yellow.
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Lessons of Life
ANGELA DAVIES lessonsoflife2@yahoo.com 08023342083
TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART JANUARY 27, 2013
‘I pretended to be poor just to find a wife’
I
am the first son of three boys and the Chief Executive Officer of my father’s architectural firm. Unfortunately, I am the only ugly one and when I say ugly, I mean ugly. My two younger brothers are very handsome, so is my dad. My mother is a very pretty woman too, so most times I wonder where I got my ugliness from. However, I come from a very wealthy family so women flock all around me and my brothers. For me, at first I never knew that all the women who come close to me were only interested in my money until I begin to talk about marriage. Once I talk about marriage to any of them, I don’t see them ever again. They run away and even when I call them on phone, they don’t pick up but when they do, they all say almost the same thing. “Benjamin, yes you are rich and you love to spend money but which reasonable woman in her right senses will marry an ugly looking man like you? Don’t you look at yourself in the mirror? You look like a
chimpanzee.” These words are so hurting that sometimes I weep. One Saturday morning, I visited my parent’s home so that I could ask them why I look very different from the rest of the family but I met only my mother at home. When she saw me, she knew something was wrong and she asked, “Son, what is the matter?” “Mum please tell me the truth, are you and dad my real parents? If yes, why am I so ugly? Why do I look different from the rest of the family? If no, was I adopted?” I questioned. “Benjamin, what type of a question is this? Of course you are our first son. You were not adopted. Your father said you look like your great-grandfather because I have also asked myself the same question,” she revealed. She assured me that I will someday find a woman who will truly love me for who I am. I promised myself that I was going to get married at the age of 28. So about seven months to my birthday, I had to
think of a plan on how to meet the right woman for me. I wanted a woman who would love me the way I am and not because of my money. I told my family about my plans and they promised to give me their unflinching support. However, the two people who knew about my everyday plan were my driver and my best friend, Larry. First, I live in VGC alone. But for my plan to be effective, I told my driver to get me a one room apartment in Ajegunle or Mushin where nobody knows me. And in a short time, he got me a one room apartment in a face-me-I-face you compound in Ajegunle and I moved in immediately. The idea was to live the life of a poor man even though I knew it was not going to be easy. However, I was determined to achieve my goal. The only valuable things in the room were the standing fan and a mattress. Also I wore tattered clothes and buy food from ‘mama put’ especially beans and bread. In the morning, during the week, I leave home in my tattered clothes and go straight to Larry’s house at Apapa where my driver waits for me to change my clothes so that we could go to the office. In the evening, he drops me there as well. After eating dinner, I change back into my tattered clothes and go home. At weekends, I sit in front of the house most times to see how people live their lives. While there I hear people gossip about how ugly I look and they wonder how my children would look like if I eventually get married. Whenever I hear these words, it makes me sad but I try not to allow it depress me. Whenever I feel hungry, I take a walk to any ‘mama put’ around the area to eat and people keep starring at me. “God, I must be really ugly for people to stare at me whenever they see me,” I murmured. But whenever I remember the words of my mother, I smile. It was one of those days when I went to buy beans that I met this lady, Blessing. I was on my way home after buying my beans and bread when this young lady who was not looking my way suddenly opened her car door and the beans poured on the ground. “Oh, I am very sorry. I wasn’t looking. I hope I didn’t hurt you,” she stressed. I starred at her for some seconds and said, “I was not looking too, you didn’t hurt me. However my beans poured on the ground and I bought it with the last money I had,” I said. “I am so sorry. Please let me go and buy another beans for you,” she begged. “Don’t worry, I will manage somehow”, I emphasized. But when she insisted, I obliged. After buying the beans for me, she dropped me at the front of my compound. Before driving off, she introduced herself as Blessing. “By the way, my name is Blessing and I live around,”
she said. “My name is Benjamin,” I replied. About a week later, I was sitting outside the house when Blessing came. “Hello Benjamin, I was in your neighbourhood so I decided to check up on you,” she said. “Thanks so much. I really appreciate,” I said. We talked for about two hours before she left. Nevertheless, she promised to be back the next day and she kept to her promise. When she came she revealed that she was the marketing manager of a plastic making company and that she lives about two streets away from me; while I had to tell her fabricated stories about myself. I told her that I am a graduate of Business Administration and I have been searching for a job for almost two years without any hope in sight. She asked me if I have been applying for jobs and I said yes but no company has called me for an interview. She asked for my resume so that she could give it to some of her friends and contacts. Luckily, I had a copy of the ‘fake’ one I had prepared. She looked at it and said, “I am impressed. You graduated with a 2.1 but you have no work experience yet. But don’t worry, I will make copies and give to my friends. I just pray one of them can help out,” she promised. “If you can do this for me, I will be eternally grateful,” I stressed. Surprisingly, she started looking for job vacancies for me both in newspapers and online. Whenever she sees any job that is related to my field she made sure I apply. For online applications, she comes with her laptop and modem to my house at weekends so that we could do it together. Some weeks later, I noticed that every Saturday Blessing prepares delicious meals and bring to my house since I don’t have a stove. And I tell you, she is not only a good cook, she is also well domesticated. About two weeks later, she bought a small stove, pots and other cooking utensils and started cooking at my place. Some weeks later, she bought a small television set, handset and other little things that will make me feel comfortable. She also bought me new set of clothes because according to her she wants me to look good and presentable and also get ready in case I am called upon for any job interview. I later got a job as an Administrative Assistant in a one-man business. Although the pay was not much, Blessing encouraged me to start from there instead of remaining idle and I heeded to her advice. This really touched my soul. At this point, I had falling in love with her but I didn’t want to rush things. To be continued next week
Please send your advice to the phone number or e-mail address above. No calls, please.
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Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES JANUARY 27, 2013
Country Comparison: Maternal mortality rate Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Country Chad Somalia Sierra Leone Central African Republic Burundi GuineaBissau Liberia Sudan Cameroon Nigeria Lesotho Guinea Niger Zimbabwe
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births) 1,100 1,000 890 890 800 790 770 730 690 630 620 610 590 570 Dr. Eric Nwosu
Why reduction of maternal mortality rate by 2015 is not achievable –Expert VANESSA OKWARA
W
hile motherhood is often a positive and fulfilling experience, for too many women, it is still associated with suffering, ill-health and even death; especially in Africa and Nigeria in particular. According to the figures from the United Nations (UN) World Population Prospects and the Institute for Health Metric Reports of 2010 published in 2012, Nigeria still ranks high on the list of countries with high maternal and infant mortality rates with a ratio of 545-630 per 100,000 live births on the maternal mortality index and 75 per 1,000 live births on the infant mortality index. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth, per 100,000 live births. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year. The alarming rate of women and infants dying during child delivery made
world leaders to meet at the United Nations Millennium summit in 2000 and adopted seven Millennium development goals. While infant mortality was christened Millennium Development Goals (MDG-4), maternal mortality was dubbed Millennium Development Goals (MDG-5) with the aim of achieving 75 per cent drop from the level of maternal mortality in 2015. It was on this backdrop that the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other multilateral donor agencies released funds to many developing nations, including Nigeria, to enable her improve her infant maternal health record. As the target year of 2015 fast approaches, how far has Nigeria gone in reducing infant and maternal mortality rate? The statistics are still very frightening in Nigeria, when juxtaposed with developed nations like Japan, Germany, Spain, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States. Is it possible for Nigeria to achieve the millennium development goal of reducing maternal death rate by 2015 as directed by the World Health Organisation? Dr Eric Nwosu, a medical practitioner with the Bose Specialist Hospital in Lagos, said, “To
NAFDAC partners LG security chiefs on fake drugs
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that it would partner with local government security chiefs in its fight against fake and adulterated drugs in Anambra. Coordinator, NAFDAC Special Zonal Office, Onitsha, Mr. Dauda Gimba, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra State, recently. Gimba said that the part-
nership became necessary because the agency had inaugurated its local government desk officers in 21 council areas of the state. ``The local government desk officers must work hand-in-glove with the divisional police officers (DPOs) and council area directors of Department of State Security Services (SSS) in handling local but critical issues. “It will help them to get the
be honest , I don’t see Nigeria completely achieving this goal by 2015, but there have been some measure of improvement, unfortunately, we are not there yet. If you check this ration in other developed countries, you can see we still have a long way to go. If you also check on the maternity death rate of some third world countries, you can see a lot of efforts they have put to reduce the death rate of their women during child delivery. Basically, this can only be achieved when we create enough awareness and educate our people on the need to seek proper maternity health from the right quarters where the proper health care facilities have been provided by the government. Also government should employ more professionally trained personnel in these facilities and generally ameliorate poverty in the country. Only then can we be talking about reducing maternal death rate in the country.’’ WHO has identified some of the major direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality to include hemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour. Dr Nwosu blamed the cause of pregnancy-induced complications on
needed security agencies’ protection when they are enforcing or investigating a fake and adulterated drug related issues. “With the current arrangement, the fight against fake, adulterated and counterfeit drugs would be total. “NAFDAC wants to get those people now using the rustic nature of local areas to perpetrate this evil,’’ he noted.
illiteracy and lack of proper information in the area of reproductive health. “Apart from the government providing the necessary primary, secondary and tertiary health care facility for its citizens, it is also important to emphasise the need for the women, especially those in the rural areas and the illiterate ones to be tutored in basic reproductive health education. In our practice, we have come across a lot of avoidable child and maternity deaths. Most of them stem from complications that could have been noticed during antenatal care if they went through the right channel. If we can promote sound health education in Nigeria, it will go a long way because most of our young girls and women of childbearing age are uneducated. This issue of sound education should start from preconception, that is before they even think of conceiving a child. They don’t know how to take care of their health during and after pregnancy. Some women still consult quack doctors and people not qualified to help a woman through pregnancy and delivery. We find that some women either go to herbalist homes or they won’t even go anywhere. They just stay at home and CONTINUED ON PAGE 46
HEALTH NEWS
Wheat bread good for all –Nutritionist A nutritionist with the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, Hajiya Jummai Hassan, has said wheat bread had high fibre content and was good for adults and children. Hassan told journalists that children, adults and old people could eat wheat bread. She, however, said that whole wheat bread
was particularly recommended for diabetics and people who suffered from obesity. “When you are choosing bread, for a healthy living, you don’t have to be diabetic or you don’t have to have high cholesterol before you take wheat bread. “I believe wheat bread should be for everybody.
