Leadership

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SATURDAY No. 446

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APC Alleges Plan To Mobilise Traditional Rulers Against David Umaru

2 Pregnant Women, 7-year-old, 5 Others Drown In Kaduna River

NEWS, PAGE 9

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Nyako: Court Declines Hearing On Reinstatement Suit PAGE 7

23.08.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

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Chibok Diary DAY 131

Leadership Newspapers

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'FG's Action On Chibok Girls Not Good Enough' > Page 2

Jonathan Ill, Flown To Germany 5

Concerned officials mask trip as “private visit”

L-R: Head, Glo Gateway, Mr. Steve Stretch; chairman of Capital 3, Otunba Davies, minister of labour and productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu; national president of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasin and NURTW general secretary, Mr. Clement Wetkur, at the launch of the Security Verified Identity Cards (SVID) programmed for NURTW members by Globacom in Abuja.

Adadevoh Deserves National Honour - Owelle Azikiwe 2 spouses of primary contacts test positive to Ebola

> Page 5


chibok diary 131 DAY

Leadership wEEKEND Saturday, August 23, 2014 CHibok Facts ➔ @Shangudar 130 days I'm afraid some girls may be gone forever. Will their parents ever forget this government? ➔ @tilloppss I'm not losing sight over the fact that some children must return home and unite with their families.130 days & counting.

Bring Back Our Girls Protesters at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

➔ @MuteNoMoreOrg It has been 130 days since the kidnapping of the #ChibokGirls. PLEASE continue to pray for them! ➔ @OpinionNigeria It is not easy FIGHTING for a better NIGERIA. The #BringBackOurGirls group are doing that with joy. Members of #BbringBackOurGirls chanting solidarity songs during a village square meeting at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY

➔ @trueNija 11 parents have died waiting for their girls. I hope Jonathanians are happy.

OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

➔ @RepWilson No matter how many days go by, we will not rest until our girls are home ➔ @ogundamisi That #BOKOHARAM is able to keep 260 girls within d territory of a free country exposes d impotence of the Nigerian State

➔ @ogundamisi In summary Nigerian state has failed, is failing to protect rights of over 260 innocent girls. It is the duty of govt to election. Dia iz God. keep the world aware of their captivity. COMPILED BY agbo augustine

'FG's Action On Chibok Girls Not Good Enough' By Chika Mefor and Ejike Ejike, Abuja

The #BringBackOurGirls group yesterday, expressed doubt of the rescue mission of the Chibok school girls abducted over 4 months ago, citing the federal government’s position of not neither negotiating nor engaging in military action as not good enough. Speaking to journalists at the group’s protest in Abuja to mark the 130 days in abduction of the Chibok girls, one of the leaders of the group, Oby Ezekwesili wondered why the government would refuse to engage in negotiation or military action in order to rescue the girls after such a long time. She stated that it is never a sign of weakness for a government to engage in negotiation for the release of these girls rather, it would be an act of empa-

thy and a sign of responsiveness to the plight of the families of these girls. In her words, “it was unfortunate that the government had said that there is a rescue mission but one would wonder how? “When you connect the dots, we don’t think that there is a rescue mission going on. When a rescue operation is going on, in the case of abduction, the rescue is always a military rescue or negotiation or sometimes the two. Each time we get government statement, it dismiss the options and we wonder what is happening,” On the report that the military knows where the Chibok girls are, she wondered why it was taking a long of time for the girls to be brought back to their families. “We don’t even see the evidence.

About 219 girls are still in the hands of the terrorists and people have moved on as if nothing has happened. We need the girls to be rescued urgently from the den of the terrorists. We are not a weak country. We need to go in and make a statement that we are not a weak country. We want them rescued. We don’t want lies. We need the truth from government. She however, expressed optimism that the girls will be rescued, stating that “We are optimistic and no matter how others have moved on, we have refuse to move on. We will be pretending and lying to ourselves if we move on. “We saw how Boko Haram slaughtered 51 boys. Nothing has been done about it. When we remain silent when a bad thing happens, we empower the enemies to continue. We must rise up and speak against this,” she said.


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our stand Saturday, August 23, 2014

Compassionate Doctor

W

hen, on July 20, as the lead consultant at the First Consultants Clinic, Obalende, Lagos, Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh was challenged by what turned out to be the index case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the country, she scrupulously adhered not only to her Hippocratic Oath of selflessly saving lives but also consciously discharged her duties and obligations as a citizen of Nigeria. After testing Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American patient, for malaria, she cast off the denials of Sawyer and the influence-peddling ambassador of his country to let go of the patient, and dutifully sent his blood for Ebola virus disease analysis and found it positive. She refused to buckle in the face of provocation and pressure from several high quarters by turning Sawyer’s hospitalisation into quarantine. Again, she dutifully contacted the Lagos State health authorities about the first Ebola case in the country. It was not her death on Tuesday, August 19, that threw her up. She had an illustrious background. But the symbol of her last days on earth compelled the celebration of her courage, heroism and

professionalism. Like the health minister said after the Federal Executive Council meeting on the challenges of Ebola in the country, “Nigeria would have been in a serious disaster now if it were not for the effort of Dr Adadevoh who insisted that Sawyer would not be allowed to pass through Lagos after he was diagnosed to be a carrier of the deadly disease.” For that singular act of courage and foresight, she deserves a respectable place in the pantheons of heroines in our country. If she had not done what she did, the epidemic of Ebola in Nigeria would have been worse than a world war. Dr Adadevoh, Ms Justina Ejelonu and the team that treated the index case paid the supreme sacrifice. Jatto

Ag. Editor Catherine Agbo Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

Abdulqudir, the ECOWAS’ protocol officer who picked up an already infected Sawyer from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, also died in the line of duty. The lessons of Adadevoh’s death are numerous. It speaks of devotion, commitment, patriotism, selflessness, honesty and courage in the face of adversity. The late Dr Adadevoh and all the health workers that handled Sawyer should be remembered for their sacrifice and be celebrated. Trained at the University of Lagos, where she obtained her MBBS, and the University of London where she earned a Diploma in Endocrinology, Adadevoh was a top-flight consultant physician and revered member of the Nigerian Medical Association and the British-Nigerian Association. She was a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College. Dr Adadevoh was 58 and left behind a son. She was a grandchild of the late Herbert Macaulay, described as the founder of Nigerian nationalism. Her father, Prof. Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh, was a noble physician and former vicechancellor of the University of Lagos.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Abdulhaleem Amin Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Ademola Oladosu Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership

Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital. We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed. We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!


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my secret life

Saturday, August 23, 2014

I Started Making Money From Childhood – Bilkisu Suleiman- Boutique Owner My parents are... Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman, a retired commissioner of police and late Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Suleiman (May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace) who was an international business woman all her life. I grew up... in a very decent, religious and disciplined home; my mum wouldn’t tolerate disrespect to elders and she hated laziness and seeing an unkept environment I was taught to respect my elders no matter their status in life. I grew up with four siblings and many cousins but lost my eldest sister, Hajiya Salamatu Abubakar Yanci Alfa, (may her gentle soul rest in peace). If I could turn back time... I would go to festive periods as a kid; the most interesting of all was following my dad and brothers for Eid prayers. My mum would give me new clothes every now and then because she used to sell children’s clothings. I also loved Christmas periods when my dad would bring up to 10 hampers home (my favourites were chocolate, canned foods and biscuits) and of course, the rice and turkey neighbours brought to our house….Mouth-watering!!! As a child I wanted... and still do want to be an Air Hostess. I really admire the ones I see on Emirate and Ethiopian air lines; they are so cute and smart. How I found myself doing this.. I inherited the business gene from my late mum when she would send me with goods to her friends and I’d also add my gain to the initial price she told me. I started making money and would buy whatever I wanted without waiting for my monthly allowance. I developed a serious interest in business and started selling body sprays to my family and friends. I have had this madness for perfume since I was a child and remember my sisters would always hide their bottles because of me, then they would forget where they hid it. I decided to go fully into the business of Arabian things because I love everything Arabian. People that motivated me... my mum and family who motivated and encouraged me financially, physically and mentally. My sisters, Fatima Musa Tanko and Mairo Dattijo Suleiman who always talk me though and calm me down, especially when I complain about lack of customers; they go to the length of picking items from the shop to help me sell

Arrested The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps said it has arrested 33 street light vandals during a dawn raid of their hide out in Uyo. Briefing newsmen the state commander of the agency Pedro Ideba said that three of the suspects who are already in custody were caught along the newly commissioned Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard while dismantling batteries that power the solar street lights.

Advised A group, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria has advised all candidates that participated in the Osun State governorship election to accept the result of the election, because it reflected the wishes and decisions of the electorates. The group while congratulating Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregdesola for a successful re-election also urged political parties to ensure a wide presence of their party agents in all polling units during future elections.

Bilkisu Suleiman

in their various offices. My brother Abdullahi Sulaiman; even if no man patronises my goods, I’m contented and grateful... no man buys as much as he does from me, from shoes down to kaftans. My dad is also not left out, for his blessings, that’s worth more than money to me. With this, I say Alhamdullilahi. When I look in the mirror... I see a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if God spares my life. I’d like to go into politics; I want to fight for the rights of women and children and also corruption In Shaa-Allah. Five ways to describe me... Simple, down-to-earth, friendly, religious, cherish honesty One thing I could change about myself... My temper and impatience… even though I don’t get temperamental for no reason. You might not know it but... I’m a very simple and straight-forward person who minds her business except if one pokes into her affairs. Sure, I react but then again, I expect you to talk and get disappointed when you ignore me. Fashion to me... is a priority; I have and always will love fashion.

Appealed

Life In Brief Born in Lagos State and brought up in Minna, Niger State, Bilkisu Sarauniya Suleiman started her early education at Aunty Ayo Nursery and Primary School in Lagos and the popular Zarumai Model School, Minna Niger State.She attended Federal Government College, Azare Bauchi State. After obtaining a B.S.C in English Language from the University of Abuja and serving the mandatory one year NYSC at Women Teachers College (W.T.C) Kofar Pumt, Kano State, she decided ‘no white-collar job for her’ but to follow her passion for business. Her acumen, hard work and support from family helped move her to open a one-of-a-kind multi-purpose boutique where anything Arabian: from clothings to perfume oils, incense burners and various incenses from Maiduguri and Dubai; Arabian room fresheners, hijabs, accessories, polo shirts and more are readily available. The CEO Khadija’s Pride Arabian has one motto she belives by ‘going forward ever, backwards never ‘. Bilkisu lives in Minna, Niger State with her family. I can’t see myself living in a world without fashion. Last time I cried... 24 hours ago; it relieves me, I cry when I’m angry and once I do that, I get over it. I’m afraid of... the day I will be separated from any member of my family, even though death is inevitable. I fear that day very much. In five years’ time... I see myself and my business being very successful. I am a very hard working and determined woman. I plan to have branches of my shop in other

states and very soon, will be going into cosmetics and bridal makeup business. I love makeup a lot, it’s a dream I promised myself I’ll make a reality, In shaa Allah. My biggest regret in life...being with two-faced people who show you love to your face but gossip about you behind your back. photo By Bilkisu Suleiman Interview by Amina Alhassan Ahman

The Forum of chairmen of boards of health parastatals in Nigeria has appealed to medical directors and consultants to manage the recent suspension of the residency practice in Nigeria in a way to reduce the suffering of Nigerians seeking medical attention. Rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, the forum’s chairman and vice-chairman, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) and Alhaji Ramalan Yero (Dawakin Zazzau), respectively said the forum unanimously decided to mediate in the crisis.

Joined A two time deputy governor of Abia State, Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma has formally declared his intent to contest in the forthcoming governorship election in 2015. Chief Nwakanma while declaring his intent explained that based on his experience at both the legislative and executive arms of government, he remained the best candidate for the party’s flag for the gubernatorial race for 2015.


NEWS 5

Saturday, August 23, 2014

LIVING TO BE 100

One health tip daily Make Fitness Fun Plenty of people engage in stop-and-start exercising they begin an activity and then lose ineterst. But the key to benefiting from exercise is consistency. It’s essential to find an activity you enjoy. This sounds like common sense, but I find many people wasting their money paying for a gym membership when they obviously dislike going there. Shop around until you find physical activities you like, whether dancing, rollerblading, jumping on a trampoline, golfing, or riding your bike. When you like what you do day after day, you’ll have fun exercising.

Adadevoh Deserves National Honour – Owelle Azikiwe By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja, Olaolu Oladipo, Lagos, Winifred Ogbebo and Victor Okeke, Abuja

The first son of Nigeria’s first president and Owelle of Onitsha, His Royal Highness Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, has said that Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who died of Ebola virus, deserves the highest honour in the land for risking her life to save many. Azikiwe, who traced how Dr Adadevoh is related to the Azikiwe family and Herbert Macaulay, described Ameyo as both his “relation and pal who was a very kind, caring, and selfless person”, noting that “I am not surprised that her selfless compassion and steely discipline would make her restrain Sawyer from leaving the hospital to probably spread the Ebola virus to epidemic proportions”. He suggested what should be done: “First, imbibing and disseminating positive aspects of her character and life. Second, she should be given the highest national honour possible for risking her life to save many. She paid the ultimate terrible price. Third, a permanent memorial should be established.” Relating how Adadevoh is related to him, Azikiwe said: “Her mother, Mrs Deborah Adadevoh, nee MacIntosh, is my cousin. Deborah’s grandmother, Okwuegbunam, nee Azikiwe, is the immediate senior sister, same father same mother, of Obed Azikiwe, Zik’s father.” On Adadevoh’s lineage to Her-

Adadevoh

bert Macaulay, he said: “Ameyo’s father, late Professor Kwakwu Adedavoh, was the grandson of Herbert Macaulay. Kwakwu’s mother was Herbert Macaulay’s daughter. That made Ameyo Herbert Macaulay’s great granddaughter. “Professor Adedavoh was a medical doctor who taught at University College Hospital, Ibadan; he was vice chancellor, Lagos University; and was director-general Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Yaba.” Owelle Azikiwe added: “I am not surprised that her selfless compassion and steely discipline will make her restrain Sawyer from leaving the hospital to probably spread the Ebola virus to epidemic proportions. This she did at the risk to her life. In spite of her upper-class background, Ameyo was very down-to-earth and full ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

Jonathan Ill, Flown To Germany by our correspondent

Contrary to official claims that President Goodluck Jonathan travelled to Germany on a private visit, LEADERSHIP authoritatively gathered yesterday that the president actually took ill and left for Germany to seek medical care. Efforts to get a confirmation from the Presidency failed up until the time of going to press, as several calls to his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, did not go through and he didn’t respond to an email enquiry either. Similarly, the senior special assistant to the president on public affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, did not pick or return several calls to his mobile number last night. President Jonathan left for Germany yesterday after performing the closing ceremony of the National Conference on Thursday. Prior to his departure, presidential spokesman Abati had issued a terse statement saying the president would be making a private visit to Germany as from Friday (yesterday)and would be accompanied by some of his principal aides. It was gathered that the president, on arrival in Germany, headed for a private hospital for medical check-up. It could not however be confirmed if he went to the same hospital he had visited with his wife last year when the first lady faced some health challenges. Before his sudden departure for Germany on Thursday, President Jonathan was billed to host members of the justconcluded National Conference to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, but the programme was cancelled at the dying minute. Although no official reason was

Jonathan given for the cancellation, it was gathered that the development was connected with the president’s state of health which required urgent attention. An authoritative source in the Presidency told LEADERSHIP that despite assurances that the president would return soon from his trip, it was not likely as his health situation was not too good. He said there was uneasy calm and anxiety in the Presidential Villa yesterday over the state of health of the president. Meanwhile, the situation has also elicited concern from prominent Ijaw (President Jonathan’s ethnic group) political leaders, some of whom converged

on the home of a prominent elder statesman from the ethnic group in Abuja to deliberate on the matter. A source privy to the meeting hinted that the Ijaw sons were considering sending a delegation to visit the president. The source said before the meeting ended, it was agreed that clearance would be obtained from the Presidential Villa on whether the president is in a state to receive visitors before it would be decided on who would visit him. Some people had speculated about Mr Jonathan’s health just before his trip to Washington, DC, United States, where he attended the 2014 US-Africa Summit early this month.

Female Suicide Bombing: SSS Reports 13 Catholic Sisters’ Attires Stolen By CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, Abuja

The Department of State of State Service, DSS has raised the alarm that at least 13 pieces of Reverend Sisters’ regalia of the Catholic Church have been stolen from a shop in Kano state purportedly for suicide bombing. A statement from the deputy director, information of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, made available to LEADERSHIP Weekend advised Nigerians to look out for persons, especially female suicide bombers who may disguise in the attire The statement reads in parts, “On 20th August, 2014, about 0400 hours, some yet to be identified persons broke into a tailoring shop located at No.55 Odutola Street, Sabon Gari, Kano, and

stole about thirteen (13) pieces of Reverend Sisters’ regalia of the Catholic Church. With the recent trend in female suicide bombings in the country, the removal of these regalia may be the handiwork of terrorists’ elements that may want to perpetrate acts of terror using such garments. “Consequently, this Service has taken necessary pre-emptive measures to thwart the exploitation of distinct religious wears for terrorist purposes. We also wish to draw public attention to this development and call on all citizens to be more circumspect and exercise greater vigilance with users of such peculiar attires. “We enjoin all and sundry to continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies through

Marilyn Ogar

the provision of useful information on suspicious activities within their immediate environment. This Service will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders as we strive to keep our country safe.”


6 NEWS

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Adadevoh Deserves National Honour – Owelle Azikiwe ➔  FROM PAGE 5

of compassionate empathy for the disadvantaged and the poor. “Even when she was a medical student at LUTH, she used to tell me and my friends about the plight of some of her brilliant but very poor schoolmates. She was one of my favourites among the younger generation of our cousins.” He added that he had reached out to Adadevoh’s mother, Deborah, who he said is “somewhat managing under this tragic circumstance”. He said he had also spoken to Mrs Kate Aniadi, nee MacIntosh, Deborah’s half-sister and Ameyo’s aunt, who had not stopped wailing and screaming up to the time he ended a phone conversation with them. Azikiwe said he was in regular contact with Dr Andrew MacIntosh, Deborah’s brother and Ameyo’s uncle. More Nigerians pay tributes to Adedevoh Until recently, the name Ameyo Stella Adadevoh was relatively unknown to many, except those in the medical profession where she had excelled as a consultant physician of note. Perhaps the only reference to the surname could be that of the father of the bearer, Kwaku Babatunde Adedevoh, who like his daughter was a doctor of note and rose to the pinnacle of the academic ladder by not only becoming a professor but also the vice-chancellor of one of the nation’s respected institutions, the University of Lagos. The younger Adedevoh shot into national limelight following her heroic feat that initially went unnoticed but was later discovered by the larger Nigerian society, prompting a series of encomiums from appreciative Nigerians. She offered her life to save her people. As the head of operations at a Lagos-based hospital, First Consultants, Adadevoh was reported to be the first to detect that a harbinger of death from Liberia, Patrick Sawyer, who had been admitted at the hospital for five days before his death, was not being truthful when he denied that he was infected with the Ebola virus. Owing to her disposition for being a stickler for details, she insisted that their prized patient was put through a series of tests to really ascertain the cause of his ailment that had defied efforts to bring him back to active life. After Sawyer had tested negative for malaria and other diseases, she was said to have ordered that his blood be tested for Ebola. It was the positive result of the test that enabled the hospital to contact the Lagos State health authorities about the first Ebola patient in the country. Sensing the possibility of being quarantined, Sawyer had reportedly sought to leave the hospital

Chukwu

abruptly but Adedevoh resisted it. Not even the intervention of the Liberian Embassy in Lagos would make her budge as her “patient” insisted that he had some official engagements to attend in Calabar, Cross Rivers State. Unfortunately for the valiant patriot, she got infested with the fluids of Sawyer who had tried unsuccessfully to forcefully discharge himself from the hospital and, in the next few weeks, she herself had become one of the numerous victims of the disease. After being in coma for days, Adedevoh finally succumbed to the cold hands of death on Tuesday, August 19, at the premature age of 58, leaving behind an aged mother and a son. With her death, the country has thus recorded five deaths including the index case, Sawyer. Among those who have passed on, Adedavoh is the first doctor and the fourth Nigerian to have died from the virus. Alongside the late medical practitioner, two nurses and a protocol officer with the, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Jatto Abdulqudir, who was said to have picked up Sawyer from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have all died from the scourge. Her death has sparked national outrage just as it has also brought with it renewed sense of patriotism, an attribute that is currently lacking in the country. Tributes have been pouring in from those close to her as well as from officialdom. In its immediate reaction, the president, in a statement issued by his special assistant on new media, Reno Omokri, described her as “a real Nigerian hero”. Omokri, in a tweet via his handle @renoomokri wrote, “No greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends - John 15:13. Rest in Peace #DrAdadevohaRealNigerianhero”. Former minister for education Dr Oby Ezekwesili described the late Adadevoh as an embodiment of godly doctor.

Kwami Adadevoh (@KwamiAdadevoh), the late doctor’s cousin in his tweet wrote, “I’d like to thank you all for your prayers. Sadly, my darling cousin has been called home. She has finished her course and now rests with God.” Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh saved the country from potential epidemic of the Ebola virus disease, EVD, when she forcefully restricted Mr Sawyer to his bed after he tried to remove the drip administered on him. Observers said that her action probably saved many Nigerian lives because, if Sawyer had succeeded in forcing himself out of the hospital, it would have been difficult to trace those who had contact with him. The creative industry is not left out as celebrities have taken to the social media platforms to pay glowing tributes to her memory. Specifically, the celebrities paid tributes to the deceased whom they stated save the country from a possible epidemic by refusing to cave in to the pressure by the Liberian Embassy to allow Sawyer leave the hospital where she worked. They also urged the federal government to accord the late doctor a posthumous national award. Those who took to their social media platform, www.twitter. com and instagram include actress Rita Dominic, singer Lynxx, Weird MC and Stella Damasus Aboderin. Singer Lynxx wrote: “I’m beyond sad… Speechless to say the least… This isn’t someone I heard about through the news but a friend’s mum I met almost 20 years ago. I can’t even fathom how he/ his family feels! “But God would be your strength through this trying time! Your death would not be in vain for you stood up to fight for the world, not just your country! May the Good Lord rest your gentle soul in Jesus name! Amen!” Dominic posted on Instagram: “A Hero or Heroine refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position

of weakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice. That is, heroism - for some greater good of all humanity. Rest In Peace, Dr AMEYO ADADEVOH.” Singer Weird MC tweeted: “Dr Adadevoh Thank you ….Fly like an Eagle….Thanks ever so much.” On her part, Damasus wrote: “Kind and beautiful Dr Ameyo Adadevoh stood her ground to protect Nigeria. She refused to allow Mr Sawyer leave First Consultants Hospital even when the Liberian ambassador pressured her to release him. Imagine what would have happened if she had let him go. “Ebola would have been more widespread than what we are dealing with now. She died this evening and I strongly believe she deserves a national posthumous award. The Cross River State government should honour this woman because Dr Sawyer was supposed to attend a seminar in Calabar.” Adadevoh comes from an illustrious family of physicians, politicians, statesmen and clerics. She was the first grandchild of Mrs Sarah Idowu Abigail Adadevoh, nee Macaulay, making her a great granddaughter of the late nationalist Herbert Macaulay. Her Father, Prof. Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh, who was a grandson of the grand old man of Nigerian anti-colonial politics, was also a physician. Her father was a renowned Harvard University-trained physician and former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, while her grandmother was the daughter of Sir Macaulay. Macaulay himself was the grandson of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who was ordained the first African bishop of the Anglican Church in Nigeria in 1864, making Dr Ameyo Adadevoh his great-great-great-granddaughter. 2 spouses of primary contacts test positive to Ebola Meanwhile, the federal government says it has recorded the first two Ebola virus disease cases in secondary contacts of the index case, even as it has moved a mobile laboratory for Ebola diagnosis to Enugu. The two Lagos patients are spouses who had contacts with primary contacts of Mr Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American, and have been under surveillance before now. The minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, made this known at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, adding that “this now brings to four the total number of Ebola patients currently under treatment in the isolation wards”. He said, “This also means that the total number of Ebola virus disease so far reported in the country is 14. The number of deaths remains five, while those successfully managed and discharged stands at five and 213 under surveillance,” Chukwu said.

Nigeria posting highest number of Ebola survivors The minister said ever since the world knew what was Ebola, “Nigeria is posting the highest number of survivors so far”, while reassuring the populace that Ebola is never a death sentence. He said, ‘People survive Ebola. What is important is surveillance, quarantine, treatment and good hygiene. You cannot get Ebola from someone who is not sick and this should help reduce the panic.” Chukwu urged everyone to exercise discipline with regard to Ebola information management. He said, “I want to use this opportunity to announce to everyone to exercise discipline. Why we have been able to record the successes so far is because the team set up is just disciplined. That one has fever does not mean he has Ebola.” We haven’t closed our doors to experimental drugs The minister said that the federal government has not closed its doors to any possible experimental drugs. “What we are saying in Nigeria is that anything we can add on, that holds up hope of possible greater value than even what we are doing, we will surely add on.” He said that the US ambassador to Nigeria said that they have run out of stock for Zmapp. ‘If I ask you to give me pepper and you said you have none, what else do you want me to say?” he said. “But remember, we set up a treatment and research group; they are working. It is just that their work they have produced for now is not conclusive and we cannot report to the media.” He said that the group is working on several experimental drugs and, hopefully soon, they would give the minister a definitive advice. “What we are doing in Nigeria is standard World health Organisation (WHO) protocol. That is how we have been treating the patients.” The WHO protocol consists first of isolating the patient, fluid and electrolytes replacement as Ebola dehydrates rapidly, and blood transfusion in cases of severe blood loss, then nutrition. Chukwu said that he cannot assure that the country has identified all the secondary contacts. He said contact tracing is a complex and ongoing process; that is why the number keeps increasing. For those already recovered, Chukwu said that the government is providing support to them. He said that each country has a different sociology in terms of how it reacts to incidents that threaten their lives. “For us here, we have set up a psycho-social team that is working with their families towards helping them to get integrated into the society without stigmatization.”


news across the states 7

Saturday, August 23, 2014

2015: Finally, Mimiko Dumps LP, Joins PDP …I must be on the same boat with Mr President- Governor By Donald Ojogo, Abuja

After months of speculations, the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko yesterday formally declared his intention to join the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In effect, Governor Mimiko has dumped the Labour Party(LP), a platform he has sustained as its only governor and national leader since 2006. The governor has already informed members of his cabinet and close political associates in a chain of meetings which took place yesterday at the government house Akure. Some of his aides were already on their way to their various local government areas to inform their constituents of the governor’s decision as at the time of this report. Before now, Governor Mimiko has had a close working relationship with the ruling PDP at the centre. His relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan has also been chummy even as he has worked to checkmate the influence of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the southwest, the party’s major stronghold.

short news 2015 Elections Will Be Peaceful, Credible - IGP Acting InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, has said that that the Nigerian police would lead other sister security agencies in ensuring that the 2015 general elections are peaceful and credible. Abba, who gave the assurance yesterday during the decoration ceremony of eight newly promoted deputy InspectorsGeneral of Police and 19 assistant Inspectors-General of Police also said the current security challenge in parts of the country could be surmounted if the citizens support the force and other security agencies. “The appointment of these seasoned officers, who have been found worthy in policing is coming at a time when the country is faced with daunting security challenges threatening its peace.

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

This had sparked insinuations that he had dumped his party, a development that prompted denials by the governor and his close aides. Regardless, yesterday’s move by the governor came after series of consultations with the national leadership of both the LP and PDP, just as certain concessions were said to have been reached between Mimiko and top presidency officials. Efforts to reach the governor were not successful. But his commissioner for information, Kayode Akinmade confirmed the move. “We are close to moving to PDP because apart from the various pressures from within and outside the state, you should know that the governor has been in the forefront of Mr President’s reelection project in 2015. “He has demonstrated this severally without any apology to anyone because it is a noble course. However, if Mr Governor, as it were, needs to do more in this regard, the best thing for him to do is simple- he thinks he must be on the same boat with Mr President to actualise the 2015 reelection project if only to sustain the gains of the president’s administration.

Strike: JOHESU Urges FG To Redesign Residency Programme The Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU), Delta State chapter has urged the federal government to redesign the residency programme in a manner that it will no longer create unnecessary crisis as is being experienced currently. Comrade Anthony Ashiedu, chairman of the state chapter, while reacting in respect to the suspension of the residency training programme in all federal health institutions by the federal government, said, “Government should employ them as medical officers. Let them go to schools like other healthcare professionals do, to acquire post graduate studies and pay their fees by themselves. This is what we have been kicking against. Government is training them and paying them salaries at the same time, yet they join hands with consultants and doctors to abuse government, holding the country to ransom as they like.” Describing their actions as the one who bites the finger that fed it, Comrade Ashiedu however called on the resident doctors to show remorse. By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

short news President Jonathan Pledges Support For Military President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday promised to continue supporting the military to ensure Nigeria remains united despite the security challenges. This assurance was given by the minister of state for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro while speaking at the burial of the late captain of the ill-fated NAF helicopter which crashed near Bama, Borno State on 21 July, 2014. The funeral rites was attended by the National Security Adviser (NSA) who was represented by Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Air Staff, representatives of other service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

Petty traders at Gosa Market, relocating after the heavy down pour in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

Nyako: Court Declines Hearing Reinstatement Suit …Acting gov approves

expenditure of N4.4 billion By OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos, MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday declined to hear a suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, seeking the reinstatement of impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako. This is even as the acting governor of the state, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri approved N4.4 billion worth of road contract and for the setting up of an Ebola quar-

antine centre in the state. But the vacation judge, Justice Okon Abang refused to entertain the matter because the applicant failed to comply with Order 46 Rule 5 (2), thereby robbing the court of jurisdiction. Ogungbeje had instituted the case, urging the court to reinstate Nyako with immediate effect on the grounds that his (Nyako’s) impeachment did not follow the due process of law. When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, counsel to the applicant, Nelson Okedinachi had urged the court to hear the

suit because it was a fundamental rights application that borders on constitutional question. According to the lawyer, by the virtue of Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, the matter ought to and should be urgently heard as further delay would jeopardise the suit. He also argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already fixed October 11 for the governorship by-election in Adamawa State, and that any delay would be injurious.

NSCDC Laments Poor Operational Base In Delta By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has lamented the poor operational base at the Delta State command and called on the state government to provide it with space that would accommodate exhibits confiscated by its operatives. Dr Ade Abolurin, the commandant general of the corps, disclosed this in Asaba, Delta State, yester-

day during a courtesy visit to the secretary to the state government. According to him, “NSCDC has been repositioned to fight various crimes especially those relating to oil stealing, illegal bunker and criminality in other sectors,” saying that the command had in recent times trained its operatives on the use of fire arms. Responding, the SSG, Comrade Ovuozuorie charged the officers and men of the corps to assist the

country in fighting corruption by embracing transparency in all their activities. He noted that it was right to take proper account of all security agencies to erase credibility issues, especially when it has to do with litigations, adding, “I must say that the exercise the committee embarked upon is a very good one because those who engage in oil bunkering are not doing so to favour the country.”

Adamawa Guber: PDP Assures Level Playing Field For Aspirants By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has assured all its aspirants vying for the Adamawa governorship bye-election of a level playing field going in the September 6 primaries of the party. This was stated by the national organising secretary of the party, Alhaji, Abubakar Mustapha, when receiving the nomination form of former military administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa, at the PDP national secretariat. Assuring that the party will ensure transparent and credible primaries, Mustapha said: “We are doing this with all sense of responsibility because if all the

aspirants realises that the exercise to produce a candidate is transparent, they will agree that the people have spoken,” “Hence when the people have spoken, it means that God has spoken and they will rally round whoever emerges through credible exercise. We have no doubt that with your track records; you will undergo the process with decorum and decency.” Buba Marwa had while speaking later, expressed confidence that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will grant him waiver to participate in the September 6 primaries. Marwa, a former Ambassador to South Africa, stated that he applied for waiver through

the normal processes noting “I am confident that it will be amicably resolved” as he does not see any difficulty to the waiver process. But the former presidential adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Barr. Ahmed Gulak has declared that there is nothing like automatic waiver in PDP, stressing that all the due processes must be adhered to before any aspirant is granted waiver. Besides Marwa, former Presidential candidate of defunct, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and former ACN gubernatorial aspirant Engr. Marcus Gundiri, are seeking waiver of the PDP to contest the party’s primaries.


8 news across the states Labour Minister Lauds Glo Over NURTW Insurance Globacom, Nigeria’s national telecommunications carrier, has unveiled a scheme that will provide insurance cover for members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) against death and disability, as the minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu lauded the company for its uncommon and unprecedented products and services. The insurance scheme, launched in Abuja on Thursday, is called Security Verified Identity Card (SVID), and will provide comfort to families and relations of any NURTW member who dies or suffers permanent disability due to road accidents. According to the head, Glo Gateway, Steve Stretch, who delivered Globacom’s address at the launch, the immediate family of any NURTW member who dies in an accident will be paid the sum of One Million Naira (N1million) to cushion the effect of the death of their breadwinner, while a sum of N850, 000 will accrue to the family of any member who suffers permanent disability occasioned by road accident in the discharge of his daily activities. “In as much as no one prays for accidents, we know that such can happen unannounced. When people die untimely in accidents or become incapacitated through accidents, their families suffer untold hardship, especially where such victims are the breadwinners. This is what Globacom wants to forestall with this scheme”, he said.

Akwa Ibom Natives In FCT Endorse Jonathan As the south-south leaders in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) assembled last week to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term, the Akwa Ibom community in Abuja and its environs have also called on President Jonathan to contest in the 2015 polls. The community made this disclosure it’s general meeting in Abuja. President of the community, Aparawa Tommy Etim, stated that the endorsement was due to Jonathan’s unprecedented transformation strides in Nigeria. “The country today is witnessing a holistic transformation in massive road transformation, aviation, power, agriculture among others; the economy has jacked back. We call on him to run in 2015 elections. We will stand by him; one good turn deserves another,’’ he stressed. Etim added that security challenges in the country today should not be blamed on the federal government, saying it remained a collective duty of all stakeholders and citizens to fight the scourge to a logical end. “I’m confident that we will surmount this insurgency,’’ he assured. By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja

Saturday, August 23, 2014

NSCDC Boss Escapes Assassination By Police Inspector By Ezra ijioma and chika otuchikere, Abuja

The commandant general of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin was allegedly almost shot by a police inspector in Lagos. A statement by the spokesperson of the organisation, CSC Emmanuel Okeh stated that the NSCDC boss was on inspection and assessment tour of disposable forfeited items along with other committee members from the Nigerian army, EFCC,

ICPC and office of the Attorney General of the federation when a police inspector attempted to open fire at them in Ikorodu. Part of the statement reads: “The attack was orchestrated by the arrest of some suspected vandals and oil thieves on the waters in possession of petroleum products in several jerry cans, including two big Cotonou boats. The suspected police team who came in an unmarked danfo bus carrying AK47 riffles challenged the CG that they are in charge, so he has

no right to visit the area because it belongs to the police. “The committee which the CG, NSCDC is the chairman was constituted by the office of the Attorney General of the federation and has for some time now been on assessment tour of the country for disposable forfeited items used for vandalism of critical infrastructure. However, attempt by members of the committee to caution the officer was rebuffed by him and members of his team, claiming that they are on a mission here so

everyone should steer clear. of prosecution. Okeh added, “Still fresh in our memory is the killing of two men of the anti-vandal squad of the Lagos State command of NSCDC, namely AIC Gabriel Adaji and IC Innocent Akegbe, by the police in 2013.” Meanwhile, the newly appointed Police Public Relation officer, Deputy commissioner of police Emmanuel Ojukwu has disclosed that the police has set up a team to investigate the incident.

short news

National Coordinator, House to House Network for Goodluck 2015, Prince Chidi Ibe, presenting H2H T-shirt and cap to Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Murktar Shagari, when members of the network visited him.

short news Fraud: EFCC Nabs 2 Access Bank Staff

Operatives of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested two staff of Access Bank in Port Harcourt for alleged conspiracy and fraudulent conversion of acheque for N9, 554, 286.00, belonging to the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue (RSBIR). In a statement posted on its website and signed by spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren, the names of the bankers were given as Rowland Alozie, Segun Osho and an alleged accomplice, Abass Kolawole. It stated that said two bankers were of the Moscow Road, Port Harcourt branch of the new generation bank, adding that they were arrested Thursday and will soon be charged to court. By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

2 Pregnant Women, 7-year -old, 5 Others Drown In Kaduna River By ISAIAH BENJAMIN and Midat Joseph, Kaduna

Eight people, including 5 members of a single family, lost their lives on Monday after a boat capsized in Kagom river area of Jema’a local government in Kaduna State. Residents told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the boat which was conveying 9 farmers to their farmlands overturned, killing 8 while only one of the farmers survived. LEADERSHIP gathered that among the dead are two pregnant women who were also going to the farm. The district head of Kagom community, Ibrahim Bawa told our correspondent that four dead bodies had been recovered and buried by local divers.

He lamented that government’s nonchalance to the community’s plight led to the calamity. “We have written to the government to help build another bridge for us, but nobody cares whether we exist here, they only come to us when it’s election time. “We have written severally, appealing to government to even buy us a speed boat since they cannot construct the bridge, but the government refused to listen to us,” he narrated. According to him, the mishap was avoidable had government acted on their request. A local diver, Bulus also told our correspondent that he and others are still searching for the other dead bodies. According to him, “The boat capsized in Kagom River. At the end of

the rescue operation, a total of four persons were dead, one rescued alive, while search is still ongoing for the remaining persons who were said to be aboard the boat,” he said. Meanwhile, it is certainly not the best of times for residents of Anguwar Yelwa by Sabo Express, a suburb in the southern part of the state as flood waters took over their houses, leaving a seven year old girl dead. The flood which was as a result of heavy rainfall washed away properties, leading to the collapse of a building that killed the young girl. Residents of the affected area came out in their numbers and protested what they called the neglect of the government to fix part of the bride linking Ungwa Barde and Yelwa, saying it was because it got blocked that the flood overran their houses.

Female Soldier Beats Conductor To Pulp Over By MATTHEW DIKE, Lagos

A female soldier in the Nigerian army yesterday beat a conductor to coma over change at Iyana Isashi, along Lagos- Badagry expressway in Lagos State. The soldier, who was in mufti was said to have boarded the mini- bus at Mile 2 and was going to Agbara area of Ogun State before the incident occurred. An argument which degenerat-

ed into a fight began when the soldier who allegedly gave the conductor N500 demanded for her change and the conductor said he had given her the money. Although some passengers in the vehicle supported the woman, asserting that the conductor did not give her any change, all efforts made by the passengers to make the conductor do so proved abortive. One of the passengers, Ikechukwu Obi told LEADERSHIP Week-

end that the woman even identified herself as a soldier but the stubborn conductor did not want to listen. Obi said when the woman became angry and ordered the driver to park, they knew that trouble was brewing. He said the woman grabbed the conductor by his collar and the conductor threatened to beat her. He said his utterances angered the soldier who dragged him down from the vehicle and gave him the beating of his life.

