Leadership news1

SATURDAY No. 451 N300

27.09.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

www.leadership.ng

nigeRiA'S MOST inFLUenTiAL neWSPAPeR

nYSC Online Registration For Safety Of Corps Members – DG

i Hate To Waste Opportunities – Fauziyya

nEWs, PAGE 7

my sEcrEt lifE, PAGE 4

leadership newspapers

@leadershipnGA

Curfew in ekiti As Murder Of nURTW Chairman Sparks Protests nEWs, PAGE 6

$1bn Arms loAn

Belarus Not Helicopter Manufacturing Country 5

Embassy’s confirmation in exclusive interview raises fresh questions

i Ran naked in The Bush For 2 Days – Gwoza Police Camp Attack Survivor Police officer Nwoke Babayi (not real name for protection purposes) had barely spent two days at the famous Gwoza Police Training Camp in Borno State when Boko Haram insurgents struck with a deadly force on August 20, 2014, at about 2pm. A traumatised Babayi shared his ordeal with LEADERSHIP Weekend. AGBOPAUL AUGUSTINE writes.

With no knowledge of the environment, he was forced to defend himself against a resolute force, out to annihilate the hundreds of policemen stationed at the camp.

He had barely laid his head on his pillow to rest when the camp’s rapid alert whistle sounded. They were under attack from Boko Haram.

His days as a Gwoza Camp attendee were abruptly over. To save his life, he slid on his belly like a snake through the gutters and on to the bush, where several other policemen had already run to, most of them wearing only their shorts.

Tell us what you saw on arriving

➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Cameroonian Military Capture Boko Haram Top Commander, Abakar Ali > Page 68

Chibok Diary DAY 166

Chibok girls: Women's group Pledges Support For Military > Page 2

chibok diary 167 DAY

Leadership weeKeNd Saturday, September 27, 2014 CHibok FACts @RASASC_London 1 girl home. We want all 27. @EvansHills #Bringbackourgirls - a spark of hope: Kidnapped Nigerian student becomes first in months to escape Boko Haram. @Moonchild509 So #GEJ in his address to the UN says the Chibok girls were abducted 3 months ago. Dude, they've been gone SIX months.

Members of #Bring Back Our Girls group during one of their meetings at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.

@RepWilson No matter how many days go by, we will not rest until our girls are home.

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

@rescueourgirls 165 days since Comfort Habila taken from #Chibok.

Will she ever come home?

Never forget. @RepWilson No matter how many days go by, we will not rest until our girls are home. @RepWilson Safe access to education is what girls everywhere deserve!

Members of #BringBackOurGirls chanting solidarity songs during a village square meeting at the Unity Fountain Abuja. PHOTO

@lsjagla Question for @UN, did we give up on fighting for the 276 missing Nigerian girls? @sethpalmer3 Nigerian schoolgirl found wandering, 'heavily traumatized' in wild. @Seja75 So, you can find & bomb #IS but can't #BringBackOurGirls ????

Interesting. @PaulDewar Proud to present petition to #BringBackOurGirls.

Canada should help protect education as a right for all. @adk_johnnasa Chibok community doubts found girl is from #Chibok, says she may be pregnant.

COMPILED BY agBO augustInE

BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Chibok Girls: Women Group Pledges Support For Military

By ChikA MeFOr And ejike ejike, Abuja

The Evolutionary Women Empowerment Association, a non-governmental organisation has pledged it’s support to the ongoing military operation against insurgency and its efforts to rescue the over 200 Chibok girls abducted from their hostels on the April 14; and called for increased provision of arms and ammunition for the military.

The association, which focuses on the empowerment of Nigerian women all over the nation, noted that the fight against insurgency is never an easy one and hence, the need for the total support of our military in order for them to rescue the Chibok girls.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday, the coordinator of the association, Hon. Patience Eke, noted that she and her group have always offered prayers both in Church and other gatherings, for the protection and the safe return of the Chibok girls.

Hon. Eke, further noted that the outstanding contributions of the current administration, to the development and empowerment of women, shows that it will not relent until these girls are brought back home safely.

She however, noted that her association, is solidly behind President Jonathan and his transformation agenda, which has seen him appoint women to strategic positions

and emphasised the need for total support to ensure that he is re-elected in the coming election.

She also explained that the association is targeting the training and empowerment of over 20 women before the year runs out adding that as it has already empowered three women in soap making and sachet water production within one month of its existence.

As part of the objectives of the association, the deputy coordinator, Bibiana Shonibare, noted that it focuses on empowering women by getting them jobs, training them in IT and providing funds to young girls to start up their own businesses.

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our stand Saturday, September 27, 2014

Chibok Girls: Our Worst Fears Confirmed

F

inally, the nation’s worst fears about the fate of the Chibok girls kidnapped over five months ago have been confirmed with the discovery that one of them just released by the sect, Susan Ishaya, is four months pregnant. She was reportedly found near a police station in Mubi, Adamawa State, having been abandoned three days earlier.

In the months after the girls were abducted from their school

by Boko Haram members, the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) campaigners were justifiably concerned that the girls were in danger of being sexually violated by the merciless insurgents and urged the government to expedite action on measures to free them. The anguish of the parents, who are having to endure the trauma of not knowing the fate of their daughters, has done little to sway the government and its agencies to move speedily to rescue the girls. These parents were heartbroken to learn that their children had become pawns on the chessboard of the country’s murky politics.

Good at giving assurances they

have no intention of keeping, the authorities dilly-dallied over the issue. Visiting the scene of the abduction became a political issue, as the federal and the state governments concerned engaged in a senseless blame game, with suggestions from some quarters that the abduction never really happened. At a point, one of the state governments admitted openly that the leaders had failed the citizens in their hour of need. At the peak of things, allegations of money exchanging hands among the government, the Chibok parents and some intermediaries became rife, to the embarrassment of Nigerians.

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

This was after a public show of intervention by some foreign countries gave what has turned out to be false hope for the girls’ early rescue.

The trauma being experienced by the girls and their parents can only be imagined. Now, not just the parents, but indeed all Nigerians also will have to reconcile themselves to the painful reality that these girls, whenever and if ever they are rescued, will not be the same.

We are worried that they will be coming home violated, traumatised and polluted, no thanks to a government that has mastered the art of lethargy where issues that require decisive action are concerned.

It is a matter for regret, in our view, that the few girls that have so far escaped from captivity did so through personal effort, or, as in this case, happenchance, even as the government and its agencies gave and still give the impression that the Boko Haram camp is an impenetrable fortress.

We urge the government to make a final push and bring the remaining girls home and end this nightmare.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Iyobosa Uwugiaren Ademola Oladosu Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Abdulmumin Balogun 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

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, September 27, 2014

I Hate To Waste Opportunities – Fauziyya Muhammad Sani- Interior Designer My parents are...Alhaji Muhammad, CEO of a private consultancy firm that promotes business development and Hajiya Asiya Y. Mahmud, a full time home maker.

Household I grew up in...a peaceful and religious household with my parents and two siblings. We had a good upbringing where our parents were strict but loving and made us focus on making something of ourselves. We were taught how to work hard to become independent and self-reliant.

Favourite childhood memories...just being with my Mum, helping her with chores and enjoying her presence.

Craziest thing I’ve ever done...Introducing my boyfriend to my mum! It was crazy because I come from a conservative Muslim family and to do something like that would be daring.

I do not like... being idle. People who know me know that I love to be busy at all times.

As a child I wanted to be... a Nurse. I love to look after people.

People that motivate me...

My mum &Dad. They have been very supportive of what I do.

When I look in the mirror I see...a confident woman ready for any challenge God brings my way because I know he will see me through.

Five ways to describe me... smart, beautiful, hard working, ever-busy, God-fearing.

Fashion to me means...putting on the right clothes at the right place and time The last time I cried...when my grandfather died I’m afraid of...hurting anyone One thing I could change about myself...my limited opportunities. I wish I could expand my reach and achieve my goals of having my products in so many places. In shaa Allah, I know it will happen soon.

You might not know it but...I’m a very simple, realistic and down to earth person.

Challenges faced... right now it is combining three things at a time: studies, business and

Rejected A former senate president, Chief Ameh Ebute has rejected attempts to scuttle the singletenure zoning of the House of Representatives seat in Okpokwu, Ado, Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State.

Chief Ebute who is the first senate president from Idoma land noted that the seat for 2015 had been zoned to Ado as far back as 2010 during a caucus meeting of the three local governments at Okpokwu hall in Okpoga.

Petitioned

A Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider government’s decision to give a national award to a serving permanent secretary.

A copy of the petition obtained from the chambers of the lawyer urged the President to remove the name of Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi from the honours roll, arguing that he is standing trial over his conduct in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Declared

Fauziyya

marriage.

Where I see myself/business in five years’ time... stronger and healthier than I am now and to have built a standard training fashion centre that will help people become self sufficient.

Movie that made an impact on me...Angels and Demons because it gives a true reflection of the injustice going on all over the world.

Books that motivate me...

Ruwan Bajaga and Magana Jarice both Hausa books that are well articulated considering the time they were written.

Life In Brief Fauziyya Muhammad Sani attended Chino Nursery& Primary School; Kano Foundation Girls Secondary School and obtained a first degree in Civil Engineering and a second one in Project Management both from A.B.U. Zaria. She is a designer who discovered her passion early in life and through the grace of God, she has worked very hard to establish FMS Innovative Centre, a Zaria-based interior decor outfit which specialises in making decorative products such as bean bags, throw-pillows, puffs and many more household items as well as souvenir bags for any occasion. Fauziyya is happily married and lives in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Interview By

AMINA ALHASSAN AHMAN

Photo By

FAUZIYYA MUHAMMAD SANI

Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Patrick Ugbe has declared his intention to sustain the uncommon transformation agenda of Governor Liyel Imoke if his aspiration to Government House comes to fruition.

Ugbe who is also a governorship aspirant promised to leverage on the legacies of successive administrations.

Warned

The national leadership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that it would no longer tolerate abandonment of project by agencies and parastatals of the federal government and states under its control.

National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Chief Olise Metuh gave the warning in Yenagoa shortly after inspecting ongoing projects executed by the PDP led administration of Governor Seriake Dickson.

NEWS 5

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Belarus Not Helicopter Manufacturing Country

LIVING TO BE 100

One health tip daily

By Catherine Agbo, Abuja

Eat organic whole foods and opt for locally grown, seasonal organic produce Pesticides have been implicated in many illnesses, including infertility, cancer, birth defects, skin irritations and impotence.

Organically reared stock fed on grass (what they’re meant to eat), not grains, and organic produce not only contains substantially more of the basic nutrients than intensively farmed varieties, but also up to 10,000 secondary nutrients essential for human health. As organic bacon and sausages may still include nitrates (carcinogens), purchase them from sources that guarantee nitrate- free products.

I Ran Naked In The Bush For 2 Days Gwoza Camp?

I arrived Gwoza Camp on August 18 2014 from my base, in one of the two trucks that drove my squadron to the camp. The camp looked like any other camp I had visited, but on entering the place, I noticed that the Quarter Guard had been burnt. I was told Boko Haram insurgents burnt it in an earlier attack on the camp.

I saw one armoured personnel tank, two trucks besides the two that brought us and one anti-riot water truck. Two instructors each were stationed in beats to secure various parts of the camp.

The camp had a large dormitory housing all trainees, usually on a double bunk with each carrying a 6-spring mattress. The camp has electricity supply and a reservoir where we source our water needs.

The first day I came to Gwoza, they served us beans with no meat or fish and for lunch, rice and beans with nothing either, but most of the trainees rely on the popular commandant market within the camp for alternative meals.

Tell us what happened at August 20, 2014 in Gwoza camp?

On that fateful day, we were ordered to all submit our rifles and arms before heading for the routine training. After the morning jogging that ended at about 9am, we went for our

breakfast and about 11am, I noticed a fighter jet flying over the camp and later another flew over us again.

After breakfast, we went to our various classes for lectures and at 1pm we were asked to go for lunch. Instructions later came that all of us should take a rest till 4pm, before another session of training. I took advantage of the break to have my hair cut before taking rest.

I got to the hostel and took off my clothes, leaving me with only knickers on and suddenly, I heard the camps rapid alert at 2pm. Information reaching us said something was happening and we should assemble for instructions. Before I could come out of the hostel, the camp’s armoury had been overwhelmed by officers desperately trying to collect their arms. In spite of the difficulties, I was able to grab my rifle.

As I was leaving the armoury, the Boko Haram armoured tank had already penetrated the main gate and the insurgents were shooting sporadically around the camp church. People were running for their lives, especially those who couldn’t get arms as pandemonium ensued.

What did afterwards?

you

do

I just took cover inside the gutter and started crawling amidst intense gun firing.

While inside the gutter I fired ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

The revelation by the Senate Thursday that the federal government plans to buy 12 helicopters from the Republic of Belarus to aid the fight against insurgency has raised questions about the genuineness and legality of the move, as facts emerged yesterday that Belarus is not a helicopter manufacturing company.

This is even as the country is not listed as a helicopter or aircraft manufacturer on the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) list of manufacturers of aircraft in Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. The list was last edited three months ago.

President Goodluck Jonathan had on July 15, written to the Senate, requesting its approval to take a loan of $1billion to enable the federal government tackle security challenges in the country.

The Senate Joint Committee on Finance and Local and Foreign Debts, which scrutinised the proposal, had urged the Senate to accede to the president’s request.

During plenary on Thursday, chairman of the joint committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who presented the committee’s report, said, “Helicopters are crucial for decisive victory over the war against terror. Quick victory cannot be accomplished without helicopters, because of the terrain and the nature of operations to be undertaken. Belarus has accepted to give helicopters on instalmental payment over a seven year period.”

The Senate president, David Mark, had advised his colleagues to go ahead and and approve the proposal without raising questions that would have any security implications.

However, investigations by LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday confirmed that the country does not manufacture helicopters, which makes the decision of the government to buy helicopters from the country suspicious.

Political affairs officer of the Belarus Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Sergei Makarevich, who confirmed this in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday, said though Belarus is a top manufacturer of military equipment, helicopters were not part of it.

“Belarus is a serious manufacturer of military equipment. We are one of the top five countries in the world that manufacture special equipment... and we always make sure that everything that we produce is exported for peaceful purposes.

We deal directly with governments of countries, not with individuals or agents. As for the range of equipment, we produce a lot, but unfortunately, we don’t produce helicopters. We don’t. There are

some things that we produce fully in Belarus including military armour machines, vehicles, tanks, missiles, systems. But we also perform such a function as modernisation of old but still effective machines and equipment, including helicopters. Very often, manufacturers produce those that cannot perform at the same level of modernisation that we can do, so we upgrade and input the hightech equipment inside.

“As for the contract you mentioned, unfortunately, I won’t be able to confirm or say it didn’t happen,” he said, but however disclosed that officials of the government of Belarus had met with Nigerian government officials, including the national security adviser, mid-September 2014 and issues including special military cooperation and equipment were discussed.

Asked if the country buys helicopters and modernises them to sell or only modernises for manufacturers, after which they go back to the manufacturing country he said, “It depends on the contract. It can be both, depending on the eagerness of the end user,” emphasising that because the country is relatively small with a population of about nine million, most of the military equipment it produces is exported to countries that need it, dealing directly with the governments of those countries.

Makarevich said that for Nigeria particularly, the purpose of Belarus’ willingness to cooperate with the country was first to help to resolve the unfortunate problem of insurgency and secondly, its role in international peacekeeping, particularly in Africa. He said his country understands that Nigeria requires cooperation to support the fragile balance on the continent and that Belarus treats Nigeria as one of its serious partners.

Further findings by LEADERSHIP Weekend confirmed that in a news report published on the official website of the Republic of Belarus, posted on April 2 2014, the country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, had expressed worry that the country was continuously focused on aircraft upgrade and repairs and expressed plans by the country to start manufacturing airplanes and helicopters. He stated this when he visited OAO 558 Aircraft Repair Plant in Baranovichi on April 2.

According to the president, it made no sense to focus solely on aircraft upgrade and repairs, saying that Belarus needed to move on and begin to produce new aircraft that would sell well on the market. “Belarus should produce airplanes and helicopters,” Lukashenko said.

But reacting to the president’s comments in an interview with the

Jonathan

Belarus Times of Thursday April 3, 2014, Andrei Parotnikov, a military expert and head of the analytical project, Belarus Security Blog said, that with the kind of technology Belarus has, it would only be able to produce hang gliders.

Responding to a question on the technological ability of Belarus to manufacture helicopters, he said, “This depends on what kind of technique we are talking about.

We must understand that the level of complexity of aircraft can be different. Therefore we can of course produce, say, hang gliders, but we don’t have special engineering skills to produce something more complex. Belarus can simply offer a platform for the assembly of such complex products and, consequently, some tax breaks, so that it is attractive for those producers who have special technologies, engineering skills, achievements and most importantly — sales channels.”

When LEADERSHIP Weekend sought the reaction of the Senate to these findings, spokesman of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia, PDP), in a text message said, “The matter of $1bn loan has already been dealt with by the Senate vide its approval yesterday during the debate on the request by the C in C.” Meanwhile, also reacting to the development, a source familiar with the subject confirmed too that Belarus does not manufacture aircraft, but merely repairs/refits existing units.

He explained that the proposed helicopters, Mil Mi-24D (export designation Mil Mi-35), cost US$35-40million per unit, adding, however, that, “It’s better than any of its competitors defensively, because it has heavy duty armour (including blades and cockpit), resistant up to 50 rounds, so even if fired on the M2 browning at the cockpit, it won’t do any damage.

Offensively, it can be configured for a variety of roles; air combat, anti-infantry, even if mechanised/ motorised combat or even air support. It’s also extremely fast take-off wise and has a range of 450km. In other words, it can take off from Yola, fly to Maiduguri and back in an hour.”

6 NEWS

Saturday, September 27, 2014

I Ran Naked In The Bush For 2 Days commander at that time?

➔ FROM PAGE 5

seven shots, hitting the Boko Haram tank, but they were well guided. When I looked up to check my back, I realised my colleagues had disappeared, leaving me alone. I thought all of us would pin-down and engage the Boko Haram invaders.

