AfricaWorld Newspaper Nov 1 -15

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NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

VOL 001 Nº22

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President Obama and Romney ignore Africa at US Peril

By Ukachukwu Okorie

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THE POSSIBILITY OF BIAFRA

ANKARA FESTIVAL

The fireworks currently being thrown around as a result of Chinua ...

The Ankara Festival Ireland was held last Saturday at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin. ...

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pride of africa

AGONY CORNER Every woman, no matter the age, loves to be loved and pampered...

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Esperance and Al Ahly to Meet in Final East African spot for the upcoming African Cup of Nations...

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IRELAND HAS A NEW RADIO

IT IS MULTINATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL

We seize this opportunity to call on the different meeting groups within the Imo Umbrella to come and let us join hands in building up our Imo State meeting.

This is our state (ANYI ENWEGHI STATI OZO). Let us borrow a leaf from other state meetings in Ireland and make ours even more stronger.

We have our meeting venue at 5A First Avenue, Cookstown Industrial Estate, Off Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

You may call Chike on +353 862111629 or Chinedum on +353 879448717 for further inquiries. Pass the good news to all and sundry.

Together we will fly! Come one come all

Corporate Trends with Nonye Anuche Advertise your product & discuss your service in details

AfricaWorld

is now twice every month.

Let your voice be heard Advertise your products & yourself for just a little.

For your chance to win exclusive tickets to some of this Year’s hottest Concerts connect with us on

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e: mail@mybiradio.com t: 01 4853187 m: 0873661450 / 0860577236

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AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

opinion

The return of the native

Editorial

THE POSSIBILITY OF BIAFRA

By Ukachukwu Okorie

Where has our fashion gone?

The fireworks currently being thrown around as a result of Chinua Achebe’s new literary work entitled, ‘There was a country: A personal history of Biafra’, has brought to the attention of the world the trouble with Nigeria. The hullabaloo in the aftermath of the book’s publication is just a microcosm of the macrocosm that is Nigeria. Whatever happens, critics should first read the book and evaluate the progress made since the war ended on 15 January 1970.

“What role did Achebe play in the secessionist plans? Achebe must have been outside the country during the war and probably did not know what happened during the period otherwise he would not have written on what he was not sure of“, General Yakubu Gowon, Nigerian Head of State during the civil war, recently remarked in a chat with Vanguard, a Nigerian daily. He further stated that the renowned ‘Things Fall Apart’ writer, who was a roving Ambassador for the short-lived Biafra Republic, wrote out of ‘ignorance’.

Gowon’s statement has not been taken lightly by many - especially those calling for his arraignment at the International Criminal Court in the Hague for crimes against humanity. More so as he is an elder statesman in Nigeria and a selfprofessed Christian, coupled with the fact that he runs an organisation called, ‘Nigeria Prays’.

Far from the accusation and counteraccusation between supporters of the victims and the victor in the civil war, a new lead to the truth has been offered by clips in the online electronic media.

Since the emergence of the likes of YouTube, videos of cluster bombings in market squares, hospitals and civilian settlements during the war have emerged. Be that as it may, statements and positions of state-actors during that inglorious era in Nigeria’s lifecycle add salt to the wound of many who survived and the generation born after.

Such remarks by the likes of General Yakubu Gowon can only embolden agitators of a renascent Biafra - especially now that Boko Haram, the new terror group in Nigeria, is on daily rampage, killing and maiming in the north. There is a need for a truthful reconciliation in Nigeria before it is too late.

Come inside.

Uka

I’ve often stopped to wonder, why do many Africans outside the continent ditch their traditional wear for the suit-and-tie trappings of the west? Although some love to express themselves when it comes to African fashions, the greater number dress just like everyone else – especially the youngsters. But why?

The gradual loss of the traditional African fashion identity can be traced to Europe’s dominance in its trade relations with Africa as far back as the 16th century.

From the early contact with African kings, the natives were tempted to try new things such as European clothes made of cotton and other alien materials. The growth of trade soon made European wares available throughout the continent, particularly clothes and accessories.

Colonialism became the final phase in the social indoctrination of Africans. From the African elites who returned from abroad to champion the independence struggle to the new white-collar classes, the apparel of their colonial masters was en vogue.

western dress code mentality by nationalists who emerged as leaders of the new African states. Leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda and Nnamdi Azikiwe showed the light to the new generation that was fast losing their traditional sense of dressing.

Some African governments began encouraging government workers to wear native attire through dedicating special office days. Countries like Nigeria went as far as awarding prizes to the most traditionally dressed workers! But despite such incentives, the love for traditional attire was still being lost at a high rate.

It has all come to what we see today, with African teenagers who dress like gangsta rappers – surely influenced by American media and culture. Their parents are found wanting in informing them about their culture – but even they themselves have abandoned their traditional ways when it comes to fashion and style.

Being a large continent of many nations, there is a great diversity in African fashion.

The post-colonial era saw new Each country brings its own different interdevelopments towards changing the ethnic styles to the fashion world, so there

AfricaWorld & Millenium Development Goals

The Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals

Editor Ukachukwu Okorie

Graphic Design Mirco Mascarin

Chief Reporter Paul Kelly

Photography Darek Gutowski

Published by Uyokanjo Media Services Ltd. 46 Parnel Square West

3rd Floor +353 87 637 3210 Dublin 1, Dublin City

Republic of Ireland Skype: africaworld1 E-mail: africaworldnews@gmail.com

Sub-Editor Roisin Morris

is no excuse for Africans to imitate when non-African designers copy our native styles for their latest ‘ethnic’ looks.

We have our own iconic fashions we can look to for inspiration. Take the kente cloth from Ghana, a beautiful Asante ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a loom. The kente has gradually become a household name in African traditional fashion, and has come to symbolise many qualities associated with fashion and history. So also has the Nigerian agbada: our leaders have represented Africa greatly in this respect as none has ever left his threepiece agbada suit behind.

Other popular African attires that embody the pride of their people include the chitenje in Zambia, the Masaai shuka, kpelle attire in Liberia and dumuriya in southern Sudan.

Africans in the west should take a moment to contemplate the richness of our fashion traditions and pass on the love for traditional attire to our young ones.

And for anyone who remains unconvinced, just think of this: as Robert Mugabe wages his battles against the west, he is never without his western suits.

and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve

issues of Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnerships.

www.africaworldnewspaper.com

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD

NEWs

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

The United States Presidential Election Day is on Tuesday, November 6 and the candidates have continued to spat on each others promises to the electorate, in the quest to garner votes. In the run-up to this election, a lot has been said especially, in the wake of the global recession and its stinging bite.

As the biggest economy in the world, the United States has never shied away from herculean responsibilities which often generate mixed reactions around the world.

While the US election D Day draws near, despite the ongoing cast of ballots for early voters, many are worried over the degree of mudslinging between President Barack Obama who is gunning for a second term and Mitt Romney, a former Governor of Massachusett.

But the most worrisome is the total neglect of Africa during this campaign, especially when they debated on foreign policy.

Watching their heated debate, in relation to foreign policy on television, Africans and policy watchers wondered if the opponents were sparing on US relations with the global community or continuing with internal issues.

Though the current US elections have been full of issues and interesting as in the past, the alienation of Africa which is the hub of resources, should not have been. It is not a hidden knowledge that, China which the United States sees as a threat, is building up its economic muscle through bilateral trade agreements with countries in the African region.

According to Elyas Mulu Kiros, “This last debate would have been a great opportunity for both Romney and Obama to discuss Africa’s growing importance in the global economy and to point out America’s role in its future visà-vis China’s. Considering the lack of attention given to Africa in serious foreign policy debates, it seems justifiable that most African countries look more towards China for bilateral cooperation.

No wonder most African countries believe that the US, unlike China, fails to acknowledge them as equal partners.”

Although Mali and Somalia got mentioned but it was in a spat relating to extremism and were mentioned within the context of Islamic extremism. Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt equally entered the debate as part of the Middle East

political purview instead of Africa.

The fact is, the next US President does not think of African countries as very important for the global superpower. “That means whoever is elected will just recycle the same old policies on Africa”, Elyas Mulu Kiros asserted.

Recently, Hillary Clinton said “Africa offers the highest rate of return on foreign direct investment of any developing region in the world.” The Mitt Romney campaign released a statement on their position on Africa saying, “While Africa currently represents less than two percent of global economic activity, that will change. Global demand for Africa’s natural resources will grow. Demographics indicate that by 2050, Africa’s population will double to two billion and one in four workers on the planet will be African. These trends, when coupled with robust economic growth, point to the emergence of stronger economic actors on the world stage and greater partnership opportunities for the United States. While Africa is changing, global competitors like China are taking advantage of these changes and are rapidly outmaneuvering the United States by making strategic inroads throughout the continent and gaining an economic and political advantage over the United States.”