Accident: Driver Loses Legs, Boy Escapes Unhurt In Abuja An accident in the early hours of yesterday in Abuja has claimed both legs of one of the victims but a little boy escaped without sustaining any injury. The accident which occurred at about 6am at Charlie Boy junction opposite Vita Foam Warehouse, along Kubwa Expressway, involved a Volkswagen trailer with plate number NASSARAWA KRV 351 AA and a Passat car with plate number LAGOS KSF 889 XF. The Volkswagen vehicle climbed the Passat car and the driver of the car was trapped for over 5 hours before help came from sympathisers and officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) at about 11 am. Other passengers sustained various degrees of injuries, except for a little boy who was rescued without any injury. Ifeanyi Ndukwe who witnessed the incident said, “The accident happened by 6am this morning. A trailer climbed a vehicle and the vehicle driver was stuck inside till about 11am, that is 5 hours later. Miraculously the driver was rescued alive but two of his legs were badly damaged. By Ebriku John Friday, Abuja


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

short news Group Advocates Female Vice President The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been asked to let a woman be the presidential running mate for the party in next year’s general election in order to enable women contribute effectively to the development of the country. The call was made by some women under the aegis of All Progressive Women (APW) group, who are strongly advocating and insisting on a female vice president in the country. By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

APC Alleges Plan To Mobilise Traditional Rulers Against David Umaru It is untrue – Niger Govt By Abu Nmodu, Minna

Niger State chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) claims it has uncovered dubious plans by the opposition to make sure their candidate, Barrister David Umaru, loses in the August 30, 2014 election. The publicity secretary of the party in the state, Jonathan Vatsa told journalists in an interview yesterday that the party has it on good authority that a top govern-

ment official met with district and village heads over the week where they were given the matching order. Vatsa also alleged that there are plans to delay electoral materials from reaching polling units on time in order to pave way for rigging and other malpractices as well as manipulation, adding that nothing will deter them from making sure that the election was not rigged and the votes of the people count. “We are using this opportunity

to say the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs summoned all the village and district heads from Gurara, Tafa and Suleja local government to his office and gave them the matching order to deliver Dr Shem Nuhu Zabayi.” Vatsa said that it is unfortunate that traditional rulers are been involved in an election, while they have perfected the plan to rig out their candidate, David Umaru, by dispatching the electoral materials

Osotimehin Gets Another Tenure At UNFPA

Osun Guber: Civil Society Endorses Election Result An independent election monitoring group, Coalition of Civil Society Organisation in Nigeria has described the just concluded governorship election in Osun State as not only free, fair and transparent, but had also met the international acceptable standards. A communique issued by the group in Abuja, which was made available to LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday advised all candidates and political parties that participated in the election to accept the result of the election, because it is a reflection of the wishes and decisions of the electorates. The communique which was signed by the group chairman, Abdullahi M. Jabi, the secretary, Mr Victor Kalu and team leader, Comrade Bassey Ewa (JP). By David Aduge-Ani, Abuja

to the polling units late. Reacting to the allegations, chief press secretary to the governor of Niger State, Israel Ayegba Ebije said the allegations were not true and a figment of the imagination of the APC. He noted that the governor has been emphatic about the need for traditional rulers to remain neutral in politics and not to try to involve themselves in politics as they ought to be non-partisan fathers of all, irrespective of political affiliations.

L-R: UK Police Adviser, Mr. Rub Hanter, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Yahaya Ardo and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Saliu Argungu, during the decoration of DIGs and AIGs held in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OKEKE JANE

FG To Privatise 6 Public Hospitals By Winifred Ogbebo and Victor Okeke, Abuja

The federal government says it has selected six public hospitals that it wants to cue into its public-private partnership (PPP) programme. The minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu stated this yesterday when a delegation of the General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors visited him in Abuja. He said, “For now, the government has mapped six hospitals where it wants to do PPP, so we want to encourage you to key into this.”

Chukwu said that there are areas where the government would continue to provide services in the hospitals but hopes that the private sector would key into it. ‘Now more than ever, the federal government’s policies are encouraging private sector investment. The minister used the occasion to appreciate all medical personnel working in the private sector saying, ‘We want to appreciate you for insuring the health of Nigerians ever since the doctors in public hospitals have being on strike.” He said that hopefully, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) will call-off their strike soon. ‘We mourn all Nigerians who

have lost their lives to Ebola Virus Disease and indeed, one of your own, Dr Stella Adadevoh. Her bravery and courage will not go unnoticed. Very soon, I can assure you, the appropriate thing will be done to immortalise her memory,” the minister said. Responding, the national president of Association of General and Private Practitioners, Dr Frank Odafen said, “The only problem we have had is that government policies have not really embraced private practitioners.” Odafen said the government has not equipped them in the current fight against Ebola Virus Disease in terms of ‘armoury of war’.

The United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, has reappointed Dr Babatunde Osotimehin as the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In his statement on the appointment, the secretary-general noted his “appreciation for UNFPA’s progress in effective management for results, especially for the most disadvantaged women and adolescent girls.” “It has been an honour to lead this extraordinary organisation over the past four years, and I look forward to continuing our work together to improve the lives of women and adolescent girls and ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled,” Dr Osotimehin said. “Despite much progress in the 20 years since Cairo, we still have our work cut out for us. The ICPD review shows that persistent inequality, poverty and discrimination continue to threaten the well-being of individuals and societies and the enjoyment of human rights by all. Fortunately, we know what we need to do and where we need to do it, and with our sharpened strategic focus, dedicated and skilled staff, commitment to excellence and to results, UNFPA has never been more ready to address the challenges ahead.” The reappointment is effective from 1 January 2015 through to 31 December 2017. By Winifred Ogbebo, Abuja

Resident Doctors’ Sack: Forum Makes Case For Patients By Ugochukwu Iroka, Abuja

The Forum of Chairmen of Boards of Health Parastatals in Nigeria has appealed to medical directors and consultants in Nigeria’s medical parastatals to manage the recent suspension of the residency practice in Nigeria and the subsequent sack of resident doctors in a way that would reduce the suffer-

ing of Nigerians seeking medical attention. Rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja yesterday, the forum’s chairman and vice-chairman, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) and Alhaji Ramalan Yero (Dawakin Zazzau), respectively, said the forum critically evaluated the consequences of the government action and unanimously decided to mediate in the

crisis. As a first step, it said it had set up a committee, headed by the chairman, Col. Austin Akobundu to meet with the minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to explore ways of resolving the lingering issues in the overall interest of the country. It also resolved to interface with the leadership of the Nigerian Medical association (NMA) and oth-

er relevant associations to fashion out an enduring solution to issues of strikes in the medical parastatals and their attendant dire consequences. On the Ebola Virus Disease, the forum commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the minster of Health, for the prompt response to the threat of the virus and called for more positive actions.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

CONGRATULATIONS

TO A NORTHERN VISIONARY GENTLEMAN, DETRIBALIZED, SARKIN FULANI, A MAN OF PEACE, A RESPECTER OF THE DIGNITY OF INDIVIDUALS

SENATOR

DR. WALID JIBRIN OON, NPOM We wish to sincerely congratulate you for the following meritorious awards given to you recently. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Miyatti Allah cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) appointment as a National Patron for your concern and upliftment of all Fulani Herdsmen ofNigeria. United Nation peace foundation (Nigeria Chapter) appointment as an Ambassador of peace in recognition of your emense contribution to the Fundamental ideas and practice of UNESCO ttrrough selfless service to humanity. African institute for leadership and good Governance Distinguished Honorary fellow and award for leadership excellence. Ahmadu Bello University Students Representative Council (ABSUSRC) Exceptional Service Award. Arewa P.D.P Student’s wing National Headquarters Ahmadu Bello University Zaria appointment as National Chairman Board of Trustees in recognition ofbeing a foundation member of P.D.P as from 1998.

We note with admiration your past awards and various achievements to mention few of them as follows: 1. Sarkin Fulani Dangi Nasarawa (Chairman of Nasarawa State Ardos). 2. Fellow Nigeria Chartered Institute Of Personal Management 3. Fellow Nigerian Chartered Institute Of Management 4. Fellow Nigerian Institute of Management Consultants 5. Fellow Nigerian Institute of Administrative Management 6. Fellow of the Marketing and Management Profession 7. Fellow Institute of Industrialist & Cooperate Administration 8. Fellow Business Education Association ABU Zaria 9. Chartered Textiles Technologist CTEXT ATI 10. NUJ Bello Dangote Memorial Award for effective Labour Management 11. Member Institute of Industrial Management 12. Member World Geographical Association 13. Member World Governing Board of Textile Institute United Kingdom 14. African Youth Congress Distiriguished & Leadership Award for your outstanding contribution to the Development of African Youth and for promoting peace & stability in the African continent 15. Honorary Patron National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) 16. Youth Association for peace in the country from TIV Students Nasarawa State Polytechnic 17. AREWA Youth Forum Merit Award 18. Nasarawa State Students Association Kaduna Polytechnic Outstanding Leadership A ward. 19. Joint Northern Youth association Award of Patriotism 20. Plateau State Students ABU Zaria Award of recognition 21. Kaduna Polytechnic Technological Association as PATRON POLITICAL EXPERIENCE. 1. ABU Students Union representative Assembly (Abdullahi Bayero College Campus) 2. ABU Students Union Director of sale (Abdullahi Bayero College Campus) 3. ABU Attah Ibrahim hall (Abdullahi Bayero College Campus) 4. ABU Complain Bureau, Abdullahi Bayero College Campus) 5. NPN NEC Member 6. NPN Senator of the Federal Republic 7. NRC NEC Member 8. UNCP NEC Member (Gubernatorial aspirant) 9. PDP National Founding Father · 10. PDP National Ex-Officio Member 11. PDP Deputy National Financial Secretary 12. PDP AG National Financial Secretary 13. PDP NWC Member 14. PDP NEC Member 15. PDP National Caucus member 16. PDP Chairman of various disciplinary, reconciliatory & Congresses in Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Ekiti, Ondo, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara-Cross Rivers etc. 17. Vision 20-20-20 Chairman Manufacturing group 18. Chairman 36 Coordinators forum for President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua & President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 2007-2011 19. PDP BOT National Secretary NATIONAL HONOURS 1. National Productivity Honour of Merit NPOM. 2. Officer of the Order of the Niger OON INTERNATIONAL AWARD CTEXT ATI Chartered Textile Technologists from Textile Institute International Head Quarter Manchester England

N AT I O N A L DUTY 1. Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic ofNigeria 2. Director National Craft Advisory Committee 3. Council Member National Labour advisory Committee 4. Chairman Nigerian Delegation for the Study of Cotton production in USA, UK and Egypt. 5. Chairman Federal Government Cotton Revolving Fund Management Committee 6. Member Kaduna State Manpower Board 7. Board Member Federal University of Technology Minna 8. Chairman Muslim and Christian Peace Committee Barnawa Area Kaduna 9. Member National and Political Reform Committee 10. Deputy Chairman Kaduna State Cotton and Textiles Reviving Committee 11. Federal Government Textile, Cotton and Garrnent Revival Committee 12. Member Presidential Committee on African Growth and Opportunity ACT. (AGOA), 13. Special Marshal Federal Road Safety Corp 14. Presidential Visitation Panel to University of Maiquguri 15. Chairman Federal Special Delegation to India for the study of Cotton and Textile Industry 16. Member Presidential Task Free On Textiles 17. Member Textile Exporters Association 18. Chairman Board of Federal Neo Psychiatric Hospital Kware Sokoto 19. Chairman of Chairmen of 8 Psychiatric Hospitals in Nigeria 20. Chairman Conference Committee of 53 Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria 21. Chairman Federal Government Delegation to China for Special Forum on Textile 22. Participating Member Central Bank of Nigeria CBN Annual Micro Finance Conference 23. Board Members NBTE Kaduha 24. Board Member Federal Polytechnic Nassarawa 25. Board Member Federal Polytechnic Kaduna 26. Board Member Veterinary Institute Jos. 27. Member Committee for Celebration of Nigeria at 50. 28. Chairman Fulani/Southem Kaduna Peace Committee representing Late Group Captain Usman Jibrin rtd. 29. Chairman Federal Ministry of Agriculture Special Committee on tour of all the Northetn States for the Cotton Development. CURRENT POSITION 1. Sarkin Fulanin Dangi, Nassarawa (Chairman Nassarawa State Ardos) 2. Chairman Federal Government Raw Materials, Research and Development Council 3. Executive Director Zamfara Textiles (Private Sector Position) 4. Top Management Executive United Nigeria Textile Kaduna (Private Sector Position) 5. Chairman Nigerian Textiles Manufactures Association of Nigeria NTMA (private Sector Position) 6. National Council Member Manufactures Association of Nigeria MAN (Private Sector Position) 7. National Council Member Nigerian Employers consultative Association NECA (Private Sector Position) 8. Chairman NECA North Geographical Group (Private Sector Position) 9. Council Member Kaduna Chamber of Commerce (Private Sector Position) 10. Special Road Marshal Nigeria Road Safety (Civic Duty) 11. A Farmer and Cattle Rearer (Traditional Position) You are a friend of all Nigerians, African Students, Youths, and the Common Man. You are destabilized, philanthropic; a dogged fighter for Nigerian Unity, Quiet but successful planner. Manager of Human Resource and Materials. Kind and very helpful. A respecter of youth, women and elders. A respecter of Human dignity. A complete Gentleman, simple but firm. An effective leader in Nassarawa State, Nigeria. Congrats to you our dear friend. We love you Signed:

Yours Friends and well-wishers


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

One of the abondoned patients, Umoru

Plight Of Abandoned Patients At Igbobi, Kano Orthopaedic Hospitals People go to the hospital to get well and return home same day or as soon as possible. This is not the case with these young men who have been abandoned at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos as well as patients at the Kano National Orthopaedic Hospital. ARONKE OLAYIWOLA and Abubakar Salihi write.

M

allam Umoru Ibrahim, 30, a native of Garuwa village of Dobua local government of Borno State, got to the hospital on 22, May 2014 with 51% major burn injury and sepsis. He slept off while cooking on a kerosene stove and he mattress he was sleeping on caught fire. He called for help from his neighbours but when he saw no help was coming, he ran out of the house and in the process he fell into a nearby polluted gutter. This caused the wound to be badly infected, which is what the nurses and doctors at the hospital have been battling with. After been admitted at the hospital, none of his relations or friends have come to check on

him. According to the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) at the Mobalaji Bank Anthony ward of the National Orthopeadic hospital, Igbobi, Mrs Okoracha, “The food, materials for dressing his wounds and drugs that he takes everyday are sourced for by nurses and attendants in the ward and sometimes the doctors who take care of him. “After scavenging for a while, we got help from one of the catholic churches around and that’s how we have been managing him,” she said. Speaking about his experience, Umoru, who could only express himself in Hausa, said, “It has been a bearable experience for me. I am grateful to the hospital and to all the staff. I eat to my satisfaction, food, meat, fish, etc and everyone

cares for me. It has however not been easy coping with the pain, but I am grateful to God for the strength to bear it. The pains in my arms and the front of my body are going down, but I still have a lot of pain on my back and lower limbs.” ACNO Okorocha however said, “Initially, taking care of Umoru was really challenging because cases like this require a lot of financial involvement, especially as this is a case of infection. He needs to be on antibiotics which are very costly drugs. We had quite a great challenge but the hospital helped us, the pharmacy supplied drugs to him for free, the kitchen was supplying food, the laboratory was also supplying him blood without collecting money. Umoru’s case however took a

drastic turn when his ailment got complicated and he started stooling blood and was diagnosed with what is called “mellina” – after taking so many pints of blood; he passes the blood out as stool. “For about a month now when he started being transfused with blood, he has taken 23 pints of blood. About 3 to 4 pints of blood can be ordered for him at a time and after being transfused, a few days after, we would notice that his abdomen is bloated and after another two or three days, he will pass out the blood as stool and go pale again and then we start the process all over again,” the nurse said. “We still do not know the cause of the mellina, doctors suspect he is having chronic ulcer but with the doctors on strike at the moment, not much can be done for him. The consultants come around to make sure he is okay and instruct us on what to do. Hopefully, if he is able to respond to treatment for the mellina, I am certain he will be okay,” Okorocha said. Okorocha however wants well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of Umoru and help reduce the financial burden of his care on the management and staff of the hospital since he has been abandoned at the hospital by his family and friends. The story of Valentine Chuckwu, 12, is however different. Having spent about two years in the hospital, he has become a part and parcel of the hospital. Little did he CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

After scavenging for a while, we got help from one of the catholic churches around and that’s how we have been managing him,” she said


12 cover story

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Plight Of Abandoned Patients At Igbobi, Kano Orthopaedic Hospitals

➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 know what fate held in store for him two years ago when he took out his bicycle to ride on the street, and consequently fell and got an injury just below his knee. He is however being treated for Pyomyositis – the infection of the bone. Valentine as fondly called by the staff and other patients of the hospital was taken to the National Orthopeadic Hospital, Igbobi by his mother two years ago. While on admission, the mother identified as Mrs Jessica Chukwu was always coming to see her son even though she was heavily pregnant at the time. She was last seen at the hospital in April 2013 after the delivery of her baby. Valentine, who has been discharged from the hospital since 18th June 2013, has not left the hospital because no relative of his has shown up since then. According to the Medical Social Services department of the hospital, all efforts to trace his relatives have proved abortive. The address of his uncle was traced but neighbours there said his uncle had moved out with his family, none of them is aware of where he moved to. The mother’s phone number which was the usual means of communication with the hospital has since been unavailable. Valentine, who recalls that he lived somewhere around Alapere and attended a school called Havard at Ojota, says, “I miss my mum and I am lonely here. Whenever I see any child being discharged, I want to go home too.” His discharge bill balance of N12,470 was paid by Eliajah Faith Assembly, Isolo at the time of his discharge. All other needed funds for his treatment after the discharge have been sourced from non-governmental organisations. “We have been managing him with the support of the nurses and sometimes the doctors too and some good Samaritans who know

the boy’s story,” says the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of the ward, Mrs Grace Olayemi. “We are waiting for a church who came around and promised to take him and take care of him and his education to come back for him. We are also looking forward to the day when his mum or relatives will show up to take him home. The church wants his medicals to be totally taken care of before they take him with them. “Valentine is a good boy, morally he is okay, but having been in the hospital for a very long time and being away from school, he is back to almost zero level with his education. “He is still on medication; the pharmacy tries to supply the drugs they can. Some freewill givers also come to donate money which covers for the drugs the pharmacy cannot dispense freely, the nurses too contribute money sometimes to cover some of his expenses”, she said. Valentine requires a surgery to be done on his leg and until the surgery is done on the bone, the wound cannot heal up. According to CNO Olayemi, about 500,000 naira will be needed for the surgery, x-rays, laboratory investigations and drugs. Lanre Adeyemi, 24, is another patient who was abandoned at the hospital. Suffering from cerebral palsy with the inability to move his hands and legs or even sit. “He was dropped at the outpatients department of this hospital precisely in April 1994, when he was about three or four years old. He is a physically challenged adult child and that is probably the reason he was dropped off by his mother”, CNO Olayemi said. “According to history, we discovered that the mother came for an out-patient appointment with him and cunningly dropped him with a co-patient to look after him for her while she went to buy

something. The woman that held on to him waited but did not see her return. The mother left a bag by his side with the name Lanre Adeyemi written on it and that was how we knew his name “He has been under the care of the hospital management since then and with the support of good Samaritans that come around, we get money, clothing, provisions and with the special care that the wonderful nurses at this hospital has been giving him, without being able to sit, not being able to move his hands and legs but always lying on the bed for over 20 years, Lanre has never had a bed sore. No one has come to show up as his biological parents but good Samaritans come around to donate things to him”, she said. “Lanre is a part of us, we keep our keys with him for the nurse on the next shift, he knows who is coming on shift next, he says sorry, thank you, he has his low and high moments and whenever he is down, we detect easily because he becomes inactive.” A medical social worker at the hospital, Mr Galvin Aikpitanyi, while speaking on the incidence of abandonment at the hospital said, “Sometimes, these patients come with a lot of money but because of the kind of investigations required and the costliness of such, the failure of the surgery or an infection of the injury, the money sometimes get exhausted before the patients regain their health and for this reason, the relatives may take off,” he said. He however called on nongovernmental organisations to look the way of such people as Umoru, Lanre and Valentine who need their help rather than purchase buses or build structures, so their impact can be felt even by the less privileged. “There is a limit to what the hospital can do for anyone who is unable to pay his bills, there is no room for someone who cannot afford to pay his surgery bill as the

federal government expects us to make money as well,” he stated. …Kano National Orthopaedic Hospital For some patients at Kano Dala National Orthopaedic Hospital, their long stay at the hospital was as a result of the on-going strike by doctors. The chief medical director of Kano National Orthopaedic, Dr Muhammad Nuhu Salihu who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekernd revealed that the entire system is shaky, considering that medical professionals have gone on strike too many times, putting the health of the public at greater risks. At the female ward of the hospital, our reporter came across Bidiopeyemi Favour, a student, who said she was transferred from ABU Teaching Hospital to Dala Orthopaedic and has been there for months. Bidiopeyemi decried the strike action as it is affecting her seriously, even with the skeletal services been provided. From her hospital bed, Favour does class work to keep her abreast with her studies. Joy Francis, a junior secondary girl our reporter came across at the mostly deserted hospital, has a defect in both legs. When asked by our reporter how was she faring in the strike actionstricken hospital, she complained that it was affecting her recovery process as well as her education, considering that she was at the hospital while classes continue to hold in her school back at Nassarawa State. Lydia Amanda is an indigene of Nassarawa State and has been at the hospital for the last four months since she had a motorcycle accident back at her home state. A farmer, Amanda had her left leg amputated as part of her surgery requirement, the medical service she said she paid about half a million naira to get done. She lamented that she has exhausted all her savings on the surgery and the treatment she needed. Kano Dala Orthopaedic Hospital was commissioned in 1959 by Sir Ahmad Bello Sardauna, the then Premier of Northern Nigeria and served the entire northern region. The hospital receives a significantly higher number of patients than its two other counterparts in the country, unfortunately, it is a shadow of itself as a result of the labour action. A staff of the hospital who pleaded anonymity asserted that the hospital is at risk of losing its most qualified and dedicated doctors, as some have started looking for better places to practice effectively and on a better pay. The medical director of the hospital stated that there is need to find an amicable and final solution to the perpetual labour action embarked upon by medical doctors.

Sometimes, these patients come with a lot of money but because of the kind of investigations required and the costliness of such, the failure of the surgery or an infection of the injury, the money sometimes get exhausted


Saturday August 23, 2014 ISSUE 87

MEN’S HEALTH

Managing High Blood Pressure (hypertension) In Men

Research

Legionnaires: A Reason To Be Wary Of Pools, Plumbing systems

WOMEN:

Health Beauty Fitness

Vaginal Discharge: Knowing What Is Normal Ayurvedic Medicine:

Ginseng Ejaculation Problems


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August 23, 2014

KIDS- HEALTH

R’S EDITO

NOTE

How To Handle Child Abuse If you are being seriously hurt or harmed you should tell a trusted adult right away. This can be hard because the abuser (the person who is hurting or harming someone) might have frightened you into staying quiet. No matter what the abuser says to you, abuse is always wrong — and a kid can ask for and get help in a few different ways.

Hi people, Most people hate it when someone stands or sits in a bad posture, but the question is, have you been cautious about yours? Believe it or not, there are many signs you may have bad posture. Some of the most common are when you have a rounded shoulders and a rounded upper back or if your head juts forward. Sitting up straight while you’re at your desk, having lunch, or just walking around can significantly impact your posture. When you’re at your computer, for example, sit up tall and gently pull your stomach muscles in toward your spinal column. This slight, ongoing activation of your core muscles will help tone them while also burning more calories a day. It’s a subtle change that can make a big difference. People who carry heavy bags, frequent computer users and people who are overweight are at risk of poor posture, which generally in turn can cause chronic muscle tension and neck related headaches, lower back pain. Although, there is no ideal posture nor should one posture be sustained healthy sitting is the best thought of as an active, not static phenomenon. If you have a painful chronic condition that impacts your posture, the use of a device and techniques to counteract posture imbalance may help reduce the duration and extent of each occurrence. However, to maintain a good posture: •Buy proper bedding so as to support your spine even while asleep. •Keep your weight down, to avert excess pressure on your back. •Exercise regularly. •Examine work space, such as time spent on the computer. •Also, check your child as poor posture can begin from child hood. Have a nice weekend and maintain good posture. Happy reading!

E-mail: miminaija@yahoo.com 08075300560(text only)

EDITOR: Raliat Ahmed-Yusuf Ag. GM CREATIVE DESIGNS: Chukwudi J. Nwabueze AG. editor: Catherine Agbo

FOUNDER: Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman: Hajiya Ireti Heebah Kingibe GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR: Azubuike Ishiekwene GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Michael Okpere Dr. Kazeem Durodoye

Tell Right Away If you know someone else who you think might be being abused, you can help by telling your parent or another adult. A kid who can’t think of a trusted adult to tell, or is worried about upsetting a parent or making someone angry, can call a special telephone number called a helpline. However, grown-ups are usually there to help and encourage kids, right? They take care of kids, help them learn how to do things, show them the right way to behave, and encourage the good things that kids do. Most adults treat kids well. But some adults hurt kids rather than help them. Another word for hurting someone is “abuse.” Child abuse can affect all kinds of kids, no matter where they live, how much money their families have, or who they live with. A kid can be abused by a parent, a stepparent, family member, a babysitter, teacher, coach, or a bigger kid. Child abuse can happen anywhere — at home, school, childcare, or even in a church or other religious building. How Do You Know Something Is Abuse? There are lots of forms of abuse — including hitting, constant screaming and yelling, or being touched sexually. A kid who is being abused can experience different types of abuse or one kind. It helps to understand the different types of abuse: physical, sexual, verbal or emotional, and neglect. Physical abuse: Physical abuse is hitting hard with a hand or an object like a belt, especially hits that leave bruises or cuts. Shaking, pushing, choking, painful grabbing, and kicking also can be physical abuse. Sexual Abuse: Your body has private parts. These are the parts that are covered by your bathing suit or underwear: breasts, vagina, and bottom for girls, and penis and bottom for boys. If an adult or another kid touches a kid’s private parts or tells a kid to touch his or hers, it is sexual abuse. When this happens, the person might tell the kid that this touching is a secret and that not to tell anyone. But a kid does not have to keep this secret. Tell a trusted adult, or more than one, until someone helps you. To explain sexual abuse, people talk about good touches and bad touches. We all know what a good touch feels like. A good touch might be a hug from your mom or dad, a snuggle with your grandma for a story, or a cuddle with your pet. But some touches feel bad or confusing. Your body is yours and you should be able to tell people when you don’t like them to touch you. Even if you don’t mind doing it or are curious, or want to make that person feel happy, sexual touching between adults and kids is not OK. Verbal or Emotional Abuse: This kind of abuse can happen without touching. It can be verbal abuse if someone yells all the time, calls the kid mean names, or threatens to leave the kid or have him or her adopted. All kids deserve to have

adults in their lives who love and support them as they grow up. It’s common for parents get angry with their kids once in a while, but if there’s yelling, punishing, and threatening too much of the time, a kid can start feeling really bad about himself or herself. It’s really important to tell a trusted adult this is happening. Physical neglect: Neglect happens when kids live in a home where the adults don’t give them basic stuff that all kids need — like food, clean clothes, and a bed to sleep in. When parents or caretakers neglect kids, the kids may not get baths, sleep under warm blankets, or get checkups or medicine when they need them. It can be hard for a kid to tell someone that he or she is not getting these important things. A parent or caregiver might have troubles such as losing a job, having family problems, or using alcohol or drugs. But no matter why it is happening, a kid needs to tell someone. Then, the kid can start getting the stuff he or she needs and the parent or caregiver can get help, too. How to Tell Someone What Is Happening You know it’s important for kids to tell someone if they think they’re being hurt, harmed, or abused. But how does a kid tell? Here are some ideas: •Talk to a trusted adult in person. •Talk to a trusted adult on the phone. •Write a note, an email, or send a letter to the trusted adult. •Tell someone at school, like a school counselor, school nurse, teacher, or coach. •Tell a friend’s mom or dad, big brother, or big sister. •Tell someone who answers the phone at a hotline service, such as 1-800-4-A-CHILD. The way a kid tells and whom a kid tells will be different depending on the situation. The most important thing is to tell someone — or even several people — until someone takes action to stop the abuse from happening. Kids who let adults know that someone is hurting them, even if it’s someone they love, might be helping other kids as well as themselves. Let the person know you need to talk about something in private. If you’re not sure if it’s abuse, you can tell the person that something happened and you want to check to see if it might be abuse. It takes a lot of courage to talk about this kind of thing, and sometimes it takes a while to feel strong enough to talk about it. That’s OK. Just know that, in the end, telling a safe person is the bravest thing a kid can do. It can feel really good when a kid takes steps to stay safe and happy and stop abuse from happening. Source: kidshealth.com

The physically fit can enjoy their vices… Lord Percival Poor Posture


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August 23, 2014

Legionnaires: A Reason To Be Wary Of Pools, Plumbing Systems Legionnaires’ disease is an uncommon form of pneumonia which develops two to 10 days after exposure to legionella bacteria. It occurs via inhaling microscopic water droplets containing legionella bacteria, which might be the spray from a shower, faucet or whirlpool, or water dispersed through the ventilation system in a large building. Basically, smokers and the immune compromised are at a higher risk. All ages can be affected but the disease mainly affects people over 50 years of age, and generally men more than women. In this piece TUNDE OGUNTOLA writes on all you need to know about legionnaires’ disease as the majority of cases are reported as single (isolated) cases but outbreaks can occur.

T

he bacterium Legionella pneumophila is responsible for most cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Outdoors, legionella bacteria survive in soil and water, but rarely cause infections. Indoors, legionella bacteria can multiply in all kinds of water systems, hot tubs, air conditioners and mist sprayers. Most outbreaks have occurred in large buildings, perhaps because complex systems allow the bacteria to grow and spread more easily. According to medical experts, most people become infected when they inhale microscopic water droplets containing legionella bacteria. This might be the spray from a shower, faucet or whirlpool, or water dispersed through the ventilation system in a large building. Outbreaks have been linked to a range of sources, including: Hot tubs and whirlpools on cruise ships, cooling towers in air conditioning systems, decorative fountains, swimming pools, physical therapy equipment, water systems in hotels, hospitals and nursing homes. The early symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include a ‘flu-like’ illness with chills, muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever, by the second or third day, patient can develop other signs and symptoms that may include: cough, which may bring up mucus and sometimes blood, shortness of breath,

Did you know?

chest pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, confusion or other mental changes. Statistics shows that, deaths occur in 10-15 per cent of the general population and may be higher in some groups of patients. The incubation period can range from 2 to 19 days with a median of 6 to 7 days after exposure. You can’t catch Legionnaires’ disease from person-to-person contact. Instead, most people get Legionnaires’ disease from inhaling the bacteria. Also, not everyone exposed to legionella bacteria becomes sick. You’re more likely to develop the infection if you are older adults, have a weakened immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS or certain medications, especially corticosteroids and drugs taken to prevent organ rejection after a transplant or have a chronic lung disease such as emphysema or another serious condition such as diabetes, kidney disease or cancer. The legionella bacterium also causes Pontiac fever, a milder illness resembling the flu. Separately or together, the two illnesses are sometimes called legionellosis. Pontiac fever usually clears on its own, but untreated Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal. Although prompt treatment with antibiotics usually cures Legionnaires’ disease, some people continue to experience problems after treatment. See your doctor, if you think you’ve been exposed to legionella bacteria. Diagnosing and treating Legionnaires’ disease as soon as possible can help shorten the recovery period and prevent serious complications. For people at high risk, prompt treatment is

Body odour comes from bacteria that thrive in a moist, warm environment. When we sweat, our skin becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and we may give off an un-

critical. When not treated effectively and promptly, Legionnaires’ disease may be fatal, especially if your immune system is weakened by disease or medications. You’re likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a primary care provider. However, in some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating lung disease (pulmonologist) or infectious diseases, or you may be advised to go to an emergency department. Although, legionnaires’ disease is similar to

pleasant body odour. Stinky foods such as garlic and onions may also be culprits. Usually, a shower, clean clothes, and antiperspirants will rid you of body odour.

other types of pneumonia. To help identify the presence of legionella bacteria quickly, your doctor may use a test that checks your urine for legionella antigens — foreign substances that trigger an immune system response. Legionnaires’ disease is treated with antibiotics. The sooner therapy is started, the less likely the chance of serious complications or death. In many cases, treatment requires hospitalization. Pontiac fever goes away on its own without treatment and causes no lingering problems.


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August 23, 2014

WOMEN Fitness Beauty Wellness

By Raliat Ahmed Yusuf, with additional report from WebMD

Vaginal Discharge: Knowing What Is Normal

• Know what you want out of your next visit, a diagnosis or a referral to a specialist. Keep your focus and you’ll be more likely to get what you need.

Changes in the colour, consistency, amount, or smell of vaginal secretions that are unlike your normal monthly changes may be a reason to be concerned While vaginal discharge can sometimes be cloudy, your understanding of what’s normal needn’t be! Discharge is common to all women and helps vaginas stay healthy by regularly flushing them out and maintaining their pH. According to experts, most women have some vaginal discharge throughout their menstrual cycle, even very young women who have not begun menstruating can have vaginal discharge. It is common to notice some discharge after using the bathroom or to find wet or dried discharge on your underwear. You can also go exploring and use your fingers to find out what your discharge looks and smells like on any given day. This kind of self-check can be useful, familiarising yourself with how you normally smell or taste at various times of the month can help you to identify when your scent or flavour is off. Here are some key hints by experts, to determine if your vaginal discharge is normal or if you have cause for concern: •Colour Normal: Clear or whitish discharge (may be yellowish when dried) Cause for concern: Yellow or greenish discharge, or discharge that suddenly changes colour •Scent Normal: Mild scent or none at all Cause for concern: A strong, foul, sometimes “fishy” odour, or a sudden change in odour •Texture Normal: Can vary from “paste” like and somewhat sticky to clear and stretchy, depending on where you are in your cycle and whether you are aroused Cause for concern: Clumpy or lumpy discharge, with

Simple Health Tips: 3 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Doctor

• Don’t be scared or embarrassed to talk to your doctor, about anything. Of course my patients are reluctant to bring up complaints about things like butt pimples, excessive sweating and body odor, but unless you speak up, you’ll only continue to suffer. • Tell your doctor about any supplements you take. Some can have dangerous interactions with prescription drugs. “cottage cheese” like texture •Volume Normal: Can vary from very little to quite a lot (particularly when ovulating or aroused) Cause for concern: Sudden changes in volume, particularly if other symptoms are present As you can see, it is normal to have some variation in vaginal discharge during your menstrual cycle. In addition, different women can have different levels of discharge. Pregnancy and hormonal birth control methods may also make discharge heavier than normal. Changes in the colour, consistency, amount, or smell of vaginal secretions that are unlike your normal monthly changes may be a reason to be concerned. Infections are more likely to occur immediately before and during your period, when the vaginal environment is at its least acidic. Abnormal vaginal discharge can also be accompanied by itching, vaginal redness or soreness, rash, burning sensation when peeing, and/or pain. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to see your health care provider for an exam and treatment. However, abnormal discharge may be an indicator of vaginitis, which refers to any irritation or infection of the vagina. Some common infections include bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and trichomoniasis. Irritations of the vagina that lead to abnormal discharge can also be caused by douches, deodorant sprays, perfumed soaps, sex, allergies, and changing hormone levels. Because there are many potential causes of vaginal irritation, visiting your health care provider is the best way to determine what might be going on if you have any symptoms or concerns. Hopefully this helps clear things up!

More Reason To Stop Smoking • Cigarettes’ smoking is a killer for your fertility. Women who smoke lose their eggs faster than women who don’t. Healthy Eating Habits • Everything you eat should make you stronger, like whole grains for your heart or veggies for immunity. Make 85 percent of your choices this way and you’ll be healthier and thinner. • Switch from olive oil to canola oil for cooking. Canola has less saturated fat and a lot more omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to do everything from lift mood to fight heart disease. • Have a vegetable or fruit at every meal. Eat Tomatoes I say tomato. Tomato is a superstar in the fruit and veggie pantheon. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful cancer fighter. They’re also rich in vitamin C. The good news is that cooked tomatoes are also nutritious, so use them in pasta, soups and casseroles, as well as in salads. Experts say that tomatoes and apples can reduce your risk of asthma and chronic lung diseases. Both contain the antioxidant quercetin. To enjoy the benefits, eat five apples a week or a tomato every other day.


close up 17

Saturday, August 23, 2014

My Parents Challenge Me To Be My Best – DJ Cuppy Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, daughter of billionaire oil magnate, Femi Otedola seems to be in a world of her own. At 21, with passion for blaring out all shades of music, particularly House music, the young disc jockey with the moniker DJ Cuppy, wants to make her mark in her chosen field. The graduate of Business Management from King’s College in London, in a chat with SAMUEL ABULUDE bares her mind on her dreams and why she is passionate about music and disc jockeying. How was growing up like?

I will say that growing up was actually colourful. I used to be a very playful naughty child that asked questions. I am always intrigued by things. There was a time I turned my living room into a studio. I was always very playful. I grew up here in G.R.A, Ikeja, Lagos. How did you come about the name Cuppy’?

My stage name is DJ Cuppy and it comes from the word ‘cupcake’. When I was 15, I was obsessed with cupcakes. I was trying to choose a stage name at 15 and I chose DJ Cupcake. Then I asked myself, would I like to be called Cupcake when I’m in my 20s’? That was how I choose the name Cuppy and it stuck. I have always loved music, even as a child; and I’m also very passionate about young people. I also have the belief that knowledge is power. That should not also deny you the opportunity to chase your dreams because, that is where you will find full satisfaction. I feel greatly honoured when young people approach me to say that they like what I am doing. I am also establishing a publishing and management company. DJ Cuppy is really the baby of the company. I have a 10-year plan of toughening many people, not just young people, but a lot of people.

I have always loved music, even as a child; and I’m also very passionate about young people

You were the official DJ for the MAMAs this year, care to share that experience?

It is actually very interesting because they approached me and said, “We love what you are doing, especially with House music.” Talking about different sounds in Africa, House music is very big in South Africa. It was a great gig. I have done DJ work in different countries, including Mexico, which was very fantastic. My job keeps me on my toes and I get to see different things.

I am always up for a challenge. Are you working on an album?

Yes. I already have some tracks on the album. I titled one ‘I Love My People’. It talks about the good stuff in Nigeria. I tried as much as possible to convey our cultural setting in the song. I released that and other songs July 2013. They are new versions of old songs. I am very passionate about my country. I have lived half of my life in Nigeria and the rest in UK, so in my songs, I reflected the Nigerian culture. It is something I am very passionate about. I also make sure that whenever I am in UK or any part of the world working, I take Nigerian songs with me. I love Nigerian music and I am proud to play Nigerian music anywhere. I also play House music which I think makes me unique. Do people take you serious in the business, considering your gender?

I understand what you are saying. People give me shows; but there are times when I get to a show, maybe with my manager and they would think my manager was the DJ and me as someone who accompanies the DJ to the show. People do not expect a young lady to choose to be a DJ. Hip hop is more prevalent in Nigeria than House music, how do you intend to stay relevant?

I think it is something that has to do with process. Everything is with time. Nigerian music now is not the same way it is used to be back in the day. Music is what people use to socialise and there is a new wave of sound going around. I don’t know how many songs we listen to here, but there is a big market for songs like Khona by Mafikizolo. Having a song with a sound like that gaining massive attention in Nigeria shows that peo-

Otedola

ple are ready for new sounds in the country. How supportive are your billionaire parents in your choice of career?

I will say that I am very lucky because I have the most supportive parents in the world. I think generally what stops a lot of young people from following their passions, is when they do not have any support. I have got the most supportive team in the world. My parents push me to be the best version of myself. I think it is all about being the best version of myself and not trying to be someone else. I think I am very lucky to have the kind of parents that push and challenge me to be the best I can be. How do you react to insinuations that your success so far is because of your background?

A lot of times people get distracted by background information. I am where I am, following my dreams and doing very exciting projects. Yes, maybe it is perhaps shadowed by my personal or family life and it is quite difficult. The way I view it, I think time tells it all; eventually, talent and passion speak for themselves. People have actually walked up to me and asked, “Are you really a DJ?” I laugh over things like that. I would not say it is a big disappointment. I am a very honest person, I can only hope that people start identifying me with what I do and have passion for. If you are good at what you do, you will not have any reason to fear. I am glad that

I am here doing what I love. What was your Mum’s impression when you told her about your DJ career?

My mother has actually been my everything! She has been so supportive of my career. She is such a strong woman- I will be happy if I can be half of what she is. All I know is that, it is always good to do what you love. When you do what you love, you are likely to do well; you are unlikely to fail. If I have another option, I think I can still see myself doing what I love. I love to do business and that is why I am combining music and business together. I have always had this entrepreneurial spirit. I know I will run my own business one day. That, I’ll say, I got from my dad. At MAMA how did you manage to sift through the huge number of music resources available?

I always say this: it is a job and you are there to satisfy your client. For me, if the dance hall is bare, it means that I am not doing my job. It is a matter of research. Before I went for that MTV award show, for like a week I was busy researching South African music. I was compiling music as well. It is my job, it is what I want to do so. I make sure I am prepared for any gig. There are times that I would be asked to play a song that I don’t have and on the sport I download the song. Also for me, I’m very hard on myself. I make sure I am very well prepared. My mother always tells me, if you fail to plan you plan to fail.


18 e-FEATURE

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Beauty Pageants: Are The Crowns On the Right Heads? Nigeria today is permeated with different beauty pageants. But industry watchers and some past contestants have continued to question the sincerity of organisers of these pageants. Are the crowns on the right heads? ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes.