After realising others had run away and the firing from the insurgents was intense, and knowing too that I alone cannot stand them with my AK47, I decided to stop shooting to avoid attracting them to me. I just laid in the gutter and started crawling towards the nearby bushes.

Where

was

your

camp

As soon as the rapid alarm whistle was blown, I did not see the camp commander, because there was little time for comprehension. I only saw officers and men running in confusion amidst gunfire.

How did you stay out of harm’s way?

I finally crawled, with my bare chest against the ground, to the camp’s fence and scaled the fence to the farmland behind.

I met some of the senior officers half naked and without ammunition. We then ran past some villages before sleeping somewhere, enduring all insect bites overnight in the bushes.

Meanwhile, as we were running, other fleeing

policemen joined us making 23 in the bush. At about 5am the following day, we heard a prayer call from a village.

We then decided to nominate three men to go and spy the village, if it is safe for us. They went and met a pastor who led them to the village head. We were later invited all to come out of hiding. The pastor and the village head bought some snacks for us and assisted us to Mubi town in Adamawa State.

The villagers assisted us with a few clothing before we left for Mubi. It was at Mubi that some female police officers went home to get some clothes for those of us without clothes on.

How did you get from Mubi to your base?

Those of us that finally converged at Mubi were from various units of MOPOL. We came from four different units. On the second day of our escape, our various unit commanders made arrangements with a transport company, in which a luxury bus conveyed us to our various units.

afterwards. I had to buy another uniform with my money.

I lost the pocket money and other valuable items I took to the camp in the process of escape. The worst of all is that we were told that the cost of transportation from Mubi to our base will be shouldered by us. They told us that it will be deducted from our salary.

Any word from force headquarters after your return to base?

After going through that horrifying experience, how do you feel about being a policeman?

Apart from our squadron commander that addressed us after we came back, we have not heard anything from Abuja. I went to Gwoza with three sets of uniform and came back with none. The police only gave me a beret without uniforms

I can’t say I am happy, as I continue to live with the trauma of a near death experience. In spite of the challenges, I will still be in the police force and hoping that our situation will improve one day.

Curfew In Ekiti As Murder Of NURTW Chairman Sparks Protests

Hold Fayose responsible – Fayemi

By Alo Abiola, Ado Ekiti, Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja, OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

The lingering crisis in Ekiti State that started with the invasion of the Ekiti State High Court by suspected thugs boiled over yesterday when Mr Omolafe Aderiye, the former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) was shot dead, sparking protests that culminated in the declaration of a dusk to dawn curfew in the state.

Before the declaration of the curfew, hoodlums had burned down the state and Ado local government secretariats of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the residence and five vehicles belonging to the former chairman of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, Mr Joseph Olambiwonu (Mentilo), and several other vehicles that were attacked at the wake of the killing of Mr Omolafe Aderiye on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State governor has told Nigerians to hold Mr Ayo Fayose, the state governor-elect, liable for the current crisis in the state saying that the state has been relatively peaceful until Fayose’s attack on judges and disruption of court proceedings during the week.

Other property destroyed by the arsonists include Fayemi’s campaign office, five APC vehicles, and about eight tricycles popularly called in the state as ‘Keke Fayemi’ and some other vehicles on the streets of Ado Ekiti.

Announcing the curfew in a state-wide broadcast yesterday, the state governor,

Dr Kayode Fayemi, said there would be restriction in movement between 7pm and 7am everyday till further notice.

The governor who has also suspended his thank you tour of the state urged the citizenry to be vigilant and provide security agencies with details of suspicious activities that can undermine the peace of the state.

While calling on all stakeholders in the state to cooperate with government “to stop the violence and brigandage that had brought about serious embarrassment” to the state, Dr Fayemi charged all and sundry to guard their “competitive zeal with civility and empathy”.

Speaking on the series of incidences that had sparked up crisis in the state, the governor recalled the desecration of the court and the beating of Judges by thugs “acting on the incitement of an interested party in the presence of law enforcement agents with inappropriate response.”

Dr Fayemi said he reliably gathered that the thugs again attempted to prevent the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal from sitting on Thursday when they acted on the order of the governorelect, Mr Ayo Fayose who was present at the scene.

On the closure of the state courts by the chief judge of the state, Justice Ayo Daramola, the governor said he has directed the State Attorney General to issue a legal advisory counsel to the chief judge and all parties to the existing cases in the State High Court as well as the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on the desirability of seeking an alternative venue for the hearing of the cases outside Ekiti State.

Hold Fayose Responsible For Ekiti Crisis - Fayemi The Ekiti State governor has told Nigerians to hold Mr Ayo Fayose, the state governor-elect, liable for the current crisis in the state noting that Ekiti was enjoying relative peace before the attack on court judges.

The governor raised this alarm while assessing the level of damage done yesterday.

Dr Fayemi who lamented that some people did not care about returning the state to its dark old days between 2003 and 2006 in their desperate bid to actualise their ambitions, asserted that the crisis was fuelled by Fayose and should be held responsible for all that happened during this crisis.

NBA Condemns Attack On Judges In Ekiti Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), some senior lawyers and activists have called for investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attacked on the state high court Complex.

The lawyer, including a human rights group, Access to Justice (AJ), Femi Falana, Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and Mike Igbokwe (SAN) described the action as “barbaric”, a “desecration of the temple of justice” and “an act of judicial terrorism”.

It will be recalled that on September 22 and 25, 2014 some hoodlums, said to be political thugs broke into the High Court Complex, ransacked the Court rooms, and destroyed judicial record books and attacked judiciary staff and Judges.

The Nigerian Bar Association, in a statement signed by its National President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, condemned the development and described it as a dastardly act

of violence. The NBA also stated that, “We condemn in very strong terms these detestable acts of brigandage intended to intimidate and infuse fear into the minds of judicial officers. Those behind these criminal acts of violence have desecrated the Courts which are our temples of justice.

Also Falana (SAN) said that the mayhem unleashed on the judge, lawyers and litigants in the precincts of the Ekiti State Fayemi High Court by a gang of hired hoodlums has confirmed that the Ekiti people have fully returned to the wilderness.

He said by desecrating the temple of Justice with the connivance of the police, the armed gang left no one in doubt that they had the full backing of the ruling party in executing the premeditated onslaught on the judiciary.

On his part, Nwobike noted that the mayhem in Ekiti State is not only disturbing, but Fayose highlights what he called institutional failure on the part supporters to attack and burn of security agencies. He said, down the opposition secretar“What happened at the Ekiti iat in the state.

In a statement issued yesState High Court is very disterday in Lagos by its nationturbing. I cannot imagine this extent of institutional failure al publicity secretary, Alh Lai in Ekiti. “I call on the Inspec- Mohammed, the party said tor-General of Police and the since Mr Fayose does not yet Director-General of the State enjoy any immunity from Security Services to investi- arrest and prosecution, he gate and punish all those re- should immediately be arrestsponsible for the ugly develop- ed over the dastardly and barment.” In its reaction, Access baric attack, which represents to Justice, in a statement by an attack on justice and on the its Executive Director Joseph rule of law, and the violence Otteh, said the deplorable at- that has gripped the state. It tack is against the rule of law. said every time a judge had been attacked anywhere in the Arrest, prosecute Fayose world, the attackers have been jailed to serve as a deterrent Now - APC The All Progressives Con- to others who may want to gress (APC) has called for the take the laws into their hands, immediate arrest and prosecu- adding that ‘’Though Mr Faytion of Ekiti State governor- ose has not assumed office, he elect, Ayodele Fayose for lead- has succeeded in taking Ekiing a band of thugs to beat up a ti State back to Egypt within Judge and then instigating his a few months of his ‘election.”

news across the states 7

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Northern Elders Back Jonathan On Security The Northern Elders’ Council (NEC) has reiterated its support to the efforts of the security agencies in the conduct of the ongoing war against insurgency in the country, urging Nigerians to do the same.

Secretary-general of the council, John Mankilik, stated this on Wednesday after the joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and National Working Committee of NEC in Abuja.

According to Mankilik, ‘‘The Northern Elders Council (NEC) has expressed satisfaction with and reaffirmed its support for the gallant and heroic members of the armed forces and other security agencies in the conduct of the war against insurgency in the northeast.”

It pledged its full support towards ensuring that the insecurity in the northeast will be a thing of the past in no distant future.

The northern council also said President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, have successfully ran the affairs of the nation, saying that their working relationship had been exemplary.

He said the meeting recognised the importance and steadfastness of sustaining the historical and political alliances between the people of the north, south-south and southeast.

He said that such alliances had over time become the bedrock of the nation’s national stability and continuity of democratic processes.

NYSC Online Registration For Safety Of Corps Members – DG

BY Catherine Agbo, Abuja

Director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), BrigGen Johnson Bamidele Olawumi has cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the recent introduction of a N4,000 fee for online printing of call-up letters by prospective youth corps members, insisting that the innovation is for the safety and in the interest of the prospective corps members.

He also stated that it would be most beneficial to foreign-educated Nigerians, whom before now had to come to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja to process their call-up letters, saying they can now process their call-up letters online wherever they are, if they choose to exercise that option.

Speaking in an interview in Abuja, he explained that in view of digitalisation and the realisation that some prospective corps members

reside far away from the institutions from which they graduated, the recent innovation was to cut off the risk of having them travel to the institutions to get the callup letters, adding that the online service was however optional and totally at the discretion of the prospective corps members.

“It is not true that corps members are being asked to pay to serve their country, far from it. It should be remembered that pro-

L-R; Dr Umar Bindir, director-general, National Office For Technology Acquisition and Promotion (Notap), showing one of the products developed by Notap, during a news conference on critical science, technology and innovation issues and socio-economic impact of NOTAP initiatives in Abuja yesterday.

With him are the acting director, Technology, Promotion And Commercialisation (TPC), Dr Danazumi Ibrahim and the deputy director, Technology Transfer And Acquisition (TTA), Mr Sammuel Eneanya.

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja.

Insurgency: ACF Accuses FG Of Protecting Sponsors, Financiers The apex northern social-cultural group, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has accused the government of protecting the sponsors and financiers of insurgents who perpetrating attacks on innocent citizens of the country.

The National Working Committee of (ACF) after deliberating extensively on the current security challenges in the country and in particular the recent attacks on the students of Federal College of Education, Kano, some villages of Sanga LGA of Kaduna state and in Shinkafi and Maradu villages of Zamfara states where many innocent lives and property were destroyed lamented how such attacks has continued unabated.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the National publicity Secretary of the forum Muhammad Ibrahim and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, it said, “suspected sponsors and financiers of such atrocities have continued to enjoy government protection and cover while innocent Nigerians are being killed.”

The forum resolved that the situation is unacceptable, saying it erodes people’s confidence in Government and its cherished security institutions.

By Isaiah Benjamin,Kaduna

spective corps members become the responsibility of NYSC when they show up in orientation camps, not before. So, prospective corps members (not NYSC) have always borne the costs of travelling to get their call-up letters. This has not changed and no extra burden has been imposed on our prospective corps members,” he said, adding that those who want to physically pick up their call-up letters from their schools can still do so.

Photo:nan

Konduga: Soldiers, Boko Haram Terrorists Killed In Renewed Attacks

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Both Soldiers of the Nigerian army and Boko Haram terrorists who had engaged in the unyielding battle for the control of Konduga town of Borno state in the last two days may have lost large number of men on both sides, security sources said.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered from impeccable military sources that the Boko Haram terrorists had attacked Konduga town on Thursday night where they met yet another stiff resistance from soldiers on guard of the town, even though some soldiers got killed in the ensuing shootout.

Although the soldiers were

said to have managed to repel the attacking Boko Haram gunmen on Thursday night, the insurgents regrouped on Friday morning to launch a reprisal attack.

Details of the Friday morning attack were still sketchy as at the time of filing this report but witnesses from within the security operatives, said the terrorists returned to Konduga yesterday at about 8am, in a convoy of pickup vans led by an armoured tank.

“Our colleagues in Konduga informed us today (Friday) that it was another major success because apart from killing the terrorists, the soldiers were able to retrieve a light armored tanker

that led the attackers into Konduga today”, said Abbas Gaza, an official of the Nigeria Vigilante Group in Borno state.

The actual figure of casualties on both sides could not be verified but a soldier in Maiduguri told journalists that “many of them were killed and I believe half of those that escaped ran with bullet injuries”.

A top military official who spoke but craved anonymity, also confirmed the attacks.

“We lost some soldiers on Thursday night but our troops have been able to gun down many of them and repel the attacks. I don’t have much detail on the Friday morning attack yet”, said the officer.

Nyanya Bomb Blast: Confusion Trails Suspect’s Trial

By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja

There was confusion yesterday between the Nigerian police and the State Security Service (SSS) over who should prosecute Aminu Ogwuche, the suspect arrested for masterminding the Nyanya Bomb blast that killed 75 innocent Nigerians.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja fixed November 10, 2014 for the arraignment of the suspect.

Ogwuche is being held for allegedly masterminding the bomb blast that killed 75 people at a bus station and thereafter escaping to Sudan.

The Inspector General of Police on behalf of the federal government had initially filed charges before a Federal High Court in Abuja, which aided Ogwuche’s extradition from Sudan to Nigeria.

The 3-count charge filed on behalf of the IGP by Oloye Torugbene, a deputy Ssperintendent of Police, alleged the suspect conspired with

others (at large), to commit an act of terrorism by detonating improvised explosive devices at Nyanya Motor Park, which resulted in the death of 75 persons and injuring over a hundred other persons.

Count two of the charge reads, “That you, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, Male, and others now at large, on the 14th of April, 2014 at Nyanya, FCT, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did facilitate the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism.”

short news Rivers PDP Crisis: Groups Kick Against Party Decisions Following the fracas that engulfed the recent meeting of stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, groups under the Coalition To Save Rivers State Project (CTSRSP) have called on the leadership of the Party at the federal level to intervene on the situation.

The Secretary General of the Coalition, Barr. Emmanuel Ojoba, said the fracas was an avoidable incidence which is capable of destroying the chances of the Party in the forthcoming elections.

The group said it is very imperative that the President address the issue and resolve it on time in order to bring all stakeholders together and forge a formidable front ahead of 2015.

Reacting to the Party’s decision that there will not be any zoning arrangement in the primaries, the group said it is regrettable that the party will take such actions at this point in time. The Coalition said it will not only amount to insensitivity on the part of the party on the riverine populace in the state to make such statement.

By Anthony Ada, Abuja

8 news

Saturday, September 27, 2014

$9.3m: Catholic Bishops Disown Reports Casting Aspersion On Oritsejafor Say media misinformation more deadly than Ebola

By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

Catholic Bishops have described as false and malicious, some online media reports that Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) had accused Pastor Ayo Ortistejafor of denting the image of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the case of the jet that was found with $9.3milion allegedly owned by the CAN president.

In a statement, Rev. Fr. Chris Anyanwu, director (Social Communications Directorate) for Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, stated that the reports were a calculated attempt to further sow the seed of disharmony between Catholics and the leadership of CAN. According to Anyanwu, while they disassociate themselves from

the reports, it is important to put the records in the right perspective, that Rev. Ignatius Kaigama granted an interview with the Hausa BBC Service in Kaduna State in which he condemned money laundering.

He said, “Rev. Ignatius Kaigama said that the relevant authorities in Nigeria ought to investigate the issue of the $9.3million arms deal-saga dispassionately and ensure that those found guilty of money laundering be punished according to the provision of the existing law of our land against money laundering.

“He never, in the said interview, cast any aspersion on the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Reporters who monitored the said interview in Hausa BBC Service totally misrepresented the Archbishop by misquoting him.”

National Awards: Fawehinmi Petitions Jonathan Over Nomination Of Perm Sec

BY Olaolu Oladipo, Lagos

A Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Mohammed Fawehinmi, has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider government’s decision to give a national award to a serving permanent secretary.

A copy of the petition obtained

by LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday in Lagos urged the president to remove the name of Dr Martin Uhomoibhi from the honours roll arguing that he is currently standing trial over his conduct as the administrative head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Uhomoibhi alongside 304 other Nigerians were recently in Abuja, the nation’s capital announced as recipients of national honours in different categories by the federal government.

In the two-page document signed by Fawehinmi, he wrote, “I must mention that the there are two pending suits filed at the National Industrial Court, Lagos of which he is a party to both suits and he is stated in the claims to have committed several questionable acts which undermines the territorial integrity of Nigeria as a nation.”

Fawehinmi in the petition listed

Registrar Decries Shortage Of Environmental Officers

By DAVID ADUGE-ANI, Abuja

The registrar, Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Mr Augustine Ebisike, has said that the dwindling number of environmental health officers in the country is a major challenge facing the health care sector in Nigeria.

In an address yesterday to mark this year’s World Environmental Day in Abuja, Ebisike regretted that at the moment the total of population of environmental health officers in Nigeria is about 7,000, which is far from the 23,000 health officers recommended by the WHO. He explained that employing the services of environmental health officers is not the responsibility of the federal government but that of the state and local governments because majority of them are supposed to work in the local government areas.

Ebisike noted that the preventive health is being neglected in the country, warning that as long as the country continues to neglect the preventive health, achieving good health for majority of Nigerians would remain a mirage.

He charged health authorities in Nigeria to go back to the drawing board, because the country is not getting it right in the fight against diseases in the country, adding that health inequalities could be addressed from the roots According to him, “In the year 2000, Nigeria was ranked 187th among 191 WHO member states in health system performance. Today, the health picture shows a nation with a high burden of communicable diseases that are environment-related. It should be noted that a very direct correlation exists between the economic health of a nation and the health status of its citizens.”

L-R: Commissioner for Health, Ondo State, Dr Dayo Adeyanju; Ondo State governor, Dr Segun Mimiko; president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm Olumide Akintayo; Regent of Akure Kingdom, Pharm Adetutu Adesida and Pharm Jimi Agbaje, during the presentation of an award to Mimiko on World Pharmacists Day 2014, at the governor’s office in Akure. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI.

PDP’ll No longer Tolerate Projects Abandonment – Metu

By OSA Okhomina, Yenagoa

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that it would no longer tolerate abandonment of projects by agencies and parastatals of the federal government and states under its control.