We all need high fibre. Why I recommend wheat bread is because it has low glycemic index, which means it is very high in fibre. Low glycemic index foods can help you lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight. It also reduces the risk of heart disease and its risk factors like high cholesterol,’’ she said.
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Wellness
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Know your organs
I
The human appendix
n human anatomy, the appendix (or vermiform appendix; or caecal appendix is a blind ended tube connected to the cecum (or caecum), from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouch-like structure of the colon. The appendix is near the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine. The term “vermiform” comes from Latin and means “worm-like in appearance”. Its form The appendix regulars 10 cm in length, but can range from two to 20 cm. The diameter of the appendix is usually between seven and eight mm. The longest appendix ever removed measured 26 cm in Zagreb, Croatia. The appendix is located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, or more specifically, the right iliac fossa The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube up to several inches in length that attaches to the cecum (the first part of the colon) like a worm. (The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm-like appendage.) The open central core of the appendix drains into the cecum. The inner lining of the appendix produces a small amount of mucus that flows through the open central core of the appendix and into the cecum. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system for making antibodies. Like the rest of the colon, the wall of the appendix also contains a layer of muscle, but the layer of muscle is poorly developed. Its support for immune system The main function of the appendix is unknown. In the past, the appendix was considered a evolutionary left-
over. Now, however, scientists acknowledge that the appendix helps support the immune system in two ways. It helps tell lymphocytes where they need to go to fight an infection and it boosts the large intestine’s immunity to a variety of foods and drugs. The latter helps keep your gastrointestinal tract from getting inflamed in response to certain food and medications you ingest. The appendix can become inflamed. If an inflamed appendix is not treated immediately the appendix can burst. Appendicitis and Carcinoid Syndrome are the most common conditions that affect the appendix. Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Carcinoid syndrome is a condition where caracinoid tumors grow in the appendix. The tumors may spread to other parts of the body. Biological effect Given the appendix’s propensity to cause death via infection, and the seeming perfect health of those who have had their appendix removed, the biological purpose of the appendix has mystified scientists for some time. There have been cases of people who have been found, usually on laparoscopy or laparotomy, to have a congenital absence of an appendix. There have been no reports of impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in these people. The most common complications of appendicitis are abscess and peritonitis. The most common symptoms of appendicitis are abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomitting, fever, and abdominal tenderness. Appendicitis usually is suspected on the basis of a patient’s history and physical examination; however, a white blood cell count, urinalysis, abdominal X-ray, barium enema, ultrasonography, CT scan, and laparoscopy also may be helpful in diagnosis. Due to the varying size and location of the appendix and the proximity of other organs to the appendix, it may be difficult to differentiate appendicitis from other abdominal and pelvic diseases. The treatment for appendicitis usually is antibiotics and appendectomy (appendectomy or surgery to remove the appendix). Complications of appendectomy include wound infection and abscess. Other conditions that can mimic appendicitis include Meckel’s diverticulitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), inflammatory diseases of the right upper abdomen (gallbladder disease, liver disease, or perforated duodenal ulcer), right-sided diverticulitis, and kidney diseases.
‘Some women consult quack doctors during pregnancy’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 maybe one elderly woman will be coming once in a while to monitor her progress. It is not as if they don’t care about their health, most of them are not just aware that consulting such quacks is dangerous to their health and it is one of the reasons we have a high rate in child and maternity death in the country,’’ he revealed. Dr Eric also identified that poverty in the land as the root cause of this ignorance. “The socio-economic factor also plays a role in the decision-making of where to go for maternal care. A lot of women have an idea of what they want to do but the means of doing it is their problem, so thy resort to visiting herbalist homes. The poverty rate is the major issue. That is why when you get them at the hospital it might just be at the delivery time when complication might have set in. We still see a lot of women delivering at home. They are consulted by people who do not even understand what we call obstetrics emergencies. There are cases a trained doctor will see and immediately know that it is a state of emergency and should be referred accordingly if it cannot be handled in that hospital. That doctor will immediately refer to a place where they have more hands and the facility to care for that patient accordingly. But these quacks will still go ahead and take that delivery not knowing the risk they are putting the mother
and the child. There are a lot of complications that come with it such as bleeding, tears and so on. These are things that can even be prevented if they were in a hospital. By the time they are able to get that person to a proper hospital, she would have died. Identifying these issues when they come in for antenatal early enough helps preserve the life of the woman and her baby. Coming to antenatal on time helps the doctor to monitor the growth of the child properly through ultra sound and clinical assessment. But most of these women do not do that and they come into delivery with these complications and expect a miracle to be performed,’’ he lamented. The expert equally identified having too much children by one woman as one of the things that equally increase the rate of maternal death in the country. “Having too many children by one woman takes a toll on the health of that woman. If you take a survey and ask how many of these women use contraceptives as a way to check the number of babies they have, you will find out that a lot of them are still not aware of the type of contraceptive to use to check the number of babies they should have. We caution women to come in for family planning where they are educated on the best way to prevent getting pregnant immediately after delivery,’’ he said.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Your
BONE Health
with Dr. Olatunji Idowu
Pathologic fractures Definition A pathologic fracture occurs when a bone breaks in an area that is weakened by another disease process. Causes of weakened bone include tumors, infection, and certain inherited bone disorders. There are dozens of diseases and conditions that can lead to a pathologic fracture. Why do pathologic fractures occur? A pathologic fracture usually occurs with normal activities--patients may be doing very routine activities when their bone suddenly fractures. The reason is that the underlying disease process weakens the bone to the point where the bone is unable to perform its normal function. Pathologic fracture at the right hip secondary to cancer deposits. For example, a bone cyst may grow to a significant size where the tumor effectively eats away a significant portion of normal bone. This area of bone is now much weaker, and prone to pathologic fracture. When a broken bone occurs through the weakened area it is called a pathologic fracture. What is the treatment of a pathologic fracture? This is a very complicated question, but the simple answer is that both the fracture, and the underlying disease process must be considered in order for treatment to be safe and effective. Some pathologic fractures require the same treatment as a normal fracture, while others may require highly specialized care. If you have any problem or question about your musculoskeletal system (bones, joints and muscles) do send me a mail at tunjiidowu@live.com for advice. Meanwhile, your comments and feedback on the issues discussed are highly welcomed.
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Business
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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday, January 27, 2013
NAICOM, CIIN rev up insurance industry’s growth
Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel
TOLA AKINMUTIMI, ABUJA
F
or an industry that had been bogged down by regulatory policy, indifference and poor customers’ patronage for decades, recent efforts by the regulatory and professional bodies to address the ugly trend by harping through sundry policy reforms and professional capacity-building initiatives could not have come at a more auspicious time. Unlike other climes where the role of insurance in economic development is integrated and prioritised as an integral component of fiscal policy instruments, Nigeria’s experience, until the recent initiatives undertaken by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to reengineer the industry for improved contributions to GDP, remained remarkably pathetic as insurance penetration was poor and insurers found it extremely difficult to convince Nigerians on why they need to insure their assets and lives. Driven by the desire to create a stronger operational platform upon which enduring drive for the growth of the industry could be pursued, the NAICOM had three years ago, unveiled the Market Restructuring and Development Initiative (MDRI) as a medium term plan of reforming the industry and enhancing its capacity, market efficiency and consumer
protection. Under the plan covering 2009-2012, the insurance market is expected to grow and move the industry gross premium from N164.5 billion (2008) to N1 trillion by 2012. At the end of the phase, the industry’s direct project revenue to NAICOM is expected to rise to about N800 million while indirect project revenue to NAICOM from increase in ISS levy is targeted to peak at N12 billion revenue to Fire Service by way of Fire Service Maintenance Fund Creation of about 250,000 jobs in the insurance industry. Other beneficial projections of the MDRI are the lowering of insurance gap from 94 per cent to 70 per cent; increase in insurance contribution to GDP from 0.72 per cent to over 4 per cent; and building of consumer trust and confidence in the insurance Market. Today, the tell-tale signs suggest clearly that the operational clime is gradually changing as the NAICOM, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and other industry stakeholders are not only charting the desired roadmap for the industry’s sustainable development in the near future but are revving up the agenda of holistically transforming the sector and making it alluring for the public to invest by embracing insurance products and services. Restating the commitment of the NAI-
COM to the reform agenda at the investiture of the Chairman of the Abuja branch of the Institute last Thursday, Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, assured that the Commission would continue to adopt appropriate regulatory guidelines and other measures, including strengthening the relationship between it and the CIIN, as a strategic option of leveraging the modest achievements of the MDRI so far in areas of standardisation of practice and public enlightenment. Daniel, who was represented by the Assistant Director (Inspectorate) of the Commission, Mr. Sam Onyeka, described the investiture of the Abuja Chapter’s Chairman as a healthy development that would help in the ongoing capacitybuilding agenda of the Institute which, he said, was a key element of the MDRI’s transformational thrusts. He said: “We are delighted to be part of this ceremony because it is going to open a new vista of opportunities for professional capacity building in the industry and by implication, improve the performance of the industry. This is what the reform of the sector is all about. In the recent past, we didn’t have a functional CIIN in Abuja but with the investiture of the new Executives of the Abuja Chapter, we foresee a closer collaboration with the Institute in our efforts to move the industry forward. “Let me assure you all that NAICOM would do everything within its power to ensure that CIIN is more functional in the Federal Capital Territory. We will work together in a way that the Commission, the CIIN and the insuring public will be happy for in the future”, the NAICOM boss promised. In his keynote address at the forum, the President of the Institute, Dr Wole Adetimehin, while commending the NAICOM for taking the bold initiative of charting a new course for sustainable development of the insurance industry, restated the CIIN’s determination to promote professionalism and other capacity-building standards amongst practitioners even as he canvassed improved governments’ support for the ongoing reform agenda being championed by NAICOM, the Institute and other stakeholders. Specifically, the CIIN boss disclosed that the Council of the Institute will continue to prioritise the conduct of the professional examinations, strengthen inter-chapter cooperation, and forge stronger ties with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at all levels of governments with a view to enabling Institute’s members the opportunity to play leading roles in public sector policy formulation and implementation. While charging members on the need to observe professional standards and discipline in the discharge of their responsibilities to the public, he re-stated the Institute’s leadership resolve to continue to create new frontiers for them to enhance their knowledge and skills in order for them to deliver value to clients and the economy. Adetimehin said: “Today’s event is testimony to the fact that Abuja Branch has been working relentlessly to rein-
vent itself and ensure that CIIN members in Abuja continue to have a rallying point. There are abiding challenges in managing any human endeavour but the proof of success, as we know, has always been in the ability of the leadership to forge grounds of cooperation and continuity. This, in my belief, is being enacted on this august occasion. “The Governing Council has continued to encourage branch activities as a veritable platform for sustaining a national membership spread as well as guaranteeing unity of purpose in the actualisation of the Institute’s statutory responsibilities. Chief of these, as you are aware, is the maintenance of skills and knowledge requisite for the ethical and professional dispensation of insurance services in the country. “I have no doubt in my mind that as new Executive members of the branch, you will continue to benchmark your performance on the basis of the parameters enshrined in the broad goals and objectives of the Institute”, he added. On the need for cooperation amongst members, the industry chieftain pointed out that as stakeholders in the profession, members share the common fortune of being trusted with the responsibility of uplifting the industry and making it the envy of all and sundry. In his remarks at the event, NICON Insurance Plc’s General Manager (Marketing and Strategy), Steve Ajudua, who represented his Managing Director, Mr Emmanuel Jegede, lauded the efforts of the Institute’s Council in promoting standards and advised the leadership of the body to do more in focusing the transformation agenda on the public sector with a view seeing insurers that will begin to offer insurance and fiscal policy consulting and advisory services to all tiers of governments in the country. The NICON boss pointed out that improved involvement of the Institute in public sector policy formulation and implementation would help in enhancing the quality of such policies and engagement of insurance professionals in their implementation He explained: “One of the ways of promoting insurance penetration in the public sector is by making sure that insurance is taken to the highest level of government just as we have with other professions, including ICAN. I want to see an insurance industry that will be able to advise government on the economy and when budgets are being prepared. Since insurance is also an economic platform, we should begin to have input in the annual budgets. “Secondly, in order to increase the tempo of professionalism I also suggesting that CIIN can be a mechanism or a platform that can also help in ensuring that insurance is studied at our tertiary institutions up to PhD level. For instance, I think for now the highest level being offered in our universities now is the M.sc and that is may be in one or two universities. If you introduce the PhD programme, our universities will be the West African hub to attract professionals in the industry and, of course, attract foreign exchange”, Ajidua projected.