President Obama, son of a Harvard trained Kenyan has fallen below expectations in delivering for the continent of his root, however, many in the region sees his emergence as proof of performance for people of African descent, if only the world can be a better place for all. In the recent past, President Obama had said, “As we look toward the future, it is clear that Africa is more important than ever to the security and prosperity of the international community, and to the United States in particular.” But his first tenure has come short of the promises and vitality his emergence exuded for the people of Africa. Last May, Obama announced a $3bn plan to boost food security and farm productivity in Africa. The White House said it was an initiative aimed at curtailing shortages as world food supplies are being stretched by rising demand in Asia’s emerging markets.

Despite these, the two candidates, in the eyes of many African pundits, fails short in seeing their continent as a place to trade on an equal platform.

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AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

NEWS

ELILAMA NEWS The Elilama Praise

Mother Grace

Let us Take A Moment To Thank The Living God Elilama.

For Giving Us This Moment, Thank You Father God Elilama.

For Giving Me Myself, Karen, Nina, Maina, Nikki Thank You Elilama.

For Giving us your son Jesus Christ And the Holy Spirit Thank you Elilama.

Father God I thank you That through your son Jesus Christ Elilama.

We came to know your name Elilama.

Elilama, Holy Father, God, Elilama.

Thank you living God I praise your holy ame Elilama.

Thank you father God Elilama.

Your name is holy You are holy Elilama.

Father, you are the most majestic Greatest, faithful, loving Honest, Wonderful, handsome Father God I worship you I love you Elilama.

I love You Living God My Great Man Majesty! God I glorify you.

I lift your name up Above all names Elilama.

Elilama! Elilama! Elilama!

Almighty father God I am deeply in love with you I Love And Adore The Way You Think You are loving God I love the way you smile I love..love..love you I see you dance to me Elilama I want the world to know The stories of your love for me

You wipe away tears of the oppressed And glorify the poor Elilama You are creator of beauty Holy is your name Before you created beauty You were beautiful Handsome you are Elilama I Love You Thank you, thank You Elilama! Father protect Me And my loved ones against all evil And keep us happy Because you created happiness Father God thank you Thank you for all that you have given us Your strength and victory Father God (revelation 2:17) A hidden manna, Amen.

Jesus Christ at the cross (Matthew 27:46) He called His God Elilama Revelation (3:11-12, 13)

CHIT CHAT HUSBAND REGRETS LETTING WIFE VISIT CORK how his wife of six years left him, on arrival in this island.

An anonymous husband has written to AfricaWorld Newspaper from Nigeria, bemoaning his woes over a decision to send his pregnant wife to deliver their baby in Ireland.

In the email laden with family facts, including names and other details, the aggrieved husband narrated

According to the man, “ Some women can be heartless, honestly.

To send your wife abroad for a child’s better future is gradually becoming a social ill.” The email narrated how the couple had decided to deliver their kids in

different countries abroad, only to have their plans truncated by the woman, who refused to come back.

The distressed man said the wife stayed back in Ireland, saying that she needed to normalise the baby’s passport. From child delivery, the wife stayed for a year and then more. On investigation, he

discovered that his pretty wife has started seeing another man. Soon, the woman asked him to leave his flourishing business in midwestern Nigeria and join her in Ireland, if he really loved her.

While the issue of ‘who was to join the other’ lingered, the man got news that the wife he wedded

in the church is pregnant in Cork, Ireland, to another man.

Chit - Chat is still investigating the story but decided to offer this bit. The man is very bitter, stating resentfully in the email, “how can some women be so wicked, is it bad to trust your wife.” Stay with this column for more.

You Are An Adorable Mum! Mothers are sent from heaven for a very special purpose, they are like flowers...each one, uniquely beautiful in her own way. Mothers are often the first teacher in their child’s life. They play a very important role in the lives of their children and are regarded as the most key individual in the life of a child.

Fathers are special people. They play a key role in the development and well-being of their children. A father’s role and involvement is crucial to a child’s growth and has profound bearing on the social, emotional, and intellectual development of a child. The consistent and frequent presence of a father makes a powerful difference in a child’s life.

This poem is dedicated to all Adorable Mothers and Fathers raising precious and adorable kids.

The Joy of Motherhood!

Oh! What great joy, the joy of motherhood.

Oh! What great joy.

Adorable Mum Founder: Gbeminiyi Gee Bee Shogunle

As I bask in the euphoria of motherhood, I remember a mother who laboured night and day for me.

I remember a father who stood by her all those long sleepless years.

I sit and think of all the years they watched me grow and blossom from infancy to motherhood loving me through thick and thin Oh! How I bless their gentle souls for what great treasure they are to me.

Oh! Behold motherhood a land for all, but for the few so unique in its magnificent glory so daunting in its radiant beauty Oh! What great joy it brings, to be called a mother.

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD

news

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President Jonathan calm Nigerians over flood once in a day and at times, they were given a packet of noodles to eat for a whole day.

By Nonye Anuche President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has sought to allay fears amongst his countrymen that the nation’s worst floods in over five decades could lead to a food crisis because of damage to crops.

About 150 people have been killed, hundreds of thousands displaced and tens of thousands of hectares of farmland have been submerged since the beginning of July, emergency officials say, after several major rivers burst their banks.

Jonathan visited some parts of Nigeria that have been submerged by floods and has described the flood as a ‘national disaster’. “People should not be afraid that there will be hunger in the land ... We have enough grains in our reserves,” he said, when asked about the impact of the floods on food production. “Some selfish people are already

hoarding grains ... but they are doing that to their disadvantage,” he said.

According to the Department of Petroleum Resources, flooding in the oil-rich Niger Delta has disrupted oil production to the tune of around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) - more than a fifth of Nigeria’s output. Nigeria, which gets heavy tropical rains from May to September, often suffers seasonal flash floods. But the sheer scale of the devastation this year has shocked people.

Local TV stations have beamed images of towns and cities submerged by the flood.

A non-governmental organisation, Child Protection Network, Rivers State chapter, called on the relevant authorities to come to their rescue. The group provided relief materials such as clothes, toiletries, shoes, cartons of biscuits and rice (among others) to the flood victims. In a statement last Thursday, Chairman of CPN, Mr. Michael Gharele, made the appeal while addressing the Internally Displaced Persons.

Gharale told the victims that the group was in the area to

carry out a rapid assessment of the children’s condition in the camps and encouraged families to be resolute despite the severity of their condition.

He said that when CPN field officers visited the Ula- Ehuda camp situated at Model Primary School; Abarikpo Model Primary School; Okpo and Akabuka in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, the situation was unpleasant.

Gharale said, “The children lack access to potable water as flood has taken over their streams, well and other sources of water available in the respective communities. We have observed that children’s access to shelter is also another major problem

at the camps as they sleep in open classrooms on bare floors amidst mosquitoes’ biting them at night.”

He said the children and their parents need food, housing, education, health care, water, clothing, security, finance and sanitation. He noted that the state Ministry of Health needs to deploy doctors in all the camps on a daily basis to give them access to health care. He also appealed to the state government, multinational oil companies, corporate organisations, NGOs, philanthropists and wellmeaning individuals to assist the flood victims.

In a related matter, hunger has hit over 400 children at UlaEhuda Camp in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. The children and their parents were displaced by floods that have ravaged their communities since September 15, 2012. It was gathered that the children sometimes ate

Mozambique News

Mozambique is in discussion with Oil India to pick up a stake in giant gas field Rovuma-1 after a proposed energy policy allowed stakeholders to ship out their share of gas.

State-run Oil India is also considering downstream investments such as setting up fertilizer and petrochemical plants in Mozambique though a consortium of state oil firms because of the abundant availability of gas, a government official and company official said (requesting anonymity). Oil India has reserves and surplus of about Rs 2,500 crore.

President of Mozambique Armando Emílio Guebuza

“We had a very positive discussion with the visiting Mozambique delegates. We may purchase participating interest in the gas field from one or more existing partners,” an Oil India official said.

Mozambique vice-minister of mineral resources, Abdul Razak Noormahomed, was in India last week to attend Petrotech-2012.

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AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

Corporate Trends with Nonye Anuche

Ankara Festival The Ankara Festival Ireland was held last Saturday at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin. The festival is an annual event organized

by Tritees Promotions. The organization was established in 1999 as a voluntary, non-profitable organization and has ventured into packaging some of the major African events such as the Ankara Carnival Ireland. It is an event organized primarily to celebrate the beauty of African prints (called Ankara) and to celebrate Nigerian Independence Day in style. The show has been held in Ireland since 2007.