According to the party, government is all about continuity and as such, inherited projects are to be completed and not abandoned.

The national publicity secretary, PDP, Chief Olise Metuh, gave the warning yesterday in Yenagoa shortly after inspecting ongoing projects exe-

cuted by the PDP led administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, saying that the Party has decided to issue the warning to spur development at the state and federal levels.

He said, “on behalf of the national executive committee, the leadership of the peoples Democratic Party will no longer tolerate abandonment of projects by either agencies, the federal government or successive state governments.

“Government is continuum and we believe that anybody hat that comes into office whether a new head of any agency, state or federal govern-

ment, parastatal under PDP leadership or a new state governor or new minister must as a role, as declared by the leadership of the PDP, must continue with the project of the past administration.

“We will no longer tolerate the issue of any agency or government leaving uncompleted project in any form.”

Describing the PDP as a party for all Nigerians, not affected by ethnic and religious interests, he said it is the only party in Nigeria that has sustained democracy in the past 15 years.

EFCC Arraigns 2 for $91,000 Internet Fraud

By Ejike Ejike, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arraigned two suspects before Justice E. F. Ikponmwen of Edo State High Court, Benin-City on a 3- count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

The suspects, Dandeson Ebosele Ibhonitie, 26, (a.k.a Dandy James) and Ohiwerei Charity, 31, allegedly belong to the group of fraudsters using the internet to defraud unsuspecting victims.

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, “Ib-

honitie allegedly defrauded one Mrs Weidman Andrea Sabrie, a German, of the sum of $ 91,000 by pretending to be an American working in Nigeria for a road construction company.”

To access the proceeds of the fraud, Ibhonitie allegedly opened a domiciliary account in the name of one Mr Steven. He entered into an agreement with Charity, the account officer that opened the account for him, on how the proceeds from the crime would be shared. By the arrangement, Charity was to keep 3 per cent of every inflow to herself while 7 per cent

will go to Ibhonitie. The remaining 90 per cent, by the arrangement, went to Steven. However, investigations showed that Ibhonitie was the same as Steven. When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

One of the counts read, “Dandeson Ebosele Ibhonitie (a.k.a Dandy James, Connor Mead, Barrister Louis Harpoch, Brett Francis Steven (still at large) and Ohiwerei Charity on or about April 2, 2014, at Benin within the Benin judicial division, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of $45,000 from Mrs Weidman Andrea Sabrie.”

Church Building Collapse: We Were Not Served Contravention Notice – Synagogue BYTaiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos

The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has debunked reports that it ignored contravention notices served on it by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) over the collapse of one of its building.

A statement from the church insisted that it neither received a contravention notice nor was the building in question ever sealed off before the collapse.

It added that at no time was any “stop work” notice or di-

rective served on the church or pasted on the building prior to the September 12 incident, saying the only form of communication with the LSBCA occurred days after the incident.

“The letters that were written to the church were written after the collapse in the following order: A letter dated September 16, 2014 with Ref No. LASBCA/AL/PCA/DH/01, requesting for the submission of a development permit and approval of structures within the church complex, four days after the building collapsed.

“A contravention notice dated September 17, 2014, Ref No. AL/LASBCA/DH/PCA/CN 06, alleging certain contraventions, five days after the building collapsed.

“Another letter dated September 17, 2014, with Ref No. AL/ LASBCA/DH/PCA/CN 06, requesting for non-destructive tests for structural stability, five days after the building collapsed.”

The church further noted that no sealing or quit notice was served on it, as the building never called for such.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Behold !

The MuTawallen awallen of SokoTo o

n behalf of my family and the Senate of the Federal Republic of nigeria, i warmly felicitate with you on your turbaning as the Mutawallen Sokoto by His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto alhaji Muhammad abubakar iii. this honour , well deserved is no doubt in recognition of your leadership quality, humility and meritorious servce to our dear country, nigeria. may the Almighty creator grant you good health, peace and wisdom to continue to serve our nation diligently in the years ahead.

CongRAtulAtionS my bRotHER!

Rt. Hon. Aminu WAziRi tAmbuWAl CFR Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives SIGNED

Senator (dr) david a. B. Mark gcon, fnim, fnipr President of the Senate and Chairman, national Assembly, Federal Republic of nigeria

11

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Sometimes, men under the guise of playing with children, take advantage of their innocence and violate them sexually.

Paedophilia, A Rising Societal Ill

There has been an exponential rise in cases of paedophilia in the country. Hardly any day passes that there are no reports of minors being violated by their guardians, neighbours total strangers and even their parents. LEADERSHIP Weekend crew comprising Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta, JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo, Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan, and Agbo-Paul Augustine, Abuja, went to town to feel the pulse of the people on this social ill and what can be done to abate it.

"That day I don't know what possessed me. The parents of the girl had been leaving her with me for a long time and I never did any evil thing to her.On that fateful day I know I did a bad thing. May God forgive me."

That was Kayode Akanni, 25, of Pedepo Village via Ohunbe Ogun State, who defiled a three year old girl. He perpetrated the act on Monday, September 15, 2014.

He was paraded alongside other suspects at the Eleweran, Abeokuta headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Ogun State command.He looked forlorn and

lost as he answered questions from newsmen.He said he had been drinking 'ogogoro' local gin, on the morning of the incident and did not know what took over his senses.

Asked what he would feel, if the girl were his daughter, he said he would be dejected and would want the perpetrator to face full wrath of the law.

Not long ago, another case of raping of minor was perpetrated by a security guard of a Chinese company in the state.

Taofeek Kolawole, 45, was nabbed for allegedly having

intimate intercourse with a 12-year-old girl.The suspect allegedly lured the primary six pupil with a gift of a mobile phone.

Paedophilia has assumed a life of its own, it has become a hydra headed monster that must be tamed. Cases aboud in all parts of the country. Earlier this week, one Idris Ali of Moduganari area of Maiduguri, Borno State was paraded by the police in the state for allegedly raping his 10-year-old daughter. The suspect according to the police commissioner, Adoda Clement had already confessed to the crime. Another man, Bana

Kyari of Bolori layout, Maiduguri, was also parade for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl. Also this week, a 60-year-old man, Friday Akpan, a gatekeeper, was reported to have lured his boss' 10-year-old daughter into his room, where he had unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor.

The teenager was said to have complained of stomache ache after the escapade and when her parents inquired the cause from her, she informed them of what had happened. The suspect, who according to the Edo state police commissioner, Folusho Adebanjo, had confessed to the crime, said he was influenced by alcohol.

Recently, in Lagos state, men of the state Police Command arrested the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Onikan Station, Mr. Adekunle Awe for alleged rape. Also, a 19-year-old girl simply identified as Helen tested HIV positive after she was gang-raped by five men in Lagos.Another case is the arrest of a 42-year-old electrician, Taiwo Bakare, who alleged specialises in defiling and sexually harassing little girls at Igando area of the state. Bakare met his waterloo after he allegedly raped a 10-yearold primary school girl in his apartment at No. 45, Unity Street, Igando.

Cases of paedophilia are getting out of control and LEADERSHIP spoke to some residents in the state.Cases of older men violating minors sexually have attracted widespread condemnation but the situation seems not to be abating, a development observers have attributed to the inability or refusal of perpetrators to be brought to book by relevant authorities.

For Mrs Ayoka Ayeloja, anybody caught having sex with a minor should be executed. According to her, the rapist has killed the future of the innocent child therefore should pay with his.

"I don't know how to describe it. How can you rape a threeyear-old girl. It is killing the girl and the evil man should be killed immediately," she said.

For Chief Adisa Olojede, anybody who commits rape of a minor has desecrated the land and should face the full force of extant laws.

"In the past, issues like this in the days of old were dealt with according to traditional laws which were very harsh. But today, crimes are handled by the courts. What I suggest is that those in charge of justice should always decide cases of minor rape without leniency."

Pastor Daniel Ayoaade sees raping of minors as the manifestation of evil in the land.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 63

I don't know how to describe it.

How can you rape a threeyear-old girl.

It is killing the girl and the evil man should be killed immediately

12 cover story

Saturday, September 27,

Paedophilia, A Rising Societal Ill ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 62 He appealed to men to be wary of the antics of the devil and move closer to God. "What I see is the handwork of satan. He is the strongman out to steal and destroy. That is why we should live as good christians by praying regularly to God to protect us from the machinations of the devil."

In the words of Dr Tinuke Kolawole, a school proprietor, parents especially mothers should be careful with individuals they leave their daughters with saying only people they trust should be employed to look after their children, male or female.

"I believe parents should be more alive to their responsibilities.

It goes beyond family members because experiences have shown that rapes are perpetrated mostly by people known to the victims.

Mothers should guard their daughters jealously and ward off characters they suspect cannot be trusted." She said.

In Osun state, though the government has put in place appropriate measures through the institution of the Child Rights Law, cases of rape of minors are still prevalent and perpetrators are not made to face the law. A Social Worker in the state who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said cases of rape of minors are not new but the ministry has found it difficult to prosecute offenders because the parents of the victims are usually unwilling to play along with government.According to him, parents are reluctant to prosecute such cases because most of them are not only afraid of stigmatisation, but express the fear that the case may drag on for long.

This according to him has further given perpetrators leverage to continue in their dastardly act thereby continuing to endanger the lives of victims.Speaking on the effect of rape on minors, the Social Worker said beside psychological trauma involved, victims also stand the risk of many health hazards that could even result in bareness in future.

But to stem the trend, the Osun State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has continually organised sensitisation programmes in schools to enlighten girls on consequences of being sexually violated.According to the Commissioner in the Ministry, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega, children across the state have been advised to stay away from people of the opposite sex who try to fondle their private parts or make passes at them.

Though nobody has been able to say what exactly is responsible for the rise in cases of rape of minors, Mrs Sola Igayilola, remarked that it is a sign of the end time, arguing that there is no cause for such a

Friday Akpan, 60,lured his boss' daughter into his room

Kayode Akanni the suspect who defiled a three-year-old girl

criminal act especially now that there are many willing mature ladies around for whosoever is a sex maniac.

Despite the high rate of condemnation of rape of teenagers by the so-called elders, the attitude has continued unabated.

It seems governments at all levels have no answer to the act.

Most of the people who spoke on rape of minors, exonerated government, saying the problem emanated from the various homes.

Salama Uthman who noted that the act of having canal knowledge with minors is bad, recalled how a 30-year-old man, Monsuru was remanded in Agodi Prison for rape.

The mother of two said the accused was sentenced to prison by an Iyaganku Magistrate's Court, Ibadan for having unlawful carnal knowledge with one Idowu Mukaila (18) without her consent.

She added that the Chief Magistrate E.A Idowu did not take the accused’s plea before remanding him in prison.

Uthman however lamented that despite the punishment and public condemnation, the act had been on the increase.

Another parent, Lawal Kilani who lamented the rate of rape in the state, disclosed that most of the incidents were not made public by the victims for fear of embarrassment and stigmatisation.

According to him, most of the incidents are not reported to the police authority for proper investigation and where they are reported, investigations are influenced by either the parents of the victims or accused.He said parents should be blamed for this illicit act because most of them have abandoned their responsibilities, adding that because the law has been lenient on the accused, it has become so rampant that the perpetrators have no regard for the law and the under-aged.

Kilani who noted that some of the young girls were lured due to poverty, several others did engage in it without their consent.

While some men used drugs, he said others were charms by men who were desperate in having their ways.

A young lady, Olayinka said it was

unfortunate that teenagers were exposed to "this kind of torture.

"It is a bad experience and the perpetrators should not be spared by the law. The law should be allowed to take its course."

Olayinka who claimed that she had never been a victim, lamented that government had not done enough to protect the lives of the young girls.

She opined that penalties in the laws were not strong enough to serve as deterrent to others, saying that most of the accused after completing their jail terms would not hesitate to return to crime.

A legal practitioner, Barrister Babatunde Adegboyega called for stiffer sanctions against the perpetrators of the heinous act.He also alleged that government was not doing enough to put an end to the act.

To get to the root of the matter, the Lagos State Government for instance, has advocated psychiatric test for sex offenders found to have sexually abused any person below the age of 18, as a way of curbing incidents.At this year’s International Day for the African Child, Deputy Governor of the state, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, decried the rise in incidents of rape, saying, “I lived with my uncle and all was well, I don’t know what has gone wrong, a father impregnating his daughter. There are cases of a father impregnating three daughters. Such a father must be made to go through a psychiatric test,” and advised victims to report such cases to the government without fail.

Many parents are unanimous in their views that there is need for government to enact laws which stipulate stringent punishment for sex offenders.

A parent, Mr. Tunde Kabir opined that parents should be blamed for buying half naked clothes for their children. "I will blame parents for the increase in rape; they should tutor their girls on how to dress", he added, while Mrs. Kehinde Sofola stressed that both parents and government need to join hands to fight against rape in the society, saying future of our teens must be protected.

Speaking on the matter, a

sociologist at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr Theophilus Lagi said pervasiveness in the society has created big social and moral issues in which one of it is the growing cases of child sexual abuses as witnessed in Nigeria today.

He added that fetish traditional beliefs have also contributed to child molestations, incest and high immorality in Nigeria. Lagi noted that child sexual abuses often occur among close relations where children tend to build bonds.

“It is a psychological displacement that need to be check by the society and I think the government should begin to drawn peoples conscience to the danger individuals with high flair for children can be. It can be achieved through massive enlightenments particularly in schools and worship places”, Lagi said.

Also speaking to Leadership Weekend, a child psychologist and senior lecturer at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Dr Elvis Ihaji, identified three factors responsible for child sexual abuses today: ‘Oedipus Complex’ where a child grows up with strong affection for his parents. The inability of parents to break that strong complex leaves the child to grow to adulthood with that feeling. As an adult, such an individual tends to look at other people especially children to express that affection since he or she cannot go back to the parents again.

He said unconsciously, many people carry that trace of social behaviour into their marriages where husbands call their wives ‘mommy’ and wives call their husbands ‘daddy’. “This is a figure head of the original state of affairs when they were young and that explains why some men are attracted to young girls whom they call ‘my daughter’ and some cases leads to sexual relations,” he said.

He also revealed that poverty is another factor, where adult men use money to take advantage of the needs of young ones to abuse them sexually. Dr Ihaji said mode of dressing these days among teenagers is a source of attraction to men who finds it hard to control their sexual urge.

Another factor Dr Ihaji observed is that older men try to demonstrate that they are still capable to things like the younger generation. “They revolt against their age psychologically by going after younger girls, abusing them and some even getting married to young women even against all odds,” he said.

He called for control of impulses among men and not to capitalise on the weakness of young children.

He advocated that the young generation need to be trained as well as to know how to behave in the fast changing society. The university don call for legislation against child sexual abuses in Nigeria.

fetish traditional beliefs have also contributed to child molestations, incest and high immorality in Nigeria

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

AllAh YA JA ZAmAnin

MuTAWAllen SokoToo We rejoice with our boss, a honorable gentleman and a respected Nigerian, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, Speaker, House of Representatives, on his turbaning as the Mutawallen Sokoto by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, today, Saturday 27th September, 2014.

Like all great men, Mr. Speaker has raised the bar in the art of governance and personal conduct. Today’s honour is therefore yet another recognition of his sterling qualities which we have come to know and associate with him.

To this trailblazer of a lawyer, respected politician, accomplished leader and a trusted parliamentarian, we say congratulations.

May the Almighty God continue to protect and guide the honoree in all his future endeavours.

Signed:

MALAM IMAM IMAM JAMES AdEdAyo oJo MuHAMMEd ISA TAHIRu HARuNA ANdREW ooTA

RT. HoN. AMINu WAzIRI TAMbuWAL CFR Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Congratulations, the Quintessential

BoSS

RT HON. AMInu WAzIRI TAMBuWAl CFR Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives

We join millions of admirers and well-wishers in congratulating our boss, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, on his turbaning as the Mutawallen Sokoto by His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, today, Saturday 27th September, 2014.

As a man of tradition, Mr. Speaker’s candour, nationalism, maturity and ability to make firm, fair and inclusive decisions have stood him out. His principled stance on discipline, accountability and truth has set the bar and made him a glittering example among political office holders in the federation.

On this special day in his life, our wish and prayer is for the Almighty God to multiply his wisdom and give him the capacity to continue rendering meritorious services to our Fatherland, now and in the future.

CongRATulATIonS, YouR ExCEllEnCY. Signed: SEnAToR AnTHonY MAnzo Hon. SADA SolI JIBIA Chief of Staff to Senate President

Chief of Staff to Hon Speaker, House of Representatives

Hon. CID MADuABuM

Chief of Staff to Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives

Hon. Chille W Igbawua Hon. Yemi Arokodare Malam Imam Imam Babatunde Fuad Durosinmi-Etti Fabian Ugochukwu Okoye Hafiz Shehu Steve Okechukwu Emelieze Abubakar Gotomo James Ojo

Tahiru Haruna Mohammed Isa Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo Balarabe Saad Kurawa Abubakar Chika Sahabi Dr. Okora Okora Ekom Aisha Ahman Pategi Jacobs Olu Otuoze Andrew Tyowase Oota

Taiwo Ganiyu Bankole Buhari Dasuki Dr. Ahmed Garba Yakasai Jude Chikezie Egbonwonu Tokunbo Yetunde Giwa-Amo Oke Epia Mohammed Etsu Umar Nana Asein Nasiru Babata

Nuhu Musa Lawali Zagi Duru Charles Emeka Kevin Ogburie Ifeoluwapo Adenigbagbe Tijani Ibrahim Sherif Hassan Shehu Hussain Babangida Abubakar Lawan Shehu

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Congratulations gentleman to an indefatigable

We, the underlisted members of the House of Representatives heartily rejoice with you Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR on your turbaning as Mutawallen Sokoto today

by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. (Dr.) Sa’ad Abubakar III CON, mni.

Mr. Speaker, you have contributed in no small measure to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria and your tenure as the Speaker of the House of Representatives has witnessed peace like never before.

May this honour mark the beginning of greater things for you and your family.

We are indeed proud to be associated with you.

Congratulations!