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Sunday January 27, 2013
Property Watch •For Lagos area as at Friday Jan 25, 2013 A. Building materials Cement: Dangote Cement per bag of 50 kg.......N1,800 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg.......N1,800 Elephant Cement…………………N1,800 Sandcrete blocks 6 inches sandcrete block ..........N130 9 inches sandcrete block ..........N150 Sand Sand per tipper load .......... N12,000 Sharp sand (double) ..........N22,000 Gravel (single) ...................N18,000 Gravel (double) ..................N23,000 Granite ...............................N120,000 Reinforcement 8mm(153) pieces per ton (N125,000 10mm (153) pieces per ton .......... N135,000 12mm ............................................N161,000 16mm ........................................N172,000 20mm (53) pieces ....................N122,000 Wood Timber (hard) 1x1x12 ..........N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12 ..........N600 Timber (hard) 2x4x12 ..........N700 Soft wood 2x2x12 ..........N250 2x3x12 ..........N300 Plywood 3x3x6-----------------N3,500 2x4x8-----------------N2,400
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NICON Insurance bags CIIN award, over innovative products JOEL AJAYI ABUJA
T
he NICON Insurance Limited has bagged another award in recognition of its contributions to the development of the nation’s insurance industry, particularly in core areas of innovative products development and delivery in the rapidly changing insurance market.
Presenting the award to the management of the company during the investiture of the newly elected executive members of the Abuja branch of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) in Abuja, the President of the Institute, Dr. Wole Adetimehin, said the award was in recognition of the increasing roles the company is playing in the collective efforts to grow the industry and improve its contributions to Gross National Product (GDP). “We are recognising NICON Insurance for its contributions to the development of the industry. Over the years, the company has remained a leading player and creating values at all levels of the industry, a major
strength from which all other companies can learn to build. “As a professional body, we want to commend the Board and management of the company for doing so well and encourage them not to relent in their efforts by joining hands together with the Institute in our determination to raise the bar of professionalism in insurance practice in the country. This is an agenda that calls for every stakeholder’s support”, the CIIN President said. The General Manager Marketing /Strategy of the company who received the award on behalf of the management, Mr. Steve Ajudua, revealed that the remarkable strides being witnessed in the company’s performance in recent years were the results of the various restructuring processes being implemented by the management. According to him, the initiatives have strengthened the systems and made the company to come out better and sharper to deliver superior performance, adding that the NICON Insurance, as it is well known, is a foremost leader in the sector and that the management is
doing tremendous work in refocusing, re-strategizing and creating the needed operational capacities to leverage on its past performances in the years ahead. An elated Ajudua said: “Well, the message I want to pass to other insurance companies is that they need to be more innovative, they need to do more in their client service mechanism because insurance business is service, service and service. “And I believe that if all companies improve their services, issuance will do less marketing, because insurance is a circuit breaker. Through that insurance companies can deliver superior financial performance. My advice to my colleagues in other insurance industry both in Africa and beyond is: let us begin to fine-tune the service delivery mechanism of insurance”, he added. On the need for insurers to play crucial roles in public sector finance in the country, the industry expert pointed out that there was the need to increase the involvement of insurance professionals in public policy formulation and implementation in order to enhance
Roofing Sheet Corrugated iron sheet per bundle ...N10,000 Asbestos 4x8 per piece ..................N1,600 Asbestos (solo) ............................N1,100
NIPP: Sambo sets deadline for contractors
B. Landed property Focus area: Lagos Mainland 1. Four bedroom detached house with BQ at Omole Phase 11, Kosofe -----N40m Estimated price in 5 years------------N60m
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2. 800 square metres at block 47 at Isheri North Estate, Lagos ---------- N6m Estimated price in 5 years----------N15m 3. 6 bedroom wing of duplex plus BQ at Adeniyi Jones off Opebi, Lagos------- N55m Estimated price in 5 years------------N100m 4. A land measuring 5.081 square metre at Ajasa, Ipaja, Lagos------------------------------N25m Estimated price in 5 years---------N50m 5. 2 nos bungalows on 800 square metres along Oba Akran, Lagos----------------N150m Estimated price in 5 years----------N250m 6. 1.12 acres of land with uncompleted building at Marwa Road, Satellite Town, Lagos---------------------------------------------------N1,5bn Estimated price in 5 years------------------N2bn 7. Uncompleted block of flats at Isheri -Osun, Lagos--------------------------------------------------N15m Estimated price in 5 years-------N20m 8. Four bedroom duplex at Gbagada------N18m Estimated price in 5 years-----------N30m 9. 8 nos of 3bedroom flats with BQ at Surulere, Lagos---------------------------------N80m Estimated price in 5 years----------N100m 10. A detached house at Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos--------------------------------------------------N22m Estimated price in 5 years---------N35m •Compiled by Dayo Ayeyemi, E-mail: dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com
the quality of such policies. He explained: “One of the ways of promoting insurance penetration in the public sector is by making sure that insurance is taken to the highest level of government just as we have with other professions, including ICAN. I want to see an insurance industry that will be able to advise government on the economy and when budgets are being prepared. Since insurance is also an economic platform, we should begin to have input in the annual budgets. “Secondly, in order to increase the tempo of professionalism I also suggesting that CIIN can be a mechanism or a platform that can also help in ensuring that insurance is studied at our tertiary institutions up to Ph.D level. For instance, I think for now the highest level being offered in our universities now is the M.Sc and that is may be in one or two universities. If you introduce the PhD programme, our universities will be the West African hub to attract professionals in the industry and, of course, attract foreign exchange”, Ajidua projected.
L-R: Deputy Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Oyo State, Mrs. Dolapo Dosunmu; State Director, Mr. Femi Mapaderun and Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Dele Layeni, at a capacity building workshop for NOA Chief Orientation and Mobilisation Officers on the Freedom of Information Act in Ibadan recently.
‘FG’ll hand over PHCN to discos in 2nd quarter’
T
he Federal Government will officially handover Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to generation and distribution companies (discos) in the second quarter of 2013. A top official of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on condition of anonymity. The official attributed the slow pace of the bidding process of some of the power stations in the country to the cumbersome privitisation process. He said that the distribution
company in Kaduna and the generation company in Afam in Rivers were exempted from the exercise because no preferred bidder had emerged for the firms. He said that an agreement had been executed by the government and labour that guaranteed the cooperation of workers in the handover process. The source said that government was working to raise the finance to pay staff entitlements, adding that the BPE was collaborating with the Ministry of Lands and Housing to resolve land and property titles.
``I don’t think we can handover PHCN to successor companies now due to the ongoing bidding process of some of the power generation and distribution companies. ``But am sure that by second quarter of this year, government will officially hand over PHCN to the core investors,’’ he said. The official, however, debunked insinuation that the Federal Government would in the next two weeks handover the PHCN successor power generation and distribution companies to the core investors.
ice President Namadi Sambo on Saturday urged the contractors handling National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) to hasten action on meeting the December 2013 deadline for completing the project. Sambo gave the directive in Abuja while presiding over a project management meeting of the NIPP. He commended the level of work done by contractors handling the generation projects of the NIPP, saying that most of the projects had been completed while some were at appreciable stages. He, however, frowned at the slow pace of work on some transmission projects across the country. Cue in audio ``One of the areas that is now of great challenge is to ensure that we deliver our transmission projects. ``2013 is the end year, it is the end year for all NIPP projects; Nigerians must receive the power that we are able to generate and that is why you have been given this assignment. ``I know we have all prepared our plans to meet this target, but our analysis has shown a lot of weaknesses in most of you and that is why today we will discuss these programmes”.