S

Critics of beauty contests argue that such contests reinforce the idea that girls and women shouldn’t be valued primarily for their physical appearance

ince the inception of the Miss World beauty contest that tests and brings out the abilities of young female contestants across the globe, many have come out victorious and Nigerian women are no exceptions. The basic intentions of beauty pageants focus on the physical beauty of contestants, though such contests also incorporate personality, intelligence, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria. ‘Beauty pageant’ almost invariably refers only to contests for women and girls; similar events for men or boys are called by other names. Winners of beauty contests are often called beauty queens. Children's beauty pageants mainly focus on beauty, gowns, sportswear modelling, talent, and personal interviews. Adult and teen pageants focus on makeup, hair and gowns, swimsuit modelling, and personal interviews. Possible awards include titles, tiaras or crowns, sashes, savings bonds, and cash prizes and in Nigeria it includes travelling overseas, cars and a pet project to be embarked on by the winner. The first modern beauty pageant was held during the Eglinton Tournament of 1859 held by Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton, a reenactment of a medieval joust that was held in Scotland. The pageant was won by Georgiana Seymour, Duchess of Somerset, the wife of Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset and sister of Caroline Norton, and she was proclaimed the 'Queen of Beauty'. The first extant international competition to be established was the Miss World pageant, created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951 and is still one of the most publicised beauty contests in the world. The competition started as the Festival Bikini Contest, in honour of the recently introduced swimwear of the time, but was called "Miss World" by the media. It was originally planned as a one-

off event. Upon learning about the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, Morley decided to make the pageant an annual event. Opposition to the wearing of bikinis led to their replacement with more modest swimwear after the first contest. In 1959, the BBC started broadcasting the competition. The pageant's popularity grew with the advent of television. The other Big Four international beauty pageants are Miss Universe (begun in 1952), Miss International (1960) and Miss Earth (2001). They are the most coveted beauty titles when it comes to international pageant competitions. Nigeria ‘Miss Nigeria’ is an annual pageant show which showcases positive attributes of Nigerian women and awards university scholarships. The winner portrays exemplary qualities and serves as a role model for young women in the country. Agbani Darego won the title of Miss World in the 2001 pageant held in South Africa. This made her the first-ever black African winner of the title. The show was hosted by US talk show host, Jerry Springer, and Agbani Darego's victory was widely hailed in Nigeria as a welcome bit of good news. Nigeria was just getting out of an extended stretch of military dictatorships, the economy was largely in the dumps, and people were eager for some good news. The surprise win gave fresh impetus to the beauty pageant industry in the country, and vindicated the optimistic prediction of the organiser of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria competition, who had said that his aim in starting the competition more than 10-years earlier was to produce a Nigerian winner of either the Miss World or Miss Universe pageants. Since then, there are beauty pageants that have stood the test of time, based on different ideologies-working towards peace or for the less privileged, among others. With the criticism going on that most pageant organisers

Agbani Darego

sell their crowns to the highest bidder, many of the organisers have disputed the fact, stating it's just losers crying foul for not clinching the crown. In an interview, Kingsley Amafibe, president, Ambassador For Peace Agency, organisers of the Miss Ambassador For Peace beauty pageant, on the allegations of pageant organisers selling their crowns to the highest bidder, insisted that his organisation is not known for selling crowns to the highest bidder. He emphasised that some contestants who fail to make it to the finals would always look for a way to discredit the competition and the eventual winners. His words: "No matter the circumstances, anyone would feel neglected. Everyone is making an effort to win the crown. As an organisation, we have the right to look at someone that could work with class and represent us. Out of about 36 models, when just 6 are picked, the rest will always have something to say to justify their loss. We don't expect anyone to pay for any crown because that's not the reason for coming-up with the pageant. "Our intention is to groom young girls that will be able to fly the flag of the agency around the globe; someone who's focused, intelligent and ambitious, because the crown is another

stage in life," he concluded. Criticism According to an aggrieved contestant who doesn't want her name in print, organisers of a well-known pageant in Abuja are fond of forcing girls to look for who would sponsor them to win the crown. She said only those that could afford some certain amount would be considered credible enough to excel to a certain stage. Critics of beauty contests argue that such contests reinforce the idea that girls and women shouldn't be valued primarily for their physical appearance, because it puts tremendous pressure on women to conform to conventional beauty standards by spending time and money on fashion, cosmetics, hair styling and even cosmetic surgery. They also claim that this pursuit of physical beauty even encourages some women to diet to the point of harming themselves. It is argued that rather than being empowering, beauty pageants are in fact disempowering because they deny the full humanity of women and they reinforce the idea that women's purpose is to look attractive or 'be hot' and not to focus on important ideas. The controversy over the sale of the crowns continues; who is really telling the truth?


scoop 19

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Solomon Nda–Isaiah Entertainment Ricochet

08116759802

nda_is@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Let's Use Music To Liberate Nigeria

M

usic is food for the mind and only a well-fed mind can respond effectively to challenges in its environment; hence, the principle of, 'garbage in garbage out' is also applicable to it. Music therefore, is a veritable instrument of change which could be either positive or negative, depending on its prevalence. Nigeria today needs positive change as a matter of urgency. A greater challenge however, is the indifference and high level of irresponsibility among the leadership and the followership; ranging from the common man manufacturing 'rubbish' with reckless abandon to the local government chairman who leaves office worse than he met it and still parades himself around instead of hiding his face in shame. Is it not an anomaly for parents to encourage and even sponsor their wards in examination malpractices instead of inculcating in them the culture of reading and dignity of labour? Gone are the days when we used to bemoan the brain-drain phenomenon. Today, we are left to grapple with what one might call, 'brain-rust' phenomenon. This ugly situation reflects in what we produce as intellectual property. Nigeria today has become synonymous with fallen standards, but one aspect that is obviously enjoying rising standard is corruption, which has secured for the country the inglorious and infamous title of the most corrupt country in the whole world. The question is: who will save Nigeria? Our religious, political, and formal education systems have failed. That is why all concerned citizens must come under one powerful instrument of change that transcends and permeates all strata of human society, and that is music! Again one can ask: Does the Nigerian music of today has the capacity to effect a positive change in the polity? Without mincing words, the answer is no! Nigerian music today is likened to the white, tasteless part of a boiled egg because of what is churned out. The most agonizing part is that children, who are the leaders of tomorrow, are being indoctrinated and misled into this meaningless, sweet nonsense churned out by present day Nigerian musicians. Of course, 'meaninglessness' has become a trend in the Nigerian society. For instance, when Nigeria celebrated her 50th independence anniversary, her chosen theme for that event was: 'Nigeria At 50'. What does that mean? What message does it convey?

But when Liberia celebrated her 50th independence anniversary, her chosen theme was: 'Moving Forward'. This gives an impression of a government and people with a vision and direction. Little wonder Nigerian politics is replete with empty election promises nobody bothers to fulfil once elected. Unfortunately, Nigerian musicians who are supposed to be the voice of the masses are a lot more like sycophants and praise-singers to the political cabals who ruin and mortgage the future of the country. Surely, the great Fela of blessed memory will be turning in his grave at what Nigerian musicians of today have become. Stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry must rally round to reverse this embarrassing trend in the industry. Gone are the days when Nigerian music educated, motivated, and inspired the listener positively. Gone are the days when Nigerian music genre notwithstanding, was garnished with philosophical lyrics that make the listener to pause and ponder. Today's 'dance and feel good' Nigerian music is replete with immoral and materialistic gestures! Little wonder the iconic reggae prophet, Bob Marley said in one of his songs: ..."Give us the teachings of His Majesty, we no wan no devil philosophy". This should be the demand on the lips of fans of Nigerian musicians, and every lover of good music. Music that does not just serve as opium for the society, but that also addresses reality and confronts evil in the land. It is mind-boggling to observe that while the country is burning with unemployment, corruption, impunity, extra-judicial killings, epileptic power supply, high cost of education and all the vices that now define Nigeria, the citizens are busy dancing and feeling good, instead of fighting the fire with music from artistes like Orits Wiliki, Victor Essiet, Majek Fashek, African China and BlackFace. Enough of this 'booty-booty, wine am for me', 'shake your bum bum', 'chop my money' music! Before Nigerian music can liberate Nigeria from all the vices that besiege her, we must first liberate Nigerian music from the pit of despondence it has fallen into. Most of the misguided young artistes need to take a lesson or two in philosophy and deep inspiration from veteran musicians, in order to upgrade the content of their music and affect the Nigerian society positively and effectively. Aliche Martin Ruther is a social activist and song writer

I Want To Go Into Politics –2face By Patience Ivie Ihejirika, Abuja

Nigerian music icon, 2face Idibia has joined the trend of artistes from different genres pursuing political aspirations. 2face recently tasked young Nigerians on active participation in politics, saying that continuous criticism with no positive and deliberate action will not make a difference. The artiste popularly called 2baba, who made the call in a recent interview said, "As young people, the trend these days is to condemn, but there are actually a lot of things going on in the background; we should begin to get involved.

2face

"Many youths don't want to get involved in politics, but politicians are the people who make decisions

on our behalf. I want all the good people to have confidence and stand up like Mandela. No matter the political party, they should just get involved to help make a difference," the artiste asserted. He said his recent album, being his 6th studio album, is actually his last album as 2face. According to him, "Henceforth, I am going to be known as 2baba. 2baba is like a title and I think it’s time for me to claim my title. 2face means me as a public figure, which is the outside and the real me which is the inside, but now I think I have been there and I have seen it all, so I think it is time for me to move beyond the double face.”

There’s Love In The Air In Entertainment Circles By Catherine Agbo , Abuja

There appears to be a wind of love sweeping across the nation’s entertainment sector. The number of marriage proposals among lovebirds in entertainment lends credence to this. This week, Tinsel duo, Gbenro Ajibade and Osas Ighodaro got engaged. The stars who are both casts on popular TV series, Tinsel, according to Ajibade, on social media, started out as friends, no strings attached, and then took it to another level before he popped the big question in front of the Tower of Liberty in faraway New York. “Four words fourteen letters that take forever to say, with you these words are too important to let them have their way. You’ve had my back for endless days, knowing my habitual ways, seen my worst and STILL stood by me even when my best of friends deserted me and strings weren’t attached between us you were there staying strong inspiring, motivating n loyal to our friendship regardless of all my madness. I can say am forever grateful and I LOVE YOU in so many ways but none is clearer than committing my days..@officialosas grow old with me, for the best is yet to be… #shesaid YES#AGE#GREATNESS!”

Tinsel duo, Gbenro Ajibade and Osas Ighodaro

he posted on the internet. This would be the third hook up between Tinsel stars. Leading the pack were Iyke and Florence Okechukwu who are married with a baby, Chris Attoh and Damilola Adegbite, who recently got engaged and now Gbenro and Osas. There appears to be a partner switch between the quartet in real life. In the TV series Tinsel, Gbenro Ajibade (Soji Bankole) was Damilola Adeg-

bite’s (Telema Duke) Fiancé while Chris Attoh (Kwame Mensah) was Osas Ighodaro’s (Danny) boyfriend before he passed on. Following closely on their heels are comedian, Seyi Law who proposed to his girlfriend of five years, Julia Mbaebie, while onset of a shooting with music star, Olamide. The proposal was also witnessed by Susan Younis and Ehis.

BBA 09: Continental Fame Beckons Come September 7 By SAMUEL ABULUDE , Lagos

The continent’s biggest reality show returns with more glamour for its ninth season on Sunday 7 September, with the housemates competing for a massive prize pot of USD 300 000. The new season will be known as Hotshots. This season’s housemates have hidden talents, they adore the spotlight and will let nothing stand in the way of their pursuit of fame and fortune. Big Brother Hotshots kicks off on 7 September

Dillish

at 19:00 CAT and run 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198, with the best of the live highlights shown on GOtv. M-Net Africa regional director (West Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, says the viewers are in for almost as many surprises as the housemates. “We work hard to make each season of Big Brother Africa bigger than the last – and we’ve really upped the ante this year,” she said. “Big Brother Hotshots is going to bring viewers exciting innovations, heart-stopping twists and uniquely African glamour, 24/7 for 91 days," he said.


20 BLITZ

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Kim K And Gwen Stefani To Present Awards At VMAs

Kim Kardashian

Gwen Stefani

By SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH , Abuja

announced performers Usher, Ariana Grande, 5 Seconds of Summer, Maroon 5, Iggy Azalea, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift and Sam Smith. While recently announced presenters include Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Lorde, Taylor Schilling, Laverne Cox and Uzo Aduba, Dylan O'Brien, Nina Dobrev, Jason Derulo and Trey Songz. “When I was the VMA House

MTV Base has announced Jessie J, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande will hit the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards stage tomorrow, Sunday August 24, to perform their hit song Bang, Bang for the first-time ever. The trio will open the show with a powerhouse performance that will kick start the night. Jessie J joins previously

Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, 11 Others For Asaba Concert By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

Frontline gospel musicians and worship leaders will bring down God's glory in the city of Asaba in Delta State as ‘Delta Yawdah 2014’ berths. Holding next week Tuesday August 26, 2014 at the prestigious THIS DAY DOME in the heart of Asaba, the event tagged DELTA YAWDAH brings a quintet of internationally acclaimed music leaders like

Ron Kenoly

anointed minstrel, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Donnie Mcurlkin, Lionel Peterson and Micah Sampley, to the country. According the conveyor, Pat Uwaje King, this year's ‘Delta Yawdah is’ significant because the nation is in need of God's hands for supernatural intervention. Therefore the concert, supported

Artiste in 2011 I had a broken foot and I sat on the side stage dreaming about being on that main stage,” said Jessie J. “So when I say that this performance is a dream come true for me, I truly mean it and to be able to share this moment with superstars like Ariana & Nicki, it’s going to be such an amazing night!”, expressed an excited Jessie. Immediately following the performance of Bang, Bang on the VMA stage, the music video will premiere globally across MTV’s online platforms. Jessie J’s debut album Who You Are marked the debut of a global icon when it reached No1 and was certified multi-platinum in over 15 countries. She has sold over 3 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide to date. The 2014 MTV VMAs takes place at the Forum, Inglewood, California tomorrow. by the Delta State government, will cause lasting changes beyond music and in the lives of the people of Delta State. "13 musicians will be in Asaba for Delta Yawdah 2014 and with me, the Glory of God will be invoked as we praise Him and seek His face. Beyond music, the worship will have an impact on individuals as well as communities," says Pat. The best of Nigeria musicians will also grace the occasion and bring the diverse cultural flavour in praising God in our local dialects. Eben, Nathaniel Bassey, Doris Dumah and Monique will be on ground to minister. Others are Mike Abdul, Gbenga Oyebola (G-Minor), Odunayo Ojo all of the Midnitecrew fame and Delta home boy, Victor Atenega.

Fashion: VLISCO Debuts New Products By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

In line with inspiring women in fashion, Vlisco Limited has come out with new products in colours and fabrics in shorter yard lengths. According to a press release by the company, Vlisco tempts women to be playful, shake off the norm and masquerade as someone new with its new

colours and fabrics in shorter lengths of yard. “The aim is to inspire women to embrace new styles by mixing and matching fabrics in wonderful and surprising combinations. Whether it’s sophisticated or courageous, sensual or playful, Vlisco gives them the freedom to create original, unexpected fashion statements.

It stated that the company for the first time came out with black and white fabrics, saying “This is wildly new to Vlisco as vibrant colours normally define all their fabrics. This season’s black and white designs provide contrast in any statement look, a confident streak of its own, ready to define any extravagant look you have in mind.

Monique To Release New Album In November By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

She's been in the industry for up to a decade now and dazzling gospel singer, Monique is still going strong. Apart from releasing a single, Power Flow, a few months ago, she is working hard to drop her album before

the year runs out. Monique, who has been busy in the studio, hints in an interview that she would release her album in the month of November. To that effect, she is planning a mega concert to celebrate God's faithfulness, along with the album launch.

Monique said, "For months now, I have been working on different songs in anticipation of my album. I still have some songs to complete it and my album will be ready for my fans and lovers of good music to cherish. We'll be having a concert to celebrate God."

Flavour, Olamide Set For Coke Studio Concert In LASU By Taiwo Omilani , Lagos

The season 2 of Coke Studio kicks off with a music concert at the main auditorium of the Lagos State University (LASU) with guest artists such as Flavour, Olamide, amongst others. Some of the artistes lined up to perform at the concert include: Olamide Baddo, Flavour N’abania, Omawumi, Seyi Shay, Waje, Iyanya, Phyno, Chidinma, and Burna Boy. Speaking on the rationale for engaging these artistes, the brand manager (Colas) at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Femi Ashipa said, Our decision to feature these artistes was spurred by our consumers’ request. These artistes are currently among the rave-ofthe-moment in the Nigerian entertainment industry.” According to him, the contracted artistes will not only thrill the audience with their latest party songs, but will also perform with some aspiring artistes, who will be chosen from

Flavour

the audience. To qualify for this dream opportunity, an aspiring artiste is required to do a voice drop in a modern, well-equipped mobile studio set up on the Coke Studio tour bus as it moves around different locations in each city. The best voice drop will get a chance to perform alongside the star artistes during the concerts. Coke Studio will also retain its original element - the recorded TV shows, which will be telecast beginning September 13, 2014 on AIT Network, MTV Base, HipTV, NIGEZIE, Sound City and Trace Urban TV. The show is made up of eight recorded 45-minute shows.

Emeka Wows Project Fame Fans By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

This year’s MTN Project Fame has seen a continuous improvement of the contestants. Last Sunday was a display of Geoffrey’s jawdropping stage mastery; then Clement’s insistence on fightingon despite a broken leg. Now, who could have thought Emeka, who faced one of the fiercest criticisms at the beginning of the reality show, would soon become one of the best contestants in the academy. The student of the Abia State University did incredibly well at the weekend. His song was Flavour’s Ada Ada. He delivered it with such mastery and originality that wowed the expansive audience who have developed so much affinity with the show than any others. Within the twinkle of an eye they were all on their feet singing along with the contestant as the shout of ‘Emekus’ rented the air. As the race towards the eventual emergence of the winner gets more and more intense, great performances like the one exhibited

Emeka

by Emeka on Sunday, are expected to constantly grace the show. Perhaps, the improvement in the academy explains the goodwill of the telecommunications company, MTN, which consistently invests in building human capital for West Africa by helping hone the skills and talents of the youth population in the sub region. However, despite the great performances at the weekend, Emeka (6), Clement (2), Laami (10), Taiwo, (17), Christian (1), Ogechi (14), Shola (16), Ruky (15), Flourish (7), Geoffrey (8), Ugo (18) and Debbie (4).

Leadership Reporter Nominated For Entertainment Writer Award By Taiwo Omilani, Lagos

The 8th Nigerian Media Nite-Out Awards has nominated Leadership Newspaper’s entertainment correspondent in Lagos, Samuel Abulude as Entertainment Writer of the year. He was chosen alongside heavyweights-Benjamin Njoku of Vanguard, Ajibade Alabi of Newswatch, Chuks Nwanne of

Guardian, Mercy Michael of The Nation and Ademola Olonilua of Punch newspapers. According to the statement received by LEADERSHIP, the Entertainment Writer Of The Year Award is an award in recognition of one’s outstanding contribution to the media industry, coupled with leadership and entrepreneurial prowess in the economic advancement of the nation.


SPORTS

8

ELATING

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23.08.2014

MATCH PREVIEWS

Moments That Shaped Last Season Title Race NIGERIA'S GOLDEN GIRL

FOOTBALL GUIDE, P24 & 49

SPORTING RECALL P 22

As leagues in Europe resume, we bring We conclude the moments that helped you interesting and mouthwatering define last season's premier league title match previews race

Blesssing Okagbare's exploits at the Commonwealth Games and African Championships give the country something to cheer COMMENT P52

Keshi Dumps Nigeria Says NFF Not serious

Fabregas Would Have Picked Man United Over Chelsea — McGrath Paul McGrath has expressed his amazement that Manchester United did not bid for Cesc Fabregas, insisting he would have jumped at the chance to move to Old Trafford. Fabregas signed for Chelsea from Barcelona in a £27million deal this summer and enjoyed a stunning debut for the Blues against Burnley on Monday night. But McGrath believes the Spain midfielder should have been wearing a United shirt this season, and says the failure to land the former Arsenal captain is down to a lack of leadership at his old club. “I’m sure Cesc Fabregas would have picked Man United [over Chelsea] simply because of the history. Most people believe that United is the bigger club, with the history and everything else," said the Red Devils legend, speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.” Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo have all joined United this summer, but are not the world-class arrivals many fans were anticipating.

PAGE 23


22 SPORTS/POURRI

Saturday, August 23, 2014

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Marcelo Lippi goes loopy and invades pitch to confront referee after two of his Guangzhou players are sent off

This is my last day at AC Milan Mario Balotelli is quoted by Sky Sport Italia as saying he will be leaving Serie A on Thursday, after AC Milan held talks with Liverpool

As I left the pitch a bottle or ¬something was thrown at me Arsene Wenger had quite an eventful night in Istanbul

What he gets up to in the summer is up to him. He had a smoke, but it’s not the end of the world. At United the laundry room used to be full of smoke in the mornings because Laurent Blanc and Fabien Barthez wouldn’t start training until they had a cigarette Paul Scholes backs Jack Wilshere after the Arsenal midfielder was caught on camera smoking while on holiday

SPORTING RECALL The leadership of the Premier League changed hands a record 25 times in one of the most compelling title races ever seen. Manchester City spent just 15 days at the top of the table but were in first place when it counted after a 2-0 win against West Ham secured their second championship in three seasons. 12 Jan, Stoke 3-5 L'pool. Gerrard's reinvention Having built a career around his marauding runs as an attack-minded midfielder, it is a little ironic that Rodgers's decision to curb Steven Gerrard's natural instincts was arguably one of his most vital. Usually employed in an advanced role, Rodgers opted to name Gerrard as the deepest of a midfield three at Stoke City on 12 January. With more time and space on the ball, Gerrard revelled in the role to

GROUP SPORTS EDITOR Ishaku Kigbu REPORTERS Samuel Malik, Salifu Usman DESIGN & LAYOUT Paul Benjamin ACTING EDITOR Catherine Agbo

use his vision and range of passing to best effect. 8 Feb, L'pool 5-1 Arsenal. Gunners blitzed Just two wins from eight games made February and March months to forget for Arsenal, but one result marked the beginning of the end of their title challenge and underlined Liverpool's own credentials as genuine contenders. Wenger's side were the leaders, Rodgers's charges eight points behind in fourth. A win would keep Arsenal top of the standings, but those hopes were swept away as Liverpool tore them apart inside the first 20, mesmerising, minutes. 19 Apr, Chelsea 1-2 S'land. Missed chances Jose Mourinho boasted a proud record of 77 unbeaten home league games in his

two spells at Chelsea but his first defeat at Stamford Bridge perhaps proved the most damaging to Chelsea's hopes of winning the title. The Blues went into the game against relegation-threatened Sunderland with the chance to knock leaders Liverpool off their perch, but were undone by a catalogue of missed chances and errors. 27 Apr, Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea. The slip Head to a well-known search engine and the highest suggested search when typing in the name of the Liverpool captain is 'Steven Gerrard slip'. That indicates just how crucial Gerrard's unfortunate error against Chelsea was. The Reds started the day five points clear at the top with three games left but were frustrated by a smothering Chelsea defence. A point would have been enough to keep

Liverpool in control but they gifted their opponents a goal when Gerrard slipped after mis-controlling a Mamadou Sakho pass and Demba Ba raced through to score. 7 May, Man City 4-0 Aston Villa. Dzeko steps up After Liverpool's surprise 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on 5 May, Manchester City went into the final week of the season needing two wins in their final two games - both at home - to be certain of the title. For an hour, City struggled to break through a stubborn Aston Villa defence. But in Edin Dzeko they had a player who proved a dependable source of goals and the BosniaHercegovina striker made the breakthrough just before the hour and swiftly added a second to calm nerves inside Etihad Stadium. CONCLUDED

TRANSFER SNIPPETS Juventus and Roma are keen to sign £12m-rated Manchester City centre-back Matija Nastasic, 21, while Newcastle and West Ham want City's 26-year-old right-back Micah Richards. Manchester United lead the race to sign Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, 26, after big-spending French champions Paris St-Germain pulled out.

SPORTS

Ten Moments That Helped Shape Last Season Title Race

But Di Maria may not move to Old Trafford because United boss Louis van Gaal does not want to harm the development of 19-year-old Adnan Januzaj. Tottenham are preparing an £11m bid for QPR's French striker Loic Remy,

27, whose move to Liverpool broke down last month. Arsenal are considering a bid for West Ham defender Winston Reid, 26, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Hull City have increased their bid for Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes, 24, to £10m after their initial offer was rejected. Manchester United midfielder Anderson, 26, could make a £5.5m move to Sporting Lisbon.

Rhodes

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman says midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 24, is not for sale at any price.

group FOUNDER Sam Nda-Isaiah CHAIRMAN Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr Kazeem Durodoye

Di Maria

Schneiderlin

Nastasic

Remy


/ SPORTS 23

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Nigerian Footbal

Keshi: NFF Is Not Serious Stephen Keshi has appeared to rule himself out of a return as Nigeria coach after losing patience with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Keshi's contract expired on 30 June, shortly after he led Nigeria to the last 16 at the World Cup, and he had been negotiating a new deal. He told BBC Sport: "Talks over a new contract

Keshi

shouldn't drag on. I can't wait any more - the NFF is not serious. "I have moved on. I can only wish the country well for the future." Talks had been ongoing since July but a series of delays caused by problems within the federation, including the sacking and the Fifaordered reinstatement of the governing body's

FOOTBALL BRIEFs Imoh Dazzles On Debut In Qatar president Aminu Maigari. "There's a game in two weeks [Nations Cup qualifier against Congo] but no-one is thinking about it and at the same time they expect you to win," Kehsi continued. "I understand the ongoing crisis facing the federation but the national team should not suffer from such at this crucial stage.''

Kwairanga Pleased With Eguavoen's Input Gombe United captain, Alhaji Kwairanga, has revealed that the presence of former Super Eagles gaffer, Austin Eguavoen, in the club's dugout is yielding the desired results. Eguavoen replaced Maurice Cooreman and under him, the team have won three and lost two of their last five matches. "The atmosphere in the team has changed since Eguavoen joined us and the results on the pitch

have been positive. We can achieve more under Eguavoen," Kwairanga, who is a club legend, said to supersport.com. Gombe United, which failed to win a match on the road last season, earned a rare 1-0 win at Bayelsa United under Eguavoen. It's the first time Eguavoen will manage a team in the north after stints with Bendel Insurance, Enyimba and Sharks.

Money Rolls In For Kwara Players Players of the Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Kwara United, would be paid their sign-on-fees and entitlements for this term next week. The players' mutiny has been looming at the camp of the Afonja Warriors since the approval of their sign-on-fees by the State government with some players threatening to go on industrial action. However, Kwara State sports commissioner, Saheed Popoola has now assured that plans are on ground to make sure the players get paid next week. “Yes, the government has approved the

money, but there are some issues on ground delaying the payment as you know that the paper would have to pass through many tables before payment could be made. “But I can assure that by the grace of God, Kwara United would be paid their entitlements next week,” Popoola told supersport.com. The commissioner then charged the Afonja Warriors to record an emphatic victory today against visitors, Wikki Tourists. “I want them to stay focus because today’s match will be a tough one for them, and I want them to record a mouthwatering victory.”

Kwara United FC NPLF Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

1

Kano Pillars

21

10

7

4

33

21

12

37

2

Nasarawa United

21

10

4

7

23

17

6

34

3

Abia Warriors

21

10

3

8

30

23

7

33

4

Dolphins FC

21

9

6

6

23

16

7

33

5

Sharks

21

9

6

6

24

18

6

33

6

Enyimba

21

9

5

7

20

13

7

32

7

Giwa FC

21

9

4

8

21

18

3

31

8

Warri Wolves

21

9

4

8

21

21

0

31

9

Akwa United

21

9

4

8

19

20

-1

31

10

Lobi Stars

21

10

1

10

24

26

-2

31

11

Sunshine Stars

21

7

9

5

28

27

1

30

12

El-Kanemi Warriors

21

8

5

8

25

19

6

29

13

Taraba FC

21

9

1

11

14

21

-7

28

14

Enugu Rangers

21

8

3

10

27

25

2

27

15

Heartland FC

21

6

9

6

19

18

1

27

16

Bayelsa United

21

8

3

10

25

32

-7

27

17

Kaduna United

21

7

3

11

19

26

-7

24

18

Crown FC

21

7

3

11

16

25

-9

24

19

Gombe United

21

6

5

10

23

24

-1

23

20

Nembe City

21

4

7

10

11

35

-24

19

Eguavoen

Bubagha Upbeat Ahead Of ElKanemi Tie Bayelsa United coach Richard Bubagha has said his side will upset El-Kanemi Warriors in this weekend's Glo Premier League match day 25 tie at the Kano Pillars Stadium in Sabongari, Kano. The fall-out of the 1-1 draw in the first fixture at Bayelsa United's adopted home - Sapele Township Stadium resulted in the side's banishment to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City by the League Management Company (LMC) before the Restoration Boys formally asked to make the stadium in Benin their permanent home ground. Bubagha said his side's match day 24 tie inspiring victory against Kaduna United in Benin City is the winning mentality they

are taking to confront the Maiduguri-based side. "The spirit in camp right now is very high more especially after the massive win against Kaduna United and we're determined to recreate the performance at ElKanemi Warriors in Kano this weekend. "We felt refreshed and renewed with the win against Kaduna United and have vowed to use it as foothold to climb out from the danger zone.

LAST WEEK (21) RESULTS Abia Warriors 3 - 3 Enyimba Akwa United

1 - 0 El-Kanemi Warriors

Crown FC

2 - 0 Sharks

FC Taraba Heartland Lobi Stars

1 - 1 Nembe City 2 - 0 Gombe United 1 - 0 Nasarawa United

Rangers Warri Wolves

1 - 0 Giwa FC 2 - 1 Kano Pillars

Ugwu Wants Eagles Chance Enyimba full-back, Uwadiwegwu Ugwu, believes he deserves a chance in the Super Eagles after impressive outings for the former champions. Ugwu has been outstanding for the Aba side since his switch from Enugu Rangers and already has two goals a defender this term. "My desire is to play for the Super Eagles and I hope the national team coaches will make this a reality," Ugwu said to supersport. com. Ugwu curled in a free-kick beyond the reach of Rangers' Emmanuel Daniel into the net, in Enugu, and fired a missile from outside the box that left Abia Warriors goaltender, Joseph Onuoha, helpless during last Sunday's Abia Classico.

Ojo Upbeat Of Crown Premiership Status

Ihuarulam

Sunshine Stars Suspend Coach Sunshine Stars head coach, Henry Abiodun, has been placed under suspension following allegations levelled against him by his players. Abiodun is alleged to have attempted to front as an agent for two of his players, who are members of the Nigerian Under-20 national team, the Flying Eagles. Supersport.com was further informed that the players claimed that Abiodun allegedly demanded money in the deal should the players be transferred from

Ezekiel Imoh scored a goal on his league debut for Qatari club Al Arabi as they beat Al Khor 3-1 on the opening day of action Thursday night. Imoh, who cost his Qatari club a whopping five million Euros, was outstanding as his speed and skills committed the opponents’ defence to give away a penalty early in the match. Wearing the no 39 jersey, the Nigeria striker opened his goals account in the 35th minute, when he cashed in on a defensive mix-up. But for poor marksmanship he could well have crowned his debut with a hat-trick as he fluffed two other clear chances in front of goal.

Sunshine Stars. "Coach Henry Abiodun has been asked to step aside by the management of Sunshine Stars Football Club following allegations against him from two of our players. Right now the allegations will be investigated, and if he is found guilty, the club will take appropriate action and if he is not, then the suspension will be lifted and he will return to his position," spokesman of the club, Wahab Bankole stated.

Crown FC goalkeeper, Ayo Ojo is quite optimistic that the newcomers will avoid relegation at the end of the ongoing season. The Ogbomoso-based side defeated Sharks 2-0 in Sunday's Glo Premier League match day 24 tie in Ibadan to boost their survival from the drop zone. Ojo said the comeback of their former chairman, Noah Bello to the helms of affair is a strong indication that all will be well in the side's concerted battle to stay alive. "It's quite possible we'll avoid relegation at the end of the season especially with the return of our former chairman, Noah Bello whom everyone had yearned for his comeback to the saddle.


24 SPORTS/FOOTBALL GUIDE Everton v Arsenal Arsene Wenger's side travel to Merseyside for a Premier League encounter just four days after they were held to a goalless draw by Besiktas in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie in Istanbul. Everton beat Arsenal 3-0 in the Premier League at Goodison Park in April and the London club can expect a stern test in their first away game in the top flight

Tottenham v Queens Park SATURDAY: 5:30PM

this season. Prior to their comfortable victory over the London club at Goodison Park last season, Everton had failed to beat Arsenal in 14 games in all competitions. The Merseyside outfit were unable to make a winning start to their Premier League campaign last weekend, as newly-promoted Leicester City held them to a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.

Southampton v West Brom Van Persie

Van Persie Returns But Herrera & Rojo Out Robin van Persie is set to return for Manchester United’s clash with Sunderland on Sunday but Louis van Gaal will be without Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo. The striker missed United's 2-1 defeat to Swansea City last Saturday as he was short of match fitness having been granted an extended break following the World Cup. Herrera, who made his United debut at Old Trafford last weekend, has been ruled out by Van Gaal, while Rojo, who joined the club from Sporting in a €20 million deal on Wednesday, has not yet been granted a work permit and will miss the trip to the Stadium of Light. Jesse Lingard was handed a start by Van Gaal on the right flank against Swansea but was forced off after 23 minutes with a knee injury. Marouane Fellaini suffered an ankle injury during training earlier this week and joins Michael Carrick on the sidelines. "Robin is ready to play, so that's a big benefit to the team. I'm very pleased that he is able to play," Van Gaal told MUTV.

Florin Gardos has joined the squad but is carrying a hamstring injury and will not feature here. That will mean Maya Yoshida continues at centre-back alongside Jose Fonte. Jay Rodriguez remains absent, and Saints could line up in the same way they did at Anfield last week with few other obvious options available to Ronald Koeman. Stephane Sessegnon was only fit enough to make the bench in West Brom's season opener last week but could push for a

FOOTBALL GUIDE /SPORTS 49

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Kyle Naughton is suspended following his red card against West Ham on Saturday, which could see Eric Dier move to right-back. Jan Vertonghen may make his first start since the World Cup alongside Younes Kaboul at centre-back, while Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembélé could feature in some capacity. Vlad Chiriches is a doubt, while Kyle Walker is expected to miss out once more. QPR have no injury worries ahead of the trip to White Hart Lane and will be keen to land their first win of the season following their return to the Premier League. Harry Redknapp faces his former club and could bring Leroy Fer into the starting XI after the Dutchman secured his switch to Loftus Road on Wedesday. Eduardo Vargas is yet to gain a work permit so is not available.

Manchester City v Liverpool SATURDAY: 3:00PM

Sunderland v Manchester

SATURDAY: 1:30PM starting berth this time around. Record signing Brown Ideye played no part but will be nearing fitness and could play a part here. Alan Irvine confirmed this week that every player took part in training on Thursday, so it will just be a question of deciding whether certain players, such as Joleon Lescott, are fit enough to partake in the game on Saturday. Christian Gamboa is still lacking match fitness and probably won't be fit enough to start this one.

SUNDAY: 4:00PM No new injuries could mean an unchanged lineup for Sunderland as they welcome Manchester United to the Stadium of Light. Jordi Gómez could be hoping for a starting berth after coming off the bench last time out. Robin van Persie is expected to play a part for Manchester United here as they have no time to waste in waiting for him to regain match fitness and sharpness. Marouane Fellaini is the latest casualty to be added to United's lengthy injury list, ruled out for an undetermined amount of time while the club await results of a scan on his foot. It will be interesting to see whether Louis van Gaal sticks with 3 at the back or switches to a 4-man defence given the personnel available to him. The experiment of playing with youngsters Jesse Lingard and Tyler Blackett simply did not work so it remains to be seen whether the Dutchman will make widespread changes.

Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna will have stepped up their fitness in the week but could be eased back into action. The return of the former will allow Clichy to compete with Kolarov on his favoured left hand side again. Manuel Pellegrini may opt for just the one striker against Liverpool, with Dzeko and Aguero likely to be in competition if that is the case and Fernandinho returning to the midfield. Liverpool are hoping to secure a deal to

Chelsea v Leicester City

MONDAY: 8:00PM bring former City striker Mario Balotelli back to the Premier League but he is unlikely to be registered in time to feature on Monday. Alberto Moreno is available and will compete for a starting berth with Glen Johnson at left-back, with fellow newcomer Javier Manquillo set to keep his place on the right. Emre Can, Joe Allen and Lucas are all fighting for one spot in midfield alongside Gerrard.

Dortmund v Leverkusen

SATURDAY: 3:00PM

Chelsea will be expected to see off another newly promoted side in the form of Leicester at home this weekend to make it two wins out of two in the top flight. Chelsea have won their last six games in all competitions against Leicester, scoring 13 in the previous three meetings between the two sides. Ramires comes back into contention after serving a four-match ban and Mourinho must decide whether to make changes or stick with a winning team, as Filipe eyes his first Premier League start. Didier Drogba can expect another rapturous reception from the Chelsea fans who worshipped him during his first spell with the club, but the striker may have to settle for a place on the bench once again. Chris Wood's late goal ensured Leicester salvaged a 2-2 draw against Everton in their first game back in the Premier League.

Hertha Berlin v W. Bremen SATURDAY: 5:30PM

Manager Jürgen Klopp could start with a midfield diamond again, allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to start alongside Ciro Immobile up front. Lukasz Piszczek and Kevin Großkreutz compete for the spot at right-back. Sokratis and new signing Matthias Ginter could start

Samaras Signs For Baggies

at centre-back, with Mats Hummels still not fully fit yet. Emir Spahic and Kiyriakos Papadopoulos compete for a spot at centre-back. Tin Jedvaj could make his Bundesliga debut at right-back. Hakan Calhanoglu is in line for his Leverkusen debut as well and will start behind Stefan Kießling.

John Heitinga will make his Bundesliga debut at centreback. On the left, new signing Marvin Plattenhardt and Nico Schulz compete for a spot in the starting line-up. Julian Schieber is likely to start up front. With

West Brom have completed the signing of Greece international Georgios Samaras on a two-year deal. The striker has joined the Baggies on a free transfer but will not play in Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Southampton. He was available after leaving Celtic in the summer following six years in Glasgow. Malaga and Southampton were interested in the 29-year-old, who joined Celtic from Manchester City in 2008, but the Baggies were Samaras' first choice. "We've signed a player with vast experience and I'm delighted to welcome Sami to the club," head coach Alan Irvine told the club's official website. "He has played a lot of football at the highest levels Champions League, European Championships and World Cups - and the feedback we've got on him, from people like Neil Lennon, states he thrives on the big occasion. "He will certainly play in plenty of those in the Barclays Premier League.”

SATURDAY: 2:30PM

Sebastian Prödl out injured, Assani Lukimya will most likely fill in at centre-back. New signing Alejandro Galvez will probably start in defensive midfield, while Franco di Santo and Nils Petersen compete for a spot up front.

Samaras

Man United have tasted defeat as many times in their last 20 home Premier League matches (8) as they did in their previous 101 Man City have won 17 of their last 19 home matches in the Premier League.

Depay Signs PSV Extension

Eto'o Undergoes Liverpool Medical

Memphis Depay has pledged his future to PSV after signing a four year contract, the club have confirmed. The 20-year-old winger is seen as the hottest prospect in Netherlands and a bright season in the Eredivisie was followed by an impressive World Cup campaign in Brazil and saw him attract the interest of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. As speculation grew over the youngster's future, PSV offered him a new contract to make him one of their highest earners and he has now signed a contract extension, tying him to the Eredivisie side until 2018. "PSV have extended the contract of Memphis Depay until 2018," a statement on the club's website read. Technical director Marcel Brands revealed the deal was a year in the making and spoke of his delight at securing the Netherlands international's signature. "We have worked hard for one year behind the scenes to keep Memphis in Eindhoven this season," Brands said. "We are more than pleased that he enters this new commitment."