Signed:

Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi Ibadan Southwest/Northwest Hon. Mustapha Bawa Dawaki Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency Hon. Kola Olabiyi Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Fed Constituency Hon. Abiodun Muniru Oshodi/Isolo Hon. Mudashiru Akinlabi Oyo Federal Constituency Hon. Olayemi Busari Ebeda/Onaara Hon. Odebunmi Dokun Ogo-oluwa/Surulere Hon. Bukola Taofeek Burimoh Remo north/Sagamu/Ikenne

RT. HON. AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL CFR

Speaker, House of Representatives Federal Republic of Nigeria

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

I Went Into Porn For Money – Afrocandy Ever since she shot Destructive Instinct, Afrocandy has become synonymous to controversy. This is because contrary to the rules of the country’s censorship board, there are nude scenes in the movie. Born Judith Mazagwu, the singer, actress and movie producer has been in the industry for over a decade and has appeared in numerous flicks. She came into the country recently from her New Jersey, US base. In this chat with SAMUEL ABULUDE, the single mother of two speaks about her controversial personality and risque dress sense and music.

Why are you in Nigeria?

I’m in the country to work on some projects. I just recorded a single- Make I Be Your Woman. I also recently auditioned for an epic movie, titled Queen of Zamonda. It is a great movie which will reveal another side of me. I have shot Juju Woman and should round up Killer From the Grave soon. I also have in the works another full length feature film titled Get The Money, which features Femi Ogedegbe, Kelvin Ikeduba, Anita Joseph and others for production in September.

Prior to these, I have acted in flicks like Dangerous Sisters, End of Game, Dwelling In the Darkness, Beyond Green Pastures and Sorrows. In 2003, I featured in Desperate Women.

Your controversial movie, Destructive Instinct generated a lot of buzz, did you envisage this?

Yes I did. Though I did not know that I would be castigated this much. I’m not the first person or going to be the last to shoot a movie with raw love scenes. It’s our job to interpret. A part of the movie was shot in Nigeria while another part was shot in the United States. So, it is selling both here in Nigeria as well as in the States. There is a Hollywood major distribution company doing the US marketing of the movie, while there is a local marketer here selling the movie to adults.

I have an issue with the marketer now because he has remained incommunicado since I arrived and has not given me the proceeds from the sales. So, I’m getting a new marketer. Destructive Instinct I and II is a bold effort by me to connect to my fans, however bizarre. I am not selling the same Nollywood stories in it. It is what you can call an erotic thriller for matured audiences in the US and Nigeria.

I know what my fans want. It’s just that some Nigerians, instead of picking a lesson or two from Destructive Instinct castigated me, even though they watched the movie and indulged. We are a bunch of

hypocrites here when it comes to some issues like this- yet very religious. The movie is not rated and I wanted it like that. Americans are real people; though we have hypocrites there too, let us call a spade a spade and not hide under the shade. All that Afrocandy is doing is building an image in this industry.

I wanted to do something different from the normal movies we get. I mean the so called love movies without action. I’m sure a lot of people are tired of all that and need something different. People like me who don’t believe in such fakeness.

The movie actually has a storyline but I went the extra mile to make it extraordinary Why did you go into soft porn, was it for money?

Afrocandy nude manner to church?

I dressed my normal way and had this same crazy hairdo; and no, I didn’t feel out of place. This happens to be my birthday month so when celebrants were called out to be prayed for, I also came out and the reverend father sprinkled holy water on me and some entered my eyes. (Laughs) Your lifestyle is expectedly frowned upon, especially here in Nigeria, how do you cope with negative reactions from people?

I owe nobody any explanations.

It’s my life and this is exactly how I wanna live it. I’m having fun doing what I am doing. Let me tell you, if not for the joy and satisfaction I found in showbiz, I might have died out of depression. So my lifestyle is my choice. There are those of us who are born to be in this game and 20 years from now I still want to be in this game.

It was just an idea that popped up in my mind. It wasn’t in any way to get back at my estranged husband. I’ve been separated from my husband since 2007, but the porn movie thing came up just last year.

I can say that money was the primary reason because at a time after my husband left me in the US, I couldn’t pay my house rent. So I went into it (porn) both because of the money and the fun.

My family doesn’t have time to start bothering about my lifestyle.

They are all busy with their different lives and careers. In my family, we have two big engineers, a lawyer and a doctor. So, come on, they don’t have my time even if they know. Moreover, my kids are my immediate family now.

So would you say you have made enough money from porn?

Are your kids aware of your lifestyle?

You know something, no matter how much one makes, it’s never enough. I still need more money.

As I’m talking to you now, a major distribution company has bought the exclusive distribution right for that movie worldwide. I owe it all to God. Really? Do you acknowledge God in this?

Of course I do. Who created me anyway? You think I don’t know who created me? I am a Catholic and sometimes I do go to Church.

In fact, I went to St Leo’s Catholic Church last Sunday.

Did you dress in your usual half

What about your family, do they know about your lifestyle and how do they take it?

I don’t have to show my kids my “bad” movies. But the truth is that I tell them about it somehow. I tell them ‘look, I’m doing some crazy stuff, but it’s all in the game’.

What if any of them decides to follow in Mummy’s footsteps?

No, no, no. Not at al!. They must get their education first. I’m not one of those mothers that will give room for their kids to choose if they want to go to school or not. It is mandatory that they go to school just like I did. I also remind them that before this whole thing, I also got married and had them. So if any of them chooses to follow my footsteps after achieving all that, then the choice is theirs.

Do you plan to quit this lifestyle anytime soon?

Not at all. Why would I quit when I’m thoroughly enjoying myself? I just finished a club tour in Ikeja. I get paid as much as N200,000 to appear in clubs; though some of the clubs are exclusively for big politicians. Maybe I will consider quitting when I’m getting old and wrinkly, though, I have plans to do plastic surgery if there is need for it. But sincerely, I still want to be in this game in another 20 years.

What would you say inspired your sojourn into music?

One night as I was sleeping, a song came to me in my dream. I woke up and told my kids about it. At this time, I was unable to pay my house rent and the landlord was already threatening to evict me. I knew I needed help desperately.

Along the line, I met a producer who offered to produce my songs if I had good ones. Somehow I realised that as a beautiful woman I shouldn’t be broke. So I recorded Ikebe Na Money and Lonely. When shooting the video, I knew I had to do something extraordinary so I removed my G string, put it on top of the guy and began to roll my waist vigorously and that was what started the whole frenzy. People went crazy and the whole phenomenon of Afrocandy was birthed.

Sometime ago, you made an appeal to fans on your Facebook page for your daughter’s school fees, does it mean you don’t make enough money from your porn lifestyle?

It was a stunt. It’s all part of the game. My daughter actually refused to go to all the other schools where she was offered scholarship, but chose a particular one which was very expensive. So, part of why I did that was also to see if I could get her to change her mind and attend the school I can afford.

Are you saying you weren’t broke as reported?

Look at me very well, do I look broke? I shop for all my clothes and shoes in America and I don’t think a broke person can do that. Like I said, it was all part of the game; you got to do what you got to do.

I wanted to do something different from the normal movies we get

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Reviving The Cinema Culture In Nigeria The first Nigerian films were made by filmmakers like Ola Balogun and Hubert Ogunde in the 1960s, but they were frustrated by the high cost of film production. During this period, cinemas were immensely popular and well patronised by the young and the old alike.

Unfortunately, today it's a different story. ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, Abuja and SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos write on how the cinema culture in Nigeria can be revived.

I

n post-independence Lagos and also in northern parts of Nigeria like Kano, Kaduna, and others, going to the the cinema was thrilling for youths and elderly alike, who would save up to go to the movies.

Cinemas thrived in Nigeria when peace and cohabitation were no luxuries; people had fun and life was really good and interesting.

The law limited foreign television content so producers in Lagos began televising local and popular theatre productions. Many of these were circulated on video as well, and a small-scale informal video movie trade developed.

A vivid reminder at Owoyemi Street, Ajegunle, Lagos was a popular cinema house around the 80s and 90s which was well patronised.

With keen enthusiasm, men, women and even children diligently saved money to go watch Chinese, Indian and American films. The environment was different from any viewing centre because of the crowed it pulled and the images on the wall. People loved to sit and watch almost all the movies of the day. To watch a movie in those days, cost just N3 to N5. Outside the cinema, women and children who sell guguru and ekpa (popcorn and peanuts) made brisk business.

Moi moi, sugarcane, bread and akara(beans cake), kwilikwili(groundnut cake) puff puff, etc were some of the snacks been sold to cinemagoers. Couples would sit together, eating bread and akara, or chewing sugarcane with happiness while the movie played on.

I remember some of the movies I watched in the cinema- 5 Lucky Kids, Ninja Domination, Jugnu, Yeh Vadha Raha, Idi Amin, Sholay, Destinambari(10/10), Equaliser 2000, Rambo, Coming To America, Commando and many

film viewers in a cinema

others. These movies lured everyone to the cinema.

In the north, the case was slightly different because of the culture of the people.

Northerners love Indian movies up till date. Movie lovers patronised various cinemas in Sabon Gari, Kafin Maiyaki in Kiru LGA of Kaduna State and others.

Today, technology and insecurity have changed all of that as terrorist attacks have deterred people from having this fun.

Though the Nigerian film industry in its earliest days produced films on celluloid and the films were screened in cinema houses across Nigeria and later released on VHS for various homes, in 1992 the release of the straight-tovideo movie, Living In Bondage

by NEK Video Links owned by Kenneth Nnebue, launched the home video market in Nigeria.

Nnebue had an excess number of imported video cassettes so he decided to shoot his first film with a video camera.

The cinema of Nigeria, often referred to as Nollywood, is the Nigerian film industry which grew quickly in the 1990s and 2000s to become the second largest film industry in the world, in number of annual film productions, placing it ahead of the United States and slightly behind the Indian cinema.

The Nigerian film industry is worth N853.9 billion (US$5.1 billion) as at 2014 and produces hundreds of home videos and films per annum.

Nollywood is Africa's largest movie industry in terms of value and the number of movies produced per year.

Although Nigerian films have been produced since the 1960s, the rise of affordable digital filming and editing technologies has stimulated the country's film and video industry.

Today, Silverbird is championing the rebirth of cinema viewing in Nigeria, with several centres across country.

The serenity of the environment, the seating arrangement, the large projector screen and other perks tell you that major technological advancements have taken place.

Many movie producers now prefer to screen their movies in cinemas, seeing how the industry has evolved.

The screening of Labo, Life is a Journey at the Silverbird cinema by producer, Roseline Sanni-Ajose, and directed

by Femi Fadeyi showed how cinema screening has evolved over the years.

Jude Anosike is an engineer who has a family of five.

Residing at the Dopemu area of Lagos, he loves to enjoy life to the fullest, having lived abroad for more than a decade. Every weekend, he takes his young family of three kids, aged 14, 11 and 9 to the Silverbird Galleria at Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island in Lagos while his wife, Annabela stays at home to prepare the home for the coming week. On a good day, it takes him about 2 hours to get to the island and another 45 minutes to get to watch his favourite movie in the company of his two boys.

The scenario is a middle income family that has imbibed the cinema culture of yesteryears. Nothing less than

N5, 000 is spent weekly by the man to ensure his children have the best of social life which contributes to wellbeing of child development.

In our 21st century Nigeria, not every family can enjoy this luxury, since alternatives are in place for the family to watch movies in the comfort of their homes. The cinema culture in Nigeria which virtually died decades ago, is being revived with the advent of different cinemas being erected in metropolitan cities across the country. These cinemas afford the family an opportunity to enjoy outdoor events.

Yesteryears In the 80s, social life was at its peak in Lagos with different cinemas and recreational parks scattered across the suburbs of Lagos. Pen Cinema of Agege was a beehive of activities at the weekend and every evening, because residents of Lagos can watch the movies of Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola, Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala ) and other theatre practitioners of yore who used the celluloid medium to tell their stories.

A cinema at Kosofe area of Ketu suburb of Lagos also bubbled then as you could choose whether to watch the movies of Nigeria film makers or watch your favourite Indian actor or indulge by watching the Chinese films. Though these foreign movies competed with our few local ones, they afforded the people choices of entertainment. Other cinemas scattered across Lagos State, including the ones mentioned are no longer serving their purposes. Kosofe Cinema, which was housed in a 3-storey

The cinema culture in Nigeria which virtually died decades ago, is being revived with the advent of different cinemas being erected in metropolitan cities across the country

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Reviving The Cinema Culture In Nigeria 19

building, has been turned into a bustling brothel where girls of easy virtue practise ply their trade.

Sadly, the dwindling economy in the 90s affected the finances of our film makers and the celluloid medium gave way gradually to the era of home videos, which in no small measure affected the cinema culture. According to the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), regulators of cinemas in the country, Nigeria can only boast of 13 cinemas of global standard and not more than 65 screens in those edifices. Lagos has 10 cinemas, while BeninCty in Edo State, Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Kano city in Kano State have one cinema each. The cinemas in Lagos are only found in more urbanised areas like Victoria Island, Ikeja, Yaba, and Surulere, based on economic reasons. But are the operators making fortunes, considering the population of Lagos State which is between 15 million and 20 million people?

The cinema culture is not fully revived yet. Even facilities like football fields, basketball courts and tennis courts are a luxury in Lagos. Thanks to the Lagos State government, recreational parks are being built in different places, but majority of Lagos residents are yet to be informed on the need to make use of these facilities regularly. Since most Nigerians wallow in poverty, going to the cinemas will remain a luxury, except government and private investors bring the cinemas nearer to the people at affordable prices.

Nowadays, young adults watch their favourite football teams scattered across Europe via the viewing centres in their neighbourhoods. This is akin to going to the cinemas in the 80s.

Solutions For moviemakers who are the engine rooms of the movie industry, they want their movies screened at the cinemas for people to watch and give feedback, making money in the process. Cinematographer, Tunde Kelani in an earlier interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend harped on the need first of all for state and local governments to build recreational facilities and within those facilities, small viewing centres or cinema halls can be used to showcase their movies at affordable prices.

Shuaib Hussein, film critic and member of the African Movies Academy Awards (AMAA) jury says that to revive the cinema culture,

Cinema

stakeholders and government should consider the market and make smaller cinemas.

He said, "We have to build more cinemas, make the tickets affordable, produce quality films that we can show moviegoers and really make the cinemas accessible. Right now people pay so much to go and see films in the few cinemas we have in Lagos. I always use myself as an example. I reside in area not too far from Badagry.

The only standard cinema close to me is Filmhouse in Surulere.

The other is in Yaba. It will cost me nothing less than N3,000 to take a taxi to Surulere from where I reside and if I choose to go by bus, I will spend nothing less than N2000 to and fro.

So after spending N2000 on transport, I will be required to spend another N1000 (which is the average cost of cinema ticket, though Filmhouse charges 500) and then may be spend another N1000 on popcorn and soft drink. That's already N4000. How many Nigerians can afford to spend N4000 in a cinema weekly?

It's expensive! Cinema is still too elitist in Nigeria. We need to build cinemas that are accessible and affordable, yet standard.

"When I mean standard, it means we can even show Hollywood films there.

Interestingly there is a provision in the national film policy that stipulates the provision of community cinemas in the 774 local government areas of the country. But that aspect of the national film policy and indeed

the whole document called the national film policy have not been implemented. When implemented, cinema will be affordable, accessible and then we can have more screens and that will translate to more revenue for the filmmakers.

At the moment we have only about 60 standard screens in a country with a population of about 180 million people. India has well over 11000 screens and South Africa here boast of about a thousand screens and Nigeria the giant of them all is still clapping over 60 screens.

We need to build more cinemascommunity cinemas.

"We can start with one standard cinema with about 4 screens in each local government. Imagine if a film like October 1 opens in 774 screens across the country with the kind of publicity it has gotten, even if it records only 100 people in each of the cinema, and I know it will attract more because of the quality of the film, you know what that will be in terms of revenue for the filmmaker.

I know the talk will be oh

government is too preoccupied with other things and so they cannot begin to build cinemas but the local government can partner with the private sector on this. Make it easy for those in the private sector to acquire land, while the federal government can give tax relief for importation of standard equipment. The revenue that will accrue to government and its potential for employment generation and boosting of local economy can best be imagined.�

In conclusion, the entertainment industry in Nigeria is full of untapped potentials. And many will agree that the industry, which is in dire need of development, can impact on the economy immensely. Already, according to a report, the industry whose potential is till largely untapped, needs the help of foreign and local investors.

Also, with the backing of government agencies acting as buffers, the road is clear for massive transformation through the building of cinemas and facilities for recreation.

Cinema is still too elitist in Nigeria. We need to build cinemas that are accessible and affordable, yet standard

20 scoop

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Ugo Thrills Judges As MTN Project Fame 7.0 Heats Up Stories By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

As the premium reality show winds up, one would be right to affirm that consistency, creativity and professionalism have been the hallmark of the ongoing MTN Project Fame 7.0.

Last weekend, the eight contestants each performed a traditional song, a duet and also composed their own songs, having being tutored in the preceding weeks. They all gave a good account of themselves, singing their own compositions flawlessly. In the traditional singing session, Ugo’s rendition of songs from the 2nd album of Afrojuju creator, Sir Shina Peters (SSP), was well received by the judges, faculty and the enraptured audience, who couldn’t help but dance. Ugo, who is Igbo, delivered the Yoruba song effortlessly.

TY Mix and Adebantu were seen dancing as Ugo belted

Jeremiah

Jeremiah Gyang Records Movie Theme Song The finalists from among whom the winners will emerge

out Ewa gbo rumours kan to lo lowo...... Make Una Dance oh.

Ugo also impressed with his composed song. Aided by his guitar skills, he proved to the judges and audience that he was ready to storm the music industry. Clement, Geoffrey, Emeka and Ruky notably also gave good performances, as this year's contest grows hotter.

With this season producing brilliant performances, week in and week out, and viewers debating who will emerge the eventual winner amongst the contestants- Emeka, Geoffrey, Christian, Ruky, Clement, Debbie, Ugo and Dianella- the total view time is expected to grow exponentially in the days ahead.

Damola Olatunji And His Not-So-Good Baggage He is one of the young actors that are doing well in the theatre industry. Damola Olatunji, who got married mid last year to UKbased Raliat Abiodun, is in a mess right now.