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News
Sunday January 27, 2013
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Jonathan canvasses private sector partnership in varsity funding DENNIS AGBO ENUGU
P
resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged the private sector to join hands with the Federal Government in forging partnerships with universities in research funding and scholarships inorder to improve education in the country. Speaking at the 42nd convocation of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Jonathan also called on the alumni of the institution to provide greater support for their school, citing examples of leading foreign universities. Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof Julius Okojie, Jonathan told the graduating higher degree students to maintain a vigorous relationship with their alma mater.
He said: “All over the world, alumni groups are strengthening their longstanding relationships with their alma mater and contributing to their growth and development. Yale and Harvard alumni contribute over 27 per cent of the budgets of their alma mater.” Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, led the roll of four persons inducted with honorary awards of doctorate degrees. Anyim received the Doctor of Laws honoris causa while INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, received the Doctor of Public Administration honoris causa. Mr. Tajudeen Fola Adeola, chairman of MainOne Cable and founding managing director, Guaranty Trust Bank as well as Dr. Alex Otti, managing director of Diamond Bank, re-
ceived the honour of Doctor of Business Administration. Jonathan told the awardees that they should be proud of the honour from UNN. He stated, “It is a thing of pride that one of Nigeria’s oldest and largest Universities has found you deserving of its most prestigious award. I believe that this honour will not only strengthen your relationship with this university, but will also enhance your contributions to national development.” The President told the over 1,700 higher degree holders that the Federal Government had created opportunities for young people to tap in the economy. “On our part as a government, we have continued to work hard to make the world you are coming into one of opportunities. Through sound economic
management, infrastructural development, power sector reform and economic diversification, we are making progress towards meeting our employment generation and development objectives through such initiatives as YouWin, SURE-P, etc,” Jonathan stated. He commended the vice chancellor, the university management and council for the “notable achievements”, saying, “the ongoing infrastructural developments in the university are quite commendable and are the results of prudent management of resources”. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, said the institution had continued to grow its postgraduate enrolment with the 1,730 graduands of the 42nd convocation representing a 38 per cent increase on the previous session.
For the current 2012/2103 session, the university enrolled 3,800 students for postgraduate studies. The increase was due to “the enhanced ability of the faculties to mount postgraduate courses in new and emerging fields of study, while UNN “recorded significant improvements in the retention rate of students as well as in the efficiency of supervision and processing of students results. The increase also reflects a significant increase in the level of research activities and research output,” the VC added. UNN has become a centre of international exchange of faculty and students, Okolo added, with the signing of MoU with 40 reputable institutions in different parts of the world. He said the infrastructure renewal for which the
President commended him included renovation, remodelling and construction of eight faculty buildings, construction of an 83-bed International Scholars Village and the Shell Centre for Environmental Management as well as a Presidential Guest House to ensure capacity for hosting quality local and international guests. UNN management is also constructing a new administration building at the Enugu campus and new buildings for School of Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of African Studies, the Clinical Diagnostic and Wellness Centre, a UNESCO Category 2 Centre for Biotechnology and the Centre for Oceanography and Marine Studies. Guests at the convocation included former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
Tragedy averted as space bus plunges 4 suspected terrorists arrested, into 3rd Mainland Bridge lagoon
security personnel, civilian killed in Maiduguri
MURITALA AYINLA
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here was jubilation yesterday on the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, following the rescue of a driver who lost control of his car, skidded off the bridge and plunged into the lagoon underneath. The victim, who was simplify identified as Oladimeji, was said to have lost control of his Toyota Sienna with registration number BB974EKY and veered off the bridge before plunging into the lagoon. Sunday Mirror gathered that the timely intervention of vigilant fishermen and local divers in the area who dived into the lagoon immediately saved his life. Stranded motorists, who had been held up by his accident on the bridge, described his rescue as miraculous. For hours, there was gridlock on the ever busy bridge as several emergency agencies had hectic time managing the traffic the accident generated while some of them made efforts at rescuing the driver and his car. Eyewitness accounts said the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. just after the monthly sanitation exercise in the state. According to an eyewitness who identified him-
INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI
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A vehicle that plunged into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, yesterday.
self as Dele, there was no contact between the driver and other vehicles, stressing that he might have lost control before veering into the lagoon. “I think one of its tyres burst, that was why he lost control and crashed against the concrete and the metallic barriers before nosediving into the river,” he said. It was also learnt that several emergency agencies, including Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were on
hand to rescue the man and manage the traffic gridlock. Confirming the incident, General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. OkeOsayintolu, said the space bus skid off the Third Mainland Bridge around Adekunle en route to Oworonsoki but noted that the driver of the bus was rescued and moved to hospital for treatment, while the bus was pulled out of the shore with the crane of a construction firm. “We got an emergency alert that a car veered into the lagoon on Third Mainland Bridge and we quickly moved in with other rescue
PHOTO:NAN
agencies. With the support of the local divers and rescuers, we are able to save the driver of the car and he is presently receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)”, Osanyintolu said. Aside from LASEMA, a speed boat from the Lagos State Waterways Board and other local divers, popularly known as Ilaje fishermen, joined the frantic search party to recover the car and the driver from the lagoon. The car was removed from the lagoon at about 2:35 p.m. by Julius Berger cranes with the driver moved to LASUTH.
rouble again erupted at about 4 p.m. yesterday in Maiduguri metropolis as the famous Borno Express Central Motor Park located beside the SSS office along Kano-Jos road was disrupted when the SSS officials engaged two suspected terrorists in an exchange of gunfire.
Our correspondent reports that the shootout led to the killing of a grasshopper seller by the roadside and one of the security officials that engaged the suspects. An unconfirmed report revealed that some of the suspects were arrested alive in the presence of people at the scene of the incident. There was pandemonium as people scurried into hiding during the confrontation, even as the names of the victims killed by stray bullets were yet to be disclosed as at the time of filing
this report. Similarly, at about the same period, two other people suspected to be terrorists, were trapped in their hideout at an abandoned building in Bulunkutu-Abuja, leading to the JTF operatives cordoning off all routes linking the area thus surrounding the entire district thus restricting movement. The operation led to the death of an innocent civilian during the raid who was shot but the two suspected sect members were arrested in their hideout. A witness who spoke with newsmen in Maiduguri on the incidents said two AK47 rifles were found in their possession immediately after the raid. However, efforts to get the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, to comment proved abortive as he could not be reached on phone because of poor network service.
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Politics
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Undercurrents in the Orubebe, Amaechi face-off CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41
Babatope
‘Nigerians haven’t learnt lesson from the Nigeria-Biafra war’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 that the party at that time surrendered to policies and programmes that were not in consonance with party supremacy and also with internal democracy. We have learned our lessons and we have made up our mind that we would correct all those things. For example, it wouldn’t happen again in PDP that there will be imposition of candidates. It won’t happen again and everybody is doing his best to ensure that imposition does not happen again. We have forgotten about the issue of secretaryship and we are looking forward. God is the one that sees the future What about the crisis in the PDP both in the South-West and at the national level? I don’t see the PDP as being in crisis. You see the PDP might have situations that appear ugly but the joy that some of us have is that the party recognises this factor and makes sure that it announces committees that will study the problems and ameliorate them…like we had the General Ike Nwachukwu committee of which I was a member to look at the party operation in the country and recommend what the party should do. We went to many parts of the country to give that advice and today we were able to discover in Kaduna that there was a man called Sambo, who is brilliant politically and is now vice-president of the country. Whenever Makarfi presents a political solution to you, you will know that it comes from a mature and brilliant mind. He is doing very well in the Senate. It is a pity Yakowa died and it was apparent that he was a civil servant but Yakowa would only talk when talking was necessary. What I am saying is that in PDP, we have been able to have committees that will be able to determine the way forward for the party and solve what you called crisis. If an individual thinks he can cause crisis then he is deceiving himself because the party will go behind him, continue to live without him and he would regret that he had ever been caught in a game that is not productive to party supremacy. Now that you are 70, what should Nigerians expect from you on the political front? It is true I am 70 and have joined the group of septuagenarians, I am very happy about that. Again it won’t stop my radical activities. I definitely will continue to be a member of the PDP. I am going to continue my column in Nigerian Tribune, Political Panorama which the Tribune management has kindly given to me and which I have been writing for several years. I will continue to be myself and speak the truth. If tomorrow an ACN governor dwarfs other governors in Nigeria, I will not destroy him. I will hail him. When Fashola, in his first term, was doing very well in Lagos, I wrote many times in my column what the man was doing. I will do so to any politician of other school of thought other than PDP. With a united PDP, we stand a chance of regaining our state but with a hopelessly divided PDP with no sign of coming to unite, the ACN will not only defeat, they will disgrace us electorally.