Samuel Eto'o has opted to join Liverpool and is undergoing a medical on Friday ahead of signing a one-year deal, Goal understands. Everton's late interest in the 33-year-old had threatened to derail Liverpool's move, with Roberto Martinez's side ready to offer a twoyear contract, but the striker is excited by the prospect of working under Brendan Rodgers. The Cameroon international's medical is taking place outside of the UK, while the deal could be finalised before Liverpool face Manchester City on Monday evening. Eto'o is available on a free transfer having left Chelsea at the end of last season and had held talks with Ajax earlier this summer before the Dutch club pulled out of negotiations. Eto'o scored 12 goals in 34 appearances for Chelsea last season but hit out at Jose Mourinho after the 51-year-old joked about not knowing the striker’s real age. Liverpool are also poised to complete the signing of Mario Balotelli in a €20 million deal from AC Milan. The Italy international had said goodbye to his team-mates at the Serie A club before traveling to England for a medical.

QPR have failed to score in 6 of their last 7 matches in the Premier League. There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Borussia Dortmund's last 7 games in the Bundesliga. Hertha Berlin have seen over 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 7 home matches against Werder Bremen in all competitions. West Brom have been losing at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 7 away matches in the Premier League. Sevilla have won 7 of their last 8 home matches against Valencia in all competitions.


ISSUE 1467 August 23, 2014.

TECHLIFE

Meet the cat turned hacker

>43

Keeping up with the Ecclestones

world's most dangerous terrorists Muhammadu Usman

Down to earth emir

When it comes to glitz, glamour and finding fame, Britain’s Tamara and Petra Ecclestone are not just keeping up with the Kardashians but threatening to overtake them! trended

stuff

LIFESTYLED

Jackie Chan apologies for son’s drug arrest

History's most bizarre beauty treatments

Indian priests' bizarre good luck ritual

dresssense

Pixie Lott suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction


26

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Know-all

THAT'S inside thIs issue

32

BELIEVE THIS!

stuff

Being sarcastic on a regular basis can add up to three years to your life. Sarcasm is extremely healthy for the mind.

28 trended

35 key question

43 techlife

31 despots and dictators

30

29 top ten Starting Blocks 27 PROUDLY NIGERIA

• Muhammadu Usman Down to earth emir

28 TRENDED

• Jackie Chan apologies for son’s drug arrest

28 VIRAL

• PIce Bucket Challenges sweep social media

29 TOP TEN

• UEFA champions league leading scorers 2013/2014

30 WHAT'S UP

• Lance Armstrong: Can the lies and bullying be forgiven?

STUFF • Germany’s Adolf Hitler

32 stuff

• History's most bizarre beauty treatments

33 FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE • Become a fake medium

34 ARTICULATE

• Texas man turns his backyard into four-pool waterpark 35 the key question • Indian priests' bizarre good luck ritual

36 DOERS

• Shenan Chuang Chinese ad mogul

THE Regulars

THE BIG STORY

31 despots and dictators

37 world's most dangerous terrorists

43 Techlife

• Abu al-Baghdadi

44 Cultured!

• Ayman al-Zawahiri • Nasir al Wuhayshi • Ibrahim al-Asiri • Ahmed Abdi Godane • Moktar Belmoktar • Doku Umarov • Sirajuddin Haqqani • Abubakar Shekau

what's up?

• Click Click, • Etiquettewise, Superstitions, Proverbs, Excusez moi

45 Desirables 46 Mindful

• Crossword, WordSearch, Sudoku, Homework, Bookshelf

47 A LA CARTE

• Crazy Tricks, Gentleman's Words, Laugh-Out-Loud

48 Bonus Pack

• Seen & Overhead, English Phrases, Keepsakes

44 dress sense BOXED • Believe this • Fact Box, Do You Remember When? Strictly For JJCs • Shocking Foodfacts • Psychology Ideas, Useless Information, Business Blunder, Quick Quiz, • Espionage, Discovered • Sounding Clever, Sounding Great, Spotlights, • Know Why, • Celeb Info, Teeny • Fascinating Facts, • Keepsakes, • Just Unbelievable, Fast Forward

Buzzstop Beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams has been laid to rest, reports said Thursday. According to his death certificate, the Mrs Doubtfire star has been cremated and his ashes scattered in the SanFrancisco Bay. On Tuesday, Islamic fundamentalist movement, the Islamic State, released a shocking video showing the brutal beheading of American journalist James Foley. A Wisconsin Jesuit who was punished by Catholic Church authorities for celebrating Mass with a woman priest in violation of Church rules has died at the age of 94, his nephew said Wednesday. Doctors in Lagos are assessing five new

suspected cases of the Ebola virus, a top medical official said Tuesday, two days after the health minister expressed confidence the outbreak may soon end. An Israeli cabinet minister on Wednesday justified an air strike on Gaza that killed the wife and child of Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, saying he was a legitimate target. A British couple’s dream of a quiet retirement in the sun of southern France turned into a nightmare when their neighbours walled them into their home, reports said Thursday. Currently filming their upcoming movie Equals, co-stars Kristen Stewart and

Nicholas Hoult are known to have engaged in on-screen-turned-off-screen romances and now the two are allegedly seeing each other reports said Wednesday. It appears that Pope Francis’ hard-working lifestyle could be taking its toll on the 77-year-old as the pope told reporters during a press conference on his way back from a trip to Korea that he feels he may only have a few more years left to live. The athlete who made headlines for running an 800-metre race later in her pregnancy has given birth to a healthy baby girl reports said Thursday. Alysia Montano, 28, gave birth to her first child with husband Louis Montano last Friday.

Content Victoria Usman, Abisola Alawode, Love Adeyemi, Elizabeth Martin DESIGn/LAYOUT Matthew Akhabue ACTING EDITOR Catherine Agbo

group

FOUNDER Sam Nda-Isaiah CHAIRMAN Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr Kazeem Durodoye Feedback and mails Cognoscenti is published as an insert in LEADERSHIP Weekend. A number of the articles in this pullout are sourced from diverse sources. Please do send your feedback and enquiries to cognoscenti@leadership.ng or send us a tweet @LeCognoscenti


27

Saturday, August 23, 2014

StartingBlocks There are about 280 000 windmills on farms across South Africa, second in number only to Australia.

AfricanFacts

THE PACESETTING PAGES Having a wingspan of only ½, the smallest butterfly in the world, the Dwarf Blue Butterfly, is found in South Africa.

James Wuye

Clergy for peace

Proudly Nigeria Muhammadu Usman

Down to earth emir Knowing that one day the mantle of leadership will fall on him as a son born in the lineage of emirs; Muhammadu Kabir Usman studied hard and accompanied his father to functions. By so doing, he equipped himself for a service well rendered when his time finally came. Kabir Usman Kabir's reign in his native Kastina was characterised by his down to earth nature. Kabir was well educated and knew the Qur'an well, he was therefore considered both as an emir and an Islamic scholar, and was known to have written whole copies of the Qur'an with his hand. Kabir was known by the epithet ‘Limamin Sarakuna dan Shehu’ (The imam of emirs, the son of Shehu). Kabir also created new districts in the emirate during his reign. Like his father and grandfather, Kabir was a Polo enthusiast, having started playing when he was a teenager, and playing well into his sixties. He became the life president of the Nigerian Polo association, and the Emir of Katsina charity shield tournament was held in his honour. Alhaji Kabir Usman was born in January 1928 to the family of Usman Nagogo (who was then the emir’s son) and his wife Aminatu. In 1942, at the age of 14, Kabir was admitted into the Katsina Middle School, with 52 others, from across the then Katsina Province. On completion in 1947, he joined the Katsina Native Authority Police and was sent to the Nigeria Police College, Kaduna for one-year training. A diligent officer, Kabir was promoted to Lance Corporal and appointed Wakilin Doka, the Katsina native authority Police chief in 1951 by his father, who had become emir in 1944. In 1953, Kabir went to Lagos for a Criminal Investigation course, and later went to the Police College,

STRICTLY FOR JJCs What do 9-11; Tsunami Katrina and recently, Ebola have in common? These are all disasters, tragic events or outbreaks as with Ebola, where people die; lose their loved ones, or everything they have. In times like these, good people pull together to help the survivors in any way they can, including online donations while scammers set up fake charity websites and steal the money donated to the victims of disasters. For Africans and

Muhammadu

London for a similar course. In 1957, he was made the native authority councillor in charge of police, prison and the department of urban water supply. Kabir worked effectively as Police chief, handling one of the delicate police work that arose as a result of a Northern elements progressive union (NEPU) inspired revolt of Sambon Barka in the southern part of the Katsina emirate. In 1963, Kabir was confirmed as Magajin Gari, the district head of Katsina metropolis, a title held previously by his father when his grandfather was emir. The same year, Kabir was elected as a member of the House of Assembly, Kaduna. He

became a parliamentary secretary in the premier Ahmadu Bello's office in Kaduna in 1965. After the Military coup in 1966, Kabir returned to Katsina and continued to serve as Magajin Gari. Knowing that one day the mantle of leadership will fall on him; Kabir often accompanied his father to national conferences and meetings, and sometimes representing him in functions. Kabir also accompanied him on international visits. On March 18, 1981, Usman Nagogo died, and the Katsina king-makers chose Kabir to succeed him, being close to his father as Magajin Gari, and being his second eldest son (the eldest, Ibrahim Ladan-fari having predeceased Nagogo). The then Governor of Kaduna State, which Katsina was part of then, Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, refused to approve the choice. This led to a deadlock that lasted until the Governor was impeached by the State House of Assembly in June 1981. Balarabe Musa's successor, Abba Musa Rimi, later approved and Kabir was turbaned at Katsina's Kangiwa square. Kabir preached peace and tolerance, and always preached to his subjects to live in peace, he also always tried to remind them of life after death, and God's final judgement. He also received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Benin, and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he served as Chancellor. He died on 8 March, 2008 at the age of 80; he was survived by three wives and many children.

Be sure before you help especially those living in countries where the Ebola virus disease is making its unwanted rounds, it may come in the form of pathetic pictures of supposed sufferers of the disease. You may do well to verify every such claim before you act to avoid an unrewarding twist in you humanitarian act. Verifying might be in different forms depending on the form which the request reached you. If your request for donation came via email and you suspect it to

be a scam attempt, do not click on the link in the email. If however you click the link before you realise it’s a scam, do not volunteer your bank account or credit card information. Your best bet is to contact the recognised charitable organisation directly by phone or their website. Or better still, if you can, go personally to the persons in need of the help you are willing to offer and give an authorised person whatever it is you have for them.

James Movel Wuye, an Assemblies of God Pastor, was the son of a soldier who served in the Biafran War. During the 1980s and 1990s Wuye was involved in militant Christian activities and for 8 years served as secretary general of the Kaduna State chapter of the Youth Christian Association of Nigeria, an umbrella organisation for all Christian groups in Nigeria. He lost his right arm a reprisal attack on Muslims in one of the numerous conflicts that plagued Kaduna in the 90s. The specific one was the conflict with Imam Muhammad Ashafa’s militant group. Wuye was to re-think his position in most of the conflicts after a mutual friend brought him to meet the Imam. The two men slowly built mutual respect, and decided to work together to bridge the divide between their communities. In 1995, Ashafa and Wuye formed the awardwinning Interfaith Mediation Centre, a religious grassroots organisation that, with over 10.000 members, reaches into the militias and trains the country’s youth, women and leaders to become civic peace activists. Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye are the subject of a documentary The Imam and the Pastor, a moving story of forgiveness and a case-study of a successful grass-roots initiative to rebuild communities torn apart by conflict. Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa have received the Breme Peace Award in 2005, and the Prize for Conflict Prevention awarded by the Foundation Chirac in 2009. He is also famous for this quote he made sometime in the past ‘To build and sustain real peace and to ensure that political and economic stability in any given society is achieved, there should be trust between the people involved in a feud. This will elicit the desire to contribute their quota of love and affection in any given environment as a potent weapon in safeguarding the interest of one another to the exclusion of hatred and resentment.’


28

Saturday, August 23, 2014

StartingBlocks

3,300,000

5,300,000

Number of unemployed youths in Nigeria.

Number of displaced people in Nigeria.

The Buzzworthy stuff ONLINE

Trended

Funny web

Jackie Chan apologies for son’s drug arrest

Graduate advertises himself with sign

Jackie Chan has apologised to the public over his son’s detention on drug charges in Beijing, saying he’s ashamed and saddened. The Hong Kong film star wrote on his microblog that Jaycee Chan would have to face the consequences of his actions, but that they would do so together. ‘Regarding this issue with my son Jaycee, I feel very angry and very shocked. As a public figure, I’m very ashamed. As a father, I’m heartbroken,’ Chan wrote. Jaycee Chan, 31, and Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, 23, were detained in China, becoming the latest high-profile celebrities to be ensnared in one of China’s biggest anti-drug crackdowns in two decades. Police said both actors tested positive for marijuana and admitted using the drug, and that 100 grams of it were taken from Chan’s home. ‘Jaycee and I together express our deep apology to society and the public,’ Chan wrote.

Mariah Carey/Nick Cannon may be heading for divorce Despite a 12-year age difference, Mariah Carey wed Nick Cannon following a two-month whirlwind courtship. But six years and two children later, the celebrity couple are reportedly headed for divorce after living separately much of 2014. ‘Mariah has had several closed door meetings with divorce lawyers,’ a source said. They added: ‘Nick’s sensible and realises that the twins would have a more stable existence if Mariah had full custody. But he wants generous visitation rights.’ Aside from their threeyear-old fraternal twins Monroe and Moroccan, the feuding pair share four lavish homes in New York, Los Angeles, Aspen, and Windermere Island (in the Bahamas). Normally over-the-top with PDA-filled posts - Cannon hasn’t tweeted anything about Carey since November, and Mariah last shared a family portrait for Father’s Day in June. The duo’s last red carpet appearance was at the SAG Awards in January, and their last public sighting was at a February 12 MTV event.

A Nigerian graduate took a radical approach to job hunting. Alfred Ajani, 22, has applied for over 300 positions since getting a degree in marketing earlier this year - but says he has struggled in the crowded graduate labour market. Determined to land his dream job, he decided to hold a sign and hand out CVs to company bosses commuting into the City of London through the train station. His direct approach received a warm response from commuters, with many stopping to discuss potential positions. According to Alfred, ‘I’ve already had some phone calls and I’ve got an interview booked... The support was great, one man even bought me a cup of tea and told me ‘good luck’.’

Solicitor to begin career as Kate Middleton lookalike With her long brown hair and graceful smile, Christina Spencer, 26, says people believe she looks like the Duchess of Cambridge. Their resemblance was pointed out to the lawyer, from Brighton, East Sussex, when she was 21. According to her: ‘It will be people that I don’t know at all who tell me I look like her. Quite often it will be an icebreaker and the first thing that someone ever says to me.’ Ms Spencer believes her polite manner, which she developed during her job as a solicitor, has helped with the image. She is now practising the facial expressions and mannerisms of the Duchess, while looking for a professional partner to enhance her act. She is on the lookout for a William lookalike which she says are ‘really hard to find.’

Spencer

Viral

Ice Bucket Challenges sweep social media

It is the latest social media phenomenon to have swept across the world. From Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne, to football stars like Steven Gerrard, Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo and Philippe Coutinho the viral craze is a bug that everyone in Show business has caught on to. Even Nigerian

celebs are joining in the flow. The Ice Bucket Challenge, which sees people getting drenched in a chilly mixture of freezing cold water and ice cubes, has been backed by The ALS Association. It involves challengers taking part in the ice water deed within 24 hours and donating $10, or if they don’t want to take part in the icy challenge they are given the chance to donate at least $100 to an ALS charity of their choice. This new trend aims to raise money for sufferers of neurodegenerative illness Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as Motor Neurone Disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The ALS Association have announced that they have received a mammoth $13.3m in donations from over 250,000 people in just three weeks thanks to the awareness-raising stunt.

Siberian twerkers become internet sensation with their dance video A dance video by a group of girls from Novosibirsk, the biggest city in Siberia, has garnered 30 million views on YouTube. Their twerking will give Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé a run for their money. Danielle Polanco, who has been the choreographer for Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé and Janet Jackson, has visited Fraules and founder Yelena Yatkina. Young women

dreaming of summer sun and fun in the middle of Siberian freezing winter is the simple storyline of the music video which earned Novosibirsk’s Fraules dance centre their huge online popularity. Yatkina says the secret of their success is trying to travel as much as possible, and to take part in as many competitions across the world as they can.

Strange Egyptian cleric permits men to look at women showering Peeping Toms who ogle women in their most-intimate bathroom moments need no longer worry about the consequences in the hereafter - at least, according to one surprising spiritual authority. A hardline Islamic preacher from Egypt this week made waves in the Middle East after he issued a religious edict allowing a man to watch a woman ‘while she is showering’. But there is a catch, which is that such voyeurism is only acceptable ‘as long as your intentions are pure’. Salafist preacher Usama al-Qawsi made the controversial fatwa in a recent sermon. His opinion, based on his own, apparently rather

special, interpretation of Islam, is that men can ‘hide’ somewhere ‘in secret’ in order to see parts of your intended bride ‘she wouldn’t usually let you see’. The edict appears to counter traditional Muslim teachings which encourage both men and women to dress modestly and ‘lower their gaze’ when faced with members of the opposite sex.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

StartingBlocks DUMBLAWS

In York, it is legal to kill a Scotsman within the ancient city boundary, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

In Illinois, giving a lighted cigar to a pet is illegal.

10

OF EVERYTHING THAT'S WORTH its SALT

UEFA champions league leading scorers 2013/2014

Ronaldo

In Israel, you could be prosecuted for picking your nose on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic

Grand Canaria – Guanche sights

Messi

1. Cueva Pintada In 1860, a local farmer stumbled across this painted cave, uncovering probably the most important archaeological find in the whole archipelago. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed in at a time.

S/N Name

Club

Goals

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

17

2

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Paris St.Germain

10

3

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

8

4

Diego Costa

Atlético Madrid

7

5

Sergio Agüero

Manchester City

6

This settlement contains examples of both types of aboriginal home common to the island: cave dwellings, and the low stone houses unique to Gran Canaria.

6

Gareth Bale

Real Madrid

6

3. Cuatro Puertas

7

Thomas Müller

Bayern München

5

8

Arturo Vidal

Juventus

5

9

Marco Reus

Borussia Dortmund

5

10

Karim Benzema

Real Madrid

5

This is probably the most remarkable man-made cave on Gran Canaria. The large room with four ‘doors’ was a sacred place.

biggest floods in history

2. Tufia

Cueva Pintada

4. Tumulo de La Guancha This Guanche cemetery outshines the others scattered around the island. It is thought that the central sepulchre contained the guanarteme (king), while the aristocracy were laid to rest around him.

inscriptions, linked to North African peoples.

5. Cenobio de Valeron

8. Arteara The island’s most important burial site boasts a stunning location, nestled in a palm grove in the Fataga ravine. Information panels explain the piles of rocks before you.

Vista Aérea De Tufia

Death rate

China Floods/China

Year 1931

2,500,000 - 3,700,000

This cluster of miniature artificial caves represents an awe-inspiring feat of early engineering. Once believed to be a convent, it is now widely agreed that the caves were used to store grain.

2

Yellow River flood/China

1887

900,000 - 2,000,000

6. Maipes de Arriba

3

Yellow River flood/China

1938

500,000 - 700,000

4

Yangtze River flood/China

1935

145,000

5

St. Felix flood/Netherlands

1287

50,000 - 80,000

6

100,000

7

Hanoi/Red River Delta flood/ 1971 North Vietnam Yangtze River flood/China 1911

100,000

With around 500 tombs, the Maipes de Arriba may have been the Guanches’ main burial ground. Look out for the circular towers, almost certainly the graves of aboriginal aristocracy.

The Guanches’ last stronghold is pock-marked with caves overlooking the Tirajana ravine. Imagine the islanders’ plight as they tried in vain to repel the Spaniards, then threw themselves into the void.

8

Banqiao Dam failure/China

86,000

7. Letreros de Balos

10. Roque Bentayga

Cave drawings have been found across the islands, but the variety at this site is remarkable. Some seem to depict fertility symbols and there are even alphabetical

Numerous dwellings and grain stores have been unearthed around this huge monolith, which was considered sacred by the Guanches.

China Floods

S/N

Event /location

1

Yellow River flood 1887

1975

Yellow River flood 1938

9

St. Lucia’s flood/Netherlands 1287

50,000 - 80,000

10

North Sea flood/Netherlands 1212

60,000

SHOCKING

FOODFACTS

Most of us wouldn’t class insects as a component of our diets; however, we may be eating more of them than we think since most citrus fruit juice can contain one maggot per 250ml.

9. La Fortaleza de Ansite


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

StartingBlocks BY THE NUMBERS The Islamic State (IS) formerly known as ISis

13,000

Size of land, in square miles, thought to be under IS’s control, a stretch between Syria and Iraq, roughly the size of Belgium.

1,922

Number of people killed in Iraq in June in different conflicts with IS.

5

Number of nations with which the Islamic State has engaged in direct conflict.

CELEBINFO

BOXOFFICESTATS

Dolly Parton once entered anonymously into a ‘Dolly Parton lookalike contest’, but lost to a drag queen.

WHAT'S UP

X-Men: Days of Future Past is the world’s highest grossing movie of 2014 so far having made $713m.

IN-THE-NOW happeningS around us

Lance Armstrong:

Can the lies and bullying be forgiven?

$2bn

Approximate value of the group’s cash and assets, according to estimates from terrorism experts.

$3m

Estimated daily revenue of the Islamic State, from its oil and gas resources alone.

3

Number of high-profile jailbreaks carried out by Islamic State forces in the past several months, which led to the freeing of at least 1,500 insurgents.

500

Number of Yazidis killed so far by Islamic State fighters in northern Iraq.

300

Number of Yazidi women taken as slaves by the Islamic State, according to Iraqi’s human rights minister.

0

Number of openly practicing Christians left in the city of Mosul, where the IS made Christianity punishable by death.

He fought cancer and then won the world’s toughest bike race seven times though with the help of a myriad of drugs before a precipitous fall from grace. Worshiped, then demonised, few people polarise opinion quite like Lance Armstrong, perhaps even more so as he seeks rehabilitation in the court of the public view. ‘It would be an incredible story of redemption and second chances if he puts himself in a position to deserve that,’ says Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), whose report led to Armstrong losing all his sponsors and cost him millions of dollars. No longer ‘untouchable’ It could be a long road to redemption given Armstrong’s bubbling resentment towards those who brought him down. In Juliet Macur’s 2014 book The Cycle of Lies, Armstrong says: ‘I hated those motherf***ers , the Betsys, the LeMonds, Walsh, I still hate him, I still hate them.’ The disgraced Texan was referring to his former teammate Frankie Andreu and his wife Betsy, three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and Irish journalist David Walsh, all key architects in his downfall. More than two years on from his report, Tygart comes across as a modern-day Elliot Ness. Though Ness and his ‘Untouchables’ used guns, Tygart deployed testimonies from many of those closest to Armstrong to bring down the previously untouchable cycling superstar. The American lawyer

repeatedly held out an olive branch to Armstrong with offers to confess his sins and serve the same six-month suspension dished out to his former teammates. Armstrong never came to see him, but Tygart still hopes the day will come. Armstrong’s former teammate, Scott Mercier, is another to demonstrate a generous willingness to forgive. In 1997, at the age of 28 and in the prime of his career, the US Postal rider was handed a detailed drugs regimen by the team’s doctor (who has since been banned from the sport from eight years despite his denials) and told to stick to it. Mercier’s decision not to dope was the day his cycling career ended. At a similar crossroads to Armstrong who would join the team the following year and so many others, Mercier opted to not cheat, and walked away instead. ‘Lying bully’ Not everyone is prepared to forgive, let alone believe that Armstrong deserves another chance. His best friend when he first broke onto the European circuit in the early 1990s was fellow American Frankie Andreu. The pair were tight Frankie and Lance an American double act, living together and trying to break into the notoriously inhospitable ranks of continental racing. Andreu and his wife Betsy were in the hospital room in October 1996 when a then

cancer-riddled Armstrong admitted to doctors the cocktail of drugs he had ingested as a professional cyclist. Fast forward to 2014 and Andreu is reluctant to discuss Armstrong. ‘There is no rehabilitation for Lance Armstrong as long as he keeps telling lies and continues to bully and slander people,’ Andreu said in a twoline email sent to CNN. When ‘sorry’ is not enough Greg LeMond, cycling’s dominant force in the late 1980s, was another who faced the wrath of Armstrong’s legal team and that of the bike manufacturer Trek due to an interview with Walsh for Britain’s Sunday Times in 2001. ‘If Lance is clean, it is the greatest comeback in the history of sports,’ LeMond, the only American now recognised as a Tour de France champion, told the paper. ‘If he isn’t, it would be the greatest fraud.’ ‘Too much baggage’ Sunday Times chief sports writer Walsh wrote a book about his battle to expose Armstrong, Seven Deadly Sins, which led to the newspaper being sued for $1.5m by Armstrong for daring to suggest he was doping. Walsh’s sympathy lies with the cyclists who opted not to cheat. ‘I feel sorry for the people who rode clean and got screwed, the Christophe Bassons and Filippo Simeonis of this world,’ he told CNN.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Stuff

p32

bizarre beauty treatments

p35

For beauty sake, some people had to go the odd way in the days of old.

priests’ good luck ritual In search of good luck, these priests smash coconuts on devotees’ heads.

p36

Shenan Chuang Shenan Chuang is the Chinese ad mogul transforming China’s ad market.

that will tickle your fancy

despots and dictators

Big Ideas

Logical positivism

Germany’s Adolf Hitler

Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, is located on which island?

Answer:

QUICKQUIZ

Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, is located on the Sicily Island.

Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian megalomaniac, failed artiste and one-time street tramp and quasi-occultist who assumed the title of FuhrerLeader-and attained domination of Germany. As an unemployed, former army corporal jailed in the bleak aftermath of the First World War, Hitler had become a rabble rouser and, during the depths of the Weimar Republic post-war depression, he staged the Beer Hall Putsch, which fizzled abysmally and resulted in his arrest. Sentenced to prison, he wrote his memoris – Mein Kampf (My Struggle)-which set forth his philosophy and documented his travails. To put his theories in practice, he ignited the Second World War, which ultimately wiped away 70,000,000 persons. As leader of the Nazi Party, Hitler envisioned the advent of a 1,000 year reign of a utopian, globally dominant greater German State he called the Third Reich. Populating this utopia would be a Master Race comprised of specimens of pure Aryan bloodlines whose insulation from contamination was imperative. With this rationale, Hitler orchestrated a systematic genocide of Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, mental defectives, and other ‘social undesirables.’ Antisemitism on a colossal scale was manifest in the Final Solution – the total extermination of the Jewish race. Nazis

regarded Jews as human vermin – confined in urban ‘ghettoes’ where they were starved to death or herded onto trains which deported them to vast concentration camps, they were conscripted to do forced labour or were killed in gas chambers disguised as bathing or de-lousing facilities. Gold was salvaged from the teeth of their corpses. Others were subjected to gruesome, bizarre, and inhuman medical experiments, extending to vivisection without benefit of anaesthetic. Still others were simply removed to locations where they were made to stand or kneel at the edge of large trenches before being shot. In all, 6,000,000 met this fate at the hands of Hitler’s SS, an elite corps charged with the mission of solving the ‘Jewish Problem.’ When Allied forces reached the concentration camps at the war’s end, they found thousands of emaciated bodies piled in mass graves which their tormentors hadn’t had time to bury; in other cases, they reached camps in time to liberate walking skeletons, so wasted from malnutrition they barely had skin enough to cover their bones. Hitler’s colourful henchmen included a failed novelist, a former chicken farmer and drug addict, and an occultist. Under the sign of the swastika, Hitler invaded and subjugated all of Europe until repeating the mistake made by Napoleon and ending up crippled by the Russian winter. Hitler’s storm troopers had effectively implemented blitzkrieg (lightning war) to overrun most of the continent and his brilliant scientists had engineered advanced technology such as long-range rockets and other terrifying new weapons, but these advantages came too late, and Germany’s enemies inexorably began to close in on the capital of Berlin. As the end approached and he hid in an underground bunker, Hitler’s personal physician kept him going with strychnine injections and other stimulants. Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his fuhrerbunker and his body was burned per his request. During the war, Hitler’s agents confiscated priceless artwork and other resources from all over Europe; some of it has never been recovered.

Logical positivism was a philosophical movement that originated in Vienna in the 1920s. It insists that only scientific knowledge is factual, and that the role of philosophy is to clarify basic concepts and assertions. Thus all the questions raised in metaphysics, ethics and aesthetics – such as, ‘What is being?’ or ‘What is good?’ – are dismissed as meaningless. Any answers supplied cannot be shown to be either true or false. Logical positivism states that a proposition must be verifiable to have meaning. There are two ways in which a proposition can be verified. Firstly, it can be empirically tested. The statement ‘This stone has a mass of 10 kilos’ can be verified by weighing the stone. Secondly, a proposition such as ‘The sparrow is a species of bird’ can be tested against the definition of the words used, and the grammatical structure. Later philosophers found logical positivism too restrictive, and developed more subtle theories of language and meaning.

USELESS INFORMATION

Kissably fresh

Colgate faced a big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanishspeaking countries. Colgate translates into the command ‘go hang yourself.’ More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones. Oral-B is a combination of ‘oral hygiene’ and the letter B, which stands for the word better. Some toothpastes contain antifreeze. Americans spend $1.5b every year on toothpaste.


32

Stuff

Saturday, August 23, 2014 that will tickle your fancy

HISTORIFIC

SCIENTIFIC

People were buried alive so often in the 19th century that inventors patented safety coffins that would give the ‘dead’ the ability to alert those above ground if they were still alive.

Astronauts cannot belch – there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs.

History's most bizarre beauty treatments Here are some of the more unusual beauty treatments from throughout history - and some of them are still in use today Bird poo facial Today, renowned spas are rubbing a pungent paste of nightingale droppings, rice bran and water on devotees’ faces, including Victoria Beckham and Tom Cruise. With no burning sensation from man-made chemicals, it is a more pleasant sensation than an acid peel - just try not to think about it too much. Urine mouthwash Because urine contains ammonia, the Ancient Romans believed it was the perfect mouthwash. In fact, due to its ability to disinfect teeth, prevent cavities and making sure your teeth are pearly white, it was an active ingredient in mouthwash until the 18th century. Arsenic diet pills Diet pills may look innocent, but in the 19th century they contained lethal ingredients such as arsenic and strychnine. Unfortunately these substances weren’t always advertised, so dieters didn’t know what they were taking. Consuming the pills would give the consumer arsenic poisoning, which can lead to diabetes, cancer and death Arsenic and quicklime hair removal While waxing and shaving can be painful, modern day hair removal techniques are nothing compared to what women and men of the renaissance had to go through. These unwavering folk would boil a solution of arsenic and quicklime, apply it to their hairy areas and wash it off before the skin started to peel off. Nipple tattooing Humorously referred to as ‘tittooing’, a tattoo artiste will match ink colours to the recipient’s skin tones and proceed to shade the anaesthetised nipple. This semi-permanent treatment,

which typically takes two hours to complete, last around 12 to 18 months, and regular top ups are recommended to restore lost colour. Though it has been declared medically safe, since nipples change in size over time, you could find yourself left with a pair of tit-tattoos that are a bit on the small - or largesize. Thai face slap massage As the name suggests this treatment literally involves a beauty therapist slapping you in the face. Some kneading and massaging of the area also takes place, but a good hard slap improves circulation and brings out a healthy flush apparently. Vampire facial As Kim Kardashian, Dannii Minogue and Anna Friel will testify, a Vampire Facial doesn’t involve someone sinking their teeth into your neck. Instead, blood is taken from your arm, mixed around to separate the cells and injected back into your face, with no garlic, holy water, mirrors or crucifixes required. The procedure causes the body to create new blood cells and collagen, which rejuvenates the skin in a safe and effective way. Bottom punching and breast slapping Bottom punching and breast slapping shifts excess fat from one area to another. Heralding from Thailand, the country’s Health Ministry actually found that vigorous massage also resulted in ‘measurably bigger’ breasts. However, although you can stand to gain a couple of extra inches postslap, some breasts are simply too small to reap the ruthless rewards. Leech therapy First employed in Egypt some 2,500 years ago and commonly used for reconstructive surgery, leeches make skin look younger, relieve pain, heal skin grafts and restore circulation. Fire treatment As part of a treatment known as Huo Liao, an alcohol soaked towel and special ‘elixir’ is placed over

the problem area, such as the face, legs, or back, and then lit on fire. After a few seconds, it is quickly extinguished before the heat becomes unbearable. Carboxtherapy In this very chemical treatment carbon dioxide is injected into the skin using a fine needle, which then diffuses into the surrounding tissue, causing blood vessels to dilate. Not one for the fainthearted, patients will be able to feel the sensation of the gas bubbling under their skin Tapeworm diet First advertised in the 1900s, patients would swallow beef tapeworm cysts, typically in the form of a pill, and hope the parasite would make its way to the intestines and absorb food. Once the dieter reaches their ideal weight, they have to take an anti-parasitic pill and excrete the dead tapeworm. Foot binding Considered to be a symbol of beauty in Chinese culture, foot binding was an incredibly painful art that dates back a thousand years. Young girls would have their feet soaked in hot water or rather undesirable substances like urine and animal blood to soften the tissue and bones. After a quick massage, every toe except the big one was broken, folded under the sole and tightly tied up to prevent future growth. After binding it took between two and ten years to achieve permanently dainty feet. Micro needle therapy Hailing from Hong Kong, micro needle therapy involves massaging the face with a needle-studded roller in order to improve collagen production and enhance the absorption of skin-care serums. Although Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are said to be fans, it has received some opposition from medical professionals, and several patients have reported worsening skin conditions after undergoing this painful treatment.

Foot binding

Hair removal

Carboxtherapy

questions you'll never ask

WORLD OF ESPIONAGE

Germany wants foreign embassies to declare their spy employees German authorities have asked that foreign embassies and consulates on German soil officially disclose the names of their personnel involved in intelligence work. German newsmagazine Der Spiegel said that the German Foreign Office has been systematically contacting consular authorities from every foreign nation located in Germany. In each case, the foreign consular representatives have been issued formal requests to release ‘through official diplomatic channels’ an exhaustive list of names of their intelligence operatives operating in Germany under diplomatic cover. All foreign embassies and consulates had been contacted by last Wednesday, said the report. The requests stipulate that the lists must include all personnel working out of a foreign nation’s embassy or consulate, as well cultural institutes, military installations, commercial entities, or other institutions associated with a foreign country. It is generally assumed that a significant number of employees in embassies and consulates are intelligence personnel, working under diplomatic cover; they invariably hold titles such as ‘military attaché’, or ‘political officer’, and

Leech

are generally protected with diplomatic immunity. A small number of these intelligence officers voluntarily make their presence known to the corresponding intelligence agency of their host country, and are thus officially declared and accredited with the government of the host nation. They typically act as points-of-contact between the embassy and the intelligence agency of the host nation on issues of common concern requiring cross-country collaboration or coordination. But the vast majority of intelligence personnel stationed at a foreign embassy or consulate operate without the official knowledge or consent of the host country. Governments generally accept this as a tacit rule in international intelligence work, which is why Berlin’s move is seen as highly unusual. Der Spiegel described it as an effort ‘towards more transparency’, aimed at ‘increasing the pressure on foreign intelligence services to disclose their activities in Germany’. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, described the move as a diplomatic effort to establish trust between Berlin and its foreign partners

What is a French kiss? A French kiss is when partners touch their tongues to each other’s lips, tongue and inside of the mouth. It is a very passionate kiss and often lasts longer than brief kisses on the lips. Generally, STD’s are not spread by kissing, but because more saliva is exchanged during a French kiss, the chances of catching an STD are higher than they are with a less intimate kiss. Herpes and mononucleosis (mono) are two examples of orally transmitted diseases that can be spread through French kissing.


33

Saturday, August 23, 2014

SPORTSFACT

BRANDED

Tottenham Hotspur became the first British club to win a major European trophy when they beat Atletico Madrid in the 1963 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final.

Nike, the sports brand, is named after the Greek goddess of victory.

FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE

SoundingClever

transmogrify

To transform, especially in a way that is not expected deriving from the verb transmigrate: (of the soul) to pass into another body after death. When he invented Facebook, Marc Zuckerberg was transmogrified from Havard postgraduate to the youngest self-made billionaire on the planet.

THINGS not everyone should know how to do

Become a fake medium

waspish

Very irritable from the word wasp, an insect renowned for its irritability. When working as a librarian, the poet Philip Larkin would ask people in a waspish tone: 'Why on earth are you borrowing drivel like that.

SOUNDING GREAT contend 1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle. 2. To maintain or assert. His everyday behaviour was that of a concerned friend who wanted to help families contending with one terrible emergency after another.

spotlights

Two veteran New York City detectives work on a case of serial executions of criminals who escaped justice.

To declare that an event is beyond one's control from the French majeure: greater force. As it was raining incessantly, the organisers of the cricket match called force majeure and cancelled the game. Lacking in vigour from the Greek anaemia from an-: without, and haima: blood. Compared with Rita Hayworth and other voluptuous stars or her day, Grace Kelly appeared anaemic.

september 2008

FILM Righteous Kill

force majeure

anaemic

Stuff

that will tickle your fancy

MUSIC Pussycat Dolls

Here are some of the good old fashioned tricks that fake mediums used in their heyday. Incredibly these methods succeeded in fooling thousands of Victorians into parting with their cash in the belief that they were witnessing the manifestations of dead spirits.

Dim the lights Always perform your seance in a dark or nearly dark room. Tell your clients that this makes it easier for the spirits to manifest.

Spirit cabinet Hide all your magic tricks, props, and costumes in a large piece of furniture that has hidden compartments, or in a curtainedoff area of the room. This is your ‘spirit cabinet.’ Explain that this will help you to attract, channel, and conserve spiritual forces. Allow your clients to view the cabinet, but make sure that the last per on to inspect it is your assistant, who will plant the necessary equipment. Keep more wigs and makeup in a fake panel in your chair.

Ghosts Get your assistant to materialise from a trapdoor in the floor or a sliding panel in the wall, or pretend to be a dead child by walking around the room on your knees.

Moving objects Floating spirits can be made by painting faces on inflated balloons.

Attach objects by a fine thread to an adjustable fishing rod to make them move.

Spirit music Getting the spirit to play a musical instrument is an important part of the show. For example, make a violin play eerie notes by dangling a weight from a thread off the end the table. The thread then passes over strings of the violin and then through the keyhole of a door, where it is pulled back and forth your assistant in the next room.

Holding hands Holding hands around the table ensures that you cannot use them for trickery. However, if everyone alternates hand/wrist, then after the lights have gone down it is easy to make your neighbours believe they are each holding one of your hands when in fact they will be holding the hand and wrist of the same arm, leaving the other free for wielding your fishing rod, etc.

Ectoplasm Spirit forms are made of ‘ectoplasm’, which is a weird wispy substance that often emanates from a top-notch medium. Make fake ectoplasm from egg white, mixtures of soap, chewed paper, silk, or cheesecloth. Secrete it inside your mouth, and pull it out and wave it around at an opportune moment.

Whatcha Think About That is a song recorded by American girl group the The Pussycat Dolls from their second studio album, Doll Domination.

TELEVISION Sons of Anarchy

A man in his early 30s struggles to find a balance in his life between being a new dad and his involvement in a motorcycle club.

EVENT Music awards

On the 7th, the MTV Video Music Awards took place at Paramount Studios, Hollywood.

BIRTHDAY Jason Derulo Pop artiste Jason Derulo, who became known for his doublePlatinum hit, Whatcha Say, celebrated his 19th birthday on the 21st.

DEATH Thomas Dorflein

German zookeeper and surrogate parent of the polar bear Knut, Thomas Dorflein, died on the 22nd at the age of 44 from a heart attack.


34

Stuff

that will tickle your fancy

ARTICULATE

201 metres

Saturday, August 23, 2014 Height of the tallest building in Vancouver which is a 62-storey building.

How is the distance to stars measured? Hold a pen in your hand and watch its tip as you move your head from side to side: it appears to move relative to objects in the background. Move it further away and it appears to move less. The same is true of stars, whose distance can be calculated by observing their shifting position seen at different points in the Earth’s orbit. For more distant stars, it’s sometimes possible to estimate their intrinsic brightness, allowing a comparison with their observed brightness in the sky to give an estimate of their distance.

Can planes be used to stop hurricanes? Hurricanes can cause hundreds of deaths and lots of damage. Scientists at the University of Akron in Ohio have patented a possible way of dealing with them. Their plan involves flying jet fighters into the eye of the storm to disrupt the delicate airflow and pressure causing the ferocious winds. The Supersonic Hurricane Neutraliser plan is still on the drawing board, but in theory, it would work something like this: two F-4 jet fighters, flying at a speed of Mach 1.5, would fly into the hurricane’s eye – the calm part at the centre of the storm. The sonic boom produced by the jets would raise the air pressure inside the eye, which would disrupt the upward flow of warm air that gives the storm its power, thus bringing the storm to an end. Trials are planned which it is hoped could show that only one jet fighter is needed to disrupt a storm. Now all they have to do is find some pilots prepared to make the flight.