This year’s Ankara Festival event had a turnout of people mostly dressed in African prints worn in fashionable styles, to promote the culture and showcase the beauty of African prints. The Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, H.E. Yusuf Pwol, who attended the event spoke about the importance of Nigerian culture and heritage and urged Nigerians living in Ireland to be good representatives. He further expressed his appreciation of Irish hospitality.

According to the Tina Akinola-Jinad, the aim of the Ankara festival is create awareness of African culture and dress modes so that children of African descent can identify and appreciate African fashion, and hence be able to add it to their everyday mode of dressing: “No matter which part of the world Africans live in, we should be proud to wear our African attire.“ She further stated that the organization aims to unite African immigrants in Ireland, promote African cultural heritage and interweave various cultures by putting together shows, lectures, seminars, conferences and exhibitions.

Aside from the Ankara Festival Ireland, the Miss Africa Ireland Beauty and Fashion Show is another major annual event, which has been organized by Tritees Promotions since 2000. The next Miss Africa Ireland event will be held on 30th November 2012 at the Gresham Hotel.

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This year’s Ankara Carnival had an array fashion designs modelled by some of the ladies at the event. Speaking with AfricaWorld at the event, one of the guests, Ms Sten, said that the event will go a long way to showcasing African culture to the Irish and Europeans in general, and the new fashion of mixing Ankara designs with jeans and corporate clothing is a good way of encouraging the youth to embrace Ankara in their fashion styles.

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD

7

COLUMN

IF ALL NIGERIAN POLICE WERE LIKE DAN OKORO why Nigerians have great resentment for the police. Some of the reasons are very obvious: insincerity, manipulation, exploitation/extortion, greed, lack of commitment, indecency, immodesty, avarice, self-centeredness, Godlessness and vulgarity. The Nigerian police connote nothing but manipulations, especially with regard to finding out the truth of any matter, with strong attachment to selfish pecuniary interests.

By Fr. Vincent Arisukwu Every Nigerian knew the case of Cynthia Udoka Osokogu who met her untimely death at the hands of her murderers on July 22, 2012. Cynthia was the only daughter of Rtd Major General Frank Osokogu. She was brutally murdered in a room at the Casmillo Hotel, Lakeview Estate Phase 1, Amuwo Odofin, FESTAC, Lagos. She reportedly left Abuja to buy goods that, according to her Facebook “friends”, arrived from the United Kingdom.

But unfortunately, they laced her Ribena drink with a drug identified as Rohypnol Flunitrazepam, chained her, beat her up and mercilessly raped her until her life was no more. She was a young lady of 25, a postgraduate student of Nassarawa State University in northern Nigeria and proprietress of Dress Code Boutique, who set out from her home only to meet her gruesome death at the hands of greedy young men. That was where the Nigerian Police stepped in; a crime that actually catapulted Dan Okoro to greater heights in the Nigerian Police Force.

One detestable thing every well-meaning Nigerian would readily reject as a gift is to be a policeman/woman. In fact, to tell a Nigerian that he would father a policeman would be seen as a curse. This is not necessarily as a result of the risks involved in policing as a profession in Nigeria but mostly because of the negative image which the Nigerian police have acquired over the years. If it were for reasons of risk, the army would have been more detestable since it involves even greater risks but the case obviously is not the same with the army. A senior police officer in Nigeria once told me that Nigerian police know very well that the citizens hate them and would even wish them dead at any given time.

He said that for this reason, the police would always deal decisively with anyone who dares attempt to offend or compromise the life of the police in any manner whatsoever. I pondered on that and took a critical study of the reasons

The story is different with Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dan Okoro, the man who cracked down on the killers of Cynthia Osokogu in a highly professional and technical manner. He may not be completely innocent, may not even be a saint, but has demonstrated that the Nigerian Police can be appreciated if the citizens notice in them a commitment to the course of protecting life and property; that they can at least be trusted. When the astute policeman was reacting to the circumstances that prompted him to committing his entire energy to discovering the assassins of Cynthia, he maintained, “Getting those that murdered Cynthia took intensive and painstaking investigation…I had the feeling that whoever that must have killed Cynthia should not be allowed to escape justice.

It was that high passion that those that committed this dastardly act should be arrested and brought to book that actually drove me. And it was in that light that we decided that we should painstakingly go into the investigation to unravel the killers” (cf. Daily Sun Newspaper, Wednesday, October 10, 2012, p.27). ACP Dan Okoro said he had the feeling that those who killed Cynthia in such a brutal manner should not be allowed to escape justice.

And that should be the basic issue here – JUSTICE. ACP Dan Okoro hails from Imo state in the South East of Nigeria. He joined the services of the Nigerian Police in 1984. Mr. Okoro has been known for his bravery and has taken part in many dangerous operations, including the arrest of foremost Sierra-Leonian warlord, Foday Sankoh between 1997-1999. His commitment in the Cynthia Osokogu saga has gained him wide popularity, including the award bestowed on him by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for the manner in which he conducted the investigation.

The case of ACP Dan Okoro has thus thrown a big challenge to the Nigerian Police. Known for its jiggery pokery nature,

it becomes an opportunity to reconstruct, redeem and restructure its image in Nigeria. It is good for the police in Nigeria to realize that the acquisition of a good name is far more and better than money.

The practice of standing on the roadside and collecting peanuts is the worst thing that happened to the police in Nigeria.

It smeared the image of the Police and cheapened them like a mere pie. This is more worrisome when the Nigerian police/security system is compared with those of other civilized countries like USA and Britain. Although the incumbent administration has tried to tame the Force, the Nigerian Police is yet to completely redeem its image on the collective level. The Nigerian police have, for a long time, adopted the mentality of “nothing goes for nothing.” In so many crime cases in Nigeria, it became very clear that the police would always compromise justice. Many times, the victim would become the culprit, especially when the individual has little pecuniary value. Sometimes, persons brought to police stations are coerced into make incriminating statements against themselves when the police are properly settled by the richer party. At other times, cases of robbery and other crimes have been traced to dubious police connections. Robbers in Nigeria have, at those times, used police uniforms to deceive the public. They have had access to sophisticated arms and weapons suspected to have been released through police connections.

Some policemen have helped to cover up crimes. Some have shut up motorists and alleged offenders without p r o p e r judicial process for failure to give b r i b e s.

Robbery cases and crimes have even taken place in the presence of Nigerian policemen who, rather t h a n i n t e r v e n e, tried to take cover or even disguise themselves.

For these reasons, the need to celebrate police officers like Dan Okoro becomes very pertinent. He is not only an individual but represents an institution. Dan Okoro stands for the institution of justice. He stands for commitment. He stands for the recognition of human dignity. He stands for pride in a profession. He stands for truth. Above all, he stands for the true rebranding of the Nigerian image. He stands to tell the entire world that the Nigerian police could be better. He stands as a gadfly who can help to bring about the desired revolution in the entire Nigerian polity. If a policeman in Nigeria can be good, it means that others can also be good. If Dan Okoro can carry out an investigation in a case with vested interests and succeed, it means that other policemen in Nigeria can also borrow a leaf from his bravery. If he could be appreciated for his commitment, transparency and dexterity, it means that Nigerians are yearning for men and women with high moral rectitude in their various professions. It means that Nigeria as a nation is in need of heroes/ heroines; men and women who would prove to the world that a good name is better than silver and gold. If he could adopt such a technical approach and come out at the end with positive results, it also implies that only such a committed approach and positive efforts in any given endeavour can yield the desired fruit. It implies that mediocrity and manipulations have been the bane of progress in Nigeria.

It all means that Nigeria would be better if all Nigerian Police were to act like ACP Dan Okoro.

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AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

pride of africa

PRIDE OF AFRICA Pamela Ilonzo Nneka Pamela Ilonzo was born in Italy 25 years ago. The daughter of an Igbo Couple.

She has a degree in European Languages and Cultures plus a Master in European Studies in Rome. “My parents have spent almost 30 years in this country and they studied here. They met and married here in Italy. My father is a geometer and runs a cargo company in Naples while mum studied hotel management”, Pretty Nneka informed AfricaWorld. Nneka loves to sing, and is very active in the Church choir. She loves music and has taught children in the past.

“Now, I am looking for a job as my studies in Master is over”

y r a u t i b O

Amechi Akwunanaw / Enugu state / Nigeria Born - 1922 / Died - 2012 Aged - 90yrs Wife

Mrs Peace Chinyere Agbo

Children

Mrs Anna Onyekachi Okoh Mr Maduabuchi Agbo (Abumore organization) Mr Kenneth Agbo ( Akaekpuchionwa) Mr Jackson Oluchukwu Agbo

Daughter in-laws

Mrs Nkeiruka Agbo Mrs Nnenna Felicia Agbo Mrs Nancy Oluchi Agbo Mrs Marienika Elysee

Grand Children

Prince Agbo Jessica Agbo Chiemeria Okoh Nmesoma Okoh Okechukwu Okoh (Ozuome Jr) Onyenaturuchi Okoh Chidinma Agbo Kenechukwu Agbo Onyinyechi Agbo Chukwuemeka Agbo Chioma Agbo Faith Agbo Domainion Agbo Praise Agbo Izuchukwu Agbo Also left to mourn him include Innocent Peter Agbo, Victor Anioke, Anson Oluchukwu Agbo, Chukwuemeka Nneji, Sunday Okoh and Innocent Agbo for the families.