attention from his ineptitude and abysmal failure”. Part of the statement reads; “Contrary to his (Orubebe’s) madcap vituperations, Governor Amaechi has tremendous respect for the office of the President of Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan. The office of the President of Nigeria is a big institution that deserves utmost respect and it would be grossly irresponsible for anyone to disrespect Mr. President, which unfortunately Minister Orubebe is doing that by dragging the President’s name into his inability to deliver on the East -West Road. “Minister Orubebe seems to suffer from a severe form of selective amnesia as he conveniently forgets that the same Amaechi he (Orubebe) now contemptuously, disgraciously and insolently disparages and flippantly accuses of not respecting Mr. President, led Rivers people to overwhelming vote for and gave President Jonathan the highest votes by any state in the country at the last Presidential elections. Minister Orubebe should please tell us what respect, regard and show of love is bigger than that? “Minister Orubebe’s imprudent and reckless attack on the person of Governor Amaechi is a dubious but obvious attempt by the minister to divert attention from his abysmal failure to deliver on the East-West road. This callous attempt to drag the President’s name into it is what is most disrespectful and irresponsible. I challenge Minister Orubebe to show the world projects he started and completed in the Niger-Delta as Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs. I challenge Minister Orubebe to show the world one project he started and completed in Rivers State with the huge resources allocated to his ministry. Or is Rivers State not part of the Niger-Delta, Minister Orubebe? “What an irony, for an appointed minister who has failed woefully, who has been unable to complete one single road, to cast aspersions on an elected governor who is judiciously using the resources of his people to better their lives and develop their state. What a shame! This is indeed most ridiculous and laughable. It’s no longer in doubt that Minister Orubebe does not like Rivers State. Minister Orubebe should please face the simple task of completing one road, just one road, the East-West road, as this dubious diversionary attempt to attack Governor Amaechi will not complete the road that is most dear to the hearts and lives of Niger-Deltans”. This verbal war has elicited diverse reactions from sections of the Niger Delta public. First to issue a statement on it was the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which said it was unfortunate, regrettable and profane for the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, to engage in a press war with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, stressing that the profanities embarked upon by Amaechi had exposed his political immaturity and lack of what to do with his time and resources. The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, said that rather than join issues with the minister, Amaechi should have a rethink over the grave allegations of using the state resources on misplaced priorities and redirect his energies in developing the state with the huge resources at his disposal. Believing that there is no smoke without fire, the ACN spokesman said it’s a political miscalculation if Gov Amaechi should begin now to bother himself about the presidential election at the expense of developing the state. Rather than indulge in what it described as “a disgusting verbal war”, Needam wants Gov Amaechi to read the lips of the minister and begin to come closer to the people with a view to attending to their problems. The ACN also wants Gov Amaechi to defend himself against the serious issues of under-developing the state vis-à-vis the huge federal allocations to Rivers State and the wanton use of state money to lobby northerners for the 2015 Vice-Presidential ticket. “These are not mere idle talks in view of the personality and official position of the person making the revelations. We are convinced that for a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make public such political moves by a sitting governor, they are not spurious and the facts must be there. Inasmuch as one may not be crucified for being ambitious, it’s nonetheless criminal for one to abandon the people’s mandate and divert the resources entrusted to him to a personal purpose. This is actionable and constitutes an impeachable offence,” the ACN said. Even the taciturn ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State had to break its silence but only to feebly react to ACN’s statement. In a statement entitled “Between Orubebe and Rivers ACN – A case of rotten palm kernel in a broken mortar”, the PDP condemned the Orubebe
ACN for what it called its open support of the unfounded verbal attack launched against Amaechi describing ACN’s posture as laughable, rotten in its gamut and replete with jealousy. The PDP dismissed ACN’s call for the removal of Governor Amaechi from office, saying such thrash could have stemmed from ACN’s condition of near-extinction in the state. In the statement that was signed by George UkwuomaNwogba, PDP’s Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, the party “expressed shock at ACN’s dog-lap that since Orubebe was a federal minister, his lies against Amaechi amounted to truth”. It described the assertion as illogical, mundane and frivolous. PDP averred that falsehood, no matter how presented to the public, would never subvert the truth. “That Satan told a lie would never turn it into truth,” UkwuomaNwogba stated that ACN’s attempts to twist the truth would further alienate it from voter-sympathy. It defended the Amaechi administration against allegations of improper utilisation of Rivers State resources, stating that Governor Amaechi had not only embarked on visible projects but had saved about N38 billion so far through the monthly compulsory state savings. “Those savings expected to climb further by the time Governor Amaechi leaves office, are for possible rainy days. So, Governor Amaechi is not only working for today, but saving for tomorrow,” Ukwuoma-Nwogba added. On ACN’s call for Amaechi to defend himself of the allegations by Orubebe, Ukwuoma-Nwogba faulted both claims disputing that the proof of claim lay with the accuser. “It rests on ACN and Orubebe to substantiate their spurious claims against the governor,” Ukwuoma-Nwogba demanded. “Governor Amaechi has been a prudent manager of the resources of Rivers State which has endeared him to other state governors and as chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, has enjoyed the confidence of his colleague-governors. Back home, due to Governor Amaechi’s enviable leadership style, whatever remained as opposition political parties had voluntarily dissolved into the PDP,” the statement added. A PDP top chieftain in the region, who spoke with Sunday Mirror albeit on the condition of anonymity, however, said that the two gladiators are engaged in a squabble that is shameful and not ideal for this period because of its implication in the polity of the country at the moment. He however noted that it had thrown the insincerity and inadequacies or otherwise of both officials into public glare. “The question now is, has Orubebe been performing as a Minister? And has Amaechi not been frittering away state resources on his political ambition?” They are washing their dirty linens in the public and that is good for us to know. We know what had been happening. The accusations and counter-accusations are true, none of them is a saint. People of the region should now start to ask questions, they should turn the shameless public war into advantage and make the two of them answer certain questions” Other stakeholders expressed disgust at Orubebe’s attempt to turn the issue into a Jonathan-Amaechi war instead of addressing the issue at hand while they also blamed the Rivers governor for his seeming flippancy, which they said is becoming an issue itself in the way he handles issues.
Jonathan
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
SOUTH SOUTH
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Rivers warns doctors ‘Lack of political will against misconducts delaying Bauchi airport’
he Rivers Government at weekend warned doctors and medical officers in its service against professional misconduct, absenteeism and lateness to work. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Kenoye Abia, the Information commissioner’s press secretary in Port Harcourt. In the statement, Dr Claribel Abam, Executive Secretary, Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, gave the warning during an induc-
tion course organised for newly employed doctors and medical officers. Abam said that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the state’s health sector, adding that strict adherence to professional ethics would enhance productivity in the health sector. The executive secretary told the medical officers to work hard to improve health delivery in the state, noting that as professionals, they were trained to work anywhere.
Abam advised them to take their jobs seriously, warning them against lobbing to be posted to cities. She said that no medical practitioner posted to a rural community would be re-posted. Abam also advised them to be transparent and to keep to financial regulations in their institutions. She said their salaries would not be paid until after their documentations, lasting three months were completed
Agency plans to make waste management profitable SAM OLUWALANA AND GODWIN OKONKWO PORT HARCOURT
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he Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Agency says it is working on plans to make the issue of waste management in the state a private sectordriven and profitable venture for all stakeholders. Ade Adeogun, Sole Administrator of the agency who disclosed the plan to our correspondents in Port Harcourt said there was a bill awaiting passage at the state House of Assembly intended to professionalise the process of waste management in the state. “That is the key, translation of waste management into investment. What we met some months back was something that was run as a government parastatal.
Something that is run basically as a social service but we think that waste management is not a social service, it is an investment. So the bill when passed into law will turn waste management into a business allowing the private sector to join the waste management value chain and make wealth for themselves. I think that is the key”, he said. He explained that the law would equip the agency to render quality services to its customers saying, “We have to render quality services to our customers who are going to be the waste generators and at the same time we get all private sector individuals who are interested in investing in the business investing in waste collection, in waste reuse, who can key in to every part of
the value chain”. The Sole Administrator explained that his ultimate goal was to gradually reduce government’s 100 per cent financing of the agency until it became 100 per cent private sectorfinanced. “For now, we are being funded 100 per cent by the state government. In 2013, there is a UN programme that is supposed to come to our assistance just by way of just a way of creating job opportunities in certain parts of the state and to get communities get some young people engaged in the waste management business. They promised a grant but it is still a promise, until we get it we won’t expect anything. We are still wholly funded by the state government. But that is not the direction we are going in future”.
Group tasks oil firms on local content act AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA
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Zonal News
Sunday January 27, 2013
he Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil multinational companies have been challenged to urgently implement the local content policy of the Federal Government. They have also been told not to compromise the catchment area principles but actively assimilate indigenes into their workforce by embarking on aggressive training programmes as it is practised all over the world.
President of the Izon-Ebe Oil Producing Communities Forum, Mr. Edougha Moses, who gave the charge yesterday in Warri during the inauguration of the newly elected executive officers of the forum in Warri, appealed to oil firms to wake up to their corporate social responsibility to their host communities by implementing the local content rules in their employments and award of contracts. According to the forum’s President, “This would go a long way to reduce tension and restiveness in their ar-
eas of operations. Policies that restrict and deprive the people and the communities from deriving full benefit from the activities of oil exploration and exploitation should be discarded to create a high sense of belonging.’’ While cautioning President Goodluck Jonathan, to remain focused, Moses called on the sponsors of insurgency in the North to give peace a chance to enable the President embark on his transformation agenda for the betterment of the people.
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overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State said at the weekend that the lack of political will by previous administrations delayed the building of Bauchi International Airport conceived in the 1980s. Yuguda made the remark while laying the foundation stone for the international airport estimated to cost N7.98 billion. He recalled that the airports in Abeokuta, Ibadan, Minna, Akure and Warri were conceived at the same time but Bauchi could not build its own airport. Yuguda said that contract for the construction of the airport was awarded to Messrs Triacta Nig Ltd at the cost of N7.98 billion to be completed in 18 months. He said the government had paid the contractor 70 per cent of the project cost. Yuguda said work on the 3.4km long and 1km wide runway had reached advanced stage and promised that Muslim pilgrims
would travel from the airport during the year. A former minister of information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, commended Yuguda’s foresight and described the project as “strategic to the people of Bauchi State.” Meanwhile, the Gombe State Government and Arik Air Ltd are to partner to ensure daily flights from Abuja to Gombe, the Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Hadi Shehu, has said. Shehu disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday. He said that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had granted the approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would boost air traffic in the state through the Gombe Airport. ``The ministries of finance; commerce and industries; and justice are already reviewing a lot of proposals we have received
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NORTH EAST
from the directives of the governor to see whether we can actualise some of the MoUs we want to enter with people who want to provide ground handling services. ``We are already looking at the possibility of entering into an arrangement; we just got the approval of his Excellency. ``We are going into an arrangement with Arik Air, the only airline now operating in Gombe, to see that we sustain their operations on daily basis. ``They can bring their aircraft, the last flight from Abuja and first flight in the morning. ``An average Gombe resident can go to Abuja and do his business and come back the same day. On the technical staff at the airport, the commissioner said that there were no adequately trained personnel but that the ministry was thinking of entering into some kind of concessionary arrangement.