Last week, news broke that the handsome actor had impregnated a Yoruba actress, Bukky Awoyemi.

This comes barely a year into his marriage to Raliat, putting the union and his career in jeopardy.

According to reports, the actor was said to have been dating the Arugba actress, Bukky Awoyemi before meeting his wife. Damola has not responded yet to this scandal and efforts to speak to the thespian proved abortive.

Bukola Awoyemi, who is at the centre of the storm has neither issued an official statement nor denied the husband snatching accusations directed at her.

Damola’s wife, Raliat, in an interview with Best Of Nollywood said, "I am sad, frustrated and I don’t know where to start from.

Olatunji

What did I do to deserve this? I gave my all or is it a sin to love someone who claims to love you?

Damola and I didn’t have any issue neither did we have any major quarrel, just the normal ups and downs that married couples have. But I started feeling uneasy few weeks to our wedding anniversary when he rarely picked my calls nor replied my sms promptly and will only

call me back in the middle of the night."

"Gist started filtering to my ears that Damola was seeing Bukky but I ignored them. It started to make sense to me because like thrice in the middle of the night I had seen Bukky’s text messages to Damola saying, “I miss you”, “I love you and can’t wait to see you”, but I allowed it to slide because you know guys in the industry.

Tu Face, Tiwa Savage, Others For Triple 9 Concert As activities to mark the 5th anniversary of Beat FM tagged The 'Triple 9 Concert', heat up, organisers have assured that the star studded concert which rounds up the month and is a prelude to Nigeria’s Independence Day, October 1st. would be funfilled and will linger in the memories of guests at the

Tu Face

event and lovers of music.

Anchored by MC Casa, the show, packaged by urban radio, Beat FM, is slated to bring together a galaxy of top musicians, including Tu Face, Tiwa Savage, Sound Sultan, Lil Bliss, MI, Burna Boy, Joe El, Yemi Alade, Chidinmam Naeto C and many more.

The theme song for A place In The Stars is out. The movie mirrors the corruption in the society and the drug cartel that was being fought by former NAFDAC boss, late Professor Dora Akinyuli.

The song, which has the same title as the movie, was composed and recorded by Jos-based singer, Jeremiah Gyang. Native Filmworks Limited, one of Nigeria’s pioneer film & TV company and producers of A Place In The Stars, announced the release of the official movie theme song.

Jeremiah Gyang is a music maestro with the ability to transform everyday experiences and emotions into beautiful storytelling.

Gyang, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has contributed immensely to the entertainment industry internationally and Nigeria in

particular.

Directed and produced by respected film maker, Steve Gukas, the movie is a riveting account of drug trafficking; focusing on how fake and adulterated medical drugs are being traded for billions of dollars.

A Place In The Stars, stars Segun Arinze, Gideon Okeke, Dejumo Lewis, Femi Branch and Lantana Ahmed to name a few. Segun Arinze, while speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend stated that the movie is a must watch. "A Place In The Stars is one of those movies that makes you proud of the production. The director, Steve Gukas is a reputable man and his professionalism is great. I have fond memories of it and playing the drug baron, Diokpa Okonkwo was thrilling,” says Arinze.

The movie will be available in cinemas across Nigeria from

NEILS Takes Insurance Scheme To Kannywood It was indeed a gathering of Kannywood’s most influential and prominent entertainment practitioners in Kano recently, at the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Lecture Series (NEILS), organised by the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS), to herald the eventual roll out of the scheme in the northern region of the country.

The event which held at General Ramat Murtala Conference Hall in Ni’imah Hotel, Kano had in attendance renowned artistes and actors like Sani Danja, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Tumba Bubukan, Aisha Ibrahim, representatives from the Arewa Film Makers Association of Nigeria (AFMAN) led by president, Abdullahi Sani, representatives from Guild of Directors led by president, Nasir Gwangwazo and many others. It

Sani

was indeed one of the biggest gatherings of entertainment stakeholders from that region.

Officials from two of the three partner HMOs for the scheme; Healthcare International and United Healthcare gave an insight via multimedia projections, into the benefits of health insurance.

Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Signed: Senator Abdul Ningi, CON Deputy Senate Leader

Once more, congratulations!

I celebrate with you my brother and friend, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives on the occassion of your turbaning as the Mutawallen Sokoto today by His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III CFR, mni.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

All Hail the

Mutawallen!

On behalf of my family and the entire people of Edo State, especially Egor/ Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, I hereby felicitate with the Rt. Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives on his turbaning as the Mutawallen Sokoto by the Sultan of Sokoto.

Your role in promoting democracy, religious harmony and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians is no doubt a source of pride to many of us.

This title speaks volume of your leadership qualities and enviable track record of performance as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

We are indeed proud of you, and wish you good health and many years of peaceful reign as the Mutawallen Sokoto.

RT. Hon. Aminu WAziRi TAmBuWAl CFR Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives

Signed:

RT. Hon (BARR.) Jim Adun

Member, House of Representatives Representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Another feather to our Able Leader!

The House of Representatives Committee on Environment heartily felicitate with our able and amiable Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR on the occasion of his turbaning as MUTAWALLEN SOKOTO by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

Your Excellency, as one of the front liners in the development of our nascent democracy, you have distinguished yourself at all strata of leadership and we are happy to be identified with you.

Your commitment to the discharge of your legislative duties has provided great platforms for all of us to learn from and we celebrate you.

RT. HON. AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL, CFR

Speaker, House of Representatives Federal Republic of Nigeria

Signed:

Hon. Mrs. Uche Ekwunife (Iyom)

Chairman, House Committee on Environment

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Congratulations to a

Patriot and Gentleman

O

n behalf of my family and the good people of Orlu/ Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency. I wish to congratulate you on your well-deserved turbaning as the Mutawallen Sokoto by his Eminence, the sultan of Sokoto.

This Turbaning is a demonstration of sterling leadership qualities, selflessness and confidence the people of your constituency and Nigeria have in you. It’s also a confirmation of the fact that the members of the House of Representatives approve of your outstanding leadership.

As you receive this honour, our prayer is that may this be a catalyst to greater things to come to you and your family. We wish you many years of peaceful reign as the Mutawallen Sokoto.

Congratulations.

RT. HON. AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL, CFR Signed

Hon Jerry Alagbaso (FNAE)

Member representing Orlu/Orsu/Oru Federal Constituncy Imo State

ISSUE 152 SEptEmbEr 27, 2014.

tecHLIFe wHat YOU dId nOt KnOw abOUt tHe drOne aIrcraFt

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FaMOUS

SLaVeS

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Know-all

THAT'S inSide THiS iSSue

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BELIEVE THIS!

sTuff

Banana is a happy fruit.

Eating just one a day can help relieve irritable emotions, anger and or depression.

28 TRENDED

35 KEYED QuEsTION

43 TEChlIfE

31 wONDERs Of ThE wORlD

30

29 TOp TEN STarTIng BLockS 27 PrOUDlY NiGEriA

STuFF

THE BIg STorY

31 WONDErs Of THE WOrlD

37 TATTOOED cElEbriTiEs

whAT's up?

THE rEguLarS

44 DREss sENsE BoXED

• Believe this • Fact Box, Do You Remember • Africa’s heritage, Kunta When? Strictly For JJCs 32 sTUff 44 cUlTUrED! Kinte • Most amazing streets in the 28 TrENDED • Shocking Foodfacts • Etiquettewise, Superstitions, world • Spartacus, the rebel • Amber Rose files for divorce • Psychology Ideas, Useless Proverbs, Excusez moi 33 AcHiEViNG THE iMPOssiblE • Bishop Samuel Ajayi from Wiz Khalifa Information, Business 45 DEsirAblEs • Fly like a bird Crowther Blunder, Quick Quiz, 28 VirAl 46 MiNDfUl • Influential Frederick • Espionage, Discovered • Video of Beyonce & Jay Z's on- 34 ArTicUlATE • Crossword, WordSearch, • Mother-of-two creates Douglass • Sounding Clever, stage performance goes viral cartoon artwork from packed Sudoku, Homework, • Nigeria’s Olaudah Equiano Sounding Great, Spotlights, lunches 29 TOP TEN Bookshelf • Margaret Garner, the fugitive • Know Why, • Most followed Twitter 35 THE kEYED QUEsTiON 47 A lA cArTE • Celeb Info, Teeny handles, 2014 • Will people still be useful in • Harriet Tubman, freedom • Crazy Tricks, Gentleman's the 21st century?

• Fascinating Facts, fighter 30 WHAT's UP Words, Laugh-Out-Loud 36 DOErs • Keepsakes, • Religious Nat Turner • The richest man in Saudi 48 bONUs PAck • Princess Olympia of Greece • Just Unbelievable, Fast Arabia on oil, Isis and • George Washington Carver, • Seen & Overhead, English Fashion's newest 'it'girl Forward Murdoch Phrases, Keepsakes the farmer

• Patience Ozokwor Thespian extraordinaire

• Death Valley, USA

43 TEcHlifE

• Click Click,

Buzzstop After more than 15 years of sharing a 8,500-square-foot mansion in a gated Palm Beach Gardens enclave in Florida, and amid tabloid reports of a rift, professional tennis sisters, Venus and Serena, will soon move into their own custom-built mansions in guard-gated golf developments about five miles apart, reports said Tuesday.

Vietnam would welcome an end to the arms embargo clamped on it by the United States, the country’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, as he played down the notion that the move would inflame Hanoi’s maritime dispute with China.

A woman named Grace Ann aka ‘proudhousewife’ is currently rewriting Harry

Potter on FanFiction.net, removing the witchcraft and wizardry and replacing it with Christianity reports said Thursday.

Liberia has warned it may slip back to civil war along with neighbouring Sierra Leone if the Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa is allowed to continue to spread, reports said Wednesday.

Ghanaian international, Asamoah Gyan, held a press conference Tuesday to deny he used rapper Castro, as human sacrifice. Castro and Janet Bandu went missing in July when they were on vacation with Gyan and the striker’s family.

Hong Kong’s striking students on Tuesday gave the city’s leader 48 hours to honour his promise to listen to the people, threatening to surround and

paralyse key government buildings if he failed to respond to their demands for greater democracy.

With political tension in the southern Chinese financial hub at its highest in years, China’s leaders summoned dozens of the city’s tycoons earlier this week for talks reports said Thursday.

India’s spacecraft has beamed back its first photos of Mars, showing its crater-marked surface, as the country glowed with pride Thursday after winning Asia’s race to the Red Planet.

Syrian government forces overran rebels in a town northeast of Damascus on Thursday, strengthening President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on territory around the capital.

Content Victoria Usman, Abisola Alawode, Love Adeyemi, Faith Kure 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, September 27, 2014

StartingBlocks The first toothpaste in the world was made in ancient Egypt with a mixture of wine and pumice.

africanFacts

THE PACESETTING PAGES Rwanda doesn’t have a vice president. The office was abolished in 2000.

StePhanie Okereke LinuS

Graceful actress

Proudly Nigeria Patience OzOkwOr

thespian extraordinaire Not only is Patience ‘Mama G’ Ozokwor a highly respected actress, she is also a role model for actresses and actors the world over. She is proof that hard work does indeed lead to success.

Coming from a humble family, Patience was born on 25 March, 1958 in Ngwo, Enugu State. She attended Abimbola Gibson Memorial School, Lagos. She also attended Girls Secondary School, Ngwo.

Later on, she attended Teachers Training College in Afikpo from where she proceeded to IMT Enugu where she studied Fine and Applied Arts, specialising in Graphics. But she never practiced for one day.

Initially, she never had the intention of joining the film industry. She did not even know anything about the industry. She was a teacher by training and she taught for about four years before venturing into broadcasting. She was employed as an announcer with FRCN Enugu and was later retrenched when they closed down all the medium wave band stations. She went into business.

It took Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya of New Masquerades)’s intervention before Patience realised that she had a penchant for acting.

Chief Zebrudaya invited her to take part in a commercial in which she played the wife of Pete Eneh. After the promo was shot, there was this positive reaction from the people, and Chief Zebrudaya himself was so impressed that he said, ‘what have you been doing with yourself, where are you, I am so impressed.’ He later confessed he never knew that he was doing the right thing by inviting her for the commercial.

After her first movie in 1998, Patience began to build a following.

StrictLY fOr JJcs It looks like telecom companies have come again with their double your airtime business which translates most times to scam in the end. The story is the same: if you buy air-time, dial some code before dialling the digits and #, the air-time doubles and you can use it to browse for that day as well as make calls so long as you finish whatever you get before midnight that day. This is not too much to offer customers if only there was no second side to the story. That other side of the story is the scam part where your calls automatically stop going a little before

Ozokwor

But Patience herself has said that she became a household name after she shot the movie Authority in 1999. Since then, Patience has acted in many movies with actors and actresses such as Ini Edo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Rita Dominic, Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Van Vicker, Mike Ezuruonye, Oge Okoye, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Chioma Chukwuka.

Recognised globally for her portrayals of ‘The Wicked godmother’ in most of her movies, Patience remarked that, "When I

play the role of a bad woman, I see myself at that instance as a mirror through which I want society to see and appreciate the fact that it is not good to be bad. This is the reason I do it with so much passion that it becomes almost believable and by extension, I also see such roles as an opportunity to minister to lost and wicked souls that jealousy, hatred, envy and all the likes can only bring one to ruins." She plays bad roles because it is regarded as her strong point.

An extremely versatile actress, she was also asked how she copes with learning her lines in a movie she said: "Surprisingly, I am very lazy at reading scripts over and over again.

As soon as a script is given to me, I get into the character as soon as I read a few lines from any scene in the script and to tell you the truth, it baffles even me that I can perform such near magical acts. I give all the glory to God because I think it is part of the special gift he has deposited in me. A few glances at the script easily exposes me to my character and once I discover this, I would proceed to getting the lines into my head and of course, adding some other things that would make my role stand out.

The way I memorize lines baffles me and once I get the lines in, it takes a long time for me to forget them.

Patience is also an astute business woman who recently completed a shopping mall in Enugu. Though she lost her husband sometime in the past, Patience has managed to raise her four children in an upright way.

Telecom companies at it again midnight in which case you forfeit what’s left since you are unable to use it before the deadline. Smart, right? The truth is that without the scam, these companies make enough money as it is. Why then do they keep coming up with new ways to make extra money off us? Simply because we give them the conviction that we enjoy being scammed when we keep subscribing for such packages, period! It is time we addressed this issue on our own since the government has refused to do that.

How we go about it is as simple as how it was for us to choose the network

in the first place and stick to it: Stop subscribing for fancy packages that sound too good to be true! If we make up our minds to delete as soon as we receive messages selling ridiculous packages, they will understand that we are satisfied with getting just our money’s worth. If what you can afford to load is N100, load it the normal way and enjoy. If you can afford more, do same and everybody is happy. This is not to say that they may not look for another way to get us through, but we would have proven a necessary point that is worth it.

Stephanie’s intelligence, grace and acting abilities have earned her a reputation as one of Africa’s foremost actress, especially in Nollywood, now reputed to being, the second largest film industry in the world.

Born on October 2, 1982, in Imo State, Nigeria, she is the sixth child of eight children. She completed her primary & secondary education in Delta State. She studied at the University of Calabar, where she graduated with a degree in English and Literary Studies.

Marked for the acting world, Stephanie during her teenage years in 1997 starred in two Nollywood movies, Compromise 2 and Waterloo.

She also came 2nd in the 2002 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant. A year later in 2003, Okereke received two awards at the 2003 Reel Awards for 'Best Actress - English' and 'Best Actress of the year 2003'. After graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2007, Okereke released the movie Through the Glass in which she served as director, scriptwriter, producer and actress. The film received an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay in 2009. Okereke has also starred in over 90 movies.

She has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010.

She was honoured by the Nigerian government in 2011 with a National honour (Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR).

Stephanie’s desire to evolve is what inspires and drives her in all of her work as an actress, entrepreneur, activist and style icon.

28

Saturday, September 27, 2014

StartingBlocks

38,353,612

71,000,000 Number of chocolate in pounds, consumed every year at Easter.

Number of people who visited Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, United States between January 2014- May 2014.

The BuzzworThy sTuff oNLINe

Trended

Funny web

Amber Rose files for divorce from Wiz Khalifa

Man quits job to please his daughter

After one year of marriage, Amber Rose has filed for divorce from Wiz Khalifa, E! News confirms.

The pair wed on July 8, 2013 and have one son together, one-year-old Sebastian ‘The Bash’ Taylor Thomaz, whom they welcomed on February 21, 2013. According to the divorce documents, the 30-year-old actress cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and said the two officially parted ways on Monday. Amber is asking for full legal and physical custody of their son Sebastian although she is willing to give the ‘Black and Yellow’ rapper visitation.

Jennifer Aniston ready to start family with Justin Theroux Jennifer Aniston is set on adopting a child as the actress yearns to start a family with husbandto-be Justin Theroux, a new report claims. The cover of this week’s issue of Life & Style magazine claims that Aniston is planning to adopt a child. The 45-year-old actress has been the focus of growing rumours that she wants a child, though to date Jen has denied that she is setting any plans into motion.

This is not the first report claiming that Jennifer Aniston is interested in adopting. Last year, a source stated that Jen had turned to friend and adoptive mother Charlize Theron for some advice about the adoption process.

A top international financier quit his job running a $2trn investment fund after his daughter wrote him a note pointing out that he had missed her first day of school, her Halloween parade and her first soccer game of the year.

Mohamed El-Erian’s ten-yearold told her dad that he had skipped 22 landmarks in her life because he was too busy at work. The California-based investment guru’s resignation in May 2013 shocked the financial world but in a recent interview, Mr El-Erian, who made $100m in 2011 alone, explained that family, his young daughter and wife Jamie, were at the heart of the matter.

Viral Video of Beyonce & Jay Z's on-stage performance goes viral

Wedding, Baby Bump & Blue Ivy drives the internet wild!