Mr Kenneth Agbo ( Akaekpuchionwa) for the Family

Chief Michael Aganwagbonshi (Ozuome of Ndiaga Amechi)

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD

column

dimkpa

GOOD GOVERNANCE:

Political abattoir in Africa

By Mazi Uche Azukaoma Osakwe

I am trapped and bothered at the poor state of the continent of Africa.

In 21st century Africa, states are still crawling and unable to provide the ingredients of good governance and leadership required to move the continent forward. It may not come as a surprise to many people that the Mo Ibrahim prize for good governance in Africa worth $5m (£3.2m), awarded each year to a democratically elected president or prime minister, has remained unclaimed for 3 years running. What a pity?

To win the award, an African President/Prime Minister has to prove that he has imparted good quality life to his people and equally demonstrated that he lives above corruption, and ethnic and religious partisanship. As expected, like the proverbial Ostrich no winner emerged in 2012. What that means is that no African leaders have been able to uplift the lives of their people since 2009. It is disgraceful that African leaders are still busy looting the wealth of the people for their selfish aggrandisement. Shame!

For Mo Ibrahim, the business mogul, the motivation for instituting the award was based on the need to encourage the African leaders, especially in sub-Saharan Africa nations, to provide high-quality leadership - and at the same time relinquish power at the expiration of their tenures, since some of them cling on to power for life. His idea is novel and should be supported by all and sundry, both Africans in Diasporas and international institutions. The funny thing about some of our leaders is that they would prefer to rot in hell than abdicate power willy-nilly. For most of them, power is a gateway to paradise and license to turn woman to man. It is an avenue to settle scores and turn state institutions like the Police into a killer machine and zombies. Even those who handed over power did so to selfanointed sons, for instance Musa Yar’Adua of Nigeria etc., with the exception of Ghana. Consequently, some of the leaders would prefer to die in office, for instance Mugabe of

Zimbabwe and Paul Biya of Cameroon, rather than collecting the paltry £3.2m, which to some of them is not worth servicing their mistress or the kick-backs they get through scams and inflating contracts.

Though Africa’s ‘ human developmental’ dilemma was as a combination of external and internal factors, essentially Africa was colonised and absorbed forcefully into the global capitalist regime around mid-1500. During this era, the continent experienced slavery; colonial rule; balkanization of the continent; and alien values, tastes and institutions. The colonial powers nurtured the problem of the continent through the creation of the infertile, uneven construction of an exceedingly fractionalised, reliant, dishonest, and scrawny elite.

As a result, the post-colonial states in Africa survived primarily because they have held on, very treacherously still, to the ‘authoritarian and social licenses’ to govern by shifting and adjusting themselves ad infinitum but hardly changing or compromising the constituent of their cold-blooded rule. As a result of the manner in which African states were absorbed and the mentality behind the struggle for independence, the political elite entrusted with the administration of the African states were more interested in their own selfish ends than the overall interest of the masses. Those who inherited the state apparatus, instead of moving the state forward by laying a foundation for economic prosperity, were busy laying a foundation for its destruction. Thus, the result was crisis upon crisis from sub-Saharan Africa to Maghreb.

But African leaders cannot continue to hide in the past; there should be a concerted effort and road-maps to African development in the 21st Century rather than blaming the colonial past for their inability to provide good governance to the people of the continent. The democratic waves sweeping the Arab states are a pointer that no person can claim to be immune from peoples’ power. At least we are all witness to the demise of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Hosni Mubarak of Libya and Egypt respectively. We saw how the Libyan strongman was captured and murdered like a common criminal - although the democratic wave in Arab states, otherwise called the “Arab Spring”, is fast falling into the hands of jihadist and religious extremist who have no respect for religious minorities and the rights of women.

What is governance? Governance is a process whereby societies or organisations make their important

decisions, determine whom they involve in the process and how they render them accountable. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific sees governance and good governance as fundamentally linked. Bad governance is regarded as the absence of good leadership and accountability. Hence, good governance is characterised as follows: participatory, consensusoriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive; and following the rule of law.

Consequently, it takes into account the interest of the minority and has zero-tolerance for corruption.

This is what is required for African leaders to move the continent forward, to make her competitive and a friendly place to live or do business. Instead, we witness a continent always in an emergency, seeking hand-outs year in year out and enveloped by corruption.

Sometimes I asked myself if Africa is a c u r s e d continent or what? We are always electing or supporting leaders whose interest is to undermine the people or even to wipe them off the map.

Why are we besieged by bad leaders? Is it an act of God or is it that it’s our destiny? The fastest growing industries in Africa a re Churches and Mosques. I am aware that every elected A f r i c a n President swore to the Holy Bible or the Koran, yet they pretend that God does not exist.

The rest of the continents are moving faster, embracing development, m o d e r n technology and economic prosperity; the continent of Africa still can’t feed its own people. The

UNICEF reports painted a gloomy picture of high infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. They claim that the continent remains the “most troubling geographic area,” where one in every six children dies before age 5. Also, the Human Development Index says that in the 31 countries at the bottom of the list, 28 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, a person can hope to live an average only 46 years - 32 less than the average life expectancy in a developed economy - with 20 years slashed off life expectancy because of hunger, diseases, war, HIV/AIDS etc. Yet our leaders turn a blind eye. Many socalled Presidents would prefer their people to suffer rather than see them enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance.

Frankly, bad leadership has been the bane of economic and political leadership in Africa. The continent of Africa still harbours dictators, war-lords, human rights violators, rapists, anarchists, ritual killers, insipid kleptomaniac nairamania and dollarized leadership. Some of them have no direction or ideas on how democracy works or what portable water means to the people.

They surround themselves with parasitic so-called “Kitchen” cabinets that are only interested in what they can milk from the state rather than what they can contribute to better the lives of the people. The same scenario is played out in every corner and cranny of

9

Africa. We pretend that we love our countries but deep down ourselves, we do not care if the whole people starved to death.

That reminds me of the African award in Dublin some time last month where so-called awards were dished out to some undeserving men and women. What have they contributed to the development and progress of the continent in Ireland or back home? It is appalling that we celebrate ignorance, stupidity, and mediocrity. We reward those whose are the friends of the organiser or ball-boys to the society.

Has the organiser taken pains to go around and see how Africans living in Ireland are suffering and languishing in Asylum houses? Have they taken pains to see how our people are dying in numbers in Africa because of lack of food, malaria and AIDS? It is time we searched our souls and consciences and asked ourselves what have we contributed to the socio-economic and political development of Africa?

Rather, most of us here are busy creating disharmony and bitterness among groups in Ireland. Honestly, my advice to some of the recipients is by pretending that you never received such unnecessary awards because you did not deserve them, you are helping to reject artificiality.

The world is watching and the eyes are seeing us.

10 AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

COLUMN / news

joe moore column The Irish language expression for a black person is “duine gorm” , the literal translation of which is “a blue person.” This always intrigued me since I was first taught it at primary school. How could black people be described as blue? A few years ago, while on a holiday in Mauritius, I came across a possible explanation.

Mauritius has been in the news recently in Ireland on account of the media circus around the Michaela McAreavey murder trial.

Michaela was brutally murdered while on her honeymoon. Because of the fact that she was the daughter of a high profile GAA official, her death and the subsequent murder trial received maximum media coverage. RTE the state radio and TV service even sent one of its senior reporters to Mauritius for the full duration of the trial, which ran for five weeks.

In an excellent article in the Irish

Times (June 20th) Vincent Browne contrasts the media attention given to the McAreavey murder in comparison to that of a Limerick woman, Breda Waters, a mother of three young children. Breda Waters murder has been almost ignored by official Ireland. As well as the GAA connection, another reason for the focus on the McAreavey killing was where it happened.

Mauritius is an island nation situated in the Indian Ocean, 540 miles east of Madagascar. It is much smaller than Ireland both in terms of its size and population.

Over 95% of its population is of Indian and African descent.

Therefore the Irish authorities for once were able to lord it over a smaller nation, the majority of whose citizens were dark skinned.

One of its main industries is tourism, which is aimed at the higher end of the market. The coast of the island is dotted with 5-star hotels. (Just for the record, I spent three holidays in Mauritius, totalling 7 weeks in total. Not one

day was spent in a hotel. My brother had a Mauritian wife and all my time was spent in her family’s home.) The other dominant industry in sugar, with much of the island covered with sugar plantations. Despite that Mauritius is the 3rd most densely populated country in the world, with a population of almost 1.3 million.