L-R: Gombe State Coordinator, National Directorate of Employment, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mabudi; member, State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sagir Haruna and Deputy Governor, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu, at the launch of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (Sure-P) Community Services Youth And Women Empowerment Scheme in Gombe on Friday. PHOTO: NAN
Why rice mills failed to thrive, by Emir T he Emir of Dass in Bauchi State, Alhaji Bilyaminu Ohtman, at the weekend attributed the failure of rice mills in his domain to ``human error and neglect’’. Othman also said that the rice mills failed after several attempts because of lack of government genuine commitment to develop the agricultural sector. The traditional ruler made the observation in Dass, headquarters of Dass Local Government while inaugurating a Rice Processing Centre initiated by TAKDAN Women Fadama Users Group. He pointed out that three rice mills established in the
area, including that of the Better Life for Rural Women during the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, collapsed due to human errors and neglect. The traditional ruler encouraged the various women groups struggling to establish rice mills in the area centre and pledged to support their course. He advised the TAKDAN group against sharing the entire profits realised from the venture, but to reserve certain percentage that could be used as maintenance cost to enable them to sustain the centre. Othman, however, commended the state Fadama III Project for assisting the
centre with fund which had enabled the group to establish the centre and called on other associations in the area to emulate the women group. Earlier, the Secretary of the Group, Hajiya Hajara Bello, had told the gathering that the centre was established in 2008 and started its activities manually till it was registered in 2012 as Fadama Users Group with the state Fadama III Project. Bello said that the group secured a grant from the project, which approved 85 per cent of the cost of the project while the group contributed 15 per cent of the total cost.
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Zonal News
SOUTH WEST
Sunday January 27, 2013
Ooni , OPC charge South-West govs on culture preservation
AYO ESAN
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he Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, at the weekend called on the SouthWest governors to strive to preserve the Yoruba culture and tradition. The duo spoke at this year’s Oodua Festival held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, counseling that such preservation of culture and tradition was necessary to avoid distortion of facts of Yoruba culture and tradition and the suppression of such, due to the influence of foreign culture. Oba Sijuade said the lack of proper documentation of traditions and cultures of the existence of Yoruba nation had made it
possible for distortion of some facts in the history of Yoruba race and other tribes in the nation. He then called on the south-west governors to try their best and encourage the effort at changing the age-long misconceptions and distorted history about the origin and personality of Oduduwa. Also speaking at the occasion , Adams said the declining of the nation’s cultural values is one of the major factor aiding social vices such as youth delinquencies, corruption in public offices and destruction of lives and properties, and that western cultural imperialism also a major factor threatening socioeconomic development. Adams disclosed that culture plays vital roles in initiating developmental activities in the society
and also part of the history preservation process and heritage that can protect the posterity, maintaining that culture is the fountain of policies. He said government should provide a comprehensive strategy for the documentation of nation’s cultural heritage to protect coming generations from negative influences. The OPC leader while adoring the roles being play by the traditional rulers in developing nation’s culture he warns against leaving the burden of cultural development and documentation in the hands of traditional rulers alone. He solicited support for traditional rulers by creating platforms that will accommodate their interests that will give respect to African philosophy to promote cultural heritage.
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and other state executives leading a massive crowd at Ifelodun, Odo-Otin and Boripe Federal Constituency in Osun State, during the Monthly Walk-to-Live for Healthy Living Exercise, yesterday.
Lagos plans to clear canals, drainages MURITALA AYINLA
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etermined to prevent flooding during the rainy season, the Lagos State Government has commenced plans to clear blocked drainages and canals within Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The state also said that henceforth, it would begin enforcement of the sanitation exercise across the state, saying the role of ensuring flood-free Lagos and a greener environment is collective tasks of
every Lagosians. Speaking when he led officials of the State Ministry of Environment to the first monthly environmental sanitation exercise of the year in the area, the State Commissioner for Environment Tunji Bello revealed this, urged residents to prepare for the rainy season. He said the state ‘s intervention to desilt some of the canals in Iba LCDA has been captured in the 2013 budget assuring that work will commence in few weeks time to expand and clear the drainage
NORTH CENTRAL
Varsity student docked for beheading girlfriend PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA
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Minna Magistrate’s Court in Niger State has ordered a 500-level student of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Godwin Lawani Idoko, to be remanded in prison custody till March 14. Idoko was arraigned for allegedly beheading his girlfriend on January 1, this year. He was accused of killing Ramatu Isah, a groundnut seller over her refusal to grant his sexual demands, thereby committing a culpable homicide offence punishable under section 221 of the penal code. Idoko was said to have
paid the girl the sum of N2000, but after paying the agreed amount, Ramatu refused his advances. When the incident happened, Idoko’s neighbours quickly reported it to the Bossos police station, leading to his arrest. The same day, father of Ramatu, Mohammed Isa also reported the killing of his daughter to the Police Station. Idoko’s neighbours had earlier called the attention of a police patrol team to his strange movement that led to the discovery of the beheaded body of Ramatu in his Rafin Yasin residence. Asked if guilty, Idoko requested for interpretation of section 221 and when
told the penalty it carries, he told the court that he did not behead Ramatu, but only stabbed her on the neck for refusal to honour their agreement. ‘’I only stabbed her on the neck when she refused to agree to my demand for sex; this is after collecting N2000 from me. She forcefully held and painfully stifled my manhood. She bit me on the palm and I stabbed her on the neck. I did not behead the lady. I only heard at the police station that she was beheaded.” The accused declined further comment, as he requested to see his lawyer and his neighbours who reported him to the police when the incident occurred.
Kogi royal fathers applaud ‘SURE-P’
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raditional rulers in Kogi State have commended the Federal Government for including social safety net projects in the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The rulers made the commendation during a sensitisation programme for communities by the state’s implementation committee of SURE-P in Lokoja at the weekend. The Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Mohammed Maikarfi III, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for including social safety
net projects in SURE-P. He said that the projects had the potential of reducing poverty considering that they were targeted at women, youths and vulnerable persons in the society, who constituted 80 per cent of the unemployed. The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, pledged the commitment of the traditional rulers to the success of the project and called for speedy implementation of the programme. The Eje of Dekina, Alhaji Usman Obaje, also lauded the Federal Gov-
ernment for the project and urged members of the committee to take cognizance of the large size and population of Dekina Local Government area in executing the projects. Other traditional rulers from Kogi East and Kogi West senatorial districts also expressed the view that the project could improve infrastructure in rural communities. They advised the Federal Government to incorporate agricultural extension services in the community service of the programme.
Medicine seller in trouble over death of patient HENRY IYORKASE
channels. He said: “Last year we did a lot of work on drainage channels, the ones we visited have already been highlighted as one of the projects for this year, some already have sign boards, those areas are blocked and where the canals are narrow, we would widen them as well”. The commissioners who also expressed concern over indiscriminate building of structures along the path of canal in the area which he said poses a great danger to the residents.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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patent medicine seller in his early fifties, Emeka Ison, has landed in police net for alleged manslaughter. He is being accused of the death of a 40-year-old man at Adekaa area in Gboko Local Government area of Benue State after he was suspected to have administered injections on the deceased in his shop. Sunday Mirror investigations showed that the deceased whose identity was revealed as Tersoo Orndiir, a commercial driver, on the fateful day went to the patent medicine dealer for treatment of an undisclosed ailment and after taking the medication, he was asked to
rest a bit before going home. It was learnt that he then slept in the shop and never woke up and in desperation to revive him, the medicine dealer decided to hide the body until the following day but the decomposing body started smelling in the neighborhood. Residents in the vicinity then raised the alarm and subsequently embarked on a search, after which the deceased body was discovered in the inner room of the chemist’s shop. Subsequently, the medicine dealer was taken to the divisional police post at Gbar Mkar where the matter was thereafter transferred to the state Police Command’s headquarters in Makurdi.
Meanwhile, tragedy occurred on Friday in IsanluIsin in Kwara State, when a middle-aged man, Taye Ibiwoye, allegedly clubbed his mother to death with an axe. NAN reports that the deceased identified as Sarah Ibiwoye, who was said to be in her late sixties, died instantly from the attack which shattered her skull. The community was further thrown into mourning when another elderly woman, simply identified as `Iya Eleja’ slumped and died when the news of Sarah’s death was broken to her. It was learnt from the people of the community that the accused was mentally derailed and had been under treatment for sometime.
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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Nigeria/Zambia Match: Nwosu blasts Egyptian referee P. 55 KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS
Kareem looks beyond Butler P. 55
Sport January 27, 2013
Mourinho gets Varane support
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eal Madrid youngster Raphael Varane has hailed Jose Mourinho as the best coach in the world, insisting he has the backing of the players. The Portuguese has come under scrutiny thanks to Real’s disappointing form in La Liga this term, and a report in Marca earlier this week claimed he has lost the support of key players such as Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos. Madrid president Florentino Perez also dismissed rumors Mourinho could be on his way out, and Varane has now offered the beleaguered coach his support, too. “Mourinho is the best coach in the world and we are all behind him. The press has been very harsh on him,” Varane said.”
Zabaleta (r), celebrate with his team mates after scoring against Stoke City.
FA Cup: Zabaleta’s late strike sinks Stoke City
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ablo Zabaleta struck a late winner as Manchester City battled through to a place in the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Stoke. The Argentinean stabbed home from close range with five minutes of a tight contest remaining, securing a first win at the Britannia Stadium in seven visits. Yet victory may still have come at a cost for Roberto Mancini’s men after captain Vincent Kompany limped off in the first half. City is already short of defenders with Kolo Toure at the African Nations Cup, and Kompany’s absence saw the controversial threeman back line deployed again. City had the better chances in the game with David Silva hitting a post and Stoke may have been lucky not to have Glenn Whelan sent off for a bad tackle on Javi Garcia. The visitors made a bright start as Carlos Tevez found space and fired in a shot from a tight angle but Thomas Sorensen, getting one of his usual cup outings,
saved at his near post. City also made a goalkeeping change as Joe Hart was rested and Costel Pantilimon given a chance. The Romanian had an uncomfortable moment early on when he dwelt too long on the ball and carelessly conceded a throw-in, but he made amends by punching away Ryan Shotton’s long delivery. Stoke had their first opportunities when Whelan had a volley blocked and Robert Huth headed over from the resulting corner. City enjoyed a period of control starting as Tevez broke from deep and beat two challenges to set up Edin Dzeko, whose effort was brilliantly blocked by Ryan Shawcross. James Milner took a quick freekick after Andy Wilkinson was penalized for handball and Stoke were caught napping as Silva curled a fine shot against the far post from the corner of the area. Tevez sliced wide after another good City move but Mancini’s side did survive a scare when Shawcross struck from a free-kick
only to be given offside. Matthew Etherington’s cross had found its way to the defender in front of goal but the flag had clearly been raised before he turned the ball past Pantilimon.