Privacy is so 2000 and late! We

remember when Jay Z and Beyonce used to hide every aspect of their relationship, now; the couple has evolved and are giving fans more snippets into their wonderful life together. As they round off their successful On the Run tour, the couple released a video which features their on-stage performance of Young Forever/Halo plus clips from pivotal moments in their lives including their wedding, baby bump, daughter Blue Ivy and more. The video received over 2 million views in under 24 hours.

Video of Leonardo DiCaprio freestyling in Hollywood club goes viral Justin Timberlake made a successful jump from pop star to actor and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio might be tempted to go the other way. A new viral video shows him rapping to A Tribe Called Quest’s song Scenario while at a club in Hollywood recently. The talented star can be seen holding the microphone but hiding his face with his signature cap on his head. His Django Unchained co-star Jamie Foxx also joined in to give the budding rapper a hand. Leo has always been quite vocal about his love for hip hop and previously revealed some of his favourite artists. ‘Kendrick Lamar is great, 2 Chainz is great too - don’t forget 2

Chainz,’ he told MTV News in 2013.

Airline By the way, he’s my age - I’m very proud of a guy emerging in the hipemploys dog hop world at my age.’ to find owners STrange of forgotten items ‘Snake Boy’ sheds his skin every 41 days Airline KLM has employed a cute, uniform-wearing dog to help reunite passengers with lost items that they leave behind on planes. The pooch appropriately named Sherlock - uses its tracking skills to smell the lost item then dash through Amsterdam Schipol Airport to find the appropriate owner. The energetic beagle can be seen bounding through the airport with mobiles and headphones tucked in his pouch and even carrying stuffed toys back to their rightful owners. Sherlock has become something of a star at the airport, with grateful customers posing for selfies with him and staff showing him with attention.

Ari Wibowo sheds his skin like a snake every 41 days and must constantly smear his body with moisturiser to stop it hardening and seizing up. The Indonesian teenager has a rare skin condition that doctors in Indonesia have been unable or unwilling to treat and which has left him with an extraordinary appearance. He suffers from Erythroderma, an inflammatory skin disease also known as ‘red man syndrome’ that causes the skin over almost the entire body to become scaly and flake off. Photographer Nurcholis Anhari Lubis, 35, has documented the little boy’s condition as part of an essay project and describes the boy’s skin condition as ‘scaly like a snake about to shed his skin’. ‘It’s really sad because he was not born normally and has scaly skin all over his body, similar to being severely burnt, from the sole of his feet up to his head,’ Mr Lubis

told Daily Mail Australia. ‘If the boy doesn’t moisturise or soak his skin in water, his body would shrivel and harden up like a sculpture and he won’t be able to move,’ Mr Lubis said. ‘If he leaves it unattended for too long, he won’t be able to speak because the wrinkles inside his mouth would go hard and it would dry out all his blood in his body.

29

Saturday, September 27, 2014

StartingBlocks dUmBlaWs

10

In California, it is illegal to eat an orange in your bath tub.

Washing your car on a Sunday in Switzerland could land you in a bit of trouble.

OF EVERYTHING THAT'S WORTH ITS SALT

MoSt foLLowEd TwiTTer HAndLES, 2014

Perry

In Hollywood, it is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at one time.

Bieber

Obama

S/n name

Twitter handle

followers

1

Katy Perry

@katyperry

57,321,595

2

Justin Bieber

@justinbieber

54,794,477

3

Barack Obama

@BarackObama

46,874,010

4

YouTube

@YouTube

45,194,967

5

Taylor Swift

@taylorswift13

44,105,727

6 7

Lady Gaga Britney Spears

@ladygaga @britneyspears

42,266,184

8

Rihanna

@rihanna

37,336,588

9

Justin Timberlake

@timberlake

35,224,464

10

Instgram

@instagram

35,121,438

38,934,402

HigHESt goLd-PRoduCing CountRiES

Canals and WaterWays – AmsterdAm 1. Herengracht Stateliest canal of the Grachtengordel, the Herengracht is famous for its Golden Bend – a grand but rather lifeless stretch of mansions built for the richest merchants. An even more beautiful stretch lies between Huidenstraat and Leidsestraat, best viewed from the east side.

2. Keizersgracht This, the central canal of the Grachtengordel, has some particularly fine stretches between Brouwersgracht and Raadhuisstraat, and again between Runstraat and Leidsestraat.

3. Prinsengracht The outermost canal of the Grachtengordel, designed for warehouses and artisans’ housing, has a breezy, laidback air. It is peppered with cafes, art galleries and house- boats. Cycle its 3-km (2-mile) length, or explore short stretches on foot.

Herengracht

Keizersgracht

4. Entrepotdok An imposing stretch of former dockland has been superbly restored to provide offices and apartments, with outdoor cafes overlooking the colourful houseboats.

Australia

United States

S/n Country

quantity in kg

valued price

1

China

371,000

$18.7bn

2

Australia

258,000

$13bn

3

United States 232,800

$11.8bn

4

Russia

211,000

$10.7bn

5

South Africa

197,900

$10bn

6

Peru

188,000

$9.4bn

7

Indonesia

111,000

$5.6bn

8

Canada

101,700

$5.4bn

9

Ghana

91,000

$5bn

10

Mexico

86,600

$4.3bn

sHOCKING

FOOdFaCts

Russia

China

Mangoes may be able to lower blood sugar, new research has found. That means they can help to control cravings, especially for carbohydrates, thus keeping consumers willpower intact.

5. Reguliersgracht Much loved for its pretty houses and hump-backed bridges, Reguliersgracht was cut in 1664. Look out for Nos 57, 59 and 63.

6. Amstel River Until the construction of the Grachtengordel, the river Amstel was the city’s raison d’ette. It is still used by barges to transport goods to the city’s port.

7. Brouwersgracht The happy-go-lucky feel of the ‘brewers’ canal makes a pleasant contrast to the sophisticated elegance of the Grachtengordel.

8. Bloemgracht A charming canal crossed by pretty cast-iron bridges,

Prinsengracht

Bloemgracht is known as ‘the Herengracht of the Jordaan’ because of its elaborately gabled houses.

9. Leidsegracht This lovely - and exclusive canal was cut in 1664, when it was the main barge route from Amsterdam to Leiden.

10. Singel Once a fortified moat, the Singel is now home to Bloemenmarkt, the domed Ronde Lutherse Kerk and the soaring Neo-Gothic Krijtberg Church.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

StartingBlocks

BY THE NUMBERS

CELEBINFO

Katy Perry was the first artiste in history to be in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 10 for an entire year.

THE HoBBiT

(DESolaTioN of SMaUg)

3

WHAT'S UP

BOXOFFICESTATS

Disney’s 'The Lion King' musical has been named the highest-grossing production of all time, with $6.2bn in box-office sales world-wide.

IN-THE-NOW HappENINgS arOuNd uS

Number of films in the Lord of The Rings Trilogy.

13

There were 13 dwarves who were the main characters in the movie.

547

Total number of weapons the dwarves used in the movie.

752

Number of wigs used on the characters during the movie.

5

Hours it took to complete hair, make up, prosthetics and wardrobe for each of the 13 dwarves.

1,200 Number of extras that were used in the trilogy.

140,000 Cups of coffee consumed throughout production of the movies.

1

Number of dragon that appeared in the movie.

2

Number of wizards that appeared in this movie.

10kg

Weight of human hair used for wig making in the movie.

Alwaleed bin Talal

The richest man in Saudi Arabia on oil, Isis and Murdoch One of the world’s most high-profile investors, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal owns a broad swath of stakes in private and public companies in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

Gaze across the Riyadh skyline and one building immediately demands your attention. Towering high above the city, with its distinctive inverted arch, is the 992 ft. Kingdom Centre owned by the richest man in Saudi Arabia, if not the Middle East. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud’s wealth has been estimated at anywhere between just over $20bn

by Forbes and more than $30bn by Bloomberg. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a lot of money could it be set to grow?

Inside His Majesty’s striking skyscraper is the headquarters of Kingdom Holding, one of the largest investment companies on the country’s stock exchange. With plans to open up the market known locally as the Tadawul to foreign investors next year, this is the start of a brave new era for the phenomenally wealthy prince and Saudi businesses.

Media mogul Alwaleed already has high-profile stakes in media groups News Corp, Time Warner (CNN’s parent company), and Walt Disney. Added to that, his $300m stake in Twitter has quadrupled in value in just two years. Fellow billionaire, News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch, may have

been unsuccessful in his recent attempt to take over Time Warner. But Alwaleed believes it might not be the end of the story just yet.

‘Combining both companies (News Corp and Time Warner) would have been a dream proposal because the amount of content the combined company would have had would have been tremendous,’ he said. ‘Knowing Mr Murdoch I think the idea is still in his mind. But I think the time is not right now because the management of Time Warner against it, and the shareholders of Fox were also not for it.’

Oil rich?

Saudi Arabia might be one of the world’s largest oil exporters, but Alwaleed says now is the time for the kingdom to look beyond crude. ‘It’s a huge worry when the price of oil goes down,”’ he said. ‘I have always called on the Saudi government to reduce its dependence on oil, because as it stands today, 90% of our annual budget is dependent on oil. And 50% of our GDP is oil based.’

Isis threat Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia held

exercises with 135,000 troops. But at a time where Isis exerts its power across parts of the Middle East, the prince does not believe boots on the ground is the way forward for his country. ‘I think Saudi Arabia will not be involved directly in fighting Isis in Iraq or Syria, because this does not really affect our country explicitly,’ he said. Each killing

by Isis that takes place is unfortunate, but hopefully every time it happens the world will be more united in eradicating this disease that’s infecting the whole Middle East.

Billion dollar question While other billionaires might downplay their fortune, the prince filed a lawsuit against Forbes after he claims it underestimated his wealth. ‘They’ve been undervaluing my wealth for 10 years and I didn’t give attention to it,’ he said.

‘But when they came and attacked Saudi Arabia, and Kingdom Holding, and myself, that’s when I didn’t accept that and that’s when we filed a lawsuit in the UK courts.’ One thing’s for sure; this is a businessman willing to put his money where his mouth is.

31

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Stuff

p32

AmAzing streets

A trip down one of these streets would be awsome but if you see them all, the better!

p35

will 21 century need humAns? As this century unfolds, humans are in danger of losing their value.

p36

Princess OlymPiA Princess Olympia is another royal who is set to take the world by storm.

that will tickle your fancy

eCOnOMIC IDeAS

wOnDerS Of the wOrlD

Balance of payments The ledger of a country’s international economic relations

A different type of deficit If a country has a deficit in its current account it must be evened out by an equal surplus in its capital account, which measures cash spent on investments overseas and cash earned from existing investments. So, for instance, Britons and British companies tend to earn a significant amount off their foreign investments, which slightly offsets the country's sizable current account deficit. The only way a country can afford to import more goods than it exports is if other countries are willing to buy up assets denominated in its currency, whether it be dollars, pounds or pesos.

Balancing the accounts

Death Valley, USA If you ever pass through the heat of Death Valley in an air-conditioned car, you will find it hard to believe that the desert was once covered in 3 feet of ice.

Twice in its history, the valley of death has been a glacial landscape.

QUICKQUIZ

Where and when was the first X-ray ever, taken.

tectonic activity and two periods when glaciers dominated. There are many fascinating natural features within Death Valley National Park, most of which are known by colourfully descriptive names. Artists’ Palette is a site known for its multi-coloured rock formations, and Badwater Basin is famous for being the lowest point in the continental United States at 86m below sea level.

Nearby is the weather station where the hottest temperature ever documented in America was recorded on July 10, 1913, when it reached 480C. Dante’s View is a flat-topped mountain that rises 1,668m above Death Valley. From its summit visitors have a panoramic view that stretches from Badwater Basin to the Great Salt Sea (also known as the Devil’s Golf Course) and on to Telescope Peak, which at 3,368m is the highest point in Death Valley National Park. The northern half of Death Valley is home to the Mesquite Flat Dunes, enormous sand dunes that can be up to 50m tall. Film director George Lucas filmed part of his famous Star Wars series here. Another remarkable feature are the so-called Wandering Rocks of Racetrack Playa. Large boulders seem to move along the hot sand and gravel as if guided by a ghostly hand. A more likely explanation is that the occasional strong night time rains transform the sand into a slippery surface for a short period of time. When the strong winds blow, they push the stones over the temporarily wet sand. The movement leaves tell-tale tracks behind as the moisture quickly evaporates in the hot Death Valley sun.

Answer: Taken by Wilhelm Rontgen, the first X-ray was taken on December 22, 1895 at the University of Wurzburg, Germany.

Hot, hotter, and hottest: Death Valley is unbearably hot and dry. The air shimmers with dust particles.

It is not uncommon for summer temperatures to reach over 480C. The highest temperature ever documented in the United States, 560C of, was recorded in the valley at Furnace Creek Ranch.

Although Death Valley lies only a few hundred miles from the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the driest regions on earth. Rain captured by moist winds blowing in from the sea has already fallen well before reaching this far inland. By the time the wind gets to Death Valley, all that’s left is hot air.

Despite the difficult and dangerous conditions, there is life in Death Valley. Archaeologists have found rock drawings, hearths, and other remains of human settlement all over the desert. Today, only a few Native Americans from the Timbisha-Shoshone tribe live year-round in the valley, near Furnace Creek. The national park also supports a thriving population of bighorn sheep. These exceptionally adaptable beasts have overcome the inhospitable environment of Death Valley in magnificent fashion. Plants are few, although spring storms can awaken Death Valley, bringing forth a carpet of wild flowers from seeds lying long buried in the dry soils. For a short time, the landscape will be covered with tender blooms.

Geologically, Death Valley is a relatively young formation, just a few million years old. The region can nevertheless look back at an active geological past. At least four active volcanic periods formed the valley, along with three or four periods of sedimentation. There has also been considerable

The balance of payments records the financial and economic flows between one country and other parts of the world over a given period - usually a quarter or a year. It includes both the public or state sector and the private sector, and should not be confused with the budget or fiscal accounts, which record a government's spending and borrowing.

BUSIneSS BlUnDer

Lifting the kimono

In the early 1970s, Xerox developed world-changing computer technology, including the mouse and the graphical user interface.

(Modern GUIs include Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.) One of the devices was called the Xerox Alto, a desktop personal computer that Xerox never bothered to market.

(Who would want something like that?) A decade later, several Apple employees, including Steve Jobs, visited the Xerox PARC research and development facility for three days in exchange for $1m in Apple’s still-privately held stock.

That educational field trip was well worth the price of admission (Apple stock now worth $3.5bn), given that it helped Jobs build a company now worth $110bn. In the late 1980s, Xerox sued Apple for using GUI technology in its Macintosh computer, but the case was dismissed–the statute of limitations on the dispute had passed.

32

Stuff

Saturday, September 27, 2014 that will tickle your fancy

HISTORIFIC

The last time a cavalry charge was used in war was in the Second World War.

SCIENTIFIC

The USA has more tornadoes than any other country in the world, averaging around 1200 a year.

Most amazing streets in the world Champs Elysees, Paris, France Embodying all the celebrated beauty of Paris, the Champs-Elysees is generally regarded as the grandest street on the planet. Moreover, it is also known as the most beautiful street in the world. Home to illustrious monuments like the Arc de Triomphe, the thoroughfare is also strewn with luxury shops, cafes, hotels, and boutique hotels.

La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain Connecting Plaça de Catalunya with Port Vell’s Christopher Columbus Monument, this central Barcelona Street is like a party that never sleeps. Frequented by tourists and locals alike, La Rambla has its own energy and symbolic beauty. Filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, and street performers, it is one of the best-loved stretches in all of Europe.

Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, US Perhaps the best lit street on the planet, the Las Vegas Strip is known world-wide for its magnificent displays of illuminated signs, luxury hotels, and, of course, casinos.

Tourists come from all over the world to shop, attend shows, and people watch along this strip that has become synonymous with gambling, risk-taking, and thrill-seeking!

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, China Once known as Nanking Road, today’s Nanjing Road still continues as the most famous shop and market-strewn street in all of China – perhaps even all of Asia! As the world’s longest shopping street, Nanking Road is six kilometres long and filled with everything from antiques to foodstuff. It is also home to a staggering array of hotels and

restaurants.

Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem Known as the ‘way of sorrows,’ Via Dolorosa traces the route walked by Christ toward the cross where he was crucified. People come to this road from around the world to pay homage to Christ in this city that is filled with religious monuments and sites. Marked by Nine Stations of the Cross, Via Dolorosa is the site of weekly symbolic processions that lead from the Fortress of Antonia all along a route that twists and turns.

Nevsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg, Russia Illustriously planned by Peter the Great, this grand avenue is celebrated for its historic importance as well as its literary connections. Famously depicted in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, the thoroughfare has captivated people from all over the world as it embodies Russia’s mystery and, of course, royal grandeur so evident in this remarkable city, the one-time home of the tsars.

Cathedrals, palaces, and other major architectural attractions stud this celebrated street.

Broadway, New York City, US The oldest north-South Street in the city, Broadway is best known as the most important theatre district in the entire nation. Moreover, the street runs along famous New York City sections like Central Park and is studded with important buildings like the Woolworth Building, Alexander Hamilton US Custom House, Morgan Stanley Building, Grand Central Hotel, and Trinity Church. No visit to this city is complete without a

stroll down Broadway!

Via Appia, Rome, Italy Among the earliest Roman roads, it remains one of the most famous roads today. There is a section of the Via Appia used in Rome today for busy traffic, yet much of this road that leads out of the city is in ruins. Even so, these ruins and the archaeological sites along the road attract people from all over the world. To walk part of the Via Appia or Appian Way as it is often called is a memorable event one is never likely to forget.

Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, Mexico One of the most famous streets in the western hemisphere, Paseo de la Reforma is well-known throughout the world. Modelled after Europe’s grand boulevards, Mexico City’s major thoroughfare is home to the nation’s National Palace as well as renowned landmarks like El Angel de la Independencia and others that honour heroes of Mexico and the Americas. Studded with luxury hotels and tourist attractions, this is a must-visit street when traveling to Mexico City.

Piccadilly Circus, London, UK This stretch of road, better described as a junction, is one of the most well-known places in London. Popular among visitors to the UK, Piccadilly Circus is home to nightclubs, theatres, and memorials that are known throughout the world. Filled with illuminated signs and throngs of people, this thoroughfare is one of the most recognised stretches of asphalt world-wide.