Texas man turns his backyard into four-pool waterpark Summer in Texas may be merciless, but Hal Jones from Austin has found a great way to stay cool at all times. He spent a whopping $2.2m to have four enormous pools built into his backyard. He wanted to create a pool experience that’s ‘second-to-none’, so he chose a property located on the shores of Lake Travis – where his guests could arrive by boat. Once he identified the property, Jones hired designer Evan Mills to come up with a plan for the water-park and create four pools, each with its own unique design. ‘We have the hot tub, the kiddie pool, Lazy River and Negative Edge pool,’ said Jones. The lazy river pool, which includes a swimup bar, is where he entertains his friends. ‘I travelled throughout Texas and saw how people loved the lazy river pools,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to get out of the pool to enjoy a drink!’

KNOW WHY...

… so many snails appear on pavements?

18

Age the human brain stops growing.

Do birds urinate? Mammals remove excess nitrogen from their bodies by converting it to a dilute solution of urea, stored in the bladder. Birds convert nitrogen to uric acid instead: this is metabolically more costly but saves water and weight, as it is less toxic and doesn’t need to be diluted so much. Birds therefore don’t have a urethra, and don’t pee - all waste leaves via the anus.

Are there any viruses that are beneficial to the human race? Viruses work by invading the host cell and forcing it to make lots of copies of the virus. This normally kills the cell in the process and is therefore a bad thing. But your immune response to a mild virus might protect you from a more serious infection: cowpox infections immunise you against smallpox, for example. Alternatively, you could be a carrier for a virus that doesn’t

Snails find it much easier to move on wet surfaces than dry ones. In dry weather they will tend to avoid pavements, in favour of undergrowth, which retains moisture better. Once the pavement is wet though, this aversion is greatly reduced and snails can easily stray onto the edge of a pavement. Since there is nothing much to eat there and the bright light makes them more vulnerable to predators, they tend to keep going in a straight line, not realising that this will take them straight onto the road.

hurt you much but is much more serious for a competing species: chimpanzees carry an immunodeficiency virus that can be transmitted to gorillas (for example when fighting). Finally, there have been some early trials in mice with viruses that appear to target tumour cells and kill them, including the Sindbis virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes in Egypt.

How much salt is in a human body? The human body contains huge amount of salt, of which sodium chloride (AKA common table salt) is the major one, making up around

0.4 per cent of the body’s weight at a concentration pretty well equivalent to that in seawater. So a 50kg person would contain around

200g of sodium chloride - around 40 teaspoons. Since we lose salt whenever we sweat, it has to be continually replaced.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Lifestyled

Indian priests' bizarre good luck ritual

Stuff

that will tickle your fancy

TEENY Worst ways to get attention on your first week back at school School resumptions are around the corner and we know first impressions are very important, especially in school. Here are some of the worst ways to get attention during your first week back. 1. Try to get your classmates to sign a petition for ‘School on Saturdays.’ 2. Find out what the most popular person at your school is wearing for the day. Dress exactly like her and tell people how you two are totes twinsies. 3. Knock the books out of every passer-by’s hands. Then, yell out, ‘Prank of the year!’ 4. Start performing stand-up comedy every day in the middle of lunch. 5. Don’t just raise your hand when answering a question in class. Raise both hands, stand up and start jumping up and down, all the while making ape noises. Then, when called upon, ask to use the bathroom.

Every year, thousands of devotees travel to a remote village in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu to put themselves through a gruesome ritual that they hope will bring them good health and success. Believe it or not, men, women and even children willingly permit priests to smash hard coconuts on their skulls! Breaking coconuts on a sacred stone as an offering to the deity is a common practice in South Indian temples but breaking them on one’s own head is quite rare, and viewed as an extreme display of devotion. Several devotees squat on the floor in a line, waiting patiently as the temple priests approach with a sack of coconuts. One priest holds the heads firmly, while the other one brings down the coconuts without hesitation. The whole process is completed in a matter of minutes. Some devotees can be seen wincing in pain as the coconuts come crashing on to their heads. Some massage their heads, while others promptly collect the broken pieces as holy offerings. Surprisingly, there are a few who don’t flinch at all – these people are often in a deep meditative state of prayer. Nonetheless, medical staff are always present to tend to serious injuries. Doctors warn devotees every year that the practice could actually be deadly. ‘There is a certain amount of tolerance for the skull beyond which it will cause damage,’ said neurosurgery professor Anil Kumar Peethambaran. ‘If the coconut breaks, the energy is dissipated, but when it doesn’t, this can cause damage to the skull.’ But the staunch devotees don’t seem to be worried at

all; they’re confident that the deity will protect them. Despite warnings, the practice has been going on regularly since the 19th century. ‘My family has been coming here for years,’ said one devotee. ‘Today, four of us have come for the ritual. The coconuts broke well – we hope it brings success.’ One woman said that she did not feel a thing, claiming that it was the goddess who saved her from pain. ‘I took part in the event for the first time,’ she said. ‘The coconut broke nicely and I am happy. A lot of people in my family, all my uncles and aunts have broken coconuts. Four of us from the family came for the ritual and thankfully, all the coconuts broke well.’ P. Mani, former council president of the village, tells the story of how the ritual, which dates back to the time of Colonial India, originally started. ‘When the British were trying to draw a railway line against the wishes of the villagers here, they found big stones just like coconuts, beneath the ground’ he explained. ‘They sarcastically told the villagers that if they could break these stones with their heads, they would change the course of the railway line.’ Legend has it that the villagers did succeed in breaking the stones, and the railway line was eventually shifted. Since then, the ritual has been performed at the local temple using coconuts, attracting thousands of devotees each year.

6. Don’t just bring a brown bag lunch. Have a series of lunch boxes that get increasingly smaller and smaller just like a collection of Russian dolls. Inside the last and tiniest lunch box is just a little amount for you to buy hot lunch provided by the school. Actually, this one’s awesome. Do this. 7. Start referring to every teacher at your school as your best friend. Also, start calling them by their first names. 8. When you get into a classroom, wipe down your desk with disinfectant and put down a tablecloth. Then, take out a fork and knife and if anyone asks tell them, ‘Education is food for the brain.’ 9. Sign up to do the morning announcements. Use it as a platform to discuss all your radical, political conspiracy theories. 10. Speak to all your classmates in French.
When it’s time for lunch, chew with your mouth open. And your pants off. 11. Pour white paint over your skin and pretend to be a vampire. If anyone asks you about going outside for gym class, tell them about ‘your condition.’ 12. On the first day of school, get everyone to sign your yearbook. 13. Ask people what their favourite food is, then demand they ask about your favourite food. Then start crying and tell them how you’ve never had food. 14. When you first meet a new person, spit on your own hand. Then put out your other hand and go in for a shake. They’ll just think you’re some kind of lunatic who doesn’t know how to spit shake. 15. Instead of carrying a backpack, hire a 4-year-old to balance your books on his head.


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Stuff

Saturday, August 23, 2014 that will tickle your fancy

SHOPAHOLIC

Go casual by splurging on Daniel J’s 50K Tees T-shirt that costs $50,000.

LADYLIKE

A lady knows that it is possible to offer assistance to a gentleman without threatening his masculinity.

fitnessdorm Re-energise your face with natural light

It might not seem very obvious, but your face needs plenty of light to look its best and remain fresh and healthy. With regular exposure to daylight your complexion will suffer. Sunlight – harmful or beneficial? In our modem society we find that we are spending much less time outside. This is because our work and living habits take us from one internal environment to another, all full of recycled air and artificial light. Our answer to this kind of existence is to jet off for a short period of When Shenan Chuang started out in the advertising industry in the 1980s, Chinese time each year to places where the sun is very powerful, and then proceed to expose all our adverts were often dismissed as mere propaganda, unable to compete with powerful skin to that intensity of sunlight. This practice is Western agencies. Now in 2014, the country’s advertising market is the world’s not good for the skin and encourages damage through burning, as well as cellular damage and second largest. premature ageing, which is why using powerful sunscreen is important when on holiday. you have to learn a lot. You have Shenan’s most creative influenced you the most Seasonal affective disorder to invest yourself, and you need campaigns My family has a lot of strong However, full-spectrum light – daylight, to work hard. You have to go the In 2012 we created a poster women. My aunts are very, very especially when the sun is at its peak, around extra mile when you are in the campaign for Coke, it was called strong, and they take care of midday - is actually scientifically proven to be early stages of your career. ‘Coke Hands’ and won the everyone. So I think I learned a vital to overall health. People suffering from Grand Prix at Cannes – it was lot from them, and then also I Social media fans SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) are depressed recognised as a cultural icon for read a lot. In terms of advertising and low because of light deprivation. Studies Not that many compared to a lot the people. Recently in Taiwan I would have to say David Ogilvy, have shown that going out for a walk, even for of big shots – it’s 5.9 million. I we did a campaign for a local just ten minutes each lunchtime, exposes you think they follow me because I’m our founder. I translated one to enough full-spectrum daylight to counter bank. The TV campaign featured of his books, and I learned a lot from Ogilvy and the brand is well feelings of depression, low energy or even a group of six senior citizens about how to lead the company known in China. premenstrual syndrome. Light acts on the pineal who were not in good shape, and the company culture. And Biggest mistake ever gland in skull which is linked to your pituitary but had a dream. In honour of then our current global CEO, gland t controls the balance of hormones in My biggest mistake was in their dead friends they decided Miles Young, the reason I name your body. 1995, when I was leading Ogilvy to ride motorcycles around the him is because I think he’s Taiwan. WPP had just bought Strong light in moderato island. The campaign was very probably one of very few leaders Ogilvy and enforced a lot of Moderate exposure to sunlight at the latitude successful on Youtube and on that is very business focused, but where you normally live is actually beneficial financial discipline. My executive social media. also very people oriented. your skin, whatever your age; it encourages a creative director decided to Daily work schedule Will there ever be healthy glow and helps to heal blemishes, as leave. He thought our culture as assisting the body to manufacture vitamin a Chinese female I wake up at 5am and exercise had changed and there was which you need for bone formation and he president? before I do anything else, and too much focus on finance and joints. Obviously we expose our skin less in t I finish work around 9pm or numbers. So he left, and so did I think in Taiwan it’s very likely. colder months, and as the seasons warm up 10pm. When I first started out I a group of senior people. But I can slowly accustom our skin to the sun. We Advice to young women worked seven days a week. But was able to bounce back with a starting out in marketing established spas and health farms in Europe that was terrible and gave me new team, and it took us one and recommend spending regular time in strong communications, PR or some spine problems. In recent a half years to bounce back, but light on a daily basis. advertising years I’ve been very disciplined. I we worked together and gained I want to tell them you have to be Ten-minute treat work during the week and at the a good creative reputation in So give yourself a free ten-minute treat of light brave. You have to stand up for weekend I spend time with my Taiwan. I would say that was my each day for health, vitality and a radiant skin yourself; you have to show that friends. It’s important to take a biggest hurdle. easy to do, fits in with any schedule and helps we have what it takes to be in break, breathe and see the world. you to stay positive to improve your health and People who shaped and charge. At the beginning of your career well-being.

Shenan Chuang

Chinese ad mogul


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Stuff

that will tickle your fancy

FASCINATING FACTS 10 places you might find extremophiles Radioactive environments

Studies of the site of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear-plant disaster have revealed the unexpected survival of many species, such as the Anisakis simplex worm.

High-salt environments

Some salty places are hospitable to bacteria such as Chromohalobacter beijerinckii, a type of bacteria that’s been found in the Dead Sea and also in salted herring.

Drought-ridden environments

Arid environments support bacteria and microorganisms, including the ‘water bear’ (Tardigrades), which can survive for almost a decade without water.

Pitch-black terrestrial caves

Caves where no light ever penetrates are home to a number of unique millipedes and beetles, including Neaphaenops tellkampfi tellkampfi (also known as the cave beetle).

Inside Rocks As deep as 3 km under the Earth’s surface lives some hardy bacteria and amoebas. They are described as endolithic because they live in rock. Volcanoes The Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse) is a species of incubator bird that buries its eggs in the hot ash of volcanoes to keep them warm.

Hydrothermal vents Undersea vents with temperatures up to 750°F (400°C) are home to bacteria, tube worms, and Crysomallon squamiferum, a snail covered in protective iron scales. Deep beneath ice The shrimplike species Lyssianasid amphipods has been found 183 metres under Antarctic ice-a deeper, colder place than had been thought could sustain life. Undersea caves These lightless, inhospitable areas are called home by fish and crustaceans, including the pale and translucent cave crayfish, Orconectes australis. Lava tubes Lava carves channels in volcanoes, and between flows the tubes teem with millipedes and spiders-like the Kauai cave wolf spider, Adelocosa anops.

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THE BIG STORY

world's most

dangerous terrorists

Any compilation of the world's most dangerous terrorists is a hazardous undertaking, a shifting list that's open to endless debate. The following selection is intended neither as definitive nor a ‘league table.’ It focuses not on organisations but on men (and they are all men) alleged to be plotting, directing and in some instances carrying out acts of terror aimed at causing mass casualties among civilians.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

world's most dangerous terrorists

'Doctor' Ayman al-Zawahiri Despite the whittling away by drone attacks of ‘al Qaeda central’ in the mountainous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the group’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, remains vocal and active in trying to harness the disparate affiliates that claim the al Qaeda name. Since former leader Osama bin Laden’s death in 2011, al-Zawahiri has sought to take advantage of the unrest sweeping the Arab world, and has recognised that groups such as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb are better placed to carry out attacks than the ever-diminishing core that remains in ‘Af-Pak.’ At times, alZawahiri has struggled to exercise authority over groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq, not least because of the difficulty in communicating with far-flung offshoots. Aware that pulling off another 9/11 attack is a remote possibility, al-Zawahiri has

suggested a shift to less ambitious and less expensive but highly disruptive attacks on ‘soft’ targets, as well as hostage-taking. In an audio message last year, he recommended taking ‘the citizens of the countries that are participating in the invasion of Muslim countries as hostages.’ Since the September 11 attacks, US State Department has offered a $25m reward for information leading to his apprehension. Al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor who is now 62, is not the inspirational figure to jihadists that bin Laden was, but he is trying to fashion a role as the CEO of a sprawling enterprise. According to the Economist, he may be succeeding. ‘From Somalia to Syria, al-Qaeda franchises and jihadist fellow travellers now control more territory, and can call on more fighters, than at any time since Osama bin Laden created the organisation 25 years ago,’ it wrote recently.

Impish Nasir al Wuhayshi For someone thought to be about 36 years old, Nasir al Wuhayshi’s terror resume is already extensive. Once bin Laden’s private secretary in Afghanistan, he returned to his native Yemen and ended up in jail. But not for long: He and several other al Qaeda operatives dug their way out in 2006. He went on to to help found al Qaeda in Yemen, and began launching attacks on Yemeni security services and foreign tourists, as well as directing an ambitious attack against the US Embassy in Yemen. He is now the emir of AQAP (Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula) and widely regarded as the most dangerous and active of al Qaeda’s many offshoots. A slight figure with an impish sense of humour, with flashes of sarcastic humour and a remarkable ability to adduce Koranic verses to back up anything he said according to some who has met

him. Wuhayshi appears to have been anointed al Qaeda’s overall deputy leader in a bold move by al-Zawahiri to leverage the capabilities of AQAP. Seth Jones, a Rand Corporation analyst, called the appointment ‘unprecedented because he’s living in Yemen, he’s not living in Pakistan.’ If al-Zawahiri is al Qaeda’s CEO, Wuhayshi appears to be its COO with responsibilities that extend far beyond Yemen. It appears that in 2012 he was already giving operational advice to al Qaeda’s affiliate in North Africa. Despite a concerted effort by the Yemeni government and the United States to behead AQAP, Wuhayshi survives, and his fighters have recently gone on the offensive again in southern Yemen. The group is bent on exporting terror to the West both through bomb plots and by dispatching Western converts’ home to sow carnage.

Other dangerous terrorists Abu al-Julani While Belmoktar might have been on the fringes of a ‘most dangerous terrorist list’ a year ago, Abu Muhammad al-Julani would not have been anywhere near it. But as Syria has descended into a state of civil war, al-Julani’s group -the al-Nusra Front - has emerged as one of the most effective rebel factions. Formed in January 2012, it is a jihadist group with perhaps 10,000 fighters, many of them battle-hardened in Iraq. It has specialised in suicide bombings and IED attacks against regime forces, and its success has attracted hundreds of fighters from other rebel groups. Al-Julani personally pledged his group’s allegiance to al-Zawahiri in April, and the U.S.

State Department has branded al-Nusra as part of the al Qaedaaffiliated Islamic State in Iraq. In May 2014, the United States added al Julani to to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. AlNusra has so far not shown any inclination to take the fight to Western targets. Khalid Mohammad Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was born in Kuwait city and is a known member of Al-Qaeda terrorist group. Before the 9/11 attack, he smuggled explosives and blew up gas stations and bridges. He was one of the master minds of the 9/11 attack. He was captured after the attack. One of the interrogators of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad in the prison said that the terrorist

was tight lipped during his entire interrogation. CIA officials employed various means such as water boarding (nearly 183 times), making him to feel shameful before other officials and other physical handling methods. None of which made him to spill a word. At last CIA officials managed to keep him awake for 180 hours (5 ½ days). This made him spill the information about the future terror attacks planned on U.S. Abd Al-Rahim Al-Nashiri Saudi Arabian citizen, Abd Al-Rahim Al-Nashiri, joined Al-Qaeda in 1988 and quickly rose through the ranks to became the group’s point man in the Persian and Gulf States. He was considered to be the master mind of the USS Cole attack in 2000

and was convicted for it after he was arrested by the Saudi Arabian government in 2002. Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani Born in Tanzania in 1974, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani served as a traveling preacher and through this profession, entered Pakistan. He was responsible for the US embassy attacks in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. he was also accused of being one of the conspirators of the 9/11 attacks. He was arrested in Pakistan after the attack and maintains that he is innocent and CIA authorities tortured him. But his argument was not accepted and he was accused of all the charges. He is currently serving a life term in a New York prison for his role in the attacks.


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world's most dangerous terrorists

Ibrahim al-Asiri, Bomb expert Ibrahim al-Asiri is not a household name but one that provokes plenty of anxiety among Western intelligence agencies. The 31-yearold Saudi citizen is AQAP’s (AlQaida in the Arabian Peninsula) master bomb-maker, as expert as he is ruthless. He is widely thought to have designed the ‘underwear’ bomb that was worn by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and nearly brought down a US airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, as well as the ingenious printer bombs sent as freight from Sanaa, Yemen, and destined for the United States before being intercepted thanks to a Saudi tip-off. Al-Asiri also fitted his younger brother Abduillah with a bomb hidden in his rectum in an effort to kill Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism chief, Mohammed bin Nayef at some point. The brother

died in the attack while bin Nayef survived. In March 2011, al-Asiri was added to the US list of terrorists. Government officials say al-Asiri’s bomb plots are behind many of the security measures that have inconvenienced travellers travelling within, and to the US. The TSA’s use of body scanners that show a person effectively naked was designed to thwart Asiri’s underwear bombs. He is wanted by the government of Saudi Arabia and is the subject of an Interpol Orange Notice. His trademark explosive is PETN -- a white, odorless powder that cannot be detected by most X-ray machines. Al-Asiri is thought to be somewhere in the vast mountainous interior of southern Yemen. The anxiety among Saudi and Western intelligence officials is that he has passed on his expertise to apprentices.

Ruthless Ahmed Abdi Godane Godane, aka Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, became the leader of the Somali group Al-Shabaab at the end of 2008. Traditionally, Al-Shabaab has been focused on bringing Islamic rule to Somalia, and as such has attracted dozens of ethnic Somalis (and a few Western converts) from the United States and Europe. But Godane appears to be refocusing the group on terrorist attacks beyond Somalia, against the east African states that are supporting the Somali government especially Uganda and Kenya and against Western interests in East Africa. The Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi last year was Al-Shabaab’s most audacious, but not its first most deadly attack outside Somalia. In 2010, Al-Shabaab carried out suicide bombings in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, in which more than 70 people were killed. But the Westgate siege, which left 67 people dead, demonstrated Godane’s desire to align his group more

closely with al Qaeda. In a taped message afterward, he noted the attack took place ‘just 10 days after the anniversary date of the blessed 9/11 operations.’ Under Godane, Al-Shabaab has become a formal ally of al Qaeda. That has led to dissent, which Godane has dealt with ruthlessly, using his control of Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing. The American jihadist Omar Hammami was killed in September after criticising Godane’s leadership and his treatment of foreign fighters. Godane is said to be 36-years-old, and is originally from northern Somalia. He is slim to the point of wispy. After the Westgate attack, Kenyan and Western intelligence agencies stepped up their efforts to end his reign of terror. The US government’s Rewards for Justice programme lists him under another alias, Ahmed Abdi AwMohamed, and is offering up to $7m for information leading to his location.

Other dangerous terrorists Abu Zubaydh Abu Zubaydh was reported to be the lieutenant of Osama Bin Laden who carried out the task of recruiting and training candidates for bombing attacks. Then in 2006, he was transferred from Dark Prison to Guantanamo bay prison. In September 2009, US government admitted that Abu Zubaydh was never a part of Al-Qaeda which was in contradiction with the statement issued by 9/11 commission report in the same month of 2002. Riduan Isamudin Also known as Hambali, Riduan Isamudin was born in Indonesia. As a teenager, he joined the terrorist group of Indonesia, Jemaah Islamiah and he went to Afghanistan to fight against the

invasion of Soviet Union in 1987. He was reported to have carried out the operations of Al-Qaeda group in south-east Asia. Hence he was also known as Osama Bin Laden of South East Asia. His vision was to create a Muslim State and to rule it. But the fact that he is the link between Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah group is well established. Walid Bin Attash A resident of Pakistan, Walid Bin Attash also served as the body guard of Osama Bin Laden. He has also attacked the US embassy in East Africa in 1988. Besides these, he had also trained the 9-11 hijackers for the eventual attack. Ramzi Binal Al Shibh Ramzi Binal Al Shibh is a Yemeni citizen held by the US as an

enemy combatant detainee at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. He is accused of being a ‘key facilitator for the September 11 attacks’ in 2001 in the US. In the mid-1990s, he moved as a student to Hamburg, Germany, where he became close friends with Mohamed Atta, Ziad Jarrah and Marwan al-Shehhi. Together, they are suspected of forming the Hamburg cell and becoming central perpetrators of the September 11 attacks. Abu Faraj al-Libbi Abu Faraj al- Libbi is an assumed name or nom de guerre of a Libyan alleged to be a senior member of the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation. His real name is thought to be Mustafa Faraj Muhammad Muhammad Masud

al-Jadid al-Uzaybi. He was arrested by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 2005, in Mardan, Pakistan. Finding al- Libbi was a joint effort of the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Special Activities Division and Pakistan’s Special Forces. Since September 2006, al-Libbi has been held in American military custody in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, having previously been held at some secret location. Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah Abdullah is an Egyptian national and a member of the majlis al shura of al-Qaeda. He helped to set up terrorist training facilities in Somalia, provided a false passport to Mohammed Saddiq Odeh to enable him travel to Afghanistan.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

world's most dangerous terrorists

Rambling Abu al-Baghdadi Too vicious for even Al Qaeda, Abu alBaghdadi is indeed one of the world’s most bloodthirsty terrorists. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a soccer-playing, religion Ph.D. holder and the leader of the Islamic State. The jihadist group, known by its former name, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS is responsible for seizing cities across northern Iraq, shooting and beheading countless Iraqis along the way. Baghdadi, rarely seen, stepped into the world spotlight just over a month ago via a 21-minute video of a rambling sermon.

Baghdadi has been on the US radar for almost a decade - and was even in custody for a time. In 2011, the US posted a $10m bounty for help in capturing him. Baghdadi is believed to have been born Awwad Ibrahim al-Badri al-Samarri in 1971 in Iraq. He studied Islamic history and gained a doctorate from a Baghdad university in the 1990s. Until the US invasion of Iraq, Baghdadi lived outside of Baghdad and played for a mosque soccer team. He joined the radical group Islamic State of Iraq and rose in its ranks

as it attacked US and Iraqi government forces with suicide bombings. His group, ISIS, has been known to descend into towns and cut off people’s hands or behead them and distribute videos of the atrocities. In a eulogy for bin Laden, he threatened violent retribution for his killing. Analysts regard ISIS as a greater threat now than at any time since the US ‘surge’ and the emergence of the Sunni Awakening Councils six years ago, which then turned the tide against al Qaeda in Iraq.


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world's most dangerous terrorists

'Mr Marlboro’ Moktar Belmoktar Moktar Belmoktar is Algerian but based in the endless expanse of desert known as the Sahel. Like many in the terror business, he has an uncanny knack for survival against the odds. A year ago, he probably would not have been counted among the world’s most dangerous terrorists. Then he announced the formation of an elite unit called ‘Those Who Sign with Blood,’ which he said would be the shield against the ‘invading enemy.’ A short time later, his fighters launched an attack on the In Amenas gas plant in southern Algeria. A three-day siege left nearly 40 foreign workers dead. Since then, Belmoktar’s fighters have launched attacks on a military academy and French uranium mine in Niger in May 2014, despite losing much of their freedom of movement after the French intervention in Mali in January2014. Belmoktar is unusual in combining jihadist

credentials with a lucrative business in smuggling and kidnapping. He is often called ‘Mr Marlboro’ because of his illicit cigarette trafficking, and is thought to have amassed millions of dollars through ransoms for westerners kidnapped in Mali. Born in 1972, Belmoktar grew up in poverty in southern Algeria. He travelled to Afghanistan in 1991 in his late teens to fight its thenCommunist government, and returned to Algeria as a hardened fighter with a new nickname ‘Belaouar’ (the one-eyed). Algerian journalist Mohamed Arezki Himeur says Belmoktar lost his left eye in fighting with government troops in the 1990s and now wears a false eye. ‘He has been condemned to death (by Algeria’s courts) several times,’ he adds. He later joined forces with the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in its brutal campaign against the Algerian regime.The US government has offered up to $5m for information

Self-styled emir, Doku Umarov Doku Umarov leads the Caucasus Emirate (CE), a Chechen group dedicated to bringing Islamic rule to much of southern Russia. The US State Department named Umarov a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2010, and said subsequently he was ‘encouraging followers to commit violent acts against CE’s declared enemies, which include the US as well as Israel, Russia, and the United Kingdom.’ US officials have been investigating whether the Tsarnaev brothers who were blamed for carrying out the bombing at the Boston Marathon in April, 2013had any links with Chechen militant groups. But nothing has surfaced connecting them with CE. And the group’s main focus has been on attacking Russian institutions and civilian targets. In January 2011, it bombed Moscow’s Domodedovo

airport, killing 36 people, and suicide bombings of Moscow subway stations in 2010 killed 40 people. In July 2013, the self-styled emir of the Caucasus Emirate called on Islamists to target the Sochi Winter Olympics. Although no attacks took place during the Games themselves, two bomb blasts in December 2013 close to the volatile Caucasus region where he operated killed more than 30 people in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. a bounty up to $5m is placed on his head. In March 2014, Umarov’s death was reported by the Caucasus Emirateassociated Islamist website Kavkaz Center, which offered no details but did say his death was confirmed by the Command of the Caucasus Emirate. He was announced to be replaced by the Caucasus Emirate’s senior Sharia judge Ali Abu Muhammad.

World’s deadliest terrorist groups Al Qaeda Al Qaeda is one of the biggest terrorist groups around the world now led by Ayman al-Zawahiri. This is an extremist Islamic group that was created by Osama Bin Laden. He planned the horrendous September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and this was the group’s claim to fame. Bin Laden was feared across the globe for his integrated terrorist system and powerful strategies. This group consists of many thousands of people who have gone through years of military training and are situated all over the world. Hamas Hamas is a socio political group of Palestine that was founded in 1987. This is an organisation

that was created with the aim of Jihad in mind and to release the Palestine citizens from being in Israeli subjugation. This group is quite popular for its deadly suicide bombers and is supported by Hezbollah in its war against the Israeli civilians in Palestine. Its current leader is Khaled Meshaal. Taliban Taliban is a word that is derived from ‘students’. Taliban governed Afghanistan for around six years. It has been at a war against the NATO and also the governments of the countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2001. This deadly terrorist group was founded by the Pashto tribes and has received a lot of support from the Muslim countries.Their leader

is the one-eyed Mullah Omar hiding somewhere in Pakistan. Hezbollah Hezbollah is a group that is backed up by Lebanon, Syria and also Iran. Led by Hassan Nasrallah, this terrorist group first emerged due to the Lebanese Civil war and ever since then it has remained one of the most terrifying groups for the Arab countries. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam This is one of the most deadly terrorists group in Sri Lanka. It was first set up by Velupillai Prabhakaran and had one of the most sophisticated and organised military forces. In the year 2009, this group was decimated by the Sri Lankan army. People

still remember this group for its devilish record of killing high profile Indian and Sri Lankan politicians. The emergence of this group was one of the main reasons that led to the Sri Lankan Civil War. Kurdistan Worker’s Party Best known as PKK, this group was established on November 27, 1978 in Turkey and since then it has been fighting for the sake of an independent Kurdish State. Regarded as the face of international terror, PKK’s working region constitutes Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq and it is also enlisted by a number of counterterrorism agencies as a deadly international organization. It is led by Cemil Bayik and Abdullah Ocalan.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

world's most dangerous terrorists

Competent Sirajuddin Haqqani Regarded as one of the most dangerous terrorist groups from the Middle East to the AfghanPakistan border regions, the Haqqani Network is responsible for some of the deadly attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan in recent years. A 2008 coordinated suicide bomb attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul left six dead. Another strike in June 2011 killed 12 at the InterContinental Hotel. US officials say that in addition to its high-profile suicide attacks against hotels and other civilian targets in the Afghan capital, it is responsible for killing and wounding more than 1,000 US soldiers in Afghanistan. Known as Siraj, Haqqani is the son of the group’s founder, and is in his early 40s. ‘Siraj is a brutal criminal murderer. Jeffrey Dressler, a senior analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, told CNN last year that Haqqani is ‘very, very

competent, a very capable leader who has really grown the network over the past five, six years.’ US officials say the Haqqani Network is all the more dangerous in that its presence in the tribal territories of Pakistan is tolerated by the Pakistani government. The family belongs to the Zadran tribe, which spans the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and stretches to Khost province. The Haqqanis have a close relationship with both al Qaeda and the Taliban, but are also thought to have begun recruiting Chechen and Turkish jihadists. The Obama administration designated the Haqqani Network a terror group last year. It is regarded as well-funded because of a series of legitimate and illicit businesses that stretch to the Gulf. The reward offered by US government for information leading to his arrest is up to $5m.

Boko Haram's Abubakar Shekau Abubakar Shekau’s group points to the growing tide of Islamist militancy in West Africa. For the last four years, he has led Boko Haram, a Salafist group in northern Nigeria that has begun cooperating with other groups as far away as Mali. But its main focus remains churches and other Christian targets, the police and the moderate Muslim establishment in northern Nigeria. Suspected Boko Haram fighters broke into a college in Yobe State and murdered more than 40 students as they slept. They also kidnapped over 200 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State in a case that drew worldwide attention with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. In 2010, Shekau warned that the group would attack Western interests and the following year it carried out its first suicide bombing against UN offices in the Nigerian capital,

Abuja killing at least 23 people. The group has also kidnapped and killed several Western hostages. While Bokko Haram is not an affiliate of al Qaeda, Shekau has made clear his sympathy for the group’s goals. The United States made him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June 2012. John Campbell, a former US ambassador to Nigeria, wrote that so far, ‘Boko Haram has shown little interest in the world outside of Nigeria and the Sahel. But the situation in Nigeria is dynamic, and it is possible that closer ties will develop between al-Qaeda and elements of Boko Haram. ’Boko Haram’ means ‘Western education is forbidden’ and reflects the group’s utter rejection of modernity and Western influences. The reward offered by US government for information leading to his arrest is up to $7m.

World’s deadliest terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia This Marxist-Leninist terrorist group of Colombia is better known by its acronym – ‘FARC’ and is considered as the kingpin of illegal drug trade across the world. This organisation was established in 1964 and currently it constitutes approximately 12 thousand combatants with thousands of supporters from the rural areas. The obtained extortion money from multinational corporations and wealthier classes is invested for the betterment of poor people’s

according to them. Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna Founded in September 2003, this Iraqi guerrilla force opposes the government led by Nouri al-Maliki as well as the forces of United States in Iraq. Led by Abu Abdullah al-Shafi’i and Mullah Krekar, this group is grounded in central and northern Iraq and is said to be linked with several Islamic organisations operating in Iraq. However, intelligence agencies of the Iraqi interim government and United States linked this group to al-Qaeda but later it was revealed that there is

a wild conflict between these two groups. Aden-Abyan Islamic Army Associated to the Islamic Jihad Movement, this Islamic group works with the motive to contend against the secularism in Arab countries, significantly in Yemen. The organisation was spotlighted in December 1998, after kidnapping 16 foreign tourists in Abyan in which four of the hostages were killed in the rescue operation conducted by the Yemeni security forces. Armed Islamic Group of Algeria With an endeavour to overrule the

Algerian government, this group was founded in July 1992 and became notorious in 1994, after hijacking the ‘Air France Flight 8969’. Since then it has conducted a deadly crusade of killing innocent civilians, bombarding public places, kidnapping and raping in its area of operation. The group asserts the ideology that ‘political pluralism is equivalent to sedition’. This creed was generated in 1992, after a controversial decision of Algeria’s Military Government which blocked the political ways of a mainstream Islamic party.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

GAMETROPIC

GADGETED

Starcraft was first computer game to have ever physically made it into space sent aboard Shuttle mission STS-96 on May 27, 1999.

Samsung’s Level Box mini wireless speaker with its large 55mm stereo speaker and passive radiator is specially optimised to deliver premium-quality sound.

TechLife

Meet the cat turned hacker

Armed with a small GPS device and some hacking tools, the spy sneaks from house to house, tapping into vulnerable Wi-Fi systems and exposing networks that can be accessed with ease. But this isn’t a human testing out the security capabilities of homes; rather, it’s a cat fitted with a gadget around its neck to see if pets could hack into Wi-Fi networks. It might sound far-fetched, but it’s a scenario that was played out recently by one security expert, and while it is slightly tongue-in-cheek he

says that cats could indeed be used as mobile hackers, highlighting unsecure networks in a neighbourhood. At the recently held Def Con 22 Hacking conference in Las Vegas, Tenacity Solutions Principle Security Engineer Gene Bransfield presented a rather unusual bit of research. Titled ‘Weaponising your pets: The War Kitteh and the Denial of Service Dog,’ Bransfield’s presentation explained how he used a cat and tracking collar to hack into Wi-Fi networks. ‘The collar contained a GPS device and a

cellular component and would track your cats movements throughout the neighbourhood,’ Bransfield explained on the Def Con website. He also explains that, if the owner gets nervous that the cat might get caught, the GPS device can be used to find the cat and retrieve it. According to Wired the method used was something called ‘wardriving’, which involves scouring multiple networks to see how secure they are. Usually one might expect a hacker to drive round in a car and search for networks and see which were vulnerable. But Bransfield’s method instead fitted a cat with a digital collar and used it as a smaller ‘wardriving’ agent, something that he has dubbed ‘WarKitteh’. The modern WPA encryption, meanwhile, is more secure. Using a friend’s cat called Coco, he was able to find 23 Wi-Fi hotspots and more than a third of them used WEP encryption (a form of wireless encryption that can be easily broken into) and thus could be hacked into. While he insists his research was solely for fun and not with any malicious intent, he explains that anyone could mimic his device with relative ease.

The Germans have figured out how to 3-d print cars

The assembly line isn’t going away, but 3-D printing is going to reshape how we make cars. The EDAG Genesis points the way, with a beautifully crafted frame made from a range of materials and inspired by a turtle’s skeleton. The German engineering firm showed off the Genesis design concept at the recently held Geneva Motor Show as

Click! Click!!

proof that additive manufacturing– EDAG’s fancy term for 3-D printing– can be used to make full-size car components. It’s on an entirely different scale than the tiny, 3-D printed creations coming out of a desktop Makerbot, but it’s also just a frame–a stylised chassis that’s more art than reality. Before settling on 3-D printing, EDAG tried a few different acronym-heavy options, including selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), and stereolithography (SLA). But after extensive tinkering, the final process they used was a modified version of fused-deposition modeling, or FDM. EDAG’s robot built the Genesis concept by creating a thermoplastic

model of the complex interior, although the company says they could use carbon fibre to make the structure both stronger and lighter. EDAG envisions the Genesis as being surrounded by an exterior frame–likely steel or aluminium–to provide a tough exterior to protect the lattice-like monocoque. We’ve seen 3-D printing applied to cars before, but EDAG’s design is unique because it shows that with the right equipment you can produce a structure at a massively larger scale. Rather than printing out tiny parts and assembling them together to create a whole, the Genesis proposes that future cars could be produced in fewer steps by assembling large, exceptionally strong unibody parts.

for the upwardly mobile

Apptitude Stay on top of social network with Flipboard Flipboard is an easy way to stay on top of social networks, news, and topics you care about. It integrates your favourite blogs, news sites, and social networks into a beautiful magazine-like layout. With Flipboard you can curate your own experience too by saving your favourite stories, photos, and videos from all over the web.

Save articles to read later with Pocket Pocket is a web service and app that allows you to save articles, videos, and pretty much anything else you find online to check out later. Pocket automatically syncs across all your devices and can be used even when you aren’t connected to the Internet. The app is well-designed and integrates with over 300 different apps like Twitter, Flipboard, and Pulse.

GroupMe keeps you connected with friends GroupMe is an app that makes it easy to send messages to groups of friends. The app can assign a unique phone number to a group, so even people without the app can join in the conversation.

TheLadders, best way to track job openings Job Search by TheLadders is a welldesigned app that helps you search and track prospective jobs you’re interested in applying to. What separates TheLadders app from the competition is the ability to gauge your competition and alert recruiters at companies you’re interested in.

Google snoops on Gmail to catch paedophiles

Police in Texas ,US arrested 41-yearold John Henry Skillern last month after he allegedly sent an email to a friend containing child pornography. The tipster that blew Skillern’s cover? Google. The search giant alerted local law enforcement after detecting the allegedly illicit images in Skillern’s Gmail account, part of the company’s on-going effort to root out child porn online. In doing so, it offered a glimpse of the vast power it wields over its users. Federal law requires that Google and other tech companies report instances of child porn discovered on their services to the National

Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, a non-profit group that maintains a database of URLs and file information associated with known child pornography. Google and other companies like Facebook and Microsoft go a step further by voluntarily policing their services, including search and email, for this material. The companies use algorithms to test whether the digital information encoded in images matches against the child pornography database at the NCMEC. Google emphasises that it only uses this email-scanning technology to detect these kinds of

files, ‘not email content that could be associated with general criminal activity (for example using email to plot a burglary).’ Translation: if you’re Gchatting with a friend about buying marijuana, Google doesn’t want you to worry about being turned in. Hanni Fakhoury, a lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, called Google’s childporn-detection system ‘a targeted, narrow way to get at the problem.’ But he warned of the potential dangers involved in allowing services like Google or Facebook to police their users. ‘Child porn is terrible, but what if someone sends an email

with a pirated episode of Game of Thrones?’ Fakhoury said. ‘What if I write an email that’s harassing or contends offensive language? Will Gmail police that too, and do we want to live in a society where companies are policing that?’ Google already scans your emails and search queries for commercial purposes, presenting you with targeted ads. You give up that right to privacy in the terms of service. And those terms of service go beyond advertising, stating that Google ‘may remove or refuse to display content that we reasonably believe violates our policies or the law.’


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Cultured!

for the uninformed & clueless

CULTURE

SHOCK

There are still places in Tibet where the tradition of sky burial is practiced. As the vultures descend to gobble up the chopped bits of bodies, tourists with cameras frequently pass out.

Superstitions

Dresssense

To avoid bad luck, traditional Ukrainian men give their women friends’ only odd number of flowers.