EURO BRIEFS
Sissoko tips Newcastle for glory
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ew signing Moussa Sissoko believes Newcastle is underachieving and is confident the club can again become a major force in the Premier League. The 23-year-old midfielder joined Newcastle from Toulouse on a six-and-half-year deal and he insists the squad is strong enough to pull away from their precarious position on the table. Alan Pardew’s men have struggled badly this season after claiming a lofty fifth place in the previous campaign, but Sissoko feels the team has the potential to compete with the big guns in the top flight.
Remy sets Henry target
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ueens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy has set himself the goal of emulating Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. The former Marseille striker joined up with Harry Redknapp at the west London club, and along with the club’s objective of avoiding relegation, is hoping to have a big impact on the Premier League. Remy explained to The Sun: “My families are from Martinique and he Henry is half Martinique, that’s where it must come from. “The biggest compliment in 10 years would be: ‘Remy had a career like Titi Henry.’
Arsenal snub Jenkinsons’ offer
Mourinho
Robinho rules out quitting Milan A R obinho has made it clear that he has no intention to leave AC Milan, despite speculation linking him with a return to Brazil this winter. The Brazilian attacker turned 29 on Friday, and hopes to celebrate his birthday by bagging the full three points in Sunday’s Serie A game away at Atalanta. “I’m happy to be here for my 29th birthday. I’m happy here at Milan and I hope I’ll be here for another five or six birthdays,” the former Manchester City attacker told Milan Channel. “The best present would be three points against Atalanta. I hope that I’ll play well against
them. Winning that match would really be a great gift. “I have more experience now than during my younger years, but the mentality is the same.
rsenal has rejected enquiries from several Premier League clubs to take Carl Jenkinson on loan. The likes of Stoke, West Ham, Wigan and Southampton are all thought to have asked about the availability of the right-back on loan for the rest of the season. However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has rebuffed the offers for Jenkinson as he feels he could be needed for the remainder of the campaign.
Rodgers commends Sturbridge
L Robinho
Nigeria will bounce back –Onigbinde
Soft penalty outrages Onazi
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iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says new signing Daniel Sturridge has already made a positive impact at Anfield. The striker joined the Reds from Premier League rivals Chelsea for £12million early in the January transfer window and has found the back of the net in all three matches he has played. And the Liverpool boss believes he has slotted in seamlessly, saying: “We’ve actually played exactly the same system we’ve played before but good players make that system richer. “Good players can read each other; players with intelligence can move and play with each other.
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Sport
Sunday January 27, 2013
Nigeria will bounce back –Onigbinde IFEANYI EDUZOR
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ormer Super Eagles Head Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, says that the Super Eagles still have a good chance to progress to the quarter- final stage of the ongoing AFCON if they can pick the maximum point against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in their last Group C match on Tuesday just as he cautioned the team to avoid complacency in the game. According to him, the Super Eagles must approach the game with all seriousness because the Ethiopians having lost 0-4 to Burkina Faso will not
like to be disgraced out of the championship. “I have no doubt in my mind that the Super Eagles still have a good chance of being among the last 16 in the competition. And I hope like every other Nigerian that they should emulate the Stallions of Burkina Faso and pick three points from Ethiopia. “It is also important for the technical crew of the Super Eagles to realize that a lot of psychology will play a role in the match because Ethiopians having lost an heavily in their last match will not like to go home disgraced which will make the encounter a difficult one. Reacting to the penalty
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Mikel assures on quarter-final ticket N
Onigbinde
that was awarded against Nigeria in the encounter with Zambia, the FIFA/ CAF adviser noted that the referee took the right
decision because the Zambia player was between the ball and a Nigerian player before he was brought down.
igeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel believes the Super Eagles will progress to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. The Eagles are currently without a win after their first two games at the championship but will progress to the last sixteen with a win over Ethiopia in their final Group C game on January 29. Nigeria would have put themselves in a strong position with victory over Zambia in their second preliminary game on Friday but drew 1-1 to take their points haul to two. Mikel has now voiced his sentiments about Nigeria’s chances at the tournament
explaining that the Eagles will soar to the quarter finals of the competition. “Hopefully in the last game we will get the three points that we need to qualify for the quarterfinals,” Mikel said about the upcoming match against Ethiopia. The Chelsea midfielder also admonished his teammates about the need not to let their heads drop following the heartbreaking nature of their draw against Zambia. “We have to keep working, we have to keep believing in what we do and in the way we play. “I think we did well, the team did really well but again we conceded late in in the game,” he concluded.
Ekpo tasks Super Eagles IFEANYI EDUZOR
E
x- international, Friday Ekpo, has advised the Super Eagles to approach their last Group C encounter with Ethiopia at the on-going Africa Cup of Nations with all seriousness to enable them be in a position to advance to the quarter final stage of the competition. The Super Eagles on Friday played a 1-1 draw
with Zambia having earlier recorded the same result against Burkina- Faso in their first match of the tournament. In an interview with our correspondent, the former midfielder noted that it is regrettable that the team played two matches without recording a victory, pointing out that since the history of the country’s participation in the tournament, Nigeria has never
been so unlucky. “He said it is very difficult to explain what really happened to Super Eagles at the last two matches. It is unfortunate that the team was forced to a 1-1 draw on two occasions which has now left their hanging in the balance. “When you look at the history of Nigeria’s participation in AFCON, we have never played two matches in the group stage without winning one. What this
Soft penalty outrages Onazi
N
igerian international, Ogenyi Onazi, has slammed the officiating at the Africa Cup of Nations, after Nigeria conceded a dubious late penalty to draw with Zambia. The Lazio midfielder, who was converted to a right back for the encounter with the defending champions, was adjudged by Egyptian referee Grisha Ghead to have fouled Zambia’s Emmanuel Mayuka just on the edge of the box in their AFCON clash on Friday. Television replays
showed that it was a contestable call. “It wasn’t a penalty because this is not how a penalty is given,” Onazi told Goal.com. “We were both struggling for the ball and it wasn’t even inside the 18 yard box but the referee just gave out the penalty. It’s unfair.” The 20-year-old also confirmed what many in the Nigeria camp have been feeling that the Super Eagles have been picked upon by the officials. They had a tough time with the referee in their first game
against nst Burkina Faso last Monday day as well. “Of Of course, this issue has to o be taken to the table. It’s unfair nfair that the referees are behaving ehaving this way towardss us,” Onazi concluded. ed. Nigeria will geria take on Ethiopia in finall group p game on Tuesday day, searching for or a victory to sew ew up a quarter-final ter-fina al berth. h. Onazi
goes to show is that the technical crew has a lot of job to do before the last match against Ethiopia. According to him, the Super Eagles still stands a chance of progressing in the tournament if they can beat Ethiopia to gain five points even as he noted that the team’s qualification from the group also depends on the outcome of the clash between Zambia and Burkina Faso.
Mikel
Okoro calls for Eagles support IFEANYI EDUZOR
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ioneer coach of Super Falcons, Clyde Okoro, has appealed to Nigerians to give total support to the Super Eagles as they prepare to play their last Group C match at the ongoing Africa Nations Cup. According to him, rather than blaming the players for conceding late minute goals in their last two matches, Nigerians should resort to prayers so that the team will not
be eliminated in the group stage of the competition. “It is true that the Super Eagles are in a precarious situation at the on- going AFCON following their inability to win any of their last two matches. “It is equally true that the team conceded late minute goals in the game against Burkina Faso and Zambia respectively but that is not enough reason for Nigerian to write the team off because they can still go ahead to lift the trophy.
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Kings College to commission Astroturf pitches IFEANYI EDUZOR
K
ings College Old Boys Association has concluded arrangement to the commission three Astroturf five-a –side football pitches and other sporting facilities at the college annex in Victoria Island, Lagos According to the chairman of the association’s Sports Committee, Adeoye Adetuyibi, the body decided to provide the facilities in order to develop football as well as revive other sports in the college. “The purpose of providing artificial soccer pitches at the school premises is to help develop sports in the school. For some time now, the college has been witnessing shortage of sporting facilities and when the opportunity came through an organization that is putting up pitches in public schools, we got them to come to the Kings College and I am happy that the first phase among the three pitches has been completed. “This is a full five-aside ultramodern artificial soccer pitch, we shall be developing inter-House and inter- class league matches, five – a-side soccer for the students, and I know it is going to help in developing skills of the students, he said.” Adetuyibi noted that the development was to bring back the lost glory of Kings College in sports even as he promised that additional pitches are to be constructed with one serving as a multi- purpose pitch that will serve as cricket and volleyball pitches respectively.
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Sunday January 27, 2013
Nigeria/Zambia Match: Nwosu blasts Egyptian referee
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ormer Golden Eaglets’ coach, Henry Nwosu has hit hard on the Egyptian referee, Ghead Grisha for biased handling of Group C Match day 2 encounters between Super Eagles and the Chipolopolo of Zambia. The encounter on Friday at the sandy Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit ended one goal apiece leaving both sides on two points from two matches. Both sides must win their last games on Tuesday to have a chance of qualifiying to the next round of the biennial football showpiece currently going on in South Africa.
Nwosu fumed at the poor performance of the Egyptian referee in crucial tie, accusing the CAF of orchestrated conspiracy to see off the two-time African champions from the football fiesta. “CAF referees have connived against Nigeria to see her out of the Africa Cup of Nations. That’s the only tangible explanation one could offer for the questionable penalty the Egyptian referee awarded to the Zambians. “The so-called foul took place outside the box, how could that amount to a penalty? I think there is a concerted effort to frustrate Nigeria and kill off her
SAYO OGUNDEJI
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igeria international and Kano Pillars guard, Usman Aboubakar, says his ambition is to help the country win the 2013 Africa Men’s Basketball Championship holding in Ivory Coast. The senior national basketball team made history last year as it qualified
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Nwosu
ambition for a third title. “I’m highly disappointed. This is officiating at its lowest ebb and should not be allowed to happen anywhere in the world. It’s clearly injustice pure and simple,” the former Nigerian attacking midfielder angrily said to supersport.com.
lieve we have the quality to make that happen this time around and I want to be part of that history,” Aboubakar who has been Pillars’ MVP for the past couple of seasons stated. “We have won the AAG before and the only way to convince people that our impressive outing last year was no fluke is to win this year’s Afrobasket championship which I believe we have the ability to achieve.”