WORLD OF ESPIONAGE

La Rambla

Las Vegas Strip

Nanjing Road

quESTIONS yOu'LL NEvER ASk

China accuses its ambassador to Iceland with spying for Japan Authorities in China have reportedly arrested the Chinese ambassador to Iceland on suspicion of spying on behalf of Japan, according to media reports. Ma Jiseng, 57, is a career diplomat who spent over eight years at the embassy of China in Japan. He was there in two separate stints, from 1991 to 1995 and from 2004 to 2008. In December of 2012, he arrived with his wife to Reykjavik, Iceland, where he assumed the post of China’s ambassador in the Nordic island nation.

But, according to reports in the Icelandic media, Ma hurriedly left Reykjavik for Beijing on January 23 of this year, telling his staff that he was supposed to return in March. His wife followed him soon afterwards. Today, nearly eight months later, Ma and his wife have yet to reappear in the Icelandic capital. The plot thickened last week, when the online Chinese-language review Mingjing News published a news story claiming that Ma and his wife had been summoned back

Champs Elysees

to Beijing and arrested upon arrival by Chinese authorities ‘for spying on behalf of Japan’. Shortly afterwards, Kai Lei, editor at the Hong Kongbased Wenweipo, Chinese-language newspaper, blogged that Ma had been arrested by China’s Ministry of State Security on suspicion of ‘leaking international secrets to Japan’. According to the media reports, Ma was believed to have been recruited by Japanese intelligence during his second diplomatic stint in Tokyo, which lasted from 2004 to 2008. Interestingly, however, the reports about Ma’s alleged arrest began vanishing from Chinese news media websites just hours after they initially appeared. Reporters in Iceland turned to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said the Chinese embassy in Reykjavik claimed Ma was unable to return to Iceland ‘due to personal reasons’. Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuses to comment on the case.

How old do I have to be to get birth control?

Birth control comes in many forms: abstinence, condoms, the pill, diaphragms, IUDs, and the ring, to name a few. You’re never too young to practice abstinence, and you can get a condom at any age.

As for prescription birth control methods such as the pill and others, the age you can get them depends on which country you live in, in many countries, you don’t have to be very old. (In fact, some doctors prescribe the pill to teen girls in order to reduce the pain and menstrual flow of their periods.) Your doctor can help determine what birth control is most appropriate for you given your age and circumstances. Don’t be afraid to ask. In most countries, a conversation about birth control is confidential, and your doctor will not tell anyone about it. To be sure, though, ask your doctor about his or her policy.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

bRANDeD

spoRTFact

75 per cent of McDonald's resturants are owned and operated by local men and women.

Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.

SOUNDINGClEvER WIdoW'S peaK a V-shaped growth of hair in the centre of the forehead left behind as the hairline recedes. With age, men often develop a widow’s peak.

achIevING ThE impossiblE

thinGS you will never do

Fly like a bird

CrapUleNT Nauseous due overindulgence from the Latin crapula: inebrition. The wide girth of the older Marlon Brando spoke of a man who had enjoyed many a crapulent evening. lamBeNT Flickering softly; brilliant but with a light touch from the Latin lambent-: licking from lambere: to lick. ‘I told you I was ill’ were the words chosen by Spike Milligan for his epitaph: it was typical of him to treat his own death with such a lambent wit. prUrIeNT Having an unhealthy interest in sexual matters: or encouraging sexual matters from the Latin prurire: to itch, long.

Errol Flynn had an active love life and he called his autobiography My Wicked Ways, knowing this title would appeal to his prurient fan base.

SOUNDING GREAT

pITTaNCe

A meager monetary allowance, wage, or remuneration. It is time to look forward to the day when the farmworker can share in the fruits of his labours. Today, for the sweat off his brow that he leaves in the rich and aboundant fields and orchards which he harvests he recieves for his part a pittance, a pat on the back, and a passport to nowhere.

Justice, decency, and humanity demand that progress not pass him over for yet another generation.

Stuff

that will tickle your fancy

jUly 2003

SpOtlIGhtS

FILM Bad Boys II

Two loose-cannon narcotics cops investigate the flow of Ecstacy into Florida.

Since time immemorial, man has wanted to fly. And now we can, in the comfort and relative safety of an aeroplane, helicopter, glider or balloon. Yet still there are some who strive for self-powered flight. Did we learn nothing from the Greek fable of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and melted his waxen wings?

Apparently not!

Every year at piers around the world, certain doughty individuals don a pair of wings and launch themselves seawards, flapping madly for a moment or two before they plummet into the waves. It is not very effective and hardly dignified. However, there is a more convincing method of soaring in the air like a bird (or at least a flying squirrel) – the wing suit. Available for a mere US$600 or so, this is a suit made from durable fabric and worn by daredevils who fling themselves out of aeroplanes.

Unlike regular parachutists or skydivers, wing suit wearers don’t immediately into free fall but instead ‘fly’. Prototype suits were developed in the 1930s but were hugely unreliable, with several of the early pioneers dying while testing them out.

However, in the 1980s, Christoph Aarns, a German skydiver, made a great leap forward by augmenting his flying suit with extra webbing. The project was further advanced in the 1990s by Frenchman Patrick de Gayardon, who designed a suit with wing webbing between the legs and under each arm. The wing-suit that we know today was born, and it became commercially available in 1998.

Jumping in a wing-suit has been likened to a cross between skydiving and gliding.

It’s certainly not a sport for beginners, and before attempting a jump, experts recommend that you complete 500 regular skydives. Once you jump from your plane, spread your arms and legs to open the wings. The sensations you will feel are quite different to skydiving. Skydivers hurtle groundwards at some 195 kilometres per hour (120 mph) and can surge forward through the air at up to 100 kilometres

per hour (62 mph). Wing-suit flyers, in contrast, fall about half as slowly as skydivers, but achieve horizontal speeds up to 145 kilometres per hour (90 mph). This is because the suit transforms your body into an air foil, allowing you to generate lots of lift and counter the effects of gravity in just the same way as an aircraft wing. The extra lift helps improve your glide ratio (the relationship between gravity, lift and drag) making it possible for you to advance forwards through the air. Flying requires careful management of your rate of fall to create the optimum balance of lift and drag.

Roll your shoulders forward and tuck your chin into your neck to maximise forward propulsion. To increase your flying time (but reduce propulsion), lift your head and look forwards, bend at the hips, extend your arms and legs and ‘push down’ against the upward force. Learn how to adjust your body shape to turn in the air. Keep movements small and controlled to avoid dangerous spins. And no matter how birdlike you feel.’ don’t be tempted to flap your arms, as this could result in you going into a disastrous dive or spin. Once you’re feeling confident and have honed your flying skills, throw some mid-air acrobatics into your display. But don’t get too carried away, and remember, as your inevitable descent picks up speed, you will eventually need to deploy your parachute! As something to aim for, in 2012 Japanese wing-suit flyer Shinichi Ito flew for a record horizontal distance of 26.9 kilometres (167 miles) above Yolo County, California, remaining airborne for more than five minutes. Of course, if the harnessed power of gravity isn’t enough for you, there’s always the wing-pack. This development of the wing suit consists of strap-on carbon-fibre wings with a small integrated jet engine. While the technology is still in its infancy, it has had marked successes – in 2003 Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner used a wing-pack to cross the English Channel. But still, there is a way to go before we truly rival the birds. Consider for instance the humble pigeon, who can cover a distance 75 times its own body length in a single second!

MUSIC Jessica Simpson

Sweetest Sin is a song by American recording artiste, Jessica Simpson, released for her third studio album, In This Skin.

TELEVISION Nip/Tuck

Two plastic surgeons, one a family man and the other a womaniser, strive to maintain their business whilst having to face numerous hardships ranging from personal relationships to clients with criminal connections.

EVENT Congo War

On the 18th, the Second Congo War concludes with 2–5 million deaths since 1998.

BIRTHDAY Kevin Hart

Actor and comedian Kevin Hart known for his role in his own show The Real Husbands of Hollywood celebrated his 24th birthday on the 6th.

DEATH Uday Hussein

The eldest son of Saddam Hussein by his first wife, Sajida Talfah, Uday Hussein Al, was shot to death on the 22nd by US troops. He was only 39.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

that will tickle your fancy

ARTICULATE

Mother-of-two creates cartoon artwork from packed lunches A mother-of-two who makes incredible artwork from packed lunches was clearly never told to stop playing with her food as a child. Li Ming, 38, started making the charabens – a form of arranging food – three years ago for her two sons Ivan Tey, 10, and seven-year-old Lucas Tey to take to school. The fulltime mother from Singapore has gone on to make more than 100 different creations for her boys including rice versions of Super Mario and Spiderman. She also made a pasta version of SpongeBob SquarePants and a range of other well-known characters including Despicable Me minions and a Hello Kitty sandwich. Li’s inspiration often comes from everyday items on the street, but most of all she goes with the ideas pitched by her sons. She said: ‘I started packing charabens for Ivan to take to school because he had a hard time coping. ‘He refused to go to school and cried everyday - he was not used to the longer hours and missed me. ‘I packed him charabens with written messages to make him feel more secure. ‘Lucas saw one of them and asked for one to take to kindergarten and he really enjoyed the attention he got from his teachers and friends. ‘I ended up decorating either their lunch or dinner instead and they eat those at home. ‘They still enjoy looking at what I make and will give comments at times on how I can position certain parts. ‘They are excited when I make characters they like or request. Li makes around six different creations every week but keeps some of them a secret to put in her new book. She said: ‘It’s difficult to say which ones are my favourite because I like all of them for different reasons.

‘Ideas come from everywhere.

KNOW WHY...

…people behave differently in a crowd?

30

metres

Lenght of the largest animal ever; the Blue Whale.

3

Number of years the average man will spend going to the toilet.

Do chameleons change colour to match background?

A chameleon’s skin contains several layers of specialised cells called chromataphores, each with coloured pigments which alters the balance between these layers causes the skin to reflect different kinds of light, making chameleons a kind of walking coloured wheel. Chameleons change colour as a result of different emotional states, if they happen to match the background, it’s merely a coincidence. They change colour when they are frightened, picked up ,when they beat another chameleon in a fight, or when the opposite sex comes in view also, they change due to fluctuation in either light or temperature.

Do snakes have ears?

Snakes don’t really hear music though they aren’t deaf but they actually do not have external ears or eardrums but they can sense vibrations transmitted up from the ground into their jaw and belly muscles and they also are able to detect airborne sounds via an inner ear. Hence, they are charmed actually by the sight of the instruments movement (flute). Snakes have acute hearing senses which is turned to the frequency range of noises and vibrations made by movements, so music would be meaningless to them.

What will be the biggest killer by 2030?

Most thoughts sure goes to AIDS, malaria and probably murder, sorry to burst your bubbles, according to the world health organisation, tobacco is currently the second major cause of death which invariably means with a rise in tobacco consumption, it’s the next biggest killer by 2030. Worldwide, one in ten adults die of tobacco related diseases.

If figures continue to rise, tobacco and a range of smoking related diseases will become the world’s biggest killer by the year 2030, causing the death of up to ten million people a year. Developing countries will be most affected because according to research, about 80% of smokers currently reside in middle to low income countries where smoking has been steadily on the increase.

When will the next mass extinction take place on earth?

Fossil records indicate that there have been 5 major extinctions on earth in the last 500m years, each resulting in the extinction of more than half the life forms on the planet. The most recent was about 65m years ago and resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs. There is a good deal of evidence that that extinction was caused by the impact of an asteroid, though alternative explanations include climate change caused They may wish to fit in by imitating others, feel constrained by being observed, become excited by the noise and actions of the crowd, or may respond to local conditions and culture. An odd example is that in different countries pedestrians step right or left when meeting others on a crowded street. This is unrelated to which side of the road they drive on and appears to emerge spontaneously and then stick in each culture.

Perhaps the most worrying behaviour is when people feel less responsible for helping someone in trouble when there are others around. This ‘bystander effect’ is quite rare but more likely the larger the crowd.

by volcanic eruptions, an evolution of mammals that ate dinosaur eggs and a change in plant life resulting in herbivorous dinosaurs becoming constipated. Although it is difficult to estimate the next extinction but the possible potential causes of future extinctions include human-generated environmental change, energy burst from outside galaxy, and climate change outside control.

What causes stomach ulcer?

Ulcers are still relatively common, afflicting one in ten people and it is painful and potentially lethal.

Stomach ulcer is not caused by stress, spicy food or lifestyle but by bacteria. Till date, most people think stomach ulcers are caused by stress, with the medical explanation that stress diverts

blood from the stomach, which reduces the production of its protective mucus lining which gradually leaves the tissue beneath vulnerable to stomach acid resulting to ulcer. When bacterium colonize the bottom part of the stomach it causes ulcer.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

tHe key quEsTioN

Will people still be useful in the 21st century?

As the 21st century unfolds, humans are in danger of losing their value, because intelligence is decoupling from consciousness.

Until today, high intelligence always went hand-inhand with a developed consciousness. Only conscious beings could perform tasks that required a lot of intelligence, such as playing chess, driving cars, diagnosing diseases or writing articles. However, today we are developing new types of non-conscious intelligence that can perform these tasks far better than humans. This raises a novel question: which of the two is really important, intelligence or consciousness?

As long as the one always went hand-in-hand with the other, this question was a pastime for philosophers. In the 21st century, this is becoming an urgent political and economic issue. And it is sobering to realize that at least for the economy, intelligence is mandatory but consciousness has little value.

The conscious experiences of a flesh-and-blood taxi driver are infinitely richer than those of Google’s selfdriving car, which feels nothing. But what the system needs from a taxi driver is to bring passengers from point A to point B as quickly, safely and cheaply as possible. And Google’s self-driving car will soon be able to do that far better than a human driver. The same goes for mechanics, lawyers, soldiers, doctors, teachers -- and even computer engineers. What will those superfluous people do? This is not a completely new question. Ever since the Industrial Revolution erupted, people feared that mechanization might cause mass unemployment. This did not happen, because as old professions became obsolete, new professions evolved, and there was always something humans could do better than machines. Yet this is not a law of nature. Humans have two basic types of abilities: physical abilities and cognitive abilities. Over the last two centuries, machines replaced humans in performing physical tasks, and humans focused more on performing cognitive tasks. But what will happen once computerized algorithms could outperform humans in that too?

The idea that humans will always have a unique ability beyond the reach of non-conscious algorithms is just wishful thinking. It is based on the traditional assumption that intelligence and consciousness are inextricably linked to one another. For millions of years of evolution, this may have been true. But no longer. When humans and computers fight it out in science fiction movies, humans always win eventually, because it turns out that they have some magical spark within them that computers can neither understand nor emulate. This is a legacy of the monotheist belief in souls. As long as people believed that humans have a soul, it was also easy to believe that this soul has some magical powers that will forever remain beyond the reach of mere algorithms. But science doesn’t believe in souls. The current scientific dogma can be summarized in three simple principles: 1. An animal -- including Homo sapiens -- is a collection of organic algorithms shaped by natural

selection over millions of years of evolution.

2. Computer scientists can engineer non-organic algorithms much faster than natural selection can evolve organic algorithms.

3. There is no reason to think that organic algorithms can do things that non-organic algorithms will never be able to replicate or surpass. After all, algorithms are algorithms. As long as the math works, what does it matter whether the algorithms are manifested in carbon, silicon or plastic?

True, at present there are numerous things that organic algorithms do better than non-organic ones, but this is only a question of time. Experts have repeatedly declared that something -- be it playing chess, recognizing faces or driving a car -- will “forever” remain beyond the reach of non-organic algorithms. But it turned out that “forever” meant no more than a decade or two.

So what will people do? Some suggest that everybody will become artists. Yet there is no reason why artistic creation will be safe from non-organic algorithms.

According to the life sciences, art is not the product of some spirit or soul, but rather of organic algorithms.

If so, there is no reason why non-organic algorithms couldn’t master it. Already today there are computer programs that predict the success of musical pieces or blockbuster movies better than flesh-and-blood art critics, and some computer programs even compose music that listeners find as moving as human-made music. Whereas in the 19th century the Industrial Revolution created a huge new class of workers -- the urban proletariat -- in the 21st century a “Second Industrial Revolution” may well create a massive class of economically useless people. Thanks to the wonders of new technologies, it will probably be easy to keep these masses well-fed, and even satisfied. The right dosage of drugs and computer games will do the trick.

So there will be no need to exterminate these humans by force. The system could simply allow them to fade out quietly. Yet the big question hovering over this prospect is whether consciousness has some intrinsic value which has nothing to do with intelligence. The political, economic and scientific establishments give far too little attention to this question. Both the life sciences and the social sciences invest immense efforts in examining intelligence and decision-making processes, as if life boils down to intelligent decision making. The brain is all the rage nowadays. The mind and consciousness, on the other hand, are seen as a mere epiphenomenon.

But the fact is that we don’t have any idea what consciousness is. Though the life sciences take it as gospel truth that consciousness is produced by organic algorithms, nobody has any idea how this happens. It is just a dogma. A critical examination of this dogma is likely to be not only the greatest scientific challenge of the 21st century, but also the most urgent political and economic project.

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TEENY How to make your first date a platonic one Insist on paying The correct way to do this is to try to pay for all of your own stuff before he even has a chance to argue about it, because he might think that chivalry compels him to pick up all your expenses regardless of your protests. The incorrect way to do this is to argue back and forth with increasing frustration until you finally cram a wad of bills in his mouth and push him down a storm drain. The idea is just to establish that this is a platonic evening between two friends, not a romantic date for which he is obligated to pay (and over 3/4ths of people do still believe it’s a guy’s obligation to pay for the first date).

Don’t invite any romantic shenanigans This means no hugging, minimal touching, no prolonged romantic gazes. Touching and eye contact are two things that most people tend to keep to a minimum, and an excess of either is very noticeable and meaningful. (Specifically, in this case, its meaning is “Kiss me on my mouth parts.”)