Pixie Lott suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction Pixie Lott gave fans slightly more than they bargained for during her performance at V Festival at Weston Park, Staffordshire earlier in the week. The petite 23-year-old showed off her incredible body in a racy, bondageinspired frock which boasted a bustier top and a zip running

Proverbs

down both the front and back of the dress. But the low cut dress slipped down during her set, giving the crowd an eyeful of her flesh-coloured nipple pasties. The Mama Do singer appeared totally unaware of her wardrobe malfunction as she powered through her performance.

Do not choose your wife at a dance, but in the field among the harvesters. -Czech proverb The rooster said, ‘I shall cry but whether the sun rises God knows.’ -Georgian proverb Too clever is stupid. -German proverb

World's most expensive

Excusez-moi

… Motorcycle

Helpful hints when visiting Peru

With the world’s prominent enterprises looking to go green, various auto companies have led the way by experimenting with eco-friendly fuel options for their various new vehicles. Though these fuels have various emission levels, there have been a few with virtually zero emissions, the most obvious being electricity. High end vehicles like the Mission One Motorcycle and Roehr range prove that, it indeed is a viable option for powering high-end vehicles. Moving on the same path, Cosmic Motor’s designer Daniel Simon has created what is now the World’s most expensive electric motorbike; The Detonator. Built on the sidelines of what could be a sister model of the Tron motorbike, this edition features the lowslung chassis design with large wheels on the back and front end. The front end has a 30-inch wheel, whereas the rear end gets a 27-incher. The low slung chassis mentioned, is 3.5m in length and houses the rather compact engine of the bike, powered by Lithium-Ion batteries. The design borrows a classic theme from lowriding mean machines with the long front end handle to control directions. Speaking of the workings of the 2-wheeler, an hour of plugging in to a 110 volt power outlet, the bike is ready to go for an estimated 80-100

Peruvians are generally considered to be very warm and friendly to strangers, especially in the coastal areas and larger cities. When standing near other people in conversation or a crowd, Peruvians stand much closer than you may be comfortable with. If you’re invited to a party or out for dinner or drinks, you aren’t really expected until at least 30 minutes after the arranged time – and an hour late isn’t out of the norm. Bring a small gift for the host and hostess too.

mile journey before it needs another charge. The top speed available on this ‘Green machine’ is around 120 mph. As for the pricing, it is pegged at $100,000 a piece available from Parker Brother Outlets, or from the Cosmic Motors studio. Currently customers in the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Europe have been the lucky ones to ride this machine, but we might see this elsewhere in the world too.

Uncommon history of common things A child says, ‘Cross my heart and hope to die. She might even add, ‘stick a needle in my eye.’ She has just told a story that’s hard to swallow; the cross-my-heart oath underscores her sincerity by expressing her willingness to undergo pain or even death if she is not telling the truth. The expression stems from a Christian ritual known as the sign of the cross. Dating from at least the 13th century, the ritual involves

bringing the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger together- symbolizing the holy trinity. Adherents then touch their forehead, sternum, one shoulder, and the other shoulder, indicating the four points of the cross, or crucifix. Western Christians now go from left shoulder to right, while Eastern Christians go from right shoulder to left. As each point is touched, the worshipper may say, ‘In the name of the Father, and of the

While Peruvians rarely tip in restaurants, there is no rule that says you can’t if you’re pleased with the service, and it will be very much appreciated. It’s considered polite to always greet people properly, even shopkeepers and taxi drivers, no matter how long you’ve been acquainted.

Crossing your heart Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen,’ or the equivalent incantation in Latin. The sign of the cross is now made most commonly by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. It is performed when entering a church, before a prayer, when venerating icons, before taking Communion, and at other times to profess Christian faith or to invoke divine blessing or protection-for example, upon exposure to blasphemy. Some

people cross their heart for luck at simple tasks. So when a child makes an X over her chest and says, ‘Cross my heart,’ she is making a sacred vow in imitation of Christian ritual. The practice of placing the hand or a hat over the heart during the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem was adopted into the Flag Code signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

TRAVELOGUE Crown your experience in the ‘City of Love’ with a visit to the Louvre, located in the heart of Paris. The historic building formally used as a royal palace, is today the most visited art museum in the world.

DESIRABLeS

THE MUSTREADS AND LINGER-ONS

Keeping up with the Ecclestones When it comes to glitz, glamour and finding fame, Britain’s Tamara and Petra Ecclestone are not just keeping up with the Kardashians… but threatening to overtake them! Tamara Ecclestone

Kim Kardashian

Tamara is 30-years-old

Kim is 33-years-old

Tamara is a businesswoman and model.

Kim is a model, businesswoman and actress.

Tamara has a daughter: Sophia.

Kim has a daughter: Northwest.

Tamara’s wedding to hubby Jay Rutland cost a reported $12m.

Kim’s wedding to now ex-hubby Kris Humphries cost a reported $10.8m.

Tamara is famous because of her father, F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Kim became a worldwide sensation in 2007 after a home-made sex tape of herself and an exboyfriend, American singer Ray J, was leaked.

Tamara posed for Playboy in 2013.

Kim posed for Playboy in 2007.

Tamara starred in a reality show called Billion $$ Girl.

Kim’s reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians is on-going.

Tamara has over 111,702 Twitter followers.

Kim has more than 18million Twitter followers.

Tamara is English.

Kim is American.

Tamara and Petra Ecclestone

The high-living daughters of billionaire Formula One chief, Bernie Ecclestone are giving the US reality show family quite a run for their pots of money. Both Tamara and her American counterpart Kim Kardashian have posed for Playboy, starred in their own television shows and got their sisters in on the act. Kim’s siblings Khloé and Kourtney have their own fashion line and websites, while Tamara’s younger sister Petra followed her into modelling. Kim’s wedding to basketball player Kris Humphries in 2011 cost a reported $10.8m while Tamara’s 2013 wedding to hubby Jay Rutland, appeared to top that with her $12m nuptials in the South of France. Both brides had three dresses for their big day. Tamara followed Kim by opting for a Vera Wang gown. But Tamara outdid her competitor across the Atlantic in the entertainment stakes. While Kim hired newcomer Robin Thicke, Tamara paid Sir Elton John a reported $1.6m to play for an hour and had Mark Ronson for the DJ duties. Tamara also appeared in a below-knee-length, thigh-hugging skirt and a plunging corset top which was a dead ringer for a Kim outfit. And on the red carpet they have both been snapped thighbombing in equally racy dresses. Thanks to dad Bernie’s $4.8bn fortune, Tamara has been able to amass $1.6m worth of clothes. A slender 34C, she has a very different figure from curvy 34D Kim’s frame. Even so, both women have revealed their bodies in Playboy magazine.

Kim stripped naked first, in 2007, then Tamara followed in May 2013, though she had a massive diamond placed strategically over her most private parts. Both women are often to be seen laden with shopping, arms full of designer boutique bags. They share a fascination with French label Christian Louboutin’s high-fashion footwear. Tamara has 100 pairs and Kim has shown pictures of shelves stacked with the shoes, which can cost more than $1600 a pair. With such expensive tastes, it is just as well that both sets of parents have almost bottomless bank accounts although both Kim and Tamara have made an impressive amount of their own cash. Both have worked as models and have become television celebrities. Tamara had her own show, Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$ Girl, on Britain’s Channel 5 in 2011, while Kim has been in three reality shows, starting with Keeping Up With The Kardashians in 2007. Kim has a wider source of revenue and made a fortune by selling the media rights to her wedding two years ago, even though some commentators suggested it could have been a sham as the marriage lasted only 72 days. She has also branched out into acting, has a string of boutiques and her own perfume, has written a book with her sisters and promotes various products such as Skechers trainers. Tamara, who describes herself as a businesswoman, has a hair care range called Show. One difference between the two women lies in the way they found fame. Kim became a worldwide

internet sensation in 2007 after a home-made sex tape of herself and an ex-boyfriend, American singer Ray J, was leaked. In contrast, Tamara is well known because of her father. And the pretender to the reality celebrity crown has some way to go before she can reach Kim’s social networking popularity. Kim has more than 18million Twitter followers and her website, kimkardashian.com, gets 40million page views a month. In comparison, Tamara has 111,702 Twitter followers. But they both have a list of impressive show business pals. Kim’s friends include Paris Hilton and her wedding guests included Eva Longoria and Lindsay Lohan. She is married to Kanye West and their daughter North was born last month. Both Kim and Tamara’s sisters are familiar to the paparazzi’s camera lenses too. Kourtney, 34, and Khloé Kardashian appeared in their own fly-onthe-wall spin-off television show, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, and have their own websites. But Tamara’s little sister Petra, 24, rivals them all for spending power. She is said to have paid $20m when she tied the knot with entrepreneur James Stunt in 2011. The Black Eyed Peas played at the reception. Meanwhile, her Los Angeles mansion is even more impressive than Kim’s. She splashed out $90m on the 100-room home two years ago. Petra, who apparently borrowed money from her mum to buy the house, has said: ‘I’m not spoilt, I’m privileged, and I think there’s a big difference.’ And with their skill for flaunting their riches, there seems a good chance the British Formula One girls will soon leave the Kardashians on the starting grid.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

MiNDFUL

RANDOM

for the LEISURELY-MINDED & THOUGHTFUL

FACTS

LAST WEEK'S

CROSSWORD

1. Assortment (7) 5. Group of insects (5) 8. Large herbivorous mammal (5) 9. Pagan (7) 10. Unfeigned (7) 11. Ledge (5) 12. Lifted (6) 14. Appraise (6) 17. Notions (5) 19. Fruit (7) 21. Direction (7) 22. Taut or rigid (5) 24. Days of the month (5) 25. Embroiled (7)

BEACH BALL BOAT CLOUDS KITE LIFEGUARD OCEAN PAIL SAILING SAND SEASHELL SKY STARFISH SUN SURFBOARD SWIMMING SWIMSUIT WATER WAVES

SUDOKU CLASSIC

WORDSEARCH

WORDLADDER Can you climb the ladder and find the missing numbers?

? 155 ? 32 36

SUDOKUCLASSIC

9 12 4 6 3 See solution below

HOMEWORK FOR GROWN-UPS 1 Omphalitis is an infection of which part of the body? a) Ear b) Navel c) Leg

5. What is the zygomaticus muscle used for? a) Smiling b) Eating c) Drinking

2. Ozostomia is another name for what? a) Unkempt hair b) Body Odour c) Bad Breath

6. The inability to feel pleasure is called what? a) Anhedonia b) Anhedon c) Anhedoni

3. In the human body, where are diverticula located? a) Large Intestine b) Small Intestine c) Uterus

7. The space between your nostrils is called a what? a) Columi b) Column c) Columella

4. What part of your body has the most sweat glands? a) Your feet b) Behind your ears c) Your armpits

8. Fear of riding in a vehicle is known as what? a) Ridophobia b) Amaxophobia c) Califortobia

WORDLADDER SOLUTION

Answers

HOMEWORK

b) Navel c) Bad Breath a) Large Intestine a) Your feet a) Smiling a) Anhedonia c) Columella b) Amaxophobia

WORDSEARCH

Put each of the numbers 1-9 once in every row, column and 3x3 box

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

1. Twist (6) 2. Gruelling (7) 3. Overly eager speed (5) 4. Burrowing mammal (6) 5. Greed (7) 6. Exculpation (5) 7. Resides (6) 13. Component (7) 15. Fugitive (7) 16. Parazoan (6) 17. Chelonian reptile (6) 18. Leave (6) 20. Slant (5) 21. Aromatic wood (5)

SOLUTIONS

3(x2)=6(-2)=4(x3)=12(3)=9(x4)=36(-4)=32(x5)=160(5)=155(x6)=930

DOWN

The opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics had 965 drummers in attendance.


47

Saturday, August 23, 2014

a la carte

70%

how to ...

THE LOTS TO CHEW ON AND REGURGITATE

Percentage of people who believe in karma.

39%

…read body language Percentage of Americans who have passports.

lady'S WORDS When a lady receives an unexpected holiday gift from a friend for whom she has not bought a present. She does not say: “What are you doing giving me a present? I didn’t get you anything.” “I already got your present. I just haven’t had time to get it wrapped.” “Colly, I feel like dirt.” But she does say: “Thanks. Aren’t you kind to think of me?” True gifts are presented as tributes, not in hopes of recompense. If a lady receives an unexpected gift, she accepts it in the kindest way

she can manage. She need not attempt to come up with a gift in return, after the fact. If she wishes, she may make a point of remembering her generous friend when the next holiday season rolls around. When a friend asks to borrow a lady’s favourite sweater or silver tray and the lady would prefer not to lend it for fear it will not be returned... She does not say: “Sorry, but I’m sort of picky about the people I lend my things to.” “Don’t you know what that thing cost?” “I’m sorry, but that belonged to my grandmother and I would

just die if you broke it.” But she does say: “I wish I could help you, Monica, but I just don’t lend my silver. It’s one of my private rules.” A lady does not openly question a friend’s integrity. If she prefers not to run the risk of never having her silver punch bowl or sweater returned, she simply does not lend it. When she says this is her rule, whether it relates to lending money or lending personal property, she sticks to it.

change your world

Use second-hand instead of buying new Somewhere along the way the Western world forgot about the concept of secondhand. Some things like socks and toothbrushes will remain best bought new but there’s an awful lot of stuff out there that works just as well, if not better, after someone

Eat salad

The reason we to vote salad above cooked veggies from an environmental point of view is threefold. First, even the most inept cook can put together a world-class salad and you’re way more likely to make something a habit if it’s a pleasure. Second, salad

else has broken it in. Horses, baby paraphernalia and books come to mind. There is absolutely no reason to buy anything new for your new baby. The world is full of parents of toddlers who will be only too glad to see the back of the pram and cot as doesn’t take any cooking so straight away you’re ahead of the game on the energy stakes. Salad needs to be fresh, so it’s unlikely that energy has been used up in freezing or transporting the ingredients. Finally, salad stuff is ridiculously easy to

a sign that they can see the light at the end of the nappy tunnel. While jumble sales are largely a thing of the past, keep your eye on the local classifieds and on internet auction sites as a way of picking up second-hand bargains. grow and harvest, and once you’ve enjoyed the cachet of providing friends with a bowl of greens from your own garden, you’ll never look back. If going green can’t get you a bit of street cred once in a while, what’s the point?

laugh–out–loud

Vacation Billy Bob says to Lester: ‘You know... I reckon I’m about ready for a vacation, only this year, I’m gonna do it a little different. The last few years, I took your advice as to where to go. Two years ago you said to me to go to Hawaii. I went to Hawaii, and Marie got pregnant. Then last year, you told me to go to the Bahamas. I went to the Bahamas, and Marie got pregnant again.’ Lester says: ‘So what you gonna do different this year?’ Billy Bob says: ‘This year, I’m going to take Marie with me...’

A guy on the beach just can’t seem to make it with any of the girls, so he goes over to the lifeguard tower to see if the lifeguard has any advice for him. ‘It’s obvious dude,’ says the lifeguard, ‘you’re wearing baggy old swim trunks that make you look like an old man, they’re years outta style. Go get yourself a pair of these spandex Speedos -- about two sizes too small -- and drop a fist-sized

potato down inside ‘em. You’ll have all the chicks you want!’ The following weekend, the guy hits the beach in his tight Speedos with the fist-sized potato and... for cryin’ out loud! -- it’s worse than before! Everyone on the beach acts disgusted as he walks by, covering their faces, turning away, laughing, looking sick! So the guy goes back to the lifeguard again and asks him: ‘What’s wrong now?’ ‘Jeez!’ says the lifeguard, ‘You gotta put the potato in the front, kid!’

Check size of pupils When you walk into a dark room, your pupils naturally dilate (become larger) so that your eyes can gather more information and more light. They also dilate when you see something you like. Look at the pupils of the people you are speaking with. If their pupils are large, it is a sign of approval-they like what they see! Eye contact When people speak their honest feelings, they are able to maintain a comfortable degree of eye contact with you. However, most people tend to look away-either with their entire head, or with the eyes only- when they are not speaking their genuine feelings. Watch for this telltale sign that what you are hearing is not the complete story. Watch for fake smiles A smile is normally recognised as a sign of happiness, affection, and honesty. However, it is also possible to be on the receiving end of a forced smile. If someone is smiling at you through clenched teeth, or in a tightlipped manner, the person may be trying to deceive you. Remember: it takes longer for a genuine smile to fade than a forced smile. Look under the table Watch for fidgety leg movements and nervous leg bouncing, both of which indicate that the person is in a negative state. If you notice that someone is sitting with legs crossed and one of them is bouncing on the other, this may be an indication that he or she is feeling anxious. Also look at the combination of leg activity with arm position. When people simultaneously bounce their legs and cross their arms, it usually indicates that they are closed off. Spot a liar In addition to checking cues given off by the eyes, you can determine whether someone is fibbing by watching for the following signals: excessive hand gesturing, playing with an object in the hands, scratching the body, or tightening the lips by sucking them inward. Another dead giveaway is stiff movements of the upper body. A liar often tries to keep his body still, and if his torso appears too rigid, he may be trying too hard to control his true feelings.


48

Saturday, August 23, 2014

BONUSPACK $110 431 kmh million

THE TAKE-AWAYS THIS WEEK

KEEPSAKES

FASTFORWARD

Top speed of Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the official fastest car in the world.

ATP rankings, AUGUST 2014 Player name country

please cut along this line and keep

SEEN & OVERHEARD

Total money made by USA's rap artiste, Dr Dre, aka Andre Young in 2011-2012. Making him the years highest paid musician .

ENGLISH PHRASES End

Politics

We are not without accomplishment. We have managed to distribute poverty equally. Nguyen CO THATCH When I was in first grade, my teacher told us the President was married to the First Lady and all I could think was, ‘Wow, I wonder if she ever saw any dinosaurs? STEVEN WRIGHT This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating. GEORGE W. BUSH please cut along this line and keep

1. Djokovic Novak Serbia 2. Nadal Rafael Spain 3. Federer Roger Switzerland 4. Wawrinka Stanislas Switzerland 5. Ferrer David Spain 6. Raonic Milos Canada 7. Berdych Tomas Czech Republic 8. Dimitrov Grigor Bulgaria 9. Murray Andy Great Britain 10. Tsonga Jo-Wilfried France 11. Nishikori Kei Japan 12. Gulbis Ernests Latvia 13. Del Potro Juan-Martin Argentina 14. Gasquet Richard France 15. Isner John USA 16. Cilic Marin Croatia 17. Fognini Fabio Italy 18. Robredo Tommy Spain 19. Bautista-Agut Roberto Spain 20. Anderson Kevin South Africa 21. Lopez Feliciano Spain 22. Monfils Gael France 23. Dolgopolov Aleksandr Ukraine 24. Youzhny Mikhail Russia 25. Kohlschreiber Philipp Germany 26. Mayer Leonardo Argentina 27. Benneteau Julien France 28. Almagro Nicolas Spain 29. Karlovic Ivo Croatia 30. Simon Gilles France 31. Giraldo Santiago Colombia 32. Garcia-Lopez Guillermo Spain 33. Rosol Lukas Czech Republic 34. Haas Tommy Germany 35. Chardy Jeremy France 36. Verdasco Fernando Spain 37. Sousa Joao Portugal 38. Lu Yen-hsun Taipei (CHN) 39. Stepanek Radek Czech Republic 40. Cuevas Pablo Uruguay 41. Hewitt Lleyton Australia 42. Granollers-Pujol Marcel Spain 43. Istomin Denis Uzbekistan 44. Thiem Dominic Austria 45. Pospisil Vasek Canada 46. Young Donald USA 47. Andujar-Alba Pablo Spain 48. Seppi Andreas Italy 49. Johnson Steve USA 50. Kukushkin Mikhail Kazakhstan France 51. Roger-Vasselin Edouard Poland 52. Janowicz Jerzy 53. Dodig Ivan Croatia 54. Nieminen Jarkko Finland 55. Sock Jack USA 56. Querrey Sam USA 57. Tursunov Dmitry Russia 58. Becker Benjamin Germany 59. Kyrgios Nick Australia 60. Lajovic Dusan Serbia 61. Gabashvili Teimuraz Russia 62. Goffin David Belgium 63. Berlocq Carlos Argentina 64. Golubev Andrey Kazakhstan 65. Klizan Martin Slovakia 66. Delbonis Federico Argentina 67. Tomic Bernard Australia 68. Melzer Jurgen Austria 69. Muller Gilles Luxembourg 70. Haase Robin Netherlands 71. Mayer Florian Germany 72. Falla Alejandro Colombia 73. Sijsling Igor Netherlands 74. Kamke Tobias Germany 75. Carreno-Busta Pablo Spain 76. Vesely Jiri Czech Republic 77. Matosevic Marinko Australia 78. Struff Jan-Lennard Germany 79. Lorenzi Paolo Italy 80. Schwartzman Diego Sebastian Argentina 81. Estrella Victor Dominican Rep. 82. Mathieu Paul-Henri France 83. Gonzalez Maximo Argentina 84. Sela Dudi Israel 85. Lacko Lukas Slovakia 86. Baghdatis Marcos Cyprus 87. Bolelli Simone Italy 88. Rola Blaz Slovenia 89. Jaziri Malek Tunis 90. Mannarino Adrian France 91. Smyczek Tim USA 92. Bellucci Thomaz Brazil 93. Kavcic Blaz Slovenia 94. Stakhovsky Sergiy Ukraine 95. Ebden Matthew Australia 96. Ramos-Vinolas Albert Spain 97. Kuznetsov Andrey Russia 98. Brown Dustin Germany 99. Paire Benoit France 100. Monaco Juan Argentina

JUST UNBELIEVABLE

Geography

Rio de Janeiro - ain’t that a person? JADE GOODY We’re not lost. We’re logically challenged. JOHN M. FORD I have the world’s oldest globe. It’s flat. BUZZ NUTLEY

Exams and tests

I asked my son, ‘How did the English test go?’ He replied, ‘Oh, I done great.’ CHRIS BANKS Me fail English? That’s unpossible! RALPH WIGGUM I took an IQ test and the result was negative. ANON

Fear and paranoia

They say cheese gives you nightmares. Ridiculous! I’m not scared of cheese. ROSS NOBLE I discovered I scream the same way whether I’m about to be devoured by a Great White or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot. KEVIN JAMES And then it came to me that today is nothing more than tomorrow’s yesterday, and I was no longer afraid. David Ronka I’d like to buy a new kite - red, blue, yellow ... I don’t care ... the colour dosen’t matter. Do you have one that isn’t afraid of heights? Charlie Brown

All ends up Completely, utterly: especially in the context of sporting victories and defeats. In the midst of all this came three consecutive balls unlikely to be forgotten as Waqar, steaming in like Larwood, was crashed through the covers by Smith, then beat his man all ends up. At the end of the day When all circumstances are considered; taking everything into account. Despite the anger in Hong Kong over Tiananmen, no major company in the colony has pulled out of China. Even Mr Murray, who appeared on television to condemn Peking for its butchery, has since acknowledged that at the end of the day, we have to live with these guys. Come to a bad end To suffer a bad fate: normally used with overtones of expectation or even satisfaction that the fate is thoroughly deserved. When his eldest son, Archie, came to a bad end, in that unlucky affair of sir John Fenwick’s, old Hildebrand used to hollow out his name as readily as any of the remaining six, and then complain that he could not recollect which of his sons had been hanged. End in tears To have an unpleasant or unhappy outcome. Often times, their rejoicing ends in tears and their sunshine in a cloud. The end is nigh A formulaic predction of death or doom. Go dream of saftey when thy end is nigh. End it all To commit suicide. She had taken from a shelf and looked at a bottle of laudanum and thought how easy it would be to end it all, but she dared not do it when she thought seriously about it. Make (both) ends meet To cope financially. He is a hard man and if it were not for my nursing, we could not make both ends meet as the saying is - but he is our landlord and we dare not disoblige him.


50 SPORTS/other sports SPORTS BRIEFS FORMULA 1

Chilton To Race For Marussia

Max Chilton will compete in this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix following a remarkable U-turn by his Marussia team. Marussia announced on Thursday Chilton was to be dropped in favour of reserve Alexander Rossi due to what they described as “contractual issues”. It was understood the numerous investors behind Chilton had failed to fulfil their financial obligations in recent weeks, forcing Marussia to act. A statement from Chilton’s management company claimed the 23-year-old had “volunteered to step out of his race seat... to allow the team to attract muchneeded funds by selling his seat”.

Golovkin Set To Fight Rubio In October Gennady Golovkin, owner of a middleweight world title, insists he will fight anybody between junior middleweight and super middleweight but he has been unable to get the biggest names to sign on the dotted line. The risk for potential foes seemingly outweighs the reward. So while fighters such as middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, super middleweight champion Andre Ward and super middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. have shown little interest in fighting Golovkin, the same can’t be

GOLF

GOLF

I’m Going To Get Better As A Man – Bubba Bubba Watson has apologised for his “childish” behaviour during the US PGA Championship and claims he is trying to become a “better man”. Watson refused to compete in the tournament’s long-drive contest, choosing to tee off with a threeiron, although he later admitted it was a mistake. Watson was also heard using inappropriate language during the final round. “Obviously, I’ve made some mistakes, and I’m going to make more mistakes as the years go on, and hopefully, if that’s my worst mistake, then I’m doing all right. “So the guys that wrote articles and my friends that called me out, friends that sent me different quotes, obviously, I look up to them and say thank you, because that’s how I’m going to get better as a man.”

said for interim titlist Marco Antonio Rubio, who may not have the biggest name in boxing but he is willing to step into the ring with GGG. They will meet on Octover 18 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, K2 Promotions, Golovkin’s promoter, announced on Tuesday night. The deal had been in the works since shortly after Golovkin knocked out former titleholder Daniel Geale of Australia in the third round on July 26 in New York to retain his world title for the 11th time.

Gennady Golovkin knocked out Daniel Geale in three rounds last month

Khan-Brook Won’t Happen This Year

Mcilroy: Missing The Weekend Not An Option

After a rather tumultuous 10-day period following his US PGA win at Valhalla, Rory McIlroy’s performance at the first of four FedEx Cup play-off events on the PGA Tour perhaps should not have been a surprise. “It’s more to do with just not putting the adequate time into my game over the past week for obvious reasons,” McIlroy said after shooting three-over par at Ridgewood Country Club. “I think that’s really been it, so I’m going to grab a bit to eat here and go to the range this afternoon and work on a few things and really just catch up on some practice that I probably missed out on over the past week.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Khan-Brook

Kell Brook and Amir Khan are likely to fight next year rather than December, according to the new IBF world welterweight champion’s trainer Dominic Ingle. Brook, 28, captured the IBF belt last weekend by out-pointing American Shawn Porter in California and is expected to make a first defence at the end of the year. The unbeaten Sheffield boxer has long called upon Bolton’s former world lightwelterweight champion Amir Khan to meet him. Khan is also clinging to the hope that he will

face boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr next May, but Ingle is confident about the chances of Brook-Khan happening in 2015. “The biggest fight is either Khan over here or Floyd Mayweather in America and somewhere down the line Eddie Hearn will try and make it happen,” Ingle told ESPN. “Kell fights again in December. There’s no point in him having a lesser opponent than Shawn Porter for the next fight because once you get to the next level like Kell has, it’s what motivates you. Kell gets up for big fights.

Hamilton: There’s No Tension Lewis Hamilton is confident he has cleared the air with his Mercedes bosses following the team orders furore at the Hungarian Grand Prix but cannot vouch the same for teammate Nico Rosberg. Following Formula One’s return from its summer break with the circus in Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, the focus was swiftly back on the knife-edge scrap for this year’s title between the two Mercedes stars In particular given what transpired at the last race in Hungary when Hamilton was surprisingly told to

allow Rosberg by. Hamilton, however, declined to let the German through, rightly citing the fact he was never close enough to make an overtaking manoeuvre. The duo eventually finished third and fourth in the race, allowing Hamilton to close the gap on a disgruntled Rosberg in the drivers’ standings to 11 points heading into the final eight races. “We don’t always individually make the right decision, and the team won’t always make the right decision. “But the best thing is we learn from our experiences and move forward.

Hamilton and Rosberg

Murray Opens Against Haase At Flushing Meadows

Murray

Andy Murray will face Robin Haase in the first round of the US Open, which starts in New York on Monday. Murray is seeded eighth due to Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal, while Dutchman Haase, who has never progressed further than the second round at Flushing Meadows, is currently ranked 70th in the world. Murray has also been drawn in the same quarter as world No.1 Novak Djokovic, who opens against 80th-ranked Diego Schwartzmann, and the pair could meet in

the last eight. Second seed Roger Federer opens against world No.77 Marinko Matosevic. Murray, who has not won a tournament since Wimbledon 14 months ago, has faced Haase at the US Open before, when they met in the second round in 2011. Then, Murray came from two sets down to win in five. Haase won their first ever meeting in straight sets in Rotterdam six years ago, while Murray eased past Haase at last year’s Australian Open.


REPORTS/SPORTS 51

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Bolt To Call Van Gaal If United Lose Against Sunderland Usain Bolt says he intends to call Louis van Gaal if Manchester United lose again at the weekend against Sunderland. The 28-year-old, who just days ago raced insides 10 seconds in a 100m win on Copacabana beach, has said in a recent press conference that he will be straight on the phone to the Dutchman if United fail to recover from a disappointing opening day defeat against Swansea. He said: 'I haven't talked to him yet. He lost the first game so I'm

giving him some time and I'll wait to see if he does any better on Sunday. But if he doesn't I'll probably need to give him a call.' Bolt has previously stated his desire to play for the Red Devils and with his pace and power could forge a career for himself in the game when he retires from Athletics. He added: 'I definitely want to try (trial for United). So hopefully I'll do a few trials and see if I'll be any good.'

Blanc: Di Maria Transfer Difficult

Usain Bolt has established himself as the fastest man on the planet

Ferdinand Dreams About England Job

Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand has revealed his desire to manage England one day. The 35-year-old won 81 caps for the Three Lions during his international career, and was named as captain for the 2010 World Cup before injury ruled him out. His playing days are not yet over - he is currently with QPR - but when he does retire, the former Manchester United man wants to represent his country again. "Everyone has dreams of playing for England and my dream after football is to manage England," he told the Daily Mail. "I don't expect the chance now, but once I get

the badges I am there. If I don't get a job in management I will wonder why. "I will give myself the best opportunity of getting the job by getting all the badges. "I don't think people should start shouting the odds about the opportunity to manage clubs until they have their badges. I am not sitting here saying 'give me a job' because I don't have them yet." Ferdinand believes other countries have shown the way when it comes to selecting international managers. "(Joachim) Low, (Jurgen) Klinsmann were young geezers when they started out with Germany," he said.

Mackay Sorry For ‘Text Banter’

Malky Mackay has apologised for sending text messages he admits were “disrespectful of other cultures” - but claims they were “part of friendly text banter”. The former Cardiff boss and Iain Moody are alleged to have shared racist, sexist and homophobic texts when the latter was head of recruitment at the club. The pair were sacked by the club last season and the Welsh club have sent a dossier to the Football Association alleging misconduct. The League Managers’ Association issued

a statement on Mackay’s behalf which read: “If Malky has caused any offence by these two isolated matters he would wish to sincerely apologise.” The LMA claims the club searched more than 10,000 private text messages and found two from Mackay that were “with the benefit of hindsight, very regrettable and disrespectful of other cultures”. The statement added: “These were...sent in private at a time Malky felt under great pressure and when he was letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter. Mackay

Wenger: Wilshere Should Ignore Critics Arsene Wenger has told Jack Wilshere to ignore his doubters and focus on proving his worth on the field for Arsenal. Wilshere made his Premier League debut for Arsenal in 2008 as a 16-year-old, and was widely tipped to become a driving force in the club’s midfield. A series of injuries has subsequently stunted his progress, and Wilshere has come in for criticism recently over a perceived lack of development. Both Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher - now working as TV pundits - have questioned whether the 22-year-old has lived up to his real potential, leading boss Wenger to come out in support of his player. “I believe at the moment he should not respond to the criticism, just focus on his game,” said the Frenchman.

football BRIEFS

Suarez

“If Wilshere can maintain his fitness, then he will make a huge career. At the moment, I believe he should just focus on that - being fit, present and to improve physically.”

European And Epl Clubs Circling For Jets Several European clubs, including from the Premier League, are in talks to buy A-League Newcastle Jets, owner Nathan Tinkler has claimed. Tinkler confirmed on Thursday that the club was up for sale as he looks to end his involvement in football and focus on other business opportunities. And the Australian mining magnate – who also wants to sell NRL club Newcastle Knights and his Patinack Farm racing stable – revealed that several clubs were circling for the Jets. Speaking to Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio on Friday, Tinkler said: “German, Spanish and English clubs are best placed to groom young talent in

Australia. “If we can do a deal with one of those countries, it will put the Jets in a better spot and it will be a win for the community and everyone involved. “We’ve been in talks with a number of Premier League and European clubs, they’ve been going on for a little while.” Tinkler believes Manchester City’s purchase of another A-League club, Melbourne Heart, will set a precedent.

Newcastle Jets players

Paris SaintGermain coach Laurent Blanc conceded Financial Fair Play sanctions have prevented the club from signing Angel Di Maria. Ligue 1 champions PSG and Premier League side Manchester United are reportedly in a tug-of-war for the services of Di Maria after Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti revealed on Thursday the star winger had asked to leave the UEFA Champions League winners.

Neymar A Doubt For Elche Clash Barcelona striker Neymar is a doubt for his side's La Liga season opener against Elche on Sunday after suffering an ankle injury. The Brazil star - who has only just returned from a back injury sustained at the World Cup – scored twice in Barcelona's 6-0 friendly win over Leon on Monday. But the 22-year-old could miss the beginning of Barca's league campaign after the Spanish club confirmed on Friday that he was battling an ankle issue. "Following the Thursday training session, Neymar Jr. complained about some pain his left ankle," a club statement read. "And tests have confirmed the player has a grade one ankle sprain. The club's medical team has indicated that his return to training will depend on how the injury treatment evolves."

Millen To Decide Palace Transfers

Keith Millen will spearhead Crystal Palace's transfer window recruitment drive in the wake of sporting director Iain Moody's resignation. Caretaker manager Millen will lead Palace for the second week running in Saturday's home Premier League clash with West Ham. Moody resigned on Thursday amid an FA investigation into allegations of racist, sexist and homophobic text messages he exchanged with Malky Mackay when the pair worked at Cardiff City. Cardiff handed the FA a dossier of evidence which ultimately ruled Mackay out of the Palace job, vacant after Tony Pulis quit Selhurst Park on the eve of the season.


52 SPORTS/COMMENT

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Okagbare: Nigeria's Golden Girl By SAMUEL MALIK, Abuja

Nigeria’s sprint sensation and multitalented athlete, Blessing Okagbare, must be living the dream of every athlete; success, fame and recognition that come with hard work, deprivation and holding of nerves when it matters most. Her recent feats, the latest of which is the 100m gold she won this week at the 2014 African Athletics Championship and in the process becoming the first athlete ever to win the Commonwealth and African 100m titles in the same year, indicate she is on course to have a blistering career on a global stage, culminating in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Born on October 9, 1988, in Sapele, Delta, Okagbare initially played football, having been encouraged by her teachers to take up sports due to her athletic physique. But in 2004, she picked interest in track and field events and took part in some activities, like long jump, triple jump and high jump, where she won a medal in each at the Nigerian school games. With that, she was thrust into the limelight. At the 2004 National Sports Festival, Okagbare won bronze in triple jump and had her first international outing two years later at the World Junior Championships in Athletics, where she participated in the long and triple jumps competitions qualifying rounds. At the 2007 All-Africa Games she won silver in long jump and placed fourth in the triple jump. Her first Olympics outing came at the age of 19 in 2008 where she won bronze in long jump in Beijing. She would go on to complete a 100 m/long jump double at the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship for University of Texas at El Paso, amassing an undefeated collegiate streak that year. At the 2010 African Championships, she claimed gold in the long jump and 100m race. Her third gold medal came at the end of the championship when she led the Nigerian 4×100m women's relay team, made up of herself, Osayomi, Lawretta Ozoh and Agnes Osazuwa, to finish top and in the process set a new championship record with a run of 43.43 seconds. A year later, Okagbare continued to promote herself as a 100m runner and finished fifth at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, running 11.12 seconds. However, her best jump of 6.36 m was not enough to get her pass the qualifying group of the long jump. Her Daegu experience came in handy as she finished the year with three medals at the All Africa Games in Mozambique, winning silver in the 100m with a run of 11.01 seconds, gold in the long jump with a jump of 6.5 0m and gold as part of the Nigerian 4x100m relay team with a time of 43.34 seconds. 2012 was a busy and mixed year for Okagbare. She jumped 6.97m in the long jump in Calabar and headed for the continental games where she won silver

in the 100m, while her 6.96m jump was enough to win her the long jump gold at the 2012 African Championships in Porto Novo. On a global stage, 2012 was not a good year for the Delta-born athlete. Having run a number of 100 m races, expectations were high heading to the London Olympics, she was expected to match, if not surpass, her 2008 achievement. Though she set a new personal best of 10.92 seconds in the 100m semi-final, she finished a dismal eight with a run of 11.01 seconds in the final, and like other members of the Nigerian contingent, failed to win a medal at the games. Success was, however, not to be denied smile-loving Okagbare and 2013 proved to be a breakthrough year. In April, in Walnut, California, she set a personal record in the 200 m with a time of 22.31 seconds and three months later she set a new personal best in the long jump with successive jumps of 6.98 m at the Athletissima meet in Lausanne, and 7.00 m during the Monaco Herculis meet. At the London Anniversary Games, Okagbare set a new African record of 10.86 seconds in her 100m semifinal race and won the final with a new continental record of 10.79, in the process beating reigning 100m Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Her feat broke Glory Alozie’s 15 years 10.90 seconds record set in 2008. In the same year, Okagbare won silver in long jump at the World Championships in Moscow with a jump of 6.99m, just two centimetres behind winner Brittney Reese. She won bronze in the 200m and finished sixth in the 100m. At the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Okagbare won the 100m with a time of 10.85 seconds, shattering the games 12 years record of 10.91 seconds set by Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in 2002. Not done, Okagbare also won gold in the 200m, with a time of 22.25 seconds, becoming the second African to win the Commonwealth Games Women’s 100m title, since Nigeria’s Mary Onyali-Omagbemi won in 1994 and the fourth woman to win the 100m and 200m double at the Commonwealth Games. Fresh from the Commonwealth Games, Okagbare picked up from where she left by winning gold at this year’s African Athletics Championship with a run of 11:00 seconds, a new tournament record, ahead of Ivorian and world silver medallist, Murielle Ahoure.

What They Say About Her

She Is The Wonder Girl Of Africa – Ndanusa The president of Nigerian Olympics Committee and former sports minister, Sani Ndanusa, says: “She is the wonder girl of Africa and a blessing to Africa. Her performance and commitment to what she knows how to do best is exceptional.