AFCON BRIEFS
Our destiny is in our hands –Adomah Ghana midfielder Albert Adomah insists they have their destiny in their hands as far as reaching the last eight of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations underway in South Africa is concerned. The Black Stars lead the pack in Group B with four points and must avoid defeat against Niger in their ultimate match on Monday to go through and Adomah believes they have what it takes to scale over the Mena but will do
so cautiously. “We have our destiny in our hands. I watched their game against DR Congo, and they appear a very physical and disciplined side. They (Niger) are no walkovers and we have to do more to beat them,” the 25-year told Cafonline.com. According to the England-born midfielder, making his competitive appearance with the Black Stars at the tournament, the Mena will not be an
game against the West Africans but they fell short after losing inspirational forward Adane Girma to injury early. And now they must gain a positive result from their clash with the Nigerians, if they are to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the continental competition.
team is not out of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations yet. If his side beat South Africa they will progress to the quarterfinals, possibly at the expense of the hosts, with Bafana Bafana requiring only a draw to progress as they sit atop Group A on four points. The Moroccans, however,
ommonwealth Superflyweight champion, Yakubu Kareem, of Nigeria says he will not give room for any distraction when he defends his title against British Paul Butler on March, 8, at the Liverpool Olympia. Hard-hitting Kareem, who has an impressive seven knockouts out of his ten wins, with only two losses and a draw, won the title in August 2011 with an eight-round stoppage of Cobbina Johnson. According to him, he is taking his training serious to ensure he defends his title against the unbeaten Briton to enable him have a crack at the world title. “I know that Butler is a good boxer who has been unbeaten in nine professional fights and just last November he won the British
Kareem
belt, but I can assure you that I will not be taking any chances against him. “I am confident that come March, 8, I will beat him before his home fans and prepare myself for a crack at the world title,” Kareem said.
Onwuachi calls for grassroots boxing development
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eteran boxing coach, Paul Onwuachi, has advised Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF)to take the issue of grassroots development of the sports serious before any meaningful result could be achieved in the pugilist game. He told our correspondent that the neglect of boxing at the grassroots over the years has affected the development of the game, warning that unless the trend is reversed, the game will continue its downward slide. Onwuachi, popularly known as “White Horse” noted that other West African countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso
and Benin Republic have revived the game through grassroots development of the sport and subsequently made an appeal to sports administrators in the country to emulate them. “There is need for the NBF to emulate our West African neighbours and take the issue of grassroots development of boxing serious. “The dwindling fortune of the game can only be arrested when concerted efforts are made to develop it at the grassroots, because that is where talents would be discovered and nurtured to become future champions,” he affirmed.
Chisora confident of getting back license ereck Chisora is confident in a fight sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Federahe will get his British boxD tion last July. ing license back after he was
Adomah
Bishaw demands positive Taoussi ready for Bafana Bafana challenge result from Ethiopia Zambia, there were high thiopia coach Sewnet have two points from as orocco coach Rachid expectations placed on the Bishaw has said that his E many games, and require all Taoussi wants to remain M Ethiopians going into the side must face their Africa three points today, if they are positive, as the North African Cup of Nations clash with Nigeria with a lot of hunger for goals. Bishaw’s side was defeated 4-0 by 10-man Burkina Faso in the second game of Group C in Mbombela on Friday. Having taken a point in their first game against
with
08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com
Kareem looks beyond Butler
Aboubakar dreams Afrobasket glory with D’Tigers for the London Olympics despite stiff oppositions from the likes of Russia, Lithuania and Venezuela. Aboubakar who was part of the D’Tigers team that won the gold at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011 says they stand a better chance of winning the coveted trophy. “The closest we have come to winning the title has been a second place finish but I strongly be-
Knockout IFEANYI Eduzor
to reach the final eight. “The preparations have gone well. All the players are ready in all aspects that include physically, mentally and technically. They are all keen on winning. We have to learn from our mistakes and we are now ready to make our fans back home happy,” Taoussi said.
named on the undercard for Ricky Burns’s world title fight in March. Chisora’s license was revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBB of C) following his post-fight brawl with David Haye last February. Haye won when the pair met in the ring in London
The fight in London on March 16, against an unnamed opponent, is dependent on whether the (BBB of C) returns the license to the Zimbabwe-born fighter. But Chisora is convinced that he has made enough progress for the board to now grant him his license.
David Haye(left) sends Dereck Chisora crashing to the canvas in the fifth round when the duo met at Upton Park last July.
N I G E R I A
$67bn
Vol. 3 No. 7
Sunday, January 27, 2013
www.nationalmirroronline.net
N150
I N
F I G U R E S
N4bn
, amount former World , sum the Pension Bank Vice-President for Reform Task Team Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, alleged was (PRTT), said past pension adminissquandered by government within the trators siphoned monthly from the last five years. national treasury.
Teaching ethics in schools
Back Page
Comment
E-mail: nwaunah@yahoo.com Unah is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos
with Jim Unah
S
ometime last year, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) woke up one morning to the realisation that a course of study in Ethics should be introduced into the secondary school curriculum nationwide. And just last week, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has made another call on the government for the inclusion of ethics in the school curriculum, at the secondary school level to checkmate the growing incidence of dismal performance of students in Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE). While the concern of the ICPC was and still is the problem of official corruption arising fundamentally from lack of sound moral character and general ascendancy of a culture of impunity, the worry of the NGO is the embarrassing poor performance of school pupils in public, external, examinations; signifying a loss of interest in the vigorous pursuit of knowledge in the liberal arts and the sciences. And closely associated with this loss of interest in liberal studies and science education by young people is the emergence of pop culture
which disdains the sublime and whatever ennobles and elevates the soul to higher consciousness. More pathetic still in this deplorable development is the invasion of homes with conflicting value systems by the Western European television programmes and the social media; the cybernetic-technological culture with its immense and dazzling results that celebrate the ephemeral brilliance of contemporary culture. Then you have the intellectual support of all this in the embarrassing Western Sociology which enters into a pretence that immorality is permissible; that sexual misbehaviour deliberately contracted by two willing married adults is somehow excusable; that children could shout down on their parents who strive to restrain them from error, and even claim rights that could ultimately land their parents in trouble with the active support of the state. To add insult to injury, the two conquering evangelical religions from the East and the West - Islam and Christianity - respectively were playing the ostrich under the delusion that they alone could inject moral fibre into their adherents, if they could but believe and have faith in the creed of their religions. The religions were then thought to be the custodians of the moral values and virtues of society. Even as we speak, the religions are still thought to be the moral fulcrum of humankind. In a recent interactive session with panelists of one of the faith-based universities on this part of
the sunshine, I was taken to task for speaking of developing courses of instruction in Ethics or Moral Philosophy. My interrogators wanted to know why the organisation of the university on Christian principles, along the lines of the teachings of Christ, could not adequately address what I was proposing. I was amazed because I had thought that it was pretty obvious that a clear distinction could be made between ethics or moral philosophy presented in the broad concept of universal human conduct and what the religions have been presenting to their adherents. Truly, there exists a difference between ethics of character or secular ethics and morality as presented and practised by the religions; as there is a difference between the conceptualisation and teaching of ethics and professional ethics, and the internship on core values presented by the different business organisations to their employees. It is rather the ethical standards clearly articulated and properly theoretically conceptualised and problematised that are drawn from by organisations to induct their employees. So, you have many different core values expressed by the various business organisations as accretions from universal ethical or moral principles. It has not also occurred to the faith-based institutions that their students are drawn from families of diverse faith, and that their graduates would be exposed to the same job market to relate with a larger human community in which they must carry
AFCON 2013: Cote d’Ivoire books quarter-final ticket IFEANYI EDUZOR
Whatever else may be said about the matter, the issue of the inclusion and teaching of ethics in schools is overdue.
NATIONS CUP RESULTS Cote d’Ivoire 3-0 Tunisia Togo 2-0 Algeria
NATIONS CUP FIXTURES Today’s Matches
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ournament’s favorites Cote d’Ivoire became the first country to book a quarter – final ticket at the on-going Africa nations Cup when it defeated the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia 3-0 in their Group D clash in Rustenburg yesterday. The Ivoirians who surprisingly left their inspirational captain Didier Drogba on the bench for the first time in his international career looked the more aggressive side in the encounter with Gervinho opening scoring in the first half while Yaya Toure and Didier Ya Konan scored in the dying minutes to seal victory for the Elephants.
out their daily commerce with the world. It probably completely eluded them that there exists a number of pastors who are Group Managing Directors (GMDs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of banking organisations who are facing money laundering and corruption charges, as well as banks whose captains are religious leaders who deliberately crashed their organisations and sent depositors and shareholders to early graves. Where is the evidence of the strict adherence to ethics or morals taught by the religions? Without going into sordid details, there are issues about ethics or morality; issues about which version or form of it that must be taught by experts, when introduced in the curriculum, to shape character in ways that would be beneficial to both the individual and society. What is it that should be selected from the various principles of morality and ethical standards to form the critical mass of the syllabus to radically edify and re-engineer the individual and society morally? It would also be of interest to debate at what level of instruction to commence the inclusion of ethics in the school curriculum. Should we commence at the secondary school level because of the crisis in that tier of education or should we start up at the elementary level of instruction to “catch them young” as they say?
Morocco vs South Africa 19:00 Cape Verde vs Angola 19:00
FA CUP RESULTS Stoke 0 - 1 Manchester City Bolton 1 - 2 Everton Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure (right) celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2013 African Cup of Nations football match between Ivory Coast and Tunisia in Rustenburg yesterday, at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Ivory Coast took charge of the game from the early minutes and proceeded to create several chances. Their first clear opportunities arrived in the 19th and 20th minutes, but Salomon Kalou and Lacina Traore missed out. The arrival of Didier Drogba in the 68th minute added an
extra impetus to the Ivorian attack but they still had to wait until the 87th minute when Yaya Toure fired home a long range shot to double the lead. In the 90th minute, substitute Didier Ya Konan steered home a low shot to make it 3-0 after collecting a pass from Gervinho.
Brighton 2 - 3 Arsenal Derby 0 - 3 Blackburn Huddersfield 1 - 1 Leicester Hull 0 - 1 Barnsley Macclesfield 0 - 1 Wigan Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Aldershot Norwich 0 - 1 Luton Manchester United 4 - 1 Fulham Reading 4 - 0 Sheffield United
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