The majority of Mauritians are working class, most of whom cannot afford the prices charged by the hotels. The majority of tourists never meet or interact with the locals, except in their capacity as hotel workers, and therefore never see the levels of poverty that exist.

Mauritius was uninhabited when it was “discovered “by the Dutch in the late 1600s and remained there for about 20 years. They first introduced sugar to the island. The French colonised the island in 1735, with the British taking control in 1810 during the Napoleonic war. Obviously neither the French nor the British laboured in the plantations to harvest the sugar. That work was carried out initially by Africans taken to the island as slaves. There they were literally worked to death, in order to make vast fortunes for the idle parasitic plantation owners, ship

owners, refinery owners as well as bankers and insurers. With the ending of slavery in the majority of the British Empire in 1833, the authorities looked to India as a source of cheap labour. During the second half of the 19th century millions of Indians migrated to the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the east coast of Africa and to the Caribbean as indentured labourers. Although nominally free, this system was slavery by another name. After arriving at their destination, these people were obliged to work for years without pay, in order that they could repay the cost of their passage. The conditions under which they worked were no better than those that existed under slavery.

Mauritius finally became a free country in March 1968. This freedom however was not without a sting in the tail, because as part of the deal, the island of Diego Garcia was handed over to the US, and its inhabitants forcibly deported to Mauritius. They still live there today in abject poverty.

So to return to my theory on the origins of the “duine gorm.” While in Mauritius I visited the island’s main heritage centre, L’Aventure

du Sucre, the history of sugar. This centre is situated in the north of the country, near to the world famous Pamplemousses gardens.

The history of sugar is in fact the history of Mauritius. This is a must see for anybody visiting the country as it shows in full graphic detail the reality of life on the sugar plantations for those enslaved by the Europeans. As well as sugar, the cultivation of tea, coffee and indigo is also documented. The many uses of the indigo dye are listed. One such use was the painting of their faces by some African tribes before they set out for battle. The sight of these fierce looking warriors with blue faces struck fear into the hearts of their opponents. These fighters were referred to by their enemies as the blue men. That was my eureka moment. The connection was made between the duine gorm of my school days and African warriors. The only well documented interaction between African people and Ireland was the raid on Baltimore in west Cork in 1631. Perhaps some of those pirates used indigo on their faces.

I cannot be sure, but for me, it provided one possible explanation of the origins of the term “duine gorm.”

dd’s cubicle

The Nigeria Vision 20:2020: Is It A Dream?

We start our article with an assertion made on Wikipedia: “By 2020 Nigeria will be one of the 20 largest economies in the world, able to consolidate its leadership role in Africa and establish itself as a significant player in the global economic and political arena.”

Is this a dream or reality?

Nigeria, by all indices, is the largest black nation on earth and has been endowed with natural and physical resources envied across the world. In spite of her endowments, however, she is like a baby learning to crawl and is thus a source of ridicule to Nigerians.

A country of 167 million people living without even five hours of uninterrupted power supply; where 120 million live below N200 a day; where the national and subnational governments budget 80 per cent of resources on conspicuous consumption; where leaders are not ready to make any sacrifice for the sake of the nation; where everything is imported; where the stench of corruption in public places is high; where you cannot sleep with your two eyes closed; will become one of the 20 largest economies in 20:2020?

I ask how a country with 167 million people, without a functional rail network and constant power supply, thinks it could be a global player by 2020? This is an aberration of sorts because two indices that are seen to spur national economic growth are good road networks and constant electricity.

Even though President Goodluck Jonathan, through his erstwhile Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, made

bold stands in electricity and ushered in a new lease of electricity supply, most Nigerians in their different cities still say they have not seen the improvements in power supply. Therefore we ask, could a country be a world economic and industrial powerhouse without constant power generation and supply?

From Lagos in the west to Kano in the north, from Owerri in the east and the largest market in West Africa, Onitsha market, no Nigerian could travel to these places on good road networks. Even within Lagos, which is the economic town of Nigeria and the most industrialized, one cannot boast of a functional rail network. Since we cannot boast of a functional rail network here, does it tell us all over Nigeria Nigerians boast of rail networks?

Seeing this vision as a mere dream and writing on the Vanguard, Mr. Omoh Gabriel notes (like me): ‘’There is an economic dreamer out there. His name is Goldman Sachs. In 2004, he dreamt that Nigeria will emerge one of the 20 largest economies of the world in 2025. Another dreamer, Olusegun Obasanjo, then President of Nigeria, though, he did not dream this time around, said 2025 was too long, he said his own dream was 20:2020. So Nigerians were forced to accept the dream in the name of Vision 20:2020.”

Eight years to the dreamed promised land, another dreamer, this time, Fitch Rating Agency, said that Nigeria can make it to the dreamland in the next eight years—not minding the poverty, lack of infrastructure, political bickering and insecurity in the land.

In a recent presentation on Nigeria’s Debt Capital Markets, Richard Fox, Fitch Rating’s Head of Africa/Middle East sovereigns, had compared Nigeria’s current sovereign debt metrics to those of Emerging Markets (EMs) that have recently made the transition to investment grade (IG) and came to the conclusion that Nigeria is on the path of success.

He said: “Since 2004, seven EMs have moved up the rating scale from Nigeria’s current ‘BB-’ level to the lowest investment grade ‘BBB-’ rating. The most recent was Indonesia in 2011; the others are Azerbaijan (2010), Brazil (2008) and Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Romania and Russia (2004).

Of the seven, four are oil producers to varying degrees. . .

Among the key indicators that Fitch uses to assess sovereign creditworthiness, three stand out as being well outside the range of experience of recent newly IG EMs: per capita GDP, reserve cover and governance (the latter measured by the World Bank’s governance indicators). These areas represent Nigeria’s biggest challenge to improving its rating, as highlighted in Fitch’s previous research. Of the three, reserve cover is the most susceptible to rapid improvement, particularly at current high oil prices. But although Nigeria’s reserves have risen by around $2 billion this year, they are not rising as fast as in the majority of big oil exporters.

“Other external data such as the current account and net external assets are comparable to those of newly IG sovereigns.’’

Nigerians are proud and kind people. I must tell you that pride and kindness do not make a country’s people well off.

For Nigeria’s economy to come close to the dream of Vision 20:2020, structural and political reforms must be planned and implemented in the electricity, roads, oil, and agriculture sectors. Then there must be a real definition in infrastructural development. Part of the poverty Nigeria faces as a nation is the weakness of her infrastructures.

In the educational sector, if Nigeria is to attain the Vision 20:2020 national economic projection, concerted efforts must be made to improve the human capacity competence of Nigerian graduates. Since the Nigerian workforce will be the key players herein, poor human capacity development will affect the attainment of the Vision 20:2020 vision, due to the fact that Nigerian graduates are expected to constitute the pool of workforce from which the drivers of the vision would be chosen.

Tellingly, Nigeria even imports toothpicks. Unless Nigeria reduces importation, its aspiration to rank among the world’s 20 most developed countries by the year 2020 will be a mirage. The world’s leading democracies and economies achieved such a milestone because they were pioneers in the Arts, Engineering, Science and Technology. To achieve success in this area, Nigeria should emulate the world’s leading economies by studying the vast opportunities in Science and Technology to solve Nigeria’s socio-political and economic problems.

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD 11

family CORNER

Poems

Chineke Sun Set At Noon

By Ukachukwu Okorie

The Third World Colours The Craic Sitting with them mates presence matters with a pint glasses surffocating bubbles twinkling cream on lips It’s a national thing a sip bring forth craic as it was in our back.

Bright as your garment Deep like your gaze Proud as your mother Where it all began I saw you with a smile From the eyes of your chick One with the rainbow When will it be?

The food that nourishes One that will bind Like the story of them Them that are penguins

Wisdom Bits The Chameleon said that it cannot change the special way it walks because of a burning bush.

Meaning - One should not betray his principles for a plate of porridge.

When an old woman falls twice, she counts the contents of her bag Meaning - Failures bring correction.

When a child is ahead of his gods, many worries arise Meaning - One should not go beyond his imaginations

FOLKTALE Tales from Umuguma

The Proud Woodpecker

While it falters before the call the road was straight and to a snake it became as it goes Flesh and blood like the abattoir gluttons prowling like the lion pride devouring the land and the soul without it’s consent.

When will it be? a march for tomorrow a call for believers

Connect with

He who holds down another on the ground equally traps himself Meaning - A cheat is equally cheating himself

Then the Woodpecker suddenly took very ill suffering from a bad ulcer beneath his beak. This meant that the Woodpecker was unable to eat or even talk, let alone chop the trunk of a tree with its beak.