Don’t lean close to him during the movie, don’t hang on his every syllable when he’s talking, and find a way to casually pull away if he tries to hold your hand or something. First dates—especially ones involving some shy secondary school dude—progress at a pretty slow pace, and he’s not going to parachute out of the sky and immediately stick his tongue in your mouth. If you can politely rebuff his advances and refrain from sending any signals of your own, he might realise on that this isn’t a romantic date.

Try to reiterate your platonicness If you’re careful, you can establish that you’re just platonic friends so subtly that he doesn’t even realise that’s what you’re doing. How you do it depends on the specifics of your friendship with this guy. You might, for example, bring the conversation around to stuff that happened last year, talk for a bit about prom, and apologise for any awkwardness that might have followed it. (“I did have a great time with you; I just hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression.”) The problem with this approach is that it might fly over his head.

Be cleverly honest in the long run If things go south, and he clearly does think this is a date, and he keeps trying to make a move, the only remaining option is to be honest with him, but you should be fully honest. Don’t just say “Sorry but I don’t feel that way about you,” because that’s not the whole story; the whole story is that you two are close, you truly do like him as a friend, you were feeling really lonely, and you reached out to someone with whom you have a history.

To be frank, anything that comes out of your mouth other than “This is a literal date; we are literally dating” is going to disappoint him, but you can mitigate that disappointment by stressing that this is a genuinely meaningful friendship and that you appreciate him for it.

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Stuff

Saturday, September 27, 2014 that will tickle your fancy

SHOPAHOLIC

Get the new 2014 Isabel Marant women sneakers top heel platform fashion shoes for just $74.90 and enjoy the chick and athletic feel of this splendid invention.

Princess Olympia of Greece

Fashion's newest 'it'girl

LADYLIKE

A lady never adjusts her bra or bustline within view of other people nor does she let her bra strap show unless they were meant to.

fitnessdorm Consume less salt

Kate Middleton may get the most royal media attention, but there’s another royal who is set to take the world by storm - Maria-Olympia of Greece.

Many of us eat too much salt. This can lead to raised blood pressure, which puts you at an increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and stroke. Cutting down on salt will keep you healthier and younger and it is not as hard as you might think.

The 18-year-old, whose parents are Crown Princess MarieChantal and Crown Prince Pavlos, is quickly becoming the new royal ‘It’ girl, thanks to her mother’s Instagram page, where she proudly posts pictures of Olympia and her brothers.

Olympia was featured in this month’s issue of W, where she struck a pose in a series of haute couture ensembles for the magazine’s ‘New Royals’ spread. Olympia, who studies drama, history of art, graphics and photography in London, is quickly making her mark on the city’s social scene; she was even featured on the cover of Tatler in February. She was photographed close-up and in black and white for the cover image of the issue, which bore the headline: Teen Princess - Olympia of Greece: The Most Eligible Girl in the World.

Born in New York and raised in London, she is the eldest of five children and the only girl of the bunch. She lives with her parents and her brothers - 15-year-old Prince Constantine-Alexios, 13-year-old Prince AchileasAndreas, nine-year-old Prince Odysseas-Kimon, and five-yearold Prince Aristidis-Stavros.

And a scroll through Princess Marie-Chantal’s Instagram page reveals just how lavishly they live - from yacht trips down the Mediterranean to skiing holidays in the Alps to sharing a private jet with Valentino. The Italian fashion designer, who designed

the gown Marie-Chantal wore for her wedding in 1995, is just one of the famous figures this royal clan has befriended. In July, the Crown Princess and her daughter attended Valentino’s runway show at Paris Fashion Week, where Olympia was seated on the front row next to Emma Watson. Marie-Chantal proudly posted a photo of the two young girls sitting side by side at the show, Olympia looking chic beyond her years in a sheer mauve dress. Olympia also posts photos on her own Instagram page, where she reveals what it’s like to be a teen royal. One image sees her standing on a cobblestone street kissing a mystery boy - presumably her boyfriend. In another photo, she and her mother wear matching black lace dresses as they pose for the camera, their hair equally glossy and blonde. The family, who have a house in London and in Gloucestershire, spend their summers in Harbour Island, Bahamas, and their winters in Gstaad, Switzerland - where Prince Pavlos proposed to MarieChantal on a chair lift in 1994.

In December 2012, Olympia shared a glimpse at her skiing holiday in the mountain town, where she rode on a sled with her cousin Talita von Furstenberg, 15, whose grandmother is designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Talita’s mother is Alexandra von Furstenberg - Marie-Chantal’s younger sister, who works as the

image director for clothing label DvF. Alexandra, Marie-Chantal and their older sister Pia - often referred to as ‘The Miller Sisters’ - all married into very wealthy families; Pia’s ex-husband is Getty Oil heir Christopher Ronald Getty. Marie-Chantal has a long history of associating with the rich and famous; before she married into the royal family, the London-born blonde - whose father was duty-free shopping co-founder Robert Warren Miller - worked for Andy Warhol.

In June, she shared a picture of herself with the late great artiste, captioning the photo: ‘Found this in a box of photos.

Andy Warhol and me 1986 #andywarhol #mariechantal’.

Even though Greece hasn’t officially been a monarchy since the Seventies, Marie-Chantal and her husband are still known as Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess - and their children, too, are given these titles. And their lifestyle couldn’t be more royal; in May, Marie-Chantal shared a photo of her daughter perched on a grand staircase in a bright pink tutu-inspired gown, looking every inch the modern princess.

Another photo shows the teen cuddling up to a horse in a stable, her nose touching the animal’s lovingly. And Olympia looks carefree in a bikini in a shot from her own Instagram page, expertly doing a handstand on a beach in the Bahamas.

How to cut down A few simple steps can help you to cut your salt intake: • Read food labels thoroughly and buy products that contain less salt.

• Don’t add salt when you are cooking.

• Put the salt shaker away - literally don’t put it on the table at meal times and then you won’t add salt to your food.

• Use spices that do not contain sodium instead - for example, garlic, herbs and pepper.

• Avoid ready meals and canned and dried foods.

Remember that you don’t have to add salt to food to be eating too much: 75 per cent of the salt we eat is already in food when we buy it.

Foods that contain salt Use food labels to help you cut down on salt: • A high salt content is more than 1.5 g salt per 100 g (or 0.6 g sodium).

• A low salt content is 0.3 g salt or less per 100 g (or 0.1 g sodium).

The following foods are almost always high in salt. To cut down on salt, eat them less often or have smaller amounts: Cheese, bacon, smoked meat and fish, soy sauce, yeast extract.

Foods that can be high in salt These foods include bread products, pasta sauces, crisps, pizza, sandwiches, sausages tomato ketchup, mayonnaise and other sauces, breakfast cereals.

Adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day: that’s around one full teaspoon.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

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FASCINATING FACTS Lost kingdoms Atlantis Unknown location but Greek philosopher Plato is credited with dreaming up the legendary island of Atlantis, although some scholars claim it’s an older story. The island is said to have sunk beneath the waves of either the Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean.

City of the Caesars This mythical South American land was known by a number of names including the wandering city. It was said to be situated between mountain of gold or diamonds, only sometimes visible, and populated by ghosts.

Kingdom of Saguenay Located in North America, the American native of Iroquois tribe of the 1500’s, there was a northern kingdom of blond men who were rich in gold and furs. It’s largely thought to be a myth, but some think it refers to the Viking’s stint in Canada.

El Dorado Sought by Spanish conquistadores of the 1500’s, this land of unthinkable wealth in gold and precious jewels was never found, though it still lives on in lore. Tales placed it on a lagoon, somewhere near presentday Colombia.

Seven cities of gold Local tribes told Spanish explorers in the 16th century American southwest tales about seven gold cities in the north. The Spanish searched for the city and found instead the enchanted land of Nebraska.

Cantre’r Gwaelod It was said to have perished due to debauchery, Cantre’r Gwaelod is a legendary ancient sunken kingdom, rumoured to have existed in what is now Cardigan Bay. Stories say that the kingdom’s church bells will ring out in times of danger for the Welsh.

The lost continent of Mu An entire continent that sank mysteriously beneath the waves, Mu was also known as Lemuria. Augustus Le Plongeon, a 19th century writer, popularized the idea that the descendants of Mu generated several civilizations.

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THE BIG STORY

Famous

slaves

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade began around the mid-fifteenth century when Portuguese interests in Africa moved away from the fabled deposits of gold to a much more readily available commodity – slaves. Over the years, many Africans were transported aboard ships to the ‘White man’s’ land in chains. Here is a list of some of the most famous of these Africans and their descendants as the case may be.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

FAMOUS SLAVES

Spartacus, the rebel Spartacus was originally a freeborn provincial from Thrace, who may have served as an auxiliary in the Roman army in Macedonia.

According to differing sources and their interpretation, Spartacus either was an auxiliary from the Roman legions later condemned to slavery, or a captive taken by the legions.

The thrilling news about this slave was that in 73 BC, he was among a group of gladiators plotting an escape to freedom. Though the escape plan was betrayed, about 70 men, including Spartacus, seized kitchen implements, and fought their way free from the school seizing several wagons of gladiatorial weapons and armour. The escaped slaves defeated a small force sent after them, plundered the region surrounding Capua, recruited many other slaves into their ranks, and eventually retired to a more defensible position

on Mount Vesuvius.

Once free, the escaped gladiators chose Spartacus and two Gallic slaves – Crixus and Oenomaus – as their leaders. Although Roman authors assumed that the slaves were a homogeneous group with Spartacus as their leader, they may have projected their own hierarchical view of military leadership onto the spontaneous organisation of the slaves, reducing other slave leaders to subordinate positions in their accounts. The slaves many wars with their formal captures, the Romans, but the final battle that saw the assumed defeat of Spartacus in 71 BC took place on the present territory of Senerchia which led to the death of Spartacus but his body was never found. Six thousand survivors of the revolt captured by the legions of Crassus were crucified, lining the Appian Way from Rome to Capua.

Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther The story of Samuel Ajayi Crowther begins in or about the year 1807 when it is assumed that he was born in the town of Osogun in Western Nigeria. In later years the story is told that a diviner had indicated that Ajayi was not to enter any of the cults of the orisa, the divinities of the Yoruba pantheon, because he was to be a servant of Olorun, the God of heaven. He grew up in dangerous times when warfare and raiding became endemic.

When he was about thirteen, his town was raided, apparently by a combination of Fulani and Oyo Muslims. The raid led to the desolation of burning houses, capturing and roping by the neck, slaughtering of those unfit to travel, and the distress of being torn from relatives. In the course of the raid, Ajayi was captured and through the journey, he changed hands six times, before being sold to Portuguese traders for the transatlantic market. Subsequently, slavery was abolished and a British

naval squadron was put at the shore to prevent entries of slaves, so there was a stiff search for slaves being captured.

The Portuguese ship on which he was taken as a slave was intercepted by the British naval squadron in April 1822, and he, like thousands of other uprooted, disorientated people from inland Africa, was put ashore in Sierra Leone at a time when the country was becoming a Christian community. Ajayi in his new environment adapted and became a Christian, and was baptised by the Reverend John Rahan, of the Anglican Church Missionary Society, taking the name Samuel Crowther. He became an eminent clergyman and was appointed a schoolmaster of the mission, serving in the new villages created to receive ‘liberated Africans’ from the slave ships. Crowther became an informant for Raban, who between 1828 and 1830 published three little books about Yoruba. He died of a stroke, in Lagos on December 31, 1891.

Other famOus slaves Sam Sharpe

Born in 1801, Sam Sharpe was a slave for most of his life, but was allowed to be educated. In 1831, he led a Christmas rebellion in Jamaica (1831) against slavery.

Although the rebellion was defeated, it contributed to the 1833 abolition of slavery across the British Empire.

Saint Patrick

St. Patrick is revered by Christians for establishing the church in Ireland during the fifth century AD. The precise dates and details of his life are unclear, but some points are generally agreed: as a teen he was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland, and six years later he escaped to Gaul (now France) where he later became a monk. Around 432 he returned to Ireland as a missionary and succeeded in converting

many of the island’s tribes to Christianity.

Late in life he wrote a brief text, Confessio, detailing his life and ministry. He is the patron saint of Ireland.

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was a 19th century poet who was the first African American woman to be published. Her owners, John and Susanna Wheatley of Boston, named her Phillis after the ship she sailed on from Africa, and taught her to read and write.

The Wheatleys supported her education and relieved her of her household duties when they recognized her literary talent.

Abram Petrovich Gannibal

Major-General Abram Petrovich Gannibal, also Hannibal was an African slave who was brought to Russia by Peter the Great and

became major-general, military engineer and governor of Reval. He is perhaps best known today as the great-grandfather of Aleksandr Pushkin, who wrote an unfinished novel about him, The Moor of Peter the Great.

Ammar ibn Yasir

Ammar bin Yasir is one of the most famous companions of Muhammad, and was among the slaves freed by Abu Bakr. He is venerated by Shi’a Muslims as one of the Four Companions, early Muslims who were followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ammar was born in the Year of the Elephant (570).

Therefore he is as old as Muhammad. Ammar was a friend of Muhammad even before Islam. He was one of the intermediaries in his marriage to Khadijat Al-Kubra. He was a slave of Banu Adi and was killed by a group

loyal to Mu’Awiyah in the battle of Siffin (657).

James Somersett

James Somersett was a young African slave who was purchased by Charles Stuart in Virginia in 1749. Stuart was involved in English government service and travelled as part of his duties accompanied by Somersett, who at the time did not have a first name. In 1769, Stuart along with Somerset travelled to England. While in England, Somersett met and became involved with people associated with the anti-slavery movement in England including the well-known activist Granville Sharp. During this period, Somersett was christened with the name James in a church ceremony. Somersett was recaptured after escaping, and his trial ultimately spelt the end of slavery in.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

FAMOUS SLAVES

Influential Frederick Douglass Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born a slave on February 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland.

He educated himself and tried to escape many times until he finally succeeded in 1838. He went on to become a famous orator, writer, statesman and social reformer. He became the leader of the abolitionist movement and was the living proof against the white argument that blacks weren’t intellectually strong enough to live independently. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing. He stood as a living counter-example to slaveholders’ arguments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens.

Douglass wrote several autobiographies. He described his experiences as a slave in his 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American

Slave, which became a bestseller and influential in supporting abolition, as did the second, My Bondage and My Freedom in 1855. After the Civil War, Douglass remained an active campaigner against slavery and wrote his last autobiography, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. First published in 1881 and revised in 1892, three years before his death in 1895, it covered events through and after the Civil War. Douglass also actively supported women’s suffrage, and held several public offices. Without his approval, Douglass became the first African American nominated for Vice President of the United States as the running mate and Vice Presidential nominee of Victoria Woodhull on the impracticable, small, but far foreseeing Equal Rights Party ticket.

A firm believer in the equality of all people, whether black, female, Native American, or recent immigrant, Douglass famously said, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

Nigeria’s Olaudah Equiano The first black African slave to write about his experience as a slave, Olaudah Equiano , along with his sisters was kidnapped by native slave-holders when he was just 11.

They were soon sold to European slave traders; he was then packed into a slave ship and transferred across the Atlantic to Barbados. Equiano eventually ended up in the British colony of Virginia where he was bought by Michael Pascal a sailor in the Royal Navy, therefore, Equiano was taught the art of seamanship and had to follow his master into battle during Britain’s Seven Years War with France. Equiano served during battles bringing gunpowder into position. Equiano gained a certain respect from his master and after travelling extensively, he was sent to England where he gained a basic education. However, he was still denied the freedom even after Pascal had endorsed him as obedient and had once promised. Instead, he was sold on to Captain James Doran

in the Caribbean. In Equianos’ early 20’s, Doran helped him purchase his freedom. Initially he stayed in America to assist Doran as a business partner. Shortly after buying his freedom, slaveholders attempted to kidnap Equaino and return him to slavery. He only escaped by being able to prove his education. Due to the education Equaino had received, he became a writer and wrote an autobiography about his experiences as a slave. His autobiography titled ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano which played a pivotal role in turning public opinion in Britain against slavery, Equiano wrote about the mistreatment of slaves on the Virginia plantations.

His vivid descriptions of the various punishments and humiliations that slaves had to endure were the first published account of an autobiography of a slave and his shock by what he experienced to the extent that he tried to wash the colour out of his face in an attempt to escape his

Other famOus slaves Enrique of Malacca

Enrique of Malacca was a native of the Malay Archipelago. Also known as Henry the Black, he was Ferdinand Magellan’s personal servant and interpreter. He had been reportedly captured by Sumatran slavers from his home islands. In 1511 he was purchased by Ferdinand Magellan in a Malaccan slave market and baptised as Henrique (Spanish Enrique). Thereafter he worked as a personal slave and interpreter, accompanying Magellan back to Europe, and onwards on Magellan’s famous search for a westward passage to the Pacific Ocean.

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was a famous abolitionist and women’s rights activist who travelled the United States giving lectures on the

abolition of slavery, women’s rights, and other issues. Isabella ‘Belle’ Baumfree was born to slaves on an estate in northern New York. Her parents were James Baumfree, who had been captured from the Gold Coast in modern-day Ghana, and Elizabeth Baumfree, a descendant of slaves from the Coast of Guinea.

Thomas Fuller

In most discussions of people with extraordinary powers of mental calculation, there is some mention of Thomas Fuller, an African, shipped to America in 1724 as a slave at the age of 14. He was born in 1710 Africa somewhere between present day Liberia and Benin. Late in his life, his remarkable powers of calculation made him a tool of abolitionists due demonstrate

blacks are not mentally inferior to whites.

After his death, Fuller became a tool of psychics and psychologists.

Anna Julia Cooper

Although she was born into slavery, Anna Julia Cooper had no recollection of the events of her slavery as a child largely because as soon as she turned ten, she received a scholarship and began her education at the newly opened Saint Augustine’s Normal School and Collegiate Institute in Raleigh, founded by the local Episcopal Diocese for the purpose of training teachers to educate former slaves and their families. Cooper had two older brothers named Andrew J. Haywood and Rufus Haywood, who worked as domestic servant in the Haywood home where

she was born in 1858 to Hannah Stanley Haywood, an enslaved woman. At school, she distinguished herself as a bright and ambitious student, who showed equal promise in both liberal arts and analytical disciplines such as math and science.