Blessing Okagbare celebrates after winning the 100m

“Okagbare’s success is a Nigerian success and the value it adds to the country is very high. From her behaviour and ways, she carries success and total commitment and that is what I want our young athletes to learn from her. “I am happy that she was able to recover from London (Olympics) but that recovery we must thank the governor of Delta state (Emmanuel Uduaghan), who has passionately supported her technically, morally and financially.” Nigeria Has Got A Gem – Gumel International Olympics Committee member and president, Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Habu Gumel, says: “How she has been able to maintain a high level of performance over the years is remarkable and if you look at her performances after the London Olympics, you will notice that she did not allow that failure to deter her. “Another thing I love about her is that she strives to improve on what she does and that can only be positive because with the way she is going, Nigeria has got a gem and something to cheer, particularly as Rio 2016 (Olympics) is less than two years away.” • • • •

Okagbare’s Personal Bests 100 metres – 10.79 seconds (2013) 200 metres – 22.23 seconds (2014) Long jump – 7.00 m (22 ft 111⁄2 in) (2013) Triple jump – 14.13 m (46 ft 41⁄4 in) (2007)

60 metres (indoor) – 7.18 seconds (2010)

Medal Record Olympic Games Bronze 2008 Beijing Long jump World Championships Silver 2013 Moscow Long jump Bronze 2013 Moscow 200m Commonwealth Games Gold 2014 Glasgow 100m Gold 2014 Glasgow 200m Silver 2014 Glasgow 4x100m All-Africa Games Gold 2011 Maputo Long jump Gold 2011 Maputo 4x100m Silver 2007 Algiers Long jump Silver 2011 Maputo 100m African Championships Gold 2010 Nairobi 100m Gold 2010 Nairobi Long jump Gold 2010 Nairobi 4x100m Silver 2012 Benin 2012 Benin Gold 2014 Morocco 100m Gold Long Jump 100m Continental Cup Bronze 2010 Split 100m

Nigeria has got a gem and something to cheer, as Rio 2016 is less than two years away Agree or disagree? We want to know what you think . You can have your say by emailing weekendsports@leadership.ng or tweeting @sportsmetronome


potpourri 53

Saturday, August 23, 2014 Patrick Ebi-Amanama saintpatrick1996@gmail.com

Background: The story behind the picture

Spending Quality Time With Our Kids Is Important There is an old primary school song that goes, “Parents listen to your children; we are the leaders of tomorrow. Try and pay our school fees, and give us a better education.” The photo above shows a father dutifully teaching his young daughter how to operate his professional digital camera. He holds his hands over her tiny ones to guide her as she tries to take a photograph, smiling to himself as he encourages her. The image stirs up warm feelings of father-daughter attachment, but also shows us what it means to be a parent. Paying school fees is important for a child’s formal education, but paying attention to a child’s development in other

Things You Only Know When You’re Single Amarachi Aibangbe

amaflysky@yahoo.com Feedback: amaflysky@yahoo.com

Value Each Other

R

elationships involve sharing life together which generally is about giving and also receiving. It is okay to share some problems and challenges with your partner but a lot of times people expect their partners to be able to solve all their problems and meet all their material needs. To a large extent partners should be willing to meet the needs in their relationships, but in many cases all needs cannot be met. This situation of always making your partner provide for your every need is very common with the ladies. Even when a man genuinely loves his lady, he can get tired of her demands eventually. Ladies need to understand that a man is not supposed to take care of all her needs. If a lady expects her man to do everything for her and fulfill all her desires, that lady would lose the respect her man has for her. Things have changed and are quite different from the days of

our parents. Men prefer independent women; women who can look after themselves and not women who are liabilities. A woman who makes herself look like she can’t afford her basic needs simply because she expects her partner to provide for her, garners little or no respect from her partner. “Men do not really appreciate ladies who always demand and expect them to do almost everything; they rather admire a hardworking and sensitive woman who can set her priorities right and take care of at least 50-70 percent of her basic needs.” Those are the words of Chimezie Anthony, a thirty-five year old relationship counselor. Ladies often want to test a man to know if he would be capable of taking care of them in a relationship; because of this they make the mistake of presenting themselves as very materialistic and demanding and this very act scares most men off and beyond that, it gives them a not-so-good impression of the lady.

Dear Amarachi, My name is Aisha, I’m 28 years old and already very successful. I have been dating my fiancé for 3 years and it has been an amazing journey so far. I was so happy the day he asked me to marry him, because I had dreamed of what the day would feel like and truly it was everything and more than I had fantasised. The issue I’m faced with at the moment is that my fiancé and his family insist that I get pregnant before we can get married, which is strongly against my religion and personal beliefs. I have spoken to him about my stand but his family has refused to accept any other option. I am getting frustrated by the whole situation and I really do not know what to do anymore. Please I need your advice! Aisha, Lagos.

Dear Aisha, Your situation is a very common one and unfortunately many ladies give in to this really selfish demand. Marriage is primarily for companionship and not because of children, so no one should be put under pressure at any point just because of bearing children. If your fiancé truly loves you, he should be matured enough to stand up to his family and support you and your beliefs. May God give you the wisdom you need. Amarachi

areas is also important for a child’s total wellbeing. Children soak up knowledge rapidly, both what is taught in the formal classroom and what is seen, heard, and done at home. Parents can mould their children’s understanding of the world by what they choose to expose them to at a young age. For example, a parent who notices that his daughter seems to have a love for music and dance may start enrolling her in dance and music classes from a young age in order to encourage those talents. Once you have a child, you will always be a father or mother, but the time you have to influence the type of person your child will become is limited. In that short time, parents

should take an active interest in developing their children’s worldview and experiences, and not leave it up to television, school, and nannies to notice and encourage their child’s potential. In the long run, the investment of time, passion, commitment and prayer that a good parent pours into his or her child is bound to pay off. And when your child stands in her proudest moment to receive accolades for a job well done, he or she will be able to say with heartfelt sincerity and pride, “I want to thank my daddy and my mummy for everything they have done to help me become who I am today. I love you.” And that will be rewarding and honourable enough.

Faces In The Crowd BY AMARACHI Aibangbe, Abuja

Doyin Baruwa Medical Doctor How would you describe a perfect dinner party?

A perfect dinner party would entail good food- starter, main course and of course dessert. Some good form of entertainment would also be useful.

Lilian Asukwo Fashion and style blogger What is a perfect shoe for you?

A perfect shoe for me must be very comfortable and should be able to go with any choice and colour of clothes.

Morenike Molehin Business manager What would be a perfect holiday for you?

My perfect holiday would be to travel to an island with friends or family; where we forget about the issues of life and just relax and actually enjoy nature and good food.


54 Feature

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Abandoned Utako District Hospital

Utako District Hospital: When Will The Jinx Be Broken? The construction of Utako-Abuja district hospital, which was aimed at providing health care services to residents of Utako district and its environs commenced about five years ago. DAVID ADUGE-ANI reports that the project has been abandoned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for undisclosed reasons.

F Despite the amount spent on the project so far, there is no tangible thing on ground to show for it

or an onlooker, the construction site of the Utako District Hospital is a shadow of itself, a far cry from what it was when the contract was first awarded. The entire premises, including the buildings under construction are already overtaken by weeds. The area was deserted, wearing the look of a graveyard, when LEADERSHIP Weekend visited during the week. Only pockets of security guards are currently manning the entrance gate to the premises. One could see the frustration on the faces of the security guards in the premises who are yearning for the quick completion of the project. The contractor has also moved its equipment out of the site. This is just as none of the five buildings under construction at the site have been completed. One of the buildings has been roofed and plastered but others are still at various stages of construction. While still under construction, one of the buildings collapsed, heightening fears about the competence of the contractor, among concerned observers.

The inability of the FCT administration to complete the project has also drawn the ire of the House Of Representatives Committee on the FCT, led by rep Emmanuel Jime, who in March this year, listed it as one of the abandoned projects to be investigated, of the N470 billion abandoned projects in the capital territory. Speaking on the hospital, Jime said, “We had been to Utako District Hospital and upon inspection, noticed some defects in the architectural design of the building.one of the members raised a query and today, one of the buildings has collapsed, with billions of naira going down the drain.” Residents of the area, who would be the ultimate beneficiaries if the project is completed, have also expressed concern over its abandonment. A cross section of residents of Utako, Jabi, Dakibiyu and other surrounding districts said the absence of a general hospital around them has made access to healthcare herculean as they are constrained to visit hospitals in other districts, which are already facing challeng-

es of overpopulation. Investigation by LEADERSHIP Weekend revealed that the contract for the construction and equipping of the 220-bed hospital was awarded in 2009 at the cost of N4.263 billion to a company, M/S PPC Medical Systems. It was also gathered that about N2.222 billion has been paid to the contractor for the project, being more than half of the total contract sum. Despite the amount spent on the project so far, there is no tangible thing on ground to show for it. In his appraisal of 2013 budget, the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed had disclosed that out of the N1 billion budgeted for the hospital in 2013, only about N95 million was spent. Our reporter also gathered in this year’s budget proposal, the administration had requested for about N450.64 million to enable it continue with the project. However, in a manner that pointed towards a deliberate cover up, every effort to get the position of the FCT administration on the project failed as the officials in charge of the project

refused to speak with LEADERSHIP Weekend on the matter. However a source in the FCTA, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the administration is currently searching for a new contractor to continue with the construction and equipping of the hospital since the contractual agreement with the former company, PPC Ltd has already been terminated. He stated that the administration had terminated the contract with the company because it was discovered that the company does not have the competence to finish the project. “The administration has already terminated the contractual agreement with PPC Ltd because it was discovered that the company does not poses the capacity and competence to deliver on the project. Presently the administration is searching for a new contractor for the project,” the source said. On why it is taking so long to find a new and competent contractor for the project, the source said, “As you know, the process is tedious because they have to go through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the contract to be approved and all these procedures take a lot of time,” he said. But during a visit to the Abuja office of PPC Ltd located in Asokoro district of Abuja, the manager of the office told our reporter that he does not know anything about the contract or why the project was stopped. The manager of the office who also refused to disclose his name referred LEADERSHIP Weekend to the FCT administration, whom he said he believe have all the necessary information concerning the project. He told our reporter that he was not aware that the contractual agreement between his company and the FCT administration on the hospital project had been terminated. “Please I am not competent to speak on this project and nobody in our Abuja office can speak on this project. You can either go to the FCT administration for all the information you need on the project or you visit our office headquarters which is located in Lagos for details on the project. Our reporter also gathered that PPC Ltd (formerly Philips Projects Centre) located at 8 Kofo Abayomi Street Victoria Island Lagos is a wholly Nigerianowned limited liability technology company. Its core activities are primarily geared towards providing specialised integrated solutions and services for key engineering solutions in ICT, Energy/ Power, medical and other utility sectors. The question residents who are eager to see the hospital completed are however asking is, who will break the jinx and see to it that the hospital is completed. Will it be ith incumbent minister? Only time shall tell.


Feature 55

Saturday, August 23, 2014

NFF Glass House Fire: Sabotage Or Coincidence? BY SAMUEL MALIK, Abuja

The fire that razed the offices of the general secretary and the head of finance of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday continues to elicit reactions from Nigerians, with some claiming it was a deliberate attempt by the embattled leadership to obliterate evidence against it, while some think otherwise. The incident occurred two days after the ousted president, Aminu Maigari, was returned following world football governing body, FIFA’s instruction. It also emerged that the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, headed by Godfrey Gaya, had requested the NFF’s financial records following the inglorious events that followed Nigeria’s participation at this year’s FIFA World Cup, which led to some arrests and the subsequent removal of the president, Aminu Maigari. Commenting on the incident, Gaya had said: “This happened when my committee requested for NFF’s financial records, which makes it (fire) suspicious. Now all evidence may be lost in the fire that affected strategic offices.” However, the NFF swiftly moved to deny the loss of any financial records. According to the general secretary of the federation, Musa Amadu, who said no foul play was suspected and no vital document was lost, the federation’s activities will not be affected. “We suspect no foul play and we want to assure Nigerians that the job of the Federation will not be affected in any way, we will continue our normal duties until we get to the root of the whole thing. The accounts department was not affected and all our financial documents are intact, and the trophies that we have won are also intact,” he said. Similarly, chief accountant, Andekin Christopher, said no financial document was damaged. “All the financial documents are in the accounts department and are intact. The only documents in my office that were affected are files concerning competitions which need clarification before I forward them to the account,” he stated. Mike Umeh, vice president of the federation, thinks otherwise. Speaking to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND Sports, Umeh queried why the fire had to affect two sensitive offices. “Why (did) the fire have to start from the account department or the general secretary of the account department? This looks to me like sabotage.” Umeh said the timing of the fire outbreak, at a time when the Maigari-led board is being investigated, was curious. “You know, not very long there had been arrests because

The NFF Glass House in Abuja where some offices were burnt on Wednesday morning

of financial misappropriation. Like they said, the AFCON Cup and FIFA U17 World Cup trophy were not among burnt items. Are they saying they knew this thing (the fire) was going to happen before removing them (the trophies)? These are the things that make us say there is to more to it than what you are seeing,” he said. Football fans also seem to question the time of the incident, most of who feel there is more to it than the NFF is saying. Blaming the NFF president, Aminu Maigari, Emmanuel Ogwuche Adams says: “The NFF president has succeeded in getting what he wants. By setting the office on fire, there will be no document to probe him of misappropriation of fund.” Another fan, who called himself Joe Blackman, also thinks the incident was suspicious. According to him: “Why the accountant’s office? There’s something suspicious about this fire. All the paperwork to probe the past administration has been set on fire.” Uti Matthew, another fan, says arrests should be made. “This is too clear a fact that documents were burnt to destroy evidence and proof of corruption in the glass house. All in the glass house should be arrested and prosecuted for arson and fraud.” Football administrator and for-

mer Gombe State FA chairman, Gara Gombe, says it is wrong for people to jump into conclusion regarding the cause of the fire. “Those who are saying it was sabotage, it is not correct. If you are conversant with the structure of the secretariat, the office of the head of finance is next to the office of the general secretary and everybody is saying it started from the office of the head of finance. Was it the head of finance that said the fire started from his office? All these are just speculations. “And again, if you know how those offices are, if there are documents that you need to investigate the NFF about finance, there are no (such) documents in the office of the head of finance. The head of finance, as I know the office, does not keep documents.The documents of all financial transactions of the NFF are in the office of the chief finance officer, which is in another wing and which the fire did not touch, and any document you are looking for with the head of finance, if really you are looking for documents, the auditor also has a copy. The general secretary’s documents are not financial records. So, why are people raising dust?” Spokesman of the federation, Ademola Olajire, however attributes the fire to electrical fault but Gombe thinks he could not have known so with certainty. “(Olajire)

said it was a spark from an electrical switch that caused the fire. That is unthinkable and unprofessional. At what point did he investigate to know that it was a spark from the switch? Was he there when the fire started? What time did the fire start? Is there any evidence to show that it was an electrical fault?” Gara Gombe also does not think it is wise to point accusing fingers at any party, preferring to wait for investigation to be concluded. According to him: “Why don’t we wait for the police to finish their investigation, then we pass our judgments and comments? Even if the police finish the investigation, it is not a judgment. It could be sabotage, it could be arson, it could be all sorts of things but I will not at this time put the blame at anybody’s doorstep. What I can say is there are elements of desperation and it is this desperation that is taking people, who I will not say, too far,” adding, “I do not think they (NFF members suspected of masterminding the incident) would be so stupid to burn down the office simply because they wanted to destroy evidence, evidence that they could have destroyed all this while.” When contacted, Patrick Omorodion, media adviser to the minister of sports, Tammy Danagogo, said the minister was out of the country and he (Omorodion) could not comment on the issue.

Why the accountant’s office? There’s something suspicious about this fire. All the paperwork to probe the past administration has been set on fire


56

OPINION

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Pastor T. O. Banso Faith 08155744752

I But don’t correct to destroy; correct to save. Remember, Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com

Judge Yourself (2)

began this series last week and part of the things I said was that the popular Scripture, “Judge not, that you be not judged” does not say we shouldn’t judge at all. What Matt 7:1-6 is against is a self-righteous hypocritical attitude, judgmental disposition, unfair criticism. As I said, if we’re not to judge at all, Jesus wouldn’t have said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24 NKJV) God wants you to judge yourself before you judge others. Judging yourself before you judge others will make you humble, objective and compassionate ¬– not arrogant and judgmental. James 2:13 says, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (NKJV) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt 5:7 NKJV) The Bible is telling you that before you condemn others, before you tear them down, remember that what you sow is what you reap; the standard you use to judge others will be used to judge you. If you

realize this, you’ll be mindful how you criticize another person. Even if it’s the truth you’re saying, you’ll careful about your choice of words, method and manner of presentation. You’ll speak the truth in love. (Eph 4:15) This is not to ignore or tolerate sin in others. But don’t correct to destroy; correct to save. Remember, Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it. Many people invest too much time in judging others but fail to judge themselves. They’re correcting what’s wrong in others while pretending all is well with them. They’re like whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful on the outside but are filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity; they outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside they’re full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matt 23:27-28) 1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and

showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” (NLT) And you’re a hypocrite if you’re judging others for the same sin (or even worse sins) you’ve persisted in committing. All Christians are “work-in-progress.” No Christian has attained sinless perfect. Therefore, your number one priority should be the log in your eyes and not the speck in another’s eyes. Don’t be too quick or excited to condemn another because you may not have all the facts and your judgment may be wrong “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the

world.” (1 Cor 11:27-32 NKJV) In this Scripture, as you’ve seen, a man (woman) should examine himself (verse 28) we should judge ourselves so that we’ll not be judged by God (verse 3) and the judgment by God is to prevent believers, from being condemned with the world (verse 32). I could see three types of judgment in that passage but I won’t be able to go into that today. That’s where I’ll start next week. I believe God has spoken to you. Be a doer of the Word of God. Judge yourself. Take Action! If you want to be born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I’m a sinner and I cannot save myself. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I‘m saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God”. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

Friday Ebinyi Impactful View impactfulview@gmail.com

Tel: 08150741383 (text only)

Pacifying The Silent Cry Of A Child Children form an integral part of every family and community just as the sustainability of the human race depends on procreation. What constitutes childhood is defined not only by culture and religious values but by the degree of civilization. In Nigeria, children according to the Child Rights Act are persons less than 18 years of age. It is interesting to know that children occupy an important place in God’s heart and He cares for every child. His love for children transcends the love of a biological mother or parents, and thus he watches over every child. Child abuse according to a free online dictionary is defined as the physical, emotional and sexual maltreatment or neglect of a child. Herrenkohl in the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect (2005) also defined child abuse as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploi-

tation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” There still remain controversies about the extent of maltreatment or neglect that constitutes child abuse, since emotional harm for instance may be difficult to quantify except in extreme cases of physical or sexual abuse. The African Network for Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) in capturing the African setting, defines child abuse as the “the intentional, unintentional or well intentional acts which endanger the physical health, emotional, moral and the educational welfare of children.” This definition covers all the acts done under the guise of culture or religion which are contrary to the welfare of the child as a person. In the light of this definition, child abuse is the fruit of any act of omission or commission by either parent or parents or any other caregiver which lead to a physical, emotional or sexual maltreatment

of a child irrespective of the assent of the child. All these definitions condemn acts that will hurt any child’s physical or emotional wellbeing. The issue of child abuse is a contemporary one because traditionally in most parts of the world, children had little or no right of their own. They were regarded as properties of their parents who were to be seen and not heard. History has it that in ancient Rome, the fathers had the legal right to kill their children and in some other cultures, it was permissible for the parents to sell their children to slavery. In Biblical times, it is recorded that the heathen kings sacrificed their children to idols for victory in warfare. This underscores the extent a godless life can equally be abused by the devil whom the godless have chosen as father. Child abuse may occur not only at home but in schools, workplaces or any other place in the community. Child abuse is assuming a public

health concern all over the world. This is because practices which hitherto were considered acceptable in some societies are frowned at in recent times. There are four major categories of child abuse. These are physical, emotional, neglect and sexual abuse. There are also cultural practices as old as some communities especially in developing countries that are now recognized as child abuse. These include child labour, child trafficking, female genital mutilation otherwise called female circumcision, child marriage and violence against children that are accused of involvement in the practice of witchcraft. Child labour includes work considered mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children which deprives them of opportunities for schooling and development. Traditionally, children are engaged in menial activities such as farming and hawking for economic reasons.

There still remain controversies about the extent of maltreatment or neglect that constitutes child abuse


57

August 23, 2014

MEN’S HEALTH

Test Men Should Never Ignore

Adults with most recent normal blood pressure of systolic <130 and diastolic <85 should be checked at least every other year

Managing High Blood Pressure (hypertension) In Men TUNDE OGUNTOLA Most men only go to their doctor when they’re extremely sick as they tend to skip preventive care at all cost, but to prevent health problems or catch them at an early stage, it’s important to see your physician for regular physical exams, and visit the doctor whenever you notice a change in your health. Although you may feel perfectly well, you should be concerned about the silent killers such as high blood pressure. Just because you don’t experience any symptoms, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ensure you receive a regular check-up. Do not feel embarrassed, doctors really have seen it all, so don’t think that itchy red rash or painful lump in an intimate area is going to make headline news. It’s natural to get embarrassed from time to time, but you can’t let that stop you from obtaining treatment or asking a cringe-inducing question when you have one. However, routine screening tests are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. High blood pressure (hypertension) African-Americans are more likely than other races to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that can lead to heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. Tests or procedures for high blood pressure

Blood pressure measurements High blood pressure: systolic >140, and/or diastolic >90 Borderline high blood pressure: systolic 130140, and/or diastolic 85-90 Who to test and how often How often blood pressure should be checked depends on how severely elevated the blood pressure is, and also depends on the number of other heart attack and stroke risk factors that are present. Adults with most recent normal blood pressure of systolic <130 and diastolic <85 should be checked at least every other year. Adults with borderline high blood pressures (systolic 130-140 or diastolic 85-90) should be rechecked in 3-6 months. Benefits of early detection High blood pressure can cause arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that can lead to heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. High blood pressure can cause diseases without any early warning symptoms. There is good evidence that treatment of high blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart diseases, stroke, and kidney failure. There is good evidence that adults with borderline blood pressures can benefit from blood pressure lowering. Therefore, you should discuss with your doctor measures that you can take to reduce blood pressure, which can include reducing salt intake, exercise, and stress management.

Skip the Scents Fragrances in skin care products are usually manmade chemicals, which can irritate and dry. So if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to go for unscented lotions and cleansers. Some men do better with a scent that comes from natural ingredients like citrus or lavender. Tame Crow’s Feet If you have little lines around your eyes or mouth that bother you, try a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, which smoothens skin. Dab on a Little Sunscreen One of the main causes of age spots and wrinkles is sun damage. Even if you get only five minutes of sun each day, it adds up and can age your skin. Add sunscreen or a moisturizer that contains at least SPF 30 to your morning routine. Make sure the product says its sunscreen is “broad-spectrum,” meaning it protects from both burning rays and the skin-aging rays. Fix Up Your Feet As you get older, the skin on your feet thickens and can crack. To fix it, start by getting a cheap drugstore pumice stone, and scrub your soles in the shower daily. Then rub on a thick cream or ointment -- many are made especially for the feet, but any intense moisturizer will help. Be Careful Down Below For trims and general clean up, use an electric razor or clippers, since blades can cause ingrown hairs or worse down below or on your back or chest. A study found that 83 per cent of genital injuries treated in the ER are from shaving, and 40 percent of them are in men.


58

August 23, 2014

Ayurvedic Medicine: Ginseng Ejaculation Problems

Ginseng works as an aphrodisiac and is recommended for men who have sexual problems due to anxiety For men, orgasm is usually accompanied by ejaculation. A single ejaculate contains about 300 million sperm in a fluid medium called semen. Ejaculation is a two-phased process. In the emission phase seminal fluid accumulates in the bulb of the prostate. In the expulsion phase the neck of the urinary bladder closes to ensure that no urine will mix with the semen, and the muscles at the base of the penis and of the penile urethra contract to force the semen out of the urethral opening. Some men experience a “retrograde,” or dry, ejaculation as a result of genetics, illness, medication, surgery, or damage to the valves of the urethra that control the flow of semen. In most cases ejaculation problems are psycho-sexual in origin, and not due to any physical abnormality, so that a man may experience sexual failure with one partner, but function quite normally with another. There are two main problems: premature ejaculation and absence of ejaculation. Premature ejaculation is very common indeed and refers to the occurrence of the male orgasm at the time of penetration, or

very soon after. In extreme cases it may even take place before physical contact is made. Premature ejaculation is usually a feature of early sexual experience, or a sign of performance anxiety. The absence of ejaculation is very rare but can occur as a result of overindulgence, inadequate stimulation of the penis, or age-related loss of penile sensitivity. Above Ginseng works as an aphrodisiac and is recommended for men who have sexual problems due to anxiety. Right Most ejaculation problems have a psychological origin. Eat oats, which have relaxing and therapeutic qualities. Ayurveda An Ayurvedic medical practitioner would balance the tri- doshas, and use panchakarma for balancing the vatha. Sandalwood may help to relieve anxiety, and has an anesthetic effect on the area which can reduce premature ejaculation. Herbalism Herbal remedies would be used to calm the nervous system and to relax. • Skullcap and valerian are useful herbs, and should be blended together for best effect. Drink this as a tea three times daily to calm. Lime blossom may also work to ease anxiety and tension associated with the condition. Vitamin And Minerals Increase your intake of vitamin B, which work directly on the nervous system, avoid caffeine and other form of stimulant.

LIVING HEALTHY AT 70 AND ABOVE Eat Healthy Fats

Rediscover Sex

You already know that saturated fats are bad for your arteries and heart health. But they can also harm your concentration and memory. So cut down on the red meat, butter, and other foods high in saturated fats. Instead, add more fatty fish and fats from plants, like flaxseed and nuts. These healthy fats may have extra benefits for your heart and your brain.

As you get older, your sex life changes -- and there can be real benefits. You’re more confident. You’ve been having sex for a while. You’re so much better at it than you were when you were 22. Getting older can free your sex life from hang-ups and constraints, especially if your kids have moved out and you have the house to yourself again.

Herbal Clinic With Buki Fagbenle

Tel: (SMS only) +234-705-983-1992; Email: buki.fagbenle@leadership.ng

Managing High Cholesterol The importance of nutrition 2 Continuing from last week. Complex carbohydrates are important but try and add the occasional avocado as highlighted by the women study. Carrots, apples and the white inner later of citrus fruits are high in fibre pectin, so instead of peeling them all that from your oranges try and nibble some of that white goodness. I usually advise peeling oranges very thinly then cut into 8 or 16 depending on the size and munch each section without waste. It actually fills you up, leaving less room for what you don’t really need. Scottish studies showed that a daily snack of 2 carrots over 3 weeks lowered cholesterol by 10-20 per cent in participants. I am not too comfortable about the apples being sold on our shores - are they from Jos or South Africa? Are they organic? Or have they been sprayed with some horrible chemical pesticide? I am not a fan of travelling fruits anyway - I believe that what we need is usually not far from us and not taking heed of that is courting big trouble. I will eat organic apples when I am in England and happily munch my tart agbalumo, sometimes tasteless carrots, sour iyeye - that little orangey fruit that looks like a mini agbalumo (and is a potent antioxidant and full of vitamin C), crunchy pawpaw, sweet mangoes, juicy mouthwatering watermelon, you name it, when I am in Nigeria. Adding the following to your diet would also be helpful: Fenugreek (Rich in mucilage-another cholesterol lowering and soothing fibre); Nuts (especially walnuts, almonds, raw cashew) Sesame oil (which helps to displace cholesterol in the blood); well identified and non toxic mushrooms; Prebiotics - a type of fibre, such as FOS (fructooligosaccharide) - or the betaglucans found in oats and some mushrooms(reishi and shiitake),discussed last week, which are

not digested but pass through into the large bowel, where they stimulate the growth of the ‘friendly bacteria’ already there, and Probiotics, the so-called ‘friendly’ bacteria, found in fermented dairy products such as yoghurts. And don’t forget that a large clove (3/4 little ones) of garlic, taken every day can help lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol substantially. Supplements Protect the HDL cholesterol with antioxidants, beginning with Vitamins E and C, and a good multi-mineral supplement. Boost HDL with betaine which has been shown to protect internal organs and as a very important nutrient for the prevention of chronic disease - seafood, wheat germ or the bran and spinach do contain some betaine but not in the large amounts needed to be effective against already established diseases. Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) This is a must if you are on statins because you have a high risk of cardiovascular disease and you have muscle pain. Statins cause levels of this vitamin-like substance to fall in the body so you must supplement to replace it. Coenzyme Q10 is not a vitamin because we can produce it in our bodies, where it is essential for energy production - it is also a key anti-oxidant. As we age our ability to make Q10 is reduced (this also happens when there is liver damage) and this can contribute to many health problems, therefore a Q10 supplement may confer significant health benefits. Folic acid and other B vitamins also help lower cholesterol and homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a biggie best left out of this column. Next week will be the final week on cholesterol and the herbs helpful in lowering it, will be discussed. Have a great weekend.


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August 23, 2014

Live Well Tips

Live well tips are NOT medical advice. Please consult your doctor before taking medicine or supplement, changing diet or exercise. • The best prostate protector is garlic. It reduces the risk of prostate cancer by almost 50 per cent. • Please check around your eyes. If you have small yellowish spot (fat deposits) it is a sign of high cholesterol, please get it check. • If you have long term muscle pain it may be due to vitamin D deficiency. A simple blood test can tell. Please ask your doctor about it. • If you are exercising to get fit, please try a few short 30-seconds bursts of high intensity full speed running. It will speed up fat burn. • Mushrooms control blood pressure, lower cholesterol, kill bacteria, combat cancer and strengthen bones. • Please limit intake of saturated fats like butter, margarine or hydrogenated oil. They clog your arteries and raise your cholesterol.

PHOBIA Japanophobia- Fear of Japanese The Japanese are a resilient and resourceful group of people, who are very disciplined and technologically and financially advanced. Although they are frequently a victim of disaster such as the atomic bombing at Hiroshima and recently the tsunami that wiped out a significant portion of their population, they were able to bounce back in a short period of time. There are some people who have intense and irrational fear of the Japanese and this may seem prejudiced. This fear may have been passed on from one generation to another, especially those who have encountered the Japanese soldiers in World War II. For some, the fear lies in the misunderstanding of the Japanese culture, and their language, and the Japanese people themselves.

Someone might have had a bad experience with a Japanese and thus this phobia developed. Another reason for this phobia is the fear of eating raw food that the Japanese people are so fond of eating. Having this fear will force the individual to avoid anything that is related to Japanese; from festivals, restaurants and specialty shops. Symptoms of Japanophobia include shortness of breath, tremors, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, fainting, loss of control, urge to flee and perceived prejudice. Willingness to learn more about this fear and about these people is the 1st step of overcoming it. These individuals should pinpoint the source of fear and work on misconceptions about the Japanese and why fearing the group can be debilitating.

Your Sexual Health Questions Answered! Can A Hysterectomy Cause Sexual Problems For A Woman? Some women may experience changes in sexual function after a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). These changes may comprise a loss of desire, decreased vaginal lubrication, and genital sensation. Furthermore, surgery can damage nerves and blood vessels considered critical to a woman’s sexual functioning.

Can A Person With Syphilis Spread The Disease? Yes. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. A person with syphilis can spread the infection during the first two stages of the disease. If you come in contact with an open sore (first stage) or skin rash (second stage), you can pick up the bacteria that cause the infection. If the bacteria enter your body through an opening such as the penis, anus, vagina, mouth, or broken skin, you can get syphilis. If a person has had syphilis for more than two years, it’s unlikely that he or she can spread the disease. Don’t take a chance. Use a lubricated condom during sex.


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August 23, 2014

Think Yourself Thin With Zahra Bakari - Imam

08183666800 (text only) thinkyourselfthin@yahoo.com, twitter@thinkurselfthin

Burns To distinguish a minor burn from a serious burn, the first step is to determine the extent of damage to body tissues. 1st-degree burn The least serious burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned, but not all the way through. •The skin is usually red •Often there is swelling •Pain sometimes is present Treat a first-degree burn as a minor burn unless it involves substantial portions of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint, which requires emergency medical attention. 2nd-degree burn This occurs when the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin (dermis) also is burned. •Blisters develop •Skin takes on an intensely reddened, splotchy appearance •There is severe pain and swelling. For minor burns, includ-

FIRST AID ing first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, take the following action: •Cool the burn. •Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage, don’t use fluffy cotton. •Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Caution •Don’t use ice. •Don’t apply egg whites, butter or ointments to the burn. This could cause infection. •Don’t break blisters. 3rd-degree burn The most serious burns involve all layers of the skin and cause permanent tissue damage. Fat, muscle and even bone may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear dry and white. Difficulty inhaling and exhaling, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other toxic effects may occur if smoke inhalation accompanies the burn. For major burns, call emergency medical help.

JOKES Castration Doc, says Steve, “I want to be castrated.” “What on Earth for?” “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. If you don’t do it, I’ll just go to another doctor.” “OK, but it’s against my better judgment.” Steve has his operation. The next day he walks down the hospital corridor very slowly, legs apart, with his drip stand. Heading toward

him is another patient walking exactly the same way. “Hi there,” says Steve, “It looks as if you’ve just had the same operation as me.” “Yeah,” says the patient, “I finally decided I’d like to be circumcised.” Steve’s eyes widen in horror, “Oh no! That’s the word!”

Whole Grain Foods: Better Nutrition, Better Diet

Nutrition experts say you should eat three servings of whole grains every day. Find out why whole grains are best for good nutrition and the role they play in your diet. You might not yet know the difference between whole-grain foods and refined grain foods, but chances are you’re probably already including some whole-grain foods in your diet. If you have a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast or some popcorn at the movies, you are eating whole-grain foods. The first thing you should know about whole grains is that they have more nutrition than refined grains, are better for your heart, and can help you lose weight. Whole-grain foods are made from the entire grain seed. When a whole grain like wheat or rice is crushed, cracked, or cooked in processing, parts of the grain kernel, such as the bran and the germ, can be lost and, along with them, some of the fiber, vitamins, and minerals. According to the FDA, for a food to call itself “whole grain,” it must contain at least 51 percent whole grain. Whole Grain Foods: The Benefits “Whole-grain foods are an important part of any healthy diet. If you are trying to lose weight or eat a heart-healthy diet, you need to include whole grains. Whole grains are one of the best examples of choosing quality calories over empty calories,” says Eric Plasker, DC, author of The 100 Year Lifestyle and a health, wellness, and nutrition expert who travels the country giving seminars on well-being and living a healthy balanced life. Here’s why Plasker recommends wholegrain foods: Nutritional benefits. Whole grains are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. “Whole grains are high in fiber, so they help regulate your digestion,” he says. Health benefits. Research shows that whole grains reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

Weight loss. “Because whole grains are more filling, they help you eat less and can help you lose weight,” advises Plasker. People who regularly include whole grains in their diet have a lower risk of obesity and lower cholesterol levels. Whole Grain Foods: Portion Guidelines In 2005, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, separated its recommendation for whole grains from refined grains for the first time. They encourage all Americans to include at least three one-ounce servings of whole grains every day, half the suggested total in the grains category. Before 2003, although Americans were eating about 10 servings of grain every day, only one serving was from whole grain. Here are some examples of whole-grain foods: Brown rice • Bulgur • Popcorn • Whole-grain corn • • Whole rye • Wild rice Whole wheat • • Whole oats Whole Grain Foods: Making the Switch If you grew up eating white bread, switching to whole-wheat bread can be somewhat of an adjustment. Factors that determine if consumers will make the switch to whole-grain foods include convenience, cost, and taste, but surveys show that taste is the most important factor. Once you get used to whole grains, you may find that they have more taste and texture. “You can tell the difference just by picking up a package of whole-grain bread and white bread. The whole-grain package is heavier. It won’t make you heavier, but it will fill you up with flavor and nutrition,” says Plasker.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

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Saturday, August 23, 2014


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

cover story 2 In Benue, It’s Thirst In The Presence Of Water

As the people continue to experience scarcity of water supply in Makurdi, the Benue State capital and other major towns of the state, SOLOMON AYADO writes that the location of the agrarian state in the midst of several water bodies, including the River Benue, has not given it any real advantage as regards access to potable water.

Tankers lined up to purchase water

“I recall that many years ago, in the 1990’s, even up to 1998, water used to flow from the taps in nearly all parts of the town. In Wadata where my parents live, which wasn’t even really developed at the time, there was water supply to homes. Today, 15 years into our democracy, the case is different. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that I can’t immediately think of any part of the state capital that has regular water supply. It is indeed appalling and a big shame, I must say,” Monday Ogah, a resident of Kaduna Street, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, stated this when LEADERSHIP Weekend spoke

with him about the water situation in the capital city. The poor access to water supply in the state despite its proximity to the River Benue has remained a source of concern to all residents. Apart from the popular River Benue, there are other minor rivers like River Kastina-Ala, River Buruku and another river in Agatu local government which form the major water bodies in the state. For those unfamiliar with the terrain of the state, Makurdi, the capital is located on the banks of the River Benue. It is therefore a surprise to many that the state faces potable water challenge.

In 2008, the state government awarded contracts for the construction of the Greater Makurdi Water works, Otobi Waterworks and KatsinaAla Water works at the cost of N4.99 billion, N2.6 billion and N1.5 billion respectively, with completion period of 18 to 24 months. The Makurdi water works has the capacity to supply 100,000 cubic metres of water per day while Otobi and Katsina-Ala have capacity for 15,000 cubic metres each. However, the huge investments the government has made in the water sector can best be described as a drop in the ocean. The situation is

akin to that of one in water but still thirsty. It brings to mind images of a canoe peddler who in spite of working on the water still goes to bed with his body dirty. The pitiable sight of children and women, some with babies strapped to their backs, trekking long distances to look for or buy water is a common feature in major towns in the state. The situation is worse in the villages where a huge majority of the population depend on shallow streams and hand dug wells for water. In February 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan during a ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 64

The poor access to water supply in the state despite its proximity to the River Benue has remained a source of concern to all residents


64 cover story

Saturday, August 23, 2014

In Benue, It’s Thirst In The Presence Of Water

The greater makurdi water works

Tankers waiting to purchase water

➔ CONTINUES FROM PAGE 63 visit to the state, commissioned the Greater Makurdi Water Works projects. But the project has not yielded the expected result of providing water to the people, since it was commissioned. The pipes have remained dry. The government said it would require at least N500 million for reticulation before residents can begin to see water flow in their homes. Residents of major parts of Makurdi, including High-level, New GRA, Modern Market and Wadata among others, are battling with water scarcity. In Gboko, Katsina-Ala and Otukpo towns, the situation is not different as residents largely depend on mobile water vendors popularly called mai ruwa. At the waterworks, heavy duty tankers throng in to buy water which is later sold to residents at exorbitant prices. When LEADERSHIP Weekend visited the Greater Makurdi Waterworks site located beside St. Joseph's Technical College, on old Lafia Road, Makurdi the entire area was in a state of chaos. From the entrance, water tanks and wheelbarrow trucks can be seen indiscriminately parked in and around the premises, making the road that links the Makurdi Old Bridge with North-bank impassable. The premises are also unkempt, with overgrown

weeds dotting the grounds. Although the water works still maintains its structure, maybe due to maintenance by the management of the place, signs of neglect are visible on other structures around the premises. This is in addition to punctured water pipes from which water gushes out uncontrollably. Further investigations by LEADERSHIP Weekend at the Makurdi water works revealed that water tankers and wheelbarrow trucks lined up in the area purchase water from managers of the place, which they in turn sell to residents at rates determined by the sellers. A vendor who was met at the place, who simply gave his name as Musa, told our reporter that a big water tanker is filled with water from the place at the rate of N2000 while the small tankers pay between N1200 and N1500. "We buy water here at various rates and we sell it to residents around High level, New GRA and Modern Market areas, among others. We supply a big water tank to residents at N4,500 while the small tank is supplied at N2,500. But the price varies depending on the distance where the supply is made and the number of tanks a customer is able to buy," Musa stated. Meanwhile, for roving water vendors in Makurdi, mostly young men, they do not have a

definite place to operate their business because, according to them, it is whoever beckons on them that they serve. Abdul Umar was met buying water at a residence on Inikpi Street, High level in Makurdi. He said, "A jerry can of water is sold at N25 while the whole truck with 10 jerry cans goes for N250, adding that the price varies depending on the negotiation between the seller and buyer. Similarly, many residents of suburbs including Agboul, Fiidi Apir and Gyado Villa areas have resorted to sourcing water from shallow wells and the River Benue. This is however causing a lot of water-borne diseases to the people as the water is usually not treated, medical experts noted. Oche Inalegwu, 50, a resident of Agboul spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend when our correspondent visited the area. He said "We are seriously facing water shortage here. Most times we buy water from mai ruwa or fetch from the streams around the area and most often, from the River Benue. Unfortunately, the situation is causing a lot of health problems to our people.” Despite having identified reticulation as the stumbling block to water access in the state, it would appear the government is not prioritising the matter as there are no visible signs to prove otherwise. The

newly appointed commissioner for water resources, Esther Zungwe could not be reached for comment when LEADERSHIP insisted her office. However, the commissioner of Information, Justine Amase said in an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend that the state government is saddened by the situation and is moving to acquire a bond from the financial market, part of which would be used to settle the reticulation problem of the Greater Makurdi Water works. “We are almost there and you are aware that the state government is acquiring a bond from the capital market which part of the money would be used for the reticulation. But the issue of water scarcity has been there since the creation of the state and not because of the present administration. But I think that the Suswam administration should be commended for executing the project and for trying to obtain the bond which is in process, so that the money is properly utilised to solve the water reticulation problem," Amase stated. While residents of the state continue to wait for the government with uncertainty, one thing is however certain, the challenge of access to water supply in Makurdi and its environs is far from over and only time will tell when their woes would be over.

At the waterworks, heavy duty tankers throng in to buy water which is later sold to residents at exorbitant prices


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weekend politics Saturday, August 23, 2014

Politics Editor Weeklies: UCHENNA Awom

Confab: No Basis To Subject Outcome To Referendum – Ex-Gov Osunbor Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, is a onetime governor of Edo State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His administration was however cut short by a court of appeal verdict. Today, the renowned professor of law serves as a member of the National Judicial Commission. In this interview with select journalists he bares his mind on the recently concluded national conference and other sundry national discuss. PATRICK OCHOGA was there for LEADERSHIP Weekend. As a lawyer, teacher and maker of law and former governor of Edo State, what do you make of the gale of impeachments in the country?