Around this time, his mother died and the other birds, which he had sworn to, challenged him and requested that he kept to the promises of his oath. But the Woodpecker, who could neither eat nor talk, could not chop the trunk of the Iroko Tree with his beak as he had proudly claimed.

AfricaWorld on

The daily struggle of man at work is to eat, wealth actually comes from God Meaning - Success often comes from destiny If I am omitted in a general headcount, then my enemy is at work Meaning - One need to be careful in dealing with a foe

#africaworldnews

recipe column

VEGeTABLE YAM (JI AGWOROAGWO)

by Nkiru Edokobi

Ingredient

Once Upon a Time! In the realm of heavenly birds, there was the constant challenge to become the best of all birds. In this kingdom, also lived the Woodpecker. It is a very proud bird who loves to tell lies and boast to “buddies”.

For the Woodpecker to continue to meet and or maintain its standards of the upper class that was “en vogue” at this time in the kingdom of the birds; the Woodpecker resorted to extremely fraudulent means. One day while sitting with other birds, the Woodpecker swore that if and when his mother dies; he was going to chop down the trunk of an Iroko Tree with just his beak, as a mark of respect.

Sets the rules for the earthen ware jars shapes the porter from eyes to hand without any change old as your abode love as always you look unto her when she pushes on him man sets tongue wagging knowingly and unknowingly heralding who you are

1 tuber of yam 3 bunches of green vegetable (spinach) Palm oil or olive oil for healthy option Big oporo washed (optional) Grounded chilli peppe knor or maggi cube 2 Salt to taste

COOKING Peel the back of your yam, wash and cut into square shapes.

Then add a little salt and some water. Put on the fire to boil for 20 to 25 mins or until the yam is soft. While the yam boil, wash and cut the vegetable. Then boil it separately in a pot. Put the vegetable aside. When the yam is done, sieve out the water, reduce your heat and add little oil over the yam. Use a wooden spoon to mix the yam and oil, then add your washed oporo and grounded crayfish. Add the pepper and continue turning the mixture before adding the vegetable.

Mix very well, add knorr or maggi, salt to taste and cover it. Allow to simmer for 5mins, then dish and serve.

12 AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

entertainment/ column

DERIVAN & C.O. Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors 34 north frederick street, dublin 1, ireland Tel: 353-1-8732845/8730669/8726871 Fax: 353-1-8726984/8456253 Email:cderivan@eircom.net

By Sara Sinclair

By Orla Price

Portrait of South Africa Ambassador to Ireland / Mr A J D Ndou

Characteristics of a Good Husband and Wife

By Folashade Abifarin

From the beginning, the Lord made man in a different way from woman; he made the woman the weaker vessel. In respect of how intelligent, how highly placed a woman is, she is the weaker vessel.

Therefore, it’s vital that adequate care is taken of women; however, a certain amount of sacrifice will be required to make a marriage work.

Let me start by narrating the discussion I had some months back with some women regarding this topic; the characteristics of a good husband and wife. The majority of these women claimed a good man will treat women with respect and not like a slave. A good man will always consult his partner regarding

major decisions in their life. A good man doesn’t pick up the car keys and start off without saying goodbye to his wife. A good man will be faithful and keep his wife satisfied in bed.

It’s important to stress this point.

A man will not just use his wife to release a few minutes’ sexual urges and then fall asleep. He will take his time to satisfy his wife. The same applies to women.

Before I go further, it’s important to briefly talk about gender roles and how they are viewed in society; generally, wives wash the dishes, clean the house and take care of the children while the husband provides for the household and fixes things like light bulbs etc. In the world today, the workload of a home often lacks balance. However, if you look at the points below, you will see an underlying characteristic of a good husband and a good wife; to prosper in a marriage, there should be good forms of relationship between the two parties.

Characteristics of a Good Husband • Marriage is a partnership and a good husband will identify and appreciate its importance. A good

man is caring, respectful and shows respect for the feelings and needs of his wife.

• A good husband will have strong communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal.

• He will be selfless and provide for the needs of the family. Compromise is the key in achieving marital happiness; the husband must be prepared to make sacrifices for the well-being of the marriage.

• He will be a God-fearing person and a fair fighter during arguments.

Every marriage has conflict, but the way he handles these conflicts is vital to the relationship’s success.

• He should be a critical thinker; his strength keeps the wife stable and inspires her to push through during their weakest moments. He will allow his wife to make her own choices.

• He will be faithful and he will keep his wife satisfied in bed; no woman would tolerate a cheating partner.

Characteristics of a Good Woman Some women are more satisfying than others but the qualities of a good woman go further than mere looks.

• She’s an honest and trustworthy person; she’ll treat her partner with respect.

• She’ll be proud of her partner, love him for who he is and will see the best in him.

• She will have self-awareness and be independent.

• She’ll support him when times are tough. She will not judge and her love will not waver because of hardships.

• She’ll keep her partner focused on the future and encourage saving.

• She’ll make the effort to keep her partner satisfied sexually at all times.

Without further argument, here are some characteristics of good relationships: • They should both be trustworthy, not selfish, and seek the interest of each other. They should keep each other happy sexually. Good sex helps to strengthen love, and emotional and physical attraction.

• They should both be economical contributors, diligently industrious, and support each other.

• They should both see the relationship as an opportunity to give.

Willingness to give is essential for good relationships.

• They should both be willing to change; nobody is perfect but everyone can grow. Change is a

constant thing.

• They should both be willing to admit mistakes, Instead of defending, be courteous and do not hesitate to apologise.

• They should both be open to each other; misunderstanding is one of the basic relationship problems.

• They should have integrity, selfcontrol and should both fear and revere God. Relationships with these traits will automatically stay strong. By working together, the relationship will reach its full potential. It is often heard said that ‘what we give is what we get back’. However, only a relationship with God will sustain you through life’s adversities and believe me, no one goes through life unhurt.

Now that we’ve seen some characteristics of good relationships, what is expected of us? How can we form good relationships? Well, it’s difficult to change someone else but we can start by changing ourselves, by applying the characteristics above in our own life. If we do that, people who relate to us will notice and eventually change too.

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD 13

love

AGONY CORNER Relationships between men and women

By Abdul Yusuf

Every woman, no matter the age, loves to be loved and pampered. Don’t blame them, God made them that way.

To a good number of African men, it’s all about how much you have in your pocket. But I don’t really blame the men because ladies have made you believe there is no relationship without a fat bank account. But have you wondered why we have wives of the so-called rich and very busy men go around with boys they fend for?

Men now believe a girl can be treated any way and be pacified later by a fat cheque, exotic ride, and holiday to the Caribbean. Maybe it has been working for you simply because you have always met the greedy ones. But a time will come when you will fall head-over-heels in love with a girl only to have her walk out of your life. Then you will come to agree with me that there are dos and don’ts in every relationship.

Many relationships are in trouble because our dear men have refused to see women as partners. To them, she is just another piece of furniture and should be treated as one. Men still believe a woman should be seen and not heard. I still wonder when I see some men beat their wives and girlfriends.

This has led to the breakup of many relationships as the lady would rather live outside the relationship than die in the relationship

I very much agree with a man being the head of every relationship. Everyone might know someone who is a strong supporter and promoter of African culture. But guys, I still see many African men who treat their wives like partners and not slaves. Treating a woman well has nothing to do with wealth. Yes, a woman deserves some level of comfort but that shouldn’t take the place of companionship. Be it for a date or marriage, every decent woman wants a man who will always respect and treat her like a lady. To help you succeed in your relationship with the woman of your dreams, try these few tips: APPRECIATE HER: It takes just a little effort to win a woman’s heart. A woman wants to be appreciated always. No matter how much you spend on your woman, she will never be satisfied until you give her that which her heart longs for. Look at her every morning before you step out of the house and tell her how beautiful she is. Even if you think she is not, I know there is one particular attribute she has which won your heart.

Yours may be a long-distance relationship—thank God for GSM. She wants to hear your voice last thing at night, she wants you to talk her to sleep and wake her up the next morning to sweet words (I enjoy this, sleeping-off while talking with him). This is the easiest way to win a woman’s heart and have her go the extra mile for you. Don’t let familiarity quench the fire and don’t be deceived into believing she doesn’t care; she does.

SPEND TIME WITH HER: Give her time. I understand things are getting tougher. Men go through a lot of pressure to make ends meet (women do too). The traffic situation, especially in some parts of town, is getting worse by the day but guys all these are not good enough reasons for your failure to spend time with the woman you love. She needs your time not just the goodies. I know a couple of

Relationship Queries My Boyfriend Wants to Dump Me Because of The Forbidden Fruit I recently came across a very long time family friend who complained about how her relationship with her boyfriend is heading for the rocks and she is in dire need of advice from the public. This is her short story . . .

The last few weeks have been very sad for me as my relationship, one which I am really proud of and happy about, is about to pack up. My last relationship ended after I caught my guy with another girl in his apartment when I visited without calling him first. I was heart broken.

Now I am in a relationship with this cool guy and he loves me like mad and I really love him too. The problem now is sex. I gave my previous boyfriend sex whenever and wherever he wanted it but he still cheated on me so I decided to stop.

I’m sending you this message because I’ve seen and read a lot of stories on Africa World News and I’ve learnt a

lot from them. My lovely boyfriend is now avoiding me because I’m saying no to sex. He said he would have accepted waiting if I was a virgin but that he didn’t see any reason to wait.

My mind was already made up about not having sex again until the first night of my marriage. Please, is there any other thing I can do to keep him?

How do I know he wont hurt me once I start having sex with him? Anyone with sound advice should please help me out. Thanks.

HELP: I’m A Graduate, How Can I Dump My Truck Driver Boyfriend Without Hurting Him? I am a 23-year-old female. My parents died when I was 8 then I dropped out of school because no one could afford to pay my fees. I then met this guy when I was 14 and he sent me back to school.

He was selling fruit then but he was still able to pay my fees. He then got a job as a truck driver and sent me to

friends who do not tolerate visitors in their houses on Sunday; it is strictly for them to spend time with their girlfriend or wife and children. Another family friend of mine switches off his phones on Sundays to avoid anything taking him away from the intimacy he enjoys with his family. Please deal with the habit of answering calls till you sleep off. Recently, I learnt this and leave my phone on silent once its 9pm. We existed happily before GSM came and can live without it for just a few hours.

GIVE Be generous with the woman you claim to love. Most guys believe in just words. Guys, love gives. For you to be a good lover, you must be able to give according to your capability. Make that woman the envy of her friends. I am not saying you should go beyond your pocket just to make her happy. She is your woman and knows your worth.

Love gives.

REMEMBER Don’t forget her birthday, marriage anniversary and other important dates.

Finish early from work on that day and take her to a place she has never been before. Make it a memorable one; after all, she remembers yours. You can get friends for a surprise party for her.

Boy, stop coming up with the excuse of leaving town on an official assignment during St. Valentine season.

Some guys make sure the official assignment starts a week before St. Valentine ‘s Day simply because they want to cheat on their wives and girlfriends. If you don’t like her look, get her to change it. This has led a lot of women into unfaithfulness.

RESPECT HER Make her feel on top among friends.

We know you are the man but please don’t put it in her face. Don’t shout at her in public, that hurts a woman deeply. Guys, it is wrong discussing your woman with friends and relations. If you must, sing her praise. It is wrong gathering in that beer parlour to talk

University and on completion, I managed to secure a job in a reputable company in the UK. My problem is that I feel I can’t continue with this relationship because he is not my type.

He isn’t fluent in English, he is a very short man, plus some other personal stuff.

I feel I have paid him back for his good deeds because I give him sex anytime and anywhere he wants. But now he can’t meet up to my demands. How best can I tell him that he is not my type without hurting his feelings? I am grateful that he sent me to school but I can’t be in a relationship with him anymore. I want somebody in my own class not a truck driver. Please help!

Married Woman Caught Having Sex With Security Man In Husband’s Bedroom I am afraid for my safety as I send this information to you. Please leave my e-mail address and name out of this.

My purpose of writing is to get people’s opinion on what to do.

I arrived in Dublin for holidays about two weeks ago to stay with my uncle and his wife, who’s an Edo woman. By

about her.

CORRECT HER IN LOVE Women are weaker vessels, so says the Holy Bible. Learn to treat her as one.

She is bound to make grievous mistakes, pardon her, and put her on the right track. She may be the nagging type; love her.

ACCEPT HER I have seen a lot of men dating a girl without wanting to have anything to do with her job, friends and family. Guys, you must make that girl you claim to love feel dearly accepted. You must be ready to discuss her job, accept her friends and if there are ones you don’t like, gradually make her see reason. But her family, you must accept. Why would any responsible man or woman stop the partner’s family from visiting?

Don’t try to make her change her job against her wishes. I have seen men try to force a lady out of her job due to selfish reasons. Ninety-nine percent of the motive behind it is insecurity. You may try to make her feel the job is too stressful for her but boy, we know why you did that. Inasmuch as you have to protect your own girlfriend or wife, you don’t have to let your emotions rule all the time.

TRUST HER So many men have lost the woman they cherish so much simply because they chose to believe their friends rather than her. When you love a woman, you are bound to be jealous but please, keep it under control. Don’t allow the discussions or experiences of your friends to ruin your relationship. Trust your woman, believe her. Some girls have had to walk out of relationships just because their man refused to believe them.

NO VIOLENCE Never raise your hands on her. Only cowards beat women. If you want to show us how strong you are, please find men like you in the stadium. Some men even go to the point of hitting their girlfriends and wives in public. That is just a proof of your level of irresponsibility. No matter how much a woman provokes you, never raise a hand on her. Yes, I agree with you, women can get you to the point where you lose control of yourself. But there are men like you handling it the right way. There are better ways to make a woman sober.

INVOLVE HER Involve her in your decision-making.

Don’t rule out her ideas as irrelevant.

Women are most times more intelligent than men and if you are blessed to have an intelligent woman around you, please use her. Let the woman in your life know you and what you are worth.

Refuse to believe people when they say she will kill you and take your properties.

Most African widows suffer at the death of their husbands simply because the man trusted his brothers and parents more than his wife and children.

Oga, why would you leave your wife and children to make your brother the administrator of your Will? No matter how much you trust him, your children and wife will suffer should anything happen.

FLAUNT HER Please don’t make your woman feel you are not proud of her. Introduce her to friends and relations; don’t walk far behind her in public. Volunteer to drive her to the Spa, Tesco, Dunnes Store or any Mall or Supermarket. If you are proud of your woman, let her know you are.

GIVE HER A BREAK Allow her to travel and sometimes have a time-out with friends far away from you. Don’t make her lose her individuality because she is with you.

Don’t try to force her to become what she is not. A lot of women turn to Zombies when they have their man around but when you see them with friends, you see the lively part of them.

Let that girl go, if she is yours she will remain yours. Love isn’t about bondage.

Don’t let low self-esteem ruin your relationship.

If African men can decide to start treating women as individuals and adults, things will get better in society.

This issue of freedom is a very important one. I have seen that the women who find it difficult surviving as widows are those who were never allowed by their husbands to be themselves.

Your relationship with your woman shouldn’t be a cat and rat affair. Please do something to make any weekend and every other day an exciting one for her. Every woman, no matter her age, yearns for true love and affection. No woman wants to be made to feel old even when she knows she is getting old.

the way, my uncle is from Ekiti State and their marriage is about four years without kids. In the last week of August, my uncle travelled to the North of Ireland on an official trip and something happened in his bedroom.

I came back that day because I could not make an appointment in the City Centre due to heavy traffic. I was reluctant to return home since I had just left but I couldn’t think of a better place to go so I headed back home. On getting to our flat, something got me worried when I saw strange sandals right inside the living room. I just told myself that something is going on between my uncle’s wife and a dirty stranger or visitor. I was right. When I moved close to the window of my uncle’s bedroom, I started hearing screams of sexual pleasure from his wife. I tried to peep into the room but it was difficult because of the protector.

I summoned courage and walked to the door as if I wanted to tell my uncle’s wife that I was back. I opened the door and caught the adulterous woman red-handed under the dirty security man. Sadly, the security man was already ejaculating so he couldn’t

get up immediately. It took him a few seconds to jump off and grab his clothes.

I simply walked away and returned to the living room, pretending to be watching a programme on the TV. A few minutes later, my uncle’s wife joined me and started pleading that it would not happen again. I didn’t say a word but when she kept pressing, I said “OK, I’ve heard”. Later she brought food for me but I refused it and since then she has been putting pressure on me.

The unfortunate thing is now she even wants me to sleep with her as an assurance that I wont tell my uncle, always coming to my room half naked.

Because of this, I’ve not been eating in the house in the last week. I’m almost going broke already and intend to return back.

My uncle may be back next week. I would like people with more experience to tell me what to do when he comes back. Should I tell my uncle the kind of wife he married or quietly move out?

14 AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012

sport

Champions League

Round-Up October 2012 BY colum maher

produced a fine save to keep out James Forrest’s effort, only to see the ball ricochet off Kirill Kombarov and into the back of his own net.

Just as the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate, Greek international Giorgos Samaras broke the hearts of the home fans with a 90th minute winner for the Scottish champions. Samaras got on the end of Emilio Izaguirre’s inviting left-wing cross and blasted the ball past Sergei Pesyakov with a glancing header to make it 3-2 to the visitors.