Well, as I have said repeatedly, we must respect the constitution. Whatever we suggest, whatever we do must be in line with the constitution

Well, I noticed that you used the word “impeachment” and many Nigerians also use the word “impeachment”. So talking as a law teacher, law professor and as lawyer, the first thing I will say is that the constitution does not provide for impeachment of a governor. If you search the constitution, it doesn’t state how a governor can be impeached. The US constitution talks about the impeachment of the governor or the president, but in Nigeria, the constitution does not touch it. What the constitution states is removal. So, what the Adamawa State House of Assembly did recently was the exercise of the power under the constitution for the removal of the governor, Murtala Nyako. Reading the newspapers recently, it appears the governor, or rather, the former governor, wants to challenge the conditions for his removal. So, maybe in the next few weeks, we will start seeing his protest to what led to his removal as a governor. It is for good reason that the constitution has provided that safeguard. It is one of the extreme measures that can be taken by the legislative arm of government to check excesses or misconduct on the part of the executive. It is to be expected in a democracy. It is not just for Nigeria and US, many countries provide in their constitutions, the removal of people from offices. What I would advice and urge Nigerians is that when this is to be done, it should be done in strict compliance with the constitution. Once that is done, democratic life continues. In democracy today, we see a

lot of friction between the legislative arm of government and the executive; as a former national legislator and governor, what do you think is responsible for this?

Well, my response to that is that it all boils down to politics and politics has been defined as “who gets what, where and when”. So there is always constant competition for the resources which are always limited, because the resources available at a given point in time can never meet with all the needs and expectations of the people. So there is always a constant struggle, constant contests as to who gets what, when and how. It is this interplay that unravels during contests that you see as quarrels between the legislative and executive arms of the government. It is not entirely a bad thing that sometimes there can be conflict between the legislatures and the executives. There can be heavy conflict. Conflicts which are geared to the processes of the checks and balances of the governance, because if there are no checks and balances, there will be arbitrariness, and the government will not serve the best interest of the people. Also, the checks and balances go beyond the executive and legislature, they also include the judiciary. The Judiciary is also there to keep these two arms in check. Whenever there is dispute between the executive and legislature, the judiciary is there to arbitrate, adjudicate, and to keep the officials of government within the constitutional and legal limits of their power. So this is healthy. Even the judiciary itself can be checked by the other arms of government, particularly by the legislature through lawmaking. The judiciary and the judges don’t make laws. They

Abubakar

only interpret the laws which the legislature has made. So, if the legislature feels that they want things to be done in a particular way, the process is to enact a law. Once they have enacted that law, the judges will be bound to obey that law. So in summary, what people regard as unhealthy rivalry, clashes between the three arms of government are inherently part of the democratic process and they should not give undue cause for worry if done within limits, but when things are being done beyond limits and there are excesses on the part of any of the parties, it becomes a matter of major concern to the members of the public. Once people confine themselves to the power under the constitution, then we can avoid the process of too much exuberance or activities that alter power. The Edo State House of Assembly members are divided along party lines (APC and PDP) to the extent of holding parallel sittings. What’s your take?

Well, in my experience as a senator, particularly during my first tenure (1999-2003), my experience in the senate was that the senate was heavily polarised along party lines, but more polarised among PDP. You remember Ewerem, Okadigbo, those who paved the way for the emergence of Anyim, so it was highly polarised. Again, it’s all a

question of interest, but things should be done within the limits. It’s a regrettable situation as far as Edo State is concerned where you now have two groups claiming to be in charge of legislature in the state. I think that cannot be true, having two groups making laws and exercising power in Edo State. Happily, as I understand it, the matter is in court, so I believe that sooner than later, the court will come out to resolve this matter so we can have one legislature in Edo State exercising legislative authority. Some people are advocating that the recommendations by the recently concluded national conference should be sent to National Assembly, others say it should be through referendum. What is your take on this?

Well, as I have said repeatedly, we must respect the constitution. Whatever we suggest, whatever we do must be in line with the constitution. Nigeria is a country that is run on the basis of the constitution. We are not people that operate by the rules of the jungle. Mr. President when he inaugurated the conference, said the report from their resolutions, at the end of the day, should be sent to the National Assembly. From what I gathered from the national conference itself, they have tried to differentiate between matters of policies for the executive and those which are

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Saturday, August 23, 2014

‘Nigeria Needs To Look To Her Young Generation’ The national coordinator of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Youth Frontier (PDPYF), Okai Usman Austin, speaks to ONUKOGU KANAYO JUBAL on the importance of the inclusion of youths in government and what the PDPYF is doing to push forth a 30 per cent affirmation to this effect. Every group has some form of interest. What is the interest of your group or do you want something from the president?

While we are canvassing for the inclusion of young people in government, we must also consider their degree of preparedness and character

The PDPYF is already established, it belongs to the party and not just one man. Whatever we do is in the interest of the party and not for any selfish leanings. The PDPYF is under the youth wing of the party (which is led by Mainasara) and can be found in the 36 states of the federation and the more than 774 local governments. We have representative coordinators, as well as ward coordinators. We have a national executive and 7 executives at the zonal level. In each state, we have 21 executives, 21 volunteers in each local governments and same number for each ward in every local government. What we are doing is canvassing for inclusion of youths in governance. Sincerely, the PDPYF has no agenda beyond promoting the interest of Nigeria’s young people and the need to include them in government. During the era of military government, especially during the regime of IBB, there were no young people near the corridors of power and, somehow, it must have been due to his belief that this set of people had nothing to offer his government. Well, today, the present government of Goodluck Jonathan is doing better as regards that; but we feel that there should be an agenda to promote youth agenda. As the leaders of tomorrow, the nation’s young people need to be groomed, nurtured, guided and eased into leadership. The future of everything – politics, economy, sports, health and every other part of our lives belongs to the youths – so why is it so difficult to include them in

everything that is done today?

When you say youths, we have to be clear on this; due to the peculiar nature of Nigeria, the limit of the youth bracket includes people who are 35 and below. However, some political parties still consider men who are in their 40s to be youths and, thus, go ahead to appoint them party youth leaders. Even in some national youth bodies you can see these discrepancies. If everything about concerning leadership is taken from the young, what will the future hold? How will they learn? How can it be that the nation’s young people are only remembered during elections; when they are to be used in committing all forms of crimes? Why? This is the crux of our agenda, our deep-lying interest. Shehu Shagari became a lawmaker at the age of 30, Gowon was quite very young when he took the reins of leadership and Audu Ogbeh became a federal minister at 25. But, trust me, these examples are quite old, there are very few recent ones. Don’t you think that, besides being young, experience has a role to play, as well?

You think you have a point? So, tell me, how can you acquire experience without practice? If you must get experience, you should be groomed and opportunities should be given to you to learn. Even at that, you have to be in line to get grooming of any sort. The position of a councillor is not a bad place to start for a young person who is to be groomed. From there, someone can come through the ranks; local government chairman, state house of assembly and to the National Assembly. When someone has undergone that process, you can’t fault that

Okai

person’s political ideology or credibility in any manner. So, when you do not even get the opportunity, how can you get any form of grooming? Why is your idea of youth affirmation centred on politics? Are there no other areas? The reason is because politics is all we talk about and I speak as a politician. Let the banker speak as a banker, the journalist as a journalist, the educationist as an educationist and everyone take up his or her position and you will find out that young people are schemed out in all these areas. Sadly, it is not due to a lack of bright minds as many of our leaders claim; rather, it is due to a constant lie which they have told themselves – that the nation’s young people cannot be trusted. Experience counts, but even that needs to get some opportunity to come through. But don’t you agree that many young people have leadership foisted on them, which lays bare their unpreparedness?

While we are canvassing for the inclusion of young people in government, we must also consider their degree of preparedness and character. Of

course, these things are basic considerations if you need leaders who will not be jeered at. However, the fact that one person fails at a duty fails to achieve a set of goals during a federal government appointment does not mean that another will also stumble over it. We have lots of Nigerian youths doing within well within and outside the shores of this country. Let me give you a case in point. Comrade Jude Imagwe, one of the president’s advisers, a young fellow, intervened in the recent protests embarked upon by students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, over the unavailability of water in their campus for some weeks. That was a situation even the governor could not arrest. What I am saying, in a nutshell, is that Nigeria needs to look to her youths. These young people are her insurance. The president has shown some affinity for young people and this is why we will support him again when 2015 comes. We want to talk to someone who listens about giving Nigeria’s young people 30 per cent affirmative representation and, so far, the president has shown himself to be a man who listens to young people.

Confab: No Basis To Subject Outcome To Referendum – Ex-Gov Osunbor 65

legislative matters that require amendment of the constitution. It is not every decision from the national conference that will result in the amendment of the constitution. Some will require executive action. To me, based on the current competition, that is the course that can be taken. To suggest that their decision should be subject to referendum, there is no basis for that under the constitution. First of all, who will conduct the referendum? Is it INEC? If you check the power of INEC under the constitution, it

doesn’t have the power to conduct a referendum. So who is going to conduct the referendum? What issues are you going to present to the referendum? What will be the role of the National Assembly? If some people in their opinion, say the National Assembly does not enjoy the legitimacy to do it, because INEC was not thorough in the election that produced some or many members of the National Assembly. Is it the INEC that you alleged did not conduct a satisfactory election you will now trust to conduct a

referendum? So you can see that there are a lot of contradictions. But these contradictions will disappear once everybody begins to act in accordance to what is embedded in the constitution. Once we do that, all these various suggestions flying here and there will become a thing of the past. Regarding the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, what should we expect from your humble self?

Let us hope that the process leading to the 2015 general elections will be credible, free and

fair, acceptable by both Nigerians and the international community. Once we complete the 2015 general elections, then people can begin to plan and prepare for the next election. I think the next one will be the governorship election in Edo State in 2016. Well, Edo State is my state, so we definitely will show interest in what happens. We are all stakeholders and I believe that what happens in 2016, at the end of the day, will be the collective decision, wishes, visions, aspirations and ambition of people like you and I.


Feature 67

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Fear Of Hijab: It Still Remains Best Mode Of DressingWomen, Clerics Speak Unarguably, the recent nasty and indeed unfortunate incident of some alleged female suicide bombers said to be using Hijab to perpetrate evil, especially the recent bomb attacks in Kano where it was reported that the attacker was clad in full Hijab, has further posed another challenge to women using this all-important piece of clothing. MUAZU ELAZEH, Katsina and MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Adamawa sampled opinions, some of who insist that, despite the few bad eggs who are giving women in Hijab a bad name, the Hijab still remains the best mode of dressing. “Islam admonishes women and indeed girls, not to expose any part of their body and the best form of dress that will guard against that is the hijab. It is mandatory for the muslim woman to use it and no amount of attempts by some bad elements to portray using hijab in bad light will dissuade us” said Malama Hafsat Yusuf, who observed that no responsible Muslim woman will go out without hijab, stressing that the recent incidence of bomb attacks in Kano notwithstanding, Muslim women must not only wear hijab but also encourage others because it portrays a woman in a decent manner. “Whoever says Muslim women shouldn’t put hijab is against the doctrines and teaching of Islam which admonishes women to dress decently using the hijab to cover themselves. In Islam, women are supposed to wear hijab at all times and so the recent ugly incidence notwithstanding, we as mothers must encourage our female children to always use hijab” she enthused. Hijab, that all important piece of clothing worn by Muslim women has been the focus of controversial comments lately and understandably so. The recent bombing incident by a female suicide bomber has put the harmless piece of clothing in the public eye so much so that people now look at it in a negative light. Now women wearing it in public places are said to be going through some embarrassing moments, from being looked at suspiciously to being thoroughly screened to avoid a repeat of the Kano incident as the attackers may well be perfecting another mode of attacks, using the hijab as bait. Although the incidence

posed what could mildly be described as a challenge to women wearing hijab, some residents in Katsina and Yola comprising clerics, households and women, who spoke to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, vehemently reassert the importance of hijab, even as they insist that it remains the best mode of dressing for a muslim woman. Mallam Nasiru Kerau is an Islamic cleric in Tudun Yanlihidda area of Katsina municipal. He said that the incidence of bomb attacks in Kano said to be carried out by female wearing hijab is part of the ploy to portray women using hijab in a bad light. “The fears and concern that may have been generated through the realisation that those behind the Kano bomb attacks were wearing hijab is to a great extent genuine but that does not in any way underscore the need for our women and girls to use hijab” Continuing, the cleric said “this may well be another plot of some people to further discourage the use of hijab because they don’t wish to see muslim women in decent dressing” He however urged women not to be discouraged by what he described as temporary challenge insisting that the antics of all those behind the evil plot will come to light and they will be exposed. Speaking in a not so dissimilar manner, Malama Maimuna Bilya of Kofar Sauri quarters in Katsina municipal said the importance of wearing hijab for the muslim woman cannot be over emphasised. “In both the Quran and the hadiths, which of course are the key guide to the religion of Islam, the need for a mus-

Women in Hijab

lim woman wearing hijab has been repeatedly stressed so why would anyone wish that as muslims, we do away with the use of Hijab? This is unthinkable.” Similarly, in Yola, with the increasing spate of suicide bombing by women in Hijab, there is a subtle apathy towards women especially those who wear the full version of the Hijab as their presence always sparks uneasiness among people, especially if it is a public place. Mallam Isa Mohammed Gombi noted that although he is a Muslim and does not want to discriminate against any woman who wears Hijab, recent developments in which teenagers in Hijab have detonated bombs made him to be weary whenever he sees a teenager with Hijab especially in public places. Although the discrimination of women is not so pronounced in Yola as there has not been any case of a female suicide bomber, women, especially those who wear Hijab said they feel jittery whenever they are in public places especially markets, shopping malls as the suspicious gaze of others always made them nervous.

A lady who simply identified herself as Maimuna Yola said she noticed that whenever she is in Hijab, people always distanced themselves from her on the assumption that she may be a potential suicide bomber. She added that though she feels embarrassed whenever people view her with suspicion, she said the attitude of the people towards women in Hijab may not be totally unfounded as women in Hijab were in recent times connected to suicide bombings. Similarly, another lady who did not want to be mentioned, noted that she is in full support of the stop and search of any woman in Hijab as the spate of suicide bombings being perpetrated by women in Hijab is becoming scandalous which subjects women in Hijab to ridicule. But an Islamic scholar in Yola who spoke in confidence to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND says he suspects foul play in the whole saga where women in Hijab are synonymous with bombings, adding that the whole thing is orchestrated to discourage wearing of Hijab so that women will be made to conform with western practices.

in Yola, with the increasing spate of suicide bombing by women in Hijab, there is a subtle apathy towards women especially those who wear the full version of the Hijab


68 news Ebola virus

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Nigeria’s Forest Animals Are Not Ebola Endangered – Expert By JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

A veterinary surgeon with the Osun State ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Taiwo Aikulola, has stated that forest animals in Nigeria, especially those within the south-west, are free from the Ebola virus, because the virus so far, has been transferred from human to human. Dr Aikulola made this disclosure during an interactive session at the Department of Forest Resources Management, Osun State Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Osogbo. According to him, the Ebola virus, which was first noticed near River Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, is acquired by forest animals like chimpanzees, apes and other primates before being transferred to humans. He disclosed that although the Ebola Virus is not food or fibreborne, it is transferred through saliva deposited on the remnants of the fruits eaten by bats, to chim-

short news Enugu State Govt Dismisses Ebola Cure Claims The Enugu State ministry of Health has described as false and malicious the claims by some unnamed individuals in the state that they possess physical and spiritual cure for the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). A statement issued yesterday, advised the general public to disregard such claims, stressing that for now, there is no certified drug for the cure of Ebola disease. The statement reads: “We have observed with discomfort that some individuals have been making claims of having either physical or spiritual cure for Ebola virus disease (EVD). “The general public is advised to disregard such claims. “It is not only false and malicious but misleading. The fact remains that at this moment, there is no certified drug for the cure of Ebola Disease.

By Mike Ubani, Enugu

panzees or apes, who then become its agent. The veterinary surgeon confirmed that although fruit bats, which themselves act as reservoirs/ hosts for the virus are not affected by it. The virus can stay in forest animals and other agents for eighteen days before becoming endangered by it. Dr Aikulola also disclosed that the fatality rate ranges between 50 to 65 percent and depends on an individual’s or group’s immunity to the virus. While shedding light on the discussion, the head of department of Forest Resources Management, Prince Oladapo Abolarin stated that the interactive session was held to sensitise forest officers and wildlife managers who will then pass the message to the public. Prince Abolarin maintained that consumption of protein-rich food, maintenance of clean environments as well as personal hygiene are known effective ways to prevent the spread of Ebola-Virus disease.

Ebola: FG Moves To Strengthen Health System The federal government Friday said it will strengthen the health system to contain the deadly Ebola virus disease wreaking havoc on the health and wellbeing of patients and doctors in West Africa and subsequent outbreaks of other diseases in the country. Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi made this known during the handing-over of pick-up vans to the Lagos State Ebola Emergency Operation Centre by the Total Companies in Nigeria (Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria and Total Nigeria Plc) at the Ebola Emergency Operation Centre, Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. Prof Nasidi said, “This is the project we are using to strengthen our health system. Emergency preparedness is working under the NCDC to do this.” According to him, the project is ongoing to ensure that subsequent outbreaks of other diseases are contained. “It’s not something that will die off; it continues in case there are other outbreaks of diseases. As you can see, we are now able to monitor every contact, every case and we are going to do it with other diseases. so we are strengthening our system.” On the progress report on Ebola virus in Lagos State, Nasidi said, “Out of the 12 cases, we have only 2 positive cases. We have 5 cases that have come in; we are running their tests now. I can say we have 2 confirmed cases out of the five. We have 3 concretely negative and we want to redo the test again for the other two. Speaking on the monitoring system for tracing the secondary contacts, he said, “We are very proud of the team. We have empowered the team working with us to monitor the contacts on daily basis- both primary and secondary contacts. By Aronke Olayiwola, Lagos

Flood on Airport-Karmo Road in Abuja, yesterday, after a heavy downpour. Photo by nan

Ebola: Customs Intercepts, Destroys Truckload Of Monkey Meat By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

Operatives of Kaduna and Katsina command of the Nigerian Custom Service, yesterday, destroyed a truckload of dried bush meat suspected to be monkey meat smuggled into the country by a yet to be identified smuggler. Speaking when he led others to set the seized meat ablaze, Customs Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit (FOU, Zone B), Maina Tijjani Suleiman said the truck was intercepted Thursday morning at the Katsina border. Suleiman said the truck contained 351 bags of bush meat and that each of the bags weighed 100Kg, stressing that the seized meat may have come from Libya. He insisted that the seizure was necessary in view of the current challenge of the dreaded Ebola disease, noting that had the meat made its way to Nigerian markets, “only God will tell the extent of damage it may cause.” He warned importers of similar products to desist from doing such or face the full wrath of the law, assuring that the customs would

not shirk from its responsibility of supporting the ongoing fight against Ebola. “The driver abandoned the vehicle and ran away after he was chased by our men. But then, some hoodlums attempted to attack our men and it took the reinforcement of operatives

before the truck was retrieved.” In a speech, the Katsina State commissioner of health, Mannir Talba, who lauded operatives of Nigerian customs for the seizure, said it was the needed step in the collective resolve to prevent the spread of Ebola.


OPINION 69

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Re: What’s Suswam’s Legacy? By Philip Agbese

The true essence of the article was to shoot down Suswam’s bid for the Benue North-East senatorial seat

“History is written by the survivors (victors).” - Winston Churchill. When losers write history it can only breed chaos in the years ahead. This is the thinking behind this rejoinder to the above titled article by Okpe Odaudu, as published in THISDAY Newspaper of August 19, 2014. Granted that no account of history can ever be objective and unbiased in the sense we desire (it is always tainted with the bias and personality of the writer, right down to the choice of words and narrative technique), Odaudu however took this concept too far. He thus evokes a sense of a loser recounting history, assailing the senses of the reader with endless grappling over the losses suffered by his camp, his sponsors or benefactors. To dismiss Governor Gabriel Suswam’s seven years at the helm of affairs of Benue State as a disservice to the people is at best self-serving. To arrive at such a weighty verdict one would expect that there is some sort of referendum (which sadly has no place in the existing laws of the land) or opinion poll of Benue people, which can be easily conducted by indigenous firms in the country. Instead, the writer embarked on a voyage to chronicle his opinion peppered with anecdotal references that are easily proven as worthless. The opening sentence in the arti-

cle is the very fact that dismissed all other elements of fiction that were strung together in the intense effort to besmirch a gentleman governor. With the admission that “Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam was elected governor of Benue State in 2007”, the author of the feature boxed himself into a corner and struggled for the remainder of the write up to disprove the very same concept he opened with. For example, the reference to the bribe for budget scam in the National Assembly when Suswam was the chairman of House Committee on Appropriation is a sad reminder that in Nigeria we still mistake accusation for conviction. The then President Obasanjo made pronouncements on national television and other fora but when has the pronouncement of the executive arm become a conviction as obtainable in a law court? We are all witnesses to the fact that some of the people the same Obasanjo made strong pronouncements about at the height of his regime are today in the same camp with him. This underlies the dynamics that drove those pronouncements at those times. Okay. Suswam stopped being the chair of the House Committee on Appropriation, but isn’t that the most common demand these days that a person occupying an office should step aside while pending allegations are investigated? If Suswam were complicit as being insinuated by the

writer then he wouldn’t have flown the PDP flag as security reports would have indicted him regardless of whatever. This commitment to serve the common good was amply demonstrated in the inaugural speech which Odaudu was generous enough to copiously quote for the benefit of the reader. The extent to which Suswam has kept faith with the promises in this speech is something for the people of Benue state to judge. In making any assessment however, one must be wary not to be drawn into the trap of assessing a governor’s performance on the pace at which urban renewal takes place in the capital city. Beyond renovating a state capital what happens in towns, villages and non urban communities of a state? What has been the impact of the Suswam’s administration on agriculture, security, education and healthcare? Benue people have the answer to this and any non-Benue person seeking to find answers to these questions must be wary of seeking answers from losers. Suswam’s role in the handling of security issues, Tiv/Fulani crisis and the flood relief fund is well documented in media reportage. It is however worth repeating that he has received recognition severally for the desirable way he dealt with these matters. The whimpering of a loser’s narrative climaxed at the close of the article as the writer played the hand he

had to his chest all along. The true essence of the article was to shoot down Suswam’s bid for the Benue North-East senatorial seat, with matching accusations that the governor is distracted and spending state resources to pursue this ambition. Sadly again, these claims were made without compelling facts that will justify analytic responses. Such responses would at this point be wasted if directed at a person who erroneously thinks that being elected a senator guarantees immunity from prosecution. This again is possibly the hysterics from the mouthpiece of a group that sees no fighting chance in dislodging a formidable politician in the contest for the Benue North-East senatorial seat. By all means, President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP must not be deceived about the true state of affairs in Benue State. They must ask what makes the ruling party’s tickets the most sought after in the run up to the 2015 general elections. If they must seek information then it should not be according to history as recorded by a ragtag gang of the vanquished. Those seeking to retain political foothold in Benue should read the history as recorded by the victorious. Benue State is today a beneficiary of the visionary leadership of Gabriel Suswam and the people have never had it so good. – Comrade Philip Agbese is a public affairs commentator based in Abuja.


70

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Charlyboy

Okikiola Qasim

Nuts And Screws 08032481739

Email: areafada1@yahoo.com Twitter:@areafada1 Instagram: areafada1 BB pin: 2324A360

Islam My Paradise islammyparadise@yahoo.com, thisisbolatytoqaasim@gmail.com

08140560505, 08185516060

Impossible Fusion Halal Businesses:

A

The most important marriage skill is listening to your partner in a way that they can't possibly doubt that you love them

soul mate marriage does not at all mean that you have found someone you match up with on all the cards on all the issues, on everything. That would be the most deadly dull thing to even imagine. Instead, it means you've found someone and they don't ever want to blow out that little light inside you. And you feel the same way about them. Growing up, seeing my dad and my mum play the happy couple, holding hands, stealing kisses made marriage look so easy and beautiful, hummmm for where. Don't get it twisted, I have seen them argue and quarrel as if they couldn't stand each other, but the next minute, they were back to their normal routine of holding hands and stealing kisses even till my father passed on at 97. Parents shouldn't really worry that children never listen to them, they should worry that they are always watching them. I have always had my reservations about happy ever after, especially after 3failed marriages. I have always wondered how two strangers can be together for 40yrs, and guess what? I just woke up to discover that I have been with the same woman, the same smell, the same F..k, the same routine for the past 36yrs, damn! Someone form another background, home training, different ideology, IQ, so many other things different if not all. When you are not yet married, people give you reasons why you should get married, as if one could just go to the shop and pick a spouse off the shelf. Even if that was the case, how do you know what you are buying until you take it home? They tell you everything good about marriage and how interesting it can be, but they never promote the down side. “Just marry the right person”, is what they always say but ‘right’ itself is relative. Who is the right person, dem never born dem joor. In my village they will always say, if one waits to marry someone like themselves, they probably will wait forever. Sometimes I think my wife is too good for me and some other times I feel I should have done better. Get it straight, marriage is not a fairy tale. Marriage isn't supposed to make you happy - and satisfied. It's your job to make your marriage happy and satisfying. Same goes for sex. It isn't supposed to make you passionate and "hot". It's up to you to make it passionate and "hot" - and intimate. I see people getting married every weekend and I wonder

if they know what they are getting into. So many are consumed of just wanting to get the title, some are consumed by the ceremony; others think it’s a safe haven. As usual most of us don't want to do the job, we want it so easy. Hmmmmmmmm, see Gobe. The first time I got married I guess my head was filled with assumptions of what marriage should be like, of-course I was immature and an armature. But it wasn’t what I had assumed and so it failed. The others too didn’t work out because maybe I wasn’t psychologically and mentally prepared for the mess, crap and bullshit in marriage. I’ve been married to my wife Lady Diane for years and the seeming success of our marriage maybe as a result of my experience from my other broken marriages. Let's tell it as it is, marriage is somewhat putting up with a lot of crap and bullshit, and we must have a strong stomach for that. The word marry is fussing two imperfect things together. So how is it possible that two imperfect things are merged? I guess it just means two people willing to be in a mess together, constantly finding a way out. When asked my secret of love, being married for over 36years to the same person, I say, "Diane and I are happily incompatible and I have learnt to live with that. She is an extrovert and believe it or not, I’m an introvert regardless of how I put out as CharlyBoy. The most important marriage skill is listening to your partner in a way that they can't possibly doubt that you love them. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. It was when I realized that love was forbearance that I had a successful marriage. Both parties have to know and have that. You bear and you keep bearing and you keep bearing. To be a bearer you must be a forgiver, sometimes no apologies rendered. Oooops! Yeah, that’s marriage. Rice can never be beans and beans can never be rice, if you like cook them in the same pot they will always be different. They’ll still perform their different functions, what you will get is a different taste from the mixture. That’s marriage, what you get is not as a result of only you anymore but a mixture of two. You’ve got to take it as it comes. What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility.

Challenges And Opportunities (2) Halal business is a very pragmatic, transparent, all-inclusive and sustainable way of ensuring that all the key points in the Transformation Agenda are achieved. It will also ensure a steady flow of funds for projects. Take energy for instance, raising a Sukuk by any of the companies will ensure adequate funds for the development of power, agriculture, education and healthcare. All these sectors are self sustaining and all that is required is a conscious sensitisation of the players in the sector to take advantage of the opportunities in the halal industry to develop and become internationally competitive. Halal businesses are those businesses that do not involve alcohol/ tobacco, pornography, speculative trade, gambling, dangerous weapons and pork. Halal is an Arabic word meaning “lawful” or “permitted,” but it is generally used in reference to foods that fulfill Islamic dietary rules and in other principles of Islam. It is similar to the Hebrew word “kosher,” which references food that is permissible to eat according to Jewish dietary standards. In Arabic, the opposite of “halal” is “haram.” Most things fall into either the halal or haram categories, but there are certain things, that are called “mashbooh,” or “doubtful.” Further research is needed before classifying them as halal or haram. Halal businesses or products cut across various consumables like beverages, bread, biscuits and pastries, confectioneries and candies, dairy products, food additives, frozen foods, fruits, grains, health food and healthcare products and supplements, pharmaceutics/ herbal products, cosmetics, honey products, poultry and seafood. We also have non-food products and services, government agencies such as Hajj and Zakat commissions, endowments, etc. Halal products are for everyone irrespective of religion race or gender. Statistics have shown that many non-muslim countries all over the world are beneficiaries of the several opportunities offered by this market to create jobs and build their industry, countries like Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, India, Philippines are benefiting immensely from the

Halal industry. With regards to revenue generation, Halal businesses globally stand at over $2.3tr with North America projected to have over $14m, Europe $64m, Asia $386m, Africa $115m and South America $820m. The private sector and the government each have a role to play with the government providing the enabling environment while the private sector making the investment. Nigeria with population of over 160m is a great market to develop the halal industry. Take for instance the livestock, a well-developed Halal industry will ensure that the current practice of moving cattle for long distances thereby depleting their nutritious value is arrested as many large farms will be established all over the country that will ensure proper breeding and processing of livestock products for security, safety, healthy and wealthy development. Also take the case of Hajj; at least 100,000 pilgrims perform hajj annually from Nigeria. Imagine a dedicated textile factory that produces the ihram (the official cloth for hajj rites), uniforms and bags. This is a lifelong business with 100% off taker sure. Imagine those that will be employed across the country for this. No doubt, Nigeria is going to be the biggest African market for Islamic financial services in future, just as Britain is trying to become the global Islamic financial services centre. It is refreshing to the market to note that the controversy that followed the earlier introduction of Islamic finance (an aspect of Halal business) has fizzled out, as both Christians and Muslims now see the need to synergise to make this work in the interest of Nigeria’s economy. To a very large extent all government regulatory bodies like the CBN, SEC, NAICOM and NDIC are ready and now waiting for transactions from the market operators. The recent Osun State government’s Sukuk (Islamic Bond) is a testimony to this. We must appreciate the role federal government has played so far in creating an enabling environment. it will be nice if States and LGAs with infrastructural deficits all over the country, patronise the Sukuk market for bail outs.

No doubt, Nigeria is going to be the biggest African market for Islamic financial services in future, just as Britain is trying to become the global Islamic financial services centre


sports

71

Saturday, August 23, 2014

news

Telecom Games: Etisalat Seeks Consolidation On Medals Table Match Day 5 of the 2014 Nigeria Telecoms Games will witness the finals of events in Table Tennis, Tennis, Chess and Scrabble whose outcome is bound to determine the overall placement on the medals table. Etisalat Nigeria made a strong showing in Athletics winning all the medals in the Men’s 100 and 200 sprints but MTN’s Blessing pegged their rampage when she dominated in the women’s sprint events win-

ning the gold in both 100 and 200 meters. With their good showing in football in which they have now reached the finals and are waiting for the rest qualifying games to know their opponents, Etisalat who are the defending champions in football look poised to perhaps also nudge out MTN from the overall medals leadership. Ahead of the finals, organizers of the tournament, MediaVision Limit-

ed said they are already braced for an exciting and entertainment filled finals ceremony. Chief Executive Officer, Fela Bank-Olemoh hinted at special events on September 7 to make the closing ceremonies memorable. “It has always been our tradition to offer participants something new and exciting each year and 2014 promises plenty innovations in the style and genre of the ceremony we will put on show”, declared Bank-Olemoh but declining to expatiate.

Mark Harps On Sports As Panacea For Youth Restiveness By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja

Kaita

Kaita Returns To Europe Praising LMC Elite Players Project Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Sani Kaita has emerged the first success story of the Elite Players Scheme of the League Management Company (LMC) as he has completed a move to Moldova’s Premier League side, FC Saxan Ceadir Lunga after a three months loan stint with Enyimba International of Aba. And following the deal, the Super Eagles 2010 World Cup star took to the social media to thank the Club, LMC, Coaches, players and fans of Enyimba. His post on facebook on August 14 read, “Aba is the city .The club is Enyimba Int’l. I want to thank you all, the Management, the Former Coaches, the players the Fans and of cause the LMC who played big part. I really appreciated you all. Once again thank you very much. Cheers”. Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar has expressed delight at this first success story and urged other players who meet the requirements to come forward and enjoy the benefits as well as add value to the domestic league.

“Kaita’s return to Europe is evidence of the competitiveness and qualities of the Glo Premier League which can help players re-launch their international career in Europe. We will continue to support players who embrace this scheme and assist them settle at any club that accepts them as we did with Kaita. We wish him all the best”, Abubakar said excitedly. Kaita was an instant hit with Aba fans and his younger teammates as his presence attracted thousands of fans to training ground and on match days with the player making his debut for the Aba Elephants in a 1-1 draw away to Sharks of Port Harcourt. He was then to score a spectacular goal in his home debut for Enyimba’s win on Match Day 13 against Kaduna United. The LMC Elite Players Project was introduced in the 2013/14 season Framework and Rules to attract to the Glo Premier League, Nigerian players who must have played for the country in the Olympics Games, Nations Cup, World Cup or those with a minimum of 20 national team appearances.

Senate President David Mark has again harped on the inevitability of sporting activities in the country as the needed panacea towards curbing societal ills especially among youths. Senator Mark said at the teeoff of the 2014 Professor Odusola Ojerinde memorial golf tournament in Otukpo, Benue state that engaging youths in various sporting activities would curb social vices and make them more fruitful and useful to the society. Mark He stated that beyond being a kind of exercise for mental and sured would continue to make physical health of the citizenry, adequate appropriation for he stressed that sports have be- Sports to thrive in Nigeria even come a yardstick for measuring as he urged citizens to compliment government efforts in that the strength of nations. Senator Mark added that regards. Professional and amateur golfSports is now a strong tool for international politics which no ers in Nigeria are competing for nation seeking for advancement Honours in the three days 18hole tournament in Otukpo. can ill afford to ignore. Professor Odusola Ojerinde The National Assembly, he as-

was the wife of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board ( JAMB) Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde. The golf tournament is in Honour of late Professor Odusola Ojerinde for her exemplary womanhood, a great teacher and ideal mother who contributed immensely to the development of Education in Nigeria.

Shekarau To Kick Off National U-20 Football Tourney By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau will perform the kick off ceremony of the finals of the national U-20 football competition slated for 20th September 2014 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna. The competition is the 3rd in its series is being organised in honour of the education minister for his continue support to the development of football in Nigeria. About 27 teams across the six geo-political zone participated in the football championship and Umaru Bahago FC a team owned and sponsored by Emir of Lapai in Niger State will trade tackles with Rima academy of Sokoto at the fi-

nal while the third place match had feature teams from Kaduna and Enugu and Enugu won by 2-1 in Kaduna. Speaking to sports reporters on the level of preparedness for the tournament, the executive secretary of federation of youth soccer clubs Hon A S Luya, organisers of the competition said the football competition in honour of the education minister has always brought out budding talents that have made the nation proud in both CAF and FIFA competition. According to him, “This is the third edition and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has always been in attendance since the competition began over five years ago and it has been a harvest of good foot-

Shekarau

balling. “The 1st and 2nd editions of the competition had taken place in Minna and Zamfara and the 3rd edition is now scheduled for Kaduna September 20 and its going to be a huge success as the minister has promised to kick off the tournament”.

I Have Gone From ‘King Of Manchester To Devil’ – Van Gaal Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has poured scorn on critics whom he said have made a “devil” of him after one defeat in his new job. United’s 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City was the shock result on the opening weekend of the new

Premier League season. They face a tricky game at Sunderland on Sunday and Van Gaal is appealing for patience. “Two weeks ago I was the king of Manchester and now I am the devil of Manchester,” he told a news con-

ference on Friday. “It’s the football world and it is especially the media in this football world. “I think the fans of Manchester are intelligent. I’ve already said that it shall be difficult in the first three

months, for the players and also for the fans.” Former United hero Paul Scholes said in a newspaper column this week that he was “scared” for United’s immediate future, to which Van Gaal responded: “I can imagine the

fans are scared. They have to believe. Paul Scholes has to believe. “The club have hired me because of my philosophy, not because I am nice. Although I am. I am not hired to be fired. I am hired to build up a team. That process needs time.”


AMUSEMENT PARK

All my clothes are made from natural fibres but my breasts are man-made — Nora Dunn

23.08.14

www.leadership.ng

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 446 N300

The Weekend Column Capt Daniel Omale

O

The electorate in Nigeria have no right; with or without their votes, an appointed representative will emerge

n hearing that Nuhu Ribadu had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), my friend's wife made this categorical statement: “I can only be surprised if I hear of General Buhari's defection to PDP." These days, it's becoming extremely difficult to understand the political drama on our national stage. Obviously, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are sheer moles and spies whose ultimate aim is to gather information for the PDP – a calculated political strategy that actually diminishes the protagonists. Nuhu Ribadu, in my opinion, has clearly minimized his image in the country, since he will be dining and wining with the same politicians he jailed for corruption when he was the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). How will Ribadu relate with the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who holds a strong godfather position in this administration? The breaking news headline last week was "Ribadu dumps APC for PDP". According to the various theories that emerged, the former EFCC boss was asked to dump APC for an automatic, guaranteed ticket/victory to the position of “governor” of Adamawa, his home state. According to the sources, the PDP had formalized his membership of the party before he was contacted, because his friend in the Presidency was very sure that Nuhu Ribadu would accept

Ribadu: Quest For Power And Glory? daniel@leadership.ng

this juicy offer. The source is correct, since Ribadu did not hesitate to decamp. The uproar on the social media was like a powerful volcano; it erupted with overflown lava. Everyone, except a few, was disgusted with Ribadu’s decision to accept the offer. The question here is: does Nuhu Ribadu wear a two-face mask? Has the former EFCC boss been a facade or parody of an anti-corruption chairman he portrayed to the world? If Chairman Ribadu's nostalgia for power has always been a part of him, why did he lie to himself? No one can stop the PDP’s victory in Adamawa's State if Ribadu or anyone else is nominated to run in the governorship contest (if there is going to be a contest after all). INEC would simply announce the result in favour of the party. Who can challenge that? Ribadu has lost his goodwill – the respect, reverence and admiration Nigerians imposed on him. He is like any one of his victims when he was the EFCC boss; this is the chorus on social networks. With a promise to become the next governor of Adamawa State, Ribadu has suddenly changed his tune: “Goodluck Jonathan is the best leader Nigeria can ever have at this time; he has performed more than I expected,” he says. In his own defence, Ribadu claims that the APC is not better than the PDP. If this is true, why then was it necessary for him to defect to the PDP, since both parties are the same? Mallam Ribadu should not act shallow in his mindset.

Along the line, he will come to realize that integrity is better than all the vaporized fame and fortune he is searching for. Also, he should not forget that he has always been supported in all his political appointments, including the pending governorship position; and, when push comes to shove, and he is alone in the battle for survival in our political wilderness, he will realize the insincerity of all those around him. I will not be surprised if Mr Bola Tinubu has also concluded arrangements with the PDP to deliver Lagos and the other states to the party for some economic and political reward. After all, it is a game, and everyone wants to win with some benefits. Unfortunately, the evolving political image in the country where elective offices are shared to members of a class – the lords of the land – who can do as they please cannot foster peace. The electorate in Nigeria have no right; with or without their votes, an appointed representative will emerge, usually the choice of the PDP. But how long will this continue? Nigeria's form of democracy can only become endearing if there is a strong opposition party with credible members. Obviously, Ribadu's credibility has been damaged by his newly found relationship/romance with the PDP. The opposition party or parties in a democracy serve to keep the government of the day accountable. Within the opposition is the shadow cabinet. The leaders of the opposition parties appoint members to serve as critics for

08054102747 (text only) specific government policies. As critics, the shadow cabinet scrutinizes the activities and policies of the federal government. This national service of the opposition parties can only be feasible if people of decent background become members of the opposition to steer the nation through creative tension that will eventually lead to good governance. I can understand Ribadu’s quest for power and glory. Of late, since after his departure from the plum position as the chairman of the EFFC, he has virtually become irrelevant on the national podium. But he fails to realize that power is an illusion, a mirage that will virtually evaporate with time. A good name is better than all the fake accolades by praisesingers whose ultimate desire is how to make money from doing nothing. Hopefully, Mallam Ribadu will, someday, see through the veil when the cataract in his eyes clears. Time is everything, and “everything is everything”.

GHANA MUST GO Ondo State governor Mimiko set to join PDP

— News

Did he ever leave PDP?

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@lerdership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng


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