In what was the Glaswegians’ first attack, Mikael Lustig received a clever ball on the right before drilling a low cross into the area, which found the feet of Gary Hooper. Hooper managed to sidestep his marker before turning the ball past Champions League debutant Sergei Pesyakov in the Spartak goal.

With the UEFA Champions League group stage at it’s midway mark, it’s been a month of mixed results for the cream of African footballing talent. In this issue, we take a look at some of the big hitters from around Europe’s premier club competition and focus on how they have played a major role in their team’s performance - whether they have been on the winning side or have fallen just short of the final hurdle.

We begin at the Stadion Luzhniki in Moscow on October 2nd, where “The Red-Whites” of Spartak Moskva took on Neil Lennon’s Glasgow Celtic in a thrilling encounter that would see the game go right down to the line. Spartak started the game positively, wanting to avenge the narrow 3-2 defeat they suffered on the opening day at Camp Nou against Barcelona. However, their positivity would not result in them testing Hoops keeper Fraser Forster.

The Red-Whites’ inability to finish their chances would see them punished with just 12 minutes gone.

The goal seemed to stir Unai Emery’s men as Spartak began to enjoy the majority of possession and this, combined with a moment of sheer class from Swedish international Kim Källström, would see the Muscovites draw level just before halftime. Källström played a sublime leftfooted pass to Ari, who managed to square the ball for the on-rushing Emmanuel Emenike. The Nigerian made no mistake as he coolly buried the ball into the back of the net.

Spartak would have their Nigerian international to thank for their second goal also, as the Red-Whites took the lead just 3 minutes after the restart.

Ari attempted a spectacular longrange drive from well outside the area, which took a deflection and prevented Forster from picking up the loose ball. Demy De Zeeuw would be on hand to collect the ball before playing it to Emenike for another simple tap-in to send the home fans into a frenzy.

It was not to be Spartak’s night though as Juan Insaurralde received a straight red card in the 63rd minute for tripping Hooper as he bore down on goal. The Hoops’ numerical advantage would pay immediate dividends a minute later as Pesyakov

The following night, Arsenal took on Greek outfit Olympiacos at the Emirates stadium in London.

Following a tentative opening 40 minutes, the game sprang to life in the 42nd minute when a moment of pure class from Cote d’Ivoire international Gervinho would see The Gunners take the lead. New boy Lukas Podolski’s cross caused confusion between Manolas and Contreras in “The Legend” defence — neither dealing with the ball as it fell kindly to Gervinho, who was waiting at the edge of the area. The Ivorian unleashed a low shot which beat keeper Megyeri all ends up.

The Gunners’lead would be shortlived though as the Greeks managed to equalise just 4 minutes later through Kostas Mitroglou. Leandro Greco managed to deliver a cross into the Arsenal penalty area and Mitroglou rose above both Vermaelen and Koscielny to nod the ball into the corner of the net.

Arsenal came out to the secondhalf with all g u n s blazing

Shalke 04 player – Klaas Jan Huntelaar

and following a number of squandered chances retook the lead in the 56th minute through German International Podolski. Gervinho was again at the heart of the action as he cut back and played the ball to the German in the penalty box, who fired an unstoppable shot past two defenders and the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 to the Londoners. The victory was complete for Arsène Wenger’s team four minutes into stoppage time as substitute Olivier Giroud played a long ball to Welshman Aaron Ramsey, who took the ball forward before calmly chipping the ball over Balázs Megyeri and into the back of the net.

The night also saw Schalke take on Champions League newcomers and last season’s French champions Montpellier HSC at the Stadion Gelsenkirchen. La Paillade were determined to show that they were not merely making up the numbers and took the lead in the 13th minute following a stunning strike from Aït-Fana.

R é m y

Cabella showed good skill and control as he took the ball across the pitch before laying it onto Aït-Fana who drove a powerful, curling shot towards goal. Lars Unnerstall managed to get a finger to it, however he was unable to prevent the ball going into the back of the net.

The Germans drew level 13 minutes later as young prodigy Julian Draxler burst through the Montpellier back four to receive Huntelaar’s pass, before skipping around Geoffrey Jourdren to record his first ever Champions League goal. The goal would rattle the La Paillade defence and the French team had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scores level going into the halftime break.

7 minutes after the restart saw Montpellier both a goal and a man down as Garry Bocaly committed a horrendous challenge on Drexler, resulting in both a penalty and the young German wonderkid being stretchered off the pitch. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 to the Royal Blues.

However, they were left to rue their missed chances as La Paillade would equalise in the 90th minute through Senegalese international Souleymane Camara, whose curling low shot could not be kept out by Unnerstall as it flew into the corner of the net and deflated Schalke for the remaining few minutes of the game.

NOVEMBER 1-15 2012 AFRICAWORLD 15

sport

Esperance and Al Ahly to Meet in Final

BY colum maher

Esperance East African spot for the upcoming African Cup of Nations has been taken by Ethiopia after defeating pre-match favourites Sudan 2-0 in an entertaining duel staged in Addis Ababa.

The visitors started the match with promise but could not get past a well marshalled defence.

Ethiopia meanwhile took much time in settling in this match and failed to carve out any real goal scoring opportunities in the first half, which ended goalless.

The second period started with urgency and much attack from the home side who were rewarded on 70 minutes, after Alula Girima beat the Sudanese defence to slot home the opening goal.

The 20-year-old Saint George fullback then sealed the points with an opportunistic strike in the final 10 minutes of the game to send the majority of the crowd at the national stadium into frenzy. The result edged a thrilling two legged clash between the East African Nations that shared 10 goals and saw the latter qualify through the away goals rule.

Central African Republic at home.

They also won on away goals against Benin in the first elimination round for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and now return to a tournament they won for the only time 50 years ago.

Sudan won a goal-flush first encounter 5-3 thanks to a late Mohamed Al Tahir brace and was barely troubled during the opening half at the national stadium in the heart of the Ethiopian capital.

Samuel Eto’o helped four-time champions Cameroon to a 2-1 home win over Cape Verde but a 3-2 aggregate loss means a second consecutive failure to reach the African football showcase. Eto’o was back after a year of international inactivity due to an eight-month ban imposed by the national football federation for instigating a bonus-related boycott of a friendly in Algeria.

Sudan, who had won the first leg played in Khartoum 5-3, were seeking to qualify to the bi-annual continental showpiece for the second consecutive time but paid a heavy price for their initial cautious approach.

The qualification of the Ethiopian Black Lions confirmed a recent upsurge of fortunes that has seen them lead their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying group after holding South Africa away and defeating

Al Ahly

He also refused to turn up for the first leg in Cape Verde last month, labelling the national squad “amateurish and badly managed”, and his absence contributed to the worst day in Cameroonian football.

leg deficit against the Democratic Republic of Congo after 35 minutes in Malabo, but Youssouf Mulumbu reduced the arrears before halftime and the home team had to settle for a hollow 2-1 win.

Portuguese-speaking Cape Verde is off the coast of Senegal with a population of just 500 000, and the national squad consists mainly of footballers at unfashionable European clubs. Alain Traore struck five minutes into stoppage time to give Burkina Faso a 3-1 home win over giant-killers Central African Republic, who took a one-goal lead into the tie having stunned seven-time champions Egypt in the last round.

Any hope Libya had of overhauling a onegoal loss first time out against Algeria did not last long in Blida with El Arbi Hilal Soudani and Islam Slimani scoring within seven minutes and the home side cruised to a 2-0 victory.

Former Manchester United signing Manucho Goncalves scored twice in the early minutes in Luanda to secure a 2-0 win for Angola over Zimbabwe, overall victory on away goals after a 3-3 tie, and a fifth consective Africa Cup appearance.

Niger left it much later to upset Guinea 2-0 and squeeze through on aggregate after a solitary-goal first leg loss with Mohammed Chikoto and Issoufou Garba netting in the closing stages.

Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham was on target for Togo in a 2-1 win over 2012 co-hosts Gabon, who were held at home in the first leg. Wome Dove was the other Togolese marksman and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed a late consolation goal.

Equatorial Guinea halved a four-goal first-

An October 24 draw in Indian Ocean city Durban will divide the 15 survivors plus South Africa – automatic qualifiers as hosts – into four groups for the January 19-February 10 flagship tournament.

The Confederation of African Football has revealed the seeding for the draw for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Teams in the same pot cannot be drawn against each other. The draw will be held on 24 October in Durban.

Seedings: Pot one: South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast Pot two: Nigeria, Mali, Tunisia, Angola Pot three: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Niger Pot four: Togo, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Ethiopia.

16 AFRICAWORLD NOVEMBER 1-15 2012